The Pulse of Football

Apr

2026

Preview: De Zerbi takes charge for the first time as Spurs visit Sunderland

Spurs continue their battle to avoid sliding into the Championship with a long journey north to play a Sunderland team who are still playing for a place in Europe next season.

By Ian King

It’s been a busy three weeks off for crisis club Spurs

A combination of the international break and the FA Cup mean that it’s been three weeks since Spurs capitulated at home to Nottingham Forest, but that’s not to say that the club haven’t been busy in the meantime. Igor Tudor has now departed the head coach’s position and, in true Tottenham Hotspur style, have gone for a replacement who may prove divisive among the club’s fans in the form of Roberto De Zerbi.

A long trip north to Sunderland is probably the last thing that De Zerbi will have wanted. The Black Cats have been one of the surprise packages of the Premier League season, and although they’re down in 11th place in the table, they come into the match off the high of having beaten Newcastle United away from home in their last league match, while they’re still chasing a place in Europe for next season.

Sunderland haven’t beaten Spurs in a competitive match in 16 years

It’s been 16 years since Sunderland last beat Spurs in a competitive match, with that win coming by three goals to one at The Stadium of Light in April 2010. When the two clubs met earlier in the season at The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium they drew 1-1, and curiously this was also the score between the two teams when they met at White Hart Lane during Spurs’ last relegation season, 1976/77. For those looking for omens for this weekend’s match, Sunderland won the return match at Roker Park 2-1.

Archie Gray has been one of the few Spurs players to emerge from this season with much credit

Few Spurs players have impressed this season, but one of those who has is midfielder Archie Gray, who’s played in several different positions over the course of this season but who is, at heart, a defensive midfielder. Gray has shown notable maturity under difficult circumstances this season, and he would be a big loss, should he decide that his development as a player would be served better elsewhere during the summer.

The £20 million that Sunderland paid Roma for the 21-year-old midfielder Enzo Le Fée is already starting to look like a bargain. Le Fée has been a consistent performer for the Black Cats in recent weeks, and he’s also their second-highest goalscorer behind Brian Brobbey in all competitions, with five, while he’s also contributed four assists in the Premier League.

Kudus setback is the latest in a long line of Spurs injuries

The latest in the epic saga that Spurs’ injury woes throughout the 2025/26 season has become is the news that Mohammed Kudus has not, as had been hoped, recovered from his injury and has now had a setback which may keep him out for the remainder of this season. He joins Wilson Odobert, Destiny Udogie, Lucas Bergvall, Rodrigo Bentancur, Ben Davies, James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski in their very congested treatment room.

Sunderland could welcome back Robin Roefs and Dan Ballard from thigh injuries, though both remain doubtful for this match. Jocelin Ta Bi, Romaine Mundle, Bertrand Traore and Nilson Angulo remain longer-term absentees.

Spurs need strength of character from their team for a tough trip north

Reports from the training ground at Spurs have been that there’s been a positive reaction to the arrival of the new head coach, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that he’s going to be the quick success that the club needs if they’re to retain their Premier League status. And given his previous comments while at Marseille, his appointment has already been a deeply divisive one which has upset many supporters.

There is no manager that would get a great deal of patience at the moment, but the decision that the senior management of the club have made may get less than most. And the Brighton captain Lewis Dunk told the Telegraph in 2023 that De Zerbi’s early meetings with players were “baffling” and that his first fortnight at the Amex were “a carnage two weeks.”

Sunderland have had an excellent season, They were pre-season favourites to go down, but Régis Le Bris has done a superb job of keeping his team organised and picking enough points for relegation not to have been a major concern for the team all season. With seven games to play, they’re three points off a place in next season’s Europa Conference League, and five off a Europa League position. That’s quite an incentive to keep going until the end of the season.

Time is running out for Spurs to save their season, and with West Ham winning on Friday night, they will be sitting in the bottom three when they kick off at The Stadium of Light. The problem is that matches like this are a test of character, and they’ve shown precious little of that, this season. I’m going to say a 2-0 win for Sunderland, and any new manager bounce to be so slight as to be unnoticeable.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game in the Premier League with FotMob this season – featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Apr

2026

Preview: Chelsea set for Man City clash without key man Enzo Fernandez

There is a lot on the line for both clubs in this one – as former Chelsea man Joe Cole helps us explain. City are just about still in the title race, and Chelsea’s hope of qualifying for next season’s Champions League are hanging by a thread. They face off at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

By Alex Roberts

Chelsea ended their four-game losing streak with a 7-0 FA Cup win over bottom of League One Port Vale. Don’t read too much into that, their last clean sheet came in the 4-0 win over Hull, and Man City are an entirely different kind of opposition.

