Athletic Club star Nico Williams scored a magnificent goal to hand his side a slender win over Real Oviedo in La Liga. The goal has brought Williams back into the limelight, ending a long goal drought that resulted in him being questioned in the wake of the failed summer transfer to reigning Spanish champions Barcelona.
It feels like Chelsea’s momentum is starting to build this season.
Enzo Maresca’s side had a few poor results earlier in the campaign, but have just come off a week that saw them demolish Barcelona in the Champions League.
Then, a few days later, they held Premier League leaders Arsenal to a 1-1 draw, despite being a man down for over half the game.
One of Chelsea’s best players in this uptick in form has been Marc Cucurella, but if reports are to be believed, he could soon have some extra competition for his place in the team.
Chelsea target Cucurella rival
With the winter transfer window now so close, Chelsea have unsurprisingly been linked with a huge number of players.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
For example, the West Londoners have been one of several sides linked with an audacious move for Juventus’ Kenan Yıldız, and if that wasn’t exciting enough, Real Madrid’s Eduardo Camavinga has also been touted for a £70m move to Stamford Bridge.
However, while these two players would most certainly improve Maresca’s squad, if not his starting lineup, they cannot really be described as competition for Cucurella, unlike Castello Lukeba.
Yes, according to a recent report from Caught Offside, Chelsea are one of a number of teams interested in the French defender.
Alongside the Blues, the report claims Liverpool, Manchester United and Newcastle United are all keen on the 22-year-old, but the good news is that it is the West Londoners who are leading the race at the moment.
Interestingly, while he has a release clause worth up to €90m in his contract, which is about £79m, the report has revealed that RB Leipzig may be willing to let him leave for around €60m, which is just £53m.
It could still be a complicated transfer to get over the line, but with how talented Lukeba is, one Chelsea should fight for, especially as he could provide more competition for Cucurella.
How Lukeba compares to Cucurella
Now, the first thing to say is that it feels incredibly unlikely that any defender would come into this Chelsea side in January and immediately displace Cucurella.
After all, the Spaniard is one of the first names on the team sheet at the moment.
However, all great teams need serious competition in all areas of the pitch, and by signing Lukeba, Maresca would be ensuring that he has that at left-back and extra cover at centre-back.
Yes, the Frenchman has spent most of his career playing in the centre of a defence, but he has got some experience out on the left, and players like Jorrel Hato, Jurrien Timber and even Riccardo Calafiori all prove that centre-backs can transition to become more of a full-back.
Moreover, respected analyst-turned-Como scout Ben Mattinson has even described the 22-year-old as a “perfect LB/LCB hybrid for the modern game.”
Mattinon goes on to describe the Frenchman as “defensively exceptional,” pointing out his “outstanding timing of last man tackles” as one of the reasons why.
However, he’s not just a lockdown defender, as u23 scout Antonio Mango has described him as someone who “excels on the ball” and has “that line breaking ability” so many managers want from their full-backs and centre-backs.
With all that said, his most significant advantage over Cucurella, and the reason he could seriously challenge him for game time, is his defensive solidity, and the numbers back that up.
According to FBref, the Leipzig star outperforms the Blues ace in most defensive metrics, including ball recoveries, aerial duels won, blocks, interceptions and clearances.
Blocks
1.91
1.42
Interceptions
1.45
1.00
Clearances
5.82
3.33
Aerial Duels Won
1.18
1.00
Ball Recoveries
5.73
3.83
Ultimately, Cucurella’s place in Chelsea’s starting lineup is guaranteed at the moment, but were Maresca to get his hands on Lukeba, he could have some serious competition.
Chelsea are brewing a "monstrous" star at Cobham who's their next James
The incredible Cobham prospect could become Chelsea’s next Reece James.
