The Detroit Tigers elected to intentionally walk San Diego Padres designated hitter and two-time batting champion Luis Arraez to pitch to outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr. in the bottom of the 10th inning of San Diego's 6-5 win on Wednesday.
And Tatis took that personally.
The Padres star, who on Monday returned from the injured list to a warm reception from Padres fans, gave the Petco Park faithful something else to cheer about on Wednesday with a single to score rookie Jackson Merrill for the winning run.
After the game, Tatis admitted the Tigers' decision fueled him, according to Darnay Tripp of NBC 7 San Diego.
"I took it personal," Tatis said. "As soon as I saw four fingers up, but it gave me the push that I needed, the energy that I needed. I just wanted to come through for the boys."
Of course, it's hard to blame the Tigers for walking Arraez. The Padres slugger is batting .315 and has struck out just twice since the All-Star break. Tatis, on the other hand, has logged just nine at-bats since June in his return from injury heading into the bottom of the 10th inning.
But Tatis, who just three years ago belted 42 home runs in a single season, is also one of the more productive hitters in the game when healthy. And the Padres star delivered for his club in a big spot.
Tatis compiled an .821 OPS in the first half of the season and was selected as an All-Star game starter for the National League, though he missed the game due to a stress reaction in his right thighbone.
Now healthy, Tatis will look to help the Padres (80-61) hold onto the top Wild Card spot in the National League, and perhaps push for the NL West division crown, where the club is currently 4.5 games back of first place.
The former coach says Stubbs and Rickelton could be key to South Africa’s chances
Firdose Moonda07-Jun-20252:02
Boucher: WTC final appearance a massive achievement for SA
Reaching the World Test Championship (WTC) final proved South Africa’s continued ability to compete in the top echelons of world cricket but winning it could mark the start of an entirely new era, according to former national coach Mark Boucher.”A lot of people have criticised South Africa, which is not really fair,” Boucher told ESPNcricinfo during the IPL. “You play what’s in front of you and with all due respect, the sides that we’ve played against, we probably should have beaten and we’ve done that. So we find ourselves in a final. But I wouldn’t say that it has got the crowds going in our country. Everyone’s very excited about it now as the opportunity arises, a lot of people are going to travel over to London, spend all their Rands and go watch what should be a good match. If we win it, I think then that could be the turnaround for Test cricket in our country.”Boucher’s comments speak to those (like Michael Vaughan) who have said South Africa’s road to the final was too easy as they avoided both England and Australia, but such was the design of the FTP. It also points a finger at the South African public, whose belief in their team has wavered after decades of faltering in semi-finals and, most recently, losing three T20 World Cup finals (two women’s, one men’s) in succession. Do they think the WTC is the one South Africa can win?Related
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“We’re playing for a trophy, so I guess a lot of people are saying no [we can’t win] but I think it’s a different feel in Test match cricket,” he said. “It’s played over a longer period of time and you’ve just got to win big moments in the game as well. Yes, there will be that tag [chokers] that gets thrown our way until we win a trophy. You’re not going to get rid of the tag. Is it deserving on these youngsters coming through? No, it’s almost like they’re carrying the burden of what happened in previous years, which is always going to be tough on them but they’re the ones in control of their futures at the moment.”Boucher identified two of South Africa’s younger batters, who have never played a Test at Lord’s or against Australia, as key to their chances in this match. “Ryan Rickelton has been playing nicely for Mumbai Indians (MI) and he was actually on the tour that we went to England [in 2022] as well,” Boucher said. “He’s actually played quite a few games in England as well, so he’ll know the conditions. And Tristan Stubbs has come back and played a lot of domestic cricket and basically forced his way into the Test side because of the runs that he’s got. On paper, Australia will probably feel that they’ve got a better batting line-up than what we have, but have we got the attitude to go out there and in a one-off game, just leave it all out there? Absolutely.”Mark Boucher picked Tristan Stubbs and Ryan Rickelton as batters to watch out for•ICC/Getty Images
Boucher was in charge of South Africa the last time they played Tests in England in 2022, where they won the opening Test at Lord’s but lost in Manchester and at The Oval to go down 2-1. He cited their inability to score significant runs as the main reason for their defeat – “we just couldn’t really put together anything that’s substantial on the scoreboard with regards to runs and that’s where we really lost our way in the whole series” – but there was also a selection blunder at Old Trafford, where South Africa picked a spinner. It forced them to bat first on a green top, where they were bowled out for 151. They lost by an innings and 85 runs.Aiden Markram and Kyle Verreynne are the only batters from that tour that are still in the squad (Temba Bavuma was out injured) and that was Boucher’s final Test series in charge. He has not been involved in the South African structures since resigning after the 2022 T20 World Cup and went on to coach MI for two seasons before finding work as a pundit.As for Boucher’s point about in-stadium support, at least South Africa can look forward to plenty of that at Lord’s. It is expected to be filled with South African fans, with a healthy number of expats in the city and a number of travelling supporters due to land in London next week. The same vibe is not always seen at home, though there has been a revival post-Covid, especially at the SA20, which sees regular sell-outs, and at some Test venues. SuperSport Park in Centurion and Newlands in Cape Town tend to attract the most number of people, while Kingsmead in Durban and St George’s Park in Gqeberha remain a challenge. Some of that has to do with a lack of interest, another issue is with timing (Tests that start midweek mean the working and schooling population cannot attend) and a third, cost. Most South Africans live below the breadline and a day at the cricket, including transport, tickets and refreshments, is beyond their budget. But if South Africa win the WTC, will they come?Not this summer, with no home Tests planned as grounds are refurbished for the 2027 ODI World Cup but next summer South Africa host eight Tests (three each against England and Australia and two against Bangladesh) in a cycle that also includes away series in Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka. Given that South Africa reached the final this time, whatever happens at Lord’s, expectations will be high as they enter the 2025-2027 period with much tougher challenges in store.
