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Southern Punjab chased down 212 in a remarkable evening game

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Oct-2021 • Updated on 07-Oct-2021Southern Punjab pulled off a sensational win, chasing down 212 with four wickets to spare against Northerns. Northerns’ 211 was the highest score of the tournament, with SP’s chase bettering it just hours later to post their first win at this year’s National T20 Cup.SP put Northern in to bat. Haider Ali starred with a blistering 72 off 40 balls, smashing four sixes and seven fours, complemented by Mohammad Nawaz, whose 25-ball 38 saw Northern heading towards a huge total. Imad Wasim’s 18-ball 40 propelled them further still, and at that stage, SP opening their account seemed a distant prospect.SP needed to start aggressively, and they did, the asking rate never allowed to get out of hand. Wickets might have kept falling in intervals but no batter got bogged down and the scoring rate kept ticking over. Sohaib Maqsood (23 off 14), Zeeshan Ashraf (15 off 9), and Azam Khan (23 off 9) played useful cameos to keep the game alive, allowing Agha Salman at the other end to thread through the innings.Scoring 68 off 40 balls, he anchored the middle order while Aamer Yamin (41 off 21) helped them get the asking rate down. By the final over, SP needed just eight after Yamin smashed Sohai Tanvir for consecutive sixes to ensure his quota went for 55. They won with a ball to spare, and while they are already eliminated, SP served up perhaps the game of the season.A superb show from Central Punjab’s bowlers, along with contributions with the bat from Hussain Talat and Shoaib Malik, helped them beat Sindh by eight wickets with 26 balls to spare in the opening game of the second leg of the National T20 Cup at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore. A meagre target of 129 was easily chased down with ease thanks to Talat (68 off 52) and Malik (40 off 25). The result put Central Punjab on top of the table.Asked to field first, Sindh were off to a wobbly start losing both openers cheaply. Sarfaraz Ahmed played the anchor at No. 4 and helped lift the innings with an unbeaten 54 off 37 balls. He partnered with Ahsan Ali, Danish Aziz and Anwar Ali to take Sindh to 128 for 7. Faheem Ashraf (2-19) and Hasan Ali (2-31) and Wahab Riaz (1-28) bowled economic spells.Central Punjab got off to a cautious start in the chase after they lost Kamran Akmal early. But Talat at No. 3 made sure things easy were for the side, scoring his 13th T20 half-century. He put up a match-winning unbeaten 98-run partnership with Malik – was dropped by Mir Hamza at long-on when he was on 11 – and finished the chase in 15.4 overs.

Captain leads the way as Hampshire salvage draw with dogged batting performances

ECB Reporters' Network02-Sep-2021Hampshire 163 (Vince 49, Coad 3-29, Thompson 3-35) and 177 for 9 dec (Weatherley 43, Vince 42, Thompson 4-18) drew with Yorkshire 243 (Bess 54) and 312 for 6 dec (Ballance 101*, Kohler-Cadmore 89, Hill 55)A James Vince batting rearguard helped save his Hampshire side from defeat on a day of huge frustration for Yorkshire at the Ageas Bowl.Vince faced 151 deliveries before being dismissed late in the day for 42, then injured tailenders Kyle Abbott and Brad Wheal held out for the final six overs to deny the visitors a crucial victory on the final day of their Division One clash.Hampshire coach Adi Birrell set his players a target of each soaking up 72 balls to save the match on a lifeless day-four pitch just as Surrey and Gloucestershire had against the hosts earlier this season.Nightwatchman Mason Crane and Vince fulfilled their side of the bargain as Hampshire finished the day 177 for 9 declared with Wheal and Abbott unbeaten at the close, in pursuit of an unlikely target of 392 for victory.Crane repelled 196 balls – the most he has faced in a single innings – before falling for 28 and his exit just after tea saw the Tykes take three wickets in eight overs with the new ball to put themselves in view of victory.But Vince shelved his natural attacking game and showed magnificent technique and temperament to keep alive his side’s Championship title aspirations.Related

