Former allrounder had been in interim role since Dale Benkenstein’s departure

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Oct-2025

Lancashire have confirmed Steven Croft as their new head coach after a successful period in the interim role.Croft stepped up after the departure of Dale Benkenstein in May. Lancashire did not win a game during the first half of the County Championship season, but rallied to finish fifth in Division Two, as well as reaching T20 Blast Finals Day.”It means so much to have the honour of being named head coach of this great club,” Croft said. “Lancashire has been a huge part of my life – from joining the academy as a young player, to captaining the team, and now stepping into this role off the field.”I’m incredibly proud of how the lads responded last season, and I’m excited for what’s ahead. We have a talented, driven squad who are passionate about representing the Red Rose and I believe there is much more to come.”My focus now is on building on the second half of last season’s progress, helping each player improve, and bring success back to the club for our members and supporters at Emirates Old Trafford.”Croft, 41, was part of the team when Lancashire last won the Championship in 2011. He retired in 2023 after playing more than 600 times for the club.Mark Chilton, Lancashire’s director of cricket performance, said: “We are thrilled that Steven has accepted the role permanently after making such a strong impression this summer.”Taking over during a challenging period in May, Steven displayed outstanding leadership throughout this summer. His passion for Lancashire Cricket, knowledge and understanding of the game, and ability to connect with players made him the outstanding candidate.”He will take a hands-on role in the leading of day-to-day coaching of the first team and will be supported by a restructured cricket department – including assistant coach Will Porterfield – with further appointments to follow.”

Cristiano Ronaldo’s reduced punishment for his red card against the Republic of Ireland has sparked fury across social media, with fans accusing FIFA of "bending the rules" to ensure the Portugal captain is available for the first games of the World Cup. The decision to convert what many expected to be a multi-match violent conduct ban into a one-game ban with two games suspended has ignited a fierce debate.

Getty ImagesRonaldo set to play World Cup opener after suspended ban

Ronaldo’s sending off against the Republic of Ireland – the first red card of his international career – initially looked certain to trigger a multi-match ban that would impact Portugal’s opening fixtures at the 2026 World Cup. After VAR upgraded his yellow card to a straight red for elbowing Dara O’Shea off the ball, disciplinary precedents suggested a minimum two or three-match suspension for violent conduct. Instead, FIFA’s disciplinary committee downgraded the immediate consequences, ruling that Ronaldo’s offence would result in just a single-match ban, which he has already served, while placing a further two games on a suspended sanction valid for the next 365 days.

The unexpected leniency has caused significant backlash, not least because the incident involved no attempt to play the ball and came amid previous flashpoints between the same two players. Although Portugal cruised to a 9-1 win over Armenia without him, many observers believed Ronaldo would miss at least one match at the World Cup due to the severity of the elbow. Instead, he will be eligible for Portugal’s tournament opener, a decision some feel undermines the disciplinary standards applied to other players in similar situations.

The ruling has been attributed partly to Ronaldo’s previously clean international record and the fact that this was his first-ever red card at national team level. Nonetheless, the decision has ignited a widespread debate about consistency, transparency and whether the governing body has acted in the broader interests of fairness or commercial appeal.

AdvertisementFans outraged by FIFA 'bending the rules'

Across X (formerly Twitter), supporters from around the world erupted in disbelief and anger at what many saw as preferential treatment for Ronaldo.

@Shaun_Hall23 wrote: "It’s an absolute disgrace, the amount of players that have missed huge games for suspensions over the years. Makes a mockery of the game."

@Kop_101x added: "Bending the rules just so he can play in the World Cup is shocking. He assaulted another player, and should be punished accordingly and with precedent."

@notassedLFC accused FIFA of financial motivation: "FIFA know Ronaldo generates money. Him not playing opening World Cup game loses them money. Typical. If this was a Scottish player for example from a small country he’d be banned for all 3."

@CarlSwietlik didn’t hold back either, saying: "May as well just have no rules or punishment for violent conduct then 🤦‍♂️ absolute fucking shambles. State of football man."

@HHHendricks1 even joked that the ruling harms Portugal: "As much as this is completely predictable it is absolutely insane that they have given him blatant preferential treatment! Funniest part is that this actually punishes Portugal 😂😂😂 They are much better side with him not in it!"

