The Lahore Qalandars management understands it and the PCB is just beginning to appreciate it

Danyal Rasool26-May-2025Ostensibly armour-plated, yet surprisingly sensitive. Pressure-hardened prodigy, yet a successful adult superstar who still yearns for unconditional appreciation. Shaheen Shah Afridi, who just won a record-extending third PSL title as captain amid wild scenes at his home ground, is perhaps not a man who loves playing cricket so much as one who loves to be loved for playing cricket.What else could explain the change in mood from the delirious high of a last-gasp title victory as Sunday gave way to Monday, to the stultifying demeanour at the post-match trophy ceremony?When Sikandar Raza – his own dramatic journey now well-documented – struck the winning runs for Lahore Qalandars, Afridi was among the first to pour onto the field to exult with his team, uncomplicated joy writ large on his face. Half-an-hour later, as an almost comically large cadre of dignitaries gathered on stage to present the trophy, it seemed the complex emotions that Afridi has come to associate with Pakistan cricket were back.Related

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• From Nottingham to Lahore: How Raza travelled the world for PSL glory

There was an acceptance of felicitations from the Pakistan president, but PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi and Afridi shared little more than frosty nods of acknowledgement, Naqvi increasingly receding into the background as the ceremony went on. The relationship between the two men is difficult, on occasion spilling out openly in the public domain. When Naqvi took over as PCB chief, Afridi was Pakistan captain. Now, he is no longer in the national side.It was a point clearly on his mind during a punchy post-match press conference. At the toss, Ramiz Raja had asked about his return to form, a question Afridi repeatedly appeared to interpret as a slight, because alluding to a return would suggest bad form earlier. When a journalist asked about it post-match, he got the same answer as Raja.”Ramiz asked about my form too and I said I am the same. But you need to have the eyes to see me. I am the same bowler. I have not changed, and I will not change.”When another spoke of how brilliant his final four games had been, he gave a stock reply, but the true riposte was playing around in his head, and, ten minutes later, he returned to it as an aside. “A journalist earlier mentioned that I performed in the last four games. Thank you for noticing that at least I performed in four games! People mention my performances in the last four matches, and appeared to forget all my previous performances.”It is, for the record, not controversial to say Afridi’s form towards the tail-end of this tournament has far superseded what he produced earlier on in the tournament. The last four games saw him take ten wickets, more than in the first seven games put together. His bowling in the second qualifier and the final are contenders for bowling performances of the tournament. But for Afridi, who feels he has endured more than he deserves to in Pakistani cricket as well as in its media, every compliment comes transfigured as a barb. The guard, lowered during the last six weeks with Qalandars, is back up against everyone else.Sameen Rana, the Qalandars owner, was alongside him at the press conference, if only to temper his captain should things go overboard. He referred to Afridi as “not a Qalandars player, but a family member”. He would then speak of his own philosophy of player management, one that, to his and Qalandars’ credit, has not wavered in good times or bad. “The advantage we have at Lahore Qalandars is we don’t judge our players, we back them. When you truly back someone, the results come.”Shaheen Shah Afridi’s Lahore Qalandars won the PSL title on Sunday•AFP/Getty ImagesThat is no longer the case with Afridi and the national side. There are days when that can be justified; the cold hard numbers tell a tale of a bowler not quite as effective in the Pakistan colours anymore. But then, there are also nights like these.After enduring a somewhat indifferent PSL, the suspension and resumption gave Afridi a second wind. By the time he was bowling the first ball in the final, he had become the most valuable bowler in the tournament. The first over lacked a wicket but none of his vintage brilliance, starting it with three consecutive yorkers, the ball hooping around at pace as Finn Allen and Saud Shakeel went into survival mode. Three years earlier in a T20 World Cup semi-final, Afridi had taken three balls to trap Allen in front; here, Allen wisely got off strike on the second.The wicket Afridi got in his second over was fortuitous (Shakeel wasn’t close to making contact on that flick down the leg side) but not undeserved. With Quetta Gladiators finding their feet from the other end and getting off to a fast start despite Afridi’s menace, there was, perhaps, an argument for a missed trick when the Qalandars captain did not return for a third powerplay over. That over, bowled by Haris Rauf, would instead go for 16, and Gladiators finished the powerplay at a relatively comfortable 57 for 2.But Afridi would save each of his remaining overs for the most difficult time to bowl. Gladiators rollicked along against the rest of the bowling attack, Hasan Nawaz surging to 52 off 23, the score 106 for 3 in 11 overs. After starting with a wide and a nasty boundary collision that saw two fielders injured and a needless boundary conceded, Afridi produced five consecutive yorkers of near-military accuracy. Gladiators could do little more than forage three singles, and at least the momentum was punctured.But by his fourth over, it was all Gladiators. They were up to 170 for 4 in 17, on course to producing a total high enough to never have been chased in the final of any T20 competition, and knocking Qalandars out of the contest halfway through. The fifth-wicket partnership between Hasan and Dinesh Chandimal was 45 off 25 balls when Afridi marked his run-up around the wicket.There’s no denying that Shaheen Shah Afridi is a generational talent•Associated PressHasan squeezed a low full toss for a single before Chandimal failed to get underneath one and holed out to long-on. Three balls later, Afridi had removed dangerman Hasan himself, drawing a miscue that Raza held on to. The 18th over had produced two runs, and shaved a chunk of Gladiators’ final total. His bowling figures read 4-0-24-3; the other four in his side had conceded 41, 42, 43 and 51.Halfway through the press conference between the Qalandars captain and owner, an official came up to place the PSL trophy on the table. Afridi barely glanced at it; it wasn’t the silverware he craved as much as the joy of achieving success in an environment he has come to value beyond all else.”The atmosphere here is familial,” he said. “No one is anyone’s boss or captain. Everyone is heard, everyone is respected. No one is allowed to disrespect someone else.”That last sentence, perhaps, explains much of what has gone wrong between Afridi and Pakistan cricket over the last 18 months. It is not the way he would characterise the PCB, or the environment within Pakistan cricket, one he has gradually begun to be excluded from.”To improve Pakistan cricket, we need to support our players. You look at the strong national teams abroad, their former players support their team. They don’t call for sackings and removals,” Afridi said. “When you don’t give players that atmosphere, nothing we can do will change the situation. If the media had been positive, the crowds that didn’t come for large parts of the PSL would have been full. I truly believe that. All we have in Pakistan is cricket.”It is likely difficult managing Afridi, as is the case for most high-profile sports stars. He may sometimes lash out, and take offence where it isn’t given. He can have frustratingly long spells of poor form when the analytical side of his game appears to desert him wholly, and he shrinks under pressure. There will be clashes of egos among team-mates and between player and board. But as he has shown time and again with Qalandars, and used to show so often with the national side, he is also a generationally talented bowler, and walking away from him is invariably a failure of management, and a waste of talent.As Rana appears to understand, there is a value to making Shaheen Afridi feel loved and, as the PCB may just be beginning to appreciate, a real cost to not doing that.

