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PCA chairman Daryl Mitchell has described David Leatherdale as a brilliant chief executive who retains “the full support of the members”

George Dobell03-Mar-2018Daryl Mitchell has sprung to the defence of David Leatherdale after criticism in several newspapers suggesting he no longer enjoyed the full confidence of the players he is meant to represent. Leatherdale, the chief executive of the Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA), effectively the players’ union in England and Wales, has recently taken time off due to illness.But while some have suggested Leatherdale is overly influenced by the ECB, Mitchell, the organisation’s chairman, has described him as a “brilliant CEO” who retains “the full support of the members”. He has also described much of the criticism Leatherdale has faced – specifically over a change in the nature of England player contracts with the ECB and the ending of a sponsored car deal with Toyota – as unfounded.”There have been accusations that the PCA is too close to the ECB,” Mitchell told ESPNcricinfo, “but the way I see it, we have a strong, constructive relationship with the ECB that allows our voice to be heard and our views to shape plans.”We will negotiate hard and take a strong line when necessary. But nobody wants the situation we saw in Australia where the relationship between the board and players breaks down. I’d have thought the relationship we have with the ECB, a relationship that allows us a place at the table when all decisions are taken, is extremely positive.”Much of the criticism David has faced in recent days has been unfounded and inaccurate. I’m not aware of any angry emails from England players complaining about their sponsorship deals. There have been a couple asking for clarification, but nothing more than that, and those commercial deals are arranged by the ECB in any case.”And the idea that players are suddenly upset by a change in the awarding of incremental contracts is very strange. The way incremental contracts are awarded was changed in October 2016 as the ECB moved away from the points scoring system and are now awarded on a discretionary basis and have been for the past 18 months.”It is certainly a busy time for the PCA. As well as negotiating the next Team England Player Partnership (TEPP) – effectively the new central contracts – and England Women’s Player Partnership, the PCA is also central to talks regarding new Memorandums of Understanding between the first-class counties and the ECB.With the new broadcast deal having brought unprecedented amounts of money into the game in England and Wales, there is pressure on Leatherdale and the PCA to strike a deal that will see players’ remuneration reflect that windfall. It is understood, however, that family health issues may have contributed to Leatherdale’s current illness as much as work issues.Either way, Mitchell insists it is a case of “business as usual” for the organisation in Leatherdale’s absence. Bob Mitchell, a PCA trustee and successful lawyer, will take the lead on negotiations regarding TEPP and Matthew Wheeler, the PCA’s non-executive chairman, will also take more responsibility. Marcus Trescothick and Joe Root are also involved in the TEPP management committee. It is understood Root was involved in a TEPP discussion on Friday.”It is business as usual for the PCA,” Daryl Mitchell said. “We continue to deliver all those services – the personal development, the helplines, the training opportunities, the support and contract advice – that our members rely on us for.”The important thing is that David is given the time and space to fully recover. He has the full support of PCA members and we all wish him well. There is no timeframe as to when we expect him back. He must take as long as he needs.”Mitchell’s words were echoed by Tammy Beaumont, who is the PCA representative for the England women’s team. “There is no crisis of confidence from our side,” she tweeted. “PCA has always worked with our best interest at heart. Wishing David a speedy recovery.”

Australia have dropped batsman Nic Maddinson for next week’s Sydney Test, while left-arm spinners Steve O’Keefe and Ashton Agar have been included in a 13-man squad

Daniel Brettig30-Dec-20163:36

Coverdale: Cartwright, Agar could contest allrounder slot

Australia squad for Sydney

David Warner, Matt Renshaw, Usman Khawaja, Steven Smith (capt), Peter Handscomb, Hilton Cartwright, Ashton Agar, Matthew Wade (wk), Mitchell Starc, Steve O’Keefe, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Jackson Bird
In: Steve O’Keefe, Ashton Agar
Out: Nic Maddinson, Chadd Sayers

