All posts by h716a5.icu

We take a look at players who have represented both Dutch giants, Ajax and Feyenoord

Two of the most iconic teams in Dutch football, Ajax and Feyenoord, are also involved in one of the fiercest rivalries in Europe.

A rivalry between the cities of Amsterdam and Rotterdam, both have competed for the biggest titles in Dutch football.

Both clubs enjoyed the greatest success on a global scale in the early 1970s, when they were considered to be two of the best clubs in the world. During this time, Ajax won three European Cups, whereas Feyenoord won one European Cup and one Uefa Cup.

Games between these two teams often saw violent clashes between supporters of either club.

Despite the vociferous support from fans, some players dared to play for both teams in their careers, including the great Johan Cruyff!

Who were the rest? Let's take a look!

GettyJohan Cruyff

There are not enough words to express what Johan Cruyff did for our beautiful game.

The three-time Ballon d'Or winner was a player like nobody else and left a legacy as one of the most influential players of all time.

A product of Ajax's youth academy, Cruyff joined their senior team in 1964. He stayed at Ajax until 1973, ushering in the golden era of "Total Football" and scoring 193 goals in 245 games.

Cruyff led Ajax to eight Eredivisie titles, five KNVB Cups, three European Cups, a European Supercup and an Intercontinental Cup over his two stints at the club.

He left for Barcelona in 1973 and stayed for five years, scoring 48 goals in 143 games and winning two trophies including La Liga in his first season at the club.

Cruyff left Catalonia to move to the United States until Ajax decided to bring him back in 1981. He stayed there for two more years, scoring 14 goals in 36 games before signing for Feyenoord in 1983.

Cruyff scored 11 goals in 33 games for Feyenoord in what was his final season as a professional footballer and led them to the 1983-84 Eredivisie title and the KNVB Cup before hanging up his boots.

AdvertisementPROSHOTSWim Jansen

Feyenoord's greatest legend Wim Jansen was one of the most versatile players on the planet in his prime.

The midfielder, who could also slot into the defence, joined Feyenoord's senior team after graduating from their academy in 1965.

He stayed at Feyenoord for 15 years, making 415 appearances for them, winning the European Cup in 1970 among other trophies. Jansen joined American club Washington Diplomats in 1980.

However, Jansen returned to the Netherlands in the same year and joined Ajax, where he made 49 appearances in a two-season spell before retiring.

It is said that Cruyff considered Jansen to be one of only four men worth paying attention to when they spoke about football.

Ronald Koeman

One of the most versatile players in history, Ronald Koeman played for all three top clubs in Netherlands – Ajax, PSV and Feyenoord.

He joined Ajax in 1983 from Groningen, scoring 23 goals in 94 games in his three-year stint at the club where he won an Eredivisie title and the KNVB Cup.

It was at Ajax that Koeman, who was primarily a defender, turned into a 'goalscoring defender'. It is worth knowing that he scored close to 200 goals in his career!

Moving on, PSV signed Koeman in 1986 and in his three years there, he scored 51 in 98 games, winning three Eredivisie titles, two KNVB Cups and a European Cup.

Barcelona brought him to Camp Nou in 1989 and after six years in Spain where he won 10 trophies including the 1991-92 Champions League, he returned to the Netherlands with Feyenoord in 1995, making 61 appearances before retiring at the club.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

ProShotsHenk Groot

One of Ajax's greatest strikers ever, Henk Groot joined the club in 1959 and in his four years as part of his first stint there, he scored an eye-watering 116 goals in 124 games.

In 1963, Feyenoord came calling and signed the forward. Groot played for Feyenoord for two years, scoring 34 goals in 54 games, helping them win the 1964-65 Eredivisie title and KNVB Cup.

He returned to Ajax and stayed there for another four years, scoring 46 goals in 101 games and winning three consecutive Eredivisie titles between 1965 and 1968.

