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. Conte hits out at 'absurd' De Bruyne injury claims

    Antonio Conte was left fuming after Napoli’s 1-0 win over Lecce, hitting back at 'absurd' claims that Kevin De Bruyne’s long-term injury could somehow help his team. The Italian coach was frustrated by recent talk in the media, saying he has had enough of theories about injuries to veteran players like De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku.

  2. Bayern make Upamecano contract top priority amid Schlotterbeck interest

    Bayern Munich sporting director Max Eberl has made it clear that extending Dayot Upamecano’s contract is a top priority for the club. The French centre-back, who joined in 2021, is out of contract next June, and with several European giants circling, Bayern are trying hard to keep one of their key players beyond 2025. However, Upamecano’s high wage demands have made negotiations challenging.

  3. Jurgen Klopp Red Bull 2025

    Klopp lands new job with German league

    Jurgen Klopp has taken up a new role with the German Football League (DFL) as part of a newly formed expert group aimed at improving the nation's game. The former Liverpool manager, who is currently Global Head of Soccer at Red Bull, joins former Real Madrid star Sami Khedira and several top club officials on the committee.

  1. Villarreal-Barca match in Miami is 'a reward' - La Liga chief

    Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) president Rafael Louzan has argued that Barcelona and Villarreal’s upcoming match in Miami is part of a broader plan to reward global fans and expand La Liga's international reach. However, he revealed that the Women’s Super Cup, originally proposed to be held in the United States from January 20 to 25, could not go ahead after Real Madrid refused to approve the move.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.