أيمن الرمادي يهاجم فيريرا في بيان رسمي: ارتكب خطأ في حق الزمالك قد يحاسب عليه

أثار الحوار التلفزيوني الذي أدلى به البلجيكي يانيك فيريرا عقب رحيله عن نادي الزمالك جدلًا واسعًا، بعد أن حمل انتقادات مباشرة لطريقة العمل داخل النادي وغياب بعض الإمكانيات التي قال إنها أثّرت على مهمته الفنية.

وتسببت تصريحات فيريرا في موجة من ردود الأفعال بين الجماهير والمتابعين، خاصة بعدما تناول المدرب عدة ملفات حساسة تتعلق بكواليس عمله داخل الفريق، منها أمور تخص المنشآت، وملف التحليل الفني، وطبيعة التعاون بينه وبين الإدارة.

وفي هذا السياق، خرج أيمن الرمادي، المدير الفني السابق للزمالك والحالي للبنك الأهلي، ببيان رسمي للرد على ما قاله فيريرا، مؤكدًا أن ما ورد في الحوار يتضمن مغالطات تمس النادي وتاريخه ولا تعبّر عن الواقع، على حد وصفه.

وأوضح الرمادي في بيانه عبر صفحته الشخصية بموقع “فيس بوك” أنه يرفض الخوض في تقييم المدربين بحكم أخلاقيات مهنة التدريب، لكنه رأى أن حديث فيريرا تجاوزه، ما استدعَى منه توضيح العديد من النقاط وكشف كواليس تتعلق بعمل الفريق خلال فترته داخل القلعة البيضاء.

طالع أيضًا | فيريرا: صفقة وحيدة جاءت بموافقتي في الزمالك.. ويرد على أنباء تدخل جون إدوارد في التشكيل بيان أيمن الرمادي

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم، بسم الله نبدأ وبالله نستعين، وعليه نتوكل. اللهم صلِّ وسلم وبارك على سيدنا محمد وعلى آله وصحبه أجمعين.

لقد أرسل لي صديق أجزاء من حوار السيد يانيك فيريرا مع الكابتن شوبير، والحقيقة أن أقل ما يقال عن هذا الحوار أنه يفتقد لاحترام أدبيات مهنة التدريب. وعلى مدار 30 سنة عمل، لم أتعرض يومًا لتقييم عمل مدرب أو طرح رأيي في مدرب آخر. وحتى عندما كنت أقوم بالتحليل في بطولات أو مناسبات عبر قناة أبوظبي الرياضية أو دبي الرياضية، لم أقيّم مدربًا أو أقلّل منه، بل كنت أشرح فقط حالات خططية في الملعب، سواء إيجابية أو سلبية، دون إبداء رأيي في المدربين، خصوصًا الذين يعملون معنا في نفس الدوري، لأنني أعتبر ذلك من أهم آداب احترام المهنة.

ولكن مع حديث السيد يانيك فيريرا، فإنني أقول له: عفوًا فيريرا، لقد تجاوزت حدود احترام المهنة بكلامك عن أمور لم يكن ينبغي أن تتحدث فيها، احترامًا لتاريخ نادٍ هو أحد أكبر قطبين في تاريخ كرة القدم المصرية والأفريقية والعربية. وأعتبر أن حجتك ضعيفة في بعض الأمور التي طرحتها وقللت بها من قيمة نادٍ كبير وعريق.

يا مستر فيريرا، تحدثت بإسهاب عن موضوع تحليل فريق الأهلي وأنك بسبب قلة إمكانيات النادي لم تستطع تحليل المنافس. هل يُعقل هذا الكلام؟ هل مباريات الأهلي مقتصرة على البرنامج التحليلي؟ الأهلي يلعب كل 3 أو 4 أيام، ومبارياته متاحة حتى على اليوتيوب. تستطيع—بدون عناء—مشاهدة كل مباريات الأهلي وتحليل كل كبيرة وصغيرة دون برامج. وقد مررنا بأصعب من ذلك، وبدون الدخول في تفاصيل، قبل مباراة بيراميدز في نهائي الكأس شاهد الفريق كل التفاصيل رغم الظروف. فهل عدم دفع اشتراك برنامج تحليل يعوقك عن تحليل المنافس ونحن على مشارف عام 2026؟ هل هذا يعقل؟

طالع أيضًا | يانيك فيريرا يكشف كواليس مثيرة بشأن رحيله عن الزمالك: عرضت أموالًا على اللاعبين.. وتم طردي

أما الأمر الآخر، فمن حقك أن تطالب بحقوقك المادية، لكن ليس بهذه الطريقة يا صديقي. أعلم جيدًا أن مجلس الإدارة أخطأ في طريقة إنهاء خدماتك، فالأمر يجب أن يكون بالوضوح والمواجهة، وليس بالتهرب، لكن أمامك طرق شرعية للحصول على حقوقك، وهي طرق—سواء اتفقت معها أو اختلفت—تبقى شرعية، ومنها اللجوء إلى الفيفا. ولكن ليس من حقك نشر ما كان يدور داخل غرف مغلقة، فهذا خطأ قد تُحاسب عليه حتى من قبل الفيفا.

يا عزيزي، من أدبيات مهنة التدريب أنك طالما رضيت بالعمل داخل النادي، فلا تأتي بعد الإقالة لتشتكي من الملعب والغرفة والكراسي. أين كنت وقتها؟ ولماذا لم تكن حاسمًا مع الإدارة وقلت لهم بوضوح إن الملعب غير مناسب؟

وسأروي لك شيئًا حدث معي شخصيًا—ولا أذيع سرًا—فعقب أسبوع من العمل مع الزمالك، وتحديدًا يوم 8 مايو، قبل 25 يومًا من نهائي الكأس، طلبت بعض الأدوات مثل 8 مرمى صغير للتدريبات وبعض الأشرطة الخاصة بتدريبات الـExplosive Action، وغيرها. وشعرت بالمماطلة لمدة أسبوع، فما كان مني إلا أن توقفت عن التدريب وجلست على كرسي ورفضت النزول إلى الملعب حتى تُحضر الأدوات، وبالفعل أحضروها في اليوم التالي، ولو لم تُحضر لكنت تقدمت باستقالتي فورًا، لأن هذا عملي وأنا مؤتمن عليه أمام جمهور كبير.

