Borussia Dortmund are set to face Barcelona in the Champions League quarter-finals, and Didi Hamann is causing a stir with his prediction.
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Hamann makes surprise Barca claim
Believes Dortmund will beat Catalans
Criticised Barcelona's 'open' defence
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WHAT HAPPENED?
Former Germany international Hamann, currently working as a TV pundit for , made a bold Champions League quarter-final prediction, backing Borussia Dortmund to beat Barcelona and book a berth in the last four. Dortmund progressed to the quarter-finals after overcoming Lille 3-2 on aggregate. Barca, meanwhile, beat Benfica 4-1 across two legs.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
After securing a hard-fought victory to reach the Champions League quarter-finals with a spirited performance at Lille on Wednesday evening, Borussia Dortmund will now face Europe's top-scoring team, Barcelona, next month. Despite being in 10th place in the Bundesliga, Dortmund are widely regarded as the underdogs against Hansi Flick's men, who are arguably the best team in the world and the bookmaker's favourites to go all the way following Liverpool's elimination against PSG. However, Hamann is not ready to write Dortmund off and predicted a win for the Bundesliga outfit.
WHAT DIDI HAMANN SAID
The former Bayern and Germany international, himself a Champions League winner with Liverpool in 2005, said on Wednesday: "Barcelona are wide open at the back and I don't know if that will hold up in the long run. They score a lot of goals, of course, because they have some incredible players up front, but Dortmund know what it takes, they showed that last year. I think they'll knock Barca out over the course of the two games."
AFP
WHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA AND DORTMUND?
The Catalans will turn their attention towards La Liga, where they are currently in first place, level on points with Real Madrid. Flick and Co. have a game in hand, though, and they visit Atletico Madrid on Sunday in what could be a potential title-decider.
Meanwhile, Dortmund will take on sixth-placed RB Leipzig on Saturday as they look to close the gap between them and the top four.
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick is pleased to 'put pressure' on their arch-rivals Real Madrid after a dominant win against Celta Vigo, featuring a strong yet explosive performance of Robert Lewandowski's hat-trick. However, Flick bemoans the "incredible" suspension of key Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong, who will miss the next fixture against Athletic Club after the international break.
Barcelona's character shines in Balaidos victory
Celebrating his 50th La Liga game in charge, Flick's side demonstrated a potent attacking display as they ran out 4-2 winners to cut the gap on league leaders Madrid to three points. The match saw three goals from Lewandowski and one more from Pedri for Barcelona, while Celta threatened with strikes from Iago Aspas and Jorgen Strand Larsen.
The win, which came with eight shots on target from 20 attempts, showcased Barcelona's attacking prowess, contrasting with Celta's four shots on target from six attempts. Despite conceding two goals, Barcelona's control in the second period was evident, maintaining 63% possession and achieving 95% pass accuracy.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportFlick's focus on continued pressure on Real Madrid
Speaking after the match, Flick said: "Yes, of course, I'm happy. I think we made more mistakes in the first half than in the second. In the first half we were very good with the ball, and in the second half the team knew how to control the game.
"In football, the previous match doesn't matter, you always have to look ahead to the next one, but it's good to put pressure on the team above us. The second half gives us confidence. I'm happy for the team."
The Barcelona coach highlighted the strategic significance of the result, especially heading into the international break. "Pushing pressure on the opponent is good, we did it and I’m happy. Winning before the international break is also very good. I feel happy. We had to look out for ourselves and we applied the pressure well today."Â
This result positions Barcelona on 28 points, three behind Real Madrid's 31, with both teams having played 12 matches.
The undeniable star of the evening was veteran striker Lewandowski, who netted a hat-trick to take his La Liga tally to seven goals. The Polish international, in his fifth start, demonstrated his enduring quality despite being 37 years old. Flick expressed confidence in Lewandowski's form, avoiding speculation about his future beyond the current season.
"It’s too early to talk about Lewandowski’s next season. I can say that after his injury, I saw a different Robert, positive, confident. It’s very important for us that he scored three goals," Flick commented, acknowledging the striker's strong return to form. This performance is a significant boost for Barcelona's title aspirations, providing the cutting edge in attack they need to challenge Real Madrid.
