Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers praised the impact of Kelechi Iheanacho after the half-time substitute netted in a 1-1 draw against Red Star Belgrade.
The post deadline-day signing replaced Daizen Maeda at half-time after the Japan international struggled in the centre-forward role in Serbia.
Celtic had failed to make any chances from open play by half-time but they immediately improved, forcing three saves before Iheanacho took an excellent touch in the box and stroked the ball into the top corner in the 55th minute.
Rodgers hails Celtic forward Iheanacho
On the performance of Maeda, who was denied a summer move because of the club’s failure to source an adequate replacement, Rodgers told BT Sport: “He wasn’t at his best, or nowhere near it. However, he’s a good guy and sometimes that happens in the game.
“I could have made a couple of changes at half-time. I wanted to make that one certainly to give us that greater reference at the top of the pitch.
Celtic could not build on the opening goal and Marko Arnautovic scrambled the ball home from a corner 10 minutes later. But they held firm from some aerial pressure and Rodgers was pleased with the point against a side who, like Celtic, also suffered a shock Champions League play-off defeat after competing in Europe’s elite competition last season.
“This is a good point for this squad of players and for us coming here,” he said. “You come here, to a team that’s obviously won all of their domestic games, seven out of seven, coming to Belgrade is always a tough game.
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“We had opportunities in the second half in particular. But we showed great resilience and showed moments of quality. Kels’ goal was absolutely outstanding and we had other moments in the second half. I still want us to be a little bit more proactive in the game. But overall, it was a nice first step for us in the competition.”
Jake Libby makes inroads with bat after Midlands rivals are bowled out for 227
ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay23-May-2025Tom Taylor continued his excellent form with another four wickets as Worcestershire bowled Warwickshire out for 227 on the opening day of their Rothesay County Championship match at Visit Worcestershire New RoadTaylor took four for 37 as Warwickshire, having been strongly placed at 161 for two thanks to Sam Hain (86 from 152 balls) and Tom Latham (59, 153), lost their last eight wickets fell for 66 runs.Worcestershire then rounded off a very satisfactory day’s work by reaching a composed 53 without loss with Jake Libby on 39 (54) and Gareth Roderick 13 (42).Warwickshire chose to bat but had to work hard for runs in the morning session as the seamers found plenty of lateral moment. Rob Yates perished to the seventh ball of the day, Taylor’s first, when he edged an attempt to force through the offside to wicketkeeper Gareth Roderick. Alex Davies fell to the 118th when he was pinned plumb lbw by Matthew Waite.Latham and Hain retrenched, the former solidly, the latter sketchily at first before settling into some glorious shots, notably sixes down the ground off Taylor and pulled off Ethan Brookes. The third-wicket pair batted diligently to add 109 in 32 overs and were moving their side into ascendancy when Worcestershire struck three big blows in seven overs.Brookes dismissed Latham with a lovely outswinger which took the edge through to the keeper and Beau Webster who sliced a drive to point. Ed Barnard, warmly applauded to the crease at his former home ground, soon returned to the pavilion nursing a 12-ball duck after edging Jacob Duffy to first slip.Hain passed 50 for the first time this season and was within 14 of building it into a century when he edged Waite to second slip. Henry Nicholls accepted that catch and another one 18 balls later when Kai Smith edged Taylor to first slip.Zen Malik dug in for a well-constructed 34 (58) which included a straight six off Waite to raise the 200 but his departure, lbw to Taylor, triggered the loss of the last three wickets for four runs in four balls. Taylor trapped Ethan Bamber in front and Chris Woakes, playing his first championship match of the season and only his tenth in seven years, edged Duffy to second slip.It was an excellent collective effort from the home seamers, led by Taylor who has taken 15 wickets in the first innings of the last four championship games.Worcestershire’s reply started at a gallop with 12 from the first over from Bamber. Against an attack including Woakes and Chris Rushworth, each playing their first game of the season after injury, openers Libby and Roderick put 50 on the board from 68 balls.
Leeds United lost their first game of the 2025/26 Premier League season at Elland Road, with Daniel Farke’s side suffering a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur.
It’s the first time they’ve lost at home since February 2nd in the FA Cup, against Championship side Millwall.
