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Manchester United’s defeat against League Two Grimsby Town in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night has undoubtedly set a new low for Ruben Amorim during his tenure in charge.

The Red Devils were knocked out in the second round of the competition, losing on penalties after coming from two goals down in the second half.

However, it may prove to be a damning defeat for the 40-year-old, adding more pressure to his shoulders after their dismal start to the 2025/26 Premier League campaign.

His side have failed to win any of the first three games, which could force the hierarchy into making a change – especially after backing him with £200m worth of new additions this summer.

The window still has a few days remaining, but it remains to be seen if the former Sporting CP boss will carry on leading the side, with rumours circulating about his future at Old Trafford.

The latest on Amorim’s future at United

Over the last couple of days, it’s been reported by CaughtOffside that the United hierarchy are now considering making a change of manager, after Amorim’s disastrous start to the new season.

The report states that it’s a matter of time before the 40-year-old is handed his marching orders, with concerns around his ability to take the side forward in the future.

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INEOS are said to be willing to make an early decision to sack the boss, in order to avoid a repeat of last season, which saw the side finish in a measly 15th place.

The same article also states that Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner is being lined up as a potential replacement, if and when Amorim is dismissed from his position at Old Trafford.

It states that the FA Cup-winning boss would be keen to take the reins, potentially being the next manager in a long list to try and take the Red Devils back to their former glory.

Why United’s Amorim replacement would be Klopp 2.0

Jürgen Klopp is a manager who has caused United no end of problems over the years, often leading rivals Liverpool to countless victories over the Red Devils in the Premier League.

The German only suffered five defeats in his 21 outings against the Red Devils, even claiming a historic 7-0 victory at Anfield back in the 2022/23 campaign.

Whilst he may have managed their bitter rivals, there’s no denying the former Reds boss is a serial winner – something which United have lacked, given their decade-long wait for a top-division title.

He may be out of management after leaving Liverpool in 2024, but there is no chance he would return to management and replace Amorim – especially considering his ties with the Merseyside outfit.

However, INEOS could hire their own answer to Klopp with a move for Glasner, with the Eagles boss previously being compared to the Premier League legend by German expert Constantin Eckner.

When comparing his stats at Selhurst Park to Amorim in England’s top-flight, he’s managed to better him in various key areas – potentially being the perfect replacement should the former Sporting CP boss depart.

Glasner, who’s been dubbed “incredible” by Pep Guardiola, has achieved a better win percentage than Amorim – doing so whilst having a much lower budget during his time in England.

He’s also notched a better point per game record, having the tools to change the Red Devils’ fortunes should he take the reins in the coming months.

How Glasner & Amorim’s record compare in England
Statistics	Glasner	Amorim
Games managed	65	45
Wins	31	17
Draws	19	9
Losses	15	19
Points per game	1.72	1.33
Win percentage	47.6%	37.7%
Goals scored (per 90)	1.69	1.98
Goals against (per 90)	1.17	1.91
Trophies won	2	0
Stats via Transfermarkt

The Austrian’s dominance over the United boss is further reflected in his ability to build a solid defensive unit – achieving a better goal conceded per 90 record.

Amorim’s future in the role could well be coming to an end in the coming weeks, but it’s clear such a decision would be the right one after such an embarrassing showing in the Carabao Cup.

Glasner would be an excellent replacement, already winning two trophies in recent months, having the tools to bring the glory days back to Old Trafford should he make the move.

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Bigger blow than Mainoo: £50m Man Utd ace in "very advanced" talks to leave

Manchester United look set to offload another star as Kobbie Mainoo exit rumours pick up pace.

2

By
Ethan Lamb

Aug 27, 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.

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%

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.

ByCharlie Smith Sep 5, 2025

Napoli head coach Antonio Conte is delighted with the performances of Rasmus Hojlund, who is spending the 2025-26 season on loan from Manchester United. According to the Italian, the 22-year-old still has "significant room for improvement", but believes that he "has the potential to be a star" and is proving his quality after scoring four goals in his first six games for the Partenopei.

• Hojlund stepping up for Napoli in Lukaku's absence

  In the title-winning 2024-25 campaign, Conte counted on Romelu Lukaku as his first-choice striker, with the big Belgian repaying his manager's faith by scoring 14 goals and delivering 10 assists to fire Napoli to their second Serie A title in three seasons. However, the former Chelsea, Inter and Manchester United striker suffered an unfortunate long-term injury in a pre-season friendly, which forced the defending champions to explore the market for a new striker. 

  They gambled on Hojlund, who spent two underwhelming seasons at Old Trafford. The move, in hindsight, is proving to be a masterstroke so far, as the Danish forward seems to have regained his lost confidence. In fact, it will be hard for Lukaku to regain his spot in Conte's XI once he recovers, as Hojlund is showing just the sort of form which makes him one of the first names on the team sheet at the moment. 

