أكد مصدر داخل نادي الزمالك، أن المدير الفني الجديد للفريق الأول لكرة القدم، السويسري كريستيان جروس، وصل إلى القاهرة صباح اليوم الأحد، من أجل إتمام الإجراءات النهائية للتعاقد مع القلعة البيضاء، خلفًا للبرتغالي جوزيه جوميز.
وكان جوميز قد أخطر إدارة النادي بالرحيل عن تدريب الفريق مساء الثلاثاء الماضي، ووقع المدرب البرتغالي عقدًا مع فريق الفتح السعودي.
وقررت إدارة الزمالك برئاسة حسين لبيب، تعيين جهاز فني مؤقت بقيادة أحمد مجدي المدرب المساعد ومعه حازم إمام الظهير الأيمن السابق للفريق وعماد المندوه مدربًا للحراس، لقيادة الفريق في مباراة المصري البورسعيدي اليوم بكأس الكونفدرالية.
وعلم “بطولات”، أن السويسري كريستيان جروس، المدير الفني السابق لـ الزمالك، وصل إلى القاهرة اليوم الأحد، من أجل إتمام اجراءات التعاقد مع إدارة القلعة البيضاء على تدريب الفريق الأول لكرة القدم.
طالع أيضًا | خالد جلال: المدرب المصري دائمًا مظلوم.. والزمالك من صنع جوميز
وأكد مصدر داخل النادي، أن جروس سحضر مباراة الزمالك والمصري البورسعيدي اليوم، بعد وصوله إلى فندق إقامته بالقاهرة منذ لحظات.
جروس كان قد تولى تدريب الزمالك من قبل تحديدًا موسم 2019، وحقق لقب كأس الكونفدرالية مع الفارس الأبيض، كذلك بطولة السوبر المصري السعودي بالفوز على الهلال السعودي.
وأثارت أنباء عودة جروس حماساً كبيراً في صفوف جماهير الزمالك، التي تتطلع إلى عودة الأيام الخوالي التي شهدت الفريق في أفضل حالاته تحت قيادة المدرب السويسري.
ويواجه جروس تحديات كبيرة في مهمته الجديدة، حيث يعاني الزمالك من بعض المشاكل الفنية والإدارية، ويتعين على المدرب السويسري العمل على حل هذه المشاكل وبناء فريق قوي قادر على المنافسة على الألقاب المحلية والقارية.
يذكر، أن الزمالك سيلاقي نظيره المصري البورسعيدي، في التاسعة مساءً اليوم الأحد، على ملعب برج العرب، في إطار منافسات الجولة الثالثة من دور المجموعات لكأس الكونفدرالية.
With Leeds United seeking to secure a swift return back to the top-flight, it has not quite been the start to the new Championship season that Daniel Farke would have been hoping for, with the Whites picking up just two wins from their opening six league games.
That being said, however, the Yorkshire giants did have to endure a turbulent summer which saw 15 players depart and nine new faces arrive at Elland Road, with the squad having been overhauled following last season's dismal relegation.
With the transfer window now at a close, the hope will be that Farke can begin to truly get to work with the aim of his steering his side toward the top end of the table, with the most recent 3-0 victory away to Millwall having illustrated the exciting potential that the German has at his disposal.
That classy away performance also proved another fine day for the club's record signing, Georginio Rutter, with the promising striker seemingly shaking of last season's woes after having made his mark at The Den in style.
Leeds forward Georginio Rutter.
With two goals from just five league appearances so far this term the young Frenchman is beginning to truly showcase his quality, although he will have to go someway if he is to reach the heights of the club's stellar centre-forwards of years gone by…
How good is Georginio Rutter?
Brought in for an eye-watering sum of £35.5m in January, the former Hoffenheim man initially looked like being a colossal waste of money for those at Elland Road, having failed to score in what was a deeply disappointing end to last season.
The 6 foot forward was described by Leeds Live's Beren Cross as being basically "a non-entity" during the defeat to Chelsea back in March, with Rutter unable to prove the difference-maker that was needed in the club's battle for survival.
