كشف الاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم “فيفا”، اليوم الإثينن بشكل رسمي، عن تطبيق عقوبة جديدة بإيقاف القيد للمرة الخامسة لنادي الزمالك.
وكان فيفا قد قرر إيقاف قيد نادي الزمالك خلال شهر نوفمبر الجاري، 4 مرات من قبل، بسبب مستحقات متأخرة للاعبين ومدربين سابقين.
وجاء إيقاف القيد للمرة الخامسة ضد نادي الزمالك، هذه المرة لمدة 3 فترات قيد قادمة، وذلك لحين تسوية تلك المستحقات المتأخرة.
طالع | للمرة الخامسة في شهر واحد.. فيفا يعلن إيقاف قيد جديد لنادي الزمالك
وأفاد مصدر داخل نادي الزمالك لـ بطولات: “العقوبة الخاصة بإيقاف القيد الأخيرة تخص مستحقات المدرب السويسري كريستيان جروس مدرب الفريق السابق”.
وأشار المصدر إلى أن مجلس إدارة الزمالك والإدارة القانونية بالنادي تتحرك لإنهاء الملف في أسرع وقت، بالتواصل مع جروس في ظل وجود خمس قضايا مختلفة تسببت في منع القيد.
ومن جانب آخر، كان نادي الزمالك فاز على زيسكو الزامبي، بهدف دون رد، مساء أمس الأحد، في أولى مواجهات دور المجموعات من بطولة كأس الكونفدرالية.
ويستعد حاليًا، فريق الزمالك لمواجهة كايزر تشيفز الجنوب إفريقي، في الجولة الثانية من منافسات بطولة الكونفدرالية، وذلك يوم السبت المقبل الموافق 30 نوفمبر.
The Atlanta Braves are off to a slow start to the 2025 MLB season, having won just two of their first 11 games, but reinforcements could be arriving soon.
Former All-Star starting pitcher Spencer Strider was making a rehab start at Triple-A Gwinnett on Thursday and he was absolutely dialed in on the mound. Strider threw 90 pitches across 5 1/3 innings and struck out 13 of the 21 batters he faced in the game. He ended up surrendering one run on three hits and walking two batters while fanning 13 in a dominant outing in the minors.
It's possible that will be Strider's final ramp-up game ahead of his season debut for the Braves, who are in dire need of a boost on the mound.
In 2024, Strider threw just nine innings before being shut down and undergoing Tommy John surgery. He was one of MLB's best pitchers in 2023, racking up 20 wins and striking out a league-high 281 batters across 186 2/3 innings. He maintained a solid 3.86 ERA and 1.09 WHIP across 32 starts.
A few weeks into the 2025 season, Braves starters not named Spencer Schwellenbach have struggled, including reigning Cy Young Chris Sale. Apart from Schwellenbach, no one in the starting rotation has an ERA below 4.00.
Getting Strider back will be crucial for Atlanta as they look to curb their poor start and get back on track to push for the postseason. Based on his latest outing at Triple-A Gwinnett, he looks more than ready to get back to facing big-league hitters.
After six seasons, it appears pitcher Triston McKenzie's time with the Cleveland Guardians has come to an end.
The Guardians are designating McKenzie for assignment, they announced Monday afternoon. Cleveland recalled pitcher Zak Kent from the Columbus Clippers to take McKenzie's roster spot.
McKenzie, 27, shifted from the rotation to the bullpen in 2025 with discouraging results. In 5.2 innings, he struck out just four while allowing seven earned runs—good for an 11.12 ERA.
The Brooklyn native showed promise at the beginning of his career, pitching well in 2020 and memorably taking a perfect game into the eighth inning against the Detroit Tigers in 2021. He then broke out in 2022, posting a 2.96 ERA and striking out 190 for a division-winning team.
Since then, a slew of injuries have derailed McKenzie's career. He is 3–8 in the last three seasons with a 5.46 ERA and 94 strikeouts in 97.1 innings pitched.
أعلن أحمد عبد الرؤوف، المدير الفني لنادي الزمالك، تشكيل الفريق الرسمي لمواجهة كايزر تشيفز الجنوب إفريقي، في المباراة التي تقام بينهما اليوم السبت، ضمن منافسات كأس الكونفدرالية الإفريقية.
