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Chelsea are enduring another horror season this year, and despite their massive spending in the summer and the hiring of a Premier League-proven manager in Mauricio Pochettino, they currently find themselves stuck in midtable.

There seem to be problems all over the pitch at Stamford Bridge, from poor finishing to shocking defending; it's all going wrong for the west Londoners, and while players like Conor Gallagher are fighting to turn the ship around – making over two blocks per 90 – it's still not enough.

That hard work might not be enough to save his place in the XI, as the latest player linked with the Blues would likely come right into the side in his place, Real Madrid's Federico Valverde.

Chelsea could sign the next Hazard in "world-class" £30m magician

The young Swede could replicate the brilliant Belgian at Stamford Bridge.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Dec 15, 2023 Chelsea transfer news – Federico Valverde

According to the Spanish publication DefensaCentral, Federico Valverde is one of Pochettino's 'most desired objectives' in the January transfer window, and while Real do not want to sell the player, they will not force players to stay.

The publication reports that it could cost at least €100m – about £86m – to get the player out of Madrid, which, while an awful lot of money, could prove good value for a player dubbed "one of the best in the world", by Carlo Ancelotti, via Fabrizio Romano.

The Uruguayan has started 15 La Liga games for Los Blancos this season, scoring one goal, providing two assists, taking 1.6 shots per game, maintaining a passing accuracy of 90.9%, winning two Man-of-the-Match awards and averaging a match rating of 7.16, per WhoScored.

In other words, he would be a brilliant addition to Chelsea, although his arrival would likely spell the end for Gallagher in the first team.

Federico Valverde could replace Conor Gallagher

Gallagher might be a popular player with the match-going fans for his tireless running and fairly likeable demeanour, but unfortunately, at the pinnacle of football – where Chelsea want to be – that just isn't enough, with recent reports indicating that the Englishman could even be sold in January.

He certainly hasn't been a bad player for the Blues, and his talent is evident to all, but Valverde is simply the superior player in almost every department, and by quite some way, too.

So, with both players starting most of their games this season in central midfield, the current Chelsea man would have to make way if this transfer happens.

When looking at their underlying numbers, the extent to which the Real man would be an upgrade on the former Crystal Palace loanee becomes immediately apparent.

In everything from scoring to creating to carrying the ball, the 25-year-old "monster", as described by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, comes out on top; only in tackles does Gallagher have his man beat, which could be corrected with coaching and familiarity with the role he'd have to play in west London.

Stat (per 90)

Valverde

Gallagher

Non-Penalty Expected Goals + Assists

0.32

0.20

Progressive Passes

7.29

5.55

Progressive Carries

3.75

1.68

Shots on Target

0.56

0.44

Passing Accuracy

89.1%

88.5%

Shot-Creating Actions

4.31

3.57

Tackles Won

1.18

1.90

All Stats via FBref for the 2023/24 Domestic Season

Ultimately, the Cobham graduate has been a useful player for the Blues this year, and while he is still a Premier League quality player, his place in the starting XI would and should be taken the second Valverde arrived.

USWNT star Lynn Williams scored her first goal of the season, and a game-winner, against the North Carolina Courage Saturday.

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Gotham defeat NC Courage 1-0Lynn Williams scores winnerWinger looking for Paris Games roster spotWHAT HAPPENED?

After a bit of pinball in the box, including a few scattered passes and deflections, the ball ended up in the path of the winger and she smashed it home into the top corner of the net.

The Bats defeated the Courage 1-0 with the strike, and Williams' effort ended up being the 300th goal in club history at the same time.

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Williams finally opened here 2024 account after missing the first stretch of the season through injury. On her fourth appearance of the season, the 30-year-old netted a superb strike, and was beyond influential throughout the match.

She'll now look to ramp up her production as she looks to secure a spot on the USWNT roster for the Paris Games.

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Getty Images WHAT NEXT FOR GOTHAM?

The Batd are back in action against the Houston Dash on Wednesday. They'll look for their third win of the campaign and their third-straight result on the road.