Luis Suárez foi contratado pelo Grêmio na virada de 2022 para 2023 e caiu nas graças da torcida de imediato. O atacante é o grande líder do elenco nessa temporada e tem o maior salário do time, quase R$ 2 milhões.
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“El Pistolero”, como também é chamado, por sua famosa forma de comemorara gols, foi anunciado no dia 31 de dezembro de 2022 com contrato até o fim de 2024. Apesar disso, não existe certeza de que Suárez cumprirá o contrato até o fim. O uruguaio interessa o Inter Miami, time do ex-companheiro de Barcelona, Lionel Messi.
+Veja a tabela do Brasileirão
Antes de chegar ao Grêmio, Luis Suárez recebia no Atlético de Madrid € 9 milhões (R$47,3 milhões) por ano, segundo o Mundo Deportivo. Atualmente, segundo o site “GOAL”, o atacante chegou no Tricolor para receber metade deste valor, € 4,5 milhões (R$23,6 milhões) por ano. Por mês, em reais, o salário do uruguaio se aproxima da casa dos R$ 2 milhões.
Ronald e Gustavo Martins são convocados por Ramon Menezes para o Pan-Americano
O camisa nove já balançou as redes do adversário para o Grêmio 16 vezes neste ano. Recém-promovido à Série A, o Grêmio, de Luis Suárez, conseguiu o impressionante feito de chegar à semifinal da Copa do Brasil de 2023 e briga pelo título do Brasileirão.
After losing three of his first six Premier League games in charge of Manchester United this season, it’s no surprise that pressure is once again starting to mount on manager Ruben Amorim.
The 40-year-old could only lead the Red Devils to a 15th-place finish last time around, but he was handed the benefit of the doubt after taking the reins midway through the campaign.
However, the hierarchy backed him with over £200m worth of funds to strengthen his first-team squad, but so far, it appears that his attempts have been to no avail.
Questions have since started to be asked about his long-term future in the role, but it’s thought that the hierarchy aren’t yet planning a change of manager despite the recent poor form.
Despite such reports, rumours continue to swirl around Old Trafford, with numerous names constantly touted over a potential switch to take the reins in the near future.
The latest on United’s hunt for an Amorim replacement
Over the last couple of days, former England boss Gareth Southgate has been hugely linked with the role at United – not for the first time, after being touted for the position numerous times in recent years.
The 55-year-old would be a cheap option for the hierarchy, with no compensation fee needing to be paid, given he’s currently without a job after departing the Three Lions role in July last year.
However, he’s not the only manager currently in their sights, with Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner another huge target, according to Graeme Bailey.
The journalist confirmed in recent days that the Eagles are planning to tie the Austrian down to a new contract, but the Red Devils are looking to swoop and secure his services.
He also stated that the 51-year-old could be open to the switch after receiving a lack of funding at Selhurst Park, with the move to Old Trafford undoubtedly a huge jump in his managerial career.
Why United’s latest target would be the next Mourinho
José Mourinho was a manager who divided opinion during his time at United, but his ability to win trophies is something which simply can’t be understated.
The 62-year-old spent two and a half years in the role at Old Trafford, securing two trophies in the form of the Europa League and the EFL Cup – with both trophies coming in the 2016/17 campaign.
He also led the club to their joint-highest league standing since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013, ending the 2017/18 season in 2nd place behind Manchester City.