A first-half goal from French starlet Mathys Tel gave the Lilywhites the lead, although Noah Okafor equalised for his side just before half-time. However, a long-range effort from Mohammed Kudus just before the hour mark was enough to secure Spurs the three points.
The North Londoners’ victory came despite pressure from the home side. Leeds dominated the ball against Thomas Frank’s side, having 57% of the possession. They didn’t waste that, either, taking 16 shots on goal and creating three big chances. However, just four of those were on target, with Joe Rodon also hitting the post.
It was certainly disappointing that Farke’s side couldn’t capitalise on their possession and the number of shots they managed. They had chances throughout the game, including four in added time, but failed to find the equaliser they needed to keep their excellent record at Elland Road.
Despite the result, there were plenty of positives to take from the performance.
Leeds’ best players vs. Spurs
As Leeds journalist Beren Cross said, there were plenty of “silver linings” to take after the clash with Spurs. One of the players who stood out was the goalscorer, Okafor. He doubled his tally in that famous White shirt today, after scoring in the 3-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The goal from the former AC Milan attacker showed excellent instinct in the penalty area.
He pounced on a loose ball in the penalty box after Tottenham’s goalkeeper, Guglielmo Vicario, tipped Brenden Aaronson’s effort into vacant space in the six-yard box.
Another player who once again shone for Farke’s side was Sean Longstaff. Another of the Whites’ summer signings, the former Newcastle United star was the chief creator in that midfield three for Leeds.
Indeed, his stats from the game show just how well he performed. Longstaff was always busy in the midfield, having 64 touches of the ball and creating an impressive five chances. He also won five ground duels and four tackles.
Despite the strong performances from the likes of Okafor and Longstaff, not every Leeds player performed well. There was one attacker in particular who struggled.
The Leeds player who struggled vs. Spurs
Naturally, with the result being the way it was, there were a few Leeds players who somewhat underperformed against the Lilywhites. Pascal Struijk, for example, didn’t have his best game, and both goals were deflected off him.
However, it was another tough day for Dominic Calvert-Lewin. The Leeds striker joined the club on a free transfer in the summer, and whilst he has scored already this term, also against Wolves, his performances have left a little to be desired at times.
That was the case against Spurs, too. He only managed to get 23 touches of the ball, playing 90 minutes. That was fewer even than Karl Darlow in the Leeds goal, who had 43.
The England international only won two from 11 duels and had just one shot on target.
Touches
23
Pass accuracy
85%
Passes completed
11/13
Ground duels won
0/6
Aerial duels won
2/5
Shots
2
Shots on target
1
One person who seemed to think Leeds’ number nine struggled at Elland Road was Graham Smyth. The Yorkshire Evening Post journalist gave him a 6/10 for his efforts, and whilst he did credit Calvert-Lewin for the ‘hard work’ he put in, but said that ‘the finishing was missing again’ from his game.
It is certainly a problem for Leeds that their number nine is struggling in front of goal. Given they created so many chances, there surely would have been a hope that he could have got on the end of one.
Farke might well decide to drop Calvert-Lewin for Leeds’ next game against Burnley. It was a tough outing against the Lilywhites, and with Joel Piroe and Lukas Nmecha also options up front, it does give the manager flexibility.
If he does make that decision, it would not necessarily be a surprise. The England international has certainly not been at his clinical best up front, and with other centre-forwards in the squad, Farke may well decide to rotate him out of the side.
