ترتيب مجموعة الإمارات في كأس العالم تحت 17 عامًا بعد الخسارة أمام كرواتيا

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

Malan stays on a roll as Yorkshire beat Notts

Jack White takes 4 for 33 on T20 debut as Joe Clarke’s half-century goes in vain

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay11-Jun-2025

Dawid Malan and Adam Lyth bring up their 50 partnership•ECB via Getty Images

Dawid Malan hit his third consecutive Vitality Blast half-century as Yorkshire, having lost their first three North Group matches, defeated Notts Outlaws by nine runs at Trent Bridge, seamer Jack White taking 4 for 33 on his T20 debut.With Adam Lyth making 29 from 21 and Matt Revis 27 not out from 22, Malan’s 58 from 29 balls helped Yorkshire post 175 for 8.After Malan and Lyth had put on 83 in 45 balls for the first wicket they may have hoped for a few more with left-arm spinner Liam Patterson-White (2 for 24 from four) and pace duo Dillon Pennington (2 for 29) and Daniel Sams (2 for 31) limiting the damage thereafter.Yet the target still proved beyond the Outlaws in the face of a tidy performance across the board by Yorkshire’s bowlers, led by 33-year-old former Northamptonshire man White, home skipper Joe Clarke making 50 and Freddie McCann 31 but no other batter passed 20.After winning the toss and opting to bat, Yorkshire had been 75 without loss in the opening powerplay, Lyth lofting Matt Montgomery and Sams for leg-side sixes before Malan did likewise to Pennington and Conor McKerr, the latter conceding 22 runs in his first over.Pennington broke the partnership on 83 in the eighth when Lyth, reaching, was caught at cover, Malan departing in the next when he hammered a third six over backward square off McKerr but was caught and bowled off a leading edge next ball.Three wickets in eight balls then tilted the balance towards Outlaws as James Wharton swiped Calvin Harrison straight to deep midwicket and Liam Patterson-White snaffled two in the same over – Harry Duke caught behind and Will Luxton on the midwicket boundary.From 121 for 5, Revis and Will Sutherland added 35 but Sams collected a steepling return catch to remove his fellow Australian and had Jafar Chohan taken at extra cover, conceding just 11 in his last two overs. In between, Dom Bess – reprieved when given out caught behind off a pad – was caught at midwicket.After losing Lyndon James (bowled) and Jack Haynes (caught cover) from consecutive Jack White deliveries in the opening over of their reply, Outlaws recovered to 67 for 2 from six. Clarke and McCann added 63 in 32 balls before the latter top-edged to cover for 31 off 18 trying to reverse-hit leg-spinner Chohan.On track at 91 for 3 from 10, Outlaws suffered a major blow when Clarke, having just completed his fifty with a fifth four to go with two sixes off White and a third off Lyth, holed out to long-off off Bess, with Tom Moores (19 off 22) caught at long-on off White in the next over. Matt Montgomery perished in similar fashion off Will O’Rourke in a tight over that left the home side, six down, needing 55 from the last 30 balls.Back-to-back sixes by Sams off Bess briefly raised home hopes but he fell when he drove the next ball straight back to the bowler, Chohan immediately snaring his second as Patterson-White picked out long-off.After the last over arrived with Notts still needing 17, White made McKerr his fourth victim, conceding only seven more runs.

Moyes must ruthlessly drop Beto to unleash Everton's “serious” talent

Everton’s 2025/26 season has begun with a mixture of promise and frustration.

The Toffees opened the Premier League campaign with a narrow 1-0 defeat at Leeds, a match played in a raucous Elland Road atmosphere.

They bounced back impressively at home, securing a 2-0 victory against Brighton to restore confidence among fans.

A thrilling 3-2 win at Molineux demonstrated their attacking potential, while a 0-0 draw at home to Aston Villa highlighted some inconsistency.

Most recently, Everton fell 2-1 to Liverpool in the Merseyside derby, underscoring the challenges of competing at the top level. David Moyes’ side currently sit 10th in the league and face struggling West Ham at Goodison Park in their next fixture on Monday.

