Arsenal and Manchester City are used to competing for silverware by now. The two rivals have contested each of the last three Premier League title races with Mikel Arteta finally getting the better of his former mentor Pep Guardiola last season.
Guardiola, however, is no longer City manager. Now, Enzo Maresca is leading the Etihad Stadium outfit and so Sunday’s meeting in the Community Shield could mark the start of a new chapter in this rivalry. It might follow a similar beat to recent encounters, but something about it will be different.
Maresca can make a statement as Manchester City’s new manager by leading his team to victory over the Premier League champions. The Community Shield might not be the most prestigious prize, but a strong performance by either side this weekend could bode well for the rest of the season.
Similarly, Arsenal can put down an early marker ahead of their Premier League title defence. The symbolism of Sunday’s match at Wembley Stadium might ultimately be worth more than the actual trophy that’s up for grabs.
H2H results over the last two seasons
Key players
Summer signing Christos Tzolis could be given the nod as Arsenal’s starting left winger after a positive pre-season (read more on that – here) while Martin Zubimendi might feature in central midfield with Declan Rice still being eased back in after the World Cup.
In attack, Kai Havertz is expected to feature somewhere in the final third with Viktor Gyökeres potentially in line to start as the Gunners’ focal point. Max Dowman might be another attacker utilised to test the Manchester City backline.
Antoine Semenyo has caught the eye in pre-season and is expected to start on the wing for Manchester City. Phil Foden could also start for the FA Cup winners ahead of an important season for the 26-year-old who was left at home by Thomas Tuchel for the World Cup.
It’s unclear whether Erling Haaland or Jérémy Doku will feature after returning late from the World Cup. This could see Omar Marmoush lead the line for City fresh from a friendly performance that saw the Egyptian bag a brace against Atlético Madrid.
Rúben Dias is almost nailed on to start in central defence with Gianluigi Donnarumma fresh from a summer off after Italy failed to qualify for the World Cup.
Team news
Saliba will miss the first two to three months of the season with a back injury while Bukayo Saka will be eased back into first team action after playing a lot of football over the course of the summer.
Elliot Anderson joined Manchester City from Nottingham Forest in a club-record £116m transfer, but might not be ready to start. The England international might have to make do with a place on the bench.
Doku and Haaland similarly might not be ready to go from the start of the match. Otherwise, Maresca has a strong squad of players to choose from for his first competitive match as City manager.
Pre-season results have been mixed for both sides
Prediction
Whether either side take the result seriously remains to be seen but Enzo Maresca has the opportunity to signal his intent ahead of another season where these two giants are expected to compete for the top prizes to come, therefore, we’ll go with a City win: Arsenal 1-2 Manchester City.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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David Moyes has bounced around the Premier League, but hasn’t landed a job as big as the United one since leaving. Ole Gunnar Solskjær spent nearly four years out of management before returning to manage Beşiktaş, where he was sacked after just eight months.
Erik ten Hag’s first gig post-United career went even worse. The Dutchman was appointed as the successor to Xabi Alonso at Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2025. But the hierarchy appeared to recognise that they had made a significant mistake straight away, dismissing Ten Hag three games into the Bundesliga season.
Can Ruben Amorim break the curse? Upon his appointment as United head coach in November 2024, the former Sporting boss had the world at his feet and the future looked bright.
Like so many before him, though, Amorim’s time at Old Trafford ended prematurely – but it didn’t take him too long to find an equally daunting new role.
Indeed, AC Milan unveiled Amorim as their new manager in June. For both parties, this appointment must work.
Milan require a reboot
In no uncertain terms, the previous two campaigns have been miserable experiences for the Rossoneri. A dismal eighth place finish during the 2024/25 season ensured Milan wouldn’t take part in any European competition last season.
Things didn’t exactly get much better last year. There may have been brief hope of a title challenge during the first half of the campaign, with Milan still sitting second as late on as Matchday 33, but seven defeats in their final 13 games ended the charge.
European football returns then, in the guise of the Europa League, with this being the fifth time Milan are set to feature in UEFA’s secondary club competition since 2017.
As such, a reboot is required, one that can take the club back to the summit of Serie A and secure a return to the Champions League in the process.
Milan’s recent season finishes
Amorim once stepped into the Old Trafford dugout with the same mission he now faces at San Siro: To restore a fallen giant.
In theory, Amorim’s appointment makes perfect sense for Milan. Turning this once great club back into serial winners is a passion project, something that the Portuguese is familiar with.
Sporting hadn’t won a league title since 2002 when Amorim, less than 18 months into his embryonic managerial career, made the move to the Estádio José Alvalade in March 2020.
When he departed two years later, Amorim had led Sporting to two league titles, two Portuguese League Cups and a Super Cup victory, the club’s greatest era since the early years of the 21st century.
Milan have been starved of success recently. A tally of three league titles in 22 years is a dreadful return for a club of this size. A European trophy hasn’t been won since 2007, while the Rossoneri’s last Coppa Italiatriumph came in 2003.
Amorim will relish the challenge of taking Milan back to where they belong.
One thing is certain, however, Amorim must get a tune out of players who struggled during the second half of last season, notably Rafael Leão and Christian Pulisic.
Leão and Pulisic hold the keys to Milan’s revival
Although Milan finished eighth in 2024/25, Leão and Pulisic combined for 29 goals and 25 assists throughout the campaign.
That output collapsed to 20 goals and just seven assists last term as both players largely struggled to replicate the form of the previous season.
