All posts by n8rngtd.top

Chelsea put an end to their three-game loss streak on Tuesday night, beating Southampton 4-0 at Stamford Bridge. This was exactly the kind of game the Blues needed, to get three points on the board, score a couple of goals and regain some confidence that has been lost in recent weeks.

When looking at Chelsea’s underlying metrics for this season, you can see Enzo Maresca has already had an impact, keeping their possession numbers similar overall, but taking their shots per game to the highest it’s been in the last five seasons, whilst improving their poor defensive record from last term.

Back in December, Chelsea were sitting pretty at second place in the Premier League, looking extremely likely to secure Champions League football for the 2025/26 season and return to competing among Europe’s finest.

However, Maresca’s side have been hit with some very big injuries over the past few months, losing some key players that were massively influential to Chelsea’s brilliant run of form, which now means they are relying on a slightly lighter group to keep their Champions League hopes alive.

Christopher Nkunku's important week

One player Maresca is going to have to rely on more in the next few months is Christopher Nkunku, who did score the opener against Southampton in their recent 4-0 victory. The Frenchman was signed by Chelsea in 2023, joining the club for a fee of around £52m.

The 27-year-old has only managed to make 48 appearances for the Blues since joining, spending the majority of the 2023/24 season out with injury issues. In those 48 games, Nkunku has scored 17 goals, providing five assists and totalling 2,092 minutes played.

The forward’s biggest issue has been the fact Cole Palmer plays in his best position, occupying the number ten role, having the freedom to roam and connect play.

However, in the absence of Nicolas Jackson and Noni Madueke, Maresca has had to find other solutions in his forward line, moving the pieces around to get the best from them.

Nkunku managed to score a goal and set one up against the Saints, also managing two key passes, winning three of his five duels – ground and aerial – and taking four shots, two of which were on target.

But the Frenchman isn’t the only player who put in a well-timed performance, as fans were starting to grumble about a certain other individual who had been struggling in recent weeks.

Another Chelsea redemption

Levi Colwill has clearly been one of Maresca’s favourites since taking over at the club, starting 25 out of the possible 27 Premier League games so far, missing one through injury and being rested in the other.

Chalkboard

In those 25 appearances, Colwill has scored once, provided one assist, contributed to five clean sheets and totalled 2,250 minutes played, albeit while notably coming under fire for his “inexcusable” display in the 3-0 defeat to Brighton at the Amex.

That said, the 21-year-old defender helped to silence the doubters by putting in a strong display against Southampton, taking 96 touches in the match, completing 78/81 of his passes (96% accuracy), making one key pass, winning three of his five ground duels, winning two of his three aerial duels and, of course, scoring a goal.

Colwill has been described as a “top talent” in the past by Jacek Kulig, with many expecting the young defender to become one of the very best in his position in England. His ex-Brighton coach, Roberto De Zerbi, even stated, “It’s difficult to find another centre-back, left centre-back, with his quality”.

The talent of Colwill is clearly there for all to see, but the consistency has been struggling as of late. However, there could be a player returning from injury who will help Colwill a lot, forming a strong partnership earlier in the season, which saw the Blues go on their best run of form.

How Wesley Fofana's return can help Colwill

Wesley Fofana was officially back on the Chelsea bench against Southampton, having been out since the start of December, when he went off injured against Aston Villa.

Before that, Fofana had started 12 out of a possible 13 Premier League games, the only one he missed being due to a suspension.

In those 12 games, Fofana partnered Colwill on all 12 occasions, winning seven times, drawing four times and only losing once, which was their opening-day defeat against Manchester City.

When you compare the defensive duo’s underlying metrics this season, you can see how they complement each other nicely, with Fofana being the slightly more aggressive defender, looking to step in, make ball recoveries, and apply pressure, whilst Colwill is slightly more methodical, playing as a sweeper behind him.

This also goes for their on-ball partnership, as Fofana gives the Blues more ability to carry the ball out from defensive scenarios, kick-starting attacks by driving through the opposition press, whilst Colwill is more of a progressive passer, looking to dictate and orchestrate from the back.

Fofana’s return to the side could be exactly what Colwill needs to rediscover his best form, and coming off the back of a strong performance against Southampton, he may now have the extra bit of confidence needed to go on a good run with his centre-back partner back by his side.

