Manager Didier Deschamps will miss France's final Group I game following the death of his mother.

The French Football Federation have confirmed that Deschamps was informed of the news on Tuesday morning and has been given leave to fly back home from North America to attend the funeral.

Assistant manager Guy Stephan will now take charge of France's meeting with Norway on Friday.

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Didier Deschamps returns home to France

France and Norway are already guaranteed passage out of Group I together after both claiming back-to-back wins over Senegal and Iraq in their first two games of the World Cup.

That puts them level on points at the top of the group, with France holding the advantage on goal difference.

The winners of Group I will face one of the best eight third-placed teams in the round of 32, and would be set for a meeting with Germany in the round of 16 if both teams were to get that far.

The Group I runners-up will meanwhile face their equivalents from Group E, which looks likely to be the Ivory Coast, but could be either Ecuador or Curacao.

There is no confirmation yet as to when Deschamps is expected to return to North America, with France's knock-out game set to be played on Tuesday, June 30.

Deschamps announced last year that he will step down from the national team following the World Cup, having been in charge since 2012.

Zinedine Zidane is reported to have made a verbal agreement to succeed his former Juventus and France teammate as manager.

The pair won the World Cup together on home turf in 1998 and won the Euros two years later, with Deschamps adding yet another winner's medal to his collection as manager at the 2018 World Cup.

France were defeated finalists at the last edition of the tournament, falling to a 4-3 defeat to Argentina in one of the greatest World Cup finals of all time.

The France-Norway game will kick off at 3pm local time (8pm UK time) on Friday, June 26. Boston's Gillette Stadium will be the venue for the occasion.

Jurgen Klopp has hit back at a series of incendiary comments made by former Netherlands attacker Rafael van der Vaart.

The Netherlands prevailed in a 5-1 victory against Sweden on Saturday, after drawing their opener against Japan in an action-packed 2-2 stalemate.

Van der Vaart was quick to criticise Virgil van Dijk, even after a comprehensive victory, which did not go down well with the centre-back's former manager at Liverpool.

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Jurgen Klopp fires back at 'attention-seeking' Rafael van der Vaart, after former Netherlands attacker criticises Virgil van Dijk

Jurgen Klopp is making it a habit to defend his former players amidst media and pundit criticism, despite his Anfield reign concluding two years ago.

The German was quick to defend Mohamed Salah late last year, after his former player came under scrutiny for an inflammatory interview.

Now, Klopp has came to Van Dijk's aid, after the former Netherlands attacker described him as akin to a Boeing 747 in his movements.

Speaking about the centre-back's speed, Van Der Vaart said: "I have to be honest: I was quite shocked by Van Dijk.

"I thought, 'that doesn't look good.' Especially while turning... a bit like a Boeing 747 turning. I hope he starts turning a bit faster during the tournament," he concluded.

In response, Klopp was ruthless in his total shutting down of Van Der Vaart's opinion, describing the former Netherlands attacker as "not worth mentioning."

"If he ever says something positive about any player at some point, then I'll be happy to take him seriously again," said the German.

Klopp continued: "You get the feeling he sees something, and then it has to be formulated in a flowery way.

"And then he's really against it. But that way, it's really not important," said the German, questioning the integrity of Van Der Vaart's criticism.

Van Dijk and the Netherlands currently top Group F with four points, despite tying on points, goal difference and head-to-head vs Japan.

Ronald Koeman's men return to 2026 World Cup action against bottom of the group Tunisia on Friday, hoping to maintain their top spot.

Jesse Marsch and his Canada side recorded a 6-0 win over Qatar in their second Group B match at this summer's World Cup - the country's first-ever victory at the Finals.

However, the feat was marred by a horrific injury to Canada's Ismael Kone during the second half of the match.

Sassuolo midfielder Kone was tackled unlawfully by Qatar player Assim Madibo, resulting in a serious leg injury for the Canada man.

Jesse Marsch accuses Qatar staff of 'strange behaviour'

Players formed a protective huddle around Kone whilst he underwent treatment for his injury, which is a suspected leg break.

Madibo was initially shown a yellow card which after VAR review was upgraded to a red and ordered from the field.

It left Qatar with nine men after an earlier sending off had cost Homam Elamin his place in the game.

Following Madibo's tackle and ensuing medical intervention on the field, members of Canada and Qatar backroom staff had to be separated as tempers flared.

Then, at full-time, Marsch and Lopetegui became involved in an altercation that saw Lopetegui deep in conversation with the former Leeds manager.

Marsch, evidently unhappy with what the Qatar boss had to say, thrust his arms into the air and walked away from Lopetegui, before refusing to discuss his opposite number in the post-match press conference.

"I'm not wasting a single second talking about that," Marsch told reporters, adding it was 'strange behaviour' from the Qatar bench to argue Madibo should not have been expelled from the field.

“The player apologised to Ismael," Marsch added. "He came into the dressing room. The team let him know that happened.”

The Canada boss and Kone's teammates have since paid a visit to the 24-year-old in a nearby Vancouver hospital before he undergoes surgery.

Canada are expected to qualify for the Round of 32 courtesy of the four points gained from their opening two Group B matches. Their final group stage match is versus Switzerland next Wednesday, June 24.

Marcelo Bielsa has never done things by the book, from sitting on an ice box during matches to examining the legs of a teenage Mauricio Pochettino to assess whether he would make it as a footballer.

It is why the legendary coach has earned the nickname ‘El Loco’ across a career spanning four decades in which he has combined trailblazing tactics with bizarre behaviour.

Bielsa’s latest challenge is leading Uruguay at the FIFA World Cup 2026, and he showed why he remains one of the most captivating figures in the game with his actions during his official FIFA portrait pictures for the tournament.

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'There is a limit in terms of what we need to explain' Why Marcelo Bielsa remains as captivating as ever

While most players and coaches would naturally face the camera - some may even crack a smile, or strike a pose from the menu of random actions now synomous with modern football - Bielsa stubbornly stared at the floor rather than looking down the lens.

When asked to explain the episode following Uruguay’s 1-1 draw with Saudi Arabia in their Group H opener on Monday, the 70-year-old was unrepentant.

“I don’t have to give any explanation, the picture was taken the way it was taken,” he said. “I’m not a model.”

Bielsa returned to the subject unprovoked shortly after, adding: “There is a limit in terms of what we need to explain.

“If I’m wearing glasses, why am I wearing glasses? You look somebody in the eye, why do you do that? There is nothing wrong about wearing glasses or looking into somebody’s eyes or looking down.”

It is not the first time Bielsa has made headlines with his comments as Uruguay boss, having called a two-hour press conference following his side’s 5-1 thrashing by the USA in Florida last November.

After a result that left the former Leeds United manager under intense pressure, he explained: “When I arrive, the environment becomes tense. That’s why I appear infrequently. I’m toxic. To associate yourself with me makes you worse off. Do you understand me?”

Bielsa’s utterings would have come as no surprise to fans of Leeds, who he managed from 2018 to 2022, leading them back into the Premier League in 2020 after 16 years away.

In January 2019, a member of Leeds' coaching staff was caught spying on a training session being held by upcoming opponents Derby County - and Bielsa responded by calling a press conference, in which he revealed that the club had spied on all of their opponents that season and spent an hour giving a detailed tactical breakdown of his methods.

It provided a fascinating insight into the mind of a man who perhaps would not be so influential if he wasn’t a little bit ‘Loco’. Pep Guardiola has previously called Bielsa the greatest coach in the world, while the former Argentina and Chile boss has left his mark on numerous high-profile coaches including Diego Simeone, Andoni Iraola and Mauricio Pochettino.

His relationship with the latter began in bizarre fashion, when he visited the family home of a teenage Pochettino in the middle of the night when he managed Argentinian side Newell’s Old Boys. After asking the youngster’s parents if he could see him, Bielsa examined Pochettino’s legs and declared “he has the legs of a footballer”.

From that incident right up to his actions in the past few days, Bielsa has always done things differently. His comments after this latest episode even earned him support from several fans online, as his refusal to play ball with FIFA felt like a minor protest against arguably the most commercialised World Cup of all time.

Football has changed almost beyond recognition since Bielsa started coaching Newell’s Old Boys II in 1987, but he has not changed one bit - and it is a welcome antidote to the ills of the modern game.

Ruben Amorim will be back in the dugout after landing a new job, five months on from being dismissed at Manchester United.

The Portuguese coach endured a tough spell with the Red Devils. He may have made it to the Europa League final in 2024/25, but never managed to deliver the success the fans, or the board, demanded.

Now, though, Amorim can put that behind him and look forward to a new opportunity at another huge club.

Ruben Amorim set to take over at AC Milan

After sacking Massimiliano Allegri for finishing fifth in Serie A last season, in what was described as "an unequivocal failure", AC Milan are embarking on a new chapter with Amorim at the helm.

Reports suggested the 47-year-old would make the move to Italy, and now Fabrizio Romano has all but confirmed the appointment.

Taking to Twitter/X on Monday morning, Romano posted: "BREAKING: Rúben Amorim to AC Milan as new head coach, HERE WE GO!

"Verbal agreement done on deal valid until June 2028 plus option until June 2029. Amorim has accepted all conditions and will sign this week as new Milan manager."

Amorim will now be tasked with restoring the Italian giants to their former glory. Milan have not won the Serie A title since 2021/22, while fierce rivals Inter have added their 20th and 21st title since then.

Having been a serial winner during his time in Portugal, Amorim will be hoping he, too, can get back to his best after the rough spell at Manchester United.

Amorim had a 71.3% win rate at Sporting Lisbon, but that dropped to just 39.7% during his time in England.

Amorim's expected appointment comes after a number of high-profile coaches were linked with the post.

Mauricio Pochettino, who got the USA off to a flying start at the World Cup with a 4-1 win over Paraguay at the weekend had been mentioned, as had former Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner, who left the Eagles at the end of the season following the UEFA Conference League victory.

Another former Manchester United boss in Ralf Rangnick had also been linked with the San Siro position.

Carlo Ancelotti and Brazil endured a difficult afternoon yesterday in their Group C face-off against Morocco, which ended in a 1-1 stalemate.

Facing off against the reigning Africa Cup of Nations champions — albeit, the strangest champions in the tournament’s history — the anticipation was high.

Brazil, footballing royalty, likely did not anticipate a first half of Morocco dominance, and national team boss Carlo Ancelotti made a worrying admission about his side in the aftermath of their performance.

‘Nerves all over the place’ admits Carlo Ancelotti after Brazil vs Morocco, World Cup 2026

The Brazilians had the opportunity to prevent Morocco’s first half dominance before it had even fully began, with a golden chance after just 13 minutes.

That opportunity fell to Brentford striker Igor Thiago, fresh off the back of a whopping 22 goal campaign in the 2025/26 Premier League season.

Bizarrely, the bagsman produced a miss that left pundits mystified and afraid to speak their mind, sending his header off target.

The opportunity amounted to 0.52xG, a staggering amount for an open play opportunity, with the ball travelling halfway to the corner flag.

Shortly after, Morocco opened the scoring with a glorious finish, entering the second half with a solid momentum and well-deserved lead.

In the second, Vinicius Jr was the hero for Brazil, scoring a wonderful goal of his own, and it’s perhaps no surprise that he was the man to do it considering Ancelotti’s post-match comments.

Vinicius knows how to handle and prevail over nerves at the highest level, having scored in and won two Champions League finals with Real Madrid.

Speaking after the match, Ancelotti said: “I think the team was a bit anxious in the beginning. Nerves were all over the place.

“[We] didn’t keep a lot of ball possession. In the second half, it was a lot better, but it was still tough. I’m sure the team will play better next match,” he continued.

While Brazil’s play did improve in the second half, Ancelotti’s side did not reach the same heights as Morocco’s early dominance, and created less attacking threat than their opponents.

Vinicius, arguably the best player for Brazil on the day, also offered firm words for his teammates, echoing Ancelotti’s concerns.

“We’ve got to hold onto the ball,” said the La Liga star. “We’ve got to move better… but I don’t think there’s a lot to say now. I think we really have to improve.”

In Season One, Episode One of The Sopranos, James Gandolfini’s legendary character, mob boss Tony Soprano, sits in a therapy session in his hometown of New Jersey and laments: “Whatever happened to Gary Cooper? The strong, silent type. That was an American. He wasn’t in touch with his feelings. He just did what he had to do."

Cooper was a laconic Hollywood movie star, famous for his understated, stoic acting, and masculinity, which becomes a recurring theme throughout The Sopranos – which is widely regarded as the greatest television series of all time. Tony develops a slight obsession with Cooper, and the idea of the strong, silent man in control of everything. A deliberate irony on the part of the show’s writer, David Chase, who has implanted a dark, impulsive nature and explosive temper in his main protagonist, making him Cooper’s polar opposite.

If Tony Soprano were sitting down to enjoy this summer’s World Cup, where the final will be held about a 20-25 minute drive (depending on traffic) from his fictional home in North Caldwell, he would have a lot of time for Carlo Ancelotti.

Don Carlo’s quiet leadership prioritises player freedom over rigid systems. Where Tony Soprano deals with rage by flipping over his therapist’s glass coffee table, Ancelotti raises his left eyebrow 20 degrees. Both actions carry equal weight.

Ancelotti’s CV commands the ultimate respect: the only manager in history to have won league titles in all five of Europe’s top divisions, the first and only manager to win five Champions League titles. A managerial career that has amassed over 30 trophies.

And now to the international stage. A return to North America, where he stood in 100-degree heat next to Arrigo Sacchi in 1994 as his assistant with Italy, and watched Roberto Baggio blaze the ball high into the Pasadena sky. Ironically (at the time of writing), Italy won’t be at the tournament.

Ancelotti’s appointment as manager of Brazil could be a masterstroke. He has healthy relationships with many of their stars and has shifted the Seleção away from its reliance on individual flair and steered them toward a more balanced, tactically disciplined structure designed to win ugly where necessary. A quality they’ve lacked in previous tournaments, but will need this summer.

"Woke up this morning... got Brazil a sixth star."

Pep Guardiola’s Etihad Stadium reign came to an end at the conclusion of the 2025/26 season, which saw the Spaniard lift the FA and Carabao Cups one final time.

Manchester City have seemingly turned to ex-Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca as the candidate deemed most suitable to follow in the legendary Guardiola’s footsteps.

But before his official Cityzen coronation, the Manchester club are embroiled in more legal drama: this time, subject to compensation claims from Maresca’s previous London employers.

Chelsea hold up Maresca to Manchester City deal

Maresca left Stamford Bridge in January of this year, replaced by Liam Rosenior, who also exited the club months later.

The Italian, who oversaw a turbulent 2025 for Chelsea, departed with three-and-a-half years remaining on his contract, leading to a financial dispute.

That is directed towards Manchester City, Maresca’s next employers, with the request for compensation causing a hold-up in his announcement as the club's next manager.

Chelsea have apparently refused to sign off on a contractual release for the Italian, making it impossible for Maresca to become Guardiola’s successor in Manchester, as things stand.

That refusal will only happen should Manchester City be unable to meet their financial demands, which was disputed initially due to being a seven-figure.

Manchester City fans will be relieved to know that the deal being brokered between the club’s respective legal teams is edging closer to an agreement.

According to a report from Sky Sports, Manchester City are hopeful that an adequate compensation package and deal will be brokered by the week’s end.

As a result, the Cityzens expect to formally announce Maresca as the club’s next manager once an agreement has been reached, likely this weekend.

It is expected that Chelsea will refuse to settle without receiving the largest possible payout from Manchester City, with all cards firmly held by the West London club.

The Italian has large shoes to fill: with Guardiola’s haul extending to six Premier League titles, one Champions League trophy, and too many domestic cups to count.

Guardiola's successor has been in recent talks with the man himself, as well as discussions with the club regarding summer transfer activity.

Maresca’s first games at the helm of Manchester City will be during the club’s Far East Asia pre-season tour, ahead of the ex-Chelsea man’s debut Etihad campaign.

A new era at Anfield is almost here, following Arne Slot’s sacking after he oversaw the most defeats in a single season for the Reds this millennium.

