South Africa’s batters were unable to convert starts which kept them to an under-par score at the Three Ws Oval
ESPNcricinfo staff22-Jun-2025
Jannillea Glasgow congratulates Hayley Matthews on her half-century•CWI
Hayley Matthews’ unbeaten 63 and two wickets each from Afy Fletcher and Karishma Ramharack helped West Indies beat South Africa and level the series 1-1 ahead of the decider on Monday. Six of South Africa’s batters got to double figures but no one scored more than 21, which helped West Indies keep the score down to 113 before Matthews iced the chase at the Three Ws Oval in Barbados.Laura Wolvaardt and Tazmin Brits got South Africa off to a good start after being put into bat. Wolvaardt hit Jahzara Claxton and Shawnisha Hector for boundaries in a 30-run opening stand before being dismissed for 16. Matthews, who had opened the bowling, returned in the sixth over to knock over Marizanne Kapp for a duck.Fletcher, the pick of West Indies bowlers, bowled five dots in her first over and dismissed Brits for a 21-ball 14 in the seventh, as South Africa lost 3 for 10. She kept Nadine de Klerk quiet but the batter got the tempo up at the other end. De Klerk hit the only six in the innings off Aaliyah Alleyne and put on 29 off 26 balls for the fourth wicket with Karabo Meso, taking South Africa to 69 for 3 in the 13th over.Fletcher got de Klerk’s wicket in her final over, which caused another slump of 3 for 10 as Ramharack got wickets in successive overs. Annerie Dercksen joined Meso and they had an unbeaten 34-run stand which picked up pace gradually. Both boundaries in the stand came in the final two overs that went for 18, taking South Africa to 113 for 6.Qiana Joseph started the West Indies chase with two boundaries off Nonkululeko Mlaba. Matthews, with 9 off 17, was slow to start but saw off Kapp’s three-over opening spell. Ayabonga Khaka came on in the eighth to get Joseph for 17 and end the 41-run opening stand.Matthews was stable in the middle overs but her partners either got stuck or fell cheaply. Mlaba and Khaka contained Hector before she was dismissed by Masabata Klaas for 3 off 12 balls. Matthews hit three fours in the next six balls before Mlaba, the pick of South Africa’s bowlers, got Shemaine Campbelle (7) and Chinelle Henry (3) in successive overs to leave West Indies on 77 for 4, needing 37 off 35 balls.Jannillea Glasgow and Matthews kept West Indies ticking despite there being no boundary between overs 13 and 18. With 16 needed off 12, Matthews – fresh off a run-a-ball 50 – whacked Khaka for a six and a four. The 13-run over was the most expensive of the innings. Glasgow then hit the winning runs off de Klerk.
كشف أحمد سليمان، عضو مجلس إدارة نادي الزمالك موقف تطورات أزمة إيقاف القيد الصادر من قبل الاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم “فيفا”.
وكان فيفا أصدر قرارًا بإيقاف قيد نادي الزمالك، بسبب 4 قضايا لمدربين ولاعبين سابقين لديهم مستحقات متأخرة.
وقال سليمان خلال تصريحات عبر برنامج “اللعيب” المذاع على قناة “إم بي سي مصر”: “أزمة القيد ستحل بإذن الله قريبًا، أطمئن جماهير نادي الزمالك”.
طالع.. فيديو | الزمالك يهزم بيراميدز ويضرب موعدًا مع الأهلي في نهائي السوبر المصري
وأضاف: “منذ أول يوم تولينا مسؤولية إدارة نادي الزمالك، نتعرض لإيقاف قيد، نستطيع أن نحل هذا الأزمة، لا توجد فترة قيد مرت علينا دون أن نتعاقد مع للاعبين ولا توجد لدينا مشكلة، سنحل هذا المرة أيضًا”.
وتابع: “لدينا أولويات فقط في الوقت الحالي، ومنذ أن أتينا إلى النادي ونحل أزمات كل فترة قيد، ومررنا بالعديد من القضايا في السنوات الأخيرة”.
