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Things are quickly going from bad to worse for Chelsea at the moment.

It was just a couple of weeks ago that Enzo Maresca’s side demolished Barcelona and drew with Premier League leaders Arsenal.

Yet, their defeat at the hands of Atalanta in the Champions League on Tuesday night was their second loss in three games and the third match in a row they were expected to win.

It really was a night to forget for Chelsea, and one that should see the manager make more than a few changes ahead of the weekend.

Chelsea's poor performers

Unfortunately for Maresca, there were plenty of Chelsea players who looked way off the pace in Bergamo on Tuesday night, with Enzo Fernández being particularly poor.

The Argentine international was tasked with playing in the ten again, and while he has had more than a few games in which he’s looked a threat there this season, this was not one of them.

On the ball, the former Benfica star was consistently making the wrong decisions, and off of it, he looked so lethargic that one analyst asked if “someone put weights in Enzo’s boots?”

By the time he was taken off in the 67th minute, he had completed just 24 of his 33 attempted passes, which is nowhere near good enough for someone in his position.

Moving a little deeper, it was also an uncharacteristically poor performance from the club’s record signing, Moises Caicedo.

Due to his three-match ban only applying to the Premier League, the manager decided to bring the Ecuadorian international back into the team, but he looked way off the pace.

The former Brighton & Hove Albion gem didn’t make a game-costing mistake, but he also felt like more of a passenger, failing to play a single key pass, losing the ball eight times, not taking a shot, committing two fouls and losing four ground duels.

Finally, Wesley Fofana and Robert Sanchez were also disappointing on the night.

The former seemed to completely lose Gianluca Scamacca for the hosts’ equalising goal, and then the former should have done better for Charles De Ketelaere’s winning strike.

Now, all these players were poor, but there is an argument for them keeping their places in the team for the game on the weekend, which cannot be said for the next player.

The Chelsea dud who should be dropped

Jamie Gittens was supposed to be a technically impressive, dynamic attacker who’d come in and make a real impact out wide for Chelsea, but so far, he’s been anything but.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Now, there is still time for him to come good in West London, but Tuesday night was another disappointing display from the former Borussia Dortmund star.

Maresca gave the Englishman plenty of game time, but he just couldn’t make an impact on the game, with or without the ball.

In fact, his one notable moment in the match was a shot in the second half that was comfortably saved. Other than that, he was utterly anonymous.

That might sound harsh, but it’s an opinion shared by football.london’s Bobby Vincent, who gave the 21-year-old a 5/10 match rating at full-time and wrote that he ‘drifted out of the game.’

Unsurprisingly, the winger’s statistics more than back up such an appraisal.

For example, in his 94 minutes of action, the Reading-born ace registered a combined expected goal and assists figure of just 0.26, played a single key pass, took 33 touches – 21 fewer than Sanchez -, lost the ball nine times, lost seven of his ten duels and failed in 50% of his dribbles.

If this were a one-off, just a bad day at the office for the Englishman, then there would be an argument to keep him in the team to get back on his feet at the weekend.

However, the summer signing has had more poor performances than good so far this season, and therefore, Maresca should drop him from the lineup ahead of the Everton game.

Watch out Delap: Chelsea set sights on "one of Europe's most in-form CFs"

The free-scoring forward could spell the end of Liam Delap at Chelsea.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

3 days ago

Everything was looking rosy for Xabi Alonso after a thumping 4-0 home win over Valencia on November 1, which was Real Madrid's 13th victory out of 14 games across all competitions in the first few months of the season. Los Blancos were top of La Liga by five points ahead of Clasico rivals Barcelona, who they beat 2-1 at the Bernabeu seven days earlier, and they'd racked up nine points out of a possible nine in the Champions League, with Juventus among their victims.

But the wheels have fallen off spectacularly since then. Madrid have only won two of their last eight, and now find themselves four points adrift of Barca domestically and six off European pace-setters Arsenal. A 1-0 defeat to an out-of-sorts Liverpool at Anfield started the slide, and alarm bells started ringing after three successive draws against Rayo Vallecano, Elche and Girona.

Alonso's side then hit rock bottom with a dismal 2-0 loss against Celta Vigo in front of their own fans on Sunday, prompting the board into action. According to , senior Real Madrid officials, including president Florentino Perez and general director Jose Angel Sanchez, held crunch talks over Alonso's future, concluding that the manager does "not have a good connection with a significant part of the dressing room".  It has been suggested that some players are struggling to get on board with Alonso's tactics, while a well-publicised fallout with star winger Vinicius Jr has led to a distracting transfer sideshow. 

The Madrid squad did appear to be behind Alonso in their latest outing, showing plenty of heart and urgency in attack during Manchester City's visit to the Spanish capital on Wednesday. However, it was City who ultimately emerged with a 2-1 win, and whistles rained down on Alonso from the frustrated Bernabeu crowd after the final whistle. 

