Tomorrow, 7.45pm Phillips left stunned by Pirlo video
KALVIN PHILLIPS gets a kick out of being called Yorkshire’s answer to Andrea Pirlo – so the Leeds and England midfielder was thrilled to get a personal pep talk from the Italian legend before the biggest game of his life.
Phillips was preparing for the European Championship final against the Azzurri at Wembley in July when a message came through on his phone from Elland Road team-mate Jack Harrison.
It included a video from Pirlo – and a good luck message from a man who was once the master of the art that Phillips is now trying to perfect.
“The night before the final Jack Harrison, who used to play with Pirlo at New York City, sent me a video from him,” recalls Phillips with a smile that suggested he still can’t believe it.
“I was like, ‘Oh my God!’ He wished me good luck in the final and said, ‘All the best’.
“I thought he was going to say something about Italy. But no, he wished me well so full respect for that.
“I’ve never met Pirlo but I’d like to, if I’m honest. I’ve seen that he is a very cool guy but he’s also a nice guy.
“To get the recognition of unbelievable players is always nice – and he’s won
World Cups and
Champions Leagues so it was very, very special and is something that I’ll always remember.”
Phillips had less than two months’ experience playing in the
Premier
League when Gareth Southgate gave him his first cap 14 months ago.
He emerged from the Euros with a runners-up medal and a trophy for being voted England’s player of the tournament.
He said: “I still think about it now. I think about what could have been if we’d won and I can remember a chance when I had a volley on the edge of the box.
“It’s fairytale stuff. Just think, imagine if that had gone in!
“We want to go one better.we want to get a taste of what it feels like to win a trophy.”
Phillips now employs a chef to make sure he eats all the right things as marginal gains can make a huge difference.
He said: “It’s just a nutritional thing so when I say
I’ve got a chef, I don’t mean
I’m having five-course meals.
“I just have the meals prepared for
me.”