وعن تطورات المفاوضات مع حامد حمدان لاعب بتروجيت، أوضح: “الوقت مازال مبكرًا عن الحديث عن أي انتقالات، نحن في نوفمبر الحديث عن الانتقالات سيكون في يناير، وإن شاء الله خير”.
وأتم: “مسؤولو نادي بتروجيت هم الأحق بأي تصريحات عن اللاعب، لأنه لاعب لديهم الآن، وهم قالوا أن الأمور جيدة مع الزمالك”.
Aston Villa are keen to climb the Premier League table after a mixed start to the campaign and could now turn to a veteran midfielder once the January window opens.
Aston Villa turn focus to Premier League after Go Ahead Eagles loss
Ultimately, the Villans’ 2-1 loss to Go Ahead Eagles on Thursday night won’t be a result that Unai Emery is too keen to revisit, albeit he will hope it was a blip rather than a sign of things to come.
Providing an honest reflection after the match, club captain John McGinn shared his frustration that the Deventer-based club were given ‘life from nowhere’ to find their way back into the match, which ultimately led to their downfall.
He said: “When you give a team that is really passionate and up for it at home — they’ve not played in Europe for a while — and you give them some motivation and a bit of life, you get punished. Tonight, we gave them life from nowhere, and that’s why we have been beaten.”
Learning harsh lessons, Aston Villa found out the hard way that there are no easy matches in Europe. Still, they are among the favourites to win the competition and could be helped by bringing Real Madrid forward Endrick to the club in January if they can win the battle for his signature.
Real Madrid forward Gonzalo Garcia may also come in to compete within Aston Villa’s forward line, potentially offering an alternative in attack to Ollie Watkins.
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Nevertheless, Emery appears to have the engine room on his mind once the mid-season transfer period comes around and may now have identified his preferred candidate to offer strength in the middle of the park.
Aston Villa eyeing move for Man City star Mateo Kovacic
According to CaughtOffside, Aston Villa are keen to sign Manchester City star Mateo Kovacic and may be able to land the Croatia international for a knockdown fee due to his contract situation.
The report states that ‘there are no talks ongoing over a new contract’ for the ex-Chelsea star at the Etihad Stadium, and Pep Guardiola may opt to cash in during the mid-season window with AC Milan, West Ham United, Villarreal and Real Betis all in the hunt for his signature.
Five similar players to Mateo Kovacic (FBRef)
Vitinha
Paris Saint-Germain
Pierre Hojbjerg
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Earning £150,000 per week in Manchester, Kovacic will be out of contract at his current employers in the summer of 2027, and he is now said to be surplus to requirements after featuring in only four minutes of Premier League football this term.
While he is unlikely to be a long-term midfield solution, he could potentially be an intelligent pickup for Aston Villa as they aim to climb the table and make strides in the Europa League.
A palavra “família” esteve muito em evidência após a estreia de Lúcio Flávio na empreitada de comandar oBotafogo na reta final do Campeonato Brasileiro. No decorrer da vitória por 2 a 0 sobre o Fluminense, domingo (8), no Maracanã, a busca por trazer de volta a identificação do Alvinegro depois do período conturbado que culminou na demissão de Bruno Lage ficou nítida em campo.
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A ansiedade por trazer de volta o Glorioso que a torcida se acostumou a conhecer passou pela escalação. Di Plácido voltou a ser titular, enquanto Tchê Tchê se juntou a Marlon Freitas e Eduardo. Na frente, Júnior Santos ganhou a disputa para formar a linha de frente com Victor Sá e Tiquinho Soares.
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Antes de a bola rolar, os botafoguenses presentes no Maracanã ratificaram o apoio, aos gritos de “ah, é Lúcio Flávio!”. E, assim que a bola rolou, não demorou muito para as características do treinador começarem a entrar em cena.
Munido de um papel, o ex-jogador anotava suas impressões sobre a postura botafoguense. Olhava para o campo e gesticulava para os atletas.