Andoni Iraola is now all but confirmed to be the man who will take over from his Dutch predecessor at Liverpool, known for his aggressive, chaotic and suffocating style of attacking play.

The Spaniard managed Bournemouth between the years of 2023 and 2026, leading the Cherries to a sixth-placed Premier League season finish last campaign.

Iraola is set to sign a two-year Liverpool contract, but why?

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has revealed the length of Iraola’s Liverpool contract to be just two years, tracking with the Spaniard’s history of only signing short-term deals.

Iraola previously revealed to BBC Radio Solent last October his thought process behind signing short-term contracts, stating that money isn’t of importance to him.

“I think Bournemouth is the only time I’ve signed [a contract for] two years. In the case of managers, contracts are not as important as in the players’ cases,” said the Spaniard.

“I don’t want to continue in a club just because I have a contract. I want to continue because both sides are happy and they want to continue together.”

Iraola confirmed that his managerial inspiration, Marcelo Bielsa — known for his short-term contract preference and ranked at no. 77 in FourFourTwo's list of the greatest managers ever — influenced him, as well as his own Spanish heritage.

The Spaniard acknowledged that managerial tenures are different in England, with the host pointing out that extended, often up to six-year deals are commonplace in the Premier League.

“Signing a contract just to have the assurance that if they sell you, you will receive money… I wouldn’t feel really pleased with this,” continued the ex-Athletic Bilbao man.

“You have to earn the right every season. Sometimes, even if you don’t get the best results, maybe the club is very happy with your work. And it happens the opposite way.

“Every year has to be a renewal of confidence from both sides — it doesn’t matter what the contract situation is,” said Iraola.

The soon-to-be Liverpool boss will also be bringing members of his Cherries coaching staff with him to Anfield, continuing his successful, pre-existing Premier League partnerships.

Arne Slot was sacked by Liverpool last weekend after overseeing one of the lowest points tallies to achieve Champions League qualification in modern top-flight history.

Andoni Iraola, ex-Athletic Bilbao player turned ‘Rock n Roll’ football manager, remains in pole position to take the reins at Liverpool.

The Spaniard, who led Bournemouth to European football qualification in the 2025/26 season, will be bringing members of his coaching staff with him to Anfield, but who are they?

Andoni Iraola’s assistants at Liverpool

According to a report from Ben Jacobs, the Spaniard is set to bring two members of his coaching staff with him to Anfield ahead of the 2026/27 season.

The first is Tommy Elphick, former professional player at Brighton, Bournemouth, Aston Villa and more, who was one of Iraola’s assistant coaches at the Cherries.

Last week, the 38-year-old rejected the opportunity to manage Bristol City, opting instead to remain faithful to the Spaniard, whose Anfield arrival is all but confirmed.

Elphick began his coaching career with the Bournemouth development squad in late 2021, after retiring from professional football just a month prior.

The 38-year-old was promoted to the first team environment during the 2022/23 season, working with head coach Gary O’Neil.

His ventures this season, working alongside Iraola to secure a Cherries sixth-place finish, prompted his former team-mate, Matt Tubbs, to describe Elphick’s hand as “one of the strongest going” to BBC Radio Solent after news broke of his Bristol City rejection.

Liverpool will be the beneficiary of that decision, as well as the arrival of another first-team Bournemouth assistant coach, Shaun Cooper.

The 42-year-old, also an ex-professional who spent much of his playing days with the Cherries, was promoted alongside Elphick in 2022/23 after the sacking of Scott Parker.

Ironically, the pair’s coaching careers could come full-circle, with Parker’s departure being the direct result of a 9-0 Anfield loss — now set to become Iraola’s assistants at Liverpool.

Bournemouth almost spoiled Arsenal’s Premier League title push this season, with a 2-1 victory away at the Emirates in early March.

Years prior, they did spoil Arsenal's title march, beating the Gunners 2-0 at home during the 2023/24 season in which Mikel Arteta’s men finished second.

Again, ironically, the Cherries prevailed on the day with set piece brilliance — which Arsenal relied heavily on in their Premier League title win this year — with Ryan Christie bagging from an ingenious corner routine.

The move was genius: a quick pass along the ground to an incoming runner, flicked back to an edge-of-the-box Christie, who lashed the ball into the top left corner.

Bournemouth inflicted Arsenal’s first away defeat of 2024 with that strike, followed later by a dagger penalty from Justin Kluivert, with Cooper being described as responsible for the set piece from the goalscorer Christie.

Liverpool fans will rest easy this summer in the knowledge that they aren’t just gaining a manager known for his heavy-metal football, which a recently departed Mohamed Salah begged to see back at the club, but two of the finest assistant coaches around.

Southampton will be playing Championship football next season despite going unbeaten in the 2025/26 play-offs.

The blame for this rests squarely upon the shoulders of first-team head coach Tonda Eckert, who, I must preface, should be applauded for fronting up to the criticism that has fallen at his door in recent weeks.

The Saints were barred from the Championship play-off final against Hull City, and replaced by defeated semi-finalists Middlesbrough, after an independent commission found the south coast club guilty of spying on Boro training in the 72 hours preceding their first leg tie.

Southampton apology video felt insincere after getting play-off boot

Since 2018, it has been forbidden for English Football League (EFL) clubs to observe opponents' training in the three-day period before a fixture.

Even before the original Spygate saga of 2018 - involving Leeds United and Derby County, which prompted a change to EFL legislation - it had always been the case that clubs should behave in good faith towards each other, so much so, that it is written into the EFL rules.

Since taking the top job at Southampton, Eckert has overseen a spying campaign on the Saints' upcoming opponents, to which the club have admitted being a party to in at least two other cases.

Eckert delivered an eight-minute video message, primarily to the club's supporters, but clearly intended for a wider audience, this week, apologising for the sins committed which resulted in Southampton receiving an unprecedented play-off expulsion.

Maintaining intense eye contact down the camera lens, almost as if he were observing a Middlesbrough training session shot on an iPhone, Eckert took his medicine and owned up to the actions that ultimately saw Saints miss out on a shot at promotion back to the Premier League.

For all intents and purposes, this seemed to be your bog standard celebrity apology video. The familiar platitudes were laid out: 'I've let you down, I take full responsibility, yadda yadda'. But, hang on, there's still four minutes of this video left.

Turning quicker than a fleet of foot intern whose stealthy plot had been foiled by Rockliffe Hall training ground staff, Eckert began explaining his actions. Hmm. The tone became much less apologetic. To the neutral, you could be excused for thinking the Saints boss didn't really mean everything he'd said in those opening four minutes.

I don't know about you, but whenever I've had to apologise for something, it's usually a brief exchange in which I take responsibility, offer restitution to the aggrieved party and don't bother with the whole, '...but, the thing is you see, I was only doing it because...'. And that's because it's not a great look - even if you still feel like you're in the right.

"When I worked in Italy for over four years, every starting lineup that we've chosen for the games was always out in the media before games," Eckert said. "And the reason is that our training sessions, especially the ones before games, have always been observed from media and opponent teams that we came up against.

"[Pep] Guardiola has spoken about this at his time at Bayern Munich that it has been common practice in Germany to observe training sessions knowing other teams would do the same. I don't want to say this to excuse what we have done, I just want to give you context in the way that I grew up in the football world.

"There's different rules in England, different rules from the EFL and I should have known them.

"The bitter irony is none of what has happened had any effect on sporting performance. I don't want to use this as an excuse.

"I have made a mistake and I take full responsibility."

Eckert had to eat this one, like a big humble parmo. He'd been caught breaking the rules and punished for it. Some might argue Southampton were sanctioned unfairly or disproportionately, but Eckert represents the club, he is the face acting on behalf of those he manages, those who support him and the team, and those he works under, in what he believed to be the club's best interests. Punishment fits the crime, I'm afraid.

But Eckert didn't eat it - and it's likely now he never will, and won't have to. The German coach keeps his job and has instilled a siege mentality at St. Mary's Stadium, based on the social media response from Saints supporters.

Most neutrals could plainly see how it was they, the fans, who were most hard done by. Not Eckert, not Taylor Harwood-Bellis, whose spying celebration in the semi-final second leg, shone a bright light on footballers' intellect once more, and not the suits in the St. Mary's director's box.

The fans will back him, he's their manager and he actually presided over a fantastic run of form to get Southampton into the play-offs in the first place. Winning is the ultimate currency in football. How much the team actually gleaned from their surreptitious activity will never be quantified but even the slimmest advantages can make all the difference in such a low-scoring sport.

So, Eckert has taken responsibility, or has he? He's been apologetic, too, but did he really apologise? Why does all of this matter?

Football clubs are the pillars of local communities and, in an ideal world, you'd like to think those leading your club are upstanding, rule-abiding members of the public. Some aren't, and unfortunately football has a way of attracting them. That is not to broadly suggest Eckert is such an individual - I have never met the man and would not cast aspersions on his character or moral fibre. But in this case, he's been found to be in the wrong.

Eckert cited previous experiences in Italy and Germany, referenced managerial great Guardiola and commented on the 'bitter irony' of spying supposedly giving Southampton no material sporting advantage, almost as if he were justifying his actions, before adding 'I want to provide context'. All it did was make his previous apology feel insincere. Apologies don't require context when they're sincere.

If spying on your opponent offers little tangible benefit, why do it? If unsure of the EFL rules on spying, why not check them? If the club did not know they were in the wrong, why did the analyst flee once rumbled? Why did he have a change of clothes? Probably because Rockliffe doubles as a golf course, so he brought a spare pair of trousers in case he got a hole in one.

If your apology requires context, it is not an apology, it is an explanation. When an explanation of wrongdoing comes from a position of power and strength, it is rarely one which serves the interests of the aggrieved, often weaker, party.

And how about apologising publicly to young intern, Will Salt, made to carry out the dirty work, whose picture was on the back page of every national newspaper? Leaked WhatsApp messages have recently indicated that interns and junior analysts, much lower in seniority than somebody in Eckert's position, felt pressure to conduct Southampton's spying missions.

"I didn't really have an option and wasn't provided an opportunity to say no. I was an intern and was doing what I was told", a junior analyst intern reportedly told peers.

There is still much that doesn't sit right, and probably never will.

Pep Guardiola departed from Manchester City after a decade at the helm, leading his men to six Premier League titles, an elusive Champions League trophy and domestic cup success.

Enzo Maresca’s appointment as Manchester City manager is now imminent, with private talks having taken place between the Italian and Guardiola.

The Cityzens, who won both the FA and Carabao Cup in 2025/26, narrowly lost out on a swan song Premier League victory for the Spaniard, to ex-colleague Mikel Arteta of Arsenal.

Maresca and Guardiola in discussions over Manchester City squad

According to The Athletic, it is understood that Maresca and his Spanish predecessor have been in talks regarding the current Manchester City squad.

Long-time Cityzen veterans Bernardo Silva and John Stones also departed from the Etihad at the previous season’s conclusion, making Maresca’s start to Manchester City life difficult.

However, transfer activity does not appear to be a strict priority for the Italian, with his primary aim being to connect with the current players and impart his philosophy.

Building on Guardiola’s pre-existing structures in Manchester is also of importance to Maresca, likely the motivation for their contact ahead of the Cityzens’ next campaign.

The club’s director of football, Hugo Viana, will oversee Manchester City’s recruitment and sales, with a right-back, central midfielder and winger topping the transfer priority list.

If Maresca is to be involved significantly in any transfer business, it will be in locating an adequate replacement for Silva, with Elliot Anderson being the club’s main target.

In terms of outgoings, Nico Gonzalez remains the most likely for an Etihad exit, however, Tijani Reijnders, Nathan Ake, James Trafford, Josko Gvardiol, Savinho and Omar Marmoush make up a longer list of potential departures.

The club’s financial situation, as ever, is considered healthy, and the no-fee losses of Silva and Stones are not expected to play a role in their transfer activity this summer.

There is potential for deals to be put in place akin to the signing of John Stones replacement Marc Guehi, who joined six months in advance of the veteran’s exit.

Maresca’s initial games as Man City boss are expected to be during the club’s pre-season tour of the Far East. It is not expected to include many senior players, however, the club’s transfer activity will offer the Italian assurances prior to his first fixtures.

At most clubs the manager isn’t the figurehead in the way in which they are at Anfield. Bill Shankly, Bob Paisley and Jurgen Klopp are a deity on Merseyside and around the world.

Rafa Benitez was similarly loved, so too Gerard Houllier. They were perceived, rightly, as being people who understood the football club, its history, its supporters, the city of Liverpool and its working-class roots.

Crucially, they immersed themselves in all aspects as Liverpool Football Club’s leader.

'One of us'

It’s the same for players. Those who go all in and embrace everything about the club are often afforded more leeway when things get difficult, and also remembered fondly for who they were rather than just what they achieved.

Take Andy Robertson as a prime example. A player who was “one of us” on the pitch, as described by The Anfield Wrap and by Klopp himself in their documentary on the departing Scot.

The Perception Problem For Arne Slot

“They (the fans) don’t care that much about the result as long as you sweat and give your blood here, they’ll love you forever,” assessed Mo Salah, quite accurately, while standing next to Robertson after their final game for Liverpool. “This is my message to you guys (other players), it’s not about talent – it’s probably why [Robertson] is loved more than anyone maybe! – you just give it all and the fans love you for that.”

A manager, though, cannot run harder or deliver on the pitch in order to prove their effort. It has to be shown in other, more subtle and often hidden ways.

One of the problems for Arne Slot in his second season at Anfield was that he, and seemingly his coaching staff, failed to understand the role that perception plays with supporters at a club like Liverpool.

When you’re winning, everything is good. But when you’re losing, and Liverpool lost 20 times in all competitions in Slot’s second season, everything is under the microscope. Explanations become excuses. Every detail is hyper-analysed and often misinterpreted.

One of the major talking points among Liverpool fans as the season continued to spiral was Slot’s decision to live close to Manchester airport, often being accused of taking days off for holidays in Ibiza and Dubai, returning for a pre-match press conference in mid-winter with a tan.

Other members of Slot’s staff also lived in Manchester City centre. As the second season struggle hit, accusations of disconnect snowballed among the fan base.

Now, the shadow of Klopp is one that Slot had to work with, but fans share stories of Klopp living alongside Liverpool supporters in nearby Formby, walking his dog and engaging in conversations, going to the local pub, playing lawn bowls, and his family all being part of the community.

It was similar with Benitez, whose family enjoyed life on the Wirral so much they still reside there now. Klopp and his staff embraced everything Liverpool, showing a true understanding of the club and its history. Supporters felt like they knew them.

Liverpool didn't hold pre-match press conferences for Carabao Cup ties under Slot, whereas under Klopp, his assistant, Pepijn Lijnders, took the opportunity to undertake media duties and get his message across to fans. You could file that under a missed opportunity for the likes of Sipke Hulshoff and Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

Slot lived in Cheshire’s so-called ‘golden triangle’ - where many Liverpool, Man City and Man United players reside. It became a talking point among fans. Does it really matter if the Liverpool manager lives on Merseyside? Probably not, but the optics aren’t great, especially when things start to go wrong. Advice to the next manager: live on Merseyside. As an aside, the club's sporting director should probably live on Merseyside, too.

In the final weeks of the season, Slot was pictured having dinner with his family, who hadn’t moved to England with him, in London on a day off. At a time when the Reds had exited both the Premier League and FA Cup in 4-0 defeats, and during a run at the end of the season that saw just three wins in 11 games, it wasn’t well received.

Likewise, his rather poorly judged photo with Wayne Lineker at O Beach in Ibiza - taken during the season but after the title was won - was now used to question Slot’s work ethic. “He never seemed to fully buy into the club,” one supporter told FourFourTwo.

Those accusations from fans have been somewhat corroborated by reporting, via journalist David Lynch, that there were concerns from academy staff that Slot didn’t ‘pay attention’ to the academy, rarely, if ever, watching Under-21s or Under-18s games, and thus frustrating staff. This, it’s now reported, is one of the reasons Liverpool made the decision to sack the Dutchman after just two seasons, with a pathway needing to be provided for youngsters from the academy.

