Pep Guardiola surprised Manchester City supporters by preparing the return of Kalvin Phillips, and could include it in the list of 25 Premier League players.
The forgotten midfielder, who has not played an official match for City since December 2023, could now make his long -awaited return during the most fierce match of all, the Manchester derby against United. For a player formerly considered superfluous, it is an opportunity to redeem that he cannot afford to spoil.
The two years of phillips exile in City
The passage from Phillips to Etihad was hectic to say the least. Arrived from Leeds United in 2022 for 45 million pounds Sterling ($ 61 million), he only played 12 appearances in his first season. Guardiola then lent him, first to West Ham, where he lived a nightmare period marked by an expensive penalty and a red card from his first appearances, then to Ipswich Town, where he ended up being relegated. His exile has suggested that his career in City was definitely over.
Guardiola's reversal on the workforce
This summer, Guardiola openly hinted that he wanted a smaller workforce, which seemed to confirm the departure of Phillips. However, the Spaniard has operated a remarkable turnaround by reintegrating it in the Premier League, as The Telegraph reports. This decision not only offers an unexpected respite to Phillips, but also reflects Guardiola's recognition of the need for the depth of the workforce for an exhausting season.
The loan of last season at Ipswich Town was supposed to relaunch the career of Phillips, but he ended in bitter disappointment. Despite 22 appearances, he did not have the expected impact, resulting in the relegation of Ipswich. Critics have questioned his confidence and his ability to adapt, many wondering if the player who formerly dominated the Leeds midfielder was definitively lost.