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Bears 193 for 6 (Perrin 87, Harris 55, Bates 2-23) beat Durham 151 (Bates 65, Davis 3-27) by 42 runsLaura Harris introduced herself to Edgbaston with an explosive 16-ball half-century as Warwickshire beat Durham by 42 runs in the women’s Vitality Blast at Edgbaston.Australian new signing Harris smashed 55 from 21 balls to support Davina Perrin’s classy 87 from 61 as the home side piled up 193 for 6.Durham replied with 151 all out in 19 overs, their Blast campaign destined to start with defeat after their reply rapidly declined to 15 for 3. Suzie Bates (65) and Bess Heath (45) assured respectability for their side but Georgia Davis took 3 for 27 to seal Warwickshire’s first win of the tournament following their opening-game tie with The Blaze at Trent Bridge.After choosing to bat, Warwickshire were given an excellent platform by Perrin and Abi Freeborn. Restricted to just a single from the first over from Lauren Filer, they worked the ball around intelligently to add 70 from 57 balls.Freeborn departed after Filer turned in her follow-through and threw down the stumps as the batter sought a single. It was excellent work from the bowler but she soon wished she hadn’t bothered. Nineteen minutes later the new batter had 50.Harris got off the mark with a straight six off Katie Levick, followed that with successive fours and then swung a Filer full toss over the long leg rope to thunder to 25 from eight balls. Her third six, smote straight off Levick, raised her half-century from 16.Even after Harris was slickly stumped by Heath off Bates, there was little respite for Durham as Perrin took three fours and a six off a Mady Villiers over. A deserved century beckoned for Perrin but she spent much of the closing overs at the non-striker’s end before, having hit 12 fours and two sixes, she fell to a stinging return catch by Bates in the final over.Durham’s reply started badly when Katherine Fraser edged the third ball, from Issy Wong, to wicketkeeper Freeborn. Wong struck again with her seventh ball when Hollie Armitage missed an attempted scoop off middle stump and was lbw. It was 15 for 3 after Mady Villiers drove Charis Pavely straight to extra cover.There was no way back from there. Bates and Heath added 80 from 64 balls but the required rate hit 11 runs per over and Warwickshire captain Davis exploited the pressure with two wickets in four balls. Heath and Mia Rogers were bowled and stumped respectively after missing slogs.Bates accelerated boldly but when she missed a scoop and was lbw to Hannah Baker, the tail was left to find 51 from the last three overs. It couldn’t.
شوهد أحد لاعبي فريق ريال مدريد وهو يسخر من بيدري، نجم فريق برشلونة، بشكل ملحوظ في مباراة الكلاسيكو أمس في بطولة الدوري الإسباني لكرة القدم، موسم 2025/26.
واستضاف ملعب “سانتياجو برنابيو” مباراة الكلاسيكو بين فريقي ريال مدريد وبرشلونة، في قمة منافسات الجولة العاشرة من الدوري الإسباني، حيث خسر حامل اللقب بهدفين مقابل هدف.
وشهدت المباراة العديد من المناوشات والمشادات والاشتباكات بين لاعبي الفريقين، خاصة في اللحظات الأخيرة من عمر الكلاسيكو، بخلاف ما حدث بعد اللقاء حيث ازدادت الأمور سخونة.
وذكرت شبكة “موفيستار” الإسبانية أن جود بيلينجهام سخر من بيدري، لاعب برشلونة، خلال أحداث الكلاسيكو، مستغلًا قضية نيجريرا الشهيرة.
وسقط بيدري على أرض الملعب بعد تدخل من جود بيلينجهام، وظهر الإسباني متأثرًا وهو جالس، وطالب بطرد لاعب ريال مدريد، وهو ما جعل الأخير يسخر منه بقوة.
اقرأ أيضًا | ضربة موجعة.. المباريات التي سيغيبها كارفاخال عن ريال مدريد للإصابة
ولوحظ بيلينجهام وهو يتوجه إلى بيدري ويضع يده فوق رأسه في استهزاء، قبل أن يتدخل كيليان مبابي ويضحك من مطالبة لاعب برشلونة بضربة الجزاء.
وعندما سمع بيلينجهام برغبة بيدري في طرده لتدخله ضده، ضحك مستهزئًا، بجوار الحكم، وقال: “ليس حتى مع نيجريرا”، وكررها ضاحكًا من مرة.
Jude Bellingham: “Ni con Negreira”
🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐🐐 pic.twitter.com/q8w8xWomuH — (fan) gam (@mbaafraude) October 27, 2025
ويُعد برشلونة متورطًا في قضية فساد شهيرة، حيث وجهت له الاتهامات بدفع مبالغ مالية كرشاوي لـ خوسيه ماريا نيجريرا، نائب الرئيس السابق للجنة الفنية للحكام، في الفترة بين 2000 و2018.
Glasgow Rangers head coach Russell Martin is under immense pressure heading into the clash with Hibernian at Ibrox in the latest round of the League Cup.
It feels like a huge game for the former Scotland international after a tricky start to life in Glasgow, losing 2-0 to Hearts in the Scottish Premiership at Ibrox last weekend.
As the title of the highlights above suggests, the pressure is mounting on the Rangers manager due to the poor start to the season, with no wins in their first five league games.
