Could Manchester City offer Carlo Ancelotti a reprieve should Real Madrid part company this summer?

With Real Madrid now on course for a trophyless season, manager Carlo Ancelotti looks set to depart the club this summer, either by resignation, or a sacking from the hierarchy. He won’t be short of offers from other clubs given his impressive CV in management, but could it be Manchester City who make their intentions known the earliest?

“I don’t know if I will be here next season. We have 15 days left and two games. After that we will speak with the club. There is not much point talking about the future today,” said Ancelotti following Real’s Champions League exit on Wednesday night.

It’s clear the 55-year-old doesn’t believe he will be at the Santiago Bernabeu next season, and the La Liga giants have been known for their willingness to depart with coaches prematurely. Ancelotti was celebrating winning Real’s 10th European cup only 12 months ago, but now he looks destined for the sack after a trophyless campaign, with former midfielder and current assistant boss Zinedine Zidane expected to take charge of the club for 2015/16.

Manchester City are one club who could well set their stall out to convince the Italian boss to return to the Premier League. Ancelotti won the Premier League title with Chelsea in his stint in England, and has a track record of success in his past jobs, with a total of 17 trophies won as a manager.

Juventus: UEFA Intertoto Cup (1999)
AC Milan: UEFA Champions League (2002/03 & 2006/07), UEFA Super Cup (2003 & 2007), FIFA Club World Cup (2007), Serie A (2003/04), Coppa Italia (2002/03), Supercoppa Italiana (2004)
Chelsea: Premier League: 2009/10, FA Cup (2009/10), Community Shield (2009)
Paris Saint-Germain: Ligue 1 (2012/13)
Real Madrid: UEFA Champions League (2013/14), UEFA Super Cup (2014), FIFA Club World Cup (2014), Copa del Rey (2013/14)

Manchester City are considering a change in manager with incumbent Manuel Pellegrini having greatly underperformed with a strong squad of players. The Sky Blues’ failure in the Champions League has been a real bug bear with the hierarchy, who have parted with a lot of money to get no further to challenging the best teams in Europe. Seeing the likes of Atletico Madrid and Juventus reach the Champions League final last season and this summer respectively could lead the board to hire Ancelotti (five-time European cup winner as player and manager), who has a real affinity with the competition. There are few top-level managers likely to be available for appointment this summer.

Could Manchester City make Carlo Ancelotti their manager for next season?

Nolito: Spanish La Liga’s most Creative Player

If you were asked who has been the most creative player in the Spanish La Liga this season, your answer certainly wouldn’t be Celta Vigo’s Nolito, but the 28-year-old has enjoyed a standout campaign, and has proven himself to be a brilliant goalscorer and creator. It’s surprising such form hasn’t seen him linked with a potential move elsewhere this summer, but Celta won’t mind.

Nolito was outstanding last season in regard to his goalscoring antics too (14 league goals), but has been even more effective creating chances as well as finishing them off. The former Barcelona and Benfica winger has made 30 La Liga starts in 2014/15, scoring 12 goals and making 11 assists. He’s created more than 90 chances in the division, averaging more per game than any other player (at the time of writing).

Outside of Spain, Nolito’s antics are being kept under the radar this season, and not many supporters in England will have heard of him or seen him in action. The experienced midfielder made his debut for the Spanish national team late last year, as recognition for his incredible form, and he’s shown the fans his true quality on a regular basis.

Nolito manipulates the ball beautifully, and has a real eye for goal too, which makes him a real threat going forward. Nobody has match the 28-year-old for impact in his early years with the La Liga outfit, and it’s unlikely to be repeated by another 10 years on. Failed spells with Barcelona and Granada could well have seen his confidence crumble, but he stayed to true and fought on to enjoy a good season in Spain.

Creating more chances on average per game than the likes of Lionel Messi (Barcelona) and Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) is a very impressive feat, and the 28-year-old is certainly enjoying the bet period of my career. Full of skills, tricky, and never afraid to run at his marker, Nolito is understandably a defender’s worst nightmare at times. He’s a hard player to keep quiet in games, and can score a goal in the blink of an eye.

There’s been no reported bid having been made for the Spanish international, which is surprising given his quality over the last two seasons, but as it stands no club want to gamble on the maverick. With the experienced playmaker and goalscorer as La Liga’s most creative player, can he really be ignored anymore? Could Nolito earn a big move to a European elite side in the summer?

Roberto Mancini enjoying resurgence in his second stint at Inter Milan

Inter Milan have enjoyed a real turnaround in form in recent weeks, with manager Roberto Martinez playing a big part in their revival in the Italian Serie A. The Nerazzurri have won nine, drawn nine, losing only six in the 24 games under Mancini (second stint), and his homecoming has surprisingly gone well so far at the San Siro. Many will have questioned why he’d risk ruining his reputation in Italy by going back to a failing Inter side, and Mancini agreed is was a big gamble.