Barcelona were comprehensively beaten at Stamford Bridge as the Blaugrana hardly put up a fight on the way to a 3-0 defeat against Chelsea in the Champions League. Hansi Flick's side went down to 10 men in the first half after Ronald Araujo was dismissed after picking up two bookings, and had the ball in their net six times as Chelsea attacked against their infamous high line at will.

A shocking own goal by Jules Kounde opened the scoring for Chelsea with 27 minutes on the clock, after the home side had already seen two goals disallowed prior. Following a Marc Cucurella cross and Pedro Neto back-heel, Kounde and Ferran Torres got themselves in an almighty mess on the goal line and the ball bounced in off the Frenchman.

Ferran was involved in shocking moments at both ends, inexplicably sliding the ball wide when clean through with the game goalless. Lamine Yamal's through-ball to the Spaniard would be the 18-year-old's only memorable contribution of the night, as Estevao scored a stunning goal at the other end to confirm himself as the clear victor in the battle of the teenage wonderkids.

Chelsea substitute Liam Delap scored a third after another ridiculous offside trap played by the visitors, and the introduction of Marcus Rashford and Raphinha by Flick was to no avail as Barca rarely laid a glove on their buoyant hosts following Araújo's 44th-minute dismissal.

GOAL rates Barcelona's players from Stamford Bridge…

• AFP
  

  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Joan Garcia (4/10):

  Had the ball in his net six times and had the offside flag to thank for one disallowed goal in particular, where Santos' strike slipped through his grasp far too easily and into the net. Would have gone down as a goalkeeping howler if it stood.

  Jules Kounde (3/10):

  Got his feet in an almighty mess to score a highly-avoidable own goal. His lack of awareness in the six-yard box was astounding as he somehow managed to almost tackle the ball off Ferran and into the net. Sent flying by Garnacho just after half-time as the Argentine set up one of Chelsea's disallowed goals.

  Ronald Araujo (2/10):

  Summed up Barca's first-half display with a mindless challenge on Cucurella to earn himself a second yellow card. The fact that his first was earnt for dissent makes things even worse. Wearing the captain's armband for such a club, better discipline must be demanded.

  Pau Cubarsi (5/10):

  Did the best he could to prevent the scoreline being any bigger, but the young defender was beaten far too easily by Estevao as he skipped inside to score.

  Alejandro Balde (5/10):

  Played Fernandez onside for Chelsea's final goal as Barca's high line came unstuck once again. The full-back had no answers for the dangerous Estevao as the Brazilian shone.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Midfield

  Eric Garcia (5/10):

  Shifted back into centre-back after the red card, and put in a shift despite the poor performance from his side overall.

  Frenkie de Jong (4/10):

  Gave the ball away poorly in the build-up to the second goal and was never able to take control of the midfield, as Chelsea dominated throughout.

  Fermín Lopez (5/10):

  Largely non-existent as Caicedo prevented him having any say on proceedings. The 22-year-old's most memorable contribution was a weak claim for a first-half penalty from a Chalobah challenge. Taken off after an hour by Flick.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Attack

  Lamine Yamal (5/10):

  Arguably lost out in two battles in one night – Cucurella got the better of him, and so did Estevao as the two 18-year-olds competed for the spotlight. Other than an early through-ball to Ferran and a scuffed shot easily saved, Yamal impacted the game little and was substituted with 10 minutes to play to jeers from the home crowd.

  Robert Lewandowski (5/10):

  Similarly to Fermin, the veteran Pole hardly had a touch of the ball and much less an opportunity on goal. Was given very little service in his hour on the pitch, in fairness.

  Ferran Torres (3/10):

  Far from his finest day at the office. Missed a huge opportunity at 0-0, clean through with the goal gaping. Torres then played his role in failing to clear Kounde's scrappy own goal, and was hooked at half-time by Flick to be replaced by Rashford.

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• Getty Images
  

  Subs & Manager

  Marcus Rashford (5/10):

  Replaced Ferran at half-time and made no more of an impact, as Barca's threat became even less in the second period.

  Raphinha (5/10):

  Had a weak shot on target saved by Sanchez, but in half an hour on the pitch also offered very little.

  Andreas Christensen (5/10):

  Brought on to shore up the midfield and struggled to do that, seeing an ambitious strike fly wide in stoppage time as he hoped to impact proceedings against his former club.

