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The U.S. forward has had to be incredibly patient in recent years but is now hoping to finally show the Blues everything she can do

Catarina Macario was Chelsea’s not-so-secret weapon last season as the Blues completed an unprecedented unbeaten season in domestic competitions to seal a truly incredible treble. Perhaps the best illustration of the impact she had across the year was back in December, when she came off the bench at half-time with her team trailing 1-0 away at Real Madrid. Within 11 minutes, Macario had scored two penalties, the first of which she won, to turn the game completely on its head and ensure Chelsea topped their Champions League group. "She showed tonight that she is a world-class player," head coach Sonia Bompastor said in a glowing review at full-time.

Bompastor knows better than most just what Macario is capable of. The American’s best season to date came under the Frenchwoman in Lyon, when she helped propel OL to their most recent Champions League title. But that she was only named in Chelsea’s starting XI on 14 occasions last term is indicative of the challenges Macario has faced since that European triumph over three years ago.

This season, though, she hopes things will be different. As she speaks to GOAL ahead of the new campaign, which Chelsea begin at home to Manchester City in the Women’s Super League on Friday, Macario is buzzing after what she describes as a “perfect” summer. Part of that assessment is rooted in her travels around Europe and the five weeks she got to spend at home in San Diego, but it is also because she has been able to put in the hard yards in pre-season for the first time in several years.

"This season, I'm definitely expecting to just be free," she says with a hearty laugh.

Getty ImagesRebuilding foundations

Rooted in that comment from Macario is evidence of her admitted lack of patience, something which will have made the last few years even more difficult. After suffering an ACL injury in June 2022, it would take 21 months for the forward to return to action, with her able to at least mark the end of one of the most arduous and challenging recoveries in style, as she scored on a Chelsea debut that came some nine months after her signing was announced.

That comeback did not signal the end of the hard work that needed to be done to ensure all would be well moving forward, though. Last season, Bompastor was extremely careful with Macario and her loading in order to, in the words of the 25-year-old, “rebuild my foundations”. “I would definitely say that I am not necessarily a very patient person, just because I like putting in work and I find a lot of joy in doing that. So last year, we definitely had a lot – a lot – of talks, just to try and figure out what the right programme was,” Macario explains.

“My strength and conditioning coaches were trying to show me, 'Well, this is where you were before. This is the most load that you've had in two or three years'. Of course, they were happy with that, but at the same time, as someone that demands a lot from myself, it was very tough and mentally taxing as well, just because I know – or think I know – what I need to do in order to be the best version of myself. But sometimes you just have to be patient because certain things are out of your control. You also just have to listen to the experts and trust that they know what they're talking about.”

AdvertisementGetty ImagesPatience is a virtue

It became a process in which it was important to celebrate the small wins and achievements, almost like a long injury recovery. “It's exactly like that,” Macario confirms. “You just have to take it one day at a time and recognise, 'Okay, yesterday it was like this. Today, it is like this and it's much better'. Even though it's not exactly where you may want to be, or how things were before, it's about the long game. It's a marathon, not a sprint. You've got to be patient in doing that and be consistent in putting in the right work.

“I think from January on, I was available for almost every game, which was a big achievement. Sometimes it's just about remembering how far you have come and recognising that you can't go from zero to 100. This season, I'm definitely expecting to just be free. Still making smart decisions but, at the end of the day, I just love playing, I just love getting better and I think hopefully we'll have that this year.

“I'm in a much, much better spot. I definitely feel like I've been able to at least start off being just like any other player. I think that is the most important thing and the most freeing thing, really, for myself, and I'm sure for the club as well, just to know, 'Yeah, Cat's fine. She doesn't need any extra treatment or anything. Just let her do her thing'. It's been nice.”

Getty ImagesWhetting the appetite

Despite the restraints placed upon her by that process, Macario was still able to ‘do her thing’ plenty last season, whetting the appetite for the Chelsea fans with each and every appearance she made. At the end of the campaign, the U.S. international had contributed 11 goals and five assists to the Blues’ treble-winning efforts, averaging a direct goal contribution every 88 minutes.

There will be many who expect big things from her this season, then, given the great place she is in, and Macario is one of them: “I do have high expectations of myself, for sure. I think every person has high expectations of themselves, you know? We have to, otherwise you're not pushing yourself. I'm just trying to be better every day. I have tried to work hard over the summer and during pre-season to just put myself in a better place so that I can at least just help the team a little bit more and bring my quality to the game. We'll see how it goes.”

