علق فرينكي دي يونج لاعب خط وسط برشلونة على هزيمة فريقه ضد باريس سان جيرمان بهدفين لهدف، في الجولة الثانية بمرحلة الدوري لدوري أبطال أوروبا.
وكان جونزالو راموس قد نجح في تسجيل هدف قاتل ليقود باريس سان جيرمان للفوز على برشلونة، بعد أن كان الشوط الأول قد انتهى بالتعادل الإيجابي بهدف لمثله.
وقال دي يونج في تصريحات نشرتها صحيفة “سبورت” الإسبانية: “أشعر بخيبة أمل كبيرة، إذا استقبلت شباكك هدفاً في الدقيقة الأخيرة وخرجت من المباراة بخسارة”.
اقرأ أيضاً.. فيديو | في الوقت القاتل.. راموس يسجل هدف باريس سان جيرمان الثاني أمام برشلونة
وأضاف: “أنت تشعر بخيبة أمل، لقد كانوا أفضل في الشوط الثاني وكنا أفضل في الشوط الأول، نحن أيضاً نعاني من قلة الفرص”.
واختتم: “نحن في قمة أوروبا وما زال الطريق طويلاً، يؤلمنا ذلك لكنها ليست مباراة حاسمة، لسنا سعداء، علينا أن نتحسن وسنفعل ذلك، إنها مباراة جيدة لنرى أين نحن الآن”.
Darwin Nunez continues to trundle toward the exit door at Liverpool, leaving behind him a pre-season of preparation in red that has been rich with goals.
But the Uruguayan started only once in the Premier League after Boxing Day last season and scored just seven goals across 47 matches in all competitions. Given that he scored a brace against Brentford, the 25-year-old blanked 41 times under Arne Slot’s wing last year.
So then, Liverpool will need to sign a new striker, even having purchased Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt for an initial £69m fee.
Given that Luis Diaz was sold to Bayern Munich for £65.5m last month, you might think a new electric-paced left winger would be at the top of sporting director Richard Hughes’ agenda.
But Rio Ngumoha may well have changed that narrative.
Liverpool's latest prodigy
A star is born. Ngumoha cannot be denied now: this is an up-and-coming player with the potential to go right to the top.
Liverpool's Rio Ngumoha
But let’s park our excitement for a moment; Ngumoha is only 16 after all, and must be dripped into life on the professional circuit, not poured right in and exhausted before he has had the chance to develop his remarkable technical and athletic faculties.
Still, his goal-and-assist performance against Athletic Bilbao on Monday afternoon was quite the Anfield debut. Friendly though it was, the attacking midfielder played with such gusto and slickness on the ball, striding forward and unleashing a confident looping strike from outside the area to turn the limelight onto him.
Is it any wonder he has been described as a “special” talent by journalist Bence Bocsak, who said the teenager “has completed more dribbles (14) than any other #LFC player in pre-season.”
Slot will be keen to placate the mounting noise around his name, but you can’t help but think that Liverpool have spawned a custom-built Diaz replacement, one who might play quite the important role in the years to come.
Liverpool youngster Rio Ngumoha
Nguomha’s ball-carrying ability and capacity for goal contributions of all shapes and sizes suggest he could form a dangerous partnership with Ekitike over the coming years, but the same stands for another centre-forward Liverpool are interested in signing this summer.
Liverpool lining up another striker
No, it’s not Alexander Isak we’re on about here. The Newcastle United number nine is Liverpool’s dream target, but the Magpies are playing hardball and might not even find a fitting replacement.
Thus, Caught Offside have revealed that Liverpool have entered the race for Paris Saint-Germain forward Goncalo Ramos, who has fallen out of favour in Luis Enrique’s system.
PSG would hope to recoup something in the ballpark of €65m (£56m) for the Portugal international, who, aged 24, hopes to take the next step in his career and become a focal point for his side.
Though Liverpool want to sign Isak above all others, Ramos would hardly be a poor fallback, and he’s also wanted by Aston Villa, Manchester United, Juventus and Napoli.
What Goncalo Ramos would bring to Liverpool
Ramos cut his teeth in his homeland with Benfica before signing for PSG in an €80m (£70m) deal in 2023, coming off the back of a breakout World Cup campaign in Qatar 2022.
PSG forward Goncalo Ramos
Though the Iberian forward has only scored 33 goals across 86 matches for the French giants, assisting eight goals besides, he’s rarely featured as the star man, starting ten Ligue 1 fixtures in 2024/25. Still, he scored ten times.
And the underlying data is in his favour too. As per FBref, Ramos ranked among the top 4% of forwards across Europe’s top five leagues last season for goals scored, the top 11% for assists, the top 9% for pass completion and the top 2% for touches in the attacking box per 90.
The steady rate of prolific performances across Ramos’ senior career thus far suggests that Slot could shape into one of the world’s foremost forwards, proving the perfect long-term dance partner for an up-and-coming talent like Ngumoha.