The Toffees’ attacking setup, led by Jack Grealish, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, and Iliman Ndiaye, has shown flashes of creativity and menace, but the lack of a top striker has limited their output.

Everton’s recent 2-0 exit from the Carabao Cup to Wolves adds to the sense of disappointment.

Moyes may now be looking for solutions within his squad to spark a more effective attacking threat.

Beto's struggles since joining Everton

Beto, the towering 27-year-old striker, has become a focal point for debate among Everton fans.

The Portuguese forward joined the club from Udinese in 2023 for £25m, bringing with him a strong Serie A record and international experience.

Standing at 1.94m, Beto has made 60 Premier League appearances for Everton, scoring 11 goals, per Transfermarkt.

Last season, he found the net eight times in 20 appearances, showing glimpses of his potential. Despite these credentials, Beto has struggled to establish himself as the man to lead Everton’s frontline.

He has scored just once in the current campaign and has struggled to impose himself in key moments.

Statistically, his contributions show limitations compared to some of his peers. Last season, Beto averaged 0.88 progressive carries per 90, 0.94 progressive passes per 90, and 1.35 shots on target per 90, per FBref.

His progressive passing distance of 16.6 per 90 and shot-creating actions at 1.52 per 90 indicate a forward with a more limited impact on a team shifting towards a more possession-based approach.

These metrics reflect a player capable of contributing in certain areas but not providing the dynamic presence Everton require in modern attacking football.

With Moyes increasingly looking to implement a more possession-oriented, technically fluid approach, Beto may not be the ideal fit for leading the line.

Why Everton should unleash Thierno Barry

Enter Thierno Barry.

The French U21 international signed from Villareal this summer for £27.6m, and offers a contrasting profile to Beto.

The 6ft 5in striker scored 11 goals from an xG of 12.41 last season and registered four assists, per Sofascore, showcasing his ability to dominate the penalty area while contributing to team play.

Described as a “serious No.9 prospect” by analyst Ben Mattinson, Barry’s style has drawn comparisons to Dušan Vlahović and Ollie Watkins, blending physical presence with technical awareness.

Barry excels in aerial duels, ranking in the 87th percentile with 3.84 aerials won per 90, winning nearly two-thirds of the aerial contests in the penalty area, per FBref.

His ability to carry the ball forward is also notable, ranking in the 74th percentile for progressive carries per 90 (1.70), while completing 62% of his take-ons.

He can stretch defensive lines and create space for teammates, a trait Moyes will likely value in Everton’s evolving system.

Despite needing time to adapt to the Premier League, Barry has already made five appearances this season, logging 142 minutes.

Thierno Barry – 2025/26

Matches Played

5

Starts

1

Minutes

144

Progressive Carries

2

Progressive Passes

2

Source: FBref

Compared to Beto, Barry’s 2024/25 stats indicate a player with greater overall influence: 20 goal involvements versus Beto’s 8, 1.71 progressive carries per 90 versus 0.88, 1.05 progressive passes per 90 versus 0.94, and higher involvement in shot-creating actions (1.78 per 90 compared to 1.52).

His progressive passing distance per 90 (21.2) also surpasses Beto’s 16.6, aligning with Moyes’ desire for a striker comfortable in possession-based play. Barry offers Everton the chance to implement a forward capable of linking play, finishing opportunities, and contributing to a more dynamic attacking structure.

As Moyes looks ahead to upcoming league fixtures, including the home clash with West Ham, deploying Barry over Beto, who should be ruthlessly dropped, could be the catalyst Everton need to maximise their offensive potential.

The Frenchman’s combination of physicality, technical skill, and aerial dominance marks him as the player to build around in attack, particularly in a team seeking to flourish in the Premier League.

Escalação do Corinthians: Luxemburgo deve usar titulares, mas não descarta rodízio contra o Botafogo

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Com um intervalo de quatro dias entre o confronto contra o Botafogo e a partida de ida diante do Fortaleza, na semifinal da Copa Sul-Americana, Vanderlei Luxemburgo deve utilizar os titulares do Corinthians no duelo de sexta-feira (22), contra o líder do Brasileirão.

