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Bowling coach Botha is also looking forward to meeting Broad and picking up “one or two new ideas”

Firdose Moonda06-Jun-2025″As a small boy, you want to be involved in Test cricket, and then you want to play against Australia and then you want to play at Lord’s. And then suddenly it happens all at once.”For eight members of the South African squad, this hat-trick of bucket-list items, as described by their bowling coach Piet Botha, will all happen next week. None of Ryan Rickelton, Tony de Zorzi, Tristan Stubbs, Wiaan Mulder, David Bedingham, Corbin Bosch, Dane Paterson and Senuran Muthusamy have ever played a Test at Lord’s or against Australia. None of the South Africans have ever played in a World Test Championship final before, though five of them, Aiden Markram, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj and Kagiso Rabada, were involved in last year’s T20 World Cup final. Everything that happens from here is uncharted territory, which is “big and awesome”, as Botha put it. And which required meticulous planning, which hasn’t happened quite in the way Botha may have envisaged.South Africa bowled only 11 overs at the Zimbabweans on the only day play was possible at Arundel and neither Mulder nor Paterson had the ball in hand. Rabada took the only wicket, Jansen looked particularly threatening, and Lungi Ngidi was sharp. But all of them, as well as Bosch, had lengthy one-on-one conversations with Botha while South Africa batted to fine-tune their ideas for the final.Related

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“Obviously, we haven’t played a Test match for six months and because people are all over the world, getting together can get a little bit congested in terms of planning,” Botha said. “We did a lot of stuff actually before we came to England, so we’re just backing up on that and getting our plans around with every individual around a specific bat, specific situation, [what to do with the] old ball, new ball, all that type of stuff.”Talk is cheap (and the South African saying goes on to say that money buys the whiskey, which essentially means it’s easier to say things than the effort it takes to do them) and Botha would have wanted to see those plans in action. He got some opportunity when play was called off 20 minutes before noon on Friday and South Africa set up nets on the outfield. For three hours, South Africa’s batters faced their own bowlers and were occasionally humbled. Paterson beat Stubbs with a ball on a perfect length enough to create uncertainty, Jansen bounced Bavuma with no dramas, and Bosch bowled Tony de Zorzi, who shouldered arms to one he should have played. For what seemed like the meat of the session, Rabada, Jansen, Paterson and Mulder ran in to bowl to Stubbs, Bavuma and later Bedingham and Markram. Does that suggest that is how South Africa will line up at Lord’s? Botha wouldn’t say.Lungi Ngidi bowled just two overs but looked sharp•ICC via Getty Images”We’ve got variation,” Botha said. “Left-arm, people who use a different spot of the crease when they bowl, different pace options, so it’s all about analysing the opposition, seeing the conditions on the day, whether it’s overcast, clear skies, and then you make your calls on the day. It’s not like we pre-plan everything. It’s also about leaving room for in-the-moment stuff.”Given that Rabada and Jansen are certainties, and Mulder should be too (he is likely to bat at No. 3), the biggest question is who among Paterson, Ngidi and Bosch will be the additional seamer. Vernon Philander, who took a five-for when South Africa were crowned No. 1 in 2012, has backed Paterson, for offering the kind of pace that will force batters to attack him and moving the ball both ways, but South Africa might want all-out pace in Bosch or the accuracy and variation of Ngidi. They will also wait to get to London, where they will train on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday and receive some additional input from Stuart Broad.The former England international will join South Africa on Monday for part of their training session and then meet with the coaching staff who are looking for “one or two new ideas, maybe”, Botha said. “He’s played against Australia a lot, and at Lords, so basically, maybe a fielding place here or there that he might have found effective and a bit of a mental approach to how to play against Australia.”Broad is not their only source of intel. Paterson has played five games for Middlesex this season, including three at Lord’s and has already spent extra time with Botha. “I’ve had my discussions with him and asked for information,” Botha said. “They played on different strips [to the Test strip], but it was just to get an idea of how the ball behaves in certain spaces, certain parts of the innings, when it’s older, or with the second new ball, that type of information. He’s given us a lot of feedback.”South Africa’s bowling coach Piet Botha speaks to Corbin Bosch•ICC/Getty ImagesRabada has both been to Lord’s and under Australia’s skin before. He is coming off a month-long ban for cocaine use, which could attract sledging, but Botha is unconcerned. “He’s a strong personality and he’s 100% fine,” he said. “He’s had a good support structure around him.”Botha had similar complimentary things to say about his other main strike bowler, Jansen, who Zimbabwe’s batters thought was the toughest to face. “He’s really looking forward to this big occasion,” Botha said. “He’s one of those unique bowlers. If he hits his straps, he’ll be a difficult customer and mentally, he’s ready to go.”Perhaps the better person to ask than Botha is the only opposition South Africa have faced since their last Test in January: Zimbabwe. Word from their camp is that they were particularly impressed with how organised and clear South Africa have been, both in the warm-up game and outside. The teams have been staying at the same hotel and Zimbabwe’s players have noticed a closer-than-usual unity in the South African camp. “What stands out for me is how together they’ve been,” Sean Williams said. “They look like they’re peaking.”Next week will tell.