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• Getty Images
  

  Conte delighted with Hojlund

  Speaking to reporters after the 2-1 win over Genoa last weekend, in which Hojlund scored his team's second goal, Conte said: "He's a 22-year-old who was on the sidelines at Manchester United. He has significant room for improvement, he needs to work because he has the potential to become a star, and he's proving it."

• Hojlund's numbers for Napoli so far

  Hojlund started his Napoli career with a bang, scoring just 14 minutes into his debut for his new employers as he opened the scoring in his team's 3-1 win over Fiorentina last month. Last week, he scored a vital brace in the Champions League in the Partenopei's 2-1 win over Sporting CP, before rounding off the week with another goal against Genoa. 

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Hojlund on course to extend Napoli stay beyond 2025-26

  The former Atalanta striker appears to be on course to meet the conditions required for Napoli to finalize the €44 million (£38m/$51m) purchase of the Dane next summer, with the player also keen to make his move to Napoli permanent. He could follow in the footsteps of his ex-Manchester United team-mate Scott McTominay, who has become a household name at the Serie A club ever since his move to the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium last summer.

Home attack thwarted in battle between Division Two’s form sides

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay 22-Jun-2025A maiden first-class century from young opener Asa Tribe saw Glamorgan lay the foundations for a substantial first-innings score in the Rothesay County Championship Division Two match between Leicestershire and Glamorgan at the UptonSteel County Ground, Grace Road.The 21-year-old Channel Islander, making only his ninth first-class appearance, demonstrated a maturity beyond his years as having got off to a flying start against a much-changed and initially slightly out-of-sorts Foxes attack, he settled down to reach his century off 158 balls, including 14 fours and one maximum.The Leicestershire bowlers improved as the day went on, regaining some control over the scoreboard, but solid contributions from fellow opener Zain-ul-Hassan, Kiran Carlson and latterly Colin Ingram, who ended the day with an unbeaten half-century, ensured the visitors enjoyed much the best of the first day.Given both sides came into the match on the back of a run of victories – four for Leicestershire, three for Glamorgan – the number of changes made to their previous Championship line-ups came as something of a surprise, though injuries played a part. With Ian Holland and Josh Hull unavailable, and Rehan Ahmed nursing a niggle that meant he could not bowl, Leicestershire chose to leave left out regular wicketkeeper Ben Cox – one of their more prolific run-scorers this season – and with Handscomb taking his place behind the stumps, bring in left-arm spinner Liam Trevaskis and right-arm seamer Sam Wood for their first first-class outings of the season. Veteran seamer Chris Wright also came back into the side.Glamorgan too gave a spinner, Mason Crane, his first Championship appearance of the season, with Ingram, Ben Kellaway and Ned Leonard also returning. All will have been pleased to see skipper Sam Northeast win the toss and opt to bat first on one of the relaid pitches at the UptonSteel Ground, and certainly there was not too much to encourage the Leicestershire seamers during a first hour in which they gave Tribe in particular too many loose deliveries, meaning that even with his partner playing in a rather more restrained manner, the pair were still able to score at five an over before Zain somewhat unluckily became the only wicket to fall in the morning session, glancing a delivery from Wright down the leg side only for Handscomb to take a diving catch.Leicestershire’s attack improved in both accuracy and length after the break, and Tribe was fortunate when on 72 he edged Ben Green behind the wicket only for Handscomb, diving to his right, to drop the catch. He also lost Northeast, the captain looking less than impressed to be given out caught behind when hooking at a bouncer from Wood, but a cleanly hit straight six off Trevaskis took him into the 90s and he showed few nerves in going on to three figures before edging a tired drive at Logan van Beek, giving Handscomb a third victim behind the stumps.Carlson and Ingram put on 60 for the fourth wicket before Carlson used his feet once too often at Trevaskis and yorked himself, the ball squeezing on to his leg stump. Ingram, in company with Kellaway, worked his way towards his fifty, and although he lost Kellaway, trapped in front by van Beek delivery which came back, reached the landmark off 101 deliveries shortly before the close.

da esoccer bet： Leeds United have had a busy summer in the transfer market as they look to avoid the pattern of newly promoted teams being relegated from the Premier League.

da bet nacional： Daniel Farke’s side have spent over £70 million this summer, but one of their most notable signings was Dominic Calvert-Lewin on a free transfer from Everton.

After completing his transfer, Calvert-Lewin spoke about how Farke convinced him Leeds was the right destination for him: “I also spoke with the manager prior to this and we had a really good conversation, and he was a centre-forward himself. So, he was just explaining how the life of a centre forward is, and he gave me a feeling of a lot of understanding, and it made me really excited to work with him as well.”

