You may not have predicted them to be the last two teams standing, but they are fitting finalists

George Binoy25-May-20243:46

Talking tactics: How do SRH deal with KKR’s big-hitters?

Match detailsIPL final: Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad
Chennai, May 26Big picture: Did you think it would be KKR vs SRH?No one gets to the IPL final without earning it. The league, contested over two months of play-sleep-travel-repeat in the sweltering Indian summer, tests every aspect of a franchise and individual. It examines a team’s culture, bench strength, and ability to plan for diverse conditions and opponents. It tests a player’s skill, fitness and versatility. Sure, luck may have a say every now and then, but it tends to average out over the course of a grueling season. To be the last two standing from a field of ten is quite the achievement already.So, did you predict this final at the start of IPL 2024?No child’s play getting to the IPL final•BCCISunrisers Hyderabad had finished last in 2021, eighth in 2022, and last again in 2023. KKR placed seventh in the previous two seasons. SRH broke auction records to buy an overseas fast bowler unproven in the IPL and made him their captain. KKR in turn broke SRH’s record bid for a fast bowler who hadn’t played in the league since 2015. Both moves, which left the teams with little wriggle room to make other big moves, were met with widespread skepticism. And neither were considered favourites to be playing in Chennai on May 26.They’ve got here by playing astonishing cricket: KKR and SRH have scored faster than any team ever has in an IPL season. After four other sides began with regulation totals in the first two games of the season, KKR and SRH went crashbangwallop against each other at Eden Gardens, and never stopped swinging. They forced the rest to level up too and the ones that couldn’t had no chance of competing.KKR won their two trophies in 2012 and 2014. SRH in 2016. After their struggles in recent seasons, these two teams have been at the forefront of the batting revolution in IPL 2024, and it is fitting that one of them will add to their tally of titles on Sunday.Form guideKKR WWWWW (last five matches, most recent first)
SRH WLWWLPrevious meetings: KKR 2, SRH 0Their first match was the third game of the season, at Eden Gardens, where Andre Russell powered KKR to 208 and SRH, propelled by Heinrich Klaasen, finished on 204. They then met in Qualifier 1 in Ahmedabad, after finishing No. 1 and 2 in the league, and KKR won by eight wickets and 38 balls to spare once Mitchell Starc bowled Travis Head second ball.Only once before has a team won the IPL final after losing all their previous matches that season against their fellow finalists – when Mumbai Indians beat Rising Pune Supergiant in the 2017 final, after losing both league matches and Qualifier 1 to them. In six other seasons, the team that went into the final 0-2 or 0-3 against their opponents, ended up losing.Mitchell Starc was a gamechanger in Qualifier 1 between KKR and SRH•AFP/Getty ImagesTeam news and Impact Player strategyKolkata Knight Riders
Unless there are any niggles, KKR are likely to play the same combination that beat SRH in Qualifier 1. Nitish Rana and Vaibhav Arora are likely to swap in and out as Impact Players depending on whether they bat or bowl first.Likely XII: 1 Sunil Narine, 2 Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), 3 Venkatesh Iyer, 4 Shreyas Iyer (capt), 5 , 6 Rinku Singh, 7 Andre Russell, 8 Ramandeep Singh, 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Harshit Rana, 11 Varun Chakravarthy, 12 Sunrisers Hyderabad
SRH’s combination may not be as clear cut. They may not have brought Shahbaz Ahmed in as Impact Player in Qualifier 2 against Rajasthan Royals had they not lost wickets in a hurry. He went on to score 18 and bowl a match-winning spell of 3 for 23 with his left-arm spin. But with as many as four left-hand batters in the KKR line-up – Narine, Venkatesh, Rana and Rinku – SRH might have to come up with an alternative bowling strategy than two left-arm spinners for the final.There’s also a question around their fourth overseas player. Aiden Markram played Qualifier 2 after missing five games but got out for 1 off 2 balls to continue a poor run of form. When he was on the bench, SRH tried allrounder Marco Jansen and legspinner Vijayakanth Viyaskanth without much success. Is it too late for Glenn Phillips to make an