Category Uncategorized

Just when Chelsea were seemingly building serious momentum, wait, what happened?

When the Blues took a fourth-minute lead through Alejandro Garnacho against Sunderland, they appeared set to cruise to a nice routine victory at 3 o’clock on a Saturday.

However, Wilson Isidor equalised for the Black Cats soon after and then, right at the death, with the home side pushing for a winner of their own, Chemsdine Talbi snatched victory, sparking wild celebrations from the Mackems who had traveled to West London.

Chelsea did end the afternoon with 16 shots to Sunderland’s ten, but forced Robin Roefs into just two saves, while Robert Sánchez made six, hence why the newly-promoted outfit ended the game with a higher xG figure: 0.97-1.16.

Before this, Enzo Maresca’s team had won four on the spin, demolishing Ajax 5-1 in the Champions League, while also beating both Liverpool and Nottingham Forest in the Premier League.

Now, though, question marks will be raised against the manager, so, with a fierce London derby against Tottenham to come next Saturday, which player should Maresca cast aside following his display during this defeat?

João Pedro's start to life at Chelsea

Back in the summer, after arriving mid-way through the Club World Cup from Brighton, straight into action having been on a Brazilian beach, João Pedro was being heralded as a revelation.

He scored twice on debut against former side Fluminense in the semi-finals, before also netting during the final demolition over Paris Saint-Germain a few days later.

However, since serious football has returned, he’s not lived up to these admittedly astronomical high standards.

Pedro has scored only twice this season, on target against both West Ham and Fulham back in August, thereby enduring something of a goal drought, which is not ideal given that Liam Delap is sidelined long-term.

Also not helping Pedro’s cause is the fact that, on Wednesday night, he missed the annihilation of Ajax, suspended, having been sent off in stoppage time against Benfica, and the team put in a free-flowing, free-scoring display in his absence.

Per Sofascore, during Sunday’s defeat to Sunderland, in 85 minutes on the field, he touched the ball just 30 times, lost possession on nine occasions, was flagged offside twice, and mustered zero shots, replaced by Tyrique George towards the end, a change Chelsea supporters may have wished to see sooner.

However, his place in the starting lineup may actually not be under that much threat, given that his primary competition for minutes may have actually been even worse.

The Chelsea youngster who should be dropped

It may still only be October, but Marc Guiu has already endured a weird season.

The teenage Spaniard began the campaign on loan at Sunderland, making just three appearances for the club, scoring against Huddersfield in the Carabao Cup, before being abruptly recalled following the aforementioned injury sustained by Delap.

Upon his return to West London, he did not feature in any of their first six fixtures, making the recall seem a bit pointless, but he then changed the game off the bench against Nottingham Forest last weekend, providing a much-needed focal point.

Guiu was then rewarded with a start against Ajax in mid-week and repaid the manager’s faith, breaking the deadlock in that one, thereby starting against his, briefly, former club this weekend too, a first-ever Premier League start.

However, as the table below documents, safe to say he did not make Sunderland supporters rue what could have been.

Marc Guiu’s stats vs Sunderland

Stats

Guiu

Match rank

Shots on target

1

8th

Shots off target

1

6th

xG

0.22

4th

Accurate passes

2

30th

Duels contested

3

23rd

Duels won

Zero

30th

Possession lost

6

17th

Touches

10

26th

SofaScore rating

6

30th

Stats via SofaScore

As the table documents, Guiu won zero duels, completed just two passes, and touched the ball only ten times, the same number as the man who replaced him in the 76th minute, namely Jamie Gittens.

Bobby Vincent of Football London awarded him a 4/10, noting that he ‘got very little change’ out of Dan Ballard, while Sam Tabuteau of the Evening Standard added that he ‘struggled to get into the game’ and lacked ‘finesse’, believing the game was a ‘reminder of his inexperience’, both of which are pretty polite ways of phrasing it, we would suggest.

Thus, the Barcelona wonderkid may not be the answer to Chelsea’s centre-forward conundrum after all.

With games against Spurs, Barcelona and Arsenal to come in November, Maresca will surely favour alternative options, especially for those tougher assignments.

Related Not just George: Maresca must start Chelsea teen who's "similar to Palmer"

Enzo Maresca must start this exciting Chelsea youngster more regularly, who is being compared to Cole Palmer.

Posts ByKelan Sarson Oct 25, 2025

Lionel Messi has been caught on camera speaking English, quelling a long-standing rumor that he has not learned the language. The Argentine superstar has been plying his trade in the United States since 2023. He was captured putting his language skills to the test in footage obtained by the match referee during the 2025 MLS Cup final.

