Since Ruben Amorim took charge of Manchester United at the end of 2024, the Red Devils have had to adapt to a new system, a 3-4-2-1. In many ways, this is a good thing, given how much they struggled in a back four under Erik ten Hag.

It has meant that plenty of players have needed to remodel certain aspects of their game to fit in with how Amorim sets his side up. For example, winger Alejandro Garnacho has had to play more as a number ten than as an out-and-out winger.

Another player who has needed to adapt is Diogo Dalot, who has been playing wing-back in recent weeks.

Dalot’s form under Amorim

Life under Amorim has been busy for Dalot. He has been a crucial player for the new Red Devils boss, playing 24 games across all competitions so far. He has only missed one game, the 3-1 Premier League win over Southampton for which he was suspended.

Dalot also managed to get himself on the scoresheet earlier in the season, scoring a well-taken goal in the Europa League against Romanian side FCSB.

He ghosted towards the back post, converting Kobbie Mainoo’s cross with an outstretched leg.

However, things have not been as easy for Dalot as they may seem. His form has been patchy at times, with football analyst and host of The Overlap: The Breakdown H particularly scathing with his criticism.

He said at the start of February that the United number 20 has been “garbage for months”, suggesting his form has been quite poor.

In The Pipeline

On Thursday night in United’s Europa League Round of 16 clash against Real Sociedad, the Portuguese international failed to cross to Rasmus Hojlund when the Dane made a great run to create space in the box for himself.

The Athletic journalist Laurie Whitwell said the United striker “went crazy” at the United right-back for his failure to pass.

It has certainly been a tough few months for Dalot, whose form has been patchy. Perhaps it is time for Amorim to look elsewhere to help reduce the workload on his right wing-back.

There is one option in the academy he could turn to.

Man Utd's academy wing-back solution

Even in their worst moments, one thing United as a football club can always be proud of is their academy. The Red Devils have lots of exciting stars coming through their esteemed Carrington Academy.

The solution to taking the burden off Dalot could be young full-back Jaydan Kamason. The 18-year-old has been in excellent form for the youth sides this season, and has been described as a “different class” by one academy insider on X.

This season, he has made 27 appearances across all competitions, scoring two goals and grabbing an impressive six assists. His performances in the FA Youth Cup have been outstanding.

Kamason grabbed two assists in the 5-1 demolition of Chelsea in the fifth round, and scored a sensational goal against Arsenal in the quarter-final, which United won 3-2 in extra time.

Kamason has also impressed for the Red Devils in the UEFA Youth League this season. One of his best performances came in the 5-2 thrashing of FK Zalgiris.

As per Sofascore, the full-back had 121 touches of the ball and completed 96% of his passes. He also won 100% of his tackles.

Stat

Number

Touches

121

Pass accuracy

96%

Passes completed

87/91

Dribbles completed

2/5

Tackle win rate

100%

Key passes

1

Assists

1

There is no doubt that Kamason seems like an exciting talent for Amorim’s squad going forward. He clearly has attacking nous, given the goals and assist numbers he has to his name this term, and is also an excellent defender.

After making a real impression for the academy this term, perhaps a first-team debut for the 18-year-old is not too far away, to help ease the burden on Dalot and unleash another talented academy graduate.

As journalist Shaun Connolly said, Kamason is certainly “banging” on the door for a debut sooner rather than later.

