Didi Hamann has urged Manchester City to replace Pep Guardiola after the eight-time Premier League champions were snubbed by Florian Wirtz.

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Man City urged to part ways with GuardiolaHamann believes the players need a 'fresh vision'Points at Florian Wirtz's snub as a reasonFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Manchester City suffered their worst season since 2017 as Guardiola's men went trophyless in what can only be described as a transitional campaign. The old guard of City's squad are being moved on while the recruitment has been focusing on bringing youth into the squad.

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With the departure of Kevin De Bruyne as a free agent this summer, City had been eyeing a move for Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz; however, the midfielder decided to reject the eight-time Premier League side's advances as Guardiola could not guarantee how long he would be staying at the Etihad. Wirtz's snub has now prompted Hamann to claim that City need to part ways with Guardiola and bring in a manager who can 'light a fire up in the players' and bring in 'a fresh input'.

WHAT HAMANN SAID

Former Liverpool and Germany midfielder Didi Hamann told InstantWithdrawalBettingSites.com: "When Pep Guardiola left Bayern Munich after three years, all the players said that they were exhausted so I never expected him to last this long at Manchester City, he demands so much from the players.

"They have been sensational in the Premier League and got across the line in the Champions League, but I think last season was a turning point. He got a new contract to get the critics off his back but I think City need something new, they need a new voice because things do get stale.

"I think City need a manager who lights a fire up in the players, I think a fresh input would do them good. He would never be sacked but a big clue was Florian Wirtz asking Guardiola how long he would be at the club, and the reports said he couldn’t tell him.

"That is an honest answer but not what players want to hear, I think he will want to win the Premier League or the Champions League and go out with bang. Will that happen? I can’t see them winning either next season."

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR GUARDIOLA?

Through his campaigns with Barcelona and Bayern Munich, Guardiola has generally called it quits after three years each. However, the dynasty he has created at City has urged him to keep going at the Etihad. Nonetheless, one can only wonder whether his reign is in its final stretch, if he can't revive their fortunes next season.

Ashton Agar is fit and raring to play a key role in Australia’s ODI World Cup tilt in India after recovering from a recent calf injury that was the latest chapter of a rollercoaster year which included an aborted return to the Test side.Agar suffered a minor calf tear in an innocuous incident while training with Western Australia during the pre-season which ruled him out of the T20I portion of the South Africa. But he will be in contention for the ODI series, which starts late next week, and will fly to South Africa on Thursday alongside Cameron Green, David Warner, Josh Hazlewood and coach Andrew McDonald who have all been rested from the T20Is ahead of the one-dayers which lead into the World Cup.Speaking at the launch of the BBL overseas draft on Wednesday in Melbourne, where Agar was hopeful Perth Scorchers could retain some of the previous players that had helped them win the last two titles, he was frustrated to have suffered another setback, having injured his side twice on overseas tours in 2022. But he was confident he will be ready for the start of the ODI series next Thursday.Related

• Warner and Head to open, Marsh to bat No. 3 against SA

• From Test No. 2 to going home: the bizarre handling of Ashton Agar

• 'It's a ruthless environment, and that's how it should be' – Agar on being sent back from India

• Six players to watch in South Africa-Australia T20Is

“It was really unfortunate,” Agar told ESPNcricinfo. “I was going really well in the pre-season and my body was in a really good place. Feeling very fit. And unfortunately got a little tear in that calf. But it’s been a really good rehab. We’ve got great physios on staff [in WA] and have been working really closely every day with them. I’ve done a couple of full-intensity sessions at the WACA now. So I think I’ll be up to playing at 100% intensity in an ODI.”Agar looms as an important figure in Australia’s World Cup squad. Currently, there are three specialist spinners in Australia’s 18-man squad including Agar, Adam Zampa and the uncapped Tanveer Sangha who had not played a professional match in over 12 months until the Hundred due to injury. The selectors will confirm the World Cup 15 next week, but are able to make changes up to September 28.Meanwhile, spinning allrounder Glenn Maxwell has been hampered by an ongoing ankle issue which has forced him home from the T20 series against South Africa and he won’t return to the squad until they reach India for the three ODIs that starts on September 22 because of the birth of his first child.Agar faces a similarly compromised preparation coming off his calf injury. He is also expecting the birth of his first child and is set to fly home from South Africa late in the five-match ODI series before rejoining the squad in India.

