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Ahead of the England series, Rathour talks about getting the most out of a player’s natural game, and looks back at the Australia series

Interview by Nagraj Gollapudi04-Feb-20215:25

Vikram Rathour: ‘Pant doesn’t think that he’s done something special’

When 36 all out happened, Vikram Rathour, India’s batting coach, did not go into hiding. If anything, the former India opener and national selector, saw it as freeing. In this interview, conducted during India’s six-day quarantine ahead of the England Test series, he goes into detail about his philosophy, particularly the importance of imbuing a better sense of match situations in his senior batsmen while not hampering their natural styles of play.You took over from Sanjay Bangar in September 2019. Back then what were the challenges you thought you would need to work on?
At that point the middle order was not really settled in the shorter format, especially. We were still looking for somebody to establish themselves. When I came in, Shreyas Iyer and Manish Pandey were the guys who had just gotten into the team and were still looking to establish themselves.[Back then] touring abroad, travelling to the SENA [South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia] countries, traditionally we hadn’t done that well as a batting unit, so that was one area of concern.Also, openers when we are travelling. And even the tail, the late-order batting, was a concern, and still is an area we can work on and improve in.You have had two overseas tours since then – New Zealand and Australia – with contrasting results. From the batting unit’s perspective, what was the key difference between the two?
New Zealand was challenging conditions again. The ball seams a lot, a lot of grass on the wicket. That being my first [overseas] tour, my analysis [in hindsight] was that there was a lot of talk – this is what to expect, this is where the ball is going to be, this is what the New Zealand bowling attack will be looking to bowl at. But I don’t think we really prepared that well – there was hardly any time to actually practise those things. So that is where this Australian tour was a little different.

“Data is something that gives you some information, but how you read it, what you want to share with the batsmen, that is a completely different question”

The lockdown [in 2020] gave me time to prepare really well. We had a lot of discussions during the lockdown period, where we went through the areas we expected the Australian bowling unit to be bowling at us, how we have done in the past few series, what to expect this series, so we wanted to start practising for that [right away] rather than in Australia. We did really prepare better for this tour.How big are you on data?

This is something I’m getting used to. In our time, there was hardly any data provided. I did a bit of coaching, [then] became a selector, and there again, there were numbers we were dealing with, but not looking at real data.I’ve bought into it. I am spending quite a lot of time with my analyst, looking at various things. But data is something that gives you some information. How you read it, what you want to share with the batsmen, that is a completely different question. So you really need to learn what to take out of it, the information it is providing you.Related

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So where has data helped you? Let’s take the example of the batsmen on one of the tours.
When we looked at the numbers, or the way we have batted in the past couple of series in Australia, how Virat [Kohli] or Ajinkya [Rahane] or [Cheteshwar] Pujara have scored their runs, I was pretty certain that if this is what the [Australian] bowling unit is also looking at, they would not give us too much room outside off stump because most of our runs were scored square of the wicket.So that was the question put to the batsmen: if this is what a bowler is looking at, what are the areas they’ll be looking to bowl? They’ll be coming straighter, they’ll be coming with tighter lines, with straighter fields. And if that is what they’re doing, how are you going to deal with it? That is where data was pretty useful. Because that is exactly what happened this series – we hardly got anything outside off stump.And we were better prepared for that. Somebody like Pujara, he knew after our discussions that they were going to come in to him, bowl the short ball maybe into his body. And that is what he was preparing for.Rathour (right) took over as India batting coach in 2019•PTI Do you now feel after the Australia series that you have this familiarity with the batting unit, that they understand where you’re coming from and your approach?

Fortunately, I was a [national] selector before this. So I knew all of the guys, I had spent time with them. Once you become a batting coach, again you still have to understand the batsman – everybody reacts differently, everybody wants similar information, you have to give it to them differently. Everybody is expected to deal with that information differently. So that is what you need to learn. But, yeah, I’m more settled now.When you become a coach, the aspect you start focusing on is more tactical and technical: where their head is, where their feet are, how they are moving, how they are responding to different situations.Asking a lot of questions – if a certain shot was played, why they played that shot, what were they thinking when they played that shot, and trying to understand their mindset while they were doing that, whether they have done well or done poorly. So just trying to understand their mindset and their game plans.Let’s talk about Rohit Sharma’s stroke in the Sydney Test, which generated debate. He did not regret that pull shot; that is one of his signature shots, which comes naturally to him. When you sat down with him, talking about the stroke, can you tell us what you two discussed?
He played two shots, actually, which were discussed: one was the pull shot and the other one was against Nathan Lyon, where he got caught at long-on. You are right, that these are the shots he plays, and he plays them pretty well, so as a coach you want him to back his strengths. The only discussion I had with him was that having a strength is a great thing, but knowing when to use it [is equally important]: what the situation of the team is, what the bowlers are trying at that moment. So your game plan is different from your strength. I was okay with his pull shot, to be very specific, because that’s a shot he plays with instinct and plays really well.The other shot he played against Lyon, the discussion we had was that he picked maybe the wrong ball. So he wanted to go over the top – I’m okay with that because he plays that shot really well again, but Lyon, the moment [Rohit] stepped out, he bowled the ball into his body. He didn’t give him room to free his arms. So that is the time as a batsman you need to be more specific.

