تحدث أوناي إيمري، المدير الفني لفريق أستون فيلا، عن مباراة مانشستر سيتي المرتقبة غدًا، في بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

ويستضيف ملعب “فيلا بارك” مباراة الفريقين في إطار منافسات الجولة السابعة عشر من بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي، 2024/25.

ويخوض مانشستر سيتي تلك المباراة وهو في أسوأ حالاته حيث لم يفز إلا في مباراة واحدة في آخر 11 لقاءً في مختلف المسابقات.

ويحتل مانشستر سيتي المركز الخامس برصيد 27 نقطة، في حين أن أستون فيلا لديه 25 نقطة في المركز السابع.

وعندما سُئل عن رأيه تجاه المستوى الحالي لـ مانشستر سيتي، قال أوناي إيمري في تصريحات نشرها الموقع الرسمي لـ أستون فيلا: “مندهش بعض الشيء، لكن هذه هي كرة القدم، إنه (بيب جوارديولا) الأفضل”.

وأضاف: “نخوض كل مباراة على حدة، إنها أصعب بطولة في العالم، كل فريق يقدم لنا الكثير من المعلومات حول وضعنا وكيفية مواجهتنا لهم”.

اقرأ أيضًا | ضربة جديدة.. جوارديولا يعلن إصابة لاعب مانشستر سيتي وغيابه لمدة شهر

وواصل: “غدًا سنواجه أفضل فريق في السنوات القليلة الماضية في الدوري الإنجليزي، ربما لا يكونون ثابتين بسبب ظروف مختلفة، لكنهم الأفضل ومدربهم هو الأفضل”.

واسترسل: “لقد وصلت إلى هنا منذ عامين وكنت هنا من قبل، كان الأمر صعبًا للغاية دائمًا، أن تكون ثابتًا، كما هم عادةً، هو الأصعب”.

وأوضح: “لقد حققوا نجاحًا على مدار السنوات القليلة الماضية، وكانوا ثابتين في كل شيء، سيقدمون أداءً جيدًا مرة أخرى، لديهم الوقت ليكونوا فائزين مرة أخرى في هذه البطولة”.

واختتم: “سنواجه مانشستر سيتي غدًا والأهم من ذلك هو كيف سنواجههم، كيف سنرد، كيف سنختبرهم، هذا هو أهم شيء بالنسبة لي”.

When a side loses their sixth and seventh wickets in quick succession – as Australia did late last night – the opposing bowlers feel rightly buoyed by their success.

Will Luke23-Jul-2005

Jason Gillespie helped to squeeze every last run out of Australia’s innings © Getty Images
When a side loses their sixth and seventh wickets in quick succession – as Australia did late last night – the opposing bowlers feel rightly buoyed by their success. And so, with only three more wickets to take, and each batsman averaging not much higher than their shoe-size, England didn’t expect Nos. 9, 10 and 11 to stand in their way for too long this morning. But then Australia’s No 10 Jason Gillespie walked to the crease to join Simon Katich. Underestimate this tail-ender at your peril.While the lower order batsmen of previous eras would blindly swish and swat, much to the amusement of the crowds, the modern lower-order batsman is a different beast – and Gillespie is a case in point. Aptly nicknamed the “walking defence”, his performances at No. 9 and No. 10, while not being lavished with flourishing cover drives, have enraged opposition bowlers and captains – and this was exactly what happened this morning at Lord’s. Against India, at Chennai in October 2004, his 26 was made in 165 balls. At the SCG in January 2004, his innings of 47 in a partnership of 117 – again with Katich – was made in over two hours.Even by not scoring many runs, his presence there today allowed Katich a certain amount of freedom to extend Australia’s lead beyond the psychological total of 400. Interestingly he averages 51 minutes per innings, which is only 14 fewer than Adam Gilchrist.Early in his career, he was an enthusiastic nightwatchman – on those rare occasions when Australia needed one, of course. It was Steve Waugh who encouraged his side’s lower-order to spend more time in the nets and even succeeded in teaching Glenn McGrath how to bat. The dividends for Waugh’s vision have paid off, however, with the likes of Gillespie refusing to be beaten into submission, driven by the desire to eke out as many runs as possible. Last November, at Brisbane, Gillespie and McGrath both struck their first fifties in Test matches against New Zealand. The effect this had on New Zealand was devastating, who conceded a 93-run partnership. That same year, he was the second highest run-scorer batting at number nine in Tests, scoring 314 runs at an average of just under 20.Today, batting at No. 10, he defended with obduracy, withstanding a barrage of short-pitched bowling to support Katich. Their partnership of 52 was, of course, vital for Australia -but not just in terms of runs scored. It was debilitating for England who had, surely, hoped to be batting before lunch. While Katich will receive the plaudits tomorrow for his calm and crucial half-century, Gillespie played a vital role in dampening England’s spirit.