Teenage midfielder Trey Nyoni, who was handed his debut by Klopp aged 16 and was among the subs when Liverpool lifted the League Cup in Klopp’s final season, played just 21 minutes in the Premier League this season. The reluctance to use Rio Ngumoha was also seen as a snub to the academy, while a question on striker Jayden Danns in mid-April saw Slot seemingly unaware that the 20-year-old had actually suffered another injury setback. “He’s now getting back with the U21s, getting some playing time,” he said, despite Danns having been subbed with a hamstring issue after just 22 minutes on his comeback the month before.

Head Coach vs. Manager

Perhaps the signs pointed to Slot being less involved from the off, handed the title of head coach rather than manager, wearing a tracksuit for his unveiling press conference. It gave the impression of being a coach rather than a manager; here to work on the training ground. Plus, nobody could ever repeat the all-in approach of his predecessor anyway, and even Klopp admitted he had to change his approach to training the players, admitting a “silly decision” in his second season.

“When I came here, the players had a few days off,” Klopp said. “I changed it and said: ‘How can they have three or four days off or something?’ It was a silly decision. It’s only because I was not used to it. Now we are proper English coaches, we know about the fixtures, the intensity of the next few months. Each possibility for a little break, you have to use. That's what we have to do.”

So Slot’s approach to giving players time off didn’t differ hugely from Klopp’s, but still, stories from former players of the intensity of Klopp's sessions and training in pre-season lived in the memory for supporters. Again, perception is everything, and while Klopp eventually changed to give players time off, Klopp himself didn’t take that time off; helped by his family living with him locally. When FFT asked Klopp in 2021 what he’s looking forward to in life after football, his answer was quick and strong: “Seeing the world. It’s easy (answer).” “I have no time,” he added.

Slot was actually asked about his frequent trips to Ibiza, admitting: “That’s the downside of being a Liverpool manager: if you are somewhere in public, then they can make videos.” “If the sun shines and I can be with my family, then it’s my kind of place,” said Slot, whose very first official words at Liverpool were ironically to say how energised he felt after “the holiday I had.”

Again, there’s nothing truly wrong about it, but perception is everything in football, especially for a manager, and especially at a club like Liverpool. Perhaps Liverpool’s idolisation of their manager is because the club have only had 22 of them in their 134-year history – and only two in the post-war era (Brendan Rodgers and Roy Hodgson) didn’t win a trophy. The next manager needs to ensure they don’t add to that short and unwanted list. They can learn a little about where it went wrong for Slot.

Arne Slot has left Liverpool with immediate effect, shortly after the conclusion of the 2025/26 Premier League season.

A title-winner with the Reds during his first season in charge, Slot failed to replicate his previous success at Anfield and has paid the price with his job.

Liverpool have released a statement confirming the Dutchman has left the club.

Arne Slot sacked by Liverpool

It reads: "Liverpool FC can confirm Arne Slot is to depart his role as head coach with immediate effect and that the process to appoint a successor is under way.

“From the moment that we first encountered Arne, it was immediately clear that he is an individual who does not merely accept responsibility, he embraces it.

"This was evident when he agreed to take over as head coach, when he guided us to the Premier League title and throughout the season just ended when he faced considerable challenges and burdens.

“At the same time, we have collectively come to the conclusion that change is necessary in order for the club to keep moving forward. Again, it must be stressed that this is not a decision which has been reached lightly, anything but.

“We would like to take this opportunity to place on record our appreciation for Arne, who will always hold a special place in the history of this football club as the coach who delivered Liverpool’s 20th league title."

Liverpool are now in the market for a new head coach with the likes of Andoni Iraola available after leaving AFC Bournemouth, having guided the Cherries into Europe.

Manchester City are also in the hunt for a new manager following Pep Guardiola's exit after 10 years at the Etihad Stadium.

Chelsea and Manchester United will also begin the 2026/27 Premier League with new permanent managers, following the appointments of Xabi Alonso and Michael Carrick, respectively.

The timing of Slot's departure comes as something of a shock given previous reports indicated the Dutchman would be given next season to turn the club's fortunes around.

Liverpool finished last season in fifth place, 25 points off champions Arsenal.

Pep Guardiola has confirmed his Manchester City exit.

The Catalan has been manager of the club since 2016 and won 20 trophies in that time, including six Premier League titles, three FA Cups and Manchester City's first Champions League trophy.

Now in a statement on City's official site, it has been confirmed that he will leave the club this summer and take up a role as a City Football Group global ambassador.

Official: Pep Guardiola is leaving Manchester City

After dropping points away to Bournemouth this week and conceding the title to Arsenal, Guardiola refused to speak about his future, insisting that he still needed to discuss it with City's hierarchy and affirming that he had one year left on his contract.

But now, City have confirmed his new role and stated that it will “see him giving technical advice to the clubs in the group, working on specific projects and collaborations.”

“What a time we have had together”, Guardiola said in his statement.

“Don’t ask me the reasons I’m leaving. There is no reason, but deep inside, I know it’s my time. Nothing is eternal, if it was, I would be here. Eternal will be the feeling, the people, the memories, the love I have for my Manchester City.

“This is a city built from work. From graft. You see it in the colour of the bricks. From people who clocked in early, stayed late. The factories. The Pankhursts. The unions. The music. Simply the Industrial Revolution and how this changed the world. And I think I grew to understand that, and my teams did too.”

Guardiola went on to reference the trip to Bournemouth midweek and the Champions League final win in Istanbul, along with the Manchester Arena attack, losing his mother during COVID-19 and the reunion of Oasis last summer.

The 55-year-old leaves English football as the second-most successful boss in Premier League history after Sir Alex Ferguson in terms of titles won, having broken countless records over the years.

City were the first English team to rack up 100 points in the Premier League in 2018 when they won the title, the second team to win a Treble of Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League, and the first team in English footballing history to win four titles on the trot.

Heading into his final match as manager of Manchester City, Guardiola has coached 592 games and won 416, with a staggering win rate of 70.3 per cent.

City face Aston Villa at the Etihad, as Premier League action concludes this weekend.

Arsenal already have their summer transfer priorities firmly in mind as they come to the end of a successful season.

The Gunners will receive the Premier League trophy on Sunday after getting themselves over the line earlier this week by beating Burnley a day before Manchester City were held to a draw at Bournemouth.

That has put a four-point cushion between the two sides with just one more league game left to play - and Arsenal's season is still not over with the Champions League final against PSG set to follow a week on Saturday.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta set to receive transfer boost and contract offer

The Mirror write that Arsenal's progress this season has prompted the club to line up a busy summer in the transfer market as they look to consolidate their position - as well as making a move to tie down Mikel Arteta to a longer deal.

The manager's current deal is set to expire next summer, but Arsenal are reportedly keen on a two-year extension - which is likely to come with a pay rise.

Arsenal are also said to be looking at improving their options in central midfield, left wing, and a move for someone who can play across the front three.

Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez is apparently firmly on Arsenal's wishlist two years on from his departure from Manchester City.

The Argentina international scored 36 goals in 103 games in all competitions for City across two seasons before Atletico signed him in a €95m deal.

Alvarez has 49 goals and 17 assists in 106 games for Atletico, including scoring against Arsenal in their recent Champions League semi-final.

Other players namechecked as being of interest to Arsenal include Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali.

The Italian has been at Newcastle since summer 2023 and has two years left on his existing deal, which may make it the prime time for the Magpies to move him on.

West Ham United midfielder Mateus Fernandes and Porto's Victor Froholdt. are cited as a potential alternatives for Tonali.

Arsenal 'will definitely have to sell' this summer, however, with Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli and Ethan Nwaneri among the potential departures.

There are several big-name managers expected to be on the move this summer, and their potential destinations will be a topic of discussion.

One of them is Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner, who announced he would be departing come the end of the season.

He could well leave having made history, too, with the Eagles competing for their first ever European trophy in the upcoming Conference League final against Rayo Vallecano.

Bayer Leverkusen identify Glasner as first choice

According to Sport Bild, Glasner’s preference was to move to a bigger Premier League club after a largely successful spell with Palace.

But there are increasingly few openings in England, with Manchester United opting to stick with Michael Carrick and Chelsea appointing Xabi Alonso.

That is a promising development for Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen, who have reportedly approached Glasner but had no response.

The Austrian enjoyed previous success in Germany with Eintracht Frankfurt before joining Palace, and his reputation is high in the country.

Leverkusen have dropped off significantly after their unexpected Bundesliga title in 2024 under Alonso, finishing sixth this season under Dane Kasper Hjulmand, who is expected to leave in the summer.

While Glasner is believed to be fully focus on preparation for the Conference League final, Leverkusen reportedly want to reach a decision regarding their next manager by the end of the month.

But it remains to be seen if Glasner is interested in joining the club, a move that could be considered a sideways step.

Leverkusen have qualified for the Europa League, but Palace will do so too if they win the Conference League.

A switch to the German side could mean the opportunity to eventually manage a Champions League side, but it appears Glasner has big ambitions.

In FourFourTwo’s view, it seems likely he will hold out for a job that appeals to him more, even if it means waiting until a few months into next season.

Pep Guardiola has established himself as one of the greatest managers of all time across almost two decades of near-continuous success.

From his generation-defining Barcelona team, to his record-breaking Bayern Munich side and an all-conquering decade at Manchester City, the 55-year-old has won a hatful of trophies at every club he has managed.

But with Guardiola set to leave Manchester City this summer, talk has already turned to where he will go next. Here are the current frontrunners according to Betfair.

10. Liverpool (33/1)

City's battles with Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool was the blockbuster rivalry of the Guardiola era, as the clubs finished in the Premier League top two in three out of four seasons between 2018 and 2022.

Reds manager Arne Slot is under pressure at Anfield despite delivering the club's 20th league title just 12 months ago, but Guardiola is unlikely to want another Premier League job so soon - especially at one of City's direct rivals.

9. Paris Saint-Germain (16/1)

There aren't many elite clubs in Europe in better shape than Paris Saint-Germain right now, with the French champions gearing up to defend their Champions League title against Arsenal in the final on May 30.

Manager Luis Enrique - a former Barca colleague of Guardiola as both a player and a coach - has built an incredible team packed with attacking quality and youthful exuberance in the French capital. The Spaniard is out of contract next summer, but he is reportedly set to sign a new four-year deal so it is unlikely that his job will be vacant any time soon.

8. Argentina (9/1)

The first of four international jobs on this list concerns world champions Argentina, whose manager Lionel Scaloni is out of contract after the 2026 World Cup.

Guardiola already has a great relationship with Albiceleste captain Lionel Messi from their time together at Barcelona, while he previously hinted at going into international management in an interview with Spanish chef Dani Garcia on his Desmontadito YouTube channel: "The thought of starting off somewhere else, with all the process of the training and so on... no, no, no! Maybe a national team but that's different."

7. Spain (15/2)

Another international job that could interest Guardiola is Spain, for whom he won 47 caps during his playing career.

However, that could be complicated by the former Barcelona manager's support of Catalan independence, having even spoken at a rally backing a referendum in the autonomous community.

6. Any MLS club (7/1)

If Guardiola stays in the domestic game, he may want to look beyond the whirlwind existence of European football that has consumed the past 18 years of his life.

He took a year's sabbatical in New York after leaving Barcelona in 2012 and he could be tempted to return to America to manage a club in the MLS, which boasts stars including Messi at David Beckham-owned Inter Miami.

5. Bayern Munich (11/2)

Guardiola won three Bundesliga titles and two DFB Pokals in his three seasons at Bayern but unlike at Barca and City, he fell short of winning the Champions League.

That could leave him feeling he has unfinished business in Bavaria, although Bayern boss Vincent Kompany - Guardiola's captain in his first three campaigns at the Etihad Stadium - has just claimed his second successive league title and is under contract until 2029.

4. Barcelona (5/1)

The club where it all began. Guardiola was appointed Barca boss in summer 2008 after a successful season managing Barcelona B and he swept all before him in four glorious campaigns.

Led by Messi, Xavi and Andres Iniesta, Barca's tiki-taka style was simply irresistible and saw the club win three successive La Liga titles and two Champions Leagues. This would be the romantic choice, but would Guardiola risk tarnishing his legacy if he returned to Camp Nou?

3. Brazil (9/2)

Another romantic option for Guardiola would be Brazil, who remain the most successful team in World Cup history with five titles.

The City boss is said to have long been interested in managing the Selecao, yet he may have to wait some time as current boss Carlo Ancelotti last week extended his contract until the 2030 World Cup.

2. Italy (10/3)

The international job that arguably makes the most sense right now is Italy, who have great tradition but have failed to qualify for the past three World Cups.

There are several reasons to believe this could have legs: the Azzurri are currently without a permanent boss, Guardiola spent two years in the country towards the end of his playing career with Roma and Brescia, and the Italian FA reportedly approached the City manager's camp last month. Watch this space?

1. England (9/4)

Having spent the past 10 years coaching in England, you could argue that managing the Three Lions would be a logical next step for Guardiola.

He was linked with the role last summer before Thomas Tuchel was unveiled, and while the German is under contract until Euro 2028, Guardiola may be happy to take a two-year sabbatical if he knows the job is waiting for him.

Pep Guardiola is set to leave Manchester City this summer, bringing to an end a glittering 10-year spell in which the manager has changed English football.

After months of speculation, reports emerged on Monday night that the 55-year-old is expected to depart at the end of the season, 12 months before the end of his contract.

Since arriving at City in 2016, Guardiola has won six Premier League titles, five Carabao Cups, three FA Cups and the Champions League, establishing the club as the dominant force in the English game.

Details revealed over deal for Pep Guardiola's successor at Manchester City

Guardiola's future has been a hot topic all season and the rumour mill went into overdrive last week when leaked footage appeared to show the former Barcelona boss filming a 'farewell video' on the Etihad Stadium pitch.

While City are yet to officially announce the Catalan's departure, speculation over who might replace him has been rife - and it appears the club have already lined up his successor.

According to transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano, City have "a total verbal agreement" with Enzo Maresca to replace Guardiola, with the former Chelsea manager set to sign an initial three-year deal.

Romano adds that the Italian has "always been considered the ideal candidate" to succeed the legendary coach and the 46-year-old reportedly held talks over the role last month, despite the Etihad hierarchy holding out hope that Guardiola would stay for one more campaign.

Maresca was appointed manager of City's Elite Development Squad in 2020 and won Premier League 2 with their Under 23 side in his only season in charge, before leaving to take charge of Serie A side Parma.

He lasted just 14 games at the Italian club before returning to City, where he was part of Guardiola's first-team staff during the 2022/23 Treble-winning campaign.

Maresca left to manage Leicester City following their relegation from the Premier League and led the Foxes to the Championship title in 2023/24.

The former West Bromwich Albion, Juventus and Sevilla midfielder was then hired by Chelsea and won the Conference League and Club World Cup in his only full season in charge, as well as securing Champions League qualification, before leaving this January amid growing tensions behind the scenes.

There is great mutual respect between Guardiola and Maresca, with the City boss saying earlier this season: "One of the best managers in the world, Enzo Maresca, I know him quite well but, the job he has done at Chelsea does not get enough credit.

"Winning the Club World Cup, Conference League, qualification for the Champions League in a league that is so tough with a young team. It is exceptional."

Pep Guardiola is to leave Manchester City after 10 years.

The Catalan wrapped up his 20th trophy of the decade when he lifted a third FA Cup at Wembley Stadium at the weekend, before reports filtered through last night that Guardiola had just two games remaining as Manchester City boss, starting against Bournemouth tonight.

But while rumours have persisted all season that the 55-year-old – ranked at no.5 in FourFourTwo's list of the greatest managers ever – would wrap up his tenure at the Etihad Stadium a year earlier than his contract stated, this has been a decision that feels a long time in the making

Pep Guardiola lost a key figure at Manchester City – and the club haven't been the same since

With Arsenal needing just one win to clinch. the Premier League title, this could well be the first time that Guardiola has gone two whole seasons back-to-back without winning the league – and though some may have figured that the Catalan wouldn't leave Eastlands without winning it, there is precedence for this decision.

