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England captain says India defeat will “plant a little bit of doubt in Australia’s mind”

AAP01-Nov-2021Joe Root has declared the Gabba is no longer a stronghold, arguing doubt will linger in Australia’s minds when the Ashes start on December 8 because of their shock Test loss to India’s depleted XI.India stormed to an unexpected victory at the Gabba in January, snapping Australia’s undefeated Test streak at the ground that had dated back to 1988. The tourists completed a venue-record chase of 328; a feat made even more remarkable because Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, Ashwin, Mohammed Shami and several other first-choice players were unavailable.Uncertainty regarding England’s participation in the five-Test series had dominated the Ashes phoney war in recent months. But the series is now set to begin with its traditional curtain-raiser in Brisbane and Root, who departs alongside England’s red-ball specialists this week, has delivered a timely reminder about what occurred in Australia’s most recent Test.Related

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“Look at that India team that won at the Gabba. They were a long way from their first-choice XI but they had no fear,” England’s captain told the . “They stood up to Australia and won crucial parts of that Test.”It will give every player in our squad a huge amount of confidence and just plant a little bit of doubt in Australia’s mind. Having to go back there and play again for the first time against us, what with it being such a stronghold for them for such a long period of time. We now know that it’s not.”England have been the world’s busiest national cricket side throughout the Covid-19 era, whereas Australia’s series loss to India represents their only Test cricket since the pandemic erupted.Root has already equalled the English record for most Test centuries in a calendar year, reaching three figures on six occasions in 2021. He has yet to score a century in Australia but believes lessons learned from miserable 2013-14 and 2017-18 tours, which England lost by a combined scoreline of 9-0, will help him continue his red-hot form.”The two previous tours I think if anything I probably got a bit too desperate,” he said. That extra bit of experience off the back of a fruitful year for me personally puts me in a better place.”Root was understandably thrilled to have Ben Stokes back in England’s Ashes plans and mentally ready to return to cricket. Stokes required two surgeries to repair a finger injury, while he also took time out of the game for his own mental wellbeing.”I’d got an inkling. I’d had some good conversations with Ben over the period while he’s not been playing,” Root said. “It was just such a joy to hear him speak. You could almost hear his smile, if that makes sense, down the phone. You could tell he was so much happier within himself.”

Manchester United continued their lacklustre form with a 1-1 draw away to Turkish outfit Fenerbahce. Erik ten Hag’s side could only stumble to a point away from home against a well-drilled home side led by their former boss, the legendary Jose Mourinho.

It was United who took the lead despite reams of early pressure from the home side. A well-worked move, started by summer signing Manuel Ugarte who won the ball in midfield, saw Christian Eriksen fire home from just inside the penalty box.

Mourinho’s team continued to pile on the pressure, and United goalkeeper Andre Onana pulled off a fantastic double save to deny Youssef En-Nesyri.

However, the Morocco international managed to get on the scoresheet just moments into the second half.

He met a cross from former Newcastle United man Allan Saint-Maximin, rising higher than Victor Lindelof to head home and equalise. Neither side was able to find the decisive action which won the game, and it ultimately petered out into a draw.

It was another frustrating night for United and Ten Hag’s side have now failed to win in Europe for exactly one year. There were some interesting selections from the Dutchman on Thursday night, in particular with Noussair Mazraoui’s role against the Turkish side.

Mazraoui’s stats vs. Fenerbahce

In Bruno Fernandes’ absence following his suspension after two yellow cards against Porto, it was interesting to see who the Dutchman would turn to as his replacement. His selection of Mazraoui at number 10 certainly caused a few surprises.

All things considered, it was not a bad performance by someone who is, by trade, a full-back. The Moroccan is an incredibly technical player which showed in some of his actions against Fenerbahce. He had some bright moments and played a part in Eriksen’s goal.

Indeed, his performance in Turkey was enough to receive a 6/10 rating from The Manchester Evening News’ chief Manchester United writer Samuel Luckhurst. He praised the United number three for being “positionally disciplined”, although ultimately said the experiment was unsuccessful.

The former Ajax defender certainly worked hard in an unfamiliar role, and his Sofascore stats reflect that. The 26-year-old had 64 touches of the ball, completing 83% of his passes and three from four long balls. Out of possession, he won two duels and two tackles.

