Despite the Boston Red Sox sitting at a perfectly average 19-19 as we approach the quarter-mark of the MLB season, third baseman Alex Bregman has been on an absolute tear. Through his first 37 games in a Red Sox uniform, the 31-year-old is hitting .327 with nine home runs, 30 RBI, and a 1.093 OPS.
That's why, with Wednesday night's game tied 3-3 in the seventh and with runners on second and third, WEEI radio announcers Will Fleming and Lenny DiNardo couldn't believe that Texas Rangers manager Bruce Bochy was actually going to pitch to Bregman.
"I will tell you, it would be to me if they pitch to Bregman here," said Flemming on the call, with first base wide open and two outs on the board. "Wild."
And wild it was. Instead of walking the two-time World Series champion, the Rangers had lefty Robert Garcia throw to him, and Bregman made them pay. He lined a two-run single into left field and gave the Red Sox a 5-3 lead.
"Are other teams not paying attention to what's happening this season with Alex Bregman?!" asked DiNardo.
"Bruce Bochy is a first-ballot Hall of Famer," quipped Flemming. "He's won four championships. That is inexplicable."
Boston ultimately held on for a 6-4 win. They'll wrap up their series against the Rangers from Fenway Park on Thursday with a 1:35 p.m. EST first pitch.
South-coast club handed reprieve by Durham after Rahul Chahar takes ten in the match
ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay27-Sep-2025
Rahul Chahar claimed a 10-wicket match haul•Philip Brown/Getty Images
Surrey 147 (Washington 3-5, Abbott 3-27, Fuller 3-46) and 281 (Albert 63, Abbott 5-72) beat Hampshire 248 (Washington 56) and 160 (Orr 48, Chahar 8-51) by 20 runsHampshire were given an unlikely reprieve from relegation to Rothesay County Championship Division Two after Durham fell apart at Yorkshire.The south-coast county were resigned to the drop after losing to Surrey by 20 runs, which left Durham only requiring a draw at Headingley. But they sensationally slumped to 85 all out to allow Hampshire to stay in Division One for the 2026 season.Ironically, Hampshire’s last brush with the drop, in 2016, saw them finish in the relegation places but be reinstated after Durham were sent down over financial issues.Surrey only needed one wicket on the final day, which Rahul Chahar managed with the 42nd delivery of the day when he had James Fuller caught behind. In doing so, the India spinner claimed a career-best 8 for 51 – Surrey’s third best bowling figures of the 21st century – and ten wickets in the match.The defeat, with relegation seemingly nailed on, looked like it would compound Hampshire’s horror September. The county had been deducted eight points in the Championship for breaching the ECB’s pitch regulations, before losing in two men’s finals and a women’s final.They also saw popular head coach Adi Birrell announce he would leave the club after seven years at the helm. The South African was gifted a bull for his farm back in his homeland by the players on the final morning of the Surrey match.Instead of Hampshire, Durham will now join Worcestershire in playing in Division Two next season.Ben Brown, who took over the four-day captaincy at short notice after James Vince stepped away from red-ball cricket before the start of the season, said it had been “a really challenging year”, topped off by the Cricket Discipline Panel’s decision to dock points for a poor Utilita Bowl pitch in May – described by Brown as “unjust”.”It has been a really challenging year, off the field as well as on it,” Brown said. “There has been a lot to manage.”Then there is the points deduction on the wicket, which I stand by that it was unjust. That I feel difficult to cope with as a player. People work hard in professional sport and to have essentially clipboard stuff take eight points off us… You want sport to be decided as sport not someone deciding whether grass is right or wrong.”We have been playing under pressure for the last month with no time to think or train, and it has ended up with us losing two finals and looks like we will be going down. Everyone will need time to get their head around it before making a plan to make things better.”Requiring 33 runs to beat Surrey, 32 runs – ie. a tie – would likely have been enough to see Hampshire them remain in Division One on their own steam.Fuller and Brad Wheal were the only Hampshire batters left – the former had shaken off the collapse and dealt with Chahar carefully for 29, while Wheal had stoically blocked 22 balls before bad light brought an unsatisfactory end to the third day, and left plenty with a sleepless night.Chahar bowled the first over of the day and Fuller almost edged the first ball. A swept four eased the nerves, before Wheal nicked his first delivery to first slip – but it narrowly fell short.Fuller and Wheal looked at ease, albeit turning down a bounty of singles, until Fuller attempted to cut Chahar and edged behind to Ben Foakes.Only Kemar Roach’s 8 for 40, and Martin Bicknell’s 9 for 45 were better since the turn of the Millennium. Chahar, on Championship debut, also took ten wickets in the match.”A lot of the disappointment was last night and then today there was just a small chance in a tough situation for Fuller. It was more runs than it looked and was a tall order today,” Brown said. “We should have made a better fist of it. The new hard ball spun quite a lot and we didn’t deal with it. We were a lot of pressure in the run chase and we couldn’t stem the tide of wickets in the middle of the innings.”