The Scottish giants were also knocked out of the Champions League at the play-off phase with a 9-1 defeat to Club Brugge, which did little to help supporters warm to the new head coach.
On top of the poor results on the pitch, both domestically and in Europe, Martin has ousted Nicolas Raskin from the first-team squad for the last two matches.
The Belgium international did not feature at all in the 0-0 draw with Celtic or the 2-0 defeat to Hearts either side of the international break, and it remains to be seen whether or not he will get any minutes against Hibernian this weekend, although it has been confirmed that he will be a part of the squad.
Why Russell Martin is making a mistake with Nicolas Raskin
Before the defeat to Hearts, Martin said: “Nico is back training with the group but he won’t be in the squad. He has a duty to make sure he earns the trust of all his other team-mates.”
Of course, we are not privy to what goes on behind the scenes. Martin could be in the wrong. Raskin could be in the wrong. Both parties could be in the wrong. What is for sure, though, is that this situation does not benefit the football club.
Legendary Rangers striker Ally McCoist said “you cannot bite your nose off to spite your face” when asked about the situation with the midfielder. He is spot on.
Raskin has proven that he can be a difference-maker for the Gers, as shown in the clip above, after a return of five goals and 11 assists in all competitions in the 2024/25 campaign, per Sofascore.
Rangers have scored two goals in their last five matches in all competitions, failing to score in any of their last three, and this shows that they are lacking his quality in possession at the top end of the pitch.
Nicolas Raskin (24/25)
Premiership
Europa League
Appearances
33
12
Tackles per game
2.8
3.7
Interceptions per game
0.6
1.3
Ball recoveries per game
5.6
7.4
Ground duel success rate
57%
50%
Aerial duel success rate
56%
55%
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, Raskin also brings defensive quality to the pitch that could have helped the Gers in their 2-0 loss to Hearts and the first half against Club Brugge, when they conceded five before only letting in one with him on the pitch in the second half.
Ultimately, performances and results have not been good enough for Rangers. Another loss, particularly if Raskin is not involved as a starter, should force the board to part ways with the boss.
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With this in mind, Kevin Thelwell and the board must consider swooping to appoint Kevin Muscat, whose contract at SH Port expires at the end of this year, per Transfermarkt.
Rangers Journal’s Kai Watson described the English-born head coach as a “perfect” choice and one the fans have “wanted” for several seasons earlier this month. He has been linked with the Ibrox post in previous years as well.
Why Rangers should appoint Kevin Muscat
Unless Martin can turn things around, starting against Hibernian on Saturday, the Light Blues should fire their head coach to appoint Muscat because he could resurrect Raskin’s Ibrox career and get the team back on track this season.
Above all else, the 52-year-old manager has proven that he can win trophies. He has won a league title and a domestic cup with SH Port, on top of two league titles and one cup with Melbourne Victory and one league title and a super cup with Yokohama F. Marinos, per Transfermarkt.
This shows that he knows how to build teams that can win major trophies. Perhaps the most impressive part of his record is that he has done it in three different countries: Australia, Japan, and China. This shows that he can adapt to different cultures and ways of playing and still build a side to win consistently.
Kevin Muscat’s last five league seasons
Season (matches)
Points
Position
2025 (24)
2.13
2nd
2024 (30)
2.60
1st
2023 (34)
1.88
2nd
2022 (34)
2.00
1st
2021 (18)
1.83
2nd
Stats via Transfermarkt
As you can see in the table above, Muscat has won two league titles in the last four seasons, and still has six games left of the current campaign to make it three in four.
Rangers could tempt him to give up on a chance to turn things around and win the league title with SH Port by offering him the job at Ibrox, should they decide to part ways with Martin.
As well as being a winning manager, Muscat also has a style of play that could get the best out of Raskin. The aforementioned Kai Watson claimed that the manager plays “fast attacking football” with “relentless pressing”.
This suggests that he would be the perfect head coach to get the best out of Raskin because that combines the two parts of his game that he thrives on, fast attacking play and pressing to win possession back.
As aforementioned, the Belgium international is a creative midfielder who can set his teammates up for high-quality chances on a regular basis, but he is also a combative and tenacious defender who wants to get stuck in and win the ball back high up the pitch.