Stats highlights from the third day of the India-Pakistan Test in Kolkata

Cricinfo staff02-Dec-2007

Voting has begun for Australia’s best commentator and to help you judge here are the leading tributes to the men and their microphones

27-Mar-2007

Voting has begun for Australia’s best commentator and to help you judge here are the leading tributes. Channel 9 and ABC members polled highly in the nomination stage and there are 26 mouthpieces to consider. You only get one vote, so make it count. To choose go here and more reader praise is here.Ian Healy
Ian is an intelligent cricketer who demystifies the game for his audience. Cricket commentary is changing from the more descriptive to an insightful style. In doing this, Heals exposes the best of any situation, bringing to life the challenges and psychology the players face during battle. As a recent retiree of the game, he knows it and has played with and against many of the current players. Heals is competitive and passionate and his love for the game resonates with me. Cricket is much richer for his commentary. Jason Limnios
Mark Taylor
Ever since the introduction of new blood and youthful verve into what was becoming a stale team at Nine, Mark Taylor has shown to have a fine combination of flair for the dramatic and real-life knowledge of the intricacies of the game. I can still hear his voice as Cyclone Gilchrist peppered the Barmy Army during that fabulous knock in the third Test in Perth. “That sounds magnificent … and it IS magnificent!!!” as the camera shows Andrew Flintoff’s eyes upwards and backwards. And as much as they tried to manufacture Bill Lawry’s presence during that moment when Shane Warne reached the 700 mark, time ran out and we were not let down as Taylor captured the moment with all the drama it deserved. “He’s got it, he’s got 700.” It makes the hairs stand up. Andrew McGlynn
Ian Chappell
Ian Chappell has the best mix of knowledge of the modern game combined with a real presence with the microphone. He is controversial and opinionated, and his aggressive nature as a captain shines through in his commentating. Jake Robertston
Richie Benaud
I was introduced to the game through marriage to a cricket tragic. I’ve become a complete and utter tragic myself! My appreciation and thanks go to Richie Benaud. His careful analytical commentary of cricket has educated me to the nuances of the game. Richie has found the balance. He doesn’t need to speak every moment the game is in play, he is measured, careful, unbiased and a pleasure to listen to. He refrains from talking about his own experience (ad nauseum) and this sets him apart. Thank you Richie, you are a legend. Lilli Parsons
Tony Greig
Tony Greig is ahead of the rest by miles. Tony manages to capture the excitement out in the centre at a level that makes you want to watch cricket on TV. Dominic Goonawardena
Bill Lawry
Yes he’s got him! The crowd, the atmosphere, the excitement! It’s all happening! And now coming to the crease is a fantastic young Victorian, Cameron White. He’s young, athletic, fantastic in the field, a big hitter and quick between the wickets. He’ll do all of Victoria proud if he can win it from here for Australia. Should be more Victorians in the side but it’s hard to get in front of Symonds, Gilchrist, Clarke, Hussey, all wonderful cricketers. The crowd are on the edge of their seats, it’s 30 off 30, four wickets in hand. It has to be Bill. Matt Renwick
Mark Nicholas
Nicholas has it all. He’s as intelligent and as insightful as Benaud, but has the ability to get you fired up in the big moments in the same way Ray Warren can during the NRL or the swimming. Nicholas’ short monologue to finish the day-five covering of the miracle that was Adelaide left me counting the minutes to Perth. Evocative, intelligent, articulate, and obviously a cricket-tragic in the Michael Hussey mould, he’s been an absolute pleasure to listen to over the summer. I hope he returns next year. James Williamson
Michael Slater
Michael Slater is a breath of fresh air in the commentary box. His enthusiasm for the game makes his commentating entertaining, easy listening and he is a great “commentary coach” for us armchair players at home. In Slats Channel Nine has found the perfect balance between a recent player and a player who has been out of the game too long. He has played in the modern era, yet has been out enough not to be too closely connected to the players – he has bias but not too much! Joshua Habel