Fast forward just a few months, however, and there are signs of life in the 21-year-old's Leeds career as his three goal contributions this term indicate, with the £70k-per-week hotshot having already struck up a promising partnership with summer signing Joel Piroe.
Quite whether the one-time Rennes man can maintain this impressive early season form remains to be seen, however, with Farke potentially wishing he had a more guaranteed supply of goals to lead the line this term.
Looking back into the past, Leeds have been blessed with some top-drawer strikers who certainly knew where the goal was, with now-retired ace, Mark Viduka seemingly one such talent who would have been ideal in the present day.
How much did Leeds pay for Mark Viduka?
The 6 foot 2 marksman had begun his career in his native Australia and in Croatia prior to joining Scottish giants Celtic in 1998, going on to score 28 goals in just 34 games across all fronts for the Old Firm outfit, after overcoming initial stress-related struggles at Parkhead.
That prolific introduction to life in Britain saw the Melbourne-born goal machine catch the eye of Leeds and then-boss David O'Leary in the summer of 2000, with the Whites preparing for a crack at the Champions League for the forthcoming campaign.
Having been impressed by the striker's displays north of the border, O'Leary and co opted to fork out a sizeable sum of around £7m in order to bring Viduka to England, with that ultimately proving money well spent as he quickly made his mark in his new surroundings.
How many goals did Mark Viduka score for Leeds?
It didn't exactly take long for Viduka to endear himself to the Leeds faithful as he hit 17 league goals during a stunning debut campaign, having also scored four times and contributed four assists as part of the club's surge to the Champions League semi-final.
That latter tally included a goal and an assist against La Liga giants Real Madrid at the Bernabeu, although that season is best remembered for the Aussie's four-goal haul against Liverpool in the 4-3 thriller in November 2000.
Such a complete performance showcased the full array of the striker's clinical and devastating talents, as he ultimately ended that 2000/01 season with 22 goals in 53 games in all competitions under O'Leary's watch.
Those heroics continued over the next few years as the imposing hitman ultimately scored 71 goals in only 165 games in all competitions prior to his departure for Middlesbrough in 2004, having hit double figures for league goals in each of his four seasons with the Whites – including a stellar haul of 20 top-flight goals in 2002/03 to help steer his side to safety.
Leeds United
165
71
Middlesbrough
101
42
Newcastle United
40
7
Celtic
34
28
Dinamo Zagreb
14
2
Stats via Transfermarkt
Unlike the aforementioned Rutter, the 39-cap international proved himself as a truly reliable goalscoring presence in England's top-flight, with such a dependable talent seemingly worth his wait in gold, both then and now.
How good was Mark Viduka?
As a figure who courted attention from the likes of AC Milan and Manchester United when in his pomp in Yorkshire, it is fair to say that Viduka was the type of striker that seemingly any side in Europe would wish to have their hands on.
That was the verdict of Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville, at least, with the ex-Red Devils skipper having said of his former rival's quality back in 2020: "My view on Viduka is that he could have played for any team in Europe at that time. I think he was one of the best forwards in Europe. He was capable of playing in a technical team, he could have played in a long ball team, he was capable of playing in any type of team."
Viduka's suitability to the modern era – as the hypothetical figurehead in Farke's side – was also noted by Neville, with the former England international going on to add: "I think [Viduka] would grace the Premier League today if he was playing, he was such a great player. Technically, he was brilliant. I always thought he was ahead of his time in terms of the way he played the game, he would have enjoyed it a lot more today than he would have done back then.”
With both the ability to find the back of the net and effectively hold the ball up to bring others into play, the 47-year-old was at times someone who you simply "couldn't stop" – as per pundit Jamie Carragher.
As such, for all the exciting promise that Rutter is beginning to demonstrate, Leeds are still arguably crying out for an 'unstoppable' striker of Viduka's ilk.
Ella Toone came off the bench to devastating effect against Italy on Tuesday, scoring with a deft volley to add to England's friendly rout.
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England face Italy in friendly
Toone comes on as second-half substitute
Scores fine volley within five minutes
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WHAT HAPPENED?