Manchester United’s defeat against Everton on Monday night once again highlighted the issues of Ruben Amorim’s reluctance to move away from his 3-4-2-1 system.

The Red Devils spent 77 minutes playing against just 10 men, but he refused to budge from his philosophy, which no doubt cost the side a chance of claiming all three points.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s first-half strike was enough to secure all three points for the Toffees, with the hosts’ impressive five-game unbeaten run coming to an abrupt end.

Since the final whistle, the manager has come under fire for his stubbornness in implementing a more attacking system, especially after the visitors’ early dismissal.

During the loss to David Moyes’ men, one first-team member massively failed to take advantage of the rare starting opportunity that was handed his way in the Premier League.

Joshua Zirkzee’s stats against Everton for United

After Benjamin Sesko’s knee injury against Tottenham Hotspur, Joshua Zirkzee was handed his first Premier League start of the campaign against Everton yesterday.

The Dutchman had previously had to settle for minutes off the substitutes bench, but the clash at Old Trafford was his maiden start of the 2025/26 league season.

However, he was unable to take advantage of the opportunity that was handed his way, with the 24-year-old struggling to match the demands of the manager’s system.

He featured for the entirety of the contest, but was only able to post a measly tally of 35 touches, with only five of his total touches coming within the opposition’s penalty area.

Zirkzee also completed just 15 passes at a success rate of just 60%, which resulted in the forward gifting the ball back to the opposition on 12 separate occasions.

His lack of quality was further outlined in his tally of one big chance missed and just four duels won, with James Tarkowski often pocketing the stand in centre forward.

Not just Zirkzee: United star must not start again under Amorim

In the 12 months since Amorim’s arrival, many United players have often struggled to match the expectations placed upon them – ultimately leading to their lowly Premier League finish last season.

Their performances, as seen by Zirkzee yesterday, will have led to the £200m spending spree during the summer window, but it should only be the start of the overhaul.

The midfield department should be next on the hierarchy’s agenda, with the manager no doubt wanting added reinforcements in such an area of the pitch.

Casemiro is getting towards the end of his current deal at Old Trafford, with Kobbie Mainoo seemingly not fancied by the manager after failing to start a single league game in 2025/26.

However, the defensive unit should also be one that the board are targeting, especially given the failures in that area over the past couple of seasons at Old Trafford.

Luke Shaw is one player who remains in such an area, but like Zirkzee, he’s often failed to deliver when called upon by Amorim over the last 12 months.

The Englishman has now spent over a decade on the books of the Red Devils, but ultimately, he’s entering the latter stages of his career – something which is starting to show.

He’s started every league game to date in 2025/26, but that’s not without question, with his performance against Everton one that failed to catch the eye for the right reasons.

The 30-year-old featured for the entire contest, but was only able to win 50% of the aerial duels he entered and was even dribbled past on two separate occasions.

Minutes played

90

Touches

110

Passes completed

83

Aerials lost

50%

Dribbled past

2x

Interceptions

1

Clearances

1

Crosses completed

0

He also only made one interception and one clearance, subsequently being unable to keep the side’s second clean sheet of the Premier League campaign.

Shaw’s tally of zero completed crosses out of his attempted four showcases his inability to find a teammate in attacking areas, which led to criticism from Gary Neville.

The former United star, now turned pundit, stated that the player is becoming a “waste of time” at United and that his performances at Old Trafford aren’t fooling anyone.

His latest showing under Amorim is further evidence that he’s unable to match the levels he did during the early years of his career – with Amorim needing to exclude him from his starting eleven.

Shaw and Zirkzee are certainly nowhere near the levels the club need if they are to be successful in the Premier League, with the hierarchy needing to offload them to free up funds in January.

Not just Zirkzee: Man Utd man who was among the 'world's best' must be axed

Manchester United’s flaws were brutally exposed in Monday’s dismal defeat to Everton.

ByRobbie Walls Nov 25, 2025

Kylian Mbappe has publicly vented his frustration after Real Madrid dropped more La Liga points in a 1-1 draw with Girona, allowing Barcelona to remain top of the table. The French superstar scored but was left visibly irritated as Madrid recorded a third-straight away stalemate, prompting him to declare that the team “needs to change the dynamic” amid growing pressure on Xabi Alonso.