Maresca has unearthed a new Chelsea star who'd walk into the Liverpool team

Chelsea struck gold with their “phenomenal” ace who could walk into Arsenal’s & Liverpool’s teams

By
Connor Holden

Feb 26, 2025

Trent Alexander-Arnold delivered an emotional speech to his Liverpool team-mates ahead of his last appearance for the club on Sunday.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Alexander-Arnold delivers emotional farewell
• Set for final Anfield appearance on Sunday
• Moving to Real Madrid on a free

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Alexander-Arnold will leave the club for Real Madrid after the game against Crystal Palace at Anfield and addressed his colleagues at the club's training ground ahead of his final fixture.

Advertisement

• WATCH THE CLIP

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Alexander-Arnold's departure has not been universally accepted by Liverpool fans, who booed the academy graduate onto the field during the 2-2 draw with Arsenal earlier this month. Former boss Jurgen Klopp criticised the Reds supporters' treatment of the full-back this week.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR ALEXANDER-ARNOLD?

  Official confirmation of Alexander-Arnold's move to Real Madrid is expected in the coming weeks. His Liverpool deal ends on June 30 but he would need to complete a move between June 1-10 to compete in the early stages of the Club World Cup, with negotiations between the two clubs ongoing.

Aitana Bonmati has been named the Women's Champions League Player of the Season, with five Arsenal players in the Team of the Tournament.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Gunners won competition
• Barcelona reached final
• Bonmati honoured

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Per UEFA, Bonmati has been named the Champions League's Player of the Season by the UEFA Technical Observer Group. The Barcelona star was a losing finalist, as the Catalan side were beaten 1-0 by Arsenal, but she scored four goals in 11 games, while also providing five assists. She won two Player of the Match awards in the tournament, one of which came during the semi-final win over Chelsea.

  Meanwhile, Lyon's Melchie Dumornay scooped the Young Player of the Season award after racking up six goals and two assists in the competition.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Five Arsenal players have made the Team of the Tournament: Goalkeeper Daphne Van Domselaar, defenders Emily Fox and Leah Williamson, as well as forwards Mariona Caldentey and Alessia Russo. Bonmati makes the team, along with her Barcelona team-mates Maria Leon, Patri Guijarro and Claudia Pina. Chelsea's Sandy Baltimore and Lyon's Melchie Dumornay round out the XI.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Bonmati has won the Champions League Player of the Season award in each of the last three seasons. She is also the current Ballon d'Or holder.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images
  

  WHAT NEXT?

  Barcelona still have the Copa de la Reina final to play against Atletico Madrid and Bonmati will be out to put her Champions League heartbreak behind her.

Wolverhampton Wanderers crashed out of the FA Cup on penalties at the weekend to Bournemouth in what was yet another poor result for the Old Gold.

It was capped off by star man Matheus Cunha receiving his marching orders in the final minute of extra time, which means he will miss several matches over the next few weeks.

How the club could use a player like Raul Jimenez to lead the line in his absence, with the Brazilian having initially thought to have been the ideal heir for the Mexican striker upon his departure.

Molineux's cult hero: The numbers behind Raul Jimenez's Wolves career

The striker joined Wolves in 2018 ahead of their first season back in the Premier League, going on to score 17 goals in all competitions.

The following campaign was even better. Not only did the Old Gold finish seventh for the second season in a row, but Jimenez found the back of the net 27 times while chipping in with nine assists. Wolves even reached the quarter-finals of the Europa League.

Jimenez’s talents in the final third were exceptional, but injuries soon began to plague him. A horrendous skull fracture in November 2020 ruled him out for the rest of the season and he was arguably never the same in the Midlands.

He would go on to score just nine further goals for the club, struggling to recapture his early form at Molineux and was sold to Fulham in the summer of 2023 for just £5.5m.

Jimenez has since scored 18 goals for the London side, with Wolves failing to find a proper heir to his cult hero status.

Wolves have found their next Raul Jimenez

If not the aforementioned Cunha, might Jorgen Strand Larsen be the ideal candidate?

The Norwegian striker joined the club on an initial loan deal last summer, which will be made permanent at the end of the season.

Seven goals and three assists is hardly the most prolific of returns, but three of these goals have come against Chelsea, Man City and Tottenham Hotspur, suggesting he loves playing against a higher-quality opposition.