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De Jong suspension a blow for Barcelona
While celebrating the victory, Flick voiced regret over the suspension of key midfielder Frenkie de Jong. The Dutchman received two yellow cards during the match, resulting in a red card in the fifth minute of stoppage time, and will now miss Barcelona's next league fixture against Athletic Club. De Jong's absence will be keenly felt, given his crucial role.
"I think De Jong controlled the game and is very important for us," Flick noted. "He’s playing at an incredible level. It’s not good that he’ll miss the next game because he’s important for us, but we’ll have to manage it. When we return from the break, I hope to have Pedri, Raphinha, and Joan [Garcia] available. We’ll see."
De Jong’s influence on possession and pass accuracy is considerable, and his ability to dictate the tempo of games is vital for Barcelona. His suspension comes at a challenging time, especially with the team striving to maintain pressure on the league leaders.
da premier bet： Tottenham Hotspur’s ability to pull top-level talent in the transfer market has been reflected by their move to land Mohammed Kudus from West Ham United this summer.
da luck： The Ghanaian has been a key threat in the Premier League over the last couple of years, scoring 13 times in his two seasons across the capital with the Hammers.
Before moving to join the Lilywhites, the 25-year-old was on the radar of the likes of Chelsea and Bayern Munich – but decided in favour of a move to join Thomas Frank’s men.
He’s already made an immediate impact with his new side, registering two assists in his first four Premier League outings – the most of any player in the first-team squad.
Whilst it’s still early days for Kudus in his career in North London, he has already adhered himself to the fanbase – potentially benefitting from one player’s talents had the board kept hold of him.
Harry Kane’s record-breaking spell as a Spurs player
No Spurs fan would have ever expected Harry Kane to have had the impact he did in North London after making his senior debut for the club as a youngster back in August 2011.
He would have to wait three years for his first start, but once he forced himself into Mauricio Pochettino’s plans, there was no looking back for the former academy star.
Fast-forward to the present day, the 32-year-old managed to rack up 280 goals for the Lilywhites in his 435 appearances – scoring over 30 goals in 50% of his decade-long spell in the first-team.
Such a record makes him the club’s highest-ever goalscorer, whilst also sitting second in the Premier League’s all-time scoring chart – with only Alan Shearer scoring more at present.
However, despite his phenomenal nouse for scoring goals, he was unable to catapult the Lilywhites to any silverware, which led to his transfer to Bayern Munich in the summer of 2023 for ÂŁ82m.
Since joining the Bundesliga outfit, the Englishman has netted 93 goals in his 102 outings, further highlighting his talent in attacking areas – undoubtedly going down as one of the best English forwards in football history.
His move away from North London has left a huge void over the last couple of seasons, with new boss Frank hoping that one player can step up to the plate over the next couple of campaigns.
The Spurs player who could be their best forward since Kane
Whilst Kane was more often the man to finish off chances for Spurs, he also struck up an incredible partnership with Heung-min Son in the final third over countless years.
The Englishman and the South Korean linked up for 47 Premier League goals throughout their time together, sitting at the top for the most goals created by a single two-player partnership in Premier League history.
However, the latter of the pair also departed the Lilywhites this summer, joining LAFC in a ÂŁ20m transfer – leaving yet another huge hole for Frank to fill in his first year at the helm.
As a result, the hierarchy delved into the transfer market and completed the ÂŁ52m signing of forward Xavi Simons from Bundesliga side RB Leipzig.
The 22-year-old can either operate in a central role behind the striker or off the left-hand side, subsequently offering the Dane a versatile option within attacking areas.
The Dutchman has arrived in England with huge expectations, and understandably so given his record in Germany last campaign, with the youngster registering 19 goal contributions in just 33 outings.
Whilst he’s yet to notch his first goal for the Lilywhites, he’s already caught the eye in his first two outings – even registering an assist for Pape Matar Sarr in the 3-0 triumph over West Ham United last weekend.