@Ratidoking added sarcastically: "As a Messi fan, I prayed for him not to be ban, now we can enjoy his comedy, he thinks world cup is friendly match."

The reactions closed with one final jab from @Dantes__Infern0: "This means Portugal will playing with 10 men in the world cup??"

Getty Images SportRonaldo's 'violent conduct' red card against Republic of Ireland

Ronaldo’s controversial red card came in a chaotic qualifier in Dublin, where Portugal had already fallen 2-0 behind, setting the stage for an evening of frustration that boiled over in the second half. After tussling with O’Shea, the Portugal captain swung an elbow into the defender's back off the ball – an action spotted by VAR and upgraded to violent conduct. Ronaldo responded to the dismissal by ironically applauding the home crowd, further inflaming what was already a hostile atmosphere inside the Aviva Stadium.

The severity of the contact and the lack of any attempt to play the ball fuelled immediate speculation that FIFA’s disciplinary committee would impose a minimum two-game ban, especially given historical rulings on similar incidents. However, Ronaldo’s spotless international disciplinary record appears to have played a decisive role, with the committee concluding that a harsher sentence was not necessary. The decision has therefore amplified concerns about consistency, particularly as similar or lesser acts by lower-profile players have routinely resulted in multi-match bans.

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CR7 free to play Portugal's World Cup opener

Portugal will now move into tournament preparations knowing Ronaldo is fully available for their 2026 World Cup opener, barring any further disciplinary incidents before the tournament. Manager Roberto Martínez is expected to name him in the starting XI without hesitation, though he will need the veteran forward to avoid any repeat confrontations that could activate the suspended two-game ban.

Despite a disastrous start to the season under Will Still, Southampton now found themselves only four points off the final playoff position in the early Championship table.

Three wins on the trot – since Still was dismissed – have helped to arrest the worrying slide, as the Saints aim to be in and around the promotion spaces now until the close of the dramatic 46-game campaign, to return to the Premier League at the first time of asking.

While the Still reign failed spectacularly, his immediate successor in Tonda Eckert looks to be a short-term figure who is now destined for long-term success at St. Mary’s, with the full-time reins perhaps handed to the transformative 32-year-old very shortly.

The latest on Southampton's manager situation

The German, who is used to managing the U21s on the South Coast, really can’t do much more right now to put himself out in front for the running to be the main Saints manager.

As has been mentioned, Eckert has led the once sorry outfit to three straight wins in league action, with a 5-1 win over ex-Southampton boss Nathan Jones last time out versus Charlton Athletic very much the pick of the bunch.

The powers that be at St Mary’s have clearly taken notice now of how much of an impressive turnaround Eckert has managed to mastermind, with Fabrizio Romano reporting – via GIVEMESPORT – that the stand-in manager has a good chance of being handed the reins permanently, amid internal talks behind the scenes at the club.

There had been other rumours suggesting Russell Martin could come back for another shot at promotion glory with the Saints, but instead of walking down memory lane, Southampton could be better off appointing Eckert right now, as he might well be Martin 2.0 for the rejuvenated Saints.

Why Eckert could be Southampton's next Martin

Martin is likely in desperate need of some time away from the pressures of the dug-out after experiencing his own Still-like failures at the helm of Rangers.

On the other hand, Eckert looks hungry and ready for a chance as Southampton’s main boss, having got a taste for it now, after largely settling for roles as an assistant manager and U21 manager during his coaching career to date.

When looking at Martin’s early career as a manager, he never looked back after being handed the MK Dons gig in 2019 at just 33 years of age, which is coincidentally only a year older than Eckert currently is, who boasts some impressive numbers on the South Coast as a U21 boss and as an interim stand-in after Still.

Martin gradually rose the EFL ladder to then take on the Southampton main post and clinch promotion, with 26 wins and 87 goals accumulated over 46 games in the second tier, making the now out-of-work manager a firm fan favourite at St. Mary’s.

Off the back of such a richly successful season, Martin was rightly hailed as a figure who prioritises “exciting attacking football” by analyst John Walker.

Safe to say, the excitement levels have returned to Southampton since Eckert has been given the temporary reins, with the barnstorming 5-1 success over the Addicks also calling back to when Martin was in the hot seat, with Adam Armstrong bagging two, and possession standing in the Saints’ favour at the full-time whistle at 59%.

