The majority of the World Cup squad is likely to be rested with fringe players set to get opportunities
Nagraj Gollapudi14-Nov-2023Hardik Pandya will not be part of India’s squad for the five-match T20I series against Australia which begins on November 23, four days after the ODI World Cup. ESPNcricinfo has learned that India’s squad for the T20I series is scheduled to be picked on November 15, the same day Rohit Sharma’s team faces New Zealand in the World Cup semi-finals in Mumbai.It is understood that Hardik, who tore a ligament in his left ankle in the World Cup league match against Bangladesh on October 19, was advised six to eight weeks of rest by the BCCI medical staff. The medical staff was initially optimistic about Hardik recovering in time to play in India’s last league match against Netherlands on November 12. However, the swelling failed to recede, causing pain during the fitness tests Hardik underwent before he was eventually ruled out of the tournament, with Prasidh Krishna named his replacement.Related
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It is understood that the majority of the World Cup squad is likely to be rested, with the group selected for the Australia T20Is likely to feature most players who were part of the Asian Games in October. The Indian team, which had won the gold medal at the event in Hangzhou, was led by Ruturaj Gaikwad. The likes of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh and Jitesh Sharma featured in that squad.The selection panel, led by former India allrounder Ajit Agarkar, will be mindful of the senior Indian team’s workload in the past two months, a period in which they have played the Asia Cup and the World Cup.It is also understood that VVS Laxman is set to be the head coach for the T20I series against Australia. It could not be confirmed what the BCCI plans to do about Rahul Dravid whose two-year contract will end after the World Cup.
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At least domestically, the rest of this campaign for Tottenham Hotspur has to be focused on getting the team to the best place possible for the start of next season.
Ange Postecoglou’s side have been blindsided by an enormous number of injuries this year, and while that has had a serious impact on their results, there is at least one positive.
The lack of options has seen the manager turn to the club’s tremendously exciting youngsters far more than fans would have predicted in the summer.
Moreover, they haven’t just made up the numbers but have helped improve the side, with one prospect doing so well that his valuation has more than doubled.
Spurs' most exciting youngsters
So, when it comes to the club’s young talent this season, there is one player who has probably received the most attention: Archie Gray.
The former Leeds United gem joined the club in the summer for around £30m, so there were some hefty expectations placed upon him, but so far, it would be fair to say he’s more than met them.
For example, even though he is still 18 years old and primarily a central midfielder, the Durham-born dynamo has had to deputise across the backline this term, excelling at full-back and centre-back.
So far, the tremendously promising phenom has made 18 appearances at centre-back, seven at right-back, five at left-back, and two in defensive midfield, and it looks like he could eventually fulfil analyst Ben Mattinson’s claim that he’s a “future £100m” star.
Centre-Back
18
Right-Back
7
Left-Back
5
Defensive Midfield
2
Amazingly, there is an even younger player who has caught the eye for the North Londoners this season: Mikey Moore.
The academy product has been limited to just 16 first-team appearances this term, but he’s already scored one goal, picked up two assists and left a serious impression on his senior teammates.
For example, following his eye-catching display against AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League, James Maddison described the 17-year-old as “fearless” and like “Neymar on the left wing” – high praise indeed.
There is another teenage sensation within the first team, though, someone who is already worth more than double what he cost the club a year ago.
The Spurs youngster whose value has soared
While arguments could be made about including the likes of Wilson Odobert and Pape Matar Sarr in discussions about the club’s youngsters, we are talking specifically about those who aren’t even 20 yet, like Lucas Bergvall.
The 19-year-old Swede signed for Tottenham for around £8.5m last winter but did not officially join the squad until the summer.
However, while he’s still incredibly new to English football, the former Djurgårdens ace has taken to it like a duck to water and is already a key member of the first team.
In fact, the “uber-complete” talent, as dubbed by Mattinson, has been so impressive for the Lilywhites that, according to Football Transfers, he is now worth up to €21.7m, which comes out to about £18m.
