Tag: premier league

Nakala/Premier League
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The Treble Winners versus the Invincibles; who did it Best?

by Bruce Mandela
On one side, Arsene Wenger lifting the invincibles trophy, on the other, Ferguson posing with the treble trophies.

English football had one of the fiercest rivalries around the beginning of the 21st century. Two clubs had carved out a niche in the elite category courtesy of their managers and style of play. They amassed trophies at will and set unique records only held by the two specific clubs. While one won the impressive Treble, the other won a trophy currently considered impossible to lift, the Golden EPL trophy (the invincibles). Indeed Manchester United and Arsenal gifted the EPL fans an unforgettable era of entertaining English football. Despite both groups winning their accolades impressively, some fans still decide whose feat was more memorable. Before deciding who did it best, let us examine both teams and how they ran their games.

The outlook and quality of both the Treble winners and the Invincibles

Both teams comprised two elite managers, Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger, famously referred to as the Professor. Before taking over their respective clubs, both managers had shown promise in their respective clubs before being given the jobs. They took over the clubs with the zeal to improve the legacies already made by Manchester United and Arsenal. Despite having their unique tactics, both managers wanted their teams to be possession based and dominant over their opponents. 

David Beckham holding the Champions League trophy. He setup Teddy Sheringham in the dying seconds of the Champions League final
David Beckham holding the Champions League trophy. He setup Teddy Sheringham in the dying seconds of the Champions League final. Photo Credits: Manchester United

The quality of the midfield

They, therefore, ensured that their midfielders were full of quality to run their games perfectly. The treble winners had the no-joke Roy Keane as their central defensive midfielder. He was backed up by the sharp-shooting Paul Scholes and the free-kick specialist David Beckham. Academy coach Nicky Butt completed this midfield four that collected the three trophies in the 1998/99 season. 

The Invincibles had Patrick Vieira as their captain and defensive midfielder. The Frenchman was known for his bullish style of play that made opponents shudder with fear whenever playing against him. He played with Robert Pires and former manager Fredrick Ljungberg. Current sporting director Edu also played a crucial role in shaping this midfield that went 38 games unbeaten in EPL. Their midfield was physical and creative, taking points from other clubs at will.

The intimidating shot-stoppers

The treble winners had the gigantic Peter Schmeichel as their showstopper. The Dane intimidated strikers with his big body size and made several crucial saves that won United games. On the other hand, Jens Lehmann was at his best during their golden EPL campaign. He kept 15 clean sheets and was one of the goalkeepers who won the golden gloves that season. The goalkeeping docket, therefore, played a crucial role in ensuring both clubs achieved their feats.

The walls that secured trophies

A famous football quote by Sir Alex Ferguson goes, attack wins you games, and defense wins you titles. This could be one reason he ensured he formed a wall in his defense that proved a hard nut to crack. Denis Irwin and Jaap Stam combined with the Neville brothers forming a wall that proved a menace to opponents. The three trophies testify to how good that defense must have been.

The Gunners utilized the services of Ashley Cole, Gael Clichy, Sol Campbell, and Kolo Toure. The likes of Keown, Cygan, and Lauren also played a crucial role in delivering the unique piece of silverware home. This respected defense ensured that Arsenal went unbeaten for 38 Premier League games. 

Attacks full of talent

The attacks of these two clubs during their respective seasons were firing from all fronts. Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole accounted for at least 35 of Manchester United’s premier league goals. Despite being a substitute in most games, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer also played a crucial role in both the EPL and champions league. 

The London greats had the talented Denis Bergkamp and Thierry Henry, who entertained the 2003/04 season and left the fans with great memories. Reyes, Wiltord, and Kanu also made an indelible mark in the hearts of the fans with some crucial goals. This attack will consistently rank as one of the best the Arsenal fans experienced at Highbury.

Both attacks were highly rated and definitely deserved to achieve their individual successes. Regarding squad quality, both clubs were well-equipped with enough firepower to win trophies. None of them had a deficient squad.

Individual Honours in the respective seasons

After Manchester United won the Treble, David Beckham was ranked second in the Balon D’Or rankings. Six other Manchester United had been nominated for the awards. These included Schmeichel, Giggs, Yorke, and Cole, among others. 

After Arsenal’s Invincible season, only three of their players made it to the Balon d’Or’s final nomination list: Henry, Vieira, and Reyes. Henry finished in 4th spot in the final rankings. These nominations might indicate how challenging it was to lift the Treble than the golden EPL. 

Thierry Henry celebrating a past goal for Arsenal. He was part of the invincibles and was among the Balond'Or nominees, emerging fourth
Thierry Henry celebrating a past goal for Arsenal. He was part of the invincibles and was among the Balond’Or nominees, emerging fourth

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The trophies won

Manchester United was rewarded with three trophies for their impressive campaign in the 1998/99 season. These were the Premier League, the FA Cup, and the UEFA Champions League trophies. 

The Gunners won the Premier League trophy during their invincibles campaign in 2003/2004 season and were given a special golden trophy. Taking part in three competitions and winning them is a more significant challenge than winning a single trophy. In terms of trophies won, the Red Devils have the upper hand.

The difficulty of achieving each feat

Alex Ferguson’s side is respected for being the first and only English club to win the Treble. They did this after English clubs had been given a 5-year Champions League ban breaking the jinx of no English club making it to the finals in 8 years, and winning the trophy. Determined and unstoppable, United went on to add the Premier League and FA Cups to their accolades.

However, other European clubs have also replicated this feat, winning trebles on various occasions. In 2013, Bayern Munich won the Treble in Germany. Inter Milan also won the Treble in 2010 under the stewardship of Jose Mourinho. In 2009 and 2015, FC Barcelona also won the Treble. This could indicate that more clubs might achieve this feat in the coming years.

Juventus has only replicated the Invincible season in the top flight of European football. They did this in the 2011/12 season before winning the Scudetto. This proves that winning the league unbeaten might be more challenging than winning the Treble. It might take several other years before another unbeaten record is made in Europe.  

The treble winners celebrating their great feat. No English club has been able to replicate the same feat.
Teddy Sheringham and Paul Scholes celebrating their great feat. No English club has been able to replicate the same feat. Photo Credits: Manchester United

Beyond the Thrills: Reliving the Unforgettable Seasons of the ‘Invincibles’ and ‘Treble’ Winners

The Gunners managed to win 26 games and drew 12 in the invincibles season (2003/04). Despite having that impressive season, they faced some challenging games. At the beginning of the season, they drew 1-1 with Portsmouth FC. Thierry Henry later said that they drew the game given luck after being gifted a penalty late to draw the game. During that season, Arsenal scored 73 goals in the league in 2004. They scored 113 goals in all competitions.

