Month: May 2023

The Premier League has a “bright future” despite a record-breaking season for managerial departures, according to the League Managers’ Association chief executive Richard Bevan.

The 2022-23 season has seen 14 managerial changes – four more than any other previous Premier League campaign – after Javi Gracia parted ways with Leeds United just 70 days into his Elland Road tenure.

Graham Potter was also dismissed with little time to impress after replacing Thomas Tuchel at Chelsea, with only eight of the 20 top-flight clubs going through the entire campaign without a change in the dugout.

Bevan understands the brutal nature of the business and suggested managers acknowledge the pressure to provide instant success for their respective sides.

“Certainly, in football, the volatility of being a football manager and a coach is something that they understand. The coaches understand the importance of results,” he told Stats Perform at the Football Business Awards.

“At the same time, I think it’s making sure that all of our coaches have the right teams and the tools to succeed as a football manager.

“We’ve got some great successes as well, in terms of young managers coming through. And I think we have a bright future, despite the statistics of manager tenure this year.

“I think like everything else in business, and today with a football club, preparation [is essential to succeeding in a short space of time], and equally getting recruitment right.

“[Going forward] I hope the coaches and the managers all achieve their aspirations and also recognise that failure is not fatal.

“[Managers need to] make sure that they can maximise the opportunities and really build their team so that they’re successful on the pitch, as well as the club being successful off the pitch.”

Lionel Messi was on target as Paris Saint-Germain sealed their record-breaking 11th Ligue 1 title, despite being held to a 1-1 draw at Strasbourg on Saturday.

Messi, who will leave PSG when his contract expires at the end of the season, broke the deadlock with his 16th goal of the season just before the hour at Stade de la Meinau.

Strasbourg substitute Kevin Gameiro thwarted Christophe Galtier’s side with a 79th-minute leveller, but the point was enough for PSG to secure a successful Ligue 1 title defence with a match to spare.

Strasbourg’s top-flight status was also confirmed after the draw for Frederic Antonetti’s hosts maintained their six-point cushion over 17th-placed Nantes, who failed to beat Lille.

PSG survived a scare in the 15th minute as Habib Diallo intercepted El Chadaille Bitshiabu’s sloppy pass back towards Gianluigi Donnarumma, but Sergio Ramos reacted quickly to clear the forward’s attempt from a tight angle.

Diallo drew a smart reflex save from Donnarumma, while Matz Sels produced a fine stop at the other end to keep out Renato Sanches’ volley from a Kylian Mbappe corner.

Strasbourg continued to carry the greater attacking threat and went close again when Diallo rattled the right post with a thumping 20-yard volley.

But PSG broke through 14 minutes into the second half when Messi arrived late in the box to collect Mbappe’s square ball before neatly sweeping into the far corner.

The duo almost reversed roles for a second goal soon after as Messi crossed for Mbappe, who failed to convert from inside the six-yard box.

Yet PSG were denied victory by former player Gameiro, who capitalised to snatch a draw 11 minutes from time after Donnarumma parried Morgan Sanson’s initial attempt.

What does it mean? PSG in a league of their own

They may not have done it in an overly convincing fashion, but PSG are the champions of France once again.

Their 11th domestic title is also significant as they surpass Saint-Etienne (10) to become the most successful side in French top-flight history outright.

Gameiro denies former club

Now 36 years of age, the veteran striker is nearing the end of his two-year contract with Strasbourg.

A decade after helping PSG land the Ligue 1 crown in 2013, Gameiro denied them all three points with an almost immediate impact from the bench as he delicately lifted the ball over Donnarumma.

What’s next?

PSG will celebrate another Ligue 1 triumph when they conclude their campaign by hosting Clermont next Saturday, with Strasbourg travelling to Lorient on the same day.

Emma Hayes won her 13th major trophy as Chelsea boss as her side wrapped up a fourth successive Women’s Super League title with a 3-0 win at Reading.

