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Managers from the United States are at a disadvantage when it comes to finding jobs in Europe, but Emmy-winning show shouldn't be blamed

Hit streaming show Ted Lasso follows an unqualified American coach trying to succeed against the odds in England – and it has become a go-to talking point used to mock U.S.-born managers.

With Season 3 airing just a month after Leeds fired Jesse Marsch, the third-ever Premier League coach from the U.S., there is renewed debate about whether the show is harmful for future managerial candidates.

"I have to say I like it, because if I say I hate it I’m some elitist coach," Philadelphia Union coach Jim Curtin recently told. "I love the humanness of it. I watched the whole first season.

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"I give them credit for being at least close to capturing the feeling in the locker room. They get that there are people from different cultures, a**holes, nice guys, there are wives who are annoying who are problems. That’s all real. He comes off as loveable.

"Do I think it’s set back the American coach 20 years? Yes, I do. We worked so hard to get to Europe and then Jesse kind of breaks in and it’s like… what a curse to have that show break out at the same time he’s there. You can feel it with [Jesse]. He seems so angry at it, but to go back to my earlier point, if you show that they’ll chew you up and spit you out."

The sentiment there comes from an understandable place, but it's misguided. There are far more significant obstacles for American coaches than a three-season comedy, including UEFA rules that make it difficult to gain necessary licenses and the Premier League's avoidance of coaches from outside Europe, stemming in part from a stubborn love for mediocre but familiar candidates.

Allow GOAL to explain why there is no such thing as a Ted Lasso "curse"…

GettySo-called Ted Lasso effect, explained

The opening season of Ted Lasso begins with the owner of fictional Premier League club, AFC Richmond, hiring an American football coach in an effort to get back at her ex-husband. She wants to sink the team to relegation.

Lasso arrives in England knowing nothing about soccer. The press rips him to shreds and he struggles to gain respect in the dressing room.

Even though the story characterizes Lasso as a strong emotional leader, and eventually shows him inspiring the club to improved performances, his comical arrival to the country as an ignorant American plays into stereotypes about people in the U.S. not being able to properly understand the nuances of soccer.

Curtin, then, is far from the only one to believe Ted Lasso harms the perception of American coaches in Europe. Marsch himself called out a “stigma” created by the show when Leeds hired him.

“There’s probably a stigma. I’m not sure Ted Lasso helped [us],” Marsch told reporters at the time. “I haven’t watched the show…but I get it. People hate hearing the word soccer. I’ve used the word football since I was a professional player. We’re adapting to the culture in this country.

“All I can say is the only way I know how to do things is to go all in and if you do that you can be surprised. That sounds like Ted Lasso so I’ve heard!”

Curtin, Marsch and like-minded coaches are not wrong that people in England smirk when Americans are involved in soccer. But the negative, skeptical perception of their kind existed long before the show, which first aired in 2020.

Ted Lasso didn't create the stigma towards American coaches; it merely put a magnifying glass up to it.

Former USMNT player and current pundit Alexi Lalas properly downplayed the difference Ted Lasso makes for his compatriots wanting to cut it in England, saying on his podcast that “American soccer is going to be just fine” while adding that a show meant to make people laugh ultimately won’t move the needle.

“Make no mistake, Ted Lasso is built around a stereotype of American coaches. It consistently reinforces a stereotype of American coaches, and in that sense I think Jim Curtin is absolutely correct," the former USMNT star added. "But I think more often than not, it laughs with us, American soccer people, than at us.

"This is about entertainment. Ted Lasso has no responsibility to American soccer or American soccer coaches, it has a responsibility to entertain.”

AdvertisementGettyA broader Premier League dilemma

Many European coaches with sparkling track records have come to the Premier League and succeeded in modern times. Arsene Wenger, Jose Mourinho, Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola are among those to have been embraced by fans as excellent tacticians.

Beyond continental borders, though? Marsch is the only person not from Europe to have served in a Premier League dugout full-time in 2022-23, and just two were present last season.

But of course, Brazil, Argentina and Ghana, who each have plenty of players in the league but no coaches, do not blame any Ted Lasso “curse” for their lack of dugout representation.

They are just as left out as the Americans – even without a show about them.

Getty ImagesLack of American up-and-comers

There are very few promising American managers venturing beyond MLS, partially because U.S. Soccer coaching licenses are not valid in Europe, and the long process of obtaining one requires approval from a UEFA nation.

"These are very selective spots," said Brian Clarhaut, who is now coaching in the USL after dipping his toes in Europe, to . "So that's a huge, huge disadvantage for American coaches. It's a problem."

