Kyle Walker insists Man City are not in the same class as Sir Alex Ferguson’s United yet despite Treble triumph and shot at world glory
- European champions can add Club World Cup to their collection on Friday
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- IAN LADYMAN: I’d rather watch a match at my local school than watch Man City in the Club World Cup – It’s All Kicking Off
Kyle Walker surprisingly claimed that Manchester City are still in Manchester United’s shadow – even if they become champions of the world on Friday.
Pep Guardiola’s side are bidding to make history by beating Fluminense in the Club World Cup final, held in Jeddah.
Victory would cement them as the first English team to ever win the top five major trophies in a calendar year, on the back of lifting three consecutive Premier League titles.
But Walker – City’s captain in Kevin De Bruyne’s absence – doesn’t believe ticking the final trophy off will edge them ahead of the dynasty built by Sir Alex Ferguson across town.
‘I don’t think we’ll be looked at differently for a good couple of years,’ the 33-year-old said.
Erling Haaland lifts the European Cup as Manchester City complete the Treble last season
They emulated the achievements of Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United back in 1999
City defender Kyle Walker believes his club are still in the shadow of their arch-rivals
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‘To go and achieve what the likes of Liverpool and Manchester United did… they did it year in, year out for a number of years.
‘So to be considered the best club in the world is obviously a great achievement but the lads know that we’re just starting the building blocks for this club. Hopefully we’re starting a new generation.’
Asked why City couldn’t lay claim to being the best in modern history following the dominance under Guardiola, Walker added: ‘To go and do it like your Manchester Uniteds with your Ryan Giggs’ that have won 13 league titles.
‘We take great pride in what we’ve done but for me, and we’ve won five in six years, to be recognised as one of the top clubs in the world we have to do it for a little bit longer.’
City have won the domestic crown in seven of the last 12 seasons but have a fight on to create more history by clinching a fourth title in a row.
The defending champions could be 10 points behind the leaders when they return from Saudi Arabia after indifferent results, a run of form that has been blighting by conceding late goals. They face in-form Everton on Wednesday.
Walker, who admitted that City are ‘lucky’ not to be further behind, has taken criticism by supporters personally. His family send him social media posts from disgruntled fans.
Comparing Man United’s 1999 Treble-winners with Manchester City from last season
City eased their way into the final of the Club World Cup with a 3-0 semi-final win over Japanese club and Asian champions Urawa Reds
Pep Guardiola views the FIFA Club World Cup as a legacy trophy well worth winning
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‘If I’m not doing something right I’m always going to get scrutinised,’ he said. ‘That’s been my whole career but it gives me the fire to keep going. I’ve had a lot of criticism from the fans about me being captain and that it’s all my fault.
‘I get it sent. It’s natural. I have got a mum and dad that care about me. They care about me and when their son is getting hammered. I just feel in football it’s fickle, (people have) short memories.
‘I remember going home in the car (after) Jeremy (Doku) had come in. He’s been on fire, and all of a sudden it’s, ‘Jack Grealish should be out.’
‘Now all of a sudden Jack scores and it’s ‘keep him in the club’. It is what he is. That gives me motivation. Keep hammering me and I will just keep coming back.
‘We have been a little bit lucky that teams probably haven’t capitalised on us dropping points. I still feel it is open but we are concentrating on the final and that is to make history for this club.
‘We will go and tick that off and return to the Premier League with a tough, tough game at Goodison Park.’
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