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Celtic are keen to appoint a permanent successor to Martin O’Neill and now look to be well down the road in that regard, as fresh details over Wilfried Nancy’s arrival and potential backroom team emerge.

The Bhoys enjoyed a productive weekend of Scottish Premiership action, even if it was a little fortuitous, claiming a dramatic last-gasp victory over St Mirren before Heart of Midlothian lost out at Aberdeen to narrow the gap at the top of the table.

Four points separate the top two heading into a busy schedule, with Celtic holding the advantage of a crucial game in hand against Dundee United days after they collide with the Edinburgh side in a blockbuster clash at Parkhead in a couple of weeks.

From a position of real uncertainty, the Bhoys have edged their way back into title contention and will hope to capitalise as Hearts continue to falter, albeit O’Neill made it clear after their win in Paisley that he isn’t sure how much longer he will be in interim charge alongside Shaun Maloney.

He said: “There’s relief as much as anything else, but you enjoy winning football matches – that’s what it’s about. It keeps confidence alive as much as anything else and keeps momentum going.

“At this minute, I haven’t heard anything more. I would reckon I would probably be on the plane for Rotterdam and maybe not much longer. If the board announce a new manager in the couple of days, I will walk into the sunset.”

O’Neill looks likely to be in charge for Celtic’s trip to face Feyenoord on Thursday in the Europa League and could be in situ for their match against Hibernian on Sunday. However, it doesn’t look like he will be sticking around for long after that.

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Posts ByDan Emery Nov 22, 2025 Wilfried Nancy set to add four new faces to Celtic backroom staff

Previously, it became clear that Columbus Crew manager Wilfried Nancy is set to take over at Celtic after his side bowed out of the MLS Cup playoffs, though there has since been quiet over the details of his arrival.

Now, PLZ Soccer report that Nancy is set to begin his journey at Parkhead from the start of December, if not before then, with the Bhoys’ home clash against Dundee on the third day of the month likely to be his first game in charge.

Four of Nancy’s own staff are set to take on new roles in Glasgow over the next week, should their contracts be signed off, with Dermot Desmond sparing no expense making the new boss feel at home in the face of recent fan pressure. Kwame Ampadu is likely to be one of the new faces following his work alongside the 48-year-old in the United States.

Wilfried Nancy’s record at Columbus Crew

Matches

136

Wins

71

Draws

32

Losses

33

Trophies

MLS Cup (2024)

It remains to be seen whether Maloney will form part of the Frenchman’s backroom team after his sterling efforts during his period as interim assistant.

Celtic fans have had to wait nearly a month to find out the identity of their new permanent manager, though they will be relieved to see that the hunt for a new boss is finally nearing an end.

Despite registering an assist against Nottingham Forest, Leeds United attacker Brenden Aaronson has struggled to find his best form this season. Indeed, that strike he set up at the City Ground was only the second time in 2025/26 he’s chipped in with a goal or assist, despite playing 11 Premier League games.

It might not be a surprise to see the United States international struggling for form in the Premier League. Despite a dominant season in the Championship last term, former Leeds man Jon Newsome told BBC Radio Leeds that he doesn’t think he is “good enough to play in the Leeds United team.”

With Aaronson’s poor form continuing, it might lead Daniel Farke to look at alternative options on the right wing against Aston Villa.

Farke's options to replace Aaronson

One candidate to replace the American international against Villa is Wilfried Gnonto. The 22-year-old Italian is on the cusp of returning from a calf injury which has kept him out for most of the season, but Farke confirmed pre-match that his side have “not one player injured” this weekend.

Assuming the former Inter winger is back, he could get some involvement this weekend. Last term, Gnonto was excellent, scoring nine goals and assisting six in 43 second-tier games, and his direct nature could offer a new threat for Leeds.

However, given his recent fitness issues, this game may have come too soon for him to start.

An alternative option could be Jack Harrison. The 29-year-old Englishman has had a bit-part role this season in the Premier League, playing ten games, but featuring for just 262 minutes in total.

He is a player who certainly splits opinion at Elland Road. The former Everton loanee returned to the club this season after two years on Merseyside. He was not given a warm reception upon that return, though, and was booed by fans in preseason.

With Gnonto’s lack of game time and Harrison’s lack of form, there could be an ideal alternative to replace Aaronson.

