Sports
As new Tottenham and Forest managers get to work, here’s what players really think when a boss arrives
Nedum Onuoha played 14 seasons in the Premier League with Manchester City, Sunderland and Queens Park Rangers before finishing his career with MLS side Real Salt Lake. He joined ESPN in 2020, appearing on ESPN FC, and has since featured as ESPN’s lead studio pundit in England. His columns offer his perspective as a former player on the big issues of the day.
When your team changes a manager in midseason, as a player, it feels like a hostile introduction. You are thrown into what feels like a mini-preseason and must quickly prove yourself in a really uncertain environment. For those Tottenham Hotspur players who have seen Thomas Frank fired and replaced by Igor Tudor, there is the additional issue of knowing virtually nothing about the guy tasked with steadying the ship because he has no Premier League experience either as a player or as a coach.
– Spurs job too big for Frank, but changing manager won’t fix mess at club
– Forest on 4th manager of season. Do multiple hires and fires ever work?
– How Premier League clubs are looking to the U.S. to raise transfers funds
The soccer community in England is big, but it also can feel quite small the longer you’re involved. Players have connections — friends, former teammates and coaches — all over the place. A few Spurs players — Rodrigo Bentancur, Radu Dragusin and Dejan Kulusevski — crossed paths with Tudor when he was part of Andrea Pirlo’s coaching staff at Juventus, so other members of the squad will be asking them what he’s like, but also contacting other people they know who have worked with the Croatian to learn more about him.
I can imagine that England under-21 international Lloyd Kelly, who played for AFC Bournemouth and Newcastle United before signing for Juventus last year, will have had calls and messages from Spurs players desperate for information on Tudor, his head coach at Juve for seven months last year.
Tudor was a surprise appointment, and many Spurs players will have had zero knowledge of him as a person or as a coach. But before he took his first session, they will have asked enough people about what he’s like in terms of managing players, his training styles and how he wants players to play, to form a basic picture of his approach to the game.
Whether they are happy with the appointment or not, the Spurs players will still want to start off on the right footing under the new coach, even though he will only be in charge for 12 Premier League games and however long Spurs survive in the UEFA Champions League.
The players may quickly make their judgements about the new coach, but they will also want to finish the season in a better shape than they are now — none of them will want to be part of the first Spurs team to be relegated in almost 50 years — because individual pride is important. And, for many of them, there is the issue of ensuring they go to the FIFA World Cup with their respective countries.
Sunday’s game against Arsenal — Tudor’s first in charge — will mean everything to the players because they don’t want to reach breaking point with the fans. That is something that could happen if they were to lose badly against their biggest rivals on home turf.
And if it starts badly, some players will just check out. I’ve seen it first-hand when a player tells a coach that he will outlast him at a club. When that happens, you know things are turning in a negative way.
The Spurs players will have known change was coming, though. Looking back on my experiences, it’s very rare to be surprised by a managerial change. Managers are human beings, after all. It’s very hard for them to keep doing the same job, pretending that nothing is happening when they are facing the sack.
As things get worse, you start to see almost a sense of resentment toward outcomes, players and things they weren’t previously stressed about. You can also tell when they’ve lost a group. Sometimes that could be due not necessarily to results, but a change you can see in their own principles that they once tried to tell you defined who they were.
So, when a new manager comes in, it is a clean slate and they can become whoever they want to be. If they say ‘we train at 3 p.m.’ and that’s the standard, everyone’s like ‘OK, we train at 3 p.m..’ If they set out the standards they expect, that’s fine. But — and maybe it’s human nature — as time passes, you start to see some people start making concessions for certain individuals. But Tudor’s contract is so short, that he may not get to that stage.
In this interim role, Tudor can go in and have a quick impact, get buy-in from the players — be a motivator and organiser — and succeed in his mission of keeping Spurs up. Their potential is clearly there, but being an interim can make it harder to maintain support within the squad. We saw that during Ralf Rangnick’s unsuccessful six-month spell as interim at Manchester United in 2022.