ويلعب الزمالك ضد كايزر تشيفز، في الجولة الثانية من عمر مواجهات دور المجموعات لبطولة كأس الكونفدرالية، ذلك على ملعب الفريق الجتوب إفريقي.
ويتواجد الزمالك في المجموعة الرابعة من كأس الكونفدرالية، بجانب كل من المصري وكايزر تشيفز وزيسكو الزامبي.
وكان الزمالك قد حقق الفوز على زيسكو في لقاء الجولة الأولي الذي أقيم في القاهرة، بهدف دون رد، بينما كايزر تشيفز خسر أمام المصري 2-1.
وانطلقت الجولة الثانية من المجموعة، أمس الجمعة، استطاع النادي المصري الفوز على زيسكو بثلاثة أهداف مقابل هدفين.
طالع | ترتيب مجموعة الزمالك في الكونفدرالية
ويقود تشكيل الزمالك، ثلاثي في الهجوم شيكو بانزا مع سيف الجزيري وخوان بيزيرا. تشكيل الزمالك اليوم أمام كايزر تشيفز في كأس الكونفدرالية
حراسة المرمى : محمد صبحي.
خط الدفاع: أحمد فتوح – محمود حمدي “الونش” – حسام عبد المجيد – عمر جابر.
خط الوسط : محمد إسماعيل – محمد شحاتة – ناصر ماهر.
خط الهجوم : شيكو بانزا – سيف الجزيري – خوان بيزيرا.
If Daniel Farke is relieved of his duties soon by the 49ers regime, how will he be remembered among the die-hard Leeds United fanbase?
First and foremost, there will likely always be some fondness towards the German from the Elland Road faithful for being the manager who delivered a promotion back up to the Premier League, having collected the Championship title on a mighty 100 points.
But, in the here and now, that title success – and the subsequent parade that merrily went through Leeds city centre – feels like a lifetime ago, with the ex-Norwich City boss continuing to struggle in the Premier League as a head coach.
A change could soon come then, with the Whites now five defeats from their last six league games and stuck in 18th spot.
Unfortunately, though, Leeds haven’t always got it right when getting right of celebrated promotion winners in the past, with Marcelo Bielsa’s replacement coming in the form of Jesse Marsch, who could only muster up a weak 11 wins from the pressurised dug out.
On top of that, his track record in the transfer department left a lot to be desired when he was situated in West Yorkshire, with all of his hits, followed by a large list of poor misses.
Leeds’ top five most expensive signings
Player
Cost
The manager who signed them
1. Georginio Rutter
£35.5m
Marsch
2. Brenden Aaronson
£28.5m
Marsch
3. Rodrigo
£26m
Bielsa
4. Dan James
£25m
Bielsa
5. Luis Sinisterra
£21m
Marsch
Sourced by FFC
Ranking Marsch's signings at Leeds
Amazingly, Marsch would sign off on Leeds’ two most expensive captures of all time during his whirlwind 12-month stint in England.
Georginio Rutter never really kicked into gear at the Whites under the unpopular American’s management, but considering he managed to put away eight goals and 18 assists in the end, largely under Farke, he is definitely seen as a success story, having also banked Leeds £40m when he moved to Brighton and Hove Albion.
Another standout success story from Marsch’s spending is Wilfried Gnonto, even if he is not now a regular under the current regime.
Landing the tricky Italian for just £3.8m continues to stand out to his day as an almighty bargain, with the ex-FC Zurich attacker even managing to star under Marsch, when collecting three goals from just 12 games under his methods, which included this fierce effort being thumped home.
Unfortunately for Marsch, this is where his positives in the transfer department begin to dry up, with a vast majority of the ten other signings made under his short-lived tenure no longer at the club.
Luis Sinisterra would at least manage to bag a promising five league goals at Elland Road, to somewhat justify the lavish £21m dropped on his services, but much like Tyler Adams, Rasmus Kristensen, and Marc Roca who all joined the Leeds ranks together at the same time, this wave of disappointing pick-ups couldn’t leave the building any faster after relegation was confirmed.
Weston McKennie has also left a bad taste in the mouth up to the present as a failed loanee under Marsch, with the American midfielder registering just one forgettable assist from 20 appearances, which led to the ex-Juventus man labelling the short stint as one of the “lowest” points of his varied career.
