The Daily Football Briefing

Dani Olmo is finally a registered Barcelona player and just in the nick of time. The Catalans were staring down the barrel of a nasty shock away at Rayo Vallecano until Olmo appeared at the break and inspired a spirited fight back. That’s three wins from three for new boss Hansi Flick. Everton were in the League Cup against Doncaster and, after the start they’ve had, that was quite the banana skin. Producer Steve was watching to see if anyone slipped up.  Transfer deadline day is looming and the transfers are coming thick and fast. Manchester United have been busy, so too have Napoli, but has anyone been as active as Brighton & Hove Albion? Listen to this episode and you’ll discover why this is unlikely to be a problem for their bank manager. Got something to say? Don’t keep it to yourself. That’s how ulcers develop. Post it on the app or send me an email (imacintosh@theathletic.com) or, you know, write a review on Apple.Need something to read? Need something to read? Try Carl Anka on Manchester United’s steady improvement in the transfer market, an arena in which they have hitherto cast themselves as, well, the polar opposite of Brighton. Link’s in the descriptionhttps://www.nytimes.com/athletic/4757969/2024/08/27/manchester-united-transfers-sales/ Presenter: Iain MacintoshWith: David OrnsteinProducer: Steve Hankey

Did you know that Kobbie Mainoo has more interceptions than any other player in Europe’s top five leagues? Or that Brice Samba is one of only six unbeaten goalkeepers on the continent? Of course you didn’t. You’re a normal human being with an exciting life outside of football. But if you do like that sort of thing, you’ll love today’s show and a feature that will run until you all write in to demand that it stops.   Plus, it was a very good night for Juventus, we’ve learned how to say Cagliari and who’s that at the top of La Liga with three wins from three? Nope, it’s not who you think.Got something to say? Get it off your chest, post it on the app or send me an email (imacintosh@theathletic.com) or, you know, write a review on Apple.Need something to read? Danny Taylor’s lovely Sven Goran Eriksson piece is linked in the description. https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5722811/2024/08/26/sven-goran-eriksson-england/Presenter: Iain MacintoshProducer: Steve Hankey

We’ve been very mean about Chelsea for several weeks now, but are they about to have the last laugh? They put six past Wolves on Sunday. Tim Spiers was watching, he’ll tell us if we’re all in a lot of trouble. Manchester United lost too, Carl Anka is looking for positives there.But we don’t just discuss the Premier League here. Seb Stafford Bloor went to Saxony for the Bayern Munich game, I was watching Napoli, we’ve got all the news from Spain and France and then we’ll quick-step through Portugal, the Netherlands, Scotland, Turkey and MLS. Or, as I like to think of it, ‘all the leagues I have active in my FM saves.’Put simply: You NEED this podcast. You’ll never keep up with all the football unless you listen to this immediately. In ten minutes, we’ll give you the world. Or at least the bits that interested us today.Got something to say? Get it off your chest, post it on the app or send me an email (imacintosh@theathletic.com) or, you know, write a review on Apple.Need something to read? Tim Spiers has watched every video on Cristiano Ronaldo’s YouTube channel so that you don’t have to, he’ll get a statue for this, you can read about it by clicking the link in the description.https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5718836/2024/08/25/cristiano-ronaldo-youtube-channel/Presenter: Iain MacintoshWith: Tim Spiers, Carl Anka, Seb Stafford-BloorProducer: Abi Paterson

Another weekend filled with football approaches so we have your one stop guide to the fixtures you should be keeping an eye on - and a mini Bundesliga preview. Though you really should read Seb Stafford Bloor’s words, he knows what he’s talking about.Elsewhere Chelsea were in action, so was David De Gea, and Cristiano Ronaldo, find out how they got on. Plus the big transfer news too with James McNicholas on Mikel Merino and George Caulkin reacting to news that Kieran Trippier might be off.Got something to say? Get it off your chest, post it on the app or send an email (imacintosh@theathletic.com) or, you know, write a review on Apple.Find Seb Stafford Bloor’s full Bundesliga preview herehttps://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5705002/2024/08/21/bundesliga-new-season-bayern-leverkusen-dortmund-leipzig/And have a read of Jacob Whitehead’s ‘Inside the De Ligt Deal’ here https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5705404/2024/08/22/matthijs-de-ligt-manchester-united-inside-deal/ Presenter: Abi PatersonWith: Seb Stafford Bloor, James McNicholas, and George CaulkinProducer: Steve Hankey

Enzo Maresca certainly thinks so. He says that Chelsea, “is not the mess that it looks from the outside.” So…has he got a point? We’ve got Simon Johnson from Straight Outta Cobham on the show to tell us more. Plus, who’s the latest EFL manager to get sacked? Did anyone know Neil Lennon was at Rapid Bucharest? Don’t worry. Doesn’t matter now. And how do you say Cagliari? Hint: Don’t ask Google. Got something to say? Get it off your chest, post it on the app or send me an email (imacintosh@theathletic.com) or, you know, write a review on Apple.Need something to read? Try Stuart James’ account of his weekend with NBC’s Premier League team, it’s a really good, access all areas piece, you’ll love it, find the link in the episode description. https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5712144/2024/08/21/premier-league-nbc-epl-lowe/Presenter: Iain MacintoshWith: Simon JohnsonProducer: Steve Hankey

