SM
Barcelona vs. Brann: 7 hrs 9 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data

Kyle Walker lavishes praise on maturing Manchester City

:Headline: Kyle Walker lavishes praise on maturing Manchester City:
City have reached the Champions League final for the first time by seeing off Paris St Germain.
Sports Mole

Kyle Walker believes Manchester City have finally proved their worth on the Champions League stage after years of underachieving.

City reached European club football's showpiece match for the first time by completing a comprehensive victory over Paris St Germain in their semi-final on Tuesday.

It marked another key milestone on a long journey to the top of the game that began with the club's takeover by Sheikh Mansour in 2008.

This is the club's 10th consecutive season of Champions League football but they had only made the last four once before, in 2016, and they had fallen at the quarter-final stage in the last three seasons.

Right-back Walker said: "This has felt like a proper Champions League. We have had tough moments, weathered the storm and in previous years we probably didn't do that very well.

"That just shows the maturity and the togetherness that we have got as a team now and hopefully we can take that into the final.

"Let's not get too carried away with ourselves, we have still got a final to go and win, but we are there and that is the main thing, putting this club in the final and making history."

City were strong in defence and attack as they followed up their victory in the first leg against PSG with a 2-0 success at the Etihad Stadium. Riyad Mahrez scored in each half as Pep Guardiola's side completed a 4-1 aggregate success.

Riyad Mahrez scored both goals on a memorable night for City (Martin Rickett/PA)

PSG lost their discipline in the closing stages and finished with 10 men after Angel Di Maria was sent off for a petulant stamp on Fernandinho.

Walker said: "You need your game management to be second to none because players on this stage are going to punish you. I also think you need a bit of luck.

"In certain situations, we put our body on the line and defended really well. We got goals when it was probably against the run of play but that just shows where we have matured and dug in and got the goals we wanted.

"It wasn't easy, I can assure you, especially with the array of talent they have got, but I thought it was a good, professional, solid performance as a team."

City's victory was their seventh in succession in this year's competition, a new record for an English team.

They will now hope to make that eight in the final in Istanbul on May 29, a match that could also be Sergio Aguero's last for the club.

The Argentinian, who has scored a record 258 goals for City, is leaving when his contract expires at the end of the season.

Walker said: "Kun is a legend for what he has done for this club and the Premier League. Not many people come into his bracket.

"Hopefully, we can send him off with a Champions League medal around his neck, something I am sure he has dreamt about his whole life."

body check tags ::

amp_article__446130 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2021-05-05 14:43:03:
html db last update - 2021-05-05 14:08:08 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html

Click here for more stories about Kyle Walker

Click here for more stories about Manchester City

Share this article now:
MC
Read Next:
Pep Guardiola: 'Our ultimate target is now in sight'
>


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Read more about Kyle Walker Sergio Aguero Football
Follow @SportsMole for the latest breaking news stories, and follow @sm_headlines to get every headline from Sports Mole
Recommended Next on SM
Pep Guardiola: 'Our ultimate target is now in sight'
Lionel Messi reveals decision over retirement

Page options

Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal28204470244664
2Liverpool28197265263964
3Manchester CityMan City28196363283563
4Aston Villa29175760421856
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs28165759421753
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd28152113939047
7West Ham UnitedWest Ham2912894650-444
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2811985044642
9Wolverhampton WanderersWolves28125114244-241
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle281241259481140
11Chelsea27116104745239
12Fulham29115134344-138
13Bournemouth2898114152-1135
14Crystal Palace2878133348-1529
15Brentford2975174154-1326
16Everton2887132939-1025
17Luton TownLuton2957174260-1822
18Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2967163551-1621
19Burnley2945202963-3417
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd2835202474-5014
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

Arsenal injury, suspension list vs. Man City - Saka, Gabriel

1

AI

Liverpool injury, suspension list vs. Brighton

2

LI

Preview: Getafe vs. Sevilla - prediction, team news, lineups

NEW

3

PG

How Man United could line up against Brentford

NEW

4

HM

Key Man City defender 'serious doubt for Arsenal clash'

5

KM

Liverpool 'hopeful defender has avoided serious injury'

6

L'

Preview: Al Ittihad vs. Al Fayha - prediction, team news, lineups

7

PA

Manchester United could be missing nine players for Brentford clash

8

MU

Man United to prioritise Olise deal over Bakayoko?

9

MU

Barcelona injury, suspension list vs. Las Palmas

10

BI


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .