KKR captain Rahane admits his bowlers were off the boil, but does indicate the pitch wasn’t what his team had asked for

Sreshth Shah09-Apr-20251:51

Did promoting Ramandeep over Russell cost KKR?

“I prefer not to speak. If I speak, I’m in big trouble,” Jose Mourinho famously muttered after a narrow defeat for Chelsea in 2014. That had to do with the refereeing in that game against Aston Villa. On Tuesday, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain Ajinkya Rahane said pretty much the same thing. “” (“If I say anything, it’ll create chaos).”He didn’t need to elaborate. After KKR fell short by just four runs in an IPL 2025 game where their spinners had little impact against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), the murmurs around the Eden Gardens surface, and whether it plays to the strengths of the home side, began swirling again.”Let me just keep it that way. curator publicity (this discussion has just given our curator a lot of publicity),” Rahane went on to add in the post-match press conference. “Whatever you’d like to write about home advantage, you can go ahead. If I have any concerns, I will talk to the IPL about it, rather than you guys, and discuss with the concerned authorities.”Related

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With 238 playing 234, bowlers of all kinds were clattered around the park, but for KKR to not use all eight overs of spin at home went against popular wisdom. Sunil Narine was hit for two fours and three sixes in his three-over wicketless spell of 38. The other spinners on view – Varun Chakravarthy, Digvesh Rathi and Ravi Bishnoi – did complete their overs.Bishnoi, too, was hit for six fours and two sixes. While Varun and Rathi finished with their reputations intact, going at 7.75 and 9.25 respectively, and occasionally troubled the batters with their variations, there was little turn on offer in the afternoon game.”Firstly, there was no help for the spinners, let me clear that,” Rahane said when asked why Narine’s quota was not completed. “They used the longer boundary really well. Our bowlers tried as well, but again, Nicholas Pooran (87* in 36 balls) and Mitchell Marsh (81 in 48) batted really well. In between, they took their chances, which came off really well for them. It was a lovely wicket [to bat on], we all saw that, scoring almost 500 runs [472] on this track. Hard for the bowlers, but they used the conditions and the boundary well.”Rahane said that the KKR bowlers had plan against Marsh and Pooran, especially keeping in mind the lopsided boundary dimensions for this game – 57 metres to one side, 70 metres to the other – but felt the bowlers failed to land the balls in the right areas.”Sometimes what happens is, as a bowling unit, when we have that plan, it’s all about execution, and that didn’t happen tonight for us,” Rahane said. “Against strong, quality players like Pooran and Marsh, as bowlers, there is very little margin of error. I thought our plans were perfect, but we couldn’t nail that perfect yorker or wide slower ball. And they just capitalised on those slightly loose balls or easier balls.”Ajinkya Rahane felt there were enough positives to take back despite their four-run defeat•Associated PressRahane, though, felt there were enough positives to take back despite their four-run defeat, especially with their powerplay batting. He scored 61 in 35 balls himself, and his shots alongside those of Narine (30 in 13) and Venkatesh Iyer (45 in 29) kept KKR in the contest – they were 90 for 1 after the first six overs, their second-best IPL powerplay performance.”I thought we played really good cricket, you know. Chasing 239 and coming that close is never easy,” Rahane said. “Everyone’s intent and attitude was really positive when we came into the dressing room after 20 overs of bowling. And we thought we will chase it down. But these things happen, you know. When you’re chasing, you will lose two-three wickets in between.”I thought the way we started in the powerplay with Sunny’s intent and Venkatesh Iyer’s batting, their contribution was amazing. So we got more positives I feel. I always believe that whatever happened in this game, it’s past now. As long as we are learning from our mistakes and the good things we have done, that’s all.”KKR, now sixth on the points table with two wins in five games, next travel away to meet Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on April 11 in a short turnaround.

Liverpool won the Premier League at a canter last season, but significant changes across the past several months have left Arne Slot’s side looking somewhat imbalanced across the opening weeks of the campaign.

The Reds have relied on last-gasp winners against Bournemouth and Newcastle United in their opening matches of the term, shipping goals in both, though a glass-half-full perspective would suggest that Liverpool’s title-winning mentality is very much intact.

However, Mohamed Salah has been among those to suggest that the tweaks could have had an effect on the Anfield side, the Egyptian King acknowledging that the likes of Arsenal have strengthened considerably over the off-season months.

If Liverpool hope to defend their league title and push for silverware across further fronts, it’s vital that one or two more faces are welcomed through the door, with Newcastle’s Alexander Isak still a priority for sporting director Richard Hughes and co.

