Barcelona hope they can put an end to Pedri's horrific injury record that stems back to his hectic 2020-21 season.
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Pedri suffered injury-hit careerBarcelona seek permanent solutionSpaniard was injured at Euro 2024WHAT HAPPENED?
Barcelona are trying to put an end to Pedri's constant injuries by using scientific advancements. The young midfielder has struggled with several problems after a monstrous amount of games played in 2020-21. This spell, in which the midfielder played at both the European Championship and the Olympics in the summer of 2021 after completing a full season for the Blaugrana, has been attributed to his injury woes.
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As per Mundo Deportivo, the La Liga giants have sought an end to Pedri's struggles. Barcelona asked for a genetic analysis of his muscles, which was carried out in the United States. The results suggested he should do strength work daily, and Pedri has been following this plan since returning from his latest knee problem.
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The plan appears to be working, with Pedri appearing spright for Barcelona this season. He has started their last three matches and also played in both of Spain's Nations League ties during the international break.
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Barcelona will be keen to manage his load due to worries that another injury is never too far away. If he does stay fit then Barcelona will have another incredible talent in their squad who adds a swagger to their midfield.
أعلن نادي ليفربول تشكيل الفريق لمباراته أمام نيوكاسل ضمن منافسات بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز “البريميرليج”.
ويحل فريق ليفربول ضيفًا على خصمه نيوكاسل مساء اليوم الأربعاء، في مباراة بالجولة الرابعة عشر ضمن منافسات بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، على ملعب “سانت جيمس بارك”.
ويحتل ليفربول صدارة الدوري الإنجليزي برصيد 34 نقطة، في حين أن نيوكاسل يحتل المركز الحادي عشر برصيد 19 نقطة.
اقرأ أيضًا | ابتسامة فان دايك تكشف عن مصير محمد صلاح ومعركة العقود في ليفربول
ويتواجد المصري محمد صلاح في التشكيل الأساسي لفريقه ليفربول حيث يقود هجوم الفريق. تشكيل ليفربول أمام نيوكاسل في الدوري الإنجليزي
حراسة المرمى: كيليهر.
خط الدفاع: جاريل كوانساه، جو جوميز، فان دايك، روبرتسون.
Chelsea are now eyeing a new manager target to replace Mauricio Pochettino, who Man City boss Pep Guardiola has heaped praise on.
Chelsea slammed for parting company with Pochettino
The west Londoners have officially parted company with Pochettino after much speculation over his future in the build up to Tuesday evening, with the club then announcing that he left by "mutual consent".
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The news came as a bit of a shock to critics and supporters alike, especially after Chelsea's fine end to the Premier League season. They won their final five top flight games on the trot, sealing European qualification in the process and finishing just five points outside the top four.
Their end-of-season run saw Chelsea score 16 goals in their last six matches, averaging nearly three goals-per-game, and their electric home form in the latter stages of 2023/2024 was certainly something to build upon.
Chelsea 2-1 Bournemouth
Brighton 1-2 Chelsea
Nottingham Forest 2-3 Chelsea
Chelsea 5-0 West Ham
Chelsea 2-0 Tottenham
Just when thing were turning a corner under Pochettino, Chelsea decided to part company with the Argentine, leaving little wonder their decision has been heavily criticised by members of the media. TalkSPORT pundit Darren Bent even called Pochettino's Chelsea exit "embarrassing".
“[It’s] embarrassing," said Bent on talkSPORT (via Complete Sports).
"Pochettino has had his critics this season, right, and he finally gets this Chelsea squad, which has been put together, so many players, so much different change, he finally gets them to a point where it starts to look like my team and they get rid of him. No, you have got to give him next season. You cannot let him do that work.
“Like the way they ended the season was incredible. I think they were one of the in-form sides, up there with Arsenal and Manchester City, the last five to 10 games. You can’t get rid of him now. He is now getting a tune out of some of these players. [Moises] Caicedo looks brilliant, scored a great goal. Stick with him.”
Attention now turns to how Chelsea will look to succeed Pochettino, and there have been a fair few managerial candidates mentioned already. Thomas Tuchel has been named as a "concrete" option for Chelsea by Sky Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg, while Roberto De Zerbi continues to be admirerd by Stamford Bridge chiefs.