The German coach has proven to be one of the Catalan's toughest opponents, and they will meet again in this season's Champions League quarter-finals

Pep Guardiola has had many great coaching rivalries, and more often than not he has come out on top when it matters most. But his battle with Thomas Tuchel is the exception.

So imagine how the Catalan must have felt upon hearing the news that the German had been named as coach of Bayern Munich just weeks before Manchester City's quarter-final tie against the Bundesliga giants.

Guardiola and Tuchel have known each other for a decade and their rivalry is built on respect and admiration, not bitterness. They even consider each other as friends.

"He's so creative,"Guardiola said of the German last year. "One of the few managers I learn constantly from to develop as a better manager.

"[He is] excellent in all departments. I enjoyed him since he was inMainz. I enjoy watching his teams and the way he's playing and the approach. He makes world football better."

Whether he'll quite feel that way once the tie has been played out over the next couple of weeks, though, remains to be seen…

Getty ImagesUnfinished business

There must be a deep sense of frustration for Guardiola that Tuchel beat him in the 2021 Champions League final, the crowning glory in three successive victories for Chelsea over City inside two months.

City beat Tuchel's Chelsea twice since then, but there remains a sense that Guardiola has unfinished business with his old friend.

Tuchel is the one top manager who Guardiola cannot say he has managed to dominate.

The Catalan's world-beating Barcelona side outclassed Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United in two Champions League finals.

He also had the upper hand over Jose Mourinho in Spain during a turbulent two-year saga when the Portuguese was in charge of Real Madrid, while Guardiola was unquestionably the winner when he and Mourinho were on opposite sides of the divide in Manchester.

The Catalan has had a compelling and gripping rivalry with Jurgen Klopp too, but has ultimately lifted four Premier League titles to the Liverpool boss' one.

Tuchel, however, is the manager who wrecked City's hopes of winning the quadruple and ensured his long wait to get his hands on the Champions League trophy again would drag on.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesA rivalry spanning 10 years

When Guardiola first came up against Tuchel in October 2013, he was already a double-Champions League winner, while his opponent was in the early stages of his career, doing an impressive job at unglamorous Mainz.

When his Bayern Munich side easily beat Mainz 4-1 that afternoon, or recorded a 2-0 away win later in the season, it is unlikely Guardiola would have felt threatened by the man in the adjacent dugout, even if he had admired the way his side played.

But little did he know that in years to come the gangly German would turn into one of his greatest rivals.

Guardiola and Tuchel met again two years later when the latter was in charge of Borussia Dortmund, and their first meeting in was another cakewalk for the Catalan, his side running riot in a 5-1 win.

But that would be one of the last times he enjoyed such domination over Tuchel.

Dortmund held Bayern to a 0-0 draw in their next league game, and in the final of the 2016 DFB-Pokal at the end of the season, although the Bavarians did win the penalty shootout to give Guardiola a glorious farewell from his three years in charge.

Guardiola headed to England and enjoyed a blissful five years without coming up against Tuchel. But when Chelsea sacked Frank Lampard in January 2021 they turned to a man who had recently been sacked by Paris Saint-Germain, and so began a manic two-month period in which Guardiola was given the runaround by his old adversary.

Getty ImagesQuadruple-busting – with help from Pep roulette

City had tangible hopes of becoming the first English side to win all four major trophies in the 2020-21 season, but their plans were wrecked by Tuchel and Chelsea, who won a cagey FA Cup semi-final 1-0.

Tuchel had turned Chelsea from a dishevelled mess in the last days of Lampard into a highly organised unit that ran on military-like precision, and at an empty Wembley Stadium, Chelsea ceded the ball to City yet starved them of space.

Although Guardiola's side had more chances, Chelsea had the better opportunities, and Hakim Ziyech broke the deadlock in the second half, sliding home to meet a Timo Werner cross.

It was Tuchel's first win against Guardiola from six attempts and it would not be his last. But it could also be argued that Guardiola had plotted his own downfall.

