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Emiliano Martinez revealed his experience of sharing a dressing room with Lionel Messi with the Argentina national team.

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Martinez hailed MessiCalled the Argentina skipper a 'lovely human'Had a memorable year for club and countryFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The Aston Villa goalkeeper has been part of La Albiceleste setup since 2021 and together with Messi, he has won two Copa America titles and the World Cup in 2022 in Qatar. Martinez, who shares a close bond with Messi, revealed what the Inter Miami star is really like.

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In a chat with the YouTube channel, the custodian was asked if new players in the Argentine national team feel nervous while approaching the 37-year-old, to which he replied: "To be fair, for the other players, maybe yes, but not for me. We are all the same, I make jokes with everyone. He has got an aura that no one has. He is someone you look up to. When you see him, whatever he does, you like to copy him. He goes to the gym, you go to the gym. He has got that aura that no one in football has.

"But for me, everyone is the same. We all joke, we have meals together. He is a lovely human being. He has a super talent and when you are born with a super talent that no one has, he is that man."

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Martinez had a memorable campaign for both club and country in 2024 as he proved to be a safe pair of hands and helped Aston Villa secure a top-four finish in the Premier League and Champions League slot. He then starred for the world champions as they defended their Copa America title in the summer, with the 32-year-old conceding just one goal in the entire tournament. The custodian then went on to win the Yashin Trophy at the Ballon d'Or ceremony and then bagged The Best FIFA Men's Goalkeeper award.

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR EMILIANO MARTINEZ?

The goalkeeper will be back in action for the Villans on Boxing Day as they take on Newcastle United in a Premier League clash at St James' Park.

She takes 3 for 21 to fashion WI Women’s first T20I victory after seven (completed) matches

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Jul-2021
Nida Dar took 2 for 15, and during the process became the first Pakistan cricketer (male or female) to 100 T20I wickets, but Shamilia Connell’s 3 for 21 proved more decisive as West Indies Women clinched the T20I series opener on Wednesday.Connell bowled three of Pakistan Women’s top four within three overs to set up the hosts’ successful defence of 136 in North Sound. Hayley Matthews and Aaliyah Alleyne made further inroads to reduce Pakistan to 57 for 6 in the 13th over. Ayesha Naseem and Fatima Sana produced a late assault, adding an unbroken 69 for the seventh wicket at a run rate over nine, but it was not enough for the tourists to topple West Indies. Naseem hit 45 off 33 balls while Sana made 24 off 21 balls.Mathews had also contributed with the bat, scoring 32 in a 65-run opening partnership with Deandra Dottin. Although both Dottin and captain Stafanie Taylor fell to Dar, cameos from the returning Knight sisters and Chedean Nation hauled West Indies closer to 140. Sana, too, picked up two wickets and later struck three fours, but her all-round effort ended in vain for Pakistan.Connell won the Player-of-the-Match award for his second successive three-wicket haul.”It feels great,” she told the CWI media. “Coming off the last game I played in England I was Man of the Match also, so being able to start back my international series with a man of the match is a great feeling as well. My game plan was to just go out there and execute my areas hard and just try to contain as much as possible.”Notably, this was West Indies Women’s first T20I victory after seven completed matches and first at home since the 2018 T20 World Cup. It also meant that Courtney Walsh won his first T20I in charge of the side.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola insists he is to blame for the club's wretched recent form, not his players.

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City currently sixth14 points behind leaders Liverpool Have only won one of last fiveFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Guardiola has refused to blame City's squad for a run of form that has seen them slip to sixth in the Premier League table. The club have won just one of their last five games in the league and Guardiola has already conceded the Premier League title, but he maintains it is not the fault of his players.

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City did get back to winning ways last week with a victory over Leicester City, and face West Ham this weekend in another game they will expect to win, but Guardiola claims there is "something" he is "not doing well" as they continue to falter.

WHAT GUARDIOLA SAID

Guardiola told reporters: “I’m unbelievably honest with myself for the reason why we have arrived here and it is me. It’s not the players. They naturally drop a little bit and that is normal. It happened a little bit last season as well.