Putting him in Muscat’s favoured 4-3-3 formation, per Transfermarkt, could allow him to thrive both in and out of possession at Ibrox once again, rather than having to sit at the base of a ball-dominant Martin side that does not give him as much freedom to burst forward or to get up the pitch to be combative off the ball.
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Therefore, Rangers could revive Raskin’s Ibrox career by firing the underperforming Martin and appointing a head coach whose system and style would maximize the midfielder’s potential, while also enhancing the team’s overall winning culture.
Milos Kerkez stands accused of being unable to withstand the demands at Liverpool, with the left-back told that he even brought down Virgil van Dijk during the Reds' 2-1 loss to rivals Manchester United at Anfield on Sunday. Kerkez, who was one of the Premier League's best full-backs in 2024-25 season while at Bournemouth, is yet to live up to the expectations on Merseyside.
Kerkez's struggles at Anfield
Liverpool signed Kerkez from Bournemouth for £40 million ($55m) in the last transfer window, after he enjoyed an impressive year with the Cherries in the 2024-25 campaign.
The left-back was named in the Premier League Team of the Season after helping his side finish ninth in the league. But the Hungary internatinoal defender has flattered to deceive so far. While Kerkez has appeared in Arne Slot's starting lineup in all of the club's eight Premier League matches thus far, he only completed the full 90 minutes in five of those games.
In his latest outing, Manchester United's vibrant right flank gave him no end of trouble and it arguably forced Virgil van Dijk to adapt and change his own game to try and help out.
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Kerkez 'can't carry that Liverpool shirt '
Following the Reds' loss against United at Anfield on Sunday, former Premier League forward Clinton Morrison savaged Kerkez for yet another dismal performance as he also claimed that the Hungarian had also brought down Liverpool captain Van Dijk, who looked 'rattled' throughout the game, while trying to cover for the full-back on the left side.
On , ex-Premier League striker Morrison said: "It was probably one of the only Liverpool games that I've watched and thought Van Dijk looked rattled, especially in the first half. It's because he is having to cover Milos Kerkez, who I think right now has to come out of the team. He is struggling and does not look like he can carry that Liverpool shirt at the moment. Amad [Diallo] and Mbeumo were causing him a lot of problems down that side. It was actually Konate who was bailing Van Dijk out, which doesn't happen often. He was the best defender for Liverpool in this game."
Kerkez 'caught in two minds'
Earlier in the season, Premier League and Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer had dissected Kerkez's troubles at Anfield as the former striker claimed that the 21-year-old seems to be in 'two minds' while defending, which is affecting his decision making on the match.
On NBC Sports Soccer, Shearer had said: "At the minute, we are not seeing the same player, Kerkez, particularly on the left-hand side, as we saw at Bournemouth. He was free-flowing. He had the licence to go and roam and get forward. It seems as if he's caught in two minds, whether he's going to go or whether he’s going to stay and help protect Van Dijk and Konate."
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Liverpool's sudden dip in form
The defending English champions had a succesful summer transfer window where they emerged as the Premier League's highest spenders. Liverpool broke the British transfer record twice in the same window as they brought in Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen and Alexander Isak from Newcastle. Stars like Hugo Ekitike, and Jeremie Frimpong also moved to the Merseyside, as the club parted ways with Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez. And while Ekitike has impressed, Kerkez is far from the only one to struggle.
The Reds kicked off the 2025-26 season on a bright note as they won seven games in succession, including five in the Premier League. However, things went south towards the end of September when they suffered a 2-1 loss against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. More heartbreak followed in Turkey as they went down 1-0 against Galatasaray in the Champions League. Slot's men were then beaten 2-1 by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and failed to bounce back against United, slumping to a fourth consecutive defeat in all competitions for the first time since 2014, pre-dating even the Jurgen Klopp era.
Slot will now hope that his side returns to winning ways as they shift their focus to European football. They will next face Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League on Wednesday in Germany. That marks a swift return to his former club for Ekitike, who has scored five times since joining Liverpool for up to £79m ($106m).
West Ham United boss Nuno Espírito Santo has swung the axe on midfielder James Ward-Prowse, but one player has impressed him behind-the-scenes at Rush Green.
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West Ham have looked as soft as butter in all respects defensively, especially when it comes to set-pieces, and threatening from dead ball situations is something that Arsenal seriously specialise in.