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Getty ImagesGetting stronger

It's hard not to think of the cliché that Macario could be ‘like a new signing’ for Chelsea in some ways next season, and she is not the only one. Sam Kerr’s own difficult ACL recovery should hopefully reach its conclusion soon, something her American team-mate is one of many to be excited about. “Sam will be a big, big addition,” she beams. “She's a tremendous player. It's a privilege to share a locker room with her.”

Similar can be said of Naomi Girma, who Chelsea signed for a then-world-record fee back in January but was only able to make eight appearances before the end of the campaign after picking up a knock on her debut. “I feel like I'm Nay's number one supporter,” Macario says of one of her closest friends. “I would trust her with my life. That is my Secretary of Defence, for sure. Just having her around would just add so much to our team and it would just make it so much better. For the people that don't know her already, I know that they won't be disappointed.”

That is on top of the transfer business Chelsea have done in this summer window, too. Ellie Carpenter is the big name among their four new signings and another player Macario knows well from her time in Lyon. “Having someone like that just helps take us to a different level, just to help raise the standard and keep that winning mentality,” she notes. “Sometimes it can be easy to just get complacent. I think when you have people like Ellie, people that are just competitors and are ruthless, it just helps keep you always on your toes. I missed playing with her. We have a very good connection.”

Arsenal have been warned Eberechi Eze's arrival from Crystal Palace isn't necessarily the missing link in their bid to land the Premier League title.

Arsenal sent warning over EzeNo longer biggest name at clubGunners need more to win titleFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Former Crystal Palace and West Ham defender James Tomkins has issued a warning to Arsenal that the high-profile signing of Eze may not prove to be the difference between finishing second and first. The Gunners shocked the football world by hijacking north London rivals Tottenham's expected signing of Eze, with the attacking midfielder hailed as the missing link in Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta's Premier League ambitions. But Tomkins believes the club need even more to take the giant leap to becoming champions. 

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Arsenal will become the first Premier League side to come second four times in a row if they finish runners up again. While Arteta has turned the club from also-rans into genuine title contenders since he took over, they always fall at the final hurdle. They finished ten points behind last season's title winners Liverpool but the arrival of Eze and the nature of how they snatched him right from under Spurs' nose has put a real spring in Arsenal's step.

WHAT TOMKINS SAID

Speaking to Boyle Sports, who offer the latest Premier League betting odds, Tomkins said: “He's gone there and he's going to be good for Arsenal, I'm sure. But I think it will take more than just him to win the league now. I do think he will be a big player this year. I think he'll probably need a few games just to kind of get into it, a different style of play, different team, different pressures. He was probably a big fish at Crystal Palace. 

"Now he's maybe not as highly regarded as he was at Palace, not the number one player there, whereas everyone was looking at him for goals and everything last season. I think it will just be, again, interesting to see him in the important games. He'll be in the Champions League, and he'll be playing a lot more games this year. It might take a toll on him as well. I think Arsenal are going to be a big threat this year. They could possibly be in the top two; it's just whether they'll go over the line this year. We haven’t seen it the last couple of seasons, so let's see."

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR EZE?

Eze was brought in on account of his proven Premier League pedigree alongside the unfortunate injury to Kai Havertz. Arsenal have struggled often to break down teams whose sole aim is to stop them playing, particularly at the Emirates, and Eze's job will be to unlock those defences.

The quick took five wickets in 18 balls and changed the complexion of the day. But his send-off of Steven Smith could attract unwanted attention, again