  Dani Olmo (N/A):

  Replaced Yamal late on and barely had a touch of the ball.

  Gerard Martín (N/A):

  Came on for Balde in the final 10 minutes.

  Hansi Flick (4/10):

  The high line did not work, and Barcelona were second-best long before the sending-off. Flick's substitutions did not help, either, and he can have no complaints about the deserved result.

India added 327 runs for the loss of just three wickets on the third day against West Indies in Ahmedabad

Alagappan Muthu03-Oct-20252:08

Chopra: Jadeja’s game against fast bowling ‘has improved leaps and bounds’

India’s batting riches put them in consummate control of the first Test of their home season, with KL Rahul and Dhruv Jurel scoring important centuries. It was Rahul’s first at home since 2016 and it was Jurel’s first one ever. They now have a lead of 286, which is large enough to potentially shrink this down from a five-day game.Ravindra Jadeja had an equal part to play on a day where India made 327 runs for just three wickets. There was a point when the pitch started crumbling and West Indies’ spinners were able to get the ball to turn sharply out of the rough. India collectively decided to attack them, hoping to throw them off the lengths where they could access the worn out parts of the pitch. Jadeja did this the best. His idea was to charge at the bowler, and every time he did, he was looking to hit a boundary. Seven of the 11 he ended up with were the result of this ruthless approach, including a six that helped him breeze through the nervous nineties.Jomel Warrican, Roston Chase and Khary Pierre, in helpful conditions, were left nursing combined figures of 4 for 283 from 82 overs. Jadeja, meanwhile, helped India reprise a feature of their England tour earlier this year, becoming the third centurion of the innings. The last time that happened at home was 2018, during West Indies’ last visit to the country. Jadeja connected that trio to this trio.Related

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West Indies could have helped themselves had they begun their day’s work with a bit more hope. Instead the captain Chase welcomed the two overnight batters with a sparsely populated slip cordon. The focus, it seemed, was run-saving instead of wicket-taking. Jayden Seales, who has a lovely outswinger, snagged Rahul’s edge in the very first over of play but regulation first slip was missing. He had been pushed wide and so this ball just skipped to the boundary.Rahul survived on 57 and went on to score 100. He celebrated it by raising his bat in one hand and sticking two fingers of the other in his mouth, a little tribute for his new-born daughter.1:41

Chopra: WI should’ve taken the new ball earlier

The next man to three-figures was Jurel. It is clear from the way he bats that he is set up to be consistent. He has good judgment of what to play and what to leave. He’s comfortable in attack and defence. Some of his back foot shots against pace were chef’s kiss, so that, along with the way he played out the second new ball, suggests he should be able to adapt to overseas conditions. Jurel has a high floor. Rishabh Pant beats him with a high ceiling. Maybe India might find a way for both players to be part of the XI; trust Jurel to be a specialist batter. His century celebration was a tribute to his father, who was with the Indian army.West Indies had set themselves up for damage control but in doing so really early, they let India dictate terms. Seales bowled manfully, his pace up around the 140kph mark even at the back end of a very hot day that forced him off the field for a little bit for what looked like cramps.Warrican was good too, slowing the ball down and inviting India to attack him if they could. It was strange that he only bowled two overs before lunch, but did make up for that by bowling 12 back-to-back after the break and picked up Rahul’s wicket. Jadeja negated the effect he could have on the game. He made 86 runs against spin, including 41 off 15 when he chose to come down the track.Shubman Gill’s efforts were cut short on 50 in the middle of that tricky period where India decided to attack spin. He brought out a reverse sweep against Chase and got caught at slip.The second day in Ahmedabad meandered to a close with Pierre enjoying a high that he had chased all his life. Having been part of the domestic system from the age-group level, after making his first-class debut 10 years ago, he finally took a Test wicket at the age of 34 and his smile lit up the place.

India prioritised recovery – both physical and mental – ahead of their Women’s World Cup final match against South Africa on Sunday

Vishal Dikshit01-Nov-20251:50

Chopra: India winning the World Cup will change women’s cricket landscape

Harmanpreet Kaur sat down for the pre-match press conference at the DY Patil Stadium, her face seemingly devoid of any emotion. There was only a simmering fire.She had cried uncontrollably after India sealed a high-octane victory over Australia in the semi-final. That was only two nights ago. Two nights to digest the high of beating serial World Cup winners. Two nights to come to terms with the fact the job isn’t quite done.”Well, the semi-final was a very high-pressure game and very intense,” Harmanpreet said on the eve of the final against South Africa. “After that, recovery was something which we all paid more attention to because the fresher we are, mentally, for the final, the better it will be.”Because we have been working hard for so many years and we have been batting day and night, whenever our batters camped or there were team camps. So, skill-wise we know we have done a lot and now it’s only about keeping ourselves fresh for tomorrow and recovery is something which we all talk about, and everybody is really taking that thing very seriously and hopefully tomorrow we will feel even fresher for the main game.India will be playing their third ODI World Cup final. South Africa, just their first.”Keeping yourself balanced and focused is something which is the key,” Harmanpreet said. “We are having those sessions where we have been talking about how we can be more focused and more balanced and at the same time keeping ourselves relaxed because this is the biggest stage and biggest opportunity for us, playing in home conditions and that also final match.2:27

WWC final – Can India come down from their high in time?

