Jude Bellingham hilariously revealed to Jose Mourinho that his mum has "fancied you for years" and requested the manager to pose for a photo with her.
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Bellingham won the UCL with Real Madrid
Fulfilled his mother's dream of meeting Mourinho
Portuguese manager asked for a cheeky favour
WHAT HAPPENED?
The young England international, who has been a standout performer in his debut year with Los Blancos, made sure to share his debut Champions League win with his family, bringing them onto the pitch for an unforgettable celebration. He fought back tears as he made his way to the stands to bring his family—mum Denise, dad Mark, and younger brother Jobe, who is currently making a name for himself at Sunderland—onto the pitch.
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As the celebration continued, Bellingham spotted Mourinho on the pitchside who was working as a pundit for TNT Sports. Bellingham, known for his cheeky sense of humour, asked Mourinho if he could pose for a picture with his mum. Always one for a bit of fun, Mourinho readily agreed and smiled for the camera.
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WHAT BELLINGHAM SAID
Bellingham quipped, "Sorry about that, my mum's fancied you (Mourinho) for years!"
Never one to miss an opportunity for a witty remark, Mourinho joked about Bellingham potentially joining him at Fenerbahce, his new club.
"Now you come to Fenerbahce!" Mourinho exclaimed.
He went on to add: "If next season you play Fenerbahce, calm down…."
Aside from some poor performances and results in the domestic cups, West Ham United have been enjoying a rather successful season so far.
David Moyes has guided his team to sixth place in the Premier League and straight into the knockout rounds of the Europa League after finishing top of their group.
It's not just on the pitch where things have been going well, as the arrival of Kalvin Phillips from Manchester City will surely give the Irons a massive boost for the rest of their domestic and continental campaigns.
That said, they haven't had everything go their way, as Jota, who was heavily touted for a move to East London last month, ultimately failed to arrive before the window slammed shut. Still, the emergence of a talented youngster within the club might render that a blessing in disguise.
Why West Ham didn't sign Jota
In the last few days of January, transfers expert Fabrizio Romano revealed to GIVEMESPORT that the Hammers were "really working on the Jota deal" and that "the player is open to making the deal happen."
Everything looked rosy for the Eastenders, as the Italian also revealed that Al-Ittihad – who the former Celtic ace had only joined in the summer – were also "quite open to finding the formula for the deal."
However, the deal ultimately collapsed, with a journalist from Saudi publication Aawsat News confirming that Al-Ittihad had registered the tricky winger in their squad, thus "ending all hopes of West Ham signing the player."
While missing out on a player who was so effective for Celtic north of the border is bound to leave some fans feeling disappointed, there is a chance that this failed move, combined with the unknown future of Said Benrahma after his move to Lyon collapsed, could leave space for an up-and-coming youngster to make the position his own.
Dan Rigge could be West Ham's own Jota
With the failed move for Jota, the absence of Benrahma, and the injury concerns around Lucas Paqueta, the left wing spot in West Ham's first team suddenly looks somewhat open, which is where 17-year-old Daniel Rigge could come in.
The "very talented" teenager, as described by academy manager Kenny Brown, joined the Irons' setup from Manchester City in July 2022, and since then, he has been electric for the youth sides.
Able to play anywhere from central midfield, right-wing and left-wing, the Stockport-born gem has been tearing it up in the U18 Premier League, FA Youth Cup, and recently, in the Premier League 2.
In all, he has made 35 appearances for the Hammers' youth teams, in which he has scored eight goals and provided nine assists, meaning he averages a goal involvement every two games, which is a pretty remarkable return for someone so young.
Alongside his impressive output, the "skilful" youngster, as Brown described him, was instrumental in the U18s winning the U18 Premier League South division title and came off the bench to help the club lift their first FA Youth Cup since 1999.