When Roberto Mancini replaced Mark Hughes as Manchester City manager in 2009, he didn’t have any gravitas among the City players because of who he was, but he was the first appointment of the new owners, so we knew he had all the power in the world to make whatever changes he wanted. There were no discussions. It was his way, his style and that was that. He is the only coach I have ever worked with who told the players that we weren’t allowed to laugh while we were jogging around the training pitch to warm up.
But we knew Mancini was the future, and that allowed him to be a true authoritarian. The Spurs players know that Tudor most likely isn’t the future, so it feels like a risky move by the club to hire him in the situation they find themselves in.
I experienced a midseason change of manager several times during my playing career, and it rarely had a positive impact. Mancini was perhaps the one coach who made things better for the team. But generally, a new coach will come in and the first thing they will say is that the players aren’t fit enough. That’s just a way to buy time if initial results and performances aren’t good because, if the players aren’t fit, it’s the last guy’s fault, right?
1:18
Was Nottingham Forest right to sack Sean Dyche?
ESPN’s Nedum Onuoha and Julien Laurens react to Nottingham Forest sacking Sean Dyche after just 114 days in charge.
The situation at Nottingham Forest is on a whole other level. The players are now on their fourth coach of the season after Vítor Pereira was hired to replace Sean Dyche, who succeeded Ange Postecoglou, the early-season replacement for Nuno Espírito Santo.
They have had a ridiculous season, leaping from one playing style to another, but they have probably landed on the most reasonable appointment of all in Pereira. He knows the league, has the credentials of having an instant impact when he moved to Wolverhampton Wanderers and is also more personable than the coaches who went before him at Forest.
If I was in the Forest squad, four coaches in a season is the type of energy where you probably start doubting whether you’re at the right soccer club, to be honest. But Forest are maybe just two good weeks away from securing Premier League survival, so they can see a path out of their situation.
Spurs should also have enough about them to survive, but there’s no doubt Tudor is a strange appointment. We will discover soon enough whether he is the right one or reckless gamble by the club.
Nedum Onuoha was speaking to ESPN senior writer Mark Ogden
INDIANAPOLIS — Michigan star forward Yaxel Lendeborg said he “absolutely” plans to play in the national title game against UConn on Monday night.
Lendeborg sprained his left MCL and left ankle in the first half against Arizona on Saturday night, and an MRI on the knee Sunday morning came back “very clear,” according to Michigan trainer Chris Williams.
Williams told ESPN on Sunday that Lendeborg’s injury is a “low-grade” MCL sprain in his knee, which also has a “small bone bruise.” The ankle sprain is also considered “low grade” and has minimal swelling.
“He’s still tender and walking around a little bit gingerly, but good,” Williams said.
On Sunday night, when availability reports for both teams were released, Lendeborg was not listed by the Wolverines.
Lendeborg played just 14 minutes on Saturday against Arizona, spending much of the first half getting treated in the locker room. Coach Dusty May said Sunday that the decision to play will be up to Lendeborg and the Michigan medical staff, which has indicated confidence that he will be available.
“I’m sure he’ll give it a go tomorrow,” May said.
Lendeborg’s knee loomed as a bigger concern than his injured ankle, and he clarified that’s what the MRI revealed. He returned to the court and played nine minutes in the second half, wearing a compression sleeve over the injured knee, but he appeared clearly limited.
“He played the second half like a 38-year-old at the YMCA,” May said. “And a really good 38-year-old at the YMCA.”
Williams told ESPN that he stayed in Lendeborg’s room until 4:30 a.m. after the Arizona game, giving him treatment on the knee. Williams said that his aim for Lendeborg’s agility for Monday is a much younger version than May’s description. “Hopefully 18,” Williams said.
Despite being hobbled, Lendeborg drained a pair of second-half 3-pointers, as he finished with 11 points on four shots.
Williams said he’s “very optimistic” about Lendeborg’s availability. Williams laid out the next 30 hours or so until tipoff: “It should be a lot of treatment still. I’m going to be in his room a lot. He’s going to be in my room a lot. So, we’ll be doing treatment around the clock and just trying to manage his pain the best we can.”
He said that the treatment will be on the knee and ankle, and he plans to use a Hivamat machine and a Class 4 laser.