Added HIFK Helsinki boss Mike Keeney: "They told me, 'You're an American guy with no UEFA badges, no coaching licenses. It's almost impossible for us to get you hired, let alone get you the work permit.'"

Beyond Keeney, Pellegrino Matarazzo (Hoffenheim) and David Wagner (Norwich City) are also currently in charge of European clubs. Historically, Bob Bradley and Gregg Berhalter have taken on prominent roles on the continent. But it's a small fraternity.

Perhaps the recent linkage of MLS clubs to European counterparts – such as NYCFC, New York Red Bulls and now even LAFC – will eventually lead to an easier process for fast-tracking licenses, as clubs use their powerful networks to push people up the ranks.

▶ Ted Lasso is available on Apple TV+. Start watching now

But there must also be ambition from MLS, USL and college soccer managers to leave their jobs for the complicated coaching food chain in Europe – a risk that requires life upheaval.

Sporting KC manager Peter Vermes, for example, recently rejected an opportunity to interview with U.S. Soccer for the vacant USMNT role so he could re-sign with his current club. The 56-year-old could have also gotten a foothold across the Atlantic with a small-sized organization.

There’s no reason to knock people such as Vermes for their career decisions. In fact, there is some credit due for being loyal to a project and wanting to see it through to its completion.

But if enough coaches stay in the U.S., it reduces the number of possible hires at European feeder clubs – and that makes it awfully challenging to get a crack at the ultimate prize of a Premier League position.

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Getty ImagesWhat's next?

The USMNT's 2022 World Cup manager Gregg Berhalter – currently out of a job – gave an intelligent answer when pointedly asked whether U.S. coaches have done enough to show they can succeed in England.

“What I would say is, it is too small a sample size,” Berhalter told. “We just can’t make blanket statements about American coaches based on two coaches [Marsch and Wagner].

"That’s the way to look at it. Everyone has a unique quality. I could see if it had been 100 U.S. coaches and you had more data. If I was trying to figure how, say, players from Poland perform in England and only looked at two cases, I wouldn’t be doing my job very well. Everyone has a different upbringing and a different culture.”

Unfortunately, though, fans don't care about sample size. Sports are often an exercise in blowing individual data points out of proportion – particularly when biases are confirmed. It does sting a bit that Marsch couldn't last through the campaign at Leeds because of what might unfairly be extrapolated from his failure.

There is yet reason for optimism, though. A new wave of ex-USMNT players who competed for European clubs are starting to try their hands in management. Perhaps one of them – a Landon Donovan or a Steve Cherundolo – will eventually become a long-term Premier League head coach. Or perhaps Marsch will earn another chance.

As Ted Lasso says: “I believe in hope. I believe in 'Believe.'"

Karim Benzema scored twice in the last 10 minutes to settle an uneasy Real Madrid as they picked up a 2-0 win against struggling Valladolid.

Karim Benzema had to wait. He stood over the ball for nearly a minute before taking the penalty, left to ponder his spot kick while cards were flashed around him. But when the whistle blew, Benzema was clinical, striding up to the ball and stroking it into the bottom corner.

His goal saved Madrid after a tepid showing against 15th-placed Valladolid. Real were on the back foot for long periods, and relied on the sharp reflexes of Thibaut Courtois to keep them in the game. And on his return, Benzema wasn't exactly sharp early on.

He fired over from close range, and Madrid had a penalty shout denied to mark a morbid first half for the away side. Meanwhile, Valladolid were dangerous on the break. They found holes in a makeshift Madrid midfield trio, testing an often sloppy backline for most of proceedings. Still, thanks to Courtois, they never found the back of the net, and their visitors made them pay. Benzema scored twice in the last 10 minutes, once from the spot and again following a flowing counter attack to make a tricky game seem routine.

This was never likely to be an easy contest for Los Blancos. With 12 of their players coming back from Qatar and in front of a hostile home crowd, here was a game near-destined to be uncomfortable. And Valladolid ensured it would be a tricky one.

Still, Madrid posted a mostly assured performance. Courtois kept them in it, and their star striker found the net twice. For all of the sluggishness of the first half and anxiety of the second, they picked up a win. And in a La Liga title hunt, it's the points that really matter.

Getty ImagesThe Winners

Thibaut Courtois:

Is he the best in the world? After nights like this, it's hard to say anyone is better. Courtois made three diving stops to frustrate the home side, giving Madrid a foothold in a game they really should have been losing.

