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Chelsea in advanced negotiations to sign 16 year old Marseille player Saïd Remadnia – Blues meet agent https://sportwitness.co.uk/Chelsea-in-advanced-negotiations-to-sign-marseille-player-blues-meet-agent/ Chelsea are working on a deal for Marseille youngster Saïd Remadnia, according to Africa Foot. The 16-year-old initially made his way into Marseille’s U17 squad in 2024 before getting promoted to U19s in July. He made 11 appearances for the latter, scoring three goals and contributing an assist. Africa Foot says his quick rise shows the Ligue 1 side’s confidence in his potential and this is said to be mainly because of form and maturity. They even label the winger ‘Marseille’s rising star’, and Chelsea are keen on securing his services. The attacker’s profile and age fits into the Premier League side’s recruitment strategy. Blues officials recently met Remadnia’s agent to explain Chelsea’s medium and long-term plan project. Afirca Foot state Enzo Maresca’s side have ‘significantly accelerated’ their interest in the young attacker. It’s further claimed that advanced negotiations are ongoing between the Blues and the Algeria U17 international’s representatives. The outcome of these negotiations is unclear. Remadnia will turn 18 years of age in March 2027. This means he won’t be able to move to the UK until that summer, should Chelsea complete his signing. There’s obviously yhe possibility of signing the youngster and placing him elsewhere. His international future also has to be clarified. Remadnia was born in France to Algerian and Tunisian parents, making him eligible to represent three countries.

Early goal to shut up the crowd Our neighbours gave thema fright the other night

Newcastle team news ahead of tomorrow Out- Livramento, Botman, Trippier, Burn, Krafth, Lacelles, Osula Doubts- Pope and Lewis Hall Expected team Ramsdale, Miley, Schar, Hall, Thiaw, Tonali, Bruno, Ramsey, Murphy, Wissa, Gordon

David Ornstein is now hearing something he’s never heard before amid Enzo Maresca’s Man City links https://www.thechelseachronicle.com/news/david-ornstein-is-now-hearing-something-hes-never-heard-before-amid-enzo-marescas-man-city-links/ As the speculation around Enzo Maresca’s future at Chelsea continues, David Ornstein has made an interesting claim about what’s coming out of Man City. The media circus is in full swing at Chelsea following the bombshell exclusive from Ornstein claiming Maresca is being looked at to replace Pep Guardiola at City. It comes after a turbulent week that called into question the relationship between the head coach and the decision-makers in Chelsea’s boardroom. Ahead of Saturday’s trip to Newcastle, Maresca shut down the City rumours and reaffirmed his commitment to a future at Stamford Bridge. But with no possibility of developments until the summer, anyway, any other response would have been a shock. And now, another Ornstein reveal adds further doubt to the Italian’s future. David Ornstein very confident about one thing happening at Man City Naturally, the links between Maresca and City only came about because of the situation with one of the Premier League’s great managers. Guardiola has been at the Etihad for nine seasons, dominating the division over that span and cementing City as a perennial contender for titles. Uncertainty around his future has been a recurring theme in recent seasons, but Ornstein hasn’t quite seen it get this serious. As he told The Athletic: ““I’ve been aware of Manchester City having some interest in Maresca for some time, so it’s not fresh, but you check with as many people as you can, trusted sources on the veracity of that and of course the Guardiola element to this story as well, because if he is continuing until 2027, then it’s largely a moot point. “And despite us having been in this position before with Guardiola and people thinking he was going to go last time — by the way, let’s be clear on that, this is not entirely new as a notion — but I personally have never had it so resounding from so many people that it’s going to be the end of this season. And they are well placed.” Ornstein is as reliable a source as you’ll find, though everyone can be wrong. If his ‘well-placed’ information is correct, Maresca’s personal ties to the Etihad could become a problem for Chelsea. Plenty of time for change in Maresca’s thoughts The Chelsea boss is a straight talker, but even the most honest of managers won’t be completely upfront when it comes to discussions behind the scenes. Chelsea have yet to comment on the Maresca links, either. You would hope he really does intend on staying at Stamford Bridge, but there’s a long way to go until summer. If more clashes with the ownership occur, or if Chelsea’s form takes a dive in the second half of the season, his opinion might well change. It’s a story to monitor as we approach the summer, and one that Chelsea will need to keep a close eye on themselves. One thing this story has done is shift the power dynamic of the relationship more in Maresca’s favour.

