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Teams have to navigate through complexities of playing a five-day match for the world title barely a week after the IPL ends

Andrew McGlashan13-Mar-20232:44

What could India’s XI look like for the WTC final?

India are planning to equip their Test bowlers with the Dukes ball during the IPL so they have a chance to practice with it ahead of the World Test Championship with the crammed schedule providing challenges of how to prepare to face Australia at the Oval.The final will take place from June 7 for 11 (with June 12 as a reserve day) which means the game starts barely a week after the IPL final is expected to take place, but Test captain Rohit Sharma hoped his pace attack would be able to tune up.”We’re sending some new Dukes balls to all the fast bowlers as well to get them some time with that,” he said. “All of us have played in that part of the world so I don’t think it’s going be a huge problem. But, yeah, I believe in preparation, and preparation again is going to be key for us come the finals.”India were confirmed as Australia’s opponents when New Zealand secured a thrilling two-wicket win off the final ball of the first Test against Sri Lanka in Christchurch as the players were taking lunch in Ahmedabad.”I’m just being honest, we certainly did [follow it] today,” India coach Rahul Dravid told Star Sports. “More from the point of view it was getting really tight and close out there. It was really exciting to be following that in bits and pieces. We sort of followed it over the last four or five overs… it was lunch time for us.”Both teams will have to navigate the complexities of the calendar which will see the IPL dominate the two months of April and May, but it is accentuated for India with only Cheteshwar Pujara of their likely line-up not involved in the tournament. For the bowlers, meanwhile, operating with the Dukes ball that is used for Tests in England was adopted by the ICC for the first final in 2021 brings with it different challenges compared to the SG or Kookaburra.Related

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Rohit also said there would be a close eye kept on bowlers’ workloads during the IPL and he hoped that any Test players involved in the teams who don’t make the finals would be able to travel to England early.”I think it’s quite critical for us,” he said. “We’re going to be in constant touch with all the IPL guys who are going to be part of that final to monitor their workload”Around May 21, there will be six teams who would possibly be out of the IPL. So, whichever players are available, we will try and find some time to see if they can reach the UK as early as possible and get some time there.”Australia missed out on the 2021 final, where New Zealand beat India, due to over-rate penalties and they have admitted in recent months that they have taken this WTC cycle more seriously. They secured their place with dominant home form – much like India – while picking up vital wins on the road in Pakistan, Sri Lanka and this tour.”The guys are really pumped by it, really excited,” Steven Smith said. “We saw India when they came back out on the field just after New Zealand had won…shaking their hands and what have you. So it’s going to be great coming up against India in the final.”The Oval wicket there can take some spin at times, particularly as the game wears on, so it could be interesting in terms of what sort of wicket we get. But it’s a great place to play cricket, there’s usually reasonable bounce and pace for an English wicket, it’s probably as close as you get to Australia potentially in terms of pace and bounce, so it’s going to be a great Test match.”With the final taking place in the first part of June, which is still reasonably early in the UK season, it would be a surprise if there was much on offer for the spinners and Rohit conceded conditions would need some adjustment but was confident they would not be too unknown. The reserve day was needed to complete the first final in 2021 because of rain in Southampton.”A neutral venue for both the teams, [but] both teams have played a lot of cricket in that part of the world,” he said. “I wouldn’t say it will be alien conditions for both teams. But, yes, compared to what it is like for India in India or Australia playing in Australia, it’s not going to be like that. It’s going to be slightly different from that which I’m pretty sure both teams will prepare for it.”

Rio Ferdinand has admitted Manchester United goalie Altay Bayindir "doesn't fill me with massive confidence" after his shaky outing against Fulham.

• Ferdinand takes aim at Bayindir
• Turk starting in goal ahead of Andre Onana
• Red Devils slipped to draw against Fulham

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Bayindir started a second Premier League game in a row on Sunday, with manager Ruben Amorim again opting for the Turkey international ahead of Andre Onana. After a difficult outing in the defeat to Arsenal, the 27-year-old was shaky again against Fulham, who earned a point when Emile Smith Rowe struck in the second half after Rodrigo Muniz's own goal, and the Red Devils look like they're trying to sign a new shot-stopper in Senne Lammens as they try to establish some solidity between the sticks.