Firdose Moonda in Port Elizabeth09-Mar-20184:02

Holding: Rabada needs to control himself little bit

If this is the last we see of Kagiso Rabada in this series, at least he would have exited in style.Bowling up the hill at St George’s Park, Rabada’s mid-afternoon blast torched through Australia and was the difference between a day South Africa could be fairly pleased with and one that might have reminded them of the first innings in Durban. His spell was one for ages, and will be remembered for single-handedly dragging his side back into an innings that could easily have got away from them.South Africa had started in pristine fashion on Friday morning and only conceded 23 runs in the first hour, largely thanks to Vernon Philander’s opening spell of 7-3-5-0. But they stained the morning session with their performance in the second hour, in which they leaked 48 runs in five overs as Rabada and Lungi Ngidi dished out half-volleys.Post-lunch, South Africa were more disciplined and rewarded with the wickets of Usman Khawaja and David Warner but it was not until Rabada angled a delivery into a shuffling Steven Smith, who missed the inside edge and was hit on the back pad, that South Africa were truly back in the game.The dismissal had a greater impact than merely removing Australia’s captain because Rabada followed up with animated send-off and was obviously pumped up. In his next over, he got Shaun Marsh, also lbw looking to flick, and three balls later, an ill Mitchell Marsh nicked off against a reverse-swinging delivery. Rabada took three wickets in six balls to signal tea. Immediately after the interval, he removed Pat Cummins with one that moved away and bowled Mitchell Starc – that moved away, too, and clipped off stump.The key to Rabada’s destruction was that he pitched the ball up and got it to move both ways. In just 18 balls – three overs – he changed the complexion of the day and underlined his own greatness. He is only 22, but we can call him that because Rabada is already in elite company.He has the second-best figures (13 for 144) by a South African bowler in a Test match, behind Makhaya Ntini’s 13 for 132, and is the joint-third fastest South African as well as the youngest South African to 100 Test wickets. Now, he is also third best for taking five wickets in the least number of balls. Rabada’s five came in the space of 18 balls; Jacques Kallis needed 12 against Bangladesh in 2002, and Steyn 16 against West Indies in 2010.Not even Steyn, who had taken 4 for 55 in a searing reverse-swinging second-innings spell to win the match for South Africa against Australia at this venue four years ago, enjoyed the Park Drive End. He admitted as much in a congratulatory tweet to his team-mate: “Never easy bowling up the hill at St George’s Park. KG just killed it! Only other player who ever enjoyed that end was the infamous @RustyTheron #MenWhoDoItTheHardWay.”Theron, who is currently studying in the USA, played his domestic cricket at this venue, and though he became known as a white-ball, death-bowling specialist, he spent many a summer snaffling wickets from the more difficult end of the ground with reverse swing. Rabada is a few clicks quicker than Theron, which only makes him more dangerous.”The thing with reverse swing is once you have a bit of pace on it, you are always going to be threatening,” Vernon Philander said. “I don’t think it went big today – there was a hint of it but KG hit his lengths well, which was key on this wicket.”Before this match, Faf du Plessis named Rabada as the only member of his attack who can exploit a reverse-swinging ball. South Africa need him, but they might not have him when they need him the most in this series.Rabada came into this match, having accumulated five demerit points over the last 13 months. A further three points before February next year will see Rabada suspended for two Test matches. After a shoulder brush with Australian captain Smith, Rabada could be charged with a Level 2 offence for making inappropriate and deliberate contact with another player. If found guilty, he will earn a minimum of three demerit points…AFPEven if he isn’t charged, Rabada now needs to take serious stock of his celebrations. For the third time since July, he has been overly enthusiastic in sending a batsman off.In the first Test against England at Lord’s, Rabada told Ben Stokes to “f*** off” after dismissing him. There was history between them after Stokes had sledged Temba Bavuma – Rabada’s former Lions’ team-mate and close friend – in the series in South Africa in early 2016. Although Rabada insists him and Stokes are “cool” off the field, they are hot on it. Rabada earned a one-Test ban after that because he already had three demerit points from a shoulder barge on Niroshan Dickwella from earlier in the year.Then, at this very ground in an ODI against India last month, Rabada waved Shikhar Dhawan off before spitting out the same expletive. Another demerit point.At Kingsmead, Rabada gave David Warner a send-off but it did not appear to include swearing; he passed his arm over his mouth as he completed his sentence. Here, he didn’t. Shouting “Yes, yes,” in Smith’s face may not be particularly threatening, but the shoulder contact that followed might attract the ICC’s attention. The consequences could be serious.South Africa seem to know as much because they did not bring him to the post-day press conference for fear he would be asked about his indiscretion and his answer would be incriminatory. Instead, Rabada could now spend the evening pondering the words of Michael Holding, who has tried to impress him on the need to keep himself in check.”Kagiso gets a little bit carried away. I have spoken to him a few times about it to try and get him to relax a bit,” Holding told ESPNcricinfo in his post-day analysis. “He’s very emotional; he wears his heart on his sleeve. Everything he does, he wants people to see him being very involved. He has to just try and control himself a little bit. Shouting yes, brushing close to a player, that’s not quite the way to go. You can shout and go after your team-mates and hug them or kiss them or whatever you want to do. But leave the opposition alone.”Except with the ball.

Former Leicester City star Jamie Vardy's Italian breakfast has been revealed as Cremonese head coach claimed that the former England striker's diet is being embraced in Italy. Having left the Foxes at the end of the 2024-25 season when his contract expired, 38-year-old Vardy signed an initial 12-month deal with the Serie A outfit to cover the 2025-26 campaign.