Alonso is a progressive coach who needs time to stamp an identity, but that luxury is never on offer in Madrid. Change is inevitable if the inconsistency continues, and there are already seven candidates in the frame to replace the Spaniard. GOAL runs through their credentials below…

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  Jurgen Klopp

  Jurgen Klopp decided to step away from coaching after calling time on his stellar nine-year spell at Liverpool in the summer of 2024, and has since taken on the role of global head of soccer for the Red Bull Group. The charismatic German spoke to about his new life in September, saying when quizzed on whether his time in the dugout is now over: "That’s what I think. But you don’t know. I’m 58. If I started again at 65, everybody will say, 'You said you’ll never do it again!' I don’t miss anything."

  His stance appeared to have softened last month, though, as he described a potential return to Liverpool as "theoretically possible". Back in April, Klopp was in the frame for the Madrid job alongside Alonso when murmurs of Carlo Ancelotti's departure began, but reported that he would wait until next summer to decide on any management opportunities. 

  However, now claims that Madrid are ready to test Klopp's resolve. He is said to be one of the "favourites" to step in if Alonso is sacked, and he certainly has the personality and experience to spark an instant turnaround. Klopp's heavy-metal brand of football would surely be a hit with the Madrid faithful, too, but his true motivations remain unclear, so this feels like a dream appointment rather than a realistic one at the moment.

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  Zinedine Zidane

  Zinedine Zidane is one of the greatest players and managers to ever grace the Bernabeu, which is why his name pops up every time there is talk of a coaching reshuffle in Madrid. claims that Perez still has great "confidence and affection" for Zidane, who delivered three successive Champions League titles during his first stint in the hot seat.

  The president brought him back once before, in similar times of crisis back in March 2019 after the disastrous short reigns of Julen Lopetegui and Santiago Solari. Zidane went on to deliver the 2019-20 La Liga title, but resigned at the end of the following campaign, and has been unemployed ever since.

  Zidane is an adaptable coach who balances defensive solidity with attacking flair, and he knows how to get the best out of world-class players, much like Ancelotti. But it is the worst-kept secret in football that Zidane is waiting to take the reins of the France national team. With Didier Deschamps set to step down after the 2026 World Cup, it is expected that Zidane is being primed to usher in a new era for Les Bleus. It would be a huge surprise if he performed a U-turn now, especially for a Madrid squad dealing with a crisis of confidence and numerous injuries.

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  Andoni Iraola

  In February, the claimed that Madrid had identified Andoni Iraola as a lead contender to succeed Ancelotti. Iraola previously managed in Madrid at Rayo Vallecano, who he took from the Segunda Division to 11th in La Liga and the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey. 

  Bournemouth bought into his billing as one of the most exciting young coaches in Europe when handing him a two-year contract in June 2023, and he's since enhanced his reputation. The Cherries are now in the mix for European qualification thanks to Iraola's attack-minded blueprint for success, with a high-pressing system and focus on vertical passing making them a match for even the very best Premier League teams.

  The consensus is, Iraola will soon move on to bigger and better things. The 43-year-old has exceeded expectations in both La Liga and the Premier League, and Madrid's interest has probably only increased over the past 11 months. The Bernabeu is a pressure cooker like no other, but Iraola has the calm demeanour to deal with it, and wouldn't be afraid to take risks in order to bring the team out of its funk. 

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  Marcelino

  If Madrid decide to look close to home, one name stands out above all others in La Liga: Marcelino Garcia Toral. Thanks to his disciplined approach, Villarreal are sitting third in La Liga, five points behind Barca with a game in hand, and there is genuine belief in the Castellon province that they can push for the title.

  Villarreal boast the best defensive record in La Liga at present, with Marcelino's compact 4-4-2 formation forcing opponents wide, and they can be devastating on the transition with plenty of pace and guile in the final third. The 60-year-old Spaniard inherited a squad languishing in 14th when he returned to El Madrigal for a second spell in November 2023, and has transformed their fortunes in remarkable style, with a fifth-placed finish last term taking the club back into the Champions League.

  The Yellow Submarine have really struggled in Europe's elite competition, which would be a concern for Madrid if they do seriously consider Marcelino, but only Alonso, Hansi Flick, Diego Simeone and Manuel Pellegrini have stronger CVs among the current coaching pool in Spain. Marcelino guided Villarreal to the Europa League semis in his first stint, won the Copa del Rey with Valencia in 2018-19 and reached the final a further two times with Athletic Club.

  If Villarreal can move ahead of Madrid as the main challengers for Barca's crown, Perez may decide Marcelino is the right man to bring domestic glory back to the Bernabeu.

