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The New Zealand fast bowler on coffee, Italian food and what possibly did the tourists in against England in the first Test earlier this month

Interview by Alan Gardner23-Jun-2022This interview was conducted ahead of New Zealand’s Test series in EnglandWhat’s your go-to meal?
Probably Italian. There is a place that my partner and I go to in Auckland that does a lovely duck risotto.What about cooking – do you have a speciality in the kitchen?
I’ve tended in the last couple of years to go more down the path of eating out and enjoying someone else’s expertise rather than my own. Especially when we travel a lot, you get a chance to try some new places and different sorts of foods.Which cricket venue has the best catering?
I think a lot of people would say Lord’s but I’m going to go either Hagley Oval or Bay Oval.What edges out Lord’s?
It’s in New Zealand (). Yeah, I think it’s probably just being at home – you get to experience those places a bit more. I’ve only been to Lord’s once, so maybe it’ll shift in a couple of weeks’ time. But I’m happy to stick with some homegrown food.Related

Alice Capsey: 'English chocolate is better than any other country's'

Keshav Maharaj: 'When I retire I'm going to stuff myself with all of my mom's cooking'

Heather Knight: 'The first time I was at Lord's they had giant prawns on the table'

Blair Tickner: 'I packed three kilos of coffee beans for the Bangladesh tour'

Mitchell Santner: 'If you have a big day in the field, you can have an ice-cream'

Was there anything that Lord’s did well when you went in 2021?
I remember having some prawns as an entrée and they were outstanding. Can’t remember what sauce was with them, but if we have those again, there could be some full stomachs going out on the field after lunch.Which team-mate is the best in the kitchen?
Matt Henry. He whips up some pretty good food. I think he’d probably be up there.Does he do good pasta?
I’m not sure, he hasn’t actually cooked for me! But he’s not afraid of sending a few snaps about it.Who’s the biggest coffee hipster?
It’s hard to go past Ticks [Blair Tickner] – he’s got his own café. But I think most guys tend to enjoy their coffee. Everyone’s got their own coffee machine at home. Had some pretty good brews since we’ve been here [in the UK], as part of our walk to the ground. It’s probably hard to find someone that doesn’t enjoy coffee, rather than the other way around.Is there anything you can’t go on tour without?
We travelled around with coffee beans last year, and little AeroPresses to make our coffees, but we haven’t had to take that on tour this year – we’ve been able to go out and grab one. I wouldn’t say there’s too much, food-wise. I’m pretty happy to go out and try things from where we are in the world.

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After seven years, New York Yankees second baseman DJ LeMahieu's tenure with the team has come to an abrupt end.

The Yankees designated LeMahieu for assignment in a surprise move Wednesday afternoon, following indications that the team would move him to the bench after the return of infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr.

LeMahieu, 36, is slashing .266/.338/.336 with two home runs and 12 RBIs in 45 games this season—a solid-if-not-spectacular rebound from a 2024 where he cost his team 1.6 wins above replacement.

New York signed LeMahieu away from the Colorado Rockies in January 2019, and he briefly threatened to become one of the best players in baseball around the time of the COVID-19 pandemic. He slashed a sizzling .327/.375/.518 with 102 RBIs in 2019, and nearly won the American League MVP in a 2020 season that saw him hit .364.

LeMahieu added a Gold Glove, the fourth of his career, in 2022.

The Yankees are currently 50-41, and sit 3.5 games behind the Toronto Blue Jays in the American League East division.

Mohamed Salah is set to return to the Liverpool squad for this weekend's clash with Brighton after holding peace talks with manager Arne Slot. The Egypt international claimed he had been "thrown under the bus" by manager Slot last weekend, and was left out of their Champions League clash with Inter Milan as a result.