Lost the ball 21x: Man Utd's 4/10 star showed why INEOS need to sell him

Man Utd held on for a draw away in San Sebastian on Thursday evening

ByRobbie Walls Mar 6, 2025

Sussex gave themselves an opportunity to secure a second win of the season that may see them top the LV= Insurance County Championship Division Two table after forcing Leicestershire to follow-on.The home side were dismissed for 270 in reply to Sussex’s 430 on day three at Grace Road, Ari Karvelas and Fynn Hudson-Prentice taking four wickets each as Leicestershire fought back from 160 for seven thanks largely to Rehan Ahmed (59 not out) and Chris Wright (48) but still fell short. They are 16 without loss following on.A superb unbeaten innings of 182 by Tom Alsop, who shared a stand of 169 with James Coles (70) for the fifth wicket, was responsible for putting Sussex in such a strong position despite Wiaan Mulder’s five for 63 and Tom Scriven’s three for 75 on a better day for Leicestershire’s bowlers.Should Sussex fashion a victory on the final day, they will move at least into clear second place in the table, top should Durham fail to secure victory over Yorkshire at Chester-le-Street, where they had two wickets in hand overnight but still required 33 runs to win.Resuming in Leicester on 319 for four, Sussex’s morning was developing along the lines they had hoped for the first 10 overs as Alsop and Coles raced along at almost five an over, extending their partnership by 48 to 169.After 19-year-old Coles miscued Scriven to mid-off for a fine 70, the last six Sussex wickets fell in 17 overs for 63, which felt like an anticlimactic end to an innings they had hoped might top 500 runs, although 430 after being put in was hardly an under-achievement.There was no dislodging Alsop, who overtook his previous best of 150, which he equalled against Leicestershire at Hove last summer, in the over after Coles’s demise. But he needed more support and none was forthcoming.Generating more swing than they had been able to find on Friday, Wright quickly had Oli Carter caught at second slip, Scriven dismissed Hudson-Prentice leg before with a ball that kept a tad low and Wright picked up a second wicket when Karvelas had no answer to a full delivery that took out his off stump.Mulder wrapped up the tail to complete his second five-for in as many innings, having Henry Crocombe caught at slip, seeing off Bradley Currie for a 15-ball duck.Nonetheless, Sussex had doubled their batting points from two to four thanks to Alsop’s impressively measured and chanceless innings, and 430 looked a formidable total as Hudson-Prentice reduced Leicestershire from 70 for one to 79 for four by taking three wickets for one run in the space of 11 deliveries.The former Derbyshire all-rounder brushed the outside edge to have Rishi Patel caught behind for a bright 34 and dismissed Colin Ackermann for a two-ball duck as the former Leicestershire captain was beaten by one that struck him on the back pad.The current captain, Lewis Hill, suffered the same mode of dismissal, although perhaps unluckily given that his front leg looked well forward and across.All this after Hudson-Prentice had appeared to have injured himself bowling his first ball, limping back to his mark flexing his left leg, although somehow by the end of the over, all was well. When he did take a rest, it was with figures of three for 12 from seven overs.Deprived of both their leading wicket-takers, Ollie Robinson at England’s behest and Nathan McAndrew to free up an overseas slot for Smith, there is an inexperienced feel to this Sussex seam attack.Yet Cheteshwar Pujara, the Sussex captain, used his resources well, maintaining attacking fields and rotating sensibly. Karvelas and Currie, both making their first appearances of the season, removed Mulder and Australian wicketkeeper-batter Peter Handscomb in the first four overs after tea, leaving Leicestershire six down for 135.Mulder was pinned in front by Karvelas before Handscomb, who has been the bedrock of Leicestershire’s improved form this season, edged behind off Currie. When Crocombe produced the ball of the day to bowl Scriven, Leicestershire were 160 for seven.Wright looked to hit his side out of trouble and threatened to do so, racking up 48 from 41 balls in an entertaining flurry of six fours and a six into the nets over square leg as he and Ahmed put on 69 for the eighth wicket.But Karvelas, who had seen Ahmed dropped at gully on 34, removed Wright via an edge behind, putting the pressure back on Leicestershire with the follow-on target still 52 runs away.Another 40 added by Ahmed with Will Davis took Leicestershire tantalisingly close, but Davis was taken at first slip off Hudson-Prentice and Ahmed’s efforts to protect last man Josh Hull from Hudson-Prentice by taking a leg-bye off the fifth ball of a Karvelas over backfired as the last one hit Hull’s front pad squarely in front.

Ramesh Mendis returned four second-innings wickets to hasten the end and skittle Ireland for 168

Andrew Fidel Fernando18-Apr-2023

Ireland’s collapse rolled into day three in Galle, as Sri Lanka’s spinners scythed through them twice, to secure an innings-and-280 run victory with Prabath Jayasuriya claiming a 10-wicket haul.Ireland were always likely to struggle here. They had never played in Sri Lanka before, and were thrust into unforgiving April heat, without so much as a practice match to acclimatise. But where they had given a decent account of their skills against Bangladesh, earlier this month losing the match in Mirpur by only seven wickets, they almost never strung together competitive passages in this Test.After Sri Lanka amassed 591 for the loss of only six wickets, Ireland lost 20 wickets for 311. They only managed two fifty partnerships across their innings – Harry Tector involved in both of those. After four Sri Lanka batters had hit hundreds, the highest individual score Ireland managed was 45 (Lorcan Tucker in the first innings).Day three was a blur of wickets. Ireland had begun the day on 117 for 7, but having added 23 to the overnight score, lost their last three in a heap, the team’s score at 143. Jayasuriya added two wickets to his overnight haul of five, trapping Tucker lbw, then having an advancing Mark Adair stumped two balls later. Offspinner Ramesh Mendis then claimed his first wicket of the game, getting Andy McBrine lbw with a sliding delivery – the not-out decision was overturned on review – to end the innings.His bowlers having delivered less than 53 overs in the first innings, and with Ireland still 448 runs behind, captain Dimuth Karunaratne could not have had many qualms in enforcing the follow-on.Ramesh Mendis hastened Ireland’s end in the second innings•AFP/Getty Images