Given the circumstances, Mazraoui put in a solid performance, and there were certainly more disappointing players on the pitch in a United shirt, including striker Joshua Zirkzee.

Zirkzee’s stats vs. Fenerbahce

It has been an underwhelming start to life at Old Trafford for Netherlands international Zirkzee. After a debut goal against Fulham, the 23-year-old has not found the back of the net, although he did get his first assist in a United shirt against Fenerbahce.

The former Bologna striker teed the classy Danish midfielder up nicely, setting the ball perfectly for the United number 14 to rifle home and give his side the lead. Outside of that, however, the Red Devils striker struggled, and his usual fluid link-up play was not on display.

Indeed, his stats also suggest it was a tough night at the office. The United number 11 had just 21 touches, far fewer than Onana managed, with 49 to his name. Zirkzee managed to complete just 67% of his passes, lost the ball seven times and won two from eight duels.

Touches

21

Pass accuracy

67%

Passes completed

8/12

Ground duels won

1/4

Aerial duels won

1/4

Number of times possession lost

7

Assists

1

His performance earned him a 4/10 rating from the aforementioned Luckhurst following the game. The journalist gave the United striker a scathing review and explained that it was an ‘anaemic performance’ from the 23-year-old.

Ten Hag will no doubt be hoping Zirkzee can find his shooting boots soon. The games are coming thick and fast, and United need to pick up wins to get themselves out of this run of poor form.

Next Man Utd manager: Who could replace Erik ten Hag?

Erik ten Hag has been sacked by Manchester United – so who could take over the reins at Old Trafford?

2 ByStephan Georgiou Oct 28, 2024

Juventus are pursuing defensive reinforcements and have reportedly opened talks with Newcastle United over a potential loan move for Lloyd Kelly.

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Thiago Motta wants a centre back in January Discussions are underway for Kelly with the MagpiesCould have a buy clause set between €15m – €18mFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

According to reports from , discussions between Juventus and Newcastle are progressing, with the Serie A club edging closer to securing Kelly’s services. Initial talks suggested that Juventus were hoping to bring the defender in on a simple loan deal or at most with an option to buy. However, Newcastle have made it clear that they will only agree to a move if a mandatory purchase clause, between €15m (£12.5m/$15.5m) and €18m (£15m/$18.65m), is included in the agreement.

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Kelly arrived at St. James’ Park last summer on a free transfer from Bournemouth but has found opportunities limited under Eddie Howe. Despite being a versatile defender capable of playing both centrally and on the left, he has struggled to break into the starting lineup as he faces stiff competition from established names such as Lewis Hall, Dan Burn, and Fabian Schar. Additionally, the recent return of Sven Botman from injury has further reduced his chances of getting regular game time.

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The Bianconeri have already had an active transfer window. They recently signed right-back Alberto Costa on a permanent deal and secured loan agreements for Renato Veiga and Randal Kolo Muani from Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain, respectively.

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Despite losing just one league match all season, Juventus currently sit fifth in the Serie A standings. Motta is eager to maintain his side’s competitive edge and sees defensive stability as a priority in the final stretch of the campaign. Bringing in Kelly would not only address their immediate depth concerns but could also provide a long-term defensive solution.

West Brom are reportedly among a number of sides looking to sign a player in January who Carlos Corberan has previously called “special”.

West Brom winless in six Championship games

The Baggies made a solid start to the Championship campaign and were table toppers after a handful of games, however, things have slowly gone south at The Hawthorns in October.

Corberan’s side suffered their first league defeat at the end of September to Sheffield Wednesday and failed to pick up a victory in five October fixtures. That has resulted in them slipping down the standings, however, they are still in the Championship playoff places and are just three points off the automatic promotion spots.

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Over the coming weeks, West Brom will be without experienced defender Kyle Bartley, whereas Paddy McNair and Semi Ajayi are also struggling with injuries.

The games will soon come thick and fast for the Baggies after the next international break, and before we know it, the January transfer window will also be open. By the looks of things, West Brom could be active in the winter market, with one former target back on the radar in the Midlands.

West Brom eyeing Lewis O’Brien move

According to TEAMtalk, West Brom are one of six clubs interested in signing Nottingham Forest midfielder Lewis O’Brien in the New Year.