“But I think the most important thing is that we have to enjoy this because there is nothing bigger than this in our life as a cricketer and as a captain. So our focus is to enjoy this moment and keep taking small targets which we have to achieve as a team rather than thinking bigger targets because you can achieve bigger targets if you achieve the small targets.”Harmanpreet is into her fifth World Cup now, but this is her first as captain. India have arrived at the final after a topsy-turvy league stage that saw them win only three of their seven games. She was clear “there’s no bigger motivation than a World Cup final” to up their game.Related

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“We know pretty well how it feels after losing [a World Cup final],” she said. “We’re really looking forward to the feeling of winning a final. Hopefully it’s going to be a special day for us tomorrow. We’ve worked really hard, and now it’s about getting everything together tomorrow.”India’s road to the semis looked wobbly right from the start. They began with collapses against Sri Lanka and Pakistan but turned things around to win both games. They lost all the matches they played against higher-ranked teams – South Africa, Australia and England – and it was only when they arrived in Navi Mumbai, a ground where they have had lots of success, that things picked back up.”We weren’t shaken up even once in the team because of those three big losses,” Harmanpreet said. “Even after that, everyone was together and everyone was talking about how to reach the final. We had a positive mindset which really helped us that we’re here now. When you have such a positive mindset and everyone feels from within to perform for the country…”We were definitely talking about where to improve but at the same time there was a common goal, there was the awareness that it’s a long process and there would be ups and downs, wins and losses. At the end of the day, what matters is we’re here in the final. So we used to think how to move forward after those losses, how to improve, be there for each other.”2:43

WWC final: Harmanpreet and Tryon will be key players

India have looked far more convincing over their last three matches, including a washout against Bangladesh. The XI seems more balanced, with six bowling options, bigger contributions from the bat, and all of it culminating in another historic victory against forever favourites Australia. That night ended with plenty of tears, from Jemimah Rodrigues on the field and Harmanpreet in the dugout as she hugged whoever came her way, crying into their arms.”I think I’m a very emotional person, and I cry a lot,” Harmanpreet said with a smile. “So it’s not like I cry only after losing. I have cried a lot after winning too, maybe yesterday you have seen me on television. But my team-mates have seen me in the dressing room many times – on small occasions also, whenever we have done well. I am the first person to cry.”As a player, these moments are very important. To beat a team like Australia, which is a big team and has always done well on the world stage. It’s not an easy thing to perform and be mentally strong in front of them. But I think overcoming that hurdle was something very special to all of us. I always tell my team that you don’t need to control your emotions. If you feel like crying, cry. At the same time, just keep enjoying. I think there is no bigger achievement or thing for us. Tomorrow is a special day and we will go with the same mindset.”There is a sell-out crowd expected for the final on Sunday.”The entire team is charged up, we’re there for each other and praying for each other,” Harmanpreet said. “That shows how close this team is and how ready we are for this match. Now it’s only giving your best, all the strategies and plans have been taking shape for the last two years. We had been planning for a home World Cup, what kind of conditions we’d get, so know it’s only about giving your 100%.”

One of Sheffield’s own is now in the running to buy Sheffield Wednesday, according to reports, after taking a key step ahead of the December 5 deadline.

Sheffield United merger rejected

The Owls have reportedly set a soft deadline of December 5 to find a new owner and narrow their search down. So far, they’ve not been short on candidates. Several potential buyers have shown proof of funds worth £50m and some have even been shown around the club’s facilities.

The biggest headline so far has arrived courtesy of Sheffield United, however. Wednesday’s rivals reportedly enquired about buying the club and were keen to merge the two Steel City rivals together in controversial fashion.

Unsurprisingly, any talks of that merger taking place have been shut down almost as quickly as they started gathering pace. Sheffield Wednesday, like many others, are keen to keep the derby alive and kicking instead, which is set to see them turn to other candidates.

Just who wins the bidding war is the big question. Former Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley is reportedly among the interested parties, as is John McEvoy.

Many were quick to criticise Ashley at Newcastle in the past, but it’s worth noting that he cleared all of the Magpies’ debt. Financially speaking, he would arguably be a wise option.

Alas, it’s not just Ashley in the running. New names are now beginning to emerge and that includes Sheffield’s own Ryan Howsam. The Staysure founder has been based in Dubai in recent years, but could yet return to his home town to save his local club.

Who is Sheffield Wednesday takeover candidate Ryan Howsam?

So, is Howsam the man for the job? His impressive portfolio, which includes Avanti, PayingTooMuch, The Rock Group and several digital travel investments, certainly suggests that he’s got the funds to complete a takeover, but it would be his first venture into football.

The prospective owner has reportedly been given access to the club’s data in a key step towards potentially buying the club. He also recently told This is Money when asked about a return to England: “I would come back to the UK in a heartbeat if the environment was right.”

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It would be fairly fitting for a Sheffield-born candidate to complete the takeover, but administrators would need to ignore their hearts and ensure that Howsam is the right man for the job.

Compared to someone like Ashley, Howsam is far from experienced in the world of football and the Owls simply need to steady the ship. It must also be noted that it may yet be neither of those options who emerge as frontrunners to buy the club.

With time ticking by before the December 5 deadline, Sheffield Wednesday must assess every possible option before making their final decision.

Mike Ashley position clear as Sheffield Wednesday takeover reaches final candidates

Over the years, Manchester United has been the home to numerous elite-level centre-forwards, with Robin van Persie one who captured the hearts of the fanbase.

The Dutchman joined in a controversial deal from Premier League rivals Arsenal for a reported £24m back in August 2012 – a deal that proved to be an absolute bargain.

He ended up making 105 appearances for the Red Devils, scoring a total of 58 goals, with his total of 26 league goals in 2012/13 helping Sir Alex Ferguson win his final top-flight title.

Van Persie also managed to notch 16 assists during such a period, taking his total goal contributions to 74, resulting in an average of 0.7 goals or assists per game over a three-year period.

