Ruben Amorim insists Alejandro Garnacho will remain a Manchester United player despite being left out of the squad on the final day of the season.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
Garnacho not in squad to play Aston Villa
Complained about playing time in midweek
Amorim insists he will stay for now
Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱
WHAT HAPPENED?
Garnacho was vocal in his discontent in midweek, after he was utilised as a second-half substitute during the Europa League final defeat to Tottenham. He has now been left out of the squad for the clash with Aston Villa on the final day of the season but manager Amorim was at pains to point out he remains a United player.
Advertisement
Getty Images Sport
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Amorim confirmed that the Argentina international will be part of United's post-season tour – they travel to Malaysia for a friendly on Wednesday – despite reports that he will be allowed to leave if an acceptable offer is tabled. The winger has made 23 Premier League starts this season.
WHAT RUBEN AMORIM SAID
Amorim told TNT Sports: "Garnacho is a Manchester United player that is not in the squad today but he continues to be a Manchester United player."
On the post-season tour, he added: "Yes, everybody's going because we have to go to meet our fans and give something to our fans on the other side of the world."
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
Getty Images Sport
WHAT NEXT?
United play ASEAN All-Stars in a friendly on Wednesday before a game against Hong Kong on Friday. It remains to be seen whether Garnacho features in either of those matches as transfer talk continues to intensify.
Oval to host eliminator as fixtures for tournament’s third staging are confirmed by the ECB
ESPNcricinfo staff24-Jan-2023Trent Bridge, the home of men’s reigning champions Trent Rockets, will host the opening fixtures of this year’s Hundred on August 1, with the final once again scheduled for Lord’s, on August 27.As revealed by ESPNcricinfo, this year’s tournament will played in a reduced four-week window, to avoid a clash with the summer’s men’s international schedule that has restricted the availability of many of the tournament’s marquee players in its previous two seasons.To enable this shortened window, all of the rounds will be played as men’s and women’s double-headers – a change from both 2021, when the tournament opened with a standalone women’s fixture at the Kia Oval, and 2022, when the women’s event was delayed by the concurrent Commonwealth Games – while there will be eight “double-double-header” days, on which four matches will be played.In a further change to the 2022 schedule, the eliminator will be played in London – at The Oval – on the eve of the Lord’s final, following criticism from, among others, Manchester Originals’ head coach, Simon Katich, who felt his team was hampered in last year’s event by having to make a late-night journey from Southampton following a thrilling win in their eliminator against London Spirit.The Hundred’s partnership with BBC Music Introducing will be continued for the 2023 event, meaning a diverse range of artists and DJs will once again provide in-game entertainment, while ticket prices are set at £5 for juniors aged 6-15, free for children five and under, and adults starting from £10.For the first time in the competition’s history, both the men’s and women’s events will be preceded by a draft, which is due to be held on Thursday, March 2. Deadline day – the day on which retained players are confirmed across both competitions – is set to be Thursday, February 16.ESPNcricinfo Ltd”Lifting the trophy with my Oval Invincibles team-mates last year was a career highlight that I’ll never forget,” Lauren Winfield-Hill, the England batter, said. “The Hundred is such a thrilling competition to be a part of. The support we had at every game was just phenomenal and I can’t wait to get back into action to defend the title this year.”The first ever women’s draft is definitely going to bring an exciting new element to the game and it will be interesting to see how the teams shape up for another fierce competition.”Dawid Malan, last year’s leading run-maker in the men’s competition, and a reigning champion with Trent Rockets, added: “I have a lot of great memories from the Hundred 2022. The atmosphere in every ground was really enjoyable and winning the title at Lord’s was very special. This summer is shaping up to be massive for cricket in England and Wales and I’m really looking forward to the third year of the Hundred, playing with some of the best players in the world in front of big crowds.”Related
Simon Katich suggests 24hr turnaround between eliminator and final 'needs to be looked at'
The Hundred to be played in four-week window in August 2023
Sanjay Patel, the tournament’s managing director, said: “I am incredibly proud of the impact the Hundred has already had on cricket in England and Wales after just two years, providing a new format that has seen more families and a diverse new generation of fans getting into the game.”As we enter year three, we’re looking forward to building on that momentum and putting on another unforgettable summer of world-class cricket action and entertainment that will continue to appeal to new and existing audiences alike.”Beth Barrett-Wild, head of the women’s tournament, and of female engagement at the ECB, added: “We are in the middle of a really special period of time for professional women’s sport, with exponential levels of growth happening across every measure of engagement, from broadcast viewing figures to match day attendances.”Since launching in 2021, the Hundred has had a transformational impact on women’s cricket, propelling the women’s game into the mainstream, and making household names of our brilliant female players.”