ونفس الأمر مع طلب إقامة معسكر مغلق لمدة 4 أيام في الإسماعيلية. لو لم تستجب الإدارة لكنت استقلت فورًا. صحيح أننا اكتفينا بثلاثة أيام بدلًا من أربعة، ولكن ما لا يُدرك كله لا يُترك كله. فلماذا لم تُصر أنت على أدواتك وملعب محترم وغرفة اجتماعات؟ هذا ليس بالكثير على نادٍ كبير مثل الزمالك. وإن لم يستجيبوا، فالاستقالة موقف محترم.

للأسف كنت لا أرغب في الخوض في هذا الموضوع احترامًا للمهنة، ولكن حديثك وطريقة العرض استفزتني كثيرًا، ولذلك ولأول مرة أتحدث لكي يعرف الجميع الحقيقة، وليس تلك المبررات التي سردتها. التزمت الصمت خمسة أشهر كاملة، ولكن بعد حديثك الذي قلل من النادي الكبير، كان لابد من التوضيح، لأن حديثك—مع كامل الاحترام—مليء بالمغالطات.

الحقيقة أن الفريق بعد نهائي الكأس أخذ راحة سلبية قاربت 35 يومًا، إذ كان النهائي يوم 5 يونيو 2025، وبدأ التجمع يوم 8 يوليو. وكانت المفاجأة أن البرنامج يتضمن مباراة ودية بعد 72 ساعة من التجمع! أين يحدث هذا؟ وهل تقر علوم الفسيولوجي بهذا؟ وكانت النتيجة إصابة المدافع أحمد حسام بالرباط الصليبي، وكم كبير من الإصابات والمشاكل البدنية التي لم يتخلص منها الفريق حتى الآن. وغيرها كثير مما حدث.

وأحمّل إدارة النادي المسؤولية لأنها لم تستعن بتقريري الخاص بضرورة وجود Technical Director يفهم في الأمور الفنية، وكان قادرًا على منع ذلك. وأحقاقًا للحق، هذا ما أوصى به أيضًا أحمد حسام ميدو. لكن الإدارة اعتقدت—خطأً—أن السيد جون أدوار مدير رياضي، وهذا ليس تخصصه. عمله الأساسي مسؤول تعاقدات فقط، يتفاوض مع اللاعبين، وهذا يجيده. لكنه ليس من اختصاصه اختيار اللاعبين أو تحديد أسلوب اللعب أو مراقبة البرنامج التدريبي. وهذه كارثة كبيرة.

وفي نهاية الحديث، ملاحظة هامة: احترامي لهذا الكيان وحبي لجمهوره هو ما دفعني لكتابة هذا البيان دفاعًا عن نادٍ كبير ضد أي تصغير أو إساءة. ولكن ما يجعلني أتردد في الحديث هو أن البعض قد يظن أن لي مطمعًا في منصب. وعلى الرغم من أن العمل في الزمالك شرف لأي شخص، ورغم حبي للجمهور الذي هتف باسمي في مباراة تنافسية—وهو ما لم يحدث مع أحد—إلا أن كل من يعرفني يعلم أنني لا أطمع في أي منصب داخل النادي. السبب الأول هو أن طريقة العمل داخل الزمالك لا تناسبني ولا أنا مناسب لها، والسبب الثاني والأهم أنني أشغل منصب المدير الفني للبنك الأهلي، وأعمل تحت إدارة محترمة، وأنا سعيد جدًا بالعمل مع هذه المجموعة الرائعة من اللاعبين والجهاز الفني والإدارة.

مع خالص أمنياتي القلبية بالتوفيق للجميع.

The Brewers and Padres Are Missing a Key Ingredient of Modern World Series Champs

The two hottest National League teams over the past two months also happen to have been waiting the longest to win their first World Series. The Brewers (37–10 since June 20) and the Padres (29–20) have been around since 1969. The way they have been playing baseball gives their fans reasonable hope that this is finally the year.

Both teams are fun to watch. Both excel at traditional baseball values. The Brewers and Padres each rank among the three best pitching staffs in baseball, the four best defensive units as far as turning batted balls into outs and the five toughest teams to strike out. What’s not to like?

They don’t hit many home runs.

There is a difference between playing regular season baseball and tournament baseball. If the Brewers or Padres are going to win the World Series, they must defy a decade of data that suggests you need more power than those teams possess to win it all.

Milwaukee ranks 18th in home runs and 13th in slugging. San Diego is even more power starved. It ranks 29th in home runs and 25th in slugging.

Why does that matter? The past five World Series champions ranked among the four top home run hitting teams in baseball (in order from 2020: 1, 3, 4, 3, 3).

No team has won the World Series ranked in the bottom half of home runs or with fewer than 199 home runs since the 2015 Kansas City Royals, who ranked 24th with 139 homers. The Brewers are on pace to hit 174 homers. The Padres are on pace to hit 136 homers, which would be the lowest for a full-season world champion in 28 years.

We love to think that putting the ball in play and small ball wins in October. That may have been true once. Not now. The game is far different today than in 2015, when a team like the Royals could slash their way to a title. Compared to 2015, today’s game has 13% more homers, 10% more walks, 7% more strikeouts, 4% fewer hits and 52% fewer sacrifice hits.

Consider how baseball changed in the postseason last year as compared to the regular season. As you might expect, hitting and slugging decreased. The batting average dropped by 12 points. Counterintuitively, home runs went .

2024 MLB Hitting

AVG

SLG

H/G

HR/G

Regular Season

.243

.399

16.4

2.24

Postseason

.231

.378

15.3

2.28

You would think small ball tactics would play up in a more difficult hitting environment. But home runs became even more important. As hits become rarer, the quick strike of the home run swing becomes more necessary. Winning a game without a home run was harder to do in the postseason last year than in the regular season.

Team Games With No Home Runs, 2024

W–L

Pct.

