The Athletic FC Podcast

Manchester City host Chelsea at the Etihad on Saturday and with just two points separating the sides this could be a key battle in the race for the top four. Pep Guardiola will be looking to get back on track after seeing his side throw away a two goal lead in the Champions League midweek, losing 4-2 to PSG at the Parc des Princes, with issues in midfield an ongoing problem. After already spending more than €140m in the January transfer window, do Manchester City need further additions? Following five Premier League games without a victory, Chelsea got back to winning ways on Monday beating Wolves 3-1 at Stamford Bridge, but how does Enzo Maresca get his forwards firing again? Plus we check in with the club podcasts across The Athletic FC and look ahead to a fixture that nobody would've predicted being quite so exciting when the season kicked off; Bournemouth vs Nottingham Forest. Host: Michael Bailey With: Tim Spiers, Thom Harris Featuring: Sam Lee, Simon Johnson, Andy Mitten, Laurie Whitwell, James Pearce, James McNicholas Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producer: Jay Beale Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Among the tech billionaires, cabinet nominees and former leaders as Donald Trump was sworn in as U.S. president was the most powerful man in football - FIFA president Gianni Infantino…. So, with both the Club World Cup and World Cup taking place in the USA in the next 18 months. What impact will Trump and his policies have on football over the next four years? Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic's Adam Crafton in New York, Felipe Cardenas in Atlanta and Women's Sports Lead, in Burlington, Vermont, Meg Linehan to analyse and debate Trump's role in football, relationship with Infantino as well as assess what his legacy on the sport could be at the end of his time in office. Host: Ayo Akinwolere With: Adam Crafton, Felipe Cardenas and Meg Linehan Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producer: Guy Clarke Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth produced one of the performances of the season as they demolished Newcastle at the weekend. They are now seventh in the Premier League and eyeing up European football for next season. So how much of their success is down to Iraola - and will they be able to keep hold of him for much longer? Host: Ayo Akinwolere With: Jon Mackenzie, Phil Hay, Dermot Corrigan Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producer: Mike Stavrou Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last night, Chelsea ended their winless run with a comfortable 3-1 victory over Wolves. But despite spending more than a billion pounds assembling their squad - are Chelsea still light in certain areas? And are we to expect a flurry of transfer activity at Stamford Bridge this month? Host: Ayo Akinwolere With: Liam Twomey, Phil Hay & David Ornstein Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producer: Mike Stavrou and Nick Thomson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tottenham's defeat at Goodison Park on Sunday made it seven defeats in their last nine Premier League games. So what is going wrong for Spurs and will Ange Postecoglou be given enough time to turn things around? Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic's Jon Mackenzie and Jack Pitt-Brooke, who was at Goodison Park covering the game, to analyse Spurs' run of form, the depth of their injury crisis and whether they can improve things with any additions in the January transfer market. Host: Ayo Akinwolere With: Jack Pitt-Brooke and Jon Mackenzie Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producer: Guy Clarke Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For an exclusive interview, David Ornstein sits down with former Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on a career marked with chaos, mistakes and glory. So coming up you’ll hear about; why Aubameyang wanted to leave Arsenal but stayed, how his relationship with Mikel Arteta broke down, The ‘chaos’ of his time at Chelsea and his harrowing account of the break in that took place at his home. Host: Ayo Akinwolere Guests: David Ornstein & Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