The long-serving manager has brought stability and a whole host of silverware to the Blues since she took over in 2012. 

Here, we take a look at each trophy the Londoners have lifted with Hayes in charge. 

FA Cup (2014-15)

Ji So-Yun’s first-half strike earned a 1-0 win over Notts County at Wembley to give Hayes a first piece of silverware as Chelsea boss. 

A glittering spell for the club would follow. 

WSL (2015)

Two months after success at Wembley, a 4-0 thrashing of Sunderland secured a league and cup double. 

FA Cup (2017-18)

Ramona Bachmann’s brace saw Chelsea down Arsenal 3-1 at Wembley, enabling them to bounce back after coming close in previous years. 

WSL (2017-18)

In a repeat of 2015, Hayes guided her side to another double with a 2-0 win at Bristol City to clinch the league crown. 

It was all the more impressive as she was 35 weeks pregnant and not on the touchline to see the title clinched. 

League Cup (2019-20)

A stoppage-time effort by Bethany England completed her brace and earned Chelsea a first League Cup win under Hayes following a 2-1 victory over Arsenal at Nottingham Forest’s City Ground in February 2020. 

WSL (2019-20)

The FA’s decision to determine the season on points-per-game after the start of the coronavirus pandemic saw Chelsea crowned champions for a third time in five years in June 2020. 

Manchester City had been top but only by a point and had played one game more than their nearest challengers. 

League Cup (2020-21)

Chelsea thrashed Bristol City 6-0 at Vicarage Road to add another trophy to the cabinet. 

WSL (2020-21)

A 5-0 win over Reading secured a record-breaking season for Hayes’ side, with Chelsea able to clinch the title on the final day. 

It was their 18th league win of the term and saw them reach 57 points for the campaign — the most achieved in the WSL in each category. 

FA Cup (2020-21)

A delayed final eventually took place in December 2021 and Chelsea ran out comfortable 3-0 winners over Arsenal, with Sam Kerr grabbing a brace to seal a domestic treble. 

WSL (2021-22)

Kerr was again the hero with a double to inspire a 4-2 win over Manchester United as Arsenal were pipped to the championship in yet another last-day decider. 

Hayes watched her team fight back from a half-time deficit to secure more silverware. 

FA Cup (2021-22)

Another brace by Kerr sealed a fourth double for Chelsea under Hayes, with a 3-2 extra-time victory over City giving her an 11th trophy. 

The clash took place in front of 49,094 spectators at Wembley, which was a record attendance for the final at the time. 

FA Cup (2022-23)

Chelsea defeated Manchester United 1-0 at Wembley, with Kerr the match-winner once more. 

The mark from a year earlier was smashed as a crowd of 77,390 set a world record for a women’s domestic club match. 

WSL (2022-23)

Chelsea won seven games in a row to overhaul United and clinch the title. 

A final day 3-0 victory over relegated Reading — with another Kerr brace — secured the double.

LaLiga’s handling of the “absolutely disgraceful” instances of racist abuse towards Vinicius Junior has been “completely inadequate”.

That was the message from Kick It Out chair Sanjay Bhandari after Vinicius was subjected to more abuse by sections of the crowd at Valencia’s win over Real Madrid last Sunday.

Valencia’s punishments for the incident were reduced on appeal, with the partial closure of Mestalla Stadium cut from five matches to three and their financial penalty also sliced.

Bhandari, chair of the organisation aiming to eradicate racism from football, says the Spanish Football Federation and LaLiga president Javier Tebas have failed to support Vinicius.

“I think the treatment we’ve seen of Vinicius has been absolutely disgraceful,” Bhandari told Stats Perform at the Football Business Awards.

“It’s 10 or 11 games, it’s not just this last weekend, it’s been happening over the course of the last two seasons.

“The response of the Spanish authorities has been completely inadequate and it’s actually been worse than inadequate because it’s made the matter worse.

