خطف فريق الشباب تعادلاً ثمينًا من مضيفه الأهلي بنتيجة 1-1، في اللقاء الذي جمعهما مساء الجمعة، ضمن منافسات الدوري السعودي.
والتقى الشباب مع الأهلي، على ملعب الإنماء بجدة، ضمن منافسات الجولة الخامسة، من مسابقة الدوري السعودي للمحترفين موسم 2025-2026.
نجح الأهلي في التقدم مبكرًا عند الدقيقة 15 عبر المهاجم الإنجليزي إيفان توني، الذي ترجم ركلة جزاء حصل عليها بنفسه بعد تعرضه للإعاقة من المدافع سعد بالعبيد.
طالع.. فيديو | الاتحاد يتعادل مع الفيحاء في الدوري السعودي.. وبنزيما يهدر ركلة جزاء
وفي الشوط الثاني، واصل الأهلي بحثه عن تعزيز النتيجة، لكن تماسك دفاع الشباب وتألق حارسه مارسيلو جروهي حرم الأهلي من زيادة الفارق.
ونجح الشباب في تسجيل هدف التعادل في الدقيقة 87 عن طريق جوش براونهيل مستغلًا مرتدة للفريق.
ورفع الأهلي رصيده إلى 9 نقاط في المركز الخامس من جدول ترتيب مسابقة الدوري السعودي، بينما الشباب رفع رصيده إلى 5 نقاط في المركز الـ12.
Sir Kenny Dalglish stole headline after headline during his playing days, so it is no surprise his managerial career featured several world-class stars who did the exact same. As a legendary goalscorer himself, it only seemed right that he worked with the likes of Luis Suarez and Alan Shearer from the technical area – even winning the Premier League title with the latter at Blackburn.
The same can be said for Steven Gerrard. The former Liverpool midfielder would have caught a glimpse of Dalglish’s incredible Anfield legacy as a young boy and if you told that same young boy that he’d one day captain the Scot’s Reds, then it would have sounded more like a fantasy world. In reality, however, the Gerrard and Dalglish link-up did happen and even featured a trophy.
Gerrard’s not the only Liverpool icon that featured during Dalglish’s second reign, however. In fact, King Kenny was partly responsible for welcoming Suarez to Anfield in 2011.
After losing Fernando Torres, the Reds swiftly reacted by splashing out £22m to welcome Suarez on deadline day. And soon enough, Dalglish was pictured standing next to both the South American and fellow new arrival Andy Carroll. Of course, what makes that picture all the more iconic is the fact that Carroll cost Liverpool £15m more than Suarez.
Appearances
52
Goals
21
Assists
9
The 30-goal involvements in 52 games was just a preview of what was to come from Suarez at Liverpool. The former Ajax man soon reached a new level entirely under Brendan Rodgers, but not many will forget that it was Dalglish who introduced him to the Premier League for the first time.
As good as Suarez and Gerrard were, however, Dalglish snubbed both of them when asked to name the best player that he managed.
Dalglish names "brilliant" Lucas Leiva as best player he coached
Not Suarez, not Gerrard, not Shearer, but Lucas Leiva was the name mentioned by Dalglish when asked to name the best player that he worked with. The Brazilian midfielder clearly had a fan in the Liverpool legend and the Scot made sure to hand him the highest possible praise when speaking to reporters.
Leiva, to his credit, is still a cult hero at Anfield for the many years of service he gave to Liverpool during some of their most frustrating times in the Premier League.
Lucas Leiva is presented with an award at Liverpool by Sir Kenny Dalglish.
Ultimately, injuries prevented him from truly realising his potential at the club, but there’s a very good reason why the midfielder kept his place for 10 years on Merseyside and remains a popular figure to this day.