The Manchester United star had to watch on from the bench as Sarina Wiegman's side took control in Algeciras. Toone was introduced on the 64th minute and promptly set about making her mark. Fellow substitute Lauren James easily made space down the left and picked out her England team-mate perfectly, who volleyed it precisely into the top corner.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
The Lionesses took immediate control of Tuesday's friendly fixture. Lotte Wubben-Moy repaid Wiegman's faith with a goal inside a minute of just her third senior international start. Lauren Hemp then added to that tally with a brace of headers, before Michela Cambiaghi pulled one back for Italy in first-half stoppage time. Toone then get in on the action before Daly – who was on the bench initially – rounded out the scoring with 11 minutes remaining, securing another convincing Lionesses victory.
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WHAT NEXT FOR ENGLAND & TOONE?
The result means Wiegman's side have romped to two convincing wins from their two February friendlies, scoring a combined 12 goals in the process. For Toone, it is a statement goal after recent underwhelming performances against Chelsea and Aston Villa, as she looks to bring United back to within European contention in the WSL. The Red Devils currently sit seven points out in fourth.
Hampshire look set to be one of the main beneficiaries when the ECB announce their major match allocation next week.They are expected to be awarded one of the most coveted games in the schedule – an Ashes Test in 2023. While the club hosted their first Test against Sri Lanka in 2011 and a second against India in 2014, the opportunity to host a Test against Australia would represent the culmination of many years’ work – and many millions of pounds of investment – for the club’s benefactor, Rod Bransgrove.While it is not anticipated that Hampshire’s Ageas Bowl ground will host any other Tests during the period, it is likely it will be given a couple of international T20 fixtures each year and confirmed as the base for one of the teams in the new T20 competition scheduled to start in 2020.The allocation – which will account for major matches staged in England and Wales from 2020 to 2024 – was originally scheduled to be announced on February 14, though it is possible that deadline could slide if the ECB board demand more explanation before ratification.
England fielding coach
The ECB is understood to have offered the job of fielding coach to the former Sussex batsman Carl Hopkinson. He is currently Sussex Academy coach.
There could also be good news for Lord’s in the allocation. While the reduction in England’s Test programme (they will play six Tests per summer from 2020 rather than seven as is the case at present) looked likely to harm them, confidence within the MCC remains high that they will continue to host two Tests a year. In summers where a team plays five Tests against England – a scenario that is currently only relevant to India and Australia – Lord’s would host one match in that series and a further Test against a side outside the ICC’s Test Championship. Lord’s is also likely to be confirmed as a host for a new team in the T20 competition.The other likely host venues for the new T20 competition are The Oval, Edgbaston, Trent Bridge, Cardiff, Manchester and Headingley though it is possible a few games will be played at other venues including Bristol and Durham.The remainder of the Tests will be split between England’s traditional Test grounds. With Durham no longer eligible to host Test cricket as part of a raft of penalties imposed on the club following their financial problems and Cardiff understood not to have applied to host any Test cricket during the period, the competition for the remaining three Ashes games will be limited to Edgbaston, Trent Bridge, The Oval, Old Trafford and Headingley.But with the ECB having altered the process by which games are allocated, it is the grounds with the largest capacity – The Oval, Old Trafford and Edgbaston – which are best placed to win the fight to host those Ashes Tests in 2023.Whereas clubs used to bid against one another – sometimes being seduced into over-spending in their desperation to host games – they now apply for packages of matches on the understanding that ticket sales (but not catering or hospitality revenues) will be shared with the ECB. For the most popular games, such as Ashes series, that revenue share is understood to be 50% of ticket sales.
Mauricio Pochettino admits Chelsea could dip into the transfer market after losing Christopher Nkunku to a fresh injury worry.
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Chelsea could replace Nkunku in transfer marketPochettino worried by latest injury setbackBlues lack centre-forward optionsWHAT HAPPENED?
Having previously suggested it wasn't necessary to sign another forward this month, Pochettino was asked if Nkunku's hip injury has changed Chelsea's view with regard to a possible transfer hunt. He replied that, depending on the severity, it may now do.
