Manchester City remained on track to win the Premier League for a fourth time in a row thanks to Erling Haaland’s most recent goal-scoring display.
The 23-year-old’s goals will be critical to City’s attempt to win new glory this season, but the team’s more seasoned players will be just as vital.
After having a heart-to-heart with manager Pep Guardiola, Kyle Walker, who is now in his sixth season at City, decided to stay after nearly leaving for Bayern Munich in the summer. Walker thought about leaving after City won the Triple Crown because he was no longer City’s first-choice right-back last season and did not play in the Champions League final victory against Inter Milan.
But the 33-year-old, who served as captain in Kevin De Bruyne’s absence due to injury, is now ready to sign a new term through 2026 and demonstrate his enduring significance to City. Speaking candidly about how nearly quitting, Walker said: “I had to do what was best for me and my career, which was to join the club that would give me the most years.
I’ve been here for seven seasons, but I still feel like one of the veterans because Kevin, John Stones, Bernardo, and Eddy Ederson are all around from the first few years after Pep took over.
Why would you want to leave a club like this when you love it and have accomplished things here that you could only have imagined, especially last season?
Because Bayern is a huge club and considering what Harry [Kane] is doing there and will do, it wasn’t like I was moving to an inferior team. Which club gave me the contract years I needed to play football at the top level was all that mattered.
“[Joining Bayern] was close. However, in football, things may happen and change. Not being was not intended. Would I have appreciated the encounter?
Naturally, I would have. However, this club is fantastic, and you cannot underestimate what this club has accomplished over the past six to seven years. Why should I quit if I’m going to get the correct amount of game time? That’s all I want for.
After having dinner with Guardiola, who was not present for this victory as he recovers from back surgery, in a Manchester restaurant, Walker decided to stay because he felt he still had a significant role to play at City.
He was gracious enough to ask me out to eat since “we have a really good relationship,” stated Walker. “For once, he paid the bill!
It was beneficial to learn about his goals and objectives for the future and this season. Being one of the senior players and serving as captain while Kevin deals with his situation, I felt it was crucial to obtain Pep’s opinion and express how the guys feel about the remainder of the season.
Walker is in the frame to be City captain on a permanent basis when the squad votes after the international break on who should wear the armband.
“It’s an honour, a privilege and of course I want it,” said England star Walker. “If you can’t pass on your knowledge and life experiences on or off the field, I shouldn’t be playing at a great club like this.
“I’m excited about the chance. It’s up to the guys and staff whether or not I get to be the official captain till Kevin returns.
Haaland’s hat-trick, along with additional goals from Julian Alvarez and Nathan Ake, helped City make it four victories in a row.