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Celtic clinched their 55th league title and their fourth Scottish Premiership title in the last four seasons with a 5-0 win over Dundee United last weekend.

The Hoops only needed a point at Tannadice Park to rubber stamp their place at the top of the division, but they claimed the trophy in style with a convincing victory.

It was a big afternoon for Brendan Rodgers and his side, as they won the league title, but it was also a big game for Ireland international Adam Idah, who made a big impact off the bench.

The former Norwich City marksman scored two goals after coming on for the injured Jota, and will now be hoping to land a regular spot in the starting XI between now and the end of the season.

He has only started 16 of his 31 appearances in the Premiership so far this term, which shows that the Irish forward has been unable to nail down a place in the side throughout the campaign.

Idah is yet to prove that he has what it takes to be the main man for Celtic in the number nine position, despite Kyogo Furuhashi’s exit in the January transfer window.

Why Kyogo Furuhashi was a success at Celtic

The Japan international joined the club from Vissel Kobe in the summer of 2021, signed by Ange Postecoglou, and hit the ground running at Parkhead with 20 goals and five assists in 33 appearances in all competitions.

Kyogo did not fit the prototypical centre-forward mould, standing at 5 foot 7 and being fairly weak in his physical duels, but he made up for that with lethal finishing and exceptional movement.

The Japanese star, who scored 34 goals in the 2022/23 campaign, did not need to be a 6 foot 3, powerful, number nine who could bully opposition defences week-in-week-out, because he had the technical ability to impact matches without getting involved in physical tussles.

Kyogo ended his Celtic career with a return of 85 goals and 19 assists in 165 matches in all competitions, which illustrates just how effective he was at the top end of the pitch.

As you can see in the table above, the former Celtic striker consistently struggled with the physical side of the game throughout his three full Premiership seasons, yet still managed to consistently score goals.

This shows that he was a success at Parkhead because of his movement and his technical quality, and is proof that Celtic do not need a tall, physical, experienced number nine if they opt to recruit one in the summer.

Celtic eyeing Premiership striker

In fact, Celtic may be able to unearth their next version of Kyogo by signing a Premiership player whom they are now, reportedly, showing an interest in.

According to the Chronicle Live, the Hoops are one of a number of clubs eyeing up a swoop for Hearts centre-forward James Wilson ahead of the summer transfer window.

The report claims that the Hoops have ‘checked’ the 18-year-old striker out this season, in what has been his breakthrough year at senior level with the Jam Tarts, as Rodgers lines up a move for the youngster.

However, the Scottish giants will face some significant competition for his services because the outlet adds that Premier League clubs, including Newcastle United, are also interested in the forward.

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It also reveals that fellow Glasgow club Rangers have also checked out the teenage sensation’s performances for Hearts this term, but Celtic may have the upper hand over their rivals because they have just won the Premiership title and may be a more attractive proposition.

Why Celtic should sign James Wilson

The Hoops must, now, swoop to sign Wilson ahead of Rangers and Newcastle, and any other Premier League teams, because he has the potential to be an exciting addition to the squad.

Celtic would be signing a young player with so many years left ahead of him to develop and improve in the future, because the Scotland international only turned 18 in March, which means that there would not be too much emphasis on him needing to be an instant success.

Like Kyogo, Wilson has a lean build and is not your prototypical, physical, Scottish centre-forward who is going to win aerial duels and hold the ball up under pressure constantly.

Instead, the Scotland international is an effective finisher who has clever movement and clean technique in front of goal, which allows him to make an impact at Premiership level.

As you can see in the table above, Wilson does not win many duels per game and he has been dominated by opposition defenders in duels on the ground and in the air throughout this season, which has been his first of regular football in the league.

This shows that he is similar to Kyogo in the sense that they both struggle with the physical side of the game, but his goal return speaks to his ability in possession.

Wilson, whose appearance as Scotland’s youngest ever debutant was described as “incredible” by Neil Critchley, scored five goals from 4.77 xG, which shows that he has been efficient in front of goals in the top-flight.

This suggests that he has the potential to be similar to Kyogo at Celtic as a centre-forward who can provide a clinical touch in the final third, without offering a physical presence, by using his movement and technical qualities to make a big impact.

Worth less than Nawrocki: Celtic must axe flop who "wants to be at the club"

Celtic must ruthlessly bin this player who is now worth even less than Maik Nawrocki.

By
Dan Emery

Apr 29, 2025

Couple that with his age profile and potential to improve, and this is why the Scottish giants should push to bring him to Parkhead in the upcoming summer transfer window.

Can Celtic move three points closer to securing a fourth successive Scottish Premiership title?

If the Hoops beat Kilmarnock on Saturday, and then Rangers are beaten by Aberdeen at Pittodrie on Sunday, the Celts will have rubber-stamped a record-equalling 55th Scottish top division title, as well as their 13th in just 14 seasons.

This is actually despite the fact the Bhoys have lost three of their last six Premiership games, having lost only two of the previous 46, most recently beaten 1-0 at St Johnstone last weekend, their first defeat against the side bottom of the table since November 2005.