entrance this season?Likely XII 1 2 Abhishek Sharma 3 Rahul Tripathi 4 Aiden Markram 5 Heinrich Klaasen, 6 Nitish Kumar Reddy, 7 Abdul Samad, 8 Shahbaz Ahmed/Mayank Markande, 9 Pat Cummins, 10 Jaydev Unadkat, 11 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 12 In the spotlight: Shreyas Iyer and Pat CumminsShreyas Iyer is the only captain to lead two different franchises to the IPL final: Delhi Capitals in 2020 and KKR this year. The last few months have been turbulent for Shreyas. He struggled with a back injury after the 2023 ODI World Cup, was dropped from India’s Test side, lost his BCCI contract, and wasn’t in the running for a place in the squad for the T20 World Cup. And though he’s scoring faster than he ever has this IPL (345 runs at a strike rate of 146.19), he’s had a fairly non-descript season as a batter. Most of his runs have come after the top order has done the heavy lifting. His most impactful innings, however, came against SRH in Qualifier 1 – 58 not out off 24 balls in the chase – and in the absence of the prolific Phil Salt at the top, he could be called upon once again to play an innings of substance.As captain of Australia, Pat Cummins has won a World Test Championship, retained the Ashes in England and won the ODI World Cup in India, all in the last 12 months. But if he leads SRH to the IPL title as an overseas captain in his first ever leadership gig in T20 cricket, that could be his most impressive achievement yet. He’s their second highest wicket-taker this season (17 with an economy of 9.29) but he too has had an understated season with no headlining performance. If he delivers when it matters most – like he did in Ahmedabad in November – don’t be surprised.Stats that matter KKR’s bowlers are in red-hot form. They have taken 47 wickets in their last five completed matches – the most by any team in a five-match stretch in the history of the IPL. Their bowlers have a collective average of 16 and economy of 7.95 in this period, a huge improvement from the average of 31.38 and economy of 10 in their first eight games. With both KKR and SRH having line-ups full of explosive batters, the bowling could make the difference. Qualifier 1 was the first time Head faced Starc in a T20 and he was bowled for a duck second ball. If he gets past Starc in Chennai, we will be entering new match-up territory. Head has faced only 14 balls from Narine and Russell, and none from Varun. Abhishek Sharma has a poor match-up against Russell (two dismissals in 12 balls) but if he gets to face KKR’s spinners, he strikes at more than 175 against both Varun and Narine. Klaasen was the danger man for KKR in their first match against SRH this season. He has a T20 strike rate of more than 200 against Varun and Starc, and 166.67 against Narine, with only one dismissal in 42 balls. Russell, however, has kept Klaasen quiet – conceding only 12 runs off ten balls.Pitch and conditionsA sudden shower from around 5.45 pm on the eve of the final forced KKR to cancel their training session. It lasted for more than an hour but the forecast for Sunday is fair: temperature in the 30-35 Celsius with high humidity, and less than 5% chance of rain, according to Accuweather.The pitch for the final is a red-soil strip and could be more batting friendly, unlike the black-soil surface on which RR were spun out by SRH in Qualifier 2. It is also more centrally located on the square, which means the boundary dimensions will be more even. The big question, however, is whether there will be dew. There usually is, but there wasn’t during RR’s chase against SRH on Friday.”I feel the pitch is completely different from what they played yesterday,” Shreyas said on the eve of the match. “It’s a red-soil [pitch] and yesterday, if I’m not wrong, it was a black-soil wicket. We don’t know how the wicket is going to play tomorrow and also looking at the match from the TV, we felt the dew factor would play a great role, but it didn’t and the ball started spinning”Quotes”I think data and analytics is there as a tool to use, but it’s just, you know, it’s one factor in a decision-making process. So, you know, data only takes you so far. So, I think there’s still a strong place for kind of gut feel and intuition.”
“I feel that he has got immense knowledge about how the game is played. He has won two titles previously with KKR and his strategies have been spot-on in terms of what execution we have to make against the opponents.”