Such a record has undoubtedly cemented his place in the Red Devils history, but numerous managers have been unable to rely upon similar talents at Old Trafford.

Ruben Amorim is the latest manager to try and unearth his own version of the talisman, subsequently spending big on a new centre-forward during the recent summer window.

The reasons behind Benjamin Sesko’s struggles at United

After taking the reins back in November last year, Amorim had to rely upon the likes of Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee to provide the goods at the top end of the pitch.

However, the duo’s tally of just seven combined goals in the Premier League last season highlighted the need for reinforcements during the summer transfer window.

The board handed the manager over £200m worth of funds to make the desired changes, which resulted in three huge names making the move to Old Trafford.

Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo were just two of the additions made by the hierarchy, with Benjamin Sesko the player brought in to operate alongside the pair in the final third.

The latter of the trio cost a reported £74m from RB Leipzig during the summer, with real hope generated by the fans that he would be the man to solve their issues.

However, his start to life in Manchester has been far from plain sailing, as seen by his tally of just two goals in his first 11 league outings – even going four games without a goal.

His early struggles will no doubt present cause for concern, with his underlying numbers also highlighting his lack of impact in recent months after his big-money switch.

He’s only registered a total of 3.6 touches in the opposition box per 90, which has ranked him in the bottom 20% of all other centre forwards in England’s top-flight.

Such a figure showcases that he’s either unable to get himself into the right positions, or he’s not being provided the goods – which could explain his lowly goalscoring tally.

However, Sesko has been hugely reliant upon players around him, with his tally of 0.2 dribbles completed showcasing that he’s unlikely to create a chance on his own.

Like the aforementioned tally, it has placed him in the bottom 20% of other strikers in the league, which could also be contributing to his lack of goals at present.

The United star who could end Sesko’s Man Utd career

There’s no doubt that Sesko will need added time to flourish in England, with his big-money transfer to United in the summer presenting a huge culture change for the 22-year-old.

He’s had to move to a new country, league and surroundings, which is certainly a daunting task for a young talent – which too could be having an effect on his lack of output.

But the lack of quality in such a department has no doubt ramped up the pressure on the Slovenian international to provide the goods in front of goal at Old Trafford.

Amorim will no doubt have to manage Sesko personally to get the best out of the centre-forward, but it’s unclear how much patience the manager will present to the new addition.

The fans, too, will need to cut him some slack, but it will no doubt be tricky, especially given the form of the previous talents in such a role – including the likes of Van Persie.

However, the club may have their next talisman in the form of Chido Obi, with the young star already matching the Dutchman in making the move to Old Trafford from rivals Arsenal.

At just 17, the fans will have to be patient with the Dane, but there’s no doubt excitement has been generated by his incredible goalscoring record in the youth setup.

He scored 13 times in just 11 appearances for the U18 outfit last campaign, living up to the billing he is a “goalscoring machine” in the words of scout Jacek Kulig. Such form has seen him make the step-up to the U21 squad over the last couple of months.

Obi has now made 22 appearances at such a level, scoring nine times and registering four assists in the process – even managing to thrive at an age group four years above his own.

Given the lack of quality in the centre-forward department last season, Amorim even handed the teenager his first taste of senior football in an attempt to improve the situation.

The Dane made a total of eight first-team appearances in 2024/25, but failed to find the back of the net once – however, it didn’t stop the youngster from receiving huge praise.

Teammate Leny Yoro previously waxed lyrical about the youngster, even claiming that he could become “one of the world’s best” in the years to come should he continue on his current path.

After returning to youth level, Obi has backed up Yoro’s statement, averaging a goal every 100 minutes and registering a staggering total of 2.2 shots on target per 90 this season.

Chido Obi – U21 stats in 2025/26

Statistics (per 90)

Tally

Games played

8

Games started

3

Goals scored

3

Mins per goal

100

Shots on target

2.2

Dribbles completed

68%

Touches in opposition box

6.6

Fouls won

1.7

Stats via FotMob

He’s even completed 68% of the dribbles he’s attempted, massively starring in such an area, something which Sesko has been unable to do over the last few months.

Obi has also dominated countless backlines lately, as seen by his tally of 4.7 duels won, with his physical presence potentially perfect for Amorim’s current side.

Whilst he’s just 17, the future is massively bright for the Dane at Old Trafford, with the club desperately needing to streamline his progress into the senior ranks.

Sesko’s inability to impress could certainly hand the manager the perfect chance to allow him to stake his claim and nail down the position as his very own for many years to come.

If he can match Van Persie’s level during his own time with the Red Devils, he will certainly be a fan-favourite and a player who can take the first-team back to their former glory.

Related An Mbeumo repeat: Man Utd to make £52m bid for "best winger in the country"

Manchester United look set to make another huge bid for a new attacker for Ruben Amorim.

Posts 1 ByEthan Lamb Nov 18, 2025

Glasgow Rangers sporting director Kevin Thelwell has been questioned by some supporters for the work that was done during the summer transfer, with signings and the appointment of Russell Martin.

It is hard to describe the former Southampton manager’s tenure at Ibrox as anything other than disastrous after he won five matches in all competitions before being sacked last month.

The ex-Rangers centre-back did not have much joy in the dugout during his second stint at the club, as a manager rather than as a player, with 24 goals conceded in 17 matches.

On top of the clearly poor decision to bring Martin to Ibrox, Thelwell’s signings during the summer transfer window have come under some scrutiny, after the new owners provided him with plenty of money to spend.

The appointment of Martin and the work done in the summer window led to a start of one win in the first eight matches of the Scottish Premiership season for the Light Blues, which has put them on the back foot in the title race.