Calvert-Lewin has adapted his game as he has got older in a way that he contributes to the team in ways other than goals, and he expressed that he is looking forward to “continuing the things that I am good at but also bringing new aspects and new facets to my game”.

With multiple players through the door, one of the club’s biggest figures in recent years could be on his way out.

Meslier receiving interest from "boyhood club"

Leeds United’s keeper Illan Meslier could be returning to his “boyhood club”, FC Lorient, according to Sky Sports journalist Sacha Tavolieri.

Meslier was born in Lorient and joined their youth team when he was nine years old. He rose through the ranks of the academy and eventually made 30 first-team appearances before being loaned out to Leeds, who subsequently bought him on a permanent transfer.

The French keeper has fallen out of favour at Leeds, and Lorient have now “made contact with #LUFC to inquire about the possible conditions of a transfer”.

The French side have already signed a goalkeeper this summer with Bingourou Kamara on a free. Kamara, alongside 36-year-old Benjamin Leroy, are the club’s only keepers, meaning that they’ll likely have to strengthen their depth in this area again this summer. If the next keeper they sign is Meslier, then he would likely be an immediate starter.

Meslier's Leeds decline

Meslier’s career at Leeds looked likely to be over even before the interest from Lorient. During pre-season, Meslier was starting behind 34-year-old Karl Darlow, and he fell even further down the pecking order when the club signed Lucas Perri.

The signing of a new goalkeeper felt inevitable after last season’s Championship campaign, where Meslier’s performance left a lot to be desired. He underperformed his xG faced by 2.73 goals, putting him in the bottom 20% of goalkeepers despite his team’s promotion.

He was also in the bottom 3% of players for errors that led to a goal, with his mistakes being punished on three separate occasions. Going forward, he wasn’t much better, and his long ball distribution only had a 27.3% success rate, which put him in the worst 15% of goalkeepers.

Perri is not the perfect goalkeeper, but he does improve upon £30,000-a-week Meslier in several key areas. Chief among these is his save rate compared to his xG faced as Perri was expected to concede 48.95 goals but only ended up conceding 44 league goals last season. This means that where Meslier concedes chances that he should be saving, Perri often pulls off unlikely saves.

It seems a near-impossible task for Meslier to re-establish himself as Leeds’ first-choice goalkeeper, so a move to his boyhood club might be the best outcome for all parties.

Before he left for the series, VVS Laxman spoke about one of his favourite challenges – playing down under

Interview by Sidharth Monga20-Dec-2011Is Australia still place to win in for you? For you and Rahul and Sachin…
Oh, absolutely. That’s one place where any cricketer would love to do well and win the series for the team. I have always felt that Australia in Australia are very formidable. For the simple reason that they know their conditions quite well, and their brand of cricket is aggressive. The nature of the wickets assists them to play aggressively. Always it’s a huge challenge playing Australia in Australia. Really looking forward to doing well again this year, and also hopefully realise our dream of winning the series there.Is the charm in any way lessened because their team has now become weaker?
Actually they have got a very good side. You cannot compare them to the likes of, say, Steve Waugh or [Adam] Gilchrist or Shane Warne or the other legends, but their batting line-up hasn’t really changed. They have still got four batsmen who have been playing for such a long time. You have got Shane Watson, Mike Hussey, Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke. They have always been there for the last two-three years. Ponting is the greatest Australian batsman, probably, after Bradman.Yeah, their bowling [has changed]. Except for Mitchell Johnson, all the other bowlers are quite new. Saying that, they have done well, especially in the last Test against South Africa. And beating South Africa in South Africa is obviously a huge achievement. It’s very important to not underestimate anyone.Also, not too much emphasis should be given [to the] opposition. We think what we are capable of doing. We have to focus to do the right things as far as we are concerned.Mentally, do you think you might have an edge? Of the last eight Tests against Australia, you have won five and drawn three.
Obviously whenever you do well against a particular opponent, you go with that kind of confidence. Definitely you are high on confidence. Saying that, it’s very important to start afresh. Assess the situation and conditions and play accordingly. Not thinking too much about what happened in the past. And not thinking too far ahead. It is important to do well in that particular moment.Personally, what’s special about playing in Australia?