“To come back to Inter is the biggest challenge. It’s not easy, Inter is a top club. The supporters want to win every game. At this moment it’s difficult, and this is a very big challenge for me. When I accepted this I knew that it was very difficult. When you come back to Inter for the second time and we’re able to win (the league title) again, then I think that will be good,” he said.

The popular manager made the return to Inter Milan back in November last year, with the side languishing in 9th place. After winning the treble in 2010, Inter had finished 2nd (2010/11), 6th (2011/12), 9th(2012/13), and 5th (2013/14) in the league table, which was lightyears away from where they’d expected to finish. No Champions League football for three years is something supporters will have never expected, but Mancini could well be bringing back the glory days.

The 50-year-old has worked hard in turning around the fortunes of the previously struggling Italian outfit, and they look to be building strong foundations for a successful 2015/16 campaign. Inter are ending the current season very strongly, winning four of their last six league games – beating the likes of AS Roma, Udinese and Lazio. The Serie A outfit are enjoying a seven-game unbeaten run, and have three games to come to finish as high in the table as possible.

An authoritative manager, Mancini himself admitted what a gamble he made in returning to a side e enjoyed so much success at in his first stint, and he left the club basking in the supporters admiration for him. They were delighted with his return, but also fearful given their current state. The Italian boss has been typically overpowering to get his message across, and it seems to be paying dividends. He’s made big decisions on the training ground to get the best out of the players, and clearly his methods are working on the pitch.

How long will Paris Saint-Germain’s French Ligue 1 dominance last?

Paris Saint-Germain recently thrashed Guingamp 6-0 to move six points clear at the summit with only two games remaining. Close competitors Olympique Lyonnais put up a good fight in the title race, but ultimately fell short after dropping points in two of their last four games. Laurent Blanc’s men have won seven league games on the bounce to open up such a large gap, and boast a superior goal difference to Lyon too.

“Over the last five or six games we’ve been tough to play against. It’s all about concentration and determination to win the ball back. Our current form is due to the focussed concentration the team is achieving,” said Blanc, whose side have lost only once in the top-flight since January.

They’re expected to seal the league title next weekend, but many believe this could be the last major domestic division honour Paris Saint-Germain win for a short time. The history books will say three consecutive league crowns to their name, but the reality is that they were pushed all the way this season, and it took an incredible winning run to finally kill off the challenge from Lyon.

It’s also perhaps worth noting their points tally of 77 from 36 games this season is the lowest at the time of the campaign since 2012, and their 22 wins from 36 games means they will finish the season with the least amount of victories since 2011. In 2012/13 & 2013/14, PSG spent the majority of the season at the summit, but this campaign has seen them spend prolonged periods behind Lyon at the latter stages.

Blanc’s men will also have to contend with some ageing stars on the wane. Zoumana Camara (aged 36), Nicolas Douchez (35), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (33), Maxwell (33), Thiago Motta (32), Thiago Silva (30) and Ezequiel Lavezzi (30) are in the eve of their careers now, so will soon need replacing.

Should a selection of the aforementioned players be shown the door in the summer, Paris Saint-Germain could endure a tricky transitional period that affects their league form. The French giants are targeting a host of players in the summer, but losing the core of the side will be difficult to recover from straight away. Ibrahimovic’s eventual departure will be a big loss in particular, given the Swede has been PSG’s top scorer in the last three seasons. He’s a tough act to follow for whoever comes in to be his long-term replacement.

Could Paris Saint-Germain’s dominance in the French Ligue 1 come to an end after this season?

Schalke 04: A club currently in disarray

German Bundesliga side Schalke 04 recently confirmed two players had been released from the club, and one further name suspended following the Blues’ weekend defeat to Koln. Kevin-Prince Boateng and Sidney Sam were the duo said to have been “indefinitely suspended”, while Marco Hoger finds himself out of action potentially for the remainder of the season too. The news came in the wake of another poor performance in the league, and leaves Schalke’s future in tatters.

The recent result meant the Germans slipped down the table into 6th, just two points above Borussia Dortmund, of whom were 14 points behind at the start of February. It’s been a woeful run of form suffered by Roberto Di Matteo’s men, when for so long they looked on course for a Champions League spot in the table. They have won just two league games in their last 12 played, and haven’t won away from home all year.

