All posts by h716a5.icu

Sydney Sixers are shaping as favourites to secure AB de Villiers for next season amid interest from all the BBL teams

Daniel Brettig and Mel Farrell29-Apr-2019Sydney Sixers are firming as the likely Big Bash League destination for AB de Villiers, as part of a package deal with Cricket Australia and broadcasters that may be worth more than AUD350,000 for a stint at the back end of next summer’s tournament.CA and broadcasters both confirmed to BBL clubs that they would offer financial assistance to help secure de Villiers’ signature ahead of a season where the men’s ODI team will be absent from Australia during a chunk of January – CA’s contribution understood to be up to $50,000 in return for marketing services. The Sixers appear to have the inside running for reasons over and above than the playing, marketing and broadcasting deal they are able to piece together for the South African and his management.Most BBL clubs are believed to have been interested in signing de Villiers up – Adelaide Strikers would have had he been available for the whole season – and submitted offers last week, with Sydney Thunder’s proposal strengthened by the salary cap room afforded to them by the retirement of Shane Watson, who will restrict himself to shorter overseas T20 jaunts rather than the longer and more demanding BBL schedule.However, the Sixers have a couple of advantages not able to be found elsewhere. Not only will de Villiers have a friend and former team-mate on hand in Morne Morkel, who will be spending six months of the year in Sydney with his family, he will be able to play home games at the SCG, the venue of his memorable 162 from 66 balls for South Africa against the West Indies at the 2015 World Cup.”We would be absolutely delighted to have AB join the Sixers and have made an offer for this summer,” Sixers general manager Jodie Hawkins told ESPNcricinfo. “We understand there are a number of BBL clubs wanting to welcome AB, but we believe we offer him a great option to experience the Big Bash, living in Sydney by the beach, playing at one of his favourite grounds, the SCG, and just enjoying what Sydney offers in summer, that’s a pretty good proposition. He’d also be great working with some of our young stars like Josh Philippe, and meeting our incredible fans.”Ad hoc high profile signings with financial assistance from CA and broadcasters such as Fox Sports have been a part of the BBL’s history, most notably Shane Warne and Kevin Pietersen with Melbourne Stars, and the news that the Australian ODI team would be pressed to honour a pre-existing commitment to tour India next January has helped add impetus to the push to secure de Villiers for at least part of the next competition.But the creation of a more equitable marquee system for high profile international names remains strongly desired by numerous clubs, while others within the Australian system would prefer an auction for overseas players. The Australian Cricketers Association has blocked attempts by CA to add one more overseas place to BBL playing lists for next summer, arguing that the length of the tournament is a greater barrier to the world’s best players taking part rather than the money or squad positions available.Andrew McDonald, coach of the tournament-winning Melbourne Renegades, told ESPNcricinfo earlier this year that the BBL’s credibility demanded a more even system for high profile overseas players. “I think the only way you could do that is to have a marquee [fund],” McDonald said in February. “[CA] is talking to us. Everyone is talking essentially. Our CEO is talking to us as coaches, that’s going back up to Cricket Australia.”We’ve identified that there is a problem or a potential problem, if we don’t get it right going forward. I think the only way to do it is if we have eight marquee spots available, get 16 players from around the world to nominate, and then you have a marquee draft. Just have a lottery draft. Pull the Melbourne Stars out of the hat first, whoever out of the hat second and they pick eight marquee players, and those marquee players have to sign up for the entirety of the tournament.”The Stars and Melbourne Renegades are among other clubs believed to be heavily interested in de Villiers, but there is also a parallel competition to secure Andre Russell, whose star has shone evermore brightly in this year’s IPL, resulting in his recall to the West Indies ODI team for the World Cup in England later this year.Other BBL recruiting moves are afoot, with Fawad Ahmed set to join the Perth Scorchers to form a spin bowling tandem with Ashton Agar, and the West Australian paceman Nathan Coulter-Nile likely to be unveiled by the Melbourne Stars among their signings for 2019-20.

