Pep Guardiola blames Gareth Southgate for lack of communication over player injuries

Manchester City manager revealed he had ‘never’ been so angry when John Stones was injured in England’s friendly against Belgium

Kyle Walker has been sidelined by a knee injury while on England duty, with Pep Guardiola hitting out at a lack of communication with international managers.
Walker picked up a problem after playing 90 minutes in the Uefa Nations League against Finland nine days ago and has undergone scans, but will miss City’s clash against Sparta Prague on Wednesday.
Guardiola has been frustrated by injuries to players on international duty previously, revealing he was angry when John Stones played in two friendlies in March and only started one more Premier League game that season.
Gareth Southgate was England manager at the time and Guardiola says dialogue tailed off between the pair.
“Before when I was a player the national team manager called the clubs, now nobody talks,” he said. “How they feel, how they are. Maybe the physios talk but the managers never.
“In the first or second season with Gareth yes, but now no. Sometimes Ronald Koeman because he is a friend of mine. I know the players don’t want to get injured, I always encourage them to go to the national team, it’s a pleasure, but if it’s a friendly game you cannot come back injured, I’m sorry.”
Stones revealed during the international break that Guardiola was as angry as he was over the injury he picked up against Belgium in March, having played against Brazil during that international break.
“If you are focused, if it is a friendly game you cannot come back injured when you are playing the quarter-finals of the Champions League, because they put in a lot of work behind [the scenes],” said Guardiola.
“They are the first to make a lot of work to arrive in the last stages of the season with a chance to win the titles. We are well-paid here, the club pay us, not the national teams. Sometimes you have to respect the clubs. In friendly games you cannot be injured. You can play, absolutely, but you cannot come back injured.
“I was never so angry as that moment. Never ever before I was so disappointed. It was a friendly game and we are playing the quarter-finals against Real Madrid, and to win the Premier League. For a friendly game, two players coming back injured [he tuts], no no no. I didn’t like it, at all.”
Walker’s injury means Rico Lewis could continue at right-back, with the 19-year-old able to play in both full-back positions and central midfield.
“I have not really had too much thought about nailing down a position, the more positions I can play it gives me a bigger chance of playing. It is just playing as best as I can,” said Lewis.