Manchester United have endured a season that very few saw coming after Erik ten Hag's successful first campaign in charge of the club last year.

The former Ajax boss looks worryingly out of his depth with just one win to his name in his last five Premier League games, despite playing Burnley, Sheffield United and Bournemouth in that period.

With the recent arrival of new minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his ambitious plans to rejuvenate the club, it does feel like just a matter of time until he's replaced as manager, and there have been calls to hire a man who could be the club's own Jürgen Klopp.

Erik ten Hag's season

It really has been a season from hell for the Dutchman this year, and while the extensive injury list at Carrington is far from ideal and certainly hasn't helped, the performances on the pitch have been dreadful.

The club were dumped out of the League Cup by Newcastle United in November and crashed out of the Champions League with one win, one draw and four defeats to their name, and in the league, the Red Devils are sitting in sixth place, 13 points off fourth, with a goal difference of plus one.

However, while it might not feel like it to the fans, the three-time European Champions have had a fair bit of luck this term, at least defensively.

According to Understat, they have scored 4.94 fewer goals than would be expected based on expected goals, but have conceded a whopping 15.72 fewer – the highest in the league – which translates to an expected points total of just 42.25, which would put them around 15th based on those metrics.

Now, while some of that overperformance can be put down to the talent of United's players, the extreme nature of it is more down to luck, luck that has saved a poor season from Ten Hag becoming a genuinely awful one.

Goals Scored

52

Expected Goals

56.94

Goals Conceded

51

Expected Goals Against

66.72

Points

54

Expected Points

42.25

Real Position

6th

Expected Position

15th

With this in mind, it's not surprising to see so much talk about potential replacements coming in, and according to recent reports, one of the said replacements could be Bayern Munich boss Thomas Tuchel, who has recently been compared to Klopp by a United legend.

Why Thomas Tuchel could be United's Jürgen Klopp

It might seem like a leap to compare Tuchel to Klopp. After all, the pair now epitomise completely different styles of football – at least in the eyes of English fans – with the former associated with pragmatic and arguably defensive football, while the latter is known for getting his sides to play high-intensity football whenever they can.

However, there are several similarities beyond their ages and nationalities, and former United keeper Peter Schmeichel certainly seems to think so. He described the Bayern boss as having the same "kind of thing that Klopp has" and that as a "big-club manager" he would be able to cope with the pressures of the United job.

That said, what are the similarities between the two Germans?

First, the former Chelsea man has previously followed in the footsteps of the Liverpool boss, taking charge of Mainz and Borussia Dortmund in his wake. Second, the pair are both larger-than-life personalities that seem to command respect wherever they go – or at least for a few years in Tuchel's case – and if the Krumbach-born gaffer does land the job he would also be walking into an English giant in need of rejuvenation, much like Klopp in 2015.

Lastly, while Tuchel is now seen as a defensively-minded coach by fans in England, he has shown in the past that he is more than happy to play full-throttle football, notably with Dortmund, when his side ended the 2015/16 season with a non-penalty expected goals figure of 78.84, which was 8.62 more than Bayern Munich managed.

With that said, if the 50-year-old is going to replace Ten Hag, how do their managerial records stack up?

Well, in their most recent job, the German comes out ahead, with a points-per-game average of 2.05 to the Dutchman's 1.95. The gap is even more significant when looking at Tuchel's stint at Chelsea, as he averaged 2.08 points-per-game in West London.

Manager

Ten Hag

Tuchel

Matches

109

56

Wins

65

36

Defeats

15

7

Losses

29

13

Points-per-Game

1.93

2.05

Ultimately, while Ten Hag did a good job last season, his poor results this season, combined with his genuinely dreadful underlying numbers, suggest that it's time he moved on.

Therefore, if the Red Devils can get their hands on Tuchel as his replacement, then they should, as while he's not Klopp, he might be the next best thing.

Ratcliffe has an "incredible" top contender to replace Ten Hag at Man Utd

Manchester United fans wouldn’t complain at this Erik ten Hag replacement.

