Since taking charge midway through the 2018/19 season, Julien Stéphan has completely changed the course of Stade Rennais Football Club. Having spent the past three years managing Rennes’s B team, Stéphan replaced Sabri Lamouchi on December 3, 2018, when the Brittany club were 17th in Ligue 1. After a string of victories which saw Rennes…

Going into their game on Sunday, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Mikel Arteta found themselves in tough positions. Both managers had raised eyebrows with some worrying performances and languished in the bottom half of the table. Questions were being asked about the impact these managers had in their respective tenures.   Traditionally, when clubs like Manchester…

The biggest transfer saga of the summer ended up with a whimper, not a bang. After weeks of speculation, Lionel Messi announced his decision to remain at Barcelona for another season, continuing his legendary 19-year-spell at the Catalan club. While Manchester City will be disappointed in their latest failed attempt to pry the Argentine superstar…

After beginning their Champions League campaign with a statement victory in Paris, Manchester United welcomed RB Leipzig ahead of what would prove to be another huge European night for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.    Last season’s semi-finalists dominated possession at Old Trafford, but the Red Devils in a rare 4-4-2 diamond formation dominated the match –…

After returning to the top flight for the first time in 16 years, Leeds United have enjoyed a phenomenal start to life in the Premier League under Marcelo Bielsa. From their first game against Liverpool, they made it clear that they would not sacrifice their style of play for any opponent; Bielsa’s side dominated possession…

After a thumping 4-0 victory over FC Midtjylland, Gian Piero Gasperini’s Atalanta side hosted Erik ten Hag’s Ajax at the Atleti Azzurri d’Italia. Although Ajax lost 1-0 to Liverpool last week, they created plenty of chances against the reigning Premier League champions and they did so again in Bergamo.   Ajax scored two first half…

Carlo Ancelotti’s Everton travelled down to St. Mary’s to take on Ralph Hasenhüttl’s Southampton on Sunday. With Everton coming into the game as the only unbeaten side in the Premier League, most would’ve expected Everton to run out victorious and go three points clear at the top of the table. However, Hasenhüttl’s side dominated proceedings…

After controversially receiving a 3-0 defeat and being deducted a point for failing to play their scheduled match against Juventus, Napoli thrashed Atalanta in a match that was expected to be a close contest. Poor structure and individual errors from Atalanta saw Napoli score four goals in the first half and put the game to…

With Inter looking to challenge for the Scudetto while playing adventurous and risky football and Milan seeking to continue their great form under Stefano Pioli, the first Derby della Madonnina of the season both promised and delivered.   The defining individual on the night was Zlatan Ibrahimović, who at 39 years of age, spearheaded Milan…

Returning from the October international break, Chelsea hosted Southampton on Matchday 5 of the Premier League. Having lost 2-0 to Ralph Hasenhüttl’s side on Boxing Day, Frank Lampard was looking to come up with a victory this time around, and with six new players in the line-up, Southampton faced a different beast at the Stamford…