Leão only played 31 times in all competitions, while Pulisic made 34 appearances as both wingers suffered various injuries that disrupted their rhythm. Under Maxi Allegri, the duo were often shoehorned out of position in his 3-5-2 system, regularly playing as part of a front two rather than in their natural positions out wide.
Amorim is more likely to deploy a 3-4-3 system at Milan, which could see Leão and Pulisic feature as part of a front free, playing higher and wider, and more crucially, to their respective strengths. Of course, as is customary with Milan’s best players, there is speculation that the Portuguese will leave on a transfer but that has yet to pass (at the time of writing).
At Sporting, wingers Pote and Trincão were regularly used to support Viktor Gyökeres to devastating effect, forming one of the most effective front threes in European football.
Gonçalo Ramos will be Amorim’s main centre forward this season after arriving from PSG in a transfer worth £60m. Should Leão and Pulisic stay, and return to form under the former United boss, that front three could play havoc with Serie A defences.
If this budding relationship between Amorim and Milan is going to work, a positive start is essential. Matches against Torino and Venezia offer an ideal opportunity to seal six points, building some early momentum heading into September.
Given how poor the club ended last season, Amorim should be given time by the Milan hierarchy to bed in his ideas and get them playing to his own particular style.
Perfection isn’t required immediately, but signs of life must be on show in the opening few weeks of the campaign.
If the front three clicks and Milan get off to a fast start, the Rossoneri’s revival may arrive sooner than expected.
Amorim’s next five games, including a friendly vs. Man United
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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Born on November 14, 2006, Diomande grew up playing football on the dirt pitches of Sicogi in the city of Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, either barefoot or with plastic sandals, and he often had to share a roof with 25 other people. With his father leaving for France, Diomande realized that it was up to him to become a professional footballer and lift his family out of poverty.
He left Abidjan at nine years of age and moved 100km east to Aboisso, where, at the Académie Inter Foot Sud Comoé, Diomande acquired his first pair of boots. However, he still went through plenty of hardship: on one occasion, he was so hungry that he stole potatoes alongside 17 kids whilst two others distracted the shop owner. Diomande always knew that he’d have to leave Africa to reach his footballing potential: it’s why his family scraped together enough money to buy him a solo, one-way flight to Florida, where he worked under Todd Eason at DME Academy.
“It took a little time for him to get used to it, but he understood what he was here for…this was his job,” stated Eason in an exclusive FotMob interview. “His job was to come here, get training, get education, and get outside of his comfort zone so that he could always go back and provide for his family. His Mom’s a big piece of that, and he wanted to do whatever he could for his Mom. He wasn’t bothered by going to different countries; I think he liked it because he knew that was part of the process of being employed as a professional footballer. He had to do this, and he does it, and he loves doing it…I was very impressed by that.”
Yan Diomande has one of the craziest soccer stories that you’ll ever see.
◽ In 2023, he was still playing high school soccer in Florida at Yulee High School and DME Academy after moving from Ivory Coast.
“I think the U.S. helped in a lot of ways by exposing him to every element of life here. He was coming from a very sheltered life in the Ivory Coast, so I think it was very good for him,” added Eason, who was DME’s Director of Soccer from April 2021 to January 2024 before serving as their Athletic Director until October 2024. “What really makes me proud of him is seeing him evolve into this very mature young man. I just think the ceiling that he’s going to be able to reach is so extremely high…it’s going to be exciting to see what he ends up being once he’s fully developed.”
When Diomande arrived in Daytona Beach, he was a homesick 15-year-old who only spoke French. Pretty soon, though, he wasn’t just speaking English – he was absorbing Eason’s instructions quickly enough to explain them to his fellow Francophone teammates. Diomande flourished for DME and their semi-professional affiliate AS Frenzi, launching Frenzi to the 2023 United Premier Soccer League and claiming the Playoffs Golden Boot and MVP after scoring in all six rounds of the playoffs (including a brace in the final).
“Diomande definitely matured a lot when he was with us,” noted Eason. “He had a lot of emotions in his character at that point, and he grew through that to be able to adapt to all these different cultures that he was going into. I think what was pretty outstanding about Diomande is that he wanted to learn English; he was adamant that he wanted to take on English, and he did. In eight months, he was completely fluent in English, and when he went to Leganés, he started to learn Spanish. This kid is very, very intelligent. He’s able to adapt and take on all these new lessons, and that’s what makes him so dangerous. He’s a sponge who’s taking in so much, and he’s just showcasing it. It’s kind of scary to think what he’s going to be capable of doing at age 24.”
Diomande’s senior career summary to date
After being rejected by several European and MLS clubs, Diomande returned to Abidjan after his student visa expired. However, he would have to wait just a couple of months before joining Leganés, commencing with their reserves in the Spanish fifth tier before making his professional debut on March 29, 2025. He replaced Juan Cruz for the final minutes of their 3-2 defeat at the Santiago Bernabéu; little did he know it, but he’d soon be making that very stadium his permanent home.
Despite dealing with the trauma of losing his 15-year-old sister Roxanne, who died after allegedly having her drink spiked at a party, Diomande was able to channel tragedy into triumph. Whilst he couldn’t keep Leganés afloat, he scored two goals and recorded one assist in 10 appearances, enough to convince RB Leipzig to sign him for €20 million. Diomande quickly validated their investment, helping them go from a worst-ever Bundesliga finish of seventh place to a top-three finish and UEFA Champions League qualification. Playing both on the right and left flank, Diomande racked up 13 goals and 10 assists in 36 appearances and led all Bundesliga players in successful dribbles per 90 (4.3).