Boundary-laden series set for feisty finale on one of the best batting surfaces in the Caribbean

The Preview by Andrew Miller01-Mar-2019Big pictureIt worked out all right in the end for Grenada’s cricket faithful, as their first taste of international action for four years was reduced from a two-match festival of cricket to one single afternoon of six-smoking carnage.After Monday’s rain had given way to Wednesday’s clear skies, it was as though the England and West Indies batsmen had been unleashed from the dressing room via slingshots. Both teams tore into the bowling with a world-record 46 sixes in 98 overs of action – 24 for England, 22 for West Indies; 14 for Chris Gayle, 12 for Jos Buttler, whose innings of 150 from 77 balls was one of the most staggering onslaughts ever witnessed on the world stage.And the upshot is a series which England now have within their grasp. They lead 2-1 with just the decider in St Lucia to come, and while everything between now and the end of May pales compared to the challenge that awaits at this summer’s World Cup, there are bragging rights aplenty available in this final contest.England, for starters, would really rather like a piece of silverware to take home from the Caribbean, given how quickly their hopes in the Test series were detonated by Jason Holder and his cohorts. But there’s also that thorny question of “momentum” – a nebulous concept at the best of times, and one that most teams are happy to play up or down, as it suits them.But nevertheless, with India breathing down England’s necks ahead of their own ODI series against Australia, a West Indies win could open the door for a new No.1 team to be anointed going into the World Cup. Perhaps that might reduce some of the home-team pressure on Eoin Morgan’s men, but to judge by their approach throughout their renaissance run of form since 2015, they are dead-set on hitting the front and staying there in every contest they play.All things being equal, England start as favourites – as well they might, given the run of form they’ve been on in the 50-over format in recent years – but this contest will surely be decided, as with each of the other three so far, by the team that holds its nerve for longest in what looks likely to be another daunting run-chase.England did remarkably well to chase 361 in the opening match in Barbados, eventually easing to their target with eight balls and five wickets to spare. But two days later, they tumbled off the tightrope in dramatic fashion, losing their last six wickets for 35 runs in pursuit of 290.West Indies fell away even more quickly in Grenada, losing their last four wickets in five deliveries from Adil Rashid, but by that stage they had 389 on the board, more than any team in history to have been bowled out inside their 50 overs. Which just goes to show, none of these games is over until it is over. And even the beleaguered bowlers on both teams can produce match-turning moments in the blink of an eye. But don’t blink too often … when 46 sixes are raining into the stands, it’s not wise to take your eyes off the action for a second.Form guideWest Indies: LWLLW (Last five completed matches, most recent first)
England: WLWLWIn the spotlightHe’s been a revelation in England’s one-day side for the past couple of seasons, and – assuming his dodgy knees don’t creak unnecessarily between now and May – he’ll be one of the first names on the team-sheet for England’s World Cup opener at The Oval against South Africa. But Chris Woakes found little respite in Wednesday’s brutal engagement. His ten overs were dispatched for 91, the joint fourth-most expensive in England’s ODI history, and though a swingless venue with short boundaries was never likely to be his favourite hunting ground, his inability to find a go-to line and length as the big hits continued to rain down was a concern. He’ll be looking for a big response in St Lucia, for his own peace of mind, if nothing else.It takes a special type of player to be caught second-ball for six – and that is exactly what Shimron Hetmyer remains, despite his hot-headed cameo in Grenada that some observers believe was the turning point of West Indies’ spirited pursuit of England’s 418 for 6. Who knows what might have happened with a modicum of discretion against the extra pace of Mark Wood – the only bowler who was truly able to transcend the conditions in the 4th ODI. But then again, Hetmyer has done just fine in his young and explosive career by trusting his instincts, his technique and his immense power. His century in the second match in Barbados has kept his team in the hunt in this series, and while he may have been