Pct. of Wins

Regular Season

519–1,123

.316

21.4%

Postseason

9–20

.310

20.9%

The notion that teams who put the ball in play are best equipped for the postseason has not been true for years. The correlation between winning it all and home runs has become much stronger than the one between winning it all and avoiding strikeouts.

MLB Ranks by World Series Champions

Home Runs

Strikeouts

2024 Dodgers

3

12

2023 Rangers

3

17

2022 Astros

4

2

2021 Braves

3

20

2020 Dodgers

1

4

2019 Nationals

13

4

2018 Red Sox

9

5

2017 Astros

2

1

2016 Cubs

13

22

Average

5.7

9.7

Ideally, you want it all, like the championship Astros teams: power with the ability to make contact. But if you had to lean toward one, you would take the power.

Milwaukee is not power-starved. Though it ranks below average in home runs, its power is on the upswing, as the addition of Andrew Vaughn and the revival of Brice Turang lengthen the lineup. The Brewers have improved their slug for a third straight month. Their .532 slug this month threatens to set a franchise record, eclipsing the .510 mark from June 1982. If they keep this up, we will have to look at them differently.

MORE: SI:AM | The Brewers’ Streak by the Numbers

San Diego has a low power ceiling, though the deadline additions of Ramon Laureano and Ryan O’Hearn help. Three players—Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr. and Gavin Sheets—have hit almost half of the team’s home runs (52 of 105). Only four teams in the wild card era ever made the playoffs with a slug worse than the Padres’ .382 mark (2014 Cardinals, Royals and Athletics and the '22 Rays).

The Padres have the potential for more power, especially if Jackson Merrill (six HR in 81 games since returning from a hamstring injury) recovers to his 2024 form and Tatis (no home runs in his past 79 at-bats) gets on a run, though expectations should be recalibrated. Since he returned from his PED suspension and shoulder surgery, Tatis has good power but not the elite power he showed in his first three seasons.

Tatis Jr. Splits by Age

G

SLG

EV

OPS+

20-22

273

.596

93.2

160

24-26

364

.456

92.7

120

The Brewers and Padres each have a well-defined identity and a clear path to the title. Milwaukee pressures teams with baserunning, bunting, putting the ball in play, catching the ball and clean baseball. Their pitching staff has wipeout stuff at the front of the rotation and back end of the bullpen. In a telling measurement of pure stuff—and a harbinger of what it takes to win in October—Brewers pitchers allow the fifth lowest slugging percentage on pitches

The toughest team to slug against on challenge stuff? The Padres. Their path to victory is built on putting the ball in play and shortening games with a deep bullpen.

Neither team relies heavily on power. If the usual rules of engagement apply to tournament baseball, the Yankees (first in home runs), Dodgers (second) and Mariners (third) are best equipped for the title, with the Cubs (seventh), Mets (eighth) and Tigers (ninth) in the next tier.

But past is not always prologue. Home runs may be the coin of the postseason realm in recent years, but at any point that can change in the small sample size theater of the postseason. The Brewers and Padres were not built to follow the unwritten rules of October, but to break them.

"Superb" – Mikel Arteta blown away by under the radar Arsenal star in Bayern Munich win

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has piled praise on a Gunners star who perhaps went unnoticed during their 3-1 win over Bayern Munich.

Arsenal end Bayern Munich unbeaten streak with 3-1 victory

Vincent Kompany’s Bundesliga champions went into Wednesday night’s Champions League clash off the back of a season-long unbeaten streak, winning all but one of their total games in all competitions.

It was Arsenal’s biggest test on paper, but Arteta’s side passed it with flying colours.

Arsenal delivered a commanding second-half performance to defeat Bayern at the Emirates Stadium, extending their perfect Champions League record to five wins from five matches and establishing themselves as genuine European contenders.

Arteta’s side opened the scoring through Jurrien Timber, who powered home a header from Bukayo Saka’s corner after 22 minutes. The Dutchman’s near-post run proved decisive as he guided his effort beyond Manuel Neuer, continuing Arsenal’s remarkable threat from set-pieces this season.

Arteta reveals what he told Calafiori right before Arsenal assist in Bayern win

The Spaniard gave a key instruction.

ByEmilio Galantini Nov 27, 2025

Bayern responded ten minutes later when 17-year-old sensation Lennart Karl announced himself on the big stage with a composed finish. Joshua Kimmich’s accurate pass found ex-Arsenal winger Serge Gnabry, who cushioned the ball into Karl’s path and allowed the teenager to volley emphatically into the roof of the net — with the home side conceding their first goal in Europe this season.

However, the second period belonged entirely to the Gunners, who began to dominate.

Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest

Athletic Bilbao 0-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 1-1 Man City

Port Vale 0-2 Arsenal

Newcastle 1-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 2-0 Olympiacos

Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

Fulham 0-1 Arsenal

Arsenal 4-0 Atlético Madrid

Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace

Arsenal 2-0 Brighton

Burnley 0-2 Arsenal

Slavia Prague 0-3 Arsenal

Sunderland 2-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 4-1 Tottenham

Arsenal 3-1 Bayern Munich

Noni Madueke, introduced as a first-half substitute for Leandro Trossard, broke the deadlock with his first Arsenal goal after two months out with a knee injury. The winger’s clinical finish, feeding off fellow sub Riccardo Calafiori, restored the lead and shifted momentum decisively in the home side’s favour.

Gabriel Martinelli sealed the victory seven minutes later after capitalizing on a catastrophic error from Neuer, with the result sending Arsenal three points clear at the top of the Champions League table and sealing their first victory over Bayern in a decade.

Captain Martin Odegaard made his comeback from injury as a late substitute too, providing further encouragement ahead of Sunday’s crucial Premier League clash with second-placed Chelsea.Declan Rice was simply sensational against Bayern, with the midfielder dominating in midfield and causing Kompany’s men all sorts of problems.Arteta’s substitutions were inspired as well, but one man who delivered yet again was summer signing Cristhian Mosquera.