The elephant in the room now is, of course, the fact that the current Canada boss was the figure who first brought Brenden Aaronson to English shores, with the former £28.5m purchase a constant source of frustration.
Marsch couldn’t quite get a tune out of the ex-Union Berlin man, despite working closely alongside him at RB Leipzig, with just one sorry goal all he could muster up, before his fellow compatriot’s dismissal.
Thankfully, Farke has managed to get the best out of the 25-year-old in flashes, particularly in the Championship. Yet, with just one goal and one assist all he wrote this season in the Premier League so far, the consensus will be that Leeds overpaid back in 2022 when securing the hit-and-miss playmaker’s services for £28.5m.
Aaronson’s record under Farke
Season
Games
Goals + Assists
25/26
13
1 + 1
24/25
47
9 + 2
Sourced by Transfermarkt
Still, Aaronson does have his nine strikes to fall back on during Leeds’ phenomenal promotion journey.
Whereas this summer recruit has little to cling onto, as he already looks to be an even bigger waste of money than Aaronson’s much-talked-about arrival.
Leeds have made a bigger error than Aaronson
Much like the West Yorkshire giants showed off during Marsch’s reign, significant wads of cash were also dropped in the off-season to try and prepare Leeds for the gigantic leap up to the Premier League.
A position that was in dire need of upgrading was definitely in between the sticks, with Illan Meslier overstaying his welcome as Leeds’ number one goalkeeper by the time a top-flight return was officially clinched, having become error-prone during the Whites’ vital promotion run-in.
Therefore, Leeds must have thought they’d hit the jackpot when they secured the services of Lucas Perri for a substantial £13.9m, with the Brazilian ‘stopper previously being tipped to be one of the “best in the world” in his position by his former manager Paulo Fonseca.
However, the top-flight newcomers have yet to see the calm and assured version of Perri that regularly shone for Lyon – with ten clean sheets falling into his lap last season in Ligue 1 – with the South American receiving plenty of pelters, instead, particularly when he conceded this Morgan Rogers free-kick last time out, as he bizarrely remained rooted to his spot.
Off the back of leaking this effort from Rogers, Perri has now given up a costly eight goals across his string of depressing clashes in November, with the underlying numbers overall – away from just goals conceded – also pointing in the direction of the number one being a colossal waste of cash.
Indeed, it’s unclear now if Leeds have even upgraded on a wobbly Meslier, with Meslier arguably a better option at this point, with his 21 clean sheets in the tough division to date an impressive tally, weighed up next to Perri’s two so far.
The drop-off from his standout Ligue 1 campaign last season is also extremely worrying, with Perri averaging a 74% pass accuracy in the French top division, compared to him now regularly mis-hitting passes, at a far lesser average of 57%.
Of course, the defenders do have to share their load of the blame here for the recent porous displays, but the backline cannot be confident whatsoever, having a ropey Perri behind them, with ex-Leeds player Jon Newsome rightly suggesting that Farke and the 49ers had “wasted funds” after the demoralising 3-1 defeat at the City Ground.
In another reality, Leeds might well have been better sticking with what they had over splashing £13.9m on Perri, with Aaronson at least putting in bright performances here and there this season, while the new ‘keeper has routinely suffered.
Indeed, one Leeds content creator would even hail his showing against West Ham United as “his best in a Leeds shirt”, with eight duels won against the Hammers, standing him in good stead for any relegation scrap that comes, away from also firing an effort home.
The relegation-threatened side would have hoped they’d moved past notable blunders in the transfer department when Marsch left the building, but it looks as if Perri could now be seen in the same light as failed faces such as Sinisterra and Adams down the line, particularly if relegation is grimly served up and the Whites struggle to offload him.
Leeds in one of the biggest transfer battles of all time for England midfielder
He could add so much quality and bite to the midfield.
Chelsea are now considering a marquee transfer double deal to bolster Enzo Maresca’s squad ahead of 2026, according to reports.
Chelsea tipped as Premier League title contenders ahead of Arsenal
On the pitch, their Premier League title credentials are set for a stern evaluation as they prepare for a blockbuster face-off against frontrunners Arsenal this weekend.