His outspoken nature often drew discontent from the fanbase, subsequently leading to his departure from the Red Devils back in December 2018.
However, the hierarchy could appoint their next version of the manager should they appoint Glasner, with the Austrian possessing a lot of similarities to Mourinho.
In a surprising turn of events in 2024/25, the 51-year-old claimed the FA Cup by beating Manchester City in the final to secure their first-ever major trophy.
He also won the Community Shield against Liverpool back in August, matching the feat achieved by Mourinho at Chelsea before his own move to the Theatre of Dreams.
Oliver Glasner – PL stats
Statistics
Tally
Games managed
57
Wins
23
Draws
20
Losses
14
Goals scored
88
Goals conceded
68
Points won
89
Points per game
1.6
Win percentage
40.3%
Stats via Transfermarkt
Glasner, who’s been labelled “sensational” by Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley, has also led the Eagles to an 18-game unbeaten run across all competitions – the longest of any side in England’s top-flight.
In his 72 outings in charge of the Eagles, he’s claimed victory in 35 of them, whilst only losing 15 times – further highlighting how impressive he’s been at Selhurst Park.
Such a record has seen him lose six fewer games than Amorim at United, that’s despite taking charge of 23 more outings than the 40-year-old at Old Trafford.
It remains unclear if Glasner himself would be open to making the move to Manchester, but it’s clear that the Austrian would be an unbelievable appointment should Amorim depart.
Given the failures felt since the current boss took charge nearly 12 months ago, it’s crucial that the board make a huge call on his future in the coming weeks, but the appointment is just as important, with Glasner needing to be the number one target.
Amorim upgrade: "Best coach in the PL" would now "love" to manage Man Utd
Manchester United may look to one manager to replace Ruben Amorim in the near future.
Aston Villa have made contact over a deal for an “unstoppable” forward, who is now an “option” for the final week of the transfer window.
Villa keen on new forward after disappointing Brentford loss
Villa are winless in their opening two Premier League matches this season, most recently suffering a 1-0 defeat away at Brentford, and Troy Deeney was left very unimpressed by their attackers’ performance at the Gtech Community Stadium.
When asked whether Villa need to sign Nicolas Jackson, Deeney said: “Absolutely they need him. I put down on my notes ‘toothless’, Aston Villa going forward. It’s long throws, it’s set pieces, it’s just not looking right in the midfield for me, there’s too many central players.”
Unai Emery’s side are still yet to register a league goal this season, with Ollie Watkins drawing two blanks, while new signing Evann Guessand failed to make an impact after coming off the bench against the Bees.
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By
Angus Sinclair
Aug 22, 2025
As such, Emery may want to bolster his attacking options ahead of the September 1st transfer deadline, and the Villans have now stepped up their interest in signing a Premier League forward…
That is according to Fabrizio Romano, who recently took to X to state that Aston Villa have made contact over a deal for Chelsea’s Christoper Nkunku, who is now an “option” for Emery’s side going into the final week of the summer transfer window.
Chelsea's ChristopherNkunkucelebrates scoring their first goal
However, there may be fierce competition for Nkunku’s signature, with Bayern Munich also being named as potential suitors, alongside former club RB Leipzig, with a potential price tag of £35m recently being touted.
Nkunku is not the only attacker on the shortlist, however, with Romano revealing that Villa are also targeting Jackson and Marco Asensio.
"Unstoppable" Nkunku could excel at Villa Park
Given that Chelsea are blessed with a wide array of attacking options, the Frenchman has found game time difficult to come by at Stamford Bridge, but there are signs he could excel at Villa Park.
Journalist Zach Lowy has waxed lyrical about the former RB Leipzig man’s pace and movement in the past, while he also proved himself as a reliable goalscorer in Germany.
Indeed, the ex-Leipzig star amassed a whopping 36 Bundesliga goals across the 2021-22 and 2022-23 campaigns, while also providing 21 assists during that time.
Nkunku has been unable to reach similar heights in the Premier League, scoring just three goals last season, but he was often utilised as a substitute, and the 14-time France international’s previous exploits indicate he could excel at Villa if given regular time.
With each passing season, or even each passing game, what it means to be Manchester United appears to be drifting away.
No longer a winning machine, the soul of the club has also been somewhat lost of late, amid the relentless redundancies that have been rolled out by the INEOS regime – all to help fund another collection of expensive player incomings.
On the pitch, Ruben Amorim’s persistence with his 3-4-2-1 system appears at odds with the great teams of the past, having slipped so far from the gung-ho, edge-of-your-seat style which was synonymous with Sir Alex Ferguson – and those before him.
