Guardiola has changed my role this season, says Walker

Manchester City defender Kyle Walker has revealed that Pep Guardiola has altered his role in the starting XI for this season.

Walker, 28, joined the Premier League champions from Spurs last summer and enjoyed a stellar maiden campaign at the Etihad, as Guardiola’s men clinched a domestic double.

But despite winning the league in emphatic fashion, Guardiola – a renowned perfectionist – has been tweaking his tactics for what is set to be a fiercely competitive season, and Walker is one player who has had his role calibrated as a result.

Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, Walker revealed that the return of long-term absentee Benjamin Mendy has caused a slight tactical adjustment.

“My role is a little bit different, where I am tucking in a little bit more and trying to control people,” he said.

“I still have the licence to go forward, but now I’m getting older it’s probably more about picking and choosing my runs, rather than up and down the wings as I was at Tottenham!”

Mendy missed the majority of last season through injury, but returned for the closing stages of the Premier League campaign and even received a call-up to the World Cup with eventual winners France.

This season, though, Mendy has been in sensational form as City eased past Arsenal and devastated Huddersfield, though Guardiola’s men hit a stumbling block after failing to beat Wolves over the weekend.

Meanwhile, Walker was an integral part of Gareth Southgate’s defence as England reached the World Cup semi-final, and the former Spurs man admits he is still recovering from his exploits in Russia.

He continued: “I’m still getting back to fitness. The two weeks off is a decent break – you don’t normally get that as a professional footballer, so that was fantastic.

“I’m still dusting off the cobwebs. Playing for England in a centre-back role is completely different to playing in a right back role – your energy is a lot more use in a right back role, getting up and down.

“So I’m still getting the engine warm and hopefully will be good in the next couple of weeks.”

Walker and Co. next host Newcastle this Saturday in the league.

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