GT’s fears – bowlers losing form, uncooked middle order – came true, with the addition of poor catching, in the IPL 2025 Eliminator against Mumbai

ESPNcricinfo staff31-May-20252:18

Where did GT err in their bowling plans?

It had always been a worry, even when the Gujarat Titans (GT) were on a roll: their top three – B Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill, and Jos Buttler – did almost all the scoring. The rest of the batters were undercooked, and it hurt them in their last two league games and then again, when it mattered most, in the IPL 2025 Eliminator. Tom Moody, reflecting on the loss to Mumbai Indians (MI), called it a “void”, adding that Rahul Tewatia and Sherfane Rutherford had failed to do what they’re in the team for.Basically, they didn’t do what David Miller did in 2022 when GT won the title in their debut season.”Tewatia has always been that guy who’s come in in the last two, max three, overs and played a blinder. At a very crunch time, yes, but he’s never been one of those guys… for example, David Miller was the guy, he was the Rutherford. He would come in with six-seven overs to spare, build his innings nicely, and when he was set, he wasn’t missing a slot ball. There was no chance David Miller was going to miss a slot ball,” Varun Aaron said on ESPNcricinfo’s Time Out on the season where Miller scored 481 runs at an average of 68.71 and a strike rate of 142.72.”He was that guy that year, and that’s why GT won that final. Because there were quite a few matches where the top order had set it up nicely for Miller; Miller would take it deep and finish it. This year, Rutherford has not been able to do that on more than two or three occasions.”Related

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Tewatia was, perhaps, a bigger disappointment. In 12 innings, he scored 99 runs from 59 balls, and remained unbeaten just four times, but in the Eliminator hit only one six and one four in his 11-ball stay. Both he (SR 167.79) and Rutherford (157.29) have scored quickly all season, but haven’t had a lot of batting time. The GT top-three often left them with not much to do, but on Friday, when Rutherford got in with 6.2 overs to go and Tewatia, later, with 4.2 overs to go, they had an opportunity. They hit five fours and a six between them as GT fell 20 short. M Shahrukh Khan, the other man in that middle order, batted just 100 balls in 11 innings, and had just one good knock to show for it.

“I suppose Washington stepped up today for that particular role, but they are missing a quality Indian top-order/middle-order player that can fill that void. If they can find that, it will certainly make a big difference to the balance of their side”Tom Moody

“I sort of bag Rutherford with Tewatia. I think they both have similar roles. Slightly different players – one is more of a six-hitter than the other. But between them they faced 26 balls today, and hit one six. That, to me, just tells it all,” Moody said. “They are batting right at the back end of the innings, where the currency is boundaries. It’s either fours or sixes, it’s not ones and twos. Currency is boundaries, and that’s what they train for. And that was their moment to at least add three to that one, and that may have been the difference.”On Friday, Washington Sundar came in for a fourth quick, which had been another problem area for GT, and while he bowled just one over, made a big impact with the bat, scoring 48 from 24 balls from No. 4.”With regards to their batting, I suppose Washington stepped up today for that particular role, but they are missing a quality Indian top-order/middle-order player that can fill that void,” Moody said. “If they can find that, it will certainly make a big difference to the balance of their side.”1:29

Two lives for Rohit ‘unlocked the freedom’

As written on ESPNcricinfo before, after GT had conceded 664 runs in three games after the IPL’s resumption – two of which they lost – the bowling unit appeared to be “losing form at the wrong time”. That trend continued. This time, MI scored 228 and to compound their woes, there were three important catches dropped. Rohit Sharma cashed in on two of those drops with a 50-ball 81. In the second over, Gerald Coetzee dropped him off Prasidh Krishna. Kusal Mendis spilled Rohit behind the stumps off Mohammed Siraj in the next. Mendis dropped another catch in the 12th over, off Suryakumar Yadav with Coetzee the bowler.”After [Rohit] got those couple of lives, it just woke the dragon in him and he [was] like, ‘you know what, I’m just going to go hell for leather,'” Aaron said.Moody explained how those early reprieves would have freed Rohit up: “It unlocks a bit of freedom in your head. Regardless of the experience that Rohit Sharma’s got, he’s still going into this contest with a little bit of doubt, uncertainty. Once you get that lifeline, it really unlocks that worry of, ‘oh, my record in finals is poor’, and suddenly, you think, ‘damn it, it’s my day today, I’m going [for it].'”GT did many things right this season but shabby bowling and catching, alongside a batting line up with a void saw it all unravel in the back-end of the competition.