“If your mindset is clear, if you keep making the right decisions, picking the right balls, you can still score runs. And those things are more important at this level than only technique”

Cricket is a premeditating sport, where you plan “this is what I’m going to do if a certain bowler bowls there.” But then be specific with that: that I’ll go over the top only if the ball is in this area. In case he pulls it into you or into your body, you should still be ready as a batsman to just block it or play it along the ground. So that’s the only discussion I had with him.So like the pull shot, if it’s below your shoulder, I’m okay with you going for that pull shot and trying to keep it down. But the moment it goes higher, you need to be able to get out of it. On certain days the shot will be on, but you’ll execute it poorly and still get out, which you should be okay with.Can you talk about this with an example?
I’ll give you an example: like Rishabh Pant in the first innings of the Brisbane Test. He got out playing a cut shot, which he was trying to keep down and got caught at gully. So there could be criticism for that shot, but I thought it was on because [Australia] didn’t have a deep third man at that point. And Rishabh is somebody who plays his shots. That’s his game. We want him to play shots.He is somebody who is looking for runs all the time. At that time, I thought the execution was poor. He should have looked to play it over the slips and slash it hard so that it would have gone to the third man. Otherwise, I thought the idea of playing that shot was correct. That was a ball that was wide and short, but he tried to keep it down and that’s the reason it went to the gully fielder. So the discussion [with him] was that the shot was on, but maybe you could have gone over the slips, rather than trying to keep it down.What about Ajinkya Rahane in the second innings?

I have always believed that batting is about scoring runs. So you should be looking to score runs at all times. But again, what shots are on? Is there a need to play that shot? And I think he himself realised that maybe he picked the wrong ball to play that shot – it was too close to him. So these are the things that you need to learn as a batsman and you need to keep working on.”Your game plan is different from your strength. I was okay with Rohit’s pull shot, because that’s a shot he plays with instinct and plays really well”•Getty ImagesIs temperament more important than technique in Test cricket?
Any day. Temperament combined with game plans. Technique is an important aspect, but a lot of people give it too much importance. They put everything on technique, which I don’t believe in. Cricket is about handling pressure, making the right decisions, picking the right balls to play your shots, which are the bowlers you can score against, what are the areas, where are your singles, where are your boundaries… All of this comes under game plans and tactics.Technique is important, yes. But again, if you can keep the other aspects of your batting very clear, if your mindset is clear, if you keep making the right decisions, keep picking the right balls, you can still score runs. And those are the things that are more important at this level than only technique.It feels like India changed in terms of temperament in this series in Australia, where they came close in Sydney and then successfully chased 300-plus in Brisbane. Whereas in 2018, virtually the same batting unit failed to chase 194 at Edgbaston and 245 in Southampton.
Keeping it simple, that’s what we’ve tried in this series: playing sessions not looking to win, not looking at the results. I mean, all the coaches keep talking about focusing on process and not on results. All the talk throughout, after being 36 all out [in Adelaide], or after winning the Test [in Melbourne] was only on building up partnerships, playing the sessions well, looking to score runs without taking too many risks. The message going out all the time was, let’s not worry about results, results will take care of themselves if we keep batting and doing things correctly.Did you have to go into hiding after 36 all out?
Not really. It was disappointing. I really believe that we prepared well for the series. And then that came as a shocker, actually. You couldn’t really explain what happened. And it happened so quickly, there was hardly any time to reflect on what was happening. Even after looking at it, how the wickets fell, you couldn’t really find any faults – there were hardly any bad shots, there was no loose cricket, there was hardly any tentativeness. You just kept getting out. So again, the discussion was don’t worry, don’t let the doubts creep in at this stage. We’ve done well, we prepared well. So keep backing that preparation and better your methods, your techniques and your game plans. And hopefully, things will improve. And they did.

“Ultimately it boils down to you handling pressure, making the right decisions in the middle. And that has nothing to do with what you see on the screen. That’s all inside you”

