دي بروين بعد إهداره أسيست عمر مرموش: ابني سيكون قاسيًا معي.. ومانشستر سيتي سيعود

أدلى كيفين دي بروين، نجم فريق مانشستر سيتي، بتصريحات مطولة في نهاية مباراته الأخيرة مع السكاي بلو في ملعب “الاتحاد” مساء أمس الثلاثاء.

وخاض مانشستر سيتي مباراة في بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي ضد نظيره بورنموث، في الجولة السابعة والثلاثين من الدوري الإنجليزي.

وحقق مانشستر سيتي فوزًا بثلاثة أهداف لهدف، ليقترب خطوة نحو التأهل إلى دوري أبطال أوروبا.

وكانت تلك المباراة بمثابة حفل وداع لـ دي بروين كونها الأخيرة على ملعب “الاتحاد” للبلجيكي الذي سيرحل عن النادي نهاية الموسم الحالي.

وقال دي بروين، في تصريحات نشرتها شبكة “بي بي سي” العالمية: “شعوري بعد خوض مباراتي الأخيرة على ذلك الملعب غريب بعض الشيء، لا أعرف، كان من المذهل قضاء 10 سنوات هنا، كانت رحلة لا تُصدق، إنه ضغط هائل، لا أعرف”.

وأضاف: “أريد إسعاد الناس ولعب كرة قدم هجومية، أريد الإبداع وهذا ما أفعله في الملعب، أريد أن أستمتع، أعتقد أننا استمتعنا كثيرًا على مدار السنوات العشر، أحيانًا تفوز وأحيانًا تخسر”.

وواصل: “كان من دواعي سروري العمل الجاد وتقديم شيء لهذا النادي، مما جعله أفضل بكثير مما كان عليه من قبل، أنا فخور جدًا”.

وعن فرصته الضائعة للتسجيل في مباراة الأمس، بعد تمريرة من عمر مرموش، قال: “إنه أمر مروع، لا أعذار، سيكون ابني قاسيًا معي اليوم”.

وفيما يخص لحظته المفضلة مع مانشستر سيتي، قال: “أعتقد أن الحياة والمسيرة المهنية رحلة، مررنا بالكثير من التقلبات وعليك أن تتجاوز كل لحظة وتستمتع بها، استمتعت بكل لحظة وتعلمت من اللحظات السيئة، لقد كان الأمر مذهلاً”.

وشدد: “مانشستر هو موطني، مانشستر هو المكان الذي وُلد فيه هؤلاء الصغار (أطفاله الثلاثة)، جئت إلى هنا مع زوجتي ميشيل لأبقى هنا لفترة طويلة، لم أتوقع أن أبقى هنا لعشر سنوات، فزنا بكل شيء بفضل ما حققناه كنادٍ، مشجعين وزملائنا، لقد نجحنا في زيادة حجم المدينة والنادي، والآن سيسيطرون على المشهد”.

اقرأ أيضًا.. ردود أفعال جماهير مانشستر سيتي على أداء مرموش أمام بورنموث: منحنا ما كنا نفتقده ويستحق جائزة بوشكاش

واعترف: “سيفوز هذا الفريق في المستقبل، معي أو بدوني، وسيدعمه جميع سكان المدينة، جماهيرهم، كما فعلوا معي خلال السنوات العشر الماضية، سيحقق هذا الفريق النجاح بلا شك”.

وأكد: “لقد دفعني الجميع بقوة داخل النادي وخارجه لأكون أفضل نسخة من نفسي، وهؤلاء الشباب جعلوني أفضل مما كنت عليه سابقًا، إنه لشرف لي أن ألعب مع هؤلاء الشباب، لقد كونت العديد من الصداقات مستمرة مدى الحياة، سنعود قريبًا بالتأكيد”.

واسترسل: “كانت الجماهير ودودة للغاية منذ البداية، أن يكون الملعب ممتلئًا تقريبًا لدعمي أنا وعائلتي يعبر عن كل شيء، من يستطيع أن يجعل 50 ألف شخصًا ينتظرون وداعه؟ إنه أمر لا يوصف، وشكرًا جزيلاً لكم”.

