Author DP

Swati Bhatia

European football editor

Bio: An avid sports lover, Swati found her passion for football in her teens and has been following the game ever since. A devoted Manchester City supporter and Lionel Messi fan, she enjoys playing EA FC on her PS5 when she is not covering the sport. After completing her Master’s in Journalism in 2022, she has been working in sports media since 2019.

My Football Story: My football journey started later than most. Growing up in a country where cricket was everything, football wasn’t really on my radar, until the 2010 World Cup. That tournament changed everything. Watching Lionel Messi shine in South Africa made me fall in love with the game. Following him at Barcelona led me to discover Pep Guardiola, and when Pep moved on, so did my curiosity. That’s how Manchester City became a part of me. Now, City is the club I live and breathe, with Kevin De Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez holding a special place in my heart.

Areas of Expertise:

• Premier League

• All things Manchester City

Favourite Footballing Memory: One dream I still hold onto is watching Lionel Messi live, but seeing him lift the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, even through my TV, was a moment I will never forget. In that moment, Messi had achieved everything, and somehow, it felt like I had too.

Articles by Swati Bhatia
  1. Beating Haaland in Ballon d'Or list was 'crowning achievement' - Inter star

    Inter defender Denzel Dumfries is still on cloud nine after finishing 25th in the Ballon d'Or rankings. The 29-year-old, who had his best season under Simone Inzaghi, says he was delighted to find out he had placed just above Manchester City’s Erling Haaland at the Paris ceremony held in September. The Dutchman was key to Inter’s Champions League run, scoring two goals and setting up a further three across two legs against Barcelona in the semi-finals.

  2. Kompany 'annoyed' Bayern youngster

    Bayern Munich's young midfielder Tom Bischof admitted his first few weeks under manager Vincent Kompany were 'truly crazy.' The 20-year-old German, who joined the club in the summer, said he was 'annoyed' by how demanding his new coach was at first, but now sees that constant push as one of the main reasons behind his quick growth.

  3. Aubameyang runs rampant vs Ajax but act of 'humility' wins over De Zerbi

    Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was at his brilliant best in Marseille’s 4-0 Champions League win over Ajax on Tuesday, but it was his simple act of humility that impressed Roberto De Zerbi as his 'new-spirited' team rounded off a perfect week. The veteran ran the show as the French side ran rampant with their third straight win since they opened their Champions League campaign with a defeat to Real Madrid.

  4. Putellas disappointed after Euro 2025 heartbreak vs England

    Alexia Putellas has opened up about the pain of losing to England in the Euro 2025 final, admitting she was left 'feeling like crap' and mentally drained in the days that followed. Spain fell 3-1 on penalties after a tense clash, and for the two-time Ballon d’Or winner, the defeat was one of the toughest moments of her career.

  1. Marseille goalkeeper denies 'exaggerating' Carvajal headbutt

    Marseille goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli has denied that he exaggerated as he fell to the ground following a clash of heads with Real Madrid captain Dani Carvajal. The Madrid star was sent off for forcing his head up against the shot-stopper's late on in the Champions League clash between the two clubs on Tuesday. The Spanish side went on to score via a Kylian Mbappe penalty, sealing a 2-1 win.