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Chelsea have had a number of Brazilian stars on their books over the years, from Willian to Ramires and Oscar to David Luiz, and now Estevao is the next. One of the most promising young talents in world football, the 17-year-old signed for Chelsea from Palmeiras back in June in a deal worth £28 million, and will join up with his new club next summer.

Speaking with Transfermarkt earlier this month, the teenage winger, who has scored 12 goals for Palmeiras this season and has already been capped twice by Brazil, outlined his lofty ambitions for when he moves to West London.

“I want to make history and be the most successful Brazilian in the club’s history,” he said. “I want to win titles and show my full potential, show everything I can do.”

William Gomes next up

As if one Brazilian starlet wasn’t enough for Chelsea, the Blues now want Sao Paulo wonderkid William Gomes. That’s according to CaughtOffside, who this week reported that scouts from both Chelsea and Arsenal have been monitoring the 18-year-old ahead of a potential transfer, and have been hugely impressed with what they’ve seen.

Gomes, who can play as either a winger or an attacking midfielder, has made 10 appearances for Sao Paulo this term, scoring twice. He’s been described by scout Antonio Mango as “one of the best young players in Sao Paulo right now.”

“A dribbling MONSTER, honestly it’s frightening what he’s capable of,” Mango wrote of Gomes on X last year. “Remember the name.”

Meanwhile, Brazilian football writer All Things Brazil has called Gomes a “really big prospect,” and it appears only a matter of time before he winds up on English shores in some capacity.

Newcastle also interested

Chelsea and Arsenal aren’t the only two clubs understood to be interested in Gomes. According to Globo Esporte, Newcastle are also keen on the young star, and held initial talks with Sao Paolo over a potential transfer last month.

Serie A side AS Roma also want Gomes, according to Brazilian journalist Andre Hernan. Hernan reported way back in January that Roma were on the trail of the Aracaju-born star, and, like Newcastle, had held preliminary talks with Sao Paolo for the player.

Chelsea plotting swoop for £16.7m ace considered similar to Ousmane Dembele

Chelsea are among the teams interested in signing an attacking player, and have now placed an offer for his services.

ByBrett Worthington Nov 17, 2024

No move has yet to materialise for Gomes, but if it does, Sao Paolo have ensured they will get a fair price for him. In March 2023, Gomes signed his first professional contract with the club, which includes a £60 million release clause.

Speaking with ge last yer, Sao Paolo’s Director of Football Carlos Belmonte explained that the club see Gomes as part of an “extraordinary generation” of young players on its books.

“William Gomes, an extraordinary player, we also renewed his contract,” Belmonte said. “We see him as a different player, with a lot of strength, playing on the right side, sometimes on the left.”

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Ganhar um campeonato estadual representa muito pouco hoje em dia. Desgastados, desvalorizados, esses torneios, ao menos na forma atual em que são disputados, ocupando dois ou três meses do calendário, há muito perderam a razão de existir. E essa não é uma discussão nova. É uma lenga-lenga que se repete todos os anos na mídia.

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Quanto mais perdem importância, contudo, mais os estaduais se tornam uma armadilha para os grandes clubes. E, principalmente, para os técnicos desses clubes. Não há um ano sequer que no Rio ou em Sao Paulo, mas também em centros como Minas, Paraná, Rio Grande do Sul, Bahia e Pernambuco, cabeças não sejam cortadas mal a bola começa a rolar.

Sylvinho foi a primeira vítima esse ano. Tudo bem que o técnico do Corinthians já vinha desde a temporada passada contando com a rejeição do torcedor e de boa parte da direção alvinegra. Os resultados minguados deste início de Paulistão foram apenas a gota d’água.

Mas Sylvinho não será o único. Fabio Carille, seu algoz no clássico de quarta-feira na Neoquimica Arena, é outro que está com a cabeça a prêmio. A virada, mesmo o Santos jogando pior do que o Corinthians na maior parte da partida, permitiu-lhe um respiro. O que não significa que não possa voltar à UTI já nas próximas rodadas.

E o que dizer de Rogério Ceni? Por mais que o ex-goleiro veja evolução a cada jogo no seu São Paulo – o que de fato é verdade – e que ele não seja responsável pelas falhas individuais bizarras de sua zaga – ainda que pudesse barrar Miranda – a paciência do torcedor tricolor com o ídolo eterno do clube parece próxima de se esgotar. E se o cenário de um ponto em nove disputados persistir vai ser difícil segurá-lo no cargo.

