Aston Villa have enjoyed a wonderful seven days. Not only did they give their chances of securing fourth place in the Premier League table a boost by defeating Arsenal last weekend, but they also secured progression to the semi-finals of the Europa Conference League.

Following a bumpy patch recently, it looks as though Unai Emery’s men have clicked into gear at precisely the right time, and it could end up being a season to remember.

Despite adding some quality players to his squad last summer, the Spaniard could be boosted by securing Champions League football, allowing him to invest further this summer.

It appears he is already thinking ahead with regard to potential signings, as bolstering his defence seems to be a priority…

Aston Villa transfer news

According to TEAMtalk, Villa are searching for a new left-back ahead of the summer transfer window, with Chelsea’s Marc Cucurella reportedly on their list.

They have some alternative targets, however, as Kieran Tierney has also emerged as a possible target for Emery.

The Spaniard signed the Scotsman from Celtic during the summer of 2019 when he was in charge of Arsenal and a reunion could certainly be on the cards.

The Gunners will consider bids of around £25m in order to sell the defender once he returns from his loan spell with Real Sociedad and this could perhaps tempt Emery to make a move.

With a long-term future in north London unlikely, a move to the Midlands could see Tierney secure regular game time and return to the form he displayed during his first few seasons at Arsenal.

Not only that, but he could become a key player for Villa should he move north, becoming an upgrade on Alex Moreno in the process.

Alex Moreno’s statistics for Villa this season

The Spanish defender joined the Midlands outfit during the January transfer window last year as competition for Lucas Digne and has since made 47 appearances for the club, registering six goal contributions in the process.

Despite missing the start of the season due to a hamstring injury, he made his first appearance against Legia Warsaw, promptly getting on the scoresheet during an eventual 2-1 victory.

Alex Moreno's stats for Aston Villa this season

Metric

Europa Conference League

Premier League

Goals

1

2

Accurate passes per game

16

16.9

Big chances created

0

1

Tackles per game

0.8

0.9

Possession lost per game

7.4

7.7

Via Sofascore

Since then, he has played 28 times for Villa, competing with Digne for a place in the starting XI.

Among his teammates, Moreno currently ranks outside the top ten for key passes per game (0.6) in the top flight, while also ranking lowly for big chances created (one), accurate passes per game (16.9) and tackles per game (0.9), which shows that he has struggled to make an impact when chosen to play.

Given that he will turn 31 just after the season finishes, it could be a wise move to bring in someone a lot younger in order to take over the long-term future of the left-back position.

Tierney fits the bill perfectly, and if he can get himself back to 100% fitness, the Scot could be an excellent addition to the squad.

Kieran Tierney’s stats at Real Sociedad this season

Following a season which saw the former Celtic defender make just 15 starts in all competitions for the Gunners, it was clear going out on loan would allow him to secure more game time.

A hamstring injury has ensured Tierney hasn’t featured as often as he would have liked during his spell in La Liga, yet the 26-year-old has still played 22 times for the club, grabbing two assists in that time.

Despite various setbacks, the left-back has impressed when unleashed in La Liga. Across the whole Sociedad squad, Tierney currently ranks seventh for accurate passes per game (29.4) in the top flight, while also ranking eighth for big chances created (two) and second for tackles per game (2.1), which shows that he could be an upgrade on Moreno when comparing the two using these statistics.

Former Arsenal icon Ashley Cole hailed the player in 2021 during his time at the Gunners, saying: "I think he would have liked to see more game time, he’s had a few injuries that hampered his season. When he’s in the team, they are a different team, he’s willing to defend, he’s that kind of leader and warrior they need in this team.”

How Kieran Tierney compares to Alex Moreno

While both players like to push forward down the left flank as often as possible, trying to create chances for others, it is Tierney who stands out from a defensive point of view.

When compared to his positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues, Tierney ranks in the top 7% for tackles (2.94), the top 19% for aerials won (1.32) and the top 36% for interceptions (1.03) per 90, which shows just how vital he has been for Sociedad when they don’t have the ball.

In comparison, Moreno ranks in the top 40% for interceptions (1.01) per 90, but he currently ranks in the bottom 21% for tackles (1.57) and the bottom 8% for aerials won (0.38) per 90, indicating how poor he has been with regard to these defensive metrics when compared to his positional peers in the top five European leagues.