David Ornstein and Manchester City writer Sam Lee join Adam Leventhal to discuss Erling Haaland's new 9 and a half year contract, a story David broke exclusively on The Athletic. The panel reflect on what the deal means for Manchester City's rebuild and whether the contract contains a release clause. In the second half Adam is joined by Jacob Whitehead and Tottenham writer Jack Pitt-Brooke to preview Everton vs Spurs, two sides in desperate need of a win. Ange Postecoglou's side have gone five Premier League games without victory, while Everton have scored just one goal in their last six matches. Plus - a huge weekend in the title race, Alexander Isak's importance at Newcastle and what's caused Chelsea's slump in form? Host: Adam Leventhal With: David Ornstein, Sam Lee, Jack Pitt-Brooke, Jacob Whitehead Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producer: Jay Beale Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After a damaging week with defeat in both Carabao Cup and FA Cup to Newcastle United and Manchester United, Arsenal bounced back on Wednesday night with a 2-1 win in north London derby over Tottenham Hotspur. So, how will the victory over Spurs influence Arsenal’s title challenge and do they need strengthening this month if they are to catch Liverpool? Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic's football correspondent David Ornstein and Arsenal writer Jordan Campbell to assess the impact of the win, what could be to come in the transfer market before looking ahead to what it could mean for any possible title challenge. Host: Ayo Akinwolere With: David Ornstein and Jordan Campbell Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producer: Guy Clarke Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has taken aim at the club's critics in the wake of the Dani Olmo registration saga. So why is he so angry, and is the situation even over? Host: Ayo Akinwolere With: Laia Cervelló Herrero, Pol Ballus, Dermot Corrigan Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producer: Mike Stavrou Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Napoli boss Antonio Conte has confirmed superstar winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia wants to leave Naples. So why does he want to depart? And where is his most likely destination? We also talk the future of Manchester City's Kyle Walker, plus Arsenal pursuing a deal to sign midfielder Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad next summer. Host: Ayo Akinwolere With: David Ornstein, James Horncastle and Phil Hay Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producer: Mike Stavrou Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After sacking manager Sean Dyche on Thursday, by Saturday Everton have confirmed their decision to bring back David Moyes to replace him. So is Moyes the right choice to rebuild Everton and keep them in the Premier League? Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic's Everton correspondent Patrick Boyland and The Athletic FC newsletter lead writer Phil Hay to discuss and analyse the decision to remove Dyche and bring back Moyes. The Athletic's Greg O'Keeffe, having seen Moyes' first reign firsthand, also drops in to give his views on the return of the Scot as well as Italian Football correspondent James Horncastle looking at the role of new owners The Friedkin Group. Host: Ayo Akinwolere With: Patrick Boyland, Phil Hay, Greg O'Keeffe and James Horncastle Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producer: Guy Clarke Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the FA Cup is upon us again, we're asking which Premier League side needs the competition most this season? Tottenham and Newcastle lead the way on the The Athletic's Import-o-meter, with both sides currently on course to meet in the Carabao Cup final. FA Cup holders Manchester United head to the Emirates to face record 14-time winners Arsenal, who since winning the competition in 2020 have not progressed past the fourth round. Does Mikel Arteta need a trophy this season? And how will Ruben Amorim's progress be measured? Plus - outside shouts for Bournemouth and Brentford, and has the FA Cup lost its magic? Host: Adam Leventhal With: Tim Spiers, Mark Citchley Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producer: Jay Beale Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Wednesday, after weeks of speculation West Ham finally sacked Julen Lopetegui. The Spaniard lasted just eight months - and 22 games in charge of the Hammers, the shortest reign of a permanent manager or head coach in the club's 124-year history Joining Ian Irving to analyse the decision to sack Lopetegui and replace him with Graham Potter are The Athletic's football correspondent David Ornstein and West Ham United writer Roshane Thomas. Plus, Football Tactics writer Liam Tharme also drops-by to discuss Potter's fit at the London Stadium and look back on his previously successful spell in the Premier League with Brighton & Hove Albion. Host: Ian Irving With: David Ornstein, Roshane Thomas and Liam Tharme Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producer: Guy Clarke Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Another week, another beaten opponent and another milestone notched for Nottingham Forest. They made history with six wins on the bounce with