Agar’s World Cup role will depend on Australia’s balance

He has not played in an ODI World Cup but will be a key man in Australia’s campaign as they are set to play with differently structured sides throughout the tournament depending on the conditions and the fitness of the squad. They will play nine round-robin games in eight different cities in just over a month.Australia’s selectors showed their cards in the recent series in India in March where they played three different line-ups, all of which they might use in the World Cup. They have trialed playing eight batters, including four allrounders, and just three specialist bowlers. They have also played with seven batters, three quicks and one spinner with Zampa playing as the lone specialist and Maxwell providing spin support.Ashton Agar played a key role in helping Australia clinching the ODI series against India in March•BCCI

But they have also lined up with two specialist spinners among four bowlers and seven batters as they did in Chennai in the third ODI earlier this year. Agar took 2 for 41 in 10 overs in that match, including knocking over Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav in consecutive balls in the 36th over to turn the game Australia’s way defending just 269. He and Zampa combined for six wickets in the match as India were bowled out 21 runs short.Australia’s opening World Cup game is against India in Chennai on October 8 and Agar is eager to play a role.”World Cups bring out the best in one-day cricket, particularly in India,” Agar said. “You never know what pitch you’re going to get. But the chances are as a spinner that you’ll be playing, and there’s a chance that you play two spinners in a lot of the games, particularly if the pitches get tired.”It’s a place I love going. I’ve had really great experiences. Obviously, the Test tour was a difficult experience there. But then I got to go back and play that one-dayer and do really well. It’s a place I really like to bowl.”

Agar’s India Test series: ‘That was my chance and it didn’t happen’

Agar was honest and philosophical about his experience on the Test tour of India earlier this year. He went to India as an incumbent in Australia’s Test XI having played as the second spinner alongside Nathan Lyon in a four-man attack in Sydney against South Africa. But an extraordinary sequence of events saw him leave the Test tour halfway through having not played in either of the first two matches, despite Australia selecting three spinners in Delhi.”It’s never easy,” he said. “You probably take a hit to your pride more than anything. Even after Sydney. All I’m trying to do is my best every single time. I’m always trying to get better. That’s just who I am. And I give as much as I can to any team that I play in. But I felt okay coming back from India because I tried my arse off. It wasn’t where it needed to be.Ashton Agar returned home midway through the India Test series•Getty Images and Cricket Australia

“It was wonderful communication [with the selectors] and a clear path forward. I think that’s all you want. Yeah, I was flat. I had grown up wanting to play Tests in India forever. I think that’s the coolest thing ever. And that was my chance and it didn’t happen. So that hurt for sure.”But there’s no way I’m going to stand here and point fingers. Absolutely no way. It’s just about moving forward. So I’m really strong on that attitude. And it’s helped me bounce back all the time from little selection hiccups here and there and come back and ultimately try and perform.”Agar still wants to be a three-format spinner but is acutely aware of how difficult it is to switch between formats without long lead-ins.”If we’re talking about really trying to gear up for red-ball cricket it’s as hard as it gets, especially as a spinner,” Agar said. “[In limited overs] you’re bowling six different bowls an over. Whereas a [Test] spinner in Australia, you need to bowl hard overspun balls and hit the same length, every ball. If you’re not doing that for a long time, it’s pretty hard to put that all together all of a sudden. It’s really tough.”But I’ve never wanted to be a one-dimensional cricketer. I want to be as selectable as possible. And I’ve always wanted to be a batter. I’ve always wanted to be a bowler and a good fielder. And it means that you can’t invest all your time into one discipline. And you get spread a bit thin sometimes. But that’s cool because I’m playing the game the way I like to play it. It’s much more fun for me that way.”

Rayados will remain in Los Angeles for the duration of the group stage, where they are set to face Inter Milan

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• Monterrey in Group E with Inter Milan, Urawa Red Diamonds, River Plate
• Coach Domènec Torrent will make his debut with Rayados
• Veteran defender Sergio Ramos expected to start

Watch every FIFA Club World Cup game free on DAZNStream now

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Ahead of their 2025 FIFA Club World Cup debut, Monterrey have encountered logistical setbacks, claiming that the training pitch assigned by FIFA at Loyola Marymount University is in substandard condition.

  As a result, the Liga MX side was forced to relocate its training sessions to Dignity Health Sports Park – also used by the Mexican national team – while awaiting a resolution from tournament organizers. Club executive vice president Pedro Esquivel voiced his frustration and called on FIFA to ensure fair conditions for all participants.

  “We trust the issue will be corrected, but for now we’re staying positive," Esquivel told reporters. "As a club competing in a FIFA-organized tournament, we expect the necessary conditions to perform at our best."

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  There is a sense of concern within the Monterrey camp, as the team is set to play all of its group-stage matches in Los Angeles. The club’s leadership hopes the issue will be resolved swiftly to avoid further setbacks. Monterrey executives have also urged FIFA and local organizers to ensure that similar problems don’t arise later in the tournament.

  “There have been too many surprises,” Esquivel said. “We’re working to ensure these issues are addressed. The excitement is there, but as an institution, it’s our responsibility to demand better from FIFA.”

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  Despite missing the Liga MX playoffs due to a leg injury, Sergio Ramos has been training at full capacity with his teammates in Los Angeles and is expected to start in the team's Club World Cup debut.

