Kyle Walker booked for rash lunge on Neal Maupay just two weeks after pair’s furious on-pitch bust-up
MANCHESTER CITY star Kyle Walker was booked for a rash challenge on Brentford’s Neal Maupay, just two weeks after their on-field spat.
Maupay, 27, had only just come on after starting the match on the bench.
Having been on the pitch for 13 minutes, Maupay found himself going into a 50-50 challenge with Walker.
The City skipper went in full-blooded, sending the forward flying and subsequently receiving a yellow card.
Maupay’s evening had already got off to a poor start when he gave the ball away just two minutes after coming on, with Erling Haaland going on to score what would be the winning goal on the counter attack.
The match marked the first time that Maupay and Walker had met since their furious clash a fortnight ago.
On that occasion, a visibly furious Walker, 33, complained to referee Jarred Gillett and fourth official Stuart Attwell late on in the match.
A lip reader claimed that the England star had threatened to “knock out” the Brentford forward after he “spoke about my kids”.
Maupay was claimed to have denied doing so to the referee, allegedly saying: “I didn’t, it’s okay.”
The incident was subsequently not included in Gillett’s match report, meaning the FA took no further action.
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City boss Pep Guardiola did not comment on the matter following his side’s 3-1 win.
While Brentford manager Thomas Frank said: “No (I know nothing). I saw they were talking to each other.
“No (I haven’t talked to Maupay). It’s not my first focus after a game that we lost.”
During the previous week, the Frenchman had wound up Tottenham stars after mimicking James Maddison‘s celebration during a clash with the North Londoners.
He recently defended his on-field antics while speaking to The Times, saying: “People say footballers are boring, then all of a sudden a player does this and everyone goes, ‘Why, Neal?’ ‘He’s the most disliked player.’ Blah blah blah.
“For me, football is a game, it’s entertainment.
“I’m just having fun and, on the pitch, I’m trying to do everything to win.
“If I can say something that puts you off or makes you overthink and make a mistake, I’ll do it.
“People don’t realise how much tension and emotion is involved at the highest level.
“I think it works quite well and if I can get a reaction, great.”
Maupay did claim that he would never talk about a rival’s “private life or family”.