Manchester United scored 80 league goals in their treble-winning season and had 128 goals scored in all competitions. They lost 3 league games all season. In terms of the number of goals scored in the league, Manchester United outshined Arsenal. Manchester United offered a more entertaining season than Arsenal.

How the Unbeatable Were Beaten: The Shocking Story of the Invincibles’ and Treble Winners’ Campaign Downfall

During their treble-winning campaign, the Old Trafford outfit lost five games. They lost to Sheffield Wednesday, Arsenal, and Middlesbrough in the league. Middlesbrough was the only club that beat Manchester United at home. They were also beaten by Arsenal during the Community Shield match at the beginning of the season. The last loss came at Tottenham in the league cup 3rd round. These were the only dents Manchester United experienced before achieving their greatest success.

In the 2004 season, the Gunners also experienced a fair share of disappointments from opponents. They were beaten by Middlesbrough FC in the League Cup semi-final stage. They also lost to bitter rivals Manchester United in the FA Cup quarter-finals. Chelsea also eliminated them late in the Champions League, leaving them with only a single title. 

Both clubs won their accolades impressively. However, they also experienced some humiliating losses during the season. This did not deter their seasons from being recorded as successes.

The Legacy of the Invincibles and Treble Winners Lives On

Every football fan can agree that the treble-winning and invincible seasons were impressive. The two clubs offered top-notch entertainment that will forever stay in the outstanding football records. The two managers also offered their highly entertaining, unique, and entertaining football styles.

Furthermore, both squads contained stars who were capable of lifting the trophies. They also had the quality and depth necessary to win accolades, and they eventually did so. Winning the league unbeaten was a challenging feat, especially with the league having the likes of Chelsea rebuilding under Abrahamovic. The Red Devils and the Reds were also impressive clubs at the time, and so Arsenal did a great job.

However, I would go with a treble owing to the quality of the trophies achieved and the number of games played by Man United. The United side had to play several games to win all the trophies. The three are prestigious cups highly rated in Europe, showing how lethal this united side must have been.

Premier League
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The exciting top-four race is shaping up.

by Bruce Mandela
Jurgen Klopp in a past training session with the boys. Liverpool have made a resurgence in a quest for a top-four spot.

The English Premier League top-four race is heating up, with at least eight clubs being mathematically involved in this exhilarating affair. Manchester City and Arsenal have already cemented their places in the top two positions as they chase down the title. Newcastle United is unpredictably sitting in 3rd position with 65 points, while out-of-form Manchester United is sitting in 4th place with 63 points. Liverpool has closed the gap by winning six games on the bounce. Meanwhile, Manchester United have lost seven crucial points in their last six league encounters.

Fighting for Champions League reputation

Three clubs are fighting hard to maintain their Champions League reputation. Manchester United, Liverpool, and Tottenham Hotspur are Champions League regulars who have represented England on several occasions on the big stage. Liverpool have won six UEFA Champions League titles, the most an English club has ever managed to win. Manchester United are three-time winners still craving the title they last won in 2008. Tottenham Hotspur reached the finals of 2019 after at least seven consecutive seasons in the competition. 

These three English clubs are fighting for a top-four spot for the sake of their prestige of participating in the competition for several years. Although five points behind Liverpool, Tottenham have recently improved after Ryan Mason’s appointment as their head coach. With four games to go, Tottenham Hotspur is praying that they collect maximum points from their last games while other clubs slip for them to stand a chance of tasting the top-four spots.

Tottenham are set to play Aston Villa on 13th May, away at Villa Park. Both teams are scrambling for a European spot with only three points separating them
Tottenham are set to play Aston Villa on 13th May, away at Villa Park. Both teams are scrambling for a European spot with only three points separating them. Photo Credits: Spurs Official

Merseyside’s might is back in the top-four race

A few game weeks ago, Liverpool were in eighth position, almost 9 points behind Manchester United. Their recent resurgence has seen them collect 18 points out of 18, winning six games on the bounce. During the same period, Manchester United have only managed 10 out of a possible 18 points. The setback has opened a way for Liverpool, who have been boosted by the return of long-term injured players Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz. The Merseyside side is now eyeing a top-four spot. Manchester United has a game in hand and can open the gap to four points with a win against Wolverhampton Wanderers this coming weekend.

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The underdogs craving for the piece of the cake

Brighton Hove Albion, and Aston Villa are considered underdogs who still believe they can still secure a chance in Europe’s elite club competition. With 55 and 54 points, the two clubs have been aiming for a European place by the end of the season. Although they are still mathematically in the race, the two clubs might have to settle for a Europa League spot with only a handful of matches left.

Dan Burn celebrating their victory against Leicester City in a past match. Newcastle are currently in third place, almost certain of a Champions League spot next season
Above, Dan Burn celebrating their victory against Leicester City in a past match. Newcastle are currently in third place, almost certain of a Champions League spot next season. Photo Credits: Newcastle FC

The crucially top-four games 

The following games will prove crucial in shaping the Premier League table. This weekend Newcastle United will be hosted at relegation-bound Leeds United. At the same time, Tottenham will have to face the impressive Unai Emery, who has witnessed a magnificent turnaround at Aston Villa. Manchester United will have to see off Wolverhampton Wanderers FC to try and reclaim their dwindling hopes of finishing in the top 4. Leicester City will host Liverpool at the King Power Stadium. The results from these matches will shape the table as the English Premier League enters its homestretch point.  

Europe/Premier League
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Manchester United are seeking to sign a new keeper

by Bruce Mandela
Livakovic celebrating a win for his team.

Manchester United are seeking to sign a new goal keeper, their main target, Dominic Livakovic. He has developed into one of the most prolific goalkeepers and has proven himself on the world stage. He plays as the number one Dinamo Zagreb goalkeeper and doubles up as the Croatian national team goalkeeper. His impressive performances at club and national team levels are why he is now considered one of the most sought-after goalkeepers.

Livakovic exploits at club level

Livakovic was born on the 9th of January 1995 in Zadar, Croatia. He started his club career at the NK Zagreb team, where he made his senior debut on the 31st of August 2012. He joined Dinamo Zagreb at the beginning of the 2015/16 season and debuted for the club on the 2nd of October 2016. Since then, he has stayed at Dinamo Zagreb, playing a crucial role in their hunt for accolades.

At Dinamo Zagreb, he holds the record for the longest time since the start of the season without conceding a goal. He set the record of 535 minutes on the 2nd of August 2019 while playing against Gorica. His most impressive club performance for Dinamo Zagreb was noticed in the 2020-21 Europa League group stages. During that season, he conceded only one goal in 5 group-stage games while saving a crucial penalty. He was also instrumental when they eliminated Tottenham Hotspur in the round of 16 of the competition granting Zagreb their first Europa League quarter-finals appearance in history.

