Manchester City’s head coach Pep Guardiola gestures during the Champions League quarterfinal first leg soccer match between Real Madrid and Manchester City at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Tuesday, April 9, 2024. Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola speaks during a press conference at the City Football Academy, in Manchester, England, Tuesday, April 16, 2024, ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League quarterfinal soccer match against Real Madrid.
“We know Kyle Walker is a player that has controlled some of the best players in the world. He always does phenomenal work,” the City playmaker said Tuesday. “In the last few years he played against Vinicius Júnior, Mbappe, Neymar and knows how to defend against them.”Asian CL semifinal postponed in United Arab Emirates after flooding caused by heavy rainEven at the age of 33, Walker’s speed, strength and endurance still make him one of the world’s most effective defenders.
It was a different story at Etihad Stadium, with Walker largely nullifying him as City produced a dominant win to advance to the final. “You know the physicality is massively important and in football it is how you challenge your opponent,” Guardiola said.