Regular white-ball captain Mitchell Santner and Rachin Ravindra return from injuries

Deivarayan Muthu12-Oct-2025Kane Williamson will miss the T20I series at home against England, but targets a return for the following ODI series. Williamson, who had returned to New Zealand from overseas on Thursday, had last played international cricket in the Champions Trophy final against India in Dubai in March earlier this year.Williamson, 35, is among a group of players who have a casual contract with New Zealand Cricket (NZC). He had earlier made himself unavailable for the three-match T20I series against Australia and missed the Zimbabwe tour to play county cricket and the Hundred as part of his deal with Middlesex.New Zealand coach Rob Walter said that Williamson was also dealing with a “minor medical issue” in the past month and that it was agreed that he needed more time to recover.”He’s obviously a world class player and we’re hoping these two weeks will ensure he’s ready for the ODIs against England and the following tour by West Indies,” Walter said in a statement.Regular white-ball captain Mitchell Santner returned from an abdominal surgery to take charge of the team while fast bowler Ben Sears was sidelined with a left-hamstring injury, sustained during training last week. An MRI scan revealed a hamstring tear, which will require three-four weeks to recover.Sears’ good friend and Wellington team-mate Rachin Ravindra, though, is set to return to action after being ruled out of the Australia T20Is with a facial injury. The allrounder had collided with the boundary boards during fielding practice at Bay Oval in the lead-up to the first T20I.Finn Allen (foot), Adam Milne (ankle), Will O’Rourke (back), Glenn Phillips (groin), and Lockie Ferguson (hamstring) were all unavailable due to injury.There was no room for wristspinner Ish Sodhi, who became New Zealand’s most-capped T20I player earlier this month. Ravindra will be the third spin-bowling option behind captain Santner and Bracewell. Mark Chapman can also pitch in with left-arm spin, if needed.”It’s great to have Mitch back,” Walter said. “Alongside being our leader, he’s one of the very best white-ball spinners in the world and his skills and experience will be a welcome addition.”Likewise, it’s nice to welcome back Rachin who was unlucky to miss out on Australia and I know is really excited for this series.”Auckland mates Jimmy Neesham and Bevon Jacobs are part of New Zealand’s T20I squad•Zimbabwe Cricket

Kyle Jamieson, Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy and Zak Foulkes have all been retained along with allrounder Jimmy Neesham.Neesham had originally been picked as a replacement player for the Australia T20Is after Ravindra had hurt his face, but he was particularly impressive in the third T20I in Mount Maunganui where he cut through Australia’s middle order with figures of 4 for 26.Neesham, who turned 35 last month, has ambitions of playing for New Zealand in the 2026 T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.”I want to win a World Cup for New Zealand and that’s the reason I’m still playing and I’m still available,” Neesham said at his press conference after the third T20I against Australia. “It’s a very, very clear goal of mine. What happens with selection in the six months leading up to the tournament is up to powers above me. But no, I’ll just stay ready. If I’m in the squads or not leading up to the tournament, I’ll just take that in my stride and try and provide performances as best as I can when I’m selected in most teams.”The T20I series against England will kick off at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on October 18. Hagley Oval will also host the second T20I, on October 20, before the teams will shift to Auckland for the third – and final – T20I. The three-match ODI series will run from October 26 to November 1.Williamson could make his New Zealand return at his home ground, Bay Oval, on October 26.

NZ T20I squad

Mitchell Santner (capt), Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Zak Foulkes, Matt Henry, Bevon Jacobs, Kyle Jamieson, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Robinson, Tim Seifert (wk)

Aitana Bonmati has been forced to withdraw from the Spain squad after she suffered a fractured fibula in a training session. The Barcelona star could miss a number of months of football in a massive blow for both her club and national team. The three-time Ballon d'Or winner has already returned to Catalonia to begin her recovery with the Blaugrana.

• Spain must face Germany without star player

  Spain will have to face Germany in the second leg of the UEFA Nations League final without their best player on Tuesday. The sides played out a goalless draw in Germany on Friday in the first leg and their task of taking the title will be made more complicated without the presence of Bonmati in the middle of the park.

  Spain, who have already missed out on one major title in 2025 having lost to England on penalties in the European Championship this summer, will be determined to lift the Nations League trophy at the Metropolitano in Madrid.

  Success in the Spanish capital is not a foregone conclusion though, with Germany providing consistent stubbornness against La Roja. In the European Championship, the Germans held strong to take the semi-final into extra-time, but could not keep Spain and Bonmati out forever and the superstar eventually broke through Ann-Katrin Berger’s defiance to fire Spain into the final.

  The scars are still fresh for Germany, who will be determined to avenge their late heartache and will be boosted by their nemesis’ absence.

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  RFEF confirm news

  The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) issued a statement confirming the worst fears of Barcelona and Spain fans. The association explained that the midfielder had "finished the morning [training] session at the Ciudad del Futbol in Las Rozas in pain after a bad landing in an accidental action".