Farke’s perfect Aaronson replacement

It would certainly be a fair call if Farke were to drop Aaronson from the side against Villa. He has struggled to have a real impact on the Leeds side this season, and has left a little to be desired creatively.

If the American were to be dropped from the side against the Villans, the man who could replace him is Daniel James. The Wales international has also not been fully fit this season, having racked up just eight Premier League appearances.

Yet, he played an hour for Wales over the last week as they beat Liechtenstein, a game in which he grabbed an assist, and North Macedonia, against whom he scored.

He is back fit and firing and in good form, which is a huge positive for Farke and Leeds.

Despite a lack of involvement this term, the former Manchester United star has previously impressed for the West Yorkshire side. In their Championship title win last term, he chipped in with a strong tally of 12 goals and nine assists in just 36 appearances.

He averaged 0.72 goal involvements per 90 minutes, which ranked him in the top 2% of Championship attackers.

Goals and assists

0.72

98th

Passes into penalty area

2.17

97th

Crosses into penalty area

0.9

96th

Goal-creating actions

0.52

90th

Progressive carries

4.04

87th

The Welsh international could hurt Villa in transition, too. It is no secret that he is lightning fast, with a top speed of 31kph, according to Speeds Database. Well, if Leeds decide to sit in a low block and hit Unai Emery’s side on the counterattack, James could be imperative to executing those fast transitional moments.

Statman Dave once described the 28-year-old as someone who is “unstoppable on the break.” If Leeds do decide their best way of winning is to try and hit the Villans on the counter, his pace and recent form in the final third could be pivotal.

It would be a bold call for Farke to drop one of his most trusted lieutenants in Aaronson, but James has the skillset to really hurt Villa and help his side pick up a huge win in dire circumstances.

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As they attempt to recover from a .500 2024 season, the Boston Red Sox have zeroed in on a quality addition to their pitching staff.

The Red Sox have a deal to acquire pitcher Garrett Crochet from the Chicago White Sox, according to a report from ESPN's Jeff Passan on Wednesday later confirmed by the White Sox.

Crochet, 25, has pitched four seasons for Chicago. He is 9-19 with a 3.29 ERA and 294 strikeouts in 219 innings pitched—numbers that belie his unlikely '24 breakout on a 41-121 team.

This past season, Crochet went 6-12 with a 3.29 ERA and 209 strikeouts and made the American League All-Star team. Advanced statistics suggest Crochet was even better as he posted a sterling FIP of 2.69.

The White Sox will receive four players in the deal, per Ken Rosenthal of : pitcher Wikelman Gonzalez, infielder Chase Meidroth, outfielder Braden Montgomery, and catcher and outfielder Kyle Teel.

Rishabh Pant returned to bat in the first innings despite a fracture, before being ruled out of the fifth Test

Matt Roller27-Jul-20254:53

Stokes: ‘Too many loopholes’ in injury replacements idea

India coach Gautam Gambhir has called for the introduction of injury replacements in Test cricket, a stance which England captain Ben Stokes considers “absolutely ridiculous”.Rishabh Pant, India’s wicketkeeper-batter, retired hurt on the first day of the drawn fourth Test in Manchester but re-emerged on the second day to resume his innings despite scans confirming a fracture in his right foot. Gambhir praised Pant’s bravery, saying “any amount of praise is not enough for him”, but said that injury replacements should be permitted in such instances.”Absolutely, I’m all for it,” Gambhir said. “If the umpires and the match referee sees and feels that is a major injury, I think it’s very important. It’s very important to have this rule where you can get a substitute – that is, if it’s very visible. There’s nothing wrong in doing that, especially in a series like this where it’s been such a closely fought series in the previous three Test matches. Imagine if we would’ve had to play with ten men against 11. How unfortunate would this be for us.”Related

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India were able to use Dhruv Jurel, a substitute, as their wicketkeeper in Pant’s place, but he would not have been available to bat in their second innings. The ICC’s playing conditions allow teams to make replacements if a player is concussed or contracts Covid-19, but there is no scope to replace an injured player.Some boards will trial injury replacements at first-class level later this year, but Stokes said that the conversation should be “shut down and stopped” because any proposal would contain too many “loopholes” for teams to exploit.”I think it’s absolutely ridiculous that there’s a conversation around an injury replacement,” Stokes said. “I think that there would just be too many loopholes for teams to be able to go through. You pick your XI for a game; injuries are part of the game. I completely understand the concussion replacement – player welfare, [and] player safety. But I think the conversation should just honestly stop around injury replacements because if you stick me in an MRI scanner, I could get someone else in straightaway.”If you stick anyone else with an MRI scanner, a bowler is going to show, ‘oh yeah, you’ve got a bit of inflammation around your knee; oh sweet, we can get another fresh bowler in’. I just think that conversation should be shut down and stopped.”Gautam Gambhir on Rishabh Pant: “Any amount of praise is not enough for him, especially batting with a broken foot”•Getty Images