ByKelan Sarson Apr 29, 2024

Bell returns from England bubble with 4-36 as Vipers defeat South East Stars, despite Chloe Brewer’s 79

Raf Nicholson19-Sep-2020

Lauren Bell’s return to Southern Vipers from the England training bubble proved a memorable one, as she claimed 4 for 36 to set up a four-wicket victory against South East Stars at The Kia Oval, leaving Vipers undefeated in the group stages of the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy and headed to next weekend’s final.Stars’ Chloe Brewer, making only her second appearance in the competition, hit an impressive 79 at the top of the order, but Stars squandered their solid start, collapsing from 145 for 3 to 227 all out in 48.3 overs.In what turned into a nail-biting run chase, it was the 72-run sixth-wicket partnership between Carla Rudd, who made 35, and Emily Windsor, with an unbeaten 47, which ultimately proved decisive for Vipers, Windsor hitting the winning runs in the 48th over with 16 balls to spare.Vipers had initially looked to be going steady at 70 for 1 after 15 overs, before back-to-back dismissals in the 16th and 17th gave them a wobble – captain Georgia Adams caught and bowled by Hannah Jones for 41, while Maia Bouchier fell lbw to leg-spinner Danielle Gregory for 10.With their captain and the leading competition run-scorer back in the dugout, Charlie Dean and Paige Scholfield began the necessary rescue work but could not see the job through, as Gregory and Jones struck in tandem again in their consecutive second spells, leaving Vipers five down.But Vipers’ experienced middle order eventually proved their mettle, ensuring they maintained their winning momentum going into the Trophy finalStars’ batting was expected to be buoyed in the last round by the return of England players Bryony Smith and Alice Davidson-Richards, but both fell for single figures – Smith the first wicket to fall, driving straight into the hands of Bouchier at extra cover in the fourth over.Instead it was two teenagers who did the heavy lifting for Stars, with 18-year-old Brewer well supported by 16-year-old Alice Capsey, as the pair shared a 77-run partnership for the third wicket. Coming together in the 12th over after Aylish Cranstone was lbw to Charlotte Taylor attempting a sweep, they remained at the crease until the 30th, moving the total along from 52 for 2 to 129 for 3.Both eventually fell in near-identical fashion, sending the ball up into the safe hands of Bouchier – the 21-year-old snaffling a total of four catches in her signature position at extra cover to leave her with a tally of 10 across the group stages, the highest of anyone in the competition.Bell’s reintroduction in the 33rd over helped further dent the Stars’ innings, with her victims including both top-scorer Brewer and Stars’ captain Tash Farrant, bowled by a brilliant yorker.Grace Gibbs attempted to salvage things with a rapid 19-ball 30 at the back end to take Stars past 200, including two beautifully struck sixes against the off-spin of Adams. However, two smart run-outs from Scholfield at midwicket finished the job, with Stars bowled out in the 49th – nine balls of their innings going unused.

MatériaMais Notícias

da winzada777： O São Paulo goleou o 4 de Julho por 9 a 1, na última terça-feira (08), no Morumbi, e avançou às oitavas de final da Copa do Brasil. No entanto, a equipe levou um susto com menos de um minuto, ao sair atrás do placar.

ATUAÇÕES: Pablo faz “hat-trick” e comanda goleada histórica do São Paulo diante do 4 de Julho

Para o zagueiro Bruno Alves, autor de um dos gols do Tricolor na partida, o foco e a maturidade do time foram essenciais para conseguir a vitória.

TABELA
> Veja classificação e simulador da Copa do Brasil clicando aqui

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da heads bet： – A gente sabia da nossa responsabilidade, que era buscar a classificação. Mas, no primeiro ataque do adversário, a gente levou um susto. Só que a equipe estava muito focada, concentrada no que o Crespo pediu para fazer – disse o zagueiro à ‘SPFCTV’.

A perseverança do São Paulo e o ritmo forte que a equipe de Crespo fez o jogo todo também foi destacado pelo zagueiro do Tricolor.

– A gente não desistiu em momento nenhum e conseguimos colocar o ritmo forte, o que ele (Crespo) sempre pede, e aproveitamos as chances de gol.Mostramos uma maturidade da equipe. Mesmo saindo atrás, a gente conseguiu manter o ritmo – finalizou.

Agora, o São Paulo vira a chave para a disputa do Brasileirão. No próximo domingo (13), o Tricolor enfrenta o Atlético-MG, em Belo Horizonte, às 16h, pela terceira rodada da competição.

أعلن نادي مانشستر سيتي الإنجليزي، انتصاره في قضية الرعاية، ضمن القضايا التي تم التحقيق فيها مع بطل البريمرليج خلال الأيام الماضية.