• Vince returns to Sydney Sixers gunning for a BBL title hat-trick

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Starting the day on 26 for 2 with Joe Weatherley and Crane at the crease, the pair survived the first 28 overs of the day until Weatherley fell lbw on the stroke of lunch to the impressive Jordan Thompson.Nick Gubbins exited after the restart for six when he was caught and bowled by Andrew Fisher, but with runs irrelevant, Vince joined the dogged Crane at the crease and the pair made it safely to tea with just 44 runs added from 29 overs.The docile pitch continued to offer little encouragement for both the spin of Dom Bess or the tireless Yorkshire seamers.Fisher finally made the breakthrough with the new ball shortly after the restart when he brushed the edge of Crane’s bat with Adam Lyth taking the catch at slip to end his stubborn vigil.Fisher struck again in his next over to pin Liam Dawson on the crease and trap him lbw for a duck to leave Yorkshire in sight of victory.Thompson, as he does so often for his side, made something happen when they needed him most, bowling Lewis McManus to leave Hampshire on the brink at 138 for 7 with 25 overs remaining.Keith Barker survived nine overs before falling to Thompson, bringing Abbott, who was unable to bowl on day three due to a foot injury, to the crease with 16.3 overs remaining. Abbott joined Vince, who was then dismissed six overs from the close by Thompson.Abbott was joined by fellow South African Wheal and the pair held out magnificently with 10 men around the bat for the final three overs as Yorkshire fell short in an absorbing finish.

The Big Bash League is heading into its fifth year and is now much more than just a staging post on the way to the summit of the CLT20

Daniel Brettig16-Dec-20152:15

Sixers, Thunder ‘Batting for Change’

Every mainstream entertainer goes through numerous phases of growth in terms of audience and attention. The band at home in a club might struggle to advance to arenas, or fail to connect with a raucous gathering at an outdoor festival. The solo artist packing out arenas might not enjoy or resonate so much in a stadium.Artistically, those who excelled in personal tales told in confessional manner may be unable to create the widescreen musical vistas often demanded by a mass following. Sometimes that leap is made before the performer is quite ready, others well after they have done their time, still more never at all.

Batting for Change flavours Derby

A Sydney derby opening to the BBL will have the added sub-plot of both sides earning money for charity with every six hit. Each player has pledged to donate $750 for each six hit during the match, as part of the Batting for Change cause set-up by the Sixers’ Ryan Carters.
“The vision Ryan Carters had when he launched Batting for Change with the LBW Trust, his mindset of educating women is going to be more substantial and help with growth in generations to come,” Sixers captain Nic Maddinson said. “So any time we can contribute to educating women who don’t really have the opportunity in countries like Nepal, last year it was India, this year it’s going to be the same school in India and another one in Sri Lanka, that’s extremely important. “For the players to contribute, we’ve seen how much its grown, and it just adds a little bit more to the rivalry between the Sixers and the Thunder.”