The Red Devils' captain has demanded more signings before the season begins, and we've picked out some of those they should be looking to recruit

Bruno Fernandes had just picked up a trophy, but he was in no mood for celebration. Manchester United had sealed the Premier League Summer Series title after beating West Ham, Bournemouth and drawing with Everton, but the performance in Sunday's 2-2 draw with the Toffees had deflated the initial excitement that surrounded the Red Devils' pre-season tour, and Fernandes was not interested in beating around the bush.

He called out the attitude of some of his team-mates and made a call to United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe to make more signings before the real action begins, despite the club splashing out £133 million ($176m) on Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha while failing to make any money back on player sales. 

"Our performance wasn’t the best and we were a little bit lazy today. We want to avoid that because with laziness you can pay at any moment," the United captain told .  [The squad] is improving. But it’s not the place it needs to be. I don’t want to take a dig at anyone, but the club is doing the best they can in terms of the financial situation they talk about. 

"It was crystal clear we needed more competition for the players that were here, more quality to get everyone to step up a little more to get to the XI, and I think that is what the club are trying to do. Hopefully we can get one or two players more to help with that."

Fernandes comments will probably not have gone down well with Ratcliffe and United's other directors, but the midfielder, who resisted a hugely tempting offer from Al-Hilal earlier in the summer, was speaking the truth. His team still looked vulnerable in defence, in goal and in central midfield, and with no further investment in the squad it would be difficult to see how they can gatecrash the Premier League's top four next season and qualify for the Champions League, which should be the main objective.

So here, then, are the players United should be looking to sign before the transfer window shuts on September 1, if not before they kick-off their campaign against Arsenal on August 17:

• Getty Images
  

  Benjamin Sesko

  United lined up against Everton without a recognised centre-forward, and though they produced some thrilling attacking play in transition, they lacked a focal point in the middle. It is no secret, either, that the club want to sign another striker after Rasmus Hojlund only scored four Premier League goals last season, and that Benjamin Sesko is their top target. 

  United will face fierce competition from Newcastle for the Slovenian's signature, and he is set to cost in excess of £70m ($93m). Then again, there is little point in United investing so much in their attack without having a reliable striker leading it, and RB Leipzig hitman Sesko is the highest scoring player under the age of 23 in Europe's top five leagues.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Gianluigi Donnarumma

  There have been a lot of questions about Andre Onana's suitability to remain United goalkeeper, even before he got injured in the first week of training and became a doubt for when the season begins. The Cameroon international is, though, still easily the best 'keeper within the squad, as Altay Bayindir looked shaky in the draw against Everton and Tom Heaton, who turns 40 next April, is unquestionably the third choice. 

  United were linked with Aston Villa's Emiliano Martinez earlier in the summer, but he has been deemed to be too expensive to pursue. In the meantime, however, another renowned international goalkeeper has appeared in the shop window: Gianluigi Donnarumma is about to enter the last year of his contract with Paris Saint-Germain and has seen his status as Luis Enrique's No.1 challenged by the imminent arrival of Lucas Chevalier from Lille.

  The gigantic Italian is the type of proven, serial-winning 'keeper Amorim appears to favour, and if his price drops further in the final weeks of the window, United would be advised to pounce.

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  Morten Hjulmand

  While United have spent big on their attack, they have neglected their midfield, and the Everton match underlined how lightweight they still are in the middle of the pitch. Kobbie Mainoo is a wonderfully gifted footballer, but he lacks the physical steel of some of his counterparts, whileManuel Ugarte, who gave the ball away for the Toffees' first goal, did not really convince in his first season in the Premier League. Indeed, Amorim left him out of the team for the Europa League final against Tottenham.

  And there is a face very familiar to the coach who is shaping up as a tempting option. Morten Hjulmand was the player Amorim signed to replace Ugarte at Sporting CP in 2023 when the Uruguayan left for PSG, and Hjulmand helped the Lisbon side win back-to-back Portuguese league titles.

  The Denmark international would have no trouble fitting into the coach's system and would be available for around £40m ($53m). The only concern is that his passing statistics were far lower during Sporting's games in the Champions League and that he could struggle to adapt to the intensity of Premier League, just as Ugarte has done.

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  Carlos Baleba

  Given Amorim's preference for signing Premier League-ready players such as Mbeumo and Cunha, a move for Carlos Baleba of Brighton would present a lower risk than Hjulmand. The Cameroon international schooled Mainoo and Ugarte in the Seagulls' 3-1 win at Old Trafford last season, the same game which led Amorim to smash a television in the dressing room in anger afterwards.

  Baleba would cost in the region of £70m ($93m), but former United defender Rio Ferdinand believes it is a price worth paying, even at the expense of signing a centre-forward like Sesko.

  "Would I get a number nine I'm not sure about, who's a bit young, inexperienced, or would I get Baleba with Premier League experience and know what he can do here? I'm going Baleba, sorry," Ferdinand said on his Youtube channel. "I think he'll have a huge impact on this squad, on this team. You free up a few people in that midfield area as well to have a little less responsibility defensively because I think he's all-action. He can do it all."

