Kyle Walker launched a lengthy defense of himself and the criticism he has faced as he prepares to lift a second trophy in the space of five months as deputy captain of Manchester City.
Walker, who almost left City for Bayern Munich this summer, promised they could live with the 'heat' of expectations and that the pressure and criticism on him had always been high - and never been higher given the recent run of results City.
"I always get hot," the 33-year-old said. "If I don't do something right, I'm always scrutinized. That's been my whole career, but it gives me the fire to keep going. I have received a lot of criticism from the fans that I am captain and that it is all my fault. We are a team. We are in a team game. I have consistently said throughout my career that if I wanted to play a solo sport, I would play tennis or golf."
Since Kevin De Bruyne's injury in August, Walker has taken over as captain from the Belgian - himself newly appointed following the departure of Ilkay Gundogan - and delivered a rousing pre-match speech on the pitch in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday.
That was ahead of City's Club World Cup semi-final victory over Japan's Urawa Red Diamonds, which propels Walker and his teammates into Friday's final against Brazil's Fluminense. Walker captained the European champions for the UEFA Super Cup final victory in August and although De Bruyne is back training with the first team, Pep Guardiola said he will not feature this week.
Walker, in his seventh season at the club, remains the best right-back in the Premier League and also captained England as an international with 81 caps. He was clear that the ruthless nature of maintaining City's dominance is taking its toll.
"I feel that I am one of the most experienced players and captain and will have to carry that burden. It's something I'll have to carry on my shoulders. I told the guys in the group that we are here because of what we have achieved. No one is going to roll out the red carpet for us. We have to go and earn justice. Other teams think they can come play us and... you know what? All credit to them.
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"Liverpool, Tottenham and [Crystal] Palace games - we are always defending. That's not me standing up for defense, but we're not killing games like we used to. We always defend on the edge. But listen, we defenders have to deal with that pressure. Sometimes we have to keep the game going and save the day."
How did that criticism reach him? Mostly radio phone calls he listens to in his car, he said, and a few select highlights sent to him by his parents. Walker's emergence as one of Europe's best players has also been accompanied by what seemed like a fairly chaotic private life, and he has often said that the fallout has been difficult to deal with.
"It will be sent to me [criticism]. It is natural. I have a mother and father who care about me and if their son gets hammered... I just feel like it's fickle in football. [Fans have] short memories. I remember going home by car. Jeremy [Doku] has come in, been on fire, and suddenly it's: 'Jack Grealish has got to get out.' Now Jack scores and it's 'Keep him in the club'. It is what he is. That gives me motivation. Keep hammering me and I'll keep coming back."
Discussing City's current situation - they have taken seven points from their last six Premier League games and have dropped to fourth place - Walker said it was harder to win the Premier League than the Champions League. He also said that to compare with the great Manchester United teams of the 1990s and 2000s and the Liverpool dynasty that preceded them in the 1970s and 1980s, this City generation had to win more and for longer .
With the ability to win five trophies in one year, hadn't City already earned their place among the great sides in the recent history of English football? "It sounds easy when you say it like that, but to do it like Manchester United and Ryan Giggs, who have won 13 titles, is a piece of cake," Walker said. "I have been involved in the Premier League since I was 19. I am now 33. I can assure you that it is much more difficult to win a Premier League than the Champions League."
"In the Champions League you need a bit of luck to come your way, just like it did for us in the final. We played a great match, but if [Romelu] Lukaku puts that in the net, are we here now or not? In the Premier League it is a 38-match battle. And I can tell you it's a slog. We are proud to do what we have done, but for me, and we have won five in six years, we still have to do it for a while to be recognized as one of the top clubs in the world. [longer]."
Another Premier League title this season would be a record-breaking fourth in a row for English football. In this era and in the Football League this has never been done. The epic legal battle with the Premier League rages in the background, casting a shadow.
"I don't think we'll be looked at differently in the years to come," Walker said. "To achieve what Liverpool and Manchester United did, they did it year in, year out, for a number of years. It is of course a great achievement to be considered the best club in the world, but the boys know that we have only just started the building blocks for this club. The club has won the Premier League in the past, but to do that in a dominant way is something we have never done here before."
'Maybe this is what we need: back to reality, and we'll go again'
Walker said the departures of Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez had had an effect: "good, experienced Premier League players who know the game inside and out, know how the manager wants to work". De Bruyne's absence also played a role. "Who doesn't want Kevin De Bruyne on the pitch? Everybody does that," Walker said. "Because he scores goals and provides assists."
Turning to the second half of the Premier League season, he said the City players were confident.
"We are there. I feel very confident. The boys feel confident. Maybe this is what we need from such a high: a quick return to reality, and we'll move on. Hopefully that's a starting point where we can make a good run, which we seem to be doing over the Christmas period, and get the points."
As for the prospect of being 10 points behind Arsenal when they return, Walker said he was not worried about it. "No. We've been in that position where we've been ten points ahead - [ahead of] Liverpool - and then suddenly they're hot on your heels. What will be will be. We can't do anything about the Premier League as long as we are here [in Saudi] ...now we are in the final, let's go and win it. And then think about the Premier League when we come back."
