Following such a disappointing start to the campaign, Manchester United have already turned their attention towards the transfer market, with INEOS now reportedly preparing a hefty bid to sign a former Champions League winner.

Man Utd transfer news

Despite such a busy summer transfer window, in which fresh faces arrived to reinforce Manchester United in a number of areas, Erik ten Hag’s side has endured a difficult start to the season. As things stand, the Red Devils are winless in four games and failed to defeat Porto last time out in the Europa League even after taking an initial 2-0 lead.

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Their all too familiar struggles have led to all too familiar questions over whether Ten Hag is the right man for the job, with the likes of Gareth Southgate and Newcastle United’s Eddie Howe now among those linked with what could soon be vacant role at Old Trafford. Sir Jim Ratcliffe was recently quizzed on that very topic, only to remain coy on his manager’s future.

Whether it’s Ten Hag in charge or, indeed, a fresh face, however, the Red Devils look set to turn towards the January transfer window. According to Milan Live, INEOS are now preparing a €50m (£46m) to sign Christian Pulisic, who has recently found his best form at AC Milan.

A former Chelsea winger, the American would be following in the footsteps of the likes of Juan Mata when it comes to players who have featured for both clubs, but it remains to be seen whether the Red Devils can lure Milan into accepting their offer in 2025. There’s no doubt that, on this current form, he’d make an instant impact.

"Incredible" Pulisic is back to his best

After a mix of injuries and poor form eventually led to his Chelsea exit, Champions League-winning Pulisic has finally rediscovered his best form at AC Milan to earn links to the likes of Manchester United.

Playing a starring role under Paulo Fonseca so far this season, the manager was full of praise for the American, telling La Gazzetta dello Sport via One Football: “Christian is fantastic. His quality is incredible, he will be very important this season too.”

Alas, one player who should be worried about the rumours regarding Pulisic is Marcus Rashford. The Manchester United academy graduate has once again struggled for form in the Premier League and may well find his place rightly under threat if the Red Devils welcome a fresh face in his position.

Given that Pulisic has netted five goals and created a further two in just eight appearances so far this season, it’s clear that the former Chelsea man is exactly the calibre of player who could steal in ahead of Rashford. When 2025 arrives, the latter could find himself battling for his place at Old Trafford more so than ever before in the Premier League.

Manchester United will be Viktor Gyokeres’ “preferred transfer destination”, claims the Swedish striker’s former Brighton team-mate Glenn Murray.

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Striker starring in PortugalLinked with clubs across EuropeCome a long way since Brighton flopFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Gyokeres has come a long way since failing to make a single Premier League appearance for the Seagulls between 2018 and 2021. With 76 goals recorded through 81 appearances for Portuguese giants Sporting, the 26-year-old has become one of the most sought-after talents in world football.

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Few of those that worked with him at Brighton could have predicted such a meteoric rise, with Gaeten Bong telling : “Everyone who knew him in his early days in England will tell you the same thing. He was a decent and combative striker, but without disrespect, he had quite a few faults. There was nothing to say that he was going to explode one day. Technically and in his finishing, it was… mediocre, for example, he was far from the level of Glenn Murray, who was our starting number nine.”

WHAT GLENN MURRAY SAID

Murray, who was blocking Gyokeres’ path, has now told of the impressions that he got of a fellow forward that took a while to find his groove: “Viktor, he was a young lad at the club and was he up to the level? Well, the manager didn't think he was up to the level. We were in a squad where we were in survival mode, and you couldn't really bring lads in to develop them. In all honesty, it was one of those situations where he made that hard decision to leave the Premier League and in hindsight, it was the right decision to leave.

“You could always see there was a player in there, but at that point in time he was playing off the left. He liked coming in off the left and shooting. He was never really an out-and-out nine. I'm not sure if that's because Aaron Connolly was in the same age group as him and he was the one that was doing really well at that moment.

