Pep Guardiola addressed questions regarding his decision to field Kyle Walker in Manchester City’s unexpected 2-1 defeat against Bournemouth, despite Walker having only trained for six minutes prior to the game.
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City’s unbeaten run in the Premier League came to an end on Saturday as goals from Antoine Semenyo and Evanilson secured a historic victory for Bournemouth, with Josko Gvardiol’s late goal not enough to salvage a point for the visitors.
Guardiola’s side faced this fixture with several fitness issues, as key players like Jack Grealish, Ruben Dias, and John Stones were absent from the squad. Walker, who recently reached his 100th cap for England, had been sidelined and was reportedly unlikely to play.
However, he completed the full 90 minutes, though Guardiola confirmed post-match that Walker’s last training session had been 19 days prior, with only a brief six-minute session before the game.
Reflecting on the challenges posed by these injuries, Guardiola also noted that Manuel Akanji and Nathan Ake were similarly managing pain, which contributed to a strained performance.
Walker acknowledged that while injuries are an issue, the squad wouldn’t “use that as an excuse.” He commended Bournemouth for their energy and intensity, adding that City’s comeback efforts in the final minutes ultimately fell short.
City, having been knocked out of the Carabao Cup earlier in the week, now face a critical Champions League clash with Sporting Lisbon, where they aim to bounce back from two consecutive losses.
