Richard Keys accuses Pep Guardiola of double standards as the Man City boss slams ‘overweight’ Kalvin Phillips during a pre-match interview.
The England international was left out of Man City’s squad for their Carabao Cup tie against Liverpool on Thursday night.
Phillips, who has played just 94 minutes of competitive football in an injury-plagued season, was told not to train with his team-mates when England and Portugal players reported back to City training from Qatar.
🎙️ “We need him. We need him a lot.”
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says he doesn’t know why Kalvin Phillips has returned with fitness issues, following the Qatar World Cup 🏆🏴 pic.twitter.com/W10d1J4L3b
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) December 24, 2022
When asked why Phillips wasn’t in the right shape to feature against Liverpool, Guardiola said: “He’s not injured. He arrived overweight. I don’t know [why].
“He didn’t arrive in the condition to do training sessions and to play.”
A reporter then asked: “But he has been away with England, with nutritionists, etc…?”
Guardiola responded: “No, no, no, no. Absolutely. That’s why he cannot play. When he will be ready, he will play, because we need him, we need him a lot.”
When questioned if that was disappointing, Guardiola added: “It’s a private conversation with Kalvin.”
BeIN Sports presenter Richard Keys, however, went on Twitter to take aim at Guardiola for what he had to say.
Posting a page of the Daily Mirror, which talked about the story, he wrote: ‘I’m wondering why Guardiola has exposed Phillips to ridicule for this ‘crime’.
‘Never a word when he used to leave [Sergio] Aguero out for the same offence. Strange.’
I’m wondering why Guardiola has exposed Phillips to ridicule for this ‘crime’. Never a word when he used to leave Aguero out for the same offence. Strange. pic.twitter.com/XA4jTPqCKH
— Richard Keys (@richardajkeys) December 24, 2022
This comes after Sergio Aguero revealed back in October that Pep Guardiola did once deem him ‘too fat’ to play after falling foul of the manager’s strict weight limits.
Aguero said: ‘If your ideal weight is 79-80kg and you were 80 kilos and 100 grams you would be fined and you don’t play.
‘But it can happen! You come across a little bit of chicken for example then you are going to be 50 grams over!’
He was asked if he was ever placed on the bench for being overweight, Aguero added: ‘Well the first season we were between fourth and third and he said “I left you out because you turned up far this week.”
‘And what was I going to say? He was right… these things happen.
‘He said it in a good way. And at the time I didn’t really have his confidence. But I was always very respectful to the coaches.’
Yet, Keys makes a point of Guardiola never publicly speaking about Aguero being overweight.
Phillips clearly isn’t so fortunate, with Guardiola outing him in public: ‘When he will be ready, he will play, because we need him, we need him a lot. It’s a private conversation with Kalvin.’
Phillips, who joined from Leeds for £42m in the summer, will now need to fight to prove himself to Guardiola, and it could prove to be a tough task.
Man City head to Leeds in their next fixture on Wednesday, the day after Boxing Day, as they return to their Premier League title battle.
MAN CITY’S NEXT FIXTURES
- Dec 28: Leeds United (A) – kick-off 8pm (Premier League)
- Dec 31: Everton (H) – kick-off 3pm (Premier League)
- Jan 5: Chelsea (A) – kick-off 8pm, live on Sky Sports (Premier League)
- Jan 8: Chelsea (H) – kick-off 4.30pm (FA Cup)
- Jan 10: Southampton (A) – 7.45pm (Carabao Cup)
- Jan 14: Man Utd (A) – kick-off 12.30 (Premier League)
- Jan 19: Tottenham (H) – kick-off 8pm (Premier League)
- Jan 22: Wolves (H) – kick-off 2pm (Premier
This is what fans said as Richard Keys accuses Pep Guardiola of double standards while the Man City boss slams ‘overweight’ Kalvin Phillips…
@chriskonrath: Get the badge in, Pep.
@SelfDaniel: The whole conversation sounds like it should be private
@Benjmeister85: I can’t quite work this out? So either he’s been smashing burger on the quiet or Pep is subtly implying England’s nutritionists etc aren’t up to his standards?
@doyle_josh1: “We need him” *plays 0 games*
@Jamieash91: Biggest mistake he made was leaving Leeds
@KonceptKitz: Pep is a great manager and is very exacting with his standards; but I’m not sure publicly calling out one of his players over their weight is something he should be doing. Feels more like an internal matter.
@IrelandKimmer: Given the regime under Bielsa I think there’s something else going on here. Clearly Pep has an issue with him when he only gives him 5 minutes yet says they need him. Same with grealish first season.
@eydenpritchard: Tells you everything you need know about Southgate and his England camps.
@nth09: How does that happen in a month when you’d have to assume he’s been training every day?!
@greagsy: Think Kalvin Phillips made a massive mistake signing for City to be honest going from regular football to a bench warmer
@Michael40959955: Chomping league football winner. Gutted he left us. As he was pinging the ball everywhere around the pitch, had plenty of game time, was adored by the fans,England call up.
Wasted at city.
@SJB_upnorth: Not sure Guardiola should’ve gone public with this. Have to ask how and why this has happened with Phillips who is clearly struggling. Needs support not vilifying.
@MadaharJas: I think Pep publicly questioning one of his players calling him overweight is just wrong. Conversations like this have to remain private. See him wanting to leave City.
@GixerboyGraz: Man City was a bad move for KP and Barca bad for Rapha, at #lufc there were big fish in a small pond now small fish in big ponds, just proves the grass isn’t always greener on the other side
Exceptionally poor from Pep Guardiola to publicly say Kalvin Phillips is overweight.
Women’s football critics quickly jump on any opportunity to say how far behind the men’s game it is.
This is a clear example of the men’s game having serious work to do.
It is cruel behaviour. pic.twitter.com/2VNa0VjblT
— Joe Townsend (@JoesterT) December 24, 2022
Kalvin Phillips in the Man City dressing room pic.twitter.com/NdYEzQQUyI
— Steven Farrell (@StevenFarrell99) December 24, 2022
Imagine being Kalvin Phillips & waking up to those headlines 😔.
While professional athletes have a responsibility to remain in condition to perform, in an era where awareness about body image concerns & mental health is supposed to be improving…
I just hope he’s okay 🙏 pic.twitter.com/PLa2P7Adqo
— Nick Hope – the athlete’s journalist 👨💻🏊🏻♂️ (@NickHopeTV) December 24, 2022

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