Real Madrid draw with Girona – Barca go top of La Liga

Real Madrid failed to reclaim top spot in La Liga after being held by Girona, marking their third consecutive away match without a victory. Azzedine Ounahi’s powerful first-half finish stunned Alonso’s side, who struggled for rhythm and control in a hotly contested game. Mbappe levelled the score from the penalty spot, but his influence was limited as Madrid lacked precision and dominance in the crucial phases.

The result came a day after Barcelona beat Alaves at Camp Nou, meaning Los Blancos now sit second, one point behind the defending champions in a title race that is tightening rapidly. Real Madrid saw a Vinicius Junior goal ruled out, an Mbappe strike disallowed due to handball, and required Thibaut Courtois to make vital saves to avoid defeat. Despite some late pressure, their final efforts lacked composure, reflecting a deeper trend of attacking inconsistency away from home.

The stalemate has further intensified scrutiny on head coach Alonso, whose team has dropped the five-point lead they held following El Clasico despite promising early signs in the campaign. Ahead of a demanding clash at San Mames against Athletic Club, concerns are growing around Madrid’s form, concentration levels and inability to assert themselves on their travels. With Barcelona continuing to capitalise, every dropped point now feels increasingly significant.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesMbappe vents his frustration at Real Madrid's form

Mbappe voiced his anger on Instagram after the match, making clear that the team’s performance levels are far from acceptable during this crucial stretch. He wrote: “This isn’t the result we wanted tonight… We need to change the dynamic and show who we are as a team.”

The Frenchman was particularly disappointed after a night in which he scored but struggled to impose himself consistently due to Girona’s compact defensive shape. “Absolutely not the result we wanted tonight, but the league is still on and very long,” he added, reiterating the importance of keeping perspective.

Despite scoring his 14th league goal of the season, Mbappe lamented how little influence he had in open play as he was constantly crowded out and deprived of service. He has been in exceptional scoring form, including a recent four-goal haul against Olympiacos, but this match once again highlighted Madrid’s struggle to build fluid attacking moves on the road.

Madrid's dip in form piles the pressure on Alonso

Madrid’s recent dip in form has created a delicate moment in what was expected to be a strong transitional campaign under Alonso. Their away performances have lacked tempo, sharpness and the assertiveness that previously defined their early-season success. While the team remains firmly in the title race, the accumulation of draws has placed extra weight on every upcoming fixture.

The Girona match exposed familiar issues: an inconsistent midfield structure, a reliance on individual moments rather than sustained patterns, and an inability to maintain control over 90 minutes. The atmosphere at Montilivi appeared to unsettle the players as they struggled to dictate play with the authority usually expected of them.

Yet amid the frustration, Mbappe continues to rewrite record books, joining Cristiano Ronaldo as only the second player to score more than 53 goals in a calendar year for Real Madrid. His productivity remains extraordinary even as the team around him falters.

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Real travel to San Mames up next in must-win clash

Madrid face a challenging trip to San Mames to meet Athletic Club next, a stadium where points are notoriously difficult to secure and away sides can wilt in the face of the intense atmosphere. Alonso has urged unity and renewed intensity as the squad aims to avoid extending their winless away run. With Barcelona now setting the pace, Madrid must respond immediately to prevent the current dip from evolving into a full-blown crisis.

Eight Tigers employees have been accused of misconduct toward women over the last two years, according to a wide-ranging Wednesday morning report from Alex Andrejev and Brittany Ghiroli of

Per Andrejev and Ghiroli—who interviewed 45 current and former employees of the organization—that group includes at least four vice presidents.

"Seven of those eight were accused of mistreating women employed by Ilitch Sports and Entertainment [Detroit's parent company]," Andrejev and Ghiroli wrote. "The allegations against the men ranged from offensive comments to physical confrontation."

The report comes amid much excitement in Michigan over the Tigers' best on-field record since 2013, which employees told masks a misogynistic, dysfunctional culture.

"We are committed to a culture of respect, safety, and inclusion. We do not tolerate discrimination or harassment, and when concerns are raised, we investigate promptly and take decisive action, which has included terminating employees for misconduct, regardless of seniority or tenure," the team's parent company said in a statement. "We are committed to accountability and to upholding the standards essential to our workplace."

Per Andrejev and Ghiroli, six of the men have left the company, and a seventh was suspended after the reporters requested comment.

With everything on the line, here's how Gotham FC can top the Spirit for the 2025 NWSL Championship.

