Bangladesh’s heartbreak or West Indies defeating Australia in a Test for the first time in 21 years? Which Test was better? Vote now!

ESPNcricinfo staff16-May-2025Update: This poll has ended. The AUS-WI 2024 Brisbane Test moves into the round of 16.Defiance and heartbreak – Multan, 2003This was supposed to be Bangladesh’s moment. Their first Test win after 22 defeats (and one draw). A chance to show the world they belonged.Only they couldn’t get past one man.Bangladesh batted first and scored 281, riding on Habibul Bashar’s 72. They then skittled Pakistan for 175 with Khaled Mahmud and Mohammad Rafique sharing nine wickets between them to secure a 106-run lead. Despite being bowled out for 154 in their second dig, the odds were stacked in Bangladesh’s favour with Pakistan chasing 261.On a fourth day Multan surface, Bangladesh had Pakistan in trouble at 81 for 4, which became 164 for 7 in no time. They breached the defences of every player, barring one: Inzamam-ul-Haq. But by the time he completed his fifty, Pakistan had already lost six wickets.When Inzamam brought up his century, Pakistan were still 44 runs adrift of the target with two wickets in hand. He found an able ally in Umar Gul, with the duo adding 52 runs for the ninth wicket, in which Gul’s contribution was just five off 50 balls. But when Gul was run out with the target only four runs away, Bangladesh saw some hope, again.Inzamam, however, kept his cool and flicked Mahmud away to the long-leg fence as Pakistan clinched a thriller. A teary-eyed Inzamam was showered with rose petals as he made his way to the change room, unbeaten on 138 and giving Pakistan a win to savour.Shamar announces his arrival – Brisbane, 2024Carl Hooper and Brian Lara broke down. The most patriotic Australian supporter cheered for the opposition. The Test world champions were knocked over. All because one bowler, with a broken toe, decided it was time for a siege on fortress Gabba.Australia had not lost a Test to West Indies since 2003, and not lost to them at home since 1997. They had also never lost a pink-ball Test. It was all going to change.They were coming into the second Test having decimated West Indies in Adelaide inside three days. At the Gabba, West Indies batted first and scored 311 with useful middle- and lower-order contributions. Australia declared behind on 289 for 9 to make use of the twilight session.West Indies showed fight but were bowled out for 193, giving Australia a 216-run target. But more importantly, Shamar Joseph had to retire hurt after a searing Mitchell Starc yorker struck him flush on the toe. This was late on the third evening. Australia lost Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne early in the chase, but Steven Smith and Cameron Green took them to stumps, requiring 156 runs to win. Shamar hadn’t bowled at all on the third evening.On the fourth afternoon, Smith and Green went merrily about their run-scoring ways. Then Shamar arrived. He conceded 19 runs off his first ten balls. Off his 11th and 12th, he knocked over Green and Travis Head.The odds were still stacked in Australia’s favour at this stage. There were just 103 runs away and Shamar had a broken toe. How long could he continue? He continued… straight for 11.5 overs. And Australia were blown away. Shamar removed Mitchell Marsh, then knocked over Alex Carey with 145kph thunderbolt. He then snapped up Starc before sending back Pat Cummins.All this while, Smith kept at it. But when Alzarri Joseph had Nathan Lyon with Australia still 25 adrift, the end was in sight. Fittingly, it was Shamar who claimed the final wicket, flattening Josh Hazlewood’s off pole and then wheeling away in celebration, finishing with stunning figures of 7 for 68. It was a performance that single-handedly elevated Shamar to stardom.

Unlike last month, the current international break is an unwelcome escape from Premier League football for West Ham United fans.

Nuno Espírito Santo has seemingly worked his magic, and a team that looked incapable of a win just a few weeks ago have just beaten Newcastle United and Burnley.

One of the reasons the Hammers look so much better is that Freddie Potts has finally been given his chance to start in the first team.

The Barking-born star has been immense in the middle of the park, and the good news is that the academy is producing a few players who could be the next Potts, although they also lost a youngster who’s an even bigger talent than the 22-year-old.

West Ham's next Freddie Potts

The good news for West Ham fans is that their academy system continues to produce exciting prospects, some of whom could go on to become the next Potts in a few years.

Where Are They Now

Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast’s Where Are They Now series.

One of those youngsters is Preston Fearon, who joined the Hammers in 2022, signed his first professional contract last year, and then signed another just last month.