Enzo Maresca delivers Chelsea team news ahead of Newcastle https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/article/enzo-maresca-delivers-Chelsea-team-news-ahead-of-newcastle Enzo Maresca has confirmed we have no fresh injury concerns to contend with ahead of tomorrow's clash with Newcastle United, and also provided a positive update on Liam Delap and Estevao Willian. We head to Tyneside for a Saturday lunchtime meeting with Eddie Howe’s Magpies, looking for three more points in the Premier League following our victory over Everton last time out in the league. We also progressed to the last-four of the Carabao Cup in midweek, following success against Cardiff City. Our head coach rotated his squad for that League Cup encounter and the Italian confirmed at his pre-match press conference that those players that were left out against the Bluebirds – including Cole Palmer – are all fine to feature this weekend. Maresca also provided an update on Delap and Estevao, with the pair closing in on a return to action – although that won’t be at St James’ Park tomorrow. ‘We are good,’ Maresca said of his squad’s fitness levels ahead of the trip to the North-East. We probably have Liam Delap and Estevao Willian back for the game against Aston Villa [on 27 December), which is good news. But Romeo (Lavia) is still out, Dario Essugo is still out and Levi (Colwill) is still out. ‘‘With Liam, we said since he suffered the injury (shoulder) that we didn’t know exactly for how long he would be out, but he is progressing very well.’ After a long trip to Wales in midweek, the Blues face another sizeable away venture when we head to the north east of the country to face Newcastle. The Magpies currently sit in 12th position in the Premier League table, although just six points behind the Blues in fourth, and Maresca is under no illusions that a side containing players such as Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton will offer a stern test this weekend. ‘For me, playing at Newcastle is always difficult. Night or day, they are a very good team,’ Maresca stated of our opponents. ‘Their manager is fantastic and has done a superb job for many years. They have a very strong side, especially in midfield. ‘Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton, [Lewis] Miley also, they are all fantastic players, all international players and they complete each other. ‘They are physically strong and very good on the ball. It's difficult for any team to face them.’

Liverpool transfer target Antoine Semenyo is ready to join Man United next year https://www.caughtoffside.com/2025/12/18/blow-for-liverpool-target-keen-man-united/ Antoine Semenyo is emerging as one of the most sought-after names ahead of the January transfer window, with the Bournemouth forward reportedly keen on a move to Manchester United. According to journalist Miguel Delaney, the 25-year-old Ghana international has made Man United his preferred destination amid mounting interest from several Premier League clubs. Semenyo’s rise at Bournemouth has been one of the stories of the season. Since establishing himself as a key figure at the Vitality Stadium, he has impressed with his goal scoring quality and his pace in the wide attacking positions. The attacker scored his most recent goal in the Premier League against Man United at Old Trafford in a match which ended as a 4-4 draw. With seven goals in the league this season, Semenyo has become a player who has impressed the top clubs in the Premier League, including Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal. Antoine Semenyo is keen on Man United move However, the player is keen on a move to Old Trafford to become a part of the attack that boasts players like Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko, all the players signed last summer by United. Comfortable operating on either wing or through the middle, Semenyo has become a central component of Bournemouth’s attacking threat, attracting sustained attention from clubs at the top end of the table. United are believed to be particularly confident about their chances, especially given the player’s reported desire to make the move to Old Trafford. A key factor in the saga is Semenyo’s contract situation. The forward has a £65 million release clause that becomes active from 1 January, allowing interested clubs to bypass lengthy negotiations with Bournemouth. While that figure represents a significant outlay, it is viewed within the market as a fair valuation for a proven Premier League attacker entering his prime years. Bournemouth, for their part, are aware that once the clause is triggered, they will have little control over the outcome. Semenyo would be the ideal signing for Red Devils From United’s perspective, Semenyo fits several of the club’s current recruitment priorities. Under Ruben Amorim, United are looking to inject more athleticism, intensity, and directness into their attack. His ability to press aggressively, carry the ball at speed, and contribute defensively makes him an attractive option for a system that demands high energy from wide players. Man United would be prepared to move quickly if rival clubs formalise their interest in January. While no official bid has yet been submitted, there is growing belief within the club that they can position themselves strongly should a bidding war emerge. Semenyo’s willingness to join United could prove decisive in a crowded race.

