"It has been very good; we played together in the 2014 World Cup, we both talk and try to contribute the best for the team. There is always that healthy competition needed within a squad,” Pulido said.
Aware that both are veterans and have a strong influence within the locker room, Pulido and Chicharito are focused on guiding Chivas’ younger players.
“We always support the young players who are pushing forward very well. We will try to back them up so that when we are no longer at the club, they come in with a strong mentality and solid foundations to contribute good things to Chivas. I believe we both have great responsibility within the team; we share a brotherhood and a strong connection to add to the squad,” Pulido added.
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Chivas rely on Pulido and Hernández as its two standard-bearers in the locker room. Both know what it means to lift a championship with the . That is why they are recognized as the club's most recent legends.
Both players are in their second stint with Chivas, but there has been speculation on multiple occasions about their relationship within the club. Since rejoining Chivas, Chicharito has just two goals in 24 appearances for the storied club while Pulido has two in five appearances this season.
DID YOU KNOW?
Chicharito won the Liga MX title with Chivas in the 2006 Clausura tournament. It was his first major championship with the team.
Meanwhile, Alan Pulido played a key role in the team's championship victory in 2017 against Tigres. It was the most recent time Chivas won the Liga MX.
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Melbourne Renegades crash out of the race, must now win their final match to stand a chance of avoiding the wooden spoon
Tristan Lavalette18-Jan-2022
The big-hitting Tim David smashed 46 from 20 balls with four sixes•Cricket Australia via Getty Images
Smart bowling from Hobart Hurricanes helped them clinch the final BBL playoff spot after a thrilling six-run victory over Melbourne Renegades. The result knocked Stars from the playoff race ahead of their clash with Sydney Thunder on Wednesday.Hurricanes had looked in grave danger of failing to defend their 182 at Marvel Stadium with an Aaron Finch-led Renegades cruising at 2 for 161 in the 18th over. But Hurricanes found inspiration with seamer Tom Rogers claiming two wickets in the penultimate over, including Finch for 75, as they hung on to secure victory.The bottom-placed Renegades now need to win their last match, against Thunder, to stand a chance of avoiding a third straight wooden-spoon finish.Hurricanes find a way at the death Hurricanes looked lifeless against Finch and Shaun Marsh, who combined for a second-wicket century partnership. A vintage Finch appeared to be leading Renegades to victory until Hurricanes clawed back into the contest with their season in the balance.Sandeep Lamichhane, who had earlier taken the wicket of Marsh, was superb in the 18th over with a game-turning dismissal of debutant Unmukt Chand, who had become the first Indian cricketer to play in the BBL.Then Rogers claimed the big wicket of Finch to decisively turn the game the Hurricanes’ way. That eased the pressure on them ahead of their final league-stage game against Melbourne Stars, even though their playoff position is still undecided.In further good news for Hurricanes, they are set to welcome back Ashes cult hero Scott Boland, whose sole BBL game this season was against Perth Scorchers on December 14.Aaron Finch and Shaun Marsh put up a 101-run stand•Getty Images
Finch stands tall but Renegades collapse Renegades could well be wondering how their season might have gone with a fit and firing Finch and Marsh, who both missed large chunks of the tournament with injuries.Marsh turned the clock back with a 38-ball 51 complete with gorgeous strokes around the wicket, but it was Finch who looked best-placed to get Renegades over the line until his dismissal triggered a collapse.Finch appeared to have timed his run to perfection, but Renegades lost 4 for 15 at the end to suffocate under the pressure in a disappointing performance that encapsulated another poor season for them.Hurricanes’ batting packs a punch After an erratic season, Hurricanes have settled on their batting order and No. 3 Matthew Wade has taken to his new role after a sluggish run mid-season in a major boost for their title hopes. The Hurricanes captain helped his side overcome the early loss of Ben McDermott and showed his intent by smashing a six off spinner Cameron Boyce’s first delivery in the eighth over.Wade fell just short of his second straight half-century – having made just eight runs in four prior innings – but Hurricanes received a late flurry from D’Arcy Short and Tim David with the pair pummelling 51 off just 22 balls.In another welcome boost for Hurricanes, an aggressive Short showed great form with 37 off 22 in his most fluent knock of a difficult season, where he had been demoted from opener to No. 4 and entered the match with a low strike rate of 103.But even he was overshadowed by the big-hitting David, who smashed 46 from 20 balls with four sixes. Hurricanes have had a dilemma all season whether to utilise their designated finisher up the order, and David showed his prowess with his highest score of the season.Matthew Wade fell just short of his second straight half-century but made a great contribution•Getty Images
Evans pulls off a stunner Without spearhead Kane Richardson, who has had an excellent season, Renegades’ weakened attack needed someone to step up, and youngster Zak Evans did exactly that in his third BBL match of the season.First, he took one of the best catches of the tournament to dismiss McDermott – a one-handed blinder after he ran back 30 metres from the edge of the ring and dived backward.Then the 21-year-old was entrusted to bowl in the power surge and his plan to pitch up worked when he claimed the key wicket of Wade. He couldn’t quite finish the job against a red-hot Short at the death, but it was an encouraging performance from him overall.It was needed for Renegades with frontline spinner Zahir Khan, who started the season superbly, once again wicketless, having taken just five wickets in his last ten matches.