Dinamo Zagreb’s number one has been linked to a number of top sides following his great consistent performances. Photo Credits: Dinamo Zagreb

Livakovic exploits for the Croatian team

Dominik Livakovic earned his first international call-up to the Croatian National team in May 2016. He had to wait until 2017 to debut against Chile in the China Cup. In 2018, the Dinamo Zagreb shot stopper got the significant call-up to join the Croatian National team for the World Cup, where he won a silver medal after finishing runners-up to France. He did not play a game during the tournament, with Daniel Subasic being the leading man.

He was finally rewarded with his first competitive debut against England in a goalless Nations League match. It took several disappointing performances by Lovre Kalinic for Livakovic to be considered Croatia’s number 1 goalkeeper. He started playing this role satisfactorily against Wales on the 8th of June 2019.

His most impressive performances were noticed at the 2022 world cup, where he played eight matches for Croatia. He kept two clean sheets against Morocco and Belgium in the group stages and helped his team advance to the round of 16, where they faced Japan. His three crucial penalty saves ensured his team qualified for the quarter-finals. 

He saved another crucial penalty against Brazil in the quarter-finals. He ensured they got to the competition’s semi-finals for the second consecutive edition, where they were beaten 3-0 by Argentina. He, however, became the 15th player ever to be awarded a 10/10 performance by France magazine L’Equipe for his heroics against Morocco as they settled for the bronze medal. 

His world cup heroics have massively contributed to him being wanted by several clubs since he has proven to be a technically gifted player.

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Career Statistics

The Manchester United target has played at least 388 club games since he started playing his trade for Zagreb. These include at least 300 league and 70 European games. For the Croatian national team, he has played a total of 43 games. 

Honours 

The Dinamo Zagreb shot stopper started winning trophies as early as 2014 with NK Zagreb, where they won the Croatian championship. At Dinamo Zagreb, he has won 5 league cups, two Croatian and two Croatian super cups. He won the world cup silver medal with Croatia while adding another bronze medal in the last world cup edition.

Livakovic in action for the Croatian national team
Livakovic in action for Dinamo Zagreb. The shot stopper has been linked with a move to Manchester United. Photo Credits: Dinamo Zagreb

Individual Honours

He has been named to the Croatian league team of the year seven times and named Croatian’s best goalkeeper for four consecutive years since 2019. After his superb performances, he was named to the Europa League breakthrough team of 2018. In 2020/21, he was named to the Europa League squad of the season. 

How much will it cost Manchester United to get Livakovic

The Croatian has a release clause of around 8.9 million euros that Manchester United is seemingly ready to pay. They are currently the only major club interested in the Croatian international, seeking to level up on David De Gea. If they can pay this release clause, Dominik Livakovic might make his appearance at Manchester United next season.

Editor's Pick/Premier League
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Manchester City’s Quest for the treble

by Bruce Mandela
Pep Guardiola celebrating his side proceeding to the FA cup finals. Photo Credits: Manchester City

Manchester City is leading a charge for a treble after qualifying for the FA Cup finals over the weekend. A hat trick from Riyad Mahrez was enough to spur the Pep Guardiola-coached side to victory over Championship side Sheffield United. Pep Guardiola would aim to win the FA Cup after missing out on the other domestic cup, the Carabao, to bitter rivals Manchester United.

The Cityzens had a smooth run in the Champions League and eliminated German giants Bayern Munich from last week’s competition. They are now set to meet Real Madrid in the semi-final set for May. Despite never winning the competition, they have been rated as the cup’s favorites.

In the league, Manchester City is only five (5) points behind Arsenal with two games in hand. The Gunners were 11 points on top before slipping in their last three games and losing six crucial points. This slip has rekindled the fight for the title, with Manchester City also looking like a possible winner.

Riyad Mahrez scored a hat-trick in the Wembley Stadium versus Sheffield United guiding his side to a semi-final victory.
Mahrez celebrating a goal as Manchester City played Sheffield United in the FA cup semi-finals. Photo credits: Manchester City

A footprint in Premier League’s hall of fame: Manchester City treble

Two of Sir Alex Ferguson’s records are on the verge of being broken by Pep Guardiola’s side if they can win the elusive treble. They would have replicated his famous three-peat, where he is the only EPL manager to win the premier league title thrice in a row. Furthermore, winning the treble would also mean Sir Alex Ferguson ceases to be the only EPL manager to manage that feat.

Also Read

The odds of winning the treble are in Manchester City’s favour due to their superb form and squad depth that can sustain them in all competitions. However, they have to floor three football heritage giants to achieve this feat. Firstly, they will have to battle it out with a wounded Arsenal in the league on Wednesday to prove they have the nerves to win the league. Secondly, they have to eliminate the Champions League defending Real Madrid from the competition’s semi-final. Finally, they have to beat rivals Manchester United in the FA Cup finals to lift the coveted domestic cup. If they manage these three wins, Manchester City could be on the verge of becoming the second EPL side to win a treble.

Editor's Pick/England/Premier League
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Manchester United Transfer News. Ronaldo out?

by marina

It is pretty unsettling for a Manchester United fan that Cristiano Ronaldo did not travel with the rest of the team for the pre-season tour amidst the numerous Manchester United transfer news linking him to a possible transfer away from Old Trafford. The potential transfer of Cristiano Ronaldo, among many other possible transfers to and from Manchester, keeps die-hard fans unsettled.

1. Cristiano Ronaldo

Manchester United’s top goal scorer in the Premier League 21/22 has been linked with a move away from Old Trafford. Clubs such as Chelsea and PSG have been linked with him. Chelsea’s transfers team made contact with Jorge Mendes, Ronaldo’s agent, following the news that he was not part of the squad for the pre-season tour. They were trying to establish the situation at Old Trafford for the Portuguese striker and assess the possibility of a transfer. However, the two have not discussed a personal agreement, nor has Chelsea made an official offer for the Portuguese striker. Moreover, Chelsea is yet to place an official bid to sign the player. 

Picture Mbappe, Neymar, Messi, and Cristiano Ronaldo on the same team

Messi, Neymar, and Mbappe are currently rated among the best footballers and happen to play for the same club. How would they lineup with Cristiano Ronaldo in the team? On paper, this team is quite formidable. However, the practicality of the situation, proper player management, and tactical implementation by the coaching team can be disastrous for one of the players. Some or one of the player(s) could end up clouded by the other(s). Notably: Benzema has been having a great season with Real Madrid following the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo, and Griezmann had a tough time featuring Barcelona with Messi present.

In addition, in the 21/22 Ligue 1 season, the three did not have a stellar performance per se. Mbappe was occasionally the main man on most occasions whenever the three were fielded. Mbappe played as the striking target in most matches and delivered exceptionally. Messi and Neymar had to take a deeper chance creating roles, but they occasionally failed to take up defensive roles. Well, probably Pochettinho’s tactics were a miss, or the three are just lazy.

