Guardiola Shuts Door on Kalvin Phillips Ahead of Swansea Clash
Pep Guardiola has once again made it clear that Kalvin Phillips will not be part of Manchester City’s starting lineup when they face Swansea City in the upcoming Carabao Cup clash. It’s a tough pill to swallow for the English midfielder, who had only recently made his return to action in the same competition against Huddersfield Town back in September.
Phillips, who has struggled to secure regular minutes since joining City, is said to be eager for more playing time this season. But so far, his opportunities have been incredibly limited — just seven minutes of game time in the entire 2025–26 campaign. That’s hardly enough for a player who was once seen as one of England’s brightest midfield prospects.
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Guardiola, known for his meticulous approach to team selection, praised Phillips as an “unbelievable guy,” yet his words offered little encouragement regarding the player’s on-field future at the Etihad. The Catalan coach has never been one to make emotional decisions, and his latest statement seems to confirm that Phillips’ chances of breaking into the first team remain slim.
For the Carabao Cup fixture, Guardiola is expected to rotate his squad but still keep a competitive lineup. Manchester City’s schedule remains packed, with a Premier League match against Bournemouth scheduled just a day after the Swansea tie. Managing player workload has become a crucial part of City’s success under Guardiola, and it appears that Phillips doesn’t fit into those rotation plans — at least not for now.
It’s been a frustrating journey for Phillips since his move from Leeds United. Once hailed as the backbone of Marcelo Bielsa’s midfield, he’s found it difficult to adapt to City’s demanding tactical system. Injuries, fierce competition for places, and the manager’s strict positional expectations have all contributed to his struggles. Despite his professionalism and positive attitude, his role in the squad has diminished to the point where his future at the club is now being openly questioned.
As City prepare to face Swansea in the Carabao Cup, all eyes will be on how Guardiola balances his lineup between maintaining momentum and giving fringe players some game time. Unfortunately for Phillips, it seems his chance might not come this time either.
For now, Manchester City remain focused on progressing in the competition, with Guardiola aiming to keep the team’s winning rhythm intact. But for Kalvin Phillips, the wait continues — a reminder that at a club like City, talent alone isn’t always enough to earn a place on the pitch.
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