Former Arsenal midfielder Gilberto Silva has delivered his verdict on how Martin Zubimendi has taken to life at the Emirates Stadium.

Gunners off to a flying start to the season

After coming second in the Premier League three years on the spin, Mikel Arteta identified the need to strengthen his squad considerably in the summer transfer window, and spent heavily, bolstering his options in a number of key areas.

Viktor Gyokeres was arguably the statement signing, amid widespread demand for Arteta to bring in a new striker, and the Sweden international is off to a solid, if not spectacular start, having scored three goals in his opening seven league games.

Folllowing the departure of Thomas Partey, it was also vital to strengthen in midfield, and Zubimendi was among the most notable additions, with the Spain international starting six of the seven Premier League games up to this point.

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As such, the Spaniard has clearly managed to impress Arteta, and he has also caught the eye of Gilberto Silva, despite the Brazilian admitting he wasn’t aware of who he was before the Gunners finalised a summer deal.

Zubimendi establishing himself as key player for Arsenal

It is no surprise that Arteta has started the Spain international so consistently, considering he has put in some fantastic performances in the Premier League, averaging a 7.33 SofaScore match rating, the second-highest figure of any Arsenal player.

The 26-year-old also won the Guinness Goal of the Month award for September, courtesy of a phenomenal strike in the 3-0 victory against Nottingham Forest, during which he scored two goals in one game for the first time in his career.

There were some concerns that Zubimendi’s new midfield partner, Rice, may have been ruled out due to injury, but the 26-year-old featured in England’s 3-0 victory over Wales, meaning he looks on course to be available for the trip to Fulham next weekend.

It was the Ballon d’Or ceremony on Monday, and it was a mixed night for Chelsea’s men’s team.

On the one hand, there was only one representative from the club in the final 30 players, but on the other hand, Cole Palmer was as high up as eighth.

The Blues have never actually had a player win the award while on their books, but they’ve had a number come incredibly close, like Frank Lampard and Jorginho.

However, there is a player in the current squad who could become the first Chelsea player to win it while plying his trade at Stamford Bridge, and we aren’t talking about the incredible Palmer or even Alejandro Garnacho, as much as he probably thinks he will get it at some point.

Chelsea at the Ballon d'Or since 2021

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the shutdown in football, there was no Ballon d’Or ceremony in 2020.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

So the first ceremony of the 2020s was held in 2021, and it was a great one for Chelsea.

With them being the reigning Champions League champions at that point, the Blues had five players on their books who made it into the final 30, with Jorginho coming third.

However, with the 21/22 season not exactly going their way, the West Londoners’ presence at the following year’s ceremony was dramatically reduced to just a single player: Antonio Rüdiger.

Things worsened in 2023, as not a single player from the men’s team was included on the final list of nominees, nor did any youngsters make it into the final ten for the Kopa Trophy.

Things have improved somewhat since then, as Palmer was ranked 27th last year and eighth this year; however, in both cases, he was the only representative for the men’s team.

With all of that said, there is a certain youngster in the current squad who has a genuine chance at winning the award for Chelsea, and we aren’t talking about the Englishman nor the recently signed Garnacho.

Chelsea's future Ballon d'Or winner

So, the first thing to say is that while we do not really think Garancho will ever be good enough to win the Ballon d’Or, nor has he shown us anything to suggest otherwise, Palmer might.

After all, the Englishman has featured in the final shortlist twice now and looks to be getting back to his best.

However, in this instance, we are talking about another player altogether who could be Chelsea’s first winner of the award: Estevao.

The West Londoners beat several other top sides to his signature in the summer of 2024, but due to his age, he had to wait another year to officially join up with Maresca’s squad.

During his time with Palmeiras, the 18-year-old wonderkid amassed an impressive tally of 27 goals and 15 assists in 83 appearances, totalling 5,610 minutes.

In other words, he maintained an average of a goal involvement every 1.97 games, or every 133.57 minutes.

Such a rate of return would be incredibly impressive for a seasoned attacker, but coming from a teenager, it’s out of this world.

It goes a long way in lending credence to respected analyst Ben Mattinson’s claim that the Franca-born gem is a “future Ballon d’Or winner.”

On top of his exploits back home, the dynamic winger has already looked dangerous in his short Chelsea career.

Coming off the bench, he’s been a constant threat, and then during his first Premier League start against West Ham United, he provided a brilliant assist for Joao Pedro.

