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When Chelsea raced into a three-goal lead away at Wolverhampton Wanderers on Wednesday night during a frantic first half, it looked as if Enzo Maresca’s men had the easiest passage through to the next round of the EFL Cup.

Nobody told Vitor Pereira’s hosts to just roll over in the second half, though, as a spirited fight-back from the bottom-of-the-table Premier League side shocked the complacent Blues, who just about got over the line in the end to reach the quarter finals with a surprisingly slim 4-3 victory.

It was very much a night where the attackers shone at Molineux for both sides, with Jamie Gittens sticking out as one of Chelsea’s brightest performers, as the ex-Borussia Dortmund attacker continues to show Maresca why he is deserving of more consistent first-team minutes.

Gittens' standout night versus Wolves

Indeed, the £48.5m summer recruit has just started just two Premier League games so far this season for the Italian.

Yet, he is definitely banging down the door now to be a common starter under the ex-Leicester City boss, with an assist picked up against Ajax in the Champions League earlier in the month, being followed up now by the exciting number 11 sealing a crucial fourth goal for the under-pressure Blues in the West Midlands.

Gittens wasn’t fazed by the strain of a Wolves comeback, though, as he rifled home this fierce effort to gift the under-the-cosh visitors a 4-2 lead, and himself his first ever Chelsea strike, which was well needed in both respects, considering David Møller Wolfe clinched a brace late on.

The 21-year-old’s creative flair was also on full display again in the EFL Cup, with two assists picked up right at the start of the match by the electric left winger, setting the tone for what would become an enthralling contest under the Molineux floodlights.

He will surely be retained in Maresca’s starting XI when Chelsea return to Premier League action, but one of Gittens’ teammates on the night won’t be so lucky, as his feeble defending – in particular – nearly cost his away side dear in their bid to lift the EFL Cup.

Maresca must now axe 5/10 Chelsea star

Heading into this mid-week clash against the Old Gold, the Chelsea manager will have been looking for a response from his troops after they slipped to a late defeat to Sunderland in the league.

Maresca would have been keeping a close eye on how Tosin Adarabioyo fared at the back, after the Chelsea number four was far too lax with Black Cats striker Brian Brobbey in the late stages of that 2-1 loss, which led to Chemsdine Talbi then hammering home a killer blow.

Minutes played

90

Goals scored

0

Assists

0

Touches

89

Accurate passes

66/73 (90%)

Tackles won

0/2

Interceptions

3

Clearances

6

Blocked shots

0

Ball recoveries

3

Total duels won

7/12

Safe to say, when looking at the table above, the 45-year-old would have been, once again, let down by his captain’s weak efforts, with the 6-foot-5 centre-back only managing to win three of his seven aerial duels during the 4-3 win.

Moreover, Adarabioyo would also struggle when going in for tackles, with zero tackles actually won – from two attempted – no doubt boosting the confidence of the hosts to go far more gung-ho in the second half to try and pull off a shock comeback.

Adarabioyo has also looked visibly shaky in the Premier League in recent matches, too, with possession being given away 19 times against Manchester United at the tail-end of September, resulting in the London-born centre-back being given limited minutes off the substitutes bench in the following league matches.

With Trevoh Chalobah also being scrutinised at the back as of late, it will be interesting to see who Maresca plays in the heart of defence as Chelsea clash with near-London rivals Tottenham Hotspur at the start of November, with Adarabioyo no doubt targeted by Thomas Frank’s set-piece-heavy side, based on his unassertive showing at Molineux.

The leaky 28-year-old would, subsequently, be handed a low 5/10 rating post-match by Football London’s Bobby Vincent, who stated that the lofty number four looked very shoddy when ‘called into action a lot more’ in the second half.

Thankfully, as much as the match will be remembered for some ropey defending, it will also be remembered, rightly, for some top-drawer attacking prowess, with Gittens – who was gifted a 9/10 rating by Vincent – ready to become a Chelsea first-teamer now, while his ex-Fulham teammate prepares for a spot on the bench against Spurs.

Maresca handed Vlahovic boost amid renewed stance with Chelsea "offered" January deal

The Blues could strike a mid-season bargain.

ByEmilio Galantini Oct 29, 2025

With the MLB trade deadline fast approaching, there's likely to be an influx of deals that come across the ticker over the next several weeks as teams attempt to load up—or unload—their rosters ahead of the postseason.

Occasionally, said deals will include a or PTBNL for short.