  The appearance will mark his fifth time competing in the tournament, a competition he won four times during his illustrious career with Real Madrid.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MONTERREY?

  Rayados will remain in Los Angeles for the duration of the group stage, where they are set to face Inter Milan on Tuesday, followed by River Plate (June 21) and Urawa Red Diamonds (June 25).

Over the last couple of years, Chelsea have struggled to match the levels produced by Thomas Tuchel, with the German being a monster hit with the supporters as a result of his success.

He was appointed as manager back in January 2021, taking over from Frank Lampard, going on to achieve the unthinkable just a couple of months after moving to Stamford Bridge.

The former PSG boss would mastermind the Blues to a 1-0 win over fellow Premier League side Manchester City in the Champions League final – claiming just their second European Cup triumph in Portugal.

Such an achievement will always make him a fan favourite in West London, with many arguing he was unfairly dismissed by the hierarchy back in September 2022.

Current boss Enzo Maresca is yet to match the heights set by the German, but he will need time to work his magic given the influx of additions – something which Tuchel missed after his dismissal.

Chelsea’s hunt to land a number nine in 2025

Nicolas Jackson has been Chelsea’s number-one striking option over the last couple of years, notching a total of 26 goals in his 68 outings for the Blues.

However, his injury, coupled with the lack of depth, has seen the hierarchy constantly linked with various attackers all over Europe – as they try to push the club closer to the top of the division.

The likes of Viktor Gyokeres, Victor Osimhen and Jonathan David have all been linked with a move to the Bridge in recent weeks, showcasing the potential quality the club could attract this summer.

The window doesn’t open yet for another couple of months, with qualification for the Champions League only boosting their chances of landing a top-level talent to take the side forward.

Many supporters must wish they had their own version of one world-class star, with one player previously predicted to emulate his success before his eventual departure.

The player who was tipped to be Chelsea’s own Harry Kane

Striker Harry Kane is a player who’s always been associated with goals, understandably so given his goalscoring exploits wherever he’s played throughout his career.

The 31-year-old is Tottenham Hotspur’s and England’s record scorers, notching a total of 280 and 71 goals respectively – even carrying on his superb form with Bayern Munich.

He joined the Bundesliga giants in 2023 and has scored 77 times in just 83 appearances across all competitions, highlighting the clinical nature he possesses in the final third.

However, the Blues could’ve had their very own version of the talisman in the form of Timo Werner, who was sold for £25m by Tuchel in the summer of 2022, returning to former side RB Leipzig.

The 29-year-old has high hopes of being a success in the capital, costing £45m just two years prior – taking the Premier League by storm in his first year, notching 14 combined goal contributions.

Such a run of form would lead to teammate Ben Chilwell comparing him to Kane and that he had the potential to be world-class during his time at the Bridge.

It’s safe to say the striker had divided opinion during his time as a Blue, with the club certainly making the right call in offloading him given his lack of form over the last couple of seasons.

He’s spent the last two years on loan at city rivals Spurs, scoring just three times in his last 41 outings – looking wasteful and past the level required of a player in England’s top flight.

There’s no denying he failed to live up to expectations during his time at the Bridge, struggling to prove Chilwell right in his claim and ultimately unable to live up to the hype.

Whilst they lost money at the time of selling him back to his former employers, it was certainly the right call, with his value likely to plummet further given his recent unsuccessful stint in North London.

He's like Gyokeres: Chelsea plot bid for "one of the best STs in the world"

Chelsea are targeting another player to improve the options within the final third.

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By
Ethan Lamb

Apr 1, 2025

في خطوة تعكس الطموحات المتزايدة للدوري الأمريكي في استقطاب النجوم العالميين، دخل نادي لوس أنجلوس إف سي في مفاوضات أولية لضم أحد أهم اللاعبين في الدوري الإنجليزي.

وكشف الصحفي بول تينوريو، أن لوس أنجلوس إف سي يسعى لضم جناح توتنهام ومنتخب كوريا الجنوبية، سون هيونج مين، في الميركاتو الصيفي الحالي.

اقرأ أيضًا | في سن الـ40.. آشلي يونج ينضم لفريق إنجليزي الموسم المقبل

ويخطط النادي الأمريكي أن يجعل سون هو الواجهة الجديدة للفريق، في إطار مساعي الدوري الأمريكي لتعزيز مكانته عالميًا عبر التعاقد مع أسماء رنانة، على غرار ليونيل ميسي وسيرجيو بوسكيتس ولويس سواريز.

🚨🇰🇷🇺🇸 LAFC have approached Heung-min Son over potential transfer for this summer as their new superstar.

Talks at early stages, as @PaulTenorio reports — as LAFC want to try but Son and Spurs will have the final say.