• Salah to return

  Per widespread reporting, Salah is poised to return to the Liverpool squad this weekend. The Reds superstar sent a bombshell message at the weekend as he claimed that he was "thrown under the bus", but has since held clear-the-air talks with his manager, and is set to be reintegrated into the squad. It is the final opportunity for Salah to play before he jets off to the African Cup of Nations with Egypt. The news could end the ublic spat which has shrouded Liverpool in recent weeks, set against the backdrop of a woeful run of league, cup and European results, which has seen the club all-but surrender their Premier League title. 

  And while it isn't clear if he will be named in the starting XI or on the bench, the positive update will come as a huge relief to Liverpool coaching staff and fans ahead of the weekend clash with Brighton at Anfield. 

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  Slot confirms hopes for reunion

  The Liverpool boss spoke to the press earlier in the day and confirmed he was scheduled to speak with the Egytian icon before making any decision about including him in the team for the weekend. And while he was happy to admit to wanting Salah back, he baulked at the suggestion of making an apology for the mess, whoch has been an embarrassing episode for the club. 

  Slot told reporters: "I will have a conversation with Mo this morning and the outcome determines how it will look tomorrow."What I need is a conversation with him and the next time I speak about Mo should be with him and not in here. There's not much more I can say. I speak to him today and the outcome determines how things will look tomorrow. You can try in multiple ways but I just said the next time I speak about him should be with him. I think there's been a lot of conversations since the last week between his reps and ours. An apology? Normally I'd say you've had your three questions. I have no reason for not wanting him to stay."

• Carragher: 'Maximum damage'

  The great and the good have weighed in on the Salah debate in recent weeks, including both Jamie Carragher and Alan Shearer, who have been highly critical of Salah. Carragher initially labelled Salah a "disgrace" and "selfish" for comments made after being left on the bench against Leeds United. Carragher argued that Salah and his agent strategically time public outbursts to "cause maximum damage" and pressure the club, potentially to secure a new contract or even force the manager out. The ex-Liverpool defender later offered a conditional apology, saying he "adores" Salah the player but maintains the forward needs to "behave himself off the pitch". 

  All-time Premier League top goalscorer Alan Shearer echoed Carragher's sentiments, largely agreeing that while he understood Salah's frustration at being benched (having experienced it himself), the player was wrong to air his grievances publicly to the press. Shearer believes the matter has escalated to the point where Salah may have played his last game for Liverpool, and that his explosive remarks have "tarnished" his legacy at the club.

  Shearer said: "He'll go down as a Premier League great whether he has played his last match or not and it'd be such a shame for him to go out like this after what he's done for Liverpool. One thing I will say though is that it won't be forgotten all of this, but I don't think it'll ruin his legacy. He's achieved so much, and Liverpool wouldn't have won what they have without him so I don't think it'll ruin his legacy, but it will be tarnished. I think Slot has handled the situation really well. I thought he spoke well before and after the game on Tuesday. It was a very, very difficult situation for everyone but I thought he spoke with precision, honesty and openness – I thought he got things absolutely right." 

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  Seagulls test awaits Salah, Slot and co

  Liverpool's erratic form this season sees them languishing tenth in the Premier League table and are desperate for victory over Brighton at Anfield this weekend. As well as their well-documented defensive frailites, the Reds have struggled in front of goal this season, having not scored in the opening 45 minutes in any of their last five Premier League matches, their longest run without a first half goal since between January and March 2021. And while Brighton beat Liverpool 3-2 in their last meeting in May, they have never beaten the Reds in consecutive league matches before. 

Former Crystal Palace chief John Textor has revealed an interesting partnership with Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis that allows the pair to 'adjust' transfer fees in deals between clubs. Textor previously owned a 43 per cent stake in Crystal Palace, which he sold in June this year for £190million. Textor considers Marinakis to be a close aide and a 'partner' in the world of football.

• Textor shares close bond with Marinakis

  Former Palace chief Textor, who exited the Premier League club in June by selling his 43 per cent stake, recently opened up about his special bond with Forest owner Marinakis. The two club owners reportedly 'adjusted' transfer fees as part of their understanding while dealing in player transfers between their clubs.

