Pep Guardiola told to rest Rodri for Manchester City v Leeds United after Kalvin Phillips decision
Saturday’s visit of Leeds United may be a chance for Pep Guardiola to rest Rodri and bring in Kalvin Phillips for their Premier League clash at the Etihad Stadium, according to Daily Mail journalist Jack Gaughan.
The Spaniard has started every single Premier League game since October – and all but four in all competitions thereafter and with a Champions League semi-final date with Real Madrid to come, Guardiola may have to ring the changes against Leeds.
Former Whites midfielder Phillips was brought on in Rodri’s place for the final few minutes of their 3-0 win over West Ham on Wednesday [3 May] and Gaughan has suggested that Guardiola should rest and finally hand Phillips a rare City start against his former club.
Writing in his article for the Daily Mail [4 May], he said:
“Guardiola was yelling at his players – who were happily knocking the ball about between them with the points already safe – to stick it out of play so City could make a change and introduce Kalvin Phillips for the final few minutes. After what felt like an age, they finally accomplished that.
“Saturday’s visit of Leeds United might well be an opportunity to remove Rodri for an afternoon, perhaps with an eye on the first leg of their Champions League semi-final at Real Madrid next week.”
Chance
It’s fair to say Phillips simply hasn’t had the best of times since departing Leeds United for the blue half of Manchester. The 27-year-old has become an unfortunate victim of Rodri’s scintillating form and performance levels throughout the campaign, only being resigned to eight substitute appearances in the Premier League.
It’s an absolute far cry from his time at Elland Road where Phillips was not only a household name in West Yorkshire but considered one of the best defensive midfielders around – and certainly amongst Rodri’s standing after his brilliant performances for Leeds United.
And given their huge clash against Real Madrid next week, Guardiola may indeed be tempted to hand Phillips his first top-flight start, funnily enough against the club Phillips holds dear.
Who knows, a brilliant performance could well mean the Whites fall into the relegation places come the end of the weekend – something Phillips will be incredibly distraught at knowing he played a hand in his former club’s position in the league.
It’s certainly one of the most intriguing sub-plots to watch out for this weekend, as Sam Allardyce begins the impossible job at Elland Road.
In other Leeds news, a seven-figure bonus handed out as Allardyce joins Elland Road.