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Eddie Howe is a legend on Tyneside. In years to come, his name will be used as the barometer from which managerial success at St. James’ Park is adjudged.

But Newcastle United are in a rut right now, their muscly underbelly having gone soft and their snappy tactical understanding having ebbed away from the level of last season, when a pathway into the Champions League was found and the Carabao Cup was lifted after Liverpool were beaten at Wembley.

Tournament form might be good, but the Magpies languish in 14th place in the Premier League, and after three goalless draws on the road to kick things off, three successive losses have been inflicted on the Toon, all against sides sat alongside them in the bottom half.

While it’s almost unthinkable, this decline has raised conversations relating to Howe’s future at the helm.

The latest on Howe's Newcastle future

PIF have adopted a ‘don’t panic’ approach to the current issues Newcastle are beset by. But improvements will be required over the coming months. The form on the road has been shambolic, and it is having a detrimental impact on what could still be another positive and progressive campaign.

Howe’s achievements are towering, and in this, he is immortal. But United’s drop-off reeks of deeper issues than, say, 2023/24, when injuries clamped down on any scent of progress. This is more than just a tinker job: a comprehensive reset is needed.

The English coach signed a new and long-term contract on Tyneside in 2022, less than one year after being appointed. A second, furtive extension may have since been engineered.

However, he is not untouchable in the dugout, and if PIF and technical director Ross Wilson feel he has taken this club as far as he can, potential avenues will be explored.

One of which could see them focus on one of the most interesting managers on the market, and he’s currently out of work.

Newcastle could hire Howe successor

Newcastle would love nothing more than to continue their journey with Howe in the managerial role, but the side’s form is alarming, and if the situation continues to devolve, hands may be forced before the end of the 2025/26 campaign.

The Mirror have recently compiled a list of candidates to consider, should the club look to head down that path and find a successor, and possibly the most curious name belongs to former Barcelona boss Xavi.

The Spanish legend has been out of work since the end of 2023/24, and Fabrizio Romano said at the start of the season that the 45-year-old was interested in taking the Manchester United job, had INEOS sacked Ruben Amorim. He has, after all, said himself that he “would love to work in the Premier League”.

Xavi’s principles are shaped by slick, Barca-esque (obviously) passing patterns, and the likes of Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes could thrive at the heart of such a system.

But it’s Anthony Gordon who could benefit the most, finding more freedom down the left channel in a system that would see the Magpies soar to the top of the Premier League’s possession charts, maintaining the 4-3-3 tactical shape that Howe has enforced.

Gordon has struggled this year, and no mistake. The 24-year-old looks a pale imitation of his top-class self, with journalist Adam Clery even commenting that he looks “all over the place” at the moment.

Xavi’s sharp tactical mind could help Gordon find a solution, especially on the wing of such a fluent and commanding midfield force.

Comparing Gordon’s performances against his spectacular breakout season of 2023/24, when he posted 21 goal involvements in the league and won United’s Player of the Year award, it’s clear this is a man lacking confidence, currently showing little sign of the development expected as he matures into his left wing berth for club and country.

It is sharpness and polish which must be applied now, because for a player who considers himself among the top brass in England and Europe, zero contributions in the league this term is inexcusable.

Goals scored

0.34

0.00

Assists

0.31

0.00

Shots taken

2.49

2.75

Touches

44.35

45.00

Pass completion (%)

76.1

74.7

Crosses

3.46

2.75

Shot-creating actions

4.45

3.34

Progressive passes

3.15

3.14

Progressive carries

4.30

4.13

Successful take-ons

1.68

1.97

Ball recoveries

3.89

3.54

Tackles + interceptions

1.93

0.98

Injuries and the red card beamed at him during that frustrating defeat to Liverpool at the start of the season have done little to turn the tide for the Three Lions star, but in Xavi, Newcastle could land a progressive manager whose high-possession philosophy could work well for a fast and mobile winger like Gordon.

