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عبر فيران توريس مهاجم برشلونة عن سعادته بعد تسجيل هاتريك والفوز على ريال بيتيس بخماسية لثلاث أهداف في الدوري الاسباني لكرة القدم.

وقال توريس في تصريحات نشرتها صحيفة “سبورت” الإسبانية: “إنهم منافس مباشر للفرق المتصدرة في الليجا”.

وأضاف مهاجم برشلونة: “كنا نعلم أنه علينا أن ننافس منذ الدقيقة الأولى، تفاعل الفريق بشكل رائع مع هدفهم المبكر”.

اقرأ أيضاً.. فيديو | 8 أهداف وهاتريك.. برشلونة يبتعد بصدارة الدوري الإسباني بخماسية أمام ريال بيتيس

وواصل عن تسجيله هاتريك: “كنت أعلم مسبقاً أنني قادر على اللعب أساسياً مع برشلونة، لتسجيل المزيد من الأهداف، قد لا تسجل هاتريك كل يوم لكن الأهم هو الفوز ضد أحد أفضل الفرق”.

وسئل فيران توريس عن اعتماد فليك على لامين يامال في مركز صانع الألعاب: “لاعب مثل لامين يامال بارع لدرجة أنه يتكيف مع أي مركز”.

Nick Kurtz is making the hardest thing in sports look far too easy.

The Athletics’ rookie first baseman has been teeing off on major league pitching since the All-Star break, leading MLB hitters in most statistical categories in the second half while looking like a future MVP. While he was always a hyped prospect, the lefty has far surpassed expectations this season.

Coming out of Wake Forest, Kurtz was a consensus top-five prospect in the 2024 MLB draft class, and the A's snagged him with the fourth pick and signed him for $7 million, which was $1.37 million under slot. It has turned out to be a massive bargain, and the savings allowed them to go over-slot to select and sign former LSU stars Tommy White and Gage Jump with their next two picks.

After a brief minor league career that lasted 33 games, Kurtz made his big league debut on April 23. He had eight hits in his first nine games but didn't show much of the power that has always been his calling card. Then the 22-year-old got hot, and he hasn't stopped punishing baseballs to overtake injured teammate Jacob Wilson as the American League Rookie of the Year favorite.

Below is a breakdown of the gaudy numbers Kurts has put up this season, with a focus on just how productive he’s been in the second half.

Nick Kurtz’s Sensational Second Half, by the Numbers

2.6 — fWAR since the All-Star break, best in baseball.

.423 — Batting average since the break, best in baseball.

.528 —On-base percentage since the break, best in baseball.

.808 — Slugging percentage since the break, best in baseball.

.550 — wOBA since the break, best in baseball.

.538 — Batting average on balls in play since the break, best in baseball.

260 — wRC+ since the break, best in — I can stop typing that at this point, right?

46 — Points between Kurtz and the second-best hitter in baseball by wRC+ since the All-Star break. Teammate Shea Langeliers (214) is next up. That means Kurtz has been a 46% better hitter than in baseball since the break, and 160% better than the average MLB hitter.

33 — Total career minor league games played by Kurtz.

86 — Number of major league games played so far.

.490 — Kurtz's OPS in April; he slashed .250/.240/.250 with no home runs and three RBIs in 24 at-bats.

1.092 — Kurtz's OPS since May 1; he's slashing .311/.417/.675 with 25 home runs and 64 RBIs in those 79 games.

1.367 — Kurtz's OPS in late/close situations this season. He's slashing .345/.500/.897, making him one of the most clutch players in baseball.

4 — Home runs by Kurtz on July 25, becoming the 20th player and first rookie in MLB history to go deep four times in one game. He went 6-for-6 that night with eight RBIs and tied an MLB record with six runs scored.

19 — Total bases in that game, tied with Shawn Green as the most in a single game in MLB history.

3.9 — Kurtz's fWAR on the season, best among MLB rookies by almost a full point. Brewers outfielder Isaac Collins is second at 2.9. Kurtz's All-Star teammate Jacob Wilson is far behind at 2.4.