Simons, who’s been labelled “phenomenal” by one analyst, has already racked up over 160 senior appearances despite his tender age, with his underlying stats from his first handful of Spurs games already catching the eye.
The Dutchman has already created three chances in his first two outings – the most of any Lilywhites player in that time – showcasing the creative spark he possesses despite his youthful age.
Xavi Simons – Spurs stats (2025/26)
Statistics
Tally
Games played
2
Minutes played
148
Assists
1
Shots taken
3
Pass accuracy
80%
Successful passes
52
Chances created
3
Dribble success
75%
Dribbles completed
4
Fouls won
3
Stats via FotMob
He’s also completed 75% of the dribbles he’s attempted, whilst winning three fouls – tallies which highlight the danger he has already caused to the opposition during his bedding-in period.
Simons’ tally of 1.5 shots per 90 also highlights he’s more than capable of going alone when needed, but he just needs his first goal in English football to help kickstart his spell under Frank.
£52m may appear to be a mammoth investment by the board, but it’s one that could be worthwhile if he can continue producing the calibre of performances he has in the early stages of his Spurs career.
Given the levels produced by Kane in North London, he certainly has a long way to go before getting near his cult hero status, but there’s no disputing he has bags of time on his hands.
If he can carry on his superb start in England, there’s no reason why he can’t be the club’s best attacker since the English international – potentially able to write a new history for the side under Frank’s guidance.
Spurs flop was prematurely sold by Conte, now he's outperforming Kudus
One former Tottenham Hotspur star has recaptured his best form after leaving the club under Antonio Conte.
West Ham United boss Graham Potter is under mounting pressure after slumping to a dismal 3-0 derby defeat against Tottenham last Saturday, with the east Londoners losing four of their opening five games in all competitions thus far.
Potter has tough games against Crystal Palace, Everton and Premier League title-chasing Arsenal on the horizon, with more unconvincing performances threatening to oust the tactician just 10 months after he took over from Julen Lopetegui.
Only Avram Grant, who led the Hammers to relegation in 2011, boasts a worse West Ham win percentage than Potter since the Premier League’s inception — serving as a clear warning that things desperately need to improve.
9. Sam Allardyce
30.7%
10. Julen Lopetegui
30%
11. Gianfranco Zola
27.8%
12, Graham Potter
27.3%
13. Avram Grant
18.9%
via StatMuse
West Ham’s woeful defence, which has conceded 14 goals in all competitions already, is the top flight’s worst back line right now by far — having also leaked 11 league goals in just four top flight matches.
Their failure to deal with set pieces has been another major thorn in Potter’s side, and one key ingredient West Ham need more than anything else is solidarity if they’re to avoid a relegation dogfight.
West Ham United managerGrahamPotterapplauds fans after the match
David Sullivan and the Irons board may even decide to cut their losses with Potter, especially considering that out-of-work former Nottingham Forest boss Nuno EspĂrito Santo is readily available for hire.
The Portuguese, who guided Forest back to Europe for the first time since 1995 after a fairytale 2024/2025, was unceremoniously sacked by Evangelos Marinakis after a public fallout — just months after Nuno signed a brand-new contract.
Reports suggest that Nuno will jump at the chance to get back into management and his priority is to remain in the Premier League — making the 51-year-old a potential match made in heaven for West Ham.
How West Ham's board really feel about Graham Potter after Tottenham defeat
However, before any approach is made to the aforementioned coaches, the club must first make a decision on Potter.
According to Football Insider and journalist Pete O’Rourke, West Ham’s board believe it is “too early” to sack Potter despite their lacklustre start to 2025/2026 — with the ex-Chelsea boss retaining their backing “for the time being”.
The key phrase here is “for the time being”, but should West Ham relieve the tactician sooner?
West Ham must make ruthless Graham Potter decision
The team looks disjointed right now, lacking both defensive organisation and attacking spark, which arguably reflects poorly on Potter’s tactical approach among other key concerns.
For a squad boasting proven talent, fans and pundits alike are in agreement that the side should be performing far better.