While betting on the football can add a bit of fun to the weekend for supporters, it remains strictly forbidden for players to get involved.
In order to maintain the game’s integrity, the FA has in place a worldwide ban for those involved in football, namely players, club staff and officials working in the Premier League down to the eighth tier of English football, as well as the top two tiers in women’s football.
Rules are more relaxed for those who play below these levels, but they are still barred from betting on any game or competition they can participate in and/or influence.
The ban prohibits these individuals from betting on anything football-related, including the sharing of inside information and match-fixing.
16 times professional footballers were banned
Some of these guys make Luis Suarez look like an angel!
ByAlex Caple Oct 27, 2023
West Ham United midfielder Lucas Paqueta is currently embroiled in a betting scandal which could result in the Brazilian receiving a lifetime ban from the FA. His hearing is set to take place in March 2025, lasting three weeks.
Signed by the Hammers in August 2022, Paqueta was investigated for potential betting breaches in August 2023, before being charged at the end of last season, having been accused of getting booked deliberately.
In addition, the Hammers ace has also been charged with multiple breaches of failing to comply with the FA’s investigations.
Should Paqueta be banned for life, it would be unprecedented at this level of the English game. However, if a more lenient punishment befalls him, he would be joining a number of Premier League players to face temporary bans and sanctions for breaking betting rules.
We’ve taken a look at those players below, ranked by the severity of their punishments.
9 Martin Demichelis Fined £22,058 (2016)
Former Manchester City defender Martin Demichelis escaped a football ban in 2016 despite breaking the FA’s rules on betting.
It was reported that the Argentinian placed 29 bets on football matches over the course of four weeks in early 2016.
Now manager of Mexican club Monterrey, the centre-back left City that summer to join Espanyol in La Liga.
8 Cameron Jerome Fined £50,000 (2013)
Cameron Jerome was another player lucky enough to escape a suspension from the FA, despite admitting to “repeatedly” breaching betting regulations, according to reports.
Playing for Stoke City at the time, Jerome was fined £50,000 and warned about his future conduct, but did not miss any football as a result.
Perhaps going in his favour was the fact that none of his breaches concerned matches or competitions he was involved in.
Former Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace midfielder Andros Townsend was banned and fined for breaching betting regulations in 2013.
While he was not betting on games he was involved in, the FA banned him for four months, with all but one of those months suspended.
With Townsend’s ban falling in the summer, he didn’t miss a single match, though he did voluntarily withdraw from the England squad for the U21 European Championship and was fined £18,000.
6 Harry Toffolo 5-month suspended ban, fined £20,956 (2023)
Harry Toffolo
Nottingham Forest defender Harry Toffolo was handed a suspended five-month ban in September 2023 after breaching betting rules on 375 occasions.
Reports at the time appeared to suggest that these breaches were related to bets on football and passing on inside information during a period of over three years ending in March 2017 while playing for Norwich City.
The independent commission’s report said that the player’s mental health was a mitigating factor in his betting offences, with the player’s situation thankfully improving having now kicked a gambling addiction.
Toffolo’s suspended ban remains active today, and will expire at the end of the 2024/25 campaign.
Nottingham Forest and 8 other Premier League surprise packages
The Premier League has had plenty of surprise packages over the previous 30 years – here are some of the best.
Kieran Trippier was given a 10-week ban from football for breaking betting rules around the time he joined Atletico Madrid from Spurs in 2019.
In late 2020, Trippier was found guilty of passing on information regarding his prospective move to Atletico Madrid before it became public knowledge, effectively hinting to a friend to bet on him switching clubs.
The ban was briefly lifted following an appeal from his new club, but Trippier still missed 11 matches during that period and was ordered to pay £70,000.