وعن بناء تمثال له خارج ملعب الاتحاد، قال: “هذا يعني أنني سأظل دائمًا جزءًا من هذا النادي، أنا دائمًا أمثل جزءًا صغيرًا منه، وكلما عدت مع هؤلاء اللاعبين ومع عائلتي وأصدقائي، سأتمكن من رؤية نفسي واقفًا حول الملعب، سأظل هنا دائمًا”.

واستدرك: “نحن نتفهم إلى أين وصل النادي وماذا يعني للكثيرين، معًا نجحنا في بناء مستقبل باهر لكم يا رفاق، أعلم أننا عانينا من عام صعب بعض الشئ، ولكن أعتقد أن الفريق يستحق كل الدعم، هذا الفريق سيعود العام المقبل سعيًا للفوز بالألقاب، هم يستحقون دعم الجماهير”.

واختتم: “أعتقد أنه بعد عشر سنوات، حان الوقت لأتحدث قليلًا، وحان وقت الوداع، سأعود، لكننا نحبكم، نراكم قريبًا”.

After Ferguson: West Ham plot bid to sign their biggest talent since Rice

Graham Potter has settled into his seat at the London Stadium and West Ham United are looking to make headway in the Premier League. Of course, the club are looking to bolster as much as they can before the transfer window slams shut.

Deadline day is upon us. A trip to Stamford Bridge awaits this evening but precedence is on the transfer front, with Brighton’s Evan Ferguson closing on a transfer to east London.

West Ham’s striking department is decidedly thin, unfortunately, with Michail Antonio and Jarrod Bowen both out. Another arrival would go down a treat, and the Irons are actually working on bringing in a highly talented centre-forward prospect alongside Ferguson.

West Ham chasing another striker

Huge update up top. West Ham have seen a deadline-day offer of £500k for Daniel Cummings rejected by Celtic, according to Sky Sports. The 18-year-old had hitherto agreed a pre-contract agreement but Potter is pushing to bring him in this month.

Cummings only made his senior debut on Wednesday, against Aston Villa in the Champions League, but he’s fostered prolific qualities for the B team and could be the perfect understudy at number nine for West Ham.

Though Celtic batted the Hammers’ offer back down Great Britain, a second attempt is anticipated for a player who could turn into a real superstar at the London Stadium.

Why West Ham want Daniel Cummings

Why are West Ham so desperate to get their mitts on a player who has already agreed to join them in the summer? He’s young and inexperienced, with scant professional minutes to his name.

Daniel Cummings for Celtic

Ah, but he’s a talent alright. One keen-eyed Scottish scout said that he’s “too good for the Lowland League,” capable of scoring “spectacular strikes.”

This season alone in the Lowland League, serving Celtic’s second team, Cummings has scored 24 goals from 25 matches. He’s tall and powerful, endowed with the right properties for success in the Premier League.

Daniel Cummings – Celtic Career Stats

Competition

Apps

Goals

Assists

Lowland League*

47

33

0

UEFA Youth League*

11

6

1

Challenge Cup*

1

0

0

Champions League

1

0

0

Stats via Transfermarkt (* = youth level)

With such a staggering clinical edge, Cummings might even prove to be West Ham’s biggest teenage talent since Declan Rice, who led the charge to the Conference League title in 2023 before transferring to Arsenal for a £105m fee.

Rice is a one-of-a-kind player but Cummings has the trappings of an elite-class striker and could fix West Ham’s interminable problems at number nine.

West Ham’s desire to accelerate their signing suggests that Potter hopes to include him in first-team contests over the coming months, bearing testament to the youngster’s fast-sprouting talent.

The aforementioned injuries of course make up a big part of the reasoning but West Ham could have targeted a more experienced and established striker.

Transfer Focus

This lad has got the world at his feet. Mark Noble claimed that the “sky is the limit” for Rice back in 2018 when he was 19 years old. The England sensation then excelled under David Moyes and became a household name.

Could Cummings do the same under Potter’s wing, a manager well known for his expertise with youth development?