Dan Rigge's Youth Statistics
Competition
Appearances
Goals
Assists
U18 Premier League
28
7
9
U18 Premier League Final Stage
1
0
0
FA Youth Cup
5
0
0
Premier League 2
1
1
0
Total
35
8
9
All Stats via Transfermarkt
These achievements and his brilliant potential led to the club offering Rigge his first professional contract in October – a sign the club see a bright future ahead for him.
Latest West Ham United injury news, return dates and suspensions
FFC keeps you up to date with all the latest West Ham United news involving injuries and suspensions.
ByJack Salveson Holmes May 10, 2024
Ultimately, failing to secure Jota's signature is far from ideal, but with the pathway to the first team now that little bit clearer, perhaps Rigge could become the club's next attacking superstar from the Rush Green ranks in the coming years.
Vinicius Junior took to social media after three Valencia fans were convicted for racially abusing the Real Madrid forward in 2023.
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Vini responds to racist conviction
Three Valencia fans jailed
Madrid star vindicatedWHAT HAPPENED?
Receiving justice for just one of the instances of abhorrent racist abuse directed towards him by opposition fans, Vini felt rightly vindicated by pursuing action against them.
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Three Valencia fans pointed out by Vinicius at the time during a game at the Mestalla in May 2023 were each sentenced to eight months in prison and issued two-year football bans. It is the first time in Spanish football history that such convictions have come.
WHAT VINICIUS JUNIOR SAID
"Many asked me to ignore it, many others said that my fight was in vain and that I should just 'play football'," Vini said. "But, as I've always said, I'm not a victim of racism. I am a tormentor of racists. This first criminal conviction in the history of Spain is not for me. It's for all black people. May other racists be afraid, ashamed and hide in the shadows. Otherwise, I'll be here to collect. Thank you to La Liga and Real Madrid for helping with this historic conviction. More to come…"
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(C)Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR VINICIUS?
A La Liga and Champions League winner in 2023-24, Vini is already among the favourites for the 2024 Ballon d'Or, alongside team-mate Jude Bellingham. But his claim for the prize would be strengthened even further should he be successful with Brazil at the Copa America, which begins on June 20.
A preocupação do Fluminense vai muito além de buscar seu equilíbriono decorrer dos 90 minutos. Na contagem regressiva para conhecer na Copa Libertadores, a cúpula do clube se esmera para aumentar o leque de opções para o técnico Roger Machado. Porém, há uma forte corrida contra o tempo.
RelacionadasFluminenseMarcos Felipe lamenta empate do Fluminense e fala sobre correções na defesa: ‘Evitar tantos contra-ataques’Fluminense31/03/2021VídeoVÍDEO: Assista aos gols do empate entre Fluminense e Vasco pelo Campeonato CariocaVídeo31/03/2021Fora de CampoMauro Cezar apoia diminuição de jogos de seleções na pandemia: ‘Copa América é dispensável’Fora de Campo30/03/2021
– A gente tem feito duas ou três reuniões por semana. Não é tão fácil, as questões de acerto e prospecção de jogadores no mercado. Já temos opções mapeadas, estágio avançado em negociações e esperando respostas concretas. O mercado está difícil e estamos buscando peças pontuais para reforçar o elenco – afirmou o treinador, após o empate em 1 a 1 com o Vasco, em Volta Redonda.
O comandante tricolor ressalta que o trabalho é intenso.
– Estamos trabalhando muito para resolver algumas questões e tenhamos tempo hábil e encorpar o grupo para o Estadual e para a Libertadores… – disse Roger Machado.
Entre os cotados estão o zagueiro David Braz, do Grêmio, além do atacante Matheus Babi. Contudo, o Tricolor das Laranjeiras “disputa” a contratação do atual jogador do Botafogo (cujos direitos pertencem ao Serra Macaense) com o Athletico-PR.
A chegada de reforços contribuiria para a equipe tricolor ter mais cautela no setor ofensivo, além de blindar jogadores formados em Xerém. A maturação se mostra crucial.
-Muitas vezes paramos nas tomadas de decisão erradas. Essas decisões só a maturidade e os ajustes táticos vão dar, mas é algo sim a corrigir… – disse o técnico.