While £25m may be a significant sum to spend on a left-back, Emery could bring out the best in Tierney should he reunite with the £110k-per-week star this summer.

The statistics certainly suggest that he could offer more from a defensive viewpoint than Moreno, while also ranking higher among his teammates for passing and attacking metrics when compared to the Spaniard.

Securing Champions League football for the 2024/25 campaign will give Emery some more funds to work with, plus the added bonus of players wanting to join his team as they will be playing in Europe’s premier club competition.

They face a clash against Bournemouth on Sunday. A win could continue to bolster their chances of securing a top-four finish, while a defeat would be a disappointing way to finish what has been a wonderful week for Villa.

Related Aston Villa could land Cash upgrade in swoop for "wonderful" £21m star

The Villans are reportedly interested in a summer deal to sign the talented defender.

Posts ByDan Emery Apr 20, 2024

Kylian Mbappe has responded to questions of whether he could be the first man since Cristiano Ronaldo to enjoy a 50-goal season for Real Madrid.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

French star joined Blancos as free agentOpened goal account in Super Cup winLooking to emulate Portuguese legendGettyWHAT HAPPENED?

Portuguese superstar Ronaldo achieved that feat across six successive campaigns during his time at Santiago Bernabeu – between 2010 and 2016. A personal-best of 61 efforts was posted in 2014-15, with nobody able to scale such heights since.

AdvertisementTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Real believe that they have somebody ready to follow in those illustrious footsteps, with World Cup winner Mbappe being acquired as a free agent. He has become the latest ‘Galactico’ in Madrid and opened his goal account for the Blancos in a 2-0 UEFA Super Cup win over Atalanta.

GettyWHAT MBAPPE SAID

Mbappe has told when asked if he can hit a half-century in his debut campaign: “We are at Real Madrid, we have no limit, if I can score 50, then 50, but the most important thing is winning and improving as a team, because we will win as a team.”

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

DID YOU KNOW?

The Frenchman added on enjoying a dream debut for the Liga title holders: “It was a great night, I've been waiting for this moment for a long time. To play with this shirt, with this badge, for these fans, it's a gift for me. We won a trophy too, that's very important, we know that here we always have to win and I am very happy.”

Former Australia fast bowlers Craig McDermott and Sharon Tredrea have been inducted into the Australian cricket Hall of Fame.McDermott played 71 Tests and 138 ODIs between 1984 and 1996, spearheading Australia’s attack during the team’s rejuvenation under Allan Border.Tredrea was regarded as one of the quickest bowlers to play the women’s game. She appeared in 10 Tests and 31 ODIs between 1975 and 1988 including four World Cups.”The selection committee considered a number of nominees to ultimately choose two of the best players Australia has produced for their contributions to club, state and international cricket,” Peter King, the chairman of the Hall of Fame, said. “Sharon and Craig are well deserved inductees into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame to join an elite group of people who have given so much to cricket, the game we love.””Sharon was a trailblazer of the women’s game during her career at a time when opportunities for our women’s cricketers were few and there was little or no funding available to them.””She was a fierce competitor on the field who always strived for the ultimate performance but was equally gracious off the field.”Craig remains one of Australia’s standout fast bowlers after a stellar playing and coaching career. He endured his fair share of injury given the rigours of pace bowling over a long period of time but fought back each time, highlighting his mental and physical toughness.Sharon Tredrea bowls against New Zealand in 1988•Fairfax Media via Getty Images

“Craig led the Australian attack through a difficult period of recovery under Allan Border, ultimately starting the following eras of success for the Australian men’s team.”McDermott, who made his debut as a 20-year-old, had an especially impressive record against England with 84 wickets at 26.30 from 17 Tests including his career-best 8 for 97 at the WACA in 1991 and a haul of 32 wickets in the 1994-95 series.After his playing career McDermott returned to the game as a coach with Australia’s Centre of Excellence during a time when Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and James Pattinson were emerging and in 2011 became Australia’s fast-bowling coach.Tredrea had impressive all-round figures, average 31.45 with the bat in Tests and 26.13 with the ball alongside 27.78 in the bat in ODIs and 16.28 with the ball. Her best Test return of 4 for 22 came against New Zealand at Adelaide in 1979 in a match where she claimed 7 for 47 overall.The best player from the Victoria women’s team is given the Sharon Tredrea Award.