Impaciência aliás foi o que se viu também na vitória do Fluminense, o mistão do Fluminense contra o Audax pelo Carioquinha. Apesar do resultado favorável, Abel Braga saiu vaiado, chamado de burro. E por causa de Ganso. Por ter deixado Ganso no banco.

Sinceramente? Não dá para entender esse amor repentino da torcida por um jogador que fez muito menos do que dele se esperava no ano passado. Parece apenas um pretexto para pegar no pé do técnico. E o que virá por aí no Fla-Flu desse fim de semana pode transformar num inferno a vida de Abelão.

Corinthians, Santos, São Paulo e Fluminense estão bem? É claro que não. E nem poderiam estar. Isso é responsabilidade exclusiva dos seus técnicos? É claro que também não é. Enquanto as pré-temporadas continuarem a ser como são, espremidas entre as férias dos jogadores e os estaduais, não será justo cobrar o que não pode ser entregue por ninguém em tempo tão escasso.

Ano passado, o empenho do São Paulo para ganhar o Paulistão e quebrar seu longo jejum de títulos foi uma exceção. A regra do discurso da cartolagem é que o que vale é o Brasileirão – a Copa do Brasil e a Libertadores para quem tem. E isso até faria sentido, se fosse traduzido em atitudes.

Na prática, contudo, o que se vê é que o estadual não vale nada, mas perder esses joguinhos insossos continua a ter um peso. Um peso pesado que quem leva nas costas são os homens que ficam ali na beira do campo em busca do milagre de uma exibição perfeita que jamais vir

Tottenham Hotspur are making headway under Ange Postecoglou but his expansive, intense and attractive brand of football does present a chink in the armour.

Defensively, Spurs have left plenty to be desired this season and last, and though they looked to suffocate and swamp with slick triangular passages and overloads, it did bear that caveat.

High risk, high reward. That’s the motto. Tottenham are still pushing and have demonstrated through big victories over Manchester United and West Ham United in the past month that they can make it work to title-clinching success.

On paper, the north Londoners have two of the finest defenders in the Premier League, and a little more fine-tuning might bring Postecoglou’s vision right to the fore.

The Premier League's finest defenders

The Premier League is host to many fine centre-backs, with Tottenham’s dynamic duo of Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven among the best.

Tottenham have only conceded nine goals across eight top-flight fixtures this season, joint-fifth in the divisional table, but have also kept just two clean sheets – something to work on.

Matches (starts)

7 (7)

8 (8)

Goals

0

1

Assists

2

0

Touches*

85.3

95.6

Pass completion

93%

91%

Dribbles completed*

0.4

0.0

Ball recoveries*

5.9

5.9

Tackles + interceptions*

1.9

3.2

Clearances*

2.9

2.8

Total duels won*

3.7 (46%)

5.3 (62%)

As you can see, this is a pair of first-class defenders. At least, bordering on first class. Ahead of them in the Premier League pecking order are Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk and William Saliba of Arsenal.

The respective centre-halves have had significant impacts on their sides’ development, with Saliba on the cusp of hitting his prime and Van Dijk at the end of his.

Paolo Maldini has praised the Liverpool sensation as “the best defender in history”, while Saliba has been utterly breathtaking in recent years, with his performances under Mikel Arteta this season largely imperious – as per Sofascore, the France international has won a whopping 70% of his ground duels.

Tottenham’s titans are creeping toward such a standing, but Postecoglou may well rue his side’s failed bid for a defender already operating at the level of English football’s finest.

Let’s take a look at Tottenham’s effort to sign Alessandro Bastoni.

One that got away

The transfers that nearly happened but never did. This article is part of Football FanCast's One That Got Away series.

When Spurs nearly signed Alessandro Bastoni

Predating Postecoglou’s appointment by one year, Tottenham fought to sign Bastoni from Inter Milan in 2022. According to reports from Italy, Inter opened contract talks with their prized defensive asset following intrigue from Tottenham and Manchester City.

It worked. In 2023, the Italy international extended his stay with I Nerazzurri until 2028, boasting a £164k-per-week contract. Given that he’s now valued at €70m (£60m) this certainly looks like a missed opportunity.

According to content creator Nieve Petruzziello, purveyor of Italian football, the Inter defender is now “as good as Van Dijk and Saliba”, with the Milan-based side owing to Bastoni’s incredible mix of defensive strength and ball-playing brilliance.

