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The Australia batsman declared his match-saving 141 proof that he was a hard worker as anyone, having fought perceptions of laziness and weakness in Asian conditions

Daniel Brettig in Dubai11-Oct-2018Upon completing his batting masterpiece, the second-longest fourth innings in the history of all Tests, Usman Khawaja declared it proof that he was as hard a worker as anyone, having fought perceptions of laziness and weakness in Asian conditions over the course of an Australian career that began in January 2011.As Australia’s captain Tim Paine beamed alongside him, Khawaja stated that the emotion of his century celebration was about breaking down a significant barrier in terms of his record in Asia – where he had never previously passed 30 before a double of 85 and 141 in this match – and also those of many who had misjudged him. It was hard to escape the significance of Khawaja rising to an innings of undoubted greatness in his first Test with Justin Langer as coach, and also the first as the team’s senior-most batsman.”Yeah there was definitely something there I reckon. It was mostly just about getting a hundred for Australia. In the last day of a match you’re trying to save a game,” Khawaja said. “A lot of work goes into playing cricket at the highest level, I’ve worked as hard as anyone, I’ve worked my backside off for the last 10 years of first-class cricket, day in, day out. People think because of my relaxed nature that’s not the case, that I’ve been gifted to be able to get to where I am, but it’s not the case at all.”I’ve worked my absolute backside off for the last 10 years and really worked as hard as I can in different conditions like this and in England and other places. That sort of stuff goes … people overlook that sort of stuff and you don’t get to play at the highest level without putting in the hard yards. There’s no secret to success, it’s all about hard work. I’m just grateful to be out there playing for Australia and getting a hundred for Australia really.”Speaking about the impact of Langer, Khawaja spoke warmly of the former Test batsman’s fondness for frank and detailed conversations about the game. “I think JL’s just fit in really well. It’s always hard for a new coach to come in. Boof [Darren Lehmann] was there for so long,” he said. “I think JL is an extremely good communicator. You know when he talks to you about cricket, he’s so passionate and he just wants the best for everyone.”Whenever you talk to him about cricket you know it’s coming from a good place. You can chat to him about the game and you can express your opinions and he won’t take it to heart, and he does the same. It’s obviously only one Test match that’s happened so far but I think he instills a lot of belief in the guys as a team as a whole. And he’s been there and done it too obviously so you get a lot of reassurance from that.”The key to Khawaja’s recent story has been a concerted effort to work on his fitness, dropping 7kg since the fateful South Africa tour and demonstrating his endurance across a match where he spent only a fraction of its five days off the field. “That first innings, batted 85 and that was as tough as any innings as I’ve played. I was drenched,” Khawaja said. “I came off the field with sweat through my shirt. My shirt was drenched and pants were drenched. That took it out of me a fair bit.”That took it out of me, I’ve never had an innings like that. Just trying to bat really. I was feeling pretty good for most of it until we got to the second session with one hour left before tea, then I was withering. I was just asking for god to get the sun down so we could get some shade. We got in the change rooms and felt good again after I got in there and then it got a bit cooler. I just love batting and I was just enjoying batting out there and enjoying getting a few partnerships with the boys and playing cricket for Australia. It’s what you dream to do.”Not yet [sunk in]. If it will, it hasn’t yet. I’m just more happy about being where we were. We were a chance to possibly even follow on at one stage and understandably they batted again, gave their bowlers a bit of a rest then came back out. To just bat that long of a period in Asia let alone… it’s a bit different than at the Gabba, it’s probably a nicer wicket on day five than out there. It’s a lot of credit to a lot of the guys, shows a lot of guts, shows a lot of courage to do something like that. Hopefully we can take that into the next game.”Tim Paine and Justin Langer pose during a portrait session•Getty ImagesFor Paine, the experience could not have been more different to his first Test as captain, a hiding at the hands of South Africa in Johannesburg. “Probably not, not in these circumstances, coming where we came from our collapse on day three,” Paine said when asked whether he’d had a prouder moment in the game. “Just really proud of our whole group, how they stuck to their plans, kept digging in and extremely proud of Usman, one of the great Test innings.”We always want to play good cricket there’s no doubt about that. I was just really proud of the way we stuck at it, we spoke pre-series about the need to really fight here and show real patience. That’s exactly the brand of cricket we want to play. We know that to become a good team we first have to be hard to beat. That’s one of the things that JL’s spoken to us about and we had an opportunity to do that today, and we’re just really proud of our whole group, the way they went about it, the way they applied themselves today.”It’s one thing to talk about it, it’s another thing to do it after you’ve had a 10 for 60 collapse. That can shake a few people’s belief. Credit to our whole staff to keep the boys together and thinking clearly. We never lost hope that we could do that today. There were probably times where it was a bit of a dream. We just fought, dug in and played a brand the Australian cricket team wants to play.”As for the closing moments of a nerve-wracking day, when Australia looked for so long to be comfortable in the task of saving the game before suddenly finding themselves with only two wickets in hand to face the final 12 overs, Paine said he and Nathan Lyon had tried to keep their composure by chatting about anything but cricket.”We were both a bit nervous, no doubt about that. I felt in a really good space when I was batting with Uz. Just sort of got a partnership going. But as the wickets started to fall and the overs were getting closer it was a nervous feeling,” he said. “Lyono and I were actually talking about – because both of our families aren’t actually here at the moment and the rest of the guys’ are – we were just going to go down to the team room tonight and watch a few episodes of .”That was what was getting Lyono through so I just went with him. Apparently we’re going to order a pizza tonight, go down to the team room and put Inbetweeners on. That’s our reward. That’s what got us through the last six or seven overs. Certainly is [still the plan]. It’ll be a different one for Lyono after a Test match that’s for sure. We haven’t got a long turnaround, so it’ll be a quiet one tonight.”For his part, being a spectator for the final few moments of a match in which he had contributed so much was torturous for Khawaja. “I was absolutely crapping myself,” he said. “All that hard work that we’d done to set the game up in that last hour, then I got out and left Painey up with the big task to steer it home.”Can’t deny how hard of a situation that is especially when you come off the field, you’ve done all that work, all you want is just ‘please, get through this’. Lyno batted beautifully and Painey batted beautiful at the end. Credit to all the guys who came before especially Heady [Travis Head], got a really good partnership going in his first Test. It was really hard when he came in yesterday but he got through that and played really well. Those are partnerships you need if you’re trying to save a match on the last day.”