Australia’s bowling depth has captain believing they have “options for anywhere in the world”
Andrew McGlashan28-Dec-2021Pat Cummins’ immediate priority is to continue the domination of England for two more Tests as Australia target another Ashes whitewash, but after securing the series in less than 12 days he believed they were building a squad that sets them up for more success in the years to come.The standout feature for Australia across their three crushing victories has been the depth of their fast bowling. Scott Boland spectacularly added his name to the list with an astonishing haul of 6 for 7 at the MCG to follow Jhye Richardson’s five-wicket return in Adelaide and a solid debut for Michael Neser and the development of Cameron Green.Cummins’ own absence for Adelaide due to being a Covid close contact was barely noticed, as has been the case with Josh Hazlewood missing the last two games through injury and Richardson not being risked in Melbourne.Related
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“Our bowlers have been fantastic. Haven’t even felt like there’s been one session where it’s got away from us,” he said. “It’s what dreams are made of, the way we’ve played. And outside of the results there’s so many other positives; we’ve been able to have a couple of debutants, really build a squad of 15-odd players. It doesn’t just feel like a 3-0 victory, feels like we are setting ourselves up for the next few years as well.”Australia will face much sterner batting line-ups than this historically poor England side, but after last season’s loss against India a return to home dominance has left Cummins confident ahead of the challenges to come which involve three subcontinent tours to Pakistan, Sri Lanka and India in the current World Test Championship cycle.It has been more than two years since the side has played Test cricket overseas – they are due to tour Pakistan in March – and there will be different questions posed to them, notably the playing of spin and whether they rebalance the attack with a second frontline spinner or stick with the pace bowlers. Legspinner Mitchell Swepson continues to wait for his Test debut which would appear unlikely to come during the Ashes.Cameron Green claimed the Ashes-clinching wicket•Getty Images”The World Test Championship is a big thing,” Cummins said. “Absolutely want to be in that final. Winning away from home, we’ve got a great opportunity to go over on a couple of subcontinental tours. Think that’s a really big challenge for any team, you can see England coming here it’s foreign conditions for them. I feel like it’s building. Think we have options for anywhere in the world.”Having missed the Adelaide Test, Cummins is only seven playing days into his captaincy having been thrust into the job when Tim Paine resigned a couple of weeks before the series. It could have destabilised the team, but Cummins and Steven Smith have formed an excellent leadership pair and Alex Carey has eased in behind the stumps. Alongside the return of Travis Head No. 5 and Marcus Harris’ gusty innings in Melbourne there are few areas that have not come together.On a personal level, a whirlwind few weeks was still sinking in for Cummins – he was a key part in retaining the Ashes in England in 2019 and in a couple of weeks, so long as the series can navigate Covid, will be holding the urn up in Hobart.”I don’t think it’s fully hit me yet,” he said. “Steve Waugh, Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke, those were the captains I grew up watching and idolising so to be in a similar position is just awesome. When I think about what it means, I think more about for our group of players.”We’ve got seven players in the top 10 of the world at the moment and we probably haven’t strung the performances over the last couple of years that we expect of ourselves. This really consolidates that we are a really good, strong Test side and a good sign for the next few years.”
As the pressure continues to increase on Erik ten Hag to turn things around at Manchester United, INEOS are reportedly ready to resume talks with an out of work manager who’s already a Champions League winner.
Ten Hag under pressure
Before Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Dan Ashworth steered the Red Devils in the right direction when it comes to transfer strategy, it could have been argued that Ten Hag had simply been the victim of just how poorly Manchester United were being run off the pitch. That’s not an excuse that the Dutchman can fall back on after the summer transfer window, however.
