Who else? The Paris Saint-Germain head coach won the treble and took the French club to their first Champions League trophy last season playing some wonderful football. He, of course, is not able to be at the ceremony as he is in Marseille for PSG’s rearrange league match. Now for the men’s Johan Cruyff Trophy Here are the nominees for the best head coach of the past season in the men’s game:
The Barcelona teenager wins the best young player award at the Ballon d’Or ceremony. He wins it for the second year running. Was there ever going to be anyone else? Lamine Yamal could well go on to win the main men’s prize tonight. Ruud Gullit asks him on stage if he is ready for it. All the 18-year-old could say is, “I don’t know”. Gullit says “maybe see you later” as he leaves the stage. Men’s Kopa trophy up first! Here are the nominees for the award given to the best young player:
Copy and paste from Tuesday night. Arsenal struggle to create much all game and then Martinelli saves them off the bench. “But was Mikel Arteta’s line-up just too pragmatic, especially after seeing City drop so deep? “Merino and Rice once again failed to produce much in midfield. Could Eze – brought on at half-time – have started that game? And what would have happened had he did?” Rice: Martinelli always delivers big moments Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice: “Since I’ve come to the club, even before I’ve come – he’s always delivered in big moments. The amount of times he’s scoring in big games for us. “A lot of players can talk if they get put on the bench but every time he comes in, he shows his desire. “The run and finish – it’s unbelievable at that stage of the game. To have that composure, he really deserves it.” For the second time in five days, Arsenal’s substitutes – or finishers, as Mikel Arteta likes to call them – make the decisive impact. The Gunners were staring at defeat but a huge goal from Martinelli ensures the gap to Liverpool is five points, not six. It’s a hugely frustrating end for City, who defended brilliantly for 93 minutes. Guardiola shrugs his shoulders – he decided 25-30 minutes out from the end of the game how he was going to win it and he got so close. “But credit to Arsenal, Eze and Martinelli for that bit of brilliance at the end, but those blue shirts will be disappointed. “It was a bit of a slugfest of a game, a real struggle that will not help either of them and Liverpool maybe the winners.”
Watch Arsenal vs Man City live Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has a tough decision to make ahead of Sunday’s crucial Premier League clash with Manchester City, as he grapples with a growing concern in midfield involving Declan Rice and Mikel Merino. The Gunners secured a 2-0 win over Athletic Club in Bilbao earlier this week, with substitutes Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard making the difference off the bench — a testament to Arsenal’s increasing squad depth and attacking firepower. But the key question remains: why were they needed at all? Midfield Lacking Creativity Despite controlling large portions of the match and facing minimal pressure from the hosts — Athletic registered 11 shots, only two of which troubled David Raya — Arsenal struggled to create meaningful opportunities for much of the game. Much of that came down to their midfield setup. As seen in previous fixtures, Arteta once again paired Declan Rice and Mikel Merino as advanced No. 8s, ahead of Martin Zubimendi in the holding role. It’s a combination that has yet to fully click. Just like in last month’s draw against Liverpool, the Rice–Merino axis appeared too rigid, limiting Arsenal’s attacking fluidity and link-up play in the final third. Neither player naturally fills the creative void left when Martin Ødegaard is absent or deeper in midfield. Stats Paint a Cautionary Picture The numbers don’t lie:In the Premier League, Arsenal have started Rice and Merino together as No. 8s nine times.They’ve won just one of those matches — a 4-0 win over a struggling Ipswich Town side. Even that victory came under low pressure, with Champions League progression already secured. What It Means Ahead of City Showdown With Manchester City arriving at the Emirates this weekend, Arteta must weigh his midfield options carefully. The defending champions are ruthless at punishing sides that lack midfield cohesion — and if Arsenal struggle to transition quickly from defence to attack, it could prove costly. Arteta’s squad has improved in terms of depth and versatility, but his midfield combinations — especially in high-stakes games — remain under the microscope. The manager must now decide whether to persist with the Rice–Merino pairing or bring in a more attack-minded midfielder to balance out the structure and provide the creative spark that could tip the scales in Arsenal’s favour.