Chelsea express recent interest in hiring Vincent Kompany
A more surprising name being considered, though, is Burnley boss Vincent Kompany. The Man City legend couldn't steer Burnley away from relegation after a regrettable season back in the Premier League at Turf Moor, but the 39-year-old has at least been praised by Guardiola.
The Spaniard said Kompany "has everything", and to be fair, his attack-minded Burnley team were near-untouchable in the Championship over 2022/2023.
He'd bring an exciting brand of expansive, open football, and BBC Sport reporter Nizaar Kinsella writes that for the broadcaster and on X that Chelsea have expressed a recent interest in appointing Kompany.
Leeds United, whether promotion is secured through the drama of the Championship playoffs or the Whites slip up in their pursuit to return to the Premier League, will know it'll be a busy summer at Elland Road in terms of transfer activity.
Failing to win promotion would most likely see a whole host of players exit West Yorkshire, some more welcome than others with the likes of Brenden Aaronson and Marc Roca potentially offloaded for good to the relief of Leeds.
Leeds United midfielderBrenden Aaronson.
Another forgotten loanee could also be permanently axed from the building too, with the 22-year-old's loan spell away from the Whites petering out towards the end after an electric start in his new surroundings.
Sam Greenwood's numbers at Middlesbrough this season
Having failed to really get going in the Leeds senior set-up from infrequent appearances here and there – gifted 35 appearances after developing quickly in the U21 ranks – Daniel Farke made Sam Greenwood another face worthy of a loan spell away from the club alongside the aforementioned Aaronson and others after relegation.
Leeds' Sam Greenwood
Greenwood has impressed since moving to the Riverside Stadium, especially in the early parts of the season with four goals managed in October and November for Michael Carrick's men.
The last of those four in Greenwood's early purple patch would come against Enzo Maresca's title-winning Leicester City, a stunning free-kick that made him an adored fan's favourite in Boro quarters.
However, after this rich early vein of goalscoring form, Greenwood would only help himself to one more strike in Boro colours with his time at the Riverside fizzling out a bit towards the end of the promising stint.
Reports indicate that Boro won't be pursuing a permanent deal for Greenwood now, instead opting to go after fresher attacking targets which brings into view again the 22-year-old's up-in-the-air future back at Elland Road.
It would make sense for Leeds to try and cash in on the left winger even if Boro are no longer keen, especially with Crysencio Summerville's prowess in this spot and also Greenwood's wage – last season in the Premier League – being double that of the Dutchman's.
Why Leeds must cash in on Greenwood
There will, no doubt, be a suitor somewhere else in the EFL that would be willing to take a punt on Greenwood when looking at his blistering start to life under Carrick at Boro.
For Leeds, it will just be a case of trying to get the 22-year-old off the wage bill – who Farke once described as "unbelievable" with his set of skills on the ball – alongside receiving a handsome fee to part ways completely with Greenwood's transfer valuation – according to Football Transfers – standing at a hefty £3.8m despite his up-and-down spell away from the Whites.
Greenwood's transfer value over the years
2024
£3.8m
2023
£2.3m
2022
£3.6m
2021
£2.4m
2020
£1.4m
Sourced by Football Transfers
Greenwood's £30k-per-week-wage will also be another reason why Farke and Co are so adamant that they want the left winger off their books, with both Summerville and Wilfried Gnonto remarkably earning less for Leeds this season at £15k-per-week and £20k-per-week despite being touted for major money moves away this coming summer themselves.
The fringe attacker's wage also see him earn more than the likes of Illan Meslier, Glen Kamara and Ilia Gruev who have all been consistent first-team faces under Farke this season as Leeds continue to eye up a dramatic promotion.
The Yorkshire side will hope that they can get near Football Transfers' bumped-up valuation of £3.8m in the upcoming transfer window for their ex-Arsenal man, whilst trying to keep a firm grip on Summerville especially if the Whites are successful in leaping back up to the promised land of the top-flight.
New Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca is said to be excited by the prospect of working with a £60,000-per-week member of his squad and is believed to rate him extremely highly.
Chelsea announce Maresca as new head coach to replace Pochettino
It's been common knowledge for quite some time that Maresca has been lined up to succeed Mauricio Pochettino, but the west Londoners officially confirmed the Italian's arrival from Leicester City on Monday.
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After guiding Leicester to the Championship title and automatic promotion at the first time of asking, Maresca has swapped the King Power for Stamford Bridge and will commence his new role on July 1.