“I'm not sure if Viktor preferred it or he kind of got shunted out to the left. But you could see that there was a desire and a hunger and the capability for him to become a full-time professional player and make it in the game.”

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Gyokeres is now being linked with leading sides across Europe, from Bayern Munich to Barcelona, but Murray expects him to be reunited with former Sporting boss Ruben Amorim in English football, adding: “He's smashed every question down so far, so he definitely deserves his chance in the Premier League, and I think with his confidence and ability he would be a success. Did I see it coming what has happened? Probably not. It just shows what belief in yourself, other people's belief and confidence can do for you.

“I think the way he's worked it and what he's done, it's pretty much the perfect blueprint for any young professional that might not be ripe to burst into the Premier League. Let's face it, very, very few are at such a tender age.

“To have a few loans, to go out to Coventry, which was the right fit for him, and the team was built around him to score goals, and then the move to Sporting. When you go to a league like that, you've been backed. They paid a lot of money for you, you're going to get your time, you're going to get your chance.

“He's taken it with both hands and now the next step is one of the big leagues in Europe. Hopefully that is the Premier League. Obviously, with his old manager being here, its quite likely that if he does decide to come here, Manchester United are going to be his preferred destination.”

يواصل الاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم “فيفا” حملته الترويجية للنسخة الجديدة من كأس العالم للأندية 2025، حيث تحط الكأس رحالها في الرياض عاصمة المملكة العربية السعودية، مما يمنح الجماهير فرصة مشاهدتها عن قرب والتقاط الصور التذكارية.

وتشهد نسخة 2025 من كأس العالم للأندية تحولًا كبيرًا، إذ تقام للمرة الأولى بمشاركة 32 فريقًا يمثلون مختلف قارات العالم، مما يجعلها النسخة الأضخم في تاريخ البطولة، ويشارك نادي الهلال السعودي في الحدث ممثلًا لقارة آسيا والمملكة العربية السعودية. مجموعة الهلال في كأس العالم للأندية 2025

ويقع الهلال في المجموعة الثامنة والتي تضم:

– ريال مدريد ( إسبانيا)

– الهلال ( السعودية)

– سالزبورج ( النمسا)

– باتشوكا ( المكسيك)

طالع أيضًا | تركي آل الشيخ يعلن مفاجآت بشأن مباريات الأهلي والهلال في كأس العالم للأندية

وبحسب صحيفة “الميدان الرياضي” السعودية، فسوف يُعرض الكأس غدًا الأربعاء 26 فبراير 2025 داخل منطقة مخصصة في ملعب “المملكة أرينا”، حيث سيتمكن المشجعون من زيارته خلال الفترة من الثانية ظهرًا حتى التاسعة مساءً بتوقيت السعودية، ومن الواحدة ظهرًا حتى الثامنة مساءً بتوقيت مصر، وسوف يتم توفير تذاكر مجانية للحضور، على أن يُعلن لاحقًا عن تفاصيل الحجز.

ويتميز كأس العالم للأندية بتصميم يجمع بين الحداثة والتراث، حيث يعلوه قرص دائري تحيط به حلقات خارجية ترمز للتاريخ والمستقبل، إلى جانب إبراز التنوع الجغرافي والثقافي للعبة عبر خريطة العالم المنقوشة عليه، إضافة إلى أسماء الاتحادات الأعضاء بـ 13 لغة مختلفة، تشمل لغة برايل.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has been handed an injury boost ahead of his side's all-important north London derby clash away to Tottenham this weekend.

Arteta dealt Arsenal selection headache with key players absent

Following the international break, Arsenal return to action imminently, with Arteta and the squad preparing to face-off against their fierce cross-city rivals on Sunday.

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The manager will be very keen to get back to winning ways after agreeing to a new three year deal at the Emirates to extend his stay until 2027, but he faces mounting obstacles to overcome in his preparation for a tough trip to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Star midfielder Declan Rice is a confirmed absentee against Spurs through suspension, having controversially been sent off against Brighton for two bookable offences, with fellow midfielder and summer signing Mikel Merino also set to miss Tottenham as he is out for nearly two months with a shoulder injury.

