A Chelsea star is “unhappy” under Enzo Maresca behind-the-scenes, and he’s tempted by the prospect of joining another elite club who are circling to take advantage.
Players on the verge of leaving Chelsea next year
A host of bit-part Chelsea players have been linked with exits in both January and next summer.
Maresca personally driving Chelsea interest in 22 y/o he thinks is rapid
Chelsea already have a plethora of attacking talent at their disposal, but Maresca wants more.
ByBarney Lane Nov 8, 2024
At the very start of the season, it was believed that Mykhailo Mudryk was battling for his Chelsea future, with reports then emerging that the west Londoners could even look to secure a loan move for the £89 million Ukraine international.
However, Mudryk has since impressed enough when given the opportunity by Maresca, with the tactician praising his impact recently after their 4-1 win away to Panathinaikos in the Conference League.
“Very happy, not for me but for him,” said Maresca on Mudryk’s improvement.
“We as a staff, we spend a long, long time to help the players; not only Misha but the whole squad. Since we started, we are working with Misha and all the wingers to arrive in the box, into the position where Misha scored.
Chelsea’s next Premier League fixtures
Date
Leicester City (home)
November 23
Aston Villa (home)
December 1
Southampton (away)
December 4
Tottenham (home)
December 8
Brentford (home)
December 15
“He struggled to arrive there and now he is starting to arrive there. That is where we are going to score goals. It’s for him, it’s for Jadon [Sancho], it’s for Noni [Madueke], it’s for Pedro [Neto] – all of the wingers. They need to be in position because the ball is going to arrive in that position.
“We want the best for Misha. Since day one, we are trying to help Misha.”
Benoit Badiashile was heavily linked with an exit from Chelsea in the new year, but it has now been reliably reported that those within the club hold the Frenchman in high regard and consider him an excellent back-up option to their mainstay defenders (Ben Jacobs).
Chelsea are prepared to sell Ben Chilwell, though, with clubs in the Premier League, La Liga and Serie A all apparently interested in taking the left-back off Maresca’s hands when the window reopens. Meanwhile, very recent rumours have cast doubt on Christopher Nkunku and his future at Stamford Bridge.
Nkunku "unhappy" at Chelsea and tempted to join Man United
Nkunku is reportedly considering a Chelsea exit, two seasons after joining them from RB Leipzig. The Frenchman has been prolific on command, bagging 10 goals and an assist in all competitions over his 17 appearances, but he still can’t force his way past Nicolas Jackson in Maresca’s pecking order.
Now, as per Football Insider, it is believed Nkunku is “unhappy” at Chelsea and would entertain the prospect of joining league rivals Man United – who are believed to be interested in a potential deal for the 26-year-old.
He’s certainly been very unlucky since arriving in west London, and the sheer competition for places in Chelsea’s attacking line means even a 10-goal return doesn’t guarantee you a place in the starting line up. Nkunku’s first full season was blighted by injury as well, after arriving from the Bundesliga with so much promise.
