Mauricio Pochettino says he asked Chelsea's directors to give him a bigger role in deciding the club's new signings in the next transfer window.
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Goal lists down the greatest players to have played in Liga MX over the years.
Liga MX, the exhilarating heartbeat of Mexican football, embodies a captivating fusion of passion, skill, and sheer spectacle. Its rich tapestry weaves together the vibrant colours of iconic clubs, each with a fiercely loyal following, transforming stadiums into fervent cauldrons of devotion.
From the dizzying speed of lightning-quick counterattacks to the rhythmic symphony of nimble footwork, every match unfolds like a symphony of soccer. Rivalries ignite the spirit of competition, generating seismic waves of excitement that reverberate throughout the nation.
The league has produced some of the greatest players to have graced not only the country of Mexico but the whole world, with some such as the great Hugo Sanchez, who went on to become a legend of European football with Real Madrid. However, some such as Cabinho made a name for themselves primarily in Liga MX, forging their name in the competition's legacy for eternity.
Here, GOAL takes you through the greatest players to have played in Liga MX.
YouTuber Mark Goldbridge has praised Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag for his recent comments on Marcus Rashford.
What did Ten Hag say about Rashford?
It's been a pretty impressive season for the Englishman and after he scored in the week against Chelsea, he became the first player in a decade – since Robin van Persie – to net 30 times in a single campaign for the Red Devils.
Unsurprisingly, Rahsford has earned plenty of plaudits over the past few months but it seems his manager, isn't satisfied just yet.
Indeed, Ten Hag recently told Viaplay (via Goal): "I am happy that finally a player of Manchester United is able to score 30 goals again. But next year the numbers have to be higher."
It might seem like a tough ask of Rashford but Goldbridge seemed to love the high standards being demanded at Old Trafford.
When speaking on The United Stand YouTube channel, he explained his thoughts, as he read out the quotes and then added: "I love that from Ten Hag! The obsession to make things better."
When does Rashford's contract expire?
As quoted in the ManchesterEveningNews, Ten Hag actually had even more to say on the topic. The Dutch coach explained: "There's a lot of room for improvement in his game. I'm convinced he can score even more.
"When you take, for instance, the last 10 games he didn't score many goals. I think only two or three, so yes he can improve. I am happy from what he did last season to now that he brings himself back.
"We supported him where we could, with the way we play but also in his mental mindset. We are happy with that, but we must push him more. I think he's capable of to score 40 goals in a season. So for him that's the next step."
Of course, the big concern for most Man United fans right now is whether or not Rashford will sign a new deal. Indeed, his current £200k-p/w contract end in 2024.
Thankfully, though, his manager also believes that will all be sorted soon, telling the press: "I expect Marcus Rashford to renew. He wants it. Manchester United wants it. He is a child of this club, so I assume this will happen."
All in all, it sounds as though supporters can hope to see even better and bigger things from their star player over the coming years under Ten Hag.
Sussex returned to winning ways in the NatWest T20 Blast after an impressive comeback by their bowlers set up a seven-wicket win over Middlesex at Hove
ECB Reporters Network01-Jul-2016
ScorecardPaul Stirling’s 52 wasn’t enough for Middlesex•Getty ImagesSussex returned to winning ways in the NatWest T20 Blast after an impressive comeback by their bowlers set up a seven-wicket win over Middlesex at Hove.Middlesex looked on course for a commanding score when they reached 71 for 1 in the sixth over with Paul Stirling in full flow.Stirling thrashed 52 off just 24 balls but after he departed in the seventh over Middlesex completely lost momentum.Seven of their batsmen scored between 2 and 6 as they were bowled out for 146 after losing nine wickets for 75 in 12 overs.There were still 14 balls of their innings unused and on a slow but true pitch Sussex had to take few risks as they sauntered to their target with ten balls to spare. Sussex’s fourth victory, which came after they hadn’t won in four, lifted them above Middlesex into third place in the South Group.The control Sussex had at the end was in sharp contrast to the opening overs as Stirling flayed their bowlers, hitting Tymal Mills for two sixes as well as eight fours. He reached his half-century in the fourth over, having put on 33 for the first wicket with skipper Dawid Malan.But Sussex began to drag it back in the sixth over when Nuwan Kulasekara yorked John Simpson (6) and then left-arm spinner Danny Briggs had Stirling caught behind trying to force off the back foot.It was a good night for Sussex’s slow bowlers, who sent down ten overs between them.Briggs and leg-spinner Will Beer had combined figures of 5 for 47 with Briggs also picking up Nick Gubbins (32), when he mis-timed a pull, and Ryan Higgins (4), to a sharp return catch, off successive deliveries.Beer claimed the important wicket of George Bailey, who was making his Middlesex debut, when he bowled the Australian through the gate before removing the dangerous James Franklin (5).Mills was expensive during Stirling’s onslaught ahead of what he hopes will be an England debut in next week’s T20 international against Sri Lanka, but he finished with 2 for 34.Middlesex’s hopes were briefly revived when Harry Podmore had Sussex skipper Luke Wright (23) caught behind off his first ball in the ninth over, Wright having earlier put on 46 with Phil Salt (27) for the second wicket.But Ross Taylor (33 not out) and Matt Machan (41 not out) didn’t need to take any risks and simply ticked over and put away the bad deliveries as they added an undefeated 74 in 62 balls.