Sean Dickson, Heino Kuhn shine with the bat as task proves too great for Surrey’s bowlers

Daniel Norcross at Beckenham23-May-2019By the end of this fluctuating, frequently fascinating match, 22 players and a couple of physios will quite definitely have earned their sleep. Whether Surrey’s bowlers, who threw everything they had at a Kent side that showed exceptional character to survive a turbulent fourth day and force a draw, will be able to achieve the sanctuary of somnolence, is an altogether different matter.Kent began the day needing an additional, and highly improbable 380 runs to pull off victory with nine wickets in hand. Had they succeeded it would have been the 12th-highest successful run chase in County Championship history. The fact that scribes were rushing around, consulting scorers andarchivists in search of this arcane statistic tells you how well Kent’s middle order negotiated the bulk of a terrific day.Adam Riley, the nightwatchman, survived what in retrospect was a crucial 35 minutes before Sam Curran uprooted his leg stump with a yorker speared in from round the wicket. But in what proved perhaps the pivotal moment of the match shortly after, Curran was forced from the field, clutchinghis hamstring. Surrey have had wretched luck with injuries this season, and being a bowler down on an unresponsive track under glorious blue skies put an ultimately impossible burden on the pace bowling trio of Morne Morkel, Rikki Clarke and Conor McKerr. Throughout this match the new ball has been a disproportionately powerful weapon. To be deprived of their chief exponent of swing was a cruel blow so early in the day.What followed was the day’s first flashpoint. Clarke, twice in two balls was convinced he had Daniel Bell-Drummond. The first was a superb piece of umpiring by Graham Lloyd who adjudged that the noise everyone heard was in fact the ball brushing the back of the batsman’s leg. The second decision was perhaps a little tighter. Bell-Drummond looked to be trapped bang in front on the knee roll. He might just about have jammed the ball into his pad. If he hadn’t, he was stone dead.Clarke took the latter view and expressed his displeasure. The umpires convened. Words were spoken. We will find out soon enough if there are ramifications. Surrey have been reprimanded before, and rather too often for their comfort. They really don’t need an appearance before the CricketDisciplinary Commission. The sound and fury was soon forgotten as Bell-Drummond was adjudged lbw in Clarke’s next over.Three down at lunch and the game was still very much Surrey’s for the winning. By tea, thoughts had flipped to an improbable and spectacular Kent run chase as Surrey’s bowlers laboured with the older ball. Once again Sean Dickson defied the attack with a compact and organised display. He fell nine runs short of what would have been his second century of the match, edging Clarke behind.Between now and late July many eyes will be on potential England openers for the Ashes. Dickson might just be one to keep an eye on. His wicket was the only one to fall in that middle session and Kent went to tea requiring a further 193 to win from 35 overs with six wickets in hand. Six and a half really given Riley’s nightwatchman status.Morkel inevitably was entrusted with the new ball as soon as it became available. Immediately he picked up Ollie Robinson, caught at midwicket to end a stand of 70 with Kent’s captain Heino Kuhn, who was threatening to reach the parts that other diminutive South African-born middle-order batsmen can’t reach.Robinson’s departure was followed soon after, though, by Kuhn, who was at the very least dismayed, incandescent with fury perhaps, when Lloyd decided that a ball that leaped from Morkel and seemed to take his shoulder was judged to have grazed his bat en route.At 263 for 6 and with another 26 overs to be bowled, fleeting thoughts of Kent’s highest fourth-innings run chase were abandoned. It was all about the draw now. Had Clarke, who bowled magnificently throughout this game, not overstepped when enticing an edge from Wiaan Mulder (again umpire Lloyd the adjudicator) into the momentarily gleeful hands of Dean Elgar at slip, that draw would most likely never have come. Instead Mulder hung on to the end to register an unbeaten half-century on his Kent debut to go with his five wickets.Alex Blake and Darren Stevens negotiated 70 balls between them and Harry Podmore managed to see out the last four overs to bring home ten points for the home side.Promoted teams often struggle in Division One. This year only one side will be relegated. In the last ten years, an average of eight points per match has been enough every year but one to guarantee finishing above the bottom club. Kent have so far managed 43 points in four matches. More importantly, they have stood toe to toe with the champions and despite a poor session at the end of day two, have come out with honours even.Their fans needn’t fear relegation. After a performance like this, they can entertain loftier ambitions.

In the aftermath of their poor defeat away to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Christmas Eve, Chelsea have been on quite a brilliant run, winning five out of six games and booking their place in the League Cup final in the process.

