Jamie Redknapp has said on Sky Sports Premier League (7:42pm, November 27, 2021) that Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips will not be happy with Marcelo Bielsa tonight.
The former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder believes that Phillips will ask Leeds head coach Bielsa the reasons behind his decisions against Brighton and Hove Albion tonight.
Phillips started in central defence against the Seagulls in the Premier League this evening.
The England international defensive midfielder was also deployed in defence against Tottenham last weekend.
Against Brighton tonight, Bielsa took off Phillips at half time.
The match ended in a goalless draw.
Jamie Redknapp’s verdict
Redknapp said on Sky Sports Premier League (7:42pm, November 27, 2021): “There’s not a big player who wants to come off at half time. If you are coming off at half time, you are fuming. That’s a hit to your ego.
“He is an England international, and the manager says to you at half time, ‘You are not playing well, you are coming off’. He will not be happy at all. He will be straight in on Monday morning to see him, I am sure.””
The Sky Sports pundit added: “The thing with Kalvin Phillips, I am not sure if it was an injury or if it was tactical change which obviously for someone as important to the team, he is playing him in centre-back, then he is playing him in midfield. I can see his body language. He is not enjoying that.”
What’s going on with Bielsa and Phillips?
Phillips is a central midfielder, and a very good one at that.
The England international has been linked with Manchester United and Liverpool.
He is that good.
In central midfield.
Now, Bielsa will have his own reasons for picking Phillips in defence and not in midfield for two matches in a row.
The 25-year-old did well against Tottenham in central defence and kept Harry Kane quiet in the first half last weekend.
However, in our view, Bielsa needs to play Phillips in defensive midfield.
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