He had made eight changes from the side that had beaten Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League a few days earlier, and his second-choice goalkeeper Zack Steffen was particularly guilty of bad positioning for the goal.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty ImagesAguero's bungled Panenka sparks Chelsea comeback

Guardiola's first Premier League meeting with Tuchel looked set to be a glorious occasion, with a victory enough for the Etihad Stadium outfit to seal the title.

And City got off to a strong start when Raheem Sterling put them ahead before half-time, and moments later they won a penalty.

But Sergio Aguero's botched attempt at a 'Panenka' was easily saved by Edouard Mendy, and Chelsea launched a comeback, Ziyech equalising before Marcos Alonso's injury-time winner.

City had to put their champagne on ice, and while the result mattered little as they were confirmed champions three days later, no-one could ignore that Tuchel had beaten Guardiola twice in two attempts.

Paris Saint-Germain's main men delivered as the Ligue 1 leaders comfortably put away Lens at Parc de Princes on Saturday.

Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe starred in attack, each finding the net, as PSG's trio of first-half strikes lifted them past second-placed Lens – and likely sealed their title hopes with a 3-1 win.

Mbappe opened the scoring for the home side, completing a flowing team move with a guided shot into the bottom corner. Vitinha added a second 10 minutes later, lashing one in from 30 yards.

Messi got involved for the third, latching onto Mbappe's back-heel before finding the bottom corner to put the game beyond sight shortly before half time.

🏆 TOP STORY: Cameras get close-up of Sane's swollen lip📣 HAVE YOUR SAY: Ronaldo & Mou reunited – a disaster?🚨 MUST READ: Lingard's Forest move has been a travesty

The duo have now combined for 23 goals this year, and this was perhaps the most important, a decisive third to put a potential title decider well out of sight. This win does not solve the litany of problems the Parisians face. But it should just about wrap up their 11th Ligue 1 crown.

GOAL rates PSG's players from Parc des Princes…

Getty ImagesGoalkeeper & Defence

Gianluigi Donnarumma (6/10):

Forced into a big save inside two minutes. Sent the wrong way on Lens' penalty. Had little to do otherwise.

Marquinhos (6/10):

Forced into some defensive work to deal with the rapid Lois Openda. Much better after a poor showing last week.

Sergio Ramos (7/10):

Not the player he once was, but can still thrive in slower-paced games like this.

Danilo Pereira (6/10):

Was consistently targeted by the Lens attack – and looked vulnerable.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesMidfield

Achraf Hakimi (5/10):

Went down under a horrific challenge, but carried on. Struggled to impact the game at either end; he's been far short of his best in recent weeks.

Carlos Soler (5/10):

Allegedly on the pitch.

Vitinha (7/10):

Banged one in from 30 yards out for his first PSG goal. Also assisted Mbappe. An encouraging showing from an oft-criticised player.

Fabian Ruiz (5/10):

Gave away a silly penalty with a needless handball. Was mostly tidy in midfield otherwise.

Nuno Mendes (7/10):

Almost scored a ridiculous goal after a mazy run downfield. One of PSG's most obvious attacking threats.

GettyAttack

Lionel Messi (8/10):

Bagged PSG's third after a lovely link-up with Mbappe. Spent the rest of the game dribbling about and doing pretty things.

Kylian Mbappe (8/10):

Opened the scoring with a classy finish, becoming PSG's all-time Ligue 1 goalscorer in the process. Assisted Messi. Had a few other chances, and was perhaps unlucky not to grab one or two more.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

GettySubs & Manager

Juan Bernat (6/10):

Relieved Mendes after 75 minutes. Showed he can still have a role to play as a back-up.

Warren Zaire-Emery (6/10):

A brief cameo from an ever-improving teenager.

Christophe Galtier (7/10):

Few surprises in the XI ahead for one of the biggest contests of the year. PSG looked in trouble very early, but put the game beyond doubt with three first-half strikes. Galtier celebrated each goal with the vigour of a manager who knows his job is saved – for now.

Here's where you can watch Montreal vs New York Red Bulls in MLS on TV or stream live.