Australia have dropped Nic Maddinson for next week’s Sydney Test, while left-arm spinners Steve O’Keefe and Ashton Agar have been included in a 13-man squad.Agar, the wunderkind of the 2013 Ashes tour, merited a place on the strength of 16 well-priced Sheffield Shield wickets in the first half of the season, including 10 against New South Wales at the SCG. O’Keefe has been the favoured left-arm option for some time, but must now prove his ability to stay fit for the lengths of time required following a string of calf issues.”We wanted a left-armer to go away from all their right-handers as well to give us options,” Australia’s coach Darren Lehmann said of Agar. “He got 10 in Sydney [Sheffield Shield game]. He has improved, we get feedback from JL [Justin Langer] and the guys have been watching him, they’ve been impressed with him. The hardest thing we’ve got at the moment is no Shield cricket, so you go with a bit of BBL form as well. So they’re not bowling as much as we’d like, but before that he was doing really well.”[O’Keefe’s] got to be fit and he’s playing now, so that’s the main thing. He wouldn’t want too many more injuries, he’d want to make sure he’s playing cricket. That’s the greatest thing we have now, young players coming through that are fit and ready to go. He did a really good job in Sri Lanka for us before he got injured. He knows he has got to be fit and ready to play each and every game.”Lehmann spoke warmly of Nathan Lyon following his strong display on the final day of the MCG Test, particularly the greater consistency shown by Australia’s most prolific offspin bowler. “I thought he was outstanding,” Lehmann said. “He bowled consistent line and length, which was up and down in the previous few Test matches, and he got through the middle order, so pleased for him.”I was just pleased the way he bowled today, more so than fourth innings winning the game, bowling that consistent line and length we’ve been after all summer. Three or four balls an over had been there, but today was a lot better.”Allrounder Hilton Cartwright has been retained in the squad, but there was no room for swing bowler Chadd Sayers, who had been part of the squad for the first two Tests against Pakistan. Lehmann said that Cartwright and Agar would both be under consideration in an all-round role.”If you play two spinners you normally need an allrounder, so that’s what we’re looking at,” he said. “Agar’s a genuine [allrounder], yeah. He has made Shield hundreds, and batted well in that Test match at 11, and has certainly got the talent to be a batting allrounder or a spinning allrounder, either way.”Maddinson was axed after struggling for impact in the first three Tests of his career, with scores of 0, 1, 4 and 22 in his four Test innings so far. “He has still got a bright future,” Lehmann said. “I thought he batted really well this game, he would’ve liked a bigger score. I thought he played well, got a start and could have gone on big and put pressure on the selectors.”Rather than recalling Shaun Marsh, Lehmann said the selectors had chosen to keep him playing T20 matches while retaining the services of the young Queensland opening batsman Matt Renshaw. “We decided to keep [Marsh] playing BBL,” Lehmann said. “Matt has done a reasonable job for us in the Test matches, so we’re going to go with that same opening combination for the last one.”

Peter Siddle has insisted that he is not disheartened by the fact that Australia’s selectors declined to pick him in the XI until the final Test against New Zealand

