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Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola hailed Kevin De Bruyne for his brilliant performance in Saturday's thrilling win over Crystal Palace.

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Pep hails De Bruyne for match-winning displayBelgian midfielder starred with goal and assistMan City thrashed Palace 5-2Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED?

De Bruyne starred with a goal and an assist as the reigning champions came back from an early two-goal deficit to beat Crystal Palace 5-2 in the Premier League at Etihad Stadium on Sunday. City boss Guardiola was full of praise for the Belgian midfielder as he rolled back the years to produce an inspirational performance.

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Speaking to reporters after the game, Guardiola said: "The Kevin we have known for many years. I know he's struggled the last year and a half. He's free without pain and completely different. The way we played helped him a lot with incredible runners, the young lads, the full-backs."

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De Bruyne has been plagued with multiple injuries since the summer of 2023 and has performed sporadically for his club in the last one-and-a-half seasons. With the player now all set to exit the club at the end of the 2024-25 campaign, he would aim to finish his 10-year-long journey with the English champions on a high. In the current campaign, the 33-year-old has scored five goals and provided eight assists in 33 appearances across all competitions.

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AFPWHAT NEXT FOR MANCHESTER CITY?

Guardiola's side will be back in action in the Premier League on April 19 when they take on Everton at Goodison Park.

England captain urges players to trust same methods that delivered success in early summer

Vithushan Ehantharajah16-Aug-2022Ben Stokes says he’s “happy” for South African captain Dean Elgar and his team to continuing talking about “Bazball” and has vowed to stay true to the new style established under his tenure.The last month has been punctuated by various members of the Proteas talking down England’s new, attacking approach to Test cricket ahead of the upcoming men’s three-match series which begins at Lord’s on Wednesday. While all in isolation across various media engagements, it has created a sense the tourists are finding talk of a “revolutionary” approach a little grating. Speaking to Wisden Cricket Monthly, Elgar stated he saw no “longevity in brave cricket” and said England could have had “egg on their faces” in the opening Test match against New Zealand.Elgar is certainly not alone in that view, and no doubt the tourists are itching to skewer a bubble that has been swelling off the back of four victories against New Zealand (three) and India. So far, no one associated with this England Test squad has engaged in those comments publicly, and it is also worth noting “Bazball” is not a term used internally. Even the man after whom it is named isn’t a fan.Speaking on Tuesday, Stokes said neither he nor his team are paying too much attention to the noise emanating from the dressing room down the corridor.”The opposition seem to be doing a lot of talking at the moment about it,” Stokes said. “We don’t really speak about it that much. We just concentrate on what we do. We’ve got a style of play, they’ve got a style of play.”At the end of the day, it’s bat against ball; whoever plays best over a Test match is more than likely to win. But we don’t dive into it too much, but we’re happy for Dean and the South African team to keep saying they’re not interested, but then also keep talking about it.”Elgar, for his part, insisted on the eve of the Test that he had said all that needed to be said about England’s perceived style of play. “With all due respect, I am really not going to entertain that anymore,” he added. “We’ve chatted about it long and hard. I just want to crack on with the cricket. I think the game deserves that respect. Mudslinging is a thing of the past for me and we are not going to go back and forth on that.”Related

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Stokes also announced his XI, with Ben Foakes coming in for Sam Billings as the one change to the side who secured a 2-2 draw against India at Edgbaston last month, in the delayed fifth Test of a series that began in 2021. Since the squad met up on Sunday, Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum have made sure to remind the players of how well they performed at the start of the season and the need to carry forward the values laid down by the pair. For a side that had been in such disarray before the start of the season, it is something Stokes realises needs constant reinforcement.”I think, for me, it was just reiterating the points of what we were making at the start of the summer, about our mindset, attitude and everything like that, about how we go out and play our cricket,” Stokes said, when asked of his work beyond the nets. “Personally I feel as if it’s one of those things that’s the most important at the moment for this team, is believing in what we speak in the changing room and going out there and trying to deliver on what we say. Because the results will look after themselves.”If we play to the standard that we have done over the last four Test matches, we know we are going to give ourselves a great opportunity of winning the game. If you don’t play good cricket, then you’re going to lose the game. For us it’s just going out there and continuing with the attitude and the mindset you’ve seen from the first four games of the summer.”