Tottenham (away)

September 15

Man City (away)

September 22

Leicester City (home)

September 28

Southampton (home)

October 5

Bournemouth (away)

October 19

Arsenal's shortage in that area means Arteta is reportedly planning to drop Kai Havertz back into midfield, with new arrival Raheem Sterling a candidate to play their false-nine role in the German's stead.

If absences for Merino and Rice weren't bad enough for the Gunners, defender Riccardo Calafiori is a real doubt for the North London Derby as well, after the centre-back sustained a calf injury during Italy's 3-1 UEFA Nations League win over France.

The most worrying injury blow, though, has come in the form of club captain Martin Odegaard. The Norway star was forced off in his country's 2-1 win over Austria on Monday, and needed medical staff to assist him in walking off the pitch as he couldn't bear weight on his ankle.

The 25-year-old has since returned to Arsenal, and was pictured boarding a plane to London on crutches. Reports in England have now shared that Odegaard is expected to be out for at least three weeks, dealing a hammer blow to Arteta as he gears up for crucial fixtures against Tottenham, Atalanta in the Champions League and Man City away.

Arteta handed Arsenal injury boost as Gabriel Jesus returns

Journalist John Cross, in a piece for The Mirror this week, has shared some much-needed good news out of London Colney – with £265,000-per-week striker Gabriel Jesus looking ready to be available for selection.

As per their information, Jesus could be set to return from injury for Arsenal against Tottenham, so Arteta will at least have the Brazil international to call upon in the wake of his many casualties this weekend.

The former Man City star has played just five Premier League minutes so far this season, which came during Arsenal's 2-0 opening weekend victory over Wolves, missing their last two top flight games with a groin injury.

Jesus' experience and quality will be a real asset for Arteta, as the head coach ponders how best to set up his team against Ange Postecoglou's Lilywhites.

Half-centuries for Mohammad Hafeez and Shimron Hetmyer were not enough for Warriors

ESPNcricinfo staff30-Aug-2021

Sherfane Rutherford’s good form continued to secure victory•CPL T20/Getty Images

Sherfane Rutherford’s second half-century of the CPL season guided St Kitts and Nevis Patriots to their third straight victory in a chase that had threatened to get out of hand before a late charge to the line.After an opening stand of 69 in nine overs between Devon Thomas and Evin Lewis, Patriots stalled as they lost 3 for 4 – Imran Tahir removing both openers – and when Rutherford and Dwayne Bravo struggled to score at much more than a run-a-ball the asking rate blew out above 11 an over.However, from needing 45 off 24 balls the game swung in Patriots’ favour when Rutherford was spilled on the rope by Kevin Sinclair with the ball going for six. When the 18th over went for 13 it left 19 needed off the last two with plenty of wickets in hand.The first three balls of the penultimate over threatened a twist when they brought just a single and the wicket of Bravo – taken at long-off against Naveen-ul-Haq – but a wide followed by two more sixes for Rutherford put any doubt to bed before Fabian Allen struck his first delivery for four.Guyana Amazon Warriors’ innings had been based around half-centuries from Mohammad Hafeez and Shimron Hetmyer in a 101-run stand for the second wicket. While Hetmyer scored at a good clip – his 52 taking 35 balls – Hafeez struggled to move through the gears with the pair falling in consecutive deliveries from Paul van Meekeren in the 18th over.It meant that Nicholas Pooran was only able to face nine balls in the innings and overall the last four overs brought an underwhelming 30 runs as van Meekeren, Dominic Drakes and Bravo closed out strongly.

