Jose Mourinho has told talkSPORT that Manchester City defender Kyle Walker was his player of Euro 2020 and gave the England right-back the highest praise possible.
The Roma manager is in awe of Walker’s defensive work at the European Championship and cannot remember seeing him lose a single duel. Gareth Southgate started the 31-year-old in all but one of the Three Lions’ fixtures, only sitting out the Scotland draw.
Walker helped to clean sheets against Croatia, the Czech Republic, Germany and Ukraine on route to the final, as well. Which Mourinho believes was down to Southgate using the 61-cap full-back in a more reserved role than he is used to under Pep Guardiola at club level.
Walker’s defensive excellence that Mourinho lauds was ultimately not enough for England to beat Italy and win Euro 2020. But the Portuguese tactician still believes the Manchester City man was the overall star of the tournament, nonetheless.
“My player of the tournament was Kyle Walker,” Mourinho said. “I think Kyle Walker was phenomenal. From the first minute of the competition until the moment he came off in the final, he was phenomenal.
“He was giving cover to centre-backs on the opposite side. I don’t remember him losing one single duel. He didn’t go forward as much as he does in the club because of a strategy point of view.
“When I call a player an animal, it is the best compliment I can do to a player. Kyle Walker – an absolute animal. For me, phenomenal. From the first to the last minute, he was in that element.”
Slow start to stardom for Manchester City and England ace Walker at Euro 2020
Walker had a slow start to his Euro 2020 against Croatia, but the Manchester City defender responded well to being left out of the England side that faced Scotland to reach stardom and earn Mourinho’s vivid praise, as the Roma manager’s player of the tournament.
Walker was sloppy in possession against Croatia and could not make an offensive contribution. But he displayed excellent composure to clear danger from the England penalty area twice against the Czech Republic, even if still lacking in attack.
His pace also offered Jordan Pickford a lot of protection against Germany, yet did allow Timo Werner a key chance. The £110,000-per-week Citizens full-back’s passing was again sloppy against Ukraine, as well, which Roman Yaremchuk should have done more with.
Yet when it mattered against Denmark in the semi-final, Walker was alert to deny Denmark with critical covering runs. And his pace remained important to England keeping Italy from scoring in the final, bar a chaotic corner. So, there were plenty of positives from his Euros.
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