What's a PTBNL? I'm glad you asked. Here's a look at the often-used tactic in baseball trades, why they're employed, and a list of notable players who were once only dubbed a"player to be named later":

What Is a Player to Be Named Later?

A "player to be named later" is an unnamed player involved in a trade between two teams, allowing clubs to get deals done before officially finalizing it. PTBNLs are often chosen from a short list of players that the negotiating teams agree on prior to the trade being finalized. They are generally minor leaguers or journeyman MLBers.

Why Do MLB Teams Include Players to Be Named Later in Trades?

MLB teams include PTBNLs in trades for a multitude of reasons. Most commonly due to the team receiving the player either a) not being sure of the position they'd like to fill or b) giving themselves more time to evaluate the talent on the other clubs roster.

Having a PTBNL in your back pocket can help you deal with roster restrictions, as traded players must be placed on the receiving team's 40-man roster upon completion of the transaction. Additionally, players on the injured list cannot be traded, which allows teams to acquire them once they clear the list.

Ironically, on some occasions, a traded player has returned to the original team as the PTBNL of their own trade.

Who Are Some Notable Players That Were Named Later?

Some notable players in MLB history who were once acquired as a PTBNL include:

David OrtizTrea TurnerMoisés AlouMichael BrantleyScott PodsednikDmitri YoungMarco ScutaroJesse Orosco

Ross Barkley has revealed his struggles with alcohol and also opened up on Frank Lampard's punishment after a night out before a match during his Chelsea stint. He was once tipped to be English football’s next big superstar as he showed promise in his early days that drew comparisons to the greats. However, he never quite reached his potential, and behind the scenes, he was battling problems with drinking.

A young star lost in the glare of fame

The Everton academy graduate rose to stardom in his teens. Moving to Chelsea was supposed to be the next great chapter. Instead, it became the stage where his discipline and his decisions began to unravel. Barkley has now admitted that alcohol became a damaging escape during his time at Stamford Bridge.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportHow Lampard handled an Barkley

In an interview with Barkley revealed: "A few times I went out, and if you drink too much, you do things you regret. I’d go out and have too much to drink, and then it would get back to the club."

The turning point came one Sunday night in Liverpool. Barkley went out drinking before a Wednesday match. It was supposed to be a harmless night out until footage surfaced and images were splashed across the tabloids. Chelsea manager Frank Lampard knew the temptations of youth better than most and responded with a mix of empathy and authority.

"One time, I went out on a Sunday in Liverpool and we had a game on a Wednesday. I got videoed, and then it was in the paper," Barkley revealed.

"We (Chelsea) had an away game in France (against Lille) and Frank Lampard was the manager. He couldn’t really say too much to me, other than learn from it and pick and choose when the right time is to do it, because he knew what it was like as a young lad. But the punishment was that I travelled with the team, but I wasn’t on the bench. I had to watch the game on the coach. It was hard to take. That was one occasion that has probably created a perception."

The incident in Liverpool wasn’t the last time Barkley’s name made unwanted headlines. In 2019, while he was recovering from injury, the footballer was filmed dancing shirtless in a Dubai nightclub during the international break. Although permission for leave had been granted, the optics were bad, and Barkley was once again at the centre of unwanted scrutiny.

"He showed a moment of a lack of professionalism as far as I’m concerned," Lampard said on that occasion. "And it’s not something that I want to be a pure dictator on and come down hard because I also understand that all my players are humans and have lives and I don’t police every moment of their life.

"So I don’t think it’s a terrible thing that he’s done but all Ross needs to do now, he’s had an injury and he’s still kind of carrying the injury – he still gets a bit of pain on shooting – so he just has to work his way back in. In terms of the fitness thing, he trained well and I certainly don’t hold anything against my players. I like Ross, he’s firmly one of my players and I think it was something he needs to show all his reactions on the pitch."

When Barkley sought help

Barkley confessed that his confidence often wavered during his early years in football, and he had to resort to professional help.

"You’ve got to self-reflect," said the midfielder. "You make mistakes. It’s good to speak to people and learn from mistakes and understand that throughout life, there are going to be challenges. Sometimes people struggle with their mental health; it’s good to talk to people. I’ve spoken to people, and it’s helped me. I’ve spoken to a sports psychologist. I’ve had therapy throughout my career and it’s beneficial. In football, you can lose your confidence. I’ve lost my confidence when I was younger. Now I’m 31, I look back and wish my approach back then was the same now."

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Getty Images SportA changed man and a father

Barkley is now back at Aston Villa for a second spell and is busy rebuilding his confidence under Unai Emery. Boozy nights are a thing of the past, and fatherhood has given him perspective. 