Five years into its history, the Big Bash League is thrust into the position of topping the bill for the Australian summer’s prime cricket months. This has come about largely through the scheduling of a hapless West Indies team for the Boxing Day and New Year’s Tests, a decision made some years ago but well after the regional collective had ceased being a factor away from their home islands.The leap the BBL must make is summed up by the fact that most of West Indies’ best players are going to be turning out for Twenty20 teams rather than their Test side, in matches played concurrently. Dwayne Bravo summed up the primary reason for this choice – longstanding dysfunction at home leading many players to conclude they are simply better appreciated elsewhere.”I get frustrated at times,” Bravo said, “not only for myself but for all the other cricketers, Chris Gayle, Darren Sammy, Kieron Pollard, Andre Russell, we all want to represent West Indies. But sometimes the way we have been treated over the years … why should we actually fight with West Indies’ cricket where the rest of the world opens their arms for us? Yes they pay us well but at the same time we never feel disrespect when we play for those teams around the world.”We feel love. We feel well-respected. Do we get that type of treatment back in the region? No we don’t.”Caribbean players are developing relationships with BBL teams that, after five years, are starting to feel a little more like clubs than marketing conceits. This is apparent nowhere more tangibly than at the Sydney Thunder, where a hellish start to the team’s story has given way to something more methodical and character-driven. Tellingly, they are the only club to have downsized their venue: this year they have moved from the catacombs of Sydney Olympic Stadium to the more boutique Showground stadium, where crowds of 20,000 will have atmosphere.Personified by their captain Michael Hussey, the Thunder are doing all they can to usurp the established hegemony of the SCG-based Sixers. A narrow loss last summer will form part of their motivation on Thursday night. “It hurt a lot that night for sure, we got ourselves in a position where we should have won that match and couldn’t finish it off,” Hussey said. “Great innings by Jordan Silk helped the Sixers get over the line. It certainly hurt me a lot, and I know a few of the guys who were part of that game last year it hurt them a lot as well.”It’s taken time, you can’t just build a team, culture, environment overnight, it’s going to take time. I feel like the amount of work that’s been done off the field to get things in place has been incredible and we’ve done a lot of work to try and build a good roster and people of good character as well, that’s been the philosophy of the team. I think we’ve got it to a place where we’re really confident. Certainly no excuses coming into this season.”The BBL is more significant in other ways also. It is no longer viewed as simply a staging post on the way to the summit of the CLT20 – it is now the peak of achievement for an Australia-based T20 player, and the only way they can grab the attention of IPL talent scouts. For each of the past four editions, it was understood that the true prize was qualification for the final, given its attendant CLT20 qualification and associated riches. This time the decider will be just that.Playing ranks have swelled, too, with Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara bringing their brands of Sri Lankan genius to the tournament. Samuel Badree, another West Indian, will grant the Brisbane Heat a quality spin bowling option through the middle overs.The BBL brand has been vitalized by the presence of players like Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene•AFPAs ever, player availability due to national team duty will have an influence over the tournament – Shane Watson’s place in the plans of Darren Lehmann may very well impact those of the Thunder. Usman Khawaja will not be playing Thursday night in order to have the best chance of being fit for the Boxing Day Test. Renegade Callum Ferguson’s hopes of a successful BBL and a limited overs call-up in the new year have been cruelly dashed by a serious knee injury.Of course, the greater attention to be lavished on the BBL this year will also bring greater scrutiny of its quality and ability to maintain the interest of all fans, not just those who have taken to tuning in after the Test match day has run its course. There remains an enduring contradiction to T20, as summed up by Ed Cowan – a Sydney Sixer – in his diary of the 2010-11 Sheffield Shield season.”One of the first things they taught us at university,” Cowan wrote, “was that humans react to incentives – and this format is the most lucrative and prestigious in town. Less work for more pay … You can be paid a lot more for not being as good as you used to have to be. Perhaps that’s more ‘democratic’, but it also seems to make efficiency sufficient when the objective should surely always be excellence.”T20 is indisputably the most cashed up of cricket’s formats, but the way it is played, it is also the least taxing. A preponderance of cricketers who have retired from international or Test cricket in order to pursue T20 cheques tells that tale succinctly, and as Brad Haddin quipped: “If someone’s bowling really fast I can stand outside leg and have a swing and say I was trying to move the game forward and not be scared!”One of cricket’s truisms has it that the longer the format the greater the chance of the superior team being able to prove themselves as such. In order to get a fair measure of the best T20 sides, a greater volume of short form matches need to be played, taking a greater physical and mental toll than they currently do.As Hussey said: “I think the more the better, we enjoy playing, the competition’s really strong. I guess it is pretty cutthroat, with eight games you can’t afford too many slip ups along the way, and so the competition’s really high. But in a way that’s a real positive as well, you know you’ve got to be on your game and playing your best cricket all the time, you can’t afford to have too many slip ups. That’s part of having a good roster.”To amend things slightly, more matches need to be played if the game’s players and administrators actually want to know who is the best. If not, then T20 will remain a diverting entertainment and a healthy revenue source, but not the defining test of a cricketer. A summer in which the traditional Test matches cannot provide the same level of intrigue and drama as those of recent seasons is a time to open up that kind of debate. Australian cricket waits to see how the BBL will handle top billing.

Watch the plays of the day from the fourth day of the second Test between Sri Lanka and India in Colombo

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Aug-2015

#SangaSignsOff

The time had come and Colombo knew how to make it special. Kumar Sangakkara strode out for the final time as a batsman in Test cricket through a guard of honour and a very noisy crowd. It was a chancy innings though. He was nearly run out off the seventh ball he faced. There were two crisp fours as well. But the innings would only last 18 balls.

Memories of the man

Although the fairytale ending was foiled, Sangakkara’s value and “what he was for SL cricket is something you can’t take away,” to quote his best friend Mahela Jayawardene. Here is what some of his other team-mates had to say4:17

WATCH – What Sanga meant to his team-mates

Behind the scenes

For those curious about the man himself, Sangakkara’s wife Yehali talks of how she was wooed by five-page love letters, and of family cook-outs2:26

WATCH – Yehali Sangakkara on her husband

Rise to the top

That Sangakkara has toppled various records is common knowledge, but how does he rate among his peers? ESPNcricinfo compared his average as a Test cricketer with some of his peers as his career went on0:53

WATCH – Sanga soars from from No. 21 to No. 1

The nemesis

That he had to go through his first Test series without aggregating 100 runs in two years was down to India offspinner R Ashwin, who took Sangakkara’s wicket four out of four times

Ahead of the 2024/25 Premier League campaign, Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe is working tirelessly to improve his squad to try and bolster the Magpies’ chances of qualifying for the Champions League once again.