Vardy enjoying life in Italy

Vardy has already adjusted to life in Italy as he scored his first Serie A brace in Cremonese's dominating 3-1 victory over Bologna in the Serie A on Sunday. The defeat ended Bologna's 12-game unbeaten run in a rain-soaked encounter at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara. Martin Payero opened the scoring for Cremonese before Vardy doubled his team's lead in the 35th minute. Riccardo Ordolini's penalty goal at the stroke of half-time helped Bologna reduce the margin, but the ex-England star completed his brace and sealed a crucial win for the side as he scored in the 50th minute.  Vardy has scored four times in the Serie A this season. 

AdvertisementGetty Images SportVardy's breakfast in Italy revealed

Cremonese boss Davide Nicola recently changed the single menu at the club, so players of different ethnicities and nationalities can have food of their choice and remain satisfied. Vardy is known to have cheese and ham omelettes with beans on the side from his time in Leicester and the veteran striker reportedly is still having the same food as the first meal of the day.

Speaking to reporters, Nicola said: "We now have individualised breakfasts and lunches. “There is no longer a single menu for everyone. Cultures are different, needs are different, and so are allergies. Each player has their own personal menu, there’s not even need to monitor these things because they’re part of the players’ lifestyle."

He added: "Jamie is a point of reference for us. As a coach, I can only say that great champions are incredibly simple people. They already know what they must do and how they must do it. They never show attitudes that aren’t constructive to the team. A champion differs from an ordinary player not only because he has immense qualities on the pitch, but also because he has the spirit and awareness of what he represents. A true champion never gets his attitude wrong. He’s very self-confident and light-hearted, someone who always trains. “He has his habits, but he came here with the mentality of making himself available."  

Vardy found similarity in Italy and UK weather

After scoring his first Cremonese brace in a rain-soaked match, Vardy told reporters: "I think we were just missing a bit of rain – this is a typical midweek in the UK. The most important thing was getting the three points and keeping that progress going. It's another step in the right direction. It's all about commitment and wanting what's best for the club. Everyone's on that same page and everyone's pushing forward to make sure that, come the end of the season, it will have been a successful year."

Nicolas later said on Vardy: "Great players are easy to handle as they know what they're supposed to do – and they know how to do it. That's how he is – he's comfortable with who he is, good humoured. He came here with the mentality of making himself available for the team."  

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Getty Images SportVardy learning Italian

Seems like Vardy is loving his life in Italy and he wants to mingle more with the local crowd to feel at home there. Accordingly, he is learning the Italian language, as he told recently: "I only know the basics, good morning, thank you, numbers, but I’ll be taking lessons as of next week, so hopefully that will start the bringing on the language a bit more. I have to learn, as my kids are learning, and I can’t have them learning it before me, otherwise they’ll be taking the mickey out of me!"    

With Cremonese now sitting 11th on 17 points after 13 games, the mood around the club is one of cautious optimism. Avoiding relegation would trigger a one-year contract extension to the summer of 2027 for Vardy, something that suddenly looks plausible. They sit seven points clear of the relegation zone, a comfortable position for a newly-promoted side. Cremonese return to the Stadio Giovanni Zini on December 7 to face Lecce.

They need to win the two ODIs to give themselves the best chance of qualifying directly for the World Cup in India

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Mar-2023Anrich Nortje and Kagiso Rabada have been selected in a full-strength South Africa squad to play two crucial ODIs against Netherlands on March 31 in Benoni and April 1 in Johannesburg. Both fast bowlers were rested from the recent ODI series against West Indies, which was drawn 1-1 with one match washed out.This series will be the first time South Africa are facing Netherlands since they lost to them and were eliminated from the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia. If South Africa win both ODIs without over-rate penalties, they will qualify directly for the World Cup in India this year if Ireland lose at least one ODI against Bangladesh in a three-match series in May.South Africa’s captain Temba Bavuma will have a fitness test on Tuesday to make sure he has recovered from the hamstring niggle he picked up during his hundred in the second ODI against West Indies on March 18.”We have named our strongest possible squad for these games given the importance of these matches in the context of qualifying for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup,” South Africa’s white-ball coach Rob Walter said. “We have a job to do and I am confident that with this group of players we can get the job done.”With the second ODI on April 2, Quinton de Kock (Lucknow Super Giants), Marco Jansen (Sunrisers Hyderabad), Heinrich Klaasen (Sunrisers Hyderabad), Sisanda Magala (Chennai Super Kings), Aiden Markram (Sunrisers Hyderabad), David Miller (Gujarat Titans), Lungi Ngidi (Delhi Capitals), Anrich Nortje (Delhi Capitals), and Kagiso Rabada (Punjab Kings) will be able to join their IPL franchises only on April 3 at the earliest.South Africa squad for Netherlands ODIs: Temba Bavuma (capt), Quinton de Kock, Bjorn Fortuin, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Sisanda Magala, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Wayne Parnell, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Rassie van der Dussen

