Tottenham Hotspur are seemingly seeking to build upon their blistering start to the new season, with Ange Postecoglou already outlining his latest transfer target…

Who could Spurs sign in January?

Having already showcased their newfound proficiency in the market last summer, fans would likely blindly follow any decision-making as long as it has been passed by their Australian leader.

After all, the likes of James Maddison and Micky van de Ven have already proved revolutionary acquisitions.

So, despite Football Transfers suggesting that the Lilywhites are very keen on Manchester City outcast Kalvin Phillips, supporters will likely look for positives to justify their reported interest.

However, it is suggested that they might have to battle with the likes of Everton and Newcastle United, both of whom are interested in the wantaway midfielder.

How good is Kalvin Phillips?

Although opportunities have been limited at the Etihad for the £24m-rated maestro – having made just two Premier League starts since the start of last season – his stint at Leeds United should have provided enough material to suggest that the Yorkshire-born ace can thrive at the elite level.

After all, not only did he shine for his boyhood club, but the 27-year-old also made a splash on the international stage too with England.

Able to screen a back four with ease, but boasting a remarkable passing range capable of unlocking defences from deep, his ability to find teammates in space could prove pivotal in helping Maddison reach even loftier heights, despite the former Leicester City man arguably being the division's most in-form player at the moment.

His 8.09 average rating is indicative of such a notion, as such a figure makes him the second-highest rated in the Premier League, with that buoyed by his seven-goal contributions in eight games, whilst averaging 3.3 key passes and 1.3 tackles per game, via Sofascore.

The 26-year-old spends games floating around constantly seeking to pick up deadly pockets of space to terrorise the opposition. Were Phillips to be placed just behind him, and allowed to recapture the form that saw him shine under Marcelo Bielsa, it could prove a fine partnership to elevate the maestro once again.

In fact, the Argentine tactician would laud his former midfield star, noting back in 2021: "Kalvin has obtained a prestige that allows him to have bigger influence in the games and his team-mates perceive that capacity. He's improved a lot in the moments of a game and he knows how to find a solution that each action demands.

"He's matured a lot in his interpretation to take the best solution. Kalvin is playing at very, very high levels and has shown that the responsibility doesn't inhibit him – it improves him."

2023/24

0

2022/23

2

2021/22

18

2020/21

28

During Leeds' first season back in the top flight, Phillips' 7.21 average rating was indicative of a hugely influential player for a club making waves on their big return, as he recorded an 85% pass accuracy alongside 1.2 key passes per game.

Current teammate John Stones would laud such an attribute as recently as June, outlining what he admires most about the midfielder: "Easily his range of passing and how he’s always in the right place on the pitch, his positioning and some of the passes he plays [are] outrageous.”

However, what will certainly help Maddison thrive is the defensive foundation he offered too, also managing 1.6 interceptions, 2.6 tackles and 1.7 clearances per game, via Sofascore.

All the attributes were once there that would have helped Postecoglou's main man thrive, and if anyone is to usher them back out, it is the former Celtic man.

Chelsea have been told there is a "versatile" youngster in their ranks who could end up being "key" for manager Mauricio Pochettino.

Chelsea form this season

The Blues haven't exactly got off to their dream Premier League start, but recent results suggest that they may well be on the up. Before a recent 2-0 win over Fulham at Craven Cottage, Chelsea hadn't scored a league goal since August, with criticism mounting on Pochettino and the west Londoners.

They had tasted defeat at the hands of West Ham, Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa, while also dropping points at home to Liverpool and away at Bournemouth. However, they've now clinched three successive wins in all competitions; securing much-needed victories over Brighton in the EFL Cup as well as Fulham and a demolition of Vincent Kompany's Burnley in the league.

“Always when you concede first and you need to break down the opponent always you feel proud when you achieve that,” Pochettino said after their Burnley 1-4 Chelsea at Turf Moor.

