موتسيبي: محمد صلاح يستحق الكرة الذهبية بنسبة 100%

أشاد باتريس موتسيبي، رئيس الاتحاد الإفريقي لكرة القدم (كاف)، بالنجم المصري محمد صلاح، مؤكدًا أنه يستحق الفوز بالكرة الذهبية دون أي شك، نظرًا لما يقدمه من أداء استثنائي في الملاعب الأوروبية.

وقال موتسيبي، في تصريحات عبر قناة “أون سبورت”: “فيما يتعلق بجائزة الكرة الذهبية، فإن محمد صلاح يستحقها بنسبة 100%. إنه لاعب رائع واستثنائي، ويجعلنا جميعًا في إفريقيا فخورين للغاية، ولا شيء سيسعدنا أكثر من رؤية أحد أبناء قارتنا يتوج بهذه الجائزة المرموقة”.

طالع أيضًا | موتسيبي: مصر قادرة على الوصول لنهائي كأس العالم.. ونفخر بأنديتها ومنتخبها

ويتصدر محمد صلاح حاليًا قائمة هدافي الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز هذا الموسم برصيد 27 هدفًا، بعد مشاركته في 29 مباراة مع فريقه.

كما يُعد صلاح أكثر اللاعبين تتويجًا بجائزة لاعب الشهر في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، بعدما حصل عليها 7 مرات، ليعادل رقم كل من سيرجيو أجويرو، أسطورة مانشستر سيتي، وهاري كين، نجم توتنهام السابق.

وحصل النجم المصري على الجائزة في نوفمبر 2017، ثم في فبراير ومارس 2018، وأكتوبر 2021، وأكتوبر 2023، ونوفمبر 2024، وأخيرًا شهر فبراير 2025، ليؤكد مكانته كواحد من أبرز اللاعبين في تاريخ الدوري الإنجليزي.

Joe Clarke keen to keep in permanent role at Melbourne Stars

He has kept just five times in T20s but is set to take the gloves for the Stars all season and open the batting alongside Marcus Stoinis

Alex Malcolm30-Nov-2021

Joe Clarke behind the stumps for Melbourne Stars in a BBL practice match•Getty Images

English import Joe Clarke is preparing himself for an unfamiliar role in the upcoming BBL as he is set to be Melbourne Stars’ wicketkeeper for most of the tournament.Stars’ local wicketkeeper Seb Gotch is battling a career-threatening finger injury and is likely to be unavailable for the entire tournament.They had searched far and wide for a wicketkeeping option including big-name overseas players. West Indies wicketkeeper-batter Nicholas Pooran did a short stint with Stars last season but was unable to return. The job is set to fall to Clarke who has kept just 11 times in his six-year professional career, and only five times in T20 cricket, all of which were in this year’s PSL for Karachi Kings.Related

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He kept in one County Championship fixture for Nottinghamshire this year and is predominantly a part-timer behind first-choice Tom Moores but Clarke said he is looking forward to the challenge.”Obviously my keeping was something that has sort of been on the on the backburner last couple of years,” Clarke said. “I went to Pakistan to play in the Pakistan Super League and was keeping for that. It’s something that I’m looking forward to doing as well over here.”Clarke will have his hands full keeping to legspinning duo Adam Zampa and Qais Ahmad, but he completed a sharp stumping during one of two practice matches he played in on Tuesday.Coach David Hussey was concerned about the lack of keeping knowledge on his coaching staff and has signed former Australia Test wicketkeeper Peter Nevill as a back-up playing wicketkeeper. Nevill will also be leaned on in a coaching capacity and will assist with Clarke’s preparation. But Clarke was comfortable he would be able to get the preparation work that he needs with Hussey and assistant coach Ben Rohrer.”I’ve really enjoyed working with them so far,” Clarke said. “Although obviously [they] didn’t do too much with keeping in their day, [they] just facilitate with me and do the drills that I do back home and stuff like that and just make me feel as best prepared as I can be.”Hussey has no concerns about Clarke’s batting ability and is keen for him to form a formidable opening partnership with Marcus Stoinis.”Joe Clarke’s been outstanding for Notts for many a year opening the batting,” Hussey told ESPNcricinfo. “So hopefully they gel very, very quickly and they can open the batting and set a nice foundation for our middle order players.”The pair gelled nicely in the afternoon practice game on Tuesday at the Junction Oval against Renegades sharing a 95-run opening stand off 11.4 overs. Clarke made 64 off 40 balls as he rounded off his preparation ahead of his second stint in the BBL.He played three games for Perth Scorchers last summer as an early-season replacement player prior to Jason Roy’s arrival. His 34 off 16 balls against Stars undoubtedly played a part in his recruitment.”I loved it,” Clarke said. “Obviously I would have loved to have played some more games. But just get a taster for the Big Bash and how the competition goes was actually good fun.”

