Kalvin Phillips was deployed in a new-look position for Manchester City and fans were left pleasantly surprised by his performance.
The England international has struggled to make an impact at the Etihad Stadium since arriving from Leeds for £45million in 2022.
The midfielder played a key role in helping Leeds gain promotion to the Premier League under Marcelo Bielsa and was rewarded with a starting spot in England’s run to the Euro 2020 final.
Phillips has been unable to replicate the same performances under Pep Guardiola leading to an unsuccessful loan spell at West Ham last season.
The 28-year-old has made just 31 appearances for City in two years at the club and has slipped down the pecking order under Guardiola.
Phillips returned to pre-season training with City and jetted out to the United States as part of the club’s pre-season tour.
With his Manchester City future unclear, Phillips lined up for Tuesday’s tune-up game against Barcelona in the unfamiliar position of centre-back.
Whilst some fans may have viewed it as a risk to deploy a player lacking in confidence in such a position, Phillips fired back with an admirable display, leaving supporters surprised.
Phillips formed a central-defensive partnership with Josko Gvardiol in the clash that ended 2-2 but saw the La Liga side claim a penalty-shootout victory.
And his display had fans believing a permanent switch to centre-back could be a move that saves his City career.
One fan wrote: “Man of the match today against Barca.”
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Another added: “He is way better as a CB than a DM.”
A third fan posted: “Proud of him, he did well. We go again.”
Another wrote: “Pep found a role for him.”
A final fan added: “Pep might be onto something.”
The statistics also backed up Phillips’ improved display with 93 percent pass accuracy – the most of any player.
He managed 18 passes Into final third, ten accurate long balls, four recoveries, three interceptions, two clearances and two chances created.
Despite a rare moment of positivity around Phillips, Alan Pardew has urged the star to seek a move away from Manchester City to ‘find himself again.’
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“He won’t break into the Man City team, playing him as centre-back isn’t insulting but it’s a little bit like ‘he’s giving him a game because they’re a bit short there’” the former Newcastle boss told talkSPORT.
“He needs to move on and the loan thing didn’t work out. The West Ham thing was really poor for him and the club. Whatever happens, he needs a new home I think.
“I always thought of him as a very competent footballer whenever I watched him.
“But there seems to be a drop off whether it’s in his mental capacity, something’s gone on in his mind, because physically there’s nothing wrong with him. He just needs to find himself again.”