Sherfane Rutherford’s second half-century of the CPL season guided St Kitts and Nevis Patriots to their third straight victory in a chase that had threatened to get out of hand before a late charge to the line.After an opening stand of 69 in nine overs between Devon Thomas and Evin Lewis, Patriots stalled as they lost 3 for 4 – Imran Tahir removing both openers – and when Rutherford and Dwayne Bravo struggled to score at much more than a run-a-ball the asking rate blew out above 11 an over.However, from needing 45 off 24 balls the game swung in Patriots’ favour when Rutherford was spilled on the rope by Kevin Sinclair with the ball going for six. When the 18th over went for 13 it left 19 needed off the last two with plenty of wickets in hand.The first three balls of the penultimate over threatened a twist when they brought just a single and the wicket of Bravo – taken at long-off against Naveen-ul-Haq – but a wide followed by two more sixes for Rutherford put any doubt to bed before Fabian Allen struck his first delivery for four.Guyana Amazon Warriors’ innings had been based around half-centuries from Mohammad Hafeez and Shimron Hetmyer in a 101-run stand for the second wicket. While Hetmyer scored at a good clip – his 52 taking 35 balls – Hafeez struggled to move through the gears with the pair falling in consecutive deliveries from Paul van Meekeren in the 18th over.It meant that Nicholas Pooran was only able to face nine balls in the innings and overall the last four overs brought an underwhelming 30 runs as van Meekeren, Dominic Drakes and Bravo closed out strongly.

Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea side have gotten into their stride recently, and things have been starting to click for the Blues. They started the season in the worst possible way, a defeat at the hands of Manchester City, but since then have won three of their last four Premier League games, having also drawn with Crystal Palace.

The West London outfit have had some standout performers along the way. Nicolas Jackson has started the season in fine form, with four goals and two assists in five top-flight games. Cole Palmer has also been superb so far this term, having scored twice and grabbed four assists in five appearances.

One of their summer signings has also started life at Stamford Bridge excellently. That player is Jadon Sancho.

Sancho’s start to his Chelsea career

The former Manchester United winger had plenty of eyes on him when he moved from the Red Devils to the Blues of West London. It is fair to say his time at Old Trafford did not live up to expectations; the former Borussia Dortmund man left with 12 goals and six assists in 83 games for the club.

However, all of that seems to be in the past now, and Sancho is thriving, in an optimal environment with a coach who ensures the winger feels “love”, as the Italian put it, following the winger’s debut against Bournemouth.

So far, the England international has made just two appearances for the Blues, and he already has two assists to his name. He registered a match-winning assist on debut against the Cherries for Christopher Nkunku and created Jackson’s first goal against West Ham last weekend.

The 24-year-old has been superb in ideal conditions, both on and off the pitch. Unlike his time at United, Sancho has had his skillset maximised by the coach, creating lots of overlapping and underlapping runs and quick combination play, as his assist at the Vitality Stadium showed.

Maresca may have another Blues player who could further enhance Sancho’s output and could well decide to unleash him against Brighton this afternoon, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.

How Dewsbury-Hall can help maximise Sancho

English midfielder Dewsbury-Hall signed for Chelsea from 2023/24 Championship winners Leicester City. As managers often do, he was the player whom Maresca chose to take with him from the Foxes, for a fee of just £30m, and is now earning £80k-per-week, according to Capology.

That certainly seemed like a superb deal on the face of things, given the Leicester academy graduate was one of the Championship’s best players last term. He scored 12 goals and grabbed 14 assists in 44 games in England’s second tier.

The former Luton Town loanee ranked highly in several creative metrics for the Foxes last term, and his underlying statistics further suggested that he was one of the better players in the Championship, as per FBref.

Dewsbury-Hall creative passing stats vs. Championship players 2023/24

Stat

Number

Rank

Assists

14

3rd

Expected assists

12.6xA

2nd

Progressive passes

272

10th

Key passes

109

5th

Passes into penalty area

84

2nd

Stats from FBref

Indeed, he could form a superb partnership with Sancho, given the fact Maresca used him as a mezzala-type midfielder last term for the Foxes, operating in the half-space on the left-hand side, similar areas to where Sancho players his best football. The fluidity in their rotations and sharp combination play could elevate Chelsea even more, after a good start to the season.