Mauricio Pochettino might have made a poor start to life as the Blues boss, but the Pensioners look back on track as things stand.

However, if the Argentine wants to push on in the Premier League and make the most of their positions in the domestic cups, he'll need a new striker, as Nicolas Jackson's seven league goals from an expected goals figure of 11.18 is undeniably poor and Armando Broja looks set to be sold this month.

One of the names that has been consistently touted for a move to Stamford Bridge is Napoli ace Victor Osimhen. Still, he has all but crushed any hope of him arriving this month by telling CBS Sports that he will remain in Italy until the summer.

However, the Nigerian superstar hasn't been the only elite frontman linked with the two-time European Champions this month, so let's take a look at three others who could come in and mark the end of Broja's time in blue.

1 Santiago Gimenez – Feyenoord

A player who has been heavily touted for a move to the Premier League this season, particularly in the case of Chelsea, has been Feyenoord's awe-inspiring number nine, Santiago Gimenez.

According to a mid-December report from Football Insider, the Blues are among several English clubs, like Tottenham Hotspur, Fulham and Arsenal, with interest in the "Mexican Machine", as talent scout Jacek Kulig dubbed him, and when you look at his goal record, it's not hard to see why.

In his first season in the Netherlands last year, he scored an impressive 15 goals and provided two assists in 21 league starts as the side lifted the Eredivisie title. This season, he has kicked on magnificently, scoring 21 goals in 22 league and Champions League starts while providing five assists to boot.

Not only is he a reliable scorer of goals in European football, but he might also be a bargain buy, as another report from Football Insider this month claimed that he could be available for as little as £30m to £40m and while that is still a considerable amount of money, it seems like an awfully good deal for a player with that many goals and assists to his name.

Moreover, his underlying numbers are just as impressive as you would hope for a player as clinical as he is, and when compared to the underlying numbers of Broja, there is only one winner.

The Mexican "goal machine", as U23 scout Antonio Mango described him, produces a higher non-penalty expected goal and assists figure per 90, scores and assists significantly more, produces more progressive passes, and wins twice as many aerial duels per 90 when compared to the Albanian number nine.

Stats per 90

Gimenez

Broja

Non-Penalty Expected Goals + Assists

1.06

0.50

Goals

1.17

0.20

Assists

0.25

0.00

Progressive Passes

1.47

1.20

Progressive Carries

1.90

2.20

Shots on Target

2.09

0.40

Aerial Duels Won

1.60

0.80

Shot-Creating Actions

2.51

1.59

Goal-Creating Actions

0.49

0.20

All Stats via FBref for the 2023/24 Domestic Season

2 Karim Benzema – Al-Ittihad

One of the latest names to be linked to the club, and potentially one of the more realistic transfers, is Real Madrid icon and one of the all-time modern greats of the game, Karim Benzema.

Earlier this week, the Guardian's Ed Aarons revealed that while Lyon were working towards a deal to sign the French superstar from Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad, Chelsea were "starting to show an interest" in the 2022 Ballon d'Or winner themselves.

The 36-year-old "genius", as he was described by Kulig, transferred to the Middle Eastern state in the summer as one of the first big names to make the move – behind Cristiano Ronaldo – but according to reports, he has become unhappy with life in the country and is looking for a way out.

While there is always a risk with signing a player of his age, he has still been effective this season, scoring nine goals from an expected goals figure of 9.83, and it was only last season that he was ripping it up for Real in La Liga and in the Champions League.

A potential fee has not been reliably reported yet, but Football Transfers Expected Value Model have priced the "complete forward", as dubbed by Kulig, at around £24m, which, given his age, doesn't seem too far-fetched.

It might only be a stopgap for this season, but if Pochettino can eke out just some of the performances Benzema used to put in for Real, then Chelsea could well fly up the table.

Appearances

648

Goals

354

Assists

165

La Liga Titles

4

Champions League Titles

5

Copa del Ray Titles

3

Champions League Top Goal Scorer

1 – 15 Goals (2021/22)

La Liga Top Goal Scorer

1 – 27 Goals (2021/22)

3 Ivan Toney – Brentford

The final name on this list seems destined to move at some point this year and has spent much of this month linked with a move to Stamford Bridge: Brentford's Ivan Toney.

