أبدى وائل القباني، لاعب الزمالك السابق والمحلل الفني الحالي، استياءه من الأداء الذي قدمه الفريق الأبيض خلال مباراته أمام المصري البورسعيدي في بطولة كأس الكونفدرالية الإفريقية، مشيرًا إلى أن الزمالك لم يظهر رغبته الحقيقية في الفوز إلا خلال الثلث الأخير من اللقاء.
مواجهة الزمالك والمصري قد انتهت بالتعادل السلبي بدون أهداف، ليتقاسم الفريقان نقاط المباراة ويستمر الفارس الأبيض على عرش صدارة المجموعة.
محامي كهربا: طلبنا تعويضًا 35 مليون جنيه بسبب الفيديو المسرب.. وتطورات جديدة في قضية فتوح
وقال القباني في تصريحات تلفزيونية بفضائية “المحور”: “لم أشعر أن الزمالك يريد الفوز إلا في آخر ثلث ساعة من المباراة”.
وتابع: “لا أعرف إذا كان كريستيان جروس، المدير الفني للفريق، كان يخطط للخروج بهذه النتيجة أم لا، أراه مُصرًا على إشراك حسام أشرف، ومع كامل احترامي له، إلا أنه ليس على مستوى أن يكون مهاجم الزمالك في هذه المرحلة، أعتقد أن ناصر منسي أو سيف الجزيري هما الأفضل لهذا الدور”.
وأضاف القباني أن بعض قرارات جروس الفنية أثرت على الأداء الهجومي للفريق، موضحًا: “جروس كان يُحجم أحمد فتوح في الأدوار الهجومية، وهذا الأمر انعكس على أداء مصطفى شلبي. عدم تقدم فتوح للأمام لا يسمح لشلبي بالدخول إلى العمق، وهو ما أفقد الفريق حلولًا هجومية فعالة”.
وتطرق القباني إلى الحديث عن مركز الظهير الأيسر، مشيرًا إلى أن هناك حاجة لمراجعة خيارات الفريق في هذا المركز، وقال: “إذا كان محمود بنتايج سليم، فأنا أرى أنه يجب أن يكون أساسيًا على حساب أحمد فتوح، رغم أن فتوح لاعب قوي، إلا أنه أشبه بلاعب خماسي يُجيد اللعب في المساحات الضيقة، بينما مركز الظهير الأيسر يحتاج إلى لاعب يمتلك السرعة ويجيد التقدم هجوميًا باستمرار”.
ويتواجد الزمالك والمصري في المجموعة الرابعة ببطولة الكونفدرالية التي تضم إلى جوارهما فريقي بلاك بولز الموزمبيقي وإنيمبا النيجيري.
West Ham United have dispelled any notion that the glory days have passed, with new head coach Julen Lopetegui combining with technical director Tim Steidten to get busy building this summer.
Luis Guilherme, an exciting teenage winger from Brazil, has signed in a £25.5m deal, while Wolverhampton Wanderers captain Max Kilman has joined for £40m. More is set to happen at the London Stadium, with landing a centre-forward among the most important issues.
Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran
Luckily, as per Fabrizio Romano, West Ham have been busy, offering £35m to sign Jhon Duran from Aston Villa. The 20-year-old Colombian scored eight goals for Unai Emery's side last season and has been described as an "erratic entertainer" by The Athletic's Jacob Tanswell, creating a storm of chaos when thrown onto the field.
Michail Antonio, 34, started just 21 times in the Premier League last year as he battled through injuries, and he shall remain on the books. Danny Ings, however, has flattered to deceive throughout his time as an Iron and must be ditched.
Why Danny Ings must be sold
West Ham signed Ings from Aston Villa for £15m in January 2023. He had been a prolific Premier League figure with Southampton, where he scored 44 goals from 100 matches, but fell by the wayside in the Midlands.
Danny Ings for West Ham
Frankly, he hasn't picked himself up in the capital, instead tumbled deeper and deeper into the muddy morass. A return of four goals from 52 appearances hardly speaks of an astute investment, especially given the struggles that West Ham have found at No. 9 over recent years.
For Lopetegui to throw the veteran – who will be 32 years old in under two weeks – back into the starring role at centre-forward would likely prove to be an unsuccessful opening gambit, and considering his weekly salary, it's surely time to take him off the books.
West Ham: Highest Earners
Rank
Player
Salary
1.
Lucas Paqueta
£150k-per-week
2.
Danny Ings
£125-per-week
2.
Kurt Zouma
£125k-per-week
4.
