O Palmeiras venceu o Grêmio, fora de casa, por 1 a 0 pela partida de ida da final da Copa do Brasilneste domingo (28).Após o duelo, Abel Ferreira concedeu entrevista coletiva e comentou sobre a importante vitória, deixando claro que a decisão está em aberto.
– Duas grandes equipes se enfrentaram aqui. Isso se decide em dois jogos e estamos na primeira parte. Em vantagem, mas nada garante nada. Temos que continuar em alerta e focados nas nossas tarefas – ponderou o comandante português.
continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasFutebol NacionalGustavo Gómez marca, Palmeiras segura o Grêmio e abre vantagem na decisão da Copa do BrasilFutebol Nacional28/02/2021GrêmioFerreira acredita em virada do Grêmio no Allianz ParqueGrêmio28/02/2021PalmeirasVeiga exalta vitória do Palmeiras na ida da final e lamenta expulsão de LuanPalmeiras28/02/2021
>>ATUAÇÕES: Veiga e Gustavo Gómez brilham em vitória do Verdão na primeira final
O técnico do Verdão também elogiou a atuação da equipe, com destaque, à solidez do sistema defensivo.
– Eu tinha dito que a nossa equipe era uma das melhores defesas (do Brasileirão). Olho para a defesa como um dos pilares de uma casa. Para podermos assentar o jogo coletivo e ofensivo, precisamos estar equilibrados e defender. Atacamos defendendo e defendemos atacando. Fizemos um jogo muito consistente – avaliou Abel.
Antes de enfrentar o Grêmio pelo confronto de volta da final da Copa do Brasil, o Palmeiras joga, nesta quarta-feira (03), às 19h, contra o Corinthians, na Neo Química Arena pela estreia do Verdão no Campeonato Paulista. A partida de volta contra o Tricolor será às 18h do próximo domingo (7).
Tottenham Hotspur have enjoyed success and suffering across 2023, but the summer appointment of Ange Postecoglou hints at a brighter future despite several bumps in the road.
Supporters will not have forgotten the feeling of pure, unbridled joy after blitzing into early title conversation at the start of the season, defying the odds following a dreadful 2022/23 campaign that handed the club an eighth-placed finish and opened the door for Harry Kane's transfer to Bayern Munich.
But the thinness and fragility of Spurs' squad was always going to be the Achilles heel, the hope was just that key figures would slalom past the threat of injury and maintain a sturdy skeleton capalbe of sustaining the kind of fluency and form that could truly challenge those at the forefront of the division.
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That didn't happen, and while Tottenham have been buffeted by setbacks across recent months, they remain in the conversation for the top four as the January transfer window looms.
The winter market, utilised well, will boost Spurs' chances of completing a revival this term, and while the backline is Postecoglou's "priority", it might be wise to target a new centre-forward too.
Spurs transfer news – Serhou Guirassy
According to Italian outlet La Gazzetta dello Sport, free-scoring Stuttgart striker Serhou Guirassy is ready to leave his German side this winter, with AC Milan and Manchester United joining Tottenham in the pursuit of a deal.
Stuttgart strikerSerhou Guirassy.
With a reported release clause of just €17m (£15m), Guirassy would be an absolute bargain for an ambitious European outfit after enjoying a sensational stint in the Bundesliga, but Spurs chairman Daniel Levy will need to act fast to bypass the rival suitors.
With Guirassy's contract up for expiry in 2026, there is no immediate need to sell on Stuttgart's part, though if the Guinea international is truly ready to leave then they might have to acquiesce to his wishes.
Serhou Guirassy's season by numbers
Last year, Guirassy enjoyed success in the German top-flight and plundered 11 goals from just 20 starting appearances, averaging 2.2 shots per game, though he has transcended his role as talisman since the summer, utterly astounding in his prolific feats.
Indeed, having started just 12 times in the Bundesliga this term, the 27-year-old has bagged 17 strikes, taking 3.4 shots and1.7 key passes per outing, with The Athletic's Seb Stafford-Bloor left gaping at the "outrageous" rate of scoring.
Signing for Die Schwaben from French club Rennes in the summer after spending last season in Germany on loan, the 6 foot 1 star might be something of a late bloomer but there is little question that he is one of the deadliest marksmen in Europe right now, and with the wealth of creativity and invention in Spurs' squad, he could maintain his cutting edge.