No Champions League football, and potentially no Europa League football will be so damaging to the club, and could well cost the job of manager Di Matteo. Schalke have some talented players in the team that could well broker a move away to greener pastures, as it’s clear the German side aren’t in a good place of late. Julian Draxler is highly-rated around Europe, but it’s hard to see him staying past the summer now.

He was public in his criticism for the side’s performance too, saying: “We played really badly. I don’t know what was wrong with us. You’re not going to win games in the Bundesliga like that. I’m pretty sure it was one of our worst performances in recent years. We’re also aware of the anger of our fans. They have reason to be unhappy and vent their anger. Having said that, we have to get through what’s been a poor season together.”

The biggest worry is that the manager’s tactics are not being adhered to by the players, and the supporters have turned following their poor run of form. Schalke supporters are used to being in the top-four in the Bundesliga. They’d grown accustomed to top-end finishes, but certainly thought years like 2015 would never return.
Club captain Benedikt Howedes is another player who many sides will have been eying up in the summer, and he questioned the heart and desire of the squad, while hinting that many were going against the manager’s protocol on the pitch. He said: “It’s difficult for me to find explanations for poor performances like this week after week.”

“We were missing everything that makes us Schalke. There was no passion, willingness to run or emotion. It’s a mystery to me that we didn’t stick to what we set out to do. Everyone has to ask themselves whether they really put everything into action. It’s sad that we played that way.”

Schalke are likely to make big changes in the summer to ensure they don’t have another season like this one. They are currently 13 points off a top-four spot in the table, and 31 points adrift of the champions Bayern Munich.

Could Miralem Pjanic leave AS Roma this summer?

AS Roma midfielder Miralem Pjanic has greatly impressed in the Italian Serie A, and is the subject of many club’s interest this summer as a result, but where does his future lie?

Signed from Olympique Lyonnais for £10M in 2011, the 25-year-old is now one of the best playmakers in Europe. He’s enjoyed a decent season with Roma, albeit failing to improve upon their second-placed finish in 2013/14, but could well be on his way out of Italy with so many sides interested in his services.

Scoring and assisting 14 goals in 31 league games, the Bosnia-Herzegovina international has been one of the players of the season in Serie A. He’s created the second-most chances in the division (66), and boasts a 90% pass completion ratio. With how effective Chelsea playmaker Cesc Fabregas was in his debut season, winning the Capital One Cup, Premier League title, and assisting the most goals (17), many clubs will be looking to find a chief creator to make a similar impact with them.

Pjanic is one player who could be available in the market, and somebody who has proven over the years to be a brilliant playmaker. Like Fabregas, he’s slender in size, and doesn’t run with the ball very often, but he’s most effective with his passing, and can control a game from deep areas. The likes of Liverpool and Manchester United are reportedly fighting it out for his signature, and it’s no wonder given his abilities.

Barcelona were a club reportedly keen on him before he signed a new deal with Roma last summer, as the Spaniards were targeting a long-term replacement for the ageing Xavi. They eventually stumbled upon former Sevilla man Ivan Rakitic, and his impressive debut campaign at the Nou Camp (7 goals, 8 assists, 34 chances, 90% pass completion) shows how vital it is to sign a playmaker of such quality in the team.

It’s a position often ignored by many Premier League sides in favour of attacking wide men or prolific strikers, but many top sides in the league do have effectively playmakers. Pjanic is a top level player, and has been for years. He won’t come cheap, but also won’t break the bank. There’s every chance he could fancy a change of scenery as he’s failed to add to his trophy cabinet in Italy.

The 25-year-old certainly won’t be without his suitors this summer, but where does his future lie? Will a Premier League giants make an approach at the end of the season?

Have Real Madrid greatly underperformed this season?

Real Madrid recently dropped two points at home to Valencia in the Spanish La Liga this evening, which has all but gifted the title to fierce rivals Barcelona.

Manager Carlo Ancelotti was left to rue a poor start made by his men in the first 30 minutes, which saw Los Blancos 2-0 down early on. They valiantly recovered to avoid defeat, but are now four points adrift of the Catalans with only two games to play – meaning a win for Luis Enrique’s side will seal the league crown.

“We have two games remaining and have to try and win both. We’ll keep going, but it is evident that things are more difficult now. We are disappointed with the result, but we have a lot of confidence with how we played. They gave everything they could,” said Ancelotti.

For Real, it’s going to be a bitter pill to swallow, given they were the bookies favourite early on in the campaign. They started the season strongly, enjoying a 12-match unbeaten run in the Spanish La Liga between September and December, which led many to believe they were going to finally finish atop of Barcelona, but things took a turn for the worst.