181 — Kurtz's wRC+ on the season, which is second in baseball among players with at least 200 plate appearances. He trails only Aaron Judge (199) and is eight points clear of Shohei Ohtani (174).

Kurtz Stands Atop an Auspicious 2024 Draft Class—for Now

Kurtz was drafted on July 14 and made his MLB debut 283 days later. A year to the day after being selected, he already had 17 big league home runs and an OPS of .892. And he isn't the only player from his draft class already playing well in the majors.

The 2024 draft was college-heavy at the top, and several of the players selected have breezed through the minor leagues. First-rounders Kurtz, Chase Burns, Jac Caglianone, Christian Moore and Cam Smith have already debuted, while Angels reliever Ryan Johnson made the team out of spring training but has since been sent back down to the minors and is being stretched into a starter.

The draft class stands out as one that’s already having a major impact on the league, and with Kurtz leading the way, has arguably already produced not only the American League’s best rookie, but its best left-handed hitter.

Glasgow Rangers decided to splash the cash in the summer transfer window to sign Youssef Chermiti from Everton for a fee of £8m, their most expensive signing since Tore Andre Flo for £12m in 2000.

The Portugal U21 international has scored one goal, which was aided by some fairly dismal goalkeeping, in 11 appearances in all competitions for the Gers so far, per Sofascore.

Michael Stewart criticised his “poor” finishing in the League Cup semi-final defeat to Celtic on Sunday, as he spurned two great chances, whilst Ally McCoist said that he was “showing nothing” up front against Brann in the Europa League.

Meanwhile, Hearts, who are top of the Scottish Premiership, reportedly paid a fee of around £400k to sign Claudio Braga, who has been far more impressive.

Why Rangers need to find their own Claudio Braga

Instead of splashing huge money on project players, like Chermiti, Rangers should be looking at bargain options to bolster their squad, because you can find some real gems.

Hearts paid less than a million pounds to sign Braga from the second division of Norwegian football, and he has been a huge success for the Jam Tarts.

The Portuguese attacker has delivered nine goals and one assist in 16 appearances in all competitions for Hearts, per Sofascore, this season, which shows that he has provided far more quality than Chermiti has since his £8m move to Ibrox.

Whilst Rangers can learn from the Jam Tarts to utilise different markets for cheaper prices in future transfer windows, Danny Rohl may have his own version of Braga, from a stylistic perspective, in the building.

First Impressions

What did pundits and fans alike think about their new star signing when they arrived? Football FanCast’s ‘First Impressions’ series has everything you need.

Expand Collapse Rangers can unearth their own Claudio Braga with this forgotten star

Before Rohl’s arrival at Ibrox, Brazilian centre-forward Danilo appeared to be forgotten about by Martin as a genuine first-team option for the Scottish manager.

The striker only made one appearance for the first-team under Martin in September and October, which was an 11-minute cameo off the bench against Sturm Graz.

Danilo’s last 10 matchday squad appearances

Opposition

Manager

Minutes played

Celtic

Danny Rohl

45

Hibernian

Danny Rohl

45

Kilmarnock

Danny Rohl

69

Brann

Danny Rohl

14

Sturm Graz

Russell Martin

11

Genk

Russell Martin

0

Hibernian

Russell Martin

0

Hearts

Russell Martin

0

Celtic

Russell Martin

0

Club Brugge

Russell Martin

59

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, he was an unused substitute on several occasions, when he even made the matchday squad, before Martin’s exit in October.

Rohl came in last month and immediately made the Brazilian striker an option, as he has played in all four of the manager’s games so far, and scored two goals.

Like Braga, Danilo is not a towering and physical striker who can bully opposition defenders. He is dynamic and looks to use his control and movement to create chances and score goals, as he did brilliantly against Hibernian.

For Hearts, Braga has struck up a partnership with Lawrence Shankland, who is a physical presence, and Rohl can unearth his own version of that partnership by continuing to play Danilo off another striker, whether that is Chermiti or Bojan Miovski.

