يستأنف مانشستر سيتي مشواره في الدوري الانجليزي الممتاز، بعد فوزه ضد بوروسيا دورتموند برباعية لهدف واحد، في الجولة الرابعة بمسابقة دوري أبطال أوروبا.

وحقق مانشستر سيتي الفوز بفضل رباعية، جاءت عن طريق فيل فودين الذي سجل ثنائية في الدقيقتين 22 و57 وسجل إيرلينج هالاند الهدف الثالث في الدقيقة 29، والهدف الرابع عن طريق ريان شرقي في الدقيقة 92 وسجل لبوروسيا دورتموند أنتون في الدقيقة 72.

وارتفع رصيد مانشستر سيتي إلى 10 نقاط في المركز الرابع بعد الفوز في مباراة اليوم، بينما تجمد رصيد بوروسيا دورتموند عند النقطة 7 في المركز الرابع عشر.

اقرأ أيضاً.. نسخة طبق الأصل.. فودين يسجل هدف مانشستر سيتي الثالث أمام بوروسيا دورتموند موعد مباراة مانشستر سيتي القادمة بعد الفوز ضد بوروسيا دورتموند في دوري أبطال أوروبا

يلتقي مانشستر سيتي مع ليفربول، يوم الأحد القادم 9 نوفمبر، على ملعب الاتحاد، في الجولة الحادية عشر من الدوري الانجليزي، في تمام الساعة 6:30 بتوقيت مصر.

Manchester United supporters are clinging on to all and any green shoots of recovery right now.

On Saturday, Rúben Amorim’s team claimed a much-needed victory going into the international break, beating Sunderland 2-0 at Old Trafford, thanks to goals from Mason Mount and then Benjamin Šeško.

​Next up, the Red Devils take on champions and fierce rivals Liverpool at Anfield, before tough-looking fixtures against Brighton, Nottingham Forest and then Tottenham.

​​​​​Ahead of this challenging period, has Amorim unearthed a deadly attacking duo reminiscent of Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole from Manchester United’s glory days?

In numbers: Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole at Man United

Back in 1998/98, Manchester United famously won the treble, beating Newcastle in the FA Cup Final, pipping Arsenal to the Premier League title by a solitary point on the final day, before that historic comeback against Bayern Munich to snatch the Champions League.

Fair to say, Yorke and Cole were key figures in this success, scoring 29 and 24 goals respectively across all competitions.

As the table below documents, this makes them one of the most dangerous attacking duos in Premier League history.

Selected Premier League duos
Players	Club & year	Goals
Andy Cole & Dwight Yorke	Manchester United 1998/99	53
Chris Sutton & Alan Shearer	Blackburn Rovers 1994/95	52
Didier Drogba & Frank Lampard	Chelsea 2009/10	63
Thierry Henry & Robert Pirès	Arsenal 2003/04	58
Harry Kane & Son Heung-min	Tottenham Hotspur 2017/18	59
Wayne Rooney & Cristiano Ronaldo	Manchester United 2007/08	60
Julián Álvarez & Erling Håland	Manchester City 2022/23	69
Sadio Mané & Mohamed Salah	Liverpool 2018/19	53
Stats via the Premier League

Yorke, who is currently the manager of Trinidad and Tobago, bet you didn’t know that, arrived at Old Trafford from Aston Villa, later representing Blackburn, Birmingham and Sunderland.

Cole meantime, was poached from Newcastle, where he’d been a massive star, turning out for 12 English clubs in total.

Now, does the current iteration of Manchester United have a duo who could replicate the famous Yorke and Cole duo?

Manchester United's modern-day Yorke and Cole

As Amorim searches for a winning formula, while they may not be a traditional strike partnership, Amad Diallo alongside Bryan Mbeumo could be the pair of attackers to fire Manchester United up the table.

Amad was arguably the Red Devils’ most dangerous attacker last season, registering 11 goals and ten assists, most memorably scoring a stoppage-time winner in the Manchester derby at the Etihad.