Sunday’s heavyweight clash between the London rivals at Stamford Bridge will provide the clearest indication yet of whether Maresca’s youthful side genuinely belong in the conversation, or if they still remain a year away from challenging for football’s ultimate prize.
The debate surrounding Chelsea’s title credentials has intensified following their impressive recent run, with Maresca himself refusing to rule out the possibility, in stark contrast to last year.
Tuesday’s 3-0 dismantling of Barcelona in the Champions League demonstrated their ability to deliver against Europe’s elite even without superstar Cole Palmer, with Estevao taking all the headlines after his masterclass against the Catalans.
Luckily for Maresca, Palmer is back to full fitness and available to play Arsenal, with Maresca handed the desired conundrum of fitting both the England international and Estevao into the same team.
Chelsea’s boss has grown adept when it comes to tinkering with his side, having made more first eleven changes than any other manager in the Premier League by far this season.
However, they could hardly ask for a tougher test on paper than Arsenal, who are currently 16 games unbeaten in all competitions and fresh off a statement Champions League performance themselves.
Chelsea have already signed "the next Cristiano Ronaldo" for half of his release clause
He could be their next Estevao-esque talent.
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Mikel Arteta’s side have established themselves as the benchmark to beat, and their unbeaten seven-game run against Chelsea will gift the Gunners major confidence heading into their west London tie.
Off the field, BlueCo are devising yet more plans to strengthen the Chelsea squad in future windows, despite spending nearly £300 million in the summer.
Chelsea considering £120m double deal for FC Porto's Aghehowa and Froholdt
As per reports from Spain, Chelsea are considering an ambitious £120 million deal for two talented FC Porto players, with Victor Froholdt and Samu Aghehowa emerging as top targets.
Froholdt, a 19-year-old midfielder, has captured Chelsea’s attention through his exceptional composure in possession from deep positions. The west Londoners are apparently fans of the teenager’s technical ability, and believe he could slot in seamlessly alongside Enzo Fernández and Moisés Caicedo.
Meanwhile, Aghehowa also appeals to Chelsea’s recruitment team after his stellar 2025.
The 21-year-old striker has established himself as a consistent goalscorer in Portugal, bagging 27 goals in 45 games last term, and has continued that fine form by hitting double figures this season.
Aghehowa is a familiar name to Chelsea, having once come close to signing the Spain international back in 2024.
Both players align with their transfer strategy when it comes to recruiting world football’s most exciting young talents, but the competition for Aghehowa’s signature alone means this won’t be easy by any means.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has confirmed that Cole Palmer is set to make his return after two months out against Leeds in midweek. The Blues star has been absent since the club's defeat to Manchester United on September 20, and while he returned to the bench against Arsenal at the weekend, he did not come on, with the England international being eased back into action.
Palmer's return
Palmer has been absent for Chelsea since their defeat to United but was back on the bench against Arsenal at the weekend. While Moises Caicedo's red card may have scotched any chance of the England international coming on, he is now poised to play against Leeds on Wednesday. The playmaker's return from a groin issue was pencilled in for last week, but he broke his toe in a freak accident at home, and his comeback was subsequently delayed. Now, he is set to play at Elland Road, his manager, Enzo Maresca, has confirmed.
AdvertisementAFPMaresca's confirmation
Maresca told reporters:"He is available. The last game he was on the bench. For sure with the players was more complicated for Cole because now he needs to come back in terms of fitness condition. He is available, he can start the game.
"The idea of the game is to start giving minutes until he can play 90 minutes."
Maresca has also confirmed that he is facing a "complicated" decision over Reece James' selection, adding: "It's complicated. I would like to start him, but we need to do the right thing."
Asked if he can play in midfield, he said: "I think he can play in both positions. He has been full-back all his life. He also has played as a midfielder. But I think he can be good in both positions. When we decide for him as a midfielder, most of the time it's also when we want physicality in terms of midfielders, when we face some teams that are strong in the middle. So it depends a little bit on the game plan. But as you said, he's doing very well in both positions."
Chelsea challenging at the top end
Chelsea and Manchester City are currently running Arsenal the closest in the Premier League and held the leaders to a 1-1 draw at the weekend, despite Caicedo's red card.