Daniel Brettig24-Nov-20152:03

‘I’ll make sure I’m ready to go’ – Siddle

Having considered Peter Siddle surplus to requirements until the moment of last resort during the Ashes, Australia’s selectors have once again declined to pick him until the final Test against New Zealand.For a time, Siddle was not considered fast enough, explosive enough or good enough next to others. But Siddle is now needed more than ever because of two other things he does not do: retiring, and conceding too many runs.The way Siddle’s fortunes have turned is pronounced. Before the dual tours of the West Indies and England, he was more or less the last man picked, and did not even enjoy the security of a Cricket Australia contract – the first time he had missed out since 2008. Now, however, he has been termed one of four “prime bowlers” – alongside Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and James Pattinson – by the coach Darren Lehmann, who has reservations about the pace stocks beneath.”It’s always been about not worrying about what I can’t control,” Siddle said of his time on the outer. “That opportunity in England gave me that little bit of confidence that I can come in and perform. I think that is the added bonus. I obviously missed out on the first two here but know it isn’t that long since I came out and performed. It gives myself a boost but the powers that be above know that I can perform when called upon.”[Losing my contract] didn’t worry me at all, like the selections. I knew last year that I went back to state cricket and performed well and took the most wickets after Christmas of the fast bowlers in state cricket. I did the same when I went to England, took wickets again. I have confidence in my own ability, what I can do and that’s all I worry about, preparing well and looking for my opportunity.”You can’t worry about the other things, it gives you too much stress. If you worry about little things like that you can’t prepare as well as you want to. That’s the thing with me I am always positive, and laid back.”Though he has in recent times been a fringe member of the squad, Siddle’s record as a bowler would suggest he is at his best when confronting players of the highest class. His first Test wicket was one Sachin Tendulkar, and he enjoys enviable records against the likes of Kevin Pietersen, Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers. No matter the player, it seems, Siddle’s minimalist methods have as strong a chance of success as anything more spectacular from others.Rightly, he recalled that the Ashes success of two summers ago was built as much on the pressure applied by Ryan Harris, Nathan Lyon and himself as it was the naked intimidation of Mitchell Johnson.In the first two Tests of this series, Australia’s pace attack did not perform in quite the same balanced manner. Starc, Hazlewood and Johnson all offered outstanding spells at various points, but none were consistent enough to create the suffocating pressure so loathed by batsmen. Siddle pointed to this as a key reason why Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor have been able to flourish.”You can’t worry about the other things, it gives you too much stress. That’s the thing with me I am always positive, and laid back” – Peter Siddle•Getty Images

“I don’t think he has changed a hell of a lot, he has got a lot smarter with how he plays,” Siddle said of Williamson. “He still plays the same game but he’s probably just a bit tighter than the past and it’s working for him. I think it’s just about being patient; that’s one thing he’s very good at, and that’s one thing we can be slightly better at in our bowling, building a bit more pressure, having a bit more patience and working players like that over.”The good players are happy to spend a lot of time out there and make you bowl a lot. So the more pressure you can put on them early on is going to work in our favour. You look at all the class players in world cricket, it’s worked hasn’t it? It worked against Sachin, it worked against KP, it works against Kohli, that’s the thing, it works. It’s pretty basic but it happens against all the best teams.”Going back to the big success we had during the Ashes here in Australia, that was the big key thing for us, building pressure and getting them out that way. Smudger’s [Steven Smith] a good captain to work with in that he’s willing to put players in the positions you want, and works well with the bowlers. I think it’ll be no different coming into this match, which might need a few little tactical manoeuvres to get some of these guys out.”These words come with plenty of experience behind them, and also a close relationship with the assistant coach Craig McDermott that helped Siddle to understand his own game better. Starting in Adelaide, Siddle is hopeful of acting as a “bowling captain” to the pace battery, counselling them on the field while also leading with his own parsimonious example of how to bowl relentlessly and well. The exit of Johnson has afforded him that chance.”I’ve been around for just a little bit shorter time than Mitch but I’ve been around and played enough Test cricket, played enough around the world, to be able to give enough knowledge and experience to these guys,” he said. “All these guys debuted with me alongside them, especially Starcy and Patto a few years ago. Having that relationship with those guys – I grew up with a lot of them – I think I’ll be able to pass on enough to them and work alongside them. Obviously my skill set works well with the way their play their games.”All in all we’re still in a good place. Starcy has shown over the past especially 12 months, the way he can perform, that he can take over that mantle as the type of player Mitch Johnson was in the [2013-14] Ashes: the fast, aggressive wicket-taker. ‘Starcy’ has definitely shown in the past 12 months that he can fill that role – and fill it well. Cricket-wise we don’t lose too much, but as a mate and a class player we definitely lose out. But I think there’s enough players around to cover the role from now on.”