After arriving as a teenager from Atalanta for up to £37m, the Ivorian endured an underwhelming loan spell at Rangers, before showcasing his talents at Sunderland, scoring 14 goals for the Black Cats, firing them into the EFL Championship play-offs.

Now, Amad is earning plaudits for his performances back at Man United, with Darren Bent, speaking on talkSPORT, labelled him a “wonderkid”, adding that he is the club’s “best [player] by some distance” after he scored a hat-trick against Southampton in January.

Mbeumo, meanwhile, joined for a reported fee of £71m this summer, having scored 20 Premier League goals for Brentford last season.

The Cameroonian international opened his Man United league account against Burnley in August, while he has had more shots (17) of any player at the club so far this season.

An electric winger, Carl Anka of the Athletic has asserted that he is certainly ‘one of the better forwards in the Premier League’.

So now, how does Amorim get both into the same starting lineup?

Well, Man United signed an entirely new front three in the summer, with Matheus Cunha yet to get off the mark, but Šeško has scored against both Brentford and Sunderland, thereby opening his account for the club.

In a solution to get them all in, Amad was deployed at wing-back for Sunderland’s visit, a decision that proved successful.

At the weekend, as outlined by Adam Bate of Sky Sports, Amad and Mbeumo as a duo were very ‘impressive’, with the Ivorian attempting six dribbles, his highest figure in any home league game under Amorim, with the manager himself stating that “he can help Bryan to play more inside and worry more with the runs behind the defenders”.

Chalkboard

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

Well, Black Cats boss Régis Le Bris certainly agreed, noting afterwards that Man United “are really strong on the side”, adding that this forced him into making a lesser-spotted tactical substitution in the first half.

Meantime, journalist Muhammad Butt labelled them a “superb double-act”, praising their “wonderful chemistry and creativity”, with Carl Anka of the Athletic concluding that this match was 2the best pair have played with each other” to date.

Thus, Amad’s form both last season and at the weekend necessitates getting him into the side somehow.

For tougher fixtures, he should potentially be used at Cunha’s expense in attack, while in games where the onus is on Manchester United to create and break down the opposition, he has to be chosen over Diogo Dalot or Noussair Mazraoui at right-wing-back, given that they offer so little going forward.

In summary, it is still early days, but this duo could be Man United’s best partnership since the glory days of the late-90s.

Their own Yamal: Man Utd teen is "one of the world's most exciting talents"

Manchester United have an exceptional teenager in their academy ranks.

By
Matt Dawson

Oct 7, 2025

Teun Koopmeiners says he can be himself and "feels much better" at Juventus after Luciano Spalletti’s arrival, with the Dutch midfielder taking subtle aim at former coaches Thiago Motta and Igor Tudor for using him out of position. Now operating deeper and with greater freedom, Koopmeiners has rediscovered his confidence and influence as Juve look to regain momentum.

Spalletti unlocks Koopmeiners’ identity at Juventus

The Dutch international has spoken openly about the transformation he has experienced under new Juve coach Spalletti, claiming that he "now can be Koopmeiners," after months of tactical uncertainty. The Dutchman, signed from Atalanta for €51 million in the summer of 2024, struggled to find rhythm, consistency and tactical clarity during a turbulent spell under Motta and later Tudor.

Across his first 57 matches at the club, Koopmeiners was deployed in a range of roles, attacking midfielder, inverted winger, false nine, box-to-box profile, and even as a forward playing with his back to goal. None of these positions suited the deeper, rhythm-setting midfielder he was known to be both at AZ and Atalanta.

For him, everything shifted with Spalletti's recent arrival, as the veteran manager held a direct conversation with him about his preferred positioning and the attributes that allow him to dictate matches. In response, Spalletti redeployed Koopmeiners as a deeper, left-sided centre-back in a back three, a role that grants him time on the ball, space to step forward in possession, and influence in Juventus’ first phase of build-up.

