Pep Guardiola has said Kyle Walker can count on his support and has not reminded the defender of his responsibilities after Cheshire police opened an investigation into CCTV footage that appeared to show the Manchester City player “exposing himself” in a bar.
According to a report in the Sun, Walker was drinking in a Wilmslow venue on Sunday. A video on the Sun website appeared to show Walker dropping his trousers in front of two women who he then engaged in conversation.
Guardiola was asked whether he had reminded Walker of his responsibilities. “No, I spoke with him but I don’t have to remind [him],” said the manager. “We are adults. I’m not a father. I’m a friend of his … [After] seven years I know in the past many things happen, so he and everyone can count on me on the personal issues. Everyone.
“That’s the important thing. I don’t have to tell [him]: ‘Oh, you have to behave in that way.’ Come on, he’s an adult and that’s all. Of course not just with Kyle, with everyone, I’m there. The club is there. All the time. Everyone has to feel it. When we are here inside I like to feel they can count on us in the good and bad moments.”
Guardiola said Walker was available for Saturday’s game at Crystal Palace and that there had to be consciousness of the scrutiny football attracts. “We have to adapt to the reality,” he said. “There are cameras and phones everywhere. Everybody knows it. Today we are exposed 24 hours a day to everything. We’d prefer not to live in that way but it is what it is. Everybody knows it in our job – the media attention. And everybody’s careers and the private life doesn’t exist any more out of your home.”
Guardiola has previously spoken about how his players have to dedicate themselves. “They know it,” he said. “We have a lot of games; that’s why you have to be ready. I never was involved in the private issues [of players] in the past, present or future. Everybody knows that the only place I think you are safe is inside, at home – lock the door. The moment you unlock the door you are exposed.
“It’s completely different from 15 or 20 years ago. Then for football players or managers it was completely different. Now we have to adapt. They know it. It’s not only happened recently.”