The Spain international had insisted he won't leave San Sebastian this summer, but the Anfield outfit have made him a priority target

Finding a world-class defensive midfielder has become the holy grail for many elite clubs, with coaches and technical directors alike realising that a quality No.6 can be the difference between glory and failure in the modern game. From Claude Makelele to Sergio Busquets to Rodri, the role has evolved over time, but there is no doubt regarding its importance in winning teams.

This summer, Liverpool are back in the market for a defensive midfielder. The Reds' midfield overhaul went pretty well last season, with Wataru Endo and Alexis Mac Allister sharing duties at the base of Jurgen Klopp's central trio. However, 31-year-old Endo was only meant to be stop-gap signing, while Mac Allister is more effective playing as a box-to-box No.8. Thus, new coach Arne Slot is keen to add a younger, more natural holding player to his squad.

Enter Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi. The 25-year-old appeared on the radars Arsenal and Barcelona at the start of the transfer window, while Manchester United are also said to be monitoring Zubimendi;s situation while Liverpool weigh up an opening offer.

Certainly, the eye test and the statistical data suggest that Zubimendi has the potential to go to the next level and become one of the world's best in the coming years. But what makes him so coveted? GOAL has the lowdown…

• Getty
  

  Where it all began

  San Sebastian has become a hotbed for footballing talent, with some of the game's best midfielders of recent generations emerging from the Basque city. Like Xabi Alonso and Mikel Arteta before him, Zubimendi was born there, and like Alonso, he joined La Real's academy in his younger years, becoming a mainstay for the youth sides from the age of 12.

  Zubimendi worked his way up from there, as he debuted with Real Sociedad C in 2016, before joining the B team in 2020, where none other than Alonso oversaw his development as a player.

  “I wasn’t even with him a full season because of the pandemic, but those were lovely months,” Zubimendi told in 2022. “It was when he came that I started playing more; with Xabi, I got a run of games. I could feel the affection he had for me, which maybe comes from having the same position. He made a point of trying to show me things, teaching me."

Advertisement

• Getty Images
  

  The big break

  Zubimendi had the backing of Alonso – as well as the hype from his youth-team days – to make a push for the first team at an early age. He made his La Real debut as a 20-year-old in April 2019, coming on as a late substitute against Getafe. Zubimendi then stuck around the senior ranks for the following campaign, before fully breaking into the first team for good during the 2020-21 season, making 31 appearances for a side that pushed for Champions League qualification.

  Zubimendi's form caught the eye of Spain boss Luis Enrique, too. The midfielder had previously been in the picture for the youth national teams, but in 2021, after a number of positive Covid tests swept through La Roja's senior squad, Zubimendi was called into action to make his international debut.

• Getty Images
  

  How it's going

  Since then, Zubimendi has become a regular for club and country. He started all-but one league game in 2022-23, and only missed two in the most recent campaign. His role in the national team has only expanded, too, as he now has 10 Spain caps to his name, the last of which came when he was entrusted to step into the the injured Rodri's shoes and play the second half of the triumphant Euro 2024 final.

  More broadly, Zubimendi has developed a reputation as one of the best defensive midfielders in world football. His education from club legend Alonso, backed up by his central role in an exciting team, have made a primary target for a number of Champions League-level clubs.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• (C)Getty Images
  

  Biggest strengths

  As Zubimendi has previously been linked with Barcelona, many have compared him to Blaugrana legend Busquets, the player whose role he would potentially take on were he to end up in Catalunya. Comparisons can be dangerous, however, especially since the now-Inter Miami midfielder defined the way the modern No.6 plays. In effect, every 'pivot' since his rise to prominence has been some sort of copy.

  Zubimendi, to his credit, would seem to fit that classic mould. His distribution from deep areas is near-unmatched in Spanish football, as the midfielder can often be found dropping between centre-backs before picking a forward pass either into La Real's more advanced midfielders or wingers. But he can also play sideways when needs be, speeding up or slowing down the game from deep.

  He's reliable without the ball, too. Although La Real are a relatively compact side who prefer to control the game rather than open it up, Zubimendi is excellent at controlling space and putting out fires. While not full of pace, his tackling ability and reading of the game make him a valuable shielding presence who can ensure things remain steady in front of the backline.

MatériaMais Notícias

O clima dentro do Ceará não é dos melhores. Em meio a falta de resultados dentro de campo, a torcida cobra elenco e comissão técnica por uma melhora imediata.