The change has not only stabilised Koopmeiners’ performances but has also altered Juventus’ structure. Juve’s 1-1 Champions League draw against Sporting CP, where Koopmeiners’ incisive vertical pass triggered Dusan Vlahovic’s equaliser, highlighted the immediate benefits of the positional adjustment.

AdvertisementAFPKoopmeiners speaks out on Motta and Tudor misfits

Koopmeiners made little effort to disguise his frustration with how he had been used previously. Speaking after the draw with Sporting, their second under Spalletti, he admitted: “I feel much better in this position, because I'm not a striker who plays with my back to the goal like I did at the start of this season.”

He continued, pointing clearly toward the tactical disputes of recent months: “For example, when I played like [Francisco] Conceicao against Villarreal… well, that's not me.”

The message was unmistakable, the roles assigned under Motta and Tudor pulled him far from the areas where his strengths lie. The Dutchman further explained that he had taken initiative to make changes: “Coach Spalletti knows me because I spoke to him about when I played in Netherlands and in this role.”

Deep-lying playmaker meets defensive backbone

Under Spalletti, Koopmeiners now operates at left centre-back in a back three, where he defends proactively but also initiates Juventus’ progression. He describes it as the ideal blend of responsibility and expression. 

"Now I play in a role where I can demonstrate my qualities and help the team," he said. "It's true that in some games I thought: 'This role isn't for me.' I've always played to win, but when you don't play in your position, it's much more difficult. Now, however, I feel much better; this is a role that could truly be Koopmeiners."

The Dutchman acts as both a defensive wall and a launch point, his pass that unlocked Sporting’s back line for Vlahovic’s finish illustrated this perfectly. The shift also reflects Spalletti’s broader dressing-room influence, as Koopmeiners highlighted this positive change: “With Spalletti, there's a different way of coming onto the pitch, a new positive spirit.”

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty Images SportJuve prepare for Turin derby and Champions League tests

Juventus’ draw with Sporting means their winless run in the Champions League continues, with three draws and one defeat leaving qualification still far from secure. However, the renewed identity under Spalletti offers cautious optimism, especially if Koopmeiners continues to influence play from his new role.

Up next is the Derby della Mole against Torino, a match that historically carries emotional significance regardless of form. Juve remain four points off the top in Serie A and must build domestic momentum to remain part of the Scudetto conversation.

In Europe, they will next face Norwegian side Bodo/Glimt, where a win is required to revive their progression hopes. If the “real Koopmeiners” has indeed finally arrived, Juventus’ season may yet take an upward turn, and Spalletti’s tactical clarity could be the key to unlocking far more than one revived midfielder.

Glasgow Rangers officially confirmed Danny Rohl as their new head coach on a three-year contract at Ibrox on Monday after Saturday’s return to action.

Steven Smith oversaw a 2-2 draw against Dundee United at Ibrox whilst in interim charge, and Rohl will now lead the team out against Brann on Thursday evening.

The former Sheffield Wednesday head coach will be hoping to fare far better than the man he is replacing, as Russell Martin won just five of his games in charge.

Rohl is tasked with getting more out of the group of players that the former Scotland international struggled with, and he has already shown that he can work well with Djeidi Gassama.

Why Djeidi Gassama will love the appointment of Danny Rohl

The French winger will love this appointment because he enjoyed the best season of his senior career to date whilst working with the German tactician at Sheffield Wednesday in the 2024/25 campaign.

Gassama scored seven goals in the Championship for the Owls, per Sofascore, which is a career high for the attacker at league level in his career to date.

The 22-year-old star has yet to score in eight Scottish Premiership games for Rangers, though he has scored four goals in Europe, and Rohl could ignite his league form if their work together in England is anything to go by.

