The Pulse of Football

Jun

2025

Dortmund are getting their mojo back under Niko Kovac

It has been a rollercoaster few years for Borussia Dortmund. They entered the final matchday of the 2022/23 season in pole position to claim their first Bundesliga title in 11 years, only to end up drawing 2-2 to Mainz and relinquishing the Meisterschaft to Bayern Munich. One year later, they reached the biggest stage in club football, only to end up losing 2-0 to Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League Final.

By Zach Lowy

It seems that this scar tissue took a toll on Dortmund’s confidence, with the club struggling for form over the opening months of the 2024/25 campaign under Nuri Şahin, who replaced Edin Terzić as manager in the summer of 2024. The German behemoths endured a dismal start to the campaign and descended to midtable mediocrity, prompting the club hierarchy to sack their rookie manager and bring in Niko Kovač, who had previously coached Croatia, Eintracht Frankfurt, Bayern Munich, and Monaco.

Optimism was in short supply amongst the Dortmund fanbase, with Kovač suffering more defeats (26) than victories (23) during his most recent coaching spell at Wolfsburg. And when they lost four of their first six league matches under Kovač, it seemed that Dortmund were resigned to missing out on European football for the first time in 16 years.

Instead, Dortmund managed to hit their stride following the March international break, winning each of their last seven Bundesliga matches (apart from a 2-2 draw at Bayern) and narrowly sneaking into fourth place, thus qualifying for the UEFA Champions League for the 10th year in a row. But just how have Dortmund managed to turn around their fortunes under Kovač and book their ticket to Europe’s premier competition? FotMob spoke to various key figures of the BVB team in order to understand the club’s meteoric transformation.

“When you’re in a positive way, it’s always better,” revealed Dortmund midfielder Marcel Sabitzer to FotMob. “We had a bad start, but in the end, we were one of the best teams in Europe once again, which gave us a lot of confidence. The opposing teams know that we are strong, that we’re a bit of a tournament team, and we show that in the Champions League every year. We did well last season, and this season against Barcelona…we’re ready for everyone and we want to beat everyone.”

Having taken notice of Dortmund’s defensive struggles, Kovač decided to eschew the previous back four and transition to a 3-5-2 system. Suddenly, the team was no longer leaking counter-attacking opportunities and getting exposed in transition – they were getting numbers back and defending diligently. Whereas BVB would previously lose possession and immediately get torn apart on the counter, this time, they were able to minimize the threat and keep things tight at the back. What’s more, they were exhibiting the kind of heavy-metal football and aggressive pressing that delivered plenty of success under legendary manager Jürgen Klopp.

“When I arrived, I saw a team without self-confidence,” admitted Kovač to FotMob. “At the beginning of my time, we started to build the self-confidence and give the players the mental strength. As you saw at the end of the season, these players can compete at the highest level with confidence, which is very important for every single player. As a coach, you have your own ideas, but we said at the beginning, ‘keep it simple.’ We gave them our structure and spine which is important to win matches, we needed a bit of time, but it got better and better. When the players have these automatisms, it works better.”

Despite losing defensive talisman Nico Schlotterbeck to injury, BVB managed to shore things up at the back and become a sturdier unit. When Kovač took charge on January 29, Dortmund were sitting 11th in the table thanks to a catastrophic defensive unit that had conceded 33 goals in 19 matches. Over the next 15 matches, they would allow just 18 goals, enough to see them end the season in fourth place.

On the other side of the pitch, however, they also became far more efficient in terms of going forward. The decision to drop Jamie Gittens from the line-up raised quite a few eyebrows, but it worked like a charm, with BVB’s attacking players showing far more diligence off the ball and composure on the ball. Despite not having as much possession, BVB scored 26 goals over the final eight matches of the campaign, more than any other team in the Bundesliga.

“This momentum is important…we’re in good shape, we have confidence, we have a clear idea of how we want to play, and we’ve worked hard as a group, so I think we’re ready,” stated Pascal Groß to FotMob.

Rather than having possession for the sake of it, Dortmund started to excel at picking their moments to go forward and hit on the counter, stringing together a couple of passes and immediately finding themselves in the opposition box. It is clear that Kovač’s no-nonsense approach has helped to give several underperforming players a shot in the arm, with the Croatian stressing the importance of making piercing runs into the box and retaining their shape out of possession. This change in philosophy has bore plenty of fruit for the likes of Serhou Guirassy, who scored six goals in the final five matches, Julian Brandt, who has been transformed as a reliable attacking midfielder, and Sabitzer, whose natural leadership qualities and incisive passing has dovetailed nicely in the new-look system.