ByJack Salveson Holmes Dec 3, 2025
Glenn Phillips has been given more time to build match fitness but Daryl Mitchell is available after injury
ESPNcricinfo staff24-Nov-2025Kane Williamson has been included in New Zealand’s squad for the first Test against West Indies in Christchurch and pace bowler Blair Tickner handed a recall for the first time since 2023 with Kyle Jamieson held back as he continues a carefully controlled return to red-ball cricketFellow seamers Jacob Duffy and Zak Foulkes, who took nine wickets on debut against Zimbabwe, are also part of the 14-player squad, but Jamieson wasn’t considered for the start of the series as a cautious approach is maintained in increasing his workloads after a back injury.Glenn Phillips, who played in the opening round of the Plunket Shield, also hasn’t been included as he works his way back to full match fitness after a groin injury. Daryl Mitchell has recovered from injury to take his place in the squad.Williamson, who is among the group of players to hold a casual contract, missed New Zealand’s most recent Test series in Zimbabwe earlier this year to play the Hundred. Having announced his T20I retirement, he played the first two ODIs against England before picking up a groin injury.ESPNcricinfo Ltd”Kane’s ability on the field speaks for itself and it will be great to have his skills as well as his leadership back in the Test group,” head coach Rob Walter said. “He’s had a bit of time off to get himself ready for red-ball cricket, and I know he’s looking forward to playing for Northern Districts in the second round of the Plunket Shield in the lead-up to the first Test.”Tickner, meanwhile, played the most recent of his three Tests against Sri Lanka in early 2023. On his return to the ODI side against England he claimed eight wickets in two matches.”Both Jacob and Blair have been around a while and know what it takes to perform at the highest level,” Walter said. “They’ve impressed in their white-ball opportunities so far this summer and we back them to do so in the Test arena if called upon.”Zak couldn’t have performed much better in his first Test against Zimbabwe. That, along with his recent form across the white-ball tours, has rightfully earned him selection.”Matt Fisher (shin), Will O’Rourke (back) and Ben Sears (hamstring) were not considered for selection due to injury.The West Indies series marks New Zealand’s first matches of the 2025-27 World Test Championship cycleNew Zealand squad for 1st Test vs West IndiesTom Latham (capt), Tom Blundell, Michael Bracewell, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Nathan Smith, Blair Tickner, Kane Williamson, Will Young
تحدث مدرب ليفربول، آرني سلوت، عقب الفوز أمام وست هام في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، وأوضح سبب تواجد محمد صلاح على مقاعد البدلاء، وأشاد بمهاجم الفريق، ألكسندر إيزاك.
وتغلب ليفربول على وست هام بهدفين دون رد، في إطار مباريات الجولة الثالثة عشر للدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز “البريميرليج” موسم 2025-2026.
وقال سلوت لشبكة “سكاي سبورتس”: “هناك شعور بالراحة بالتأكيد، لأنه إذا خسرت مرات عديدة، فإن الفوز مهم، لم نتلقَّ أي فرصة تقريبًا، لقد خلقنا فرصًا بأنفسنا، في مباريات أخرى، أهدرنا فرصًا أكثر بكثير مما فعلنا اليوم”.
وأضاف: “من المفيد ألا تتأخر 1-0 بعد خمس دقائق، لأن ذلك يُتيح لك فرصةً أكبر، لعبنا المباراة التي أردتُها”.
وواصل: “ما رأيته كان له معنى كبيرٌ بالنسبة للاعبينا وجماهيرنا، اضطرت الجماهير للسفر مسافاتٍ طويلة لدعم فريقٍ كان أداؤه ضعيفًا”.
وواصل: “يوم الأربعاء، سنواجه سندرلاند، إنه جدول مزدحم للغاية للجميع، هذه خطوة أولى جيدة لنا، الفوز والحفاظ على شباكنا نظيفة”.
اقرأ أيضًا | إيزاك بعد ثنائية ليفربول أمام وست هام: علينا أن نكون متواضعين
وسُئل هل يُعد هدف ألكسندر إيزاك الأول في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز مع ليفربول لحظةً مهمة، وأجاب: “نعم، أعتقد أنه يبدو مهمًا، لم أكن أخطط لمنحه دقائقَ لعبٍ إضافيةٍ كثيرةٍ قبل استبداله”.
وأشار: “إنه مهاجم من الطراز الرفيع، كانت هذه اللمسة الأخيرة رائعة، أبقيته في الملعب لفترة كافية ليُسجل هدفًا للفريق ولنفسه”.