Manchester United could be busy when it comes to moving players on in 2024, with Fabrizio Romano saying a “top” player will leave in January.

Man Utd exit news

The Red Devils have had a chaotic few months both on and off the pitch in recent months, with Erik ten Hag’s side not exactly making a perfect start in the Premier League. Off the field, the club brought in a number of new players over the summer, including adding to their midfield ranks with moves for Mason Mount and Sofyan Amrabat.

Players who have been frozen out at Old Trafford include winger Jadon Sancho, who has seemingly fallen out with Ten Hag and hasn’t featured since the end of August. Meanwhile, Donny van de Beek has actually played less than Sancho this season, featuring in just 21 minutes of competitive action this season. (Donny van de Beek stats – Transfermarkt)

An update has now emerged regarding his future, with a move away looking likely. Talking to The United Stand’s Mark Goldbridge, Romano claimed that Van de Beek will leave in the January window as he wants to play regularly. Relayed by United in Focus, the transfer expert said:

“Yes, Donny will leave in January for sure. He has to and he wants to because he wants to play. It’s a shame because Donny wanted to play for Man United, he loved this opportunity, but at the same time, he is never playing.

“He also knows after the injury he needs regular football. he can’t stay on the bench, not even on the bench, for a long time.”

Van de Beek’s record at Man Utd

Bot of Van de Beek’s substitute appearances came against Crystal Palace last month in the Premier League and EFL Cup, and overall, he hasn’t lived up to expectations since arriving from Ajax back in 2020. The 26-year-old contributed to 75 goals in 175 appearances for Ajax, but as can be seen below, has struggled in Manchester. (Donny van de Beek stats – Transfermarkt)

Donny van de Beek's record at Man Utd

Appearances

62

Goals

2

Assists

2

However, he has been praised in England by former Everton manager Frank Lampard during a loan spell with the Toffees, saying:

"I've been really impressed with him. On a professional level, since speaking to him, him coming and seeing him train, I am absolutely impressed with his fitness and his game sharpness. When you're watching training it doesn't surprise you.

"When I think back to the time he has had at Manchester United, he's a top level player. He was when Manchester United signed him and he was at Ajax. It's not easy. There are different ways of reacting and I'm sure it was tough. He has shown that if you keep your head down and keep working you can come through it.”