So, as Brendan Rodgers’ side seek to get back to winning ways, with one eye on a Scottish Cup semi-final date with the Saints at Hampden on Easter Sunday, the boss should make changes to his starting lineup, unleashing his “on fire” wide-man.

Nicolas Kühn's season of two halves

Nicolas Kühn was absolutely outstanding during the first half of this season, very much on course to be named Celtic’s player of the season, with David Irvine of the National even suggesting he was being considered by Julian Nagelsmann for a call-up to the German national team.

However, he has not been able to sustain this form, as the table below outlines.

As shown, Kühn’s statistics have fallen off a cliff since New Year’s Day, scoring only twice in 15 outings since bagging a brace against St Mirren on 5 January.

The German has started each of the Hoops’ last eight fixtures, hooked at half-time at McDiarmid Park last Sunday, and we believe he should begin Saturday’s meeting with Killie on the bench, considering this major downturn in form.

The Celtic star who should replace Kuhn

Yang Hyun-jun was introduced as a substitute at the interval in Perth last weekend, replacing Kühn as part of a double alteration, but the South Korean deserves to be in from the start this time.

Yang joined Celtic from hometown club Gangwon FC for a reported fee of £2m two summers ago, but made very little impact in Glasgow until recently, as the table below outlines.

As laid out, since the turn of the year, Yang’s statistics have exponentially improved, scoring five times, most notably bagging a brace at St Mirren Park during a 5-2 victory, with Korean journalist Joel Kim describing his compatriot as “on fire”.

After this win in Paisley, Rodgers credited Yang’s girlfriend for his recent resurgence, telling the BBC that she has been in the country for “a little while”, adding that he’s had a chat with the translator and will do everything in his power to ensure she can stay for a bit longer.

When compared to Kühn, Yang is certainly the man in form, hence why the South Korean deserves to start against Kilmarnock on Saturday to see what he can do at the top end of the pitch in place of the faltering left-footed forward.

Rarely-seen Celtic flop is fast becoming their new James McCarthy

The rarely-seen Celtic flop could end up becoming the new James McCarthy at Parkhead.

By
Dan Emery

Apr 10, 2025

Playing her first international game since October 2022, the allrounder played a match-winning hand in a rain-curtailed contest

Srinidhi Ramanujam01-May-2024There’s an air of confidence around D Hemalatha of late. The allrounder had had to wait for more than 18 months before stepping into international cricket again. But when she finally got the opportunity to do that on Tuesday, against Bangladesh in the rain-hit second T20I, she ensured she made a case for herself with a blistering 41 not out off 24 balls. It came in an India innings of 47 for 1 in a curtailed chase lasting just 5.2 overs.It feels like a long time ago when Hemalatha made her T20I debut as a 23-year-old in 2018, at the T20 World Cup (then called the World T20) in the Caribbean. For someone who had shown so much potential at the domestic level for Tamil Nadu and Railways, Hemalatha had found it hard to translate it into runs in international cricket. Before her comeback game, she had played 15 T20Is and had scored a total of just 90 runs, shuttling between No.3 and 7 in the batting line-up with the highest score of 20.Related

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In those 15 games, she had come in at No.3 only twice, in 2022, and notched up 10 off 15 and 9 off 10 against England. This was a time when Yastika Bhatia and Jemimah Rodrigues were not part of India’s squad. In this series against Bangladesh, with Rodrigues out with a back niggle, the left-handed Yastika was India’s first-choice No.3. Yastika top-scored for India with 36 in the series-opener but had to miss the second game with a niggle. That’s when the stars aligned for Hemalatha.”Feeling great, playing for India and giving some contribution from my side,” Hemalatha would say after taking away the Player-of-the-Match award.At 29, she forced her way back into the India squad on the back of impressive performances in the domestic circuit and the WPL. In the senior women’s T20 trophy in October, Hemalatha scored 199 runs in six innings at a strike rate of 130.06 while batting at No.4 for Railways. This included an unbeaten 98 off 61 against Jharkhand, including 11 fours and five sixes. Her ability to negotiate spin and score quickly was on display for Gujarat Giants in WPL 2024 as well. After playing four matches in the middle order, the Chennai-born allrounder was promoted to No.3 against Mumbai Indians. The result: 74 off 40 at a strike rate of 185.A promotion to No. 3 during the WPL brought Hemalatha a 40-ball 74 against Mumbai Indians•BCCIIt was this big-hitting ability that took India over the line in Sylhet to go 2-0 up in the five-match series. After India had bowled Bangladesh out for 119 in overcast conditions, Hemalatha was out on the field for the third ball of the chase with Shafali Verma caught behind for 0. She scored four off her first seven balls, before dancing down the track and lofting offspinner Sultana Khartun high over the cow corner fence, bringing up the first six of the match. She then struck three fours off seamer Marufa Akther and left-arm pacer Fariha Trisna – a drive through backward point, a powerful cut, and a lofted shot straight over the bowler’s head.This was before she muscled left-arm spinner Nahida Akhter for a six over long-on and a four through the covers. Marufa came back to bowl the final over of the powerplay, and off the last ball before it started raining again, Hemalatha pierced the gap between extra cover and mid-off with a pleasing drive. In all, she hit five fours and two sixes.India were 19 runs ahead on the DLS calculations when the match was abandoned. At the post-match press conference, Hemalatha – usually a person of few words in media interactions – revealed that she was practising with the new ball at the WPL and that had given her the confidence to bat in the top order for India.”It’s really amazing. It always feels amazing when you are playing for your country,” she said. “In the domestic [circuit], I used to play at No. 4 and 5 in the [batting] order. When I came to GG [Gujarat Giants], I was playing at No.3. For that, I started playing with the new ball in WPL, and it has worked for me here also because I was confident playing against the new ball. We were planning to play just according to our strengths, it was a run-a-ball game, 120 was chaseable. We didn’t plan that much.”Rain might have robbed Hemalatha of a big innings, but it was a day to remember, nonetheless. Whether India persist with her when Yastika returns to full fitness is something to look at. But if she keeps firing like this when the management throws opportunities at her, and with four months to go for the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh, India will have a happy headache fitting in Rodrigues, Yastika and Hemalatha.