  Marinakis currently owns Nottingham Forest, while Textor sold his stake in Palace for £190million in June. They also have a portfolio of clubs worldwide; The Forest boss also owns Olympiacos in Greece and Rio Ave in Portugal, while Textor, through Eagle Football Holdings, has Lyon in France and Brazilian giants Botafogo. 

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  'He has really become the partner that we wanted to have'

  Speaking to , Textor said: "The relationship is, though we do not own Nottingham Forest, and Marinakis does not own any piece of Eagle Football, he has really become the partner that we wanted to have with Crystal Palace. It’s important, I believe, to have a strong Brazilian club, to have a strong European club, to have a strong United Kingdom club. I would like a partner in Portugal. I might even prefer a partner in Spain more than a partner in France, but Marinakis has effectively become that partner because he has clubs in Portugal, clubs in Greece, and a club in the UK, and he, more than any other owner I’ve met in the world of football, believes in Brazilian talent. 

  "That’s my first explanation. The second part of the question is, you have to understand that you do your best to allocate the transfer price on an athlete-by-athlete basis. But you also understand that if you have a large relationship and you’ve been trading players in Brazil and elsewhere because he’s sending players to us in France, we sent some younger players to him in Portugal, right?"

• Were transfer fees adjusted between Marinakis and Textor?

  When asked adjusting fees while dealing transfers between their clubs, Textor added: "You feel really stupid when suddenly Igor Jesus (who Botafogo sold to Forest for £16.5m this summer) is the best player against Liverpool and you’re sure you should have gotten paid more money for him. But the fact is his injury history was the greatest reason we didn’t get paid more for him. A lot of those numbers will bounce around and sometimes you’ll look stupid and sometimes they’ll make sense. And sometimes it’s part of making an adjustment because you trade with that particular friend in a lot of situations."

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• 'Every deal is a negotiation'

  Further speaking to , Textor said: "A team owner can say, 'Give me a break on this new one; you know I overpaid for the last one, based on performance.' Every deal is a negotiation, and if you desire to continue trading with a particular owner, you sometimes agree to another owner’s perception of value, sometimes forfeiting your own perception of value. These negotiations swing both ways. 

  "If you adjust the negotiation of a transfer fee, that’s not the same thing as adjusting a transfer fee.' But won't fans feel aggrieved if a player they like was sold for a specific fee just to keep a 'partner' happy? 'It’s my money, right?' Textor snapped back. 'But you’re ignoring the rest of the conversation about that same answer. 'And what I object to is people saying there’s some sinister relationship between me and Marinakis, and because people are going after him."

  He added: "What if I have a strategy where I’m creating a pathway; a regular pathway from Brazil into the Premier League? You can watch a Premier League game between Leeds United and Nottingham Forest and see Botafogo players on both sides of the pitch. And that’s never happened before."

West Indies chased down a paltry target of 123 with 46 balls to spare, and avoided a whitewash