Moreover, Eckert is willing to give the next generation of talents at Southampton chances to shine, having worked in the U21 ranks, much like Martin showed with the likes of Tyler Dibling before his big Everton switch.

It would be a big risk, but the numbers since Eckert took over from Still are very encouraging, with the German perhaps the man to take Southampton back to the Premier League, much like Martin pulled off during the memorable 2023/24 season.

Praised by Saints midfielder Finn Azaz for being “top level”, everything is pointing in the direction of Eckert being a very promising appointment with lots more to give.

Forget Eckert: Southampton could hire Still upgrade who impressed Arteta

Southampton can hire an upgrade on Will Still by bringing in this manager to replace Tonda Eckert.

1

By
Dan Emery

Nov 22, 2025

Some of the best performers from the TNPL, Mumbai T20 League, Baroda Premier League and more

Shashank Kishore and Deivarayan Muthu17-Jul-2025Tushar Raheja – TNPL
A dashing opener who can also keep wicket, Tushar Raheja has been the top run-getter across the past two TNPL seasons. From being a pace-hitter in the powerplay, Raheja has evolved into a more rounded batter. His game against spin has particularly evolved this season; his manner of taking down Varun Chakravarthy and R Ashwin in the competition is ample proof.Raheja may have deflected a question on his IPL prospects cheekily after leading Tiruppur Tamizhans to the title – he also topped the run charts with 488 runs in nine innings at a strike rate of 185.55 – but he might not be too far away from breaking into the league.Related

IPL star Priyansh Arya sets sights on Ranji Trophy

'Rocket Raheja' prepares for IPL and Ranji lift-off

Mukund: State T20 leagues play a vital part in India's ecosystem

Raheja the hero as Tiruppur win maiden TNPL title

Akshat Raghuwanshi – Madhya Pradesh Premier League
“At 21, I haven’t seen a more talented player. I’m keeping my fingers crossed. Big things are waiting for him in the future.” That’s state senior Venkatesh Iyer on top-order batter Raghuwanshi, who was the standout batter in the tournament even though he didn’t top the run charts.Scouts and coaches believe he could be the next Priyansh Arya-like IPL star. Raghuwanshi had everyone sit up and take notice of him when he smacked 105 off 45 balls against Bhopal Leopards. He hit 239 runs in four innings, striking at 177. Since being part of MP’s Ranji Trophy-winning campaign in 2022, Raghuwanshi’s career has hit a rough patch. But his recent white-ball performances provide hope for a brighter future.Krains Fuletra – Saurashtra Pro T20
Left-arm wristspinners are a rare breed, and at just 21, Fuletra’s combination of skill and temperament has got people in Saurashtra excited. First spotted by Jaydev Unadkat and brought in as a net bowler in Rajkot, Fuletra was fast-tracked into the Vijay Hazare Trophy squad during the 2024-25 season, and debuted against Karnataka. He was later part of Sunrisers Hyderabad as a net bowler at IPL 2025.More recently, he picked up 10 wickets in nine matches for Anmol Kings Halar in the Saurashtra Pro T20 League, where he earned the Emerging Player award. From being on the fringes of the state set-up just over a year ago, Fuletra has already broken into Saurashtra’s Under-23 squad. A call-up to the senior team across formats appears to be a matter of when, not if.Sairaj Patil was named Player of the Tournament in the T20 Mumbai League•T20 Mumbai LeagueSairaj Patil – T20 Mumbai League
A middle-order power-hitter who can also bowl seam-ups, Sairaj Patil’s all-round efforts culminated in him winning the Player-of-the-Tournament award from Rohit Sharma. Patil, 28, hit a chart-topping 16 sixes in six innings and picked up seven wickets in 15.3 overs in Eagle Thane Strikers’ run to the semi-finals.Indian allrounders who can strike big and also bowl are still rare, so Patil has a good chance of being picked in the IPL. He also has the experience of having played the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy for Mumbai.Atit Sheth – Baroda Premier League
Former India Under-19 star from the batch that produced Shreyas Iyer and Sanju Samson, Atit Sheth was a one-man wrecking crew in the inaugural Baroda Premier League, winning both the Orange and Purple caps.He has been a key player for Baroda in Ranji Trophy for close to a decade, but has never been picked in the IPL so far. Often deployed in the top order, Sheth delivered boundaries with the bat and breakthroughs with the ball in the Baroda Premier League. He can also float down the order, which may pique the interest of IPL franchises.Adil Ayub Tunda – Pondicherry Premier League
Standing at 6’5″, Adil Ayub Tunda is an imposing presence with the ability to generate steep bounce – a trait that sets him apart. In the death overs, his arsenal of wide yorkers and clever variations has earned praise from coaches and scouts alike.Born and raised in Jammu & Kashmir, Tunda has recently moved south in pursuit of greater opportunities and clearer direction. Six matches into the current season, he sits as the second-highest wicket-taker – a strong follow-up to his stellar 2024 campaign, where he claimed the Purple Cap with 21 wickets.

