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It’s no secret that Chelsea haven’t been afraid to splash the cash since the arrival of owner Todd Boehly back in May 2022 – spending over £1.2bn on new signings in the process.

The money spent has allowed for a complete overhaul of the first-team squad, handing boss Enzo Maresca all the tools to be a success during his debut season at the helm in West London.

Various big-money attackers have arrived at Stamford Bridge over the last couple of years, with the likes of Mykhailo Mudryk and Pedro Neto up there with the biggest fees spent on players during the American’s reign as owner.

The Ukrainian cost the club a whopping £88.5m, with Neto setting Boehly back around £54m after his surprise summer transfer from Wolverhampton Wanderers.

However, neither have yet been able to reach the level of one star who captured the hearts of the fanbase during his own time as a player with the Blues.

Eden Hazard’s time at Chelsea

Belgian winger Eden Hazard arrived at Chelsea back in the summer of 2012 as an unknown quantity to many, but quickly introduced himself to the Blues faithful, rapidly becoming a fan favourite.

He quickly caught the eye with his direct dribbling ability, breezing past many opposition players – with his eye for goal also notable during his seven years at the Bridge.

Hazard registered a total of 110 goals within his 352 appearances for the Blues, winning six major trophies during his time in England, which includes two separate Europa League triumphs in 2013 and 2019.

The one goal that could sum up his talent during his time with the Blues is his solo effort against London rivals Arsenal, picking the ball up just inside the opponent’s half before shrugging off multiple players before dinking the ‘keeper and slotting the ball home.

He would subsequently leave the club back in the summer of 2019, joining Real Madrid in a £150m deal – a move that would see his career rapidly decline with injuries plaguing his time in Spain.

However, it will never tarnish his legacy as a Chelsea player, undoubtedly going down as one of the very best players in their recent history – with no player more able to turn a game on its head like Hazard did.

Arguably, the club have struggled to replace him five years on from his departure, but they could be handed an opportunity to finally end their hunt in January with a move for one talent.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

The player who could be Chelsea’s next Hazard

According to reporter Graeme Bailey, Chelsea have sent scouts to keep a close eye on Lyon winger Rayan Cherki over a potential move to Stamford Bridge.

However, they aren’t alone in their pursuit of the French talent, with fellow Premier League side Newcastle United also firmly in the race for his signature.

The 21-year-old has enjoyed a phenomenal start to the 2024/25 campaign, registering two goals and three assists in his first nine outings in all competitions.

Cherki has previously been compared to Hazard, with French football expert Jonathan Johnson previously saying:

Such a comparison may seem far-fetched, but when delving into his stats from the Europa League so far this season, it’s clear he possesses serious talent which could see the Blues land another version of the Belgian.

In his three European outings this season, he’s averaged a staggering nine progressive passes per 90, along with five successful take-ons – with both figures ranking him within the top 1% of players in the competition. Hazard was one of the finest dribblers in the Premier League so the comparison begins to make sense here.

Games played

3

Goals & assists

3

Progressive passes

9

Progressive carries

6.2

Successful take-ons

5

Key passes completed

5.8

Through balls

2.5

Take-on success

71%

The “world-class” Cherki, as described by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has also averaged 5.8 key passes and 2.5 through balls per 90, showcasing his ability to find teammates in attacking areas, potentially benefitting the likes of Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson.

Whilst it’s unknown how much any potential deal would set Maresca’s side back in January, it’s evident that he would be a superb addition that would bring added firepower in attacking areas.

His comparison to former fan-favourite Hazard would see him bring huge excitement to Stamford Bridge in the club’s hunt to return to a Champions League finish this season.

Boehly must permanently axe Chelsea flop who earns even more than Palmer

Chelsea need to sell a player who’s earning even more than Cole Palmer.