Hailed by journalist Josh Bunting last August, he outlined qualities, specifically his ability to be in the right place at the right time, that evokes memories of Jimenez: “His movement off the ball really stands out to me,” Bunting noted. “He’s sharp on the ball and gets into the space really well.”

When compared to his positional peers in the Premier League, Larsen ranks in the top 1% for shots on target percentage (63.9%) per 90 and in the top 24% for aerials won (2.27) per 90. For context, Jimenez ranks in the top 21% for aerials won with 2.64, outlining their similar prowess when the ball is off the deck.

The 25-year-old will surely get better the more he plays in the top flight. With Cunha suspended due to his sending-off in the FA Cup clash against the Cherries, Larsen will need to step up over the next few weeks.

If he can score the goals which keep Wolves in the top flight, the supporters might rank him in the same breath as Jimenez.

Wolves think "incredible" £49.5m star may now leave amid Man Utd interest

Ruben Amorim is on a mission to provide Man Utd with strength in depth.

1

By
Sean Markus Clifford

Mar 1, 2025

Manchester City have reportedly agreed a deal with Lyon for the transfer of France international Rayan Cherki ahead of the Club World Cup.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Man City strike deal with Lyon for Cherki
• Cherki signs a deal until summer of 2030
• Will immediately travel with squad for CWC

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  After losing Kevin De Bruyne ahead of the Club World Cup, City have been on the hunt for a suitable replacement for the Belgian with an eye on returning to form at the Club World Cup. Lyon and France sensation Cherki fits the bill and the eight-time Premier League champions have been fighting to sign the midfielder ahead of the tournament in the United States later this month.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  French publication L'Equipe has now reported that City struck a deal with Lyon on Monday afternoon to sign Cherki. The Citizens made a fairly low opening bid of €22.5 million (£18.9m/$25.6m) but saw it rejected. Their second bid, however, has now been accepted by Les Gones with having reported that the fee is in the region of €40m (£33.7m/$45.6m).

  Watch every FIFA Club World Cup game free on DAZNStream now

• TELL ME MORE…

  The report adds that Cherki is set to sign a new deal until the summer of 2030, with the Frenchman set to be on board the Citizens' plane to the United States later this week for the Club World Cup.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR CHERKI?

  Manchester City will kick off their Club World Cup campaign when they take on Moroccan side Wydad AC on Wednesday, May 19, and it is possible that Cherki may get minutes off the bench as he will be looking to settle into rhythm with Guardiola's squad.

Manchester United are considering making a summer swoop for an “exemplary” young midfielder who is loved by one of the club’s former stars, according to a new report.

Amorim impressed by Man Utd youngsters as Heaven shines on debut

United put in a solid performance over the weekend by holding rivals Arsenal to a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford, egding themselves further away from the bottom three and all but ending the Gunners’ title hopes.

The Red Devils took the lead on the day through a superb Bruno Fernandes free-kick just after the break, but they were punished by Declan Rice for not putting the game to bed as they forced several impressive saves out of David Raya.

While Fernandes received much of the plaudits for his role in the draw, head coach Ruben Amorim was also impressed with young defender Ayden Heaven, who signed from Arsenal in a path also trodden by Chido Obi-Martin and came on as a second-half substitute against his former side to make his Premier League debut.

“I think he played really well,” Amorim said after the match. “He’s really comfortable with the ball, sometimes more than he should be! He is so relaxed and that is a good thing. He’s very aggressive. I think we have a very good player.”

Former Newcastle United star Alan Shearer was also impressed with Heaven’s display: “He looked comfortable, assured, and made a couple of important tackles and blocks.He did really well in the second half.”

United considering more young signings with Middlesbrough star on wishlist

The Red Devils could soon have another promising young player on their books in the form of Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney. According to GiveMeSport, United are considering making a move for the 22-year-old star if they fail to land some of their premium targets in the summer – Atalanta’s Ederson, Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton, and Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi.

Adding a new player in the middle of the park is understood to be a priority for Amorim, who wants to move Fernandes into a more advanced role, and United see Hackney as someone who could fit the bill. Crystal Palace are thought to be the most interested party at the moment, but a club of United’s stature going for the England U-21 international ‘could shift the dynamic quickly’.

