Pep Guardiola has challenged Kalvin Phillips to prove he can battle Rodri and take his Manchester City place.
England midfielder Phillips has endured a nightmare start to his City career since joining from Leeds for £50million in the summer. The 27-year-old has yet to start a game for City and has made just six substitute appearances, totalling 89 minutes.
A shoulder injury, which required surgery, kept Phillips out from September until November, with Guardiola branding him “overweight” when he returned from World Cup duty last month. Phillips is set to make his first start for City against Saints tonight, with Guardiola saying he must have the belief he can challenge Rodri for his place.
“He has to fight with Rodri for the benefit of all of us,” said Guardiola. "Rodri cannot sleep and have the feeling there is someone close to him to do it. He has to.”
Asked if Phillips can win his battle with Rodri, Guardiola said: “Why not? It depends on him how he is able to fight with Rodri. That's why the big clubs must have these kinds of feelings.
“Rodri knows a little bit more about what we want to do. The quality of the long balls, Kalvin is better than Rodri. In the shorter spaces in the first actions and controls, Rodri is better.
“We need Kalvin, I said that from day one. When he didn't train for the first game after the World Cup. it was 'I don't want you injured when you're not fit'.
“You're more at risk in a training session or in games. It's better to stay away for a few days and, when you're fit or in the condition to train, go. This is what happened after a few days - his weight was perfect and he was back training.
“Sometimes he's not ready for some niggles or problems. Then I prefer if a player has one day out, because you're not going to lose anything.
“I said many times, if you're not ready for the training guys, take a day off. If you're not ready for many reasons - personal issues or physical issues - no problem. I'm pretty sure Kalvin is frustrated, when you come to a new club and cannot play, but the shoulder was the main thing.
“After surgery, he came back from the World Cup perfectly and now he feels fine, just a question of time, minutes, the amount of games we have, we're going to use him.”
Guardiola said City spoke to England boss Gareth Southgate before moving for Phillips, after long-standing midfielder Fernandinho left to return to Brazil.
“Txiki Begiristain [City sporting director] and other people did good scouting, meetings and spoke with the national team manager,” said Guardiola. With the attributes he has, we decided to do it, because we needed a player in his position.”