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  Amorim has been non-committal when asked about his goalkeeping situation, with Onana's errors proving costly since his arrival from Inter Milan two years ago. Bayindir looks to have his manager's backing for now, but Ferdinand has revealed the area he needs to improve in if he is to be the long-term custodian at Old Trafford.

• WHAT FERDINAND SAID

  Ferdinand said on his YouTube channel: "We look shaky. The goalkeeper doesn't fill me with massive confidence. I've got to be honest with you, he made a great save in the game from Joshua King, when he came out with his feet, he did really well there.

  "But from set pieces, even outside of the goal, he's coming for things that are 50-50 and he's not sure. The whole backline doesn't look good in that area, not just the goalkeeper to be honest with you.

  "He [Bayandir] needs to liven up. I know that, definitely. I'll tell you what I'd do, I'd be getting him out on the pitch every day and smashing balls under the crossbar. 

  "He's got to get used to it, he's got to get used to contact and work out a way. Make sure the referee is aware by the way that there's going to be contact. Shout, get him aware to look at you so if there's any contact, like in the Fulham game, that you get the free-kick.

  "I don't think he talks enough, he doesn't make people aware of what's going on and then his decision-making in those moments hasn't been good enough. I don't think he's seen enough of that, Declan Rice whipping balls right under his nose. He's not on his own by the way in lacking a bit of confidence."

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  Belgian goalie Lammens was dropped from Royal Antwerp's squad for their most recent game and talks with United are thought to be progressing well. Should he arrive in the near future, it'll be fascinating to see which No.1 Amorim opts for during the remainder of the 2025-26 campaign.

Arne Slot agrees Liverpool are among the favourites for the Premier League title but says it would be "weird" to only include them because of their transfer activity.

• Slot accepts Liverpool are title frontrunners
• Reds have spent almost £300m this summer
• Have raised nearly £150m in player sales

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The reigning champions have strengthened significantly in their pursuit of successive league titles, with Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez all arriving for just shy of £300million this summer. And the Reds could still spend further as they continue to be linked with Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak, despite having a £110m bid rejected.

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  However despite their heavy transfer outlay, Slot has called for more context to be applied when discussing this season's title favourites, citing Liverpool receiving almost £150million from the sales of Luis Diaz, Jarell Quansah, Caoimhin Kelleher, Tyler Morton and Nat Phillips this summer.

• WHAT SLOT SAID

  When asked if Liverpool are favourites for the Premier League this season, Slot said: “If you won it last season it's quite normal that you are part of the favourites again for next season. For me it would not be normal if it's about spending, because the net spend of us compared to the other teams is not in our favour, if you look at the last two seasons. But it's completely normal that we are one of the favourites, because we won it last season. And we brought in good players, like all the other ones did, by the way.

  “So if we are only favourites because we've spent a bit, I would see that as weird, because we've lost a lot as well. But that we are favourites because we won it last season and we played so well, that's clear. And the ambitions haven't changed, because the ambition of this club is always to compete for every trophy."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR SLOT AND LIVERPOOL?

  Liverpool are next in action when they contest the Community Shield against Crystal Palace at Wembley Stadium on Sunday. The Reds will then take on Bournemouth in their first Premier League match of the 2025-26 season at Anfield on August 15.

“When you are put against a wall, you need to show character and you need to be brave enough, which I thought we weren’t”

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Jan-20242:26

Manjrekar: Indian batters found wanting temperamentally

Rohit Sharma feels India were not “brave enough” in their second innings and they “overall failed as a team” as they went down by 28 runs in Hyderabad.”When you are put against a wall, you need to show character and you need to be brave enough, which I thought we weren’t,” Rohit said on the official broadcast after India went 1-0 down in the five-Test series. “We wanted to take some chances… we didn’t take chances with the bat. But that can happen.”With India taking a massive 190-run first-innings lead, the idea that England would finish on the winning side was more than a bit far-fetched. However, Ollie Pope produced an epic 196 off 278 balls to take England to 420 in their second dig and gave them a 230-run lead, which proved just enough.Related

