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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It doesn’t seemthat long ago, that Pep’s Barcelona were the epitome of a well-run football club.
Moving on from Messi & co was always going to be difficult, but a series of failings on and off the pitch, led to a fall from grace. Only last month however, President Joan Laporta proclaimed the crisis he ‘inherited’ was over.
But, as the reigning La Liga Champions’, net debt climbs to almost £1.2bn - is everything quite as it seems at Barca?
In the second part of our series ‘Crisis Clubs’, examining the financial states of five European football clubs, Ayo Akinwolere, Matt Slater & Dermot Corrigan dig into the numbers and plot a potential way out for Barcelona.
Produced by Adonis Pratsides and Mike Stavrou
Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead
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On Friday came the news that Everton have been hit with an unprecedented 10-point deduction for breaching the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules.
Leaving Everton with only four points, and in the relegation zone, despite an up-turn in recent form on the pitch…
So today, we’ll explain why Everton have been punished, what happens next & what it might mean for clubs like Manchester City and Chelsea.
Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic’s Senior football news reporter Matt Slater, Football Correspondent David Ornstein & Everton writer Patrick Boyland.
Produced by Adonis Pratsides
Additional Production: Jay Beale
Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead
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An international break gives Adam Leventhal and co a chance to sit down and reflect on the 12 gameweeks of Premier League action so far.
With the help of Nick Miller, Jay Harris, and Caoimhe O’Neill, we start by asking whether Man City can be beaten to the title this season, with Liverpool and Arsenal looking like the key contenders.
Then it's a trip to the foot of the table, and wondering whether the three promoted clubs - Burnley, Sheffield United, and Luton - can escape instant relegation.
And finally, it's a tour of our moments of the season so far, featuring our favourite goals, matches, players, signings, and more!
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• This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Find your bright spot this season, with BetterHelp. Visit BetterHelp.com/ATHLETICFOOTBALL today to get 10% off your first month.
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After the news that Manchester United CEO Richard Arnold will be stepping down to be replaced by Patrick Stewart on an interim basis, and with billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s company INEOS set to buy a 25 per cent stake in United, does this move represent the start of a change of direction after a difficult 12 months at the club?
And can United live up to the claim they made to investors, that with the right support they can enjoy billion pound revenues?
Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic’s Adam Crafton & Dan Sheldon.
Produced by Guy Clarke
Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead
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• This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Find your bright spot this season, with BetterHelp. Visit BetterHelp.com/ATHLETICFOOTBALL today to get 10% off your first month.
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Reigning Serie A champions Napoli have parted company with head coach Rudi Garcia after just 16 matches in charge…
Walter Mazzarri is the surprise replacement having previously been in charge of the club in 2013..
So how have Napoli gone from winning their first league title in 33 years to sacking their manager just six months later?
Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic's Italian football writer James Horncastle.
Produced by Mike Stavrou
Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead
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• This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Find your bright spot this season, with BetterHelp. Visit BetterHelp.com/ATHLETICFOOTBALL today to get 10% off your first month.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Having taken Bayer Leverkusen from the relegation zone to the top of the Bundesliga within 13 months of taking charge, Xabi Alonso has made a meteoric start to his managerial career.
After playing under some of the biggest names in coaching during his playing career, including the likes of Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti and Rafa Benitez, Alonso has already begun to forge an impressive reputation for himself.
The Athletic's Raphael Honigstein and Thom Harris join Ayo Akinwolere to analyse Alonso's start in coaching at Leverkusen, which influences have shown within his side as well as assessing what could come next for the former Liverpool, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich midfielder.
Produced by Guy Clarke
Additional Production by Mike Stavrou
Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead
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• This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Find your bright spot this season, with BetterHelp. Visit BetterHelp.com/ATHLETICFOOTBALL today to get 10% off your first month.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Amongst the chaos at Stamford Bridge yesterday there was a top draw performance from one of the usual suspects in Raheem Sterling.
But despite being one of the best players on the pitch in Chelsea’s four four draw with Manchester City, Sterling has - once again - not made the latest England squad.
So is Sterling being unfairly overlooked or has Gareth Southgate moved on with new faces, such as Chelsea teammate Cole Palmer?
Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic's Man City writer Sam Lee, Chelsea writer Simon Johnson as well as Oli Kay.
Produced by Guy Clarke
Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead
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• This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Find your bright spot this season, with BetterHelp. Visit BetterHelp.com/ATHLETICFOOTBALL today to get 10% off your first month.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Adam Leventhal welcomes Jay Harris, Jon Mackenzie, and Omar Garrick to the studio to preview the weekend's fixtures.
Chelsea vs Manchester City headlines the weekend's action as Pochettino's side look to claim another big scalp after taking down Spurs on Monday.
Tottenham will look to regroup despite losing four key players to injury or suspension as they take a trip to Wolves.
Elsewhere, Brighton are five games without a Premier League win; we ask Tifo tactics expert Jon Mackenzie whether other managers have figured them out, or if it's just a blip, as they prepare to take on Sheffield United.
Finally, as Manchester United lurch from one crisis to another, surely they have enough to beat Luton at home?
All that and more!
Produced by John Rogers
Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead
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• Make time to chill this holiday season and reach for the beer that’s Made to Chill. Get Coors Light delivered straight to your door with Drizly or Instacart by going to coorslight.com/athleticfootball
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Both Rasmus Hojlund and Nicolas Jackson have felt the weight of expectation following their respective summer moves to Man United and Chelsea.
To analyse their starts to life in the Premier League Ayo Akinwolere is joined by former Liverpool striker Neil Mellor and ex-Brighton & Hove Albion forward Glenn Murray as well as The Athletic's Oliver Kay.
The panel assess the impact of the environment both players are operating in, the options available within the transfer market for 'elite' clubs as well as what it will take for both Hojlund and Jackson to succeed.
Produced by Guy Clarke
Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead
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• Make time to chill this holiday season and reach for the beer that’s Made to Chill. Get Coors Light delivered straight to your door with Drizly or Instacart by going to coorslight.com/athleticfootball
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic's German football writers Raphael Honigstein and Seb Stafford-Bloor as well as ex-Bundesliga striker Jan Aage Fjortoft to analyse Borussia Dortmund following their 2-0 Champions League win over Newcastle United.
Having lost out on the Bundesliga title on the final day of the 2022/23 season before selling Jude Bellingham to Real Madrid in the summer, the panel analyse what is possible for Edin Terzic's side both domestically and in Europe.
With Bellingham following on from the likes of Erling Haaland and Jadon Sancho in leaving Dortmund in recent seasons, we also delve into their changing approach in the transfer market as well as the influence of their supporters.
Produced by Guy Clarke
Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead
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• Make time to chill this holiday season and reach for the beer that’s Made to Chill. Get Coors Light delivered straight to your door with Drizly or Instacart by going to coorslight.com/athleticfootball
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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