Football
New Boy Matt Phillips Urges Oxford United to "Reach for the Stars" in Championship Debut Season
Matt Phillips challenges Oxford United to aim high in their Championship debut season. The veteran winger brings experience and motivation to prove doubters wrong and achieve something special with the newly promoted team.
Image Credits: Malcolm Couzens/Getty Images
Former promotion-winner Matt Phillips has challenged new club Oxford United to “reach for the stars”.
The experienced winger left West Brom this summer and signed for the promoted U’s on a free transfer as they look to shine in their first ever season in the Championship.
Phillips Embraces New Challenge with Oxford United
The evergreen 33-year-old hopes last season’s League One can shut up some of their doubters.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve been the new kid on the block,” Phillips told SportsBoom.com.
“But, seriously, from day one it’s been great since I arrived at the club. I got a feel of a real togetherness in the squad – and that’s really important.”
“I’m really looking forward to seeing what we can do this year.”
“The club have come up through the play-offs and a lot of people might write us off from the beginning, but why not go and prove a few people wrong.”
We’ve got to use that, people writing us off, and go and prove them wrong.
Matt Phillips
Proving the Doubters Wrong
“One of my previous managers, Tony Pulis, used to say, ‘no one gives us a chance’ when we (West Brom) were in the Premier League.”
“But we used that as our fuel and our motivation – and go out there and out in performances which do surprise people.
“You’ve got to reach for the stars. Reach high and see where that takes us.”
Image Credits: Adam Fradgley/West Bromwich Albion FC via Getty Images
A Veteran’s Contribution
Phillips has played 142 times in the Premier League and 280 times in the Championship, and the 16-cap Scotland international, who has achieved three Premier League promotions during a distinguished career, is hungry to prove his worth after leaving the Baggies after eight years at the club.
“It’s a great opportunity for me, hopefully we can achieve something special,” added Phillips.
“I was at West Brom for a long time but, even at 33, I still think I’ve got a lot to offer.”
“I’m really looking forward to seeing what we can do this year.”
“The manager wants me to be myself, he knows what I bring to the squad.”
“Obviously I’m an older player now, but I’ve come in to pass on some of my experiences to the younger lads.”
“Unfortunately, I had an injury last year and I was out for so long, but I felt leading up to that I was probably playing some of the most consistent football I have ever.”
“My body feels good, and I feel as though I’m honest with myself, so I know what sort of level I am at day-to-day.”
“I still love the game, massively, so to still be playing the game at this high level shows that I’m looking after myself and doing the right things.”
“I’ll continue to do that - at this level I still have a lot to offer, for sure!”
Head Coach Backs Phillips
U’s head coach Des Buckingham has no doubts Phillips’ Premier League pedigree and vast experience in a 16-year professional career will be priceless for his promoted side.
“Matt will add huge quality after more than a decade in the top two divisions,” said Buckingham.
“He is a fantastic addition to the group and brings lots of quality and experience to our forward line. That will be highly important to us.”
Neil has been a journalist for longer than he'd care to remember, having written for national newspapers and respected publications for over 25 years. For the last three years he has worked freelance for BBC Sport, working on the production desk as a sub-editor and also as a writer, covering a whole range of sports.