Inter defender Alessandro Bastoni was left stunned by AC Milan's derby victory despite them failing to create sufficient chances throughout the game. While the 26-year-old believes his team registered a good display against Massimiliano Allegri's side, he sounded critical of the opposition securing just one clear chance through Christian Pulisic, which decided the fate of the fixture.
Inter dominate but go down
From ball possession to the number of shots recorded by the two parties, Inter led in every aspect in the famous Milan derby last Sunday. While Cristian Chivu's side earned nine corners and successfully implemented five shots on target, compared to one corner and three shots from Milan's end, they left the pitch empty-handed as Pulisic bagged the solitary goal of the game in the 54th minute. Bastoni, who has been the defensive leader alongside Francesco Acerbi, was left gutted with the outcome.
AdvertisementAFPBastoni slams Milan but praises his team
Despite the result, Bastoni was critical of their arch-rivals and claimed he couldn't remember them registering any goal-scoring opportunities apart from the goal. He said on "It's difficult to make a lucid analysis of this match, I don't remember any clear chances for them apart from the goal. Sorry, we will have to make a lucid analysis even if sometimes finding answers to defeats like this hurts. Sometimes you prefer to lose badly to have room for improvement, this time for me beyond the episodes we played a good game. I don't know, in Naples there were important carelessness, with Juve and Milan there is little to say. I should also see it again because on the pitch the sensations are sometimes different. But it seems to me that at least we were equal. Other times we had the feeling of being vulnerable, this time we were there. We had courage, holding one-on-one with [Rafael] Leao and Pulisic. There was no feeling of being able to concede goals."
Notably, this was Inter's fourth defeat of the Serie A campaign, which has now compelled them to sit on the fourth place on the table. A win, on the contrary, could have seen them take the pole position for the meantime. Bastoni commented: "It's a wake-up call because four defeats is a lot, but I also think that defeats need to be analysed. I would be much more worried seeing Inter out of the game with their heads or without character. I don't see that. As long as there is this mentality and this spirit, I'm sure things will go well."
Inter boss highlights mistakes
While Bastoni spoke of having a thorough analysis, coach Christian Chivu admitted his disappointment in the result, saying: "The frustration is not just what we created, it’s the performance, the focus, as we hardly allowed any counter-attacks, despite knowing the two strikers could cause us problems. The one time we lost the second ball in midfield, they scored. This is football. I take home the good performance, as the lads kept going to the end, despite the disappointment of conceding the goal, and the frustration after hitting the woodwork twice. They tried to score in every possible way, and that is the spirit I want to see.
"When you suffer the fourth defeat in 12 rounds, that is too many. However, the table is still pretty tight, so we are up there and need to deal with this frustration, because losing a game like this can leave a mark." He further stated, "We are all in this and all responsible, for good and bad. We all could’ve done better, we could’ve scored earlier, or dealt with the moments of the match better. Our duty now is to get back on our feet, as on Tuesday we have an equally important match."
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Getty Images SportInter have a tough week ahead
Inter just have two days to prepare for the Champions League clash against Atletico Madrid, whom they face this Tuesday. Following a cooling period, they'll face Pisa in the Serie A on Sunday. However, the game against the Spanish giants is going to be the more crucial one of the two. They are seated third in the Champions League table, with four wins and share the same points as Bayern Munich and Arsenal.
