In an interview after the 8-0 victory over Salford City in the FA Cup third round on the morning of January 12 (Vietnam time), coach Pep Guardiola explained why he did not use captain Kyle Walker in this match:
“I know this is not easy to say but Kyle Walker wants to leave. Two days ago, Kyle asked me to let him play abroad in the final stages of his career.
Two years ago, when we won the treble, Bayern Munich wanted him, but they didn't make a big enough offer. I told Kyle and the whole team how important he is. We couldn't have achieved what we have without Kyle."
"But Kyle's mind is not at the Etihad anymore so I used another player in this match."
Although coach Pep did not reveal the reason why Kyle Walker wanted to leave, he said that the English defender felt that he could not maintain the top playing rhythm at Man City.
Kyle Walker joined Man City in 2017 for £50m from Tottenham. Under Pep Guardiola, he won 6 Premier League titles, 2 FA Cups and a Champions League.
During Man City's Premier League dominance, Kyle Walker was a mainstay for The Citzens and was considered one of the best right-backs in the world. However, in recent months, the English player's form has been inconsistent and he often makes mistakes.
Kyle Walker's last start was in the Manchester derby against Man United. Man City lost 1-2 at home and Kyle Walker received a lot of criticism.
