Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has discussed Kyle Walker’s recent struggles with injury, as the Sky Blues prepare to face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Thursday evening.
Pep Guardiola’s side will have the opportunity to move within five points of league leaders Arsenal with a win, as City look to bounce back from a frustrating 1-1 draw with Everton on New Year’s Eve.
City have played three matches since returning from the FIFA World Cup however right-back Kyle Walker is yet to feature for the Premier League champions.
Despite playing for England in Qatar, the 32 year-old hasn’t played for City since a 6-3 win over Manchester United in early October, where the full-back suffered a groin injury which required surgery.
Teen Rico Lewis has started the past two Premier League matches ahead of the England international, making his full league debut against Leeds United at Elland Road.
Ahead of Thursday’s trip to Stamford Bridge, Guardiola has revealed the reason for Walker’s recent absence from the City team and emphasised the importance of his return to full fitness.
“Yesterday he made the first good training session since coming back – he had niggles, some problems and he could not train,” said the 51 year-old.
“Yesterday was the first time I saw the Kyle I know.
“He didn’t play for a long, long time with us. Of the last 34 games I think he played 11 so that’s a long time out.
“We need Kyle back as soon as possible, at his best. Definitely, we need him. Rico is not going to solve the problems, Rico is going to help us.
“You know what Kyle can do because he has shown it for a long, long, long time. The young players have to help the other ones, we cannot put it on Rico’s shoulders.”
Walker joined Manchester City from Spurs in 2017 and has made over 220 appearances and won 11 trophies at the Etihad Stadium.
Kalvin Phillips reacts to Leeds transfer news as Phil Hay shares Mateusz Klich update
Mateusz Klich’s emotional exit from Leeds United has drawn a heartfelt reaction from former teammate Kalvin Phillips.
The Athletic’s Phil Hay posted an update on Twitter on Wednesday night (4 January), saying that the Polish midfielder had been released from his Whites contract pending a move to DC United in MLS.
That came after the club paid tribute to their long-time fan-favourite following the 2-2 draw with West Ham at Elland Road, which left Klich in tears after his final appearance off the bench.
Commenting on the 32-year-old’s typically honest departure message on his Instagram page, Manchester City midfielder Phillips wrote: “Absolute [GOAT] it’s been a pleasure mate.”
Klich leaves having made 195 appearances for Leeds United, scoring 24 goals and registering 21 assists, and was a huge part of the club’s long-awaited return to the Premier League.
Emotional
In hindsight perhaps he should have gone in the summer window and perhaps then he would have made it to the World Cup in Qatar.
Under Jesse Marsch, Klich has been a fairly regular contributor off the bench but is no longer the key man he once was, and while the American has admitted he isn’t entirely comfortable losing the Pole at this stage of the season he can’t guarantee him more playing time.
Phillips and Klich will both forever hold a special place in the hearts of many Whites fans thanks to their central roles in the Marcelo Bielsa side that brought the club back to the top flight.
So with both now no longer at the club it is truly a new era, and one that holds a great deal of uncertainty in the short-term future.
There is a lot to like about the current side, with Tyler Adams’ arrival as successor in the midfield one of the current positives, but with Premier League survival looking likely to remain in question for the remainder of the season once again and an imminent takeover on the cards there doesn’t look to be an end to the upheaval any time soon.
Klich won’t quickly be forgotten, but it is vital that some of the current key men step up to forge a similar reputation to him now.
In other Leeds United news, a major first-team exit could be difficult to avoid very soon.
Source: cityxtra.co.uk; motleedsnews.com