Jim Maxwell
Blues legend B.B. King once said “it ain’t the notes, it’s the space in-between”. When Jim Maxwell levitates over the sound of the bubbling crowd and announces the bowler running in, he times his sweet timbre with the delicate panache of Don Bradman. Never too forceful or too bland, the audience feels the love of the game in his voice. “Caught,” we’ll suddenly hear, or “down to the boundary for four”. Then just the sound of the crowd, Jim lowers his voice, signalling to his commentary partner, it is his turn. Seamlessly, Jim listens to their expertise and never have I heard him answer without respect and intelligence. Rather, like an old blues master, he simply moves with the rhythm. Stephen Kanaris
Kerry O’Keeffe
He is insightful, warm, engaging and to put it simply he adds real flavour to the game. He is a far better commentator than he ever was a player. There has always been humour in sport and Kerry never takes either the action or himself too seriously. What really sets him apart from everyone is that he offers opinion before the event rather than after the fact. His eye, much like Ian Chappell’s, is always looking to inform, challenge and offer something different for the punter. He is a rare talent indeed. An afternoon listening to Kerry is as pure a joy as there is. Brett Kajar
Peter Roebuck
Peter Roebuck is unparalleled in his incisive, evocative and knowledgeable commentary of cricket, both on radio and in the press. Even the faster one-day form of the game cannot survive mere description of the on-field action. From a field including some very pedestrian pundits, Peter shines in his wisdom, his wit and his palpable love of cricket. He is able to give commentary a sense of occasion, to highlight the ebb and flow of the game, and to do so without resorting to unnecessary hyperbole or bias. Roebuck is a commentator for those who live and breathe cricket. Paul Carrington
Glenn Mitchell
Glenn Mitchell can make a dull game sound like a million dollars and what he doesn’t know doesn’t matter anyway. Peter Hart
Keith Stackpole
He has an easy-on-the-ears voice, uses precise and compact sentences and has second-to-none cricket knowledge. Stackpole is modest but has a complete understanding of his role as a cricket commentator. He realises that the viewers/listeners want to know what is happening at any given time. He is the sort of cricket commentator you would like to have a cup of tea with during a Test match. Billy Ibadulla
Mark Waugh
He is not in the Channel Nine camp, which reduces his exposure to listeners. However, he always commentates in an impartial and professional manner. He is not afraid to say what he thinks, but does so in an unemotional and forthright manner. His comments on batting techniques are always enlightening. The fact that he has played both forms of the game until quite recently means he can provide constructive opinions on up-and-coming players, which is refreshing. The commentator of the future. Bill Chesterman

How Adam Gilchrist coped with England’s plan to bowl from round the wicket

George Binoy04-Dec-2006

Adam Gilchrist’s wagon-wheel during his 64 off 79 balls. Enlarged graphic © Hawk-Eye
England needed to skittle Australia cheaply on the fourth day to have a chance of winning this Test, but Michael Clarke and Adam Gilchrist, both players who had a torrid time in the 2005 Ashes, bore the responsibility of avoiding the follow-on. Though Clarke went on to score a crucial hundred, it was Gilchrist who seized the initial momentum on the fourth morning.His 64 off 79 balls was his first fifty-plus score against England since his 133 at Sydney in January 2003. In the 2005 Ashes, England’s bowlers had sorted him out by bowling round the wicket. Before this series started, Gilchrist said that he was prepared to counter this line of attack, but in the first Test he was trapped lbw, playing down the wrong line to one that was angled into him. At Adelaide, Hoggard and co. adopted the same line of attack, bowling 57 balls to Gilchrist from round the wicket while Ashley Giles accounted for 16 of the 22 balls he faced from over the wicket. Blame it on a docile pitch and the dearth of movement in the air, but the ploy did not work at Adelaide.