It looked like an ideal game for Royals, first posting a 200-plus total and then almost all their bowlers combining for a comprehensive win
Karthik Krishnaswamy05-Apr-20251:25
Boucher: Archer’s pace and rhythm show he’s back
Yashasvi Jaiswal scoring runs. Jofra Archer continuing the rhythm he seemed to rediscover against Chennai Super Kings (CSK). Maheesh Theekshana and Wanindu Hasaranga coming into their own.All these things may have been on Rajasthan Royals’ (RR) wishlist coming into Saturday night’s match against Punjab Kings (PBKS). All three wishes were fulfilled, as RR consigned PBKS, playing their first home game of IPL 2025, to their first defeat of the season.Jaiswal and Riyan Parag provided the sparks at the start and finish for RR to become the first team to post a 200-plus IPL total in Mullanpur. With this only being the sixth IPL game at the venue, it wasn’t yet clear if 205 was a winning total, but only until Archer made his entrance.Six legal balls into their chase, PBKS were two down, with Archer finding movement at upwards of 145kph to take out Priyansh Arya and Shreyas Iyer. RR struck two more blows in the first seven overs, and PBKS were always playing catch-up thereafter, even when Nehal Wadhera and Glenn Maxwell added 88 for the fifth wicket.Theekshana and Hasaranga did their bit to stifle the partnership’s scoring rate, and then struck one after the other to remove both set batters. And that was that for PBKS; they only hit one boundary in the last 5.4 overs as RR wrapped up victory by 50 runs.Jaiswal and Samson lay the foundationJaiswal got off to a scratchy start, slashing and missing against the left-left new-ball pair of Arshdeep Singh and Marco Jansen, who both found early swing. Jaiswal miscued a pull just beyond the reach of a backtracking mid-on, and scored just 12 off his first 14 balls.But perhaps all he needed, after starting his season with scores of 1, 29 and 4, was a bit of time in the middle and a bit of luck. The fourth over brought him back-to-back sixes off Jansen – a ramp over the keeper and a slog over midwicket – and he seemed to be up and running.Sanju Samson, captaining RR for the first time this season after a finger injury had restricted him to a batting-only Impact Player role thus far, began more fluently but had less of the strike early on. When RR ended their first wicketless powerplay of the season on 53 for 0, he was on 20 off 14 and Jaiswal on 32 off 22.2:28
Did the two teams read the pitch differently?
PBKS hit back with slower ballsFrom 40 for 0 after four overs, RR only scored 45 in their next six. The legspin of RR old boy Yuzvendra Chahal and the slower cutters of Lockie Ferguson and Marcus Stoinis had a lot to do with this, on a pitch that was just a touch grippy and two-paced.Samson fell in the 11th over trying to force the pace against Ferguson, and Jaiswal seemed to be getting stuck. But from 46 off 39, he found that elusive higher gear, crunching Chahal down the ground to bring up his fifty before slog-sweeping his next ball for six. He hit Stoinis for a six and a four in the next over – the 13th – before becoming Ferguson’s second victim, swinging too early at a well-disguised, stump-bound knuckleball.Parag breaks free after slow startParag, batting at No. 3, began much like Jaiswal had, struggling initially to get to grips with the surface. At one stage, after four successive dots against Arshdeep’s cutters, angling across the right-hander and turning further away, Parag was on 12 off 14 in the 16th over.Then he paused for breath, and took strike transformed, a batter able to hold his shape for a split-second longer. He hit the next two balls from Arshdeep for fours, and that began a hitting spree that brought him 31 off his last 11 balls at the crease. With Nitish Rana, Shimron Hetmyer and Dhruv Jurel contributing cameos as well, RR rushed past 200 in the final over. Stoinis, whose first two only went for 12, leaked 36 in his last two, which again told the tale of RR’s batters coming to grips with the conditions and finding a way to master them.Archer hits the bull’s eyeThe first ball Archer bowled could not have been bettered. Perfect length, rooting Impact Sub Priyansh Arya to the crease. Movement from leg to off, at 144.6kph. The left-handed Arya defended down the wrong line and the ball slid past his outside edge to flick the top of off.0:53
‘Wadhera a winner who wants to be in the tough situations’
None of this seemed to make any impact on Shreyas Iyer, though. The PBKS captain began in a manner befitting someone whose head coach had likened his previous innings to a purring Rolls Royce, stroking Archer for two fours through the covers in his first four legal balls at the crease. Then he got greedy, exposing all his stumps to try and make room for another off-side hit, and Archer burst a 148.6kph ball through him.RR stay in control despite Wadhera and MaxwellWickets kept falling even when Archer didn’t have the ball. Stoinis popped a return catch to Sandeep Sharma off a fairly innocuous seam-up delivery in the fourth over, and Prabhsimran Singh slog-swept Kumar Kartikeya to deep midwicket in the seventh. The required rate kept mounting too; PBKS needed 163 from 82 balls when Maxwell joined Wadhera.PBKS’ hopes began to stir when both batters hit sixes off Kartikeya in a 19-run tenth over, but Theekshana and Hasaranga immediately got to work, conceding just five and 12 – the latter an impressive recovery after Wadhera slog-swept the first ball of the over for six – in the 11th and 12th overs.But as Maxwell ramped and reverse-swatted Yudhvir Singh for a pair of fours in the 13th, Wadhera launched Hasaranga for a straight six to bring up a 33-ball fifty in the 14th, and then began the 15th with back-to-back fours off Theekshana, PBKS began to dream once again.Then the two Sri Lankan spinners brought their defensive skills to the fore again, asking the batters to try and fetch balls dangled wide of their hitting arcs. Maxwell sliced a catch to long-off at the end of the 15th over, and Wadhera slog-swept to deep midwicket at the start of the 16th. PBKS were six down and needed 75 off 29. It was never going to happen as they continued to lose wickets.