Transfer Rumour of the Day: Alessandro Bastoni to Chelsea? A wild one https://siphillipstalkschelsea.substack.com/p/transfer-rumour-of-the-day-alessandro Chelsea are being linked with a move for Italy defender Alessandro Bastoni, in what has made our transfer rumour of the day article. Granted, I don’t do these every day, and sometimes I don’t even do them every week. But even still, we’ll call them what we call them! I imagine that any Chelsea move for Bastoni would be a popular one, but what is being reported here? Chelsea are apparently keen on a 2026 deal for Alessandro Bastoni, and so is Tottenham Hotspur co-sporting director Fabio Paratici, according to an Italian report. Bastoni is one of the best defenders in the world and is a key player for Inter Milan and the Italy national team. The 26-year-old has won Serie A twice with Inter and was named the best defender in Serie A for the 2024/25 campaign, just as he was bestowed with the accolade in the 2023/24 season. FC Inter News has reported that Bastoni is the centre-back that Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca would love to bring to Stamford Bridge. The Inter Milan-centric news outlet has claimed that Maresca is ‘crazy about him’, and so is Paratici, who would love Tottenham to sign the Italian star. The report, though, has noted that Bastoni has already ‘rejected the advances of Chelsea and Tottenham’, with the defender having turned down the chance to join Al Hilal or Al Qadsiah in the summer of 2025 as well. Not only is Bastoni not willing to join Chelsea (or Tottenham), but the defender is also planning to hold talks with Inter in the coming months. FC Inter News has noted that ‘initial discussions regarding an extension of his current contract, which expires in June 2028, are likely to begin in the coming months with his agent, Tullio Tinti’. Bastoni is ‘deeply attached’ to Inter, having been on the books of the Nerazzurri since 2017 and ‘wants’ to stay at the club for the long run. So, that’s that then I guess! Just a distant dream! Interesting though, that Chelsea have tried for him, IF this story is true of course. I have no idea on what this source is like. But anyway, it was fun whilst it lasted! 😂

Delap and Essugo are expected to be ready for Villa on the 27th

MAGA = Miriam Adelson Gets America

He has ten brothers and sisters in Ecuador We'll do well to get to the league Cup final without him

Pretty much the director's fault with this idea of a young squad to maximize profit. Maresca was asking for a LCB in place of Colwill for example and there were players like Hincapie in the market. Quite clear why City like him - He has a good reputation in doing the nerdy stuff - watching hours of footage, preparing teams for opponents, has an idea of how he'd like to play.

Would it be a disaster? Really? Maresca replacing Pep at City? Do people think he’s really gonna be able to live up to & improve upon what Pep’s done there? And is he really that good a coach/manager? Regardless, I don’t think City would actually appoint him if I am honest. There is definitely something off between him & our board/ownership group on top of the fact Pep has been linked with walking away from City at the end of the season for the second or third time in successive seasons. If he does go there, can we give them Tosin as well for free? Won’t see many folk too upset if Maresca leaves here for City either. He is an insufferable fucker at the best of times. He would probably end up playing Haaland on the left wing and Rodri upfront.