That means the Stockholm-born dynamo is already worth 111% more than Daniel Levy and Co paid for him, which, based on his growing importance to the club, seems about right.
Appearances
34
Starts
17
Minutes
1611′
Goals
1
Assists
3
Goal Involvements per Match
0.11
Minutes per Goal Involvement
402.75′
For example, he has already made 34 appearances under Postecoglou this season, scoring one goal and providing three assists.
On top of that, FBref have placed him in the top 3% of midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues for tackles in the attacking third, the top 6% for long pass completion and successful take-ons and the top 8% for tackles and interceptions, all per 90.
Ultimately, in Bergvall, Spurs have struck gold, as he is way ahead of where you’d expect a 19-year-old midfielder to be, and his skyrocketing valuation is just more confirmation of his incredible talent.
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تحدث الإعلامي أحمد شوبير عن موقف أحمد عبد القادر لاعب الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بالنادي الأهلي، في ظل الجدل القائم حول غيابه عن التدريبات الجماعية خلال الفترة الماضية.
وقال شوبير في تصريحات عبر برنامجه الإذاعي صباح اليوم الأربعاء: “أحمد عبد القادر لاعب مُقيد في النادي الأهلي، ومن حقه أن يتدرب مع الفريق، لكن مشاركته في المباريات من عدمها هي وجهة نظر المدير الفني خوسيه ريبيرو”.
وأضاف: “ما علمته أن هناك محاولات تُجرى بقوة لإقناع المدير الفني بضم أحمد عبد القادر لتدريبات الفريق، وهذه أبسط حقوق اللاعب، حتى لو أنه يريد اللعب في ناد آخر، فليفعل ذلك بعد انتهاء تعاقده مع الأهلي، لكن أن يتم منعه من المشاركة في التدريبات الجماعية هذا أمر لا يجب أن يكون”.
طالع أيضًا | حسام البدري يكشف حقيقة طلبه التعاقد مع أحمد عبد القادر
وأشار: “هناك حالة غضب من أحمد عبد القادر داخل الأهلي، بعدما علم المسؤولون أن اللاعب يهدد برفع شكوى ضد النادي في الاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم (فيفا)”.
واختتم: “الأهلي في غنى عن هذه الأمور، وأيضًا أحمد عبد القادر في غنى عنها”.
Manchester City are a club that is not used to making mistakes or falling short across all competitions in the way that they have done under Pep Guardiola this season.
The Cityzens won the last four Premier League titles and won the treble – the Premier League, the Champions League, and the FA Cup – in the 2022/23 campaign.
This season, however, City are 20 points behind Liverpool with 12 games left to play in the top-flight and they have already been knocked out of the League Cup and the Champions League.
As aforementioned, Manchester City are not used to making recruitment errors but some of their decisions in the last few transfer windows should be questioned, going back to when they decided to cash in on Cole Palmer in the summer of 2023.
Chelsea's Cole Palmer with manager EnzoMarescaafter being substituted
Chelsea swooped in to sign the Cityzens academy graduate for a reported fee of £40m, with £2.5m in add-ons, ahead of the 2023/24 campaign, and he has gone on to become a star in the Premier League.
Manchester City's Cole Palmer mistake
The England international’s soaring market value and incredible form on the pitch in the top-flight suggests that City and Guardiola made a big mistake when they allowed him to move on from the club.
At the time of writing, Palmer is currently valued at a whopping €130m (£108m) by Transfermarkt, which is significantly more than the initial £40m the Sky Blues raked in for him around 18 months ago.
Phil Foden (Man City)
£116m
Cole Palmer (Chelsea)
£108m
Michael Olise (Bayern Munich)
£54m
Jeremie Frimpong (Bayer Leverkusen)
£41m
Jamie Gittens (Borussia Dortmund)
£41m
Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa)
£33m
Romeo Lavia (Chelsea)
£33m
Rico Lewis (Man City)
£33m
As you can see in the table above, the Chelsea star is the second-most valuable former Manchester City academy graduate actively playing, only behind current Cityzens star Phil Foden.