Pep Guardiola’s side appear to have entered their end of season flow state. Their elimination from the Champions League at the hand of Real Madrid lit a fire under them, going on to beat Arsenal in the League Cup final, and then dominate Liverpool.

Unsung hero

City have some tremendously talented players on their books, but do you know who not enough people are talking about? Matheus Nunes. He has gone from being a fringe central midfielder to one of the best right backs in the league.

Of course, a Guardiola right-back isn’t a typical right back, but his numbers speak for themselves. 20 chances created, 23 successful dribbles, 48 tackles, and 134 recoveries. Simply put, he’s taken his game to a level few thought he had.

Erling Haaland and Rodri, who happen to be FotMob’s top two rated Man City players, still get all the plaudits, and rightly so, they’re great, but Nunes, who is third, deserves his flowers, and we’re here to give them to him.

“I don’t see how this benefits the player or the club“

Enzo Fernández spent the international break flirting with Real Madrid, although he never mentioned them by name. Chelsea then decided to suspend him for two games, and he has since apologised to the squad and manager Liam Rosenior.

Unsurprisingly, they didn’t need him against Port Vale, and in all honesty, it was probably pretty unlikely he would have started in the first place. Fans called for his suspension to be lifted for the City game, but Rosenior has now confirmed that it stands.

It’s a huge call from a manager that is yet to win the supporters over. If Chelsea go on to lose this game, questions about how they would have performed with Fernández in the line-up are inevitable.

For Chelsea legend Joe Cole, who was speaking exclusively to Paddy Power during the week, the situation reflects badly on both parties:

“It’s a difficult one, it’s not so much the punishment’s right, it’s the fact that it’s the second time this has happened now [with Enzo Fernández]. The club has got to take a stand.

“For players like Enzo, this wasn’t the Chelsea he was sold at the start when he joined. I don’t think it’s right coming out and saying you’d leave the club, but I do understand his frustration.

“Then you get to the question of whether the punishment is right. The rubber is going to hit the road at some point where if he does want to leave, he’s going to have to put a transfer request in.

“We don’t know how long this has been going on for, but if it’s got to the point where Chelsea have had to ban him for a crucial match (against Manchester City), I don’t see how this benefits the player or the club.

“If you’re the club, you say to Enzo ‘You’re contracted with us for five more years. You carry on with this rubbish and we’re happy to throw away whatever we’re paying a week and your career’ [by not playing him].

“I must admit, I don’t know if this is the right model. I haven’t thought of a better way [of dealing with Fernandez], so it’s a mess, it really is.”

Team news

Man City don’t have any self-imposed suspensions to deal with, but they do have a few injuries. John Stones (calf) and Joško Gvardiol (broken leg) are both out.

Guardiola confirmed that Rúben Dias (hamstring) is close to making his return as we head into the final few games, but the trip to West London has come a little too soon for him.

The hosts have a few more worries. Reece James (hamstring), Trevoh Chalobah (ankle), Jamie Gittens (hamstring), Filip Jörgensen (groin), and Levi Colwill (ACL) are all out.

With Fernández suspended too, Chelsea are without their captain and vice-captain, leaving a major leadership void. Cole Palmer wore the arm band against Port Vale, but his performance wasn’t the best, so it remains to be seen who will get it against City.

Prediction

We’re not expecting much from Chelsea in this one, City are a far better side, and that should show. So, we reckon it’ll be 3-0 win for Guardiola’s lads.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the Premier League with FotMob this season — featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Joe Cole was speaking exclusively to Paddy Power.

Apr

2026

FotMob Profile: FC Supra du Quebec ready for historic Canadian Premier League debut

As one of the 2026 World Cup co-hosts, Canada will be catapulted to the forefront of the global football scene this summer. The Canadian Premier League (CPL) will enjoy unprecedented exposure, with the recently formed FC Supra du Québec looking to maximise this opportunity by showcasing its proudly unique, localised philosophy.

By Alex Connor

In September 2025, it was announced that Québec would welcome its first-ever CPL club ahead of the 2026 season. Supra was born, and they’ll make their much-awaited debut on Saturday 11th April, when they play Pacific FC in British Columbia.

Supra have ripped up the script in North America and adopted LaLiga side Athletic Club’s ‘Cantera’ policy, a non-negotiable practice where only players born or trained in the Basque Country can be selected. Supra will apply this in Québec, harnessing the region’s distinct cultural identity and footballing potential.

Québec is Canada’s second-most populous and only Francophone-majority province. The region welcomes international immigration, which feeds into its multicultural society. However, Québec promotes an “interculturalism” model that still advocates diversity to create an ever-evolving society but champions its French-speaking tradition and other historical customs to retain its regional identity. Québécois people have unquestionable pride in their cultural heritage and held independence referendums in 1980 and 1995, but neither proposal passed.