Whilst expectations were high for their FIFA Club World Cup opener, Dortmund failed to parlay that momentum into a seventh consecutive victory in East Rutherford, New Jersey. In their first match in a month, BVB escaped with a goalless stalemate against Brazilian powerhouse Fluminense thanks to a Man of the Match display from Swiss goalkeeper Gregor Kobel, who made five saves throughout Tuesday’s contest. However, they remain well-positioned to advance from the group, with two matches in Cincinnati yet to come against South Korean outfit Ulsan and South African side Mamelodi Sundowns.

After several years of heartbreaking collapses, can Borussia Dortmund finally give their fans something to cheer about by winning the FIFA Club World Cup?

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow the every game from the Club World Cup on FotMob – with in-depth stat coverage including xG, shot maps, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Jun

2025

Preview: Chelsea set for reunion with Flamengo coach Filipe Luis

Flamengo and Chelsea go head-to-head in the Club World Cup, with both sides searching for their second win in as many games in the competition.

By Matt Smith

Flamengo enjoyed a 2-0 victory against Espérance in the opening game, while Enzo Maresca’s side defeated Los Angeles FC by the same scoreline. The two sides previously met back in 1998 during an international friendly tournament, with Chelsea coming away with a 5-0 win.

Team news

Flamengo were without Nicolás de la Cruz for their opening game of the tournament, but he has been named in their squad for the competition, meaning there is a chance he could make his return.

Roméo Lavia and Reece James only completed 45 minutes each in Chelsea’s game against Los Angeles, so it will be interesting to see whether they are able to start once again. Liam Delap made his debut off the bench, setting up Enzo Fernández’s goal, so he’ll be pushing for a place in the starting XI.

Two possession-based styles go head-to-head

Maresca is known for his possession-based style at Chelsea, but Filipe Luís is looking to implement a similar system with Flamengo. In their opening game, the Brazilian side dominated proceedings with 69% of the possession.

Brazilian league leaders Flamengo play in the same way domestically, with no side in the league averaging more possession than them this season. It looks set to be an interesting battle between two similar styles on Friday night.

Chelsea searching for repeat of LA performance

Although Los Angeles showed some threat in transition against Chelsea, it was a dominant display from the Blues in their opening game of the competition. Maresca’s side created 2.24 expected goals, producing 17 shots with six of those being on target.

A win for the Blues would guarantee a place in the round of 16 if LAFC win or draw in their game against Espérance. Considering the squad Maresca has at his disposal, qualification for the next round will be a bare minimum target.

Liam Delap pushing for a start

Delap came off the bench in the game against LAFC, and he produced a performance that will have excited Chelsea fans ahead of the 2025/2026 season. The England youth international was a constant threat running in behind, while he was constantly battling with defenders and getting into the box.

Delap provided an assist for Enzo and created two chances, despite being on the pitch for just over 25 minutes. Nicolas Jackson, who Delap replaced in the second half, also created a goal, so it will be interesting to see how Maresca decides to line up in the second game. The Chelsea boss has even hinted that he could try fit the pair into the same starting XI.

Prediction

Chelsea should have too many quality in this one, but Flamengo will certainly be no pushovers. We’re going for a 2-1 victory to Maresca’s side.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the Club World Cup with FotMob this summer — featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Jun

2025

Mauricio Pochettino’s fringe players are getting a chance to impress for the USMNT

Mauricio Pochettino and Christian Pulisic’s public war of words has been an unwelcome backdrop to the USA’s last summer before the 2026 World Cup.

By Graham Ruthven

For the first time in a while, the first question asked of Mauricio Pochettino in a press conference wasn’t about Christian Pulisic. Instead, the US men’s national team head coach spoke about a 5-0 demolition of Trinidad & Tobago to open the 2025 Gold Cup. Pochettino, also for the first time in a while, had something to smile about.

It’s been a tough stretch for the USMNT. With the 2026 World Cup on home soil now less than a year away, Pochettino is struggling to get to grips with the squad he has been handed. He’s also struggling to get some of his best players in line, not least his captain Pulisic who isn’t playing in this summer’s Gold Cup.

This, according to the Milan winger, was to give him the best chance of a successful 2025/26 season leading into the World Cup. Pulisic has a long history of injury troubles and so it’s understandable that after a gruelling 2024/25 campaign which saw him play over 3,500 minutes in all competitions he is mindful of his body’s needs.

The USMNT have needs too, though, and many, possibly including Pochettino, believe Pulisic has turned his back on his team when they need him most. Indeed, the former Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham Hotspur boss didn’t respond warmly to Pulisic’s suggestion that he could play two friendlies against Türkiye and Switzerland before skipping the Gold Cup.

“Players need to listen and to stick with our plan,” said Pochettino. “They cannot dictate the plan. The most important thing is that we explain why we decided not to include him in the two friendly games. And then if you have some problems, no, that is not my problem to understand. When I signed my contract in the federation, I am the head coach. I am not a mannequin.”