After a few years away, Chelsea are finally back in Champions League action tonight.
It won’t be an easy reintroduction to Europe’s premier competition, though, as Enzo Maresca’s Conference League winners will be taking on Bayern Munich.
The German champions are stacked with incredible players in every position, but the one the Blues have to be most wary of is undoubtedly Harry Kane.
The England captain has the ability to take games away from teams, although Chelsea have a superstar of their own, someone who could well outshine Kane.
Chelsea's record against Bayern Munich
Despite both Bayern and Chelsea being two of the biggest clubs in European football and consistently competing for the top prizes in recent decades, they’ve only played one another in five competitive games.
The first was back in the 2004/05 season, in which the Baverians travelled to West London for the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final, a game the hosts won 4-2, which was then followed by a 3-2 win for the German giants in the second leg.
However, the most famous meeting between the two institutions came just over 13 years ago, when Roberto Di Matteo’s side managed to beat the odds and claim their first Champions League title by beating Jupp Heynckes’ men 4-3 on penalties.
It was in that game that Didier Drogba scored his most famous goal for the Blues, and Petr Čech played a crucial role by saving a penalty from Arjen Robben in extra time.
Unfortunately, FC Hollywood have had the upper hand in the two games since that incredible final.
They demolished Frank Lampard’s side 3-0 at Stamford Bridge in the first leg of their round-of-16 clash in February 2020, and then completed the job with a 4-1 win when the competition resumed that August after the first lockdown.
In all, while Bayern have won most of their encounters, Chelsea fans wouldn’t swap their records thanks to that famous night in Munich. Although with that said, Maresca will be looking to improve that record tonight, and so long as he starts the player who could upstage Kane, then there is every chance he will.
Chelsea star could outshine Kane
While they’ve received plenty of criticism for their transfer strategy over the years, Chelsea now have a team packed with brilliant players.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
The likes of Moises Caicedo, Joao Pedro and Enzo Fernández could get into most top teams around Europe, but without a doubt, the Blues’ best player is Cole Palmer.
The former Manchester City gem is the definition of a game-changer, and should he be on song against Bayern, there is every chance he could outshine Kane.
While the England captain is that bit more prolific a goalscorer, almost everything good the West Londoners do goes through their dazzling number ten, so much so that GOAL’s Sean Walsh once suggested that he is “Lampard, Drogba & Hazard all in one”, combining the best attributes of three Stamford Bridge legends.
Rather unsurprising, Chelsea’s fortunes changed for the better when he came on at the weekend, entering the fray on Saturday in the 56th minute and just five minutes later scoring the equalising goal for his side.
It was hardly a surprise, though, as in 99 appearances for the Pensioners, totalling 7984 minutes, the “generational talent,” as dubbed by journalist Scott Bradley, has scored 44 goals and provided 29 assists.
In other words, the 23-year-old has maintained an average of a goal involvement every 1.35 games, or every 109.36 minutes, which is frankly absurd.
Palmer’s Chelsea record
Appearances
99
Minutes
7984′
Goals
44
Assists
29
Goal Involvements per Match
0.73
Minutes per Goal Involvements
109.36′
All Stats via Transfermarkt
Moreover, he proved himself to be a big-game player at the Club World Cup, scoring two goals in the final against a heavily favoured Paris Saint-Germain.
Ultimately, while Bayern will be the favourites, Chelsea have every chance of coming away with all three points tomorrow night, especially if Palmer starts and is on song.
"It's on you" – Redknapp criticises £40m Chelsea star after Brentford draw
The Sky Sports presenter slammed one Chelsea player after the 2-2 draw against Brentford.
Channing Tatum has responded to accusations from Ryan Reynolds that he led Wrexham’s squad on a “wild” night out and proved to be a bad influence during a trip to North Wales. Red Dragons co-owner Reynolds invited the 'Magic Mike' star over to watch a League One fixture in December 2024. Tatum ended up forming part of a post-match party that he admits got a little raucous.