Serhou Guirassy's style of play
Known as a rangy opportunist, Guirassy is deadly in the penalty area and offers a noteworthy physicality that allows him to assert himself in the final third, with an increase in output and efficiency allowing him to blossom into a striker capable of leading the line for Europe's best sides.
As per FBref, Guirassy ranks among the top 1% of forwards across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals, the top 5% for pass completion and the top 14% for shot-creating actions per 90, highlighting his dynamism and technical ability.
His ability to thread the play and marry his killer instinct with a selflessness and desire to contribute to the team play is something that Postecoglou could make good use of down the N17.
Strengths
Weaknesses
Finishing
Discipline
Long shots
Defensive contribution
Passing
*Sourced via WhoScored
Born in France, the 12-cap Guinea international may well be third in the Bundesliga right now, six points ahead of fifth-placed Borussia Dortmund, but the allure of the Premier League might be too much to resist, and given that Tottenham have a space for a player of his mould after not directly replacing Kane in August, a move certainly makes sense.
Why Spurs should sign Serhou Guirassy
Guirassy is not the only player on Postecoglou's radar, with the Guardian's reputable Ed Aarons recently claiming that Spurs have held internal discussions over a move for Brentford's Ivan Toney, with Arsenal and Chelsea also interested.
The £20k-per-week star could command a fee as high as £100m after bagging 20 goals and four assists across 33 outings in the English top-flight last term, dubbed a "monster" of a forward by his manager Thomas Frank.
While the thought of adding Toney to the ranks is more than just a little attractive, he may well cost an exorbitant sum and has not played any football this season as he approaches the culmination of an eight-month ban for breaching betting rules.
Toney is a more well-rounded player, ranking among the top 6% of forwards for interceptions per 90, while also being likened to Tottenham's legendary former goal machine by England international Declan Rice.
The Arsenal midfielder said: "He's kind of like Harry Kane in a way where he's not only an out-and-out striker, he's a playmaker as well – his left and right footed passing, the way he picks out his teammates is a special technique to have."
Partner that with unquestionable Premier League pedigree and Spurs would be foolish not to consider a swoop for the 27-year-old.
However, he's not the only centre-forward on the market and given that Guirassy is available for a portion of the fee, facilitating funds to be placed on that aforementioned defensive 'priority', then it makes sense to make the shrewder signing.
Both players are on the shortlist, but sometimes pragmatism is a virtue and Spurs must approach the January transfer window with care and consideration, signing Guirassy and thus allowing for further investment across the pitch.
It has been a real Jekyll and Hyde kind of season for Arsenal so far this year. Just a few weeks ago, they were leaving Anfield with a point and spending Christmas Day atop the Premier League table, and yet after back-to-back league losses, they now find themselves fourth and five points off the top spot.
Worse yet, Mikel Arteta's men then crashed out of the FA Cup with a 2-0 home defeat to Liverpool to leave their campaign in limbo.
The biggest problem for the team has been scoring goals, and so, with the transfer window now open, they have been linked to a plethora of forwards and the latest, Bologna's Joshua Zirkzee, has been compared to one of the best players of the Emirates era, Alexis Sanchez.
federico-chiesa-alexis-sanchez-arsenal-opinion
Arsenal transfer news – Joshua Zirkzee
According to a report from the Daily Telegraph's Sam Dean, Arsenal are looking for a new striker in 2024 and are "keeping a close eye" on Bologna's exciting 22-year-old talisman.
However, the bad news for the Gunners is that it will be a pricey move to complete, as the Serie A side are holding out for offers in the region of £50m, and after the summer of spending that Arsenal had, that could prove difficult.
Bologna striker Joshua Zirkzee
That said, with the north Londoners still just about in the title race, they might push the boat out and get their man, as his nine goal involvements in 18 starts suggest that he could be a real difference maker.
Moreover, the comparison to former Arsenal star Sanchez might be enough to convince Arteta, as he was still playing for the club when the dynamic forward was blowing teams away.
Zirkzee could be Arsenal's next Sanchez and solve their goalscoring woes
Now, while Sanchez's time with the Gunners ended poorly – to put it mildly – when he was on song, he was magnificent, often winning games single-handedly, having scored 80 goals and provided 45 assists in just 166 games for the club.
So, if an Arsenal-linked forward is to be compared to any player, the Chilean star is pretty good going.
The comparison stems from FBref, which lists the ten most similar players for most footballers in their database. These comparisons are made and ranked based on characteristics that stars share with one another.