It’s not just Pulisic who is missing from the USA’s Gold Cup squad, it’s Antonee Robinson, Weston McKennie, Sergiño Dest, Tim Weah, Gio Reyna, Folarin Balogun and Ricardo Pepi too. Some are absent through injury. Others are at the Club World Cup. The consequence is that Pochettino is is counting on a squad of youngsters and fringe players this summer.

This, however, might be to the USMNT head coach’s preference. His best players have so far failed to embrace his ideas and methods, as demonstrated by the lacklustre CONCACAF Nations League defeats to Panama and Canada in March, and so this is an opportunity for Pochettino to get a closer look at some alternatives.

A number of those alternatives caught the eye against Trinidad & Tobago on Sunday. Malik Tillman was chief among them, scoring his first two goals in a USA jersey. Not only this, the PSV playmaker was a creative influence, completing more passes in the final third and key passes than any other USA player. It was the sort of performance USMNT fans have long wanted from Tillman.

Jack McGlynn also made an impact. Deployed in an unorthodox role on the right wing, the Houston Dynamo midfielder opened up angles for the USMNT with his passing range. This was after McGlynn found the back of the net from distance in the recent friendly defeat to Türkiye. He offers something different.

Then there’s Diego Luna, the USMNT player who reflects what Pochettino wants better than anyone else. The Real Salt Lake number 10 plays with the sort of energy and intensity Pochettino craves from the rest of his squad. Luna is always looking for the ball. He wants to get in between the lines.

Six months ago, Luna had yet to make his senior international debut. Now, he’s the beating heart of Pochettino’s USA, and therein is the encouragement for the fringe figures looking to make a good impression at the Gold Cup. A good showing this summer could change the World Cup outlook for several players.

Alex Freeman surely has his sights set on a place in Pochettino’s World Cup roster. The 20-year-old is enjoying a breakthrough year for Orlando City and already looks comfortable in the USMNT set-up as Pochettino’s starting right back for the Gold Cup. Freeman is well-rounded and gives the US a number of different looks in an attacking and defensive sense.

Matt Freese is also making his case for a World Cup spot, and not just as a squad player either. Matt Turner’s lack of first team action at club level and repeated mistakes for the USMNT means Freese could be Pochettino’s first-choice goalkeeper should he continue to look solid at the Gold Cup.

It could be strongly argued that this summer is a wasted opportunity for the USMNT as the clock counts down to a home World Cup. Pochettino, on the other hand, might see it as a chance to send a message to his under-performing stars while opening the door to others who could, at the very least, reinvigorate things.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the Gold Cup with FotMob – featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Jun

2025

Preview: USMNT face first serious Gold Cup test against Saudi Arabia

Group D favourites USA will face a similarly depleted Saudi Arabia side in a match where the winner can almost certainly seal progression to the knockouts.

By Neel Shelat

Pressure still on the USMNT

The USA endured their first four-match losing streak since 2007 in the lead up to the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Having also suffered a surprise defeat in the CONCACAF Nations League to Panama in that run, pressure certainly was mounting on Mauricio Pochettino and his rather depleted squad going into the Gold Cup.

Their 5-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago in their opening game might have helped ease nerves a little, but that result should count for little in the wider scheme of things. The challenge for the Argentine coach is not to thrash significantly weaker sides but to set his team up to consistently get results against opponents of a more similar stature. The upcoming match will be more meaningful in this respect, though it will not be entirely representative either.

Saudi Arabia also missing key players due to Club World Cup

While the USMNT are without their core group of players due to a myriad of reasons, Gold Cup invitees Saudi Arabia also have to make do without some stars for the tournament. Seven of their players were not available for selection due to domestic giants Al Hilal’s participation in the FIFA Club World Cup. The absentees include star forward Salem Al-Dawsari, scorer of the famous goal against Argentina at the last World Cup and the Green Falcons’ leading active goal-scorer, as well as key midfielder Mohamed Kanno.

Looking to make the most of the situation, head coach Hervé Renard handed out starts to four players aged 23 or younger in their tournament opener against Haiti. While Saudi Arabia came away with a win, their performance was far from convincing, so they will need to step things up if they are to really challenge the USMNT.

Saudi Arabia preparing for World Cup qualification challenge

While Saudi Arabia will have an eye on the Gold Cup title like all strong competitors, their biggest task of the year is to seal World Cup qualification. Six Asian teams booked their berths in the 2026 edition of the tournament earlier this month at the conclusion of the AFC’s third qualifying round, including Japan and Australia who finished ahead of the Green Falcons in their group. So, they will have to go again in the fourth round, which they will co-host along with Qatar.

Ticket sales remain slow

Between the volatile political situation in the United States, reports and fears of ICE agents operating around stadiums and an over-saturation of summer soccer action in the country, it should be no surprise that ticket sales for the Gold Cup have not gone well in the States. At the time of writing, at least half of the seats for this match are unsold.