نيفيل يُحذر من رحيل محمد صلاح وفان دايك وأرنولد: ليفربول سيخسر ربع مليار إسترليني

يرى مدافع مانشستر يونايتد الأسبق، جاري نيفيل، أنه برحيل الثلاثي محمد صلاح، فيرجيل فان دايك، ترينت ألكسندر أرنولد، عن ليفربول بنهاية الموسم سيكون هناك فراغ هائل في تشكيل الريدز.

وتنتهي عقود الثلاثي بنهاية الموسم الحالي، وحتى الآن، لم يتحرك ليفربول بشكل رسمي للتمديد بحسب الصحافة البريطانية في الفترة الماضية.

وهناك رغبة من جانب محمد صلاح وفان دايك في الاستمرار مع ليفربول، ولكن الصحافة تؤكد أن أرنولد هو اللاعب الذي تأكد رحيله إلى ريال مدريد لخوض مغامرة جديدة في مسيرته.

اقرأ أيضًا.. فاولر يوجه نصيحة لـ ليفربول بشأن مصير محمد صلاح: سيسبب الفوضى والخراب

وقال جاري نيفيل خلال تواجده في بودكاست “Stick to Football” عبر شبكة “سكاي سبورتس”: “في نهاية الموسم، سيترك رحيل هؤلاء الثلاثة محمد صلاح، فيرجيل فان دايك وترينت ألكسندر أرنولد، فراغًا هائلًا في ليفربول إذا غادروا مجانًا”.

وتابع: “نحن نتحدث عن أحد أفضل المهاجمين في أوروبا، وأحد أفضل قلوب الدفاع، وأحد أفضل الأظهرة في العالم”.

وأضاف: “حتى مع قدرة ليفربول على اختيار الصفقات الناجحة للفريق، فرحيل الثلاثي هذا يمثل فجوة بقيمة ربع مليار جنيه إسترليني، لقد كان ليفربول ناجحًا في ضم أفضل اللاعبين بالسنوات الماضية، لذا قد يتمكنون من تعويضهم، لكن هذا تحدٍ كبير لآرني سلوت”.

واستمر: “ليفربول هو النادي الوحيد الذي يترك عقود لاعبيه تنتهي، ومع ذلك لا يزالوا يقدمون أداءً قويًا لصالح الفريق، وقد برر جيمي كاراجر ذلك بأن النادي يسير على الطريق الصحيح فيما يفعله (عدم التحرك للتمديد)”.

وواصل: “ثلاثة من أفضل اللاعبين في العالم عقودهم على وشك الانتهاء، ومع ذلك يقال إن ليفربول أدار الأمر بشكل جيد، آسف، لا يمكنني قبول ذلك”.

وأتم: “في حالة أرنولد، هذا أمر لا يُغتفر، حتى لو كان هناك اضطراب في الإدارة، إذا كنت مالك النادي ونظرت إلى ترينت قبل عامين، كان يجب أن تدرك أنه من الضروري تجديد عقده، فهو أحد أبناء النادي”.

Flamengo fecha acordo por patrocínio no meião dos uniformes; saiba mais

MatériaMais Notícias

Enquanto o departamento de futebol está em busca de reforços, áreas segmentadas do comercial do Flamengo alinham acordos por novas receitas. E, nesta segunda-feira, o clube se acertou com aLuvix, empresa que produz luvas e artefatos de látex e queestampará sua marca no meião dos uniformes do futebol masculino e feminino. O acordo é válido por 18 meses e renderáR$ 6 milhões ao Rubro-Negro.

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Ainda não é assinante do Cariocão-2022? Acesse www.cariocaoplay.com.br, preencha o cadastro e ganhe 5% de desconto com o cupom especial do LANCE!: GE-JK-FF-ZSW

A informação inicial do patrocínio é do site “ge”. Empresa anterior que ocupava o espaço do meião, a Moss desembolsavaR$ 3,6 milhões por temporada, a título de comparação.

Apalavrado, o novo patrocínio ainda precisapassar por votação no Conselho Deliberativo do Flamengo para ser oficializado. Ainda não há data para ocorrer o crivo dosconselheiros.