Potter's next Mac Allister: West Ham submit offer for “sublime” star

Graham Potter could have his next Mac Allister with West Ham pushing for “sublime” star

ByConnor Holden Feb 1, 2025

Palmeiras iguala River Plate com o melhor ataque da história da fase de grupos da Libertadores

MatériaMais Notícias

O Palmeiras pode colocar mais um recorde em sua extensa lista na Libertadores. Com a vitória por 1 a 0 sobre o Emelec-EQU, nesta quarta-feira, no Allianz Parque, o clube passou a ser aquele com mais gols em uma mesma fase de grupos da competição continental igualando o River Plate de 2020 com 21 tentos marcados.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasPalmeirasATUAÇÕES: Danilo chama a responsabilidade e mais uma vez se destaca em vitória do PalmeirasPalmeiras18/05/2022PalmeirasCom gol de Danilo, Palmeiras bate o Emelec e segue 100% na LibertadoresPalmeiras18/05/2022PalmeirasAntes de chegar ao Palmeiras, Merentiel era pretendido pelo River e deixou boa impressão na ArgentinaPalmeiras18/05/2022

GALERIA
> Relembre a invencibilidade fora de casa do Palmeiras na Liberta

TABELA
> Veja classificação e simulador da Libertadores-2022 clicando aqui

> Conheça o aplicativo de resultados do LANCE!

A marca expressiva foi atingida antes mesmo do término desta etapa do torneio, já que ainda resta uma rodada a ser realizada, ou seja, o recorde pode ser ampliado na próxima semana, quando o Alviverde enfrenta o Deportivo Táchira-VEN, também no Allianz Parque. Assim, a equipe de Abel Ferreira ficaria isolada com o recorde.

Tudo isso devido às goleadas conquistadas no período: 4 a 0 no Táchira, fora de casa, 8 a 1 no Independiente Petrolero, em casa, 3 a 1 no Emelec, fora de casa, 5 a 0 no Independiente Petrolero, fora de casa e agora, a vitória magra por 1 a 0 sobre o Emelec, no Allianz.

Dessa forma, a média de gols que era de cinco por partida antes de o duelo desta quarta-feira começar, passou a ser de 4,2 por jogo. Vale lembrar que o Palmeiras também tem o artilheiro da competição: Rafael Navarro, com sete gols nessas cinco primeiras rodadas.

Contra o Táchira, na próxima terça-feira, o objetivo segue sendo vencer, uma vez que Abel Ferreira e o elenco querem terminar a fase de grupos com 100% de aproveitamento, o que lhe dará a melhor campanha geral desta edição, além do recorde de melhor campanha da história dessa fase do torneio, superando o Boca Juniors, de 2015.

Luan comemora atuação em seu retorno ao Palmeiras e deixa lesão para trás: 'Página virada'

MatériaMais Notícias

O Palmeiras empatou por 0 a 0 com o Atlético-MG neste domingo, no Allianz Parque, pela nona rodada do Brasileirão-2022. Com a igualdade, o Verdão não conseguiu retomar a liderança e ficou com a segunda posição na tabela. Mesmo assim, há motivos para comemorar, como o retorno de Luan após quase quatro meses lesionado. O zagueiro celebrou a volta aos gramados.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasPalmeirasATUAÇÕES: Defesa se destaca, mas ataque do Palmeiras é improdutivo contra o Atlético-MGPalmeiras05/06/2022VídeoVÍDEO: Assista aos melhores momentos do empate entre Palmeiras e Atlético-MGVídeo05/06/2022BrasileirãoMarcos Rocha afirma que o Palmeiras esteve mais perto de vencer no Allianz Parque nesta tardeBrasileirão05/06/2022

GALERIA
> Relembre as contratações do Palmeiras na Era Anderson Barros

TABELA
> Veja classificação e simulador do Brasileirão-2022 clicando aqui

> Conheça o aplicativo de resultados do LANCE!

Em entrevista na zona mista do estádio palmeirense, o defensor bicampeão da Libertadores não escondeu sua felicidade ao poder estar em campo novamente, depois de três meses e 21 dias em recuperação. Ao mesmo tempo em que trata a lesão como “página virada”, Luan leva um aspecto positivo dessa estadia em casa.

-Difícil, ruim, ninguém gosta de se machucar, mas é uma página virada, foram três meses e alguma coisa de muita torcida pelos meus companheiros e amigos, muito tempo com essas pequenininhas aqui (em referência às filhas), com minha esposa e minha família. A gente tem que tirar coisas boas desses momentos ruins, e a lição boa que eu tiro é que eu tive tempo de ficar com eles e agora eles vão sentir falta do papai, que vai ter que concentrar toda semana, então vamos que vamos, porque só foi um terço da temporada, ainda temos dois terços, tenho certeza que posso ajudar muito a equipe.