Sunderland 3-0 West Ham
West Ham 1-5 Chelsea
Nottingham Forest 0-3 West Ham
West Ham 0-3 Tottenham
West Ham 1-2 Crystal Palace
Everton 1-1 West Ham
Mikel Arteta’s side could have a field day if the Hammers don’t shore up in that regard and quickly, with Nuno looking to build upon his solid 1-1 draw at Everton on Monday.
Further up the field, Nuno has already decided that Ward-Prowse won’t be a part of his long-term plans – just under a year after Nottingham Forest cut his loan spell short with the 51-year-old still in charge – so he clearly doesn’t rate the midfielder that much at all.
Ward-Prowse was axed from the matchday squad for West Ham’s trip to Everton, and credible reports since then have claimed that the 30-year-old is expected to leave in January.
Fabrizio Romano has backed up the Englishman’s potential winter departure too, with journalist Dean Jones suggesting that Ward-Prowse could re-join Southampton as his exit looks nailed on.
However, while Ward-Prowse seems as if he’s being pushed out the door, Nuno has quite the opposite opinion on defender Max Kilman.
Nuno says Max Kilman has absolutely shone in West Ham training
The former Wolves boss worked with Kilman at Molineux for years, and Nuno says that the centre-back has impressed him at Rush Green so far with his work ethic in training.
Nuno’s arrival could be exactly what Kilman needs to rediscover his very best form, as the pair enjoyed a very productive relationship at Wolves.
The 28-year-old seriously credited Nuno for his development when they worked in the Midlands together, telling the Birmingham Mail in 2020 that West Ham’s boss helped him understand the game a lot better.
Interestingly, Kilman stood out as West Ham’s joint-best performer alongside Alphonse Areola against Everton (WhoScored), and supporters will be hoping that will spur on a string of convincing defensive displays.
Trinity Rodman has been diagnosed with a Grade 1 MCL sprain, having seemingly avoided a more serious injury after being helped off the field in tears during Wednesday's 4-0 win over Monterrey in the CONCACAF W Champions Cup. There has been no timetable set for her return, but Rodman is expected to miss the U.S. women's national team's upcoming friendlies.
Getty Images SportAn untimely injury
Rodman's injury came just hours after she was named to the USWNT's latest squad. The Spirit winger has not been with the national team since April due to a long-term back injury.
Rodman was seen in tears as she was helped off the field during Wednesday's match, with the winger seemingly unable to put pressure on her right leg. Later in the evening, she was seen on crutches while wearing a brace on her knee. Many were left fearing the worst, but Spirit boss Adrian Gonzalez provided something of a positive update, even if it now seems that Rodman could end up missing at least part of the NWSL playoffs.
"She's at the facility today starting the rehab; she's doing good," Gonzalez said. "The results that we got are the best scenario. Obviously, an injury is not always a good situation. It's not as bad as it could be. She's starting now the rehab.
"She has an MCL sprain. It's not too big, too much, but we need to see how she's doing every day, start the rehab today, and try to support her in this situation."
AdvertisementIMAGNThe situation
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Gonzalez offered some insight into Rodman's injury, but was unable to provide an exact timetable for her recovery.
"All players are different," Gonzalez said. "We are taking care of every player as an individual in terms of how we prepare [for] the weeks, the games, and trying to individualize as much as possible the loads. Obviously, every player has a different background, and we always are taking care of those details.
"Right now, we need to focus on day by day, try to help her to recover, to heal as best as possible, and let's see how she's progressing every day."
Getty Images SportTough break for USWNT
The injury will be bad news for Emma Hayes and the USWNT, who were looking forward to welcoming Rodman back into the fold after several months away from the team. Rodman had missed time with the Spirit from April to August battling a recurring back injury, but the winger had been back to her best since returning a few weeks back and now has seven goal contributions in under 1,000 minutes of gametime.
"I know she's excited to come back in and play for a national team, but she's doing it in a place where I think she's had to build a lot of foundational work around her back," Hayes said on Wednesday, hours before Rodman suffered her injury. "She's one of the best players in the world, and we've had to play without her for more than a year. So I'm, of course, super excited that she's back in – but most importantly that she's here with us in a healthy place."