ByAngus Sinclair Nov 5, 2024

Deandra Dottin struck 73 as West Indies thumped Ireland

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Nov-2021Sri Lanka got their campaign off to a winning start following a Covid-19 scare as Chamari Athapaththu’s 70-ball 111 steered their 34-run victory over Netherlands in a rain-affected match at the Harare Sports Club.Having been sent in, Sri Lanka rode captain Athapaththu’s hundred, which included 11 fours and five sixes, to post 278 for 9 in 50 overs. After she fell in the 24th over, with Sri Lanka past 150, sizeable contributions from the middle order lifted them to a commanding total.In response, Netherlands, chasing a revised target of 231 from 43.4 overs, countered the early loss of Juliët Post with the help of fifties from Babette de Leede and No. 3 Sterre Kalis.de Leede’s dismissal by Athapatthu saw them slumping from 155 for 1 to 175 for 6 in the space of 31 balls. Athapaththu’s run-out of Robine Rijke contributed to the collapse. With the momentum of their innings stalled, Netherlands could manage only 196 for 6.Sharmin Akhter smashed 130 against USA•ICCSharmin Akhter’s unbeaten 130 helped Bangladesh retain their position atop the Women’s ODI World Cup Qualifier Group B table after handing USA Women a 270-run drubbing.After being put in, Akhter strung a 96-run opening stand with left-hand batter Murshida Khatun (47) and a 137-run partnership for the third wicket with Fargana Hoque (67).Akhter brought up her hundred off 117 balls and struck 11 fours during her 141-ball stay. But given the matches featuring at least one team without ODI status are accorded only List A status, Akhter’s ton wouldn’t count towards her ODI record.USA’s meek reply saw only their captain-wicketkeeper Sindhu Sriharsha (15) and No. 7 Tara Norris (16), the Philadelphia-born allrounder who was one of the breakout performers on the English domestic circuit this season, reach the double figures.Rain halted play after 15 overs when USA were 25 for 4 after 15 overs. But their slide continued after the resumption as the Bangladesh attack kept chipping away, making use of the yorker to good effect. Salma Khatun, Rumana Ahmed and Fahima Khatun picked up two wickets apiece for Bangladesh, and with Uzma Iftikhar absent hurt, USA folded for 52 in 30.3 overs.Aliya Riaz top-scored for Pakistan with 49 off 66 balls•PCBFor just a little while, a five-wicket haul from 17-year old Thipatcha Putthawong threatened an upset. Thailand bowled Pakistan out for 145 on the back of a field day for the left-arm spinner, but they were unable to capitalise as an experienced bowling unit rallied hard to secure victory.With only Javeria Khan (38) and Aliya Riaz (49) making a noteworthy contribution, it was left to Nida Dar and company to salvage the game and they did not disappoint. Each of the six bowlers Pakistan used picked up a wicket, with Anam Amin and Nashra Sandhu completing 19 overs for just 27 runs, as Thailand were knocked out for 93.Deandra Dottin was named Player of the Match for her 73•ICCA stifling bowling performance, led by Anisa Mohammed and Hayley Matthews, set West Indies on the path to victory over Ireland in Harare. The two spinners combined to pick up five wickets and give up only 60 runs in 20 overs. Ireland, bowled out for 159 in 43 overs, were unable to have the same kind of impact on the West Indies batters with Deandra Dottin in free-flowing form. The opener scored nearly half the runs her team needed for the win – 73 – as a one-sided contest came to an end with six wickets and 63 balls to spare.

Kelly Cates has quipped that Liverpool's FA Cup loss to Plymouth Argyle could either be a "blip" or the "beginning of the end" for manager Arne Slot.

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Plymouth upset Liverpool in the FA CupCates jokes this was either a "blip" for the RedsOr "beginning of the end" for Arne SlotFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

After Liverpool's shock fourth-round FA Cup loss to Plymouth on Sunday, incoming Match of the Day co-host Cates felt the Reds were "lowkey" in the 1-0 defeat. In a tongue in mouth remark, she said this could be where things start to go wrong for Dutchman Slot at Liverpool.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportWHAT KELLY CATES SAID

She said in jest on The Sports Agents podcast: “There were goals in that team. It just was a really low-key performance. I think it's either going to be a blip in a fantastic season, or the beginning of the end, and this will be marked as the turning point of the of the whole season!”