Finally, he has also already won seven senior caps for Brazil, in which he’s scored his first international goal.

Ultimately, while Chelsea have a host of brilliant players, we think Estevao could well be their first-ever Ballon d’Or winner.

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It took the combined might of Mitchell Owen, Andries Gous, Glenn Maxwell and Glenn Phillips – not without help from Rachin Ravindra and Obus Pienaar – to match, and eventually top, Andre Fletcher on Thursday night at MLC 2025. Even then, it took till the last ball, and a dropped catch on that ball, to do it.Los Angeles Knight Riders, down on their luck and in the points table in, put up 213 for 4 against Washington Freedom, riding on Fletcher’s 60-ball 104. But it wasn’t enough – though it went down to the wire thanks to an almost-fantastic last over of the chase from Andre Russell. But Freedom got over the line in the end when Jason Holder dropped Phillips at mid-on off a spooned-out yorker, and climbed up to second place on the table, while Knight Riders remained at No. 5.A chase as big as this one needed a big start, but Freedom knew what to do, having pulled off the biggest chase in MLC just the other day. This made it a one-two for them.Owen set the ball rolling, smashing three fours and four sixes in his 16-ball 43, his contribution to a 51-run opening stand with Ravindra, who wasn’t shabby either, scoring 18 off 12. Gous got in then and kept the scoreboard moving, and all of that meant a powerplay score of 73 for 1. Marginally better than Knight Riders’ 67 for no loss.But the runs needed to keep coming, and keep coming at a rate of around 10-11. That happened too. Gous fell for 31 off 27, but Maxwell got going right then, smashing 42 off 23 balls with two fours and three sixes.Andre Fletcher brought up a 59-ball century•Sportzpics for MLC

Then came the next twist – Tanveer Sangha, bowling the 14th over, got rid of both Jack Edwards and Maxwell, and suddenly, it was looking loaded in Knight Riders’ favour. No fear – Phillips rocked up, and hit an unbeaten 23-ball 33 to put Freedom back on top, and when the last over started, only seven runs were needed.Russell had the ball, and started with a wide. And then Pienaar hit a four. Two needed from five. Not over. Three dot balls followed, and suddenly it was two from two. Super Over? But singles from Pienaar and Phillips off the last two balls finished the game off.On most days, Fletcher’s 104 from 60 balls – he retired out at that point – would have been on the winning side. Add to that Unmukt Chand’s 41 from 30 balls in an opening stand of 130 in 12.2 overs, Sherfane Rutherford’s 11-ball 20, and Russell’s unbeaten 13-ball 30, and Knight Riders pretty much had the perfect batting innings, having come into the game on the back of four losses in five games.Chand was slow – managing three fours and six and a strike rate of 136.66 in a game where runs were scored at well upwards ten an over across the two innings aren’t great numbers. But with Fletcher turning it on, Knight Riders stayed above that ten-an-over mark despite Chand’s lack of intent.But his fall, in the 13th over with Fletcher 83 off 45 balls at that stage, was perhaps good from Knight Riders’ point of view. It brought in Rutherford first, and after he fell after a cameo, Russell got in and got going big time right away. Fletcher’s century came up in the 18th over, and he retired one ball after, his knock including seven fours and six sixes.Russell then did his bit with bat and ball, but it was not enough for Knight Riders.

Santiago Gimenez’s goal drought in Serie A has forced AC Milan to consider reinforcements ahead of the January window. The Mexico international hasn't been able to find the net in any of the opening nine games of the tournament, prompting CEO Giorgio Furlani and sporting director Igli Tare to start scouting alternatives. Manchester United’s Joshua Zirkzee has re-emerged as a prime target, while Roma’s Artem Dovbyk remains a fallback option if talks stall.

Milan grow impatient among Gimenez drought

A striker’s worth is ultimately measured in goals, and Gimenez’s current numbers make grim reading. In nine Serie A appearances this season, the Argentine forward hasn’t scored once. This is despite the forward accumulating many chances in the final third of the pitch. His only two goals of the season came in the Coppa Italia win over Lecce, offering little comfort in Milan’s domestic campaign.

Gimenez joined Milan in January 2025 for €28.5 million after an excellent run at Feyenoord, where he scored 65 goals in 105 games. But Serie A’s tactical rigidity and physical duels have exposed weaknesses in his positioning and link-up play. Against Atalanta, he didn’t register a single shot or key pass while against Pisa, he lost majority of his duels and completed just 18 successful passes in 75 minutes.

