Phillips' struggles are a cautionary tale for Anderson

Phillips spent eight seasons with Leeds United’s first team at Elland Road, helping the club secure Premier League survival a year after winning the Championship title. His performances earned him a key role in England’s run to the European Championships in 2021, and his anticipated move to the Etihad was seen as a step toward the next level of his career. Instead, the transfer marked what many consider the toughest period of his professional life. Arriving at Manchester City ahead of the 2022‑23 campaign, Phillips faced the immediate challenge of breaking into a midfield that had just captured the Premier League. The difficulty intensified after he made only one Premier League substitute appearance for the club; a hip injury sustained in training ruled him out for roughly three months. Sidelined from September, Phillips did not return to action until November, by which time domestic football was pausing ahead of the World Cup in Qatar. Upon his comeback, he found himself competing with Rodri for a holding‑midfield berth, with the Spanish international quickly establishing himself as Pep Guardiola’s first‑choice option. After making just two substitute appearances for England at the World Cup, Phillips returned in December to discover he had been omitted from City’s squad for the first match back against Liverpool. Guardiola publicly accused him of being “overweight” and not fit enough to train or play. By the time Phillips was deemed available for selection, City had rediscovered their rhythm. Guardiola’s side lost only three of their last 22 Premier League matches en route to a fifth title in six seasons. The club then became the first English side in approximately twenty‑five years to complete the treble, capturing the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League, with Rodri scoring the winner against Inter Milan in the final. In 2024, while on loan at Ipswich Town, Phillips said Guardiola’s comments about his weight had left him feeling “frustrated”.