"I’m a dad now; I’ve got more responsibilities," he said. "I’ve got maybe four, five, six or seven years left in football, so I want to make the most of that. I haven’t drunk since the summer. I’m planning on going without alcohol throughout (the rest of) my career. It has created situations I don’t really want happening anymore."

Emery has mostly used him as a substitute, but he scored in his latest outing against Bournemouth. As games come thick and fast in the festive season, Barkley will be hoping to carve out a bigger role in the Aston Villa setup.

When Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio hit the injured list with a right hamstring strain Friday, Brewers fans likely hoped for a quick absence.

That will seemingly not be the case, Milwaukee manager Pat Murphy told reporters Friday via Curt Hogg of the .

"It won’t be anytime soon," Murphy said of Chourio's hypothetical return, which he noted could be more than a month from Friday. "It was diagnosed a little more severe than we initially thought but to what extent I’m not exactly sure. Nor are (the medical staff)."

Chourio, 21, has been exceptionally durable in his sophomore season; his 445 at-bats lead the National League. He's slashing .276/.311/.474 with 17 home runs and 67 RBIs for the first-place Brewers.

On Tuesday, he tripled in a 9–3 win over the Chicago Cubs—only to sustain the injury that has sidelined him.

In 2024, Chourio finished third in the NL Rookie of the Year voting after batting .275 with 21 home runs and 79 RBIs.

Eight Young Boys fans have been arrested for their part in crowd trouble during the Swiss side's 2-1 Europa League defeat at Aston Villa on Thrusday. West Midlands Police released a statement on Friday morning, saying that two of the supporters had been arrested "on suspicion of affray and assaulting a police officer", a further six men were detained at Birmingham airport on suspicion of the same offence.

Ugly scenes at Villa Park

The Dutchman opened the scoring with a headed finish in the 27th minute. As he celebrated in front of the visiting support, he was struck on the head amid a volley of missiles hurled towards the Villa Park pitch. Morgan Rogers was also hit, but not injured during the initial unrest. Police formed a barrier in front of the travelling fans, with more numbers joining the line as the first half continued. 

Malen's second goal in the 42nd minute prompted sustained clashes between the travelling support and the police. The game was halted for five-and-a-half minutes, as Young Boys captain Loris Benito pleaded with his supporters to behave themselves. 

Two men were arrested on suspicion of affray and assaulting a police officer earlier this morning, with a further six Young Boys supporters detained on the same charge as they attempted to leave the country. 

AdvertisementGetty Images SportWest Midlands Police's statement

WMP Superintendent Paul Minor said: “We won’t tolerate violence of any kind at football matches.

“The majority of the crowd was in good spirit but unfortunately a small minority of away fans caused violence and disrupted the game. An investigation has been launched, and officers are reviewing body worn video and CCTV from the stadium of the disorder.”

Managers reactions to violence

Young Boys manager Gerardo Seaone apologised for the fans behaviour, however, he did also suggest Malen contributed to the ugly scenes by choosing to celebrate in front of the febrile atmosphere in the away end. 

"It's normal when you score a goal that you want to be with your team-mates. Maybe it was a small provocation, I don't know," he said.

"Our fans could have taken this as a provocation. "This is part of football but our fans should not react so angrily.

"The referee asked our captain to go calm our supporters. Some fans came down to talk to the players and the police reacted like they were jumping on the pitch, but that was not their intention.

"It's a pity for everybody throwing the objects. The result is not nice for anybody.

"We apologise, we don't feel good and not the way our supporters are normally, or how we want to act when we are guests somewhere and no one wins at the end, everybody loses in this situation.

"Football is with emotions. There is a rule to not provoke, nobody does it on purpose, it was more the joy of scoring."

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery briefly spoke on the events in the first hal, saying they were "not necessary". 

He added: "We need respect for both sides. It is not necessary to get a moment like we had today. Respect for both sides. I think [Malen is] OK."

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AFPFurther punishment due for Young Boys fans?

The Swiss club have regularly run foul of UEFA for their fans' behaviour. Just last week, the threat of a ban on travelling fans was lifted at the end of a two-year probationary period. 

The spectre of a ban has hung over the team since their last visit to England, a November 2023 Champions League tie against Manchester City. The club was given a one-match suspended punishment for crowd disturbances and fined for the throwing of objects and acts of damage to the stadium. Their fans conduct will almost certainly result in harsher punishment from UEFA this time round.