Where Sri Lanka trusted Jayasuriya and Mendis to win the game for them, Pakistan always kept chopping and changing

Danyal Rasool28-Jul-2022It was almost exactly midway through this second Test, midway through the third innings, that Sri Lanka decisively pulled away from Pakistan. The 40th over had just been sent down by Yasir Shah. A poor one, with two loose balls put away by Dhananjaya de Silva, who was then in single digits; he would finish up in three figures. Five wickets down, two new batters at the crease and the skies darkening, Sri Lanka’s lead looked particularly vulnerable.Babar Azam had five spin options at his disposal, and Yasir’s ordinary over was more an aberration than anything else; he’d been fairly solid in his preceding seven, and also removed Oshada Fernando early on. Agha Salman at the other end was operating with impressive consistency, landing the ball in the danger area more frequently than perhaps any other Pakistan bowler; one drifting, non-turning offbreak had taken Angelo Mathews’ outside edge just before tea. Babar, however, opted for a change from that end.He didn’t bring on a fast bowler, or any of the other five spinners. Suddenly, there was the Pakistan captain, cap off and ball in hand, against two new batters who could barely believe their luck. Hindsight, foresight, and indeed sight at that moment could all tell you what was about to unfold and yet, seemingly oblivious to the magnitude of the moment, Babar began to bowl.Related

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Across a wretched over, Sri Lanka were presented 10 runs on a golden platter, with the pressure release palpable across the Galle Fort ramparts. Babar took himself off, but the spark for that embryonic stand had been lit; de Silva and Karunaratne added 126 runs for the sixth wicket, stomping on any final hopes Pakistan had nurtured for another dramatic fourth-innings heist.To say Sri Lanka’s win represented justice being done would be something of an understatement; it is perhaps a travesty the hosts were ever made to sweat on a win in a contest they grasped by the scruff of the neck from the first session. Sri Lanka’s approach to this second Test demonstrated a clarity of strategy wholly absent from Pakistan’s game from day one, something Mohammad Nawaz admitted to when expressing frustration with Pakistan’s first-innings bowling plans.Sri Lanka had a multitude of spin options to choose from, too, but Karunaratne and Dhananjaya, who stood in for him for large swathes of the Test match, would not allow themselves to get lost in the maze of choice. Identifying Prabath Jayasuriya and Ramesh Mendis as their key spinners, Sri Lanka let them operate for extended lengths in each innings, backing them to stick to Plan A even while Pakistan built up frustrating partnerships. Today, as time ran out and rain and bad light both threatened to play spoilsport, Dhananjaya would not panic in the face of a seemingly impermeable Babar-Rizwan partnership that saw Pakistan sitting pretty at 176 for 2 in 53 overs.Pakistan lost eight wickets for 85 runs in the final innings•AFP/Getty ImagesAside from seven overs from Dunith Wellalage, Ramesh and Jayasuriya were nigh on the only game in town. From the 50th onwards, no other bowler sent down a single over, the entire 8 for 85 collapse scripted by that most traditional of combinations: a left-arm orthodox spinner and a right-arm offspinner operating in tandem with the confidence of their captain and a patience that stemmed from trusting the process they had followed to the point of muscle memory.”Patience” was a word Babar continued to return to in the post-match press conference. He ascribed a lack of it to his batters, and praised Jayasuriya for possessing it in spades. “Even if he gets hit for a boundary, he doesn’t deviate from his length,” Babar said.Pakistan may not currently possess the spin bowling quality that always feels like it’s bursting at the seams in Sri Lanka, but the part a captain plays in enabling them to put their best foot forward is difficult to overstate. According to ESPNcricinfo’s ball-tracking figures, nearly half of Jayasuriya’s deliveries on the final day – 52 off 114 – landed full on the stumps, rather than the safer shorter length wider outside off stump. He would concede a run-a-ball operating that line and length, but continued to work away on that tactic.It was responsible for three of his four wickets on the day, including the match-defining ones of Babar and Rizwan. Babar’s struggles against Jayasuriya in an otherwise excellent innings were also laid bare, with the batter not in control of 33.3% of all deliveries the left-armer bowled. Ramesh, too, was more productive when he operated along the fuller line that gave batters the opportunity to score runs, three of the four wickets he took falling that way.The notion that Karunaratne, who has exactly as many wickets at Test level as Babar, would have even considered bringing himself on for an over for whatever reason bordered on risible, and Dhananjaya – a far more accomplished bowler than either – only sent down two overs in the final innings; yet Pakistan have often felt chained to their bowling choices rather than feeling liberated by them. The longest any two of their spinners operated in tandem all Test amounted to 17 overs, and never once did a Pakistan spinner lay siege to an end, as Sri Lanka so successfully did.It might have to do with the quality of the personnel, but as a theme across his captaincy, Babar’s ideas on management of spin resources have felt strategically light. In Karachi, Pakistan had asphyxiated the Australian middle order around tea on the first day, allowing just 16 runs in 13 overs. Instead of keeping that pressure on, the next 26 overs were bowled by the ineffectual Sajid Khan, Nauman Ali, Azhar Ali and, of course, Babar himself. Australia did not lose a single wicket during that spell, and went on to amass 556.It’s much easier when you have Jayasuriya and Ramesh in this kind of form at your disposal. But Karunaratne, and Sri Lanka, know exactly what to do with them, while Babar, and Pakistan, have much of their figuring out ahead of them.