وأكمل: “الفوز كان ما كنا نحتاجه بشكل أساسي، وحافظنا على نظافة شباكنا أيضًا، وهو أمر مفيد دائمًا، لم نُقدم أي شيء للفريق المنافس كهدية كما فعلنا مرات عديدة هذا الموسم، لم يُخلق المنافس أي فرصة تُذكر إلا في الدقيقة الأخيرة عن طريق جارود بوين”.
وأكد سلوت: “وست هام جعل المباراة صعبة علينا، لكننا قدمنا أداءً دفاعيًا رائعًا، لحسن الحظ، لم تُتح لهم سوى فرصة واحدة”.
وعن تواجد محمد صلاح على مقاعد البدلاء، أوضح: “نلعب الكثير من المباريات، في 10 أيام لعبنا أربع مباريات، هؤلاء اللاعبون يتمتعون بجودة عالية، كان محمد صلاح مهمًا جدًا للنادي وسيظل كذلك، لذا دعونا نرى ما سيحدث يوم الأربعاء (ضد سندرلاند)”.
Prospects of a result are slim with one day remaining and a lead of 73
ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay31-Jul-2025
Haseeb Hameed drives during his double-century•Getty Images
Nottinghamshire 511 for 6 (Haseeb 208, James 72, Haynes 70) lead Somerset 438 (Rew 166, Abell 156, Abbas 3-60) by 73 runs Haseeb Hameed made a superb double-hundred but his Nottinghamshire side’s chance of denying Surrey a fourth consecutive Division One title are receding with their Rothesay County Championship contest with Somerset almost certain to end in a draw.With half-centuries from Jack Haynes (70) and Lyndon James (72), Nottinghamshire finished day three at 511 for six in their first innings for a lead of 73. Yet the combination of a dead pitch and the Kookaburra ball seems to have left no realistic route to a positive result on the final day.They began this round – the 11th of the 14 – a point behind Surrey but the latter’s victory against Durham at Chester-le-Street puts clear daylight between them and the chasing pack, although Nottinghamshire still have to go to the Kia Oval in September. Somerset, in third place, arguably need nothing less than a win here to maintain their outside chance.Unless Nottinghamshire can rapidly extend their lead to a couple of hundred on the final morning, and then bowl out Somerset, which seems highly improbable, all four of Nottinghamshire’s matches using the Kookaburra ball will have ended in stalemate.Somerset’s verdict on the conditions was made evident by skipper Lewis Gregory’s decision not to bother with the second new ball, spinner Archie Vaughan bowling the final delivery of the day with a ball that was 151 overs old.Hameed’s 208 – which ended, to his misfortune, when he was run out responding to a team-mate’s call – takes his tally for the season to 1,108 as the leading runscorer in the Rothesay County Championship.A day that will not stay long in the memory began with Nottinghamshire cutting 82 runs from an overnight deficit of 249 and losing one wicket when Joe Clarke chipped Gregory to short midwicket for 42.The afternoon was a little more entertaining, mainly for Craig Overton assuming the role of pantomime villain in his efforts to unseat Hameed, largely by bowling a legside line, often banging the ball in short.Frustrated when the Nottinghamshire skipper was almost out on 137 immediately after lunch – edging wide enough for wicketkeeper James Rew to reach the ball with his fingertips but not catch it – Overton had metaphorical steam emerging from his ears when Hameed’s failed attempt to pull him on 152 ended with the opener desperately trying to kick the ball away from his stumps as it dropped over his shoulder.Hameed survived again. He had gone past 150 in an innings for the fourth time in his career and appeared as temperamentally unflappable as ever.Amid all this, his counterpart Gregory appeared to have decided that taking the second new ball would aid only the batting side in providing more pace on to the bat from a pitch that itself had none to offer.Nonetheless, the fourth wicket partnership of Hameed and Haynes were able to achieve enough acceleration to claim three batting bonus points within the 110-over specified time, giving them five from the match to Somerset’s four, Haynes then becoming the sole casualty of the afternoon, his dismissal to Gregory almost a duplicate of Clarke’s.They had added 123, and with James, a double centurion himself only last week, now at the other end, Hameed might have envisaged another profitable alliance as Nottinghamshire sought to end the day with the upper hand.In the event, after lifting Vaughan gloriously over long-off to complete his third career double-ton with a 23rd four to go with two earlier sixes, Hameed was soon gone, although through no fault of his own, run out brilliantly by the combination of Tom Lammonby and Rew after James had called him through for a single to extra cover.James played nicely again, adding 88 with Liam Patterson-White for the sixth wicket before he was caught on the midwicket boundary.
