05/11/2025

SPORTS WEDNESDAY | NOV 5, 2025

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Ten Hag lined up for surprise Premier League return

WOLVES are reportedly considering hiring Erik ten Hag as their new manager. The Molineux club are currently bottom of the Premier League and without a manager after Vitor Pereira was sacked on Sunday following another damaging defeat to Fulham on Saturday. Wolves’ next appointment could be crucial in their bid to remain as a top-flight club and are con sidering their options with a shortlist already in place. It’s reported by The Athletic that former Manchester United boss Ten Hag is one of the names being “discussed internally” at Molineux and Caicedo labelled ‘best in the world’ by Sanchez ROBERT SANCHEZ insists Chelsea boast the finest midfielder on the planet in “ani mal” Moises Caicedo. The dynamic Ecuadorian proved the driving force behind the Blues’ derby vic tory over Tottenham, registering seven recoveries whilst also securing four inter ceptions alongside his decisive assist for Joao Pedro. Goalkeeper Sanchez declared after Pedro’s first-half strike secured Chelsea maximum points: “I don’t really need to talk about him but he’s an actual animal. “He’s the best player on the planet in his position. He’s one of the best in the world, who is better than him in that position? He’s a beast. Every 50-50, every challenge he wins and is so composed on the ball.” Sanchez also observes that Caicedo remains the same modest, quietly-spoken individual he initially met in the canteen at Brighton whilst adapting to Premier League football. He continued: “I haven’t seen him change much. As a player and as a charac ter, he’s always been the same, hard work, effort, quiet but a very good guy. “Obviously, he’s filled out with his body a bit more with age and with experience, he’s just got better and better on the pitch. His confidence has also gone higher and higher. He’s a boss at winning the midfield.” Only Arsenal have netted more Premier League goals than Tottenham from corners since the start of last season but Sanchez commanded his penalty area to neutralise Spurs’ set-piece danger and secure a vital clean sheet. The towering Spaniard is gradually winning over the fans as well. He added: “I enjoyed myself. When you play for one of the world’s top teams, a massive club, there’s always going to be pressure when the team or you don’t perform. “Obviously, being the last line of defence, you usually get the blame,

Wolves’ shortlist is also said to name former Manchester United midfielder and caretaker boss Michael Carrick. The ex-Middlesbrough manager is out of a job after being sacked by the Championship side at the end of the season. If Carrick is to be appointed, it would be his first permanent managerial position in the top-flight and just the second of his short career in the dug out. Current Middlesboro boss Rod Edwards is also one of the names highly regarded at the club. – Express Newspapers/The Independent

the club have expressed interest in speaking to the Dutchman. It’s said that no imminent decision is expected to be made regarding the club’s new manager, with Ten Hag potentially being lined up to return to man agement. The 55-year-old was sacked by Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen in August after just two league games in charge, which were both defeats. The news comes after former Wolves head coach Gary O’Neil reportedly withdrew from the race to take over from Pereira. BBC Sport and Sky Sports both reported that the

42-year-old has been in discussions with the club about a possible return, but felt the timing was not right for a new role in management. O’Neil was at the helm at Wolves for a little over 14 months before he was sacked in December last year and has been out of work since then. He led the Molineux outfit to a 14th-place finish in his first season in charge as well as the FA Cup quarterfinals, but was sacked after the club failed to win in their opening games in the 2024-25 season – an unenviable run which Pereira has now matched. Wolves are now looking for their third manager in less than 12 months and fifth in four years.