Many will suggest this weekend’s draw against Valencia was the game that Real threw the title away, but in truth the problems started long before, with Carlo Ancelotti’s side having suffered a mini slump earlier this year that saw them drop 11 points in just a matter of weeks, losing to the likes of Atletico Madrid, Athletic Bilbao and Barcelona, while drawing against Villarreal.

The Real Madrid players have conceded the title, and many are expecting some big casualties as a result. Players and manager could well be shown the door in the summer, which means another rebuild will be on the cards for the Spaniards. Right-back Dani Carvajal said: “At home we couldn’t slip up, we’ve done that and we say goodbye to the league. It’s painful because we wanted to fight until the final day, although we’ll keep on doing that.”

This season was supposed to be Los Blancos’ title to lose, given they were coming off the back of winning the Champions League and Copa Del Rey, while rivals Barcelona had changed manager. But instead Real have gone backwards, and now the Catalans are the top side in the country again.

How poor have Real Madrid performed on all four fronts this season?

Could an ageing Bayern Munich struggle to win the Bundesliga title next season?

Bayern Munich are enduring a disappointing end to the season, with the German giants suffering three consecutive defeats in all competitions to Borussia Dortmund (on penalties on the DFB-Pokal), Bayer Leverkusen (Bundesliga), and Barcelona (Champions League). Their hopes of winning the treble have evaporated, and their European aspirations could be shattered following Wednesday night’s 3-0 defeat in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final clash against Barca.

And while they are stuttering at the tail-end of this season, the next campaign could be a real struggle given the advancing ages of many of their key players. Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp touched upon how many 30 and over players Bayern have in their squad, while highlighting that manager Pep Guardiola doesn’t have like-for-like replacements, which could see them struggle in 2015/16.

“Guardiola is at a club where you’re under severe pressure if you lose any game. It’s now full-on. When he took over from Jupp Heynckes, we all felt that it was the dream job taking over a club that has just won the treble. But he hasn’t taken them to the next level. If anything it looks like they’re going backwards,” said Redknapp following Bayern’s defeat to Barcelona.

“The difficulty he has is players like Philipp Lahm and Bastian Schweinsteiger are maybe just getting a little bit older and Xabi Alonso is not getting any younger. When you take over from a team that has won the treble, it makes it very difficult indeed. He’s got a lot of rebuilding to do it seems to me. There’s certainly pressure, it is going to be difficult for him now.”

Bastian Schweinsteiger turns 31 in August, Rafinha turns 30 in September, Dante will turn 32 in October, Philipp Lahm turns 32 in November, which will also see Xabi Alonso turn 34 the same month. In addition to the aforementioned, Arjen Robben (31) and Franck Ribery (32) are in the eve of their careers at the Allianz-Arena, and will be difficult to replace.

Bayern have dominated the Bundesliga for the last three seasons, but the coming campaign may well see others bridge the gap. Borussia Monchengladbach have been outstanding in 2015, winning 10 of their 14 games played – losing only once – which is better form than the champions themselves. Bayer Leverkusen have had a strong year too, boasting a 2.14 points per game average to Wolfsburg’s 2.00, so could there be three sides likely to fight Bayern for the 2015/16 Bundesliga title next season?

Memphis Depay signing is a statement of title intent from Manchester United

Manchester United recently confirmed the signing of prolific PSV Eindhoven forward Memphis Depay, who reportedly turned down a move to Liverpool to join up with his former Netherlands head coach Louis van Gaal at Old Trafford. With the Red Devils paying around £25M for the 21-year-old, it’s a real statement of intent being made by a club who have to be gunning for the Premier League title next season.

Van Gaal has said he was given three seasons to win the league crown with Manchester United, and given the calibre of signings that have come into the club in his short time in England, United certainly have little excuses to not be maintaining ground on the top-flight elite. This season, they are set for a top-four finish, but are currently five points adrift of third-place, and are in fact suffering their worst form of the campaign. But sealing Champions League football for next season was key, and they look on course to achieve that.

They have now signed one of the most-coveted young talents in the world, and are lining up many more names this summer, which should see them boasting a squad that can stand up to the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City this time round. Depay in particular could be the difference. A lot has been made about United’s need for defensive reinforcements, but the Netherlands international will give them goals that they have been lacking against the top sides.

Depay has scored 21 goals in 28 games this season, and given United are averaging less than two goals a game in the Premier League, the 21-year-old’s arrival could come at a better time for them. He’s been heavily endorsed by a former United and Netherlands star, Jaap Stam, who believes the PSV man could be player to turn the Red Devils into a genuine title-chasing outfit for next season.