A microcosm of the modern game, United’s most damning act has been the repeated selling of the family silver, with academy graduates the major victims in recent years.
Only last summer, the Red Devils shipped Scott McTominay off to Napoli amid the desire to bring in Manuel Ugarte in his place. One of that duo is now a Ballon d’Or nominee…
As for this summer, Alejandro Garnacho has been allowed to join the Chelsea circus, while fellow FA Cup final hero Kobbie Mainoo has been tipped to follow him out the exit door, amid his lack of regular game time.
A player whom Gary Neville suggested the club should be “building [the team] around”, Mainoo simply can’t be allowed to leave. Instead, a new addition is needed to help revive him.
Latest on Man Utd's midfield search
“Now I’m a Baleba…”
Brighton & Hove Albion's CarlosBalebain action with Everton's Idrissa Gueye
The songs had already been written; scarves were no doubt being sold. Alas, unless a drastic change occurs, United won’t be forking out the required £100m plus fee for Brighton and Hove Albion’s Carlos Baleba, despite identifying the Cameroonian as a leading target.
With the Seagulls holding firm on their desire to keep hold of their 21-year-old sensation, Amorim’s search for an athletic number eight will have to shift its focus, with the centre of the park in particular need of reinforcement, amid the continued reliance on an ageing Casemiro.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
With that in mind, Caught Offside have reported that United are showing an interest in signing Atletico Madrid midfielder, Conor Gallagher, with the England international seemingly in line for a return to the Premier League.
As per the report, the 25-year-old is available heading into the final days of the window, with the LaLiga outfit slapping a £45m asking price on his head. That would ensure that an offer in that region would likely be accepted.
Unsurprisingly, Amorim and co aren’t alone in their interest, as Tottenham Hotspur are said to be the club who are ‘leading the race’ right now. The Lilywhites are even said to be ready to make a bid.
Why Conor Gallagher could be perfect for Mainoo
The key crux of the issue right now for young Mainoo is that Amorim has outlined that he views the 20-year-old as a competitor, rather than a partner, for Bruno Fernandes in central midfield, thus ensuring his route to game time is severely blocked.
That said, United’s chief creator may well still be better suited to a number ten berth, thus perhaps opening the door for Mainoo to nail down the number eight role instead, having previously thrived in a deeper position during his breakout 2023/24 season.
While last term was a tale of injuries and frustration, it’s easy to forget just what a revelation the Englishman was the year prior, having kicked things off with a Man of the Match display on his first Premier League start at Everton in November 2023.
A meteoric rise over the next few months saw the then-teenager net that Wembley winner, prior to starting every knockout game during England’s surge to the Euro 2024 final – having even started the showpiece defeat to Spain.
A “generational” talent, in the view of teammate Rasmus Hojlund, Mainoo possesses that unerring ability to simply breeze past opponents, with his poise and power having even led Anthony Elanga to describe him as having “similar attributes to Paul Pogba”.
Marcus Rashford
£42m
Scott McTominay
£42m
Kobbie Mainoo
£42m
Alejandro Garnacho
£38m
Anthony Elanga
£36m
Mason Greenwood
£34m
Alvaro Carreras
£30m
Dwight McNeil
£21m
Dean Henderson
£17m
Angel Gomes
£17m
Pogba’s time at United is enough for a 10,000-word piece on its own, but where the Frenchman truly shone was on the international stage, partnering a certain N’Golo Kante as Les Bleus claimed World Cup glory in 2018.
Like the mercurial Pogba, Mainoo is in need of that athletic workhorse alongside him – particularly so in this 3-4-2-1 system.
Enter, Gallagher.
Previously described as being like “Kante with goals” by talkSPORT pundit Tony Cascarino – having also been likened to his ex-Chelsea colleague by Thomas Tuchel – the Atleti star would represent the perfect foil for Mainoo in the engine room.
A pressing “monster” – as per Tom Dutton – the £45m man notably ranked in the top 4% of Champions League midfielders for interceptions per 90 last season, as per FBref, having been a relentless presence in Diego Simeone’s setup.
Also ranking in the top 1% for passes between 15 and 30 yards, the one-time Crystal Palace loanee plays a simple but effective game, ensuring he could win back possession, before picking out the likes of Mainoo ahead of him.
That’s not to say he’s simply the archetypal ‘piano carrier’, however, with Gallagher also offering a real threat in his own right in attack, having registered six goals and assists in LaLiga last term. His pass accuracy rate of 87%, as per Sofascore, is also nothing to be sniffed at.
There might be more technically proficient players on the market, but few boast such impressive physical traits, with the Cobham graduate perhaps representing the athletic solution that Amorim has been searching for all summer.
