Thomas Muller has picked between some Bundesliga and Premier League legends, with the 35-year-old heavily favouring Germany's top-flight league.
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Muller picks between legends to form a combined XI
German only selects Kompany from Premier League
Likes of Ronaldo, Henry and Gerrard all miss out
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WHAT HAPPENED?
In an interview with GOAL, the Bayern Munich legend did not hide any biases when it came to selecting the best team in a battle of Bundesliga and Premier League stars. Asked to pick between a great from each league per position, Muller opted for the Bundesliga player on all-but-one occasion. His Bayern Munich boss Vincent Kompany was the sole Premier League hero who made the team – beating Lucio to take one of the spots at centre-back.
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WHAT MULLER SAID
Showing loyalty to much of his old team-mates Muller selected Manuel Neuer over Petr Cech, Phillip Lahm over Kyle Walker, Kompany over Lucio, Mats Hummels over Rio Ferdinand and "an easy pick" of David Alaba over Ashley Cole to make up the defence.
In midfield, Michael Ballack was chosen in favour of Yaya Toure. Muller admitted that Bastian Schweinsteiger and Steven Gerrard was, in football terms, "a tough call, it's almost a draw. But, emotionally, it is Schweinsteiger." He added Thiago Alcantara over David Silva in his final midfield selection.
Across the front line, Muller shouted "Frerot!", meaning 'little brother' in French, to announce Franck Ribery's his selection over Cristiano Ronaldo. Arjen Robben was chosen over Gareth Bale on the right-wing and, finally, for the striker position Muller stated: "I admire Thierry Henry a lot. He was very elegant and also very, very good, but against Lewa [Robert Lewandowski], no chance."
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
Who can blame Muller for staying loyal to his team-mates? The German has played at Bayern for 25 years, joining the club as a 10-year-old before finally announcing his departure at the end of this season. The forward won 13 Bundesliga titles and two Champions Leagues, amongst a host of other major honours, at Bayern, as well as the World Cup with Germany, and was never going to pick a Premier League star over a friend.
A Fiel deu um verdadeiro show nas arquibancadas da Neo Química Arena na sexta-feira (8) durante o treino aberto do Corinthians e a apresentação de Yuri Alberto. No entanto, mesmo com 40 mil vouchers sendo vendidos antecipadamente para o evento, alguns setores da Arena não encheram, e muitos se questionaram porque a festa não teve o mesmo impacto em comparação com 2018.
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+ GALERIA – Veja chegadas e saída do Corinthians no mercado
Naquela ocasião, o Timão também abriu as portas de sua casa para os torcedores corintianos, que protagonizam uma das maiores e mais bonitas festas da Arena durante o treino aberto antes da final do Paulistão, contra o Palmeiras. O espetáculo nas arquibancadas foi destacado pela presença de fumaça, bandeirões e sinalizadores.
A ausência desses instrumentos festivos foi o motivo que afastou as torcidas organizadas do Timão de apoiarem o time na Neo Química Arena após a classificação às quartas de final da Libertadores.
Os grupos organizados não concordaram com as exigências impostas pela Polícia Militar, desde revista pessoal na entrada ao estádio até ofício para entrar com materiais e faixa, dificultando a presença de bandeiras de mastro e sinalizadores. Dessa forma, decidiram boicotar o evento.
A PM entende que, mesmo sendo um treino, é um evento esportivo de grande magnitude. Dessa forma, é preciso respeitar o Artigo 13 do Estatuto do Torcedor, de 2003.
Nele, é informado que o torcedor deve consentir com a revista pessoal de prevenção e segurança, não portar ou ostentar cartazes, bandeiras, símbolos, sinais com mensagens ofensivas, fogos de artifício e bandeiras, com mastro de bambu ou similares.
– Independente se é jogo ou treino, é um evento esportivo e, sendo assim, deve-se seguir o Estatuto do Torcedor, de 2003 (L10671). É de responsabilidade do clube solicitar em um evento desta magnitude (+40 de mil presentes), o policiamento – afirmou um tenente do segundo batalhão do choque à Gazeta Esportiva.
+ TABELA – Simule os jogos do Corinthians no Brasileirão
O artigo 14 do Estatuto do Torcedor informa que é de responsabilidade dos dirigentes e da entidade detentora do mando do local solicitar ao poder público a presença de agentes públicos de segurança para assegurar a segurança aos torcedores no evento.
