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Leroy Sane's Bayern Munich future has reportedly been thrown into fresh doubt after switching agents mere weeks before his contract expires.

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Sane out of contract this summerChanges agent just as deal nearedLinked with Arsenal and LiverpoolFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Just when it looked like the 29-year-old would end speculation over his future and sign a new Bayern contract, CF Bayern Insider reports that Sane has switched from the 11Wins agency to agent Pini Zahavi. The report adds that the newly-crowned Bundesliga champions now have to start negotiations again 'from scratch'.

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Sane has been linked with Arsenal and Liverpool, who may be tempted to sign the speedy winger if he becomes a free agent this summer. The German international was seemingly prepared to take a pay cut to stay at Bayern but this agent shift may have put that to bed.

DID YOU KNOW?

According to Bild, the former Manchester City man's decision has come as a 'complete surprise' to Bayern. Incidentally, Sane has scored 11 goals and bagged five assists in 28 Bundesliga appearances this season.

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GettyWHAT NEXT?

It remains to be seen if a new agreement can be reached or if Sane will leave Bayern this summer.

“I think Shadab and I hold ourselves accountable for not staying there and getting us to 155-160”

Danyal Rasool14-Nov-20223:33

Fleming: Pakistan made ‘massive mistake’ in last four overs

At the last T20I World Cup 12 months ago, Shan Masood was doing commentary work with ESPNcricinfo. Two months ago, he had never played a T20I for Pakistan.Yet, immediately after Pakistan’s five-wicket loss to England in the T20 World Cup final, he was the one sent out to the MCG press area to try and make sense of a dispiriting evening for Pakistan after finishing as their top scorer in the game. After a middle-order stutter, he had built up a 36-run stand off 25 balls with Shadab Khan, laying the groundwork for a big finish, before both fell in the space of six balls and Pakistan’s innings melted away.Masood considered himself and Shadab responsible for the wheels coming off the innings. “When Babar and I were batting, we built a very good platform and then lost two wickets” Masood said. “We recovered that with Shadab and myself and then I don’t think we finished well and I think me and Shadab hold ourselves accountable for not staying there.Related

ESPNcricinfo's T20 World Cup XI

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Pakistan's qudrat crashes in the face of England's calculation

'Hurt' Babar rues Shaheen injury, admits Pakistan '20 runs short'

“There were stages, especially with the bat where we could have finished the innings really well. Personally, I take blame for it. I thought that we’re aiming for 170 and having looked at how the innings ended, maybe we could have used with a batsman staying until the end and getting us to 155-160 which looked very good on a pitch that did something.”The pitch continued to “do something”, as Masood said, right through the second innings. Shaheen Shah Afridi shaped one in that cleaned up Alex Hales in the first over, while Naseem Shah repeatedly beat both the left and right handers’ outside edges in a sensational, albeit luckless, spell.”With the ball, we were bowling some really really good deliveries, some very good spells, but maybe we also gave a few runs away too many early on which we could have done without,” he said. “At the end in that crucial period where we lost Shaheen, we could have done with his two overs at the end.”We’re a bit disappointed. We couldn’t seal it in the crucial moments. England were very good in those crucial moments. I thought they came at us both with the bat and the ball.”Haris Rauf ended up with figures of 2 for 23 and was particularly fearsome early on, ensuring Phil Salt and Jos Buttler had been dismissed before the powerplay was out. The spell was central to Pakistan managing to make a low target as hairy as they did for England, though Rauf rued the lack of another 15 runs or so to defend.”We were short a few runs, but as a bowling unit, we stuck to our plans,” Rauf said. “They played well and deserved to win. We had control of the match until the Shaheen injury. Ben Stokes was quite lucky and kept missing the outside edge, but we did think Shaheen not being able to bowl out make a difference. I’ve played a lot of cricket at the MCG and everyone knows scoring runs here is tricky; the boundaries are big. If we had 150 on the total, that would have posed more questions to them. But we bowled well to take it so close.”A campaign that had begun with two final-ball losses ended with a defeat in the final game for Pakistan. Four wins and three defeats might not necessarily be runner-up form, but Masood pointed out the nature of the wins and losses revealed a more insightful picture of Pakistan’s campaign.Shan Masood made a 28-ball 38 in the T20 World Cup final•Cameron Spencer/Getty Images”I think we can sum it up with the wins and losses. I think the games that we have won, we’ve won them pretty comfortably. And the good sign always is that when you lose, you lose close games. So you realise that those things are in your own hands. The three games we lost to India, Zimbabwe and even the final there were opportunities where we could have closed out those games.”You make mistakes, not just when you lose you also make mistakes when you win. So I think the side is very good at doing that. The side is very good at holding itself accountable. We played the World Cup semi-final last year, lost a close semi final, played the Asia Cup final and the World Cup final. The next step this young team has to take is finishing out games, finishing out close moments. The way Babar is leading this team, the leadership group in Shadab and Rizwan and this management, I’ve got no doubts that with future World Cups coming this side will be a constant threat and amongst the top teams.”Masood was key to Pakistan’s charge through the early middle overs, most notably when he took 16 off Liam Livingston’s only over to leave Pakistan in a relatively dominant position at 84 for 2 in 11 overs. It’s been quite the journey from a Test match specialist and a T20 novice to Pakistan’s central hope in a World Cup final.”Funnily enough, I was watching the last World Cup with ESPNcricinfo doing some commentary work,” he said. “Life can change but I think personally in my life there’ve been huge lessons which has allowed me to be freer, enjoy the game more and be the best version of myself. I’ll never be satisfied with what I do. There are things that I want to improve in my game and hopefully I’ll keep working on them and keep growing as a player.”

