Pep Guardiola admitted Kalvin Phillips has "not arrived in the best condition to train" after he missed out on Manchester City's win over Liverpool.
The midfielder has hardly featured for the Premier League champions since his £45million summer switch from Leeds. Phillips' injury woes have limited him to four appearances in all competitions and he wasn't included in the squad for City's EFL Cup victory over Liverpool on Thursday night.
Guardiola, who has been known to ease new signings in gradually, has confessed that Phillips is still not primed to feature after returning from the World Cup. “He's not fit. He's not arrived in the best condition to train,” the Catalan said of the 27-year-old.
Phillips' injuries and lack of minutes at club level didn't hamper his World Cup dream as Gareth Southgate stuck by the man who featured in all of England's games at Euro 2020 last year. In Qatar, he was dislodged in the starting XI by Jude Bellingham, making just one substitute cameo.
The former Leeds man claimed he "can’t really argue" with the selection choices, especially given his lack of action. However, his experiences in the Middle East may well further delay his ambitions at the Etihad. Phillips was signed as a replacement for stalwart Fernandinho, who left City in the summer, after receiving a rave review from Marcelo Bielsa, who was previously in charge at Elland Road.
"He (Bielsa) spoke about him three or four years ago in the first or second season and he spoke about him. It was in the Championship and it was the first time I realised Kalvin played for Leeds," said Guardiola.
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"He spoke with me and said he was a guy who is really good, maybe not for now for Manchester City but he can play in a top team maybe one day. After, he proved Marcelo was not wrong and he was promoted in the Premier League, played for the national team and that is to his credit. After Fernandinho decided to go to Brazil, we were looking for a holding midfielder and we thought he was perfect for us."
One player who has returned from the World Cup with renewed vigour is Kevin De Bruyne, who was part of a Belgium side that flopped as they were dumped out in the group stage. Their tournament nightmare came amid rumours of infighting, but the midfielder received huge praise after City's cup win.
Guardiola said: “Kevin was outstanding. He just needs to find the right fire inside of himself, just to be a little bit grumpy or upset, to play his best. When this happens, what a player, assisting or scoring goals. How many years has he been here? Seven or eight years? He's an absolute legend and I always push him to find that fire."