E Luan retornou justamente em um duelo com um dos principais adversários do campeonato, que também brigava pela liderança contra o Verdão. Para o zagueiro, no entanto, isso não altera em nada o seu retorno, já que se sentia preparado para qualquer que fosse o oponente neste domingo. Agora o objetivo é pensar no Botafogo.

-Estava preparado para jogo, independentemente do adversário, são coisas que a gente não controla, eu controlo minhas ações e estava totalmente ciente do que eu precisava para fazer um bom jogo, acredito que fiz, respeitando sempre os adversários, eles têm muita qualidade, tínhamos que seguir nosso plano de jogo, e foi seguido. Uma pena não termos conseguido a vitória, mas não temos tempo para lamentar, descansar hoje e amanhã já pensar no Botafogo, que eu tenho certeza que vai ser um grande jogo – ponderou.

Por fim, Luan foi perguntado se fica preocupado com a concorrência nesse retorno ao time, já que seus substitutos corresponderam à altura nesse período e aumentaram o sarrafo para a zaga alviverde. Para o defensor, porém, essa “dor de cabeça” é de Abel Ferreira.

-Me senti bem, cada vez mais, óbvio que todo jogador gosta de jogar, vinha numa sequência muito boa, futebol é feito de oportunidades, os atletas tiveram as suas e foram bem, o professor é muito bem capacitado para escolher os melhores 11 para cada jogo. Sabemos que todos teremos oportunidades e eu vou estar ali batalhando pela minha, respeito as decisões do professor, mas claro que todo jogador quer jogar – concluiu.

Luan deve ser titular novamente na próxima quinta-feira, às 19h, diante do Botafogo, pela décima rodada do Brasileirão-2022. O Palmeiras é o segundo colocado na tabela com 16 pontos, dois atrás do Corinthians, que reassumiu a liderança do campeonato nacional.

continua após a publicidade

Kate Cross poised to unleash frustration of a quiet English summer

Senior seamer has played just three times for her country this season as youngsters emerge

Valkerie Baynes17-Sep-2022

Kate Cross during a nets session•ECB via Getty Images

Kate Cross is poised to unleash the frustration of a quiet English summer when her side opens their ODI series with India at Hove on Sunday.The match will be Cross’s first in an England shirt for two months, the seamer who turns 31 next month having played for her country just three times this summer.She took 4 for 63 and 2 for 56 in the drawn Test against South Africa which kicked off the home international season and went wicketless in two ODIs against the same opposition.”You just want to play as much cricket as you can, and I feel like I’ve probably been a bit light on cricket this summer,” Cross said. “I’ve played three games for England, which feels really – compared to last year especially – like not a lot of cricket.”You do all the training so you can go out there and enjoy those moments as a team. I’ve had one of the best seats in the house to watch that T20 series and see the youngsters go out and do their thing, so I just can’t wait to get out there.”Related

