To fulfill his role as captain, Kyle Walker felt compelled to push himself back into the Manchester City squad for the Bournemouth game.
The 33-year-old had only practiced briefly on Friday before the team departed for the south coast, having missed the previous four matches.
Despite the club’s injury crisis and Pep Guardiola’s insistence that players play through the pain, Walker volunteered to join several teammates who were also pushing through physical issues.
Unfortunately, City couldn’t take advantage of Arsenal’s midday loss to Newcastle, suffering their first league defeat in nearly a year.
Still, with players like Kevin De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku on their way back, Walker felt it was important to show resilience, emphasizing that the team is heading to Lisbon with a no-excuse mindset.
“We have to be ready,” he said. “I felt as prepared as I could. Sometimes, as captain, you have to lead, even when you could use more time to recover.”
Walker expressed pride in his teammates: “I was there for the guys, and I want to credit everyone.
They were out there with knocks, bruises, and pulls, showing just how much they want to fight for the club.”
“We have a schedule, so we must keep going. It’s a hectic routine every three days, and that’s just the reality of football today.”
“As captain, it’s my main duty to keep the team united. Injured players and those on the bench must support those on the field, ready to step up and contribute when called upon.”