For the second time in three years, Gotham have charged into the NWSL Championship after delivering upsets to higher-ranked teams. Jaedyn Shaw disagrees that they’re underdogs, per se (see: “underdog, my ass” comment after they downed Kansas City), but they’ve been the surprise story of the postseason. Saturday night, they could take their Cinderella run all the way to the title. Here’s a few reasons why they might:

Getty ImagesReason 1: Defensive strength

Simply put, Gotham is hard to score on. In part, that’s because they have one of the best goalkeepers in the league (more on that shortly). But notably, they also don’t allow their opposition many chances to score. With a team that defends from the front, a midfield that’s hard to cut through, and a solid defensive line waiting behind, Gotham finished the 2025 season having allowed just 76 shots on target. That’s an average of 3 per game and is tied with the first-place Shield winners, Kansas City, for fewest shots on goal allowed in NWSL. 

There’s a number of reasons they’re dynamic defensively, and it involves players across all of their lines. Emily Sonnett is in top form as a leader in their backline. Rookie of the Year Lilly Reale awaits her opportunity at left back to thwart Rose Kouassi creating from the right. Jaelin Howell, who just earned her first USWNT callup since 2022, could have a massive match as she jockeys for control of the midfield. 

As a team that likes to have possession, they’re also effective at limiting the opposition by reducing their opportunities to get on the ball. The Spirit are also hard to score on, but they allowed 107 shots on target throughout the season, averaging four per game. They also conceded 33 total throughout the year, compared to Gotham’s 25. In a game of margins, that could matter.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesReason 2: Ann-Katrin Berger

Gotham may have the Rookie of the Year (Lilly Reale), but they’re also stocked with veteran talent. One of Gotham’s most essential veterans is 35-year-old German goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger. 

Berger was named Goalkeeper of the Year in 2024 and was nominated in 2025 after another strong season cleaning up the few shots that Gotham does allow. Berger’s steady presence has been pivotal for club and country the past few years. The German keeper helped see her team to an Olympic bronze medal in 2024 and a semi-final finish at Euro ‘25 with clutch penalty heroics and massive saves. 

This postseason, Berger has come through for Gotham multiple times. She made seven essential saves in their upset of Kansas City, and was called on to make a few key ones against Orlando to see them to the final. Saturday in San Jose, she could be a difference maker.

Getty ImagesReason 3: Peaking at the right time

The Washington Spirit finished the season in a comfortable second-place position and have been the more consistently strong team throughout the year. But Gotham is glistening at the moment, with multiple players hitting their top form at just the right time. 

That includes USWNT midfielder Rose Lavelle, who was out with injury in the first half of the year but has five goals and two assists in 16 games since returning. That also includes 20-year-old Jaedyn Shaw, who joined Gotham in early September and has looked like a unique talent finally in the right spot with the move. 

Shaw has been electric for Gotham in the postseason, scoring in both of their playoff tests, including the stoppage-time match-winner against Orlando. The team’s top scorer, Spanish striker Esther Gonzalez, is just returning from injury and hasn’t scored in five games, isn’t in her top form of the season. But Esther has scored game-deciding goals for Gotham in two previous trophy matches. If she catches fire Saturday night, it’ll be hard to discount this ‘underdog’ team that’s hitting its collective stride at precisely the right moment.

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Getty ImagesChampionship

Gotham FC will face the Spirit on Saturday, November 22 at 5pm ET on CBS and Paramount+.

It has been a classic case of second-season syndrome, with bowlers now wise to Fraser-McGurk’s strengths and planning accordingly

Matt Roller26-Apr-2025During the IPL’s run-glut last year, there was no combination more compelling than Jake Fraser-McGurk and the batting-friendly pitches of the Arun Jaitley Stadium. Fraser-McGurk batted five times in Delhi and belted 222 runs off 81 balls; more than half of them went either to, or over, the boundary.But 12 months on, Fraser-McGurk finds himself out of the Delhi Capitals (DC) XI. He played the first six games of the season but a tally of 55 runs – and a strike rate of 105.76 – made him dispensable. He was duly dropped, even with Faf du Plessis absent through injury. “It’s pretty obvious, isn’t it?” he said on Saturday, when asked to assess his form. “It’s not been great this year.”It has been classic second-season syndrome, with bowlers now wise to Fraser-McGurk’s strengths and planning accordingly. In DC’s opening game against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Rishabh Pant stationed a fielder at long-off from the outset, daring Fraser-McGurk to try and clear him. He duly obliged, and was caught by the man on the rope.ESPNcricinfo LtdHe has only made it to double-figures in one innings, when he was dropped twice early on in making 38 off 32 balls against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). He showed a brief glimpse of his destructive best when hitting 4, 4, 6 off consecutive balls from legspinner Zeeshan Ansari, but chipped back a return catch off the fourth delivery in that sequence, seemingly caught between stalls.”Obviously I’d love to have some more runs next to my name, but that’s the way cricket is,” Fraser McGurk said. “Sometimes you go through highs and you go through lows. I think the IPL has seen it in both years for me personally: you saw last year, and now you’re seeing this year.”The most important thing is to stay level through the whole thing, no matter if you’re going well or not going so well. My role as a batter is to get the team off to a nice start, but it doesn’t mean I have to try and hit every ball for six. I’m working really hard through myself and my coaches and everyone around me on how I can get back into that team and succeed.”Related

