Love him or loathe him, there is simply no denying that Jose Mourinho is pure cinema.

Whether it’s running down the touchline to celebrate goals, shushing opposition fans, throwing water bottles, or even appearing in one of Stormzy’s music videos, there’s rarely a dull moment when the Portuguese icon is around.

During his glistening career, which has seen him win 26 major honours across spells in England, Spain, Italy and Portugal, Mourinho has also never been shy with words, even if he claims to “prefer not to speak”.

Here, we have listed some of the Special One’s best quotes.

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By
Alex Roberts

Dec 15, 2023

1

"I'm a special one."

After arriving at Chelsea in 2004 after leading Porto to an unexpected Champions League triumph, it didn’t take Mourinho long to make an impression on the media.

“Please don’t call me arrogant because what I am saying is true, I’m a European champion. I think I’m a special one,” he said in his first press conference as Blues boss.

While, if you listen closely, Mourinho actually called himself “a special one,” not “the special one” – the latter has been his moniker ever since.

2

"If I speak, I am in big trouble."

In 2014, during his second spell at Chelsea, Mourinho was left seething after his side suffered a shock 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa, in which two of his players were sent off.

Asked about the red cards after the game by Sky Sports, Mourinho responded with what has since become one of modern football’s most ineradicable quotes.

“I prefer really not to speak. If I speak, I am in big trouble, in big trouble, and I don’t want to be in big trouble,” he said. “I prefer not to speak, If I speak I am accused of bringing the game into disrepute, because the referees do what they do, they do and they go home, they do and they don’t go to the press.”

3

"A specialist in failure."

Mourinho enjoyed a fierce rivalry with Arsene Wenger during their time together in the Premier League, with the pair often exchanging verbal blows – and on occasion, pushes – during and after games.

So, in 2014, when Wenger claimed that other Premier League managers were playing down their title chances because they “fear to fail”, Mourinho took it personally.

Responding to the Frenchman, who had not won a major trophy for over eight years, he said: “He is a specialist in failure. I am not. If he is right and I am afraid of failure, it’s because I don’t fail many times. Maybe he’s right. Maybe I’m not used to failing.

“The reality is that he is a specialist because eight years without a piece of silverware – that’s failure.”

​​​​​​​

4

"Omelettes and eggs"

Mourinho was used to having a lot of money to spend during his first spell at Chelsea, so when he was afforded just £17 million to bring in Florent Malouda and Juliano Belletti in the summer of 2007, he was less than happy – especially after his side endured a poor start to the campaign.

Addressing the situation ahead of a visit to Rosenborg in the Champions League, Mourinho told reporters: “It is omelettes and eggs. No eggs – no omelettes!

“It depends on the quality of the eggs. In the supermarket, you have class one, two or class three eggs and some are more expensive than others and some give you better omelettes,” he said. “So when the class one eggs are in Waitrose and you cannot go there, you have a problem.”

Three days later, after Chelsea drew against Rosenborg, Mourinho ended up with egg on his face when he was sacked.

5

"London is safe"

Nobody is safe from Mourinho’s quips, not even the British police. In 2007, police tried to quarantine the Chelsea manager’s Yorkshire Terrier, believing it had entered the country without the proper vaccinations. The dog subsequently went missing.

As a result, Mourinho was arrested and received a caution for obstructing police. Fortunately, he saw the funny side, telling the press: “My wife is in Portugal with the dog. The dog is with my wife, so the city of London is safe, the big threat is away.”

Mourinho later admitted that he put the dog in a backpack, snuck out of a window and took it to a friend’s house.

6

"Melons"

Mourinho may see his senior players as eggs, but his younger players are like… melons.

“Young players are a little bit like melons. Only when you open and taste the melon are you 100 per cent sure that the melon is good,” he said in 2007.

“Sometimes you have beautiful melons but they don’t taste very good and some other melons are a bit ugly and when you open them, the taste is fantastic.” Makes total sense, Jose.

7

"They are not champions."

In 2015, shortly after Mourinho had guided Chelsea to their first Premier League title since 2010, the Blues boss delivered a hilarious speech at the club’s end-of-season awards dinner.

In it, he claimed that his side were not shown the “respect they deserved” for winning the title, and took aim at rivals Manchester City, Arsenal and Manchester United with what he called a work of “fiction”.

“This is a game with two goals, but there is one team that like to play without the ball,” Mourinho said. “That team plays really well and the ball goes and goes and goes and the quality of the ball possession is good, but they don’t score. No points.”

He went on: “They asked the FIFA committee if they can win like this but they’re told it’s not possible. That the bigger possession is not essential to win matches and they are not champions.”

8

"The story of a donkey"

Mourinho’s first-ever role as head coach was for Benfica way back in 2000, when he was appointed as the replacement for Jupp Heynckes.

At the time, Benfica’s board suggested Mourinho should take on Alverca head coach Jesualdo Ferreira as his assistant, having known each other from their time together at the Lisbon Superior Institute for Physical Education in the 1980s.

Mourinho had other ideas, however, and instead appointed former Benfica player Carlos Mozer.