كان مانشستر سيتي قد واجه، في وقت سابق من العام الماضي، اتهامات بوجود 115 انتهاكًا لقواعد اللعب المالي النظيف.

النادي الإنجليزي أعلن في بيان رسمي، فوزه القانوني على الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، بشأن قضية إتهام مانشستر سيتي بصفقات الرعاية الخاصة، بوصفها أنها غير قانونية.

طالع أيضًا.. رسميًا | أستون فيلا يُحافظ على البديل الذهبي حتى 2030

وجاء في البيان: “قررت المحكمة أن القواعد غير عادلة هيكليًا، وأن الدوري الإنجليزي كان غير عادل في كيفية تطبيق تلك القواعد على النادي في الممارسة العملية”.

النادي الإنجليزي في بيانه، شكر أعضاء محكمة التحكيم الموقرين، على عملهم واعتباراتهم، وإلغاء قرارات الدوري الإنجليزي بشأن عمليتي رعاية ضمن القضية المتهم فيها مانشستر سيتي.

جدير بالذكر، أن هذه قضية من ضمن 115 أخرى يتم اتهام مانشستر سيتي فيها، ولا يزال الاستماع للنادي الإنجليزي من قبل المحكمة جاريًا.

Former England duo Joe Hart and Theo Walcott are set to appear as pundits on Match of the Day following Ian Wright's departure from the show.

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Hart & Walcott to replace WrightWright made MOTD debut in 1997Left show after 2023-24 seasonWHAT HAPPENED?

The BBC have confirmed that Man City legend Hart and former Arsenal star Walcott will appear on Match of the Day this season after Wright decided to end his long stay on the Premier League highlights show. Both Hart and Walcott have moved into punditry since retiring from football – Hart worked with the BBC at Euro 2024 – and will offer a fresh perspective on the modern game.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

There are two new guests who will review the top-flight action alongside host Gary Lineker. Hart, who ended his playing career by winning the Scottish title with Celtic, was articulate during Euro 2024 and offered a goalkeeper's take on goals and other incidents. Walcott has covered the Premier League with Sky Sports and can also be expected to provide insightful analysis.

WHAT WRIGHT SAID

Explaining his decision to leave MOTD, Wright said: "It was time. I had a dear friend who said that sometimes you’ve got to know when to step back, change, rest, have a break, and say no – it's just time. When you’re on Match of the Day, you're live and I've had a massive problem before with people knowing where you are, so I always want to get back home to the missus and the girls.

"It just takes me two to three days after that to get ready and there are other things I'm doing which I just haven't got the energy for sometimes. I'm getting older, I just want to make sure I use the time well and efficiently for myself and at the moment, Match of the Day is the one that if something had to go, it had to be that."

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR MOTD?

The BBC's flagship show, which has been on air since 1964, will return for another season this Saturday when Lineker and Co. break down the day's action, which includes Liverpool's trip to Ipswich Town and Arsenal against Wolves.

Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke has showcased his willingness to trust and develop academy talents in his debut season with the Yorkshire-based side.

The German boss worked the likes of James Maddison, Ben Godfrey, Max Aarons, and Emiliano Buendia during his time with Norwich City, and has now provided Mateo Joseph and Archie Gray with opportunities to shine this season.

Gray, who was 17 at the start of the campaign, made his senior debut under the Whites manager this term and has racked up 36 appearances in the Championship so far.

The England U21 international is the first-choice option for Farke at right-back, whilst Joseph is currently the back-up to Patrick Bamford in the number nine position, and this shows that the tactician is prepared to bring academy gems into the team if they are good enough and ready to feature.

This bodes well for the array of talent currently occupying the U21 and U18 teams at Thorp Arch, as they know that the club have a manager who will not ignore them if they perform to a high level, in matches and in training.

Current U18s star Josh McDonald is one player who could have his eyes on a future place in the first-team, and Farke could eventually unearth him as a homegrown heir to Dan James, who has had somewhat of a revival at Elland Road this season.

Dan James' initial struggles at Leeds

In the summer of 2021, former Leeds duo Marcelo Bielsa and Victor Orta swooped to sign the Wales international from Manchester United for a reported fee of £25m.

The forward started regularly throughout the 2021/22 campaign for Bielsa, and then his replacement Jesse Marsch, but failed to deliver goals and assists at an impressive rate.