momentarily chastened in his latest outing, don’t expect him to change his ways too drastically.Team newsWill Andre Russell play, or won’t he? There was some surprise at the toss in Grenada when Jason Holder announced he would be missing out – ostensibly to give him more time to recover from his long flight from the UAE, where he had been playing for Multan Sultans in the PSL. There was an apparent indication that his long-anticipated return would come in this final game. But, just to complicate matters further, the man whom he is mostly likely to replace – Carlos Brathwaite – stepped up in his team’s hour of need with his maiden ODI fifty, a key contribution to a seventh-wicket stand of 88 with Ashley Nurse that took the chase into the final three overs. It’s still hard to see who else could make way, however, assuming that testing Russell’s fitness over 50 overs is a priority before the World Cup squads are finalised next month.West Indies: (probable) 1 Chris Gayle, 2 John Campbell, 3 Shai Hope (wk), 4 Darren Bravo, 5 Shimron Hetmyer, 6 Jason Holder (capt), 7 Andre Russell, 8 Ashley Nurse, 9 Devendra Bishoo, 10 Sheldon Cottrell, 11 Oshane ThomasWoe betide the batsman who gives his rival a sniff of an opportunity in England’s power-packed line-up. Jason Roy’s hamstring strain allowed Alex Hales to come romping off the bench in Grenada with an agenda-setting 82 from 73 balls – and with Jonny Bairstow also chipping in with a brisk half-century, the pair did a pretty seamless job in closing ranks for their side at the top of the order. Roy, to be fair, does have a 65-ball hundred to his credit in this series already, but he’s unlikely to be risked so soon after his niggle. The only other issue to ponder is a rejig in England’s bowling ranks to reflect the ease of West Indies’ run-making in the series so far. Tom Curran’s cunning is the obvious addition, but Woakes is likely to be trusted to recover from Wednesday’s thumping.England: (probable) 1 Alex Hales, 2 Jonny Bairstow, 3 Joe Root, 4 Eoin Morgan (capt), 5 Ben Stokes, 6 Jos Buttler (wk), 7 Moeen Ali, 8 Chris Woakes, 9 Liam Plunkett, 10 Adil Rashid, 11 Mark WoodPitch and conditionsSome scattered showers are expected on Friday, but the weather for the match itself is set fair. The pitch has a reputation as the best in the Caribbean, so batten down the hatches. Funnily enough, there have been just three scores in excess of 300 in the ground’s ODI history – and the two highest, 363 for 5 and 331 for 7 were both scored by New Zealand, in the space of three days, against Canada and Kenya in the 2007 World Cup. The highest total involving full-member nations is Pakistan’s 303 for 6 way back in 2005. Expect that to change, given the free-scoring carnage we’ve seen so far in this series.Stats and Trivia Victory in St Lucia would seal England’s tenth consecutive victory in an ODI series of two or more matches, dating back to their 2-1 defeat in India in January 2017. It’s not a complete record, however, as the above list omits two rather notable setbacks along the way – England’s one-off defeat by Scotland in Edinburgh last summer, and their failure to win the Champions Trophy on home soil in June 2017. Pakistan sealed the spoils after knocking them out in the semi-final in Cardiff. West Indies have had a sketchy recent record at the Darren Sammy Ground in St Lucia. After winning four of their first five ODIs at the venue from 2002 to 2004, they’ve won just three of their last 20 completed fixtures. They did, however, emerge triumphant from their most recent visit, beating Afghanistan by four wickets in June 2017. Having gone past 5000 runs earlier in the series, Joe Root needs just four more to overtake Paul Collingwood’s tally of 5092, and move into third place on England’s all-time ODI runs list, behind Ian Bell (5416), and Eoin Morgan (6051). Morgan, in fact, went past 6000 runs for England during his century in Grenada, but has a further 744 runs to his name from his Ireland days.Quotes”I’ve probably never seen anyone hit sixes as easy as he can. He’s a legend of the game.” Jos Buttler pays tribute to Chris Gayle after his incredible innings of 162 in Grenada.”Buttler is superb. You can’t take away the fact that he’s one of the best strikers in the world today … but he’s not close to the Universe Boss though!” Gayle returns the compliment … sort of … after Buttler’s own innings of 150 from 77 balls.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp seldom gives hints regarding his side's next move on the transfer front, but the club's stealthy approach hits the mark with constancy and has facilitated years of illustrious success.