Chris Dent scored a maiden one-day century to help Gloucestershire to an exciting seven-run victory over Glamorgan in a high-scoring Group C clash

19-May-2013
ScorecardChris Dent’s previous highest score in one-day cricket was 36•Getty Images

Chris Dent scored a maiden one-day century to help Gloucestershire to an exciting seven-run victory over Glamorgan in a high-scoring Group C clash.Dent’s 151 not out led Gloucestershire to 288 for 5 from their 40 overs at the SWALEC Stadium, before Mark Wallace (118 not out) and Graham Wagg (54) saw Glamorgan fall just short.On an easy-paced pitch Dent was able to help Gloucestershire punish Glamorgan’s attack after being put into bat by Marcus North. The visitors lost Hamish Marshall early on but they were nevertheless not hanging about with Dean Cosker’s first two overs conceded 19 runs.Gloucestershire lost captain Michael Klinger for 40 from 47 balls, caught off a leading edge at cover, but the 100 came up in only the 16th over with Dent bringing up his 50 off 39 balls. Former England paceman Simon Jones, playing his first game of the season, did peg Gloucestershire back briefly by bowling a maiden to Dent, whose previous List A best was just 36.Gloucestershire reached the halfway stage in a good position at 120 for 2 but they lost Alex Gidman to Will Bragg, who claimed his first wicket in one-day cricket. Dent, though, continued his assault on the Glamorgan bowlers and brought up his century off 89 balls, including 10 fours and two sixes.In the final 10 overs Gloucestershire racked up 110 runs, with Dent remaining instrumental as he put on 73 with James Fuller in just 24 balls.Glamorgan made a disastrous start to their run-chase with Bragg out for a duck, trapped lbw to James Fuller’s second ball, and then having Chris Cooke removed by the same bowler for 15. Glamorgan’s hopes looked dashed when North was run out for 5 with a direct hit from Benny Howell, leaving the hosts on 27 for 3.But Wallace and Jim Allenby launched a recovery, with a slog sweep for six by the latter bringing up the Glamorgan 100 in the 17th over. Wallace shared in partnerships of 95 with Allenby in 12.3 overs and then 67 with Murray Goodwin. But it was the Wallace-Wagg alliance that so nearly brought Glamorgan victory.The pair put on 82 in 8.4 overs to bring the prospect of victory ever closer. Glamorgan had needed 100 off the final 10 overs, but that was brought down to 60 off six overs and then 31 off three overs as Wallace reached 100 off 98 balls and Wagg struck three big sixes.But with 18 needed off eight balls, the pressure mounted on Glamorgan and Wagg holed out to Marshall at long-on off Fuller. And the 17 required from the final over proved too much for Wallace and Will Owen as Gloucestershire held on for the win.

ESPNcricinfo previews the IPL game between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Rajasthan Royals in Bangalore

The Preview by Devashish Fuloria14-Apr-2012

Match facts

Sunday, April 15, Bangalore
Start time 2000 (1430 GMT)Johan Botha will need to lead the young spinners to counter the Royal Challengers batsmen•Associated Press

Big picture

Both Royal Challengers Bangalore and Rajasthan Royals have lost two consecutive games. In their last outing, Royal Challengers suffered a freak loss at the hands of Albie Morkel in Chennai, while Royals failed to put enough runs in Kolkata. For both teams, their last defeats have come in away games* and therefore, Royal Challengers playing in Bangalore would hold an edge.The venue is not the only difference between the teams. Royal Challengers have a far more potent line up of international players – Indian and foreign. Compare that to Royals and they have Ankeet Chavan, Ashok Menaria, Amit Singh and Shreevats Goswami to challenge Daniel Vettori, Saurabh Tiwary, Zaheer Khan and Virat Kohli. Man to man, there is a massive gap in experience. However, the Royals have fought hard, even in their losses and at the helm, they have a relaxed Rahul Dravid who has been a part of a number of upset wins in his career.In the last game played at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, Muttiah Muralitharan and Vettori derailed Delhi Daredevils’ chase with incisive spells. Royals have used a combination of spinners in their last two games. They might want to keep it that way and not allow any pace to Royal Challengers’ ensemble of stroke makers. For the home side, Tillakaratne Dilshan will struggle to find a place in the eleven.

Players to watch

Virat Kohli had a forgettable outing in his last game but he still managed to score 57 runs, not fluent, but still important runs. He is known to be a fierce competitor and he would quickly want to acquit himself from the ignominy of bowling that 28-run over.If Johan Botha opens the bowling, which he often does, his duel with Chris Gayle could decide the rest of the game. He has bowled with control in the four games, but has managed to pick up only two wickets. Just one big wicket here and his captain wouldn’t complain.