“The team were playing well and with the chances conceded in a situation that was completely unfair, but the team were really good, solid, the whole team. We want to improve players and try to recover the players that were injured,” Pochettino said when asked what he wanted to take from the next fortnight. The next two weeks we’re going to spend working on the training ground with a different mood from the last months.

“After two victories it is much better but I think we will keep pushing, working hard to be better in the next months.”

Chelsea next take on title-contenders Arsenal at Stamford Bridge, which will make a very interesting encounter, as both sides go into the contest on a recent run of good form.

Chelsea news – Levi Colwill

Following his 2022/2023 loan spell at Brighton, one player to have come on leaps and bounds this season is young defender Levi Colwill. The 20-year-old, who's started all eight of Chelsea's league matches so far, also earned a call-up for the England national team; featuring at left-back in their 1-0 friendly win over Australia on Friday evening.

Colwill played the whole 90 minutes of England's victory over the Socceroos, with talkSPORT pundit Darren Bent now tipping him to become a "key" player.

“Levi Colwill, really like him," said Bent.

"He’ll be 25 [at Euro 2028]. Good player. I think he is doing well at Chelsea, he can play left-back and left-centre-half. He’s versatile. I think he’ll get better with that [in Chelsea’s struggles]. I genuinely believe with this transition, he will be a key part of that transition.”

Passing

Crossing

Aerial duels

Concentration

Brighton boss Roberto De Zerbi, speaking after Brighton's 3-0 win over Arsenal last season, also hailed Colwill's bravery as a player.

“I think the best example of courage was Colwill in this game," said De Zerbi (The Argus).

“We defended man-to-man and Colwill’s man was Odegaard. Colwill went 90 minutes to defend with Odegaard 80 metres from Jason Steele. This is courage.”

India set off a rollicking start to their tour with a crushing 76-run win against the hosts at Malahide

The Report by Varun Shetty27-Jun-20182:12

Chopra: Ireland’s bowling looked club-class

India’s opening batsmen, Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan, set off a rollicking start to their tour. Their 160-run stand, the second-highest for India in T20Is, provided momentum enough to last the rest of the game in a 76-run win at Malahide. In response to India’s 208 for 5, the hosts couldn’t even trump the pair’s effort, succumbing to India’s wristspinners through the middle overs.As is often the case when the two open together, it was Dhawan who first took on the bowling. Having been the benefactor of the first of at least six dropped chances across both innings, Dhawan was ruthless. Never was this more evident than in the sixth over when, after stepping out and copping a bouncer in the grille, Dhawan completed the over by stepping out again creaming a length ball out of the ground, straight over the bowler’s head.Rohit began edgily, before joining his partner in feasting on the length balls fed by the seamers, hardly any of which were faster than 130kph. Their preferred method was to loft over the infield, a tactic provided for nicely by a flat, insipid surface. Ireland used four seamers in the Powerplay with no success, before some respite through George Dockrell’s first over immediately after. But when Rohit skipped down the track to launch offspinner Simi Singh high over deep midwicket for his first six, there would be no further control.It wasn’t a complete batsman-dominated innings. There were chances. They found Stuart Thompson, in particular, many times. By the time he finally held onto one – his fourth chance – to get Dhawan, India had made 160 in 16 overs.Suresh Raina, who along with Manish Pandey, was a surprise pick ahead of Dinesh Karthik, was promoted to No. 3 and had a brisk five-ball innings for 10 before falling to the first short ball bowled at him. With Rohit approaching a third T20I hundred at one end, India went for complete aggression at the other with, first MS Dhoni and then Hardik Pandya being pushed above Virat Kohli.But Peter Chase bowled a freak final over, managing to get Rohit – for 97 – Dhoni and Kohli, in the space of four balls to put one final, extremely belated dent to the innings.Malahide’s 9400 spectators were witness to an immediate display of aggression from Paul Stirling, who stepped out and got squared by a Bhuvneshwar Kumar outswinger first ball. That single down to third man would be his only run. With his next display of aggression, he only managed to chip one to mid-on.India dropped James Shannon thrice within the first four overs, none of them patently tough ones. The reprieves allowed a struggling batsman to find his feet against a good nagging pace attack, before he started picking out the leg side at will with predominantly front-foot hoicks. Normally a middle-order batsman, pushed up on the day for the dropped William Poterfield, Shannon found his best in the middle overs.Three of his best shots came against Chahal, each one muscled to completion against balls that were turning away from him, landing either side and far behind deep midwicket. But when he attempted the same against Kuldeep, he was promptly caught in front with a front-of-the-palm yorker.With that, the wheels came off. Neither the in-form Simi at No. 4, nor the experienced Kevin O’Brien at No. 6 got into the chase and with their tame dismissals against Kuldeep and Chahal, respectively, any hopes of Ireland coming close were dashed. And with Wilson running past a Chahal legbreak immediately after O’Brien had fallen, Ireland were all but done at 96 for 6.Kuldeep capped off the embarrassment, lulling the lower order batsmen forward with dipping, fizzing deliveries which they scarcely had an idea about. In doing this he slipped in a maiden, before tonking the off stump of Stuart Poynter as he wicketkeeper looked to flick one from leg stump. That was his fourth wicket, and at 4 for 21, he had the best figures in his exciting young T20I career.