Mendis, who struggled a little for rhythm on day two, would become Ireland’s primary threat in the second innings. But he did not get his first breakthrough until after left-arm seamer Vishwa Fernando had struck first. As in the first innings, Fernando removed Murray Commins for a duck, the batter picking up a pair. And then he also claimed the wicket of captain Andy Balbirnie for the second time in the match, seaming a back of a length delivery away, to collect his edge. Dhananjaya de Silva held on to a sharp catch at slip.From there, the spinners took over. Jayasuriya had James McCollum caught at slip, de Silva taking another good catch. In his next over, he also got Tucker lbw, the batter reviewing unsuccessfully. Mendis then had Peter Moor caught athletically at short leg by Nishan Madushka – the second excellent catch he’d taken in that position.Ireland then built the only partnership that might pass as a resistance, with Tector and Curtis Campher combining for 60 for the sixth wicket, before another spectacular Madushka grab ended it. Seeing Campher going down for a paddle sweep, Madushka shuffled to his right, anticipating the trajectory of the shot, and got both hands to the chance, that came at about knee-height.From there, a day-three finish seemed inevitable. George Dockrell struck six boundaries in his 54-ball 32, but Mendis charged on. And worse, for Ireland, they lost Tector to a terrible run out – Dockrell turning Tector back after Tector had called for an ill-advised single, before Tector slipped mid-pitch, lost his bat as he tried to turn back, and was short by more than a metre as he tried to dive back in.When Mendis had Mcbrine caught at gully, he equalled Ajantha Mendis’ Sri Lanka record for fastest bowler to 50 wickets, both bowlers doing it in 11 Tests. Mendis has only played two Tests outside Sri Lanka however, and eight of his Tests have been in Galle, where spinners are known to dominate.Jayasuriya, who had been straining for a ten-wicket haul, completed it with the last wicket of the game, getting Ben White plumb in front with a straightening delivery.

Their Premier League position might suggest otherwise, but Tottenham Hotspur are blessed with a number of incredibly talented players.

From the likes of Djed Spence, Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero at the back to Dominic Solanke and Son Heung-min in attack, there is talent throughout the Lilywhites’ squad.

That is especially true in the middle of the park, as Lucas Bergvall, James Maddison and Pape Matar Sarr all possess game-changing qualities.

Yet, perhaps the club’s best player is none other than Dejan Kulusevski, and in an exciting development, it appears as if Hotspur Way could be about to provide Ange Postecoglou with a homegrown version of the Swede.

What makes Kulusevski so great?

So, when it comes down to what makes Kulusevski such an incredible player, there are a couple of core reasons, with the first being his positional versatility.

The former Juventus star was initially signed as a winger back in 2022 and has played off the right more than anywhere else for the North Londoners, but, especially this year, he’s thrived in several other positions, notably midfield.

In all, the Stockholm-born star has played 70 games as a right-winger for the Lilywhites, 40 games in attacking midfield, five in central midfield and up top, two off the left and in right-midfield, and he’s even made one appearance as a second striker.

Right Winger

70

11

15

Attacking Midfield

40

9

7

Centre-Forward

5

2

2

Central Midfield

5

1

3

Left Winger

2

0

0

Right Midfield

2

0

0

Second Striker

1

0

1

All Stats via Transfermarkt

The second reason the 25-year-old is such an incredible player for Postecoglou and Co is that, on top of being able to fill in all over the pitch, he’s got the ability to produce as well.

For example, in 42 appearances this season, the “world-class” ace, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has scored ten goals and provided ten assists, making him the second-most productive player in the squad, behind only his captain.

In short, Kulusevski is not just one of Spurs’ best players but one of the league’s best players, so it’s good news that Hotspur Way might be brewing their version of the Swede.

Spurs' homegrown Kulusevski

While the most-talked-about academy product at Spurs this season has been the incredible Mikey Moore, it could be the lesser-known Luca Williams-Barnett next season.

It’s the 16-year-old phenom who could well be the club’s own Kulusevski, and there are a few reasons why.

The first is that like the Swedish international, the promising teenager can play in a handful of positions, from attacking midfield to either wing, up top and even left-midfield, lending credence to academy expert and pundit John Wenham’s description of him as a “cheat-code.”

Appearances

24

Minutes

1887′

Goals

20

Assists

10

Goal Involvements per Match

1.25

Minutes per Goal Involvement

62.9′

However, the second and undoubtedly more important similarity to the former Juve star is that he’s already proving to be an incredibly effective attacking outlet for the youth sides.

For example, in just 24 appearances for the U18s, totalling 1887 minutes, the unreal talent, whom analyst Ben Mattinson described as “a name to keep an eye on,” has scored 20 goals and provided ten assists.

That means he’s averaging 1.25 goal involvements every game, or one every 62.9 minutes, which is the sort of form that could see him propelled into the first team next season.