Diomande’s heat map in the Bundesliga last season
The newly crowned Bundesliga Rookie of the Season hasn’t just enjoyed a meteoric rise at the club level, but also at the international level. Eight months after making his senior debut, Diomande became the youngest player to represent the Ivory Coast at a World Cup, delivering a Man of the Match performance vs. Ecuador.
Two weeks later, he became the youngest Ivorian to assist in a World Cup match vs. Curaçao, steering Les Éléphants to their first-ever World Cup knockout match. And on August 6, Diomande joined Real Madrid on a seven-year contract for a club-record fee of €125 million plus €15 million in potential add-ons, where he’ll be looking to nail down a starting spot on the right side of Real’s star-studded attack alongside Kylian Mbappé, Jude Bellingham, and Vinícius Júnior.
“We understand that Real Madrid is a big club, but they’re all humans,” added Eason, now the General Manager of USL Championship side Miami FC. “They’ve got good players, and ‘Dio’ is one of those guys even if he’s younger. We’ll see how he does, but I think he’ll be fine. As a defender, there’s nothing worse than players just running at you constantly, and you saw it at the World Cup: multiple players had to defend him because they were just getting tired. I think Real Madrid’s going to be really excited to see what he brings and what he does, because he’s just a threat, and he always puts defenders on their heels.”
Of the 6 most expensive transfers so far, FIVE of them have been incomings to the Premier League… 👀
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The European season gets up and running in earnest as last year’s Champions League and Europa League winners meet on Wednesday night – though both teams might hope their lineups look somewhat different when their domestic campaigns begin.
With World Cup finalists still building back up in pre-season and both clubs having extended 2025/26 seasons due to their glorious European cup runs, both Luis Enrique and Unai Emery might have to juggle their resources for this new season curtain raiser.
Changing face of PSG’s attack
Considering they’ve won back-to-back European titles there might be some surprise that the Ligue 1 champions are looking to make moves in the front line, which from a depth perspective will look very different at PSG this season.
Gonçalo Ramos has departed, Lee Kang-In has been sold and Randal Kolo Muani had no intention of returning. There might be more exits too, with Bradley Barcola and Ibrahim Mbaye both linked with Liverpool, among others. Replacements have to hit the ground running and contribute plenty, then – so adding French international Maghnes Akliouche as a midfiled schemer is an important move, while both Mika Godts and Ferran Torres are expected to complete moves to Paris too.
Of course, they are all the support acts, for now at least, but Ousmane Dembélé and Désiré Doué went almost the full distance at the World Cup so it will be Khvicha Kvaratskhelia who represents the continuity bet from Champions League final in the Puskás Arena to Super Cup at the Red Bull Arena in Salzburg.
Almost a rebuild
For Emery and Aston Villa, the hope a couple of months ago might have been to kick on with the next step and challenge even higher, despite some impending financial constraints due to Squad Cost Ratio rules. Instead, they’ve faced the need to almost completely rebuild parts of the team due to injuries and transfers elsewhere.
Amadou Onana’s ACL injury and the departure of Youri Tielemans means a new midfield is effectively on the cards, while World Cup starlet Johan Manzambi hasn’t kicked a ball since signing, injured with Switzerland still absent now. The record-breaking sale of Morgan Rogers to Chelsea is another massive downgrade from last term too.
All this – plus Lucas Digne was sold to PSG, meaning he could get his first outing against the side he’s just departed.
Recent results
Friendly matches don’t really tell much, especially after a summer tournament, but PSG drew with Man United last week and Villa lost to Bayern.
Team news
Barcola and Dembélé are in the PSG squad but might not start, while all eyes are on the goalkeeping position after Lucas Chevalier lost his spot to Matvey Safanov last term.
Senny Mayulu will want to take a step forward this term so this could be a big game to show what he’s able to do. He played over 1,600 minutes in Ligue 1 last year, and was in and around the top 10% of midfielders in terms of big chances created and xG per 90 – but he can also play up front too.
Prediction
The Super Cup might be effectively a pre-season extension for these teams so hopefully some goals but probably a Paris win too: PSG 3-2 Villa.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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Amid the hype and hubbub generated by Arsenal’s audacious move for Vinícius Júnior, Christos Tzolis was quietly making a good first impression for his new team. Signed from Club Brugge for £34m, the Greek winger scored on his Gunners debut against Girona, demonstrating why the Premier League champions were so keen to land him in the first place.
Tzolis certainly isn’t at Vinícius’ level. The Brazilian would have had a case for being the most spectacular signing in Premier League history had he joined Arsenal over signing a new six-year contract with Real Madrid. Vinícius would have immediately elevated the standard of Arsenal’s forward line.
In contrast, Tzolis is more of a project. At 24, the Greek international isn’t the youngest, but he has yet to scale the peaks of European football after a meandering career to this point, which has included stops at PAOK, Norwich City, FC Twente, Fortuna Dusseldorf and Club Brugge. His elite potential hasn’t always been obvious. Norwich fans must be confused by Tzolis’ rise.
For Club Brugge, though, Tzolis developed into a genuine difference-maker. The winger registered 17 goals and 23 assists in 36 league appearances last season, also charting three Champions League goal contributions for good measure. These sort of numbers surely had several big European clubs looking.
Tzolis for Club Brugge last season
Arsenal’s need for a new left winger was clear, especially after Leandro Trossard’s departure to Beşiktaş. Only eight players played more league minutes for the Gunners last season than Trossard who produced a number of important goals in a season that saw the North London side compete on all fronts.