Would it be unfair to say that it’s all gone a little bit stale under Howe’s wing at Newcastle? The man has done so much for the club and for the city, but he won’t sit in the dugout forever, and if there is a chance to sign a manager of Xavi’s class who could reenergise the ranks, it might be a worthwhile gamble.

He’s proven he has the minerals, having won La Liga in his first year as the Camp Nou boss, leading club president Joan Laporta to call him “the best manager in the world”.

With the boss having celebrated his fourth anniversary in the hot seat several days ago, journalist Andy Sixsmith waxed lyrical, saying, “Eddie Howe should go down as one of the greatest Newcastle United managers in history.”

This is correct, and Tyneside is in concert. However, as the potential to turn the page toward a new chapter, with the idea of an exciting boss like Xavi in charge gathering pace, more may begin to warm to change, should things, as they are, continue to regress.

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John Mooney joins the Afghanistan team ahead of the UAE tri-series starting August 29

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Aug-2025Afghanistan have appointed former Ireland allrounder John Mooney as their new fielding coach, and Nirmalan Thanabalasingam as the new physiotherapist.Both Mooney and Thanabalasingam have joined the Afghanistan set-up for the ongoing training and preparation camp ahead of the T20I tri-series in the UAE (with Pakistan as the third team) starting August 29 and the men’s T20 Asia Cup from September 9.Mooney had previously served as the Afghanistan fielding coach from 2018 to 2019, when they made their Test debut in India. He had also worked with the West Indies men’s team in 2019 and has been a temporary coach for the Ireland women’s team since January this year.Related

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A left-hand batter and right-arm quick during his playing days, 43-year-old Mooney played 64 ODIs and 27 T20Is for Ireland from 2006 to 2015, which included three ODI World Cups (2007, 2011 and 2015) as well as two T20 World Cups (2009 and 2010). He had famously hit the winning runs in Ireland’s historic win over England in the 2011 World Cup in Bengaluru.He retired in 2015 and went on to complete Level 3, 2, and 1 coaching certificates from the England Cricket Board.Thanabalasingam has been the physiotherapist for Desert Vipers in the ILT20 since 2020. Prior to that, he had worked as the high-performance training and rehabilitation manager for Sri Lanka Cricket from March 2017 to June 2018 and has also worked with Cricket New South Wales, Rangpur Riders (BPL), Montreal Tigers (GT20 Canada), ICC World XI, SydneyThunder (BBL), and the West Harbour Rugby Union Club.Afghanistan are currently undergoing a training camp in Abu Dhabi.

The government wanted the report to be confidential but the court said that there were no legal grounds for such confidentiality

Shashank Kishore15-Jul-2025

The Karnataka High Court has ordered the state government to publicly disclose its status report from the stampede incident on June 4 that marred Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s IPL celebrations outside the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. The tragedy led to the loss of 11 lives, with over 50 injured.The state government had requested the high court to keep the report confidential, but the court categorically stated on Monday, July 14, that there were no legal grounds for such confidentiality, and they were merely “facts as perceived” by the government.The court has also directed the government to furnish the report to other respondents in the case – RCB, the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) and DNA Entertainment Networks, the franchise’s event partners.Related

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Tribunal observes RCB 'created nuisance' without prior permission

The franchise, meanwhile, is awaiting the details of a thorough CID investigation. Members of RCB’s top brass as well as those from DNA have all submitted their testimonies over the past month. A set date for the judgment is yet to be made public.On July 1, the two-member bench of Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), a quasi-judicial body that handles matters related to government and public servants, made a key observation regarding the crowd at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.The tribunal noted that RCB was responsible for drawing a crowd of approximately three to five lakh people outside the stadium to take part in the victory parade announced by the franchise on its social media channels, shortly after RCB won their first IPL title, on June 3.The CAT was tasked to investigate the matter after Vikash Kumar, Inspector General and Additional Commissioner of Police, Bengaluru (West), filed a complaint seeking redressal after being dismissed by chief minister Siddharamaiah in the aftermath of the stampede.Vikash and four other officials were dismissed for “substantial dereliction of duty” and not seeking “guidance” which led to the situation going “out of control.” The tribunal had said that RCB had “created nuisance” by going ahead with the IPL victory celebrations without seeking or getting necessary regulatory permissions. The remarks were part of the 29-page order that CAT issued.RCB, whose chief marketing officer Nikhil Sosale was arrested and then granted bail last month, is yet to issue any further statements since announcing an increased compensation to the family of the deceased, while also supporting those injured. They pledged to form a fund – RCB Cares – to help all the families affected by the tragedy. There has also been no update on their various social media channels since June 4, the day of the incident.

