admin Kalvin Phillips’ struggles at Manchester City continue, with the midfielder unable to enjoy more game time despite Rodri’s absence, adding further doubt to his future.
Roy Keane believes Pep Guardiola does not trust Kalvin Phillips as the midfielder continues to be snubbed in the city of Manchester.
Phillips has rarely been used since joining Leeds United last summer, only playing 90 minutes in the Premier League twice in his first season. His efforts to assert himself continued this season and even with Rodri suspended, he did not benefit from increased playing time. against Wolves and Arsenal. The former Leeds man was unable to take advantage of his chances and Keane believes that Man City manager Guardiola does not think he can support Phillips to get the job done in big matches.
e told the Overlap : “[Guardiola] doesn’t trust him. He’s had a couple of chances. He played a few weeks ago. But he didn’t play him in the big game with all the injuries. He played at Newcastle two or three weeks ago in the cup game, and he didn’t do too much good. He didn’t do enough.
“You’ve got to win the manager’s trust. He [Guardiola] works with him every day in training. There’s a reason why he’s not playing and he doesn’t trust him.
“He watched him against Newcastle two weeks ago in a cup match and obviously went ‘I don’t like what I see’. So when it got to the Arsenal game he said ‘I don’t trust you’. He doesn’t believe he can do a job for him.”
Phillips has been linked with a move away due to a lack of minutes, with the summer signing of Matheus Nunes potentially forcing him down the pecking order. Rodri will return for City’s next match at Brighton and the Spaniard is expected to return to a midfield role after City’s notable decline during his absence face.
ESPN reports that Phillips, who has cost City more than £40 million, fears he will never play regularly at City and is considering leaving in January. He is desperate to keep his role in the England squad ahead of next summer’s Euros and Gareth Southgate has told him he would benefit more from regular playing time.
Guardiola has shown that he is willing to handle player departures if it suits both club and player, such as the situation faced by Aymeric Laporte this summer.A loan move in January appears to be a viable option ahead of the crucial decision at the end of the season.
Bayern Munich, who missed out on Fulham’s Joao Palhinha on deadline day, could be among those interested as Thomas Tuchel looks to strengthen his options.