+ Pogba pode ser envolvido em negociação por CR7, novidades sobre Bernardo Silva e Balbuena… O Dia do Mercado

A situação está tão fora de controle, que Vina, um dos principais do time, foi cobrado no desembarque do Vozão após o empate sem gols contra a Chapecoense, no Brasileirão.

Preocupado com o ambiente pesado, o presidente Robinson de Castro resolveu agir e fez uma live com Vina e o técnico Guto Ferreira para mostrar que ambos não estão brigados e acalmar os ânimos dos torcedores.

‘Estou aqui com o Guto e com o Vina, dois protagonistas do clube, dois caras que sempre fizeram história e fazem história com a gente. Ano passado foram destaques e hoje se cria uma celeuma sem necessidade, sei que alguns setores acabam reforçando isso, o torcedor fica mais vulnerável, mas eu quero dizer para vocês que não existe nada de desarmonia, de grupo rachado, de situação de atraso. Tudo isso faz parte do futebol, vocês já estão acostumados com isso. Quando entramos em dificuldades acontece isso, e o que precisamos agora é de apoio. É hora de apoiar. A hora é de chegar junto e confiar’, afirmou, antes de completar:
‘
Não podemos começar a ver o que não existe e estimular isso, não vamos nos impressionar e ficar pegando corda de alguns setores. Temos que ser equilibrados. Imagina minha posição se achasse que tudo é verdade. Não estou aqui para esconder nada de ninguém, o clube é transparente’.

RelacionadasBahiaBahia reencontra Arena Castelão após título da Copa do NordesteBahia15/06/2021GrêmioJean Pyerre nega pedido para sair do Grêmio; entendaGrêmio15/06/2021InternacionalInternacional confirma três casos de Covid-19 no elencoInternacional15/06/2021

Ligue 1 heavyweights Paris-Saint Germain are now eyeing an "ambitious" move for a Chelsea first-teamer this summer, according to reports.

PSR worries force potential Chelsea sales

It's been well documented that Mauricio Pochettino's side may have to generate serious funds through player sales, or risk potential PSR sanctions.

Al-Ittihad already in talks to sign high-earning ace from Chelsea

The Saudi side are making moves.

ByEmilio Galantini Apr 17, 2024

There have been reports that rival clubs think Chelsea must bring in £100 million by June 30 or face punishment from the Premier League, with financial expert Stefan Borson forecasting more severe PSR breaches than that of Everton, Nottingham Forest and Leicester City.

“Possibly more severe (than Forest and Everton)," said Borson on talkSPORT (via The Sun).

"I think the scale of the losses they're currently forecasting, to me, appear to be vastly in excess of both Everton and Nottingham Forest. There was an assumption with Mason Mount, because he was announced on Manchester United's website on July 1 that [his sale] had been put into this current season.

Moises Caicedo

£115 million

Enzo Fernandez

£107 million

Mykhalo Mudryk

£88 million

Wesley Fofana

£72 million

Marc Cucurella

£58 million

"So the £55million of profit was in this season. It now transpires that Mason Mount appears to have been transacted in 2022/23 and that is how they got through [FFP rules].

"From an operating perspective, is going to be even worse than last year because they've got no Champions League and no Europe at all. It's those sort of [exit] deals that need to be done. And by the way, they all need to be done by June 30. That, as we know, is articulated within the Forest decision."

Chelsea have spent over £1 billion since Clearlake Capital's takeover in 2022, and over £400 million last summer in an effort to back Pochettino this season. There are a few players who could be gone later this year, including star midfielder Conor Gallagher, as the Englishman's contract ticks down towards expiry in 2025.

Al-Ittihad are rumoured to already be in contact over signing Romelu Lukaku in the summer as well, with Chelsea looking to rid themselves of the Belgium international after spending a large sum in 2021.

PSG eyeing "ambitious" Levi Colwill move

According to journalist Ben Jacobs, speaking to CaughtOffside this week, PSG could offer Chelsea another sale opportunity with their interest in Levi Colwill.

The versatile defender, on £100,000-a-week, has started 20 league games as a regular for Pochettino, and PSG are apparently eyeing an "ambitious" move for Colwill. However, it is believed Luis Enrique's side will hit quite a big roadblock.

"I expect PSG to bring in a centre-back," wrote Jacobs.