Van de Beek, on £120,000-a-week, is under contract until 2025, so the club could be in line to receive a transfer fee for his services, although you’d expect they may not recoup the €40m they paid three years ago.

Barcelona boss Xavi Hernandez was sent off for dissent in the first half of his team's La Liga clash with Atletico Madrid.

• Xavi rages at referee
• Sent off in first half
• Joao Felix opens scoring

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Xavi was handed his marching orders at the Wanda Metropolitano Satdium after raging at the match official. The Barcelona boss was booked for protesting after seeing Robert Lewandowski go to ground under a challenge from Axel Witsel. Xavi then continued his protests after an apparent foul on Ilkay Gundogan and was shown a red card.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Xavi has been no stranger to yellow cards in what is his final season as Barcelona boss. The former midfielder has already served two touchline bans in the current campaign and now looks set for more time in the stands. The red card will be a blow for Xavi but his team's performance will provide plenty of cheer with Joao Felix, Robert Lewandowski and Fermin Lopez all on target.

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  Atletico have lost all four games against Barcelona since Xavi Hernández took charge of the Catalan giants.

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• WHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA

  Xavi and the Catalans will move into second place in the table with a win over Atletico. The Catalans' next La Liga fixture is against Las Palmas on Saturday, March 30.

Throughout the years, pretty much every club in the Premier League will have had their highs and lows when it comes to the kits that they’re sporting.

When it comes to Arsenal, it feels as if they’ve been on a very solid run recently, whether it be the revitalised bruised banana shirt or the classic red and white colours.

However, sometimes it doesn’t quite hit the mark. With these kits in mind, Football FanCast has looked back through history to find the 10 worst kits ever to grace the turf at Highbury or the Emirates.

10

Away kit 2020/21

Kicking things off with a shirt from a few years ago that certainly divided opinion – something which can be repeated for the majority of this list, in truth.

The 2020/21 season came with a very tidy home kit, as well as a navy and pink number for the third shirt, but the colour palette for the away strip wasn’t quite as well-received, with the red on the white looking more like blood splatter as opposed to the marble halls at Highbury.

In that shirt, Arsenal staggered to an underwhelming eighth-placed finish in the Premier League.

This was Mikel Arteta’s first full season in charge, but it wasn’t all doom and gloom with his side winning the Community Shield and getting to the semi-finals of the Europa League, where they lost to eventual winners Villarreal.

9

Goalkeeper kit 2010/11

We’re putting a goalkeeper kit under the microscope here, as it fits in well alongside some of these underwhelming outfits.

Wojciech Szczęsny was the Arsenal goalkeeper for most of the 2010/11 season, and along with some below-par green numbers that he wore, this snazzy pink shirt was a little garish.

One of the more notable moments from that season was not a positive one for Arsenal as the Polish shot-stopper wore the pink strip when he conceded four goals against Newcastle United.

The design on the sleeves is certainly a bit of an eyesore, but the pink just takes it up (or down) a notch from the black and light blue versions, which featured in the Gunners’ win over Barcelona and defeat to Birmingham City at Wembley respectively.

8

Home kit 2018/19

Red and white is so synonymous with Arsenal Football Club that one would be mistaken for thinking that there is no way to butcher that.

But in their last season as the manufacturers back in 2018/19, Puma did exactly that as they added a pink stripe on the sleeves, while the layout just seemed a bit clunky.

The aforementioned stripe was also accompanied by the Visit Rwanda sleeve sponsor.

The Gunners’ exploits that year appeared to mirror the kit itself, with Unai Emery failing to qualify for the Champions League in his first season by losing in the Europa League final and finishing outside of the top four.

7

Away kit 2017/18

Arsenal faltered in their final year under Arsene Wenger, and their underachievements in this blue effort from Puma were arguably foreshadowed by its iffy design.

In fact, Arsenal won just 2 of 12 outings in light blue, with both victories coming in the Europa League. They even lost at home wearing blue when beaten by Graham Potter’s Ostersund side, before prevailing on aggregate.

As for the kit itself, the transition from light to dark blue just didn’t work; it didn’t feel very ‘Arsenal’ at all.

6

Away kit 2007/08

Arsenal’s home kits have always been primarily red with some white to accompany it, so when the away kit in 2007/08 was the opposite, the Emirates faithful were intrigued.

The red was much darker, but either way, having white as a primary colour for the rivals of Tottenham Hotspur was a peculiar move, and one that shouldn’t be revisited anytime hereafter.