If a deal can be struck in the dying embers, it could well be just what is needed to get the best out of Mainoo again. Should Amorim fail to revive United’s golden boy, on his head be it…
Great news for Mainoo: Amorim's "magician" is now open to leaving Man Utd
Manchester United might lose one of their most important players before the transfer window closes.
Harshit Rana and Ravindra Jadeja picked up three wickets each to restrict England to a very gettable 248
Vithushan Ehantharajah06-Feb-2025
Shreyas Iyer came out all guns blazing in India’s chase of 249•BCCI
It was both untidy and emphatic. India made light work of their 249 target, passing it with 68 deliveries to spare in Nagpur. That they only won this first ODI by four wickets was down to an unnecessarily messy finish. One that spoke more to their disorder at how simple this was than any rallying from England’s part. After a 4-1 hammering in the T20I series, Brendon McCullum’s first ODI as head coach ended in a similar shellacking.It was a mix of old and new that combined to give those in light blue a 1-0 lead in this three-match series. Ravindra Jadeja’s 3 for 26 was supplemented by Harshit Rana’s 3 for 53 on his maiden ODI appearance to roll England for 248 with 14 deliveries to spare. Jos Buttler’s 52 and Jacob Bethell’s 51 were the only scores of note after Phil Salt’s emphatic start of 43 from 26 had been wasted.With Virat Kohli ruled out with a right knee injury sustained on Wednesday evening, Shubman Gill stepped up to ice the chase with 87, helped initially by Shreyas Iyer’s 59 and Axar Patel’s outstanding 52, in stands of 94 and 108, respectively.The former came at a vital juncture, as Jofra Archer nicked off Yashasvi Jaiswal on ODI debut and Saqib Mahmood – in for the rested Mark Wood – had skipper Rohit Sharma caught at mid-on in the space of six deliveries. From 19 for 2, India did not look back.Iyer’s fifty off 30 deliveries set an emphatic tone, dealing with anything and everything short, pulling and then ramping Archer for consecutive sixes at the end of the seventh over. Four of his nine fours were carved off Brydon Carse, who opted for length deliveries more on the off side once it became apparent Iyer was relishing the chance to heave to leg.Axar’s introduction up the order proved a masterstroke, the left-hander playing with the kind of freedom that allowed Gill to calmly go about his business. Gill’s one alarm came when given out lbw on 38 to Liam Livingstone, but even that was corrected immediately as DRS showed a clear inside edge. The vice-captain’s 14th fifty was his first against England.The pair combined expertly in the 29th over against Carse, taking 17 from it with two boundaries each – the best of them a ramp from Axar over the keeper. It was then that this chase officially became a canter, with just 48 needed from the last 21 overs. Axar raised his bat for fifty for the first time on home soil, driving his 46th ball, from Carse, on the up and through the fielder at mid-off.Axar Patel and Shubman GIll put on 108 runs together•AFP/Getty ImagesThat he was not able to see things through – bowled by a slow leg spinner by Adil Rashid – was a disappointment to Gill at the non-striker’s end. On 81 at the time, with 28 remaining, thoughts then turned to the 25-year-old’s century, which seemed to bring about indecision, first with KL Rahul’s dismissal – a tame caught and bowled to Rashid – and then his own, as he failed to strike Mahmood over Buttler at mid on.Jadeja’s edge off Mahmood through wicketkeeper Salt for the winning runs characterised the anxiety brought on by that unnecessary cascade of three wickets for just four runs. But it also highlighted England’s shortcomings with the bat, brought about by their own three-wicket collapse at the top of the order in the space of eight deliveries.Salt had driven an opening stand of 75 with Ben Duckett, leaving India flapping in the field. The brutality of Salt’s acceleration after a watchful start was contained in Rana’s third over for 26 courtesy of three sixes – a top-edge, a slog sweep off a slower ball and a heave over midwicket to finish the over.But a miscommunication on a third run brought about his demise, the first domino to fall as 75 for 0 became 77 for 3. A cut to deep point was chased down by Iyer, who threw to the striker’s end to find Salt comfortably short of his ground, having been sent back by Duckett.Harshit Rana on ODI debut picked up three wickets•AFP/Getty ImagesBack came Rana with a bang, with two wickets in the following over. Duckett mistimed a pull shot that required a spectacular catch from Jaiswal, running back from midwicket before a well-judged dive. Harry Brook was then taken well down the leg side by Rahul, who had beaten Rishabh Pant to wicketkeeping duties, after a rising length delivery caught the bottom glove.Joe Root came to the middle for his first ODI innings since the 2023 World Cup, the ideal man for such a rebuild even given his absence from 50-over cricket. What optimism there was with Buttler at the other end did not last long, with Root falling lbw to Jadeja after 51 deliveries at the crease. It was the fourth time the left-arm spinner has dismissed him in the format.At that stage, England were 111 for 4 in the 20th over. Not too dissimilar to India’s 111 for 3 at the end of the 16th, when Bethell trapped Iyer plumb in front.Bethell’s stand with Buttler for the fifth wicket looked to be trending towards an emphatic rebuild akin to what Gill and Axar achieved. But the English duo’s partnership was capped at 59 when Buttler, nine deliveries after bringing up his 38th fifty-plus ODI score from 58 balls, clipped an Axar long-hop around the corner to Hardik Pandya at short fine leg.Unlike India’s middle order, England’s fell apart, even as Bethell held his nerve through to a second ODI fifty from 62 balls. His maturity and reading of the situation was a lesson to more experienced heads around him. Those lower down owed it to him to stick around, but the return of pace ended up seeing off Liam Livingstone (caught behind for Rana’s third) and Carse (bowled for Mohammed Shami’s first).Once Bethell was given out on review after Jadeja had struck his back pad on the sweep, only a few lusty strikes from Archer (21 not out) gave England what looked a respectable total at the halfway stage. India, though, showed it no respect whatsoever.