4 Daniel Sturridge 4-month ban, fined £150,000 (2020)
Daniel Sturridge was handed a part-suspended ban and fined £75,000 for two breaches of betting rules regarding a potential transfer move during his time at Liverpool.
However, the FA appealed the decision, which had essentially banned the forward for a couple of weeks despite Sturridge breaking the strict betting rules in place. His fine was then doubled to £150,000 – the highest on this list.
Sturridge was investigated for instructing his brother to bet on him joining Sevilla in January 2018. The FA argued that Sturridge’s family used his inside info to earn money in the betting markets.
Thousands of pounds were placed as bets, with some £20k even being rejected by bookmakers, such was the suspicious activity at the time.
Sturridge ended up joining West Brom that winter and missed out on the England World Cup squad that year.
The charges saw his contract at Turkish club Trabzonspor terminated, and he ended his playing career at Perth Glory before moving into punditry.
3 Ivan Toney 8-month ban, fined £50,000 (2023)
serhou-guirassy-ivan-toney-tottenham-opinion
England striker Ivan Toney was banned from football for hundreds of betting breaches, resulting in an eight-month suspension between May 2023 and January 2024.
Playing for Brentford at the time, he was also fined £50,000 after admitting to 232 breaches of the rules, which included betting on his team to lose, as well as his own performance.
While a lifetime ban is possible under those circumstances, Toney’s provisional 15-month ban was reduced owing to his gambling addiction.
The ban put his place in England’s Euro 2024 squad under threat, but Toney returned to form in time to make the team, netting a penalty in the crucial shootout win over Switzerland in the quarter-finals.
Every England penalty shootout at major tournaments
A chance to relive all of the Three Lions’ penalty shootouts at major tournaments.
Newcastle United signed Sandro Tonali in the summer of 2023, but by the following October, the Italian had been banned for 10 months and fined €20,000 (£17,380) for breaching betting regulations during his time in Serie A with Milan.
As part of his recovery from a gambling addiction, Tonali was ordered to return to Italy to speak to young players about the dangers of betting.
Before his ban took effect, he also placed bets on Newcastle to win on four occasions, with the FA handing him a suspended two-month ban and a £20,000 fine.
The FA said the money placed on those bets was worth over €100,000 (£85,600).
1 Joey Barton 18-month ban, fined £30,000 (2017)
Joey Barton’s playing career was effectively ended by an unprecedented 18-month ban for 1,260 bets placed over a 10-year period.
Barton, who claimed he had a gambling addiction, felt the length of the ban was harsh and felt a player who was “less controversial” would have received a lesser punishment.
He had also been banned for one month during his time at Rangers by the Scottish FA, while some of his bets involved his own team losing – albeit while he was not playing.
It was thought he was placing an average stake of around £150 per bet, which would total £189,000 being spent on betting alone.
A month after the ban took effect, he was released by Burnley, and Barton moved into management after serving his suspension.
Celtic were dealt a fairly significant blow in the recent January transfer window when star striker Kyogo Furuhashi decided to move on from Parkhead to sign for Ligue 1 side Rennes.
The French outfit reportedly agreed a fee of £10m to sign the Japan international, and that put an end to his three-and-a-half-year stay in Glasgow, having joined from Vissel Kobe in the summer of 2021.
Kyogo racked up an impressive tally of 85 goals in 165 competitive matches for the Scottish giants during his time at Paradise, including 34 goals in the 2022/23 campaign.
The 30-year-old marksman had scored 12 goals and provided four assists in all competitions in the current term for Celtic, which shows that he was still in top form by the end of his career at the club.
Instead of signing a replacement to compete for a place in the team at the top end of the pitch, Brendan Rodgers has trusted Daizen Maeda and Adam Idah to handle the responsibility of being the sole number nine in his system.
It has not been an easy season, however, for the Ireland international since he was brought back to the club on a permanent deal from Norwich City last summer.
Adam Idah's form for Celtic this season
The Hoops reportedly splashed out an initial fee of £8.5m to sign the 6 foot 3 marksman from the Canaries on a permanent basis, after his return of nine goals and two assists in 19 matches on loan in the second half of the 2023/24 campaign.
Idah has the chance to settle down and forge a long-term career for himself at Parkhead, but he has not had the easiest of starts to his journey to becoming the first-choice striker for the club.