Guardiola's Barcelona exit in 2012 came off the back of losing the La Liga title to Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid after all, with that four-year spell providing clues on the future direction that Guardiola would take.

Guardiola's eventual split with Barça came after friction with his superiors, before a three-year spell with Bayern Munich ended in a similar way – paving the way for the former Barcelona captain to reunite with ex-team-mate Txiki Begiristain at City.

Though some wondered if Pep would stay for a similar length of tenure in England, however, the club had been geared for his arrival: former Barça faces Ferran Soriano and Rodolfo Borrell were key to bringing Pep over and revamping the academy, respectively.

Where Guardiola felt that friction at his previous two jobs, City was a club that had been moulded in his image prior to his arrival, with Begiristain his right-hand man, leading recruitment and helping to bring the manager's vision to life.

With Txiki leaving last summer, though, was it always a matter of time before Pep followed?

The Catalan contingent that shaped City's modern dominance from 2012 onwards has all but moved on, with Hugo Viana replacing Begiristain as the penultimate exit – and, as per Fabrizio Romano, Enzo Maresca's imminent arrival perhaps the last one.

It's very clear that we're coming to an era at Eastlands: Bernardo Silva and John Stones are both leaving, too, as two pillars of this City side for the last decade under Guardiola.

And this season has been a huge departure in style for Pep, with his ball-playing goalkeeper sacrificed for Gianluigi Donnarumma, a more obvious double-pivot, more obvious no.10 and a return to do-it-all wingers.

10 years is more than long enough for an era at City… but it began to unravel 12 months before Guardiola's exit.

Arne Slot’s Liverpool future remains shrouded in doubt, even if it appears the club are set to stick with the Dutchman into next season.

Former midfielder Xabi Alonso was available but has been snapped up by Chelsea, a development that has frustrated many disgruntled Liverpool fans.

It seems that the Reds will instead give Slot another chance, with last season’s Premier League title still relatively fresh in the memory.

Liverpool consider managerial change as Slot concerns grow

Liverpool have been patient with Slot, who was publicly criticised by Mohamed Salah after a 4-2 defeat at Aston Villa.

But, according to TEAMtalk, there are now “serious internal discussions” taking place behind the scenes after a dismal title defence.

Salah’s comments suggesting Liverpool need to return to the “heavy metal” style introduced by Jurgen Klopp have reportedly “triggered significant reflection” amongst the club’s higher-ups.

Several Liverpool players liked Salah’s social media post, and there is growing concern that Slot has lost the backing of his squad and the supporters.

The club’s owners, Fenway Sports Group, are said to be “alarmed” by the atmosphere, while football chiefs Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes are "continuously assessing the situation”.

Liverpool are fifth in the Premier League table heading into their final game of the season, at home to Brentford on Sunday, with Champions League qualification not yet guaranteed.

The defeat at Aston Villa was their 19th of the season in all competitions, and one more loss will take them to 20 - an unwanted total that was last recorded in 1992/93.

Liverpool have insisted that a review of Slot’s position will only take place once the season has concluded, but faith in the Dutchman is dwindling.

The club have reportedly looked at several potential successors, including Stuttgart’s Sebastian Hoeness, Al-Ahli boss Matthias Jaissle, Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann and soon-to-be free agent Andoni Iraola.

Iraola is said to be particularly admired by the Liverpool decision-makers for the work he has done with Bournemouth, and for his high-intensity style of play.

Calum McFarlane has the chance to do something relatively rare on Saturday afternoon.

If he can mastermind a victory over Manchester City in the FA Cup final, Chelsea caretaker boss would join a short list of managers to have lifted major trophies while in interim charge of a club or a national side.

Here are some of the notable examples we were able to unearth - and you might notice a theme emerging fairly quickly...

Mario Zagallo (Brazil, 1970)

This one requires a slightly squishy definition of 'caretaker manager', we have to admit, with some sources suggesting he was more a short-term appointment whose spell was later extended than being outright defined as an interim boss.

But we're going to go ahead and regard that as a technicality; it's certainly in the spirit of the caretaker boss.

What is clear is that Zagallo, who won the World Cup as a player in both 1958 and 1962, was appointed just 75 days before their 1970 World Cup campaign got under way following the difficult Joao Saldanha's dismissal.

Zagallo brought Pele back into the fold, and the former teammates went on to win the whole thing, beating Italy 4-1 in the final with an iconic performance. Zagallo got the job for a longer spell after the tournament.

Guus Hiddink (Chelsea, 2009)

The beginning of something of a tradition for Chelsea.

Avram Grant had taken Chelsea to the Champions League final the previous year after taking over from Jose Mourinho, only to get the chop himself. In came Luiz Felipe Scolari, who proved even more short-lived in the role.

Chelsea then turned to Guus Hiddink largely as a time-buying measure, presumably waiting for Carlo Ancelotti to see out his time at AC Milan.

But the Dutchman endeared himself to Chelsea fans by losing just one of his 22 games in charge, winning 16.

The last of those victories came in the 2009 FA Cup final, where Chelsea overcame Louis Saha's fastest-ever goal in a final to beat Everton 2-1.

Roberto Di Matteo (Chelsea, 2012)

Three years later, Chelsea were at it again.

Andre Villas-Boas had failed to assert himself at Stamford Bridge and was replaced by former Blues midfielder Roberto Di Matteo, who had previously managed MK Dons and West Brom before returning to the club as Villas-Boas' assistant.

Chelsea held a 3-1 first-leg deficit to Napoli in the Champions League last at the time, but Di Matteo took them to a 4-1 win in the second leg to put them through. They subsequently saw off Benfica, Barcelona, and finally Bayern Munich to deliver Chelsea's first-ever Champions League title.

But that wasn't all: in the interim (no pun intended), Di Matteo had also lifted the FA Cup thanks to a 2-1 victory over Liverpool. And speaking of Liverpool and Chelsea...

Rafael Benitez (Chelsea, 2013)

Yep, yet another one for Chelsea.

Di Matteo got the job full-time after helping Chelsea to their two trophies, but was gone before the end of November.

In his place, the club made the deeply unpopular decision to appoint former Reds boss Rafa Benitez as interim manager - a title he kept (despite his protests) for the rest of the 2012/13 campaign.

After months of protests, Benitez earned at least some begrudging respect by the end, leading Chelsea to win the Europa League title, as well as earning Champions League qualification by finishing third.

Honourable mentions - Tony Barton (Aston Villa, 1982), Leanne Ross (Glasgow City, 2023), Renee Slegers (Arsenal, 2025)

A trio here of managers who won trophies in seasons in which they had significant caretaker spells, but who had all been given the job permanently before they got their hands on their silverware.

Tony Barton stepped up from assistant manager with reigning English champions Aston Villa in 1982 following Ron Saunder's surprise resignation, initially on a caretaker basis. Four months later led Villa to a European Cup final victory over Bayern Munich.

Leanne Ross won ten of her first 11 games in charge of Glasgow City to send Glasgow City six points clear at the top of the Scottish Women's Premier League in 2022/23, and clinched the title a few weeks after being handed the job permanently.

And then there's Renee Slegers, who just last year led Arsenal to their Women's Champions League triumph having stepped up to succeed Jonas Eidevall early in the season and taken Arsenal to the quarter-finals during her caretaker spell as part of an 11-game unbeaten spell.

Michael Carrick has steadied the ship at Old Trafford during the second half of this season and could be rewarded with an extension to his current posting.

Manchester United are reportedly set to offer the former midfielder a two-year contract as first-team boss with the option of a third season in charge.

This means, if Carrick accepts, he will remain in charge at the Champions League club until at least 2028, provided he is not sacked before then.

Michael Carrick to stay at Old Trafford until 2028

Manchester United have struggled in the managerial arena ever since the 2013 departure of Sir Alex Ferguson. The club have failed to replicate the sustained success the Scot enjoyed at Old Trafford, going through several managers in the past 13 years.

Carrick, though, is popular among the squad and on the terraces, and has delivered consistent, winning football since taking interim charge, a spell which began with victory over rivals Manchester City.

According to The Athletic, Carrick will be offered an initial two-year contract as Man United manager with the club retaining the option to extend that contract by an additional year, should they wish to continue with him as boss.

Carrick has won 10 of his 15 games in charge, securing a return to the Champions League next season and looks set to be given the opportunity to lead the team in Europe.

According to the 'i' Paper, though, minority shareholder and face of the Old Trafford board Sir Jim Ratcliffe reportedly has 'reservations' over the permanent appointment of Carrick.

Chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox, however, are 'convinced' of Carrick's faculties with the offer of a permanent contract imminent.

Ratcliffe's qualms supposedly lie with Carrick's personality, believing the ex-Middlesbrough head coach does not possess the requisite character to lead a club of Man United's stature.

It is reported that Ratcliffe 'wants the manager to have the character to match the size of the club.'

Nevertheless, it appears as though Carrick will be in charge next season, and potentially the season after, per the terms of the contract proposal set to be put forward.

Man United's decision to tie up the club's managerial future before the summer window begins could be viewed as a shrewd one given the uncertain climate surrounding their rivals' coaching positions.

Pep Guardiola's future at Manchester City has been the subject of intense speculation over the past few months.

While the former Barcelona boss is under contract at the Etihad Stadium until next summer, the rumours that he could depart at the end of this season have never truly gone away.

It is why City are said to be preparing for life without Guardiola in case he walks away 12 months early, with the club reportedly holding talks with former Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca, who was previously an assistant to the Catalan.

Leaked Pep Guardiola 'farewell video' raises questions over Manchester City future

Guardiola joined City in summer 2016 and has won 14 major trophies in 10 seasons, including six Premier League titles and the Champions League in 2023, which formed part of an historic Treble.

He signed a contract extension in late 2024, quashing speculation that he would leave at the end of that season, but a trophyless 2024/25 campaign and persistent speculation over his future has created plenty of uncertainty.

The rumour mill went into overdrive on Thursday after a video was leaked showing a figure filming what appeared to be a farewell video in the centre circle of the Etihad pitch.

The footage is taken from the top tier of the stadium so the identity of the individual is unclear, but they are shown walking towards a camera while surrounded by what looks like 18 trophies, each on individual plinths.

While the figure could be Guardiola, journalist Ben Jacobs was quick to dampen any suggestions that the 55-year-old was filming his own 'farewell video', saying: "Understand this specific video is part of Bernardo Silva's farewell after nine years and 18 trophies at the club."

Jacobs added: "Regarding Pep Guardiola. There remains a possibility he departs this summer even though Manchester City point to his contract expiring in summer 2027. However, the leaked video is Silva related."

City announced last month that Silva would leave when his deal runs out this summer, having made more than 450 appearances since signing from French club Monaco in 2017.

The Portugal midfielder, 31, was appointed club captain following Kevin De Bruyne's departure last summer and is a huge favourite of Guardiola, who responded to the news by saying "part of myself is leaving too."

The duo have already won the Carabao Cup this season and will aim to go out on a high in City's final three games of the campaign, starting with Saturday's FA Cup final against Chelsea at Wembley.

Guardiola's men also remain in the race for the Premier League title, with the gap to leaders Arsenal just two points with games away to Bournemouth and at home to Aston Villa still to come.

Brian Clough achieved extraordinary things during his managerial career – and he was known for being unpredictable.

Having guided Derby County to the league title in 1972, Clough then joined neighbours Nottingham Forest and repeated the feat six years later, having initially taken over when they were in the second tier.

The legendary boss remarkably guided Forest to two successive European Cups, helped by the sheer force of his personality.

TV star's first Clough meeting

Most people who met Clough have fascinating tales to tell about his eccentric nature, and Darren Fletcher is no different.

The TNT Sports commentator grew up in Nottingham, before moving into radio and quickly encountering Clough at Forest, the club he’d always supported.

“The first interview I ever did was with Cloughie, I was 18,” he tells FourFourTwo. “I used to put up suspended ceilings, I had no desire to be a football broadcaster, but my stepfather was the accountant of a guy who owned a gym in Nottingham, and the sports editor at the radio station trained at this gym.

“He had a PR company who were doing this event called the Sun Life Great Race. I went on this event for three weeks as a lackey, then he offered me a job.

“Within a couple of weeks, he said ‘Right, I need you to go to the City Ground and get an interview’. “I asked ‘Who am I speaking to?’ He said ‘That’s up to you, don’t f*** it up’. I’d been standing on the Trent End four weeks earlier, queueing for autographs.

“I got the stadium and walked in at the front door, absolutely bricking it, and said ‘I’m from Radio Trent, I’ve come to do an interview’. The secretary said ‘Who with?’ I just said ‘Brian Clough’.

“She said ‘I’ll see if he’s available’, then came back and said ‘Yes, he’ll see you, go and sit in the corridor’. I sat there for about three hours, no sign of anybody.

“Eventually I get asked to go into his room – I’d written questions on a piece of paper. Clough had Archie Gemmill and Ron Fenton, his assistant and first team coach, sat around a circular table.

“I started to ask the first question, pouring with sweat, shaking like a leaf, and he leant across the table, pulled my questions towards him, screwed them up and put them on the floor!

“I ended up doing this interview, and it was fine because it was him. I was a mess, a complete mess, but I got on really well with him, and realised in time, that was the initiation. I ended up doing a lot with him.”

A shoulder charge to remember

Despite building a rapport with Clough, it didn’t stop a bizarre moment occurring during a subsequent meeting.

“They were playing Plymouth Argyle in a League Cup match,” Fletcher explains. “Brian came out early and sat on the edge of the dugout, signing a few autographs, chatting to people.

“My boss said to me ‘Get yourself down there, he likes you, go and get him to do another interview’. So I wandered down, and as I was walking along the touchline, I hear him say ‘Get away from me’.

“I’m thinking ‘He’s not talking to me, we’re mates’. I carry on walking, he says ‘Get away from me’, slightly more aggressively than the first time.

“I’m still thinking, ‘It can’t be me, it’s all these people bothering him’. But he stood up, walked across to where I was, made out that he tripped, shoulder-charged me right in the chest, and actually knocked me on to the pitch. ‘Now get away from me,’ he said.

“Everybody in the main stand had seen it, I was 18, wet behind the ears and completely embarrassed. The boss was giving me s*** for it when I got back up there!

“But Clough is the only person I’ve ever met that if he stood behind you now, you’d know he was there. Certain people have that charisma and presence – even when you don’t see them, you feel them, but he’d always test you.”

Clough's dress rehearsal

Later, Fletcher would receive a special invite from Clough, when he received the Freedom of the City of Nottingham, shortly before his retirement as a manager in 1993.

“The day before the event, Carol his secretary rang and said ‘Can you come and see the boss at 1pm?’” he remembers.

“I’m stood outside, and out he comes, suited and booted – you never saw him suited and booted, it was always the green jumper.

“A big green car came and he said ‘Get in the car’. We both get in and I said ‘What are we doing?’ He said ‘We’re doing the dress rehearsal for tomorrow’, so he took me on this rehearsal for his freedom of the city.

"We went to the castle, he was going to pose in front of the Robin Hood statue, then he was going to plant a tree. We eventually ended up in the council chamber and I was playing the part of the Lord Mayor.

“He dropped me back off at the radio station, then the following day, I covered the event, knowing what was happening, because we’d done it the day before.

“He just had that ability to knock you down one minute, then make you feel like you were the most important person the next.”

After Clough retired, he even became colleagues with Fletcher. “I used to work with Garry Birtles on the radio, he got on really well with Brian and I said ‘Why don’t you see if the gaffer wants to do anything?’” the commentator explains.

“Nobody had heard from Brian for a while, so Garry rang Nigel Clough. Nigel said ‘You’re the first people to ask, my dad would love to, what do you want to do?’

“We ended up getting him in to do a phone-in once a month. He also came and did two or three co-commentaries with us – we turned up at grounds with Brian Clough, it’d be like turning up with Fergie now.

“Clubs would see this application for a pass for ‘Brian Clough’, then Cloughie would turn up. We did Derby at Pride Park, we did England versus Serbia & Montenegro at Leicester, and we did Forest vs Derby at the City Ground.

