Daniel Farke will be hoping for a miracle on Saturday as Leeds United prepare to go to the Etihad to take on Manchester City, and Kalvin Phillips is fit and available for selection.
It has now been more than three years since Andrea Radrizzani gave Phillips the green light to complete a £45m move to City from Leeds. It was the same summer in which Raphinha joined Barcelona for £55m.
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But it is a move that, if Phillips had the choice to do again, he would surely make a different decision. In the last three years, Phillips has managed just 32 appearances for City, just two Premier League starts.
For half of his Man City spell, Phillips has been out on loan at West Ham and Ipswich Town. There was talk of Phillips returning to Leeds in the summer, but nothing materialised with Leeds looking elsewhere.
Kalvin Phillips in action during Huddersfield Town v Manchester City - Carabao Cup Third Round
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
Kalvin Phillips has never played against Leeds United
Since leaving Leeds in 2022, Phillips has not played against the Whites. In his first season at Man City, Phillips was an unused sub in both games against Leeds, failing to play a single minute under Guardiola.
Leeds were relegated that season, while Phillips remained in the Premier League, whether that was at Man City or West Ham in his second season. Leeds were still in the Championship while Phillips was at Ipswich.
Saturday presents Phillips’ first possible chance to play against Leeds since the 2022-23 season. He is part of Man City’s 25-man squad and has played this season, with Mateo Kovacic and Rodri currently out.
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Earlier this month, Guardiola was speaking in a press conference about injuries to Kovacic and Rodri. He suggested that City only have one fit option as a holding midfielder in Nico Gonzalez, ignoring Phillips.
“This is a small thing but we don’t have Kova now for the next time as well, so we have three holding midfielders proper and just one [fit],” Guardiola said. Clearly, Phillips is not a part of his Man City thinking.
He would go on to say about Phillips: “He trains with us, we treat him like another player. The decision of whether he plays or not belongs to me. An unbelievable guy. It is a joy to have him in the locker room.”
Pep Guardiola during a Manchester City press conference
Photo by Molly Darlington/Getty Images
Phillips has only been a part of two matchday squads for City this season, coming on as a sub against Huddersfield in the Carabao Cup, and remaining an unused sub against Swansea in the next round.
While City will be without Kovacic and Rodri, and played on Tuesday night, the chances of Phillips facing Leeds for the first time are almost zero. However, Guardiola is full of surprises and Phillips is available.
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