Pant has been ruled out of next week’s fifth Test at The Oval, which starts on Thursday, and replaced in the India squad by N Jagadeesan. Gambhir praised Pant for returning to bat and adding 17 runs after retiring hurt, and said that “generations to come forward” would talk about the bravery.”Rishabh, already it’s been declared that he’s out of the series,” Gambhir said. “One thing I want to say is that the character, the foundation of this team, will be built on something that [he] did for the team and for the country as well. Any amount of praise is not enough for him, especially batting with a broken foot.”Not many people have done that in the past, and he had put his hand up and that is why I say it. Any amount of praise [is not enough]. I can sit here and talk about this for hours and hours. I think the generations to come forward will talk about this, and generations coming forward should talk about it that there is someone who’s batted with a broken foot.”It’s unfortunate because of the kind of form he was in, but again, he’s an important member of the Test side, and I hope he recovers quickly and comes back quickly, and try and deliver again for us.”

Glasgow Rangers are back in action in the Scottish Premiership at Ibrox on Saturday after the end of the international break, but it remains to be seen who will be in the dugout.

The Light Blues parted ways with their last head coach after their last league match before the break, and Rangers have yet to agree a deal with a replacement.

As shown in the graphic above, the Gers endured a dismal start to the 2025/26 campaign, winning just five of their 17 matches, and they have to find a manager who can turn their fortunes around.

Rangers have held talks with English tactician

Steven Gerrard has withdrawn from contention to be the next Gers manager, after talks with the club, which means that they now have to look elsewhere for a Russell Martin replacement.

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According to TEAMtalk, Rangers have held talks with former Middlesbrough head coach Michael Carrick as part of their process to find their next boss.

The English tactician, who left Boro at the end of last season, has had discussions with the Ibrox giants over a potential move to Scotland, and would not cost a penny in compensation.

TEAMtalk adds, though, that Danny Rohl, Kieran McKenna, and Rafael Wicky are also contenders for the role, as the Light Blues look for an alternative to Gerrard.

Why Rangers should appoint Michael Carrick

Carrick would be an intriguing option for the Scottish giants to go for because he has the potential to get Ibrox rocking again with his style of play and history in the game.

Rangers supporters could get behind the English tactician because he had an illustrious playing career, unlike Martin, winning five Premier League titles with Manchester United, making 464 appearances in all competitions, per Transfermarkt.

This means that he can bring a winning mentality to the club even if his coaching career has not started in a similar vein, as he impressed with Middlesbrough on a “limited budget”, as Mark Schwarzer put it.

League finish

8th

10th

xPTS (Expected league finish)

73 (5th)

71 (6th)

xG

69.5

67.4

xGA

55.0

56.4

xGD

+14.5

+11.3

As you can see in the table above, the results that Carrick’s team picked up did not quite get the rewards that his coaching deserved, which suggests that he did not have the quality of player that he needed to achieve real success down south.

If Rangers are happy with their recruitment work in the summer, the Light Blues may feel that they have the players to make the most of the former Manchester United star’s impressive and attack-minded coaching.

Carrick, who was hailed as an “insanely talented coach” by former Boro player Lukas Engel, has also shown that he can develop and get the best out of young players, like Morgan Rogers.

The England international explains in the clip above that the head coach helped him to take the next step in his development as a young player.

Rogers was valued at £1.5m by Transfermarkt at the time of his move to Boro from Manchester City. At the time of writing (14/10/2025), the 23-year-old star is valued at a whopping £48m by Transfermarkt.

This shows that Carrick can help to develop big-money talent, which aligns with the club’s strategy to bring in and improve young players, which is why another reason why he could be a fantastic appointment.

Overall, the 44-year-old head coach could get Ibrox rocking because his success and reputation in the game would command respect, and he is a manager who has shown that he can coach attacking football at Middlesbrough on a ‘limited budget’.