• Messi's career: From Barcelona to Miami via PSG

  Messi spent 21 years tied to La Liga giants Barcelona, having joined their academy ranks as a teenager. There were no language barriers to break down there, with the record books being rewritten in Catalunya by the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner.

  He headed to Paris Saint-Germain as a free agent in 2021, but spent only two years in the French capital and had no real need to communicate with locals. Having endured a tough time at Parc des Princes, the American dream was chased when accepting an offer from David Beckham and Co.

Advertisement

• Watch Messi caught on ref cam speaking English

• Trophy No.48: Messi is the most decorated player of all-time

  Messi, alongside wife Antonela and their three sons, settled quickly in South Florida. He has enhanced his standing as the most decorated player of all-time. Having inspired Inter Miami to Leagues Cup and Supporters’ Shield triumphs, major trophy No.48 was obtained when savouring a historic MLS Cup success.

  As captain of the Herons, one of Messi’s responsibilities is to interact with match officials. There are plenty of teammates who are happy to do tthe alking for him, but the evergreen 38-year-old also wants to get his message across.

  Ref cam video from a cup final date with Vancouver proves that the World Cup-winning GOAT can express himself in basic English when required. He is seen debating one decision as he asks: “No foul?”

• AFP
  

  Three more years! Messi signed Inter Miami contract extension

  Messi is clearly not confident enough to carry out interviews in English, but he knows enough to get by. He also has several more years in Miami through which to widen his vocabulary.

  A contract extension with the reigning kings of American soccer is set to keep him in his current surroundings until 2028. More trophies will be chased down in that time, with the expectation being that the mercurial No.10 will form part of Argentina’s World Cup title defence in the United States, Canada and Mexico next summer.

The Reds beat the Angels, 6-4, on Tuesday night in Anaheim. Shortstop Elly De La Cruz scored two of Cincinnati's runs in the game, including one trip around the bases that left the Angels broadcast in awe.

In a tie ballgame in the top of the fourth, De La Cruz singled to lead off the inning. On a 2-1 pitch he took off early and Miguel Andujar blooped one into short left field. De La Cruz slowed to barely jog around second as he looked up to see where the ball ended up.

He then effortlessly increased his speed as he watched left fielder Taylor Ward field the ball. Five seconds later he slid into home ahead of the throw.

"There he goes. Huge jump and Andujar dumps a base hit into left. De La Cruz can score on that ball," said announcer Wayne Randazzo as he realized what he was seeing. "They're going to wave him around on a base hit to left! Ward's throw home… OH MY GOODNESS! Now I've seen everything! Dude scored on a base hit to left field!

It truly was a sensational play to watch. Scoring from first on ball that was fielded cleany is impressive on its own. The fact that De La Cruz wasn't even going full-speed the entire time is wild. De La Cruz is a truly special athlete and getting to see something like this every now and then is a thrilling reminder. Especially when you think you've already seen it all.

عقد الجهاز الفني للفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي الزمالك بقيادة أحمد عبد الرؤوف جلسة مع اللاعبين قبل انطلاق مران اليوم الجمعة، على استاد الكلية الحربية، في إطار الاستعداد للقاء كهرباء الإسماعيلية المقبل في بطولة كأس عاصمة مصر.

وتحدث المدير الفني عن أهمية مشاركة الفريق في بطولة كأس عاصمة مصر، وشدد على ضرورة استغلالهم للفرصة لإثبات أنفسهم.

وفي نفس الوقت شرح أحمد عبد الرؤوف برنامج تدريب اليوم، استعدادًا للقاء المقبل أمام كهرباء الإسماعيلية، ومنح اللاعبين بعض التعليمات الفنية التي سيتم تنفيذها في المران، كما طالبهم بالتركيز وبذل أقصى جهد.

طالع.. خاص | موقف أحمد حمدي من الاستمرار مع الزمالك.. وخطة بيضاء

وركز الجهاز الفني على الجوانب الفنية، خلال مران اليوم الجمعة، الذي على استاد الكلية الحربية، في إطار الاستعداد لمباراة كهرباء الإسماعيلية المقبلة في بطولة كأس عاصمة مصر .

وخاض اللاعبون فقرة تدريبات بدنية في بداية المران، تحت قيادة نونو كوستا ريبيرو مدرب الأحمال.

