Pep Guardiola believes Kalvin Phillips has a role in Manchester City’s season run-in and is not currently thinking about the midfielder’s future at the club.
Phillips joined City for £45 million from Leeds United last summer as the Premier League champions bid farewell to club legend Fernandinho following a nine-year spell in Manchester.
However, injuries and recurring spells on the sidelines have marred the England international’s debut campaign at the Etihad Stadium, with Phillips clocking just 102 minutes of league action all season.
His struggles to get going and stake a claim in Guardiola’s starting XI have raised doubts over the 27-year-old’s future at Manchester City beyond the upcoming summer transfer window amid reported interest from West Ham.
However, recent indications from the midfielder’s camp suggest that Phillips is determined to fight for his Manchester City future and challenge for a first-team spot under Guardiola.
Prior to City’s 2-1 triumph over Leeds on Saturday afternoon, Guardiola was asked whether he believes Phillips realistically has a long-term future in Manchester.
The Catalan said: “Right now, absolutely we are not thinking for one second about next season. Kalvin has been, in many things, important in his role; of course, not on the pitch much because what we need in some things he needs to adapt a little bit more.
“But what happens in the next season, I’m sorry but I’m not concerned for one second. It’s important and nice what we’re living for, and we will see at the end of the season, we will sit with the players, mainly all of them.”
Guardiola went on to admit that decisions on players’ futures will be made at the end of the season, with the likes of Aymeric Laporte, Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva understood to be willing to part ways with City.
“The players, maybe they want more minutes, or maybe they are not happy with the situation that they had in the past and now in the present,” Guardiola added.
“But right now, I am not going to discuss absolutely anything because everyone will be important with still a lot of games to play, and every day is becoming more tired, and more tired, so that’s why you have to be aware how important is the decision you are going to make.
“Be clear to not drop the consistency much of the team that we’ve shown in the last months, but we have to rotate.”
Phillips is likely to be on the bench when Manchester City face Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final tie on Tuesday – though the Leeds-born midfielder could still play a role in the treble-chasing Blues’ season run-in.
source:cityxtra.co.uk