Prediction

The USMNT should be considered clear favourites for this match after Saudi Arabia’s performance against Haiti, so they should aim to win by a multi-goal margin.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the Gold Cup with FotMob this summer – featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Jun

2025

Porto pin their hopes on Rodrigo Mora’s bright future

It’s been a turbulent year or so at FC Porto. No longer the serial winners they were in the early 2000s and 2010s, and after a second consecutive third-placed finish in Portugal, they need something, or someone, that can guide them through troubled waters.

By Alex Roberts

In the midst of André Villas-Boas being voted in as the new president, replacing long-serving Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa, manager Vítor Bruno being sacked and replaced by Martin Anselmi, and the sale of several star players, 18-year-old Rodrigo Mora has been one of the few consistencies.

Not so long ago, he was ripping it up in the Porto under-17s. At just 15, he was a world apart, notably coming on at half time with the score at 0-0 in their match against Palmeiras all the way back in October 2022 and completely changing the game.

By the time the final whistle blew, Porto were 6-0 winners. Mora came on to score four goals in the span of 32 minutes and the powers that be knew they had their hands on a truly special youngster.

*Mora’s playing traits, based on two seasons as a senior pro*

Mora is arguably the best talent Portugal have produced since João Félix at Benfica and the comparisons don’t end there. They play in almost the exact same position, off the left and cutting inside to play in the space between the wing and the ten. Plus, they have the same Baby-era Justin Bieber haircut.

Like Félix, Mora relies in his movement and close control to get the better of opposition defenders. He’s quite small, 5′ 6″ to be exact, and he uses that to his advantage. His low centre of gravity makes him hard to get a hold of.

He also has a fantastic first touch, earning the trust of his teammates should they feel the need to fizz in a pass or switch play with a high looping ball. Once taking the ball down, Mora will get going without thinking twice, using his impressive balance and acceleration to start the attack.

Felix, is in fact, the perfect cautionary tale for Mora. Unloved by his last four clubs, Atlético Madrid, Chelsea, Barcelona, and now AC Milan, the Porto youngster should look at his countryman’s career and learn that the grass isn’t always greener, especially since it’s looking like Félix will end up back at Benfica this summer.

2024-25 was Mora’s first full season with the first team. At youth level, he was a big fish in a small pond, being named in the UEFA Youth League 23/24 Team of the Tournament for his performances as joint top goal scorer for the eventual runners up.

He also made Liga Portugal history as the youngest starting debutant – alongside Chelsea-bound Geovany Quenda – in the competition’s history, as well as becoming youngest player to score and assist in the same game in the last 35 years.

It was Bruno who gave Mora his debut in the 3-2 Europa League defeat to Bodø/Glimt back in September 2024. In all honesty, he didn’t have much of an impact, coming on for the final 21 minutes for Marko Grujić.

It was only a cameo, but Bruno liked what he saw enough to give him another one four days later as his side earned a comfortable 4-0 Liga Portugal win over Arouca. Mora then remained on the bench for Porto’s next three games.

Finally, in an away trip to AVS Futebol SAD, Mora bagged his first senior goal, albeit via a pretty heavy deflection. He received the ball from João Mário just inside the box, got it under control, faked a shot, and scored before wheeling away in celebration.

Bruno did a lot of wrong things while at the helm but the way he managed Mora was spot on. Limiting his minutes until he became too hard to ignore, starting just three of Bruno’s 18 matches in charge of Porto, with his nine appearances overall totalling 303 minutes.

*Mora’s shot map, Liga Portugal 2024/25 season*

It was the game against Moreirense in late December he fully exploded onto the scene, assisting the opener for Samuel Aghehowa before going on to score the second of their three goals with a fine finish following some pinball in the box.

He then went on to score and assist in the game against Boavista a week later. So, by the time 2025 rolled around, he already had six goal involvements in 247 minutes of action across all competitions.

Then, in January, everything changed. Bruno was gone just before the end of the month, replaced by Martin Anselmi and the main obstacle to Mora ascension to a bona fide starter, Wenderson Galeno, was sold to Al Ahli.

Anselmi came in with a new system with Mora operating as the right-sided number 10 behind Aghehowa. But he has also operated on the left of a front three this season, and as the sole number 10 in a 3-4-1-2 system.

With Galeno gone, Mora started all but one of the next 15 games he played across all competitions under Anselmi, ending the season with 10 goals and four assists in the league.

Before he turned 18 in May, only Lamine Yamal had more goal contributions among players under that age across Europe’s top 10 leagues with 18. That’s pretty good company considering Yamal is one of the favourites to win this year’s Ballon d’Or.