Elsewhere, Tamil Nadu trounce Karnataka, Yuzvendra Chahal chips in, Atharva Taide hits 164*, and more
ESPNcricinfo staff09-Dec-2021
Ruturaj Gaikwad scored an unbeaten 154 against Chhattisgarh•Maharashtra Cricket Association
Gaikwad, Taide, Varma smash big hundredsRuturaj Gaikwad continued to make a strong claim for a spot in the Indian ODI team, bagging his second century in two days – an unbeaten 154 off 143 on this occasion – to take his tournament tally to 290 runs in two innings. Gaikwad hit 14 fours and five sixes, while putting on an opening stand of 120 with Yash Nahar as Maharashtra chased down 276 against Chhattisgarh.Twenty-one-year-old Atharva Taide scored his second List A century for Vidarbha, a mammoth unbeaten 164 off 123 balls, that helped Vidarbha beat Andhra comprehensively with eight wickets in hand and 8.2 overs to spare. The left-hand opener, who has played for India U-19, hit 15 fours and five sixes, and played a domineering knock in an innings where no one else got past 50. Vidarbha were chasing 288.Nineteen-year-old left-handed batter Tilak Varma made his third List A hundred in 13 innings for Hyderabad, as they beat Delhi by 79 runs at Mohali. Varma’s built a reputation for big-hitting in a budding career, and that was evident against Delhi as he hit seven fours and eight sixes during a 123-ball 139 that helped Hyderabad post 325. He now averages 62.50, with a strike rate of 101.21 after 13 List A innings.Siddharth, Sai Kishore down KarnatakaTamil Nadu’s left-arm spinners, M Siddharth and R Sai Kishore shared seven wickets between them as Karnataka collapsed from 103 for 3 to 122 all out and lost by eight wickets in Trivandrum. Manish Pandey top-scored with 40, but it was his wicket that triggered the collapse. Siddharth took career-best figures of 4 for 23 in 9 overs and accounted for the wickets of Pandey and Karun Nair as Tamil Nadu extended their dominance over Karnataka this season.R Sai Kishore picked up 3 for 28 against Karnataka•TNCA
Rajasthan went top of Group E with an 84-run win over Goa, thanks to left-arm spinner Shubham Sharma’s maiden five-wicket haul. Shubham took 5 for 12 in 9.3 overs, bowling alongside legspinner Ravi Bishnoi who finished with 2 for 47 from his full quota. Rajasthan were defending 257Iyer’s all-round effort, Chahal chips in with ballVenkatesh Iyer scored 112 off 84 balls as Madhya Pradesh scored 329 for 9 against Kerala, before picking up 3 for 55 as Kerala fell short by 40 runs. Iyer batted at No. 4 and scored seven fours and four sixes, following on from Wednesday when he batted at No. 6 and bowled ten overs and got the wicket of Gaikwad against Maharashtra. Sanju Samson, captaining Kerala, was dismissed for 18 off 22.Suryakumar Yadav made a nine-ball 14 coming in at No. 4 for Mumbai against Baroda. In a rain-curtailed match, Suryakumar’s innings helped Mumbai get past their VJD target with ease, and they won by 12 runs when the rain stopped their chase of 210 short against Baroda.On a day headlined by left-arm spinners, Dharmendrasinh Jadeja also picked up career-best figures of 4 for 14, as Saurashtra bowled Haryana out for 127 before beating them by five wickets to top Group C after two matches. For Haryana, Yuzvendra Chahal took 2 for 39 in 8.1 overs; he had taken 3 for 42 against Hyderabad on Wednesday. Harshal Patel, meanwhile, scored a duck batting at No. 6 and took 1 for 24.
South Africa will be eyeing a clean sweep in the ODIs – something that seemed unlikely when the tour started
Hemant Brar22-Jan-20221:42
Should South Africa experiment? And should Rishabh Pant continue at No. 4?
Big pictureOutbatted. Outbowled. Outcaptained. That’s what South Africa did to India in the first two ODIs. Under Temba Bavuma, they played like a close-knit unit and, on a Boland Park pitch that looked more Indian than South African, defeated India comprehensively in successive games.In the first ODI, Rassie van der Dussen and Bavuma’s hundreds helped them post an above-par total before their bowlers closed out the game. In the second, they chased down 288 with little discomfort. Now, in the third in Cape Town, they will step out to attempt what not many would have imagined at the start of the series: a whitewash.India, on the other hand, had said before the series that they were looking to build a team for the 2023 World Cup and wouldn’t mind trying out a few things. They will have another opportunity to do that, but it’s not clear if they have ticked any boxes so far.Ahead of the series, stand-in captain KL Rahul spoke about how important it was to have a sixth bowling