The Athletic FC Podcast
Episodes
What now for Newcastle?
14 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Newcastle United's dreams of Champions League progress ended in failure as AC Milan mounted a second half comeback to knock them out.Newcastle's focus...
Why Man United are unlikely to sack Ten Hag – yet
13 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Man United are out of Europe, 10 points off top spot in the Premier League and it’s not even Christmas… In normal circumstances, any Manchester U...
Can Chelsea afford another January spending spree?
12 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino may want to spend MORE money this January… So, after almost a billion pounds in transfer fees already, could t...
Has Emery made Aston Villa title contenders?
11 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
After beating Man City on Wednesday night, Aston Villa backed that up against Arsenal on Saturday, seeing off Mikel Arteta's side 1-0 at Villa Park.Ha...
Weekend Preview: Can Arsenal end Villa's streak?
08 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Adam Leventhal returns to preview Matchweek 16 of the Premier League!The weekend is headlined by a clash between table-topping Arsenal and surprise-pa...
What's wrong with Man City?
07 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
After Manchester City fell to defeat at Villa Park on Wednesday night, Pep Guardiola's side slipped to fourth in the Premier League and six points off...
Is Kompany’s iconic status buying him more time?
06 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Despite a 5-0 win over Sheffield United on the weekend, Vincent Kompany’s Burnley were beaten again this week & remain in Premier League relega...
Jorginho interview: Arteta's plan, 'unbelievable' Havertz & penalties
05 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this exclusive interview for The Athletic, Arsenal and Italy midfielder Jorginho joins host Ayo Akinwolere, to talk about the Gunners' Premier Leag...
Can a rebooted Trent lead Liverpool to the title?
04 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Trent Alexander-Arnold is flying in the Premier League…A year on from playing a bit-part role in Qatar and struggling for form at home, Trent is no...
Weekend Preview: Will Angeball bounce back at Man City?
01 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Adam Leventhal hosts Luke Bosher, Tim Spiers, and Nick Miller to preview matchweek 14 in the Premier League. First on the docket is the Man City vs T...
Is Onana really to blame?
30 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Bottom of the group having conceded 14 goals in only 5 group stage games, Man United now stand on the brink of Champions League elimination...But des...
Will Ancelotti leave Real Madrid for Brazil?
29 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The lure of Real Madrid has proven almost irresistible to the world’s best players and coaches for decades...Success feels like a virtual guarantee ...
Will Newcastle really sign players from the Saudi League?
28 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Eddie Howe has questioned why all the focus seemed to be on Newcastle, following the Premier Leagues effort to block ‘related-party loans’…So ar...
Why Havertz suits evolving Arsenal
27 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Kai Havertz hasn’t exactly hit the ground running but could his late-winner at Brentford mean lift-off for his Arsenal career? And with the best de...
Weekend Preview: Liverpool head to Man City as top two clash
24 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Manchester City host title rivals Liverpool in the first game of the weekend, as the Premier League returns from the final international break of the ...
Lyon and the danger of multi-club ownership
23 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
After seven consecutive Ligue 1 titles in the early 2000s, we’d forgive you for thinking Lyon are still firmly a part of European football’s arist...
Inter Milan: Winning titles, losing money
22 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It’s been a pretty good start to the season for Inter Milan. Ticking along nicely in the Champions League and top of Serie A as they chase silverwar...
Barcelona 'bet the house' on their future - will it work?
21 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It doesn’t seem that long ago, that Pep’s Barcelona were the epitome of a well-run football club.Moving on from Messi & co was always going to...
What Everton’s punishment could mean for Man City & Chelsea
20 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On Friday came the news that Everton have been hit with an unprecedented 10-point deduction for breaching the Premier League’s profitability and sus...
Premier League roundtable: The season so far
17 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
An international break gives Adam Leventhal and co a chance to sit down and reflect on the 12 gameweeks of Premier League action so far. With the hel...
