Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has apologised to Kalvin Phillips for stating that the midfielder was overweight when he came back from the 2022 World Cup.
Guardiola had told local media that Phillips was not fit to go through training sessions after returning from Qatar, where only appeared for 40 minutes in two substitute appearances in England's campaign.
Phillips couldn’t impress at City after signing from Leeds United in 2022, making only six starts in 18 months, and the 28-year-old moved to West Ham United on loan last month.
After leaving for West Ham, the midfielder said his confidence had taken a "big knock" by Guardiola's comments.
"Yeah, I'm sorry," Guardiola told reporters on Monday.
"I apologise to him. I spoke to him before (making the comment). I never, ever don't speak to the team before I say something here, or the player in that case."
City, who are third in the Premier League, can reduce the gap to leaders Liverpool to one point if they defeat Brentford at home later on Tuesday.
After playing in every match in the postponed Euro 2020 tournament, Phillips made his international debut in September 2020 and was named the men's Player of the Year for England in 2020–21.