Jarrod Bowen has described the 18-year-old as a “special player”, and it’s not hard to see why, as, in addition to making 43 appearances across the club’s youth sides, he was also taken on the pre-season tour of America.

Like the Hammers’ new star, the youngster can play in several positions, but thrives as a tough-tackling, yet technically accomplished, central midfielder.

Another youngster who could be fighting for first-team minutes a few years from now is Isaac Thomas.

The 16-year-old Welshman just scored four goals during his second appearance for the U18S, and what’s even more incredible is that he did so from centre-back.

However, just like Fearon and Potts, his primary position is in the middle of the park, but he’s capable of filling in where he is needed.

Finally, while a little older, Mohamadou Kanté looks every bit as exciting.

Described as having “good anticipation” and being “very calm and composed on the ball” by one analyst, the 20-year-old Frenchman is also no stranger to scoring goals and could provide a similar presence to the middle of the park as Potts.

In all, West Ham have plenty of exciting youngsters coming through the ranks, but even so, they surely rue losing someone who is an even bigger talent than Potts.

The academy gem who is a bigger talent than Potts

West Ham have done relatively well at retaining their most promising academy talents over the years, but they were unable to do so with Divine Mukasa.

The incredible prospect joined the Hammers as a five-year-old, but in September 2023, he moved to Manchester City for free.

The 18-year-old phenom made his senior debut for City in September, in a League Cup game against Huddersfield Town, and as if that wasn’t impressive enough, he also provided an assist.

He also started the following game in the competition against Swansea City and has been on the bench for three Premier League games so far this season.

However, while a player his age starting two games for a club like City is certainly impressive enough, it’s his record for their youth sides which suggests he could be a future superstar.

Appearances

41

Minutes

2807′

Goals

17

Assists

25

Goal Involvements per Match

1.02

Minutes per Goal Involvement

66.83′

For example, in 41 appearances across various youth sides last season, totalling 2807 minutes, the former Hammer chalked up an outrageous tally of 17 goals and 25 assists.

That means the incredible superstar in the making averaged 1.02 goal involvements per game, or one every 66.83 minutes all season, which goes some way in justifying journalist Nassali Sandrah’s claim that he is “the best academy player in Europe.”

To top it off, the Newham-born gem has also won five caps for England’s u19s, and scored his first goal for them against Wales last time out.

Ultimately, there are some seriously exciting prospects emerging from West Ham’s academy at the moment, but it certainly appears that they have lost the biggest talent of all in Mukasa.

Alongside Fullkrug: West Ham must sell £30m flop who was a "big voice"

The former international should have been a big success at West Ham United.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 12, 2025

Chinelle Henry will lead the team in the injured allrounder’s absence

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Sep-2025Barbados Royals have suffered a significant blow on the eve of their WCPL title defence, with a shoulder injury ruling out their captain Hayley Matthews for the entire season.Allrounder Chinelle Henry will lead Royals in Matthews’ absence.Related

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Matthews is the WCPL’s leading run-getter (424 at a strike rate of 113.06) and wicket-taker (23 with an economy rate of 5.79), and a key player in Royals’ title-winning campaigns of 2023 and 2024. She was Player of the Match in the 2023 final against Guyana Amazon Warriors, scoring a 59-ball 82 and taking two wickets, and Player of the Series in the 2024 season.Royals announced the news of Matthews’ injury via X, formerly Twitter. They have not announced a replacement yet. Royals are set to play their first game of WCPL 2025 against Amazon Warriors on Sunday night.Matthews had picked up a shoulder injury on the England tour and opted for surgery during the WBBL. She was the Melbourne Renegades’ pre-draft pick but pulled out before the WBBL draft. She played the home series against South Africa and then the Hundred and was slated to undergo surgery after the WCPL.NaiJanni Cumberbatch, Trishan Holder and Steffie Soogrim were among a select group of emerging West Indian players who tuned up for WCPL 2025 with a stint at the Chennai Super Kings Academy in Chennai last month.

Barbados Royals squad

Chinelle Henry (capt), Afy Fletcher, Aaliyah Alleyne, Kycia Knight, Steffie Soogrim, Shamilia Connell, Sheneta Grimmond, Qiana Joseph, Trishan Holder, NaiJanni Cumberbatch, Chamari Athapaththu, Georgia Redmayne, Courtney Webb, Shreyanka Patil

MatériaMais Notícias

O Bangu comemora nesta quarta-feira 120 anos de história. O clube celebrou a data em evento com cerca de 150 pessoas, entre torcedores, conselheiros e outras personalidades local. Uma das presenças ilutres foi o treinador e ex-jogador Felipe Maestro.