Danny Rohl has come in and won all four of his Premiership games in charge, to his credit, but there are still several summer signings who are yet to prove their worth.

Picking out the worst summer signings for Rangers

It would be hard to look past the most expensive signing of the summer when talking about the worst signings, as Youssef Chermiti was signed for £8m from Everton. That is the most money Rangers have paid for a player since they paid £12m to sign Tore Andre Flo in 2000.

Since that mega-money move to Ibrox, the Portugal U21 international has scored one goal in 13 appearances in all competitions for the Light Blues this season, and that goal came via some rather questionable goalkeeping, as shown in the clip below.

Chermiti is not the only centre-forward signing who has struggled this season, though, as Rangers signed Bojan Miovski for a fee of up to £4.2m and he has delivered two goals in 16 outings in all competitions, per Sofascore.

Further back on the pitch, central midfielder Joe Rothwell has been a disappointment since his permanent move from Bournemouth. The 30-year-old talent was brought in to offer experience and quality in the middle of the park, but he has failed to make a positive impact.

25/26 Premiership	Rothwell	Percentile rank vs CMs
Tackles	7	Bottom 27%
Interceptions	8	Top 29%
Duels won	16	Bottom 26%
Duel success rate	47%	Bottom 39%
Aerial duels won	4	Bottom 25%
Possession won in the final third	1	Bottom 19%
Ball recoveries	22	Bottom 36%
Stats via FotMob

As you can see in the table above, the English flop ranks poorly among his positional peers in the Premiership in a host of key defensive metrics, whilst playing as a number six for the Light Blues.

Thelo Aasgaard, who was signed from Luton Town, is another summer signing who has failed to deliver, with one goal and one assist in 19 appearances in all competitions, per Sofascore, which shows that the attacking midfielder has been ineffective at the top end of the pitch.

Chalkboard

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

Whilst there are understandable question marks over all of the summer signings mentioned so far, there is a player signed by Thelwell who impressed against Livingston, and may be on his way to becoming the new Calvin Bassey at Ibrox.

After signing from Leicester in 2020, the Nigeria international only played eight Premiership games in his first season. In the 2021/22 campaign, the versatile defender featured in just three of the first nine league games under Steven Gerrard, per Transfermarkt.

The left-footed star then became a regular in the side when Giovanni van Bronckhorst took over in October and went on to play 50 games in all competitions before sealing a £19.6m move to Ajax in the summer of 2021.

Now, central defender Emmanuel Fernandez could follow a similar path to success at Ibrox after he produced an impressive display against Livingston on Saturday.

Why Emmanuel Fernandez may be the next Calvin Bassey for Rangers

As was the case with Bassey under Gerrard, the summer signing from Peterborough rarely got an opportunity to showcase what he could do on the pitch during Martin’s time at the club.

Per Transfermarkt, Fernandez featured in one of Martin’s seven league matches in charge of the Light Blues and was an unused substitute in all six of the Champions League qualifiers.

The 24-year-old centre-back only started in a 1-1 draw with St Mirren in the Premiership and a 4-2 win over Alloa Athletic in the League Cup, scoring his first goal for the club in the latter appearance.

Fernandez finally got his first start in the league of the Rohl era against Livingston on Saturday and did not disappoint. On top of scoring the opening goal in the match, making it two goals in three starts for the club, he won eight of his 13 duels and was not dribbled past a single time, per Sofascore.

After the win over Livingston, one Rangers podcaster described him as a “massive” player who “makes a difference” at both ends of the pitch because of his imposing physique.

25/26 Premiership	Emmanuel Fernandez per 90	Percentile rank vs CBs
Tackles made	0.99	Bottom 26%
Duels won	10.44	Top 1%
Duel success rate	72.4%	Top 5%
Aerial duels won	6.96	Top 1%
Aerial duel success rate	87.5%	Top 1%
Interceptions	2.49	Top 5%
Shots blocked	0.99	Top 31%
Stats via FotMob

As you can see in the table above, Fernandez is one of the most dominant and impressive central defenders in the Premiership if you compare his two starts in the league to his positional peers on a per 90 basis.

These statistics suggest that the English defender deserves more chances to start and showcase his quality, which he may well get with John Souttar and Derek Cornelius both missing through injury at the moment.

If he continues to start and produce the level of performance that he has in his first two outings in the division, Fernandez could go on to be a defensive monster for Rohl and anchor the team for the foreseeable future.

Like Bassey, Rangers may look back in the future and wonder why he did not play more regularly earlier in the season, because the towering star looks like he has been a hidden gem at Ibrox.

Fewer touches than Butland: Rohl must bin "missing" Rangers flop after Livi

Rangers did claim another league win over Livingston on Saturday, but one player went “missing” at Ibrox, registering fewer touches than Jack Butland.

By
Ben Gray

Nov 23, 2025

Despite looking like the better team, India were in threat of being 3-1 down. Thanks to the riveting draw in Manchester, they now have a chance at 2-2

Sidharth Monga27-Jul-20252:09

Manjrekar: ‘Warriors’ keep sprouting for India when needed

One of the least appreciated aspects of cricket narratives is the sheer physicality of it.There were times during the Old Trafford Test when we sat and wondered what the narrative would have been had this been a three-match series. It would have offered India an honourable series defeat that they could have won with a little bit of luck or with a little bit of ruthlessness.Instead, it felt like the fourth Test was exposing them physically. Their strike bowlers were down on pace and looking toothless, their injury replacement was not serviceable for whatever reason (which they should investigate and prevent a repeat of), and they looked like they were losing to a side that had a bit of luck in the early part of the series, which was now displaying superior conditioning, not by much but enough to outlast them.India’s batters had one final chance to flip that narrative on its head. To show two can play the game. That even though Ben Stokes believes pain is just an emotion, they can make some of his team-mates feel the physical pain of a long Test series that has been going into the final session of the final day on flat pitches.Related