The Premier League table-toppers will be confident that a glittering end to the current campaign can be achieved, but while Liverpool have impressed, there is an internal acknowledgement that more could be done to improve.

20

13

6

1

45

25

20

13

3

4

42

16

19

12

4

3

40

24

20

12

4

4

40

17

Sweeping changes were made to the midfield during the summer but there seems to be room for one more addition, with a touted summer transfer target now back on the radar, or so reports suggest.

Liverpool transfer targets – Manu Kone

According to Italian outlet Tutto Juve, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur hold a strong interest in signing Manu Kone from Borussia Monchengladbach this month, with Serie A side Juventus also named as suitors.

It's claimed that despite the Anfield side's decision to sign Ryan Gravenberch in the summer, interest persists in Kone, who is supposedly available for around €40m (£35m) this month.

Joshua Kimmich

3rd January

Morten Frendrup

3rd January

Federico Redondo

3rd January

Nicolo Barella

29th December

Joao Neves

29th December

There is a general understanding that Klopp's side need to shore up the defence but given the extensive scouting undertaken on a move for the Frenchman already, the opportunity to snap him up to complete the engine room could be too much to resist.

Manu Kone's style of play

Once described as a "one-man army" in midfield by talent scout Jacek Kulig after a commanding display against Bayern Munich, Kone deservedly earned attention from multiple top European outfits during the summer.

As per Sofascore, the 22-year-old completed 87% of his passes across 30 appearances in the Bundesliga last year, winning 2.5 tackles and 7.4 duels per game while succeeding with 60% of his attempted dribbles.

Discussing the facets of his midfield game that have attracted Klopp's attention, journalist Antonio Mango said: "Koné does all his work in the centre of the pitch, capable of leading attacking, he’s fantastic at transitioning from defence to attack. Koné has a little bit of swagger about him but in a good way, very confident and composed in possession and accomplished when being pressed."

Defensively strong and penetrative in his ball-carrying, Kone ranks among the top 13% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for progressive carries and tackles and the top 1% for successful take-ons per 90 (FBref).

Having also been called a player of "monstrous" potential by Kulig, Kone has struggled for fitness this term and only started seven top-flight matches as a result, but the future Les Bleus international has still completed 88% of his passes and made 5.3 recoveries each game.

Should Liverpool's technical director Jorg Schmadtke choose to continue the trend of bolstering from the German Bundesliga, Kone could be the perfect acquisition, even repeating the success of Dominik Szoboszlai.

Szoboszlai's season in numbers

Signed from RB Leipzig for £60m in the summer, the Hungary captain has been industrious, intelligent and inventive in the centre of the park, one of the chief reasons behind the revival after an abject 2022/23 season.

While he has only posted four goals and three assists across 26 matches, the £120k-per-week machine has been immense in his all-encompassing work, completing 88% of his passes and averaging 1.8 key passes, 1.4 tackles and 6.4 ball recoveries per game.

Liverpool put a lot of work into identifying Kone as a summer target and must seriously consider completing their midfield with his signing this month, continuing the prosperous trend of plucking rising stars from Klopp and Schmadtke's homeland.

Feyenoord boss Arne Slot has confirmed that he will take over from Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool coach.

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Slot confirms takeover from KloppFeyenoord send emotional tributeKlopp to leave Liverpool after nine yearsWHAT HAPPENED?

Earlier this year, Klopp announced that he would be leaving Liverpool after nine seasons at the helm of the club. The Merseyside club had initially targeted Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso, however, after he decided to remain with Die Werkself for another season, Liverpool shifted their focus towards Slot and have already signed a contract with the Dutchman to take over a coach this summer. Feyenoord also posted an emotional tribute to the departing coach ahead of their final match of the season.

AdvertisementWHAT SLOT SAID

Speaking with the media, Slot said [via ESPN]: "I can confirm that I will become the trainer there next year.

"Until now I was not thinking about this being the build up to my last match, but that starts coming now. At the beginning of the week you are thinking about training and those kind of things. But the feeling gets stronger now. That is why I'm a little bit late now [for the news conference], because I wanted to say goodbye to some people personally and take time for them, more then just shaking hands.

"So yeah, the feeling grows. I understand that good results help, but it is very nice to feel that people really are thinking it's a pity that I'm leaving. You can say that with words, but you can feel it if people truly think that way. That does mean a lot to me."

Getty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Slot has been compared with Klopp in terms of his playing style and bringing the Dutchman over to Anfield will cost Liverpool close to £13m ($16m) to be paid as compensation to Feyenoord as per reports. The 45-year-old won the Eredivisie last season with the club and ended this season in second place behind title winners PSV.

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WHAT NEXT FOR SLOT?

The Dutchman will lead Feyenoord at De Kuip on May 19 for the last time as they take on Excelsior before Slot says his goodbyes to the Feyenoord faithful.