“But with this consistency [of results], I should have found it and that is why we’re in this position. I blame myself. I lead that group of players and I could not lift them. This is the reality. Why in the past they followed me, were they able to get results? We were the only unbeaten team in Europe and top of the league. Immediately we went down.

“For injuries, many things we’ve talked about. But even with that, I should have found a way to get better results. Hopefully we can continue now.”

Asked to diagnose the problem, he added: “Many things. The manager isn’t just four at the back, five at the back, two strikers, it’s many things,” he said. “There is something I miss, something I’m not doing well. At the end, when you lose a lot of games, there is an incredible responsibility for the manager to feel something the team needs for its confidence. And I was not able to do it.

“We got the result [at Leicester] but no more than that. Listen, all of us – me as the first, and all of us – we know our level. How is the team compared to the last eight years? We are not there. I’m not denying. One result is not going to change my perspective on how is the team right now. But, at the same time, hopefully results can help with our belief and composure.”

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City face West Ham this weekend before taking on Salford City in the third round of the FA Cup.

Chelsea have started the season far brighter than they did last term, winning three of their opening five Premier League games, drawing once, and only losing once, that loss coming against last season’s champions Manchester City on the opening day.

Enzo Maresca’s Blues sit fifth in the Premier League on ten points after beating West Ham 3-0 at the London Stadium, making it back-to-back clean sheets for Chelsea.

Chelsea have generated the fifth-highest xG in the league after five games, with 9.73 xG, scoring 11 goals, which is the joint highest in the division with Manchester City, and this comes with a huge improvement from Chelsea’s man leading the line.

Nicolas Jackson's debut season at Chelsea

In his debut season, Nicolas Jackson made 44 appearances in all competitions, scoring 17 goals, providing six assists, and totalling 3,534 minutes played.

But it was the strikers’ finishing ability that had many talking, as Chelsea legend, Frank Lampard, even spoke on the forwards’ lack of “technical detail” costing the Blues against Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-final.

Despite scoring 14 Premier League goals in his debut year, Jackson was often criticised for his composure in the box, missing a whopping 23 big chances, which were often scutinised as key turning points in a match. This saw Chelsea fans calling for a striker this summer, but the Senegal international has struck back.

Jackson's red-hot start in 2024/25

The Blues attacker has started this campaign really strong, scoring four goals in his opening five games, including a lovely brace in Chelsea’s most recent victory against West Ham, in which he also provided an assist.

If the forward continues at this rate, the likes of Christopher Nkunku will no doubt struggle to get into the team, as he is becoming more undroppable each and every week.

Goals

0.43

1.00

Assists

0.15

0.50

xG

0.60

0.82

Progressive Carries

2.25

2.50

Progressive Passes

2.15

1.75

Shots Total

2.58

3.25

Goals/Shot

0.17

0.31

G-xG

-0.15

+0.17

Touches (Att Pen)

4.86

5.25

These metrics show just how much Jackson’s finishing has improved from last season to the start of this season, outscoring his xG (generating 0.82 per 90) by +0.17, compared to last campaign, where he underperformed in relation to his xG, with a -0.15 goals minus expected goals (G-xG) ratio.

Jackson is still providing just as much in other areas too, dropping to link up play, carrying the ball forwards for his team in transition (shown with higher progressive carrying metrics), and providing assists for his teammates too with 0.50 per 90 so far.

The 22-year-old is perfect for Maresca’s system, as he can play in all phases of play, run the channels effectively, work hard out of possession, and add goals and assists for the team.

His relentless willingness to run in behind and track opponents is a nightmare for defenders, and makes for a long afternoon when playing against him.