Why Chelsea’s hopes of a stadium at Earls Court may not yet be over https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6896581/2025/12/18/Chelsea-stadium-earls-court-planning/ Chelsea still believe there is a chance of them building a new stadium at Earls Court, even though an alternative plan for the land has been approved by both councils involved. The Earls Court Development Company (ECDC) is now close to receiving full planning permission for a mixed-use development on the same land that had been mooted as a potential site for a new stadium for Chelsea. However, club sources, on the condition of anonymity as they were not authorised to speak publicly, have indicated that they are still considering all options for the future of their stadium — including a new ground at Earls Court. The Athletic explains what the decision means for Chelsea’s future stadium plans. What has happened? Kensington and Chelsea Council granted planning permission for a mixed-use development on the site of the old Earls Court Exhibition Centre at a meeting on Tuesday evening. That followed Hammersmith and Fulham Council’s approval in November; both councils needed to agree as the site crosses borough boundaries. The application will now go to the Mayor of London, who has 14 days to decide whether to allow the local councils’ decision to stand, direct refusal, or take over the application and become the local planning authority. That 14-day clock starts from when the Mayor’s office receives the councils’ official submission, which could theoretically be weeks after Tuesday’s meeting. Both councils voting for the ECDC’s plan does not guarantee that it will go ahead, but it is a significant step forward. Jamie Ritblat, founder and executive chairman of property developers Delancey (one of the founders of the ECDC), called the approval “a hugely important milestone”. “We look forward to continuing to engage with both our local Boroughs, with the Mayor of London’s office and the Government to ensure that these significant benefits can quickly come forward,” Ritblat said in a statement on the ECDC’s website on Wednesday. An aerial view of Stamford Bridge in 2000, showing Earls Court Exhibition Centre in the backgroundEnglish Heritage/Getty Images What does this have to do with Chelsea? Chelsea were considering the possibility of building a new stadium on the land. The club’s desire to have a stadium befitting an elite European club is longstanding. Stamford Bridge, which holds around 40,000 people, is currently the 11th-largest stadium in the Premier League. It cannot host events like concerts or tournament matches in the same way other grounds in London can. The view is that an upgraded stadium is needed to help the club compete financially, and that a bigger ground can help cope with the large demand for tickets from the fanbase. The future of Chelsea’s stadium is not a new debate. Under previous owner Roman Abramovich, the club submitted an offer for the Battersea Power Station site in 2012, in which they proposed to build a 60,000-capacity ground, but a Malaysian consortium purchased the site instead. In 2017, Chelsea secured planning permission for a 60,000-seat stadium on the site of Stamford Bridge, but the project was put on hold in 2018 after Abramovich was not issued a new UK visa. Any new plans to redevelop Stamford Bridge would need new planning permission. Since the Todd Boehly-Clearlake consortium took control of Chelsea in 2022, they have been determined to push Chelsea’s stadium plans forward, but it has not progressed too much so far. There is a debate between building a new stadium on the existing Stamford Bridge site or moving to a new site — hence why nearby Earls Court is under consideration. Building on a different site, such as Earls Court, would allow Chelsea to continue playing at Stamford Bridge during construction, and the larger plot of land would allow potential for further development around it. However, Chelsea do not own the land at Earls Court. A move away from Stamford Bridge would also need approval from Chelsea Pitch Owners, the supporter group that owns the freehold to the land Stamford Bridge stands on. What is going to happen at Earls Court? Could it still host a stadium? The proposal by the ECDC is for a mixed-use development at the site of the old Earls Court Exhibition Centre. This will include new homes, retail and hospitality, and workplaces. The ECDC say the project will deliver 4,000 homes and 12,000 jobs. They hope to move forward with the development as quickly as possible and expect works to begin in late 2026. Their plans do not include a stadium. However, Chelsea sources speaking to The Athletic on condition of anonymity say the club have not ruled out building a stadium at Earls Court. The view is that this planning permission does not necessarily translate to the ECDC project going ahead. The Earls Court Redevelopment site, as seen in November 2023Betty Laura Zapata/Getty Images One source indicated that a stadium could be added to the ECDC’s development plans, as it would only take up around one-third of the land. Those with knowledge of the planning process have told The Athletic that adding a stadium would be a big enough change that a new planning application would need to be made and go through the process from the beginning. However, a proposal including a world-class stadium would likely have little problem getting approval relatively quickly, as it would involve massive private-sector investment and create benefits for the community. What does the decision mean for Chelsea, and what are their other options? Chelsea’s perspective is that the councils’ approval does not represent a definitive decision on what happens to the land, so all options are still under consideration — including a stadium at Earls Court. The councils granting planning permission has not changed their thinking. An alternative to a stadium at Earls Court would be rebuilding on the current site of Stamford Bridge. Chelsea expanded the land they own at Stamford Bridge in 2024 by completing the acquisition of another 1.9 acres adjacent to the site. However, a rebuild brings its own challenges. Redeveloping the ground stand-by-stand is not considered feasible, so the entire stadium would have to be demolished and rebuilt. That would mean playing home games elsewhere, with Wembley Stadium one option. One source indicated this could last for more than five years because of the challenges of construction. The fact that Stamford Bridge is located in a residential area also makes a rebuilding project complex. Any new plans to redevelop Stamford Bridge would also need to go through the planning permission process, and would require approval from the Mayor. By Cerys Jones and Simon Johnson