  The statement continued to explain that Bonmati underwent scans to try and diagnose what the pain she had been feeling was. Following tests by the medical team on Sunday, Bonmati was found to have suffered a fracture to her left fibula.

  The RFEF added: “The player, originally from Ribas, will return to Barcelona and rejoin her club to begin her recovery period.”

• Bonmati sidelined for months

  According to , the initial understanding is that Bonmati will have to sit out of all football for a minimum of two months. Should the Spanish player not need surgery and the bone can heal on its own, the eight-week lay off would be the likely time spent out of action. This could see Bonmati miss key games for club and country, including the final group stage games of the Champions League.

  Her absence could be exacerbated further if it is deemed that Bonmati required surgery on the fractured fibula. The expected time out for the midfielder would be closer to four months, should an operation be deemed a necessity.

  Bonmati joins Patri Guijarro in the Barcelona medical room, with her midfield partner also out with a fracture. Patri suffered a stress fracture in her navicular bone in her right foot.

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  Barcelona's Champions League dream

  If Bonmati needs to have surgery on the fractured bone, she will face a race to be fit for crucial games for Barcelona in the spring. The Champions League quarter-finals are scheduled to take place in late March and the Blaugrana will be desperate to have the midfielder ready and back to her best in time for that challenge.

  Barcelona and Bonmati will be dreaming of making amends for their performance in last year’s Champions League final. The Blaugrana were second-best against Arsenal and were punished by a late Stina Blackstenius goal. The 1-0 victory for the Gunners ensured the trophy was returning to England for only the second-time, following Arsenal’s first success in the tournament in 2006.

  Barcelona have made good strides in this year’s tournament, leading the group stage table with three wins and one draw after four games. The club will not have been too disappointed with their one slip up either, coming in a controversial 1-1 draw away at English champions Chelsea.

Celtic are keen to appoint a permanent successor to Martin O’Neill and now look to be well down the road in that regard, as fresh details over Wilfried Nancy’s arrival and potential backroom team emerge.

The Bhoys enjoyed a productive weekend of Scottish Premiership action, even if it was a little fortuitous, claiming a dramatic last-gasp victory over St Mirren before Heart of Midlothian lost out at Aberdeen to narrow the gap at the top of the table.

Four points separate the top two heading into a busy schedule, with Celtic holding the advantage of a crucial game in hand against Dundee United days after they collide with the Edinburgh side in a blockbuster clash at Parkhead in a couple of weeks.

From a position of real uncertainty, the Bhoys have edged their way back into title contention and will hope to capitalise as Hearts continue to falter, albeit O’Neill made it clear after their win in Paisley that he isn’t sure how much longer he will be in interim charge alongside Shaun Maloney.

He said: “There’s relief as much as anything else, but you enjoy winning football matches – that’s what it’s about. It keeps confidence alive as much as anything else and keeps momentum going.

“At this minute, I haven’t heard anything more. I would reckon I would probably be on the plane for Rotterdam and maybe not much longer. If the board announce a new manager in the couple of days, I will walk into the sunset.”

O’Neill looks likely to be in charge for Celtic’s trip to face Feyenoord on Thursday in the Europa League and could be in situ for their match against Hibernian on Sunday. However, it doesn’t look like he will be sticking around for long after that.

Viduka 2.0: Leeds plotting move for £21m star who's "built like a brick"

Leeds United are reportedly interested in signing a star who could be Mark Viduka 2.0 for the club.

By
Dan Emery

Nov 22, 2025

Wilfried Nancy set to add four new faces to Celtic backroom staff

Previously, it became clear that Columbus Crew manager Wilfried Nancy is set to take over at Celtic after his side bowed out of the MLS Cup playoffs, though there has since been quiet over the details of his arrival.

Now, PLZ Soccer report that Nancy is set to begin his journey at Parkhead from the start of December, if not before then, with the Bhoys’ home clash against Dundee on the third day of the month likely to be his first game in charge.

Four of Nancy’s own staff are set to take on new roles in Glasgow over the next week, should their contracts be signed off, with Dermot Desmond sparing no expense making the new boss feel at home in the face of recent fan pressure. Kwame Ampadu is likely to be one of the new faces following his work alongside the 48-year-old in the United States.

It remains to be seen whether Maloney will form part of the Frenchman’s backroom team after his sterling efforts during his period as interim assistant.

Celtic fans have had to wait nearly a month to find out the identity of their new permanent manager, though they will be relieved to see that the hunt for a new boss is finally nearing an end.

GOAL reviews the major takeaways from Americans playing in MLS, including Freese's NYCFC making their case as a contender.

The first round of the MLS playoffs has come to a close, with a record five Game 3s and a clearer picture of who the true contenders are beginning to emerge.