O Ceará é tricampeão da Copa do Nordeste! Nesta quarta-feira (3), a equipe visitou o Sport, na Ilha do Retiro, foi bastante pressionado (pelo adversário e apoio maciço das arquibancadas) e perdeu no tempo normal por 1 a 0. Entretanto, com a decisão do título indo para as penalidades, o Vozão se redimiu ao vencer por 4 a 2, graças à grande atuação do goleiro Richard, e conquistou pela terceira vez o troféu regional.
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COMEÇO DE PRESSÃO
A necessidade de buscar o resultado e também o estilo de jogo do Leão fizeram com que os anfitriões tivessem uma postura agressiva desde o início, em que dois erros defensivos do Ceará quase custaram uma precoce abertura do marcador. Na primeira delas, Richard tocou nos pés de Jorginho, que bateu com precisão, mas o arqueiro se recuperou e levou a bola a tocar no travessão. Logo na sequência, Vagner Love foi acionado em velocidade e seu chute parou em mais uma intervenção do goleiro do Ceará.
DECISÃO IGUALADA
Mesmo quando não conseguia finalizações mais agudas contra a meta adversária, o Sport persistia no elevado volume ofensivo e deixava seu adversário absolutamente ‘encurralado’ em território além de sem alternativas visíveis para sair da pressão. Com isso, aos 26 minutos, uma bola cruzada da esquerda foi cortada apenas parcialmente pela zaga do Ceará. Foi então que Luciano Juba, na marca do pênalti, bateu forte para inaugurar a contagem na Ilha do Retiro.
SPORT SEGUIU MARTELANDO
Tanto na reta final da primeira etapa quanto nos minutos iniciais do tempo complementar, o cenário do jogo não sofreu qualquer alteração. O Leão da Ilha era o verdadeiro comandante das ações ofensivas. Variando os lados de campo e com extrema velocidade de transição, o Rubro-Negro ia confundindo a marcação adversária e abria espaços em que o travessão, os erros de finalização e também participações importantes de Richard mantinham o duelo indo para as penalidades com o 1 a 0 parcial.
FOI TUDO PARA A MARCA DA CAL
Apesar dos esforços empreendidos pela equipe dirigida por Enderson Moreira e em algumas estocadas pontuais do Ceará, em que a zaga leonina conseguiu evitar finalizações mais agudas, a decisão da Copa do Nordeste 2023 foi parar nas penalidades máximas. E, na hora de decidir, Richard novamente apareceu de maneira destacada na partida ao pegar as cobranças de Luciano Juba e Gabriel Santos. Nesse contexto, coube a Erick converter a quinta cobrança e fazer explodir a torcida do Vozão no setor visitante da Ilha do Retiro.
FICHA TÉCNICA DA PARTIDA SPORT 1 (4) x (2) 0 CEARÁ – FINAL DA COPA DO NORDESTE
Local: Ilha do Retiro, em Recife (PE) Data e hora: 03/05/2022 – 21h (de Brasília) Árbitro: Denis da Silva Ribeiro Serafim (AL) Assistentes: Luanderson Lima dos Santos (BA) e Brigida Cirillo Ferreira (AL) VAR: Pablo Ramon Gonçalves Pinheiro (RN) Cartões amarelos: Igor Cariús, Ronaldo Henrique (SPO); Danilo Barcelos, Janderson, Richard, Vitor Gabriel (CEA) Cartões vermelhos: –
GOLS: Luciano Juba, aos 26’/1°T (1-0)
SPORT (Técnico: Enderson Moreira)
Renan; Eduardo, Rafael Thyere (Chico, aos 37’/2°T), Sabino e Igor Cariús (Felipinho, aos 23’/2°T); Fabinho, Ronaldo Henrique (Pedro Martins, aos 37’/2°T), Edinho (Wanderson, aos 23’/2°T), Jorginho (Gabriel Santos, aos 28’/2°T) e Luciano Juba; Vagner Love.