Jarrod Bowen
£120k-per-week
4.
Alphonse Areola
£120k-per-week
6.
James Ward-Prowse
£115k-per-week
Sourced via Capology
The joint-second-highest earner in the London Stadium club's squad, Ings has not provided West Ham with bang for their buck – not by half.
Given that the up-and-coming Duran is earning just £30k per week at Villa – over four times less than his positional peer – he could feasibly be signed and provided with a salary comfortably below that of the three-cap England international.
Aston Villa striker Jhon Duran.
Southampton are actually seeking to re-sign the striker this summer after getting promoted to the Premier League, so surely here is the perfect opportunity to close a forgettable door for all involved.
Ings just didn't click in Moyes' West Ham system, and while Lopetegui's arrival has seen fresh life gust into the first-team squad, the one-time Saints sharpshooter is not getting any younger and to balance the striking odds on his shoulders would be an ill-fated gamble indeed.
It would be quite ironic for the Hammers to ditch Ings, having signed him from Villa, and replace him with Duran, signing him from Villa. But while the first time proved unlucky, Duran has the world at his feet and might just prove to be an absolute force in the Premier League for years to come.
Steidten and the powers that be in east London must ensure that this transfer rotation is enacted swiftly.
West Ham have hit gold on phenom who's worth even more than Watkins & Duran
Julen Lopetegui must relish the chance to wield this highly talented player.
Glasgow Rangers manager Philippe Clement may have already signed seven players this summer, but the reality is, a few members of the Ibrox first team will have to be sold in order to fund more arrivals.
Speaking ahead of last weekend's friendly, Clement discussed how his philosophy has changed since taking over at Rangers last year, saying: “If I only looked at the short term I would only bring in experienced players who can do the job directly.
“Mistakes like that have been made too much in the past and at the end you don’t reach your goals. You need a different philosophy and that’s what we are all working towards. This is a massive rebuilding job, it is true.”
With this in mind, should he cash in on one of Michael Beale’s 2023 summer signings in the next few weeks?
The latest on Cyriel Dessers' future
According to journalist Pete O’Rourke, Rangers are considering selling Cyriel Dessers this summer, with some interest being shown in the Nigerian centre-forward.
Indeed, Greek side PAOK were heavily linked with a move for the player a few weeks ago, while clubs in France and Spain were also said to have registered some interest in luring the 29-year-old away from Ibrox this summer.
Cyriel Dessers
The Rangers Review stated that Clement will be looking to recoup around £4.5m should Dessers leave, which is around the fee they paid to sign him from Cremonese last summer.
Speaking to Ziggo Sport Voetbal (via the Scottish Sun), Dessers outlined his desire to stay, however, saying: "I am very happy here, so I would like to stay. "There is some interest, but my intention is to stay and then we will see what happens."
Rangers' highest earners
Player
Weekly wage
Connor Goldson
£37k-per-week
James Tavernier
£30k-per-week
Ben Davies
£27k-per-week
Cyriel Dessers
£27k-per-week
Danilo
£26k-per-week
Via Salary Sport
Given he is approaching 30, the forward is a prime candidate to be sold by Clement and there is no shortage of players he could target in order to replace the former Feyenoord hitman…
Dessers' potential replacement at Rangers
Last month, the Daily Record reported that Rangers were showing interest in Bristol City striker Tommy Conway and could make an offer for the player should he run down the final 12 months of his contract.
Tommy Conway for Bristol City.
Despite City’s attempts at securing him on a new deal, it looks as though he will be leaving the club sooner rather than later, with pundit Tom Sandy believing that the Championship side should be looking at offers of around £5m in order for any club to prise him away this summer.
Recently, former Rangers captain Barry Ferguson has endorsed a move for the youngster, saying: “Aye he’s a good player isn’t he the boy? He’s 21, I don’t know exactly what the fee would be, but he ticks all the boxes in terms of what Rangers [are looking for], how their recruitment is going. Bring them in, younger guys, make them better, then can we sell them on?
“Listen, he’s a talented boy in the Scotland Under-21s and you don’t make the Euros if you’re not a good player so what you can see is there’s a lot to work with there and a lot to improve. I think under our current manager he would do that.”
The youngster may not have made an appearance for Scotland in Germany during Euro 2024, but he did enjoy a stellar campaign in the second tier last term.
Tommy Conway’s season in numbers for Bristol City
In 43 matches last term, Conway scored 12 goals and grabbed one assist, with his performances in the FA Cup enough to get tongues wagging about his talents.