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While Liverpool's early FA Cup exit was a shock, Slot has done a remarkable job so far. His side are top of the Premier League, are flying high in the Champions League, and are into the Carabao Cup final. It doesn't seem like the beginning of the end is nigh for the ex-Feyenoord boss.

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Liverpool will look to bounce back from the Plymouth loss when they take on rivals Everton at Goodison Park in the Premier League on Wednesday.

What a week it has been for Brendan Rodgers and Celtic, with the Old Firm giants marching on both domestically and in Europe with two statement victories.

On Saturday evening, the Hoops put their closest title rivals to the sword following a thumping 6-0 win over Aberdeen in the League Cup, prior to then seeing off the second-best team in Germany, RB Leipzig, with a 3-1 triumph in the Champions League.

Much focus will undoubtedly be on the attacking prowess of the Glasgow side amid that nine-goal haul across the past few days, although praise must also be centred on the club’s new-found defensive resilience, having conceded just once in that time.

The emergence of summer signing Auston Trusty – who was “phenomenal” against the Bundesliga side, according to Chris Sutton – has certainly helped matters, although his compatriot Cameron Carter-Vickers remains the key asset at the heart of the defence, with 26-year-old also opening the scoring at Hampden Park at the weekend.

Stat

Trusty

Carter-Vickers

Minutes played

90

74

Touches

111

88

Pass accuracy

97%

98%

Ground duels won

5/5

3/4

Aerial duels won

1/3

2/3

Possession lost

3x

3x

Long balls completed

0/1

3/3

Clearances

4

2

Tackles

3

2

Blocks

1

1

It has been said time and again, but Carter-Vickers is the “best centre-half” that the Parkhead side have had “since [Virgil] van Dijk” – as noted by former Northern Ireland international, Ryan McLaughlin – with many a centre-back having been unable to quite reach the Dutchman’s levels in the years before that.

Celtic's candidates to replace Van Dijk

In truth, not much needs to be said of Van Dijk’s impact in Scotland during his two-year spell at Celtic Park, with former boss Neil Lennon putting it best when he said that the former Groningen man simply “had everything”.

Following his inevitable departure to Southampton in the summer of 2015 – prior to later joining current side, Liverpool – the Hoops sought to try and fill that void, albeit with mixed success.

As Van Dijk departed, in came the likes of Dedryck Boyata and Jozo Simunovic, while subsequent years also saw a mixed bag of additions in the form of Kristoffer Ajer, Kolo Toure and Marvin Compper, among others.

Perhaps one of the closest to emulating Van Dijk could well have been Christopher Jullien – who Lennon said had “similar attributes” to the Netherlands star – albeit with injury ultimately wrecking any hopes of a consistent run in the side for the towering Frenchman.

Prior to Jullien’s arrival, however, there had been a short period in which an on-loan talent had looked like being able to fill Van Dijk’s shoes in Glasgow, with a certain Filip Benkovic having made a brief, but lasting impression on the Hoops.

Celtic's next Van Dijk is now struggling

Signed on a season-long loan deal from Leicester City back in 2018, the Croatian giant certainly made his presence felt in that solitary campaign in Scottish football, even despite making just 27 appearances in all competitions.

As The Athletic’s Kieran Devlin noted when discussing the club’s best loan signings since 2000, Benkovic is definitely worthy of a nod, having been ‘hugely impressive’ prior to sustaining an injury late on in the 2018/19 campaign, marking himself out as a ‘complete modern centre-back’.

Unsurprisingly, that early impact caught the attention of fans and pundits alike, with former Hoops hero Frank McAvennie among those to dish out a glowing verdict regarding the Zagreb native, while also likening him to that man Van Dijk:

Unfortunately for the 6 foot 4 titan, such praise now appears a distant memory, having suffered a sad career nosedive since shining at the age of just 21 in Scottish football.