Man United’s leadership limbo: Arnold’s departure explained
16 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
After the news that Manchester United CEO Richard Arnold will be stepping down to be replaced by Patrick Stewart on an interim basis, and with billion...
Napoli: From champions to chaos in six months
15 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Reigning Serie A champions Napoli have parted company with head coach Rudi Garcia after just 16 matches in charge…Walter Mazzarri is the surprise ...
Xabi Alonso: Europe's next 'super coach'
14 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Having taken Bayer Leverkusen from the relegation zone to the top of the Bundesliga within 13 months of taking charge, Xabi Alonso has made a meteoric...
Is Raheem Sterling’s England career over?
13 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Amongst the chaos at Stamford Bridge yesterday there was a top draw performance from one of the usual suspects in Raheem Sterling.But despite being on...
Weekend Preview: Can Chelsea back-up Spurs win against Man City?
10 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Adam Leventhal welcomes Jay Harris, Jon Mackenzie, and Omar Garrick to the studio to preview the weekend's fixtures. Chelsea vs Manchester City head...
Can Hojlund and Jackson handle their goalscoring burdens?
09 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Both Rasmus Hojlund and Nicolas Jackson have felt the weight of expectation following their respective summer moves to Man United and Chelsea.To analy...
Have Dortmund moved on from Bellingham?
08 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic's German football writers Raphael Honigstein and Seb Stafford-Bloor as well as ex-Bundesliga striker Jan Aage...
Were Spurs the real winners against Chelsea?
07 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Forget the famous ‘Battle of the Bridge’, Tottenham vs Chelsea was 'Monday night Madness' in North London.Host Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Ath...
Do Arsenal need an 'elite' striker?
06 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Arteta's Arsenal were furious with VAR following their defeat at St James’ Park on Saturday evening, but with just one shot on target in match - sho...
Weekend Preview: Can Arsenal survive their first big away test?
03 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Adam Leventhal and co return to preview the weekend of Premier League fixtures. Headlining the weekend is Arsenal's trip to Newcastle, their first aw...
Saudi World Cup: What does it mean for football?
02 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Following Australia's withdrawal to host the 2034 World Cup on Tuesday, Saudi Arabia has been left as the sole bidder to stage world football's showpi...
Why have no Premier League managers been sacked yet?
01 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Last season in the Premier League it felt like there was a manager being sacked every week. This season, it feels like the writing’s on the wall for...
Are Real Madrid leaving Barcelona behind?
31 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Are Real Madrid about to leave Barcelona behind, both on and off the pitch?After losing Saturday’s El Clasico and then seeing Lionel Messi collect a...
Is the Man United job impossible?
30 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
At Old Trafford yesterday Manchester City proved once again they are levels above Manchester United.How much is Erik ten Hag to blame and is he right...
Weekend Preview: Can United upset City in the Manchester derby?
27 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Tim Spiers, in for Adam Leventhal, hosts Jon Mackenzie, Reuben Pinder, and Omar Garrick for our weekly preview of the Premier League.Matchday 10 welco...
Inside Jadon Sancho's Man United exile
26 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Two months on from his last appearance for Manchester United, Jadon Sancho seems no close to a first team return.The Athletic's Manchester United writ...
How Szoboszlai has 'transformed' Liverpool's midfield
25 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
After Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, James Milner and Naby Keita all left Anfield in the summer transfer window, Jurgen Klopp’s midfield required a full...
Is it time to take Tottenham seriously?
24 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Last night, Tottenham went two points clear at the top of the Premier League, thanks to goals from Maddison and captain, Son Heung-min.Michael Bailey ...
Has Unai Emery silenced his critics?
23 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On the eve of his first anniversary as Aston Villa manager, Unai Emery has Villa within striking distance of the top of the Premier League.Having retu...
Weekend Preview: Can Liverpool handle another 12.30pm start?
20 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Adam Leventhal returns to preview Premier League matchday nine.The weekend starts with a Merseyside derby at Anfield. With only one win against Liverp...