Potter’s track record at Chelsea also raises concerns. Despite heavy backing in the transfer market there, he failed to deliver results, and many critics feared West Ham were repeating the same mistake when he was appointed.
Those fears now appear to be realised, and with Nuno available, West Ham should bite the bullet, admit they made a mistake and bring the former Tottenham boss to east London.
Having watched Kent bat for nearly a day and a half to make 374, Lancashire produced a determined response in the long evening session at Blackpool to finish on 120 for one and leave this Rothesay County Championship match fairly evenly poised with two days left to play.Ben Compton’s 135 was the centrepiece of his side’s 374 but Luke Wells and Keaton Jennings put on 119 to give supporters a faint hope they might bat past the visitors’ score and give their bowlers a chance of forcing their team’s first Championship victory of the season on the final day.For their part, Kent’s supporters will have been encouraged by the departure of Jennings, who was lbw to Joey Evison for 49 three overs before the close, and by the help Jack Leaning extracted from this slow pitch, especially when bowling outside the two left-handers’ off stumps. It all suggests that this match between the bottom sides in Division Two could be set for a fascinating conclusion over the next two days.The morning began almost perfectly for Lancashire when James Anderson had both Leaning and Evison caught at short midwicket by Josh Bohannon inside his opening two overs.But having dismissed Leaning for four and Evison for a 12-ball nought, the home side enjoyed no further successes in the first session. Instead, Compton reached his fourth century of the season -and also his fourth against Lancashire – off 201 balls when he back cut Mitch Stanley to the rope.By lunch, the Kent skipper was unbeaten on 124 and Harry Finch was 28 not out. The pair had put on 60 for the sixth wicket and the second new ball, which was eleven overs old, was hitting the middle of their bats.That trend continued for the first 40 minutes of the afternoon session. But just at the point when it was tricky to see where Lancashire’s next wicket might come from, Anderson’s bowlers removed both batsmen, Finch, caught behind off Balderson for 52, and Compton, similarly snaffled by Hurst in the next over when nibbling at a ball from Green, for 135. The Kent skipper has batted 402 minutes, faced 296 balls and hit 15 fours and a six.Grant Stewart followed five overs later when his skier was caught at mid-off by Bohannon, whose third catch of the day also gave Mitch Stanley his maiden first-class wicket. Matt Parkinson perished to Wells’ leg spin for 11 but Wes Agar enlivened the play before tea by smashing three big sixes in his 41 before he was caught at long off by Stanley long-off Bailey.That wicket ended the Kent innings on 374 with the wickets spread among six bowlers. Balderson was the best and most successful with three for 54. Anderson took two for 51 and Green bagged two for 104 from 37 overs.Despite frequent appeals and a few near things Wells and Jennings batted with increasing confidence in the 38-over evening session, Wells reaching his fifty off 97 balls with seven fours and a six and finishing unbeaten on 57. Nightwatchman Tom Bailey was nought not out at the close
Williams and Welch scored half-centuries for the visitors, but they lost their last five wickets for 27 runs
Mohammad Isam28-Apr-2025Taijul Islam sparked Zimbabwe’s batting collapse on the first day of the second Test between Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, in Chattogram. He took the 16th five-wicket haul of his career, finishing the day with 5 for 60. The visitors were steadily batting at 200 for 4 at one stage, before Taijul got into the act with three quick wickets and a run-out. Zimbabwe eventually finished day one on 227 for 9, a far cry from how positively they had started their innings.Sean Williams top-scored with 67, while Nick Welch got 54, before cramps on his hands forced him off the field shortly after tea. Welch was Taijul’s fifth wicket. Meanwhile, Nayeem Hasan picked up two wickets, and debutant Tanzim Hasan took one.Zimbabwe began brightly, with Brian Bennett striking five boundaries in the first ten overs. He was lucky with the first one, but it was followed by a scrumptious straight drive, and his trademark cover drive. But once again, Bennett got caught behind trying to drive on the up to give Tanzim his first Test wicket.Bangladesh could have had their second in a short span, but Shadman Islam dropped a sitter to give Welch a life in the 14th over. At that time, Welch was on 1. Shortly afterwards, Ben Curran and Welch went on a six-hitting spree. Curran slammed Mehidy Hasan Miraz over midwicket before Welch stunned Tanzim with a pull that produced a sweet sound off the bat. Welch followed it up with a slog-swept six against Mehidy in the following over.Taijul removed Curran shortly afterwards, getting him to inside edge the ball on to his leg stump for 21 off 50 balls. But Zimbabwe consolidated by not losing a single wicket in the second session. Welch, who had struck a few boundaries in the morning, was more circumspect in the