While the average MLS fan might point to Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami or LAFC – powered by the star duo of Son Heung-min and Denis Bouanga – several other teams have shown they deserve to be in the championship conversation. And across those squads, the USMNT’s influence is unmistakable.

From the Vancouver Whitecaps, who feature Sebastian Berhalter, Brian White, and Tristan Blackmon alongside German legend Thomas Müller, to Matt Freese’s surging NYCFC, American players are shaping this postseason. FC Cincinnati could yet take down Messi’s Herons, while presumed contenders like the Seattle Sounders and Columbus Crew are facing tough questions.

GOAL looks at the major takeaways from USMNT players making an impact in the MLS playoffs.

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  NYCFC prove point

  NYCFC were the only team to win twice on the road in the opening round of the 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs – an achievement that looks even more impressive given the context.

  The Pigeons’ series win over Charlotte FC might not appear to be a massive upset – after all, it was a No. 5 seed beating a No. 4 seed – but it should still be viewed as a statement. Including the play-in games, road teams are just 5-18 this postseason. Winning twice in that environment, and against a Charlotte side that showed flashes of being a contender this year, is no small feat.

  Matt Freese was at the heart of it. The USMNT goalkeeper didn’t have much to do in a quiet Game 3 -Charlotte managed just one real chance, their lone goal on Friday – but across the series, he recorded seven saves and an 87.5 percent save rate. Next up for Freese and NYCFC: a showdown with his former club, the 2025 Supporters’ Shield winners, the Philadelphia Union. The Union will be favored, but Pascal Jansen’s team has already shown they can thrive in hostile territory.

  On the other side, questions linger for Tim Ream’s Charlotte FC. The veteran USMNT defender made 12 defensive contributions on the night, yet still struggled to contain a confident Pigeons attack. Despite high points this season – including a rout of Inter Miami – Charlotte’s attack lost a spark after Patrick Agyemang’s summer move to Derby County. It’s shaping up to be another intriguing offseason in the Queen City.

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  FCC conquer Hell is Real playoff series

  After a shocking 4-0 defeat in Game 2, FC Cincinnati responded emphatically with a 2-1 win over their “Hell is Real” rivals, the Columbus Crew. It was a statement performance – and a bit of nostalgia – as Brenner, back at the club on loan this season, scored both goals to send FCC through.

  Pat Noonan’s side also got key contributions from its American duo, Miles Robinson and Roman Celentano. Robinson registered 10 defensive actions – including four clearances, three tackles, and two interceptions – while Celentano made four saves to keep the Crew at bay.

  The stakes now get higher for Cincinnati, who showed their ambition last offseason by bringing in Kevin Denkey and Evander on big-money deals. Next up is Messi’s Inter Miami. The Herons will be favored, but FCC can take comfort in one fact: they’ve been among the league’s stingiest defenses all season. That’s an area where Miami have shown vulnerability – and Robinson and Celentano will be key if an upset is on the cards.

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  Disappointing end for Sounders

  Given the Seattle Sounders’ track record in cup competitions and the MLS Playoffs, their first-round exit against Minnesota United feels strange. This is Brian Schmetzer’s bread and butter. Still, they went down swinging – a Game 3 thriller that finished 3-3 before Minnesota advanced 7-6 on penalties.

  Seattle’s American stars were among the standouts on Saturday night. Jordan Morris scored yet again, while Cristian Roldan made his mark on both ends – assisting and putting in a tireless defensive shift. Schmetzer can’t have too many complaints about how things ended, especially considering he never had his full squad available after Paul Arriola’s ACL injury.

  Even so, he’ll head into the offseason with three big questions. First: Can he get more out of Jesus Ferreira? Once among MLS’s brightest young strikers – with 18 goals in 2022 and a World Cup call-up that year – Ferreira managed just four this season and went scoreless in the playoffs. Second: Will Arriola’s return reignite Seattle’s attack? The winger is only a year removed from a 12-goal contribution campaign. And finally: does this squad need more investment to match the Sounders’ sky-high ambitions?

  Time will tell.

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  What comes next for Nashville and Columbus?

  On the other side of Inter Miami’s and FC Cincinnati’s victories come the season endings for both the Columbus Crew and Nashville SC – two teams featuring several American standouts.

  Max Arfsten capped a breakout 2025 campaign with another strong showing, completing two dribbles, connecting on 88 percent of his passes, and contributing six defensive actions. Sean Zawadzki impressed before leaving injured, tying for a game-high 13 defensive contributions while also completing seven passes into the final third. Patrick Schulte added three saves in goal.

  For Nashville, Walker Zimmerman endured a tough night in the 4-0 defeat to Miami, though he still led all players with eight defensive contributions.

  Both the Crew and Nashville now head into the offseason looking to retool – each showed flashes of real promise but ultimately fell short in Round 1.