The 26-year-old is currently on loan in the MLS with LAFC, with their season finishing in December. A move in January could therefore be on the cards for O’Brien, with Hull City, Leeds, Sheffield United, Southampton and Stoke City also keen on the midfielder.

Interestingly, O’Brien once agreed a loan move to West Brom, however, a deal fell through in the final stages of the January 2023 window and he moved to DC United months later.

Should Corberan get his man in 2025, he would be reuniting with a player who he worked with at Huddersfield Town, and it’s safe to say the current Baggies boss is a big fan of O’Brien.

“He is a brilliant player, there are two things. Firstly this year he has played as number three as a left-back and a wing-back, in his best position in midfield as a number eight, as number eleven, as a ten, and even as a number seven the other day in the change to a 3-4-3 he spent some minutes playing on the right.

“But it’s not only the fact that Lewis O’Brien can compete at a top-level every single time he plays whatever position he is on the football pitch, it’s how he reacts to how you make him play in different positions. There is what makes him a special player and that is the fact that means I don’t see limits in his career and I don’t see limits in his potential.”

A transfer could be one to watch over the coming months, however, West Brom will seemingly have to beat a number of sides to O’Brien’s services.

The very thing which used to set the Premier League champions apart from the rest is now increasingly becoming their biggest weakness

It was less than four months ago that Pep Guardiola was asked what he valued most in his Manchester City players. At the time, City had won nine of their first 12 matches of the season in all competitions while remaining unbeaten. They looked very much capable of winning a fifth-consecutive Premier League title and had snatched results against Wolves and Arsenal with late goals. The coach's response is worth re-visiting after City took a 2-1 lead against Real Madrid with 10 minutes remaining at the Etihad Stadium and turned it into a 3-2 defeat.

"They have an incredible mentality," Guardiola said at the time. "Most of them are so strong, so competitive. There’s a tendency to relax, I always have this concern when we win again. What is it going to happen? A drop after you win. But I don’t see it. I don’t see it winning or losing, performing well or bad. I don’t see this factor of dropping. Everyone pushes each other. They push me and push my staff with ideas, with new things. If I don’t like it, they accept it well because it’s for the team. They forget immediately, win or lose. They’re on to the next, what’s next? They’re true competitors."

How far away that statement feels right now. Because if there is one thing that sums up Manchester City at the moment, it is their mental fragility.

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Jurgen Klopp called his Liverpool side the 'mentality monsters', but more often than not, City had the mental edge over the Reds, pipping them to the Premier League title on three out of four occasions when they duelled at the summit. City have won six league crowns in the last seven years, amassing 18 trophies on Guardiola's watch. But something truly remarkable has happened to City this season.

They have lost no fewer than five matches in 2024-25 from winning positions, as many as in the previous four seasons combined. Madrid's late turnaround from being 2-1 down in the 80th minute to 3-2 up in the 91st was emphatic and stunning, but it did not come out of the blue.

It was not even the latest turnaround of the season to cost City. Guardiola's side were leading against Manchester United until conceding Bruno Fernandes' penalty in the 88th minute, only to then see Amad Diallo net a winner in the 90th. The Cityzens chucked away a 2-0 advantage at Paris Saint-Germain to lose 4-2, while also losing from winning positions against Sporting CP and Brighton. City were leading at the Amex Stadium until the 78th minute, but by the 83rd they were behind.

City have also thrown away leads in matches they have not lost, for example when they were 2-0 up at Brentford last month but drew 2-2 after conceding in the 82nd and 92nd minutes.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportWorrying theme

City's tendency to collapse has been particularly prevalent in the Champions League. They have shipped eight goals in the last 16 minutes across five of their nine games in Europe's top competition. Their most spectacular surrender was actually in a game they did not lose, the 3-3 draw with Feyenoord, but it sure felt like a defeat, as they squandered their 3-0 advantage by shipping three goals between the 74th and 89th minutes.

City might have thought, however, that they had gotten away with it when they came through their dire League Phase campaign by beating Club Brugge and finishing 22nd out of 36, sneaking into the play-offs. Sure, they had to face Real Madrid, the undisputed kings of the competition, but they had knocked them out of Europe twice before and thrashed them 4-0 at the Etihad less than two years ago.