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Cross was part of England’s T20I squad for South Africa’s tour, the Commonwealth Games and the recently completed series with India, which the hosts won 2-1, but did not play a game.During that time, she has witnessed close-up the emergence of a new generation, including seam bowlers Issy Wong, Lauren Bell and Freya Kemp, as well as allrounder Alice Capsey.Kemp and Capsey have been particularly impressive with the bat also and are set to make their ODI debuts during the three-match series with India, while Wong and Bell are looking to expand their experience in the format having played two ODIs each against South Africa.”It’s always frustrating when you’re in a squad and not playing,” said Cross, who is the senior seamer in England’s squad with veteran Katherine Brunt resting. “But I think from my point of view, there’s a bit of experience that I can bring to the group even when I’m not playing.”That’s been something that I’ve tried to do with this team as we’ve obviously not got Nat [Sciver] or Katherine around, so as a senior bowler it’s nice to have a bit more responsibility and some youngsters listening to what you’re saying.”They’ve been so impressive. They’ve just had no fear when they’ve come out to play for England, which is everything that we want moving forward. It’s what we’re trying to achieve as a team. It’s a type of cricket that means that you can’t fail and they’ve just come in and done exactly that.”All of which augers well for England’s future, but doesn’t make it easier for Cross to break her playing drought, although she was keen to highlight that as a positive for the home side also.”The only thing I can go off is my past record in ODI cricket and I’d like to think that that would stand me in good stead,” Cross said. “Flipping that, it’s really exciting, that we’ve got competition for places now.”If you looked at this squad a couple of years ago and it didn’t have Nat and Katherine in it, I think a lot of people would have panicked, but it’s just so fantastic that youngsters are coming through and they’re taking their opportunities.”No one can rest easy when you’ve got the likes of an Issy Wong or a Lauren Bell behind you so I think it’s really good and it keeps selection juicy, I guess, because you don’t know what’s going to happen.”Cross was a standout performer in the ODIs last time India toured England, a year ago, her 5 for 34 in Taunton earning her Player-of-the-Match honours and helping the hosts to a five-wicket victory and 2-0 series lead before India won the final game in Worcester for a 2-1 series scoreline.After Hove, this series moves to Canterbury on Wednesday followed by the finale at Lord’s next Saturday. The last time these sides met at the home of cricket was in the 2017 World Cup final, which England won in a nine-run thriller.That match carries bittersweet memories for Cross. Along with Amy Jones – now acting captain in place of Heather Knight (hip injury) and Sciver (mental health break) – and Tash Farrant, she was one of three centrally contracted England players left out of the 15-strong squad for that World Cup.”When the fixture list came out at the start of the summer, it was the first thing that I noticed,” Cross said. “It’s such a huge occasion for us to be able to play at a ground like Lord’s. There’s so much history there and the last time that we played there as a team was in 2017 so there’s some really special memories there against India as well.”It’s funny because a lot of the young girls have been playing at Lord’s in the Hundred and it’s nothing too big for them. Whereas for some of the older girls who have not actually had that much opportunity to play there – I’ve only played one game there and it was for the MCC, so I’ve never played internationally there or in the Hundred – so it just always feels like a special occasion when you get to be at Lord’s.”

ساكي: الأهلي يلعب على طريقة الكبار.. ومواجهة إنتر ميامي ستكون ممتعة

أشاد المدير الفني السابق لمنتخب إيطاليا، أريجو ساكي، بالمستوى الذي يقدمه النادي الأهلي، حيث تحدث عن المواجهة المرتقبة التي ستجمع بطل إفريقيا بفريق إنتر ميامي الأمريكي، والمقرر إقامتها خلال منافسات كأس العالم للأندية.

وقال ساكي في تصريحاته خلال مداخلة هاتفية عبر قناة النادي الأهلي الرسمية، إن المباراة تحمل طابعًا خاصًا لما تتمتع به من عناصر جذب فنية وجماهيرية، مشيرًا إلى أنه يترقب مباراة كبيرة تجمع بين فريقين يمتلكان أساليب لعب مختلفة ولكن بطموحات عالية.

الأهلي يطارد النجمة 45 أمام فاركو.. ليلة حسم الدوري في استاد القاهرة

وأضاف: “سأشاهد مباراة كبيرة بين الأهلي وإنتر ميامي، فريقكم أظن أنه يلعب على طريقة الكبار، لا بد أن يُفاجئ الجماهير”.

ورأى المدرب المخضرم، الذي قاد منتخب إيطاليا إلى نهائي كأس العالم 1994، أن الأهلي يتميز بقدرة واضحة على اللعب الجماعي والانضباط التكتيكي، وهو ما يجعله نداً قوياً لأي منافس، حتى لو كان من فرق الدوري الأمريكي المدججة بالنجوم.

وتابع: “أعتقد أنها ستكون مباراة قوية سنرى فيها الكثير من المتعة، خاصة مع وجود عناصر مهارية وتجربة فنية لدى الفريقين”.

ويستعد الأهلي لمواجهد انتر ميامي في افتتاح بطولة كأس العالم للأندية يوم الخامس عشر من شهر يونيو المقبل.

ويتواجد الأهلي في المجموعة الأولى التي تضم إلى جواره كل من انتر ميامي الامريكي وبورتو البرتغالي وباتشوكا المكسيكي.

