Kyle Walker admits to struggling with not always playing regularly for Manchester City - but is willing to park any grievances with manager Pep Guardiola and put the team first.
The England international played the full 90 minutes against Arsenal on Wednesday night after also completing last weekend's FA Cup semi-final versus boyhood club Sheffield United but has not always been a guaranteed starter as of late.
Walker, 32, barely featured during the two-legged Champions League quarter-final with Bayern Munich, making just one late cameo appearance, and was not called upon by Guardiola in the Premier League match against Liverpool to start the month. The defender is adamant that he is not alone in believing he should be playing every match.
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"I have struggled sometimes when things are not going your way outside of football or a bit of bad form," Walker told the Daily Mail. "I always think, go back to the basics – what got you to your happy place.
"Things are out of your control sometimes. Every one of us down there thinks they should be playing. It's how you react. I'm the worst; I hate not playing.
Walker continues: "But with my experience and age, I think, 'OK, I'll park the manager to one side and be here for the team'. And I'll make sure the lads have my backing.
"Whether that's me shouting in the dressing room beforehand or like the last game of last season against Aston Villa. I was the one shouting and running up the touchline as it meant something to me. I needed to do what I can, as one of the captains, to make sure the other guys got the victory we needed."
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