If this is Pep Guardiola’s goodbye to English football, his legacy is unique https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6898463/2025/12/18/pep-guardiola-manchester-city-legacy/ Pep Guardiola was only six months into life as Manchester City coach when he declared, on the second day of 2017, that “the process of my goodbye has already started”. Members of the club’s hierarchy spoke in similar terms in those days. They didn’t imagine he was there for the long haul. They were just determined to enjoy it for the length of his initial three-year contract. Anything beyond that would be a bonus. As much to his own surprise as anyone else’s, Guardiola has stayed for almost a decade. He has led City to six Premier League titles and has won the FA Cup twice and the League Cup four times, as well as adding the Champions League, the European Super Cup and the Club World Cup in that glorious year of 2023. But now, as revealed by The Athletic today, there is a growing belief among well-placed sources that this will be his last season in Manchester. City’s supporters will hope he can be persuaded to stay, recalling that his departure was widely predicted before he extended his contract in November 2020, November 2022, and November 2024, but the mood music sounds different this time. A final decision will not be made until closer to the end of the campaign, but City are advancing contingency plans to prepare for that scenario. Whenever the curtain falls, the legacy Guardiola leaves behind will be enormous. It is not just about the trophies he has won with City. It is also his influence as the leading proponent of a possession-based playing style that was felt by many to be incompatible with English football values when he arrived in 2016. It is now so deeply ingrained in modern coaching circles that it can be traced all the way from the Premier League to the National League to the sodden pitches of Sunday League. What You Should Read Next The Guardiola effect – how Pep has changed English football beyond the Premier League Guardiola has won four titles in five seasons - and the impact he has made beyond the Premier League has never been clearer... Nobody, in today’s football, does it better. He has had a huge transfer budget at his disposal, along with players of the quality of Kevin De Bruyne, David Silva, Sergio Aguero, and now Rodri, Phil Foden and Erling Haaland, but this has not just been an exercise in chequebook management. Guardiola has built brilliant teams and made them even greater than the sum of their expensive parts, while Chelsea and Manchester United, with comparable transfer budgets, have done nothing of the sort. To win six Premier League titles in seven seasons, between 2017-18 and 2023-24, is a level of domination without precedent in English football. So, too, is the number of games they have won and goals they have scored in those title-winning seasons. Just as he did in Spain during his four years in charge at Barcelona, he has redefined expectations about what excellence looks like in the Premier League, both when looking at the record books and when analysing the brilliance of his team’s play. The past 18 months have brought an interruption to the domination, with City finishing third in the Premier League last season following an alarming slump this time last year, and the new campaign has not been without its hiccups. But having moved on experienced players such as Ederson, Kyle Walker, Ilkay Gundogan and De Bruyne in the summer, Guardiola has moved towards a new crop of younger players and appears to be managing the transition well. Why would he decide to leave now? It is unclear. But perhaps, as with Jurgen Klopp in his final years at Liverpool, he briefly felt invigorated enough to sign a new contract (in Guardiola’s case, a new two-and-a-half-year deal this time last year), only to find himself drawn back towards his initial instinct. In both cases, there was a loyalty element, too, a desire to press ahead with the start of a rebuild. Committing to seeing that cycle through to some kind of conclusion is a different matter entirely. Pep Guardiola has won it all at Manchester CityMichael Steele/Getty Images It is a mark of Guardiola’s unexpected longevity in Manchester that at one time, early in his tenure, the club’s former midfielder Patrick Vieira, who was coaching City Football Group’s Major League Soccer franchise New York City, was regarded internally as a prime candidate to succeed him. So was Mikel Arteta, who was his assistant in Manchester before leaving to take the Arsenal job in December 2019. Former City captain Vincent Kompany, now in charge of Bayern Munich, was felt to be emerging as a potential Guardiola successor as he led Burnley to promotion to the Premier League in impressive style in 2023. Right now, there are strong indications that the City hierarchy will place Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca high among their list of candidates should Guardiola step aside. That is an intriguing prospect, not least because Maresca has spent most of his 18 months in charge of Chelsea battling to convince the outside world that he merits the faith the club has shown in him. There is no doubt he is a talented, intelligent coach, but those flourishes of real promise at Chelsea have been interspersed by periods of crisis or at least self-doubt for a relatively inexperienced coach and an inexperienced group of players. He has looked more authoritative in his second season at Stamford Bridge than in his first, emboldened by winning the Conference League and the Club World Cup, but there are still frequent questions about the way he sets up his team, whether he is capable of delivering collective improvement on the scale Chelsea need, and whether he has the composure to ease the tensions that can blow up around a team rather than inflame them, as has been the case with his public comments over the past week. Maresca is instantly identifiable as a follower of the Guardiola doctrine (even if Guardiola himself would prefer to suggest that his inspiration comes from Marcelo Bielsa, now in charge of the Uruguay national team). Maresca has frequently described Guardiola as a “genius”, having worked under him first when coaching City’s under-21 team and then as an assistant at