6/22/2023 0 Comments Leap download uk![]() ![]() How does he kill the time and not allow all that nervous energy to get the better of him? “Eat and sleep,” Walker replies. “Obviously there are a little bit of nerves but I think that’s good - you just have to channel them in the right direction to make you perform well. I’d rather it kicked off at three o’clock and then it is done then. “I’m 33 now so I wouldn’t say I get nervous but I hate 8 o’clock games because it is the wait of all day to go to the game. However, there is one thing Walker is still uncomfortable with - 8pm kick-offs. “Whereas now, you can walk out and you know you’ve been here before, you’ve experienced these things before, and it is just about playing your football and trusting the people around you. “When you walk out, hear the anthem playing and see the cup - you are not really expecting it before, you think ‘Oh my gosh, it’s actually happening now’. If anything, though, Walker is convinced that bitter experience against Chelsea will serve him and others well as they prepare to face Inter. “I think all big teams have to go through setbacks to actually maybe give you the little bit of desire where you want to actually turn that - seeing the winners walk up the steps and change that so you are walking up and people are clapping you.” “Even with the national team, each step of the way we have got to a semi-final, a final, and hopefully big things are around the corner. “I think you always have to go through setbacks, those nearly games, those losses,” he says. Inter Milan stand between City and an elusive first European Cup, the Treble and a place among the immortals and Walker simply cannot stomach the idea of walking up the steps at the Ataturk Stadium in Istanbul to collect another losers’ medal. Suffice to say, when Walker joins up with the England squad for the Euro 2024 qualifying matches against Malta and North Macedonia next week, he will be hoping to do so as a Champions League winner this time around. This will be 90 minutes of football on Saturday where we have to make sure we are winning at all costs.” I wasn’t playing at the start of this season but things change in football. It’s part of your career that everything is not going to go swimmingly well. “So I had to pick myself up again and get ready for the next season,” he added. Five weeks later, Walker was collecting another runners-up medal after England’s defeat, on penalties, to Italy. The Euros would not bring any solace either. ![]() ![]() You say congratulations to them because they are your team-mates now but it was tough.” “It was hard seeing all the Chelsea boys there. “I didn’t really have much time to get over it as I had to tune back into England and go and compete in a tournament for my country,” the Manchester City defender reflected this week. Pitching up at St George’s Park, just days after losing the Champions League final to Chelsea in Porto, to see England team-mates Mason Mount, Reece James and Ben Chilwell still basking in the warm afterglow of victory. Kyle Walker can remember the feeling like it was yesterday. ![]()
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