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Ollie Pope sweeps England out of deep trouble

Rohit said that Pope’s knock was “probably the best” he had seen in Indian conditions by an overseas batter, but felt that the target was by no means ungettable on a surface not doing too much.”You got to take your hat off and say ‘well played’ to Ollie Pope. That was some serious knock,” Rohit said. “Having gotten the lead of 190, we thought we were very much in the game, but then… exceptional batting, probably the best that I have seen in Indian conditions by an overseas batter.”Ollie Pope played a brilliant knock. I definitely thought 230 was gettable, there wasn’t too much in the pitch, but we didn’t bat well enough to get to the score.”This is only the third time overall – and the first time at home – that India have lost a Test match after securing a first-innings lead in excess of 100 runs. Was India’s bowling to blame for the loss in Hyderabad then?”I went and checked where we bowled [after the third day], and I thought we bowled in the right areas,” Rohit said. “When you finish the day, you analyse: what went well, what didn’t go well, and things like that. We went back and saw things; we spoke about [them] and I thought the bowlers executed the plan really well.”Hard to look at one or two things. Overall we failed as a team. I thought after the first innings of their batting and our batting I thought we were very much in the game. We didn’t bat well enough to get to that score [in the second innings].”Rohit also had praise for India’s lower-order batters, who hung around to give them hope late on the fourth day. India were at 119 for 7 in the 41st over and a swift end was on the horizon. But KS Bharat and R Ashwin strung a 57-run stand off 130 balls for the eighth wicket. Even Jasprit Bumrah and No. 11 Mohammed Siraj hung around for 37 balls, adding 25 runs, but could not take the game into the final day with Siraj falling in the last over of an extended day to give Tom Hartley his seventh wicket of the innings and spark celebrations in the England camp.”I wanted them to take the game to the fifth day; 20-30 runs anything is possible,” Rohit said. “The lower order fought really well, and showed the top order that you need to fight it out. It is the first game of the series. I hope the guys can learn from that.”

Resignation also comes after a release from the nation’s sports minister asking SLC’s executive committee to resign or face drastic action

Andrew Fidel Fernando04-Nov-2023Sri Lanka Cricket secretary Mohan de Silva resigned from his board position on Saturday. His resignation comes after both widespread criticism of the board following Sri Lanka’s crashing out of the Men’s ODI World Cup, as well as a release from the nation’s sports minister asking SLC’s executive committee to resign or face drastic action.De Silva did not provide an official reason for his resignation, but it is understood to be at least partly the consequence of Sri Lanka’s poor performance in the World Cup, though personal reasons had also played a part.Sri Lanka’s sports minister and SLC have been engaged in hostilities lasting over a year, with the board’s use of finances (particularly during last year’s Men’s T20 World Cup), the Lanka Premier League, and their running of other domestic tournaments being particular flashpoints.Related

SLC wants answers for Sri Lanka's 'shocking defeats' in World Cup

SLC’s relationship with the sports minister often tends to be friendly, although it is occasionally characterised by sabre-rattling. According to Sri Lanka’s sports law, the nation’s sports ministry oversees SLC, as it does other national-level sporting bodies. However, in the case of cricket, the ICC’s official policy of not allowing direct government interference in the sport has usually prevented ministers from flexing their power.The last time the government installed an “interim committee” to act in place of SLC’s member-voted executive committee, back in 2014, the ICC held funds that were due to be paid to the board in escrow.In any case, the minister’s two-page release accused SLC of – among a variety of faults – failing to provide so much as an indoor training facility, or a swimming pool in which to conduct fitness and injury rehabilitation work. These, at least, have been long-standing grouses from players themselves.SLC’s officials have responded to the minister’s criticism with strongly-worded statements of their own over the past few months. But the men’s team’s performance at the World Cup has shifted the power dynamic, however briefly.