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ImagnChampionship rematch ahead…
The Spirit are set to be the No. 2 seed in the upcoming NWSL playoffs, which are set to kick off in three weeks time. Last season, the club made it all the way to the NWSL Championship game before falling to the Orlando Pride in the season finale.
The Spirit are set to face last season's Champions in a final rematch on Saturday before concluding the season on Nov. 2 with a visit to the Utah Royals.
It might not have been the perfect start to life as the West Ham United boss on Monday night for Nuno Espírito Santo, but it wasn’t far off.
The Hammers went behind away to Everton, but fought back to claim a point and put in their best 45 minutes of football this season in the second half.
However, it’s going to be an altogether more challenging affair this afternoon, with Premier League title-chasing Arsenal hosting the East Londoners.
Nuno will be hoping former Iron Declan Rice has a game to forget, and he can help make that more likely by unleashing a talented prospect who could be his own version of the Englishman, and no, it’s not Soungoutou Magassa.
Comparing Rice for West Ham and Arsenal
While his move to a fellow London club stung supporters somewhat, it’s impossible to deny the fact that Rice was one of the best players to represent West Ham in the modern era.
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However, has he improved since moving to Arsenal, or are there just more eyes on him now that he plays for a ‘big six’ side?
One way to explore this is to examine his final season in claret and blue and compare it to last year.
Now, while doing this, it’s essential to recognise that in North London, the Englishman has been moved into the left eight role. Therefore, he has far more license to roam forward and influence the attacking side of the game, whereas at the London Stadium, he spent far more time playing in the six.
With that said, then, what does it look like when his underlying numbers from the 22/23 season are compared to those from last season?
Rice 22/23 vs Rice 24/25
Statistics per 90
22/23
24/25
Non-Penalty Expected G+As
0.13
0.32
Progressive Passes
6.59
6.11
Progressive Carries
2.45
2.87
Shots
0.96
1.53
Shots on Target
0.22
0.45
Passing Accuracy
86.5%
83.4%
Key Passes
1.02
1.88
Passes into the Final Third
6.40
4.36
Shot-Creating Actions
2.75
3.54
Goal-Creating Actions
0.16
0.32
Tackles Won
1.04
0.80
Blocks
1.24
0.86
Interceptions
1.73
0.80
Clearances
1.59
1.62
Successful Take-ons
1.02
0.45
Carries
40.0
32.8
Carries into the Penalty Area
0.16
0.51
Ball Recoveries
9.18
4.97
Aerial Duels Won
1.02
1.18
All Stats via FBref
Well, as you’d expect, the Rice of last season was, generally speaking, far more of an attacking threat. He posted far better numbers in things like non-penalty expected goals plus assists, shots, goal and shot-creating actions, carries into the penalty area and key passes.
However, the player who helped the East Londoners win the Conference League was a monster when it came to the less glamorous side of the game.
He produced far more impressive numbers for metrics such as tackles won, blocks, interceptions, and ball recoveries. However, given his deeper starting position, he also performed better in metrics like carries, passes into the final third, progressive passes, and overall passing accuracy, all per 90.
In other words, West Ham fans are correct in saying Rice has always been this good; it’s just that he wasn’t used in the same way he is now at the London Stadium.
With that said, Nuno should look to start someone who could be his own younger version of Rice in this afternoon’s game to get the better of Arsenal.
The gem who could be West Ham's new Rice
Now, you could make the argument that Magassa could one day become West Ham’s new Rice, but in this instance, the player in question is Freddie Potts.
There are several reasons why the 22-year-old could emulate the former Hammers star, and the first is that he, too, has come up through the club’s renowned academy.
He joined the club at just six years old, and aside from a couple of loan moves to Wycombe Wanderers and Portsmouth, has grown up with the East Londoners.
Second, while he has the ability to play in central midfield and has even played at centre-back before, he is an out-and-out six and will undoubtedly play most of his football for the club there.
Finally, like the England international, the Barking-born ace is regarded as someone with immense potential.
For example, respected analyst Ben Mattinson has described the academy gem as someone who is “so smooth on the half-turn and composed under pressure.”
More than that, he also claims that his “ball-security, passing range and powerful carrying could see a real breakout season,” which, as a package, sounds an awful lot like Rice.
Ultimately, there is a long way to go in his career, but Potts has looked good in the academy and on loan, and with what people are saying about him, he could be West Ham’s new Rice.
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