Pep Guardiola Apologizes to Kalvin Phillips Over 'Overweight' Remark

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has apologized for his public comments about midfielder Kalvin Phillips returning overweight from the Qatar World Cup. Guardiola had made these remarks during a press conference in December 2022, which subsequently affected Phillips' self-confidence and his sense of belonging at the City.

Phillips, who was loaned out to West Ham in January, admitted in an interview with the Observer that the comment from Guardiola was a blow to his confidence. However, instead of discussing it with Guardiola, he chose to accept it quietly.

Guardiola, in a press conference ahead of the Premier League match against Brentford, expressed remorse for making the comment public. He emphasized that he had spoken to Phillips prior to sharing his concerns about the midfielder's weight in public. Guardiola apologized to Phillips, marking it as a rare mistake in his eight-year stint.

Guardiola responded to the situation ahead of City's match against Brentford, acknowledging that sometimes emotions take over. He reflected on his time as a player, mentioning his record for accumulating the most yellow cards as a result of frequent exchanges with other players.

Manchester City, who are currently in the third place, trail behind leaders Liverpool and second-placed Arsenal. Following an 11-game winning streak across all competitions, City recently concluded a match with Chelsea in a 1-1 draw.