Ekanth30-Sep-2025

Nepal came into Sharjah eyeing a historic whitewash but ran into a revived West Indies side that put on the perfect game. However, that shouldn’t take away too much from their impressive feat of completing their first series win against a Full Member nation.Ramon Simmonds, one of the two changes they made, took a match-winning three-for after West Indies made the right call of bowling first on a pitch that was slow and offered regular sideways movement. Openers Amir Jangoo and Ackeem Auguste capitalised under easing conditions to take West Indies to their first ever ten-wicket win.Nepal’s start was sedate but secure with Kushal Malla and Bhurtel often in control of their shots. Bhurtel even whacked Mayers on the roof in the third over. The first sign of danger was Hosein getting turn and bounce in the third over to beat Bhurtel’s sweep, and the shot did connect the next ball for a six over square leg. Nonetheless, free-flowing strokeplay wasn’t to be seen.The effect of Nepal facing 20 dots in their 37-run powerplay was slightly mitigated by three fours and two sixes.Holder found success right after the powerplay using his high release and bounce. Malla was nearly caught behind trying to drive on the up through cover, Fabian Allen ran back from cover and dropped a tough chance off Bhurtel, and Malla’s edge was found the last ball.The spinners capitalised on the slowness and the sideways movement on offer. Hosein spun the ball away from around the wicket to beat the bat twice in the eighth over.Bhurtel and Paudel tried to break free after two quiet overs. After a first-ball six, both batters could’ve been out. Paudel survived an lbw as Hosein overstepped, but Bhurtel was caught at slip playing the reverse sweep. He wasn’t happy as the ball may have gone off just his forearm.Simmonds had a late introduction with Nepal needing to play within themselves. His lengths were often short or full and he bagged the wickets of Paudel – gloved pull to the keeper – and Aarif Sheikh – upper cut to deep third – in his first two overs. In between, Gulsan Jha was run out after taking a head start too far before running back. Nepal made 62 for 5 in the middle overs despite West Indies dropping two chances.Simmons and Blades took two wickets each in the death overs. A couple of boundaries from Lokesh Bam and Sundeep Jora took Nepal to 122.West Indies’ chase got off to a flier. In the first over, Auguste ensured that West Indies, too, hit a six on the roof. Karan KC was punished upon offering pace and missing his line. The openers peppered the leg-side boundary. With a four in each of the next four overs, West Indies bossed the 47-run powerplay.Paudel dropped a simple chance off Auguste, on 29, at cover. There were no further chances of a Nepal comeback, certainly not after Mohammad Aadil Alam was taken down for 18 in the ninth over. Jangoo losing his bottom hand but still driving over long-off showed just how well he timed the ball.Jangoo then went into top gear, smacking five sixes in his last nine balls. The back-to-back sixes off Paudel, that started the carnage, brought up his 38-ball fifty. Auguste played second fiddle as West Indies reached home with 46 balls to spare.

New Zealand needed only eight to win after Zimbabwe were bowled out for 165 in second innings

Firdose Moonda01-Aug-2025

New Zealand knocked off a target of eight runs in 14 balls to complete a comprehensive win over a Zimbabwe side whose home form continues to suffer. Their only Test win this year was against Bangladesh in Chattogram in April, and they have now lost their last five Tests.The architects of New Zealand’s victory were their bowlers, headlined by Matt Henry’s second Test nine-for, which included three second-innings wickets. Although New Zealand were without Nathan Smith for the third day – he could not take the field to determine the severity of an abdominal strain – Will O’Rourke’s 3 for 28 and stand-in captain Mitchell Santner’s 4 for 27 meant Zimbabwe were bowled out for under 170 in both innings to leave major batting concerns.Despite a good mix of youthful talent and experience in their line-up, Zimbabwe are struggling to post big scores. Only Sean Williams’ 49 was noteworthy in this match, though wicketkeeper Tafadzwa Tsiga made a career-best 30 in the first innings and 27 in the second. His contribution forced New Zealand to bat again, and kept an innings defeat at bay.Zimbabwe only had one partnership over 50 in either innings, and it was the second-innings stand of 57 between Craig Ervine and Williams for the fifth wicket that they would have expected to stabilise them. The pair got together after New Zealand dismissed Nick Welch in the fifth over of the third morning, caught behind off a full ball from O’Rourke.Tafadzwa Tsiga frustrated New Zealand•Zimbabwe Cricket

