If a first-choice option wasn’t signed to replace Oleksandr Zinchenko last summer, vital Man City player Kalvin Phillips could be used as a makeshift left-back. Josep Guardiola likes his Manchester City players to be positionally versatile. He isn’t afraid to put square pegs in round holes.
The theory was that Phillips would find it difficult to play his preferred position. But he would be willing to take on a defensive duty if it meant he would see more action. It wasn’t an awful idea because the 27-year-old is a superb ball-winner. He was a temporary centre back in the preseason.
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However, now that Joao Cancelo is expected to leave City without a replacement being found, some fans on Twitter appear to concur that Josep Guardiola may use Phillips to play on the left.
Phillips could certainly go into midfield, as Pep wants of his fullbacks. The 27-year-boasting old’s 93.3% average pass completion ratio in the Champions League should improve his prospects because Guardiola also wants that his players be at ease in possession and not wasteful.
THE FALL OF KALVIN PHILLIPS IN JOSEP GUARDIOLA REIGN
Since Phillips’ multi-million pound transfer to the reigning champions this summer, things haven’t been easy for him. Due to Pep Guardiola publicly stating the midfielder was overweight after his return to the club after the World Cup, he has only played one minute of Premier League action.
As the London giants are considering making an offer for the midfielder, the Hammers might save Phillips from an uncertain future. They will undoubtedly lose Rice next summer. Tomas Soucek’s inconsistency has made room in the midfield for another aggressive player.
Josep Guardiola is a difficult person to forecast, but he must have considered deploying Phillips out wide. The announcement is anticipated by the audience…
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