The pitch-map of the balls bowled by england’s fast bowlers to Gilchrist. Enlarged graphic © Hawk-Eye
While the bowlers pitched 47 balls on a good length to Gilchrist, he scored at nearly 4 runs per over off them. He hammered 22 runs off ten full-pitched deliveries and was quietest against short-of-a-length bowling – 11 off 22 balls. It was just the kind of track he needed to regain some sort of form and even the 40 balls that were of a good line and length leaked 26 runs. Gilchrist’s in-control factor was also impressive – 82.27% (65 out of 79 balls).Cook caught out?
Alastair Cook has been caught by the wicketkeeper or the first slip in three out of four innings in this series. The balls have been fairly similar, pitching on a good length, moving away from the left-hander, inducing him to have a poke at it and taking the edge. Click here for an enlarged graphic of the two balls that dismissed him at Adelaide. They are almost identical.

The balls that dismissed Alastair Cook at Adelaide © Hawk-Eye
Other stats highlights
39.81 – Shane Warne’s strike-rate during his innings of 43. It is his slowest strike-rate for any innings of more than 40 runs.26 – the number of innings since Michael Clarke scored his last Test century. Today’s 124 was his third Test century. He had scored two hundreds and two fifties in his first nine Test innings.6 – the number of 500-plus scores in the last five Tests at Adelaide, including this one.7 for 109 – is Hoggard’s best figures against Australia and is the second-best performance by an English bowler at Adelaide, after Jack White’s 8 for 126 in February 1929.57.52 – Ashley Giles’s bowling average against Australia. This is his ninth Test, and he only has 19 wickets against them

Jayasuriya’s free-spirited, electrifying talent will be sorely missed. So long, Sanath

