Jack Grealish has asked England teammate Kalvin Phillips to request Leeds United fans stop giving him stick on social media.
The pair are currently aiming to take England to European Championship glory but away from the international scene their clubs have formed an unlikely rivalry.
Leeds and Aston Villa have been in direct competition for a number of seasons now, whether that’s vying for promotion to the Premier League or battling for a top half finish in the top flight – as was the case last season.
That has seen the two clubs have some fiery encounters in recent times and Villa’s captain and playmaker, who much like Phillips has a ‘win at all costs’ mentality, hasn’t escaped the attention of the Leeds fans who have constantly called out Grealish for his ‘gamesmanship’ style.
Speaking to talkSPORT, Grealish had nothing but good things to say about Phillips after his star performance in England’s 1-0 win over Croatia on Sunday, but he did reveal some light-hearted words with the Whites’ midfielder about his team’s supporters.
“I don’t know if you know, but I get absolutely caned by Leeds fans 24/7,” Grealish told the radio station. “So I always say to him, ‘tell your fans to stop messaging me in Twitter, man!’ Me and Kalv always have a bit of banter about that.
“He (Phillips) is obviously very difficult to play against, I think the whole Leeds team is actually because of the way they play and the way they run.”
Ironically the duo could play alongside each other in England’s midfield on Friday should England boss Gareth Southgate decide to go more attacking against Scotland at Wembley.
Despite one being a hero at Elland Road and the other a villain, Phillips and Grealish actually have a lot in common with the two 25-year-olds having only ever played for their boyhood clubs and progressed from the Championship to England recognition within the last two years.
So although the Yorkshire Pirlo is adored in the West Yorkshire city, Leeds fans may have to let down their guard and also support Grealish over the next few weeks as England go for Euro 2020 glory.
