Walker: I was used as an excuse for Manchester City s poor performance last season. I might not have left the team, but I want to play football

August 23: 35-year-old Walker was interviewed by the Telegraph after transferring from Manchester City to Burnley this summer, which is also his first important interview in four years.

Last season, Manchester City fell into a downturn, Walker chose to leave the team and was loaned to Milan in January. Apparently, his eight years at Manchester City have ended since then. Walker has a lot of choices this summer: “My agent told me Burnley was interested in me and he asked me half-jokingly, ‘Is it a little silly to ask if you want to go there?’ I replied, ‘Of course not, I’d love to talk to Scott (Burnley coach Parker).’ I respect people who have worked hard and contributed in this sport we love so much… He called me and I love everything he said, which made me feel like I was back when we were teammates (Tangspur). ”

Speaking of whether relegation with Burnley now means a sharp regression in his career, Walker said: "I think it is not fair to Burnley to say that because they are a Premier League club. I saw some gossip about Manchester City saying that I shouldn't leave the team when I was captaining or something. I play football because of love, I am willing to play for free, and that's me. Of course, it's great to get a salary and the income is very considerable. But I can play football for free, and I'm paid , maybe just to deal with external pressure and public opinion. I still remember when I signed with Tottenham in 2009, I said to my agent: 'I don't want to sign any contracts anymore'. I don't play football for money, I'm for achievements and honors, and I've been very lucky to have these over the years."

Walker revealed that he recently revisited Jordan's documentary "The Last Dance": "I was deeply touched by Rodman's words in it, and he said: 'I play basketball for free, and I get the money. To deal with external stress and noise. ’ Outside noise is the worst part of this job, maybe that’s why I get my salary. The better you perform, the more scrutiny your life will be, the smaller your private space will be, and you have to do something specific and live a restricted life. ”

Previously, Walker publicly apologized to his wife and family in The Sun, admitting his extramarital affair and having two illegitimate children, and saying he made stupid choices and decisions. In this interview, Walker talked about the scrutiny of football players: "So you can only endure some things silently, but I also think there is a trend now that players are starting to become more and more closed."

Last season, because of Manchester City's poor performance, Walker was also severely criticized and eventually lost Guardiola's trust. Speaking of the reasons for leaving the team, Walker said: "I have no chance to play, and I have the highest respect for Manchester City fans. They have always been great, very good. We have brought them many wonderful moments, and they have also brought us some unforgettable moments. In the last game of the previous season, we played Villa 0-2 behind (finally reversed the championship 3-2), but none of the fans left the field because they still believed in us. They are real fans, and support us in both good and bad times."

"But I don't think I'm a scapegoat because I don't want to win sympathy. But I am the captain, the team performed poorly, and during the critical period of the season, many important players were absent. I feel like I... it's not that I was blamed, I don't want to say that, but as an excuse because I was the team at that time Long."

Walker even worried that some people inside Manchester City might no longer want him to continue being captain: "I won't reveal too much of those conversations, I don't intend to give up, I have to defend my rights, I think I'm qualified to be the club's captain, and I think I'm doing a good job in leading the team to the top four."

When loaning Milan in January and possibly transfer permanently, Walker said: "I had no games to play at the time, so I wanted to go out and play, and when Milan came to the door, it was Ibrahimovic who called me. When you're on the bench, can you refuse such an opportunity? Looking back, should I leave Manchester City? Maybe not. I should have gone through that difficult time with my teammates. But sometimes, for personal reasons, you'll think, 'Okay, let me experience something different'."