فتح بيديا مياتوفيتش، نجم ريال مدريد السابق، النار على أداء الملكي عقب الخروج القاري المرير أمام آرسنال من ربع نهائي دوري أبطال أوروبا.
وسقط ريال مدريد مرتين أمام آرسنال ذهابًا إيابًا بنتيجة 5-1 بمجموعة المباراتين، مع أداء باهت من جميع اللاعبين تحت قيادة المدرب، كارلو أنشيلوتي.
اقرأ أيضًا | أرتيتا: اتصلت بـ جوارديولا صباح المباراة أمام ريال مدريد.. ورغبت في صفع ساكا
وقال مياتوفيتش في تحليله للمباراة عبر إذاعة “كادينا سير” الإسبانية: “يجب أن نكون واقعيين ونقول إن آرسنال كان الفريق الأفضل في المباراتين، عندما كنا جميعًا نتوقع أن يُقدم ريال مدريد أداءه المعتاد، آرسنال لم يسمح بذلك”.
وأضاف: “ريال مدريد بدأ المباراة متوترًا جدًا، وآرسنال فريق مزعج للغاية، يمتلك أسلوب لعب جيد، ولا يملك ما يخسره، بالنسبة لي، هم أحد المرشحين للفوز باللقب هذا الموسم”.
وأشار أسطورة ريال مدريد إلى نقطة ضعف واضحة، قائلًا: “عندما تنظر إلى دكة البدلاء من أجل تغيير أمر ما، تدرك أنك تفتقد لاعبًا مخضرمًا قادرًا على تسجيل هدف، أو إحداث قفزة للأمام، شيء يصنع الفارق، العام الماضي كان لدينا ذلك مع خوسيلو”.
وتابع: “الآن علينا أن نبحث عن الإيجابيات، وكما يقول كارلو أنشيلوتي، هناك نهائي كأس ملك إسبانيا، ولا نزال ننافس على الدوري الإسباني، وكأس العالم للأندية، الخسارة أمر طبيعي في كرة القدم، لا يمكنك الفوز بلقب دوري أبطال أوروبا كل موسم”.
وحول مستقبل أنشيلوتي: “ريال مدريد يملك شيئًا لا يملكه أي فريق آخر تقريبًا، الهزائم مزعجة للغاية، والمدرب يتعرض لضغط كبير، وتبدأ الأحاديث فورًا عمّا إذا كان يستحق الاستمرار أم لا”.
واستمر: “لن يكون من السيئ التفكير في مدرب آخر، لكن هذا أمر يمكننا التفكير فيه لاحقًا، الآن، دعونا نركز على كأس ملك إسبانيا، الدوري الإسباني، وكأس العالم للأندية، وغيرها”.
وفي ختام تصريحاته، دافع مياتوفيتش عن كيليان مبابي بعد صافرات الاستهجان التي طالته مؤخرًا: “سوف نقيم موسمه عندما ينتهي تمامًا، وأرقامه جيدة، علينا أيضًا أن نأخذ أداء اللاعبين الآخرين بعين الاعتبار، مبابي لاعب سيمنحنا الكثير من السعادة في المستقبل، ولا شك لدي في ذلك”.
Marseille boss Roberto De Zerbi has explained why Mason Greenwood was left out of his starting XI for the defeat to arch-rivals Paris Saint-Germain.
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Winger has 15 goals to his nameHas been dropped to the benchMust prove himself to managerFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱GettyWHAT HAPPENED?
The former Manchester United forward has registered 15 goals this season, with a productive start to his debut campaign at Stade Velodrome being enjoyed. There have been suggestions that another big-money transfer for Greenwood could be lined up in the summer of 2025.
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He is, however, having to make peace with bench duty at present. Having been introduced at half-time in a 1-0 loss to Lens, Greenwood only entered proceedings against PSG as a 63rd-minute substitute – as Marseille went down 3-1 at Parc des Princes.
GettyROBERTO DE ZERBI SAID
De Zerbi told afterwards of why Greenwood is not figuring as prominently as many people expected, with PSG star Ousmane Dembele used as an example of how fortunes can change: "For me, he's not in the right physical condition to play. Mason is a crucial player for us. But if I'm not mistaken, at the beginning of the season Dembele wasn't in the starting XI. We need Mason, but he has to be in good physical condition. It's very important at this point in the season."