His side were plagued with injuries during the previous season, missing out on European football altogether after Manchester United’s FA Cup triumph against Manchester City a couple of weeks ago.

However, it will give the Magpies a great opportunity to return to their best with a more manageable fixture congestion that could prevent a repeat of any injury problems the club were ruined by over the last 12 months.

The fitness problems have highlighted the club’s lack of depth in certain areas, with the Magpies’ forward line in need of attention despite Alexander Isak registering 21 goals in the Premier League during 2023/24.

Anthony Gordon has also excelled achieving double figures in goals and assists in the league for the first time in his professional career. However, despite the duo’s impact at St James’ Park, they need desperately to add one more player to the squad if they are to complete their already impressive attacking trio.

Newcastle interested in signing sought-after £43m star

According to The Athletic, Newcastle remain interested in signing Athlétic Bilbao attacker Nico Williams, but face competition from fellow Premier League side Liverpool for his signature this summer.

The 21-year-old right winger has caught the eye in La Liga in recent seasons, however, he enjoyed his best campaign to date in 2023/24, scoring five and assisting 12 as the youngster demonstrated his qualities in the final third.

Williams has a £43m release clause in his current deal in Spain – a deal that would represent excellent business by the Magpies, especially considering the huge increase in player prices over the last few years.

Miguel Almiron is widely linked with a move away from Tyneside this summer, raising funds for a potential new addition, with Williams the perfect player to complete Howe’s attack, producing very similar stats to one current Newcastle forward.

Why Nico Williams could be Gordon 2.0 for Newcastle

When comparing the winger’s stats from the season just gone, the pair have produced very similar stats – as noted by FBref – with Williams the perfect player to feature on the right-hand side for the Magpies.

Whilst Gordon has played slightly more games and contributed with more combined goals and assists, the Spaniard has averaged more assists per 90 based on his number of league appearances in 2023/24.

The youngster has also averaged more successful take-ons and progressive carries – highlighting his ability to run with the ball and create danger in the final third.

The “dazzling” forward, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has demonstrated excellent qualities during his relatively short professional career at Bilbao, now deserving of an opportunity to feature in arguably the best league in the world.

He may cost a cheaper fee than expected for a player of his quality, but he does earn a reported £172k-per-week – a figure that is £12k-per-week more than Newcastle’s top earner Bruno Guimaraes, who earns £160k-per-week, which could make the youngster the club’s highest-paid player.

The Magpies will certainly have to convince the youngster to move to St James’ this summer, but if they can repeat a deal they conducted for Guimaraes a couple of years ago, they would be signing a top-quality forward and one that may be able to feature for the club for the next decade.

Newcastle eyeing Bellingham 2.0 who's "destined for elite football"

He’s been touted to reach the very top despite his tender age.

By
Ethan Lamb

Jun 4, 2024

Liverpool are interested in signing a "dazzling" attacking star in the summer transfer window, according to an update from journalist Graeme Bailey.

Liverpool transfer news

The Reds are about to experience a summer of huge change, with Jurgen Klopp departing as manager after nine seasons and being replaced by Feyenoord boss Arne Slot. Michael Edwards is back at the club as CEO of Football, while Richard Hughes will make the move from Bournemouth as sporting director.

Klopp will leave his successor with a hugely talented squad – one that was still in contention to win the quadruple heading into the latter part of the season, but that's not to say that some new signings aren't needed, in order to be even more of a force next season.

Real Madrid superstar Rodrygo is seen as an ambitious option for Liverpool this summer, with the Brazilian potentially seeing his minutes limited by the expected arrival of Kylian Mbappe from Paris Saint-Germain. He is seen as an upgrade on Luis Diaz, who has been linked with a switch to Barcelona.

In terms of a less high-profile addition, Southampton goalkeeper Alex McCarthy has emerged as a target for the Reds, being looked at as an ideal deputy to Alisson if Caoimhin Kelleher moves on to pastures new.

Liverpool want "dazzling" attacking ace

Speaking to Rousing the Kop, Bailey said that Liverpool are huge fans of Athletic Bilbao attacker Nico Williams, but the Barca target is eyeing huge wages.