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-No futebol, a gente precisa fazer com que os jogadores entendam que todos são importantes. Quando a gente fala em relação à família é porque muitas vezes passa mais tempo com as pessoas que trabalha e precisa fazer com que o ambiente seja mais leve. A gente precisa fazer com que eles entendam que um depende do outro – afirmou em entrevista coletiva.
Outra pecularidade também foi tomando conta. Alçado ao posto de auxiliar após um pedido do elenco, Joel Carli saía do banco de reservas e conversava com o treinador interino. Trocavam ideias e o ex-zagueiro voltava para o banco de reservas.
Meticuloso, o técnico ia acompanhando as investidas de um Alvinegro que ia se impondo na etapa inicial. A equipe dominava as ações, pressionando a saída de bola adversária e, ao partir para o ataque, abusava da velocidade. Desta vez, Eduardo ficava mais próximo do ataque, conseguindo ser mais participativo.
Até que o lançamento de Tchê Tchê encontrou Júnior Santos livre para marcar na saída de Fábio. Lúcio Flávio celebrou num tom de alento, mas sem deixar de se preocupar com o que via em campo.
Minutos depois, Júnior Santos abriu caminho e Tiquinho Soares rompeu livre até ampliar o marcador. Lúcio Flávio ergueu as mãos para o céu e, logo depois, encontrou o abraço do goleiro Lucas Perri.
Em meio à espera sobre a checagem de um possível impedimento no gol, aconteceu uma situação curiosa: rapidamente, o treinador pegou uma prancheta e orientou jogadores que estavam próximos ao banco de reservas. Enquanto isso, Joel Carli, na área técnica, passava orientações.
-Carli esteve até alguns meses aqui do lado deles, conhece muito bem o vestiário. Sabe muito bem fazer a abordagem ali com os jogadores, levantar o astral de cada um para, quando forem designados, consigam jogar o melhor deles – garantiu o treinador.
Com o gol confirmado, enfim Lúcio Flávio recebeu uma sucessão de abraços.
Após um primeiro tempo exemplar, os alvinegros optaram por uma cautela. E, nesse momento, entrou em cena outro fator que estava em falta nas partidas mais recentes: a força defensiva.
À exceção de uma conclusão de John Kennedy que parou na trave e uma batida de Léo Fernández que exigiu Lucas Perri, o Botafogo não chegou a ser ameaçado com tanto rigor.
Adryelson e Victor Cuesta mantiveram sua sintonia fina. Nas laterais, Di Plácido mostrava-se bastante participativo ao subir ao ataque, e tanto o argentino quanto Marçal continham os avanços de Keno e Arias.
Perante o calor do jogo, Lúcio Flávio foi indicando quais eram suas variações para manter o jogo sob controle alvinegro. Um dos jogadores sacados foi Júnior Santos, destaque da equipe na partida.
-Quando ele saiu, agradeceu por transmitir a confiança e dar a ele essa oportunidade. Falei que ele tinha muito a ajudar o Botafogo. É um jogador que tem muito potencial, uma característica peculiar de muito arranque e muito querido pelo grupo – declarou o treinador.
As trocas fizeram o Alvinegro mostrar seu brio, garantindo a vitória. Ao fim da partida, o “novo” treinador foi acolhido pelo grupo e reverenciado pela torcida que tanto o acolheu como jogador: “ah, é Lúcio Flávio!”.
Com a visão de quem se acostumou a vivenciar o elenco do Botafogo, Lúcio Flávio soube fazer com que o elenco se sentisse de novo como uma família.
-O Lúcio (Flávio) tem uma ideia do nosso time muito parecida com a do Luís Castro, com a do (Cláudio) Caçapa quando estava aqui com a gente. Acho que ele tentou resgatar isso. Acho que o Lúcio tentou resgatar isso – afirmou Lucas Perri na zona mista do Maracanã.
O meio-campista Tchê Tchê também demonsrou felicidade com o novo treinador.
-Ele estava aqui com a gente. Um personagem importante tanto com a camisa, quanto na comissão técnica. Ficamos felizes por ele. Abraçamos ele desde que foi passado para nós que seria nosso comandante. A gente é uma família muito unida, muito humilde. Tem os protagonistas, mas cada um vai se equivalendo da força para o outro. Isso é que é o mais importante – afirmou.
