15.4 C
Manchester
Monday, September 1, 2025
Other SportsPhillips: Manchester City stint 'pushed me away' from football

Phillips: Manchester City stint ‘pushed me away’ from football

Kalvin Phillips has revealed his 18-month stint at Manchester City negatively affected his relationship with football, though he feels “more alive” after joining West Ham on loan for the remainder of the season.

Phillips left his boyhood club Leeds United for City in 2022, but he struggled for regular gametime from the outset of his spell at the Etihad Stadium.

The England midfielder made 21 appearances across all competitions as City won the treble last season, though 17 of those outings came from the bench.

Read our other sports news stories here:
Super Bowl LVIII: Kansas City Chiefs v San Francisco 49ers preview
Blue Cards: What Premier League managers think of IFAB’s new idea
England spinner Leach ruled out of India series

Phillips fell even further down the pecking order ahead of the 2023-24 campaign as City acquired Matheus Nunes and Mateo Kovacic following Ilkay Gundogan’s move to Barcelona, and he played just 93 minutes in the Premier League across the first half of the season.

City boss Pep Guardiola apologised for his treatment of Phillips ahead of the January transfer window, when he joined West Ham on a straight loan deal despite interest from Newcastle United.

“Now I’m here at West Ham and playing, I feel a lot more alive,” Phillips told The Observer. “I still loved the game, it [his time with City] just changed my way of thinking a little bit.

“The game wasn’t letting me down but the fact I had nothing to look forward to kind of pushed me away.

“Now I’m here, I feel a lot more alive. It’s not starting from scratch, it’s starting afresh.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A POST SHARED BY KALVIN PHILLIPS (@KALVINPHILLIPS)

The low point of Phillips’ short-lived spell with City came after he returned from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, when Guardiola said he was “overweight” and not in the neccessary condition to train or play.

“It wasn’t a nightmare at City, it was just stressful,” Phillips said. “After the World Cup was probably the toughest, when Pep came out and said I was overweight.

“He was right to do so but there are different ways to go about it. I did not disagree with him but obviously I took a big knock to my confidence.

“My family were not happy about it, either, especially my mum. It was just a misunderstanding and I think he was very frustrated with me coming back 1.5kg over my weight target.”

Harry Carr
Harry Carr
Harry is a freelance sports journalist with experience of working for the Racing Post, Stats Perform, Opta Analyst and more, covering major events across all sports but holding a particular love for the beautiful game.
Latest

From concept to conversion: How branding impacts website performance

Branding is often discussed in digital strategy, but not always clearly. We focus on logos, colour schemes, and taglines. These are important, but they...

Online Home Shop hits record £61 million sales in 2025

Online Home Shop (OHS), the family-owned e-commerce homeware retailer based in Worsley, Greater Manchester, has reported record gross sales of £61 million for 2025...

Understanding the signals behind search success

Search engine success is vital for any business, blogger, or content creator aiming to reach their audience. But what exactly drives search success? What...

JD Seasonings Celebrates 10 Years and 42 Great Taste Awards

JD Seasonings, the multi award-winning spice blend company, is marking its 10th anniversary this month with another proud milestone — securing five new Guild...
Subscribe to our newsletter
Business Manchester will use the information you provide on this form to be in touch with you and to provide updates and marketing.
Don't miss

Online Home Shop hits record £61 million sales in 2025

Online Home Shop (OHS), the family-owned e-commerce homeware retailer based in Worsley, Greater Manchester, has reported record gross sales of £61 million for 2025...

Manchester’s TQUK Hits One Million Learners in Vocational Training Success

Training Qualifications UK (TQUK), a Manchester-based awarding and assessment organisation, has celebrated a major milestone after registering its one-millionth learner on a regulated qualification. Founded...

Boosting business productivity with electroplated tools

In any industry, staying competitive comes down to improving efficiency, reducing costs, and maintaining high standards. One way many businesses are achieving this is...

Step-by-step guide to installing LVT vinyl flooring at home

Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) flooring offers a practical and stylish way to refresh any room at home. Many homeowners choose it because it looks...

More News

F1 Australian Grand Prix 2025: Report, result, highlights as Norris savours ‘stressful’ win

Lando Norris praised McLaren's "amazing car" after overcoming unpredictable conditions to beat reigning champion Max Verstappen and win the F1 Australian Grand Prix 2025...

India vs Australia: Preview, expected lineups, how to watch on TV and prediction for ICC Champions Trophy 2025

India vs Australia: The State of Play India will be targeting a third consecutive appearance in the final when they face Australia in the first...

New Zealand vs India: Preview, expected lineups, how to watch on TV and prediction for ICC Champions Trophy 2025

New Zealand vs India: The State of Play Two teams in excellent form meet on Sunday when New Zealand and India collide in their final...