Thomas Frank will also speak to Son and discuss future. pic.twitter.com/Kjb9s6W6a1 — Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 23, 2025

ورغم أن المفاوضات لا تزال في مراحلها الأولى، فإن العرض يُظهر مدى جدية الدوري الأمريكي في اقتحام سوق اللاعبين الكبار من الدوري الإنجليزي، حيث يبقى القرار النهائي بيد سون وناديه توتنهام، وسط ترقب لموقف المدرب الجديد توماس فرانك، الذي سيجتمع مع اللاعب لبحث مستقبله.

سون هيونج مين، البالغ من العمر 32 عامًا، يُعد أحد أبرز لاعبي آسيا في تاريخ الدوري الإنجليزي، وتثير فكرة انتقاله إلى الدوري الأمريكي اهتمامًا واسعًا سواء من الجماهير الكورية أو من متابعي الدوري الأمريكي، الذي يبدو عازمًا على مواصلة التوسع والهيمنة إعلاميًا وتسويقيًا.

Big Picture – Delhi conditions could be Sri Lanka’s friend

Sri Lanka could hardly have picked a tougher opponent to face first up at the World Cup than South Africa.The Sri Lankans come into this game with big question marks over their batting and have an injury-weakened bowling attack; South Africa, in contrast, seem to be a well-oiled machine, primed for the flat tracks this World Cup is expected to offer.Where South Africa might have some concerns is in their bowling. With Anrich Nortje and Sisanda Magala ruled out with injury, they are lacking a bit of bite up front and at the death. Then, in the spin department, too, with just Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi available, their options are not as varied as is the case with some other teams (such as Sri Lanka). But they more than make up for this with a batting line-up in fine fettle.Related

• Bavuma's South Africa are different. Maybe their World Cup will be too?

• Simons hopes Rabada and Coetzee get into the heads of opposition

• Scriptless Sri Lanka put hopes on hold

• Spunky Sri Lanka out to prove heydays are not behind them

• When Miller is comfortable with his hitting, he won't stop

Indeed, while Sri Lanka fret about the lack of power-hitters at six and seven, South Africa have stacked their line-up with them. At the top, there’s Quinton de Kock, and if he doesn’t get you, well, then there’s the middle order of Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller. And this is all before you get to the lower-middle order, which has Marco Jansen and Andile Phehlukwayo. Of them, only Phehlukwayo strikes at less than 90 (88.04) in ODIs.Sri Lanka have just a solitary batter in the top six hitting at above 90, Kusal Perera. But he’s just returning from injury and it’s not certain he can churn out runs consistently over 50 overs.In terms of others who can score big runs fast, Kusal Mendis is the obvious shout, but even with his blistering 158 laying a platform, Sri Lanka’s lower-middle order wasn’t able to capitalise against Afghanistan in their warm-up game. There is solidity after that in Charith Asalanka and Dhananjaya de Silva, but if quick runs are needed, there really only is Dasun Shanaka, who has been in such woeful recent form that he was nearly dropped from the squad altogether.Fortunately for Sri Lanka, this game is taking place in Delhi. On a pitch that is usually slow and crumbly, Sri Lanka have the right bowlers.In their last 15 games, Sri Lanka have bowled out the opposition in 14. Sure, the ease with which both Bangladesh and Afghanistan brushed them aside in the warm-ups highlighted the task their bowlers are likely to face, but in Delhi, they might just have their way.They will however have to do so without their star man. Maheesh Theekshana has linked up with the squad late, but this game comes too soon for him in his recovery from a hamstring tear.* This means the spin bowling onus will be squarely on Dunith Wellalage, Dushan Hemantha and Dhananjaya.South Africa meanwhile won’t have fond memories of Delhi, with their last outing there in October 2022 seeing them skittled for 99. Though if the surface turns out more like the one that was in place during their T20I chase of 212 just a few months prior to that, Sri Lanka will have their work cut out for them.

Form guide

South Africa WWWLL
Sri Lanka LWLWW

In the spotlight: Aiden Markram and Dhananjaya de Silva

While Klaasen is undoubtedly South Africa’s man of the moment, ticking along with him has been Aiden Markram, who is in the midst of the best year of his ODI career. His 11 innings in 2023 have so far brought 577 runs at 64.11 and a strike rate of 119.70 – significantly above his career figures of 35.42 and 96.35 – to go with an equally impressive record in T20Is and Tests. He has the ability and resolve to navigate slow turners, which could prove crucial in Delhi, especially in the middle overs, where Sri Lanka throttle with spin so well. That Markram has a solid record against Sri Lanka – second only to his record against Australia among Test-playing nations – is a bonus. If the Delhi surface is conducive to turn, Markram’s experience could be massive.Sri Lanka will have to do without spin whiz Maheesh Theekshana in their World Cup opener•Getty Images

Sri Lanka’s spate of injuries means that Dhananjaya de Silva will likely start this tournament with an unexpectedly critical role in terms of providing team balance. With the bat, coming in at six, he will be tasked with providing impetus in the latter overs alongside his out-of-sorts captain – a role he’s not exactly suited for considering his career ODI strike rate of 78.80, but one that Sri Lanka will need him to settle into quickly. Then with ball, with Theekshana ruled out, Dunith Wellalage still fairly green and Shanaka potentially only fit enough to bat, there’s every chance he’ll be required to bowl 10 overs – something he’s done just 11 times over 67 innings.