“He was great, Archie or Ron would bring him to do the phone-ins, then he’d stay behind, have a bite to eat and reminisce about the past.

“I don’t think I could ever sit down in the presence of anybody connected to sport and feel the way he made me feel, because I’d grown up in Nottingham when they were winning European Cups, and then he was working alongside me.

“It was such an honour and a privilege to have had that experience. I’ll treasure it for the rest of my life.”

An FA Cup honour

This Saturday, Fletcher will commentate for TNT Sports at the FA Cup final between Manchester City and Chelsea, and he’s proud of how far he’s come during his career in football.

“I’ve only done two cup finals before, Arsenal vs Villa and Arsenal vs Chelsea, but I go back to the late 70s with the FA Cup,” he says.

“The first one I watched was when Ipswich beat Arsenal, then the first I really remember was the year after, when Alan Sunderland won it with the last kick of the game for Arsenal.

“That was the day I really fell in love with the FA Cup and I’ve never missed a final since. I never missed a minute of FA Cup final day when it started at the crack of dawn – you'd see Bruce Forsyth doing something on Wembley Way, or Paul Daniels would rock up, and you’d think ‘What’s happening here?’

“So for me to stand at Wembley will be just an absolute honour. It’s going to be such a thrill.”

Fletcher was talking ahead of a month like no other, with five major football finals live on TNT Sports & HBO Max kicking off with the Emirates FA Cup this Saturday. Enjoy a full day of FA Cup coverage live on TNT Sports & HBO Max from 9am.

Anderson's 88th minute strike meant the Magpies once again failed to make inroads on the race for European qualification, snatching a draw and taking their tally of dropped points from winning positions to 27. Harvey Barnes had put the visitors ahead with a quarter of an hour remaining at the City Ground.

Instead of pushing for another Champions League campaign, Newcastle are languishing in the bottom half of the Premier League table.

Poor recruitment has had a huge impact this season. But it was a decision they were forced into in 2024 which ultimately stung in the East Midlands.

Eddie Howe: 'I regret Elliot Anderson sale'

Anderson left Newcastle because they needed to sell quickly in order to adhere to Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) and avoid a potential points penalty.

His time at Forest has seen him change position and become arguably England’s most reliable holding midfielder ahead of this summer’s World Cup. But everybody at Newcastle, not least Eddie Howe, was fully aware of his potential and it was painful to see a homegrown talent, and boyhood fan of the club, depart.

“His was a sale we regretted when we were doing it. We knew the player’s quality,” Newcastle boss Howe said after the game.

“It was a very painful transfer, one we had to do. We had no choice.

“It was the most reluctant transfer I’ll probably ever do. He was really effective in a number of positions.

“It really hurts to see him do that against us today. He’s a great lad, he’ll have a fantastic career wherever he goes.”

The feeling around Newcastle is, despite growing frustration and scrutiny over his position, Howe will remain in place to oversee big changes at St James’ Park this summer.

His team selection raised eyebrows before kick-off for the third week running, with Lewis Hall switching flanks to right-back. Howe praised the 21-year-old’s performance, but it was his explanation for neglecting to pick Kieran Trippier which caught attention most.

Trippier, 35, is leaving Newcastle at the end of the season, and Howe said that impacted his decision.

"I think Lewis is an outstanding technical player, so playing off a different side, I don't think it's hugely difficult for him.

"Obviously, Kieran’s future has been revealed, so I'm focusing on the players that I know are going to be here next year.

Curiously, Anthony Gordon remained on the bench throughout, even when the game was in the balance at 0-0, arguably crying out for a player with his drive, creativity and goal threat.

Gordon’s future has been under the microscope for some weeks now amid links to Bayern Munich and Barcelona. With Howe having gone on record to say he will not pick players he doesn’t feel are committed to Newcastle’s future, the fact he was not called upon felt pointed and deliberate.

"He’s returned from an injury,” Howe replied when directly asked about Gordon’s involvement.

"I’m looking at the team and the team is playing well and I didn’t want to make too many changes."

Howe has always been an extremely skilled communicator. His quotes are seldom left up to interpretation without being designed that way. Last week, he said he would pick players he felt he could trust, this week he is looking to the future. Groundwork is being laid for a busy off-season; a number of players are effectively on trial.

One who should arguably have a greater role in the side over the coming years is Jacob Ramsey. Having struggled initially following his arrival from Aston Villa last summer, he is slowly understanding what is expected of him. Confidence is beginning to flow; his pass for Barnes’ opener was sublime, and he was constantly looking to push forward with the ball at his feet.

Ultimately, this was another disappointing result, the latest in a long line for Newcastle.

Anderson’s involvement added an extra bitter taste. But Howe is outlining a tough stance on what is to come on Tyneside, despite some supporters remaining sceptical over his suitability for the big rebuild.

There's no getting away from Unai Emery's record in the Europa League.

The Aston Villa manager has won the successor to the UEFA Cup four times with two different clubs and has now taken another two to the final. In the space of just 12 years, Emery has become the most successful manager of the Europa League and nobody else gets close.

Villa had to overcome both the odds and the mood in the second leg of their semi-final against Nottingham Forest. The difference in form between the teams was stark and Forest had a first-leg lead to boot.

They saved their best performance of the season for the night when it was needed the most. Emery's players stood up to be counted and won 4-0, steamrolling the tie into oblivion and taking Villa to their first European final since 1982.

Captain John McGinn moved himself up a rung or two in the Villa legend stakes. Emi Buendia played his best match in a Villa shirt by far. Ollie Watkins was flawless up front, Pau Torres imperious at the back.

Forest manager Vitor Pereira spoke to TNT Sports after the second leg at Villa Park, clearly crestfallen. He criticised referee Glenn Nyberg and listed the players Forest were missing through injury.

None of it was magnanimous, but a lot of it was true. Pereira named Morgan Gibbs-White on the bench, and we'll never know if he'd have been brought on to take a penalty or not at all. There's not a team in England that wouldn't miss him.

Villa's injury problems have eased, but they were without midfielders Boubacar Kamara, who has been out since January, and Amadou Onana. Their absence became Emery's secret weapon.

Defender Victor Lindelof was selected alongside Youri Tielemans, and it proved a brilliant decision.

The Swede unsurprisingly held his own. He predictably played in midfield when Villa didn't have the ball and dropped in at centre-back when they attacked, releasing both full-backs to get forward. Emery, often, will use his right-back or left-back in a three in possession. The one kink in Lindelof's role was a big tactical win for the Villa boss. When Stefan Ortega and Forest's centre-backs had the ball, Lindelof stuck to striker Chris Wood like a limpet; road closed.

In terms of attitude, approach and application, Villa's performance couldn't have been further from the shambolic defeat against Tottenham Hotspur at Villa Park five days earlier.

Emery, who is ranked at no.9 in FourFourTwo's list of the best managers in the world right now, made seven changes to his team ahead of the Spurs match but the anaemic display they served up that night was infuriating for some supporters, given the need to get over the line in the race for a Champions League place.

Emery looked livid on the touchline but allowed the game to play out essentially without intervention. He was bullish after the fact, and there's an argument that Thursday's Europa League success was vindication for the choices he made at the weekend. He is, after all, the master of the Europa League.

To write this off as the common or garden Emery masterclass in Europe would be to overlook the precarious position Villa were in. Their progress belongs to him, certainly, but there was a huge gamble involved that was more about faith than genius. The reaction of the supporters during and after the game against Spurs wasn't without previous. Villa were out of form and they were – they are – not really in a position to allow winnable league matches to pass them by.

There's an intense yearning at Villa Park that this ageing Villa team should get its moment, for Emery, for McGinn and Watkins, for the people behind the scenes who've helped Villa from the Championship to the brink of a second season in the Champions League.

That yearning can manifest as fear and frustration, and the ability of the players to drag themselves out of the rut that was so deep against Spurs was not easy to believe in. The contrast from one game to the next has no recent precedent at Villa. It really was like watching two different teams.

Maybe Emery played the Europa League like a harpist. Maybe Villa hit the brakes just before their season dropped off a cliff.

They certainly didn't reach Istanbul the easy way, but in FourFourTwo's opinion the 'how' doesn't really matter now. Villa have two targets this season: to win the Europa League and to get back into the Champions League. Both of them are still possible and both can go to the wire if needed. It's been a remarkable season for Villa, if a slightly strange and often difficult one, and they still have work to do.

The Europa League final is a chance for Villa to make history, to become legends. McGinn has repeatedly urged his teammates to embrace the challenge and it would be the captain himself who is most deserving of lifting Villa's first trophy for 30 years.

But after Spurs, there's Burnley. Villa visit the Clarets on Sunday knowing that three points would put them within touching distance of the Champions League through their Premier League position.

If there was concern that Emery was putting all his league eggs in a single Burnley basket by disregarding the Spurs fixture, now's the time to produce the second part of the justification.

A TV presenter has felt compelled to backtrack after suggesting on live TV that Mikel Arteta's presence on the touchline may have led members of Atletico Madrid's coaching staff to want to 'punch [him] in the face'.

Tempers were high during Arsenal's 1-0 victory at home to Atletico on Tuesday night, which booked the Gunners' passage to the Champions League final following a 1-1 draw in Madrid in the first leg.

The dugout was particularly crowded and active during injury time, with Amazon Prime's commentary team noting they had never seen a pair of benches getting so involved.

"At what stage, as the opposition coach, do you want to punch Arteta in the face? How much does that annoy you?"

Arteta's animated demeanour - and a touch of minor gamesmanship as he stood in the way of an Atletico throw-in at one point - caught the attention of ESPN presenter Dan Thomas.

Speaking on the American broadcast ESPN FC, Thomas asked Craig Burley and Stewart Robson: "At what stage, as the opposition coach, do you want to punch Arteta in the face? How much does that annoy you?"

As relayed by the Mirror, Craig Burley quite reasonably responded by pointing to Diego Simeone being no stranger to similar antics, saying: "Hold on, the two of them are as bad as each other.

"I thought, today, Arteta out-Simeone'd Simeone. The way he was running around at the end. It’s got to be frustrating, hasn’t it, as an opposition coach?"

Robson was much less generous, saying: "All Arteta does, I think he’s doing it for himself: 'Look at me, I’m great, I run this club, I do this, I do that'… It’s just absolutely pathetic.

"If I was running down the side, I’d make sure I actually topped him. I’d tackle the ball and tackle him at the same time."

Thomas followed up his provocative question the next day, saying: "I just want to make reference to something I said yesterday, an off-hand comment that landed literally.

"Obviously, it was not intended to land that way. I’ve thought about it today and I could have phrased it in such a better way. So, going forward I will definitely try not to say anything silly."

Arsenal will now go on to face defending champions PSG in the final in Budapest.

The Red Devils could lose out to Premier League rivals Crystal Palace in their pursuit of highly-regarded head coach Andoni Iraola.

The Bournemouth boss is leaving the Vitality Stadium this summer at the end of his contract and is contemplating his next move.

Iraola has been linked with the vacant posts at Man United and Chelsea, with interim coaches both seeing out their respective campaigns.

Andoni Iraola to Crystal Palace

Iraola has been continually linked with the Manchester United job since Ruben Amorim's departure earlier this season, and while interim boss Michael Carrick has guided the club to Champions League qualification, Iraola's tactical profile is reportedly still admired.

The Spaniard is frequently cited as a primary candidate to be appointed at Old Trafford this summer, with a final decision on Man United's next manager yet to be made by the club's higher-ups.

The interest appears to have been driven by Iraola's ability to establish a clear tactical identity with Bournemouth and how that might translate favourably to Man United.

According to El Chiringuito, Iraola is 'close' to agreeing a move to Crystal Palace this summer instead, though, replacing the departing Oliver Glasner.

The Austrian coach is another name linked with the Man United job, and with Iraola out of the picture, may allow the Red Devils to prioritise Glasner in their pursuit of Amorim's permanent successor.

With the Cherries, Iraola successfully transitioned the team from a lower-block defensive unit into a proactive, high-pressing side.

His main achievements include leading the club to its highest-ever Premier League finish and securing significant victories against several of the league's top-six teams.

He is also credited with improving individual players such as Antoine Semenyo and Milos Kerkez, both of whom were sold for huge profits.

Within managerial circles, Iraola is regarded as a tactically disciplined coach whose systems are difficult to play against. He is a sought-after profile for clubs looking to modernise on the pitch.

It was suggested Iraola may wish to return to Athletic Club in Spain, where he spent the entirety of his European playing career, however, the Basque side have appointed Edin Terzic to succeed Ernesto Valverde.

Escaping the Nazis via train, boat and sheer courage, building a new life, grafting hard and caring for the elderly: the journey of Michael Skubala’s forebears from fear in Poland to prosperity in England is extraordinary.

Their story and principles shape Skubala, who has worked hard to build a career in coaching and is currently feted for his record-breaking success at Lincoln City.

Today may bring even more acclaim if the League One champions avoid defeat at Port Vale and extend their six-month unbeaten run to 29 games, an EFL record for a third-tier season. Skubala stands on the edge of history.

“They had to get out”

And history moulded the newly-crowned EFL League One Manager of the Season. His grandparents lived in Poznan in 1939 when the Nazis invaded. “They had to get out,” Skubala recalls.

“My nan’s older siblings were killed, and she saw it. They went down on a train to Italy, then got a boat all the way round Italy to England and ended up in Barrow (upon Soar) in North Leicestershire.

“My nan, bless her, didn't really speak a lot about it. She never wanted to go back, bless her.” They settled and the family did well, running care homes. “My dad’s now a successful businessman, but he had to start from scratch. When you see your parents graft, you just take that into your life, don't you?”

He's taken it into coaching and into Imps folklore. “The players just feel invincible at the minute. When people talk about our team being relentless, I think I'm quietly relentless. My drive to win is innate. I wouldn't shout about it. But in my background, there's this hidden drive to win. If you ask my wife, she’d say, ‘You're super-competitive, but people wouldn't know it’. It’s not a shouty competitive, it’s a work ethic competitive. I love leading - love it - and think I'm good at it. I'm good at bringing people on a journey together.”

Growing up, Skubala played plenty of non-League football, had trials for Nottingham Forest and Leicester City, and also played chess. “Probably this is a Polish thing: chess is really big in our family. I used to play every week with my dad, my cousin, and my dad's brother. There's something in the strategy of chess that I see in football. I see football as a fast-moving game of chess.”

He was coaching from 15, taught PE in a Leicestershire school, coached non-League and also in the academies of Forest and Coventry City, where he helped develop “a super talented kid,” an eight-year-old James Maddison.

Skubala studied sports science and psychology at Birmingham University. “That taught me about human behaviour, the intrinsic extrinsic motivation of people”. He became director of football at Loughborough University, “a cauldron of coaching”, and used every opportunity to learn from others.

“I’ve spoken to Gareth (Southgate) over the years about how you create a real culture in a team, a real unity within the team, connecting fans with players and how to find the motivation with each individual. Gareth’s smart at that. I speak to technical directors like John McDermott – brilliant – and Dan Ashworth – brilliant.”

Ashworth brought him into the FA fold in 2017, coaching the Futsal side. Skubala had played for England. “I went to Thailand on an England game, and we walked out in front of 8,000 people! What?! How do I learn more about this?! I started studying it, looked at Spain, Brazil, Portugal. I looked at Ronaldo (both), Messi, Romario.” He coached Max Kilman, a Futsal star. "His defending was phenomenal. His ball retention was phenomenal, and he could do it at speed. Futsal is probably six or seven times quicker than football at the highest level. It's football on steroids.

“My make-up is to create something that can overachieve. I took Futsal from 80th in the world to 40th in the world with no money, no budget. Then the FA cut the Futsal programme.” By then, McDermott had succeeded Ashworth, who’d moved to Brighton. “John went we don’t want to lose you. I worked with the (England) 18s: Rico Lewis, unbelievable talent, James Beadle in goal, Lewis Hall stood out, Archie Gray. Chris Rigg with the 16s, he stood out, Tyler Dibling. I worked with Tyrique George and Jamie Bynoe-Gittens.”