Man City have a teen "superstar" who could become their version of Nwaneri

Manchester City have some exciting young talents in their squad. Of course, the best of the bunch include the likes of Erling Haaland and Phil Foden, if you still consider those to be young talents. They were, of course, influential in City’s treble-winning side, but are both only 24 years of age.

The likes of Rico Lewis, Oscar Bobb and new signing Vitor Reis are also some of the younger stars at the Etihad Stadium. The first two players are both academy graduates, whilst Reis was a recent acquisition in January from Palmeiras.

Indeed, Pep Guardiola has given plenty of these youngsters a chance already and will be looking for the next star he can bring through. There is no doubt a player like Arsenal’s Ethan Nwaneri would be a welcome addition.

Nwaneri’s Arsenal career

It has been a rapid rise to the top for Nwaneri, just as it was for several City academy graduates like Foden and Lewis. He has now played 25 times for his boyhood club, making his debut in 2022/23 and becoming the youngest player in Premier League history in the process, aged 15 years and 181 days.

This season has been a breakout campaign for the 17-year-old. He has played 23 times for Arsenal, scoring an impressive seven goals in all competitions, including his strike in the 5-1 thrashing against the Citizens.

It has been exciting to see Nwaneri perform to these levels in a side pushing for major honours. In the past, there has been criticism towards Mikel Arteta for not trusting the academy stars, but he has said Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly are “playing because they deserve it”.

This is certainly something Guardiola might look to follow this season and in the future. He has given youngsters a chance in the past, but that has been less of the case this season. However, they could already have their own Nwaneri in the form of Claudio Echeverri.

The impact Echeverri could have at City

City confirmed the signing of young Argentinian attacking midfielder Echeverri in January 2024. He cost them just £12.5m from River Plate. He was meant to join last month, but will instead arrive in February due to a call-up for Argentina’s Under-20s.

Claudio Echeverri

The 19-year-old, described as a “superstar” by football analyst Ben Mattinson, has been impressive in his short professional career so far. He has played 48 games for River, scoring four times and grabbing eight assists.

Manchester City and Argentina legend Sergio Aguero seemed to enjoy one goal of his, as he posted on X following the youngster’s strike against Gimnasia last year. He danced in between opposition defenders, changing direction sharply thanks to his low centre of gravity before firing into the back of the net.

Statistically, Echeverri’s quality is clear for all to see. According to Sofascore, the youngster has created 4 big chances and averages 1.7 key passes per game in the Argentinian top flight. Off the ball, he averages 3.6 ball recoveries per game.

Echeverri stats in Argentinian top flight 2024

Stat

Number

Games

20

Goals

2

Assists

3

Big chances created

4

Key passes per game

1.7

Dribbles completed per game

1.5

Ball recoveries per game

3.6

Stats from Sofascore

Most recently, for Argentina’s Under-20s, the 19-year-old grabbed an assist and scored two goals in a 4-3 victory for his side over Uruguay. Essentially, he single-handedly clawed his side to victory, showing just how much of an impact he can have on a game.

Guardiola will certainly be hoping that Echeverri can have the same impact on his side as Nwaneri has made on Arsenal. The Hale End star has been fantastic off the bench, and more recently, from the start for the Gunners.

Claudio Echeverri

They also operate in similar areas, either as a No 10 or out wide. The only difference is the fact that Nwaneri plays on the right, whereas Echeverri operates on the left.

Once he is used to the environment and system, there is no reason to think why Echeverri cannot have the same impact on the City side. He certainly has all the tools to become one of the most exciting youngsters in the Premier League.

مروان عطية: أعاني من إصابة منذ 9 أشهر.. وكنا نرغب في خوض مباراة الزمالك

كشف مروان عطية لاعب وسط الأهلي عن معاناته من إصابة خلال الموسم الماضي، موضحًا أسباب زيادة صعوبة الدوري في الموسم المنقضي وموقف اللاعبين قبل مباراة القمة أمام الزمالك.

وقال مروان عطية في تصريحات تلفزيونية عبر قناة ام بي سي مصر: “أعاني من (فتاق) منذ أكثر من 9 أشهر، لكن وقتها رفضت أن أجري عملية لأنني سأبتعد شهرين ونصف وحتى أعود لمستواي بعدها سأعود بعد 3 أشهر ونصف، فكنت ألعب بعد أن أحصل على حقنة مسكنة، والفريق كان يحتاج كل لاعب، وقررت ألا أجري العملية إلا بعد كأس العالم”.