وبعد ذلك قسم الجهاز الفني اللاعبين لمجموعات لخوض تدريبات فنية وخططية، وحرص أحمد عبد الرؤوف على توجيه اللاعبين باستمرار خلال هذه الفقرة.

وصعد الجهاز الفني للقلعة البيضاء اللاعب زياد مدحت لاعب وسط فريق الزمالك مواليد 2007. 

وكانت تدريبات الأمس شهدت تصعيد عدد من لاعبي قطاع الناشئين وهم، محمد عبد الفتاح حارس مرمى فريق مواليد 2005، وهشام فؤاد مدافع فريق مواليد 2005 ويوسف الطباخ مدافع فريق مواليد 2009 و محمد إبراهيم ظهير أيمن فريق مواليد 2005، وأنس وائل جناح هجومي فريق مواليد 2005، ويوسف وائل الفرنسي لاعب وسط فريق مواليد 2005، ومحمد حمد صانع ألعاب وجناح هجومي فريق مواليد 2008 وأحمد صفوت صانع ألعاب فريق مواليد 2009.

ويستعد فريق الزمالك للقاء كهرباء الإسماعيلية المقرر له يوم 9 ديسمبر الجاري في بطولة كأس عاصمة مصر.

The Australia allrounder talks about grabbing opportunity when it comes her way

Andrew McGlashan18-Sep-2024Annabel Sutherland has long been marked out as a key part of Australia’s future. It now feels that her time has come.Last year in South Africa she played one match at the T20 World Cup; it would be a significant surprise if her role was as limited this time in the UAE.Sutherland, who will be in action this week against New Zealand during Australia’s final preparation for the World Cup, enters the tournament on the back of a Player-of-the-Tournament display in the Hundred for Northern Superchargers, where she scored 212 runs at a strike rate of 137.66 and claimed ten wickets with a remarkable economy of 4.53. That output came after a maiden Test hundred in last year’s Ashes and a stunning double-century against South Africa in Perth in February.Related

• What makes Australian players such winners? We asked their opponents

• Sutherland savours role in dramatic Test finish: 'No place I'd rather be'

• Ladies who Switch: 'Nice to get four up against the Poms' – Annabel Sutherland interview

• 'Spin didn't work, seam didn't work' – Annabel Sutherland floors South Africa with fluent double

• Annabel Sutherland stars as Superchargers thrash Invincibles

While those Test hundreds may not be immediately relevant to a T20 campaign, they put on show Sutherland’s class with the bat, which hasn’t often been given a chance to flourish in an Australia batting order so full of world-class players that opportunity, even when you’re in the XI, can be hard to come by.In T20Is, Sutherland’s highest score remains the 22 off 11 balls she made on debut as an 18-year-old against England in 2020, which helped earn Australia a Super Over in a tri-series held ahead of that year’s T20 World Cup. In 31 T20Is, she has only batted 12 times, and it was not until January 2023 that she bowled a full four overs; in ODIs she has got to the crease in just over half her matches, although last year took the chance provided by opening, with a maiden hundred against Ireland.”[There’s] elements of frustration, definitely, but I think that’s a good thing at the same time,” Sutherland says. “If you are a youngster coming through and you aren’t frustrated or wanting to get a crack up the order or bowl more, then you are doing something wrong.Make mine a double: Sutherland followed up her first hundred, in her third Test, with 210 in her fifth, against South Africa in Perth•Getty Images and Cricket Australia”I’ve definitely felt that at times, probably pestered [head coach] Shelly [Nitschke] a little bit too much about what opportunities I can get. But you look at that top order and, who do you come in for? It’s pretty stacked. There are stars all through the line-up and someone performs more often than not, which is the strength of our team – the depth we’ve got, right down to ten and sometimes 11.”It’s part of it as a young player coming through and you can build a fair bit of resilience. I’ve run drinks for a fair share of games and understand it’s a little bit about earning your stripes. It’s important to take an opportunity when it comes, too. You can easily build up the expectation on yourself, and sometimes you’ve just got to let it play out and believe you’ve done the work.”At last year’s WPL auction, Sutherland fetched the joint-highest price of A$364,000 (Rs 2 crore) when the hammer came down in favour of Delhi Capitals. But she would only play four matches in the competition.”It can be a different world at times over there,” she says. “To be honest, I didn’t think too much about the price you go for. You try to keep that out of your mind, it’s just another cricket game. Probably didn’t get the opportunities I was hoping for but trying to fit four internationals into a side when you have six sitting there – any one of us could have played a role.”