Virat Kohli said in his post-match comments that possibly the only thing he thought could have changed would be intent. How do you define intent in that context and in general?
This is the discussion I had with Virat as well, where he felt the intent could have been better, but the point was that everybody got out playing five, seven, nine balls, so there was hardly time to show any intent actually (). You were just looking to get set, which is the way it should be, but people just kept getting out. We were not really tentative. We just got out.For me, intent is what you are looking to do on that specific day. Intent for batting should always be looking to score runs. But while scoring those runs, if somebody is bowling a good spell, if the ball is swinging, you should be able to defend, you should be able to leave those balls. Looking to score runs is the intent, but then defending is also intent.Like what Puji [Pujara] did in Brisbane – there was a lot of intent behind that. He was letting the ball hit him and not looking to poke at it, so that he doesn’t edge, it doesn’t hit the gloves and go up.Tell us a bit about Prithvi Shaw. An opener who is as talented as his former Under-19 partner Shubman Gill.
Without a doubt he [Shaw] is one of the more talented guys that we have in our team. There was a lot of talk about his technique and all that stuff. But my discussions with him were to bat more, train harder. Keep backing that and keep enjoying cricket, don’t overthink. You have to understand, at that age – he is what, 21 or 22? – he just had one poor game actually, and after that he hasn’t played.Keep backing your ability, keep backing your strengths. He’s a strokeplayer, so never to have any doubts or second thoughts about that. That is how he plays. There are a few things he needs to work on in a technical aspect as well, so he has been suggested those changes and he has been working on them. Hopefully when he comes back, he’ll come back a better player.Everyone from Ricky Ponting to Sunil Gavaskar dissected his technique, from his trigger movement to his bat coming across. Are those part of the technical elements you are working on with Shaw?
There was a lot of talk of him playing the ball away from the body. With him, the feet were not coming along. So he was stationary and the bat was going away towards the ball. The thing he needs to do is to move his feet as well: they need to be next to the ball, closer to the ball. That’s the only suggestion I’ve given him. For me, his initial [trigger movement] was a little late, so he was still halfway through it when the ball was delivered. And that was the reason he was getting late on the ball. He needs to do his initial movement a little early, so that his final movement is done in time. And he was doing that in nets and he was looking much better.”Even after looking at how the wickets fell, you couldn’t really find any faults – there were hardly any bad shots, no loose cricket. You just kept getting out”•Getty ImagesAfter India lost the series in England in 2018, Sanjay Manjrekar wrote that Indian selectors can look at playing batsmen at home whom they feel have the talent to perform overseas. Do you agree?
It is a tough one, because I’ve been part of the selection panel. How do you know what will work and what won’t? It is not that easy to assess. The way Prithvi Shaw was batting, at one point he looked like scoring runs everywhere. The way Mayank [Agarwal] has batted – how do you know that [his game] won’t work on overseas tours? Because people with different kinds of techniques or unorthodox [players] have still gone on and scored runs everywhere. Ultimately it boils down to you handling pressure, making the right decisions in the middle. And that has nothing to do with what you see on the screen. That’s all inside you – how you’re dealing with pressure or what decisions you are making, what balls to pick. What we see on television, or in front of us, is basically just the technical part. So to base your decision on that, that this guy will score runs abroad, is a little tough.Let us talk about Gill. Would you say clarity of thought is his biggest asset?
Yes, I believe that. He is extremely, extremely clear with what he wants, how he wants to do it. And that’s very unique for somebody at his age [21]. I saw him the first time when I was coaching Himachal Pradesh. We played a game against Punjab in the Vijay Hazare Trophy in Alur [Bengaluru], and he scored a hundred in that game. You could see and know that this guy is special.In the nets also he looks different, he looks extremely assured. Very comfortable against pace, against short balls.Talking to him, you know he has a very calm head, is very clear with what he wants, how he prepares, that he has the game. So it was just about when we could give him an opportunity to get into the team. He might have played in Dharamsala against South Africa [in 2020], to be honest, but it was rained off. And after that this Covid thing happened. We were a little worried about him actually, that this was the opportunity where he might have played. And once we come back and if, say, Rohit and Shikhar [Dhawan] and KL [Rahul] are there and Mayank is doing well, there was a chance he might not get an opportunity to play, but fortunately for him, he did get that opportunity and he has grabbed it.

“Mentally, the batsmen are ready now [for England]. They have started visualising, they have started planning their game, how to stand if the ball is going to reverse, which are the areas to score”

What have you spoken about with Pant?
It has just been on his game plans. That’s the only area he needs to work on or get better at. He is an extremely intelligent guy, who knows everything, who is street smart, who understands his game, what the bowlers are trying to do. The only discussions I have been having with him, and the area I still believe he can get even better at, is shot selection – the right balls that he needs to pick to play those shots.He’s a strokeplayer, we all know that. We want him to play shots. We want him to do what he does. What I was talking about earlier, about Rohit also, having a strength or having a method of playing, doesn’t mean that you have to play it every time. You still need to pick the right shot for that moment, looking at the opposition, looking at the conditions, looking at the situation the team is in. And in this series, Pant did that well.I’m just reminding him all the time that the previous two good innings that he played, he played 30, 35 balls with six, seven runs on the board: you got set first and then you went on to play your shots. So he just needs to remember this method. We want him to play shots.We saw you hug Pant tight after the Gabba win. Can you talk about what you told him then?
It was just, “Well played, boss.” He really, really played well and won the game for the team. So it was a job well done.And that’s the kind of batsman we want Rishabh Pant to be: somebody who takes the bowling on and puts pressure on the bowling side. And while doing that, of course, there’ll be some mistakes made, but as long as he is trying to learn from them, we are all happy.What did he tell you? What does he want to improve on?

At the time, nothing, but otherwise he is a very [carefree] kind of a character. I had a chat with him today and I was asking him how it has been since he has come back after winning the series for the team. And he is saying, “Has anything changed? Not really.” He doesn’t believe that he has done anything special. This is how he plays and this is what he should be doing. As far as improvements are concerned as a batsman, he wants to become a finisher for India in all formats.”That’s the kind of batsman we want Rishabh Pant to be: somebody who takes the bowling on and puts pressure on the bowling side”•Associated PressOne thing you have noted elsewhere is how you want the Indian tail to become consistent and stronger. The partnership between Washington Sundar and Shardul Thakur, where they played time and scored runs in the first innings at the Gabba is a good example. Ravi Shastri said it broke Australia’s back and put India in command. What have you been focusing on with the lower order?
I felt that in the past couple of series the tailenders had done pretty poorly against Australia in Australia. It is not easy, to be honest, the kind of bowling they faced is not easy: three bowlers bowling 140-plus and short at you. The only thing I discussed with them is to try and spend more time, don’t look to throw your wicket, don’t look to play crazy shots and get out. After that discussion I could see the change in the attitude. The more practice you give them, the more comfortable they feel in the middle. That again is one area we still need to keep working on. The focus will then be on handling short balls.How important is that Hardik Pandya start bowling?