“He’s a quality player. United always want to attack and the club always has an interest in players that have a lot of pace and who can also play the one-vs-ones and create something or score goals. Memphis is that type of player. He’s proven that in Holland for a couple of seasons now and also with the national team and I think it’s a good step for him to join United now, and also work with (manager) Louis van Gaal because he knows him very well of course,” he said.

The likes of Ilkay Gundogan and Mats Hummels – both  of Borussia Dortmund – have been mentioned as other potential summer signings, which further shows how much money United are willing to spend to achieve their goals of winning back the title.

Why on earth would Paul Pogba leave Juventus this summer?

There are a lot of methods at work to convince Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba to leave the Italian Serie A side this summer. Manchester United and Chelsea have shown a keen interest in the French international, but now Barcelona have thrown themselves into the mix, with striker Neymar suggesting the Catalan giants would “open the gate” to have such a prestigious talent at the Nou Camp. But why would he leave Juventus?

Since Pogba left Manchester United to join the Old Lady, he has won three league titles, while making more than 120 appearances for the Italians. He is currently on course to win the treble with the Italians, with the league title wrapped up, a Coppa Italia final to come, and their second leg of the Champions League semi-final to play. There is plenty of reasons for the former Manchester United man to stick around.

Pogba, 22, is regarded as one of the best midfield talents in the world, and has attracted interest from nearly every elite club in Europe as a result. Neymar stoked the fires by publicy declaring an interest in his Barcelona side signing Pogba this summer, saying: “How (Pogba) would fit, I don’t know – you would have to ask the coach – but he is a great player and we would open the gates for him. He is a great star. He is still young, even younger than me. He is a player with such quality, and that is always welcome.”

The Frenchman won the U20 World Cup (2013) with France, and was a Golden Ball winner at that tournament. In the FIFA World Cup, he was named Best Young Player (2014). He is considered one of the best box-to-box midfielders in the world, and his asking price is said to be just over £70M. However, Juventus will likely turn down any offer for Pogba that is deemed to be too low since there is no need to sell him at this point with Juve’s revenue rising on a steady and yearly basis.

This season, the 22-year-old has scored 10 goals in all major competitions, including 8 goals in Serie A. Pogba has created 33 chances and made 66 successful dribbles in all competitions, yet it is not just going forward where Pogba excels. He has made 56 tackles, and completed 84% of his passes, so he provides protection and ball retention in the middle of the park too. It is no wonder so many clubs are keen on him considering how highly he is rated at such a young age, but Juventus are not going to find a replacement at his level if they do sell him. In addition, Pogba has found the perfect environment to mature and improve as both a player and a human being. Those are just some of the reasons as to why Pogba should not want a change of scenery, in particular if his team wins a historic treble by the end of the current campaign.

So why would Paul Pogba want to leave Juventus?

Should Yaya Toure leave Manchester City this summer?

Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure is being rumoured to be exiting the Etihad stadium this summer by his own agent, Dimitri Seluk, who said he’s “90% sure” the Ivorian international will be at pastures anew for next season. And with Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Milan reportedly interested in his services,  should Manchester City art company with the midfielder at the end of this campaign?

Toure has been a problem in the City side all season, with manager Manuel Pellegrini failing to get a repeat of the form he showcased for the majority of 2013/14, while also struggling to find balance in the team with Toure operating as a deep-lying midfielder. Toure’s lack of defensive attributes have seen City defeated in high profile games with the box-to-box midfielder being played out of position.

The former Barcelona man has made 26 Premier League appearances, scoring eight goals, and making only one assist. Last season, Toure was scoring and creating most every week, so his decline is clear to see.

The campaign got off to a rocky start, with exit talk flying around the camp following a dispute between Toure and Manchester City over lapse birthday celebrations made by the club, and their treatment of him when Toure had a family bereavement. But things were resolved and the Ivorian international was back in the side playing on a regular basis. However, his form wasn’t anywhere near to last season’s performances, which led to criticism from pundits and supporters alike.

Yaya Toure did showcase moments of brilliance, but such incidents were few and far between. The 31-year-old’s time at the Etihad Stadium looks to have run its course, and a change of scenery would surely suit him. Pellegrini doesn’t seem to have a lace for him in the side anymore, and the midfielder clearly wants a new club ahead of the new campaign too.

“The time is right for them to cash in as he’s 31 now and they can still get a bit of money for him. They need a fresh and adaptable midfielder as David Silva’s role in the team has made Toure play a bit deeper than what suits his game,” said Sky Sports pundit Charlie Nicholas.

The Manchester City man is expected to be on his way to either Inter Milan or Paris Saint-Germain this summer, but will command a transfer fee given he still has two years to go on his deal with the Sky Blues.