Middlesbrough are currently managed by former United midfielder Michael Carrick, who has been full of praise for Hackney since taking charge of the club in 2022. Back in March of last year, Carrick described Hackney as “exemplary,” praising both his attitude and talent.

“You couldn’t ask for much more from Hayden,” said the Boro boss. “He’s grounded, he’s humble, he’s down to earth and loves to learn. He loves the place and he loves the club as well.

“To have that, added with the talent he has got, it’s the perfect scenario. I think it just shows his consistency really, over a long period of time. It’s not easy when you’re a younger player, but he’s certainly done that.”

Having won six of the last seven Premier League titles, Manchester City have charitably allowed the league crown to end up elsewhere this season, amid what has been a drop in the usual lofty standards set by the imperious Pep Guardiola.

Finishing in the top four and claiming an FA Cup triumph would represent a more than adequate sticking plaster, however, with the Citizens having seemingly used this period to plan ahead for next term, after forking out for four new signings in January.

Equally, much to the terror of the rest of the division, the Etihad side have penned Erling Haaland down to a new nine-and-a-half-year deal, with the 24-year-old seemingly in it for the long-term despite the club’s 2024/25 wobble.

Already boasting 118 goals in just 136 games for the Citizens, the Norwegian goal machine appears in line to continue breaking records galore, with it looking almost inevitable that he will eclipse Sergio Aguero as the club’s all-time top scorer.

How Haaland compares to Man City's Premier League heroes

Still yet to finish his third full season in English football, the former Borussia Dortmund has already registered an eye-watering tally of 83 goals from just 93 top-flight outings.

On his current trajectory, the one-time Molde superstar will fancy his chances of bettering the record set by that man Aguero, with the prolific Argentine finishing on 184 Premier League goals, and 260 in total for the club.

At present, only Aguero and Raheem Sterling are ahead of Haaland with regard to goals scored by City players in the Premier League era, with the Englishman scoring 91 times in the division during his seven-year stint at the Etihad. Kevin De Bruyne, meanwhile, lies in fourth, on 70 league goals for the club.

Among the top ten also rests current first-team star, Phil Foden, on 61 goals, with the England playmaker sandwiched between two greats of the modern era, in the form of Yaya Toure and David Silva.

It may also not come as a surprise to see Gabriel Jesus and Carlos Tevez both featured, as while neither figure was the main man in their respective eras, they did contribute effectively as part of fearsome City forward lines.

The same can also be said of another undoubted unsung hero, Edin Dzeko, with the Bosnian icon still delivering the goods years on from leaving Manchester…

Man City already sold their original Haaland

Adapting to life in the Premier League after leaving the Bundesliga is rarely plain sailing, just ask Timo Werner, Kai Havertz and Jadon Sancho, among others.

Haaland, however, has made the transition with ease, having simply picked up where he left off in Dortmund, after netting 86 goals in just 89 games during a thunderous stint in Germany.

The 6 foot 4 menace has then followed in the footsteps of the aforementioned Dzeko, with the now-veteran striker having been the original Haaland in some sense, after leaving Wolfsburg – for whom he scored 85 goals in 142 games – to join City in January 2011.

Like the Norwegian has found, continuing that goal-scoring streak in England came relatively easy for Dzeko, with the £27m striker reaching double figures for league goals in three of his four full seasons for the club.

While Aguero may have been the undoubted attacking talisman, the Sarajevo-born striker was a more than adequate support act, having been the man to draw City level on that famous day against Queens Park Rangers.

After being restricted to a particularly minimal role in his final season at the club, where he netted just four league goals, Dzeko was sold on to Roma for just £11m – including a loan fee – in 2016, after spending the previous campaign on loan at the Stadio Olimpico.

To his credit, the reliable marksman has been a hit wherever he has been since then, adding to his 72-goal haul at City by netting 119 times in Rome, before scoring 34 times for Serie A rivals, Inter.

Now on the books at Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce, the 38-year-old is still going strong after chalking up 61 goal involvements in just 87 games for the Turkish side, a tally that includes a return of 19 goals in all competitions in 2024/25.

To put that into context, only Haaland betters that tally back at the Etihad, with Phil Foden in second with ten goals, while Jeremy Doku – and James McAtee – lie in third with six goals apiece.

Where Are They Now

Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast’s Where Are They Now series.