2011 head-to-head

Last year, Royal Challengers demolished the Royals in Jaipur by nine wickets, courtesy of a 44-ball 76 from Gayle. The other match in Bangalore was abandoned without a ball being bowled.

Stats and trivia

• Johan Botha has bowled 13 balls to Chris Gayle in IPL and has given away 21 runs. Four off them in overthrows and another four off a dropped catch.
• Cheteshwar Pujara has played six innings for Royal Challengers and has scored 51 runs.
• Royal challengers have played Royals seven times and hold a 4-3 advantage.
  

  Quotes

  ” We had about 40 runs [in last two overs]. We thought even if they get 20 runs off Virat, they will have 20 runs to get. Unfortunately that over went for 29 runs (sic. 28), so they had about 15 runs to get [off the last over].”

  “We are trying to make them [young Indian bowlers] learn as quickly as possible. We have not been outclassed at all. Credit to youngsters who are fighting hard. We just hope to come over the line soon”
  April 14: 13:40 GMT The article earlier stated that RCB won their home game. This has been corrected.

Mohammad Ashraful shone with both ball and bat to lead his Bangladesh A side to a six-wicket victory against South Africa A at Buffalo Park in East London, in the first of five unofficial ODIs

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Apr-2011
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsMohammad Ashraful took three wickets and scored 118 not out in an all-round performance•Getty Images

Mohammad Ashraful shone with both ball and bat to lead his Bangladesh A side to a six-wicket victory against South Africa A at Buffalo Park in East London, in the first of five unofficial ODIs. Only 10 days ago South Africa had been battering Bangladesh in a four-day match, and in their home conditions were firm favourites to dominate the 50-over matches as well. However, the experienced Ashraful, who has alone played more one-day internationals than the entire South Africa A side combined, took 3 for 27 with his part-time spin to restrict South Africa to 226, and then scored an unbeaten century to help his side chase the target in 43.3 overs.Ashraful put South Africa in to bat, and after his frontline bowlers couldn’t get an early wicket, it fell to him to come on in the 10th over and dismiss his opposing captain Jacques Rudolph. Ashraful struck twice more in a seven-over spell, leaving South Africa reeling at 52 for 3. Things got worse for the hosts as Farhaan Behardien was bowled by left-arm spinner Elias Sunny, Vaughn van Jaarsveld was run out, and Heino Kuhn was caught trying to drive 19-year-old offspinner Nasir Hossain. At 73 for 6, South Africa looked like they would struggle to get 150.There was a recovery though; Dean Elgar, fresh from his 169 not out in the rain-affected second four-day game between the two sides, put together a 121-run partnership with allrounder Vernon Philander. The two batted until the 49th over, when Elgar fell for 76. Philander then hit three consecutive sixes off Farhad Reza in the same over, and South Africa took another 11 runs off the 50th to finish with a fighting total of 226 for 8. Philander finished 79 not out.The target started looking steep for Bangladesh when they found themselves 40 for 3 in the 12th over. Ashraful, coming in at No 5, was watchful early on, taking 28 balls before striking his first boundary. He had reached 21 off 44 before he suddenly exploded with Bangladesh at 84 for 3 in the 23rd over. Ashraful hit the next six balls he faced for boundaries, and Bangladesh seized control of the chase. Ashraful continued to attack in bursts, with Junaid Siddique rotating the strike at the other end.The two put together 149 before Siddique fell for 60, but by then the game was Bangladesh’s to lose. Ashraful reached his century soon after Siddique’s dismissal, and then ended the game with two consecutive boundaries in the 44th over, finishing 118 not out off 99 balls. It was a significant performance from a man who was once considered the future of Bangladesh cricket, but has now found himself relegated to the A team.

