FA Cup Overview

Luis de la Fuente does not do flattery when it comes to imposing his decisions or defending his convictions. He may appear calm and flexible in most of his statements, but he possesses a strong personality that does not hesitate to confront when he feels there has been an overstep or an attempt to cast doubt on his choices. The recent Lamine Yamal affair provides a clear example of this personality, one that combines calm with decisiveness, and flexibility with the ability to put an end to any controversy he deems unjustified.

José Mourinho, the Real Madrid manager, has managed to achieve something that seemed simple but had proved impossible in recent years at the club, after settling on a clear first-choice line-up based on his preferred 4-2-3-1 system.

Mauricio Pochettino no longer has much time left to prove his ability to restore Manchester United to the standing its supporters aspire to. The Argentine coach returns to the Premier League through the gateway of one of the clubs most in need of rebuilding, having taken over the role as successor to Michael Carrick, bringing with him a coaching legacy that combines the development of young talent, intense pressing and direct attacking play.

Achraf Hakimi continued to write history in the Morocco shirt, with his significant contribution to the emphatic 5-1 victory over Niger on Friday evening at the Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca, in the third round of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.