The Athletic FC Podcast

Chelsea have sacked Thomas Tuchel after a string of disappointing results and performances at the start of the new season. Join Mark Chapman, David Ornstein and Liam Twomey as they discuss why tensions have been increasing since the US tour, what this might mean for new boy Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and which manager they could to turn to next. [This episode of the Athletic Football Podcast was or...

Host Mark Chapman is joined by The Athletic's Liam Twomey and Pol Ballus to put Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's deadline day return to the Premier League under the spotlight... Where does the 33-year-old goalscorer fit in, six years on from being coached by Thomas Tuchel at Dortmund, and how will his arrival impact Sterling, Havertz & Mount? Xavi's reluctance to sell at Barcelona, Auba's status at...

Mark Chapman is joined by The Athletic's Andy Naylor to explain how Graham Potter’s Brighton sold their best players and improved. Alongside him, our Leicester writer Rob Tanner tells us why Brendan Rodgers is safe for now but is on thin ice. Elsewhere, with Diego Costa set for a medical at Wolves, we hear what if anything he has left in the tank from The Athletic's Dermot Corrigan, Jack Land &amp...

Dan Bardell and George Elek are joined by the Athletic's Tim Spiers for a look at the pick of the Premier League fixtures this weekend, there's the Merseyside derby on Saturday lunchtime which should feature the returning Darwin Nunez, and could see new signings debut for both teams. Chelsea made a late move for Aubameyang, will he come straight in against West Ham and make an impact? Plus there's...

The Athletic's Matt Slater and Phil Buckingham join Mark Chapman to look at a transfer window where the Premier League blew its European competition out the spending waters. So much so that players are choosing to come to England rather than stay at their clubs and compete in Europe's elite competition: the Champions League. The how and why of that is explained here. Plus there's a discussion on t...

Mark Chapman is joined by The Athletic's Ahmed Shooble & Peter Rutzler for a deep dive into why Bournemouth sacked Scott Parker as manager. Details include the relationship between Parker & the players, his relationship with the board and ownership, what happened inside the club in the after the nine nil battering by Liverpool and of course what who will take over. Hosted on Acast. See aca...

Host Mark Chapman is joined by The Athletic's Carl Anka and Jack Pitt-Brooke to explore the myriad of events which led to Dele Alli making his Besiktas debut last night at just 26 years old... The panel reflect on a meteoric rise, their first impressions of a totally self-confident phenomenon who quickly became a symbol of both Pochettino's top-table party-crashers and England's new generation. Wa...

Mark Chapman is joined by The Athletic's David Ornstein and Adam Crafton for a comprehensive roundup of the Premier League transfer picture ahead of Thursday's deadline. There's the latest on Antony to Man Utd and the future of Ronaldo, plus Chelsea's deal for Wesley Fofana and news of a possible u-turn in their pursuit of Aubameyang. We also look at the potential ins and outs at Everton as they s...

Dan Bardell, George Elek, and Tim Spiers gather once again to preview the biggest Premier League fixtures. Coming up, can Manchester United get two wins in a week? Will Liverpool be pulled apart by the Cherries? And could Fulham be the first to put a spanner in the Arsenal armoury? All that plus some insight into Newcastle's potential new striker Alexander Isak and the striker with a pirate celebr...

Mark Chapman is joined by The Athletic's Leeds correspondent Phil Hay and tactics writer Ahmed Walid for an in-depth look at how Jesse Marsch's has put his stamp on things at Elland Road, and how that has helped the club and its fans to move on from the Marcelo Bielsa era. We look at his soft approach off the pitch, his aggressive tactics on the pitch, his renewed focus on set-pieces and the aband...

Mark Chapman is joined by Nancy Frostick of The Athletic and EFL goal centurion Sam Parkin to bring you up to date on the story lines from across tiers two to four. Covering everything from Coventry's dodgy pitch, to Preston's clean sheets, to the manager inspired by Hansi Flick to the coaches Manchester United have waved goodbye to. It's all here in this whip around the lower divisions. All that...

Host Mark Chapman is joined by The Athletic's Manchester United writer Laurie Whitwell, News correspondent Dan Sheldon and Liverpool writer Simon Hughes (somewhat more reluctantly), to reflect on all the drama from Monday night's game at Old Trafford... The panel discuss the anti-Glazer protests, how Erik ten Hag's big decisions paid off, while Jurgen Klopp's backfired and what it all meant for th...