O Botafogo volta a campo na quarta-feira, dia 18, contra o América-MG, no Independência. A Data Fifa dará mais tempo para os laços de família se estreitarem.
Vice-captain Pope said that the issue was the result of “the amount he’s pushed his body” during this series but insisted he’d be fit to bowl on Saturday
Matt Roller25-Jul-20254:14
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England played down concerns over Ben Stokes’ workload after he was forced to retire hurt for the first time in his international career in Manchester due to cramp in his left leg. Ollie Pope, Stokes’ vice-captain, said that the issue was the result of “the amount he’s pushed his body” during this series but insisted that he would be fit to bowl on Saturday.Stokes had scored 66, his highest score of the series, when he retired hurt on Friday evening, as England built a substantial first-innings lead over India. He returned after the fall of three further wickets, reaching 77 not out overnight, but appeared to be in some discomfort while running between the wickets.While Stokes was fit enough to resume his innings, the fact that he retired hurt will sound alarm bells, particularly after a heavy bowling workload. Stokes dedicated five months to his rehabilitation from surgery on his left hamstring this year and has bowled 129 overs against India, the most that he has bowled in a Test series.Related
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“I think he’s okay,” Pope said. “He’s just cramping down his leg, and it managed to spread to his whole leg. It’s probably just a build-up of the amount he’s pushed his body over the last four or five weeks. He’s obviously pushed himself to some serious limits so far, and that was probably just a build-up of it. I think he will be good to go tomorrow, I’m sure, with bat and ball.”Ben Stokes retired hurt on 66 before coming back at the fall of the seventh wicket•Getty Images
Pope has previously said that he considers helping Stokes to manage his workload to be one of his responsibilities as vice-captain but conceded: “That doesn’t always go my way.” He said: “Everyone knows what a competitor he is, and the lengths he’s prepared to push his body to get the job in hand done… There’s times where you can’t take the ball off him.”Stokes clutched the back of his left leg while playing a reverse-sweep off Washington Sundar during the evening session, and suffered cramp while taking a single off Mohammed Siraj. He briefly consulted England’s physio before batting on, but retired hurt at the end of the following over, grimacing as he walked off the field.Stokes became the second player to retire hurt during the fourth Test, after Rishabh Pant was forced off with a foot injury on the first day. Pant later returned to the crease on the second day to score a further 17 runs but was unable to keep wicket and is unlikely to feature in the fifth Test at The Oval next week.Pope stood in for England’s media duties on Friday night because Joe Root – like Stokes – was suffering from cramp, but said that Root would be fit to field on Saturday. “He just didn’t fancy the media tonight,” Pope said, laughing. “He’ll be here in the morning.”
O São Paulo não poderá contar com o Morumbi contra o RB Bragantino, em duelo válido pela 32ª rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro, e deve mandar jogo na casa do rival Santos. O Tricolor entrou na procura por outro local para mandar sua partida, pois o seu estádio será palco de alguns shows.
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A Vila Belmiro deve hospedar o confronto. A diretoria alvinegra, que possui boas relações com a gestão de Julio Casares, aceitou disponibilizar o estádio após os tricolores solicitarem o uso.
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O Morumbi, que não conseguirá comportar o duelo contra o Bragantino no dia 8 (quarta), sediará o shows do Red Hot Chilli Peppers no dia 10 de novembro (sexta), e do grupo mexicano RBD, que fez sucesso no Brasil com a novela Rebeldes, nos dias 12 (domingo) e 13 (segunda)
Então, vale ressaltar que a Vila Belmiro enfrentará uma bateria de jogos. O Santos terá confronto contra o Cuiabá no dia 6 (segunda), e contra o próprio São Paulo no dia 12 (domingo).