afternoon, adding just 22 runs in 77 balls after lunch. Williams, though, dominated their third-wicket partnership, hitting six fours during this time at the crease.Nick Welch and Sean Williams put together a solid partnership for the third wicket•AFP/Getty ImagesWilliams struck the ball sweetly through the covers for two boundaries, apart from two more through point, and on the leg side each. His only six came against Mehidy, as he skipped down the wicket to deposit him over long-on.Williams and Welch got into a mix-up once in the 33rd over, but Bangladesh messed up the chance with poor communication among themselves. First, the point fielder threw at the wrong end. Wicketkeeper Jaker Ali, to whom the throw went, in turn threw poorly towards the non-striker’s end while Williams struggled to get back. Zimbabwe’s only worry towards the end of the second session was Williams and Welch both suffering cramps. Williams needed attention on his calf and hamstring, while Welch’s hands were cramping up.Welch, however, didn’t last long after tea, when he walked off with cramps after just playing one ball. Nayeem then got into the act, removing the Zimbabwe captain Craig Ervine for 5. Williams was next to go, Tanzim taking the catch brilliantly at backward square leg. He struck a six and seven fours in his patient 67 off 166 balls.Bangladesh conceded just 18 runs in the first 16 overs of the final session, before Wessly Madhevere struck a couple of boundaries against Nayeem. Taijul, however, removed Madhevere with a beautiful delivery that spun slightly away, and dismissed him for 15.Taijul continued Zimbabwe’s collapse with the wickets of Wellington Masakadza and Richard Ngarava in the first over with the second new ball. Tafadzwa Tsiga was run-out after falling way short of the crease at the non-striker’s end, before Welch returned to the crease to continue his innings. It didn’t last long, though, as Taijul bowled him to complete his five-for.
Trio of half-centuries from England batters put hosts in strong position
ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay26-Apr-2025Rory Burns was one of three Surrey half-centurions as the defending champions took a first-innings lead against visitors Somerset on day two at the Kia Oval.The Brown Caps skipper struck 10 boundaries in a fluent 76, sharing a first-wicket stand of 129 with fellow former England opener Dom Sibley (53), who passed 50 for the fifth time in six innings this season.England wicketkeeper Jamie Smith was the third to reach his half-ton with 58 as the hosts reached 321 for 7 at stumps.Somerset’s bowlers recovered from a morning where they bowled too full a length, skipper Lewis Gregory leading the way with three for 46, including a double strike with the second new ball, as four wicket fell in the final sessionHaving bowled out Somerset for 283 on the cusp of stumps on day one, Burns and Sibley enjoyed a morning of dominance as they begun Surrey’s reply.Save for the odd ball which bounced a little for those bowling from the Vauxhall End and the odd lbw shout, Burns moved serenely along, Somerset’s bowlers guilty of straying onto the pads too often to feed his trademark shot through mid-wicket. In fact, anything pitched up was quickly seized on by the 34 year-old left-hander as he raced to 50 from 77 balls.As ever Sibley’s progress was sedate but rock solid, the pair reaching lunch one short of the century stand.If anything, Burns looked even better post lunch, driving with authority to move into the 70s and he appeared destined for a century before Josh Davey produced the ball of the day to remove him.Bowling around the wicket, Davey extracted bounce and while Burns did everything right, trying to drop his hands, the ball followed him and smacked off the top glove for Kasey Aldridge to pouch the catch at slip.Ollie Pope didn’t detain us for long, bowled by skipper Gregory trying to cut a ball too close to him, but Smith came out bristling with aggression and began with a flurry of boundaries.Sibley, the rock around whom others express themselves became barnacle-like even by his standards, failing to hit a boundary after lunch.He reached a fifth 50 in 151 balls, but even he ran out of patience, uncharacteristically charging England spinner Jack Leach and being beaten in the flight. His ugly wahoo failed to make contact and he’d have been stumped had the ball not cannoned into the stumps.The deceleration was catching with Smith slowly grinding to a halt despite his continued best efforts to hit the cover off the ball. He too would make it to his half-century before his innings ended tamely a mis-timed pull off Aldridge only travelling as far as Gregory at mid-on.By this stage Ben Foakes was in flow, the diminutive wicketkeeper employing his wristy shots to good effect, sending successive deliveries from Leach to the fence at point. However, with 50 in sight he was undone by a beauty from back of a length by Gregory with the second new ball which nipped between bat and pad to pluck out the off-stump.There was further reward for Gregory when Ryan Patel fell cheaply to a superbly judged tumbling catch at long-leg by Leach and Jordan Clark edged behind before the close to limit the home side’s advantage.
