Whether it is at Manchester City or at other clubs, players begin to change their approach to the game after a certain age.
For instance, during his initial few years in a Manchester City shirt, Bernardo Silva was quite direct as a winger.
But since last season, the Portuguese international has toned down his habit of constantly running at players and instead, he is seemingly more focused on helping Pep Guardiola’s men dominate the ball when he is stationed out wide.
Even Steven Gerrard was tasked with playing deeper during his time at Liverpool when he was nearing the end of his career; a move that suited his game to a tee.
Similarly, Paul Scholes was also profiled as a deep-lying playmaker by Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United during the latter years of his career.
Kyle Walker is one player who has never let his age impact his approach to the game.
Nedum Onuoha makes huge Kyle Walker prediction
The £50 million defender has seemingly always backed his pace, experience and defensive ability to be able to go toe-to-toe with some of the most feared wide forwards in the world.
More often than not, the Englishman’s seeming confidence has been well-placed.
In March, Vinicius Jr. named Walker as the best defender he has ever come up against in his career.
The former Tottenham Hotspur right-back went head-to-head with the Real Madrid superstar in the Champions League and came out on top during his thirties.
However, it seems like Walker is no longer the freakish athlete he once was as Adama Traore left for him dead in a footrace on the weekend despite the former having a head start on him.
The Fulham winger is one of the fastest players in the world and at 28 years of age, he is six years younger than the six-time Premier League winner.
Nedum Onuoha feels after being demolished in a footrace with Traore, Walker will change his game after realising his pace is no longer what it was.
The pundit said via ESPN UK: “But [Adama] Traore, having played against him, that’s the thing, his burst is as good as anybody in the league which is so surprising given the fact that he’s so big as well. So for Kyle to see that and to feel that sort of acceleration on him, it’s a very, very rare occurrence for him to see someone that can accelerate quicker than him.”
“At some point, everyone in their career gets burnt. And for Kyle Walker to see it, I’m sure that’s going to make him defend in a different way from this point forward because from once you feel it, listen, it’s a whole different sport now for him. A whole different sport.”
Walker will need to adapt his game at some point
Ultimately, Walker would perhaps have to merely accept the fact that even at his athletic peak, there was a possibility that Traore could have beaten him for pace as his speed is well and truly one-of-a-kind.
As the City captain is on the wrong side of 30, his pace will naturally continue to decline.
If Walker aims to play at the highest level for a few more years at least, he will have to adapt his game in a way that is not as reliant as it has been on speed.
Otherwise, the decorated defender will often undergo similar fates as he did when he tried to compete with Traore for pace.
Walker will have to put his years of experience and footballing intelligence to use more than in the past as time catches up with him.
Over time, it will be intriguing to see how the treble-winner tweaks his defensive approach.