option in the XI but then he didn’t give Venkatesh Iyer a single over in the first ODI. Rahul’s own approach with the bat – a strike rate of 69.79 in the series – has also been a little puzzling, while the spin duo of Yuzvendra Chahal and R Ashwin has looked anything but threatening despite the spin-friendly conditions in the first two ODIs.Form guideSouth Africa WWLWL (last five completed ODIs, most recent first) India LLLWWIn the spotlightAiden Markram was arguably South Africa’s best batter at the 2021 T20 World Cup. However, his poor returns during the Test series against India started the chatter about whether he needed to go back to domestic cricket to find his form. In the second ODI, Markram showed encouraging signs with an unbeaten 37 off 41 and would be eager to build on it.It hasn’t been a memorable comeback for R Ashwin in ODI cricket. He did score a crucial 25 not out in the second ODI, but he is in the side primarily for his bowling. So far in the series, he has had figures of 1 for 53 and none for 68.India’s powerplay bowling will also be under the microscope. Their bowlers have picked up only ten wickets in the powerplay overs in the last 23 ODIs. They have the worst average (132.10) and the worst economy (5.74) among all teams in that phase. Can they find a solution to their new-ball issues?Tabraiz Shamsi pats Rishabh Pant on the back as he walks off after scoring 85 off 71 balls in the second ODI•AFP/Getty Images
Team newsSouth Africa may rest Lungi Ngidi, who has played all three Tests and two ODIs so far. In his place, they could either bring back Marco Jansen, or give an opportunity to Dwaine Pretorius.South Africa (probable): 1 Quinton de Kock (wk), 2 Janneman Malan, 3 Temba Bavuma (capt), 4 Aiden Markram, 5 Rassie van der Dussen, 6 David Miller, 7 Andile Phehlukwayo, 8 Keshav Maharaj, 9 Marco Jansen/Dwaine Pretorius, 10 Sisanda Magala, 11 Tabraiz ShamsiIndia played the same XI in the first two ODIs but they could rest Jasprit Bumrah and give a chance to Mohammed Siraj. Deepak Chahar could get a look-in as well.India (probable): 1 KL Rahul (capt), 2 Shikhar Dhawan, 3 Virat Kohli, 4 Rishabh Pant (wk), 5 Shreyas Iyer, 6 Venkatesh Iyer, 7 Shardul Thakur, 8 R Ashwin, 9 Deepak Chahar/Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 10 Mohammed Siraj, 11 Yuzvendra ChahalPitch and conditionsCape Town last hosted an ODI in February 2020, so it’s difficult to say how the pitch will behave. Conditions wise, it should be cooler than Paarl, with a peak temperature of around 31-degree Celsius.Stats and trivia South Africa have won 31 out of 37 ODIs they have played in Cape Town. Chahal is two short of 100 ODI wickets. If he reaches there on Sunday, in his 59th ODI, he will become the joint fourth-fastest Indian to the landmark. India have lost three out of their last four away ODI series. It has been 64 innings now since Virat Kohli scored his last international hundred.Quotes”A guy like me has always seen them bowl in the IPL and international cricket. So it was good to go out and get some game-time against them. You need more time to face guys like those because you need to get the rhythm of each and every one of them. So it was a kind of challenge for me to do it in the first and second game.” “The way Rishabh batted, with two wickets down, it’s not easy. We all know he can play shots but the way he managed the first 20 balls and then took down the spinners… He targeted the areas where he is strong, which is something he is really working on. It’s great to see he has done that and it will give him a lot of confidence going ahead.”
A reta final da fase de classificação do Campeonato Gaúcho se aproxima e o Juventude, um dos gigantes do estado, se encontra em situação delicada.
Após oito rodadas, o time Jaconero aparece na 11ª colocação, com 7 pontos conquistados, dentro da zona de rebaixamento.
Mesmo com o risco de queda, o Juventude está empatado nos pontos com o União Frederiquense, primeiro time fora do Z-2.
Nas próximas três rodadas, a ordem é buscar o 100% de aproveitamento e sair do sufoco para ter uma sequência de temporada mais ‘tranquilo’.
Calendário
O primeiro desafio é o Caxias, em clássico que será disputado dentro do Alfredo Jaconi, no fim de semana.
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Crystal Palace are readying a move to sign a 6ft 2 player who earns £104,000-a-year, according to a recent report.
The Eagles return to Premier League action on Saturday as they travel to the Midlands to face Aston Villa, with Oliver Glasner knowing pressure is on him to turn results around quickly.