Glasgow Rangers could be set for a major summer exodus at Ibrox if Philippe Clement has his way.
Not only are six players out of contract in Glasgow when the season finishes, but there are several first team players who will likely be sold by the Gers in order to raise funds for the Belgian to bring in his own transfer targets, thus improving the team in the process.
Much will depend on how much money he can get for the vast amount of deadwood which has lingered around Ibrox for too long, yet he should free up plenty of the wage bill with the six who are set to leave upon the expiry of their contracts.
Jon McLaughlin, Borna Barisic, Leon Balogun, John Lundstram, Kemar Roofe and Ryan Jack earn a combined £91k-per-week in wages, which could give Clement some leeway once the summer transfer window opens up.
John Lundstram for Rangers.
Jack and Roofe, in particular, have seen injury issues gnaw away at their impact this season, and the duo should receive their well-wishes from Clement before leaving with their heads held high.
Philippe Clement faces a summer of change at Ibrox
While previous managers acted on sentiment and gave those who have struggled to remain fit new and extended contracts, it appears as though Clement isn’t one to follow in that direction.
Truth be told, the club’s injury crisis this season should have made the Belgian’s job much harder, but it proves how impressive he is as a boss that he managed to lead the club to a League Cup triumph, as well as contend in the Premiership until the final few weeks.
Players who are out of contract at Rangers this summer
Player
Wage
Age
John Lundstram
£22k-per-week
30
Leon Balogun
£8k-per-week
35
Ryan Jack
£8k-per-week
32
Jon McLaughlin
£6.1k-per-week
36
Kemar Roofe
£26k-per-week
31
Borna Barisic
£21k-per-week
31
Via Salary Sport
Throughout the entire campaign, Jack has played just 22 times this season, including only 12 starts, as his injury woes appear to be catching up with him.
With just four games remaining, it is unlikely that Jack returns to the starting XI given he has been missing since the start of February.
Having made 210 appearances for the Light Blues, it would be an underwhelming way to bow out at the club, but he has enjoyed plenty of highs across the previous seven seasons which allowed him to become a key member of the squad under Steven Gerrard.
Rangers midfielder Ryan Jack.
This summer is the right time to move on, however, as Clement will need every member of his playing squad available for the majority of games next term if he looks at taking this team to the next level.
It isn’t only Jack who should be departing, as Roofe has also endured a frustrating time since the start of the 2022/23 season, and he will be leaving on a sour note.
Kemar Roofe's record during his first two seasons at Rangers
The £26k-per-week centre-forward joined from Anderlecht in the summer of 2020 as Gerrard was looking to build a team that could end Celtic’s dominance and claim their first league title in a decade.
Roofe had plenty of experience in England and on the continent, making the initial £4m investment seem like a wise one by the former Liverpool captain.
Glasgow Rangers forward Kemar Roofe.
Indeed, during his maiden season at Ibrox, Roofe added something different to the Rangers attack. Not only could he score with ease, but he was able to drop deep and even create width in order to lure defenders out of position, allowing the likes of Joe Aribo and Ianis Hagi to move into the vacated space.