Mikel Arteta praises Cristhian Mosquera after Arsenal display in Bayern win

The young Spaniard came in to partner William Saliba in place of Piero Hincapie and the injured Gabriel Magalhaes, and despite being scarcely mentioned by critics, Mosquera impressed against Bayern.

Arteta, speaking in his post-match press conference, reserved special praise for the ex-Valencia star.

Those within Arsenal believe the 21-year-old could become one of world football’s best centre-backs in the next few years, and nothing we have seen has given us any reason to doubt that theory.Mosquera made his Premier League debut in Saliba’s stead against Liverpool at Anfield in August, barely setting a foot wrong despite being given a baptism of fire.The youngster does a quite simply brilliant job whenever called upon, and the initial £13 million that Arsenal paid Valencia for his services back in June is beginning to look like one of the bargains of 2025.

Chelsea considering £120m double deal to sign two players from the same club

Chelsea are now considering a marquee transfer double deal to bolster Enzo Maresca’s squad ahead of 2026, according to reports.

Chelsea tipped as Premier League title contenders ahead of Arsenal

On the pitch, their Premier League title credentials are set for a stern evaluation as they prepare for a blockbuster face-off against frontrunners Arsenal this weekend.

Sunday’s heavyweight clash between the London rivals at Stamford Bridge will provide the clearest indication yet of whether Maresca’s youthful side genuinely belong in the conversation, or if they still remain a year away from challenging for football’s ultimate prize.

The debate surrounding Chelsea’s title credentials has intensified following their impressive recent run, with Maresca himself refusing to rule out the possibility, in stark contrast to last year.

Tuesday’s 3-0 dismantling of Barcelona in the Champions League demonstrated their ability to deliver against Europe’s elite even without superstar Cole Palmer, with Estevao taking all the headlines after his masterclass against the Catalans.

Luckily for Maresca, Palmer is back to full fitness and available to play Arsenal, with Maresca handed the desired conundrum of fitting both the England international and Estevao into the same team.

Chelsea’s boss has grown adept when it comes to tinkering with his side, having made more first eleven changes than any other manager in the Premier League by far this season.

However, they could hardly ask for a tougher test on paper than Arsenal, who are currently 16 games unbeaten in all competitions and fresh off a statement Champions League performance themselves.

Chelsea have already signed "the next Cristiano Ronaldo" for half of his release clause

He could be their next Estevao-esque talent.

By
Emilio Galantini

Nov 27, 2025

Mikel Arteta’s side have established themselves as the benchmark to beat, and their unbeaten seven-game run against Chelsea will gift the Gunners major confidence heading into their west London tie.

Off the field, BlueCo are devising yet more plans to strengthen the Chelsea squad in future windows, despite spending nearly £300 million in the summer.

Chelsea considering £120m double deal for FC Porto's Aghehowa and Froholdt

As per reports from Spain, Chelsea are considering an ambitious £120 million deal for two talented FC Porto players, with Victor Froholdt and Samu Aghehowa emerging as top targets.

Froholdt, a 19-year-old midfielder, has captured Chelsea’s attention through his exceptional composure in possession from deep positions. The west Londoners are apparently fans of the teenager’s technical ability, and believe he could slot in seamlessly alongside Enzo Fernández and Moisés Caicedo.

Meanwhile, Aghehowa also appeals to Chelsea’s recruitment team after his stellar 2025.

The 21-year-old striker has established himself as a consistent goalscorer in Portugal, bagging 27 goals in 45 games last term, and has continued that fine form by hitting double figures this season.

Aghehowa is a familiar name to Chelsea, having once come close to signing the Spain international back in 2024.

Both players align with their transfer strategy when it comes to recruiting world football’s most exciting young talents, but the competition for Aghehowa’s signature alone means this won’t be easy by any means.

Liverpool back in pole position for Marc Guehi transfer but will have to cough up in January for £35m-rated Crystal Palace star to see off Bayern Munich competition

Arne Slot's Liverpool are reportedly once again in pole position to land Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace in the January transfer window. The Reds narrowly missed out on the defender last summer but Palace are now considering a sale in the winter window to avoid losing the England international for free in summer 2026. Bayern Munich are also admirers, but the Reds are leading the race to finally land Guehi for a fee of around £35 million ($46m).

  • Guehi to move in January?

    Palace have become "convinced" that Liverpool are the top contenders to sign Guehi and are now considering a winter sale, according to . Guehi will be able to talk to foreign clubs from the start of January, a situation that may push Palace into accepting an offer for their England international midway through the season. Bayern retain an interest in the centre-back but are said to be "less active" than Liverpool ahead of the reopening of the transfer window.

  • Advertisement

  • Getty Images Sport

    Slot talks January transfers

    Liverpool manager Slot has come under pressure after a dismal start to the Premier League season. Saturday's defeat to Nottingham Forest was Liverpool's sixth of the season and means the defending Premier League champions are now in the bottom half of the table. Slot was asked about potential winter transfers ahead of the game but hinted that defensive additions were not a priority.

    He told reporters: "This is one of the questions I didn’t expect. There are so many games before that. In the position that we are in, it’s the last thing on my mind. Maybe not for Richard [Hughes, sporting director], but it’s not a topic at all for me at the moment. We have three centre-backs, maybe Ryan [Gravenberch] and Wata [Endo] as well. Maybe you are not aware of it yet, but we have other positions that are maybe more of an issue.

    "Variation of form is not only with the new signings, it is also with the players we had. In a season, they are not always in the same form. But the biggest issue we have faced until now – and are still facing – is the match fitness of the players and the time they have missed in pre-season. Alex [Isak] now we were hoping he would play a bit more for Sweden, but unfortunately, he was one yellow away from being suspended, so for obvious reasons, they didn’t play him the second time.

    "For us, it would have been better if he had played more minutes. Conor [Bradley] and Florian [Wirtz] are out, Jeremie [Frimpong] is already out, Giovanni Leoni as well, so at the moment we have five natural defenders available for seven games in 21 days and I don’t see anyone coming back before that. We knew it was hard when you bring players in a little bit later, it’s harder to keep them fit and there is more emphasis on the ones who are fit."