Para o treino aberto e a apresentação de Yuri Alberto, o Corinthians entendeu ser necessário a presença da Polícia Militar para que o evento ocorresse sem grandes problemas.
Mesmo aceitando as condições impostas pela PM, o presidente Duílio Monteiro Alves mostrou sua indignação com as restrições e disse que o clube trabalha com o poder público para dar ao torcedor mais liberdade de festejar nos estádiosem futuras ocasiões. Ele tambémse mostrou contrário à torcida única nos clássicos paulistas.
Apesar das limitações impostas pela lei, foi possível ver a presença de alguns sinalizadores durante a festa.
Em 2018, no entanto, a situação foi diferente, graças a uma queda de braço entre o ex-presidente do Corinthians, Andrés Sanchez, e o poder público.
O clube do Parque São Jorge queria fazer o treino aberto no sábado, mesmo dia em que o Palmeiras tinha marcado o seu treino com a torcida no Allianz Parque.
Tanto Ministério Público como a Polícia Militar alegaram que não havia condições de segurança para que os rivais enchessem seus estádios na mesma data. Após muita disputa, o Timão cedeu e decidiu antecipar o dia do seu treinamento para sexta-feira.
Porém, Andrés renunciou o auxílio da Polícia Militar,e sinalizadores e bandeiras foram liberados dentro da Arena.
– Nós já fizemos treino aberto três ou quatro vezes e nunca pedimos policiamento, pois a polícia tem mais o que fazer do que acompanhar um simples treino. Não chamamos e nem chamaremos – disse Andrés às vésperas do treino aberto.
Naquela ocasião, antes do treino aberto começar, o clube alvinegro estacionou o ônibus da equipe na avenida Radial Leste e fez com que os jogadores andassem no meio do público para chegar à Arena.
Former coach Ravi Shastri had questioned why an India coach would need a break when they get “two-three months” off during the IPL
ESPNcricinfo staff19-Nov-2022R Ashwin has defended India head coach Rahul Dravid being given a break from the ongoing tour of New Zealand, highlighting the physical and mental strain that the team has been under since they began building up to the 2022 T20 World Cup.In Dravid’s absence, former India batter and current head of the National Cricket Academy VVS Laxman took charge of a different-looking Indian team that is without regular captain Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Mohammed Shami and Ashwin himself.”I will explain why Laxman has gone there with a completely different team because even that could be interpreted differently,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel. “Rahul Dravid and his team put in extensive hard work ahead of the T20 World Cup – right from planning. Since I saw this from close quarters, I’m saying this.Related
Dravid given break for New Zealand tour, Laxman to coach India
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“They had specific in-depth plans for each venue and each opposition. So they would have been under not only mental but also physical burnout, and everyone needed a break. As soon as the New Zealand series ends, we have the Bangladesh tour. That’s why we have a different coaching staff led by Laxman for this tour.”India made the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup after winning four out of five group matches, but went down to eventual champions England.Dravid’s immediate predecessor Ravi Shastri had questioned why an India coach would need a break especially when they get “two-three months” off during the IPL.”I do not believe in breaks,” Shastri had said during a press interaction ahead of the first T20I between India and New Zealand in Wellington. “Because I want to understand my team, I want to understand my players and I want to then be in control of that team.”These breaks… what do you need that many breaks for to be honest?. You get your two-three months of the IPL; that’s enough for you to rest as a coach. But other times, I think a coach should be hands on – whoever he is.”Dravid had been rested for a tour of Zimbabwe earlier this year as well. Before that, he and a number of other first-choice players were allowed to focus on a Test match in England while a second-string T20I squad played against Ireland in Dublin. And, this October, while India’s T20 World Cup squad was in Australia, a set of fringe players were involved in an ODI series at home against South Africa. On all these occasions, Laxman had filled in for Dravid.India’s tour of New Zealand consists of three T20Is and three ODIs, the last of which will be held on November 30. Four days later, they will be in Bangladesh, with Dravid likely to be back at the helm, for a series that involves three ODIs and two Tests.
Glasgow Rangers may not have enjoyed as productive a transfer window as the Ibrox faithful anticipated, but Philippe Clement is making inroads into improving his team.
One of the main priorities during January was to reduce the wage bill, something that the Belgian has managed to achieve by offloading Kieran Dowell and Rabbi Matondo, both moving elsewhere on loan.
Rangers winger Rabbi Matondo.