The BCCI medical team has told him that the decision is in line with safeguarding his back and keeping the long-term in mind

Nagraj Gollapudi29-Jul-20251:31

What attack should India pick at The Oval?

Jasprit Bumrah will not play the fifth and final Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy at The Oval starting Thursday. ESPNcricinfo has learned that the BCCI medical team has told Bumrah that the decision is in line with safeguarding his back and keeping the long-term in mind.The development is not entirely a surprise, considering the medical team in coordination with Bumrah, the Indian team management, and the selectors had decided he would play only three of the five Tests during the England tour. Bumrah played in the first Test at Headingley, sat out in the second Test at Edgbaston, which India won, and played in the following two Tests at Lord’s and last week at Old Trafford.With Bumrah having not bowled since the fourth morning at Old Trafford, coupled with a three-day break between the final two Tests, India might have toyed with the idea of changing the original plan, especially with a possibility of levelling the series 2-2 with a win at The Oval.Related

• Injured Stokes out of fifth Test against India, Archer and Carse rested

• India gain an edge. England have the lead. What will happen next?

• Shubman Gill: Big achievement if we level the series

• Do India's bowlers have a leg-side problem?

• Bond on Bumrah: 'Wouldn't play him in more than two Tests in a row'

However, a combination of a slowish, flat surface and the workload had impacted Bumrah’s pace in the fourth Test. He picked two wickets in 33 overs, which was the most he has bowled in an innings, and for the first time, his runs column had breached 100. As the series progressed, the number of balls he bowled above 140kph in the first innings of each Test also reduced from 42.7% at Headingley to 22.3% at Lord’s to 0.5% at Old Trafford.Bumrah is currently the joint-second-highest wicket-taker with 14 wickets in the series alongside Mohammed Siraj. After the draw in Manchester, India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir had said Bumrah was available for the final Test, but two days later, India have decided to rest him.Gautam Gambhir chats with Akash Deep during India’s practice session•PTI

Akash Deep likely to replace Bumrah

Who will replace Bumrah was evident at India’s optional training session on Tuesday. Akash Deep, who missed the fourth Test with a groin niggle, found his rhythm easily as he seamed the ball appreciably on the greenish practice pitches. In the second Test at Edgbaston, which was his first Test since Melbourne in December, Akash Deep picked up a ten-wicket match haul, including a career-best 6 for 99 in England’s second innings, extracting movement from a benign surface.In the following Test at Lord’s, though, Akash struggled for consistency, especially bowling down the slope from the Pavilion End. He picked up just one wicket in the Test, but the seamer-friendly conditions at The Oval could help Akash get back in the saddle quickly.Still, Gill and Gambhir will have to deal with finding the right balance in the bowling attack. That it is a challenge is primarily because of the below-par performances from three other fast bowlers who have featured so far in the series: Prasidh Krishna, Shardul Thakur and Anshul Kamboj. Prasidh has not played since the win in the second Test, while Thakur and Kamboj barely got to bowl after their first spells at Old Trafford.In the absence of Bumrah, Siraj, the only fast bowler to play all the Tests, will once again lead the pace attack. Siraj has bowled the fourth-most overs among seamers this series – 139 – but hasn’t let his intensity down. India will be worried about his workload and fitness but they have little choice other than playing Siraj. Even then, India will have to make a call regarding the third seamer.1:20

Manjrekar: Kuldeep has to come in for the Oval Test

It is likely to be one of Prasidh and Arshdeep Singh, who bowled and batted without any discomfort, showing he had recovered completely from the freak injury he picked up on his bowling hand in the days leading to the fourth Test while trying to intercept a ball on follow-through.With Rishabh Pant ruled out of the Oval Test, Dhruv Jurel will keep wickets and bat in the middle order. Despite the boldness of his batting, which can turn eyes, Jurel’s inexperience, especially of playing in England, might tilt India to focus on retaining Thakur to provide the batting depth. That would mean there will be no room once again for Kuldeep Yadav.India might also believe Kuldeep could be surplus to the requirement, especially keeping in mind the pitch and the cloudy conditions that are likely to play a role during the Test. Two days ahead of the match, the pitch had enough greenish patches, so India could continue with the spin pair of Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar.Apart from that, the bowling numbers at The Oval this domestic season are predominantly favourable to the seamers: fast bowlers have picked up 131 of the 150 wickets in five matches. Surrey have won twice at home with three draws, including the last round against Durham, where the fourth-highest score in county cricket was registered. Surrey made 820 for 9 declared on the back of Dom Sibley’s triple-hundred, but that match was played with Kookaburra balls as part of the ECB’s drive since last year to upgrade the bowlers’ skills.

After leaving Tuesday's game early, Juan Soto will be held out of the New York Mets' lineup for Wednesday's matchup against the San Diego Padres. On Tuesday, Soto fouled a pitch off his foot in the third inning and was immediately in visible pain. He finished his at-bat, but was limping and would be replaced at right field in the bottom half of the inning.