Sri Lanka need their bowlers to step up in their quest to level the three-match series

Hemant Brar11-Jan-20234:13

Do India need a bowling allrounder? Who replaces Madushanka if he misses out?

Big picture: Can Sri Lanka stage a comeback?The last time India and Sri Lanka played an ODI at Eden Gardens, in 2014, Rohit Sharma smashed a world-record 264. He looked set for a big hundred in Tuesday’s ODI in Guwahati as well before getting out for a 67-ball 83. Still, it was a big positive for India as Rohit was playing his first game after his hand injury in Bangladesh.Related

Silverwood: 'Our discipline in first ten overs was lacking at times'

Kohli, Rohit, Gill and India's dew diligence

Kohli: 'Desperation doesn't get you anywhere'

Rohit’s decisions regarding the playing XI too proved to be right. Before the opening ODI, he had announced that Shubman Gill was ahead of Ishan Kishan in the pecking order despite the latter scoring the fastest double-century in ODI cricket in his previous match. There was a reason behind that.Going into the first game, Gill had been the most prolific run-getter in the world in ODIs since his comeback in July last year, with 638 runs at an average of 70.88 and a strike rate of 102.57. He carried on in the same vein in Guwahati, scoring 70 off 60 balls.Watch on ESPN Player in the UK

WATCH the second India vs Sri Lanka ODI LIVE

The other important decision was the omission of Suryakumar Yadav, who has been making heads turn with his T20I performances. India stuck with Shreyas Iyer, and he chipped in with a handy cameo as the team looked for quick runs to guard against dew in the second innings.One concern for India is, with Axar Patel slotted at No. 7 and followed by four bowlers, the tail is too long. They have Washington Sundar on the bench, but the question is, whom do they drop to fit him in?Even though Sri Lanka were outplayed in the first ODI, there were some encouraging signs. Pathum Nissanka scored 72 at the top of the order, Dhananjaya de Silva contributed a 40-ball 47, and Dasun Shanaka continued his good form with an unbeaten hundred.Dilshan Madushanka hurt his shoulder while trying to make a stop•BCCIHaving said that, their bowlers need to put in a much-improved performance if they are to keep the series alive. However, it may not be easy given the lack of experience in the bowling unit. It’s also not clear if Dilshan Madushanka will be available for Thursday’s match. The left-arm seamer dislocated his right shoulder while fielding during the first ODI. He was sent for an X-ray and MRI, and the reports are awaited.Form guideIndia WWLLL (last five completed ODIs, most recent first)
Sri Lanka LWLLWIn the spotlight: Umran Malik and Wanindu HasarangaIn the absence of Prasidh Krishna, Umran Malik has been tasked with being the enforcer in the middle overs. After impressing during the T20I series, he picked up 3 for 57 from eight overs in the first ODI. At one point, he had figures of 6-0-32-3 before Shanaka took him on at the death. Having already improved his control, perhaps it’s time to incorporate some variations.Wanindu Hasaranga hasn’t been at his best in ODIs•Associated PressFrom Sri Lanka’s side, the focus will be on Wanindu Hasaranga. While he is among the best spinners in T20I cricket, his ODI record is a bit underwhelming. In 35 ODIs, he has 39 wickets at an average of 36.51. But he is the leading wicket-taker in the squad, and his team requires him to step up.Team news: Will India go unchanged? Before the series, Rohit said India were not looking to chop and change. So expect them to go with an unchanged XI, especially after a win in the first game.India (probable): 1 Rohit Sharma (capt), 2 Shubman Gill, 3 Virat Kohli, 4 Shreyas Iyer, 5 KL Rahul (wk), 6 Hardik Pandya, 7 Axar Patel, 8 Mohammed Shami, 9 Umran Malik, 10 Mohammed Siraj, 11 Yuzvendra ChahalSri Lanka could bring in Lahiru Kumara if Madushanka is unavailable. No other changes are expected.Sri Lanka (probable): 1 Pathum Nissanka, 2 Avishka Fernando, 3 Kusal Mendis (wk), 4 Charith Asalanka, 5 