As if that wasn’t enough, five years later after he had won the Champions League with Porto, Mourinho took aim at Ferreira in a weekly column for Portuguese magazine Record Dez, after his Sporting Braga side had just lost the top spot in the Portuguese league.

“The one with 30 years has never won anything; the one with three years has won a lot,” he wrote. “The one who has coached for 30 years has an enormous career; the one with three years has a small career.”

He added: “The one with a 30-year career will be forgotten when he ends it; the one with three could end it right now and he could never be erased from history. This could be the story of a donkey who worked for 30 years but never became a horse.” The two, understandably, have been bitter rivals since.

9

"He must think I’m a great guy"

If you hadn’t guessed by now, Mourinho has been known to toot his own horn from time to time.

The biggest of those toots came in 2011 during an appearance on Spanish radio when he was asked what he thinks God would think of him.

“He must think I’m a great guy, he must think that because otherwise, he would not have given me so much,” he said. “He must have a very high opinion of me.” You forgot to mention how smart, handsome and charming he made you, too, Jose.

From having all but given up on cricket in 2013 to playing for Jamaica Tallawahs in front of his home-state fans this weekend, Timroy ‘Popeye’ Allen has rediscovered his passion for the game in a remarkable journey back

Peter Della Penna31-Jul-2016Twelve months ago, the prospect of Caribbean Premier League games being played in the USA may have seemed improbable. In line with that, the chance for an American player to play in a professional franchise team on home soil also seemed a distant possibility.Both have been achieved this weekend in Florida and the journey taken by Timroy Allen is a remarkable one, not least because he had almost all but given up on cricket in 2013 at age 26. But two-and-a-half years later, Allen is back this weekend in Florida with the Jamaica Tallawahs squad with a chance to play in front of his home-state fans.”It’s definitely mind-boggling,” Allen told ESPNcricinfo. “Never thought something like this would ever happen. It’s definitely been unreal to say the least. When you’re in a strong enough team especially guys like Chris Gayle, [Kumar] Sangakkara, [Andre] Russell guys like those, you look at it like an honour and a privilege to be a part of the team with these guys, especially where we are now, winning where everybody’s performing. You couldn’t ask for any better.”Born in Jamaica, Allen came to Florida as a teenager and developed quickly, making his USA debut aged 21 against Barbados in 2008,taking 1 for 26 in eight overs. Two matches later, he claimed a career-best 5 for 7 against Suriname and garnered a reputation as a match-winner for his abilities with both bat and ball. He won two Man-of-the-Match awards at 2012 WCL Division Four in Malaysia, hitting 72* in 43 balls against the hosts to open the event and produced an all-round effort in a must-win game against Singapore, to help USA gain promotion to Division Three in Bermuda.But the following year was full of disappointment. When USA failed in Bermuda that May and missed out on a spot in the 2014 50-over WorldCup Qualifier in New Zealand, Allen was so distraught that he left his kit bag in the team hotel and got on the plane to go home vowing never to play again. He was coaxed to come back in November for the World T20 Qualifier, but USA’s last-place finish in group play, and a fall-out with coach Robin Singh, resulted in him turning his attention to his pest control and extermination business, believing once again that he’d given up the game for good.Allen’s road back began in August when applications opened up for an ICC-organised Combine trial in Indianapolis where he competed against 68 other players from USA, Canada, Argentina and Cayman Islands for the right to progress to a second phase of competition against players from the region who had been part of their respective 2015 World T20 Qualifier squads.From the start of the Combine, Allen caught the eyes of talent evaluators including Courtney Walsh and Mike Young, who were curious how a player with his skills was in the first batch of players instead of being fast-tracked into the previously shortlisted players earmarked for the final phase a week later. Allen not only made it through as one of 12 players invited back for the second part of the trial, but made it through the final round of cuts to be in a 15-man ICC Americas squad that went to this January’s Nagico Super50 in Trinidad & Tobago.The players were also told that six of them would be given opportunities, one with each franchise, to gain a CPL contract. Going to Trinidad meant taking some time off from his business, but the sacrifice has been worthwhile.Allen’s medium-pace impressed enough during the Nagico Super50, taking Dwayne Smith’s wicket twice and also that of West Indies Test representative Shai Hope, to catch the Tallawahs attention, too, who snapped him up in the draft. The Jamaica-born US citizen says he couldn’t believe his fortune.”Ever since I heard that it was Jamaica, excited from day one,” Allen says. “Initially when the trial camp came up and they said the top six players, one of them will go to each franchise, yes it was appealing. But I think afterwards, you realise you get a chance and you get to play for Jamaica. You get to represent the island that you’re from. You didn’t get a chance to represent while you were living there but you come to America, you kind of get a chance to go back and represent, it’s a different feeling inside, excited from day one.”It hasn’t been all smooth sailing though for Allen. He was good enough to make the Tallawahs opening day line-up against St Kitts & Nevis Patriots but coming in at No. 8 in the final over, he was bowled with a first-ball yorker. His first two overs conceded just 14, but asked to bowl the final over with 29 runs to defend, he conceded twos off the first two balls to clinch victory, but then proceeded to give up three consecutive sixes to Devon Thomas in an eventual 24-run over.”For the first game that I played in, that was kind of a wake-up call for me,” Allen says. “At this level, it’s not like league cricket where you can