Hammers coach Kevin Nolan says Kalvin Phillips is ‘gutted’ how things have worked out for him at West Ham so far.
Kalvin Phillips does not need telling that his start to life at West Ham has been far from ideal.
Because he is very much feeling down about his time with the Hammers since signing from Man City.
That’s according to West Ham assistant boss Kevin Nolan.
Phillips has endured a torrid 18 months at Manchester City having barely kicked a ball under Pep Guardiola.
And it’s fair to say it has showed in his two appearances for the Hammers thus far, gifting the opposition goals in each.
Now coach Nolan says Phillips is ‘gutted’ how things have worked out for him at West Ham so far.
Phillips ‘gutted’ how things have worked out so far
Phillips gave the ball away in his own box within the opening minutes of his debut – the 1-1 draw with Bournemouth.
He struggled in the game and was then substituted by David Moyes in the second half – offering an apologetic gesture to West Ham fans as he left the field.
Phillips was then dropped for the defeat at Man United. He came on as a second half substitute and gave the ball away in midfield as the Red Devils broke and scored.
Speaking on talkSPORT, Nolan has revealed Phillips is very aware of his bad start. But he has backed the midfielder to become a key player for the Hammers.
Zouma to blame anyway says Nolan
And Nolan says Kurt Zouma was more at fault for Phillips’ error vs Bournemouth as the man himself.
“Sometimes it just takes that little bit of time,” Nolan said.
“He’s just getting to know us as a unit and what we want because we’re going to be totally different to what Man City are.
“He’s just finding his feet and I’m sure once he does he’s going to be a tremendous signing for us from now until the end of the season.
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‘He was really upset’
“I can’t knock him, he’s a great kid, he wants to work hard. You could see he was really upset after the weekend. He feels like he’s probably let himself down.
“But I said to him ‘Mate when you’ve got your centre-half rolling it to you like that, I’d have been after Zouma as a central midfielder’. And Kurt was like (holds hands up) ‘Yea listen lads, that’s me’ and then he gets laid one on the middle (at Old Trafford).
“You know that when you’re given one of them balls and you get sacked you’re like ‘Oh my god it’s my fault’. But when you look back you think ‘Jesus Christ come on mate help me out will you’.
Not only does Phillips have the full backing of Nolan to come good.
But technical director Tim Steidten has been speaking about Phillips this week too. And the German believes he will prove to be a great leader for the Hammers.
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