Kyle Walker makes Kylian Mbappe comparison with Real Madrid star but warns it’s ‘dog eat dog’

Kyle Walker has warned Vinicius Junior that the Champions League semi-final second-leg clash between Manchester City and Real Madrid on Wednesday will be ‘dog eat dog’ but has also praised the Brazilian winger’s prodigious talents.

Vinicius scored in the reverse meeting last week at the Bernabeu as the sides drew 1-1 and had an ongoing battle with Walker during the game. The two are expected to go toe to toe once again on Wednesday at the Etihad and have huge respect for each other, as was demonstrated at the full-time whistle last week when they exchanged a hug.

Asked about that incident, Walker compared the two players to boxers but warned his respect will be forgotten once the game gets going.

“I went to hug him because he tried to rainbow flick me, so it was kind of like, 'please don’t try that again, I don't want to be a meme'. But boxers fight, have a good battle, and then they shake hands after, and that is the level of respect I do have for him. It's the same with any other player, when it is a good game, you go and give them that level of respect because they deserve it.

“They are carrying a lot of pressure on their shoulders to take a massive club like that over the line in the Champions League. They've not done well in their league and this is the last prize they need to go and win. You show your respect to him but tomorrow night, if chosen, there's no respect after the [first] whistle. I will give him the respect he deserves [after the final whistle], but before then it is dog eat dog.”

Asked about stopping Vinicius in the second leg, Walker said: “I don’t think it is just about A and B, it is a team game and obviously it is a personal battle where you are coming up against one of the best players in the world but I have faced many over the years who have been just as good as him,” he continued. But I think he is in the best form of his life so whoever is picked to play in that position to defend against him it is going to be a great battle.

“I take it as any other game, we have to show him a level of respect. Like [Kylian] Mbappe when I played him in the World Cup, you have to give him respect they deserve but you are not going to say go on, ‘walk through and score’.”