Returning overweight from the World Cup in Qatar, Kalvin Phillips has since played only eight minutes with Manchester City.
And if his condition seems to be improving from week to week, he has now become the target of chants from opposing supporters, quick to make fun of his extra pounds.
What rather amuses his trainer, Pep Guardiola.
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🎙 Pep Guardiola found Chelsea fans' chants about Phillips' weight funny pic.twitter.com/ErXsDOlXYR
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“Maybe this will be a good lesson for Kalvin Phillips for the future.
I think for 12 months a football player has to be perfect.
Even on vacation, it must be perfect.
You can enjoy, you can do what you want but you have to be ready because the high level is very demanding, explained the coach at a press conference this Sunday.
If you want to play the matches, you have to be in good shape.
“Faced with Liverpool, on December 22, he had not even registered it on the match sheet, before gradually reintegrating it into the group.
“They have a good sense of humor”
In the last game against Chelsea on Thursday, the defensive midfielder was able to come into play late in the game.
This earned him remarks from Blues supporters, who chanted that he was "too big even to play with Leeds", his former club.
"They have a good sense of humor, it was funny," Guardiola commented.
Who could trust Phillips a little longer this Sunday (5:30 p.m.) for a revenge against Chelsea, in the third round of the Cup.
Arrived in Manchester from Leeds this summer, against 54.5 million euros, Phillips, 27, whose ideal weight is estimated at 72 kg, has not yet been able to show all his qualities with the Skyblues.
Hampered by a long shoulder injury, he has only played 57 minutes since the start of the season.
He had still been on his feet in time to leave for Qatar with the Three Lions, with whom he had essentially had a role of joker and had not come into play against France.