And midfielder Enzo Fernandez insists they should be seen as proper title contenders, telling GiveMeSport: “Of course we are [title contenders]. This season, there are many contenders: Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United. All the teams are battling towards the top.
“There are some very strong Premier League sides. Arsenal have also been doing really well for many years. And Liverpool are a great side. I’m not going to choose one because they’re all good.
“And we know the Champions League is very tough. We’ll try to reach the final, which is what we deserve as a club. We’ve been doing well, so we’re capable of being right up there.”
On the lure of moving to west London, he added: "When Chelsea came in for me, I had no doubts. I wanted to make the move up, in sporting terms, to the Premier League.
“I wanted to come to Chelsea at all costs and didn’t want to let the opportunity pass me by. Everyone knows that and thank God it worked out. I’m here now and I’m very happy."
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Getty Images SportWhat next for Maresca's men?
Chelsea face Leeds this week and sit six points behind Arsenal ahead of the week's fixtures. The Blues also face Bournemouth this weekend, as they attempt to close the gap on the Gunners at the top-end of the table.
Meanwhile, Arsenal face Brentford in midweek in a potential banana skin of a London derby, before then taking on Aston Villa this weekend. The Gunners, of course, also face European obligations, and will play Club Brugge three days after their clash with Villa; Chelsea play Atalanta on Tuesday.
Newcastle United’s topsy-turvy campaign is raging on. When will Eddie Howe strike the balance needed for his team to kick on and reestablish themselves as a force in the Premier League?
Last weekend’s performance over Manchester City offered a glimpse into what United are capable of, dispatching Pep Guardiola’s side at St. James’ Park thanks to Harvey Barnes’ second-half brace.
But that win was built atop a run of three defeats from four in the Premier League, and Newcastle have since been defeated on the road in the Champions League, against Marseille in France.
It wasn’t the Toon’s worst performance of the season, but the emission of anxiety after Nick Pope’s costly mistake emphasises the issue in mentality when away from Tyneside.
Why Howe should drop Nick Pope
Pope has been a strong and convincing goalkeeper for Newcastle since joining the club from relegated Burnley in 2022, but, aged 33, the Three Lions star is allowing errors to creep into his game, the latest of which cost the Magpies dearly in Marseille.
Newcastle knew they needed to take something home with them from the Orange Velodrome, and indeed, Barnes’ finish secured an advantage at the interval.
Cool heads were needed, but Pope rushed out to claim a neat through ball and failed to match the pace of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, the veteran striker getting there first and then rounding Pope and scoring from an acute angle to restore parity. The one-time Arsenal hero then scored again from close range, smacking home from a few yards out following a fierce cross-box pass.
That frustrating display was hardly an outlier. This season, Pope has left plenty to be desired.
Given that loanee Aaron Ramsdale is waiting in the wings, it’s understandable that some supporters want to see a change between the sticks, and it’s perhaps something Howe should consider if he wishes to revive his team’s fluency and confidence on the road.
It’s not the only change that must be made, though, with another United man’s form this season emphasising the need for a permanent tweak on Howe’s part.
The Newcastle star who's a bigger liability than Pope
A core part of Newcastle’s success over the past four years, Joelinton’s chapter at the club may nearly be written, with the long-time star beginning to become a problem for Howe.
One of the most powerful and imposing midfielders in the Premier League, Joelinton’s form has suffered this season, and he’s noticeably regressed, and that is accentuated by the superstars around him.
Unlike last season, when Joelinton’s intense, pack-a-punch style was so integral in charging up the Newcastle engine, the likes of Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes are forming something of a partnership
Newcastle’s Italian midfielder, to be sure, is showing off new levels of athleticism and strength to match his natural elegance, and the skipper is as all-encompassing as ever in the middle of the park.
But Joelinton is waning, and this has been picked up by Toon observers. Indeed, journalist Mark Douglas noted earlier in the campaign that the 29-year-old has been “nowhere near his best”.
Sofascore record that Joelinton is winning only 2.9 ground duels per Premier League fixture, which is his lowest average since 2019/20, his debut term, when he principally played as a centre-forward.
Refashioned into an all-action midfielder, Joelinton has proved himself to be an iconic servant for Howe at Newcastle, but after so many rounds of unforgiving action, it may be that it is the right time for him to move on.