Indeed, not only did he score in a 1-1 draw against West Ham United in the third round, but he managed to net the winner against the Premier League outfit a week later, seeing Bristol City through to the next round.
Among his teammates at City, Conway ranked first for goals and assists (11) in the Championship, while also ranking first for shots on target per game (0.7) and second for penalties won (1) throughout the campaign.
Rangers desperately require some added reinforcements to their attacking department and Conway could be an ideal signing, especially with plenty of opportunities for development.
What Tommy Conway could offer Rangers
Hailed as a “gifted boy” by Steve Evans, Conway could thrive in the physical nature of Scottish football.
The striker won 1.3 ground duels in the Championship last term – a success rate of 45% – but there is no doubt that this could improve as he gets older.
Tommy Conway celebrates for Bristol City.
Dessers may have scored 22 goals for the Light Blues, but he missed a staggering 27 big chances in the Premiership alone.
While Conway may not have scored as much as the Nigerian, he was more clinical in front of goal, missing just ten big chances while recording a 19% goal conversion rate, better than the 16% Dessers achieved last term.
Rangers forward Cyriel Dessers.
Given the fact Conway is eight years younger than the current Light Blues forward, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that he could be a long-term solution for Clement.
Exposure to European football will also accelerate his development, something which could see his transfer value skyrocket in the future.
While a move this summer depends on how much funds the Belgian tactician can raise, perhaps it would be more logical to wait six months and target him on a free transfer ahead of the 2025/26 season, or even submit a low bid to test City’s resolve in January.
Whatever happens, a talent like Conway shouldn’t be allowed to slip through the net. Aside from being young and showing prodigious talent, he is Scottish, which will allow Clement to bolster his homegrown contentment even further.
The move is a no-brainer, but it will likely depend on various other factors going the club’s way in order for it to become a reality.
Clement could sign Kris Boyd 2.0 at Rangers in £5m machine
Rangers could make a move for a player who is representing his country at Euro 2024
KL Rahul and T Natarajan play key roles too as Australia go down by 11 runs
Daniel Brettig04-Dec-2020Concussion substitute Yuzvendra Chahal plucked three vital wickets and opened a fresh chapter in cricket’s long history of debating topics after being chosen – controversially – to replace Ravindra Jadeja, delivering India a comfortable victory in the opening T20I at Manuka Oval in Canberra.ALSO WATCH: Match highlights – Jadeja, Chahal, Natarajan help India win series opener (India subcontinent only)Jadeja’s exit from the contest – he suffered a hamstring injury first and was then hit on the helmet in the last over of India’s innings – allowed India to call upon a wristspinner in Chahal, who had been harshly treated during the ODI series but found himself defending a serviceable total on the night and responding grandly.Yuzvendra Chahal made a big impact after coming on as a concussion substitute•Getty Images
In contrast, the Australians gradually lost grip of a contest that had appeared more or less in their keeping when India were restricted to 114 for 6 with 19 balls of their innings remaining after Aaron Finch sent them in to bat. A target of 162 should still have been well within the grasp of Finch’s team, but their innings sank steadily into the mire thanks to Chahal, T Natarajan’s zippy left-armers, and Virat Kohli’s growing command of the battlefield.Starc returns in finer fettle Something was not quite right about Mitchell Starc in the first two ODIs, and he was missing from the third with what was described as a minor side and/or rib complaint. This had been a surprise to many, given his recent displays with both white and red ball, but the physical ailment had at least gone some way to explaining why he had been lined up so effectively by India’s batsmen at the SCG.At Manuka, Starc returned, and while not quite firing on all cylinders, he offered something far closer to his best in his opening two overs. At high pace, he found a hint of swing into KL Rahul during the opening over of the match, and found the lines and lengths that made him hard to dispatch to the boundary on a good pitch. In his second over, Starc struck, and Shikhar Dhawan was the victim.Seeing a delivery of fullish length, Dhawan leant forward to drive, but, to his horror, saw the ball curl away late to flick off stump. Starc celebrated with a touch of the rueful grin – there was something of “so that’s where I left it” about his response.ALSO WATCH: Video highlights: Chahal’s match-winning three-for (India subcontinent only)Henriques does a Watson Back in the day, when he was a strapping teenager, Moises Henriques was regarded as one of Australian cricket’s brightest young pace-bowling prospects by no less a judge than Damien Fleming. He was undoubtedly able to bowl faster at a younger age than many. In this, he shared