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So, the most significant similarities between Sanchez and Zirkzee lie in their passing, dribbling, and positional characteristics. For example, the Dutch forward is among the top 15% of strikers in Europe's top five leagues for attempted passes, while the Inter Milan man is among the top 11%.
Likewise, the "elite" Serie A striker, as described by data analyst Ben Mattinson, is among the top 17% of forwards for successful take-ons, while the former Manchester United winger is among the top 15%, and these are just some of the ways they mirror one another.
That said, while it is always good to measure up with one of the club's most impressive players of the last decade, how do his underlying numbers compare to Gabriel Jesus? As after all, the Brazilian would be his main competition in N5.
Well, in most of the relevant attacking metrics, it's the "out of the world" Zikzee, as described by Mattinson, that comes out on top.
Stats per 90
Zirkzee
Jesus
Expected Goals + Assists
0.44
0.60
Goals
0.40
0.29
Assists
0.11
0.10
Progressive Passes
2.71
2.69
Progressive Carries
1.30
2.02
Goals per Shot on Target
0.33
0.09
Aerial Duels Won
1.02
0.96
All Stats via FBref for the 2023/24 Domestic Season
He produces more progressive passes, wins more aerial duels, scores more goals, and produces more assists from a smaller expected goal and assists figure than Jesus.
Ultimately, with the Gunners in real need of a reliable number nine at the moment, Arteta should be pushing hard to get Zirkzee through the door.
England boss Gareth Southgate will be concerned about Kieran Trippier's fitness after the Newcastle star limped out of a friendly against Tottenham.
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Trippier off injured in Newcastle friendlyWill cause concern for England boss SouthgateFull-back recently returned from calf issueWHAT HAPPENED?
Trippier had to be replaced just 36 minutes into the friendly in Australia, sparking fears over his condition ahead of Euro 2024. The full-back was included in Southgate's provisional squad for the competition in Germany, and the Three Lions boss has been given a scare just a day after announcing the 33-man list.
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Newcastle and Tottenham left England just hours after their final Premier League game of the season to travel to Australia for the clash in Melbourne on Wednesday. The fixture has proved controversial for being played so soon after the campaign and before the major international tournaments.
DID YOU KNOW?
Trippier, 33, had recently returned from a calf injury he sustained in March, only featuring in the last three league games of the season. A fresh injury will cause problems for Southgate's team ahead of the European Championship, leaving just Kyle Walker and Trent Alexander-Arnold, who is often preferred in midfield, available as natural right-backs.
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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR TRIPPIER?
Southgate and ex-Tottenham full-back Trippier will hope that the issue is not a serious one, with England set to face Bosnia-Herzegovina in a friendly on May 29 before their Euro 2024 campaign gets underway.
Football superstar Neymar has sent Tyson Fury a message ahead of his heavyweight clash with Oleksandr Usyk.
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Fury set to fight Usyk
Neymar sends Fury a message
Continues to recover from injury
WHAT HAPPENED?
A video has swept social media of Neymar sending a message to the British boxer ahead of the fight on Saturday evening, where the Brazilian wished him well but told him to 'do his job' during the clash.
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WHAT FURY AND USYK HAVE SAID
Speaking ahead of the fight. Fury was his usual confident self. "I'm ready. I've got nothing to say. I'm ready for a good fight. If it's tough or easy. Either way, I'll be ready,” the 35-year-old said.
"God bless him [Usyk]. I'll say a prayer for him before the fight for us both to get out of the ring safely."
The Ukranian was less talkative in the build-up to the fight, after simply adding: "Let's make history. Enough."
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The two heavyweights will be facing each other for the first time this weekend, with the winner set to be crowned the first undisputed champion in the four-belt era. The bout will be held in Saudi Arabia, where Neymar is currently based with Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal.
Wolverhampton Wanderers are reportedly keen on a player they showed interest in this summer as Gary O'Neil looks to build on his solid start to life at Molineux.
Wolves cast eye to January…
In the Premier League, Wolves have shown some commendable steel under the stewardship of O'Neil to put themselves in a comfortable spot in and around mid-table; nevertheless, bringing in quality and shipping out excess players in January will be important to help balance their squad at Molineux.
Regarding outgoings, the Old Gold look to have found a new home for out-of-favour striker Fabio Silva, who looks set to travel north of the border to join Scottish Premiership side Rangers on loan for the remainder of the campaign on a straight loan deal with no option to buy.