أعلنت رابطة البريميرليج عن قائمة اللاعبين المرشحين لجائزة أفضل لاعب في الجولة التاسعة لبطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

وشهدت هذه الجولة أداءً فرديًا مميزًا لعدد من اللاعبين، مع أنديتهم خلال المباريات التي أقيمت على مدار الأيام الماضية.

ورشحت رابطة البريميرليج ثمانية لاعبين، مع غياب للاعبي فريق ليفربول بما في ذلك المصري محمد صلاح، وأيضًا للاعبي مانشستر سيتي.

وكان ليفربول قد تعرض لهزيمة من برينتفورد بثلاثية لهدفين، وسقط مانشستر سيتي في فخ الهزيمة أمام أستون فيلا بهدف دون رد.

اقرأ أيضًا | الإعلان عن المرشحين لـ التشكيل المثالي لعام 2025.. موقف محمد صلاح المرشحون لجائزة أفضل لاعب في الجولة التاسعة بالدوري الإنجليزي

بريندن آرونسون (ليدز يونايتد)

قدم المهاجم الأمريكي أداءً مميزًا مع فريقه ليدز وسجل هدفًا مساهًا في الفوز على وست هام بهدفين لهدف، وسدد ثلاث تسديدات، وله فرصتين، وثلاث مراوغات ناجحة من ثلاث محاولات.

إيبيريتشي إيزي (آرسنال)

ظهر إيزي بمستوى مميز مع آرسنال في المباراة ضد ناديه السابق كريستال بالاس، مسجلًا هدفه الأول في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز مع الجانرز، ليُعزز صدارته للبريميرليج بفارق أربع نقاط عن أقرب ملاحقيه.

زيان فليمينج (ولفرهامبتون)

سجّل فليمينج هدفين حاسمين، في أول 30 دقيقة، ليقود بيرنلي إلى فوزٍ مثير على ملعب مولينيو أمام ولفرهامبتون بثلاثية لهدفين.

مايكل كايودي (برينتفورد)

لعب كايودي دورًا حاسمًا في الهدف الافتتاحي المبكر لفريقه برينتفورد أمام ليفربول، حيث مرر رمية تماس مررها كريستوفر آجر إلى دانجو واتارا ليسجلها في المرمى، إلى جانب الأداء الدفاعي القوي له طوال المباراة.

بريان مبيومو (مانشستر يونايتد)

واصل مبيومو تألقه، مسجلاً هدفين في فوز مانشستر يونايتد المثير على برايتون بنتيجة 4-2.

أمادو أونانا (أستون فيلا)

قدّم أونانا أداءً مميزًا، في وسط الملعب في مباراة فريقه أستون فيلا أمام مانشستر سيتي في فيلا بارك.

ميكي فان دي فين (توتنهام)

سجل فان دي فين هدفين في الشوط الأول، ممهدًا الطريق أمام توتنهام للفوز 3-0 في مباراته أمام إيفرتون.

تشاكا (سندرلاند)

قدم تشاكا أداءً قويًا في خط الوسط، حيث حقق سندرلاند فوزًا أمام تشيلسي بهدفين لهدف، على ملعب ستامفورد بريدج، وساعد فريقه على الاحتفاظ بالكرة والتحكم في إيقاع المباراة في اللحظات الحاسمة.

Looking ahead to the January transfer window, Derby County and John Eustace have now been told to go and sign a Premier League gem who was previously a playoff hero.

Eustace bemoans "poor" Derby attack

Whilst they did manage to keep up their current run of just one defeat in their last six Championship games, Eustace was left frustrated at Derby’s decision-making going forward in a 1-1 draw with Charlton on Tuesday night. After James Bree’s opening strike, the Rams left it until the 79th-minute to find an equaliser through Matt Clarke and are now one point above the dropzone.

