Stories By Harry De Cosemo

• Sport

  Enough excuses, Chelsea must manage squad better

  When Thomas Tuchel said his Chelsea players were tired after they slipped out of the title race with a draw at Brighton last week, he was accused of making excuses. Although the statistics do suggest he had a point, Chelsea had played 15 games between the beginning of December and Tuesday night compared to Brighton’s nine, it seems unlikely he’d have made it had the Seagulls not equalised.

• Sport

  Is Julian Alvarez the next Pep Guardiola project?

  When Pep Guardiola arrived at Manchester City in the summer of 2016, the assumption was he would set them on the way to domination instantly. Only with hindsight has it become evident how much rebuilding they had to do to create a squad up to his standards, able to play his unique and immense style of football.

• Sport

  Mike Arteta still faces same issues at Arsenal

  Mikel Arteta is desperate to instil serenity at Arsenal. He wants a culture of calm professionalism which, matched by extremely high standards, will restore the Gunners as a genuine threat in the Premier League and solve their ongoing issues.

• Sport

  Could Alexander Isak solve Arsenal’s striker dilemma?

  Tactical trends are helping football evolve constantly but the modern game has arguably seen the biggest breakaway from the norm to date. Coaches are the people with the power to create change, and nobody has done that quite like Pep Guardiola.

• Sport

  Can Coutinho resurrect his career after Barcelona farce?

  It was January 2018 and Philippe Coutinho was sat on a plane to Barcelona, having said goodbye to Liverpool. Any sadness he felt at departing Anfield must have been balanced by anticipation at the prospect of emulating Ronaldinho under the Camp Nou lights.

• Sport

  Kieran Trippier arrival hints a bright Newcastle future

  Doom and dread always sells. Negativity and controversy are sexy and it has always been that way, particularly in the medium of football punditry. From the moment the takeover of Newcastle was completed, there have been doubters and deniers peddling ideals that they need to be cautious and realistic about the future, harnessing the dreams of a fanbase so devoid of any hope for so long.

• Sport

  Will Adama Traore ever live up to his potential?

  At Barcelona, there have been so many great hopes for the academy. Even in this, the darkest of times, when success seems further away than at any point in their modern history, players like Gavi, Pedri and Ansu Fati are providing positivity.

• Sport

  Conditions not right for Benitez to thrive at Everton

  Rafael Benitez is an interesting character. There are few managers so swayed by emotion and his best work is done where he is loved, in communities who appreciate and share his obsession with football.

• Sport

  Is Darwin Nunez the latest global star to emerge from Benfica?

  Benfica have a rich history of producing global football stars. Is Darwin Nunez the latest player who is set to become a star?     Benfica are one of the greatest football factories in Europe and their record of producing quality footballers is so often overlooked.

• Sport

  Mason Greenwood still has plenty of time to fulfil potential

  This generation of England youngsters is already more exciting than almost any seen before. Structured coaching, deep planning and an approach which seeps through every level of the Football Association have helped to develop a conveyor belt of talent, which is finding its feet at the highest level for both club and country.

• Sport

  Arsenal facing familiar dilemma over Aubameyang form

  For Arsenal, internal and external criticism never seems too far away. When they started this season in typically meek, flimsy style, going down 2-0 to a Brentford side fresh from promotion, the knives were out for Mikel Arteta.

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