Kalvin Phillips has revealed how Marcelo Bielsa has actively encouraged his progression with England and the Leeds United manager has even commented in training how he looks forward to seeing his star midfielder in action for his country.
Kalvin Phillips said: “We were doing a passing drill [during training] and he said, ‘I can’t wait to watch you at Wembley playing these passes.”
During the interview, Phillips elaborated on how his England call-up had come about,
Kalvin Phillips said: “My agent called me and said, ‘I think Gareth Southgate’s gonna give you a ring in the next few minutes, so I’ll put the phone down and all the best.’ I was just sat there in the car and I turned the music down, waiting for the phone call. He said, ‘We’ll see you next week’ and I put the phone down and screamed at the top of my voice and got on the phone to my grandma, my mum and my girlfriend. They were all crying down the phone.”