City led a charmed life for much of Tuesday's first leg. Their fans rubbed Rodri's Ballon d'Or win in the face of Vinicius Jr before kick-off, then breathed a sigh of relief both when the Brazilian was flagged offside when he would have otherwise have won a penalty and when his shot deflected off Manuel Akanji and onto the crossbar. They jeered in delight when Kylian Mbappe missed a gilt-edged chance at the end of the first half. They celebrated every block and tackle like it was a goal. And when Haaland sent Thibaut Courtois the wrong way to restore their lead in the 80th minute, City supporters thought they were heading to the Spanish capital next week with a lovely one-goal cushion.

Getty'We gave it away'

But those very same tendencies they had demonstrated throughout the League Phase came back to haunt them on Tuesday. Ederson, who was culpable for the defeats in Paris and Turin, as well as the disastrous draw with Feyenoord, was one of City's top performers against Madrid until he gave Ruben Dias a hospital pass from a goal kick and subsequently pushed Vinicius' central shot straight to the feet of Brahim Diaz, gifting the Spaniards their second equaliser.

Rico Lewis, meanwhile, suffered an untimely lapse of concentration and lost the ball to Vinicius, the last person he wanted to give it to, leading to Jude Bellingham's winner. City had seen this movie before, especially against Madrid, who knocked them out in the semi-finals in 2022 with two injury-time goals from Rodrygo. But if that late surrender in the Bernabeu felt like a one-off, what happened on Tuesday at the Etihad Stadium felt a lot more like deja-vu. Guardiola struggled to explain what had happened to his team. Or rather, what keeps on happening.

"We were not able to manage the situation," he said. "After 2-1, it happened what has happened many times this season – against Feyenoord, Sporting, Brentford, United. At the end we gave it away. At that level it is so difficult. It is not the first time, it has happened many times, and that is why it is difficult. We talk about that [how to stop it] but that is hard. We have to know that mistakes in some areas when we are there are difficult to manage. It has happened many times."

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Guardiola insisted that it was not about individuals. Ederson has certainly been a common denominator in many of City's awful results this season, but the coach admitted that his team were suffering from a collective malaise, including himself in that assessment.

"It belongs to all of us, not the players. I don’t have a problem to accept that it doesn’t work like it did in the past, it’s not a problem but [it’s about] all of us," he said. "For me, it would be easy to blame a specific player, but that is ridiculous and doesn’t work. Me the first – and the players as well. They want it – how they run, how they do it – but the truth is that we are not stable enough in those moments. Today is not an exception, it happened many times."

The fact that Guardiola kept repeating the words "many times" illustrated how there is a sense of Groundhog Day about City in the last three months.

Former Yorkshire fast bowler starts work immediately after answering call to help club

ESPNcricinfo staff05-Dec-2021Darren Gough has been appointed managing director of Yorkshire cricket* as the club looks to rebuild in the wake of last week’s sacking of its coaching and medical staff.Yorkshire confirmed Gough’s appointment on Monday morning amid the fallout from Azeem Rafiq’s allegations of institutional racism at the club. Gough will start work immediately on an interim basis, initially until the end of the 2022 season, and one of his first tasks will be to oversee the recruitment of a new coaching team.”Yorkshire County Cricket Club has been part of my life since my earliest days in cricket when I made my debut in 1989, and I spent 15 happy years at the club,” Gough said in a statement issued by the club. “Like many, I have followed how the club handled the recent racism allegations with sadness and anger.”I want to play my part in rebuilding cricket in Yorkshire and I am looking forward to working with the exceptionally talented group of players here. I am also aware of my wider responsibility to listen to everyone and ensure that every person who is associated with this club feels welcome, instilling values we want associated with the White Rose: honesty, straight talking, hard work, integrity and excellence.”Gough added that he shared “the collective determination to face the issues head on with a series of positive actions”.”Change will not happen overnight, but I am certain that we can make Headingley roar again,” he said.Lord Kamlesh Patel, the club’s new chairman, said: “As a former captain of the club, Darren’s impact on the Yorkshire and England teams was considerable as a player. His infectious enthusiasm and will to win will be so important as we aim to be the best on and off the pitch.Darren Gough spent two weeks working with England in New Zealand in 2019-20•Getty Images”As we start on this journey with Darren, we want to engage everyone at the club and involve as many people as possible in shaping our direction. We have a considerable job ahead of us, but we are ready to embrace the opportunity together and build a brighter future for Yorkshire County Cricket Club”.As one of the most popular players in Yorkshire’s history, Gough claimed 453 first-class wickets in 15 years with the club, during which time he also picked up 229 wickets in 58 Test appearances for England, before finishing his career at Essex, where he still lives.Gough, 51, has been working in the media – doing commentary and hosting talkSPORT’s Drivetime radio show – and been involved in coaching on a consultancy basis since his retirement in 2008, including a stint with England’s Test squad in New Zealand in 2019-20.His new role is expected to be focused on strategy, planning, recruitment and development as he steps into the role vacated by Martyn Moxon on Friday – one of 16 members of the back-room staff axed in a dramatic statement of the club’s determination to put the racism scandal behind them.That issue is unlikely to resolved without further revelations, however. The 16 former employees are expected to seek legal advice on Monday, after it transpired that several of their number had sent a joint letter to the Yorkshire board in October, seen by ESPNcricinfo, outlining their deep unease at the club’s handling of the racism case, and its failure to rebut Rafiq’s extensive claims.*December 6, 10am GMT – This story was updated throughout after confirmation of Gough’s appointment