Jobe in the spotlight Bellingham finding his feet as Dortmund head to City

I can do better, says Rashford DESPITE his impressive start at Barcelona, on-loan Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford believes he could have done even bet ter. Since joining the Catalan giants in the summer, Rashford has been in fine form, scoring six goals and providing seven assists in 14 appearances across all competitions. However, the forward feels that with improved decision-making, his tally could have been higher “I just try to do the right things on the pitch. Even today, I could have had more assists or goals; sometimes the decision-making to shoot or pass was wrong,” Rashford said. “But I am going to have days like this. The important thing is always the team and today we won. So I am happy for this. “My focus is not so much on the output. If I am doing the right things, I know I will always be able to score and assist; my focus is with the team, to build relationships and feel comfort able.” Barcelona boss Hansi Flick was in complete agreement that the forward could improve further. Following the weekend’s game, Flick commented: “When you see the chances he has, one or two goals more will be good, also for him. “But we can be happy with him, of course. I am very happy with him. He can play on this level and I am happy he shows it, for the fans and for the club, and also for the teammates he is a very important player.” Rashford will be looking to con tinue his impressive streak this com ing week, with Barcelona facing a demanding schedule of matches. The Catalan side meet Belgian club Club Brugge tomorrow (4am) in the Champions League before a crucial clash with Celta Vigo in La Liga. Flick will be eager for a string of wins, with Barcelona already trailing in the title race. They currently sit five points adrift of bitter rivals Real Madrid. The club also face a crucial decision regarding Rashford’s long-term future. They possess an option to secure his services permanently for approxi mately £26 million (RM151m). The major stumbling block, how ever, remains Rashford’s salary. After signing a lucrative new contract with Man United in 2023, the Englishman’s wages significantly exceed Barcelona’s Financial Fair Play (FFP) limits. The Catalan giants are crafting a long-term deal that would involve a reduced base salary but include per formance-based bonuses and image rights incentives. If Rashford agrees to this financial compromise, a deal could be finalised as early as the January transfer win dow. – Express Newspapers/Agencies

Borussia Dortmund’s Jobe Bellingham (right) celebrates with teammates after the German Cup match against Eintracht Frankfurt on Oct 28. – REUTERSPIC

B ORUSSIA DORTMUND midfielder Jobe Bellingham is gradually making his mark after a slow start ahead of his return to England to face Manchester City tomorrow (4am Malaysian time).

Like he did at Sunderland, the younger Bellingham has “Jobe” on his jersey rather than his last name, due to his famous brother. On arriving in Dortmund, Jobe admitted in pre-sea son comparisons with his older brother were on his mind. “It’s something you do think about. You have these anxieties, especially me as I’m only young,” he told reporters, adding “I’m not perfect. I do think about these things.” Jobe started the Champions League at Copenhagen, laying on two assists in a 4-2 win. Last Tuesday, Jobe helped create Dortmund’s equaliser in a German Cup clash at Eintracht Frankfurt, which his side won on pen alties. And on Friday, the 20-year-old put his body on the line late to block a potential equaliser in the dying stages of a hard-fought 1-0 win at Augsburg. A Dortmund source told German tabloid Bild yester day Jobe was in line to start against City. While the noise had grown louder around Jobe, Dortmund feel his development is not lagging, but actu ally ahead of schedule. Speaking on Friday, Dortmund coach Niko Kovac praised the midfielder. “You could see in our last game against Frankfurt what qualities he has. He’s present. He’s physical. “I’m not concerned, on the contrary, I know what he can do. “We’re building him up slowly here and it’s going even faster than what I had imagined myself, because the lad really has a lot of quality.” – AFP

Jobe joined Dortmund this year, aged 19, for a reported fee of €30.5 million (RM177m) from Sunderland, among the most expensive transfers in Dortmund’s history.

even if it’s not your fault but that’s the life I chose, that’s what I like and I enjoy it.” Chelsea return to Champions League action tomorrow (1.45am), as Enzo Maresca’s side travel to Azerbaijan to face Qarabag in what looks set to be a long and gruelling trip for the Premier League giants. Maresca’s outfit will arrive in Baku in high spirits as they return to a city which has served them well in European competition thus far. But they would be naive to underesti mate their opponents, who have already shown a distinct improve ment since the two sides’ last meet ing. Either club would secure their third win of the league phase with vic tory, therefore taking a huge step towards qualification for the knockout rounds of the competition. – Express Newspapers/Agencies

Jobe followed in the foot steps of his brother Jude, who moved to the Westfalenstadion five years earlier, aged 17. Jude became one of the most sought-after players at Dortmund and is now a true superstar after moving to Real Madrid in 2023. While Jobe has returned to

England to play for the U-21s side he captains, tomorrow’s match will be his first on English soil for his new club. Like City, Dortmund sit in the top eight, having won two and drawn one of their three Champions League games so far. The younger Bellingham understood a move to Dortmund would provoke com parisons with Jude, but felt the club offered the best place for him to develop.

Moises Caicedo