first-team level; Guardiola, for his part, recently described Maresca as “one of the best managers in the world” in a press conference. So many of today’s leading coaches have been influenced by Guardiola — in many cases directly. The coaches of Chelsea (Maresca) and Arsenal (Arteta) worked alongside him at City, as did Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique at Barcelona. The coaches of Bayern Munich (Kompany) and Real Madrid (Xabi Alonso) played under him and learned from him at City and Bayern Munich. Cesc Fabregas, whose reputation as a coach is growing at Italian club Como, played under Guardiola at Barcelona. So did Barcelona assistant coach Thiago Alcantara. Liverpool coach Arne Slot is another devotee, having told Dutch magazine Voetbal International in 2023 that Guardiola’s approach “gives me the ultimate pleasure in football”. What You Should Read Next Xavi, Arteta, Kompany – all Pep Guardiola’s disciples, and all top of the league The coaching influence of the Manchester City manager is obvious in the table-toppers from the Premier League, Championship and La Liga This level of influence at the very highest level of the game is not normal. Coaches as successful as Carlo Ancelotti and Jose Mourinho inspire great respect and admiration among their peers, as did Sir Alex Ferguson and others in the past, but Guardiola’s influence — both direct and indirect — is unparalleled in the modern game. The positive aspect of that, for City, is that identifying coaches who follow a similar football philosophy should not be as difficult as it once would have been. The trouble is that any coach modelling himself on Guardiola runs the risk of being seen as Guardiola Lite. Perhaps the most underrated aspect of Guardiola’s management is the insatiable appetite he has fostered in his teams. Just as Ferguson was underestimated as a tactician, so are Guardiola’s powers of man-management too easily glossed over. But the intensity with which he works — day after day, week after week, season after season — is obvious, as are the demands he puts on his players to ensure that the team’s standards do not slip. Winning six league titles in seven seasons, when competing with teams of the quality of Klopp’s Liverpool and, more recently, Arteta’s Arsenal, speaks volumes. There is a large elephant in the room: this glorious Manchester City era has unfolded against a backdrop of serious allegations about the club’s financial conduct. With a resolution to the Premier League’s investigation into alleged breaches of final regulations expected soon — though we have been saying that for 12 months — there will be an assumption in some quarters that any decision on Guardiola’s future might be pinned to the outcome. But The Athletic has been given no indication that this is the case. It is nonetheless astonishing that we are still waiting for the Premier League’s independent commission to announce the findings of an investigation into allegations that were first published by German newspaper Der Spiegel in late 2018. City deny any wrongdoing, but, depending on the outcome, the club’s outstanding achievements over the past 15 seasons might come to be seen in a very different light. What You Should Read Next Why an asterisk by Manchester City’s achievements could suit everyone Here's how ongoing scepticism about Manchester City's achievements probably works for everyone, even City fans But these are — and have always been — questions for City’s owners and executive team, not for Guardiola or for the many players who have been drawn to the club over the past decade and more. City’s huge commercial growth in the years under investigation enabled them to attract Guardiola and all those top-class players in the first place, but his record in Barcelona, Munich and Manchester leaves the impression that if he had not joined City, he would have had comparable success elsewhere. It is obvious to say he will leave a void at City when he departs. It is equally obvious to say his departure could create an opportunity for rival clubs to exploit. City have won six of the past eight Premier League titles and, after an uncertain start to the campaign, have now moved within two points of Arsenal at the top. There must have been times in recent seasons when Arteta (and Klopp previously) has found himself counting down the days on Guardiola’s contract at City, only for him to sign a new one. Manchester City fans unveil a banner asking Pep Guardiola to stay in 2024Oli Scarff/AFP via Getty Images But that last two-year contract extension, which Guardiola signed late last year, always had the look of a “steadying the ship” gesture — designed to help City through a difficult period both on and off the pitch, coinciding with a bleak run of results, the transition from one sporting director (Txiki Begiristain) to another (Hugo Viana) — rather than a resounding statement of long-term intent. Even at the time, the theory was proposed that this season might be his last. Guardiola looked exhausted this time last year, showing signs of the pressure that was taking a toll in what proved to be his most arduous season in Manchester. He has looked much more relaxed so far this season, but again, perhaps there is a parallel with Klopp two years ago. There are dark, lonely times in management, so when someone can see light at the end of the tunnel at last, that can sometimes have a liberating effect. City’s supporters will hope he can be persuaded to give it one more year. They will dust down that banner in his native Catalan telling him “volem que et quedis” (we want you to stay) and they will wonder whether, if the second half of the season is to turn into a farewell tour, it will encompass victory in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley in March, the FA Cup final in May 16, another Premier League title win (with Aston Villa their opponents at the Etihad Stadium on the final day, just like in 2022), or indeed the Champions League final in Budapest on May 30. But now, after nine and a half years, the process of Guardiola’s goodbye seems to be starting, so the task of finding his successor must be confronted with added urgency. Whoever is chosen, whoever accepts the challenge, Guardiola will be the ultimate hard act to follow. By Oliver Kay Football Writer