X-rays on Soto's injury came back negative. He was diagnosed with a left foot contusion, and is expected to be playing for the Mets again in the coming days, per Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. Soto will not play Wednesday, and the Mets are off Thursday, meaning that he could at the earliest return for Friday's game versus the San Francisco Giants.

"I think it’s going to be good,” said Soto, via DiComo. “We’ve just got to get the swelling down. Whenever the swelling is down, I think we’re going to be fine.”

With Soto out, Jeff McNeil will play right field for the Mets in their final game of the series at Petco Park. The Mets are looking for their first win of the series, and to keep their narrow lead over the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League East.

Manchester City have hit some extraordinary heights under Pep Guardiola’s tutelage. The Spanish coach will go down as one of the greatest managers in the history of the game, and his Citizen side have written themselves into the English and European history books.

Last season, City fell off a proverbial cliff, their four-in-a-row domination of the Premier League coming to an end. They rallied, but it was a campaign to forget about, and many felt that it marked the end of Pep’s illustrious tenure.

But he’s not done yet, rebounding emphatically after signing a two-year contract extension last November. And Guardiola isn’t the only one who is resurgent at the Etihad, with this optimistic new season coinciding with the tentative resurgence of Phil Foden.

Why Foden is improving for Man City

There’s no denying it: Foden fell by the wayside last season. But he’s picked himself back up. The Three Lions superstar still has gears to shift through before he recalls his finest form, but this is an essential comeback, should City hope to reclaim their Premier League title and ensure the peerless Erling Haaland has a strong complementary force in the final third.

He hasn’t found prolific form yet this season, but the 25-year-old is undoubtedly producing more polished and cultured results, having been placed deeper to influence and dictate play.

He has been more convincing in the duel and is seeing more of the ball on average. There is also a clear tactical maturity, Pep’s teachings seeping into Foden’s brain. He might not be the headline stealer at this stage, but Foden is unquestionably operating at a higher level, and City’s wider system are feeling the benefits.

Foden is one of the best in the Premier League, and he is on his way to reminding everyone of that fact. However, he’s not the only member of City’s squad doing such a thing right now, with his younger countryman emerging as the latest starboy fashioned under Guardiola’s wing.

Man City's homegrown talent is now one of PL's best

Manchester City’s academy is a thing to behold. Truly, the dominant Premier League force have welcomed some of the country’s most exciting talents to the scene, and the likes of Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers are among those plying their trade elsewhere, such is the bloated nature of the club’s youth scene.

But City learn from their mistakes, and when Chelsea came calling for Nico O’Reilly in January, they were flat-out rebuffed in their advances, despite The Athletic’s David Ornstein confirming the interest was very much genuine.

This time last year, the 20-year-old was on the fringes of Guardiola’s outfit. Now, he is emerging as the first-choice left-back for club and country.

He impressed for the Three Lions after making his debut last week, playing 90 minutes against Serbia and then Albania, keeping clean sheets on both counts. As per Sofascore, he lost only one duel across those two clashes, recovering eight balls and completing 92% and 93% of his passes.

Already, he has nailed down a prominent position in City’s first team. Naturally a centre-midfielder, the boss has repeated hisown spectacular trick and redefined his technically sound up-and-comer into a dynamic, inverted full-back. O’Reilly has started seven of the last eight Premier League matches, defending resiliently and getting forward and arcing inward to create overloads and help service Haaland.

Continuing to look at it from a wider scope, the 6 foot 4 star ranks among the top 16% of positional peers in the Premier League this season for passes attempted, the top 9% for progressive carries and touches in the attacking box, and the top 6% for tackles per 90, as per FBref.

He’s only going to get better, and given the high regard he is held in by Guardiola and for the Three Lions under Thomas Tuchel, there’s little question that City have found their latest superstar in the making.

It is important, typically, not to overburden up-and-coming prospects. But O’Reilly is different, so cultured and convincing across the various phases of play.

One Man City content creator was left speechless after the club’s recent win over Liverpool, hailing O’Reilly as “our best academy graduate since Phil Foden”.

That might just be the case. Even Roy Keane agrees. The Manchester United legend remarked that the versatile defender “could surprise everybody” by securing a starting berth at the 2026 World Cup next year. Clearly, this is a player becoming one of the best in the Premier League, if not the world.