This Saturday, when CF Montreal plays host to the New York Red Bulls, a pair of teams that aren't performing up to their previous season's standards will square off against one another.

Le CFM has already lost six games this season after losing 1-0 to DC United at home this past weekend, while New York fought back to draw 1-1 with Houston Dynamo, their second straight draw.

▶ Watch every MLS match, including the playoffs, here

▶ Buy MLS tickets from Ticketmaster, here

Coach Hernan Losada is under increasing pressure to put Montreal back on track because they now don't appear to be as strong as they were a year ago. It has failed to score in three straight games, which is exactly how it started the 2023 season, and recently, their lack of focus early in the second half versus DC proved costly.

They have struggled to produce quality thus far, scoring the second-fewest goals in the league (three), while going six games without scoring, which is already one more than their whole regular season in 2022.

Since one of their players received a suspension for making racist remarks during their match with the San Jose Earthquakes, the whole New York Red Bulls organisation has faced difficult times and intense scrutiny.

It was also unfavourable to see little over half of Red Bull Arena full last Saturday against Dynamo, with many fans leaving due to the aforementioned event, as that is not the kind of PR that Gerhard Struber or the club would have desired.

Six times in their eight games this season, Struber's team has given up the opening goal, yet six of their eight points so far have come from a losing position.

GOAL brings you everything you need to know about where to watch the game on TV and stream live online.

Montreal vs New York Red Bulls date & kick-off timeGame:Montreal vs New York Red BullsDate:April 22, 2023Kick-off time:7:30 pm ET Venue:Saputo StadiumAdvertisementWhere to watch Montreal vs New York Red Bulls on TV & live stream online

Fans in the United States & across the world can watch MLS with Apple TV MLS Season Pass.

Country TV channel Live stream

USN/AApple TV

Check out GOAL's soccer on U.S. TV guideTeam news & squadsCF Montreal team news and squad

CF Montreal is dealing with a host of injuries at the moment. Romell Quioto, Jules-Anthony Vilsaint, Lassi Lappalainen, Mason Toye, Matko Miljevic, Samuel Piette, James Pantemis, George Campbell and Jojea Kwizera are all unavailable for selection.

CF Montreal possible XI: Sirois; Herrera, Camacho, Waterman; Brault-Guillard, Wanyama, Iliadis, Rea; Duke, Ibrahim, Lassiter

Position Players

GoalkeepersSirois, KettererDefendersMiller, Camacho, Waterman, Herrera, Campbell, ThorkelssonMidfieldersWanyama, Hamdi, Lappalainen, Piette, Zouhir, Miljevic, Rea, Saliba, Guillard, Iliadis, DaoudaForwardsQuioto, Toye, Offor, Sunusi, VilsaintNew York Red Bulls team news and squad

Yet again, Steven Sserwadda is unlikely to feature because of a knee strain, Matt Nocita and Serge Ngoma are recovering from sore hamstrings and Lewis Morgan remains sidelined due to a hip injury. Dante Vanzeir is suspended.

New York Red Bulls possible XI: Carlos; Reyes, S. Nealis, Tolkin; Duncan, Casseres, Edelman, Harper; Fernandez; Barlow, Manoel

Position Players

GoalkeepersMiguel, CarlosDefendersTolkin, Reyes, Duncan, S. Nealis, D. Nealis, Ndam, NocitaMidfieldersCasseres, Morgan, Luquinhas, Carmona, Amaya, Fernandez, StroudForwardsManoel, Burke, HarperENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Useful links

Live soccer on U.S. TV

Stream MLS matches on Apple TV

Buy MLS tickets with Ticketmaster

GOAL takes a look at how the American star could be used by the Serie A giants, with his $13m move to Turin now having been agreed upon

If you need any more evidence that Tim Weah needs to be a starter on the wing for the United States men's national team, just look at the Nations League. Forget about the World Cup goal even, another perfect example, and just look at these two most recent games. Weah's ability to get to the line and make defenders uncomfortable remains vital to the USMNT's style of play. He simply does that better than anyone else in this player pool.