Barcelona exact Champions League revenge on Bayern Munich

Spanish La Liga side Barcelona punished perennial Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich in the first leg of the Champions League semi-finals, with Luis Enrique’s men winning 3-0 at the Camp Nou. Lionel Messi was the difference maker for the hosts, with the Argentine wizard grabbing a brace, before setting up the decisive third goal which effectively seals the tie beyond doubt even with a second leg to play.

Barcelona are currently on course to win the treble, with the Spanish La Liga title within their grasp, a Copa Del Rey final to come (against Athletic Bilbao), and a Champions League semi-final second leg clash to come (against Bayern Munich), yet the manner of their win against the Germans will have given them great satisfaction. It has been two years since the German giants thrashed Barcelona 7-0 on aggregate at this stage of the Champions League, so the impressive result masterminded by a magical Messi will have left coach Enrique as well as the Catalan club’s management and fans delighted.

And while it took Messi’s magic to make the difference, the truth was that the Catalans had the edge during the game from start til finish on home soil. They started fast out of the blocks against Pep Guardiola’s men, but were guilty of profligacy in front of goal. Luis Suarez and Dani Alves both missed first-half one-on-ones with Manuel Neuer, while others came close too. However, the second-half was a different story and Barca got the job done emphatically, with the manager full of praise for his players.

“Guardiola’s tactics were according to his style, his team and his philosophy. We played the same as we always do. Messi no longer surprises me. He has ambition and hunger, but I would not say Messi is the only piece of art at Barca. The work of the whole team was incredible on top of the fact we didn’t concede any goals,” he said.

“We are a little closer to the final now. It was the perfect result that takes us a little closer to Berlin, but we still have a second leg to navigate. I am enormously pleased with everything my players did. We defeated a team of huge ability. Their players barely had a sniff at goal and that’s just as pleasing. It was simply a brilliant result.”

Barcelona could not have asked for a better outcome from Wednesday night’s fixture, and supporters will be talking up their prospects of going all the way in the Champions League this season, which would mark their first European triumph in four years.

Were Manchester United right to let Patrice Evra leave last summer?

Juventus left-back Patrice Evra played a full 90 minutes in Tuesday night’s 2-1 home win against Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-final. The veteran Frenchman could find himself a treble-winner at the age of 33, when his career was supposedly set to edge closer towards the end following a long-term association with Manchester United. But were the Red Devils right to let him go?

Evra was released at the end of his contract last summer, and Southampton’s Luke Shaw was signed in his place. As there was no other natural left-back to challenge the England international, Shaw was to be thrown straight into the starting lineup when deemed fit. It certainly appears heavy-handed to not allow a period of transition, where a young successor, in this case Shaw, can learn from the savvy predecessor, Evra, for at least a season.

Evra spent eight years at Manchester United, making more than 370 appearances. The French international won five Premier League titles, and the Champions League in 2008, while winning eight other domestic trophies for his troubles too. He remains a regular in the French national team, and has already helped his new club to their fourth consecutive Serie A title. He could still win the Champions League (semi-final second leg to be played in mid-May) and Coppa Italia (final vs. Lazio to be played in June).

“Patrice is having a good year, and I’m very satisfied, especially in the latter part of the season. He’s a major player with a great personality. He was playing outside of Italy for many years, in a completely different style of football. But he’s a smart lad, and he immediately understood the realities of the Italian League, and right now he’s doing well,” said Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri.

To be on course for three major trophies in his first season with a new club shows just how much Manchester United have been missing out by letting their experienced defender leave. Shaw has been injured for the majority of the season, forcing centre-back Marcos Rojo, midfielder Daley Blind, and even winger Ashley Young to cover at times.

Evra was a fan favourite in his eight years at Old Trafford, and was a contributing member of the side which won the last title in the Sir Alex Ferguson era, making 33 Premier League starts. He is not getting any younger, but his form in Italy shows he was still capable of helping Manchester during an important rebuilding phase with his experience and winning mentality. In brief, United’s loss has been Juve’s gain.

Were Manchester United right to let him leave?

Real Madrid paying the price for not signing a talented second striker?

Real Madrid have been stumbling over the line in the latter stages of the Champions League with striker Karim Benzema out of action through injury.  They lost on Tuesday to Juventus in Turin, and now have to face a tricky test ahead of the second leg when they host Valencia in La Liga this weekend.

Real manager Carlo Ancelotti has not settled on who will occupy the centre-forward role in Benzema’s absence, with Cristiano Ronaldo and Javier Hernandez having played through the middle at times. But should the Real Madrid boss have planned for this last summer?

The Spanish La Liga side sold the likes of Gonzalo Higuain and Alvaro Morata without effectively replacing them should Benzema pick up an injury. Considering they went the entire season with only Javier Hernandez as the Frenchman’s cover in attack, it is incredible they were not punished sooner.