Danilo, who ex-teammate Ofir Marciano claimed “has the quality to be a big player for Rangers”, scoring two goals in two Premiership matches under Rohl shows that he can be effective in the final third.

However, it is now down to the manager to find the right blend alongside him to ensure that his skillset is used to its fullest potential, as Hearts have done with Braga by playing him alongside Shankland.

Related Martin claimed Rangers star was a "huge asset", now he looks "rotten"

This Rangers signing was heavily praised by Russell Martin, now it looks like he needs to be sold.

Posts ByDan Emery Nov 3, 2025

Once forgotten by Martin at Ibrox, the former Feyenoord centre-forward looks like he might have a bright future under the German head coach.

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O Corinthians perdeu para o Botafogo por 1 a 0, na Neo Química Arena, e entrou na zona de rebaixamento do Campeonato Brasileiro. Com uma vitória em sete rodadas, a equipe comandada por António Oliveira soma apenas cinco pontos e amarga uma sequência de três partidas sem vitórias na competição.

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As melhores e mais variadas ofertas para o Brasileirão estão no Lance! Betting! Abra já a sua conta!

O confronto contra o Glorioso também marcou o sexto jogo do Corinthians sem marcar gols no torneio. A única vez que o Timão balançou as redes no Brasileirão foi na vitória por 3 a 0 sobre o Fluminense, em Itaquera.

Apesar dos problemas enfrentados para furar as defesas adversárias, a comissão técnica possui poucas alternativas no banco de reservas. Mesmo com a alteração do esquema tático, que promoveu Coronado ao time titular, o Corinthians continua com dificuldades na construção de jogadas e sofre para dominar o meio campo.

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Ángel Romero, vice-artilheiro do clube no ano, caiu de rendimento nas últimas rodadas e perdeu o posto de titular. O atacante, inclusive, não ainda não marcou nesta edição do Brasileirão e pouco rendeu entrando no decorrer dos jogos.

Pedro Raul, contratado em fevereiro por 5 milhões de dólares (R$ 25 milhões, na cotação da época), segue com dificuldades para se adaptar ao estilo de jogo de António Oliveira e acumula um jejum de 13 partidas sem gols.

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➡️ Tudo sobre o Timão agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso novo canal Lance! Corinthians

Outro reforço do clube para a temporada, Pedro Henrique permanece em trabalho de transição no CT Joaquim Grava e alterna atividades no campo e na acadêmia. O atacante havia se firmando como titular da equipe, mas acabou sofrendo uma lesão no músculo posterior da coxa esquerda ainda em abril, e segue fora desde então.

Com poucas alternativas, António Oliveira terá nove dias de treinamentos para buscar soluções para as carências da equipe que, atualmente, luta contra o descenso na competição. Com uma pausa no calendário, Corinthians volta a campo apenas no dia 11 de junho, contra o Atlético-GO, fora de casa, pela oitava rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro.

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The New York Yankees and New York Mets will play in a very special Subway Series matchup in 2026, per MLB's official schedule reveal for next season, which was released on Tuesday.

Sept. 11, 2026 will mark the 25th anniversary of 9/11. In tribute of the tragic events from a quarter-century ago, the two New York teams will play a game at Yankee Stadium.

The Mets and Yankees did similarly for the 20th anniversary in 2021. That game was played at Citi Field in Queens in front of a soldout crowd, and the Yankees won 8–7.

The Sept. 11 game at Yankee Stadium will be the first of a three-game Subway Series that will run from the 11th through the 13th. The in-state rivals will also play a three-game set at Citi Field from May 15 to 17.

NEW YORK — Garrett Crochet recoils at the premise. At 26, after 205 ⅓ innings (most in the American League), 255 strikeouts (most in the majors) and a 2.59 ERA (third in the AL) for the 89-win Red Sox, on the cusp of starting Game 1 of the American League wild-card series against the Yankees, he’s finally the guy he always knew he could be, right?

“Um,” he says quickly. “Becoming it.” 