More touches than Jackson & Palmer: 8/10 Chelsea star is undroppable

Chelsea’s 8/10 man is becoming undroppable after another stellar performance

ByConnor Holden Sep 22, 2024

Club stalwart oversaw rich era of success, stemming from appointment of Chris Silverwood

George Dobell08-Aug-2021Ronnie Irani has announced he is to step down as chair of Essex’s cricket committee to focus on his business commitments.Irani has fulfilled the unpaid role for about six years. In that time, Essex have won five trophies including the County Championship in 2017 and 2019 and the Bob Willis Trophy in 2020. They were in Division Two when he took on the role.With his business interests growing, however, Irani feels he no longer has the time required to continue in the position. He estimates he has dedicated around 40 hours a week to the club over the last few years and, with his company (R&D Advisors) now employing 40 people, he has feels he needs to commit more time to it. He will remain on the club’s board and his company remains one of Essex’s sponsors.One of Irani’s key decisions was appointing Chris Silverwood as head coach at the end of 2015. Silverwood went on to enjoy great success at Essex and was subsequently appointed as head coach of England. It is understood Irani was in the last two for the role of director of men’s cricket at the ECB at the end of 2018. Ashley Giles was eventually appointed to the job.”It’s been an incredible turnaround for Essex over the last six seasons and I’m proud of the part I’ve played in that,” Irani said. “When I became Chairman of the Cricket Committee on a voluntary basis we were underachieving and not playing to our potential. We won Division Two in my first season and won a first County Championship title in 25 years the following year.”Since then, we’ve added another three trophies to the cabinet, including that incredible double in 2019 and become one of the best and most successful cricket clubs in the world. We’re lucky to have quality in the squad and I feel the structure we’ve put in place has helped the players and coaching staff achieve their goals.”It’s been an amazing journey and one I can look back on with immense pride. I feel that I’m stepping down with the club in a good position, and I have no doubt there are more trophies on the horizon.”At this time my business commitments must come first, but my passion and support for Essex cricket will never go and I look forward to more success at the club in the future.”

Aston Villa are among the clubs keeping tabs on a potential future star for Unai Emery as they look to cement their spot among the elite of English football.

Aston Villa make Champions League return

After 41 years, Aston Villa finally made their return to Europe’s Premier competition as they beat Young Boys 3-0 at the Wankdorf stadium on Tuesday. Youri Tielemans had the honour of scoring their first goal in the competition, before goals from fellow midfielders Amadou Onana and Jacob Ramsey ensured that they ran out comfortable winners despite enduring a tricky opening 20 minutes.

It could have been an even more comfortable scoreline, with both Ollie Watkins and substitute Jhon Duran having goals ruled out by VAR for a pair of handballs, as Villa got their European campaign off to the perfect start.

In the Premier League, it has been a similarly impressive start to the campaign, with a defeat against Arsenal the only blot on their copybook after four games.

Though they are yet to blow any side away, they have secured one-goal wins over Leicester City and West Ham before they came from 2-0 down to beat Everton 3-2 in their most recent outing, courtesy of an excellent strike from Duran.

It comes after a long summer for the Villans, who were forced to part ways with Douglas Luiz for financial fair play reasons and signed eight new faces, several of whom have already hit the ground running.

Aston Villa’s new signings (summer 2024)

Player

Age when signed

Fee

Amadou Onana

23

£50m

Ian Maatsen

22

£37m

Cameron Archer

22

£14m

Jaden Philogene

22

£13.5m

Lewis Dobbin

21

£8m

Samuel Iling-Junior

20

£11.8m + add-ons

Enzo Barrenechea

23

£6.7m + add-ons

Ross Barkley

30

£5m

Part of their plan has been to sign younger players for the squad, with only one of their additions over the age of 23, and now they have been tipped to sign yet another young talent.

Aston Villa in race to sign teenage gem

That comes as local journalists in Brazil have claimed that Villa are among the sides watching Brazil U20 international striker Rayan Vitor Simplício Rocha (Rayan).

A member of the Vasco de Gama senior side, having been promoted from their youth side at the beginning of the Brazilian season, he has scored three goals and grabbed one assist in 32 appearances, with those outings largely coming off the substitutes’ bench.

Aston Villa have struck gold on £0 signing who could be sold for big profit

He’s been exemplary in the middle of the park under Unai Emery.