Charlie Austin06-Dec-2007

Jolt from the blue: few could thrill like Jayasuriya © AFP
Sanath Jayasuriya’s second retirement from Test cricket attracted much lessfanfare than the first did, some 18 months ago. It was also far happier: on that occasion he started the match silently fuming with the selectors for pushing him out. It all ended with a dropped catch, a painfully dislocatedthumb, and a heavy defeat to Pakistan. He was not ready to walk away back then and it was a bitterly sad and unjust end to a great servant of SriLankan cricket. This time, though, he knew the time was right and he finished with a characteristically macho cameo, a brilliant 78 that played a crucial part in Sri Lanka winning the first Test by 88 runs.Indeed, his innings on Monday afternoon neatly encapsulated all that has made Jayasuriya so valuable a player for so long. He may have a modest average by the standards of top Asian batsmen (finishing with 6973 runs at 40.07 in 110 matches), but right through a career that stretches back nearly two decades, Jayasuriya’s runs were often hugely influential. He was, in short, a match-winner, possessed of that rare and precious ability – like Kevin Pietersen for England – to singlehandedly turn the tide of a game, stealing momentum.He did that in this Test, wiping away a 93-run deficit that many at the time thought was a winning lead for England. The rest of the top order may have finished the job, but Jayasuriya was the one who gave them an early wind and swung the match back onto an even keel.However, though he proved in this game that he still has the ability to win games at home, there’s no denying that it was the right time for Jayasuriya to leave the Test arena. As an allrounder he still has plenty to offer in the one-day and Twenty20 game, but in Test cricket his performances have been on the wane for some time now. The gaps between his big scores have grown wider. Age, inevitably, was taking a toll. While Jayasuriya’s fitness has remained good, the reflexes were starting to slow, exposing him at the start of the innings. Also, there are younger players waiting in the wings, such as Upul Tharanga and Mahela Udawatte, who now need to be playing if Sri Lanka is going to progress.Jayasuriya was offered a farewell Test by the selectors – the alternative being the prospect of being unceremoniously dropped – and he gladly accepted it. Characteristically, he made his goodbyes in low-key style. Jayasuriya is a national hero, a legend for many, but he has never sought the bright lights; he is a simple man, a very committed Buddhist. His retirement was announced to Sky Sports after his 78 with a casual air. There was no media release and no press conference. I asked him why, that evening. “Why do I need a press conference?” he queried back. “Murali had just broken a world record and that is far more important than me deciding to retire. If the journalists want a quote, they will find me.”Jayasuriya, though, will not be forgotten so easily. The first, simple reason for this is that for the best part of two decades he has been in the team. Most people in the country have little recollection of the pre-Jayasuriya era. In addition, there is the small matter of his style. Inan era of increasingly sterile and mechanical professionalism, Jayasuriya batted like a fearless schoolboy in a park. When he started out, Sri Lanka ate on match days and didn’t bother employing coaches. He leaves a dressing room of bland pasta dishes, isotonic drinks, ice baths, physios, trainers, psychologists and analysts. Throughout he played the same way:if he could, he’d whack it to the boundary. He was a player who routinely frustrated with soft dismissals, but he made up for those failures with innings so brilliant, so daring, so ludicrous, that you were often left in open-mouthed shock. When he walked out to bat, even non-cricket fans couldn’t resist looking at the TV All those fortunate to have watched Jayasuriya over the years have witnessed batting at its most brutal, compelling best. He was a player who routinely frustrated with soft dismissals, but he made up for those failures with innings so brilliant, so daring, so ludicrous, that you were often left in open-mouthed shock. When he walked out to bat, even non-cricket fans couldn’t resist looking at the TV. There are few sights in cricket more spellbinding that Jayasuriya on song. Of all the wonderful players I have watched over the years, none has electrified a stadium like him. He was, quite simply, Sri Lanka’s great entertainer.That entertainment played a crucial role in cricket’s growing popularity in Sri Lanka. A common Western misconception about Sri Lanka is that everyone is genetically cricket mad. On the contrary, the game was dominated for decades by Colombo’s elite, and lacked island-wide appeal until the 1990s. Now, though, fuelled by the World Cup win in 1996, and international success, it is a binding force that cuts across class, creed and ethnicity. Jayasuriya, born and bred in the undeveloped deep south, played a central role in making that happen. Every nation likes homegrown heroes, and Jayasuriya’s international success, especially his barnstorming 1996 World Cup, has been a source of huge patriotic pride.As captain he took over from Arjuna Ranatunga in 1999 and also made his mark with a consensual and inclusive style. He created a family-like atmosphere in the dressing room , and until 2002 it suited the team well. However, as time progressed, the job became harder and increasingly politicised. As a batsman his approach was fearless, as leader he was far more cautious and self-doubting. With hindsight you can see that he slowly lost control of the team in the lead-up to the 2003 World Cup. To be a good Sri Lanka captain, you have to be willing to be sacked. Jayasuriya spent too much time on the fence and eventually it became clear that a change was required. He realised it, too, and resigned straight after the World Cup.That is not what he will be remembered for. He’ll be remembered for his crunching airborne square-cuts, leg-side swipes, and the sunniest of smiles. He enjoyed his cricket and he gave huge enjoyment to others. He was a simple and free-spirited batsman blessed with enormousnatural talent. Fortunately, thankfully, Sri Lanka excused him his inconsistencies and allowed us all to marvel at his brilliance. He will be missed, sorely missed.