Ancelotti won't be happy to have to rely on his goalkeeper, especially with his side in the title hunt. But the Belgian kept Los Blancos in the contest for long enough for them to get the job done.

Karim Benzema:

It was a frustrating start for the striker. Benzema's first touch was lacking, and he wasn't as slick in his usual flowing interchanges with the Madrid midfield. But he grew into the game, forcing Jordi Masip into a few diving stops.

And when the clear chances came, Benzema struck. His penalty was a confident one, as he sent the keeper the wrong way. He added a second with less than a minute remaining in regular time, smashing the ball into the net after a fluid counter. In the end, it was an unlikely brace, but a vital one nonetheless.

Luka Modric:

Modric was only on the pitch for 10 minutes, but showed just how important he is to the team in a short spell. Madrid were transformed when he joined the fray. And he was influential in Real's second, winning the ball back before playing a wonderful ball down the line to Camavinga, who dutifully set up Benzema for the winner. Perhaps he can no longer play 90 minutes every week, but it was a delightful cameo from a player who still looks at his best.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesThe Losers

Marco Asensio:

Asensio has made it clear that he wants to stay at Madrid, but isn't doing himself many favours on the pitch. The Spaniard often tried to do too much, and didn't jell with Valverde along the right wing. Although he worked hard off the ball, Asensio showed exactly why he's behind Rodrygo in Ancelotti's plans.

Dani Ceballos:

With Luka Modric, Eduardo Camavinga and Aurelien Tchouameni all returning from World Cup duty, this was Dani Ceballos' chance to justify more minutes in a deep Madrid midfield. And he squandered it. The Spaniard was often caught lagging on the ball, and failed to pick out Benzema on a number of occasions.

The gap in quality between the 26-year-old and Eduardo Camavinga is immense, as Madrid looked a different side altogether when the young Frenchman was introduced. He can still offer , but it looks increasingly like Ceballos' future lies away from the capital.

Barcelona:

It was likely a frustrating one for the league leaders, who watched their nearest rivals snatch a perhaps undeserved victory at the death. They still have a game in hand, but find themselves in second place heading into the new year. Based on the calibre of Valladolid's performance, Xavi's side might feel as though they should still be top.

Getty ImagesReal Madrid Ratings: Defence

Thibaut Courtois (8/10): Made one crucial diving stop in the first half when his side lost control of the game. Did so again to keep Sergio Leon out. Incredibly, this was his first clean sheet of the season.

Dani Carvajal (6/10): Reliable defensively, covered for Rudiger well on a couple of occasions. Ran out of legs after an hour.

Antonio Rudiger (7/10): The bright spot at the back. Won his aerial duals and distributed well. One fantastic burst of pace stopped Leon on the break.

David Alaba (6/10):Fortunate to not concede a penalty for a silly first half challenge, but was otherwise solid.

Ferland Mendy (6/10): Not the best night in attack for the left-back, but was assured defensively. Average, which was enough.

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Getty ImagesMidfield

Federico Valverde (6/10): Has an unfortunate habit of disappearing for long spells, and did so here. He will have better showings.

Toni Kroos (7/10): Fantastic early on, dictating play and imposing himself on the game. His influence faded over time. Not at his best as a No.6, but played 90 valuable minutes.

Dani Ceballos (6/10): An ineffective performance. Made one crucial interception to stop a Valladolid counter. Substituted for Camavinga after 70 minutes, who looked far more composed.

Kylian Mbappe lauded Lionel Messi as "the best in history" and insisted he "deserved" the 2023 Ballon d’Or after his World Cup heroics with Argentina.

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Mbappe backed Messi's eighth Ballon d'Or winLabelled him as "the best" in history Mutual respect evident despite competitive rivalry WHAT HAPPENED?

The Argentine superstar bagged his record-extending eighth Ballon d'Or in Paris two weeks ago after guiding his nation to the 2022 World Cup podium in Qatar. There has been considerable debate over Messi bagging the prestigious individual accolade over Erling Haaland who was on a record-breaking goal-scoring spree with Manchester City and even propelled them to a historic treble. However, Mbappe threw his weight behind Messi and asserted that winning a World Cup makes the difference irrespective of Haaland's achievements with City.

AdvertisementWHAT MBAPPE SAID

Speaking to reporters, Mbappe opined, "As I said, I am not someone that is afraid. I have no problem, the ranking is what it is. Messi deserves it. When Messi wins the World Cup, Messi has to win the Ballon d'Or. He's one of the best players in history, if not the best.

"(Erling) Haaland had a great season, me too… but next to winning a World Cup, it doesn't weigh much. On the night of 18th December I knew that I had lost World Cup… and Ballon d’Or too. Leo deserved it.”

GettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Mbappe scored a hat-trick in the World Cup final, while Messi scored a brace, to pull back France to level terms from a 2-0 deficit against the Albiceleste. However, Emiliano Martinez's heroics in the penalty shootout broke French hearts and denied Mbappe from winning two successive global crowns.

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WHAT NEXT FOR KYLIAN MBAPPE AND LIONEL MESSI?

Mbappe's admiration for Messi goes beyond competition, revealing a deep respect for the Argentine's career. Despite being direct rivals for prestigious awards, the camaraderie developed during their time together at Paris Saint-Germain is evident.

Both the superstars are currently with their respective national teams. While Mbappe will be in action against Gibraltar on Friday in a Euro 2024 qualifier, Messi will take the pitch against bitter rivals Brazil on Tuesday in a 2026 World Cup qualifier.

USA Cricket Association administrators have expressed worries over possible safety and security risks posed by the country’s scheduled tour to Uganda in late October for ICC WCL Division Three

Peter Della Penna24-Aug-2014USA Cricket Association administrators have expressed worries over possible safety and security risks posed by the country’s scheduled tour to Uganda in late October for ICC World Cricket League Division Three. In an email to the USACA board, treasurer John Thickett cited a US state department advisory from February which rates Uganda as a “high threat for terrorism.”Despite that advisory, there has been no directive from the state department to avoid travel to Uganda as compared to warnings issued for some other countries recently. A USACA board member also told ESPNcricinfo that Thickett’s concerns are shared by other members of the board. At the moment, USACA has not made any plans to cancel USA’s participation in the tournament, but a board meeting has been scheduled for Tuesday where the Uganda security issue and overall team preparation is expected to be formally discussed. Prior to the internal USACA discussions, the ICC had sent an email earlier in the month to all participating teams in an attempt to ease safety concerns.”The email we got from the ICC was kind of vague,” the USACA board member said. “They said, ‘Generally speaking, there are currently no major concerns identified or any specific threats to the tournament’. During last weekend’s meeting in Florida, the secretary mentioned the email from the ICC and that they said ‘generally speaking’ and it is what it is. They’re not overly concerned and there’s no talk of moving the tournament right now.”The board member stated that multiple players had brought up the issue with him to express some reservations about going on tour. However, no players have explicitly stated that they are withdrawing themselves from consideration for the tour over security or health concerns related to heightened fears about contracting the Ebola virus. The current Ebola virus outbreak is centered in West Africa but the US Centers for Disease Control documented a smaller outbreak in Uganda as recently as 2012.”Some of the players are concerned about the Ebola crisis out there and also about attacks on US citizens,” the board member said. “So that would be something we have to be concerned about. Once our players are out there representing the United States, we have to be extra careful. There are concerns about being a representative of the United States and what’s going on in that part of the world. If and when we go there, we have to at least guarantee some safety. The ICC has to tell us that the country itself has to make sure that they provide some safety mechanism to show that the players are safe at all times.”The most recent terrorist attack in Uganda occurred more than four years ago on July 11, 2010 when a rugby club and an Ethiopian restaurant in the capital city of Kampala were bombed, killing 76 people including one US citizen according to the state department web site.USACA’s concerns are not just focused on Uganda but also the proximity to threats in border countries such as Kenya, where the attack on the Westgate mall in Nairobi last September by Al-Qaeda affiliate group Al-Shabaab resulted in the deaths of 67 people, including four terrorists.”Any US national team could become a target, but we are the US cricket team not a US Olympic team,” said one player at last weekend’s USACA T20 National Championship. “(Barack) Obama doesn’t know who we are. With a lower profile, who knows what kind of security we would get.”The USA team has been offered increased security on previous tours. In February 2010, USA received military and police escorts to all training sessions and matches while on tour in the UAE ahead of their highly anticipated maiden encounter against Afghanistan in the World T20 Qualifier. USA also received police escorts later in the month on tour in Nepal for ICC WCL Division Five. Although there was an infamous crowd riot during USA’s group-stage match against Nepal in Kathmandu, there were no serious incidents which directly targeted the USA squad in the UAE and Nepal.The USACA board member also said that he had fielded calls from local constituents who felt any proposal to call off the tour over player safety was a cynical attempt to avoid accruing more debts related to the cost of touring. While the board member conceded that international tours can cost between $80-100,000 for USACA and that the national governing body is “in bad shape financially”, he and another source shot down any theory that USACA would cancel an ICC tour over costs.”USACA has been in debt for years,” the source said. “USACA has not stopped any USA team from participating in ICC events in the past due to financial problems. An U-17 team was sent to Bermuda this week for an ICC event and we just held the T20 national tournament in spite of our financial problems. As long as safety is not an issue, we are preparing as though we will be sending a team to Uganda.”

