HomeBangladeshPep Guardiola explains why he is 'too clever' to be worried by...

Pep Guardiola explains why he is ‘too clever’ to be worried by Kyle Walker saga

-

Pep Guardiola refused to worry about Kyle Walker’s potential departure insisting: “I’m so clever – I’ll find the right solution.”

The Man City boss revealed after Saturday’s 8-0 FA Cup romp against Salford City that his skipper, who had been omitted from his matchday squad, had asked for a move.

With interest from Italy and Saudi Arabia, Walker could leave the champions as early as this month, Serie A giants AC Milan the current favourites for his signature. Yet Guardiola hasn’t ruled out bringing the 34 year-old back into his squad for Tuesday’s Premier League game at Brentford.

And he isn’t concerned about who will play right-back if the long-serving England ace does head off.

Guardiola smiled: “I’m so clever. I’m such a talented manager to find the right solution. Kyle is our player right now – that is all. We have the option. I don’t know what’s going to happen.

“I don’t have anything else [to add] – and Brentford is on my mind.”

The Spaniard refused to answer questions about his skipper’s leadership qualities – given he has sought a move away with 18 months left on his deal.

But, with Kevin de Bruyne and Ilkay Gündoğan out of contract this summer plus fellow stars Bernardo Silva, John Stones and Ederson next, he did concede a number of big-name players could all leave at once which is rare for City.

Previously, they have staggered the exit of club legends such as David Silva, Vincent Kompany and Sergio Aguero rather than facing one hit.

Asked if that would present him with bigger potential challenges than he might normally face, Guardiola insisted: “No, it’s not for me. It’s for the club.

“So, we knew at the beginning of the season that the team, for a question of time, will have 10, 11 players more than 30 years old. So, this is normal.

“But the same team that are more than 30 years old, they have four, five, six months ago, won the Premier League four in a row, final in the FA Cup and the quarter-final for the Champions League.

“But we knew that sooner or later, we should have done it. What happened, it wasn’t expected. But it happened. In modern football, for many, many clubs, the amount of injuries that we have, I didn’t expect it.

“What happened, it happened a lot. And that’s why the process that we have done, you have said before, with all the incredible legend players that happened here. So, step by step, they have to change. The best way is to do it gradually but…

“Also in the first year, I would say, we arrived with the same concept. In the second season, we made incredible changes. Nine, eight or nine players, they leave and arrive a lot.

“So, now I think it cannot happen because the inflation in football rises, you know, unbelievably. But sooner or later, it’s a normal question of time. New players, young players, they will come.

“I don’t know now, I don’t know in summer, I don’t know next season, but in the next two or three, the club has to, of course, do it. It’s a question of age.”

Guardiola explained: “In the summer the club thought to do it [strengthen] and I said I don’t want to make signings: I rely on the team and want to stay with them.

“Gundo [Gündoğan] was back but he wasn’t expected and there was only Savio [Savinho] in, I said I rely a lot on these guys and I thought still I can do it again with them.

“But after the injuries – wow – maybe we should have done it, but you never know in that position. But I think the team is really good and the squad is really, really good.

“Otherwise we could not achieve what we achieved in recent years. It is what it is…”

Along with Rico Lewis, John Stones is another option for the right-back slot if Walker does end his seven-and-a-half year association with City.

Stones has not played since coming off at half-time in the loss at Aston Villa just before Christmas. Guardiola says Stones “feels better” but is still worried about the England defender being able to play more than one half so it’s unlikely he will feature against the Bees.

After just one win in 13, City – who have reportedly agreed a £33.5m fee for Lens defender Abdukodir Khusanov – have arrested their slump with three successive wins.

Brentford are still reeling from Saturday’s shock FA Cup exit against Championship strugglers Plymouth but only Liverpool have a better home league record than them.

Guardiola said: “The mood is better but we have an enormous, difficult game to see. They are a fantastic team who always cause a lot of problems.”

Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of MirrorFootball content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.

Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle in an unbeatable new deal that saves £192 and includes 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.

A title race you can’t miss. Get City news for FREE sent directly to your inbox!

LATEST POSTS

Tony Slattery predicted own death five years before tragic heart attack

Have I Got News For You star, Tony Slattery, predicted his death five years before his tragic heart attack.The much-loved comic's partner, Michael Mark Hutchinson,...

‘My husband wants to divorce me over what I did at a brunch event’

A woman has been threatened with divorce after her husband was left furious over her actions at a brunch event. The 30-year-old woman went to...

Woman who dedicated life to crafting ultimate baby name list shares ‘cool’ options

Expecting a baby and still undecided on names? Or just musing over future family plans?A woman who has dedicated her life to crafting a list...

Spain U21 star faces three years in jail for ‘deliberate bookings’ in betting scam

Sevilla star Kike Salas faces the prospect of three years in prison after being arrested for allegedly picking up deliberate yellow cards in matches.The defender,...

LATEST ARTICLES