Ultimately, while this season has been a disaster, Spurs have several incredibly talented players in their senior squad, and if Williams-Barnett continues on his brilliant trajectory, then there is every chance he could be playing alongside Kulusevski next year.

His value has risen 1475% this season: Spurs struck gold on their own Yamal

The exceptional Spurs ace will be worth a fortune in the future.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Mar 20, 2025

The U.S. star described the goal from the 2022 World Cup in Qatar that lifted a nation – and sent him to the hospital

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

'PULISIC' documentary final episodes streamingUSMNT star details iconic 2022 World Cup goalLooks forward to even better run in 2026 Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty ImagesWHAT HAPPENED?

It was an iconic moment, even if Christian Pulisic didn't know it at the time.

The U.S. men's national team star recalled his famous 2022 FIFA World Cup goal against Iran, detailing the surreal scenes in the final episodes of the season of his documentary series "PULISIC" on Paramount+.

At the 2022 tournament in Qatar, the U.S. made a Round of 16 run, Pulisic scored an iconic group stage goal against Iran. Midfielder Weston McKennie found an energetic Sergino Dest surging down the wing, and he headed the ball across the box to a sprinting Pulisic. The U.S. winger smashed home with his right boot while falling to the ground and colliding with an opponent.

“I put so much pressure on myself in the build-up to this game," Pulisic said in the docuseries. "I was like, now it’s your time, you gotta make the difference if you want to be seen as a leader. if you want to be seen as one of the best players to put on the U.S. jersey, this is when you have to perform – this is when you have to do it. So I think we were confident for sure. But there was definitely this weight of, it’s win or you go home … so some player’s gotta step up, because now is the time."

The USMNT needed three points in the match to ensure they advanced out of the group. Pulisic's 37th-minute finish was the lone goal in the 1-0 win, sending the U.S. to the next round. Pulisic's was injured on the play, clattering into multiple defenders and the Iranian goalkeeper.

“It was such a weird goal because it was one of the best goals I’ve ever scored – and I didn’t get to celebrate, so it was definitely a strange one," he said. "Obviously, I got hit pretty hard, and it was just pain, and everyone just looked at me lying down in the goal. The stadium had this weird buzz to it, and obviously I was in so much pain … but had so much adrenaline going, and I was worried. Did it not count? Was I offside? So many things going in my head."

As the clock ticked down in the match, Pulisic wasn't on the pitch – instead, he was subbed off at the break, and then transported to the hospital.

"For sure, in the moment, my emotions for sure hit me. It didn’t feel real – obviously, I was in so much pain," he recalled. "I think adrenaline was kind of telling me, like, you’re fine – keep playing, but the doctors were like, 'No, you need to go to the hospital.' I was on the way to the hospital and sitting there. It was really strange. I was watching all the second half sitting there on my doctor‘s phone, and it just seemed surreal.

"I just scored in this game, and now I’m watching from the hospital, like the last moment, hoping we hold out. It was just like this insane experience. From the hospital bed, it was still an incredible moment for me. I was so proud of how the guys held on. I had a part in it. I remembered we called some guys from the hospital, and they were all like in the locker room celebrating, and the emotions were so high. And obviously, they were checking in on me.

"I just wanted to get back to the hotel and see everyone and join in the celebrations. It’s funny, all the comments on the goal were like ‘Yeah, he sacrificed it all, it was such a brave play.’ For me, it was just a play that I would make in any game. I was still in a little pain, but like, kind of the second day after the game, I already knew in my head that there was no way I wasn’t playing.”

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Pulisic will not be taking center stage for Mauricio Pochettino's team at the CONCACAF Gold Cup this summer. Pulisic requested to take the summer off to recover after two straight years of heavy match congestion for both club and country.

“Christian and his team approached the Federation and the coaching staff about the possibility of stepping back this summer, given the amount of matches he has played in the past two years at both the club and international level with very little break,” U.S. Soccer sporting director Matt Crocker said in a statement. “After thoughtful discussions and careful consideration, we made the collective decision that this is the right moment for him to get the rest he needs. The objective is to ensure he’s fully prepared to perform at the highest level next season.”

Pochettino said he concluded was that this was the best outcome.

"Many people can say it's really important for us to all be together, but always as a coaching staff, we always listen to the player," Pochettino said upon his roster announcement. "Then, of course, we make the decision. We have our own ideas about everything but, I think after the consideration in every case and, in this case with Christian, I think we decided the best thing for him, the best thing for the national team is the decision that we made."

WHAT PULISIC SAID

Ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to be hosted in the U.S., Mexico and Canada, Pulisic is hoping he can lead the USMNT to an even better run than in Qatar.

“I set even bigger goals for myself and for the team," he said in the docuseries. "In these major tournaments, we haven’t had that really, really big win and that big finish – that’s for me, that’s the next step for us. I’m always looking forward, and, l yeah, up our game and take this team to another level.”