CEARÁ (Técnico: Eduardo Barroca)
Richard; Warley (Michel, aos 32’/2°T), Tiago, Luiz Otávio e Willian Formiga (Danilo Barcelos, aos 20’/1°T); Richardson, Arthur Rezende (Jean Carlos, no intervalo) e Guilherme Castilho; Erick, Vitor Gabriel (Luvannor, aos 16’/2°T) e Janderson (Chay, aos 32’/2°T).
Celtic and Brendan Rodgers still have plenty of work to do in the market before the summer transfer window officially slams shut at the start of September.
When asked about what the Hoops need to do, Rodgers said: “I think it’s bringing goals to the squad. Especially when you score four goals, it seems like you’re okay. But we lost an important player in Kyogo [Furuhashi] in January. He brought us a lot of goals. We lost Nicolas Kuhn. He brought us a lot of goals. Matt O’Riley even last summer.
“So even though we scored a lot of goals last season, we still want more. And our ambition is to have more. So I think all across the front areas, we have to be active in order to give us that depth we need.”
This suggests that the Scottish Premiership champions will be looking to add more attacking players to their squad, which is backed up by their reported interest in Go Ahead Eagles forward Jakob Breum.
However, the Hoops should also be looking for reinforcements in the middle of the park in the coming weeks, as they look a little light in the number six department.
Why Celtic need to sign another number six
Callum McGregor, the captain, is currently the only player in the squad who you would describe as a natural number six, a tempo-setter who can sit at the base of the midfield to dictate play and screen in front of the back four.
Reo Hatate, Arne Engels, Luke McCowan, and Paulo Bernardo are the manager’s other options in the middle of the park, and they are all more traditional number eight or number ten types, who want to be all-action and pushing forward to get involved in attacks on a regular basis during games.
Callum McGregor
McGregor is the player who sets the standards, as the captain, and really drives the style of play for Rodgers with his fantastic ability to be a metronome in midfield.
24/25 Premiership
Callum McGregor
Midfield rank
Pass accuracy
94%
1st
Passes attempted per game
80
1st
Passes made per game
74
1st
Least possessions lost per game
6.9
1st
Accurate long passes per game
1.4
2nd
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, no midfielder in the squad is as effective or efficient as a passer than the former Scotland international, which is why he is the starting number six for Celtic.
However, there is no depth behind the 32-year-old star in that position, which is why it should come as good news that the Hoops are looking at another option for that role.
Celtic eyeing up Premier League starlet
According to TEAMtalk, Rodgers is ‘planning’ a raid to sign Liverpool central midfielder Stefan Bajcetic to bolster his Celtic squad before the end of the summer window.
The report claims that the Spanish youngster has emerged as a target for the Scottish Premiership champions, who are looking for more reinforcements in the coming weeks.
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It adds that Liverpool, who won the Premier League last season, are willing to sanction an exit for the 20-year-old talent, and that they would be willing to explore a loan with an option to make it permanent next summer.
However, TEAMtalk explains that the potential valuation of that permanent option could make it a difficult deal for Celtic to do, as they do not want to go overboard on their budget, which makes this a difficult deal for them to get over the line.
Liverpool midfielder Stefan Bajcetic.
If the Hoops are able to reach an agreement with Arne Slot’s side to bring Bajcetic to Parkhead, though, they could have a McGregor clone on their hands.
Why Celtic should sign Stefan Bajcetic
The 20-year-old starlet could come in as the perfect understudy to the Celtic captain as a natural number six who can step in and play when the Scottish ace needs a rest, with a view to him eventually taking over as the starter in the future.
At the age of 20, Bajcetic is 12 years younger than McGregor and could be the future for the Hoops, as a young player with plenty of time left ahead of him to grow and develop, whilst the skipper is in the latter stages of his career.
Stefan Bajcetic and Jurgen Klopp
In terms of how he would fit in from a stylistic perspective, the Liverpool youngster would also be an ideal signing because he was the most comparable player to McGregor, statistically, in the Champions League last season, as per FBref.