He produced four goals, with eight 'big chances' missed, and assisted four for his teammates, with 0.8 key passes per game, over 31 Premier League starts.

His less-than-impressive form at the top end of the pitch, after a big £25m move to Elland Road, led to a loan to league rivals Fulham for the 2022/23 campaign.

As you can see in the table above, James also struggled during his time with the Cottagers as he only racked up three direct goal contributions in 24 matches.

His lack of end product on the wing in the Premier League may have contributed to Fulham's decision to send him back to Elland Road last summer, instead of attempting to sign him on a permanent basis.

That did, however, provide Leeds and Farke with an opportunity to help him regain his confidence by playing regular football in the Championship this season.

Dan James' impressive form this season

The 26-year-old speedster has started 24 of his 34 appearances in the second tier for the Whites so far this season, and has showcased his quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals.

James has plundered an eye-catching 12 goals and seven assists in those 24 starts – a return of one goal or assist every 1.26 starts on average in the league.

Only Wilfried Gnonto (2.72) has outscored his Expected Goals by more than James (1.8) within the Leeds squad, as the electric winger has found the back of the net 12 times from an xG of 10.2.

This shows that the former Manchester United forward has been efficient in front of goal, and not wasted many opportunities to get his name on the scoresheet.

The Welsh wizard has also showcased his creativity with 12 'big chances' created and 1.5 key passes per game across his 34 league matches for Leeds this term. He ranks within the top 5% of Championship attacking midfielders and wingers for Expected Assisted Goals (0.29) per 90, and the top 8% for assists (0.30) per 90.

These statistics show that the Whites star has been an excellent operator as both a scorer and a creator of goals, whilst having the quality to operate on either the right or the left wing for Farke.

In total, James has racked up 16 goals and 12 assists in 77 appearances in all competitions since he made the move to Leeds in the summer of 2021, which is a return of 2.75 matches per game on average.

Josh McDonald's Leeds potential

Leeds swooped to sign McDonald from Scottish side Hamilton Academical in the summer of 2023, at the age of 16, amid interest from Premiership giants Glasgow Rangers.

Football Insider quoted an unnamed Scotland U18 coach as describing the talented teenager as an "exceptional" young gem, which is why he played for his country at U18 level despite being just 16 at the time.

The outlet noted the club's desire to bolster the quality of their youth teams across the board, which is why they were keen to sign the 16-year-old to add him to their U18 group.

McDonald has been playing for Leeds at that level so far this season and has caught the eye with his contributions at the top end of the pitch.

Like James, the Scottish wizard has the ability to play on either the left or the right side of the attack, rather than being restricted to one or the other, and that could help his first-team chances as he could fill in for multiple positions.

As you can see in the table below, McDonald has featured regularly for the club in the league and the cup during his debut campaign in English football.

He has racked up eight direct goal contributions in 17 appearances for the U18s this season, which is a return of one goal or assist every 2.13 outings on average – better than James' Leeds career average of one every 2.75 games.

These statistics show that McDonald, like the Wales international, can both score and create goals at a decent rate from either the right or left wing.

At the age of 17, the Scottish maestro also has plenty of time left to develop and progress over the years to come, and could be a player Farke keeps an eye on for the future as a possible long-term homegrown heir to James, who is nine years older than him.

It would be a dream scenario for Leeds and the German boss as the club would not need to splash out millions on a replacement for the Welshman, should McDonald continue to progress and emerge as a senior option.

162 people – including players, officials, and administrators – will now go into quarantine before the tournament begins

