Kalvin Phillips admits Pep Guardiola calling him 'overweight' was the 'toughest' moment of his career as he left Man City to increase chances of making England's Euro 2024 squad after Gareth Southgate talks

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West Ham midfielder Kalvin Phillips has opened up on the decision to leave Man City on loan after Pep Guardiola called him overweight.

The England international joined the Irons in the January transfer window after a difficult 18 months in Manchester.

During his time at the Etihad, Phillips was slammed by Guardiola as the Spaniard labelled his as ‘overweight’.

Speaking to The Sun, Phillips has admitted that the period where his manager slammed him in the media was the toughest of his career.

‘After the World Cup was probably the toughest, when Pep came out and said I was overweight. He was right to do so but there are different ways to go about it,’ he said.

Kalvin Phillips has opened up on the decision to leave Man City on loan for West Ham

The midfielder admitted that facing Pep Guardiola’s criticism was the toughest period

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Phillips continued to reveal the context behind Guardiola’s comments before admitting that the comments affected his mother.

‘Pep was frustrated I didn’t come back into training early but it was just a miscommunication between the people at City and myself,’ he continued.

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

‘It was just a misunderstanding, he was very frustrated with me coming back 1.5kg over my target weight.

‘It took a big knock on my confidence and how I felt at City. My family were not happy about it, either. Especially Mum.’

Phillips has had a tough start to life at West Ham, inadvertently setting up Dominic Solaker to score against the Hammers on his debut.

However, the midfielder is keen to regain his form as he targets a place in the England squad for Euro 2024.

Phillips admitted that he spoke to Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate, who advised him to remain in the Premier League rather than seek a move abroad.

Phillips spoke to England manager Gareth Southgate before making his decision

‘I definitely wouldn’t have been at this summer’s Euros if I hadn’t moved in January,’ he admitted.

‘I spoke to England boss Gareth Southgate about a few teams a month before the January window and he influenced me to stay in the Premier League rather than go abroad.

‘I wanted that same feeling of playing regularly, otherwise there was definitely a chance somebody else would play instead of me and that would be gut-wrenching.

‘I wanted to give myself the best chance of making the Euros.’