Indeed, as Inter ran rampant in Serie A last season, Bastoni won 59% of his duels, completed 90% of his passes and created ten big chances.

His creativity and drive set him apart from the lion’s share of European defenders. As per FBref, the left-footed ace ranks among the top 1% of centre-backs across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for shot-creating actions and progressive carries, the top 2% for assists and the top 8% for passes attempted and progressive passes per 90.

A superlative technician, it’s no wonder the 25-year-old has been hailed for his qualities by another Italian football expert, Conor Clancy.

Clancy said: “He’s the best Italian centre-back around. He’s a phenomenon. He is going to be the next generation of Italian defence himself.”

Named as the Serie A Defender of the Season for 2023/24, you can’t help but wonder if Postecoglou and Daniel Levy watched his exploits with a bitter taste, for he could have been signed, providing Tottenham’s backline with the defensive part to fire it to trophy-winning, Champions League-qualifying success.

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Reliable reporter Alfie House has shared a worrying piece of Southampton injury news that has left manager Russell Martin feeling “gutted”.

Southampton's poor Premier League start continues

The Saints are still without a win in the Premier League this season, having sealed a return to the top flight last time around, with the jump up in quality proving to be sobering for Martin and his players.

On Saturday afternoon, Southampton threatened to pick up a stunning result away to much-fancied Arsenal, taking the lead through Cameron Archer in the second half at the Emirates.

Unfortunately, the Gunners’ quality eventually shone through, with the hosts winning 3-1 in north London, but there was no shame in the scoreline for Martin’s men, who largely equipped themselves well in what will be one of their toughest assignments of the campaign.

The defeat still leaves Southampton sitting 19th in the Premier League table and Martin under pressure, however, having picked up just one solitary point from their opening seven matches, suggesting that the south coast club could be in for a long season. They desperately need key players to stay fit, but they may soon receive a blow in that respect.

Southampton suffer injury blow to "fantastic" ace

Taking to X, House reported that Southampton striker Ross Stewart has picked up a muscle injury, with Martin left “gutted” by the situation and a scan required which is a concern.

This is exactly what Southampton could do without, during a long and taxing season where they need as many important players available as possible. While Stewart may not exactly be the first name on the team sheet, he has still made four appearances in the league this term, starting once.

Meanwhile, pundit Sam Parkin once hailed the 28-year-old during his Sunderland days, saying: “Stewart, what a story this has been. He was fantastic today. The forward Sunderland players are really starting to click, (Alex) Pritchard, most touches, most passes today but Stewart’s finishing.”

Firepower is so vital in the Premier League, so Stewart possibly not being around will have an impact on Martin’s options in the final third, with his side only scoring four goals in seven games in the competition so far this season.

Hopefully, the former Sunderland man’s setback isn’t too serious, but he has proven to be an injury-prone figure over the years, so there will be understandable concern after this latest issue.

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As for Martin, he remains under pressure to keep his job, even though few will judge him by a 3-1 defeat away to Arsenal, and he now has the international break to try and regroup, prior to inspiring a Southampton turnaround, starting with a crucial visit of Leicester City on October 19th, in a game that Saints badly need to win.

Manchester United have reportedly targeted Wolves left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri for a January move as Nuno Mendes is too expensive.

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Man Utd want to strengthen left-back positionMendes has been pursuedAit-Nouri is preferred for his versatilityFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The left-back position has proven to be a weak link for United during the 2024-25 season. Players like Diogo Dalot, Noussair Mazraoui, and Tyrell Malacia have struggled for consistency, forcing Ruben Amorim to demand reinforcements from the management. Although Luke Shaw is on the verge of returning from another muscular injury, his recurring fitness issues have left the club in urgent need of a reliable alternative.

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According to Paris Saint-Germain’s Mendes has emerged as United's top priority due to his prior working experience with Amorim. However, the financial aspects of the deal have become a major stumbling block. PSG’s valuation of the player at €60 million, coupled with his significant wage demands, has placed the transfer out of reach for the Red Devils. The situation has left United needing to offload players to generate funds for Mendes, but PSG are also reportedly keen to retain the Portuguese international. Consequently, United’s attention has shifted to more attainable options.