Tzolis offers many of the same things Trossard did over three years as an Arsenal player. Even in pre-season, his work rate against the ball has been notable. Like Trossard, Tzolis likes to cut inside on to his right foot off the left wing. He also plays in the half-spaces between the lines and crashes the box whenever possible.
“I’m very pleased with him,” said Mikel Arteta when asked about the impact Tzolis has made for his new team in pre-season ahead of the 2026/27 campaign when Arsenal will defend their Premier League crown. “First of all, the way he has adapted to the club, to the team. The connection he’s already generated with the boys. I think you’re going to love the player.
“He’s a very direct player. He’s got the ball between the eyes. I think really good at linking up. He has a lot of similarities with Leo in a lot of the things that he can do and the spaces he can occupy. And then the work ethic that he has. He’s a boy that comes with so much hunger as well and wants to prove it. It’s a dream for him and we are here to help him.”
Tzolis player traits compared with similar players
Last season, Arsenal’s defence was the thing that made them Premier League champions. The Gunners kept more clean sheets (19) than any other team and conceded a total of just 27 goals in 38 goals. They were the strongest defensive unit anywhere in Europe’s Big Five leagues.
To take the next step, though, Arteta must find a way to add more creativity and attacking threat to his team. Vinícius certainly would have done that as one of the best left wingers in the world right now. The Brazilian scored 16 league goals for Real Madrid last season while Gabriel Martinelli and Trossard only scored a combined nine.
It could be the case that Arsenal remain in the market for another left winger. Vinícius might no longer be on their radar, but other options could be available. Bradley Barcola has been linked with an exit from Paris Saint-Germain while Rafael Leão is expected in some quarters to leave AC Milan at some point this summer.
In Tzolis, though, Arsenal already have a left-sided option capable of making a positive impact on the Premier League. Physically, the Greek international will be able to handle himself in the English top flight and his Champions League performances suggest his technical level is also up to the standard.
Arsenal have done a lot to bulk up their squad in recent times. This process will continue with the addition of Bruno Guimarães when Arteta already has Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi as a starting double pivot. The Gunners boss recognises the importance of depth when his side is expected to compete on multiple fronts every season.
Christos Tzolis has scored and assisted in his last two games for Arsenal after joining this summer! 😮💨🇬🇷
He also got an assists in a behind-close-doors friendly against MK Dons. Already looking like a top signing! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/BYJHrMgWtt
Even if Tzolis ends up starting most games on the bench, precedent suggests he will have his moment – or two – over the course of the campaign just as Trossard did before him. His performances in pre-season have been a preview of what the Greek will bring to the Emirates Stadium.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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Few clubs in the history of the game have been as dominant as Johor Darul Ta’zim are in Malaysia right now. Their CEO Luis García spoke exclusively to FotMob as the Southern Tigers prepare to go for their 13th-consecutive top-flight title in the 2026/27 season.
Expect to hear about Johor Darul Ta’zim a fair bit in the coming weeks. Chelsea fans will certainly come across the Malaysian giants when the Blues turn up in Johor for a pre-season friendly in the first half of August. More importantly, though, the Southern Tigers will have 21 August marked on their calendar as the date they can etch their name into global footballing history.
JDT matched the 108-match men’s record of unbeaten domestic top-flight matches in the 2025/26 season when they completed yet another invincible season with just one draw and 23 wins en route to a 12th-consecutive league title. They went on to seal a fourth-consecutive domestic quadruple, winning both cups and the Charity Shield as well.
What makes their dominance all the more impressive is the fact that JDT had not won a single major honour prior to their first league title in 2014. Based in the southernmost state in the Malay Peninsula, the club was founded as PKENJ FC in 1972 and later rebranded to Johor FC in 1996. However, it was in the early 2010s that their fortunes underwent a dramatic turnaround thanks to royal backing.
Soon after being appointed as the President of the Johor Football Association, the Crown Prince of Johor Tunku Ismail Idris began undertaking a restructuring of the state’s flailing footballing setup. With most clubs struggling financially, he decided to channel focus into the renamed Johor Darul Ta’zim, which now stood as the region’s leading club.
With significant financial backing, JDT were able to quickly assemble a superstar squad by Liga Super standards. They established themselves as serious contenders in almost no time, and even went on to win a continental honour as soon as 2015 in the AFC Cup (the secondary Asian competition at the time). They have not looked back since.
The big names in Johor Darul Ta’zim’s ranks aren’t just on the pitch; they can also be found in the boardroom. Former Spanish international Luis García, whose club career includes names like Barcelona, Liverpool and Atlético Madrid, became their CEO in 2025. Speaking exclusively to FotMob from their pre-season training camp in Spain, he revealed some of the secrets to JDT’s success.
“I think the key is having His Royal Highness behind it. His leadership is key for the success of this team. His standards are very high. He is a person really determined to leave a legacy in Johor, in Malaysia, with a team that beats all the records,” García said, referring to Tunku Ismail. He added, “When you’re winning 10 or 12 times the domestic league, the most important thing is to have someone who says, ‘No, no, it’s not enough’. We need to continue going. I think we’ve got a fantastic group that believes in those values.”
Of course, none of this would have been possible without the work of the people involved behind the scenes at the club. “If you have a look at our staff, they are top class. They control exactly everything that happens to the players, what they need. We try to give them the best of the best. We’ve got the best nutritionists, we’ve got the best fitness coaches, we’ve got the best rehab.”
