Pep Guardiola appears to end Man City career of Kyle Walker with brutal statement

• Pep Guardiola will alter Manchester City’s defensive shape and the one set to be affected is Kyle Walker
• Walker has only started two of the last seven games for Manchester City
• John Stones has been Guardiola’s preferred option in the inverted full-back position

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has casted doubt over the future of Kyle Walker after suggesting the full back may not be able to adapt to the team’s new system of playing.

The Citizens’ shape has been transformed in recent weeks, with John Stones being played as an auxiliary central midfielder in a slight tweak to the inverted full back, a tactic that Guardiola has become accustomed to in recent weeks.

Walker has only started twice in his team’s last seven matches, and Guardiola, ahead of the game against Southampton, shed some light on his latest setup.

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"He (Walker) cannot do it. To play inside you have to make some educated movements," Guardiola said as quoted on BBC.

"He has other characteristics. He will always have pace. He will be the fastest in this room at 60 years old."

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Before, Kyle Walker integrated seamlessly in Guardiola’s system as he would slot in on the right of a back-three when the likes of Oleksandr Zinchenko and Joao Cancelo would shift to midfield.

But with the departures of Zinchenko, who joined Arsenal and Cancelo who is at Bayern on loan, Walker is now exposed.

Nathan Ake plays on the left of a back three, while John Stones has been played as a right back that can push forward, a style which has suited him perfectly.

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"The reason why is tactical. It's not because we lost faith in Kyle," Guardiola added.

"He can play coming inside and he has done it many times, but like in the position [against] Liverpool with Rodri and John, he will maybe need time to do it and we don't have time."

Guardiola sends message to Lampard after Chelsea return

Elsewhere, Sports Brief reported on Pep Guardiola’s reaction to Frank Lampard, who was recently re-appointed as Chelsea boss.

The club's all-time top scorer has been receiving messages welcoming him back to management, but he received a special one from Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola.

Pep is an admirer of the Chelsea legend, probably from his playing days, and he does not hide it. He revealed he has been in touch with the 44-year-old even during his time at Everton.

‘We were in touch when he was at Everton. It is good to see him back. It’s a new opportunity at the club he loves and a new challenge for him,’’ Guardiola told a press conference.