With news of Newcastle fans facing violence from the French police in their Champions LEague defeat to Marseille, the policing of high-profile European ties looks to be an unwelcome subplot for the remainder of the 2025/26 season. 

Cooke makes 84 in key stand as Northants are made to work for wickets at Wantage Road

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay08-Sep-2025Asa Tribe hit a career-best unbeaten 181 to keep Glamorgan’s promotion hopes firmly alive and put his side in a dominant position on day one of this Rothesay County Championship match against Northamptonshire at Wantage Road.Glamorgan were indebted to the 21-year-old Jersey international after losing four wickets before lunch after winning the toss, Luke Procter claiming two scalps. Opening the innings, Tribe never looked in real trouble, helping himself to 25 fours and two sixes in a fluent, confident innings and accounting for the bulk of the top-order runs.Sam Northeast (17) and Ben Kellaway (23) kept him company in half-century stands, but it was not until Chris Cooke’s arrival that Glamorgan mounted a substantial partnership, the keeper scoring 84 (12 fours, one six) while adding 162 for the sixth wicket with Tribe. Although Cooke fell before the close, Glamorgan were in a healthy position at 367 for six.Earlier Northamptonshire handed first-class debuts to left-arm pacer Ben Whitehouse and off-spinner Nirvan Ramesh, 17, who became the county’s third youngest debutant since the war.Zain ul Hassan was the first Glamorgan wicket to fall in the eighth over, driving outside off-stump to Procter and edging an easy catch behind.Tribe dealt almost exclusively in boundaries. He drove handsomely through midwicket against the seamers before a punch through cover point off Whitehouse brought up Glamorgan’s 50 at the end of the 15th over.Whitehouse meanwhile unsettled Northeast. After the Glamorgan skipper punched one to the boundary, Whitehouse struck him on the arm causing a short delay. Northeast recovered to slap a wide delivery from Justin Broad through extra cover to bring up the 50 partnership with Tribe off 58 balls, but the all-rounder found some late movement to draw the edge through to second slip.Tribe though looked imperious, reaching 50 off 63 deliveries. He pulled dismissively against Whitehouse who was guilty of bowling too short throughout both spells.Procter struck for the second time when he jagged one back sharply to Kiran Carlson who offered minimum foot movement and inside edged to the keeper. The impressive Ramesh then claimed his maiden first-class wicket when Colin Ingram (18) attempted to turn the ball to leg and was well caught off the leading edge by Procter in the covers, and while Tribe took consecutive boundaries off Calvin Harrison, Glamorgan went into lunch four down for 115.Tribe started positively after the interval, sweeping Ramesh over deep midwicket for six, while Kellaway eased into his work with a sumptuous cover drive off Liam Guthrie and a reverse sweep off Ramesh as Glamorgan moved past 150, Tribe bringing up the half-century partnership off 59 balls with a backfoot punch off Guthrie.With Ramesh bowling consecutive maidens at one end, Northamptonshire turned to Broad to try to force the breakthrough and he instantly troubled Tribe outside off-stump. But it was Harrison who bowled Kellaway round his legs as he went to sweep.New batter Cooke took the aggressive option against Broad but was almost undone by one that jagged back and kept low.Tribe reached three figures off 150 balls with his first false shot, under-edging an attempted sweep against Harrison, the ball running past the keeper for four. He endured a few nervous moments against Procter who beat him several times outside off-stump, but he duly moved past his previous highest score of 107 made against Leicestershire in June, despite suffering from flu at the time.After tea Cooke swung Harrison over the leg side for six to bring up the 100 partnership off 183 balls before reaching his own half-century. He continued to attack, clubbing spinners Harrison and Saif Zaib over midwicket, while Tribe hit Zaib straight for six, Glamorgan going on to pass 300 shortly before the new ball became due.Tribe steered Procter through midwicket to bring up the 150 stand off 246 balls while Cooke cut Guthrie powerfully for four. The bowler soon made the breakthrough when Cooke pulled and was well caught low down by Broad at deep backward square-leg.With Tribe still content to capitalise on anything loose and joined by Timm van der Gugten, Glamorgan secured a third batting bonus point shortly before the close.

Heading into the 2022/23 campaign, part of the intrigue surrounding Erik ten Hag’s arrival at Manchester United was the potential impact it could have on Donny van de Beek’s Old Trafford career, following a forgettable two seasons at the club prior to that.

Having previously been part of the Ajax side that reached the Champions League semi-finals in 2018/19 under Ten Hag, the hope was that a reunion with his compatriot would bring the best out of United’s £40m Dutchman.