Having returned to parent club Leicester in 2019 – then under the care of Rodgers – Benkovic ultimately went on to make just two senior appearances for the Foxes, after enduring numerous stints out on loan over the next few years at the likes of Bristol City, Cardiff City and OH Leuven.

Those three temporary spells yielded just 11 games in total, however, with the struggling centre-back – who had been linked with a return to Celtic in January 2021 – ultimately leaving the King Power Stadium on a free in 2022, after previously costing the club £13m.

A move to Udinese subsequently followed, yet after time on loan in Germany and Turkey, the 27-year-old was released by the Serie A side this summer, leaving him without a club when he should have been entering his prime.

Where Are They Now

Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast's Where Are They Now series.

For a player who once promised so much both at Dinamo Zagreb and then at Celtic, it is an unfortunate turn of events, with it yet to be seen whether he will be able to revive his floundering career in the near future.

O'Riley 2.0: Celtic star was "shocking" for Rodgers, now he's worth £42m

The Celtic sensation has emerged as Brendan Rodgers’ new version of Matt O’Riley.

ByDan Emery Nov 7, 2024

Mitchell Marsh, Nic Maddinson and Josh Inglis have been called up as cover

Alex Malcolm31-Dec-2021Australia batter Travis Head has tested positive for Covid-19, as the Australia team delay their flight from Melbourne to Sydney and call up replacements for the fourth Test at the SCG, with doubts mounting as to whether the series will be able to continue with both squads now having cases.Cricket Australia confirmed on Friday morning that Head had tested positive from a routine PCR test becoming the first player in either squad to be affected. He is asymptomatic and will remain in Melbourne with his partner to isolate for seven days under the Victorian government guidelines.Mitchell Marsh, Nic Maddinson and Josh Inglis have all been called up to Australia’s squad as cover in case there are further positive cases within the playing group. Australia already have Usman Khawaja with the squad and he would be the likely replacement for Head in the middle order.A Cricket Australia spokesperson confirmed that the remainder of the Australia squad, families, and support staff have undergone PCR and rapid tests on Friday morning and are still expected to travel to Sydney on a charter today.”As part of our testing procedures, we are PCR testing players, their families and our support staff daily,” the spokesperson said. “Unfortunately, Travis returned a positive Covid-19 result earlier today. Thankfully, he is asymptomatic at this stage. We anticipate that he will be available to play in the fifth Vodafone men’s Ashes Test in Hobart.”We are grateful to our exceptional medical staff for all the work they have done throughout this series and we will continue to work with and support the players, their families and staff from both teams.”England are travelling separately to Sydney, after CA split the teams onto separate charters to try to mitigate the risks, but without coach Chris Silverwood after it was confirmed one of his family members had tested positive for Covid-19. Silverwood, like Head, will miss the Sydney Test and remain in isolation in Melbourne. That brought the total number of positive cases in the England touring party to seven. However, the entire England playing group has reportedly returned negative PCR tests in the last 24 hours.ICC match referee David Boon will also miss the Sydney Test after testing positive to Covid-19. He has been replaced by Steve Bernard, who is based in New South Wales.The first Covid case to hit the Ashes appeared on the second morning of the MCG Test although the game was able to continue after the rest of the England squad were cleared through rapid tests. There has been daily PCR testing since.New South Wales recorded more than 21,000 cases on Friday. The definition of a close contact has been narrowed following a meeting of the state and federal government on Thursday and the isolation period reduced in most states.

Everton loanee Carlos Alcaraz has explained why, despite being a big Lionel Messi fan, he recently broke out Cristiano Ronaldo's 'Siuuu' celebration.

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Ex-Saints star back in EnglandFound the target versus PalaceOffered celebration nod to CR7Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The Argentine midfielder, who previously made 48 appearances for Southampton, returned to English football during the winter transfer window. He is due to see out the season at Goodison Park, with a permanent switch from Flamengo potentially on the cards this summer.