They spent countless hours together as kids learning “correct cricket” and they brought all of it on Tuesday

Shashank Kishore in Rajkot10-Mar-2020As kids, Cheteshwar Pujara and Arpit Vasavada spent countless hours in each other’s houses at Railways Colony in Rajkot. When not summoned to do homework, they’d train together, wanting to out-do each other with the bat. Arvind, Pujara senior, wanted them to channel their cricketing pursuits better and would have them alternate at the nets. Then over countless meals, he would drill into them the need to play “correct cricket” and to prove themselves on tough wickets outside Rajkot.On Tuesday, Vasavada and Pujara exhibited those very virtues that were ingrained in them as young players wanting to make a name in Saurashtra. And in doing so, Saurashtra took another step closer to their Ranji Trophy dream, after three failed attempts.Sure this final wasn’t being played outside Rajkot – regarded widely as a wicket by casual cricket observers in the country – but Arvind, a keen watcher from the stands, would’ve been delighted because this was far from a typical Khanderi surface they grew up on. This could’ve well been a surface in Kalyani or Karnail Singh Stadium in Delhi, one that needed both batsmen to dig in and exhibit substance over style. And they did.Pujara and Vasavada are the artisans of this team. There is a reason why the batting revolves around them. The more flamboyant artists were back in the pavilion. Sheldon Jackson looked a dream, but flattered to deceive. Vishwaraj Jadeja set himself up and was bowled through the gate. Such dismissals can potentially cause doubts for batsmen at the other end.Vasavada soaked it all from the non-striker’s end on Monday, even as Pujara battled throat infection, dizziness and fever. Pujara didn’t come out for pre-match warm-ups and the usual batting routines on Tuesday to preserve his energies. But when it was time for him to use them, he did it the way he knows best. Bengal’s fast bowlers kept trying to land the punches. Pujara had one answer: block.Short ball on the body: block. Left-arm over from outside leg: pad away. Left-arm spin from around the wicket: step-out-smother. Bouncer from around the stumps: duck and weave. He had answers to all questions the bowlers tried to ask of him. The approach comes out of years of training and knowledge of the surface, where batsmen, especially those from outside, can be worn down by demons they can’t see. In all fairness, conditions were tough and runs came in a trickle in the morning. It needed batsmen to fight and these two were prepared for the hard grind without the worry of being made to look ugly.They came together at a crucial time on Tuesday morning, with Saurashtra resuming on a dicey 206 for 5. A few quick wickets and Bengal’s hopes of restricting them below 300 would’ve been a real possibility. The onus was on them to see off the first hour at least. They added 25 in the first 15 overs of play, Pujara on occasions having mild discomfort against Shahbaz Ahmed’s left-arm spin. Once, he was even referred to the TV umpire for an lbw decision but survived because of his intent to try and get to the pitch of the ball, which got him outside the nine-feet mark. And while the impact was in line, he was too far down the pitch.Vasavada, at the other end, was equally watchful. Playing behind the line, rising with the bounce, weaving away from short balls, and resisting the temptation to sweep, a shot he plays very well. Most knocks of his generally has a good portion of runs square of the wicket through the sweep shot. But this was different. His determination to not play it as often seemingly evident.From time to time, Pujara kept walking up to him in between overs, sometimes in between deliveries, at the first sign of him trying to do something outside the manual. But these instances were few in a dogged effort. The mantra was clear: ‘There are no points for grace. Time and runs are our currency’.There was a poignant moment when Vasavada got to his century, though. Vasavada was consumed by emotion as he roared towards the dressing room, whipped off his helmet and waved his bat animatedly. Pujara had started to run towards him to give a big hug but stopped, held himself back and allowed Vasavada to let his emotions flow. And once he regained his composure, Pujara walked up to him and gave him a quiet hug and handshake. It was the hug that validated Arvind’s “tough runs outside Rajkot” philosophy.All along, Pujara was hardly been deterred at his own scoring rate. There was not even an inkling of that word ‘intent’ being heard from any corner. He didn’t get to his fifty until his 191st delivery, when he put away a long hop to the point boundary with all his might. It was sane batting, dour batting but a masterclass in putting mind over all else.Then a release shot came off his 200th ball, a length delivery that had him take a big stride forward and disdainfully crash on the up for four through cover point. But such luxuries of letting instincts take over were very limited, and the beauty of his knock lay in his self-restraint, like Vasavada, fully aware that while he wasn’t a 100%, he couldn’t afford to not give anything but 100% for his team. In four innings in the final, Pujara had a best of 27. This was his space, his home and he wasn’t going to pass another chance.The partnership was worth 142; but its value far greater than many stands they’ve had on flatter wickets. Pujara only made 66, off 237 balls. Vasavada 106, before being stumped. But as stumps approached and shadows lengthened in Rajkot, they had more than done their bit to give Saurashtra a real shot at history.On Holi, it wasn’t quite a colourful batting display you’d expect from an Indian mainstay, but the bloodymindedness to get the job done showed his steely resolve and how much the old virtues of occupying the crease and bail the team out meant to him.

