Former Leeds United defender Danny Mills has compared Whites product Kalvin Phillips with Premier League and England icon Wayne Rooney, but his comments to Football Insider heaped questionable praise on the key Marcelo Bielsa man.
Phillips has been one of the most integral members of the Whites first-team since Bielsa was appointed head coach last summer, with the Leeds-born midfielder becoming a formidable anchor at Elland Road coveted by Premier League sides.
Aston Villa were regularly linked with advances to lure the 23-year-old to Birmingham, but refused to stretch beyond their £15million valuation and meet the United board’s £30million asking price.
Wolverhampton Wanderers have since been credited with an interest in making a swoop in January, yet Mills feels Phillips is the type of player who dances on the cusp of what is acceptable and what is too risky.
His comments are rather questionable, though, as our former right-back suggests being on the edge is what brings out the best of people like Rooney and Atletico Madrid madman Diego Costa.
“It’s a very fine line, isn’t it?” Mills said. “Players like that play on the edge and are good because they play on the edge.
“Think of Wayne Rooney at his very best, Diego Costa similar sort, [and] Alan Smith. I’m not trying to compare players, just those who play on the edge. You want them walking a tightrope.
“You want them right up to their line and occasionally they will stick their toe or their nose over it. You have to accept that from time to time, they will go a touch too far. So long as he’s not doing it week after week, there’s nothing to worry about.”
While Mills claims Phillips is an on the edge type of player, the 23-year-old has never been a name referees are quick to write in their book, with the midfielder only issued 31 cautions, one second yellow, and two red cards during his 143 United appearances across all competitions.