Liverpool's last-minute plans

The fight to sign Isak and complete Liverpool’s frontline has gone on and on this summer, but it appears to be coming to an exciting head for Slot’s outfit, with the Magpies having this week signed Stuttgart’s promising striker Nick Woltemade for a club-record £69m fee.

24/25

42

27

6

23/24

40

25

2

22/23

27

10

3

Isak scored 27 goals across all competitions for United last season, winning the Carabao Cup and sealing Champions League qualification.

Liverpool might have landed a top attacking talent in Ekitike, but they have sold Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez, and Isak would come with the guarantee of world-class output in the final third across the duration of the season and beyond.

A deal was reportedly agreed in the late hours of Sunday evening and, at long, long last, the Swede is set to move to Anfield.

It’s a deal worth £130m according to some reports, and it’s a signing that more than puts Liverpool in the driver’s seat for winning the top-flight.

However, Isak isn’t the only Premier League star on FSG’s radar at this late stage, with someone at the other end of the pitch anticipated to join in the coming days.

Liverpool submit late proposal

As per Fabrizio Romano, Liverpool have submitted an official proposal for Crystal Palace centre-back Marc Guehi, having fought to sign the England star over the past several weeks.

Palace have resisted the Reds’ attempts to land the defender, who has entered the final year of his contract at Selhurst Park, but chairman Steve Parish has moved to sign replacements and the signs suggest Guehi is on the brink of sealing his move to Merseyside.

FSG have offered £35m flat for the 25-year-old, looking to close the deal with the view that Ibrahima Konate has entered the final 12 months of his deal and has yet to strike new terms with the Anfield side.

Why Liverpool need to seal late Guehi move

Liverpool signed Giovanni Leoni from Parma for £30m earlier in August. The 18-year-old defender is regarded as one of the great talents of his age bracket and has been integrated right into the first-team fold.

However, too much expectation can wear on an up-and-coming prospect, and adding Guehi to the mix would ensure that the Reds have enough depth in the rearguard to challenge across multiple fronts this season.

Matches (starts)

34 (34)

17 (14)

Goals

3

1

Assists

2

0

Touches*

64.9

46.9

Pass completion

84%

89%

Key passes*

0.5

0.1

Ball recoveries*

4.3

2.0

Dribbles*

0.4

0.2

Tackles + interceptions*

2.6

1.7

Clearances*

4.6

3.6

Duels (won)*

4.9 (59%)

2.5 (61%)

Errors made

2

1

Given the need for such a player and the probability that any deal would be finalised on deadline day, Guehi could even prove to be Liverpool’s finest last-minute signing since Luis Suarez way back when, with the Uruguayan striker joining from Ajax for around £23m in January 2011 after Fernando Torres left for Chelsea.

One of the greatest forwards in Premier League history, Suarez scored 82 goals and laid on 32 assists across all competitions, playing 133 times for the Reds.

Guehi, who is 25, could lead a similar legacy, albeit adding different positional value to Slot’s version of Liverpool.

Hailed as a “monster in defence” by Palace reporter Bobby Manzi, the Three Lions talent might not be directly replacing one of the club’s star members of the backline, but Konate’s long-term future is in doubt, and Virgil van Dijk will soon meet the twilight years of his illustrious career.

And like Suarez, Guehi is more than what his position suggests he might be skilled in. As per FBref, he ranks among the top 2% of centre-backs across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for shot-creating actions, the top 2% for through balls and the top 20% for successful take-ons per 90.

Such is the capacity of his skill set. Though Guehi would fetch a sizeable figure for one approaching free agency, Liverpool feel that his experience, quality and potential yet to be reached make for a compelling piece of business, should they get it done.

Suarez might not have played the prime years of his career Liverpool but he certainly left his mark on the Premier League, almost single-handedly dragging Brendan Rodgers’ side in 2013/14 to the league title.

Guehi would find a squad of greater depth and talent upon arrival in the coming days, and would hope to go one better and claim the prized trophy.

Liverpool have strengthened across the park this summer, and with deals for Isak and Guehi wrapped up before the end of the transfer window, few could deny that FSG will have equipped Slot with everything he needs to take last season’s success, solidify it, and use it as a springboard for another sustained period of success.

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تحدث آرني سلوت مدرب ليفربول، قبل دقائق من انطلاق مباراة الفريق ضد آينتراخت فرانكفورت، في الجولة الثالثة بمرحلة الدوري لدوري أبطال أوروبا.

ويجلس محمد صلاح على دكة البدلاء للمباراة الثانية على التوالي في دوري أبطال أوروبا، بعد جلوسه على الدكة ضد جالطة سراي في الجولة الثانية.