Interestingly, Lewis and Foden are the only two of the eight most-valuable graduates who are still at the club, which suggests that City have fumbled several supreme young talents.
Palmer’s form for Chelsea may be particularly frustrating for the club, though, as he has starred in the Premier League, whereas the likes of Gittens and Frimpong are currently playing in the Bundesliga.
The English magician has racked up a staggering 39 goals and 21 assists in 74 appearances for Chelsea as an attacking midfielder, which shows that he has the quality to make a huge impact at the top end of the pitch on a consistent basis.
Cole Palmer in action for Chelsea
City’s decision to sell Palmer was a big mistake, given his incredible output for the Blues, and that opinion is further validated by his form in comparison to Foden this term.
Phil Foden's declining form
The two Manchester City academy graduates won the top awards in the Premier League in the 2023/24 campaign. Palmer won the PFA Young Player of the Year trophy and Foden was named the PFA Player of the Year.
City’s number 47 enjoyed a terrific season as he ended the year with an exceptional return of 19 goals and eight assists in the Premier League, which led to his peers voting him as the best player in the division.
Unfortunately, Foden has been unable to maintain that impressive form heading into the current campaign and has been outperformed by Palmer in the top-flight.
Appearances
26
21
Goals
14
7
Big chances created
19
7
Assists
6
2
Key passes per game
2.7
1.8
As you can see in the table above, the Chelsea wizard has significantly outperformed his former teammate as both a scorer and a creator of goals, further illustrating the error City made by cashing in on him in 2023.
This suggests that Guardiola would have had an even bigger talent on his hands if he had not green-lit the academy graduate’s move to Stamford Bridge in 2023.
Where Are They Now
Palmer, however, is not the only former Manchester City star who is outperforming Foden this season, as Guardiola appears to have repeated the mistake he made with the left-footed ace with the sale of Julian Alvarez last year.
Julian Alvarez's form this season
The Argentina international moved on from The Etihad last summer when Atletico Madrid swooped in to secure his services for a reported fee of £82m, which was – at the very least – a significant fee in comparison to Palmer’s £40m move to Chelsea.
Alvarez was an important player for City, though, and was described as “almost undroppable” by Guardiola in the 2023/24 campaign, in which the forward racked up 19 goals and 13 assists in all competitions.
They seemingly decided that they would be fine without his considerable contributions in the final third, however, as they allowed him to leave and did not sign a direct replacement for him last summer.
The decision to move on from Alvarez was a repeat of their Palmer blunder because he has been in fantastic form for Atletico Madrid this season and has, as the Chelsea star also has, outperformed Foden.
Starts
20
8
xG
7.44
2.19
Goals
9
6
Minutes per goal
186
97
Big chances created
5
2
Assists
2
1
As you can see in the table above, the 25-year-old sensation has caught the eye as a ruthless finisher, outperforming against his xG, in LaLiga and the Champions League for the Spanish giants this term.
He has racked up 23 direct goal contributions (19 goals and four assists) in all competitions for Atletico, which is eight more than Foden (ten goals and five assists) has managed for City this term.
Therefore, Alvarez has outperformed Foden at the top end of the pitch this season and he could have stepped up as a key player once again for City if they had not moved on from him last summer.
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Guardiola repeated his Palmer mistake by deciding to cash in on a fantastic player who could have starred for Manchester City if they had remained at The Etihad, instead of being ruthlessly ditched, and that is why the manager should regret moving on from Alvarez.
da esoccer bet： Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is now keen on a move for an “unbelievable” Brighton star to play a key role at Stamford Bridge next season, according to a report.
Robert Sanchez struggling at Chelsea
da bet7： Maresca has defended Robert Sanchez at times this season, with the manager insisting he trusts his goalkeeper, despite making yet another error in the 3-1 defeat against Manchester City back in January.