1
Bruno Guimaraes
172
2
Dan Burn
166
3
Fabian Schar
165
4
Jacob Murphy
152
5
Joelinton
146
Hailed as a “club legend” by content creator Adam Pearson, the Brazil international has had his day, and the fact that PIF are gearing up for an ambitious bid for Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson in 2026, the England midfielder having emerged from Newcastle’s academy, suggests that the mainstay is becoming expendable.
The suggestions that Pope should be extricated from his post between the posts are rising in volume, but the emphasis on pushing for a Joelinton upgrade must be just as loud.
For all the Brazilian’s robustness, he is no longer untouchable under Howe’s wing, and is perhaps becoming the weakest link in a team that needs to kick on.
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The word coming from FSG’s camp is that Arne Slot’s position as Liverpool’s head coach is not immediately under threat.
However, the owners who watched as Liverpool dominantly conquered the Premier League last season are now staring down the barrel of a gun regarding the Dutchman’s future at the helm, with nine losses from 12 matches in all competitions an inexplicable slide in form.
Liverpool’s crisis of confidence has left their title defence in tatters, and Slot is now facing a fight to save his position at Anfield, with the upcoming run of league fixtures – West Ham United, Sunderland, Leeds United – over the next week sure to shape the narrative and whether this rut deepens.
FSG might feel that Liverpool’s title-winning boss still has some credit in the bank, but that will change if things don’t improve, and sporting director Richard Hughes has already compiled a list of potential replacements.
Hughes begins search for Slot successor
While Liverpool are not ready to pull the trigger, they would be remiss not to sound out a few options in the event that things continue to deteriorate on Merseyside.
Earlier this week, Spanish sources suggested Jurgen Klopp is back in the mix as Hughes looks for solutions, but this would not be the right path to travel back down. The legendary German departed Liverpool in 2024 after admitting he was tired from so many taxing years at the top.
However, the Reds might choose to move for another manager who is established as one of the best in the business, with Paris Saint-Germain’s Luis Enrique emerging as a contender.
Enrique, 55, was the man behind PSG’s incredible quadruple-winning 2024/25 season, previously reaping riches with Barcelona, and reports – via The Mirror – believe Liverpool have made him their long-term priority in the event of Slot’s dismissal.
The suggestion is that conversations have been held at boardroom level at Anfield, amid fears over whether Slot has lost the dressing room, hence why Enrique could be lined up as a potential successor.
Why Enrique could be perfect for Liverpool
Some critical observers would suggest that Liverpool started foundering after PSG knocked Slot out of the Champions League in the last 16. Certainly, the English side petered out as the season entered the business stretch.
An experienced and decorated manager, Enrique has been hailed as “the best manager in the world” by French journalist Julien Laurens for reaching unprecedented heights with PSG, creating a stable and multi-faceted attacking outfit that was practically invincible last season.
His fluid philosophy could be attracting Hughes’ interest. Enrique employs a 4-3-3 formation, but he’s experimental with his ideas, utilising full-back width and clever passing patterns in the build-up.
This could give rise to the qualities of Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong and Florian Wirtz, but Alexander Isak might benefit most from this potential managerial switch.
Enrique’s teams score goals. Moreover, they do so with style. Ousmane Dembele would certainly attest to that.
The current crisis makes it easy to forget that Isak is one of the deadliest strikers of his generation, and Enrique’s acumen would surely see a system wrought to accommodate the 26-year-old’s qualities.
Isak looks a world away from that world-class striker who tore English football apart at St. James’ Park, but, as with several other summer recruits, he has struggled to adapt in a dysfunctional team.
Liverpool are hardly a hothouse for player growth at the moment, but that is why Enrique could be such an interesting pick.
They are hardly carbon copies, but Isak and Dembele share a likeness, and, considering this, Enrique could reshape the Swedish striker into a free-scoring superstar.
Goals scored
1.08
0.72
Assists
0.32
0.19
Shots taken
4.69
2.91
Touches (att pen)
7.94
5.93
Shot-creating actions
6.02
2.91
Pass completion
80.2
74.7
Progressive passes
7.46
3.25
Progressive carries
5.94
2.72
Successful take-ons
1.80
1.44
Ball recoveries
1.36
1.81
Tackles + interceptions
0.68
0.57
While it might look like Isak pales in comparison to the 2025 Ballon d’Or recipient, different factors need to be considered. Isak plays in an ostensibly tougher league and was considered to be “the best striker” in England last season, as was said by pundit Jamie Carragher.