24/25 – PSG
46
19
6
23/24 – PSG
40
14
2
22/23 – Benfica
47
27
8
21/22 – Benfica
46
8
4
20/21 – Benfica
12
4
–
19/20 – Benfica
1
2
–
Hailed as an “outrageous” player by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Ramos’ wide range of offensive instruments bespeaks his suitability in Slot’s system at Liverpool. He’s fast, powerful and nimble, suggesting he could operate across a variety of roles for a coach who has displayed a preference for forwards who are willing to be fluid in their roles.
But if Ngumoha’s fast-developing potential has anything to say, it’s unlikely that Slot would be seeking to convert the right-footer into a left-sided forward, whose pace would be used to swerve inside, ready to strike on goal.
Furthermore, Ekitike has indeed already signed on and will bring to the Premier League a more refined and expansive game as a frontman. In any case, the Frenchman is a mean and still-improving goalscorer himself, thus apt to dovetail right into the Slot machine.
But Ramos would bring the icing on the cake, ensuring Liverpool have enough firepower to compete across multiple fronts this season, even if the concerted effort to sign Isak falls flat.
Paris Saint-Germain's Goncalo Ramos.
FBref record that both Isak and Ekitike are statistically comparable players to the PSG star, so he’s certainly got the right skill set.
And with Ngumoha already making waves within the Liverpool first team, there’s no reason why these two stars couldn’t strike up a mesmerising partnership in the years to come.
Ekitike repeat: Liverpool prepare £50m offer for "monster"; it's not Isak
Liverpool are still hoping to complete several signings before the end of the transfer window.
Manchester United need a huge transfer window if they are to be a success in the Premier League once again in the near future, with the responsibility falling into the hands of Ruben Amorim.
The 40-year-old took the reins back in November last year, but has so far struggled to transform the side as he would’ve wished, only achieving a win percentage of 40%.
However, he is yet to have a full pre-season with the first team squad, with the current period pivotal in his stint as manager, needing to try and get his ideas across to the squad.
He also has the opportunity to add to his squad this window, with the hierarchy set to hand him the funds he requires to allow him to be a success during his tenure at Old Trafford.
Numerous players remain on their shortlist during the current window, potentially helping the manager in his quest to rise up the Premier League in 2025/26.
The latest on United’s hunt for new additions this summer
A new striker has been the priority for United over the last couple of days, especially after it was reported that Rasmus Hojlund had agreed personal terms with Inter Milan over a move to the San Siro.
The likes of Ollie Watkins, Victor Osimhen and Dušan Vlahović have all been touted with moves to join the Red Devils, but no deals have yet been completed for any of the trio.
Juventus' Dusan Vlahovic
However, the same can’t be said about Bryan Mbeumo, with the latest update around his future from journalist Graeme Bailey providing a positive outlook on the move.
He confirmed that talks are ongoing between the two clubs and, despite a fee not yet being agreed, a move could be finalised for his signature by the end of Monday.
Bailey also states that the 25-year-old has made it clear that he wants to depart Brentford this window, wanting to make the next step in his career after scoring 20 league goals in 2024/25.
Why United’s latest move would be bad news for Amad & Bruno
Amad Diallo has been a player who has enjoyed a huge rise under Amorim since his appointment, cementing his place as a regular starter before his ankle injury that ruled him out for three months.
The Ivorian managed to register 11 goals and eight assists across all competitions this campaign, most notably with his last-minute winner against Manchester City at the Etihad.
He’s mainly operated in a number ten role for the Red Devils, with captain Bruno Fernandes the player usually featuring next to him in the position behind the striker.
As for the Portuguese international, he enjoyed one of the best seasons of his career, notching 37 combined goals and assists across all competitions – the highest of any player in the squad.
He single-handedly helped the club get to the Europa League final, with it unthinkable to imagine where the side would’ve been had he not been as impressive throughout 2024/25.
Bruno Fernandes
The 30-year-old and Amad may be about to take a hit, though, despite their impressive numbers under Amorim, subsequently having to drop into deeper roles after the arrival of Matheus Cunha and pending deal for Mbeumo.
Bailey’s latest report claims that the Brentford star would likely play in a number ten role should he complete his deal, alongside Cunha, which would lock those positions out for the current Red Devil stars.
Games played
36
Goals & assists
18
Shots on target per 90
0.7
Progressive carries
2.3
Pass accuracy
76%
% of tackles won
40%
Take-on success
41%
Fouls won
1.1
As a result, Bruno would likely operate in a central midfield position, with Amad having to revert to a wing-back role – undoubtedly restricting the pair as a result, given they aren’t operating in their natural roles.
The additions will certainly bolster Amorim’s side at Old Trafford, but it may have a knock-on effect for the aforementioned talents, subsequently having to change their game to accommodate their arrivals.