As expected, a number of high-profile draft nominees will be part of the new UAE league which will leave some tricky decisions for clubs

Alex Malcolm09-Aug-2022Cricket Australia could stand in the way of Chris Lynn’s participation in the ILT20 while the challenge the BBL faces recruiting overseas talent has been laid bare after headline acts from the overseas draft, including Alex Hales and James Vince, were unveiled as signings for the new league which runs head-to-head with the BBL in January.Another 10 overseas players who have previously played in the BBL but have not nominated for the draft, including Andre Russell, have also signed on to the UAE league with more expected in the coming days as well as announcements of signings to the new South Africa league.As expected, David Warner was not among the first 54 players named to play in the UAE as he is set to get a deal to play in the BBL but Lynn has signed as the only Australian so far.Related

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He does not have a BBL deal having been let go by Brisbane Heat but Adelaide Strikers have shown some interest. If he were to sign a BBL deal it would be difficult for him to get a no-objection certificate (NOC) to play in the UAE and CA confirmed that it had not received a NOC request from any player thus far and would prioritise the needs of Australian cricket.”Cricket Australia has not received any applications for No Objection Certificates pertaining to a player’s participation in any overseas competitions for the upcoming season,” a CA spokesperson said.”Our guiding principle remains the prioritisation and protection of Australia’s domestic summer of cricket and the interests of the game overall. As such, NOCs are generally only issued for the period after the Australian season has finished.”Lynn would need an NOC to play in the UAE even if he did not sign up for the BBL because Australia would be considered his home board, but it is understood that any move to block him from playing could be a restraint of trade under Australian law. Shane Watson previously played in the Bangladesh Premier League in 2019-20 without a NOC having retired from the BBL the previous year.It’s understood that Lynn’s management, the Australian Cricketers’ Association and the UAE league are aware of CA’s position.The ILT20 unveiled their first overseas signings on Monday with BBL regulars and draft nominees Hales, Vince, Colin Munro, Sandeep Lamichhane, Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Qais Ahmad among them.The other players to have nominated for both the BBL draft and signed to the ILT20 are: Evin Lewis, Akeal Hosein, Ravi Rampaul, and Sherfane Rutherford (from West Indies); Bhanuka Rajapaksa (from Sri Lanka); Dan Lawrence, Jamie Overton, Richard Gleeson, Liam Dawson, and Benny Howell (from England); David Wiese (from Namibia); Noor Ahmad (from Afghanistan), Blessing Muzarabani and Sikandar Raza (from Zimbabwe).Meanwhile, Russell, Dawid Malan, Sunil Narine, Sam Billings, Tom Curran, Chris Jordan, Tom Banton, Colin Ingram, Ben Duckett and Saqib Mahmood are the other players who have previously played in the BBL but have not opted for the draft, instead heading straight to the UAE.CA had hoped that the new overseas draft, which will take place for the first time on August 28, would help attract more overseas talent to the BBL with a AUD$340,000 (US$237,000 approx.) salary on offer for the top platinum picks.If drafted, Alex Hales would leave the tournament about halfway through•Getty ImagesBut it is looking increasingly likely that many of the most sought-after picks are only going to be available for the first half of the tournament which will see BBL teams think long and hard about taking them given they will need to use close to 10% of the $AUD1.9 million salary cap and might only be available for a handful of games.The BBL begins on December 13 and runs to February 4 while ILT20 runs from January 6 to February 12. Dates for the South Africa T20 league are set to be announced in the coming days but it will likely run in a similar timeframe to the ILT20. Liam Livingstone, who will likely be a platinum pick in the BBL, is expected to be one of those heading to South Africa.CA and the BBL have been trumped by the contracts on offer in the UAE and South Africa, something that was forecast by Ricky Ponting and Usman Khawaja last month. The ILT20 is offered up to US$450,000 (approx AUD$650,000) while South Africa is understood to have offered a minimum of US$300,000 (approx AUD$430,000).Apart from Lynn, the BBL is likely to retain Australia’s high-profile players in part due to their contractual obligations and their desire to continue to play for Australia, as Adam Zampa recently articulated, although it remains to be seen if all take deals. Only Mitchell Starc has so far confirmed he won’t participate, instead opting to rest.CA’s contracts mean that their international players are unable to participate in overseas leagues without NOCs but the contracts on offer in the ILT20 and South Africa, as well as the top contract to platinum picks in the BBL overseas draft, has caused some angst amongst Australia’s best players given their BBL deals fall well short of those numbers. Warner is likely to earn something similar to a BBL platinum pick on a one-off basis while others will have to play on standard contracts for this season before a new MOU is negotiated between CA and the Australian Cricketers Association for season 2023-24 and beyond.