TRICOLOR NÃO CONSEGUE VENCER FORA DO MORUMBI NO BRASILEIRO
No Campeonato Brasileiro, o São Paulo não conseguiu uma vitória sequer atuando fora do Morumbi. Longe dos seus domínios na competição nacional, a equipe paulistana tem zero vitórias, sete empates e oito derrotas.
While things might not have ended as well as they could have, there are few figures more legendary in the history of The Arsenal than Arsène Wenger.
The Frenchman ushered in a period of immense success in the late 1990s and early 2000s that the club have not even come close to matching since.
However, with how things are going this season, that could soon be about to change.
Moreover, it would be fair to say that Mikel Arteta now has a star in his squad who’s undoubtedly the best player Arsenal have had since Wenger retired.
Arsenal's best players since Wenger retired
When looking at the best players signed by, or developed by, Arsenal since Wenger stepped away from management, there are more than a handful of names you could pick out.
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For example, for everything he did wrong, Unai Emery signed off on William Saliba’s move in the summer of 2019, and then just a year later, Arteta made his best defensive acquisition by bringing in Gabriel Magalhães from LOSC Lille.
Together, the centre-back pairing have been nothing short of exceptional over the last few years, and as things stand this season, have conceded just three goals in all competitions and should they win it, could go down as the best defensive partnership in Premier League history.
PL’s Best CB Pairings
Players
Games
Goals Against
Ferdinand & Vidic
120
0.71
Keown & Adams
97
0.73
Campbell & Toure
59
0.73
Terry & Carvalho
85
0.76
Lescott & Kompany
58
0.76
Gabriel & Saliba
93
0.78
Van Dijk & Matip
72
0.81
All Stats via Transfermarkt (Pre Palace)
Moving into the middle of the park, and, in this conversation, it’s impossible to ignore club-record signing Declan Rice.
The former West Ham United captain made his way to the Emirates under a tremendous amount of pressure, but from his first game to today, he’s proven to be worth every penny.
From his ability to break up play, carry the ball from deep, score important goals and deliver the ball with pinpoint accuracy from set-pieces, he, without a shadow of a doubt, is a “world-class” midfielder.
Staying in midfield, and while he had a down season last year, and has had some terrible luck with injuries this term, Martin Odegaard deserves to be in this conversation.
The Norwegian international was made club captain in the summer of 2023, won back-to-back Player of the Season awards, and, at his best, can be utterly mesmerising to watch on the ball.
However, with all that said, when it comes to the club’s best player since Wenger left, there is one star who stands head and shoulders above the rest.
Arsenal's greatest player since Wenger retired
While fans will have their own favourite players, it would be hard to deny that, as things stand, Bukayo Saka is the best player Arsenal have had since Wenger retired.
The Hale End icon made his first team debut under Emery in a Europa League game away to Vorskla Poltava in November 2018, and then earned his first start at home against Qarabağ FK a month later.
However, it’s been under Arteta that the Englishman has transformed from a versatile utility player who often popped up at left-back, into one of the best right-wingers in world football.
Not only that, though, but the 24-year-old game-changer has become the club’s talisman and the face of its rejuvenation over the last few years.
It shouldn’t have come as much of a surprise then that, following his hamstring injury and surgery last season, the Gunners became far less potent in attack.
Saka’s Arsenal record
Appearances
274
Minutes
20713′
Goals
74
Assists
72
Goal involvements per match
0.53
Minutes per goal involvement
141.86′
All Stats via Transfermarkt
In his career to date, the North Londoners’ “legend in the making” as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has scored 74 goals and provided 72 assists in 274 first-team appearances, totalling 20713 minutes.
That comes out to a sensational average of a goal involvement every 1.87 games, or every 141.86 minutes, which is made all the more impressive by the fact he’s made 21 appearances at left-back.
As if his record at club level wasn’t enough, he has also won 46 senior caps for England, in which he’s scored 13 goals, provided nine assists and been named Player of the Year twice.
Ultimately, there is still much to come from Saka, but based on his already astounding record and the fact that he has become the club’s poster boy, it’s clear that he has been Arsenal’s best player since Wenger left the dugout.