Who succeeds Guardiola at Man City?
19 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Contracted through to 2025, there's no immediate sign of Pep Guardiola leaving Manchester City.Yet with Roberto De Zerbi taking his Brighton & Hov...
Why Bellingham's better off in Spain
18 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
As England secured their place at Euro 2024, we watched on in awe at another Jude Bellingham masterclass - is there a better player in world football ...
Does EA SPORTS need FIFA?
17 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Host Adam Leventhal and a couple of The Athletic's resident gamers, Jay Harris & Art de Roché, reflect on the cultural impact, messy divorce and ...
Man United takeover: Will Ratcliffe's proposal change anything?
16 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Ahead of Manchester United’s board being set to vote on selling a minority stake in the club to British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe Ayo Akinwolere...
Weekend Preview: Are England favourites for Euro 2024?
13 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On this edition of the Weekend Preview we welcome another round of Euro 2024 qualifiers, with England potentially securing qualification if they can s...
How Brand Beckham transcended football
12 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Following the release of the David Beckham documentary that everyone is talking about, Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic’s Adam Crafton, Carl...
Hazard retires - how will he be remembered?
11 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic’s Chelsea writer Liam Twomey and our tactics writer Michael Cox to reflect on the career of Eden Hazard fol...
Are West Ham better without Declan Rice?
10 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Ayo Akinwolere is joined by Benji Lanyado & The Athletic’s Roshane Thomas to assess how quickly West Ham have rebuilt after selling Declan Rice...
How significant was Arsenal's win over Man City?
09 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic's Arsenal writer James McNicholas and reporter Adam Crafton following the Gunners' first Premier League win o...
Weekend Preview: Have Arsenal closed the gap on Man City?
06 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Adam Leventhal returns as he does every Friday to preview the weekend's football. The showcase this week: a clash between last season's top two, as Ar...
Saka, Bellingham, Mbappe & the never ending football calendar
05 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Ayo Akinwolere is joined by Danny Donachie former Head of Medical Services at Everton, ex-Arsenal midfielder Adrian Clarke & The Athletic’s Oli...
Do Man United expect too much from Rashford?
04 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Ayo Akinwolere is joined by Manchester United writers Andy Mitten and Mark Critchley to explore Marcus Rashford's 'streaky' goalscoring form and the w...
What can Newcastle learn from the PSG project?
03 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic’s George Caulkin and French football writer Tom Williams to explore some intriguing parallels between the s...
Will Liverpool’s VAR pain galvanise them?
02 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
James Pearce and Oli Kay are alongside Ayo Akinwolere to react to Liverpool's VAR-impacted defeat at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday.Both th...
Weekend Preview: Liverpool 2.0 vs Ange-ball
29 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Adam Leventhal hosts Caoimhe O'Neill, Nick Miller, and Tim Spiers as they look ahead to match day seven of the Premier League.One game stands out amon...
What has happened with Osimhen & Napoli's TikTok?
28 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Roberto Calenda, the agent of Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, has threaten the club with legal action for mocking the striker on TikTok.James Horncastl...
How Ajax imploded
27 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Ayo is joined by The Athletic's Carl Anka and Simon Hughes, plus Chief football writer for Dutch newspaper AD Sjoerd Mossou, to explain how Ajax implo...
How will Man City cope without Rodri?
26 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
After Rodri's red card at the weekend, Pep's Manchester City will have to find a way to cope without the most reliable player in the Premier League......
Do Arsenal need a goalscorer?
25 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
David Ornstein and Art De Roche are alongside Ayo Akinwolere following Arsenal's 2-2 draw in the North London Derby at home to Tottenham Hotspur.Withi...
Weekend Preview: North London Derby Special
22 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Adam Leventhal welcomes a packed studio to preview this weekend's biggest clash: Arsenal vs Spurs plus David Ornstein pops up to bring us exclusive de...
Raya vs Ramsdale: Can you really rotate goalkeepers?