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O Corinthians até tentou dialogar com o Flamengo em busca de reduzir o valor do ingresso para os torcedores visitantes nas finais da Copa do Brasil, mas não teve chance sequer de ser ouvido. A situação deixou a diretoria corintiana irritada e fez com que ela agisse contra a própria vontade, usando da ‘força do ódio’ para ‘virar o jogo’.

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A ideia do Timão era permitir que as duas torcidas tivessem a chance de comparecer às finais pagando valores que não fossem abusivos.

Naturalmente, o preço das finais seriam maiores do que a média da competição, mas a vontade corintiana não era usar do apelo decisivo para ‘enfiar a faca’ no torcedor rival, mesmo sabendo que, independentemente da quantia colocada, haveria demanda.

A chateação dos representantes do Timão não foi somente pelo fato de serem contrariados, mas também pela forma como isso aconteceu.

Segundo informações levantadas pelo LANCE!, nas últimas semanas houve inúmeras tentativas de diálogo da cúpula do time paulista com os cariocas, mas o Rubro-Negro não fez questão alguma de escutar o que o Corinthians tinha para propor.

+ Confira a tabela da Copa do Brasil e simule os jogos decisivos entre Corinthians e Flamengo

Frente a um episódio que o deixou desconfortável, a diretoria corintiana passou a pensar somente em como tornar a presença do seu torcedor acessível no confronto de volta, programado para o estádio do Maracanã, no dia 19 de outubro. E a solução foi ‘pagar’ 77,5% dos R$ 400 que o Flamengo cobra para os corintianos assistirem à partida na capital carioca.

Para tomar essa atitude, o Timão cobrará do Fla os mesmos R$ 400 no jogo de ida, que ocorrerá na próxima quarta-feira (12), em Itaquera. Com o valor arrecadado com os visitantes, a equipe do Parque São Jorge conseguiu colocar à venda os ingressos para o duelo no Rio de Janeiro por R$ 90, na certeza que o caixa fechará.

DIVISÃO DE SETORES AOS VISITANTES

Diferentemente na questão dos preços, na qual nem houve diálogo, as diretorias de Corinthians e Flamengo se acertaram quanto à proporção de visitantes nos encontros. Foram 2.800 lugares reservados para os flamenguistas na Neo Química Arena, enquanto 3.800 espaços ficarão disponíveis aos corintianos no Maraca.

A situação difere do encontro entre os clubes nas quartas de final da Libertadores, em agosto, quando as duas direções fixaram a área destinada à torcida adversária em quatro mil lugares, sem considerar que a capacidade do Maracanã é maior em cerca de 30 mil assentos.

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MatériaMais Notícias

Pela quinta vez em dez anos, o São Paulo chegou à semifinal da Copa do Brasil. E novamente, um sonho antigo acendeu dentro do clube: a conquista de um título inédito.

Galeria
>ATUAÇÕES: Mesmo com falhas de Reinaldo, Luciano é o homem da classificação do São Paulo

Tabela
> Veja tabela da Copa do Brasil e simule os próximos jogos

Em toda a sua história, o Tricolor paulista nunca saiu vitorioso da competição. Em 2002, 2012, 2015 e 2020 avançou até as semifinais. No caso mais recente, enfrentou o Grêmio. No confronto de ida, ficou empatado por 0 a 0. A chance do São Paulo era de conseguir abrir o placar agregado e carimbar sua vaga na etapa final. Porém, foi derrotado por 1 a 0 na casa do visitante, com gol de Diego Souza aos 63 minutos de jogo.

Na decisão, quase conseguiu em 2000, há 22 anos. Contra o Cruzeiro, o primeiro jogo foi realizado no estádio do Morumbi e terminou sem gol. Já o segundo, no Mineirão, onde a equipe adversária venceu por 2 a 1 e conquistou a terceira taça no torneio. A partida contou, inclusive, com Rogério Ceni no gol.

Na última quinta-feira (18), o Tricolor eliminou o América-MG em um empate por 2 a 2 – após chegar com um gol de vantagem do jogo de ida – e avançou para a semifinal depois de dois anos. O confronto foi disputado na Arena Independência, na capital mineira.

