England manager Gareth Southgate has opened on the difficulty of fitting Kalvin Phillips into his Three Lions team.
Leeds United play a completely different way than Southgate's side, despite operating with similar formations.
Marcelo Bielsa's unique 'man for man' style requires a high level of fitness and tactical awareness - something Phillips has showcased in abundance over the past two seasons particularly.
The defensive midfielder was a star performer in the Whites side that achieved promotion to the Premier League for the first time in over 16 years last season and has started this campaign in similar form.
His ability to drop back close to the defence, pick the ball up and look for a forward pass is something that is key in Bielsa 's system.
The 25-year-old's importance to the side was demonstrated when he was missing through injury for just over a month between October and November.
His versatility has often proved pivotal for Bielsa too, with the midfielder sometimes dropping into a back three.
Now, when Southgate was asked about how he deals with taking in so many players from different clubs when an international break is on, the England manager spoke specifically about Phillips as an example of the difficulties.
"We’ve had Kalvin Phillips from Leeds - they play 4-3-3, but they’re man for man," the England boss said on Lockdown Theatre's Team Talk With Legends.
"So, you’ve got all of these players coming in with a different idea in their head of how to play a certain position and we have to be really clear with how we want to play it to make sure that those messages are clear, so the players have the chance for their own individual talents to come out.
"He plays both for Leeds (centre midfield and defence), they sometimes change positions during the game if they’re playing against two forwards, they drop into a back three and if they’re playing against a three-man forward line, he stays in midfield.
"I think we’re conscious when a player comes with us, whatever formation we play, players have positions on the pitch where they end up in and do their best work."