I have always enjoyed watching cricket in Australia. Right from my younger days, I used to get up early in the morning… I don’t know why, but something used to excite me [about] watching cricket in Australia. Also, listening to the legends like Richie Benaud, Bill Lawry, Ian Chappell – you could gather a lot. I always felt great watching cricket in Australia. And also felt really good that my first Test hundred came in Australia. I always relished playing in those conditions. They are great wickets to bat on. Obviously, great atmosphere around, because so many people come and watch Tests and are so supportive of good quality cricket, irrespective of which team is doing well. It’s a great place to tour, and I have had really good experiences touring Australia.People considered Australia to be the toughest place to tour until recently. You found it the opposite.
No, it’s definitely tough. I am not saying that it is not challenging. It is definitely a very challenging place to play cricket. Saying that, I, and I am sure the entire team, relish the challenge. And that’s why when we play against Australia, our game goes a level ahead, probably.What are the challenges as a batsman and as a team to go and win in Australia?
It’s quite different to what we have grown up on. The bounce is a huge difference. There’s lot of bounce compared to the wickets in India, and also pace off the wicket. They are much quicker than what you get in India. Those two are very important for us to assess and adjust to as soon as possible. Obviously the new ball will be a key factor. Unlike in India, the new ball will be a very important period. As a bowling side you would like to get wickets and make it count. As a batting side you would want to see the shine off and then play a lot more shots. So I think the new ball will be the key there.

“I don’t like to rate innings, but the Adelaide one was very special, because from the situation we were in we went on to win the Test match there. Any hundred in Australian conditions is satisfying, but the situation we were in, and having a partnership with Rahul [Dravid], it was very satisfying”

How are you preparing for the tour?
Personally, because of the past experiences you know if you do certain kind of drills it will help you get used to the bounce. Luckily for us, we [players not part of the ODI side] are going early this time, so we will get a lot of time and opportunity to get acclimatised to those conditions. I firmly believe that how much ever simulation you do in India, it’s always important to get to Australia and get used to the conditions. The net practices and training sessions will be very critical for us to get used to the conditions as early as possible.How did you prepare on your previous tours?
Similar drills. Nowadays, because you are playing so much cricket, you end up playing a series and immediately go to Australia. I remember the last time we played against Pakistan and then we went there. Now there is a slight gap for those who are not part of the one-day squad. I think it is very important that you get used to the conditions once you land in Australia and make those two practice games count.Why do you do so well against Australia?
It is strange that right from my Under-19 days I have done well against the Australians. Probably their aggressive nature gets the best out of me. From the wickets point of view, I have always enjoyed batting there because I like wickets with a lot of bounce and pace. I like the ball to come on to the bat much more than you get in Indian conditions. I have always enjoyed batting in Australia. It’s very important to settle down. Once you get in, you can play a lot more shots than you can play in India.Are you thinking about the bowlers you are going to face?

I watched, especially when they played the last Test against South Africa. I watched their bowlers, but it will be a new challenge. Except for Mitchell Johnson, I have not faced the other bowlers. It will be something I am really looking forward to.What do you make of Pat Cummins?
Not only Pat Cummins, but also Ryan Harris has done well for them, [Peter] Siddle has done well for them. Cummins is young and promising. He is quite quick and obviously he is quite raw, so he will bring a lot of energy. Mitchell Johnson has been there for some time. Even Nathan Lyon is quite a decent spinner. So they have got quite a good bowling line-up. I still feel they are a formidable team.Roughly from 2007 onwards your career has found another level. From about 42 your average is now nudging 48. What has happened?
I have really enjoyed my cricket from 2007 onwards, especially from the time Anil [Kumble] became captain, and then Gary [Kirsten] and MS [Dhoni] took over. I have really enjoyed it. The dressing-room atmosphere has been great. That helps me to go out and play with a free mind. A lot of credit has to be given to Gary and Dhoni for the way they have handled the team.”I have always felt that Australia in Australia are very formidable. For the simple reason that they know their conditions quite well, and their brand of cricket is aggressive”•Tony Lewis/Getty ImagesYou have scored seven centuries in this period, but you must have missed another seven.
Absolutely. That has been one regret. I keep missing hundreds. ()For me the satisfying thing is, I have played some important match-winning knocks for my country irrespective of whether I got a hundred or a seventy or an eighty. As long as that knock helps the team out of a tough situation, it gives me a lot of satisfaction. Saying that, I would have loved to have scored more hundreds than I have.This rise has also coincided with the trouble with your back. How do you manage it?
The last year was very bad. Especially during the Sri Lanka Test and after that. Because I continued batting with the back spasms, it probably aggravated. Luckily the physio and trainer managed me and got me through the season, and I played till South Africa. After the South Africa series I have been working really hard. A lot of credit should go to our physio, Ashish, and Sudarshan from the NCA. They worked hard on my back and had a very good schedule planned for me. That’s paying rich dividends. If you see, I am back fielding at silly point and backward short leg, which I was not able to do because of the back. I am quite happy with the progress and the way the back has held up till now.How much work does it need on a daily basis?
It is not generally focusing now on the back. I have got over that now. What is important is to maintain my overall fitness, and I feel I am much fitter, much stronger than I was probably three years back. These two guys really helped me, and their programme was very good. It helped me become stronger and better conditioned. Now I am concentrating not just on the back but overall body.You played two of your best innings when the back pain was at its worst. How?
() They were important knocks for the country. Once you are there, you don’t concentrate too much on your body or your pain. Your focus shifts to the task at hand. It is something which is very important for me. You forget about the pain and just do well.Was last year one of the most satisfactory ones of your career?
Definitely. The kind of knocks I played in the situation… Apart from Durban, Mohali and P Sara, I thought the one in Ahmedabad was very critical. Against New Zealand. I got 91, and had a partnership with Bhajji [Harbhajan Singh]. He ended up getting a hundred. We were struggling at 15 for 5, and it would have been very embarrassing if we didn’t have that partnership. I am very happy and contented with the last year, that I have played some important knocks for the team.In Ahmedabad you were given lbw off an inside edge…
() Yeah, it is disappointing I keep missing hundreds for various reasons. Even in Durban I was 96, batting with the last batsman, and got out. You get disappointed when you know you are batting well and keep missing the three-figure mark.Any thoughts of retirement as of now?
No, none at all. As I mentioned, I am feeling good from the body point of view and also from the motivation point of view. It was never a problem for me. Every day I still get up with the same kind of enthusiasm that I had probably at the start of my career. I take a lot of honour in representing the country, and I feel it is a great privilege to get an opportunity to do something for the country. I am still enjoying the game and still performing consistently. I am not thinking along those lines. At the moment I am concentrating on doing well in Australia and don’t have any other thoughts in my mind.