It was not the first time Sanchez has made a costly mistake this season, with the Spanish goalkeeper making five errors leading to goals in the Premier League up to this point, the joint-highest number of any player.
As such, the 27-year-old has recently dropped to the bench, with Filip Jorgensen taking his place in the last three matches, but the Dane has also struggled at times, conceding three goals in a poor performance against Brighton & Hove Albion.
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Brighton kept a clean sheet that day, prevailing 3-0 at the American Express Stadium, with Bart Verbruggen putting in a solid display, and now GiveMeSport have revealed Chelsea are considering a summer move for the goalkeeper.
Maresca is named as the driving force behind the potential move, with the manager tempted to raid the Seagulls for yet another player, having identified Verbruggen as a good fit to come in and become the first-choice option between the sticks.
AFC Bournemouth's Evanilson in action with Brighton & Hove Albion's BartVerbruggenand Jan Paul van Hecke
However, a deal will not be cheap, as Brighton are said to be holding out for a fee of at least £50m, amid interest from Manchester United, who are contemplating bringing in a replacement for Andre Onana.
Diogo Costa and Caoimhin Kelleher also remain of interest to the Blues, who are set to sell at least one of Sanchez, Jorgensen, Djordje Petrovic or Mike Penders at the end of the season.
"Unbelievable" Verbruggen impressing Hurzeler at Brighton
Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler is clearly enjoying working with the Dutch goalkeeper, having taken the time to praise him earlier this season, saying: “I really enjoy working with him because he is an unbelievable character.
“For his age he is very mature and he sees things very professionally. That is why he is a role model for everything. I think he can play a big part in the future of the club.”
The 22-year-old has been a key player for Brighton this season, making 25 appearances in the Premier League, however, he has also been quite error-prone, having made four mistakes leading to a goal.
The Netherlands international has only made one fewer major error than Sanchez, and Chelsea’s current shot-stopper has the edge on some other key metrics over the past year.
Statistic per 90
Robert Sanchez
Bart Verbruggen
Goals against
1.29 (60th percentile)
1.43 (43rd percentile)
Save percentage
76.3 (87th percentile)
69.9% (42nd percentile)
Touches
43.33 (89th percentile)
40.63 (69th percentile)
Crosses stopped percentage
13.7% (99th percentile)
7.2% (71st percentile)
As such, while it is clear to see why Chelsea want a new goalkeeper this summer, it would probably be wise to steer clear of Verbruggen.
Offspinner Todd Murphy is likely to play the Oval Test after missing out at Old Trafford
Andrew McGlashan24-Jul-20231:48
Pat Cummins admits it’s a ‘bit of a strange one’
Mitchell Marsh’s fitness could determine whether Cameron Green is dropped for the first time in his Test career for the final Ashes Test at The Oval.Marsh, who helped Australia negotiate 30 overs on Saturday at Old Trafford alongside Marnus Labuschagne, was nursing some soreness during the game and did not bowl on the third day.He and Green, whose absence from the Headingley Test because a minor hamstring injury opened the door for Marsh to flay a century, were both accommodated in Australia’s XI for the Old Trafford Test by the omission of Todd Murphy – the first time Australia had not fielded a specialist spinner in 11 years – but he is likely to return for the last Test.Related
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Switch Hit: Ashes to Splashes
If Marsh is unable to bowl Green’s position might be safe although Australia’s coach Andrew McDonald said runs were the most important factor for whoever bats No. 6. However, having that extra pace option has been vital in managing the workload of the main quicks.”The team has played three quicks and one spinner and we have gone that way numerous times in the past,” McDonald said. “We have had the luxury of allrounders, or in particular Cameron Green, that’s changed the shape of the team over time. Runs were premium first and foremost.”Green’s challenging AshesGreen has struggled to find fluency with the bat on this tour, where he has averaged 19.14 against India and England and was again tentative at Old Trafford, though he got a borderline lbw decision against Chris Woakes in the first innings.So far in his 24-match Test career, the only games Green has missed have been through injury – a broken finger suffered against South Africa last December which