Team news

South Africa’s batting pretty much picks itself when everyone is fully fit, but it’s in the bowling where there’s a bit of uncertainty. While Maharaj is a shoo-in, if they do choose to go with Shamsi as an extra spin option, Phelukwayo could make way.South Africa (probable XI): 1 Temba Bavuma (capt), 2 Quinton de Kock (wk), 3 Rassie van der Dussen, 4 Aiden Markram, 5 Heinrich Klaasen, 6 David Miller, 7 Marco Jansen, 8 Gerald Coetzee, 9 Andile Phelukwayo/Tabraiz Shamsi, 10 Keshav Maharaj, 11 Kagiso RabadaPerera and Shanaka have been passed fit after missing Sri Lanka’s last warm-up, but Theekshana misses out. This means Dushan Hemantha is likely to fill in once more.Sri Lanka (probable XI): 1 Kusal Perera, 2 Pathum Nissanka, 3 Kusal Mendis (wk), 4 Sadeera Samarawickrama, 5 Charith Asalanka, 6 Dhananjaya de Silva, 7 Dasun Shanaka (capt), 8 Dunith Wellalage, 9 Dushan Hemantha, 10 Dilshan Madushanka, 11 Lahiru Kumara1:58

Spin-heavy Sri Lanka can sneak into knockouts

Pitch and conditions

Spin in particular could prove useful in Delhi, unlike in other parts of India, and it’s traditionally not been a high-scoring venue – 300 had been topped only twice in ODIs, and last in 2011. The weather is expected to be hot and humid with highs of around 37 degrees Celsius, so batting first might be the play.

Stats and trivia

• The last time Sri Lanka played in Delhi, in 2009, the match was called off because of a dangerous surface
• In 26 ODIs, only twice have 300-plus scores been recorded at the venue
• In six World Cup games between them, South Africa have won four, including the last three, with one ending in a tie. Sri Lanka’s solitary win came in their first exchange, in 1992

Quotes

“The biggest thing is our character. You’ll hear a lot of guys speak about our resilience. I think that’s something that really stands for us in good point. There’s also a willingness or desire from guys to put in the big performances for the team.”
“When we’re walking around in Colombo, everybody wants to talk cricket. There is so much love for the game. And I think it would be huge if we could put a good show on here for them. And bring a smile back into the country’s faces with what we’re trying to do.”

The winger's provocative post has confirmed supporters' belief that the Red Devils would be better off without him

You might have heard of the film 'How to Lose Friends and Alienate People'. Alejandro Garnacho has just written a sequel: 'How to Lose Fans and Alienate Prospective Clubs'.

The Manchester United winger is enjoying his summer break and looking for a new team after being told to find one by Ruben Amorim. But rather than keep a low profile, he deliberately courted controversy and baited Red Devils’ fans with a provocative Instagram post on Sunday evening. Walking into a luxury villa in Ibiza, between a Ferrari and a Lamborghini, Garnacho posed wearing an Aston Villa shirt with Marcus Rashford’s name on the back. Rashford gleefully responded to the post, calling Garnacho 'My brother'.

It was blatantly clear what message Garnacho was trying to send. He was putting himself on the side of Rashford and against both the United coach and the club, forming an alliance of outcasts who are heading for permanent exits from the place that formed them. He was painting himself and Rashford, who were both handed lucrative contracts by United in 2023, as the victims.

And so while Garnacho has served to rile up United fans and confirm the growing suspicion among them that the club will be better off without his petulant attitude, despite his enormous talent, he has also raised a red flag towards all the other clubs who might want to sign him this summer and grant him his exit from Old Trafford…

• Better off without social media

  Garnacho’s post went down terribly with United fans online. ‘His ego is ridiculous’ was one reaction on X while he was also called ‘a weirdo’. ‘Flaunting a lifestyle that the club has provided for him, while also throwing shade at that club and their fans. Crazy ego, get him out,’ was a standout comment on Reddit. Another post read: 'It’s petulant and childish and shows exactly why the manager wants him to go. If he wants to leave the club, he can, literally the only thing stopping him is himself.’

  One comment hit the nail on the head: ‘So dumb. Some players would be better off having no social media.’ That certainly seems to be the case with Garnacho, who has had a short career but a long history of online mis-steps that have landed him in varying degrees of trouble.