MatériaMais Notícias
O próximo confronto do Vasco pelo Brasileirão será nada menos que o Clássico dos Milhões, contra o Flamengo, neste domingo (2), no Maracanã. Como trunfo para esta partida, o Gigante da Colina tem uma coincidência interessante. Na última vez que venceu o rival pelo Campeonato Brasileiro, o Cruz-maltino teve um treinador estreante. Relembre!
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➡️ Tudo sobre o Gigante agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso canal Lance! Vasco
Celso Roth começou sua caminhada pelo Vasco contra o Flamengo
Em 2015, o Clássico dos Milhões aconteceu na 9ª rodada. Na Arena Pantanal, Vasco e Flamengo entraram desesperados em campo e precisavam de uma vitória para deixar o Z-4. Àquela altura, o Gigante da Colina ainda não havia conquistado vitória alguma no Brasileirão.
Logo na primeira etapa, Madson deixou Riascos na boa para abrir o placar e definir o jogo. 1 x 0. No mesmo ano, mas pela Copa do Brasil, Jorginho também estreou com vitória diante do Rubro-negro.
continua após a publicidadeÁlvaro Pacheco deu injeção de ânimo à equipe
Os primeiros contatos do elenco vascaíno com Álvaro Pacheco foram animadores. Com uma característica forte e paixão pelo trabalho, o português já começou a conquistar os jogadores do Vasco.
-Os primeiros contatos do elenco vascaíno com Álvaro Pacheco foram animadores. Com uma característica forte e paixão pelo trabalho, o português já começou a conquistar os jogadores do Vasco-, disse Lucas Piton, em Media Day do Grupo Globo.
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In every great Manchester United side, you’ll typically find a midfield lynchpin, a driving force behind it all from the centre of the park.
In Sir Alex Ferguson’s pomp, he was blessed with two such figures in the form of Roy Keane and Paul Scholes, the two men forming the bedrock of the side that would claim treble-winning glory in 1998/99.
Ironically, also the two men who actually missed the crowning moment at Camp Nou through suspension and injury, respectively, the Keane and Scholes pairing is arguably the best there’s ever been at Old Trafford.
There’s an argument, too, that they are the “best pair in the history of English football”, in the view of an – unbiased – Gary Neville.
It would be unfair to suggest that the modern-day duo of Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes are way off that status, considering their own individual quality, but this is still a brittle pairing, a short-term fix that Ruben Amorim has almost been forced to resort to.
Having bolstered the top end of the pitch over the summer, United are just about getting by despite a lack of midfield reinforcement – could that all change in 2026?
Latest on Man Utd's midfield search
There is a frustration that the Red Devils left themselves somewhat short in midfield for the new season, although it was fanciful to assume that after splashing out £250m on four senior signings, another sizeable investment would be dished out on a midfielder.
There was notable interest in the likes of Adam Wharton and Carlos Baleba, with the latter man believed to be particularly keen on making the move to Old Trafford. A reported £100m plus price tag, however, proved prohibitive.
Rather than merely turning to a bargain alternative, United have perhaps wisely played the waiting game instead, ready to attack the market again, be it in January or next summer.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
According to recent reports from Caught Offside, there is said to be a growing confidence that Jason Wilcox and co can strike a deal for Nottingham Forest star, Elliot Anderson, with the England international said to be ‘open’ to making the switch.
That willingness to join Amorim’s ranks has sparked hope back in Manchester that United can secure a ‘bargain’ fee for his signature, seemingly far below the widely touted £100m asking price that Forest are believed to have set.
As per the report, a figure closer to £60m might be more realistic, with Anderson perhaps representing the midfield solution that Amorim is desperate for.