In Xisco Muñoz, they now also have a coach who is experienced at the highest level of the game, having previously led Watford to the English Premier League. García and Muñoz had previously crossed paths as opponents in their playing days, but as they now work together, the former spoke very highly of his fellow countryman. “He’s a fantastic, fantastic guy. He’s so humble.”
“He’s been at the highest level and that gives you that composure in the right moments. In the tough moments when you need to be more calm, when you need to analyse exactly what is happening, he does so well. That’s why last year we were so successful in all competitions.”
Indeed, 2025/26 was a historic season for JDT not just because of what they achieved on the domestic front, but also because of their historic run to the AFC Champions League Elite quarter-finals. While they may be utterly dominant in Malaysia, this is where they are really tested to the limit as they face sides with significantly greater budgets. Last season, for instance, they were knocked out by Saudi side Al Ahli, who went on to win the trophy.
García revealed that the ACL Elite is the club’s biggest target currently. “We want to compete. We want to at least be there and challenge the mighty Saudi Arabian teams.” He added, “We are making the team every year more competitive, stronger in every line and we’ve got a fantastic coach that is bringing the best of his knowledge.”
While JDT continue to enjoy success almost everywhere they go, they have also entered a cycle which has made their financial and on-field dominance almost entirely unrivalled in Malaysia. This isn’t ideal for the health of the league, and the state of the national team isn’t at its best either, particularly after the naturalisation scandal (involving some JDT players as well) that rocked them last year.
JDT, for their part, can only focus on themselves. They certainly can’t be faulted for a lack of ambition or hard work, which has continued into this pre-season. Setting up a match with a team of the stature of reigning Club World Cup champions Chelsea is a reflection of just that. “Of course, people are very excited. Chelsea are coming to Malaysia and to Johor, something that never happened before. I’m sure that they’re going to enjoy the stadium, the facilities and we are going to try to welcome them,” Garcia said. “We know that it’s a tough team and it’s going to be difficult, but for us it’s a really good test”.
Thereafter, all efforts will be focused towards August 21 and beyond. JDT take on Kuching City in the Liga Super Malaysia season opener, when they will have the chance to break ASEC Mimosas’ world record.
“Passing the 108 [match] unbeaten streak in a domestic league, that’s something really special for us,” García concluded. “After that, the challenge will start with the league once again, where we know that we are going to compete against big teams, stronger, and again, with the mind on repeating and going to Saudi for the [ACLE] quarterfinals.”
(Images courtasy of Johor Darul Ta’zim)
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It was always likely that Xabi Alonso would be back in management this summer, although not many predicted Chelsea as his next destination. Indeed, Liverpool was widely seen as the natural next step for a figure so revered on Merseyside his name was sung by Reds supporters at matches towards the end of last season.
Chelsea beat Liverpool to the bunch, hiring Alonso to reshape a team that staggered to a lowly 10th place finish in the Premier League. There were less challenging jobs Alonso could have taken, but Chelsea’s upside is clear and the former Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid boss might be the figure to realise it.
12 months ago, Alonso was preparing for his first season at Real Madrid. His brief in that job was similar to the one he has been handed at Stamford Bridge. Alonso wasn’t hired by Los Blancos purely because of the silverware he won in the Bundesliga, but the way he won that silverware.
Alonso tried to give Real Madrid a new identity for the modern game. Ultimately, though, his players and Florentino Pérez lacked the patience for such a project and are no further forward for giving up on Alonso so quickly – see how Real Madrid’s 2025/26 season unravelled on and off the pitch.
This is where Chelsea can learn from what Real Madrid got wrong, and their transfer business so far this summer suggests they are building around Alonso in a way the Spanish giants never did. The Blues are seemingly intent on recycling Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen blueprint.
Two transfers in particular hint at this. First, Morgan Rogers’ club-record transfer from Aston Villa which gives Alonso a second number 10 to deploy alongside Cole Palmer. Rogers, who registered 16 goal contributions in the Premier League last season, has been signed to perform the role Florian Wirtz was so impactful in for Alonso’s Leverkusen.
Second, Marco Palestra’s arrival from Atalanta was surely orchestrated to give Alonso a right-sided option that makes his favoured back three viable. The Italian international has the skill set to perform the role Jeremie Frimpong operated for Bayer Leverkusen when they won the Bundesliga.
Chelsea are also attempting to replicate the age profile of Alonso’s Leverkusen squad. While the former midfielder was integral in developing a number of youngsters including Wirtz and Frimpong, Alonso had a good deal of experience within his dressing room. It was a balanced squad in more than one way.
Potential Chelsea starting XI under Alonso – build your own with the FotMob lineup builder
With this in mind, Chelsea’s targeting of Jordan Henderson and Danny Welbeck makes sense. The former is a former Premier League-winning captain while the latter is still productive at a high level having played no fewer than 15 seasons in the English top division. Henderson and Welbeck’s know-how will be valuable even if there aren’t more years left in their legs.
“I’m sure that from today to the last day of the transfer [window] there will be a lot of links, a lot of rumours, so to be commenting on all of them, it’s going to be a hard task,” said Alonso when asked about recent links to Henderson and Welbeck. “But for sure, we need proper balance in terms of qualities, in terms of positions, in terms of balance. We want to have a complete squad and we want to make a good team.”
Alonso needs even more in the summer transfer window to complete his Chelsea rebuild. The confirmation of Maxence Lacroix‘s signing just last night is once more hinting at the intention to play a back three with wing backs. The French international thrived in a similar system under Oliver Glasner at Crystal Palace.