They did have their moments in this strip, though, with Arsenal pulling off a huge victory at the San Siro against AC Milan thanks to goals from Cesc Fabregas and Emmanuel Adebayor.

It has to be said that they did fall at the next hurdle in white, as late goals from Steven Gerrard and Ryan Babel won the quarter-final tie for Liverpool at Anfield. Steer clear of white in future, please.

5

Away kit 2010/11

This could be a controversial one, but the yellow/burgundy mixture from 2010/11 receives a no from us.

While yellow has become synonymous with Arsenal – primarily with blue – it’s by no means a guaranteed hit on its own. This mustard yellow and burgundy combination was tidy enough, but fails to deliver on the kind of throwback we *think* Nike were going for, here.

Exiting the cup and Champions League in this kit won’t help the more recent memories, either. One look at this and you immediately picture Robin van Persie seeing red, right?

4

Away kit 2014/15

After beating Hull City in the FA Cup final when sporting the classic Arsenal red, they faced Aston Villa the following year at Wembley and took to the field in their yellow away kit.

The yellow aspect of it wasn’t anything bad, but the dark blue sleeves just didn’t really work alongside the red of the sponsors and squad numbers.

When you lift a piece of major silverware, though, no one can really have any complaints.

3

Away kit 2023/24

Another controversial one, here – and it’s Adidas’ latest effort. The fluorescent yellow is bad enough, but the needless tyre tracks and awful colour combinations just make it downright ugly.

20 years on from the Invincibles season, you can’t help but feel Adidas has missed a trick in not going for the easy win of an anniversary-inspired strip – especially given their track record. And all this after coming up with one of the club’s best away kits in ages (perhaps ever) with last year’s all-black design.

You can’t expect perfection every time, but this feels like a major step backwards. Admittedly, it works rather well with the shorts, so maybe it’s a grower. Can’t help but feel next summer’s release will be a drastic improvement, though.

2

Away kit 2012/13

The sky blue and navy away kit of the 2011/12 season is very lucky not to have made this list, and it may have been slightly saved by the fact that an even worse strip was produced for the following season.

Signing Olivier Giroud, Lukas Podolski and Santi Cazorla in the same window is a commendable feat, it has to be said, even when one considers the loss of Robert van Persie that same summer. Unfortunately, their transfer activity was not matched by Nike’s idea to a) go for stripes; and b) make a total mess of it.

1

Third kit 2014/15

The absolute monstrosity that tops this list is almost a decade old now, and it is definitely for the best that it is left in the past.

Having previously visited the 2014/15 season, we are back there, but with the third kit this time around.

Dark blue and light blue as a contrast is something which can be very hit-and-miss, and this shirt certainly fits into the latter category.

One memorable moment that Arsenal fans got to witness from this kit was when Danny Welbeck scored a winner in the FA Cup quarter-final against his previous employers, Manchester United.

But they suffered some chastening nights in Europe, including a poor showing against Borussia Dortmund before being dumped out of the Champions League by Monaco despite winning on the night.

At least Arsenal limited this embarrassment to the cup competitions.

Leeds United return to Championship action at Elland Road this evening as they welcome Queens Park Rangers to Yorkshire in the hope of bouncing back from their last match.

Daniel Farke's side travelled down south to St. Mary's to take on Southampton live on Sky Sports in the early kick-off last weekend and were beaten 3-1 by Russell Martin's men.

That loss ended a run of six matches without a defeat for the Whites in the league and they will now be looking to return to that imperious run of form, starting with tonight's clash under the lights.

What's the latest Leeds team news?

Farke has confirmed that a number of players will remain unavailable for selection against QPR as they continue to recover from their respective injury issues.

On-loan right-back Djed Spence and Italy international Wilfried Gnonto are both on track to return to action after the international break this month. The latter has scored one goal in five league outings so far this season and could face a fight on his hands to win back his place in the side.

Left-back Junior Firpo is also set to return to training on the other side of the break, whilst Northern Ireland international Stuart Dallas has had a minor setback and will be back with the squad over the next few days.

The German head coach also commented on the performance of central defender Liam Cooper in his pre-match press conference as he conceded that the game against Southampton was not his 'best' day in a Leeds shirt.

However, the ex-Norwich boss added that he is 'happy' with the Scotland international but that does not mean that the Whites captain will play 'every second'.

How did Cooper perform against Southampton?