What is pubalgia, the chronic groin condition afflicting Lamine Yamal, Cole Palmer, Franco Mastantuono, and Nico Williams? https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6866405/2025/12/09/what-is-pubalgia-the-chronic-groin-condition-afflicting-yamal-palmer-and-williams/ Pop quiz, hotshot: What two things do Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal, Real Madrid’s Franco Mastantuono, Athletic Club’s Nico Williams and Chelsea’s Cole Palmer all have in common? All are wingers and, in recent months, all four have been diagnosed with an injury called ‘pubalgia’, a chronic groin injury causing pain in the lower abdomen and groin, and which has previously affected Lionel Messi. The injuries have been disruptive to both the players and their clubs’ campaigns. Palmer has made just six appearances for Chelsea this season, completing 90 minutes only twice, and is being rested for the Champions League game against Atalanta tonight as the club aim to manage his workload. Williams, meanwhile, has missed seven games for Athletic Club. Yamal has only been ruled out of five matches but Barcelona and Spain have clashed over the handling of his condition. The Catalans had accused the national team of not “taking care” of the player when he aggravated his groin while on international duty in September, while Spain expressed “surprise and displeasure” at Yamal being withdrawn from their squad by Barcelona for their November fixtures. Here, The Athletic digs deeper into pubalgia, what causes it, why certain players are affected more than others and what can be done about it. What is pubalgia? Pubalgia is actually an umbrella term that can include a number of different issues in the same area, says former Manchester United physiotherapist David Binningsley. “It’s a generic term that encompasses pain around the groin referred from structures such as tendon, joint, fascia and nerve pathology,” says Binningsley. “The groin includes the adductor muscles, which flow into the muscles of the abdomen and they’re all linked across the pubic symphysis (a joint located at the front of the pelvis where the left and right pubic bones are joined). The general term for any pain around that area will be classed as pubalgia.” That means that all four of the players mentioned above could actually be suffering from different injuries, such as an adductor tear, abdominal strain or a hernia-related problem. Cole Palmer has spent much of this season on the sidelines Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images Are wingers more susceptible to these injuries? It is probably not a coincidence that Yamal, Mastantuono, Williams and Palmer all operate in wide positions, according to Geoff Scott, a high-performance specialist who worked in the Premier League for 20 years, most recently as head of medicine and sports science at Tottenham Hotspur. “Wingers and wide players are particularly vulnerable to groin problems because their game demands repeated high-speed running, rapid changes of direction, and explosive acceleration and decelerations,” he says. “These movements place a significant load on the adductor complex, especially when sprint volumes increase sharply.” Binningsley also points to the unilateral nature of the position, stressing that the wider players will be using one foot a lot of the time. “In terms of the high accelerations and decelerations, you will probably find that a winger is favouring one side compared to a player who is more central,” he says. He highlights a recent research paper which concluded that when players execute a maximal deceleration from a sprint, almost 14 times their bodyweight goes through the hip joint. It’s an injury that players can develop on both sides, explains Binningsley, usually concurrently because they will rehab the problem on one side and overlook the other. “I’ve got an interesting case at the minute,” says Binningsley, who has set up his own clinic since leaving United. “He’s had groin pain on one side and you come in and measure him and he’s 35 per cent down (in strength) on that side. I said, ‘What have you done?’ He went, ‘Well, I’ve just rehabbed the other side,’ but he’s focused on functional movement strengthening, not isolated muscle rehab.” Is age also a factor? Yamal and Mastantuono are 18, while Williams and Palmer are both 23, and Scott says that age can play a role in susceptibility to injuries around the groin. “We see this even more frequently in younger players making the transition into first-team football: the sudden jump in training intensity, match tempo, and high-speed running can create dramatic changes in load that the groin simply isn’t conditioned for yet,” he says. “Without careful management of these situations, the risk of adductor injuries can rise considerably.” Dr Sean Cumming is a professor in paediatric exercise science at the University of Bath and internationally recognised as a leading expert on growth and maturation in sports. He explains that there are certain parts of the skeleton that, in an average male, are not fully developed until the age of 21 or 22. “These are areas called the apophyses,” says Cumming. “These are little bony sites where the tendon attaches from the muscle through to the