Then New Zealand got nightwatcher Vincent Masekesa, who batted for 58 minutes and faced 40 balls for 2. Masekesa was undone by a surface that started to show signs of variable bounce and gloved a back of a length ball to Rachin Ravindra at short leg.Williams was on 14 off 12 balls at the time, and batting with good intensity. Though Zimbabwe were still 105 runs behind at the stage, the experience of Williams and Ervine calmed nerves, and could have set them up for something more. Ervine, in particular, navigated Henry’s line just outside off fairly well, and drove him for two excellently timed fours.The introduction of spin in the form of Michael Bracewell after the first hour posed challenges for Zimbabwe’s batters as Bracewell beat them in flight. Williams got the better of him when he brought out the reverse sweep, and worked his way into the 40s. But he fell when he tried to help a Santner delivery fine, and got a faint touch through to Tom Blundell.Two overs later, Ervine could do little about a full ball from Henry that nipped off the seam and moved away, taking the edge with it. He was caught behind for 22. Zimbabwe went to lunch on 114 for 6, still 44 runs behind.Henry could have had Tsiga in the third over after the break when he edged to second slip, but Bracewell could not hold on. Tsiga was on 1 at the time. Instead, Henry was rewarded with the wicket of Sikandar Raza, who, for the second time in the match, was dismissed trying to play a big shot. After trying to take on the short ball in the first innings, Raza looked to hit Henry over midwicket but only spliced it high for Ravindra to take a second catch.Mitchell Santner took 4 for 27 in the second innings•Zimbabwe Cricket

With Brendan Taylor in Zimbabwe’s squad for the second Test next week, Raza’s spot, especially after the way he played in this Test, might be most at risk.Raza’s wicket was Henry’s ninth in the match, and came in the seventh over of his spell, though the lunch break had given him some rest. He bowled another four as he went in search of a tenth, and could have got it when there was a sound when Newman Nyamhuri went after a ball that moved away. But it seemed that his bat had hit the pad. Nyamhuri was removed at the other end when he was bowled by Santner, who also had Blessing Muzarabani dropped at deep square leg on 1.Muzarabani and Tsiga’s partnership grew to 36, and Tsiga took Zimbabwe into the lead with a pinpoint four down the ground. But they would have known they needed plenty to make the match competitive. Muzarabani was tempted by flight, and hit Santner to cover. Meanwhile, Tsiga, batting with No.11 Tanaka Chivanga, top-edged a slog sweep, and was caught at point to end Zimbabwe’s innings on the stroke of tea.The break was taken despite the small number of runs New Zealand needed, and the game went into a third session. New Zealand were in a hurry to finish things as quickly as possible on resumption. Devon Conway hit the fifth ball of the innings for four but then came down the track to try and hit Nyamhuri over mid-off but played on.The wicket was as much joy as Zimbabwe got as Henry Nicholls hit the winning runs off Nyamhuri to give both sides the weekend off. The second Test starts next Thursday.

A win at Anfield is as sweet as they come for those of a Manchester United persuasion, with Sunday’s deserved 2-1 victory over struggling champions Liverpool having been almost ten years in the making.

In previous seasons, Cody Gakpo’s late strike may have seen the visitors crumble to a late defeat, or hold on for what would have been seen as a ‘creditable’ but frustrating draw – but not this time.

Up stepped the previously maligned Harry Maguire to deliver the goods yet again, with United’s resurgent centre-back now at the centre of calls for an England recall ahead of next year’s World Cup. So too is back three colleague, Luke Shaw.

It is worth remembering, such is the turbulent nature of the Old Trafford side, that it was just a matter of weeks ago that both men were under the microscope for their performance in the Manchester derby, having been left scrambling at the sight of the surging Erling Haaland.

These players are built up to such heights, before being reduced to such lows, with even the weekend win needing to come with a sense of calm. Such peaks and troughs, such extremes, are no good to anyone.

One man who knows all about navigating the United rollercoaster is Paul Pogba, with the marmite Frenchman having defined the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era more than most.

How Paul Pogba would fit into Amorim's 3-4-3 system

The tale of Pogba’s time in Manchester has been discussed chapter and verse. He came. He left. He came back again. He won the League Cup and Europa League, yet appeared to angle for an exit every summer after. Then he left again in 2022.