A campanha do São Paulo até aqui empolga. Nas oitavas de finais, conseguiu eliminar um dos seus maiores rivais: o Palmeiras, após uma disputa de pênaltis no Allianz Parque.

O sonho se acendeu novamente. Rogério Ceni já destacou em diversos momentos que enxerga o título como um dos maiores anseios da equipe nesta temporada. Mesmo que o treinador não tenha conseguido a conquista em sua época de atleta, destacou que planeja como técnico.

De acordo com suas palavras, um quesito será fundamental para isso: a força do conjunto. E isso é algo que é bem visto em praticamente todos os confrontos do São Paulo na temporada.

O próximo desafio acontece em breve. O São Paulo terá que derrotar o Flamengo na semifinal. O jogo de ida acontece no Morumbi, enquanto o de volta no Maracanã. Sair com um boa vantagem em casa é essencial, a fim de evitar retrospectos passados, e finalmente, chegar a mais uma final.

Caso consiga, enfrenta o vencedor do duelo entre Corinthians e Fluminense. Ou seja, de duas uma: ou será um clássico ou um novo encontro com Fernando Diniz – que estava presente em 2020, na última vez que a equipe chegou à semifinal.

Porém, não só o título inédito brilha os olhos da equipe. A premiação idem. O time já havia batido sua meta no mês de julho, quando avançou para as quartas de final do campeonato. No planejamento, a pretensão era estar entre os oito primeiros. Em 2021, o São Paulo apresentou um déficit de R$100 milhões. A dívida geral do clube já ultrapassou os R$700 milhões. A Copa do Brasil aliviaria um pouco os cofres do Tricolor paulista.

Porém, o que mais chama atenção é quanto recebe o vencedor. Ir para a decisão final já garante mais R$25 milhões. Quem erguer a taça, ganha R$60 milhões. Assim, caso o São Paulo vença o campeonato pela primeira vez, receberá mais de R$100 milhões.

– Ganhar a Copa do Brasil acho que no momento… para cada um, para o clube em que eu trabalhei a vida toda e não consegui ter o título, seria logicamente fantástico. Obsessão é sempre o próximo jogo, a próxima vitória… nós temos um adversário meio pesado para enfrentar agora na Copa do Brasil. Nós vamos estudar bem. Antes, temos o Santos no Campeonato Brasileiro, um jogo difícil na Vila. Então, vamos ver como é melhor atuar, analisar bem e vamos à luta como 2022 nós sempre fomos. Se eles estiverem todos juntos… nós não temos um destaque individual, alguém que faça uma jogada e drible. Nós temos a força do conjunto, a amizade e a dedicação de todos, que é a única coisa que pode fazer nós passarmos tanto pelo Atlético-GO na Sul-Americana quanto pelo Flamengo – disse Rogério Ceni.

MatériaMais Notícias

Abel Ferreira ‘ganhou’ um reforço: a volta do futebol de Raphael Veiga. O meia encerrou seca de cinco jogos sem marcar e anotou um gol de pênalti na vitória do Palmeiras por 3 a 0 sobre o Goiás neste domingo (7), no Allianz Parque.

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O treinador do Verdão destacou, na coletiva de imprensa após o jogo válido pela 21ª rodada, a retomada do jogador e a forma com que lidou com a recém má fase, além de citar até Cristiano Ronaldo para avaliar a situação.

– Eu não conheço nenhum jogador do mundo que só acerta. O Cristiano Ronaldo, que é um batedor de pênaltis exemplar, já falhou. O segredo é a forma com que o jogador lida com a adversidade. Muitas vezes temos a tendência de focar nos problemas. Ele falhou em dois, mas fez 24 pênaltis – explicou o técnico.

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Nesta linha de raciocínio, de exaltar os lados bons em detrimento dos ruins, Abel defendeu Wesley, jogador criticado pela torcida devido às apresentações recentes. Na partida contra o Goiás, ele teve pelo menos três oportunidades para balançar as redes.

