A couple of years ago, Pep Guardiola took a phrase to a new dimension. Or a new era, given that it was a prediction for the 2050s. You’ll never beat Kyle Walker? "He will always have pace,” the Manchester City manager argued. “Kyle at 60 years old will be the fastest player in this room.”
Guardiola used to thank the full-back’s parents for his genes. Walker, it seemed, was a physiological freak. As others slowed down, as evidence sometimes emerged that his lifestyle was scarcely ideal, he was still the man for a race: with Vinicius Jr, or Kylian Mbappe, or the fastest forward anyone could find.