Gassama is not the only attacker who may benefit from this fresh appointment by the Gers, though, as Thelo Aasgaard’s career at Ibrox could explode after his dismal time under Martin.

Why Thelo Aasgaard could thrive under Danny Rohl

The Norway international was signed from Luton Town for £3.5m in the summer transfer window and mainly played on the left of a midfield three for Martin, which meant that he spent a lot of time in his own half and with his back to goal under pressure from opposition players.

His heatmap, as shown above, for the 2025/26 Premiership season shows that he has spent far too much time in his own half and has hardly had any touches in central positions.

It is not a surprise, therefore, that he managed no goals, no ‘big chances’ created, and no assists in five league appearances for Martin. He looked like a lost cause with no signs of life in his attacking displays, but his performance at the weekend showed that there is life in him yet.

Aasgaard played in the number ten position in a 4-2-3-1 formation on Saturday under Smith and thrived in that role, taking more touches in central areas than he did under Martin, per Sofascore.

Minutes

83

67

Touches

59

40

Shots on target

3

1.2

Goals

1

0.2

Successful dribbles

3

1.2

Key passes

4

0.8

Duels won

10

5.5

As you can see in the table above, the Norwegian star’s performance against Dundee United was significantly better than his average performance level under Martin.

Aasgaard only created one chance in five games under Martin before creating four in one match as a number ten in a 4-2-3-1 formation, whilst also scoring his first league goal for the club.

Per Transfermarkt, Rohl predominantly plays a 4-2-3-1 formation and this means that the former Luton star will be able to play as a natural number ten behind Bojan Miovski in the German’s system.

Rather than being forced to play too much in his own half, as he was as a left-sided central midfielder under Martin, he will be able to take the ball in the opposition’s half and play closer to their goal to make things happen in the final third.

Reporter stands outside Ibrox and sheds light on "11th hour 59th minute" Rangers manager twist

The Gers look to have finally got their man.

ByBen Goodwin Oct 20, 2025

Therefore, Rohl could ignite Aasgaard’s Ibrox career by coming in to make the Norway international his creator-in-chief in the number ten position, as the hub of the team. It could give him the license to truly impact matches week-in-week-out and emerge as a star for the Light Blues.

Thomas Tuchel insists there is no problem with Jude Bellingham but warned nobody is guaranteed a place in the England squad after taking the eye-catching decision to omit the Real Madrid star.

England squad announced for Wales and Latvia matches

The back-to-back Euros runners-up face Wales in a Wembley friendly next Thursday before continuing World Cup qualification away to Latvia on Tuesday.

Bellingham missed September’s camp after undergoing shoulder surgery and has since played four matches for Real Madrid, yet there was no place in Tuchel’s 24-man squad for October’s doubleheader.

Phil Foden and Jack Grealish were others overlooked for a call-up, but the 22-year-old was the headline omission two days on from being crowned 2024-25 England men’s senior player of the year.

“I understand your focus on Jude of course,” Tuchel said of a player he would later say is one of the world’s best midfielders and makes his side stronger.

“First of all, he is a very special player and for special players there can always be special rules. I get this.

“But for this camp we decided that we stick with our straightforward decision to invite the same team. That applies also then for Jude. He deserves always to be in camp.

“I think there is an extra layer on top of it, the situation that he has not gathered full rhythm yet at Real Madrid.

“He is back in the team. He hasn’t finished one full match until now. He has only started one match, so he is at the moment in the period where he gets his rhythm, where he gets back to full strength.

“There is this extra layer into the decision, but the decision stayed for this camp.”

Asked if Bellingham was fit enough to be called up, Tuchel said: “Yes, and he wanted to be called up. We had a phone call. There was no issue from that side, he just lacks rhythm.

“He hasn’t finished one complete match, like I said, and on top of it we stayed with our decision to go with the same squad.”

Tuchel has not worked with Bellingham since the England boss apologised for saying in a June interview that his mother finds some of the midfielder’s on-field antics “repulsive”.