With the Leicester academy graduate making those underlapping runs to help facilitate Sancho, we could see a superb partnership form. Given the Chelsea number 22’s superb creative final third numbers, both he and the winger could profit and create far more chances for the Blues.

So far, Dewsbury-Hall is yet to show his best form in a Chelsea shirt. He has played just three times in the Premier League, and is yet to start a game.

However, he is a player Maresca certainly trusts, and if he is unleashed against Brighton – perhaps ahead of Enzo Fernandez – could begin the start of a special partnership between himself and Sancho.

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Julian Knight MP writes open letter to club officials, calling for findings to be open to scrutiny

George Dobell08-Sep-2021Pressure on Yorkshire to publish its report into allegations of racism at the club has increased significantly after the invention of parliament’s Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee (DCMS).Julian Knight MP, the chair of the DCMS committee, has written to Yorkshire’s chief executive, Mark Arthur, and urged him to make “the report and its full findings… public and open to scrutiny”.An investigation was launched by the club in September 2020 following Azeem Rafiq’s allegations of institutional racism at Yorkshire. Almost 12 months later, a report was produced which concluded that “several of the allegations made by Azeem were upheld” and that he had been “historically… the victim of inappropriate behaviour”. It also found that the club had “failed to implement its policies and procedures in relation to these serious issues”.The club has so far declined to publish either the report or any of its recommendations, claiming that legal advice informs them that to do so would potentially expose them to libel proceedings from those implicated in the report. ESPNcricinfo understands that, at present, as few as three people at the club – the chair, Roger Hutton, the CEO, Arthur, and the director of cricket, Martyn Moxon – may have read the report. Despite repeated requests, the club have also declined to share it with MPs, the Professional Cricketers’ Association (the PCA) or the ECB.This has left Azeem, in particular, unimpressed. He has called the entire investigation “a sham” and called upon the ECB and politicians to intervene. It would appear his calls for assistance have not gone unheard.”We are very surprised that this report has not been published by the Yorkshire County Cricket Club, given the seriousness of the allegations of racism which span more than a decade and the fact that it has taken almost three years to reach this point,” Knight wrote in an open letter to Arthur.”Given that YCCC said in its statement that several allegations made against the club had been upheld, and that Azeem Rafiq had been a victim of inappropriate behaviour, it is crucial that the process, the report and its full findings are made public and open to scrutiny. He deserves no less.”The intervention of DCMS follows public calls for the publication of the report from various MPs including Hilary Benn, the MP for Leeds Central, and Kevin Brennan, the MP for Cardiff West and a member of the DCMS committee. Alex Sobel, the MP for Leeds North West, has also confirmed to ESPNcricinfo that he has written to the club requesting a copy of the report.Ultimately, the DCMS committee could call for a full enquiry which would involve witnesses giving evidence in public. While their ability to directly intervene is limited, any recommendations made by them would be tough for Yorkshire (or the ECB) to ignore. It is also possible – probable, even – that MPs will raise questions on the issue in the House of Commons. In doing so, they will be protected by parliamentary privilege which means they are immune to libel proceedings.Related

Yorkshire admit Azeem Rafiq suffered from 'racial harassment' while at club – but refuse to release report

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'More harm will be done' if Yorkshire don't publish racism report, says British MP

