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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Joe Bray

Why Kyle Walker has been dropped for Man City vs Inter Milan

Kyle Walker was fit enough to play the Champions League final for Manchester City against Inter Milan, but Pep Guardiola opted for a different tactical system.

Walker has been an injury doubt all week after missing training on Tuesday, however he is in the City squad in Istanbul and trained on Friday. Instead of the England international, Guardiola picked Manu Akanji and Nathan Ake as his full-backs, with John Stones and Ruben Dias completing a versatile back four.

Asked if Walker's fitness was a factor in leaving him on the bench, Guardiola shook his head and confirmed that the right-back is fit to play a part if needed.

ALSO READ: City vs Inter Milan - live match updates

"He could be there, it was really tough," Guardiola told BT Sport. "For the way we want to defend and attack we need another type of player. [That is] the only reason why."

Guardiola also spoke of City using the experience of losing the Champions League final against Chelsea two years ago, insisting that the best way for his side to win will be to approach the game in front of them.

"Two years ago was the most important game in our history, two years later maybe is again. We [only] talk about football football football.

"I hope so [City will learn from their loss to Chelsea in 2021], I don't know, experience must be learned, sometimes you don't learn it. it's a football game against a real opponent. The team who plays better, controls emotions, more stable will win."

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