India lost four wickets for six runs before the England openers tore into the bowling
ESPNcricinfo staff01-Aug-2025
Akash Deep put his arms around Ben Duckett’s shoulder after dismissing him•Getty Images
Lunch England have grabbed the fifth Test with both hands. In the space of 21.4 overs on day two, Gus Atkinson’s fourth five-wicket haul snuffed out India’s first innings for 224, before a bombastic opening stand between Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett propelled England to 109 for 1 at lunch, trailing by just 115.England’s openers were boundary happy, smoking 92 off just 77 deliveries, punishing India for every slight error in line or length. Duckett was the main driver, reverse-pulling Akash Deep over the cordon, then “conventionally” ramping Mohammed Siraj into the sponge for the first two sixes of the match.Duckett fell to Akash Deep attempting a third, departing for 43 with the bowler putting his arm around the left-hander, as much in jest as respect.Crawley was no slouch either, motoring on to a third half-century of the series in 42 deliveries, and second in a row after a tidy 84 in the fourth Test. His 24th score of fifty or more featured just four singles, with 12 fours, some along the ground, and three lifted serenely over cover.Zak Crawley raced to a fifty•PA Photos/Getty Images
Teeing up England’s speed run through to the break was Atkinson’s 5 for 33 upon his return to the side after two months out. He made light work of what remained of India’s first innings when they arrived on Friday morning on 204 for 6.It was all the more important after news this morning that Chris Woakes would play no further part in the match after a suspected dislocated shoulder sustained in the field last night. And the Surrey quick, on his home ground, took three of the remaining four wickets that India had up their sleeve.It was Josh Tongue who made the first key incision, albeit with a choatic approach that would get any surgeon struck off. His first over, opening from the Vauxhall End, went for nine, but he was able to remove Karun Nair for 57 in his second. A sharp delivery that nipped into the stumps – Nair no doubt expected something short and wide either side of them – pinned the right-hander on the back leg. Plumb in front, Nair took one of India’s three reviews with him.Washington Sundar should have assumed the responsibility at that point as an elongated tail became exposed, but he fell five deliveries later, waltzing into a short ball trap, heaving Atkinson to deep square leg, where Jamie Overton sprinted in to take a smart catch.Atkinson would then skittle Siraj before Prasidh Krishna felt for a delivery outside off, completing a collapse of four for six in 18 balls. It also leaves Atkinson with an average of 21, the fourth best for an England seamer with fifty or more dismissals, and the second best strike rate, ever, at 34.9, for those who have taken 60 wickets.
Let’s scale back two years. Liverpool had completed their midfield rebuild under Jurgen Klopp and were primed for a new chapter, putting that bleak 2022/23 campaign to bed.
Jordan Henderson, Fabinho and co had gone past their sell-by dates, and FSG went full ham as they countered the midfield exodus with four interesting signings: Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch.
Those additions led Klopp’s side back into the Champions League and saw the German cap off his Anfield dynasty with one final slice of silverware, beating Chelsea against injury-hit odds in the Carabao Cup final.
Arne Slot approached the recent summer market with a similar need for change.
Well, similar insofar as much money needed to be spent, but Liverpool had just won the Premier League and were supported by the many years of Klopp’s labours. This is supposed to be a successful season for the Reds.
And it still could be, but so much has gone wrong for Slot’s tactically imbalanced team, who have lost four matches in a row and lack any sense of confidence or coherence.
We could pick at any area of the field, but the midfielders have certainly left something to be desired in recent months.
Liverpool need a new midfielder
Two years on, FSG may need to shop once again for a high-level midfielder. While the Merseysiders have talented options in the engine room, the woes of Mac Allister and Szoboszlai’s new role at right-back suggest more physicality and press resistance could be added to ease Gravenberch’s burden.
The 26-year-old Mac Allister, in particular, has been dreadful this term, lacking his typical coolness and energy on the ball, that rare ability to marry technical elegance with combative physicality.
That simply hasn’t been there, with one Premier League noting that the Argentina international is “not up to scratch” at the moment, winning only one tackle per game and losing 57% of his ground duels, as per Sofascore.
It hasn’t been good enough, and while, candidly, part of Mac Allister’s struggle is down to mismanagement, there’s a sense that an upgrade is needed to add a much-needed dimension to the midfield.
Well, that man could arrive in the form of Real Madrid’s Eduardo Camavinga, with Spanish sources confirming this week that the France international could be on the move in 2026, an update which has certainly put Anfield’s sporting director, Richard Hughes, on alert.
Valued by Los Blancos at around €80m (equating to £69m), Camavinga is no longer considered untouchable by Xabi Alonso, and those in Spain believe an audacious January bid could be staged by the Premier League champions.
