Stay ConnectedThe Athletic’s flagship football podcast, hosted by Ayo Akinwolere and featuring the likes of David Ornstein, Phil Hay, Adam Crafton and Matt Slater will take you inside the biggest stories in football told by the best reporters in the business. We cut through the noise to tell you what’s really happening – and why it matters.
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Last night were were reminded why the Champions League is the biggest draw in world football.
Meanwhile, FIFA seem to be stepping back in the battle to stop competitive games being taken abroad.
So, could we one day see the Premier League or La Liga decided in the USA? Or the UEFA Champions League final in Saudi Arabia?
Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic's Matt Slater and Adam Crafton.
Host: Ayo Akinwolere
With: Matt Slater and Adam Crafton
Producer: Mike Stavrou
Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On Sunday, Bayer Leverkusen won the first league title in their 120-year history, and the celebrations were wild.
Still to play for this season; a potential treble and the chance to go the entire season unbeaten.
But is Xabi Alonso staying enough to keep his squad together next season?
Is it still even possible for this team to go to the next level and break into Europe's elite?
Or, is this as good as it gets for Leverkusen?
Host: Ayo Akinwolere
With: Raphael Honigstein, Seb Stafford-Bloor
Producer: Mike Stavrou
Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead
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At Anfield on Sunday, Liverpool’s terrible week got a whole lot worse.
A shock 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace has dealt a blow to Jurgen Klopp’s hopes of a second Premier League title and they have a mountain to climb in the Europa League, trailing Atalanta 3-0.
So why are Liverpool faltering at the business end of the season?
And can they still turn it round?
Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic's Oli Kay and James Pearce to assess and analyse where things have gone wrong for Jurgen Klopp's side having gone from potential quadruple winners to seeing his reign possibly end with a whimper.
Host: Ayo Akinwolere
With: James Pearce and Oli Kay
Producer: Guy Clarke
Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead
Related articles:
The 10 misses that might have ended Liverpool’s Premier League title bid - The Athletic
Liverpool’s failure to keep clean sheets is proving deeply damaging - The Athletic
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It’s matchday 33 in the Premier League and Arsenal host Aston Villa as they look to hold on to top spot in the league table.
Elsewhere, Spurs go to Newcastle and Chelsea play Everton.
Host: Adam Leventhal
With: Jon Mackenzie, Art de Roché &Tim Spiers
Producer: Mike Stavrou and Jay Beale
Executive Producer: Adam Jones
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After overseeing a 27-game unbeaten run, Luis Enrique’s PSG fell to defeat at home to Barcelona on Wednesday night, losing 3-2 in their Champions League quarter final first leg.
So why did Kylian Mbappe struggle to impact the kind of game he’s been renowned for owning in previous years and is he at risk of seeing his PSG career end with a whimper?
As for Enrique, is he the man to finally push the Parisians over the line to become a serious contender in years to come?
Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic's Peter Rutzler as well as Pierre-Etienne Minonzio of L'Equipe.
Host: Ayo Akinwolere
With: Peter Rutzler and Pierre-Etienne Minonzio
Producer: Guy Clarke
Executive Producer: Adam Jones
Related articles:
Mbappe surely cannot bow out so quietly in Barcelona - The Athletic
How Paris Saint-Germain made Ousmane Dembele ‘extraordinary’ again - The Athletic
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Diego Simeone and Atletico Madrid have enjoyed and endured a 12-year love affair and it is hard to imagine one without the other. He has overseen both unbelievable highs and crushing lows.
This season - Atletico are on course for their worst finish in La Liga since Simeone’s first year in charge, but could another Champions League run galvanize his team once again?
And with plenty of big clubs looking for ,managers this summer, why isn’t his name mentioned in the conversations anymore?
Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic's Dermot Corrigan & Tomás Hill López-Menchero.
HOST: Ayo Akinwolere
WITH: Dermot Corrigan & Tomás Hill López-Menchero
PRODUCER: Mike Stavrou
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Adam Jones
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mikel Arteta takes charge of Arsenal’s first Champions League quarter final in 14 years on Tuesday night.
Top of the Premier League and with the opportunity to make a serious statement in Europe, how has Arteta revived this Arsenal side?
And with Jurgen Klopp leaving and Pep Guardiola’s long-term Manchester City future uncertain, is he ready to build a dynasty in north London?
Host: Ayo Akinwolere
With: Jordan Campbell, Art de Roché, Amy Lawrence
Producer: Jay Beale
Executive Producer: Adam Jones
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
On Sunday Old Trafford witnessed more mayhem as Manchester United and Liverpool played out a 2-2 draw.
Despite facing another 28 shots, Man United emerged with a point, but was that through luck or design?
So has Erik Ten Hag done enough to convince INEOS he’s worth persisting with into next season?
And with so much change coming behind the scenes over the summer…can Man United turn chaos into control?
Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic's Adam Crafton and Mark Critchley to discuss and debate the Dutchman's future.
HOST: Ayo Akinwolere
WITH: Adam Crafton and Mark Critchley
PRODUCER: Guy Clarke
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Adam Jones
Related articles:
Baffling, beguiling and bewildering: trying to explain this Manchester United - The Athletic
Ten Hag’s Manchester United future: Open to operating as head coach, Murtough to leave - The Athletic
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It’s matchday 32 in the Premier League and Manchester United host Liverpool in a match that will have big implications on the title race.
Elsewhere, Burnley go to Everton and Luton play Bournemouth.
Host: Adam Leventhal
With: Jon Mackenzie, Mark Critchley and Andy Jones
Producer: Mike Stavrou and Jay Beale
Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Last night, Aston Villa stumbled in pursuit of securing a top four place in the Premier League losing 4-1 away to Manchester City.
But as Newcastle have shown this season, despite the money in brings in, qualifying for Europe puts a huge strain on smaller squads especially when financial rules make it harder to spend.
And as Ange Postecoglou commented in the week, Champions League qualification doesn't necessarily provide what clubs are seeking, if they're unable to push on and compete.
Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic's Tottenham writer Jack Pitt-Brooke, Aston Villa writer Jacob Tanswell and Newcastle United writer Chris Waugh to discuss how the Premier League's growing collection of upwardly ambitious clubs sustained continued Champions League qualification amid the backdrop of strict financial spending limits.
HOST: Ayo Akinwolere
WITH: Jack Pitt-Brooke, Jacob Tanswell and Chris Waugh
PRODUCER: Guy Clarke
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Adey Moorhead
Related articles:
Unai Emery is all about planning – there was a point to Villa’s ‘practice’ and chaos - The Athletic
Beyonce, NFL and boxing help make Tottenham Hotspur Stadium a cash machine - The Athletic
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