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR PULISIC?

With the 26-year-old taking not in the USMNT camp, his next games will likely be in late summer as AC Milan begin their preseason. The are scheduled to face Liverpool at the state-of-the-art Kai Tak Stadium in Hong Kong on July 26.

Arsenal are now ready to trigger the £49m release clause required for a “world-class” forward, following Mikel Arteta recently instructing sporting director Andrea Berta to sign him, according to a report.

Arteta light on attacking options as Gunners beat Chelsea

The Gunners’ Premier League title hopes are yet to completely fade, following a 1-0 victory against Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium yesterday afternoon, but it will be a tall order to catch Liverpool, who remain 12 points clear at the top of the table.

Although every side faces injury issues, the north Londoners have been particularly unlucky this season, with the likes of Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka being ruled out for large parts of the campaign.

That has left Arteta very light on options in attack at times, with Mikel Merino being forced to lead the line in recent weeks, given a lack of alternatives, and there are indications the manager is very keen on bolstering his frontline in the summer transfer window.

Arteta loves him: Arsenal now very keen on "amazing" £83m Barcelona star

The Gunners have set their sights on a new midfielder…

By
Dominic Lund

Mar 17, 2025

That is according to a report from Caught Offside, which has revealed Arsenal are now ready to trigger the €58m (£49m) release clause included in Nico Williams’ Athletic Bilbao contract.

The Gunners have been admirers of Williams for quite some time, and they could now be set to launch a move for the winger, with Arteta keen to compete for the Premier League title once again next season.

There are plans in place to offer the Spaniard a contract until 2030, in a bid to lure him to the Emirates Stadium, and there is a willingness to increase the Bilbao star’s wages, which could give Arteta’s side the edge in negotiations.

Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea are also named as potential suitors, alongside Barcelona, so there could be fierce competition for the 22-year-old this summer.

Arteta determined to sign Williams

The Arsenal boss is now said to be pushing hard for Berta to sign the forward this summer, and it is clear to see why, given the level of some of his performances over the past few weeks.

The Pamplona-born forward played a crucial role in Bilbao’s progression to the Europa League quarter-final, scoring twice in the round of 16 second leg against AS Roma, while he also has three goals and an assist to his name in his last four La Liga outings.

Journalist Zach Lowy has lauded the Spain international as “world-class” in the past, and his performances for his national side also indicate he could be a solid signing for Arsenal, recording two goals and an assist en-route to Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph.

It is clear Arteta needs new attacking options next season, in order to avoid a drop-off in form if the likes of Saka and Havertz pick up injuries again, and Williams has proven himself as a top-level winger.

The 26-year-old is set to become Pep Guardiola's first signing of the summer after two impressive seasons at AC Milan

Manchester City have a lot of work to do this summer. Their dramatic fall from grace over the course of the 2024-25 season saw them end the campaign without any major silverware for the first time since Pep Guardiola's debut year at the Etihad Stadium in 2016-17. They failed to reach even the last 16 of the Champions League and were 13 points adrift of Premier League winners Liverpool once all was said and done.

Seeing the writing was already on the wall midway through last season, City responded by spending £180 million ($243m) in the January transfer window on the likes of Omar Marmoush, Nico Gonzalez and Abdukodir Khusanov. There are still, however, glaring holes in Guardiola's squad, and another massive outlay will likely be needed to ensure City are able to re-establish themselves at the top of the English and European game next season.

The brick in that rebuild looks set to arrive before City get their Club World Cup campaign under way after they agreed to pay an initial fee of just over £46m ($63m) to sign AC Milan midfielder Tijjani Reijnders. The Netherlands international was a bright light amid the Rossoneri darkness last season, and with Kevin De Bruyne already gone while doubts remain over the futures of Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva, Reijnders is being tipped to step into what is likely to be a new-look City midfield upon his arrival.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  'Few details to be ironed out'

  "Is it true that I have already agreed personally? There are still a few final details to be ironed out. It's a matter of waiting and seeing," Reijnders said when speaking to Voetbalzone and other Dutch media on Wednesday as the Netherlands prepare to begin their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign against Finland on Saturday.

  "I can't say any more about it. I am still an AC Milan player and I have to respect that. I'm also waiting to see what the clubs will do."

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Learning from the best

  Despite Reijnders' reluctance to confirm his impending transfer, he was open to speaking out regarding how he might adapt to life at the Etihad.

  Playing under Guardiola and learning from one of the game's greatest-ever coaches is something players around the world tend to relish, but there has been concern among fans that the Catalan can remove the freedom from certain individuals' games due to his relentless pursuit of perfection. Jack Grealish is regularly cited as an example of this, with the England midfielder having largely been a shadow of the thrilling Aston Villa player who took the Premier League by storm since his big-money switch to City in 2021.