"The won’t pay him what he’s looking for at the moment. He’d be Liverpool’s highest paid player, as he would if he went to any club in England. He’s been asking for £250,000 per week plus appearance money. The English clubs who like him, and they all like him a lot, they think he’s a terrific player, but it seems as if he’s edging towards Barcelona. So, I think that’s what they’re putting it down to really.

"Will the situation change? Possibly. But at this moment in time it doesn’t look as if he’s pushing to come to England which is part of the reason for his demands. Liverpool very much like him, he’s a top winger, top performer. Liverpool were one of the ones who have done their homework on him."

The £170,000-a-week Williams could be a brilliant signing by Liverpool, considering the impact he has already made during his time at Bilbao, despite still only being 21 years of age. He has made 120 appearances for his current side, registering 42 goal contributions (19 goals and 23 assists) in that time, as well as winning 14 caps for Spain.

The wide man has also been hailed as a "dazzling" player by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, and he is seen as one of the fastest players in the world, having featured in a report focusing on the quickest footballers at the 2022 World Cup.

Doubters to believers: A tribute to Liverpool's Jurgen Klopp

Anfield will say goodbye to its esteemed manager after nine years of every emotion imaginable.

By
Angus Sinclair

May 19, 2024

Williams could even be looked at as a long-term replacement for the likes of Diaz and Mohamed Salah, with the Spain international capable of thriving on either flank, even if a left-sided attacking role has been his position of choice this season.

Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe is set to make his return from injury against Lille in the Champions League this week.

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• Mbappe limped off against Alaves
• Missed Atletico Madrid clash
• Set to return for Lille match

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Frenchman limped off in the 3-2 win against Alaves in La Liga last week and the expectation was that he could miss around three weeks with a thigh injury. But Real Madrid have included him in the squad for their Champions League trip to Lille on Wednesday and he is expected to train ahead of the match as he has "good feelings", according to The Athletic.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  After Los Blancos were stung by rivals Atletico Madrid in an explosive derby on Sunday night, Mbappe's return will provide a welcome boost for his team-mates as they look to continue their winning start in Europe. The 25-year-old scored in the 3-1 win against Stuttgart in the opening week but will be tested on his return to France.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Mbappe is returning to France for the first time since leaving Paris Saint-Germain to join Real Madrid. The World Cup winner remains popular for his exploits with the national team but left a sour taste behind in the capital after threatening to run down his contract.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MBAPPE?

  Although Mbappe is travelling with the squad to Lille, there is no guarantee he will start in the Champions League after recovering from injury. Carlo Ancelotti opted to play an extra midfielder instead during the 1-1 draw with Atletico and may choose to do so again on Wednesday.

It's been a long season full of ups and downs for Tottenham Hotspur this year, and while they are facing the prospect of a fifth straight defeat this weekend, new boss Ange Postecoglou has done a reasonably good job given the circumstances.

The Lilywhites have had pretty severe injury problems for much of the Premier League season, and considering it's their first campaign without Harry Kane, clinching Europa League qualification would be a success.

That said, if the north Londoners want to progress under the Australian next season, they'll need to bring in some new faces in the summer and potentially upgrade on some old ones, with Richarlison's position looking particularly vulnerable.

Tottenham Hotspur transfer news

According to a recent report from TEAMtalk, Spurs are one of several clubs interested in Genoa's talented Icelandic attacker, Albert Gudmundsson, ahead of the summer transfer window.

The report has revealed that, alongside the north Londoners, Manchester United and Aston Villa, are just some of the Premier League sides keen on landing the 26-year-old's signature this year. Still, the Lilywhites have one key advantage: a pre-established relationship with the Serie A outfit.

It's been claimed that the club has an 'inside track' with Genoa due to the signing of Ragù Dragusin in January and the fact that full-back Djed Spence is on loan with the Italians, and is a player they'd like to keep permanently.

Whether this relationship just helps to grease the wheels a bit or actually decreases the €30m – £26m – asking price remains to be seen, but if Spurs can get this deal done, they should, as they could have the perfect Richarlison upgrade on their hands.

How Gudmundsson compares to Richarlison

If Tottenham can get this deal over the line, Gudmundsson's positional versatility could see him threaten several players in the first team, from Heung-min Son and Kulusevski on the wings to James Maddison in attacking midfield.

