Kyle Walker enjoyed an epic Champions League battle with Real Madrid

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Kyle Walker enjoyed an epic Champions League battle with Real Madrid Vinicius Jr in the first leg of the 2023 semi-final.

To get to the bottom of what Pep Guardiola loves about AC Milan-bound Kyle Walker, you need to go back to 10 June, 2023.

Guardiola had delivered the worst news Walker could imagine.

The full-back was riding high on the back of the performance of his career, going head-to-head in a duel for the ages with Vinicius Jr in the Champions League semi-final first leg with Real Madrid.

Time and again the dazzling Brazilian tried to take Walker on, only to repell.

Vinicius Jr even produced an audacious rainbow flick by the touchline, only to find his route to the ball – and the Manchester City goal – blocked off by the England international.

Walker said after the match: “I just thought, he is not getting that ball.”

Four weeks later, Guardiola dropped him for the Champions League final in Istanbul.

Walker only played the last eight minutes as City made their own history by clinching the Treble.

Walker was understandably devastated. This was a player who had lost to Chelsea in the 2021 Champions League final. And six weeks later,เล่น UFABET ผ่านมือถือ สะดวกทุกที่ ทุกเวลา he lost the Euros final with England against Italy at Wembley.

He did not agree with Guardiola’s reasoning. That while he remained one of the world’s quickest, most reliable full-backs in a one-to-one battle, something different was need against Inter Milan.

Many individuals would have hurled their toys out of the pram. After hearing such news and flounced off at the first available opportunity.

But Walker is not that man. The Yorkshireman swallowed his pride to deliver an emotional address to his team-mates.

“I said ‘My dream is in your hands, it’s as simple as that. No pressure,'” revealed Walker after City’s historic 1-0 win.

City – and Walker – might be in a different ‘moment’ right now. But that is the leadership Guardiola will miss now Walker bound for AC Milan.