Walker’s upcoming milestone is unbelievable, says Guardiola | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola says he has no doubts about Kyle Walker’s ability to remain at the very top of the game as the England international nears a special milestone.

Should our captain feature against Fulham on Saturday, he will make his 400th Premier League appearance.

Now in his eighth season in Manchester, he has appeared 201 times for City in the top-flight after 183 games at Tottenham Hotspur and 15 with Aston Villa.

Whatever the result in this game, Walker will have the joint-highest win rate of any player with 400 appearances in the competition (64%, level with Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Gary Neville).

City v Fulham | Match preview

Only four players have ever lifted the title on more occasions than Walker, who has been a crucial part of all six of City’s triumphs under Guardiola.

Now 34, Guardiola does not have any concerns about the right-back’s determination to stay at the peak of his powers.

“I don't have any doubts about Kyle and his physicality,” said Pep.

“He can play whenever Kyle is focused on what he has to do. I'm happy he's back in the national team.

“This milestone is unbelievable, and I think his win rate is not just spectacular, it's superior.

“That's why I congratulate him, because that means how consistent you are and how many games you play and have few injuries.

“His physicality is out of the norm.

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“Kyle has to be completely focused to get the best of him.

“He has to give everything in training sessions and in the games and the minutes he plays against all the teams in this competition.”

Walker is one of six City players to have been involved in every success since Pep’s arrival in Manchester.

While Guardiola knows his players remain motivated, he has stressed that past success does not count for anything as we seek a record extending fifth successive title.

“I said many times to the players that have been here seven or eight years all together, they demand to play,” he began.

“Remember what they have done in the past. They have won the Premier Leagues. They have won here, all the players, the senior ones.

“I'm not talking about Savinho. It's his first year here.

“That is part of our history but that doesn't count. You have to perform right now, today. Tomorrow, at 3pm.

“This is the only thing that counts in modern sport and modern football.”

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Ahead of Saturday’s visit of Marco Silva’s in-form Cottagers, City sit second in the Premier League with 14 points from our first six games.

Guardiola insisted that he is just taking it one game at a time at this stage of the campaign, rather than looking ahead to the spring.

“Never think about March, April, May or what happens in the Club World Cup. Never, ever,” he stated.

“I demand for my team and myself, every single game to do our best. I don't know what is going to happen.

“I can't say in February, it will be perfect. Who knows that?

I plan to be 12 months perfect. This is what I plan, knowing that it will be up and down.

Pre-season, when we go, I say, do your best and knowing we are not the best in our first games of the season or whatever. But do the best every single time.

“You have to prepare the game for tomorrow against Fulham, all my preparations are for Fulham, not because in February and March, we will be better than now.

“In February, if we are 20 points behind the leaders, or maybe we are 20 points in front. Who knows? The next game is the best solution.

“In my experience, it's the best way.”

City v Fulham app coverage

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Minute-by-minute text updates will begin in our Matchday Centre two hours before kick-off, while our Matchday Live show will begin at 13:45 (UK).

We will have guests Paul Dickov and Kit Symons on the latest Matchday Live show, offering their expert insight before, during and after the action.

During the game you can also listen to live audio commentary from Alistair Mann and Andy Morrison while our text commentary continues.

Make sure to have push notifications turned on as well, so you can be alerted to key moments in the action, including goals, red cards and the team news.

Short highlights from the match are available from 19:00 [UK] while extended highlights, as well as a full-match replay [available on CITY+] can be accessed from midnight.