Now back in his native France with Monaco, after serving an 18-month suspension at Juventus following a doping ban, Pogba remains among the most polarising United players of modern times.

The sight of the World Cup winner trudging off for his final outing, at Anfield ironically, was fitting for an £89m move that simply didn’t pay off as expected, with the noise that surrounded him – his doing or not – having been frankly tiring.

It wasn’t seen enough, although when actually in his pomp, the fleet-footed midfield could be such a menace, memorably picking up four assists in the opening weekend win over Leeds United in August 2021.

Operating almost as a left-sided midfielder, the maverick playmaker appeared to relish the freedom of being able to get forward and attack, safe in the knowledge that there was ample cover behind him.

In that regard, he may well have been perfect as a number ten in Ruben Amorim’s current set-up, with that role seeing the likes of Mason Mount or Matheus Cunha act as a connector between the midfield and forward line.

Being nudged into a more advanced berth briefly brought the best out of Pogba following Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s arrival to replace Jose Mourinho, with the 6 foot 3 machine ending 2018/19 with 27 goals and assists to his name in all competitions, as per Transfermarkt – his best return for United.

Perhaps ill-utilised at Old Trafford, or also not capable of taking on the talismanic role that was expected of him, the now 32-year-old will forever remain a quandary for the Red Devils.

Hopefully, the newest Pogba-type figure can be far more effective under Amorim’s watch.

Man Utd's new Paul Pogba under Amorim

Pogba’s time in United will, rightly, be lost to history before too long. A player who promised so much upon his return in 2016 ultimately delivered so little.

That is in stark contrast to his former teammate, Bruno Fernandes, with the Portuguese truly emerging as the main man in midfield, his record of 100 goals and 87 assists for the club in 299 games proving as much.

Unlike the Frenchman, even when shifted into a less-suited role the United skipper can still flourish, with Sunday seeing him deliver the crucial assist to Maguire, amid an influential showing in his deep-lying berth.

That decision to drop Fernandes deeper has been in order to accommodate the likes of Mount and Cunha in attack, with the latter man particularly impressing against Arne Slot’s side.

A wait for a goal or assist continues for the £62.5m Brazilian, yet – as noted by journalist Sam Pilger – he already looks to be an “incredible signing”, having led the line superbly last time out.

Described as a “maverick” by ex-MEN correspondent Samuel Luckhurst, there are shades of Pogba about the former Wolverhampton Wanderers man, having already proven himself to be a powerful ball carrier in his left-sided – or central – role.

Against the Merseysiders, the 26-year-old completed 100% of his dribbles, as per Sofascore, while winning two fouls for his side, representing a particular outlet late on when United needed to retain possession.

Minutes played

90+

Touches

55

Successful dribbles

2/2

Total shots

2

Fouls won

2

Possession lost

14

Pass accuracy

83%

Ground duels

4/9

Aerial duels

1/4

Not blessed with blistering pace, much like Pogba, Cunha has that knack for being able to fend off his opposite man, while also boasting the quality to be able to slalom his way up the pitch.

Indeed, among forwards in Europe’s top five leagues, he currently ranks in the top 3% for progressive carries – and the top 1% for progressive passes – as per FBref. Pogba, for instance, ranked in the top 19% and top 4% of midfielders for those two metrics, respectively, during his 2018/19 pomp.

Powerful but with the poise to match, Cunha appears to boast the very best attributes of Pogba, acting as a figure who sucks defenders towards him, yet can easily manoeuvre space for himself with a delightful turn or dribble.

The telling difference between him and the Frenchman, however, is that he is also a “workhorse” – as noted by Luckhurst – with there simply so many facets to his game to enjoy.

He’s not perfect, having been given a four-game ban last season at Molineux, but he does certainly look to be the new ‘maverick’ figure at Old Trafford. That sort of status may not have been worn well by Pogba, yet hopefully Cunha’s addition will prove to be far more fruitful.