Manchester United are eyeing a summer move for Wolves front-man Matheus Cunha as the Old Trafford club continue to struggle for goals this term.

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Cunha has release clause worth £62.5mMultiple Premier League clubs tracking the strikerBrazilian has scored 15 goals in 29 games in 24/25Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED?

United have struggled for consistency up front this term. With high profile signings Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund failing to nail down the number 9 position, as they have scored just six league goals between them, the Old Trafford club are considering triggering the Brazilians' £62.5 million ($82m) release clause. With Cunha under contract until 2029, Wolves are under no pressure to settle for a lower price.

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The 25-year-old's form has caught the attention of multiple Premier League clubs. It is believed Newcastle, Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest and Spurs are keen on signing Cunha come season's end.

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Cunha has impressed since making a permanent move to Molinuex in 2023. He has scored 15 goals in 29 appearances this season.

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WHAT NEXT FOR MATHEUS CUNHA?

Cunha will lead the line for Wolves in their home fixture against Tottenham on Sunday. The following week, the Brazilian will line up against another of his suitors, as Wolves travel to Manchester to face the Red Devils on Easter Sunday.

Tottenham Hotspur will consider hiring an “impressive” new manager if they decide to sack Ange Postecoglou, and one who’s been talked about as a head coach to potentially step into Pep Guardiola’s shoes at Manchester City.

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Postecoglou’s side have slipped to 15th in the table and have already lost 12 Premier League games this season, which makes for very alarming viewing from the perspective of a Lilywhites supporter.

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Spurs are doing their due-diligence on alternative managers.

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Injuries to key players have seriously handicapped Postecoglou this term, with 10 senior stars currently sidelined right now, but there are also serious question marks surrounding the Australian’s open style of play and tendency to leak goals.

This was on full display in their latest defeat, a 3-2 loss to Everton at Goodison Park on Sunday, where they went 3-0 down at half-time. Calls for Postecoglou’s sacking have intensified in the wake of Spurs’ loss on Merseyside, with reports suggesting that Tottenham have shortlisted potential managerial targets in the event they decide to part company.

Leicester City (home)

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Brentford (away)

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Man United (home)

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However, for the time being, it appears the 59-year-old retains backing from his club’s board.

“The Tottenham hierarchy, as far as I understand it, continue to back Ange Postecoglou,” said David Ornstein on NBC Sports this week.

“They believe in him to turn this around. Of course, results are far below expectations, and they feel that they should have won more matches than they have lost. But that doesn’t mean that Ange Postecoglou is on the brink or he’s about to go.

“I think they still support him, and their reasons for that will be largely down to the injuries that he has suffered.”

Tottenham face a crucial return to Europe against Hoffenheim on Thursday, alongside their all-important Carabao Cup semi-final second-leg clash away to Liverpool soon afterwards, and these matches may well go a long way in determining whether chairman Daniel Levy sticks with the ex-Celtic boss long-term.

Tottenham set to consider Andoni Iraola if they sack Postecoglou

As per TEAMtalk, Spurs are indeed doing their due diligence on potential future replacements for Postecoglou if they do eventually decide to sack him.

One of their possible targets is Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola, who has guided the Cherries through an incredible 2024/2025 campaign without their former star striker Dominic Solanke, who departed for Tottenham last summer.

High-flying Bournemouth are serious contenders to qualify for Europe and even sit just three points off a Champions League place, with Iraola’s excellent campaign in the dugout turning heads at N17.