According to a report from the Independent last month, the Blues were only behind Arsenal in the queue to sign the Bees star. Still, with the Gunners' FFP constraints, they could leapfrog their cross-city rivals – despite Thomas Frank's insistence that the 27-year-old will stay put this month.

The former Newcastle United striker missed the first half of the season due to an eight-month football ban for betting offences but returned with a bang at the weekend – scoring a controversial free-kick against Nottingham Forest.

The fact that he has returned to his regular scheduled goalscoring with no problems after his ban is another argument for why the Blues should go all in this month.

That said, the 20 goals and four assists Toney produced in 33 starts last season was already likely enough.

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If Todd Boehly and Co can't get their hands on the "unplayable" number nine, as he was described by Alan Shearer, this month, then you can be sure that they'll be right in the mix for his signature in the summer.

Ivan Toney's Premier League Record

Appearances

69

Goals

33

Assists

9

Wins

24

Losses

25

Goals per Match

0.48

A player who has already proved his credentials in the Premier League – unlike the other two men on this list – Toney would certainly be a worthy addition for the Blues in 2024.

Bayern Munich have been accused of "damaging German football" and were warned that Vincent Kompany won't reclaim Bundesliga dominance next season.

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Kompany took charge of BayernReplaced Tuchel in the hot seatWarned about Bundesliga challengeWHAT HAPPENED?

Bayern, a club synonymous with dominance in German football, have recently come under scrutiny following a rare trophyless season and the surprising appointment of Kompany as their new head coach. Despite having world-class talent like Harry Kane, the club failed to secure any silverware, marking a significant downturn for a team that set the benchmark for excellence in German football.

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Ex-Manchester City star Kompany has just four years of managerial experience and his coaching history lacks any Champions League experience – his only European outing ended in an early Conference League qualifying round exit.

However, before settling on Kompany, Bayern's sports director Max Eberl and his colleague Christoph Freund faced several high-profile rejections as the club’s attempts to secure the services of Xabi Alonso, Julian Nagelsmann and Ralf Rangnick were unsuccessful. Other potential candidates such as Roberto de Zerbi, Roger Schmidt and Julen Lopetegui either chose to stay with their current clubs or pursue opportunities elsewhere.

WHAT FELIX MAGATH SAID

Former Bayern coach Felix Magath did not mince words when discussing the club's recent managerial hunt. Speaking at the Sports Media Austria conference in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Magath expressed his dismay at the situation and stated: "At first it was perhaps something to smile about, but later it was no longer something to laugh about. That was something that damaged German football. It wasn't pretty, the way it was portrayed in public. So we're all really happy that we have someone now and we're keeping our fingers crossed."

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DID YOU KNOW?

Despite his criticisms, Magath backed Kompany’s appointment and said: “I am very happy that FC Bayern have once again signed a very good, successful player as a coach. I believe that there is still a need in the Bundesliga for former world-class players to bring their experience as coaches to the league."

However, the former coach tempered his optimism with a dose of realism about Bayern’s prospects in the 2024-25 campaign, adding: “Bayern will have a better season. The players have a much greater responsibility. They often had the coach as an excuse, but that is no longer the case. Bayern will no longer be dominant in the next one or two years."

Captain bags four-for with only Ben Foakes marshalling resistance for Surrey, giving hosts a 105-run lead