Warwickshire overcame a defiant innings by Leicestershire prospect James Taylor to register their second win in the Clydesdale Bank 40 competition at Edgbaston

02-May-2010

ScorecardWarwickshire overcame a defiant innings by Leicestershire prospect James Taylor to register their second win in the Clydesdale Bank 40 competition at Edgbaston.After piling up 321 for 7, the Bears had restricted the Foxes to 235 for 7 when the umpires took the players off in the 35th over because of bad light. The conditions failed to improve and, with Taylor stranded on 92 after facing 77 balls, Warwickshire secured a 41-run victory under the Duckworth/Lewis method.Earlier, they topped and tailed their highest 40-over total – comfortably beating 301 for 6 against Essex at Colchester in 1982 – with high-octane batting performances by their new-ball bowlers.Pinch-hitter Neil Carter launched the innings with 68 from 38 balls in a partnership of 96 in 14 overs with Jonathan Trott (33) and Chris Woakes closed the innings with an unbeaten 49 from only 16 deliveries.After the early mauling by Carter, who pulled sixes off Nathan Buck and Andrew McDonald, Leicestershire continued to suffer as Ian Bell, less explosive but more stylish, made 72 from 58 balls. This included six fours and a sweep for six off Claude Henderson.It seemed the worst was over for a beleaguered bowling side when Warwickshire lost five wickets for 62 in reaching 234 for 7 by the 35th over, but Woakes and Tim Ambrose (31 not out) added 77 from the last 35 balls.Woakes targeted the shortest boundary with great success. Two of his four sixes went into the building site, where the new pavilion is under construction, and another landed out of the ground on Edgbaston Road. The young all-rounder also hit four fours in a remarkable innings largely compiled to the discomfort of three bowlers. Buck and Australian all-rounder McDonald conceded 135 runs between them and Wayne White’s eight overs cost 86.White’s afternoon went downhill after he knocked out Carter’s middle sump with his second ball and Buck later paid a price for his two wickets. Trott was well held by Taylor at deep square leg and Rikki Clarke was bowled, middle and leg, for 23.Only the older hands came out of the battering with reasonable figures. Matthew Hoggard tempted Darren Maddy into chasing a ball outside off stump and Bell and Jim Troughton were both dismissed reverse sweeping Henderson’s left-arm spin.Carter and Woakes were soon back on centre stage, dismissing Leicestershire’s openers, Will Jefferson and Jacques Du Toit, in the first 10 overs. Paul Nixon took up he challenge with 40 from 33 balls. The left-hander shovelled three sixes over the leg-side boundary before top edging to Bell at mid-wicket in Imran Tahir’s second over. The talented Taylor helped Nixon put on 73 in 10 overs and went on to hit three sixes and six fours, but Tahir kept Warwickshire on course with 3 for 47.

The USWNT will face Colombia in the quarterfinals of the W Gold Cup, with that contest set to take place at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles.

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• U.S. finished as runners-up in Group A
• Entered draw as the fourth seeds
• Remain on course for continental glory

• Getty
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The pairings for the last-eight of the continental competition have been determined following the conclusion of group stage action. The United States finished as runners-up in Group A after suffering a shock defeat to Mexico that brought an 80-game, 23-year unbeaten run against CONCACAF rivals to a close.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The USWNT, who are back in the hunt for major honours after surrendering their global crown at the 2023 Women’s World Cup, were seeded fourth in the draw and will meet fifth-seeded Colombia for the right to fill a place in the semifinals.

• Getty Images
  

  DID YOU KNOW?

  They will be led into battle by national team captain Lindsey Horan, while the vast experience of legendary forward Alex Morgan can still be called upon. There is also plenty of potential in their ranks, to go alongside the pedigree, with the likes of Jaedyn Shaw, Trinity Rodman and Sophia Smith expected to have bright international futures.

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• WHAT NEXT?

  The other quarterfinal match-ups will see Mexico face Paraguay, top-seeded Canada tackle Costa Rica and Brazil lock horns with arch-rivals Argentina. All of those still in the competition are hoping to make their way to the final on March 10 – which will take place at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego.

Rodrygo is still hopeful of playing alongside Kylian Mbappe at Real Madrid as he has once again admitted he doesn't like playing as a No.9.

