Kalvin Phillips Opens Up on Mental Struggles During Man City Stint, Rediscovering Passion at Ipswich
Kalvin Phillips, currently on loan at Ipswich Town, has revealed the mental challenges he faced during his time at Manchester City, where limited game time under Pep Guardiola left him struggling with confidence and motivation.
Speaking candidly, Phillips admitted that his lack of regular football since his £42m move to City in 2022 affected his fitness, mindset, and desire to compete. “At City, you can train with the best players every single day, but if you’re not playing, it’s difficult to stay fit and confident,” Phillips shared with Sky Sports.
“When there are times you’re feeling like you could play and the manager decides to go down a different route, it does hurt a little bit. The more I wasn’t playing, the less confident I got, the less fit I got,” he added.
Phillips reflected on his time at City, noting how his competitive edge waned: “I felt like I lost some fire in my belly to compete sometimes. But since coming to Ipswich, and even in pre-season when I played more minutes, I got that fire back. I made the decision to come here to play football and enjoy what I do again.”
Struggles with Media and Guardiola’s Criticism
Phillips also addressed the scrutiny that followed his move to City, particularly Guardiola’s public comments about his fitness after the 2022 World Cup. Guardiola later apologized for labeling Phillips as “overweight,” but the midfielder admitted the media attention took its toll.
“For everyone, it affects you,” he said. “If you read negative stories, it’s going to have an impact. I’m quite thick-skinned, but when you’re not playing and people are making negative comments, it’s hard to show what you’re capable of. That’s one thing I did struggle with.”
Despite being part of City’s historic treble-winning squad, Phillips admitted the experience felt bittersweet due to his lack of involvement. “It’s amazing to say I’m part of a treble-winning team, I’ve won the league twice. But when you’re not involved as much as you’d like to be, it doesn’t feel the same. It was an amazing moment, but if I’d played more, it would have felt more special,” he explained.
Ipswich: A Fresh Start
Since joining Ipswich, Phillips has experienced a resurgence both on and off the pitch. Under the guidance of manager Kieran McKenna, he has sought help from a sports psychologist to regain confidence. “Ipswich has lifted a weight off my shoulders,” Phillips said, revealing he has already played more minutes this season (542) than he did during the entirety of the previous campaign at City (396).
Phillips likened the atmosphere at Ipswich to his beloved Leeds United days and expressed renewed ambition to return to the England squad. “Ipswich gives me that same feeling as Leeds did. Now that I’m playing regularly again, I hope to work my way back into the England setup,” he said.
Phillips’ journey highlights the mental toll of elite-level football and the importance of finding an environment that reignites passion and belief.