Journalist Christopher Michel has also indicated that his fellow striker, Sasa Kaladjzic, could be set to depart on a similar basis next month after failing to receive regular minutes at Molineux. Taking to social media platform X, the SPORT1 reporter claimed that the Austria international has interest from clubs in both the Premier League and Bundesliga for his signature, which would potentially leave Matheus Cunha and Hwang-hee Chan to fight it out for game time in the final third.
In light of this, Wolves may need another attacking option to enter the fold in the West Midlands and a new report has suggested that they could well be in the market for one in January.
Wolverhampton Wanderers receive Boulaye Dia reply…
According to reports in Italy via Sport Witness, Wolves are keen on Salernitana striker Boulaye Dia once again after previously seeing a loan-to-buy offer rejected in the summer that would've guaranteed the Serie A side gain €12 million; however, they turned down advances from the Old Gold for the Senegal international.
Similar players to Boulaye Dia (FBRef)
Borja Mayoral
Getafe
Sergio Camello
Rayo Vallecano
Matheus Cunha
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Borja Iglesias
Real Betis
Dion Drena Beljo
Ausburg
The outlet state that Wolves have now come forward with another offer containing a €12 million "right of redemption" to buy the 27-year-old, though Salernitana have once again turned them down. If O'Neil's side can raise their bid by €8 million, though, they could be successful in their pursuit of the attacker.
In 2023/24, the France-born forward, who journalist Jonas Adnan Giæver described as an “absolute monster”, has made 14 appearances in all competitions for his current employers, registering four goals in the process (Dia statistics – Transfermarkt).
Newcastle United are also believed to be tracking the progress of the experienced frontman, which may mean Wolves will need to be quick if they are to try and tempt Dia to come to Molineux once the market re-opens for business.
They’ve lost their last two games and one more could see them slip from second to sixth place by the end of the weekend
Sreshth Shah in Kolkata13-Apr-20193:43
Hussey rules Bravo out of KKR clash
Big pictureTheoretically, even one more win could be enough for Chennai Super Kings to make it to the IPL 2019 playoffs. On the road for the second of four straight away games, they come into this contest four points clear of the second-placed team, riding the MS Dhoni wave. The Super Kings captain averages 107 this season, and surprisingly, has the best strike-rate (127.38) among their batsmen who have faced fifty or more balls.Form guide
Knight Riders: lost to Capitals by 7 wickets, lost to Super Kings by 7 wickets, beat Royals by 8 wickets (most recent matches first)
Super Kings: beat Royals by 4 wickets, beat Knight Riders by 7 wickets, beat Kings XI by 28 runs
Apart from him, Ambati Rayudu has found some form, while lower-order batsmen like Ravindra Jadeja and Mitchell Santner have begun to establish themselves as big-hitting finishers. They find a way to post a par score on whatever surface they’re playing on nearly every time and take chases down right to the final delivery as often as possible. No opposition can afford to drop their intensity. You do that, and Super Kings will hurt you.Second-placed Kolkata Knight Riders, though, find themselves in a precarious position. They’ve lost their last two games and one more could see them slip from second to sixth place by the end of the weekend. They’ve found success batting second every time this season, but teams are slowly beginning to pick up their weakness: batting first. As Dinesh Karthik said after their loss to Delhi Capitals on Friday, Knight Riders are susceptible to leaving a few runs on the field, and their spin bowlers haven’t found too much help on the Eden Gardens surface.With a few injury concerns for Knight Riders, and five days until their next game against Royal Challengers Bangalore, defeat ahead of the break could dent their morale. But as long as Andre Russell’s by their side, they’ll know that they have a fighting chance right up to the final delivery.In the news Michael Hussey, the Super Kings batting coach, said Dwayne Bravo is still a few games away from attaining full fitness, and on a pace-friendly pitch, might consider recalibrating their spin-heavy bowling attack. Simon Katich, the Knight Riders batting coach, believes Sunil Narine would be available for the match, while they’ll take a call on Chris Lynn (flu) and Russell (bruised thigh) on Sunday morning.Harbhajan Singh accounted for Sunil Narine in the second over•BCCI
