Manchester City ‘owe’ club’s owners Champions League success – Kyle Walker
Kyle Walker feels Manchester City owe it to club owner Sheikh Mansour to win the Champions League. City are eyeing up European club football’s top prize once again after years of near misses in their quest to land the trophy for the first time. Losing to Chelsea in the final two years ago is the closest they have come, but Wednesday brings another opportunity to reach the showpiece fixture as they host Real Madrid in the second leg of their semi-final. The tie is delicately poised after a 1-1 draw in the Spanish capital last week. City have won the Premier League six times since the sheikh bought the club in 2008 – and are on the brink of a seventh domestic title – but the Champions League has long been viewed as their ‘holy grail’. Right-back Walker said: “The club is missing that one and, (with) the owners and the amount of money they have pumped into this club and the investment they have done, we owe that to them. “To get to the Champions League final against Chelsea and not perform as well as we can, we owe that to ourselves and get some revenge for ourselves because we know that was below par on that day. “But we have a tough opponent to get past to get to the Champions League final. It’s a ‘final’, anything can happen. The first thing is getting past Real Madrid and then let’s see about the final.” City dominated the first leg at the Bernabeu in terms of possession, but Real were incisive on the counter-attack and created more clear-cut opportunities. Walker was involved in a tough battle with the pacey Vinicius Junior, who scored Real’s goal, and the City defender is relishing another encounter with the Brazilian. The pair embraced in a sign of respect after last week’s meeting, but Walker has revealed there was also extra significance in the gesture. He said: “I went to hug him because he tried to rainbow flick me, so it was kind of like, ‘Please don’t try that again – I don’t want to be a meme’. “But boxers fight, have a good battle, and then they shake hands after, and that is the level of respect I do have for him. I will give him the respect he deserves (after the final whistle), but before then it is dog eat dog Kyle Walker on Vinicius Junior “It’s the same with any other player, when it is a good game, you go and give them that level of respect because they deserve it. “I will give him the respect he deserves (after the final whistle), but before then it is dog eat dog. “It is a personal battle where you are coming up against one of the best players in the world. “I have faced many over the years who have been just as good as him, but I think he is in the best form of his life, so whoever is picked to play in that position to defend against him it is going to be a great battle.” It could be a memorable week for City, who will also retain the Premier League title if they beat Chelsea on Sunday. Walker said: “I think it is big to everyone in that dressing room. We know the goals at the end of it – it is a massive week for the club.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun’s switch from England to USA approved by FIFA Forest fined over pitch invasion after 2022 play-off semi against Sheff Utd England agonised over dropping Ben Foakes for Jonny Bairstow – Rob Key
2023-05-16 22:59
Serbia and Greece: What countries will participate in the 2023-24 EuroLeague season?
EuroLeague basketball is a continental competition that pulls in teams from all across Europe. Here are the nine countries that will participate in the 2023-24 EuroLeague season.
2023-09-12 20:45
Davante Adams has photographer assault case against him dismissed
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams is no longer facing an assault charge after a Week 5 confrontation with an NFL-affiliated photographer in 2022.After a narrow 30-29 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 5, Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams expressed his frustration over...
2023-06-25 04:52
India 'joy to watch' says Tendulkar after statue unveiling
Sachin Tendulkar said the India team at the World Cup were a "joy to watch" after a statue of the batting great was unveiled at his Wankhede Stadium...
2023-11-01 23:18
3 key reasons the Knicks lost to the Heat in Game 4
The Knicks lost Game 4 of their series against the Miami Heat due to stupid mistakes, not taking care of the ball and poor rebounding.The Knicks lost Game 4 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Heat,109-101.New York made some real stupid mistakes in that cost them a chance to tie...
2023-05-09 11:18
Raheem Sterling’s double earns Chelsea draw against Nottingham Forest
Raheem Sterling rediscovered his scoring touch as he netted both of Chelsea’s goals in a 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge that could prove vital for relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest. Home fans had booed their team off at the break, trailing to a Taiwo Awoniyi goal for Steve Cooper’s side and looking no nearer in the first half to finding a solution to the lack of firepower that has derailed their season. Then, in the space of seven second-half minutes, Sterling transformed the match. First a deflected shot bounced up into the corner after he was set up by Trevoh Chalobah, then he let rip with a brilliant solo goal that evoked the England forward at his electric best. Yet instead of pressing on, Chelsea folded. Non-existent marking left Awoniyi free to head home and extinguish the lead four minutes later. It ensured Forest stayed three points clear in their bid to beat the drop, and meant Frank Lampard’s long wait for a victory at this ground on his return as boss will go to the season’s final game. Forest nearly stunned the hosts inside four minutes. Renan Lodi’s corner was whipped to the near post where Felipe met it with a firm header that flashed wide. They took the lead soon after and it was Lodi again the provider, though Edouard Mendy – returning in goal for Chelsea – was badly at fault. The ball into the penalty spot did not look unduly threatening, but as the keeper raced from his goal Awoniyi climbed above two defenders to get to it first and head into an unguarded net. It seemed to shake Chelsea to life, and they went close to levelling immediately when Sterling’s effort was blocked by