Manchester City defender Kyle Walker has said he has been hurt by recent criticism from manager Pep Guardiola.
The England international was a regular starter for City this season until he lost his place to Bournemouth at the end of February.
Guardiola said in April that the 32-year-old Walker “can’t play” in the team’s current system.
“Did it hurt? Of course it did. I can’t lie and say it didn’t hurt. You start to doubt yourself,” Walker said.
After being dropped for the Bournemouth game, Walker has been ruled out of three of the next four Premier League games.
He was also on the bench for Champions League matches against RB Leipzig and Bayern Munich as City hit the form that took them to the brink of a fifth title in six years and four treble wins historical.
Per contract, John Stones has excelled in Guardiola’s new role as reverse full-back.
“Sometimes you don’t always agree with certain opinions in football, but what he has done for me and for Man City over the last six years has been nothing short of amazing,” Walker said.
“He’s my boss and I’m one of the captains. I had to make sure my disappointment didn’t show in the team.”
It was Nathan Ake’s hamstring injury that allowed Walker to come back, with Guardiola forced to play Manuel Akanji at left-back and Stones alongside Ruben Dias at centre.
Walker responded with a series of impressive performances and came out on top in a memorable battle with Real Madrid dangerman Vinicius Jr in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final at the Bernabeu last week.
Vinicius Jr scored Real’s goal in the 1-1 draw, with the return game on Wednesday.
“I had to react as a professional,” added Walker.
“I had to go back to basics, to what I’m good at and what he bought me for and prove him wrong. That’s what I did.”