The chart above backs that up, as they appear to excel in similar areas of the game in and out of possession, as Bajcetic caught the eye whilst on loan at RB Salzburg in the first half of the season.
During his time in the Austrian Bundesliga, the Liverpool youngster showcased his potential as a number six who can dictate games as a passer, whilst also being strong out of possession.
24/25 Bundesliga
Stefan Bajcetic per 90
Percentile rank vs midfielders
Passes made
41.55
Top 19%
Pass accuracy
81.8%
Top 27%
Accurate long passes
3.08
Top 17%
Tackles made
1.91
Top 16%
Duels won
8.37
Top 7%
Duel success rate
62%
Top 1%
Stats via FotMob
As you can see in the table above, he ranked highly among midfielders in areas of the game that a number six needs to excel at, in terms of setting the tempo with passes and winning his duels in front of the back four.
As you would expect at the age of 20, Bajcetic is not the finished article, as shown by his pass accuracy of 81.8%, compared to McGregor’s 94% in the Premiership, but he has time on his hands to develop.
Celtic'sCallumMcGregor
Journalist Leanne Prescott once claimed that it was “staggering” how in control Liverpool looked with the Spaniard at the base of their midfield, which further backs up the belief that he could come in as the perfect understudy to the Celtic captain.
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Bajcetic is a McGregor clone in the making with his qualities in and out of possession in the number six position, which is why he could be a fantastic addition to the squad this summer.
Chelsea are set for a hectic next few days, as they attempt to take advantage of this unique registration period and sign new players before the June 10 deadline.
Chelsea attempting winger signing before Club World Cup
Despite reported talks for targets in other positions, there is a belief among some reliable media sources that Chelsea hold a serious desire to upgrade their wide options after completing a deal for Liam Delap.
£80m forward clear he wants to join Chelsea with "positive talks" held
Enzo Maresca’s side are very active in the market right now.
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Chelsea haven’t given up on signing AC Milan keeper Mike Maignan, who’s told the Rossoneri he wants a move to Stamford Bridge, but plans to bring in a winger have also been accelerated after the departure of Jadon Sancho.
Sancho returns to Man United after Chelsea failed to agree personal terms with the £300,000-per-week forward, and they will now pay a £5 million penalty fee to Ruben Amorim’s side after opting out of the obligation to buy in his contract.
This leaves Maresca a wide-man short, and Myhkailo Mudryk also remains ineligible due to his on-field ban for failing a drugs test.
“Chelsea’s next priority after Liam Delap is a right-footed left winger,” said reliable journalist Ben Jacobs on X this week.
“Alejandro Garnacho, Nico Williams and Jamie Gittens are three names under consideration. The desire to add another winger is more with Mykhailo Mudryk’s absence in mind. Process likely to take time regardless of the outcome.
Ukraine's MykhailoMudrykbefore the match
“Another forward is also possible as Christopher Nkunku is expected to leave. This could be another number nine, despite faith in Nicolas Jackson. Or it could be a versatile attacking midfielder. Chelsea will be opportunistic should Morgen Rogers become available, but Aston Villa have no intention to sell even with a tight PSR position.”
Movement has occurred behind-the-scenes in Chelsea’s pursuit of some targets, mainly Williams and Gittens.
Chelsea have informed Williams’ agents that they’re prepared to pay his £50 million release clause, and have been pushing for Gittens as an alternative to the Spain winger recently (Simon Phillips).
Chelsea propose swap deal in discussions for Mohammed Kudus
According to reports from the last 24 hours, Maresca’s side do have another option – West Ham United star Mohammed Kudus.
The Ghanaian’s contract includes an £85 million release clause, which becomes active in July, but the Hammers are open to entertaining other offers.
That is according to The Mirror and journalist Ryan Taylor, who report that Chelsea have held talks with West Ham over Kudus. The Blues are said to have proposed a “multi-player-package deal” during these discussions, meaning they’re prepared to use more than one squad member as makeweights to bring the African’s price down.
However, West Ham are not interested in a transfer of this nature, meaning Chelsea may have to go back in with another proposal if they’re to strike a deal for the 24-year-old.
Kudus is widely expected to leave the London Stadium, two years after Chelsea tried to sign him from Ajax in 2023, and despite a mixed 2024/2025, the former Eredivisie starlet has still impressed in flashes during his time at Rush Green.
“He’s a top, top talent and I think we haven’t seen the best of him yet,” said teammate Aaron Cresswell.
“I won’t go near him in training because I know if I’m going to try to knock him off the ball. I had better make sure he’s not looking and doesn’t see me coming. You just can’t get near him. He’s so strong, so quick, so sharp.”