Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has expressed his dissatisfaction with the England national team setup after defender Kyle Walker returned from the recent international break with a knee injury. The Spanish tactician believes there needs to be better communication between club and country to avoid such situations in the future.
Walker was absent from City’s squad for their hard-fought 2-1 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday after picking up the knock during England’s 2-0 Nations League win against Finland last week. Guardiola lamented the lack of dialogue between himself and Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate, suggesting it would be beneficial for all parties involved.
Before when I was a player, the national manager called the club manager but now nobody talks. For the first or second season with Gareth [Southgate] but not since.
– Pep Guardiola on lack of communication with England
The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager did acknowledge that international managers likely don’t want to see their players get injured while on duty, but emphasized the importance of keeping clubs in the loop regarding the physical condition of their stars upon their return.
Stones Incident Left Guardiola “Angry”
This isn’t the first time Guardiola has been left frustrated by the Three Lions setup. He revealed an incident involving center-back John Stones last season that left him seething, as the defender picked up an injury in a friendly against Belgium just before a crucial Champions League quarterfinal tie with Real Madrid.
Last season, Stones picked up an injury playing in England’s friendly against Belgium and was only fit enough to be a substitute in City’s 0-0 draw with Arsenal as the two teams battled for the Premier League title.
– Pep Guardiola recalls John Stones incident
The Catalan coach labeled it as the angriest and most disappointed he had ever been, questioning the decision to risk Stones in a non-competitive match so close to a season-defining European clash for his club side. It’s clear these past experiences have shaped Guardiola’s stance on the matter.
De Bruyne Still Recovering
As Guardiola prepares his squad for Wednesday’s Champions League group stage encounter with Sparta Prague at the Etihad Stadium, he will once again be without the services of influential midfielder Kevin De Bruyne. The Belgian maestro continues his recovery from injury and isn’t yet ready to make his return to action.
Although the 32-year-old is back in training, Guardiola stressed the importance of not rushing him back prematurely, acknowledging that De Bruyne’s age means he requires more time to regain full fitness compared to his younger teammates.
[De Bruyne’s injury] is not a big issue but he doesn’t feel completely fine and Kevin is not 22 years old any more. He has to be fit completely for his football. If he doesn’t feel comfortable, he cannot express his potential.
– Pep Guardiola on Kevin De Bruyne’s recovery
Rodri and Bobb Also Sidelined
In addition to the absences of Walker and De Bruyne, Guardiola confirmed that Spanish midfielder Rodri and teenage sensation Oscar Bobb will also miss out on the midweek European fixture. The rest of the squad is said to be training normally, with those carrying minor knocks gradually improving their condition.
The Sky Blues will be looking to maintain their perfect start to this season’s Champions League campaign, having won their opening two matches against Sevilla and FC Copenhagen. A victory over Sparta Prague would put them in a commanding position to qualify for the knockout stages as Group B winners.
As the club vs country debate rages on, it’s evident that Guardiola’s recent experiences have only strengthened his resolve to push for better communication and understanding between domestic and international managers. With the relentless nature of the modern football calendar, it’s a dialog that needs to happen sooner rather than later to safeguard the wellbeing of players and maintain positive working relationships between all stakeholders in the game.
