Kalvin Phillips and Rodri agree about Man City's formation plan

When Kalvin Phillips came off the bench at half time in Manchester City's first pre-season run-out of the season, he might not have expected his first minutes for his new club to come at centre-back.

But with two senior defenders left at home and another missing the Club America friendly with illness, Phillips was called upon to make his City debut in defence, rather than midfield. He would later get a 15 minute run-out in midfield towards the end of the contest, and it is that formation that will be more indicative of how he will fit into Pep Guardiola's plans this season.

If he is to play in the role he excelled in for Leeds — as a sole holding midfielder — he will have to oust Rodri, who has been superb for at least 18 months now. However, Phillips is under no illusions that he will have to fight for his place, so perhaps those 15 minutes are a sign of things to come.

Phillips was eventually moved into a double pivot alongside Rodri, where the Spaniard kept things ticking and Phillips was asked to bring the ball forward. It was the formation that many have expected if the pair are to play together, but there is only so much that can be read into the tactics as the other five forward players were all from the academy by that stage, and there were three more senior midfielders or forwards unavailable who may have featured.

On the other hand, the fact that Guardiola moved Kyle Walker into central defence to trial Phillips next to Rodri, even for a few minutes, was telling, and it's a role Phillips told reporters this week at City's team hotel that he would enjoy moving forwards.

"When I was younger I played more as an eight than what I did now. At the Euros it was new to me but I did reasonably well. Playing in