The 24-year-old number nine has only scored 13 goals in 41 matches in all competitions, which is a solid but unspectacular return, and he has failed to nail down a place as a regular starter.
Idah has not been reliable enough in the Scottish Premiership for Rodgers to count on him to start week-in-week-out to lead the line for the Scottish giants.
Appearances
26
Starts
15
Goals
8
Big chances missed
13
Big chances created
5
Assists
0
As you can see in the table above, the Irish attacker has been wasteful in front of goals with the high-quality chances that have come his way, missing 13 ‘big chances’ in 15 starts.
There have been plenty of promising moments for the £8.5m-rated star, however, including his quickfire brace against Aston Villa in the Champions League.
It is down to Idah to finally take the next step in his career and become a consistent goalscorer at first-team level, as it is something that he has struggled with.
Norwich forward Adam Idah.
Since making his debut for Norwich in 2019, the Ireland international has scored 39 goals in 176 senior games for the Canaries and Celtic combined.
In that same time, Idah has been vastly outscored by a former Hoops striker who failed to make the grade at Parkhead – Finland international Teemu Pukki.
Teemu Pukki's struggles with Celtic
Back in the summer of 2013, Celtic reportedly splashed out a fee of £3m to sign the Finnish marksman from German side FC Schalke, as they looked to replace Gary Hooper, who had signed for – funnily enough – Norwich that summer.
Hooper had just come off the back of a return of 31 goals and ten assists in 51 appearances in all competitions during the 2012/13 campaign, which shows that Pukki had big boots to fill.
Unfortunately, the £3m-rated attacker, aged 23 at the time, failed to establish himself as a regular goalscorer for the Premiership giants, with just seven goals in 26 league matches for the Bhoys.
Pukki did manage two goals and one assist in four Champions League qualifiers at the start of the following season, but that did not stop the Hoops from sending him out on loan to Brondby, a deal that was made permanent at the end of the 2014/15 campaign.
After a return of 72 goals in 164 appearances for the Danish side, the Finland international signed for Norwich on a free transfer in the summer of 2018, and the rest – they say – is history.
Why Celtic must regret selling Teemu Pukki
Pukki hit the ground running with a sensational haul of 29 goals and 10 assists in 43 matches in the Championship in his debut season with the Canaries to lead them to promotion to the Premier League.
Where Are They Now
Idah was promoted to the first-team in the 2019/20 campaign and had to watch on from the bench as the Finnish star proved himself to be a fine option in the top-flight of English football, scoring 11 times in 36 matches despite their relegation.
22/23 Championship
41
10
10
21/22 Premier League
37
11
10
20/21 Championship
41
26
22
19/20 Premier League
36
11
11
18/19 Championship
43
29
19
As you can see in the table above, Pukki provided a consistent presence in the final third for Norwich throughout his time at Carrow Road, as he never missed more ‘big chances’ than he managed goals scored in a single league campaign – in the Championship or the Premier League.
The impressive marksman scored 88 goals in 210 matches for the Yellows in all competitions, and 58 of those goals came from the 2019/20 campaign onwards – after Idah’s senior bow.
This means that Pukki has outscored the Irishman since 2019 without even taking his goals for Minnesota United FC or HJK Helsinki in recent years into account.
For what it is worth, the 34-year-old ace, who was once described as “unplayable” by Daniel Farke, scored 14 goals in 43 games for the MLS side and has scored twice in three matches for Helsinki – his current club – so far.
Former Norwich striker Teemu Pukki.
These statistics suggest that Celtic made a mistake when they decided to loan him out, and subsequently cash in on him, after just one full season at Parkhead.
The Hoops did not give him the time he needed to fulfill his potential and his form for Norwich, at Premier League and Championship level, which is why they must regret not being more patient with him as they missed out on a terrific, clinical, centre-forward.
He's better than Tierney: Celtic star sold by Lennon is now worth 259% more
The former Celtic star has thrived since his move away from Parkhead.
ByDan Emery Mar 5, 2025
With this in mind, Rodgers and Celtic must remain patient with Pukki’s former protégé, Idah, as he is still young and may need a bit of time to find his feet and emerge as a consistent performer in front of goal.
