MANCHESTER: Six years ago Kyle Walker caused much surprise when he was named the PFA Young Player of the Year.鈥―espite the right-back impressing in a Spurs side that finished fourth, Sergio Aguero 鈥� inspirational with 23 goals as Manchester City won the title that season 鈥� was favorite.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 know how I beat Aguero to that award because he had a fantastic year,鈥� Walker told Arab News.
Yet it remains a rare honor in his career, whereas Aguero has enjoyed title and cup triumphs while carving his name in City folklore as their record scorer.
Having made a 拢50 million ($68 million) summer switch to join the Argentine striker at the Etihad, Walker, 27, is now eager to share in similar success and history.
After 22 games, leaders City visit Liverpool today still on course to match Arsenal鈥檚 2004 feat of going the entire Premier League season unbeaten.
Walker, who grew up on a Sheffield council estate, dares to dream and insisted it is not impossible to be become 鈥業nvincibles鈥�.
鈥淲e鈥檝e seen Celtic went on last year and did it, so listen, it鈥檚 possible, but in the Premier League it is going to be difficult,鈥� he said.
鈥淣o disrespect to the Scottish Premier League, but the Premier League is tough and we have got some tough games coming up. We need to just keep approaching every game as we have done in the last four-five months and hopefully that will see us over the line.
鈥淥f course I鈥檇 like to be part of history. I鈥檝e got three little boys myself and if they can look at me and say daddy was a part of that then that would be fantastic. It would be a pat on the back, not just to myself, but to my mum, dad, missus and everyone who has supported me to get where I am now.
鈥淚鈥檝e had a difficult upbringing, but it鈥檚 all a learning curve and I wouldn鈥檛 be here if I didn鈥檛 have that childhood and that learning.
鈥淚t would be fantastic if we could do it, be remembered like Arsenal, but it鈥檚 going to be difficult. We have played so many games this season and that maybe showed a little bit in the league game at Crystal Palace. We went there and got the draw, but it was so close to a loss.
鈥淲e are in all competitions we can win, so that鈥檚 a positive. But we just need to attack and keep treating every game as we have done. I think that should be enough because of the quality we have got in the dressing room and especially the striking force. I believe it鈥檚 a force to be reckoned with.鈥�
With the chance of an unprecedented quadruple of trophies, City have become a fearsome force as a team and Walker is flourishing under the tutelage of Pep Guardiola.
鈥淚 think you have to strive in your personal terms to be the very best and play at the highest level possible,鈥� he added. 鈥淭hat season, 2011-12, was a great year for me, but after that people found out I was new to the Premier League. You get that, when the first season you do well and the second and third was more difficult.
鈥淏ut I think it improved me as a player mentally, that I had to adapt to different situations that I wasn鈥檛 comfortable in or that happened in the first season.
鈥淭he big thing about joining City was I wanted to have a new challenge and test myself further. No disrespect to Tottenham, but I needed something different.
鈥淭his club was the right decision for me. The manager, and how he wants his team to play and how he could develop me as a player was key, having worked with two of my favorite right backs since I was growing up in Dani Alves and Philipp Lahm.
鈥淚鈥檓 not at their level yet, I鈥檓 still improving. I鈥檓 27, probably at my peak now and for the next three years. But I am keen to learn and the gaffer is always showing me ways I can improve and I am taking it on board every day. Every day is a school day really.鈥