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On paper, Manchester United signed several improvements. They strengthened their backline with Matthijs de Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui and one for the future in Leny Yoro. They reinforced their attacking options with Joshua Zirkzee and most importantly, they found their replacement for the struggling Casemiro in the form of Manuel Ugarte. Yet, still, Ten Hag’s side have failed to find their form.
Their latest result to forget came in the Europa League, when they were forced to rely on Harry Maguire’s late goal to level things up against Porto in a 3-3 draw, having initially taken a 2-0 lead.
Without a win in four games, pressure is growing on Ten Hag, leading to names such as Eddie Howe being linked with what could soon be a vacant position. Before the Newcastle boss, however, the Red Devils could turn towards a Champions League winner.
According to Sam Cunningham of Inews, INEOS are ready to resume talks with Thomas Tuchel if they decide to sack Ten Hag this season. The German was reportedly in negotiations over the role in the summer before things ultimately broke down and United stuck with Ten Hag. Now though, he could finally be on his way.
"Smart" Tuchel more proven than Ten Hag
After three seasons at the helm, Manchester United don’t look like a side who are set to progress under Ten Hag and with Tuchel available, INEOS would be wise to make their move. Tuchel has a plethora of experience, winning the Champions League during his time at Chelsea, which looks like an incredible achievement, given the undoubted chaos in the boardroom during his tenure.
What’s more, although not famed for his entertaining style of play, has consistently earned results throughout his managerial career, be that at Stamford Bridge, Bayern Munich or Paris Saint-Germain. Dubbed “smart, modern, adventurous coach” in the past by New York Times’ Rory Smith, Tuchel may well be the manager that Manchester United so desperately need to take charge of a new era.
If it is to be the former Chelsea boss, he’ll be hoping to avoid following in Jose Mourinho’s footsteps and instead help steer what is still a sinking ship back in the right direction on the pitch. With the likes of Ashworth working behind him too, Tuchel could have the perfect environment for success if INEOS finally pull the trigger.
Neymar Jr. returned to his boyhood club Santos, 12 years after leaving the Brazilian side, and was left speechless after his second debut.
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Neymar returns to Santos after 12 years
Makes his second debut in draw with Botafogo
Left speechless as he shares experience of return
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WHAT HAPPENED?
Neymar left Brazilian side Santos in the summer of 2013 after having coming through the club's youth system. The superstar winger's career looked to be on the right track after he helped Barcelona to their second treble in just his second season and also became one of their star players alongside the likes of Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez. However, he decided to move to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017, where injuries derailed his career before he shifted to Saudi Arabia to play for Al-Hilal.
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However, the move to Al-Hilal did not pan out as Neymar only played a total of seven games in one-and-a-half seasons due to various injuries and form issues. With the Brazilian unwanted at the Saudi Pro League side, the 33-year-old looked for potential clubs. Santos announced the deal to re-sign their homegrown superstar on January 31, and Neymar made his second debut in the Serie A clash against Botofogo on Wednesday. After the match, Neymar said that he had 'no words' to describe the feeling of returning home.
WHAT NEYMAR SAID
Speaking after the game, Neymar said: "I love Santos. I have no words to describe what I felt tonight when I stepped again on this pitch.
"I need minutes, games. I'm not at 100 percent. I didn't expect to run and dribble so much tonight. I think I'll feel better in four or five games."
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WHAT NEXT FOR NEYMAR?
Questions have been raised about whether Neymar can return to his best after his struggles with injury. He will hope he can recapture his best form back at Santos and lead the Brazilian national team at the 2026 World Cup in the United States.
Ibrahima Konate has revealed that he has been playing with painkillers at Liverpool after "rushing" his comeback from a knee injury.
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Konate expresses commitment to LiverpoolHas been playing with painkillersSuffered knee injury in Real Madrid clashFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Konate did not feature for the Reds for more than a month after being sidelined with a knee injury during the club's 2-0 win over Real Madrid in the Champions League in November. He returned to action in the New Year and featured in Liverpool's starting lineup for the first time since regaining fitness in their Premier League clash against Manchester United.
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While Konate has been included in the starting lineup by Arne Slot in all three of the club's Premier League games in January, the French defender has admitted that he "rushed" his comeback from injury and has been playing with painkillers. The 25-year-old has formed a formidable defensive partnership with Virgil van Dijk and has played a pivotal role in the Reds' rise to the top of the Premier League table.
WHAT IBRAHIMA KONATE SAID
Speaking to reporters, the France international said: "I tried to come back 100% but I'm not because I rushed my comeback with my knee. I've done this for my team. I can die for this team, it is fine. My knee will come back 100% soon, it's fine. I still have pain. I play with painkillers and that is enough for me to play.
