Analysis, feature pieces

Graham Potter was doomed at Chelsea from Day 1, but poisoned chalice moves on

Graham Potter, Manager of Chelsea, reacts during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge on April 01, 2023 in...

Graham Potter was always going to find himself under intense scrutiny after succeeding Thomas Tuchel last September, and has barely lasted seven months in charge. The managerial merry-go-round has returned once more in west London, where club legend Frank Lampard will this week take interim charge while a host of free agent big names are linked for the summer months. Continue reading “Graham Potter was doomed at Chelsea from Day 1, but poisoned chalice moves on”

Match coverage

Borussia Dortmund 2-1 RB Leipzig: Goals from Reus, Can see BVB back top of the Bundesliga

Dortmund's German forward Marco Reus celebrates with Dortmund's Turkish midfielder Salih Ozcan and Dortmund's German midfielder Emre Can scoring a...

First-half goals from Emre Can and a Marco Reus penalty saw an in-form Borussia Dortmund side extend their winning run to ten games across all competitions, returning top of the Bundesliga after a hard-fought 2-1 home victory against rivals RB Leipzig. Emil Forsberg pulled one back for Marco Rose’s side, before they almost snatched a point at the death in stoppage-time. Continue reading “Borussia Dortmund 2-1 RB Leipzig: Goals from Reus, Can see BVB back top of the Bundesliga”

Match coverage

World Cup 2022: Kolo Muani reflects on magical experience, while Morocco duo set to leave Angers

Randal Kolo Muani of France is passing dejected the world cup trophy after receiving the silver medal during the World Cup match between Argentina v...

France forward Randal Kolo Muani will undoubtedly be thinking about his stoppage-time miss against Argentina in Sunday’s World Cup Final, but the Eintracht Frankfurt frontman – a late-notice injury replacement – shone on the world stage and spoke of his pride at a tournament he didn’t expect to be at. Elsewhere, Morocco duo Sofiane Boufal and Azzedine Ounahi have attracted interest from a host of European clubs: both are now anticipating January transfers. Continue reading “World Cup 2022: Kolo Muani reflects on magical experience, while Morocco duo set to leave Angers”

Archives

Contingency plans: Adeyemi fee impasse, Dortmund also linked with other Haaland replacements

Karim Adeyemi of FC Red Bull Salzburg runs with the ball under pressure from Benjamin Pavard of FC Bayern Muenchen during the UEFA Champions League...

While still battling over a fair price for RB Salzburg’s latest hotshot, around the €45m (£37.4m) figure, Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund have been linked with approaches for other strikers this summer as they prepare for life after Erling Haaland – whose €75m (£62.4m) release clause is active and will inevitably be explored by Europe’s elite in the weeks to come. Continue reading “Contingency plans: Adeyemi fee impasse, Dortmund also linked with other Haaland replacements”

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Bayern’s German monopoly continues, but don’t begrudge Julian Nagelsmann

Julian Nagelsmann, Head Coach of RB Leipzig reacts during the Bundesliga match between FC Bayern Muenchen and RB Leipzig at Allianz Arena on December...

Football’s worst kept secret is out: the Bundesliga’s perennial champions Bayern Munich have announced RB Leipzig’s Julian Nagelsmann will succeed Hansi Flick as their new manager this summer, agreeing terms for a lucrative five-year deal. However, sceptics shouldn’t be so quick to begrudge a highly-rated boss joining his fiercest competitors, being Bavarian-born after all.
Continue reading “Bayern’s German monopoly continues, but don’t begrudge Julian Nagelsmann”

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Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea appointment a silver lining for Callum Hudson-Odoi

Thomas Tuchel, Manager of Chelsea chats with Callum Hudson-Odoi during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Wolverhampton Wanderers at...

Every cloud has a silver lining, or so the saying goes. Frank Lampard’s 18-month stint as Chelsea manager was ruthlessly ended by lunchtime on Monday, but with the new man replacing him at the helm in west London, winger Callum Hudson-Odoi has an opportunity to replicate Christian Pulisic’s success under the German succeeding their club legend. Continue reading “Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea appointment a silver lining for Callum Hudson-Odoi”

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Thomas Tuchel made PSG believe, but his time was numbered from the start

Video: 'It's a Great Christmas Present' - Tuchel Discusses PSG Ending 2020  With a Win Over Strasbourg - PSG Talk

Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain have finally announced Thomas Tuchel’s sacking, just four months after the German took them to their first Champions League Final and five days following reports suggesting he’d be imminently replaced by Mauricio Pochettino. It’s a bitter end to a fractious relationship for the 47-year-old, whose time was numbered from day one. Continue reading “Thomas Tuchel made PSG believe, but his time was numbered from the start”

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UCL MD3 Group Stage Previews: Salzburg-Bayern, Man City-Olympiacos

Workmanlike Reds overcome Köln and go top - FC Bayern Munich

Two match previews as the Champions League group stages continue tonight. Bayern Munich look to continue their impressive form away in Austria at Salzburg, while Manchester City hope to stay perfect in Group C at home against Greek champions Olympiacos. Read on for more… Continue reading “UCL MD3 Group Stage Previews: Salzburg-Bayern, Man City-Olympiacos”

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UCL MD2 Group Stage Previews: Lokomotiv vs Bayern, Atletico Madrid vs RB Salzburg

Salzburg let Lokomotiv off the hook in 2-2 draw

A look ahead to a pair of MD2 group stage fixtures as the Champions League continues today. Lokomotiv Moscow host defending champions Bayern, while Atletico Madrid hope to bounce back from their humbling 4-0 defeat last week when hosting Red Bull Salzburg in Group A. Continue reading “UCL MD2 Group Stage Previews: Lokomotiv vs Bayern, Atletico Madrid vs RB Salzburg”

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Bayern Munich 4-0 Atletico Madrid: Player Ratings as Bavarians begin UCL defence in style

Lewandowski, Hernandez and Tolisso celebrate with Coman during his brilliant showing against Atletico

Bayern Munich began the defence of their Champions League title emphatically, cruising to a comfortable 4-0 win over last season’s quarter-finalists Atletico Madrid at the Allianz Arena. Kingsley Coman netted a well-taken brace, while there were also goals for Leon Goretzka and a Corentin Tolisso second-half screamer – but which players excelled here while others faltered? Continue reading “Bayern Munich 4-0 Atletico Madrid: Player Ratings as Bavarians begin UCL defence in style”

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Bundesliga double-header preview: Wolfsburg-Augsburg, Bayern-Hertha

Bundesliga Report: Hertha Berlin v Bayern Munich 19 January 2020

A look ahead to Sunday’s Bundesliga double-header as defending champions Bayern Munich host an unpredictable Hertha Berlin from 5pm BST, after Wolfsburg look to put Thursday’s Europa League heartbreak behind them when hosting Augsburg in the day’s afternoon kick-off. Continue reading “Bundesliga double-header preview: Wolfsburg-Augsburg, Bayern-Hertha”

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Borussia Dortmund 2-3 Bayern Munich: Player Ratings as Kimmich seals another trophy

Bayern players celebrate as Manuel Neuer lifts the German Supercup after beating Borussia Dortmund

Bayern Munich sealed their fifth trophy of 2020, but had to do so the hard way after relinquishing a two-goal cushion against Borussia Dortmund in this season’s German Super Cup before Joshua Kimmich’s late matchwinner halted BVB’s spirited comeback. Which players struggled while others excelled at the Allianz Arena, during a true game of two halves? Continue reading “Borussia Dortmund 2-3 Bayern Munich: Player Ratings as Kimmich seals another trophy”