their 3-0 victory away at Wolves. So how have Nuno Espirito Santo’s side gone from fighting relegation & PSR last campaign to being one of the very best sides in the Premier League this season? Host: Ian Irving Guests: Paul Taylor, Tim Spiers, Matt Slater, Mark Carey Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producer: Mike Stavrou Video Producer: Liam Warburton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The January transfer window is officially open! We take you inside the market to explain the deals being worked on, We have David Ornstein’s One To Watch, Kolo Muani, plus, ongoing interest from Arsenal and Chelsea in Nico Williams. And fresh news today from David of a possible loan move for out of favour Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford. Host: Ian Irving Guests: David Ornstein and Phil Hay Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producer: Mike Stavrou Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Despite a 23-point gap between Liverpool and Manchester United, on Sunday there was nothing to separate them. So, how did Man United unsettle Liverpool? And with Trent Alexander-Arnold’s poor performance under the microscope, amid transfer interest from Real Madrid, is his contract uncertainty causing a distraction? Host: Ian Irving With: Adam Crafton and Simon Hughes Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producer: Guy Clarke Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tifo's Jon Mackenzie and The Athletic's Nick Miller are alongside Michael Bailey ahead of Sunday's meeting between Liverpool and Manchester United at Anfield. Fresh from Real Madrid outlining their interest in Trent Alexander-Arnold we also hear the thoughts of both Simon Hughes and James Pearce on the future of the England international. Plus, Carl Anka drops in with his take on a disappointing December for Ruben Amorim at Old Trafford having suffered four successive defeats in charge of Man United. As well as focusing on the meeting at Anfield, there's also a look at some of the Premier League's other standout games of the weekend including Arsenal's visit to Brighton, Newcastle United heading to Tottenham and Nuno Espirito Santo returning to Molineux with his in-form Nottingham Forest. Host: Michael Bailey With: Jon Mackenzie and Nick Miller Executive Producer: Abi Paterson Producer: Guy Clarke Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tim Spiers and Duncan Alexander join Michael Bailey for a Christmas special — reviewing the biggest moments from Boxing Day, as well as looking ahead to the next round of Premier League fixtures. Fulham stunned Chelsea winning at Stamford Bridge for the first time in 45 years, was this a reminder that Enzo Maresca'a side are not yet the finished product? Marco Silva's Fulham face Andoni Iraola's Bournemouth next, are these two sides optimising the fun and unpredictability of the Premier League this season? Liverpool capitalised on Chelsea's slip up, extending their lead at the top of the table — are we witnessing another 2019/20 season? Everything continues to go wrong for Manchester United — suffering their fourth defeat in five Premier League games as captain Bruno Fernandes was sent off — how does Ruben Amorim turn things around with in-form Newcastle United up next? Plus, back to back wins for Wolves and new boss Vitor Pereira, Nottingham Forest's Champions League chase, and how do Arsenal replace the injured Bukayo Saka? Host: Michael Bailey With: Tim Spiers, Duncan Alexander Executive Producer: Abi Paterson Producer: Jay Beale Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's been a year filled with news, moves and eyebrow raising events in the world of football and we're here to look back at them with our own Christmas countdown. What happened this year, and how have those decisions played out? Here to reminisce and recoil at the year it's editor-in-chief Laura Williamson and senior writer Adam Crafton. Host: Ayo Akinwolere Guests: Laura Williamson and Adam Crafton Executive Producer: Abi Paterson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After beating Manchester United midweek in classically chaotic fashion, Tottenham host league leaders Liverpool. With just one clean sheet in their last 23 Premier League home games, the panel analyse why Spurs are making things so difficult for themselves. Meanwhile Liverpool have shown a more adaptable side to their game this week, could Ange Postecoglou take a leaf out of Arne Slot’s book? Plus, we look at the fixtures elsewhere and talk sacking season after Gary O’Neil and Russell Martin were relieved of their duties this week. Host: Michael Bailey With: Tim Spiers, Mark Carey Executive Producer: Abi Paterson Producer: Jay Beale Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices