The Athletic FC Podcast

Manchester City’s Erling Haaland has made history scoring his 50th goal of the season on Sunday - the most goals by a top-flight player for 92 years. How has manager Pep Guardiola got the best out of him? How can City look to ensure he stays for as long as possible? Where does this season rank him in terms of the greatest of Premier League strikers?  Joining Ian Irving to discuss the goalscoring h...

"This isn't about the decision to sack Marcelo Bielsa, it's about the decisions they've made since..." The Athletic's Leeds writer Phil Hay joins senior news reporter Matt Slater and host Ian Irving, to reflect on how Leeds got themselves into another relegation scrap this season. The vote of no confidence from the Supporters Advisory Board, the viral video, if Javi Gracia will see out the last fo...

Dan Bardell is joined by George Elek, Tim Spiers and bet365's Steve Freeth following a decisive week at the top and bottom of the Premier League. With Arsenal not in action until Tuesday, Man City will look to take top spot when they head to Fulham. In the battle for European qualification Aston Villa head to Old Trafford and Liverpool take on Tottenham while Newcastle play Southampton. Plus, at t...

Ian Irving is joined by The Athletic's Chelsea writers Simon Johnson & Liam Twomey and Jack Pitt-Brooke, our Tottenham correspondent. The panel discussed how Mauricio Pochettino has become firm favourite to be that man as the new permanent Chelsea manager & why the timing couldn’t be better for all parties involved. Also how Chelsea's dismal form puts Pochettino in a position of strength,...

On Saturday, Wrexham reached their cliched Hollywood ending with promotion back to promised land of the English Football League.  And as emotions poured out of owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney as much as the fans on the pitch, the questions began about this club’s future.  So then EFL, Welcome to Wrexham. Can anyone stop them? And is the Premier League a realistic goal? Ian Irving is joined...

Back in '99, Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United won a historic treble - The Premier League, FA Cup & Champions League - Despite Roman Abramovich’s millions and the genius of Arsenal's 'Invincibles', no one in English football has been able to do it since. Host Mark Chapman is joined by The Athletic's Sam Lee, Amy Lawrence and Andy Mitten to discuss Manchester City's chance at Premier League...

Tottenham absolutely fell apart yesterday, hammered 6-1 by Newcastle at St James’ Park - they are also currently without a first team manager, director of football So where do Spurs begin with fixing all these issues both on and off the pitch? And has the club really got the ambition to compete with the very best? Mark Chapman is joined by The Athletic’s Adam Crafton, Jack Pitt-Brooke - our Totten...

Dan Bardell is with George Elek, Tim Spiers and bet365's Steve Freeth to look ahead to the Premier League weekend & FA Cup semi-finals. The panel assess Arsenal's recent wobble ahead of Southampton visiting the Emirates, with Man City in FA Cup semi-final action this weekend. We also assess the race for European qualification, analyse the latest twists and turns in the battle for survival incl...

Coming up, hear how Unai Emery has made Aston Villa a force in the Premier League again. Also how he always seems to find a way to start so well wherever he’s in charge & what Villa can expect to happen next. Joining us for this one The Athletic’s Aston Villa writer Greg Evans, Spanish writer Dermot Corrigan who interviewed Emery for The Athletic last year and Art De Roche who covers Arsenal,...

Napoli’s Victor Osimhen is more than catching the eye this season. In fact he’s leaping higher than Ronaldo, out-scoring everyone in Serie A by some distance, and whilst he won’t be adding a Champions League medal this year, if teams want to bring him in, he’s going to cost an awful lot.  So who is the man behind the mask that’s on everyone’s must-buy list?  Mark Chapman is joined by Jon Mackenzie...

While Lukaku's disappointing loan spell at Inter is coming to an end, Chelsea's problems in front of goal show no signs of abating, so, is it time for a reunion? Host Mark Chapman is joined by The Athletic's Adam Crafton and Chelsea correspondent Liam Twomey to discuss... Was the infamous Sky Italia interview the last straw for then head coach Thomas Tuchel, and could Lukaku's return actually help...

Mark Chapman is joined by The Athletic’s Adam Crafton & journalist and former Arsenal midfielder Adrian Clarke. If last week at Anfield was perhaps a point gained, then yesterday at the London stadium was definitely two points dropped. Losing 'control' at crucial moments in games, have they lost control of the title race? How much has Arsenal's lack of depth in squad hurt them and what do they...