There is a question mark over the central midfield unit. Will Reece James be used as a right-sided centre back or right wing back? Or will the England international retain his spot in the middle of the pitch next to Moisés Caicedo? Where will Enzo Fernández slot in if Palmer and Rogers are the first-choice attacking midfielders? Could he play as part of the double pivot?
While many have written off Alonso’s failure at Real Madrid on the basis of how the Spanish giants struggled even after he left, the Spanish still has a point to prove as a manager. Can Alonso replicate his Bundesliga success in the Premier League or was his Leverkusen tenure a glorious one-off?
Last season made clear that Chelsea had lost their way as a team and a club. Their recruitment strategy led to a mish-mash of a squad and a series of ill-fated managerial appointments. Alonso won’t be a one-man antidote, but this summer’s activity suggests the Stamford Bridge club might be on the road to recovery.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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The 2026/27 Scottish Premiership season begins this Friday as Dundee United host Rangers at Tannadice and if it is anything like last season, then we are in for another cracking campaign.
Celtic and Rangers have established a duopoly of the Scottish title since 1986, yet Hearts were minutes away from ending that drought on the final day of last season.
Led by the shrewd leadership of Derek McInnes (more on him later), Hearts only needed a draw at Parkhead to win their first league title in 66 years. Ultimately, Celtic won the game 3-1 and shattered the dreams of thousands of Hearts’ fans across the country.
Last season’s final table standings
While the final couple of weeks were marred by refereeing controversies in matches involving both Hearts and Celtic, there was no doubting the champions’ mentality in the end.
It’s hard to believe ten weeks have passed since that dramatic finale at Parkhead. A World Cup has come and gone in the meantime, but thoughts now turn back to domestic matters, as the Premiership returns this weekend.
Will Celtic win a sixth consecutive title? How will Hearts cope having lost McInnes and a slew of players? Can Rangers offer a sustainable title challenge in what is yet another new era for the club?
All these questions – and plenty more – will be discussed in this in-depth preview of the new campaign. Lets hope it’s every bit as entertaining than the last one.
Celtic chasing six in a row
Martin O’Neil led Celtic from the brink of a crisis to a domestic double, but will he replicate that feat this season?
The wily veteran signed a one-year contract to lead the Parkhead side once more, although the situation behind the scenes is far less comfortable than it appears.
At the time of writing, Celtic’s incomings so far consist of Colombian forward Camilo Durán, who joins from Qarabağ, while Kasper Høgh, the scrouge of Inter Milan and Atlético Madrid in the Champions League last term, arrives from Bodø/Glimt.
In contrast, a total of nine players have left the club, including crowd favourite Daizen Maeda and O’Neil must reinvigorate the squad should he wish to lead Celtic into the group stages of the Champions League.
New Celtic signing Kasper Høgh
It feels like Déjà vu. Every summer the same concerns arise ahead of a new campaign. Despite Celtic’s annual turnover for the 2024/25 campaign estimated at £143.6m, the club saw a revenue gap of nearly £120m compared to Hearts over the same period.
Why then, are the club struggling to be competitive in the transfer market? Michael Nicholson, Celtic’s Chief Executive, has previously stated that it has been “difficult” to lure new signings to Parkhead due to competing with an abundance of riches down south.
Durán and Høgh add plenty of Champions League experience having scored ten goals between them in the competition last season. O’Neil, however, is running out of time to bring in more players before the transfer window closes.
There is no doubting O’Neil’s status as a deity in the east end of Glasgow. Should Celtic get off to a poor start amid the lack of signings combined with the unrest between supporters and the board, it might well be an unhappy ending to this fruitful relationship.
The pressure is on.
A new, new era beckons at Ibrox
We’ve been here before, haven’t we? Each summer since 2021 has seen Rangers begin pre-season with a brand new manager.
A total of two trophies have been won in that period. Derek McInnes is the latest man to take over at Ibrox and perhaps this appointment is the most logical one since Giovanni van Bronckhorst five years ago.
McInnes is a former Rangers player, thus knowing the pressure and expectation expected at Ibrox. Being in the dugout, however, brings a different sort of pressure, but McInnes has earned his opportunity.
He was minutes away from leading Hearts to a stunning title triumph, but it always seemed inevitable that the Scot would be targeted as Danny Röhl’s replacement the moment he departed for Austrian giants RB Salzburg.
McInnes’ first job was to raid his former club for striker Lawrence Shankland, who will add plenty of firepower to the squad.
With a solid core now in place, McInnes will look to add another signing or two before the end of the window to give his side that extra bit of quality.
Rangers ended pre-season unbeaten and although the team are a work in progress, the onus is on McInnes to enjoy a productive start to domestic matters. Last season, Russell Martin failed to win any of his opening five Premiership matches and his tenure ended as swiftly as it began.
McInnes simply cannot afford a poor start, especially given how desperate Rangers are for success.
A win at Dundee United on Friday evening could set the tone for a positive campaign, especially as the games come thick and fast before the first international break in September.
McInnes deserves this opportunity. Now all he needs to win over the Ibrox support is to lead the club to silverware, any silverware, this season.
A summer of change at Hearts
What might’ve been for Hearts had they held on to win the title last season. Would McInnes, Shankland and Devlin all have left? It’s hard to say, but the club are significantly weaker without that influential trio.
Wouter Vrancken is the man tasked with leading the Jambos out of McInnes’ shadow, yet the early signs have been far from ideal.
A spot in the second round of Champions League qualification was secured after finishing runners-up last term, but Hearts have already been knocked out and it isn’t even August.
Austrian champions Sturm Graz eased to a 6-0 aggregate victory over a shellshocked Hearts side and it could turn out to be a long season ahead for Vrancken and his men.