WHAT NEXT FOR MARSEILLE?
Marseille remain second in the Ligue 1 table for now but need to rediscover a spark as individuals and a collective through their final eight fixtures as just six points separate them from sixth-placed Strasbourg and a standing outside of the European qualification spots.
Time a ser batido também no Campeonato Paulista, o Palmeiras quebrou mais recordes com os números conquistados nesta edição do torneio. Além da melhor campanha, com 30 pontos, o time comandado por Abel Ferreira encerrou a primeira fase do Estadual como detentor de outros recordes: maior número de vitórias, com nove triunfos, a defesa menos vazada da história, com apenas três gols sofridos, além de ter o melhor saldo de gols da competição: 14.
+ Veja o caminho do Palmeiras no Campeonato Paulista 2022
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– Fomos primeiro no primeiro turno, mas não há título, em outros Estaduais há título para quem vence o primeiro turno. Mas fica registrada a primeira fase muito boa da equipe, a única equipe que jogou de dois em dois dias devido ao Mundial e à Recopa (Sul-Americana), que eram as nossas duas prioridades – disse o português.
Desde 2017, o Estadual tem a primeira fase com quatro grupos com quatro times. Durante esse período, o recorde de menos gols sofridos nesta fase da competição é justamente do Palmeiras, em 2019, quando o time sofreu apenas cinco gols.
Os números impressionam ainda mais quando se leva em conta as alterações na equipe feitas por Abel Ferreira. O treinador utilizou titulares e reservas, além de garotos da base, em diversas situações, inclusive no jogo contra o Red Bull Bragantino. Apesar do revezamento, o Verdão manteve seus bons números, principalmente no setor defensivo.
O Verdão agora vira a chave e mira em seu próximo adversário, o Ituano. A partida das quartas de final será realizada na quarta-feira, às 21h35, no Allianz Parque.
As Manchester United prepare to welcome much-needed reinforcements, one target is reportedly intrigued by Ruben Amorim’s project in what should hand the Red Devils quite the boost.
Man Utd transfer news
If Amorim or the rest of those at Old Trafford thought that the former Sporting boss was going to solve all of their problems before the end of the season, then they’ve been given a major reality check in recent weeks. Amorim’s system is complex and, simply put, some of his current options that Erik ten Hag left behind do not suit the style that he wants to implement.
That doesn’t mean there aren’t some players who are already thriving under Amorim, however, with Rasmus Hojlund’s midweek brace to drag Manchester United to victory over Viktoria Plzen in midweek summing up his recent burst of form.
The Dane looks destined to become Amorim’s main man on current form and could yet receive the help he needs in the form of an attacking partner when 2025 arrives. According to Caught Offside, Manchester United target Xavi Simons is now intrigued by Amorim’s project and INEOS could now hijack a deal to sign the Dutchman ahead of Liverpool and Barcelona next year.
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He’s be an instant upgrade.
ByTom Cunningham Dec 14, 2024
Currently on loan at RB Leipzig from Paris Saint-Germain, £159,000-a-week Simons is reportedly unlikely to stay put at either his loan or permanent club next year, opening the door for the likes of United to make their move.
If anyone would suit one of the two advanced midfielder roles behind Hojlund in Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system, then it is undoubtedly Simons.
"Complete" Simons would be perfect for Amorim
Despite seemingly being destined for greatness for several years, Simons is only just getting started at just 21 years old and finally stealing the show after leaving PSG on loan. Putting any concerns over his ability to reach his potential to bed last season, the Dutchman scored 10 goals and assisted a further 15 on loan at Leipzig last season, before following that up with three goals and two assists in an injury-struck campaign this time around.
Xavi Simons for RB Leipzig
When Simons is back fit and firing, however, United should keep a close eye on his development into potentially one of the most talented attacking midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues. The thought, alone, of a partnership between Simons and Bruno Fernandes behind Hojlund is enough to get Old Trafford minds ticking, but Amorim must see a fantasy become a welcome reality in 2025.
League stats 24/25 (via FBref)
Xavi Simons
Bruno Fernandes
Goals
2
3
Assists
1
5
Key Passes
14
31
Minutes
615
1,249
Simons has unsurprisingly been the centre of praise since last season, including from former teammate Dani Olmo, who said via the Bundesliga website: “Xavi is a different player. He has shown that so far in the time he has been here. We connect really well on the pitch but he can also do things on his own.
