Kyle Walker is facing the most difficult period of his career when he becomes the representative face of Man City's problems on the pitch. At the age of 34, few people can imagine the English defender facing great pressure when stepping to the other side of his career.
When he first joined Man City, Walker never expected his career to reach the height he is now. In an interview, the star born in 1990 still thought that one day he would return to play for his hometown team Sheffield United.
However, fate has brought Walker to heights he could hardly imagine, such as winning the Champions League, winning four consecutive Premier League titles and becoming one of the best defenders in England. However, this journey has not been easy as he has never been the type of player to accept pressure and the spotlight naturally.
The English star once brought freshness and excitement when standing in the Man City ranks, but now, he has to face skepticism from public opinion. Inconsistent performances and personal problems have made Walker the focus of criticism.
The 34-year-old defender's lack of concentration has become a serious problem. Walker was criticized for not closely following James Maddison in the 0-4 loss to Tottenham or losing Cody Gakpo in the 0-2 loss to Liverpool. In the Champions League, he was at fault for both goals conceded against Juventus. Such moments raise questions about whether Walker is still fit enough to maintain his position.
In addition to the difficulties on the pitch, Walker also has to face personal problems that are thoroughly exploited by the media. His family life, with scandals and controversies related to personal relationships, has become a regular topic in the press.
Notably, Kyle Walker's biggest recent mark has been the situation where he "failed to get married" after colliding with Rasmus Hojlund. Even former players Roy Keane and Micah Richards were surprised by the 34-year-old star's motivation and confirmed that this image had never appeared in Walker's previous career.
The pressure from the media not only affects the image but also has a big impact on the psychology of the English player. Especially when Walker was given the captain's armband by captain Pep Guardiola this season.
Walker admitted in an interview that he wanted to leave England to seek peace. However, in the end, his love for Man City and the Spanish strategist's persuasion kept him.
Man City are currently going through a difficult season with a series of consecutive losses. The loss of stability in playing style has caused the team to face difficulties in both domestic and continental competitions. In that context, Walker was expected to lead the team through the storm. However, instead of becoming a support, he became a symbol of the decline of the whole team.
Walker's form is no longer the same as before. Although his speed is still among the fastest players in the Premier League, the decline, even small, is enough to highlight the weaknesses in defense. The former Tottenham Hotspur player's accurate long-pass passing rate has dropped sharply from 67.5% last season to 49.4% this season.
Despite his struggles, Walker remains one of the best right-backs in Premier League history. He has proven his ability to overcome adversity and maintain his form over the years. With 93 caps for England, the Man City star is approaching the historic milestone of 100 caps, an impressive achievement at international level.
Pep Guardiola still has faith in Kyle Walker, but with his current problems, his future at Man City may not be long. The Etihad team has plans to increase the force at right-back in the upcoming transfer window and Walker's form in the coming weeks will be a factor in deciding whether he will continue to hold his position or not.