Thomas Frank’s appointment as Tottenham Hotspur boss generated huge excitement amongst the fanbase this summer, with the Dane having the chance to build on the Europa League triumph.

He spent seven years in charge of Brentford before his arrival, often relying upon talents such as Bryan Mbeumo to provide the goods within the final third across the capital.

The Cameroonian international thrived under Frank’s guidance in the Premier League, netting 20 times in the top-flight last season, subsequently making him one of the division’s hottest properties.

After the 51-year-old took charge of the Lilywhites, a real sense of excitement built at the prospect of the Dane bringing the 26-year-old with him in an attempt to sustain the recent European triumph.

However, despite interest in his signature, Mbeumo would move to Manchester United in a £71m transfer – a huge amount of money and potentially a slight overpay.

As a result, the new boss has had to rely on another summer addition and one player already on the books to try and provide the impact he desires within attacking areas.

Kudus & Johnson’s start to the 2025/26 season at Spurs

After missing out on Mbeumo’s signature, Spurs forked out £55m for the services of Mohammed Kudus from West Ham United to try and hand the manager his next version of the Cameroonian.

Such a deal may have been an expensive one, but it’s a transfer that has been worth every penny to date, with the Ghanaian already registering one goal and four assists in his first ten outings.

His first goal for the Lilywhites came in the recent triumph over Leeds United, subsequently highlighting his ability to pop up with crucial goals when the side need him most.

Kudus isn’t alone in falling into that category, with teammate Brennan Johnson also able to score key goals for the Lilywhites, as seen by his winner in the Europa League final last campaign.

Whilst he’s already scored three times across all competitions, the Welsh international has failed to start a single league game since the end of August and has rapidly fallen down the pecking order.

The 24-year-old will likely be disappointed with his lack of action, which has potentially been impacted by the arrival of Kudus during the recent transfer window.

Whilst both are hugely talented players, it remains to be seen if any can reach the levels produced by Mbeumo in recent times, but one other star already in the ranks could achieve such a feat, given the similarities in their careers.

The Spurs star who could be Frank’s next Mbeumo

Over the last couple of seasons, Spurs have splashed the cash to try and compete with teams around them, as seen by the respective deals to land Kudus and Johnson.

Around £400m has been spent in recent years to catapult the club to the needed success, with such spending undoubtedly helping them claim European glory back in May.

Various recruitment strategies have been in place over recent times, often signing a mixture of youth talent for the future, or players entering their prime and able to make an immediate impact.

However, players sometimes cross over both categories, as seen by the arrival of attacker Wilson Odobert from Burnley back in the summer of 2024.

A deal for the Frenchman certainly came out of nowhere, with the Lilywhites hierarchy paying £25m for his signature after the Clarets suffered relegation back to the Championship.

Whilst the 20-year-old has only made 30 appearances throughout the injury, he’s still managed to impress in North London and show glimpses of his potential and talents.

Odobert, who’s been dubbed “phenomenal” by one analyst, has already scored three times for the club, two of which came during their Europa League-winning campaign in 2024/25 – already highlighting his ability to produce the goods in key moments.

Whilst his goalscoring tally isn’t as impressive as Mbeumo’s, the similarities are there for everyone to see, with the Frenchman moving to England from Troyes.

The now Man Utd talent did the exact same upon his transfer to Brentford back in the summer of 2019 – subsequently needing time to make a huge impact in England.

