Phillips has embarked on a loan spell with West Ham United for the remainder of the season following a challenging 18-month stint at the Etihad Stadium post his transfer from Leeds United.
The 28-year-old had minimal appearances during City’s treble-winning campaign, yet opted to remain and compete for his place during the summer, despite expectations of an earlier departure.
Unfortunately, Phillips’ playing time did not increase, and he found himself excluded from the squad even when Rodri was unavailable due to suspension.
In discussing his departure from Manchester City, Phillips revealed that he felt compelled to step away from football to reignite his passion. “It was a significant decision for me and my family, but one I felt was necessary as I wasn’t getting enough game time,” he shared with his new club’s Official Programme ahead of their weekend fixture against Arsenal.
“When I departed Manchester City in January, my sole desire was to return to playing football and rediscover the joy in it. After an extended period without playing, one can’t help but feel somewhat worthless due to the lack of achievements.”
“For me, it was about rejoining a strong team with supportive fans and rekindling my love for the game. While it was saddening to realize I had to move on, I quickly embraced the opportunity and was eager to experience the atmosphere and energy of London,” Phillips added. “I was thrilled to get started.”
In hindsight, it was a bold move, albeit ultimately futile. Phillips could have departed City during the summer and secured consistent playing time throughout the season, rather than attempting to shake off the rust mid-season.
Nevertheless, prior to the transfer window opening, Phillips put an end to any speculation regarding his departure by affirming his desire to remain at City and fight for his spot in the team.
While leaving a club that achieved a treble is undoubtedly challenging, it was evident that Pep Guardiola did not view Phillips as a suitable option, evident from his preference to field other players in the holding position instead of Phillips when Rodri was unavailable.
