A lot of Leeds United fans have reacted angrily to a claim from Gary Neville on Kalvin Phillips.
Neville, speaking on Sky Sports during England’s 1-0 defeat to Denmark in the UEFA Nations League, claimed that Phillips has ‘probably learnt more in the last 4-6 weeks than he has done in the last 4-6 years,’ as per Leeds fan and journalist James Marshment.
The former Manchester United defender appears to suggest that Phillips’ first England call-up has seen the 24-year-old take on the greatest learning curve of his career to date.
Marshment, who relayed the quotes via his Twitter account, disagrees and thinks that Phillips has probably learnt more playing under Marcelo Bielsa since the Argentine’s arrival in 2018.
In replies to his post, it seems that the comment from Neville has annoyed these Leeds fans.
Do you agree with Neville's comment?
No, he is talking nonsense
Yes, he is right
I picked that one up, too.
Nerve of some people!— South Stand Steve (@stevenarthursim) October 14, 2020
I had just given @GNev2 a compliment about 2 mins before that comment, on saying how much sense he talks and his a good pundit.
— Craig?? (@CraigLUFC77) October 14, 2020
Those pundits are clueless
— FIRST LIGHT MOT (@Orangemankw) October 15, 2020
No research went into that Neville comment!
— David Roberts (@DCRoberts1964) October 15, 2020
Take a visit to Thorpe Arch Gary ….participate in some Murder Ball …see how much you think KP has learned …then do your comparisons….these pundits really have not got a clue how we work have they !!!
— Mark Eddison (@mkeddie1502) October 14, 2020
Before Bielsa arrived at Elland Road, Phillips played as a central midfielder for the Whites and found himself mainly playing there in both the 2016/17 season and the 2017/18 season.
However, when the Argentine arrived, he converted Phillips into a defensive midfielder, where he has mainly played in both the 2018/19 season and the 2019/20 season.
Phillips himself has even claimed that Bielsa has turned his Leeds career around, and that can be seen in his average ratings from the 2018/19 and 2019/20 seasons compared to those of the two previous campaigns.
This post continued to draw the attention of these Leeds fans, who agree with Marshment.
Said every Leeds fan, including myself at the exact same time!
— Viki Scaife ?? (@VikiABC) October 14, 2020
Exactly what I was shouting at the tv ?
— Alan Ryan (@Alan_p_Ryan) October 14, 2020
I can’t believe those words even came out his mouth https://t.co/lVid1Lnun3
— zidane disley (@disley_zidane) October 15, 2020
Gary Neville is ridiculous https://t.co/jZCYe6rOMP
— G U Y S L E Y (@Guysley) October 14, 2020
Phillips now has four caps for England, and though Neville thinks that he might have learnt more in the last 4-6 weeks, it is clear that these Leeds fans disagree and think that he has learnt the most under Bielsa.