Stories By Graham Ruthven

• Sport

  Chelsea should now follow Arsenal’s example

  Midway through last month’s Premier League match away to Brentford, the sentiment against Mauricio Pochettino turned amongst the Chelsea support. En masse, the Blues’ supporters chanted in a way that made clear in no uncertain terms their desire to see the Argentinean leave Stamford Bridge sooner rather than later.

• Sport

  Gvardiol is finally finding his feet as Man City’s next level defender

  Nobody expected Josko Gvardiol to find the far corner of the net when he received a pass from Jack Grealish on the edge of the box against Real Madrid last week. Had it not been for a somewhat loose first touch, the Croatian might not have got his strike away, but Gvardiol’s finish was one of the standout moments of a thrilling Champions League quarter-final first leg.

• Sport

  Is Xavi right to depart the talented new generation at Barcelona?

  Barcelona’s Champions League quarter-final win away to Paris Saint-Germain last week offered a microcosm of the Catalans’ season as a whole to date. Their defensive flaws were exposed at times by Kylian Mbappe and co.

• Sport

  Xabi Alonso has shaped Leverkusen into the perfect modern team.

  Xabi Alonso’s decision to stay at Bayer Leverkusen caught many by surprise. The Spaniard had been strongly linked with both Bayern Munich and Liverpool. Widely seen as the best young manager working in European football right now, most expected Alonso to take the next step in his career this summer.

• Sport

  Bellingham has become a driving force for Real Madrid.

  Manchester City thumped Real Madrid in last season’s Champions League semi-finals. Indeed, Pep Guardiola’s team claimed a 5-1 aggregate win over the Spanish giants on their way to being crowned European champions for the first time.

• Sport

  Mac Allister the perfect midfielder for Liverpool in the post-Klopp era

  Liverpool knew they were getting a good player in Alexis Mac Allister, but not this good a player. The midfielder had shone for Brighton and was part of the Argentina team that won the 2022 World Cup.

• Sport

  Johnson becoming central to Postecoglou’s Tottenham masterplan

  When Tottenham Hotspur needed a game-changer at half time of Saturday’s home match against Luton Town, Ange Postecoglou looked to Brennan Johnson. The Welsh winger had made an impact in several matches for Spurs, but the impression he made in the comeback win over Luton was more profound than anything he’d produced before.

• Sport

  Arsenal will face their biggest test of the season on Sunday.

  Arsenal face their biggest test of the season on Sunday. Mikel Arteta’s team are currently sat at the top of the Premier League table, but this weekend’s trip to the Etihad Stadium to face Manchester City will be the true test of their title credentials.

• Sport

  Left Back has become England’s biggest problem ahead of Euro 2024

  Gareth Southgate likely hasn’t given much thought to England’s full back positions in some time. On the right side of the defence, the Three Lions are stacked for quality with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Kyle Walker, Reece James and Kieran Trippier all among the best in Europe in their position.

• Sport

  Three questions Southgate must answer before Euro 2024

  This summer could be a landmark one for England. The Three Lions are among the favourites to win Euro 2024 having made the final of the past European Championships. England’s long 57-year wait for a major trophy could come to an end.

• Sport

  A Double Treble for Man City would be the apex of English football

  Manchester City made history last season. By lifting the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup, Pep Guardiola’s team became the first English side since Sir Alex Ferguson’s legendary Manchester United to win a Treble.

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