Kyle Walker sends warning to Manchester City's rivals

Andy Hampson 07:25 26/09/2017
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  • Kyle Walker says few teams will be able to stop Manchester City if they continue to get it right.

    Pep Guardiola’s side have hit a rich vein of form, scoring at least four goals in four of their last five outings.

    That has taken them to the top of the Premier League and got them off to a flying start in the Champions League.

    Their European challenge continues tonight as they host Ukrainian champions Shakhtar Donetsk in their second Group F fixture.

    Right-back Walker, who has made an impressive start at his new club since his summer move from Tottenham, said: “It is just about consistency.

    “If we keep playing at the level we are playing at I don’t think we will come across many opponents that will cause us many problems with the strike force we’ve got and, more importantly for me, (if we are) keeping clean sheets.

    “I think it will be tough and it’s a lot of work to keep doing and listening to the gaffer, his tactics, but hopefully that will see us across the line.”

    Striker Sergio Aguero, who has scored six in six appearances this season, will go into the game at the Etihad Stadium needing just one more goal to equal Eric Brook’s club record of 177.

    Walker saw the Argentinian score several against him while playing for Spurs and he is relieved to be on the same side now.

    He said: To play against he is a nightmare. Facing him for numerous seasons, he always seemed to score against us. It was frustrating.

    “Having him on the same team now is a big bonus. He is a quality player.”

    While Walker has caught the eye for his charges down the right flank, fellow new signing Benjamin Mendy has done similar things on the left. The pair also seem to have struck up a good relationship off the field and have regularly teased each other on social media, highlighting each other’s mistakes.

    Walker said: “If you know me relatively well, you know I do like a bit of banter – but he started it! He came for me first.

    “As soon as he got the nutmeg in Holland, I had to jump back on it. But he is just relentless. He keeps coming with things.”

    City face a Shakhtar side who opened their Group F campaign with an impressive win over the much-fancied Serie A leaders Napoli. Their form in the early part of the season has also been strong, as they have lost just once in 11 games.

    City boss Guardiola said: “They beat Napoli – one of the three or four or five best teams, playing football, in the world.

    “People say, ‘Napoli, it’s not Milan or Juventus’ and, ‘Shakhtar, it’s Ukraine’, but this group is tricky.”

    Mendy faces a fitness test on a knee injury while captain Vincent Kompany is still out with a calf problem.

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