– Wesley falhou em três oportunidades, mas criou-as. Ele apareceu lá. Ele criou mais oportunidades do que outros jogadores. Falhou, mais criou. E teve um comportamento espetacular daquilo que eram as tarefas dele. O jogo não é só com a bola. É técnica, tática e física. A forma com que temos que lidar com a adversidade não é com cara feia, é com trabalho e disciplina – disse.

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Abel Ferreira também aproveitou para elogiar a dinâmica de Jean Pierre Gonçalves Lima, árbitro do duelo de hoje. Durante o jogo, após toque no braço do defensor do Goiás, o juíz assinalou pênalti para o Verdão. A marcação— não comentada por Abel — foi alvo de críticas nas redes sociais.

– É verdade que em um ou outro lance era falta, mas deixou jogar. Quero dar os parabéns por isso. Estamos habituados a sempre apitar. E o jogo hoje teve intensidade e ritmo por responsabilidade do Jean Pierre. Foi igual para os dois – elogiou.

Outro a receber elogios foi o lateral Mayke, autor de um golaço e protagonista da partida. Para Abel, ele é um dos melhores da posição no país.

– Tenho muita sorte. Tenho os dois melhores laterais do Brasil: o (Marcos) Rocha e o Mayke. E ainda tenho o Garcia. Mayke fez um grande jogo, há dias que as coisas correm muito bem – afirmou.

O Palmeiras apresentou bom futebol, não à toa construiu um resultado de três gols de diferença sobre o adversário e não sofreu na defesa. O português elogiou o apoio da torcida do Verdão, convocou-os para a próxima quarta-feira e explicou o conteúdo do bilhete passado por ele aos jogadores durante a partida.

– Muitas vezes queremos fazer alterações táticas que é difícil falar com três ou quatro jogadores. No bilhete, o que dizia era ‘continuem a jogar assim’, os nossos torcedores estão a nos apoiar. Aproveito para convocá-los para quarta-feira, para nos ajudar. Eles tem nos ajudado muito. Modéstia à parte, esta equipe tem dado diversão, os nossos torcedores vêm para desfrutar e para se divertir.

Perguntado sobre Bruno Tabata, meia que deve ser oficializado como reforço do Palmeiras em breve, Abel Ferreira preferiu ter cautela e afirmou que só comentaria sobre o jogador quando acontecer o anúncio oficial.

O Palmeiras volta a jogar na próxima quarta-feira (10), no duelo de volta com o Atlético-MG, pelas quartas de final da Libertadores, após as duas equipes empatarem em 2 a 2 no Mineirão. O jogo acontecerá no Allianz Parque, às 21h30.

Manchester United face Leicester City at the King Power Stadium later on tonight, looking to build on the Europa League triumph over Real Sociedad on Thursday evening.

Ruben Amorim’s side are looking to make it four games unbeaten in the Premier League, after two draws and a win against Everton, Arsenal and Ipswich Town, respectively.

It will be the fourth time the two sides have met throughout 2024/25, with the Red Devils winning the other league clash this campaign with victories in the Carabao and FA Cup.

However, the manager may have some selection decisions to make if they are to extend their unbeaten run, helping end the season on a high after enduring a dismal campaign to date.

He will certainly be without one player for the trip to the East Midlands, with one first-team regular currently serving a suspension after picking up a red card a couple of weeks ago.

Patrick Dorgu’s suspension for Leicester City

Left-back Patrick Dorgu impressed massively during the win over Real Sociedad, looking like the player they decided to splash £30m on in the January transfer window.

However, the 20-year-old won’t be available for the clash with the Foxes this evening, serving the second of his three-game ban for his straight red card received in the win over Ipswich.

The Dane missed the clash with Arsenal last week, but his absence may be felt more tonight, given his impressive showing against the Spanish outfit a couple of days ago.

With Luke Shaw still out injured and Tyrell Malacia spending the remainder of the campaign out on loan, options are limited within the defensive department.

As a result, Amorim could look to start one player in an unfamiliar role, looking to follow in the footsteps of one player who previously impressed in his new position.

The player who could solve Amorim’s wing-back dilemma

Amad Diallo hasn’t featured since the last clash with the Foxes at the start of February, potentially missing the rest of the campaign with an ankle issue.