> Veja a tabela do Cariocão

Em tempo: o uniforme do Flamengo, atualmente,rende cerca de R$ 130 milhões por temporada, sendo oBRB, com R$ 32 milhões, a marca a estampar a sua marca que mais paga ao Rubro-Negro anualmente.

USA-Ireland ODI series cancelled due to Covid-19 outbreak

Significant financial blow to USA Cricket as historic series fails to take off

Peter Della Penna28-Dec-2021

The two-match T20I series featured some explosive action, but the ODIs never took place•Peter Della Penna

A fresh Covid-19 outbreak within the managed environment has forced the three-match ODI series between USA and Ireland to be called off. The two boards have not put out an official statement as of Tuesday at noon, but the two teams did not show up for their training sessions as stadium ground staff and workers began disassembling hospitality and advertising signage at Broward County Stadium throughout the morning and early afternoon. Multiple sources have confirmed that the ODI series has been scrapped due to a number of positive Covid-19 tests in the traveling parties, and USA’s players have been notified that their tickets are being booked to fly home today.Related

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After canceling the first ODI due to a positive test among the ICC officiating crew, the second of the matches was initially postponed 24 hours after a string of positive tests on both sides – a member of Ireland’s support staff as well as a number of USA’s playing team – though the majority of them turned out to be false positives.Both teams were due to train on Tuesday at the Broward County Stadium ahead of the delayed first match of the series on December 29. However, neither squad arrived at the stadium. Multiple sources told ESPNcricinfo that even though no Ireland players tested positive in a fresh round of PCR tests, multiple members of the Ireland support staff, as well as partners and family members of Ireland players tested positive, meaning that a large number of Ireland players were deemed to be close contacts.The situation is similar in some ways to the incident that took place in Melbourne this week when four members of the England touring party – two staff members and two family members – tested positive for Covid. However, unlike the fate of the ODI series between USA and Ireland, the Ashes Test match went ahead anyway when all players returned negative Tests.After numerous waves of retests following the false positives that came out of the USA squad camp, only one new player returned a positive PCR test, according to sources. But the fact that it was a player meant that the entire USA team was also deemed to be close contacts of the positive player.The off-field discipline of the traveling parties is also a cause for scrutiny. The majority of the USA players were kept to their hotel rooms throughout the staging of the series as a consequence of a number of early positive Covid-19 tests ahead of the first T20I that was held on December 22.However, the Ireland squad members are understood to have been allowed to leave the team hotel periodically throughout the past week, including on Christmas Day, and were allowed to mix and mingle with traveling family members and partners. It was only after the first Ireland support staff member tested positive on December 27 that their players went into full isolation mode in their hotel rooms.The cancellation of the ODI series is expected to deal a significant financial blow to USA Cricket, who had gone all out by investing resources to make the historic series happen at short notice. The initial announcement came on November 9 that USA Cricket would be hosting a Full Member for a bilateral series for the first time, giving them six weeks to organize the event. Though the two-match T20I series was completed on December 23 with a total ticketed attendance of just over 1,000 fans (a USA Cricket official stated that attendance for the first match was 328 followed by 744 for the 2nd T20I*) across the two games, the ODIs never got off the ground.As of Tuesday, the Ireland squad is still scheduled to depart on December 31 for Jamaica to take part in three ODIs and one T20I against West Indies. According to a Cricket Ireland official, “The positives on the staff will have to stay back, but with another PCR pre-travel pending, the main group will still travel as planned.”

Parish leading Crystal Palace pursuit as approach made for £62m player

Steve Parish is leading Crystal Palace’s transfer pursuit of a £62 million player and an approach has been made, according to a new report. The Eagles will be slowly putting plans in place ahead of the January transfer window, as it provides them with an opportunity to strengthen the team and help them get out of the trouble they are currently in.

Crystal Palace now in pole position to sign £10m-a-year defender in January

Palace are tracking a player who is not wanted by his current side.

ByBrett Worthington Nov 14, 2024 Crystal Palace transfer news

One win in their opening 11 Premier League games has Palace at the bottom end of the table, and struggling at both ends of the pitch, Oliver Glasner will be hoping more reinforcements arrive in the New Year.

Strengthening their back four appears to be a key target for the South London side, as they have their eye on a few defenders. The Eagles are showing “great interest” in IF Elfsborg defender Terry Yegbe. The 23-year-old has emerged on Palace’s radar and could cost just £4 million to get him out of his current club.