the recovering Joe Worrall. Noni Madueke, increasingly influential in recent games despite the team’s indifferent form, showed excellent balance and feet on the right whenever he got on the ball, bursting through Forest with speed and skill. On the other flank, Lewis Hall nominally at left-back showed barrels of attacking intent when Chelsea were in possession. He got forward after 30 minutes and, after making space with a clever shimmy, crossed for Joao Felix to dive into a header that was brilliantly held on the stretch by Keylor Navas. Moussa Niakhate was an inch away from making it two for Forest in the first moments of the second half, he stretched out a leg to meet a flicked-on corner at the back post but could not make the contact required. Chelsea did not need another warning. The equaliser arrived on 51 minutes, and Sterling owed his goal to good link-up play between Madueke and Chalobah. The pair worked their way in behind Forest and into a channel down the right, giving Chalobah the time and space to pick out a pass which Sterling swept home first time via a deflection off the stricken Ryan Yates. Chelsea looked to ride the wave of noise that the goal had drawn from Stamford Bridge. Felix tried to catch out Navas with a driven effort from range that dropped onto the roof of the net, then Sterling took the roof off the stadium with his and Chelsea’s second. There seemed to be little on when the ball was worked to him 12 yards out on a wide angle, but in a deft movement he took it under control, opened his body and shot perfectly beyond the dive of Navas. It was Sterling at his long-forgotten best. It should have been a catalyst to drive Chelsea on to a rare home win. Instead, it invited a meekly predictable implosion. Orel Mangala’s cross into the centre of the box for Forest was an inviting one, and no one in blue had gone with Awoniyi who stunned home fans into silence with a firmly planted header. Chelsea’s frustration started to show. Felix was booked for simulation, and attacks began to break down before the final third. Still Forest carried a threat, Lodi hit a bending drive that swung outwards and fractionally past the post. Sterling had a chance to complete his hat-trick, racing forward to get on the end of Hakim Ziyech’s searching ball but lifting his header up and over the bar as he arrived. There were few chances for either side after that, as Forest claimed a point that could prove of incalculable value. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Aston Villa turn up heat on European rivals Tottenham with vital win Alejandro Garnacho returns to put seal on Manchester United win over Wolves Southampton’s relegation confirmed after Aleksandar Mitrovic-inspired Fulham win
2023-05-14 00:24
India's bowling hero Shami feeds off team success
Fast bowler Mohammed Shami on Sunday said India's success kept him motivated on the bench as he returned match-winning figures of 5-54 against New Zealand in his...
2023-10-23 03:27
Pochettino ready to deliver from 'day one' as new era starts for Chelsea
Mauricio Pochettino admits he has to deliver from "day one" as Chelsea's new manager vowed to win the trust of...
2023-07-08 00:21
Liverpool support Luis Diaz after his parents were kidnapped in Colombia
Liverpool have confirmed an “ongoing situation involving the family of Luis Diaz” amid reports the forward’s parents were kidnapped in Colombia. Colombia’s president has said Diaz’s mother “has been rescued” but his father remains missing. “Liverpool Football Club can confirm it is aware of an ongoing situation involving the family of Luis Diaz in Colombia,” read a club statement. “It is our fervent hope that the matter is resolved safely and at the earliest possible opportunity. In the meantime, the player’s welfare will continue to be our immediate priority.” Colombia president Gustavo Petro said on X, formerly known as Twitter: “In an operation in Barrancas, Luis Diaz’s mother has been rescued, we continue the search for the father.” The country’s football federation said in a statement that the kidnapping was regrettable and urged authorities to rescue Diaz’s father. “The Colombian Football Federation rejects the security situation that the parents of our player Luis Díaz are going through,” they said. “From the FCF we express our solidarity with him and his entire family and we call for the relevant authorities to act as quickly as possible to resolve the situation.” Liverpool signed Diaz from Porto in January 2022 in an initial £37.5million deal that included a potential extra £12.5million in add-ons. The 26-year-old winger has made 11 appearances this season and scored three goals. Diaz did not feature in Liverpool’s 5-1 Europa League victory over Toulouse on Thursday but had been expected to return for Nottingham Forest’s Premier League visit to Anfield on Sunday. Read More On This Day in 2012: UK Athletics appoints Peter Eriksson as Olympic head coach Joel Embiid leads Philadelphia 76ers to victory over Toronto Raptors Ketel Marte breaks record as Arizona Diamondbacks tie World Series
2023-10-29 17:23
Bet365 Promo Turns $1 Bet into $200 Bonus GUARANTEED in NJ, OH, VA and CO (or $365 Bonus in Iowa!)
Win a guaranteed $200 when you sign up with Bet365 and wager $1. Read more to learn how you can secure the best offer in the business in minutes today.
2023-06-23 18:20
Schrader, defense lead No. 16 Missouri to emphatic 36-7 victory over No. 14 Tennessee
Cody Schrader ran for 205 yards and a touchdown, caught five passes for 116 yards and led No. 16 Missouri to an emphatic 36-7 victory over No. 14 Tennessee
2023-11-12 08:24
Premier League Clubs Plot Private Equity Deal for Women’s League
A group of Premier League clubs are lobbying for a private equity-style proposal to invest in the Women’s
2023-11-23 20:45
You Might Like...
Inter Milan take control of Champions League semi-final with AC Milan
Eric Bailly leaves Man Utd on permanent deal
Nola takes no-hitter into 7th, Turner has 2 HRs as Phillies beat Tigers 8-3
Rested 19th-ranked Tennessee Vols start critical stretch hosting Texas A&M
We didn’t deliver – Jurgen Klopp has no issue with Mohamed Salah venting spleen
Mets, Pirates Fans Brawl in Stands
Broad retirement overshadows England charge in 5th Ashes Test
Confident cornerback D.J. Reed says the Jets can have a 'historical' defense this season