Saturday, September 20, 2025 Manchester United secured a vital 2-1 victory over Chelsea at Old Trafford to relieve pressure on head coach Ruben Amorim, in a match defined by early drama, two first-half goals, and a red card apiece. United got off to the perfect start in miserable conditions when Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez was sent off inside four minutes. The Spaniard brought down Bryan Mbeumo outside the box after being caught in possession, leaving referee Anthony Taylor with little choice but to brandish a straight red. United capitalised swiftly. Bruno Fernandes opened the scoring with a composed finish following a sharp attacking move. Casemiro then doubled the lead before half-time, heading in from a corner to give the hosts breathing room. However, the Brazilian midfielder went from hero to villain just before the break. A reckless challenge on Chelsea’s Andrey Santos earned Casemiro a second yellow card, reducing both teams to 10 men and swinging momentum back toward the visitors. Chelsea applied more pressure in the second half and eventually pulled a goal back through Trevoh Chalobah. His header set up a nervy final stretch, but United managed to hold firm to secure their first Premier League win in three matches. The result ends Chelsea’s hopes of ending a near 13-year winless run at Old Trafford and offers Amorim a much-needed boost after a difficult start to his tenure. United fans, who have grown anxious over recent form, were given a glimpse of the intensity and control their manager has been promising. With the three points secured, Manchester United now look to build momentum as they head into a busy run of fixtures in both the league and Europe.
Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim says he is determined to stick with his tactical system despite growing pressure, warning that even “the Pope” couldn’t convince him to make a change right now. Amorim, who has overseen United’s worst start to a Premier League season in 33 years, is under intense scrutiny after a string of poor results. But the Portuguese coach remains defiant, stating that any changes to his 3-4-2-1 formation will come in time—not out of panic. “No, no, no. Not once [have I thought about changing it]. Not even the Pope [can make me], it will not change,” Amorim said ahead of Saturday’s clash with Chelsea, live on Sky Sports. Since taking over at Old Trafford last November, Amorim has struggled to impose his style, with United averaging just one point per game and posting a -13 goal difference—the worst among all ever-present Premier League sides this season. While he admits the system will eventually evolve, Amorim is wary of what sudden changes might signal to his players. “If I’m a player and I see my coach under pressure and changing the system immediately, they’ll look at me differently,” he explained. “This is my job, my responsibility, my life. I will not change that. But yes, the system will evolve—we just need time to take the right steps.” Amorim also revealed that he has not discussed his tactical setup with United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, despite speculation about internal disagreements over the team’s direction. One key talking point has been the role of club captain Bruno Fernandes, who has been deployed in a deeper position under Amorim’s system. Critics argue the shift limits his attacking influence. Amorim, however, insists Fernandes remains vital in helping United control games from midfield. “Bruno wants all the freedom in the world. He’s still getting near the box and having shots. I want him deeper to control the game more—we’re doing that. Sometimes we miss him in front, maybe because Matheus Cunha isn’t there.” He added that Fernandes’ frustration stems more from results than positioning. “He’s frustrated because we’re not winning. But it’s not about Bruno playing well—it’s about the team playing well and winning football matches.” Despite the poor form, Amorim believes underlying performances have shown signs of progress. What’s missing, he says, is the kind of belief and confidence that top sides like Liverpool have demonstrated. “It’s belief, confidence, aggression—sometimes what we call luck. That’s what helps you win games late like Liverpool. We need to play with more conviction.” United will host Chelsea at Old Trafford on Saturday at 5:30 PM, live on Sky Sports, in a fixture that could prove decisive for Amorim’s future at the club. With mounting pressure from fans and the board, a poor result could push United closer to another managerial shake-up—unless Amorim’s evolving vision starts delivering wins.