  Garnacho’s online activity first raised eyebrows in 2023 when he posted two gorilla emojis above a picture of Andre Onana celebrating his penalty save against Copenhagen. The post risked being interpreted as racially motivated and against the FA’s social media guidelines, although Onana said he had no problem with it and that Garnacho was using the emojis to express the goalkeeper’s strength and power. Garnacho hastily deleted the posts and got away with a clip round the ear, avoiding the fine and ban that Bernardo Silva and Edinson Cavani had received in previous years.

  But he did not learn his lesson to modify his social media activity. Months later, Garnacho liked a post from a fan criticising Erik ten Hag’s management, which was a kick in the teeth to the coach who had given him his opportunity in the first team and kept on picking him despite his young age and rawness. He also got away with that one after apologising to Ten Hag, who reacted by saying: "Alejandro is a young player and has to learn a lot," yet only five months later, Garnacho liked another post criticising the Dutchman, this time from Cristiano Ronaldo.

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  Derailing progress with petulance

  His misjudgements continued when Amorim succeeded Ten Hag, and Garnacho was left out of the squad along with Rashford for the Manchester derby in December due to showing a bad attitude in training. He was, however, then reinstated to the team and praised by Amorim for his improved focus.

  All that progress was derailed when Garnacho stormed down the tunnel after being substituted by Amorim when United were reduced to 10 men against Ipswich Town, and he paid a big price for his petulance as he apologised by paying for a squad dinner. The final straw for Amorim, though, was Garnacho’s reaction to not starting the Europa League final, both his stroppy post-match interview and his brother Roberto’s Instagram post, in which he accused Amorim of throwing the winger under a bus.

  Two days later, Amorim told Garnacho in front of the squad at training that he had "better pray" another club wanted to sign him and left him out for the final match of the season against Aston Villa. Garnacho’s girlfriend, in keeping with the family’s love for revealing too much on social media, said that the match would be her last at Old Trafford.

  While it is true that United have long seen Garnacho as a player they wanted to cash in on, he has effectively kicked himself out of the club due to his ill-advised comments on social media and in interviews. His teenage brother, Roberto, has not helped matters, as he has repeatedly spouted off after United defeats, and has become so outspoken that some journalists mistakenly assumed he was the players’ agent.

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  Believing the hype

  Garnacho is in fact represented by Spanish agents Carlos Cambeiro and Quique de Lucas. They have managed his career well and it should not be forgotten that he has not yet turned 21. But they have not been able to keep his social media use in check, and the player’s insistence on causing a stir online could well be his downfall. The words of Paul Scholes come to mind: "Stop talking on the social media and start playing."

  Garnacho was a thrilling prospect when he burst into the United team in 2022-23, ending it with five goals and five assists in all competitions despite mostly playing as a substitute. When GOAL profiled him during that season, United’s head of academy Nick Cox was careful to state that Garnacho had not “made it” and warned that the then-18-year-old "has a lot of development ahead of him."

  He locked down his place in the starting line-up the following season and scored the Premier League Goal of the Season against Everton, as well as the opener in the FA Cup final victory over Manchester City. Garnacho finished the campaign with 10 goals and seven assists, an excellent platform for his third season. Last season, meanwhile, was his most productive season, with 11 goals and 10 assists, but some important footnotes are needed.

  Six of his 21 goal contributions came in two Carabao Cup games, against Barnsley and Leicester City, while Garnacho just scored six times in the Premier League, with half of them coming against relegated sides. He has not kicked on as much as he should have done, and it feels like he fell into the trap Cox had warned of, believing he had ‘made it’ before he had.

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  Ronaldo a good role model…

  Garnacho’s first Premier League goal for United was a last-gasp winner at Fulham which brought back memories of Ronaldo’s goal at Craven Cottage in 2007. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner had set up Garnacho’s first senior goal for the club weeks earlier at Real Sociedad. and it is no secret that Ronaldo was the player Garnacho had idolised as a child growing up in Madrid.

  He has mimicked all of Ronaldo’s major celebrations, which has left him open to ridicule on some occasions, particularly from his Argentina team-mates and left him in an awkward position whenever the Lionel Messi vs Ronaldo debate is raised. Even withstanding Ronaldo’s petulant moments with United, such as when he refused to come on as a substitute and his controversial interview with Piers Morgan, there are not many better role models than Ronaldo when it comes to achievement and self-improvement.

Cole Palmer has been labelled as the "little superstar" by a Chelsea teammate who has backed the England international to shine under the increasing pressure of expectation. At just 23 years of age, Palmer has taken on the responsibility of being a central figure in Chelsea’s campaign, and his composure in the spotlight has been a defining trait in his development.

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Palmer has been a talismanic figure at ChelseaAdarabioyo lavished praise on the forwardWill be in action against Benfica in the CWCFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

As Palmer continues his rapid rise, his profile has reached new heights with his face featured prominently across the United States to help promote the ongoing Club World Cup. With Chelsea's aspirations for silverware growing, the pressure is on for Palmer to deliver once again. Despite that weight, Tosin Adarabioyo has no doubts about Palmer’s mettle and backed him to flourish on the global stage.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportWHAT ADARABIOYO SAID

Palmer and Adarabioyo share a longstanding friendship dating back to their days at Manchester City’s youth setup.