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Aug-2020All 162 people – players, officials, and administrators – who will be involved in the Caribbean Premier League have tested negative for Covid-19 upon landing in Trinidad & Tobago. An official release from the organisers said they would now be quarantined in the “official” hotel for 14 days, during which time they would be tested regularly as the tournament braces for an August 18 start.”It has been a colossal effort by all involved to get everyone safely into Trinidad & Tobago and we would like to thank everyone for their hard work and diligence. Our main priority is the health and wellbeing of all those involved in CPL and the wider population in the host country, to have got through this first step without any cases is encouraging news, but we will remain vigilant,” said the tournament operations director Michael Hall.The release said that anyone who tests positive over the quarantine period will be placed in “further isolation” in accordance with the protocols of Trinidad & Tobago.Five people have already had to pull out the tournament so far: St Kitts & Nevis Patriots’ head coach Simon Helmot tested positive five hours before he was due to leave Melbourne for the Caribbean, whereas their assistant coach Malolan Rangarajan is tied to the Royal Challengers Bangalore, who want him with the team as the IPL begins its own countdown. Patriots also lost out on the services of left-arm spinner Dennis Bulli, who tested positive for the virus, while Jamaica Tallawahs were forced to withdraw Andre McCarthy and Jeavor Royal because they came into close contact with a player who had tested positive.The CPL will the world’s first major T20 league to be held since the pandemic brought the game to a stop, and will take place in its usual window, albeit entirely in Trinidad & Tobago. On August 5, T&T had an estimated ten new cases and is among the safer locations in the world, with the highest number of new cases for a day peaking at 41 in late March.Last week, T&T prime minister Keith Rowley had said that given the CPL’s bubble, it would be safe for the rest of the population. Rowley also said that breaching of biosecurity protocols by players and staff will strictly not be tolerated. “Don’t play you can come out from that protocol and decide to take a drink down the road or whatever, we’re not tolerating that,” he said.

Chelsea have reportedly opened talks over another addition to the squad this summer as they look to balance their side under Mauricio Pochettino.

Season ending strongly under Pochettino

Despite a slow start, Chelsea are making a late push for a spot in next season's Europa League, and have showed glimpses of the side that they could become under Pochettino.

Their 5-0 hammering at the hands of Arsenal is their only defeat in the Premier League since February, and they are the fifth-best team in the division in 2024, behind only the Gunners, Manchester City, Newcastle and Liverpool.

Premier League form table 2024

Games

Wins

Draws

Losses

Goal Difference

Points

Arsenal

16

14

1

1

43

43

Manchester City

16

13

3

0

30

42

Liverpool

17

11

3

3

20

36

Newcastle United

16

8

3

5

10

27

Chelsea

15

7

5

3

8

26

That has seen them rocket up the table, and they are now just two points behind Newcastle United and firmly in the hunt for the final Europa League spot, while the six point gap to fifth placed Tottenham is not an impossible one to breach given the relative form of the two sides.

The Blues boss refused to describe it as a successful season, but admitted that he felt the staff and players are happy with the direction of the club.

"I cannot describe the season as a successful season if you don't win a title at Chelsea," said Pochettino. "Again, expectation is always to win titles."

"Circumstances have shown that the reality was really, really tough, from day one until today. But deep inside, the players and staff were living in the reality. I think the staff are happy and the players are so happy."

There is an expectation that the Blues will once again be active in the transfer market as they bid to complete their squad overhaul, and now light has been shed on just who they are targetting.

Talks opened for midfield maestro

That comes courtesy of the Daily Mail, who claim that Chelsea have "opened talks" for talented midfielder Georgiy Sudakov, currently at Shakhtar Donetsk.

The pair have a strong relationship after Chelsea signed Mykhaylo Mudryk from the Ukrainian outfit, and Sudakov appears to be the next star bound for Europe, with Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool all reportedly chasing his signature, though it is Chelsea that seem to lead the race.

Meanwhile, Shakhtar President Sergei Palkin has been touting his services at every opportunity.

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ByBen Browning May 6, 2024

"This summer window, he has a big chance to move to some big clubs. We have had some contacts with big clubs and some are not negotiating with us directly but are getting a feel for the summer environment", he explained.

"He will definitely move to a top European club this summer. When I was at Chelsea versus Everton, many people asked me about Sudakov."

There is a release clause in his contract set at £128m, but it is believed that £65m would be enough to land the 21-year-old midfielder this summer. The midfielder has racked up nearly 100 appearances for his current side, and has come in for some heavy praise while doing so.

Coach Marino Pusic dubbed him an "exceptionally talented" footballer, but added that he works hard to become better too: "He is an exceptionally talented footballer. Talent comes from nature or God, but you have to do something with it to develop it."

It is added that Sudakov is viewed as "first team ready" by Chelsea, while his addition could finally help bring the best out of Enzo Fernandez, who has struggled since his arrival 18 months ago. Could he be the missing piece in Pochettino's midfield?

da esoccer bet： It's been a difficult few months for Sunderland, who ended their Championship campaign with more of a whimper than anything else, but a new manager could now finally be on the horizon in what has been dubbed a shock move.

