Having been elected by his colleagues onto City’s five-strong leadership team for the 2023/24 campaign, Walker was the man who lifted both the UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup trophies aloft to set the seal on the Club’s very own 2023 famous five following our Treble across the 2022/23 season.
For Winter – the hugely respected chief football writer for The Times - the way the full-back has embraced the additional responsibility of being entrusted with the City captaincy has helped epitomise just what sets Pep Guardiola’s squad apart from the rest.
And at the age of 34, Winter believes Walker continues to drive the standards for others to emulate.
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“I think when we talk about the calendar year of 2023, looking back on that twelve months, Kyle Walker, over that period for club and country, has been absolutely sensational,” Winter declared.
“He is someone who has stood up to be counted every single time.
“You saw it at the end of the Club World Cup final out in Jeddah against Fluminense. You could see the camaraderie with him and the entire squad.
“We can talk about this and that, we can talk about the genius of Pep, but you’ve also you’ve actually got a bunch of players who obviously really like each other.
“Who are all good characters and who will fight for each other.
“And out there in Saudi Arabia, Kyle Walker was standing up for his team again.
“Then there is the element of work ethic as well.
“You know that no-one is going to outwork Kyle Walker. You also know that no-one is going to outwork any of the City players.
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“All the great teams have had that work ethic as well and it’s not simply for the 90 minutes.
“It’s week in, week out and it also epitomises Pep’s City.”
In analysing what was a year to savour and the qualities that continue to drive Guardiola’s side on, Winter also highlighted the way another member of the City squad has hit new heights of excellence and consistency.
For Winter, seeing Phil Foden go from strength to strength - especially over the first half of the season that saw key playmaker Kevin De Bruyne sidelined through a hamstring injury – only further emphasised the Academy’s graduate’s maturity and unique, game-changing ability.
“Phil Foden has been absolutely fantastic. I mean, you know, he’s just a fabulous talent,” Winter added.
“And if England can’t find a place to start to get him in the starting line-up then well…
“Phil has already got five Premier League winners’ medals and another thing that has struck me is the maturity of him both on and off the pitch.
“I remember interviewing Phil with a couple of other players several years ago when he was in the England Under-21s. And he was just sort of feeling his way and not particularly expressive.
“Now he is so confident and expressive. And now you just see him on the pitch. You see that special talent. I mean, if he was like French or Spanish, we would be saying, why isn’t he the Sports Personality of the year?
“I just think he has been fantastic.
“Watching him out in Saudi Arabia last month at the Club World Cup, you saw the intelligence of his timing, the touch, that confidence to take the ball under pressure.
“He is such a wonderful player.”
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