Kyle Walker not regretting leaving Man City for lackluster AC Milan ahead of derby debut

Kyle Walker not regretting leaving Man City for lackluster AC Milan ahead of derby debut
England defender Kyle Walker could be forgiven for having some regrets over leaving Manchester City for AC Milan. (File)
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Updated 30 January 2025
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Kyle Walker not regretting leaving Man City for lackluster AC Milan ahead of derby debut

Kyle Walker not regretting leaving Man City for lackluster AC Milan ahead of derby debut
  • Walker insists he hasn’t had any second thoughts — even when Milan were 2-0 down at home to Parma
  • “Definitely not. It’s football. Things happen in football,” he said

MILAN: England defender Kyle Walker could be forgiven for having some regrets over leaving Manchester City for AC Milan.
Especially after seeing close up how his new team are performing, with even Milan coach Sérgio Conceição saying his players are lacking “footballing basics.”
Walker joined Milan last week on loan, with the option to make the move permanent at the end of the season.
He watched Milan’s rollercoaster win over lowly Parma from the stands at San Siro last weekend. The Rossoneri were trailing 2-1 in injury time before two stoppage-time goals.
Walker, who was cup tied, was also just an observer on Wednesday for Milan’s Champions League match at Dinamo Zagreb, where the 10-man Rossoneri lost 2-1.
But Walker, who won six Premier League titles and the Champions League in seven seasons at City, insists he hasn’t had any second thoughts — even when Milan were 2-0 down at home to Parma.

“Definitely not. It’s football. Things happen in football,” he said. “But by the end of the game, we won 3-2. And that’s what the main things is. We got the victory that we wanted, that we needed. This is a step in the right direction.”
Possible debut in Milan derby
Man City’s long-serving right back left the Premier League club to get more playing time and explore a move abroad. Walker will likely get a baptism of fire on Sunday if, as expected, he makes his debut in the Serie A derby against fierce rival Inter Milan.
Defending champion Inter are second in Serie A, three points behind Napoli and with a game in hand. AC Milan also have a game in hand, but is 19 points behind Napoli.
Milan have won both derby matches this season, however; in the league in September and the Super Cup final this month.
“I’m expecting an exciting match. They’ll be looking for revenge after the Super Cup,” Walker said.
“This is where the character, the mentality comes in, that this is our crown now and we need to make sure we go to that game fully committed. Not just for ourselves and for the league table position but also for the fans as well.”
Walker won 15 major trophies at City after joining from Tottenham in 2017 and established himself as one of the best right backs in Premier League history.
At Milan, he finds himself in a team that are clearly lacking in confidence and leadership.
That is what the 34-year-old Walker has been brough in to help resolve.
“It’s what I have to do. At my age, from my experience, I can pass on that to the younger players,” Walker said. “But also I can’t do it alone.
“And I have seen that there is leaders but maybe the confidence is a little bit low. The rhythm is win game lose game, have a bad performance have a good performance. And you need a level of consistency.”
Conceição’s emotions encouraged
Milan are already on their second coach of the season, after Conceição replaced Paulo Fonseca at the end of last year.
Like Fonseca and previous coach Stefano Pioli, Conceição has criticized his players for their lack of determination and mentality, something he has been struggling to remedy as he strives to instil into AC Milan the same values he had as a player: Courage, combativeness and a hunger to win.
Conceição dropped to his knees and screamed after the late winner against Parma, before having to be restrained after the final whistle during a heated exchange with Milan captain Davide Calabria.
“I feel that from what I’ve been listening to over the last few days he (Conceição) has got a good idea, he’s got a good foundation that he wants to build this club on. And I think it’s needed,” Walker said.
“Sometimes there needs to be discipline, sometimes there needs to be that fire and emotion coming from the body because it projects onto the players. And recently the players have lacked a bit of that.”


Without Ronaldo, Al-Nassr draws 0-0 at Persepolis in last AFC Champions League group game

Without Ronaldo, Al-Nassr draws 0-0 at Persepolis in last AFC Champions League group game
Updated 18 February 2025
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Without Ronaldo, Al-Nassr draws 0-0 at Persepolis in last AFC Champions League group game

Without Ronaldo, Al-Nassr draws 0-0 at Persepolis in last AFC Champions League group game
  • The club had already secured a place in the round of 16, finishing third in the West group behind fellow Saudi clubs Al-Ahli and Al-Hilal

After leaving Cristiano Ronaldo at home, Al-Nassr drew 0-0 away against Iranian club Persepolis on Monday in the last round of the AFC Champions League Elite group stage.
The Saudi Arabian team had already secured a place in the round of 16 of the continental competition and coach Stefano Pioli took a weakened team to Tehran.
Al-Nassr finished third in the West group behind fellow Saudi Arabian clubs Al-Ahli and Al-Hilal. The top eight advance from each of the two 12-team groups, divided into eastern and western geographic zones.
Al-Ahli beat Al-Gharafa of Qatar 4-2 with former Premier League players Ivan Toney, Riyad Mahrez and Roberto Firmino all scoring, along with Brazilian winger Galeno.
Also, Pakhtakor of Uzbekistan defeated Qatar’s Al-Sadd 2-1 to move into the second round.


