Thore Haugstad

Mesut Özil The World Cup winner has been marooned on the wing again this season, but he's drawn the short straw for a reason, writes Thore Haugstad...

Cristiano Ronaldo As Liverpool gear up to face European champions Real Madrid, Thore Haugstad assesses how Brendan Rodgers can possibly hope to stop CR7 at Anfield...

Diego Costa Jose Mourinho held off fixing his striker crisis last season with the Brazil-born striker in mind. Thore Haugstad explains why...

FFT 50 Managers He’s been in his job for less than two years and has won as many Champions Leagues as Mourinho, Ferguson or Guardiola. Zinedine Zidane is an enigma – and a winner

Stats Zone After their humbling by PSG, Thore Haugstad explains why the Catalans have become a different team under their current boss

FFT100 Nobody in Europe's big five leagues has scored more goals in 2017. Nobody in La Liga has managed more assists, chances created, dribbles or key passes. Since summer he has almost single-handedly dragged a Barça side in crisis to the La Liga summit, and his country to the World Cup. He is the best player in the world...  

FFT100 Not even a Double-winning campaign with Real Madrid earns CR7 top spot in the FFT100 this year – but that shouldn't detract from the continued excellence of the five-time Ballon d'Or winner

Chelsea The Blues boss has a unique set of skills that few managers can match, explains Thore Haugstad

A magic recipe for winning the Champions League has materialised over the last four years. Sadly for Liverpool, it contains ingredients they do not have

Real Madrid From being pre-season Liga favourites to eight points behind Barcelona, Real Madrid’s poor form is threatening to make for a disastrous campaign. Thore Haugstad explores the situation as Los Blancos prepare to face Tottenham in the Champions League

Barcelona The Barcelona superstar has filled many different roles over the years, but it’s only recently that he’s taken on the position many expected him to play from the start – and become even better. Why did it take so long?

Arsenal ​Setting up defensively won’t offset the Gunners’ weakness at the back. As dangerous as it sounds, Unai Emery must set his side up to attack

Women's World Cup Her ongoing dispute with the Norwegian Football Federation continues, as she misses yet another major competition for her country. Thore Haugstad explains why

Barcelona They were once the finest club in the world for developing talent, but now Barça's brightest hopes are leaving for better opportunities elsewhere. The tables have turned with Real Madrid, writes Thore Haugstad 

Real Madrid Los Blancos’ three consecutive Champions League titles are doing nothing for them in a dreadful season so far – but why such a miserable slide? Thore Haugstad investigates

Chelsea Roman Abramovich isn't exactly renowned for his patience, but Thore Haugstad explains why the Blues owner should finally take a longer-term view with his latest manager

FFT100 Chuckles were barely stifled when Liverpool spent £75m on the Dutchman in January. Now he's arguably the best centre-back on the planet – and nobody's laughing any more

Tottenham Hotspur No signings, injuries to large swathes of his squad, major stadium delays and more. Unlike Jose Mourinho, the Argentine has battled through it all to break more records at Spurs

FFT100 Had it not been for Luka Modric steering Croatia to a World Cup final, CR7 would surely have taken his sixth Ballon d'Or title. He turns 34 in February – not that it seems to make a blind bit of difference... 

FFT100 He was man of the match in Europa League and World Cup finals, and refuses to hide his disappointment at the lack of Ballon d'Or recognition. Better win that Champions League in 2019, then...

FFT100 The all-time record for goals in a Premier League season; a starring role as Liverpool reached the Champions League final. In 2018, Salah has been the man with the Midas touch

Year Zero Once, he was an unknown kid suffering relegation – then became the hottest young striker in Europe. This is how the 2002/03 season changed the life of this young Spaniard forever

Chelsea The Blues boss is facing calls for his head, but Thore Haugstad argues that the Italian is a victim of his own success at Stamford Bridge 

Stats Zone The results aren’t lying, writes Thore Haugstad: Zinedine Zidane’s side are doing better when Bale, Benzema and Cristiano aren’t on the pitch at the same time

Premier League The Belgium international remains banned for the visit of Jurgen Klopp's charges. As Thore Haugstad explains, his drive and composure in the engine room will be sorely missed...