However, considering his best form has come as a second striker, it would make sense to push him to the tip of the attack and, therefore, challenge the inconsistent Richarlison for a place in the XI.

So, with that in mind, how do the pair compare? Well, from a pure output perspective, which is really what matters most, it's the man from Genoa who comes out on top, scoring 16 goals and providing four assists in just 34 games this season, to give him an average of a goal involvement every 1.7 games.

In comparison, the Spurs ace has 12 goals and four assists in 31 games so far this season, meaning he is averaging a goal involvement every 1.9 games, and unfortunately for the former Everton star, his argument gets even weaker when looking at the pair's output last season.

Last year, the "devastating" Icelandic ace, as described by teammate Kevin Strootman, scored 14 goals and provided five assists in 38 games. In contrast, the Brazilian international could only manage three goals and four assists in 35 games for the north Londoners.

Alongside a better output level, Postecoglou can also simply expect the former AZ Alkmaar star to be around to play more often.

Since the start of the 2021/22 campaign, he has missed just five games through injury, while his current number nine has missed a whopping 31 games in the same period.

Ultimately, while Richarlison is a talented forward who can offer more than just goals, Gudmundsson's positional versatility, availability, and better output make it clear that he would be an upgrade overall, so if Spurs have the opportunity to complete this deal, they should absolutely do so.

Spurs struck gold on "special" ace who's as valuable as Trossard & White

The incredibly talented attacker has a bright future ahead of him.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

May 9, 2024

Sir Alex Ferguson admitted to missing the dugout during "big games" while opening up on life after Manchester United.

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• Ferguson retired from coaching after the 2012-13 season
• Led United to 13 Premier League titles in 27 years
• Still yearns to manage a Champions League final

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Ferguson stepped down from his managerial role at the end of the 2012-13 season after leading United to their 13th Premier League title under his tenure, marking the end of a 27-year reign at the club. Since Ferguson's departure, the Red Devils have struggled to reclaim the consistent success they enjoyed under his leadership despite recruiting some of the best tacticians including David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick.

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  United won the Champions League twice under Ferguson's management, first as part of their historic Treble in 1999 and then again in 2008. In addition to these triumphs, United reached the Champions League finals in 2009 and 2011 but were bested on both occasions by Pep Guardiola's Barcelona.

• WHAT FERGUSON SAID

  Even though the Red Devils have not reached a Champions League final since Ferguson’s retirement, he has continued to be a fixture at many finals, both as a supporter of the game and a former champion.

  During an interview with when he was asked if he misses management, Ferguson candidly responded, "Yeah, I miss it sometimes. I think the first year after retirement, I went to the European final and I said to Cathy 'This is what I miss' – big games, the European games. So then I went to most of the European finals because I found something I could relate to, something I would like to have done every day. Because these are the big events that United should always be involved in."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MANCHESTER UNITED?

  As Ferguson enjoys his retirement, United continues to seek a way back to the top of English and European football. After a dreadful start to the new season, they are showing signs of recovery under manager Erik ten Hag. Their next test is against Crystal Palace away from home on Saturday.

Manchester City icon Sergio Aguero has revealed who gets his vote to win this year's Ballon d'Or – with Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham snubbed.

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• Ballon d'Or nominees announced
• Rodri, Bellingham and Vinicius Jr shortlisted
• Aguero reveals who gets his vote

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The shortlist for world football's most prestigious individual award was announced this week, with the likes of Real Madrid duo Bellingham and Vinicius, City's Rodri, and more, among the nominees for the 2024 Golden Ball. Now, Argentina legend Aguero has given his backing to former City team-mate Rodri to claim this coveted accolade.

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• WHAT SERGIO AGUERO SAID

  In response to City tweeting about Rodri's Ballon d'Or nomination, Aguero tweeted: "A perfect year, you deserve it. Come on Rodri 😎😎🤟🏽."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Rodri has had a remarkable year or so for both club and country. After leading City to a record fourth- straight Premier League title in May, he played a crucial role in guiding Spain to Euro 2024 glory. The dominant midfielder, however, faces stiff competition from Madrid duo Bellingham and Vinicius – who had outstanding campaigns for Los Blancos on their way to a Liga and Champions League double. This will be a tightly contested Ballon d'Or, of that there is no doubt.

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• WHAT NEXT?

  The winner of this sought-after gong – which was won for an eighth time by Lionel Messi in 2023 – will be revealed in Paris on October 28. Until then, Rodri and co will turn their attention to the current, jam-packed season for club and country.