The German coach also stressed how good the mood was in the September meet-up, leading the manager to say that “one has nothing to do with the other”.

No problem between me and Bellingham, says Tuchel

Put to Tuchel that some people would think is there a problem between him Bellingham, he said: “No.

“There is also no problem between me and Phil Foden, there is no problem between me and Jack Grealish. Very special players. Phil is back to influencing games, deciding games for Manchester City. Jack is very close to being the best version of himself – a very special player, a very special character.

“There is no problem at all and there is no personal problem in the nomination.”

Bukayo Saka is the only fresh face in October’s squad, replacing injured Arsenal team-mate Noni Madueke. Tino Livramento also drops out with a knee injury of his own.

Tuchel insists players have the chance to get back in the squad and acknowledges there are “players out who deserve to be with us”.

He added: “100 per cent there are no guarantees. If we say the competition is on, then the competition is on.

“We cannot say that like for 80 per cent of the squad the competition is on but for 20 per cent it is not on. It’s on. The competition is on. The team did very, very well and deserve to be in camp again.”

Aston Villa have now overtaken Liverpool in the race to sign an “outstanding” new defender, with Newcastle United also keen.

Villa still keen on new additions amid uptick in form

Villa endured a slow start to the Premier League season, with the 3-0 home defeat against Crystal Palace likely to be considered a low point, but they have really managed to turn things around over the past few weeks.

Indeed, the Villans have now won five matches on the spin in all competitions, most recently defeating Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 on the road, courtesy of a first-half stunner from Morgan Rogers, which was followed up by a winner from Emi Buenda with a little under 15 minutes remaining.

Unai Emery will be very pleased about the recent uptick in form, which has seen his side rise to 11th in the Premier League table, but the manager clearly still feels a fresh injection of quality is needed, with a new centre-back of interest.

That is according to a report from Caught Offside, which states Aston Villa have now overtaken Liverpool in the race for Club Brugge defender Joel Ordonez, given that Arne Slot’s side have recently decided to cool their interest.

Alongside Villa, Newcastle are also credited with a strong interest in the defender, but the Premier League sides may need to shell out a relatively high fee to get a deal over the line, with it being revealed he could command a fee of around €50m (£43m).

Both English sides should be well-positioned to get a deal done, however, with it previously being revealed that Ordonez is keen on a move to the Premier League.

"Outstanding" Ordonez could excel at Villa Park

Lauded as an “outstanding young footballer” by journalist Graeme Bailey, the Ecuadorian is a key player for Club Brugge, having made ten appearances in all competitions this season, during which time he has put in some eye-catching performances.

Related Aston Villa approach made for record-breaking forward with his coaches contacted too

The Villans are keen to strike to land another offensive option.

Posts BySean Markus Clifford Oct 18, 2025

One of the 21-year-old’s best displays actually came in the Champions League, which is an encouraging sign, with the youngster making a number of important defensive contributions to keep AS Monaco at bay and help his side secure a comfortable 4-1 win last month.

Statistic

Number completed

Duels (won)

6 (5)

Clearances

4

Tackles

3

Scout Ben Mattinson has hailed the Brugge star for his ability in possession too, describing him “secure on the ball”, while also adding he “anticipates well” and “has the pace to recover”.

Villa’s defence has not been a major problem this season, having shipped just eight goals in eight Premier League games, but there are plenty of signs that Ordonez could be a solid long-term addition to Emery’s backline.

Chelsea’s brilliant run of results, which saw them beat the likes of Benfica, Nottingham Forest and Liverpool, came to a screeching halt on Saturday afternoon.

Instead of picking up another Premier League win against the recently promoted Sunderland, Enzo Maresca’s side managed to lose 2-1 thanks to a late goal from Chemsedine Talbi.

What is most frustrating about the game, though, is that while the West Londoners were not anywhere near their best, they still had chances to win, taking seven shots on target to the Black Cats’ four.