Ter o equilíbrio também entre a vivência de atletas e os jovens que despontam pode ser um fator decisivo para o Fluminense pode pesar numa caminhada na Copa Libertadores.
Heather Knight says England batting ‘not good enough’ after 194-run defeat leaves them trailing in Ashes battle
ESPNcricinfo staff07-Jul-2019
Heather Knight walks off after being dismissed for 5•Getty Images
Mark Robinson, England women’s head coach, admitted his team “had no answers” to the onslaught from Australia’s new-ball pair after being blown away for 75 in the third ODI. A 194-run defeat at Canterbury has left England 6-0 down in the Women’s Ashes and needing to virtually win every match to reclaim the trophy.Ellyse Perry starred with 7 for 22 – record figures for Australia – while Megan Schutt claimed two of the other three wickets to fall while sending down nine overs for 21. Having clawed Australia’s innings back to 269 for 7, England never got close to a record chase.Heather Knight, England’s captain, admitted that the batting had been “not good enough”, as they slipped to 21 for 6 on the way to their third-lowest total in women’s ODIs. Having also been 19 for 4 in the first match, which Australia won by two wickets, Robinson said his players needed to find a way to combat the visitors’ attack.”It’s hard to put it into words,” he told . “The first half was okay, we fought hard, at one point it looked like 320-30 and we did well, so 270 and what looked like the best wicket we’d played on. So we had high hopes at halftime but within half an hour those hopes are dead.”The better team puts you under pressure for sustained periods, they maintain an area and a length – the lesser teams let you off with a four-ball here and there. The better teams don’t do that, at the moment Perry and Schutt have bowled outstandingly well and we’ve had no answers, which is disappointing. It’s an attack we’ve done well against previously, so it’s surprising that in two of the three games we’ve been falling over so quickly.”Knight said that the team had to have “honest conversations” about what had gone wrong and focus on getting back into the series in the Test at Taunton, which is worth four points.”Not good enough. It’s very tough to take, because a lot of girls are hurting in that dressing room. Australia bowled well, they came at us hard and we didn’t really have an answer to that. We haven’t started how we wanted to with the bat, we haven’t found a way to start our innings and get our feet going.”With Australia holding the Ashes, England have to win the series outright – something they can only do by winning the Test and at least two of the T20Is. A draw at Taunton would be enough for Australia to claim an unassailable lead and extend their hold on the Ashes, which they regained in 2015.Test cricket will pose different challenges, because the women play the format so infrequently. While there is the potential for personnel changes, with England playing Australia A and their academy team taking on the Australians in warm-up matches, Robinson said there was no need for drastic measures.”The first thing is you’ve got to be calm,” he said. “They’re hurting, they’ll want to do better, they’re desperate to do better, so there’s no point shouting and bawling. We’ve got to make sure we stay calm and we try and get back on track, get some simplicity into the play. Maybe the tempo of the Test match will help us… We’ve got to take stock, hopefully regroup and come back stronger.”Robinson also said that he was hopeful Katherine Brunt would be fit to play a part in the rest of the Ashes. Veteran allrounder Brunt twisted her ankle during the second ODI and was not fit enough to be included at Canterbury.”We’re hoping so. She’s a warrior, she did brilliantly to go out on the pitch the other day, epitomises the heart of the team, and we just hope she’s back. She’s a hard girl to replace but we’re going to have to find a way soon because she’s in her twilight years now.”
Pedro reapareceu no time do Flamengo da mesma forma com que o deixou: fazendo gols. Após um período distante tratando uma lesão na coxa esquerda, o atacante foi titular contra a Portuguesa, atuou os 90 minutos e marcou os dois gols que evitaram a derrota rubro-negra – o jogo terminou empatado em 2 a 2, com a equipe da Ilha do Governador chegando a abrir 2 a 0 no 1º tempo.
