West Ham Coach Kevin Nolan Reveals Declan Rice’s Message Before Kalvin Phillips’ Loan Move
West Ham’s recent loan signing, Kalvin Phillips, has had a challenging start since joining the club in January. Despite making some errors on the pitch against Manchester United and Bournemouth, West Ham coach Kevin Nolan has come to Phillips’ defense. Nolan believes that Phillips will bounce back and perform at his best once he settles into the team.
Interestingly, Nolan revealed that it was Declan Rice who played a role in securing Phillips’ loan move to West Ham. Rice, who left West Ham last summer for Arsenal, knows Phillips well from their time together in the England squad. He sent a message to Nolan, asking him to look after Phillips during his time at West Ham.
Nolan admitted that he didn’t know Phillips before he arrived at the club but had heard good things about him from Rice. He shared that Rice had texted him a few times, saying that Phillips is a great lad and that Nolan would enjoy working with him. And indeed, Nolan has enjoyed the first few weeks of working with Phillips.
Nolan emphasized the importance of giving Phillips time to adjust to his new surroundings. Coming from Manchester City, where he wasn’t playing regularly, it takes time to settle into a new team and understand their playing style. West Ham plays differently from Manchester City, so Phillips needs time to adapt and get to know his new teammates.
Nolan expressed confidence that once Phillips finds his feet, he will be an excellent addition to the team for the remainder of the season. He praised Phillips’ work ethic and mentioned that the midfielder was visibly upset after the weekend’s match, showing his dedication and desire to improve.
West Ham had a relatively busy January transfer window compared to other clubs. Alongside Phillips’ loan signing, Pablo Fornals departed for Real Betis, and Said Benrahma joined Lyon after some complications with the deadline. However, Phillips’ loan move is temporary, with no option to buy in the summer. West Ham will be paying his £140,000-a-week wages.
Despite the challenges faced by Phillips in his early days at West Ham, there is optimism that he will settle in and make a positive impact on the team. With the support of his coach and the guidance of his teammate Declan Rice, Phillips has the potential to become a tremendous signing for West Ham. Fans will be eagerly watching his progress and hoping for a successful loan spell for the talented young midfielder.