His Futsal reputation interested Victor Orta, Leeds United’s director of football. Orta invited Skubala to Leeds United to work with their Under-21s. “Victor’s an unbelievable character, a great leader who was unbelievable support for me.” Skubala arrived at Thorp Arch and Elland Road just after Marcelo Bielsa had left. “But a lot of his principles were still there. Murderball! I spent days, months reading Marcelo's work on tactics, culture. Team meetings, tactics, training - it's all videoed. I went back through two years of Marcelo’s work at Leeds - in my own time.

“Oh, unbelievable work! I’ve seen his attention to detail and every aspect of the game that looks like it's not coached, but is coached. The amount of detail that he put into match plans and substitutions was incredible. It was like he knew the opposition manager as well, how they make subs, when they make subs. If you can study the inner workings of somebody like Marcelo Bielsa, why wouldn't I take that opportunity?”

At Leeds, he worked with talent like Archie Gray. “I was the first one that moved Archie to right-back (and stepping into midfield). The ‘rolling’ midfield is in now. That’s me just exploring things. Archie was 16 in an Under-21s game at Aston Villa. Everyone's going, ‘what's he doing?’ ‘Watch! He will be great at this!’

“He's an unbelievable professional. If any young player wants to look up at a pro that has the desire and work ethic look up to Archie. Even someone that comes from a football family (like the Grays), you could think it's easy, you could take the shortcut. Archie never did that. He was the last in the gym. You see now with (younger brother) Harry Gray at Rotherham. He's doing really well on loan. That work ethic of that family is incredible.”

When Jesse Marsch was dismissed in 2023, Skubala was put in temporary charge of Leeds. In his first game, Leeds were 2-0 up at Old Trafford until Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho scrambled a draw. “When Man United scored the equaliser, the noise from the stands that came on to the pitch was unbelievable. You could feel the place shaking. I remember shouting to Luke Ayling, who was no more than 10 metres away, to try and talk tactics. Couldn't hear me!

“I'd love to work at that level again. But I’ve never been in a rush. I want to be prepared for that next level. When you've worked at the highest level with Luke Ayling and Pat Bamford at Old Trafford you see what it takes at senior level to be the best.” It’s demanding, and takes time to get there.

But February 8, 2023, felt a special moment for Skubala, almost of his arrival as a coach, certainly validation of all his effort. “Any coach, especially with my background, when you've worked for so long in coaching, and you've done all the hard yards, there's a moment where you go, ‘I can do this.’ It doesn't mean you'll ever know everything.” But it instils further belief.

“There was a point at Old Trafford, I went ‘OK, that was good, but I should have gone to a back-five. I'd have won the game.’ Straight away, I came off thinking, analysing. Everyone was in the euphoria of getting a point. I was more thinking, ‘could have won that game’. My wife came home and said, ‘Oh God! Unbelievable game! The fans were in tears (of pride).’ I was going, ‘Yeah, but I could have won it.’ I didn't live in the moment.

“I can’t switch off. My downfall is I don't really enjoy the moment enough. I've tried to this time, but I'm always thinking, ‘right, how do we go again?’ My wife says, ‘You need to try and enjoy it more’.”

Skubala, 43, is always looking and learning, improving and taking inspiration from all managers, especially those like him without an elite playing background. “When I look at my role models, it's probably the ones that haven't played. I've always admired Jose Mourinho and Arsene Wenger.”

He does feels the pressure on home-grown coaches, though. “Because the ownership (increasingly in football) is now foreign, they (home-grown coaches) can be overlooked quite a bit. I always wanted to go into management, but I was really conscious that, without a background as a top player, I have to be really careful where I go first. I knew I could succeed if I had time, had support, the right people.”

He found it at Lincoln. “Clive Nates is an absolute unbelievable chairman over the last few years (now co-vice chairman). He's put money into this club, not as a director's loan to take out, he's gifted this money to this club. So it doesn't have the debt. So now that we're actually moving into the Championship, we're in a really healthy position.”

Skubala is planning for next season but is enjoying the moment. He loves working with this group of players. “I want to play attacking football, but we defend very resolutely, we press very aggressively. Again, my Futsal background tells me if you can't defend, you don't win. I say to Ben House all the time, ‘You're the best out-of-possession forward in English football’. Then he scores twice (against Doncaster)! And he's like, ‘I can score!’ ‘Yes, but you're the best out-of-possession forward. Be proud of your super strength!’ Everybody loves him for it. Then if he scores as well, it's like the cherry on the cake.”

I ask him about a special talent, Jack Moylan, who made the EFL League One Team of the Season. “Oh, Moylan what a player!

His drive and determination as a young Irish boy to train unbelievable every day. He trains like it's his last game every day. The whole group do that.” Can Lincoln keep Moylan? “Oh, hopefully. Yeah, it'll be a challenge.” Can he play in the Premier League? “With more work, I think so. He's still got to keep developing. And he knows that, but he's got every chance because of what he can create. He’s a good lad, too.”

Skubala wants to keep the squad together and take their camaraderie and momentum into the Championship. “Momentum can be a big thing. Look at Ipswich and Wrexham. If you can keep the group together, which we might be challenged on, but everybody's under contract.”

And they will add. Recruitment is done in conjunction with director of football Jez George - “a wise owl” - and Liam Scully - “an amazing CEO to work under”. Each player on their database has 30 references. “Jez knows a lot of people in the game.”

The Championship will have a different dynamic next season with play-offs down to eighth. “It's exciting. It gives a bit more hope, doesn't it? It also might give a bit more spending (incentive) to some of the clubs that are the middle layer. They might go a little bit more in the hope they can get eighth and anything in the play-offs can happen.”

Would Lincoln target eighth? “Great question! We had this five-year plan to get to the Championship, and we've done it in three years. I think it would be the same again: sustaining and then growing in the second year. First of all, surviving has got to be the first target. I don't think there's any reason why we shouldn't be aiming for a top-half finish.”

He knows what this season has meant to the city. “When you're so close to something like the title, for the first time for the club, for the city, for what it would mean for people, the pressure came even more for me to achieve that for them. I felt a real responsibility for the people.

“Football is between (about) two sets of people - fans, players. It’s a player’s game. It’s a fans’ game. And somewhere in between, there's managers and leaders of the clubs. The reality is it'll always be about the community and the players.

“I say to the players, ‘Don't walk past kids wanting shirts signed’. Sometimes they're in the zone, and people have to understand that. But you can make a kid's day. Signing a shirt could make a difference to a kid's life. We're privileged. I have things that if you don't sign this, you might get a fine.”

And there are plenty of Lincoln shirts needing signing. “You can feel the buzz in the city. You see all the kids with Lincoln shirts on in the city, rather than Liverpool, Arsenal, Man United shirts. The club sold out of shirts!”

Cesc Fabregas will rebuff any approaches by Chelsea as he looks to hold out for the Arsenal job.

Fabregas has caught the attention of top clubs across Europe with his last two seasons in charge of Como.

They currently sit fifth in Serie A, and just three points off a Champions League place with just four games remaining.

Fabregas wants to manage Arsenal and would reject Chelsea should the Blues make summer approach

He was temporarily in charge of Como for a month between November and December 2023, and was not allowed to take on the full-time role due to not holding a UEFA Pro coaching licence.

After a permanent appointment was made, Fabregas stayed on as a coach helping them gain promotion to Serie A in May 2024 but was given the job as manager in June 2024 days after being admitted to the UEFA Pro coaching course.

Chelsea are looking for their next manager after parting ways with Liam Rosenior after just three months, and Fabregas’ name has crept up in discussions surrounding who may take the reins at Stamford Bridge.

However, Kaveh Solhekol of Sky Sports has suggested that the Spaniard, who played for Chelsea for five seasons, would snub a move to west London in favour of waiting for the Arsenal job.

Speaking on Sky Sports Transfer Talk podcast he said: “Cesc Fabregas, what I’ve been told, there’s some kind of suggestion that long-term, the plan for him is to manage Arsenal one day. I’m not sure moving to Chelsea would be part of his career progression.”

Fabregas played 198 games at Chelsea, winning five trophies, including the Premier League twice, the FA Cup, the EFL Cup and the Europa League.

The only team Fabregas played more for in his career was Arsenal, who he played 303 games for. He was named club captain at just 21 by Arsene Wenger.

Whilst it seems unlikely the Arsenal job will be available come the end of the season, should Arsenal fail to win the Premier League and the Champions League, questions may be raised over Mikel Arteta’s future, potentially paving the way for Fabregas’ appointment.

With Como almost certain to play in Europe for the first time in their existence, Fabregas may not be too keen to make the jump up to the current Premier League leaders just yet, and test himself against continental opposition first.

Chelsea are next in action in the Premier League against Nottingham Forest, while Arsenal take on Fulham.

Scott Parker has left Burnley by mutual consent.

The Clarets have endured a torrid return to the top flight, finding themselves 19th in the Premier League with relegation back to the Championship already confirmed.

Parker, who led Burnley up to the top flight last season in second place behind Leeds United, took over at Turf Moor in the summer of 2024 and has now led three clubs to promotion – and been sacked from all three, with two (the other being Fulham) returning to the Championship after a season.

Burnley have parted ways with Scott Parker after a little under two years

In a statement, Burnley confirmed the mutual parting of Parker and thanked the former midfielder for his service in the dugout.

“The club would like to place on record its sincere thanks to Scott for his professionalism, dedication and contribution,” Burnley said. “He leaves with the respect and gratitude of everyone connected with Burnley Football Club.

“The process of appointing a new permanent head coach ahead of the 2026/27 season has begun.”

Burnley recorded 100 points in their last Championship campaign but after spending less than £10 million on players after returning to the Premier League, the Lancashire outfit have struggled greatly.

Parker's side have won just four matches in the Premier League all season, with their drop confirmed in a 1-0 loss to Manchester City last week.

Three of those victories came before November, with the club having lost four in a row – and to compound matters, the Clarets were knocked out in the Fourth Round of both domestic cups this season by League One opposition.

FourFourTwo understands that former Aston Villa boss, Steven Gerrard, is a serious candidate on the shortlist to replace former England colleague Parker in the dugout, after a hiatus away from management following his exit from the Saudi Pro League.

Burnley was Parker's fourth stint in management, following time spent at Fulham, Bournemouth and Club Brugge, with the 45-year-old having established himself as a promotion specialist over the years.

Mike Jackson takes charge of Burnley until the end of the season now, just as he did after the dismissal of Sean Dyche.

The relegated side travel away to Leeds when Premier League action resumes this weekend.

Jose Mourinho is set to return as manager at the Santiago Bernabeu, with the Portuguese coach being Real Madrid’s favoured candidate.

Jose Mourinho has been identified by Real Madrid president Florentino Perez as the man to lead the Spanish giants forward, with current head coach Alvaro Arbeloa set to depart at the end of the season.

The Spaniard took over from fellow countryman Xabi Alonso in January, on track to deliver a second-placed La Liga finish identical to Alonso’s table position at the time of his departure.

Jose Mourinho is set to lead Real Madrid forward once more

According to a report from The Athletic, the decision on who will become Real Madrid’s next head coach is led by club president Florentino Perez.

During this process, Jose Mourinho has emerged as Perez’s favoured candidate to assume the role as Real Madrid’s head coach, setting the stage for a managerial return after the 63-year-old's last stint with the club ended in 2013.

Perez is reportedly frustrated with the failing Real Madrid project, which has now yielded two successive trophyless seasons, and believes Jose Mourinho can solve the club’s issues.

This insistence on a Mourinho return has been met with some opposing voices, but a Perez-led decision on the next Real Madrid manager may eventually render them silent.

It was previously reported that Jose Mourinho’s tactical discipline, the presence of nostalgia and his ability to shield the Real Madrid players from external criticism made the Portuguese coach an alluring figure for the Spanish side.

It has also become somewhat common for Real Madrid to welcome back returning managers to the club – notably, both Zinedine Zidane and Carlo Ancelotti made comebacks in the years following their respective departures.

The Portuguese coach is currently under contract until June 2027 with his current club Benfica, however, there is reportedly a clause in the region of €3 million that allows either party to break the deal up to 10 days after the season’s final match.

Mourinho led the Spanish side to a record-breaking La Liga title win in the 2011-12 season, but tensions with superstar Cristiano Ronaldo — who ranked at No.1 in FourFourTwo’s list of the greatest finishers in football history — were rumoured to be the cause of his demise.

During that legendary campaign, Mourinho set the record for the most La Liga games won in a season with 32, the most away wins in a season with 16, and a record points total.

Real Madrid return to La Liga action this weekend against Espanyol, hoping to stop rivals Barcelona from lifting the La Liga trophy.

Chelsea’s search for a new manager has begun following the dismissal of Liam Rosenior, just 106 days into a six-year contract.

There was an immediate upturn for the Blues, who beat Leeds United in the FA Cup semi-final under the guidance of caretaker Calum McFarlane.

But the priority now will be to find a permanent replacement for Rosenior, and one capable of lasting longer than a few months.

Silva on Chelsea's radar

Fulham manager Marco Silva is by now a well-established Premier League head coach, having had spells with Hull City, Watford and Everton before his move to Craven Cottage.

The Portuguese has done a particularly good job with Fulham, taking them to the Championship title in 2021/22 and then helping them become an established Premier League side, all while playing free-flowing attacking football.

It is no surprise, then, that Chelsea are interested in taking Silva from their neighbours, with his contract set to expire in the summer.

According to journalist Ben Jacobs, Silva is a 'genuine contender' for the Chelsea job, although the club are expected to 'speak to several managers' in a 'thorough process'.

Silva, 48, had spells with Sporting in Portugal and Greek giants Olympiacos prior to his move to England to join Hull in 2017.

Chelsea will hope his experience thus far translates well to a job that undoubtedly comes with more pressure and expectation.

But Silva is not the only candidate from a smaller Premier League club. Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola, who confirmed earlier this month that he will leave at the end of the season, is also on Chelsea’s radar.

It remains to be seen where the Spaniard will go next, but a move to Stamford Bridge would certainly represent a step forward in his career.

Iraola has guided Bournemouth to a 14-match unbeaten run in the Premier League, the longest current run of any club in Europe’s top five divisions.

In FourFourTwo’s view, both Silva and Iraola would be sensible appointments on paper for Chelsea, with the former perhaps a slightly safer bet than the more tactically high-risk Bournemouth head coach.

Burnley will be in the Championship again next season having been unable to reach the standard required in the Premier League once again.

The Clarets finished with 100 points in the second tier in 2024/25 under Scott Parker, who now has three Championship promotions under his belt.

But he could be set to part ways with Burnley amid links to a Liverpool legend currently out of work.

Steven Gerrard on Burnley's radar

Steven Gerrard has been waiting to return to management since leaving Saudi club Al-Ettifaq in January 2025.

And according to talkSPORT reporter Alex Crook, the Liverpool great is now tax exempt from his spell in the Middle East and on the lookout for jobs.

Burnley could be a viable option for Gerrard, who enjoyed success with Rangers before a more difficult period at Aston Villa.

Parker’s Burnley future is said to be “in the balance” and he could yet “depart amicably”.

Gerrard could be in the frame for that job, and he has also been linked with a move to Championship side Bristol City.

The Robins will be without a manager come the summer after 78-year-old Roy Hodgson’s interim tenure comes to an end.

Taking a job in the second tier could be a shrewd decision for Gerrard, even if there could be vacancies at Premier League clubs in the near future.

His former England team-mate Frank Lampard dropped down to the Championship to become Coventry manager, and he has reaped the rewards after guiding them to promotion.

Gerrard would hope to have a similar impact if he were to take the Burnley job, although guiding Bristol City to the Premier League would be a considerably more difficult challenge.

In FourFourTwo’s view, taking a job at Championship level makes sense for Gerrard and would be an opportunity to increase his stock, particularly after an extended spell without a job.

Mauricio Pochettino may well have inadvertently put his finger on where things have gone wrong at Tottenham - by discussing what the club got right during his time there.

