The Athletic FC Podcast
Episodes
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...
The Making of Messi: Leaving a Legacy
21 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What you're about to hear is a sample of our new three part narrative series; The Making of Messi.With arguably the greatest player of all time set to...
Arsenal sign Declan Rice: The inside story
15 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
David Ornstein and Adrian Clarke join host Adam Leventhal to reveal how Arsenal won the race to sign Declan Rice...How serious were Pep Guardiola and ...
Is Saudi Arabia funding Chelsea?
23 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Amid a series of reported bids for unwanted Chelsea stars, host Adam Leventhal is joined by The Athletic's Matt Slater, to examine the relationship be...
Have Man City had the best season in sports history?
12 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
As Manchester City sweep all before them to win a treble, where does City’s dominant season rank in comparison with those conjured by teams across f...
Football on Turkey's Fault Line - Part One
10 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Istanbul plays host to the Champions League final tonight just months after the horrific earthquake that killed tens of thousands of people in Turkey....
Weekend Preview: Pep Guardiola & Man City reach for football immortality in Istanbul
09 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
As Manchester City head to Istanbul in search of a Treble, having already secured the Premier League and FA Cup, Inter Milan stand in their way of ach...
Messi to MLS: a seismic story explained
08 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Lionel Messi has opted to join Inter Miami in MLS over a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia or a romantic return to Barcelona.On this bonus episode of The...
Real Madrid sign Bellingham - and they’re not done yet
08 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How Real Madrid won the race to sign Jude Bellingham and why he chose La Liga over the Premier League.. We also have all the detail of how much are t...
Saudi Arabia’s extraordinary football overhaul explained
07 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This week the Saudi Arabian domestic league announced a big revamp. In short it’s more teams, bigger talent, and a huge injection of cash. How will...
Will Ange Postecoglou fix Tottenham?
06 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
After 72 days of searching for Antonio Conte's successor, Tottenham Hotspur have named Ange Postecoglou as their new head coach.Following his successi...
How can Man United get closer to Man City?
05 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Coming up, how far are Manchester United from Manchester City in terms of success on the football pitch? And with uncertainty around ownership and tr...
Weekend Preview: Wembley prepares for first FA Cup Final Manchester derby
02 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Dan Bardell, George Elek, Tim Spiers and bet365's Steve Freeth are here to cast an eye over events at Wembley this weekend as Manchester City look to ...
Barmy Bundesliga: Dortmund collapse & Bayern’s rebuild
01 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Host Mark Chapman is alongside The Athletic’s Raphael Honigstein and Seb Stafford-Bloor after a hectic finale to the Bundesliga season in which Baye...
Relief and anger at Everton - what next?
31 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Mark Chapman is joined by The Athletic's Greg O’Keeffe & Patrick Boyland to detail the story of Everton’s latest escape from relegation &...
Ivan Toney's ban & Gambling's grip on football
30 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Host Mark Chapman is joined by Steven Caulker & The Athletic's Jay Harris to explain Ivan Toney's 8-month ban from football and discuss the game's...
Why Leeds & Leicester were relegated & what next
29 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
So Leicester City & Leeds United have been relegated from the Premier League and will be playing in the second tier of English football next sea...
Weekend Preview: The battle at the bottom heads to the final day as Everton, Leicester & Leeds await their fate
26 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Dan Bardell is alongside George Elek, Tim Spiers and bet365's Steve Freeth as the curtain comes down on this Premier League season.Ahead of the scrap ...
The Fairytale Play-Off Final for the biggest prize in football
25 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
As recently as 2018 both Coventry City and Luton Town were playing one another in League Two, yet on Saturday meet at Wembley for a place in the Premi...
Vinícius Júnior has had enough
24 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Host Mark Chapman is alongside The Athletic’s Dermot Corrigan, and former player turned commentator for DAZN Spain, Alberto Edjogo-Owono, after Vin...
Newcastle United: Where next?
23 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Newcastle United will be returning to the Champions League after 20 years away next season, after securing a top four finish with a 0-0 draw against L...
Manchester City: Champions and Allegations
22 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
So Manchester City are Premier League champions for the fifth time in the past six years.But off the pitch questions remain after over 100 Premier Le...
Weekend Preview: Man City aim to complete first leg of potential Treble, Newcastle looking to confirm Top Four finish & Big Sam heads back to West Ham in need of points
19 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Dan Bardell is alongside George Elek, Tim Spiers and bet365's Steve Freeth ahead of the penultimate weekend of action in the Premier League.Man City w...
What rest of Europe thinks of Man City's dominance
18 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
So the treble is very much on for Manchester City after they swept aside Real Madrid to reach the final of the Champions League in what Pep Guardiola ...
Why did Southampton's data gamble fail?
17 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Mark Chapman is joined by Matt Slater, Dan Sheldon and Jacob Tanswell to dissect Southampton's relegation from the Premier League under the stewardshi...
Barcelona: Why winning La Liga is not enough
16 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Barcelona's social media biographies read "“La Liga is ours. So is the future.”But how true is it and how well placed is the club to push on from...