Meanwhile, it has been claimed that Palace are in pole position to sign Ben Chilwell from Chelsea. The 27-year-old looks set to leave the Blues when January comes around, as he’s been frozen out by manager Enzo Maresca this season, playing just once, and that was in the Carabao Cup. Chilwell would be an impressive addition to the Eagles, but he is not the only Chelsea player that Parish has his eye on.

Parish leading Crystal Palace loan pursuit for Mudryk

According to Football Transfers, Crystal Palace have approached Chelsea about the possibility of signing Mykhailo Mudryk on loan in January. The Ukraine international joined the Blues in January last year as an exciting prospect, but has struggled to replicate the form he showed with Shakhtar Donetsk.

The 23-year-old had a really disappointing 2023/24 season, as he scored five goals in 31 games in the Premier League but was constantly in and out of the starting XI. This season hasn’t been much better so far, as he’s yet to score or register an assist in seven league games.

This report now states that Steve Parish is leading Palace’s pursuit of the winger, as Mudryk is seen as a potential “game changer” like Wilfred Zaha was at Selhurst Park. Mudryk has shown glimpses while in England of what he is capable of, and Parish will hope a change of scenery could help him really progress his career.

Mykhailo Mudryk’s Premier League stats

Apps

53

Goals

5

Assists

4

Mudryk, who cost Chelsea £62 million in 2023, is now way down Maresca’s pecking order and needs a fresh start, while the Eagles would get an exciting, attacking footballer who can help fill the creativity void left by Michael Olise.

جراهام يكشف كيف أقنع كلوب بالتعاقد مع محمد صلاح: كان يُفضل صفقة أخرى

كشف إيان جراهام، مدير الأبحاث السابق في ليفربول، عن تفاصيل تتعلق بقدوم محمد صلاح إلى النادي، حين كان يورجن كلوب مدربًا للفريق.

وتعاقد ليفربول مع محمد صلاح من روما في صيف عام 2017، وكانت هناك شكوك حول إمكانية نجاحه مع الريدز، بعد فترة غير موفقة مع تشيلسي تحت قيادة جوزيه مورينيو.

أثبت صلاح نفسه كواحد من أفضل نجوم ليفربول على مر تاريخه، وكذلك الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، على مدار السنوات الماضية، بتحطيم الأرقام القياسية لأساطير الريدز والبريميرليج.

جراهام تحدث إلى بي بي سي سبورت ضمن فيلم وثائقي حول رحلة ليفربول نحو الفوز بدوري أبطال أوروبا 2018-2019.

وقال جراهام: “كان جوليان براندت، اللاعب الرائع، خيار يورجن كلوب المُفضل في ذلك الصيف”.

وأضاف: “من الواضح أن يورجن كان يعرفه جيدًا، قادمًا من الدوري الألماني، وكان ملمًا بالسوق الألمانية”.

اقرأ ايضاً.. فان دايك يوجه نصيحة لـ لاعبي ليفربول قبل الرحيل المحتمل

وأردف: “اتفقنا على أن براندت لاعب شاب جيد جدًا، لكنه ليس مُتميزًا بنفس مستوى صلاح، من وجهة نظرنا في تحليل البيانات، كان محمد أفضل جناح شاب في أوروبا، بلا منازع”.

وأشار: “كان روما تحت ضغط لبيعه لأن موارده المالية لم تكن في وضع جيد، لذلك كنا نعلم أنه متاح بسعر مناسب”.

واستطرد: “لعب دورًا هجوميًا وجناحيًا كنا بحاجة إلى سده في ذلك الوقت، بينما كان براندت أقرب إلى لاعب خط وسط مهاجم”.

وعلّق جراهام: “يُحسب ليورغن أنه انخرط في هذا النقاش بصراحة ووضوح، وقال حسنًا، أنا منفتح على الاقتناع، أرني أن محمد صلاح أفضل”.

وتعاقد ليفربول مع صلاح من روما في يونيو 2017 مقابل 34 مليون جنيه إسترليني.

منذ ذلك الحين سجل محمد صلاح 243 هدفًا وقدم 109 تمريرات حاسمة مع ليفربول في 393 مباراة.

وتحت قيادة كلوب، ساعد ليفربول على الفوز بدوري أبطال أوروبا، الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، وكأس الاتحاد الإنجليزي، وكأس الرابطة، وكأس العالم للأندية.