Wilson Odobert – PL stats (24/25)

Statistics (per 90)

Tally

Games played

16

Goals & assists

1

Pass accuracy

85%

Successful dribbles

1.3

Chances created

0.9

Shots taken

1.4

Touches in opposition box

4.1

Recoveries made

3.6

Stats via FotMob

He struggled to register double figures in goals for each of his first three top-flight campaigns, but the Bees’ patience was certainly rewarded, as seen by his tallies and fee generated in recent times.

Odobert could do the exact same for the Lilywhites in the years ahead, with the club and fanbase needing to support the winger in his attempts for success in North London.

At just 20, he has bags of time to live up to the potential he arrived with, but it’s crucial that Frank works his magic once again to create another world-class attacker.

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Should he get anywhere close to Mbeumo’s level, it would be a sensational piece of business and one that could help the Lilywhites sustain their recent success in Europe or even domestically.

أكد سيد عبد الحفيظ، مدير الكرة السابق بالنادي الأهلي، أن الفريق يسير بخطى ثابتة نحو مرحلة جديدة من التنظيم والاحتراف، مشيرًا إلى أن منظومة العمل داخل النادي تضم كوادر مميزة قادرة على قيادة الفريق نحو مزيد من البطولات.

وقال سيد عبد الحفيظ عبر برنامج “اللعيب” على قناة “MBC مصر”: “غرفة الملابس تُعد من أهم الملفات داخل أي نادٍ كبير، ولكن لدينا الآن مدير كرة ومدير فني جديد يتمتع بشخصية قوية، ونسأل الله أن يوفقنا في البطولات المقبلة”.

وأشار إلى أن: “اسم النادي الأهلي وحده يفرض التزامًا كبيرًا على الجميع، وإن شاء الله لن تكون هناك أي مشكلات في هذا الجانب”.

وعن إمكانية تعاقد الأهلي مع ثنائي الزمالك وبيراميدز، حسام عبد المجيد وفستون مايلي، أوضح عبد الحفيظ: “اللاعبان يرتبطان حاليًا بعقود مع أنديتهما، ونتمنى لهما التوفيق، أما نحن فلدينا فريق قوي ونجوم مميزون، وبما سيضاف إليه في يناير، سنكون قادرين على تقديم أداء مميز”.

طالع أيضًا | سيد عبد الحفيظ ردًا على إمكانية ضم لاعبين من الزمالك: هذه مدرستهم والاحتراف مختلف

وأضاف: “لدينا لجنة تخطيط، ومشرف على الكرة، ومدير رياضي، ومدير كرة، ومدير فني، وهذه منظومة عمل متكاملة، هناك خيارات واحتياجات محددة، وإن شاء الله ننجح في تنفيذها خلال فترة الانتقالات الشتوية المقبلة”.

وتابع: “خط دفاع الأهلي مر بظروف صعبة وإصابات متعددة، لكن الأرقام تشير إلى أن عدد الأهداف التي استقبلناها مرتفع، ونسعى لتصحيح هذا الوضع من خلال تدعيم الصفوف في يناير”.

وعن الأنباء المتداولة بشأن إمكانية تعاقد الأهلي مع محمد صلاح، قال عبد الحفيظ: “محمد صلاح نجم كبير حقق إنجازات عظيمة، وهو يسير في طريق الاحتراف الخارجي، ما يُتداول عن انتقاله إلى الأهلي ربما يكون مجرد حديث إعلامي، لكنه بالتأكيد نجم عالمي وتشرف أي نادٍ مشاركته، ومع ذلك لم نعقد أي اجتماع كمجلس إدارة لنتحدث عن ضم أي لاعب”.

واختتم: “عودة محمد عبد المنعم مطروحة دائمًا، فهو أحد أبناء النادي، لكن حتى الآن لم نجتمع لمناقشة احتياجات المدير الفني أو تحديد الأسماء المطلوبة للمرحلة المقبلة”.

خاض فريق تشيلسي مباراته في إطار منافسات بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، موسم 2025/26 مساء يوم السبت، وذلك ضد خصمه سندرلاند.

واستضاف ملعب “ستامفورد بريدج” مباراة تشيلسي وسندرلاند، في خضم لقاءات الجولة التاسعة من الدوري الإنجليزي، حيث خسر البلوز في الوقت القاتل بهدفين لهدف.