The 22-year-old has been in Madrid for over four years, but injuries and Alonso’s vision have opened the door for potential suitors. Manchester City and Manchester United both expressed interest this summer.
Why Camavinga could be an upgrade on Mac Allister
Camavinga was regarded as a wonder-kid when he first took steps onto the professional stage. Joining from Rennes for around £35m in 2021, he has since featured 186 times for the Spanish giants, winning two La Liga titles and two Champions Leagues.
Though the past year has been an effort to maintain regular fitness levels for Camavinga, he remains a world-class talent, a “duel-monster” in the words of analyst Raj Chohan, who could benefit from a change of scenery, joining a Liverpool team where he could foster his skills for many years to come.
His arrival would not knock Mac Allister from his prominent position, but it would give him competition, to be sure, and Camavinga might even come to be an upgrade down the line, with the statistics drawn from the past year certainly suggesting he has what it takes to outstrip him.
Camavinga vs Mac Allister (past 12 months)
Stats (per 90)
Camavinga
Mac Allister
Goals
0.12
0.18
Assists
0.06
0.18
Touches
76.36
63.29
Pass completion (%)
90.1
82.7
Shot-creating actions
2.51
4.01
Progressive passes
5.07
5.64
Progressive carries
2.04
1.37
Successful take-ons
1.11
0.53
Recoveries
6.30
4.69
Tackles won
2.91
1.63
Interceptions
1.40
0.89
Aerials won
1.52
0.50
Data via FBref
As you can see, Camavinga has played with a touch more completeness and energy than his Argentine counterpart over the past year, and that having suffered with injury problems all the while. He might actually boast a higher standard of quality than Mac Allister, and that is not to the Liverpool man’s discredit.
There is also the matter of age. Camavinga is only 22 years old, and with a wealth of elite experience at that.
He might be struggling for minutes and fluency at Real Madrid, but he’s so young and clearly such a talented midfielder, an expert on the ball and relentless in the challenge.
These are attributes shared with Liverpool’s No. 10, though there’s a case to be made that the Frenchman is even more complete in his midfield game, hailed for his “extraordinary qualities” by former Real boss Carlo Ancelotti, who went on to claim his young star could “play anywhere on the pitch”.
Similar praise have been laid at Mac Allister’s feet in the Premier League. Shortly after the South American’s £35m transfer from Brighton to Liverpool, TNT Sports pundit Joe Cole described him as a “superstar” signing for the Reds, drawing attention to his own ability to “play anywhere” his manager wants him to.
Such dynamism. Though Liverpool would want to retain Mac Allister’s services for as long as they can, it’s clear he plays a role unlike any other in the Liverpool squad. To put that another way, he provides a dimension his teammates cannot mimic.
Arne Slot and Alexis Mac Allister for Liverpool
And, with that in mind, adding Camavinga to the fold might prove a stroke of genius on Hughes’ part. Real Madrid might want something in the ballpark of £69m, but Liverpool could take advantage of his injury struggles and seat on the Santiago Bernabeu fringe over the past 12 months.
Looking at how it could all transpire in the long run, Liverpool might strike a player who could yet grow into one of the best in the world, eclipsing a star in Mac Allister, who has already provided the club with a higher brand of technical midfield play than they had been treated to in the years before his signing.
Slot can fix Konate & Leoni blow by unleashing Liverpool's 19-year-old star
Liverpool have something of a sore spot in defence this season.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has made an interesting comparison between Cityzens midfielder Bernardo Silva and Lionel Messi, claiming after the Portuguese's goal against Villarreal on Tuesday night that both him and the great Argentine have a "hammer in their necks", capable of scoring great headed goals despite their comparatively short stature.
Silva receives strange Guardiola praise after Villarreal goal
Silva scored his side’s second goal as City won 2-0 away to the Spanish side, the inevitable Erling Haaland scoring the opener as Guardiola’s men climbed into the Champions League top eight, three matches into the league phase, despite the continued absence of Rodri.
Bernardo powered home a header from the centre of the penalty area to double the scoreline for his side, leading to Guardiola’s comparison between his neck muscles and a “hammer”, a trait the Catalan believes is shared by Inter Miami superstar Messi, whom he famously managed during both men’s illustrious spell with Barcelona.
Considering the substantial power behind the header, Guardiola’s comparison makes some sense, though it was a unique one to make, nevertheless.
