Kalvin Phillips faced criticism for his tumultuous stint at Manchester City, with former Premier League striker Chris Sutton labeling one incident as “unforgivable.” Phillips, who joined City from Leeds United in a £42 million deal in July 2022, struggled to make an impact at the Etihad Stadium.
Despite his struggles, Sutton defended Pep Guardiola’s decision to publicly address Phillips’s fitness concerns upon his return from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
“If he’s overweight, he’s overweight. It’s unprofessional,” Sutton remarked on the Daily Mail’s It’s All Kicking Off podcast. “It’s unforgivable really for a player to be overweight. You know, he signed a contract with Manchester City.”
Phillips himself admitted feeling “useless” and stressed during his time at City, particularly after Guardiola’s public comments. Sutton supported Guardiola’s actions, emphasizing the importance of professionalism in elite football.
Phillips’s loan move to West Ham in search of a fresh start encountered early challenges. In his debut for the Hammers, he made a costly error leading to an opponent’s goal, and in the subsequent match against Manchester United, he was involved in conceding another goal.
Despite these setbacks, Phillips’s future remains uncertain, with his City contract extending until 2028.