"I was very close to coming back anyway. My plan was to train that week but when I saw Joe [Gomez] with his injury I was like: 'Okay, I have to come back quicker.' For sure, the first game I felt my knee a little bit, but it got better day after day. The physios and the medical staff have done a great job for me."
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AFPWHAT NEXT FOR LIVERPOOL?
The Premier League leaders will be back in action on Tuesday as they host Lille in the Champions League at Anfield, with Konate in line to feature in Slot's starting XI once again.
Kyle Mayers, the West Indies batting all-rounder, will play for Birmingham Bears in the last three games of the Vitality Blast group stage.Mayers, who scored an unbeaten double-century on Test debut in February, played his first T20I in New Zealand last year after impressing for Barbados Tridents in the 2020 Caribbean Premier League (CPL) with 222 runs. He has played six Tests and two T20Is and earned his maiden ODI cap in the first of three ODIs against Bangladesh at the beginning of this year, going on to play the remainder of that series.Mayers was lined up as a replacement overseas player by Rajasthan Royals in the 2021 IPL and had arrived in India shortly before the tournament’s postponement.Kyle Mayers said: “I hope that I can contribute with the bat and ball during these final three important games of the Blast… I’m very proud to join this list of players. Hopefully I can make some important contributions, which secure our path through to the knock-out stages.”Paul Farbrace, Bears Director of Cricket, said: “Being able to add Kyle, as a hard-hitting batsman and skilful seam bowler, to our squad as we bid for a quarter-final place is great boost. We also recognise how motivated Kyle is by this opportunity to feature in another leading T20 tournament with an ICC T20 World Cup just around the corner.”Mayers will be available for Friday’s derby at Worcestershire Rapids, followed by the return match at Edgbaston a week later and the final group game at home to Northants Steelbacks on July 18. The Bears sit fifth on the nine-team North Group table, level on 11 points with fourth-placed Durham and six points behind leaders Nottinghamshire.
Sporting CP are set to fire head coach Joao Pereira just six weeks after he replaced Ruben Amorim at the helm of the Portuguese side.
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Pereira has won three games since replacing Amorim
Sporting CP have lost first place in Liga Portugal
Reigning champions to fire him ahead of Benfica clash
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WHAT HAPPENED?
Pereira took over as Sporting boss immediately after Amorim departed to join Manchester United. The fledgling manager had big shoes to fill, taking over from the man who guided the club to their first Liga Portugal title in 19 years in 2020-21, and then followed that up with another league success last term.
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Sporting were top of the table when Pereira took charge and had recently demolished Manchester City in the Champions League in one of Amorim's last games in charge. Despite his tenure starting with a 6-0 win, they then lost four matches in a row and have fallen behind Benfica in the title race. Although they have won two and drawn one of their last three games, reports the coach's spell in charge is all but over, with Pereira having accepted that he is about to be sacked.
DID YOU KNOW?
Pereira, who made 40 appearances for the Portugal national team, ended his playing career at Sporting and was appointed as coach of the club's Under 23s team in 2022 before taking over the reserves just a few months before he was thrust in charge of the senior squad. Of the eight games they have played under him, the Lisbon club have won just three and drawn one.
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WHAT NEXT?
Sporting have already drawn up a list of possible replacements and are reportedly in talks with their favoured candidate. A new face may be in the dugout by the time they host rivals and league leaders Benfica on December 29.
Manchester City continued their perfect start to the 2024/25 Premier League campaign with a narrow 2-1 victory over Brentford at The Etihad on Saturday.
The Cityzens have now won all four of their matches in the top-flight and currently sit at the top of the table, as they go in search of a fifth straight title.
Erling Haaland, of course, scored both of the goals for Pep Guardiola to secure all three points, after an early strike from Yoane Wissa had given the away side the lead.
The Norway international has now scored a staggering nine goals in four Premier League matches so far this season, including hat-tricks against Ipswich Town and West Ham United.
Appearances
4
Sofascore rating
8.65
Goals
9
Big chances missed
2
Conversion rate
45%
He has been the star of the show for City, with his outrageous goalscoring record, but the former Borussia Dortmund marksman has not been the only shining light of the campaign.
Rico Lewis has emerged as a regular starter for Pep Guardiola at the start of this season and has caught the eye with his performances for the champions.
Rico Lewis' impressive start to the season
The impressive academy graduate only started eight of his 16 appearances in the Premier League during the 2023/24 campaign, as a bit-part player for City.