Sri Lanka head coach Marvan Atapattu has said that the tour of New Zealand was always going to be a challenge for his team, but welcomed it as a timely one that will help them prepare for the World Cup

Sa'adi Thawfeeq21-Dec-2014Sri Lanka head coach Marvan Atapattu has said that the tour of New Zealand was always going to be a challenge for his team, but welcomed it as a timely one that will help them prepare for the World Cup.”Touring New Zealand is always going to be a challenge with the weather and the wickets. It is up to us to adapt and to be at our best. It’s a challenge for us like all other teams coming to Sri Lanka,” said Atapattu ahead of Sri Lanka’s two-day warm-up match against a New Zealand XI. “It’s a timely tour though and it’s a great opportunity for us to experience and have some game time in those conditions.”Sri Lanka play three of their six World Cup group matches in New Zealand, with the remaining three in Australia.Atapattu said Sri Lanka will make use of the two Tests to find a suitable opening partner for Tillakaratne Dilshan for the World Cup. In the recent past Upul Tharanga and Kusal Perera have been tried out in that position without much success. Sri Lanka have Mahela Jayawardene as an option, but they are still keen to find a regular opener failing which they will settle for a make-shift one.”We were thinking of having a specialised opener, especially with this two balls thing, in New Zealand,” Atapattu said. “We had a very settled middle-order before Mahela opened in the last two games against England. We were trying to give it a chance. Along with the selection committee we had long discussions to have somebody else, so that we don’t disturb the middle-order.”But there came a time we wanted to see Mahela. He was fantastic; although he didn’t make big runs the little time that he spent showed that he was well equipped. Mahela could bat anywhere at any given stage and his figures will tell you that.”It’s always an option. Depending on the surface and on the runs we’ll have to chase and the opposition, Mahela can come and open at any time. If all goes well, certainly Mahela’s option would be there but we have at least one Test match to decide whom we want in our squad. It could be an opener or a middle-order batsman.”The deadline for teams to finalise their 15 for the World Cup is around January 8, and although Sri Lanka has time to squeeze in the two Tests prior to that date, they are not leaving their decision till the end – the last Test is scheduled to end in Wellington on January 7. The first Test begins on Boxing Day in Christchurch, the venue where Sri Lanka will open their World Cup campaign, against New Zealand, on February 14.Dimuth Karunaratne and Kaushal Silva are Sri Lanka’s regular Test openers. Either one of them could be in the running for a World Cup spot depending on their performance. Karunaratne was named in Sri Lanka’s squad of 15 for the sixth and seventh ODIs against England, although he didn’t make it to the final XI.The New Zealand Test series will be the first Sri Lanka will be playing following the retirement of former captain Jayawardene from Test cricket in August. His position at No. 4 will in all probability go to Lahiru Thirimanne, who filled that slot when Jayawardene was forced to miss the two Tests against Bangladesh in March 2013 with a finger injury. Thirimanne made full use of that opportunity to score his maiden Test hundred – 155 not out in Galle.Left-arm spinner Rangana Herath, whose presence in the Test series is doubtful, Kumar Sangakkara and Prasanna Jayawardene are the only three players in the Test team with any previous experience of playing in New Zealand. The focus, though, remains on the one-day series.”We’ll stick to our plans in finding the 15 that we want for the World Cup,” Atapattu said. “Winning games will always help our plans but we have passed the stage where we’ve tried everybody and we have pruned our squad down to 30. In the 30 we know whom we want in our 15 except for one or two places which we hope to fill during the Test series.”The main task would be to manage players and get them to peak at the right time, which is February 14. We have named a squad of 30 and we have had a plan along with the selection committee. Although we had a very bad series in India, the boys have shown how they can bounce back and we have stuck to our plans, which is the greatest thing. The seven matches we played against England with 17 players, that obviously tells you that we have not gone haywire with our plans.”The Indian tour was a disaster nobody wanted that result, the easiest thing we could have done is play low and go through the motions. But we understood there was a point to prove especially in home conditions and that we were up for it. I saw within the camp the level of interest, motivation and morale was always high. We played our best cricket in the final ODI in India and we continued with that in the home series against England.”