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Rodrygo hates playing as number 9Wants to play alongside MbappeReal Madrid may not pursue 2024 dealGettyWHAT HAPPENED?

Real Madrid and Brazil star Rodrygo has admitted he would welcome Mbappe with open arms to Santiago Bernabeu next season. Recently reports emerged that Los Blancos are no longer keen on signing the French star, who will become a free agent next summer, but Rodrygo has maintained that he is still keen on playing alongside a "cracker" of a player like Mbappe.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Since Karim Benzema's departure from the club at the end of the 2022-23 season, Carlo Ancelotti has deployed a new 4-4-2 diamond system at the club where Vinicius Jr. and Rodrygo play as the two strikers. But the former Santos star has made it clear that he hates playing as a number nine and revealed his preferred positions.

WHAT DID RODRYGO SAY?

Speaking to , the Brazilian reiterated that he does not like playing as the main striker. He was quoted saying: "Sometimes we talk about one thing and another comes out. It's a little bit complicated. The coach knows that I don't like playing as a 9, but I do it for the team and for him too because I believe in him. He already knew it and we had no problems."

On Mbappe's proposed transfer to the club, he added: "I don't know. You have to ask the coach or the president that. Sure. Not just Mbappe. He is a cracker and we want to play with the best."

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT

The 22-year-old will be next seen in action for Selecao as they take on Colombia on November 17 in a 2026 World Cup qualifying game.

MatériaMais Notícias

Com previsão de retorno das atividades no dia 4 de maio, o Santos tem trabalhado na montagem de um protocolo de prevenção ao contágio do coronavírus. O modelo alinha-se ao formato utilizado por clubes europeus que já retomaram os seus trabalhos, como Bayern de Munique, Schalke 04, Napoli e etc. A ideia é que, tanto a CBF, quanto a Federação Paulista de Futebol também sigam essas medidas.

A FPF já se posicionou pela continuidade do Paulistão, decisão que contou com o apoio da diretoria santista, conforme antecipou o LANCE!. Esse retorno ainda não tem data prevista, mas a entidade deixou claro em videoconferência no dia 15 de abril, com a presença dos presidentes de todos os clubes da Série A1 do Estadual, que adotará regulamentações de segurança.

Por sua vez, a CBF ainda não definiu data certa para o retorno da Copa do Brasil, que foi paralisada, e o início do Brasileirão, previsto de forma inicial no calendário brasileiro para o dia 2 de maio.

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Higienização e testes

Visando seguir os modelos internacionais, o Peixe precisará providenciar uma cabine de higienização, produto desenvolvido para desinfetação de lugares com fluxo de pessoas e aprovado em diversos países. Todas os envolvidos terão que passar pelo local, tanto na chegada, quanto na saída do CT. O ambiente será desinfetado diariamente, antes e após as atividades.

Além disso, o clube providenciará testes de COVID-19 para todos os envolvidos nos treinamentos, que serão feitos no retorno e prosseguirão periodicamente.

Apenas quatro jogadores poderão treinar ao mesmo tempo, em local aberto de 10.000m², respeitando uma distância de 20m, obrigando um revesamento de atletas por dia/período. Além deles, somente o treinador (ou determinado responsável técnico) e os encarregados pela desinfetação poderão fazer-se presente. Todos eles deverão comprometer-se em respeitar o protocolo de higienização e levar os seus próprios objetos pessoais, como garrafas de água e toalhas.

Protocolo

A recomendação é que os participantes se encaminhem ao local de treinamento sozinho em seus veículos e sem escalas. A tendência é que o clube disponibilize transporte seguro aos que não possuem automóvel próprio.

Na chegada ao CT, a orientação é não carregar objetos pessoais, como relógio e celular. Será feito, posteriormente, um teste de temperatura, além da passagem pela cabine de higienização, já citada.

A partir daí, jogadores e responsável técnico vestirão luvas que serão retiradas apenas ao fim da atividade. Para deixar o Centro de Treinamentos, o procedimento será o mesmo da entrada.

* Sob supervisão de Vinícius Perazzini