Crystal Palace have huge advantage over rivals in race to sign £25m target
It comes with Palace desperately in need of reinforcements in the January window.
ByBen Browning Nov 15, 2024 Crystal Palace transfer news
It has been a disappointing season for the Eagles so far, but January is an opportunity where they can strengthen their side as they look to improve in the second half of the campaign. Despite Glasner’s future not being secure, Palace are lining up potential transfer targets for when the window does open.
Two players that Palace have their eye on are both from Chelsea, as they are in pole position to sign Ben Chilwell in the New Year. The defender looks set to leave Stamford Bridge in January after not being used by Enzo Maresca and falling out of favour. Chilwell will want to get back to playing regular football, and Palace will hope the guarantee that they can offer is enough for him to move to Selhurst Park.
Palace have also made an approach to sign Mykhailo Mudryk on loan from Chelsea in January. The Ukraine international has yet to live up to his hype when he joined the club, and Steve Parish believes he could be a good addition for Palace, as he’s seen as a “game-changer” like Wilfred Zaha was. But the Eagles are not stopping there, as they have their eye on a tall defender who has been on their radar for some time.
Crystal Palace readying move to sign new £104k-a-year player for Glasner
According to Football Insider, Crystal Palace are ready to make a move and sign Rav van den Berg from Middlesbrough. The Dutchman has been at the Riverside Stadium since July 2023, when he joined from Dutch side PEC Zwolle.
Van den Berg, who is 6ft 2in, was a key player for Michael Carrick last season at Middlesbrough, as he played 34 times in the Championship, and that has continued in this campaign, as he’s started seven of the eight league games he has been available for.
Football Insider states that Palace have been making regular scouting checks on the defender in the last 18 months, and they are now ready to test Boro’s resolve, as van den Berg has made himself one of the hottest prospects in the Championship.
Rav van den Berg’s Middlesbrough stats
Apps
47
Goals
1
Assists
0
Van den Berg, who earns £104,000 a year at the Riverside Stadium, is under contract until the summer of 2027, and Palace are now appear ready to test their resolve. Glasner is keen to strengthen his defence when January arrives, and Palace feels that van den Berg could be the man to do that, but it is unclear how much it could cost the South London side to get a deal done.
From tunnel fights to a pizza thrown in the direction of Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsenal v Manchester United has had it all over the years in what remains one of the most heated rivalries in the Premier League. Titles have been settled, ambitions have been ended and battles for the ages have commenced.
Now, as Mikel Arteta and Ruben Amorim prepare for the latest instalment of that rivalry, we’ve taken a look back at the most heated games between the two clubs, with plenty of scraps taking place in the fixture’s history.
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ByBarney Lane Nov 27, 2024 7 Arsenal 1-2 Man Utd (1999) Ryan Giggs' extra-time winner
Ryan Giggs celebrates vs Arsenal in the FA Cup.
The stage was set between two of England’s top sides in 1999, as every eye in the country turned towards the FA Cup semi-final replay between Arsenal and Manchester United.
By this point, Arsene Wenger had made his first mark on the Premier League, sealing the title in the season prior and laying down the gauntlet by defeating Ferguson in the Charity Shield. But this was simply the year of the Red Devil as they eventually secured an historic treble.
Taking the lead through David Beckham, Man United found themselves pegged back by Dennis Bergkamp’s equaliser after the hour mark but the Dutchman’s effort only stood between a moment to savour from Ryan Giggs. The iconic winger sensationally weaved his way past five Arsenal players before smashing home in extra time and wheeling away in what remains an infamous celebration.
While it wasn’t exactly heated, it was a frenetic night that showcased the very best of the two teams in the Ferguson-Wenger era.
6 Arsenal 1-1 Man Utd (2013) Van Persie's awkward guard of honour
Robin van Persie receives guard of honour from Arsenal for Manchester United.
Losing your best player to one of your fiercest rivals is difficult enough, but to then watch on as he wins the Premier League title before giving that same player a guard of honour on his return is the stuff of nightmares. But in 2013, it was Arsenal’s damning reality.
