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• David Moyes ready for ‘biggest moment’ of career in first European final

  David Moyes admitted it was “surreal” to walk out at the Eden Arena in Prague preparing for his first European final, the “biggest moment” of his career.

  Moyes’ West Ham face Italian side Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League final in the Czech capital on Wednesday night.

  The 60-year-old, who began his managerial career with Preston in 1998, is yet to lift a major piece of silverware, the Community Shield with Manchester United in 2013 notwithstanding.

  Moyes is looking to become the first British manager since Sir Alex Ferguson, the man he replaced at the then champions, to lift a trophy, and join the former United boss in the pantheon of great Scottish managers in the English game.

  Moyes, who has attended plenty of European finals in his role on UEFA’s technical committee, and his players got a first look at the final venue on Tuesday evening.

  “It is slightly surreal,” he said. “Today, to turn up and have your own dressing room is a big thrill for me. I really hope I can take it to the next level and win the game.

  “I’ve had a really good career since I started coaching at 35. Over a thousand matches, been in some finals, had some promotions. But this is the biggest moment. To be a coach for as long as I’ve been, you’re obviously doing something right.”

  Moyes also categorically denied suggestions that he could step down after the final, regardless of the result.

  “It’s great to be sitting here in a European final, for any manager it’s a thrill, one of the pinnacles you can get in football as a coach,” he added.

  “Hopefully it’s the start. I’ve always said the best years are still to come and I’m certainly enjoying the moment and being here.”

  Moyes’ father, David Snr, has attended all their European away matches and will once again be in the crowd at the 20,000 capacity stadium – hopefully.

  “I think he’ll be in the pub,” smiled Moyes. “But to be in this position is very good and good for my family, and I hope they can enjoy it. Hopefully I can give him something he can remember.”

  Declan Rice will captain the Hammers in what will almost certainly be his final game for the club with Arsenal and Manchester United among those vying for his signature.

  Rice, predictably, was not put up in front of the media, high in the home of Slavia Prague, after the on-pitch walkabout.

  Instead, it was left to winger Jarrod Bowen to swat aside questions over the England midfielder’s future.

  “As his team-mates we are excited to go out for a final tomorrow with him as our captain,” said Bowen.

  “When I joined three years ago, never in my wildest dreams would I have thought we would be in the final.

  “We are team-mates and friends and to win it for everyone would be so special. That’s what our focus is on.”

  Moyes has a fully-fit squad, bar injured striker Gianluca Scamacca, as West Ham bid to end a trophy drought stretching back to 1980’s FA Cup win over Arsenal.

  Cup goalkeeper Alphonse Areola will start but regular number one Lukasz Fabianski, something of a penalty-saving expert over the years, could still have a major role to play if the final goes to a shoot-out.

  “We’ve got those thoughts,” said Moyes. “It’s about planning, I’ve got my thoughts – but won’t reveal them if you don’t mind.”

• Rangers sign goalkeeper Jack Butland from Crystal Palace

  Rangers have confirmed goalkeeper Jack Butland has agreed a four-year contract to join the club from Crystal Palace.

  Butland, who has most recently been on loan at Manchester United, will officially move to Ibrox on July 1, subject to international clearance.

  The 30-year-old has signed after first-choice goalkeeper Allan McGregor retired at the end of the season. Jon McLaughlin and Robby McCrorie remain under contract.

  “I’m over the moon,” Butland told Rangers’ official website. “The club speaks for itself. No matter where you are in football, you know about Rangers Football Club. This is a huge opportunity for me, and I’m delighted to be here.

  “I feel great and motivated at the age that I am, and I feel excited at what the future holds. Doing that at a club that is equally as passionate about winning and being at the top was huge for me.

  “It’s an important summer for the club and we need to get off to a good start. Getting the work done early is hugely important, so that we’re settled and raring to go when we come back in.”

  Butland joins Kieran Dowell and Dujon Sterling as new signings for Rangers and manager Michael Beale is happy to bring in a player of the goalkeeper’s experience.

  Beale: “I am delighted that we have recruited Jack. It was clear from our first meeting that we have a strong alignment on football and his development moving forward.

  “At 30, he is coming into the prime years of his career having already amassed huge experience with 300 appearances in senior football, including almost 90 in the Premier League.

  “In addition, he has played for England at every level, including nine caps for the senior team and five for the Great Britain Olympic team.

  “I feel that we have recruited an excellent goalkeeper and, importantly, a top person. We are delighted to have Jack and his young family arriving in Glasgow and look forward to seeing him excel in his time at Rangers.”

• Man City’s Kyle Walker vows to make Champions League final after injury scare

  Manchester City right-back Kyle Walker has played down fears he could miss the Champions League final with a back injury.

  The England international did not feature in an open training session on Tuesday as City continued preparations for Saturday’s clash with Inter Milan in Istanbul.

  The 33-year-old looked in discomfort as he was substituted in the final minute of City’s FA Cup final triumph over Manchester United at Wembley.

  But Walker was one of a number of players made available for media interviews later on Tuesday and he insisted the problem was not serious.

  “I’m fine, I’m just getting old,” he told Sky Sports News. “I’m completely fine, it’s just an extra day of recovery.

  “I’ve played a lot of minutes over the last number of weeks so the manager said, ‘Just stay inside and come Saturday you will be raring to go’.

  “I’m fine, the minutes that I’ve played when everyone else was injured, I was there digging my heels in and getting through it. I won’t be missing the Champions League final for anything.”

  Manager Pep Guardiola also said Walker’s absence from training was only precautionary.

  “He has had a disturbance in his back,” said Guardiola at a press conference. “Yesterday he was not good, today he was a little bit better but we didn’t want to take any risks. We will see what happens in the next days.”

  City are bidding to win the Champions League for the first time and complete a glorious treble after their Premier League and FA Cup successes this season.

  They are also looking to erase the memory of their painful loss to Chelsea in the 2021 final.

  As three-time winners, Inter boast the greater European pedigree but City will go into the match as firm favourites against the side that finished third in Serie A this term.

  Guardiola, however, insists what has happened in the past – and even current form – counts for little now.

  He said: “It’s really good to travel in a few days to Istanbul. We go together and it is a dream to be here.

  “Two years ago we were there but in different situations with Covid.

  “We’re going to try to do our best and we know the final is how you behave in that specific 95 minutes, not history.

  “For history, they are better than us but it is about what you have to do to be better than the opponent in 95 minutes.

  “It doesn’t count what you have done in the group stages or the Premier League or the FA Cup. We have to be better than them.”

  Guardiola is comfortable with the tag of favourites.

  “We are used to it,” he said. “Why should it be more dangerous? Accept the role and go out there knowing the quality of the opponents. We accept what people say, no problem.”

  City’s form in the latter part of the season, when they reeled in Arsenal to win the Premier League and powered past Bayern Munich and Real Madrid to reach this weekend’s showpiece, has been outstanding.

  Guardiola acknowledges confidence is high in the City squad but insists there will be no complacency.

  He said: “It is a final against a top team and we have to do it. We are confident, I’m so optimistic, but at the same time I cannot deny the quality of the opponent.

  “I have never done that and especially not in the final of the Champions League.”