Jon Culley at Edgbaston28-May-2019After scaling impressive heights last year, Surrey’s 2019 season is still at base camp. Like Somerset, who at this stage look favourites to take their title, they have yet to suffer a defeat, but neither have they registered a win. Warwickshire have tasted only defeat yet at the halfway point are the team in control.Their most potent weapon, as it has been so many times in the last eight seasons here, in only one of which he has not snared at least 51 first-class wickets, has been Jeetan Patel. The New Zealand offspinner and club captain turned 39 earlier this month, yet has a contract until the end of next season.It is not difficult to appreciate why Warwickshire value him so highly. On a slow surface from which Gareth Batty had been able to extract some turn on the first day, Patel introduced himself in the ninth over of Surrey’s innings and bowled beautifully for 31 overs unchanged.The heavy weight of left-handers in Surrey’s line-up doubtless came into his thinking and he troubled Scott Borthwick and Rory Burns from the outset, while simultaneously blocking off one end. Five of his first nine overs were maidens.Repeatedly, he turned the ball past the bat or found the edge only for the ball to fall safe. He had three or four men in a claustrophobic cluster round the batsman. There were stifled appeals, oohs and aahs from spectators, but no wickets for 15 overs until, suddenly, three came at once, in the space of five balls.Dean Elgar, another left-hander, frustrated for almost an hour, ran out of patience and smacked one straight to extra cover. It was a wicket well earned and there were two more right behind it. Patel’s namesake Ryan survived his first two balls but nicked the third to Dominic Sibley at second slip. Will Jacks lasted only one, Will Rhodes snatching the ball almost off the floor at first slip.It meant that Surrey, who had been 73 for 1 barely 40 minutes earlier, were in something of a spot at 92 for 6. Back in the pavilion, Burns was regretting still more keenly that he had played so loosely after working hard to get to 40 that a wide long-hop from Olly Hannon-Dalby had ended up in the hands of backward point.Liam Norwell, whose free-scoring 64 at No. 10 was now growing in value, had followed up his early dismissal of Mark Stoneman with a fine delivery that clipped the top of off, claimed a second success when Scott Borthwick, trying to work to leg, was pinned in front. Surrey could now think only of damage limitation, still more than 200 behind.They managed at least to avoid the follow-on. Rikki Clarke, who spent eight-and-a-half seasons pulling on a Warwickshire shirt before returning to Surrey during the 2017 season, launched a counter-attack, beginning with 14 runs from three balls off Norwell, prompting the former Gloucestershire bowler’s temporary removal from the attack.Clarke and Ben Foakes added 58 but the charge ended when a brilliant throw from cover point by Sibley ran out Clarke with a direct hit. Sibley, of course, is the ex-Surrey man who moved to Edgbaston as part of the agreement that allowed Clarke to travel in the other direction.Surrey immediately lost Morne Morkel, who lasted only four deliveries before Patel bagged him as his fourth success. With Batty at the other end, Foakes completed his half-century, but two wickets in two balls by Henry Brookes left the champions with a deficit of 105, to which Sibley and Rhodes added 26, coming through a testing 12 overs unscathed at the close.Patel was as pleased with the collective effort as much as his own performance. “To win three sessions today was huge,” he said. “To perform as we did all day was tremendous.”It is only halfway and we have to keep it going session after session. We have a young team but we have showed signs in the last two matches that the younger players are learning about playing Division One cricket and that is very positive for us.”

Tottenham Hotspur have not wasted much time during the January transfer window as they have already brought in two new signings to bolster their squad.

Germany international Timo Werner has been snapped up on loan from RB Leipzig until the end of the season, with the club holding an option to make it permanent in the summer. Ange Postecoglou has also added central defender Radu Dragusin to his array of options at the back. The Romanian ace arrived on a permanent deal from Serie A outfit Genoa earlier this month.

Tottenham still want another new centre-back

Despite the 21-year-old giant's arrival in North London, Spurs are reportedly interested in a deal to sign another central defender to bolster their squad. They already have Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, and Dragusin, along with Emerson Royal and Ben Davies as makeshift options, but are now keen to have a fourth natural centre-back to compete for a place in the side.

According to French outlet Telefoot, Tottenham are indeed still one of the clubs eyeing a swoop to sign Jean-Clair Todibo from Nice as Daniel Levy looks to back Postecoglou in the transfer market.

The report claims that Spurs have already held talks with the player's representatives as they aim to gauge how likely and expensive a deal would be. They face competition from elsewhere as Premier League rivals Chelsea and reigning Serie A champions Napoli have also spoken about a move for the 24-year-old titan.

However, it also adds that Nice value Todibo at €60m (£51m), and do not want to cash in on him before the current transfer window slams shut. This means that all three clubs may have to wait until the end of the season to secure his services.

Levy is pursuing a deal to sign Todibo, as evidenced by the talks with the player's representatives, and could lay the groundwork this month to strike an agreement with Nice in the summer, but it's bad news for any hopes of a move this month.

Todibo vs Dragusin

Interestingly, the French colossus' performances this season have been very impressive, particularly when you compare them to new Spurs signing Dragusin – who plays in the same position. They are both young and right-footed central defenders, but the £51m-rated star, who was described as the "complete package" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, appears to be far more progressive in possession than the current Tottenham defender.