  "Am I afraid that the 'freedom' in my game will be lost under Guardiola? We'll have to wait and see if that happens," Reijnders says. "There's always room for development, in every respect, especially as a midfielder. There are so many things you can develop. I can become a more complete midfielder there, if the deal goes through."

• Getty Images Sport
  

  'Modern midfielder'

  In terms of his current playing style, Reijnders describes himself as a "box-to-box" player who is ideal for how the game is progressing through the mid-2020s.

  "I think I'm a modern midfielder," he says. "And I'm always fit, which is also an advantage. Fortunately, I've always been fit so far and I hope to stay that way for as long as possible."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images
  

  Always available

  That fitness record will be music to Guardiola's ears within an era when players are picking up more and more injuries due to the increasing workload brought on by revamped, or in some cases completely new, competitions. Reijnders made 54 apperances for Milan last season, scoring 15 goals, and has played in all-but three of the Rossoneri's Serie A matches since arriving at San Siro in 2023, missing two due to suspension while he was an unused substitute in the other.

  "How can I play so many games? Eating well, that's the secret. My mother's fried rice works wonders!" Reijnders laughs. "I listen carefully to my body and pay close attention to what I need before and after games. I hope that continues to work for as long as possible.

  "Things were a bit more difficult for us at Milan this season, which may have made it a bit tougher mentally. I just always felt fit when I was in the starting line up, so I had no problems with that."

Glasgow Rangers delivered one of their finest away European performances in midweek as they brought a 3-1 advantage over Fenerbahçe back to Ibrox for the second leg.

It could have easily been 5-1, but Cyriel Dessers had two goals ruled out for offside. Despite this, it was a tremendous performance in Turkey.

The Ibrox side came into the game on the back of three back-to-back defeats at home for the first time since 2012. These losses to Queen’s Park, St Mirren and Motherwell saw the Gers score just a single goal.

Not much hope was given to the Glasgow side ahead of the clash against José Mourinho’s side, but fair play to Barry Ferguson as he outmanoeuvred the wily old fox tactically.

Mohamed Diomande and Nicolas Raskin ran the show from the heart of the midfield, being central to everything positive that happened for the Gers, while Leon Balogun was a rock alongside John Souttar at the back.

Even Jack Butland, who has come under some fire of late due to a series of poor displays, largely kept the home side at bay with a few good saves during the match.

It was Vaclav Cerny who shone the most for Ferguson’s side, however, yet again displaying his class on the continental stage.

Vaclav Cerny’s incredible display vs Fenerbahçe.

Prior to the clash, Cerny had scored 15 goals and grabbed seven assists in all competitions for the Gers, proving himself to be an excellent loan signing.

He tends to save his best football for European competition and this was the case against the Turkish side on Thursday evening.

His two goals were extremely well taken. The first was a left-footed effort following a stunning pass from Dessers, while the Czech winger raced onto a through ball by Raskin to calmly slot home the killer third goal for Rangers.

He also attempted two dribbles and delivered a cross, but his impact in the final third, always looking to get on the end of through balls in order to score and he was duly rewarded against Fenerbahçe.

There have been a few games where he has failed to contribute, but in the big matches, Cerny comes to life and proves his worth.

It is a pity the winger is only on loan, as this type of talent isn’t found too often, that’s for sure. Over the last few seasons, Rangers have had a few players on loan at the club who have shone before going onto bigger and better things.

Malik Tillman starred during the 2022/23 campaign, and now he has 15 goal contributions in all competitions for PSV Eindhoven this season.

Abdallah Sima is another one who performed well for Rangers during his loan spell last season. He shone for Brest in the Champions League earlier this season during his temporary spell with the Ligue 1 side.

Where Are They Now

Could the Light Blues have had a chance of signing him on a permanent deal, however?

Rangers already had a bigger talent than Cerny

Ahead of the 2023/24 season, Michael Beale secured the services of Sima on a loan deal from Brighton and Hove Albion and it didn’t take long for him to prove his worth.

Awkward to play against, the left-winger enjoyed plenty of success in Scotland, eventually going on to score 16 goals and registering two assists for the Gers throughout the entire season, despite missing 18 games due to an injury.

It was a scintillating season, and who knows what the club could have achieved had he been fit for those games? This led to discussions about his future and whether it lay in Glasgow.

After the season finished and Sima returned to his parent club, Clement confirmed that he had been in contact with the player, saying: “I’ve been in touch with him, of course,” Clement says. “He’s like one of my sons. Abda loves the club. Abda loves the way of playing we had last season and his role in that. He loved his teammates and the staff.”

The “electric” star – as dubbed by captain James Tavernier – was valued at around £8m by the south coast side during the summer transfer window, which represented a stumbling block for Clement.