Hansi Flick has delivered a crushing blow to Marc-Andre ter Stegen's hopes of reclaiming his starting spot at Barcelona. The German coach publicly confirmed Joan Garcia's status as the undisputed number one, leaving the club legend facing a January exit if he wants to keep his World Cup dream alive.

Flick's brutal honesty

The goalkeeping hierarchy at Barcelona has been the subject of intense scrutiny for months, but Flick has finally moved to end the debate with a ruthless declaration of intent. Speaking ahead of his side's return to La Liga action, the former Bayern Munich boss made it abundantly clear that there is no rotation planned between the sticks. Despite Ter Stegen's return to fitness and his inclusion in the matchday squad against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League midweek, the door to the first team appears firmly shut.

When asked about the situation and whether the veteran German could expect minutes soon, Flick was blunt. He reaffirmed his faith in summer signing Joan Garcia, dismissing the notion that the position is up for grabs.

"Joan is number one," Flick stated emphatically. "I am not going to talk about the number two or number three goalkeeper. Joan plays, we believe in him and I have no idea of changing Joan. And he has done very well."

He added: "Of course I've spoken to him. It's my job, but it's something between him and me."

AdvertisementAFPA legend out in the cold

This public vote of confidence in Garcia represents a dramatic fall from grace for Ter Stegen. For the best part of a decade, the 33-year-old was an untouchable figure at Camp Nou, wearing the captain's armband and saving the team on countless occasions. However, the landscape shifted violently during the summer.

Ter Stegen's troubles began with a recurring injury that plagued him for much of last season, raising doubts about his long-term durability. These doubts were compounded by the club's aggressive move to sign Joan Garcia from Espanyol. The arrival of the Olympic gold medallist was reportedly met with hostility by Ter Stegen, leading to reports of a 'feud' behind the scenes. The German shot-stopper viewed the signing not as competition, but as a direct lack of respect for his legacy, and he was soon informed he would not be the first or second choice options in 2025-26, with Garcia and Wojciech Szczesny ahead of him. His attempt to make it difficult for Barca to register Garcia resulted in him being stripped of the captain's armband, though that issue was soon resolved.

Ter Stegen returns to the fold

Hopes of a reconciliation or a sporting comeback were briefly raised earlier this week. Ter Stegen was named in the squad for the Champions League clash against Eintracht Frankfurt, marking his first involvement since his latest fitness setback.

Ter Stegen watched from the bench as Garcia played the full 90 minutes. Flick's comments today confirm that his inclusion was merely for depth rather than a signal of intent. The manager's refusal to even discuss the "number two or number three" suggests that Ter Stegen is now viewed purely as a backup option, a status that is untenable for a player of his calibre and salary.

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AFPWorld Cup dreams hanging by a thread

The timing of this demotion could not be worse for Ter Stegen. With the 2026 World Cup in North America looming on the horizon, the goalkeeper is desperate to cement his place as Germany's number one following the retirement of Manuel Neuer. However, Julian Nagelsmann has made it clear that he will only select players who are playing regularly for their clubs.

Sitting on the bench in Catalonia will effectively hand the German jersey to rivals like Alexander Nubel or Oliver Baumann. As a result, the January transfer window has become a critical juncture. Reports suggest that Ter Stegen's representatives are already sounding out potential suitors, with clubs in the Bundesliga and perhaps even the Premier League monitoring the situation. He knows that he must move in the winter window to secure the game time needed to convince Nagelsmann he is still the best option for the national team.

