Pep Guardiola had a huge influence on Xabi Alonso's idea of football and his coaching style. Which may or may not have been a positive for Alonso's chances of success at Madrid. So plenty of ironies as Pep visits tonight with Alonso's future on line... www.nytimes.com/athletic/687...

Chat with Rayo Vallecano coach Inigo Perez on his 'idea' of football - how you create the 'ordered chaos' which he (and Iraola, Flick, Alonso etc) deploys - ahead of Real Madrid's visit to Vallecas today www.nytimes.com/athletic/677...

"Some people identify more with the Saudi idea of football, that people with lots of money come in and make lots of signings to improve your team. At Athletic, we've been brought up to trust in our youth system, our own kids, from our own land." www.nytimes.com/athletic/677...

Don't think either side came out of this well... www.nytimes.com/athletic/675...

With @adamcrafton.bsky.social on how Villarreal v Barca in Miami fell apart so spectacularly. Tebas was forced to pull plug after players protests over lack of consultation/ respect, but especially when Real Madrid succeeded in getting Spanish government involved... www.nytimes.com/athletic/673...

Madrid's socio-ownership model is going to change. Dilemma for Perez is how to retain control for now, while raising money to pay off Bernabeu rebuild, and still compete at top of transfer market... www.nytimes.com/athletic/671...

Atletico Madrid play Inter Milan in Benghazi this afternoon for the Reconstruction Cup-FDRL. Barca say they were going to play, but decided against it, and returned the €5m appearance fee. Just another quiet international break... www.nytimes.com/athletic/669...

Atletico owners are investing in the club, ahead of possible future sale. Ideally that means they'd like the team to be doing better... www.nytimes.com/athletic/663...

With @MarioCortegana on contrasting fortunes for Mbappe and Vinicius at Madrid over the last 12 months... www.nytimes.com/athletic/663...

"In general, fans don’t have a problem once he is a player who can help them win games. Much more education is needed, both for players and for supporters.” www.nytimes.com/athletic/663...

Another club would have just said 'ok, let's accept reality, another 6 months at Montjuic'. But at Laporta's Barca the constant drama and improvisation seems to be a feature not a flaw... www.nytimes.com/athletic/661...

The #NUFC striker who moved to Liverpool for a huge fee, won the title and the admiration of The Beatles: in some ways Albert Stubbins was an early version of the Alexander Isak situation. In others, not. www.nytimes.com/athletic/657...

New ROUTE ONE is up. Spurs have had a very difficult weekend, is it time to worry, @windycoys.bsky.social? Can Atletico Madrid win La Liga?The Outsiders is back with @dermotmcorrigan.bsky.social And is Strasbourg a multi-club success story? We ask @tomwfootball.bsky.social 
 pod.fo/e/30a0fd

Easy start for Xabi Alonso - he needs to build new team with all-new back 4, sort his coaching staff, manage the politics, lift the fans, and win the Club World Cup... www.nytimes.com/athletic/643...

Exclusive FIFA has decided not to show videos or signage which explicitly mention challenging racism or discrimination in US Club World Cup venues FIFA point to statutes - "politically neutral" - when asked if US political climate played part in decision www.nytimes.com/athletic/643...

If summer window is coming then it must be 'lever' time at Barca. This year Camp Nou VIP seats, Barca Media and Barca Mobile all potentially in play to help (or not) register players with La Liga... www.nytimes.com/athletic/639...

Really interesting to see just who is behind each LaLiga club www.nytimes.com/athletic/639... Via @dermotmcorrigan.bsky.social for The Athletic

Another day, another report on the PL’s financial might. This one is Football Benchmark’s 10th annual ranking of Europe’s most valuable clubs. 7 PL clubs in top 32 in 2016; now 9 in top 20. FWIW, Chelsea are 10th, worth £2.5bn; Betis 32nd, worth £400m. www.nytimes.com/athletic/638...

▫️ Learning from Jose Mourinho ▫️ Two shock exits as a player & youth coach ▫️ Political skills with Florentino Perez Xabi Alonso is Real Madrid's new head coach, but his relationship with the club has not always been straightforward. @dermotmcorrigan.bsky.social explains. 🔗 bit.ly/4dtZhS2

On Tuesday, Sevilla secured their first home win in any competition for six months to virtually save them from relegation. 📝 @dermotmcorrigan.bsky.social and Guillermo Rai chart a chaotic four days for the serial Europa League winners in crisis. 🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/635...

Oh Sevilla... www.nytimes.com/athletic/635...

Always, always, watch the Clasico... www.nytimes.com/athletic/634...

