Despite turning 33 this week, one Manchester City star is showing no signs of slowing down.
Pep Guardiola’s side are known for their intricate passing moves and technical excellence, but one of their underrated qualities is raw speed.
City have quick players all over the pitch, with Erling Haaland racing onto through balls in attack and Nathan Ake able to keep pace with the quickest of attackers.
However, no City player – nor any Premier League star for that matter – can keep pace with Kyle Walker.
The England international has arguably been the best right-back in the world since he joined City in 2017, his technical ability and tactical understanding of the game coming on leaps and bounds under Guardiola.
Walker’s stand-out attribute in that time has been his pace, something that has allowed City to play a high defensive line with the confidence that he can cover large sections of open ground.
Some feared that Walker, who turned 33 on Sunday, would start slowing down this season, but that has not been the case.
According to Opta, Walker recorded the highest in-game top speed of any Premier League player in 2022/23.
The City star clocked 37.31km/h, while Nottingham Forest attacker Brennan Johnson – 11 years Walker’s junior – was the next quickest with 36.70km/h.
Chelsea’s Mykhailo Mudryk (36.63 km/h), Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon (36.61 km/h) and Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez (36.53 km/h) rounded out the top five.
City fans might be surprised by Haaland’s absence from that list, but Walker has always been confident that he’s quicker than the young striker.
“Erling’s very quick, he’s shown that with some of the goals he’s scored. Other strikers don’t make those chances, sometimes he does it just with strength or speed but I’d still have to back myself!” Walker told City’s website a few weeks ago.
When asked how he has maintained his speed, Walker said: “I still feel great and have kept fit, bar the injury where I ruptured my groin before the World Cup.
“I look after myself on and off the field and get the work in the gym to cope with the load.
“I have to thank mum and dad too – genetics – some players slow down, but I hit 37.5kmph the other day in speed – I don’t seem to be getting slower and long may that continue.”