Despite coach Massimiliano Allegri’s backing and defending Gimenez claiming he has "a big hand defensively", Milan’s patience is wearing thin. The club looks good on paper but hasn't been to convert their chances on pitch highlighting the lack of cutting edge that Gimenez was supposed to fix.

The Serie A giants are reportedly considering a move for United forward Zirkzee in the January window and also have a contingency plan to sign Dovbyk if things take an unexpected turn, according to

AdvertisementAFPZirkzee re-emerges as Milan target

The search for strikers has brought Milan back to a familiar name, Zirkzee. The Dutch forward is struggling for rhythm under Ruben Amorim, yet remains admired at San Siro for his technical blend of size, link-up play, and creativity. The 24-year-old has only played five games this season for Amorim, all of which were substitution appearances. Milan were also interested in bringing him back to the Italian league in the summer window but an agreement couldn't be reached with his camp.

Zirkzee joined United for €42.5m after a breakout 2023-24 season with Bologna, where he scored 11 goals and 4 assists in 34 Serie A matches helping Bologna finish fifth and return to Europe. At Old Trafford, however, he’s been marginalised only scoring three goals and registering two assists in the Premier League across his 32 appearances. The main reason behind his decline at United has been Amorim’s tactics which are pace-oriented attack and doesn’t suit Zirkzee's rhythm-based, hold-up style.

For Milan, that mismatch could be opportunity. A six-month loan with an option to buy is being discussed internally, as the club believes Zirkzee’s Serie A experience and aerial strength make him an ideal mid-season fix. He’s seen as someone who can both create space for Rafael Leao and convert half-chances, exactly what Gimenez currently lacks.

Swap-talks with Roma and backup plans

While Zirkzee tops the shortlist, Milan have not abandoned parallel discussions with Roma over Dovbyk. Talks between the clubs collapsed last summer over loan terms, but they could resume if United refuse a loan for Zirkzee. Dovbyk, who has two goals in eight Serie A matches this season, still offers the physical profile Allegri prefers.

The board is keeping options flexible. Milan’s team shot-conversion rate underline how wasteful finishing has cost them at least six points. A striker who can raise that efficiency even slightly could shift their season trajectory. That’s why sporting director Tare continues to monitor situations in France and Germany. 

Dovbyk fell out of the starting place at Roma mainly due to underwhelming performances and tactical misfit under coach Gian Piero Gasperini. Initially given opportunities in the Europa League and some Serie A games, Dovbyk struggled to make a significant impact, and further failing to score or assist consistently. His low goal involvement, combined with limited creativity and inability to fit Roma’s attacking style, led the coach to prefer other forwards like Paulo Dybala.

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Getty Images SportCan Gimenez win back his place in the Milan XI?

Despite external noise, Allegri still believes Gimenez can turn it around. He remains Milan’s most-used forward, logging 627 league minutes. His defensive contribution further makes him the coach's go-to-player and solidifies his starting position, but goals decide futures.

The next eight fixtures, including a derby against Inter on November 23 and a clash against second-place Roma, will define his fate. If the drought stretches further, Milan’s January priorities are clear: bring back Zirkzee’s or strike a deal with Roma for Dovbyk.

Liverpool’s spending spree could have been even more impressive in the summer, with reports now indicating that they made an approach to sign a midfield star.

What Liverpool need in 2026

After breaking their transfer record twice in one summer to sign both Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak, it’s hard to imagine that Liverpool need anything when 2026 arrives. But the reality is that they’re still short at centre-back and in the most ideal world, could do with backup for Ryan Gravenberch at the heart of their midfield.

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Arne Slot will be hoping that his side at least end their three-game losing run when they return to action against rivals Manchester United this weekend. That would at least help to quiet the noise surrounding the Reds’ current struggles and their need for reinforcements even after a £400m spending spree.

The Dutchman will also be hoping to see the likes of Florian Wirtz and Alexis Mac Allister bring their international form to club level. The latter scored a brace against Puerto Rico for Argentina on Wednesday, whilst Wirtz has received backing from compatriot Ilkay Gundogan during his time with Germany.

It’s certainly not a replacement for Wirtz that Liverpool need in 2026. Instead, they need to strengthen at centre-back by finally signing Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace and they need some competition for Gravenberch.