وبسؤاله ما الذي جعل الدوري صعبًا؟، أوضح: “الدوري المصري  كان مختلفا عن كل سنة، النظام الجديد قلل المباريات، والفرق كبير، في النظام الطبيعي كنا نستطيع العودة لمكاننا الطبيعي من خلال التأجيلات، لكن الدوري الجديد المباريات قلت، ولو كانت المرحلة الثانية مستمرة كان الأهلي سيتوج بالدوري بفارق نقاط كبير”.

وتابع: “بعد الخروج أمام صن داونز تعاهدنا كلاعبين على الفوز بالدوري، واللاعبون كانوا رجالا وكانوا على قدر المسؤولية”.

وبشأن هل كنتم ترغبون في لعب مباراة القمة؟، أجاب: “كانت لدينا رغبة غير طبيعية، لكن نحترم قرار الإدارة، الكابتن محمود الخطيب هو المسؤول عننا، لكن كل اللاعبين كانوا يتمنون لعب المباراة، منذ الطفولة ونحن ننتظر مباريات الأهلي والزمالك، ممكن كنا نُحضر لها قبلها بـ 10 أيام، ما بالك وأنت لاعب، بالتأكيد تتمنى أن تلعب هذه المباراة”.

واستطرد: “حتى قبل المباراة بساعة ونصف كنا لا نعلم القرار، لكننا كنا مهيئين، لكن الحافلة تحركت نحو مدينة نصر، عرفنا أننا لن نلعب المباراة”.

طالع| أحمد دياب: انسحاب الأهلي أمام الزمالك ظرف استثنائي.. ولا أستطيع مناقشة تفاصيله الآن

وواصل: “في مباراة الذهاب أمام صن داونز، لعبنا مباراة كبيرة جدًا وكان من الممكن أن نفوز بأكثر من هدف، وكنا راضيين عن الأداء، وفي مباراة الإياب أخذنا بالأسباب، وكل لاعب كان يموت نفسه لكي نصل لنهائي دوري أبطال إفريقيا”.

واختتم: “لكن الحمد لله هذه كرة القدم، الأداء لم يكن أفضل شيء، لكن كنا مركزين، والمباراة صعبة وسط ضغط الجماهير، وكنا لا نريد أن يدخل مرمانا هدف”.

Kieron Pollard calls time on IPL career, stays with Mumbai Indians as batting coach

The West Indian allrounder played for the franchise for 13 years, winning five IPL titles with them

Nagraj Gollapudi15-Nov-20224:05

Mumbai pay tribute to Pollard

One of the most enduring relationships between a franchise and a player in the IPL has ended. Five-time champions Mumbai Indians have released Kieron Pollard, their most senior player, to end a 13-year playing career that began in 2010, when they signed Pollard for an undisclosed sum via a tie-breaker that broke the deadlock between four teams. While Pollard said he would be calling time as a player in the IPL, his relationship with Mumbai is not ending: he has joined them as a batting coach and will play for MI Emirates, owned by the same group, in the ILT20 in the UAE.

Pollard is among a small set of players who have represented only one franchise over their entire IPL careers. The others in the list, with a cut-off of at least 100 matches, are Virat Kohli (Royal Challengers Bangalore from 2008), Sunil Narine (Kolkata Knight Riders from 2011), Jasprit Bumrah (Mumbai from 2013) and Lasith Malinga (who had two stints at Mumbai).It was Pollard’s explosive hitting, athletic fielding, and smarts with the ball during the 2009 Champions League T20 that drew the collective attention of the IPL franchises. While he set his base price at USD 200,000 in the 2010 auction, four franchises – Mumbai, Chennai Super Kings, Royal Challengers and Knight Riders – placed the maximum bid of USD 750,000 for him. Pollard became the first of two players in the IPL [Shane Bond was the second] to be signed via the silent tie-breaker rule, where franchises were asked to list a price on a blank cheque with the highest bid getting the player’s services.