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Ait-Nouri has been a standout performer for Wolves and has also showcased his versatility, excelling as both a traditional left-back and a more advanced wing-back. His ability to adapt to different tactical setups has reportedly caught the eye of Amorim, who values such flexibility. The Algerian international has scored four goals and provided five assists across 22 appearances in all competitions this season, with three goals and five assists in the Premier League.

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR MANCHESTER UNITED?

United’s pursuit of Ait-Nouri could materialize in January, but much depends on the future of Tyrell Malacia. The Dutch defender has struggled to make an impact at Old Trafford and is reportedly attracting interest from Juventus and Borussia Dortmund. A move for Malacia could create the financial and squad space needed to bring in Ait-Nouri. The Algerian's contract is set to expire next summer, but the club holds an option to extend it by another year, effectively tying him down until the end of the 2026-27 season.

Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea side have gotten into their stride recently, and things have been starting to click for the Blues. They started the season in the worst possible way, a defeat at the hands of Manchester City, but since then have won three of their last four Premier League games, having also drawn with Crystal Palace.

The West London outfit have had some standout performers along the way. Nicolas Jackson has started the season in fine form, with four goals and two assists in five top-flight games. Cole Palmer has also been superb so far this term, having scored twice and grabbed four assists in five appearances.

One of their summer signings has also started life at Stamford Bridge excellently. That player is Jadon Sancho.

Sancho’s start to his Chelsea career

The former Manchester United winger had plenty of eyes on him when he moved from the Red Devils to the Blues of West London. It is fair to say his time at Old Trafford did not live up to expectations; the former Borussia Dortmund man left with 12 goals and six assists in 83 games for the club.

However, all of that seems to be in the past now, and Sancho is thriving, in an optimal environment with a coach who ensures the winger feels “love”, as the Italian put it, following the winger’s debut against Bournemouth.

So far, the England international has made just two appearances for the Blues, and he already has two assists to his name. He registered a match-winning assist on debut against the Cherries for Christopher Nkunku and created Jackson’s first goal against West Ham last weekend.

The 24-year-old has been superb in ideal conditions, both on and off the pitch. Unlike his time at United, Sancho has had his skillset maximised by the coach, creating lots of overlapping and underlapping runs and quick combination play, as his assist at the Vitality Stadium showed.

Maresca may have another Blues player who could further enhance Sancho’s output and could well decide to unleash him against Brighton this afternoon, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.

How Dewsbury-Hall can help maximise Sancho

English midfielder Dewsbury-Hall signed for Chelsea from 2023/24 Championship winners Leicester City. As managers often do, he was the player whom Maresca chose to take with him from the Foxes, for a fee of just £30m, and is now earning £80k-per-week, according to Capology.

That certainly seemed like a superb deal on the face of things, given the Leicester academy graduate was one of the Championship’s best players last term. He scored 12 goals and grabbed 14 assists in 44 games in England’s second tier.

The former Luton Town loanee ranked highly in several creative metrics for the Foxes last term, and his underlying statistics further suggested that he was one of the better players in the Championship, as per FBref.

Stat

Number

Rank

Assists

14

3rd

Expected assists

12.6xA

2nd

Progressive passes

272

10th

Key passes

109

5th

Passes into penalty area

84

2nd

Indeed, he could form a superb partnership with Sancho, given the fact Maresca used him as a mezzala-type midfielder last term for the Foxes, operating in the half-space on the left-hand side, similar areas to where Sancho players his best football. The fluidity in their rotations and sharp combination play could elevate Chelsea even more, after a good start to the season.

With the Leicester academy graduate making those underlapping runs to help facilitate Sancho, we could see a superb partnership form. Given the Chelsea number 22’s superb creative final third numbers, both he and the winger could profit and create far more chances for the Blues.

So far, Dewsbury-Hall is yet to show his best form in a Chelsea shirt. He has played just three times in the Premier League, and is yet to start a game.

However, he is a player Maresca certainly trusts, and if he is unleashed against Brighton – perhaps ahead of Enzo Fernandez – could begin the start of a special partnership between himself and Sancho.

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Over the course of the Premier League era, Aston Villa have had some enterprising centre-forwards, who have scored some crucial goals for the Midlands outfit. The Villans recently recorded their joint second-highest finish in Premier League history, bettered only by 1992/93 season, when they finished second behind Manchester United. In that time, they have had some excellent centre-forwards.

Indeed, one of those players was the reason for the Villans' fourth place finish last campaign. Ollie Watkins was absolutely superb under Unai Emery last season, scoring 19 goals and grabbing 13 assists in the top flight. He now has 70 goals and 26 assists in 170 games for Villa.

