Pundit can’t believe Kalvin Phillips ‘hung out to dry’ by Guardiola after Man City twist
Noel Whelan has insisted “something’s not right” with Kalvin Phillips at Man City after Pep Guardiola “hung him out to dry”.
The former Leeds striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, claimed the 51-year-old Spaniard is “normally a protector of his players”.
As quoted by Sky Sports (25 December), Man City boss Guardiola revealed Phillips returned from the World Cup “overweight” and “not in the right condition to train”.
The England midfielder was an unused substitute during the Citizens’ last two Premier League fixtures against Leeds United and Everton.
Phillips has played 53 minutes of football since joining the Premier League champions in a reported £45million during the summer window.
Sources told this site on Sunday (1 January) that West Ham have reignited their interest in the Man City star after Guardiola’s outburst.
Whelan told Football Insider’s Ewan Kingsbury: “There are expectations and it’s a big surprise to see Kalvin come back overweight.
“I’m pretty sure Pep wouldn’t have been expecting that.
“Something’s not right with Kalvin this season, and he should be playing regularly again now.
“He was back from injury before the World Cup, but he’s still not out on the pitch.
“It’s very unlike Pep to single out one of his players in public. That’s not usually his way – he’s normally a protector of his players, rather than hanging them out to dry.”
In other news, Football Insider updates as Man City pull U-turn on “the next big thing”.