At the same time, the ECB could charge Yorkshire with bringing the game into disrepute unless they receive the report within the next couple of weeks. While there is some sympathy towards the club not publishing the full report – or ensuring some of it is redacted ahead of publication – it is understood the ECB are incensed that they, as the game’s regulators, have not been trusted with it. If Yorkshire were found to have brought the game into disrepute, it would enable the ECB to withhold funding and, potentially, demand changes in the identity of those running the club.The DCMS intervention comes after the ECB confirmed that Yorkshire would be hosting one Test against New Zealand and an ODI against South Africa in the 2022 season. The former Kent cricketer, Fabian Cowdrey, suggested “all England fans hold fire on purchasing ticket for Headingley matches in 2022” until the “report is released for public scrutiny”. Making the suggestion on Twitter, Cowdrey said “justice must be served”.Meanwhile, it is understood that Yorkshire – or people employed directly or indirectly by the club – have threatened legal action against Azeem or a couple of organisations which have published his comments. Wayne Morton, the former England physio who now oversees medical provision at Yorkshire, is one of those understood to have threatened legal action against Azeem following comments made in an interview on Sky.

The Ashes could become the first sporting event in Australia where fans will require a vaccine passport to attend as Cricket Australia hopes for full crowds for all five Test matches.CA is also hoping to give assurances to the ECB and the England players in the coming weeks that some family members will be able to accompany them to Australia for the lengthy tour.During a round of media interviews on Wednesday CA chief executive Nick Hockley was bullish the Ashes would go ahead as planned despite the current Covid-19 outbreaks in Sydney and Melbourne causing lockdowns and interstate border closures.Australia’s vaccination rates are fast improving and Hockley believes that will be the key to getting full crowds back for all five Test matches. Any vaccine passport scheme would be a decision taken at government level but a close eye is being kept on what other countries are doing.Related

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“I think that’s where we will work closely with the health authorities, with the venues, and certainly we obviously want full crowds,” Hockley told . “We want crowds back and enjoying the cricket and that’s something we will work through over the coming months and as we have done throughout the last couple of months we’ll take our lead from the health authorities. We remain extremely optimistic.”Hockley was confident the schedule would remain in place without the need to shuffle Test matches to different venues due to some of the strict state border restrictions that are currently in place.He was also confident that England players would be able to bring family members to Australia, although the final decision does hinge on the Australian government as international borders remain closed with restrictions on those who can enter and strict quarantine rules upon entry. There have been reports that a number of players could withdraw from the tour. It is unlikely there will be any loosening of the 14-day quarantine period by November although ways of accommodating the England squad that allows some freedom is being explored.”Our hope is that over the course of the coming weeks we’ll be able to provide the assurance that the plans we’ll have in place will provide them with the comfort that they’ll have a great experience and for those that want to bring family members that they can,” Hockley said.”Ultimately it will be their decision as to who they’ll bring but as we said we’re working extremely constructively with the ECB. We’ve all got a huge amount of experience now in what this takes and the plans and the intricacy of the plans. We’re very much working in partnership with the ECB and giving them full knowledge of what they can expect when they arrive in Australia.”Australia’s men’s domestic season was scheduled to begin on Saturday with a set of one-day Marsh Cup games but those matches are expected to be postponed until later in the season as New South Wales and Victoria remain in lockdown, with players from both states unable to travel elsewhere at the moment.

تحدث هانز فليك مدرب برشلونة، خلال مؤتمر صحفي اليوم الجمعة، قبل المباراة أمام أوساسونا بالدوري الإسباني.

وتأتي المباراة بين الفريقين ضمن مباريات الجولة 27 للدوري الإسباني، وكانت مباراة الدور الأول انتهت بفوز أوساسونا على برشلونة 4-2.

وقال فليك: “ستكون مباراة صعبة، أقول نفس الشيء دائمًا، لقد لعبوا بشكل جيد للغاية هناك، وضغطوا علينا بشكل جيد للغاية، حتى في المواقف الفردية، كان من الصعب علينا التخلص من الضغط، سنحاول أن نكون مستعدين”.

وتابع في تصريحاته التي نشرتها صحيفة “آس” الإسبانية: “لقد كان الأمر مختلفًا (بمباراة الذهاب)، لقد لعبنا خارج ملعبنا، وغدًا يتعين علينا الدفع بأفضل فريق ممكن، أعتقد أننا نتمتع بمستوى مختلف من حيث الأداء الجماعي، أنا متفائل بشأن مباراة الغد”.