They certainly missed the threat down the middle that Benzema provides, and Ancelotti apparently does not trust Hernandez in the big games, so why is he even there?

Real Madrid are at risk of elimination following their defeat in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final, and they can hardly use Benzema’s absence as an excuse, given it was their choice to spend around £120M on new recruits who do not play as centre-forwards while signing on loan a striker who could not cement his place at Manchester United.

It is perhaps such actions in the transfer market that could not only cost Real Madrid the La Liga and the Champions League titles this season, but the job of Ancelotti in the summer. Zinedine Zidane is already being lined up, and the hierarchy are hardly going to need an excuse to axe the Italian if Real end the season trophyless.

Last summer, many were questioning when Real would sign another striker after letting Morata leave, but Hernandez was a late arrival, and one who unlikely to stay past his loan deal this summer. There are a number of players available, many of whom would jump at the opportunity of playing at the Santiago Bernabeu. Money certainly is not an issue either, so there is really no excuse as to why Los Blancos did not sign a suitable player to cover for Benzema to ensure they had enough in attack in his absence.

With Cristiano Ronaldo in the side, Real are surely going to score goals, but their build-up play suffers if they do not have a centre-forward who brings others into play as well as Benzema does. It could prove costly in the coming weeks though Benzema’s expected return could signal positive things to come for Real.

Are Real Madrid paying the price for not signing a talented second striker?

Can Juventus beat Real to make the Champions League final?

Serie A champions Juventus host Real Madrid in Turin for the first leg of the Champions League on Tuesday night. Both sides were made to work for their place in the final four, and many believe Real Madrid have a clear advantage in this matchup. However, this tie is evenly matched given both are capable of winning in their own backyard. The Old Lady have an impenetrable record on home soil ahead of Tuesday’s meeting that could well see them shock the holders to take a lead into the second leg, and Sky Sports pundit Charlie Nicholas is tipping Juve to win against Real.

“I think this is a fascinating tie. Juventus will probably be cautious because they won’t want to let an away goal in, but I definitely see them scoring. I think Madrid are still too individual rather than being a great team. Ronaldo’s self-interest is affecting the team, so I’m going to go for Juventus to win this 1-0,” he said.

Atletico Madrid are the only side to take a share of the spoils from Juventus in Turin, with Massimiliano Allegri’s men having won their other four home games against Malmo, Olympiakos, Borussia Dortmund, and AS Monaco. In the Italian league, Juve have only lost two home games in the last four seasons. Their European form has not been as impressive as in the 1990s, but Allegri has turned things around in the competition this campaign.

With the league title having been secured, the club’s management and players can pin their entire focus on the Champions League dream. While Real picked up four points from Juve in the group stages of last season’s competition – en route to winning the Champions League – Allegri believes there is little between the two sides now.

“We’ve got to be conscious of what we’ve done so far and that we have a chance. (To win) you’ve got to do some fantastic things in attack and defence. I don’t think Juve against Real and Real against Juve will both finish 0-0, so we’ve got to do well particularly in attack. They are going to be two very keenly-fought games, and whoever makes the fewer mistakes will go through. It’s wide open,” he said.

With Real Madrid having dropped points in three of their last four home games in the Spanish La Liga, and Juventus having won their previous nine home games, can the Italian side knock out the holders in the Champions League semi-final?

Is Jose Mourinho the best Premier League manager of all-time?

As expected, Chelsea sealed the Premier League title with a 1-0 win against Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon, giving manager Jose Mourinho his third league crown with the Blues in two stints. This puts Mourinho on level with Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.

The Portuguese coach has now won eight trophies in just five accumulative years in the English top flight (2004-2007, 2013 – present), but where does he rank among the greatest Premier League managers of all time?

Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is regarded as the greatest in the Premier League era, as he won 13 Premier League titles with the Red Devils. His counterpart is 10 league crowns behind, but has years to catch up the Scotsman. Mourinho’s CV is incredible: He has eight titles to his name, and 22 trophies in total. The successful coach boasts the best win ratio for a manager in the division’s history, and could find himself alongside Ferguson should he stay long enough to build a legacy in England.

Following the recent title triumph, he expressed his desire to keep the winning run going. “I will try (for) another one. I will try always. The day I don’t feel that passion to try to do it again, that’s enough. I don’t feel that day is arriving. When you work so hard and you are champions you feel that you got what you deserve. For me, maybe a special feeling because I could choose another club in another country where to be champion is easier, but I choose the most difficult league in Europe.”