“He has an amazing dribbling technique, finishing as well. He’s a really complete player and for us, for our system, for how we play, our ideas, the coaches’ ideas, it is perfect for us.”
England boss Thomas Tuchel claims his controversial selection of Jordan Henderson was "easy", with the ex-Liverpool captain a "serial winner".
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German coach has named first squad
Ajax star Henderson gets the nod
Last cap for Three Lions came in 2023
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WHAT HAPPENED?
Experienced midfielder Henderson, who is now playing his club football for Dutch giants Ajax at 34 years of age, has not represented his country since winning the last of his 81 caps in 2023. He was left out of Gareth Southgate’s plans for Euro 2024.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
Tuchel has, however, recalled the Premier League title winner when naming his first squad. Many have questioned why the German tactician has called upon Henderson while having so many younger options at his disposal, but the ex-Chelsea and Bayern Munich manager stands by his decision.
WHAT THOMAS TUCHEL SAID
Tuchel has said of Henderson, who has "every chance" of gracing the 2026 World Cup: "Jordan is an easy one, he is a serial winner. He is captain of Ajax. He is available and has played a lot of matches. What he brings to every team is leadership, character, personality, energy.
"He makes sure that everyone lives by standards and with this characteristic he embodies everything that we try to build. We try to build a team for our fans and a team that they are proud of and can identity with. Jordan embodies everything that we want from this team."
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DID YOU KNOW?
Tuchel added on how he set about welcoming Henderson back into the England fold: "We had the phone call weeks ago to check in and see how he feels about the idea or whether it was too painful how it ended. It was a video call, so you can see reactions. He appreciated it. For me it was so nice to see his genuine reaction. You can see his pure joy and happiness at the decision. It was very, very, impressive."
A medical panel has ruled that some of the previous injuries were likely not “true concussions”
ESPNcricinfo staff19-Mar-2022
Will Pucovski in action for Victoria’s 2nd XI on his return from concussion•Getty Images
Will Pucovski has been cleared to return to Sheffield Shield action following his latest concussion-related absence and is available for Victoria’s next game against Western Australia ahead of the final at the end of the month.Pucovski was subbed out of the match against South Australia in Adelaide last month – his 11th concussion – but has since returned to action in Premier and 2nd XI cricket. Victoria are currently leading the Sheffield Shield table and the clash against Western Australia is likely to decide who hosts the final from March 31.A Cricket Victoria statement said a medical panel had concluded that some of Pucovski’s previous injuries were likely not “true concussions” due to the low level of trauma but rather “a form of either post-traumatic migraine or stress-related response”.Related
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“Will has made positive steps in his recovery from the injury in Adelaide,” Cricket Victoria’s Dr Trefor James said. “Given that he has made a full and relatively quick recovery and following the experts’ diagnostic formulation, the panel was happy to support Will in his desire to continue playing.”Concussion management is, by its nature, incredibly complex and I’d like to thank those on the panel who have provided their support and expertise to allow us to proactively support Will in managing his health and wellbeing.”Pucovski was eager to resume the season with Victoria adding that he will continue to manage his mental and physical health.”I’m really looking forward to finishing the season back in the squad. It was so worthwhile to meet with the panel and hear their views on my circumstances,” he said. “Managing my health – physically and mentally – is something I have to live with moving forward and I’m really grateful for everyone’s support at Cricket Victoria.”Pucovski made his Test debut against India at the SCG in January 2021 – itself delayed by concussion when he was struck on the helmet playing for Australia A prior to the series – but it became a one-off outing when he damaged his shoulder in the field which led to surgery. As he was preparing to return at the start of this season he suffered a blow in the nets which led to another concussion and sidelined him until February.
Leeds United are a club on the up once again under the guidance of boss Daniel Farke, looking like a dangerous force to be reckoned with in the Championship.
The German was tasked with stabilising the ship after relegation at the end of the 2022/23 campaign, all whilst losing numerous members of their first-team squad.
His experience in England’s second tier is vital, previously winning the title twice with Norwich City, before narrowly missing out on promotion after losing to Southampton at Wembley last season.