Pochettino’s Chelsea - will the players and owners buy into his plan?
15 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What is the coaching philosophy of Mauricio Pochettino and is it what Chelsea need? And why wasn’t he considered at his old club Tottenham? Where...
Weekend Preview: Leeds & Leicester in need of relegation reaction, Liverpool applying top four pressure & Man City's Treble charge continues
12 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Dan Bardell is alongside George Elek, Tim Spiers and bet365's Steve Freeth as Leeds United and Leicester City look to respond to the pressure applied ...
Manchester United: A season on a knife edge
11 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Are Manchester United really back?That was the feeling back in February after winning the League Cup and beating Barcelona.But now league form is falt...
Why Bellingham to Real isn't a done deal. Yet.
10 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Host Ian Irving is joined by The Athletic's Guillermo Rai, Sam Lee and Raphael Honigstein to explore Jude Bellingham's proposed summer transfer to Rea...
Is Italian football back?
09 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
James Horncastle joins Ian Irving to talk through the biggest headlines in Italian football.We go through the story of Napoli's first Scudetto since 1...
How Sam Allardyce plans to keep Leeds in the Premier League
08 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Sam Allardyce has just three games to keep Leeds United in the Premier League..Coming up, we’ll look at the impact that 'Big Sam' has had already ...
Weekend Preview: Big Sam is back, Man Utd leave top four door open & Erling Haaland powering City towards Premier League Coronation
05 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
As the Premier League welcomes back Big Sam, join Dan Bardell, George Elek, Tim Spiers and bet365's Steve Freeth to look ahead to this weekend's actio...
Project Messi: How it fell apart at PSG
04 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
So this week Lionel Messi was suspended for two weeks by Paris Saint-Germain and will be fined after taking an unauthorised trip to Saudi Arabia…Com...
Arteta’s Arsenal: The next phase
03 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Arsenal have had a very good season - Champions or not. And with Champions League football back, the future is certainly bright.So, what do Mikel Arte...
How Haaland has demolished the Premier League
02 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 year...
Leeds United: How to sink a Premier League team
01 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
"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 seni...
Weekend Preview: City look to take top spot after shooting down the Gunners, Villa march onto Old Trafford & are Everton doomed?
28 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Why the timing is right for Pochettino and Chelsea
27 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Ian Irving is joined by The Athletic's Chelsea writers Simon Johnson & Liam Twomey and Jack Pitt-Brooke, our Tottenham correspondent.The panel dis...
How quickly can Wrexham reach the Premier League?
26 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
On Saturday, Wrexham reached their cliched Hollywood ending with promotion back to promised land of the English Football League. And as emotions pour...
Will Manchester City win the treble?
25 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Back in '99, Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United won a historic treble - The Premier League, FA Cup & Champions League - Despite Roman Abramovic...
Broken Tottenham: How can they be fixed?
24 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Tottenham absolutely fell apart yesterday, hammered 6-1 by Newcastle at St James’ Park - they are also currently without a first team manager, dire...
Weekend Preview: Arsenal look to take control, European race hots up & how do Leeds stop the rot?
21 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 a...
How Unai Emery has transformed Aston Villa
20 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 wher...
Why everyone wants to sign Victor Osimhen
19 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 som...
Why Chelsea & Lukaku still need each other
18 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Have Arsenal lost 'control' of title race?
17 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Mark Chapman is joined by The Athletic’s Adam Crafton & journalist and former Arsenal midfielder Adrian Clarke.If last week at Anfield was perha...
Weekend Preview: Man City hitting their groove, are Aston Villa heading for Europe & Roy's revival at Palace continues
14 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Is Vincent Kompany the next elite manager?
13 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
How can Barcelona re-sign Lionel Messi?
12 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Guardiola v Tuchel: Don't overthink it
11 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Arsenal succumb to ‘Anfield effect’
10 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Weekend Preview: Arsenal face Anfield obstacle, Lampard returns & Newcastle full of firepower in top four hunt
07 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Lampard’s Chelsea return - does it actually make sense?
06 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 t...
Is Jurgen Klopp untouchable?
05 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 whe...
Inside Potter's 'Surreal' Chelsea Reign
04 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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'...
Potter’s Chelsea departure explained
03 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Mark Chapman is joined by The Athletic's David Ornstein, Adam Crafton & Simon Johnson to discuss the sacking of Graham Potter as Chelsea manager.T...
Weekend Preview: Liverpool look to scupper City's Treble chances, Newcastle look to settle a score & Tottenham's turmoil deepens
31 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 Premi...
Klopp or Guardiola? How do you assess a manager?
30 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 a...
Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United: the tightest title race in WSL history?
29 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Why Harry Kane & Manchester United both have a 'Big Decision' to make this summer
28 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Host Mark Chapman is joined by The Athletic's Jack Pitt-Brooke and Adam Crafton to reflect on Steven Gerrard's recent comments about Harry Kane and th...