تقدم تشيلسي سريعًا بهدف سجله اللاعب أليخاندرو جارناتشو، في الدقيقة الرابعة من عمر الشوط الأول.

واستمر تفوق تشيلسي على صعيد النتيجة حتى الدقيقة 22 من عمر الشوط نفسه، حيث سجل اللاعب ويلسون إيزيدور هدفًا لصالح سندرلاند.

وكادت المباراة أن تنتهي بتلك النتيجة، ولكن سندرلاند كان لديه رأي آخر حيث تمكن من تسجيل هدف قاتل في شباك تشيلسي، عن طريق اللاعب شمس الدين طالبي في الدقيقة الثالثة من الوقت المحتسب بدلَا من الضائع للشوط الثاني.

بتلك النتيجة، تجمد رصيد تشيلسي عند 14 نقطة في المركز الخامس، بينما ارتفع رصيد سندرلاند إلى 14 نقطة في المركز السابع بفارق الأهداف.

At the start of the calendar year, Celtic had Adam Idah, Johnny Kenny, Kyogo Furuhashi, and Daizen Maeda on their books as options in the number nine position.

Kyogo, of course, left to sign for Rennes in the January transfer window, and Kenny is still a young player who needs time to develop and improve before he is a frontline option.

Earlier this month, Brendan Rodgers said: “I think it’s very clear. We need to improve in the front end of the pitch. The attacking department has always, and always will be, the strengths of my teams. We’ve lost important players in that area, and we need to replace players in that area.”

The Celtic head coach is now set to lose another option in that centre-forward role, as Anthony Joseph reports that Idah is closing in on a permanent move to Swansea.

He is set to undergo a medical in Wales on Friday before putting the finishing touches on a move to the EFL Championship side before the end of the summer transfer window on Monday.

The Ireland international’s exit will leave Celtic with Kenny and Shin Yamada as their only natural striker options, whilst Maeda can, of course, play there.

Celtic have had a nightmare with Adam Idah

It is hard not to feel that the Scottish giants have had a nightmare with the Irish centre-forward, who they only signed from Norwich City on a permanent deal last summer.

The club reportedly paid an initial fee of £8.5m, which could have gone up to £9.5m, and Swansea have now agreed a deal that is worth up to £7m for the 6 foot 3 attacker.

This means that the Scottish Premiership champions have made a loss of at least £1.5m on Idah just 12 months on from signing him from the Canaries, which is hard to defend from a recruitment perspective.

The number nine had his moments in a Celtic shirt, as shown by the clip above, but he was nowhere near reliable enough as a starting option for Rodgers.

As you can see in the table above, Idah only scored six goals in 19 matches in the Premiership for the Scottish giants in his only full season at the club.

This may be one of the reasons why the club decided to sanction a permanent transfer to Swansea after just one year, because he failed to prove that he could deliver consistently as a starter.

Ultimately, Rodgers could not trust him to start week-in-week-out and they may have expected more from a player they were willing to spend up to £9.5m in 2024.

Celtic prepare offer for new striker

According to Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph, Celtic are considering a last-gasp offer to sign Anderlecht centre-forward Kasper Dolberg in an attempt to replace Idah.

The journalist claims that the Denmark international is the club’s number one target to fill the soon-to-be vacant number nine shirt at Parkhead.

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Joseph also reveals that the Hoops are in talks with Anderlecht over a move for the experienced marksman, as they look to bring him in before the deadline on Monday.

He adds that the Scottish giants were quoted a fee of around £10m for the forward earlier this summer, but it remains to be seen if that is still the case.

The journalist claims that Anderlecht are open to cashing in on the former Ajax and Nice star after they were knocked out of Europe by losing 3-1 to AEK on aggregate, which has presented Celtic with the opportunity to swoop in now that Idah is on his way out of the club.

Why Celtic should sign Kasper Dolberg

The board should be pushing to get a deal for the Pro League forward over the line before the deadline on Monday because he could arrive as a big upgrade on Idah in the number nine position.