If he starts bowling, he will get into the team. The team requires him to bowl, especially when we are touring. I am talking about even in Test cricket – if he starts bowling, that will be extremely useful. In the past few months he has shown how much he is improving as a batsman. He has done really well as a batsman in ODIs and T20s. He is somebody, again, who is capable of winning you a Test match, in any situation, against any bowling attack. You need those kind of match-winners in your team.What is your aim during the England series?
This is an important series. We are playing against a really good team, which has done well in Sri Lanka, they have already shown that. As the batting unit, the change [for India] will be playing spin bowling a lot more and maybe dealing with reverse swing a lot more. These will be two areas of focus in whatever practice [time] we have. Unfortunately, we don’t have enough time and will be only getting three days of practice before the first Test.Preparation remains the key. I have already had this discussion [with the batsmen] so mentally they are ready now, they have started visualising, they have started planning their game, how to stand if the ball is going to reverse, which are the areas to score. That is important. If they start thinking now, it still gives you time to be ready before the game starts.Was it good for you that 36 all out came early in your career as batting coach?

Yeah, I know. I was joking with Ashwin also, that that was done deliberately to build the series up. After that everything felt better. Because you keep worrying what if this happens, what if that happens. So failures, at times, teach you that nothing stops. Even after getting 36 all out, life did not stop, we did not stop laughing. The next night we had a team dinner, a lot of laughter, a lot of fun. That liberates you a little actually. You know that you can’t get worse and you have handled it pretty well. Whatever happens, you can deal with it.

تحدث أوليفير جلاسنر، المدير الفني للفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي كريستال بالاس بعد الخسارة من مانشستر سيتي ضمن منافسات الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

وواجه مانشستر سيتي نظيره كريستال بالاس، اليوم، الأحد في إطار منافسات الجولة الـ 16 من بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

وحل مانشستر سيتي ضيفًا ثقيلًا على كريستال بالاس واستطاع أن يقلص الفارق بينه وبين آرسنال الذي رفع رصيده من النقاط إلى 36 نقطة بعد الفوز على وولفرهامبتون.

بتلك النتيجة، أصبح مانشستر سيتي في المركز الثاني برصيد 34 نقطة، خلف آرسنال المتصدر، فيما تجمد رصيد كريستال بالاس عند النقطة 26 بالمركز الخامس.

اقرأ أيضًا | جوارديولا: نفضل صدارة الدوري الإنجليزي.. ولاعب مانشستر سيتي لم يقدم أداء جيدًا

قال جلاسنر عبر بي بي سي: “نشعر ببعض الظلم لهذه النتيجة لكن علينا تقبلها، هكذا تُحسم المباريات الكبيرة، كانت الفروقات بيننا وبينهم طفيفة للغاية”.

وأكمل: “أعتقد أن مانشستر سيتي كان أفضل داخل منطقة الجزاء، سددنا 16 تسديدة والخسارة 3-0 قاسية للغاية، سنستفيد من دروس هذه المباراة، نحن نحتاج إلى هذه المباريات لننمو ونتطور ونتقدم”.

وأضاف: “أتيحت لنا ثلاث أو أربع فرص كبيرة وحاولنا تسجيل هدفًا والعودة إلى المباراة، شعرنا أنه إذا سجلنا هدفًا فقد يحدث شيء ما”.

وعن هالاند أتم: “كانت عرضية رائعة، تحركاته رائعة، ورأسية رائعة، هذا هو هالاند وهذا هو سبب تسجيله 40 هدفًا في الموسم، كان أداؤنا اليوم أفضل من نهائي كأس الاتحاد الإنجليزي لكننا كنا أكثر فعالية حينها وهذا الذي افتقدناه اليوم”.

Glasgow Rangers are all but out of the Europa League for the 2025/26 campaign after they lost for the sixth time in seven games against Ferencvaros on Thursday night.

The Gers, who took the lead through a brilliant Bojan Miovski goal, are six points adrift of the play-off places with two games left to play, which means that it would take a remarkable run of results throughout the league phase for them to remain in the tournament.

Too many of the club’s summer signings have failed to deliver on the European stage for any of their managers this season, including Djeidi Gassama.

Why Djeidi Gassama must be dropped

The summer signing from Sheffield Wednesday looked visibly upset at being taken off in the 59th minute by Danny Rohl against Ferencvaros, but it was a decision that was completely justified.

Gassama, who started on the left flank, had zero shots on goal and did not create a single chance for his teammates, per Sofascore, in almost an hour on the park before being substituted by the German boss.

Findlay Curtis came on seven minutes later and produced one shot on target and one ‘big chance’ created, per Sofascore, which suggests that he may have more to offer the team at the top end of the pitch at this moment in time.