  • Glasner offers Guehi update

    Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has already confirmed that Guehi won't sign a new contract at Selhurst Park and offered another update on the situation ahead of Saturday's encounter with Wolves. He told reporters: "I don't know. Again, It will be the club's decision. Marc shows every week that he is 100% committed to Crystal Palace. I don't think about it – I think we have 15 games until 10 January, it is so busy and it makes no sense to have my thoughts in the transfer window. Of course we are always prepared, but I don't know what will happen."

  • ENJOYED THIS STORY?

    Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

  • Getty Images Sport

    What next? Liverpool told to buy a defender in January

    Liverpool spent heavily last summer on players including Alexander Isak, Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz but have been in dreadful form so far in 2025-26 and have looked vulnerable defensively. The situation may tempt the Reds into splashing out again in January, with Jamie Carragher adamant a defensive reinforcement is needed. He told Sky Sports: "Liverpool need to spend in January, they need to buy a centre-back, they should have bought a centre-back in the summer. Liverpool are probably one injury away at centre-back from really derailing the season, so they have to go to the market in January."

Frank can forget Johnson by unleashing Spurs' answer to Bukayo Saka

Tottenham Hotspur are set to face bitter North London rivals Arsenal at the Emirates this afternoon, with the clash against the Gunners no doubt the biggest of the 2025/26 campaign to date.

Thomas Frank will be getting his first taste of what the Derby has to offer, but he will undoubtedly be hoping to be on the winning side later on this evening.

However, he faces a huge challenge ahead of him, with Mikel Arteta’s team currently sitting top of the Premier League and remaining unbeaten on home soil after their first five encounters.

To make things worse for the Lilywhites, they have only beaten the Gunners once away from home in the last 32 matches, with Frank potentially writing himself into the history books this afternoon.

If his men are to claim all three points against their bitter rivals, the manager desperately needs to drop one player from his starting eleven after his recent dismal form.

Why Brennan Johnson needs to be dropped against Arsenal

Brennan Johnson has endured a massive decline over the last couple of weeks, with the Welshman unable to match his form from the 2024/25 campaign.

The 24-year-old has only found the net twice in his first 11 outings of the league season, with his last effort coming way back in the 2-0 victory over Manchester City at the end of August.

However, he did start the last outing against Manchester United before the international break, but failed to deliver and made it nine games without a goal in England’s top-flight.

His underlying stats showcase his lack of impact against the Red Devils, with the Welshman only able to complete 50% of the dribbles he attempted in North London.

Johnson also only managed to find a teammate with one of his five crosses, whilst also failing to register a single shot on goal during his 90-minute display.

He gifted possession back to the opposition on 18 separate occasions – the most of any player in the squad – further highlighting his lack of success in the meeting.

As a result, the manager desperately needs to drop him from his starting eleven, with one player deserving of the opportunity to thrive against the club’s bitter rivals.

The Spurs player who can secure bragging rights over Arsenal

During the recent draw with Ruben Amorim’s men, Frank made some crucial substitutions that managed to save the game and secure a vital point in the Premier League.

Mathys Tel was brought off the substitutes bench in the 79th minute against the Red Devils and made an immediate impact on the meeting – as he scored just five minutes after stepping onto the field.

He wasn’t alone in thriving after his addition, with winger Wilson Odobert grabbing the assist for Richarlison’s stoppage-time effort, with both massively staking their claim for a starting role.

However, it’s unclear whether the manager will decide to hand any of the aforementioned stars a rare start – but they are massively deserving of an opportunity from a starting role.

Instead, Frank should look to recall a man who was billed as “Arsenal’s perfect Saka replacement” by pundit Adrian Clarke. Indeed, that man is Mohammed Kudus who must return to the starting eleven after missing each of the last two outings in all competitions with a minor injury.

The £150k-per-week Ghanaian only joined the Lilywhites in a £55m deal from West Ham United in the summer, but he’s wasted no time in impressing and is arguably one of the club’s most important players.

He’s already opened his account for the Lilywhites, whilst laying on four assists in the process – a tally which is the joint-highest of any player in the division.

Johnson has had the opportunity to fill the void in recent weeks, but he’s been unable to do so, with the manager needing to recall the 25-year-old this afternoon.

Kudus, who’s been labelled “world-class” by one analyst, has only lost once to the Gunners in his four previous meetings – even finding the net in the Carabao Cup win back in November 2023.

Mohammed Kudus – PL stats (25/26)

Statistics

Tally

Spurs rank

xG generated

1.39

3rd

xA registered

1.26

1st

Assists

4

1st

Big chances created

2

1st

Key passes per game

1.9

1st

Dribbles completed per game

3.6

1st

Stats via Sofascore

His numbers from the ongoing season, coupled with his previous wins against today’s opponents, showcase his ability to cause carnage in attacking areas when having the chance.

Given such numbers in recent history, Frank desperately needs to start the winger at the Emirates, with his pace and quality on the ball a real danger to any side that dares to stop him.

It’s a massive game and one that the supporters always want to win, with their chances of claiming a rare victory potentially falling into the hands of Kudus.

Spurs must sell "one of the worst signings in PL history" to fund Semenyo

Tottenham Hotspur must sell one player if they are to land Antoine Semenyo in January.

1 ByEthan Lamb Nov 20, 2025

Real Madrid pull the plug! Los Blancos remove Liverpool star Ibrahima Konate from summer shortlist after alarming dip in form

Real Madrid have reportedly abruptly ended their interest in Liverpool centre-back Ibrahima Konate amid his poor form for the club. The France international is in the last year of his contract and so far has shown no signs of extending his stay on Merseyside. However, his hopes of a dream move to Los Blancos appears to be over ahead of the January transfer window.

Konate issues Liverpool rallying cry amid contract uncertainty

Last season, Liverpool appeared to be in a huge bind as key trio Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah, and Trent Alexander-Arnold were in the last few months of their Liverpool deals. Fortunately for the Reds, captain Van Dijk and star forward Salah signed new two-year contracts, but Alexander-Arnold chose to leave, before eventually signing for Madrid. Liverpool have reportedly been trying to extend the stay of defender Konate, whose terms run until 2026, but so far, no breakthrough has been struck. The Frenchman was linked with Los Blancos earlier this year, and amid that speculation, he gave a rather coy comment on his future. 