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Alcaraz has been doing his best to impress the Toffees, with his goal account opened in a crucial victory over Crystal Palace. Despite boasting strong ties to eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi, the 22-year-old opted to emulate Ronaldo after hitting the back of the net.

WHAT CARLOS ALCARAZ SAID

Quizzed on why he went full CR7 mode after scoring against Palace, Alcaraz told reporters: "I have always liked Cristiano despite being Argentinian.

"Obviously Messi I think is the best player in the world. There is no doubt there. But I have always liked Cristiano, I like his consistency, his dedication, his hard work, the way he has evolved and changed his style of play over the years. He has evolved to keep playing at the highest level. That celebration was just down to liking him so much, I always admired him."

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Getty Images SportDID YOU KNOW?

Prior to facing the Eagles, Alcaraz was involved in an epic derby date with Liverpool that delivered four goals, post-match red cards and plenty of talking points. He added on a contest that was a little "loco" at times: "It was a mad derby, a crazy match, we were ahead and then in the end we managed to get a draw so a pulsating game and to say that was my first derby wearing this shirt I really enjoyed it, it was a fantastic occasion."

Newcastle United are believed to be interested in signing a “top-tier” attacking player with twice the number of league goals as Anthony Gordon this season, according to a fresh transfer claim.

Newcastle transfer news

The Magpies continue to be linked with plenty of new signings following a frustrating summer transfer window that saw supporters, manager Eddie Howe and new sporting director Paul Mitchell all left disappointed.

Paris Saint-Germain striker Randal Kolo Muani is seen as a potential addition in January, with the Ligue 1 side possibly sanctioning a loan exit following a relatively underwhelming spell at the club to date. Additional firepower is needed at St James’ Park as Howe’s side look to push for a top-four finish in the Premier League this season.

The Magpies are also reportedly actively working on a deal to sign highly rated young Benfica central defender Tomas Araujo, with the 22-year-old seen as a long-term option at the heart of their defence. He has won an average of 2.9 aerial duels per game in the Primeira Liga in 2024/25.

Elsewhere, Newcastle are thought to be keen on signing Real Madrid winger Brahim Diaz in what would be an audacious piece of business, but it would arguably be a surprise if the reigning European champions allowed him to leave.

Newcastle eyeing move for "top-tier" attacker

According to Foot News (via Sport Witness), Newcastle are “very interested” in signing PSV Eindhoven winger Johan Bakayoko and are planning to submit an offer for his services. with the Belgian seen as a priority target.

It doesn’t look as though his arrival will be dependent on Miguel Almiron’s future, with the Magpies looking to strengthen in attacking wide areas regardless of the Paraguay international’s situation.

Bakayoko could be just what Newcastle are looking for on the right wing as they seek to add a similar level of quality compared to the left flank, where Gordon and Harvey Barnes are both excellent options.

In fact, the PSV winger’s tally of four goals in the Eredivisie this season is double Gordon’s total of two in the Premier League, while Belgium compatriot Romelu Lukaku has lavished him with praise, saying:

“He’s understanding the importance of numbers in the game. His assist and goal tallies are increasing, bringing him into the spotlight. I’ve told him how incredible.

“If he continues merging his creative flair with his scoring record, he’s on track to become a top-tier player. His potential knows no bounds. I sincerely think he has what it takes to surpass me in the long run.”

Still only 21, Bakayoko could grow into an elite footballer as Lukaku alludes to, with his ability to cut onto his left foot from the right wing a deadly weapon that has seen him score 54 goals and register 40 assists from that position in his career to date.

Appearances

12

Starts

8

Minutes played

734

Goals

4

Assists

1

Shots per game

2.3

Dribbles per game

2.2

Key passes per game

1.6

Newcastle should be looking at the Belgian as an upgrade on Almiron and a player who could light up St James’ with his attacking brilliance for years to come.

