List of All Articles with Tag 'eppersons'

Manchester City right-back Kyle Walker has played down fears he could miss the Champions League final with a back injury. The England international did not feature in an open training session on Tuesday as City continued preparations for Saturday’s clash with Inter Milan in Istanbul. The 33-year-old looked in discomfort as he was substituted in the final minute of City’s FA Cup final triumph over Manchester United at Wembley. But Walker was one of a number of players made available for media interviews later on Tuesday and he insisted the problem was not serious. “I’m fine, I’m just getting old,” he told Sky Sports News. “I’m completely fine, it’s just an extra day of recovery. “I’ve played a lot of minutes over the last number of weeks so the manager said, ‘Just stay inside and come Saturday you will be raring to go’. “I’m fine, the minutes that I’ve played when everyone else was injured, I was there digging my heels in and getting through it. I won’t be missing the Champions League final for anything.” Manager Pep Guardiola also said Walker’s absence from training was only precautionary. “He has had a disturbance in his back,” said Guardiola at a press conference. “Yesterday he was not good, today he was a little bit better but we didn’t want to take any risks. We will see what happens in the next days.” City are bidding to win the Champions League for the first time and complete a glorious treble after their Premier League and FA Cup successes this season. They are also looking to erase the memory of their painful loss to Chelsea in the 2021 final. As three-time winners, Inter boast the greater European pedigree but City will go into the match as firm favourites against the side that finished third in Serie A this term. Guardiola, however, insists what has happened in the past – and even current form – counts for little now. He said: “It’s really good to travel in a few days to Istanbul. We go together and it is a dream to be here. “Two years ago we were there but in different situations with Covid. For history, they are better than us but it is about what you have to do to be better than the opponent in 95 minutes Pep Guardiola “We’re going to try to do our best and we know the final is how you behave in that specific 95 minutes, not history. “For history, they are better than us but it is about what you have to do to be better than the opponent in 95 minutes. “It doesn’t count what you have done in the group stages or the Premier League or the FA Cup. We have to be better than them.” Guardiola is comfortable with the tag of favourites. “We are used to it,” he said. “Why should it be more dangerous? Accept the role and go out there knowing the quality of the opponents. We accept what people say, no problem.” City’s form in the latter part of the season, when they reeled in Arsenal to win the Premier League and powered past Bayern Munich and Real Madrid to reach this weekend’s showpiece, has been outstanding. Guardiola acknowledges confidence is high in the City squad but insists there will be no complacency. He said: “It is a final against a top team and we have to do it. We are confident, I’m so optimistic, but at the same time I cannot deny the quality of the opponent. “I have never done that and especially not in the final of the Champions League.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Merger of golf’s warring factions sends shockwaves through sport London Irish suspended as takeover deal collapses London Irish’s highs and lows as the club face suspension

Karim Benzema has completed his move to Al-Ittihad, the Saudi Arabian club have confirmed. The striker is leaving Real Madrid in the summer and has signed a three-year deal with the Saudi champions. Benzema was allowed to leave the Bernabeu after 14 years after voiding the 12-month extension he had. Earlier on Tuesday, the 35-year-old vowed he will never forget Real. The France international scored 354 goals in 648 games and won a club-record 25 trophies during his time with the LaLiga side. “I’ll never forget Real Madrid because it’s impossible,” he told a farewell press conference. “It’s difficult to talk. There are so many emotions. I wanted to thank Real Madrid and my team-mates. It’s been a good journey in my life. It's difficult to talk. There are so many emotions. I wanted to thank Real Madrid and my team-mates. It's been a good journey in my life Karim Benzema “I was lucky enough to fulfil my childhood dream thanks to the president, who a long time ago, when I was just 21 years old, went to my house, with my parents. “When I saw you I said, he’s the man who brought Zizou and Ronaldo and now he wants me in his team. Thank you very much for that. “I’ll never forget Real Madrid because it is impossible. It’s the best club in the world and in history, that’s as good as it gets. It’s time for me to leave today and to have another story, but the most important thing for me is what I’ve won here. “It’s a little bit of a sad day, because I’m leaving this club and that pains me. My dream was in my head, I signed for Madrid and I wanted to finish at Madrid, but life sometimes gives you another opportunity and I’ve taken it with all my family.” Benzema joined from Lyon in 2009 and won four LaLiga titles and five Champions League crowns. He also won the 2022 Ballon d’Or. Real president Florentino Perez said: “Today is a very difficult day for me. It’s a day that brings back memories and the emotions of the last 14 years and it’s also a day of sentiment and emotions for all madridistas. “A period of enormous anticipation began 14 years ago for all madridistas, one of the most impressive in our 121 years of history.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Merger of golf’s warring factions sends shockwaves through sport London Irish suspended as takeover deal collapses London Irish’s highs and lows as the club face suspension

Al-Ittihad have announced the signing of Karim Benzema following his shock departure from Real Madrid.

Although the Detroit Pistons have struggled to reach the playoffs recently, former players have made an impact on their current teams this postseason.Former Detroit Pistons who made the playoffs: 8. Luke KennardSince leaving Detroit, Kennard has reached the Western Conference Finals and led the ...

Erik Spoelstra has preached about the value of adversity for months, not shying away from saying that it helped the Miami Heat get to these NBA Finals

Chicago has had massive roster changes since winning its first championship two years ago

The PGA Tour and European Tour have agreed to merge with Saudi-backed rebel circuit LIV Golf in a shock deal that ends the bitter...

Streaming platform Apple TV+ on Tuesday announced a four-part documentary series on Argentina's World Cup-winning...

On Tuesday night, the New York Mets travel to Truist Park to take on the Atlanta Braves in what is expected to be a high-intensity start to a three-game series.This is the second meeting of the season between the two National League East rivals, with the Atlanta Braves taking two of three games ...

NHL free agency is highly anticipated every summer during the offseason. When does 2023 NHL free agency start?NHL free agency is set to begin on July 1, 2023 at noon ET. Teams will eagerly seek free agents who fit into their organization's puzzle. Pending unrestricted free agents can sign n...

England bowler Stuart Broad hopes India stars Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli can make Australia toil ahead of the Ashes during this...

Jarrod Bowen said he would like to score a goal for each of his newborn twins when his West Ham side face Fiorentina in the Europa Conference...