Maresca put pen to paper on a five-year deal with the option of a further year, with journalist Ben Jacobs sharing further background on why he was the "unanimous" choice for Chelsea's board in a thread on X.
"Chelsea confirm Enzo Maresca as their new head coach. It’s a five-year contract with a club option of a further year. Former Chelsea goalkeeper Willy Caballero joins as Maresca’s assistant. Maresca was the unanimous choice from Chelsea’s leadership," wrote Jacobs.
Games managed
53
Wins
36
Draws
4
Losses
13
Points on average per game
2.11
"Maresca stood out because of his possession-based style. Experience in English football seen as key. Chelsea struck by his 'champions mentality'. Maresca is also understood to have displayed extensive squad knowledge at interview and was impressed with the talent and balance at the club.
"Maresca's thirst for knowledge impressed Chelsea's hierarchy. He even started watching last season's games whilst on holiday in Marbella ahead of getting the job. Maresca has already asked for data access to provide performance analysis on every player from youth level to the the first team, as well as full details of everyone working at Cobham. This meticulous approach was the same at Leicester."
Reports suggest that Maresca is planning to make Cole Palmer the vocal point of his Chelsea side, as the former Man City backroom coach plots to build his own-look Blues side after Pochettino's reign.
He's also set to have a say in the transfer market, with Maresca said to be a big fan of Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez for his forward line.
Maresca can't wait to work with Chelsea keeper Robert Sanchez
Now, as per Fabrizio Romano, it is believed that Maresca has taken a real liking to £60,000-per-week goalkeeper Robert Sanchez.
The former Brighton ace signed last summer and has suffered his fair share of criticism following his debut campaign at the club, but Maresca really rates Sanchez and can't wait to work with him at Chelsea.
A European club is working on a deal to sign one £14.5 million player from Leeds United in the summer transfer window, coming after his exceptional campaign.
Farke preparing for Championship play-off final with Leeds
The Whites face off against Southampton at Wembley today in a season-defining clash, and one which will determine whether manager Daniel Farke can guide Leeds back to the Premier League at the first time of asking.
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The Championship promotion hopefuls will be contending with Russell Martin for that same prize, with both the Saints and Leeds relegated to England's second tier in 2023 and narrowly missing out on an automatic spot.
It's one of the most tense, entertaining games football has to offer – and Farke is determined to reign triumphant as he eyes a return to Europe's most competitive, prestigious division.
"Nobody is more motivated than me," said Farke on the Championship play-off final.
"I wouldn’t sign a contract for any other club on this level. I don’t judge my time at Norwich as unfinished business, we were in the Premier League, last year I was in the Bundesliga, my aim is to work on the Premier League level. This is my big motivation, to work there again with an exciting club, it’s very special in different ways. If it was easy then it’s not my job. I always like challenges, where you can create something special.
Leeds 4-0 Norwich
Norwich 0-0 Leeds
Leeds 1-2 Southampton
QPR 4-0 Leeds
Middlesbrough 3-4 Leeds
"If possible to create a bit of a legacy. There are coaching legends here at Leeds, we all know their names, hopefully in a few years when we can bring the club back, I can be proud I played a little part in the history of this club. First step is to return back to the Premier League.
"Play-off final is always special because it’s a do-or-die game, you can’t repair mistakes. You can repair over 46 games with some other good results. Cup games you have to be spot on, the focus is pretty special and the concentration level is very high."
The result of his hugely anticipated encounter will also have a real bearing on their transfer plans. Leeds want to sign Joe Rodon permanently, for example, with player sales also key to bolstering their summer kitty.
Leeds United's loan defender Joe Rodon.
Max Wober has enjoyed an excellent temporary stint at Borussia Monchengladbach in Germany, so he could be a candidate to bring in funds.
Gladbach working on deal to sign Wober from Leeds
As per Kronen Zeitung, as relayed by Sport Witness, Gladbach want to sign Wober from Leeds permanently and are working on a deal. The versatile "leader", as dubbed by Jesse Marsch, bagged two goals and three assists across 25 Bundesliga appearances last season.
Wober is tipped for stardom with Austria under Ralf Rangnick at the Euros by Kronen Zeitung following his excellent campaign, but other reports suggest Leeds will be demanding around £14.5 million to let him go for good.