Williams told ESPN on Saturday night that he’ll be spending a lot of time with Lndeborg.
“He might move into my room,” Williams said Saturday. “You’re laughing, but he might move into my room. We have two beds in there, so we might have to find another room for my wife and my son.”
College baseball brought the heat the past week and a slew of home runs to go along with it. But while there was some fiery play on the diamond, this week’s top 25 rankings don’t look a whole lot different.
UCLA faced probably its toughest test yet in USC this past weekend, but the Bruins proved why they have been the No. 1 team in the country all season long and swept their crosstown rival in Jackie Robinson Stadium.
Alabama made another big jump this week, going from No. 16 to No. 8 to be ranked in the top 10 for the first time this season after winning its series against Oklahoma, but the week’s biggest riser was UCF as the Knights jumped up 11 spots to No. 12.
LSU is back in the rankings at No. 24 after taking two on the road against Tennessee. After beating Florida twice, Ole Miss has rejoined the top 25 and the Gators have exited. Also gone from the rankings this week is Kentucky after it lost its series to Missouri.
Here are the entire top 25 rankings as of April 4, plus our favorite moments and what we’re watching in the week to come.
Top moments
A big-time rally! Kansas hit four home runs in the bottom of the ninth to walk off and beat Utah 14-12. The Jayhawks would go on to sweep the Utes, as well.
ICYMI, @SportsCenter will get you caught up 😏
4 HR in the bottom of the 9th on Thursday to walk it off‼️#RockChalk pic.twitter.com/pvp7y7lOCe
— Kansas Baseball (@KUBaseball) April 4, 2026
And this play from Texas’ Casey Borba is incredible.
Casey Borba can do it all! 😮💨#NCAABaseball x 🎥 SECN+ / @TexasBaseball pic.twitter.com/HFpqzeZkvw
— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) April 4, 2026
Player to watch
Cade Arrambide, C, LSU
We’re all-in on Arrambide. Against Tennessee in Knoxville, he hit four home runs in the series finale to help seal the series win for LSU.
0:55
Watch LSU’s Cade Arrambide make SEC history with four homers
Arrambide becomes the first player in program history to hit four home runs in a game for the Tigers as he also finishes with seven RBI against the Vols.
And let’s just watch that grand slam one more time for good measure, because even though that surely would have been electric in Alex Box Stadium, there has to be something even sweeter about doing that on the road in the SEC.
0:54
Cade Arrambide’s 12th inning grand slam caps off 4-HR day
LSU’s Cade Arrambide clubs a grand slam in the 12th inning for his fourth homer of the game in the Tigers’ win against Tennessee.
LSU has had its fair share of struggles throughout this season, going from the No. 2-ranked team in the country to falling out of the rankings completely last week. But with Arrambide getting hot — he has eight total home runs on the season to go along with 23 RBIs — the defending national champions are certainly bound to keep turning things around.
Series to watch
No. 2 Texas at No. 18 Texas A&M
Game 1: 8 p.m. Friday (SEC Network+)
Game 2: 3 p.m. Saturday (ESPN2)
Game 3: 2 p.m. Sunday (SEC Network+)
Jim Schlossnagle makes his first return to College Station, and we’re sure Aggies fans will have it out for their former coach. After leading Texas A&M to the Men’s College World Series in 2024, he left to become to the Texas head coach, as if an already-charged rivalry needed any more juice. But Schlossnagle has his Longhorns ranked at No. 2 in the country, and the Aggies have seemingly found their footing this year and are ranked at No. 18. Who’s to say what will actually happen between these two squads, but we’ll be watching every minute of it.
Updated top 25
Here are D1baseball.com’s latest rankings, plus information on each team’s next game.
All times Eastern.