Dhananjaya de Silva, 6 Dasun Shanaka (capt), 7 Wanindu Hasaranga, 8 Dunith Wellalage, 9 Chamika Karunaratne, 10 Kasun Rajitha, 11 Dilshan Madushanka/Lahiru KumaraPitch and conditions: Haze at Eden Gardens?Eden Gardens last hosted an ODI more than five years ago when India, batting first, were all out for 252. In response, Australia folded for just 202. There is no forecast of rain, but it could be hazy at times. During the daytime, the temperature will be around 25°C but could drop by more than 10° at night.Stats and trivia Virat Kohli (12,584) needs 67 runs to go past Mahela Jayawardene’s ODI tally of 12650 and move to fifth position on the list of top run-getters in the format. Since the start of 2010, India have played 24 bilateral ODI series at home. Of those, they have lost only three – against Pakistan in 2012, South Africa in 2015 and Australia in 2019. Avishka Fernando is 31 short of 1000 runs in ODI cricket. If he reaches there on Thursday, in his 28th innings, he will be the joint second-fastest to the landmark from his country, along with Upul Tharanga and Kusal Mendis. Roy Dias holds the Sri Lankan record, getting there in 27 innings.

Celtic are closing in on another title triumph and moves will already be accelerating behind the scenes as the foundations are laid for summer arrivals to sign on the dotted line at Parkhead.

Celtic plot strong domestic finish ahead of summer business

Brendan Rodgers has had things mostly his own way in the Scottish Premiership amid the absence of a prolonged title challenge from Rangers this campaign.

The Bhoys retain a 13-point lead over their rivals heading into the latest round of league fixtures. At the same time, they only need a minimum of five more victories in the top-flight to mathematically secure a fourth crown on the trot.

Following a convincing 5-1 victory over Aberdeen in midweek, Celtic travel to face St Mirren in Saturday’s late kick-off at the SMiSA Stadium carrying the omen that they have only lost out once in their last 20 visits to Paisley across all competitions.

While their Scottish Cup involvement could offer the chance for a domestic clean sweep, Rodgers will likely be plotting summer moves to equip his side for another crack at the Champions League if they can progress through qualifying later in the year.

Recently, Celtic’s interest in Norwich City forward Borja Sainz has come to light after the Spaniard’s run of 16 goals and four assists in 31 appearances this term.

Celtic now interested in signing "fantastic" 16-goal forward this summer

Brendan Rodgers is looking to add more firepower at Celtic.

BySean Markus Clifford Mar 1, 2025

Statement arrivals will be on the agenda, and Rodgers has now confirmed the club are set for talks with another potential recruit as the wheels begin to turn on what is expected to be a busy summer window.

Brendan Rodgers confirms Jeffrey Schlupp Celtic talks

Speaking ahead of his side’s trip to face St Mirren, Rodgers confirmed he will consult January loan signing Jeffrey Schlupp over a permanent Celtic move after his blistering start to life in Glasgow’s east end.

He explained: “I’ll have a chat with Jeffrey towards the latter part of the season. It was the case of him coming in and settling and getting to understand how he plays. I think we can all see he has that Premier League physicality and quality.

Schlupp’s immediate Celtic impact in numbers – Premiership

Tackles success

83.8%

Duels won

19

Pass accuracy

86%

Ball Recoveries

11

Shots

4

“He’s a guy that’s a top professional. That’s why he’s been over a decade in the Premier League, because you have to look after yourself. You’ve got to have the right qualities, not only as a player but as a person. We knew what we were bringing in. I’m really happy for him, because he’s settled into the group really well now.”

Dovetailing with Greg Taylor in the left-back position, Schlupp has made seven appearances since arriving from Crystal Palace last month on a temporary basis, when the boss hailed his “incredible pace and power”.

