LiveScore Daily: Pep struggling to find role for Phillips

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No gap to Phil

Pep Guardiola admits he is struggling to find a role for Kalvin Phillips in his Manchester City team.

England midfielder Phillips, 28, joined the English champions from Leeds for £42million in July 2022 but has found opportunities limited since arriving at the Etihad.

Having only been on the pitch for 216 minutes this term across all competitions, talk has been rife of a January exit and now the City boss has shed more light on the situation.

Guardiola said: "I feel so sorry for my decisions for him. He doesn't deserve not to get minutes. 

"I am asking for good personality, good character. And this is a perfect example. I have to give him something and I didn't do that. 

"It's just because I visualise the team and struggle a little bit to see him, that's all."

Blame it on me

Heung-Min Son branded Tottenham's 2-1 home defeat to West Ham as "unacceptable".

Cristian Romero deservedly put the hosts ahead early in the first half before strikes from Jarrod Bowen and James Ward-Prowse after the break saw the Hammers snatch the points.

It was a fifth straight game without victory for Ange Postecoglou's men and their South Korean skipper believes he and his team-mates must shoulder the blame.

Son said: "Whether we deserved better or not means nothing. We lost the game. It is unacceptable.

"As players, we should take responsibility. Attacking players should feel responsibility because we had chances to kill the game."

As a result, Spurs became the first side in Premier League history to take the lead in five straight games and not win any of them, with that run seeing them slide from top spot down into fifth.

Going nowhere

Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski is not thinking about retirement and intends to play for "three or four more years".

The 35-year-old marksman has not been at his prolific best for the Blaugrana this term, though has still netted seven times in 13 LaLiga outings to date.

But the legendary goalscorer remains confident he can continue at the highest level for a few more seasons.

Speaking to Spanish media, Lewandowski said: "I don't think about what I've already won or what I've already done. I still have that feeling and that passion inside me.

"I think I can still play football for three or four years, because physically I feel very good."

Favourable draws

The group stage draw for the 2024 Copa America has been made.

Defending champions and 2022 World Cup winners Argentina have been pooled with Peru, Chile and the winners of a play-off between Canada and Trinidad and Tobago, which takes place in March.

Meanwhile, Brazil will face off with Colombia, Paraguay and one of Honduras or Costa Rica in their quest to add a 10th continental crown to their trophy cabinet.

The other standout draw saw hosts United States pulled out alongside rapidly improving Uruguay, who are thriving under the tutelage of former Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa.

The tournament kicks off on June 20 next year, running alongside Euro 2024.

Big decision

Ange Postecoglou says his assistant manager Chris Davies is still mulling over taking the Swansea job.

Davies, 38, was a Welsh youth international but retired at just 19 before embarking on a coaching career that has seen him work with the likes of Liverpool, Celtic and Leicester.

But it was with the Swans where Davies first learned the ropes as part of Brendan Rodgers' coaching team and Postecoglou admits his colleague may yet choose to take the reins at his old employers.

The Spurs boss said: "It's his decision in terms of what he wants to do. Obviously the club will deal with it from there. I've had a brief discussion with Chris and he knows we've got a busy week, so we'll focus on that. 

"He's an outstanding individual. He's done some great work with us and great work in the past, so it's not surprising to me that Swansea or other clubs would look at him."