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Kyle Walker opens up on how Pep Guardiola delivered the news that he would be dropped for the Champions League final.
Kyle Walker revealed how Pep Guardiola told him he wouldn’t be starting for Manchester City in the Champions League final.
Walker recalled how Guardiola had personally told him the night before the game that he would start on the bench during the Champions League final against Inter last year.
The manager’s decision to inform the defender the previous evening rather than on matchday morning was well appreciated by the defence.
Speaking to reporters, Walker said, “It’s not my decision, it’s down to the manager and how we were playing at that moment he could have picked 16 of us. He has to pick 11. I was unfortunate not to make that. It’s not a sole sport. I think about the team, I spoke before the team, and fingers crossed it worked. We got the job done and got our hands on the trophy.
“He pulled me the night before, it’s the relationship we have. I say a massive thank you, to find out in the morning it would have been tough. I slept on it and then gave the speech. If he did it on the day I’d have been disappointed. The reason was for him to put the 11 on to best win the game. He felt that was the team to go and win.”
Walker’s alleged rift with Guardiola led to transfer rumours linking him to Bayern Munich earlier this summer. However, the English international put any concerns about his future to rest by agreeing to a new contract with the team that will keep him with the team until 2026.
The next time the Cityzens will be seen playing will be on Tuesday when the defending champions face FC Crvena Zvezda in the Champions League.