Match details

Mumbai Indians (10th; W3, L8) vs Sunrisers Hyderabad (4th; W6, L4)
Mumbai, 7.30pm IST (2pm GMT)

Big picture

By the time Monday dawns, Mumbai Indians (MI) will either be out of the reckoning for the playoffs of IPL 2024, or all but. Heading into their last three games of the league phase, the most they can realistically hope for, in all likelihood, is to lift themselves off the bottom of the table, finish somewhere near its middle, and get a clear picture of who to retain and who to let go of before the big 2025 auction.Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), their opponents on Monday night, will have a lot more to play for. They are fourth at the end of Sunday’s action, and are well placed for a top-four finish with three home games to end the league phase after this trip to Mumbai. If the last ball of their most recent game – a one-run victory over Rajasthan Royals – had played out any differently, though, they might be looking a lot less secure, nursing the wounds of three back-to-back defeats.On such results can hinge the fate of entire seasons. It feels especially true right now, with the playoffs race as tight as it is. With four games left, SRH will look to control everything they can control, and hope that enough of the 50-50 moments go their way to keep them near the front of the playoffs queue.

Form guide

Mumbai Indians LLLLW
Sunrisers Hyderabad WLLWW

Previous meeting

This was the match that turned IPL 2024 into IPL 2024. The first seven games of the season had been, well, normal – just three 200-plus totals in 14 innings, with a highest of 208. Then SRH went and raised the ceiling for everyone, going crash, bang, wallop all the way to 277 for 3, the IPL’s new record total. For a while it looked like the record would last only a few hours, as MI got to the halfway point of their chase at better than their original required rate, but SRH’s bowlers held on through the back half to seal a 31-run win. The record wouldn’t last too long anyway, as SRH themselves obliterated it 19 days later.Rohit Sharma should return to the starting XI if he is back to full fitness•BCCI

Team news and Impact Player strategy

Mumbai Indians
Rohit Sharma was MI’s Impact Player in their last game, against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), a back spasm forcing the team to use their ex-captain in this role. Rohit batted in the nets on both Saturday and Sunday and didn’t look in any visible discomfort, and Naman Dhir said at Sunday’s press conference that Rohit was “fit and fine”. He should return to the starting XI if he is back to full fitness.MI may also reconsider the idea of deploying just two overseas players: with Rohit designated to come off the bench as an almost mandatory impact sub, they were unable to use either Mohammad Nabi – whose offspin could have been very useful on a pitch where the part-timer Dhir ended up bowling three overs – or the big-hitting Romario Shepherd off the bench, so it felt like a waste to start neither of them.Likely XII: 1 Rohit Sharma, 2 Ishan Kishan (wk), 3 Suryakumar Yadav, 4 Tilak Varma, 5 Hardik Pandya (capt), 6 Tim David, 7 , 8 Romario Shepherd/Mohammad Nabi, 9 Gerald Coetzee, 10 Piyush Chawla, 11 Jasprit Bumrah, 12 Sunrisers Hyderabad
SRH made a significant decision in their last game, leaving out the out-of-form Aiden Markram and bringing in the bowling allrounder Marco Jansen. They are likely to stick to that overseas combination at the Wankhede, with their last bowling pick – either Jaydev Unadkat, Umran Malik or Mayank Markande – likely to be conditions-dependent.Likely XII: 1 Travis Head, 2 Abhishek Sharma, 3 , 4 Heinrich Klaasen (wk), 5 Nitish Kumar Reddy, 6 Abdul Samad, 7 Shahbaz Ahmed, 8 Marco Jansen, 9 Pat Cummins (capt), 10 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 11 T Natarajan, 12

In the spotlight

Rohit Sharma scored 261 runs at a strike rate of 167.31 and an average of 52.20 in his first six matches of IPL 2024. Since then, he has only made 65 runs in five innings, getting past 11 only once and falling four times to left-arm pace. How will he go against an SRH attack that could feature as many as three left-arm quicks in Jansen, T Natarajan and Unadkat?Abdul Samad will need to find a way to raise his game in chases•BCCI

When things fall into place for them, SRH’s batting line-up is awe-inspiring. When the top order doesn’t click, though, vulnerabilities begin to appear. SRH have more than adequate batting depth on paper to not let a couple of early wickets derail them, but that depth doesn’t always translate into returns on the field. It’s been particularly evident in run-chases this season. Perhaps what they need is for Abdul Samad, a batter of immense potential as well as frustrating limitations, to round out his game. While batting first, Samad is often the perfect end-overs finisher, but his game isn’t always suited to situations that call for multiple gears against different styles of bowling. His record reflects this: he averages 34.66 and strikes at 236.36 while batting first this season, while going at 14.66 and 125.71 in chases. It’s been a pattern over his IPL career too: batting first he’s gone at 32.22 and 164.77, and while chasing those numbers drop to 14.88 and 133.15. His bowling-type numbers also tell a similar story: he has averaged 23.94 and struck at 174.49 against pace over his IPL career, while going at 16.00 and 94.11 against spin.