And that's what makes his $12m move to Juventus so interesting. While he's a completely indispensable winger for the USMNT, Weah is joining a club that has rarely used wide players as pure wingers. Juventus, for years, haven't played with out-and-out wingers, instead leaning on wing-backs with a different set of skills.

On the surface, that doesn't make much sense for Weah, does it? Moving to a club to play out of position? It seems like a weird one, for sure.

But, in this case, it isn't. Weah's move to Juventus does make a lot of sense. The Italian giants are an obvious step up from Lille, even with the Bianconeri's recent issues, and the position that will be waiting for Weah is perhaps one perfectly designed to maximize his skillset. It's one he's familiar with and seemingly open to playing, even if it is a bit different than the one he'll play with the USMNT.

It's a big move, for sure, for the player, for the club and for the national team, and it's of course one that comes with risks. But, for Weah, it seems like one that will put him in a good place to succeed.

GettyA step up the ladder

Despite Lille's miracle Ligue 1 triumph in 2021, Juventus is an obvious step up the European ladder for Weah. This is Italy's biggest club, after all. It's still a club that commands enormous respect.

That all comes with a caveat, of course. Their recent punishment, which saw them docked points for violating financial rules, has knocked them down a peg. Meanwhile, the rest of Serie A has seemingly taken a massive step forward, with the likes of AC Milan, Inter and Napoli no longer their doormats to be stepped on.

Weah, meanwhile, has a deep connection with Serie A. His father, the legendary George Weah, was a superstar at AC Milan, where he became the only ever African player to win the Ballon d'Or. Weah has admitted that he's long been a Milan fan, even if he is now about to join their rivals.

"Milan gave everything to my father," he told . "We have a great relationship with the city of Milan. Compared to my brother and sister, I wasn't born yet when my father played for Milan, but his Rossoneri story is incredible and his past with Milan is fantastic. Milan is a great club, it's the story of my family. I'm happy with what he's done."

He added: "Of course, I'd like to retrace my dad's footsteps. It would be something great to play for Milan. I'll keep going on my way and then we'll see." And while he won't be following his father to San Siro, Juventus remain arguably a step up from the Rossoneri, even in their weakened state.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesAllegri-ball

For years, Juventus, and Italian teams in general, has been known for playing three (or five) at the back. And few are more well-known for a tactical system than Juve with the 3-5-2.

Massimiliano Allegri, the team's current coach, has been one of their more flexible in recent years, having shown the ability to switch things up depending on the squad he has at his disposal, but heading into the new season, reports out of Italy say the 3-5-2 will be the way going forward.

Much will depend on the next few months, of course, as transfers will determine the who is available to Allegri. Angel Di Maria is already gone, with the futures of players like Federico Chiesa and Adrien Rabiot up in the air.

However, it's the departure of one player, Juan Cuadrado, that brings us back to Weah, as the Colombian's time at Juventus offers us the best glimpse at what life could be like for the Bianconeri's new arrival.

Getty ImagesThe Cuadrado role

Few players in recent years have been better servants to Juventus than Cuadrado. It's a club known for producing, and keeping, stars, and Cuadrado has been as loyal as any.

He made over 300 appearances for Juve, having originally joined as a winger after a failed stint at Chelsea. A fantastic dribbler blessed with pace, Cuadrado was often deployed as a right wing-back during his time at Juventus, playing in that position under Allegri, Maurizio Sarri and Andrea Pirlo.

At wing-back, Cuadrado was asked to use his pace and flair to beat opponents before delivering balls into the box. The role, of course, calls for defensive responsibilities as well, but Cuadrado has never been known as a pure defender, even though he improved plenty over the years.

A pacey player with the ability to beat a man one-on-one before finding a team-mate in the box – sound familiar? It's something Weah does exceptionally well, and something he showed he could do at Lille during a spell at wing-back that served as something of an audition for this big move.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

GettyPlaying at wing-back

The initial decision set off alarm bells in America. Facing an injury crisis, Lille manager Paulo Fonseca turned to Weah to play as a left wing-back. Weah, to his credit, never missed a beat. He played multiple matches as both a left and right wing-back and, despite some early growing pains, he impressed in the role.