Youngsters Alex Lowry and Zak Lovelace have also departed, both permanently, which freed up some space in the first-team squad.
Only one new signing was made last month. Defender Rafael Fernandes joined the Gers from French side Lille on a six-month loan, with Clement having the option to make this deal permanent should he impress in Glasgow.
He is another young talent who has a high ceiling for development. Another player was also signed by the Light Blues, although he won’t arrive at the club until the summer.
Rangers sign Lyall Cameron
Bringing the wage bill down is key for the club to progress on the pitch, spending money more wisely on signings rather than wasting it on those not up to the job or who are approaching the end of their careers.
Furthermore, signing players who have yet to reach the peak years of their careers is also crucial to Clement’s long-term philosophy.
As such, Dundee sensation Lyall Cameron was targeted as a potential signing, especially given how well he had performed this season.
Technical Director Nils Koppen hailed the midfielder once the signing was complete, saying: “I am delighted that we have agreed a deal for Lyall to join the club and to continue his career at Rangers come the summer.
“Lyall has a lot of potential and I look forward to seeing him continue to grow at Rangers in the coming years.”
Lyall Cameron’s season in numbers for Dundee
The 22-year-old has emerged as one of the key members of the Dundee squad over the previous couple of years. Starring as his side won promotion from the Championship in 2023, Cameron has been at the beating heart of the Dundee midfield.
He has made 30 appearances for the Dens Park side in all competitions this term, scoring eight goals and registering seven assists in the process.
Even more remarkable is the fact these goal contributions have come from the heart of the midfield. Occasionally, he has featured in a more advanced role, but his desire to get forward often is certainly a massive bonus for Clement.
Aside from his contributions in front of goal, Cameron has managed to create four big chances in the top flight, averages 1.6 key passes, and wins 3.8 total duels per game.
Securing a player this talented, especially without having to pay a transfer fee (although compensation may have to be paid further down the line to Dundee) is a job well done by Clement and Koppen.
According to Transfermarkt, his current market valuation stands at €1m (£850k), which might not sound like much at this moment in time, but moving to Ibrox will give him the ideal platform to increase this over the coming years.
This wouldn’t be the first time Koppen and Co. have hit the jackpot on a young midfielder with talent to burn. Mohamed Diomande joined the club a year ago and has seen his valuation rise over the previous 12 months.
Mohamed Diomande’s Rangers statistics
The announcement of Diomande came out of the blue in January 2024, as the Gers secured his services on an initial six-month loan deal, before making this move permanent in the summer for a fee in the region of £4.5m.
Eyebrows were raised at the price tag, but given his age and high ceiling for development over the coming years, it had all the makings of a solid signing.
He made 19 appearances for the Light Blues between January and the end of the season, scoring twice and grabbing an assist. His technical ability was a joy to watch, although it looked as though the physicality of Scottish football might prove to be a hindrance for the African midfielder due to his slender frame.
His importance to the side this season has steadily grown, emerging as Clement’s main option in the heart of the pitch alongside Nico Raskin.
Indeed, the Ivorian has made 37 appearances in all competitions for the Ibrox side this term, scoring five times while registering four assists.
Going forward, he has created four big chances while averaging one key pass and one successful dribble per game.
The midfielder also has an 87% pass success rate, while he also recovers 4.1 balls per game and makes 1.1 tackles. This season has also seen the player improve his physical strength, culminating in the 23-year-old winning 54% of his ground duels per game.
He scored a delightful goal against Dundee United recently, leading Sky Sports commentator Ian Crocker to describe the striker as “magnificent”.
Mohamed Diomande’s season in numbers
Metric (per 90)
Europa League
Premiership
Accurate passes
25
35
Tackles
2.1
1.1
Ball recoveries
5.3
4.1
Ground duels won
4.6
3.4
Key passes
1
1
Via Sofascore
If he keeps performing like this between now and the end of the season, Diomande might just attract some attention, no doubt about that.
Mohamed Diomande’s market value at Rangers
These recent performances on the pitch have boosted Diomande’s market value slightly. Indeed, according to Transfermarkt, the midfielder is now currently worth €6m (£5m) and this will only increase as time goes on.
If the Gers did decide to sell for whatever reason, they would likely make a substantial profit on their initial £4.5m investment.
Furthermore, Diomande is also valued more than five times more than new signing Cameron, proving just how effective he has been of late.
