When it comes to recruitment and squad construction, there arent many clubs if any that are run more effectively than Manchester City.Their Premier League title succe s in the 2021-22 season was just another reminder of how good they are on the pitch, yet the people in charge are not the types to simply sit around admiringtheir achievements.Even before winning a fourth Premier League crown in five years a feat only ever previously managed by Alex Fergusons Manchester United it was clear where City were going to strengthen.A deal for arguably the most sought-after striker in world football, Erling Haaland, was wrapped up two weeks before the season ended, and then with Fernandinho expected to depart, another central midfielder was to be the second priority.Kalvin Phillips proved to be the chosen one, with City confirming on Monday that the England international has completed his reported 45million move from Leeds United, having undergone a medical on Friday.Its an impre sive statement by City, who have already bolstered their two primary problem areas if you can call them that by the first week of July Chad Williams Jersey .And Juan Thornhill Jersey with respect to Phillips signing, theres a lot to suggest its a shrewd acquisition. Moulded by BielsaOf course, the most obvious and arguably crucial link here is Marcelo Bielsa. It was under the Argentinian coach that Phillips has played the best football of his career and cemented himself as an England regular.Bielsa is also considered one of Pep Guardiolas greatest inspirations, with an apparent 11-hour meeting between the pair back in 2006 said to have played a major role in the City bo s decision to go into management.The similarities between the two coaches styles of play are significant, and this shouldfacilitate a smooth transition forPhillips.Under Bielsa hell have become accustomed to not only intense training se sions, but also a playing philosophy that revolves around po se sion-based football and relentle s counter pre sing.In terms of the latter, City are perhaps a little more considered in their efforts compared to Bielsas Leeds, but either way Phillips has been exposed to the same fundamentals, and that can only be a tick in the pros column.After all, a second-season bounce has become commonplace for signings under Guardiola. Numerous players have needed a full campaign to truly get to grips with the demands required by the Catalan coach before going on to show significant improvement and growth thereafter Phillips might be better-equipped than most to hit the ground running.But that brings up a separate i sue; what will Phillips be to City?Rodri the immovable objectHaving come through Leeds academy, established himself as a key player and then gone on to be a fulcrum in Bielsas team, Phillips was the first name on the teamsheet when fit for several years at Elland Road.Regardle s of his suitability for City, it seems unlikely hell enjoy a similar status in Guardiolas team. Phillips is at Shane Buechele Jersey his most effective as lone defensive midfielder, but so too is Rodri, and its difficult to imagine the Spain international being suddenly taken out of the team given how effective hes proven to be.Rodris 2,937 succe sful pa ses in the oppositions half since the start of the 2020-21 season is over 400 more than any other Premier League player, and his 577 ball recoveries over the same period is the joint-most alongside Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, though the Dane has played almost 1,000 minutes more.Of course, whos to say Phillips couldnt play the role even more effectively? But the key thing to consider is that Rodri has an important function in both keeping City on the ball and then winning it back when they dont, and he demonstrably does both well.Neverthele s, Guardiolas proven hes a coach keen to rotate. He gave at least 900 minutes of Premier League football to 18 players last season, with only four teams bettering that, so Phillips can still expect plenty of game time.And, to be fair, Phillips might not have even been up to the task of being a regular starter for City given how much time he spent sidelined last season.A match made in heavenClearly, then, Guardiolas rotation policy would suggest Phillips will have opportunities to deputise for Rodri and take up the back-up role vacated by Fernandinho, yet theres no doubt he po se ses the skillset to also play alongside the James Winchester Jersey former Atletico Madrid midfielder as well.First and foremost, hes a more progre sive player than Rodri. Over the past two seasons, 28 per cent of Phillips pa ses have been forward, the exact same figure as Fernandinho and a fair bit more than Rodris 20 per cent.Similarly, in the same period Phillips has played 3.5 pa ses into the box every 90 minutes, whereas Rodri has averaged two, and his 1.0 dribble attempts each game is also slightly more than his new team-mate (0.9).But in JuJu Smith-Schuster Jersey a way it shouldnt nece sarily matter which midfield role Phillips plays in, given he has a range of abilities that should suit him either as a number six or a number eight, especially in a Guardiola team.On top of that, Phillips doesnt turn 27 until December, so he is very much entering his prime years, and if anyone can squeeze every ounce of potential out of a player, its Guardiola.Then when you consider Phillips history with Bielsa and type of team he played in at Leeds, everything points to this being a match made in heaven.