"I continue to learn. I do everything I can for the team," he said back in February. "I personally watch left-back videos like Marcelo. I'm still in the learning phase defensively… I'm starting to show that I'm capable of playing in this position. I'm happy that the team trusts me and I try to give back to them."

To Fonseca's credit, he probably stumbled into quite a solution. Despite what his World Cup goal against Wales would have you believe, Weah has never been particularly prolific in front of goal on the club level. He has just eight goals in 107 games for Lille, a rough return for an attack-minded winger.

What he does do, though, is cause danger and, in the modern game, that is one of the big responsibilities of wing-backs and full-backs. The position has changed massively in recent years, with Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson partly responsible for redefining how a full-back duo can play. Attacking full-backs like Roberto Carlos and Marcelo have always had a place, but the position has changed even more in recent years.

Because of that, Weah is someone that seemingly fits the mold of a prototypical modern full-back. In prior years, he'd be an out-and-out winger, but that has fallen somewhat out of fashion. Wingers tend to cut inside more, with full-backs asked to provide width, which is exactly what Weah does.

And, for a Juventus team bracing to lose their starting right wing-back, Weah is seemingly an affordable answer with high upside, both on and off the field.

The Chelsea star hadn't played a competitive game since March and it showed in Brisbane on Saturday in a tough game for the European champions

England avoided a serious scare on Saturday as they ran out narrow 1-0 winners over Women's World Cup debutantes Haiti thanks to a Georgia Stanway penalty. The Caribbean nation were a serious threat on the counter throughout the match, benefiting from a number of errors from rusty skipper Millie Bright, while Lyon-bound teenager Melchie Dumornay ran the show in Brisbane.

But England broke the deadlock just before the half-hour mark when Kethna Louis gave away a penalty for an outrageous handball. After seeing her first spot-kick saved, Stanway converted the retake to put the Lionesses 1-0 up.

There were plenty more chances for the Lionesses throughout the match, but opportunities were spurned by Alessia Russo, Lauren Hemp and Rachel Daly. The European champions needed goalkeeper Mary Earps to come up with a particularly big save late on, too, with Haiti substitute Roseline Eloissaint so close to netting an equaliser – one that wouldn't have been undeserved.

GOAL rates England's players from Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane…

Please enable Javascript to view this contentGetty ImagesGoalkeeper & Defence

Mary Earps (7/10):

Had little to do despite Haiti being a threat, with so few of their shots actually being on target. But made two big saves in the second half, with one late in the game particularly impressive and crucial.

Lucy Bronze (6/10):

Stretched the Haiti defence with her runs forward, which helped those around her have space to create. Not perfect defensively but mostly did her job well.

Millie Bright (4/10):

Playing her first official match since March, Bright looked unsurprisingly rusty, with Haiti gifted openings on four separate occasions as a result of a misjudgement from the skipper. She will hope that's all the rust shaken off now.

Jess Carter (7/10):

Was a reliable presence in the heart of the defence, not doing much wrong on the night.

Alex Greenwood (6/10):

Got the ball a lot but, as was the case in England's send-off game against Portugal, she couldn't influence the game much with that possession while playing on the left. Put in some decent crosses, though.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesMidfield

Keira Walsh (5/10):

Haiti's game plan was to stifle Walsh and it worked. The Barcelona star couldn't influence the game as she'd have liked, with someone always there to meet her when she got the ball.

Georgia Stanway (8/10):

England's best player. After missing her first penalty attempt, she made no mistake when given the chance of a retake. Looked dangerous in and around the edge of the box with her passing and created a few good opportunities, too.

Ella Toone (5/10):

Didn't get into the pockets of space in front of the Haiti defence enough and struggled to be a creative threat as a result.

