Jose Mourinho has named Kyle Walker as his Euro 2020 player of the tournament, calling the England defender an “absolute animal”.
Walker has been excellent throughout the tournament for Gareth Southgate‘s side, playing at right-back and right centre-back depending on England’s formation.
His best game of the tournament arguably came in the semi-final victory over Denmark, with his pace and cover provided to the centre-backs a key part of England’s solid defensive performance.
The Manchester City defender started six of England’s seven games at the Euros, including the final against Italy.
Mourinho names Walker as best player of Euro 2020
And Mourinho has heaped praise on the 31-year-old, declaring him as his player of the tournament.
He explained to talkSPORT: “I think Kyle Walker was phenomenal. From the first minute of the competition until the moment he came off in the final he was phenomenal.
“He was giving cover to centre-backs on the opposite side. I don’t remember him losing one single duel.
“He didn’t go forward as much as he does in the club because of a strategy point of view.
“When I call a player an animal it is the best compliment I can do to a player. Kyle Walker – an absolute animal. For me, phenomenal.
“From the first to the last minute he was in that element.”
The official player of the tournament went to Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
The 22-year-old – who is currently a free agent after his AC Milan contract expired last month – made three saves in the winning shootout in the final, and kept three clean sheets.
Donnarumma did not, however, keep the most shutouts in the tournament. That accolade belongs to England’s Jordan Pickford, who recorded five clean sheets.
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