Both players certainly still have the talent to thrive out of position, as seen by their respective outputs in the final third, potentially able to star in such positions by aiding the players ahead of them.
However, if the new additions can hit the ground running and point the club in the right direction, the supporters and manager wouldn’t have any complaints, with fresh blood and new ideas needed if the side are to be a force in the Premier League during 2025/26.
Amorim's own Van Persie: Man Utd preparing £60m bid for "phenomenal" CF
Manchester United look set to pursue a move to land one star who could follow in Robin van Persie’s footsteps.
Manchester United have now reportedly submitted a huge offer to sign a much-needed attacking addition who would instantly make any potential Bryan Mbeumo rejection an afterthought.
Man Utd still chasing Bryan Mbeumo
For a moment it looked as though Manchester United were out on their own in the race to sign Mbeumo only for Tottenham Hotspur to burst onto the scene. With Thomas Frank now by their side, the Lilywhites have reportedly matched Brentford’s asking price and could instantly reunite Mbeumo with his former manager.
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United haven’t simply stepped aside, however. Reports are now claiming that they’ve reached an agreement on personal terms with the talented winger and club chiefs believe that they will complete a move to land his signature this summer.
There was always likely to be interest in Mbeumo following yet another excellent campaign at Brentford. At just 25 years old, there may not be a better time to move than this summer, but he must still get his next decision right.
As for United, whether it’s Mbeumo or another option, signing an attacking reinforcement seems to be at the very top of their wishlist. The Red Devils suffered going forward last season, with both Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund at the centre of those struggles which culminated in a 15th-place finish.
Premier League stats 24/25 (via FBref)
Joshua Zirkzee
Rasmus Hojlund
Starts
14
23
Goals
3
4
Assists
1
0
Expected Goals
4.8
5.3
Ruben Amorim will be desperate for some added firepower and if it’s not Mbeumo, then rumours suggest that it could yet be an excellent alternative.
INEOS already proved that they’re willing to spend when they welcomed Matheus Cunha for around £63m and now they could spend more than ever amid reports that they’ve submitted a hefty £120m+ bid for one particular talent.
Man Utd submit shock offer to sign Barcelona star Raphinha
According to reports in Spain, Manchester United have now submitted a shock €150m (£128m) offer to sign Raphinha from Barcelona this summer. The Spanish giants have reportedly been left surprised by the bid, but their financial situation could yet force them to consider it.
It would instantly be one of the standout deals of the summer if Manchester United made it happen. The Brazilian winger is one of the favourites to win the Ballon d’Or this year and would instantly ensure that the Red Devils forget all about Mbeumo.
24/25 stats
Raphinha
Mbeumo
Appearances
57
42
Goals
34
20
Assists
24
8
With 59 goal involvements in 57 appearances, it’s no surprise that Raphinha has found himself in Ballon d’Or conversations and, as talented as Mbeumo is, there is no denying that the Barcelona star is the standout option.
The winger earned plenty of deserved praise last season, including from Barcelona manager Hansi Flick, who told reporters: “He has good dynamics with the ball and he has had an extraordinary match. His offensive and defensive dynamics, and his good technique, are something special. I have never had a player like him and he helps us a lot.”
Arne Slot became the first manager in Liverpool’s history to win the Premier League in his first season at Anfield since the inception of the division in 1992.
There were concerns about what life would look like after Jurgen Klopp announced that he would be leaving the Reds at the end of the 2023/24 campaign, having been at the club for nine years.
Slot came in to replace a legend and had huge shoes to fill, arriving from Feyenoord last summer, and was not heavily backed in the summer transfer window.
Federico Chiesa was the only signing of the summer, joining on a permanent deal from Juventus, and the forward only made six appearances in the Premier League.
Liverpool's FedericoChiesaand Alexis Mac Allister
Slot, instead, won the division with the same players that he inherited, given Chiesa’s lack of involvement, which speaks to the quality of the recruitment work done in recent years.
You could pick so many members of the squad as examples of excellent recruitment by Liverpool, but Alexis Mac Allister stands out as a particularly impressive deal.
Why Liverpool struck gold with Alexis Mac Allister
The Reds swooped in to sign the World Cup winner from Brighton & Hove Albion in the summer of 2023 for a reported fee of £35m, which could rise to £55m in total, in what has turned out to be a bargain deal.
In that same summer, Chelsea spent £115m to sign Moises Caicedo from Brighton and Arsenal splashed the cash to sign Declan Rice from West Ham United for £105m, which illustrates how expensive it can be to land top talent from other Premier League teams.
Moises Caicedo
This shows how much of a bargain Liverpool got with their deal for Mac Allister because they did not have to pay over the odds for him, spending less than half as much as Chelsea and Arsenal did on their midfield signings with the initial fee of £35m.
