Analysis

When Bryan Mbeumo joined Manchester United last summer, he said his mentality was "to always be better than I was yesterday". But after a wonderful start to life at Old Trafford. the £71 million signing has hit a wall, with no shortage of fans starting to wonder whether he was worth the money at all.

In the wake of Liam Rosenior's all-too-predictable sacking, Chelsea's search for a new head coach could and perhaps should come down to a choice between two Spanish tacticians. Andoni Iraola and Cesc Fabregas are the two leading candidates for the role - a result of the fine work they have done at overachieving Bournemouth and Como, respectively. However, as the Blues' owners face a defining appointment of their turbulent reign, who would be the right choice?

Barcelona boss Hansi Flick doesn't want to get bogged down in questions about the summer transfer window at this particular moment in time, and that's perfectly understandable. The Catalans may be presently nine points clear of Real Madrid in the Spanish title race, but there's still work to be done - possibly without an injured Lamine Yamal - and, as Flick pointed out on Tuesday, "La Liga is not an easy league."

To paraphrase the great Homer Simpson, it is not only easy to criticise, but fun, too. It is quite simple to sit and judge from this ivory tower, but hey, that's football after all, merely a game of opinions. Being a Premier League manager must be one of the loneliest gigs in the world, particularly when results are wayward and your job security is the subject of international speculation.

Newcastle's season has unravelled; with five Premier League games remaining and in the thick of a dire run of form, the Magpies find themselves closer to the bottom three than they are to the Champions League places, and their hopes of securing any form of European football are fading fast. To make matters worse, their struggles are unfolding against the backdrop of significant upheaval behind the scenes as pressure mounts on head coach Eddie Howe.

No team benefits more from an expanded World Cup than the All Whites, who head into this summer's tournament with a genuine opportunity

May 2, 2026 - it should be a day of pure pride and celebration in Leicester, nothing but touching tributes to Jamie Vardy, Riyad Mahrez, N'Golo Kante and every other member of Claudio Ranieri's Premier League-winning squad. However, the imminent 10-year anniversary of the most miraculous top-flight title triumph the game has ever seen will also serve as a cruelly-timed reminder of just how far the Foxes have fallen over the past decade.

GOAL sat down with the American defender to discuss life in Spain and his goals for the future

After years of attempting to stockpile some of the best young talent around, it seems Chelsea are finally set for a dramatic shift in their transfer strategy as they struggle to keep pace with their rivals both domestically and abroad. With the Blues out of the Champions League and lagging behind in the gruelling chase for a top-five Premier League finish, the hierarchy is ready to change tack.

GOAL looks back at what the sporting director set out to accomplish during his three years with the federation

GOAL breaks down the sporting director's impact and what his exit means for the future

GOAL sat down to talk with the Mexico striker to discuss his journey, the challenges he's faced, and what's motivating him at this year's World Cup.

Real Madrid and Bayern Munich are sure to put on a show, but there are plenty of other big matchups to watch in the second legs of the quarterfinals.

Since their meeting in the quarter-finals of the 2022 European Championships, England have faced no opponent more frequently than Spain - and yet, Lauren James has only featured as a fully fit starter in one of those encounters. Fittingly, given the form the Chelsea star is in and the prominent role she is likely to play when the pair meet again on Tuesday, that was last year at Wembley, the setting again for the next installment of this growing rivalry.

GOAL reviews the major takeaways from Americans playing in Europe, including big goals from the USMNT's top two strikers.

If you have to appoint three different permanent managers in the same season, it's probably a sign that it hasn't gone to plan. In the case of Tottenham Hotspur, the 2025 Europa League winners, this campaign could hardly have gone any worse. The club's desire to become a more streetwise outfit under Thomas Frank saw a horribly assembled squad pickpocketed and bamboozled at every turn.

Spain's devastation after defeat in last summer's European Championship final was palpable. There is perhaps no crueller way to lose than on penalties and that theory was backed up by the heartbreak on show by La Roja's players and staff after England fought back to take the game in Basel to extra time and then defeat the world champions 3-1 via spot-kicks. "Very cruel," was how Aitana Bonmati, the three-time Ballon d'Or winner, put it. "It will hurt for some time."

With 24 days between Manchester United's last game against Bournemouth and their next match against Leeds, Michael Carrick has had plenty of time to think about which areas of the squad he needs to improve if he is named permanent coach in the summer. Carrick made the most of the extended break by taking his side on a mid-season training camp to Ireland, giving him the chance to further assess his squad.

Featuring an appearance from Travis Scott, the latest iteration of the global street soccer tournament highlighted just how modern Nike's approach to the beautiful game

Aston Villa are once more hot on Arsenal’s heels.

GOAL spoke with the man affectionately known as "The Beast" about what it means to represent your country on the biggest stage.

GOAL looks at the biggest storylines among Americans Abroad, including massive matches in Serie A and the Premier League

When England's Under-23s took on Norway back in November, there was no shortage of top talent on show. Be it Ruby Mace or Maisie Symonds, who have both been involved in Sarina Wiegman's senior team; Gracie Prior, a starter in seven of the first nine games of the season for Women's Super League leaders Manchester City; or Martine Fenger on the opposite side, the teenage forward who made her Barcelona debut earlier that month. And yet it was 17-year-old Erica Parkinson, a player some five years younger than some of those involved, who stood out most.

Even when Chelsea were sweeping up trophies for fun during the first two decades of the 21st century, there was still an element of jeopardy to their seasons. Back then, however, that usually revolved around whether or not they would end the year with a piece of silverware to make up for the relative inconsistency of their Premier League campaign.

On the evening of February 28 in Verona, Romelu Lukaku came off the bench at the Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi to score a 96th-minute winner for Napoli against Verona with a close-range left-footed finish. It was by no means a beautiful goal - goalkeeper Lorenzo Montipo had got a hand on the ball - but it was easily one of the most significant strikes of Lukaku's entire career.

The Danish sportswear company now makes kits for 26 clubs in North America, and has pushed boundaries with innovative designs for USL teams.

GOAL sat down with Auston Trusty as the Celtic defender continues his push for a USMNT World Cup spot, opening up on the journey, pressure, and belief driving him.

As Enzo Maresca gazed out at the ocean from his infinity pool, he must have been grateful he was no longer managing Chelsea. From defeats at the hands of Newcastle, Everton and Paris Saint-Germain to controversies ranging from 'respecting the ball' to Marc Cucurella and Enzo Fernandez heavily hinting that they would be open to leaving, Stamford Bridge resembles a battlefield when compared to Maresca's recent idyllic getaway in the Maldives.

Much has been made of Arsenal's quadruple charge being dashed and downgraded to a double dream over the last few weeks, but that's still nothing to be sniffed at. The Gunners have an excellent chance of claiming the two top prizes available to them, though they are in danger of limping across the finish line rather than marching over it with the authority of champions.