“We will try and be there at the top of the league next season. I enjoy it. To be top of the league since day one, and lose two matches all season, to be unbeaten at home, have a great away record, the team with the least goals conceded I think is really fantastic for this group.”

Mourinho is joint-second with Wenger for most Premier League titles won, with Ferguson a massive distance ahead of both. Considering the short time the Chelsea boss has taken to win his titles, the 52-year-old finds himself among the greatest managers in the history of England’s top division.

Chelsea are favourites to win the 2015/16 title based on their consistency and ruthlessness this season, therefore, it is quite possible the players can secure consecutive league titles to help edge Mourinho a small step closer to the legendary Ferguson. However, should Mourinho already be regarded as the best in the league’s history?

Are Bayern Munich already on holiday following premature title win?

Bayern Munich recently lost 2-0 against Bayer Leverkusen, confirming manager Pep Guardiola’s worst fears with regards to their motivation and desire following the recent title triumph in Germany. The Bundesliga giants have sealed their third consecutive division crown, but their form has gone to pieces in recent weeks.

The Munich boss said after the game: “It was a very hard-fought and evenly-matched game. We needed to create more clear-cut chances. I’m very satisfied with my team and the performance we turned in.” However, the Spaniard must have been disappointment with the overall performance and its timing since Bayern do need to build some momentum heading into critical games against Barcelona.

Guardiola’s team also suffered a painful exit against rivals Borussia Dortmund in the DFB-Pokal semi-final, a match witnessing four Bayern players missing from the penalty spot. It is unlike Bayern to go through such a negative spell in recent years that even a cup exit combined with a league loss can trigger a massive alarm in Bavaria. Thus, the manager has a tough task on hand to turn their fortunes around, considering the Champions League is the one trophy the German side would love to lift.

Bayern Munich have looked rather human in recent weeks, perhaps with fatigue following a grueling World Cup campaign & a growing injury list taking their toll on the squad. In addition, it could be some nerves playing a part due to their season coming to a close as well as the disappointing exit in the domestic cup.

The Bavarians have been the best team in the domestic league by some distance, which in itself can be a curse, as the lack of competition can see players take their foot off the pedal. Bayern have shown in recent weeks that they could be suffering from over-confidence in matches.

Should they miss out on winning the Champions League as well, then questions will be raised regarding the temperament of some players. Guardiola is planning a long stay in Germany, but asks a lot of his players in terms of their mental approach game after game. He will not allow a dip in performances regardless of the fact the title has been sewn up, and he certainly does not allow his players to become complacent.

He made changes for the Leverkusen clash, as he had one eye on the massive European commitment ahead, yet the side will remain short of some of the key players due to injury when facing Barcelona. That and their slump in form could see them play below their lofty standards when it matters the most.

Are some of the Bayern Munich players guilty of being mentally on holiday a little too early?

Can Chelsea win the Champions League next season?

Chelsea have been one of the major forces in European football throughout the last decade but have won just one Champions League title – despite reaching the semi-finals of the competition seven times since 2004. The Blues were knocked out this year after a disappointing home performance against Paris Saint-Germain saw them exit the competition via the away goals rule. We take a look at this Chelsea side and discuss whether or not they can win the elite tournament next season. For more football news and odds, visit Coral’s football section.

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Mourinho will not get his tactics wrong this time

The Portuguese made a huge blunder this season as he tried to sit on a one-goal lead, despite knowing that a PSG goal would knock his side of the competition. That won’t happen again. More often than not, Mourinho gets his tactics spot on – and he is arguably the best manager in the world right now. The 52-year-old has been instrumental in Chelsea’s success this season – with the Blues needing just two more wins to guarantee the title – and will look to go one better and win Europe’s elite competition next year for the third time in his managerial career.

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They are likely to strengthen in the summer transfer window

Chelsea usually strengthen in the transfer window, and they are likely to bring a couple of players in before the start of next season. Although the Blues are strong in all areas of the pitch, Mourinho knows the importance of squad rotation and may look to bring in another striker, central defender and another skilful winger.

Chelsea already boast one of the most talented squads in the world, but there would be no harm in adding more quality to the team. If they can bring in another couple of players, this will help to keep some of the older members of the squad fresh – and their experience could prove crucial at the business end of the competition.

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They have experienced players who know how to get the job done

Chelsea have an experienced squad – and the majority have won titles in the past. The likes of John Terry, Branislav Ivanovic and Didier Drogba will help to motivate their younger players, while those who have recently joined will be hungry to build on their recent success in the Capital One Cup and bar a major capitulation, the Premier League. The Blues are more than capable of reaching the latter stages and, with a little bit of luck, they have the ability and experience to win their second Champions League crown in the last four seasons.