Weston McKennie, Tim Weah and Gio Reyna absent due to Club World Cup commitments, team will be trimmed to 26

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Article continues below

Article continues below

USMNT 60-man squad announcedMcKennie, Weah, Reyna absent due to Club World CupU.S. to play two friendlies before Gold CupFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱AFPWHAT HAPPENED?

U.S. men's national team coach Mauricio Pochettino has selected a 60-man preliminary list for the upcoming Gold Cup. The list includes the normal heavy-hitters, names such as Christian Pulisic, Tyler Adams and Antonee Robinson, while the likes of Weston McKennie, Tim Weah and Gio Reyna are absent due to Club World Cup commitments.

Among the omissions are Ricardo Pepi and Kevin Paredes, both of whom have dealt with injuries this season. Noahkai Banks, too, was left off after being named to the CONCACAF Nations League preliminary list, as was Cade Cowell. In addition to the regulars and those who have been around the team in recent months, the list also includes new faces, including Alex Freeman, Quinn Sullivan and Sebastian Berhalter, all of whom have had strong starts to the MLS season.

CONCACAF requires each participating nation to submit final rosters by June 4 and can include up to 26 players, all of whom must be on this preliminary list. Pochettino is expected to name a 26-player squad this week ahead of pre-tournament friendlies against Turkey and Switzerland.

The U.S. will open the Gold Cup on June 15 against Trinidad & Tobago before then facing Haiti and Saudi Arabia in their two other group stage matches.

AdvertisementGetty/GOALTHE PRELIMINARY SQUAD IN FULL

GOALKEEPERS: Zack Steffen (Middlesbrough), Matt Turner (Crystal Palace), Chris Brady (Chicago Fire), Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew), Matthew Freese (NYCFC), Diego Kochen (Barcelona)

DEFENDERS: Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew), Tristan Blackmon (Vancouver Whitecaps), George Campbell (CF Montreal), Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic), Sergino Dest (PSV), Maximilian Dietz (Greuther FUrth), Marlon Fossey (Standard Liege), Alex Freeman (Orlando City), Nathan Harriel (Philadelphia Union), DeJuan Jones (San Jose Earthquakes), Richy Ledezma (PSV), Kristoffer Lund (Palermo), Mark McKenzie (Toulouse), Shaq Moore (FC Dallas), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace), Antonee Robinson (Fulham), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati), Joe Scally (Borussia Monchengladbach), John Tolkin (Holstein Kiel), Auston Trusty (Celtic), Caleb Wiley (Chelsea), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC)

MIDFIELDERS: Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United), Paxten Aaronson (FC Utrecht), Tyler Adams (Bournemouth), Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver Whitecaps), Gianluca Busio (Venezia), Johnny Cardoso (Real Betis), Caden Clark (CF Montreal), Luca de la Torre (San Diego FC), Emeka Eneli (Real Salt Lake), Brian Gutierrez (Chicago Fire), Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake), Jack McGlynn (Houston Dynamo), Djordje Mihailovic (Colorado Rapids), Matko Miljevic (Huracán), Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough), Yunus Musah (AC Milan), Quinn Sullivan (Philadelphia Union), Tanner Tessmann (Lyon), Timothy Tillman (LAFC), Malik Tillman (PSV), Indiana Vassilev (Philadelphia Union), Sean Zawadzki (Columbus Crew)

FORWARDS: Patrick Agyemang (Charlotte FC), Folarin Balogun (AS Monaco), Damion Downs (Koln), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan), Josh Sargent (Norwich City), Brandon Vazquez (Austin FC), Brian White (Vancouver Whitecaps), Haji Wright (Coventry City) Griffin Yow (Westerlo), Alejandro Zendejas (Club America)

(C)Getty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

This summer will be the first time the USMNT convenes since March's CONCACAF Nations League disapointment, as the team lost to both Panama and Canada and failed to win the competition for the first time in its short history. The team was heavily criticized in the aftermath, with Pochettino acknowledging that his Gold Cup squad wouldn't be just chosen on talent, but also on mentality.