MatériaMais Notícias

De virada, o Palmeiras venceu o Independiente del Valle por 3 a 2, pela terceira rodada da Libertadores. Kendry Páez e Hoyos abriram o placar para a equipe equatoriana, Endrick e Lázaro conduziram o empate do Verdão, e Luís Guilherme, nos acréscimos, decretou a virada da equipe de Abel Ferreira.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasFora de CampoTorcedores do Palmeiras detonam opção de Abel por medalhão: ‘Precisa ir para o banco’Fora de Campo24/04/2024PalmeirasAdministradora do estádio do Palmeiras se posiciona contra torcedor que cuspiu em TitePalmeiras24/04/2024PalmeirasKendry Páez ou Endrick? Palmeiras x Del Valle reserva duelo de joias pela LibertadoresPalmeiras24/04/2024

➡️A boa do Lance! Betting: vamos dobrar seu primeiro depósito, até R$200! Basta abrir sua conta!

Com o resultado, o Palmeiras chega ao sete pontos e lidera do Grupo F da Libertadores. A próxima partida do Verdão será o clássico Choque-Rei contra o São Paulo, na segunda-feira (29), pelo Brasileirão.

➡️ Siga o Lance! Palmeiras no WhatsApp e acompanhe todas as notícias do Verdão

✅ FICHA TÉCNICA
INDEPENDIENTE DEL VALLE 2 X 3 PALMEIRAS
3ª RODADA – FASE DE GRUPOS DA LIBERTADORES
🗓️ Data e horário: quarta-feira, 24 de abril de 2024, às 21h30 (de Brasília)
📍 Local: Estádio Banco Guayaquil, em Quito(EQU)

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GOLS: Kendry Páez e Hoyos / Endrick, Lázaro e Luís Guilherme

➡️ Veja tabela com datas e horários dos jogos do Brasileirão

⚽ ESCALAÇÕES:

INDEPENDIENTE DEL VALLE (Técnico:Jorge Célico)
Moisés Ramírez; Landázuri, Carabajal, Richard Schunke e Roman Bucaran; Julio Ortiz, Kendry Páez e Cristian Zabala; Ibarra, Sornoza e Michael Hoyos.

PALMEIRAS (Técnico: Abel Ferreira)
Weverton, Marcos Rocha, Gustavo Gómez, Luan e Piquerez; Aníbal Moreno, Richard Ríos e Raphael Veiga; Mayke, Endrick e Rony.

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Tudo sobre

LibertadoresPalmeiras

NEW YORK — Shane Bieber looked around the other day and realized something shocking: Eight years into his career, with nearly 900 innings pitched and a Cy Young award on his mantle, he is a rookie compared to his fellow Blue Jays starting pitchers.

“He’s 30!” says his 41-year-old rotationmate Max Scherzer with a laugh. “He’s a young buck! We should make him wear a pink backpack.”

Indeed, in an era of flamethrowers who are too young to turn on the stove, Toronto’s rotation looks closer to retirement than to retiring hitters. Scherzer; Bieber; Chris Bassitt, 36; Kevin Gausman, 34; and José Berríos, 31, make up the only contingent in the majors with no one in his 20s. Their average age, 34.4, would outlast nearly five generations of blue jays.

Entering Thursday, the Blue Jays have received 103 starts from pitchers 31 or older, the most in the majors this season and on pace for the most by a division winner since at least 2019. The only current team with a similar number of gray hairs is the Rangers, who employ 37-year-old Jacob deGrom, 36-year-old Patrick Corbin and 36-year-old Merrill Kelly, with 35-year-old Nathan Eovaldi on the shelf with a strained rotator cuff—but 29-year-old Jacob Latz and 25-year-old Jack Leiter help keep them youthful. And yet the Jays’ 31-plus starters have a 4.18 ERA, right in line with league average.