ويدخل سلوت لقاء اليوم بتشكيل مكون من: مامارداشفيلي- فريمبونج – فان دايك- كوناتي- أندرو روبرتسون- سوبوسلاي- جونز- فيرتز- جاكبو – إيكتيكي- ألكسندر إيزاك.

وبرر سلوت قراره بإجلاس محمد صلاح على دكة البدلاء في تصريحات نشرتها” ديلي ميل”: “دائماً يكون من الصعب استبعاد صلاح ولكن عندما استبعد لاعبين آخرين يكون الأمر صعبًا أيضًا”.

اقرأ أيضاً.. رقم سلبي غير مسبوق لـ محمد صلاح في مسيرته مع ليفربول منذ 8 سنوات

وأضاف: ” أعجبتني الطريقة التي أنهينا بها المباراة ضد مانشستر يونايتد وقد خلقنا العديد من الفرص”.

وواصل حول غياب ريان جرافنبيرخ: “علينا إعادة هيكلة الفريق قليلاً، إجمالاً قررنا البدء بهذه الطريقة، لدي لاعبون قادرون على البدء والتأثير على مجريات اللعب من مقاعد البدلاء”.

وعن إشراك إيزاك وهوجو إيكتيكي في التشكيل الأساسي أجاب سلوت: “ما نحتاجه اليوم هو محاولة خلق فرص جديدة كما فعلنا في الأسابيع القليلة الماضية ومن المفيد جداً أن يكون لدينا لاعبان في الفريق قادران على التسجيل”.

وختم: “نأمل ونتوقع أن يقدم فريمبونج إبداعات لهذين اللاعبين من الجهة اليمنى وأن يحاول جاكبو فعل الشئ نفسه من الجهة اليسرى، مع إبداع فيرتز في العمق، يمكنهما اللعب معاً وأظهرا ذلك ضد مانشستر يونايتد على الرغم من أنه كان في الشوط الثاني”.

ولأول مرة منذ انضمامه لنادي ليفربول في عام 2017، لا يشارك محمد صلاح في التشكيل الأساسي للريدز في مباراتين متتاليتين في دوري أبطال أوروبا.

Celtic are in action in the quarter-finals of the League Cup this weekend as they prepare to take on Partick Thistle to battle it out for a place in the semi-finals of the competition.

The Hoops thrashed Falkirk 4-1 in the last 16 of the League Cup earlier this season, thanks to goals from Daizen Maeda, Alistair Johnston, and Dane Murray, along with a Liam Henderson own goal.

This clash with Partick Thistle will provide Brendan Rodgers with a chance to rotate his side, which could see Arne Engels handed a rare chance to impress.

Why Celtic should be worried about Arne Engels

After selling Adam Idah to Swansea City for a deal worth up to £7m, £1.5m less than they paid Norwich City for him last year, the Hoops should be worried that Engels is the next big-money signing to ultimately flop at Parkhead.

The Belgium international, who signed for a club-record fee of £11m from Augsburg last year, has only started two of the club’s five matches in the Scottish Premiership this season, and was an unused substitute against Kilmarnock last time out.

Engels has failed to score a goal and provided one assist in seven appearances in all competitions this season, after a return of ten goals and 13 assists in the 2024/25 campaign, per Transfermarkt.

The 22-year-old midfielder has found himself out of the side and potentially clinging onto his career at Parkhead, and it is because of the summer signing of Benjamin Nygren.

Why Benjamin Nygren could end Arne Engels' career at Celtic

The Sweden international, who sometimes played as a striker before his move to Celtic, was compared to legendary centre-forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic when he was 16.

First Impressions

What did pundits and fans alike think about their new star signing when they arrived? Football FanCast’s ‘First Impressions’ series has everything you need.

Nygren is Swedish and also has a lanky build, which is why it is not a surprising comparison, but he has established himself as a central midfielder at Parkhead, rather than as a centre-forward like Ibrahimovic.

Despite mainly playing as a right winger for Nordsjaelland in the 2024/25 campaign, per Transfermarkt, the £1m (£1.3m) signing has locked in a spot alongside Callum McGregor and Reo Hatate in central midfield, which was the slot that Engels filled last term.

Appearances

5

Starts

5

Goals

3

Key passes per game

3.2

Big chances created

2

Assists

1

As you can see in the table above, Nygren has scored three goals and created 3.2 chances per game across five outings in the Premiership so far this season for the Hoops.

Engels, however, only scored two non-penalty goals and created 1.7 chances per game across 34 appearances in the top-flight for the Hoops last term, per Sofascore.

These statistics suggest that Celtic have improved their midfield by signing Nygren for £1.3m to replace Engels in the XI because of the quality that he has already provided as both a scorer and a creator of goals.