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It will now be interesting to see if the Light Blues decide to seriously pursue an agreement with Carrick or if they go elsewhere, with Rohl, McKenna, or Wicky.

خسر منتخب الإمارات تحت 17 عامًا أمام نظيره كرواتيا في المباراة التي جمعت بينهما ضمن منافسات الجولة الثانية لدور المجموعات في بطولة كأس العالم تحت 17 عامًا، التي تُقام حاليًا في الدوحة.

وجاءت المباراة التي انطلقت في الساعة الخامسة وربع مساء بتوقيت القاهرة، صعبة على المنتخب الإماراتي، حيث انتهى الشوط الأول بتقدم كرواتيا بهدفين، أحرزهما تينز كوزانوفيتش في الدقيقة 30 وجابريال سافيتش في الدقيقة 36، قبل أن يختتم رادوس الثلاثية في الدقيقة 89 من المباراة.

طالع.. ترتيب مجموعة تونس في كأس العالم تحت 17 عامًا بعد الخسارة أمام الأرجنتين

بهذه النتيجة، تصدر منتخب كرواتيا ترتيب المجموعة الثالثة برصيد 4 نقاط، فيما توقف رصيد منتخب الإمارات عند نقطة واحدة محتلاً المركز الأخير.

وتقع الإمارات في المجموعة الثالثة إلى جانب منتخبات كرواتيا والسنغال وكوستاريكا، في البطولة التي تُقام خلال الفترة من 3 إلى 28 نوفمبر الجاري في قطر. ترتيب مجموعة الإمارات في كأس العالم للناشئين

1 – كرواتيا 4 نقاط

2 – السنغال نقطة

3 – كوستاريكا نقطة

4 – الإمارات نقطة

Liverpool centre-forward Hugo Ekitike stole the headlines for the right and the wrong reasons in the club’s 2-1 win over Southampton in the League Cup on Tuesday night.

The France U21 international came off the bench to grab the winning goal against the Championship outfit, slotting into the back of the an empty net from Federico Chiesa’s ball across the box.

Unfortunately, the former Eintracht Frankfurt striker turned a joyous moment into a sour one, taking his shirt off to celebrate and earning himself a second yellow card in the process.

Ekitike will now be unavailable for Arne Slot when the Premier League champions travel to Selhurst Park to take on Crystal Palace on Saturday.

The Dutch head coach, as evidenced by his comments in the clip above, was less than pleased with his striker’s decision to take his shirt off after the goal.

Parking the silly red card to the side for a moment, Ekitike’s goal off the bench was reminiscent of former Reds forward Daniel Sturridge, who was an excellent super sub for the club.

Liverpool's best goalscoring substitutes of all time

The Reds have had some terrific goalscoring substitutes over the years, whether that has been a key player coming off the bench to make an impact on the rare occasion that they did not start, or a designated impact player who consistently contributed in cameos.

Sturridge played both of those roles at different times in his Liverpool career. He started off as a key player in the Brendan Rodgers era, forming a lethal front three with Luis Suarez and Raheem Sterling, but was more of an impact substitute in the Jurgen Klopp era.

Thanks to his cameos off the bench, largely under Klopp, the former England international currently ranks fourth in the all-time rankings for goals off the bench as a Liverpool player.

David Fairclough

18

Roberto Firmino

16

Mohamed Salah

14

Daniel Sturridge

13

Ryan Babel

12

Divock Origi

12

Diogo Jota

9

Steven Gerrard

8

Darwin Nunez

8

Djibril Cisse

7

As you can see in the table above, Sturridge only sits behind three players in the all-time rankings, two of them being Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino, who were always key players but made their way up the list through longevity.

David Fairclough, who left the club in 1983 and may not be too familiar to many supporters in the current day, leads the list with a staggering 18 goals off the bench.

Sturridge was mainly a substitute during his time under Klopp in the Premier League, but was still able to contribute by playing his role well off the bench, making an impact on a regular basis as a substitute.

Whilst it was Ekitike who came off the bench in Sturridge fashion to score the winner against Southampton, it was one of the players who started the game who could be Slot’s own version of the English striker.

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Federico Chiesa has not had too many opportunities to shine as a starter for the Reds since his move to the club from Juventus last year, but he caught the eye with an impressive showing against Southampton on Tuesday night.