The Reds have hit the jackpot with the Argentina international because he has proven to be well worth the money, playing 35 times out of 38 matches in the Premier League this season to help the team to the title.
24/25 Premier League
Alexis Mac Allister
Appearances
35
Goals
5
Big chances created
6
Assists
5
Tackles + interceptions per game
3.3
Ball recoveries per game
4.2
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, the former Brighton star delivered quality in and out of possession throughout the campaign, scoring and assisting goals whilst also being reliable defensively.
Mac Allister ended the season with a squad-leading 2.7 tackles per game in the Premier League, which proves how effective he was at winning the ball back to regain possession for his side, whilst cutting out opposition attacks.
Liverpool could, now, repeat their Mac Allister masterclass, as they are reportedly interested in another bargain deal from a Premier League rival.
Liverpool eyeing move for Brighton star
According to a report in Spain, Liverpool are one of a number of clubs that are eyeing up a potential swoop for Brighton winger Yankuba Minteh in the summer transfer window, which officially opened for business on Sunday.
The report claims that the Premier League champions have set their sights on a deal for the Gambia international, but they are facing competition from Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur for the attacker.
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It reveals that all three clubs are monitoring the 20-year-old forward, previously of Newcastle United, as a possible signing ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
The outlet adds that the left-footed dynamo, who typically plays on the right flank, is valued at around £35m by Brighton, which is the same fee that Liverpool paid them for Mac Allister.
With this in mind, Minteh could arrive at Anfield this summer to bolster Slot’s squad in a deal that could be very similar to the one that brought the Argentine star to Merseyside.
Why Yankuba Minteh could be Alexis Mac Allister 2.0
Of course, the two players play in different positions, one in midfield and one on the wing, but there are also a lot of similarities in the sense that they would both have been signed from Brighton and both signed for a bargain £35m fee.
As aforementioned, it can be incredibly expensive to shop in the Premier League market because teams do not want to strengthen their rivals, which is why a £35m fee for Minteh could be a big bargain for Liverpool if they were able to get a deal over the line in the coming months.
At the age of 20, though, he may not be a signing to instantly become a starter like Mac Allister was, and the youngster could be more of a signing with the long term in mind, whilst also being able to make an impact immediately as a squad option.
That being said, Minteh has delivered some exciting performances, including the one against Chelsea in the clip above, in the Premier League this season, and shown signs of being a top player at that level.
The left-footed star, who was described as “extremely dangerous” by Pierre van Hooijdonk, only started 20 of his 32 appearances in the division, but delivered quality in those outings.
24/25 Premier League
Yankuba Minteh
Appearances
32
Starts
20
xG
4.11
Goals
6
Big chances created
8
xA
5.02
Assists
4
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, he outperformed his xG by almost two goals and was let down by wasteful finishing from his teammates as a creator, as they failed to make the most of the ‘big chances’ that he created for them.
Now, imagine Minteh in a dominant and free-scoring Liverpool team that would be able to make the most of his creativity, whilst also creating more opportunities for him to show off his finishing skills. That could increase his output of goals and assists and lead to him becoming a very valuable member of the squad.
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The 20-year-old could, in theory, take his game to the next level with such a move, which is why this could be a brilliant signing for the Reds and be a repeat of the Mac Allister deal due to the finances involved.
Aston Villa are looking to retain key stars to avoid coming into conflict with PSR regulations, and could have hatched a crafty plan to retain key man Emiliano Martinez, according to a report.
Aston Villa looking to build squad depth under Unai Emery
Unai Emery has done a job to be proud of at Villa Park this season that looks likely to end in some form of continental qualification, but he may be left with food for thought ahead of the summer.
Despite their rude financial health, Aston Villa are at the centre of a PSR storm, and rumours are beginning to do the rounds regarding whether they will have to sell a star player or two to avoid an overspend.
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery
Some will argue the Villans are at an unfair disadvantage compared to the traditional ‘big six’ when it comes to transfer leeway, while others can’t help but point out their wage-to-revenue ratio as a counterpoint.
Nevertheless, Aston Villa appear undeterred by recent noise and are pursuing Rangers midfielder Nicolas Raskin as a potential arrival to supplement an engine room brimming with talent.
By the same token, Las Palmas star Alberto Moleiro is another talented star on Emery’s list. The Spaniard is believed to have personally requested that he is brought in amid a £51 million release clause in his contract.
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Still, the lingering question of sales has created an unwanted tension among supporters with the window around the corner, which could be magnified if Aston Villa fail to claim Champions League qualification.
However, there could be light at the end of the tunnel following news that there is now a crafty plan in motion to prevent a headline-grabbing departure.
Aston Villa set to put quartet up for sale
According to The Athletic, Aston Villa are set to put Emiliano Buendia, Alex Moreno, Leander Dendoncker and Kaine Kesler-Hayden up for sale to prevent having to part ways with Emiliano Martinez this summer.