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Patriots stuttered a little bit in their small chase against Falcons, but Alick Athanaze and Jason Holder finished the job with five overs to spare
ESPNcricinfo staff15-Aug-2025
Waqar Salamkheil ran through the Falcons middle order•Randy Brooks – CPL T20 / Getty
CPL 2025 got off to a low-scoring start in Basseterre, where St Kitts and Nevis Patriots rode on a stellar bowling performance led by Waqar Salamkheil to run out six-wicket victors over Antigua and Barbuda Falcons.After Jason Holder opted to bowl, Kyle Mayers, Fazalhaq Farooqi and Naseem Shah left Falcons at 39 for 3 inside the fifth over. Salamkheil, the Afghanistan left-arm wristspinner, came on in the eighth over and was on target off his fourth ball, pitching just outside off stump and turning it back in to hit Fabian Allen’s stumps. He went on to spin out Shakib Al Hasan, Imad Wasim and Odean Smith to end with 4 for 22 from his four overs.Fortunately for Falcons, USA batter Karima Gore was in good nick, but with no other batter making a significant contribution, he had to pretty much go it alone. Gore’s 34-ball 61 included eight fours and two sixes, and Falcons would have wanted him to bat longer than he did after having walked out in the first over itself. As it happened, Farooqi returned to get rid of Gore in the 12th over, a slower delivery sliced high for Andre Fletcher, the wicketkeeper, to take a sharp running catch.All Patriots, the CPL 2021 winners, needed to score was 122, and though they got there quite comfortably, and never really looked in danger of not being able to, there was a little stutter in between thanks to Rahkeem Cornwall.Evin Lewis took off in a flash, scoring 25 in 13, before falling to Obed McCoy in the fourth over. Patriots made it out of the powerplay with just the loss of Lewis and 55 runs on the board, but in the seventh over, Cornwall sent back both Kyle Mayers and Rilee Rossouw. And suddenly, at 56 for 3, Patriots were looking just that little bit out of sorts.But Fletcher was playing a sedate knock, and in Alick Athanaze, Patriots found just the man for the job. Fletcher fell after scoring a 26-ball 19, to Salamkheil’s compatriot AM Ghazanfar at the end of the tenth over, but Patriots had reached 76 already by then. Athanaze, with an unbeaten 28-ball 37, and Holder, with 18 in 14 balls, finished the job from there with five overs in the bank.
أخطر الاتحاد الأفريقي لكرة القدم “كاف” مجلس إدارة نادي الزمالك بتعيين طاقم تحكيم رواندي لمباراة الفارس الأبيض أمام كايزر تشيفز الجنوب إفريقي، ضمن منافسات الجولة الثانية لدور المجموعات ببطولة كأس الكونفدرالية.
ويستضيف استاد “بيتر موكابا” بمدينة بولوكواني مواجهة الزمالك وكايزر تشيفز يوم السبت الموافق 29 نوفمبر الجاري، في تمام الساعة الثالثة عصرًا، حيث يسعى الفريق الأبيض لتعزيز موقعه على رأس المجموعة الرابعة التي تضم أيضًا أندية المصري وزيسكو يونايتد الزامبي.
وكان الزمالك قد بدأ تحضيراته لملاقاة زيسكو في الجولة الأولى من دور المجموعات، والتي ستقام على استاد القاهرة الدولي يوم الأحد 23 نوفمبر في تمام الساعة التاسعة مساءً.
طالع أيضًا.. طلعت يوسف: وضع الزمالك لا يسمح بالمنافسة على الدوري.. واستمرار عبد الرؤوف قرار صحيح حكم مباراة الزمالك وكايزر تشيفز في كأس الكونفدرالية
ويتكون طاقم التحكيم من صامويل أويكوندا حكمًا للساحة، ويعاونه ديودوني موتوييمانا وديدييه أيشيموي كمساعدين، فيما يتولى روريسا باتينس فيديل مهمة الحكم الرابع، كما اختار “كاف” سينون فيليب جورج من سيشل مراقبًا عامًا للمباراة.