Going back a few more years, another of their legendary centre-forwards is Gabby Agbonlahor, who scored 86 goals and grabbed 54 assists in 391 games in Claret and Blue. Iconic former Man United centre-forward Dwight Yorke also had a spell at Villa Park before moving to Old Trafford, scoring 85 goals in 262 games.

With the transfer window still open for another week, they have been linked with another striker in the remaining days. The Villans would no doubt hope this player can add quality and goals up front, and potentially become another of their iconic strikers.

Villa target La Liga striker

The player in question here is Atletico Madrid and Spain youth international striker Samu Omorodion. The 20-year-old has had a busy summer having been linked with a move away from the Civitas Metropolitano, although that is not something that has materialised.

According to a report from Spain, the Villans are believed to be ‘willing to pay’ the money which would see the 20-year-old make the move from Madrid to the Midlands and Villa Park. The report suggests he is someone who is ‘liked by Monchi and Unai Emery’, the crucial figures to impress ahead of a potential move.

In terms of that price, Atleti are believed to want around £30m to sell the striker this summer, who came very close to joining Chelsea. However, that move fell through, and the Blues ended up signing Joao Felix instead, with Conor Gallagher going the other way.

Why Omorodion would be a good signing

It was a very impressive campaign for the 20-year-old centre-forward, who was an Olympic champion with Spain at Paris 2024. He was on fire in La Liga last season, playing 35 games and getting himself nine goals as well as one assist.

Indeed, Omorodion, in his debut La Liga campaign, was the top scorer for Alaves, with eight goals, having also scored one for Granada before his move. However, it is worth noting that the Atleti striker did not score a league goal after the 10th of February when he got on the scoresheet against Villarreal.

Should Villa bring the Olympic champion to the club this summer, it could provide them with the chance to move Jhon Duran on. The 20-year-old Columbian has been embroiled in transfer controversy this summer after moves to Chelsea and West Ham fell through before he scored against the Hammers at the London Stadium last Saturday.

Last term, he struggled for regular minutes at Villa Park. The young powerhouse played just 462 minutes in the top flight last term, scoring five goals in that time. Those minutes equated to just over five full 90-minute games.

However, he had an astounding record, averaging 0.94 goals every game, as per FBref. Already, he has scored once in just 28 minutes in the Premier League this season. He is certainly a player who has a big impact in a short space of time.

Stat (per 90)

Number

PL Rank

Goals

0.94

5th

Goals per shot

0.25

=5th

Goals per shot on target

0.71

=2nd

Given the fact that Duran’s future has been up in the air this summer, and Omordion, who is a “beast” according to football analyst Antonio Mango, can find the back of the net thanks to elite penalty box movement, it could be a smart move.

For a fee of around just £30m, Villa could strengthen up front and bring in a striker whom they can build their side around ahead of an exciting campaign at Villa Park, as they return to the Champions League.

Imagine him & Watkins: Aston Villa hold talks over Bailey & Diaby hybrid

He is available for transfer in the final few days of the window

ByJoe Nuttall Aug 22, 2024

George Dockrell’s Instagram bio reads: “If I were right-handed, I probably wouldn’t have a job.” There is some logic amid the self-deprecation: left-handers are hugely over-represented in international cricket compared to the wider population on account of their scarcity value and, in the case of left-arm fingerspinners like Dockrell, their ability to spin the ball away from right-hand batters.It is a good line, but one he is on track to delete from his profile. While his bowling returns have tailed off, he has been a revelation with the bat. A No. 10 or 11 for the first five years of his international career, Dockrell has become the most consistent batter in Irish limited-overs cricket, winning a recall to the ODI squad to face Netherlands in three World Cup Super League fixtures this week as a batting allrounder. Since Ireland’s inter-provincial competition gained List A status in 2017, he has scored 709 runs for Leinster Lightning in 17 innings while averaging 101.28.

Tector back after eye surgery

Wednesday’s first ODI will be Harry Tector’s first international appearance since undergoing laser eye surgery six weeks ago.
“My surgeon told me that if I didn’t have the job done in April, it wouldn’t be possible to get it done until the end of the year,” Tector, Ireland’s most promising young batter, told the .
“He told me the recovery time was four to six weeks and I trusted his judgment.
“I’d say I’m probably at 90% of where I will get to but already I’m very happy with the results.”

