Sport

Dragons 23-21 Ospreys: Hosts stun rivals with URC derby win

Published

4 hours ago

September 22, 2024

Dragons 23-21 Ospreys: Hosts stun rivals with URC derby win

Dragons: Angus O’Brien; Rio Dyer, Joe Westwood, Aneurin Owen, Jared Rosser; Lloyd Evans, Dane Blacker; Rodrigo Martinez, Brodie Coghlan, Leon Brown, Ben Carter (capt), Matthew Screech, Ryan Woodman, Harri Keddie, Shane Lewis-Hughes.

Replacements: James Benjamin, Rhodri Jones, Luke Yendle, George Nott, Dan Lydiate, Rhodri Williams, Harry Wilson, Ewan Rosser.

Sin-bin: Benjamin 69

Ospreys: Jack Walsh; Luke Morgan, Owen Watkin, Keiran Williams, Ryan Conbeer; Dan Edwards, Reuben Morgan-Williams; Gareth Thomas, Dewi Lake, Tom Botha, James Ratti, Adam Beard, Jac Morgan (capt), Justin Tipuric, Morgan Morris.

Replacements: Lewis Lloyd, Steffan Thomas, Math Iowerth-Scott, Huw Sutton, Harri Deaves, Luke Davies, Phil Cokanasiga, Max Nagy.

Referee: Ben Breakspear (WRU)

Assistant referees: Mike English (WRU), Ben Connor (WRU)

TMO: Aled Griffiths (WRU)

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Football

Man City: ‘Disaster’ to ‘winning machine’ – is Rodri the best in the world?

Published

43 mins ago

September 22, 2024

NewsAdmin

Man City: 'Disaster' to 'winning machine' - is Rodri the best in the world?

Rodri had big boots to fill when he joined Manchester City with Fernandinho considered by some the best defensive midfielder to ever play in the Premier League.

However, Rodri has made the position his own and now has to be ranked along with the greats like Roy Keane, Patrick Vieira and Claude Makelele, but with more passing in the opposition half and less tackling and more Champions League final winning goals.

But it did not start off so smoothly, according to the Spaniard anyway – who said his first season at the club was a “disaster”.

“The holding midfielder is the guy on the pitch with more responsibilities,” he told BBC Sport in a recent interview – which you can watch on BBC iPlayer.

“You have to make sure team works and nobody is lazy or distracted. When the team doesn’t work it’s kind of your fault.

“You’re like a coach on the pitch. I’m not Pep [Guardiola] in the pitch in that sense because he overthinks the situation. I’m more simple.”

But Rodri admits it did not necessarily come naturally to him in 2019 when the club signed him for a then club record £62.8m from Atletico Madrid.

“Maybe if the teams change and go from five to four, I have to be ‘instead of three at the back we have to do two and one here’. It’s something I’ve learned.

“In my first year I was a disaster. I was like ‘I don’t even know what you’re talking to me about, just let me play football’.”

Mike Minay, BBC Radio Manchester’s City commentator, said: “When Rodri deputised on his own in that first season it was difficult to see how he was ever going to break out of Fernandinho’s shadow and emerge as the standout figure he is now.

“But then in his second season – a classic Pep Guardiola player symptom – he became pivotal. He made the role his own.

“He was able to break up attacks from the opposite, utilise Ilkay Gundogan and Kevin de Bruyne in more advanced positions, and be the metronome in midfield – never passing for passing sake but there to help open up spaces and be available to support others.”

In Europe’s top five leagues, Rodri leads the way for passes, successful passes in the opposition half and successful passes ending in the final third – not bad for a defensive midfielder.

Second place on those three lists are Brighton defender Lewis Dunk, Real Madrid legend Toni Kroos and iconic former Barcelona and Paris St-Germain star Lionel Messi.

Can you spot the odd one out there? Yes that’s right, it’s Messi – because he was not at Euro 2024 like Rodri, Dunk and Kroos.

Only Arsenal counterpart Declan Rice is above Rodri for possession won in Europe’s major leagues in that time.

On top of that Rodri scored one of the biggest goals in City’s history – the only goal in the Champions League final win over Inter Milan to seal the 2022-23 Treble.

He scored a career-best nine goals last season, including two crucial late strikes in Premier League games and a goal in the title-clinching 3-1 win over West Ham.

“I think in his position, he’s up there with one of the best City have ever had, if not the best,” added Minay.

“He superseded Fernandinho and then some. Yaya Toure, another crucial figure in City’s modern history – but I think Rodri surpasses him too. A real pleasure to watch, a passionate player and ultimately, City’s best.”

Rodri is also a star for his country and was named the best player at Euro 2024 as he helped Spain to lift the trophy, beating England in the final – albeit he was replaced at half-time in that match through injury.

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Football

Bournemouth have to be better – Iraola

Published

2 hours ago

September 22, 2024

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Boss Andoni Iraola says Bournemouth “have to be better” after his side were beaten 3-0 by Liverpool at Anfield.

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Football

Leicester 1-1 Everton: Point is all Foxes deserved – Cooper

Published

3 hours ago

September 22, 2024

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Leicester 1-1 Everton: Point is all Foxes deserved - Cooper

Leicester City manager Steve Cooper reflects on his side’s 1-1 draw with Everton that leaves the Foxes without a win in their opening five Premier League matches.

Available to UK users only.

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Football

Villa had to 'play with their heart' to overcome Wolves – Emery

Published

4 hours ago

September 22, 2024

NewsAdmin

Villa had to 'play with their heart' to overcome Wolves - Emery

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery says his side “had to play with their heart ” to come from behind and beat Wolves 3-1 at Villa Park in the Premier League.

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