‘City could play with a blindfold’

stop there. We have to improve, individually and collectively.

“We are striving to achieve big things this season, and we put a good marker down on Sunday against a good side with a top coach.

“We played last year against Napoli [Maurizio Sarri’s former club] and they were fantastic.

“So to do what we have done to Chelsea is a big step in the right direction and a big marker for the Premier League.”

Walker says City are now so well adapted to Guardiola’s tactics and philosophy that they could play blindfolded and still find each other.

He said: “We have all got a football brain in this team and we all know when to press, we know where people are – sometimes you can almost play the game with a blindfold on – but that is down to his coaching skills and what he brings Monday to Friday on the coaching pitch to achieve what he achieves come match day.”

Walker underlined his own personal hunger by returning to training early from his post-world Cup break to play at Wembley – where he won his third medal in six months, with only three days’ training under his belt.

“It [the Community Shield] is a title and I have not won many titles so it would have been stupid for me to not want to come back and be part of it,” he said.

“The gaffer gave me the option, he said, ‘You can either come back on August 6, or you can come back and compete’.

“There is no doubt in my mind that I wanted to be at Wembley and achieve what we achieved.

“I’ve only had three days’ training. So to have that and still play 90 minutes is a big credit to myself and the work I’m putting in.”