He was behind Kyle Walker in the pecking order, for club and country, last season but the tables have turned and it is now the other way around.
Lewis has started all four of the club’s matches in the Premier League this term and was selected for the most recent England squad, by Lee Carsley, ahead of Walker.
rico-lewis-man-city-championship-leeds-transfers
The 19-year-old starlet, who turns 20 in November, has earned his place in the starting XI on merit and has been an impressive performer in the division this term, with three starts at right-back and one at left-back.
Lewis, who played 39 times for the club at U18 and U21 level combined, has not looked out of place as a regular first-team operator, from a technical or physical perspective.
Starts
4
Sofascore rating
7.18
Pass accuracy
87%
Tackles + interceptions per game
3.1
Duel success rate
67%
As you can see in the table above, he has been a combative and dominant defensive option for Guardiola, winning 67% of his physical contests in the Premier League this term.
He has also completed 87% of his attempted passes and recorded one assist, for Haaland against West Ham, which shows that the full-back has been reliable and capable in possession for City.
These statistics show that Lewis deserves his place in the side for the Cityzens and suggest that he is on course for a fantastic breakthrough campaign with the champions, if he can maintain this level of form over the next eight months or so.
Guardiola has provided young players, like Lewis, Oscar Bobb, and Phil Foden, with chances to shine in the first-team over the years and he may already have his next version of Lewis in the U21 side right now, in talented teenager Jacob Wright.
Jacob Wright's big potential
Just like the 19-year-old first-team star, Wright can play in the middle of the park in central midfield or as a right-back, which suggests that he would be comfortable inverting in Guardiola’s system.
He has played 16 games at right-back and 31 matches in a defensive midfield role at academy level for City and could, therefore, be ideal for the right-back role that would see him invert into a central midfield position alongside, usually, Rodri to create a 3-2 build-up for City.
The 18-year-old starlet has caught the eye with his performances for the youth teams, with nine goals and six assists in 65 games for the U21 and U18 sides combined, despite playing in defensive positions.
Appearances
1
Goals
1
Pass accuracy
90%
Tackles + interceptions
3
Ball recoveries
6
As you can see in the table above, Wright impressed in his first appearance of the 2024/25 EFL Trophy campaign against Chesterfield last month.
He started in a central midfield position and got his name on the scoresheet, whilst also demonstrating his qualities in and out of possession, completing 90% of his attempted passes and making nine tackles, interceptions, and recoveries.
Along with that impressive outing, Wright has also produced an eye-catching two goals and three assists in three Premier League 2 matches this season, and his form may catch Guardiola’s eye with a view to more first-team exposure this term.
The next steps for Jacob Wright
The teenage whiz made two first-team appearances in the 2023/24 campaign, with one outing in the Champions League and one in the FA Cup, and this shows that he is already on the manager’s radar.
Earlier this year, Guardiola claimed that the midfielder has been training with the first-team and is “progressing really well”, which suggests that the Spanish head coach is pleased with his development so far.
Reigning Premier League Player of the Year Foden, who came through the academy system himself, also said that he was “delighted” for Wright and that it is a “dream” for him to play alongside fellow academy graduates like the teenage ace.
This shows that he has caught the eye of the manager and one of the first-team’s biggest stars, which speaks to his potential as a player at such a young age.
At the age of 18, there is no immediate rush for Wright to emerge as a key player for City’s senior side, given that Lewis has only now nailed down a starting spot and is about to turn 20.
The goal for the England U20 international this season should be to rack up a smattering of first-team appearances in all competitions and to earn a Premier League debut.
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Wright could then use that experience as a platform to kick on and establish himself in the 2025/26 campaign as Rico Lewis 2.0 for Guardiola.
Decisivo na vitĂłria por 3 a 1 sobre o GrĂŞmio, no Ăşltimo domingo (31), em Porto Alegre, o atacante Breno Lopes voltou a balançar a rede apĂłs quase quatro meses sem marcar. HerĂłi do tĂtulo da Libertadores em 2020, o jogador projetou a decisĂŁo dessa temporada diante do Flamengo, prevista para o dia 27 de novembro, no Uruguai, e destacou a importância de utilizar os jogos do BrasileirĂŁo como preparação.
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O camisa 19 do Verdão, que igualou Gustavo Scarpa como terceiro maior goleador do clube na temporada, com sete gols, explicou como o time conseguiu se sobressair contra um adversário que estava pressionado pelo resultado.