Pep Guardiola apologizes to Kalvin Phillips for making fun of being “overweight” but questions player's suggestion

Pep Guardiola has apologized to Kalvin Phillips for calling him “overweight” last season.

However, the Manchester City boss insists he spoke to his player before telling the media.

Phillips is looking to rebuild his career on loan at West Ham amid a miserable year and a half at Manchester City that saw him struggle for playing time and risk losing out on a place in the England squad for Euro 2024.

The former Leeds star has since said that Guardiola's mockery It was the hardest moment of his City career.

He said: “After the World Cup it was probably the hardest thing, when Pep came out and said he was overweight. He was right to do it, but there are different ways to do it.

“Pep was frustrated because I didn't return to training early, but it was simply a lack of communication between me and the City people.

“Pep wanted me to come the day after we finished the tournament and participate in friendlies and stuff. I never got that information because if he asked me to be there, he would have done it.

“It was just a misunderstanding, I was very frustrated because I was 1.5kg over my target weight.

“It was a big blow to my confidence and how I felt at City. My family wasn't happy about it either. Especially mom.”

While Guardiola sent his apology to Phillips, he insists he told the player before speaking to the media about his weight.

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“I'm sorry, once every eight years is not bad. I apologize, I'm sorry. I'm sorry,” Guardiola said ahead of City's clash with Brentford on Tuesday night. live and exclusively on talkSPORT.

Guardiola emphasized that he had spoken to Phillips before making the public comment about his weight, saying: “I never, ever said anything here before, I didn't speak to the players in that case.”

City are looking to close the gap on Premier League leaders Liverpool when they entertain the Bees, a match that will not be broadcast on UK television.

The defending champions are five points behind the Reds following their home draw against Chelsea last weekend.

As for Phillips, his attempts to return to fitness have gotten off to a terrible start having achieved a Error that led to Bournemouth's goal on his debut for Hammers.

and he went Sent off in West Ham's last gamedefeat against Nottingham Forest, with two warnings in three minutes.