However, before his setback, Amorim often utilised the Ivorian in a slightly deeper wing-back role rather than his preferred attacking position, managing to get the best out of the youngster in the process.

The 22-year-old has managed to register 12 combined goals and assists since the former Sporting CP boss’s appointment, thriving with added minutes in the first team.

However, Amorim could look to replicate such success by unleashing Alejandro Garnacho in a similar position on the opposite flank, potentially allowing the Argentine to spark into life under the new manager.

The 20-year-old has only registered four combined goal contributions this calendar year, struggling to adapt to Amorim’s demands of operating in a more central role rather than his preferred wide position.

Whilst it may seem like a far-fetched idea, the young “game-changer” – as described by journalist Samuel Luckhurst – has all of the tools to operate in such a role, having the energy to get up and down the line, with his stats showing the impact he can have at both ends.

In the Premier League throughout 2024/25, Garnacho has averaged 1.1 successful dribbles and created 1.3 chances per 90 – showcasing the impact he can have when marauding into forward areas.

Games played

27

Goals & assists

4

Pass accuracy

83%

Successful dribbles

1.1

Chances created

1.3

Duels won

4.1

Tackle success rate

65%

He’s also won 4.1 duels per 90, along with a 65% tackle success rate, having the defensive capabilities to regain possession should he need to when the side are without the ball.

Given the form of Amad in a similar position, it could be a great opportunity for the manager to start the academy graduate in a new role – offering added versatility to the side in the process.

Leicester’s lowly league standing could allow for one or two risks to be taken, with Amorim having the perfect chance to work his magic by utilising an attacker in a wing-back role, which could get the best out of his game after a stuttering few months.

Man Utd have hit gold on "phenomenal" ace who cost even less than Heaven

Manchester United have hit the jackpot on one player who signed for less than Ayden Heaven.

ByEthan Lamb Mar 14, 2025

كشف إسلام الشاطر، نجم الأهلي الأسبق، عن تفاصيل موقف لاعب المارد الأحمر، خلال مباراة الفريق وإنتر ميامي في افتتاح منافسات كأس العالم للأندية، والتي شهدت عدم مشاركته.

ومن المقرر أن يخوض الأهلي مواجهة قوية في الجولة الثانية من دور المجموعات أمام بالميراس البرازيلي، مساء الخميس المقبل، في لقاء لا يقبل فيه التفريط بالنقاط إذا أراد الفريق مواصلة مشواره في البطولة.

وخلال لقاء الأهلي وإنتر ميامي، لم يشارك أشرف بن شرقي، مما أثار تساؤلات كثيرة حول أسباب استبعاده المفاجئ، خاصة وأن اللقاء كان في بطولة مهمة ويحتاج الفريق خلالها إلى أفضل عناصره.

وقال إسلام الشاطر في تصريحات عبر برنامج “اللعيب” على قناة “mbc masr”: “أي مدير فني قبل مباراة بيومين أو ثلاثة، يُهيئ اللاعبين الذين سيشاركون، ما حدث وهي معلومة، خوسيه ريبيرو قام بتوزيع القمصان الزرقاء في التدريبات على اللاعبين الذين سيشاركون في مباراة إنتر ميامي، وأشرف بن شرقي وجد نفسه لن يشارك (فقلب وشه)”.

طالع أيضًا | حازم إمام عن تصرف تريزيجيه مع وسام: أين شخصية المدرب؟

وأضاف: “واضح إن بن شرقي غير مرتاح مع المدير الفني خلال الفترة القصيرة الماضية، لأن في مباراة مثل هذه لا يبدأ بن شرقي ولا حتى يقوم بعملية الإحماء، فهذا جعل الناس تضع علامات استفهام”.

واختتم الشاطر: “يجب أن يتدخل محمد يوسف، المدير الرياضي للنادي، ويعقد جلسة سريعة مع بن شرقي وريبيرو، يتفق فيها على التعامل الاحترافي داخل الملعب وهذا ما حدث.. بن شرقي واضح عليه الانزعاج”.