Having his say on the draw, Eustace told reporters: “I thought it was a difficult first half, though we did get into some really good areas, especially early on.

“In the final third again, decision-making was poor tonight, so it’s something that we’ve got to keep improving on. We got in some good areas, and then we were disappointing in the manner we conceded.

“When you go a goal down, especially at home, there’s always a lot of pressure on you and quite rightly so. We weren’t happy coming in at half-time and the fans weren’t happy. I thought the lads showed great character after half-time to change our style and play a lot more football throughout the second half.”

Results could see the Rams drop into the relegation zone in the coming weeks and that will be the greatest concern at Pride Park after avoiding the drop by just one point last season.

Alas, there is still time for things to change and the January transfer window could play a big part in that, especially if the Rams follow the advice of one of their former players.

Lee Hendrie tells Derby to go and get Watson

Speaking to Football League World, former Derby star Lee Hendrie told Eustace to go and get Tommy Watson in January.

After scoring the winner in the play-off final to send Sunderland up last season, the young winger completed a move to Brighton & Hove Albion, but has struggled for game time ever since. Now, Hendrie believes that Derby should hand Watson a January loan move.

A loan move back to the Championship would certainly make sense for the 19-year-old and as Derby set sights on survival, they should listen to Hendrie’s request.

As Nuno Espirito Santo looks to solve their goalscoring problem, one striker has reportedly “definitely” emerged as a January transfer target for West Ham United.

West Ham's striker problem

It’s a problem that Michail Antonio covered for a number of years and one that Jarrod Bowen is desperately attempting to do without his former teammate, but one that is simply not going away. West Ham simply lack goals. Take away their captain’s output and the Hammers have scored just three goals in seven Premier League games, despite welcoming new striker Callum Wilson in the summer.

On Nuno’s list of priorities, a new striker must sit at the absolute top. Neither Niclas Fullkrug or Wilson are likely to take the role as talisman in years to come, given that they’re both in their 30s, and that should ring alarm bells about the summer transfer window that West Ham just endured.

As much as Graham Potter struggled, it’s clear that the Hammers should have signed a striker at the peak of their powers when they had the chance in the summer.

Bowen

3

Fullkrug

0

Wilson

1

Just who arrives is the question. The likes of Joshua Zirkzee have already been linked with shock moves to the London Stadium in 2026 and there’s no doubt that he could return to his best away from Manchester United. Like Wilson and Fullkrug, however, Zirkzee has not shown the type of form in front of goal that the Hammers need.

Nuno was bought in to solve West Ham’s current problems, but he must be backed with an attacking addition when the winter window swings open. To do that, the Hammers could use the upcoming World Cup and one player’s desire to make Thomas Tuchel’s England squad to their full advantage.

West Ham "definitely" targeting Toney

According to former Premier League scout Mick Brown, West Ham are “definitely” targeting Ivan Toney, who could leave Al-Ahli on loan in the hope of winning a World Cup place in January.

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A loan deal would certainly suit West Ham too. It would likely mean a discount on the forward’s hefty £22m-a-year wages in Saudi Arabia and there’s no doubt that the 29-year-old is still capable of finding the back of the net in the Premier League.

After scoring eight goals in 10 games in all competitions this season, Toney would be an excellent addition for West Ham as they look to finally solve their striker problem. Whether the forward is granted a January exit remains to be seen, however.

Arne Slot has explained his team selection as Liverpool named a young Carabao Cup XI for the visit of Crystal Palace on Wednesday. Slot has overseen a run of five defeats from six heading into the midweek meeting with the Eagles but rather than use the game as a chance to return to winning ways, the Dutchman followed in predecessor Jurgen Klopp's footsteps and named an inexperienced side.

AFPWoodman, Ngumoha & Ramsay among starters

Slot made sweeping changes to the side that started Saturday's 3-2 loss at Brentford, a result that meant Liverpool had lost five of their last six games in all competitions ahead of the arrival of Palace on Wednesday night. The Reds' sole victory in that run came in a 5-1 Champions League triumph at Eintracht Frankfurt as the Merseyside outfit struggles continue in their second season under the Dutchman.