InstagramWhy Magic Mike star partied with Wrexham squad
Tatum became the latest A-list guest to pass through SToK Racecourse when taking in a meeting with Cambridge United. Said contest finished 2-2, with plenty of entertainment provided on the field. There was more to be found off it, with Tatum in Wrexham to film a Super Bowl commercial for one of the team’s sponsors.
He mingled with players on that set, with many already feeling at ease in front of the camera after growing accustomed to life on the ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ documentary series. Having enjoyed some dressing room banter, Tatum discovered that he was in town for Elliot Lee’s birthday celebrations – with an invite to that party being passed in his direction.
AdvertisementReynolds addresses Tatum's night out with Red Dragons
Tatum ensured that a good time was had by all, with Reynolds left a little concerned as to what went on. Addressing a night out that he did not form part of, Reynolds said in an episode of Welcome to Wrexham: “Channing Tatum, he’s in my top five loves of all time. He’s also a menace. He went out with the entire club. Someone might be dead! I’m going to read you Channing’s text to me. ‘Oops, I might have had toooooo much fun with the boys’. Long pause. Twenty minutes between this. Then I get: ‘I’m sorry.” I said: ‘Please don’t break any of them.’ And then I get: ‘Definitely didn’t break any of them, but….” Long pause.
“Then I get: ‘We definitely got way more loose than I was ever planning to. It happened and I’m sorry’. Long pause. What happened? [Reynolds asked] I get this back: ‘It’s definitely gonna be on the internet.’ Communication over.”
Reynolds has now told of allowing Tatum to infiltrate Phil Parkinson’s squad: “He turned the whole team into Magic Mike. Those boys were in their hotel rooms, tucked away and lost in prayer. Then he came in individually, room by room and snatched them into the Welsh nightlife.”
Getty/GOALTatum's response to Reynolds & what went on
Tatum insists that Reynolds has overplayed the incident, although he concedes that things did get a little “wild”. He considers himself to be a “huge fan” of the Red Dragons and is delighted that he got the opportunity to rub shoulders with them during what proved to be a historic campaign.
On the aforementioned night on the tiles, Tatum told : “Those boys are wild – that's not all me doing that. He [Reynolds] set it up on Kimmel like I did that. Look, I don't take my shirt off in places wherever we go. We got a little wild that night. I did not intend on doing that. I was going in to do a Super Bowl commercial.
“He was like, 'tell me what happened and tell me how it happened.' And I'm like, 'I'm not going to do that.' It was so much fun and those boys are so good. They're such a good time and they actually are pretty wholesome. That doesn't look wholesome, but they keep it together and they're professional. I'm a huge Wrexham fan.”
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A-list guests witnessed historic rise from Wrexham
Wrexham went on to secure automatic promotion at the end of the 2024-25 campaign, making history as the first club to take three successive steps up the EFL ladder. Tatum has been added to a long list of celebrity fans, with the likes of Eva Longoria, Will Ferrell, Hugh Jackman and Paul Rudd having also taken in the live Red Dragons experience.
Parkinson’s men are currently competing in the Championship, putting them within touching distance of the Premier League, and – after playing out a 1-1 draw with Tom Brady’s Birmingham in their last fixture – will be back in action after the latest international break when travelling to Stoke on October 18.
Liverpool’s summer transfer window has been defined by a mix of strategic reinforcement and high-profile exits.
The departures of Darwin Núñez and Luis Díaz have left gaps in the Reds’ squad, prompting Arne Slot and sporting director Michael Edwards to seek both immediate impact and long-term value.
With a Champions League campaign to contend with and a Premier League title defence underway, the urgency to reinforce the spine of the squad has become paramount.
So far, Liverpool have bolstered their ranks with Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez, Florian Wirtz, and Hugo Ekitike, blending young talent with proven performers.
The opening weeks of the season have seen the side make a strong start, with victories over Bournemouth and Newcastle.
Yet, the club are now targeting the gaps which remain ahead of the closing days of the transfer window.
Central to this strategy is Liverpool’s ambition to secure a transformative duo – a forward capable of dominating the final third and a defender who can anchor a restructured backline.
Liverpool manager ArneSlotlooks on
Reports suggest that at least one of these players is expected to join before Deadline Day, potentially rewriting the club’s transfer narrative in a manner few signings have in recent memory.