As expected, PSG has turned down the opportunity to sign Cristiano Ronaldo. Considering the latter reason, it is pretty clear why. Furthermore, onboarding him with his high wages would significantly affect the team balance in other pitch areas, considering financial fair play guidelines.

Manchester United News

2. Frenkie De Jong

Looking at United’s chase for De Jong brings to mind the thought of chasing after the wind. Remember the Sancho deal? At first, Sancho proved quite elusive for the Red Devils, but after numerous rejected deals and fan videos calling for his signing, he finally arrived at Old Trafford. Ten Haag appears to be gathering some of his previous exceptional players. Manchester United is also pursuing Lisandro Martinez, who happens to have been signed and coached by the Dutch, fifty-two-year-old (52 yrs) Dutch coach. 

Frenkie De Jong has been a top transfer target for Ten Haag at Manchester United, despite the prevailing situation at Barcelona. Photo Credit: Barcelona FC
Frenkie De Jong has been a top transfer target for Ten Haag at Manchester United, despite the prevailing situation at Barcelona. Photo Credit: Barcelona FC

Barcelona’s financial status. Are they broke or not?

Frenkie De Jong has communicated through his agents, Ali Dursun and Hasan Cetinkaya, that he has no intention of leaving the Nou Camp. Moreover, they have stated that they are not accepting salary reductions or related negotiations. At one point, Barcelona had come to an agreement to sell the twenty-five-year-old to Manchester United, with some add-ons slated into the deal. The precise agreed transfer amount was sixty-five million Euros (€ 65 m) and twenty million Euros (€ 20 m) in add-ons. Barcelona claimed to not be in a stable financial position. They have been seeking to offload some players to lower their wage bills. The economic situation was dire to the point that the Nou Camp was open for weddings and other events during the summer break. 

Another major hindrance to closing this deal is the seventeen million Euros (€ 17 m) that Barcelona owes De Jong. Surprisingly, they can hijack a Raphinha-to-Chelsea deal and sign the Brazillian for sixty-five million Euros (€ 65 m). The purchase of Raphinha by Barcelona begs many questions about their actual financial status and whether they will sell the Dutch midfielder to Manchester United. 

3. Lisandro Martinez

This Argentine center-back, Martinez, has been linked with a move to Old Trafford, where he will rejoin his former coach, Eric Ten Haag, at Old Trafford. The Red Devils have agreed on personal terms with the Argentine and are looking forward to sealing a deal with Ajax. Last week, the Eredivisie team rejected an initial fifty million Euros (€50 m) deal from Manchester United. However, they are currently open to selling the Argentine.

Lisandro Martinez featuring for Ajax FC in a past match. The Argentine is a top transfer target for Manchester United. Mufc has stepped up its pursuit of the Argentine. Photo Credit: Ajax FC
Above, Lisandro Martinez featuring for Ajax FC in a past match. The Argentine is a top transfer target for Manchester United. Mufc has stepped up its pursuit of the Argentine. Photo Credit: Ajax FC

Squad depth

The successful transfer of Lisandro Martinez will add more defensive squad depth for the Manchester side. The Argentine will join an already star-studded defense if the deal pulls through. Some of these big names include Harry Maguire (Ten Haag’s captaincy choice), Raphael Varane (multiple times Champions League winner), Victor Lindelof, Eric Bailly, Luke Shaw (dubbed to be present-day Roberto Carlos), Aaron Wan Bissaka (never misses a tackle), Alex Telles, among other defensive options. 

Who is Lisandro Martinez?

Who is Lisandro Martinez? You might not need to scroll through numerous Youtube videos to get to know this guy. He is a quite notable left-footed center-back. Lisandro Martinez plays for Eredivisie’s side, Ajax, and has made 74 appearances for the Eredivisie side, scoring six (6) goals and providing five (5) assists. It is worth noting that Ten Haag occasionally fields a back-four side. Occasionally, he opts for a 4-3-3 high press formation, and other times he goes with a 4-3-2-1 formation. As a result, Lisandro Martinez might bench one of the center-backs or remain as a bench option or a Europa player considering the number of matches in the first half of the Premier League.

Interesting Reads

4. Pogba

The phrase, Pogback, was a trend in August 2016. At that time, Manchester United fans worldwide celebrated his return to Old Trafford for a record fee, one hundred and five million Euros (€ 105 m). Despite all this, Pogba has again parted ways with the Red Devils to rejoin the Italian side, Juventus. Before this move, sources close to Pogba claimed that he was disgruntled at Manchester United. During this period, Labile was linked with some clubs, including Real Madrid and Barcelona. When Zinedine Zidane was coaching Real Madrid, he had taken a keen interest in him.

Pogba in a Juventus shirt following his move from Manchester United on a free transfer. Photo Credit: Juventus FC
Pogba in a Juventus shirt following his move from Manchester United on a free transfer. Photo Credit: Juventus FC

The France national joins Juventus on a free transfer for the second time (United seems to be doing the heavy lifting here). Paul Pogba is a Manchester United academy graduate but seems to have never settled comfortably for the Premier League side. He has not been consistent throughout his stay at United. It is worth noting that at the start of the 21/22 Premier League season, Labile Pogba had several stellar performances. However, this did not reflect over the rest of the season. Alex Ferguson, at one point, made a statement regarding the player’s discipline and cited it as a reason for concern. Moreover, he did not fail to acknowledge the exceptional skills Pogba possessed.

Despite all this, Pogba has contributed immensely to the last trophy the Manchester United team won. Most notable is his role in their Europa final versus Ajax back in the 16/17 season. 

An active Manchester United transfer period

Ten Haag is active during this period. Cristiano Ronaldo might leave Manchester United; De Jong might agree to his transfer from Barcelona to Manchester United. There are numerous possibilities for Manchester United during this transfer period. The Red Devils might miss out on some transfers, lose some players, or complete unexpected player signings.

Here are some of the top transfer targets for Manchester United. Photo Credit: MIrror Football
Here are some of the top transfer targets for Manchester United. Photo Credit: Mirror Football
England/Main Stories/Premier League
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Thomas Tuchel: An incredible start at Chelsea.

by Lawrence Juma

Thomas Tuchel took the helm of Chelsea Football Club on 26th January 2021, succeeding Frank Lampard after a poor spell of results. Tuchel is the first German to take charge of the London club. He signed an 18-month contract with the possibility of an extension.

Thomas Tuchel unveiled as Chelsea Manager. (Image: Getty Images)

However, he hit the ground running and ingrained his football philosophy into the Chelsea team within the first few games. He holds the record for the longest unbeaten start in the club’s history, after avoiding defeat in 14 matches. Furthermore, Chelsea have kept 11 clean sheets in that run. This comes after only two goals against them through Antonio Rudiger’s own goal and a brilliant effort from Southampton’s Takumi Minamino.