CF Montréal have competed in the MLS for over a decade, meaning Québec haven’t been represented in the CPL since the division’s first season in 2019. Supra will fill this glaring gap in the Canadian soccer market, providing a more feasible route for homegrown players into the professional game. This focus will provide a crucial platform for specifically Québécois talent, where it can be nurtured and developed. Québec native Nathan Saliba is set to play a huge role for Canada at the World Cup, while another local star, highly-rated defender Moïse Bombito, is still recovering from an injury but should be fit for the tournament.

The club’s branding is inspired by the Montreal Supra, who competed in the Canadian Soccer League from 1988 until 1992. The new Supra keeps the same colour scheme. The red links to Canadian pride, the blue is a tribute to Québec’s Francophone heritage, and the white signifies unity and an exciting future.

Matt Rizzetta, Supra chairman, said they felt like “reviving a brand with such tradition and history”, which “conjures up so much pride for the past generation that really paved the way for soccer in Québec.”

Montréal Supra played an important role in platforming an abundance of Canadian talent. Alex Bunbury, Lyndon Hooper, and Mark Watson, who all enjoyed spells with Montréal Supra in the early stages of their careers, combined to make over 200 appearances for the Canadian national team.

Mauro Biello also featured for the now extinct club. The Québec-born forward started his career at Montreal Supra, then had two separate stints with Montreal Impact from 1993 to 1998 and 2000 to 2009. Biello heads into the World Cup as Canada’s assistant manager and one of the most influential figures in Canadian soccer.

Supra’s formation reveals a closer family connection for Mauro, whose son, Alessandro, has signed with the club and will play this season. Alessandro rose through the ranks at CF Montréal and made his first-team debut in May 2024. However, his contract wasn’t renewed, but Supra have stepped in to give the 20-year-old a fresh start.

“It makes it mean a little more,” Alessandro told the Montreal Gazette. “I’m a young player looking to kickstart my career, and my dad was kind of in the same situation as a young player joining Supra. So there’s that connection as well. I think it’s an amazing opportunity, and it just means a little bit more with my dad having played for Supra as well.”

The new set-up aims to revive and elevate the old club’s legacy, with considerably greater longevity. Over 30 years later, the Biello name remains an enduring tradition, further emphasising Supra’s Québécois philosophy.

This DNA runs through every level of the club. Supra’s president and co-founder, Rocco Placentino, who hails from Québec, watched Montreal Supra as a child before embarking on a commendable playing career, featuring for Montréal Impact and earning one cap for the Canadian national team. After retirement, he spent 13 years as the technical director of CS Saint-Laurent, a semi-professional soccer team in Québec.

Supra’s head coach also developed an acclaimed reputation at CS Saint-Laurent as the club’s manager. Nick Razzaghi led the semi-professional outfit to a historic double in 2023, picking up the Ligue 1 Quebéc title and the Coupe L1QC.

Supra will play its first two home fixtures, against Atletico Ottawa and Halifax Wanderers, at the CEPSUM Stadium on the Université de Montreal campus, before moving to the Stade Boreale in Laval, which is also home to women’s Northern Super League outfit Montréal Roses, to face Cavalry FC on 3rd May.

Across different divisions, three professional soccer teams will now represent Québec. It’s a cultural milestone for the region’s footballing landscape, providing the local community with a relatable and progressive foundation.

Razzaghi said the project “means everything” and is a “truly unbelievable opportunity” to show what Quebec has to offer. “Our goal is to put Quebec on the map,” he continued.

It’s a new dawn for the CPL, which is also trialling Arsene Wenger’s “daylight” offside rule, an idea that requires a clear gap between the attacker and the last defender. Supra’s first match against 2021 CPL winners Pacific FC presents a massive challenge. Still, everyone at the club is brimming with excitement at the prospect of demonstrating what this defiant, distinct and proud province is capable of.

(Images courtesy of the Canadian Premier League)

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

Apr

2026

Preview: Barcelona set for derby day meeting with Espanyol

Barcelona will be looking to go 10 points clear at the top of LaLiga this weekend as they host Espanyol, their struggling cross town rivals.

By Matt Smith

Hansi Flick’s side could make it seven victories on the bounce in the league, while they’ve also won every single game at home so far this season.

Espanyol are on a dismal run, failing to win in their last 13 matches, losing to Barcelona at the start of that run.

The Catalan giants secured a 2-0 victory over Espanyol in the last meeting, scoring twice in the final five minutes to take the three points.