also ruled him out of the start of the India series, then the hamstring niggle on this tour.Mitchell Marsh followed his Headingley hundred with more runs at Old Trafford•Clive Mason/Getty Images Green has only had two nights at home in almost six months, having followed the India tour with a full IPL for Mumbai Indians. It was after that campaign that he squeezed in a brief trip back to Perth and joined Australia’s training camp in the UK a couple of days later than others.”He’s had a different experience,” McDonald said. “He’s had the IPL, and people probably draw some conclusions that that’s affected the way he’s gone about things here. But…I think he’s in a good space. I think you’ll see a lot of our batters are working on the right things, and the way they go about it runs are just around the corner.”IPL adds new layer for all-format GreenIn the last 12 months Green has become an all-format player and secured a huge AUD$3.15 million deal at the IPL, where he went on to score his maiden T20 hundred when he smashed 100 off 47 balls against Sunrisers Hyderabad.”He’s still young, he’s still learning his trade, this is his first time in these conditions,” Labuschagne said during the Old Trafford Test. “With the IPL there wasn’t heaps of time to adjust but I think he’s doing a good job.”Last year Green spoke about the challenge of switching between formats when he was part of Australia’s T20 World Cup squad and then had a slow start to his Test season. On that occasion the lack of time in the middle was a factor with him being largely unused during the World Cup, only playing the final game against Afghanistan. He was also unable to play any Sheffield Shield cricket.It’s a situation that may confront him again this year with the ODI World Cup in October and November, though there is a possibility he won’t be selected for the T20 series in India which follows that tournament and may be able to get some Shield cricket for Western Australia ahead of the Test series against Pakistan.However, there is a good chance that Marsh now has the lead in the allrounder pecking order after his impressive return to Test cricket – a thrilling century at Headingley and two important innings at Old Trafford.Neser could come into consideration for The OvalAlongside Marsh, Australia will also assess the fitness of Mitchell Starc after he landed heavily on his shoulder during the second day’s play, though he was able to resume bowling the following morning. What appeared to also be a leg problem has been attributed to cramp.If there was a need to change the pace attack, Michael Neser could play his first match of the series ahead of Scott Boland, who has largely been dominated by England.”[There were] two separate incidents where he dived and landed on the point of his shoulder…then the other one he slipped down on the rope and sort of extended the shoulder joint,” McDonald said of Starc. “So he’s looking worse for wear and a little bit sore. All indications are that he’ll be right to go but that’ll be assessed.”Everyone’s on the table, every selection. And Michael [Neser] knows that. He was a serious consideration here and he was under consideration at Leeds also, so you’re always sort of balancing those who are up and running in the series versus freshness.”
Arsenal’s ambitions of ending their two-decade wait for a Premier League title have taken a huge hit in recent weeks, with various injuries and setbacks derailing their progress.
Whilst Liverpool have been the runaway leaders for the majority of the campaign, Mikel Arteta’s side have the quality across the pitch to mount a serious charge to close the gap.
However, the hamstring injury to winger Bukayo Saka has seen an understandable decline in goals within the final third, with the Englishman registering five goals and 10 assists before his spell on the sidelines.
He’s been missing since the triumph over Crystal Palace on the 21st of December, with the Gunners failing to win five matches across all competitions in that time frame.
Saka isn’t the only forward who’s been sat on the sidelines in recent weeks, as two other players have seen their season cut short by injuries over the last couple of weeks.
Arsenal’s injuries to Gabriel Jesus & Kai Havertz
Just a couple of weeks after the injury sustained to Saka, Arteta also saw Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus suffer his own setback, picking up an ACL injury in the FA Cup defeat against Manchester United.
The 27-year-old had previously had issues with his knee, but this time the issue appears to be way more serious, undergoing surgery to solve his latest issue – ruling him out for the remainder of 2024/25.