Tuchel in training with Chelsea. (Image: Getty Images)

Thomas Tuchel wins the Barclays Manager of the Month award for March.

After just his second month in charge of the blues, Thomas Tuchel is the Barclays Manager of the Month. He becomes the second German to win the award after Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp. Tuchel has guided Chelsea to victories against Liverpool, Everton and Leeds United in March.

Tuchel with the Barclays Manager of the Month award.

I am really happy to have received this award, and I believe it is a great achievement for everybody at the club who is involved in putting the team together to play each week. The award would not be possible if it weren’t for the hard work of all my coaching staff and the wider support team who all push the team in the same direction, to achieve success.

Thomas Tuchel.

Read our latest posts and Main Stories.

Not a honeymoon phase.

While many people may be quick to attribute his incredible start to life in the Premier League as some honeymoon phase, that could not be further from the truth. During his 14-match unbeaten run, Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea has inflicted defeat on Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool, Everton and Atletico Madrid twice in the Champions League without conceding any goal.

Keep up to date with the COVID-19 pandemic. What should we expect in the Premier League in this season?

Europe/Premier League
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Where to watch Premier League mid-week matches

by marina
Chelsea go head to head with Totenham. We'll tell you where to watch this among other Premier League matches.

Match week 21 recap

You can watch the midweek Premier League action on some Tv/broadcasting channels: Amazon, Bein Sports, Dstv as well among others. The English Premier League match week 21 has been quite eventful. Lot’s of great matches were served to fans worldwide. Manchester City fired one goal past Sheffield United. With this result, they maintain the top spot. Manchester United shared spoils with Arsenal. They have maintained the second position for the second game week running. A win against West Ham has pushed Liverpool back to the top 3. This has happened at the expense of a Leicester City loss. A slight slip changes the outlook of the EPL table. This makes the EPL even more enjoyable. As the title race continues taking shape, more matches are set to be played this coming week. The big question is, where can you catch the matches live? Worry not, for the solution lies here.

Where To Catch The EPL Midweek Action

Tuesday The 2nd Of February

Sheffield United vs. West Brom 1800Hrs(GMT), 2100Hrs(EAT)

  1. Supersport Variety 2
  2. Bein Sports HD 2

Wolverhampton Wanderers vs. Arsenal 1800Hrs(GMT), 2100Hrs(EAT)

  1. Supersport Premier League
  2. Supersport Football
  3. Bein Sports HD 1

Man United vs. Southampton 2015Hrs(GMT), 2315Hrs(EAT)

  1. Supersport Grandstand
  2. Supersport Premier League
  3. Bein Sports HD 1

Newcastle vs. Crystal Palace 2015Hrs(GMT), 2315Hrs(EAT)

  1. Supersport Variety 2
  2. Bein Sports HD 2

Wednesday The 3rd of February

Burnley vs. Man City 1800Hrs(GMT), 2100Hrs(EAT)

  1. Supersport Grandstand
  2. Supersport Premier League
  3. Bein Sports HD 1

Fulham vs. Leicester City 1800Hrs(GMT), 2100Hrs(EAT)

  1. Supersport Premier League
  2. Bein Sports HD 2

Leeds United vs. Everton 1930Hrs(GMT), 2200Hrs(EAT)

  1. Supersport Football
  2. Supersport Football Plus

Aston Villa vs. West Ham 2015Hrs(GMT), 2315Hrs(EAT)

  1. Supersport Variety 2

Liverpool vs. Brighton 2015Hrs(GMT), 2315Hrs(EAT)

  1. Supersport Premier League
  2. Supersport Grandstand
  3. Bein Sports HD

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Thursday The 4th of February

Tottenham Hotspurs vs. Chelsea 2000Hrs(GMT), 2300Hrs(EAT)

  1. Supersport Premier League
  2. Supersport Grandstand
  3. Bein 4K

Match of the week

This is the undisputed match of the week. A London derby is always one to look forward to. Who does not look forward to a derby match? What makes it even more remarkable is the fact that Jose Mourinho is facing his former employer. A cracker surely awaits. Man United versus Southampton is another match to look forward to. Both clubs have been promising this season. Will Arsenal soldier towards the top 4 with a win against Wolverhampton Wanderers? An exciting match week awaits.

The EPL table is bound to change as soon as match week one completes. While some clubs push for the title, others will be fighting for a top-four finish. Hopefully, you will enjoy this one, won’t you? Always here to ensure you know where you can watch Premier league matches every week.

England/Premier League
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Alonso remarkable performance as Chelsea win vs Burnley

by marina
Marcus Alonso once sidelined, had a prolific performance today against Burnley as he helped Chelsea win the match

The sidelined fullback

Marcus Alonso once sidelined, had a prolific performance today against Burnley as he helped Chelsea win the match. The Spanish fullback had been sidelined from the Chelsea lineup since September for every Premier League match. Was there anything between Lampard and Marcus Alonso?

Frank Lampard occasionally fielded a back four, and once a while a back 3, with two fullbacks, Reece James and Chilwell. When Chelsea played a back four, Alonso would end up not featuring also. His teammates, on the other hand, Azpilicueta, Reece James and Chilwell were preferred to him. It was rumoured that he had a fallout with the then manager Frank Lampard. Of course, Lampard denied such claims on the press.

A clean slate

This time, it was an Alonso goal. He controlled the ball with his chest, flicking it with his knee then firing straight over Nick Pope's head with his strong foot
Alonso alongside Pulisic celebrating Alonso’s goal vs Burnley. Phot credit: Chelsea FC

Under Thomas Tuchel, former PSG manager, Marcus Alonso has made his first Premier League appearance since last year. Thomas Tuchel in a previous press briefing, stated every player had to fight for his position. It is now clear that Chilwell, Emerson Palmieri, and the thirty-year-old will have to fight for the Left Back/ Left Wing Back (LB/LWB) role.

Thomas Tuchel fielded a 3-4-2-1 formation vs Burnley’s usual 4-4-2 formation. This gave the Spanish fullback a chance to start for Chelsea considering Chilwell had begun in the previous league match for Chelsea.

Chelsea started the game with an early goal from Cesar Azpilicueta. The Blues added another in the dying embers of the game. This time, it was an Alonso goal. He controlled the ball with his chest, flicking it with his knee then firing straight over Nick Pope’s head with his strong foot. The goalkeeper was helpless in this situation. That made it a 2:0 win for the Blues. Quite a notable perfomance by Alonso ensuring Chelsea defeated Burnley. Following this win, Chelsea is now 7th in the Premier League standings. Everton and Aston Villa are following closely with a game in hand.