Liverpool hoping to complete double deal
According to journalist Florian Plettenberg, Liverpool are “very optimistic” about concluding deals for both Alexander Isak and Marc Guehi, although financial realities may dictate that only one is completed initially.
The Swedish striker, valued at around £130m, has made his desire to leave Newcastle abundantly clear.
Isak did not feature in Newcastle’s opening Premier League fixture against Aston Villa and is expected to remain sidelined as the club works to finalise his transfer.
The arrival of Nick Woltemade for £69m has cleared a pathway, enabling the Magpies to consider sanctioning the deal.
On the defensive side, Liverpool have identified Palace captain Guehi as a solution to a backline in transition.
With Virgil van Dijk entering his thirties, Ibrahima Konaté nearing the end of his contract, and Jarrel Quansah sold to Bayer Leverkusen, the Reds face a pressing need for a centre-back capable of delivering both consistency and versatility.
Guehi’s contract is entering its final year, and while Palace value the England international at £40m, Liverpool are reportedly holding out for a reduction, mindful of the player’s ambition to secure regular game time ahead of next year’s World Cup.
A modern-day Suarez and Carroll
The potential arrival of Isak and Guehi represents a seismic shift for Liverpool, both in tactical terms and in financial prudence.
Historically, the Reds have made headline-grabbing acquisitions such as Luis Suárez and Andy Carroll.
Suárez, signed for approximately £22.8m from Ajax, became a club legend, scoring 82 goals in 133 appearances and winning the FWA Footballer of the Year in 2014.
Carroll, by contrast, was a £35m British-record signing whose impact was underwhelming, netting just 11 goals in 58 appearances before a £15m exit to West Ham.
Isak and Guehi present a dual solution that combines the promise of Suárez with the physical presence Liverpool initially sought in Carroll, without the risk of underperformance.
Isak has emerged as one of Europe’s most prolific forwards, scoring 23 goals and providing six assists in 34 Premier League matches last season.
He also contributed in the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool, demonstrating his capacity to deliver in high-pressure moments.
Guehi, meanwhile, made 34 appearances for Crystal Palace last season, contributing three goals and excelling defensively with 4.6 clearances and 1.8 tackles per game.
He is also effective in ball progression and offensive phases. According to FBref, he ranks in the 98th percentile for through balls and the 88th percentile for shot-creating actions among centre-backs.
At 25, Isak is entering his prime, with a 2024/25 campaign marked by 29 goal involvements, 3.1 shots per 90 minutes, and 2.71 progressive carries per 90, reflecting his ability to drive play while finishing efficiently.
His progressive passing distance of 53.7 metres per 90 and shot-creating actions of 3.01 per game highlight a forward capable of linking with teammates and influencing wide and central zones alike. Meanwhile, Guehi offers a rare blend of defensive solidity and technical intelligence.
His aerial dominance, tackling efficiency, and ability to progress the ball are complemented by an unusual offensive contribution for a centre-back, ensuring Liverpool can build from the back while retaining a threat during set-pieces.
In a system that relies heavily on full-backs and ball-playing defenders, his 77th percentile ranking for crosses and 75th percentile for switches per 90 minutes underlines his compatibility with Slot’s tactical philosophy.
Taken together, Isak and Guehi constitute a more complete strategic investment than the club’s previous marquee signings.
Where Suárez delivered pure offensive output and Carroll offered raw physicality with mixed results, this duo promises a combination of scoring prowess, versatility, and adaptability that could provide immediate returns while underpinning Liverpool’s long-term squad structure.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
For a club with ambitions of Premier League supremacy and deep European runs, securing both players would represent not merely squad reinforcement but a redefinition of transfer strategy – a calculated, high-value investment in proven performers with a capacity for sustained impact.
Should Liverpool succeed, the window will be remembered as one of the best in the club’s history – eclipsing previous transfers in both scope and quality.
Imagine him & Isak: Liverpool prepare last-minute offer for £100m "machine"
Liverpool are looking to complete a deal for a Premier League midfielder before Monday’s deadline.
Ruben Amorim has made light of the deep criticism he has received in recent weeks amid Manchester United's dismal start to the season by insisting it is nothing like what he used to face back in Portugal. Wayne Rooney, Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher all took a swipe at the United boss in the aftermath of the 3-1 defeat at Brentford but he insists he takes it all in his stride.
AFP
Rooney, Carragher and Neville tear into Amorim
Former United captain Gary Neville said United's results were "catastrophic" and said the Portuguese is running out of excuses. He said on Sky Sports: "Ruben Amorim’s had a pre-season. He's had a week now in between each of his games nearly or most of the weeks because Manchester United aren't in Europe. Yet, the performances are as poor as ever."
