The Athletic FC Podcast

Dan Bardell is joined by The Athletic's Adam Crafton & Oliver Kay to reflect on the chaotic scenes which delayed the start of the Champions League final. We hear first hand accounts from fans who travelled to Paris and were caught up in distressing situations.Meanwhile the panel discuss the news that Liverpool forward Sadio Mane is expected to leave Liverpool this summer & Manchester United have announced Ralf Rangnick will not be staying at Old Trafford as a consultant despite his previous agreement with the club. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosts Dan Bardell and George Elek are joined by bet365's Steve Freeth to preview the Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid... Do Madrid dare lose this following Mbappe's public rejection? And if Liverpool were to fail, does a season which at one point looked truly historic, become forgettable?Is Mo Salah is really out for some 2018 revenge, why Liverpool's left flank will decide this match and we'll hear from Michael Owen - who sat down with The Athletic's Liverpool correspondent James Pearce earlier this week - to talk about the number 9s: Sadio Mane & Karim Benzema.Later, our trio cast their minds ahead to the start of the next Premier League season and make some early (bold) predictions! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark Chapman & The Athletic's Matt Slater host a roundtable on the reasons and ramifications of La Liga filing a complaint to UEFA, the French administrative courts and the European Union over Kylian Mbappe's decision to renew his contract at Paris Saint-Germain despite Real’s attempts to sign him.Their guests are Christian Nourry Managing Partner at RETEXO a sports analytics firm that uses data to match owners to prospective football clubs & works with clubs to market their players more effectively to clubs seeking players with similar characteristics plus David Diaz, a partner at Baker McKenzie Madrid who has extensive experience in sports law in football. He regularly advises Spanish and foreign clubs on the legal aspects of their operations. He also has extensive experience in advising foreign investors with a potential interest in the game.The panel also touch on the takeover of Chelsea - is it a deal that makes financial sense?  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosts Dan Bardell and Flo Lloyd-Hughes are joined by Adam Crafton and Dermot Corrigan of The Athletic, as well as, French football writer Tom Williams, to analyse the wider impact of Kylian Mbappe's decision to stay at PSG...The panel detail the eye-watering finer points of Mbappe's new contract, explore Madrid President Florentino Perez' "obsession" with the Frenchman and the state of La Liga, having missed also missed out on Erling Haaland to another 'new money' club in Manchester City.Plus, is it a good idea for Mbappe to have power over big club decisions, who Real Madrid could turn their attention to next and if their Champions League final against Liverpool this weekend just became crucial. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark Chapman is joined by The Athletic's Adam Crafton & Sam Lee to discuss City's title triumph and imagine what the mood would have been like had they lost out on the title to Liverpool.Coming up later in the pod we’ll hear how PSG kept hold of Kylian Mbappe, why City moving for Erling Haaland early means they didn't face competition from Real Madrid who will no doubt look to react in the transfer market.And Phil Hay will join us - in a much better mood than last week - after Leeds United managed to avoid relegation from the Premier League after a terrible season. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam Leventhal hosts a special live show, recorded shortly after the final whistle on Sunday, and is joined by various club writers to reflect on the big stories from the final day of the Premier League season...James Pearce, Caoimhe O'Neill and Sam Lee discuss the conclusion of a dramatic title race. Amy Lawrence reflects on Arsenal's 'progress', while Andy Jones explains Burnley's financial fears following their relegation. Plus, Carl Anka on why the 'PL Young Player of the Year' award isn't fit for purpose and data analytics writer Mark Carey on some of the statistical over and under achievers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosts Dan Bardell and George Elek are joined by bet365's Steve Freeth to discuss if Gerrard's Merseyside connections are a genuine source of hope for Liverpool's slim Premier League title chances... Plus, why City feel like the footballing world is against them, how Leeds may live to regret those chants about Thomas Frank and why Spurs with Champions League football AND Antonio Conte at the helm, will mean business next year. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosts Dan Bardell and Flo Lloyd-Hughes are joined by The Athletic's Rangers reporter Jordan Campbell to preview an historic night in Rangers Football Club history, as they prepare to face Eintracht Frankfurt in Wednesday night's Europa League Final...Their journey to a first European final in 14 years, the transition from Steven Gerrard's league Champions to a 'bolder' European outfit under Giovanni van Bronckhorst, zero-to-hero John Lundstram and an inspiring letter from captain James Tavernier's mother. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

First up the focus is on Leeds United’s who are now outside of the Premier League relegation zone but rivals Burnley & Everton both have games in hand before they all play their last game this weekend - will they be able to keep hold of star players even if they avoid relegation?Then a little later in the pod Greg Evans will tell us how Aston Villa held firm to sign Philippe Coutinho  And we’ll talk Adam Leventhal will be with us to talk about Watford’s new boss Rob Edwards who will have plenty of work to do after relegation to the Championship Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.