Getty ImagesAttack

Chloe Kelly (7/10):

Busy out wide and was one of England's most exciting players on the attack, with her particularly dangerous in the latter stages as Haiti tired.

Alessia Russo (6/10):

Had a positive influence in the build-up play when she dropped deep and made good runs into the box off the back of that, too, to have a couple of chances. Biggest problem was that she didn't put them away, though.

Lauren Hemp (7/10):

Was lively when she got on the ball, either to drive past players or put dangerous balls into the box. Got on the end of a few crosses, too, and probably should've had a goal before going off around the hour.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty ImagesSubs & Manager

Lauren James (6/10):

Came on around the hour mark for Hemp. Passed and moved well right away to add something different to the attack, albeit without helping England add to their lead.

Rachel Daly (N/A):

Replaced Russo with less than 15 minutes to go. Had a good chance from a Kelly cross but could only head it right at the goalkeeper. Was her only real involvement of note in her short time on the pitch.

Sarina Wiegman (6/10):

Chose to go with Russo ahead of Daly on this occasion but will be interesting to see if that changes after the Arsenal forward failed to convert a number of chances. Decision to start Bright could've also been costly, with her evidently rusty. Surprisingly didn't freshen the team up much throughout the game despite a sub-par performance, but the Lionesses did hold out for the win.

The “peculiar” reason why Wrexham co-owner Ryan Reynolds is such a big fan of prolific striker Paul Mullin has been revealed.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Striker joined the Dragons in 2021Marquee signing for Hollywood co-ownersHas scored a remarkable number of goalsWHAT HAPPENED?

It would come as no surprise to find that it is Mullin’s exploits in the final third of the field that have endeared him to Hollywood superstar Reynolds – with the 28-year-old frontman netting 79 goals through just 98 appearances for the Dragons.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesWHAT THEY SAID

It is, however, Mullin’s style of walking and his humble character that made Deadpool star Reynolds sit up and take notice following a transfer from Cambridge United in the summer of 2021. Ian Herbert has written in the book : “He wasn't a shouter in the dressing room and was generally one of the last out on the pitch. Reynolds was most struck by his peculiar gait. This and his sloped shoulders meant he didn't exactly run like a finely honed athlete. But stepping on to the grass seemed to transform Mullin into a different character and, even as the new owners grappled with some of the most basic concepts of football, it was clear that he was a cut above, a class apart and destined to be a significant part of this story they were telling.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE

George Dewey, the co-founder of Reynolds' Maximum Effort production company, added on the reasons for admiration of Mullin: “Though Ryan is funny, he has that toughness. It's hidden, but it's there. I think when Ryan looks at Paul he admires the way that guy just finds a way to score in the most improbable situations when no other people will. We always talk about it when we're hiring people – there are just some people who find out a way to win. You can't even control that. They're going to win whether they work for you or not. And Paul feels like that type of person – yet it is so improbable because I know he is not even probably a top 500 best player in the world.”

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

GettyWHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Mullin has recently returned to action after suffering a punctured lung on Wrexham’s pre-season tour of the United States and will be hoping to open his goal account for the 2023-24 campaign – having previously been a Golden Boot winner in League Two – when Phil Parkinson’s side play host to Grimsby on Saturday.

Yunus Musah has revealed what is making him “really happy” at AC Milan, with the USMNT star confident that he can “grow” in Italian football.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Midfielder has settled quickly at San SiroHas countryman Pulisic alongside himExpected to unlock further potentialWHAT HAPPENED?

The versatile 20-year-old completed a transfer to San Siro over the summer from La Liga side Valencia. He has settled quickly in new surroundings, with the presence of international team-mate Christian Pulisic helping him to hit the ground running.

AdvertisementTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Musah has already earned the trust of the coaching staff at Milan, with six Serie A appearances taken in and one assist contributed while helping the Rossoneri to the top of the table. He has told of his early experiences in Italy: “Mister [Stefano] Pioli has put a lot of trust in me, and I’m really happy in Milan, it’s a place where I believe I can grow a lot.”