Unfortunately, they just didn’t have their shooting boots on, although with the striker situation at the club, that is hardly surprising.

So, there is an argument that Maresca should look to drop Marc Guiu and start one of Cobham’s most exciting prospects, a striker compared to the legendary Didier Drogba.

1

Goals

2

68%

Possession

32%

16

Total Shots

10

7

Shots on Target

4

629

Passes

293

10

Shots in the Box

7

8

Tackles

14

Chelsea's striker situation

In the summer, Chelsea decided to sell Christopher Nkunku to AC Milan and João Félix to Al-Nassr, while also loaning out David Datro Fofana to Karagümrük and Nicolas Jackson to Bayern Munich.

Chalkboard

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

Now, while these weren’t necessarily bad moves for the club, they did only sign Joao Pedro and Liam Delap to replace the leaving players, and when the latter went down with a hamstring injury earlier this season, they were forced to recall Marc Guiu from his loan with Sunderland.

Moreover, while nobody can question Pedro’s ability, it has become increasingly clear that his best position is just behind another striker, either as an advanced ten or a classic second striker.

In other words, due to their business and the injury to the former Ipswich Town star, Maresca has been forced to either use Pedro out of his best position, start the young Tyrique George up top when he’s a natural winger, or, as he has done recently, play Guiu.

To give the former Barcelona gem his credit, he did score against Ajax in the Champions League, but against the Black Cats on Saturday, he was poor.

In fact, the Spaniard was so underwhelming that the Standard’s Sam Tabuteau gave him just a 4/10 match rating, writing that he showed ‘plenty of energy but not a lot of finesse.’

In short, Chelsea really need another option up top this season, and while it would be a risk, it looks like Cobham might have the player for them – a player compared to Drogba.

Chelsea's future Drogba

Now, it should really go without saying that comparing a youngster to Drogba is not something that should be done lightly.

After all, the Ivorian icon was one of the best strikers to ever play in the Premier League and is most certainly a massive Chelsea legend.

With that said, there is plenty of excitement building around 18-year-old Shim Mheuka, so much so that one analyst has made the bold comparison, calling him “the new Didier Drogba.”

So then, what makes him such an exceptional talent, and one worthy of a proper run in the first team?

Well, simply put, he is starting to look like a real goal machine and potentially one of “Cobham’s finest” prospects, per talent scout Jacek Kulig.

For example, despite being just 16 at the start of last season, he ended the campaign with 11 goals and three assists to his name, 30 appearances across the U18S and U21S.

Moreover, he also got a few run-outs in the first team, making five appearances totalling 118 minutes across the Conference League and Premier League.

Appearances

59

Goals

31

Assists

8

Goal Involvements per Match

0.66

This season, he has taken another leap forward, and as things stand, he has already scored ten goals and provided two assists in just ten appearances, totalling 883 minutes for the U21S and Youth League sides.

That works out to an average of 1.2 goal involvements every game, or one every 73.58 minutes, and if that’s still not enough, he has also racked up a tally of ten goals and three assists in 18 appearances for England’s U19S.

Ultimately, while it is still so early in his career, it is becoming increasingly clear that he is a lethal goalscorer, and while he might not reach the level of a Drogba, he might be able to have a significant impact on the team this season.

Chelsea now looking to sign "outstanding" £168k-a-week CB who's won 11 trophies

The Blues want to bring in a new defender, having struggled defensively at times this season.

ByDominic Lund Oct 27, 2025

كشفت تقارير صحفية موقف الفرنسي ديديه ديشامب، المدير الفني لمنتخب فرنسا الأول لكرة القدم من الرحيل إلى الدوري السعودي بعد نهاية مشواره مع الديوك.

وأشارت تقارير صحفية عديدة في وقت سابق، إلى أن بطولة كأس العالم 2026 المقبل ستكون الأخيرة لديشامب مع منتخب فرنسا، وسيخلفه زين الدين زيدان.