Scherzer famously pitched for the 2019 Nationals, who got 65 starts from 31-plus-year-olds and called themselves . He says he does not look back at that nickname and chuckle at his naivete. “I was old in ’19!” he says. “When you're 36 in the game, that’s when you’re old. That’s when all the GMs start looking at you funny.” (Perhaps that was a senior moment: Scherzer was 34 in 2019.) That club won the World Series on the back of its horses. But most teams these days value young studs who can spin the ball for five and a third innings, then turn it over to a bullpen full of even younger studs who can spin it even harder.

Have the Blue Jays noticed that many of them are more suited for an old-folks’ home than home plate?

“Man, you’re so blunt,” says Gausman with a laugh. “I’ve definitely noticed we’re not young.”

أدرك فريق برشلونة التعادل سريعًا أمام أتلتيكو مدريد، خلال مباراة الفريقين ببطولة الدوري الإسباني لموسم 2025-2026، والمقامة مساء اليوم الثلاثاء.

ويحل أتلتيكو مدريد ضيفًا على برشلونة بملعب “سبوتيفاي كامب نو” في مباراة مقدمة من الجولة التاسعة عشر للدوري الإسباني “الليجا”.

وسجل البرازيلي رافينها هدف تعادل برشلونة أمام أتلتيكو مدريد وذلك في الدقيقة 26 من عمر المباراة.

وجاء الهدف بعد تمريرة متقنة من بيدري وصلت إلى رافينها الذي انطلق بالكرة بشكل رائع وتخطى الحارس قبل أن يسدد كرته بطريقة مميزة في شباك أتلتيكو مدريد.

وكان أتلتيكو مدريد تقدم بهدف عن طريق باينا في الدقيقة 19، واحتسبه حكم المباراة بعد العودة لتقنية الفار. هدف رافينها في مباراة برشلونة وأتلتيكو مدريد

رافينيا يدرك التعادل سريعاً لبرشلونة ⚽️🔥#الدوري_الإسباني | #برشلونة | #أتليتيكو_مدريد pic.twitter.com/yZCKxjbo9S — beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) December 2, 2025

AC Milan midfielder Adrien Rabiot reflected on his incredible relationship – both on and off the pitch – with head coach Massimiliano Allegri. The French midfielder reunited with the coach at Milan in the summer after being sold by Marseille for engaging in a fight with his then-teammate Jonathan Rowe, but he revealed that he was contacted by other clubs in the Serie A.

• Rabiot joins Milan after row with Rowe at Marseille

  Marseille’s season began in turmoil, with off-field chaos quickly eclipsing their opening Ligue 1 defeat to Rennes. The match itself faded into the background after a violent altercation erupted between Rabiot and his ex-teammate Rowe, forcing security to step in as tensions boiled over. The incident took a disturbing turn when 17-year-old Darryl Bakola, caught in the fray, was knocked unconscious.

  In the aftermath, head coach Roberto De Zerbi announced that both Rabiot and Rowe had been suspended and placed on the transfer list as part of the club’s disciplinary response. Club president Pablo Longoria condemned the episode, calling it “completely unheard of in the world of football.” Yet, in an unexpected development, De Zerbi later suggested that Rabiot could still have a future at the club.

  However, Rabiot's fate had been decided the moment he got involved in a pretty intense fight with Rowe. Marseille sold him to AC Milan for peanuts, and things have been looking positive for both Les Phoceens and the France international since their parting. 

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• AFP
  

  Rabiot reflects on his relationship with Allegri

  Rabiot's move to Milan made a lot of sense from many angles. First of all, he was returning to the Serie A, a league where he spent five years from 2019 to 2024 before switching to Stade Velodrome. Secondly, he shares an incredible personal and professional relationship with head coach Allegri, whom he was coached by in Turin. 

  "He's a winner, and I like his personality, his coaching style, his passion for football, and his ambition," Rabiot told while speaking of the Italian manager "He always gives his all, and I see myself in his way of thinking. Off the pitch, he's always very positive, he cracks jokes, and he keeps us calm."

  The 30-year-old also revealed that he chose to join Juventus in 2019 because Allegri was the head coach at the time, before being replaced by Maurizio Sarri the same summer. "I met him months before the end of the season and immediately liked him," he said. "When I arrived in Turin, however, he was no longer there. When he returned in 2021, we created a great relationship. On and off the pitch."