However, with clever investment over the off-season, his side have returned with a point to prove, sitting top of the table after Tuesday night’s emphatic victory over Middlesbrough at Elland Road.
It’s safe to say he’s had nowhere near the budget of former managers in Yorkshire after their relegation, including Jesse Marsch, who had a huge chunk to work with after two big-money departures in the summer of 2022.
Leeds’ transfer window in the summer of 2022
After fending off relegation for the second time after promotion, the summer of 2022 was always going to be a massive window for the Whites if they were to secure their top-flight status once again.
However, the departures of Raphinha and Kalvin Phillips to Barcelona and Manchester City respectively would make such a task even harder for American boss Marsch.
The deals raised the club around £100m alone, most of which was reinvested into the first-team squad to try and combat the losses in key areas.
Luis Sinisterra was the player brought in to replace the Brazilian, costing a fee in the region of £21m with hopes of filling the boots of the fan-favourite – but was only able to score eight times during his one-year at Elland Road.
Marc Roca was also signed from Bayern Munich during the same window for £10m – with the pair just two of seven summer additions during the aforementioned window.
However, the pair weren’t the players to arrive at the club that summer, with one other joining the Whites with high hopes of being a hit in the Premier League.
The Leeds player who Marsch thought was 'very important'
After Marsch’s appointment following the departure of hugely popular boss Marcelo Bielsa, there was an influx of American additions arriving to feature under their compatriot.
Brendan Aaronson and Weston McKennie were just two who followed the 51-year-old to the club trying to build on their survival the season prior.
Tyler Adams was arguably the most exciting, joining from RB Leipzig, brought in as a replacement for Phillips – giving supporters a reason to be excited despite the loss of the academy star.
The midfielder was dubbed “very important” by Marsch upon his arrival, something which would be evident during his time as a player at Elland Road.
Adams would make 28 appearances during his only season in Yorkshire, leaving at the end of 2022/23 after the club’s relegation back to the second tier.
Tyler Adams
He moved to Bournemouth for £23m in a deal that would be a phenomenal one for the club, especially considering his lack of form after departing the Whites nearly 18 months ago.
The 25-year-old has been constantly plagued by various injury problems, restricting him from having any further impact for the Cherries in the Premier League after his big-money transfer.
12/03/2023
28/09/2023
6 months, 16 days
Thigh
05/10/2023
09/03/2024
5 months, 4 days
Thigh
07/04/2024
10/05/2024
1 month, 3 days
Knock
19/07/2024
18/10/2024
2 months, 29 days
Back
During his time on the south coast, Adams has only featured for 463 minutes in England’s top flight – costing Andoni Iraola’s side £50k per minute he’s played for them since his transfer.
Given the nature of the fee and his lack of impact after his move, Leeds undoubtedly made the right decision, cashing in on the midfielder whilst his stock was at its highest.
Leeds midfielder Tyler Adams.
There’s no denying that he’s a hugely talented player, but his injury setbacks have prevented his growth – with the Whites certainly losing money on their investment had they kept hold of the former Leipzig star.
0 duels won, 0 shots: Farke simply must drop 5/10 Leeds star after Boro
Leeds United returned to the top of the Championship table last night.
Massimiliano Allegri made a late tactical change during AC Milan’s 2-2 draw with Sassuolo, substituting U.S. international Christian Pulisic in the 72nd minute. The Milan manager said the move was dictated by the flow of the match, stressing it had nothing to do with managing minutes ahead of the club’s next fixture. Pulisic has nine goal contributions in nine league matches this season.
AFP
Allegri prioritizes midfield stability
Allegri explained that Pulisic had only recently returned to full training after recovering from a fever before the Sassuolo match. Despite the American international's solid performance through 72 minutes, the coach felt compelled to strengthen Milan's midfield presence as Sassuolo began exerting increased pressure on the Rossoneri's defensive structure. The substitution brought Samuele Ricci into the match to provide additional protection in the center of the park.
“I would have done it anyway,” Allegri said, reported Football Italia. “Christian had joined us in Turin after a fever and then trained. He played well for 72 minutes, but at that moment, we needed one more midfielder. Loftus-Cheek held firm up front, but we had to defend better, especially for the second goal. We had to follow Laurienté, and it was too easy for them to score.”