“I've known Cole since he was a young boy, so even me seeing him on those big banners makes me very, very proud. I think people do forget that he's still 22, 23 years of age, and he's one of the faces of this tournament," he said.

"Yeah, obviously his life has changed in the past two years. I banter with him some time and tell him he’s a little superstar. But yeah, he handles it very well. He knows his focus is brilliant on football. He loves playing football and that's Cole Palmer for you."

He added, "People say he's receiving a lot of scrutiny. I don't think Cole really looks at that, and us as teammates aren't really looking at that. He performs at a very high level every time he steps on the pitch.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Though many might view Adarabioyo as a mentor figure to Palmer, he insists their dynamic is one of mutual respect rather than hierarchy.

Adarabioyo said: “Yeah, that's my boy. I definitely wouldn't say a mentor. He's a top, top player who doesn't need advice from me to know what he has to do, but I'm there whenever he needs me. I think I settled very quickly when I came and took on that leadership role to try and help the boys whenever I can.

"We have a fair few, we have a lot of boys who are willing to lead the group. We have our captain, Reece James, Levi Colwill, Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo, Marc Cucurella and Cole Palmer.”

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR PALMER?

Palmer may not have matched his highest statistical season in terms of goals last year, finishing with 15 goals, but his contribution was vital in helping Chelsea qualify for the Champions League and clinch the UEFA Conference League title. His growing influence has now been rewarded with the club’s iconic No.10 jersey, a symbol of both trust and expectation.

The Round of 16 fixture against Benfica in the Club World Cup will be a true test of both his form and composure, especially as the world watches Chelsea’s poster boy try to lead them to international silverware.

India have long been the benchmark ODI side but even they’ll know Rashid and Gurbaz, on their day, can trip them up

Alagappan Muthu10-Oct-20232:40

How can Afghanistan do better with the bat?

Big picture: The step upIn his first press conference at this World Cup, Hashmatullah Shahidi spoke glowingly about the ability within his Afghanistan team. Even outside of it, the talent at their disposal is incredible. There’s a 23-year-old in Kunar who, but for the great Bill Ponsford, would hold the title of the fastest cricketer to 1000 first-class runs. The thing is, though, those kinds of records can sometimes speak to the lack of quality opposition. In a nutshell, that’s been Afghanistan’s problem in the longer formats.As coveted as their stars are on the T20 circuit, the chances they have to level up their one-day game are few and far between. Afghanistan have played a mere 29 matches between the last World Cup and this one. Even going as far back as the first ODI they ever played, their tally only comes to 153. There are individual players in the Indian team that they’ll face on Wednesday who have played almost twice as many matches.Related

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Experience is how batters learn when to go hard and when not to, when to just reduce risk, absorb the pressure and just trust that you can make up for lost ground. Experience is also how bowlers know it is important to keep hitting the same spot on the pitch over and over and over again. Virat Kohli, KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja exemplified this against Australia. No one in the Afghanistan team was able to do anything close in their match against a close rival.ODIs demand that you hold your nerve and your discipline for far longer than T20s do. The best place to learn that is bilateral cricket. But Afghanistan don’t really have that. What they do have – what they’ve managed since 2012 – are consistent World Cup appearances. It’s become the only meaningful way to test themselves. India are the ideal Afghanistan are striving towards and tomorrow they’ll see how far they’ve come and how far they may yet go.Form guideIndia WLWWW (last five completed ODIs, most recent first)
Afghanistan LLLLLIn the spotlight – Rohit Sharma and Rahmanullah GurbazAny team in the world would love to have Rohit Sharma at the top of their batting order. But he himself doesn’t seem to be all that satisfied with where he’s at. He’s got it in his head that he can be more. For the past two years in ODIs, he’s been hitting ’em at better than a run-a-ball: 114 from eight innings in 2022 with an average of 41 and 109 from 16 innings in 2023 with an average of 47. The extra aggression he’s been showing has maybe had an impact in his centuries column – he only has two from the last three years – but it does seem to have other benefits. The only team that’s been able to score quicker than India (95.65) between the last World Cup and this one is England (98.19).Rahmanullah Gurbaz strikes a pretty pose•ICC via Getty Images

