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The Guardian
18 minutes ago
- The Guardian
India's head coach clashes with Oval staff before fifth Test as tempers flare
The spicy spats that have increasingly been a feature in the England‑India Tests this summer spilled over to training on Tuesday when the tourists' head coach, Gautam Gambhir, had a row with Lee Fortis, Surrey's head groundkeeper, as his team prepared for the final Test of the series starting on Thursday at the Oval. England were enjoying a break but, with the series still to be decided and India 2-1 down after their fightback at Old Trafford, the visitors' work in the nets was far from straightforward as tensions surfaced in angry exchanges. Reports suggest that Fortis was unhappy with India using parts of the main square and was told 'you can't tell us what to do'. Sitanshu Kotak, the India batting coach, apparently accused the head groundkeeper of being 'a bit arrogant' and shouting at members of India's staff. Gambhir, who played 58 Tests for India, was seen on camera wagging his finger at Fortis saying: 'You can't tell us what to do … you're just the groundsman, nothing beyond.' After walking away in conversation with Kotak, who appeared to take on the role of mediator, Fortis told Gambhir that he may be forced to lodge a complaint against him, drawing a response of: 'You can go and report to whoever you want.' Afterwards, Fortis said: 'It is quite a big game coming up. It is not my job to be happy with [Gautam Gambhir] or not. I have never met him before today. You saw what he was like this morning. It's OK, I am fine. We have nothing to hide.' Kotak said Fortis's objections to a cool box being wheeled on to the square kicked off the arguments. 'He was sitting on the roller, he shouted and told the support staff not to take it there,' he said. 'It is good to be a little possessive and it is also good to be protective, but not that much. Gautam just said do not talk to the support staff like this. 'Most of the team knows that the curator is not the easiest person to get on with. So, that gives a lot of answers. When you're working with very intelligent and highly skilled people, if you sound a bit arrogant or if you come across like … you can be protective. At the end of the day it is a cricket pitch. It is not an antique where you can't touch.' Whether India's frustrations included concerns over the Test pitch as well as their training provisions is not known, but the Oval deck is expected to carry some live grass at the start of the game and provide greater pace and bounce than in the previous three matches. Sign up to The Spin Subscribe to our cricket newsletter for our writers' thoughts on the biggest stories and a review of the week's action after newsletter promotion The England attack has struggled for cut-through at times, not least in the last innings of the fourth Test at Old Trafford, where they took four wickets in 143 overs. India's rearguard action ended in rancour, with Ben Stokes annoyed that Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja declined his offer of an early handshake as they pursued centuries. Both batters reached three figures, but did so with some persistent sledging from England fielders. Relations between the teams had been relatively serene until a time‑wasting row at the third Test at Lord's, where Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett were treated to some choice words from the India captain, Shubman Gill. England responded by accusing Gill of running down the clock during his own innings and Mohammed Siraj was fined for his send-off of Duckett the next morning, though a brief shoulder-to-shoulder contact between the two players was accepted as accidental.
Metro
31 minutes ago
- Metro
Man Utd offer Alejandro Garnacho in swap deal to sign £60m 'complete striker'
Manchester United have offered Aston Villa the chance to sign Alejandro Garnacho as part of a swap deal for Ollie Watkins, according to reports. The Red Devils are keen to recruit a new forward in the summer transfer window with Watkins one of three options they are currently considering. Villa are believed to want around £60m to sell Watkins, who was branded a 'complete striker' by new United signing Bryan Mbeumo this week. United are hoping to pay less to bring Watkins to Old Trafford and have now offered Garnacho as part of a swap deal, The Independent report. It's no secret that United are keen to offload Argentine winger Garnacho, who has been strongly linked with a move to Chelsea this summer. Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link so we can send you football news tailored to you. Given Chelsea's interest in Garnacho, United have also reached out to the west London club to see if they will take him as part of a swap deal to sign Nicolas Jackson, another striker on Ruben Amorim's summer wishlist. It was thought that United had dropped their interest in Jackson after Chelsea slapped a £80m price tag on the Senegal international. But like Watkins, they are hoping to drive Jackson's price down by sending Garnacho in the other direction. The third striker United are considering is RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko, who would cost around €80m-€90m (£69m to £78m). United would face a fight with Newcastle to land Sesko, though, after Eddie Howe's side placed the Slovenian at the top of their list to replace Alexander Isak, who has been heavily linked with a move to Liverpool. Former United defender Rio Ferdinand is convinced that Watkins is the best option for his old club in their mission to recruit a new striker. The 29-year-old Englishman produced 16 goals and eight assists across 38 Premier League games for Villa last season. 'We need someone with experience who the other centre forwards look at and go, 'that's a bit of me', without any doubts,' Ferdinand said on his YouTube channel. More Trending 'Ollie Watkins says that, Premier League proven, played in the Champions League last year as well, has done his thing consistently for a while, international, plays for England as well. He ticks all the boxes. 'He's 29-years-old, there's no sell-on value, it's purely to have an impact immediately over the next two or three years which I think Ollie Watkins can have in a good way on the centre forwards who are there. He would be great right now as well. 'That front three if you played Ollie Watkins, [Bryan] Mbeumo, [Matheus] Cunha and you can mix that in with Amad, [Mason] Mount, whoever, that's a hard day's work for opposing defence on most days.' MORE: Luke Shaw aims brutal dig at four Man Utd players axed by Ruben Amorim MORE: 'Another Nkunku' – Chelsea told they are making £61m transfer mistake MORE: Newcastle send message to Manchester United over Nick Pope transfer