Com média de um gol por partida no Campeonato Carioca – três bolas na rede em três atuações -, o camisa 21 é também o jogador da competição com a maior média de finalizações certas. São três arremates no alvo por rodada – nove em três -, mesmo aproveitamento de Arrascaeta, seu companheiro de Flamengo. O uruguaio, porém, entrou em campo apenas duas vezes.
A diferença de volume e precisão da dupla rubro-negra é grande para os demais jogadores. Quem aparece na 3ª posição do ranking é Fred, do Fluminense, com quase metade do rendimento: apenas 1,8 finalizações certas por rodada. Confira os números:
MAIORES MÉDIAS DE FINALIZAÇÕES CERTAS POR JOGO NO CARIOCA – Dados do Footstats
1º – Pedro – Flamengo – 3,0 finalizações certas por jogo (9 em 3) Arrascaeta – Flamengo -3,0 finalizações certas por jogo (6 em 2) 3º – Fred – Fluminense – 1,8 finalizações certas por jogo (9 em 5) 4º – Gabigol – Flamengo – 1,7 finalizações certas por jogo (7 em 4) Chay – Portuguesa – 1,7 finalizações certas por jogo (17 em 10)
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Worcestershire recover from 68 for 5 through middle-order partnership
Paul Edwards22-Jul-2019
Ross Whiteley cuts during his half-century•Getty Images
Every moment one spends at Cheltenham is precious but no festival in recent years has been as rich in promise as that which currently garlands the College Ground. The six struck over point by Gareth Roderick to secure last week’s victory over Leicestershire already has legendary status in Charlton Kings and by mid-afternoon on this second day the prospect of a second, rather more comfortable win for Gloucestershire beguiled both the serious drinkers in the Old Patesians marquee and the county chief executives enjoying their reunion at the College Lawn End.Replying to the home side’s 354, Worcestershire were 68 for 5 when Brett D’Oliveira joined Ross Whiteley. Most people agreed Chris Dent would enforce the follow-on; few considered the possibility he might not have the chance to do so. Yet Whiteley had already begun to bat against most of the memories his muscles and temperament had acquired over seasons of short-form cricket. He waited until his 43rd ball before hitting his first four and his six over midwicket off Ethan Bamber seemed an eccentric highlight from a different match.D’Oliveira, dropped by Miles Hammond at second slip off Ryan Higgins when only 3, joined him in a sixth-wicket partnership of 146 characterised by rigorous self-discipline. Whiteley hit three sixes but had earned the right to do so rather than brusquely asserting it in a manner likely to get him into trouble. Four years to the day since he made his last century, against Yorkshire at Scarborough, he was only 12 runs short of three figures when Matt Taylor got a ball that was 75 overs old to fly from just short of a length, take the edge of the bat and fly via James Bracey’s gloves to Benny Howell at slip.But our day ended with D’Oliveira unbeaten on 66 albeit Gloucestershire’s bowlers will be encouraged by the prospect of using a nearly new ball in the morning. A game which both sides need to win is far better balanced than appeared likely in mid-afternoon and we have two fine days ahead of us. “There are great spiritual advantages to be had in that town,” Nicholas Bulstrode informs his wife when describing Cheltenham in .Yet advantages of any sort were the home side’s monopoly earlier in a day when Worcestershire’s top-order batsmen seemed as ripe for the picking as pears in late September. When their first dig dwindled from 24 without loss to 68 for 5 the statisticians pointed out it was the fifth successive innings in which they had lost those wickets for less than 85 runs and the sixth time in seven