probably bowl a little fast and intimidate certain people but after the first two or three balls, you realise they start reading it and picking it up, and you have to be able to change.”It’s a more aggressive format of the game and this is the best of the guys out there. It’s not like you’re going to make a little mistake and get away with it. If you make a mistake, you’re going to pay the price for it. I kind of learned that the hard way.”Apart from Allen’s performances, his exuberant celebrations for every team wicket have also been appreciated by his Tallawahs mates•CPL/SportsfilePart of that hard lesson was being left out for the next five games. He made the most of that time though, spending quite a bit of it picking his team-mates’ brains, in particular Dale Steyn for advice on how to improve.”Dale was saying, ‘Listen, you’re not the first person this happened to and you’re not going to be the last person. This is your first game but it’s not going to be your last game. You just have to make sure the next time you come in that you don’t do the same thing again and you need to work on your variations,'” Allen says. “On the plane ride there, he said, ‘Okay, more than likely you’re here for a reason because people think you have the capability to be here and perform at this level.'”I was telling him some stuff that I would like to achieve and especially with his knowledge I knew he had the experience. If he could help me out a little bit with all the games he’s played in his career… knowledge of that nature you don’t get over a day or two. So he was one of the guys who was working with me on my bowling in the nets. When we played the last game [in Jamaica], he was standing at mid-off or mid-on when I was bowling just to make sure we stayed on point. So I really do appreciate all his help and he gave me some great knowledge and, hopefully I can execute those things.”Allen was recalled during the Tallawahs’ home leg at Sabina Park and in his third game in the line-up, he claimed the wickets of Akeal Hosein and Shoaib Malik, and very nearly Kieron Pollard, in a victory over Barbados Tridents. It wasn’t just the performance with the ball, his celebrations were just as lively for all of the team’s wickets with an infectious spirit that hasn’t gone unnoticed amongst his team-mates.”I think what has impressed me most about Timroy is his attitude,” Sangakkara says. “He had a tough last over in our first game, a game that we won, was out for a little while, came back in for the last two games and you could see his determination to do well. When he took a wicket or a catch, the way he celebrated, you could see it in his face how much it meant to him.”I think his confidence has grown, our confidence in him has grown throughout the tournament and it’s exciting for Tallawahs to have him and he’s been an absolute wonderful guy and I think that’s also very important. It doesn’t matter how talented you are and how well you perform, you need to fit into the group and contribute to the group and he’s been outstanding.”Aside from the experiences gained playing against some of the world’s best players in the CPL, Allen has also gained a new nickname over the course of the season. While answering a question, Allen bursts out laughing as Kesrick Williams casually interrupts, walking past Allen while singing, “Toot! Toot! It’s Popeye, the sailor man!””The first day I went to training, you kind of introduce yourself and they start calling you and say, ‘Oh that’s the young kid,'” Allen says. “Chadwick Walton’s the one who came up with the name. He said, ‘This morning I saw you eating and I could’ve sworn you were eating spinach because your arms started getting bigger.'”So from then on whenever they call me the little song goes out, ‘Toot! Toot!’, and you know they’re talking about you but it’s a lot of fun. Ever since he mentioned it, it stuck to me because even the coaches now go, ‘Hey Pops, you gonna bat or bowl?'”Beyond this tournament, USA will be competing in the ICC WCL Division Four later this year in Los Angeles as they continue their attempts to climb up the Associate ladder for potential 50-over World Cup qualification in 2019. Allen is eager to be back involved in the national team set-up.”I’ll be more than ready for the upcoming tournament and hopefully we can get back on a winning track and come in a higher division, play some better cricket,” Allen says. “We have a great group of guys in the 30 so more than likely we’re going to get a good team to go there. So it’s just for us to go and execute. Performance is always going to be the key but I know a lot of the guys have been practising, been preparing for it. It’s a hungry group of guys.”At the moment though, Allen is focused on his role helping Tallawahs try to claim their second CPL title. Coach Paul Nixon has been impressed with the way he has bounced back and responded both on and off the field after the rough early adjustment period and believes Allen is a player for the future.”He’s more relaxed, more confident and stepping up to the plate in a couple of great games with some key situations,” Nixon says. “Under pressure he’s handled some great moments. He had a tough time when he first came in, but we maybe didn’t look after him well enough at that particular time as a management group looking back, but he hasn’t shirked any responsibility and he’s been up for the fight and up for the moment. He’ll definitely play a major role moving forward in our group.”Allen got to play in front of several cousins during the Jamaica-leg of the season and, on Saturday, the chance to play in front of his wife Tracie, not to mention 8000 local fans. It’s something he couldn’t have imagined at this time last year when his days consisted of getting up at 5am and hopping into his van to head out to local residences, spraying for termites and cockroaches.”I wouldn’t give this up for anything else,” Allen says. “I really appreciate the opportunity that [Tallawahs owner] Mr [Ron] Patel and the Jamaica line-up have given me, especially playing with guys like Chris Gayle, Andre Russell, Sangakkara, Chadwick Walton, they’re some of the best guys that you can ask anything. So just being around the guys, I’m really happy. I’m excited and I’m loving every moment of it. Hopefully we can come out victorious at the end of the tournament.”