Stats that matter

• SRH’s two most dangerous spin hitters have terrific records against Piyush Chawla. Abhishek Sharma has hit the legspinner for 40 runs in 16 balls in T20s while being dismissed twice, while Klaasen has hit him for 28 runs in 14 balls while being dismissed once.
• MI would love to have Tim David facing Natarajan in the death overs. So far, David has scored 47 off 16 balls from the left-arm quick without being dismissed.
• Travis Head is eight runs away from the 3000 mark in T20s.
• Bhuvneshwar Kumar needs three wickets to get to the milestone of 300 in T20s, while Unadkat is one short of 100 IPL wickets.

Pitch and conditions

The Wankhede is usually characterised by high scores and tall run-chases, but the most recent game there, between MI and KKR, had a different flavour, with the spinners coming into their own. Chawla picked up 1 for 15 in three overs, while Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy returned identical figures of 4-0-22-2 for KKR. It remains to be seen if this was a sign of wearing pitches in the second half of the season or just a one-off.

Quotes

“In IPL every team is very competitive, so often ‘home-ground advantage’ is not the apt term. I won’t say that SRH is going to score 250-plus again. We are a good bowling side so we’ll try to restrict them.”
“That’s always going to be an ongoing conversation but the way we pick our team is very much a game-to-game situation. We know the quality that someone like Umran has and it’s a new venue and opposition tomorrow and obviously his name may come up in selection conversation.”

Ardon Jashari says his dream has come true after joining AC Milan, as he asserts he'll give his all to take the club back to where it belongs.

Ardon Jashari gives his first AC Milan interviewSays he's proud to join the clubSeeks to learn a lot from Luka ModricFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Beaming with hope and determination about his new move, Jashari says it was his childhood dream to join the club. Speaking to the club's official media, the Swiss midfielder is excited to start his journey as a Rossoneri and looks forward to playing alongside Modric.  The 23-year-old says he's also got his luck on his back taking up the no.30 shirt at the club.

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It was Milan's third bid that Club Brugge could finally agree upon. The club's agreed on a deal worth €34 million (£29m/$39m) guaranteed with €3m in performance-based bonuses. These bonuses are each of €1m and could reportedly be triggered should Milan qualify for next season's Champions League, reach the Champions League semi-finals and win Serie A while Jashari is a part of the club. However, nothing could force the hands of the Belgian club more than Jashari's unflinching desire to join Milan.

WHAT JASHARI SAID

Speaking to the club's official media, the Swiss midfielder said: "It's an incredible feeling to be here after the last few weeks. I'm truly proud to be part of this historic team. I want to take the club where it deserves to be, win matches and titles, and I'm ready to give it my all. Playing for AC Milan was a dream I've had since I was a child, and now it's come true."

When asked about his inspiration, Jashari said: "Definitely Roberto Baggio and Andrea Pirlo. I liked the way they played; technically they were really strong. Their final passes, how creative they were… These are things I try to bring into my own game. Physically, I can make a significant impact, help in both phases of play and provide the decisive assist in critical areas. I think these are my strengths with which I can help the team."

Speaking on taking up the no.30 shirt and playing alongside Modric at the club, Jashari said: "I started out wearing this number in Switzerland, at the club where I turned professional. I love Messi, so I also took it because he had it. It brought me luck in the past, so I wanted to keep it. I hope to make it a historic number. Starting my adventure here with an incredible player who has won so much can only help me. I want to learn a lot from him, listen to him, watch how he is on and off the pitch."

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR JASHARI?

After a dragged on summer transfer saga, the ex-Luzern midfielder will now focus on his journey at San Siro. The Serie A side have a new midfield in place giving all the fire power for Massimiliano Allegri to work with. The Italian club will face Bari in the first round of the Coppa Italia next before the league kicks off on August 24.