Du Queiroz e Mantuan relembram briga na base do Corinthians

MatériaMais Notícias

Duas das grandes promessas do Corinthians, o meia Du Queiroz e o atacante Gustavo Mantuan estão juntos no clube desde os 15 anos de idade. Os dois são grandes amigos, mas a relação chegou a dar uma estremecida durante o período nas categorias de base do Timão.

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Juntos, relembrando histórias durante a formação na equipe alvinegra, a dupla mencionou o fato que aconteceu durante um treinamento das categorias inferiores do clube corintiano, por conta de uma chegada mais forte de Du em Mantuan.

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-Ele (Du Queiroz) queria brigar, batia muito. Teve um treino que a gente brigou. Ele deu o maior porradão em mim, eu reclamei com ele e a gente discutiu – contou Mantuan.

-Eu falei pra ele (Mantuan) que iria pegar no busão. A gente subiu no busão, estava esperando ele bravo. Ele chegou, e eu falei: ‘e aí, seo moleque’. Cheguei nele e dei uma moca, ficou um bololozinho. Aí depois o treinador chamou a gente pra conversar, disse que a gente era os melhores do time e que não poderia a gente brigar, tinha que viver em harmonia – completou Du Queiroz.

Mas, ainda assim, houve consenso entre a dupla que outro companheiro de base, mas que está entre os profissionais, o volante Roni, era o mais agressivo nos treinos.

-Claro que é o Roni (que bate mais), bate muito, tá maluco – disse Du Queiroz.

– Essa daí eu vou concordar com o Du – acrescentou Mantuan.

Mas como o mundo do futebol dá voltas, Mantuan foi o responsável por ‘salvar’ Du Queiroz de uma grande decepção, durante as oitavas de final do Brasileirão Sub-20 de 2020, quando Du perdeu a primeira cobrança na disputa por pênaltis, mas o Timão virou e Mantuan foi o responsável por bater a penalidade decisiva.

-A gente jogou na Arena do Grêmio, foi um jogo importnate, 2 a 2 no tempo normal. Eu abri as cobranças de pênaltis, errei, bati na trave, e você (Mantuan) no último me salvou – disse Du Queiroz.

Tanto Du, quanto Mantuan vinham tendo boas oportunidades com o técnico Sylvinho e o interino Fernando Lázaro. Agora ambos aguardarão a chegada do português Vitor Pereira no comando do clube para saber se manterão essa sequência na temporada.

Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan postponed a second time

Afghanistan board says postponement “due to the inability of arranging the required broadcasting services by the host country”

ESPNcricinfo staff29-Jan-2022

The ACB is hoping to play Bangladesh in February•AFP/Getty Images

The Afghanistan Cricket Board said on Saturday that its team’s tour of Zimbabwe, scheduled for early February, has been postponed. The series cannot take place as scheduled “due to the inability of arranging the required broadcasting services by the host country,” the ACB said in a statement.This is the second time the series has been pushed back – it was initially meant to be played in December 2021, but was put off then at the ACB’s request following the Omicron outbreak.”We were in contact with Zimbabwe Cricket [in December] on how to proceed with the series upon the breakout of a new Covid-19 variant in Zimbabwe. Then considering the circumstances in Zimbabwe, both parties agreed to proceed with the series in February,” ACB cricket operations manager, Abdul Wali Amin, was quoted as saying in the board’s statement. “We had then assessed and negotiated the concerns related to Covid-19 and travel restrictions in Zimbabwe. We had also reached an agreement with ZC to proceed with the series as planned in February.”But we were informed by ZC that they are unable to secure the required broadcast services including the Decision Review System, so the tour was postponed for the second time.”The series was scheduled to include three ODIs, which count towards the World Cup Super League, and five T20Is.The ACB is now “working on” firming up Afghanistan’s tour of Bangladesh in February, for three ODIs (World Cup Super League) and two T20Is, as per the ICC’s Future Tours Programme.

Celtic must unleash £3.5m ace to help stop Brugge hero who Idah knows well

Celtic return to European action on Wednesday night as they prepare to welcome Belgian side Club Brugge to Glasgow in the Champions League.

The Hoops have played twice in the Scottish Premiership, and had an international break, since their last outing on the European stage, which was their 3-1 win over RB Leipzig at Parkhead earlier this month.

Two goals from winger Nicolas Kuhn and one from Reo Hatate secured all three points for the Scottish giants against the Bundesliga side, and that was the second win in four outings for the club in the competition.