Not that City have been necessarily stung by allowing Dzeko to depart, but having seen his goalscoring exploits continue elsewhere, perhaps they could have utilised their ‘original Haaland’ more consistently.

Thankfully, the real thing looks to be sticking around for the foreseeable…

Rodri's perfect partner: Man City weigh up move for "world-class" £59m star

As Manchester City plan for a summer of rebuilding, could they sign a “world-class” young midfielder who would be Rodri’s perfect long-term partner?

By
Ben Gray

Mar 11, 2025

Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund has given the green light for a summer transfer to Inter after weeks of negotiations with the Italian club.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Inter proposes loan deal to United for Hojlund
• Striker open to return to Italy
• Serie A side eye more major signings

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  As per , Inter wish to bolster their squad and are planning to make three major signings this summer. Inter president Beppe Marotta and sporting director Piero Ausilio have identified a few players, with Hojlund among the prospects the duo are eager to bring to Italy. Inter have proposed an initial loan deal to United with an option to buy for the out of form forward.

Advertisement

• Getty Images
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Simone Inzaghi's exit has cleared the air around Inter, with the club now pushing to sign Parma head coach Cristian Chivu as his replacement. Along with that, the Nerazzurri have major plans this summer for each of three departments, targeting Nico Paz from Como, Hojlund from United and Giovanni Leoni from Parma. Ausilio has been in talks with Hojlund's camp for several weeks, the report says, and the striker has approved of the move.

• TELL ME MORE

  Inter have already kicked off their transfer spree with Luis Henrique arriving for a medical to complete his move from Marseille for a reported €25 million (£21m/$28m) fee. Henrique will sign a five-year deal with the Nerazzurri.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR INTER?

  After failing to get Como manager Cesc Fabregas on board, former Inter star Chivu is now on the verge of signing for the Nerazzurri as head coach, having agreed a two-year deal with the club. Ausilio and Marotta will look to secure a few of the major deals before Inter kick off their Club World Cup campaign on 18 June 2025.

Instead of focusing on road to 2026, fans and pundits have been dragged into a circular debate that distracts from bigger picture

The British rapper Central Cee released a song last year in which he claimed that he and an unspecified opponent would go "band4band." The translation of that, in American terms, is the implication that "Cench" – as he is known – is willing to outmatch, outbrag, or simply outdo anyone at anything – and willingly watch be dragged down into whatever bragadocious clash they're involved in.

If Central Cee can't win – and he win – then no one can.

Of course, the BRIT Award-winning artist is missing the broader point here. There's collateral damage to his actions. But his will to weigh in, outspeak, or have the final word, means that whatever people, objects, or interests around him become irrelevant. Everything goes sideways. No one wins.

And so, with that, we arrive at the current state of the U.S. men's national team and the current, seemingly all-consuming, apparently never-ending drama surrounding Christian Pulisic and his decision to skip the Gold Cup, which begins this weekend. It's all a bit silly, really. Pulisic is a professional soccer player who has decided he needs a few months to rest his legs, recover from a litany of knocks, and reset ahead of what will be – by any measure – the biggest year of his career.

This is a decision that many a USMNT legend has taken exception to. Pulisic's commitment to his country has been called into question by Landon Donovan, Tim Howard, Clint Dempsey and pretty much every other U.S. talking head you can name (excpetion: Taylor Twellman, who has proved a voice of reason).

Pulisic has claimed it is total nonsense. His dad, too, has weighed in. Cue social media explosion, and endless talking points and podcast pilings on to follow.

But whatever side you take isn't really the point. The issue is now broader. We have two camps – one that says Pulisic is smart, the other that says Pulisic is selfish. And instead of the focus being on how this team needs to gear up for the 2026 World Cup, fans and pundits alike have been dragged into a circular debate that distracts from the bigger picture: Mauricio Pochettino's USMNT is reeling, having lost four straight at home for the first time since 1988, and the World Cup is now less than a year away.

Unity, more than ever, is essential. The U.S. soccer sphere is caught in a Band4Band. And somehow, it has to end.

• Getty
  

  Pulisic decides to sit out

  On May 22, the USMNT released its squad for two pre-Gold Cup friendlies. Eagle-eyed onlookers very quickly noted that Pulisic – captain, star, and, by some distance, the most gifted player to ever wear the U.S. jersey – was not on the roster.