However, Slot followed in Klopp's footsteps and named an inexperienced side for the fourth round fixture against the Eagles. The former Feyenoord boss also set his side up in a five-man backline, a change from usual 4-2-3-1 setup, with the likes of Freddie Woodman, Calvin Ramsay, Trey Nyoni, Kieran Morrison and Rio Ngumoha all featuring from the outset in an unfamiliar system. Milos Kerkez, who came off after an hour at the weekend, was the only Liverpool player to retain his starting spot from the Brentford defeat.

The Liverpool head coach also packed the bench with young stars, with Slot prioritising the upcoming visit of Aston Villa on Saturday. Ahead of the game, he explained his decision to make wholesale changes despite the club's terrible run of form.

Advertisement'We use this competition for younger players'

When asked about his team selection by ahead of Wednesday's game, Slot said: "People who follow this club know we use this competition for younger players. We want to create a pathway for them, to play in front of 60,000 people, in front of our own fans, that’s one reason.

"The other is that we only have four or five injuries but if I have to play again the same players. There are multiple reasons why we have lost so many games, no excuses to lose so many but it hasn’t been helpful that almost every time we have only two days in between and after we have had to play away, and then again an away game, so we keep playing the same players.

"Like for example I tried with Alexander Isak, players who missed out on pre-season, it is a big risk of another injury, and we only have at this moment in time 15, 16 senior players available."

AFP'Our responsibility is to recognise what is happening and put things right'

The unexpected line-up comes after Slot admitted that it is the "responsibility" of the players to "put things right" in his matchday programme column. "It goes without saying that our recent form has not reached the standards that you expect of us or that we expect of ourselves," Slot started.

"This is, of course, a major disappointment, especially given the positive start we made to the season. From our perspective, there are no excuses. Yes, we are aware of the reasons and we will discuss them, but the one thing we cannot and will not do is use them as an excuse. Our responsibility is to recognise what is happening and put things right. There is no other option.

"Part of this process involves being hurt. We should be hurt by results like Saturday's when we lost to Brentford, and we should use the feelings this creates to further fuel our motivation. Not that anyone could accuse the players of a lack of effort – if anything, the opposite is true – but how we use this effort and desire is what will make the difference."

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'Tonight's fixture gives us an opportunity to take a step forward'

"Tonight's fixture gives us an opportunity to take a step forward, not just in this competition but also in our season as a whole," Slot continued. "That it comes against an opponent that continues to prove itself to be very strong means this will be a testing cup tie but, again, this is the kind of challenge that we have to embrace.

"Of course, we have already faced Palace in the Premier League this season and the result on that occasion was not what we would have hoped for. Credit to Palace for that.

"Their winning goal came very late on that occasion after we had equalised following a difficult first half for us, so we should be aware not just of the problems they can cause but also of their ability to keep going until the final whistle."

However, it seems the decision backfired horribly as Crystal Palace found themselves 2-0 up at half-time, with the Reds' torrid run seemingly set to continue.

Liverpool follow up the weekend's home clash with Villa with a home meeting with Real Madrid, and a potential reunion with Trent Alexander-Arnold, before a trip to Manchester City ahead of the international break.

One of the biggest stories of the summer was around Newcastle United’s striker situation, as it looked inevitable that their talisman, Alexander Isak, was going to complete a British transfer record move to Premier League champions Liverpool.

The deal’s biggest sticking point was finding a replacement for Isak, and Eddie Howe’s side eventually found two with Stuttgart’s Nick Woltemade and Brentford’s Yoane Wissa. Between them, it looked like they could make up Isak’s goals, but it hasn’t been the smoothest start to life in the North East for the new strikers.

Wissa picked up a knee injury during the international break and is yet to make his debut. The DR Congo player has been ruled out for at least Newcastle’s next matches, and his debut may come after the next international break.

When asked why Woltemade received less than 30 minutes of game time against Barcelona, Howe cited it as being the result of Wissa’s injury, alongside Anthony Gordon’s suspension from the Liverpool game. The lack of options has meant that Woltemade has been handled delicately to ensure they aren’t left without any attackers.