وأفادت صحيفة ليكيب الفرنسية بأن اتحاد جدة السعودي وضع ديشامب هدفًا من أجل التعاقد معه لإدارة الفريق الأول لكرة القدم الموسم الجديد بعد الانتهاء من كأس العالم.

اتحاد جدة يملك الثنائي الفرنسي المميز كريم بنزيما ونجولو كانتي، اللذان يعتبران العمود الفقري للفريق السعودي خلال مشوارهم على مدار السنوات الثلاث الماضية.

اقرأ أيضًا | مانشستر سيتي يعلن الفائز بجائزة أفضل هدف في شهر أكتوبر.. موقف عمر مرموش

وكشفت صحيفة “ليكيب” الفرنسية، عن إجابة ديشامب حول العرض الذي تقدم له من الدوري السعودي، من خلال حوار أجراه مع “تيليفوت” الخميس الماضي.

وقال ديشامب: “التدريب في الدوري السعودي؟ تلقيت بعض الاتصالات الفترة الأخيرة، لن أذكر أسماء لكنهم يعرفون وضعي”.

وأتم: “بمجرد أن أتخذ قرارًا لن أتراجع عنه وسأعلنه، هذا واضح للجميع، سأحسم الأمر بعد كأس العالم ولا أستبعد أي شيء”.

Thomas Frank issued a concerning injury update on Mohammed Kudus ahead of their Manchester United clash this weekend. The Ghanaian playmaker, who joined Spurs from West Ham United in a £55 million ($72.5m) summer move, has become one of the club’s most consistent performers this season. He has scored once and set up five goals across 15 appearances. But just as he seemed to gain momentum, disaster struck again.

• Spurs sweating on Kudus fitness

  Kudus picked up a knock during training last week, ruling him out of Tuesday’s emphatic 4-0 Champions League win over FC Copenhagen. Now, his participation against United is also uncertain. 

  Speaking in his pre-match press conference on Friday, Frank cut a cautious figure and said: "Kudus is touch and go for tomorrow, we’ll see."

  In Kudus' absence, Brennan Johnson, who started on the right flank in midweek, is expected to retain his spot. The Welshman impressed with his intensity against Copenhagen and should be a handful for United defenders. 

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Tottenham's injury list grows longer

  The north London side’s growing injury list continues to stretch the squad thin. Radu Dragusin, Dejan Kulusevski, and James Maddison all remain long-term absentees, while Yves Bissouma and summer recruit Kota Takai are still awaiting their first minutes of the season. To make matters worse, promising youngster Lucas Bergvall will sit out the United game after suffering a concussion during last weekend’s narrow 1-0 defeat to Chelsea. 

  Frank also offered an update on Dominic Solanke’s slow recovery. The striker has been limited to a total of 59 minutes this season. Solanke’s ankle problems have kept him sidelined since pre-season, and he even underwent a minor surgery on October 1. And while his rehabilitation is progressing, Frank insists the club won’t rush his return.

  "I think the international break will be the big decider, because we have two weeks there, to push with the next steps," said Frank.

  "It was clear that he was not ready before the international break, it’s more that we look after the international break, that’s what we’re aiming for. I think you always want to get it right, I think it’s important to get it right so he’s out there, can help the team, and we need him back." 

  However, he did offer some positive updates as well. 

  "The ones that have been out for a small spell, Cuti (Cristian Romero) and Destiny (Udogie), responded well, so fit and available," he said. 

• Amicable resolution with Van de Ven and Spence

  Frank has also had to manage an internal situation involving defenders Micky van de Ven and Djed Spence. In the aftermath of the disappointing defeat to Chelsea, the Spurs head coach encouraged his players to perform a lap of appreciation for the fans. However, television cameras caught Van de Ven and Spence walking away, apparently ignoring the manager’s request. At the time, Frank refused to publicly criticise the pair, choosing instead to defuse the incident.