As it would transpire, Van de Beek’s stock would plummet even further, even after the change in the dugout, having gone on to play just 12 times for Ten Hag at United, prior to leaving permanently for Girona for a measly £500k fee in the summer of 2024.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

42

2 (2)

Erik ten Hag

12

0 (0)

Michael Carrick

3

0 (0)

Ralf Rangnick

5

0 (0)

Total

62

2 (2)

The now 28-year-old had endured a frustrating six-month spell on loan at Eintracht Frankfurt before that summer sale, with the club’s latest midfield flop, Manuel Ugarte, perhaps in need of his own January exit heading into 2026.

Latest on Manuel Ugarte's future

Much like Van de Beek before him, it is telling how even reuniting with a former boss has failed to bring the best out of Ugarte, with that prior relationship with Ruben Amorim potentially even working against the Uruguayan of late.

Indeed, reports suggested that the 24-year-old was given a dressing down at Carrington following May’s Europa League final, with Amorim believed to have hinted that he didn’t recognise the player he had once coached at Sporting CP.

Amorim has almost publicly echoed that appraisal since, after suggesting last month that the ex-Paris Saint-Germain man is “struggling”, resulting in him starting just two Premier League games all season.

An unused substitute against both Everton and Crystal Palace, INEOS’ £50m signing is at a critical juncture in his United journey, with recent reports even suggesting that the club will listen to offers for him in January.

Up for sale heading into the winter window, if those reports are to be believed, it’s fair to say that Ugarte hasn’t performed as was expected over the last 18 months or so, having slipped behind the ageing Casemiro in Amorim’s midfield pecking order.

Such was the size of the fee dished out on the midfielder back in 2024, his signing perhaps ranks among the worst of the lot in the INEOS regime, albeit with young Patrick Dorgu perhaps edging him to that title amid his recent performances.

The Man Utd star who's even making Ugarte look good

The writing has been on the wall for Ugarte since his failure to even make it off the bench for the defeat in Bilbao at the end of last term, with even the lack of depth in the midfield ranks having not led to more game time in 2025/26.

Described as “not good enough” by Gary Neville following the Manchester derby defeat, the £120k-per-week talent is no doubt limited, hence why a 2026 exit appears to be inevitable.

That said, he has at least had his moments, racking up two goals and six assists in 55 games for the club, a respectable record for a largely defensive-minded operator in the centre of the park.

The scorer away at Everton and in the 5-4 thriller against Lyon last term, Ugarte has at least shown flashes of the player Amorim deployed in Lisbon, even if that quality has been showcased far too infrequently.

Unfortunately for Dorgu, there has been little to shout about at all in his case, with the ex-Lecce starlet – who signed for £30m back in January – yet to make his mark in a United shirt under Amorim’s watch.

Often the most advanced attacking outlet in this 3-4-2-1 system – having notably made the most touches in the opposition box in the defeat to Manchester City – the young Dane’s forward-thinking approach has frustratingly not been fused with an end product.

Indeed, in 33 appearances for the Red Devils, the left-footer is yet to score, while providing just two assists – a record that actually makes Ugarte’s return look even better.

Described as “dreadful” earlier this season by journalist Samuel Luckhurst, the 21-year-old has even found himself ousted by Diogo Dalot at left wing-back for much of the campaign, despite representing the only real obvious senior option in that left-sided berth.

Of course, his age must be factored in when assessing a difficult start to life at Old Trafford, although Amorim is clearly keen to see more from the youngster, having been critical of his recent displays ahead of the trip to Selhurst Park.

That ‘anxiety’ has been so evident this season, not least by the fact that he ranks in the bottom 8% of Premier League full-backs for pass completion per 90, as per FBref.

Erratic and errant on the ball, Dorgu is simply failing to flourish in a system that looks tailor-made for him, having operated as a winger or full-back during his stint in Italy.

Like with the case of Ugarte, time is already running out for the Denmark international to kick on and improve – this United side can’t afford to carry any passengers.

Forget Dorgu: Man Utd flop is becoming their biggest liability since Onana

Manchester United have a star who is proving to be unreliable under Ruben Amorim in 2025/26.

ByEthan Lamb Dec 3, 2025

Chelsea have been handed an injury blow ahead of their Women's Champions League clash against St Polten as first-choice goalkeeper Hannah Hampton has been ruled out of the match due to injury. Swiss international Livia Peng is set to take Hampton's place in the starting XI for the match in Austria as Sonia Bompastor's side aim to maintain their unbeaten start to the league phase.