Perfect for Haaland: Man City can sign Foden 2.0 in "Ballon d'Or level" star

Another Phil Foden-esque talent could elevate Man City’s final third quality even more

By
Joe Nuttall

Nov 20, 2025

“I’ve waited 15 years for this moment. This feeling, there’s no words to describe it”

Deivarayan Muthu22-Sep-2025After leading Trinbago Knight Riders to their first CPL title in five years, and earning his first CPL title in 12 seasons, Nicholas Pooran has put their success down to belief.While TKR were also tactically superior to Guyana Amazon Warriors on Sunday – Andre Russell bounced Quentin Sampson out with Kieron Pollard swooping in on a catch at short leg and their left-handed batters countered Gudakesh Motie – Pooran said that it was their immense self-belief that led them to CPL glory.”Nah [not tactics]. It’s just belief. Team belief,” Pooran said after TKR squeezed past Amazon Warriors in the final. “I’ve waited 15 years for this moment. This feeling, there’s no words to describe it. But before we talk about anything else, I just want to say thank you to all my guys here, every single person in the TKR team, all the squad members, every single one of our fans. Thank you for the love and support.”Related

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TKR’s victory capped a banner week for Trinidad & Tobago sport. Earlier this week, Keshorn Walcott had won the gold in the men’s javelin while Jereem Richards had claimed silver in the men’s 400-metre race at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.”We weren’t only doing it for ourselves, but we were doing it for the people of Trinidad & Tobago,” Pooran said. “They came out and supported us. The government supported us. Even the minister is here. I hope he’s going to reward us as well, right (laughs)?”But again, we did it for the people of Trinidad & Tobago. This week was a really important one where Keshorn Walcott and Jereem Richards won in the World Championship and then us coming to win the CPL.”TKR were pilloried for picking a number of players over the age of 30, but they turned their perceived weakness into their biggest strength. Fittingly, 32-year-old Akeal Hosein bagged the Player-of-the-Match award for his all-round effort while 38-year-old Pollard, the oldest West Indian in the TKR squad, won the Player-of-the-Tournament award.”First of all, it’s all about getting the ego out of the way,” Pooran said. “We’ve lost in the last five years and a lot of things were said: ‘The guys are old and time has passed’. I guess every single person, they answered and they proved everyone wrong. I want to start with Polly, 38 years old or young I should say, right (laughs)? MVP in a tournament like this. Dre [Andre Russell], every single person, day in and day out. These guys really did it for us. For me as a captain, I can’t ask for anything else.”ESPNcricinfo Ltd

‘Sometimes you have to throw the first punch’ – Pollard on his battle with Tahir

In front of a partisan Providence crowd that even booed him, Pollard played a vital cameo and took down Imran Tahir, the top wicket-taker in CPL 2025. Pollard pounded Tahir for 20 off six balls, including three sixes, before the Amazon Warriors captain burst through his defences with a wrong’un.”As much as you guys talk about him being a match-up for myself on the television, I back myself to hit the spin,” Pollard said. “In a situation like today, what we needed was a quick cameo to settle the nerves.”Throughout the entire tournament, the competition between Tahir and myself all over the world has been immense. Sometimes you have to take the first step and try to make the first punch. Once I show that sort of intent early on, I’m always going to be on top. There are other times where I have to just block him out. But you have to have the discipline and the want to do that because that’s what the team requires.”While Pollard was tight-lipped about his CPL future as a player – he has already retired from the IPL and forayed into coaching there – he confirmed that he will play in the upcoming season of the ILT20 in the UAE.”I can’t tell you the future,” Pollard said. “I can only deal with what’s in front of me. I have a flight coming up and I’m getting home to the kids. I’m just trying to enjoy some time at home. I’ve been on the road for the entire year. So, I think I owe it to them. Let’s see what happens. At the end of the year, I’ll still be playing in the ILT20 in Dubai. So that’s the only thing I can tell you at this point of time.”

Akeal Hosein overcomes illness to win it for TKR

Hosein, who iced the chase with an unbeaten 16 off seven balls, was ill in the lead-up to the final but overcame that and embodied TKR’s belief. He had also contributed handsomely with the ball, dismissing both Shimron Hetmyer and Shai Hope, the highest run-getter this season.”Very special. This win has eluded us for five years and we were really hungry,” Hosein said. “We had an experienced group and there were lots of talks about the ages in our group, but experience beat old talk and I’m really happy to get this win.”I told one of my team-mates yesterday that I’m gonna get the Man of the Match [award] today and that’s what I set my mind to. And no matter what condition I’m in, I’m gonna go out there and give it my all for my team and I’m really happy that I did that today.”Hosein has also been working behind the scenes to expand his range as a lower-order batter. Two months after he hit his maiden T20 fifty, for Texas Super Kings from No.6 in the MLC, he secured the CPL title for TKR with the bat and sparked wild celebrations in their camp.”I think there’s some work to be done [with the bat], but it’s always good to look up on the board and get recognised as an allrounder,” Hosein said. “So hopefully, more opportunities come along like that. I’ve been working really hard with Polly as well. So why not? I have the best in the world in my team. Why not pick their brains, rub shoulders with them and try and become a better player?”