Shay Given has said that Kyle Walker looked gutted to not be in the starting XI for the Champions League final.
The Englishman only came on as a substitute in the last few minutes of the 1-0 win over Inter Milan despite completing the full 90 minutes in both semi-final clashes against Real Madrid and being heavily praised for his performance in the 4-0 win over the Spanish club.
After the game, it was reported that the defender gave his side a pre-match team talk, saying that his dream is now in their hands.
Now that the Citizens managed to win the Champions League and secure the treble, one former City star has shared his thoughts about the player and his situation around the final.
Given says Walker looked gutted before Inter game
Speaking on the latest edition of Radio 5 Live’s Football Daily podcast, Given said this about Walker and his omission from the starting XI to face Inter.
He said: “It was a big shock he didn’t start the game. Most people before the game had an XI in their heads that this is the XI that will start.
“I think [Nathan] Ake’s only played 60 minutes in the last five weeks so that was a surprise he started and Kyle Walker was probably one of the best players in the Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid, Vinicius Junior was brilliant but Kyle Walker had his number.
“I don’t know if that played any part in the nervousness at the start because you’d imagine Pep [Guardiola] naming the team and then Kyle’s not in the team and you’re looking around the changing room and you’re devastated for Kyle Walker because he’s been such a big part in getting them to the final.
“I don’t know if that rocked them, the whole group or not or whatever but Kyle standing up and saying his dream’s in their hands was added pressure at that stage.
“I’m surprised he even spoke because there was a picture of Kyle Walker and [Riyad] Mahrez walking into the stadium together and you can see the disappointment on both their faces.
“Everyone wants to start in the final don’t they and if anyone deserved to start, I thought it was Kyle so I really felt for Kyle Walker before the game and he looked gutted heading into the stadium.”
Before the final in Istanbul, Guardiola revealed that he left Walker out of the team due to tactical reasons, which we could be down to the fact that the Italian side deployed two strikers up two rather than wingers.
While the England international will have surely been disappointed to not be in the starting XI for the final, which we feel is the right reaction for a top performer to have, he will ultimately have been delighted to have been on the pitch when the final whistle blew and see his side lift the trophy.