The quartet are out on loan at Bayer Leverkusen, Nottingham Forest, Anderlecht and Preston North End respectively, and are not expected to feature as part of Emery’s plans moving forward in the West Midlands.
Emiliano Buendia
£37,500 per week
Alex Moreno
£35,000 per week
Leander Dendoncker
£35,000 per week
Kaine Kesler-Hayden
£7,000 per week
Martinez is reported to earn £150,000 per week, signifying that his wages would be protected with a little to spare as Aston Villa would be saving around £6m every year if they were to successfully offload the four players mentioned.
Of course, shifting spare parts doesn’t come easy, but NSWE’s strong negotiation skills are likely to come in handy when fielding interest from suitors.
While speculation continues to linger, Aston Villa supporters can take some peace of mind from the fact that they are now likely to retain arguably their most important asset in the summer window.
Aston Villa are ready to splash £75m on a player who has already scored against them at Villa Park this season, according to a new report.
Aston Villa subs make the difference against Southampton
Villa made history over the weekend as they beat Southampton 3-0 at Villa Park to continue their charge towards Champions League qualification next season.
For the first time in Premier League history, three substitutes scored in one game, with Ollie Watkins, Donyell Malen and John McGinn coming off the bench to find the net for Unai Emery’s side in the second period.
Watkins first produced a superb volleyed finish to lob Saints keeper Aaron Ramsdale in the 73rd minute, before Malen then hammered home Morgan Rogers’ through-ball with aplomb just six minutes later.
In added time, McGinn then slotted in Marco Asensio’s saved penalty – his second of the afternoon – to complete the scoring and move Villa back to within just one point of fourth-placed Manchester City.
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Speaking after the game, Emery was full of praise for both those we started the game, and those that came on to make an impact.
“The first half we didn’t concede transitions,” said the Spaniard. “We were dominating but we didn’t have many chances to score. The second half the game plan was the same and with the fast players we can add to try and push more and more and we did. It was a fantastic 90 minutes. The subs had a very good impact.”
Aston Villa ready to spend big on Wolves star Cunha
Villa and NSWE made some serious moves in the January transfer window, signing Malen on a permanent deal from Borussia Dortmund and completing loan moves for Marcus Rashford, Marco Asensio and Axel Disasi.
Despite significantly bolstering their attacking line just months ago, however, Villa aren’t quite yet content with their options up-top.
According to reports in Spain, the Villans are keen to complete a summer move for Wolverhampton Wanderers forward Matheus Cunha, and are willing to pay as much as £75 million for his services.
Wolverhampton Wanderers' MatheusCunhareacts
The Brazilian has been Wolves’ star player this season, playing a vital role in their likely Premier League survival, scoring 13 goals – including one at Villa Park back in September – and registering four assists.
Games played
26
Goals
13
Assists
4
Progressive carries (per 90)
3.9
Progressive passes (per 90)
4.7
Shots on target
1.5
Pass accuracy
70%
Take-ons completed
2.1
The report states that while Villa are keen, so are a number of other clubs, including Newcastle United, Arsenal, Nottingham Forest, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, meaning acquiring his signature will be no easy feat.
It’s also unclear whether Cunha, who only signed a contract extension at Molineux in February, will be open to leaving the Midlands club. Speaking about Cunha earlier this season, Wolves manager Vitor Pereira described him as a “special” talent.
“Matheus Cunha is a player, in my opinion, who can reach high standards in this league. I hope not [elsewhere] because we need him.”
Aston Villa suffered a 3-1 defeat away to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League quarter-final first leg on Wednesday evening.
Despite the quality on show for PSG, it was the Villans who took the lead, and what a goal it was. Marcus Rashford played a perfectly weighted pass into the path of Youri Tielemans, who fired a cross to the back post where Morgan Rogers was waiting to tap home.
Player ratings courtesy of Sofascore
The home side hit back just moments before the halftime whistle. The electric Desire Doue was the goalscorer, cutting inside onto his right foot and curling his shot into the top right corner, past Emiliano Martinez.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia gave PSG the lead in the 49th minute with a goal that put his side in the box seat.
It was a remarkable effort, carrying the ball from just inside the Villa half into the penalty box, before rolling it onto his left foot and firing home high into the back of the net. Nuno Mendes sealed the win in the second minute of stoppage time, selling Martinez a dummy and rifling his effort home into a near-empty net.
It was a tough night at the office for Unai Emery’s side, who came up against some high-quality attackers. Matty Cash was one player who struggled to cope at times.
Matty Cash's performance in numbers vs PSG
It is never easy as a defender when you are coming directly up against Doue, Kvaratskhelia and Ousmane Dembele. Poland international Cash certainly struggled at times at right-back and had little respite from the Les Parisiens attackers.