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But staying level is easier said than done, not least at the age of 23. Fraser-McGurk was thrown into the world’s biggest T20 league last year and became an overnight superstar, but has struggled to maintain his form since: in his last 30 T20 innings around the world, he is averaging 14.56. He now has the pressure of an INR 9 crore (AUD $1.65 million) price tag, too.”It’s under more eyes,” he said. “More eyes are seeing this tournament than any [other]. It’s only been a few years where I’ve been a part of things like this, and staying level is something that I’ve not always been good at. It takes a bit of learning to do that. I think [it’s about] trying to focus on yourself and be as professional as you can.”You can’t be too results-based and outcome-based in this game, otherwise you just won’t get anywhere. You’ve just got to keep trusting the process and keep backing your strengths and trying to strengthen your weaknesses. Hopefully, one day, it turns around and then you kick start again. That’s the game.”It’s T20 cricket, it’s going to happen. Not everyone’s going to go out there and hit 50 off 20 balls every single time. It’s just how you find ways to get through that, those little bad periods and then come out on the other side stronger.””Obviously Ricky’s a wonderful coach and was a wonderful player, and I love playing under him, but Hemang is just the same”•Delhi CapitalsFraser-McGurk thrived under the public backing of his coach Ricky Ponting last year, but Ponting has since moved to Punjab Kings (PBKS) and has been replaced at DC by Hemang Badani. Fraser-McGurk has previously worked with Badani at Dubai Capitals in the ILT20, and said he has been fully supported by the team’s coaching staff and their captain, Axar Patel.”I mean, Ricky’s Ricky,” Fraser-McGurk said. “Obviously Ricky’s a wonderful coach and was a wonderful player, and I love playing under him, but Hemang is just the same. [Axar] always says ‘keep smiling’ to everyone – not just me. He is one of those guys who are so relaxed in all these situations.”He has also worked with DC’s mentor, Kevin Pietersen, who has encouraged him to “be ready” in case he gets another opportunity later in the season. “He keeps saying that it’s a long tournament, and we’ve got 14 games. We’re only halfway through now, so there’s so many more opportunities that could come.”‘Just be ready’ is what he’s saying. ‘Just keep being ready,’ and obviously [we are] working on some weaknesses, and things like that. The pitches are a bit different this year – a bit slower – [so we are] working on some things that we can get through that with. Hopefully, the next opportunity, [it] should be good.”

Manchester City are the closest challengers to Arsenal in the 2025/26 Premier League title race. We are only 11 games into the new season, with Pep Guardiola’s side four points behind that of his protege Mikel Arteta.

Last Sunday’s 3-0 thrashing of Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium was a performance which emphasised how deadly the Citizens can be at their best. It was certainly a statement to the Gunners, who might not have as much of easy a run at the title as one might think.

With the January transfer window around the corner, City might well look to add to their squad to boost their title hopes. Here is a look at their dream lineup if they manage to bring a few new faces into the club in January.

1 GK – Gianluigi Donnarumma

One of City’s marquee summer signings was Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma from Paris Saint-Germain. Despite signing James Trafford as well, the Euro 2020 winner has been Guardiola’s first choice.

He’s played 12 times so far for the East Mancunian outfit, keeping an impressive six clean sheets and conceding just seven goals. Standing at six-foot-five, he has a large wingspan, which makes it nigh on impossible to score past him.

This save against Bryan Mbeumo’s strike in the Manchester Derby, his debut for the club, was an example of how colossal he is.

2 RB – Ben White

The first hypothetical new addition to this City side comes at right-back, and, interestingly, from their title rivals Arsenal. Journalist Graeme Bailey recently revealed that City are “keeping tabs on his situation” at the Emirates Stadium. A price was not named by Bailey.

It has not quite been the season the England international may have expected. White has struggled for regular game time under Arteta, with Jurrien Timber the first-choice at right-sided full-back.

White has only played six games across all competitions, with just one of those appearances coming in the Premier League. The 28-year-old is incredibly comfortable on the ball, averaging 5.99 progressive passes per game in the last 365 days. He seems like an archetypal Guardiola full-back and could bring plenty of quality in that position.