The early signs are no doubt promising.

£62m Man Utd star looks like their best player "since Fergie retired"

Manchester United might just have turned a corner under Ruben Amorim’s wing.

2 ByAngus Sinclair Oct 20, 2025

Tottenham boss Thomas Frank has led his side through an excellent run of form on paper since he replaced Ange Postecoglou last summer, but the Dane still has a few weak areas he needs to address with the help of co-sporting directors Johan Lange and Fabio Paratici.

Fabio Paratici and Johan Lange appointed as Tottenham transfer duo

On Wednesday, the Lilywhites finally announced Paratici’s long-awaited return to N17 as an official employee, with CEO Vinai Venkatesham electing to follow through on the Italian’s appointment after Daniel Levy’s departure briefly threatened the move.

The transfer chief, who played a major role in the signings of Cristian Romero, Dejan Kulusevski, Rodrigo Bentancur, Pedro Porro and Djed Spence, among others, joins forces with Lange as the pair tackle Spurs’ recruitment drive together.

This significant change in the boardroom comes almost immediately after the Lewis family pumped £100 million of new capital into the club last week, with Tottenham clearly building the foundations for what they hope will be a successful era post-Levy.

In the build up to January, Lange and Paratici, who had been working as a consultant for months prior to his official return, have already been tipped to bolster a few key areas of the squad.

Tottenham are believed to be targeting a new centre-back and winger, after failing to sign Savinho in the summer, with a prolific striker also on the agenda amid reports that they’ve held discussions over Juventus star Dušan Vlahović.

Spurs were admirers of the Serbia international during Paratici’s last spell at N17 in his previous managing director role (Sky Sports), and the 53-year-old’s ties to Juve could potentially reopen that door.

Meanwhile, there are some concerns from critics over goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, who’s come under fire recently for a lack of command in his area when dealing with crosses.

This nearly resulted in Joe Rodon scoring for Leeds in their last match before the international break, but it is worth noting that Vicario also pulled off a string of excellent saves at Elland Road.

Antonin Kinsky drops off in Tottenham training amid Vicario concerns

When asked if Spurs should be looking at an alternative goalkeeper in January, BBC journalist Sami Mokbel moved to defend the Italian in a Q&A — whilst also making an intriguing claim about Antonin Kinsky and an alleged drop-off behind-the-scenes.

The 22-year-old is still very much in his infancy when it comes to goalkeeping years, and Vicario’s comeback unfortunately spelled the end of his brief run in the team.

Starting for Spurs regularly after his £12.5 million move from Slavia Prague last January was a very exciting time for the Czech ace. Taking that into account, Vicario’s emerging presence would’ve undoubtedly demotivated him — knowing that a return to the bench was imminent.

A Levy meeting with Kinsky’s father apparently sealed the keeper’s transfer to Tottenham nearly a year ago, but he’ll struggle to get consistent game time ahead of Vicario if his first-team rival continues to impress with match-winning saves akin to his Leeds heroics.

"Tiger tamer" Antonio Conte has vowed to "bring the whip" to his Napoli flops after their humiliating Champions League defeat to PSV, while hitting out at the club's summer transfer business. The Italian tactician watched in horror as his side were thrashed 6-2 in Eindhoven despite taking an early lead through Scott McTominay’s 31st-minute header. What began as a promising night for the Partenopei quickly turned into a nightmare, as they were torn apart by a ruthless PSV team that exposed every weakness in Conte’s outfit.