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"It's true that now in the next few days, we are going to see the situation. That's why I told you that I am a little worried," the Chelsea boss told reporters ahead of Saturday's game against Fulham.
"I still don't have all the information about whether [Nkunku] is going to be available or not for a small initial period. We need to be very clinical to take some decisions to think and see how we fix the problem.
"All of these situations make our job a little more difficult. I told you before that it is an exciting project but situations like this make it more difficult to change the situation and grow at a different pace."
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Nkunku was signed for £53 million ($67m) last June, a deal thought to have been agreed at least six months earlier. But Chelsea fans have barely seen the player who scored 58 goals in 88 appearances in his final two seasons at RB Leipzig, due to a pre-season knee injury that required surgery and delayed the Frenchman's debut until December. He had only played four times in all competitions by the time he was sidelined again with a hip problem suffered in early January. Pochettino had earlier admitted he is 'worried' by the injury and another absence.
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Chelsea need to assess just how long Nkunku will be ruled out for and then need to make a decision on whether they need to reinforce while the January transfer window is open. Although the Blues have Cole Palmer and several wingers, Armando Broja is the only available striker in the first-team squad while Nicolas Jackson is on Senegal duty at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Fifties from three India A batsmen and impressive returns from Shahbaz Nadeem and Siddarth Kaul helped the hosts claim the five-match series with one match yet to be played
ESPNcricinfo staff13-Oct-2017 ScorecardGeorge Worker scored his 11th List A hundred•AFPSeven wickets between Shahbaz Nadeem and Siddarth Kaul helped India A clinch the series with a 64-run win over New Zealand A, despite a century from opener George Worker. Propelled by three half-centuries, India A scored 289 for 6 and dismissed the visitors for 225 to take a 2-0 lead with one match to go in the five-match series.Left-arm spinner Nadeem scythed through the New Zealand A line-up with returns of 4 for 33 off his 9.1, assisted by a handy three-for from Kaul, skittling the opposition inside 46 overs. A 113-ball 108 from Worker proved insufficient as lack of support from the rest of the line-up yielded a second-highest score of 37. Having lost their top three inside 15 overs for only 50 runs, the major part of the resistance came in the form of a 74-run fourth-wicket stand between captain Henry Nicholls and Worker, who added another 63 for the fifth wicket with Tom Blundell (31).Kaul, who triggered the slide with the top-order wickets of Glenn Philips and Will Young, also took out Blundell to finish with 3 for 25 from seven overs. Nadeem, on the other hand, accounted for Nicholls in the 25th over before removing Colin de Grandhomme and Worker in consecutive overs, leaving New Zealand A on 217 for 7.India A’s decision to bat found validation as opener Abhimanyu Easwaran, playing his first match of the tour, scored his seventh List A half-century en route to a 104-ball 83. He peppered seven fours in his knock, anchoring two 50-plus stands, with Ankit Bawne (39) and Deepak Hooda (59), for the second and fourth wickets respectively.While Easwaran’s opening partner Prashant Chopra and captain Rishabh Pant fell cheaply, Bawne and Hooda’s contributions helped the side past the 200-run mark. Hooda hammered five fours and two sixes and found able support in No. 6 Vijay Shankar, who put on 45 runs for the sixth wicket and 55 for the seventh with a 33-ball 61. His knock featured five sixes and four fours, setting up a competitive total, as Scott Kuggeleijn (2 for 37) finished with the best figures for the visitors.
Argentina looked to put “Ferraris” around Lionel Messi at the 2022 World Cup, allowing the all-time great to produce his inspirational best.
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Albiceleste claimed global title in the Middle East
Talismanic captain at his inspirational best
Had the right tools around him to work with
WHAT HAPPENED?
The mercurial frontman was not to be denied in Qatar, with his remarkable efforts guiding the Albiceleste to a stunning global crown in the Middle East. Messi led by example throughout, netting in every knockout game – including two in the final – and held his nerve during an epic penalty shootout with France.