This is bad news for the Belgium international because it will now be difficult for him to break back into the starting line-up unless he is able to improve on his performances from last season and on Nygren’s this term.

If he cannot oust the Sweden international from the midfield before the January transfer window or next summer, there could be a decision to be made on his future, as there was with Idah when it was clear that Rodgers did not fancy him as the first-choice number nine moving forward.

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ByDan Emery Sep 16, 2025

Therefore, Nygren, once compared to a legendary striker, may be the player who ends Engels’ career at Parkhead if he continues to impress in midfield for the Scottish giants.

Going strictly by form, the one point Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) got from their washout against Punjab Kings (PBKS) on Saturday night might count as a bonus for the defending champions, who have struggled to stitch together a decent run of results in IPL 2025. The reason for that, Anil Kumble feels, is that “they still haven’t figured out the perfect XI”.On Saturday, they fielded their 17th and 18th players (out of 21) this season, bringing in Chetan Sakariya, an injury replacement for Umran Malik, and Rovman Powell in place of Ramandeep Singh. Sakariya got his chance with the ball but, because of the washout, Powell didn’t get a bat.With just seven points from nine games, KKR are in must-win territory if they are to make the playoffs.Related

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“It’s not like they have won two games and now need five in a row or things like that. So I’m not sure [about their chances],” Kumble said on ESPNcricinfo’s Time Out show. “They made – what? – two changes [for the PBKS game]? Chetan Sakariya played his first game. Rovman made his debut for KKR. So obviously they have to stick to that [XI for the next game]. Although Chetan did bowl his overs [3-0-39-0], Rovman [didn’t bat]. They will have to continue with that in the next game.”In terms of quality and ability, I think KKR have it in them. If you look back at their Championship side last year versus this year, it’s just that their players are underperforming. It’s not that the personnel have changed that drastically. You have Quinton de Kock instead of Phil Salt. Quinton de Kock is equally destructive. [Rahmanullah] Gurbaz was there last year – he came in for Phil Salt [for the playoffs] and did really well. Sunil Narine played exceptionally well last year. Instead of Shreyas Iyer, you have Ajinkya Rahane as captain. He’s batted really well at No. 3 for KKR. So there is not much change, but they need to do something to get all those points.”That “something” probably needs to come from the bat.”Can’t say we are happy or sad, it’s unfortunate the match didn’t happen,” Vaibhav Arora, the KKR opening bowler, said at the press conference after the game. “If it had, we would have wanted two points and then hoped to take that momentum into the remaining games. But yeah, it’s better to get one point than nothing. It could be that the one point we got today helps us get into the playoffs. But we have to win the remaining games and hope we get through.”[Our] bowling has been all right, Harshit [Rana] and I are taking wickets, but we are lacking a bit with the bat. We had made a couple of changes today in the hope that it gets better. That’s what we need to do, bat better.”3:10

Morrison: KKR are left with a lot to do

For Kumble, the big change KKR need to consider is pushing Venkatesh Iyer to the top of the order. In KKR’s IPL 2024 win, Venkatesh had a powerplay strike rate of 220. This season, he has been batting down at No. 4 or 5, has had just six innings, and has scored 135 runs at an average of 22.50 and a strike rate of 139.17. The 60 in 29 balls against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) has been his only real performance of substance.”They had an opportunity in this game to move Venky right up the order [in this game]. Open the batting with Sunil Narine and then bring in an Indian wicketkeeper,” Kumble said. “Anyway, they were looking to drop Ramandeep – okay, fine, get [Luvnith] Sisodia in, he’s not a bad player, he can keep wicket. And bring [Anrich] Nortje. Because Nortje can play instead of Chetan Sakariya.”[Venkatesh] needs that pace on the ball. You have six overs, the powerplay, it’s where he can play his natural game, hit over the top. He’s done it in the past, that’s how he got KKR back into the playoffs when they were down and out in Dubai.”KKR next play Delhi Capitals (DC) away on Tuesday, followed by home fixtures against Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and then away against SRH and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).

