For the past few years, Manchester City have built an incredibly athletic team.
Jose Mourinho analysed Manchester City when they won the treble by pointing to their increased physicality as the primary reason behind their rousing success.
For instance, Amadou Onana pinpointed Jeremy Doku’s “speed” as one of the reasons why he is a top player.
Manchester City seemingly pride themselves on not just how expertly they dominate possession but how quickly they win the ball back.
For Pep Guardiola to be able to instill this principle, it was key for City to build a team that had speed to be able to keep pace with opposition players.
At the Etihad Stadium, there is no shortage of players with pace.
Cody Gakpo says Kyle Walker is the fastest player he’s ever faced
Kyle Walker’s name always tends to pop up in any discussions about quick players in the Premier League and across world football.
The £50 million man’s defining attribute has always been his pace since he started to break through at Tottenham Hotspur.
When quizzed by Pro: Direct Soccer about who is the fastest player he has ever played against, Cody Gakpo instantly replied: “Kyle Walker.”
Previously, Gakpo has also praised Savinho after playing with him at PSV Eindhoven.
Jack Grealish singled Kyle Walker out as the toughest defender he has ever encountered in his career, describing him as “unbelievable” and citing the 34-year-old’s blistering pace being one of the factors behind his brilliance.
Phil Jones hailed Walker for allowing City to be positioned high up the pitch due to the insurance policy he provides them with his one-of-a-kind recovery pace.
Ruben Dias named Walker as the fastest player at Manchester City’s disposal as well.
How did Walker react after being outpaced by Adama Traore?
Recently, the veteran was left for dead by Adama Traore in a footrace between arguably the Premier League’s two quickest players.
Chris Sutton commented on Walker by claiming that he was “exposed” by the Fulham winger.
However, Walker addressed losing to Traore in the much-discussed footrace.
“I just base myself on that I’m quick, I thought that I had him, it’s not an excuse, he beat me fair and square but I’m going to remember it.”
“My arm should have come across but you know, when I start running backwards, nine times out of 10. people just stop but he obviously backs himself so much, just like I do, he’s thought, ‘I can actually catch this.’
Walker added: “And next minute, he’s actually in front of me and I’ve tried to give him the arm to try to claw a little bit back, he’s that strong. From what I’ve seen, he could be up there with me.”
“It’s not bad in 18 years, first time someone can actually say, probably [Ousmane] Dembele, I used to get that clip all the time when I’ve sprinted to him when we played France away.”
Gakpo’s claim about Walker will perhaps give him a confidence boost about his pace as he must have been stunned to see Traore outpace him; a sight that has rarely ever occurred in his career.
The six-time Premier League winner would be looking to find ways to work on his pace and avoid such an instance from taking place again as he is expected to keep rapid wingers quiet by Manchester City this season as well.