WHAT THEY SAID

Musah is currently away with the United States during the October international break, but he already has one eye on a heavyweight encounter with Juventus when returning to domestic competition. He has said of that fixture, which will take place on October 22: “It will be great. I hope to be there as a starter, that would be a really beautiful moment.”

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty ImagesWHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Musah started for the United States in their 3-1 defeat to Germany and will be hoping to retain his place for another friendly date against Ghana – allowing him to return to Milan with plenty of competitive minutes under his belt.

Manchester United have officially opened up a new training base for their women and academy teams at Carrington.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Man Utd open new facilityWill be the base for women's teamBoys' academy players also benefitWHAT HAPPENED?

United began construction on the high-performance centre at Carrington Training Centre in February and it became operational before the current Women's Super League season started.

The facility will be the permanent home of the women's team while the boys' academy sides will have access to a separate gym and there are offices for the support staff.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

The new training centre is part of a campaign of significant investment to improve facilities available to all of Untied's players, the club's website says.

The building contains a state-of-the-art gym, rehabilitation areas including a jacuzzi, and large changing, kit and boot rooms for the women's team. There is also a players’ lounge and restaurant that features a live cooking area for the women's team.

WHAT THEY SAID

“We are always looking to improve our facilities and we are delighted that the detailed planning has led to an outstanding building that will rival any women’s training facilities in Europe and provide space for growth for our Academy," said chief operating officer Collette Roche. “Across our facilities we have invested more than £20 million in improvement work over the last year and this building is an example of the progress we are making to create the best environments for our teams to succeed.”

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

GettyWHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

United's women's team are next in action when they visit Paris Saint-Germain in Champions League qualifying on Wednesday, while Erik ten Hag's men's team will take on Sheffield United in the Premier League on Saturday.

Paul Mullin believes promotion with Wrexham will have meant more to Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney than the shows and movies that they have made.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Superstar actors completed takeover in 2021Have enjoyed a remarkable journey since thenDrawn up ambitious plans in WalesWHAT HAPPENED?

The Hollywood actors have starred in productions such as Deadpool and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, but they stepped a long way outside of their comfort zone when completing a takeover at SToK Racecourse in the spring of 2021.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

The pair have been on a remarkable journey since then, with Wrexham striker Paul Mullin telling of what promotion in North Wales represented to two men that are accustomed to operating under the brightest of spotlights: “A lot of people have football club owners as very tough-nosed, hard-skinned people – that’s the business we’re in. But Rob and Ryan care like no other owners I have ever seen. The pictures they show on TV or the documentary, the emotions deliver – they live and breathe it watching us. When we got promoted, there are videos of them crying in the stand. I think it probably did mean an awful lot to them – probably a lot more than making some of the movies or TV shows that they have done.”

WHAT THEY SAID

Mullin went on to say of Reynolds and McElhenney making a stunning impact at Wrexham on and off the pitch – with the pair now fully absorbed into the local community: “It was because people tell them it can't be done, people tell them it’s going to go wrong. We had it as players, but they get it being the owners – it’s going to go wrong, you’ve signed these players and we’ve seen it all before when teams have spent good money and haven’t been promoted.

"In the end I don’t think they cared about the money, it was the whole journey, the whole trip that they took the town on and made a promise to the people to deliver – they’ve done that. The night we got promoted, they usually do come in the changing room, but that night they ended up on the pitch. We went to a little house party at the far side of the stadium, with all family and friends, and the next minute the two co-owners walk in and it was like nothing – that is how they have come to be perceived now. They are the owners of the football club, but they want to get involved. We had a good time, enjoyed the night and I think for them the next day was all about concentrating on this season and getting good players in. That is at the forefront of their mind every single day.”

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty/GOALWHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Wrexham returned to the Football League in record-breaking style last season – as a 15-year absence from that level of competition was brought to a close – and are currently in the process of piecing together another promotion push, as Phil Parkinson has them sat third in the League Two table.