3 CB – Ruben Dias

One of the two first-choice centre-backs under Guardiola this season has been Ruben Dias. The Portuguese star has played 15 games across all competitions, and it is no secret the quality that he brings.

Composed on the ball, exceptional out of possession, and a brilliant leader, the 28-year-old has long been one of Guardiola’s most trusted lieutenants. City Director of Football, Hugo Viana, called him “the ultimate professional” in the summer, highlighting his importance to City.

4 CB – Josko Gvardiol

The other half of City’s centre-back pairing is Josko Gvardiol. The Croatian star can also operate left-back, but this term, he has found himself alongside Dias at the heart of the Citizens’ defence.

It is a role he has excelled in, too. Gvardiol is one of the best ball-playing defenders in the league, averaging 5.62 progressive passes and 1.03 progressive carries per 90 minutes, which really highlights his on-ball quality.

5 LB – Nico O’Reilly

It has been a breakthrough campaign for the versatile Nico O’Reilly. He has cemented his place in the City side at left-back, despite being a number ten by trade, and has made 14 appearances across all competitions.

Naturally an attacking player, the City academy graduate has chipped in with one goal and four assists, so he is having a productive season going forward.

This might be one of the things that caught the eye of Thomas Tuchel. The defender has been named in the last two England squads, amid hopes of securing a World Cup place next summer.

6 DM – Nico Gonzalez

Figuring out how to cope without Rodri in the side has been a conundrum for Guardiola over the last year. However, the form of Nico Gonzalez over the past few weeks has been a huge bonus. The Spaniard is finally starting to show why City paid £50m to get him from Porto last winter.

Once the best midfielder on the planet, the last 12 months have not been easy for Rodri, who suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury at the start of last season. He’s only played 415 minutes this term as he continues to be plagued by injuries.

Gonzalez has stepped up in his countryman’s absence. Guardiola clearly sees a lot in his talent, having described him as a “mini Rodri” last season. The former Porto star has played 16 games across all competitions, and it will be hard to displace him from a side in great rhythm.

7 CM – Phil Foden

This season, one of City’s academy graduate gems, Phil Foden, is thriving in a new role. Previously operating as a winger, the England star has excelled in a deeper number eight berth, with Guardiola giving him more responsibility in build-up and from deeper areas of the pitch.

In that deeper role, BBC Sport analyst Umir Irfan said he has “been one of the best players this season.”

Goals & assists

0.5

7

Key passes

3.1

38

Dribbles completed

0.8

10

Tackles and interceptions

1.5

19

Expected goal involvements

0.44xGI

532xGI

The stats from this season highlight how well the midfielder has played. For example, he averages 3.1 key passes and 1.5 tackles and interceptions per 90 minutes.

8 CM – Aleksandar Pavlovic

Partnering Foden in this City dream lineup could be Bayern Munich and Germany midfielder Aleksandar Pavlovic, the second new signing. The 21-year-old is reportedly a key target for City, as they look to boost their midfield stocks, amidst Rodri’s injury issues and Bernardo Silva’s contract, which will expire this summer.

The midfielder, who could be worth as much as £43m, is well thought of around Europe. Journalist Manuel Veth has even suggested he can follow in the footsteps of a German legend and be “the next Toni Kroos,” which would surely appeal to City fans.

Despite being so young, he is well-trusted by City great and current Bayern coach Vincent Kompany. The Belgian has played Pavlovic 14 times this season. As for the Kroos comparison, well, that stems from his excellent passing ability. In the last year, Pavlovic has averaged 7.59 progressive passes per 90 minutes, ranking him in Europe’s top 8%.

9 RW – Rayan Cherki

The summer was a busy period for City, who looked to enhance the quality of the squad. In signing Rayan Cherki, it is fair to say they did just that. The Frenchman only cost £34m from Lyon, but has taken to life at City like a duck to water.

The France international is a versatile attacker who can play as a number 10 or off the right. Wherever he is operating, though, Cherki has shone this season despite injury issues. He already has six goals and assists in nine games, averaging a goal involvement every 535 minutes.

10 LW – Jeremy Doku

Last Sunday, against Arne Slot’s Liverpool, the Etihad Stadium witnessed one of the best performances in a long while from Jeremy Doku. He scored the third goal and completed seven dribbles, terrorising the Liverpool defence.

Already this season, the tricky Belgian winger has chalked up seven goals and assists this term. He has shone under Guardiola, with Irfan even going as far as saying he is “one of the best in the world” right now.

Nissanka’s ton got Sri Lanka within sight of victory but the remaining batters couldn’t quite get them across the line

Andrew Fidel Fernando26-Sep-20252:05

Is captaincy affecting SKY’s form?