something with Shane Watson, who suffered early in his career from the injuries and fluctuations of a body trying to cope with his efforts to bowl as fast as possible while still developing into maturity.At length, Watson evolved into a highly intelligent swing and seam bowler at a little over medium pace, and right up to his retirement from T20s this year was a highly challenging opponent for any batsman in the shortest format. Australia had certainly felt his absence at key times since his retirement from internationals in 2015. Five years later, Henriques has returned to the Australian team and shown that he too has evolved with time into a clever middle-overs merchant.His spell of 3 for 22 ensured Rahul could not take control of the latter part of the innings after Mitchell Swepson had pouched the key wicket of Kohli, and also ensured that Hardik Pandya could not exert the kind of late-innings influence he had in the third ODI. Even when Marcus Stoinis is fit, Henriques’ bowling has given the selectors something to think about.Moises Henriques celebrates a wicket with Matthew Wade•Cricket Australia via Getty Images
Like for dislike When Jadeja was struck on the helmet by Starc in the final over of an innings he played a key role in pushing to competitive territory, having already been restricted by an apparent hamstring strain while batting, his case raised all sorts of questions. Not checked for concussion on the field, Jadeja was apparently assessed between innings and found to be suffering from a possible concussion. India’s squad lists include a doctor – Abjihit Salvi – but there had been no mandatory test on field for a hit on the helmet as now has become commonplace in Australia.Once the decision for a concussion substitute was made, the questions evolved into those around the right replacement. In what was a very public debate between Langer and match referee – also his first batting partner in a Test match – David Boon, it was very clear the hosts were miffed by both the concussion situation and the fact that Chahal was chosen as Jadeja’s replacement.But just as Langer himself had recently demonstrated when he revealed the selection debate around whether to choose Mitchell Marsh or Marnus Labuschagne to sub for Steven Smith in the 2019 Ashes Test at Lord’s, “like for like” is a very subjective concept. It only became more so when Chahal dismissed Finch and Smith, to give India a chance of upsetting the Australian chase.India make it 2-2 On one level, Australia have won the ODI series and are still in the T20I series. On another, India have emerged from the funk of the first two games of their tour in Sydney, and have now twice beaten the hosts in two games in different formats to give their visit a sense of momentum. They did so with an impressive ensemble effort with the ball, whatever the whys and wherefores of Chahal subbing in for Jadeja.Australia’s innings, having begun well through Finch and Short as they added 56 in 46 balls, went on a long, slow decline after the loss of the first wicket. The quick exits of Smith and Glenn Maxwell, the latter after an interminable delay while ball-tracking was summoned on an lbw that appeared to feature a good deal of doubt about whether the ball had pitched outside leg stump, rather took the wind out of the home viewing area, and it was clear that Short, as his innings slowed to ineffectiveness, Henriques and Matthew Wade were not going to be able to step up.Ultimately, the game was not particularly close as T20Is go, leaving the Australians to choose between their evident frustration at the substitution and the fact of an increasingly resurgent India.
O Vasco vencia o CRB, fora de casa, até os 46 do segundo tempo, porém em mais um erro defensivo, sofreu o empate por 1 a 1.Em coletiva de imprensa, o técnico Fernando Diniz, que também fez sua estreia à beira do campo pelo clube carioca, avaliou a reestreia de Nene e elogiou o desempenho do meia no Rei Pelé.
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– Nene é jogador de nível altíssimo que ajudou o time na bola parada. Ele é exemplo de jogar apaixonado por jogar futebol, ama o futebol, gosta de estar junto, não gosta de sair do jogo. Além do talento, nos emociona. Acho que gostaria de jogar competitivamente até o fim da vida. Agrega muito – destacou o comandante.
+ Confira e simule a tabela da Série B do Campeonato Brasileiro
Em sua estreia, Nene não só participou da origem do gol do Vasco, ao cobrar o escanteio, como foi bastante participativo. O meia elevou a qualidade de passe do setor de meio-campo e mostrou que pode ser importante nas bolas paradas para a sequência da temporada.
Com o resultado, o Vasco soma 33 pontos e a diferença para o G4 permaneceu a mesma: oito, justamente para o CRB, adversário desta quinta, que chegou aos 41. O time carioca abriu o placar com Germán Cano no fim do primeiro tempo, mas cedeu empate nos acréscimos da etapa final. No fim, nenhum jogador do elenco falou com a imprensa.
+ATUAÇÕES: Cano desencanta e Nene faz boa estreia pelo Vasco
O próximo compromisso do Vasco acontece no domingo, às 16h, diante do Cruzeiro, em São Januário. O jogo é válido pela 25ª rodada da Série B do Campeonato Brasileiro, a sexta do returno.