As part of the NxGn series, Goal takes a look at the most promising young players plying their trade at the most successful academy in England

Getty Images1Reece James

Reece James is often seen wearing the captain's armband in Chelsea's youth teams this season and he will likely be lifting silverware at the end of the season with UEFA Youth League and FA Youth Cup success on the horizon. 

The London-born defender can play in numerous positions due to his power, speed and technical ability and he has been with the club since he was six years old. 

The 18-year-old is on a professional contract and he has played an incredible 2,824 minutes across the different youth teams at Chelsea. 

There are a number of academy players who are unlucky to miss out on making the list. That includes the likes of Daishawn Redan, Conor Gallagher and Billy Gilmour.

Getty Images2George McEachran

McEachran is another young player in the academy with links to the first team, having seen his brother Josh McEachran make 11 league appearances for the club. 

Carlo Ancelotti was a huge fan of his brother, but after he left he ended up going on loan to five clubs before ending up at his current club, Brentford. 

Like his sibling, McEachran is tidy on the ball and an immensely gifted passer. He moves across the pitch well and he has his brother's experience to help guide his career. 

Getty Images3Marc Guehi

Marc Guehi is one of the most physically impressive players in English youth football – and that has not gone unrecognised either by Chelsea or England's Under-17s.

The 17-year-old is an imposing defender who chips in with important goals and boasts impressive leadership skills.

Indeed, although originally born in Ivory Coast, he captained England during their run to the final of last summer's European Under-17 Championship in Croatia.

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Getty Images4Ike Ugbo

Ike Ugbo came through Chelsea's youth set up alongside fellow goal machine Tammy Abraham. In their final season together, Ugbo netted 22 league goals, just one less than Abraham.

He tried to emulate his former team-mate's career path in dropping down a level to secure regular game time but he struggled during his 15 appearances for Championship side Barnsley.

However, Ugbo is enjoying himself more at MK Dons and, as one of Chelsea's youngest loanees, his future remains bright. 

The USMNT defender, who had an incredible campaign for FC Cincinnati during the regular season, was recognized with the award Monday morning.

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Miazga named Defender of the YearFC Cincinnati won Supporters' ShieldOnto MLS playoff Conference quarterfinalsWHAT HAPPENED?

The 28-year-old central defender was crowned the best in the league on Monday, with an accumulated voting percentage of 25.45% of the total votes.

Current active players, selected media members and respective coaches/front office staff all account for the voting tally with one-third going to each section. Miazga's highest percentage of votes came from active media members.

AdvertisementUSA Today Sports THE BIGGER PICTURE

Miazga's accomplishments in 2023 are ahead of the rest, despite some worthy opponents in the race like Orlando City's Robin Jansson. The 28-year-old USMNT defender, however, anchored the league's fifth-best defense en-route to a Supporter's Shield and the No. 1 overall seed in the playoffs.

He was an MLS All-Star who played in the XI vs Arsenal over the summer, earned 10 clean sheets in matches he started in and when Cincy had him on the pitch, they won more often than not. To be exact, with Miazga in the mix, they went 21-4-12 – only falling four times since his August 2022 arrival.

DID YOU KNOW?

Miazga played for English Premier League side Chelsea early in his career, but after a few stints on loan from the Blues, the USMNT defender returned to the U.S. with Cincy in 2022.

He spent nearly a decade abroad, with clubs in the Netherlands, France, Belgium, Spain, and of course, England.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR MIAZGA AND FC CINCINNATI?

The 28-year-old and his club will take the pitch again on November 25, when they take on the Philadelphia Union in the MLS playoffs. The Eastern Conference quarter-final will debut the post-season's extra-time and penalties format, with Round One going straight to spot kicks. It's a win-or-go-home match for both sides.

The two midfielders dominated the lacklustre Eagles as the Red Devils began their Carabao Cup defence in style

That was more like it from Manchester United. Erik ten Hag earned lots of goodwill by winning the Carabao Cup last season and his side made an emphatic start in the competition with a dominant 3-0 victory over Crystal Palace.

Alejandro Garnacho got United off on the right foot by scoring the opening goal following a sweeping team move although Casemiro was the star of the show, heading in the second goal then setting up the third for Anthony Martial.

Sofyan Amrabat had a brilliant home debut, appearing all over the pitch and playing some wonderful passes, while Mason Mount had a strong return from injury and even Harry Maguire gave a solid performance.