Liverpool made contact to sign Thuram

Those at Anfield very nearly signed backup for Gravenberch in the summer. According to The Boot Room’s Graeme Bailey, Liverpool launched an approach to sign Khephren Thuram from Juventus alongside a number of their Premier League rivals. Juventus reportedly rebuffed any efforts to steal the Frenchman and aim to build their midfield around the 24-year-old.

Whether that’s the end of that saga remains to be seen. History would suggest that it’s unlikely to end there. Before Slot even arrived, it was Jurgen Klopp who set his sights on Thuram, only for Juventus to swoop in and Liverpool to sign Gravenberch, Wataro Endo and Dominik Szoboszlai instead.

Of course, that trio have since become Premier League champions, but that doesn’t mean Thuram wouldn’t have plenty to offer the Reds in the middle of the park.

Described as a “powerful” ball-carrier by analyst Ben Mattinson, Liverpool shouldn’t give up on adding Thuram to their ranks just yet.

Arsenal have had a testing and trialling start to the new season. They’ve already visited Old Trafford, Anfield and St James’ Park. They’ve also faced Manchester City. Therefore, to come away with 13 points from their opening six matches isn’t bad at all.

They’ve spent most of the campaign watching Liverpool come up with late goals. The Reds have galloped to the top of the Premier League by scoring late goals aplenty. It was in the 83rd minute that they scored the winner against Arsenal while against Burnley and Newcastle, they left it until injury time.

Well, in response, Mikel Arteta’s men have delivered late drama themselves. They needed Gabriel Martinelli’s injury-time equaliser a week ago and against Newcastle on Tyneside, it required an 84th-minute header from Mikel Merino and another header from Gabriel Magalhaes in the sixth minute of stoppage time.

It was dramatic, it was chaotic, but for Arsenal, it was oh so lovely.

Merino and Gabriel were the heroes but a special mention must go Declan Rice’s way for the manner in which he helped power the away side to victory.

Declan Rice's performance vs Newcastle in numbers

Towards the end of last season, Rice firmly established himself as one of the finest midfielders in Europe.

That stunning pair of free-kicks against Real Madrid put him on the map, with Rio Ferdinand remarking that the England star was one of the finest players on the park.

In comparison, the former West Ham star has had a slower start to 2025/26 but he’s beginning to motor now, really proving that in Sunday’s win over Newcastle.

Truth be told, Rice was playing far too deep in the opening 45 minutes of the game but as he began to move further forward in the second period, he came alive.

It was Rice’s perfectly weighted delivery from the left-hand side that led to the Gunners’ equaliser, playing the ball into Merino who glanced home.

The club-record signing’s display was much more than just that assist, however.

Indeed, it was a display in which he showcased why he is “one of the best midfielders in world football” in the words of analyst Raj Chohan.

Throughout his 90 minutes on the field, the 26-year-old did it all, completing 88% of his passes and amassing 104 touches. He also completed three key passes and won seven of his nine duels.

It was an imperious performance from Rice, a player who is perhaps proving to be the club’s most complete midfielder since the days of Patrick Vieira.

He’s not the only one evoking memories of the great Frenchman, though.

Arsenal's "colossal" star is showing shades of Patrick Vieira

Rice has continued to prove that he’s one of the most important players in the squad. He’s also demonstrated why he’s one of the most clutch players at Arteta’s disposal. He simply comes alive in the big moments and in the big games.

Another player who embodies that is Gabriel. The Brazilian has been an enormous part of Arsenal’s rise during Arteta’s reign and nothing summed up his time at the club more than Sunday’s win against Newcastle.

It actually didn’t start particularly well for the central defender, who was certainly at blame for the game’s opening goal.

The ball was swung in toward the Toon’s towering striker, Nick Woltemade. The German gently leaned on Gabriel who, instead of challenging for the ball, threw himself to the floor in a wildly embarrassing moment.

However, Gabriel responded emphatically with a phenomenal second-half performance, in particular, that culminated in the game’s winning goal.

While the centre-back’s late header sparked pandemonium among the Arsenal players and staff, it was certainly no surprise that he popped up when he did.

After all, like Rice, like Vieira 20 odd years ago, Gabriel is one of the most clutch players we’ve seen at the club. He’s scored 18 Premier League goals, at least six more than any other defender since he made his English top-flight debut back in September 2020.