Joao Pedro’s journey from Ribeirao Preto in Sao Paulo to southwest London has been anything but ordinary. Now firmly settled at Chelsea, the 23-year-old is embracing his role at Stamford Bridge with determination and discipline. Pedro cut his summer break short to join Chelsea during the FIFA Club World Cup campaign — a decision that paid off, as he became a key contributor in their title-winning run. Since then, he has hit the ground running, recording two goals and three assists in four Premier League starts, making him Chelsea’s most productive player so far this season. “I try to work with the guys in the physio [department] here a lot to be able to give 100 per cent to every game,” Pedro told Sky Sports. He revealed he’s also been doing extra recovery sessions with a private physio away from the club to stay match-fit. “In the days when we train in the morning, always in the afternoon I try to do something to recover faster. Or, if I feel a little bit of pain in one area, I try to be fit as soon as possible for the next game.” His commitment comes at a crucial time for Chelsea. Nicolas Jackson’s move to Bayern Munich and Liam Delap’s injury — which is set to keep him out until December — have put even more responsibility on Pedro’s shoulders. “I need to try to be fit because now I think I’m going to play more and more games, get more minutes, but the club helped me a lot to be on the pitch for every match,” he said. Pedro’s versatility has also become a major asset under new manager Enzo Maresca. The Brazilian has been deployed across the front four, his adaptability rooted in his early days at Fluminense, where he began as a defensive midfielder before moving up the pitch. “I played as a midfielder when I was in the academy but I was number 10, so one day the coach asked me if I could do this position [defensive midfield] and I started to train there sometimes,” he explained. “When you play in the middle you need to check over your shoulders more and be more technical. I think this has helped me a lot.” Pedro’s path through English football began in 2020 when he joined Watford. After two-and-a-half seasons, he was signed by Brighton, where he enjoyed a breakout year under Roberto De Zerbi. In the 2023/24 season, he registered 20 goals and nine assists in 40 appearances — his best return yet. “De Zerbi pushed me every day. He said things like I could be a top striker in the world. From that I started to believe in that. I started to believe if I work hard every day, I could be a top striker.” Now working under another Italian coach, Pedro sees both similarities and differences between De Zerbi and Maresca. “I think both have a passion, they love football, they are very smart, but De Zerbi is more aggressive — not in a bad way,” Pedro said. “The way both think, it is very easy to understand what they want, but I think Enzo knows how to manage sometimes between the players. Enzo is more composed. But both managers are really offensive. They like to play with the ball and want to have the ball the whole game — so it’s very good for me.” Pedro credits De Zerbi for shifting his mentality. “When I was at Watford I was a little bit comfortable with my position. When I moved to Brighton, he pushed me every day. That helped me grow.” As Chelsea prepare for their big clash with Manchester United this weekend, Pedro leads the Premier League in goal involvements and is quickly emerging as a central figure in Maresca’s attacking plans. In a club that has struggled to solve its No. 9 conundrum for years, Joao Pedro might just be the answer — and more. Manchester United vs ChelseaSaturday 20th SeptemberKick-off: 5:30 PM
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has brushed off speculation surrounding a training ground meeting with co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, joking that the visit was simply to offer him a new contract. Speaking at his pre-match press conference ahead of United’s crucial Premier League clash with Chelsea on Sunday, Amorim downplayed the nature of Ratcliffe’s visit to Carrington, calling it a “normal” show of support during a challenging period for the club. “New contract, he was offering me a new contract,” Amorim laughed when asked about the meeting. “No, it’s normal things — just to show support, explaining that it’s a long project.” Ratcliffe, along with CEO Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox, reportedly met with Amorim to assess the current state of the team and review data related to their disappointing start to the 2025/26 season. Amorim is facing mounting scrutiny after winning just one of United’s opening four Premier League matches and suffering a shock exit in the Carabao Cup second round to League Two side Grimsby Town. “This is football, and this is maybe the club with more pressure than any in the world,” Amorim acknowledged. “But we want to win.” United’s most recent outing — a 3-0 defeat to rivals Manchester City at Old Trafford — left them languishing in 14th place on the league table, just one spot above their historically poor finish last season. Despite the early struggles, Amorim remains optimistic, insisting that there are visible signs of improvement. “Last year I was very critical of the way we played,” he said. “I think we are playing well until the boxes — defending and attacking. We just need to be more aggressive and clinical in both boxes.” Amorim has had a rare full week on the training ground to regroup with his squad and prepare for Sunday’s showdown against Chelsea, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. “We used the time to analyse the last game and the next game, and to prepare different things,” he explained. “We are improving compared to last year. We are in a better place — but we need to win.” United fans will be hoping the extended preparation and leadership reassurances can help turn their season around, starting with a strong performance against Mauricio Pochettino’s side this weekend. Manchester United vs ChelseaSunday, 20th SeptemberKick-off: 5:30 PM