For starters, he didn’t always know he could be this kind of starter. Not until he began throwing 91 mph as a left-handed high school senior did any Division I programs show interest, and even at Tennessee, he spent half his time pitching in relief. When the White Sox drafted him No. 11 in June 2020 and promoted him to the big-league bullpen three months later, he was just thrilled to be in the majors. So he was not exactly clawing at the walls of the bullpen asking to be unleashed on the rotation. 

“I thought that I could do it,” he says slowly. “I wasn’t sure.”

Even that degree of faith began to feel misplaced. In 2021, he threw 54 ⅓ innings in relief and felt gassed. “And I’m, like, last on my team!” he recalls. He set for himself the goal of hitting 80 or 90 innings in ’22, then putting himself in position for a few spot starts in ’23. “And then I blew out [my elbow],” he says. “It was like, ”

The Chicago brass knew he had the talent to be a frontline starter—a four-seamer that touches 100 mph plus perhaps the best slider in the game will usually play—but they wanted to see if he could develop the stamina. So after he finished rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, they let him spend the winter before the 2024 season stretching out. He was so dominant in spring training that they made him the Opening Day starter—his first major league start. 

“I was just like, ” he recalls. “”

Chema Andres has opened up about his early days in Real Madrid's youth squad under Xabi Alonso revealing the “spectacular” training sessions under the Spaniard and as he revealed he scored the first-ever goal of the Liverpool legend’s coaching career.

• The youngster who scored Alonso’s first goal as a coach

  Andres' journey has taken him from Madrid’s youth fields to the centre of Stuttgart’s midfield, but one of his most defining memories goes back to 2018. At just 13, he entered the Madrid academy and soon met, Alonso, who would leave a lasting mark on him.

  Chema recalls that season vividly. Alonso, then beginning his coaching career in Madrid's youth academy, was still transitioning from iconic midfielder to manager. In the very first match of his managerial career, the first goal scored under Alonso’s leadership came from a young Andres. 

  “He was my first coach at Real Madrid. We arrived together in the Under-14 A team, and I scored the first goal in the first match on a rebound, which is a bit of a funny story,” he said in an interview with .

  But it wasn’t the goal that stayed with him the most, it was the training. 

  "When training sessions finished, he would stay behind practicing passes to the goalkeepers or long balls that went straight to their feet; it was spectacular," he added. "He would have us practice with him, but of course, there was no comparison between his passes and ours."

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  Andres' smooth landing and rapid rise at Stuttgart

  Seven years later, Andres is no longer a youth hopeful but has since become a Bundesliga starter. After making his senior debut for Madrid in early 2025, he moved to Stuttgart this summer, seeking consistent top-flight minutes. Few expected the adaptation to be so seamless, including Andres himself.

  Asked about why he chose to join Stuttgart, the 20-year-old said: "It's a team that invests heavily in young talent. They aren't afraid to put young players in the spotlight in high-level matches. They instilled confidence in me a long time ago and presented a project that was interesting to me."

  In his first months, he delivered commanding performances, earning trust from manager Sebastian Hoeness and the sporting director. His physical presence, tactical maturity, and passing range made him an immediate fit.

  Yet the off-field transition was tougher. “I recently saw [Alejandro] Grimaldo say it was an impossible language. I totally agree. Learning German is the hardest thing I'm doing. Luckily, I speak English well and communicate easily. But I want to keep learning and see if I can get by in German in a few months," Andres laughs.

  "I'm very happy. Nobody imagined the adaptation would be so smooth, not even me. It's been a very good four months, and I hope the next four will be at least as good."

• Looking back at Madrid and the U-21 dream

  Despite his move abroad, Los Blancos remains in Chema’s story. His move to Germany wasn’t driven by frustration, he clarifies, though limited minutes at the Club World Cup nudged him toward a decision.

  "I don't think it was the deciding factor, but it did tip the scales. I had considered it beforehand, but I waited until after the World Cup so as not to get ahead of myself," Andres says.