Earning 20 caps for Ghana, the 32-year-old is set to be a free agent in the summer and may be a cost efficient option to compete with Kieran Tierney after the Scotland international signed a pre-contract with Celtic.

Nevertheless, it remains to be seen if the experienced full-back would be open to staying in Scotland long-term in spite of his initial impact in Glasgow.

Aguirre will continue to evaluate his squad as El Tri faces two of Asia's top national teams

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El Tri to face Japan in Oakland, Calif.Will face South Korea at a venue TBDBoth matches take place during September FIFA windowFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED?

Mexico announced on Tuesday two international friendlies as part of their ongoing preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Under the guidance of head coach Javier "El Vasco" Aguirre, will take on two Asian powerhouses—Japan and South Korea—during the September FIFA window.

The first match is set for Saturday, Sept. 6, against Japan at the Alameda County Stadium in Oakland, California. Three days later, on Tuesday, Sept. 9, Mexico will face South Korea at a venue yet to be confirmed.

“These matches are part of the technical staff’s long-term strategy to prepare the team for the most important tournament in world football, which will be co-hosted by Mexico in 2026,” read an official statement from the Mexican Football Federation (FMF).

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The September fixtures also offer Aguirre a chance to continue evaluating his squad and refining Mexico’s style of play against high-caliber international opponents. Aguirre, who previously managed the Japanese national team between 2014 and 2015, is well acquainted with the strengths of

Japan have become a footballing force in recent decades, thanks to the steady growth of its domestic league and investment in youth development. Oakland and the greater Bay Area have hosted several memorable Mexico matches over the years. The last time El Tri played at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum was in 2011, when they defeated Paraguay 3–1.

Getty Images SportDID YOU KNOW?

Mexico and Japan have met five times at the senior level, with winning all five encounters, scoring nine goals and conceding just three. The rivalry extends to the Olympic stage as well. At the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, Japan defeated Mexico in the bronze medal match. However, returned the favor at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics with a 3–1 win to secure the bronze medal.

Against South Korea, Mexico holds a slight edge in their head-to-head record. The two nations have clashed 13 times across various competitions, including World Cups, friendlies, the Gold Cup, and the now-defunct Confederations Cup. Mexico lead the series with seven wins, one draw, and five victories over South Korea.

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR MEXICO NATIONAL TEAM?

In addition to the September friendlies, Mexico has two matches scheduled ahead of the Gold Cup. On Saturday, June 7, they will face Switzerland in Salt Lake City, followed by a match against Turkey on Tuesday, June 10, in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Mexico will begin its Gold Cup title defense on June 14 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, facing the Dominican Republic. They’ll then take on Suriname on June 18 at AT&T Stadium and close out the group stage on June 22 against Costa Rica at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

Newcastle United aren’t exactly in amazing form heading into some tough games in March which includes an opportunity to pick up some honours in the EFL Trophy final versus Liverpool.

Indeed, it’s been very hit-and-miss as of late for Eddie Howe’s Magpies, with home wins against Arsenal and Nottingham Forest in league and cup soured by losses to Manchester City and Arne Slot’s convincing league leaders on the road, alongside the club’s recent FA Cup exit to Brighton and Hove Albion.

Danny Welbeck and former employee, Yankuba Minteh, broke Toon hearts with an extra-time winner for the Seagulls, as Newcastle just didn’t have enough in their tank come the end of the 120-minute marathon, which wasn’t helped by Anthony Gordon’s petulant dismissal.

Anthony Gordon's poor performance vs Brighton

This reckless red card for Gordon means he will now likely miss his club’s trip to Wembley, although Howe and Co are apparently going to appeal this sending off in a bid to try and get the 24-year-old back for the final.

Regardless, it was a poor showing from the ex-Everton man against Fabian Hurzeler’s determined visitors, as he failed to complete a single dribble, before being given his marching orders late on after a scuffle with Jan Paul van Hecke.

Away from this incident, Gordon does have nine goals and six assists from 34 games to shout about this campaign, but potentially missing out on the upcoming final against his ex-club’s fiercest rivals will be a huge kick in the teeth.

Minutes

83

69

Goals

0

1

Touches

50

32

Shots

1

1

Accurate Passes

19/26

12/18

Key Passes

1

2

Successful Dribbles

0/4

1/2

Ground Duels Won

3/10

4/7

Aerial duels won

0/1

0/0

Tackles

1

2

He will surely return to the starting XI very soon, but Howe’s side would no doubt be boosted in attack more if they had a former flop on the scene who has resurrected his playing days away from St James’ Park.