Progressive passes

4.84

1.53

Progressive carries

0.73

0.32

Shot-creating actions

1.47

0.63

Successful take-ons

0.73

0.00

Pass success rate

90.4%

82.1%

As you can see in the table above, Todibo has progressed play for his side, through successful passes and carries, far more frequently than Dragusin did for Genoa. Meanwhile, the Nice titan has also averaged 3.2 tackles and interceptions combined and 7.9 ball recoveries per match in Ligue 1 – compared to the Romania international's 1.9 tackles and interceptions combined and ball recoveries per game in the Serie A prior to his move to England.

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Spurs could increase the competition for places at the back and have insurance for future injury and suspension issues with a deal for Todibo, although it appears as though they will have to wait until the summer to acquire his services.

The outspoken Swede arrived at Camp Nou in 2009, but it soon became clear that he and the Catalan coach were not compatible

Pep Guardiola and Zlatan Ibrahimovic are two absolute footballing legends. One has become one of the greatest managers in the world, winning absolutely everything there is to win at Manchester City, and building great club teams both in the north-west and at Barcelona.

Ibrahimovic, by comparison, is a maverick, an almost overly-assured individual who believes wholeheartedly in his own hype, and is perhaps right to do so. Across 827 club games, he has scored 496 goals and provided 204 assists. A Swedish icon, he remains one of the best strikers ever to step foot on a pitch.

It is perhaps little surprise, then, that the pair butted heads at Barcelona, leading to an iconic falling out…

Getty ImagesImproving on perfection

The 2008-09 season saw Barcelona go down in sporting immortality. Guardiola’s side won the treble, beating Real Madrid to the Liga title by nine points, won the Copa del Rey by beating Athletic Club in the final, and pipped Manchester United to the Champions League thanks to Lionel Messi’s magic performance in Rome.

How do you improve on a treble-winning season, though? That was the question not just facing Guardiola, but also Samuel Eto’o, who decided to find a new challenge after lifting all three trophies at Camp Nou. Jose Mourinho convinced him to move to Inter, and the Italian club sold Barcelona Ibrahimovic as part of the deal. Alexander Hleb also joined Inter, on loan, as Barca paid €46m for the Swede.

Ibrahimovic was coming off a season for Inter in which he scored 25 Serie A goals in 35 games, as well as providing seven assists. It appeared, as a result, that he would fit like a glove in Catalunya. He could both score and create, offering a multifunctional threat in Guardiola’s carefully crafted system. And while he did score plenty for Barcelona, his and Guardiola’s relationship quickly hit the rocks…

AdvertisementGetty Images'Ferrari driven like a Fiat'

Ibrahimovic arrived at Barcelona when they were at the top of the mountain, and there was only one place for them to go. Yes, Barcelona won La Liga again in 2009-10 – they were one game away from an unbeaten season, only losing to Atletico Madrid – but they were to face disappointment in both the Copa del Rey, where they lost to Sevilla in the final due to away goals, and the Champions League, eliminated, famously, by Mourinho’s Inter in the semi-finals.

Ibrahimovic played sporadically, particularly by his standards; in La Liga, he was left out of the matchday squad on five occasions and was benched twice. He did not take it lying down.

The Swede later claimed that he was “a Ferrari being driven like a Fiat” in his book as he was limited to 23 league starts, and was substituted off in both legs against his old club, Inter.

He provided 34 goal involvements throughout the season, but the team simply didn’t seem to function as well with him as the focal point; Guardiola’s tiki-taka style did not require a bruising frontman, instead a light touch with flexibility and swift interchanges. Lionel Messi and Pedro were trusted to do that; it appeared that Ibrahimovic was not.

Getty ImagesNot holding back

Ibrahimovic now claims that his season at Barcelona was his “worst memory” and it all appeared to come to a head after their European exit. At Camp Nou, Inter came into the game 3-1 up from a masterful first-leg performance, but the second leg saw Thiago Motta sent off early on, and Mourinho parked the bus.

Inter did not have a shot on goal and boasted a mere 24 percent possession, and yet they achieved the improbable; they lost 1-0, and booked their spot in a final in which they would complete their own treble.