“The way Javier Tebas, who runs LaLiga, responded trying to blame Vinicius and treating him as if he’s a problem when actually he’s the victim… it’s really sort of going back 30 or 40 years.”

Tebas was a vocal critic after Vinicius labelled LaLiga racist, the league’s president criticising the 22-year-old for “not informing himself properly” before subsequently apologising for those comments.

The incident – and Tebas’ reaction to it – sparked widespread condemnation of LaLiga and Spanish football’s relationship with race, with Bhandari calling for further action on the issues.

He added: “They need to get on with taking more concrete steps to kick discrimination out of Spanish football, it’s not acceptable to have whole stands of fans doing monkey chants.

“Making monkey noises and shouting monkey to Vinicius, that’s totally unacceptable and there shouldn’t be any deflection and making excuses for that kind of behaviour, which is what we have seen.

“They need to get on it and if that means closing the stand, that’s a good step. We welcome that and fines are a move in the right direction.

“But if it doesn’t stop that should move to points deductions and further sanctions.”

Bayern Munich have parted company with chief executive Oliver Kahn and board member for sport Hasan Salihamidzic hours after clinching an 11th successive Bundesliga title.

Former Germany goalkeeper Kahn, who made more than 350 appearances for Bayern, and one-time team-mate Salihamidzic were relieved of their duties on Saturday evening with the dust still settling on a dramatic finale to the season as they edged past Borussia Dortmund to retain their crown.

Vice-chairman Jan-Christian Dreesen will take over from Kahn, while Salihamidzic’s replacement is yet to be appointed.

A statement on the club’s official website said: “Oliver Kahn is no longer CEO of FC Bayern Munchen AG. Hasan Salihamidzic will also be replaced as board member for sport. This was decided by the club’s supervisory board.

“Kahn will be replaced by the current vice-chairman of the board Jan-Christian Dreesen. Salihamidzic’s successor is still to be decided.”

Kahn joined the board in January 2020 and took over as CEO in July the following year, presiding over two league title wins as well as Champions League, European Super Cup, DFB Cup and DFL Supercup success.

Herbert Hainer, chairman of Bayern’s supervisory board, said: “The decision to part with Oliver Kahn was anything but easy for the supervisory board. Nevertheless, due to the overall development, we have come to the decision to make a new appointment at the top of the executive board.

“We would like to thank Oliver Kahn for his commitment, his ideas and for everything we have achieved together. He will always remain a great figure at FC Bayern. We wish him all the best for his future.”

Former midfielder Salihamidzic returned to the club as sporting director in August 2017 and was promoted to the post of board member for sport three years later.

He said: “It has been a great journey, which I would have liked to continue, but I respect the decision of the supervisory board. FC Bayern stands above everything else, and I wish our team and our fans cohesion and success.”

Luton completed their fairy-tale rise from non-league to Premier League with a dramatic, sudden-death penalty shoot-out victory against Coventry in the Sky Bet Championship play-off final.

Just nine years on from ending their five-season stretch in the Conference Premier, the Hatters are celebrating returning to the top-flight for the first time since 1992.

Previous point deductions and disappointments were left in the rear-view mirror at Wembley, where Jordan Clark’s opener was cancelled out by Coventry favourite Gustavo Hamer.

The match finished 1-1 after extra-time and Fankaty Dabo’s penalty miss meant a famous 6-5 sudden-death shoot-out victory for jubilant Luton.

It was a cruel way for the season to end – a £170million clash between clubs that have both gone through the mill during their decades away from the big time.

These teams were promoted from League Two together in 2018 and the latter went into half-time ahead, with Clark scoring a deserved opened for the dominant Hatters.

Rob Edwards’ side rallied impressively after captain Tom Lockyer’s concerning early collapse, but Coventry improved after the break.

Hamer, City’s semi-final hero against Middlesbrough, impressively levelled as the match went to extra-time.

