Former Leeds United manager Paul Heckingbottom has spoken about Kalvin Phillips’ recent problems.
Former Leeds United manager Paul Heckingbottom has discussed Kalvin Phillips’ recent problems at Manchester City and West Ham United. The former Whites favourite struggled to fit in with Pep Guardiola after joining City for £50 million.
Phillips and Guardiola appeared to have a strained relationship, and it was eventually agreed that he would join West Ham United on loan for the rest of the season to improve his chances of making the England Euro 2024 squad. Phillips had intended to hit the ground running at the London Stadium, but he has struggled thus far.
The midfielder has conceded goals and received a red card, but such troubles are to be expected of a player who has not played regularly for some time, according to former Whites manager Heckingbottom.
“But this was the appropriate time for him to leave. He’s got to go play. This is a process he must go through. You cannot skip 12 or 18 months of football and then compete at the highest level. The pressure changes as you’re playing. There will have been comments about him not playing, but now the emphasis is on you, and you must perform. The only way you can change the discourse is to play. He has the potential now, and a few of things have already gone against him at West Ham, such as the sending off, but he must turn it around, get fit, work with the team and Davd; only he can get himself through this phase.”
When asked about Phillips as a player and person based on his own experience working with him, Heckingbottom responded: “Everyone wants great things said about him. When I went to Leeds, he took a lot of flak from the audience since locals always get more flak, but he made it through.
“I saw him on the younger teams, so I understood the type of player he was. He has gone above and beyond what I expected. When Leeds was promoted and he wore a number six, he was fantastic, and he was named player of the year in England. He has been at the top, and now it is time to maintain that position.”