Previous meetingThe two sides met only four days ago, where Deepak Chahar and Harbhajan Singh left Knight Riders 47 for 6 into the 11th over. After that, Russell’s uncharacteristic – but much-needed – 44-ball 50 helped the team reach 108, but Super Kings chased it down with three overs and seven wickets to spare.Likely XIsKnight Riders: 1 Chris Lynn, 2 Sunil Narine, 3 Robin Uthappa, 4 Nitish Rana, 5 Dinesh Karthik, 6 Andre Russell, 7 Shubman Gill, 8 Piyush Chawla, 9 Kuldeep Yadav, 10 Prasidh Krishna, 11 Lockie FergusonSuper Kings: 1 Faf du Plessis, 2 Shane Watson, 3 Suresh Raina, 4 Ambati Rayudu, 5 MS Dhoni, 6 Kedar Jadhav, 7 Scott Kuggeleijn, 8 Ravindra Jadeja, 9 Imran Tahir, 10 Shardul Thakur, 11 Deepak ChaharStrategy punt Make Dhoni face Lockie Ferguson’s express pace. He’s been iffy against fast bowlers – as witnessed against Jofra Archer earlier this week, when he took a blow flush on the helmet off a short-pitched delivery. Using Ferguson with a combination of Kuldeep Yadav or Sunil Narine against the CSK captain seems like the smartest way to keep him quiet. Against spin this season, Dhoni has a strike-rate of only 106, while against pacers who exceed 140+ kph, Dhoni has a strike-rate of less than 90, with a dot-ball percentage of 42.1. Knight Riders could use Shubman Gill high up the order again. In the four IPL innings where he’s batting in the top 4, he averages 67.50 at a strike-rate of 150 in the IPL, including two half-centuries. When he bats below 4 – usually entering towards the back-end of the innings – his average plummets to 24.71 with a high dot-ball percentage of 52%.Stats that matter Super Kings’ run-rate of 6.10 in the Powerplay and 6.60 in between overs 7 to 15 is the lowest among all teams this season. Knight Riders run-rate of 12.80 in the last four overs is the highest in IPL 2019. Knight Riders are chasing their 100th T20 win. Only Mumbai Indians, Super Kings, Lancashire, Nottinghamshire and Warwickshire have won more matches. Super Kings have only won here once while batting first, and among all grounds this season, they fare the worst in Kolkata, with a win-percentage of only 40 since the IPL’s inception.
USMNT star Christian Pulisic has thanked Stefano Pioli for helping him to “find joy again”, with AC Milan entering the market for a new head coach.
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American moved to Italy in 2023Enjoyed career-best campaignWorking under new boss next termGOALWHAT HAPPENED?
The Rossoneri have taken the decision to part with Serie A title winner Pioli at the end of the 2023-24 campaign. The Italian giants will be opening up a new era next season, with the search on for a suitable candidate to fill their dugout now on.
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United States internationals Pulisic and Yunus Musah are among those eagerly awaiting updates in that managerial search. Both signed for Milan under Pioli, with Pulisic enjoying a career-best campaign at San Siro as he recorded 15 goals across all competitions.
WHAT PULISIC SAID
The American took in 50 appearances for Milan – the most that he has ever managed in a single season – and has been quick to thank Pioli for believing in him and providing a clean professional slate after bidding farewell to Chelsea. Pulisic has said on social media: “Thank you for everything Mister. You and your staff helped me find the joy in this beautiful game again and for that I’m most grateful. Wishing you nothing but the best always! And thank you fans for the support this year. Here’s to bigger and better things next year.”
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WHAT NEXT?
Pulisic is under contract in Milan through to 2027, with there already talk of an extension being put in place. He is expected to be back for more next season, with the 25-year-old forward ready to prove himself all over again to an incoming boss.
Arsenal have gone from cloud nine just a couple of weeks ago to a mini-crisis after their 2-0 loss to Liverpool on Sunday, their third defeat in a row. Where they were top of the Premier League table on Christmas day, the Gunners now find themselves in fourth place and five points off the Reds.
One of the biggest reasons for Mikel Arteta's side's fall off since Christmas has been the abysmal finishing of his frontline, which is made very clear by the fact that they ended each of the previous three games with a higher expected goals figure than their opponents but scored just one goal in all three games.
This lack of lethality in the strike force has clearly been a concern for the club, as one of the players they have been linked with recently has been scoring for fun and has been likened to former captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang: Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins.
Arsenal's hunt for a striker in January
According to a report from the Daily Mail last month, Arsenal are on the lookout for a new striker in January, and one of the names that has made it onto their list of targets is Villa's Watkins.
The former Exeter City sensation is sure to cost the Gunners a pretty penny, with journalist Pete O'Rourke telling Football FanCast previously that any deal would likely cost in the region of £70m, which sounds about right considering he signed a new long-term contract with the Claret and Blue in October last year.