Luton thought they had won it in the 116th minute through Joe Taylor, only for the VAR to find the youngster had handled when dispossessing Jonathan Panzo.

Promotion went down to penalties and Coventry substitute Dabo was first to miss, securing Luton’s promotion to the Premier League. The players held up Lockyer’s shirt as they celebrated in front of their fans.

Both managers stuck with the players that sealed their ticket to Wembley, where Gabriel Osho thought he had put his side into an early lead.

The Luton defender bundled home following a Lockyer header, but the goal was ruled out for offside.

Frustration quickly turned to concern as the Luton skipper fell to the floor when running back.

A hush fell upon Wembley as Lockyer underwent treatment before leaving on a stretcher and being replaced by Reece Burke.

Luton later confirmed their captain had been taken to hospital for further tests, saying “he is responsive and talking to his family, who are with him”.

Town stood up in their captain’s absence and heaped pressure on Coventry, with top scorer Carlton Morris hooking wide and seeing another attempt blocked.

Coventry were struggling to get out of their own half and were caught out in the 23rd minute on one of the few occasions they did.

A long ball down the left flank was held up superbly by Elijah Adebayo, who played in Clark to lash home at the near post.

Luton fans thought the net would bulge again six minutes later but Adebayo lifted wide as he attempted to beat goalkeeper Ben Wilson.

Shell-shocked Coventry could not get going and Adebayo had no arguments after seeing a goal ruled out for turning in Callum Doyle’s clearance with his arm.

City’s only shot of the opening period followed as Hamer hammered over, but boss Mark Robins had them revived after the break.

Luton’s hearts were in their mouths when Ethan Horvath’s clearance ballooned off a team-mate and out of harm’s way, before Liam Kelly and Luke McNally had attempts.

Coventry’s increased attacking intent brought about a 66th-minute leveller in front of their travelling hordes.

Viktor Gyokeres was put through down the left and the frontman cut back for Hamer to level with a low first-time strike.

Substitute Matt Godden took a touch and lifted over as Coventry searched for a quick-fire second but play soon became broken up as tension ratcheted up.

Hamer went off injured and both sides seemed more intent to not lose than to win it. Clark missed a free-kick and Godden volleyed wide as the match went to extra-time.

Gyokeres got away a fierce effort that Horvath eventually got hold of in the first period, before Luton’s Clark was booked for diving in the box. Replays appeared to show goalkeeper Wilson caught him, if only just.

Exhausted players continued to require treatment or replacement as the second half of extra-time came and went.

Luton thought they had won it in the most dramatic fashion in the 116th minute, but the VAR saw Taylor had handled when dispossessing Panzo before firing home.

The final whistle saw all eyes focused on the Luton end of the stadium for the shoot-out, where Dabo missed after the first 11 spot-kicks were coolly converted.

Rodrygo scored a deadly double as Real Madrid battled from behind to win 2-1 at 10-man Sevilla in LaLiga on Saturday.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side strengthened their grasp on second place in the league after recovering from an early setback to triumph at Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan.

Rodrygo’s free-kick cancelled out Rafa Mir’s early opener in an entertaining first half in Andalusia, where Madrid played without their star duo of Karim Benzema and Vinicius Junior.

Rodrygo’s second goal with just over 20 minutes remaining proved decisive before Marcos Acuna was dismissed as Madrid moved four points clear of rivals Atletico Madrid, who host Real Sociedad on Sunday.

Mir fired Sevilla into a third-minute lead after reacting quickly to sweep into the top-left corner when Bryan Gil’s initial effort ricocheted kindly into his path.

Rodrygo spurned a glorious opportunity to equalise shortly after, dragging wide when unmarked from Lucas Vazquez’s low cross – but the Madrid winger soon made amends.

An unsighted Yassine Bounou was deceived as Rodrygo whipped a 25-yard free-kick into the bottom-right corner after 29 minutes, although Sevilla should have been ahead at half-time.