Celtic moved up to 13th in the league phase of the Champions League on Tuesday night with a fantastic 3-1 win over Bundesliga side RB Leipzig.

The Hoops have now won two and drawn one of their opening four matches in the competition, which means that they have already outperformed their tally in the group stage of the 2023/24 campaign, before the change in format.

Brendan Rodgers’ side only won one match and registered four points, as they finished bottom of their group, and the change in format has seemingly benefitted the Scottish giants this term.

Aside from the devastating 7-1 defeat to Borussia Dortmund in Germany, the Bhoys have impressed on the continent, with a 5-1 win over SK Slovan, a 0-0 draw away at Atalanta, and a 3-1 win over Leipzig.

It was the away side, however, that took the lead at Parkhead on Tuesday night, through Christoph Baumgartner’s header at the back post from a corner.

A brace from Nicolas Kuhn before half-time put the home side in front, though, and Reo Hatate then secured all three points for Celtic with a third.

Nicolas Kuhn's performance against RB Leipzig

The match-winner and game-changer for Celtic was, yet, again Kuhn, as he produced a phenomenal display in Europe against Leipzig, which was praised by goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel after the match.

He had not scored a goal in the Champions League prior to Tuesday night, with one assist in the first three matches, and announced himself on the European stage against the German side.

His first goal was a thing of pure beauty. The left-footed magician cut inside from the right flank and curled a sublime shot into the far corner from the edge of the box to make it 1-1 on the night.

Kuhn was then perfectly positioned for Greg Taylor’s cross to convert the ball into an almost empty net, after Daizen Maeda completely fluffed his lines by missing the ball.

The 24-year-old star also created two chances for his teammates on the night, which speaks to his creativity and unselfishness, but did not register an assist.

As you can see in the graphic above, Kuhn’s two goals also came from an xG of just 0.56 and this shows that his finishing against the Bundesliga side was ruthless.

His performance for the Scottish giants was far from a surprise, though, as the former Rapid Vienna sensation has been in stunning form throughout the campaign so far for Rodgers.

Nicolas Kuhn's form this season

The German attacker has produced nine goals and ten assists in 16 matches in all competitions for the Hoops so far this term, which is a staggering return for this point in the season.

To be on the verge of a double double for goals and assists before the November international break is a big achievement and shows that he has emerged as the star in this Celtic team.

Appearances

9

Starts

7

Goals

3

Assists

5

Key passes per game

2.2

As you can see in the table above, the talented ace has been directly involved in eight goals in seven starts in the Scottish Premiership for the Bhoys.

The former Bayern Munich youngster only managed three goals and three assists in 18 games during his first season at Parkhead, which shows that he has taken a huge step forward this year.

Rodgers could already have his next Kuhn at the club in the form of South Korean prospect Hyun-jun Yang, who produced a positive performance off the bench on Tuesday and has the potential to also take a huge step forward.