“I’m pleased that Erling scored again; and pleased that Bernardo made an incredible header again. It’s a little bit like [Lionel] Messi, it’s a hammer. They have a hammer in their neck, they are so good. They are small but they are so good with their head contact.”
Social media reacts to Guardiola's comments
The commenters on Sky Sports News’ video of the clip in question from Guardiola’s post-match press conference had a field day, as football fans enjoyed the creative comparison made by the City manager.
“Pep just be inventing anatomy at this point,” said @MaxRakeBitCom, alongside a laughing face emoji.
“Only Pep could make heading sound like an art form,” laughed @Only1Justus.
Another user, @0xa1_, added: “Bro’s built like a USB stick but headers like prime Ronaldo.”
“Pep just compared a neck header to Messi? Try that with Ronaldo and the ball enters orbit,” added @olisaemekalum2.
Another, @BavuFunzo, joked: “Always finding a point to involve Messi.”
Another user questioned Guardiola’s use of vocabulary, @xwordz: “Ain’t the hammer, it’s the flexibility and the elastic strength.”
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Guardiola and Rico Lewis speak after Villarreal win
"Tough place to come. We played really good. At the end they had one or two chances but we played a fantastic game. A good step for us in this tournament," said Guardiola.
"It's good that not just Erling [Haaland] scored and we had more chances for others. Impact from Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders good too. Little disappointed with result in Monaco, we created chances and didn't win and played the same as today but today got the goals. Teams in La Liga are really tough and a top-class manager.
“Spanish people know it, maybe English people don’t know it, Villarreal is a top, top team. So I know how difficult it is to come here. Indeed, in the way we played, I have the feeling that, in many ways, we are coming back to what we were in the past.
"Our numbers in the Champions League in the last year are not bad. Personally my numbers are not bad. But last season was tough for us, the vibe and how the team are playing now make me feel fine."
City’s Rico Lewis, who assisted the game’s opening goal for Haaland, told TNT Sports: "We felt in control for most of the game. There's always better things we can do and there were a few spells they had that we could've prevented but we have to be harsh on ourselves if we want to win the competition.
"We've got some confidence back. When you're playing with confidence there's nothing to stop you but yourself. Everyone trusts each other as well and there's nothing better than us having each other's backs."
Speaking about Haaland, he added "Impossible, amazing. To play with him in the team, he helps us more than people realise. He draws defenders to free other people and then that frees him up to score. He's impossible to defend. He's such a hard worker and never stops wanting to score."
Well, that might not have been the perfect start to Nuno Espírito Santo’s tenure as West Ham United boss, but it wasn’t far off.
The Hammers faced the difficult task of taking on a dangerous Everton side away from home on Monday night, and while they didn’t win, they also didn’t lose.
It was that man, Jarrod Bowen, who levelled the score for the East Londoners in the second half, and they looked more likely to score a winner than the Toffees.
Several West Ham starters put in a good showing on the night, but two stood out in particular, including Crysencio Summerville.
Summerville's eye-catching performance
Monday night was Summerville’s third start on the bounce for West Ham, and while he did earn two assists in his eight-minute cameo against Nottingham Forest last month, it was his best performance of the campaign.
Chalkboard
The former Leeds United star did make a few mistakes here and there, but was arguably as good, if not better, than Bowen, even if the Englishman managed to get on the scoresheet.
The Dutchman was a constant threat on the left, using his rapid pace, intricate close control and agility to make life nightmarishly difficult for Jake O’Brien from minute one.
On another night, the 23-year-old would have opened his account for the season when Jordan Pickford pulled off a brilliant reaction save from an incredibly close-range effort.
It wasn’t just us who were left seriously impressed with the winger, though, as Sky Sports awarded him the man of the match, and when you look at his statistics, it’s easy to see why.
Minutes
77′
Expected Goals
0.42
Expected Assists
0.12
Touches
55
Accurate Passes
27/29 (93%)
Key Passes
1
Shots on Target
1
Successful Dribbles
3
Ground Duels (Won)
8 (5)
Fouls Won
2
Clearances
3
Shots Blocked
1
In his 77 minutes of action, he amassed a combined expected goal and assist figure of 0.54, took 55 touches, completed 93% of his passes, played one key pass, completed three dribbles, won five of eight ground duels, won two fouls, made three clearances and even blocked a shot.