Team news

Barcelona will be without Raphinha, Andreas Christensen, and Marc Bernal who are all out injured for the home side in this one, but Frenkie de Jong is edging closer to returning to action.

The Dutch midfielder remains a doubt, but he could make the squad.

Espanyol will, once again, be without Javi Puado, who won’t play again this season.

Clemens Riedel is going to be unavailable due to suspension after he was awarded his fifth yellow card of the season in Espanyol’s previous game.

Home fortress to deliver the title

Barcelona are cruising to the Spanish title at the moment, and they’ll secure the accomplishment with games to spare if their form continues. Flick’s side now have a seven-point lead over Real Madrid in LaLiga, with Álvaro Arbeloa’s side dropping off, but Barcelona are showing no signs of slipping up at the minute, especially at home.

Barcelona have won every single game on their own turf this season, conceding just eight goals in 15 games. The Catalan side need just four more wins to go the whole campaign without dropping a single point at home.

Barcelona are Espanyol’s bogey team

It’s perhaps a harsh statement, considering the strength of Barcelona over the years, but they are undoubtedly one of Espanyol’s bogey teams. They haven’t beaten Barcelona in LaLiga since FotMob started tracking the league data, with Barcelona winning the last four meetings in a row.

They were close to securing a point when the two sides last met, with Barcelona not finding the back of the net until the 85th minute. Only two sides have had less possession than Espanyol this season, and they’ll be seeing little of the ball against one of the most dominant sides in Europe.

Rashford’s time to step up

With Raphinha on the treatment table once again, Barcelona need someone to step up on the left-hand side of attack. The Brazilian winger scored a hat-trick in a 5-2 victory just before the international break, but he’s now set to watch from the sidelines due to injury.

Marcus Rashford looks set to start in his place after being in the XI against Atlético Madrid in their last LaLiga meeting, and it’s time for him to step up once again.

Prediction

It would be wild to predict against a Barcelona home win considering their form this season, so we’re going for a 3-0 victory.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Apr

2026

Preview: Liverpool aiming to turn a page with home game vs. Fulham

Time really is running out for Liverpool to keep their European dreams alive. A 2-0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain in mid-week likely means their run in the Champions League this season is ending at the quarter-final stage. The Reds host Fulham on Saturday evening looking to cling onto the final Champions League berth in the Premier League.

By Sam McGuire

The story so far

Arne Slot’s side enter this weekend looking to halt a run of three successive losses. The Reds suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat to Manchester City in the FA Cup quarter-finals, followed by a 2-0 loss away to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Wednesday. Prior to the international break, Brighton claimed a 2-1 win.

Liverpool trail fourth placed Aston Villa by five points and are just three points ahead of eighth placed Everton. A bad weekend for the Reds could genuinely see them end matchday 32 in eighth position, just two points clear of ninth-placed Fulham.

Slot’s men last won a Premier League game back in February. To say things aren’t going well would be a bit of an understatement.

Fulham, meanwhile, have proven to be a tough nut to crack this term. Marco Silva’s men have already taken points off Liverpool this season, salvaging a 2-2 draw in added time at Craven Cottage when the two sides faced off in January. They’ve also beaten Chelsea and narrowly lost to Manchester United (3-2) and Manchester City (5-4). They make life difficult for teams.

The Cottagers will fancy their chances against a Liverpool team lacking any real identity and struggling for goals. A positive Fulham result wouldn’t actually be a surprise right now.

Key Players

Expect Mohamed Salah to start after he watched on from the bench against PSG in the Champions League. The four-time Golden Boot winner sat out the last Premier League match for the Reds, the 2-1 loss to Brighton, and struggled against Manchester City in the FA Cup. He’ll want a performance on Saturday in a bid to force his way in to the XI for PSG’s trip to Anfield. After all, It could well be his final European appearance for the Reds.

For the away side, the main man is Harry Wilson. The former Liverpool youngster netted when the two teams faced off in January and he’s in the form of his career, with 10 goals and six assists in the Premier League this term. He’ll be determined to add to that haul at Anfield.

Team News

The hosts are slowly welcoming back key players, with Alexander Isak now back but remain without Alisson Becker, Conor Bradley, Wataru Endo, and Giovanni Leoni.

Fulham have some concerns of their own, with Kenny Tete and Kevin Santos sidelined.

Prediction

We’re going to go with a 2-1 win for Liverpool on Saturday evening. With the Anfield crowd behind them and a host of attacking options, the Reds should have just enough quality to overcome a disciplined Fulham side and keep their top-five charge on track. They need momentum heading into the PSG clash.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the Premier League with FotMob this season — featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Apr

2026

Preview: Arsenal face Bournemouth in first league fixture in four weeks

Arsenal have had their ups and downs across different cup competitions over the last month, but they remain in pole position to claim the Premier League title

By Neel Shelat

Arsenal looking to bounce back after consecutive domestic defeats

Arsenal’s quadruple dreams came crashing down in the space of two matches, as their first back-to-back defeats of the season knocked them out of both domestic cup competitions. The EFL Cup final against Manchester City was always going to be a tough fixture, so the FA Cup defeat to Southampton is the more disappointing result.