While the two new attackers had previously looked sufficient to replace Isak, the opening weeks of the season have demonstrated how quickly Newcastle could be left shorthanded. Due to this, the club are already looking ahead to January to deepen their attacking roster.

Newcastle's Endrick loan plan

Newcastle are looking at bringing in Brazilian striker Endrick on loan from Real Madrid as a solution to their attacking frailties. The 19-year-old is yet to play a minute of football this season under Xabi Alonso and Madrid, alongside Endrick’s party, are concerned that a lack of minutes may hamper his development.

Reports from Spain indicate that this could be the perfect match that provides all parties with what they need. Newcastle are reportedly looking for “a young, dynamic offensive reinforcement hungry for success”, and Endrick is looking to gain more experience and can do so against the notoriously strong defences of the Premier League. In fact, the Magpies are one of the ‘among the first to inquire about his availability’, making an approach to Madrid in the process.

Endrick cost Madrid around £41.4 million, but at this stage, there is no indication that anyone involved wants to make the move permanent, and it is just a good fit for the back half of the season.

From Madrid’s perspective, they can keep Endrick on their books and allow him to develop without taking minutes away from their other forwards like Kylian Mbappe.

Endrick plays like a young Wissa

While there is currently no reason to suspect that Wissa’s knee injury will keep him out longer than his current predicted return date at the end of October, there is always the chance of it re-occurring or taking time to get back to full fitness.

If this does happen, then in the loan signing of Endrick, they will receive a similar style striker. While the Brazilian is young and hasn’t had the opportunities to fully develop his game yet, he looks to be becoming a very similar profile striker to Wissa.

While Wissa is the more experienced and more prolific goalscorer, the pair share lots of similar stats in terms of passing and build-up play, registering similar amounts of passes and a similar success rate, as well as being close in terms of xA.

From Endrick’s perspective, playing with Wissa could give him an insight into the type of player he could become, and Howe will be able to rotate the two players when necessary without having to make other tactical changes due to their similar styles of play.

It has been a frustrating start to the 2025/26 campaign for Celtic central midfielder Arne Engels, who has failed to kick on after his debut season at the club.

The Hoops signed him for a club-record fee of £11m from Augsburg last summer, creating excitement over the Belgian ace, and his first year at Parkhead was fairly impressive.

Engels delivered ten goals, including eight from the penalty spot, and 13 assists in 51 appearances in all competitions, per Transfermarkt, for the Scottish giants.

Unfortunately, his output at the top end of the pitch has fallen off in the current campaign, with no goals and one assist in 12 appearances for the Hoops.

Brendan Rodgers has only started the Belgium international in three of the club’s nine games in the Scottish Premiership and the Europa League this term, which shows that the manager has not put much trust in him because of his recent performances.

The 22-year-old star’s struggles this season are particularly frustrating when you consider that Reo Hatate has not been at his best in the middle of the park.

Why Celtic may need to replace Reo Hatate

Benjamin Nygren has locked down a position in midfield, with four goals in the Premiership, alongside the captain Callum McGregor, and Hatate has been the third starter in the midfield three.

The Japan international has started all five of his appearances in the Scottish top-flight, per Sofascore, but his performances have not quite reached the levels that he hit in the 2024/25 campaign.

Hatate has scored one goal, which came against Aberdeen in the Premiership in August, and has failed to register any assists for his teammates in ten outings in all competitions, per Transfermarkt.

The Japanese star, whose goal against Aberdeen in the clip above was stunning, has been unable to kick on after his impressive output at the top end of the pitch in the 2024/25 campaign.

Appearances

37

5

Goals

10

1

Minutes per goal

241

373

Key passes per game

1.2

0.6

Big chances created

14

0

Assists

4

0

As you can see in the table above, Hatate has not been as effective, as a scorer or a creator goals, in the middle of the park in the Premiership this season.

These statistics suggest that the 27-year-old star has not been at his best for the Hoops in midfield in the league, as he has struggled to influence matches in the way that he did last year.

This is why Rodgers may have to start thinking about how his midfield could look without Hatate in the team, unless the Japan international can turn his form around and get back to what he produced on a consistent basis in the 2024/25 campaign.