The central defender put in a dismal display against the Saints and his first contribution to the defeat came after just two minutes as he was caught out for the opening goal.

Cooper, for reasons that he may only be able to explain, stepped out of his position despite Leeds having two midfielders between him and the player in possession and that allowed Adam Armstrong to run off the back of him, which led to the striker dinking the ball over Illan Meslier and into the back of the net.

The central defender was not directly at fault for the second Saints goal but the shot from Will Smallbone did creep past the Leeds man's left foot and he could have attempted to make himself bigger to make the block.

Cooper, who ended the match with a Sofascore rating of 6.6, then took too long to come across on the cover to help out Sam Byram, which led to Armstrong having all the time he needed to fire the ball into the back of the net for 3-0 before half time.

It was a disappointing display from the £35k-per-week enforcer and Farke must now ruthlessly ditch him from the starting line-up for this clash against QPR tonight.

Will Joe Rodon start against QPR?

The Leeds head coach must then unleash central defender Joe Rodon, who is on loan from Tottenham Hotspur, in place of the veteran captain at the heart of the defence alongside Pascal Struijk.

Farke swooped to sign the former Swansea star on a temporary basis during the summer transfer window and he was an unused substitute against the Saints after returning from his suspension.

The Wales international had been sent off for two bookable offences in the 0-0 draw with Hull City last month but had caught the eye in his previous four appearances for the Whites.

Rodon averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.18 across his first four Championship matches for Leeds as they went unbeaten in that time; against West Brom, Ipswich, Sheffield Wednesday, and Millwall.

The 25-year-old titan has impressed with his play in and out of possession. On the ball, the Spurs loanee has completed 90% of his attempted passes and shown himself to be capable of finding a teammate the vast majority of the time, rather than consistently handing the ball back to the opposition.

He has also won an outstanding 72% of his aerial battles in the Championship so far this season, which shows that the towering centre-back is dominant in the air and able to outmuscle his opponent far more often than not.

Is Rodon better than Cooper?

Cooper and Rodon's respective statistics over the last 365 days suggest that Farke's team would be better off with the latter in possession of the ball.

The current Leeds captain has averaged 0.27 progressive carries and successful take-ons combined per 90 over the last year, as per FBref. This has him in the bottom 21% of his positional peers across the Men's Big Five Leagues and European competitions in both statistics.

Whereas, Rodon, who spent last season on loan with Rennes in Ligue 1, has averaged 0.65 progressive carries and successful take-ons per 90 over the last 365 days. In fact, he ranks within the top 31% of centre-backs in the Men's Big Five Leagues and European competitions for take-ons completed per 90 in that time.

This suggests that the Welsh titan excels at dribbling forward with the ball to start attacks for his side from a central defensive position, whereas Cooper rarely looks to progress possession in that way.

The Scotland international has also won 67% of his aerial duels in the Championship this term, which suggests that Rodon is more dominant than him when it comes to battles in the air.

His ability to sense danger around the box could also make him an upgrade on the Scottish dud as the 6 foot 4 ace has made 3.3 clearances per game this term, in comparison to his skipper's 1.8 per match.

Therefore, Farke must now unleash the Spurs defender, who was once hailed as "perfect" by ex-boss Jose Mourinho, in place of Cooper to improve his starting XI for this clash with QPR.

The former Chesterfield colossus' disappointing display against Southampton should see him dropped from the team as Leeds will want to avoid back-to-back defeats, which could see them slip further behind the chasing pack in the hunt for automatic promotion.

Sometimes we all make silly decisions. It's human nature. No one's perfect. Of course, hindsight never helps. In football, we see mistakes all the time – just ask Tottenham Hotspur and Daniel Levy – it's just ultimately about how you bounce back. But what about when that bounce doesn't come and the drop just gets deeper and deeper?

In this edition of 'Where Are They Now?', it's a case of stubborn self-assurance and a poorly judged transfer that sparks a spiral. Join us for a trip that moves from the Premier League and Spurs to Sweden's second division, via the EFL and even non-league in between.

Who is Zeki Fryers?

The subheading above is still likely a common question for so many football fans outside of Manchester.

However, a cult group will recall that Zeki Fryers developed through Manchester United's notorious youth system in 2011 and slowly integrated into the first team set-up. He was a consistent defensive player and had been involved with England too, appearing for the U19 team as late as 2010.