  His development has been shaped by mentors: Raul and Alvaro Arbeloa in the Madrid academy, Lucas Vazquez and Thibaut Courtois when he trained with the first team, and his grandfather, who attended almost every match while Chema was growing up. “The poor man still hasn't been able to come see me in Germany, but he will. He's a key person in my life; without him, I wouldn't be here," he added.

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  The next steps for Andres

  This season, Andres has emerged as one of Stuttgart’s most promising players. His combination of height, physicality, clean distribution and reading of the game has strengthened Stuttgart’s midfield significantly. The 20-year-old has scored a goal and registered an assist in 12 games for the club across the competitions.

  His contract includes Madrid’s buy-back clauses, a clear sign that the Spanish giants still believe in his ceiling. Stuttgart, meanwhile, see him as a long-term anchor in midfield.

  Looking ahead, Chema keeps his objectives simple which is to earn more minutes in Stuttgart, remain a regular with Spain’s Under 21s, and finish the year better than he started it. When asked about the senior national team, he laughs it off saying: “Forget it, that’s not on my mind right now."

Serhou Guirassy looks set to leave Borussia Dortmund this summer, with his release clause dropping again and Europe’s biggest clubs circling. Barcelona are monitoring the situation closely as they search for a long-term Robert Lewandowski successor. While the striker has ruled out a January exit, internal expectations at Dortmund point toward an inevitable departure at season’s end.

• Dortmund bracing for Guirassy's likely departure

  Guirassy’s future at Dortmund is becoming increasingly uncertain as multiple reports in Germany suggest the striker is preparing for a move at the end of the season. After exploding onto the scene at Stuttgart and continuing his form at Dortmund, the 29-year-old has become one of Europe’s most efficient goalscorers and one of its most in-demand forwards.

  A key reason for the looming exit is his contract structure. Guirassy’s deal, which runs until 2028, contains a release clause that decreases every year. Last summer’s €75 million trigger went unused, and a reduced clause will activate next summer, making him a cut-price opportunity for elite clubs. Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool can all activate the clause, putting BVB under growing pressure.

  While Guirassy has dismissed the idea of leaving in January, report that the club privately expect him to seek a new challenge. His brother, also his agent has begun sounding out Saudi Arabian clubs in case the striker opts for a final major payday, though the clause reportedly does not apply to Gulf clubs.

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  Kahn makes clear Guirassy’s intentions

  Speaking to about the striker’s situation, Bayern Munich legend Oliver Kahn did not hold back. “There’s absolutely no question that he wants to leave the club as things stand. And that’s why I wouldn’t concern myself with it any further. There’s no reason for him to transfer now.”

  His words reflected a sentiment increasingly shared across Germany: Guirassy is preparing for his next step, and Dortmund will struggle to keep him once the summer window opens.

• Barcelona watching as Guirassy’s value drops

  Interest in the Dortmund striker is no surprise. His output since signing for Dortmund in 2024 has been extraordinary. Across Europe’s top five leagues, only Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland and Robert Lewandowski have scored more goals than him in all competitions. This ability to score at elite levels, paired with a descending release clause has made him one of the continent’s most attractive market opportunities. Barcelona, searching for a successor to Lewandowski and facing financial constraints, see the Guinean as a rare combination of affordability, experience and proven efficiency.

  Even during what has been described as a “slight dip” this season, he has delivered nine goals and four assists across 17 games, plus a brace in the 4-0 win over Villarreal. Dortmund coach Niko Kovac has staunchly defended him during quieter periods. 

  “For me, Serhou is very, very important. He remains our insurance policy because he is a key part of this team,” Kovac said. “They are clearly trying to take our top striker out of the game. That’s why it’s not so easy for him. But I know that in the coming weeks, he will again give us what we need: his goals.”

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  Dortmund preparing for life after Guirassy

  Die Borussen are already exploring replacements in anticipation of a summer exit. Hoffenheim striker Fisnik Asllani is one of the profiles on their list, with a release clause becoming active next year and the 23-year-old pushing for a move away from Sinsheim. As for Guirassy, two paths are emerging. One is a move to a major European club, where he would immediately compete at Champions League level. The other is a lucrative switch to Saudi Arabia, with his brother testing interest across the Gulf region.