Yasir Shah doesn’t do half-measures; anyone who watched him play in England in 2016 will know that.A match-winning ten-wicket haul at Lord’s was followed by arguably his worst career performance in Manchester, his match figures reading 66-6-263-1. If his numbers in the UAE, where he’s snared 113 wickets in a scarcely believable 17 Test matches, showcase the best of the legspinner, the other side of the coin is equally extreme. In the Southern Hemisphere, Yasir’s nine wickets have come at almost 96 apiece at an economy rate of 4.40.England is the one place where the jury was out on him, and he did himself few favours on Thursday. Brought on to replace Mohammad Abbas and Shaheen Afridi with all the pressure on the England batsmen, the legspinner couldn’t have asked for better circumstances to be asked to bowl. Far from being a stellar support act to the quicks, however, he was perhaps singularly responsible for frittering some of the momentum away, bowling much too short, far too quick, and proving way too expensive.It is one of those intoxicatingly captivating vagaries of cricket that Yasir walked off at the end of the second day having taking the prized wicket of Joe Root, while Mohammad Abbas and Afridi were empty handed after a sensational hour of bowling on the third morning. Even so, there were signs he wasn’t over the loss of form and confidence that had meant he was no longer viewed as an automatic selection. In seven overs, he conceded 38 runs, bowling at least eight long hops along the way.On Friday, however, his entry into the attack elevated the quality of the bowling, and as the wickets began to come, his confidence, so integral to his performances throughout his career, began to grow. He went through Jos Buttler’s defences with one that might be deemed natural variation, but Yasir felt he had outwitted him, and to a confidence cricketer, that made all the difference. The long hops were gone, the delivery stride was measured and deliberate, and the stock delivery nicely flighted.All the variations came out; the classical legspinner which reared up claimed Dom Bess, while Chris Woakes was undone by the slider. These were tricks Yasir wouldn’t have dared try the previous day, and when he holds back, he is a shadow of the cricketer Pakistan have shut their eyes and hung their hopes on for so many years.No one, as the cliché goes, becomes a poor bowler overnight, least of all a man who became the quickest to 200 Test wickets in history. The knowledge he suddenly had to prove his worth to the side may well have played a part in the added pressure on his shoulders; Pakistan’s spin bowling coach spoke about it in the press conference afterwards.”The most important thing is spinners need to have a strong temperament and understand your action,” Mushtaq Ahmed said. “Legspinners need to be mentally strong, and in the right head space.”You need to have repeatable actions to bowl good overs rather than good balls. We’re working with him on how to bowl in different circumstances using various strategies, and to ingrain these into his muscle memory. If you have variations, as Yasir does, and can also bowl good overs, I think you can challenge any batsman.”It’s hard to overstate how worried Yasir might have been for his future overnight. When Pakistan commemorated the first Test to be played in the country for a decade last year, he found there was no place for him in the eleven. He might have served them well in the UAE; indeed, might have been the most significant reason Pakistan went nine years without losing a Test series in the Emirates, but this was Pakistan. And in Pakistan, pace was primary, spin peripheral.He got his chance in the second Test two months later, but if anything, served to only vindicate the decision to leave him out the first time around, conceding 127 runs at four per over, with Haris Sohail outbowling him. After the Test against Bangladesh in February – his skipper, Azhar Ali, spoke pointedly about his “changing role in the side”.”When non-Asian opposition comes to Pakistan, we’ll see if we go a different direction with the surfaces but for now I think the fast bowlers have been given the task of leading,” Azhar said then. “Yasir, who has undoubtedly been a champion bowler for us and has proved how good he is, will begin to get those big wickets whenever the conditions are more favourable for him. This is a change for him, too.”It sounded more like a swansong than an endorsement. There was little Yasir could have done about Pakistan moving back home, but his performances of late outside the country hadn’t quite helped his case, either. In the last six Tests before the ongoing one, Yasir took six wickets at over 70 runs per dismissal; half of those were three Bangladeshi tailenders in a foregone conclusion in the fourth innings of the Test in February. In one three-Test series prior, he had managed 29 wickets. That, of course, was a UAE series.On Friday, Shadab Khan spilling a regulation catch was all that separated him from a first five-for since that productive series in the UAE against New Zealand in 2018. But for a man who no longer has the dustbowls of the UAE to fall back on, it’s unlikely to be any more than a minor irritation. His captain may believe his role in the side has changed, but Yasir will be keen to emphasise his importance to it has not.