USMNT captain Tyler Adams is edging closer to a first-team comeback after an injury-ravaged year for the Bournemouth summer signing.

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• Adams been out with hamstring injury
• USMNT star played 20 minutes in a year
• Starts for Bournemouth's development side

• Getty
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The United States international midfielder picked up a hamstring injury last March while at Leeds United and then suffered a setback last summer. The former RB Leipzig man, who swapped the Whites for Bournemouth in a £23 million ($29m) transfer, then had another surgery on his hamstring after a recurrence of the issue in his Cherries debut last September. However, he played in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Colchester United's Under-21s for Bournemouth's development squad on Tuesday as he steps up his comeback.

Advertisement

• Getty
  

  WHAT ANDONI IRAOLA SAID

  The Bournemouth manager said last month: “Tyler has started training with the group. In the past week, he has started training quite normally. Not everything, but most of the things he does with the group. It is very possible he plays some minutes with the second team, because after almost one year he will need some rhythm.”

• Getty
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Adams has played a paltry 20 minutes of first-team football in nearly a year. He was one of the few Leeds players to come out of their relegation season with any credit but the past 12 months will have been hard for the 25-year-old. However, the fact that he is playing football again is a boost to Bournemouth and the USMNT.

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• WHAT NEXT?

  Adams is likely to continue his comeback for Bournemouth's development side in the coming weeks. It remains to be seen if he will feature for the first-team this season but some game time may not be too far away.

On Saturday evening it felt like an irremovable force was sent down from upon high to plague Liverpool's chances of moving top of the Premier League.

Such an eventuality would have capped off nicely this rejuvenation of Jurgen Klopp's, who has remoulded his midfield and once again crafted a Reds side that looks capable of challenging for elite honours.

However, when you're forced to play with nine men and then be subjected to one of the most mind-boggling VAR calls you will ever see, you are unlikely to win games of football.

Curtis Jones' aggressive challenge early doors saw red and then Diogo Jota was also sent for an early bath after twice fouling Destiny Udogie in the space of a few minutes.

However, the real injustice was at the hands of the officials. Luis Diaz raced through in the first half before firing home a lovely finish from inside the penalty area.

Everyone could see it was onside, yet in remarkable circumstances, it was chalked off. The PGMOL, for what felt like the 1000th time in the last year were forced to apologise for a major human error. The circumstances surrounding why it was given are incomprehensible.

To make matters worse, they will now be without two of their forward's services. Jota, of course, will be suspended, but Cody Gakpo was also forced off with an injury immediately after finding the net with a powerful close-range drive. According to his manager, he is now in a brace and limping.