Sunderland manager news

da dobrowin： If the Black Cats could go back, then the decision to part ways with Tony Mowbray may have never been made, especially since his replacement was Michael Beale. The former Rangers boss endured a nightmare spell to all but end Sunderland's play-off hopes, before Mike Dodds was handed the role on an interim basis.

Related Sunderland told £3,000-a-week star who Mowbray loved is going to leave

It could be a frustrating summer for the Black Cats…

Posts ByTom Cunningham May 11, 2024

By the end of the Championship season, Sunderland found themselves 16th with the top six nothing more than a pipe dream and now their next appointment must be the right one. In that regard, the likes of Paul Heckingbottom and Steve Cooper have both been linked with moves to take the job, albeit without any announcement arriving.

Both managers took charge in the Premier League this season before losing their jobs at Sheffield United and Nottingham Forest respectively. Out of a job ever since, the Sunderland job represents an opportunity that may come their way, unless the Black Cats opt for a reported shock target.

According to The Sun, Sunderland are eyeing a move for Bo Svensson, who left Mainz in November last year after two years in charge. The 44-year-old is reportedly a 'shock' target and could make his first foray into English football to follow in the footsteps of both Jurgen Klopp and Thomas Tuchel, who also went from Mainz to an eventual move to England, albeit with stops along the way.

Having previously been linked with the likes of Tottenham Hotspur, Svensson is certainly a manager who is rated highly and could now be left with the responsibility of taking Sunderland back into the Championship's top six.

"Interesting" Svensson can thrive where Beale failed

In need of a revival, turning to Svensson could be Sunderland's best bet. The former Mainz boss guided the Bundesliga side up to eighth in his best season at the club, before a drop off resulted in his exit at the end of last year.

Utilising a 3-4-2-1 formation, which is interestingly the same system that Xabi Alonso has enjoyed so much success with at Bayer Leverkusen, Svensson's style would help keep up the form of Jack Clarke all whilst adding the defensive cover that the Black Cats so desperately lack these days.

Having thrived in Germany's top flight for a period of time, the Dane should be more than capable of stepping into the Championship to do the job that Beal ultimately failed to do when handed the responsibility.

The appointment, should it take place, represents a more exciting option than the more familiar Cooper and Heckingbottom too, especially if Sunderland allow Svensson to build a project. Described as "interesting" by Football Talent Scout's Jacek Kulig, the young manager is certainly one to keep an eye on in the coming months, as the Black Cats weigh up their move.

Raphinha has welcomed Marcus Rashford to Barcelona with a firm message, warning the Manchester United loanee about the fierce competition for places at the club. The Brazilian insists that increased rivalry in the squad will only push players to improve as Barca look to compete for major trophies again this season after their great debut season under Hansi Flick.

• Rashford joins Barcelona on loan from Manchester United
• Raphinha welcomes competition, says it drives improvement
• Brazilian star focused on winning Barcelona’s sixth UCL title

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Rashford joined Barcelona this month on a season-long loan from Manchester United. The England international will compete with Raphinha, Lamine Yamal, Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres in a star-studded attack. The Brazilian, who is said to be in line to be one of the captains for Barcelona for the upcoming season, has now fired a warning to Rashford about the necessity to be prepared for competition.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT RAPHINHA SAID

  Speaking to Diario Sport, Raphinha said: "When you play with this jersey, with this club, you need to be prepared for all the competition that there is. In my opinion, the more competition we have, the better. It means that one helps the other progress and that is the most important thing if we want to win titles."

  Speaking about the only title that eluded Barcelona last season, the Brazilian added: "The Champions League is a personal challenge in my career. It's also a club goal, to win our sixth Champions League title. I, in particular, will do everything possible to make it happen. And I'm sure the players are thinking the same thing."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Raphinha is coming off his most productive season yet, with 34 goals and 25 assists across all competitions. His form in the Champions League was particularly strong, with 13 goals and nine assists. Despite Rashford’s arrival, the Brazilian has extended his contract until 2028. The Brazilian added: "I always try to find my best form in training, games, the season. I tried that last season, it was better than the previous one, and I will try for this coming season to also be better than the last."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR RASHFORD?

  Barcelona will now aim to integrate Rashford quickly into their system as they prepare for another title push. Raphinha, meanwhile, remains determined to keep improving and fighting for his place and the internal competition could prove key in Barca’s pursuit of domestic and European glory.