In all, Summerville put in a performance that should have fans very excited about what he could do this season, just like one of his teammates.
Nuno's stand-out West Ham star
Now, while Bowen certainly deserves his fair share of praise for the goal he scored, everyone is already well aware of just how good he is.
El Hadji Malick Diouf might have been something of an unknown quantity to those non-West Ham fans who were watching – well, not anymore.
The former Slavia Prague gem was an absolute monster all night, bombing up and down the pitch with his, as one analyst put it, “explosive acceleration” that makes him so difficult to defend against.
The 20-year-old didn’t get himself an assist on the night, but it felt like every time he got forward in the second half, he would deliver a sensational cross into the penalty area with such whip and venom that, had someone got on the end of it, the Hammers would have scored another goal.
Moreover, Bowen’s goal came about thanks to Everton failing to deal with one of these crosses.
What made his deliveries so impressive was the fact that, a couple of times, he didn’t even stop to look or regain his balance; he’d just burst into space, wallop the ball with an immense amount of power, and it’d land in an extremely dangerous area.
It’s things like this that justify Sky Sports’ Joe Thomlinson calling the Senegalese star an “astonishingly good footballer and athlete” and another analyst making the bold claim that he’s “one of the best fullbacks in the league.”
Ultimately, while they didn’t get the win, West Ham looked like a far better team under Nuno on Monday night, and that is largely down to Summerville and Diouf making the left-hand side so much more dangerous.
Nuno can instantly win fans over by dropping Kilman for West Ham "animal"
West Ham United manager Nuno Espirito Santo could immediately get supporters onside by dropping Max Kilman.
قد يحقق هانز فليك مدرب برشلونة إنجازاً تاريخياً في الكلاسيكو أمام ريال مدريد يوم الأحد في ملعب سانتياجو برنابيو ضمن منافسات الدوري الاسباني لكرة القدم.
ونشرت “سبورت” الإسبانية أن هانز فليك على بعد فوز واحد فقط من معادلة رقم بيب جوارديولا كأكثر مدربي برشلونة تحقيقاً للانتصارات المتتالية ضد ريال مدريد.
وحقق جوارديولا مدرب مانشستر سيتي الحالي خمس انتصارات متتالية له عندما كان مدرباً لبرشلونة، بينما حقق هانز فليك أربعة انتصارات جميعها الموسم الماضي في موسمه الأول مع برشلونة.
وجاءت أولى انتصارات هانز فليك كمدرب لبرشلونة بعد الفوز ضد ريال مدريد برباعية نظيفة في ملعب سانتياجو برنابيو، وحقق البارسا لقب الليجا بعد الفوز على ملعبه بأربعة أهداف لثلاثة.
أقرأ أيضاً.. رد فعل برشلونة بعد تأييد عقوبة هانز فليك بإيقافه عن مباراة ريال مدريد
كما حقق برشلونة انتصارين آخرين على غريمه التقليدي في مباراتين حاسمتين اولهما الفوز بكأس السوبر الإسباني في المملكة العربية السعودية بخمسة أهداف لهدفين، وتحقيق كأس الملك بثلاث أهداف لهدفين.
ولم يسبق لأي مدرب أن فاز بأربع مباريات كلاسيكو متتالية في هذا العدد من المباريات الرسمية في موسم واحد كما فعل برشلونة في خمس مباريات في موسم 1982-1983، وأصبح فليك ثاني مدرب في برشلونة يحقق أكبر عدد من الانتصارات المتتالية في الكلاسيكو ولا يتفوق عليه فقط سوى بيب جوارديولا الذي حقق خمس انتصارات بين موسمي 2008-2009 و2010-2011.
وفي حالة فوزه بالكلاسيكو يوم الأحد سيصبح هانز فليك ضمن قائمة الأكثر فوزاً في الكلاسيكو، حيث سيعادل جوزيه مورينيو على الرغم من أن البرتغالي حقق خمس انتصارات في 19 مباراة ولا يتقدم عليه سوى ميجيل مونوز وجوارديولا وكارلو أنشيلوتي ويوهان كرويف وزين الدين زيدان.
Jose Mourinho has warned Chelsea he will not be feeling sentimental when he attempts to lead Benfica to victory on his highly-anticipated return to Stamford Bridge. The Special One heads back to his old stomping ground on Tuesday evening when the Portuguese giants lock horns with Enzo Maresca’s Blues in the latest round of Champions League fixtures.