“I keep missing hundreds. For me the satisfying thing is, I have played some important match-winning knocks for my country, irrespective of whether I got a hundred or a seventy or an eighty. As long as that knock helps them team out of a tough situation, it gives me a lot of satisfaction”

Has the thought ever come up in the past?
Never. Since 2007 I have been performing consistently, and I never think too far ahead. If I am doing well, if I am preparing well for every match, and feel I am contributing to the team, I don’t think about other things.There must have been disappointments even in this period…
There have been lots of disappointments. For example, that last innings in Bombay. That’s a situation I would love, to actually win the game for the team, but I got out when I was settling well, and I had had a good partnership with Virat [Kohli], and I got out at 32. That kind of innings disappoints me. That kind of opportunity I always like to seize and do well for the team.England also must have been a big disappointment because you got starts there.
England was a huge disappointment, obviously for the team, and for me, because I got the starts. Except for the last Test, I thought I batted really well in all the three Tests, and I was dominating the attack when I lost my wicket. It was a little disappointing to not convert the starts. If I had done that then I would have contributed much better to the team. It was a tough tour for the entire team for various reasons. And I am sure that we have learned from that experience and hopefully we will improve.I remember only two kinds of dismissals. Either those unplayable deliveries from James Anderson or the pull.
It was a mixture. Throwing away… not throwing away exactly, but not executing the pull shot properly. Also, I thought I got some real good deliveries, especially from Anderson, and from [Stuart] Broad in the first innings at The Oval. At the international level you are expected to counter those deliveries. Overall, I was disappointed with my performance, especially when the team was in the types of situations I relish and do well in. I was not able to use those opportunities.Do you need to cut out or look again at the pull, especially going to Australia, with the bounce there?
It depends on your gameplan at that particular moment. Against what kind of bowlers you are playing the shot. You can’t generalise the gameplan. It depends on the bounce on the wicket, and the way the bowlers are bowling. Accordingly, you play. I have always been a firm believer that it’s about poor execution. It’s not necessary that you have to cut down on a shot that has got you out. It’s about how you choose to play the shot that is important.Among the many fond memories in Australia, which one is most special?
I don’t like to rate innings in comparison with others, but the Adelaide one was very special because from the situation we were in we went on to win the Test match there. Any hundred in Australian conditions is satisfying, but the situation we were in, and having a partnership with Rahul [Dravid], it was very satisfying.How do you rate India’s chances on this tour?
I think we have got a very good chance, but as I mentioned it is very important to concentrate to the process and do the right things more often than the Australians do. If we can do that, and play to our potential, we have got a very good chance. I am not one to think too much of the result now.So you probably don’t want to think about the fact that this might the best, and probably last, chance for you three to win a series in Australia?
I think every tour we go to, we think we have got a chance to win the series. It is not that just depending on the strength and weakness of the opposition we feel confident we can win the series. It’s been a great experience in Australia, and I have always enjoyed playing against Australia and in Australia, so hopefully I will make it count this time as well.