حسم فريق الاتحاد كلاسيكو الكرة السعودية، أمام الهلال، في المباراة التي أقيمت بينهما اليوم الثلاثاء، ضمن منافسات بطولة كأس خادم الحرمين الشريفين، وتأهل إلى نصف النهائي، بركلات الترجيج، عقب انتهاء اللقاء بالتعادل الإيجابي 2-2.
والتقى فريقا الهلال والاتحاد، على ملعب المملكة أرينا في الرياض، في إطار مباريات دور ربع النهائي من بطولة كأس خادم الحرمين للموسم الحالي 2024-2025.
وفاز فريق الاتحاد على الهلال، بركلات الترجيح بنتيجة (3-1).
وبهذا الفوز، يتأهل فريق الاتحاد، إلى دور نصف النهائي من بطولة كأس خادم الحرمين الشريفين، ليكمل فرق المربع الذهبي للبطولة.
وبذلك تصبح الأندية المتأهلة إلي دور نصف نهائي كأس خادم الحرمين الشريفين، هم، الاتحاد والشباب والرائد والقادسية.
طالع | الفرق المتأهلة إلى نصف نهائي كأس خادم الحرمين الشريفين 2024-2025
ومن المقرر أن تقام قرعة دور نصف النهائي لـ كأس خادم الحرمين الشريفين غدًا الأربعاء 8 يناير 2025، لتحديد المواجهات.
تفاصيل المباراة
تقدم فريق الاتحاد بالهدف الأول، عن طريق الفرنسي كريم بنزيما مهاجم العميد في الدقيقة 63، بعدما وصلته الكرة داخل منطقة الجزاء ليراوغ مدافعي الهلال ويسدد في مرمي ياسين بونو حارس الزعيم.
وتعادل لـ الهلال، سالم الدوسري في الدقيقة 72، بتسديدة رائعة من داخل منطقة الجزاء، بعدما استغل خطأ دفاعي من لاعبي الاتحاد.
وانتهي الوقت الأصلي للمباراة، بالتعادل الإيجابي 1-1 ليلجأ الفريقان إلى الأشواط الإضافية.
واستطاع لاعب الهلال، البرازيلي ماركوس ليوناردو تسجيل الهدف الثاني لفريقه في الدقيقة 101 من زمن الشوط الإضافي الأول، بعد متابعة لكرة عرضية مرسلة من متعب الحربي.
وعاد كريم بنزيما من جديد، وسجل الهدف الثاني والتعادل للاتحاد في الدقيقة 114 من عمر الشوط الإضافي الثاني للمباراة، بتسديدة قوية من داخل منطقة الجزاء.
وفي ركلات الترجيح، أهدر فريق الهلال أول ركلتي جزاء، لتنهي ضربات الجزاء بفوز فريق الاتحاد بنتيجة 3-1.
Depois de um jejum em sete Dérbis, o Corinthians voltou a vencer o Palmeiras no último sábado, por 2 a 1, na Neo Química Arena, pela 22ª rodada do Brasileirão-2021. O clássico foi especial para muitos personagens, entre eles está o jovem Du Queiroz, que enfrentou pela primeira vez o maior rival.
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TABELA > Veja classificação e simulador do Brasileirão-2021 clicando aqui
> Conheça o aplicativo de resultados do LANCE!
GALERIA >Confira as fotos da nova terceira camisa roxa do Corinthians
Aos 21 anos, o garoto da base corintiana tem sido bastante utilizado por Sylvinho, especialmente na lateral direita, mas diante do Verdão ele foi a campo em sua posição de origem: a de volante, entrando no lugar de Renato Augusto, aos 28 minutos do segundo tempo. Nada mais especial do que disputar seu primeiro Dérbi e sair de Itaquera com uma vitória em um clássico.
-É sempre especial vestir a camisa do Corinthians, ainda mais poder entrar e ajudar a equipe em um jogo como esse. Sabemos o quanto representa essa partida, um dos maiores clássicos do Brasil. Fico feliz de ter feito minha estreia no Dérbi e ainda mais de termos conquistado a vitória – declarou.
A jogada do segundo gol, uma pintura marcada por Róger Guedes, teve participação de Du Queiroz em sua construção. Foi do volante o passe para Vitinho, que acionou Guedes na ponta esquerda. Apesar de fazer parte desse lance decisivo, ele dividiu o mérito com todos os companheiros, que estão no caminho certo para buscar as pretensões do clube para esta temporada.