Welcoming newly crowned champions Manchester United to the Emirates, the Gunners were left with no choice but to applaud the Red Devils and former teammate-turned-hated star Robin van Persie in front of those in north London.
What undoubtedly rubbed salt into the wounds was the fact that the Dutchman went on to earn a penalty before equalising from the spot to secure a point for his new side.
5 Arsenal 1-2 Man Utd (1999) Keane and Vieira ignite rivalry
Muhammad Ali v Joe Frazier, Stone Cold Steve Austin v The Rock, Roy Keane v Patrick Vieira – in that order. The world of sport and entertainment has seen some great rivalries over the years, and for some time, there was a strong argument that Keane versus Vieira could have been the match to headline Wrestlemania rather than stealing the show in the Premier League.
Igniting their rivalry in 1999, it was Keane who took the headlines for his side – in between pushing and shoving with his French rival – by netting a brace to seal a crucial three points to take Manchester United back to the top of the Premier League and silence Arsenal. Winning late on, it was a narrative that repeated itself throughout an incredible treble-winning campaign for Manchester United.
4 Man Utd 2-0 Arsenal (2004) Arsenal's 49-game run ends in Pizza-gate
Invincible and untouchable, Arsenal travelled to Old Trafford looking to take their unbeaten run to a stunning 50 games, but Ferguson and his side had different ideas. The Red Devils put down a marker and brought an end to history courtesy of late goals from Ruud van Nistelrooy and Wayne Rooney.
While United laid into Arsenal with a slew of rash tackles and benefited from some controversial refereeing decisions, it was in the aftermath of the result that things really stepped up a notch.
In a buffet brawl amid Arsenal’s dismay over Rooney’s late penalty, Cesc Fabregas admitted in 2017 that it was he who threw the infamous pizza slice at Ferguson, solving one of the Premier League’s greatest mysteries. The Spaniard never struggled for pinpoint accuracy, that’s for sure.
3 Man Utd 0-0 Arsenal (2003) Keown gets the last laugh at Battle of Old Trafford
One read of Patrick Vieira’s book and it becomes clear that he wasn’t exactly a fan of Ruud van Nistelrooy, having spared a few choice words when speaking about the former striker. What far from helped Van Nistelrooy’s case was when his perceived antics resulted in a second yellow card for Vieira in Manchester United and Arsenal’s 0-0 draw in 2003.
It was a stalemate full of drama and one that saw Martin Keown get the last laugh when Van Nistelrooy failed to convert after an arguably soft penalty decision went against the Gunners.
Keown, wasting no time, proceeded to celebrate mere inches from the Manchester United striker in what remains a famous image in a rivalry as old as time. The defender received a fine for his antics, as did Roy Keane, Ray Parlour, Vieira and Ashley Cole, but he’ll argue that it was worth it, especially as Arsenal went on to win the league unbeaten.
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ByAlex Roberts Dec 7, 2023 2 Arsenal 2-4 Man Utd (2005) Keane and Vieira face off in Highbury tunnel
If 1999 was the first battle between Keane and Vieira, then 2005 was the main event for the ages as the midfielders couldn’t even wait to get to the pitch to commence battle, instead arguing away in the tunnel like a vintage backstage brawl.
Preparing to lead their teams into war once again, both captains were forced to be separated, with referee Graham Poll subjected to Keane’s complaints, which spared few words.
Setting up another heated game, it was once again Manchester United who had the last laugh, winning 4-2 thanks to a Cristiano Ronaldo double and John O’Shea’s goal from the bench in between Mikael Silvestre’s red card. The result, of course, has not lived long in memory. Instead, the scenes between Vieira and Keane once again dominated the headlines.
1 Man Utd 0-1 Arsenal (1990) Points deductions apiece as brawl breaks out
Unlike in 2005, Manchester United and Arsenal waited until the cameras were on show and the spectators were on-watching before turning a game of football between two of England’s best into an ugly affair.