“The right mindset must be there, because we need to compete for our flag, our country," he told U.S. Soccer. "What we are trying to do as a staff is to optimize every single area of preparation, and the mentality of the players is really important. We need to be intelligent in the way that we are going to select the players and not just choose based on talent alone. We need to have the right characters to be really competitive."

Pochettino stressed that the team must have a renewed mindset as they take the next step toward the 2026 World Cup.

“For sure to start we must compete hard," he said. "We must match the intensity of our opponents, because in these tournaments they are always motivated to play against the USA. Of course we must perform well to win and you don’t always get a result, but for sure in order to win you have to compete. It’s not just about showing up in your home country and trying to play nice soccer.

"No, you must be proud, you must fight for the people that would love to be in your position, for the millions of kids that are going to see us and dream to be one day where we are. This is type of responsibility and commitment we need to show in a different way than we did in Los Angeles.”

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ImagnWHAT NEXT FOR THE USMNT?

The U.S. will begin their Gold Cup preparation on June 7 when they face Turkey in East Hartford, Connecticut before then taking on Switzerland in Nashville three days later.

Aston Villa have reportedly shut down Manchester United’s latest approach for Ollie Watkins, insisting the England striker is not for sale. The Red Devils are keen on adding a proven striker, but the Villans have made it clear they won’t entertain offers. The 29-year-old is said to be central to Unai Emery’s plans heading into the 2025/26 season.

Aston Villa reject United’s fresh approach for Ollie WatkinsWatkins remains key to Unai Emery’s long-term projectUnited eye proven striker as Amorim rebuild continuesFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Manchester United have made a fresh enquiry for Watkins as they search for a new striker. The England international is viewed as an ideal fit given his Premier League experience and form. However, Villa immediately informed United that Watkins is not available at any price, as per

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Watkins was also a target for Arsenal in January, but Villa rejected the offer and sold Jhon Duran to Al-Nassr instead. The Villans are determined to keep Emery's core players at Villa Park ahead of a busy season, including Europa League football. Watkins remains a key part of Emery’s long-term vision, and the club do not appear open to a summer sale.

TELL ME MORE…

Manchester United’s interest in Watkins is part of a wider rebuild under boss Ruben Amorim this summer. While other players like Emi Martinez, who is also a target for the Red Devils, could be available for the right fee, Villa have no plans to cash in on Watkins. The 29-year-old scored 27 goals in all competitions last season and is under contract until 2028.

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR WATKINS?

Unless Aston Villa change their stance, United will have to look elsewhere for a proper striker. Watkins is set to remain at Villa Park, with Emery and the club planning to build around him. United may now revisit other targets in the Premier League or abroad as pre-season progresses.

Bangladesh captain Shanto and SL coach Silverwood have both promised a competitive series that will be played in the right spirit

Mohammad Isam03-Mar-2024Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto and Sri Lanka coach Chris Silverwood both played down any narrative of personal scores being settled by the two sides over the next month.While Sri Lanka-Bangladesh clashes in the past have occasionally boiled over, both camps, at least for now, expect little more than a competitive series played in the right spirit.”I am not thinking about the past,” Shanto said, on the eve of the first T20I, in Sylhet. “I think it will be a good series. We are doing everything we can to win this series. I am not feeling pressure about our opponents. We are focused on what we are doing. We want to do what we can control. Every international series has pressure, and that’s also true for our opponents. Everyone is capable of handling this pressure. Like I believe that all of our five or six bowlers can be match-winners.”Related

Silverwood welcomes 'great rivalry' with Bangladesh: 'We need good competition'

Najmul Hossain Shanto: 'Sri Lanka haven't moved on from timed-out incident'

Tharanga: 'Dickwella's experience will be useful heading into T20 World Cup'

Can Shakib-less Bangladesh keep their unbeaten spree going?