“It’s not something I would ever have realised was a possibility,” he told ESPNcricinfo before leaving for Utrecht. “It feels absolutely fantastic, and like a real appreciation for the work I’ve put in. I was an opening batter for the Irish Under-13s and that was my first skill – through underage stuff, I’d have considered myself an allrounder. But once I made my debut, I didn’t give it much focus for a few years.”In my last couple of years playing county cricket at Somerset, it was really tough getting into the side and I realised that I needed to have a bit more about me in terms of my batting and my fielding.Related

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“My bowling hasn’t exactly kicked on the way I’d have liked from my early career, but I’ve been able to keep putting my hand up with the bat. I got a couple of ODI fifties against Afghanistan, and this season, with the restructuring as to how the squads are selected domestically [several of Leinster’s top batters have moved to other provinces] that’s allowed me to get up into one of those batting spots at No. 5.”Dockrell, Ireland’s third-highest wicket-taker in ODIs, was the ICC’s associate player of the year in 2012 and is perhaps best known for trapping Sachin Tendulkar lbw in the 2011 World Cup when just 18. But his performances with the ball have stagnated in recent years to the extent that he lost both his spot in the Ireland team and, at the end of last year, his central contract.Having also been dropped for the tour to the UAE in January and then declining the opportunity to tour Bangladesh in the spring with the Wolves – which is the Ireland A side – due to concerns about travelling mid-pandemic, Dockrell has had a flying start to the season with four fifties and an unbeaten hundred in five Inter-Pro innings.His form led Andy Balbirnie, Ireland’s captain, to mention him in the same sentence as Steven Smith while commentating on a Wolves fixture earlier this month, and while Dockrell laughs off the comparison, he sees it as vindication on his investment.”I’d be pretty happy with that [comparison],” he said. “Coming through at Somerset I used to live with Lewis Gregory for four or five years. He came in as a batter and is now a bowler, really, but you can see he’s incredibly talented and has that foundation. There are lots of people who can make that transition.”This is my 11th year as a professional and that has allowed me so much time working on my batting. I’ve been lucky that I’ve been involved for that long and that I’ve been able to keep chipping away – and that coaches have helped me even when I was batting at No. 9 or 10 and adding very little value. I guess it proves it’s worth it down the line.”Dockrell also attributes his form this season with the fact that he is now balancing cricket with work commitments, allowing him to throw his energy into the limited opportunities he has to train and play. While he is on a retainer contract with Cricket Ireland after losing his central contract at the end of last year, he has also been interning as a technology consultant at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in the third year of his data science degree at Dublin City University.”They’ve been fantastic in supporting me through it,” Dockrell said. “In terms of timing, it wasn’t the worst: there’s obviously more of a focus on that now and a little less time on the cricket. That’s maybe taken a bit of the weight away from my cricket and means that when I’m there, I’m fully enjoying it – and maybe a little bit more driven when I do get the opportunity to play.”I’ve done a lot of work on my batting with Pete Johnston [the Wolves coach] and Nigel Jones [the Lightning coach] at Leinster Lightning, but a huge part of it is the mental side of my game: being more prepared and being incredibly clear about what I want to do when I’m batting. When you’re working through the week and you know you have your one day off to play, you’re absolutely going to make the most of that as best you can.”In the series against Netherlands, who are without several first-choice players due to county commitments, Dockrell is set to balance the side as a batting allrounder at No. 5, with both Curtis Campher and Gareth Delany ruled out through injury.”Having that ability to turn the ball away from the right-handers is always useful,” he said. “I’m still working away at my bowling and I quite enjoy the balance now of less pressure on it, and seeing it as something I can add to the team. I’d like to put my hand up for a batting spot, but I’ve never been fussy: I think I’ve batted every position from No. 6-11 for Ireland and if there’s an opportunity to go a little bit higher, I’d be delighted.”And as for his Instagram bio? “I might have to delete that if things go well this year. That’d be a lovely place to get to. Maybe this time next year I can get rid of it.”

The Champions League anthem is arguably one of football's finest musical works. It is a theme befitting of the competition's stature, so much so that some players treat it as the de facto national anthem of the European game.

But what are the lyrics, and how did the song come into being? The tune recently underwent a remix (some may say a downgrade) ahead of this year's main competition, which is being marked by the biggest changes to the tournament in over two decades.