How Man Utd's £60m target compares to Casemiro
Anderson is certainly man of the moment right now, with recent international breaks seemingly seeing him nail down a number six role alongside Declan Rice for England, ahead of next year’s World Cup.
Kobbie Mainoo might be a cautionary tale of what can happen to those who enjoy a meteoric rise at club and international level, but the Forest man can only be judged on what he’s doing right now.
At present, he’s looking sensational.
In the view of talkSPORT’s Max Scott, the 22-year-old simply “has it all”, with the reporter even going as far as to suggest that the ex-Newcastle United talent has “a bit of Roy Keane, Paul Scholes and Zinedine Zidane all rolled into one”.
A rising English star, like Scholes, Anderson could well follow in the footsteps of Keane by moving from the City Ground to the Theatre of Dreams, with that switch having proven so fruitful for the Irishman under Ferguson.
Those might be wild, hyperbolic comparisons to be making, although that is the level of quality that the £60m maestro possesses, having even been likened to a young Paul Gascoigne amid his prior emergence on Tyneside.
Newcastle’s PSR-related loss has certainly been Forest’s gain, with United now hoping that they can steal a march on the competition and tempt the £40k-per-week playmaker into jumping ship in 2026.
Casemiro is currently holding the fort alongside Fernandes, although the 33-year-old’s inability to last the full 90 minutes is a growing problem, having been substituted off on seven occasions this season, while seeing red against Chelsea.
Only five of the 20 goals United have conceded in all competitions have come when the resurgent Brazilian is on the pitch, but he certainly isn’t the Champions League-winning force that he once was. On current evidence, Anderson is looking a step above.
Casemiro vs Anderson (25/26)
Stat (per 90)
Casemiro
Anderson
Non-penalty goals
0.44
0.00
Assists
0.15
0.09
Shot-creating actions
1.32
4.18
Passes attempted
52.77
76.45
Pass completion
81.4%
83.4%
Progressive passes
4.40
8.82
Progressive carries
0.15
1.36
Successful take-ons
0.29
1.27
Tackles
3.22
2.64
Interceptions
0.72
0.91
Stats via FBref
In the Premier League this season, for instance, the younger man ranks in the top 1% of midfielders for passes attempted and progressive passes, as well as in the top 3% for successful take-ons per 90.
Casemiro, by contrast, ranks in just the top 36%, the bottom 45% and the bottom 30% for those same three metrics, respectively, albeit while coming out on top for both non-penalty goals and tackles made.
That said, Anderson is certainly no slouch in that latter department – as his 2.64 tackles per 90 record illustrates – providing Amorim with a potential all-round, all-action, athletic upgrade who can instantly hit the ground running in the much-discussed 3-4-2-1 system.
While it remains to be seen if it will require a bid of closer to £100m or £60m to secure his services, United must do what they can to make Anderson the new centre-piece of Amorim’s ageing midfield.
Man Utd "confident" they'll sign Anderson for £40m less than Forest's asking price
He’s keen on an Old Trafford transfer.
ByCharlie Smith Nov 22, 2025
Celtic manager Wilfried Nancy was left to rue missed chances after his team lost 2-1 to Hearts at Parkhead in the Scottish Premiership in his first game in the dugout.
Speaking after the match, in the clip below, the French boss blamed a lack of ruthlessness in front of goal and a lack of combination play in the final third after a bright first-half showing.
With the January transfer window just around the corner, the former MLS boss may already be thinking about the areas of his squad that he wants to improve ahead of the second half of the season.
Celtic plotting move to sign Premier League player
In fact, the Scottish Premiership champions are already looking at a possible move for a player who could be a dream first signing for Nancy at Parkhead.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
According to Football Insider, Celtic are plotting a move to sign Manchester City goalkeeper Stefan Ortega to be their long-term replacement for Kasper Schmeichel.
The report claims that the Hoops are looking at the £90k-per-week shot-stopper because he could be available with his contract expiring at the end of the season, which could make him an option in January for a cut-price fee or on a free next summer.
It adds that the Scottish giants are in the process of identifying a replacement for Schmeichel because the 38-year-old veteran’s deal is also due to expire next year.
Football Insider states that there are also immediate concerns about the Dane’s current performance levels, which is why Ortega could be a dream first signing for Nancy.