  He also shared that the Milan expressed interest in signing him as a free agent in 2024. "Milan had also approached me last year, when I was a free agent, and we talked," added Rabiot. "Would the team have finished higher than eighth with me? I don't know, but given what we're doing now, I'd say I arrived at Milanello at the right time. 

  "The Rossoneri club also wanted me in July, when I was at Marseille, but it was difficult for me to leave. After that [dressing room fight] happened, other Italian clubs contacted me, but I knew what I wanted. Allegri told me: 'Let's see what happens…' and something really happened. I don't know how he does it, but he also foresees… the future (laughs)."

• Rabiot isn't entertaining early Scudetto talks

  Milan are in a great position after 12 rounds of the Serie A and have emerged as one of the early contenders to challenge Napoli's throne for the Scudetto. However, Rabiot doesn't want to get too carried away despite the Rossoneri's purple patch, which includes the recent derby win over Inter.

  "Yes," the Frenchman responded when asked if it was too early to talk about the league title. "There's no point in thinking about the Scudetto: we're trying to win every game and achieve the goals we've set ourselves. The more the weeks go by, the more we see that the group has the right quality and mentality. Without injuries, we hope to be in a position to give it our chance in February-March."

  He also conceded that the next eight months will be extremely for him. "I have an important year ahead of me, where I can win with both Milan and France. I hope to do that and play all the way to the World Cup final."

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• Getty Images
  

  Milan await Lazio challenge

  Allegri's troops have been unbeaten in the Italian top-flight since their opening day 2-1 defeat to Cremonese. Since then, they have won seven games and drawn four. With 25 points, they sit in second position on the Serie A table. They will welcome Lazio at the San Siro on Saturday.

They’ve had a few disappointing results, but this season is shaping up very nicely for Chelsea.

Enzo Maresca’s side are second in the Premier League, with a chance to cut Arsenal’s gap to three points on Sunday, and have just demolished Barcelona in the Champions League.

The Blues were superb on Tuesday night, and while being a man up certainly helped, they were without a doubt the better side.

One of the most impressive performers for Chelsea was Estevao, who outshone fellow wonderkid Lamine Yamal, and so fans should be excited that they have someone on loan showing shades of the Brazilian in their game.

How Estevao outshone Yamal

While it felt early to be comparing Chelsea’s new wonderkid to someone who just finished second in the Ballon d’Or, that was exactly what was happening before Tuesday night’s game.

However, that added pressure certainly didn’t seem to bother Estevao, as he was sensational throughout the encounter and put in a far better performance than Yamal.

For example, on top of scoring the all-important second goal for the hosts, the 18-year-old didn’t give the visitors’ backline a moment’s rest.

In his 83 minutes of action, he created one big chance, played three key passes, produced an expected assists figure of 0.35 and completed two dribbles, one of which led to the goal.

On the flipside, the Spaniard looked nothing like the superstar winger fans have become so accustomed to seeing.

He was practically anonymous for most of the match, and when he did try to do something, he was more often than not locked down by Marc Cucurella, who was named Man of the Match.

By the time the Barça star was taken off, he had failed to score, lost the ball 21 times, played just two key passes and come out looking second best in the battle of the teenage wonderkids.

In all, it looks like Chelsea have a truly special talent on their hands in Estevao, and in even more good news, they’ve got another stellar prospect out on loan with shades of the Brazilian in his game.

The Chelsea gem with shades of Estevao to him

The scary thing for opposition fans and teams is that Chelsea’s bet on young, up-and-coming talent is starting to pay off, and it could see them really kick on in the coming years.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Estevao is obviously going to be a huge part of that, but another youngster who could be right there with him, and even has shades of the Brazilian to his game, is Kendry Páez.

The Blues signed the Ecuadorian gem over two years ago, but, due to rules on players under 18, he couldn’t join the squad until the summer.

However, instead of keeping him on the bench or in the youth side, the club opted to send him out on loan to Strasbourg for the season, where he has played 531 minutes of first-team football across 14 appearances so far.

Now, it’s important to say that, given Estevao’s extraordinary talent, it’s unlikely that the Guayaquil-born prospect will be as good as him.

However, he certainly shares some traits with him and could still develop into a world-class player.