Newcastle flop is now just as exciting as Gordon

The Magpies attack at full throttle this season has been an absolute treat to watch, with Alexander Isak firing in 22 goals in all competitions from the main striker spot, alongside Jacob Murphy also chipping in with some meaningful contributions next to the standout Swede.

But, Newcastle would potentially be elevated to another level if former flop Florian Thauvin was back and at his current excellent best, with his original stint on Tyneside completely forgettable when amassing just one goal from 16 games.

Now, however, he’s a different beast altogether playing out in Italy with Udinese with his goal and assist haul across 2024/25 to date not far off Gordon’s ever-rising amount, with his own tally up at eight strikes and five assists from fewer matches (25), which included a curled strike hitting the back of the net in December.

Constantly twisting and turning defenders with ease, it’s safe to say the “unbelievable” star – as he was once heralded by former teammate Moussa Sissoko – hasn’t allowed his bruising Magpies experience to impact him one little bit.

Indeed, his form out in France right off the back of his short stay in England was equally as breathtaking as his peak in Serie A.

20/21

38

8

9

19/20

2

0

0

18/19

37

18

9

17/18

54

26

17

16/17

43

15

12

15/16

20

4

0

14/15

38

5

7

13/14

41

10

6

Looking at the table above is evidence enough that the electric French attacker never let his Tyneside demons get the better of him, with an outrageous 147 goals and assists coming his way during eight largely successful campaigns at Marseille after moving back in a £9m deal. All in all, he’s scored 88 times since moving away from the north east.

Gordon is deep into his second campaign back at Newcastle, with the 24-year-old striving to get back into his groove after all the drama surrounding this red card is over, whilst his equally as exciting counterpart aims to see out his career in style with Udinese.

Howe struck gold on Newcastle ace whose value's risen 780% since his debut

Newcastle and Howe will be pretty happy with this teenage talent.

1 ByRoss Kilvington Mar 1, 2025

Ruben Amorim's side slunk to their 18th Premier League defeat of the season with an abject performance at Stamford Bridge

Manchester United's nightmare Premier League season continued as they were beaten by Chelsea in their final away game of the campaign and the only positive is that the league season, their worst since being relegated 51 years ago, is almost over.

Ruben Amorim put out a strong team given his side have a crucial Europa League final next week as he looked for a big response to his angry comments following Sunday's defeat at home to West Ham. But his words apparently fell on deaf ears as United barely created any memorable chances and were undone by a moment of brilliance from Reece James, who set up Marc Cucurella to head in the crucial goal in the 71st minute.

Harry Maguire showed the prowess of a striker to find the net early in the game from a Fernandes cross but the goal was ruled out by VAR for a toe-nail offside. James had the best actual effort of a forgettable first half, crashing the post with a sizzling and swerving strike with the outside of his boot.

Chelsea – who needed to win to keep their push for Champions League football next season in their own hands – had a penalty awarded then taken away in the second half but they showed more desire to win the game and did so thanks to a fantastic move between their two full-backs.

United now have five days to lift their spirits for their do-or-die final against Tottenham, their only opportunity to come out of this harrowing season with a shred of dignity.

GOAL rates Man United's players from Stamford Bridge…

Getty Images SportGoalkeeper & Defence

Andre Onana (5/10):

Wasn't really tested aside from the goal James' scorching effort, neither of which he could get near to. Kicking was hurried and inaccurate and had a scare when Tyrique George went over from his challenge and was initially given a penalty before the referee and VAR saw sense.

Victor Lindelof (6/10):

Looked solid for most of the game, which is good news following his shaky cameo against West Ham. Not to blame for the goal as he was marking Palmer.

Harry Maguire (7/10):

Another strong performance at the heart of the defence, anticipating the danger easily and moving the ball around well.

Luke Shaw (6/10):

A decent display to get him sharp for Bilbao and most importantly he came through it unscathed.

AdvertisementAFPMidfield

Noussair Mazraoui (5/10):

Gave a good showing in the first half but crucially he lost Cucurella for the goal.

Casemiro (7/10):

Had a good battle with Caicedo and limited how much damage Chelsea could do through the middle. It says a lot that the breakthrough came just after he had come off.

Bruno Fernandes (6/10):

Controlled United's play in the first half although his influence faded as the game went on.

Patrick Dorgu (5/10):

Didn't get forward enough and James' performance down his flank put him to shame.