This retuned version will be heard on television broadcasts and accompanied by shots from the previous campaign, which ended with Real Madrid securing a record 15th European crown.

Luckily for all the purists out there, the tune has been largely unchanged and will be sure to continue inspiring players with its ethereal tone. There is also a separate version played in stadiums when the teams are lining up for the game, though it is unclear whether this will also be amended. Either way, there will still be plenty of goosebumps pre-kick-off.

Champions League 2024/25: How the new format works & current standings

UEFA has changed the Champions League format for the 2024/25 season. Here’s an overview of how things work and the current standings after Matchday 2.

1 ByAlex Caple Oct 2, 2024 What is the Champions League song and lyrics?

Created in 1992 prior to the competition's major revamp, the Champions League anthem has been one of the mainstays over the last 32 years. The song is comprised of three languages – English, French and German – giving the song an authentic European feel, while its orchestral features evoke a sense of grandeur.

Below are the lyrics for the more common version, which is used for broadcasts and when the teams are lining up.

Champions League anthem lyrics (English translations in brackets):

Ils sont les meilleurs (They are the best)

The champions

There is also a full-length version of the Champions League theme, which also incorporates the three languages, but this rarely gets an outing on TV outside of the final. UEFA tends to push the boat out for the finale, with a live orchestra often used.

Full-length version (English translations in brackets):

Ce sont les meillures équipes (These are the best teams)

The champions

The top Champions League goalscorers of all time

Who has been the best in front of goal in the famous club competition?

ByCharlie Smith May 14, 2025 How the Champions League song was made

The Champions League theme was composed by Tony Britten, who was tasked by UEFA to help revamp the European Cup with a new anthem. The British composer adapted elements of Handel's Zadok the Priest, which is most commonly known for being performed at British coronation services.

Over the years, it has become a cultural phenomenon, and amid all of football's changes throughout the last three decades or so, the anthem is the one thing that has endured.

It recently caused plenty to bemoan modern football when the song was given a small revamp of its own. There have been several subtle changes since its creation, and we all know too well how people react to change, so expect the furore to die down once the football returns.

Kohli’s unbeaten 77 off 46 in vain as India’s top order wilts against England’s searing pace