Afterwards, Ibrahimovic and his manager lost it, with the striker recalling: "Guardiola was staring at me and I lost it. I thought 'There is my enemy, scratching his bald head!' I yelled to him: 'You have no balls!' And probably worse things than that.

“I added: ‘You are sh*tting yourself because of [Mourinho]. You can go to hell!’ I was completely mad. I threw a box full of training gear across the room, it crashed to the floor and Pep said nothing, just put stuff back in the box. I’m not violent, but if I were Guardiola I would have been frightened.”

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Getty ImagesConsistently challenging

Ibrahimovic continued in his book that he felt his team-mates followed Guardiola “blindly”. He added: “I would walk into a room; he would leave. He would greet everyone by saying ‘hello’, but would ignore me. I had done a lot to adapt – the Barca players were like schoolboys, following the coach blindly, whereas I was used to asking ‘why?'. I like guys who run red lights, not pedantic and strict rules. I tried to be overly nice, didn’t dare lose my temper.

“But after this I stopped trying to adapt. For example, at Barcelona, players were banned from driving their sports cars to training. I thought this was ridiculous – it was certainly not the club’s business what car I drive – so in April, before a match with Almeria, I drove my Ferrari Enzo to training and it caused a scene.”

Guardiola, for his own part, claimed that he would only ever speak to Zlatan in person, and was disappointed by the way he was represented in the book. At the time, the Catalan said: "If Ibra and I have spoken only twice in six months, there is a reason, but it is better for the club if I don't talk about it."

Luis Nani defeated Sergio Aguero in the 'Manchester Derby' at TST, eliminating the Argentine

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Nani FC defeats Team Aguero 6-2Argentine goes 0-3, team eliminated'Manchester Derby' at TSTWHAT HAPPENED?

Luis Nani notched a goal and an assist as Nani FC bested Team Aguero 6-2 in the 7v7 format of The Soccer Tournament in Cary, N.C.

The match was an elimination game for the Argentine's squad, and with the result, ended their event going 0-3 throughout the Group Stage.

The former Man City star did, however, step up when his club needed him – contributing to both goals on the day – even though they fell short.

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The "Manchester Derby" at TST 2024 was the Group Stage finale for both teams, and it highlighted the end of an outstanding two-day performance from Nani FC.

The club went 3-0 across it, and are now considered heavy favorites heading into the Round of 32 on Friday.

Team Aguero, meanwhile, leave the tournament with frustration after going winless.

DID YOU KNOW?

Team Aguero sported Manchester City's 2024/25 kits during the tournament, with the Premier League club being their primary sponsor. Their performances, however, failed to live up to the level of the badge.

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TSTWHAT NEXT FOR NANI AND AGUERO?

The ex-Portugal stars squad, Nani FC, will compete in the knockout round of the tournament Friday night. They will take on an opponent to be announced.

Aguero, meanwhile, departs the tournament after crashing out in the Group Stage.

A rising Southampton youngster is now training with the first team, and manager Russell Martin is thought to be impressed by what he's seen.

Southampton’s Championship form

The Saints have been in fine form under Martin for a number of months now, with their last Championship defeat coming way back in September.

A 103-year club record was broken by Southampton last month when they made it 21 games unbeaten with a 3-1 win over Swansea City, and Martin’s side are now occupying the second automatic promotion spot behind Leicester City. Leeds United are closely behind the Saints, though, so it could be a dramatic final few months of the season.

Martin has actually used 36 different players during the current campaign, and it looks as if one defender who hasn’t featured could soon get his chance in the matchday squad.

Southampton teenager training with first-team

Talking to The Daily Echo, Martin revealed that young defender Nico Lawrence is training with the first team after a January move away failed to materialise. Martin has been impressed, saying: "Nico is back in the building now after his loan and there was a decision made on him. There were a few clubs interested in taking him on loan but he has been out of the building for a while and I have not seen much of him.

"I really like what I have seen in the short period of a few days that we have trained. I sat down and had a conversation with him. It was with Olly Lancashire, Carl Martin and Jason Wilcox as well, and I want to see more of him so he will train with us every day.

"He has an opportunity to force himself into the squad and to show us what he has got. He will be better for these four months. He has been out for a while so we want to get him in the best condition he has ever been in."