However, the aforementioned dip in form from Engels suggests that Celtic may have to look elsewhere for a replacement for Hatate, because the Belgian flop has not stepped up this season.

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Rodgers, as he did with Colby Donovan’s emergence, could turn to the B team to bring an academy talent into the first-team to compete for a spot in central midfield.

19-year-old academy star Francis Turley made his first-team debut for the Scottish giants as a substitute against St Mirren in the Premiership in August of last year, and he could emerge as Hatate’s replacement.

Why Francis Turley could be Reo Hatate's replacement at Celtic

If the Japan international is unable to recapture his best form in Glasgow and Engels cannot get back to his best in a Celtic shirt, there could be an opening for the teenage talent to break into the team.

The Northern Ireland U21 international clearly impressed enough to earn a senior bow last year against St Mirren, which shows that Rodgers is well aware of his talent and believes that he has the potential to be a future star for the Hoops.

Speaking after that game, the Celtic manager said: “He (Turley) was very, very good over the course of pre-season, he’s got a lot of work to do physically in his development, and that will come with both him working and natural maturation.

“But at 18 he’s got a great football brain, and that’s a nice reward for him and his family, and he can now keep pushing to get more appearances.”

Those comments show that Rodgers was impressed with the youngster’s performances at that point, which is why he should also be impressed by his form in the current campaign.

Appearances

10

10

Minutes played

728

900

Goals

1

2

Minutes per goal

728

450

Assists

0

2

Minutes per assist

N/A

450

Minutes per goal contribution

728

225

As you can see in the table above, Turley has scored two goals and provided two assists in ten appearances in the Lowland League for the B team this term, whilst Hatate only has one goal contribution in all competitions.

The 19-year-old starlet, who has scored seven goals in his last 57 matches at academy level (Transfermarkt), has shown that he can provide quality as an attacking threat from a central midfield position, which is what Engels and Hatate have struggled with of late.

Turley, poetically in this context, replaced Hatate to make his debut against St Mirren last year, and it could be the Japan international who loses his place in the side to make way for the teenager to establish himself in the senior team.

It is now down to Rodgers to provide the Northern Irish talent with an opportunity to shine in the first-team if Hatate and Engels both continue to struggle in the Premiership and in European competitions this season.

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Hopefully, Turley will be able to grasp his chance and make a name for himself at senior level for the Scottish giants if that opportunity does come his way.

Tottenham Hotspur are now battling north London rivals Arsenal for the signature of a young French defender who has a “rare quality”.

Spurs looking defensively solid since Frank's arrival

Despite leading Tottenham to Europa League glory, Ange Postecoglou received widespread criticism for his inability to make his side defensively sound, conceding a whopping 65 goals in the Premier League alone last season, which resulted in a 17th-place finish.

Since Thomas Frank’s arrival, however, Spurs have looked much more solid at the back, according to former midfielder Danny Murphy, who said: “He’s fixing the main problem that Tottenham had last year, which is why they finished 17th. They conceded so many goals and they were wide open.

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“He’s gone in there and gone, ‘We’re going to be better defensively, first and foremost, and we’ll sacrifice the looking great and creativity for a little while.”

It has been an impressive start to the season for Frank’s side, having collected 14 points from their opening seven games, and their improved defensive record suggests the Dane may not need to bolster his options at the back anytime soon.

However, according to a report from Caught Offside, Tottenham have now joined the race for a new centre-back, namely FC Nantes defender Tylel Tati, who is also being targeted by Arsenal, and a number of Europe’s top clubs.

Tati is a versatile player, also capable of slotting in at left-back and defensive midfield, and he has caught the eye of Barcelona, Manchester United and Liverpool, with scouts being sent to watch the 17-year-old in action.

Born in Paris’ eastern suburbs around 11km from the birthplace of current French sensation William Saliba, if the teenager is able to continue his current rate of development, there is a feeling he could be ready to move to a Champions League side in 2026.

Tati has one "rare quality" that sets him apart

The French youngster has emerged as a key first-team player for Nantes this season, which is no mean feat at just 17, and Stéphane Ziani, director of the training centre, believes the starlet has one key strength that sets him apart.

Ziani said: “Tylel has this rare quality of reading the game before the others. And he has a good head on his shoulders.”

