Playing out from the back: Why teams do it and is it worth the risk?
Picture the scene: a team has been awarded a goal kick. The goalkeeper throws the ball to one of two central defenders standing nearby in the six-yard box. One of …
Manchester City
Why Manchester City are being sued by Superdry
Manchester City’s players wore modified training gear for their pre-match warm-up on Sunday following a High Court trademark infringement claim from fashion brand Superdry. It emerged last week that City …
Champions League draw: Man City thrilled, Barca-Napoli dream tie, quarter-final predictions
The draw for the last 16 of the Champions League was made in UEFA’s Nyon headquarters this morning and Europe’s big guns will have largely liked the outcome. England’s two …
Erling Haaland photo: What our writers think of Manchester City striker’s reaction to Simon Hooper
It’s the photo that has defined the weekend’s Premier League action — and caused debate across the world. Erling Haaland reacted wildly to referee Simon Hooper’s decision not to play …
Every Premier League club’s stadium plans – from new stands to ground moves
As the Premier League gets bigger and bigger, so – it seems – do the stadiums that play host to it. The vast majority of clubs in the top flight …
Erling Haaland is rapidly closing in on an international record that has stood since 1934
Erling Haaland is just six away from Norway’s goalscoring record, so it is surely inevitable that he will soon be his nation’s most prolific striker ever. On one hand, that …
Palmer gives Guardiola cause for regret, Salah is still irreplaceable – The Briefing
Welcome to The Briefing, where every Monday during this season, The Athletic will discuss three of the biggest questions to arise from the weekend’s football. This was the weekend when injuries began …
Bad language, worse jokes and riot police: What really happens in the tunnel
“I’ll see you in the tunnel.” There was a time when that was more than a throwaway line on the pitch, even if some players found a way to make …
Premier League stadium rankings: All 20 from worst to best – so you could shout at us
Welcome to The Athletic’s Premier League stadium rankings, an exercise in entertainment, creating arguments nobody can win and questionable mathematics. Before we start, we should beg for forgiveness. This is …
How the sole of the foot sparked a tactical revolution in football
Antonio Vacca can remember the moment well. In truth, the Italian is unlikely to forget it anytime soon, given he not only gets to see his “little theory put into …