  Barca’s monitoring of his situation adds another layer, especially with the Catalan club planning for a future beyond Lewandowski. Guirassy’s affordability and scoring consistency make him an option they cannot ignore. His intentions are increasingly clear, and as Kahn suggested, the question now is not if Guirassy leaves Dortmund, but where he ends up.

Jamie Vardy made headlines as he stepped onto the pitch for Cremonese wearing “Becky” on the back of his No.10 shirt, a heartfelt tribute to his wife as part of the ‘A Red to Violence’ campaign. The gesture formed part of a league-wide initiative marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and instantly captured attention across Italy and beyond.

• Vardy wears Becky's name on his back

  Vardy wore his wife Rebekah’s name on the back of his Cremonese shirt during the club’s Serie A match against Roma, taking part in the league-wide ‘A Red to Violence’ initiative. Instead of featuring their own names, players were encouraged to display the names of women close to them, aligning with efforts to raise awareness around domestic abuse. Vardy chose to honour his wife of nine years, joining teammates and several other Serie A sides in the touching campaign.

  The initiative saw Cremonese join clubs including Lazio, Parma, Udinese and Lecce in marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. Players opted for the names of partners, daughters, mothers, grandmothers or friends as symbols of support and solidarity. Vardy’s shirt stood out, with “Becky” sitting above his trademark No.10 as he lined up at the Stadio Giovanni Zini.

  The 38-year-old striker has made a decent start to life in Italy after leaving Leicester, and the gesture highlighted his commitment to participating fully in club and league initiatives. His involvement also underscored the personal significance of the moment, given his long-standing relationship with Rebekah and the family they have built together.

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  The 'A Red to Violence' intiative

  The ‘A Red to Violence’ initiative represents a growing movement within Italian football to use matchdays as a platform for social awareness campaigns. Serie A’s decision to coordinate club participation magnified the message, encouraging both players and fans to reflect on violence against women and the importance of support networks. Vardy's involvement, as one of the league’s most high-profile foreign stars, helped broaden international visibility for the campaign.

  For Vardy personally, the decision to honour Rebekah resonated because of the couple’s long-standing relationship and their blended family. The moment underscored his grounded character and the strong family values that have followed him throughout his career from non-league football to Premier League triumphs. His choice added an emotional dimension to a symbolic gesture already rich in meaning.

• Jamie and Rebekah Vardy's relationship

  Vardy and Rebekah have been together since 2014 and married two years later in Cheshire, building a family that includes six children across their previous and shared relationships. The couple recently relocated to Italy after Vardy ended his historic Leicester spell in May, marking a new chapter in both their lives. Their move to Cremonese has brought fresh challenges, but also a continuation of the tight-knit family life they have cultivated for over a decade.

  The striker’s arrival in Italy came after an extraordinary Leicester career, where he won the Premier League, FA Cup and Golden Ball award, breaking multiple goalscoring records along the way. His time at the King Power also included memorable Champions League nights, a Premier League Player of the Season title and selection for England at Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup.

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  Vardy helping Cremonese navigate through Serie A

  Cremonese will hope Vardy can continue blending emotional leadership with on-field impact as they navigate the challenges of Serie A survival. His early influence, both as a goalscorer and a figure of seniority, positions him as a key part of the squad’s development in the coming months. Maintaining his form and fitness will be central to the club’s ambitions as they look to build stability in Italy’s top tier.

  For Vardy personally, his start in Italy suggests he still has plenty to contribute despite nearing the twilight of his career. A strong first season at Cremonese could extend his stay, particularly as he continues adapting to Italian football and life off the pitch.