Why Hyun-jun Yang could be the next Nicolas Kuhn

Firstly, the young winger came off the bench to complete 100% (1/1) of his attempted dribbles and 93% (13/14) of his attempted passes, whilst winning two of his three duels.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast's Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

He proved to Rodgers that he has the energy and the quality to come in and hold his own against a top-quality side in Leipzig, who are second in the Bundesliga, in a big European game, even if it was only as a substitute on this occasion.

At the age of 22, Yang has plenty of time left to develop and improve during his time with the Hoops and could look to follow in Kuhn’s footsteps by emerging as a key player for the club out wide.

The South Korean wizard has all the attributes he needs to become a star for Celtic in the future but it is about showing them consistently and adjusting to the physicality and intensity of the game in Scotland, and in Europe.

Celtic signed Yang from Gangwon in the summer of 2023 and their president Kim Byung-ji heaped praise on the youngster at the time of the move. He said: “I hope Yang will continue to grow. He could easily become a world class player like Son Heung-min.

“He was a mainstay for our team and was an inspiration.”

These comments suggest that the young forward, who scored eight goals and supplied four assists in 31 K League 1 games during the 2022 campaign, has far more to show in a Celtic shirt.

Yang was recently handed a start against Dundee in the Premiership and made a positive impression, completing 90% of his attempted passes and creating one ‘big chance’.

It was his first start of the season and his performance was good enough to suggest that Rodgers should keep him around the first-team and provide him with more opportunities moving forward.

Appearances

24

Starts

10

Goals

1

Big chances created

5

Assists

3

As you can see in the table above, Yang showed signs of quality in his first season at the club last term, with six goals and ‘big chances’ created combined in ten starts.

It was his first year in Europe, away from South Korea, and that meant that it was mainly about him learning and adapting to football in this continent, rather than one where he was expected to be an instant success.

The 22-year-old ace now has over a year’s worth of experience in Scotland and could now look to kick on and fulfill his potential, by emerging as a key player for the Hoops moving forward.

Worth more than Kuhn: Celtic lost a real star whose value's soared 1,300%

The former Celtic forward has thrived since moving down south to the Premier League.

1 ByDan Emery Nov 3, 2024

It is down to him to keep impressing when he gets on the pitch, by scoring goals and creating ‘big chances’, to then earn a place in the starting XI out wide, as Kuhn did on his path to being the team’s main man.

Ex-Manchester United coach Carlos Queiroz has revealed how a challenge he set Cristiano Ronaldo helped to make the Portuguese a GOAT.

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Ronaldo was snapped up from Sporting in 2003Took first steps towards greatness at Old TraffordMentality forged back then has been maintainedFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Queiroz was working alongside legendary Red Devils boss Sir Alex Ferguson when the opportunity to sign Ronaldo presented itself in 2003. Two exciting talents on Sporting’s books were being considered at that time, but it was CR7 that ultimately made his way to Old Trafford.

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Speaking to , Queiroz has said of the advice that he offered which led to another iconic No.7 arriving in Manchester: “I was in my office and they called me to say that Ferguson needed me. At that time, I had no responsibility for scouting. I sat down in front of him. 'Here we are looking at two names from a club you know well and they are two Portuguese players. I want to know what you think. One is called Cristiano Ronaldo, the other Ricardo Quaresma', he told me. And I answered 'both', twice. Then, when I had to choose just one, I said it had to be Cristiano.”

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That call proved to be particularly shrewd, with Ronaldo going on to become a Premier League, Champions League and Ballon d’Or winner with United. His first spell in England delivered 118 goals through 292 appearances in all competitions.

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Queiroz added on how he set about unlocking the potential in Ronaldo’s game that has allowed him to go on and become an all-time great: “One day I called him into my office, when we were starting to introduce certain technological approaches. 'I have a challenge for you. You were born to be the best player in the world and that is a privilege, you should be grateful for that blessing. I am here to help you, but you have to tell me if you are available to work because, if you are not, I don't have the patience to waste time'. The next morning, he knocked on the door to ask when we were starting. He was always one of the first to arrive.”

“Now that we have defeated the Test champions, our next generation also has to beat New Zealand.”