He said a fortnight ago: "My agents continue to discuss with Liverpool. I hope my decision will be made very soon so I can announce it." He also rubbished claims the Reds had approached him with a new contract.

It seems, however, that this contract uncertainty has led to Konate taking his eye off the ball, with the ex-RB Leipzig man making a string of mistakes this season – the latest of which was in his side's humbling 4-1 defeat to PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League. 

After that loss, he wrote on social media: "We have to take this moment on the chest. Criticism is part of football, and we’ll fight back every time and come through this storm. In these moments, the fans matter most. The ones who stand with us in the good times and the bad – the ones who sing for us even in the difficult moments! Your voice and your support mean everything to us. We know we need to improve and we’ll keep fighting for you. Always."

Advertisement(C)Getty ImagesReal Madrid move on from Konate

According to The Athletic, Liverpool tried to extend Konate's deal way back in 2023. But fast forward to the present and it is uncertain where he will be playing in 2026. The report states that Madrid have informed Liverpool they now have 'no interest' in signing the 26-year-old. That could strengthen the Reds' hand in the contract negotiation stakes, although Konate will be able to talk to foreign clubs in January in regards to a possible pre-contract agreement for the summer. The former Sochaux man has chalked up 150 appearances for Liverpool, and over the years, he has been a competent ally to team-mate and fellow defender Van Dijk. Although his form has nosedived this season, manager Slot continues to pick the 6ft 4in player, partially because they are short on defensive options. Their inability to land Crystal Palace star Marc Guehi is looking more and more costly.

Konate sent Liverpool contract message

Former Liverpool ace Vladimir Smicer believes that Konate should decide on his Anfield future as soon as possible. If he does that, the Frenchman's form could improve.

He told BOYLE Sports: "We've seen this last season with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk, and Mohamed Salah. Two players stayed, one went. Personally, I don't like this situation (with expiring contracts). I think for the players, it's better when they know their future. At the moment, I can't see if Ibrahim Konate is sure about his next move. Anytime he's not performing at the top level, the fans question his contract situation. It's normal, it will always be like this.

"If you commit your future, then the fans will say, 'Okay, maybe he was not good today' – but because the situation is like this, anytime he makes a mistake, they will say, 'He will go.' That will be in his head. We experienced this situation last season with three players, but personally, when I was playing, I always wanted a long-term contract. It's better for your confidence, for your life, for your position in the team. I knew my future, and I committed to the team. I’d like Konate to decide as soon as possible what he's going to do in the future."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

AFPWhat comes next for Konate?

With Madrid pulling the plug on a potential Konate move, the France ace will hope to fire Liverpool to victory this weekend away at lowly West Ham. Subsequent games against Sunderland and Leeds United could reportedly determine the fate of Reds boss Slot.

India, South Africa seek momentum amid unpredictable World Cup

India haven’t had a perfect game yet, and they head into Vizag bracing for a battle of resilience

Vishal Dikshit08-Oct-20254:10

Two wins in two, but scratchy start for India?

Big Picture

When close to 800 runs were scored between India and Australia 10 days before the start of the World Cup, this tournament was being billed as the biggest run-fest of them all. But since then, we have seen South Africa bowled out for 69, India suffer two collapses, the 275 mark breached just once, and even Australia collapse to 76 for 7.The action now moves to Visakhapatnam, the fourth venue of this World Cup, where the Indian team held preparatory camps in the lead up to the tournament, and where five women’s ODIs have been played before, the last in 2014, but none involving South Africa. They arrive here after contrasting results in their first two games, but they have the personnel in terms of batters, spinners and quicks to adapt to whatever the damp conditions in Visakhapatnam throw at them.India’s first two wins were far from their “perfect game,” as Jemimah Rodrigues put it on Wednesday, and with this fixture, they head into a 10-day period of big clashes against South Africa, Australia and England, which could well decide their fate in this home World Cup. South Africa were the ones who had knocked India out of the semi-final race in the last ODI World Cup but they have since been beaten 5-0 by India, including the three ODIs last year in India and the two in the Sri Lanka tri-series earlier this year.With some rain around in this city too, both teams will be desperate to continue their winning ways.Related

  • Brits and Gardner enter top five in women's ODI batters' rankings

  • Mithali Raj and Ravi Kalpana to have stands named after them at Vizag stadium

  • From 69 all out to statement win – South Africa restore World Cup credentials

  • Stats – Tazmin Brits fastest to seven hundreds in women's ODIs

Form guide

India WWLWL (last five completed matches, most recen first)
South Africa WLLWW

In the spotlight

Between them, Tazmin Brits and Smriti Mandhana have scored nine of the 29 centuries this year by players from teams in this World Cup. Brits’ five are the most centuries in a calendar year, with Mandhana right on her heels with four. Mandhana, meanwhile, has played five innings more than Brits’ 11 this year and has 959 runs against Brits’ 749. And if Brits recently became the fastest to seven ODI hundreds (in 41 innings), Mandhana had recently smashed the second-fastest ODI century, against world champions Australia.Thursday will see a clash of not just two of the most prolific ODI openers but batters in recent times, who have been rewriting one record book after another. While Brits’ 101 against New Zealand got South Africa their first points, India will hope Mandhana follows on Brits’ footsteps having started the tournament with two low scores.3:04

‘South Africa can’t afford to drop points from here’