Perhaps the youngster’s most impressive performance to date came in a 1-0 defeat against Strasbourg back in August, winning every duel he contested and making a number of other important defensive contributions.

Statistic

Number completed

Clearances

2

Tackles

3

Duels won

6 (6)

Tati is clearly a very talented young player, but signing a new centre-back should not be Tottenham’s priority heading into the January transfer window, given their improved defensive performances since Frank’s arrival.

Instead, it would be a smart move to bring in a new left-winger, having arguably failed to replace Son Heung-min, with AFC Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo of interest, although it could take a club-record £75m offer to get a deal done.

يشهد ملعب اللقاء في بطولة كأس العالم للناشئين تحت 17 عامًا المقامة في قطر، مواجهة مثيرة تجمع بين منتخب مصر وهايتي، ضمن منافسات الجولة الأولى من دور المجموعات.

وافتتح منتخب مصر تحت 17 عامًا مشواره في البطولة بأداء هجومي قوي، حيث تمكن من التقدم مبكرًا بهدف في الدقيقة الثالثة عن طريق بلال عطية، الذي أودع الكرة في الشباك بعد تمريرة عرضية متقنة من حمزة عبد الكريم، ليمنح الفراعنة الصغار بداية مثالية في المونديال.

طالع.. فيديو | بلال عطية يُسجل هدف منتخب مصر الأول أمام هايتي

وواصل المنتخب المصري ضغطه، ليضيف عبد العزيز الزغبي الهدف الثاني في الدقيقة 11 بتسديدة قوية من داخل منطقة الجزاء، عزز بها تفوق الفريق وأشعل حماس الجماهير المصرية في المدرجات.

طالع أيضًا.. فيديو | عبد العزيز الزغبي يسجل هدف منتخب مصر الثاني أمام هايتي

لكن منتخب هايتي نجح في تقليص الفارق سريعًا، بعدما سجل اللاعب بير نيكولاي هدفًا في الدقيقة 20 من تسديدة قوية سكنت شباك الحارس عمر عبد العزيز، ليعيد الإثارة للمباراة ويشعل أجواء اللقاء من جديد.

وتُقام البطولة خلال الفترة من 3 إلى 27 نوفمبر 2025، بمشاركة أبرز المنتخبات العالمية في الفئة العمرية تحت 17 عامًا، حيث يسعى منتخب مصر لتقديم مستوى يليق بتاريخه والعودة إلى ساحة المنافسة العالمية بعد غياب طويل.

ويقع الفراعنة الصغار في المجموعة الخامسة إلى جانب إنجلترا، فنزويلا، وهايتي، في مجموعة قوية يأمل المنتخب الوطني أن تكون بوابته نحو التأهل إلى الأدوار الإقصائية ومواصلة المنافسة على اللقب. هدف هايتي الأول أمام مصر في كأس العالم تحت 17 عامًا

هدف|
هايتي يقلص الفارق 1-2 امام مصر … عن طريق اللاعب بيرنكولاي عند الدقيقة 20 #U17WC #كأس_العالم_تحت_17_سنة #قنوات_الكاس || #منصة_شوف pic.twitter.com/RrBCpk5esZ — قنوات الكاس (@AlkassTVSports) November 4, 2025

Oliver Kahn has warned Bundesliga clubs that clinging to "tradition" will only see them fall further behind Europe’s elite. The Bayern Munich legend urged German football to follow Real Madrid’s forward-thinking model, stressing that long-term financial planning and strategic investment are key if the league wants to compete with the Premier League’s global power.

• Kahn urges Bundesliga to rethink ‘tradition-first’ mindset

  German legend Kahn has sounded the alarm over the Bundesliga’s competitive decline, urging clubs to “stop hiding behind tradition” and instead embrace a future-oriented strategy similar to Real Madrid’s. Speaking on , Kahn said the current model risks leaving the Bundesliga “a kind of training league” if major structural changes aren’t made.