21 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Following the signing of David Raya on loan from Brentford, Mikel Arteta has maintained his view this season he can rotate between the Spaniard and la...
Are the real Barcelona back?
20 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Barcelona had failed to win by a five-goal margin in any game since Lionel Messi left for PSG back in 2021... So after back-to-back 5-0 wins in La Lig...
Can Chelsea handle being a ‘project’ club?
19 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Chelsea were booed by their own fans away at Bournemouth on Sunday but are they actually playing better than results would suggest?Ayo is joined by Ad...
Why are Brighton better than Man United?
18 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Ayo Akinwolere is alongside The Athletic's Adam Crafton and Carl Anka to reflect on Manchester United's 3-1 humbling defeat at the hands of Brighton &...
Weekend Preview: Can Brighton expose more Man United cracks?
15 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Nick Miller, Tim Spiers and Luke Bosher join Adam Leventhal to preview round five of the Premier League.They attempt to answer the weekend's big quest...
Does Sancho have a Man United future?
14 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Following his public fallout with manager Erik Ten Hag, Jadon Sancho's Manchester United future looks uncertain.Host Ayo Akinwolere is joined by Adam ...
How Maddison is helping Spurs move on from Kane
13 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Are Spurs actually better without Harry Kane? ... Of course not, but new manager Ange Postecoglu's personality and James Maddison's 'swagger' are cert...
Pogba & Juventus: a rollercoaster 12 months
12 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic's Italian writer James Horncastle to discuss a chaotic 12 months at Juventus including the news that Paul Pog...
Why Germany sacked Flick
11 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic's Raphael Honigstein and Seb Stafford-Bloor to debate Germany's decision to sack Hansi Flick ahead of hosting...
Weekend Preview: What does life after Southgate look like for England?
08 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Adam Leventhal welcomes Nick Miller, Thom Harris, and Tomas Hill Lopez-Menchero onto our weekend preview show, this time with an international twis...
Mudryk at Chelsea: can he turn it around?
07 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Host Ayo Akinwolere is alongside The Athletic’s Liam Twomey and Adam Crafton to dive deeper into the struggles of Mykhailo Mudryk at Chelsea.The Ukr...
Have Bayern & Tuchel been left short in the transfer window?
06 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Bayern are a club known for getting their transfer business done early but have they been left short - despite landing number one target Harry Kane?.....
Henderson & Saudi Arabia: The interview & the fallout
05 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Jordan Henderson sat down with The Athletic's David Ornstein and Adam Crafton this week in an attempt to set some of the records straight about his co...
Ten Hag's 'Boom & Bust' Manchester United
04 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Ayo Akinwolere is joined by Manchester United writers Laurie Whitwell & Mark Critchley, as well as, senior writer Oli Kay, to reflect on Ten Hag's...
Mo Salah’s future, United get Amrabat and Spurs get their top target
02 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to a special Deadline Day episode of the Daily Football Briefing; all the football news you need to know to start your day.Today, David Ornste...
Weekend Preview: Arsenal v Manchester United - two sides with more questions than answers
01 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Adam Leventhal is joined by Caoimhe O'Neill, Thom Harris, and Joey D'Urso to look ahead to this weekend's round of Premier League fixtures.Do Arsenal ...
Deadline Day with David Ornstein
31 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Transfer Deadline Day is here and clubs, as ever, are still busy doing deals.To give you the lowdown on what to expect, David Ornstein and Adam Levent...
Rubiales, the kiss and football’s #MeToo moment
30 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Spain won their first Women's World Cup last week, but the fallout has instead been dominated by one man; president of the Spanish Football Federation...
Why Everton's crisis is just the tip of the iceberg
29 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Everton are rock bottom of the Premier League with zero points and zero goals from their opening three games, but their problems extend way beyond the...
Darwin’s evolution & Liverpool’s transfer needs
28 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic's Liverpool writer James Pearce and Nick Miller following Darwin Nunez's explosive cameo at St James' Park as...
