‘He rarely’: Michael Owen can’t believe what’s happening with player Leeds United sold

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When Kalvin Phillips left Leeds United for Manchester City, it was to take the next step in his career.

The hard-hitting midfielder was joining a trophy machine led by one of the greatest coaches of all time, Pep Guardiola.

And to the luck of Kalvin Phillips, in his first season at Manchester City, he proceeded to win the Treble, but many feel he didn’t contribute a key role because he only played 593 minutes in all competitions.

Fast forward to the present and things aren’t getting better for the boyhood Leeds United fan, with Michael Owen suggesting that Pep Guardiola ‘rarely trusts’ the player, as he told Premier League Productions (08/10/23 at 5:35 pm). 

That was proven on Sunday when Manchester City were beaten 1-0 at Arsenal, with Kalvin Phillips, despite Rodri’s suspension, not even getting onto the pitch.

Not only did he start a number six, but Pep Guardiola used Bernardo Silva in that role instead, and even kept Mateo Kovacic on the pitch in the second half, even though he could have got sent off twice in the first half. 

Kalvin Phillips at Manchester City

“You say he trusts his players, but he rarely trusts Kalvin Phillips, does he?” said Owen. “You have got a ready-made sitting midfield player on the bench.

“Yet, you put Rico Lewis in front of him. You are even playing Bernardo Silva as a number six, then the other central midfielder (Kovacic) gets a yellow card and he is on the threshold of a red and he still doesn’t bring you on. He must be pulling his hair out.”

Should Kalvin Phillips have left Leeds?

Some would argue if the 27-year-old stayed put at Elland Road, then the team wouldn’t have crumbled in the manner in which they did and suffered relegation to the Championship.

Leeds, no doubt, suffered, with the player himself not exactly helping his own career.

Yes, he has the trophies, but since the start of last season, he has played less than 800 minutes. To put that into context, Ruben Dias has played more from only ten games this term.