The Athletic FC Podcast

Manchester City writer Sam Lee, Manchester writer Mark Citchley and tactics writer Thom Harris join Michael Bailey for a Manchester derby roundtable. With Pep Guardiola's side picking up just one win in their last 10 games, the panel dissect why it's still going wrong and look at whether Sunday's game presents an opportunity to bounce back. Manchester United have lost their last two Premier League...

Saudi Arabia will host the 2034 Men’s World Cup after running unopposed. So why has FIFA allowed this to happen? What are the wider controversies surrounding their bid? And could Saudi Arabia actually be a good choice for a World Cup? Host: Ayo Akinwolere With: Matt Slater, Jacob Whitehead Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producer: Jay Beale Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informa...

Spurs have lost 19 of their last 43 matches in the Premier League, and their most recent defeat against Chelsea was particularly damaging. So have Spurs evolved under Ange Postecoglou? And will he be given the time to turn their season around?  Host: Ayo Akinwolere With: Jack Pitt-Brooke and Charlie Eccleshare Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producer: Mike Stavrou Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/...

At the weekend, Chelsea overcame their biggest test yet under Enzo Maresca. The 4-3 win away at their bitter rivals Tottenham has seen them go up to second place in the table.  So, are Chelsea “back” - and are they real title contenders? Host: Ayo Akinwolere With: Phil Hay and Liam Twomey  Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producer: Mike Stavrou Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more info...

After just five months, Dan Ashworth has left his role as sporting director at Manchester United So why has he gone, and what does it say about the new leadership at the club? Host: Ayo Akinwolere With: David Ornstein, Adam Crafton, Laurie Whitwell Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producer: Jay Beale Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After defeat on the South Coast, Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham host in form Chelsea.  In a fixture that saw five goals scored, five goals disallowed, eight yellow cards, two reds and nine VAR checks in the first half alone last season, are we set up for similar chaos this year?  Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea are firing on all cylinders, having scored 57 goals in 22 matches in all competitions this campaig...

So far just two Premier League managers have been shown the door this season, with Erik Ten Hag and Steve Cooper having been sacked. But as we head toward the January transfer market, who else could follow Manchester United and Leicester City’s lead? And just when is the right time to sack a manager? Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic's Stu James and lead writer of The Athletic FC newsletter...

We’re taking you inside the 2025 transfer market to explain the deals that are being worked on across both the winter and summer windows. This includes the players who could arrive and the ones who could be on their way out, across the Premier League and beyond. Host: Ayo Akinwolere With: David Ornstein Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producer: Jay Beale Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy fo...

So Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United have got off to a decent start, with two wins and one draw so far. But how are they going to handle a visit to Arsenal this week?  Host: Ayo Akinwolere With: Carl Anka, Art de Roché, Phil Hay Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producer: Mike Stavrou Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Liverpool moved 9 points clear at the top of the Premier League after a comfortable victory over Manchester City Anfield serenaded Pep Guardiola with "you're getting sacked in the morning". So after four league titles on the bounce is City’s title race over already? Having been at Anfield for The Athletic both Man City writer Sam Lee and Liverpool writer James Pearce join Ayo Akinwolere as well...

A major weekend of action kicks off on Friday evening, culminating in a massive game in the title race, as Liverpool welcome Manchester City. Arne Slot's Reds have 17 wins from 19 games in all competitions, while Pep Guardiola's side are coming off the back of 3 Premier League defeats in a row - as many as they’d lost in their previous 47. Can Pep turn things around? Or will Liverpool go 11 points...

Ahead of this weekend’s games the top five teams in Italy are separated by just one point. Added to that, the last five seasons have seen four different clubs end as champions. So, why is Serie A so competitive and it is Europe’s most entertaining league? The Athletic's James Horncastle joins Ayo Akinwolere to discuss the start to the Italian season with Jordan Campbell also dropping by having rec...