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– O Bangu é um clube que tenho carinho, onde sempre fui bem recebido. Hoje parabenizo o Bangu, clube tão importante para o futebol brasileiro, pelos seus 120 anos de vida – comentou Felipe.

– São 120 anos de muita história e pioneirismo. Estamos nos reinventando para completar mais 120 anos de história e reafirmando a importância do clube para o futebol carioca e brasileiro – continuou o presidente do Conselho Diretor do clube, Jorge Varela.

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Tudo sobre

BanguFelipe Maestro

Major League Baseball is finally in the home stretch of the 2025 season. A long, 162-game campaign will come down to the final month of the season as teams jockey for playoff position. Players who can pull their weight in September will be incredibly valuable as the final days tick off the season's calendar.

As we did with the National League, let’s take a look at the players with the best and worst September track records for each American League contender. We've lumped October numbers from the regular season into these calculations since the sample sizes are too small to warrant their own category.

There are some surprises in here, but many of the best players step up with the season on the line.

Detroit Tigers

Best: Tarik Skubal

Skubal is cruising to his second straight AL Cy Young Award, and based on his track record, there are no signs he'll slow down in September. The 28-year-old has made 19 appearances (18 starts) in the month during his six-year career and is 6–3 with a 2.82 ERA, 0.85 WHIP and 113 strikeouts against 17 walks in 92 2/3 innings. Opposing hitters are slashing .184/.230/.326 against him in that time. That .556 OPS against is his second-best of any month, .002 points below May.

Worst: Kyle Finnegan

The Tigers added Finnegan to the back of their bullpen at the trade deadline, and it has paid off as he has yet to allow a run in his first 12 appearances with the team while going 3–0 and earning four saves. But the 33-year-old reliever does not have a good track record in the season's final month.

In 58 career appearances in September and October, Finnegan is 3–10 with a 5.85 ERA, 1.65 WHIP and 59 strikeouts against 30 walks in 60 innings. He has allowed 11 home runs, opponents are slashing .289/.375/.477, and his FIP of 5.24 is not encouraging. It is his worst month by far, so Detroit will have to keep an eye on him as the season winds down.

Toronto Blue Jays

Best: Bo Bichette

The Rangers are enduring a major blow to their starting rotation.

Rangers' president of baseball operations Chris Young said Tuesday that starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi has a rotator cuff strain and will likely miss the rest of the season, per Kennedi Landry of MLB.com.

Eovaldi, who is in his third season with the Rangers, is 11-3 with a 1.73 ERA and 129 strikeouts through 22 starts this season.

The veteran 35-year-old has been a crucial member of the Rangers during his time in Texas. He has the best ERA among Rangers' starters this season, and by far the best ERA of his lengthy career that includes stints with the Dodgers, Marlins, Yankees, Rays and Red Sox. Eovaldi also helped the Rangers win the World Series in 2023 and made the MLB All-Star Game for the second time in his career that year.

With about a month remaining in the 2025 regular season, the Rangers are 66-67 and on the outside looking in for the postseason this year.

From draining Test duel with India to the Hundred, in-form batter looks ahead to Ashes tour unburdened by captaincy, and answers David Warner

Valkerie Baynes14-Aug-2025Joe Root’s relief was right there on his face when he declared Ashes selection as “not my concern anymore”.Root, the England captain from 2017 to 2022 whose fine run of form was a key feature of the recent drawn home Test series with India, which captivated even the most casual of followers, scarcely drew a breath before launching into the Hundred with Trent Rockets.But it all forms part of his evolution, which has him enjoying one of his best seasons to date and playing with greater freedom, ahead of his first Ashes series in Australia unburdened by the captaincy since 2013.Root’s two subsequent Test tours of Australia featured plenty of off-field drama that he had to deal with as skipper including, in his words, the post-Covid restrictions surrounding the 2021-22 series, for which Ben Stokes was added to the squad after an injury lay-off just 10 days before they departed. Before that, Stokes missed the 2017-18 Ashes in the aftermath of the Bristol nightclub affair and Jonny Bairstow was embroiled in a bizarre “headbutt incident” (inverted commas gestured by Root) with Australia’s Cameron Bancroft which turned out to be a proverbial storm.Related