GOAL rates Man United's players from a smiling Old Trafford…

Getty ImagesGoalkeeper & Defence

Andre Onana (7/10):

Had a quiet night but did well to beat away two shots from Jean-Philippe Mateta, using his feet and then his chest.

Diogo Dalot (8/10):

Had a brilliant first half, flying up and down the right wing and also dropping into midfield. Combined well with Facundo Pellistri to set up Garnacho's goal.

Raphael Varane (7/10):

Lead a very solid defence as captain for the night and looked sharp after recovering from injury.

Harry Maguire (7/10):

An accomplished performance, seeing plenty of the ball and comfortably nullifying Mateta and Jordan Ayew. Will do his confidence a world of good.

Sofyan Amrabat (8/10):

An excellent full debut for the Moroccan. Rotated between left-back and midfield and oozed class as he sprayed long passes across the pitch.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesMidfield

Mason Mount (6/10):

An encouraging return after a month out injured. Launched the move for the opening goal then got his first assist for United by teeing up Casemiro. Rested at half-time.

Casemiro (8/10):

After showing signs of recovery against Burnley this was the Casemiro United fans fell in love with last season. Physically dominant and classy.

Hannibal Mejbri (7/10):

Energetic and influential. Helped the team in attack and defence although had to be careful after getting booked in the first half.

Getty ImagesAttack

Facundo Pellistri (7/10):

Linked up well with Dalot down the right hand side and worked hard defensively.

Anthony Martial (6/10):

Got his first goal of the season which will help his confidence. Important that he took his chance in the Cup as he won't be starting much in the league ahead of Rasmus Hojlund.

Alejandro Garnacho (7/10):

Got the ball rolling with his first goal of the season but crucially showed he can perform well from the start and not just when coming off the bench.

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Victor Lindelof (6/10):

Brought on for Mount at half-time to shore up the defence and did just that.

Jonny Evans (6/10):

The hero of Turf Moor got a rousing reception from the home fans when he came on and helped United stay in command.

Dan Gore (6/10):

A bright debut for the 19-year-old, did not look overawed by the occasion at all.

Donny van de Beek (5/10):

Made his first appearance of the season. Is unlikely to get many more but did little wrong.

Rasmus Hojlund (6/10):

When he came on the job was already done and didn't really get involved.

Erik ten Hag (8/10):

Did not mess about with his team selection and used his substitutions early to make sure players for some rest while giving others the minutes they needed.

Kolkata Knight Riders, the defending champions, have recruited Azhar Mahmood and Johan Botha as replacements for the injured pair of James Neesham and Chris Lynn for this IPL season

Nagraj Gollapudi30-Mar-2015Kolkata Knight Riders, the defending champions, have recruited Azhar Mahmood and Johan Botha as replacements for the injured pair of James Neesham and Chris Lynn for this IPL season due to begin on April 8.Neesham, who failed to make New Zealand’s World Cup squad, has not regained match fitness after an unspecified injury. He had played four matches for Delhi Daredevils in 2014, was let go and later bought by Knight Riders for Rs 50 lakh during the auction in February.Lynn was ruled out for 10 weeks after a hamstring problem in the Sheffield Shield earlier this month. He equalled the record for the fastest fifty in the Big Bash League and finished ninth on the charts with 243 runs at a strike rate of 148.17. His first-class season had begun with a shoulder concern, but they were laid to rest during a double-century against Victoria in Brisbane. With form behind him, Lynn could have filled the vacancy left by Jacques Kallis, who retired from all forms of the game last year.Venky Mysore, the Knight Riders chief executive, admitted losing Lynn and Neesham was untimely, but was confident that Mahmood and Botha would excel.Mahmood’s vast experience – he has played 213 T20s – and knowledge of Indian conditions worked in his favour. He has played two seasons in the IPL for Kings XI Punjab – 2012 and 2013 – and made 382 runs at a strike-rate of 129.05. In 22 matches, he has also taken 29 wickets at an economy rate of 7.61.Botha, who played three seasons with Rajasthan Royals and then turned out for Daredevils in 2013, was picked by the coach Trevor Bayliss as cover for allrounder Shakib Al Hasan, who will miss a part of the IPL due to national commitments since Bangladesh are scheduled to host Pakistan from April 15.Botha had an average BBL as a bowler, but as captain he led Adelaide Strikers into the semi-final. “He is the Shakib type of player,” Mysore said. “Whenever Shakib is unavailable Botha fits in in with similar skills.”Shakib is likely to play the first two matches at Eden Gardens – the tournament opener against Mumbai Indians on April 8 and three days later against Royal Challengers Bangalore. “He will play as many games as possible before and after the Pakistan tour,” Mysore said. “BCB has been most cooperative with us and keeping mind the Pakistan schedule he will be allowed to play to the extent possible.”

