Manchester City faced their inaugural defeat of the season, prompting Tony Cascarino to question Pep Guardiola’s decision of not starting Kalvin Phillips in the match.
Guardiola granted Phillips a rare start during the Carabao Cup against Newcastle United earlier in the week, leaving fans eager to see if Phillips would secure a starting spot in the game against Wolves.
However, to the surprise of many, Mateo Kovacic and Matheus Nunes were chosen by Pep instead, with Phil Foden and Julian Alvarez in advanced midfield roles.
This decision disappointed Phillips, and Cascarino was quick to raise concerns regarding Pep’s choice, particularly considering Rodri’s suspension.
Cascarino questioned whether it was acceptable to criticize one of the greatest managers, especially with Rodri absent, making Kalvin Phillips a suitable option to fill the void.
Pep opted for Kovacic and Nunes over Phillips, both recognized for their holding midfield roles. Kovacic’s quick ball movement was acknowledged, but Cascarino stressed that Phillips’ prowess in tackling, a quality vital to the game, was unmatched by Kovacic.
Although Phillips didn’t shine in his recent game against Newcastle, Pep had initially praised him after the match. However, Cascarino suggested that this praise may have been for show, as Phillips’ performance was ordinary and went uncredited for the goal.
The decision to relegate the £150,000-a-week star to a substitute against Wolves wasn’t entirely unexpected, but Cascarino argued that Phillips should have been a starter. Unfortunately, Phillips failed to present a compelling case to support this argument.
it remains to be seen if Phillips will make an appearance against Arsenal. It’s anticipated that once Rodri returns, Phillips may have limited playing time.