Brendan Rodgers’ team come into this clash with Brugge, though, off the back of an emphatic 4-1 win away at Hearts in their last Premiership game.

Kyogo Furuhashi and Kuhn scored the opening two goals in the game, within the space of five minutes in the 55th and 60th, before substitute Adam Idah came off the bench to score twice to seal the win for the Hoops.

How Celtic's attack could line up against Brugge

After the Ireland international’s burst off the bench against Hearts, Rodgers could have a decision to make in the centre-forward position against Brugge on Wednesday.

Kyogo has not enjoyed a perfect start to the campaign in the Champions League, with a return of one goal from 1.89 xG and zero assists in four appearances and three starts.

Meanwhile, Idah has scored one goal from 1.26 xG and zero assists in four outings, although he has only started one of the games – the 0-0 draw with Atalanta.

On the flanks, Daizen Maeda and Kuhn should retain their positions in the starting XI, given the impact that they have made in the competitions this season.

24/25 Champions League

Daizen Maeda

Nicolas Kuhn

Appearances

4

4

xG

1.58

0.56

Goals

2

2

Assists

0

1

Big chances created

0

2

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, both players have outscored Idah and Kyogo respectively, and outperformed their xG tallies, whilst Kuhn has also provided an assist.

The Celtic wide men have showcased their ability to make a difference in the final third and should both be unleashed from the start against Brugge, as they could use their quality to win the game for the Hoops – particularly with the strikers struggling to consistently find the back of the net.

Whilst Rodgers will have plenty of focus on how his team will attack the game at Parkhead, the Northern Irish head coach will also be well aware of the threat that the Belgian side pose, particularly with their in-form left-winger Christos Tzolis set to star.

Christos Tzolis' form for Club Brugge this season

The Greek international’s quality will already be well-known to one of the players in the Celtic squad, as Adam Idah played alongside him during their time at Norwich City.

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They played 16 matches together in England and the Irish forward may be able to provide the group with a little bit of insight on him thanks to that.

The coaching staff will, however, have plenty of footage of his performances for Brugge this season to show the players, to make them aware of the threat that he poses to the defence.

Tzolis joined the Belgian side on a permanent deal from Fortuna Dusseldorf, shortly after he had left Norwich to sign for the German team, and has thrived in his new environment, with a return of eight goals and two assists in 20 appearances.

The 22-year-old star, who has scored one goal and created six chances in four Champions League games, enjoyed his best performance of the season against Sint-Truidense in the Pro League on Saturday.

Christos Tzolis

Vs Sint-Truidense (23/11/24)

Minutes played

58

xG

1.62

Goals

4

Duels won

4/6

Dribbles completed

2/2

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Tzolis, incredibly, found the back of the net four times in just 58 minutes from the left flank in the league in his last match.

Also a scorer in his previous match before that for Finland, the former Norwich City winger clearly, given his form in the Pro League and the Champions League, poses a huge threat to Celtic ahead of the clash on Wednesday night.

However, Rodgers may not need to worry too much about the forward because he has a right-back in his squad, in Alistair Johnston, who can combat the Brugge gem.

Why Alistair Johnston is equipped to deal with Tzolis

The Celtic full-back, who was recently hailed for his “phenomenal” work rate by the manager, must be unleashed once again from the start because he has the ability at both ends of the pitch to deal with Tzolis’ quality.

Firstly, Johnston’s strong defensive work gives him the best chance to prevent the Greek star from influencing the game in the final third as a scorer or a creator.

In the Champions League this season, the £3.5m Canada international ranks third in the squad for tackles (2.8) per game and second for interceptions (one) per match, whilst also ranking first in both statistics among full-backs.

Johnston has also won 71% of his ground duels and 71% of his aerial battles in his four appearances in Europe this term, which shows that he has been able to dominate opposition players in physical contests to stop them from beating him.

In those four games, no left winger has provided a goal or an assist against Celtic. Even in the 7-1 defeat to Dortmund, Jamie Gittens did not score or assist any goals and failed with four of his five dribble attempts.

24/25 Premiership

Alistair Johnston

Appearances

12

Sofascore rating

7.80

Goals

4

Assists

3

Big chances created

8

Key passes per game

1.9

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Johnston also has the attacking quality to push Tzolis, or any winger, back by forcing them to track back and help out their full-back, as he provides a threat as a scorer and a creator from right-back.

Therefore, the Canadian star could play an incredibly important role on Wednesday night by providing the defensive strength and attacking quality to combat the threat of Tzolis.

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