Kyle Walker reveals angriest team talk he ever sat through to rival fiery England boss Thomas Tuchel

Jun 19, 2026 - 15:45

Kyle Walker recalled an explosive half-time rant from Pep Guardiola during his first season at Manchester City.

The right-back joined City in 2017 in a £50million transfer from Tottenham and quickly realised the levels required to play under the legendary Spaniard.

Kyle walker Pep Guardola — Walker quickly discovered the high expectations Guardiola has on players he coaches

Walker, who now plays for Championship side Burnley, joined talkSPORT and the subject of Thomas Tuchel’s half-time team talk during England’s 4-2 win against Croatia came up.

England went in at half-time drawing 2-2 and Anthony Gordon revealed to talkSPORT that his words hit the mark.

Walker then recalled one of Guardiola’s team talks, which came in an FA Cup fifth round defeat against Wigan that saw the manager burst into a fit of rage at his under performing side.

What did Guardiola say?

“I remember him going on a complete rant,” he told Drivetime. “We actually lost the game, it didn’t actually work but I remember that one.

“I think it was my first season at Man City and you kind of thought, ‘okay, this guy means business.’

“Obviously it’s Wigan. No disrespect to Wigan but we wanted to win and go far in the competition.”

The Three Lions appeared shaky in the first half with Croatia comfortably finding the groove as the side went in at 2-2 at the interval.

Former Aston Villa striker Gabby Agbonlahor experienced a few dressing-room outbursts during his career and admits sometimes it does players the world of good.

“Sometimes you need a manager to give you a rocket,” Agbonlahor said.

“Martin O’Neill did it a few times at half time but he just called us cowards. He was just old school and savage.

England manager Thomas Tuchel — Thomas Tuchel was instrumental in his sides second-half turnaround against Croatia

“He’d say, ‘you’re playing like cowards, the whole lot of you are cowards. Get out there’

“He was ruthless, Martin was.”

Tuchel appears to have adopted a more robust approach than his predecessor Gareth Southgate.

The former England boss was often criticised for his slightly more passive methods however Walker admits that former assistant Steve Holland more than made up for it.

“I think everyone knew what Gareth was about. It was very calm and collected. He was probably the good cop,” Walker added.

“Steve Holland was the one that would come in and tear us a new one if he didn’t think we were doing what we should be doing.

“I think sometimes some players need it. Some players don’t want you to shout at them because they go into their shell but others need it.

“I’m a person that needs telling. I want someone to shout at me because it gets a reaction out of me.”