India won the Super OverIn regular play, Pathum Nissanka’s 107 off 58 balls and Kusal Perera’s 58 off 32, cancelled out a rapid 61 from Abhishek Sharma, and a 49 not out off 34 from Tilak Varma. India hit 202 for 5. So did Sri Lanka.In the Super Over though, Sri Lanka were very clearly out of steam on all fronts. First, they didn’t send Nissanka out to bat, choosing Kusal Perera (who sliced one to deep backward point first ball), Dasun Shanaka (who struggled with Arshdeep Singh’s wide yorkers), and Kamindu Mendis (who has never been an explosive T20I batter) out instead.Between these three, they managed a total of two runs. Suryakumar Yadav would almost laughingly put the first ball of their Super Over – bowled by Wanindu Hasaranga – through cover, to claim three first ball. This meant India went through to the Asia Cup final undefeated, and were really only tested in this match, in which they rested Jasprit Bumrah and Shivam Dube.Perhaps their aura had lost a little of its shine, but India pushing through to a victory even when Sri Lanka’s top order was batting beautifully, will be something India will take heart from ahead of the final against Pakistan.India’s innings, meanwhile, had gone smoothly. Abhishek produced another spectacular start, striking up a 59-run partnership with Suryakumar who contributed only 12 off 13 to that stand. Later, Tilak and Sanju Samson would put on 66 together.Pathum Nissanka celebrates his maiden T20I century•AFP/Getty ImagesNissanka’s 127-run partnership off 70 balls, however, was the biggest of the tournament. It got Sri Lanka within sight of victory. But the remaining batters couldn’t quite get them across the line.What happened in the Super OverSri Lanka are required to bat first in this Super Over, but Nissanka, their best batter of the tournament, is not picked to come out straight away. (We’re sure, at this stage, that he will come in if a wicket falls, though.)Perera and Shanaka are sent in instead, with Arshdeep tasked with bowling this over, in the absence of Bumrah.Perera slices the first ball, a wide yorker, to deep point, where substitute fielder Rinku Singh takes a good running catch.Kamindu Mendis, who does not have a track record of scoring quickly against high-quality opposition comes out next, even though Nissanka is just sitting there in the dugout. Predictably Kamindu struggles to get more than an edge to the next Arshdeep ball, and they scramble a single.Shanaka can’t really hit Arshdeep’s wide yorkers either, and attempts a bye off the fourth ball.Arshdeep appeals for the caught behind while wicketkeeper Sanju Samson runs Dasun Shanaka out at the striker’s end.But because Arshdeep has appealed for the catch, the umpire gives Shanaka out. (The umpire’s finger is raised only after the run out is completed, but according to the rules, the out decision effectively overturns the run out.) Shanaka awake to this loophole, immediately asks the umpire: “It’s a dead ball, right?”, just after he reviews the caught behind decision.It turns out Shanaka is correct as per the laws. Because he had been wrongly been given out caught behind, he is exonerated from the run out, even though the stumps were broken before the umpire’s finger was raised.Shanaka gets to live another ball and perhaps propel Sri Lanka to a competitive Super Over score.Shanaka top edges one to deep third very next ball, ending Sri Lanka’s Super Over.India score three first ball and win.Abhishek Sharma rocks the powerplayAlthough opening partner Shubman Gill was dismissed off the ninth ball of the innings, the tournament’s best batter still scythed his way through the powerplay. His best powerplay over came against Dushmantha Chamera. Abhishek came down the track and crashed him over long off off thifd ball, before raising the fifth ball over short fine leg’s head, then slicing the next one over short third.Abhishek Sharma brought up his third successive fifty•Getty ImagesIt only took Abhishek 22 balls to get to fifty. By the end of the powerplay, India were 71 for 1. Abhishek eventually miscued a Charith Asalanka half-tracker to deep midwicket, in the ninth over. His 61 came off 31 balls.Nissanka’s sublime inningsNissanka had scored heavily in the group stage, but had been quiet in the first two Super Four games. In this match, he exploded. He hit Hardik Pandya through point for four first ball, lifted other seamers over deep midwicket, and hooked others over backward square leg. He hit his fifty off 25 balls, and just continued to attack through the middle overs, as Perera also scored rapidly.Nissanka became Sri Lanka’s fourth T20I centurion (among men) at the end of the 17th over, when he thumped Arshdeep into the sightscreen. He got there of 52 balls. His eventual 108 off 58 is Sri Lanka’s highest individual T20I score.

Former England and Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has been handed a massive cash windfall linked to his illustrious football career, which has also revealed his vast net wealth. Following the closure of a company he used for his image rights, Rooney has secured a significant tax worth £800,000 ($1.05m) from HMRC.

