Kalvin Phillips reveals Guardiola's 'overweight' jibe was his toughest moment

KALVIN PHILLIPS has opened up about his “stressful” 18-month hell at Manchester City.

And he admits: I had to leave to save my English Euro dream.

Kalvin Phillips has opened up about Pep Guardiola's comment about being 'overweight' at Man CityCredit: Getty

Phillips will be hoping to regain his fire at West Ham while securing his place in the European Championship with EnglandCredit: Rex

In his first major interview since joining West Ham on loan in January, the 28-year-old Three Lions midfielder also reveals:

He lost his 'fire' because he spent most of his time on the bench.
City boss Pep Guardiola shattered his confidence by berating him for being just THREE POUNDS overweight.
His mother was so upset that she stopped coming to the games.
England friend Declan Rice has sold West Ham to him and he feels 'alive' again.

Phillips admits that even the success of being part of City's squad that won the Treble, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA World Club Cup was undermined after THREE starts in all five competitions.

And he stated: “I definitely wouldn't have been at this summer's Euros if I hadn't moved in January.

FREE BETTS – BEST BETTS & BONUSES FOR NEW CUSTOMERS

“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 in England, they play week in, week out.

Awkward moment Michail Antonio talked about Kalvin Phillips loan to West Ham live on Sky Sports as fans say 'can't hate the man'

“I wanted that same feeling of playing regularly, otherwise there was definitely a chance that someone else would play in my place and that would be heartbreaking.

“I wanted to give myself the best chance of reaching the European Championships.”

Phillips signed by City from Leeds in a £45million deal in July 2022 and admits there were 'down days' when he felt: 'I really don't care today. . . exactly the same. Go in, train, go home and have nothing to be excited about. It was stressful.”

Guardiola's too-tough joke after returning from Qatar in 2022 was his low point.

He said: “After the World Cup was probably the hardest thing, when Pep came out and said I was too heavy. He was right to do that, but there are different ways to go about it.

Phillips' mother stopped watching Man City games because he was constantly on the benchCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Declan Rice convinced Phillips to make the move to West HamCredit: Getty

“Pep was frustrated that I didn't come back to training early, but it was just a miscommunication between the people at City and myself.

“Pep wanted me to come the day after we finished the tournament and be involved in friendlies and stuff. I never got that information because if he had asked me to be there, I would have.

“It was just a misunderstanding, he was very frustrated because I came back 1.5kg above my target weight.

“It has had a big impact on my self-confidence and my feeling at City. My family wasn't happy about it either. Especially mom.”

Lindsay Crosby couldn't bear to see her son left out so often.

Phillips said: “She got frustrated, she didn't come to watch as much because she didn't like watching football without me playing.”

On Sunday, Phillips will be reunited with Rice, the man who convinced him to move to east London and who returns to the London Stadium with his new Arsenal side following his £105m summer move.

Phillips added: “I spoke to Declan about West Ham and he said it's a huge family club and that's what I'm all about. I want to feel like I'm at home. West Ham was the club I wanted.”