  The ex-Germany goalkeeper pointed out that while Real Madrid remains a member-owned club, Spanish club's top brass is exploring ways to integrate strategic investors to ensure financial strength without compromising the club’s identity. “For now. And Florentino Perez is currently intensively considering how we can integrate strategic investors into this club," Kahn said. “We always hide behind this tradition, it’s used as an excuse too often. Of course, tradition is important, but it’s also about looking to the future.”

  According to Kahn, the Bundesliga’s financial gap with the Premier League and even La Liga is widening every year, driven by limited TV revenue and restrictive investment policies. He warned that German football risks becoming a feeder system for richer leagues if it fails to adapt.

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• ‘We have to wake up at some point’ – Kahn on German football

  Kahn admitted that heavy Champions League defeats suffered by German clubs should be a “wake-up" call for the entire football system. "I think we can't play tricks on ourselves. Yes, we have to get used to such results in the future if we don't wake up at some point. And if you look at what Real Madrid is doing now, you have to imagine that Real Madrid is an eV (registered association). There is no capital company; it's still a pure club," he said.

  "If I look at the Premier League, what's happening there, I might not be able to keep up with Real Madrid at some point. And that's called strategic thinking. Thinking about the future. And we have this tendency here in Germany, that we always hide behind this tradition, and I'll put it a bit bluntly, often. That means that tradition is always used as an excuse. Of course, it's important. It's a value, and the The entire club system in Germany. No one disputes that. Nevertheless, it's also about looking to the future. Ultimately, the most successful football is played where the most financial resources are. That's the way it is. So I have to address how we can ensure the financial resources are available in the future so that German players don't constantly go elsewhere, and the league doesn't gradually degenerate into a kind of training league. Nobody wants that."

  He argued that financial sustainability and sporting competitiveness must coexist, and clubs should find creative ways to secure future investment. “Selling the club and its tradition to investors isn’t the point at all,” Kahn explained. “It’s simply about considering what paths we can take to maintain the club’s value and still generate financial resources. That’s the job of a professional football club.”

  Kahn’s comments came in the wake of renewed debate about the Bundesliga’s ownership model, following protests against potential external investors in the DFL. His remarks highlight a growing divide between those who wish to protect Germany’s unique 50+1 rule and those who believe change is necessary to survive financially.

• Kane and the Premier League comparison

  Bayern's superstar striker Harry Kane, who left Tottenham to join Bayern Munich, has also noted differences between the Bundesliga and the Premier League. The England captain described German football as more open but less structured than its English counterpart. “In the Bundesliga, more teams try to play out from the back, more teams press and sometimes even play man against man,” he said. “The spaces are a bit bigger, which we can take advantage of by bringing pace into our game.”

  Kane added that the Bundesliga atmosphere was “fantastic” but admitted that the Premier League’s global reach and commercial structure make it the most dominant league in world football. While, Kahn echoed that sentiment, warning that unless German football adopts a more business-savvy mindset, its clubs will struggle to retain top players and talent will continue to flow abroad.

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  From European glory to chasing the pack

  In recent seasons, the Bundesliga’s influence in Europe has dwindled, and over the past decade, only two German clubs have lifted major continental trophies, Bayern's 2020 Champions League triumph and Eintracht Frankfurt’s Europa League win in 2022.

  According to UEFA’s five-year ranking, the Bundesliga has slipped to fourth, trailing behind the Premier League, Serie A, and La Liga. Financially, the gap is even more alarming, Premier League clubs generated €7.4 billion in revenue last season, compared to the Bundesliga’s €4.8 billion.

  The disparity extends to television rights, where the Premier League’s domestic and international deals far outstrip Germany’s. For the 2025-26 season, English clubs will share nearly €2 billion from TV income, while Bundesliga sides will split just €1.12 billion, across both divisions.

  Kahn’s warning reflects growing concern that German football is losing both its best players and its global appeal. High-profile exits like Florian Wirtz, Thomas Muller and Kingsley Coman in the summer underscored that trend, while the arrival of only a handful of top names, most notably Luis Diaz from Liverpool, highlighted the league’s struggle to attract elite talent. 

  The challenge now lies in striking a balance between Germany’s footballing values and the realities of modern economics. Kahn’s comments could reignite debate within club hierarchies, particularly at Bayern and Borussia Dortmund, where calls for reform are growing louder.