United's all-time top scorer Wayne Rooney said he had "no faith" in Amorim's ability to turn the situation around, saying: I don't see players fighting, I don't see character, I don't see desire to win. I don’t see ability, I don’t see match-winners, nothing gets me off my feet. I go to a game watching, expecting, here we go again – expecting the team to lose or maybe pick up a point."
Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher called Amorim's reign "a disaster" and urged United to sack the coach as soon as possible. He said: "I think he's still in a job because the powers-at-be have made so many mistakes that they almost don't want to admit right now they have made another. This has to end as quickly as possible."
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Amorim 'doesn't listen' to everyone's opinion of him
But Amorim said he did not have time to listen to what people say about him. "There is no one in the world that can read everything and listen to everything," he told a press conference on Friday. "I try to see all the games because I know I see the game more than all those guys put together because they have to watch every game. I follow my job that way. It is impossible to survive in this job listening to all things."
He also said that the press are much harsher on coaches in Portugal. He added: "My family, we love to live in England, you have no idea what is abuse compared to in my country. You are so polite when we are losing."
Amorim reveals his biggest concern
Amorim reiterated that he has never been one to worry about getting sacked. He explained: "That is a decision of the board, I cannot do that. Sometimes I have that feeling that losing is hard, not to create the momentum is so frustrating. That feeling sometimes hurts you a lot. That is not my decision and would be really hard to leave if I don’t do everything to follow my career here."
Instead, he revealed that his biggest concern is that the constant scrutiny of his 3-4-3 formation and his insistence on sticking with it will filter through to his players. "I am not concerned about that [getting sacked] and nobody here is naïve," he said. "We need results to continue the project. The balance is really hard, I am not concerned about that, what I wanted to see my team winning or losing playing the same way. My biggest problem is my players believing you guys when you say the biggest problem is the system. We need to play the same way."
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United coach calls his team 'soft' and 'not good'
The Portuguese also said that his team were just a few details away from clicking and had been unlucky in certain games, pointing to their impressive opening display against Arsenal and Bruno Fernandes' missed penalties against Fulham and Brentford. He said: "It is the results and imagine we won the first game against Arsenal, and then you don’t miss the penalty and win against Fulham, even without playing really well, the trust would be completely different. If you win everything would be okay."
The coach also said that his team do veer from their usual formation at times and was less than complimentary about his team's fighting spirit and ability. He said: "There is no back three, lately we play with Luke Shaw, two centre-backs and a right-back. It is not three centre-backs. Against Brentford the second half was like a 442. The problem is we're not good with the ball, we are soft without the ball.
"The media cannot dictate what I am going to do. It is not a 343 all the time, I think we need to look to all of the parts of the game, this team play in a different system for many years, and you are talking about a lack of identity. What could this team be like in a different system, maybe this team can win more games but if we don’t change certain things we will not win titles."
Former Barcelona player Gerard Lopez has heavily criticised current manager Hansi Flick for his "suicidal" high-line tactics. Lopez believes that after more than a season at the helm, opposition clubs have figured out the Catalans' defensive strategy and it is time for the German to make a change.
Barcelona thumped by Sevilla
Barcelona succumbed to a thumping 4-1 defeat at the hands of Sevilla on Sunday. This was Barca's first major La Liga defeat under the Flick regime, and former player Lopez, who represented the club between 2000 and 2005, lashed out with sharp criticism of his tactics. While the German opts for a high line while attacking, Lopez believes that his strategy needs to be rethought, with several teams now getting accustomed to their style.
AdvertisementAFPLopez analyses flaws in Barca's defensive setup
Lopez analysed Barca's defensive shortcomings thoroughly after the game and said: "It's clear that there's a drop in results at FC Barcelona… What I do see is that the defeat could lead to a rethinking of the defensive aspect. It's one thing to push forward and do it well, as he's done on many occasions, and another to be… suicidal. Without putting the ball under pressure, teams have to constantly draw their line in the end… (Flick) has been here for a year now, a year and a half, and we have to be critical of this Barça in terms of the way they defend. There was no intensity in the pressing, nor was there the necessary timing to enable Sevilla players on many occasions."
Barca suffer second successive defeat
The loss against Sevilla is also crucial since it marks Barca's second defeat in a row over the past week. In the Champions League, they were humbled by Luis Enrique's Paris Saint-Germain at home, despite the presence of players like Lamine Yamal, Pedri, Frenkie De Jong, and Ferran Torres.