That result drops the Tynecastle side into the Europa League, with a clash against either Benfica or St. Gallen awaiting in the third qualifying round.
Hearts have a busy early season
Domestically, ties against Aberdeen, Dundee United and Falkirk present a tricky opening to the Premiership season and a poor start could place the manager under pressure.
Following the news that Tony Bloom secured a £9.86m deal to buy a 29% stake in the capital club in June 2025, the Brighton owner claimed that Hearts were going to be a “significant factor in Scottish football right here, right now and for the long term.”
Last season offered a glimpse of what the future of the Premiership could look like with Hearts challenging for the title.
Bloom’s long-term vision of the club is admirable, but given the scale of turnover in both the squad and staff this summer, another title challenge feels unlikely.
Aberdeen, Hibs and Motherwell eyeing third place
Hearts’ challenge last season should inspire the likes of Aberdeen, Hibs and Motherwell that splitting the Old Firm is possible.
The Dons finished eighth last term, winning just nine of their 38 league matches. Robinson worked wonders at St Mirren, securing multiple top-six finishes and winning a League Cup with the Buddies. The pressure is different in the northeast, though, that’s for sure.
Motherwell enjoyed an excellent campaign under Jens Berthel Askou, but that success came at a price as the Dane departed for the ambitious Ligue 1 side Toulouse in May.
Alfred Johansson is the man tasked with replicating that fourth place finish, although he will be without players such as Elliot Watt and Elijah Just, who have joined Samsunspor and Swansea respectively.
Hibs finished fifth last term and were overshadowed by the exploits of city rivals Hearts, winning just one of the four Edinburgh derbies played.
David Gray has been in charge since June 2024 and this stability is key should Hibs wish to challenge for their second third-place finish in three seasons.
A dismal loss to Kosovan side Malisheva in the first leg of their Conference League qualifying tie, however, is hardly the most encouraging start and things must improve heading into the opening weekend of the Premiership.
Elsewhere, Dundee and Dundee United will be hoping for better seasons this year as both finished outside the top six. St. Mirren preserved their top flight status thanks to a playoff victory over Patrick Thistle, while Kilmarnock looked revitalised under the leadership of Neil McCann during the second half of 2025/26.
John McGlynn was named manager of the year after leading Falkirk to a top-six finish in their first Premiership campaign for 16 years. While hopes are high for another good season, finishing tenth or higher will surely satisfy most supporters.
Finally, St. Johnstone return to the top flight after spending a season in the Championship. Simo Valakari will be determined to be competitive on their return to the Premiership.
With Hearts unlikely to offer another challenge, the chasing pack could take advantage in a bid to split the Old Firm this season.
The title will end up in Glasgow once more, though. While previous seasons have featured Celtic as the heavy favourites, things could be a lot more unpredictable this time around.
Strap in, folks, as there could be plenty of twists and turns along the way in what promises to be another exciting Premiership season.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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John Stones’ contribution to England’s run to the semi-finals of the 2026 World Cup will be remembered, and not just because of his dressing room dance moves. The 32-year-old was one of Thomas Tuchel’s most trusted players at the tournament, starting crucial matches against Croatia, Norway and Argentina all without a club.
Stones departed Manchester City at the end of last season, bringing to a close a glittering 10-year period at the Etihad Stadium. After starting only five Premier League matches last term, there were questions over the centre back’s ability to perform at the elite level at this advanced stage of his career.
John Stones’ trophy record at Man City
Those questions were answered during the World Cup and several clubs in the Premier League and across Europe were clearly watching. Arsenal and Chelsea were both linked with Stones before Inter Milan emerged as frontrunners to sign the 32-year-old as a free agent in the summer window.
Inter looks like being a good fit for Stones. The England international will fit into the Nerazzurri’s back three alongside Manuel Akanji and Alessandro Bastoni with Stones already familiar with the former having played next to him in the Manchester City defensive line.
Tactically, Stones will slot into a team that plays a different style to the one he became accustomed to over so many years at Manchester City. Inter operate on the rapid counter-attack, gearing their game towards moving forward through the lines as quickly as they can.
Cristian Chivu asks his team to play with a much lower defensive line than Pep Guardiola did over 10 years as Manchester City manager and so Stones will be expected to defend his own penalty area more forcefully. He won’t find himself camped on the halfway line quite so frequently.
This isn’t to say Stones’ natural ability on the ball won’t be utilised. In fact, the Englishman’s technical ability is surely one of the things that attracted Inter who rely on their defenders to construct attacking moves from deep. The addition of Stones will give them better balance as a possession side.
John Stones’ passing stats for England at the World Cup
Bastoni is crucial to the way Inter get out from the back as their left-sided centre back and Stones could give the Italian champions a similar quality as the starting figure on the right side of the back three. There is logic behind Inter’s move for the 32-year-old following his exit from City.
A move to Chelsea would have made sense for similar reasons. Xabi Alonso is expected to recycle the Bayer Leverkusen blueprint that worked so well for him in the Bundesliga with the Blues predicted to line up in a back three. Stones would have been a good option for them in the defensive line.
On top of this, Stones would have provided some much-needed experience and leadership in the Stamford Bridge dressing room. Chelsea need mentors for their young players and the former Manchester City defender, and six-times Premier League winner, certainly would have fit the bill in this respect.
Arsenal’s interest was also logical, albeit for slightly different reasons. The Gunners require defensive depth with William Saliba expected to miss the start of the new season through injury and Stones would have been an economical addition for the Premier League champions to make.