Alcaraz beats Cilic in straight sets to advance at Qatar Open

Alcaraz beats Cilic in straight sets to advance at Qatar Open
Updated 18 February 2025
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Alcaraz beats Cilic in straight sets to advance at Qatar Open

Alcaraz beats Cilic in straight sets to advance at Qatar Open
  • Alcaraz will play either Zhang Zhizhen of China or Italy’s Luca Nardi next

DOHA, Qatar: Top-seeded Carlos Alcaraz overcame Croatian veteran Marin Cilic 6-4, 6-4 Monday to reach the round of 16 at the Qatar Open.
The 36-year-old Cilic, the 2014 US Open champion who has fallen to No. 192 in the rankings, was playing his first match of the season after recovering from a long-term knee injury. The Croatian led 4-3 and 0-40 on Alcaraz’s serve in the second set, but the Spanish four-time major winner managed to recover and then broke in the next game.
“I am just really happy that I stayed calm at that moment, breathing, going through my routines, making good points,” Alcaraz said. “That’s why I was able to win in two sets.”
Alcaraz will play either Zhang Zhizhen of China or Italy’s Luca Nardi next.
Earlier, seventh-seeded Grigor Dimitrov lost 6-4, 6-4 to Jiri Lehecka.
Also on Monday, eighth-seeded Jack Draper beat Alexei Popyrin 6-2, 7-6 (4) to set up a meeting with another Australian, Christopher O’Connell.
Several other top players will play their first matches on Tuesday.
Second-seeded Alex de Minaur will face Roman Safiullin. Novak Djokovic, who had to pull out of his Australian Open semifinal with a hamstring injury, will take on Matteo Berrettini.
Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev and Stefano Tsitsipas will also play on Tuesday.


Barcelona returns to top of La Liga with 1-0 win over Rayo Vallecano

Barcelona returns to top of La Liga with 1-0 win over Rayo Vallecano
Updated 18 February 2025
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Barcelona returns to top of La Liga with 1-0 win over Rayo Vallecano

Barcelona returns to top of La Liga with 1-0 win over Rayo Vallecano
  • The defeat ended Rayo nine-game unbeaten streak that stretched back to Dec 7

BARCELONA, Spain: Barcelona returned to the top of the Spanish league on goal difference on Monday after Robert Lewandowski’s first-half penalty secured a 1-0 win over Rayo Vallecano.
The Catalan club took advantage of weekend slip-ups by Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid to move onto 51 points, the same as Madrid and a point clear of Atlético.
Madrid drew 1-1 at Osasuna on Saturday and Atletico was held by the same score at home by Celta Vigo.
Barcelona took the lead after 27 minutes when Pathe Ciss brought down Íñigo Martínez in the box, and a penalty was awarded after a video review. Lewandowski sent the keeper the wrong way from the spot.
Both sides had chances to score after that.
Augusto Batalla saved well from Lamine Yamal, who was playing the 100th game of his career, while at the other end Jorge De Frutos had the ball in the net for Rayo only to see it ruled out for offside.
De Frutos was always dangerous for Rayo but as the game went on the home side took control as it extended its unbeaten run to 12 matches.
The defeat ended Rayo nine-game unbeaten streak that stretched back to Dec 7.


Pakistan win bronze at 22nd Asian Junior Squash Team Championships

Pakistan win bronze at 22nd Asian Junior Squash Team Championships
Updated 17 February 2025
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Pakistan win bronze at 22nd Asian Junior Squash Team Championships

Pakistan win bronze at 22nd Asian Junior Squash Team Championships
  • Republic of Korea made national sporting history as their men’s team won the tournament for the first time
  • In women’s event, Hong Kong ended Malaysia’s decade of dominance by claiming title for first time in 14 years

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan team has won a bronze medal at the 22nd Asian Junior Squash Team Championships held in Hong Kong, state media reported on Monday.

The Asian Junior Team Championships have been held biennially since 1983.

“South Korea secured the gold medal while Malaysia got silver,” Radio Pakistan reported. “Pakistan and India won bronze medals.”