Crystal Palace's Jean-Philippe Mateta has now been discharged from hospital following a horrific head-high tackle by Millwall goalkeeper Liam Roberts.

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Mateta discharged from hospital after challengeStriker undergoes 25 stitches to his left earPalace chairman tears into Roberts' tackleFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Mateta was stretchered off at Selhurst Park on Saturday during the Eagles' 3-1 win over Millwall, after the French striker was caught by a head-high tackle by the visitors' goalkeeper Roberts outside the box. Crystal Palace have now announced that Mateta has been discharged from hospital after having to undergo 25 stitches to a "severe laceration" to his left ear. The statement also confirmed that the 27-year-old had normal scans and was feeling well despite the concerning scenes on the field.

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Initially, surprisingly enough, Roberts was not sent off by referee Michael Oliver; however, after VAR stepped in, the Millwall keeper was shown a straight red card for the dangerous tackle. Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish has now labelled Roberts' challenge as "the most reckless" he has ever seen and claimed that the keeper was "endangering a fellow professional".

gettyWHAT PARISH SAID

Speaking to the media at half-time, Parish said: "There's a lot of emotion in football but we need to talk about that challenge. I've never seen a challenge like it… that's the most reckless challenge on a football pitch I've ever seen.

"He needs to have a long, hard look at himself because he's endangering a fellow professional with a challenge like that.

"And why the referee needs to go to the screen, I have no idea… If you're kicking him in the head at full force, who knows what kind of damage could be done."

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AFPWHAT NEXT FOR MATETA?

The French striker provided an update from the hospital on Saturday night and wrote on Instagram: "I'm doing well. I hope to be back soon and stronger than ever." However, Mateta's recovery schedule will now depend on how his injury continues to heal.

CWI president Ricky Skerritt also put out a statement calling the allegations “a malicious attack on the credibility of the West Indies Captain”

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Jan-2022West Indies coach Phil Simmons and Cricket West Indies have both rubbished reports of Odean Smith being ‘victimised’, after the allrounder was benched in favour of Rovman Powell for the third T20I against England.While Simmons said that those on the outside who wanted “preach about victimisation” needed “to look within themselves”, CWI president Ricky Skerritt put out a statement calling the allegations “a malicious attack on the credibility of the West Indies Captain, designed to sow division within our team”.The statements came in response to a voice note that was sent to mediapersons after the third ODI. While it’s not yet clear who sent the voice note, the reported that it was “a regional cricket commentator” and that it said the West Indies Players’ Association was “very upset over the treatment of Smith” while alleging that a high-level meeting was planned at CWI to clear issues within the team.Simmons dismissed the allegation outright in a press conference on Friday, January 28, the day after West Indies won the third T20I to take a 2-1 lead in the series.”For me, that can’t happen when I’m here,” Simmons said. “You don’t victimise anyone. You don’t try to pull down anyone. You try to make players a better person first of all, and a better cricketer afterwards. In my coaching career and even in my playing career, you look to help the man next to you. And that’s one thing I’ve been preaching in this team, and in all the teams that I’ve dealt with. So, there is no such thing as victimisation here and there will be none as long as I’m around.”‘We needed a batsman to come in yesterday, and we made that choice’ – Phil Simmons•ICC via GettySmith had played the first two T20Is of the five-match series. He bowled one over in the first T20I and was not called on to bowl in the second. While batting, he wasn’t needed in the first T20I in a nine-wicket win and made 7 in the second T20I. In the third, West Indies strengthened their batting by replacing Smith with Powell, who went on to smash 107 off 53 balls in a high-scoring win.”I think you’re going down the wrong line with this,” Simmons continued. “Let me explain something to you, and I’m saying it again. We need to stop this foolishness that we’re going on with. We sit down and we look at the best team for the day. And if Odean wasn’t in the best team for the day, it is because we thought that Rovman was better suited for yesterday.”All those who want to sit out there and preach about victimisation, I think they need to look within themselves. There’s no victimisation in selection in West Indies cricket, and there’s no victimisation in this team in playing anyone. So we need to start stepping away from that and letting the people who are pushing this know that that’s not happening. I’m not going to be answering any more questions about things like that.”The CWI statement backed up Simmons’ words. “Contrary to the unsubstantiated statements, containing unfounded and mischievous allegations, CWI is satisfied that there is no discord between the Team Captain and any member of the West Indies team,” it read.It also had strong words of condemnation from Skerritt. “I view this as a malicious attack on the credibility of the West Indies Captain, designed to sow division within our team that has just recorded three very impressive T20I performances against very strong opponents, including two outstanding wins and one heroic comeback to get within one run of victory. This clear attempt by well-known mischief makers to discredit the Captain and to derail the Team’s momentum in the ongoing Betway T20I Series should not be tolerated or encouraged.”Simmons and CWI found support from the recently retired Dwayne Bravo, who tweeted that he “woke up to see the same individuals who don’t care about the cricket trying to push a victimization narrative”.