Captain Mitchell Marsh gave his team an advantage with three crucial wickets

Daniel Brettig13-Mar-2019Western Australia maintained their bid to keep pace with Victoria and New South Wales in the race to the Sheffield Shield final by establishing a big first-innings advantage over Tasmania after two days at Bellerive Oval in Hobart.After the Warriors lower order pushed the visitors’ first innings up to 367, the Tigers made smooth early progress as Alex Doolan and Jordan Silk added 84 for the opening stand. However, the WA captain Mitchell Marsh, at the end of a difficult season, was able to conjure the key wickets to put his side in command of the contest, dismissing Silk, Doolan and critically the Tigers’ leading run-maker Matthew Wade, who was bowled between bat and pad by a ball swerving into him from around the wicket.Test captain Tim Paine managed to reach 26, but no member of the Tigers XI passed 50 against the WA attack, leaving Marsh’s men back at the batting cease before the close with an overall lead of 172 and the chance to set a daunting chase for the hosts.

Liverpool have sent scouts to watch an "excellent" player in person during the last week, having tabled a bid for him last summer, according to a fresh transfer update.

Liverpool's injury crisis worsens

The Reds are flying at the moment, threatening to go far in all four competitions they are playing in, and their defence is so much stronger than it looked last season, helped by a rebuilt midfield in front of it.

Despite this, there could be a need to sign a new defender during the January transfer window, with Joel Matip's cruciate ligament injury ruling him out for the remainder of the season and acting as a major blow.

It means there is a huge onus on both Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate to stay fit until May – the latter has been injury-prone in the past – with Joe Gomez and Jarell Quansah good options, but both potentially required to fill in at full-back, with Trent Alexander-Arnold now injured, joining both left-backs in the treatment room.

A host of different centre-backs have been linked with moves to Liverpool this month, including Sporting CP star Goncalo Inacio, who is arguably one of Europe's most exciting young defenders at the moment, and can actually fill in at full-back as well.

Bayer Leverkusen ace Piero Hincapie has also emerged as a potential addition at Anfield, with his long-term ceiling thought to be very high, and Crystal Palace's Marc Guehi has also been touted as a target, too.

Goncalo Inacio to Liverpool update

According to a new claim from HITC from journalist Graeme Bailey, Liverpool have again been scouting Inacio ahead of a possible move in the near future, following FSG reportedly submitting a bid to Sporting at the start of the window.

"Liverpool’s main reason for being present (at Sporting's win over Estoril on Friday) was to continue their assessment of Goncalo Inacio. HITC Football understands that the Portuguese star is a player the Reds admire hugely and he has been on their radar for a couple of years."

It is no surprise that Inacio is a wanted man, having been lauded as an "excellent" player by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, and he could be an outstanding signing by Liverpool, whether that be in January or in the summer transfer window. The 22-year-old is arguably already one of the first names on Sporting's team sheet, and his numbers highlight what an imperious season he is enjoying for his current club.

Appearances

15

Starts

14

Goals

1

Clearances per game

1.9

Aerial duel wins per game

1.3

Pass completion rate

88.3%

If Liverpool manage to sign him, he could be viewed as Van Dijk's long-term replacement at the heart of their defence, and his ability to play at left-back as well would immediately improve the depth across Jurgen Klopp's defence.

A huge bid will be needed to snap up Inacio, which is no surprise given his ability, but he could be a mainstay of the back-line for a decade, eventually looking like a bargain, as has been the case with Van Dijk after his £75m switch from Southampton.

While admitting that other teams will have a distinct power advantage, the batting coach believes his players can compete by maximising their existing skillsets

