Sport

Pep Guardiola left fuming as Kyle Walker returns from England camp injured

It's not the first time he's complained about it.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 23rd October 2024

Pep Guardiola has been left fuming after defender Kyle Walker came back from England camp injured following the Three Lions two most recent Nations League fixtures.

Walker was one of multiple Manchester City players who travelled to St George’s Park for international duty but he’s the only one of Guardiola’s squad who has unfortunately returned with a knee issue.

The 34-year-old fullback wasn’t fit for the game against Wolves at the weekend after picking up the knock in the win over Finland and while the severity of the injury isn’t thought to be anything too serious, the manager has been left very frustrated.

Speaking to the media in the pre-match press conference ahead of Man City’s Champions League match against AC Sparta Praha, Pep began by saying “Never [have I been] so angry, never was I so disappointed.”

The Catalan coach insisted he knows that no one wants to get injured but reiterated that picking up a problem as a result of a ‘friendly’ simply “cannot happen.”

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The 53-year-old went on to previous instances in which both Sunday’s match-winner John Stones and, most recently, the still-injured Nathan Ake have returned to training far from 100% after playing for the national team, sometimes before a crucial club game.

Although Nations League games are not technically friendlies – England are actually now in the second tier following the Euro 2024 final loss – the competition admittedly isn’t quite valued like the other major tournaments and was more created as a way to make the international break more interesting.

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Regardless, while Pep assures he always encourages his players to represent their country, he did take issue with the current lack of communication before players are called up.

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“Before when I was a player, the national manager called the club manager but now nobody talks,” said Pep, “For the first or second season with Gareth [Southgate] but not since.”

City take on Sparta Praha in the UCL at 8pm on Wednesday night but will have to do without the experience of Kyle Walker in the meantime.

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Nevertheless, England youngster and academy graduate Rico Lewis has been thriving ever since he broke into the side and will no doubt be more than a sufficient stand-in until the right-back returns to full fitness. Elsewhere, midfield maestro Kevin De Bruyne is said to be getting closer to a comeback.

You can watch Pep’s presser in full down below:

You can hear a fuming Pep discussing Walker getting injured, De Bruyne’s progress and more.

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Featured Images — pantkiewicz (via Wikimedia Commons)/Sky Sports (via X)

Sport

You can spend an evening with Premier League legend Alan Shearer at Edgeley Park next month

Danny Jones Danny Jones An Evening With Alan Shearer at Edgeley Park tickets

Events at Edgeley Park just keep getting more varied and exciting as football fans can now spend an evening with none other than Newcastle legend and former England striker Alan Shearer.

Stockport County‘s stadium has been developing a broad lineup of experiences outside of just the usual matchdays year upon year, having hosted everything from a headline Blossoms gig back in 2019 to an ABBA all-nighter last summer, and now they’ve just announced another ‘An Evening With’ date.

As part of the ever-expanding series under the Edgeley Park Presents banner, the next evening confirmed for the schedule is an exclusive interview, dinner and Q&A with the Premier League’s all-time leading goalscorer (260), Alan Shearer.

A sporting hero for so many growing up and an everlasting icon of the English game, the 54-year-old will be heading to the home of the Hatters next month and tickets are on sale now.

One of the greatest strikers the game has ever seen, the beloved Geordie made his professional debut for Southampton back in 1988 before moving to Blackburn Rovers and helping lead them to their only Premier League title in the 1994/94 season.

As one of the most prized players in the country at that point, he then snubbed the likes of the Red Devils and many more to sign for his hometown club Newcastle United the following year for a then-world record fee of £15 million. The rest, as they say, is history.

Having already made his international debut in 1991, he went on to become England‘s captain at the 1998 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2000, before retiring from international football. Since his retirement, Shearer has been a key pundit and long-time favourite on BBC’s Match of the Day for years.

As for the night itself, admission to the event will include a two-course dinner, an in-person interview; a Q&A session with the crowd, an auction of highly sought-after sporting memorabilia as well as a host of live entertainment.

He’s not the only UK sports personality to have hosted a similar event here either as British boxing Hall-of-Famer Joe Calzaghe also held a charity Q&A evening this past September.

Credit: Supplied/The Manc Group

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The event starts at 6:30pm on Friday, 22 November 2024 and tickets are available to purchase now from the Stockport County website starting at £95. 

For those willing to spend more, VIP ticket holders will also have early access to the venue to even meet Alan Shearer himself beforehand, where they will be able to grab a photo and enjoy a signing opportunity before dinner is served. 

If spending An Evening with Alan Shearer at one of the fastest-growing clubs in Greater Manchester sounds up your street, you can grab your Edgeley Park Presents tickets HERE.

The ground itself also undergoing some serious redevelopment as County continue to climb up the ranks of the footballing pyramid.

Stockport County unveils grand expansion plans to nearly double capacity of Edgeley Park
The League One side is hoping an improved sporting arena with help consolidate them as a Championship-worthy team.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Supplied (via Stockport County)

Sport

Former Manchester United striker Diego Forlan starts his professional tennis career next month

Danny Jones Danny Jones Diego Forlan starting as a professional tennis player in November

In a surprising sporting story, ex-Manchester United forward Diego Forlan is set to restart his days as a professional athlete half a decade on from hanging up his boots – only this time it will be as a tennis star.

Former Man United striker Forlan, now 45 years old, played for the Red Devils between 2002 and 2004, going down as a bit of a cult hero among fans even with only just over a dozen goals for the club – mainly because of that one he scored against Liverpool.

The Uruguayan officially retired back in 2019 following a successful career that spanned nearly three decades, but now Uruguay’s 2010 World Cup Golden Boot winner is set to swap his studs for a tennis racquet this November.

At an age when the likes of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are retiring from the sport, Forlan is getting back in action.

While it might sound a little left-field at first, the fact is that before Diego Forlan the footballer who arrived in the Premier League just after the Millennium, the striker actually played plenty of tennis as a kid and at one point looked destined for tennis.

It was only in his teens that he officially decided to direct all his attention towards the beautiful game and started his youth career at his boyhood club, Peñarol, before getting his first senior contract at Independiente in 1997.

After impressing in a number of amateur games, the former athlete will make his professional tennis debut alongside 32-year-old Federico Coria in a double event back in his home country.

An official announcement from the tournament organisers reads: “Attention tennis and sports fans! This year at the Uruguay Open, we have an UNMISSABLE duo in doubles: Argentine tennis player Federico Coria and former Uruguayan football player Diego Forlan.”

‘Cachavacha’, as he was sometimes known, is actually already part of the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and holds a 45+ singles ranking of 108, having won eight matches and lost three.

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The Uruguay Open fixtures are at Challenger Tour level – the second-highest professional tier in tennis – but should Forlan and Argentine partner Coria progress, this could be the start of a whole new career who’s already enjoyed a lifetime as a professional athlete.

If you look back through history, there have been all manner of sports personalities that have changed disciplines and gone on to have plenty of joy too.

Michael Jordan trying his hand at baseball, Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson was an American footballer before a wrestler and even Stockport’s very own Paralympic hero Dame Sarah Storey was winning medals as a swimmer way before she became a cyclist.

We don’t know how serious the prospect of becoming a full-time professional tennis player is in his mind and his age will no doubt be a big factor but who knows, maybe Forlan will see the same fortune?

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Ailura (via Wikimedia Commons)/Diego Forlan (via Instagram)

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