-Foi uma grande vitória de todo o grupo. Lutamos até o fim, conseguimos nos impor bem dentro de casa e saímos com os três pontos. Merecemos muito essa vitória e estamos no caminho certo para buscarmos nossos objetivos.
Assim como o restante do elenco, Du Queiroz descansa neste sábado antes de voltar ao trabalho para uma semana cheia de treinos em preparação para enfrentar o Red Bull Bragantino, no próximo sábado, às 19h, fora de casa. O Timão é o sexto colocado na tabela do Brasileirão-2021 com 33 pontos.
Manchester United mean business this summer. It's been a while since the Red Devils launched such a concerted, driven approach, but INEOS are changing things at Old Trafford, dissembling the outfit and repackaging it in a mould tailored for success.
United have certainly seen a flurry of activity thus far, welcoming players such as Joshua Zirkzee and Leny Yoro while ridding itself of some of the flotsam that was clogging up the squad.
LOSC Lille defender Leny Yoro
Issues in central defence have been addressed – with further attention anticipated this summer; up front, Zirkzee has been signed in the hope of threading the attack together and enhancing the fluency and bite of Erik ten Hag's side.
Man United transfer news
Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Man United have agreed personal terms with holding midfielder Manuel Ugarte ahead of a transfer this summer, though crunch talks with Paris Saint-Germain are ongoing.
The Ligue 1 champions are willing to let the Uruguay international leave as they prioritise signing Joao Neves from Benfica. Reports from across the Channel claim that Ugarte will command a €70m (£59m) fee.
What Manuel Ugarte would bring to Man United
Ugarte only signed for PSG last year, completing a £51m transfer from Portugal's Sporting Lisbon. After impressing with his tough-tackling displays, Premier League clubs such as Chelsea and Liverpool had eyed him up, but it was the Ligue 1 giants who prevailed.
Manuel Ugarte for PSG
He completed 37 appearances under Luis Enrique last season and placed three assists for his teammates. However, the 23-year-old failed to nail down a starring role and was benched for each of the Parisiens' four knockout fixtures in the Champions League. Moreover, he earned just 21 starting berths in the league.
But the talent is there, abundant, and given that he's already been described as "a younger Kante" by reporter Zach Lowy, he might just be tailor-made for the Premier League. Kante, 33, is seemingly closing in on a £20m move to West Ham United, one year after leaving Chelsea and moving to Saudi Arabia.
The France international was exceptional at the 2024 European Championship and proved that age, indeed, is just a number. But Ugarte's a decade younger, and to be honest, United are landing a talent capable of thriving at the nub of the engine room for many, many years.
After all, despite his middling campaign, Ugarte still showcased his skills as one of the best ball-recycling, crunching-challenging midfielders in the business, averaging 3.9 tackles, 6.4 successful duels and 7.2 ball recoveries per game, as per Sofascore.
Ugarte's Defensive Metrics (23/24)
Statistic
Per 90
Percentile
Tackles attempted
4.11
99th
Tackles won
2.32
98th
Interceptions
1.86
96th
Tackles + interceptions
5.97
99th
Ball recoveries
8.14
99th
Stats from FBref
We all know that the potential is dizzying, but let's allow ourselves to drift away from the present. Ugarte is an immense midfielder who boasts a skillset that would have been perfect for a certain Paul Pogba.
Let's explain. As you can see from the table above, Ugarte is a staggering defensive midfielder, robust and relentless in protecting his rearguard, and such a presence would have allowed Man United's one-time world-record £89m signing to flourish.
Pogba, a polarising footballer, is unquestionably one of the most talented, yet frustrating, players to have performed under the Old Trafford lights in a generation, and after being sold to Juventus as a youngster, he returned under Jose Mourinho to play in 233 fixtures, notching 87 goal contributions and win the Europa League and the Carabao Cup.
The 31-year-old is banned from football until August 2027 after testing positive for doping, but will always remain one of the most talented and breathtaking players of his time, truly encompassing the full scope of what it takes to be a complete midfielder.
He was nothing short of brilliant on his day, and having the security of an iron-clad No. 6 beside him could have made all the difference.
Harking back to Kante: Pogba won the 2018 World Cup with France alongside the former Chelsea and Leicester City machine, and given how immense the pairing was as Les Bleus' best players cemented immortal status, Ugarte truly could have been the perfect partner.
After all, The Athletic's Carl Anka wrote upon the prodigy's departure on a free transfer in 2022: 'United rarely played him in his favoured position in left midfield of a 4-3-3, nor did they ever purchase a mobile defensive midfielder so he might perform comfortably in a deeper position.'