Why Federico Chiesa can be Liverpool's next Daniel Sturridge

The Italy international started on the right flank for Liverpool and played a crucial role in the win for the home side, assisting Alexander Isak and Ekitike’s goals.

As shown in the clip above, Chiesa did brilliantly to read and intercept Alex McCarthy’s sloppy pass out from the back to get there before Josh Quarshie to tee Isak up for a simple finish.

The Italian forward later made a fantastic darting run in behind the Saints defence before unselfishly laying the ball off to Ekitike to score the winner by tapping the ball into an empty net.

Minutes

90

Pass accuracy

81%

Key passes

4

Big chances created

4

Assists

2

Dribbles completed

2/4

Duels won

5/8

Chiesa created a stunning four ‘big chances’ in the 90 minutes, per Sofascore, which is more ‘big chances’ than any Liverpool player has created in five Premier League matches so far this season.

The right-sided attacker is unlikely to take a starting spot off superstar Mohamed Salah, but the quality he has displayed when called upon suggests that Slot should utilise his talent off the bench more often.

Chiesa, as shown in the clip above, made a big impact off the bench in the Premier League earlier this season with a crucial goal against Bournemouth, putting his side 3-2 up in the match in the 88th minute.

The 27-year-old attacker only played six times in the top-flight last term, starting one game, but his form in limited minutes suggests that he deserves more opportunities to shine off the bench and become the new Sturridge as an impact substitute for Liverpool.

As writer Bence Boscak stated, Chiesa is “making an impact every time” he plays for the Reds with his quality off the bench or as a starter when selected. His return of seven goals and assists combined in 603 minutes for the club proves that.

The Italy international was unfortunate that one of his big moments off the bench meant very little in the end after he came off the bench to score in the League Cup final last season, only for it to end with a 2-1 win for Newcastle United.

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The former Fiorentina star has shown that he can make a big impact when called upon, which is why Slot must continue to provide him with opportunities to shine in a Liverpool shirt, which will put him on course to become the new Sturridge at Anfield.

Manchester United forward Joshua Zirkzee could be on the move this January, with Serie A side Como reportedly exploring a deal for the Dutchman. Manager Cesc Fabregas’ ambitious project is said to view Zirkzee as an ideal attacking addition, and United are open to either a loan or permanent transfer midway through the current Premier League season.

Zirkzee without minutes at Man Utd under Amorim

Zirkzee has found playing time hard to come by under Ruben Amorim, featuring only as a substitute in all four of his appearances this season. Despite joining United for £36.5 million just 14 months ago, the Dutch striker has fallen down the pecking order at Old Trafford. Report suggest United would now consider offers in January, including a loan deal or outright sale.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportComo show interest in January Zirkzee move

Cesc Fabregas’ Como have been credited with interest as per The Sun, as the Italian club aim to strengthen their frontline and push toward the top half of Serie A. Juventus, who tracked Zirkzee last summer, are also monitoring developments. Fabregas reportedly views the 24-year-old as the perfect profile for his dynamic, possession-based setup.

Zirkzee has struggled to shine at Man Utd

The Netherlands international arrived from Bologna after firing them into the Champions League with 11 goals but has yet to make a lasting impact in England. Zirkzee has scored only seven times across 53 appearances for United, raising questions about his fit in Amorim’s system. With United’s attack underperforming, offloading the forward could also help fund reinforcements.

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AFPZirkzee under contract at Old Trafford until 2029

Zirkzee remains under contract with Manchester United until 2029, giving the Red Devils leverage in any negotiations. Discussions over his future are expected to take place after the international break. If no breakthrough in game time arrives, a January return to Serie A with Como could suit all parties involved.