Hasaranga suspended for two T20Is for outburst against umpire

Silverwood, too, said that he wanted to forget the past and focus on the future, particularly Sri Lanka’s preparation for the T20 World Cup, which begins in June.”First and foremost, I expect this to be a very competitive series between two good sides,” he said. “What happened in the past, for me, that’s history. It’s gone. I think what we have to do is, certainly from our perspective, is concentrate on what’s in front of us and remember what we’re aiming for. Obviously we are now in the build-up towards the World Cup. I think all teams now are sort of finalising their sides, their squads give an experience, so ultimately that’s what it is.”We’re building up to a World Cup, and it’s great that we have such a good competition in front of us to do that, great series to do that in. So, as I said, I’m expecting a very exciting series. There’s some dangerous players on both sides. So I think it’ll be good fun. But as I said, what’s happened in the past is history. It’s about what’s in front of us now.”But the English coach was quick to point out who he believes are the series favourites.”Well, obviously I’m going to say Sri Lanka are going to be the favourites. But as I’ve already said, there are two good teams that will both be pushing very hard to win this series. We are all building up to the World Cup now, so we want to start making sure that we’re playing top cricket going into that. So as I said before, I expect this to be very competitive.”Shanto, for his part, is looking forward to his first series after being named as Bangladesh’s permanent captain in all three formats. The team has done well in T20Is in the last 12 months, including home series wins against England, Ireland and Afghanistan. They even won a T20I in New Zealand in December, for the first time.”We had a good year in T20Is last year,” Shanto said. “We have improved in this format, and if we keep this up, we can do better in any conditions. I think the 30-35 players who are in the three formats in total, it is very important that they all contribute to the team.”We have to play as a team. Everyone contributed to the team last year. Whether we believe in each other, that’s important. It was always imperative that we played T20Is just after the BPL. It is easier for our planning as everyone is playing in this format. I believe that we can win this series.Najmul Hossain Shanto was named Bangladesh’s permanent captain in all formats last month•Getty ImagesShanto touched upon his challenges ahead as the new captain, as he aims to build relationships with his players and coaching staff. He believes that the new responsibility will not pull him down as a batter.”It is a challenging job but planning wouldn’t be too difficult in the three formats. I have to know every cricketer, although we spend time together while playing.”It is not as if I have to score some extra runs for being the captain. I am a batter first, so my job is to score runs for the team. I would have to do the same when I was not the captain. I want to utilise the responsibility I am given. I don’t have to do a lot of things just because I am the captain.”For Sri Lanka, Silverwood said that the absence of bowling lynchpin Wanindu Hasaranga, who has been suspendeded for two matches for his outburst against an umpire, and Pathum Nissanka (hamstring injury) will give others an opportunity to step up.”Wanindu missing two matches is something that we have to deal with,” Silverwood said. “He has accepted his punishment, and all we have to do now is move on. What it does do is create opportunity for other people within the squad to get great game time, leading into the World Cup.”Pathum is a big loss. I mean, we’ve seen, certainly in the last seven, eight months, he’s become a very, very consistent player at the top of the order for Sri Lanka. And recently we’ve seen some super knocks from him, both in ODI cricket and in T20 cricket. The great thing is I don’t think Pathum will be too long before he’s returning to us.”He’s a very valuable member of the squad and a very much respected member of the squad. So we’re looking forward to getting back. But as I’ve said before, I mean, this also creates opportunity for people that might not get that game time that may be required, obviously, for a World Cup. So, for me It’s going to provide someone else with game time.”

The injury is probably not serious, but there is no update yet about his return

Nagraj Gollapudi05-Apr-2024Kuldeep Yadav has picked up a groin niggle, which had ruled him out of Delhi Capitals’s previous two matches in IPL 2024. ESPNcricinfo has learned that Kuldeep has been advised rest as a precautionary move, but there is no confirmation yet on when he will be ready to play again.The injury is probably not serious, considering Kuldeep has been travelling with the Capitals squad and is currently in Mumbai where they play their next match – against Mumbai Indians on April 7.Kuldeep played Capital’s opening two matches this season – both away games, against Punjab Kings and Rajasthan Royals – and picked up three wickets. But he missed their next games in Visakhapatnam, their second home venue: against Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders. While the Capitals won against CSK, they sorely missed Kuldeep in their 106-run defeat against KKR, after which their head coach Ricky Ponting said he was “almost embarrassed”.The Indian selectors will be monitoring Kuldeep’s progress closely, given he is a frontrunner to take one of the spin slots in India’s squad for the T20 World Cup, which starts on June 1 in the West Indies and the USA.Kuldeep entered the IPL after a successful five-match Test series against England, where he bowled more than one match-turning spell. Kuldeep played from the second Test onwards and finished with 19 wickets, including a five-for in the final Test in Dharamsala, where he was named the Player of the Match.After Sunday’s game, Capitals’ next match is against Lucknow Super Giants in Lucknow on April 12.