Tottenham Hotspur are monitoring Bayern Munich midfielder Marcel Sabitzer, who is currently on loan at Manchester United, according to a recent report from the Daily Star.
Which midfielders could Tottenham sign this summer?
Tottenham are searching for a new midfielder ahead of the summer transfer window, and they are said to be leading the race for Leicester City's James Maddison, having leapfrogged Newcastle United into pole position. Much of Spurs' transfer business will be impacted by who the board appoint as manager, however Maddison will remain a key target regardless of who takes charge, as they do not want to risk losing their lead.
Other potential targets include Sporting CP's Manuel Ugarte, although the 21-year-old would not come cheap, as there is believed to be a €60m (£53m) release clause in his contract, as well as FC Lorient's Enzo Le Fee. According to a report from The Daily Star, Tottenham have also now joined the race for Sabitzer, having been impressed by his performances in the Premier League for Man United since arriving on loan from Bayern Munich in January.
Erik ten Hag is, as yet, undecided about whether to keep the midfielder at Old Trafford, but he will now have to pay £30m if he wishes to do so, with Bayern increasing their asking price in recent weeks.
There is no option to buy included in the Red Devils' loan agreement, meaning that there could be an open race for his signature this summer, with West Ham United and Aston Villa also interested.
Should Tottenham sign Marcel Sabitzer?
It would not be a surprise if Ten Hag is eager to keep the "sensational" 29-year-old, in light of his fantastic performances since coming in as a replacement for Christian Eriksen back in January.
Although he has mainly been utilisied in a central midfield role, the Austrian was given the freedom to play further forward against Sevilla in the Europa League quarter-final, and he scored two goals, highlighting his attacking prowess.
Not only that, but the maestro has been hailed as "diligent defensively", which was most notably on display in Man United's 2-0 victory against Leeds United earlier this season, making a higher amount of both tackles and interceptions than any other player.
As such, Sabitzer would be a versatile option for Tottenham in midfield, and they should continue to monitor his performances for the rest of the season.
Newcastle United are interested in a deal to bring Real Madrid defender Ferland Mendy to St. James’ Park, according to reports.
What's the latest on Mendy's future?
Eddie Howe currently has Matt Targett, Jamal Lewis and Paul Dummett as his left-back options, but having played Dan Burn there for the majority of the season, is reportedly on the hunt for a new first-choice, with Arsenal’s Kieran Tierney one name to have been linked.
Mendy isn’t out of contract at the Santiago Bernabeu until 2025 but has fallen out of favour under Carlo Ancelotti having recorded just 14 La Liga starts since the beginning of the season. The Magpies target hasn’t been helped by his spell on the sidelines though having missed 14 matches with an unspecified muscle injury meaning that he hasn’t had the chance to make his mark due to his absence.
According to Spanish reports (via CaughtOffside), Premier League clubs Newcastle, Arsenal and Manchester City are all “keen on signing” Mendy ahead of the new term. Madrid could potentially look to sanction his sale for a fee of approximately €60m (£52m) in the summer, and whilst it’s unknown whether the northeast outfit could afford this price, it’s stated that he would be a “quality acquisition” for Howe.
Should Newcastle splash the cash on Mendy?
Mendy has been hailed an “incredible” left-back by Manchester United defender Raphael Varane and Newcastle should absolutely empty their pockets to sign him. In full, his former Real Madrid teammate said:
“It's incredible the physical strength he has. He is adapting very well and allows us to chain great efforts in the games. It’s strength in the defence but it helps us a lot in all facets of the game.”