Now, Mora is with Porto for their FIFA Club World Cup campaign – where they face Inter Miami tonight – and playing alongside some of the best young talents the world has on offer. He featured against Estêvão in their first game vs Palmeiras, although neither were able to break the deadlock.

During a time of transition, the likes of which Porto haven’t seen for decades, they’re in need of a poster boy, someone the fans can rally around and point to when the project has its inevitable bumps in the road.

Unfortunately for the club, it’s been reported that he has a release clause of €45 million to €80m in his contract, so he’ll probably be wearing a Chelsea shirt by next summer.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the Club World Cup with FotMob this summer – featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Jun

2025

Preview: Inter Miami set for clash against Portuguese giants Porto

The second round of matches at the Club World Cup begin on Thursday, when host nation representatives Inter Miami will face a tough test against FC Porto.

By James Nalton

Lionel Messi’s side were held to a scoreless draw in the opener against Al-Ahly, kicking the tournament off with a 0-0, but what at times was a fairly entertaining one.

60,927 turned out at the Hard Rock Stadium, with Al Ahly fans providing plenty of atmosphere along with some of the Miami supporters’ groups, setting the tone for what this tournament might have in store.

It eased some concerns about whether fans will show up and whether there will be an atmosphere around the tournament.

Now, Inter Miami and Porto have the task of filling the 71,000-capacity Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

Miami need a shock result to progress

Inter Miami and their coach, Javier Mascherano, might have felt they needed a win from that opener against Al Ahly.

Three points early on against the team they would have been most fancied to get something from would have put less pressure on these potentially trickier games against European and South American opposition.

As it was, Al Ahly had the better chances to score, and the giants of Egyptian and African football were unlucky not to come away with a win. To illustrate that, Inter Miami goalkeeper Oscar Ustari was the game’s best player.

Trezeguet saw a penalty saved by Ustari on his return to his boyhood club, sparing Inter Miami the embarrassment of losing the opener in their latest adopted home stadium in Miami Gardens.

The Floridians now travel to Atlanta to face Porto, where another draw would keep them in the mix, but a defeat might be the beginning of the end.

Playing away from home against the group favourites is a chance to show what they are made of.

There’s always a chance

With Messi around…

Messi showed enough against Al Ahly to suggest he can make his mark on this tournament.

An audacious effort from outside the area following a corner routine almost caught Mohamed El Shenawi off guard, but the experienced goalkeeper scrambled back to tip the shot onto the bar.

Messi was heavily involved, finishing the game with 76 touches, and also created a couple of good chances for teammates.

His cross late on gave Fafà Picault a chance that could have won the game, but El Shenawi saved the header from close range.

Sergio Busquets, at 36 years old, still enjoys this type of summer football tournament, taking the heat out of things with simple, efficient passing that can create chances further down the line.

Inter Miami will be the underdogs against a UEFA Champions League and Europa League regular, but they still have the players to win these games against the odds.

Porto pressure

Porto will also have been disappointed not to begin their campaign with a win, as the other match in Group A also finished goalless.

In that game, the Brazilian side, Palmeiras, who won the Copa Libertadores in 2021, showed they will be tough to beat, and like Al Ahly did versus Miami, will have felt they should have snatched a win against Porto.

That Porto’s goalkeeper Claudio Ramos received the highest FotMob rating in that game tells a story similar to Ustari’s in the other game.

It leaves Porto still looking for their first win, which could be bad news for Inter Miami.

Striker Samuel Aghehowa was kept quiet by Palmeiras, but the 21-year-old Spaniard, who was Porto’s top scorer last season, will fancy his chances against the MLS team’s shaky defence.

18-year-old attacking midfielder Rodrigo Mora is another one to look out for in the Porto ranks, while winger Pepê will be hoping to start and make an impact, having begun on the bench versus Palmeiras.

*Porto’s top scorers in the Liga Portugal last season*

Prediction

Porto should be able to do what Al Ahly couldn’t and finish their chances against Inter Miami, and after the 0-0 draws in the opening games, this one could see a few goals.

(Cover Image from IMAGO)

You can follow every match from the Club World Cup with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage including shot maps, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Jun

2025

Preview: Man City get underway against Wydad at the Club World Cup

Manchester City and Wydad Casablanca will go head-to-head in their opening game of the Club World Cup in Group G.

By Matt Smith

Pep Guardiola’s side will be hoping to defend their title, but they face a tougher test this year, with the competition now under a new format.

Man City naturally qualify after lifting the 2023 edition, and they face a Morocco-based side who have won 22 league titles. Wydad qualified through their CAF Champions League triumph during the 2021/2022 campaign.

Team news

City fans will be excited by the prospect of seeing some of their new additions, with Rayan Cherki, Rayan Aït-Nouri, and Tijjani Reijnders all named in their Club World Cup squad after signing earlier in the summer window. Mateo Kovačić and Jack Grealish are among those who failed to make the squad, with the former nursing a heel injury.

