Dermot Corrigan

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...

Unai Simon interview: ‘Some prefer the Saudi way. At Athletic, we trust in our land’ The Athletic Club goalkeeper also spoke about Spain's World Cup chances next year, and the recent drama over Lamine Yamal

"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...

Although De Jong and Tchouameni did speak very well afterwards

El Clasico ends in chaos: Why police were needed in Real Madrid 2 Barcelona 1 Real Madrid and Barcelona players clashed after the final whistle in Sunday's La Liga Clasico

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

Barcelona vs Villarreal in Miami was suddenly cancelled. What happened? Plans to hold a La Liga match between Villarreal and Barcelona in Miami in December spectacularly crumbled on Tuesday

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...

Real Madrid are exploring historic, controversial change in their ownership model Big change could be on the way to the Spanish giants, whose ownership model has not changed in 123 years

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...

Why Atletico Madrid and Inter are playing a friendly in Libya after Barcelona pulled out The two Serie A and La Liga heavyweights play a friendly in strange circumstances and at an unlikely venue tonight

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...

Why Atletico Madrid’s $400m transfer spend leaves Diego Simeone in a tough spot The Spanish club have once again invested heavily this summer, but things aren't yet going to plan

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...

Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior’s Real Madrid fortunes could hardly be more contrasting Mbappe is Madrid's undisputed leader while Vinicius Jr is going through a bad patch of form. What's happened?

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

Thomas Partey’s Villarreal transfer: What has been the reaction in Spain? The former Arsenal midfielder signed for the Spanish club on a free transfer this summer

"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...

Barcelona’s Camp Nou chaos leaves the Spanish champions without a home. What’s next? Just five days before their home fixture against Valencia, the Catalan club confirmed the game will be hosted at the Estadi Johan Cruyff

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 striker who swapped Newcastle for Liverpool and ended up on a Beatles album cover Long before Alexander Isak there was Albert Stubbins, a star striker at Newcastle who was courted and eventually prised away by Liverpool

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...

Route One: Should Spurs fans be afraid? Tottenham have had a horrible weekend. Son Heung Min is leaving, James Maddison is injured and remember how they failed to buy Morgan Gibbs-White? Are they seriously short of a creative outlet? We ...

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

Xabi Alonso’s awkward start at Real Madrid: New hope, little time, big pressure The 43-year-old is taking on one of football's most demanding jobs off the back of the Spanish giants' disappointing European season

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...

FIFA drops anti-racism, anti-discrimination messages for Club World Cup The messaging has not been visible during the opening round of fixtures at the tournament in stadiums or on social media platforms.

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...

How will Barcelona’s financial situation affect their transfers this summer? Nothing is ever simple in the world of Barcelona transfers... and this summer is unlikely to be any different

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...

Who owns La Liga's 20 clubs: A Wimbledon semi-finalist, Pep Guardiola's brother and a private detective

Really interesting to see just who is behind each LaLiga club

www.nytimes.com/athletic/639...

Via @dermotmcorrigan.bsky.social for The Athletic

Nine Premier League clubs in top 20 richest in Europe, report says Real Madrid are the top valued club, with Manchester City and Manchester United rounding out the top three.

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...

(L) Xabi Alonso as a Real Madrid player; (R) Xabi Alonso as Bayer Leverkusen Head Coach

▫️ 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...

Sevilla: From serial Europa League winners to fans breaking into the training ground – and relief for now Sevilla are known for dominating European football's second-biggest competition but a bad season culminated in alarming scenes on Saturday

Oh Sevilla...

www.nytimes.com/athletic/635...

Breaking down the chaos of another remarkable Clasico Barca's 4-3 win against Madrid was another reminder to always, always watch Spain's biggest game

Always, always, watch the Clasico...

www.nytimes.com/athletic/634...

Barcelona and Inter players on the football pitch in the UEFA Champions League semi-final.

Barcelona and Inter players on the football pitch in the UEFA Champions League semi-final.

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...

Is Lamine Yamal already the best footballer in Europe? And if not, who is? Lamine Yamal's record for a 17-year-old is incredible, as was his performance against Inter, but is he already the best of the best?

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

Barcelona 3 Inter 3: Breaking down Yamal magic, Inter’s fast start, Dumfries’ unlikely double Barca and Inter cancelled each other out in a thrilling semi-final first leg at Montjuic

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

How 48 hours of rage and recrimination overshadowed the Copa del Rey final From accusations about referees to multiple red cards, Real Madrid's season is coming to a very noisy end

Battling (often imagined) enemies seems more important than even winning football matches at Real Madrid these days

www.nytimes.com/athletic/630...

How 48 hours of rage and recrimination overshadowed the Copa del Rey final From accusations about referees to multiple red cards, Real Madrid's season is coming to a very noisy end

"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 ‘remontada’ talk before the second leg against Arsenal — but none of spirit, organisation or quality required to pull it off

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

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

Mucho ruido y pocas nueces

www.nytimes.com/athletic/627...