Dan Bardell is joined by George Elek, Tim Spiers and bet365's Steve Freeth as Dean Smith prepares to take charge of Leicester City for the first time away at a red-hot Man City. Elsewhere two of the Premier League's form sides meet at Villa Park as Aston Villa take on Newcastle United, plus Matt Woosnam gives us the lowdown on Crystal Palace's resurgence under a returning Roy Hodgson. Produced by...

Vincent Kompany has led Burnley back to the Premier League in impressive fashion but is he destined for even greater things? Mark Chapman is joined by the Athletic's Sam Lee & Andy Jones to assess Kompany's potential to join the ranks of the elite, with Pep Guardiola already talking him up as a future Manchester City manager. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark Chapman is joined by The Athletic's Barcelona writer Pol Ballus and PSG writer Peter Rutzler to debate the possibility of Lionel Messi returning to Barcelona two years on from leaving. The panel assess how the La Liga side could afford a move for their former star, his relationship with the PSG supporters having been booed in recent home matches, while his name has been chanted at Camp Nou. P...

Man City may be firing on all cylinders in the Premier League but the Champions League has humbled them in the past. Host Ian Irving is joined by The Athletic's Rafa Honigstein and Sam Lee - ahead of their first-leg quarter-final tie with Bayern Munich - to discuss 'over-thinking it', Haaland's form and a familiar face in the opposition dugout... But has Thomas Tuchel, parachuted into Munich as he...

The Premier League title race stepped up a notch following Sunday's game of the season contender at Anfield as Arsenal and Liverpool shared the spoils with two-all draw. So what is it about Anfield that causes teams to slip up or sense to go out the window? How much margin for error is there now for Arsenal and City?  Ian Irving is joined by Adam Crafton and Oli Kay to assess the damage for Arsena...

Dan Bardell is alongside George Elek, Tim Spiers and bet365's Steve Freeth ahead of the Easter Weekend's Premier League action. League leaders Arsenal head to Liverpool while Man City visit Southampton ahead of their Champions League quarter-final first leg with Bayern Munich. Meanwhile, the panel get into the latest managerial movements with Frank Lampard returning to Chelsea, plus, there's a che...

Just when you think you've said all that you can about Chelsea in one week, they appoint Frank Lampard as caretaker manager. Joining host Ian Irving to discuss Lampard's return are the Athletic's Oli Kay, Stu James and Rob Tanner. As the merry-go-round spins ever faster there's also a look at the wider managerial picture and in particular the future of Brendan Rodgers. A man with trophies and plen...

Jurgen Klopp described himself as the "last man standing" on Monday. It was a tongue in cheek comment but equally an odd one to bring up at a time when Liverpool are, yet again this season, in a rut. So is the great man untouchable or can he rebuild his way out? Joining Ian Irving to talk through the current state of Liverpool and what Klopp can learn from his previous job as Borussia Dortmund bos...

Yesterday, we brought you the news that Chelsea head coach Graham Potter had been sacked by Chelsea, today, host Ian Irving is joined by The Athletic's David Ornstein and Simon Johnson to reveal the full story of how things unravelled for Potter in West London... A playing squad too big to fit into one dressing room, who really wields the power at Cobham, why Bruno Salter and other coaches are lik...

Mark Chapman is joined by The Athletic's David Ornstein, Adam Crafton & Simon Johnson to discuss the sacking of Graham Potter as Chelsea manager. The panel detail why Chelsea acted now, who is in the frame to take over and where might Potter end up next. There is also reaction to Brendan Rodgers leaving his role as Leicester manager - could he be in line to be the new Chelsea manager? Hosted o...

As Manchester City prepare to take on Liverpool at the Etihad, join Dan Bardell, George Elek, Steve Freeth and Tim Spiers ahead of the weekend's Premier League action. The panel analyse Bukayo Saka's sensational form and ask whether he can rival Erling Haaland for the PFA Player of the Year award, Newcastle are out for revenge for Carabao Cup Final defeat to Manchester United as well as the latest...

Mark Chapman is joined by The Athletic's Tim Spiers & Oli Kay to debate how managers & head coaches in the Premier League should be assessed and rated when they are appointed. Two managers widely regarded as the best face each other in The Premier League this weekend as Manchester City & Pep Guardiola play Liverpool led by Jurgen Klopp.. Who is the better manager? Or are they just the...

Four big teams, three points separate them, but only one of them will lift the WSL trophy - and one of them won't be playing Champions League football next year either. This season's WSL is the most competitive it's been at the top for some time. Joining Mark Chapman to run the rule over where each team will be fantastic and fallible it's The Athletic's women's football editor Chloe Morgan, writer...