Goals

11

Assists

2

Shots per game

2.9

Big chances created

2

Successful dribbles per game

1.2

Key passes per game

0.8

Indeed, he ended up joining Brest on a temporary move until the end of the current season. If he did join permanently, he could have been an even bigger talent than Cerny, without a shadow of a doubt.

What Abdallah Sima has done since leaving Rangers

The left-winger has carried on the form he displayed at Rangers during his time in France. Indeed, across 32 games for the club, Sima has netted eight goals and recorded two assists in all competitions.

It was his form in the Champions League which got people talking. He scored three goals in nine appearances, which included a double against RB Salzburg in the group stage.

Averaging 1.8 shots per game and creating two big chances for his teammates in the competition suggests he wasn’t fazed by the step-up to performing in the biggest club competition in Europe.

It has been yet another successful loan move for the Senegal international. The question is, will this form convince Fabian Hurzeler at Brighton that he deserves a berth in the first-team squad next term?

If he continues to score and perform well, the least he deserves is a chance. Rangers missed the boat last summer. He may have broken the bank, but aged just 23, Sima has plenty of years to reach his peak, which could have seen the Light Blues make a profit on him.

Cerny has stepped up and showcased his class, but a similar situation will occur when he departs this summer, especially as there are likely to be other clubs chasing his signature when the window opens in a few months.

Falling for a loan star. It’s enough to break your heart when they leave.

Better than Cerny: Former Rangers loanee on course to "become a £120m" star

Vaclav Cerny has proven himself to be Rangers’ best player in 2024/25.

ByMatt Dawson Mar 7, 2025

England hope that a week’s gap between the first and second Ashes Tests will enable their bowling attack time to recover ahead of back-to-back fixtures at Lord’s and Headingley, following a heavy workload at Edgbaston this week.The second men’s Test starts on June 28 at Lord’s and England are only expected to train twice before then, giving their bowlers time to recharge after spending 208.4 overs in the field during their two-wicket defeat to Australia in Birmingham.”Seven days is actually quite a long time to give everyone a good rest,” Ben Stokes, England’s captain, said. “We’ll meet up again in three or four days’ time I think, and we’ll assess how everyone’s going and we’ll have to make a decision from there.”There is particular concern around Moeen Ali’s spinning finger, which he cut open on the second day of the first Test on his return to red-ball cricket following a 21-month absence. Moeen was clearly struggling to grip the ball and only bowled seven overs on the final day – precisely the moment when Stokes would have hoped to lean heavily on his primary spinner.”I told Mo to tell me if his finger was sore, and I’d sensed that it was even before that,” Stokes said. “For him to come back into his first Test match and operate in the way that he did and really put himself through the pain barrier for the team [was great].”You could see what it meant to him going out to play for England again with a huge smile on his face. I selected him for his match-winning moments. He had a few of them with the ball and nearly got us over the line… [The break] gives Mo a good chance for his finger to heal up.”Related

• 'Losing sucks' – Execution to blame for England at Edgbaston, not Bazball

• Australia's thrilling chase, Usman Khawaja's marathon batting

• Headingley redemption for Cummins and co at Edgbaston

• Ben Stokes 'emotionally beat up' as Pat Cummins savours epic Australia win

• Ben Stokes defends controversial declaration as England's 'chance to pounce' on Australia

England are yet to decide if they will call up another spinner as cover for Moeen, but were expected to discuss the possibility on Wednesday. Rehan Ahmed, Liam Dawson and Will Jacks are among the front-runners if they decide to do so. They may also consider fielding a four-man seam attack at Lord’s, not least after Joe Root’s tidy returns with his offbreaks across the first Test – though Brendon McCullum said that Moeen would play if available.”I thought Mo did a great job,” McCullum said. “He bowled a couple of absolute jaffas in the game and that was what his role was, to try and make breakthroughs when he had the opportunity with the ball, and with the bat, to try to disrupt it a little bit. I thought he did that pretty well too.”We’ll monitor Mo’s finger over the next few days and hopefully he’ll come right for the next one. You have planning for everyone… but I’m pretty confident that over the next few days, we can get on top of Mo’s finger and that’ll give us an opportunity to select him in the next game. If he’s available, he will be selected.”Stokes marked Stuart Broad and Ollie Robinson out for putting in “incredible” shifts on the last evening but James Anderson, for so long the leader of England’s attack, had an off-game. He returned match figures of 1 for 109 and was overlooked when England took the second new ball in the final stages of the Test.Speaking before play started on Tuesday, Anderson admitted to Sky Sports that he was “still searching for a bit of rhythm” on his return from a groin niggle that kept him out for over a month, including England’s 10-wicket win over Ireland.James Anderson chats with Ben Stokes•PA Photos/Getty Images