That is why Gassama should be dropped from the starting line-up, after his poor display, to provide Curtis with an opportunity to start on the left wing.

The Frenchman is not the only Rangers flop who should be dropped from the team, though, as Emmanuel Fernandez should drop out after his dismal showing.

Why Rangers must drop Emmanuel Fernandez

The summer signing from Peterborough United has been given a run of games due to John Souttar and Derek Cornelius’ injuries, starting the last six games in all competitions.

However, Dujon Sterling made his long-awaited comeback off the bench against Ferencvaros, which means that Rohl now has a senior centre-back option to replace him with.

With Sterling available to come in, Fernandez should be dropped from the team after his poor performance against Ferencvaros, which left pundit Ally McCoist speechless.

As you can hear in the clip above, McCoist did not know what to say after the English-born defender was caught facing the wrong way for the home side’s winning goal.

Remarkably, Fernandez did not seem to react at all to Varga making the run straight at him until it was far too late, which is why he was even worse than Gassama on Thursday, as his error ultimately cost Rangers the game, whilst the winger merely had a quiet night.

The Rangers flop, as shown in the statistics above, lost half of his ground duels and the majority of his aerial duels on the night, which shows that his error for the second goal was not the only thing not to like about his performance.

Unfortunately, the former League One star’s struggles against Ferencvaros on Thursday night were not an isolated incident, as he also struggled against Dundee United earlier this month.

In the 2-2 draw with Dundee United, per Sofascore, the centre-back lost five of his 11 aerial duels and three of his eight ground duels, whilst he also got caught out for the opening goal in that game.

Fernandez got sucked in on the half-way line and was never able to recover to prevent Zac Sapsford from putting Dundee United 1-0 up in the match, as his lack of mobility cost him.

Among other things, it was also a lack of mobility that cost the defender against Ferencvaros as he was far too slow to turn and react to the danger of Varga’s run, which meant that he did not even compete for the header that eventually won the game for the hosts.

With his recent errors in mind, Rohl should ruthlessly drop Fernandez from the starting line-up against Hibernian at Ibrox on Monday night, and bring Sterling in for his first start of the campaign.

Aasgaard upgrade: Rangers "could" re-sign £70k-per-week star in 2026

Rangers have been tipped to sign an attacking midfielder who would be a big upgrade on Thelo Aasgaard.

By
Dan Emery

4 days ago

The New York Yankees managed to avoid being swept during their World Series rematch against the Los Angeles Dodgers this weekend. After losing Games 1 and 2 at Dodger Stadium on Friday and Saturday, the Yankees managed to get one back in Game 3, coming away with a 7–3 victory on Sunday evening.

But it wasn't all good news for New York.

Left fielder Jasson Dominguez exited Sunday's game early with what the team is calling a left thumb contusion. He seemingly hurt his hand while attempting to steal second base in the fifth inning. He remained on the base paths and came around to score, but was then replaced by Cody Bellinger.

After the game, Yankees manager Aaron Boone was asked about Dominguez's status, but he told reporters he did not yet have an update on the 22-year-old.

Dominguez also spoke to reporters and indicated that he's "not too concerned" about the thumb.

The left fielder wasn't the only one dealing with an ailment. Luke Weaver was supposed to come on and pitch the ninth inning for the Yankees, but instead, it was Tim Hill who took the mound. Boone said Weaver "felt something" in his hamstring, per Boland.

Boone didn't offer a detailed update on either player, but the team hopes they can avoid a trip to the IL. New York has the day off on Monday before starting a home series against the Cleveland Guardians on Tuesday, June 3.

Manchester United’s central midfield department has been one that has been up for debate, with numerous players trying to stake their claim for a regular starting role.

Ruben Amorim has often struggled to find his best partnership in such an area of the pitch, leading to countless players being utilised in the middle of the park since his appointment.

However, Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro have been the manager’s duo of choice of late, with the pair starting each of the Red Devils’ five Premier League matches in a row.

The club have remained unbeaten during such a period, showcasing that the boss has made the right decision in opting for the pair instead of selecting the likes of Kobbie Mainoo.

However, with Casemiro now 33, he’s likely coming to the back end of his career at the top level, with the hierarchy already laying the foundations for a move for one player in the January window.

Man Utd’s hunt for a new midfielder in January

Over the last couple of days, it’s been reported that United are targeting a move for Nottingham Forest star Elliot Anderson in the upcoming January transfer window.

It’s been claimed that the Red Devils have already made an approach to Sean Dyche’s side to register their interest in landing the 23-year-old England international in the coming months.

However, any deal would be a club record, with the Reds currently demanding a fee in the region of £100m to part ways with their star man during the upcoming market.

He’s not the only midfielder in their sights at present, as Brighton & Hove Albion star Carlos Baleba has once again appeared on their radar, if recent reports are to be believed.

According to one Spanish outlet, Amorim and INEOS have made the Cameroonian international their “dream” target for January, but like Anderson, he would set them back a small fortune.

They also state that a £100m deal would be needed to prise him away from the AMEX, but that the player himself would be open to a switch to move to Old Trafford in the near future.

Why United’s £100m target would end Ugarte’s career

It wouldn’t be the first time United have splashed the cash on a new central midfielder, especially after spending a reported £50m for the signature of Manuel Ugarte back in 2024.