Like Vieira he’s a warrior, a leader, a titan and a gladiator amongst men. In the words of Statman Dave, via X, his display against Newcastle was “colossal”.

Minutes played

90

Touches

81

Accurate passes

51/60 (85%)

Clearances

9

Blocks

2

Interceptions

3

Tackles

3

Ground duels won

4/4

Aerial duels won

7/11

Woltemade goal aside, it certainly was sublime. Gabriel won more duels (11), made more clearances (9) and won more aerial battles (7) than any other Arsenal player at St James’ Park.

Meanwhile, no player in red or white made more than the defender’s three tackles and three interceptions.

While it would have been easy for the 27-year-old to get carried away after being bundled over easily for the opener, the way in which he bounced back was characteristic of the way he plays his football.

Like Rice, he’s Vieira-esque, a warrior with the heart of a lion, somebody you can never write off. If Arsenal win the league come May, then Gabriel will have had a huge say in that triumph.

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Ahead of a new era, one former Ibrox star has fired a direct warning to Celtic as Rangers set their sights on climbing the Scottish Premiership table.

Rangers set to appoint Gerrard

It’s de ja vu for Rangers, who are reportedly on the brink of reaching a full agreement with Steven Gerrard to return to the club. The last manager to win the Scottish Premiership at Ibrox, the 45-year-old is set to step foot in the dugout in Scotland for the first time since leaving for Aston Villa. He has a lot of making up to do, but arrives with it all to do after Russell Martin’s disastrous tenure.

Gerrard’s last Rangers spell

Record

Games

192

Wins

124

Draws

41

Defeats

27

If the former manager can pick up where he left off, then Rangers should begin to bridge the gap on Celtic and Hearts at the top of the Scottish Premiership. As things stand, his first game back in charge of the club is likely to be Dundee United at Ibrox, before travelling to face Brann in the Europa League after the international break.

It will be a hectic start for Gerrard and the Rangers squad, but the manager will be hoping to have learned from recent lessons in the technical area to enjoy a quick start.

He recently told Rio Ferdinand when asked about returning to management: “I’d love another go at some point. I want to change a few things and improve a few things and come back fresh, with a few different people around myself.

“I’d love another couple of challenges doing this and that’s what I’m working on in the background at the moment. A few different ideas, a few different people around me.”

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It will certainly be interesting to see the current version of Gerrard compared to 2021 and one former Ibrox star has already issued a warning to Celtic with that in mind.

Kyle Laferty fires fresh warning to Celtic

Speaking about Gerrard’s return to the club, former Ibrox ace Kyle Laferty warned Celtic about the immediate plan that the Liverpool legend has, claiming that’s what Rangers fans will “want”.

Currently nine points away from Celtic and 11 away from leaders Hearts, it would take a monumental effort for Gerrard to win the league from here, but he’ll be looking to draw on his previous experience as a champion to do exactly that.

Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr has made a grovelling apology for his behaviour after being substituted during the 2-1 Clasico victory over arch-rivals Barcelona. The Brazil international stormed off the pitch, headed straight down the tunnel and was heard saying he was going to "leave the team" after being taken off, but has now apologised to everyone except boss Xabi Alonso.

• High drama in El Clasico

  The flashpoint came in the 72nd minute when the assistant referee indicated Vinicius was coming off, to be replaced by Rodrygo. He was seen gesticulating towards the bench and broadcaster even picked up Vinicius' comments as he stormed off the pitch, as he said: "Always me! I'm leaving the team! I'm leaving! It's better if I leave, I'm leaving." He marched straight down the tunnel, ignoring manager Alonso, but eventually returned to take his place among the substitutes before the game ended. He has now apologised for his actions, but 'deliberately' left out any mention of Alonso and is 'hurt' over his treatment by the coach this season, according to .

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• AFP
  

  Vinicius branded 'a disgrace'

  Speaking after the match, former Uruguay defender Diego Lugano branded Vinicius' behaviour a "disgrace" and told show Round Review: "This mess at this level is very difficult to witness. Inevitably, his prestige within Real Madrid, within Spanish football, will drop significantly. Every weekend he has a problem, he fights with opponents, he fights with the team. He has a personality, a guy who likes this fight, this confrontation… I don't know what's going on in his head, but his prestige at Real Madrid will definitely drop."