Who could replace Gakpo and Jota?

The obvious replacement in the number 9 role will likely be that of Darwin Nunez. The Uruguayan has started just twice in the Premier League this term but will likely now get his chance to do his thing.

An effervescent character in the forward line, the 24-year-old has already found the net three times this season and is simply bursting at the thought of being given an extended run in the side. Fortunately, that could well be forthcoming.

However, another player who could get a rare opportunity is that of Ben Doak.

The teenager has regularly been seen in the first-team picture this term, earning a start in the Europa League against LASK.

How good is Ben Doak?

That centre-forward berth is unlikely to be his, but a vacancy could well open up on the wings. Moving Salah would be foolish but Diaz's place isn't certain and with games coming up thick and fast, rotation will be needed. Without Gakpo and Jota, that is tricky.

Doak already has plenty of senior football under his belt. He made his first-team debut for Celtic at 16 before moving to Anfield and is now gaining semi-regular opportunities in Jurgen Klopp's first team.

Now 17, he has appeared as a substitute once in the Premier League this term but wasn't even in the matchday squad for the trip to Spurs. Damning indeed, but his chance is surely now just around the corner.

A "special" talent, as dubbed by Klopp, he is yet to earn a start in the league for Liverpool, but his radiant qualities prove he deserves a go.

A wonderful ball-carrier, Virgil van Dijk perhaps sums up his qualities best: "He’s very exciting, very direct, one-on-one. I call him a Tasmanian Devil with the way he is buzzing around, he’s just so quick. If his decision-making gets better – and he has all the time in the world for that – then he could definitely be one for the future."

One for the future? Yes. But one for the here and now? Blows to both the availabilities of Jota and Gakpo means we could well be about to find out.

ظهر المدير الفني الهولندي آرني سلوت المدير الفني لليفربول، في مؤتمره الصحفي الأول كمدرب للفريق الإنجليزي.

ويخلف سلوت الألماني يورجن كلوب في تدريب ليفربول، بعد تسع سنوات قضاها مدربًا للفريق.

وبدأ ليفربول التحضيرات للموسم الجديد تحت قيادة سلوت، اليوم الجمعة بحضور ثمانية لاعبين.

وأفتتح سلوت الحديث عن سلفه كلوب قائلاً: “أعتقد أن الأمر لا يتعلق بما أخبرك به الآن، ما جعل يورجن مميزًا هو الانطباع الذي تركه وراءه، قال إنه شخص عادي لكن الجماهير تراه بشكل مختلف، ما فعله للنادي كان أكثر من عادي”.

وعن كونه يحل محل كلوب، شدد: “مكان كبير يجب ملؤه ولكنك ترث فريقًا يتمتع بثقافة الفوز، أحد أسباب المجيء إلى هنا هو أنني أشعر أن لدينا فريقًا جيدًا حقًا، تريد العمل في ناد يضم لاعبين جيدين وفرصة للفوز بشيء ما”.

وأسترسل سلوت: “الماضي يظهر أن ليفربول قادر على الفوز بالألقاب، هناك فرصة للفوز بشيء ما، أحب الفوز وفي هذا النادي هناك فرصة للفوز”.

وبشأن الحديث مع كلوب، أوضح: “لقد تحدثنا عن أشياء كثيرة، لكنها تبقى بيننا، كان غناؤه باسمي في حضوره وسط مشجعي ليفربول مميزًا، لقد كنت محظوظًا في فينورد لأنهم غنوا لي، إن غناء المشجعين لي هو بداية جيدة”.