Indeed, those attackers in a PSG shirt were relentless and really had Cash tied up in knots at times. The Villans number 2 picked up a yellow card for a cynical foul in the 17th minute to stop a counter-attack.
Minutes
45
45
Pass accuracy
50%
69%
Key passes
0
1
Tackles + interceptions
3
3
Duels won
3/8
2/5
Possession lost
9x
5x
Fouls committed
4
0
This made it tough at times for him to engage, given that he was at risk of committing a foul and receiving a second yellow card.
In fact, the stats from the game reflect just how tough of a night it was for Cash. As per Sofascore, the 27-year-old won just three of eight attempted ground duels and committed four fouls. Impressively, he did manage to win all three of his attempted tackles.
It was certainly a tough evening and it was perhaps unsurprising to see he was substituted at half time for Axel Disasi.
He will surely be hoping the second leg at Villa Park is a little more forgiving. However, he was not the only Villa player who struggled at the Parc des Princes.
Aston Villa's other underperformer
As much as Villa had to do defensively on Wednesday night, it meant their attackers did not get much joy going forward, aside from Rogers’ goal. One of the players who suffered that fate was homegrown hero Jacob Ramsey.
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The boyhood Villa star did not necessarily play badly against the French giants but did not have much joy going forward. He also had his work cut out defensively, having to track Achraf Hakimi, who mauraded forward a lot throughout the game.
Indeed, Ramsey’s stats from the game show just how tough it was for him. The Villa number 41 had 29 touches of the ball, completing 61% of his passes and losing the ball ten times. He won three from four duels but failed to win his only attempted tackle.
Touches
29
Pass accuracy
61%
Passes completed
11/18
Ground duels won
3/4
Number of times ball lost
10
Dribbles completed
1/1
Tackles won
0/1
The 23-year-old received a 5/0 post-match rating for his performance from Goal journalist Richie Mills. He described Ramsey as “quite quiet” throughout the game and explained that “much of his work involved trying to track back” and defend against Hakimi.
It will be interesting to see if Ramsey keeps his place in the starting lineup in the next seven days. Villa have the already-relegated Southampton away from home over the weekend before the return leg against PSG next Tuesday.
Emery has several options at his disposal. PSG Lonaee Marco Asensio replaced Ramsey on the hour mark at the Parc des Princes, and Ollie Watkins also missed out on a starting spot.
Perhaps Emery will turn to one of those if he decides to look for more directness in the attack, thus rotating Ramsey out of the side for a huge clash next week.
He was worse than Disasi: Emery must drop 4/10 Aston Villa dud after PSG
Unai Emery must drop this Aston Villa flop who was even worse than Axel Disasi.
He batted like a subcontinent pro at the Chinnaswamy, putting himself firmly in the conversation around Test cricket’s future Fab Four
Deivarayan Muthu21-Oct-20241:39
Manjrekar: Very rarely did Rachin defend against the spinners
Until Sunday, the last time New Zealand beat India in a Test match in India was in 1988. Michael Bracewell’s uncle John played that game, and bagged a six-for in the fourth innings at the Wankhede Stadium. Michael wasn’t even born at the time. Neither was anyone else from New Zealand’s current Test squad other than Ajaz Patel, who was just over a month old at the time.Rachin Ravindra wouldn’t arrive in the world until 11 years later.Thirty-six years after Mumbai 1988, New Zealand finally won another Test match in India, and Ravindra was in the middle of it all, scoring a dazzling first-innings century and following up with a composed 39 off 46 balls amid the mounting tension of a small run chase. New Zealand and Ravindra had done the unthinkable at the Chinnaswamy Stadium.Around this time last year, Ravindra had announced his arrival in India, scoring 578 runs in ten matches, drawing level with Kane Williamson for the most runs by a New Zealander in a single edition of the men’s ODI World Cup. Now, Ravindra slotted into the absent Williamson’s role and lived up to his billing as New Zealand’s future batting leader.A year on from a breakout ODI World Cup, Rachin Ravindra has returned to India and shown he can be just as prolific in Test cricket•BCCIWhen India first met Ravindra in 2021, he was batting at No.6 in T20Is and even further down the order in Tests, with his utility as a left-arm spinner earning him a red-ball debut in Kanpur. There, batting at No.8 in the fourth innings on day five with No.11 Ajaz for company, he salvaged a draw against an attack that included R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel.It was the first glimpse of a special talent on the world stage. Ravindra has now harnessed that talent to move up to No.4 and become New Zealand’s premier all-format batter.Cricket is veering towards a new generation, with other young, supremely talented batters also emerging. Ben Stokes thinks Harry Brook can replicate Virat Kohli’s all-format success. Rohit Sharma reckons India have found a “great” player in Yashasvi Jaiswal. Just eight Tests old, Kamindu Mendis has been ripping up the record books for fun. Ravindra is now in the same conversation around cricket’s future Fab Four.ESPNcricinfo LtdThe most striking aspect of Ravindra’s batting in Bengaluru was the assurance he showed against India’s spinners. Most overseas batters are often stuck on the crease, reduced to picking spinners only off the pitch. But Ravindra is not most overseas batters. He batted like a