While Lamine Yamal dominated headlines after the first leg, Pedri’s midfield display drove Barcelona. If Inter double or triple up on Yamal again, Pedri will have the space and time to make an impact again. #INTBAR ✍️ @anantaajith.bsky.social 🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/633...

Discussing brilliance of Lamine Yamal with @dermotmcorrigan.bsky.social @sebsb.bsky.social @eliasburke.bsky.social @jacobwhitehead.bsky.social @caoimhesport.bsky.social et al. Hard to predict the future, but don't think I've seen a better, more impactful player at 17 www.nytimes.com/athletic/632...

Athletic players coming to balcony to salute fans gathered outside Bilbao’s Hotel Carlton, where they’ve gathered before Man Utd at San Mames tonight

Snap piece on the night's entertainment with @jacklang.bsky.social & @liamtharme.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/632...

Battling (often imagined) enemies seems more important than even winning football matches at Real Madrid these days www.nytimes.com/athletic/630...

"Against everything and against everyone." www.nytimes.com/athletic/630...

Real Madrid have superstar talent – but that doesn’t make them a good team. There was plenty of ‘remontada’ talk before the second leg against Arsenal — but none of spirit, organisation or quality required to pull it off. @dermotmcorrigan.bsky.social

Mucho ruido y pocas nueces www.nytimes.com/athletic/627...

Only 10 times in European football history has a side completed the 'treble'. Now, four of this year’s Champions League quarter-finalists have that very possibility coming into view. @dermotmcorrigan.bsky.social speaks to those who have completed the feat on what it means. 🔗 nyti.ms/3E7xiKU

"You can see the ambition here is maximum." Pepe Reina & Sergi Roberto played alongside Cesc Fabregas for Spain. Now he's their coach at Como. They tell @dermotmcorrigan.bsky.social about the ambition burning by one of Italy's most famous lakefronts.

Speaking to Sergi Roberto and Pepe Reina about how Cesc Fabregas convinced them to join the Como project (Also featuring Pep Guardiola, Arsene Wenger, Thierry Henry, George Clooney, Kate Beckinsale and the billionaire Hartono brothers) www.nytimes.com/athletic/627...

Piece with @cweatherspoon.bsky.social on how Malaga are attractive, for lots of reasons, but also buying them is complicated, for lots of reasons www.nytimes.com/athletic/624...

Piece with @cweatherspoon.bsky.social on how Malaga are attractive, for lots of reasons, but also buying them is complicated, for lots of reasons www.nytimes.com/athletic/624...

Ancelotti is not wrong that Madrid's schedule is crazy, but fixing the situation pretty complicated... www.nytimes.com/athletic/621...

Ancelotti is not wrong that Madrid's schedule is crazy, but fixing the situation pretty complicated... www.nytimes.com/athletic/621...

Oh Lega...

God is not an Atletico fan www.nytimes.com/athletic/618...

God is not an Atletico fan www.nytimes.com/athletic/618...

Barça as expected against Benfica tonight. Araujo in for suspended Cubarsí only change from first leg. Flags flying half mast for doctor Carles Miñarro, whose funeral was this morning

A look at new Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta's work over 12 years at Atletico, where the transfer policy is never that easy to understand... www.nytimes.com/athletic/617...

Something very Blade Runner / Elon Musk about the images / a lot of what is going on at Man Utd these days

Who is Peter Lim, why did he get into football, and what's he going to do with Valencia... www.nytimes.com/athletic/607...

"It's all connected, he uses football to help out with his other things." Peter Lim profile - how he made his money, his friendships with Ronaldo, Beckham and Neville, and he's now made his son Valencia president www.nytimes.com/athletic/607...

Who is Peter Lim, why did he get into football, and what's he going to do with Valencia... www.nytimes.com/athletic/607...

Snap piece with @anantaajith.bsky.social on really impressive win for Barca - with De Jong and Szczesny both showing why Flick has shown such faith in them www.nytimes.com/athletic/617...

Barcelona's group stage trip to Benfica was when Wojciech Szczesny played his first Champions League game for #FCB. He conceded four goals that night, a couple of them comical, but he is now Hansi Flick’s first choice. @dermotmcorrigan.bsky.social: www.nytimes.com/athletic/617...

Snap piece with @anantaajith.bsky.social on really impressive win for Barca - with De Jong and Szczesny both showing why Flick has shown such faith in them www.nytimes.com/athletic/617...

This is a different Atletico - gone is the old sitting deep and looking to counter, they tried to control game at Bernabeu through possession... www.nytimes.com/athletic/617...