Fans ‘gang-up’ on Kalvin Phillips after Manchester City defeat

Manchester City midfielder, Kalvin Phillips cuts himself a tragic figure in pre-season as fans turn on the England international.

Manchester City’s pre-season tour of the United States kicked off with a thrilling yet disappointing 4-3 defeat to Celtic in North Carolina. While the match featured goals from Oscar Bobb, Maximo Perrone, and Erling Haaland, it was Kalvin Phillips who bore the brunt of the fans’ frustration.

Kalvin Phillips, who returned to Man City after a lackluster loan spell at West Ham United, struggled to make an impact on the field. Despite Pep Guardiola’s defense of his performance, fans took to social media to express their disappointment.

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One user on X didn’t mince words: “1 minute in and I have already remembered how bad Kalvin Phillips is.” Another quipped, “Phillips is so bad in tight areas that he makes Erling Haaland look like Xavi.”

The calls for change were loud and clear, with many supporters urging Guardiola to give more playing time to Maximo Perrone. “Pep needs to give Perrone more game time, not Kalvin Phillips. What a baller,” one fan commented, while another echoed the sentiment: “Perrone deserves more minutes on the pitch. He’s got incredible talent!”

Despite the backlash, Guardiola remained steadfast, stating that Phillips’ substitution at halftime was planned due to his recent recovery from injury. “He’s training really well and made a really good first half,” Guardiola said. “He came from an injury, that’s why we didn’t give him more minutes. But we’ll see, like all situations, I don’t know what’s going to happen.”

Phillips’ form has been a concern since his £42 million transfer from Leeds United in July 2022, and his exclusion from Gareth Southgate’s England squad for Euro 2024 has only added to the scrutiny. With rumors of a potential move away from the Etihad this summer, Phillips’ future at Manchester City remains uncertain.