Metro
an hour ago
- Metro
Luke Shaw aims brutal dig at four Man Utd players axed by Ruben Amorim
Luke Shaw has hailed the ruthless decisions made by Ruben Amorim this summer and claims Manchester United's refreshed squad can challenge for the Premier League title. The Red Devils endured a nightmare season last time around, finishing in 15th place and losing almost half of their games. Amorim replaced Erik ten Hag in November but failed to arrest the team's slide as a disjointed group of players failed to adjust to his tactical demands. An abysmal season culminated in a damaging Europa League final defeat against Tottenham which saw the club miss out on European qualification altogether. The rebuilding job is, however, underway in earnest with new signings Mathetus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo looking to make an early impression ahead of games against Bournemouth and Everton in America. Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link so we can send you football news tailored to you. A search for a new centre forward remains a priority, but arguably Amorim's most important decisions this summer have already been made in ridding the group players Shaw described as 'stragglers'. Marcus Rashford, who has joined Barcelona on loan, Alejandro Garnacho, Antony and Jadon Sancho have all been deemed surplus to requirements and told to find new clubs. Marcus Rashford: The 27-year-old would look to relaunch his career at Barcelona next season having secured a dream loan move last week. The Spanish champions have the option to make the deal permanent for €30m, but Rashford will have to go some to make an impression given Barca's already star studded forward line. Jadon Sancho: After Chelsea opted against making the winger's move permanent following a mixed loan spell last season, it's been a case of back to the drawing board for a player who cost United £73m four years ago. Club's in Italy, including Juventus, have been heavily linked, but personal terms remain an issue. Alejandro Garnacho: Arguably the poster boy of the bomb squad, the Argentine's regular disciplinary breaches made Amorim's decision to freeze him out a relatively simple one. Despite his obvious flaws, the 21-year-old retains a string of admirers in the Premier League with Aston Villa and Chelsea showing clear interest. Antony: Having lost the support of Erik ten Hag, the manager who brought him to Old Trafford, it always seemed unlikely that the £82m signing would be given much of a chance by Amorim. The Brazil international did, however, enjoy a stunning renaissance at Real Betis following a January loan move and although he would dearly love a return to Spain, the La Liga club are struggling to finance a deal which has left the 25-year-old in a state of limbo. Tyrell Malacia: It is, perhaps, harsh to label the Dutchman a 'bomb squad' member given his injury nightmare, but it's clear he has no future at United. Malacia was loaned out to PSV in January but didn't do enough to persuade Amorim he deserved a second chance at Old Trafford and wasn't included in the pre-season tour squad. None of that quartet have been permitted to train with the first team during the summer and, regardless of any more incomings, Shaw insists there is a new dynamic within the current group as a result of Amorim's no nonsense approach. He said: 'His mentality, his demands, he's tough on the group. He leaves not stone unturned. I think there's no stragglers in this group any more. 'Everyone has to put the team first. He's made that very clear. He's picking the team on how he feels will be best for the team and that's his choice. 'Us as players are fully behind him and what he wants to implement. We feel like a real team, the group is so together that's something we need to keep us more as a family and make sure we're driving in the same direction.' Given their obvious recent struggles, Shaw accepted he would be inviting ridicule by harbouring such lofty ambitions but the long-serving left-back sees no issue in aiming high. He added: 'The aim has to be winning the Premier League. I know people will be questioning me for saying it after last season but it has to be that and it's not just me that thinks that. More Trending 'The manager probably wouldn't see it in the press but we all have to have the same beliefs and ambitions and that family feeling together and we'll strive for the same thing.' Shaw's own future has been the subject of speculation over the course of the last week with reports claiming he was on the verge of quitting amid renewed competition for his place following the signing of teenager Diego Leon. 'Last year was awful, I wouldn't wish it ony anyone,' said Shaw, who is currently United's longest-serving player. 'I've got to put it behind me now and focus on what's coming up, what's in the future. My expectations are that I can stay fit and give the manager an option for whatever he may need.' MORE: 'Another Nkunku' – Chelsea told they are making £61m transfer mistake MORE: Newcastle send message to Manchester United over Nick Pope transfer MORE: Arsenal respond as two Premier League clubs make offers for Leandro Trossard