Aston Villa are exceeding expectations in the Champions League, but it’s seems to have come at a cost . Their form has dipped in the Premier League, leaving them eighth in the table. So, can sides like Villa stop themselves becoming victims of their own success? Host: Ayo Akinwolere With: Jacob Tanswell and Thom Harris Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producer: Mike Stavrou Hosted on Acast. See a...

Last week, Premier League clubs voted in favour of amendments to the associated party transaction rules. After labelling the rules ‘discriminatory and distortive’ back in June, Manchester City were one of four clubs to vote against the adjustments.  So what exactly has changed, and which clubs will benefit?  Host: Ayo Akinwolere With: Matt Slater, Jacob Whitehead Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead...

"I'm probably more out than in," Mohamed Salah said on his future, after another match-winning performance against Southampton. His goals mean Liverpool are now eight points clear at the top of the Premier League So will Salah be offered a contract that will keep him at Anfield?  Host: Ayo Akinwolere With: James Pearce, Simon Hughes and Mark Carey  Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producer: Mike...

In April 2023, civil war broke out in Sudan. It continues to this day leaving in its wake the worst humanitarian crisis in the world, according to the United Nations. Despite this, Sudan’s national football team has qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations in 2025 and tops its World Cup qualification group. They are a source of hope to a nation left in ruins. In this special episode of The Athletic...

Manchester City host Tottenham at the Etihad, the first game since Pep Guardiola announced he’ll be staying in Manchester a little longer.  Tottenham were beaten at home to Ipswich last time out, while Manchester City are four games without a win in all competitions — the panel assess which side look better placed to bounce back.  All that plus a look at the fixtures elsewhere with drop ins from t...

Today we’re talking; captains, differentials, and when to wildcard. You know it. We’re talking Fantasy Premier League aka FPL. So, how has a fantasy game changed the way we watch football? Host Ayo Akinwolere Guest, Sam Bonfield. Mark Critchley Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pep Guardiola has agreed to extend his contract as Manchester City manager  So why has he decided to stay and will he be able to build another team to dominate the Premier League?  Host: Ayo Akinwolere With: Sam Lee and Pol Ballus  Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producer: Mike Stavrou Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today’s focus is on Kylian Mbappe’s stuttering start to life at Real Madrid  Has the big-money move made Madrid worse?  Host: Ayo Akinwolere With: Dermot Corrigan and Tomas Hill Lopez-Menchero Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producer: Mike Stavrou Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week across The Athletic we’re focusing on the people that own the 20 clubs that make up the Premier League. So who are they? How much does it cost? and what do they get in return? Ayo Akinwolere is joined by Matt Slater and Adam Crafton is assess and debate how the nature of Premier League ownership has changed since the league's inception. Phil Buckingham also drops in to discuss his articl...

We’re eleven games into the season, today we’ll be assessing the table – and asking the question – is the quality of the Premier League the best it’s ever been?  Host: Adam Leventhal With: Tim Spiers, Nick Miller Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producer: Mike Stavrou Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

England have had nine players drop out of their squad ahead of their matches against Greece and the Republic of Ireland. Captain Harry Kane is not impressed speaking out about the importance of playing for the national team. So is Kane right? Outside of major tournaments is international football respected? Host: Ayo Akinwolere With: Phil Hay, Jack Pitt-Brooke, Chris Waugh and Nick Miller Executiv...

Roma have sacked a second manager in less than two months and are now in talks to bring former coach Claudio Ranieri out of retirement. So… can Ranieri stabilise the turbulent Italian club? And what is the latest on Roma’s owners, The Friedkin Group, and their proposed takeover of Everton? Host: Ayo Akinwolere With: James Horncastle and Paddy Boyland  Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producer: Mi...

Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami crashed out of the MLS Cup in the first round of the playoffs. So what now for Messi and Miami after being granted a place in the Club World Cup? Host: Ayo Akinwolere With: Felipe Cardenas and Phil Hay Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producer: Mike Stavrou Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.