Unfortunately for Fryers, that year he suffered a serious knee injury that kept him out of action for most of the 2010/11 season. However, United kept faith in the youngster, and although on the fringes, made his debut for his hometown club on the 20th of September 2011.

When did Zeki Fryers join Spurs?

Although he was gaining more experience with ever playing minute, Fryers and United agreed that the left-back might be suited elsewhere. Grouped together as a want-away with the rebellious Ravel Morrison by Sky Sports, an eventual move to Belgian side Standard Liege materialised.

Admittedly, amidst Spurs interest, it wasn't the desired destination. Liege were simply a placeholder as Tottenham and a somewhat bereft Alex Ferguson couldn't negotiate through the commotion. Fryers only played seven league games before falling out of favour and then reporting homesickness to his agent. Cue Tottenham's reinvigorated interest…

Where before they didn't want to pay £6m, now they could get their man for half the price.

Now, although want-away, Fryers was still (like Ravel Morrison) considered a player of great potential. This was fuelled ever more by the media, as the left-back was branded a 'prodigy' by the Daily Mail when they reported his £3m transfer in 2012's January window.

What happened to Zeki Fryers at Spurs?

After Fryers moved south, and regardless if the defender wasn't particularly vital for Sir Alex's squad – the legendary Scot was incensed by what looked like shifty Tottenham transfer tactics. This too, could have inadvertently raised the defender's profile. It seems more logical that Ferguson's ego had been challenged. He fumed:

"I'm disappointed in Tottenham. I think it's a blatant manipulation of the situation. I think the league should look into it and I think they should stop his registration until they examine it." (Ferguson, 2012)

So, did Spurs get an Ashley Cole regen as he had previously been dubbed in some circles? Well, no. He was merely a back-up for Benoit Assou-Ekotto and found slim pickings of game time.

All together, Fryers ran out just 15 times in all competitions for the White Hart Lane side before eventually moving on again. It did appear, like the only highlight reel the defender would be involved with, would be the transfer news and that alone.

Where is Zeki Fryers now?

Crystal Palace were the next destination – a £3m deal – before the slippery slope pushed on for a harsher decline. While at Palace, there were two average loan spells at Rotherham and Ipswich, featuring just 13 times across both stints, before 2017 saw a move to Barnsley.

Following two years there, and like some wandering football nomad, he was gone after 27 league appearances in 2019. Swindon saw another two years before Fryers fell into a non-league domino effect.

Stockport were next. Then it was Welling and Macclesfield even lower. Game time and confidence are all well and good but if only Fryers knew where he'd end up – finding exiled safety in Sweden's second tier with AFC Eskilstuna.

In all of this, it's easy to think Sir Alex knew what he was dealing with – especially when looking over the player's self-assured nature at the time.

He once said: "I thought it was the right time for me to leave and get experience playing in a good league. You never know what will happen in football, but I made the right decision for me. Today I'm at Standard in the first year of my contract and I want it to be as good as possible. Maybe after that, I can go one step higher."

That one step higher did come at Spurs, but unfortunately, it never got any better after that.

أصدر نادي بوروسيا دورتموند الألماني بيانًا رسميًا بشأن مدربه إدين ترزيتش، مؤكدًا رحيله عن منصبه.

وأفاد دورتموند في بيانه أن المدرب إدين ترزيتش أبلغ النادي برغبته في الرحيل عن منصبه، وإنهاء عقده على الفور.

وأشار إلى أن النادي قرر الاستجابة لطلب ترزيتش، وقد امتثل بوروسيا دورتموند لطلب إجراء مناقشة مشتركة.

فاز ترزيتش بكأس ألمانيا مع بروسيا دورتموند في عام 2021، وكان الوصيف في عام 2023 ووصل إلى نهائي دوري أبطال أوروبا في عام 2024.

وقال ترزيتش: “عزيزي بوروسيا، على الرغم من أن الأمر يؤلمني حقًا الآن، أود أن أبلغك بأنني سأغادر دورتموند اعتبارًا من اليوم”.

وأضاف: “لقد كان شرف كبير أن أتمكن من قيادة هذا النادي العظيم للفوز بكأس ألمانيا ومؤخرًا إلى نهائي دوري أبطال أوروبا”.

وتابع: “لقد طلبت من المسؤولين إجراء محادثة بعد المباراة النهائية في ويمبلي لأنه بعد عشر سنوات في دورتموند، بما في ذلك خمس سنوات في الفريق التدريبي وسنتين ونصف كمدرب رئيسي، لدي شعور بأن الفترة المقبلة ستكون مصحوبة بشيء جديد، وينبغي أن أكون على الهامش”.