The Los Blancos star has registered 23 assists and scored ten goals since the start of his career whilst ranking in the 99th percentile for pass completion, displaying his strong link-up play and desire to attack down the flank. The FS Management client would also provide Howe with plenty of versatility having operated at centre-back, right-back and on the left side of the midfield outside of his natural left-back position which is a useful attribute to have should any unexpected injuries occur.
Finally, Mendy would bring a winning mentality to Tyneside having secured eight trophies at both club and international level, including the Champions League and the FIFA Club World Cup, so matches the ambitious and positive-thinking mindset of the squad already at St. James’ Park.
Chelsea look as if they could have another gem on their hands in Ian Maatsen, as the 21-year-old left-back is helping inspire Burnley to promotion from the Championship.
Although Graham Potter already has Ben Chilwell and Marc Cucurella available to him at left-back, the Dutchman's fantastic performances so far this season suggest that he could be an excellent heir to the Englishman as a starter at Stamford Bridge.
Who is Ian Maatsen?
Chelsea would sign Maatsen from PSV Eindhoven in the summer of 2018 after scouting him for the Eredivisie side and with the U16 Netherlands national team.
After impressing with the Blues' academy sides, the young defender would sign his first professional contract in March 2019 and later made his senior debut when he was just 17, featuring in Chelsea's 7-1 win against Grimsby Town in the Carabao Cup.
He has since enjoyed loan spells with Charlton Athletic in League One and Coventry City in the Championship, before returning to the second tier again last summer to sign for Vincent Kompany's Burnley.
During his time at Coventry, the Chelsea youngster would earn a huge amount of praise from teammate Simon Moore, in his interview with The Athletic.
He said:
"In Maats’ case, the good certainly outweighs any bad. It says a lot about how good he is that even a slightly off day stands out as exceptional. It is not normal.
“The kid is bright, he’s hugely talented, he wants to learn, and he never gives up."
He has certainly proven himself as ready to play in the Premier League with his displays at Burnley this season, as the Dutch defender boasts four goals and six assists in 31 league appearances, with WhoScored awarding him a strong 7.04 rating for his performances in the second tier.
With Kompany's side almost nailed on to win the title, it would not be a surprise to see them try to sign Maatsen permanently in the summer but Potter must ensure that he remains at Stamford Bridge, as his performances suggest that he could be the ideal long-term heir to Chilwell.
Could Maatsen replace Chilwell at Chelsea?
The former Leicester City man has struggled with injuries during his time at Stamford Bridge but is enjoying a strong run of form with the Blues at the moment, with two goals and two assists to his name in 15 appearances.
However, he has been linked with a Stamford Bridge exit in recent weeks and Cucurella's disappointing performances since joining from Brighton suggest that the Spaniard might not be the ideal replacement in Potter's squad.
Therefore, with Maatsen showcasing his attacking qualities with the likely Championship title-winners, Potter should look to integrate him into Chelsea's first team in the summer, ahead of what will hopefully be a much-improved 2023/24 campaign for the Blues.
Cricinfo looks at the stats highlights of the third day in Cape Town
Kanishkaa Balachandran04-Jan-2007
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18 – Wickets taken by Sreesanth in this series. He equals the record set by Anil Kumble and Javagal Srinath for the most wickets taken by an Indian bowler in a series against South Africa. Kumble’s 18 came in India’s maiden tour of South Africa in 1992-93 while Srinath’s was in the next tour in 1996-97.34.40 – Graeme Smith’s series average after his first-innings 94. Before the second innings at Durban, his average was a paltry 6.66 (20 runs in three innings), but with two half-centuries under his belt, the numbers are more respectable.9 – Number of times Kumble has dismissed batsmen in the 90s, a world record he shares with Kapil Dev. Malcolm Marshall is second with six victims.1 – Number of times Smith has been dismissed in the 90s in his Test career spanning 51 matches.41 – Runs scored by Jacques Kallis on the off side alone in his 54. He was particularly strong against Anil Kumble and Munaf Patel, picking up five boundaries against each, including consecutive fours off Kumble.113 – Runs added by the last seven South African wickets after the second wicket pair of Smith and Hashim Amla put on 159. The story of the South African innings was similar to India’s, as the bowlers had their say after a sizeable partnership. The last seven Indian wickets contributed 174.
Manchester United owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has called Newcastle United “a bit silly” regarding the situation with Dan Ashworth.
