The Athletic FC Podcast

The Athletic's Adam Leventhal & Adam Crafton take you inside the biggest Premier League stories and look ahead to this week's action in the Champions League.Our Manchester City writer Sam Lee shares his thoughts on a potential title race after he witnessed a Harry Kane masterclass & details how City have been doing just fine without a striker even after dropping points at the weekend.Are Wolves mounting a charge for a Champions League spot? The Athletic's Tim Spiers details how the club he covers are ‘evolving at pace’And we’ll look ahead to this week’s action in the Champions League with a focus on Atletico Madrid who face Manchester United with The Athletic’s Spanish writer Dermot Corrigan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosts Dan Bardell and George Elek are joined by bet365's Steve Freeth, just as Newcastle are preparing to keep the run going, without Kieran Trippier... Would Jarrod Bowen offer Gareth Southgate something England sorely lack, are we all guilty of under-appreciating Pep's Manchester City and what job did Conte think he was taking?Plus, does Daniel James have anything to prove to his old club Manchester United, is Kane still one of the best centre-forwards in world football and are Wolves the real dark horses for fourth spot? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark Chapman & The Athletic's Matt Slater are joined by Andy Anson, CEO of the British Olympic Association to discuss what the future holds for the Winter & Summer Games. Andy tells us why FIFA’s plan to stage the men’s World Cup every two years will threaten the Olympics and be “terrible” for football.Also on the pod, Andrew Zimbalist, an author and economist whose research has led him to raise questions about the value to cities of hosting the Olympics — and influenced some cities to back away from bidding. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosts Dan Bardell and Flo Lloyd-Hughes are joined by The Athletic's News & Investigations writer Matt Slater, to discuss his special report into a rise in football fan violence: Missiles, Cocaine and Political Agendas...The trio reflect on their own experiences of going to games since the return of fans - post-lockdown - the frightening statistics recently published by the UK Football Policing Unit, as well as, the role of match-day stewards and a younger generation of match-going supporters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark Chapman is joined by The Athletic's Adam Crafton & Phil Hay to talk Leeds United, whose struggles continued at the weekend, and to assess the challenge ahead next season with or without manager Marcelo Bilesa.Plus, The Athletic's Italian football writer James Horncastle will be with us to assess the work of Antonio Conte at Spurs so far and James will also help up look ahead to the Champions League that return this week as Conte’s former side Inter Milan face Liverpool.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Host Dan Bardell and George Elek are joined by bet365s Steve Freeth, to look ahead to the weekend's Premier League action... After the emotion in the away dugout following Southampton's midweek win at Spurs - does anyone think Hasenhuttl could really walk away from the game yet? What has Dean Smith done to Norwich, and how many of KdB's teammates are more deserving of this year's POTY award?Plus, are Gerrard's Villa the new 'agents of chaos', how do you stop and in-form Allan Saint-Maximin and is Brendan Rodgers under serious pressure at Leicester? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Host Mark Chapman is joined by Doug Whaley a former NFL executive to discuss the lawsuit former Dolphins coach Brian Flores has filed against the NFL and to share his thoughts on a range of subjects including the Rooney Rule, coach selection and how the sport should embrace diversity.Plus, we cross to LA where The Athletic’s US Sports business reporter Dan Kaplan is covering the Super Bowl to share what he's heard on the ground ahead of Sunday's finale.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosts Dan Bardell and Flo Lloyd-Hughes are joined by The Athletic's Arsenal correspondents, James McNicholas and Art de Roché, to reflect on Aubameyang's legacy, how his relationship with manager Mikel Arteta changed, as well as, how an 'iron-fist' approach to management works in the modern-day Premier League.Plus, the panel discuss Arsenal's quiet January transfer window and assess their chances of sneaking into the Top 4 this season. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark Chapman is joined by The Athletic's Adam Crafton & Rob Tanner to discuss Leicester, after a performance described by manager Brendan Rodgers as ‘embarrassing’ - Rob tells us why the squad is in need of an overhaul.We’ll cross to Cameroon and speak to Maher Mezahi for reflections on Senegal finally becoming Africa Cup of Nations Champions and a look back on the impact the tournament has had across the game.And Daniel Taylor joins us to tell us about his special report on the difficult issue of rehabilitation in football. 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 FA Cup 4th round action, starting with a nostalgic fixture on Friday night as Middlesbrough host Manchester United...Plus, has Liverpool's super-smart recruitment set them up to compete for years to come, did Spurs panic buy in January, will Roy Hodgson keep Watford in the Premier League and is it promotion or bust for Scott Parker's Bournemouth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.