Rahmanullah Gurbaz will be relishing the conditions that this game will be played in. Delhi has offered freedom to hit through the line of the ball and there aren’t many that do that better than him. Right at the top of Afghanistan’s order is an agenda-setting batter to whom the entire field is available for plunder. It wasn’t that long ago that he was thumping his own team-mates Rashid and Noor Ahmad around in the IPL, scoring 81 off just 39 balls.Team news: Thakur for Ashwin?Both Rohit and his coach Rahul Dravid have been rather vocal about how important it will be for the squad to adapt to various conditions as they progress through this World Cup. Chennai was spin-friendly so they picked a bowling attack to suit that. Delhi won’t be, so it’s quite likely they’ll ask R Ashwin to step aside for Shardul Thakur. Shubman Gill is still recovering from dengue and has not travelled with the team.India (probable): 1 Rohit Sharma (capt), 2 Ishan Kishan, 3 Virat Kohli, 4 Shreyas Iyer/Suryakumar Yadav, 5 KL Rahul (wk), 6 Hardik Pandya, 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 R Ashwin, 9 Kuldeep Yadav, 10 Jasprit Bumrah, 11 Mohammed SirajAfghanistan put out the best team they had in Dharamsala and their captain said they were beaten because they had a bad day. It’s possible Shahidi might back the same XI to do better against India.Afghanistan (probable): 1 Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), 2 Ibrahim Zadran, 3 Rahmat Shah, 4 Hashmatullah Shahidi (capt), 5 Mohammad Nabi, 6 Najibullah Zadran, 7 Azmatullah Omarzai, 8 Rashid Khan, 9 Naveen-ul-Haq, 10 Mujeeb Ur Rahman, 11 Fazalhaq FarooqiPitch and conditions The Feroz Shah Kotla was the scene where World Cup records tumbled with South Africa and Sri Lanka aggregating the highest match total and Aiden Markram amassing the fastest century.Stats and trivia Prior to 2022 and 2023, only once in his entire career had Rohit gone through a year’s worth of work and come away with a strike rate of better than a run a ball – 100.09 from 19 innings in 2018. Having got there in 27 innings, Gurbaz is the quickest of the 13 Afghanistan batters to the mark of 1000 ODI runs Quotes”As a team we are prepared to do that. It is something we have been talking about in our group – whoever suits the conditions needs to come and do the job for us.”
“We have a good spin-bowling attack, but only one department can’t win you games. You have to score runs for that, to win the game.”

MatériaMais Notícias

Antes de enfrentar o Flamengo pelo primeiro jogo da final na Copa do Brasil, o Corinthians tem um duro duelo neste sábado (8), contra o Athletico-PR, peloBrasileirão, onde o nível de concentração da equipe será colocado à prova na Neo Química Arena.

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Em lançamento de camisa, Corinthians promove ação dedicada ao Mundial no Japão; veja imagens

Nos últimos três jogos do Timão após a Data Fifa, a equipe treinada por Vítor Pereira vem sofrendo pela desatenção e ansiedade gerada principalmente pelo duelo contra o Rubro-Negro. O treinador português inclusive se mostrou incomodado pelos erros coletivos e individuais em sua última coletiva.

O clube alvinegro vem patinando nos minutos iniciais dos primeiros e segundos tempos, onde a equipe acaba sofrendo na marcação e levando gols por falhas individuais.

Contra o Cuiabá, Deyverson marcou aos três minutos, mas o gol foi anulado. No jogo seguinte, diante do Juventude, Óscar Ruiz balançou as redes no primeiro minuto da etapa final após erro na saída de bola de Raul Gustavo.

Para Cássio, é importante mostrar força no Brasileirão para elevar a moral do elenco antes dos jogos decisivos.

– A gente tem que estar focado no jogo do Brasileiro. O jogo da Copa do Brasil é na próxima semana. No meu ponto de vista, e pela minha experiência, resultados positivos aumentam a confiança, a gente vai melhorando, estamos em uma sequência de resultados positivos e acho que fazer um grande jogo no sábado é fundamental, é importante para se manter no G4 – disse o capitão durante evento de lançamento da terceira camisa.

– Jogo onde vamos estar concentrados e focados para fazer uma grande partida, um grande jogo em casa, diante da nossa torcida, e depois, sim, pensar na final da Copa do Brasil – concluiu o goleiro corintiano.

+ Veja tabela e simule as próximas rodadas do Brasileirão

Do outro lado, o Corinthians encontrará uma equipe que tem as mesmas aspirações no campeonato: ficar no G4 do Brasileirão para não depender do título em um torneio mata-mata na luta pela vaga direta à Libertadores.

O Furacão só entraria no ‘pelotão de elite’ do Campeonato Brasileiro nesta rodada caso superasse o Timão por quatro gols de diferença. Mesmo assim, uma vitória em Itaquera deixaria a diferença entre as equipes apenas no saldo de gols.

A única vez na qual o clube alvinegro foi derrotado em seus domínios no Campeonato Brasileiro foi para o rival Palmeiras. Com aproveitamento de 75,56%, a equipe de Vítor Pereira tem a melhor campanha como mandante do campeonato. Já o time treinado por Felipão não vence como visitante há quatro partidas no Brasileirão.