Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has insisted that he told Kalvin Phillips he would be discussing the midfielder's weight in public.

The Spaniard was upfront in December 2022 when he mentioned the reasons for Phillips not being in the team to play Liverpool in the Carabao Cup at the time.

He stated that Phillips was overweight after he came back from international duty with England at the World Cup in Qatar.

"I spoke to him. I never before I said something here [in a press conference] speak with the players in that case," Guardiola said yesterday.

"I'm sorry. Once in eight years is not bad. But I'm so sorry. I apologize to him. I do apologise. I'm so sorry."

Phillips had commented on the issue earlier this month, stating: "When Pep came out and said I was overweight, he was right to do so but there are different ways to go about it.

"I did not disagree with him but obviously it took a big knock on my confidence and how I felt at City I would probably say that. And my family were not happy about it, either. Especially my mum."