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“There was a lot of distractions,” Root said. “This time I just want to go and enjoy the tour for what it is. It’s a beautiful country, it’s a great place to go play cricket.”Clearly it’s going to be hostile, it’s going to be everything you’d expect and want from an away Ashes series. That’s something you’ve got to relish and want and I want to go out there and just enjoy being a part of it.”There was a reminder of those hostilities earlier this month when David Warner, now retired from Australia duty, reminded Root that he was yet to score a century in Australia, adding: “He will have to take the surfboard off his front leg.”That was ahead of Warner’s debut in the Hundred, the competition which will again bring him face to face with Root in London Spirit’s clash with Trent Rockets on Thursday.Root shrugged off Warner’s comments as “all part of the fun”.”You know that there’s going to be storylines and there’s going to be people wanting to hype up a big series and it doesn’t really change anything when you get out there,” Root said. “You’ve got to try and impact the game and help your team get off to a good start. That’s business as usual as far as I’m concerned.”I can’t have any control or say how people see the game or talk in an interview, so it’s sort of irrelevant. What more can I do about it? Just make sure it’s not a talking point in six months’ time or a hundred days’ time.”But he did address that elusive century on Australian soil.

“Naturally with age, with experience, I’ve got a better understanding of my own game and how I want to construct innings in different situations on different surfaces against different bowler types and been able to roll it out pretty well over the last little while”

“The thing that stands out for me is I probably wanted it way too much the last couple of times,” Root said. “It took me away from what was important.”Having played there a couple of times before, now going there with 150-odd Test matches under my belt, I feel like you couldn’t be more ready for it so just go and enjoy what a great tour it should be.”Root was the second-highest run-scorer in the India series with 537 at 67.12. His innings-to-century ratio in Tests for 2025 is the best it’s been in a calendar year at 3.33 and his conversion rate is also superior after turning three of his four 50-plus scores into centuries. The other was an unbeaten 53 in a successful run chase as England went 1-0 up in the India series.In terms of batting average, Root’s 63.44 for 2025 so far is his third-best after 2014 (97.12) and 2023 (65.58) in years where he has scored 100 runs or more.During India’s visit, Root also moved to No. 2 on the all-time leading run-scorer’s chart, after Sachin Tendulkar, and posted his 39th century in the format, putting him fourth behind Tendulkar, Jacques Kallis and Ricky Ponting.But, after 158 Tests, Root said it wasn’t so much the milestones that kept him going.”As a player, more of the motivation is can you keep evolving,” he said. “Can you keep finding ways of staying ahead of your opposition? Can you make sure that you don’t stand still and become stale? Can I keep being creative? Can I keep finding ways of improving and making sure that the stuff that I’m doing well stays at that level as a bare minimum?Root celebrates his 39th Test century•Getty Images”Naturally with age, with experience, I’ve got a better understanding of my own game and how I want to construct innings in different situations on different surfaces against different bowler types and been able to roll it out pretty well over the last little while.”The continuing challenge will be, can I stay consistent with that? Can I keep finding answers to questions posed at me wherever we are in the world and whatever conditions and whatever situation. That’s the fun of it, right?”Root also credited Brendon McCullum, whose arrival as England head coach came shortly after Root relinquished the captaincy in April 2022, with rejuvenating his batting career.”Having worked with Baz has changed the way that I look at the game,” Root said. “I’ve got less technical, I’ve become more about trying to manage the game better and find ways of problem solving. It’s been very refreshing to have someone with a very different way of looking at things come and add a huge amount to my game. He’s been brilliant.”Without the burden of captaincy – for his country or franchise – Root has also relished playing in the Hundred, even if it is at the end of an energy sapping five-Test wrangle with India, and even if attention has inevitably shifted to upcoming Ashes selection.Speaking on a call set up by KP Snacks, who are celebrating the achievement of installing over 100 grass root community pitches in England and Wales, Root said of the India series: “It was tiring. We fielded a lot, so it was physically quite tiring, it was mentally tiring. All the games went pretty much down to the wire. But when you flick into a new format, you go into a new dressing room and it can energise you in a different way.”Come Ashes time in November, there’s no doubt that energy will be in healthy supply too. KP Snacks, the Official Team Partner of The Hundred, are celebrating the installation of over 100 new community cricket pitches across England and Wales. To find out more and search for your nearest pitch, visit: www.everyonein.co.uk/pitchfinder

Liverpool are now reportedly pushing to sign a Celtic youngster in what could deal the Hoops a frustrating blow ahead of Wilfried Nancy’s arrival.