Why Celtic should sign Stefan Ortega in January
Instead of waiting to sign him on a free transfer in the summer, Celtic should push to land the Manchester City outcast on a cut-price deal in January, as he is currently behind both Gianluigi Donnarumma and James Trafford in the pecking order at The Etihad.
As Football Insider outlined, Schmeichel’s performance level has not been particularly high for the Hoops this season. Per FotMob, the experienced stopper has conceded 1.34 more goals than expected in the Premiership and 0.50 more than expected in the Europa League.
This suggests that the Denmark international has not been up to scratch as a shot-stopper in domestic or European action for Celtic, which is why signing the City goalkeeper immediately could be a shrewd move.
Ortega, who once left Guardiola on the floor with a save against Tottenham Hotspur, may only be a third-choice option in England, but he is playing for serial Premier League winners and has proven his quality in the English top-flight in seasons gone by.
Whilst Schmeichel has struggled as a shot-stopper for Celtic this season, the German star has largely been an excellent shot-stopper in the Premier League and the Bundesliga in the past five years.
Stefan Ortega in Bundesliga & Premier League
Season
Games
Goals (xG) prevented
25/26 (Premier League)
0
N/A
24/25 (Premier League)
13
-0.7
23/24 (Premier League)
7
+2.0
22/23 (Premier League)
3
+3.1
21/22 (Bundesliga)
33
+4.8
20/21 (Bundesliga)
34
+3.1
Stats via FBref
As you can see in the table above, the 33-year-old has conceded 12.3 fewer goals than expected across his top-flight career to date, which is an exceptional statistic that highlights how impressive his shot-stopping is.
Ortega, who was hailed as an “exceptional goalkeeper”, has shown that he can be a reliable shot-stopper at the top level, whilst journalist Pete O’Rourke noted that he is “very effective” with the ball and would “fit” the style that Nancy wants to implement at Parkhead.
His ability on the ball, which is a prerequisite to playing in goal in a Guardiola side, means that he will suit a team like Celtic, who are expected to dominate possession and play out from the back, making him a good stylistic fit for the club.
Ortega, though, also has, as evidenced by his statistics in Germany and England, the shot-stopping quality on top of that to ensure that the Hoops do not concede cheap goals with the few shots that they do give away.
Worse than Maeda: Nancy must drop Celtic flop who lost the ball 23 times
Celtic manager Wilfried Nancy must drop this flop who was even worse than Daizen Maeda against Hearts.
ByDan Emery 4 days ago
Therefore, the board must back Nancy by making a move for Ortega in January, instead of the summer, because a player of his quality could immediately improve the team and improve their chances of enjoying a successful end to the 2025/26 campaign, making him a dream first signing.
After Bumrah had bowled three in the powerplay, the spinners put the squeeze almost immediately
Shashank Kishore15-Sep-20251:13
Wahab: Kuldeep always one step ahead of batters
Years later, when round one of India vs Pakistan at Asia Cup 2025 is discussed, it’s likely the no-handshake gesture and the simmering tension will be remembered first. But peel through the layers, and you will uncover India’s spin masterclass that left Pakistan’s young batting line-up searching for answers.At one point, 15 overs into their innings, it seemed as if Pakistan were simply picking through the wreckage. The moment that captured it all came in the 13th when Suryakumar Yadav placed a short midwicket, a silly mid-on, a short cover, a slip and a leg slip as Faheem Ashraf faced a hat-trick ball from Kuldeep Yadav.In the end, Pakistan left with barely a little more than just a few consolatory blows from Shaheen Afridi, as they now walk into a potential must-win against UAE to ensure there will be round two against India next Sunday, a contest that will need them to soul search.Related
Fun and banter but no drop in intensity at India training
Hesson: We were a bit frenzied at the start with the bat and then got squeezed
Suryakumar: Spinners come well prepared so things move 'on autopilot'
Agha skips presentation after India refuse handshakes
Kuldeep makes it worth the wait
Pakistan only need to analyse the match scorecard and India’s robust approach as compared to their diffidence, especially after the powerplay. They didn’t challenge India’s spinners enough for them to think out of the box. From 42 for 2 at the end of the powerplay, they went into their shell, only to eventually collapse.”With the bat we were a bit frenzied at the start,” Pakistan coach Mike Hesson observed. “The ball held on the surface, as we expected. But we didn’t respond as well as we would’ve liked. We got to the end of the powerplay and we were in the game, and we got squeezed.”That built up a lot of pressure during the middle overs. The more big games you play, the more trust you have in your own game. We’ve certainly got players who are finding their feet, but they certainly want to be in the battle, and we’ll come back stronger in a few days.”Between overs 5.3 to 11, Pakistan didn’t hit a single boundary while losing two wickets. ESPNcricinfo pegged their aggressive responses to just eight deliveries (24.24%) in this period. And it didn’t help that India were buzzing through their overs with spin before the dew got heavier, as evidenced by the ground staff trying to mop up the outer pockets at the halfway mark.This was the phase where Axar Patel broke Pakistan’s back. He struck first by beating Fakhar Zaman in flight, tempting him into a big shot that he dragged to Tilak Varma at long-on. Two overs later, he landed the knockout blow of Salman Agha.2:20
How big is the gulf between India and Pakistan?