O titular e capitão palmeirense, Felipe Melo, é idolatrado pela torcida do Galatasaray, da Turquia, clube pelo qual atuou de 2011 até 2015, sendo tricampeão nacional, tricampeão da Supercopa Turca e bicampeão da Copa da Turquia. Diante desse carinho sempre presente, o nome do volante está frequentemente na pauta de torcedores e jornalistas do clube.
Rebeca entra em seleta lista de medalhistas de ouro do Brasil nas Olimpíadas. Veja os 32 campeões!
Fatih Terim, atual treinador do Galatasaray, e ex-comandante de Felipe durante sua passagem pelo clube turco, foi questionado, nesta semana, sobre o camisa 30 do Verdão, que já pode assinar um pré-contrato, sem custos, afinal, seu atual vínculo vence no dia 31 de dezembro deste ano.
Ciente da relação próxima entre clube e jogador, Terim abriu as portas para o retorno do ídolo.
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– O Felipe Melo está pronto, ele pode vir se o ambiente for adequado – afirmou, em coletiva.
– A gente pode se encontrar e bater um papo com o Felipe Melo. O time dele é campeão do Brasil há dois anos. Se houver possibilidade de ele vir sem transferência, pode ser melhor. Melo também está disposto vir – completou.
Felipe demonstrou publicamente seu desejo de seguir jogando, inclusive pelo Palmeiras, em declarações públicas. A última delas foi após ser notificado por Anderson Barros de que não teria seu contrato renovado pela gestão Maurício Galiotte, que deixa o Verdão no início de dezembro, antes do encerramento do vínculo do volante com o Palmeiras.
– Vejo que meu nome é bastante forte no mercado, no cenário do futebol. Vejo tantos outros atletas que vão terminar o contrato em dezembro, mas se fala do Felipe Melo. Não sei o que passa na cabeça do presidente, do diretor. É verdade que o presidente me chamou para conversar um tempo atrás, me pediu 15 dias. Já se passaram dois meses e ele não apareceu ainda. Mas o diretor fala comigo isso que vocês sabem – detonou o jogador.
Veja no aplicativo do LANCE! o resultado dos jogos da rodada
Abel Ferreira deseja que o jogador permaneça em seu elenco por achar que o camisa 30 gera mais frutos positivos ao trabalho do que prejuízos. A situação, no entanto, caso Melo não assine um pré contrato, é que a resolução de renovação fique para Leila Pereira, candidata e provável futura presidente do Verdão.
Por fim, Terim, de olhos vivos na situação, confessou também que já ouviu de Felipe que ‘está pronto’, no sentido de sem qualquer problema físico ou técnico e com disposição, se for o caso, de retornar à Turquia.
Newcastle star Kieran Trippier is reportedly looking to move abroad again with a potential link-up with Jose Mourinho at Fenerbahce on the cards.
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Trippier trying to seal move away from TynesideAmid lack of playing time and marriage problemsMove to Fenerbahce touted with Mourinho keenFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
According to , the Newcastle full-back is "desperate" to leave St. James' Park, with several European clubs eyeing the 34-year-old. Trippier's marriage with wife Charlotte is believed to be struggling, with the report adding that she has moved 200 miles across the country with their children. However, Trippier's main motivation for moving abroad is to get more minutes on the pitch. Jose Mourinho and Fenerbahce are said to be extremely keen on the England international.
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Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe is keen to keep Trippier at the club, despite primarily using him from the bench this season. The ex-Atletico Madrid and Tottenham defender reportedly turned down approaches from Saudi Arabia and Everton in the summer but has now expressed his desire to leave.
DID YOU KNOW?
Trippier announced his retirement from international duty after Euro 2024, making the final with England but falling short once again after a painful defeat to Spain. The La Liga winner earned 54 caps and was a reliable option for Gareth Southgate.
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At the very earliest Trippier will be able to leave Newcastle in January when the transfer window reopens. Until then, he will have to stay focused on earning minutes under Howe, with the Magpies set to play Manchester City next in the Premier League on Saturday.
Leeds United have it all to play for when they welcome Norwich City to Elland Road in the second leg of the Championship play-offs on Thursday night.
The Whites played out a 0-0 draw with the Canaries in Norfolk on Sunday as neither team managed to create many high-quality chances throughout the match.
There were only three shots on target in total, with two of those coming from the away side, and it has left it all to play for for both teams later this week.
Daniel Farke's men know that a win at their own ground on Thursday night will see them book a place at Wembley in the final, where they would face either Southampton or West Bromwich Albion, whose first leg tie also finished 0-0 on Sunday.
