Guardiola: 'Man City will fight to keep Walker'

Japan coach Pep Guardiola insists Kyle Walker is irreplaceable, and Man City will fight to stop the England defender joining Bayern.

Walker lost his starting place in the second half of last season as Guardiola deployed a back four. The Spanish coach said Walker "didn't have the right movements" to play the role of full-back and holding midfielder, and was unable to compete with John Stones.

The 33-year-old English defender is said to want to leave the Etihad this summer and has accepted a three-year contract offer from Bayern. This goes against the "Gray Tigers" policy of not giving long-term contracts to players over 30 years old.

Walker during a training session with Man City in Tokyo. Photo: mancity.com

On July 25, at a press conference before the friendly match against Bayern in , Guardiola confirmed that he wanted to keep Walker. "He is extremely important for us," the 52-year-old coach said. "Walker has specific qualities that are very difficult to find. The two clubs are in contact. We will fight for Walker like Bayern. I don't know how it will end."

German media reported that Walker would not play against Bayern, but Guardiola insisted the 33-year-old defender would still be available at Japan's national stadium today. "Of course Walker will play, he is still a Man City player," Guardiola insisted. "We need to play against Bayern with our best players and we hope Walker will stay next season. Why should Walker stop playing?"

Sitting next to the Spanish coach, Ruben Dias hopes both Walker and Bernardo Silva - a midfielder who is being targeted by Barca and PSG - will stay at the Etihad Stadium next season.

This summer, Man City parted ways with Ilkay Gundogan and Benjamin Mendy after their contracts expired and reached an agreement to sell Riyad Mahrez to Saudi Arabian club Al Ahli. Not only do many stars have uncertain futures, Guardiola also parted ways with many assistants after the historic treble season.

Assistant Enzo Maresca was appointed as Leicester's manager on a contract until 2026, while assistant Rodolfo Borrell - who has worked at Man City since 2016 - left this summer to take up the role of sporting director at MLS club Austin.

Coach Guardiola directs Man City's training session on July 25. Photo: mancity.com

Guardiola is said to want his former assistant Juanma Lillo back. Lillo - who replaced Mikel Arteta in 2020 and was seen as Guardiola's tactical advisor as a young coach - left the club to take charge of Qatari club Al Sadd last year. Asked about the news, Guardiola joked: "I don't know what happens to the assistants, I take good care of them and they always leave me. If you want to come to my bench, I have a lot of space."

After the match against Bayern today, Man City will play a friendly against Atletico in Mapo, South Korea on July 30 and then start the new season with the Community Shield match against Arsenal at Wembley Stadium on August 6.

Hong Duy

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