matches when Worcestershire’s top five first-innings wickets had fallen for less than a hundred.Gloucestershire’s bowlers fed on such insecurity and their own Puritan disciplines offered Joe Leach’s batsmen no repose. A hesitant Riki Wessels edged Bamber to Benny Howell in his side’s sixth over; Callum Ferguson was pinioned in his crease by David Payne and nicked a catch to Hammond. After lunch Gloucestershire’s can-do approach was epitomised by Bracey who took an outstanding leg-side catch off Ryan Higgins to remove Ed Barnard and then took an even better one standing up to dismiss Daryl Mitchell off the same bowler.For all that he is having a poor season Mitchell remains the batsman Worcestershire’s opponents would most like to remove but Bracey’s positioning was a shrewd attempt to counteract his tendency to come down the wicket. That, though, was almost the end of Gloucestershire’s absolute dominance. The rest of the day saw Whiteley and D’Oliveira give their team some hope they might yet achieve a victory they sorely need. And their resistance recalled a first session in which one of Worcestershire’s most loyal servants had achieved a fine career landmark.Indeed the morning has begun in an atmosphere of multi-faceted incipience and general enticement. Cleeve Hill was dark green beneath benevolent cloud and the old paths towards Winchcombe were beguiling in the gentlest haze. Tom Smith was on 79, five runs short of his career-best score, Gloucestershire were 11 runs shy of a fourth batting bonus point and Leach needed two wickets to reach 300 in first-class cricket for Worcestershire. The third of these landmarks was the first to be reached when Leach, bowling as tightly as ever, knocked back Payne’s off stump in the sixth over of the day and had Bamber caught by a diving Ben Cox in the tenth. The bowler greeted this wicket with a guttural roar of triumph. Smith was last man out on 83 but he will not give a monkey’s if his side have 23 points in the bag on Wednesday evening.Neither will any other home supporters. There must, one imagines, be better things in life than watching cricket at Cheltenham. Yet on a warm, dream-laden evening at the College Ground, with the Glorious Glosters slightly in the ascendant, and the air scented with possibility it was awfully difficult to think what those things might be. So we ate oranges on the pavilion balcony and watched the evening light on distant, tree-ringed fields.
أعلن نادي ريال مدريد المنافس عن التشخيص النهائي لإصابة حارس الفريق الأول لكرة القدم، تيبو كورتوا، بعد ساعات من مباراة أتلتيكو مدريد في الدوري الإسباني.
وشارك كورتوا في مباراة الديربي بالكامل يوم أمس، الأحد، والتي انتهت على ملعب “سيفتاس متروبوليتانو” بالتعادل الإيجابي 1-1.
ولكن كان كارلو أنشيلوتي مدرب ريال مدريد قد أعلن بعد نهاية المباراة إصابة كورتوا دون الكشف عن تفاصيلها ولكن خضع البلجيكي لفحوصات طبية شاملة خلال الساعات الماضية.
اقرأ أيضًا | أنشيلوتي: قلصنا الفارق مع برشلونة.. وقرار الحكم أثر على أتلتيكو مدريد مثلنا
Se espera su regreso contra el Celta. https://t.co/4x0dilJvKG — Arancha Rodríguez (@AranchaMOBILE) September 30, 2024
وأكد ريال مدريد في بيانه الرسمي أن كورتوا يعاني من إصابة في العضلة الضامة من الساق اليسرى ولكن لم يحدد مدة غيابه المتوقعة.
بينما أفادت الصحفية، أرانشا رودريجيز، التي تعمل في إذاعة “كادينا كوبيه” الإسبانية أن اللاعب لن يتواجد في مباراة ليل في دوري أبطال أوروبا وسيغيب لمدة 3 أسابيع تقريبًا.
وتقام مباراة ليل يوم الأربعاء المقبل في تمام الساعة العاشرة مساءً بتوقيت “القاهرة” على ملعب “بيير ماوروي” في فرنسا.
بجانب مباراة فياريال القادمة في ملعب “سانتياجو برنابيو” يوم، السبت 5 أكتوبر، قبل التوقف الدولي خلال شهر أكتوبر.
وأكدت أرانشا عبر حسابها الرسمي على منصة “ْX” أن من المفترض أن يعود كورتوا في مباراة ريال مدريد وسيلتا فيجو بعد التوقف الدولي.