After a dismal run of form in the Premier League over the last couple of months, it’s no surprise to see Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola delving into the market to try and strengthen his squad.

The Citizens went on a run of just one win in their last 13 games before winning three in a row over the last week, as they look to salvage anything they can from the 2024/25 campaign.

They currently occupy sixth place in the Premier League, six points off second place Arsenal, with Champions League qualification possibly still on the cards despite the poor recent form.

With 18 league outings remaining between now and the end of the campaign, anything is possible for Guardiola’s men – but it looks as though they may have to concede the league title to Liverpool given the 12-point game and a game in hand.

However, new additions could inject a fresh impetus into the side, whilst also opening the door for numerous players to depart the Etihad for a new challenge.

The latest on Manchester City's transfer activity

Following the 8-0 FA Cup thrashing of League Two Salford City on Saturday night, Guardiola confirmed that full-back Kyle Walker missed the clash after handing in a transfer request a couple of days prior.

The 34-year-old is undoubtedly coming to the back end of his professional career, possibly having one more final pay day in him, with AC Milan one of the sides reportedly exploring a move for the England international.

Since his switch in 2017, he’s been a fantastic servant to City, making over 300 appearances and winning countless trophies – but it looks as though his time at the club is now coming to an end.

As for incomings, journalist Fabrizio Romano confirmed that a deal was edging closer for Eintracht Frankfurt striker Omar Marmoush after personal terms were agreed with the Egyptian forward.

The 25-year-old, who has scored 14 Bundesliga goals in 16 games, has an €80m (£67m) price tag on his head, but Romano confirmed that positive talks were held between the two clubs, with a deal expected to be done next week.

However, Marmoush may not be the last deal completed by the board in January, with rumours murmuring over a potential deal for another star in the coming weeks.

Transfer Focus

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

Manchester City's dream Kevin De Bruyne upgrade

Belgium international Kevin De Bruyne will finish his career as one of the best midfielders to ever grace England’s top flight with his stupendous passing range allowing for countless goals during his spell in Manchester.

He joined City in a £55m deal from Wolfsburg back in the summer of 2015, subsequently going on to make over 400 appearances during his near decade as a player at the Etihad.

De Bruyne has registered 165 assists – an average of one every 2.4 games he’s featured in over a 10-year period – a staggering feat, but like Walker, the 33-year-old is entering his final years as a professional with injuries starting to frequently creep in.

As a result, rumours linking Bayern Munich midfielder Jamal Musiala over a move to the Etihad have persisted, with the latest coming last week from German outlet BILD.

His current deal with the German giants expires in the summer of 2026, opening the door to a potential switch to the Premier League to join up with Guardiola’s side either this window or in the near future.

When comparing his stats to current star De Bruyne, the 21-year-old has massively outperformed the experienced ace, potentially being the perfect player to replace the fan-favourite in the North West.

Musiala, who’s previously been dubbed “one of the best players in the world” by Bayern Munich president Herbert Hainer, has registered more combined goals and assists in 2024/25, offering the likes of Erling Haaland and potentially Marmoush more opportunities to boost their already goal tallies.

Games played

13

13

Goals & assists

11

5

Progressive carries

3.6

2.6

Shot-on-target accuracy

48%

29%

Pass accuracy

82%

77%

Take-ons completed

3.3

0.9

Take-on success

51%

47%

The German has also completed more progressive carries per 90, whilst achieving a higher take-on success rate, having the quick feet and speed to glide past the opposition, something which De Bruyne may struggle to do towards the back end of his career.

It’s a real shame to be talking about the potential end for such a fan-favourite given all of his achievements since moving to the club, but it’s vital the hierarchy work quickly to identify replacements for such players as their career winds down.

Musiala – who initially came through the academy at Chelsea – has showcased in recent years he has all of the tools to be a success at the very top level for years to come, with the 21-year-old having bags of time to develop further and cement himself as an elite attacking midfielder.

It’s unclear how much a deal for the Bayern star would cost in the current window, but it would be worth testing their resolve given his contract scenario – enabling Pep to land the perfect upgrade on the Belgian superstar.

After Marmoush: Man City chase £70m ace who's "very similar to Bellingham"

After Omar Marmoush, Manchester City are looking to further raid Eintracht Frankfurt for a highly-rated midfielder compared to Jude Bellingham.

ByBen Gray Jan 10, 2025

Visitors have been laid low by injuries but assistant coach wants them to “grind and fight and stay in the fight as long as possible”