"We know about their long-standing interest in Lille’s Leny Yoro, having had a bid rejected in January. Levi Colwill is another ambitious target despite the fact Chelsea aren’t looking to sell him. Even with outgoings planned at Stamford Bridge, Colwill is not one of the players Chelsea intend to lose. PSG will simply monitor the situation with a view to the long-term future in case anything changes. This is a normal window-planning tactic."

Both teams will picked based on performances during the tournament

Nagraj Gollapudi20-Feb-2020

Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni greet each other•BCCI

The one-off all-star match that was meant to preface IPL 2020 will now be played after the tournament. The match was originally scheduled to be played three days before the IPL, which begins on March 29, but due to operational reasons it is now set to be played after the tournament which ends on May 24. No date or venue has been finalised yet though.IPL Governing Council chairman Brijesh Patel confirmed the development, saying the two teams for the game would be picked based on the performances of the players in the tournament. “It will be after the tournament,” Patel, a former India batsman, told ESPNcricnfo. “We will see the performance of the players and on that basis the two teams will be selected.”The all-star match was originally proposed by the Patel and found support from the BCCI. ESPNcricinfo understands at the last IPL Governing Council meeting, held on January 27, it was decided to have a selection committee in place to pick the two teams. That meeting was attended by the BCCI’s top brass including Sourav Ganguly (president), Jay Shah (secretary) and Arun Dhumal (treasurer).In that meeting, the date for the all-star match was tentatively set as March 25 while Mumbai was picked as the venue, considering the tournament opener between defending champions Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings was scheduled at the Wankhede stadium on March 29.Subsequently, however, the BCCI realised it did not have much time to get various things in place including the availability of players as well raising a broadcast tender. The IPL begins barely 10 days after the three-match ODI series between India and South Africa, which ends on March 18 in Kolkata.Immediately after the ODIs against South Africa, five Indian players are set to travel to Bangladesh to participate in two T20Is between an Asian XI and a World XI, organised by the Bangladesh Cricket Board to commemorate the birth centenary of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Bangladesh’s founding father. The BCCI has not yet announced who will be going, but some prominent India players are part of the list of names approved.One of the officials, who attended the January IPL governing council meeting, said there is ample time now to float the tender and discuss the rights for the all-star match with Star, who hold the broadcast rights for IPL till 2022. It is understood a team lead by Patel was meant to meet up with Star to talk about the tender for the all-star match. That meeting is yet to take place. At the January 27 meeting it was also decided that the proceeds from the match will likely be used for a charitable purpose.

Aston Villa are back in action in the Premier League once again as they welcome Chelsea to Birmingham in a clash at Villa Park this evening.

The Villans play host to the Blues, who were demolished 5-0 by Arsenal in their last match, as they look to take another step on the road to Champions League qualification.

Villa are six points clear of Tottenham Hotspur in fifth. However, Spurs have two games in hand and Unai Emery's side may not be able to afford to slip up if their rivals win their matches.

This means that this clash with Chelsea could be crucial to their hopes of finishing inside the top four and securing Champions League football for the 2024/25 campaign.

Emery's men come into this game off the back of a 3-1 win over Bournemouth at home last time out. Despite his team picking up all three points, the Spanish head coach could make at least one change to the starting XI.

Douglas Luiz is set to be available for selection after serving a two-match suspension and Youri Tielemans should be ruthlessly ditched to make way for him.

Why Youri Tielemans should be ditched from the starting XI

The Belgian midfielder was selected to start in the middle of the park alongside John McGinn against the Cherries, with Luiz unavailable and Boubacar Kamara out through injury.

He put in a solid display in midfield and did not disgrace himself with his performance for the Villans, as the right-footed whiz provided calmness on the ball and strength out of possession.

Tielemans completed 92% of his attempted passes, which shows that he rarely gave the ball away, and won seven of his nine duels across the 90 minutes, which speaks to his combative nature on the day.

The Belgium international, who has started 15 of his 30 appearances in the Premier League this season, was signed on a free transfer from Leicester City last summer and has been a fine addition to the squad.

Appearances

30

Goals

1

Assists

6

Pass accuracy

86%

Tackles + interceptions per game

1.8

Duel success rate

53%

As you can see in the table above, Tielemans has held his own in physical battles throughout the campaign and has chipped in with seven direct goal contributions.

The 26-year-old maestro has also contributed with one goal and one assist in nine Europa Conference League outings, which shows that the talented ace can make an impact in possession from a midfield position.