ByConnor Holden Sep 20, 2024

Out of contract in 2025, it is claimed that a move in January to sign the young talent could be on the cards as Vasco try to raise some much needed funds, with the teenager currently valued at £5m by transfermarkt.

“The player has attracted interest from teams such as Porto, Fiorentina, Milan, Betis, Aston Villa and Lyon”, it is reported, while Vasco “must sell an asset in the coming months to put its [their] finances in order”. They add that “Vasco and the player’s staff have already received some inquiries” for the youngster, though it is not specified whether Villa are among those to formalise their interest.

The teenager is certainly one to watch, with football analyst Ben Mattinson dubbing him an “all-round powerhouse” on X, adding that “his first step can burn a defence for pace”. At just £5m, Villa could well deem it too good to pass up, and with the success of Duran since swapping the Americas for the Premier League, it may well be seen as a risk worth taking.

West Ham have sacked head coach Julen Lopetegui, with an agreement in place for Graham Potter to take over at the London Stadium.

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West Ham sack LopeteguiSet to appoint Potter as new bossHammers conceded nine goals in last two gamesFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

West Ham have relieved Lopetegui of his duties following a pair of heavy Premier League defeats against Manchester City and Liverpool, in which they conceded nine goals while only scoring one in reply. The Hammers have had a disastrous start to the 2024-25 campaign despite spending nearly £130 million ($162.5m) on transfers in the summer. They have won just six matches out of 20 and find themselves seven points above the relegation zone.

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According to ,West Ham have already found Lopetegui's replacement as they are all set to appoint former Brighton and Chelsea boss Graham Potter as their new head coach. Potter's last assignment at Chelsea lasted just seven months and he has not managed a club since leaving the Blues in April 2023.

WHAT WEST HAM SAID

A club statement read: "West Ham United can confirm that Head Coach Julen Lopetegui has today left the Club. The first half of the 2024/25 season has not aligned with the Club’s ambitions and the Club has therefore taken action in line with its objectives.

"The Board would like to thank Julen and his staff for their hard work during their time with the Hammers and wish them every success for the future. The process of appointing a replacement is underway. The Club will be making no further comment at this time."

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Lopetegui, who arrived at the London Stadium with a big reputation having previously managed Spain and Real Madrid, won just seven of his 22 games in charge at West Ham, drawing five and losing the other 10. That makes for a win percentage of 31.82 – the second worst in his managerial career.

Two nights after failing to close out a chase, the teenager delivers under pressure

Mohammad Isam25-Jul-2021Shamim Hossain, in his second T20I, is under pressure. Three fruitless slogs in the 18th over later, Bangladesh need 25 off 15 balls. The game has wildly swung both ways until this point. Dion Myers had conceded just three off his first three balls; Sikandar Raza’s move to bowl him seemed a gamble that could pay off.Shamim is possibly thinking of his dismissal in the second T20I after he gave Bangladesh hope through his 13-ball 29. Here he was again, in a situation that was even more tricky. There was a series to be won. He simply had to strike.And strike he did. He thumped Myers for three fours: a forehand smash through covers, a reverse bunt past a diving short third man and a fierce pull over midwicket. Then, he kept his head through Blessing Muzarabani’s penultimate over to all but seal the contest. He then finished the game off by hitting the winning runs. He remained unbeaten on 31 off just 15 balls, hitting six fours, five of which came in the last three overs.”I was hungry to finish the game after being unable to do so in the previous game,” Shamim said. “I was looking for that opportunity. I am feeling really well having done that. I am happy that we won the T20I series, which happened to be my first international series. When Soumya (Sarkar) bhai and (Mahmudullah) Riyad were batting together, things were in our favour. While sitting in the dressing room, I told myself that we must win this game.”The match had already started to turn in Bangladesh’s favour during the third-wicket stand between Mahmudullah and Soumya Sarkar, but it needed a final push from the Mahmudullah-Hossain partnership, after Afif Hossain’s dismissal.”Riyad told me that we can get ten an over if we can hit a six or a four every over,” he said. “It will get us close to their target. I maintained my process during this situation.”Soumya Sarkar, whose 68 set up Bangladesh’s push towards the big chase, was impressed with Shamim’s desire. “He played an important innings,” the senior batter said. “He was very positive. I really liked how hungry he was to win the game. This was only his second international match, but finished the game very well.”Shamim made a mark during Bangladesh’s victorious Under-19 World Cup campaign last year. The senior team’s selectors and team management had a better look during this season’s Dhaka Premier League T20s. But despite doing well at these levels, Shamim said that his short crash course of international cricket during these T20Is told him what is needed at this level.”I have figured out how tough international cricket is, playing here,” he said. “I have so far played Under-19 cricket and the Dhaka Premier League, but this is different. One gets fewer bad balls. One has to hit the good balls for boundaries, but at the same time, keep sticking to your process. One has to play with more responsibility at this level.”An altogether different challenge awaits Shamim when Bangladesh take on Australia in the five T20Is from August 3 in Dhaka. The hunger can easily be replaced by a sense of accomplishment, and that’s one very critical area that Shamim needs to guard himself against.