The German head coach could look to make some changes to the starting XI that was selected at Carrow Road, and one player who should be brutally binned from the lineup is teenage sensation Archie Gray.
He was picked to play in a number ten role behind Georginio Rutter at the top end of the pitch but it was an experiment that ultimately failed to provide the team with an attacking threat.
Archie Gray's performance against Norwich in numbers
The 18-year-old talent whizzed about the pitch trying to close down opposition players to ensure that the likes of Marcelino Nunez and Kenny McLean did not get too much time on the ball to pick out their passes.
However, his work in physical duels and in possession of the ball left far too much to be desired, which is why he should be dropped back down to the bench after flopping in that area of the pitch.
Gray lost five of his seven duels on the ground, as opposition players found it far too easy to get the better of him in contests on the deck, but did win three of his five aerial battles – losing seven out of 12 duels in total.
This suggests that the England U21 international did not offer much in the way of physicality, as he lost the majority of his clashes with Norwich players.
Minutes played
90
Key passes
0
Passed made
10/16
Dribbles completed
0/3
Crosses completed
0/0
Long passes completed
0/0
Possession lost
14x
As you can see in the table above, Gray's work with the ball at his feet was not much better as he struggled throughout the match in Norfolk, in a new role.
The teenage whiz, who has mainly been deployed in a holding midfield or right-back position, did not step up to the mark as a number ten from an attacking perspective.
He only completed ten passes in the entire match, despite playing the full 90 minutes, and did not create any chances or complete a single long pass, cross, or dribble, which illustrates that it was a no-show from him in the play-off clash.
Football Insider's Callum O'Connell handed Gray a player rating of just 1/10 for his dismal display, citing the fact that the midfielder lost possession of the ball more times than he completed passes.
It was a disappointing performance from the young gem, due to his big struggles in and out of possession throughout the game, but Farke also played him in an unnatural role in a huge play-off game, which was not an easy situation for him to be dropped in to.
He has been a fantastic performer for Leeds in the Championship this season and this no-show against Norwich was not a fair reflection of his quality.
Archie Gray's form this season
The 18-year-old sensation was named the Championship Young Player of the Season last month for his performances at right-back and central midfield in the second tier.
He featured in 44 of the club's 46 regular season matches and started 40 of those games. In that time, Gray showcased his ability to progress the ball consistently from a full-back role.
The English dynamo currently ranks within the top 31% of Championship full-backs for progressive passes per 90 (4.15), the top 17% for pass accuracy (82.8%), and the top 20% for successful take-ons per 90 (1.08).
Archie Gray
This shows that he has been above average among his positional peers at progressing the play through taking opposition players on and passing the ball to his teammates in dangerous positions.
He also made 2.8 tackles and interceptions per game and won 55% of his duels in total, which shows that the academy graduate has largely been solid defensively with more than half of his battles won overall.
However, his talents were not utilised correctly in the 0-0 draw with Norwich as Gray struggled badly in a number ten role, and that is why he should be brutally binned on Thursday.
The alternatives to Archie Gray
Farke could drop Rutter back into the attacking midfield position and then unleash Joel Piroe or Mateo Joseph from the start as the centre-forward.
The French ace, who started upfront at Carrow Road, created 22 'big chances' and registered 15 assists in 44 starts during the regular season, which shows that he has the quality to create high-quality chances for his teammates at an impressive rate.
This makes him ideal for the number ten role as the ex-Hoffenheim starlet can pick the ball up in pockets of space and look to thread passes in the final third to split open the opposition's defence.
Georginio Rutter
Piroe could then be brought in to start over Gray to offer an attacking threat as Leeds, hopefully, look to finish the tie in normal time at Elland Road on Thursday night.
The Dutch marksman scored 13 goals from 12.74 xG (Expected Goals) in the Championship this season, which shows that he has largely been a reliable finisher when chances have come his way.
Leeds star with 99% passing was Farke's best player vs Norwich
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ByKelan Sarson May 12, 2024
However, the left-footed ace has also lost 62% of his duels and Farke may worry that Ben Gibson and Shane Duffy would find it too easy to get the better of him in physical battles.
In a one-off match, though, with Wembley on the line, Leeds may want to call upon his lethal instincts in the penalty box to fire the side through to the final of the play-offs, rather than sticking with Gray after his failed experiment as an attacking midfielder.