Smriti Mandhana had a poor WPL 2025, both as captain of a team that didn’t make the knockouts and as a batter with mediocre returns. WPL winners in 2024, RCB finished second-last this time, just above UP Warriorz, and that too on net run-rate.Mandhana’s demeanour at her final press conference of this season after an 11-run win against against Mumbai Indians, however, gave us a wise and pragmatic captain who had ended on a high, and not a sullen leader after a disappointing season. She became slightly philosophical, too, almost summoning the cricketing gods as she rued her team’s failure to clinched some of the crucial moments.”Yeah, we were just having a joke post the match that we started the season on a high, ended it on a high and midway we just lost somewhere,” Mandhana said after the game on Tuesday. “Pretty much that sums up our season. But yeah, having lost a lot of players from last season post the auction, definitely we had our thinking shoes on in between the auction and the season. But the way we started, I really thought that we are in it.”Related

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The defending champions started with two wins before stuttering to five straight losses that cost them a knockout spot.Injuries to Asha Sobhana, Shreyanka Patil and Sophie Molineux, and Sophie Devine opting for a break didn’t help, and the big setback was that RCB didn’t win even one out of their four home games, in stark contrast to 2024 when they won three out of five in Bengaluru.What hurt them further was that at home, where local fans again filled the stands, RCB lost two matches by agonisingly close margins: by four wickets with one ball to spare to MI and then the Super Over loss to Warriorz.”I think in Bangalore, a lot of things didn’t go our way,” Mandhana said. “But I am really proud of the way the team showed the character. Losing a lot of close matches is not easy on a team and I think we lost first two to three matches, which were pretty close. But everyone was really positive, which is something I am really pleased [about] as a captain. You win or lose. Sometimes in franchise cricket, these things go your way, and you win it. But when it doesn’t go your way, and the team sticks together, that is a team for me.”5:25

Mel Jones: ‘Phenomenal’ Perry played a different sort of innings

What also didn’t work for RCB at home was the toss. Teams opted to chase as the league moved from Vadodara to Bengaluru to Lucknow to finally Mumbai, and with the lack of dew and big totals in the first innings, chasing teams won most matches.RCB, in their home leg, lost all four tosses and were inserted by oppositions. At their home stretch also came Mandhana’s own lean patch, which meant the team largely relied on No. 3 Ellyse Perry for the bulk of the runs. But their totals were never enough.Perry’s prolific run placed her second among the run-scorers this season and on top in the WPL overall.”Sometimes, there’s something called cricketing god, which I believe a lot in,” Mandhana said. “You do a lot of things right and in the last two or three overs, things don’t go your way. We won [the title] last year by winning those moments. And this year, in the first two matches in Bangalore, we couldn’t make those moments ours, which is, I feel, a turning point for us, especially the first two matches.”Looking back, I wouldn’t want to throw anyone under the bus saying that would have changed it. We all, together as a team, could have contributed a lot more. Me as a batter in the mid phase, I was not able to score a lot of runs.”I think especially the Bangalore leg, losing the toss, not many teams could actually put up more than 160, but we could do that only because the way she [Perry] batted out there. Just really good to have her around the team, around all the Indians as well, because [there’s] a lot to take from her, lot to learn from her. And I am sure a lot of people in the team watch her and try and take a lot of things from her. And I hope that it only goes well for Indian cricket because people like that make you work really hard.”Richa Ghosh struck at 175.57 in WPL 2025•BCCI

The other positive for RCB was the big hitting of Richa Ghosh, whose strike rate of 175.57 was the best in the team (minimum 30 balls faced). She smashed 13 sixes and 25 fours on her way to 230 runs off 131 balls. She ended the RCB campaign also in style, particularly when going after Shabnim Ismail. Ghosh scooped and reverse scooped Ismail and reverse swept Hayley Matthews for boundaries on her way to 36 off 22 on Tuesday.”She is just amazing to watch,” Mandhana said of Ghosh. “I have seen her grow throughout the last three seasons of WPL and with the Indian team. The way she can change the game single-handedly is a sight to watch. When she is out there, the other dugout can’t sit peacefully, and no equation is less or more for her.”I mean, for us to chase 223-odd runs [against Warriorz] and just losing by ten runs and the way she batted… For batters like us, we see the smaller side [of the boundary], but for batters like Richa, they just see the ball and hit with their power.”The variety of shots is something she has really worked on. People always just relate Richa with a lot of power, but the cuts, the reverse sweeps today, which she switch hit. A lot of things have gone in, a lot of work, and her work ethics have been really good for the past year. [I am] really happy for her, and I hope she keeps going because [Ghosh] batting like that is amazing signs for Indian cricket.”

MatériaMais Notícias

Para quem buscou tentar buscar “passar pano” para a atuação do Palmeiras diante do Santos, no último sábado, basta acompanhar as entrevistas de Luan e João Martins após a partida. Ambos foram bastante incisivos ao analisarem o desempenho do Verdão no empate em 0 a 0, na Vila Belmiro. O resultado não somente exemplificou o que foi o desempenho palmeirense, mas também permite com que os rivais se aproximem na classificação do Brasileirão. Esses últimos tropeços devem fazer falta lá na frente.