وعن إمكانية المداورة، أضاف: “لم نقرر بعد، لكننا سنفعل ذلك، يتعين علينا أن نمتلك أفضل فريق على أرض الملعب، لقد قدمنا ​​أداءً جيدًا حتى الآن وسنحاول الاستمرار على نفس المنوال”.

وبشأن أداء حارس المرمى تشيزني في المباراة أمام بنفيكا، استطرد فليك: “إنه رائع، اللاعبون الآخرون كانوا يدافعون 10 ضد 11 وساعدنا كثيرًا، إنه عمله، لا يجب إخفاء ذلك، يقوم بعمله بشكل جيد جدًا ولهذا هو الآن الرقم 1”.

وأردف بشأن المنافسة بين تشيزني وبينيا: “عندما ترى اللاعبين في التدريبات، تشعر بمشاعر، أناقشها مع فريقي، وأرى كيف يعمل اللاعبون والأداء الذي يمكنهم تقديمه”.

وأكمل: “كان من الواضح للجميع أن تشيزني يمكنه الوصول إلى هذا المستوى، كنا جميعًا واضحين بشأن ذلك، أنا أتخذ القرارات، لكنني أناقشها مع فريقي الفني”.

اقرأ أيضًا | أنشيلوتي يكشف سر “العلكة”.. ويؤكد: لن أقرر متى ستنتهي مغامرتي مع ريال مدريد

وأشار: “أنا فخور جدًا بالفريق، في كل موقف لدينا استجابة جيدة وهذا يمنحني الثقة، آمل أن نتمكن من الاستمرار في تنفيذ فكرتنا في الأسابيع المقبلة”.

وانتقل للحديث عن بيدري قائلاً: “سنرى ما إذا كان بوسعه أن يستريح، إنه لاعب محترف للغاية، إنه لاعب مذهل، إنه يتعافى بشكل جيد للغاية كل يوم، ويفعل ما يتعين عليه فعله للتعافي”.

وأكمل: “إنه يتدرب على أعلى مستوى ويظهر ذلك في المباريات، الطريقة التي يتدرب بها هي الطريقة التي يلعب بها، إنه يمنحنا القوة في مركزه، سنسأله غدًا ونرى كيف سيكون”.

وعلّق فليك على أهمية أن يكون أكثر تحفظًا في المباريات الحاسمة: “من الجيد دائمًا أن تكون إيجابيًا، وأن تظهر بصورة إيجابية في كل الأوقات، إذا تعاملت مع الأمور من وجهة نظر سلبية، لتجنب الأخطاء، أعتقد أن هذا ليس جيدًا، يمكننا الدفاع بشكل جيد كفريق”.

وحول أفضل قرار اتخذه منذ أن أصبح مدربًا لبرشلونة، رد: “ليس لدي الكثير من الوقت للتفكير في هذه الأمور، كل شخص يرتكب أخطاء وكل شخص يفعل الأشياء الصحيحة، أنت من سيقرر ما فعلته بشكل صحيح وما لم أفعله”.

وسُئل فليك عن الفارق بين التدريب في برشلونة والأندية الأخرى، وأجاب: “أعتقد أننا عرفنا كيف نلعب عندما بدأنا هنا، قمنا بتحليل اللاعبين والفريق الاحتياطي، تحدثنا مع ديكو (المدير الرياضي)، كان النادي صادقًا معي وكانت هذه بداية جيدة، الجميع هنا يحبون التدريب والمنافسة”.

وأتم: “هناك أجواء رائعة في غرفة الملابس، يمكنك أن تقول إن هناك شيئًا مميزًا في الداخل، الجو لا يصدق، الجميع يهتمون ببعضهم البعض، من الجيد أن يشعر الجميع بأهميتهم، نحن نركز على ما بين أيدينا”.