If that wasn’t bad enough, Kai Havertz recently picked up a torn hamstring injury during the warm weather training camp in Dubai, leaving the Gunners without a recognised senior centre forward.
His own setback will also see him miss the rest of the season, with Raheem Sterling, Leandro Trossard and Ethan Nwaneri the only attacking options left at Arteta’s disposal.
The decision not to sign a new attacker in January now looks to be a huge mistake, but it’s not the first time they may regret not landing a forward, after one former target’s rapid development on the European stage.
The player who Arsenal nearly signed & is now worth more than Saka
There’s no denying that Saka has been a sensational player for Arsenal over the last couple of years, registering 56 combined goals and assists over the last two years despite his recent issue.
However, he’s often needed the added reinforcement alongside him to help the club end their long wait for a Premier League title despite finishing runners-up in each of the last two seasons.
They may have been able to complete the task had the club completed a deal for Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappé, especially considering his form over the last couple of years.
Former boss Arsène Wenger revealed in an interview that he flew to speak to his compatriot during his time as a youngster at Monaco, but was unable to convince him to move to North London.
The 26-year-old has since emerged as one of the leading attackers in European football, impressing at Monaco, before a huge move to PSG back in 2017 – costing the Parisians a whopping £150m.
Mbappé, who’s since been dubbed “lethal” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, scored 256 times in just 310 appearances for the Ligue 1 giants, offering that clinical edge Arteta’s side have been craving.
Season
Games
Goals
Assists
2017/18
46
21
16
2018/19
43
39
17
2019/20
37
30
18
2020/21
47
42
11
2021/22
46
39
26
2022/23
43
41
10
2023/24
48
44
10
Total:
310
256
108
He’s since moved to Real Madrid in what’s dubbed the “most expensive free transfer in history” after the Spanish side had to pay the attacker a mammoth signing bonus after leaving PSG.
The forward has continued his goalscoring form under Carlo Ancelotti, scoring 24 times in his 36 appearances for his new side, creating a deadly partnership with Jude Bellingham and Vinícius Júnior.
As a result of his tremendous displays over the last few years, Mbappé is now valued at £133m by Transfermarkt – a figure higher than that of Saka, who’s valued at £125m after his own emergence in England.
There’s no denying that the Englishman is one of the Premier League’s leading attackers, as seen by his goal contributions before his injury, with Arteta certainly desperate for the youngster to return to action as soon as possible.
However, the thought of the academy graduate featuring alongside Mbappé is a scary one, but unfortunately for the supporters, it will always remain a case of what could’ve been had Wenger worked his magic during his time in charge.
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The Guardianes 2020 tournament marked the end of promotion and relegation in Mexican Football
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Herrera is in his first semester back in Liga MX after his time in Europe and MLS
He has played in 11 of 17 games in this 2025 Clausura
'HH' has only logged 444 minutes
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Getty Images Sport
WHAT HAPPENED?
Héctor Herrera is in his first semester back in Liga MX after his time in Europe and MLS. Now playing for Toluca – who will compete in the after finishing as leaders of the Clausura 2025 – the former Houston Dynamo midfielder took time to speak about one of Liga MX’s most pressing issues: the promotion and relegation system. This topic has resurfaced in recent weeks following the possibility of its return in 2026.
"The most attractive thing would be to have promotion and relegation. That’s how it works in most countries, but well, there’s nothing I can do, and I prefer not to get involved in that controversy," Herrera said in an interview with Fox Sports.
The tournament marked the end of promotion and relegation in Mexican football—a decision made by league officials following the COVID-19 pandemic. At that time, a five-year freeze was established, with heavy fines imposed on the bottom teams during that period.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
The topic of promotion and relegation had gone largely unnoticed for several years, but it has recently regained momentum, especially as several teams in the Liga de Expansión have made significant investments to be considered for promotion to the top division. This renewed interest comes amid the declining level of play in Liga MX in recent years, where teams at the bottom of the table are only required to pay a financial penalty. The argument being made is that reintroducing promotion and relegation would strengthen competition and give deserving teams the opportunity to move up – a system that exists in most countries around the world, except in Mexico and the United States.
