Phillips struggled to make an impact at Manchester City, and now things are going from bad to worse for the former Leeds midfielder at West Ham United.
We all know how good Kalvin Phillips was at Leeds United. The midfielder was a star for the team in the Championship and then flourished under head coach Marcelo Bielsa in the Premier League.
I was not at all surprised when Manchester City paid £42 million (The Athletic) for the midfielder in the summer of 2022. As big a club as Leeds are, Phillips was always going to leave Elland Road at some point.
City Director of Football, Txiki Begiristain, was really happy to sign Phillips and described him as a player who “has proved his fantastic ability and quality over the past few seasons” and who is “a formidable talent”.
However, things did not turn out well for Phillips at City. Yes, he won major trophies at the Etihad Stadium, including the UEFA Champions League, but I am sure that the Citizens would have won them without the 28-year-old.
Phillips made two starts in the Premier League and three substitute appearances in the UEFA Champions League for City last season.
Before his loan move to West Ham United in the January transfer window, the midfielder made four substitute appearances in the Premier League and one start in the UEFA Champions League this season.
West Ham manager David Moyes raved about Phillips when he signed him on loan, but things have not started well for the midfielder at the London club.
On his debut for West Ham against Bournemouth, Phillips gave away a goal with his first touch. The midfielder was also at fault for one of the goals that Manchester United scored.
And, on Saturday against Nottingham Forest at the City Ground, things went from bad to worse for the midfielder.
Phillips was shown a yellow card for a shove on Nicolas Dominguez, and just minutes later, he was given a second caution.
Mike Dean and Clinton Morrison hammered the midfielder, while former Tottenham Hotspur player Jamie O’Hara said on talkSPORT (5:17 pm, February 17, 2024): “He can’t go to the Euros. He looks like he’s unfit, he’s way off the pace and got sent off today. Stupid. Two yellow cards, mistiming tackles because he’s not been playing and he’s rusty.
“He’s miles off it. He can’t go to the Euros at the moment. He’s gone there to get playing, and actually, he’s making West Ham worse.”
Phillips is 28 now and should be at the top of his game. I hope that he recovers his form soon. It is really sad to see the former Leeds star fail so miserably after leaving Elland Road.