subcontinent batter in the subcontinent. He was right forward or right back, opening up a number of scoring options for himself.”Rachin has made every post a winner in all the games he’s played,” New Zealand coach Gary Stead said. “He was certainly at his very best in this game and played beautifully in both innings and put us in a position that we could win.”Ravindra’s ability to pick length early also enables him to manoeurve the ball against the turn. When Jadeja erred marginally short in the 75th over of New Zealand’s first innings, Ravindra jumped onto the back foot so quickly that he could caress the ball between slip and deep third. Then, when Ashwin dragged an offbreak short and outside off, Ravindra used his rubber wrists and the depth of the crease to shovel it away against the turn.Ravindra has been a strong back-foot player right from his age-group days in Wellington. To improve his front-foot game before New Zealand’s six-Test subcontinent expedition, he went to great lengths. He arrived in India before the rest of New Zealand squad and had a four-day preparatory camp at the Super Kings Academy in Chennai in exaggerated conditions, which included batting against spin on used black- and red-soil pitches.Decisive footwork and strong wrists were a feature of Ravindra’s batting in Bengaluru•AFP/Getty ImagesThat preparation has clearly served him well. In Galle, Ravindra made a magnificent fourth-innings 92 as Sri Lanka’s spinners ran through the rest of New Zealand’s line-up. And he went even better in Bengaluru. According to ESPNcricinfo’s logs, he scored 112 of his 173 runs in Bengaluru off the front foot, and a further 22 while stepping out of the crease.”As long as I’m clear when I get out to bat and have a plan, that helps a lot,” Ravindra told the host broadcaster after winning the Player-of-the-Match award. “And also the choice – having the intent to move forward and back, not necessarily trying to attack the game but taking care of my position in this part of the world. But yeah, preparation helps. When you have six subcontinent Tests in a row, you’ve always gotta do a little bit extra whether it’s indoors at the nets or head out somewhere else and do some training.”Having conquered what is arguably the toughest challenge in Test cricket right now, scoring big runs while beating India in India, Ravindra is firmly on the path to greatness.
No point in judging spinner by his statistics, but his central importance to team is clear
Vithushan Ehantharajah10-Dec-2022There is no question Jack Leach is a different bowler under Ben Stokes.The left-arm spinner is a far more accomplished and braver bowler. Stokes as captain spent the summer reinforcing his confidence with praise and testing his mettle by refusing Leach’s requests for boundary-saving fielders. He took the first ten-wicket haul of his Test career in the summer at Headingley against New Zealand, within that coming his first two five-wicket hauls on home soil.The overall numbers, however, do not reflect the strides he has made this year. Under Stokes, Leach currently averages 40.17, higher than his overall of 33.75, and his 31.88 under previous skipper, Joe Root. Even after his successes in the first innings at Multan, his strike-rate under Stokes remains nine points higher than it was under Root.Test cricket is the format that judges such stats more harshly than any other, but within the current England set-up – a team with such an absolute focus on winning that its bowlers are happy for their economy rates to go up so long as the opposition’s wickets are going the same way – Leach’s make for unusually misleading numbers. Even so, on day two in Multan, he finally got a haul that worked in his favour, figures of 4 for 98 in 27 overs that helped established a crucial first-innings lead of 79.”Don’t look at my stats,” Leach said, when asked how to disconnect the thriving cricketer from the questionable statistics. “Do you know what, I’ve never felt this so much – as a team, we just want to win. And we’ll do everything we can to do that.”I really start to understand that we’re going to take a few more risks to maybe take a wicket, and that might require going for a few more runs.”There is one piece of data, however, that underlines not just what Leach is doing well under Stokes, but the perseverance that he has required to do it. No spinner has taken a wicket immediately after getting hit for a boundary as many times as Leach. His dismissals of Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan on Saturday in Multan took him to 12 overall and four under Stokes alone. Moreover, they were Test wickets 100 and 101.It might seem a little convenient to extrapolate character simply through tuning the dials on Statsguru. And it is, no doubt, though only because the real takeaway is how much thicker his skin has had to become. Leach’s story is about plugging away in the face of adversity, whether through his battles with Crohn’s disease and the assorted ailments he has picked up as a result, or the professional bumps he has experienced since his debut back in March 2018. Now, 30 caps on, that thick skin is almost a weapon in its own right, especially in the midst of England’s new era.On Friday evening, with Pakistan still trailing by 174 after closing on 107 for 2, England’s attack reflected among themselves that they had been cut too often – and Leach himself had been a particular culprit, with a drag-down from the first ball of each of his first two new-ball overs. Returning on Saturday, they reiterated a plan to bowl straighter and force the batters to hit to areas that weren’t their first choice, with men waiting in the deep, strategically