The Uruguayan’s transfer generated huge excitement within the Red Devils fanbase, with his arrival finally handing the side the disruptive presence needed to regain possession.

However, a little over 12 months on from his switch to England’s top-flight, he’s since dropped down the pecking order, as seen by his tally of just two league starts in 2025/26.

Amorim has undoubtedly lost faith in the 24-year-old at present, with a new addition only pushing the former PSG star further down the list – which could tempt the hierarchy to cash in on his services.

Spending £100m on a new addition would be a huge statement of intent, but it would no doubt put the future signing ahead of Ugarte in the pecking order due to the fee alone.

Baleba now appears to be the most likely candidate to join the Red Devils in January, with the youngster offering an immediate and long-term upgrade on the Uruguayan.

When comparing their stats from the 2025/26 campaign, the Brighton star has managed to outperform him in numerous key areas – potentially making his £100m price tag an excellent deal.

How Baleba & Ugarte compare in the PL (25/26)

Statistics (per 90)

Baleba

Ugarte

Games played

11

9

Games started

10

2

Pass accuracy

86%

85%

Log balls completed

54%

50%

Interceptions made

1.4

1.1

Duels won

6.5

5.1

Take-on success

63%

33%

Recoveries made

5.9

5.8

Stats via FBref

The 21-year-old has completed more of the passes he’s attempted this campaign, whilst completing more of the long passes he’s attempted – highlighting the dominance he has over Ugarte in possession.

He’s also completed more of the dribbles he’s attempted, further showcasing his all-round talents with the ball at his feet in the Premier League this season.

Out of possession, Baleba has won more duels per 90, whilst making more interceptions per 90 – subsequently offering the side a more dominant option out of possession.

£100m would be a huge statement of intent from the United hierarchy, but given his tender age, Baleba would be the perfect immediate and long-term solution to their problems.

As to Ugarte, such a transfer would likely spell the end of his time in Manchester, with the board needing to offload him to avoid losing a huge chunk of their £50m investment.

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Newcastle United striker Yoane Wissa has suffered a setback in his injury recovery, with Eddie Howe ruling him out for a further period of time.

The 29-year-old sealed a £55m move to St James’ Park during the summer transfer window, coming in alongside Nick Woltemade to make up for the loss of Alexander Isak.

While Woltemade has hit the ground running at Newcastle, becoming a firm favourite and scoring four goals in six Premier League appearances, Wissa is still awaiting his debut for the club.

The Congo international suffered a posterior cruciate ligament when representing his country in September, almost immediately after sealing his move to the Magpies, and hasn’t made it onto the pitch since.

There has been hope that Wissa could potentially make his Newcastle bow before the November international break, but a new update has poured cold water on that dream.

Wissa out for further period for Newcastle

According to journalist Craig Hope on X, Wissa is likely to remain injured for Newcastle beyond the internationals, in a new setback for him.

“Yoane Wissa is ‘not close’ to a Newcastle return and looks set to miss his proposed comeback date this side of the November international break.”

Meanwhile, Howe provided more depth on the situation, saying: “It (his comeback) is definitely not West Ham (on Sunday). He’s working very hard. He’s on the grass. He’s getting the fitness work in that he needs. I’d say he’s not close to training with the group at the moment, not through injury but through fitness, and making sure we build his robustness. I’m not trying to be evasive. I don’t know when the moment will be when he’s back with the squad.”

It has been such a frustrating start to Wissa’s Newcastle career, with the former Brentford man no doubt desperate to hit the ground running, only to be struck down by injury.

Thankfully, Woltemade has thrived since coming in, making his teammate’s absence less of an issue, but he can be such a potent weapon for the Magpies when he returns to full fitness, with Thomas Frank lauding him as “incredible” during their time together at Brentford.

For Newcastle fans, it’s a case of being patient with Wissa and accepting that it may be a while before they see the best of him in a Magpies shirt.

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Even when he does eventually make his debut, it is going to take time for him to find a full level of fitness, and he needs to be eased in with care by Howe, in order to not aggravate the issue further.

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Arsenal cruised to a 4-0 victory over Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday evening, leading Paul Merson to fire a warning to the rest of the teams in the competition.

In what was billed as a battle of defensive, tactical football between two managers who pride themselves on being tough to beat, Mikel Arteta made a mockery of the pre-match predictions as his side demolished Diego Simeone’s men in an enthralling second-half at the Emirates.

Viktor Gyokeres ended a seven-match goal drought with a quickfire brace to round off the scoring, taking Gyokeres’ tally for his new club to five following his £58million transfer from Sporting Lisbon, where he scored 97 times in 102 appearances.

Speaking after the thumping win, Arteta challenged Gyokeres to keep the goals coming, with the north Londoners back in domestic action against Crystal Palace at the Emirates on Sunday.

And Gyokeres, 27, said: “I’m more hungry now. You always want to contribute with work rate and other stuff, but when you score goals as well, it’s a bit special. So that’s something I always want to do.

“The group we have and the spirit is something different and something very special.

“When you win games and you do these performances, it builds confidence in the team. The belief has to always be there, but of course this helps to boost it. We just want to keep going like this.”