Mark Chapman is joined by the Athletic's Jack Pitt-Brooke and our Chelsea correspondent Liam Twomey to reflect on Sunday's chastening defeat at Elland Road for Tuchel's side, and bring you insight on whether this result will hasten Chelsea's transfer pursuit for the likes of Aubameyang, Fofana, Anthony Gordon and even Frenkie De Jong. We're also joined by the Athletic's Manchester United writer Ca...

Dan Bardell, Tim Spiers and George Elek preview the best of the weekend's Premier League action starting with the huge game at Old Trafford on Monday night as Manchester United take on Liverpool - will another humiliating defeat prove a tipping point for the disgruntled United fans? Does Liverpool's lengthy injury list give Utd a glimmer of hope? Can Jurgen Klopp's side afford to drop more points...

The Athletic's Pablo Maurer sits down for an interview with Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds & Rob McElhenney about their ownership of Wrexham football club - and their new documentary charting the experience. To set the scene, Pablo is joined by Mark Chapman & The Athletic's Nick Miller to discuss the rise of sports documentaries and why football clubs & footballers want to peel back th...

Joining Mark Chapman this week it's Newcastle's "Pope of Mope" George Caulkin and senior writer Oli Kay to answer the question: "Why aren't Newcastle doing the thing we expected them to do?" ie spend tonnes of money. To answer that question and get an insight into the running of this rejuvenated football this is the podcast for you. Hear about comparisons with Chelsea, City, and Everton and why th...

Host Mark Chapman is joined by The Athletic's Southampton writer Jacob Tanswell and Flo Lloyd-Hughes, to explore the huge gamble the club's new owners are taking on young talent - despite mounting concerns over Premier League relegation and manager Ralph Hasenhutll's job...  The panel detail and discuss the new profile of player being targeted by the club and why new Head of Recruitment, Joe Shiel...

Mark Chapman is joined by The Athletic's Adam Crafton & Jay Harris - who were both at Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday - to explain how Brentford blew Manchester United away. Hear details from both clubs as to how they prepared and the fallout out behind-the-scenes at United featuring a an extra running session , strained relations and Ten Hag changing his mind on Ronaldo. We also get a rep...

Dan Bardell, Tim Spiers and George Elek preview the best of the weekend's Premier League action as Gerrard prepares to take on Lampard. Is Stevie G missing Mick Beale? Do Chelsea have everything to lose against Spurs? And will somebody hit 40 goals in the Premier League this season? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark Chapman is joined by Jack Pitt Brooke and James Horncastle to discuss the peculiarly sensible transfer dealings of Tottenham Hotspur and what has caused Daniel Levy to rip up his playbook. In the pod hear about the triumvirate of Levy-Conte-Paratici and how the Italian duo have influenced Levy for this transfer window. James tells us about Conte and Paratici's history at Juventus and the deve...

Mark Chapman is joined by The Athletic's Matt Slater & Joey D’Urso to discuss the news that FIFA is set to move the start date of the World Cup one day earlier so that host nation Qatar can play the first match. The panel discuss why the decision is only being take now, the current state of preparations for the World Cup in Qatar and also what the fan experience might be like for supporters gi...

Host Mark Chapman is joined by The Athletic's Leicester writer Rob Tanner and Stuart James, to explore Leicester's bemusing inactivity in this summer's transfer window so far... The reality behind the widespread statistic that the Foxes remain the only top-flight European side yet to make a summer signing, Brendan Rodgers' frustrations and Chelsea's very public pursuit of Wesley Fofana. Plus, the...

Mark Chapman is joined by The Athletic's David Ornstein, Adam Crafton & Laurie Whitwell to discuss Manchester United's pursuit of Adrien Rabiot from Juventus & Marko Arnautovic from Bologna.. David exclusively reveals a huge story from his weekly column that Barcelona told Frenkie de Jong that they have evidence of criminality around contract given by old board and cause for legal action v...

Dan Bardell and George Elek are joined by the Athletic's Tim Spiers for the first preview show of the season, and on the eve of another Premier League campaign they start by looking at the big narratives that may define the 9 months ahead. Are we set for another two-horse title race between Man City and Liverpool? Can any of the chasing pack close the gap and could that team be Antonio Conte's Tot...

Host Ian Irving is joined by The Athletic's Adam Crafton and Pol Ballus to explain the story of Barcelona's summer transfer window... How exactly returning President Joan Laporta 'rescued' the Catalan giants from being 'clinically dead', why in-demand stars like Raphinha and Kounde chose Barca over Premier League rivals and how on earth they got themselves into this mess - dating all the way back...