Marcus Alonso’s stats vs Burnley

  • Goals 1
  • pass accuracy 88.2%
  • Shots on target 1
  • Clearances 3
  • Tackles 1
  • Ground duels won 2
  • Aerial duels won 1
  • Big chances missed 1

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Considering how Chelsea is playing, if Tuchel continually fields a back three formation, the Chelsea fullbacks are bound to get more goals or and assists. Moreso, considering that the first goal was assisted by Hudson Odoi, who was playing at the Right Wing Back (RWB) position.

Marcus Alonso once sidelined, had a prolific performance today against Burnley as he helped Chelsea win the match
Chelsea and Burnley players lining up for a set piece. Chelsea won 2:0. Photo credit: Chelsea FC

Prolific fullbacks

With multiple players to choose from for the Left back /Left Wing back position, let’s see whether Tuchel will keep preferring Alonso over Chilwell and Emerson Palmieri. Who would you pick in the starting line up, Chilwell or Alonso?

England/Premier League
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Where to watch Arsenal vs Manchester United and other matches?

by marina
Edison Cavani is a new comer to this fixture, Arsenal vs Manchester United. You can watch the match on Supersport among other channels

I bet you would love to watch Arsenal vs Manchester United in the English Premier League. This and other hair-rising EPL matches will be on your screens this weekend. The Premier League table is steadily taking shape. The competition is becoming stiffer every day. A slight slip could see any club go down in terms of league positions. The top EPL clubs will be fighting to keep their title hopes alive.

Where Can You Catch The Action?

Saturday the 30th of January

Everton vs. Newcastle 1230hrs(GMT), 1530hrs (EAT)

  1. Sky Sports
  2. Supersport Premier League 203
  3. Bein Sports HD 1

Crystal Palace vs Wolverhampton Wanderers 1500hrs (GMT), 1800hrs (EAT)

  1. Bein Sports HD 8

Manchester City vs Sheffield United  1500hrs(GMT), 1800hrs(EAT)

A win here would ensure the Cityzens remain atop of the league, regardless of Manchester United’s match results.

  1. Bein Sports  HD 2
  2. Sky Sports
  3. Supersport Premier League 203

West Brom vs Fulham 1500hrs (GMT), 1800hrs (EAT)

  1. Bein Sports HD 9

Arsenal vs. Man United 1730hrs(GMT), 2030hrs(EAT)

The match that most people are looking forward to watch is the Arsenal vs Manchester United match. The crunch clash will be played at the Emirates. Arsenal has been the better side in the four most recent meetings. Will Manchester United tame the high flying gunners? Will they be able to get back on top in the league standings? Will they be able to squeeze a goal past the second-best defensive team after Pep’s Manchester City? The second best scoring side in the Premier League this season will go head to head with the second-best defensive side.

Where to catch the action?

  1. Supersport Premier League 203
  2. Bein Sports HD 1,2
  3. Sky Sports
Arsenal and Manchester United go head to head this weekend at the Emirates. For this and other matches tune in to Supersport. Photo Credit: DSTV

Southampton vs. Aston Villa 2000hrs(GMT), 2300hrs(EAT)

  1. Supersport Premier League 203
  2. Bein Sports HD 2
  3. Sky Sports

Sunday the 31st of January

Chelsea vs. Burnley 1200hrs(GMT), 1500hrs(EAT)

  1. Supersport Premier League 203
  2. Bein Sports HD 1,2

Leicester vs. Leeds 1400hrs(GMT), 1700hrs(EAT)

  1. Supersport Premier League 203
  2. Bein Sports HD 2
  3. Sky Sports

West Ham vs. Liverpool 1630hrs(GMT), 1930hrs(EAT)

  1. Supersport Premier League 203
  2. Bein Sports HD 1,2
  3. Sky Sports

Brighton and Hove Albion vs Tottenham Hotspurs 1915hrs(GMT), 2215hrs(EAT)

  1. Supersport Premier League 203
  2. Bein Sports HD 2
  3. Sky Sports

The matches will be shown live on the above-listed channels. The weekend promises to bring around a host of exciting fixtures. Every team will be out to get results. Some clubs will need the three points for the title chase while others will be fighting to survive relegation. All in all, we will all be anticipating yet another excellent premier league weekend, won’t we? Let’s enjoy this one.

Editor's Pick/Europe/Nakala/Premier League/UEFA Champions League
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UEFA Champions League vs Premier League? One pick.

by marina
Premier League vs. Champions League, make your pick.

UEFA Champions League vs Premier League: which one would you pick? European football competitions happen to be the most lucrative around the world. The clubs with the most fans generally ply their trade in Europe. Amongst them all, two competitions stand out, the English Premier League and the UEFA champions league. The two happen to have a massive fan-base around the world. This is how they compare in some aspects. UEFA was established in 1954 in Switzerland. Its main aim was for Europe to have an independent football governing body. The premier league, on the other hand, was established in 1992. This came after an agreement between division one clubs to break away from Football League. The Premier League offered better television rights deals.

Moreover, it happens to have more fans than the UEFA Champions League. This is shown by statistics, especially on merchandise sales. In 2020 alone, three premier league clubs made it to the top 10 most selling jerseys list. Liverpool, Chelsea, and Arsenal sold more jerseys than Real Madrid. Real happen to be the most successful club in Champions League history. This shows that the EPL is more popular than the Champions League.

Why Did the Two Competitions Start?

UEFA Champions League

Today’s Champions League, formerly the Champions Cup, was born from the idea of the sports editor of the French L’Equipe, Gabriel Ano, who proposed the creation of a competition that would decide which is the best club in Europe. The idea arose in response to the claims of some British newspapers that Wolverhampton is the best club in the world because he beat Honved from Hungary with a score of 3:2 at home in 1954.

The first official match of the Champions Cup was played on September 4, 1955, when Sporting Lisbon and Partizan Belgrade met. In 1966, Belgrade’s “Black and White”also played the final against Real Madrid at Brussels Heysel, but after a 1:0 lead, they were defeated 2:1.

The first Champions League season

After 1991, the cup system was abolished, and it was replaced by a group competition system, which brought with it an expansion of the number of participants. Some of the biggest changes took place after the 1997/98 season, when it was decided that in addition to the champions of one country, the teams that took one of the first four places in the best leagues, depending on the coefficient, would participate in the Champions League. This move significantly contributed to the increase in the quality of the League itself, and on the other hand, made the path to the strongest competition very difficult for teams from less developed European countries. 

Sporting Lisbon and Partizan Belgrade played the inaugural game of UEFA European Cup.
Sporting Lisbon and Partizan Belgrade played the inaugural game of UEFA European Cup. Photo Credits: FootyFair

In the first season of the competition, 16 teams participated, some champions of their countries, some clubs that were at that time highly respected by UEFA. Later, the number of participants was limited only to the winning clubs of the domestic leagues. This qualification system was current until 1997. From the 1997/98 season, the rules were changed to give the tournament more tension (and additional sponsor money). Clubs from the strongest European leagues that were not national champions could qualify as runners-up, and later as third- and fourth-placers in their league.