Erik Lamela volleyed against the post with Thibaut Courtois stranded, before the forward lifted a back-post chance over after an inviting Alejandro Gomez delivery.

Rodrygo somehow lofted over when one-on-one with Bounou after the break, while Mir turned narrowly wide from Acuna’s pinpoint centre.

Yet Rodrygo proved the difference after 69 minutes, coolly finishing a rapid counter-attack by sliding into the bottom-right corner to down Sevilla, who saw Acuna dismissed later on for a mindless lunge on Vazquez.

What does it mean? Madrid find a way

Falling at the Champions League semi-final stage and losing to Barcelona in the title race, Madrid have little to play for in the remainder of the season.

Their performance for large parts at Sevilla may have offered Ancelotti reason for concern, although in true Madrid style, Los Blancos battled back and found a way to win.

As rumours swirl over the potential arrival of Jude Bellingham, Madrid will already be planning on how they bounce back next season.

Rampant Rodrygo

Madrid were without Benzema and Vinicius but the latter’s fellow Brazilian delivered in their absence.

Rodrygo has scored two braces in his last six games for Madrid across all competitions, just one fewer than in his previous 152 games for Los Blancos (three).

Luckless Los Blancos defence

Ancelotti’s side have struggled since the turn of the new year, failing to keep the pace with runaway champions Barcelona in LaLiga after repeated defensive issues.

Madrid have conceded 41 goals across all competitions since the mid-season World Cup, only Real Valladolid and Espanyol (both 44) have been breached more among LaLiga sides.

Key Opta facts

– Sevilla have lost 19 points from winning positions in LaLiga this season, more than any other side.

– Madrid have won 13 points from losing positions in LaLiga this season, a tally only bettered by Villarreal (17) and Girona (15).

– Toni Kroos attempted 133 passes during the game, the highest total for a player in LaLiga this season.

– Sevilla have lost after scoring the opening goal of a LaLiga match for the first time since January 14, 2023 (12 games without defeat).

What’s next?

Madrid conclude their LaLiga campaign by hosting Athletic Club on June 4. Meanwhile, Sevilla must dust themselves down quickly ahead of facing Roma in the Europa League final on Wednesday.

Neymar’s former Brazil team-mate Willian believes the forward could star for any team in world football, as he continues to be linked with a move to Manchester United.

Neymar has endured a frustrating spell with Paris Saint-Germain since leaving Barcelona in 2017, failing to win the Champions League and never playing more than 22 games in a single Ligue 1 campaign.

The 31-year-old was ruled out for the remainder of the season with an ankle injury in March, leaving him to watch PSG’s Champions League round-of-16 exit against Bayern Munich from the sidelines. 

With PSG falling short of continental glory once again, both Neymar and fellow attacker Lionel Messi have been linked with a move at the end of the season.

Old Trafford has been suggested as a potential destination for the Brazil star after United clinched a return to the Champions League, and Willian believes he would thrive in England.

“Neymar, with the quality he has, performs anywhere,” the Fulham winger told Stats Perform. 

“Wherever he goes in the world, he can easily perform with the quality he has, the talent he has. 

“It would be really cool to see him playing in the Premier League. Wherever he goes, he has the necessary quality to be able to enjoy and play the beautiful football he knows.

“He has a place in any team in the world for his quality. You only need to know if he wants to go to United. 

“It’s a great club. For sure, if he goes there, he will be in a huge club. It’s a club that has won many titles here, it’s considered one of the biggest clubs in England along with Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea, all big clubs. 

“If he comes to England, no doubt it would be great to see him in the Premier League.”

While Neymar could become the latest Selecao star to grace the English top flight, his fellow Brazilian Roberto Firmino will seek pastures new after he plays his final game for Liverpool on Sunday.

Asked about Firmino’s impact on the Premier League, Willian said: “He made history here. He’s a player that I’m a big fan of, he’s a star player for me. 