However, the north Londoners have something significant in their favour: Watkins has always wanted to play for the club.
In an interview with the Sports Gazette in 2020, the then Brentford striker was open about his desire to pull on the red and white of the Gunners, saying: "That's the dream, to play for Arsenal one day. But, you know, it's a long shot."
While it would be a complicated deal to complete, the knowledge that the sensational striker wants to play for the club should encourage Edu and Co to push on.
How Ollie Watkins compares to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Gabriel Jesus
Now, while Aubameyang ultimately left the club under a cloud of controversy and didn't enjoy a particularly fruitful final season and a half in north London, it should not be forgotten just how good he was when things were going well at the club.
For example, in the summer of 2020, he became the fastest player in Arsenal history to reach fifty Premier League goals, and then in the same season, he scored against Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-final before scoring a brace in the final to win the entire competition.
So, FBref's claim that the Gabonese superstar is the fourth most similar player to Watkins across Europe's top five leagues should be viewed as a favourable comparison, especially as the 34-year-old is currently in the top 1% for assists in Europe's top five leagues – while the Villa man has racked up ten assists in all competitions.
Moreover, with the "phenomenal" Watkins, as described by BBC Sport pundit Farah Williams, seemingly scoring for fun this season – with 14 goals thus far across all fronts – he could replace Gabriel Jesus in the starting XI and even go on to replicate some of the goalscoring form that led to Aubameyang getting the captaincy during his spell with the club.
When comparing the pair's underlying numbers, it is very apparent that the Brazilian would have to seriously up his scoring rate or vacate his position in the starting XI.
Ollie Watkins vs Gabriel Jesus
Stats per 90
Watkins
Jesus
Goals
0.46
0.29
Assists
0.41
0.10
Non-Penalty Expected Goals + Assists
0.67
0.60
Goals per Shot on Target
0.39
0.21
Goal-Creating Actions
0.77
0.48
All Stats via FBref for the 2023/24 Domestic Season
The Arsenal fan scores more goals, provides more assists, requires fewer chances to score and produces more goal-creating actions per 90 compared to Jesus – who has just three league goals this season, in contrast to Watkins' nine.
Ultimately, while this would be an expensive deal to complete and potentially upset Jesus, the team is in need of a clinical finisher, and Watkins' performances this season suggest he could be that for the Gunners.
أكد أنتوني مودو كيماني مدرب الشرطة الكيني، أن خبرة لاعبي الزمالك كانت الحاسمة في المباراة التي أقيمت بينهما عصر السبت.
وفاز الزمالك على نظيره الشرطة الكيني، بهدف دون رد، في إطار مواجهة الذهاب لدور الـ32 من بطولة الكونفدرالية.
وقال أنتوني خلال تصريحات عبر قناة “mbc مصر”: “الزمالك يمتلك خبرة واسعة، لعبوا بطريقة جيدة وسبق ونافسوا على بطولات قارية، وبسبب تنظيمه وخبراته وجودته فاز”.
طالع | جوميز: نقص الأكسجين أثر على أداء الزمالك.. ونحن أقوى من الموسم الماضي
وأضاف: “كانت مباراة جيدة ولعبنا بشكل جيد، الزمالك فريق جيد ومنظم وفاز ببطولات قارية عديدة، لكن كنا جيدين ولم نكن محظوظين في تسجيل الأهداف”.
وتابع: “كان ينقصنا الحظ، واستغلال الفرص التي سنحت لنا، في بداية اللقاء احترمنا الزمالك وأعطيناهم فرصة لترتيب صفوفهم”.
وواصل: “حالة الطقس التي لعبنا فيها نعتاد عليها، كان بإمكاننا أن نتحكم في المباراة بطريقة أفضل واستغلال الفرص وإحراز الأهداف، وفي الشوط الثاني كنا نسيطرعلى اللقاء لكن للأسف لم نُسجل”.
وأتم: “لا شك أن هناك 90 دقيقة أخرى في القاهرة، أنا على يقين في تنظيم صفوفنا، ونسعى لتسجيل هدف، وسوف نرتب صفوفنا جيدًا وفي كرة القدم كل شيء ممكن”.
ومن المقرر أن يستضيف الزمالك نظيره الشرطة الكيني، مساء الجمعة المقبل 20 سبتمبر، في مباراة الإياب، لدور الـ 32 من الكونفدرالية، ذلك على ملعب استاد القاهرة الدولي.