Lawrence gained his first taste of senior football out on loan with Torquay United last season and was voted the club’s Young Player of the Year. He was praised by Gulls boss Gary Johnson, who said 12 months ago: “He’s got all the attributes, and I can see why Southampton think highly of him. We’re helping him – (Aaron) Downes's centre-half work that he does – and the lad is proper up for learning more.

"He’s enjoying the experience of playing in the first team regularly, with pressure, with managers screaming at them at half time and at the end, because that doesn’t always happen at the Under-21s – it’s more a development – so there’s a lot more on this, and he’s coped on and off the pitch really well.”

The 20-year-old was then sent out on loan to Colchester United last summer but only managed to make four League Two appearances before suffering an injury. Capable of playing as a holding midfielder as well as in his natural centre-back role, Lawrence will now have the chance to break into Martin’s plans for the remainder of the season.

Nazmul Hassan alleged that Rhodes did not push the players hard during a pre-World Cup preparation camp in Leicester, and was not involved in strategic matters

Mohammad Isam24-Jul-2019Nazmul Hassan, president of the Bangladesh Cricket Board, has come down heavily on Steve Rhodes’ one-year tenure as coach of the national team. Hassan alleged that Rhodes did not seem serious enough about winning as a coach, did not push the players hard during a pre-World Cup preparation camp in Leicester, and was not involved in strategic matters. Rhodes did not respond to ESPNcricinfo when contacted about these allegations.Rhodes was appointed Bangladesh coach in June 2018, with his contract set to run until next year’s T20 World Cup. However, the BCB and Rhodes parted ways earlier this month, following the team’s eighth-place finish at the 2019 World Cup in England.Hassan said that the players had told him they did not get to speak to Rhodes, and that he did not address team strategies.”We arranged for a practice camp before the World Cup, but nobody came. There was a cultural mismatch. He assumed that every player will practice on their own, but since our players heard it was optional, no one turned up. So there was no use making all that arrangement spending so much money.””I saw the changes [in the style of coaching] when I was in Dubai for the Asia Cup final. We saw that things have changed. We waited. The players have told me continuously – after the New Zealand tour and also during the World Cup – that they don’t get to speak to the coach.”He only lands in the team meeting on the day before the game. He doesn’t talk about strategy. He is just there. This is what the players have told me. I am telling you after listening to everyone. I never had a direct interaction. But from what I have seen, I felt that he doesn’t match with us.”Hassan believed that a five-day break for the team during their World Cup campaign -in the eight-day gap between their matches against Afghanistan and India – affected the concentration of the players, even though the team had been given a break to freshen up. He claimed that players had gone to Europe and expressed his surprise that nobody had informed him or the board directors Akram Khan (present with the World Cup squad as cricket operations chairman) and Khaled Mahmud (team manager) of the break. However, the players had been informed of the break by the team management, led by Mahmud. and none of them visited Europe.”There was a five-day holiday before the India game,” Hassan said. “There’s a difference between giving rest and a break. Everyone had left, so it broke their concentration. Maybe it is fine in their culture, but we feel that it doesn’t match with our culture.”Ahead of matches against two tough opponents, how does it feel to know that your players have gone to Europe? It is not acceptable. I don’t care what anyone is saying. I don’t think it was the right decision. You can give rest for two or three days. Their eyes and face should have said that they were thinking about the World Cup, the next two games. They haven’t matured as cricketers to come back from this type of break.””The biggest surprise was that I didn’t know that the team was on holiday. It hasn’t happened before. This was definitely a lapse but I am not singling out anyone. We had Akram [Khan] and [Khaled Mahmud] Sujon who were there but they also didn’t know. They heard about it after the break was given, so how did it benefit us?”Hassan claimed that captain Mashrafe Mortaza and wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim were added to the squad on the morning of the team’s last game against Pakistan, despite them carrying injuries.”The night before the Pakistan game, I was with the players till 11.30pm. Mushfiq, with his hand in a sling, was telling me that he couldn’t move his hand,” Hassan said. “He was not in the squad. Mashrafe didn’t practice the day before, and neither did he attend strategy meetings. He was also out of that game. These are just two examples.”We had fixed the squad in the presence of the coach and everyone. But the next day we saw another team playing the game. These things haven’t happened in the past. This is definitely a problem. We have decided that it won’t work like this. We are not saying he is not good but the way the team was running, it was totally different from our thinking.”