The Argentine oversaw Tottenham's best spell in a generation or two during his five and a half years in charge from 2014 to 2019.

Spurs finished in the top five in each of Pochettino's seasons in charge, including coming second once and third twice - as well as reaching the 2019 Champions League final.

Mauricio Pochettino: 'Tottenham had talented players, but no real balance'

Pochettino had taken the step up from Southampton soon after the end of the 2013/14 season, largely thanks to the greater opportunity for success he and his staff saw at Spurs.

He told FourFourTwo: "[Spurs] was a club that offered a chance to compete for bigger objectives. It meant stepping up another level. When [Daniel] Levy’s call came, we didn’t have many doubts."

Although his spell at Spurs ended without a trophy, Pochettino had the side competing at a level they would now be desperate to reach again.

The now-United States manager believes chairman Daniel Levy was a key part of that, saying: "Levy is a genius when it comes to man management, business and negotiation – someone we learned a great deal from.

"Over 25 years, you only have to look at where he found Spurs and where he took them. It became a model club, with an incredible stadium and facilities.

"He didn’t get the reward in terms of trophies, but Levy’s legacy is admired all over the world for his management ability and long-term vision. You can have good ideas, but he made them happen.

"The main thing was having the backing of the club and Daniel Levy, who believed in a sporting rebuild that also included the manager.

"When we arrived, there was an excess of players – many of them talented, but there was no real balance. It was hard to build a competitive team. Reconstructing with a medium-term vision was fundamental.

"Pep Guardiola was given that opportunity, Jurgen Klopp had it, and so did we. There are many very good coaches, but you have to be at the right club, with the right people supporting you to develop what you want to achieve.

"It’s a complex puzzle, because in football there’s always the temptation for people to interfere in areas that aren’t their responsibility. At Tottenham, we were allowed to work."

In a revealing sit-down with FourFourTwo, USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino has finally lifted the lid on a legendary encounter with Sir Alex Ferguson, a meeting that has fuelled a decade of what-ifs at Old Trafford.

The Argentine, who took the reigns of the US national side on a contract running through the 2026 World Cup, recounted how the most successful manager in British history once sought him out.

“Through the secretary of the League Managers Association, Sir Alex asked for my phone number so that we could have lunch," Pochettino told FourFourTwo.

Mauricio Pochettino wants Premier League return

"It was a meeting in London between colleagues, between a genius and an apprentice.”

The lunch, which took place years ago during Pochettino’s high-flying tenure at Tottenham Hotspur, has long been cited as the moment Manchester United first identified him as their long-term successor.

Despite those historic links which persisted through his stints at Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea, the stars never quite aligned for Pochettino to take the hot seat in Manchester.

The USMNT boss shared a charming anecdote from the afternoon that proved it's not just his footballing tactics that are up to scratch, it's trivia, too.

“When we asked for the bill, I wanted to take it, and so did he. We started arguing over who’d pay!

"He said, ‘Stop Mauricio, I’m going to ask you a question. If you answer correctly, you pay. If not, I’ll pay.’

"He said, ‘Name an Argentine player who scored in the 1930 World Cup final.’ I replied, ‘Stabile.’ He couldn’t believe it. The name came to me out of nowhere! In the end, I paid the bill.”

Despite his current focus on leading the USMNT into their home World Cup, Pochettino admitted an affinity for Tottenham remains a core part of his identity.

However, his most striking admission was a clear desire to eventually return to the Premier League, suggesting his work in the UK is far from finished.

"Right now it’s about enjoying the World Cup. After that, I’ve always said I came so close to winning the Premier League and Champions League, and want to try again. I’d like to be part of a project with the ambition of winning both."

Pochettino’s comments arrive as Manchester United face yet another summer of transition. With the club currently under interim guidance following a turbulent 2025/26 campaign, the identity of the man in the dugout next season remains a mystery.

For now, the self-proclaimed 'apprentice' remains on the international stage, but the pull of a Premier League return is unmistakable.

Mauricio Pochettino's full interview with FourFourTwo is available in print issue 391 and on sale from Thursday, April 30.

How do you replace such a totemic figure as Pep Guardiola?

That's the problem Manchester City are said to be preparing for this summer amid speculation that the iconic manager might step away at the end of the season.

Guardiola has delivered trophy after trophy for City, and is hoping to go out on a high with the Premier League title race on a knife-edge and the FA Cup semi-finals coming up this weekend.

Manchester City talking to Enzo Maresca, but Chelsea might stand in the way

City have long been reported to be eyeing a move for former Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca when the time comes to replace Guardiola.

The Italian worked under Guardiola as City, first as their youth team manager and then later as an assistant coach during their treble-winning season after returning from a short-live managerial spell with Parma.

Guardiola has made no secret of his admiration for his former right-hand man, and the Guardian now report that City have held 'positive talks' with Maresca about the possibility of him taking over at the Etihad Stadium.

Maresca has been out of work since stepping away from Chelsea in January, and while he had his critics at Stamford Bridge, the club's struggles since his departure have cast the job he did there in a more positive light.

Reports vary as to whether Maresca was sacked or walked away - the Guardian say he quit - but what is clear is that his relationship with the Chelsea hierarchy broke down in the months following their Club World Cup triumph last summer.

His replacement, Liam Rosenior, was sacked this week after leading Chelsea through a dismal run of form.

However, the terms of Mareca's exit from Chelsea could pose a stumbling block for Manchester City.

Maresca still has 'contractual obligations' to Chelsea, with his contract with the club set to run until summer 2029.

The nature of those obligations is not clear, but it is not uncommon in football for a managerial dismissal to actually mean the contract remains active, with the manager instead officially placed on garden leave.

Non-compete clauses are more limited in UK law than in other parts of the world, with six months typically considered reasonable where it is done in the protection of legitimate business interests.

Claudio Ranieri hopes that the late Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha is watching on ten years on from Leicester City's Premier League title victory with a smile on his face to mark the anniversary.

Under Srivaddhanaprabha's stewardship, which began in 2010, Leicester went from the Championship to hoisting the Premier League trophy in 2016.

The Thai businessman tragically died in a helicopter crash outside the King Power Stadium in October 2018.

Claudio Ranieri: 'Vichai was an extraordinarily kind man - we always felt his presence'

Leicester's manager for that Premier League title win, Claudio Ranieri, believes that Srivaddhanaprabha's death was not only a personal tragedy, but also left the club far worse off for his absence.

The Foxes will play in League One next season having suffered a double relegation from the Premier League and the Championship.

Ranieri told FourFourTwo: "A truly painful moment was the death of Vichai, in that tragic helicopter crash in 2018.

"He was an extraordinarily kind man. I don’t know how he managed it, but we always felt his presence.

"He’d often come to see us with his wife, his sons and daughters. On my birthday, five minutes before training was about to begin, he walked into the dressing room with a cake covered in candles, and he got the whole team to sing to me.

"In Italy, doing something like that would be unimaginable."

"His death was a disaster for everyone who knew him, and of course for the club.

"Seeing Leicester now, struggling near the bottom of the Championship table, is very sad for those who lived through that incredible chapter of its history.

"I hope that from up there, wherever Vichai is watching us from, he’s happy about this anniversary."

Mauricio Pochettino is still held in high regard by supporters of Tottenham Hotspur; of that there is no doubt.

The Argentine enjoyed a successful spell with the club between 2014 and 2019 before his acrimonious departure months on from the team's appearance in the UEFA Champions League Final.

Pochettino has taken charge of Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and the United States since then, the latter being his current post, but still feels strongly towards Spurs.

Pochettino: 'Tottenham still feels like home'

Naturally, Pochettino and Tottenham fans the world over have fond memories of club's run to the 2019 Champions League Final, which feels a far-cry from their current situation.

But, there were several other moments, including the majority of the 2016/17 campaign, under Pochettino that Spurs supporters continue to hark back to.

Before Pochettino, Tottenham had only qualified for the Champions League once in the Premier League era, in 2010. Under his management, the team qualified four seasons in a row, culminating in that 2019 final defeat, but in doing so, Pochettino had helped establish the club as a mainstay among Europe’s elite.

The pinnacle of the 'Poch era' came in 2016/17 when the club challenged for the title and secured their highest Premier League finish, ending the campaign in second place with a record 86 points.

It was the year in which Spurs bid farewell to White Hart Lane, too, going unbeaten there in the league, recording 17 wins and two draws. In the process, Tottenham conceded only 26 goals across the entire Premier League campaign, fewer than every other side.

And it was at that time Pochettino helped bring through the likes of Harry Kane, Dele Alli and Son Heung-min, facilitating their ascent to becoming modern-day Spurs icons.

"Yes, why not [go back]?" Pochettino told FourFourTwo in an exclusive interview. "If the right conditions are there, of course. Tottenham feels like home to us. We identify with the club’s idiosyncrasies, values and supporters.

"Right now it’s about enjoying the World Cup," he added. "After that, I’ve always said I came so close to winning the Premier League and Champions League, and want to try again. I’d like to be part of a project with the ambition of winning both."

Which division Tottenham are playing in next season remains to be decided, with the club teetering on the brink of relegation from the top flight for the first time since the 1970s.

Recently, the club have signed head coach Roberto De Zerbi to a long-term contract at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, meaning there is every chance there will not be a Spurs vacancy for some time.

Mauricio Pochettino's full interview with FourFourTwo is available in print issue 391 and on sale from Thursday, April 30.

Naturally enough, Claudio Ranieri has nothing but fond memories of Leicester City's incredible 2016 Premier League title win - and he believes that 5,000/1 shot was made possible by his side's incredible team spirit.

Leicester had only narrowly avoided relegation straight back to the Championship the previous season, but were successful in turning their early-season momentum into a sustained push at the top of the table.

But Ranieri told FourFourTwo that bond between the Leicester players did not just come out of nowhere.

Claudio Ranieri: 'I wanted them to bond and understand that everything had to be earned'

With Leicester sitting almost exactly in the middle of England, the Italian manager had to deal with a playing squad who had homes in all different directions.

That meant the veteran manager had to go out of his way to make sure the players still got some quality time together away from the training pitch.

Ranieri told FourFourTwo: "They were all good lads – humble and eager to work. Whether we won, drew or lost, they trained at 100 per cent.

"Many of them didn’t actually live in Leicester, so they didn’t spend a huge amount of time together away from the pitch. Some would head back to London, others to Manchester.

"For example, when we organised team dinners, [Jamie] Vardy never really came along. He was quite a solitary character by nature, but I’ve never been a despot.

"There were rules, of course – as long as those were still respected, everything ran smoothly. There were never any real problems."

Leicester City famously bonded through pizza during the 2015/16 season - a scheme that Ranieri (quite literally) cooked up as an incentive for his side to improve their defensive record.

Leicester did not keep a clean sheet in their first nine games of the season, conceding twice to Sunderland, Aston Villa, Stoke and Southampton, and five to Arsenal - but that 5-2 defeat to the Gunners at the King Power Stadium was nonetheless the only one of those games they actually lost.

Ranieri said: "Things went well from the beginning. Perhaps the only issue during the early weeks was that we conceded a few too many goals. That’s when the idea of the pizza came to me.

"What a laugh that was! I promised the players that after our first clean sheet, I’d treat them all to pizza. When we beat Crystal Palace 1-0 in October, I decided to make it even better.

"Instead of simply eating them, the boys would have to make their own pizzas! More than anything, I wanted them to bond and understand that everything had to be earned.

"So a few evenings after that match, we went to this pizzeria that had a huge room upstairs. The lads thought they were just going to sit down and eat – instead they found themselves having to prepare everything from scratch.

"There was flour everywhere and they were all laughing like mad. It became an unforgettable evening and, more importantly, it strengthened our team spirit even further."

Chelsea’s dismal run of form continued last night with a 3-0 defeat at Brighton & Hove Albion.

A fifth straight Premier League loss left the Blues seventh and looking at the possibility of missing out on European football altogether.

Chelsea had looked like real contenders for a top-five finish and qualification for the Champions League not so long ago, but they are now seven points off fifth-placed Liverpool.

Chelsea hierarchy 'aligned' with Rosenior

Inevitably, this terrible form - including an 8-2 aggregate loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League last 16 - has piled the pressure on head coach Liam Rosenior.

Enzo Maresca’s replacement started promisingly, but an alarming drop off in recent weeks has put him in an increasingly precarious position.

Rosenior, though, has insisted he still has the backing of the Chelsea owners, with a crucial FA Cup semi-final against Leeds coming up.

Asked on Monday if he has the board’s support, he said: "100 per cent. They've been supportive of me in our daily conversations. We are aligned, knowing we need to win games of football now."

The Chelsea boss cut a more dejected figure after his side’s abject showing on the south coast, though.

"It was unacceptable in every aspect of the game, unacceptable in our attitude,” he said. "I keep coming out and defending the players - that's indefensible, that performance tonight.

"The manner of the goals we conceded, the amount of duels that we lost, the lack of intensity in the team. Something needs to change drastically right now.

"I think the players need to have a look in the mirror for what they put in. You can talk about tactics... tactics come after the basics.

"Having more courage to play, winning duels, winning headers, tackles, conceding terrible goals. That was an unacceptable performance tonight."

Whether or not Rosenior can arrest this slump remains to be seen, but more and more questions are being asked of an inexperienced manager in an unforgiving job.

Arsenal's 22-year wait for a Premier League title looked to be nearing an end, but recent results have cast doubt on the Gunners' credentials as champions-elect.

Ex-Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has provided what could be interpreted as a psychological boost to the red half of North London as the title race approaches its climax.

Following the fallout of last weekend's clash between Arsenal and Manchester City, the legendary former Gunners coach has offered a perspective that challenges the inevitability of the City machine.

Arsene Wenger still believes in Arsenal title bid

Wenger remains a deeply influential figure whose connection to Arsenal transcends his 2018 departure.

His 'Invincibles' are still the last Arsenal squad to lift the Premier League trophy, and Wenger's insights into the current battle carries weight given he is a man who mastered the art of winning across three decades.

“I believe that Arsenal will win the league. I deeply believe. It looks, to me, like common sense," Wenger said, at a Twinning Project event shortly after Manchester City's 2-1 win.

"I like Eze, Odegaard, Havertz and Madueke attacking. Manchester City will not make the perfect run-in.”

Should Manchester City win at Burnley on Wednesday night by two-or-more goals, Pep Guardiola's side will leapfrog Arsenal into top spot with five games remaining.

Man City have Brentford, Crystal Palace and Aston Villa left to play at the Etihad Stadium, as well as trips to face Everton and Bournemouth.

Arsenal, on the other hand, host Newcastle, Fulham and Burnley. The Gunners are also scheduled to play away at West Ham United and Palace before the season's end, but have the added complication of a two-legged Champions League semi-final bout with Atletico Madrid.

Mikel Arteta attempted to remain positive but Arsenal’s 2-1 defeat to Manchester City on Sunday felt like a significant moment in the Premier League title race.

Pep Guardiola’s chasers are now just three points behind the Gunners, with a game in hand.

A lead that seemed unassailable only a few weeks ago has almost disappeared, and the pressure continues to mount on Arsenal.

Arteta's Arsenal future not guaranteed

Arteta has undoubtedly taken his team forward, and silverware could still come this season, but questions will be asked if Arsenal do not get over the line in the Premier League again.

If City win the league and Arsenal are knocked out of the Champions League, could the club’s hierarchy consider a change?

The Athletic’s David Ornstein has suggested it is not a given that Arteta will remain at Arsenal long-term if things do not go to plan in the immediate future.

“I’m sure Arsenal want Arteta to continue into next season and beyond (he’s contracted until June 2027 at present), while it sounds from Arteta’s own words as though he wants the same,” Ornstein said in Q&A for The Athletic.

“If things go badly for them between now and the summer, I’m sure there will be some very difficult conversations, and it would be naive of me to say I can’t see a world in which he departs – nothing surprises you in football and (for various reasons) I would say that about pretty much every Premier League club at the moment.

“So, the intention is clear – but obviously there is a lot riding on the weeks ahead.”