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Pulisic's performance earns praise
Allegri highlighted Pulisic's involvement in Milan's attacking play, noting his role in the team's second goal and a late opportunity he created in the final stages. The coach's assessment reflected Pulisic's continued importance to Milan's attacking structure, even as tactical adjustments became necessary.
“Today he played a good game, as in Turin,” Allegri said. “He was decisive for the second goal; he had a chance in the final minutes. He was very good. We know the team’s quality, we know we can’t win every game, and we must give consistency to the results. Today, we could have lost the match, but we took home a draw. Today it seems that we’ve thrown two points away, but in the end, it will prove to be useful.”
Pragmatic perspective on dropped points
The result leaves Milan vulnerable to being overtaken by Napoli and Inter Milan, who both have opportunities to climb the Serie A table. However, Allegri's confidence in his squad's ability to maintain consistency suggests he views the Sassuolo draw as a temporary setback rather than a fundamental problem.
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What lies ahead for AC Milan
Following their 2-2 draw, Allegri and Milan will now turn their attention to Thursday's Supercoppa Italia semifinal against Napoli in Saudi Arabia. After that, the Rossoneri will face Verona at home on Dec. 27 in the Serie A and then go on the road to face Cagliari on Jan. 2.
Manchester City are currently on an unthinkable run of poor form. Pep Guardiola’s side have not won in their last six games, and their best result in that time was a 3-3 home draw against Feyenoord in the Champions League. They threw away a 3-0 lead in that game, conceding all three goals in the final 20 minutes.
The Cityzens did not win a single game in November, and face an incredibly tough trip to Anfield in the first game of December. It certainly seems like their current run could extend into the final month of the year.
There have been some incredibly disappointing individual performers in this winless run.
City’s worst performers in November
One of the players who has struggled the most over the past month is Josko Gvardiol. The defender has looked far from his best, making some clumsy mistakes which have not helped the Cityzens on this lean run they are on.
One of the Croatian’s worst games on this run came against Sporting in the 4-1 loss in the Champions League. As per Sofascore, he gave away a penalty and won just three from 11 duels as City were taken apart by a side coached by Ruben Amorim, who has since made the move to Manchester United.
Eling Haaland has also been a player who has struggled to perform at his best. Although the deadly Norwegian striker has incredibly high standards, he has scored just three goals in this run of six games without a win and was an unused substitute for one of those games. Two of those strikes came against Feyenoord, and the blame certainly cannot be put onto Haaland for the draw against the Dutch side.
Haaland form over last 6 games
Opposition
Result
Competition
Minutes
Goals
Tottenham
2-1 defeat
Carabao Cup
N/A
N/A
Bournemouth
2-1 defeat
Premier League
90
0
Sporting
4-1 defeat
Champions League
90
0
Brighton
2-1 defeat
Premier League
90
1
Tottenham
4-1 defeat
Premier League
90
0
Feyenoord
3-3 draw
Champions League
90
2
Stats from Transfermarkt
Another of Guardiola’s most trusted players, Phil Foden, is also in poor form. It has been a disappointing campaign for the England international as it is, but he has just one goal involvement in the last six games.
He is someone who needs to get back to his very best in order to help City get back to winning ways.
Arguably City’s worst player in this run of form has been goalkeeper Ederson, however, who has seen his career at the Etihad Stadium spiral.
Why Pep's "best signing" must now be sold
The Brazil international was once considered Guardiola’s “best signing” as City manager. At least, that is what Dominic Farrell told the Manchester Evening News in October 2021. A little over three years on, however, and things are not so easy for the City number 31.
He has played 16 times this season, conceding 25 goals and keeping just three clean sheets. Shockingly, Ederson is just 15 goals away from equalling his worst season in terms of goals conceded for City, which is currently 40 in 2021/22, across all competitions.
This run of poor form for the Cityzens has seen the Brazilian let in 15 goals in five games, an average of three per game. Like Haaland, he was an unused substitute in one of the games on this winless streak.
The past week has been particularly poor for the former Benfica goalkeeper. He let in four goals against Tottenham Hotspur last weekend, before conceding three against Feyenoord; there could certainly be a case to be made that he was at fault for all of the goals against the Dutch side.