Across 36 games in all competitions, the striker scored 18 goals and provided four assists, a decent start to life in Scotland.
Gerrard even hailed the former Leeds United frontman as a “Duracell bunny” due to his seemingly limitless energy which allowed him to pull defenders out of position on a regular basis.
His second season saw Roofe add another 16 goals to his tally, including an extra-time winner against Braga in the Europa League quarter-final, but he could only play mere minutes in the final following a recovery from a knee injury.
Despite a solid enough season, the next two years would see the player suffer injury after injury and struggle to really keep fit.
Kemar Roofe's record this season
Roofe only scored twice throughout the whole of last season, an extra-time winner against Aberdeen in the League Cup semi-finals and an effort against Livingston in the top flight, yet he played just six games.
A knee injury kept him out for the vast majority of the campaign and while he was fit to come off the bench for the first league match against Kilmarnock, it was clear Roofe wasn’t 100% fit.
A goal and assist against Ross County and Real Betis within a few weeks of each other looked as though he was on the right track, but these would be his last goal involvements until the striker netted the winner against Betis to send the Light Blues through to the last 16 of the Europa League.
Rangers forward Kemar Roofe.
The 31-year-old certainly knows how to perform in the most pressurised of moments, but 28 appearances since May 2022 tell its own story.
Indeed, since arriving at the club four years ago, Roofe has missed 96 games through injury, playing only 100 times, yet it should have been much more, that’s for sure.
This season, the Jamaican has started eight times in all competitions, which has cost the club a staggering £169k per start – when considering his £1.352m yearly wage. With only two goals in that time, it is hardly money well spent, and perhaps it is a good thing that Clement will let him leave when his contract expires.
Clement could kickstart new Rangers era by cashing in on ÂŁ37k-p/w gem
Rangers could potentially sell one of their highest earners this summer…
By
Ross Kilvington
Apr 26, 2024
When fit and firing, Roofe was arguably one of the finest forwards at the club, being able to adapt to different tactics while dropping deep whenever required. Paying £26k-per-week for a player who is never fit is poor business, however, and this should be rectified during the summer.
Hopefully, he can enjoy a wonderful send-off with another trophy or two.
Liam Scott’s brisk half-century boosted the home side’s total then the bowling attack was outstanding
AAP01-Mar-2025Nathan McSweeney’s game-changing cameo with the ball helped South Australia defeat Victoria by 64 runs to collect the state’s first one-day cricket title in 13 years.SA, with Harry Nielsen, Jake Lehmann and Liam Scott making half-centuries, posted 268 for 7 in Saturday’s battle for the inaugural Dean Jones Trophy.Victoria were bowled out for 204 in 43.3 overs in reply at Adelaide Oval as SA captured their first 50-over trophy since 2011/12.Victoria’s run chase, with Marcus Harris flying on 41 from 42 balls, was well on track at 74 for 1 in the 14th over. But McSweeney, who hadn’t taken a wicket all tournament with his gentle offspin, then provided an unlikely – and decisive – turn.Harris gave himself room to hit McSweeney through the offside, but smacked the ball straight to Jason Sangha at cover. In his next over, McSweeney dismissed dangerman Peter Handscomb for 1. The SA captain instinctively flung his right hand at a lofted straight drive, parried the ball, and completed a stunning catch on the second grab.Five overs later, Victorian opener Campbell Kellaway top-edged a pull shot from the bowling of Brendan Doggett and was caught by wicketkeeper Nielsen. Soon after, Sam Harper was taken by Nielsen when attempting a leg glance from Nathan McAndrew.Liam Scott struck an unbeaten 54 off 37 balls•Getty ImagesVictoria had lost 4 for 30 in a sudden slide to 108 for 5 in the 24th over and were never in the hunt thereafter, despite captain Will Sutherland’s 50 from 52 balls.McSweeney finished with figures of 2 for 14 from four overs, McAndrew took 3 for 47 from eight overs and Henry Thornton claimed 4-27 from 9.3 overs to be named the first winner of the Michael Bevan medal as player of the final.In SA’s innings, Nielsen top-scored with 68 from 93 balls, Lehmann made 67 from 75 and allrounder Scott, the player of the tournament, finished with a flourish with an unbeaten 54 from 37 deliveries.Victorian captain Sutherland took three of the initial four wickets and veteran Peter Siddle claimed 3 for 40.SA made a solid start with openers Nielsen and Mackenzie Harvey putting on 44 runs before Sutherland struck in the eighth over. Harvey, who hit two fours and a six in his 23 from 23 balls, chopped on to his stumps when attempting to force through the off-side.Sutherland claimed Daniel Drew in the 14th over and McSweeney soon followed. When Sangha fell to Sutherland, SA were wobbling 118 for 4 in the 26th over, before Nielsen and Lehmann steadied with a 56-run partnership.Lehmann later combined with Scott for a brisk 67-run stand, with the latter reaching his half-century from 36 balls in a flurry featuring seven fours and a six.
