Manchester City – Pep Guardiola explains: The new playing system does not suit Kyle Walker

The 52-year-old added: “Kyle will always be at his pace. He will still be the fastest in the room which is 60. But to keep playing in the middle you have to move smart and he doesn’t have all the characteristics for this.”

Guardiola explained why Walker did not start at Manchester City several times in a row in the 3-4-2-1 system: “He may need some time to do that, but we don’t have the time.”

But he stressed that he still believes a lot in the 32-year-old as a player. “These are tactical reasons,” the coach said. “It’s not that we lost faith in Cale.”

“It’s a matter of ability. Sometimes you need very specific things and there are players with those qualities.”