Andrew McGlashan06-Dec-2022West Indies will assess their walking wounded over the next couple of days before trying to pull together a side they hope can challenge Australia in the second day-night Test, but have been buoyed by the fighting spirit shown by the batters in Perth and the hostile burst from Alzarri Joseph that briefly ruffled Marnus Labuschagne.There remain doubts over Kemar Roach (hamstring) and Nkrumah Bonner (concussion), while Kyle Mayers (shoulder) will only be available as a batter and Jayden Seales has an ongoing issue with his left knee. It’s understood that Bonner is unlikely to play – this is the second concussion he has suffered in Test cricket – but there remains some confidence that Roach may yet be available, although there is the risk of the problem flaring up again during the match.Anderson Phillip would be first in line as a replacement quick but there is the possibility that uncapped Marquino Mindley could also play despite only arriving in Adelaide from Jamaica on Tuesday morning.The West Indies bowlers only managed six wickets in Perth, of which three went to the seamers, and the bottom line is that Labuschagne scored 308 runs, but one of the more enthralling passages of the match came on the fourth morning when Joseph, who had been disappointing in the first innings, cranked up the speed and gave him a working over. He should have claimed him, too, on 19 but overstepped.Labuschagne’s Test figures, with an average approaching 60, make clear the outstanding start he has enjoyed, but Joseph’s spell wasn’t the first time he had looked discomforted by high pace after Mark Wood created some uneasy moments in an otherwise one-sided Ashes last season.Alzarri Joseph ruffled up Marnus Labuschagne on the fourth morning•Getty Images”You obviously have your plans,” West Indies assistant coach Roddy Estwick said. “I’m not here to give away plans but we’ll have a look; we will see his uncomfortable areas, his uncomfortable moments, and we’ll try and target them as much as possible.”We were impressed the way [Joseph] bowled with the new ball in the second innings… I personally think a big haul is just around the corner, a five-for [is] waiting. We know he’s bowling at 140kph, he just has to get it in the right area, [then] you can keep your slips in [and] you have a better chance of four or five wickets.”Estwick suggested that Joseph’s spell was the type that would get noticed around the world, and even gave a little nod towards his protégé Jofra Archer who he mentored during his younger days and will have sights on next year’s Ashes after a lengthy spell sidelined by injuries.It was Archer’s Test debut at Lord’s in 2019, where Labuschagne was subbed in as Steven Smith’s concussion replacement after he had been felled by Archer. Labuschagne was then quickly struck by another searing delivery from him.”The cricket world is so small you can’t hide and once any team exposes a weakness, the other teams will be having a look,” Estwick said. “I’m sure Jofra Archer, wherever he’s sitting, will be having a look, ticking some boxes; that’s the way cricket goes. But I’m sure if Marnus thinks he has a weakness, he’ll go away and work on it.”

“We are playing the best team in the world and we just want to grind and fight and stay in the fight as long as possible.”Roddy Estwick

The day-night factor will bring another dynamic to this match (Australia have won all their pink-ball Tests) although West Indies did play the Prime Minister’s XI under the same conditions in Canberra before heading to Perth. The visitors will again look to their openers, Kraigg Brathwaite and Tagenarine Chanderpaul, to set the tone after the pair put on 78 and 116 at Optus Stadium with the aim to take the match as deep as possible.”You are playing the best side in the world, no doubt about that,” Estwick said. “You can’t go gung-ho. I know everyone has seen how England are playing and think that’s the way to go. Well, that’s the way they want to go, fine by them, but with us, we know we have to be as patient as possible.”We are playing the best team in the world and we just want to grind and fight and stay in the fight as long as possible. We did that [in Perth], we want to go one step further. It’s all about improving, learning and getting better. You’ve just got to keep fighting and scrapping with the Australians.”

It’s been a rather dismal season for Tottenham Hotspur this year.

Ange Postecoglou’s side would have come into the Premier League campaign hoping to do one better than last time and qualify for the Champions League, but as things stand, they find themselves all the way down in 11th place with more losses than wins to their name.

Now, the North Londoners have had to deal with several significant injuries and suspensions that have made life difficult, but even so, the team has been seriously below par.

Premier League

Nottingham Forest (A)

1-0 (L)

Premier League

Liverpool (H)

6-3 (L)

League Cup

Manchester United (H)

4-3 (W)

Premier League

Southampton (A)

5-0 (W)

Europa League

Rangers (A)

1-1 (D)

Moreover, some of the stars of the first team, like Son Heung-min, Pedro Porro and Rodrigo Bentancur, have been particularly poor, and based on recent reports, the club could soon sign the latter’s replacement.

Tottenham Hotspur transfer news

According to a recent report from Spain via Sport Witness, Tottenham are ‘really interested’ in Real Betis star Johnny Cardoso.

Alongside the Lilywhites, the report has revealed that AC Milan, Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid are keen on the American international, who’s been in fine form this season.

While interest from such European giants isn’t ideal, the North Londoners have an advantage they don’t. When selling Giovani Lo Celso to Betis in the summer, they negotiated an option on the 23-year-old worth €30m – £25m – which will become active in June.

Should the other interested parties start a bidding war, it could still prove to be a complicated transfer to get over the line, but as things stand, Cardoso looks likely to join Spurs in the summer, which is great news for the team but could be very bad news for Bentancur.

How Bentancur compares to Cardoso

So, if Spurs decide to act upon their action to sign Cardoso next year, they’ll likely do so with the intention of giving him plenty of game time to prove himself next season.

However, given his preference for playing in central and defensive midfield, this would undoubtedly put him in competition with Bentancur for a starting berth, so who comes out on top when we compare the pair?

Well, given where they play, raw output is not a significant concern, and given that they have both produced two-goal involvements this season, there isn’t much to differentiate them there anyway.

