Craig Burley has spoken about Kalvin Phillips ‘struggles’ at Manchester City following his exit from Leeds United.
The former Scotland international was asked why Pep Guardiola decided to bring him in from Leeds United in the summer given that he had to compete with someone like Rodri and he can only play as a defensive-minded midfielder.
For Burley, he felt that Kalvin Phillips was either going to come into the XI if Rodri picked up a ‘nasty’ injury or if Manchester City struggled from a defensive aspect and they decided to play two number 6’s, as he told ESPN.
Instead, he just about played over 500 minutes in all competitions, as Manchester City produced the greatest season in their history by winning the Treble.
Whilst it was a season to remember for those at the Etihad, it was the opposite for Phillips’ boyhood club Leeds, who dropped down to the Championship.
It has to be questioned, if Phillips didn’t leave, would the Whites still be a Premier League club, nonetheless, Burley issued the following response when asked why he was signed up in the first place.
“They bought him in case there would be any real problems for Rodri,” said Burley. “He bought him in case he changed his mind and decided that the defence was struggling a little bit and he might put two number 6’s in there.
“But the defence has actually been one of the strong points. So, he has just struggled for game time. That’s just factual.
“It was always going to be the case and unless Rodri picked up a nasty injury, which was going to keep him out for three or four months, then I found it hard for Kalvin Phillips to see a pathway for game time.
“I think, from his perspective, he is thought highly of by Southgate and a few people. I don’t think Guardiola would stand in his way if another really good club came along and offered him a much better time of game time because he’s really not going to get it at Manchester City.”
Leeds collapse without Phillips and Raphinha
The season Leeds stayed up with Jesse Marsch, they were without Phillips for large periods and they managed to stay in the league, just!
But still, without their hard-hitting midfielder and Raphinha, who joined Barcelona, they just collapsed, especially during the final few months of this term.
Tyler Adams was doing a stellar job as Phillips’ replacement, but his injury and absence towards the end just showcased all the relegation cracks at Elland Road, and in truth, they went down without a fight.
The post 'He has struggled': Club questioned why they signed 'highly thought of' player from Leeds appeared first on HITC.
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