Piyush Chawla said Dhoni would have trained to keep for Noor during the pre-season camp

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Mar-20251:45

“He’s still got it” – Hayden lauds Dhoni’s reflexes behind the stumps

MS Dhoni might be 43 but he’s still at his best, especially behind the stumps. That’s what Matthew Hayden felt after watching him complete a lightning-quick stumping of Suryakumar Yadav when Noor Ahmad beat his outside edge during the IPL 2025 match against Mumbai Indians at Chepauk.”He [Dhoni] was on fire,” Hayden, the former Australia batter and Dhoni’s team-mate at Chennai Super Kings (CSK) till 2010, said on ESPNcricinfo’s T20 Time Out. “I mean Noor Ahmad was firing down the leg side and it was just a movement across the ball. You know, they’re difficult when you when you’re sitting there sort of partially obscured by the batsman. Then the stumping was just superb, just such quick timing, great hands, good vision. He’s still got it.”Suryakumar was dismissed for 29, and with his wicket, CSK got back into the game, breaking a 51-run stand and restricting MI to 155 for 9.Related

Gaikwad under injury cloud; Dhoni could lead CSK against DC

Ashwin, Dhoni and their history of funvention

Noor Ahmad's wristspin is art in fast forward

While CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad said at the post-match presentation that he hardly sees Dhoni doing keeping practice, Piyush Chawla, who has bowled for India and CSK several times with Dhoni behind the stumps, said he would have probably trained to keep for Noor during pre-season camp.”It does happen, it is a challenge if you have not kept against somebody,” he said. “But I’m sure in the camp, he must have kept a lot of balls because if he’s keeping for somebody new, he especially takes that person to the stumps and says, you bowl a few balls.MS Dhoni stumps Suryakumar Yadav•BCCI

“[It has] not [happened] with me because I have bowled against him so many times and bowled to him in the nets also. But whenever somebody new comes, especially a wristspinner, he just makes sure he’s keeping 10-12 balls so that he gets used to the wrist position.”Former India fast bowler Varun Aaron believes Dhoni has changed the way wicketkeepers react to stumping chances.”Traditionally keepers tend to receive the ball,” Aaron said. “He’s just removed that receive completely. It’s just that stumps are here, [he gathers it close to the stumps] and it’s just from there to there [takes his hands forward to finish the stumping].”Hayden gave the example of Sunrisers Hyderabad wicketkeeper Heinrich Klaasen missing a stumping of Rajasthan Royals’ Sanju Samson in the afternoon game on Sunday.”Klaasen sort of missed, right? I think everyone commented on it at the time that if that was Dhoni, it would have been gone.”

Ange Postecoglou could have been handed a major boost in his bid to overhaul the Tottenham squad this summer after it emerged that a top talent is open to a north London move.

Postecoglou eyeing Spurs reinforcements

After a disappointing end to their Premier League season, Tottenham will have to settle for Europa League football next season, and Postecoglou is keen to make changes in his ranks to cater for the added European football. The Spurs boss has already highlighted his desire to add to his attacking ranks this summer, while a new centre-back is also thought to be on the radar.

"It's no secret [we need a new attacker]. You saw the way we finished the season. We obviously lost Richy and Timo as well with injuries but we're fairly light in that area. We started last season with Manor [Solomon] and [Ivan] Perisic and we were quite healthy in that front third in terms of numbers, but as the year went on it became pretty evident that we need to bulk up.

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"We're in Europe as well next year so we'll have more games and it's definitely an area of the park we'll need to strengthen. You always understand that things can change really quickly but we've got a plan in place that I'm really comfortable with in terms of incomings and outgoings. Whether that all comes together you just never know but having clarity about what we need to do I think helps the process."

Timo Werner's long-term future at the club remains unclear, while they have also been credited with an interest in Nottingham Forest winger Callum Hudson Odoi this summer, but a striker is also thought to be high on their wishlist with the likes of Santiago Gimenez and Benjamin Sesko under consideration.

Now, the club have been offered a boost to bring in a new star man to lead the line at Tottenham.

Toney ken on Tottenham move

That comes in the form of Brentford striker Ivan Toney, who Thomas Frank has already conceded is likely to leave the Bees this summer as he heads into the final year of his contract with the club.

It was thought that the Englishman would attract attention from London giants Arsenal and Chelsea, but they were put off by Brentford's hefty £100m demands in January and their interest has since cooled.

The striker, dubbed a "monster" by Frank for his ability to play through pain, is now likely to be available for far less than that proposed fee, and Tottenham News report that the Englishman would "jump at the chance" to move to Spurs, with his favoured move to Arsenal now off the table.

