LIFETIME KIERAN’S FUMING AT SPURS
The lid on his dream move from Spurs to Atletico ‘BEWARE A REAL BACKLASH, CITY’
KIERAN TRIPPIER has warned Manchester City to beware a Real Madrid backlash in their delayed Champions League tie.
Pep Guardiola’s stars were confident of reaching the quarter-finals after a thrilling 2-1 last-16 first-leg win at the Bernabeu in February. A Gabriel Jesus header and a spot-kick from Kevin De Bruyne saw City recover to win after Isco put
Real Madrid ahead.
The second leg was cancelled as coronavirus swept Europe but UEFA are planning to finish the Champions League in August.
And Atletico Madrid star Trippier reckons the tie is far from over with Zinedine
Zidane’s stars more than capable of turning the tie on its am a better player than I was last season at Tottenham.
“Last season was a difficult moment because I was struggling with injuries. It is not an excuse because I was not hiding about it.
“But I struggled for months with my groin and pelvis and I eventually had surgery just after the winter break in Spain in January.
“Because of the timing of the break and the operation I was only out for a few weeks and now I feel so much better.
“I should have had it last season at Spurs but people didn’t want me to have it then.
“I had so many issues with the last season there and about the way I performed and struggled with injuries.
“It got to a point where I had to have surgery this season and really I should have had it done last season.
“But there were so many important games...i don’t really want to go into it.”
Managing the injury and having the operation meant Trippier missed seven matches, including the 1-0 first-leg win over Liverpool in the Champions League last 16.
Trippier, charged by the FA earlier this month for allegedly breaching betting rules around his transfer to Spain, confirmed he was back to full fitness in Atletico’s 3-2 secondleg win at Anfield in March.
Now he’s back in training ahead of the La Liga resumption on June 12.
Trippier said: “I have settled in really well in Madrid and I am enjoying my football again.” head if City are sleepwalking. He said: “You cannot say the tie is over because City won in Madrid. Real are a fantastic side.
“Yes, City had a great performance in Madrid and they are a quality side. But Real will be a threat. People say they are not the force of old but they are still good, believe me.
“We played them three times this season and they have some fantastic players. Yes, they have a tough test at City but you can see with what happened to us at Liverpool when we looked dead and buried.
“Football is a crazy game. You look at Liverpool last season when 3-0 down to Barcelona and they win 4-0. When Real and City play again it will be an interesting second leg. It should be very entertaining.”