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Getty Images SportWhen are Barcelona playing next?
Barca's next challenge will be in La Liga against Girona on October 18. Flick will get time to restructure his defensive strategy throughout the international break ahead of the resumption of domestic duties.
Nas graças da Fiel e do técnico Vanderlei Luxemburgo, o volante Gabriel Moscardo está próximo de assinar a sua renovação contratual com o Corinthians. No entanto, se isso acontecer, a tendência é que o jogador trancará a faculdade de administração de empresas que começou no início deste ano.
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A promoção de Moscardo ao elenco principal do Timão foi algo que o pegou de surpresa. Aos 17 anos, o garoto estava focado no time sub-20 e tinha sido pouco chamado para completar os treinamentos dos profissionais neste ano. No entanto, ao decidir escalar um time alternativo no último jogo da fase de grupos da Libertadores, o técnico Vanderlei Luxemburgo optou por relacionar o prata da casa. A ideia era observar o atleta em campo, após uma boa primeira impressão nos treinamentos.
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Moscardo entrou no segundo tempo da partida contra o Liverpool, do Uruguai, na Neo Química Arena, e logo no primeiro toque na bola iniciou a jogada que resultou no terceiro gol, marcado por Adson, no triunfo por 3 a 0.
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A atuação encantou Luxa, que não teve dúvidas em agregar o volante ao elenco profissional e escalá-lo como titular nos jogos seguintes, contra o Bragantino, pelo Campeonato Brasileiro, e América-MG, na ida das quartas de final da Copa do Brasil, em Belo Horizonte.
Após ser preservado na vitória corintiana sobre o Universitario, do Peru, pela Copa Sul-Americana, assim como todos os outros titulares da equipe alvinegra, ele voltou a jogar e iniciar uma partida no confronto de volta diante do Coelho, neste fim de semana. E novamente agradou o “pofexô” Vanderlei.
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– Gabriel é um volante número um. Tem a característica de jogar como primeiro, com muita qualidade de saída de bola. Eu não sei se ele se encaixaria como segundo. Um metro para frente e para trás muda muito no futebol. Se você passa para segundo, recebe a bola de costas. Primeiro, você consegue desarmar e ficar de frente. Ele tem toda a habilidade e técnica para começar o jogo por dentro. Volante de muita qualidade. Se você olhar o futebol mundial, quem é que tem essa característica dele? É muito importante isso. Ele joga em um nível de competição de alto nível – disse Luxa em entrevista coletiva depois do jogo contra o América.
Moscardo nem imaginava que poderia fazer parte da campanha do Timão na Copa do Brasil. Nas duas fases anteriores, em que o clube do Parque São Jorge também passou nos pênaltis, o jovem foi apenas um espectador. A classificação na terceira fase, contra o Remo, ele acompanhou com a família. Já os duelos diante do Atlético-MG, pelas oitavas de final, foram vistos em locais distintos. Ele viu a vitória atleticana por 2 a 0, em Belo Horizonte, na Suíça, onde estava disputando um torneio com o time de base do Corinthians. Já a volta, em que o Time do Povo reverteu o placar, foi acompanhada por Gabriel na concentração com a equipe da base corintiana.
+ ATUAÇÕES: Cássio salva, e Yuri Alberto busca redenção em classificação do Corinthians
– Nos dois jogos contra o Remo eu estava em casa, com a minha família. Eu nem tinha sido chamado muito para treinar com o profissional este ano, estava com a cabeça no sub-20, Campeonato Paulista. Assisti em casa, torcendo muito. Teve uma situação ruim no primeiro jogo, mas no segundo eu torci muito. No Atlético, eu estava na Suíça, disputando um campeonato com o sub-20, e fiquei sabendo do resultado só depois. Mas no segundo jogo eu estava na concentração assistindo, e foi uma emoção incrível. E nem passava pela minha cabeça que na fase seguinte eu iria jogar as duas partidas como titular. Sensação incrível, essa torcida que está sempre do nosso lado, é uma tarde/noite que eu vou levar para o resto da minha vida – destacou o jovem na zona mista após a classificação na Copa do Brasil.
Gabriel Moscardo tem vínculo com o Corinthians até setembro do próximo ano. Isso significa que ele poderá assinar pré-contrato com qualquer outro time a partir de março de 2024. O Timão tenta não correr riscos e ofereceu um novo acordo, com valorização salarial e aumento na multa rescisória. A validade seria até setembro de 2027. As partes estão muito avançadas no acerto. No entanto, o volante preferiu minimizar o tema.