A small upside of that is that it enables the Gunners to turn full attention to the two biggest competitions — the Premier League and Champions League. They showed good character to come away with a one-goal win against Sporting in Lisbon in midweek, but even bigger tests will come now as they have a tough run of fixtures coming up.

The nine-point gap at the top of the table is somewhat inflated as Manchester City have a game in hand, and with a head-to-head between the top two up next, getting a good result here will be crucial for Arsenal.

Bournemouth’s streak of draws

Bournemouth aren’t easy opponents for anyone. They haven’t lost any of their last 12 matches, meaning their previous defeat was against none other than Arsenal in the reverse fixture. Even so, the Cherries have slipped down the table lately amidst a run of five consecutive draws against all sorts of opposition.

Indeed, this tendency to draw games is what has kept Bournemouth on the fringes of the European battle rather than in the thick of it. Nearly half of their league fixtures have ended with the spoils shared as they have drawn 15 of 31 games, with only one other team (Leeds United with 12) managing more than 10.

That said, they surely wouldn’t mind coming away from London with a point on this occasion.

Team news

Arsenal are sure to be without Piero Hincapié and Mikel Merino, while Martin Ødegaard’s status is doubtful after he had to limp off in Lisbon in midweek. There’s some positive news as well, as both Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze are in contention to return to the squad at least.

Bournemouth will be without Justin Kluivert, Lewis Cook and Julio Soler, while Tyler Adams’ condition is uncertain.

Key players

Kai Havertz came off the bench to score the stoppage-time winner against Sporting, so he’ll be quite keen to score in consecutive matches for the first time since January 2025. Bournemouth, meanwhile, will hope that top-scorer Eli Junior Kroupi can produce another moment of brilliance for them.

The battle down the Cherries’ right wing between lively winter signing Rayan and Arsenal left back Riccardo Calafiori is sure to be crucial going both ways. More broadly, the visitors will look to make this an end-to-end game and hope to see someone like Alex Scott get time and space on the ball, while Martín Zubimendi will have a key role to play in preventing that for Arsenal.

Prediction

Bournemouth definitely aren’t a pleasant team to face on their day, but Arsenal should have enough quality to eke out a hard-fought victory.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Apr

2026

Preview: Madrid face Friday night test against Girona

Real Madrid host Girona in LaLiga as they look to desperately cling on to their chances of lifting the title come the end of the season.

By Matt Smith

Álvaro Arbeloa’s side suffered a disappointing defeat away at Mallorca last time out, meaning they sit seven points behind Barcelona.

The last time the two sides met back in November, Girona held their own with a 1-1 draw on their own turf. Azzedine Ounahi opened the scoring that night, with Kylian Mbappé getting a second-half equaliser.

Team news

Federico Valverde will be available again following his suspension, but it’s Franco Mastantuono’s turn to miss out due to a ban.

Thibaut Courtois and Rodrygo will also be unavailable, with the duo out injured.

Girona have a host of injury problems heading into this one.

Juan Carlos, Donny van de Beek, Portu, and Marc-André ter Stegen all remain out injured, while Daley Blind is a doubt for the away side.

Defence doesn’t win titles

Madrid can see their title hopes slipping away from them after some disappointing results in recent weeks. Despite their array of attacking talent, Madrid are drifting away from Barcelona, with their production in the final third not what it should be.

No side has conceded fewer goals than Madrid this season, while only Getafe have conceded fewer expected goals. It perhaps proves that defence doesn’t win titles, with Arbeola’s men likely to miss out on first place this term.

Girona’s low-block incoming

Especially against sides as powerful as Madrid going forward, Girona like to sit in deep and absorb the pressure, looking to hit the opposition on the counter-attack. Only Real Oviedo have won possession fewer times in the final third per 90 minutes than Girona, with Michel’s side implementing their low block.

We’re likely to see a similar style when the two sides meet this weekend, with Girona having just 40% of the ball when they went head-to-head earlier in the season.

Madrid need more from Mbappé

Kylian Mbappé has enjoyed a phenomenal season for Real Madrid, scoring 40 goals in 40 appearances. The French forward has carried the Spanish giants at times, but he’s failed to hit the same levels over the last few weeks.