Kent 17 for 0 drew with Leicestershire 459 for 7 dec (Patel 114, Cox 93, Masood 90, Hill 54)Leicestershire’s promotion as Division Two champions in the Rothesay County Championship was confirmed despite the final day of their clash with Kent going the same way as days one and three, abandoned without a ball bowled to consign the contest to a draw.Early morning rain topped up an already saturated outfield at the Uptonsteel County Ground, where umpires Hassan Adnan and Simon Widdup, mindful of their duty to minimise the risk of injury to players, determined after a number of inspections that there was no prospect of it drying out enough for play to resume.With Leicestershire taking a 25-point lead into the last two rounds of games, the 13 points they take for a draw in this match is enough to put them out of reach of second-placed Glamorgan, who took only nine from their drawn match in similar conditions 30 miles away at Derby.”We’ve been the best team in this division,” Alfonso Thomas, Leicestershire’s head coach, said. “We’ve been at the top of the table since the first game and I’m just glad that we saw the job through. It was tough going towards the end, with a few injuries and guys getting called up to England.”But it’s just fantastic to see a reward for the work that everybody’s put in – the backroom staff, ground staff, administrators, players, support staff. The whole club as a collective has really bought into it and that’s a testament to the players and the way they went about it throughout the season. To win six games and lose only one is a great effort.”We have a little genius in Rehan Ahmed. He can do things that nobody in this team can do. But then there’s the other guys that do the hard yards, bowling up the hill, bowling into the wind, the batters that have to go out and face a second new ball, or pad up as a nightwatcher. But at no point has anybody moaned about the job that they have to do. And all of those things add up.”Getting to where we are now, winning this title, has been a process. When I came here we were a bit soft-centred, and we had some players who probably weren’t good enough. But the changes you are trying to implement can’t happen overnight, so it was just baby steps.”The first thing we needed to do was become harder to beat and competitive over four days. To an extent we did that last season. We only won one game, but we only lost two. The next step was to try to win more games. And to do that we came up with simple plans, keeping things simple rather than trying to think outside the box. The guys bought into that and we have worked hard to make sure that the players we have brought in have had the right character and bought into it too.”Leicestershire, who will play Division One cricket next season for the first time since 2003, would have preferred their title-winning moment to have come on the field, to be followed by a trophy presentation in front of their own supporters. In fact, they will not get their hands on the silverware until the conclusion of their final fixture, against Northamptonshire away, which starts next Wednesday.Nonetheless, they did their best to create their own excitement, celebrating with champagne and fashioning a ‘Champions’ board from part of the boundary board, while cheered on by enthusiastic supporters.The only member of their team who might have felt a little frustrated not to get on the field was veteran seamer Chris Wright, who is retiring at the end of this season at the age of 40.Although his retirement has been marked by his team-mates off the field, the conditions denied him the chance of a send-off on the field in front of a home crowd. He also needs three more wickets to reach 600 in his career in first-class matches and is one away from 800 in all formats.Leicestershire’s season has finished in something of an anti-climax, with four of their last six matches ending in draws, this one being a third in a row in which the weather has been a major factor. Yet they have been short-priced favourites to emerge with the title since the end of May, having won five of their first seven matches to establish a commanding advantage.It is their second silverware in three seasons after lifting the Metro Bank One-Day Cup in 2023 but their first in the Championship since 1998 – two years before the competition adopted a two-division format – when they took their second County Championship pennant in three years, coached by the club’s current president, Jack Birkenshaw.Thomas added: “I have to give credit to Pete Handscomb, the captain. He’s not here today but he’s been a big driver of that. He’s made it easier for me as a coach because we both sing from the same hymn sheet.”I know we won a trophy two years ago, and that was important for the players to give them a reward for all their hard work, but this is playing consistent cricket over a period of time.”On a personal level I’m extremely proud. I won things as a player but I would probably go as far as to say it’s given me a lot more satisfaction to win as a coach than as a player. As a player, you only have to look after yourself whereas as a coach, you have to look after about 20 guys. You don’t have the power yourself to execute the things you are asking for, and that makes you vulnerable.”For Leicestershire, I would like to think that it’s the start of something really special. We’ve won two trophies in the last three years. That doesn’t just happen – and it certainly doesn’t just happen to Leicestershire.”