Chelsea lose Hampton to injury

Bompastor has confirmed that Hampton has been sidelined with a minor quad injury and will undergo further tests to determine the severity of the problem. Hampton has therefore been left out of Chelsea's 22-strong travelling squad for the game in Austria. Peng and Becky Spencer are the two goalkeepers named in the travelling party for the Blues, while Lauren James and Naomi Girma are also involved again after recovering from injury. Here's the squad in full:

Goalkeepers: Livia Peng, Becky Spencer

Defenders: Sandy Baltimore, Nathalie Bjorn, Millie Bright, Lucy Bronze, Veerle Buurman, Ellie Carpenter, Niamh Charles, Naomi Girma.

Midfielders: Erin Cuthbert, Oriane Jean-Francois, Maika Hamano, Wieke Kaptein, Sjoeke Nusken, Lexi Potter, Keira Walsh.

Forwards: Lauren James, Sam Kerr, Catarina Macario, Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, Alyssa Thompson.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportBlues aiming for back-to-back European wins

Chelsea will be hoping to make it back-to-back wins in the Champions League campaign after opening up their campaign with a 1-1 draw away at FC Twente, followed by a 4-0 win over Paris FC. The Blues will be hot favourites for victory against St. Polten but will have to make at least one change to their starting XI with Peng coming in to replace Hampton. Peng moved to Chelsea in the summer from Bundesliga side Werder Bremen, after featuring for Switzerland at Euro 2025, and made her debut for her new club in the draw at Twente. That Champions League outing is her only appearance so far this season but she will surely be relishing the chance to take over from Hampton again on Tuesday night at the NV Arena.

Peng living the dream at Chelsea

Peng admitted that moving to Chelsea was a dream after putting pen to paper on a four-year contract in the summer. She told the club's media: "It feels so good to be here. When I was 10, I dreamed of playing for Chelsea. Now, my childhood dream has come true and it's so exciting. I'm really happy to join the Chelsea family and get started. It's such a big club. Chelsea want to win titles and so do I. We're a good match. I'm hungry to win here."

Chelsea complete a domestic treble (WSL, FA Cup, League Cup) last season without losing a game and will be hoping for more silverware in 2025-26. The Blues have made a strong start to their Women's Champions League campaign and sit in second place in the Women's Super League table, just one point behind current leaders Manchester City after eight games played.

"I think we are still early on in the season and I'm not worried about where we stand right now in the table," Bompastor has said of her team's start. "We always want to be the leaders and leading this league but the most important thing for us is to be leading the race at the end of the season. I trust my squad – the quality I have in the squad to be able to do that. Not the result we wanted to have coming into the game, but we are still in control and I am quite confident."

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AFPBig win on the cards for Chelsea?

Chelsea head into the match off the back of a controversial draw with Arsenal which extended their unbeaten run in the WSL to 33 games. The Blues now switch focus to continental competition and will be hoping to win a maiden European crown in 2025-26. Bompastor's side will certainly be expected to make light work of St. Polten. The Austrian side have conceded nine goals in their two Champions League outings so far, and anything but an away win will be a big surprise.

With the last international break of 2025 underway, it remains to be seen whether or not Martin O’Neill will be in charge of Celtic for their next competitive match.

Football Insider recently reported that the experienced manager could see his interim time in the dugout end if the club are able to land a new boss during the break.

The Northern Irish head coach, in his second stint at the club, has enjoyed an impressive time as the caretaker manager, winning three of his four matches in all competitions.

Celtic have won both of their Scottish Premiership games by a 4-0 scoreline since he came in after Brendan Rodgers tendered his resignation, beating Kilmarnock 4-0 on Sunday in what could be his last match.

O’Neill has been a breath of fresh air for the Scottish giants after the end of Rodgers’ tenure, as evidenced by the two league results, and he has worked wonders for a few players.

Johnny Kenny, for example, has stepped up under the experienced manager and shown that he can be relied on as a regular starter for the Hoops, if required.

The Celtic players who have improved under Martin O'Neill

The Ireland international is the most obvious player who has improved since O’Neill came in as a caretaker manager, as he has scored four goals in four matches, per Sofascore.

Kenny had scored two goals in 17 first-team matches for Celtic in all competitions before this run of four goals in four games under O’Neill, per Transfermarkt, which perfectly illustrates his recent improvement.

The 22-year-old marksman, who has stepped up in the absence of Kelechi Iheanacho, is not the only Hoops player who has taken their game up a gear under the interim boss, though, as Arne Engels has done the same.