placed three-quarters of the way to the fence.Leach was right in the thick of things in the moment of victory in Rawalpindi•AFP/Getty ImagesIronically, their key morning breakthrough was nothing to do with this plan. Ollie Robinson, with only his second ball of the match, ripped an inswinger through Babar Azam’s defences to take out middle and off. That was the first of eight wickets to fall for just 60 runs, with Leach building on Robinson’s momentum by taking the next three.Saud Shakeel’s loft down the ground was followed, one ball later, by a drag to midwicket that James Anderson caught brilliantly running back towards the boundary. Leach had tucked his length back a fraction to force the left-hander to reach a little more than he’d have liked. The dismissal of Mohammad Rizwan, however, was a touch of class mixed with a bit of anger, after Leach had been driven immaculately down the ground.”It felt good coming out of the hand, definitely,” Leach said of a delivery that pitched on leg and took middle. “He’d just hit me for four over the top so I maybe tried to put a little bit more on that one. And when he went back, I thought, that’s good, I might have him in a bit of trouble.” He did.Mohammad Nawaz then chipped Leach to a gleeful Stokes at a catching mid-on, taking him to 103 wickets with plenty prospects of improving that figure before the Test is out.There was plenty generosity of that type on offer from Pakistan’s batters. But even so, from the drying-up of scoring opportunities to the subsequent clatter of wickets, it took a rare level of collective confidence to take such assured control of the game. And on a red-letter day for Leach, he was not only the main exponent, but for once the main beneficiary.He is, in many ways, the surprise totem of the McCullum-Stokes era, if only because he’s not outwardly the kind of cricketer you’d expect to fit in among this group. And no, it’s not because of the glasses. For starters, being a finger-spinner is hardly the sexiest pursuit, especially in a group that rally against convention.He has been the only bowler to play in every match under McCullum and Stokes – and that includes his concussion substitution in their very first match at Lord’s, which might have been an excuse to look elsewhere, but proved to be quite the opposite. Similarly, when it looked like he might miss the first Test in Rawalpindi with illness, Stokes went and visited his room to convince him to pull through. Leach ended up taking the final wicket of a famous win and went on to thank Stokes for his insistence earlier in the week.Their bond had existed long before their date with destiny at Headingley, but that day in 2019 took it to the next level. At the end-of-season PCA dinner, Leach bid £8,000 on a portrait of Ben Stokes from that innings against Australia, with the pair hugging like loons on stage when it was successful.Related
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Independent of Stokes, he now commands a greater standing in the dressing-room, even if he was always a popular member of it. He’s not the most vocal, but appears to have taken Moeen Ali’s role as the king of the one-liner, breaking any tension with a wry comment here and there. After besting India comprehensively at Edgbaston, a fourth consecutive chase of the McCullum-Stokes era, Leach quipped to his skipper that “teams will be better than us, but they won’t be braver than us”. Stokes repeated the line in his post-match media engagements, with credit. It has since become a buzz phrase that the team has rolled out so often that Leach could have earned a central contract’s worth of royalties had he copyrighted it.He’s bought into the batting side of things, too. Once the proud owner of the longest, most revered single since Meatloaf, he’s expanded his horizons, with the switch hit now his weapon of choice. He was lamented by Somerset coaches for playing it in a Championship match earlier this year – it went for six – but he pulled it off again against South Africa at Emirates Old Trafford. Friday’s attempt in Multan was, frankly, an abomination, but the willing to exist outside of his comfort zone is clear.That extends to golf, an immensely popular pastime with both white- and red-ball teams – and cricketers full stop – but it’s something that Leach has little time for. Every now and again he’ll tag along, provided he can nab a free set of clubs from the course for the round. He is learning to embrace it, and is apparently eyeing up lessons in the new year.Ironically, it was because of Leach that England were able to approach their second innings with a degree of old-world sensibility. Commitment to the new brand would have meant a thrash and a declaration to be back bowling again at Pakistan before the day was out.Instead, there was a throwback to a more old-school third-innings canter: 89 for 3 after 25 overs at tea became 202 for 5 by stumps. No one struck in excess of a run a ball, Ben Duckett’s 79 off 98 was a slow-burn show of aggression by his recent standards. Harry Brook (74 from 108) and Stokes (16 off 25) will no doubt flex their wares on Sunday to bump their current lead of 281 up beyond Pakistan’s reach.The key here is, unlike Rawalpindi, England do not necessarily need the hosts to play ball. There are three full days remaining and Duckett’s dismissal – a ball from Abrar pitching back of a length and hitting as low as halfway up off stump – showed just how much the pitch has deteriorated already.The requisite ten wickets for a second victory, and a series win achieved with a match to spare, should not be too hard to come by. Not for the first time this year, Leach will be front and centre of that.