How Ivan Toney compares to Tottenham's current strikers 23/24

Ivan Toney

Richarlison

Heung-Min Son

Appearances

17

28

35

Goals

4

11

17

Mins per goal

362.5

135.5

172.6

Shots on target per 90

1.3

1.51

1.17

Aerial duels won %

47%

30.5%

23.8%

It remains to be seen whether Spurs will be able to make an offer that will satisfy Brentford's desire for a big sale, but a move for Toney would certainly bolster their frontline and allow Postecoglou's side to finally replace the focal point of their attack that they lost with Harry Kane's departure.

Celtic and Brendan Rodgers are eyeing up an audacious move for a free agent to kickstart their summer transfer business, it has been revealed.

Joe Hart saying goodbye to Celtic

Joe Hart will play his last game of professional football this weekend as Celtic take on Rangers in the Scottish Cup final. The ex-England goalkeeper revealed back in February that he would be hanging up his gloves at the end of the season, and could yet still crown his swansong with a domestic double in Celtic colours.

Though his arrival was initially treated with scepticism, Hart quickly grew into a fan favourite at Celtic Park and was evidently emotional as his side lifted the Scottish Premiership trophy against St Mirren, bidding farewell to the Celtic supporters.

"Guys, I have never felt professionally that special before in my entire life. Myself, my family, from the bottom of my heart, I absolutely adore every single one of you, everyone associated with this football club.

“It’s such a special place. I was asked yesterday, how do you explain this to people? I don’t want to explain this to anyone, this is not a club that needs explaining, this is a club that speaks for itself.

“You guys are absolutely phenomenal. It’s part of you, you have made me feel so special and humble.

“I absolutely love it, thank you so much for having me."

The hunt to replace him is already well underway, with a whole host of shot-stoppers having been linked with the vacancy in Glasgow. Now though, a new name has entered the fray, and it may be the most ambitious target yet.

Celtic eye up free agent

That comes courtesy of The Daily Mail, who report that the Bhoys are throwing their hat in the ring for Koen Casteels, whose £66,000-per-week contract with Wolfsburg ends this summer.

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ByDan Emery May 21, 2024

The left-footed goalkeeper is keen to move onto a new challenge after over 250 appearances for Wolfsburg, and has already held talks with Anderlecht over a potential return to Belgium. Celtic are keen too though, and can offer Champions League football to the Belgian international, something that the Pro League outfit cannot.

And The Mail claim that the Hoops have added Casteels "to a list of potential replacements" which also includes Asmir Begovic, Alex McCarthy and Ugurcan Cakir.

Casteels could be a different calibre of shot-stopper though, and such were his performances back in 2021 that he was compared to Manuel Neuer as the best goalkeeper in the German top flight by his then-manager Mark van Bommel.

"Koen has improved every year. He's moved up another level. With Manuel [Neuer] he’s the best goalkeeper in the Bundesliga," claimed the Dutch coach at the beginning of the 2021-22 season.

Koen Casteels vs Hart: by the numbers

2021-22

2022-23

2023-24

Joe Hart 23/24

Appearances

28

34

25

37

Save %

68.6%

70.1%

67.8%

70.1%

Saves per 90

2.71

2.97

3.12

1.68

Goals prevented

2

-1.1

-0.6

N/A

Clean sheets

10

12

4

13

In the years since his form has wavered slightly, but he is still a top shot-stopper and would be a mammoth addition to Celtic's ranks. However, he may need to take a paycut to make a move happen, with Celtic unlikely to be able to afford anything like the £66,000-a-week he took home in Wolfsburg.

Leeds United have a rich history and a devoted fanbase. After suffering relegation last season, the Whites have the chance to be promoted to the Premier League at the first time of asking, which is an exciting prospect for fans.

With just one Championship game remaining, the Whites are no longer in control of their promotion destiny, having handed Leicester City their tickets to the Premier League after being thumped by QPR on Friday night.

Their defeat in west London also means Ipswich have the opportunity to wrest control of the promotion battle heading into the final weekend. The Tractor Boys, who also have a game in hand on the Whites, can go three clear of Leeds with a win over Coventry in midweek. If Ipswich can grab four points from their final two matches, Daniel Farke's side will be consigned to the play-offs.

Of course, it's not the end of the world if the automatic promotion places end up being out of reach, but the scary thing about the play-offs is that it can be a lottery at times.

Let's take a look at how things could pan out for Leeds and what fans could expect…

Championship Table: Latest standings for the 2024/25 season

Latest English Football League Championship standings 2024/25.

ByStephan Georgiou Apr 22, 2025 Leeds United's 2022/23 season

The 2022/23 season for Leeds ended up being one to forget. However, there were some memorable moments along the way, which included beating Liverpool and Chelsea. Although, there were a fair few manager changes, as Jesse Marsch, Michael Skubala, Javi Gracia and Sam Allardyce all had their turns at the helm.