Mohammad Isam05-Jan-2022Ebadot Hossain, whose 6 for 46 led Bangladesh to a famous eight-wicket win against New Zealand, said that he has had to work on his patience after a tough start to his Test career.”In the last two years, I have been working with (bowling coach) Ottis Gibson,” Ebadot said. “Conditions are always flat at home. We are still learning how to bowl and reverse in away conditions. I am trying to hit the top of the stumps. I needed to be a little patient for success to come.”Ebadot took all the big wickets in the Test, including that of Ross Taylor, on the fifth morning to send Bangladesh on their way to a historic victory, and hoped the success would serve as a benchmark for future generations of Bangladesh’s cricketers who will travel to New Zealand.”I would like to give thanks to Allah for the Test win. Our brothers and teams didn’t get win in the last 21 years in New Zealand. We set a goal this time. We raised our hand. We said, ‘we have to beat New Zealand in their own soil’,” he said. “Now that we have defeated the Test champions, our next generation has to beat New Zealand.”Ebadot has had an interesting past, and his experience as a Bangladesh Air Force employee has helped him work out a Sheldon Cottrell-like salute celebration, which was on ample display during the game.”I am a soldier of Bangladesh Air Force so I know how to do the salute,” he said. “It was a long story, from volleyball to cricket. I am enjoying cricket, representing Bangladesh and Bangladesh Air Force.”

Ipswich Town have finally picked up their first Premier League win of the season, but nobody would have anticipated it would come away at Tottenham Hotspur, who had just toppled Aston Villa 4-1 prior to this showdown with the winless Tractor Boys.

Yet, complacency must have seeped in from the hosts and the Suffolk side took advantage, with Kieran McKenna labelling the victory as a “special” one after the dust had settled on the important win, as his team now have three points next to their name at the 11th attempt.

Both Liam Delap and Sammie Szmodics were crucial up top for the visitors in hunting down this unexpected win, as the electric attacking pair traded goals to be the main heroes on the day.

Delap & Szmodics' important goals

Delap’s strike away at Spurs on Sunday means the former Manchester City striker is up to six goals for the season now from 11 Premier League contests, with his instinctive finish in North London making it 2-0 on the day.

Whilst the 21-year-old was in the right place at the right time, Szmodics’ opener was far more stylish than showing off his pouncer-like ability under pressure, as the ex-Blackburn Rovers man acrobatically gave his side the lead with an overhead kick after Delap had headed into his path.

Ipswich did then have to ride it out, as Ange Postecoglou’s side threatened a comeback courtesy of a second half strike from Rodrigo Bentancur, but the Tractor Boys defence just about managed to stand firm and a first coveted win became a reality.

Amazingly, between the two of them, Delap and Szmodics only amassed a slender 51 touches, but their crucial contributions ensured the three points would be travelling back to Portman Road.

But, there were other standout performers in the attacking positions away from just the goalscorers, as Omari Hutchinson constantly drove his rejuvenated team forward.

Hutchinson's performance in numbers

Struggling in patches this season playing in a central attacking midfield role, the ex-Chelsea forward shone from this problem area in North London, with the Spurs defenders finding it hard to keep tabs on him.

Across the course of the 90 minutes, Hutchinson attempted a staggering eight dribbles in a bid to always create an opening for his team, with five of those being successfully completed.

Minutes played

90

Goals scored

0

Assists

0

Touches

56

Accurate passes

23/26 (88%)

Key passes

1

Shots

1

Successful dribbles

5/8

Total duels won

12/23

Fouled

4x

Going in for a mammoth 23 duels across the clash too, with 12 of them seeing Hutchinson come out on top, the 21-year-old very much operated as a lively presence for McKenna’s men all afternoon, keeping up the energy levels to ensure a much-needed win was forthcoming.

Spurs supporters would have been glad to see the back of the ex-Chelsea attacker come full-time no doubt, with Hutchinson winning himself four fouls as a tenacious figure for the visitors.

Rewarded with the Man of the Match honour and an 9/10 rating post-match by East Anglian Daily Times journalist Alex Jones, the tireless Tractor Boys number 20 will hope he has made that number ten role his own now after such a sharp showing, despite the majority of his heroics last campaign in the Championship coming from down the flanks.

Still, McKenna has clear faith in Hutchinson from this position and it more than paid off on Sunday, as the 21-year-old played a starring role in Ipswich’s jubilant first win of the top-flight campaign.

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