Mourinho enjoyed two trophy-laden spells as Chelsea manager
Mourinho established himself as one of the Premier League’s greatest-ever managers across two successful periods with Chelsea. In his first spell at the club, the 62-year-old led the west Londoners to six major honours between 2004 and 2007, including two league titles and one FA Cup. And after spells with Inter and Real Madrid, Mourinho made an emotional return to Chelsea in 2013, guiding them to another league title before departing in 2015.
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Special One plans to keep his emotions in check on Tuesday
However while he acknowledges that Chelsea will always be “home”, Mourinho is planning to keep his emotions in check when he returns to the Stamford Bridge touchline with Benfica.
Speaking to the media ahead of the match on Tuesday, Mourinho said: "I am feeling home. I already played here with Spurs, Manchester United and Inter. But I am not a Blue now. I am Red. And I want to win. I am expecting two teams wanting to win. Chelsea will only play for a victory, especially after losing the first game [against Bayern Munich]. We will have to defend well to win the game. Our tactical approach is to try and win the game.
"We have Chelsea, Real Madrid and Newcastle in this competition [the Champions League]. All these games are hard. So tomorrow we have to chase the points. Our Champions League fixtures are harder than Chelsea's games.”
Mourinho is confident he will not be jeered by Chelsea fans
And despite his presence in the opposing dugout, Mourinho is confident his trophy-laden spells at Chelsea will ensure he will not be jeered by supporters, adding: "I don't think Chelsea fans will boo me. At least when I am on the street they ask me for selfies and pictures.”
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Special One gives cheeky response when asked about Palmer's absence
One man who will miss Mourinho’s return to Chelsea will be Cole Palmer as the Blues forward spends a short period on the sidelines in an attempt to overcome the groin injury which has plagued his 2025-26 season so far. And when asked what he thought about Palmer’s planned absence ahead of his return with Benfica, Mourinho issued a cheeky response.
In quotes carried by Portuguese outlet Mourinho said following Benfica’s 2-1 Primeira Liga victory over Gil Vicente on Friday: “I'm happy [Palmer will be missing]. My Chelsea team was a winning machine, with a big investment, but a lot of ambition. Then they seemed to lose some direction, and it was tough for those who love the club. Enzo Maresca [Chelsea manager] arrived, and the puzzle is being completed piece by piece, and they won the Conference League. Now I think they have a good, good team, and if Cole Palmer isn't a problem for Chelsea [through injury], that's a big problem for me. If [Heorhiy] Sudakov or [Vangelis] Pavlidis don't play, that's a big problem for me.”
كشفت تقارير صحفية، عن تطورات بشأن مستقبل كارلو أنشيلوتي مدرب منتخب البرازيل، قبل انطلاق منافسات كأس العالم 2026.
ووفقاً لـ”جلوبو سبورتي” البرازيلية، فإن كارلو أنشيلوتي مستعد لتوقيع عقد جديد مع منتخب البرازيل حتى عام 2030، ليقودها إلى نهائيات كأس العالم في النسخة بعد القادمة.
وتتمثل الخطة في ضمان بقاء مدرب ريال مدريد السابق مع المنتخب، بغض النظر عن نتائج البرازيل في كأس العالم الذي سيقام في الولايات المتحدة والمكسيك وكندا عام 2026.
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وتُظهر رغبة منتخب البرازيل في تمديد عقد كارلو أنشيلوتي، مدى ثقة الاتحاد بالإيطالي المخضرم بعد محاولاته الطويلة لإغرائه بتولي المنصب.
وكان كارلو أنشيلوتي قد أكد في وقت سابق أنه سعيد بمنصب تدريب منتخب البرازيل، وأنه منفتح على قبول عقد أطول، وحقق الإيطالي حتى الآن ثلاث انتصارات، وتعرض لهزيمة واحدة أمام بوليفيا بهدف نظيف، وتعادل سلبيًا ضد الإكوادور.
وحقق منتخب البرازيل فوزًا كاسحًا أمس، في مباراة ودية ضد كوريا الجنوبية بخماسية نظيفة، ويبقى أنشيلوتي المدرب الوحيد تاريخيًا الذي حصد ألقاب الدوريات الأوروبية الخمس الكبرى.