وأشار: “أي شخص يعرفني يعلم أنه خلال عملية اتخاذ القرار هذه خلال الأسابيع القليلة الماضية، كان هناك قلبان ينبضان في صدري، لكن حتى بعد مناقشات مكثفة، لم يتغير شعوري الأساسي، أتمنى دائمًا الأفضل لبوروسيا دورتموند ولا أقول وداعًا، بل مرحبًا دورتموند!”.

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وأكد هانز يواكيم فاتسكه، الرئيس التنفيذي لبوروسيا دورتموند: “قام إيدن ترزيتش بعمل رائع خلال فترة وجوده في دورتموند، ونحن جميعًا مدينون له بدين كبير من الامتنان، أنا وإيدين سنكون صديقين دائمًا”.

وأكد المدير الرياضي، سيباستيان كيل: “إيدين هو لاعب في بوروسيا دورتموند بكل معنى الكلمة، وهو شخص عظيم وأصيل للغاية وقد التزم دائمًا بنسبة 100 بالمائة مع بوروسيا دورتموند،، لقد شهدنا الكثير معًا”.

وأتم: “إن نجاحاتنا على مدى السنوات القليلة الماضية ستظل مرتبطة به دائمًا، وأنا متأكد من أننا سنرى بعضنا البعض مرة أخرى، سيذهب إيدن في طريقه الخاص”.

The Times have shared an update on Tottenham Hotspur's transfer plans involving Nottingham Forest star Brennan Johnson this summer.

Who will Spurs sign?

So far, Spurs have sealed deals for goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, young centre-back Ashley Phillips, defender Micky van de Ven, playmaker James Maddison, winger Manor Solomon and striker Alejo Veliz.

The Lilywhites are also off and running under new manager Ange Postecoglou, having drawn 2-2 away to Brentford last Sunday, courtesy of unlikely goals from defenders Cristian Romero and Emerson Royal.

Following the departure of star striker Harry Kane to Bayern Munich, though, attention very much remains on the transfer market and how Tottenham could reinforce their ranks before deadline day on September 1.

New forwards have been linked to replacing Kane, perhaps most notably Gent's highly-rated striker Gift Orban, with Forest winger Johnson also on their radar.

The Wales international, who stood out as a key player under Steve Cooper at the City Ground last term, is a wanted man across London.

Indeed, the likes of West Ham and Chelsea are also keen on signing Johnson, with Tottenham joining their English capital rivals in that respect.

Chelsea joined the race for him after their deal to sign Crystal Palace star Michael Olise fell through this week, and Forest value the player at around £50 million.

That is according to The Times, who say Tottenham are also eyeing the winger ahead of a possible move. In a boost for Postecoglou's side, it is believed Johnson "had favoured joining Spurs" and is open to leaving Forest this summer.

The Lilywhites, for their part, are aiming to reinvest the £94.5 million financial windfall from Kane's sale into Postecoglou's squad.

How good is Brennan Johnson?

Johnson registered a brilliant eight goals and three assists in the top flight last season, all while ranking among Forest's very best for attempts at goal and key passes made per 90, according to WhoScored.

During Forest's FA Cup clash with Arsenal in 2022, pundit Roy Keane also heaped praise on the 22-year-old as a "very talented" young player.

"No doubt a lot of teams are looking at him and we'll see if Forest can hold on to him," said Keane on ITV (via Nottinghamshire Live)

"It will be interested to see what he's like against a tricky team. He's got a bit of pace and he's tricky.

"He's got an assist in him and he's really talented. Sometimes you need to go out on loan."

Meanwhile, Wales international boss Robert Page also called the attacker "wonderful" – whilst hinting the sky is the limit for him.

Read the latest Tottenham transfer news HERE…

“Brennan could potentially have had a move in January,” said Page in 2022.

“But he decided to stay because he’s at a club where he was going to play and enjoy his football.

“That speaks volumes about him. He didn’t go chasing the money. He’s almost the finished article now and Forest have got a wonderful player on their hands.

“I’ve been to watch him a few times and he’s playing with freedom. He’s really enjoying his football."

Liverpool's need for midfield reinforcements in no secret, even after they overcame the odds to defeat Newcastle United at St James' Park and extend their unbeaten run to start the season to three Premier League games.