تحدث مدرب مانشستر سيتي بيب جوارديولا، عقب هزيمة فريقه أمام نيوكاسل في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، وسُئل عن حديثه مع حكم المباراة، ومع برونو جيماريش لاعب الخصم.
وتعرض مانشستر سيتي للهزيمة من نيوكاسل بهدفين لهدف في إطار مباريات الجولة الثانية عشر للدوري الإنجليزي، وأدلى جوارديولا بتصريحات لـ “سكاي سبورتس” و”بي بي سي”، ونشرت شبكة “سيتي إكسترا” تصريحاته أيضًا.
وقال جوارديولا عن هزيمة مانشستر سيتي أمام نيوكاسل: “إعلان رائع للدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز!، نيوكاسل فريق كبير، ولاعبون مميزون، ومدرب رائع، لذا للأسف لم نتمكن الليلة من الحفاظ على زخمنا، كانت مباراةً ممتعة، أتيحت لنا فرصٌ كثيرة، ثم تغير زخمنا، وفي النهاية لم نتمكن من الفوز”.
وأضاف: “كان دوناروما استثنائيًا، أهدرنا فرصًا، وكنا أفضل في الشوط الثاني، واستقبلنا هدفًا، وبعد تبديل كلا الجانبين (الجناحين)، وفي النهاية لم نستطع أن نصل إلى نتيجة”.
وعن انتهاء الشوط الأول بالتعادل السلبي، أشار: “كان حارسا المرمى جيدين، وبعد أن أهدرنا فرصًا كثيرة، كانت مباراةً ممتعةً شهدت العديد من الفرص، كنا أقرب في البداية”.
وبشأن هدف نيوكاسل الثاني، علّق جوارديولا: “حدث ذلك في مباراة بورنموث، وتكرر اليوم، هذا ما حدث بعد قرار حكم الفيديو المساعد، إنهم يدركون ذلك تمامًا”.
وواصل: “لقد بذلنا قصارى جهدنا، أردنا أن نخطو خطوةً للأمام كما فعلنا في الشهرين الماضيين، ولكن بعد فترة التوقف الدولي، لا يكون الأمر سهلاً دائمًا، لكن الطريق لا يزال طويلًا جدًا”.
وعما قاله للحكم سام باروت بعد نهاية المباراة، أوضح: “لا، لا شيء، كل شيء على ما يرام، هذا هو الوضع”.
وعن محادثته مع برونو جيماريش لاعب نيوكاسل، أفاد: “أخبرته بمدى جودته، سألته عما حدث مع دوناروما وهو، وأعتقد أن الأمر على ما يرام”.
وحول غضب دوناروما بعد هدف نيوكاسل الثاني، استرسل: “حدث الأمر أمام بورنموث، وحدث مرة أخرى، دوناروما رأى اللقطة، وإلا، لو أنه لم يشعر بوجود احتكاك، أما أنا فلم أرها، لكنني أثق كثيرًا بلاعبيّ، لذا لم أرها، لكن تقنية الفيديو والحكام قرروا عكس ذلك في الشوط الأول وفي الشوط الثاني، هذا هو الوضع، لقد اعتدنا على ذلك”.
وحول أداء هالاند المتواضع وعدم تسجيله للأهداف، أكد بيب: “فرصتان أو ثلاث فرص يحصل عليها دائمًا لأنه الأفضل، لننتقل للسؤال التالي”.
وعن هزيمة الفريق مرة أخرى خارج أرضه، أشار جوارديولا: “أنا متأكد تمامًا أن جميع الفرق تُفضل اللعب على أرضها بدلًا من خارجها، ولسنا استثناءً”.
وأتم: “لطالما كان نيوكاسل صعبًا، حتى في مراكزهم المتأخرة في الجدول وبعد هزيمتين متتاليتين، بعد أن يُصفوا ذهنهم ويأخذوا إجازة لعشرة أيام، يُمكننا أن نُحقق لحظات جيدة، لقد قاتلنا، وكان اللاعبون حاضرين، لكننا لم نُحقق النتيجة المرجوة”.