“He made history at Liverpool and won important titles. He is respected not only by Liverpool fans, but he is highly respected here in England. He leaves a legacy here. 

“I don’t know if he’ll stay in England, but if he leaves, he’ll leave a huge legacy of what he did.”

Willian was also asked about the performances of Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka, who signed a new long-term contract with the Gunners earlier this week following an outstanding campaign.

“He has the potential to be a great player, he has a lot of talent,” Willian said of his fellow wideman.

“He’s a player who has all the conditions to keep evolving, being one of Arsenal’s big names and, consequently, fighting to be one of the best players in the league, without a doubt.”

Union Berlin secured Champions League qualification for the first time in their history as Schalke suffered relegation from Bundesliga on the final day of the season.

Rani Khedira’s 81st-minute winner at home to Werder Bremen saw Union pip Freiburg to fourth place in the German top flight, with Urs Fischer’s side booking their spot in UEFA’s top club competition for next season.

There was no such good fortune for Schalke, though, as they dropped back down to 2. Bundesliga following a 4-2 defeat to third-placed RB Leipzig on Saturday.

As Bayern Munich celebrated edging out Borussia Dortmund for the title on goal difference, Stuttgart will be left to fight for their top-flight status in a play-off after a 1-1 draw at home to Hoffenheim.

Stuttgart will face either Hamburg or Heidenheim, with whoever finishes third in the German second division due to battle with Sebastian Hoeness’ men for a place in Bundesliga next term.

Had Stuttgart won, Augsburg would have been in that play-off after a 2-0 final-day defeat at Borussia Monchengladbach, while Bochum pulled clear of danger with a 3-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen.

Chelsea secured a fourth successive Women’s Super League title by coasting to a 3-0 victory at Reading which consigned the Royals to relegation.

Boasting a two-point lead over Manchester United, Chelsea only needed to win at the Select Car Leasing Stadium to become champions and Sam Kerr’s 18th-minute header from Guro Reiten’s cross put them ahead.

The provider turned goal scorer before half-time with a fine finish and Kerr rubberstamped a win which confirmed a league and cup double in the 88th minute with a tap-in after her initial shot hit a post.

The Blues have been dominant in recent weeks – this was their seventh win in a row – but even if Reading had ripped up the script and claimed an unlikely three points, their demotion to the Championship was guaranteed by Leicester edging out Brighton 1-0 courtesy of Ava Baker’s strike.

United had to settle for second spot in the table – their highest-ever finish in the WSL five years after reforming – as substitute Lucia Garcia’s strike secured a 1-0 win over Liverpool at Prenton Park.

Garcia came off the bench to score a late winner against Manchester City last weekend and ensure the title race went to the final day of the season, and she came up trumps up again in the 72nd minute.

Three minutes after being introduced, Garcia beat the offside trap, chipped a Liverpool defender and while the Spaniard seemed to fluff an attempted volley, on the second attempt she drove beyond goalkeeper Rachael Laws at her near post.

Arsenal held on for third and Champions League football next season despite a 2-0 defeat at home to Aston Villa, where Rachel Daly equalled the record for most goals in a WSL season.

Daly struck in first-half stoppage time for her 22nd league goal of the campaign – securing the Golden Boot and emulating Vivianne Miedema’s haul for Arsenal in 2018-19.

Alisha Lehmann then made sure of Villa’s first WSL win over Arsenal in the 49th minute, but the Gunners secured third place due to a superior goal difference over Manchester City, who finished fourth after holding on to beat Everton 3-2 in Izzy Christiansen’s final match before retirement.

Khadija Shaw struck either side of Lauren Hemp’s fine effort to put City three goals to the good before Lucy Hope and substitute Leonie Maier scored consolations for the Toffees.

Bethany England scored twice for Tottenham at West Ham, who claimed a 2-2 draw following Emma Snerle’s curling strike and Kit Graham’s own goal.