  U.S. soccer put out a preemptive statement from sporting director Matt Crocker, outlining the reason for Pulisic's absence: “Christian and his team approached the federation and the coaching staff about the possibility of stepping back this summer, given the amount of matches he has played in the past two years at both the club and international level with very little break… After thoughtful discussions and careful consideration, we made the collective decision that this is the right moment for him to get the rest he needs. The objective is to ensure he’s fully prepared to perform at the highest level next season."

  And that should have been that.

  There were always going to be a few pundits with opinions. The standard lineup of former USMNT players turned critics – Donovan, Howard, Dempsey, Herculez Gomez, Alexi Lalas, Twellman – were always going to unleash their takes. This is an outrage economy, and clicks keep the money flowing through the capitalist system of anger and vitriol.

  But Pulisic is a grown up. He knows the media landscape. This really should have been one news cycle – a few days of disgruntled guys getting on their respective podcasts and saying words to whet the appetite for punditry. It would have all been rather nice, too. That's what most punditry is these days: saying words to get a reaction.

  Pulisic could have sat back, gone on holiday, done all of the daily things that come with being Christian Pulisic, and tried to tune out the rhetoric from those losing their minds far, far, away.

Advertisement

• Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
  

  The Gold Cup – which suddenly matters

  But the USMNT are struggling. Mauricio Pochettino had a bright start to his tenure, and was 3-1 after four games in charge – the one loss coming with an injury-depleted side in Mexico, an admittedly forgivable outcome – last fall.

  Since then, things have rather tailed off. They lost both games at the Nations League finals, including a gutting last-minute defeat to a wonderfully set-up Panama side, who pipped them with a classic counter-attack in the last minute in the semifinal. A defeat against Jesse Marsch's revamped, chip-on-their-shoulder Canada in the third-place match, and the critics were out in full.

  Win those two games, take home the silverware, and none of this would be a problem. But now, there's a thirst for results. American exceptionalism is a part of sport, and always will be. Even when outmatched, the U.S. are always slyly expected to put on a performance – or at least fall in heroic fashion. What this country will not accept, though, is repeat defeats.

  In that sense, ironically, the Gold Cup could not have arrived at a worse time. It comes in the middle of a very exciting but very strange summer of soccer that no one quite knows what to make of. Going head-to-head with the Club World Cup in the U.S. this summer, the Gold Cup is a tournament declining in importance – and one in which Pulisic hasn't played in since 2019. Previous manager Gregg Berhalter took a weakened side to it on more than one occasion..

  But expectations shift based on form. And with this prevailing sense that the USMNT to win something – anything – before the World Cup, it was widely assumed that Pulisic and the rest of the squad's available core contingent would show up. Apparently not. There are injuries elsewhere, and some players missing because of CWC commitments.

  But Pulisic has taken the brunt of the blame. Lals outlined his position rather emphatically.

  "This is a bad look for Christian Pulisic, but it’s also a bad look for this team at the exact moment when they need to be doing the opposite," he said on his podcast. "This summer you need to come out with people coming out saying ‘Yeah, I’m jacked, I cannot wait to watch the World Cup next summer because of what I’ve seen.' "

• Getty Images
  

  Struggles on the pitch

  This, all would have mattered even less if the USMNT were performing on the pitch. But coming off the Nations League losses, they went into back-to-back fixtures with Turkey and Switzerland fielding two almost entirely different XIs, with a squad that was admittedly light on long-term options.

  It was always going to be a losing battle. But a 2-1 heroic defeat and 4-0 battering, with two teams of backups' backups failing to impress, showed just how shallow the USMNT player pool is relative to the rest of the world.

  This team does not have the luxury of dipping into a second team – never mind a third. And they were appropriately punished for doing so, while the likes of Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Tim Weah, Antonee Robinson, Sergino Dest, Ricardo Pepi, Gio Reyna, Yunus Musah and others were watching from afar.

  But those results only fueled the fire. Anger got, well, angrier.

  Pulisic bore the brunt of the criticism, the former USMNT hive suggesting that his decision not to play impacted the team's on-field performance. It cannot be emphasized enough how illogical that assumption is. A fit Pulisic might have given the USMNT more of a chance, but this relatively inexperienced side were still outmatched and outclassed.

  These are professionals. The absence of one player does not affect the dynamic of a whole side. Tyler Adams, one of the few regular starters in this squad – though he missed the Switzerland game, too, with injury – reinforced that notion.