Instead, the best way to understand which one might have an advantage is to look under the hood, at their underlying numbers, and when we do that, things start to look good for the American “ball-winner,” as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson.

For example, while he comes out second best in some offensive metrics, he comes out on top in most, such as non-penalty expected goals plus assists, shots and shots on target, key passes, successful take-ons and goal-creating actions, all per 90.

Non-Penalty Expected Goals + Assists

0.23

0.10

Progressive Passes

3.69

6.57

Progressive Passes Received

1.97

1.41

Shots

1.12

1.09

Shots on Target

0.24

0.17

Passing Accuracy

86.1%

90.6%

Key Passes

0.57

0.30

Shot-Creating Actions

1.97

2.33

Goal-Creating Actions

0.25

0.10

Successful Take-Ons

1.39

0.91

Tackles Won

1.68

1.60

Blocks

1.31

1.21

Interceptions

2.32

1.93

Clearances

2.87

1.31

Moreover, and potentially more important given the teams’ performances this year, the “extraordinary” 23-year-old, as dubbed by Betis director Manu Fajardo, has far better defensive numbers.

For example, he comes out ahead in metrics such as tackles, won, blocks, interceptions and clearances, all per 90.

Lastly, on top of all of the above, he’s also considerably younger than the former Juventus ace and could, therefore, be moulded into a key component of Postecoglou’s long-term plans in a way Bentancur could not.

Ultimately, Cardoso may not be a household name among English football fans at the moment, but he looks like he could be in a few years.

Therefore, Spurs must make sure they take advantage of their option next year, as plenty of other teams are keen to sign the American in their stead.

He's like Odegaard & Foden: Spurs want to sign one of Europe's best CMs

Tottenham could be in the market to strengthen their midfield ranks next year.

ByMatt Dawson Dec 25, 2024

Quick Darcie Brown led a disciplined attack then fellow teenagerPhoebe Litchfield hit another half-century as Australia thrashed Pakistan at the Allan Border Field to wrap up the three-match women’s ODI series.Electing to bat in Brisbane’s sunny conditions, Pakistan struggled to fire in a must-win game two after losing the series opener by eight wickets in a rain-affected contest reduced to 40 overs per side. They were bowled out for just 125 after 43 overs with Brown snaring three wickets to lead a well-balanced attack.In reply, Australia powered to an effortless 10-wicket victory inside 20 overs with impressive 19-year-old Litchfield smashing 67 off 61 balls and Beth Mooney finishing 57 not out.Coming off her 78 not out on ODI debut, Litchfield struggled early against probing bowling from quick Fatima Sana before getting off the mark in style with a sweet cover drive.She was dominant from there and played mostly orthodox, but unleashed several scoop shots to showcase her range of strokes.Having made just one run in the series opener, Mooney was keen to make amends and started in style with a boundary off the first ball. She didn’t need to take risks and toyed with Pakistan’s struggling bowlers.Mooney was mostly overshadowed by Litchfield, who played with a maturity beyond her years to become the first Australian women’s batter to compile consecutive half-centuries in their first two ODIs.It was a major disappointment for Pakistan, who are still seeking an elusive victory against all-conquering Australia in any format.The series will conclude at North Sydney Oval on Saturday before a trio of T20Is to wrap up Pakistan’s first bilateral series in Australia since 2014.It was an improved performance from Australia’s quicks, who were notably wayward in the opening game in a push for extra swing.Seamer Kim Garth made her ODI debut for Australia and replaced Megan Schutt, who has a niggle with her knee and is being managed ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup.Garth opened the attack and bowled a maiden first up in an exceptional start. She continued to bowl a back of a length and found late swing during a tidy five-over spell during the first powerplay. Garth finished wicketless, but conceded just 13 runs from eight overs. She played 34 ODIs for Ireland from 2010-2018 before moving to Australia seeking full-time opportunities.Pakistan were unable to build partnerships with a number of their batters failing to capitalise on starts much like in game one.After opener Sidra Ameen fell in the second over, Muneeba Ali started slowly and had a reprieve when Litchfield dropped a chance at second slip before hitting Brown for a couple of powerful boundaries.Moving around the crease trying to disrupt the bowlers, Muneeba’s aggressive approach backfired when she miss-hit spinner Ash Gardner to cover point.Pakistan’s bid for a competitive total nosedived when skipper Bismah Maroof was trapped lbw to seamer Annabel Sutherland for 21.The burden again fell on veteran Nida Dar, who top-scored for Pakistan in game one with a half-century, and she had a reprieve on 16 when Brown dropped a return catch. But Dar’s luck ended on 24 when she was run out at the non-striker’s end after a touch from Garth in her follow through deflected onto the stumps.Pakistan fell away as their barren run against Australia continued.

MatériaMais Notícias

da supremo： Nenhum jogador do atual elenco do São Paulo conhece tanto a Copa Sul-Americana quanto Nikão. O meia-atacante, que tem dois títulos da competição, além de premiações individuais, pode ser a surpresa do técnico Rogério Ceni entre os relacionados para a decisão deste ano, às 17h (de Brasília) deste sábado (1/10), contra o Independiente del Valle, do Equador, em Córdoba (Argentina).O L! transmite a partida em tempo real a partir das 17h.