O'Neill: Celtic have restored "confidence"

As far as interim managers go, Celtic couldn’t have done a lot better than Martin O’Neill. There would have been concerns that the 73-year-old was out of ideas in the modern game, but he’s since proved any doubters wrong by getting the Bhoys back on track and rolling back the years.

Signing off in style in his final European game, Celtic secured a much-needed victory against Feyenoord on Thursday evening and O’Neill admitted that “confidence” has been restored in the squad.

The veteran manager told reporters: “Judging from last season, the format, you are looking for 10 or 11 points to qualify. It won’t be easy, but Celtic have two home games and the confidence is in the side now.

“I told my two brothers who came to the game to start my chant, so they must have done so. Might as well enjoy it while it lasts. In the dressing room, the lads are full of it.

“It’s hard to say what I thought [when I took charge]. My two daughters were all in on going for it, but my wife said I would probably mess it up. I haven’t messed it up so far. It’s been great. The results are what you live by and they’ve been terrific.

“[The new manager] has got some players who are big winners, which is great. I’m sure he will lean on some of those lads and then it’s about improving some of the other players.

“The restoration of confidence is big and it’s keeping it going after that. Winning away from home is terrific – it’s not easy away from home in Europe. It gives them belief that they can come and compete.”

The job will now be passed over to Nancy, who could be about to lose one of his best academy stars right away amid Liverpool’s interest in Derek Jikiemi.

Liverpool pushing to sign Celtic gem Jikiemi

As reported by The Daily Record, Liverpool are now pushing to sign Celtic gem Jikiemi after sending their scouts to watch the 15-year-old Parkhead wonderkid. The central defender is one of the most talented players in Celtic’s academy, but could be about to follow in Ben Doak’s footsteps by swapping Glasgow for Merseyside.

Although Jikiemi is one for the future, losing him would represent where Celtic currently find themselves in the European pecking order. They won’t be expected to compete Liverpool in the market, but they must do better to keep hold of homegrown talent.

Related Nancy must unleash Celtic's most frustrating player since Engels

Wilfried Nancy must unleash this Celtic star who is their most frustrating player since Arne Engels.

Posts 1 ByDan Emery Nov 26, 2025

If the teenager did complete a move to Anfield then Celtic would only receive compensation for the years that he came through their system in an added blow.

The Hoops can, however, secure their young star to professional terms at the end of the season when he’s 16 years old. Whether they get the chance to do that remains to be seen, however.

Celtic now confident they'll beat Man City to history-making first signing for Nancy

Rest of India lost a wicket off the first ball of the third day of the Irani Cup

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Oct-2025
Vidarbha strengthened their grip on the Irani Cup fixture by taking a sizeable first-innings lead against Rest of India and then extending it to 224 on the third day in Nagpur.The day began with Rest of India on 142 for 5 in response to Vidarbha’s 342, with their captain Rajat Patidar and Manav Suthar at the crease. Vidarbha fast bowler Aditya Thakare struck with the first ball of the day, dismissing Suthar lbw after successfully reviewing the umpire’s not-out decision.Yash Thakur took the next two wickets, bowling Saransh Jain with a yorker and having Akash Deep caught at cover. Patidar had resumed his innings on 42 and got to 66 with ten boundaries before he was the penultimate wicket to fall – caught off fast bowler Harsh Dubey while trying to clear the long-off boundary.Thakur picked up the final wicket to dismiss Rest of India for 214, finishing with figures of 4 for 66 and giving Vidarbha a first-innings lead of 128.Vidarbha’s openers Atharva Taide and Aman Mokhade put on 42 for the first wicket in the second innings before Taide holed out to deep midwicket off Suthar. Mokhade fell for 37 in the 24th over, caught behind while trying to hook Gurnoor Brar. From 64 for 2, Dhruv Shorey and Danish Malewar steered Vidarbha to 96 at stumps, ahead by 224 runs with eight wickets in hand.

Former Chelsea left-back and Strasbourg star Ben Chilwell has revealed that he is not giving up on his dream to play for England at the 2026 World Cup, despite being sold by the Blues over the summer. Chilwell claimed that he has already received positive responses during talks with national team boss Thomas Tuchel, adding that "it would be a nice feeling to prove some people wrong".