Team news

India were without Amanjot Kaur for the Pakistan game because of a fever and she will likely be back for this game, having bowled and batted in the nets at length on Tuesday evening. How they slot her back is the question because her replacement Renuka Singh bowled tidily with the new ball and sent down a maiden to finish with 0 for 29 from her 10 overs. India will also wonder if their five-bowler strategy will be good enough against a side that scored 234 in under 41 overs a few days ago. The only way to add a sixth bowler is by dropping a batter, which isn’t straightforward at all.India (possible): 1 Smriti Mandhana, 2 Prtika Rawal, 3 Harleen Deol, 4 Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), 5 Jemimah Rodrigues, 6 Richa Ghosh (wk), 7 Deepti Sharma, 8 Amanjot Kaur, 9 Sneh Rana, 10 Shree Charani, 11 Kranti GoudSouth Africa may not feel the need to change their winning XI from the New Zealand match in Indore although conditions in Visakhapatnam may not be as flat. But the pressure is mounting on Anneke Bosch at No. 5 who has scores of 0, 6 and 10 in her last three ODIs, and South Africa have so far kept out pace-bowling allrounder Annerie Dercksen, being seen as Marizanne Kapp’s successor.South Africa (possible): 1 Laura Wolvaardt (capt), 2 Tazmin Brits, 3 Sune Luss, 4 Marizanne Kapp, 5 Anneke Bosch/ Annerie Dercksen, 6 Sinalo Jafta (wkt), 7 Chloe Tryon, 8 Nadine de Klerk, 9 Masabata Klaas, 10 Ayabonga Khaka, 11 Nonkululeko Mlaba

Pitch and conditions

There was a brief shower two days before the game and a slightly longer spell the day before, but neither too threatening to pose a threat of a washout on game day. There are some spells expected on Wednesday afternoon too, but not as bad as the one in Colombo for Australia vs Sri Lanka. While keeping with the theme of the other venues of this World Cup these two teams have played at – Indore, Guwahati and Colombo – Visakhapatnam is going to be muggy too, with temperatures capping in the early thirties, but could feel a lot worse. Rodrigues said on match eve a score around 270-odd could be competitive at this ground.Richa Ghosh was in a cheerful mood during India’s training session•ICC via Getty Images

Stats and trivia

  • Marizanne Kapp became the most capped South Africa player in ODIs, with 155 matches, by overtaking Mignon du Preez in their last game.
  • Mandhana has scored three centuries against South Africa and averages 53.29 against them, with 906 runs in 18 innings. Harmanpreet’s average is even better, even if marginally, at 53.46 with 802 runs from 23 outings.
  • Harmanpreet is 84 away from 1000 runs in ODI World Cups. Mithali Raj is the only Indian who has a tally of over 1000 in World Cups and is second overall with 1321 runs behind Debbie Hockley’s 1501.
  • Kapp is four wickets away from equaling Shabnim Ismail (36) for most wickets by a South African at World Cups. Jhulan Goswami leads the list with 43.

    Quotes

    “Yes, we have had small contributions from the top order and the middle order. But we have had new match winners every match. So, I feel if an enemy team, the opponent team is seeing us, they will know that we have batting till the end. So maybe if one doesn’t click, the other is taking the responsibility. I think how I would put it forth, it’s scary for the opponents to know that we have not had our perfect match yet.”
    “I think this World Cup is all about fight and character at the end of the day and I think we’ve shown that in the last game. You have to be at your very best from the first game, and we weren’t against England and we got put under pressure, so I think it was just an eye opener and we have to be ready for every single game we play.”

  • TNT Sports turn to cycling and rugby commentators for UK Ashes coverage

    TNT Sports will rely on rugby union and cycling specialists to lead their Ashes coverage from the UK in an unusual hybrid commentary model which will also involve a team of pundits in Australia.The subscription broadcaster, formerly BT Sport, also covered the 2021-22 Ashes but, on that occasion, it relied primarily on the world feed provided by Fox Sports, supplemented by a studio team in the UK. This time, Alastair Cook, Steven Finn and Graeme Swann will work as on-site pundits in Australia but Alastair Eykyn and Rob Hatch, two TNT regulars, will lead commentary from home.TNT will also send presenter Becky Ives to Australia for the duration of the series, while Ebony Rainford-Brent will be part of their commentary team from the UK. Their coverage will also include daily highlights shows and a review programme called after each Test in a primetime slot.Scott Young, executive vice president at Warner Bros Discovery Sports Europe (which owns TNT), said that Eykyn and Hatch are “huge cricket fans” despite their limited professional experience in the sport. “They will not try to pretend they are part of cricket history,” Young said. “They are great commentators in their own right… who can really drive a narrative.”He added that WDB ruled out the prospect of using the world feed commentary soon after securing the rights, and said that TNT’s coverage should appeal to more general sports fans: “The Ashes is a step above that. TNT Sports is a step above that… Nothing against the world feed, which will be a great production. But we needed to talk about what the Ashes meant to our audience, to TNT Sports.Related

    • Joe Root, the Peter Pan of batting, has pulled ahead of Cook and Pietersen. Will he reel Tendulkar in?

    • Piers Morgan apologises to Alastair Cook for '38 weasel references'

    • Who will be the spear to Usman Khawaja's shield for Australia?

    • Bethell bids for NZ highlights reel to stake Ashes claim

    • Warner backs Konstas for Ashes, prefers Labuschagne at No. 3

    “That’s why we’re bringing many of our sports broadcasters into the fold. It’s about bringing the football, rugby, even fight-sports fan-base, and making them aware of the Ashes as a moment in time. This is not just a cricket Test, it’s the Ashes. If we can get people who are not normally going to watch cricket for a day or a Test, then that’s very much part of the TNT Sports ethos.”Last year, TNT sent Cook, Finn and presenter Kate Mason to Sweden to cover England’s Test series in India remotely, citing a lack of availability of studio space in London. The unusual arrangement came after they secured the UK rights at such short notice that Matt Floyd presented their coverage on his own for the first Test, without studio guests.TNT has gradually expanded its rights portfolio to the extent that it will broadcast all three England men’s bilateral tours this winter, with white-ball series in New Zealand and Sri Lanka either side of the Ashes. However, Sky Sports remains the exclusive UK rights-holder to broadcast England’s home internationals and ICC events.Young also claimed that viewers “won’t know” where commentators are during live action, even if they are 10,000 miles away from one another. “There are different ways we will do it,” he said. “Our play-by-play team will be here. The pundits will be here, or on-site. The way it works is that you won’t know where they are, the way the commentary booths are set up.”Graeme Swann commentates at the 2025 IPL•R Param/BCCI