Getty Images SportAttack

Mason Mount (5/10):

Had United's only effort of the first half but didn't have much impact against his boyhood club, whose fans booed him throughout.

Rasmus Hojlund (4/10):

A new game, the same anonymous performance. The most notable thing he did was asked to remove an item of jewellery early in the second half.

Amad Diallo (6/10):

Had a slow first half but looked like United's only dangerous attacking outlet as the game progressed. Fired a powerful effort at Sanchez.

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Subs & Manager

Alejandro Garnacho (4/10):

Outfoxed by James' trickery, earning him a telling off from Fernandes and Maguire. Did very little in the final third.

Manuel Ugarte (5/10):

A downgrade on Casemiro. Booked in the 90th minute for fouling Cucurella.

Kobbie Mainoo (N/A):

Came on in the 81st minute. Didn't do much to compel Amorim to start him against Tottenham.

Ayden Heaven (N/A):

Good to see him back for the first time in two months. Cool and casual, so much that he lost the ball in his box and then fouled Malo Gusto to win it back, earning a booking.

Ruben Amorim (4/10):

Played a strong team which was risky so soon before the final. Didn't appear to get any injuries but there was no real uplift in his side's performance, which will concern him after his tirade following the defeat by West Ham.

GOAL takes a look at three managers whose seats are heating up near the mid-point of the MLS campaign

Matchday 15 of the MLS season is in the books, with the halfway point of the 2025 campaign nearly here. Patterns have developed, and a clear hierarchy in MLS has emerged – particularly in the Eastern Conference, where first-through-fifth place is only separated by three points.

Then, there's the bottom of the league.

Reigning champions LA Galaxy are winless in 15, but nonetheless handed manager Greg Vanney a contract extension after Matchday 13 – a move the club ultimately deemed a necessary risk, despite the poor on-pitch performance.

Not every club has shown that willingness with their manager – both CF Montreal and Sporting Kansas City already moved on from their coaches, with Laurent Courtois and Peter Vermes already dismissed. There have now been 14 total managerial changes across MLS over the last year, showing that clubs are not wasting time with underperforming play.

St. Louis CITY's Olof Mellberg, D.C. United's Troy Lesesne and Real Salt Lake's Pablo Mastroeni are all on watch, as each manager's team is currently treading water amid early-season struggles.

GOAL takes a look at MLS coaches on the hot seat.

Get the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games nowGetty Images SportOlof Mellberg, St. Louis CITY SC

Mellberg may have the hottest seat in MLS. In his first year with CITY, the Western Conference side sits 28th in MLS on just 11 points.

The Swedish manager has yet to get the most out of his roster, with the club struggling across all areas of the pitch. They've scored just 11 goals, with noticeable struggles taking center-stage in the final-third. Defensively, they have had some impressive showings – notably the first four matches of the season, in which they kept four straight clean sheets and began the campaign 2-0-2 (WLD).

Since? It's been a disaster. They're winless in 11 straight, and have scored just seven goals during that span – earning three points.

Speculation surfaced after Matchday 14 that Mellberg could be on his way out, but called that talk premature. However, it is clear his performance has been under evaluation.

After missing out on the 2024 postseason, CITY have little room for error – if things don't turn around fast, they could be on to their fourth manager since the start of the 2024 season.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTroy Lesesne, D.C. United

Lesesne has faced an uphill battle since taking charge of D.C. United ahead of the 2024 season. Since the departure of Wayne Rooney in 2019, the Eastern Conference side have been non-contenders.

They haven't made the postseason since the Englishman's final campaign with the club, missing out on the playoffs for five straight seasons – including Lesesne's debut 2024 campaign.

Sure, Christian Benteke is a terrific forward – but he's the only card Lesesne has been able to play since his appointment. The club has made some baffling transfer decisions – notably loaning Designated Player Mateusz Klich to Atlanta United for the 2025 season, while still keeping him on their books – which includes his DP slot.

On top of that, they've failed to spend at the caliber of some of top MLS teams – which isn't all on Lesesne, but it is up to him to maximize what he has. And he hasn't.

D.C. sit 13th in the Eastern Conference and have conceded a staggering 27 goals in 15 matches. Offensively, they've scored just 13 goals – six of which belong to Benteke, their Belgian star. Heading into Matchday 16, the club are winless in four straight – including a pair of scoreless draws.

As it stands, D.C. are set to make it six straight seasons without a postseason appearance. It's not all on Lesesne, as ownership and their front-office has failed to spend at the scope of their competitors. But the 41-year-old coach needs to get more out of his current squad.