Look, I love Georgi Mamardashvili as much as Mama Mamardashvili, but the timing of his move to Liverpool seems a bit odd. He’s a fantastic goalkeeper, but so is Allison and he’s only 31. And then there’s Caoimhin Kelleher, he’s as trustworthy as any number two in the league. What’s going on, James Pearce? And what’s all this about Ilkay Gundogan returning to Manchester City? He only left last summer, why’s he leaving Barcelona? And I know that I said we’d watch one of the U21 EFL Cup games, but it turned out that I couldn’t access United or City, the next on the list was Spurs, but given that their own official website hasn’t even mentioned this fixture, we just felt that the potential audience for that sort of granular coverage was probably limited to the parents of the players, so we gave it a miss and did a great big stats rundown instead. No, wait. Don’t go. It’s more interesting than I’ve made it sound.  Got something to say? Get it off your chest, post it on the app or send me an email (imacintosh@theathletic.com) or, you know, write a review on Apple.Need something to read? Try Adam Crafton and David Ornstein’s report on the USMNT’s reported hire of Mauricio Pochettino. What’s the hold up, why isn’t this done…and will it be done in time for those games in September. Click the link here. https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5707564/2024/08/18/mauricio-pochettino-usmnt-head-coach-what-next/Presenter: Iain MacintoshWith: James Pearce and Sam LeeProducer: Steve Hankey

A draw away from home is never a terrible result, but Tottenham supporters will wonder how they didn't take all three points from their trip to Leicester City. Foxes fans will have a concise two word answer: Jamie Vardy. The 37 year old striker stepped up when he was needed most, stayed switched on after a miserable first half, dragged his team back into the game and could have won it for them too. View From The Lane, our Spurs podcast, will be unmissable this week. Danny Kelly may actually combust.Elsewhere Juventus, now under the management of Thiago Motta, got off to a great start by crushing Como. James Horncastle is here to let us know if this fascinating Como project is in trouble already.And it's a day ending with a 'y' so that must mean Chelsea have signed someone. More on that here.Got something to say? Get it off your chest, post it on the app or send me an email (imacintosh@theathletic.com) or, you know, write a review on Apple.Need something to read? Find out why Antonio Conte is so unhappy already by clicking the link below for premium grade James Horncastle.https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5708302/2024/08/19/conte-napoli-verona/Presenter: Iain MacintoshWith: James Horncastle, Liam TwomeyProducer: Steve Hankey

On today's DFB: Welcome to the first Giant Monday Round-Up of the season. In just ten minutes, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about the weekend’s football. Like how Big Dan Burn chased Ben Brereton Diaz down the tunnel. And how Real Madrid slipped up in the Balearics. And how Bayer Leverkusen still haven’t lost a domestic game. You need this podcast, so click now and set yourself up for the week.Need something to read? What about Michael Cox on Ipswich? https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5706501/2024/08/17/ipswich-town-liverpool-tactics/Got something to say? I bet you have. Post it on the app, send me an email (imacintosh@theathletic.com) or write a review on Apple.Presenter: Iain MacintoshWith: Seb Stafford Bloor, Liam TwomeyProducer: Lucy Oliva

On today's DFB: The United States look like they've got their man. Mauricio Pochettino has agreed to manage the USMNT. Paul Tenorio lets us know what he thinks of that. La Liga is underway and we were watching how last season's surprise package Girona got on (spoiler: not as well as they might have hoped...) Plus, what's happened to poor Oscar Bobb?Need something to read? Check out James Horncastle's brilliant preview of the new Serie A season.https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5697570/2024/08/15/horncastle-serie-a-preview-2024-25-juventus-inter-roma/Got something to say? I bet you have. Post it on the app, send me an email (imacintosh@theathletic.com) or write a review on Apple.Presenter: Iain MacintoshWith: Paul TenorioProducer: Steve Hankey

On today's DFB: How much trouble are the rest of La Liga in this season? On the evidence on the European Super Cup....lots of trouble. They haven't gelled yet, but they were still good enough for a comfortable win over a tricky Atalanta side. Pol Ballus is here to politely weigh up the chances of their rivals. Plus, what's going on at Chelsea today? And who are Arsenal looking to sign?Need something to read? The Athletic's F1 mid-season preview is well worth your time. The second of the season could be absolutely fascinating, so click the link below to whet your appetite.https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5696095/2024/08/13/f1-midseason-review-best-driver-race-moments/Got something to say? I bet you have. Post it on the app, send me an email (imacintosh@theathletic.com) or write a review on Apple.Presenter: Iain MacintoshWith: Pol BallusProducer: Lucy Oliva