Kalvin Phillips’s career has seen many changes, but a recent adjustment by Pep Guardiola could alter his role at Manchester City.
Phillips, now 28, rose through the Leeds United academy to become a first-team regular. Known for his impressive passing ability and vision in midfield, Phillips was instrumental under Marcelo Bielsa in helping Leeds return to the Premier League.
After excelling in the top flight, Phillips caught the attention of Manchester City, who signed him to bolster their midfield under Pep Guardiola. However, since joining City, Phillips has struggled to secure consistent playing time and confidence.
With four years remaining on his contract, questions have emerged about his future at the club. During a pre-season friendly against Barcelona, Guardiola experimented with Phillips as a centre-back, where he played the full match and performed well despite missing a penalty in a shootout.
After the game, Guardiola praised Phillips’s performance but hinted at challenges for him in securing a regular spot in the team. Guardiola noted Phillips’s strengths in seeing the entire pitch but also mentioned his difficulties in tight spaces.
When asked about Phillips’s potential future as a centre-back, Guardiola acknowledged the team’s abundance of central defenders and left open the possibility of Phillips continuing in this role.
The switch to centre-back is not entirely new for Phillips, who played in that position 20 times under Bielsa at Leeds, experiencing only four losses. His excellent passing range might make him a valuable asset in a deeper role, and playing in defense could alleviate some of the challenges he faces in midfield.
As Phillips’s future at Manchester City remains uncertain, questions persist about whether he will continue at the club, return to Leeds, or seek opportunities elsewhere.