Rooney rakes it in as net worth receives boost

This latest financial development follows Rooney's past disputes involving HMRC over the years. The recent payout is not connected to the film financing schemes, such as Ingenious, in which he and other celebrities previously invested, resulting in large tax bills. 

The closure of the image rights firm has simply resulted in a final accounting and the return of a tax rebate to the former footballer. The incident highlights the complexities surrounding professional athletes' earnings and tax affairs, with companies often set up to manage a player's image rights separately from their football wages, including deals with global brands such as Nike, Coca-Cola and EA Sports, according to a report from . 

Rooney has previously faced intense scrutiny and disputes with the taxman, this recent rebate is a direct result of the company's winding up. It adds to his considerable net worth, which has grown through his playing career and subsequent ventures, believed to be as much as £170 million ($223.7m).

AdvertisementGetty Images SportSpat with Liverpool captain Van Dijk

Following Liverpool's recent Champions League victory over Real Madrid, Virgil van Dijk confronted pundit Rooney, who had publicly questioned his leadership. The dispute began with Rooney criticising Van Dijk's performance on his podcast, claiming "body language tells you a lot" and suggesting the Reds captain and talisman Mo Salah had "downed tools" after signing new contracts. Van Dijk initially called the comments "lazy criticism," adding, "I didn't hear him last year" when Liverpool were successful. 

In their TV confrontation, the Netherlands international took exception to Rooney's suggestion that he had become complacent after his new deal, stating, "I think that was a bit… but that's my personal opinion and we move on". Rooney defended his analysis, saying, "I think what I've said was fair" and that a team losing multiple games would naturally draw questions about its captain. While Rooney later conceded on his podcast that his comments might have been "a bit unfair because I don't know him that well as a person," he stood by his assessment of Van Dijk's on-field performance, saying, "from a performance point of view, I think I was speaking what I felt and what I was seeing, and I felt I was right". 

The encounter culminated in a handshake, but underscored the tension between modern players and pundits.

Slot's shot at Rooney

Rooney also faced-up to Liverpool boss Slot and the Dutch boss was asked whether the mood has lifted on Merseyside, to which he responded: "It's clear that it’s nicer when you win games than when you lose games as a manager. Am I right or am I wrong heh?" When making the comment, Slot turned sideways to look at Rooney with a big smile on his face. 

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Getty Images SportRooney's right to reply

Rooney has a twice-weekly BBC podcast, , and occasionally appears as a pundit on the and Amazon Prime's Champions League coverage. He is also scheduled to be part of the BBC's coverage for the 2026 World Cup which kicks off next July, hosted in the USA, Canada and Mexico.

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has now approved a move for AC Milan winger Rafael Leao, with a huge opening bid in the works.

The Blues retain an interest in the left-winger despite signing both Alejandro Garnacho and Jamie Gittens in the summer transfer window, with the latter finally getting off the mark in front of goal in the 4-3 EFL Cup triumph against Wolverhampton Wanderers last week.

At 21-years-old, however, both the former Borussia Dortmund man and Garnacho are still in the infancy of their careers, with Paul Merson making it clear he believes the west Londoners need to bring in players with more experience.

The former Arsenal man said: “The team is too young. The oldest player there is 23, 24?”

“When you get a young team, you’re up and down, they have wingers who are very inconsistent. [Pedro] Neto on his day will be outstanding, the next minute…

“There’s no 7/10s all the way through, it’s either eight, nine or fives. They can’t win the Premier League like that.”

Chelsea making strong push to sign Rafael Leao

According to a report from Spain, Chelsea are now looking to bring in a forward with a lot more top-level experience, with it being revealed they are making a strong push to sign Leao, having emerged as frontrunners in the race for the winger’s signature.

Maresca has personally approved a move for the Portuguese forward, and the Blues would be willing to pay around €120m (£105m) to get a deal over the line, which could be enough to tempt the Italian club into a sale.

The 26-year-old is a priority target, having proven himself as one of the most dangerous attackers in Europe on his day, and the left-winger could be the cornerstone of Maresca’s project.

The Almada-born forward has been impressing in Italy for a number of years, having reached double figures for Serie A assists in each of the last four seasons.

Season

Serie A appearances

Assists

2021-22

34

10

2022-23

35

10

2023-24

34

10

2024-25

34

10

Having chipped in with a whopping 74 goals in 267 appearances for the Italian club, there is every sign the Portugal international could be capable of taking Maresca’s forward line to the next level.

Scout Ben Mattinson has also waxed lyrical about the AC Milan star in the past, singling him out for very high praise on X earlier this year.

Leao could be a top signing for Chelsea, but Maresca may have to offload one of his current wingers before signing him, given that the manager already has a plethora of options in attacking areas.

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