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WHAT MANNA SAID ABOUT MESSI
Argentina found a way of bringing the very best out of their captain, with energy being conserved at times as other did running for him. Matias Manna, a video analyst within Lionel Scaloni’s coaching team, has told of how that was made possible: “I was always very obsessed with seeing what he needed in the team. And Messi needs good midfielders. The best squad we saw, which for me was in the 2022 World Cup or the current one, surrounds him with good midfielders, and that is one of the secrets of this team.”
He added: “Alexis (Mac Allister), (Leandro) Paredes, Enzo (Fernandez), (Rodrigo) De Paul, Gio (Lo Celso) are all Ferraris who know how to stop and accelerate. Other more physical players do not have that quality that I think is the essence of our football.”
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Manna added on how Messi’s input before a ball was kicked against France helped to put Argentina in a position to win the game, with another long-serving veteran playing a key role as he also hit the back of the net in normal time: “We were watching France-Morocco. There was a player, Sofiane Boufal, who constantly outplayed (Jules) Kounde, the French right back. So there, Lio tells me, if Angel [Di Maria] plays, he has to play on that side. I think it was the most important decision in the history of Argentine football.”
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WHAT NEXT FOR MESSI?
Messi got his hands on the World Cup trophy – emulating countryman Diego Maradona in the process – and has since gone on to land his eighth Ballon d’Or. He is also in the running for the 2023 FIFA Best Men’s Player award and will be looking to chase down more major honours with MLS side Inter Miami in 2024.
Chris Lynn said he’ll need to be smart in the field “to get another 10 years out of his career” after his second shoulder reconstruction
ESPNcricinfo staff05-Aug-2017
During this year’s IPL, Chris Lynn sustained a shoulder injury for the third time in less than two years•BCCI
Australia batsman Chris Lynn is hopeful of recovering from a shoulder surgery in time for the Big Bash League this season. However, he said that another shoulder injury could be “career ending”.”Longevity was why I took that option to have the operation. It’s a short-term loss for a long-term gain,” Lynn told . “They [career ending] are words you don’t want to hear but they are down that path. I’ve got to be more cautious and have more smarts about how I go about things.”Lynn sustained a third shoulder injury in less than two years, during this year’s IPL, forcing him to miss a month of the tournament and the subsequent Champions Trophy in June. He is currently undergoing rehabilitation, and will be out of action for most of the upcoming BBL season, which begins on December 19.”It has been frustrating but it was the right decision to get it done,” Lynn said. “I want to play through tournaments and hopefully make a mark and be fully fit for 12 months. I want to put the shoulder injury to bed. I want to go back to enjoying my cricket and being pain-free. I have to change my dynamic slightly but I won’t be changing the way I bat.”I need to be more cautious in the field. Running around on the boundary is not an option. I might have to stop a few with the boot. I am zero or 100 but there are times I have to reel it back and get another 10 years out of my career. We’ll see how smart I am in the next 12 months.”Lynn earned an ODI call-up after another impressive BBL season last year. He was named player of the tournament after hitting a record 26 sixes for Brisbane Heat in the 2016 BBL.”I’d love to get back [for the BBL] and walk out in front of the Gabba again,” Lynn said. “It’s something I get really excited and nervous about as well. My fingers are crossed for the Big Bash.”
The France forward has re-established himself as being among the game's elite players over the past 12 months, but has received little to no credit
On October 30, France Football revealed its final Ballon d'Or rankings for 2023, placing the 30 nominees in order after all the votes were counted. The names trickled in via social media during the star-studded gala in Paris, with the outstanding players of the past 12 months all included.
There was Jamal Musiala, Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard earning places in the top 20. So too did the likes of Mo Salah, Lautauro Martinez and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. Lionel Messi, of course, won his eighth Golden Ball, with Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr close behind him.
One name that might have surprised those watching was Antoine Griezmann, who ranked at a lowly 21st following a season where Atletico Madrid crashed out of Europe early and went trophy-less in Spain. That he was even on the shortlist at all will have surprised some, but in truth, Griezmann's final ranking did him something of a disservice. That's a sentiment shared by Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak, who told GOAL this week that he "couldn't believe it" when he heard Griezmann's Ballon d'Or position.