    Cook and Finn are both regulars on the BBC’s but have signed exclusive deals with TNT for the series, so will not appear on radio coverage. At the launch of TNT’s coverage at The Oval on Tuesday, Cook said that England have “a really good chance” of winning the series if “a few things” go their way.”Certainly, they’ve got more chance than sides previously going down,” he said. “I think we’d all be naive to say that Australia aren’t favourites, just with the history of the sides and the fact that [England] haven’t won a Test match [in Australia] since 2011. However, you start looking at the way this England side play, and you actually think, ‘Yeah, they’ve got a really good chance.'”I won’t say they’re fearful of England, but everyone who plays England now knows that if you’re not on it for every minute, this side has the ability – which not many other sides have – to change games in an hour or two, and make such a big impact. That’s the way that [Ben] Stokes and [Brendon] McCullum want to play, and they’ve got the players which are capable of doing it.”Cook believes that England’s hopes rest on making a strong start to the series, citing their resilience in the drawn Brisbane Test during their 2010-11 triumph in Australia. “[The fans] started respecting how we played cricket and how good that team was and it definitely helped, and they put Australia under pressure.”Remember, Australia don’t lose many Ashes series at home. If England can be in this series after three games, that pressure switches massively onto Australia… The challenge is can they stay in it well enough, and play good enough early on, that they start making Australia doubt their style, and getting their public to doubt their team?”The traditional media phoney war has stepped up in recent days. David Warner joked on Monday that England are playing for “a moral victory” and predicted a 4-0 Australia win, to which his old nemesis Stuart Broad responded that Australia’s side is the weakest it has been since England’s victory in 2010-11.Watch TNT Sports’ live exclusive coverage of the Ashes on TNT Sports and discovery+.

    Liverpool teenager who's 'like Pogba' could end Mac Allister's Anfield stay

    Ibrahima Konate has probably received more flak than any other Liverpool player this season, and understandably so, but he’s hardly the only member of Arne Slot’s squad who has been flattering to deceive.

    Mohamed Salah is horribly out of sorts on the right flank; record signings Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak have both yet to produce even a portion of the world-class quality FSG paid for; even the skipper, Virgil van Dijk, has lacked his usual indomitability, with his leadership being questioned too.

    It’s all gone a bit wrong for Slot and his team this season, so fragile and brittle, so susceptible to the physical side of the game.

    The midfield have been limp and toothless, and after two campaigns of undeniable brilliance, Alexis Mac Allister looks a shadow of his finest self, and fans are questioning why.

    Why Mac Allister is struggling for Liverpool

    Mac Allister is a seasoned part of this Liverpool team now. A leader and among Slot’s most trusted lieutenants, he was instrumental in last season’s title-winning success, the perfect counterpoint to Ryan Gravenberch in his deep-lying berth.

    But the 26-year-old has fallen off a proverbial cliff since the summer, almost unrecognisable in the middle of the park. Mac Allister looks sapped, leggy. This dynamic, creative, though-tackling midfielder has been relegated to the realm of the mundane, with one content creator even suggesting the Argentine looks like “looks like Fabinho’s season”.

    This isn’t good, of course, and Slot may need to start turning toward some left-field solutions. Repetition without results is the first sign of madness – right? – so the Dutch head coach surely needs to rewire his engine room if things do not change for the better over the coming weeks.

    Matches (starts)

    35 (30)

    11 (10)

    Goals

    5

    0

    Assists

    5

    2

    Touches*

    55.8

    47.2

    Accurate passes*

    35.5 (87%)

    31.5 (86%)

    Key passes*

    1.3

    0.9

    Dribbles*

    0.5

    0.1

    Ball recoveries*

    4.2

    2.9

    Tackles + interceptions*

    3.3

    1.5

    Clearances*

    0.8

    0.8

    Duels (won)*

    4.9 (48%)

    2.5 (44%)

    Liverpool wouldn’t want to part with the South American star, who has been so impressive since joining from Brighton in 2023, but Slot may find that he has a central midfielder tearing away from the academy who might actually come to take Mac Allister’s spot for him.

    He’s even been likened to former Manchester United superstar Paul Pogba.

    The Liverpool teen who could replace Mac Allister

    Pogba, who made his long-anticipated return to competitive football with AS Monaco last weekend, was once one of the most famous faces in the Premier League, having re-joined Manchester United from Juventus for a world-record £89m fee in 2016.

    Paul Pogba at Manchester United.

    The Frenchman’s career has been one of ups and downs, but he undoubtedly boasts obscene amounts of natural ability, and in this, Liverpool are beginning to get excited given the likeness shared with Trey Nyoni.

    Nyoni is only 18, but already he has featured eight times for Liverpool’s first team, making the bench on five separate occasions in the Premier League this season.

    His long, limber frame and ability to use his physicality to tussle with stockier opponents are reminiscent of Pogba back in his earlier days, and the surpassing technical quality that has seen him ascend from academy level to the major stage is further evidence that Liverpool have got a gem on their hands.

    Praised for his “simply exceptional” range of passing by journalist Lewis Bower, Nyoni is raw and unpolished but boasts such a staggering reservoir of natural gifts that he will surely reach the top of the game with care and focus on raising his physicality.

    Analyst Ben Mattinson remarked last year that there is “so much resemblance” between the Les Bleus superstar and Nyoni’s own physical profile, and this could see him cement a starting berth at Liverpool in the coming years.

    Given that he would be jockeying with Mac Allister for a berth, sporting director Richard Hughes may shimmy a few cogs around so that Nyoni’s rise coincides with the potential bumper sale of Liverpool’s midfield general.

    Trey Nyoni in action for Liverpool

    In any case, this is a youngster with the potential to succeed at Liverpool, perhaps adding a flavour of Pogba’s powerful brilliance to Slot’s team down the line.

    Semenyo alternative: Liverpool preparing £177m bid to sign their new Diaz

    Liverpool are gearing up to open their purse once again this winter.

    4 ByAngus Sinclair Nov 24, 2025

    Game
    Register
    Service
    Bonus