Wayne Rooney believes that Manchester City’s ‘strange’ decision to let Kyle Walker leave the club proved costly in defeat to Real Madrid.
The England star was allowed to leave the Etihad Stadium for AC Milan on a loan deal in the January transfer window – a move that left many scratching their heads.
Fast-forward just a couple of weeks and Walker’s absence has left a clear hole with both Manuel Akanji and Rico Lewis struggling to contain Vinicius Jr in their 3-2 defeat to Real Madrid.
A late Lewis error saw the Brazilian forward go through on goal before Jude Bellingham tapped home a stoppage-time winner to leave plenty of work for City to do in next Wednesday’s Champions League play-off second leg at the Bernabeu with Rooney left baffled by Walker’s exit.
On Amazon Prime, he said: “I think you see the importance of Kyle Walker over the last seven, eight years for Manchester City.
“I think it’s so strange to see Walker go out on loan to AC Milan.
“Akanji’s obviously not a right-back, Rico Lewis is still a young player and playing in different positions.
“At this point in the season, where Manchester City are struggling, Kyle Walker’s the captain of the football club, to allow him to go on loan is really odd.”
City struggled to contain the attacking quartet of Jude Bellingham, Rodrygo, Kylian Mbappe and Vini Jr during the clash at the Etihad Stadium with goals from Mbappe, Brahim Diaz and Bellingham seeing Real Madrid to victory despite a double from Erling Haaland.
It means that Pep Guardiola‘s side must go to the Bernabeu in need of an elite-level performance to not only save their Champions League aspirations, but their season as well.
Eliminated from the Carabao Cup and sitting fifth in the Premier League, Adrian Durham has already said that Guardiola should be sacked if they are eliminated in the Champions League.
But for the second time in nine days – following City’s 5-1 defeat to Arsenal – John Stones fronted up to the TV cameras and gave a refreshingly honest interview on the Premier League champions’ struggles.
He said: “A few games after the Arsenal one, I don’t know how to put it into words straight away, it’s so raw and frustrating for everyone.
“We were in the game until so late and then it’s two situations that happen and we concede. It’s frustrating as a defender to come away with that result.
“It’s a feeling of anger and frustration.
“We need to see games out better. The manager said we need to take accountability for what we do on the pitch, I think we do that. We need to step up when these bad moments happen.
“Today we had a great opportunity to go to the Bernabeu with a 2-1 lead. It’s not done. We have to stay positive, which is difficult now.
“As the manager says we need to look at ourselves and take accountability.
“We were right on top at the start of the game and we know Real have quality to come out in the second half. It is avoidable from us as the eleven on the pitch. We have to do better – it’s as simple as that.
“We have to keep a positive mentality and try to put it right.”
Next up for Man City is a home clash against in-form Newcastle on Saturday, before the crucial return leg against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu on Wednesday, February 19.