Mohammad Isam28-Apr-2019Bangladesh’s batsmen have to trust their own skills at the World Cup rather than be swayed by prevailing global standards, according to their batting coach Neil McKenzie. Most of Bangladesh’s success over the past four years has come on slow and low pitches at home, and the odd ODI series win in West Indies where the pitches had a bit more pace. Bangladesh are still reliant on scores in the 280-to-300 range, which they have backed their bowlers to defend.Bangladesh have posted 300-plus totals only six times in the last four years. They have successfully chased down 250-plus targets only four times in 14 attempts in the same period.While they have enjoyed impressive results as an ODI side in this period, their batsmen haven’t matched those of sides like England or India who have regularly racked up 350-plus totals.One of the reasons is the lack of a big hitter at No. 6 or 7, although Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur Rahim have contributed heavily in the slog overs. McKenzie said Bangladesh mustn’t focus on what they don’t have, but think about how they can maximise their existing skillsets.”Bangladesh is not going to compete for hitting sixes, with, say, West Indies,” McKenzie said. “We are going to be better than them in skilled hitting. Beating cover, running twos, chipping over cover for four. Hitting really well straight. A guy like Mushi can manipulate the pace. We have got so many other attributes. We don’t need to be going at fifth gear trying to hit the ball out of the ground chasing eight an over. We are good enough to hit gaps and run well.”If a guy like Soumya [Sarkar] decides that he is going to take a spinner down, we want him to be positive. We want him to really go for his shots. All the big hitters in the world make mistakes, and have people on their backs, but it is how they react. So it will be a big lesson for a guy like Soumya who is a natural strokeplayer. He has to trust his game. We know he plays well down the ground so if he gets caught every now and then, [it’s fine because] that’s his gameplan.”McKenzie underlined that temperamental batsmen such as Soumya Sarkar, Liton Das and Sabbir Rahman have to trust themselves to find success in the World Cup. Soumya, Liton and Sabbir have only occasionally translated their undoubted potential into match-winning innings. Their inconsistency has caused many headaches for Bangladesh’s captain, coaches and board president.Soumya impressed during and immediately after the 2015 World Cup, but has gone through prolonged periods of poor form since. Liton and Sabbir have played the odd attractive innings; Liton’s 121 against India in the Asia Cup final was a vindication of his talent but there hasn’t been much from him thereafter.Soumya Sarkar works one on the off side•AFPMcKenzie, who has had to spend a lot of time with these three batsmen in the nets, said that if gameplans are followed properly, success is bound to follow, and that the batsmen won’t be at fault if they fail while sticking to those plans.”They have shown glimpses of what they can do. It is exciting to watch them bat,” he said. “I think the three of them don’t show fear when they bat. That’s when they play at their best. I am hoping that they can play their natural games, and really stand up for Bangladesh.”They have all had crucial hundreds. I know Sabbir got one in a losing cause in New Zealand, but it will help his career. I think batting the situation and trusting your gameplan [is important]. All three of them have good defenses and attacking game. They are equipped for any situation. It is about using that experience.”They are young players so they will make mistakes. But it is about learning from your mistakes, not make the same mistakes over and over again. There will be a few occasions when they will mess up, but I think they will be more positive for Bangladesh. We just want them to trust their gameplans, play their shots, and if they get out in their gameplan and shots, there’s nothing much we can do. But if they let the pressure get to them and get out to other shots, then we have a little chat about the game situation.”McKenzie felt the key to batting well as a team would be for the set batsman to help the newcomer in the middle, during high-pressure situations in the World Cup. While batting in partnerships has improved for Bangladesh in the past four years, it will be even more crucial in a big tournament.”I think lot of the guys are enhancing their strength,” McKenzie said. “We are challenging them to do a few things differently. We have asked a few questions about scoring options and rotation of strike, and batting for each other.”When you are batting on 80, you have to get your partner to 10 from nought. Rotation of strike, drop and run. It is more about being aware about someone else’s gameplan, what they are looking to do, and batting in partnerships.”McKenzie, who has been lauded within the Bangladesh dressing room for his work with the batsmen, said that Bangladesh’s batsmen must ultimately remember the basics of batting in England, which is to play the ball late. “They really have to wait for the ball as long as they can. Batsmen from the subcontinent come forward to hit on the up. You can’t do that overseas,” he said. “We have identified this, and there’s a lot of footage of different bowlers.”We have hopefully ticked all boxes. Now the individuals have to showcase what they can do. There’s a lot of hard work that have gone into it. Passion, talent, skill and knowledge is also not lacking. It is about enjoying the World Cup.”

Manchester United midfielder Sofyan Amrabat has said he could stay at the club after lifting the FA Cup on Saturday.

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Amrabat has had mixed year at Man UtdCould stay after winning FA CupWill speak with club in coming daysWHAT HAPPENED?

The Morocco international has spent the 2023-24 campaign on loan at United from Serie A side Fiorentina. Amrabat has not had the most dazzling of seasons but played a key role in helping the Red Devils beat Manchester City in the FA Cup final at Wembley. After the match, the 27-year-old admitted he would love to stay longer.