USA Today ImagesPablo Mastroeni, Real Salt Lake

Since taking charge of RSL in 2021, Mastroeni's side have not missed the postseason. They've been competing in the West each season, and at one point or another, emerged as a competitor against the best teams in their conference.

However, they've exited the playoffs in the first round three years in a row, and nearly halfway into the 2025 campaign, have hit a plateau. Can Mastroeni actually take them higher than what they have achieved in the four previous seasons?

The club sit 12th in the West on just 14 points through 15 games, with a record of 4-9-2. They've lost four of their seven games at home, while on the road, have a record of 2-5-1.

Their roster, spearheaded by USMNT midfielder Diego Luna, boasts talent – but they're incredibly inconsistent. Beyond the 21-year-old playmaker, who leads the team in scoring with eight goals, six other players have scored one goal each – but none more than one.

In the final-third, nothing is coming together, and they're falling short of expectation – which ultimately falls on the shoulders of Mastroeni. Defensively, they've conceded 22 goals – the fifth-most in the conference, highlighting another area of concern.

Curiously, the RSL manager has also struggled with roster selection. Only one player, goalkeeper Rafael Cabral, has started all 15 matches for the club in 2025. The coach has tried a multitude of players on the pitch, but with inconsistent performances outside of Luna, he's struggled to trust his group week-in and week-out.

Has Mastroeni reached his ceiling with the club?

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+ Javier Mascherano is in a challenging stretch. The Inter Miami head coach is winless in seven of his last eight across all competitions, and the team has conceded three goals in three straight games. If things don't get sorted out by the end of Matchday 17 in a double-game week, could the make a change ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup?

+ Ronny Deila and Atlanta United FINALLY won a game, snapping an eight-game winless streak on Matchday 15. The highest-spending club of the offseason, the have massive expectations for 2025, and they've failed to live up to them. Deila, a former MLS Cup-winning coach with NYCFC, will be tasked with turning around their poor start.

Manchester City now want to sign a winger who terrorised Matheus Nunes in the Champions League earlier this season, having identified him as an ideal target to strengthen their attack, according to a report.

New winger needed at the Etihad

Jack Grealish’s struggles this season are well-documented, and there have now been reports Man City are ready to accept a bid for the £300k-per-week winger, which means Pep Guardiola will be tasked with bringing in a suitable replacement.

Sporting CP’s Trincao has recently emerged as a potential target, with City looking to hijack Manchester United’s move for the former Wolverhampton Wanderers man, while SC Braga youngster Roger Fernandes is also a subject of interest.

AC Milan’s Rafael Leao is among the most high-profile players on the Sky Blues’ shortlist, with the Portuguese forward being identified as a key target, and another winger who has impressed in the Champions League this season is now also under consideration.

Man City secure summer signing of "unbelievable" £66m star, claims report

Pep Guardiola’s side are said to have sealed a move for a midfielder.

ByDominic Lund Mar 11, 2025

According to a report from Spain, Man City now want to sign Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola, who has become a key player for Luis Enrique’s side this season, stepping up in the absence of Kylian Mbappe.

Barcola is viewed as an ideal option to strengthen Guardiola’s frontline, and there are suggestions City are very keen on a deal, but it may be difficult to get it over the line.

PSG are not willing to sanction the £107k-per-week winger’s departure unless they receive a substantial fee, given his importance to the French side’s long-term project.

Barcola could be "one of the best" left-wingers in Europe

The Frenchman has received high praise from freelance scout Ben Mattinson this season, who described him as “one of the best” left-wingers in Europe back in October, while also lauding him for stepping up since Mbappe’s move to Real Madrid.

City fans may remember the PSG star from his impressive performance in the Champions League clash back in January, picking up an 8.6 SofaScore match rating after bagging a goal and an assist, on a night where Nunes had a very tough time at right-back.

The former Lyon man has 30 goal contributions to his name in all competitions this season, including 20 in 25 Ligue 1 games, having shown real signs of development since being forced to become PSG’s talisman.

Season

League appearances

Goals

Assists

2021-22

11

0

1

2022-23

26

5

8

2023-24

25

4

7

2024-25

25

13

7

Barcola may be the ideal replacement for Grealish this summer, and given that he is just 22-years-old, he could make the left-wing spot his own for years to come.