Mohamed Diomande
Of course, if the Scot can stamp his authority on the team when he moves this summer, then his valuation will soar. That’s a certainty.
Enjoying Diomande while he is at Rangers should be something every fan aims to do, as the former FC Nordsjaelland sensation won’t be at Ibrox for long.
Wolverhampton Wanderers beat Bristol City in the third round of the FA Cup, in order to progress through to the next stage. Goals from Rayan Ait-Nouri and Rodrigo Gomes put Wolves 2-0 up, before Bristol City’s Scott Twine made it 2-1 heading into half-time.
Vitor Pereira’s side held less possession (49%) than Bristol, who had 51% possession, but Wolves did manage to create five ‘big chances’ whilst the Robins didn’t manage any from their six shots in the match.
Alongside the goalscorers, a debut performance from central defender Emmanuel Agbadou caught the eye, after joining the club from Reims for around £16.6m this week.
Agbadou's debut performance
The 27-year-old made his debut for Wolves against Bristol, having played 15 games already this season in France, contributing to three clean sheets in 1,343 minutes played.
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The central defender brings leadership along with his duel-winning qualities, both on the ground and in the air.
In Wolves’ 2-1 victory at Ashton Gate, Agbadou played the entirety of the game, winning four of his five ground duels, one of his three aerial duels, making two interceptions, one tackle and four clearances in the match.
Agbadou
But alongside the good performances, there was one Wolves man in particular who has been under scrutiny in recent weeks, and could find himself on his way out, after another poor performance, being hooked after 75 minutes.
The Wolves star whose time is up
Hwang Hee-chan has been through his ups and downs at Wolves, making 111 appearances for the club, scoring 24 goals, providing seven assists and totalling 6,248 minutes played.
The 28-year-old has had some hot goal-scoring streaks in Wolves colours, but has only managed two goals in 672 minutes so far this campaign.
And his performance against Bristol didn’t help his case, only managing 32 touches – which was even fewer than goalkeeper Sam Johnstone (50) in the sticks – while making 75% of his passes accurately and losing possession seven times.
Hwang Hee-chan’s performance vs Bristol City
Stat
Record
Minutes
75
Shots
2
Big Chances Missed
1
Touches
32
Accurate Passes
18/24
Ground Duels Won
3/5
Possession Lost
7
Tackles Made
1
Stats taken from Sofascore
The 28-year-old has been linked with a move away in the January transfer window – amid interest from West Ham United – and this performance won’t have fans begging him to stay. Hwang didn’t make a single key pass in the game, both of his shots were off target and his only ‘big chance’ of the match was missed.
The forward clearly didn’t give up, still winning three of his five ground duels and making a tackle in the game, but the output and creativity weren’t of the standard needed, especially to earn himself more consistent minutes in the Premier League going forwards.
When considering the form of other attacking players at Wolves currently, such as Matheus Cunha and Jorgen Strand Larsen, you can definitely see why Hwang is now seen as expendable, and a sale could allow Pereira to make moves of his own in the window.
6 players who could join or leave Wolves in January
New Wolves manager Vitor Pereira could face a busy January transfer window.
Celtic have been handed a blow in their efforts to complete the signing of an “incredible” player in the January transfer window, according to a fresh update.
Celtic transfer news
The Hoops’ pursuit of Kieran Tierney is one of the top transfer stories in Scotland at the moment, as they attempt to seal a reunion with the 27-year-old. The Scottish Premiership champions are now reportedly looking to strike a pre-contract agreement in January, prior to bringing him in on a free transfer at the end of the season.
Away from the Tierney situation, Celtic are also believed to be battling as many as 12 clubs for the signing of Burnley midfielder Josh Brownhill. The Englishman is out of contract at Turf Moor and Brendan Rodgers seemingly considers him a strong option to bring in.
Manchester City ace James McAtee is another rumoured target for the Hoops, as they look to join a club that can offer him more regular football. That said, he produced a positive cameo off the bench against Leicester City on Sunday and Pep Guardiola may consider using him more often.
It looks as though midfield is an area of the pitch that Celtic are targeting in the January window, with Chelsea duo Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Carney Chukwuemeka both linked with switches to Parkhead, following frustrating seasons that have lacked minutes.
Celtic handed blow in pursuit of "incredible" ace
A new report from Football Insider claims that Celtic are struggling to sign City youngster McAtee in January, finding it “tough to compete” with Premier League clubs. The likes of West Ham, Fulham and Crystal Palace are all mentioned as suitors for the 22-year-old, and the English teams “would likely price Celtic out of a move as they are able to pay far more in wages and transfer fee”.