MatériaMais Notícias

Raphael Veiga garantiu a vitória do Palmeiras diante do Atlético-MG por 1 a 0 nesta quarta-feira (2), no Mineirão, em Belo Horizonte, pela partida de ida das oitavas de final da Libertadores. Com o gol marcado, o meia chegou a 26 participações em gols em 2023, superando a marca de 25 alcançada na temporada passada.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasPalmeirasApós vitória na Libertadores, Palmeiras se reapresenta e inicia preparação para duelo contra o FluminensePalmeiras03/08/2023PalmeirasPróximos jogos do Palmeiras: onde assistir ao vivo, datas, horários e calendárioPalmeiras10/10/2023PalmeirasPalmeiras ainda pode contratar jogadores em 2023; entenda como e até quandoPalmeiras03/08/2023

+ Veja tabela da Libertadores-2023 clicando aqui

Ao total, Veiga já marcou 13 vezes e distribuiu 13 assistências no ano, sendo o artilheiro do Verdão e também o maior garçom. Na última temporada, o camisa 23 balançou a rede 19 vezes e deu seis passes para gol. Ainda fez dois gols e deu um assistência no Mundial de Clubes, mas não foi pela temporada 2022, e sim pelo ano de 2022.

+ Copo Stanley a partir de R$120,00. Bebida gelada nos 90′ de jogo do Verdão!

Com o tento nesta quarta, Raphael Veiga atingiu mais uma marca expressiva com a camisa do time na Libertadores. Segundo maior artilheiro do clube na história da competição sul-americana, o meia se tornou também o 16º brasileiro com mais bolas na rede na disputa em todos os tempos, igualando ninguém menos do que Pelé, Zico e Jardel.

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No ano passado, o artilheiro da temporada foi Rony, com 23 gols, enquanto o maior garçom foi Gustavo Scarpa, hoje jogador do Nottingham Forest-ING, com 18 assistências. Tendo em vista que o primeiro turno do Brasileirão ainda nem terminou, e o Verdão ainda disputa a Libertadores, Veiga ainda pode ultrapassar os números alcançados por Rony e Scarpa na temporada de 2022.

+ Veiga valoriza atuação do Palmeiras contra o Atlético-MG, mas avisa: ‘Temos que saber usar a vantagem’

Com a vitória diante do Galo, o Palmeiras pode até empatar no Allianz Parque, na quarta-feira (9), pelo jogo de volta das oitavas, que ainda assim se classificará para as quartas de final da competição. Antes disso, vai até o Rio de Janeira encarar o Fluminense neste sábado (5), às 21h, no Maracanã, pela pela 18ª rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro.

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Tudo sobre

PalmeirasRaphael Veiga

This season feels like a do-or-die for Mikel Arteta and Arsenal.

The Spaniard has done a brilliant job of taking the club from mid-table mediocrity to perennial title challengers in five years, but he now needs to get the team over the finishing line.

Fortunately, even with the absurd number of injuries they’re already facing, the Gunners now have a squad full to bursting with brilliant players, like Eberechi Eze, who could help them win the Premier League or Champions League.

Interestingly, though, while Arsenal should be delighted to have the Crystal Palace star on the books, one of their former players is currently performing just like him.

The problems Eze solves for Arsenal

Now, while there are undoubtedly other things he brings to the table, there are two main ways Eze can help Arsenal, and they are somewhat interlinked.

Firstly, the Gunners ended last season with 17 fewer goals scored than champions Liverpool, and therefore needed to go out and sign a serious attacking threat in the summer, like the former Palace star.

For example, in 43 appearances last season, totalling 3,303 minutes, the England international scored 14 goals and provided 11 assists.

Eze in 24/25

Appearances

43

Minutes

3303′

Goals

14

Assists

11

Goal Involvements per Match

0.58

Minutes per Goal Involvement

132.12′

All Stats via Transfermarkt

That means he averaged a goal involvement every 1.72 games, or every 132.12 minutes, and the fact that he was able to do so in a mid-table side is even more encouraging.

This links to the other main way in which the Greenwich-born star could help the Gunners: his positional versatility.

On top of being proven in the number ten role, the former QPR gem is more than capable of playing off the left.

Not only will this give Arteta more tactical flexibility in games, but it also means the 27-year-old will be able to provide genuine competition for Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard, two players who underperformed last year.

In all, Eze looks like an excellent signing for Arsenal, even though a player sold by the club years ago is starting to resemble the £68m man.

The former Arsenal star playing like Eze

It would be fair to say that Arsenal do not have the best track record when it comes to selling, often due to them selling a player for way less than their worth.

Where Are They Now

Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast’s Where Are They Now series.

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That isn’t actually the case in this instance, as former Hale Ender Alex Iwobi was sold to Everton in 2019 for a hefty fee of around £35m.

The Nigerian wasn’t a bad player for the Gunners, far from it, but he wasn’t ever spectacular, and so when the Toffees made an offer like that for someone who’d amassed a tally of 39 goal involvements in 149 games, it was probably the right decision to let him go.

While he played a big role on Merseyside, the versatile international was eventually sold to Fulham for around £22m in the summer of 2023, and it would be accurate to say he’s been at his best with the Cottagers.