AdvertisementWHAT AMRABAT SAID

Speaking to Ziggo Sport, he said: "Do I already know what I’m going to do next year? No. We are going to talk. Staying is certainly an option. Look, I think it has been a very difficult season. For Manchester United it needs to be much better, and also for me personally. We are going to talk. Manchester United are the biggest club in the world, so who wouldn’t want to play football here? But all parties have to be happy with each other, so we will sit down now and see what happens."

GettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

There is a lot of uncertainty surrounding the club with several players and manager Erik ten Hag's future up in the air. Amrabat played 21 times in the Premier League this season but has never been a guaranteed starter and has also had to fill in at left-back due to United's injury crisis. The club do have an option to make his move permanent but fans are yet to see the player that stood out so brightly during the Qatar World Cup in 2022.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR AMRABAT AND MAN UTD?

Nothing will be decided immediately but several departures may free up some funds for the Manchester club. Their FA Cup triumph means they will be playing Europa League football next season and the Premier League giants will need a big enough squad to compete on all fronts. He may not be the next Luka Modric or Zinedine Zidane, but Amrabat would make a capable squad player who can help the team push for more silverware next term.

Yuvraj Singh talks about his relationship with his father, his favourite captains, and about how he spurned the offer of a farewell match

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Jun-20192:34

I have made peace with the sport – Yuvraj

On making peace with his father, the former India fast bowler Yograj Singh, with whom he has had a fraught relationshipI think I actually made peace a couple of days ago when I was talking to my father. So I spoke to him and all the demons inside as a younger kid came out. That conversation happened and he said his side of the story. It was a very peaceful moment for me to have that closure and have that chat with him, because I’ve never had that chat with him in the last 20 years. He’s always been like a dragon to me… I think me and my father both have a very different relationship now. We both have grown up. Well I have grown up, I don’t know about him! All his life he has taken off on me in the media, now it’s my time.But yes, I’ve had closure with him. He never appreciated me playing any other sport. He only appreciated if I played cricket. So I said, “So be it.” And luckily for me, later on in my career I started enjoying it and made something good out of it.I think it was a very beautiful moment talking to my father and talking to my mom about my journey and I was looking for closure.On why he wasn’t able to do as well in Test cricket:Yes, definitely, that will always be a regret. I think I played at a time when it was very difficult to get a spot. Played with [VVS] Laxman, [Sourav] Ganguly who was captain, Sachin [Tendulkar], Rahul [Dravid], Viru [Virender Sehwag] started opening… it was very hard to find space in the middle order. And that time we used to get one or two Test matches [to prove ourselves] compared to guys today who get 10 to 15 Test matches to play all the time.So I never really got that spot. Every time I failed, I would lose my spot because it was just me, or Sourav or Laxman… Over seven years I think I sat out of 40 Test matches. And then when Sourav retired, that one year I was actually playing Test cricket. I finally got my spot, but then I got diagnosed with cancer, so… I don’t know what to say. It’s been unfortunate. If you look at the whole journey it’s been great, but unfortunate not to play… another 40 Test matches would have been awesome.I was batting at No. 6, I averaged about 34-35, which is not great. I would have loved to average 40. But for me, at the end of the day, it’s about winning games, and every time I scored runs I’m sure it helped win the game for India. It’s a regret, definitely, but I’ve given my all.On whether he regrets not scoring 10,000 ODI runs:No… Scoring 8000, 9000, whatever, definitely you can look at the books and say, “Oh he scored 10,000 runs.” But winning the World Cup… I’d rather have winning the World Cup than scoring 10,000 runs. I never thought about 10,000 runs, I always thought about winning the World Cup. 10,000 would be very special, but I think winning the World Cup is far more special.Yuvraj Singh never quite cracked the code of being a successful Test batsman•Getty ImagesOn his biggest high and his defining moment on the field:I think the biggest moment in my career would definitely be winning the World Cup in 2011 and being Man of the Series. And we won it in India as well, and after 28 years. There cannot be a bigger high.Defining moment in my career, I think it would be when I batted for the first time in my career and scored 84 against Australia. First game, and you score 84 against the best team in the world… It was quite a dream. Because of that, I came and failed in a lot of games. But because I had started so well I always got an opportunity.On