If anything, this bears testament to Enrique’s tactical prowess, and given the natural stylistic similarities, it could be the perfect move to finally unlock the latent qualities of Liverpool’s star striker.
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Legendary Italian coach Fabio Capello has praised Roma boss Gian Piero Gasperini for his impact in guiding the Giallorossi to the top of the Serie A table. The former AC Milan and Roma coach drew comparisons between Gasperini’s current Roma and his own title-winning side of 2000-01, but stressed that the team still lacks a prolific goal scorer akin to Gabriel Batistuta.
Getty Images Sport
Capello's Scudetto winning Roma
Capello famously moved from a traditional 4-4-2 to a more dynamic 3-4-1-2 formation, maximising the potential of key signings like Walter Samuel and Batistuta to guide Roma to their third and latest Serie A title almost 25 years ago. Combined with the brilliance of Cafu, Francesco Totti and Vincenzo Montella, Roma finished two points clear of Juventus at the top of Serie A.
Gasperini’s Roma are drawing comparisons to that legendary side already this season. With 27 points following a convincing win over Cremonese, the capital club lead Serie A. Their defensive record is particularly impressive, having conceded only six goals – the best in the league. Like Capello’s squad, this Roma demonstrates tactical intelligence, defensive organisation, and the ability to capitalise on attacking moments. Capello himself has noted the familiar blend of discipline, resilience and strategic flexibility. If maintained, Gasperini’s side could etch their name in Roma’s rich history.
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Capello's praise
In an interview with , Capello praised Gasperini for the confidence he has instilled in Roma and the way he has developed players like Paulo Dybala and Matias Soule, bringing out the best in them.
Capello said: “He has instilled strength, determination, character and, above all, consistency in this team. That's the hardest thing to do in Rome, an environment where people get carried away after victories and depressed after defeats. Maintaining focus is very complicated. Gasperini has been very good at instilling confidence in the players. He has had moments where he has tried to understand the characteristics of the players at his disposal, and I believe that he now knows everything they can give him. The players feel the confidence; they understand that the system of play is very demanding and they must always be alert and focused. He has developed players such as Dybala, but above all Soule. This means that the coach has got into the players' heads.”
He added: “He knows how to motivate, he knows how to command respect in the dressing room and within the club, he knows how to convince players to do something different from what they are used to doing.”
Capello also drew comparisons between Gasperini and himself during his title-winning Roma side of 2000–01, emphasizing the importance of a good goalscoring striker. He said, “Rome is a place that loves to enjoy itself, and for Gasperini, enjoyment means only winning: nothing else matters. He resembles me in this respect. The real enjoyment is winning, seeing the team do what they have prepared for, seeing the young players mature.”
“In my first year, I had a team under construction, like this one, while in my second year we were looking for something more, a centre forward: we signed Batistuta. He was crucial.”
Capello feels Milan have the upperhand
Roma’s struggles in attack remain a pressing concern. Of the top six teams, they have scored the fewest goals, underscoring the urgent need for a reliable number nine. The departures of Tammy Abraham to Besiktas and Eldor Shomurodov to Istanbul Basaksehir have left a significant gap in the frontline.
The club expressed interest in Rasmus Hojlund, but he chose to join Napoli instead. Their loan acquisition of Evan Ferguson from Brighton has so far failed to make an impact, with the forward contributing just one goal and one assist in eight appearances. Artem Dovbyk has also struggled, managing only two goals and one assist.
Capello was quick to warn that with Roma juggling multiple competitions such as the Europa League and Coppa Italia along with Serie A, players may not have enough time to recover between games, giving AC Milan an edge as they only have Serie A and Coppa Italia to focus on.
"[Gasperini is] similar to me in this respect: the real pleasure is winning, seeing the team do what they've prepared, seeing the young players mature. He'll be on the ball until the end: Roma will be competitive," he added. “Let's not forget that Roma are involved in cup competitions, which are costly and don't allow for recovery, so this will probably favour Milan.”
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