Wydad are also welcoming a new signing, and one who some Premier League followers may remember. Former Watford winger Nordin Amrabat, the brother of Sofyan Amrabat, recently signed for the Moroccan side.

Man City ended the season strongly

Despite a disappointing season overall, City are going into the tournament on a strong run of form. Guardiola’s side have lost just once since the beginning of March, albeit suffering a defeat in a crucial FA Cup final game against Crystal Palace in May.

*Goals conceded per game, Champions League 2024/25*

Defensively is where City struggled in the 2024/2025 campaign, particularly in the Champions League. The Citizens conceded a whopping two goals per game on average in Europe’s elite club competition, ranking them 26th this season.

Wydad going through a tricky period

Wydad are representing their country at the competition but they were far from the best side in Morocco this season. Finishing third, Wydad were 16 points behind league leaders RS Berkane, despite having a strong end to the campaign themselves.

Amine Benhachem’s side drew 12 league games out of 30 during the season, despite Mohamed Rayhi, who could be a player to watch, scoring 11 goals in 17 starts.

Cherki the superstar waiting to explode

Cherki’s career has been an interesting one so far, bursting onto the scene as one of the most exciting youngsters in world football. His progress has been up and down since arriving in senior football, but he’s starting to show why he was so hyped as a young talent.

Cherki stood out in a Lyon side who just broke into the Europa League places, providing a goalscoring and creative threat which City will need. Phil Foden’s form has dropped off while Kevin De Bruyne was allowed to leave the club to join Napoli, and now could be the chance for Cherki to announce himself to the world.

*Cherki’s possession stats in Ligue 1 this season*

Prediction

Man City will understandably be the heavy favourites heading into this game, and although Guardiola might be tempted to rest some players for the tougher games ahead, there is a heavy financial incentive on offer for winning each match.

We’re going for a comfortable 5-0 victory for Guardiola’s side.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the Club World Cup with FotMob this summer — featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Jun

2025

Xabi Alonso can use Club World Cup as springboard for Real Madrid success

In perhaps one of the worst kept secrets in world football, Xabi Alonso was unveiled as the new Real Madrid manager last month.

By Ross Kilvington

On paper, the Spaniard was the standout candidate. Carlo Ancelotti enjoyed plenty of success with Los Blancos, especially during his second stint, but the 2024/25 campaign was a disappointment.

Alonso had emerged as one of the finest young coaches on the continent throughout his time in charge of Bayer Leverkusen. Not only did he lead the club to their first ever Bundesliga title – doing so unbeaten – but he also won the DFB Pokal and reached the Europa League final.

This season, Leverkusen may have finished trophyless, but Alonso’s ideology was clearly what impressed Florentino Pérez the most.

His first test comes at the inaugural Club World Cup in America over the next few weeks.

What to expect from Alonso’s Real Madrid at the Club World Cup

First and foremost, Alonso wont be taking the competition lightly. With a total prize fund of around $1bn on offer to all 32 clubs taking part, the winners will receive around $125m.

While some clubs may be using the tournament as a glorified pre-season, going as far as possible is expected by all at Real Madrid.

Trent Alexander-Arnold was officially announced as a Madrid player last week, paying Liverpool £10m so that he would be available early for the Club World Cup.

Given Alonso’s success with attacking full-backs such as Jeremie Frimpong and Alejandro Grimaldo at Leverkusen, the Englishman will fit into Alonso’s tactical system seamlessly.

Alonso has picked a strong squad for the tournament, including the likes of Kylian Mbappé, Jude Bellingham, Vinícius Júnior and Endrick, despite their national team involvement recently.

This signifies that the manager is not resting on his laurels as he aims to get a trophy under his belt as soon as possible.

Starting off, Los Blancos take on Al-Hilal, RB Salzburg and Pachuca in Group H and they really couldn’t have asked for a better draw.

Alonso will be able to ease his team into the tournament without too many taxing games across the first week or so and it will give the former Madrid midfielder a chance to experiment with his starting XI.

At Leverkusen, he tended to utilise a 3-4-2-1 system throughout his time in charge. Two attacking midfielders operating behind a lone striker offered plenty through the middle of the pitch.

*Alonso’s last starting XI at Bayer Leverkusen*

Elsewhere, two wing-backs supported the rest of the midfield and this was a job that Frimpong and Grimaldo carried out exceptionally well.

At Madrid, however, this could change into a 3-4-1-2 due to the players at his disposal. One thing Ancelotti struggled with was incorporating both Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior into the same side.

Too many cooks spoil the broth as the old saying goes and this was an issue last term. Trying to shoehorn the aforementioned two, along with Rodrygo and Arda Güler was nigh on impossible.