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da betsul：
+ Relembre os campeões da Copa Sul-Americana de 2012 pelo São Paulo e onde estão atualmente

O atual camisa 10 tricolor surpreende os médicos do clube pela recuperação acelerada visando o jogo mais importante do ano.

Nikão deixou o campo na derrota por 1 a 0 para o Fortaleza, em 28 de agosto, com menos de três minutos em campo, após sofrer uma avulsão do músculo adutor da coxa esquerda.

O caso é o mesmo do volante Luan, que passou por cirurgia e voltou a campo no último final de semana após longo período fora. Mas a recuperação do meia-atacante surpreende.

Nesta terça-feira (27), por exemplo, segundo o São Paulo, Nikão seguiu o processo de transição física e realizou exercícios no gramado junto aos preparadores.

A expectativa em torno da presença do camisa 10 é justificável. Ninguém brilhou tanto na Sul-Americana quanto ele. Foram dois títulos pelo Athletico-PR, em 2019 e 2021. Nesta última, foi eleito o melhor em campo na final e da competição, além de integrar a seleção da temporada.

É a terceira contusão de Nikão desde a sua chegada ao São Paulo, no início do ano. No fim de abril o camisa 10 sofreu um trauma no tornozelo e ficou cinco jogos de fora. Quando voltou, em meados de maio, perdeu 14 jogos por sentir dores no mesmo local.

Isso tudo após desfalcar o São Paulo na pré-temporada após contrair Covid-19 e cumprir isolamento durante a época de treinamentos do clube no CT da Barra Funda.

> Confira todos os jogos da Copa Sul-Americana-22

Rangers manager Philippe Clement finds himself under increasing pressure to keep his job at Ibrox and journalist John McGarry has provided his take on the situation.

Another poor result for Rangers & Clement

The Gers dropped two more precious points in the Scottish Premiership title race on Sunday afternoon, following a disappointing 2-2 draw away to Motherwell. They were 2-0 down at half-time, and while they produced a spirited comeback, it didn’t mask the fact that Clement’s side weren’t good enough on the day.

The draw means that Rangers are now 14 points behind Celtic, prior to hosting their biggest rivals on Thursday, with points dropped in seven out of their 18 league games so far this season.

For Clement, there is mounting pressure on his shoulders, with a chunk of the Gers’ fanbase unconvinced that he is the right man for the job, but he was bullish about his future after the Motherwell game, saying: “No, I’m not concerned about that because I’m only busy with the team.

“And we knew before the season what a challenging project it would be. It’s difficult to speak about that because you will not understand and people outside maybe will not understand but there has been an evolution made.”

Journalist drops Clement sack claim at Rangers

Writing for The Scottish Daily Mail on Monday [via Ibrox News], McGarry explained that he feels Rangers could have sacked Clement had they lost at Motherwell, saying the display will have changed his chances of leaving from “possibility” to “probability”.

“So wretched were the visitors, that the prospect of Clement being relieved of his duties before Celtic come to Ibrox on Thursday seemed not so much a possibility, as a probability.”

While clearly just McGarry’s opinion, it is hard to argue against what he says, and it does further show what a tightrope Clement is walking on currently. The Belgian deserves an element of credit for ensuring his players fought back and earned a point at Motherwell, but the display in the opening 45 minutes was not even close to level expected at Ibrox.

At this point, there does seem like an inevitability about Clement’s future, in terms of being a case of when he is sacked, rather than if. For his sake, he needs a huge performance from his side against Celtic at Ibrox later this week, and should Rangers lose at home to their bitter adversaries, especially a heavy loss, the 50-year-old may have officially reached the point of no return.

That’s not to say that there aren’t aspects of the job that Clement has impressed in, with the Gers sitting eighth in the Europa League table and looking like they could reach the knockout rounds automatically, but big improvements are needed domestically.

Not just Dessers: Rangers star who's in a "rut" is costing Clement his job

Rangers title hopes appear to be over after more dropped points in the Premiership

ByRoss Kilvington Dec 30, 2024

Rangers were always second favourites heading into the new league season, but the manner in which they have allowed Celtic to open up such a huge lead is not good enough, and it feels dangerously close to being fatal for the manager.

The opener was in sight of a century on a day reduced to 44 overs by rain and bad light

Andrew McGlashan01-Apr-2023

Matt Renshaw enjoyed a solid day (file photo)•Getty Images

Matt Renshaw made a bid for a place in Australia’s Ashes squad as he dominated a shortened opening day of the first four-day match against New Zealand A in Lincoln with an unbeaten 92.Renshaw, the most experienced batter in the Australia A squad, does not have a county deal like others vying for a tour spot so these two matches are valuable to him after a difficult tour of India where he missed out three times batting in the middle order, albeit in conditions a world away from what will be on offer in England.”Really strange times at the moment for me,” he said. “I feel like I haven’t had much of a bat since the end of the Shield season. I had BBL, which was quite successful at the end. It feels really strange saying four months was four bats, but that’s the way cricket can be. It was nice to be back in the middle and enjoying batting.”Though he batted in the middle order in India, where he was preferred to Travis Head in the first Test before being David Warner’s concussion sub in the second, he is viewed as an opening option when a vacancy arrives, which could be sooner rather than later depending on Warner’s form. The first phase of Renshaw’s Test career came as an opener and this season he returned to that role for Queensland after a period in the middle order.Renshaw, who survived a big appeal for a catch down the leg side on 17, became increasingly dominant as his innings developed. He hurried into the 80s as he took on a short-pitched attack from Scott Kuggeleijn, which brought 18 off an over including a top-edged six, then collected consecutive boundaries off left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel.Related