Weekend Preview: Are Newcastle or Liverpool serious title contenders?
25 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Tim Spiers takes on hosting duties of our weekend preview with help from Nick Miller, Nnamdi Onyeagwara, and Reuben Pinder. They break down the big ...
Bernardo Silva, Foden and Man City's midfield evolution
24 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In a summer Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez has moved on and with Kevin De Bruyne struggling with injury, Man City's Bernardo Silva has committed his ...
Greenwood & Man United: What Next?
23 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic's Adam Crafton and Sarah Shephard, to reflect on Manchester United's U-turn over the decision to bring back M...
Why Olise staying is good news for the Premier League
22 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic's Dom Fifield and Jay Harris to reflect on the significance of Michael Olise's decision to stay at Crystal Pa...
How 'Bellingham Phenomenon' has taken over Real Madrid
21 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Having scored three goals in his opening two La Liga games Jude Bellingham has enjoyed a meteoric start to his career with Real Madrid.The Athletic's ...
How Spain won the World Cup
20 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In a special bonus episode from The Athletic's team in Australia, Michelle Owen is joined by Michael Cox, Charlotte Harpur, Mark Carey and Laia Cervel...
Weekend Preview: Can Newcastle shock Man City?
18 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Adam Leventhal returns to preview the second round of fixtures of this Premier League season, featuring mouth-watering clashes such as Man City vs New...
Greenwood & Man United: The charges, investigation & planned return
17 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Yesterday Adam Crafton broke the news on The Athletic that Manchester United’s chief executive, Richard Arnold, told the club’s executive leader...
Neymar & PSG: Was it all worth it?
16 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic's Peter Rutzler and Carl Anka, French football writer Tom Williams and Brazilian football correspondent Renat...
Caicedo, Lavia and why Chelsea can keep spending
15 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic's Football Correspondent David Ornstein and our Chelsea and Liverpool writers Simon Johnson & James Pearc...
How Bayern got Kane out of Tottenham
14 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
One of the transfer window’s longest-running sagas is over now Harry Kane has swapped Tottenham Hotspur for Bayern Munich in a deal worth more than ...
Weekend Preview: Harry Kane agrees to join Bayern Munich
11 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Adam Leventhal previews the return of the Premier League with the help of a crack team of Athletic staff: Laura Williamson, Jay Harris & Nick Mill...
Where did Maguire’s Man Utd career go wrong?
10 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In 2019 Manchester United signed defender Harry Maguire for a world-record £80m for a defender, four years later he’s set to join West Ham in a £3...
Are Liverpool ready?
09 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic's Raphael Honigstein and Walk On podcast host Tony Evans, to take a closer look at how and why Liverpool went...
Could PSG lose Mbappe & Neymar this summer?
08 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Ayo Akinwolere is joined by Peter Rutzler and Adam Crafton to discuss latest round of drama at Paris Saint Germain...Nine new faces in, including ris...
Where next for Lukaku & Who next for Chelsea?
07 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Two years on from re-joining Chelsea in a club-record move, Romelu Lukaku has no future at Stamford Bridge - but where will he be playing this season?...
Josko Gvardiol: why Man City are willing to pay €90m
03 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Manchester City have agreed a €90m (£77.6m, $98.6m) deal to sign their top summer target Josko Gvardiol from RB Leipzig, ahead of looking to begin ...
Why didn't Man United sign Harry Kane and does it matter?
02 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
So Erik ten Hag has been able to strengthen his squad in three key positions this summer already but will the arrival of Mason Mount, Andre Onana and ...
Why Arsenal want Raya & What about Ramsdale?
01 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Why do Arsenal want to sign Brentford’s David Raya and what does it mean for current number one (and fan-favourite) Aaron Ramsdale? Host Ayo Akinwol...
Access All Areas: Brentford - How to build a Premier League team
24 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Jay Harris introduces The Athletic's new podcast series, Access All Areas: Brentford. It's a behind the scenes look at how to build a modern Premier L...