Maupay finally breaks silence on what he said to Walker in heated on-pitch clash
Neal Maupay has insisted that "everyone would laugh" if they knew what he said to Kyle Walker in Brentford's defeat to Manchester City earlier this month.
Towards the end of the Premier League match, Maupay and Walker clashed, with City boss Pep Guardiola forced to intervene. The right-back could be seen having an animated discussion with referee Jarred Gillett following the interaction with Maupay.
The Brentford striker was then spoken to by Gillett as Guardiola calmed down his player. Maupay appeared to be bemused by the interaction, though he was also spoken to by the City boss after being substituted.
While little emerged about what Maupay had said in the aftermath of the incident, it was clear Walker felt he had crossed a line. There were suggestions that the Brentford star had brought up Walker's private life, but Maupay has flatly denied that happened.
"I didn’t think I should have to defend myself for something I didn’t do. The people who know me, they know I wouldn’t say something like that, but it is a bit unfair because if I don’t talk then people will think I’m guilty," he told The Times.
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"I’m not going to say [what I said] but, if you read my lips properly and find out, everyone would laugh. 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. It’s not personal and I’m sure I’ve never crossed that line. I try to be on the edge but I don’t say stuff about a player’s private life or their family."
Maupay has denied making light of Walker's private life (James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)Though Guardiola was at the centre of the incident as he moved to calm Walker down, the City boss was keen to quickly move on. He remained tight-lipped when questioned about the clash.
Asked about the showdown, Guardiola snapped back: “Nothing, next question!” When asked if the officials were conducting a further investigation, Guardiola remained unmoved as he replied: “I said next question”.
Brentford boss Thomas Frank was also keen to quickly put the incident to bed. Asked to explain his take on Maupay’s clash with Walker, he said: “No, I saw they were talking to each other. It's not my first focus after a game that we lost.”
The clash between Walker and Maupay had taken the shine off of what was a crucial win for City in the title race. They had fallen behind after Maupay's breakaway goal midway through the first-half.
But Phil Foden then stepped up to deliver a heroic performance. He scored a hat-trick to lead City to a deserved win, having seen Brentford keeper Mark Flekken make save after save.
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