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Gyokeres was not the only man receiving plaudits, as Merson was full of praise for Bukayo Saka during his commentary on Sky Sports, claiming he had Atletico stars like Koke “on toast”.

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And the former Gunners star believes his old team sent out a warning to the rest of Europe after accomplishing something that “no one” does.

Arsenal have won their three games in Europe so far with as many clean sheets. Remarkably, Arteta’s men have conceded just three times – away at Liverpool and Newcastle and at home to Manchester City, with just one of those coming from open play – in their first 12 fixtures.

Goalkeeper David Raya, who has recorded five consecutive shutouts, said: “I give clean sheets the same credit as goals.

“If we’re keeping clean sheets, it’s going to make games easier to win. It’s really, really important for the whole team, not giving away that many chances and being very, very solid.

“The depth of the squad is incredible. We have a lot of players who can play in two, three or four positions.

“(Mikel) Merino came on as a striker (against Atletico), but he can play as a number six, eight, or as a number 10, and that is the variety that the boss has and he is using it to our advantage.

“It gives us an extra level in training and in games, because if you are not at it you can lose your spot and everybody is on board with that.”

Arsenal will head into this weekend’s round of league fixtures with a three-point cushion over second-placed Manchester City. Defending champions Liverpool are a further point off the pace.

Wolves have endured a tough start to the campaign, losing five of their opening six Premier League games.

A 1-1 draw with Spurs on Saturday offered some encouragement, though it was bittersweet given they led until a 94th-minute equaliser from Joao Palhinha.

The result still leaves them bottom of the table with a goal difference of -9. Cup competitions have provided some relief.

They beat Everton in the Carabao Cup third round and now face Chelsea at home for a chance to reach the quarter-finals.

But the domestic reality is clear: Wolves desperately need to rediscover consistency and firepower. Their attack has been blunt, generating the fourth-worst xG in the division – ahead of only Newcastle, Aston Villa and Burnley.

This summer also brought significant upheaval. Wolves sold Matheus Cunha to Arsenal for £62.5m and their dynamic left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri to Manchester City for £36m.

While those exits weakened the squad, they managed to keep Jørgen Strand Larsen, responsible for 22% of Wolves’ goals last season.

Newcastle had multiple bids rejected, including one worth £55m, before the Norwegian signed a new deal until 2030.

Alongside Larsen, Wolves added Tolu Arokodare, Ladislav Krejci, and John Arias.

Yet one of their most important figures this season could be found at left-back – a position vacated by Ait-Nouri.

The blow of losing Rayan Ait-Nouri

Ait-Nouri had become a fan favourite at Molineux since his arrival from Angers in 2021.

Over three seasons, he made 157 appearances, contributing 12 goals and 19 assists.

Renowned for his energy and ability to carry the ball upfield, he was as dangerous in attack as he was valuable in defence.

At just 24 years old, Ait-Nouri had already developed into one of the most exciting left-backs in the Premier League.

His progress earned him a £36m move to Manchester City in the summer, though an ankle injury has sidelined him until mid-October.

Internationally, he represented France at youth level before committing to Algeria, making 18 senior appearances since 2023.

Statistically, Ait-Nouri offered a strong all-round package.

Last season, he averaged 2.58 tackles per 90, 1.22 blocks per 90, and 2.63 shot-creating actions per 90.

Those numbers highlighted his mix of defensive solidity and attacking thrust.

Wolves’ challenge was always going to be finding someone capable of stepping into his shoes – a daunting task given his influence at both ends of the pitch.

How Wolves have found the new Ait-Nouri

Enter Hugo Bueno.

Signed from a Spanish youth side for just £3k, he now finds himself valued at £7m, as per Transfermarkt —a staggering rise of around 233,000%.

At 23 years old, Bueno has been gradually integrated into the Wolves first team, making 57 appearances to date, including six Premier League starts this season and two Carabao Cup outings.

A Spanish youth international, Bueno made his U21 debut in September 2023.

He also gained valuable experience on loan at Feyenoord, where he featured in the Champions League.

His rapid development has been crucial for Wolves this season, especially after Ait-Nouri’s departure.

On the pitch, this “exciting” talent, as described by Matt Hobbs, has shown he is more than capable of filling the void, with the pair noted as statistically similar players among those in their position in Europe, as per FBref.

The stats underline his progress.

Matches Played

20

Minutes

1,197

Tackles

9

Blocks

11

Interceptions

11

Last campaign, Bueno registered three goal involvements compared to Ait-Nouri’s 11.

Where he really stands out is in ball progression: he averages 4.59 progressive carries per 90 (to Ait-Nouri’s 2.58) and 3.61 progressive passes per 90 (versus 3.13).

His 85.7% pass completion rate also edges Ait-Nouri’s 84.2%. Defensively, Bueno is still finding his feet.

He averages 1.35 tackles per 90 compared to Ait-Nouri’s 2.58, and his 0.83 blocks per 90 are also slightly lower. But his attacking profile makes him a dynamic presence.

He creates 2.56 shot-creating actions per 90, almost on par with Ait-Nouri’s 2.63, showing his ability to contribute in the final third.

Wolves’ season will depend on more than just their left-back, but the emergence of Bueno has softened the blow of losing Ait-Nouri.

For a player signed for a nominal fee, he represents one of the best bargains in the Premier League – a reminder that sometimes the best solutions can come from within.