In LaLiga, Mbappé has failed to produce in his last three appearances, with Madrid losing twice during that period. Mbappé is undoubtedly one of Madrid’s most important players, and when he struggles, they struggle.

Prediction

Although Madrid dropped points last time they faced Girona, they’ve been comfortable at home this season for the most part. They desperately need to turn things around, and we’re going for a comfortable 3-1 home victory in this one.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

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

Apr

2026

Can De Zerbi-ball save Spurs from the drop?

Roberto De Zerbi has seven games to save Tottenham Hotspur from suffering relegation from the Premier League.

By Graham Ruthven

Tottenham Hotspur need someone to save them. That someone wasn’t Thomas Frank and it wasn’t Igor Tudor, but the North London club desperately hopes it will be Roberto De Zerbi otherwise life in the Championship looms. The success or failure of the Italian’s appointment will be determined in just seven games.

That’s all the runway De Zerbi has to get Spurs flying. Starting with this weekend’s away trip to Sunderland, the former Brighton and Marseille boss will begin to remodel Tottenham in his own image. De Zerbi has very specific views on how the game should be played and his new team will be a reflection of that.

Time, however, is against the 46-year-old. De Zerbi might have been handed a five-year contract, but he must deliver in the short-term before anyone at Spurs can even think about the long-term. Might it be wiser for De Zerbi to scale back some of his philosophical ambition to first keep Tottenham in the Premier League?

De Zerbi-Ball is defined through a few key traits. Firstly, it’s a style of play that requires everyone on the pitch to be extremely comfortable with the ball at their feet. This includes the goalkeeper and defenders who are expected to play out from the back under pressure. This has been a hallmark of De Zerbi’s teams everywhere he has managed.

Spurs, however, might not have the players to operate this way. It was only a few weeks ago that Antonín Kinský gifted Atlético Madrid two goals while attempting to play out from the back. Kinský likely won’t feature for De Zerbi, but it was a performance that demonstrated how poor Tottenham have been at constructing attacks from deep.

Under De Zerbi, Spurs will bait the opposition press, the idea being that they will then be able to play around it and into space at speed. To do this, Tottenham don’t just need defenders who are comfortable in possession, but midfielders willing to take the ball in tight spaces and get turned. Archie Gray and Pape Sarr might not have this in their skill set. Spurs need natural midfield valves.

Tottenham are ranked a lowly 11th for average possession share in the Premier League this season. They are also ranked 11th for long passes per 90 minutes. Under Tudor, they played a possession-light game that focused on getting the ball forward as quickly and directly as possible. To go from this to what De Zerbi envisages in such a short period of time might be impossible.

This is where De Zerbi could be tempted to be more pragmatic than he would ordinarily choose to be. Might the Italian be less demanding in his usual request that defenders take so many risks on the ball at the back? Could Spurs be slightly more direct than De Zerbi-Ball would normally entail to make the stylistic transition slightly easier? Would it make sense to tone down the idealism?

“For me, Tottenham, especially in this moment, is maybe the most important challenge in my career,” said De Zerbi ahead of his first match as Tottenham manager against Sunderland on Sunday. “I’m ready to start this challenge and I want to work with my characteristics, with my passion, with my vision of football and with my technologies as well.”

If De Zerbi can get over the hump of the next seven games, he could be exactly what Tottenham Hotspur need. The club’s supporters crave a bold and entertaining brand of football. After taking a step forward in this regard under Ange Postecoglou, they believe more than a step backwards was taken under Frank and Tudor.

Many fans opposed De Zerbi’s appointment on the grounds of his public backing for Mason Greenwood while Marseille manager. The Italian was accused of downplaying the allegations against Greenwood who was arrested in January 2022 on charges of attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

The Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust contacted the North London club to state its opposition to De Zerbi’s appointment while other fans have vowed to boycott matches as long as the Italian is in position as Spurs manager. There is more than just football to consider about De Zerbi’s employment.

Premier League survival is clearly all Tottenham have considered in turning to De Zerbi, although there’s no guarantee the 46-year-old’s methods will save them. In fact, they could be the thing that sinks them if Spurs’ players reject them like they did Frank and Tudor’s ideas. All will become apparent in just seven games.

(Images from IMAGO)

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

Apr

2026

EFL Championship: Has Wrexham’s race been run and just how far can Southampton go?

It’s the promotion race that keeps on giving. Can Wrexham recover against Birmingham in their efforts for an unthinkable Premier League promotion? Can anyone stop Tonda Eckert’s Southampton? And how the fixture calendar leaves Millwall in a perfect position… We asked sports reporter Sanny Rudravajhala for this thoughts on the Championship run in.