England squad shaping up ahead of 2026 World Cup

England will be heading into next year's World Cup in the United States of America, Canada, and Mexico as one of the favourites, led by Tuchel, whose pedigree at club level is both proven and widely respected. The Three Lions have experienced a tale of 'so near, yet so far' in recent major international tournaments. They lost the Euro 2024 final to Spain as the agonising wait to taste success continued, but Tuchel's troops look strong as things stand. 

Despite boasting ridiculous squad depth, with most positions stacked with talent in abundance, one of the weakest links in the England XI is the left-back spot. In recent times, Tuchel has called up the likes of Djed Spence, Miles Lewis-Skelly, and Tino Livramento, with Manchester City's rising star Nico O'Reilly starting there in the most recent pair of international fixtures.

AdvertisementAFPChilwell eyeing England's 2026 World Cup squad

It's anyone's guess as to who will be England's starting left-back at the marquee event next summer in North America. With no player seemingly nailing down that position as things stand, could there possibly be an opening for former Chelsea defender Chilwell to play himself into contention? The 28-year-old certainly doesn't rule it out. Chilwell last made an appearance for England in March 2024, but has since been an afterthought internationally.

"What a story it would be if I went to the World Cup after I was in the [Chelsea] bomb squad and everyone had counted me out 12 months prior," Chilwell told . "It would just be the biggest middle finger to so many people, which to me is a motivation. Chelsea were honest with me and there's no resentment, but of course I've got an ego, so it would be a nice feeling to prove some people wrong."

The ex-Leicester City man also revealed that he has kept in touch with the national team gaffer and initial talks have gone well. 

"Probably 99 out of 100 people are saying, 'No, he's not going, and it is impossible to go to the World Cup'," he admitted. "We've had conversations since he's got the job at England. I'll try and word it right – it has been said that it's not out of the equation.

"It makes me laugh that people think I'm an old player at 28 – I'm really in my prime. That's why the World Cup is an ambition… there's so much to achieve. First things first, I want to play well here, be healthy, and then the rest – the World Cup – may follow. If I can say I gave everything but don't achieve it then it's not the end of the world. I'll still be enjoying my football, and only be 29."

Chilwell reflects on his Chelsea departure

Last summer, Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca made it clear that Chilwell would not be a part of his plans for the 2024-25 season. Barring a second-half substitute cameo against Barrow in the Carabao Cup in September, he did not make a single appearance. His exile under Maresca came to an end towards the end of the winter transfer window, as Crystal Palace signed him on a short-term loan.

In the summer, with the chapter of his Chelsea career well and truly closed, he joined BlueCo's sister club Strasbourg permanently, moving to Ligue 1. However, the 2021 Champions League winner revealed that he doesn't hold any grudges over how he was treated by Maresca.

"I've never had anything against Enzo Maresca. I told everyone how much I respected the fact that he was honest, because at least then I could just go, 'alright, cool, I'm not wanted'," he explained. "Of course I wasn't happy with the decision – I didn't agree with it, but I respected it.

"I definitely feel like I suffered from it. I also completely knew I could have done the role [as an inverted full-back]. I played centre-mid until I was 12 and even with Thomas [Tuchel], when we played in a back three, I was making runs into striker positions, or because Toni Rudiger liked to drive with the ball, I'd go inside. I was able to do it – I just didn't have the opportunity."

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AFPAmbitions with Strasbourg – silverware & UCL dream

Things have been going well for Chilwell at Strasbourg, where he has earned the trust of head coach Liam Rosenior. The Milton Keynes-born full-back shared his ambitions for this season.

"It wasn't my top choice, but then I spoke to the manager. It was only a 10-minute call, and I rang my agent straight away after and said, 'Yes, let's get Strasbourg done,'" Chilwell added. "Liam said I'd be surprised how much I'd enjoy it. He still thought I could improve and said he would ask me to play certain roles I haven't played before, which has already started to happen.

"Then there's the leadership side of it. I've been in changing rooms with serial winners and know how to be in a group that wins stuff. It just seemed like a no-brainer and a pretty perfect fit.

"I'm definitely shocked at the quality. There are a lot of people going straight to the top here, and I include the manager in that. The league is good and the stadiums are full. We've shown we can compete with PSG and the manager has big ambitions to win stuff this season and qualify for the Champions League."