  Former Brazil star Luis Fabiano added: "Totally wrong, a lack of respect for whoever is coming on. You can get angry, you can't like the substitution, but you have to respect your teammate and leave quietly."

  And ex-Liverpool and Real Madrid star Steve McManaman was similarly angry, telling after the match: "It's not about you, it's about the team. It's about the collective. It's about winning. It is about going five points clear. It's about beating Barcelona after they beat you four times last year. It's about winning Xabi Alonso's first Clasico as coach. We shouldn't be talking about someone getting substituted after 75 minutes. It drives me mad."

• 'Sometimes passion gets the better of me'

  After a period of reflection, Vinicius Jr said: "Today I want to apologise to all the Madridistas for my reaction when I was substituted in the Clasico. Just as I have already done in person during today’s training, I also want to apologise again to my team-mates, the club, and the president. Sometimes passion gets the better of me because I always want to win and help my team. My competitive character stems from the love I feel for this club and everything it represents. I promise to keep fighting every second for the good of Real Madrid, as I have done since the first day."

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• Getty
  

  So, is all now forgiven? 

  Vinicius has the international superstar profile, but Alonso holds all the cards. Los Blancos sit pretty at the top of La Liga, they’ve won all three games in the Champions League and other key stars like Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham are now firing on all cylinders. The Brazil international's performances have been inconsistent so far this season and his standing in the Spanish capital is strained. He has scored five goals and assisted four in 10 La Liga appearances, but has yet to register a goal in the Europe. His reported frustrations are linked to a contract dispute, where talks over a new deal have stalled, and Vinicius is reportedly considering leaving the club next summer if he doesn't feel his status has improved. While his popularity with fans remains high, recent reports indicate tension that is raising doubts about his long-term future in the Spanish capital.

He also spoke about taking over Rohit’s seat on India’s team bus, and what he’s learning from Jadeja

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Jun-2025Kuldeep Yadav has been “spending a lot of time” with fellow spinner Ravindra Jadeja, both on and off the field, picking his brains ahead of India’s five-match Test series in England.Kuldeep has played only one Test in England so far, at Lord’s in 2018. He conceded 44 in nine overs and failed to pick up a wicket in England’s only innings. Since then, however, he has grown into a more rounded bowler, and currently has 56 wickets in 13 Tests at an average of 22.16 and a strike rate of 37.3, which is bettered by no spinner in Test history with a cut-off of 50 wickets.Related

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Jadeja’s all-round value makes him the frontrunner to be India’s first-choice spinner on this tour, but Kuldeep is likely to come into the picture if conditions allow them to pick a second spinner. Kuldeep’s left-arm wristspin was instrumental in India’s comeback from 1-0 down to beat England 4-1 at home in early 2024 – he picked up 19 wickets in four Tests at an average of 20.15.”Playing alongside Jadeja is such a great honour for me,” Kuldeep said. “Obviously, Jadeja and [R] Ashwin have been brilliant over the last few years. When I made my debut in India, they helped me a lot. And even now, we have been having a lot of chat about how to bowl to certain batters, given the way the England batters are batting at the moment.”I’m actually spending a lot of time with him, not only on the field, but also outside as well. So it has actually helped me a lot in terms of tactics and the field placements, and he has given some tips as well.”In the team bus, Kuldeep has been sitting next to Jadeja, taking over a seat previously occupied by Rohit Sharma, now retired from Test cricket. When asked about it, Kuldeep laughed.”I can never take Rohit ‘s place,” he said. “It’s just that I’m spending a lot of time with Jaddu bhai. It’s obviously very important for me as a spinner, because Ash [Ashwin, also retired] isn’t there, and I’ve learned a lot from Ash , and now that he isn’t there, [I’m looking to learn from] whichever senior player is there.”Kuldeep on Gill: ‘As a leader, he’s very motivated and he’s been playing an active role in lifting the team’•Gareth Copley/GettyIndia are currently playing an intra-squad match in Beckenham. Sunday is the third day and, with the sun out, Kuldeep expects the pitch to start taking turn. With England transitioning away from green seamers, over recent years, towards flatter pitches that suit their ultra-aggressive style of batting, there is a chance spin could play a role in the five Tests should the matches last longer.”It seems like there will be good wickets for spinners,” Kuldeep said. “The wicket for the practice match was good for batting. There was some light moisture on the first day, and the seamers got some help, but as the game went on, I felt there was some bounce for the spinners, and while I didn’t get much turn during my first spell on the first day, it’s day three today and I’ll get to know how the wicket is now when I get to bowl, but whatever practice sessions I’ve had so far, the ball has been turning a bit. It’ll be really nice if it remains this way during the [Test] matches too.”If the conditions are warm, as they have been over the last three-four days, and if the wickets are like this, spinners can get help. I don’t worry that much about conditions, but yes, it feels good to bowl if you get a slightly helpful wicket.”When asked what the players looked to achieve from an intra-squad match, Kuldeep said: “We’ve played a lot of T20 in the last four-five months, so volume is very important, and all the bowlers are instructed to bowl as many overs [in practice as they would in a match]: the fast bowlers will bowl at least 15 to 20 overs so they can build up fully for the Test match, and it’s the same for the spinners – the more they bowl, the better it will be.”In the wake of Rohit’s retirement, India have handed the Test captaincy to Shubman Gill. Kuldeep felt Gill was “fully ready to lead” the side.”Shubman knows how to lead a team,” Kuldeep said. “He has worked under the seniors in the last couple of years. In the last one year, you’d have seen him in a lot of discussions with Rohit – not only in Tests but even in ODIs. I’m sure he has learned a lot, but as a leader, from what I have seen so far, he’s very motivated and he’s been playing an active role in lifting the team.”I have seen over the last three-four sessions that Shubman has the same qualities that I’ve seen in our previous leadership groups. He’s fully ready to lead us.”