Celtic’s Belgian midfield maestro did not provide a single goal or assist in eight appearances in the Premiership under Rodgers, in what was a dismal start to the campaign for the £11m signing from Augsburg.

Since O’Neil came in, though, the central midfielder has scored his first goal of the season and delivered two assists in all competitions, including a goal and an assist in the 4-0 win over Kilmarnock.

Minutes

90

90

Sofascore rating

7.5

8.4

Tackle success rate

100%

100%

Clearances

5

7

Ground duels won

1/2

3/3

Aerial duels won

6/11

6/8

Dribbled past

0x

0x

As you can see in the table above, Auston Trusty has excelled under O’Neill at the heart of the defence in his two league matches in the dugout, after the USA international did not start a single league match for Rodgers this season.

With O’Neill’s future in the dugout in doubt, the Scottish giants are reportedly looking at another manager who could make Kenny unplayable for the rest of the season and beyond.

3-4-2-1 emerges as contender for Celtic job

According to Sky Sports journalist Anthony Joseph, Columbus Crew head coach Wilfried Nancy has “emerged” as a contender to replace Rodgers and O’Neil at Parkhead.

The reporter claims that he is one of a number of names on the club’s shortlist as they look for a long-term successor to Rodgers, who won the Premiership title in both of his full seasons back in Glasgow.

Manager Focus

Who are the greatest coaches in the land? Football FanCast’s Manager Focus series aims to reveal all.

Joseph adds that the Hoops have now drawn up their full shortlist of options and that Nancy is a “serious” contender to land the job before the end of the international break.

The 48-year-old tactician, who typically deploys a 3-4-2-1 formation, is not the only manager on that list, of course, as Ipswich Town’s Kieran McKenna and Bodo/Glimt’s Kjetil Knutsen are also in the frame.

Why Wilfried Nancy could make Johnny Kenny unplayable

If Celtic decide to go through with a move for the French head coach, the Columbus Crew boss could help to make Kenny completely unplayable by carrying on O’Neill’s good work.

Nancy, who won the MLS Cup in the 2022/23 campaign, has won 81 of his 169 matches as a manager in the MLS, per Transfermarkt, and has won two trophies, one with Columbus Crew and one with Montreal, where he coached Alistair Johnston.

In his time with Columbus Crew, the French manager has shown that he can set up a team to consistently create chances for a striker like Kenny, as Diego Rossi has thrived under his management.

Like Kenny, the Uruguayan is a lean and diminutive forward who looks to score goals through clever movement and sharp finishing, as shown in his goal in the clip below.

Neither Rossi nor the Celtic striker are going to offer a towering presence in the number nine position and bully central defenders with their physical prowess; that is not a part of their game, but Nancy has shown that he can set a team up to create chances for their profile of forward.

Rossi has played through the middle as a striker on his own in a 3-4-2-1, as one of the two 10s behind a striker, and as part of a strike pairing in a 4-4-2 or a 3-5-2 during his time under the Celtic manager target, and he has been a prolific scorer in those roles.

Appearances

48

37

Shots

112

123

xG

13.14

15.54

Goals

21

19

xA

5.60

6.46

Big chances created

14

11

Assists

7

5

As you can see in the table above, the Columbus Crew forward has scored 40 goals for Nancy since the start of the 2024 campaign, whilst also providing 12 assists for his side in that time.

These statistics suggest that Kenny, who is a similar profile of player to Rossi, could thrive under the Frenchman if Celtic decide to appoint him as their successor to Rodgers.

The Ireland international could thrive as the lone striker in a 3-4-2-1 on his own or alongside Iheanacho, when fit, in a 4-4-2, with his recent goal spurt showing that he can score goals on a regular basis at Premiership level.

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However, it now remains to be seen whether or not the Hoops will decide to make Nancy their number one option, or if they will go with another manager on their shortlist.