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O treinador ganhou sobrevida após o empate por 4 a 4 com o Grêmio, mas está ciente que uma derrota contra a equipe carioca aliado a um mau desempenho na Neo Química Arena pode deixar seu futuro complicado no Timão.

Com apenas três pontos de distância afastar da zona do rebaixamento, Luxemburgo deve ir com força máxima, mas irá regular os minutos de atletas que vem sofrendo com problemas físicos ou mais velhos, como Fagner, Fábio Santos e Renato Augusto.

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Recentemente, Luxemburgo entrou em rota de colisão com Bruno Mazziotti, chefe do departamento de Saúde e Performance do clube, sobre a utilização de jogadores que não estavam totalmente recuperados, como Renato Augusto. Durante a pausa para a Data Fifa, os departamentos se reuniram e “apararam as arestas”.

Para o confronto, Luxa terá os retornos de Gil e Bruno Méndez, que cumpriram suspenso contra o Grêmio.

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– Vamos fazer as avaliações, mas a ideia agora é fazer o time que puder e ir trocando dentro do jogo aquilo que pode ser trocado. Ou o inverso, fazer eles entrando no jogo, é isso o que está planejado – disse Luxa após o jogo contra o Grêmio.

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Assim, os três veteranos citados podem não iniciar a partida, mas serem utilizados ao longo do confronto contra o líder do Brasileirão. Com isso, uma possível escalação do Corinthians para enfrentar o Botafogo conta com: Cássio; Bruno Méndez (Fagner), Gil, Lucas Veríssimo e Bidu (Fábio Santos), Moscardo, Maycon e Giuliano (Renato Augusto); Rojas, Yuri Alberto e Wesley (Pedro).

Frank Lampard happy to give up Grim Reaper role in exchange for clash with Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac’s Wrexham

Frank Lampard is set to swap Halloween for Hollywood this year. The Coventry City boss, known for his spooky season enthusiasm, will miss out on trick-or-treating with his kids after dressing as the Grim Reaper last year. Instead, he’ll be leading his high-flying Sky Blues into a Friday night clash with Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac’s Wrexham under the lights.

Lampard looking forward to Coventry's Wrexham duel

Lampard’s Coventry City are set for a blockbuster Championship clash against Hollywood-owned Wrexham under the lights at the Racecourse Ground on Halloween night. The Sky Blues head into the fixture chasing a seventh consecutive league victory to maintain their unbeaten start to the campaign. A win would see Lampard’s side strengthen their grip on top spot in the table, continuing their early-season momentum.

However, the fixture means Lampard will have to skip his annual Halloween tradition — dressing up and trick-or-treating with his children around his London neighbourhood. The former Chelsea and England star is known to embrace the spooky season, having gone “full Grim Reaper” last year. But as he put it himself, work commitments come first this time around.

Despite missing out on family fun, Lampard made it clear he has no complaints about spending Halloween night in Wales. The ex-midfielder admitted he’ll miss the laughs at home, but with Coventry’s stunning form, the “sweet treat” of three points at Wrexham would be the perfect consolation.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportLampard opens up on love for Halloween

“I normally dress up with my children and trick or treat locally, so they’re a bit disappointed that I’m not there. I’m missing out but they’ll be looked after and they’ll still do it with the rest of the family. It’s a shame to miss it but work is work,” Lampard said, smiling as he recalled his Halloween antics.

“As for what I usually dress up as, I was the Grim Reaper last year. I’m not sure what I was the year before, I was fully covered again and I think I was like a swamp monster or something, like a green thing. Yeah, the kids get scared, that’s the point, isn’t it,” he joked.