After enjoying a beautiful hundred , a West Indies win series lead at present I woke up to see the same individuals who don’t care about the cricket trying to push a victimization narrative … hopeless unhappy ppl…I guess some ppl will never change!

— Dwayne DJ Bravo (@DJBravo47) January 27, 2022

After the win in the third T20I on Wednesday, Kieron Pollard had said that it was important to “take the ego out” when it came to team selections and praised the team management for getting the right balance. “It vindicated the team selection, obviously. It was a good game of cricket. We batted first, and we batted well, kudos to Rovman. He came in having been out for the first two games and took his chance. We have a versatile team. Sometimes you have to take the ego out of it and give the opportunity to the guys who have the form and the confidence, that’s what we did today. So kudos to the management team and to the players who went out and played a fantastic game.”In his press conference, when speaking on Smith’s role in the set-up, Simmons had praised his ability but pointed out that given the number of all-round options West Indies had, there would be situations where his skills would not be needed.”Well we all know his role in the side. He’s a bowler who bowls quick and he can hit the ball out of the ground,” Simmons said. “In the games where he didn’t bowl, it’s a situation like that – we have seven bowlers, and unfortunately in those games he didn’t bowl. It’s just the run of the game on the day. We needed a batsman to come in yesterday, and we made that choice. Because of course Jason (Holder) and (Sheldon) Cottrell are your main bowlers at the top there, and (Romario) Shepherd has shown both with bat and ball that he’s doing well, and we wanted him to continue. That’s just the situation of him being left out and Powell coming in.”Smith has played three ODIs and seven T20Is for West Indies so far. He came to prominence during CPL 2021, with his hard-hitting batting and ability to touch 140kph.

Harry Kane has helped to keep Bayern Munich dreaming of Champions League glory, but has pointed out that they’ve only done “half the job” in last-16.

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Three-goal lead after first leg vs LeverkusenKane bagged a brace at the Allianz ArenaOn course to book quarter-final berthFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The German giants are well on course to book a quarter-final berth after claiming a 3-0 victory over domestic rivals Bayer Leverkusen in the first leg of their all-Bundesliga knockout encounter. Said result was picked up on hone soil.

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That means Bayern have to go and complete a difficult European task in Leverkusen, which will not be easy. Kane is, however, firing on all cylinders, which bodes well for Vincent Kompany’s side. He bagged another brace in his latest outing.

WHAT HARRY KANE SAID

Kane now has 31 goals for the season through 34 appearances in all competitions. A powerful header and nerveless penalty were converted against Leverkusen. The England captain has posted on social media: “Half the job done. What a night at the Allianz!”

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WHAT NEXT FOR BAYERN MUNICH?

Kane is keeping Bayern in the hunt for major honours in 2024-25. They sit eight points clear at the top of the Bundesliga table, while their superstar No.9 now has nine Champions League goals to his name this term. That return has taken him above Manchester City striker Erling Haaland and one behind Borussia Dortmund forward Serhou Guirassy in the Golden Boot race.