He spoke about how a trainer and dietician “really changed me physically and mentally” ahead of the new domestic season

Deivarayan Muthu19-Aug-2025Prithvi Shaw is preparing to “start from the scratch again” and revive his career with his new domestic team Maharashtra. He took his first step towards that with an aggressive century on his Maharashtra debut on a Chennai turner, which also offered variable bounce to spinners, against Chhattisgarh in the pre-season Buchi Babu tournament.”I don’t mind starting from scratch again because I’ve seen many ups and downs in my life,” Shaw said after stumps on day two. “And I’ve been up there, I’ve been down there, and I’ve come back up there. So, everything is possible, I feel. I’m kind of a very confident guy, confident in myself and my work ethics. I feel and I hope that this season will go really well for me as well as for my new team.”Shaw had been dropped from Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy side last year due to poor fitness and lack of discipline, and had also gone unsold in the IPL 2025 auction. Ahead of the new domestic season, Shaw said that he had worked hard on his fitness, and even had his diet monitored.Related

Shaw joins Maharashtra ahead of 2025-26 domestic season

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“I mean, these two-three months [before the season] I had my trainer [working with me],” he said. “He used to come personally to train me. And I’ve got a dietitian as well, and he gives me the meals [plan] and everything – like what a dietitian does. So, all this stuff in three-four months has really changed me physically and mentally as well. And, you know, it can be seen on the field.”After having a good workout in the field on the opening day, when he took three catches, Shaw raced to 111 off 141 balls, including smashing 15 fours and a six, on the second. The other ten Maharashtra batters managed 92 runs on a surface that was misbehaving on Tuesday. Shaw, however, continued to bat with attacking intent.By the time his opening partner Sachin Dhas got off the mark off the 25th ball he faced, Shaw had run away to 30 off 23 deliveries. But once Maharashtra lost four wickets in quick succession, including that of Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shaw had to temper his natural instincts before he took the attack to the Chhattisgarh bowlers once again.After moving from 91 to 97 with a down-the-track straight six off legspinner Shubham Agrawal, Shaw brought up his maiden hundred for Maharashtra with a more gentle tap to midwicket. When Shaw advanced at Agrawal once again, the ball turned and shot low, resulting in the batter being stumped.Prithvi Shaw signed for Maharashtra ahead of the 2025-26 domestic season•Maharashtra Cricket Association”I feel it [my approach] depended on the scoreboard,” Shaw said. “Obviously, we’re four wickets down for 17 [after an opening stand of 71]. We had a good opening partnership, but when wickets were falling, I had to be patient enough to take the game away from them, which I was trying my best [to do]. And the wicket [in Chennai] is obviously good for spinners.”It [the pitch] is turning, bouncing and [there are] a lot of patches on the wicket. So, I tried my best to just be over there and try to [make] some scores. It feels really nice [to score a hundred], especially because I’m playing my first game for Maharashtra. It feels nice; it’s been long, and I haven’t played a three-day or four-day game [recently].”Shaw said that he used to be someone who would think far ahead, but in the lead-up to the new domestic season, he wanted to just focus on the present and not burden himself with too many thoughts.”Before it was for me, like I was trying to think ,” Shaw said. “So, I don’t think it worked for me. What I’m trying to do now is going day-by-day – whatever I have [as] my schedule plan when I’m playing a match or when I’m not playing matches. “So, I’ve got a schedule plan. I’m focusing day-by-day. I don’t want to see what happens after a month or two days. I try to be in the present. I’m that kind of a person right now.”

“Obviously, my family has been a big support in my tough times, and my coach Prashant Shetty [as well]. So, there’s a lot of support behind me, and I don’t want to make them feel that I’m not trying hard enough”Prithvi Shaw

Shaw said switching off from social media, and support from his family and his childhood coach Prashant Shetty have helped him ride the lows and stay balanced.”Just trying to be myself, and not really trying to be on social media or anything – those kind of distractions which I really don’t like because nowadays social media and all those stuff, it’s quite bad, I would say,” he said. “So, I don’t really [want to] be on social media and stuff. It’s kind of peaceful when I’m not using it.”And I think the lesson always is: ‘I’ve never lost’. It’s always about learning for me. And like I said before, I’m confident enough in myself [regarding] who I am. Obviously, my family has been a big support in my tough times, and my coach Prashant Shetty [as well]. So, there’s a lot of support behind me, and I don’t want to make them feel that I’m not trying hard enough.”Shaw suggested that his transition from Mumbai to Maharashtra has been smooth, thanks to his familiarity with players such as captain Ankit Bawne, Gaikwad (who have played with him for India A) and wristspinner Prashant Solanki, who was Shaw’s former team-mate at Mumbai.”Mumbai is not that far away from Maharashtra,” Shaw said. “I mean, half of the team I know. I mean, obviously, I’ve played with Rutu, [and] Ankit; Mukesh [Choudhary] is there. Prashant Solanki and few other players are there. I just got to know a few youngsters. You know, Arshin [Kulkarni], Sachin Dhas and everyone. They have been really nice and welcoming to me.”