Pakistan were reduced to 46 for 4 before a gritty rearguard from Mohammad Rizwan and Saud Shakeel
Danyal Rasool17-Jan-2025Half-centuries from Saud Shakeel and Mohammad Rizwan wrestled momentum back for Pakistan after Jayden Seales’ triple-strike had put West Indies in the box seat in Multan. On a surface tailor-made for spin, it was the fast bowler who proved the pick of the bunch, exploiting pace and slight seam movement to send debutant Mohammad Hurraira, Kamran Ghulam and Babar Azam back for single figures. Pakistan had, at that point, been reduced to 46 for 4, with West Indies looming ominously over the tail. But a gritty unbeaten 97-run rearguard for the fifth wicket, from Rizwan and Shakeel, thwarted the visitors for the rest of the day, to ensure Pakistan would end the day with a semblance of control.After the start was delayed by four hours owing to heavy fog that enveloped the ground, Pakistan won the toss and batted first in hazy conditions with the floodlights on throughout the course of the day. Left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie bowled the first ball, an indication of how both sides perceived the pitch upon which each played three specialist spinners. Motie got rid of Pakistan captain Shan Masood early on, squeezing him down to the debutant wicketkeeper Tevin Imlach on the on side, but for the rest of the hour, it was Seales’ show.He had been sniffing right from the outset, and got his reward when Hurraira hung his bat out and edged to the keeper. It was followed up by a beauty to remove Kamran Ghulam, who had just dispatched an outswinger to the boundary. The next ball, he attempted to shoulder arms but it seamed back into him wickedly, rapping the thigh, with Hawk-Eye showing it would have clipped the top of off.Kamran Ghulam was lbw shouldering arms to Jayden Seales•PCBThe big fish came soon after, another glorious use of the seam. Seales hit a hard length which Babar looked to parry into the off side, but it shaped away just enough to kiss the outside edge through to Imlach. Babar would review, but, like Ghulam, he would not be reprieved.The innings threatened to fall apart at that point, but Saud Shakeel, seasoned on surfaces like these, restored some order to proceedings for Pakistan. The sting was taken out of the quicks and the spinners negotiated deftly, while Mohammad Rizwan at the other end kept his concentration levels up as West Indies continued to prowl.There was a notable acceleration from the pair after tea, right from when Shakeel got to his knees and swept Kevin Sinclair for four. It was a shot that brought the pair bounty through the session, giving them a release shot as the ball began to rip. The next six overs produced seven boundaries with Rizwan the chief aggressor, brave enough to use his feet to spin and ensuring the strike kept ticking over.There remained plenty for the visitors to get excited about. A number of balls beat the outside edge by a whisker, and Shakeel popped one up dangerously close to short midwicket just shy of a half-century. But when he got there, and Rizwan followed up soon after, the milestones were both well-deserved. By now, the light had been deteriorating consistently, and midway through Kraigg Brathwaite’s first over, the light-metre came out, and the players went off. By then, Pakistan were arguably the happier side, having been dragged by Rizwan and Shakeel towards a rather less perilous position than they found themselves in after the first hour.