As aforementioned, the £9.5m signing from Norwich simply did not do enough when given chances as a starting striker for Celtic to be relied upon as the main man for goals.

Dolberg, however, is a player who could be that main man as an experienced and top-quality number nine who can find the back of the net on a regular basis.

The Anderlecht marksman has already scored three goals in five games at the start of the current campaign, per Sofascore, but it was his form last season that shows how much of an upgrade he would be on Idah.

As you can see in the table above, Dolberg can score goals at an impressive rate whilst starting week-in-week-out for his side, which is something that Idah failed to do.

The Danish attacker, who was once hailed as an “extraordinary talent” by John Steen Olsen, also enjoyed a greater conversion rate in front of goal and won more of his physical duels with opposition defenders.

These statistics suggest that Dolberg could offer far more to the team as a regular starter than Idah did, certainly in the Premiership, as a lethal centre-forward who can finish chances efficiently, as shown by his goal return versus his xG.

At the age of 27, Celtic would also be signing a player who is in the prime years of his career and can be expected to hit the ground running as an instant and reliable performer, rather than coming in as a young and unproven talent who would need time to adjust and develop.

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Therefore, Dolberg could be a fantastic addition to the squad as a big upgrade on Idah as a starter if they can get the deal over the line in the coming days.

MatériaMais Notícias

A noite do Santos foi trágica pela derrota contra o Corinthians no clássico e pela reação da sua torcida. Com esse cenário em vista, o goleiro João Paulo não escondeu a frustração por não conseguir o resultado e lamentou todo episódio gerado após o clube embalar o 9º jogo seguido sem vencer.

– Tivemos reunião com a torcida, tivemos cobrança, nós sabíamos que tínhamos que fazer diferente. Nós tínhamos que buscar a vitória, resultados, derrotas, empates, vitórias, dentro do futebol é normal, acontece, mas o que pesa é a sequência que a gente vem tendo. A gente sabe da força que a gente tem dentro da Vila Belmiro e a gente está perdendo aos poucos essa força e isso vai complicando a nossa caminhada. Só pedir desculpa ao torcedor, infelizmente hoje é uma mancha na história do Santos – disse o capitão do Peixe.

+ Lista de jogadores mais valiosos do mundo tem novo líder: veja o top 25

O clube da Vila Belmiro não consegue uma vitória desde o triunfo diante do Vasco no dia 14 de maio. A sequência negativa incômoda também foi exposta pelo goleiro do Santos.

– É até difícil falar o que se passa na cabeça, passa tudo. Passa um filme, passa uma história. Primeiramente vou pedir desculpa ao torcedor, infelizmente hoje foi uma vergonha, não digo nem pelo resultado em si, pela forma que foi, pela sequência negativa que a gente vinha – concluiu João Paulo.

Para tentar a reconciliação com as vitórias, o Peixe volta para os gramados no próximo domingo para encarar o Flamengo, pela 12ª rodada do Brasileirão, às 18h30.

Bernardo Silva has claimed that Arsenal had an "unfair advantage" over Manchester City during their Premier League clash at the Emirates on Sunday. The match ended in a 1-1 draw after Gabriel Martinelli's dramatic 93rd-minute equaliser cancelled out Erling Haaland's early goal in the first half, with the Gunners extending their unbeaten run against City to six matches.

• Martinelli spoiled Man City's party with late equaliser

  City were just minutes away from securing a crucial win against Arsenal on Sunday but Martinelli spoiled Pep Guardiola's party as the Brazilian winger came off the bench to score a dramatic 93rd-minute equaliser. The result ensured the Gunners stay second in the Premier League table while City are down in ninth.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Silva bemoans lack of recovery time

  Arsenal went into the key Premier League fixture after playing Athletic Club last Tuesday in the Champions League, while City took on Napoli two days later.

  Speaking to the Manchester Evening News after the match, Silva bemoaned the lack of recovery time for City, saying: "I am saying this because we didn’t lose. If we lost, I wouldn’t say this. But the reality is, we cannot come to one of the most important games in the season with such a disadvantage, in terms of rest. It is not fair to play one of these games like this. It is just not right. They had five days, and we had two-and-a-half days. In one of the most important games, this cannot happen.