Lampard also reflected on how much he enjoys the anonymity Halloween offers: “I was completely Grim Reapered up, all masked up. I enjoy the anonymity of the evening. It’s something I do every year just around my local streets where it’s very popular. I loved Halloween as a kid — probably because I love sweets. I know the headline will be like, ‘I can’t believe I’m not the Grim Reaper this year,’ or something but I’m very happy to be going with Coventry to Wrexham. I’ll miss it for one year and I’ll possibly be back for it next year.”

Getty Images SportLampard talks about facing off against Parkinson's Wrexham

While Halloween may be off the cards, Lampard’s enthusiasm for Friday’s match is unmistakable. Coventry’s trip to Wrexham pits the Championship’s early pace-setters against one of the most high-profile clubs in world football, backed by Hollywood actors Reynolds and Mac. For Lampard, though, the focus is purely on maintaining momentum and keeping his players grounded after a superb run of form.

The 46-year-old praised his players’ work ethic and adaptability, pointing out that Wrexham’s direct, physical style, led by Welsh striker Kieffer Moore, will demand another disciplined defensive display. “It’s a great part of the job,” he explained in his pre-match press conference. “When you decide to be a coach, if you want to be a proper coach on the pitch in terms of analysis and how you set your team up, that’s the challenge you have to buy into.”

Lampard added that he relishes tactical battles like the one ahead. “You learn a lot in this job, much more than as a player, and I like to prepare the players as best I can for whatever challenge we’re getting. That’s me doing my job properly and also giving the opposition problems if we can. So it’s something I really enjoy.”

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Coventry travel to Wrexham on Halloween

Coventry now travel to North Wales to face off against Wrexham on Friday, aiming to extend their unbeaten league start and claim a seventh straight victory. A win would not only solidify their status as promotion contenders but also highlight Lampard’s growing influence at the club. 

For Wrexham, meanwhile, the fixture marks another test of their credentials as they look to prove they can compete with established second-tier sides. The Red Dragons will be eager to dent Coventry’s unbeaten run and remind everyone they’re not just a celebrity project.

Graham Potter sacked: West Ham board reveal six total coaching changes

Graham Potter has been dismissed by West Ham after only nine months.

Former Chelsea boss Potter was relieved of his duties just two days out from West Ham’s match against Everton.

The Hammers faithful turned on Potter during last weekend’s defeat to Crystal Palace and the club’s owners have acted with West Ham on the hunt for a fourth manager during the last 18 months.

West Ham statement confirms five coaches to leave with Potter

A statement from the club read: “West Ham United can confirm that Head Coach Graham Potter has left the Club.

“Results and performances over the course of the second half of last season and the start of the 2025/26 season have not matched expectations, and the Board of Directors believe that a change is necessary in order to help improve the team’s position in the Premier League as soon as possible.

“The Club can confirm that Assistant Coach Bruno Saltor, First Team Coaches Billy Reid and Narcis Pelach, Lead Goalkeeper Coach Casper Ankergren, and Goalkeeper Coach Linus Kandolin have also left with immediate effect.

“The Board would like to thank Graham and his coaching staff for their hard work during their time with the Hammers and wish them every success for the future.

“The process of appointing a replacement is underway. The Club will be making no further comment at this time.”

The Hammers have been linked with Nuno Espirito Santo and Slaven Bilic as possible replacements.

