Pep Guardiola admits he has failed to get the best out of Kalvin Phillips with midfielder still struggling for minutes at Man City

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has admitted that he has encountered challenges in fully harnessing the immense talent of midfielder Kalvin Phillips, resulting in the player struggling for minutes on the pitch.

Back in 2022, Phillips made the highly anticipated move from Leeds United to Manchester City for a staggering £45 million. This transfer came hot on the heels of his remarkable performances under the guidance of the Argentine manager Marcelo Bielsa at Elland Road. However, despite the high hopes surrounding Phillips’ arrival at the Etihad Stadium, he has found it difficult to adapt to Guardiola’s particular style and methods.

Reflecting on Phillips’ journey with City thus far, Guardiola expressed a sense of regret, acknowledging that he would have dearly loved to unlock the player’s full potential, much like Bielsa once did. Guardiola openly acknowledged that it was Bielsa who ultimately extracted the very best from Phillips during their time together at Leeds.

“Marcelo (Bielsa) brought out the absolute best in Kalvin and had a significant impact on his career,” Guardiola candidly told reporters.

“I would have relished the opportunity to work with Kalvin as Marcelo did. However, we have our own unique approach to the game, and at times, Kalvin has struggled to adapt to certain aspects of it, while the previous style of play at Leeds was perfectly suited to him,” he further explained.

There had been widespread speculation during the summer transfer window that Phillips would seek opportunities elsewhere in order to secure more regular playing time. However, Guardiola revealed that during their discussions about his future, Phillips expressed a strong desire to remain at Manchester City.

“The club engaged in conversations with him due to his limited playing time,” Guardiola revealed.

“However, he made it clear that he wanted to stay. We brought Kalvin here because we recognized his exceptional quality. He possesses an open-mindedness, a perpetual hunger for knowledge, and a genuine willingness to contribute. These are the qualities we want to cultivate and build upon,” Guardiola explained.

Looking ahead, Phillips may have a chance to shine on Wednesday evening as Manchester City face off against Newcastle United in the EFL Cup. With Rodri serving a suspension and Kevin de Bruyne nursing an injury, Phillips could potentially secure a rare start. It will be an opportune moment for him to demonstrate his abilities and stake a claim for more significant involvement as the season progresses.