For Barcelona, the situation presents a financial and diplomatic headache. Ter Stegen remains one of the club's highest earners, and having such an expensive asset sitting on the bench is a luxury they can ill afford given their perpetual economic balancing act. Flick's comments may be a strategic move to push the player towards the exit door, accelerating a separation that now feels inevitable.

For Ter Stegen, the message is clear: the era of his dominance at Barcelona is over. If he wants to lead his country out at the World Cup in 2026, he will likely have to do so as a former Blaugrana player. The "undisputed" reign of Joan Garcia has begun, and Hansi Flick has no intention of looking back.

Lionel Messi finally got to play in front of Indian fans after his India tour took a chaotic turn in Kolkata. The fans at Kolkata's Salt Lake Stadium were left fuming with the Argentina legend's brief 20-minute appearance as they ripped up seats and hurled objects onto the pitch. Messi, however, finally got to play in front of his fans in India during his second stop in Hyderabad.

• Euphoria turned into chaos

  When Messi landed in Kolkata in the wee hours on Saturday, thousands of fans turned up at the airport to welcome the football legend. The Inter Miami captain was accompanied by his team-mates Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul, as the Herons trio headed to their hotel amid massive euphoria.  

  Similar enthusiasm was visible among the fans since early morning as nearly 85,000 fans visited Salt Lake Stadium to catch a glimpse of their favourite star. However, Messi's visit to the stadium was cut short and the footballers were rushed out of the venue due to reported security concerns. The thousands of fans at the stadium could hardly see Messi's face during his short 20-minute appearance, which left them disgruntled. Seats were ripped up and thrown onto the Salt Lake Stadium pitch, while video footage from Indian news agency ANI showed fans who had climbed over a fence to hurl objects onto the field. The prime organiser of the event, Satadru Dutta, was detained due to mismanagement following the stadium chaos, and the chief minister of West Bengal state, Mamata Banerjee, has ordered a high-level enquiry.  

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  Messi finally gets to play in front of Indian fans

  Messi, who is in India as part of his 'GOAT Tour 2025', a four-part event, was scheduled to travel to Hyderabad next before visiting Mumbai and the national capital Delhi. In Hyderabad, Messi was welcomed by a thunderous crowd at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. At the second venue, Messi finally touched a football, as he, along with Suarez and De Paul, exchanged a few passes among themselves. They were also joined by a few youth footballers from the state of Telangana and the chief minister, Revanth Reddy.   

• Messi thanks Hyderabad fans

  At the conclusion of the even in Hyderabad, Messi took the microphone to address the buzzing crowd at the venue as he said: "Thank you very much for all your affection. It's an honour for us to be able to spend these days here in India with you, so I'm truly grateful. Thank you so much." 

  De Paul and Suarez were also elated to visit India as the Argentine added: "I've enjoyed a lot. This has been a very special night. Thank you so much for your love and affection." Suarez then said: "Good evening, everyone. Thank you for the love. A big hug!"  

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  What next for Messi?

  The World Cup-winning Argentina legend will next travel to Mumbai on Sunday morning, where he is supposed to meet a host of celebrities, including members of the Mumbai film industry and several other dignitaries. On Monday, He will jet off to Delhi before heading out of India.    

كشفت تقارير صحفية تطورات برشلونة من أجل التعاقد مع الدولي الإنجليزي هاري كين، لاعب الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي بايرن ميونخ.

ويريد النادي الإسباني التعاقد مع هاري كين خلال الفترة المقبلة لتدعيم خط هجوم الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بعد رحيل البولندي روبرت ليفاندوفسكي.

وكشفت تقارير صحفية مختلفة في الآونة الأخيرة أن برشلونة لديه رغبة قوية في الحصول على خدمات هاري كين لتدعيم الهجوم، خاصة مع احتمالية رحيل روبرت ليفاندوفسكي مجانًا الصيف القادم.

وكشفت صحيفة “سبورت” الإسبانية أن إدارة برشلونة تعلم بكل التفاصيل المتعلقة بالمهاجم الدولي الإنجليزي مع بايرن ميونخ وسيخوضوا ملف التعاقد معه بدءً من شهر يناير.

اقرأ أيضًا | هاري كين يوجه ضربة قاسية لـ برشلونة

وأفادت أن كين لديه وقت حتى 31 من شهر نوفمبر الجاري لتفعيل بند خروجه في الصيف مقابل 65 مليون يورو، برغم من ثقة إدارة بايرن في استمرار كين إلا أن برشلونة لن يستسلم لأن اللاعب يبحث عن عقد طويل الأمد وحتى الآن لم يقُم بايرن بأي خطوة.

كين الآن يعطي الأولوية لاستمراريته في بايرن لكن وكلاء لاعب توتنهام هوتسبير السابق يبحثون عن عروض مناسبة له في المستقبل تحسبًا لأي تغير في الأمور، ويعبتر برشلونة هو أبرز نادي يلبي طموحات كين من حيث الفوز بالألقاب.