Ederson must surely be feeling the pressure right now, and his place in the starting lineup is far from a guarantee. The £100k-per-week star could well be replaced by Stefan Ortega.
Last season, Guardiola described Ortega as “one of the best goalkeepers I’ve seen in my life”, following a superb one-on-one save against Spurs that essentially won City the Premier League.
After strong links to Saudi Arabia last summer, the Cityzens’ number 31 might well be a target again in January or the 2025 summer window. If this lean run of form continues, it does not seem out of the question that City sell him, given they have Ortega as a more than capable option.
A huge amount is resting on City’s trip to Anfield to face Liverpool on Sunday. The legendary Spanish manager may decide to drop the Brazilian in favour of Ortega or could keep the faith in the man who has served him so well over the years.
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Whatever the case, Ederson certainly needs to regain the form he showed over his first seven years at the Etihad Stadium, or could be sold in ruthless fashion.
As bad as Ederson: Pep must ditch 5/10 Man City star who lost the ball 13x
The Man City ace struggled to make an impact vs Feyenoord
He had been appointed in the Australia role under Justin Langer late last year ahead of the T20 World Cup
Alex Malcolm14-Apr-2022
Adam Griffith and Jeff Vaughan celebrate a win for the Hobart Hurricanes•Getty Images
Jeff Vaughan has departed his role as Australia assistant coach to become the new full-time head coach of Tasmania in the Sheffield Shield and Marsh Cup competitions.The news comes just a day after Cricket Australia formally announced Andrew McDonald as the new Australia men’s head coach. Vaughan had been appointed as an Australia assistant coach under Justin Langer late last year ahead of the T20 World Cup. His main brief was to be in charge of the fielding unit and was part of Australia’s successful T20 World Cup, Ashes and Pakistan Test campaigns.Cricket Tasmania announced on Thursday that Vaughan, a former South Australia batter, would be returning to Tasmania to coach the men’s program. The move means McDonald has at least a couple of appointments to make in terms of his assistants, with the bowling and fielding coaching roles becoming vacant. Although the roles and the structure may look different under McDonald as he wants to spread the workload more evenly to avoid coach burnout.Vaughan made his name as a coach under Adam Griffith firstly as a batting coach where he played a significant part in getting Matthew Wade back into Australia’s Test side in 2019 as well as the development of Ben McDermott across all three formats.Cricket Tasmania then restructured their men’s coaching set-up under Griffith in 2019 with Vaughan taking charge of the Sheffield Shield and Marsh Cup teams while Griffith remained as director of coaching and head coach of the Hobart Hurricanes.After Vaughan’s departure to Australia’s setup in September 2020, Ali de Winter stepped in as interim head coach with Greg Shipperd coming in as a short-term consultant coach.Related
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Griffith resigned from his dual roles at Cricket Tasmania and the Hurricanes at the end of the BBL season. Vaughan will now take the reins full-time as Tasmania’s coach from May while the search continues for the new Hurricanes coach.”I feel very fortunate with how everything has worked out,” Vaughan said. “I have been connected to the program throughout and am confident that I have continued to develop my coaching and leadership skill set to assist the development of the Tigers’ program holistically and for the players as individuals.”I’m incredibly grateful to Cricket Australia for the opportunity, and to Cricket Tasmania for being so open-minded about my return, so I really can’t wait to just get stuck in and am looking forward to maintaining the direction of the program for an extended period of time.”Cricket Tasmania CEO Dominic Baker was delighted to have secured Vaughan after revealing that a previously chosen candidate had pulled out of the role after being offered it in December 2021.”We’re thrilled to have Jeff returning to the helm of our male Tigers program,” Baker said. “We clearly want the best available candidate for the role who also understands and fits with the culture of our organisation, and there’s no doubt that Jeff ticks both those boxes.”We’ve all watched the progress of the Australian men’s program over the summer, and there’s nothing more to be said about it other than it was a sparkling success, and Jeff was a part of that.”Ali has done a fantastic job under really difficult and often uncertain circumstances this year, but the fact that the transition from Jeff to Ali was so smooth was due to the fact that Jeff has such a solid vision in place that everyone was on board with.”We did have a candidate nearly ready to go back in December that unfortunately fell through, however, the timing of everything has been quite serendipitous, as with Jeff obviously knowing the program and the players so well, the transition now should be seamless.”