Kalvin Phillips has said Pep Guardiola's comment last year about his weight was the most difficult moment of his 18 months at Manchester City before he moved to West Ham United on loan last month.
Phillips, 28, represented England at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, but returned home with more weight than the goal set by his club. Guardiola responded by calling him “overweight” and said he was not fit to train.
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“After the World Cup it was probably the most difficult [period]when Pep came out and said he was overweight… He was right to do it, but there are different ways to approach it,” Phillips said.
“I didn't disagree with him, but obviously it took a big hit to my confidence and how I felt at City. And my family weren't happy about it either. Especially my mother.
“It was just a misunderstanding and I think I was very frustrated because I came back 1.5kg over my goal weight.”
Phillips has had a difficult start at West Ham as he attempts to retain his place in Gareth Southgate's England squad ahead of the European Championship in Germany this summer.