  "We don't talk about that internally as a group," Adams told the Associated Press. "The noise on the outside is the noise on the outside. I think we need to focus on what we need to do as a group and continue to build."

  Still, it served as a distraction for the wider sphere, his comments only fueling more fire. The seemingly inexhaustible supply of talking points have only multiplied.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Pulisic's misguided interview

  The noise only got louder. Donovan and Howard weighed in. Words were exchanged. Pulisic, at least initially, stayed quiet and went on holiday.

  Then came last week. Pulisic's dad, Mark, brought the conversation back to the fore. He sent a ChatGPT – yes, you read that right – generated message, calling Donovan out for his comments. The whole "soccer Dad" rhetoric came to the fore, and some floated the notion that Pulisic is unable to fight his own battles.

  And that – three weeks after the original news broke – is when Pulisic decided to talk.

  He really shouldn't have. Pulisic should have continued his holiday, returned to Milan for preseason, and let his game do the talking. This is one of those rare, rare cases when a captain should be encouraged to stay quiet, avoid the fray. Instead, Pulisic – not known for launching verbal volleys – opened up. He didn't quite tear into U.S. soccer, but he did defend himself ardently.

  In an interview with CBS, he revealed that he had offered to play in the pre-Gold Cup friendlies, but had been turned down by Pochettino. He said that it had "hurt" to watch his team lose. He insisted that he had made the right decision in recharging and resetting. But most importantly, he defended himself against the legends who had been calling him out.

  "You can talk about my performances, whatever you want. But to question my commitment, especially towards the national team? In my opinion that's way out of line," he said. "It's tough, especially as well when privately they talk to me and clearly want to show support and be your friend and everything… and then they say something slightly different publicly. That's fine. Does it hurt me? Am I surprised by it? Not really, people are always going to have their opinions."

  That was his mistake.

Chelsea are now involved in a four-way transfer race to sign a “outstanding” Premier League striker, with Enzo Maresca keen to bring in a forward capable of challenging for Nicolas Jackson’s starting spot, according to a report.

Blues stepping up striker pursuit

The Blues have been left short on options at striker over the past few weeks, with Jackson and Marc Guiu both sidelined due to injuries, which has meant Pedro Neto has been given the nod in the unfamiliar role of centre-forward.

As such, Maresca has now started to step up his pursuit of a new striker ahead of the summer transfer window, and there is believed to be strong interest in Lille striker Jonathan David, who will be available on a free transfer at the end of the campaign.

Strasbourg’s Emanuel Emegha is one of the lesser-known targets, and the west Londoners’ relationship with the French club could give them the edge in negotiations for the striker, who is also wanted by Everton, West Ham United and Aston Villa.

Chelsea set to sign £25m Premier League forward Maresca called "fantastic"

BlueCo are now working on a move for a player Enzo Maresca rates very highly.

2

By
Dominic Lund

Mar 17, 2025

Newcastle Unitred’s Alexander Isak, on the other hand, is one of the most sought-after strikers in world football, and Chelsea are expected to enter talks to sign the Sweden international, who could command a fee of £120m.

However, Isak is not the only Premier League striker on the shortlist, with a report from The Boot Room revealing the Blues are now keen on signing Brighton & Hove Albion’s Joao Pedro.

Pedro could be brought in to challenge for Jackson’s starting spot, but he will not come cheap, with reports from elsewhere stating Brighton value the Brazilian at £100m.

There may also be fierce competition from within the Premier League, with Liverpool, Arsenal and Newcastle United said to be keen on a deal.

"Outstanding" Pedro starring for Brighton

The 23-year-old is Brighton’s top scorer this season, netting eight goals in 23 appearances in the Premier League, during which time he has also displayed his ability to set up his teammates, providing six assists.

Creating chances is one of the Brazil international’s finest qualities, and he ranks very highly on a number of other key attacking metrics over the past year compared to his positional peers.

Having also been lauded as “outstanding” by analyst Chris Kearney, the Brighton star is clearly a top forward, but the only concern will be the fact he is not exactly the most prolific in front of goal.

Pedro places in just the 19th percentile for non-penalty goals per 90, given that he clearly thrives in other aspects of the game, so it may be unwise for Chelsea to shell out £100m on a striker who does not guarantee goals.