Kyle Walker has been offered a harsh reminder that his top-level career may be over after a tough game against his former employer Tottenham.
Spurs claimed a historic 4-0 victory at the Etihad to immerse yourself pep guardiola The crisis was further aggravated as their losing streak extended to five games.
The local defense was easily destroyed by Ange PostecoglouThe men.
And Walker in particular had a tough game and was left seriously exposed in the dying embers of the game.
Fellow Rhythm Trader Timo Werner He ran towards the 34-year-old English right-back but, unusually, got no response.
The German slipped behind him and crossed toward Brennan Johnson to round out Tottenham's score.
Once capable of reaching a top speed of 36.5 km/h, his fastest recorded speed this season is 28.9 km/h, which creates a serious problem for the winger, who could now well lose his place. in Guardiola's first team.
and ex Chelsea star Tony Cascarino believes Walker's rapid decline reminded him of an iconic moment in Champions League history.
He said on Weekend Sports Breakfast: “I think there are things that are going to happen now, and Pep even alluded to it yesterday after the game, where he said he would have to break things up.
“The changes will come because he will protect his players for now because he will say the right things because he has had a lot of success with them.
“But deep down I think that when he had the meeting in Dubai, or wherever, with the club owners, there would have been conversations about where to move forward because it has been a very difficult career for them.
“Yesterday we saw something similar to that moment in 2010 when I saw Gareth Bale Absolutely, for a couple of weeks, run maicón the great Brazilian full-back (in rags) and that was like the end of his career.
“At that time before Tottenham played Inter Milan. He was one of the best full-backs in the world, not just in Europe.
“Kyle Walker is there now because Kyle Walker has gone through a very difficult time.
“Kaoru Mitoma in the previous game at Brighton gave him a lot of problems and this has been a common theme.
“Yesterday, watching Kyle Walker against Timo Werner, Kyle Walker definitely lost half a yard. He's definitely lost probably more than that.
“He's still fast, but Timo Werner was an embarrassing moment for him because he actually told him 'put the ball in that area, I'll get there first' and he didn't do it.”
Esteemed journalist Henry Winter agreed and pointed out who should replace him.
Speaking on Sunday's edition, he added: “He's 34 and a surprisingly defiant individual. “What Cas (Tony Cascarino) was saying earlier is that he's lost that meter of pace.
“Timo Werner was fresh and Walker had played 80 minutes, but I think Rico Lewis He has to play there.
“At some point City will have to rebuild Pep's next team.”
Cascarino, however, was keen to point out that Walker was not the only one who had a difficult time in City's run of terror.
“Kyle Walker is not the only problem,” he added. “It's something that's pretty obvious.”
“At this moment there are people like Gündogan who have not returned to being the player he was. Bernard SilvaHe is playing well below what he is capable of doing. He is a fantastic footballer.
“Phil Foden – 24 years old. What's Phil's excuse? You know, the Football Writers' Player of the Year last season. The player who went with England to the European Championship with expectations that he would deliver.
“He has lost his place in England and now I am seeing Phil playing very far from what we know and there is no excuse. He is 24 years old, unless he has an injury that we don't know about or he is wearing something.
“That's why I give Phil the benefit of the doubt.
“Right now he is unrecognizable from the player he was at the end of last season and others could be added to that list, but they are struggling.”