Daily Archives: April 4, 2023

Bundesliga double-header: Two days, two matches, one league where fans are treated as adults

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“On Friday night, our train pulls into Wolfsburg. Four chimneys stretch into the dusk from the Volkswagen plant, a hulk of concrete, steel and brick sitting adjacent to the station and spreading as far as the eye can see. This is the heart of the city and yet, late at night, it’s eerily quiet. When Wolfsburg was created in 1938, it was conceived as a community to serve the mass production of an affordable family vehicle, what would become the Volkswagen Beetle, and the auto manufacturer still defines the city. …”
The Athletic

How Pep Guardiola turned John Stones into Manchester City’s midfield maestro

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“John Stones’ performance against Liverpool on Saturday was a masterclass. In recent weeks, Stones has been Pep Guardiola’s inverted full-back, moving from right-back to central midfield seamlessly and helping Manchester City dominate games. While Stones has less impact in the final third compared to his predecessor Joao Cancelo, who used to move into midfield from left-back, the England international’s own style has allowed City to thrive in other ways. …”
The Athletic (Video)
The Athletic: Jurgen Klopp seems bullet-proof but Liverpool’s patience is not limitless

Joe Willock will score more Newcastle goals thanks to exceptional runs

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“Off-ball movement usually goes unnoticed. With 20 outfield players running around, and the focus on the ball, it’s hard to grasp everything happening on the pitch upon first viewing. That’s why team analysts and coaches go over the tape again and again and again, and why they know their players better than anyone else. Joe Willock’s off-ball movement might not have resulted in a bucket load of goals and assists this season for Newcastle United, but the smart runs the 23-year-old has been making meant Eddie Howe knew it was only a matter of time. …”
The Athletic

Explained: Why Aleksandar Mitrovic got an eight-game ban but Bruno Fernandes escaped punishment

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“Fulham’s Aleksandar Mitrovic has been handed an extended eight-match ban by an independent regulatory commission for a shove on referee Chris Kavanagh during his side’s defeat at Manchester United earlier this month. The 28-year-old was due to serve a three-game suspension after receiving a red card for violent conduct in the FA Cup quarter-final tie, but the Football Association argued that the standard ban was ‘insufficient.’ …”
The Athletic

Chelsea’s next manager: Nagelsmann? Ancelotti? Pochettino? Our experts’ verdicts

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“It is not even a year since Chelsea’s new owners, the Todd Boehly-Clearlake Capital consortium, took charge at Stamford Bridge and they are already searching for their second new manager. Graham Potter’s sacking on Sunday, just seven months after he succeeded Thomas Tuchel, suggested the ownership’s stated aim of being different to the ruthless hire-and-fire culture of Roman Abramovich is a long way from being realised. …”
The Athletic (Video)

AC Milan toyed with Napoli in 4-0 win – roll on their Champions League rematch

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“There is an old theatrical tradition that a bad dress rehearsal is followed by a successful first night of a show. Napoli will have to hope that is true. Sunday’s Serie A game against AC Milan was the first of three meetings between the sides in 17 days. The other two are in a Champions League quarter-final, with the first leg at San Siro next Wednesday and the return in Naples the following Tuesday. …”
The Athletic