He needed security, stability, and a modicum of functionality. Alas, it didn't happen, but Ugarte's unceasing pursuit of lofty defensive numbers does speak of his suitability for success in the Premier League and for his suitability to partner the "next Paul Pogba" in Kobbie Mainoo.
It's a new era, in any case, and Ugarte's set to star at the centre.
Imagine him & Yoro: Man Utd could land £46k-p/w De Ligt upgrade
The Red Devils are looking to overhaul the backline this summer.
حذر صحفي إنجليزي، نادي مانشستر سيتي من أحد نجوم فريق برينتفورد قبل مباراة الغد المرتقبة في بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، مقارنًا بينه بين نجم آينتراخت فرانكفورت عمر مرموش.
ويلتقي مانشستر سيتي، مساء الثلاثاء، مع برينتفورد في الجولة الحادية والعشرين من الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.
ونجح مانشستر سيتي في استعادة توازنه بعض الشيء مؤخرًا، بعدما حقق تعادلًا وفاز في مباراتين في الدوري الإنجليزي، إلى جانب انتصار في كأس الاتحاد الإنجليزي.
وتأتي مباراة الغد في ظل ارتباط مانشستر سيتي بإمكانية الحصول على خدمات عمر مرموش من صفوف فرانكفورت هذا الشهر.
من جهة أخرى، يرى الصحفي الإنجليزي المتخصص في شؤون مانشستر سيتي، ستيفن ماكنيرني، أن بريان مبيومو لاعب برينتفورد سيمثل خطرًا لحامل اللقب، مع العلم أنه يتمتع بأداء مذهل مثل مرموش هذا الموسم.
وقال ستيفن ماكنيرني، في تصريحات لشبكة “سبورتس مول” الإنجليزية: “أنا متوتر، أعلم أن مانشستر سيتي حقق بعض الانتصارات مؤخرًا، ولكن إذا كان علي اختيار مباراة قد يتعثر فيها مانشستر سيتي، فربما تكون هذه المباراة، لأن برينتفورد دائمًا ما يزعجهم”.
وأضاف: “المشاكل التي يعاني منها مانشستر سيتي لا تزال قائمة، لن يتحسن خط الوسط فجأة، حتى يعمل النادي على تصحيح مشاكله، أنا قلق بشأن برينتفورد”.
وواصل: “لا أعتقد أن هذه مباراة يجب أن يثق فيها مشجعو مانشستر سيتي، أتوقع أن يكون اللاعبون جاهزين وواثقين بشأنها، لكنني لا أعرف حتى أرى أول 10-15 دقيقة كيف سنتعامل مع برينتفورد وقدراتهم الفريدة، ومدى مباشرتهم وقدرتهم على استخدام سرعة مهاجميهم الذين يتمتعون بكيمياء رائعة، إلى جانب تمركزهم في خط الوسط”.
اقرأ أيضًا.. سكاي: خطوة جديدة من مانشستر سيتي لضم عمر مرموش.. وموعد محتمل للصفقة
واسترسل: “هناك بريان مبيومو، إنه رائع للغاية، من المثير للاهتمام أنه يحظى بنفس القدر من التألق في مسيرته مثل عمر مرموش الذي يتطلع إليه مانشستر سيتي، هذا المهاجم الرائع، وفي نفس العمر، 25 عامًا، إنه رائع للغاية”.
وأوضح: “أعتقد أن مبيومو سيرحل إلى نادِ كبير في نهاية الأمر، هو يمر بفترة رائعة الآن، هو لاعب ماهر ذو قدرة على إنهاء الهجمات، رجل خطير ويتألق في المباريات الكبرى، هذا ما يجعلني مقتنعًا بأنه سينتقل إلى مستوى آخر”.
واسترسل: “أعتقد أنه سيلعب في دوري أبطال أوروبا، سيلعب لصالح نادٍ جيد لأنه يسجل في المباريات الكبيرة وبعض الناس يحبون حقًا الشعور بهذه المباريات”.
واعترف: “مانشستر سيتي يسعى إلى ضم مرموش، ولكن إذا اتضح غدًا أننا سنوقع مع مبيومو، فسأكون سعيدًا بنفس القدر لأنني أعتقد أنه لاعب رائع، منتصف العشرينات هي الفترة التي يجد فيها اللاعبين أنفسهم ويصبحون جيدين حقًا ويجدون ثقتهم، يعرفون قيمتهم”.
