Guardiola: I want right-backs to play their own game | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola says he is not asking his current choice of right-backs to play like Kyle Walker.

Walker left City in the summer after a highly successful eight seasons at the Etihad Stadium.

Over that time, he played 319 times and won 18 major honours as he established himself as one of the best right-backs in Premier League history.

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Abdukodir Khusanov, Rico Lewis and Matheus Nunes have all featured in that position in the early weeks of the new campaign.

Walker will return to City this weekend as his new side Burnley visit for a 15:00 kick-off in the Premier League on Saturday.

Asked in his pre-match press conference whether he expects his current players to play in the same way Walker did, Guardiola was unequivocal in his response.

“No,” he began.

“Kyle has his ability and skills, the others have theirs.

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“I would love to have all the old players who help us a lot. It happens. I want to leave because I don't want to be here what can we do? We have other players who have to do their one careers.

“Do your job with your skills what you need to do in your career. Live your life like a pro, play one or three a week the clubs its what you have to do. Matheus [Nunes], Khusa[nov], Rico [Lewis] they need their own careers here.

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With Walker holding down that position for much of Guardiola’s spell in charge at City, the boss admitted it’s difficult to find an alternative to a player he relied upon for so long.

“Difficult of course. He played eight, nine years at City and 55 or 60 games per season.

“We won the titles but not just Kyle, it is so difficult to replace but it’s what the club needs to do.”