Standing in the middle of the Trent Bridge outfield during warm-ups for the pivotal Test match of the 2015 Ashes series, Peter Siddle confided to Ricky Ponting that he thought his international career was at an end.Siddle had just been told by the selectors Darren Lehmann and Rod Marsh that he was being left out for the fourth Test match in a row, despite the Nottingham pitch looking absolutely tailored to his skills of seam, swing and accuracy with just enough speed. Exasperated, Siddle faced the very real possibility that at 30, he would not be chosen again.”I think it was very tough, it’s probably some of the toughest times,” Siddle said. “I know injuries are always a tough thing, you can deal with that and it’s not too bad. But I think missing out on opportunities … you always believe you should be picked, that’s how you should feel but when you see conditions that are suited to you, that’s when it hurts the most.”I remember at Trent Bridge just after being told I wasn’t part of that Test match, the boys were warming up and I went and had a conversation with Punter out in the middle of the field.”We were looking at the wicket and he couldn’t believe that I wasn’t playing, and that’s when I said to him ‘If I’m not getting picked here, I don’t think I’ll ever get picked again’. And that was the honest truth.”I thought at that time I mightn’t get another opportunity to play but obviously Joshy [Hazlewood] got a little bit injured and I got an opportunity to play the last Test and performed well there and that gave me another little crack at representing. But I thought at that stage I mightn’t get the opportunity again, so ever since then I definitely tried making the most of every opportunity I’ve had.”Of course, the chaos that followed after England won the toss, razing the Australians for 60 and underlining how the high pace attack of Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Johnson and Josh Hazlewood was not ideally suited to conditions that called for wobbling the Dukes ball around, led to a rethink once the urn was lost. Siddle returned for Test at The Oval, claimed six wickets at low cost in an innings victory for the tourists, and sowed the seeds for his return to England in 2019, via some prolific bowling spells for Essex in the county championship.To his evident relief, Siddle believes that the Australian team of 2019 has evolved its thinking about how to play in English climes, meaning that at 34, he is well and truly in the mix to take part in the series should similar pitches emerge to assist the likes of James Anderson and Chris Woakes.”I reckon it’s something we’ve developed and we’re a lot better prepared for coming into this series,” Siddle said. “The chats I’ve had with different coaches – Troy Cooley and JL and all the coaches around the squad – we’re a lot more aware of the set-up and the team dynamics to win a series in England.”A couple of other series I’ve played in we haven’t been quite suited to the conditions and we’ve gone about it the wrong way. But with the squad that’s been picked, and the players that are in and around the group, I think we’ve got a good skills set and whatever is dished up to us wicket-wise, we’ll be able to handle whatever they throw at us.”Certainly, Justin Langer has been eager to keep Siddle in the loop ever since he took up the national coaching job in May last year. “Last year, I was going well playing for Essex and I had a couple of messages and a couple of phone calls with him,” Siddle said. “It was one message after we chatted one time, he said ‘Just remember that every game counts’. That was how I was seeing things anyway, but to hear it from the coach is a good thing as well.”And that’s what I’ve done. It doesn’t matter who I’ve played, all I’ve wanted to do is perform well for the team.”That’s how I’ve gone about it, and that’s how I finished the summer back home. Then to come back here and perform well again for Essex, I knew I’d given myself every chance to be on another Ashes series and hopefully play again for Australia.”We’ve always been in contact over the years, at different stages. My first Shield game was against him – he abused me from first slip while I batted out a draw. It didn’t start off too well, but I think we’ve always been reasonably close Obviously his time as batting coach with the team as well, so there was always a bit of communication and that message is the one that sticks in my mind – just concentrating on every game, and making the most of it.”Much was made of the fact that Siddle had, in mid-career, adopted numerous lifestyle changes such as taking meat out of his diet. He also adapted his bowling from the rough and tumble of his earliest days for Victoria and Australia to being a far cannier operator, concentrating on persistence, accuracy and subtle movement in the style beloved of Terry Alderman (83 Ashes wickets in just two tours of England in 1981 and 1989).Getty Images
