Pep Guardiola says that Kalvin Phillips has 'the perfect body now - so sexy' after Manchester City win over Leeds United
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Updated 29/12/2022 at 10:12 GMT
Pep Guardiola was in a jovial mood following Manchester City's 3-1 win over Leeds United after previously claiming that Kalvin Phillips had returned back to the club overweight following the World Cup. Phillips was named on the bench for the match at his boyhood club, and Guardiola revealed that the midfielder could feature against Everton on New Year's Eve.
Guardiola warns Haaland is 'not at his best' despite Leeds brace
Pep Guardiola quipped that Kalvin Phillips ‘has the perfect body now - so sexy’ after saying last week the England midfielder had returned from the World Cup overweight.
The Manchester City boss caused a stir by stating that the former Leeds man had returned from international duty with added timber, and was left out of their Carabao Cup victory over Liverpool.
Following the fourth-round victory over the Reds, Guardiola said: "He is not injured. He arrived overweight (from the World Cup). He didn't arrive in the condition for the training sessions and to play."
Phillips was named on the bench for Wednesday night’s victory on the 27-year-old’s return to Elland Road, and could play in City’s next match against Everton on New Year’s Eve in a sudden U-turn from Guardiola.
"He [Phillips] has the perfect body now - so sexy," Guardiola told media after the 3-1 win over Leeds. "We will see for the weekend. He has spent the first part of the season out with surgery to arrive for the World Cup - and did everything to get to the World Cup.
"It's not just about just being fit, you also have to understand what we want to do, the movements etc.
"So that means, as quick as possible because Rodri cannot play all the games, so as quick as possible he will play.
"But I'm happy that yesterday, for example, Kalvin trained really well and sooner or later he will play."
Guardiola’s men took all three points from West Yorkshire thanks to a strike from Rodri and Erling Haaland’s brace, making him the fastest player to reach 20 Premier League goals.
The result leaves City second with 35 points from 15 games and five adrift of league leaders Arsenal, with Haaland relishing the prospect of trying to 'hunt' the Gunners.
“Yeah, yeah [on opportunities he missed], I just said it inside, I could have scored five, that’s the truth," he told Amazon Prime Video.
“But we win, that’s the most important thing, you see Arsenal at the top now, we have to hunt them so I’m really happy [with the win], but me as a striker, I could have scored a couple more but that’s life, what can I do? I have to practice.”
Haaland added that he’s “hungrier than ever” to return to club football following Norway’s absence from the World Cup and seek his first Premier League title.
He said: “I recharged my batteries and to see other people score to win games in the World Cup kind of triggers me, motivates me, and irritates me as I just said.
“I’m more hungry and I’m more ready than ever.”
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