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Gill, Washington, Jadeja tons script India's great escape

It was just that India had lost two wickets in the first over. That can happen. Especially in a short period before a break when batters appear to be facing a lose-lose situation. They still had five sessions to go with two wickets gone and their best batter of the last five years down with a broken foot.India had an ally in the dying pitch – otherwise you can’t hope to bat five sessions for a draw against modern Test attacks – but this was as much a test of their temperament as it was of their physicality. Batting out draws is a task modern batters have to rarely face. Unless the deficit is small – 311 wasn’t – you can get there only one ball at a time. There is no counterattacking, there is no rushing. Time moves at its own objective pace. It can feel excruciatingly slow, especially when you are not in the middle.Out in the middle, India needed only four batters to negotiate 875 balls between them.Why KL Rahul had a middling batting average had been an enigma coming into the series. He had never scored 400 runs in a series nor scored more than one hundred in one. A lot of his good work in the rest of his Test career had happened in the first quarter of series. Here, he had scored a second century in a series for the first time, but even that resulted in a turning point in a Test India lost at Lord’s.Ben Stokes sees his offer for a draw to Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar rebuffed•Getty ImagesRahul and Rishabh Pant, his partner at the time, wanted to get the milestone out of the way if they could before lunch. Pant ended up getting run-out. It was a human reaction. Rahul was honest enough to acknowledge what that happened. And good enough to regroup a week later and go back to doing what had brought him close to that second hundred.Except that runs didn’t matter here. So engrossed was he in just defending, switching off and switching on, that he was not even awake to a misfield late on the fourth evening. The milestone didn’t matter in this innings. The greatest achievement for Rahul was that he forced the opposition captain to risk an injured bicep and then come up with an absolutely unplayable ball to get him out. Not before he had faced 230 balls.Rahul’s partner on the fourth evening, Shubman Gill, is in the form of his life but under the pump as captain. There have been questions if this is his team. Whether it was him who wanted Shardul Thakur and not Kuldeep Yadav in the XI, and if so, why did he not bowl Thakur enough? Why were India 2-1 down, and going towards 3-1, after looking like the better team for long periods of this series? He also had to face the hat-trick ball with India needing to bat out five whole sessions.His bat doesn’t ask Gill these questions. That’s the one thing he is in control of. Not the injuries, not the weather that keeps turning against him, not the toss. He faced 238 balls with calmness and composure that have been the hallmark of his batting. This was his slowest Test hundred. Only once has he left more balls alone in an innings. He needed to quickly put behind the one he left alone and was out lbw.2:34

Has Washington nailed his spot in India’s Test XI?

Batters generally tend to not tempt cricketing gods. They take the runs that are available unless batting with the tail or with an injured batter. Gill was not afraid of doing that when he decided to face all the left-arm spin – in the first session of the day – when Liam Dawson was firing it in the rough for Washington Sundar.Washington, who had to be promoted to cover for the injury to Pant. Washington, who is so good a player that the team management is moving mountains to fit him in the XI. He has bowled balls and hit shots that will fit in the highlights reels of the series, but this innings was about anything but highlights.For more than two sessions, he and Ravindra Jadeja needed to negotiate everything thrown at them. India’s No. 1 allrounder and his heir apparent. Jadeja became only the third visiting player to score over 1000 runs and take more than 30 wickets in a single country. Washington finally got his maiden Test century after having been stranded on 96 and 85 before. They batted together for 55.2 overs, keeping out shooters and kickers. By the end of it, England were so knackered they wanted to get off the field with 15 overs left.The physicality was now catching up with England. India now have a full set of fit fast bowlers to choose from. The luck finally turned for them with three dropped catches that proved pivotal. They now have a chance to walk away with 2-2, which, at this point, seems like a fair result. It’s a good thing this was not a three-Test series.

Unlike some of their Premier League rivals, Arsenal’s summer signings are looking better with every passing gameweek.

For example, he might’ve started slowly, but Viktor Gyokeres already has six goals to his name this season, and Noni Madueke was just starting to pick up steam before his injury.

Moreover, with Gabriel Magalhães’ recent injury, Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapie are looking like incredible buys.

With all that said, an argument could be made that Martin Zubimendi has been Arsenal’s best signing of all, so fans should be excited about reports linking the club to someone who could be an heir to the Spaniard and has been compared to Rodri.

Arsenal target their next Martin Zubimendi

With reports coming out about Zubimendi’s move to Arsenal as early as January, the excitement for the move wasn’t quite as intense as it perhaps should’ve been when it finally came to pass in the summer.

However, since then, the Spaniard has more than proven himself to be one of the best midfielders in the Premier League.

Whether it’s putting in a perfectly timed tackle to shield the back four, or driving with the ball and delivering a pinpoint accurate pass to a forward, the former Real Sociedad star really does it all.

Therefore, it makes sense that the club would already be looking for a younger gem who, over the next five to six years, can be moulded into his long-term heir.

According to a recent report from Spain, one of the young prospects that could sign for this purpose is Chema Andrés.

The story has revealed that, alongside Manchester City, Arsenal are already making moves to sign the VfB Stuttgart gem, who has had an excellent start to the season.

However, a potential roadblock for Andrea Berta and Co is that he’s a former Real Madrid prospect, and the Spanish giants have a buy-back clause worth around €13.5m for 2026, which is approximately £12m.