Recent changes to the Champions League as from 2024/2025 

From the 2024/2025 season, the biggest European football competition – the Champions League will be played in a significantly different format. The main changes will be that there will no longer be entries based on national coefficients, as well as that there will be more participants. For example, in the Champions League we will have thirty-six (36) instead of the previous thirty-two (32) clubs. 

UEFA started these negotiations in Madrid on Monday, and continued them on Tuesday and then officially announced that there will be a different appearance, first of all, of its biggest competition. A place higher in the Champions League will be given to the fifth country in the UEFA ranking, which has been France for years, but Portugal has come close to the results in recent years. The second one will arrive through the “championship road” qualification, where instead of the previous four (4), in the future five teams (5) will trace their way to the elite. The two new places will be given to the strongest leagues in Europe, that is, two clubs that, according to the coefficients from the previous season only (so not from the total five-year sum), and which did not secure placement through the domestic framework, would play in the Champions League.

Real Madrid with the trophy after winning the first final. Real Madrid is the most successful side in the cups history
Real Madrid with the trophy after winning the first final. Real Madrid is the most successful side in the cups history Photo Credits: UEFA

Champions League Hall of fame

The first title in the newly formed Champions League was won by Olympique Marseille in 1993 after the victory against Milan in the final, while Nottingham Forest is the only team that has won the title of European champion more times than titles in the domestic championship. The English club is the only team that was relegated to the second division in its country in the season that followed after winning the Champions Cup.

The most convincing victory in the history of this competition was achieved by Juventus on December 10, 2003 against Olympiakos with a score of 7:0. In the Champions Cup, the biggest victory was achieved by Dinamo Bucharest against the Crusaders in the 1973/74 season with a score of 11:0. The biggest victory by total score was achieved by Benfica against Dudelange in 1965/66 with a total score of 18:0. Moreover, the most goals in one game, and there were 14, was seen in the 1969/70 season in the match between Feyenoord and Reykjavík 12:2.

Olympique de Marseille's players celebrate winning the Champions League in May 1993.
Olympique de Marseille’s players celebrate winning the Champions League in May 1993. Photo Credits: Getty Images

UEFA Champions League anthem

The Champions League anthem, which is sung before the start of each match, is based on the theme of George Frideric Handel and his coronation anthem “Zadok the Priest”, performed by the St. Martin’s Choir and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra from London.

How are UEFA fixtures played and decided

The competition starts with four qualifying rounds. In each round, two games are played, one at home and one away. Since the 2009/10 season,  starting from the third round of qualifications, the clubs are divided into two parts, one for the national champions and one for the clubs that qualified by finishing 2-4 in the national championship places. This was done in order to make it easier for the national champions to reach the group competition. 

Clubs that are defeated in the third round of the Champions League qualification and playoffs continue their competition in the Europa League. After the qualifying rounds, 32 clubs are divided into eight groups of four teams each. A mini-league is played in which each club plays each of the three opponents at home and away. In the end, the two first-placed teams advance to the round of 16 of the Champions League, while the third-placed team continues the competition in the Europa League.

Sixteen clubs continue to play in the finals, starting with the round of 16, the winners enter the quarter-finals, semi-finals and finally the two best teams meet in the final. On 24 June 2021, UEFA approved a proposal to abolish the away goals rule in all UEFA club competitions from the 2021–22 season. The final is played in a predetermined stadium (not necessarily neutral) and only one match is played.

Premier League

Despite the considerable success of the clubs during the seventies and early eighties, in the late eighties English football was at its lowest point. Stadiums were dilapidated, spectators suffered poor conditions, hooliganism was at its peak, and English clubs were kicked out of European competitions for five years due to the Heysel tragedy in 1985. The First Division, which had been the top tier of English football since 1888, was far behind leagues such as Italy’s Serie A and Spain’s La Liga in terms of attendance and revenue, and as a result some of England’s best players left for those leagues. However, at the turn of the 1990s, the downward trend began to reverse; The English national team achieved success at the 1990 World Cup when they reached the semi-finals. UEFA lifted the ban on English clubs (resulting in the 1991 Cup Winners’ Cup) and the Taylor Report into stadium safety was delivered in January of that year.

Why the Premier League is so rich?

Money from TV rights became much more important: the Football League received £6.3 million over two years. When the contract was renewed in 1988, the price rose to £44 million over four years. The negotiations of 1988 showed the first signs of a turnaround in the English league; ten clubs threatened to leave the league and create their own “super league”, but were still convinced to stay. As stadiums improved and profits began to rise, the country’s biggest clubs once again began to consider leaving the Football League to take advantage of the growing cash flow. At the end of the 1991 season, a proposal was made to establish a new league that would bring in much more money in all spheres of football. 

The break away from Football League to the present day Premier League

The Founder Members Agreement was signed on July 17, 1991 by all Premier League clubs and set the basic principles for the creation of the FA Premier League. The newly created top tier competition would have commercial independence from the Football Association (FA), allowing them to make their own TV rights and sponsorship deals. The strongest argument for the creation of a new league was that with additional income, English clubs would be able to compete with the biggest teams from Europe.

Preston North End, unbeaten in 22 games (1888).
Preston North End, unbeaten in 22 games (1888). Photo Credits: The Guardian

The general manager of LWT (London Weekend Television), Greg Dyke, met with the representatives of the “big five” clubs in 1990, which opened the way for the separation from the then football league. Dyke believed that it was more profitable for LWT if only the matches of the bigger clubs in the country were broadcast on national television and he wanted to see if the clubs would be interested in a bigger share of the money from the TV rights. The five clubs decided it was a good idea to go ahead with it; however, the league would have no credibility without the support of the Football Association and as a result Arsenal’s David Dein halted negotiations to see if the FA would accept the idea. The FA was not on good terms with the Football League at the time and saw this as a way to weaken its position. 

Clubs from the First Division left the Football League en masse in 1992 and on 27 May 1992 the Premier League was created as a limited liability company with an office at the Football Association headquarters. This marked a break with the 104-year-old Football League which until then contained four divisions; after that the Premier League contained only one division and the Football League three. There were no changes in the format of the competition: the same number of teams competed in the top tier, and entry and relegation from the Premier League remained the same (three teams were relegated and three entered).

The inaugural Premier League season (1992/93)

The first season of the Premier League was 1992/93 and was initially composed of 22 clubs. Bryan Dean scored the first goal in the Premier League for Sheffield United’s 2:1 win over Manchester United.