He has not been a poor performer for Villa, nor was his performance against Bournemouth one that means he deserves to be dropped, but Luiz has been a star for the club this term and is the better option out of the two.

This is why Emery must ruthlessly drop Tielemans to the bench, in spite of his strong showing, to bring the former Manchester City starlet back into the starting XI this weekend.

Why Douglas Luiz should start

The £75k-per-week dynamo has been in terrific form in the Premier League for Villa so far this season with his fantastic work in and out of possession.

Luiz currently ranks within the top 17% of midfielders in the division for non-penalty goals per 90 (0.17), the top 25% for assists per 90 (0.17), and the top 15% for shot-creating actions per 90 (3.79) this season.

These statistics show that the Villans whiz has been one of the top-performing players in the league in his position when it comes to scoring and creating goals.

The Brazil international also ranks within the top 28% of his positional peers for progressive passes per 90 (5.48), which shows that he can break lines and progress play from deep, whilst also being able to make things happen in the final third.

Appearances

31

30

Sofascore rating

7.36

6.93

Goals

9

1

Assists

5

6

Big chances created

9

5

Tackles + interceptions per game

2.4

1.8

Ball recoveries per game

5.5

3.1

As you can see in the table above, Luiz has the beating of Tielemans in a host of key metrics, in and out of possession, in the Premier League this term.

The former Cityzens youngster has offered more to the team from a defensive perspective, with more tackles, recoveries, and interceptions, whilst also delivering more goals and 'big chances' created in the final third.

This means that the 25-year-old wizard, who has been described as "smooth" on the ball by analyst Ben Mattinson, could have a greater chance of making an impact than Tielemans against the Blues.

Therefore, Luiz, who has started all 31 of his league appearances, should be brought straight back into the starting XI for this clash with Chelsea tonight.

The alternative options to start in midfield for Villa

Academy graduate Tim Iroegbunam is the alternative option for Emery in that midfield position, as the youngster has been part of the first-team squad this season.

He was an unused substitute against Bournemouth last time out but was selected to play from the start in the 4-1 defeat to Manchester City earlier this month, a game in which the youngster lost 60% of his duels (6/10) and was dribbled past twice.

Appearances

7

Starts

1

Goals + assists

0

Pass success rate

90%

Tackles + interceptions per game

1.3

Duel success rate

50%

As you can see in the table above, the 20-year-old battler has been a bit-part figure for Villa in the Premier League so far this term, having spent the 2022/23 campaign on loan with QPR in the Championship.

He has not been trusted to play regular football in the top-flight as of yet and this makes it seem unlikely that Emery would throw him in against Chelsea tonight, with Tielemans, John McGinn, and Luiz all set to be available for selection.

Therefore, Iroegbunam should make up one of the places on the bench once again tonight and hope to make an impression if given an opportunity to shine as a substitute at some point during the match.

This would leave McGinn and Luiz as the starters at the base of the Villa midfield, with Tielemans and Iroegbunam on the bench as back-up options.