It has been a tough few days in the life of Hardik Pandya, and he acknowledges it. But he won’t “run away from it” and will “keep working hard – hard work never goes to waste – and keep smiling”.”Eventually, I believe, you have to stay in the battle. Sometimes life puts you in situations where things are tough, but I believe that if you leave the game or the field, the battle that is, you won’t get what you want from your sport, or the results you are looking for,” Hardik said ahead of the T20 World Cup in an interview with . “So, yeah, it has been difficult, but at the same time, I have been process-driven, I have tried to follow the same routines I used to follow earlier.”At the same time these things happen; there are good times and bad times, these are phases that come and go. That is fine. I have gone through these phases many times and I will come out of it as well.”Related

• Pollard 'sick and fed up' of people picking on Hardik

• The People vs Hardik Pandya – why, what, and the way out

• Hardik Pandya fires up the bowling cylinders

It all looked rosy for Hardik till IPL 2024 started. After that, as the new Mumbai Indians (MI) captain, he oversaw a last-place finish for his team. His returns with bat (216 runs in 13 innings at a strike rate of 143.04 and average of 18.00) and ball (11 wickets in 12 innings at an economy rate of 10.75) were mediocre. It appeared that he had offended the fans at both MI – where he had replaced a popular and well-loved captain, Rohit Sharma – and Gujarat Titans, his previous team, who he had guided to a title win and a second-place finish in his two years at the helm. For large parts of the IPL, he was booed at stadiums, even at neutral ones.Now he is at the T20 World Cup. As India’s vice-captain, deputy to Rohit. And as India’s premier fast-bowling allrounder.”I don’t take my successes too seriously. Whatever I have done well, I have forgotten about them immediately and moved forward. Same with difficult times,” he said. “I don’t run away from it. I face everything with [my] chin up.”As they say, this too shall pass. So coming out [of these phases] is simple: just play the sport, accept that [you need to] maybe get better at your skillset, keep working hard – hard work never goes to waste – and keep smiling.”Along with the hard work, Hardik stressed on the importance of going back to a point in time when things weren’t as good for him as they are now, when he had to fight for opportunities, a period that perhaps shaped him.”I think it comes down to self-belief,” he said. “I believe a lot in hard work. You can succeed only if you put in the effort for it. I want to give myself the opportunity to… why do I prepare and commit myself every time? The only reason is that while I am not guaranteed success, I am guaranteed an opportunity to be successful. I focus simply on how do I keep getting better. Speak to myself. Try to know my real version.”Hardik Pandya right now at 30 is a much, much easier job compared to what Hardik Pandya was when I was 16. So I go back to the 16-year-old and I ask him how did you do it, why did you do it?”At that point of time, I didn’t have facilities or opportunities. Hard work gave me opportunities and opened doors for me. So I am in that zone right now [where] I am going and asking the 16-year-old – because he is my actual motivator, because if that guy hadn’t set the platform I probably wouldn’t have been here.”India played Bangladesh in their only warm-up game ahead of the T20 World Cup today in New York on Saturday, and Hardik started his time in the USA well, with a 23-ball 40 not out and 1 for 30 in three overs. India’s first match at the main tournament is on June 5, against Ireland, also in New York.

أصدر نادي مانشستر سيتي الإنجليزي بيانًا رسميًا قبل قليل، أعلن خلاله رحيل أحد لاعبيه عن صفوف الفريق.

وكان مانشستر سيتي أعلن في وقت سابق من اليوم الثلاثاء، رحيل حارس المرمى البرازيلي إيدرسون، والذي انضم إلى فنربخشة التركي (طالع التفاصيل من هنا).

وفي بيان عبر موقعه الرسمي، أعلن مانشستر سيتي رحيل مانويل أكانجي، والذي ينضم إلى إنتر ميلان الإيطالي. 

وتوصل الناديان إلى اتفاق، على أن ينضم أكانجي لإنتر ميلان على سبيل الإعارة لمدة موسم واحد، وفي انتظار الحصول على التصريح الدولي.

انتقل اللاعب السويسري الدولي إلى مانشستر سيتي قادماً من بوروسيا دورتموند في سبتمبر 2022، وشارك في 136 مباراة مع الفريق الإنجليزي.

وفاز أكانجي بسبعة ألقاب مع مانشستر سيتي، بواقع لقبين في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، ولقب دوري أبطال أوروبا، وكأس العالم للأندية، وكأس الاتحاد الإنجليزي، ودرع الاتحاد الإنجليزي، وكأس السوبر الأوروبي.