Pant, Rahul centuries set England 371 to win at Headingley

England will need 371 to win the first Test at Headingley after India were dismissed for 364 in their second innings late on day four. The hosts will return on Tuesday needing 350 more, after Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett negotiated the first six overs of the chase without alarm to close on 21 for 0.Only once have India lost when defending a total in excess of 350, but that anomaly within a 59-match sequence came on these shores, against a previous iteration of this England side. Three years ago, during the first summer of Baz and Ben, England broke their own record for a chase, scything down 378 for the loss of just three wickets at Edgbaston.If successful, the effort at Headingley would be their second highest. But India should have asked more from their opponents. Fine centuries from KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant – his second in the match – bossed England for most of the day. But upon Rahul’s dismissal for 137 after Pant had earlier made 118 – his fourth century in England, equalling the record for the most by a wicketkeeper in the country – a familiar collapse ensued.Having managed just 24 between the last five wickets on day two, the last six on day four managed just 31. From 333 for 4, India were 364 all out in 71 balls, with four balls in succession from Josh Tongue that accounted for three wickets as he lived up to his nickname “The Mop” for a knack of cleaning up lower orders. Having removed Shardul Thakur and Mohammed Siraj back-to-back, Tongue knocked out Jasprit Bumrah’s middle stump. Just as he did in the first innings, a previously wicketless set of figures was polished by India’s lower order, thus eventually finishing with 3 for 72.Yet again, India failed to take an England win out of the equation, and perhaps most frustrating will be the fact that Rahul and Pant had done all the hard work. Their different approaches to the job at hand were reflected in the 202 and 130 deliveries, respectively, they took to reach three figures. A stand of 195 for the fourth wicket began after skipper Shubman Gill failed to effectively ride the bounce of a steepling ball from Brydon Carse that seamed into the right-hander, and was played on to the base of his own off stump.It was a typical Rishabh Pant century which included 15 fours and three sixes•Getty Images

With Carse on song and Chris Woakes enjoying the favourable conditions following short morning showers prior to the 11am start, India shut up shop, scoring just 63 runs in the first session. The key was just losing the one wicket, though it should have been more.Rahul was given a life on 58 as Harry Brook, the beneficiary of three lives in his innings of 99, repaid the favour with a drop at gully when Rahul attempted a second consecutive guide to the deep-third boundary off Tongue. And though Pant was not offered a similar gift, he did push his luck with an unnecessarily chaotic start to his innings.The left-hander charged Woakes and skewed over the cordon off his second ball. He had done exactly the same to get off the mark on his way to 134 in the first innings – advancing at Ben Stokes second ball – but had made far better contact then. Pant then moved to 15 with a mow across the line for a fortuitous boundary down to fine leg that had Shoaib Bashir interested. Three deliveries later, he was subject to a voracious lbw appeal attempting his patented fall-away ramp.Umpire Paul Reiffel gave it not out, and England’s review proved him right, with an inside edge. But it was enough of a warning for Pant to control himself a little more. His next 16 runs came from 36 deliveries, as he and Rahul managed to get to the break with their stand intact on 61.Joe Root consoles Harry Brook after he dropped KL Rahul on 55•AFP/Getty Images

Rahul calmed Pant down, who himself knew he was taking things a little too far. What followed was a far more composed and an impressively devastating afternoon from India, as both batters dragged England all over the field and left Stokes unsure who to turn to at certain points.Rahul was his usual serene self on the drive, unwilling to miss out on anything drivable – particularly as the pitch was starting to show uneven bounce. He wore three blows to the top hand, but used it strongly to push a two through the covers to move to his eighth overseas century. It was his sixth outside of Asia as an opener, with only Sunil Gavaskar ahead of him (15).Pant’s celebration was similarly subdued by his own standards, remaining upright this time but promising Gavaskar, who was there in the stands, the first innings front-flip would make another appearance soon. His record suggests there will be indeed a next time. Pant accelerated upon passing fifty, taking 44 off 25 deliveries to move to 95.The journey from there to 100 took 22 balls more, though he made up for lost time by smashing Joe Root for four, six and four in the very next over. An attempt to do the same to Bashir resulted in a catch for Crawley at long-on.Bashir celebrated like he had won the battle, but he really had not given Pant was aiming for the stand in which he had sent Bashir earlier for back-to-back sixes. Both he and Rahul had just started tucking into the rookie offspinner. Karun Nair then reverse swept Bashir for four, taking himself off a pair and moving India’s lead beyond 300.Zak Crawley struck back-to-back fours late on day four•Getty Images