“I think it’s probably been a key to my last five or six years, as to how I go about keeping the body right,” Siddle said. “I’m only getting older, I’m a lot older than most of the other guys but it’s my commitment to being on the park. The only way you can get opportunities like this and play is if you’re fit, and on the park. So it’s just about doing everything right and the changes I’ve made over time have helped me to stay on the park, to be a bit more committed, it’s made me a lot more diligent about the way I go about my preparation.”I’m very focused on being right and being ready to go. I’m in a good frame of mind. The confidence I’ve got from the last two seasons, being over here and playing cricket for Essex has put me in a good position to know I’m comfortable with my game in England, and knowing that if I get the opportunity to play throughout this series that I’m as ready as ever. I’m definitely bowling a lot better than I ever have in these conditions, and I think that’s the best thing I bring to this team now.”I know I’ve done well, I’ve got a pretty good record in Ashes Test matches in England but I think my experience, over the last couple of years I’ve learned a lot of new skills. So I think I can play a big part in this series.”Now, Siddle is comfortable not only in his bowling, but his belief that the selectors see its value – even when they have Starc, Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and James Pattinson to call upon this time around. “I came here in 2009, and the blokes that played were myself, Mitch Johnson and Hilfy [Ben Hilfenhaus] and none of us had played an Ashes series or in England, and we were the ones who were thrown in to try and win it.”We still had Brett Lee and Stuart Clark on the sidelines, and we came out as a young side and we did all right but we just had no skills set in England. The next time round it was probably the same thing, a little bit inexperienced. Definitely in an Ashes series, I believe it is the strongest line-up in the time that I’ve played that we’re going to be able to put out there on the park. We’ve got players who have played cricket in England, I think that’s something if you go back 10, 15, 20 years ago, a lot of blokes had the opportunity to come over and play county cricket whether they were batters or bowlers.”They’d spent a little bit of time over getting an understanding and a feel for the conditions they might get at the international level. There’s obviously a few of us who have been over here this year playing county cricket, and especially from a bowlers’ point of view that they’ve had the opportunity over past series – whether it’s one-day or Test cricket – to have played in the conditions. We’ve given ourselves the best chance now. The players that we’ve got in the group are strong and ready to do battle here and hopefully, finally, get that away series win in England.”
Weston McKennie has explained how he came out fighting after “problems with Juventus”, as the USMNT star continues to silence any doubters.
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Returned to Italy in 2023 after Leeds loan
Talk of Bianconeri freezing him out
Battled back to star for club & country
WHAT HAPPENED?
The 25-year-old has enjoyed what could be considered the best season of his career, with an impressive contribution made to the collective cause in Turin. His 2023-24 campaign could, however, have played out very differently – with there reports when returning from a loan spell at Leeds that suggested he would be frozen out at Juve as they looked to force him into a permanent transfer elsewhere.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
McKennine knuckled down, rather than pushing for the exits, and earned plenty of favour with Massimiliano Allegri. He also won over a fan base that had started to write him off, with 38 appearances taken in across all competitions – with his versatility and work rate being put to good use.
WHAT MCKENNIE SAID
McKennie has now told of rebuilding his reputation in Italy: “I think it was one of those, even coming back, it was difficult. I’m sure you’ve heard, I’ve had all the problems that I had with Juventus when I first came back, and yeah, it was one of those things where it wasn’t the first time in my career — it was the first time in my pro career, but not the first time in my career in general — where I’ve been doubted and been kind of pushed on the way out of things. And that’s whenever I became me and reverted back to the things that I know best, which is believing in myself, cutting out all the noise, putting my head down, going to work, and doing 100 percent in everything that I do. I think honestly, if I didn’t do that, then where I’m at right now, it’d be a little bit different.”
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WHAT NEXT?
There is now talk of McKennie returning to English football, where he previously suffered relegation out of the Premier League at Leeds. He has only 12 months left to run on his current contract and, with no extension in place, has been mooted as a possible makeweight in Juve’s bid to prise Douglas Luiz away from Aston Villa.