The emergence of Henry Brookes and Olly Stone, among others, he is no longer guaranteed a first-team place at the club in all formats

George Dobell05-Jul-2018

Chris Wright has remained a valuable part of Warwickshire’s Championship attack•Getty Images

Chris Wright is to join Leicestershire on a two-year deal from the end of this season.Wright, who will be 33 in a couple of weeks, was a key part of the Warwickshire side that won the County Championship in 2012 (he claimed 62 wickets in the campaign), the T20 Blast in 2014 and the One-Day Cup in 2016. But with the emergence of Henry Brookes and Olly Stone, among others, he is no longer guaranteed a first-team place at the club in all formats and was out of contract at the end of the season.While the acquisition of another player from a different county might not fit into Leicestershire’s plans for youth development, it seems the club are taking contingency measures to off-set the possibility of losing players. Neil Dexter is wanted by Kent, Zac Chappell by eight counties (notably Nottinghamshire and Warwickshire) and, most worryingly, Ben Raine has a clause in his contract that allows him to leave to play Division One cricket. Essex is a possible destination.It seems likely the club will be without at least two of the three next year even though they are enjoying a resurgence of form that currently has them sitting third in the Division Two table.”It’s a real coup for us to sign Chris, I know that there was plenty of interest in his signature, and we’re absolutely delighted that he has decided to join us,” Leicestershire head coach, Paul Nixon, said.”Chris has been a consistent, high-class performer in county cricket and has played a key role in Warwickshire’s successes. We know that Chris will slot in seamlessly and add to the quality bowling unit we have here at the Foxes.”The move continues a colourful career for Wright. Having failed to make much impression at Hampshire, where he played youth team cricket, or Middlesex, he was informed he was to be released by Essex mid-way through the 2011 season. He initially joined Warwickshire on loan but, little more than a year later, had impressed with his pace and control in helping the club win the Championship and earning a spot in the England Lions side.A series of stress fractures effectively ended his hopes of playing at the highest level, but he remains a valuable member of the Warwickshire squad and has featured in all seven of their Championship matches this season. He has not, however, played a first-team limited-overs match in more than a year.”Chris has won all major trophies across all formats and he has been a great servant to Warwickshire and Birmingham Bears for seven years,” Ashley Giles, the director of sport at Warwickshire, said. “He’s now in the latter stages of his career, so has had to carefully consider his options, but he will leave Edgbaston with everybody’s best wishes in his next challenge with Leicestershire.””Leicestershire is heading in a good direction,” Wright said. “I really hope I can add some experience to what is a good squad with lots of ambition, and helping to win some silverware.”Everyone I have spoken to about the club has very positive things to say and I can’t wait for this new challenge. I would also like to thank everybody involved at Warwickshire Bears for making my time at the club so special.”

When big money gets thrown around like it's nobody's business, a club's expectations will automatically increase, and it's Chelsea who have found themselves victims of that narrative in recent times.

Criticised for their overspending, the Blues have totalled over £1bn in transfer fees since Todd Boehly arrived at the club as the American attempted to buy his way to a league title and instead, bought his way to a 12th-place finish last term.

While most anticipated drastic improvements with the appointment of Mauricio Pochettino, the Argentine has found it to be a poisoned chalice having dropped points in five of their eight matches.

If Chelsea are in a similar position come January, Boehly could dip into his deep pockets once more and provide Pochettino with the funds to sign a striker.

Who could sign for Chelsea in January?

According to reports from ESPN this month, Chelsea are eyeing up a blockbuster move for Napoli's prolific marksman Victor Osimhen.

The Blues are still seeking reinforcements up front having lacked that killer touch in the final third this season and the Nigeria international could provide that.

He's forged a reputation for becoming one of Europe's most exciting strikers and the Italian giants have acknowledged that by slapping a reported £150m price tag on his head earlier this year.

Although that is a ludicrous amount of money to shell out, especially after totalling over £1bn in spending across three windows, Napoli could be forced to enter talks with his contract expiring in 2025.

Osimhen is also currently unhappy after he was the subject of two offensive clips that were shared on the club's TikTok account, casting doubt over his future while his agent threatened to sue the Serie A side in the wake of the fallout.