Leeds' late-season collapse was what did for them as they gave up three goals in 20 minutes against Arsenal, five in slightly over 30 minutes versus Crystal Palace at home, six in 55 minutes against Liverpool, and two in five minutes against Bournemouth. Leeds broke the Premier League record for the leakiest defence in a single month as they gave up 23 goals in April alone.

After defeating Nottingham Forest at home on 4th April, they should have gained newfound energy and confidence; instead, they took two of the next 27 points available, fired their manager, and let themselves get deeper into trouble.

They ended up finishing in 19th on 31 points for the season.

Leeds in 2023/24

Leeds United got off to a very slow start in the current Championship campaign, winning just one of their first five matches. They were sent crashing out of the Carabao Cup in the second round on penalties, as Salford City sailed through.

In the FA Cup, Leeds made it all the way to the fifth round and probably should have made it further if they put their chances away, but it was Chelsea who ran out as 3-2 winners at Stamford Bridge.

However, things were transformed since the slow start in the league, as the Whites made an incredible start to 2024, going on a 12-match unbeaten run, which included a nine-game win streak in the Championship.

Unfortunately, their run-in brought about some of their worst form of the season, and after just one win in their last five games, now risk missing out on automatic promotion ahead of next weekend's final-day clash against Southampton.

When Leeds United can get promoted to the Premier League

As mentioned, Leeds are firmly in the race for promotion from the Championship. The top two go up automatically to the Premier League, with teams placed 3rd-6th entering the play-offs.

Leeds' defeat to QPR has put the onus on Ipswich to seal their fate. With Leicester assured of a place in next season's Premier League, Ipswich will join them if they can earn four points from their last six available.

With the Tractor Boys dropping points away at Hull City last week, the race is guaranteed to go to the final day. However, Kieran McKenna's side need just a point from their upcoming trip to Coventry to be in control next weekend. The Tractor Boys host the all-but-relegated Huddersfield Town, while Leeds face the tougher assignment of Southampton at Elland Road, with the Saints now certain to finish outside the top two in fourth.

Put simply, if Ipswich win their games, they will be promoted this weekend. If they fail to do so, Leeds can pounce if they slip up on the final day.

Leeds United

Southampton (H)

If Ipswich win v Coventry: Win and Ipswich lose

If Ipswich draw v Coventry: Win and Ipswich lose or draw

If Ipswich lose v Coventry: Win and Ipswich don't win by 9+

Ipswich Town

Huddersfield (H)

If they win v Coventry: win or draw

If they draw v Coventry: win; draw and Leeds draw/lose; lose and Leeds lose

If they lose v Coventry: win and Leeds draw/lose; draw and Leeds lose

Championship play-offs 2024: Fixtures, ticket info, prize money & more

FFC looks forward to the 2023/24 Championship play-offs with all you need to know, including updated ticket information.

ByLuke Randall May 20, 2024 Leeds United's fixtures and standings

Pos

Team

Played

GD

Pts

Leicester

44

+47

94

Leeds

45

+39

90

Ipswich

44

+32

90

Southampton

45

+23

84

Norwich

45

+16

73

West Brom

45

+20

72

Leeds will definitely have their promotion dream on the line on Saturday afternoon, but will be helpless to entering the play-offs if rivals Ipswich can do their own job. Daniel Farke's Whites just have to better the Tractor Boys' result on the final day to return to the Premier League at the first attempt.

Date

Competition

Opposition

H/A

4th May

Championship

Southampton

H

Leeds United's results

Leeds' shocking result against QPR leaves promotion out of their hands, and having started the calendar year so well, their form since Easter has been horrendous for a side chasing promotion.

Having 90 points at this stage is by no means a terrible season, but they are set to miss out on automatic promotion bar a similarly catastrophic collapse from Ipswich. Looking back at some of their recent results, they will only have themselves to blame.

Date

Competition

Opposition

Result

26th April

Championship

QPR

L 0-4

22nd April

Championship

Middlesbrough

W 4-3

13th April

Championship

Blackburn

L 0-1

9th April

Championship

Sunderland

D 0-0

6th April

Championship

Coventry

L 1-2

Leeds United's top scorers in 2023/24

Leeds have been blessed with plenty of goalscoring options in the current campaign, with seven players on five goals or above in all competitions.

1

Crysencio Summerville

45

20

10

2

Daniel James

43

13

8

3

Joel Piroe

45

12

3

=4

Patrick Bamford

36

9

2

=4

Wilfried Gnonto

40

9

2

6

Georginio Rutter

47

7

16

7

Pascal Struijk

25

5

0