The City boss confirmed that he will make his first start of the season in our Carabao Cup third round tie away to Newcastle on Wednesday at 20:00 (UK).
Only last week, Guardiola described Rodrigo as the best holding midfielder in the world and said he can see from his performances what is required as well as adding his own own stamp.
“Of course, being outside, sitting and seeing the players and what we are looking for the training sessions and meetings and seeing, it helps a lot,” the Catalan said.
“Players are specific. We brought Kalvin here for his quality. There are no twins in football, every player has their own personality and qualities.”
Phillips joined in the summer of 2022 after impressing for England, helping them to the final of the 2020 Euros and with Leeds United.
He was a key figure under Argentinian coach Marcelo Bielsa – a figure that Guardiola respects hugely.
While City play in a different style, Guardiola says that Phillips is eager to learn and was impressed with his display in the 2-0 victory over Nottingham Forest on Saturday after Rodrigo’s red card.
“Marcelo gave Kalvin the best Kalvin in his career, I’d love to have done with Kalvin what Marcelo has done to him,” he said.
“It is what it is. We have a specific way to play and sometimes they struggle with a few things but in the previous game he was perfect.
“His biggest quality is he’s always open minded and wants to learn, this is what we will try to do.”
Rodrigo will miss the trip to St James’ Park but Guardiola said he would have been rested for the clash with the Magpies anyway.
Our line-up is set have a few alterations, with Jack Grealish and Mateo Kovacic set to get some minutes and others earning a rest after a busy start to the season.
“Maybe they come and say ‘I am fresh I want to play a few minutes I want to play’ and maybe they’ll play,” Guardiola said at his lunchtime news conference.
“After the game [against Forest] I said maybe they have to rest because of their minutes.
“Rodri for example cannot play but just in case he was not sent off would not have played from the beginning. We will see, we have training this afternoon and we will see.”
With Rodrigo suspended, Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva injured and Ruben Dias and Kyle Walker likely to be rested, City could be without all of our five captains.
“I don’t know,” Guardiola said when asked who would take the armband. “All five are out? We’ll find another one. I don’t know which one but we’ll find one.”
