Kyle Walker MISSES Man City training ahead of Saturday’s Champions League final against Inter Milan in a worrying sign for Pep Guardiola’s side
Kyle Walker was absent from Manchester City‘s open training session on Tuesday ahead of the Champions League final.
City head to Istanbul to face Inter Milan at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium on Saturday, aiming to become the first side since arch-rivals Manchester United in 1998-99 to win a historic Treble.
They are fresh off lifting the FA Cup after beating United 2-1 at the weekend, with Ilkay Gundogan‘s two goals enough to settle the tie.
But, ahead of their final assignment of the season, Kyle Walker wasn’t present for their training session at the City Football Academy on Tuesday afternoon – which was open to media – in a worrying sign for Pep Guardiola’s side.
Walker has been integral to their impressive form over recent months, with his pace and defensive acumen particularly evident as he successfully shackled Vinicius Jr. in their Champions League semi-final victory over Real Madrid.
Kyle Walker was absent from Manchester City’s open training session on Tuesday ahead of the Champions League final against Inter Milan in Istanbul this Saturday
It has been a fascinating turnaround for the England right back, given Guardiola claimed back in April that he wasn’t suitable to play City’s new system that sees John Stones move into midfield and beyond.
Guardiola had said: ‘He cannot do it. He will always have pace; Kyle at 60-years-old will be the fastest player in this room.
‘To play inside you have to have educated movements – he doesn’t have every one of the characteristics.
‘He has played as a full-back coming inside in the past with four at the back. He has done really well but this shape of three at the back and two in the middle, he cannot do it.’
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