“As the celebrations kicked off across the street around 7:30 pm on Saturday, with glasses of bubbly being passed around and group photos being taken, Pep Guardiola remained preoccupied with his phone.”
Some – not all – of Manchester City’s squad had gathered at the training ground to watch Nottingham Forest to finish this for them. Guardiola responded to plentiful congratulatory messages but may well have been scribbling on his Notes app as well.
For Forest had given City’s manager some extra work to do, because presumably the team for Chelsea altered dramatically once the whistle went at the City Ground. Had there been anything at all riding on this then Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne would not have had their feet up enjoying the party for more than hour.
It is scarcely believable that City secured this title with three matches to spare, given Arsenal’s surge until late on, and Guardiola can use this last week to rest some legs, while simultaneously offering some insight into those on the fringes who have been reduced to roles of spectator.
Kalvin Phillips (third left) featured during Man City’s 1-0 victory against Chelsea on Sunday
He is determined to break into Pep Guardiola’s (pictured) starting line-up after going through one of the ‘lowest points’ in his career this season
City lifted the Premier League title on Sunday afternoon after Arsenal were beaten 1-0 by Nottingham Forest on Saturday
Kalvin Phillips being one, a first Premier League start 322 days after signing for £42million from Leeds United. Phillips’s luck has been such that he even missed his own unveiling due to illness, then suffering a recurrence of a shoulder injury that took months out of his debut season before a World Cup he rushed back for.
There were positive signs for Phillips while anchoring City’s much-changed midfield, which included energetic teenager Rico Lewis as a No 8 with Phil Foden.
Some nice clipped passes, a solid one-touch interception in the build-up to Julian Alvarez’s first-half winner. He robustly shrugged off a wild Kai Havertz tackle, almost had an assist for what would have been a wonderful Foden goal and hit the post with a header from Riyad Mahrez’s free-kick. He smartly controlled City’s tempo too.
Imperfections existed in his game, which are to be expected given a lack of meaningful minutes in such a crucial position, and the challenge for Phillips now is to prove he can cut it in this squad. Nobody in the whole country is getting near Rodri but Phillips is absolutely determined to fight for a role under Guardiola. City are not encouraging offers for the 27-year-old and he wants to remain.
‘I’m happy because we won the league the night before and I knew there might be a chance I could play,’ Phillips said. ‘It’s been unbelievably tough, it’s probably be one of the lowest points confidence-wise in my career but I’m very happy I’ve got the guys around me to keep pushing me.’
So these are big days ahead for an England international who needs to find his way again. And Cole Palmer as well. Palmer also earned his first league start in a season many thought he would truly kick on and make Mahrez’s life difficult.
Julian Alvarez (pictured) scored the only goal of their game against Chelsea with a lovely finish
But Phillips (left) proved instrumental in midfield for City and helped them get the three points
Academy product, Cole Palmer (right) will also be hoping to make a stake for more game time, and he impressed today, setting up Alvarez for his goal with a lovely pass
The academy product has tried too hard on occasion but electric here, showing exactly why people around this place have had such high hopes for his future.
In the short-term, both Palmer and City have decisions. Whether he goes in search of a top-flight loan and play every week, hopefully returning with more experience and confidence, or stick it out and continue learning under the best manager in the land.
One thing going for Palmer, who assisted Alvarez, is that Phil Foden – also brilliant on the day – is set for a more central role next term. Watching Foden develop there will prompt excitement and these few days are offering a small glimpse into next season.
