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Phillips: It's About Enjoying Football Again
Friday, 16th Aug 2024 19:22 by Kallum Brisset

Town’s newest recruit Kalvin Phillips says he wants to enjoy his football again and repay the trust Kieran McKenna has shown in bringing him to Portman Road this season.

Phillips became the Blues’ eighth new recruit of the summer, signing on a season-long loan deal from reigning Premier League champions Manchester City earlier today.

The 28-year-old comes with a wealth of top-flight experience, having played 73 times in the Premier League, more than any other player in the Town squad.

“It’s been a long day but a day that I’ve been waiting for a number of weeks,” Phillips told TownTV upon signing for the club.

“I’ve had conversations between players that are here – Leif [Davis], Ben Johnson. Then I spoke to the manager which I’ve heard a lot about and seen the way he plays football, very attractive.

“It was a decision I wanted to make to come here and play his way of football and experience it with some old friends, as well.

“Keeping them connections with players from other teams, especially Leif who I’ve been friends with for a number of years. They’ve been very good conversations and them persuading me to come as well. They said the area’s lovely, they said it’s not as busy as Leeds, Manchester or London.”

Phillips followed the Blues closely last season and knows all about the style of play, something he says was a big attraction in making the temporary switch to Suffolk.


He said: “I followed them quite a lot last year, obviously I’m a Leeds fan. The battle between them to get promoted was very exciting and I watched a lot of games because of Leif.

“I loved how they played, very free-flowing and I love the story of coming from League One and getting promoted again.

“A lot of the players here can be very proud of what they’ve done and I’m pretty sure they’re going to be even prouder when they walk out onto Portman Road against Liverpool.

“The style of football is very attractive, it’s very easy going on the eye. They’re a team that love being on the ball and love to play football and express themselves.

“Watching last year and as soon as I knew they were coming up, there was a chance of me reunited with Leif and playing here.

“I’ve been at Man City for a couple of years and not played as much, but they’re the pinnacle of how beautiful football can be. I think Ipswich are on the right lines, especially with the manager who’s had great success with this team and improved them.”

Phillips was promoted with Leeds United to the Premier League in 2020 before enjoying a successful two years in the Premier League with the Whites, earning his move to Manchester City in 2022.

The midfielder hopes his own experiences as a newly-promoted player can help the existing group at the Blues, with many of the playing group going into the league for the first time.

“The experiences with Leeds are memories I’ll never forget with people I’ll never forget,” he recalled. “In the Premier League we did really well in the first year and caught a few teams by surprise with how fit we all were. I think that’s the case with Ipswich, they will catch teams by surprise with how well they play and how good the players are. I’m looking forward to it.

“Personally, it’s about trying to play as many games as possible and enjoy playing football again, which I’ve struggled to do over the last couple of years. We’ll try and win as many games as possible but also enjoy the experience and enjoy every second of it because you never know how long it’s going to last.

“I try to play football with a smile on my face and footballers are always happier when they’re playing. To have some close friends around me while I’m doing that and to be in a nice area is always better.”

He added: “Success would be to give a little bit of experience to the players that haven’t played in the Premier League and to be there for anybody that needs me. The manager’s played a big part in me coming here, and just to repay him for trusting me and giving me the opportunity to play for this club.

“It’s an unbelievable opportunity. The players deserve this moment, the fans deserve this moment for sticking by the team for so long, and the manager as well.

“I can’t wait to be there and experience it and experience the stadium as well. I’ve heard it’s a very good atmosphere here and I’m looking forward to it.”

Phillips also brings experience as a full England international with 31 caps to his name and featured at both the Euros in 2021 and the World Cup in 2022.

“The Euros final is a memory that will stick with me forever,” he said of those experiences. “I can remember every single game from the tournament. Having good people in the dressing room, a good team camaraderie and enjoying every minute of it.”

On his pre-season preparations, Phillips said: “It’s been okay. I played a couple of games in the US as a midfielder and a couple more as a centre-back. It was eventful and quite long, but I’m feeling in very good shape and I’m very happy with where I am.”

Phillips was Town's second signing of the day with the Blues closing in on a third and ninth of the summer, midfielder Jens Cajuste.

The Sweden international has been spotted in Suffolk ahead of undergoing a medical prior to the confirmation of his season-long loan from Napoli, a move which will reportedly cost the Blues €1.5 million (£1.3 million) with a mandatory €12 million (£10.2 million) buy-out should Town stay up.


Photo: ITFC/Matchday Images



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itfcskayman added 19:29 - Aug 16
If we can get this man firing and back to his old self then he could be the difference for us this season. Let’s show him some love!
17

IpswichT62OldBoy added 19:39 - Aug 16
Everyone he signs speaks so well, says the right things and sounds intelligent.
Kalvin is no exception.
He is going to be very good for us.
10

LegendofthePhoenix added 19:43 - Aug 16
Really humble and intelligent comments from Kalvin, you can tell immediately that he is going to slot straight in to the dressing room and hopefully that helps him get back to his best on the pitch. Tremendous addition for us, I can't wait to see him pinging those 50 yd inch-perfect passes to our wide players. Wes and Omari will love him.
12

dirtydingusmagee added 20:01 - Aug 16
I have been impressed
With him in past ,i see those good times returning with us
5

BlueBlood90 added 20:15 - Aug 16
Fantastic signing. A big household name that's played many times for England but you can tell from the interview there that he's just a nice, humble person without a shred of arrogance. Really wish him well and get back to his best with us.
8

BlueBoots added 21:09 - Aug 16
"The manager’s played a big part in me coming here, and just to repay him for trusting me and giving me the opportunity to play for this club.

“It’s an unbelievable opportunity."

We've managed to bring in a player who's excited to play for our manager and club, based on our style of play and the success we've had with it. This is something we're getting used to now, but not when they have 31 England caps and still come across as just as humble as the players who have been with us since League One. Our recruitment this summer has been outstanding!
6

Cafe_Newman added 23:28 - Aug 16
I hate seeing former Town players wearing other teams' kits and it always takes a while to get used to seeing other clubs' players wearing a Town shirt. I hope Kalvin rediscovers his passion for the game with Ipswich and plays as well as he looks comfortable in "tractor blue".

Welcome to Suffolk Kalvin.
2

ArnieM added 06:35 - Aug 17
Welcome to Ipswich Kalvin. Like do many great players that have come to play for our club, you’ll love it and I wouldn’t be surprised to see you want to stay in Suffolk. Like so many before you, once you’re here, you’ll love the club, love the area and want to settle here. You’d be very welcome and wouldn’t regret it!

COYBS
3

CharlieWoodsNotebook added 10:50 - Aug 17
Don't know what proportion of his £140k / week wages we are paying but at his best he is a world class player. Two things stand out from this interview.
1. Hurrah for Leif Davis! What an asset he is for our club and
2. The experiment with playing CB. We are all aware of our need for another holding midfielder and I am sure McKenna intends this role but Guardiola has spoken openly about Phillips limitations in tight spots with the game "around" him as opposed to his excellence when the game is "in front of" him. This explains the experiment as CB. Makes me wonder if McKenna does want to allow Cajuste, Morsy and Phillips all to start, if a Phillips /Greaves pairing at CB is an unforeseen possibility.
1

Suffolkboy added 12:42 - Aug 17
Will likely prove a master stroke by MA and KM , whose stature throughout the game must be extremely highly ranked .
KM will be able to get the best out of KP ,though as with others we may just need to allow time and exercise patience .
Oh! To be at Portman Rd today ; go for it boys , show the PL what a real team and unity and belief cab do !
COYB
0


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