Jude Bellingham’s rise feels inevitable now, but before the world noticed, one town had already seen it coming. I spoke to fans at Stourbridge about him, his dad, and wrote about the town that holds so much importance in Bellingham's heart.
Read here:
https://t.co/Cjc8mR4740
🚨 CONFIRMED: There has been contact between José Mourinho and Pepe to make him part of his coaching staff for Real Madrid.
Pepe is considering it, no final decision yet. @FabrizioRomano
Arbeloa was never going to have a great time at Real Madrid with how things have been lately, but he tried to maximise the team's strengths.
It was amazing to witness a first team coach give so many minutes to Fabrica products. For people like me who cover Castilla, that was the best thing about this tenure.
He is a very good coach, and that will be proven at another club.
Dani Carvajal is the best RB in Real Madrid's history. Glad he was able to end his time at the club with an assist. A beautiful farewell that he fully deserved.
His career has and will inspire a lot of kids from the Cantera, all of whom look at him as the reference point.
In 24 hours, Mikel Arteta took Arsenal to first league in 22 years, Andoni Iraola took Bournemouth to Europe for first time ever and Unai Emery took Aston Villa to first European trophy in 44 years, first of any kind in 33 years. All born within 30 miles of each other. Gipuzkoa.
Obviously, seeing false stuff about your own health must be really strange and awful, and I'm not defending any of that. It's just the rest of Perez's statements that I didn't quite understand.
Much more worried about next season too. Perez defended the players despite whatever's happened so far. Said they're brilliant. Also said he has changed 3 coaches in a season before. They'll hear this and have another unneeded ego boost. They know they can get away with anything.
Keeps name-dropping journalists "attacking the club". Says "someone from COPE attacks Real Madrid. Maybe he should try to run Real Madrid."
That's not their job. That's like saying, "If you criticise us, you are wrong because you can't do what we are doing."
He keeps repeating the same things and keeps digging himself a hole. Not even 1% of Perez's press conference has shown accountability. Another PR disaster - just what Real Madrid needed after these last few days. Just to announce elections, defend himself and deflect criticism.
🫵 ⏳ El último día de Xabi Alonso como entrenador del Real Madrid I @antonmeana
⛔️ "En la reunión, le ha comunicado al club que no les pueden dar TANTO PODER a los jugadores"
👀 "Cree que es IMPOSIBLE dominar un vestuario si el club se posiciona siempre con los jugadores"
Real Madrid are further back now than they were at this point last season. And no one seems to look at the board, the player power or the other problems that have nothing to do with the coaching.
They have to change their ways from top to bottom. Hopefully, their biggest rivals winning the league in front of them would bring some of those changes forward.
The difference between the two teams is staggering. Barcelona - always making off-ball runs, calm on the ball, great pressing, good linkup play. Real Madrid - minimal off-ball runs, no one utilising them, careless in possession, terrible defensive structure.
🚨 Toni Kroos: “Luis Enrique subbed out Dembélé, his best player, in the 65th minute of a UCL semi-final and NOBODY complained.
He leaves, shakes his coach’s hand and sits on the bench cheering his teammates.
There are some COUNTER-EXAMPLES to this.”
It's truly a mess. It's the biggest mess Real Madrid have been in from within in a long time.
3 days before a Clasico that could hand further embarrassment to them if Barcelona win. It is actually quite remarkable just how dysfunctional this squad is.
A lot of disappointing figures have emerged this season.