In fact, since moving to Craven Cottage, the former Gunners ace has scored 16 goals and provided ten assists in 83 appearances, totalling 6118 minutes.

Iwobi’s senior career

Club

Arsenal

Everton

Fulham

Appearances

149

140

83

Goals

15

9

16

Assists

24

16

10

Goal Involvements per Match

0.26

0.17

0.31

All Stats via Transfermarkt

Yet, despite putting in consistently good performances for the West Londoners and already racking up three goal involvements in five league games this season, some consider him to be overlooked, with journalist Daniel Storey going as far as calling him “one of the most underrated midfielders in the country.”

With that said, what makes him like Eze?

Well, the first similarity the Nigerian shares with the Gunners ace is his positional versatility, as he’s just as comfortable playing on the wing as he is in midfield.

Second, he is also becoming a greater goal threat for his side, racking up 15 goal involvements in the league last season and just seven the year before.

Finally, like the North Londoners’ new star, he is also capable of making things happen, both through his brilliant close control and ability to deliver a pinpoint-accurate cross into the penalty area.

Ultimately, Arsenal did the right thing in selling Iwobi when they did, but it’s also true that the Fulham star is playing incredibly well at the moment, and looking a bit like Eze in the process.

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Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes Sep 25, 2025

For better or worse, Ruben Amorim remains wedded to his 3-4-2-1 system at Manchester United, despite having seen his side plunge to new depths last season amid their dismal 15th-place Premier League finish.

The Portuguese coach won two league titles while using this approach at Sporting CP, although his failure – or rather refusal – to adapt looks like it could be his undoing at Old Trafford, with the wisdom of such a set-up yet to be realised.

On current evidence, it also looks like it could be the undoing of young Kobbie Mainoo, with Amorim almost a year into his tenure and still no closer to finding a settled role for the 20-year-old sensation in his side.

With the manager’s own future perhaps still up for debate, the club wisely opted against loaning or selling Mainoo this summer, even amid his limited role, with the midfielder a player whom United simply can’t offload any time soon.

Once a central part of Erik ten Hag’s team, as well as in England’s Euro 2024 run, the academy graduate is arguably seeing his talents wasted at present. Can Amorim get him firing again?

Mainoo's record under Ten Hag vs Amorim

Mainoo must surely take his own accountability for his dip of late, while having also been struck down by injury in 2024/25, although right from the off, he doesn’t appear to have earned Amorim’s trust.

Indeed, the 40-year-old opted to unleash an ageing midfield pairing of Casemiro and Christian Eriksen for his first game away at Ipswich Town, with Mainoo instead watching on from the bench at Portman Road.

That set the tone for what has followed, with the Stockport native going on to make 30 appearances in all competitions under the new regime, with only 14 of those having come from the start.

Of those 30 outings, Mainoo has also been subbed off on nine occasions, while he has contributed just two goals and two assists thus far – half of which came during the Europa League victory over Viktoria Plzen back in January.

That performance appeared to showcase what the youngster could do in a number ten role, yet he now appears resigned to fighting it out with ever-present skipper, Bruno Fernandes, in a deep-lying midfield berth.

No longer the golden boy, Mainoo appears a far cry from the player who dazzled under Ten Hag’s watch, having scored five goals and provided one assist in 44 games during the Dutchman’s time at the helm.

38 of those displays notably came from the start, with Ten Hag reaping the rewards of his faith in the then-teenage talent – the FA Cup final winner a case in point.

Mainoo isn’t alone in having suffered under the new regime, with Amorim also failing to get a tune out of a certain Rasmus Hojlund.

How Hojlund's value has fallen since Amorim's arrival

A frantic end to the window saw United finally move on their ‘unwanted’ stars, with Jadon Sancho, Antony and Alejandro Garnacho all departing from the so-called ‘bomb squad’.

That string of departures also included Hojlund’s own loan switch to Serie A champions Napoli, with that deal expected to become a £38m permanent move if certain conditions are met this season.

In an era of Alexander Isak’s and Yoane Wissa’s, Hojlund – to his credit – appeared desperate to stay and fight for his place at Old Trafford, even amid the signing of Benjamin Sesko, having reportedly been hesitant to commit to his Naples move initially.

Unfortunately for the boyhood United fan, Amorim and co had seemingly seen enough last season, with the young Dane ending 2024/25 with just ten goals to his name in all competitions – only four of which came in the Premier League.

While only Fernandes and Noussair Mazraoui have made more appearances for United since Amorim took charge back in November, with Hojlund lining up 40 times, the partnership simply hasn’t proved to be a fruitful one.