It was a remarkable turn of fortunes for Pollard, the tall and well-built allrounder from Trinidad & Tobago, who had been left “disappointed” just a year earlier when he went unsold at the 2009 auction despite setting a base price of just USD 60,000.In a chat with ESPNcricinfo in 2010, a day after Mumbai paid him a sum estimated to be in seven figures, Pollard said his biggest challenge would be to “sustain what I’ve started as there would be big expectations of me – but cricket is a funny game, it can go any way; I’m just going to go there and play my best.”ESPNcricinfo Ltd

Pollard lived those words, becoming a talismanic figure at Mumbai. Pollard and former Australia allrounder Shane Watson are the only players with 3000-plus runs and 50-plus wickets in IPL. Pollard hit 223 sixes, the fifth-highest in the tournament’s history, won the Player-of-the-Match award on 14 occasions, including in the 2013 final, when Mumbai beat Super Kings to win the first of their five IPL crowns. Pollard entered Eden Gardens when Mumbai were 52 for 4 midway into their innings and scored an unbeaten 32-ball 60.Before every auction, Pollard was an automatic retention for Mumbai, including in 2022, when he was the franchise’s fourth retained player at INR 6 crore (USD 800,000 approx.). But if Pollard needed a reminder about the challenge of “sustaining” his form, it came in IPL 2022. In 11 matches, Pollard scored only 144 runs, and his average of 14.40 and strike rate of 107.46 were his lowest in any IPL season. Things have not improved since then as Pollard underwent a knee surgery during the English summer and then played in the CPL, where he led Trinbago Knight Riders, who failed to make the last four for the first time.As far as Mumbai are concerned, their decision to release Pollard came with the motive of entering the 2023 auction with a bigger purse. Mumbai are known to form long-standing bonds with their players, and Pollard’s transition to the coaching staff came as no surprise.

Man Utd willing to offer blockbuster £125m deal to sign "amazing" PL winner

In what would see INEOS go all out, Manchester United are now reportedly willing to offer a stunning £125m deal to sign a Premier League and World Cup winner for Ruben Amorim.

Man Utd transfer news

Whilst it may seem as though they need a rebuild every two years as another managerial failure arrives, Manchester United arguably need more construction than ever under Amorim.

The former Sporting Club manager arrived to pick up the pieces of Erik ten Hag’s disastrous final few months in charge and quickly realised just how many square pegs he’ll have to work with in a system full of round holes.

Since then, he’s at least welcomed Patrick Dorgu to solve his wing-back problem but there’s still plenty of work to be done at Old Trafford. What’s more, in order to complete that work, Manchester United must sell a number of stars with the likes of Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo potentially among those.

It’s only after those sales that the Red Devils can even consider reinforcements, at which point they’re reportedly setting their ambitions as high as ever in pursuit of fresh faces.

According to reports in Spain, Manchester United are now willing to offer a €150m (£125m) deal to sign Julian Alvarez from Atletico Madrid this summer – just one year on from his Manchester City departure.

After a slow start, the Argentine forward has adjusted to life in Spain and once again firing on all cylinders to attract the attention of the Red Devils. As a former Premier League champion at Manchester City, it’s fair to say that Alvarez would steal plenty of headlines by completing a move to Old Trafford this summer.

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As for Amorim, he would be welcoming the perfect player for his 3-4-2-1 system, with Alvarez likely slotting straight into one of the two advanced midfield roles behind the striker, whoever that may be.

"Amazing" Alvarez could come back to haunt Man City

By joining Manchester United, Alvarez would be joining a list which includes both Carlos Tevez and Peter Schmeichel as the latest player to play for both Manchester clubs.

Somewhat breaking the trend, however, the Atletico Madrid man would be going from a City man to an Old Trafford star rather than the opposite path that Tevez and Schmeichel chose.

If Manchester United can afford such a deal, and that’s a big if at this stage, then it’s certainly one they should attempt. Not only would Alvarez finally suit Amorim, but his arrival would also be getting one over on Manchester City, who he could come back to haunt.

Earning plenty of praise from Pep Guardiola during his time at The Etihad, the Spaniard previously told TNT Sports: “Julian is amazing so he’s an extraordinary player and many things help us. Really good, so very pleased for his birthday, not just for the goals, the many things he does.”

Scoring 17 goals and assisting a further four in his debut season for Atletico Madrid, it’s fair to say that Alvarez has remained “amazing” even after leaving Manchester City.

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