“We deemed the risks (in India) to be very low,” says Dr Shuaib Manjra

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Mar-2020How did CSA look at the situation before travelling to India?
Prior to the India tour, Cricket South Africa had engaged in a risk assessment to determine whether it was safe for us to travel to India. At that point in time, India had about 30 cases isolated. None of the cities that we were going to play in [Dharamsala, Lucknow and Kolkata] had any cases recorded of the novel coronavirus. And, at that point, the world was a very different place. We deemed the risks to be very low, and therefore we proceeded with the tour while taking the necessary precautions.How did things change while the team was in India?
While on tour in India, the world had clearly become a different place and we had to take cognizance of the fact that there was a change in global environment. Largely, the pandemic had moved from the east to the west, where Europe had become the new epicentre of the disease, the United States was affected, the World Health Organization had called it a global pandemic and countries were closing their borders.But since we were in India, we had to look at a number of scenarios: the local conditions in India, which was still considered as a low-risk country; we had to look at what was happening in South Africa, which was at low to medium risk, and then we had to look at the global environment, as to what was happening in the world in places like Europe, including France, Spain and Italy, and also in the United States, where we saw a rapid escalation of the disease.Looking at all three conditions, we had to predict where this disease was going to go and what the potential risks were for the tour. Some of the risks were that a few countries would close their borders and we would remain stuck in one country or the other. South Africa itself may have closed its borders, with the entire team stopped from leaving India or entering South Africa; or alternatively, we would have been quarantined or isolated in South Africa. So those were some of the scenarios that we thought of, but importantly and ultimately, it was the players’ frame of mind that was the determining factor.In fact, Joe Root, England’s captain, had said the same thing about their tour to Sri Lanka [which was also cancelled] though Sri Lanka had fewer cases than England did. But the players were in a different frame of mind – they were thinking about what was happening back home to their families, the risks about being stuck in Sri Lanka, the medical services in Sri Lanka, and therefore, they decided to go back home. So the players’ frame of mind had an important role to play in terms of the decision made by the BCCI in consultation with Cricket South Africa.ALSO READ: Sourav Ganguly indicates IPL 2020 likely to be ‘truncated’Was everyone comfortable while in India? What safety measures were taken?Absolutely [comfortable]. We ensured that the players were isolated in their hotels and every place that they were being transferred to – the hotel, the grounds, the team bus or the aircraft – was appropriately sanitised. They were not allowed to leave or go out and we ensured we had sufficient security around us to ensure that we didn’t get close to the public. We took sufficient means to ensure that the players were protected. Some even decided to wear masks while they were travelling.So, from the chain of movement that we had, we ensured that whether it was the change-room attendant or anyone else and even in the restaurants that we went to, they were all wearing masks. So, from their point of view, we were pretty isolated and largely immunised from the outside world, which also reduced the risk of infection significantly. And so we did take appropriate measures; we even travelled from city to city by a chartered flight and were whisked through airports and security. Even after we landed, we were similarly whisked through the security into the team bus and the hotel. So in a sense, we were in a quarantined state.What is the scenario for the next couple of weeks?
We relied on expert evidence and guidance such as the National Institute of Communicable Diseases, the Department of Health, the Center for Disease Control in the United States and the World Health Organization. We looked at the recommendations that they have made for different countries, which they have divided into high-risk, medium-risk and low-risk countries. Even with medium- and low-risk countries, they have made specific recommendations. Some of our own measures have been educating the players about the disease – what it is, what it means, what the symptoms are, recognising the symptoms, monitoring themselves in terms of temperature and any other symptom that could come with respect to COVID-19. So we are comfortable that they know what the symptoms of the disease are.What has been your recommendation to the team?
We have continued to make our experts available to them, so should they have any concerns about the symptoms even post the tour, they would contact us or the medical staff closest to them from the cricket fraternity, who would assist them. We have recommended that all players either self-isolate or social distance them for a minimum of 14 days. That would be the proper way to protect people around them, the community, their families and, in particular, the vulnerable people in their families. In this period, should anyone develop such symptoms or any other factor that is a cause for concern, we will ensure that they are investigated appropriately and managed as per the protocols that are currently existing.

Wrexham duo Paul Mullin and Elliot Lee have been beaten to the 2023-24 League Two PFA Players’ Player of the Year award by Notts County’s Jodi Jones.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Red Dragons won another promotionMullin & Lee were in running for top awardMagpies winger Jones takes top prizeWHAT HAPPENED?

The pair helped the Red Dragons to promotion out of the fourth tier, with Phil Parkinson’s side claiming a runners-up finish a year on from landing the National League title. They gave Hollywood co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney plenty of drama for the club’s popular documentary series.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Mullin passed the 100-goal mark for Wrexham during the 2023-24 campaign, hitting 24 in League Two to finish behind old adversary Macaulay Langstaff of Notts County in the Golden Boot stakes. Lee, meanwhile, found the target on 16 occasions – a career-best return for him – while also weighing in with a number of important assists.

DID YOU KNOW?

County star Jodi Jones was, however, the most creative player in League Two over the course of the campaign – as he broke a record held by Manchester City talisman Kevin De Bruyne and Arsenal legend Thierry Henry when it comes to most assists in a single English season.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

WHAT JONES SAID

Malta international Jones teed up 24 efforts for his team-mates, with that return seeing him to the PFA League Two Player of the Year award. He said of making history: “You hear people talk about strikers getting 24 or 25 goals, but with assists you hear more about 12 or 13, so when I do sit back and sometimes think I have 24 you do think it's some achievement. Getting 24 is amazing and if I'm being really honest, I don't think I'd get that many again.”

PFA