If Wolves are to climb off the bottom and restore their competitive edge, Hugo Bueno may just be the man to help lead them forward.

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يحل فريق ريال مدريد الإسباني ضيفًا على ليفربول الإنجليزي، مساء اليوم الثلاثاء ضم مباريات بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا موسم 2025-2026.

ويستقبل ملعب “آنفيلد” مباراة الفريقين اليوم، والتي تأتي في إطار مواجهات الجولة الرابعة لمرحلة الدوري بدوري أبطال أوروبا.

ستكون تلك المرة الأولى التي يواجه فيها ترينت ألكسندر أرنولد لاعب ريال مدريد الحالي، فريقه السابق ليفربول، كخصم.

ليفربول هو نادي طفولة أرنولد وقد لعب في أكاديمية النادي وتدرج في الفئات العمرية إلى أن تم تصعيده للفريق الأول للريدز، وغادر في يونيو الماضي لينتقل إلى ريال مدريد.

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وبحسب ما أفادت شبكة “ESPN” قامت جماهير ليفربول بتشويه جدارية أرنولد في المدينة، والتي تُظهر المدافع إلى جانب عبارة “أنا مجرد شاب عادي من ليفربول تحقق حلمه”، وقد تم تشويهها بطلاء أبيض.

كما تم كتابة كلمة “فأر” على الجدارية عدة مرات، إلى جانب عبارة “adios el rata” والتي تعني (وداعًا أيها الفأر) بالإسبانية.

وفي حديثه قبل مباراة الثلاثاء، قال ألكسندر أرنولد: “عندما أُعلنت القرعة، أعتقد أن الجميع كان يعلم أنها ستُجرى، فقد كان من المُقدّر أن تُقام تلك المباراة”.

وأضاف: “ليفربول فريق كبير، لذلك كنتُ أعلم أنني سأعود إلى هناك في وقتٍ ما أو سألعب ضد ليفربول، مشاعري مُتضاربة، أعتقد أنها ستكون مباراة صعبة للغاية، لكنني مُتحمس لها”.

The financial benefits of Manchester United moving to a new multi-purpose stadium are becoming clear with a new forecast predicting a £100 million ($133.4m) windfall if they sign a lucrative deal with the NFL. United have recently announced plan for a state-of-the-art 100,000-seater ‘New Trafford’ which would be located next to the famous current ground, but plans are still in the very early stages.

Time for overdue move to new stadium

Sport finance expert Professor Rob Wilson has claimed a UK-based NFL franchise could happen, which comes hot on the heels of United unveiling their ambitious stadium plans. The plans are part of a larger regeneration scheme for the surrounding Trafford district, aiming to create a vibrant waterside area with homes, businesses, and public spaces along the Bridgewater Canal. The new stadium's design, initially featuring a trident-shaped canopy and three towering masts, has been revised due to land acquisition challenges and cost concerns. The estimated cost for the stadium is £2 billion ($2.6bn), with the entire regeneration project potentially exceeding £3 billion ($4bn). Construction is anticipated to take around five years, with a target completion date of the 2030-31 season. Fans have been consulted, with a majority favoring a new stadium over redevelopment of the existing one. Concerns exist about financing, with reports suggesting the club might seek public funding for infrastructure. 

AdvertisementGetty ImagesMoney-spinner potential for United

Speaking to Compare.bet, who offer NFL betting, Professor Wilson said: “A Super Bowl or NFL regular season game could generate around £10million at a stadium like Old Trafford, potentially increasing to £15 million with optimal pricing and ancillary services. It represents a significant opportunity. Taking NFL games outside of London to other parts of the UK, such as Old Trafford, would be interesting as it would engage a different demographic. Strategic partnerships, like a long-term deal between Manchester United and the NFL, could be worth over £100 million over a decade. Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is currently the most aligned with US stadiums, which is why Spurs has been cultivating that experience. The new Old Trafford build is also being designed to be a multi-event stadium, similar to SoFi Stadium in California.”

NFL explosion in the UK

The NFL's presence in England dates back to exhibition games like the American Bowl series, which saw its first fixture at Wembley in 1986. However, the crucial shift came in 2007 with the launch of the NFL International Series, featuring regular-season games played outside the United States. The first of these landmark games saw the New York Giants defeat the Miami Dolphins 13-10 at Wembley Stadium. The success of these initial games led the NFL to schedule regular-season games in London annually, solidifying a strong following in the UK. The series has expanded to include multiple games each season at iconic venues such as Wembley and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The Jacksonville Jaguars have become a staple of the London Games, playing a home game in the UK annually since 2013. In 2022, the series expanded further to include games in Germany, highlighting the growing international reach of the NFL.

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Getty ImagesWill the Super Bowl come to UK?

So, could regular season matches be augmented by the biggest match in the sport, the Super Bowl? Professor Wilson said: "The NFL in London is more lucrative than the Champions League in the States. The NFL market in Europe is bigger than the Champions League market in America. You get inward tourism, with people flying over from North America and Europe for the NFL. This is in contrast to people flying out of Europe into America to watch a Champions League final, which would have a much more local market. Both games would sell out, but the new revenue generated for the NFL with the Super Bowl would far exceed that from the Champions League final in the States."