“It’s been difficult,” Anderson added. “I feel like I do need a bit of game time to get back into it and it has been five-six weeks since I last played. I feel like I’ve bowled OK but I definitely feel like there’s more there.”Mark Wood, overlooked for the first Test, will come into contention at Lord’s.Stokes himself bowled seven overs in each innings and took two vital wickets, trapping Steven Smith lbw in the first innings and inducing a chop-on from Usman Khawaja in the second with a leg cutter. He hardly celebrated Khawaja’s dismissal – “I was absolutely flying on caffeine,” he explained – but said he saw his bowling workload as “a massive boost”.”I’ve put my body through more than it’s actually been through over the last year, which is obviously great signs for myself and another confidence boost for me,” Stokes said. “Getting through that, knowing we’ve still got four games coming up has given me a massive boost.”I can’t remember the last time I’ve sort of been able to continually bowl. I was just really happy that I was able to get a good long spell in, and I just love being in that situation. I love bowling long spells, especially when the game’s on the line.”

MatériaMais Notícias

O técnico Vítor Pereira se retratou sobre a declaração dada após a derrota no Dérbi para o Palmeiras, pela 22ª rodada do Brasileirão, quando foi questionado por um repórter na coletiva sobre a pressão noCorinthians.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasCorinthiansDestaque no Sub-20, Biro projeta próximos desafios do CorinthiansCorinthians14/08/2022CorinthiansCorinthians supera o Real Brasília e abre vantagem nas quartas de final do Brasileirão FemininoCorinthians14/08/2022CorinthiansCorinthians se reapresenta após derrota no Dérbi e inicia preparação para decisão na Copa do BrasilCorinthians14/08/2022

+ GALERIA – Erro de Fagner custa caro em Dérbi; veja nota dos jogadores do Timão

Ao ser indagado se temia uma possível demissão, Vítor riu da pergunta feita pelo jornalista, foi enfático na negação e citou até sua conta bancária na resposta:

– Eu, nesta fase da minha vida, da minha carreira, ter medo de perder o emprego? Sabe quanto dinheiro eu tenho no banco, amigo? Eu tenho a vida estabilizada. Estou aqui no Corinthians e se não estiver no Corinthians, estou em outro clube qualquer. E quando eu quiser – disse o português.

A declaração não caiu bem na torcida. A Estopim da Fiel, uma das principais organizadas do clube, emitiu uma nota repudiando as declarações do técnico alvinegro.

+ TABELA – Dérbi definiu o Brasileirão? Simule os jogos do campeonato

Ao jornal português “A Bola”, o treinador corintiano admitiu não ter se expressado da melhor maneira, condicionou a declaração ao nervosismo após o revés diante do rival e explicou que não veio ao Timão pelo dinheiro pois conseguiu atingir estabilidade financeira ao longo de sua carreira.

-De fato, não me expressei da melhor forma, reagi a quente, enervado, sem paciência, depois de uma derrota que para mim foi injusta mas, enfim, é futebol. (…) O que eu quis dizer, e provavelmente não me expressei da melhor forma, é que não vim para o Corinthians por dinheiro porque, graças a Deus, ao trabalho e à sorte, fui construindo a minha carreira sem me motivar por dinheiro – explicou o técnico.

>>> Assine o Premiere no Prime Video e acompanhe todas as emoções do seu clube no Brasileirão<<<

Vítor Pereira reforçou seu comprometimento com o clube e se sensibilizou com o sofrimento dos torcedores corintianos.

-Vim para o Corinthians por paixão e estou de corpo e alma no Corinthians e a perceber claramente o sentido de vida destes corintianos, desta gente do povo, que trabalha, que sofre e que, muitas vezes, para ir ao estádio gasta o dinheiro que não tem – comentou o português.

-Eu também vim de um meio humilde, sei o que são dificuldades, portanto não queria dizer aquilo no sentido que pareceu que estava a dar. O que queria dizer é que não estou no futebol com medo de despedimentos porque, graças a Deus, sou uma pessoa independente porque a vida me permitiu construí-la sem depender de ninguém, essa fase da minha carreira do medo de despedimentos já passou há muito tempo. E vou estar de corpo e alma, com paixão, neste clube enquanto o Corinthians quiser -concluiu Vítor Pereira ao jornal “A Bola”.

Mesmo com o momento conturbado na temporada – eliminação na Libertadores e distância para o líder Palmeiras em nove pontos – a diretoria alvinegra não cogita demitir Vítor, como apurou o LANCE!.

O comandante lusitano possui vínculo com o Timão até o final da temporada, e a ideia da cúpula alvinegraé ter Vítor Pereira até o fim do contrato, e depois avaliar com o português uma possível continuidade para o ano que vem.

A missão do treinador português é reverter a desvantagem de dois gols na Copa do Brasil. Na quarta-feira (17), às 21h30, o Corinthians recebe o Atlético-GO, na Neo Química Arena. Uma vitória corintiana por dois gols de diferença leva a decisão aos pênaltis.