  "I wasn’t feeling in a perfect condition to play like this, and people who have not played at the highest level don’t know how it feels to play a game like this. You need to be at your best condition. We saw [Abdukodir] Khusanov getting injured because these games demand a lot. I feel it is just frustrating that we couldn’t be at our best level simply because of the decision of someone that thinks it is fair to come away after two-and-a-half less days than Arsenal. But in the end we did well in terms of fighting, resilience and sticking together and sticking to the plan. It is just frustrating we conceded very late in the game."

  He added: "I felt the difference in the first half. If you play at the highest level you know that two days playing against one of the best teams in the league, away, with the travel, you need at least one more day to recover. It doesn’t matter if Arsenal had four, five or six days [to recover], just give us one more day, and that gives us three-and-a-half days. Then you make it an even game. Two-and-a-half days is not enough to recover our bodies and to perform at the highest level. It is just not enough."

• Calls for 'common sense' to prevail

  The Portugal international once again hit out at the congested fixture schedule, which is taking a toll on the fitness levels of players across Europe. "We have tried, they don’t listen to us. It is what it is. We would like to change something, but it never changes," Silva said. "It does not really matter, but for the fans, for the respect of the clubs, and for the fairness of the competition, I don’t think what happened today [on Sunday] was good. Look, the schedule is the schedule and I understand you have different competitions and UEFA, the Premier League, and the broadcasters want to make their money and I understand all those sorts of things.

  "What we ask is that we don’t mind playing every three or four days, and we don’t mind playing 60 games because we are used to that. But what we ask for is common sense because this is one of the biggest games of the season. And it is not because of us. I don’t think that they are trying to make us lose a game. It could happen to Arsenal or Liverpool in a few months. But when you are playing an Arsenal vs City or a City vs Liverpool or Liverpool vs Arsenal, you need to have a bit of common sense, and understanding of these situations and in such an important game, the players need to be in the same physical conditions otherwise, I don’t think it is fair. I know it might have happened to other teams in the past. It did not feel like we were in the same physical condition as them."

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  Up next for City: Huddersfield then Burnley

  Guardiola will be expected to rotate his starting lineup heavily for City's Carabao Cup third-round fixture against Huddersfield Town on Wednesday. City are due to host Burnley in their next Premier League fixture three days later.

يواجه نادي برشلونة الإسباني فريق باريس سان جيرمان الفرنسي مساء اليوم الأربعاء في الجولة الثانية من بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا.

وسيستضيف ملعب مونتجويك مباراة بين اثنين من أبرز المرشحين للتتويج بلقب دوري أبطال أوروبا في بودابست في 30 مايو المقبل.

وعاد لامين يامال إلى الملاعب بعد غيابه عن آخر خمس مباريات، وكان قد دخل إلى الملعب قبل نصف ساعة من نهاية المباراة وأحدث ثورة كبيرة وصنع هدف الفوز لزميله البولندي روبرت ليفاندوفسكي خلال الفوز على ريال سوسيداد بهدفين لهدف.

اقرأ أيضاً.. لابورتا: نريد الثأر من باريس سان جيرمان.. ولا أعذار

وتدرب لامين يامال بشكل طبيعي هذا الأسبوع إلى جانب بقية زملائه وأصبح جاهزًا تماماً للمشاركة ضد باريس سان جيرمان حامل لقب دوري أبطال أوروبا.

ونشر لاعب برشلونة صاحب القميص رقم 10 عبر حسابه الرسمي على “إنستجرام” معلناً عودته وينتهي الفيديو برسالة تحدي لباريس سان جيرمان: “لقد عدت وعادت المهمة أيضًا”.

جدير بالذكر أن لامين يامال حصل على المركز الثاني في ترتيب الـ30 لاعباً المتنافسين على جائزة الكرة الذهبية من جانب مجلة “فرانس فوتبول” الفرنسية.