By this point, England were naturally keen to slow the game down, and India were not exactly in a hurry. A steady stand of 46 off 77 balls between Rahul and Nair spoke of a lack of real urgency, even if such accumulation at close to four runs an over would work just fine.The issue, though, was how front-loaded the runs are in this visiting batting card. So when Carse got another to lift to remove Rahul – playing on again, this time on to middle stump – and Nair gifted Woakes a return catch (his first dismissal of the match) in the space of 11 deliveries, suddenly the end of the India innings at least was in sight.Up stepped Tongue for his second feasting on rabbit pie, before a bit of cat-and-mouse with the final pair as Ravindra Jadeja looked to protect No.11 Prasidh Krishna. Jadeja was doing a good job, and starting to find boundaries; Tongue was flipped to the stands at deep square leg from outside off, before a bumper was pulled fine for four. Alas, Prasidh, tempted by Bashir, lifted high to Tongue at deep midwicket in the very next over to cap India’s lead at 370.What could have been an awkward 30 minutes for England was anything but, the tension cut by Crawley with back-to-back fours in the fourth over – the second being an airy flash over the slip cordon. There will be plenty more strikes in anger on day five. England, of course, believe they can chase these. Only the weather will prevent them from trying.

Twist in Rangers move for Muscat as possible Ibrox interim boss named

Glasgow Rangers’ move to appoint Kevin Muscat as the new man in charge at Ibrox has taken a twist which could see a former Scotland winger take charge on an interim basis.

Following surprise rejection from Steven Gerrard, it was back to square one for the 49ers. It looked almost certain that the former Rangers manager would be making his return to Ibrox for the first time since leaving in 2021, only for their offer to simply come at the wrong stage of their current project.

Now, Kevin Thelwell and others have been left with no choice but to turn towards other candidates – sparking several rumours. Now that it’s not Gerrard, reports have mentioned Danny Rohl, former West Ham United boss Graham Potter and several other names, but the “favourite” for the job is now Shanghai Port manager Kevin Muscat.

The 52-year-old was previously in contention to take the job before the Gers ultimately turned towards Philippe Clement in 2023. Now, two years on, he could finally get the chance to take charge of the side that he played for between 2002 and 2003.

His appointment would certainly make sense. Muscat is someone that knows the club well from his playing days and someone who has since won everywhere he’s been as a manager.

Rangers now targeting history-making Championship manager in fresh Ibrox move

The Gers are still on the hunt for a new manager.

ByTom Cunningham Oct 14, 2025

Those at Ibrox should also know their candidate pretty well, given how close he’s been to the job in the past. The only obstacle will be getting Muscat out of his position in Shanghai, with the Chinese Super League season not coming to an end until mid-Novemeber.

That said, reports that he’s already got a secret agreement in place about one Ibrox change suggests that he’s been preparing for the job for some time.

Secret Rangers agreement could see interim appointment

As reported by The Daily Record, Muscat already has a secret agreement in place with Neil McCann to join his backroom staff at Rangers and, if he gets the job, the former Scotland winger will reportedly make himself available to take charge until the manager completes his business in Shanghai.

This could see McCann take charge as soon as this weekend against Dundee United and return for the first time since being part of Barry Ferguson’s staff in an interim spell last season.

The delay in Muscat’s arrival would be far from ideal, but handing one of his potential staff members the role on a temporary basis looks like an ideal solution. McCann knows the club well, knows the potential next manager well and could steady the ship before mid-November.

In an ideal world, however, Muscat will call time on his tenure in China and instantly take the vacant Ibrox position. He has been a man in waiting for some time and should take hold of the opportunity whilst he still has the chance.

'Stepped up' – Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler reveals how tough love helped Carlos Baleba rediscover form after Man Utd pursuit

Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler has revealed tough love has been the key to helping Carlos Baleba return to form ahead of Saturday’s clash with Manchester United. The Cameroon international was wanted by the Red Devils in the summer, but they opted to walk away from discussions after learning the south coast club's valuation of the midfielder.

  • United ended talks for Baleba after discovering Brighton's asking price

    United targeted Baleba as they looked to strengthen in the middle of the park before the summer transfer window closed. However, after widespread reports indicated Brighton would not sell Baleba for less than the £115 million (€132m/$153m) they received from Chelsea for Moises Caicedo in 2023, United decided to end negotiations with Hurzeler’s side.