  "All the players are, of course, frustrated," he had said after the match. "They would like to do well, they would like to win, they would like to perform. I understand that. I think it’s difficult to be consistent in good times and bad times, that’s why I went around to the fans as I did, it’s more fun when we win, I can tell you that."

  He added, "I understand why you ask the question. But I think that’s one of, how you can say, small issues. We have Micky van de Ven and Djed Spence doing everything they can. They’ve performed very well so far this season. Everyone is frustrated. We do things in a different way, I don’t think it’s a big problem."

  However, the two players have apologised to the manager to reach an amicable solution.

  "Micky and Djed came into my office yesterday and just said they wanted to say sorry for the situation," he informed. "They didn't want it to look bad or any misconception that you can get in this beautiful media world. So there was no disrespect meant at all towards me or the team. They were just frustrated with the performance from us and the booing during the game."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images/GOAL
  

  A pivotal match for Spurs

  Tottenham’s 1-0 loss to Chelsea was another frustrating afternoon for the fans, who voiced their displeasure at full-time. Saturday’s showdown against United now carries enormous weight for both sides. A win could reignite Tottenham’s momentum and strengthen their Champions League ambitions. They remain sixth in the Premier League table with 17 points from 10 games and are level with Manchester United but eight behind leaders Arsenal.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Botafogo oficializou no fim da noite desta terça-feira (3) a demissão do técnico Bruno Lage. Em nota, o clube informou que a decisão da saída do treinador partiu de John Textor e do departamento de futebol alvinegro.

RelacionadasBotafogoBruno Lage fora do Botafogo! Veja técnicos brasileiros livres no mercadoBotafogo03/10/2023BotafogoBruno Lage fora do Botafogo: confira técnicos estrangeiros livres no mercadoBotafogo03/10/2023BotafogoBruno Lage não é mais técnico do BotafogoBotafogo03/10/2023

No comunicado, o Glorioso agradeceu “o profissionalismo, o caráter e o comprometimento de Bruno Lage no período em que defendeu a camisa alvinegra e fez parte da família” Em seguida, exaltou a invencibilidade de dez jogos com o português. No entanto, afirmou que “os últimos resultados não foram os esperados”.

+ Garanta a sua vaga no curso que formou craques como Pet, Dante e Léo Moura! Cupom: LANCE1000

Além disso, o Alvinegro definiu quem ficará à frente da equipe para o clássico diante do Fluminense. Lúcio Flávio será o treinador, enquanto Joel Carli será o assistente técnico da equipe a partir desta quarta-feira (4), na preparação do jogo com o Tricolor das Laranjeiras. O embate será domingo (8), pela 26ª rodada do Brasileirão.

+ Aposte R$50 e ganhe R$525 se você acredita que Bragantino ou Flamengo têm chances de título

VEJA A NOTA NA ÍNTEGRA

“O Botafogo informa que, por decisão de John Textor e do Departamento de Futebol, Bruno Lage não é mais o técnico da equipe principal.

O Botafogo destaca o profissionalismo, o caráter e o comprometimento de Bruno Lage no período em que defendeu a camisa alvinegra e fez parte da família. Apesar do início do treinador, com 10 jogos de invencibilidade, os últimos resultados não foram os esperados. Fica o agradecimento do Clube a Bruno e a toda a sua comissão técnica pelos serviços prestados ao Glorioso ao longo dos últimos meses, desejando muito sucesso em seus futuros desafios.

Como família, o Botafogo vai buscar no momento soluções dentro de casa. O Clube segue com confiança inabalável e firme no propósito da temporada com o suporte incansável de uma legião de alvinegros apaixonados.

Lucio Flavio e Joel Carli (na função de assistente técnico) assumem interinamente o comando do time a partir desta quarta (4) na preparação para a partida de domingo, contra o Fluminense, pelo Campeonato Brasileiro”.