Sport
Pep Guardiola left fuming as Kyle Walker returns from England camp injured
It's not the first time he's complained about it.
Danny Jones -
23rd October 2024 
Pep Guardiola has been left fuming after defender Kyle Walker came back from England camp injured following the Three Lions two most recent Nations League fixtures.
Walker was one of multiple Manchester City players who travelled to St George’s Park for international duty but he’s the only one of Guardiola’s squad who has unfortunately returned with a knee issue.
The 34-year-old fullback wasn’t fit for the game against Wolves at the weekend after picking up the knock in the win over Finland and while the severity of the injury isn’t thought to be anything too serious, the manager has been left very frustrated.
Speaking to the media in the pre-match press conference ahead of Man City’s Champions League match against AC Sparta Praha, Pep began by saying “Never [have I been] so angry, never was I so disappointed.”
🗣️ "Never so angry"
— BBC Sport Manchester (@BBCRMsport) October 23, 2024
After Kyle Walker returned injured from England duty, Pep Guardiola revealed last season's injury to John Stones before City's Real Madrid clash left him fuming…
🔵 Hear City v Sparta Prague on Total Sport.
🎧 https://t.co/9NvgyC3t81#ManCity #UCL
The Catalan coach insisted he knows that no one wants to get injured but reiterated that picking up a problem as a result of a ‘friendly’ simply “cannot happen.”
The 53-year-old went on to previous instances in which both Sunday’s match-winner John Stones and, most recently, the still-injured Nathan Ake have returned to training far from 100% after playing for the national team, sometimes before a crucial club game.
Although Nations League games are not technically friendlies – England are actually now in the second tier following the Euro 2024 final loss – the competition admittedly isn’t quite valued like the other major tournaments and was more created as a way to make the international break more interesting.
Regardless, while Pep assures he always encourages his players to represent their country, he did take issue with the current lack of communication before players are called up.
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“Before when I was a player, the national manager called the club manager but now nobody talks,” said Pep, “For the first or second season with Gareth [Southgate] but not since.”
City take on Sparta Praha in the UCL at 8pm on Wednesday night but will have to do without the experience of Kyle Walker in the meantime.
Nevertheless, England youngster and academy graduate Rico Lewis has been thriving ever since he broke into the side and will no doubt be more than a sufficient stand-in until the right-back returns to full fitness. Elsewhere, midfield maestro Kevin De Bruyne is said to be getting closer to a comeback.
You can watch Pep’s presser in full down below:
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Featured Images — pantkiewicz (via Wikimedia Commons)/Sky Sports (via X)
