XtraTime web desk: Manchester City defender Kyle Walker remains optimistic about his fitness for the upcoming Champions League final, despite a recent struggle with a back problem. The English international did not participate in City’s open training session on Tuesday ahead of the clash against Inter Milan in Istanbul.
Walker appeared uncomfortable as he left the field during his team’s FA Cup final victory over Manchester United last Saturday. However, the 33-year-old expressed confidence that he would be available to aid City in their quest for their first-ever European title.
“I’m completely fine, it’s just an extra day of recovery,” Walker assured Sky Sports News on Tuesday. “I’ve had a lot of minutes on the pitch in recent weeks, so the manager said, ‘Just stay inside and come Saturday, you will be raring to go.’ I won’t miss the Champions League final for anything.”
Walker played a pivotal role in City’s semifinal triumph over Real Madrid, delivering an exceptional performance against Vinicius Jr. in the second leg, which ended in a resounding 4-0 victory for Pep Guardiola’s side.
Guardiola explained that Walker was excluded from Tuesday’s training session as a precautionary measure due to a back issue. “He has had a disturbance in his back,” the City manager revealed. “Yesterday, he wasn’t feeling well, today he’s slightly better, but we didn’t want to take any risks. We will monitor his condition in the coming days.”
Having already secured the Premier League title and the FA Cup this season, City aims to complete a historic treble of the three major trophies, a feat achieved only by Manchester United in 1999.
The team enters the final as the overwhelming favorite against Inter, who finished third in the Italian league. Guardiola emphasized that success in the final hinges on performance within the specific 95 minutes, rather than relying on past accomplishments.
“We’ll do our best, and we understand that the final is determined by how you perform in those specific 95 minutes, not history,” stated Guardiola. “What you’ve achieved in the group stages, Premier League, or FA Cup doesn’t matter. We have to be better than them.”