Kalvin Phillips explains how injuries impacted first Man City season & optimistic hopes for 2023/24

Kalvin Phillips has revealed the extent of the injury problems which blighted his first season at Manchester City.

The midfielder was limited to just four starts in all competitions during his maiden campaign at the Etihad and found it impossible to oust the likes of Rodri, Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva from the team.

But Phillips explained part of this was due to his injury record, and the 27-year-old struggled with a recurring shoulder problem in the first period of the season, an issue which almost prevented him from making England’s World Cup squad.

The ex-Leeds United man also claimed he was carrying an injury when City signed him last summer, but said he has been fully fit for the second half of the season, despite Pep Guardiola’s reluctance to include him in the team.

“I came to Manchester City to win trophies and we won the trophies but I didn’t play as much as I wanted to do,” Phillips said on Monday, after scoring in England’s 7-0 win over North Macedonia.

“To be honest I was injured before I even went to City so that is one of the main reasons why I was injured so much [during the season]. City have been amazing to help me get back to full fitness and I eventually played a few more games for City and England, so credit to the medical staff at City for helping me.

“It was my hamstring that I had my operation on at Leeds. I was still struggling with that [when I arrived] and then my shoulder obviously that I did when I was at Leeds as well before the Euros. So it was just recurring injuries.

“I have felt 100 percent for quite a while but obviously have not played and everyone has seen that. But I’ve not missed a game since being back from the operation [in September]. I’ve been on the bench but not been unfit to not be in the squad. I’ve felt 100 percent since then.”

Phillips, who confirmed he wants to remain at City next season, is not the first player who has struggled to immediately adapt to Guardiola’s demands, and the likes of Bernardo Silva, Riyad Mahrez and Jack Grealish all endured frustrating maiden campaigns in Manchester before playing a bigger role from the second season. Phillips said that’s how he hopes the 2023/24 term pans out and added he feels close to ‘getting it’.

“I’d like to think so, to be honest,” he said. “Just knowing how difficult it is to understand the way Pep wants to play and how quickly you need to adapt to play in his system. I am on the brink of almost getting it. Obviously there is a little bit of work in pre-season and hopefully it will be alright. 

“I spoke to quite a few of the players about it. Nathan Ake being one; Jack. They all said the same, they all said the first 12 months were the hardest of their City careers but after that it becomes easier. I’m just going to go away for the off-season and enjoy myself with my family and girlfriend and friends and then come back fighting.”