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+ Veja tabela e classificação do Brasileirão-2023 clicando aqui

Tanto o zagueiro quanto o auxiliar de Abel Ferreira descartaram colocar a culpa do mau desempenho na conta de outros fatores que não fossem o próprio jogo. Luan não escondeu que não gostou do que o time fez. Ele bateu na tecla da lentidão nas saídas de bola e na falta de inspiração no ataque. Já João, que criticou o campo, descartou a questão do cansaço e falou abertamente da falta de capacidade da equipe em se adaptar ao que a partida pedia. Para ele, os jogadores não conseguiram perceber que não era ocasião para propor ou impor um padrão de jogo.

+ Todos os jogos do Brasileirão você encontra no Prime Video. Assine já e acompanhe o seu time do coração!

O excesso de jogadas individuais e a insistência em carregar a bola foram fatores que também se juntaram a esses citados pelos personagens palmeirenses. Assim como o dia ruim de Dudu, que até tentou mais do que os outros, mas errou muito, ou como Raphael Veiga, que praticamente desapareceu no duelo e fez uma de suas piores atuações em muitos meses. Não é exagero dizer também que o Santos teve uma “pegada” maior. Quando um jogador do Palmeiras pegava na bola, pelo menos três santistas já estavam no lance para tentar recuperar a posse.

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A verdade é que os times poderiam jogar 500 minutos, que a bola não balançaria a rede, tamanha a falta de inspiração de ambos. Mas o resultado não era ruim para o Santos, foi ruim apenas para o Verdão, que briga pela liderança do Brasileirão. Seu adversário direto neste momento, o Botafogo, venceu o clássico contra o Fluminense e subiu para 18 pontos. Com a vitória, o Alviverde chegaria a 17, um a menos, porém ficaria próximo do líder. Com o empate, acabou ficando com apenas 15 pontos, três atrás do Fogão.

Não precisamos ir muito longe para buscar uma atuação ruim do Alviverde. No rodada anterior do campeonato, diante do Bragantino, o desempenho também foi ruim. Naquele dia, porém, o time de Abel Ferreira conseguiu abrir o placar com muito custo. O problema é que alguns minutos depois sofreu o empate e acabou saindo de campo com apenas um ponto no Allianz Parque. Ou melhor, com menos dois pontos.

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+ Luan analisa erros do Palmeiras no clássico e lamenta atuação ruim: ‘Queríamos os três pontos’

Aquele já era um jogo em que provavelmente a comissão técnica irá lamentar ter deixado de levar mais dois pontos. Em casa, em um gramado bom, diante da torcida, logo após uma grande atuação contra o Grêmio… Ou seja, vários elementos a favor de uma vitória. Sem contar os outros resultados da rodada, como a derrota do Botafogo, que permitiria ao Palmeiras alcançar a liderança do Brasileirão pela primeira vez em 2023.

Com isso, era importante que o jogo contra o Santos pudesse funcionar como uma forma de “recuperar” os pontos perdidos em casa. Isso, claro, sem menosprezar o adversário gigante em um clássico estadual. No entanto, diante do retrospecto recente com oito vitórias seguidas e longa invencibilidade, o natural seria pensar em um triunfo do Palmeiras, que obviamente é um time bastante superior neste momento.

+ João Martins evita colocar atuação ruim do Palmeiras na conta do cansaço: ‘Não conseguimos nos adaptar ao contexto do jogo’

A vitória não veio, como já dito acima, mas mais do que se preocupar com o distanciamento do Botafogo, o Palmeiras agora se preocupa com a chegada de rivais que virão forte para a disputa do título. Caso do Atlético-MG, que agora está a apenas dois pontos do Verdão (vantagem já foi de seis) e será o adversário da próxima rodada do Brasileirão. Ou podemos também citar o Flamengo, que pode atingir 12 pontos neste domingo e ficar a apenas três do Alviverde. Se não fossem esses tropeços, a situação poderia (e deveria) estar confortável, mas agora já é tarde e os resultados deixaram essa “tropa de choque” chegar para a briga. Time que briga por título não pode perder ponto “bobo” pelo caminho.