The general consensus is that Arteta has made tangible progress with Arsenal and created a team consistently fighting for trophies - even if making the final push to win them has so far proved difficult.

And the Spaniard is in no mood to give up despite the setback of defeat at The Etihad.

“If I have to pick the players up to win the Premier League with five games to go in our hands and be in the semi-final of the Champions League, I think I should be at home,” he said. “So it's not the case. It's not needed. It's never been needed, even in difficult moments. So we go again, that's for sure.”

In FourFourTwo’s view, there is no danger of Arteta being sacked, but a major trophy is imperative very soon to ensure it does not become a mental block for this Arsenal team.

Mikel Arteta is a passionate manager who wears his heart on his sleeve. But in a title run-in, that passion can sometimes weigh heavily on an Arsenal team that are still learning on the job how to be Premier League champions.

Manchester City have momentum, but Arsenal have been the captains of this season. The trophy is within their grasp, yet they risk letting City, masters of arriving late to the party, dictate the late-season music.

At the Etihad this weekend, you could hear Arteta’s voice even from the press box. Shouting himself hoarse, he was on his feet for most of the game, consumed by the tension and magnitude of the occasion.

Arsenal need to calm down

Pep Guardiola, by contrast, was calm, hands in pockets - only moved occasionally by decisions which did not go his side's way. Even when a mistake came, he barely reacted, simply glancing at his assistant before sitting back down with a bottle of water.

That level of calmness can often be more effective than the intensity Arteta has shown lately. Pressure at this stage of the season can overwhelm even the most accomplished sportsmen in the world.

This Arsenal team has been one of the most complete in recent Premier League seasons. They are built not to lose, and they have proven that over the past eight months.

But the final stretch will test them in ways they haven’t experienced before. It will reveal just how strong they are as a collective. Small moments, like how quickly they seemed rattled after conceding at the Etihad, and responding straight away will matter.

It would have been easy for them to let their heads drop and begin to doubt themselves after conceding the opener, given the narrative surrounding them. But they responded, forcing an error and equalising almost immediately.

But then they returned to embodying their head coach; they looked pressed, under pressure, despite being the team that could have afforded not to win and still remain in a strong position.

Sport is art in many ways, and the best artists will tell you one thing: "It cannot be rushed." Arsenal, at times, have handled this run-in with greater urgency than has been necessary.

They have allowed themselves to be pulled into a familiar narrative, that they struggle under pressure, that they falter when it matters most.

Arteta has said this is now a “different league.” The pressure of being chased has shifted, now it’s about handling the weight of expectation.

He is a philosophical manager. In the past, he has used creative methods, like demonstrations in training or recreating hostile atmospheres to prepare his players. Now, he may need to create calm instead, ensuring his team can thrive with their backs against the wall.

After the game, Arteta said: “This is a different league now and the boys know. We are disappointed because we came here to win, but that was it.”

That mindset may be exactly what Arsenal need to see this through and win their first league title in over two decades. They must treat this run-in as something separate from the season that came before.

City face Burnley next and could go top before Arsenal play again. But the real danger would be Arsenal allowing themselves to be consumed by what City do.

Arteta needs to reset his team, mentally as much as tactically. They must rediscover the freedom they played with earlier in the season and approach this title race as hunters, not the hunted.

Their performance against City was strong, even if, at this stage, results are all that matter. If Arteta can ease the pressure and free his players from the burden of expectation, they still have what it takes to get across the line in pole position.

It’s a difficult question that many clubs face at some point. Is their manager getting the absolute most out of what they have at their disposal, or might another gaffer be able to get more out of them?

It’s the kind of quandary that is usually only properly answerable in hindsight, once the new manager comes in and either takes them backwards or pushes them to new levels. There’s a few Premier League clubs who need to try and find an answer nonetheless at the moment

Is Eddie Howe simply working with a squad that can’t bear the toll of Champions League football alongside their domestic duties, or is this season another indication that he cannot build on a successful season at the highest level? Is Arne Slot out of ideas, or working with a squad in the middle of a transitional period? The hardest one of all to answer, though, is Mikel Arteta at Arsenal.

Mikel Arteta needs to prove he is Arsenal's man for the long term

There is zero doubt whatsoever that Arsenal are in a much better position now than they were when he arrived in 2019. The Gunners had just finished fifth, sixth, fifth again, and came eighth in both of Arteta’s first two seasons in charge. Ask Manchester United – and Liverpool before them – just how hard it is to get out of that kind of slump.

But since narrowly missing out on the top four once more in 2021/22, Arsenal have been perennial title contenders. This season will mark their fourth straight top-two finish.

The problem, of course, is that if their recent slump continues against Manchester City on Sunday afternoon, their record might well end up reading second, second, second… second.

There comes a point where that is just not good enough anymore, and Arteta stands at that crossroads now.

Arsenal were top for all but three weeks of the 2022/23 season until they lost to Manchester City in late April. They were at their most forgivable in 2023/24, when they won all but two of their last 18 games but still missed out to a near-flawless City. Last season, they just never really turned up at all, failing to win more than three games in a row at any point of the Premier League campaign.

Two exhausting near-misses to a treble-winning City side, followed by a disappointing season, is totally understandable. Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool followed the same trend just a couple of years before, and you won’t find many Reds fans with a bad word to say about the German.

The difference, though, is that Liverpool actually got the job done in the middle of it all. After running City close in 2019 and finishing second with a record 97 points, they came back even stronger and romped to the title.

Arteta does not have that goodwill in the bank yet, and he is on a knife-edge now as to whether he earns that recognition or starts to feel like a perpetual nearly-man who just cannot get his side over the line.

There are already neutrals and even some Arsenal fans who feel that Arteta’s style of football is the reason for that. They are extremely well-drilled and have had the fewest obvious flaws of any side in the Premier League this season, but can also come across as unduly conservative and tense. If they lose to City on Sunday, that lack of ease will surely be cited as a major reason once again.

The difficulty is that at this point, it’s hard to tell whether Arsenal have spent the majority of the season at the top of the league because of Arteta or in spite of him.

The main case for the defence is that Arsenal have lacked a prolific centre-forward this season, with marquee signing Viktor Gyokeres on just 12 league goals – respectable, but not incredible.

That runs throughout the side. Bukayo Saka has just six league goals. Gabriel Martinelli, Noni Madueke, Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz have just six between them, in no small part thanks to injuries.

In light of that, perhaps Arteta’s approach makes sense: squeeze the most out of games by being controlled, being tight, being hard to beat, making the most of dead balls, and sharing the goals around.

The best blueprint for that was Jose Mourinho at his peak in his first spell with Chelsea; midfielder Frank Lampard was their top scorer in both 2004/05 (13 goals) and 2005/06 (16) as they claimed back-to-back titles.

The case against Arteta is that the paucity of regular goalscorers may well be because of the manager’s approach.

All of those players we named have been much more prolific in previous seasons, for starters; even accepting that some of them have lost long spells to injury, their drop-off in output is noteworthy. One or two having a more modest season could be put down to individual form. When it’s a whole squad, you look at the manager.

There are also plenty of examples, including a few in recent history, of sides without an obvious talisman who have excelled nonetheless.

For three years in a row from 2019/20 to 2021/22, the Premier League champions’ top scorer was a non-striker who scored fewer than 20 goals: Mo Salah for Liverpool (19), then Ilkay Gundogan (13) and Kevin de Bruyne (15) for City. Yet nobody accused those sides of lacking attacking intent.

As ever in football, the means will be justified by how it ends. If Arsenal see their title push out, none of those criticisms will matter very much, because it will all have worked.

Another runners-up place, though, and you would not blame Arsenal if they had a good, hard look at Arteta and wonder if lightening the leash even just a bit might have made the crucial difference. We might only be talking about a handful of points in the end, but at the very top end of the table, that is massive.

There are managers who win things, and those who just set up the next boss to take things to the next level. There is no shame in either, but Arsenal have been banking on Arteta to fall into the first category.

That City game will go a long way to telling us whether that faith has been well-placed.

Newcastle United are reportedly keeping an eye on two former Premier League title-winning managers with Eddie Howe under scrutiny and claimed to be considering quitting the club.

After enjoying a dream season of securing the League Cup and Champions League qualification last season, Newcastle have endured a deeply disappointing campaign this time around.

Sunday's defeat to Crystal Palace leaves How's side 14th in the table and ten point away from the top five, leaving them with a pretty dismal outlook when it comes to achieving European qualification again this season.

Jose Mourinho of interest to Newcastle United

That has led to speculation about Howe's future at the club, and talkSPORT report that the club's Saudi owners PIF would be 'attracted to the idea of appointing a big-name in the event Howe departs'.

Naturally, that means we are getting yet another round of Jose Mourinho being liked to the Newcastle job.

The heavily-decorated Portuguese, currently at Benfica, has been connected with St James' Park repeatedly for years.

Mourinho even turned down the chance to join his Barcelona mentor Bobby Robson at the club back in 2000, owing to his then-burgeoning managerial ambitions

Magpies start Anthony Gordon revealed his mutual admiration for Mourinho after earning praise from the manager following Newcastle's 3-0 win over Benfica in October, saying: “He really creates a team environment, it's like us against the world.

“I recognise that from my own game so it was a big compliment. It means an awful lot. Even if I didn't idolise him, a compliment from any coach at this level means a lot."

talkSPORT also throw form Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini into the frame, saying he is 'likely to come into any conversation'.

The Italian led City to their first Premier League title in 2012, and has since had spells at Galatasaray, Inter, Zenit St Petersburg, Italy (whom he led to Euro 2020 glory), Saudi Arabia, and now Qatari side Al-Sadd.

Adoni Iraola is also namechecked as a potential Howe successor after announcing that he will leave Bournemouth at the end of the season.

Andoni Iraola is to leave Bournemouth at the end of the season, with the Cherries looking to a former Manchester United coach to replace him.

Bournemouth have recorded a record points tally in each of their last two seasons, and are currently unbeaten in 2026, emphatically beating Arsenal away from home at the weekend.

But Iraola is out of contract at the end of the season, and now, The Athletic have claimed that the Basque boss will depart after failing to reach an agreement on his extension.

Former Manchester United coach lined up to replace Andoni Iraola at Bournemouth

The Athletic's sources claim that Bournemouth have tried everything in their power to try and convince Iraola to remain on the South Coast after 15 months of negotiations.

With the Cherries selling some of their biggest stars over the past couple of years – in the form of Antoine Semenyo in January, but also Dean Huijsen, Ilya Zabarnyi and Milos Kerkez last summer, following on from Dominic Solanke the season before – Iraola's job has become incredibly difficult.

Despite this, Bournemouth are on track to finish the season strongly and have adapted well despite the sales.

Now, The Athletic claims that Kieran McKenna is being eyed as the replacement.

McKenna is still with Ipswich Town and looking to return to the top flight at the first time of asking.

The London-born Northern Irish youth international joined the academy set-up at Manchester United in 2016, and was promoted to work alongside Jose Mourinho during the Special One's time at the club, before becoming an integral part of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's coaching team.

McKenna is still just 39 and FourFourTwo understands that he was one of the names considered by Chelsea before they hired Enzo Maresca.

Bournemouth currently sit 11th in the table but are just two points off seventh in the race for European football.

The seasiders take on Newcastle United this weekend when Premier League action resumes.

Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick called Lisandro Martinez’s sending off “one of the worst” he’s ever seen.

The incident happened just before the hour mark, with referee Paul Tierney not spotting anything in real time, but then pausing play after being advised by the VAR to review the footage.

The replay showed Manchester United defender Martinez and Dominic Calvert-Lewin battling for a header, and on the way down from the jump, the Argentinian grasped the Leeds striker’s ponytail.

Manchester United boss Michael Carrick furious at “worst decision” he’s ever seen

A pull of the hair under the rules is a straight red card, but it’s contentious in his case as there is little force in the pull, with some belief it was not the defender’s intention to go for his hair.

Nevertheless, Tierney opted to stick to the letter of the law and send Martinez off, with the straight red card meaning he will now be set to miss the next three games, which see the Red Devils face Chelsea, Brentford and then Liverpool.

Speaking after the game, a clearly angry Carrick said: “That decision was one of the worst I’ve ever seen.

“He [Calvert-Lewin] can throw his arms in Licha’s [Martinez’s] face, and then he’s sent off. Shocking.

“I don’t even know what it looks like. It’s not a pull, it’s not a tug, it’s not aggressive. He touches it and he gets sent off.”

The incident happened with the Red Devils already two goals down to Leeds, and they managed to bring it back to 2-1 through Casemiro, with 10 men on the pitch, but could not complete a comeback.

“Worse of all, he gets sent to overturn it, a clear and obvious error. Shocking. He is off balance and grappling,” Carrick continued. “We have got to be careful where the game is going. It is a shocking decision, absolutely shocking.”

Carrick hinted in his post-match press conference that the club may look to appeal the red card and get Martinez’s suspension reduced, but whether that’s a possibility remains to be seen.

In FourFourTwo’s opinion, a three-game ban for that incident feels excessive, especially given it’s categorised as “violent conduct”, but Tierney only applied the letter of the law, so an appeal may prove tricky. Harry Maguire was serving a one-match suspension during this game, having been sent off against Bournemouth for denial of a goalscoring opportunity, but there is talk that his ban could be extended, after he was charged by the FA for “improper conduct” for allegedly using abusive or insulting language towards an official in the aftermath.

If Maguire is suspended for further games, and Martinez’s ban is upheld, it would see Carrick’s primary options at centre-back reduced to just Leny Yoro and Ayden Heaven, with Matthijs de Ligt still nursing a long-term issue.

Bundesliga side Union Berlin have made history after appointing Marie-Louise Eta as their new head coach.

They are the first club in Europe’s top five leagues to have a female head coach, with Eta taking the job on an interim basis until the end of the season.

She had previously been the club’s assistant, also making history as the first female to hold that role across Europe’s top five leagues.

England manager Sarina Wiegman said of the appointment: "It's great. She's a trailblazer and I think this was a matter of time anyway.

"Congratulations to her and Berlin. It's exciting. It shows that again football is moving up.

"There's women in society everywhere and the next step is also in football, male and female."

There will be plenty of interest in Eta’s progress with Union Berlin in the coming weeks, with her first Bundesliga game at home to Wolfsburg on Saturday.

The 34-year-old trailblazer, who previously served as the club's assistant coach and U19 manager, steps in for the final five matches of the season following the dismissal of Steffen Baumgart.

It serves as a landmark appointment marking a defining moment for representation in football as Eta prepares to guide the club through a critical relegation battle before transitioning to lead Union's women's team this summer.

But which other men’s professional clubs have been led by female head coaches? FourFourTwo takes a look.

Sabrina Wittmann (FC Ingolstadt 04, 2024)

Eta is not the first woman to have led a men’s team in Germany. That was achieved by Sabrina Wittman, who took charge of FC Ingolstadt in the third tier in 2024 on an interim basis and then was given the job permanently.

Wittmann, just 34, is still with Ingolstadt, and has a win percentage of 34.78% at the time of writing.

“It’s OK to be the first woman, I’m really proud of it, but in the end I want to be a good coach, I want to be a good manager, I want to be a good human being towards my players,” she said in a recent interview with The Guardian. “It’s about how you want to be seen, not just about being the first.”

Hannah Dingley (Forest Green Rovers, 2023)

There has been no female head coach of a Premier League team yet, but Forest Green made history in 2023 when they appointed Hannah Dingley on an interim basis.

It was a brief stint in July and Dingley did not take charge of any games for the then League Two club, but it was still a significant moment.

“It was a very simple decision,” said Forest Green owner Dale Vince. “Hannah was the most qualified person at the club for the job. Nothing else came into frame.”

She was replaced by David Horseman, before returning to her role as head of academy. She has since gone on to work for the Irish national team and Manchester City.

Corinne Diacre (Clermont Foot, 2014–2017)

For longevity, Corinne Diacre is perhaps the most impressive of the female coaches to have taken charge of men’s teams.

The forthright 51-year-old spent three seasons with Ligue 2 side Clermont Foot from 2014 to 2017, before going on to manage France’s women and Marseille women.