In between the Gunners’ 1-0 victory courtesy of Anders Limpar, it was the winger who was at the centre of the drama to spark a memorable brawl just after the hour mark.
What started with a reckless challenge from Nigel Winterburn on Denis Irwin quickly resulted in a 21-man brawl that lasted around 20 seconds. Every player but David Seaman found themselves involved, turning the beautiful game into the latest edition of the Royal Rumble.
The FA were far from entertained, issuing both clubs a £50,000 fine after the game as well as deducting United a point and Arsenal two, given they’d previously been involved in a similar incident.
The Gunners won the league title that year regardless, but it just goes to show how the teams’ rivalry even predated the Wenger years.
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A vitória de 3 a 0 que deu ao Atlético-GO a classificação para a próxima fase da Copa do Brasil, na quinta-feira, diante do União Rondonópolis, foi muito comemorada pelos jogadores rubro-negros. Porém, o resultado já faz parte do passado e o próximo confronto, contra o Crac, no domingo, pelo Campeonato Goiano, merece atenção.
O meia Wellington Rato, que vem sendo uma das principais peças do Atlético na temporada, deixa claro o pensamento dos seus companheiros, um dia depois da classificação na competição nacional.
– A classificação na Copa do Brasil foi muito importante para todos. Viajamos para o Mato Grosso para buscar a vaga na próxima fase e conseguimos. Isso deixou o grupo muito feliz e ainda mais confiante. No entanto, já faz parte do passado. O foco total agora é a partida desse domingo, pela última rodada do Goiano. Uma vitória pode nos deixar em 1º lugar do grupo B, o que nos daria a vantagem de decidir os jogos em casa nas etapas eliminatórias. Então iremos em busca disso – afirmou Wellington Rato.
O Atlético encara o Crac na rodada final da primeira fase do Campeonato Goiano, neste domingo, às 15h30, no estádio Genervino da Fonseca, a casa do adversário.
Captain puts no timeframe on tenure after being backed to lead post-Ashes era
Andrew Miller23-Feb-20221:52
Root: Nobody saying this is the end for Anderson and Broad
Joe Root insists he has not put a timeframe on his future as England’s Test captain, but recognises the importance of getting a result on the upcoming tour of the Caribbean – a venue where England have won just one series since 1968.Root was a notable survivor of the cull within England’s ranks in the wake of their desperate display in this winter’s Ashes. The team’s senior management, Ashley Giles, Chris Silverwood and Graham Thorpe, all paid for the 4-0 defeat with their jobs, while eight of the players who featured on the tour have also been sidelined, including two of England’s all-time greats in James Anderson and Stuart Broad.However, Andrew Strauss, the team’s interim director of cricket, chose to back the man who singlehandedly carried England’s batting through a stellar year in 2021, even though he is already into his fifth year in the job and recently overtook his predecessor Alastair Cook as the most-capped man in the role.”Clearly it was a disappointing tour and we massively underperformed,” Root told reporters on the eve of England’s departure for the Caribbean. “Off the back of it we have to use this opportunity for a fresh start. As Straussy’s mentioned, [it’s] a bit of a reset, and a real chance to take things forward. I’m very grateful that I’ve got the opportunity to do that as captain.”Joe Root says he embraces the move back up to No.3•CA/Cricket Australia/Getty Images
Despite his excellent recent returns at No.4, from where he made 1708 runs at 66.00 in 2021, Root will be tasked with an extra level of responsibility against West Indies when he steps up to No.3. It is a position that he has previously been reluctant to embrace, notably when Trevor Bayliss was England’s head coach, but given that England lost a wicket inside the first ten overs in eight of their ten innings in the Ashes, he recognises that his team are in need of a more authoritative figure near the top of the order.”I’ve expressed in the past that I prefer batting at four but I’m ready to take on three now,” Root said. “I feel I’m very comfortable in the way I’ve been playing and performing over the last year or so, and I think it’s the right fit for this team. To go and bat slightly higher up and, if we do lose an early wicket, support the openers, show a bit of