Stuck on 3 off 11 and increasingly desperate to break free, Agha tried to slog sweep his way out of trouble but top-edged tamely to deep square leg. Those two strikes in quick succession drained the innings of any momentum and left Pakistan tottering at 49 for 4 at the halfway mark.The slowdown, Hesson reflected, was down to their inability to rotate the strike and not because of their inability to read India’s spinners, especially Axar. “I don’t think there was any issue in picking spinners, it’s what you do with it when you pick it,” he said. “Axar’s – there’s no mystery there.”He slides the ball, occasionally turns one. It’s more the accuracy and pressure that they build up, when you build up a lot of dots, sometimes your mind plays tricks and you play big shots. It’s certainly not that they can’t pick it, the fact is we struggled to rotate strike to take pressure off ourselves.”Suryakumar observed there was more to Axar’s success than just picking wickets. He pointed to a focused-training method that has made a difference.”His plans are very clear. Whenever I see him at practice, he bowls a lot to left-handers because that’s a proper match-up,” he said. “You feel if a left-hander is walking in, you can’t bowl a left-arm spinner, but he practices more to the left-hand batters. And when he bowls to the right-handers, he has his own plans. I’m really happy with his clear plans.”Axar’s damage happened to be the prelude to Kuldeep’s a few overs later. In the 13th over, Kuldeep struck off consecutive deliveries, one off a loopy legbreak that bounced extra, and another off a wrong’un to left-hand batter Mohammad Nawaz.Kuldeep’s double-strike underlined how well India had managed their resources through the innings. Having burned through three of Bumrah’s overs inside the powerplay, a tactic Suryakumar has now employed in back-to-back games, India effectively left their spinners with a cushion and attacking fields to work with in the middle overs.And they couldn’t have done it better, with Kuldeep and Axar slamming the door shut.
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O Vitória anunciou a contratação do técnico Thiago Carpini. O treinador chega para substituir Léo Condé, que foi demitido nesta terça-feira (14).
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Thiago Carpini chega ao Vitória junto dos auxiliares técnicos Estephano Djian e Josué Romero, assim como o preparador físico Caio Gilli. O treinador será apresentado na quinta-feira (16), às 14h.
A tendência é que Thiago Carpini comande o Vitória contra o Atlético-GO. O novo técnico rubro-negro está na Europa, onde acompanha os treinos do PSG, na França, e do Real Madrid, na Espanha.
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CONFIRA A NOTA PUBLICADA PELO VITÓRIA:
“Novo professor 👨🏻🏫 🦁
O Esporte Clube Vitória deseja boas-vindas ao novo técnico do Leão, Thiago Carpini. Junto com ele chegam o auxiliar técnico Estephano Djian e o preparador físico Caio Gilli.
O técnico tem passagens por diversos times brasileiros e estava no São Paulo até abril desse ano.
A coletiva de imprensa de apresentação do técnico será na quinta-feira (16), às 14h00.
Desejamos que seja uma caminhada de VITÓRIA! 🔴⚫️”
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