MatériaMais Notícias

O São Paulo voltou às suas raízes e fez valer o apelido de Clube da Fé. Mesmo após anos de fracassos e frustrações, a torcida que jamais abandona conduziu o Tricolor ao título inédito da Copa do Brasil, mostrando que a moeda pode voltar a cair de pé no Morumbi.

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Nem mesmo o são-paulino mais audacioso seria capaz de elaborar um roteiro tão emocionante e irrepreensível na Copa do Brasil. O Tricolor flertou com a eliminação nas oitavas de final para derrubar seus dois maiores rivais e ser campeão sobre o time com maior investimento do país.

O INÍCIO DE UMA IMPROVÁVEL JORNADA

Se a caminhada ao histórico título terminou no Morumbi, nada mais justo que o começo desta inesquecível história tivesse seu ponto de partida no Cícero Pompeu de Toledo, com Rogério Ceni. Uma das maiores figuras são-paulinas, Ceni viu sua imagem como treinador do Tricolor ficar desgastada após decepções no começo do ano, e o ídolo abriu espaço paraDorivalJr.

E foi com o dedo deDorivalque o São Paulo foi crescendo na competição. Com uma percepção tática única, o treinador foi o principal responsável pela classificação sobre o Ituano e a vantagem construída diante do Sport. Mas todo campeão precisa de sorte, e ela sorriu para o goleiro Rafael, que virou herói nas cobranças de pênalti contra o time pernambucano.

!PALMEIRAS E CORINTHIANS, PODEM ESPERAR!

O caminho ao título inédito ainda reservava grandes emoções, mas o Tricolor foi resiliente, do começo ao fim no confronto contra o Palmeiras, e calou o Allianz Parque com gols de Caio Paulista e David, heróis improváveis que comprovaram a união e força do elenco são-paulino.

Na semifinal, o Corinthians e o “fantasma” de Itaquera assombraram o São Paulo, mas quando as pernas não dão conta, o cérebro responde ao coração. Lucas atendeu ao chamado do Tricolor após 11 anos, e o cartão de boas-vindas do jogador criado em Cotia foi tão triunfal quanto o show da torcida nas arquibancadas do Morumbi.

DORIVALE O REENCONTRO

Na grande final, o destino pregou mais uma peça ao São Paulo, colocandoDorivalJr frente a frente com oFlamengo, onde fez história para depois ser escanteado pela diretoria rubro-negra.

Sem remorsos,Dorivaldeu uma aula tática a Sampaoli e calou o Maracanã com gol de Calleri, protagonista que representa tão bem este São Paulo. No Morumbi, a festa de gerações são-paulinas que sonhavam em ver o clube erguer o único título que faltava. A torcida que canta com orgulho ser hexa brasileiro e nunca ser rebaixado pode finalmente tirar o grito entalado na garganta da Copa do Brasil.