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    Midfielder made slow start to 2025-26 after summer of speculation

    And following an intense summer of speculation surrounding his future, Baleba subsequently made a slow start to the 2025-26 campaign. Having established himself as one of the Premier League’s most promising midfielders following his move from Lille in 2023, the 21-year-old has not completed a full 90-minute match so far this season.

  • Cameroon international impressed in Brighton's win over Newcastle

    However, Baleba may have turned a corner after impressing in Brighton’s 2-1 victory over Newcastle last Saturday. While he was substituted once again, the Seagulls’ number 17 played a key role in helping his side stretch their unbeaten run to five games in all competitions. In addition to their win over Newcastle, Brighton have also earned victories over Chelsea in the league and Barnsley in the Carabao Cup, while they recorded draws with Tottenham and Wolves during the same run.

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    Hurzeler explains how he has managed Baleba following United's pursuit

    And Brighton boss Hurzeler has since lifted the lid on how he is helping Baleba slowly rediscover his form, urging the defensive midfielder to take responsibility for his performances by putting United’s interest to the back of his mind.

    In an interview with Hurzeler said of Baleba’s display against Newcastle: “I saw a Carlos Baleba who stepped up.

    “These were good actions and good behaviours he showed, but he has to make habits out of those good behaviours. That's the next step in his development, to bring consistency to his performance.

    “For me, it's always important that I'm very transparent with the players. I have a very good relationship with Carlos. We speak regularly, we are in touch. I always share my thoughts about his development and my thoughts about his performance.

    “It's important to be very clear about what you expect from players on the pitch, off the pitch. And it's important to build relationships where you can criticise or give personal feedback they might not be happy about, but they understand the intention behind it.

    “Carlos won't get better if he only gets compliments and claps from outside. I think he will get better if he has a safe environment, but also honest feedback where he knows what he needs to improve. That's where we try to support him and make him better.”

MLC 2025: Pooran and Maxwell to lead MI New York and Washington Freedom respectively

Corey Anderson (San Francisco Unicorns), Heinrich Klaasen (Seattle Orcas) and Faf du Plessis (Texas Super Kings) will continue to lead their teams

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Jun-2025 • Updated on 12-Jun-2025Nicholas Pooran, who retired from all formats of international cricket on Tuesday, has been named captain of MI New York for the upcoming season of Major League Cricket (MLC). He replaces Kieron Pollard in the position.He has been with MI New York since being drafted ahead of the inaugural season in 2023, and had a huge role in the team winning the title, scoring 137* in 55 balls in the final, against Seattle Orcas, and finished as the highest run-getter of the season (388), 124 runs ahead of the second-placed Quinton de Kock of Orcas.Pooran has a long association with the MI franchise. He was bought by MI ahead of the 2017 IPL, but didn’t get a game, and was released ahead of the next season, following which he has played for Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings), Sunrisers Hyderabad and now Lucknow Super Giants. While that wasn’t happy for the player, he has been with their team in the ILT20 in the UAE, MI Emirates.Related

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Pooran is not the only new captain at the six-team MLC. Glenn Maxwell, who retired from ODI cricket recently to focus on T20s in the lead-up to the World Cup next year, has been named the captain of Washington Freedom. Maxwell has replaced Steven Smith as captain at Freedom.Corey Anderson, who played most of his top-flight cricket for New Zealand before shifting allegiance to USA, will continue to lead San Francisco Unicorns – making him the only “local” captain of a team at MLC, while Heinrich Klaasen has also been confirmed to continue as the captain at Orcas.The other two teams in the fray are Los Angeles Knight Riders and Texas Super Kings. Jason Holder replaces Sunil Narine as LAKR captain – though Narine will deputise while Holder is on international duty – and Faf du Plessis will stay on as TSK captain.Freedom are the defending MLC champions, having beaten Unicorns in the final last season. The new season will kick off on June 13 with a match pitting Freedom and Unicorns in Oakland. The final is scheduled for July 12.

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