وفي موسم 2024/2025، شارك في 40 مباراة مع مانشستر سيتي، وكان آخر ظهور له في هزيمة مانشستر سيتي أمام الهلال السعودي في كأس العالم للأندية 2025.

Sports Interactive have unveiled the first teaser for Football Manager 26, and it promises to be the most visually rich and immersive edition yet.

FM26 teaser revealedFirst look at new matchday visualsPremier League licence includedFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The makers of the iconic football management simulation have confirmed Football Manager 26 is on its way. In a teaser clip sent to fans, Sports Interactive revealed the new edition will be their "most immersive and visually rich" release to date, giving players more control over their footballing destiny than ever before.

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Sports Interactive’s switch to the Unity enginge is a significant shift for the long-running series, opening the door to enhanced graphics, animations and presentation. With the official Premier League licence now fully integrated, matchday visuals are expected to be more lifelike than ever – something fans have been requesting for years.

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Sports InteractiveWHAT NEXT FOR FM26?

No release date has been given yet, but the studio has promised more updates in the coming weeks. For now, fans can only sit and patiently wait after seeing the 2025 edition scrapped to focus on bringing huge upgrades for FM26.

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Rafinha atualmente é um dos mais experientes do elenco são-paulino. Veterano, o jogador falou sobre a importância da torcida ‘ser paciente’ com a reconstrução do Tricolor paulista e elogiou o trabalho do treinador Rogério Ceni.

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Em entrevista ao podcast ‘Santo Papo’, da SPFC Play, o lateral-direito falou sobre a última temporada e analisou o desempenho e as metas do time para este ano. Segundo suas palavras, os torcedores precisam entender que o clube não é mais o ‘São Paulo de antigamente’, e que é preciso confiar no trabalho que vem sendo feito pela equipe.

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Veja a tabela do Campeonato Paulista e simule os próximos jogos

No último ano, alguns torcedores ficaram desapontados com o desempenho do Tricolor. Muito pelos resultados baseados nos ‘quases’. A equipe chegou até as finais do Campeonato Paulista e da Copa Sul-Americana, foi semifinalista da Copa do Brasil, mas não ergueu nenhuma taça.

Rafinha considerou a temporada 2022 positiva e destacou que os jogadores do plantel atual compreendem a grandeza do clube.

– Todo jogador do São Paulo entende a importância da nossa torcida. A equipe dominava bem mais no Morumbi, isso se deve ao torcedor. Lógico que ele fica chateado quando a equipe não joga bem. Claro, a gente tem que entender que não é o São Paulo de antigamente, mudaram jogadores, é outro nível. É um tom muito forte, com muitos garotos. Ano passado, ninguém contava que a gente ia chegar nas finais que chegamos. Temos que dar valor, parabenizar. Temos que valorizar o que foi feito, o trabalho – disse.

Veja as movimentações do São Paulo no mercado da bola

O veterano destacou que o Tricolor é uma equipe que está passando por um processo de reconstrução. Enfrentando uma dívida milionária e sem conquistas há anos – com exceção do Paulista de 2021 – o elenco passou por uma restruturação nesta temporada, com a saída de diversos jogadores e a chegada de novos reforços. Rafinha reiterou o fato de ser um elenco jovem e que demanda tempo e preparo dos torcedores para saberem lidar com as dificuldades que o clube do Morumbi enfrentou nos últimos anos.

– O torcedor é importante, mas tem que entender que é uma equipe em reconstrução. São muitos jovens, os torcedores precisam de um pouco de paciência. O torcedor é a alma do clube, ele que fica e apoia, tem que valorizar quem está aqui se empenhando. Não é fácil. Temos que valorizar isso – completou.

Rafinha se referiu ao Tricolor como uma equipe conhecida por sua grandeza. Ao traçar as metas para a temporada 2023, deixou claro que ganhar títulos passou a ser uma necessidade, justamente para manter o histórico vitorioso do São Paulo.

– O São Paulo, por sua grandeza, não pode passar tanto tempo sem ganhar títulos. Queremos ser campeões, conquistar, chegar nas finais. Nas finais, a chance aumenta muito. É objetivo desse ano. Chegar nas decisões para chegar perto do título. A gente vive de conquista, para manter a grandeza. Sabemos dessa responsabilidade. Pressão sempre vai ter, a responsabilidade é gigante – disse Rafinha.