Therefore, Alonso will likely deploy Mbappé and Vinícius as his front two, unleashing a potentially lethal partnership in the process.

This may well be on show over the coming weeks in America as the manager seeks to test out this system in the relatively stress free environment of the group stages.

Xabi Alonso must get the best out of his star players

The real test for Alonso will be how he begins the season in La Liga and the Champions League in a couple of months time.

Obviously, victory across the Atlantic would be a major confidence boost, but after the tournament, Jude Bellingham is set to undergo shoulder surgery, ruling him out for a couple of months at least.

Last season saw a drop off in his performances compared to the campaign before. Indeed, he scored ten fewer league goals than in 2023/24, while Bellingham also failed to rank in the top 40% for chances created (1.52) per 90 and in the top 30% for shots (2.24) per 90 in LaLiga.

If Alonso does go ahead with his preferred tactical system, the Englishman could play just behind the front two. Of course, the supporters wouldn’t see this until a few months into the season, but it is a tantalising prospect.

Mbappé may have scored 43 goals across 56 games in his debut season with Madrid, yet the club failed to win either LaLiga or the Champions League.

*Mbappé’s first season summary at Madrid*

The Galactico era between 2000 and 2007 saw Madrid amass the best collection of players, yet they were rarely the best team. Did Mbappé’s presence hinder the team more often than not last season?

Both Mbappé and Vinícius see the left-wing as their best position, which often proved problematic last term. The Frenchman would tend to gravitate out wide, despite operating in a more central role.

There was nothing wrong with his statistics. indeed, the former PSG star ranked in the top 3% for shots (4.97) per 90 and in the top 10% for chances created (1.57) per 90 in the top flight last season.

Getting the best out of Bellingham and Mbappé next season will determine whether Alonso is a success at Madrid.

The 43-year-old wont be judged properly until 2025/26 is underway. But if he can get his team to play dynamic, exciting football at the Club World Cup, perhaps even winning the tournament, then expectations will certainly rise.

Alonso is ready to usher in a new era at the Bernabéu. One that could take the club back to the summit of European football.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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Jun

2025

Preview: Real Madrid begin Club World Cup campaign against Al Hilal

There’s coaching debuts in both dugouts as these clubs meet for a rematch of the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup final.

By Filip Mishov

Different coaches, similar tactical ideas

A new era begins as Xabi Alonso and Simone Inzaghi are set to take charge of Real Madrid and Al Hilal, respectively, for the first time at the inaugural extended edition of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025.

With both coaches favouring a back-three system and nurturing a similar football philosophy, changes are inevitable within either squad. Furthermore, both clubs have been busy in the transfer market ahead of the tournament, with Los Blancos being successful and bringing in Dean Huijsen, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Franco Mastantuono (albeit, he will join in August), while the Saudi Pro League runners-up’s efforts to lure Theo Hernández, Bruno Fernandes and Victor Osimhen, among others, have been rebuffed for now.

The opening match of Group H in Miami will be a repeat of the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup final, when the then-European champions cruised past Al Hilal the Moroccan capital of Rabat, with Federico Valverde and Vinícius Júnior scoring braces in a eight goal thriller, leading Real Madrid to their fifth title in the competition.

Quite a few players that starred in that contest remain at their clubs with the captains, Luka Modrić and Salem Al-Dawsari spearheading the list.

Key Players

The Club World Cup will be ‘The Last Dance’ for at least a couple of players in Los Blancos’ dressing room, lLucas Vázquez for one, but more notably for their aforementioned captain – Luka Modrić, who will leave as the most decorated player in Real Madrid’s history. With that being said, this will be the Croat’s final opportunity to lift additional silverware and help his former teammate, Xabi Alonso, to get off to a victorious start back at the club where he once played.

On the other side, Aleksandar Mitrović is set to be the main protagonist for Al Hilal after the Saudi club failed to sign a new star striker in the build up to the tournament and the Serbian goalscorer will be integral to Simone Inzaghi’-led squad’s plans. The prolific ‘Mitrogol’ is averaging 34 goals a season across all competitions since moving to Saudi Arabia back in 2023.

*Mitrović’s shot map from the Saudi Pro League, 2024/25*

Team news

With Alonso and Inzaghi destined to implement 3-4-3 and / or 3-5-2 formations or a rumoured 4-2-3-1, respectively, a lot will hinge on the availability of their key defenders. Thankfully for the Spaniard, Antonio Rüdiger, Éder Militão, David Alaba, Ferland Mendy, Dani Carvajal are all closing in on a return from injury, while the Italian has a full squad to pick from. Also, new signings Dean Huijsen and Trent Alexander-Arnold are expected to be heavily involved right off the start, while it will be interesting to see how Alonso will use Vinícius Júnior, Rodrygo and Kylian Mbappé.