While it remains unclear as to whether Chelsea will pursue a deal for the 24-year-old in January, he would significantly bolster a forward line consisting of £32m summer arrival Nicolas Jackson, who has only scored twice in seven appearances this term, as well as Armando Broja.

How many goals has Victor Osimhen scored for Napoli?

In the past few years, Osimhen has become one of the most lethal strikers on the planet and an impressive return of 65 goals in 111 appearances for Napoli emphasises that point.

Accumulating 103 goals in 201 club matches across his career to date, it is clear that the Nigerian knows where the back of the net is, displaying unequivocal efficiency in front of goal, unlike Jackson.

The 22-year-old, who has been the subject of wasted opportunities and exhuming a lack of conviction, has supplied the Blues with a measly conversion rate of 10% this term, seven big chances missed and only two goals scored from an xG of 4.09, as per Sofascore.

By contrast, the "phenomenal" Osimhen – as lauded by Italian coach Walter Mazzarri – has produced incredible goal-scoring numbers, including six goals in eight Serie A matches this season, 4.1 shots per game and an xG of 6.11.

Osimhen's clinical edge is amplified by the fact he has ranked in the top 1% against his position peers across Europe's top five leagues for non-penalty goals, touches in the attacking penalty box and total shots as well as top 10% for aerials won in the past year, via FBref.

If Chelsea can negotiate a lower price for the sensational forward and beat off interest from elsewhere, he could provide the requisite magic that has been in short supply.

Amelia Kerr hadn’t heard of Belinda Clark or the 229 not out the former Australia Women captain struck in 1997. Kerr, who was only born four years later, broke a 21-year-old record on Wednesday when she struck an unbeaten 232 against Ireland. It is the highest ever score in women’s ODIs and also made her the youngest double-centurion – male or female – across formats. But those are only two of several landmarks the legspin-bowling allrounder achieved on a day of astounding all-round returns. After all, when it was her turn to bowl, she picked up 5 for 17.”I hadn’t heard of Belinda Clark [before],” Kerr said. “It’s pretty surreal. I had no idea [of the record]. I think I heard them say stuff on the speaker but I didn’t hear them because everyone was clapping.”In her first game as an opener at the international level, Kerr batted the full 50 overs and bettered her previous highest score across formats at any level of 152, against Otago Under-21s. As far as maiden centuries in women’s ODIs go, her 232 not out is the highest now and it will take take some beating.”It was nice to get the opportunity to open and get some time out in the middle. I had to work hard at the start. But once I got going, I had a good partnership with Leigh [Kasperek], which allowed me to play how I wanted to play and try and hit boundaries because we weren’t losing wickets.”And how did the 17-year old fancy celebrating her amazing feat? “Bit of recovery and… watch some quality TV in Love Island! Recoupling tonight, so it’s going to be a good episode,” Kerr quipped.A student of Tawa College, Kerr reflected on her roots in Wellington’s northernmost suburb, where she played much of her age-group cricket before debuting for New Zealand in 2016.”232 is the Tawa home phone line. All my family is in Tawa. It’s a great place, great community, so I’m sure they’d be celebrating.”Amelia Kerr lofts one over covers•Getty Images

