Manchester City will be going in search of a fourth successive win in all competitions when they face neighbours Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
11.02.2024 - 16:23 / manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Kalvin Phillips consulted England manager Gareth Southgate over his Manchester City exit, with the pair deciding that the midfielder remained in the Premier League to maximise his chances of making the Euro 2024 squad this summer.
Phillips had found himself firmly bottom of the pecking order in the City midfield, despite rejecting the chance to leave in the summer in search of more regular football. He had wanted to prove himself at the Etihad after a difficult debut season, but changed his stance when he started just one of three games earlier in the campaign while Rodri was suspended.
Having accepted he must leave in order to make the England squad this summer, Phillips joined West Ham on loan in January, with rumoured interest from Juventus. But he says that Southgate advised him to remain in England after 'losing the fire' at City.
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Reflecting on his ill-fated time at City, Phillips said: "I definitely wouldn't have been at this summer's Euros if I hadn't moved in January. I spoke to England boss Gareth Southgate about a few teams a month before the January window and he influenced me to stay in the Premier League rather than go abroad.
“I thought West Ham was the right place to go. You see the quality of the players with England, they are playing week in, week out. I wanted that same feeling of playing regularly, otherwise there was definitely a chance somebody else would play instead of me and that would be gut-wrenching. I wanted to give myself the best chance of making the Euros."
Phillips had
Manchester City will be going in search of a fourth successive win in all competitions when they face neighbours Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
This weekend will see the second Manchester derby of the season as United and City go head-to-head in the Premier League.
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