وأكدت الصحيفة الإسبانية أن المفتاح الرئيسي للمسألة كلها يكمن في مدة العقد إذ أن كين يبلغ من العمر 32 عامًا ويبحث عن الاستقرار، لن يرضَ بعقد أقل من عامين أي حتى عام 2029.

إذا لم يفعل كين بند عقده برشلونة سيحذف اسمه من القائمة وسيتم العمل على خيارات أخرى ولعل أبرز تلك الخيارات هو الأرجنتيني جوليان ألفاريز مهاجم أتلتيكو مدريد.

Saturday's 4-0 rout of Athletic Club was a very meaningful match for Barcelona – and not just because it marked the Blaugrana's belated return to Camp Nou. Indeed, the Catalans winning without conceding a goal was arguably of far greater significance than the long-awaited reopening of their beloved home ground, as it was their first clean sheet for nine games in all competitions. Not since the facile 3-0 win over Getafe on September 21 had Barca shut out an opponent.

However, Hansi Flick resisted the urge to take a swipe at those who have become increasingly critical of his notoriously high defensive line. "I always think about saying something about the experts, former players, former coaches," he told reporters, "but I will not do it. [It makes) too much noise for us."

The coach's restraint was wise, because it will take a lot more than one clean sheet against a mid-table team in La Liga to silence the sceptics – particularly as Barca's dodgy defence is the main reason why Flick's team are in danger of failing to qualify directly for the last 16 of this season's Champions League as they prepare to face in-form Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday…

AFP'Makes no sense'

Barcelona are a television executive's dream. Their games guarantee goals. They've not been involved in a single scoreless draw since Flick replaced Xavi as coach during the summer of 2024. Their last Champions League outing illustrated why.

Barca played some lovely passing football against Club Brugge, had 23 shots and scored three goals, including a superb strike from Lamine Yamal. However, the Blaugrana were also forced to come from behind three times just to claim a share of the spoils. Brugge may have been restricted to 23.7 percent possession, but they were full value for their point. Indeed, the hosts had as many shots on target as Barca (six) and actually created more big chances (five) – three of which they took thanks to perfectly-timed runs in behind the visitors' high line by Carlos Forbs, who teed up fellow forward Nicolo Tresoldi for the opener before netting twice himself.

So, while neutrals were enjoying another wonderfully entertaining encounter involving Barcelona, former forward Thierry Henry was being driven to distraction.

"You cannot play in the Champions League with that high line, I'm sorry," the Frenchman said on . "When you play against good teams, you're going to get exposed, and that's exactly what happened tonight. When opponents attack down the flanks, the defence collapses. Football is not all about pressing. You also have to know how to protect your goal. It’s not normal for defenders to constantly be outnumbered or for the goalkeeper to be so exposed. With the talent Barca has, this makes no sense. How much longer are we going to keep repeating the same thing?.."

AdvertisementGetty Images Sport'Shocking'

The obvious counter-argument to the critics of Flick's high line is that it was integral to last season's success – and that was in spite of some initial reservations among the players.

"The first impression was shocking," former Barca defender Sergio Dominguez told . "[The coaches] told us, 'When the winger has the ball, the full-back has to press hard and the centre-backs have to move up with the full-back.' I had never seen that in football before. But when the first match comes and you catch the opposition offside nine times, and then seven times in the second, everyone followed the idea because it got results." Spectacular results, too.

Barca defeated Real Madrid four times on their way to winning a domestic treble, and it's worth remembering that Flick's bold footballing philosophy was widely lauded after the first Clasico of the 2025-26 campaign: a stunning 4-0 win at Santiago Bernabeu in which Kylian Mbappe was infamously flagged offside eight times. 

However, when Henry said after the 3-3 draw with Brugge that we're "seeing the same mistakes as last season", he definitely had a point. Barca were the best team in Spain last season, but they were far from flawless. Opponents were very open about the fact that in the days leading up to games against the Catalans they would work on beating the initial press with clever movement and precise passing, before then trying to exploit the space in behind the Blaugrana backline with well-timed through balls for pacey widemen to chase.

It didn't always work, of course. As Mallorca midfielder Sergi Darder told , "If Barca play with that line, there's a reason for it. It's difficult [to break down]. So, it's easy to know what you have to do against a defence like that, but hard to actually do it."

This season, though, fewer teams are falling into Barca's offside trap.

AFP'Kamikaze tactic'

In Rayo Vallecano's 1-1 draw with Barca in Madrid on August 31, Inigo Perez deliberately stationed his striker in a central position 10 to 15 metres behind the Blaugrana defence, because the forward would suddenly become 'onside if the offside trap was breached by a runner out wide and, thus, have a healthy head start on the chasing defenders.

Not every rival coach is being quite so creative – although mainly because they don't need to be. The chink in Barca's armour is obvious: they leave acres of space in behind their full-backs, so while the outcome can be different, the opponent's strategy is nearly always the same.

"All the goals [conceded] are identical!" Dutch legend Ruud Gullit said on after the 3-3 draw with Brugge. "So, as a player, you have to ask yourself, 'Why should we continue using such a high line and why should we use the same method?' I think after a while, also the players themselves are concerned that is a kamikaze tactic. This is suicide because against any clever team… I think everybody is studying Barcelona right now."