– Venho me destacando, a torcida pedindo, mas estou preocupado com o meu futebol e as coisas vão acontecer naturalmente. A gente conversou, mas minha cabeça está focada no futebol, porque se eu não corresponder em campo as coisas não vão acontecer. Estou focado em voltar ao trabalho, entrar em campo de novo e corresponder nos treinos – disse o meio-campista.
No momento, como está de férias, Moscardo avalia a continuidade, ou não, da faculdade. Ele mora perto do campus onde estuda no período noturno. Porém, se a renovação for confirmada, a tendência é que o congelamento da matrícula aconteça.
Além do curso de administração, escolhido por ser a mesma profissão que a mãe de Gabriel Moscardo exerce atualmente, o volante também faz curso de inglês.
Tottenham Hotspur’s frontline has been massively bolstered throughout the summer transfer window, with Thomas Frank wanting to improve the options at his disposal.
The Dane made a beeline to improve such an area of his first-team squad, something which has been achieved during his first summer in the role in North London.
He’s added Mohammed Kudus and Xavi Simons to the attacking third of the pitch, with both talents offering top-level quality and versatility to the current squad.
Whilst they cost a combined £107m between them, their deals were excellent pieces of business and signals of intent from owner Daniel Levy to help build on the Europa League success last campaign.
The aforementioned duo aren’t the only players who made the move to the Premier League this summer, as the hierarchy also completed a last-minute deal for another talented attacker.
Kolo Muani’s last-minute move to join Spurs this summer
On deadline day, Spurs were on the hunt to land another attacker, after Heung-min Son ended his decade-long spell at the club to join MLS side LAFC.
Savinho was seen as a constant option all window long, but despite having a keen interest in his signature before the market closed, the Brazilian stayed put at Manchester City.
Manchester City'sSavinhoin action with Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister
As a result, a deal was agreed to sign PSG striker Randal Kolo Muani, with the Frenchman joining Frank’s side on a season-long loan – but with no option to buy.
It was reported that a €5m (£4.3m) loan fee was forked out for the 26-year-old’s signature, fending off late interest from Serie A side for Juventus for his services.
Like Kudus and Simons, the loanee can play off either flank, or even in a centre-forward role, adding to the depth that the new manager has craved.
The Spurs player valued higher than Kolo Muani
In the opening three games of the 2025/26 campaign, Frank has shown huge faith in striker Richarlison to lead the line for Spurs in their quest for added success.
The Brazilian has started all three of the league outings, scoring twice and registering an assist, potentially nailing down the number nine position as his own – despite huge rumours about a departure earlier in the summer.
A deal for Kolo Muani will only add further competition in the final third, pushing Richarlison for the starting spot – offering the Lilywhites a new batch of healthy competition.
However, another player who is currently at Frank’s disposal is fellow Frenchman Mathys Tel, who has made his move to the club permanent this summer after spending the second half of last year on loan in North London.
The 20-year-old scored three times in his 20 appearances during the Ange Postecoglou tenure, with owner Levy deciding to fork out £29m for his signature this window.
Mathys Tel’s Tottenham Hotspur career in stats
Statistics
Tally
Games played
23
Minutes played
1275
Goals scored
3
Assists
1
Yellow cards
3
Red cards
0
Average rating
6.82
Stats via FotMob
Tel has already found minutes hard to come by since Frank took charge, only making two substitute appearances, totalling just 19 minutes in the Premier League.
However, his misery has been compounded over the last couple of days, after it was confirmed the Frenchman had been left out of the Lilywhites’ Champions League squad for the 2025/26 campaign.
Despite his lack of action, Tel, who’s been labelled “incredible” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has still seen his market value soar since making the move to England.
He’s now valued at £43m by FootballTransfers, a figure that is nearly £15m than compatriot Kolo Muani, who’s still only valued at £28.7m despite his own move to join the Lilywhites.
Kolo Muani is likely to be an exciting addition to Frank’s side this campaign – especially if the PSG loanee can replicate his form from his temporary stint in Italy last season.
However, the same can’t be said for Tel, with his future almost certainly coming into question after his snub from the recent European squad – which could see the board make a quick profit on his signature in the months ahead, should the player want to depart the club.
Levy let Spurs star leave for £0, now he could've been Frank's new Mbeumo
Tottenham Hotspur may have offloaded one of their former stars way too prematurely.