Aussies overseas: IPL and county cricket amid Ashes build-up

Spencer Johnson on Ashes radar after being named in Australia A squad

Renshaw's chance to push Ashes claims, eyes also on Hardie in New Zealand

The South Island of New Zealand in early autumn could also hardly be more removed from Nagpur and Delhi. With a further eye on conditions which are likely to prevail in the UK for the World Test Championship final against India then the Ashes these two matches are being played with the Dukes ball.The New Zealand A bowlers did not find much joy with it on an opening day truncated to 44 overs after the first session was washed out then lengthening shadows took the players off for bad light.”The pitch is really similar to what you would expect over in England, so it’s a really nice challenge for us over here,” Renshaw said. “Losing the toss and batting is a really good opportunity to test yourself on these wickets.”After being in India for six weeks facing an SG [ball] on wickets that don’t bounce, it was a nice change and challenge coming over here.”Should Renshaw reach three figures on the second day it will mean he has effectively made consecutive centuries for Australia A after the one he scored for the Prime Minister’s XI against West Indies in Canberra last November. He returned to the Test side at the SCG in January only to be positive for Covid-19 on the opening day then see his chances of a proper innings hit by the weather.The only wicket to fall was that of 18-year-old Teague Wyllie, the Western Australia batter, who opened for the first time in his first-class career. He did not entirely settle against the new ball before cutting Kuggeleijn into backward point.Tim Ward accompanied Renshaw in what became a second-wicket stand worth 113 during the rest of the day. He, too, was tested by the short delivery but more often than not opted to avoid rather than take the ball on.

América's coach says potential move to the Brazil national team unlikely, but that 'hopefully, one day I can be worthy'

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• América defeated Tigres 3-0 on Matchday 13

• Las Águilas secured their spot in the Clausura 2025 final phase

• André Jardine reached 100 matches with the club

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• AFP
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The dismissal of Dorival Junior as Brazil's head coach has brought names such as Carlo Ancelotti, Pep Guardiola, and even América’s André Jardine into the conversation as a potential replacement.

  Jardine is enjoying an exceptional moment, leading América to the top of the Clausura 2025 with 30 points. Las Águilas have already secured their spot in the tournament’s final phase, where they will aim for their fourth consecutive Liga MX title.

  But is Jardine’s move to the Brazil national team even a possibility? Here’s what the coach had to say about the rumors linking him as Dorival Junior’s replacement:

  "Obviously, I did a job in Brazil with the Olympic gold, and that is valued in Brazil," he said. "But, to be completely honest, Brazil is looking for top-tier coaches – [Carlo} Ancelotti, [Pep] Guardiola. I’m a step below that level. Hopefully, one day I can be worthy of that seat, which is a hot and heavy one.

  "Brazil is thinking about a world-class coach. Right now, things are heated, but I’m happy. I enjoy the moment, every match, every day, and the achievement of every tournament."

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• AFP
  

  WHAT ANDRÉ JARDINE SAID

  "First of all, I want to say that I appreciate the great value the Mexican press gives me today. I’m very happy with how I’ve been embraced here – it fills me with pride. I’ve felt welcomed in this country since day one in San Luis, loved by the fans. My son is Mexican, and I feel happy and fulfilled in this league. This is an important point – earning the respect of everyone, from the press and fans to rival coaches."

• Getty Images Sport
  

  DID YOU KNOW?

  André Jardine has reached 100 matches as América's head coach, an impressive milestone in his tenure with the club. Since his arrival in mid-2023, the Brazilian manager has led Las Águilas to a historic period of dominance, securing three Liga MX titles in a row and positioning the team as a powerhouse in Mexican football.

  Jardine's Record with América (first 100 Matches):

  Wins: 66

  Draws: 21

  Losses: 13

  Goals Scored: 191

  Goals Conceded: 78

  Titles Won: 3 (Liga MX Apertura 2023, Clausura 2024, Apertura 2024)

  Under his leadership, América has established itself as the strongest team in Liga MX, currently leading the Clausura 2025 with 30 points. Jardine has also emphasized squad depth, rotation, and tactical flexibility, ensuring the team's consistency despite injuries and fixture congestion.

  Jardine and his team remain focused on their primary objectives: securing a fourth consecutive Liga MX title and winning the CONCACAF Champions Cup, the only major club trophy missing from his tenure.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR AMÉRICA?

  After their 3-0 victory over Tigres on Matchday 13 of the Clausura 2025, América return to training to prepare for the first leg of the Champions Cup quarterfinals against Cruz Azul Tuesday at the Estadio Ciudad de los Deportes.

  Following that match, Jardine’s squad will train on before traveling to Pachuca, where they will face Tuzos on Saturday for Matchday 14.