
Man City crush holders to book Champions League final return
Manchester City are celebrating a return to the Champions League final after crushing holders Real Madrid with one of the greatest performances in the club’s history. Pep Guardiola’s treble-chasing side overwhelmed the 14-time European champions 4-0 at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday, booking their place in next month’s Istanbul showpiece 5-1 on aggregate. Victory was as convincing as the scoreline suggests with Madrid struggling to live with the pace and power of City and grateful to goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois for preventing an even bigger landslide. Bernardo Silva set City on their way to a final date against Inter Milan with two first-half goals before Eder Militao turned into his own net and Julian Alvarez added a late fourth. City will now hope to lift the trophy and make amends for their loss in the 2021 final as part of what could be a glorious treble. The first of those trophies could come on Sunday if they beat Chelsea to clinch the Premier League with the FA Cup final against Manchester United on June 3. City manager Guardiola said: “In the Premier League we are close, we know we need one more game. “We play against our neighbours and against an Italian team in the finals. The season is really, really good. Now we have to lift it. We are close and of course we are going to try.” Last week’s semi-final first leg against Madrid in the Bernabeu Stadium had been an even contest. City dominated possession for large spells but Real were more incisive on the counter-attack. This time City refused to allow their opponents to sit back and feel comfortable soaking up pressure. They were far more dynamic and the Spanish giants could not handle their speed and movement. The resounding win made for sweet revenge for City’s heartbreaking loss to Real and the same stage last season. Guardiola said: “It was really tough losing the way we lost. In that moment we had to swallow poison but football and sport always gives you another chance. “When the draw was Madrid, I said, ‘yeah I want it’. “Everything was there – the energy we had from a year of being criticised as players for not having character when we lost.” Carlo Ancelotti, coach of the dethroned champions, could not begrudge City their victory. “I think that Manchester City deserved to win because they played better than us,” the Italian said. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Recent history not on Rory McIlroy’s side as he aims to win US PGA Championship Jordan Henderson ready for challenge of expected Liverpool midfield overhaul Scientists aiming to move closer to cracking concussion code for female athletes
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With competition fierce Kieran Trippier knows he needs to perform to retain England place at Euro 2024
Kieran Trippier may be a long-standing member of Gareth Southgate’s England squad but given the level of competition at full-back, he is not taking his place at Euro 2024 as a given. The Newcastle defender is now one of the senior men within Southgate’s ranks and has amassed 46 caps to date. His only senior goal was the opener in the 2018 World Cup semi-final defeat to Croatia with his ability to play on either side of Southgate’s defence keeping him in and around the team ever since. Despite his consistency for club and country, Trippier is now arguably in the strongest pool of full-backs available to England. In recent times Kyle Walker, Reece James and Ben White have played at right-back – with the versatile pair of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Rico Lewis also in contention – while Luke Shaw, Ben Chilwell and Levi Colwill have operated on the left. “I need to keep performing well for my club first,” he said of Euro 2024 selection. “There are so many good full-backs in England at the moment, I need to focus on my own performances. Obviously I want to be there but I know I need to be playing at a high level to be successful. “I’ve always believed in myself. I’ve always had challenges in my career. I’ve always been up against top right-backs for many years now and it’s just about believing in yourself. “I think the demands on a full-back these days playing now is so much. You’ve got to get forward. You’ve got to go on the overlaps but ultimately, you’ve got to defend as well. “I think there’s a big responsibility on full-backs the way we play in the Premier League now. I think you look at all the English full-backs, there’s incredible talent.” Southgate has largely put faith in youth since taking the reins as manager in 2016, with Trippier now one of the elder statesmen in the current squad alongside fellow 33-year-olds Walker and Jordan Henderson. He will be hoping to start again when England face North Macedonia in their final Euro 2024 qualifier on Monday night but, regardless of the changes made by Southgate, Trippier knows leadership does not necessarily come with age. We've got great characters and - the most important thing - a great togetherness in this squad Kieran Trippier “It only seems like yesterday when I was first walking into camp, when Gary Cahill was here and Joe Hart and all the experienced players,” he added. “Fast forward it to now, I’m one of the oldest so it just shows how quickly football goes. Even though I’m one of the oldest, we’ve got a lot of leaders in this room, you’ve got a lot of players playing at a high level. “You don’t need to be 33 to voice your opinion or whatever it may be. We’ve got great characters and – the most important thing – a great togetherness in this squad. “Everybody speaks whatever they need to speak and everybody listens. We’ve got a good, honest group here.”
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