leadership and responsibility and take the game on. Hopefully lay a bit of a platform to bat around.”The numbers back up Root’s reticence – No.3 is the only top-six position in which he averages less than 40 (38.66), although he did make his career-best 254 in that role, against Pakistan in 2016. But, he added, after taking stock of England’s shortcomings in the Ashes, he recognised that there was more that even he could give to the team.”I think, naturally, as you come back from a tour, you reflect and you look at how things could [have gone] differently,” he said. “I think that’s the best way I can help us become a better team.”It’s the first time it’s sat comfortably with me,” he added. “It’s the first time I’ve been really excited and not slightly apprehensive about it. I am coming into it having had a really strong year, with a lot more clarity about how I’m going to score my runs. I’m not saying that guarantees success, I’ll have to work really hard to transfer those performances to No.3. But I feel excited about it, I’m very motivated and I feel ready for it now. I’m a lot more experienced, with more cricket under my belt. I feel it’s the right fit for this team.”Related
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Root fell short of his own recent standards during the Ashes, making 322 runs at 32.20 with a best of 89 in the first Test in Brisbane. But, despite overseeing his second 4-0 series loss in Australia – making him the first England captain to lose twice Down Under in more than 100 years – he said he had no doubts about carrying on in the role once it had been made clear that the job was still his.”No, I didn’t waver,” Root said. “I’m very passionate about trying to take this team forward. I’m grateful I’ve got that opportunity, I really am. But it’s now very exciting, with that squad being announced, for us to be on the eve of that tour, to get out there and to really try and put all of the thoughts and all of the ideas and good feelings about it into action, and really put the wheels in motion and enjoy everything about it as well. It’s a really exciting opportunity.”I’ve not put a time limit on it, not at all,” he said of his captaincy shelf-life “I’m very passionate about trying to help take this team forward. I’m excited about what’s right ahead of us.”Of course, the last couple of years in particular have been very difficult for a number of different reasons. Not just on field in the last year or so, but off the field as well. But again, this is a great opportunity to move things on again, and I’m really looking forward to that.”England’s recent record in the Caribbean does not augur well for an immediate upturn in fortunes, however. Since their 3-0 victory in 2004, England have toured three times and emerged with two series losses and a 1-1 draw, including their most recent trip in 2019 when Jason Holder inspired West Indies to a famous win in the first Test in Barbados.Nevertheless, Root says the team’s sights are set on victory in the coming month. “I think it’s important we get a win,” he said. “It’s a great opportunity. I know we need to turn things around and start putting in some great performances.”I’m very passionate, I want England to win, I’m as big a fan as anyone watching. I’m just fortunate to be in this position to affect the games, I know that responsibility and I’m very motivated to come away with what would be a brilliant achievement, having won there once since the 1960s.”There’s some very talented players amongst that squad and they’re the ones in the shirt right now. And they’ve got to take that chance. Collectively we’ve got a chance to do something very special. Historically, it’s been a very difficult place for England to go and win, but what a chance it is for us right now.”
حقق فريق الاتحاد السعودي، الفوز على نظيره العروبة في المباراة التي أقيمت بينهما اليوم الخميس ضمن منافسات مسابقة الدوري السعودي للمحترفين بهدفين نظيفين
واستضاف الاتحاد نظيره العروبة على ملعب الملك عبد الله الدولي ضمن منافسات الجولة السابعة والعشرين من مسابقة الدوري السعودي للمحترفين موسم 2024- 2025.
طالع.. ترتيب هدافي الدوري السعودي بعد هدف عبدالرزاق حمد الله أمام الخلود
وجاء الهدف عن طريق أوناي هرنانديز في الدقيقة السابعة من الوقت بدل الضائع من الشوط الأول بينما الهدف الثاني جاء عن طريق عبد الرحمن العبود في الدقيقة 88 ليحسم الاتحاد ثلاث نقاط هامة.
ورفع الاتحاد رصيده إلى 65 نقطة في صدارة جدول ترتيب مسابقة الدوري السعودي للمحترفين بينما تجمد رصيد العروبة عند 17 نقطة.