Since the 2022 World Cup kicked-off in November of last year, the 32-year-old forward has scored 25 goals and added 17 assists for club and country. He took an Atletico side that had started the season in miserable form and led them to a third-placed finish and Champions League qualification. He has also been the architect of an undefeated Euro 2024 qualifying campaign for France, while in the opening months of the current campaign, his nine goals have Diego Simeone's side well-placed to make a first La Liga title push in three years.
On Sunday, when Atleti travel to take on Griezmann's former club, Barcelona, he has the chance to haunt Catalunya, as one of the Blaugrana's most-expensive transfer flops returns with his world-class abilities now revived and ready to land another blow to Barca's fading title dreams.
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Not the right fit at Barca
Griezmann and Barcelona's split was an amicable one. The two parties had endured a rocky 24-month relationship ever since his €120 million (£107m/$134m) move in the summer 2019, with neither side benefitting from the union.
Griezmann, once one of Europe's best, saw his career stagnate at Camp Nou, though he did manage to scored a respectable 35 goals in 102 appearances. Brought into try and appease Messi and stop him from leaving, the pair instead found themselves operating in the same areas on the pitch, and manager Ronald Koeman never made the tactical adjustments to accommodate the duo.
When the possibility of an Atleti return presented itself — on an initial two-year loan with an obligation to buy — neither side of the deal had reason to complain. Simeone, in fact, hailed the Frenchman's homecoming.
"I found a Griezmann who was eager to return," Simeone said in September 2021. "[He was] enthusiastic about the option of returning to the team, and people will demand from Griezmann what they demand from us every day."
There were some issues that still needed ironing out, as Atleti famously tried to use Griezmann as little as possible in order to avoid paying the obligated €40m (£35m/$39m) fee that would kick in after a certain number of appearances. But once a permanent move was finalised, on friendlier terms for a reluctant Atleti and cash-strapped Barca, Griezmann's Atletico journey 2.0 kicked off in earnest.
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Atletico at a crossroads
In January 2023, Simeone was reportedly on the verge of being let go. His side had gone into the World Cup break sat fifth in the table, already 13 points behind leaders Barcelona after just 14 matches. They had also crashed out of Europe altogether, finishing bottom of a less-than daunting Champions League group that also included Porto, Club Brugge and Bayer Leverkusen.
The legendary Atleti manager seemingly couldn't work his magic anymore, with it claimed that opposition coaches had worked out how to counter 'Cholismo'. His team may have won La Liga in 2021, but even that felt like a spectre of something old (with the ageing Luis Suarez leading the charge), rather than the dawn of a new club.
And so, Simeone changed things. Atletico could no longer be an elite defensive side — not in the mould of those that had competed with Barcelona and Real Madrid in the early 2010s. It was time for something new, something more attacking, something that the roaring Rojiblanco fans could get behind.
In truth, Simeone had searched for it for a while, making the ill-advised signature of Joao Felix two years previously as a replacement for Griezmann. But that never worked – and with the Portuguese playmaker loaned out to Chelsea while Griezmann's loan move was made permanent – Simeone had his answer.
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Taking a lesson from Deschamps
To make his new-look side work, Simeone turned to the French national team, who had come within an Emiliano Martinez save of winning their second straight World Cup. Mbappe may have been the hero of that side, but Griezmann was the unquestioned fulcrum of it all. Dropped into a playmaking No.10 role, Didier Deschamps, in effect, allowed his attacking midfielder to control the tempo of games.
And he repaid that faith in style. Griezmann didn't score in Qatar, but he was present for the bulk of Les Bleus' biggest moments. He provided the killer assist that set up Olivier Giroud's winner against England in the last eight, while was instrumental in the build-up to two of Mbappe's goals in the final. The Barcelona flop had become, in the space of one month, one of the world's most important playmakers.