Manchester City'sJamesMcAteecelebrates after the match
Not signing McAtee would act as a setback for Rodgers, with the Englishman an extremely talented player who could offer so much quality in attacking areas. Not dissimilar to former Celtic hero Matt O’Riley in style, in terms of his ability to create wizardry with his left foot in central and wide areas, he has been hailed by Guardiola in recent days, who lauded him and other City youth team players in recent years/
It is understandable why Premier League clubs have an advantage over Celtic when it comes to signing McAtee, given the wages they can offer and the lure of the division, but hopefully, Champions League football could act as a key reason for him to head to Scotland.
Celtic looking to strike pre-contract agreement with "unbelievable" 27 y/o
There has been a new development at Parkhead.
By
Henry Jackson
Dec 30, 2024
He may feel that he has a part to play for City for the remainder of the season, however, which really would put paid to a move to Parkhead, whether that be a loan transfer or a permanent switch.
Tottenham Hotspur announced the hiring of Ange Postecoglou just over a year and a half ago, and since then, a lot has changed.
The North Londoners have gone from playing mind-numbingly boring football to being one of the most entertaining teams in Europe and, perhaps just as significant, sold the legendary Harry Kane.
However, while there have been some notable exits since the Australian took charge, there have also been some big signings as well, such as Micky van de Ven, Dominic Solanke and James Maddison.
The latter of those three has endured a mixed time in the capital thus far, and while he’s capable of producing some moments of magic, it might be worth looking for a rival, or even upgrade, and fortunately, the club have already been linked to just the player.
Maddison's Spurs career
Spurs signed Maddison from a recently relegated Leicester City in the summer of 2023 for about £40m, and while he was part of a team that went down, it certainly wasn’t on him.
In that final campaign with the Foxes, he managed to rack up an impressive tally of ten goals and nine assists in 32 appearances, so his move to N17 was more than justified.
In fact, the Coventry-born maestro hit the ground running in North London and racked up three goals and five assists in his first ten league games for the team, playing a significant role in Postecoglou’s sensational start to life in England.
Tottenham midfielder James Maddison
However, in the 11th game against Chelsea, he picked up an injury that saw him sidelined until late January, and when he came back, he was significantly less effective.
For example, in his final 17 league appearances, the 28-year-old scored a single goal and provided just four assists, which also played a role in the team’s slide down the table.
This season has been mixed for the Englishman, as while he has been sublime at moments and has a healthy tally of eight goals and five assists, he’s found himself out of the team on more than a handful of occasions, suggesting that his place in the squad is less than assured.
So, if the former Leicester City star cannot be relied upon to regularly produce and has found himself out of the starting lineup several times already this season, it might make sense for Spurs to look for an upgrade in the market and the good news on that front, is that they have already been linked with one in the last month or so.
The Serie A star who could replace Maddison
To get straight to the point, the player in question is AC Milan star Tijjani Reijnders, who was linked with a potential £50m move to Spurs last month, and while that sounds like a lot of money, it would be money well spent.
For example, despite playing slightly deeper than Maddison at the moment, the Dutch international’s output has been almost as good this season.
He has scored nine goals and provided three assists in 25 games, and were he moved slightly further up the pitch, we wouldn’t be surprised to see those numbers get even better.
However, to understand why analyst Ben Mattinson described the 26-year-old as one of the “top five midfielders this season”, we need to look at his underlying numbers.
According to FBref, which compares players across Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League, the Milan star sits in the top 1% of midfielders for carries into the final third and passes blocked, the top 3% for successful take-ons, the top 4% for non-penalty goals and shots on target, the top 5% for carries into the penalty area and more, all per 90.
Reijnders’ FBref Scout Repot
Stats
Per 90
Percentile
Passes Blocked
0.29
Top 1%
Carries into Final Third
2.99
Top 1%
Progressive Carries
2.91
Top 3%
Successful Take-Ons
0.34
Top 3%
Non-Penalty Goals
0.26
Top 4%
Shots on Target
0.74
Top 4%
Goals
0.26
Top 5%
Carries into Penalty Area
0.58
Top 5%
Pass Completion %
90.5%
Top 6%
All Stats via FBref
Furthermore, it’s not just at the club level that the “world-class” midfielder, dubbed by commentator Matteo Bonetti, is thriving, as he’s now won 20 caps for the Netherlands and made it to the semi-finals of the European Championships before going out at the hands of England.