Stats preview to the third Test between South Africa and West Indies in Durban

Cricinfo staff09-Jan-2008With the series level at 1-1 and everything to play for, South Africa will be pleased with the venue for the decider. Of the 31 Tests they have played here, the South Africans have won 12 and lost nine, but it’s their recent record which will give them more confidence: seven victories and two defeats since their readmission into international cricket in 1992. The last time they lost to a side other than Australia in a Test here was almost ten years ago, when Pakistan beat them by 29 runs in February 1998.West Indies’ two trips here have hardly been memorable. In the Boxing Day Test in 1998 they went down by nine wickets, while five years later the hammering was even more severe, by an innings and 65 runs.

Jacques Kallis has, as usual, been the leading batsman for South Africa at this ground: he needs just 143 more to get to 1000 runs here, but for the rest it’s been a mixed bag. Shaun Pollock has enjoyed himself with the bat, with three half-centuries in 11 Tests, but some of the bigger names have struggled. It hasn’t been a happy venue for the captain, but for Hashim Amla Durban will conjure up miserable memories: in four innings he has scores of 1, 0, 1, 0.

Graeme Smith got some form back with his 85 in the second innings in Cape Town, but in ten innings in Durban, he has only scored one half-century. His average of 20.30 is his worst among home venues where he has played at least three Tests.

The absence of Chris Gayle will seriously weaken the West Indian batting. Among the batsmen in their squad, only two have played at this ground before. Shivnarine Chanderpaul has a healthy average here, but Daren Ganga, who will take the mantle of senior opener in the absence of Gayle, has struggled, scoring just 51 in four innings.

Not only has Pollock enjoyed batting here, he has also been among the wickets, taking 39 at an average of less than 23. Makhaya Ntini has averaged more than five wickets per Test here, but in his only Test he played here, against England in 2004, Dale Steyn only managed match figures 3 for 148.

History was made on Thursday, as Los Angeles Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani enjoyed a monster evening against the Miami Marlins, stealing two bases and launching two home runs in order to set himself apart in MLB lore.

Ohtani became the first player ever to record 50 home runs and 50 steals in a single season, and he reached the half-century mark in both categories during Thursday's beatdown of the Marlins.

It's a feat that fans have been waiting for as the season inched closer towards its end. Ohtani nipped the suspense in the bud by getting it done Thursday with nine games left in the regular season. Now, he'll have some time to pad those record-setting stats.

And what better way to make history than during a 6-for-6 day at the plate? Ohtani reached base every time he stepped into the batter's box, launching three home runs, lacing two doubles and driving in 10 RBIs while also swiping two bases. Have yourself a day!

Such a degree of dominance both at the plate and on the base paths has never before been achieved, and his accomplishment left baseball fans bewildered, as they saluted his greatness on social media.

The NLCS kicked off Sunday night in Los Angeles with the Dodgers rolling over the Mets, 9-0, in a game that was pretty much over after the fourth inning. The Dodgers have now gone 33 straight innings without giving up a run, which ties a postseason record set by the Baltimore Orioles in 1966.

While the Dodgers' pitching staff has been lights out, they did get some help from the Mets on Sunday night, specifically from Jesse Winker, who made a mind-boggling decision on the basepaths.

With the Mets trailing 6-0 in the fifth inning with nobody out, Jose Iglesias hit a single to center field. Winker got a good jump off of first base and it appeared he'd easily got to third base when he suddenly stopped halfway there and ended up getting thrown out at third.

Check this out:

Not great.

MLB fans blasted him:

Game 2 is Monday afternoon at 4 p.m. ET.

Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani injured his left arm while trying to steal second base in the bottom of the seventh inning of Game 2 of the World Series on Saturday night.

With the Dodgers leading the New York Yankees 4-1 in the bottom of the seventh, Ohtani took off from first base in a steal attempt. He was thrown out at second by Yankees catcher Austin Wells, which ended the inning, but Ohtani remained on the ground grasping at his left arm, while waving for assistance from the training staff with his right arm.

According to ESPN's Alden Gonzalez, Ohtani's arm was being supported by a Dodgers trainer as he left the field.

The Dodgers hold a 1-0 series lead, with a chance to shift the series to New York just two wins away from a world championship.