For example, despite being so young, the “pure quality talent,” as dubbed by Jacek Kulig, racked up a tally of eight goals and five assists in 41 first-team appearances for Independiente del Valle last season.

Appearances

70

Starts

43

Minutes

4062′

Goals

13

Assists

6

Points per Game

1.84

Furthermore, in the words of respected analyst Ben Mattinson, the 18-year-old is “a left-footed magician who can play as a 10 or RW and has the intelligence to control and decide games,” which certainly sounds like the former Palmeiras gem.

Likewise, while he is capable of playing a killer pass or recycling possession to help the team, Mattinson also points out that he’s more than happy to “take on a couple players and get off shots.”

Finally, like Brazil’s next great superstar, the Strasbourg ace has already established himself on the international scene, amassing 23 senior caps for Ecuador, in which he’s scored two goals and provided three assists.

Ultimately, while he might not quite reach the level of Estevao, Paez has the potential to get incredibly close, and that would still make him a world-class player for Chelsea.

Liam Delap says Chelsea have a youngster who's "so raw" but "so exciting"

The striker made the comments after the Blues’ 3-0 rout against FC Barcelona in the Champions League.

ByDominic Lund Nov 26, 2025

Amid talk of Jurgen Klopp making a sensational return to Liverpool, the respective stances of the club and their former manager have been revealed. Uncomfortable questions are being asked of current Reds boss Arne Slot a matter of months out from a Premier League title triumph, with it being suggested that a familiar face could head back to Merseyside.

Why Klopp left Liverpool

Klopp, over the course of almost nine years, helped to turn Liverpool into perennial contenders for the most prestigious of honours. He captured a top-flight crown in 2020, bringing a 30-year wait for domestic dominance to a close.

He walked away at the end of the 2023-24 campaign, with the decision taken not to honour a contract that was due to run for another two years. Klopp, having filled the most demanding of roles, felt burnt out. The German tactician said when bidding an emotional farewell: “My reserves are not endless. I’m not a young rabbit anymore. I am running out of energy. I know I cannot do the job again and again and again.”

AdvertisementGettyCould Klopp return to Anfield?

Klopp has gone on to take up a role with the Red Bull group, as their Global Head of Soccer, but recently hinted at being open to answering an SOS call from Anfield if Liverpool ever required his services again. He told podcast: “I said I will never coach another team, a different team, in England. So that means if then it's Liverpool, yeah, theoretically it's possible.”

Former Reds striker Emile Heskey has told 10bet Casino of Klopp potentially retracing steps to Merseyside: “For a manager who did what he did for Liverpool, it will be difficult for him watching them in this form. To pull them out of the mess they were in, and then to leave them in the position that he did, Klopp will always be linked with a return, especially when he's left the door open.

“It's an interesting one, isn't it? If you're a Liverpool fan, you will always feel allied to him and you will always want him back to emulate what he did before, but how often does that happen?”

Stance of Liverpool & Klopp revealed

While the rumours rumble on, as Slot’s Liverpool struggle for consistency in 2025-26, claims that Klopp is “committed to Red Bull” and has no plans to head back into the dugout.

Liverpool are also said to be wary of going over old ground. With Michael Edwards, Julian Ward and other members of the Fenway Sports Group hierarchy returning to Anfield following a managerial change, it is claimed that they “will certainly not want to go back to Klopp”. The Reds showed in their title triumph last season that they “could win without him”.

Slot has, however, been warned that he is not “immune from the sack”. FSG are considered to be “ruthless” when it comes to making big decisions for the good of the collective cause.

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Getty ImagesSack threat: Slot under pressure to deliver

They are prepared to bide their time for now as there is acceptance in the Anfield boardroom that “managers, like players, can go through a dip in form”. It is also recognised, on the back of a record-shattering summer spending spree, that “many signings take time to hit their stride, and not all can have the immediate impact of Mohamed Salah or Virgil van Dijk”.

FSG are aware that there are “universal rules that football cannot ignore”, with it invariably managers that “pay the price” for any dip in form. Slot has seen Liverpool suffer six Premier League defeats through 13 games this season, leaving them nine points off the pace in a title defence that already appears to be over.

It may be that chance is considered, but Klopp is in no rush to dust off his tactics board and leave a less stressful role with Red Bull. claims it will not be him that “rides to the rescue” if Slot sees his stint in charge of Liverpool cut short.