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Kyle Walker’s move from Tottenham Hotspur to Manchester City was probably the biggest story of Spurs’ offseason last summer, and there’s no question that Walker has both helped City on their way to the Premier League title and hurt Spurs’ own title ambitions.
Saturday’s 3-1 loss to City was the first time Walker has played Spurs at Tottenham’s home ground, and his appearance in a City kit stirred up all those old emotions again for many Tottenham fans. Kyle, however, seems ready to bury any available hatchets and move on.
Mauricio Pochettino had said prior to the match that he hoped that Walker would receive a warm welcome at Wembley Stadium on Saturday (EXTREMELY DAVID ATTENBOUROUGH VOICE: he didn’t), and the gesture wasn’t lost on Kyle. After the match, Walker tried to defuse any tensions about the way he left the club and stated that he hopes Spurs win the FA Cup.
“I heard what the Tottenham boss said, and I think that just shows the respect we have for each other. Whatever you read in the media, I know what really happened. I know the truth behind it.
“He can tell his story, I can tell my story but I won’t stand here and start slagging people off because that’s not what I’m about. I left because it felt like a time in my career where I needed to move on, and luckily it’s worked out.
“Do Tottenham have a squad that can win trophies? Most definitely. They’ve got Manchester United in the semi-finals of the FA Cup, which is a big trophy for them to go and win. Please God they go and do that, and I’m not just saying that.
“The lads deserve it, every single one of them. They work hard every day, and not just the lads but the coaching staff as well. For them to go and do that, when it’s probably a season where they were getting a lot of ifs and buts, that would be very good for them.”
I’m not mad at Kyle Walker anymore, and it’s fine if you still are. But what I can say is that Kyle has not shown much in the way of bitterness about leaving Tottenham or his experience, at least publicly. He’s been a model professional, clearly still has friends at Spurs, and I think he’s sincere when he says that he hopes Spurs do well this season.