Who is to blame for those woes is up for debate, with the 22-year-old certainly showing promise under Ten Hag the year prior, having ended the season as United’s top scorer in all competitions with 18 goals. That said, he also ended the season on the bench, as the Dutchman favoured a makeshift duo of Scott McTominay and Fernandes in his place.

The hope was that having seen Viktor Gyokeres score 66 goals in just 68 games under his watch in Lisbon, Amorim’s appointment could take Hojlund to even greater heights.

Hojlund’s PL record
Stat (*per game	23/24	24/25
Games (starts)	30 (25)	32 (23)
Goals	10	4
Mins per goal	217	506
Goal conversion	26%	13%
Big chances missed	13	6
Assists	2	0
Big chances created	0	4
Key passes*	0.9	0.5
Total duels won*	38%	29%
Stats via Sofascore

As it has transpired, the ex-Atalanta sensation was largely a bystander to proceedings in attack last term, with chances at a premium. As per Sofascore, he actually only missed six ‘big chances’ in the Premier League in 2024/25.

From 18 goals in 51 games under Ten Hag, to just eight in 40 under Amorim, Hojlund proved unable to generate chances himself, nor convince his teammates to create opportunities for him. A worrying cocktail.

While he at times looked like a “Ruud Van Nistelrooy-type” striker in his debut campaign, as per Cesc Fabregas, Amorim rarely saw the best of United’s £64m signing – nor, it must be said, did he get the best out of him.

That is reflected none more so than in his declining market value. As per Transfermarkt, Hojlund was worth a peak value of €60m (£52m) back in December 2024, just a month into the Portuguese’s tenure.

Fast forward to the present day, and his worth has sunk to just €35m (£31m), marking a rapid drop off since the change in the dugout at Old Trafford.

Whether the manager, the system or Hojlund himself is to blame, a record of 26 goals in 96 games simply isn’t good enough. Let’s hope Benjamin Sesko proves to be a far more prolific leading man.

Man Utd's most expensive signings of all time

A number of their additions haven’t lived up to expectations.

By
Charlie Smith

Sep 5, 2025

Every batter who takes the field in the IPL is now having to go through a bat-gauge test. Here is why

Nagraj Gollapudi17-Apr-20255:00

Rayudu: Bat checks done on the field can affect batters’ focus

Why has the IPL started measuring bats all of a sudden during IPL 2025? That has become a significant question ever since April 13, when match officials began using a gauge to measure bats.While the IPL has not put out an official statement on the reasons, ESPNcricinfo has learned the move has been made with an eye on maintaining the balance between bat and ball and ensuring that batters do not derive an undue advantage from using bigger bats.Related

Essex hit out at 'stupid' ECB after club is docked points for illegal bat

Narine and Nortje's bats fail the gauge test in PBKS vs KKR game

It is understood that the move was initially discussed by key decision-makers of the IPL before it was ratified by the tournament governing council and formally introduced on April 13. While the IPL has checked bat dimensions in previous seasons, the process involved the fourth umpire measuring the bat dimensions on the day before the match, with players chosen at random. It did not matter, then, if the player would be part of the team on match day. And not all bats of the player were checked, which meant that a batter could have one bat tested and walk in with another on match day.Why now?To plug that loophole, the IPL decided during discussions at the start of the 2025 season that it would be better check bats during the match rather than during training. It is understood that some match officials had privately expressed concern over the size of some bats players had been using. So instead of being subjective and selective in their assessment, it was decided a better approach would be to uniformly check the legality of the bats of all players during a live match.Girish TS/ESPNcricinfo LtdIt is understood that the IPL decided to adopt a rule that was originally used by the ECB. In 2018, the ECB introduced, as part of its domestic playing conditions, checks on bat sizes to make sure they conformed to Law 5 of the MCC’s Laws of Cricket, which restricts the thickness of bat edges to 4cm (1.56 inches), the overall depth of bats to 6.7cm (2.64 inches), and their width to 10.8cm (4.25 inches).How does the bat gauge work?The guage is a rectangular implement with a house-shaped cut-out through which the bottom part of the bat is inserted. The cut-out conforms to the bat dimensions permitted under Law 5, which is also part of the IPL playing conditions. To be deemed legal to use, the bat must be able to pass through the gauge, even if it has been fitted with “[p]ermitted coverings, repair material and toe guards, not exceeding their specified thicknesses”The gauge in use at the IPL to test bat sizes•ESPNcricinfo LtdWhen do the checks happen?It is understood that the IPL informed all teams before mandating the bat checks from April 13. Teams were also given bat gauges so their players could themselves check their bats before the match.On matchdays, on-field umpires carry a bat gauge each to assess the bat of the incoming batter. The fourth umpire is tasked with checking both openers’ bats at the start of each innings. Any bat was found exceeding the specified dimensions is marked and cannot be used during a match. In case a batter asks for a bat change, the new bat is also checked.So far, only two bats have failed the gauge test: they belonged to the Kolkata Knight Riders pair of Sunil Narine and Anrich Nortje.What are the sanctions?Just like the ECB has done, the IPL too has put the onus on players to ensure that their bats comply with Law 5. However, there is a significant difference when it comes to sanctions. The ECB has imposed severe sanctions for any breach, as Essex bitterly experienced during the 2024 County Championship season when they were docked 12 points after one of their batters used an oversized bat during the opening match of their season.The IPL has decided not to impose any sanction other than disallowing bats that have failed the gauge test. While the ECB’s bat checks are random, the IPL checks every bat that enters the field of play.It is understood that batters have been caught off-guard by the move. A tailender at a title-winning team was left in a spot when his entire set of bats, numbering seven or eight, failed to pass through the gauge. Such a situation could prove particularly tricky for overseas batters, particularly those whose bat manufacturers are based outside India.Specialist batters usually request manufacturers to design bespoke bats with custom measurements. In the past, since bat checks were only carried out at random by match officials, and usually only on the eve of the match, there was a certain amount of leeway for players to get away with measurements that exceeded permissible limits. Even if a bat or set of bats was rejected on training day, a player could still use a matchday bat that had never gone through the gauge.The IPL has decided to discourage such actions in the quest to maintain the balance between bat and ball.