With marriage right round the corner along with his second tour to Bangladesh Karthik has decided he will focus on the right things at the right time

Anand Vasu23-Apr-2007

Still shy of his 22nd birthday, Karthik has played 25 internationals and is young when he can be and mature when he must © Cricinfo Magazine
When he talks about cricket, its challenges and how it has pushed him as a person, Dinesh Karthik sounds like a weather-beaten old pro. Minutes later, when Nikita, his fianceé who he will marry on May 2, shows up to take him shopping, he grins like an idiot on a first date. Still shy of his 22nd birthday, and yet with 44 first-class matches and 25 internationals under his belt he’s young when he can be, and mature when he must.Already, in his brief career, he’s had a variety of roles to play. From a keeper who could bat a bit, to someone who made a gutsy and selfless 93 in a Test-win against Pakistan, to being a middle-order batsman and cover fielder in one-dayers, to finally opening the batting in Test matches, Karthik has had to wear many different hats.Having just led Tamil Nadu to triumph in the inaugural domestic Twenty20 championships, Karthik is constantly looking at what he can take out of the game. “If you look at your game in Twenty20 cricket you’ll realise that you can play some shots that you did not think were there in your armoury. It’s important to find out what those shots are by playing them,” he told Cricinfo. “It’s happened to me a couple of times that I’ve been surprised by a shot that I’ve played. It’s given me a lot of confidence and that’s the way to approach it. Another thing is that you’re still looking to score runs. So in some ways it’s like a 50-over game as well. The last 10 overs are the same in terms of fields set and what you need to do whether it’s a Twenty20 game or a 50-over game.”But equally, he realises that while some things need to be done differently, there’s plenty that’s common to different forms of cricket. “At the end of the day when you go in to bat there are some things you should look to do the same way, whether it is Twenty20 or opening the batting in Tests. You still have to look to play the ball correctly, not have too many things on your mind when you’re batting,” he said. “In Twenty20 the accent is on improvising, in Tests it is on getting your routines right. Overall the basics of preparation for all forms remain the same, and only then do you give yourself a chance to perform consistently.” I haven’t opened the batting consistently, but I honestly feel I have the technique to do it. I’ve not looked at it as a long-term thing. I’ve been asked to do the job for this series and I’m going to look at it like that The one thing that has always stood out about Karthik is his confidence and that sometimes borders on cockiness, whether it is how he approaches batting or his energetic swagger and the way he carries himself off the field. Ask him about opening the batting in Tests in the forthcoming series against Bangladesh and it’s no different. “I haven’t opened the batting consistently, but I honestly feel I have the technique to do it,” he says. “I’ve not looked at it as a long-term thing. I’ve been asked to do the job for this series and I’m going to look at it like that. It’s going to be an experience for sure and a different challenge.”Yet, while he wants to take it one series at a time, Karthik certainly views the tour of Bangladesh as a chance to cement his place in the side, perhaps because he failed to do so earlier in his career, when he got the chances, scoring only 25 and 11 batting at No.7 in Tests in India’s last tour of Bangladesh, and then being dismissed for 1 and 1 at the same position in Zimbabwe. “As a youngster Bangladesh is an ideal opportunity for me to cement my place in the team by showing that I have the maturity to play at that level,” he says. “That can be done with a couple of good knocks. The rest is not in my hands, but I always believe there’s somebody up there who will guide me.”One thing that has come to Karthik perhaps too early is the suggestion that he might be leadership material at the highest level. It’s one thing doing the job for Tamil Nadu in Twenty20 cricket, standing-in for S Badrinath who was ill, but at the moment Karthik is barely even a regular in the team at the national level. He didn’t even get a game in India’s disappointing World Cup campaign.

Karthik began as a keeper who could bat a bit, moved on to score 93 in a Test-win against Pakistan, became a middle-order batsman and cover fielder in ODIs and has now even opened the batting in Tests © AFP
But Karthik does have some interesting thoughts about captaincy. “It’s true that I am young but at the end of the day I have played some cricket at the international level so when I lead Tamil Nadu the boys look up to me, and look to me to perform,” he says. “It’s important that I stand by the boys and live up to the trust and faith they have in me. That can only be done by leading from the front and that means getting runs and keeping well. It also means getting the boys to do what you want them to do and make sure that they like you as captain.”The Mushtaq Ali Trophy for the Twenty20 Championship was in the bag, and Nikita was waiting. With a wedding in Chennai and a preparatory camp in Kolkata just around the corner there was a lot on Kathik’s mind. “There is a lot happening at the moment, there are too many things in my head,” he said, breaking into a grin. “But I just need to focus on the right thing at the right time.”