The Reds were, of course, on their way to a fairly successful transfer window, with the arrival of Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, but the departures of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho to Saudi Arabia threw a spanner in the works.

Since then, they have welcomed Wataru Endo, but it could be argued that a more high-profile name is still needed.

With that said, though, the club have reportedly ruled out signing one particular midfielder.

What's the latest Liverpool transfer news?

As the summer transfer window edges closer and closer to slamming shut, Liverpool are scrambling for the extra reinforcements needed to ensure that Jurgen Klopp has a side capable of returning to the Premier League's top four, after missing out last season.

The name at the forefront of their current list of targets seems to be Bayern Munich's Ryan Gravenberch, who the Bavarians could reportedly soften their stance on in the coming days.

As Gravenberch rises to the top of Liverpool's list, however, it is Sofyan Amrabat who has reportedly been ruled out altogether.

According to Manchester Evening News, who were reporting on Manchester United and Liverpool's interest in Amrabat, the Reds have clarified that they will not be making a move for the Fiorentina man this summer.

This news comes at a time when Amrabat has been frozen out at the Serie A club, with La Viola dropping the Morroco international from both first-team games, and training until his future is resolved, as per Fabrizio Romano.

Should Liverpool sign Sofyan Amrabat?

Liverpool's stance on Amrabat is a surprising one, given their need for midfielders, and Fiorentina's reported price-tag of just €30m (£25.6m) this summer.

Statistically speaking, too, the Moroccan would be an upgrade on the options that Klopp waved goodbye to this summer.

According to FBref, Amrabat outperformed Henderson in some key areas throughout the previous campaign.

Player

Progressive Carries Per 90

Blocks

Pass Completion Rate

Tackles Won

Sofyan Amrabat

1.62

23

88.8%

24

Jordan Henderson

1.61

21

83%

23

Meanwhile, the 27-year-old earned plenty of praise during the 2022 World Cup, as he helped Morroco to reach the semi-final stage, in the surprise of the tournament.

Alan Shearer praised the midfielder, saying on BBC's Match of The Day, via the Liverpool Echo: "He gets it and then he can feed the ball in, and you can see him go back there. He’ll be reluctant to get forward as he wants to protect, he’ll want to do that.

"He really enjoys that and he’s really good at that – ‘get off the ball, I’m having it’ – and he’s setting his team forward. He’s been key. He does that, he protects, he can get out there and help his full-backs, and that’s what he’s in that role to do – to stop, and be a spoiler – he’s excellent at it. Then he drives forward and they’re on their way. He’s been magnificent, he really has."

Read the latest Liverpool transfer news HERE…

Nonetheless, despite the praise and the stats, Liverpool reportedly remain unlikely to push ahead for Amrabat's signature this summer.

Mayank Agarwal’s maiden triple-century drove Karnataka to 628 for 5 and a first-innings lead of 383 against Maharashtra at the MCA Stadium in Pune. Agarwal, who came into this match on the back of a pair, notched up an unbeaten 304 off 494 balls that included 28 fours and four sixes. Agarwal had put on 259 for the opening wicket with R Samarth (129) on the second day and resumed on 219. He stretched his third-wicket partnership with Karun Nair to 279. Nair, who was not out on 56 overnight, struck a century of his own, finishing with 116. Karnataka declared shortly after the pair was broken up. Thereafter, medium-pacer Abhimanyu Mithun took Karnataka closer to an innings win by dismissing Maharashtra’s openers cheaply and leaving them at 135 for 4 at stumps.T Ravi Teja continued to have a memorable debut, following his 63-ball 70, with 5 for 49 that helped Hyderabad limit Railways to 246 and enforce the follow on in Delhi. Railways’ openers survived three overs in their second innings and went to stumps unscathed.Resuming their first innings on 35 for 1, Railways began the day well with opener Shivkant Shukla and Nitin Bhille stretching their overnight stand to 78 before legspinner Akash Bhandari pinned Bhille in front for 43. Ravi Teja then had Shukla lbw and went onto slice through the middle order. From 93 for 1, Railways tumbled to 135 for 7. Anureet Singh (60) and Manish Rao (33) then put on 85 for the eighth wicket to haul the score beyond 200. Left-arm spinner Mehdi Hasan pitched in with two wickets as Hyderabad claimed a 228-run first-innings lead. Anureet’s maiden first-class fifty contained nine fours.