Andrew Miller16-Mar-20211:53

Gambhir: Buttler one of the best T20 batters in the world

England 158 for 2 (Buttler 83*, Bairstow 40*) beat India 156 for 6 (Kohli 77*, Wood 3-31) by eight wicketsIt was a contest defined by fast bowling of the highest quality, in particular from Mark Wood, but it took a Duking between the two star batsmen on either side to settle the third T20I, as Jos Buttler’s 83 from 52 trumped a masterful 77 not out from 46 balls from Virat Kohli, to re-establish England’s series lead in the third T20I at Ahmedabad.Between them, the two men made 160 unbeaten runs from 98 balls, compared to 137 from 132 from the remaining nine batsmen on either side – a reflection on another tricky two-paced surface, and a ratio that might have been more comprehensive still but for Jonny Bairstow’s late flurry of boundaries, as his 40 not out helped seal England’s second eight-wicket win of the series with 10 balls remaining.The margin of England’s victory proved to be as dominant as their opening gambit, but they were made to work harder than might have been anticipated at 87 for 5 after 15 overs, with Wood’s figures of 3 for 14 in three overs confirming the extent to which he had scorched India’s top-order with speeds that touched 155kph/96mph.Powerplay permutations
There hasn’t been much in the way of cat-and-mouse antics when India have been batting in the powerplay – more dog-eat-dog. And for the second time in three matches, either side of Ishan Kishan’s pyrotechnics on Sunday, it was England’s red-hot fast bowlers who made India’s top order go “woof!”From 22 for 3 on Friday, India limped to 24 for 3 today – including a remarkable 25 dot-balls out of 36 – with Wood, who sustained a bruised ankle in the first game, proving his fitness beyond any doubt with a furiously up-and-at-em display.Even the slowest ball of Wood’s first two-over spell was too quick for the awfully out-of-sorts KL Rahul, who played all round a pacy inducker to be bowled for a four-ball 0 – taking his tally for the series to one run from 14 balls after 1 from 4 on Friday, and Sunday’s six-ball duck.Jos Buttler’s strokeplay is no-holds barred•BCCIIn hindsight, the decision to shunt Kishan down to No. 3 was an error from India – not least because it encouraged Eoin Morgan to throw the opening over to Adil Rashid once again, who served up a diet of cautiously negotiated googlies to the right-handers and conceded five runs in a tidy agenda-setting over.Rohit, back in the team after a post-Test break, was never able to settle in his 17-ball 15. Jofra Archer and Wood both missed return catches in his skittish stay – the latter a significantly sharper chance than the first – but in the end, the two quicks combined in a canny piece of pace bowling, as Wood followed his quarry down the leg-side, and cramped his attempt at a pull for Archer to swallow the top-edged chance.Kishan, meanwhile, found himself faced with a wholly more problematic scenario than he had faced on Sunday. He was made to hop from the outset as Wood greeted him with a trio of splice rattlers, before Archer in his followthrough came close to pulling off a run-out one over later. Instead it was Chris Jordan who sawed him off, banging in the bouncer for Buttler to run back for the top edge.Imperious Kohli
His team-mates struggled to make any headway on a difficult deck, but Kohli showed once again – in his second imperious half-century in as many games – that haste and speed are not remotely the same thing. His poise during England’s first-half surge transmitted some much-needed calm to India’s dug-out; but his acceleration at the back end was astonishing, as India’s run-rate began to spike like Gujarat’s Covid cases.Kohli had ticked along to 28 from 29 balls by the end of the 15th over – and at 87 for 5, a total in the region of 120, much as they had made on Friday, seemed the upper end of India’s ambitions.They had lost two more wickets in that time too – Rishabh Pant, run out for 25 after responding too slowly to a fumble from Buttler, and Shreyas Iyer, whose scalping at deep backward epitomised the Route One violence that had put England so firmly on top – a shimmy this way, a shimmy that… it made no odds to Wood, who simply pounded the middle of the pitch once more, and extracted a flappy upper-cut.But then, as Archer returned for his third over, Kohli flicked the switch for India. His first six of the night was a streaky top-edge over fine leg – a direction of travel that Archer had said after the first game he was “at peace” with, because at least it implied he was winning the battle. Kohli’s next two, back to back off Wood, were extraordinary – a huge pull over midwicket as he shuffled two metres outside off to pre-meditate the short ball, then a drill over long-off as he correctly anticipated 150kph yorker.Virat Kohli went for his shots early•BCCIThe counter-punches kept on coming as England tried to claw their way towards their 20-over exit. Hardik Pandya, more hit-and-miss than his magisterial captain, still landed two vital wipes in his 15-ball 17 as Jordan and Archer offered too much width on their short balls. But the finesse was all Kohli’s, as he ramped Archer over fine leg, then unfurled arguably the shot of the night in Jordan’s final-over, a wristy clip through wide long-on to combat a well-disguised legcutter.Kohli’s agony at handing over the strike via a penultimate-ball leg bye was palpable, and sure enough, Pandya couldn’t connect well enough as Archer completed a good running catch in the covers. Nevertheless, his highest T20I score against England had established a target of 157 that was riches in the circumstances. And had it not been for Buttler’s masterclass, it might conceivably have proven competitive.Buttler stands on no ceremony
After the deck-hitting dramatics of England’s quicks, Jason Roy can’t have been the only person to be taken aback by the hooping movement that Bhuvneshwar Kumar extracted in his opening Powerplay over. He responded by slashing two boundaries in Kumar’s second over – the second an ambitious ramp through third man – then holed out on the reverse sweep two balls later, his short but sharp stay confirming the sense that India’s total was significantly better than it appeared on paper.Buttler, however, was in no mood to wait around. Yuzvendra Chahal was greeted with a pair of wafts over long-on for six in his first over, and a brace of fours in his second, either side of a 16-run over off Shardul Thakur, whom he cuffed over square leg for another six to drive England along to 57 for 1 in the powerplay – more than double the total that India had mustered, for a third of the damage.From 43 from 17 balls, Buttler’s job in the short term had been done, and he visibly reined himself in thereafter – priming himself to be lurking at the death if needed, and challenging his team-mate Dawid Malan to set the tempo in the interim. In the wider context of the contest, Malan’s 18 from 17 balls was a perfectly adequate contribution. However, his solitary boundary was a top-edged swat for six, and the manner of his departure, stumped off Washington Sundar in his first visible attempt to force the pace, did little to assuage the concerns that he might not be exactly the player England need at No. 3. When a No. 1-ranked batsman with a higher T20I average than Kohli is a team’s most notable batting concern, it’s fair to surmise that that department is in good order.