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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Man City look unstoppable…
Victory over Brentford on Monday was their ninth consecutive win across all competitions…
Win all their games and Pep Guardiola’s side will be Champions
But is their fourth Premier League title in a row already set in stone?
Or are there enough flaws in this City team for the likes of Arsenal & Liverpool to believe?
Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic’s data expert & Man City fan Thom Harris, Manchester United writer Carl Anka… and representing Tottenham - it’s Charlie Eccleshare.
Produced by Mike Stavrou
Additional production: Jay Beale
Executive producer: Adey Moorhead
Further reading:
https://theathletic.com/5254392/2024/02/07/manchester-city-premier-league-title-liverpool-arsenal/?source=audio_podcast_podcastID_144_
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• This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. If you’re thinking of starting therapy, give BetterHelp a try. Our listeners get 10% off their first month at BetterHelp.com/athleticfootball
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
After a heavy defeat at the weekend, home fans at Stamford Bridge made their feelings clear..
Less than a year on from the sacking of Graham Potter, Mauricio Pochettino’s Chelsea sit in the bottom half of the Premier League table
So…. after spending so heavily on players over the past 19 months, what exactly is owner Todd Boehly’s plan for Chelsea?
And where does this leave the Pochettino Project?
Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic’s Chelsea writer Liam Twomey, who joins us fresh from attending Mauricio Pochettino’s press conference, and in the studio is Commissioning Editor for the Athletic - Dom Fifield.
Produced by Mike Stavrou
Additional production: Jay Beale
Executive producer: Adey Moorhead
Further reading:
https://theathletic.com/5252016/2024/02/06/chelsea-pochettino-eghbali-boehly-thiago/?source=audio_podcast_podcastID_144_
https://theathletic.com/5250288/2024/02/05/chelsea-pochettino-silva-boehly-clearlake-wolves/?source=audio_podcast_podcastID_144_
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• This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. If you’re thinking of starting therapy, give BetterHelp a try. Our listeners get 10% off their first month at BetterHelp.com/athleticfootball
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Having moved to within just two points of the top of the Premier League, are Arsenal serious contenders to win this season's Premier League?
The Gunners saw of Liverpool 3-1 on Sunday in a must-win game for their title hopes as Mikel Arteta's side hope to go one better than last season.
Join Ayo Akinwolere, James McNicholas and Oli Kay as they analyse Arsenal's win over table-toppers Liverpool before assessing the credibility of their title chances with champions Manchester City also waiting to take advantage with Pep Guardiola's side having games in hand on those above them.
Produced by Guy Clarke
Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead
Further reading:
Arsenal bring back chaos football – and their title challenge feels stronger for it - The Athletic
Jorginho interview: Arsenal ‘energy’, no-hop penalties, love for Havertz, knowing strengths - The Athletic
***
• This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. If you’re thinking of starting therapy, give BetterHelp a try. Our listeners get 10% off their first month at BetterHelp.com/athleticfootball
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Michael Bailey sits in for Adam Leventhal for another preview of the weekend ahead!
Headlining the fixture list is Arsenal vs Liverpool - is it now or never for Arsenal to get back in the title race?
Elsewhere a downturn in form has seen Everton drift into the relegation zone, but will Champions League-chasing Spurs pile on the misery at Goodison?
And Manchester United's chaotic season continued midweek with a 4-3 win away to Wolves. Can they back it up this Sunday as they welcome West Ham?
Host: Michael Bailey
Guests: Tim Spiers, Jon Mackenzie, Nnamdi Onyeagwara
Producer: John Rogers
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It's been a low-key transfer window as the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules showed their teeth.
Saudi spending paused, the “Chelsea loophole” closed and clubs instead left scouring the market for loans or cut-price deals.
The summer, however, things could ramp up again though clubs will start to work with two deadlines in mind!
Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic's Oli Kay and Joey D'Urso to discuss the impact of financial restrictions on the state of the transfer market and whether or not the paralysis could continue into the summer market.
James Horncastle, Dermot Corrigan and Seb Stafford-Bloor also drop by to paint the picture across Europe explaining the financial landscape in Italy, Spain and Germany respectively.
Produced by Guy Clarke
Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead
Further reading:
What Europe’s leading clubs will need to do in the summer of two transfer deadlines - The Athletic
What is PSR and why do Premier League rules only allow clubs to lose £105m? - The Athletic
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Manchester United say Marcus Rashford has “taken responsibility for his actions” and will be available for selection again after being dropped
This after we reported Rashford went for a night before reporting ill & missing training the following day
United says that the disciplinary matter has been dealt with internally and is now closed.
But given how the likes of Jadon Sancho were dealt with, has Erik ten Hag been tough enough with Rashford?
Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic’s Mark Critchley & Andy Mitten who writes about United for us & is also editor of fanzine United We Stand.
Produced by Jay Beale.
Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead
Further Reading:
Have Manchester United been tough enough with Marcus Rashford? - The Athletic
Marcus Rashford is testing the patience of fans who fear his talent could be wasted - The Athletic
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After a humiliating defeat on Saturday, Barcelona manager Xavi announced he’d be stepping down from his position at the end of the season.
So what led Xavi to make this decision when he did?
And as financial troubles & power struggles continue behind scenes whilst the team struggle on the pitch
What next for Barcelona?
Is it time for a cultural reset for the club with perhaps the most famous identity in world football?
Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic’s La Liga writer Dermot Corrigan and our FC Barcelona correspondent Pol Ballus
Produced by Jay Beale
Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead
Further reading: Xavi’s Barcelona resignation: The full story behind his decision to step down in June
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On Friday morning the world of football was shaken by news Jurgen Klopp is to leave Liverpool at the end of the season.
After more than eight years in charge the German is to walk away in the summer, leaving the Reds in need of a new management team including a new Sporting Director, manager and first team coaching staff.
So how do Liverpool go about beginning their search for a successor to their most successful manager of the Premier League era?
Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic's football correspondent David Ornstein, Liverpool writer James Pearce and German football writer, and author of the Jurgen Klopp biography Bring The Noise, Raphael Honigstein to analyse Klopp's decision to leave and explain where it leaves Liverpool.
Produced by Guy Clarke
Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead
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Adam Leventhal and co return to preview another bumper FA Cup weekend, featuring 16 matches, including several heavyweight Premier League ties.
Friday night sees Spurs welcome Man City back to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, a match in which they boast a remarkable record: five games played, five wins, zero goals conceded. Can Man City snap the streak?
Also on Friday, Aston Villa head to Stamford Bridge. The Villains may be way ahead in the league, but Chelsea are coming off the back of recent cup success, reaching the Carabao Cup final on Tuesday.
Elsewhere we have a Black Country Derby, with West Brom hosting Wolves. We catch up with how the home side has fared since Premier League relegation in 2021 and ask whether they can upset the odds come Sunday.
Host: Adam Leventhal
Guests: Tim Spiers, Jon Mackenzie, Luke Bosher
Producer: John Rogers
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Liverpool have announced that Jurgen Klopp is stepping down as manager at the end of the season.
After a hugely successful eight and a half years at the club, Klopp will take a sabbatical.
So what next for him, and what next for Liverpool?
The Athletic's Liverpool correspondent James Pearce reacts to this seismic news.
Host: Iain Macintosh
Producer: Mike Stavrou
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