his family’s reactions when he told them:I’d been talking to my wife and mother since two years, that I want to retire and go on with my life. But mentally I was not happy. Because after playing international cricket for so many years, going back and playing domestic cricket was a bit of a struggle.I spoke to my father recently and when I had told him I want to speak to him he was expecting that I would tell him I’m going to retire. He was also saying that, “It’s been enough. Almost 19 years and about 25 years of playing cricket.” I think he was very happy I was retiring, and he hugged me. He was very satisfied with the journey because he lived his dreams through me. He was very happy with my career and told me that when Kapil Dev had lifted the World Cup [in 1983], he had the regret that he wasn’t in that team, but he felt happy when I lifted the World Cup. He was very content with what I had achieved.On whether he would have wanted a farewell match:I didn’t tell anyone in BCCI that I want to play a last match. If I was good enough and had potential, I would have gone to the ground. I don’t like to play cricket in that fashion, that “I want a [farewell] match.” I had been told that if I can’t pass the yo-yo test, I can play a retirement match. I said then that I don’t want a retirement match. If I don’t pass the yo-yo test, I’ll go home quietly.On whether the yo-yo test is needed in a bat-ball game:See, I’m sure in life I will have a lot of time now to discuss these things. I will have a lot to say. I’m not saying it right now because India is playing the World Cup, and I don’t want any controversies around the players. Because I want the players to be in the best phase possible to win the last four. I’m sure my time will come to speak. I don’t want to be in that space where I retired during the World Cup time and whatever… I just retired because I want to move on with my life, and I’m sure my time will come to talk about these things.On which current player reminds him of himself:Not exactly myself, I think he has the potential to be better. Rishabh Pant, he’s already scored two Test hundreds away, in Australia and England. I think that boy has great potential to be a very attacking, match-winning left-hander. I’m looking forward to seeing him in the next few years.On mentorship or coaching in the future:Not now, I’ve just retired! I’ll enjoy myself for a year or two. After that I’ll think about it. Right now I’m going to take some time off. I definitely want to give something back to cricket, and hopefully do some work in the future with the younger generation.Yuvraj Singh gets aerial as he unleashes a throw•AFPOn the captains who had the most impact on him:I think Sourav Ganguly, under whom I started. He supported me a lot. And with MS Dhoni, I’ve won a lot of major championships, so definitely these two captains.Ganguly was very authoritative when it came to fighting for his players. He wanted certain players in the team, like myself, Ashish [Nehra], Bhajju [Harbhajan Singh], Zaheer Khan, [Virender] Sehwag. I think he built us guys together.Dhoni was very composed under pressure. He had a very good mind behind the stumps for how the game was going.On his thoughts before the first time he batted in international cricket:The previous night, Sourav Ganguly told me I have to open. Brett Lee, Jason Gillespie and [Glenn] McGrath were the bowlers. I remember it was a night of a lot of anxiety. But I got up in the morning all ready to open and Sourav said, “No no, I was just joking, playing a prank on you.” I told him that “Hopefully I will be able to repay the prank some day!”I think there’s less pressure when you’re actually going in to bat. There’s more pressure outside, I’ve always felt it. And the moment I was in the zone, it was just like me and the ball.On how he took revenge on Ganguly:Gave it back to Sourav? Nicely, after a couple of years, against Pakistan. Bhajji and me made a false newspaper cutting of him accusing his own players. And Sourav got all red on the field and he said, “I don’t want to captain this team anymore.” And then we said, “April fool, .”On the toughest bowlers he’s faced and his favourite overseas cricketers:You’re asking me this now?! (laughter)I think Muttiah Muralitharan would be the toughest I’ve faced. The other would be Glenn McGrath. The overseas cricketers I admire… Ricky Ponting is someone I really admire as a batsman. AB de Villiers, Chris Gayle… I think these guys were serious powerhouses when I played against them.On playing under pressure:Under the sword, under pressure, I always play my best cricket. I used to enjoy the challenge when we were three or four down. When Kaif and me won that Natwest final, a lot of belief came from that situation, that if I can do this now at such a young age, I can do more in the future.I felt the pressure a lot when I came back after cancer. I was not that fit, I went to France for training. When I came back in the team, Duncan [Fletcher] was the coach. And I felt there was a lot of pressure just to perform at that time. Everything had changed. Because everybody thinks I’ve come back from cancer and I’m not the same player anymore. That added up a lot of pressure on me, but that’s how life is.