Daily Archives: December 2, 2024

Christian Ilzer’s people-centric approach revives Hoffenheim spirit

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“Less talk, more action? Having stepped out of Austrian football for the first time in his career, Christian Ilzer has taken the opposite approach as he seeks to establish himself and to find his feet at Hoffenheim. Appointed to the top job little more than a week ago, the new head coach took over an alarming situation, with his new European-qualified team teetering just above a weak-looking bottom three. Yet he immediately felt that making time to chat was the best start. …”
Guardian

Brest’s Cinderella story continues against Barcelona despite domestic slide

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“While they were humbled by an attack-minded Monaco on Friday evening at the Stade Louis II, as Brest prepare to take on Barcelona in the first ‘big test’ of their maiden Champions League campaign (Bayer Leverkusen notwithstanding), it’s worth reflecting on the Bretons’ progress to date and a look at how Tuesday’s match may shape up given some unfortunate injury news for Éric Roy’s side. Despite playing gamely against a Monaco side who have been mightily impressive this season, Brest lost 3-2 but, more importantly, lost Pierre Lees-Melou. The veteran midfielder had only recently returned from an injury and his positive influence on the team was palpable in the draw against Leverkusen. …”
Guardian

Barcelona 125: An A to Z of the club, from Alcantara to Zamora

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“… A — Paulino Alcantara Not Thiago, not Rafinha — the best player named Alcantara to ever grace Barcelona was Paulino. The Philippines-born striker was the main face of the ‘Golden Barcelona’ side of the 1920s, when the Catalan club won five out of 10 national championships and eight Catalan cups. Alcantara is Barca’s second-highest goalscorer — with 369, behind only Lionel Messi’s 672 (though this includes goals in non-competitive matches) — and was called “El Romperedes” (the net-breaker) for his powerful shot. He also worked as a doctor after graduating in his home country and did so while starring for Barca. He died in 1964 and was named the best Asian footballer of all time by FIFA in 2007. …”
NY Times/The Athletic

Liverpool 2 Man City 0: Slot’s side dominate struggling champions to go nine points clear

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“A team flying at the top of the league playing at home against a side without a win in six games brought the result you would expect, as Arne Slot’s Liverpool went nine points clear on Sunday with a 2-0 win over Manchester City. The home side went at City from the start and were ahead early through Cody Gakpo after a brilliant cross from Mohamed Salah, but that was surprisingly the only goal of a first half Liverpool dominated. City manager Pep Guardiola made tweaks in an attempt to stop the Premier League leaders, but his wobbling four-in-a-row champions could not cope and victory was sealed when Salah converted a penalty in the second half after goalkeeper Stefan Ortega fouled Luis Diaz. …”
NY Times/The Athletic
NY Times/The Athletic: Liverpool vs Manchester City dissected: The rivalry, key battles – and predictions
NY Times/The Athletic: Pep Guardiola on ‘sacked in the morning’ chants during Liverpool loss: ‘I didn’t expect it at Anfield’

How Liverpool’s Caoimhin Kelleher’s technique makes him a penalty expert

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“Liverpool forward Darwin Nunez wasted no time when chest-bumping his way into Caoimhin Kelleher to congratulate his goalkeeper. Kelleher had just denied Kylian Mbappe from the penalty spot in the Champions League on Wednesday night. Right-back Conor Bradley did the same in appreciation for the Republic of Ireland international. Kelleher had just helped preserve Liverpool’s clean sheet by palming away the Real Madrid forward’s spot-kick in a game Arne Slot’s team went on to win 2-0. Andy Robertson, who gave the penalty away against Madrid and in the previous game against Southampton, said he owes Kelleher dinner. …”
NY Times/The Athletic

Inside the mind of Erling Haaland: Everything and nothing

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“Inside the mind of Erling Haaland there is a searing, scorching, unplayable nothing. This may not sound like much of a compliment, not when we are considering the most prolific striker of his generation — a man who has taken a flamethrower to the history books — but it is precisely this destructive blankness that elevates the Manchester City and Norway centre-forward into football’s stratosphere. Not convinced? This is what Haaland said to Alan Shearer, the Premier League’s record goalscorer, in an interview for The Athletic a couple of years ago when the pair of them bonded — communed, really — over the art and obsession of ball meeting net. …”
NY Times/The Athletic
NY Times/The Athletic: Putting Manchester City’s month-long losing streak into too much context