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Ratcliffe takes aim at NewcastleAshworth currently on gardening leaveRatcliffe looking to add Ashworth to teamGettyWHAT HAPPENED?
Having successfully taken over the Red Devils in a minority capacity, Ratcliffe now wants to appoint Ashworth as his new transfer guru. The former director of Brighton & Hove Albion has been placed on gardening leave by Newcastle United, who are unwilling to let him go until the Red Devils provide a compensation package of £20 million. Ratcliffe, who has spoken highly of Ashworth, said he does not blame the 52-year-old for wanting to move from St. James' Park to Old Trafford.
AdvertisementWHAT RATCLIFFE SAID
“Dan Ashworth is clearly one of top sporting directors in the world,” he told The Athletic. “I have no doubt he is a very capable person. He is interested in Manchester United because it’s the biggest challenge at the biggest club in the world. It would be different at [Manchester] City because you’re maintaining a level. Here it’s a significant rebuilding job. He would be a very good addition. He needs to decide if he is going to make that jump."
“We have had words with Newcastle who would be disappointed. They have done really well since their new ownership. I understand why they would be disappointed but then you can’t criticise Dan because it’s a transient industry. You can understand why Dan would be interested because it’s the ultimate challenge. We’ll have to see how it unfolds.”
Ratcliffe was asked about the potential £20m compensation package for Ashworth: “A bit silly, personally. I won’t get dragged into that. What I do think is completely absurd is suggesting a man who is really good at his job sits in his garden for one and a half years.
“We had a very grown-up conversation with City about Omar Berrada. When things got done we sorted it out very amicably. They could see why he wanted to take that challenge. You look at Pep [Guardiola] and when he’s done with one of his footballers he doesn’t want them to sit in the garden for one and a half years. He doesn’t do that. That’s not the way the UK works or the law works."
(C)GettyImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Manchester United are looking to turn the club back into title challengers following the takeover. The club has failed to win the Premier League since Sir Alex Ferguson left and currently six down in sixth place in the table. With Ratcliffe and potentially Ashworth on board, fans will be hoping that the club can move back to the top of the Premier League and consistently battle with the likes of Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool.
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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR MAN UTD?
The Red Devils will next take the field when they take on Fulham on February 24 as they look to maintain their current winning run and secure a top-four finish.
Arsenal ensured they stay just three points behind Women's Super League leaders Chelsea after they ran out 2-0 winners against Liverpool on Sunday.
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Arsenal dominant throughout WSL clashMiedema scored first goal in over a yearFoord killed game off with secondGettyTELL ME MORE
Arsenal dominated possession and were the more imposing team in attack for most of the game as they managed to work the ball into the Liverpool box. The visitors were not able to find the breakthrough until the 60th minute when Vivianne Miedema took on a pass from Emily Fox in the middle of Liverpool's half and sent it sailing into the net from outside the box. It is Miedema's first goal for Arsenal since December 2022.
Arsenal looked a bit braver following the opening goal and came close again when Caitlin Foord hit a shot from a tight angle but Rachael Laws managed to keep it out. It felt like a second goal was on the way and it was Foord who delivered it when Alessia Russo got onto the end of a Fox pass, squared to the winger and she tucked it in to kill the game off.
Arsenal looked set to score a third when a nice high ball fell in behind the Liverpool defence for substitute Stina Blackstenius, but her effort went over the bar. The Swede had another great chance when it fell to her in the box, but Laws pulled off the save.
Liverpool had their best chance to pull a goal back deep into stoppage time as the ball was headed on to Mia Enderby who raced towards the Arsenal goal, but Manuela Zinsberger did well to deny her. At the other end, Blackstenius came close yet again only to see her shot hit the post.
AdvertisementGettyTHE MVP
There will be a lot of praise for Miedema and Foord for getting the goals, but Fox's excellent work in both goals should not be overlooked. She squeezed through three Liverpool players and down the wing before squaring to Miedema for the opener, then her perfectly weighted pass found Russo to create the second goal.
GettyTHE BIG LOSER
Liverpool centre-back Gemma Bonner will feel she should have closed down Miedema and attempted to block the Netherlands star's shot rather than simply tracking back and leaving the space for her to tee it up and unleash the shot.
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WHAT COMES NEXT?
Arsenal will fancy their chances of keeping the pressure on WSL leaders Chelsea when they take on struggling West Ham in their next game on February 4. That same day, Liverpool will host another north London team as they face Tottenham.