• Napoli collapse in Eindhoven

  For the first half-hour, Napoli looked sharp, organised, and composed. McTominay’s powerful header from a corner silenced the home fans and hinted at a possible statement performance. But within minutes, the floodgates opened. First came a horror moment when Alessandro Buongiorno bundled Ivan Perisic’s cross into his own net, undoing all of Napoli’s early work. The equaliser rattled Conte’s men, and before they could regroup, Ismael Saibari slotted calmly past Alex Meret to complete a stunning seven-minute turnaround. The collapse deepened after the interval. Dennis Man struck soon after the restart, capitalising on a disorganised Napoli back line. When Lorenzo Lucca was sent off for dissent just past the hour mark, Conte’s frustration turned to disbelief. Man grabbed his second goal while substitutes Ricardo Pepi and Couhaib Driouech added insult to injury by scoring in the dying moments. Although McTominay did pull one back in the 86th minute, it was too little too late. 

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  Furious Conte slams his players

  Conte did not mince words after the defeat and vowed to be a tough task master to bring out the best from his squad. 

  "There's disappointment, but when these situations happen, they never happen by chance. We'll have to be good at reversing that trend, which in some ways hasn't always impressed me," he said. 

  The 55-year-old manager expressed in no uncertain terms what he believes is the root of the problem: a chaotic summer of transfer business that left the squad disjointed and unstable, with nine new faces added to the squad.

  "Last year we won a championship where the players pushed themselves to the limit; we had unity in every way," he said. "In my opinion, nine new players are too many: we were forced to do so. Bringing nine new players into the dressing room isn't easy. This is the level, the Champions League offers this kind of level. We have little to say and a lot to work on, even if we work hard, it will take a lot of effort. This year will be a complex one, we mustn't despair."

  However, Conte remained adamant that he will not change his tactical plan.

  "If you win, everything's fine; if you lose, everything's bad," he added. "You all praised the choice of four midfielders, we've started to let them coexist. The balance we've found now is the best, having two attacking wingers doesn't give us any balance at all. And I don't think it's right to sacrifice one of the four midfielders either."

  He admitted to being less animated on the touchline than usual but promised that would change.

  "Resigned? I never conveyed joy, it was difficult to do so during the match," Conte said. "The first half was good, the second obviously less so. My attitude? I was definitely less aggressive. Next time I'll bring the whip and stroll like a tiger tamer."

• Conte's poor record in Europe

  For all his domestic dominance, Conte’s record in Europe’s elite competition remains underwhelming. Across his managerial career, he has managed just 16 wins in the Champions League, alongside 14 draws and 15 defeats, averaging 1.38 points per game. The Italian has reached the quarter-finals only once, over a decade ago with Juventus in the 2012-13 season. Since then, his Champions League story has been littered with early exits. A group-stage elimination with Juventus in 2013-14, a round of 16 defeat with Chelsea in 2017-18, another group-stage disaster at Inter in 2020-21, and a round of 16 exit with Tottenham in 2022-23. Now, at Napoli, the nightmare continues. And after the colossal PSV defeat, Conte warned fans to brace for a turbulent season.

  "We opened the transfer window because we were forced to," he explained. "We tried to bring in new players, it takes time and patience. The veterans who achieved last year's feat must be good at leading the group. We built the second season ourselves, we have to take responsibility. I don't want to be too defensive; after all, my name is often used for broadcast purposes. We have to try to work knowing that it will be a difficult year. The old guys, myself and those from last year, need to step up our game and find unity again. The new guys, on the other hand, need to settle in with humility and in silence. Last year there were no personal, selfish goals. There was only the good of Naples. Naples and the Neapolitans should not be taken for a ride."

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  Historic low for Napoli

  The numbers paint a grim picture for Conte and his team. Not since a 6-3 defeat to Sampdoria in December 1997 have Napoli conceded six goals in any competition, and never before has one of Conte's teams shipped six goals in a single match. The man known for iron discipline and defensive organisation now faces the uncomfortable reality of a side that looks anything but structured. However, the manager won’t have to wait long for another testing battle to prove his credentials as Napoli face a daunting Serie A clash against Inter Milan on Saturday night. It will be a game that will test his resilience.