Leeds United captain Liam Cooper makes Kalvin Phillips claim over WhatsApp group issue

Leeds United captain Liam Cooper has claimed he will find it difficult to remove Kalvin Phillips from the players’ WhatsApp group as he considers him as ‘family’. Phillips revealed in an interview last month that he still remained in the group chat despite sealing a move away from Elland Road earlier in the transfer window.

The 26-year-old made the switch to Manchester City at the beginning of July to bring his long stay at Leeds to an end. Phillips was part of the side that ended Leeds’ 16-year wait for Premier League football and given how long that crop of players spent together, built up some strong friendships both on and off the pitch.

Phillips was quizzed on his involvement in the WhatsApp group in July, to which he discussed his delight at still being in it. He said: “The day that I get kicked out of that I will be quite upset. I am one of the admins but Liam Cooper the captain is an admin as well.

“I think just because I’ve got so many friends there, and it’s the players chat so not much goes in there about training and the games and stuff like that, I am very happy to still be in it.”

Cooper, who Phillips revealed as one of the admins, has claimed he will find it tough if he ever has to remove the England international from the group due to the bond they have built up over the years.

He said: “I feel like Kalvin is family, it’s difficult to just bin him off in that way. If I do bin him off, I’m going to have to be a man and ring him and say ‘you’re going to have to go’.”