By Sanny Rudravajhala

You couldn’t help being blown away by Southampton’s showing at Wrexham on Tuesday. A 5-1 victory saw the Saints players and staff serenaded in the far corner of the Racecourse. Wrexham’s players were sitting in silence in the dressing room. Under the lights, the harsh reality of what it takes to make it to the big time was brought into focus.

That midweek mauling saw Southampton leapfrog Wrexham into the final play-off place but such have been the twists and turns at the top this season, we’re perfectly set up for the final run-in to reach the Premier League.

Wrexham running out of road?

Wrexham’s weekend trip to Birmingham City will inevitably have Hollywood clichés attached but they exist for a reason. Both have had big name investment, but Wrexham sought to sign homegrown players with Championship experience ahead of more glamourous names from further afield. It gave them a host of plug and play footballers in a way that Birmingham couldn’t match. Captain Dom Hyam, arriving in September from Blackburn Rovers, was a perfect example of that. Nathan Broadhead and Kieffer Moore also needed no time to bed in.

The scale of their capitulation at the hands of Southampton was a shock but the defeat was not a surprise. Wrexham have won just two in seven and across 2026, the 27 goals they’ve conceded is the joint third-most in the division. Only Leicester (29) and Sheffield Wednesday (37) have performed worse. By comparison, their play-off rivals have all conceded at least 10 fewer, excluding Hull (21).

Their midfield was completely overwhelmed on Tuesday. As I said on BBC 5 Live Sport, it felt like Southampton had an extra man. They’re desperately missing a midfielder of the quality that could deal with Matsuki and with Finn Azaz, who ran the show on a night where they should have had even more. Ben Sheaf and Matty James have both been long-term absentees but another defensively minded middle man would be a priority signing in the summer.

Phil Parkinson has called for a reaction on Sunday at St Andrew’s. We all know that this is a club that is ready for the big occasion if they can recover. In their remaining games, a trip to Champions-elect Coventry, and a home showdown with promotion rivals Middlesborough could be box office.

An extra season of consolidation, however, would do Wrexham good but they’re the only club in the Championship who could get promoted and have the resource and nous to remodel their squad to be Premier League-ready. Indeed, I was saying the same thing last season!

Whatever happens, this will be the best league finish in their 161-year history and that is to be commended.

Super Saints unstoppable

Tuesday was my 53^rd game of the season in the press box and the most impressive showing I’ve seen. Tonda Eckert made six changes from Southampton’s wonderful performance to beat Arsenal and reach the FA Cup semi-finals.

The German had the luxury of not even needing to play Tom Fellows, whilst the introduction of Leo Scienza was ludicrous really. Having ripped into Mikel Arteta’s side, he was quickly giving Phil Parkinson’s team the same treatment. That was not before Ross Stewart had also come off the bench to score a trademark header. The big Scot has had a torrid few years with injury but has scored six in his last 13 appearances. Tellingly, he is averaging a goal every 94 minutes across that period.

If Eckert had been in charge from the beginning of the season, they would be challenging for the title. Their poor start under Will Still means they’re running out of games in the quest for automatic promotion. Eckert also has the small matter of facing Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City at Wembley, before a crunch-tie with Ipswich Town just days later. Just to further complicate matters, that’s their game in hand over their promotion rivals and any hopes of automatic promotion will hang on victory.

Promotion 4D Chess and five ‘six-pointers’

I was at Coventry on Good Friday to see Jack Rudoni power them on to victory over Derby. With that, I thought Derby’s play-off race was done but then you see they face Southampton next and this 4D chess match of a season continues.

Coventry and Hull then cancelled each other out in their late-night Monday stalemate. Hull have been incredibly efficient this season and that’s emphasised by them outscoring their xG (53) by a further 10. I’ve been expecting them to fall off but they just keep going!

Up next, Ipswich have an East Anglian Derby against a resurgent Norwich side under Phillippe Clement before a crucial game with Middlesbrough. It’s unsurprising that, like Southampton, the relegated Premier League side have strength in depth that’s been much-needed during this crunch-period.

For their part, Boro are now winless in five, with just two victories in 11. They’ve missed an outright forward all season. Tommy Conway has nine goals and assisted five more, but he should have 13 (given his xG of 12.6) and is more of a linkman. David Stelec isn’t particularly regarded as a striker in his native Slovakia and one-goal Morgan Whittaker has been missing with injury. Crucially too, their star, the mercurial Hayden Hackney has also been injured. If those two can return sooner rather than later, then Kim Hellberg’s side still have a chance.

And in amongst all this are Millwall. The league’s great disrupters upended Boro before suffering a damaging home defeat to Norwich. Crucially, they face none of their rivals in the run in and each of their games is winnable. In Femi Azeez they have a brilliant creator and despite injuries, they have kept a solid central defensive core which has been vital.

