Kyle Walker has started just five of Man City’s last 10 league games (Photo: Getty)
Paul Merson believes Kyle Walker must start Manchester City’s clash at Real Madrid if they are to advance to the Champions League final.
City travel to the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday night for the first-leg of their semi-final tie with Real and are heavy favourites to win the entire competition.
Though Los Blancos are not quite as good as they were this time last year when they beat the Citizens en-route to winning their 14th European title, it is expected to be a very close game.
Among Real’s biggest threats is forward Vinicius Jr. whose pace and trickery can cause problems for any team, as evidenced by his 43 goal contributions in 50 games so far this season.
Arsenal legend Merson believes stopping the Brazil international is key and thinks that Pep Guardiola should recall Walker to the starting XI in order to deal with him.
He told Sky Sports: ‘If Manchester City can stop Vinicius Jr they will win this tie. For that to be achieved, Kyle Walker has to play.
‘Real Madrid have a much better chance without Walker on the pitch. Last season this tie was turned on its head when he went off.
Vinicius Jr is a crucial part of Real Madrid’s attack (Photo: Getty)
‘Walker has been in and out of the team in recent weeks, but City haven’t come up against a player as good as Vinicius. If they can nail him down then City will have a great chance, and Walker is the only player with the ability to do that.
‘Bayern Munich had good, good chances against City in the away leg of their quarter-final and were unlucky not to win that game. If Real Madrid play like that, create those chances, they have a better winger in Vinicius Jr and a better centre-forward in [Karim] Benzema, so those chances will lead to goals.
‘There are horses for courses, and Walker is a great defender. At the Bernabeu, where they will have to defend for large periods, they are going to need defenders.’
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Formerly an indispensable part of City’s side, right-back Walker has started just five of their last 10 Premier League games courtesy of Guardiola switching formation to a 3-2-4-1.
The 32-year-old is more than capable of playing as a centre-back however, having done so on numerous occasions for England.
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‘Real Madrid have a much better chance without him on the pitch.’