Walker says Man City will be better prepared for final against Inter

Kyle Walker admits Manchester City were overawed in defeat by Chelsea in Champions League final two years ago… but the defender says setback can inspire them to Treble glory by beating Inter Milan

• Kyle Walker insists Man City will be better prepared for Saturday’s final
• Pep Guardiola’s side struggled to impose themselves against Chelsea in 2021
• Walker says that experience will pull Man City through to complete a Treble

Kyle Walker vowed that experience will pull Manchester City through to complete a Treble after they were left overawed at the 2021 Champions League final.

City struggled to impose themselves against Chelsea in Porto, losing to Kai Havertz’s goal on a night Pep Guardiola’s team selection was heavily criticised.

But there is a wave of optimism around the City camp this week as they gear up to face Inter in the hope of creating history, with Walker believing they are more primed this time around.

‘We’ve been there,’ Walker said. ‘When you walk out, hear the anthem playing and see the cup – these are the things when you walk out before and you are not really expecting it you think, “Oh my gosh, it’s actually happening now”.

‘Now when you walk out you know you’ve been here before, you’ve experienced these things before.

Kyle Walker insists Man City will be better prepared for Champions League final against Inter

City struggled to impose themselves and were beaten by Chelsea in the final two years ago

‘I don’t think any great team goes straight to the final and wins it. I think you always have to go through setbacks, those nearly games, those losses.’

City’s England stars had no chance to gather their thoughts two years ago, straight into the European Championship camp. There they linked up with international colleagues Ben Chilwell, Reece James and Mason Mount who had just beaten them on the biggest stage.

‘It was hard seeing all the Chelsea boys there,’ Walker added. ‘You say congratulations to them because they are your team-mates now but it was tough. It’s part of your career that everything is not always going to go swimmingly well.’

A sore back meant Walker missed training on Tuesday but he is ready to prove his fitness, while City fly out to Istanbul on Thursday. The key for Guardiola will be to keep the minds of his players fresh over the 48 hours before kick-off. The squad are usually equipped with a games room on European trips, with table tennis and darts having proven popular.

Walker – who has fought a way back into the manager’s plans towards the end of the campaign – has other plans for the day of the game ahead of the 10pm start in Turkey.

‘I hate late games because it is the wait of all day to go to the game,’ the 33-year-old said. ‘I’d rather it kicked off at three o’clock and then it is done. Obviously there is a little bit of nerves and I think nerves are good, you have to channel them.

‘I’m going to eat and sleep. Obviously you need to get your nutrition in and move around the hotel but it is about preparing so you are mentally fresh for the game. What else can you do? I just have to deal with it and have a little nap in the afternoon. Then I don’t sleep after the game. It’s Sod’s Law isn’t it?’

Victory will see City match the feat of rivals Manchester United in 1999 and Walker admitted that is a motivating factor for the group. 

‘That United team, along with the Invincibles, is probably up there with the best of all time,’ the defender said.

‘I think what us and Liverpool, to a certain extent, have done for the last number of years, we should be in consideration. But they [United] have got the big Champions League trophy that we can never say we have got. But by no stretch of the imagination do we just turn up and win it.’

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