So, what does this all mean? Automatic promotion will hang on Ipswich’s two games in hand and having gone through every Championship fixture on FotMob, there are FIVE games that could legitimately be called ‘six-pointers’. It gives Wrexham hope, if they can right themselves…

Thinking back, again, to the Racecourse on Tuesday night, and long after the songs had ended and the stands emptied, I was struck with just how much the Southampton fringe players were committed to their post-match exercises. There were squat machines, stretch bands and coaches co-ordinating recovery at a level you don’t ordinarily see in the Championship. The details are covered; now comes the chaos and the Saints are primed to pounce.

(Cover image from IMAGO, additional images via the author)

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

Apr

2026

FotMob Profile: Young US talent Zavier Gozo on Pochettino’s radar

A 19-year-old wonderkid is lighting up Major League Soccer this season, leading to calls for a call-up to Mauricio Pochettino’s USA squad.

By Graham Ruthven

Zavier Gozo’s best moment in Major League Soccer came on Saturday. Fed the ball on the edge of the box, the Real Salt Lake teenager took a touch and lasered a volley across goal and into the far corner of the Sporting KC net. It was a strike that highlighted the talent of a special 19-year-old.

In just six appearances for RSL this season, Gozo has registered two goals and two assists. His other goal in an away victory over Atlanta United was also a special strike, bending a finish home with his left foot having cut inside off the right wing with ease. The extraordinary is becoming ordinary for one the best young players in MLS.

Gozo wasn’t an unknown coming into the 2026 season. The teenager played 1,881 minutes for Real Salt Lake in MLS last year, firmly establishing himself in the rotation for regular minutes. Gozo was also part of the USA team that made a run to the quarter-finals of the 2025 U20 World Cup.

This season, though, the youngster born to an Ivorian father and American mother with the middle name Didier in honour of Didier Drogba has taken a big step forward in his development. Gozo is now a reliable difference-maker destined for even bigger and better things in the near future.

A place in the US men’s national team squad for the 2026 World Cup would certainly constitute something bigger and better. While Gozo has yet to be capped at senior level, many are now calling for the teenager to be included as a wildcard by Mauricio Pochettino for this summer’s tournament.

In terms of his profile as a player, Gozo would give the USA something they otherwise lack. Besides Christian Pulisic, Pochettino doesn’t have many wide options capable of beating a man on the dribble and getting into space in quick transition and this is exactly the sort of player Gozo is.

*Gozo’s early career player traits compared with players in similar leagues*

Gozo is leading RSL for successful dribbles per 90 (1.7) this season. He has also created more chances (11) than any other Real Salt Lake player, highlighting his natural inventive qualities. Pochettino has surely taken a look at the 19-year-old and pondered what he could offer the USMNT.

The odds are against Gozo receiving a World Cup call-up. He wasn’t included on the USMNT roster for the recent friendlies against Belgium and Portugal, meaning Gozo would be entering Pochettino’s set-up for this summer’s tournament completely cold. It would be a bold decision by the Argentine.

Pochettino, however, has made bold decisions as USMNT boss before. He used Christian Pulisic as a number nine against Portugal when few predicted he would. He has called more 60 players into the national team since taking over in September 2024. Pochettino could produce one more surprise by taking a chance on Gozo.

Whether or not he features at the 2026 World Cup, Gozo is set for the big time. Aston Villa and Atlético Madrid have already been linked with the 19-year-old who could be the next homegrown talent to make the move to Europe from MLS. Real Salt Lake fans should enjoy watching Gozo while they can.

“He’s nowhere near the final product he will become,” said RSL head coach Pablo Mastroeni about Gozo. “He’s a willing learner and often when you have young players come into the first team they think they’ve already made it. He has the character to continue learning and I have great joy working with guys who are willing to listen.”

Many believed Diego Luna would be the next RSL youngster to come off the conveyor belt at America First Field. The attacking midfielder is a good bet to be part of Pochettino’s World Cup squad and has been of interest to Celta Vigo and Espanyol in the past. It wouldn’t be a surprise if Luna finally moves on this summer.

Gozo was being developed as Luna’s natural successor, but he now looks to be the talent with the higher ceiling. Gozo is so special that Mastreoni has gone to extraordinary lengths to fit him into his lineup as a right-sided wing back. The 19-year-old doesn’t have the defensive instincts for that to be his long-term position, but RSL needed a way to get him on the field.

There will be more moments of brilliance by Gozo in MLS this season. Sitting fourth in the Western Conference, Real Salt Lake have started the year well and boast one of the most exciting forward lines in the league, of which Gozo is a part of. The number of eyes on the 19-year-old will only increase.

(Images from IMAGO)

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