TEAMtalk state that Tottenham will consider appointing Iraola if they sack Postecoglou, with the 42-year-old even tipped by some to potentially replace Guardiola at City, such is his growing reputation right now.

The Spurs hierarchy are said to be real admirers of Iraola, who has also been widely praised for his “impressive” job at Bournemouth over the last two seasons.

“It’s incredibly impressive and credit to Iraola,” said former Man City defender Nedum Onuoha on the BBC’s Planet Premier League podcast.

Meanwhile, Como manager Cesc Fabregas added:

“I remember I went to see [Radamel] Falcao one day in Madrid, and he told me to come and watch a training session [with Iraola’s Rayo Vallecano side],” said Fabregas.

“I went there and I really liked it. I really liked the session, I saw exactly what he’s trying to do.

“He communicates really well with the players. He has a really good structure. I liked the setup of the training session, the format in which he builds it from a lower intensity to a higher one, and the concept that he was giving to the players.”

A round-up from the opening day of the WNCL which produced a number of standout innings

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Sep-2022Tahlia McGrath produced an astonishing finish at Karen Rolton Oval as she struck three consecutive sixes to both bring up her century and carry South Australia to victory after they had needed 15 from the last over. It meant that the earlier centuries from Ellyse Perry and Annabel Sutherland, the latter’s first in domestic cricket, which formed an unbroken stand of 209 proved in vain.

A Tahlia McGrath special

South Australia needed 15 off the final over against Victoria. Here's what she did

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— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) September 23, 2022

McGrath and Emma de Broughe set the chase up with a second-wicket stand of 83, but Victoria stayed in the game by chipping through the middle order as Sophie Molineux and Sophie Day shared four wickets. But while McGrath was there her team were in the contest although needing 15 off Sutherland appeared a tall order until McGrath did it in style. Earlier, Perry had come to the crease in the first over after Molineux was given caught behind and batted throughout the innings although the final result did leave some questions about the tempo of Victoria’s innings. Perry ended on 117 from 143 balls while Sutherland reached her hundred with a six off McGrath at the start of the last over – McGrath would later repay the favour.Queensland 9 for 307 (Voll 145, Hoskin 3-39) beat New South Wales 196 (Wilson 65, G Harris 3-24) by 111 runsGeorgia Voll’s 145 was the centrepiece of Queensland’s victory•Getty ImagesNineteen-year-old Georgia Voll dominated at North Sydney Oval with a superbly-constructed 145 as Queensland secured a huge victory over New South Wales. Voll’s innings came in three stages: she led Queensland’s early momentum as the major contributor in an opening stand of 51, consolidated through the middle as she lost partners at reasonably regular intervals, then accelerated at the death with the scoop shot a regular option. The next-highest score was Laura Kimmince’s 35 which came off just 15 balls including three sixes and powered a mid-innings surge. Jess Jonassen (16) and Courtney Sippel (19 not out) then played useful cameos while Voll continued to lead the way. New South Wales were poor in the field and lost the services of Maitlan Brown in her fourth over after she was pulled from the after bowling three big full toss. The one bright spot was debutant Ebony Hoskin who claimed a wicket were first ball in WNCL – Georgia Redmayne smartly caught down the leg side by Alyssa Healy – and in all took the first three wickets to fall. NSW’s chase started promisingly as Healy and Tahlia Wilson added 54, but Healy nicked to slip – a leading edge as she aimed to the leg side – and when Wilson was run out in the 26th over the home side fell away.Western Australia 2 for 147 (Piparo 75*) beat ACT 143 (Carter 65, King 5-12) by eight wicketsAlana King celebrates with Beth Mooney•Getty ImagesAlana King started her season in the form she has shown for the last 12 months, taking 5 for 12 as Western Australia demolished ACT by eight wickets at the WACA. After an opening stand of 55 between Rebecca Carter and Katie Mack, ACT lost all ten wickets for 88 with six batters going for ducks – four of then against King. Carter, who struck ten boundaries in her 65, was the seventh wicket when she fell to Amy Edgar who claimed 2 for 23 from nine overs. Although Beth Mooney fell for 17 in her first innings for WA the chase was completed with ease as captain Chloe Piparo finishing unbeaten on 75.