One wonders if Manchester City made a hasty decision to move on Stones when the 32-year-old could have helped bridge the gap to the next generation for the Etihad Stadium outfit. Enzo Maresca will need players he can count on to hit the ground running as Guardiola’s successor and Stones is reliable.
Of course, Stones’ recent fitness record can’t be ignored. The defender missed a large portion of last season through injury. Three different injuries, in fact. First it was a muscle injury. Then a thigh problem followed by a calf strain. It was almost impossible for Stones to build any sort of consistency or momentum.
This was reflected in the way Tuchel used Stones at the World Cup. The England manager had to be careful in how he deployed the 32-year-old, taking him out of the lineup for the matches against Ghana, Panama and DR Congo. By the latter rounds, though, Stones was ready to go.
At 32, Stones could still enjoy a successful final phase of his career. His reading of the game is sharp enough to sustain him at the top level for years to come. Stones also has the technical ability to mask some of his fading physicality, especially in Serie A where the pace of play is sometimes slower. The World Cup might have offered a hint of what more is to come.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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MLS has returned on the back of the USA and Canada hosting the World Cup alongside Mexico, and all eyes are on how the league will capitalise on soccer fever following the tournament.
While that may not be able to be properly assessed until a later date, there is plenty of enthusiasm in the stands and on the pitch.
This was helped by several big names joining the league this summer, and while the biggest name of them all, Lionel Messi, is not yet back from his post-World Cup break, there has been plenty to look out for as the league resumes.
Lewandowski not yet firing for Chicago
Chicago Fire’s transfer of Robert Lewandowski raised a few eyebrows this summer, not just because they were signing one of the best centre-forwards in the history of the game, but also because they already had the league’s in-form striker and top scorer on their books.
Hugo Cuypers topped the MLS scoring charts as the league went into its World Cup break on 13 goals, one ahead of Messi.
Aside from the odd blip, the Fire were looking like one of the better teams in their conference along with Inter Miami and Nashville, sitting third in the East.
Their hire of former USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter in a combined head coach and director of football role was starting to make more sense as they looked like they were on course for their best season since 2017.
Then, Cuypers was sold as a result of Lewandowski’s arrival, and the Polish forward has struggled to make an impact in the two games he has been involved in so far.
The Fire have lost both games since the return to action, with Lewandowski barely involved. The most recent defeat came against an impressive New York City FC side that looks poised to overtake them in the league.
Chicago will hope Lewandowski’s slow start and these defeats are just another blip, and not a sign of things to come.
Suárez still scoring as Casemiro makes Miami debut
As MLS resumed, Inter Miami are without Messi, who, along with Argentina and Miami teammate Rodrigo De Paul, remained on an extended break following participation in the World Cup final.
That doesn’t mean they are without familiar star names, as Luis Suárez has been joined in the Inter Miami lineup by new signing Casemiro.
Suárez scored twice in the first game back, a 3-2 win against Chicago last week, and scored the only goal in this weekend’s game against Montréal, converting a penalty with a Panenka to give Casemiro a win on his debut.
Griezmann’s Orlando magic
It’s been a summer of big-name signings in MLS, and Antoine Griezmann’s arrival in Orlando might end up being the most effective but of business.
Orlando City’s season looked like it might be over before it had even begun as they ended the pre-World Cup stage of the campaign with just four wins from 15 games.
They weren’t the only uninspiring team at the start of the 2026 campaign, though, and in MLS there is always a chance to recover and make the playoffs.
Griezmann’s arrival seems to have spurred them on, in terms of ambition and expectation more than anything else.
The 35-year-old scored on his debut in a 4-0 win against one of the most impressive teams in the Western Conference at the start of the season, San Jose Earthquakes, and they followed that up this weekend by defeating the team that sits at the top of the Eastern Conference, Nashville SC.
This Nashville win was inspired by a player at the other end of the age range, as a great assist from 18-year-old Justin Ellis set up Tyrese Spicer for the game’s only goal.
Wins against these teams should give Orlando the confidence they can beat anyone with their new star on board.
“You can see his overall quality, the experience, the level he’s been playing at for a long time,” said Orlando defender Robin Jansson.
“On the other side, the type of person he is. He’s fantastic, such a great guy. Good for the locker room, good for the younger kiddos and the elders like me.
“A great addition to the team and super happy to have him.”
Hell is Real is real
Rivalry matches in a relatively young league like MLS can be hit and miss.
The league often sets up rivalry weeks that are a group of fixtures between teams it thinks should be rivals, but these can very often feel manufactured for marketing purposes.
Columbus Crew versus FC Cincinnati is not one of those. Despite being less than ten years old, this fixture, which could also be called an Ohio derby, has emerged organically between two of the state’s big cities.
Even its name was created by fans from a religious billboard seen on the road that connects the two cities.
Screenshot
This most recent Hell is Real derby was particularly feisty on the field, culminating in a red card for FC Cincinnati’s Gerardo Valenzuela, who blatantly kicked Taha Habroune to the ground in the final minutes.
The aftermath saw plenty of scuffles, which continued into the tunnel after the game.
The small matter of the result saw Columbus pick up a win that helps them begin to push from the wrong end of the table towards a playoff spot.
“Wins like this can be season-changing, especially in a rivalry,” said Crew goalkeeper Patrick Schulte.
“It’s massive for us. It gives us momentum going forward, and we’ll enjoy it tonight — Ohio will be black and gold for a bit — but we focus on Miami [next week] now.”
(Cover Image from IMAGO)
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