West Ham made around £142m worth of sales in the 2023/24 season, which has since gone on to fund multiple big spending windows for the Hammers as they look to transform their identity to a more possession-based side and establish themselves in European places each season.
Of course, their biggest loss was Declan Rice, who joined Arsenal for around £100m in the summer 2023 window, after making 245 appearances for the club, scoring 15 goals, providing 13 assists and totalling 20,580 minutes in his time at the club.
West Ham 2023/24 sales
Player
Fee (£)
Declan Rice
£97.1m
Gianluca Scamacca
£21.3m
Nikola Vlasic
£8.8m
Pablo Fornals
£6.6m
Said Benrahma
£5m (Loan)
Arthur Masuaku
£1.6m
Conor Coventry
£966k
Thilo Kehrer
£416k (Loan)
Manuel Lanzini
£0
Flynn Downes
Loan
Andrew Irving
Loan
Data taken from Transfermarkt
The departure of Rice is still causing issues for West Ham at present, with their midfield struggling to strike balance, firstly under Julen Lopetegui, but now also under new head coach, Graham Potter.
West Ham's midfield issues since Rice's departure
Since Rice left the club, West Ham have tried to replace him with multiple midfield signings, bringing Edson Alvarez and James Ward-Prowse in during the 2023/24 season, before adding Guido Rodriguez and Carlos Soler in the 2024/25 season.
None of these signings have replaced the key attributes that Rice brought to the squad, with his raw athleticism, ability to cover ground and contest in duels, as well as carry the ball forwards when breaking from deep, getting West Ham up the pitch at speed.
Alvarez has proven to walk a disciplinary tightrope on too many occasions, Rodriguez has been more notable for similar and Ward-Prowse spent the first half of 2024/25 out on loan.
But, perhaps the best Rice replacement was right there all along, being sent out on loan during the 2023/24 season by West Ham, before being sold last summer, joining Southampton for a fee of around £18m.
West Ham may have sold a Rice replacement
Flynn Downes was sold after managing just 35 appearances for the West Ham first-team, with the majority of his time being spent out on loan after joining West Ham from Ipswich in 2022.
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.
Rice leaving in 2023 could have been the best time to fast-track Downes’s minutes, giving him a more important role in the team.
Many of the traits mentioned earlier which were lost with Rice, including an ability to progress play, athleticism to defend in transition and protect the defence, as well as mobility and an engine to get around the pitch and contribute to all phases, could have been addressed with Downes.
Flynn Downes for West Ham
Since moving permanently, he has made 20 appearances for Southampton this season, scoring once, contributing to two clean sheets and totalling 1,536 minutes.
In his time at Swansea, Russell Martin (who signed Downes from West Ham for Southampton) described the English midfielder as “incredible”, praising his work-rate, athleticism, creative ability and his ability to enable others to perform their roles.
This isn’t to say he was the sole answer to replacing Rice, but given the circumstances, it would have been a good idea to implement Downes alongside a new signing, in order to provide the team with balance, not completely stripping the team of its central mobility.
He's now outscoring Bowen & Kudus: West Ham nearly signed "monster" striker
West Ham wanted this “monster” forward under Moyes who is now outscoring Bowen and Kudus
O Cruzeiro segue forte na Série B do Brasileirão. Neste domingo, no Mineirão, a Raposa fez mais uma vítima e derrotou o Novorizontino por 2 a 1. Adriano e Rafa Silva marcara; Quirino descontou. O Cruzeiro tem 41 pontos e lidera de forma isolada. O Novorizontino é o 11º, com 23. Clique no player acima e confira os melhores momentos.
RelacionadasCruzeiroCom gol salvador de Rafa Silva, Cruzeiro vence o Novorizontino no Mineirão pela Série BCruzeiro17/07/2022VídeoVÍDEO: veja os melhores momentos da vitória do Avaí sobre o Santos pelo BrasileirãoVídeo16/07/2022VídeoVÍDEO: Veja os melhores momentos da vitória do Flamengo sobre o Coritiba pelo BrasileirãoVídeo16/07/2022
After Chelsea’s horrendous defensive record last season, conceding 63 goals in 38 Premier League games (their worst defensive record in the past ten years), Enzo Maresca has been given the task of reducing that number this time around and asserting more control for the Blues.