*Possible XI made with the FotMob lineup builder exclusive to fotmob.com*

Prediction

Real Madrid and Al Hilal are expected to battle it out for top spot in Group H, with all due respect to Pachuca and Salzburg, and amid many unknowns at the beginning of their respective new eras, I expect a winning debut for Xabi Alonso and an exciting match with more than a few goals.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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Jun

2025

Is Gennaro Gattuso the right manager to lead Italy’s revival?

Italy are at risk of missing a third World Cup in-a-row and have made a desperate managerial change to turn around their fortunes.

By Graham Ruthven

Gennaro Gattuso is synonymous with a certain era of Italian glory. Picture the Azzurri winning the World Cup in 2006 and the combative midfielder will be one of the players that immediately comes to mind along with the likes of Fabio Cannavaro, Andrea Pirlo and Gianluigi Buffon. Gattuso is an icon.

Whether he will be a good national team manager, however, is open to debate. Hired as Luciano Spalletti’s replacement last week, the 47-year-old is now responsible for ending Italy’s World Cup drought by guiding the Azzurri to the 2026 tournament. That in itself has made some supporters fearful.

While Gattuso was an elite level player, his management career to date hasn’t been so successful. The Italy job is his 10th different management position yet Gattuso hasn’t made much of an impression, at least not a positive one, at any of his previous teams. Gattuso won the Coppa Italia as Napoli boss, but lasted just 18 months at the club.

Most recently, Gattuso was in charge of Hajduk Split in Croatia. Hajduk led the way for much of the season and it looked like Gattuso would finally end Dinamo Zagreb’s iron grip on the title (Zagreb, coincidentally, were led by Cannavaro for a brief period), but ultimately the campaign ended in disappointment. Hajduk slipped to third, winning just two of their last eight games. Gattuso was also a volatile figure during his time in Croatia, making a habit of arguing with his own fans and even storming a TV studio to confront a pundit who criticised his tactics. He was let go at the end of the season.

In the words of Gabriele Gravina, the FIGC president, Gattuso is “a symbol of Italian football.” This might be true, but perhaps not in the way Gravina intended because many see the appointment of Gattuso as reflective of a soccer nation in generational trouble. Italy has fallen a long way behind the curve in recent times and Gattuso can do very little to change that.

Gattuso inherits the weakest Italian national team in a generation. Many believe this is the weakest Azzurri side ever, pointing to a lack of elite level talent throughout the squad. When Italy last won the World Cup in 2006, they boasted a team of superstars. This was the norm for the Azzurri.

Now, Italy are struggling for just one superstar. Gianluigi Donnarumma is a Champions League winner and one of the best goalkeepers in the world. Alessandro Bastoni is also an exceptional centre back with Nicolo Barella one of the most accomplished two-way midfielders in the game right now. Beyond these three, though, Italy’s squad is distinctly mediocre.

It’s been this way for a while. The pipeline of young talent into the Italian national team stopped flowing freely a number of years ago with Italy’s failure to qualify for a World Cup since 2014 a reflection of this.

In Serie A this season, players age 21 and under received 8.2% of all minutes played. In LaLiga, that number stood at 14.5%. The contrast is even starker when considering Spanish champions Barcelona gave 38.3% of their total minutes to players age 21 or under. The Italian champions Napoli, on the other hand, didn’t play a single player age 21 or under. It was the same for Inter Milan.

There are many theories on why Italy has stopped producing young players. Some point to the influx of outside investment in Serie A clubs and an increased drive to sign players from abroad. Others claim the problem is societal and that Italian youngsters have it easier now than they did in previous generations.

“We used to play for three or four hours on the street and then go to train, today this no longer happens,” said former Italy manager Roberto Mancini when asked about Italy’s talent crisis. “It is no coincidence that players are still discovered in those countries, such as Uruguay, Argentina or Brazil, where people still play a lot in the streets.”

One thing’s for certain, Gattuso won’t be able restart Italian football’s talent factory just as Spalletti and Mancini weren’t able to. The Italian game needs a reboot in the same way German football did in the early 2000s or English football did in the 2010s. Both countries have shown the route to recovery, but Italy needs a systemic overhaul.

Italy’s best hope in the immediate term is that they can find an approach and system that gets the best out of the players they have. Mancini did this at Euro 2020, setting up the Azzurri to play in quick transition on their way to winning the tournament against the odds. Gattuso could do something similar to turn around Italy’s 2026 World Cup chances.

In a sense, Gattuso’s combative character could energise Italy. He will give many of his underperforming players a rocket, as is typical for the former midfielder nicknamed “Ringhio” – “Snarl.” However, only so much shouting and screaming can make up for a lack of talent. Even if Gattuso is the right manager, Italy might not have the right players.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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