Royal Challengers Bangalore will be without Chris Gayle, who flown back to Jamaica to be with his partner for the birth of their first child. He is likely to miss the next two games

The Preview by Shashank Kishore19-Apr-2016Match factsWednesday, April 20, 2016
Start time 2000 local (1430 GMT)Big pictureChris Gayle won’t be returning to the Wankhede Stadium, where he slammed an unbeaten 100 off 48 balls against England during the World T20. He has flown back to Jamaica to be with his partner for the birth of their first child, and is likely to miss the next two games. That Royal Challengers have posted 227 and 191 this season despite Gayle contributing just one run in his two innings is a warning Mumbai, who have lost three of their four matches will take note of.In IPL 2014, Mumbai came from five games down to storm into the playoffs. In 2015, they lost five of their first six matches and won the title. The situation this time isn’t as dire, but there is still an air of uncertainty around the team.Injuries to Lendl Simmons and Lasith Malinga seem to have affected their combination. Rohit Sharma and Ambati Rayudu have moved up and down the order. Hardik Pandya’s elevation to No. 3 produced only 20 runs in three innings. Shreyas Gopal and J Suchith were left out after just one game each. Parthiv Patel’s inability to convert starts has put pressure on the middle order. Amidst a slew of ordinary performances, Krunal Pandya’s form lower down has been a massive boost.With only two matches left at their fortress before they shift base, most likely to Jaipur, Mumbai need to do all the running to avoid a late dash to the playoffs yet again.Just like Mumbai, Royal Challengers also have two points, but have played only two games so far. A superstar line-up minus Gayle will need firepower in the middle to build on starts. They were somewhat exposed by Delhi Daredevils, who conceded only 27 off the last four overs and carried that momentum into their chase. How Royal Challengers bounce back from a loss that Virat Kohli described as a “bitter pill to swallow” will, to some extent, depend on their young Indian players.In the spotlightAB de Villiers made 133 in his last outing against Mumbai at the Wankhede. In October, he made a match-winning 61-ball 119 in a series-deciding ODI at the same venue. With scores of 82 and 55 in his first two matches this season, de Villiers returns in red-hot form to a ground where he has a strong record.After being named captain of Guyana Amazon Warriors in the CPL, Martin Guptill, a surprise omission at the IPL auction, was brought in as a replacement for Simmons. On his IPL debut, Guptill was out in the first over to Bhuvneshwar Kumar. His form could dictate who Mumbai persist with in their quest for a settled opening pair.Team newsGayle’s absence will force Royal Challengers into at least one change. Travis Head is in contention as a like-for-like replacement, or Shane Watson could open. Adam Milne, left out for S Aravind against Sunrisers Hyderabad, could enjoy the pace and bounce at the Wankhede, while Stuart Binny could come back to bolster the middle order.Royal Challengers Bangalore (probable) 1 Virat Kohli (capt), 2 Shane Watson, 3 AB de Villiers, 4 Travis Head, 5 Sarfaraz Khan/Stuart Binny, 6 Kedar Jadhav (wk), 7 David Wiese, 8 Parvez Rasool, 9 Harshal Patel, 10 Yuzvendra Chahal, 11 Varun Aaron/S AravindWith Tim Southee and Mitchell McClenaghan playing key roles with the ball, Mumbai could persist with the same overseas personnel. That could mean another game on the bench for Kieron Pollard. Mumbai Indians (probable) 1 Parthiv Patel (wk), 2 Martin Guptill, 3 Ambati Rayudu, 4 Rohit Sharma (capt), 5 Jos Buttler, 6 Krunal Pandya, 7 Hardik Pandya, 8 Harbhajan Singh, 9 Mitchell McClenaghan, 10 Tim Southee, 11 Jasprit BumrahPitch and conditionsThe might of two batting line-ups could take the surface out of the equation, even though the Wankhede has largely been flat in the recent past. Dew could be a factor in the second innings.Stats and trivia De Villiers and Kohli’s 215-run second-wicket stand at the Wankhede Stadium against Mumbai last year is the highest partnership in all T20s. Royal Challengers Bangalore enjoy a 3-2 head-to-head record over Mumbai at the Wankhede.Quotes”In his domestic career, Hardik has batted at the top of the order. But I guess it is fair to say that the experiment didn’t work for us. Rayudu played well in the last game and it is likely that he will remain at three.”