Whilst it hasn’t been a huge turnaround, Chelsea have conceded 34 goals in 25 games this season, making their goals conceded per 90 metric 1.36. This would mean if the Blues continue on this trajectory, they will finish the season having conceded 52 goals (51.68 rounded up).
Season
Goals Conceded
League position
2014/15
32
1st
2015/16
53
10th
2016/17
33
1st
2017/18
38
5th
2018/19
39
3rd
2019/20
54
4th
2020/21
36
4th
2021/22
33
3rd
2022/23
47
12th
2023/24
63
6th
Averaging 58.6% possession so far this season, which is the second-highest in this metric and only averaging 11.3 shots conceded per game this season, the sixth fewest in the division, Chelsea have made strides to improve their overall defensive unit, but there are still a few major holes that continue to let them down.
Robert Sanchez's Chelsea form
Chelsea made the signing of Robert Sanchez in the 2023/24 summer transfer window, joining for a fee of around £25m. The 27-year-old has made 43 appearances for the Blues since joining, conceding 59 goals and keeping nine clean sheets, totalling 3,864 minutes played.
Sanchez has been a major culprit at Chelsea in their recent poor run of form, making some huge errors – including in the defeat to Manchester City – leading to Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville to state:
To further rubberstamp that point, the former Brighton man currently leads the way in the division – alongside Ipswich’s Arijanet Muric – with regard to most errors leading to a goal (five) in the top flight in 2024/25.
Chelsea goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen
In recent weeks, Sanchez has been dropped to the Chelsea bench, with summer signing Filip Jorgensen being given the number one spot instead, but the Blues must reflect back to when they had one of the very best in the world in this position once upon a time.
Chelsea once had the "Messi of goalkeepers"
Chelsea sold Thibaut Courtois to Real Madrid in 2018, with the Belgian leaving for a fee of around £35m. In his time at Chelsea, the shot-stopper made 154 appearances, conceding 152 goals, keeping 58 clean sheets and totalling 13,834 minutes played.
Stats (per 90 mins)
Courtois
Sanchez
Jorgensen
Goals Against
1.09
1.38
1.08
Shots Against
3.53
4.58
4.46
Saves
2.50
3.20
3.38
Save %
73.5%
74.8%
77.6%
Clean Sheets
0.31
0.18
0.31
Clean Sheet %
31.3%
18.2%
30.8%
Passes Attempted
31.7
38.1
28.0
Post-Shot xG
1.09
1.32
1.63
Post-Shot xG per Shot on Target
0.29
0.25
0.28
When comparing Courtois to the current Chelsea goalkeepers, your first thought may be that Jorgensen and Sanchez actually have higher save percentages and face more shots against them, which gives them better shot-stopping metrics.
However, when looking at “Post-Shot xG per Shot on Target”, you can see Courtois actually faces higher xG shots during a game, while also boasting a better clean sheet percentage.
Ex-Real Madrid goalkeeper, Santi Canizares, labelled Courtois “the Maradona, Messi, Cristiano of goalkeepers”. Canizares also stated he is “better than the rest and he performs every day”, which is shown in his Real Madrid numbers, making 268 appearances for the Spanish giants, conceding 254 goals, keeping 107 clean sheets and totalling 24,229 minutes played.
Thibaut-Courtois-Chelsea
With many Chelsea fans continuing to bang the drum that they need a world-class goalkeeper between the sticks to challenge for major honours, had Courtois never left, the Blues would have been in a much stronger position.
Better than James & Gusto: Chelsea sold "exceptional" star for just £8m
Chelsea must rue sale of “exceptional” ace who’s been better than James & Gusto
Sky Sports reporter Keith Downie has dropped a concerning Newcastle United injury update, as the fitness issues continue to mount up ahead of the Carabao Cup final.
Newcastle suffer FA Cup heartbreak against Brighton
The Magpies are still stinging after their FA Cup fifth round exit on Sunday afternoon, as Brighton got the better of them at St James’ Park in extra time.
Danny Welbeck’s late winner sealed a 2-1 victory for the visitors, and not only was elimination a big blow for Eddie Howe, but also Anthony Gordon’s red card that has seen him ruled out of the EFL Cup final clash with Liverpool at Wembley on March 16th.