If Arsenal want to sign the young Spaniard, they’ll almost certainly have to pay significantly more than that, but even so, Andrés would be worth it as a future Zubimendi heir.

Why Chema Andrés could be Arsenal's future Zubimendi

So what is it that makes Zubimendi such an incredible footballer and has seen him so quickly become essential to Arsenal’s midfield?

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Well, to put it simply, it’s his impressive combination of defensive nous and sensational ability on the ball, which has seen him already amass a tally of three goal involvements in 11 league games from the six position.

The good news is that, while it’s still very early on in his career, Chema Andrés appears to share this ability to heavily influence play in both halves.

For example, just last month, respected u23 scout Antonio Mango described his defensive abilities as “Rodri-like,” noting that he “simplifies the game and makes the basics look effortless.”

Then, when it comes to going the other way, Mango has praised him for his “expansive passing range”, and fellow talent scout Jacek Kulig has dubbed him an “orchestrator” thanks to his incredible “vision” and “football IQ.”

Unsurprisingly, the 20-year-old “supernova” of a talent, as dubbed by one analyst, also has some incredible underlying numbers to more than justify the hype.

Interceptions

2.11

Top 1%

Clearances

3.65

Top 1%

Dispossessed

0.14

Top 1%

Aerials Won

3.93

Top 1%

Tkl+Int

4.49

Top 4%

Ball Recoveries

6.74

Top 4%

Shots on Target

0.70

Top 5%

SCA (Shot)

0.28

Top 6%

Successful Take-On %

66.7%

Top 6%

Blocks

1.83

Top 7%

Average Shot Distance

14.40

Top 8%

Shots Blocked

0.56

Top 9%

% of Dribblers Tackled

63.6%

Top 10%

npxG: Non-Penalty xG

0.15

Top 11%

Progressive Passes

7.16

Top 11%

Passes Blocked

1.26

Top 11%

% of Aerials Won

62.2%

Top 11%

SCA (Live-ball Pass)

2.53

Top 14%

xG: Expected Goals

0.15

Top 15%

According to FBref, he ranks in the top 1% of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues for interceptions, clearances, aerials won, the top 4% for tackles plus interceptions and ball recoveries, the top 5% for shots on target, the top 11% for progressive passes and more, all per 90.

Finally, on top of doing business at the club level, the youngster is also making waves on the international scene.

After making ten appearances for Spain’s u19s, he skipped the u20s altogether and has now made four appearances for the u21s, with the last coming on Tuesday night.

Ultimately, Zubimendi should be Arsenal’s starting six for quite some time, but if they can, they should do what they can to sign Andrés, as at just 20 years old, he could be the long-term heir.

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ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 20, 2025

They aren’t the finished project, but Chelsea have built an impressive squad over the last few years.

The likes of Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernández, Cole Palmer, Estevao and Reece James, for example, would get into most Premier League teams.

However, if there is one weakness in the side, it’s probably at centre-back, as without Levi Colwill and Wesley Fofana, the options at Enzo Maresca’s disposal aren’t all that inspiring.

Fortunately, Chelsea have been linked with an impressive defender who has been compared to William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães.

Chelsea target defensive reinforcements

The transfer is over a month away, but Chelsea are already being linked with some incredible players from the Premier League and beyond.

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For example, the Blues have been among a handful of sides credited with significant interest in Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton, and have even been linked with Juventus wonderkid Kenan Yıldız.

However, while both players would most certainly improve Maresca’s squad, they wouldn’t improve the centre-back depth, unlike Ousmane Diomande.

Yes, according to a recent report from TEAMtalk, Chelsea have reignited their interest in the up-and-coming Sporting CP star.

In fact, the report goes further, revealing that the West Londoners are planning to hijack Crystal Palace’s move for the Ivorian international.

However, to do that, the Pensioners would have to match or even exceed the Eagles’ supposed bid of around £44m.

It could therefore be a complicated and somewhat costly transfer to get over the line, but given Diomande’s ability, potential, and the fact he’s been compared to Saliba and Gabriel, it’s one Chelsea should pursue.

How Diomande compares to Saliba and Gabriel

Now, while Chelsea fans might not want to admit it, and understandably so, Saliba and Gabriel have been the best centre-back pairing in the Premier League for at least a season now.

Therefore, it’s a huge claim to suggest another defender is like a combination of the two, a claim respected analyst Ben Mattinson made when he described Diomande as “a hybrid between Gabriel and Saliba” just last year.

Now, when it comes to the Brazilian, the similarities are rather difficult to miss, as while he’s just an inch shorter, the Ivorian international is still a titan of a player at 6 foot 3.

This stature allows the 21-year-old “monster,” in the words of Mattinson, to overpower opposition attackers and put in challenges that a more slight centre-back would find difficult.

How about the Frenchman, then? What makes the Abidjan-born star similar to him?

Well, despite his impressive physicality, the former Midtjylland gem is no slouch on the ball and has a passing range most defenders could only dream of.

Moreover, according to FBref, the Arsenal star was statistically the most similar centre-back to the Sporting man across last season’s Champions League.

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.01

0.03

Progressive Carries

0.36

0.36

Passing Accuracy

93.2%

92.2%

Expected Assists

0.01

0.01

Live Passes

58.8

56.5

Interceptions

0.96

0.91

You can gain a better understanding of how FBref arrived at this conclusion by examining the underlying metrics that the pair ranked closely.

These metrics included non-penalty expected goals plus assists, progressive carries, passing accuracy, expected assists, live passes, interceptions, and more, all per 90.

Ultimately, while he is still young and untested in the top leagues, Diomande looks like an exceptional talent, and given his similarities to Gabriel and Saliba, Chelsea should be doing all they can to sign him.

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