Para o jogador, Rogério Ceni é um dos maiores responsáveis por esta reconstrução. O veterano não escondeu a admiração pelo treinador e o colocou como a pessoa ideal para comandar o elenco tricolor. Com experiências na Europa e em diversas equipes, Rafinha destacou que uma das melhores características de Ceni é a ‘abertura’ que ele tem com o elenco.

– O Rogério respira o São Paulo. Vive aqui de uma forma intensa. Ele participou de quase todas as conquistas, ele dá essa abertura para a gente conversas, é importante. O Rogério conversa, troca ideias. É muito bom. Quando tem algo que não estamos confortáveis, a gente expõe e ele dá abertura. Ele vive o São Paulo, conhece todos os buracos e todos os cantos – destacou.

A renovação de Rafinha foi anunciada em novembro do último ano. O novo vínculo do jogador termina em dezembro.

Barcelona and Villarreal are planning for their La Liga fixture to take place in Miami this season.

• LaLiga match to be played in Miami
• Approval needed from RFEF, FIFA, UEFA
• NFL scheduling pushes fixture to Hard Rock Stadium

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Villarreal and Barcelona have accepted that their LaLiga match scheduled for December 20, 2025, will be played at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, USA, according to a report from This would mark the first time a major European league fixture takes place on U.S. soil. Both clubs are already preparing their schedules for this historic overseas game. The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) will officially discuss and potentially approve the proposal on August 11, after which UEFA and FIFA permissions will be sought.

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  The move is part of LaLiga president Javier Tebas’s long-standing ambition to globalize Spanish football and expand its footprint in the lucrative U.S. market. Thanks to recent FIFA regulation changes allowing league matches abroad, the idea has gained momentum despite earlier resistance from the RFEF. The Miami game represents a landmark shift, signaling a new era where geographic boundaries in football are increasingly flexible. However, the Spanish Footballers’ Association (AFE) has voiced concerns, highlighting potential challenges ahead.

• TELL ME MORE

  According to reports, LaLiga has held preliminary talks to relocate the match originally scheduled at Villarreal’s Estadio de la Ceramica to Miami. While the idea of staging a LaLiga fixture abroad is not new, it had faced strong resistance from the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) in the past. However, FIFA’s recent approval allowing national league matches to be played outside their home countries has reignited the proposal.

  The December 20 fixture is now expected to be played at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, largely due to scheduling conflicts with the NFL’s Miami Dolphins, who are set to play at the same venue on December 21. The match will showcase some of LaLiga’s biggest stars, including Lamine Yamal, Robert Lewandowski, and Ronald Araujo, providing U.S. fans a unique opportunity to watch top-level Spanish football live.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR LALIGA?

  If approved, this fixture could set a precedent for other LaLiga games being played abroad, helping the league tap into global markets and increase its fanbase. The league will need to manage scheduling, player welfare, and financial distribution carefully. Reactions from other Spanish clubs and players’ unions will shape future international ventures. Ultimately, the Miami match could become a blueprint for expanding European football’s global reach, strengthening LaLiga’s position as a worldwide brand.

Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso has responded to speculation linking the Brazillian forward Rodrygo with a move away from the Santiago Bernabeu.

• Alonso has addressed rumours linking Rodrygo with a move
• The manager stated his only concern is players' commitment
• Rodrygo faces increased competition following the arrival of Mbappe

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Alonso has addressed the persistent transfer rumours surrounding Rodrygo, stating his focus is purely on the player's commitment to the team. Speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of the La Liga opener against Osasuna, Alonso deflected questions about a potential move for the Brazilian forward.

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  Rodrygo's future has been the subject of speculation throughout the summer, with reports linking Manchester City with a significant bid. The forward now faces increased competition for a starting place at the Santiago Bernabeu following the high-profile arrivals of Kylian Mbappe and Endrick, who join an attacking line that already includes Vinicius Jr. Alonso's comments place the responsibility on the player to prove his dedication amid a more competitive squad environment.

• WHAT ALONSO SAID

  Alonso told reporters: "There are a lot of rumors during the summer. He's been doing well. I'm counting on everyone, and I want them to be committed to and for the team and to be at 100%. That's what worries me and what's occupying me right now."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR RODRYGO?

  The Brazilian will be vying for a spot in Alonso's squad for the first match of the La Liga season against Osasuna. With the transfer window remaining open, speculation about his future is likely to persist. He must impress in training and any given match time to prove he remains a key part of Real Madrid's plans alongside the club's new attacking stars.