In terms of transfer news, a summer move for Juventus midfielder Douglas Luiz has been mooted, with the Brazilian seen as a strong but affordable option to bring in. While a swap deal involving Sandro Tonali has also been mentioned, the Premier League side will surely be desperate to retain the services of the Italian.
Another report has claimed that the Magpies are targeting a “right-sided centre back, right winger and versatile midfielder/forward” in the summer transfer window, as Howe looks to bring in sufficient quality and depth, and such depth will be needed as things go from bad to worse on the team news front…
Newcastle sweating over Isak, Trippier, Botman and Hall
Taking to X to offer updates on the likes of Alexander Isak and Kieran Trippier, Downie admitted that there is “no timescale” on Newcastle left-back Lewis Hall’s return date ,while Sven Botman is still not 100 per cent, reporting Howe is “concerned” about potentially “big problems”.
Hall’s issue in particular will be a real worry considering how important he has been for the Magpies this season, arguably making himself England’s standout left-back option for new manager Thomas Tuchel. The 20-year-old has started 24 league matches, chipping in with four assists and also averaging 2.1 tackles per game, showing that he can be effective at both ends of the pitch.
Howe knows what an important player he is for him, describing him as a “really talented lad” last year, adding that he wants him to be a Newcastle player for “many years”.
Hopefully, the defender’s scan reveals that he will only be missing for a short amount of time, but with the cup final less than two weeks away, there will be genuine worries about both he and Botman missing one of the biggest games in the Magpies’ history.
Outclassed by Minteh: 3/10 Newcastle star was not fit to wear the shirt
Newcastle exited the FA Cup at the hands of Brighton.
1 ByConnor Holden Mar 2, 2025
Isak’s issue thankfully sounds less serious while there is a chance the manager is simply holding Botman back for the big day, but it’s fair to say the problems are mounting for Howe and Jason Tindall ahead of their showdown with a scarily efficient Liverpool side.
كشف قائد أتلتيكو مدريد، كوكي، عن طموح فريقه قبل انطلاق منافسات كأس العالم للأندية، مؤكدًا أن الروخيبلانكوس لا يشاركون لمجرد التواجد، بل من أجل حصد اللقب.
وتنطلق بطولة كأس العالم للأندية بنظامها الجديد بمشاركة 32 فريقًا في الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية، فجر الأحد بمباراة الأهلي وإنتر ميامي، أما أتلتيكو مدريد يخوض أولى مبارياته مساء الأحد أمام باريس سان جيرمان.
وقال كوكي في تصريحات نشرتها صحيفة “ماركا” الإسبانية: “أولًا، نحن متحمسون للغاية لهذه البطولة”.
وأضاف: “لقد بذلنا مجهودًا كبيرًا على مدار السنوات الماضية لنكون هنا، المباراة ستكون صعبة للغاية، أمام بطل أوروبا، ولكننا هذا العام أثبتنا أمام فرق كبيرة أننا قادرون على الفوز، لذلك، لا نخشى أحدًا، ولدينا رغبة قوية في تقديم مباراة رائعة، ولمَ لا نحقق الفوز؟”.
وحول شعوره كقائد في أول نسخة من مونديال الأندية بنظامه الجديد، أضاف: “الأمر مميز للغاية، أشعر بسعادة وحماس كبير، نمثل كل جماهير أتلتيكو، ونمثّل أيضًا كرة القدم الإسبانية، وهذا أمر مهم، علينا أن نقدّم أداءً كبيرًا لنُبقي اسمنا عاليًا”.
اقرأ أيضًا | دي بول قبل كأس العالم للأندية: خسرنا أولى مباريات المونديال مع الأرجنتين.. ثم رفعنا الكأس
وتحدث كوكي عن الحالة البدنية للفريق بعد موسم طويل، مشيرًا إلى اختلاف طبيعة البطولة: “هذه البطولة مختلفة تمامًا عمّا اعتدنا عليه هذا الموسم، لدينا خبرة من المشاركة في كأس العالم واليورو مع المنتخب، وهي تجارب مختلفة تمامًا، لكن سترون أتلتيكو مدريد يقاتل من أجل اللقب”.
