MANCHESTER: Six years ago Kyle Walker caused much surprise when he was named the PFA Young Player of the Year.
Despite the right-back impressing in a Spurs side that finished fourth, Sergio Aguero — inspirational with 23 goals as Manchester City won the title that season — was favorite.
“I don’t know how I beat Aguero to that award because he had a fantastic year,” Walker told Arab News.
Yet it remains a rare honor in his career, whereas Aguero has enjoyed title and cup triumphs while carving his name in City folklore as their record scorer.
Having made a £50 million ($68 million) summer switch to join the Argentine striker at the Etihad, Walker, 27, is now eager to share in similar success and history.
After 22 games, leaders City visit Liverpool today still on course to match Arsenal’s 2004 feat of going the entire Premier League season unbeaten.
Walker, who grew up on a Sheffield council estate, dares to dream and insisted it is not impossible to be become ‘Invincibles’.
“We’ve seen Celtic went on last year and did it, so listen, it’s possible, but in the Premier League it is going to be difficult,” he said.
“No disrespect to the Scottish Premier League, but the Premier League is tough and we have got some tough games coming up. We need to just keep approaching every game as we have done in the last four-five months and hopefully that will see us over the line.
“Of course I’d like to be part of history. I’ve got three little boys myself and if they can look at me and say daddy was a part of that then that would be fantastic. It would be a pat on the back, not just to myself, but to my mum, dad, missus and everyone who has supported me to get where I am now.
“I’ve had a difficult upbringing, but it’s all a learning curve and I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t have that childhood and that learning.
“It would be fantastic if we could do it, be remembered like Arsenal, but it’s going to be difficult. We have played so many games this season and that maybe showed a little bit in the league game at Crystal Palace. We went there and got the draw, but it was so close to a loss.
“We are in all competitions we can win, so that’s a positive. But we just need to attack and keep treating every game as we have done. I think that should be enough because of the quality we have got in the dressing room and especially the striking force. I believe it’s a force to be reckoned with.”
With the chance of an unprecedented quadruple of trophies, City have become a fearsome force as a team and Walker is flourishing under the tutelage of Pep Guardiola.
“I think you have to strive in your personal terms to be the very best and play at the highest level possible,” he added. “That season, 2011-12, was a great year for me, but after that people found out I was new to the Premier League. You get that, when the first season you do well and the second and third was more difficult.
“But I think it improved me as a player mentally, that I had to adapt to different situations that I wasn’t comfortable in or that happened in the first season.
“The big thing about joining City was I wanted to have a new challenge and test myself further. No disrespect to Tottenham, but I needed something different.
“This club was the right decision for me. The manager, and how he wants his team to play and how he could develop me as a player was key, having worked with two of my favorite right backs since I was growing up in Dani Alves and Philipp Lahm.
“I’m not at their level yet, I’m still improving. I’m 27, probably at my peak now and for the next three years. But I am keen to learn and the gaffer is always showing me ways I can improve and I am taking it on board every day. Every day is a school day really.”
Kyle Walker wants to be 'part of history' as Manchester City bid to become invincibles
Kyle Walker wants to be 'part of history' as Manchester City bid to become invincibles
Al-Ittihad slump to fourth defeat of season in home loss to Al-Ettifaq
- Visitors’ Khalid Al-Ghannam scores only goal of the game as the reigning Saudi Pro League champs drop more points after drawing with Damac on Tuesday
- Earlier, Al-Fateh’s five-game winning streak ends with 1-1 draw against Al-Najma, and Al-Khaleej enjoy comfortable 4-1 victory over Al-Okhdood
RIYADH: Al-Ittihad’s disappointing defense of their Saudi Pro League title continued on Friday with a 1-0 home defeat at the hands of Al-Ettifaq.
Khalid Al-Ghannam scored the decisive goal for the visitors as the hosts dropped more points after their draw with Damac on Tuesday.
In the absence of Fabinho, who was suspended after being sent off late in Tuesday’s match, Mahamadou Doumbia partnered with N’golo Kante in midfield for Al-Ittihad. The Malian showed his composure early on when he shielded the ball under pressure before unleashing a long-range shot in the 10th minute, but it was comfortably saved by Marek Rodak.
The deployment of Al-Ghannam proved pivotal, as he repeatedly tested the hosts. In the 23rd minute he burst down the left flank, beating three defenders with some clever dribbling before testing Predrag Rajkovic in goal, who parried the effort.
Al-Ghannam bothered the defense again just minutes later, threatening the Serbian goalkeeper with another attempt from a similar position. However, the game remained goalless at halftime.
The second half began with Al-Ittihad on the front foot. Within minutes, Roger Fernandes found himself in front of goal and put the ball in the net, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside.
Al-Ghannam’s effort and influence eventually paid off for the visitors in the 54th minute. Operating as a left-sided striker during an Al-Ettifaq counterattack, he cut inside to curl a powerful shot into the far corner.
Al-Ittihad’s attacking approach varied as they fought to get back into the game, with Fernandes patrolling the left flank, Muhannad Al-Shanqeeti cutting inside near the byline, and central contributions from the combination of Doumbia and Steven Bergwijn. But the Al-Ettifaq defense remained resolute.
Danilo Pereira, pushing up into an advanced midfield position as Al-Ittihad forced Al-Ettifaq to defend deep, unleashed a long shot in the 67th minute, urged on by the home fans, but his effort went wide.
With time running out, Sergio Conceicao made four substitutions in the space of seven minutes, bringing on Ahmed Al-Julaydan at right-back for his crossing abilities, Abdulaziz Al-Bishi and Ahmed Al-Ghamdi to play between the lines, and Saleh Al-Shehri for added impetus up front.
Despite several chances, Al-Ittihad were unable to grab the equalizer, and in the 85th minute things got even worse for them. Keeper Rajkovic tripped on his way to confront a Mohau Nkota counterattack and stuck out his hand at the edge of the box to push the ball away. A review by the video assistant referee ruled he had handled the ball outside the box and he was shown the red card.
After seven minutes of added time, and one final attempt by Doumbia to salvage something for the hosts through a free-kick, the referee blew the final whistle.
It was the fourth defeat of the season for Al-Ittihad and means they remain in sixth place in the table, three behind Al-Qadsiah who have a game in hand. Al-Ettifaq are seventh, just two points behind the defending champions.
Earlier, Al-Fateh’s five-game winning streak came to an end when they returned from a trip to Qassim to face Al-Najma with only a point. The visitors took the lead in the 12th minute but a goal for the home side by Ali Jasim in the 75th denied them all three points as the game ended 1-1.
In the Eastern Province, Greek duo Giorgos Masouras and Kostas Fortounis proved the main inspirations for Al-Khaleej in a 4-1 victory over Al-Okhdood that temporarily lifted them into seventh place in the table, until Al-Ettifaq reclaimed the spot.
On Saturday, Al-Fayha face Damac, Al-Kholood take on fourth-place Al-Ahli, and second-place Al-Nassr are in action against Al-Shabab.