The Republic of Korea made national sporting history as their men’s team won the tournament for the first time, while in the women’s event, hosts Hong Kong ended Malaysia’s decade of dominance by claiming the title for the first time in 14 years.

Prior to Sunday’s conclusion at Hong Kong Squash Center, Republic of Korea had never reached the final of the Asian Junior Team Championships.

Completing the medals in the men’s event were No.6 seeds Pakistan, who beat No.5 seeds Japan in the quarterfinals but lost to Republic of Korea in the semis, and No.4 seeds India, who upset hosts Hong Kong, China in the quarter-final before losing out to Malaysia in the semis.

Completing the medals in the women’s event were No.3 seeds India and No.5 seeds Singapore, with India finishing second in Pool B after comprehensive wins over China, Macau – China, and Mongolia, before losing out to the hosts in the semifinals, and Singapore coming second in Pool A after wins over No.4 seeds Republic of Korea as well as Sri Lanka and Chinese Taipei before eventually exiting to Malaysia in the last four.


Revived Champions Trophy up for grabs with no clear favorite

Revived Champions Trophy up for grabs with no clear favorite
Updated 17 February 2025
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Revived Champions Trophy up for grabs with no clear favorite

Revived Champions Trophy up for grabs with no clear favorite
  • Reigning ODI world champions Australia are among several countries sending weakened contingents 
  • Pakistan are defending champions and hosts as they stage a first global tournament since 1996 World Cup

The sprinkling of stardust over the Champions Trophy may appear somewhat thin on its return to the calendar after eight years but fans can expect a wide open one-day international tournament in the absence of an overwhelming favorite.
The tournament featuring the top eight teams in the ODI format was discontinued by the International Cricket Committee (ICC) after the eighth edition in 2017, when Sarfaraz Ahmed’s Pakistan beat India in the final.
Pakistan are therefore holders as well as hosts as they stage a first global tournament since the 1996 World Cup, even if political tensions mean India will play all their matches, including the March 9 final should they make it, in Dubai.
Reigning ODI world champions Australia are among several countries sending weakened contingents with Steve Smith standing in as captain of a squad featuring a second-string pace attack.
Regular skipper Pat Cummins, fellow quick Josh Hazlewood and all-rounder Mitchell Marsh were all ruled out by injury, while left-arm quick Mitchell Starc withdrew for personal reasons and all-rounder Marcus Stoinis has quit ODIs altogether.
Sri Lanka did not make the cut for the Champions Trophy but nevertheless handed the Australians a humbling reality check in the run-up to the tournament with a 2-0 series drubbing.
Reigning Twenty20 world champions India have made the finals of the last three ICC events and Rohit Sharma’s team signaled their fine form by winning seven of eight limited-overs matches against England.
Runners-up in the 2023 ODI World Cup on home soil, India boast one of the world’s most destructive batting lineups but will be without pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, who has been laid low by a back injury.
Seamer Mohammed Shami’s impressive return to action in the home series against England was a big relief for Rohit, who will also expect vital contributions from spin all-rounders Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja.

SOUTHEE BACKS NZ

New Zealand will also fancy their chances of claiming the title having won the tri-nation trophy in Pakistan, beating the hosts in the final of a warm-up tournament also featuring 1998 champions South Africa.
Mitchell Santner’s Black Caps side went through the tournament unbeaten and now have a fair idea of the kind of conditions they will face in the Champions Trophy.
“If you look at the track record of New Zealand in ICC events, they are always there or thereabouts,” former New Zealand pace spearhead Tim Southee told the ICC.
“In a tournament like the Champions Trophy, if you get on a bit of a roll, anything can happen. I’d love to see the Black Caps there and hopefully lifting the trophy at the end.”
England were unable to defend to defend the T20 or ODI World Cup under Jos Buttler and are now licking their wounds after a tour of India where they were blanked 3-0 in the 50-overs matches.
They have already lost the services of Jacob Bethell through a hamstring injury, while their bowling trio of Brydon Carse (toe), Jamie Overton (hamstring) and Jofra Archer (hand) are all nursing fitness issues.
Giant-killers Afghanistan will make their Champions Trophy debut following their sixth place finish in the ODI World Cup in 2023, when they beat former champions England, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Pakistan, who face New Zealand in the tournament opener in Karachi on Wednesday, are hoping a successful Champions Trophy will pave the way open for more such tournaments as the country battles perceptions that it is not safe for visitors.
The icing on the cake would be if Mohammad Rizwan, a stumper-batter like Sarfaraz, could guide Pakistan to a first global title since their Champions Trophy triumph in England eight years ago.