1. UCLA Bruins
Previous rank: 1
Record: 29-2
Next game: at Cal State Fullerton, 9 p.m. Tuesday (ESPN+)
2. Texas Longhorns
Previous rank: 2
Record: 26-5
Next game: vs. Incarnate Word, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday (SEC Network+)
3. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Previous rank: 3
Record: 26-5
Next game: vs. Kennesaw State, 6 p.m. Tuesday (ACC Network Extra)
4. Georgia Bulldogs
Previous rank: 5
Record: 27-6
Next game: vs. Presbyterian, 3 p.m. Tuesday (SEC Network+)
5. Florida State Seminoles
Previous rank: 7
Record: 24-7
Next game: vs. Florida, 7 p.m. Tuesday (ESPN2)
6. North Carolina Tar Heels
Previous rank: 6
Record: 27-5
Next game: vs. Charlotte, 7 p.m. Tuesday (ACC Network)
7. Oregon State Beavers
Previous rank: 9
Record: 24-6
Next game: at Washington State, 7:05 p.m. Monday
8. Alabama Crimson Tide
Previous rank: 16
Record: 25-8
Next game: vs. Samford, 7 p.m. Tuesday (SEC Network+)
9. Mississippi State Bulldogs
Previous rank: 4
Record: 25-7
Next game: vs. UAB, 7 p.m. Tuesday (SEC Network+)
10. Southern Miss Golden Eagles
Previous rank: 8
Record: 23-9
Next game: vs. New Orleans, 7 p.m. Tuesday (ESPN+)
11. Coastal Carolina Chanticleers
Previous rank: 14
Record: 23-8
Next game: vs. Wake Forest, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday
12. UCF Knights
Previous rank: 23
Record: 20-9
Next game: vs. Stetson, 6 p.m. Tuesday
13. Virginia Cavaliers
Previous rank: 10
Record: 24-9
Next game: vs. James Madison, 6 p.m. Tuesday (ACC Network Extra)
14. USC Trojans
Previous rank: 12
Record: 27-6
Next game: at UC Santa Barbara, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday (ESPN+)
15. Auburn Tigers
Previous rank: 18
Record: 22-9
Next game: vs. Jacksonville State, 7 p.m. Tuesday (SEC Network)
16. Oklahoma Sooners
Previous rank: 11
Record: 21-10
Next game: at Dallas Baptist, 7:30 p.m. Monday (ESPN+)
17. West Virginia Mountaineers
Previous rank: 13
Record: 21-7
Next game: vs. Marshall, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday (ESPN+)
18. Texas A&M Aggies
Previous rank: 20
Record: 25-6
Next game: at Texas State, 7 p.m. Tuesday (ESPN+)
19. Nebraska Cornhuskers
Previous rank: 19
Record: 26-6
Next game: vs. Kansas, 7 p.m. Tuesday
20. Arizona State Sun Devils
Previous rank: 25
Record: 23-9
Next game: at Grand Canyon, 8:05 p.m. Tuesday
21. Oregon Ducks
Previous rank: 15
Record: 24-8
Next game: at Portland, 8 p.m. Wednesday (ESPN+)
22. Arkansas Razorbacks
Previous rank: 17
Record: 20-13
Next game: vs. Little Rock, 7 p.m. Tuesday (SEC Network+)
23. Boston College Eagles
Previous rank: 22
Record: 22-11
Next game: vs. UMass, 3 p.m. Tuesday (ACC Network Extra)
24. LSU Tigers
Previous rank: NR
Record: 22-11
Next game: vs. Bethune-Cookman, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday (SEC Network+)
25. Ole Miss Rebels
Previous rank: NR
Record: 22-11
Next game: vs. Alcorn State, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday (SEC Network+)
Multan Sultans have won the toss and elected to bowl first against Rawalpindiz in the 14th match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11 at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Monday.
This will be the first time both Sultans and Pindiz face each other in the PSL.
Playing XIs
Multan Sultans: Steven Smith, Sahibzada Farhan, Josh Philippe (wk), Shan Masood, Ashton Turner (c), Arafat Minhas, Mohammad Nawaz, Peter Siddle, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Muhammad Ismail and Faisal Akram.
RawalPindiz: Mohammad Rizwan (c & wk), Yasir Khan, Kamran Ghulam, Daryl Mitchell, Sam Billings, Abdullah Fazal, Dian Forrester, Rishad Hossain, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Amir Khan and Asif Afridi.
This is a developing story and is being updated with further details.
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