Paul Merson names only Manchester City star who can stop Vinicius Jr ahead of UCL showdown against Real Madrid
Arsenal legend Paul Merson has named Manchester City right-back Kyle Walker as the only player capable of stopping Real Madrid attacker Vinicius Junior.
The two European heavyweights are set to do battle in the UEFA Champions League semifinals. The first leg is tonight (May 9) at the Santiago Bernabeu and many are awaiting to see which team Pep Guardiola selects.
Manchester City will come up against one of Europe's most in-form wingers in Vinicius. The Brazilian has bagged 22 goals and 21 assists in 50 games across competitions. Merson thinks that Walker must be selected to try and nullify the Real Madrid attacker's threat. He told Sky Sports:
"If Manchester City can stop Vinicius Jr they will win this tie. For that to be achieved, Kyle Walker has to play. Real Madrid have a much better chance without Walker on the pitch. Last season this tie was turned on its head when he went off."
Guardiola's men were surging towards the 2021-22 Champions League final during last season's semifinal between the two sides. They held a 5-3 aggregate lead heading into stoppage time. However, Los Blancos hit back through a Rodrygo double and Karim Benzema's extra-time penalty to steal a 6-5 aggregate win.
Walker came off in the 72nd minute of that second-leg defeat. He has played a less prominent role for City this season as Guardiola has tinkered with his defense. However, Merson continued by insisting that the English defender is the only player with the ability to match Vinicius:
"Walker has been in and out of the team in recent weeks, but City haven’t come up against a player as good as Vinicius. If they can nail him down then City will have a great chance, and Walker is the only player with the ability to do that."
Merson then alluded to Manchester City's need to defend at the Bernabeu:
"There are horses for courses, and Walker is a great defender. At the Bernabeu, where they will have to defend for large periods, they are going to need defenders."
Walker has featured 31 times across competitions this season. He has filled in at centre-back on 10 occasions. Hence, the Englishman may be an astute option to try and deal with the dangerous Vinicius.
Wayne Rooney backs Manchester City to blow Real Madrid away in UCL clash
Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has backed Manchester City to blitz Real Madrid away in their Champions League semifinal. He thinks the Cityzens will be too strong for Los Merengues, writing for The Times:
"Manchester City will not just beat Real Madrid in their Champions League semi-final — they’ll blow them away."
Rooney continued by acknowledging Madrid's superb record in Europe but thinks Guardiola's men are on another level:
"Of course, I may be wrong. There is no side better at disproving arguments against them than Carlo Ancelotti’s Madrid in the Champions League. But I just think City are so good that they’re on another level."
The Cityzens are unbeaten in their past 20 games across competitions. They have been dominant domestically and in Europe and are targeting a treble. Meanwhile, Real Madrid have just won the Copa del Rey with a 2-1 win over Osasuna in the final on May 6.