Manchester City star Kyle Walker has opened up about the bitter experience of losing the Champions League final to Chelsea two years ago. The Blues defeated Pep Guardiola’s side in the all-English final in 2021 under Thomas Tuchel as they became European champions. Walker is now hoping City have learnt from that painful defeat when they face Inter Milan on Saturday as they look to secure a historic treble.
Walker, reflecting on City’s defeat to Chelsea in the 2021 final, told The Telegraph: ‘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. It was hard seeing all the Chelsea boys there. You say congratulations to them because they are your team-mates now but it was tough. I had to pick myself up again and get ready for the next season. That’s football. It’s part of your career that everything is not going to go swimmingly well. I wasn’t playing at the start of this season but things change in football. I think you always have to go through setbacks, those nearly games, those losses.
‘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 [around] – seeing the winners walk up the steps and change that so you are walking up [as winners] and people are clapping you. We’ve been there… When you walk out, hear the anthem playing and see the cup – [it’s like] you are not really expecting it before, you think ‘Oh my gosh, it’s actually happening now’ – 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.’
Kyle Walker admits it was hard seeing all the Chelsea boys after Manchester City’s loss in the Champions League final two years ago. The Blues defeated Pep Guardiola’s side in the all-English final in 2021 under Thomas Tuchel as they became European champions. Walker is now hoping City have learnt from that painful defeat when they face Inter Milan on Saturday as they look to secure a historic treble.
Walker, reflecting on City’s defeat to Chelsea in the 2021 final, told The Telegraph: ‘It was hard seeing all the Chelsea boys there. You say congratulations to them because they are your team-mates now but it was tough. I had to pick myself up again and get ready for the next season. That’s football. It’s part of your career that everything is not going to go swimmingly well.’
He added: ‘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 [around] – seeing the winners walk up the steps and change that so you are walking up [as winners] and people are clapping you.’ Walker went on to explain that having experienced a Champions League final before, City will be better prepared this time around. He said: ‘You’ve experienced these things before, and it is just about playing your football and trusting the people around you.’