RCB have not lost to Capitals since 2021, and another win will solidify their chances of a top-four finish

S Sudarshanan05-May-20235:03

Muzumdar: RCB’s potent bowling attack can threaten all teams

Big picture: Capitals need Warner firing
Delhi Capitals’ problems start at the top. They are the second-slowest scorers (run rate of 7.68) in the powerplay and their opening pair averages a shade under 26. They are up against the Royal Challengers Bangalore, who are the most economical bowling team in the powerplay, with an economy of 7.29 to go with their 22 wickets.While David Warner has been a constant at the top, his returns have diminished as the tournament’s progressed. In the first four matches, he scored 209 runs and was Capitals’ lone man standing. But in the last five games, he has added only 99. Each of Capitals’ last three opening stands have been in single digits – 0, 0, 1.However, Warner has the joint-most runs by any batter in the IPL against RCB – 839 in 21 innings – and is the third-most for him against any IPL team. His record in Delhi is also impressive – 885 IPL runs, which is the second-most by any batter at the venue in the IPL.On the other hand, RCB are among the fastest scoring teams (run rate of 9.29) in the powerplay and their opening partnership averages 53.62 per dismissal. Virat Kohli and Faf du Plessis have been setting them a good platform but there is little consistency in the middle order barring Glenn Maxwell. And that perhaps explains the reason behind Kedar Jadhav’s emergence as the replacement player.Despite being a home game, the Capitals do not start as favourites. They have lost three of their four home games this season and are up against an RCB side that hasn’t lost to them since IPL 2021. It cannot get tougher than this.Team news: Mustafizur away, Nortje outMustafizur Rahman has played only two matches in IPL 2023 for Capitals but has now left for Bangladesh’s three-match ODI series against Ireland in Chemsford that starts next week. Mitchell Marsh missed Capitals’ previous encounter due to illness and should be back if he has recovered.Capitals said in a statement on Saturday afternoon that Anrich Nortje, the leader of their bowling attack, is unavailable “owing to a personal emergency”. He flew back to South Africa on Friday night and it is unclear when – and whether – he will return.Meanwhile, Jadhav, who was brought in as a replacement for the injured David Willey, could be in action for RCB.The big questionForm guideDelhi Capitals WLWWL
Royal Challengers Bangalore WLWWL2:53

Is Kedar Jadhav the right replacement for David Willey?

Impact Player strategyDelhi Capitals
Phil Salt has three single-digit scores – two ducks included – on either side of his half-century. But Capitals are likely to persist with him at the top and continue with Khaleel Ahmed as their Impact Player if they bowl first. In Nortje’s absence, Lungi Ngidi could make his first appearance of the season. Probable XII: 1 Phil Salt (wk), 2 David Warner (capt), 3 Mitchell Marsh/Rilee Rossouw, , 5 Manish Pandey, 6 Axar Patel, 7 Aman Khan, 8 Ripal Patel, 9 Lungi Ngidi, 10 Kuldeep Yadav, 11 Ishant Sharma, Royal Challengers Bangalore
Depending on how much purchase there is on the surface, RCB could decide between Harshal Patel and Vijaykumar Vyshak as Impact Players. And they could use Jadhav to boost their batting if needed.Probable XII: 1 Virat Kohli, 2 Faf du Plessis (capt), 3 Glenn Maxwell, 4 Suyash Prabhudessai, , 6 Dinesh Karthik (wk), 7 Mahipal Lomror, 8 Wanindu Hasaranga, 9 Karn Sharma, 10 Mohammed Siraj, 11 Josh Hazlewood, 12 Stats and Trivia The Maxwell vs Kuldeep battle is interesting. Kuldeep has got the better of Maxwell in each of their four meetings, but Maxwell has scored 59 off the 22 balls with a strike rate of 268. That is the best strike-rate by any batter against Kuldeep in the IPL. Axar has dismissed du Plessis three times in T20s, the joint-most by any spinner. Du Plessis has scored 89 off the 81 balls he has faced against Axar. In IPL 2023, RCB have won four of their five matches batting first. Kohli averages 73 and strikes at 167 against pace this season. Among bowlers who have bowled at least 15 overs to right-handers in IPL 2023, Kuldeep (6.30) and Axar (6.34) have the best economy rate against themPitch and conditions
The average score first innings score this season in Delhi has been 165. The average winning score, though, goes up to 197. The pitch has tended to be on the quicker side with both pacers and spinners having something of interest. While fast bowlers have picked up 29 wickets as compared to spinners’ 22, the pacers’ economy rate has been over nine an over as opposed to the spinners’ 6.7.