Ultimately, Maddison is an incredibly talented footballer, but he tailed off towards the end of last season, and this year, he seems unable to hold down a place in the team.
Therefore, it makes sense to sign an upgrade this year, and while he will cost a pretty penny, Reijnders seems like a brilliant option.
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كشفت قناة النادي الأهلي الرسمية، موقف ثنائي الفريق الأول لكرة القدم من المشاركة في المباراة القادمة أمام صن داونز الجنوب إفريقي، ضمن منافسات بطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا.
ويستعد الأهلي لمواجهة ماميلودي صن داونز يوم الجمعة القادمة، على استاد القاهرة الدولي، في إطار مواجهة الإياب لنصف نهائي البطولة الإفريقية.
وأفاد محمد سعيد مذيع برنامج التريند عبر قناة “الأهلي”: “ياسر إبراهيم جاهزاً للقاء العودة امام صن داونز، ويوجد اختبار طبي لوسام أبو علي غدًا لتحديد مشاركته”.
طالع أيضاً.. موعد مباراة الأهلي وصن داونز في إياب نصف نهائي دوري أبطال إفريقيا
ويعاني الفلسطيني وسام أبو علي من إصابة في العضلة الضامة، بينما كان ياسر إبراهيم قد تعرض لإصابة مفاجئة في مباراة الذهاب أمام صن داونز.
وتعادل الأهلي مع صن داونز سلبياً في إطار مواجهات دور نصف النهائي من بطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا، على ملعب الأخير في جنوب إفريقيا.
وسيواجه الفائز من هذه المواجهة، المتأهل من نصف النهائي الآخر الذي يجمع بين بيراميدز وأورلاندو بايرتس الجنوب إفريقي، في المباراة النهائية لبطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا موسم 2024-2025.
وكان الأهلي قد بلغ دور نصف النهائي بعد تجاوز عقبة الهلال السوداني في ربع النهائي، حيث فاز في لقاء الذهاب بالقاهرة بهدف دون رد، ثم كرر النتيجة نفسها في الإياب الذي أُقيم على ملعب نواكشوط.
أما صن داونز، فتأهل على حساب الترجي التونسي، بعدما تفوق عليه بنتيجة 1-0 في مجموع مباراتي الذهاب والإياب.
يستعد عشاق الكرة الإفريقية لموعدين من العيار الثقيل، حين يلتقي الأهلي بنظيره ماميلودي صن داونز الجنوب إفريقي، في ذهاب وإياب نصف نهائي دوري أبطال إفريقيا، في واحدة من أكثر المواجهات المرتقبة على الساحة القارية هذا الموسم.
يحل الأهلي ضيفًا على صن داونز السبت المقبل وسط أجواء جماهيرية حماسية معتادة من أنصار صن داونز، ويعوّل الفريق الجنوب إفريقي على عاملي الأرض والجمهور لتحقيق نتيجة إيجابية قبل الانتقال إلى القاهرة، حيث ينتظره لقاء العودة الحاسم.
أما مباراة الإياب، فمن المقرر أن تُقام مساء الجمعة، 25 أبريل الجاري، على ملعب القاهرة الدولي، في أجواء ينتظر أن تكون مشتعلة من جماهير الأهلي التي لطالما لعبت دورًا فارقًا في المواجهات القارية الكبرى.
ويدرك أبناء مارسيل كولر أن التأهل إلى النهائي لن يكون سهلًا، خاصة في ظل عناد صن داونز التاريخي، مما يجعل من المباراتين موقعتين كرويتين مفتوحتين على كافة الاحتمالات، بجانب بعض الأنباء التي تتردد حول أن تلك المواجهة ستكون الفرصة الأخيرة للمدرب السويسري من أجل إثبات قدرته على قيادة السفينة الحمراء في كأس العالم للأندية.
مفاجأة.. مدرب الزمالك السابق يقترب من خلافة كولر في الأهلي
القيمة السوقية ومعدل الأعمار
تشير الأرقام إلى تفوق طفيف لصن داونز على مستوى القيمة السوقية، حيث تبلغ قيمة لاعبيه وفق “ترانسفير ماركت” 35.48 مليون يورو، مقابل 33.90 مليون يورو للأهلي، ويبرز في صفوف الفريق الجنوب إفريقي الثنائي تيبوهو موكوينا والتشيلي مارسيلو أليندي، بقيمة 2.30 مليون يورو لكل منهما، فيما يتقاسم الصدارة في الأهلي ثلاثي الهجوم والوسط: إمام عاشور، أشرف بن شرقي، ووسام أبو علي بقيمة 3.50 مليون يورو.