bone, and those sites are on the hip and pelvis.” Franco Mastantuono joined Real Madrid in the summer Angel Martinez/Getty Images Cumming stresses the importance of not overloading these players, as does Binningsley, who points to the “growing demands of the game.” Palmer and Mastantuono played in FIFA’s revamped Club World Cup over the summer; they are also, along with Yamal and Williams, full internationals with all the travel and playing demands that involve. “This is the concern that everyone in football has got: that guys are getting 10 days off maximum before they’re back in for pre-season,” Binningsley says. Once the season has started, there is little opportunity for respite for those who are playing internationally, too. “The players who are not internationals can get around 10 days off each international break, which helps them to settle injuries down,” Binningsley adds. “Then you’ve got the ones who have been selected (for their country) who have the game demands of playing in Europe and playing Premier League or La Liga every week.” Game density is the most-used term among most backroom teams these days, looking at the number of games a player has had in a certain amount of time. “If you look at a seven-day load in terms of training and games, then you look at a 28-day chronic load, these guys are constantly at the top in terms of minutes, metres per minute, distance covered, sprint distance,” says Binningsley. “And it’s all an overuse thing.” How are they treated and prevented? In terms of the approach to dealing with these injuries, Binningsley says it will be similar no matter what the exact issue. He explains that most are tendon-based problems which will be best treated with isometric exercises (a form of static strength training where muscles are contracted and held in place without changing their length or the angle of the joint — these can include squeezing a small ball between the knees for increasing durations), shockwave therapy (a treatment that uses high-energy sound waves to treat the injured area) and radio frequency treatment which involves using high-frequency waves to stimulate the production of collagen and elastin. Platelet-rich plasma injections, whereby a sample of the patient’s own blood is taken, spun in a centrifuge to concentrate the platelets and growth factors and injected into the injured body part to promote a healing response, have also been used — though the evidence on its efficacy is less convincing. “Whatever modality you treat it with, a tendon is going to take six to eight weeks to fully heal,” says Binningsley, although he adds that players can return from smaller tendon injuries after four or five weeks “because the rest of the tendon can take up the slack.” More serious tendon issues can leave a player on the sidelines for up to 12 weeks. Nico Williams is another who has suffered with groin problems Ozan Kose/AFP via Getty Images But what about prevention: could more be done to guard against these injuries occurring? For a physiotherapist, the answer to that is always going to be a resounding ‘yes,’ especially in an environment where the time available for strength work is minimal once a season is underway. “We say, ‘We’ll microdose this and we’ll microdose that,’ so you get a little hit of adductors or hamstrings post one game. Then a little bit after the next game to hit quads and abductors. But how many clubs are doing it?” asks Binningsley. “How many players do it? Are we standing over them, watching them do every single set and repetition? Probably not.” It doesn’t help much that the isometric exercises, which are most beneficial for strengthening the groin area, are not the most exciting. But in terms of injury prevention, the squeezes and holds are effective, and don’t leave players with any muscle soreness because there is no eccentric component to them. “They’re basically telling the muscle, ‘You need to work and this is going to have to switch on,’” says Binningsley. “It’s about neuromuscular facilitation; the brain knows and the body knows it’s going to have to work and this is what we’re activating it with. “It’s not the sexy side of training that you see on Instagram. But this is more beneficial for you.”

Palace drew 2 2 against a Finnish side at Selhurst so they now have to play in the play-off rounds instead of staight qualifying

3 1 FT Barco is a baller in MF

2 1 Strasbourg scored Godo (who had scored before, but VAR chalked it off)

Chilwell just missed a complete sitter that would have put Strasbourg up 2 1 and probably guaranteed they finish top of the entire 36 team Conference League table every person on this board would have likely scored, it was that easy of a finish

Maignan was a shitshow tonight in the Italian SuperCup Napoli beats AC Milan 2 nil in Saudi Arabia

Another reason why we need to get rid of Maresca, didn't give him a single chance to show his worth.

Crazy, hope all of Caicedo family is in England and stays safe.

City can have him with both arms, yes we could get an even worse one with these cowboys but Maresca is nothing but a middle on the road coach and will never be a top coach, wouldn't lose any sleep if he goes to City even likelier that City will be done as a dominant force with him.