وعن الظروف الأمنية المحيطة بالبطولة، خصوصًا تحليق المروحيات أثناء التدريبات، قال كوكي: “لا توجد طريقة مثالية، فهذه ظروف قد تحدث في الحياة، نحاول التركيز قدر الإمكان لنكون في أفضل حالة ممكنة قبل المباراة”.
وأكد قائد الأتلتي أن الهدف الرئيسي هو التتويج باللقب، حيث قال: “بكل تأكيد، لو لم يكن هدفنا الفوز، لبقينا في منازلنا، نعم، الأمر صعب للغاية، لأن هناك فرقًا كبيرة، لكن هدفنا هو التتويج”.
واختتم تصريحاته بالتأكيد على أهمية التركيز في كل مباراة، قائلًا: “نتحدث أولًا عن المباراة الافتتاحية وتجاوز دور المجموعات، لأنه الأهم في البداية، نعلم جيدًا أن هذه النوعية من البطولات تُحسم بالتفاصيل الصغيرة، وعلينا الانتباه لكل شيء إذا أردنا التتويج بالبطولة، ونأمل أن ننجح في ذلك”.
Las Águilas host Toluca in the first leg of the Clausura 2025 Final, chasing historic fourth straight title
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
América chasing a historic fourth straight title
Diablos aiming to end a 15-year championship drought
The return leg will be played Sunday at the Nemesio Diez
Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱AFPWHAT HAPPENED?
Club América continues to show its hunger for greatness as it pushes toward another milestone. With a strong foundation – both tactically and emotionally – the team is just 180 minutes away from achieving what few clubs can claim: a Liga MX tetracampeonato (four consecutive league titles).
Team captain and emblematic forward Henry Martín made it clear that, inside the locker room, there is no sense of pressure – only motivation to keep making history. The Yucatán-born striker, a key figure in this golden era for Las Águilas, stood firm in defending the process that brought them to this position.
"Winning three straight titles isn’t something you see every day, and fighting for a fourth just drives us more," Martin said. "We don’t talk about pressure here – we talk about dreams. Failure? You can’t call a team that’s won three titles in a row a failure. Life is full of stumbles, but we’re building something great."
Since joining the club in 2018, Henry has faced numerous challenges. With a career full of ups and downs, every championship means more. He believes the struggles along the way were essential to the success.
"No one’s life is a straight line upward," he said. "We all fall, and football is no different. Those painful semifinal losses, the early exits… all of that prepared us. The last time we lost a final, seven of the players on the field are still with us today. That shaped our character and brought us to where we are now – fighting for another title."
AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE
A pivotal figure in América’s transformation has been head coach André Jardine. The Brazilian has successfully stamped his philosophy and leadership on the team. Henry was full of praise for Jardine, whom he considers a key factor in their recent success.
"Since he arrived, everything’s improved. At first, it was tough adjusting to new systems – we were used to playing one way. But Jardine made us evolve, and now we can switch tactics with no problem. He’s the best coach I’ve ever had, both for his tactical ability and the way he unites the group. If he asked me to be the goalkeeper, I’d do it without hesitation," he said with a laugh.
Beyond coaching, another critical force behind América’s winning streak has been the mentality instilled by club owner Emilio Azcárraga. Goalkeeper Luis Malagón pointed out how the owner’s ambition has become contagious across all levels of the organization.
"After the title against Monterrey, the first thing Emilio told us was: ‘Now we have to go win the next one.’ That hunger to win starts at the top. Emilio transmits that desire to keep achieving, and that makes a real difference," said the keeper.
With a winning culture firmly in place, a committed squad, and a forward-thinking leadership group, América is thriving. The pursuit of a fourth consecutive title isn’t a burden – it’s fuel. And one thing is clear: this team is far from satisfied.
Getty Images SportWHAT ÁLVARO FIDALGO SAID
"With André, I think we’ve found that balance in the playoffs. I’ve always said he’s a genius when it comes to reading the game, understanding exactly what each match demands," said the Spanish player about Jardine. "The confidence he gives us, the way he communicates with the group, the way the group respects and cares for him – whatever André says, goes."
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR CLUB AMÉRICA?
Las Águilas host Toluca in the first leg of the Clausura 2025 Final Thursday night. América are chasing a historic fourth straight title, while the Diablos are aiming to end a 15-year championship drought.