For Haidee Tiffen, the head coach, watching Kerr stitch together a record 295-run stand – the highest second-wicket partnership in women’s ODIs – with Kasperek was a journey down memory lane. Nine years ago in Sydney, Tiffen and current captain Suzie Bates had put together 262, then the highest partnership for any wicket for New Zealand women.”Suzie and I held that record and we’re happy to hand that to two young and incredible batters,” Tiffen said. “Records are there to be broken, and there’s been a fair few in this series and it’s just really exciting from the coach’s point of view – the way the team’s tracking and the way we can hit in the future.”Amelia is a pretty humble character. She had a wry smile on her. She’s chuffed inside absolutely. She wants to do well and contribute, but how the team celebrates her successes is what it’s about as well.”The way Kerr closed her innings out was especially thrilling. She smashed two fours and her second six – in an overall tally of 33 boundaries – off her last three balls to go past Clark’s 229 and brought all her team-mates up to their feet.”I was thinking, ‘Will she get the record?'” Tiffen said of the moment. “She needed a six [four] off the last ball, and trust me, she didn’t know about that, but we did. And for her to get back and hit that six down the ground and get the record is fantastic.”To put the cherry on top of one of the most dominating performances in cricket history, Kerr picked up her first five-wicket haul.”I didn’t think I was going to bowl today, I thought Suzie was going to let me rest in the field standing at slip all day,” Kerr said. “[Between innings], the physio asked me to lie down on the table, and I took a two-minute nap. Then I went out to field. I saw it was a good day, so I embraced it and it was good to be out there with the team. Got to have a bowl, it was nice, and the pitch was turning, which obviously helps me.”So at the end of it all, New Zealand wrapped up a resounding 3-0 whitewash over Ireland, scoring 400-plus in each game and winning all of them by 300 runs or more. With the experiment to promote both the bowling allrounders – Kerr and Kasperek – up the order working, the record returns on Wednesday are likely to strengthen the management’s long-term plans of giving Kerr a run at the top.”I’ve always known Amelia has huge potential with the bat and I genuinely think we have a top-class allrounder in the team, [there’s] no doubt about it,” Tiffen said. “She’ll be batting in the top order in the future for the White Ferns. The point of difference has been her spin bowling, but the fact that she’s actually gone out and worked really hard on her bowling, and I know she’s hungry for the batting, to perform with the bat, to contribute to the team. [She’s a] hugely talented player, and at 17, she’s got the world ahead of her.”[The record] is unbelievable but she’s got the skills; the 360 game – she’s capable of scoring big. A hundred – fantastic, but to go on a get 232, I’m not speechless but it’s just absolutely incredible from here.”

MatériaMais Notícias

Nesta quarta-feira, Ceará e Palmeiras iniciam o confronto de 180 minutos que definirá um dos semifinalistas da Copa do Brasil. E um dos personagens principais desse embate será Fernando Prass, goleiro do clube cearense que já conquistou o torneio duas vezes, em 2011 e 2015. O segundo, inclusive, com a camisa do Palmeiras, seu próximo adversário.

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Atento ao momento do futebol, que não poderá contar com a força das respectivas torcidas, Fernando Prass falou sobre a expectativa dos confrontos pela competição nacional. O goleiro reconheceu o favoritismo do Palmeiras, mas crê em uma classificação cearense para a próxima fase.

– Daqueles tantos clubes que começaram a competição sobraram apenas oito. Teremos um grande duelo com o Palmeiras e a expectativa é muito boa para esse jogo. Uma pena é a falta de público, principalmente na Copa do Brasil, que é um torneio muito emocionante. Estamos imaginando dois grandes jogos. O Palmeiras é o favorito, mas por que o Ceará não pode pensar em passar para uma semifinal? – indagou o arqueiro do Vozão.

Prass salientou também a importância dos goleiros nestes embates específicos de uma competição mata-mata, como a Copa do Brasil. Para o jogador, tudo conta, desde a preparação mental até os materiais adequados para entrar em campo. Prass falou sobre a escolha de suas luvas, fabricadas pela Poker, que fornece material para os goleiros de seis dos oito clubes das quartas de final.

– A posição do goleiro requer erro mínimo, erro zero. Uma vaga que pode ser decidida nos pênaltis mostra a importância de estar bem preparado. Então, precisamos do melhor material possível e as luvas da Poker, independente do modelo, nos trazem essa qualidade e segurança.

A partida de ida entre Palmeiras e Ceará será disputada nesta quarta-feira, às 16h30 (de Brasília), no Allianz Parque, em São Paulo. Já a volta está marcada para a quarta-feira seguinte (18), às 19h, na Arena Castelão.