The Athletic FC Podcast

Cerys Jones, football writer and broadcaster known for tactical and contextual match analysis, and Andy Jones, football journalist and analyst with deep Premier League insight, preview Manchester City vs Liverpool. They debate Salah’s final Etihad visit, Guardiola vs Klopp rivalry, City’s tactical threats and new faces, Liverpool’s priorities and Wirtz’s potential impact.

Chris Weatherspoon, finance and football writer, breaks down Chelsea’s massive losses and accounting moves. Pol Ballus, on-the-ground correspondent, shares Cucurella’s frustrations and inside reactions. Liam Twomey, football reporter, discusses coaching turnover, squad stability and transfer risks. Multiple short takes on leadership, recruitment strategy and financial pressures.

Carl Anka, European football writer with a nose for tournament drama, and Felipe Cardenas, international football analyst focused on CONCACAF, dissect the fallout of a dramatic playoff night. They tackle Italy missing out again, Bastoni’s red card and national decline. They also spotlight Bosnia’s heroics, Tonali transfer talk, DR Congo and Jamaica’s playoff stories, and worries over the USMNT’s form.

Simon Hughes, experienced football writer and rules expert, and Tomas Hill Lopez-Menchero, on-the-ground African football reporter, dissect the AFCON fallout. They reconstruct the final’s key moments. They debate CAF’s reversal, procedural flaws and reputational damage. They cover player reactions, Morocco’s ambitions, women's AFCON postponement and wider governance concerns.

Dan Kilpatrick, an English football reporter on Tottenham’s managerial and club issues, and James Horncastle, a tactical and European football analyst, discuss Igor Tudor’s swift exit and Spurs’ pursuit of Roberto De Zerbi. They debate leadership accountability, dressing-room unrest, recruitment and whether De Zerbi’s style can rescue a struggling squad facing injury problems and a perilous run of fixtures.

Jack Pitt-Brooke, football reporter and analyst, and Stu James, football journalist and commentator, debate England’s World Cup squad choices. They discuss auditioning fringe players in friendlies. They analyze centre-back pairings, right-back dilemmas, striker backup options and the goalkeeper quartet. They also weigh midfield partnerships and who should support Kane in attack.

Andy Mitten, longtime Manchester United commentator and fanzine editor, offers fan-focused context. Matt Slater, football journalist and Athletic contributor, explains ownership models and investment logic. They discuss varied Premier League owners, Manchester United’s hybrid control, why spending must fund infrastructure as well as players, and which ownership styles win fan trust.

Oli Kay, football journalist known for tactical and contextual analysis, and David Ornstein, experienced transfer and club correspondent, dissect Mohamed Salah’s imminent Liverpool exit. They explore why he left and how his form changed. They examine financial and squad implications, likely next destinations, and what Liverpool’s recruitment and strategy will look like going forward.

Carl Anka, football writer and analyst who breaks down recruitment and managerial roles. Matt Slater, seasoned football journalist focused on owners and club structures. They debate player influence versus long-term club power. They dissect superstar off-field impact, the rise and limits of sporting directors, and who truly controls clubs: managers, directors or owners.

Art de Roché, Arsenal analyst known for tactical clarity, and Adam Crafton, seasoned Premier League reporter, debate Guardiola’s Carabao Cup boost and how City’s low block stifled Arsenal. They spotlight Nico O’Reilly’s breakout and compare academy talents. They question a goalkeeper call, weigh the loss’s effect on Arsenal’s title tilt, and reflect on Spurs’ slump and Sunderland’s surprise rise.