A Kluivert hat-trick secured all three points for the Cherries, while Adams starred with smart midfield play

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Bournemouth defeat Newcastle 4-1Tyler Adams earns assistJustin Kluivert scores hat-trickFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

U.S. men's national team midfielder Tyler Adams played 90 minutes and recorded a late assist as Bournemouth thrashed Newcastle United 4-1 to extend their domestic league unbeaten streak to 10 matches.

Forward Justin Kluivert recorded a hat-trick for the with Adams intercepting a pass outside the 18-yard-box before feeding him as he scored his third late in the match.

Bournemouth snapped Newcastle's nine-match winning streak across all competitions on the day.

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Adams put on a clinic in the center of the park, completing 27 of 30 attempted passes while earning 45 touches on the ball. He completed four pases into the final-third of the pitch, while dispossessing the opposition twice, too. Defensively, he completed 100 percent of his attempted tackles while recording four clearances on the ball.

On his assist, he timed his run to perfection, intercepting a poor pass from Anthony Gordon before feeding Kluivert, who sensationally finished from the edge of the box for his third of the day.

A late strike from defender Milos Kerkez secured all three points for Bournemouth, as the club and their fans celebrated yet another brilliant showing under Andoni Iraola.

DID YOU KNOW?

During their unbeaten streak, Bournemouth have secured results against Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham.

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The U.S. star and Bournemouth return to the pitch next Saturday against surprise title contenders Nottingham Forest. Heading into the Matchday, the will be on 37 points.

Glamorgan resistance picked off in first ten overs of final day’s play

ECB Reporters' Network08-Sep-2021Durham wrapped up a convincing innings-and-42-run victory over Glamorgan in their LV= Insurance County Championship clash, requiring only 10 overs to take the final three wickets on the final day at Emirates Riverside.The visitors’ stubborn resistance through Dan Douthwaite and Andrew Slater on the third day gave the Welsh outfit hope of avoiding an innings defeat. However, the late dismissal of Douthwaite the previous evening handed the momentum to Durham, and it did not take long for the home side to secure a dominant win.Paul Coughlin dismissed Salter for a career-best 90 and then ended the contest by removing Michael Hogan after a Chris Rushworth wicket.Coughlin enjoyed an outstanding return after a 13-week injury layoff, claiming his third first-class five-wicket haul and match figures of nine for 75. Durham moved up into third place in Division Two after securing 24 points from the game, while Glamorgan sit in fifth place.Resuming on an overnight score of 333 for 7, Salter continued his grind in the early overs and moved past his previous career-best of 88 in his bid to further frustrate the hosts. However, he lost his discipline from the following delivery to edge behind to Ned Eckersley presenting Coughlin with his fourth wicket of the innings.Rushworth then clean bowled Lukas Carey for a duck to allow the hosts to close in on victory. The final wicket fell to Coughlin, who found Hogan’s outside edge before Eckersley produced a brilliant diving catch to his right to end the game.