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WHAT HÉCTOR HERRERA SAID
In the same interview, the midfielder also shared his thoughts on the lack of Mexican players making the move to Europe: “I still don’t understand why there aren’t more players in Europe when there’s so much quality. We’re seeing it now – young players keep emerging who could have an opportunity, and that way, the Mexico National Team could continue to grow,” Herrera stated.
Getty Images Sport
WHAT NEXT FOR TOLUCA?
Antonio Mohamed’s team will visit Rayados this Wednesday for the first leg of the Liguilla Quarterfinals. By then, it will have been 18 days since last played an official match. The return leg will be held on Saturday at the Estadio Nemesio Diez.
Leeds United have been brilliant in the Championship of late but their FA Cup dreams were crushed in the fourth round as Millwall ran away from Elland Road as 2-0 winners.
While Daniel Farke’s side were not at full strength, it was still a selection of players who should have made it through.
It was Femi Azeez who proved to be the difference between the two sides and he could have had a hat-trick too just to compound Leeds’ woes on Saturday.
An FA Cup exit is not the end of the world, however, with the Yorkshire side’s sights firmly on winning promotion out of the second tier come the end of the season.
How Leeds lost to Millwall
Azeez was the star of the show at Elland Road and he will have left Ethan Ampadu going to bed with nightmares this evening.
He opened the scoring far too easily in the eyes of Farke as the Millwall forward skipped inside and danced past Ampadu without much difficulty before finding the net via a deflection.
Ampadu was again at fault moments later when Azeez could have found his second. The Welshman was robbed of the ball before the Lions star thundered the crossbar. Despite desperate pleas that the ball had crossed the line Leeds escaped.
There was no denying the Millwall number 11 in the second half, however, as he marched through and made it 2-0 with a low finish past Karl Darlow.
Still, Farke’s side certainly should have scored. Making his first start for the senior team, Sam Chambers came closest in the first half, drifting in from the right and testing the palms of Liam Roberts. Their best chance came from the penalty spot after Willy Gnonto had been tripped.
Pascal Struijk stepped up to take the second half spot kick but his low effort was saved well to his left by the aforementioned Roberts.
Truth be told, it never looked like Leeds’ day and as much as the supporters will look at the likes of Struijk and Ampadu for reasons why they lost, they should also look at their centre forward.
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Mateo Joseph’s performance in numbers against Millwall
In the days leading up to deadline day young Mateo Joseph was the subject of a £10m bid from Spanish side Real Betis.
The 49ers didn’t like the sound of that, rejecting the bid and keeping the forward at Elland Road at least until the end of the season.
Yet, on the evidence of his showing on Saturday, perhaps they ought to have taken that money. Indeed, Joseph was simply not good enough.
Handed a dismal 3/10 post-match rating by Leeds Live’s Isaac Johnson, he wrote that the striker ‘made too many loose passes when Leeds were on the attack.’
That is certainly reflected in the stats on what was a pretty dire afternoon for the 21-year-old.
Joseph vs Millwall
Minutes played
90
Accurate passes
9/17 (53%)
Shots
0
Key passes
0
Crosses
0
Duels won
2/5
Possession lost
12x
Fouls
1
Interceptions
0
Tackles
1
Dribbled past
2
Stats via Sofascore.
Despite featuring for the entire 90 minutes, Joseph had fewer touches (26) than goalkeeper Darlow (38) and successfully completed only nine of his 17 passes at a success rate of 53%.
Ceding possession on 12 occasions, the attacker also lost three of his five duels and failed to have a single shot as Alex Neil’s visitors held onto their clean sheet.
With Joel Piroe given the afternoon off, this was a wonderful opportunity for the youngster to showcase why he may have been worthy of that £10m price tag.
Instead, he simply showed why he deserves to be on the bench next time out.
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