Walker out to banish Wembley heartache

KYLE WALKER wants to end his Wembley jinx by lifting the first trophy of his career in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday.

The Manchester City defender has lost all four of his big club occasions at the national stadium – a Championship play-off final defeat with Sheffield United in 2009, the League Cup final with Tottenham in 2015 and two FA Cup semi-finals with them in 2012 and 2017.

Now he is determined to land his first silverware and ensure City’s chase for honours does not falter further following the club’s shock FA Cup exit at Wigan, where Walker’s mistake led to Will Grigg’s winner.

“I want to win stuff,” said Walker, 27. “I hate losing and to be with Tottenham for the number of years I was and not pick up anything was disappointing.

“We were very close for two seasons in the Premier League but we just fell short and I don’t want that to happen here at City.

“The play-off final defeat was probably the worst defeat I’ve had at Wembley. Sheffield United were my boyhood club and we got beat by Burnley by a wonder goal.

“But if I hadn’t lost that game would I be sat here now? I’m a big believer in fate, and if that’s what the big man upstairs has got planned you just dust yourself down and move on.

“Losing to Chelsea with Spurs in the League Cup final in 2015 was horrible. Being a London derby, it left a bitter taste in my mouth. I thought that was our year, but it wasn’t meant to be.

“It’d be emotional if we win on Sunday. I’ll probably have a minute to myself before I go and find my family and tell them I’ve finally done it.

“After 27 years of working hard to try to lift this kind of thing, hopefully I can do it.”

Yaya Toure, a Wembley hero for City so often in the past, is unlikely to be in Pep Guardiola’s squad and therefore set to miss out on a farewell to the stadium,

Toure, who will leave the club in the summer, has not made an appearance since January 9.

I’ll be emotional if we win trophy