واستأنف: “بمجرد اختفاء عامل الخوف وتبدأ في الاعتقاد بأنك قادر على فعل أي شيء، سيكون لديك موسم مثل موسم مبيومو الحالي، حيث تكون أحد أفضل المهاجمين في الدوري الإنجليزي وتكون مستعدًا لاتخاذ هذه الخطوة”.
وشدد: “سينظر مبيومو إلى مانشستر سيتي وسيقول لنفسه (أعلم أن برينتفورد لا يلعب جيدًا ولكنني لست خائفًا)، لقد عانى جفارديول من وقت عصيب مؤخرًا، سيمنحه كابوسًا طلقًا، هذه هي أكبر نقاط ضعفنا المحتملة غدًا”.
واختتم: “سنحتاج إلى أداء دفاعي رائع بسبب مهارات مبيومو، يمكنه التغلب على لاعب، فهو سريع وهداف رائع، إنه يشكل تهديدًا كبيرًا”.
الجدير بالذكر أن مبيومو سجل 13 هدفًا وصنع 3 أهداف في الموسم الحالي من الدوري الإنجليزي.
His position as Pakistan’s chief coach doesn’t seem to be in any kind of threat at the moment
Umar Farooq11-Jan-2021
“We need confidence and continuity with no uncertainty”•AFP via Getty Images
Misbah-ul-Haq has played down talk of his days as head coach of the Pakistan team being numbered, saying that stakeholders in Pakistan cricket need to avoid “being reactive”. He added that he is hoping that the PCB cricket committee’s summons to him and Waqar Younis is only a discussion to help improve Pakistan cricket and not much more.Misbah has a three-year contract with the PCB but his position – first as chief selector and chief coach and now as only the latter – has come in for scrutiny often in the recent past as losses have piled up for the team, most recently in New Zealand. When the PCB cricket committee meets him on Tuesday, it will be the second review of Misbah’s performance in three months. ESPNcricinfo understands that the review is a routine affair that broadly covers 2020-21 domestic and international season.”There is scrutiny and then there is an analysis of any series, which is how it should be, and I don’t mind it,” Misbah told a press conference at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Monday. “But obviously there shouldn’t be any communication gap. We need confidence and continuity with no uncertainty.”Improvement takes time and you can’t be overly reactive with it. We have young players and haven’t got experience in the side and that is why it’s taking some time to get favourable results, and this needs to be understood. I hope this committee isn’t for grilling me, but to help and share what they think needs to be done to get things better for the country.”After Misbah came into the picture, the PCB took several bold decisions, such as removing Sarfaraz Ahmed as captain and dropping him from the team in all three formats. Soon after, Azhar Ali was made the Test captain while Babar Azam was chosen to lead the team in the limited-overs formats. However, after the England series last year, Ali was stripped off the captaincy and Azam made captain in all formats.But with the results not being as good as expected, Misbah’s stocks appear to have taken a hit.”There is always pressure on me being in this post, on the team, or the position in which Waqar is,” Misbah said. “We are indeed disappointed about these results [Pakistan lost the Tests 2-0 and T20Is 2-1 in New Zealand most recently] because this is not on. This is not the result we anticipated. Nobody needs to tell us, we know we need to improve as a team, we know we need to improve as a coaching team to get good results.”But, at the same time, no sportsman in the world can be locked in a room for 19 days and then with just a week of preparation expected to beat a world-class team and that too in their own conditions.”I have no doubt about the commitment of my players. They are giving their best and there are performances we can take forward, but overall it’s not reflecting on the end result and that is where everyone is focusing. There are performances in phases and there were some great fightbacks we saw on the New Zealand tour. I know we are improving and when you judge the series, it doesn’t always give you a true picture.”Prior to the tour of New Zealand, the contingent spent three days in Lahore, got on a flight to Auckland, and then spent 14 days in strict quarantine in Queenstown. The team effectively got six days of training before the first game. Before that, the Pakistani players were in a bio-bubble in England, as well as at home during the final leg of the PSL, the Zimbabwe series, the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy and the National T20s.”Bio-bubbles are affecting players mentally and physically and this isn’t just an excuse but a fact everyone is talking about,” Misbah said. “Moving from one bubble to another and maintaining the quality of cricket and player fitness is becoming a worry. If you look around in the cricket world, coaches like Mark Boucher, Mickey Arthur, Ravi Shastri, they are all facing the same problem.”The preparatory camps aren’t serving the way they used to, and that it affecting the fitness of players. All of this is adding up and eventually reflecting on our performance. We have to find a way out to counter this situation.”