Defender Kyle Walker will struggle to get back into the Manchester City team because he cannot play in the current system, says manager Pep Guardiola.<\/span><\/p>\n Walker, 32, has started only two of City’s past seven matches.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n England team-mate John Stones has been favoured in recent weeks in an inverted full-back role where he pushes into central midfield alongside Rodri.<\/span><\/p>\n “He (Walker) cannot do it. To play inside you have to make some educated movements,” said Guardiola.<\/span><\/p>\n “He has other characteristics. He will always have pace. He will be the fastest in this room at 60 years old.”<\/span><\/p>\n Defending Premier League champions City, who are second in the table, face Southampton at St Mary’s at 17:30 BST on Saturday.<\/span><\/p>\n Joao Cancelo and Oleksandr Zinchenko played the inverted role, which allowed Walker to slot in on the right of a back three when they pushed into midfield.<\/span><\/p>\n But Zinchenko left for Arsenal last summer and Cancelo joined Bayern Munich on loan in January.<\/span><\/p>\n Nathan Ake is now playing regularly at left-back and drops into the back three, meaning the right-back is required to push forward, something Stones did to great effect in last weekend’s <\/span>4-1 Premier League win over Liverpool.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n “The reason why is tactical. It’s not because we lost faith in Kyle,” said Guardiola.<\/span><\/p>\n “He can play coming inside and he has done it many times, but like in the position [against] Liverpool with Rodri and John, he will maybe need time to do it and we don’t have time.”<\/span><\/p>\n Guardiola offered Walker hope of a return by referring to Ake’s progress, and urged every player in the squad to be ready to play.<\/span><\/p>\n “What they have to do is two things,” Guardiola said. “Don’t complain or there will be a problem. And try to do it better and better so when I need them, they will be ready.<\/span><\/p>\n “Look at Nathan this season. Last season he didn’t play one minute and now he is undroppable. It happens.<\/span><\/p>\n “Nobody has a guarantee with me. They have to earn it and sometimes we need a different shape for the way we build up or defend. Some players adapt better than the other ones.<\/span><\/p>\n
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