Kyle Walker has revealed he did his homework on Vinicius Jr, especially after seeing him tear Fernandinho apart last year.
The full-back is coming in for praise left, right and centre today after his outstanding performance in last night’s Champions League semi-final second leg against Real Madrid.
City ran out 4-0 winners on the night, and booked their place in the final with a 5-1 win on aggregate.
They will face Inter on June 10 in Istanbul.
There were solid performances all over the park last night.
Bernando Silva is getting a lot of plaudits for his two goals and Kevin De Bruyne is again taking up a lot of column inches for giving absolutely everything last night.
Someone else who is getting their fair share of credit is Walker.
The 32-year-old was tremendous in nullifying Real’s biggest threat Vinicius Jr.
Walker was always in the right position, and used the ball brilliantly when he had it. It led to Thierry Henry hailing him after the game.
He had Vinicius completely locked down throughout, and the England international revealed after the game that he had seen the way the Brazilian had managed to get the better of Fernandinho last year.
There was one move he used at the Etihad where he let the ball just run though past his fellow Brazilian. And Walker was watching out for this dummy last night.
He told TNT Sports Brazil (via The Athletic): “I have to study the opponents, I have to do my homework. The analysts provide me with great clips and I have them on my phone. Every time I get a minute, I’m watching the clips and see little movements that he (Vinicius Jr) does.
“He tried the little ‘overs’ where he lets it through his legs in the first half; if I hadn’t seen that by doing my homework maybe he would have caught me out on that. That’s what he did against Fernandinho last year and it ended up in a goal.”
Kyle Walker doing his homework on Vinicius Jr paid off – the Real Madrid livewire didn’t have a sniff
Walker learning about the specific ways in which Vinicius plays really helped him over the two legs.
The City man had him in his back pocket throughout the contest last night.
There was just one moment for Vinicius in the game and it came in the first-half when he was put through, after Walker had took a step forwards.
But Walker’s searing pace always gives him a chance to get back and thwart any danger.
It is such a useful trait, and one that has bailed City out many times over the years.