أما من حيث متوسط الأعمار، فلا يختلف الفريقان كثيرًا، إذ يبلغ معدل أعمار صن داونز 27.7 عامًا، مقابل 27.3 عامًا للأهلي، وتضم كتيبة صن داونز نسبة ضئيلة من المحترفين الأجانب لا تتجاوز 8 بالمائة، ما يعكس اعتمادًا واضحًا على المواهب المحلية. عقدة السنوات الأخيرة
في 16 مواجهة رسمية سابقة، تقاسم الفريقان الكفة بالتساوي، حيث فاز كل منهما في 5 لقاءات، وتعادلا في 6 مواجهات، لكن العقدة التي تؤرق جماهير الأهلي تتمثل في عدم تحقيق أي فوز على صن داونز خلال آخر 7 مباريات بينهما، إذ فاز صن داونز في 4 منها، وتعادل الفريقان في 3 مناسبات.
ويُعد هذا أول لقاء يجمع الفريقين في الدور نصف النهائي لدوري أبطال إفريقيا، بعدما تقابلا سابقًا في أدوار المجموعات والربع النهائي، وفي بطولة دوري السوبر الإفريقي. أرقام البطولة الحالية
يخوض الأهلي النسخة الحالية بصفته حامل اللقب، وخاض حتى الآن 8 مباريات، فاز في 5 منها، خسر مرتين، وتعادل في واحدة. تأهل وصيفًا لمجموعته خلف سيمبا، ثم أطاح بالهلال السوداني في ربع النهائي بنتيجة 1-0 ذهابًا وإيابًا، ونجح في تسجيل 16 هدفًا خلال مشواره، فيما استقبلت شباكه 7 أهداف فقط.
في المقابل، خاض صن داونز 8 مباريات أيضًا بالنسخة الحالية من دوري أبطال إفريقيا، فاز في 3 فقط، وتعادل في 4، وتلقى خسارة واحدة، تأهل أيضًا كوصيف مجموعته، لكنه سجل 6 أهداف فقط في مشوار متواضع هجوميًا، بينما استقبلت شباكه 4 أهداف.
الأرقام تُبرز أفضلية هجومية واضحة للأهلي، مقابل قوة دفاعية لصن داونز، ما يضيف بُعدًا تكتيكيًا إضافيًا لهذه القمة المرتقبة، التي قد تحسمها تفاصيل صغيرة، أو لحظة إبداع.
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca reportedly played a key role in convincing Geovany Quenda to snub Manchester United and instead choose Chelsea.
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Quenda set to join Chelsea in 2026Maresca personally communicated with wingerHis words convinced Quenda to choose BluesFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
The 17-year-old winger was being monitored by United for months, and the early signs pointed towards a potential move to Old Trafford in the summer. However, financial constraints and uncertainty over his long-term role led the Red Devils to hesitate, opening the door for Chelsea to make their move. Meanwhile, the Blues orchestrated a “secret blitz” at Sporting, ensuring the teenager was committed to their project ahead of any further manoeuvres by United and ultimately snapped him up for €48 million (£40m/$52m).
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According to the Chelsea’s pursuit of Quenda was significantly boosted by Maresca's personal involvement in the negotiations. The Italian head coach spoke directly with the young winger, providing reassurance about his future at Stamford Bridge. The manager expressed confidence in the youngster’s potential, urging him to keep "evolving, learning and improving" his game. The Chelsea boss also emphasised that the club views him as a crucial part of their long-term vision, reinforcing their trust in his ability.
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Ruben Amorim happens to be an admirer of Quenda as he trained the teenager during his stint at Sporting. United hence pushed to sign the winger but were put off by Sporting's initial asking price of €60m (£50m/$65m).
Getty/GOALWHAT NEXT FOR QUENDA?
Although Quenda won’t join Chelsea until 2026, he will continue his development at Sporting, where he will have ample opportunities to refine his skills in Portugal's top division. By the time he arrives in London, he is expected to be more polished and prepared to make an impact in English football.