Simeone hasn't used Griezmann in exactly the same way; he still likes to pack the centre of the park with three interior midfielders, while France use only two. But the Argentine coach has asked Griezmann to drop deeper while still involving himself in attacking play. In the first four months after the World Cup, Griezmann touched the ball more in the middle third than at any point in his club career.
And so while the teamsheet suggested that he was going to be playing alongside Alvaro Morata, the eye test told a different story. This was an orchestrator who covered ground, created spaces, and got into the box at the right moments. With Griezmann dictating, Atletico only lost once in the remainder of their La Liga campaign. Griezmann scored 10 and assisted 12 across those four months, becoming the driving force in an unlikely turnaround.
Simeone, victorious and vindicated, summed it up: "He is an extraordinary player despite the fact that many, many, thought otherwise."
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No drop off in form
"We've been changing the way we play," Griezmann told GOAL before the 2023-24 campaign. Atleti, he said, were going to play more attacking football this season. They planned on keeping the ball, dictating play, and creating more goalscoring opportunities.
This would still be a hardworking side revered for its transition defending and ruthless edge. But they would do that while also being more ambitious on the ball. It's a style that saw the Rojiblancos turn last season around, and a full campaign of that swagger, only more refined and calculated, meant Atletico could challenge for domestic and European success, Griezmann claimed.
Thus far, his assertions have yielded results. Atleti are third in La Liga, four points off the top with a game in hand on co-leaders Real Madrid and Girona. They have scored the third-most goals in the league, and conceded the second-fewest. A drubbing at the hands of Valencia and tight loss to Las Palmas now look like outliers rather than warning signs.
They have produced in big moments, too. Atletico dominated the Madrid derby, and remain the only team to keep Jude Bellingham quiet over 90 minutes this season. A nervy win against Real Sociedad, battering of Rayo Vallecano, and qualification for the Champions League knockout stages have only bolstered their credentials as genuine trophy candidates.
Burnley target Jean Butez is “keen to join” Vincent Kompany’s side this summer, according to reliable journalist Ryan Taylor.
Who is Jean Butez?
Butez is a goalkeeper who currently plays his football for Royal Antwerp in the Belgian Pro League having moved there from Mouscron back in 2020 where he’s since gone on to make a total of 129 appearances to date.
The Frenchman started all 40 league games under Mark van Bommel last season and is his manager’s firmly established number one, and with Vincent Kompany holding knowledge of players in his homeland, the 28-year-old has been highlighted as a target at Turf Moor.
L’Equipe recently reported that the Clarets have made an approach for the shot-stopper who still has another three years remaining on his contract, but despite their advances initially getting turned down, it sounds as if a deal is firmly back on the cards.
Are Burnley signing Butez?
Taking to Twitter, Taylor revealed that Burnley are currently in discussions with Royal Antwerp regarding a move for Butez who is believed to be pushing to complete his switch to the Premier League. He wrote:
“Antwerp goalkeeper Jean Butez keen to join Burnley. Talks ongoing between clubs after Clarets saw opening bid rejected. Kamil Grabara of Copenhagen another GK admired, Vincent Kompany has scouted him. #LFC have 20% sell-on clause.”
Antwerp goalkeeper Jean Butez.
Where could Butez fit in under Kompany?
Burnley and Kompany had Arijanet Muric as their first-choice between the sticks for the majority of last season but you can never have too much competition so Butez joining could push the formerly mentioned goalkeeper for the number one gloves next season.
The DVL Management client, who pockets £13k-per-week, kept an outstanding 19 clean sheets from 34 Jupiler Pro League outings last season, form which saw him not only collect four man-of-the-match awards but also hailed “very impressive” by journalist Josh Bunting.
Furthermore, the 6 foot 2 colossus made a total of 74 saves from 100 shots on target against, giving him a save percentage of 76%, via FBRef, ever so slightly under the 76.6% of Muric showing just how close in quality the two shot-stoppers are.
Finally, Butez knows what it takes to compete and be successful at the highest level having won two trophies with Antwerp, one of those being his side's division title, so should he put pen to paper, he would be able to match the winning mentality of the current squad already in Lancashire.