Manchester United star Matheus Cunha admits that he has to carry the "weight" of being a goalscorer at Manchester United, although he admits there is some "confusion" over how he plays. The Brazil international joined the club in the summer for a fee of £62.5 million ($83m) and has yet to catch fire at Old Trafford.

• Cunha a big-money signing

  Cunha may have joined United for a major fee in the summer but he has yet to score his first goal for the club, despite making six Premier League appearances. He has now claimed that he is not actually a traditional centre-forward, although there is a "stereotype" that follows him leading people to assume he is a natural No.9. Last season, at Wolves, the Brazilian scored 15 league goals, having netted 12 the season prior. Before that, he had only hit double-figures once in his career, and Cunha says he is actually more of a midfielder. 

  Speaking to Globo, he said: "I think that because I play for Manchester [United] and people follow me more on the pitch, they understand better how I play. I think it's part of having that weight, which is a privilege. It's a weight that came after the Tokyo Olympics [for Brazil in 2021]. And if it means having that weight and becoming a champion, I think it's worth putting up with a little bit of confusion about where [I] play."

  At the Olympics that year, Brazil won the Gold medal, beating Spain in the final; Cunha, then on the cusp of joining Atletico Madrid, scored against Saudi Arabia, Egypt and La Roja. 

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  Cunha claims midfield position was 'eliminated'

  Cunha admits that he always played as a midfielder, before 'encountering' a 4-3-3 formation when he became a professional. 

  He added: "I came to the national team with this stereotype of a number 9 shirt. I play my entire base as a midfielder, and when I became a professional, I encountered this world of 4-3-3. It seems like you have to adapt: either play centre-forward, winger, or 'eight'.

  "They eliminated the midfielder position, and you have to adapt. But I see it positively, as it has given me experience, many more positions, and even more so in short-term tournaments with the national team. Having a versatile player is a huge help for any coach."

• Cunha enjoying personal life

  Cunha admits that while he has not enjoyed a prolific start to life at United, he has found personal satisfaction, as he is playing for one of the biggest clubs in the world, and has also become a starter for Brazil.

  He added: "What I was searching for as a person more than anything else, I'm slowly finding. You constantly want to improve; that's innate in human nature, but I can't help but stop and enjoy this moment.

  "Feeling privileged to wear the jersey of the greatest national team in the world, one of the greatest clubs in the world…it's a spectacular personal moment. I have an incredible family, another little girl now, everyone is doing well and healthy. I'm enjoying all of this in a positive way."

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  What comes next?

  United are currently 10th in the Premier League table and face Liverpool after the international break as they attempt to return to form. Cunha will hope to make a real impact against the Reds, as he is still awaiting his coming-out performance for the club after his move from Wolves. 

  He added: "Being here now with the national team, at United, is, without a doubt, a different level, a different moment as a player. I'm trying as much as possible to adapt, to learn… It's only been two months, but it feels like I've been here for a long time because of the club's current situation, because I have to deliver results as quickly as possible, because I'm a new signing… All of this helps me adapt more quickly and feel my best with the national team."