The first 22 clubs participating in the Premier League were:

  • Arsenal
  • Aston Villa
  • Blackburn Rovers
  • Chelsea
  • Coventry City
  • Crystal Palace
  • Southampton
  • Wimbledon
  • Everton
  • Ispwich Town
  • Leeds United
  • Liverpool
  • Manchester City
  • Manchester United
  • Tottenham Hotspur
  • Middlesbrough
  • Norwich City
  • Nottingham Forest
  • Oldham Athletic
  • Queens Park Rangers
  • Sheffield United
  • Sheffield Wednesday

Luton Town, Notts County and West Ham were the three teams relegated from the First Division in the 1991/92 season before the formation of the Premier League. 

Ownership and Structure of the Premier League

At the insistence of FIFA to reduce the number of matches that teams play, the number of clubs was reduced to twenty in 1995, when four teams were eliminated and only two entered. The Premier League operates as a corporation and is owned by 20 member clubs. Each club is a shareholder, with one vote on matters such as changes to rules and contracts. Clubs elect a president, executive director and board of directors to oversee the day-to-day affairs of the league. The football association is not directly involved in the everyday affairs of the Premier League, but it has the right of veto as a special shareholder during the election of the president and executive director, as well as when new rules are introduced.

Arsenal celebrating their notable invincibles Premier League victory in the 2003-2004 season. Arsenal is the only team that won the EPL without a single loss (26W 12D 0L).
Arsenal celebrating their notable invincibles Premier League victory in the 2003-2004 season. Arsenal is the only team that won the EPL without a single loss (26W 12D 0L). Photo Credits: Getty Images

20 clubs compete in the league, and at the end of the season, the three last-placed clubs are relegated to the Championship. The season lasts from August to May next year, and 38 rounds are played. The first 4 teams qualify for the UEFA Champions league group stage, the 5th qualifies to the Europa league and the 6th and 7th placed teams can play qualifications for Europa league or Europa Conference league depending on cup winners.

The Fan Base

Billions of fans watch the two competitions worldwide. However, the English Premier League has a more significant fan base than the UEFA Champions League. This can be attributed to the fact that the EPL is broadcasted almost every other weekend. English teams are also known as the football teams with the most fans around the world.

The Premier League is the most brilliant product of international football – perfectly marketed and sold around the world. Manchester United plays friendly matches in the USA in front of 100,000 spectators, while Arsenal promotes tourism in Rwanda on the sleeves of their jerseys. Four Premier League clubs have advertisements with Chinese characters on their shirts.

The champions league, on the other hand, is known to take extended breaks over time. The consistency in the English Premier League makes it more lucrative than the Champions League.

Premier League vs. Champions League, make your pick.
Alex Ferguson posing with the Champions League trophy and the Premier League trophy. Champions League vs Premier League: Ferguson chose both. Photo Credits: The Mirror

Ticket Sales

The UCL tickets are more expensive and highly bought than EPL ones. This is because Champions League matches are fewer than EPL ones. The fans, therefore, scramble for the few available tickets for limited games.

Sponsorship

Sponsors keep on changing on a seasonal basis. For the 2020/21 UCL seasons, eight sponsors are noted.

These Champions League sponsors are;

  • Nissan
  • Gazprom
  • Playstation
  • Heineken
  • Lays
  • Santander
  • MasterCard
  • Expedia

The Premier League, on the other hand, has eight sponsors too.These are;

  • EA Sports
  • Budweiser
  • Barclays
  • Coca-Cola
  • Nike
  • Hublot
  • Avery Dennison
  • Panini

It is worth noting that both competitions have shown their prowess by attracting decent sponsorship deals.

There is a football which, figuratively speaking, is worth fifty nine (59) million euros. For the past few years, Premier League marketers have been selling sports equipment manufacturers the rights to the “official ball” for English league matches. For some time now, that contract has belonged to Nike. In September of last year (2021), that company offered 59 million euros (yes, that’s the correct figure!) to buy the rights for Manchester, Liverpool, Chelsea and others to use the Nike ball until 2025.

Financial Gains

The UEFA Champions League pays better than the English Premier League. As for the prize money, the winner of UCL gets close to an average of 100 million euros after completing the event successfully. The EPL winner, on the other hand, can get an average of 170 million euros. With these stats, the Champions league pays much better per game. This is because a maximum of 15 games is played in the UCL season by a team. In the EPL, 38 matches must be played. 

Clubs participating in the Champions League and UEFA competitions will earn a total of more than one billion and 2 hundred million euros this season (2022/2023) from marketing and selling the rights to televise matches in that competition. The profit from this year’s Champions League will be around 30 percent higher than in the previous season.

English professional clubs derive their strength from the piles of money at their disposal. The Premier League earns 6.9 billion euros from television rights in three years. In comparison, the Bundesliga receives 4.6 billion for a period of four years. Even smaller clubs like Bournemouth, managed to invest 90 million euros in their team this season, three times more than some teams from top 5 in the Bundesliga.

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Player and Coach Preference

Claudio Ranieri is celebrated in England due to his Premier League win with Leicester City. More reason to pick Premier League ove Champions League
Claudio Ranieri celebrating Premier League victory with Leicester City. Photo Credits : Zapsports

Most players prefer a Champions League medal. This is because it’s more competitive and ranks highest in European club competitions. Players like Buffon have been struggling to win the trophy, even though he has a good number of league trophies. Most managers prefer a league trophy since it appeals more to the fan base. Most legendary managers have been rated by the league titles won. Former Leicester City man Claudio Ranieri is idolized more in England than Roberto Di Matteo. The former won an EPL trophy with Leicester while the latter won a Champions League trophy with Chelsea.

The best 11 players who never won the UEFA Champions League

Many greats in the most popular sport have won the Champions League, but there are also legends who never enjoyed the European Cup. There are top-class footballers, but unfortunately they never enjoyed the ‘cup with ears’. “Sky Sports” made a “dream team” of football players who do not have the trophy in the elite European club competition in their collection.

In goal, the best, but also the worst goalkeeper, Gianluigi Buffon, who lost his third career final. Before him, three “giants”, Lilian Thuram, Lothar Matheus and Fabio Cannavaro. The midfield also consists of three great masters. Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira and his former Arsenal teammate Cesc Fabregas, who now plays for Chelsea. They are accompanied by another former football player who played in the Premier League, Michael Ballack. The offensive line could not have been better. Francesco Totti, Dennis Bergkamp, ​​Zlatan Ibrahimovic and “il phenomeno” Ronaldo complete the squad.

Verdict

As for my take on Champions League vs Premier League, here is my opinion. The champions league pays better per match. It also seems to have the upper hand over the EPL in many aspects. However, the English Premier League remains a fan favorite around the world: today Liverpool is on top of the table, tomorrow they are fourth, all in a span of a week or two. Don’t you love this? In this debate, the Champions League will always come second.

The Champions League has teams from all continents with many different and higher quality teams that compete against one another. This makes the matches much more exciting with many top players playing against one another. In fact, some might even consider the Champions League to be on the same level of prestige as the World Cup!

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