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AFP'Impossible situations'

Teams are certainly enjoying more success against Barca than they were last season. Sevilla tore the Catalans to shreds just four days after Paris Saint-Germain picked them off on the break in the Champions League, while the 2-1 scoreline in October's Clasico loss at the Bernabeu flattered Flick's side, who, in complete contrast to last year, couldn't keep Mbappe in check.

So, what's going wrong? Well, Inigo Martinez is being sorely missed after being allowed to join Al-Nassr on a free. The veteran centre-back was, by Flick's own admission, a "key player" for Barca, "an absolute leader on and off the pitch" who marshalled the defence, telling the likes of Pau Cubarsi when – and when not to – step out.

It's also been argued that certain individuals are underperforming this season, with the usually reliable right-back Jules Kounde coming in for some criticism in recent weeks. As a result, France coach Didier Deschamps felt compelled to defend his compatriot and effectively pointed the finger of blame at Flick in the process.

"Barca plays with a very high line, regardless of the moment in the match. That leaves defenders in impossible situations," Deschamps argued.

Eyebrows were raised by many across the Premier League in the summer of 2023, after Arsenal forked out an English record £105m for the signature of midfielder Declan Rice.

The 26-year-old now appears to be somewhat of a bargain two years on, with the Englishman now cementing himself as one of the world’s best in his position.

He’s already racked up 118 appearances for Mikel Arteta’s side, scoring 18 times and registering 22 assists – often being the provider for the Gunners’ remarkable set pieces.

Rice netted his latest goal for the club in Saturday’s win over Burnley at Turf Moor, once again playing an influential role in their ambitions of claiming title glory in 2025/26.

His efforts have no doubt been bolstered by the addition of one player who’s made an immediate impact during the opening months of his time at the Emirates.

The impact of Viktor Gyokeres on Declan Rice

Whilst Arsenal have made huge strides over the last few years under Arteta’s reign, they have often fallen at the final hurdle in their pursuit of Premier League glory.

Three second-place finishes in a row were enough for the board to back the Spaniard in the transfer window, splashing a fee in the region of £65m on the signature of Viktor Gyokeres.

The Swede arrived with huge expectations after netting 97 goals in 102 appearances for Sporting CP – with the centre forward already making an immediate impact in North London.

He’s netted four times in the Premier League to date, joining Rice on the scoresheet on Saturday afternoon and securing an eighth win of the league season.

The majority of his efforts have all been within the opposition’s six-yard box, showcasing the poacher instincts he possesses – something which the Gunners have greatly lacked. What that means is that it’s given the former West Ham man another player to aim for in the box from set-plays.

That was in evidence on Saturday when Rice’s inswinging delivery found Gabriel at the back post who then laid it on a plate for the Swedish striker. The same recipe was served up a matter of weeks ago too in the 4-0 win over Atletico Madrid.

It’s still early days for Gyokeres, but the signs are all positive for the talisman, potentially playing a role alongside Rice and another star if the club are to end their wait for a league title.

The impact of Martin Zubimendi on Rice

Upon his move to Arsenal, many questioned which role Rice would fill at the Emirates – the number six in front of the backline, or the number eight as a box-to-box option.

It’s transpired in recent months that the Englishman is best suited as a box-to-box option, often able to produce a moment of magic from range or make darting runs into the box.

Such a role has no doubt allowed the 26-year-old to achieve his impressive goalscoring tally, with Arteta getting it spot on by not utilising him in a deeper role.

However, it did leave a huge hole at the base of the three-man midfield, a role that has been excellently filled by Martin Zubimendi over the first few months of 2025/26.

In a saga that felt never-ending, the Gunners clinched the Spaniard’s signature from Real Sociedad during the summer, subsequently paying £55m for his services.

Like Rice, he already looks like a phenomenal addition, with the 26-year-old nailing down his place as a deep-lying option – which has allowed his teammate to reach unthinkable heights.

In the Premier League this season, he’s completed 89% of the passes he’s attempted, whilst registering an average of 59 passes per 90 – ranking him in the top 7% of all players in the league.

Martin Zubimendi – PL stats (2025/26)

Statistics (per 90)

Tally

Games played

10

Goals & assists

2

Pass accuracy

89%

Passes completed per 90

59

Tackles won

1.9

Aerials won

62%

Interceptions made

1.2

Dribble success rate

50%

Stats via FotMob

Out of possession, he’s been just as impressive, winning 1.9 tackles per 90 and coming out on top in 62% of the aerials he’s entered – subsequently offering the ball-winning presence the side has lacked.

Other tallies, such as 1.2 interceptions per 90 and a 50% dribble success rate, have seen one analyst label the midfielder as Arsenal’s “signing of the summer”.

His responsibility at the heart of the side has allowed Rice to operate in more threatening areas and achieve his impressive goal contributions – which has certainly bolstered his standing in the Premier League.

The pair have formed an excellent partnership, with the duo likely to have a huge bearing on the club’s potential title glory come the end of the season in May.

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