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The Australian coach has given Spurs supporters a reason to feel proud of their team once again – and this is only the beginning

Tottenham have come a long way since May. Despite a 4-1 win over Leeds United on the final day of the 2022-23 season, Spurs finished eighth in the Premier League and missed out on a place in Europe for the first time since 2009-10.

They were also still on the lookout for a new permanent manager, having sacked Antonio Conte on the back of the Italian's explosive rant against the players and chairman Daniel Levy in March. The likes of Luis Enrique and Julian Nagelsmann were reportedly among Spurs' top candidates for the role, but their options quickly dwindled.

In the end, Tottenham turned to Ange Postecoglou, who left Celtic after delivering back-to-back Scottish Premiership titles. It wasn't the big name Spurs supporters have been accustomed to in recent years, but Levy gave the Australian a glowing endorsement.

"Ange brings a positive mentality and a fast, attacking style of play," said the Tottenhamp chief. "He has a strong track record of developing players and an understanding of the importance of the link from the academy – everything that is important to our club. We are excited to have Ange join us as we prepare for the season ahead."

Expectations were already low, but they plummeted even further when Harry Kane completed a long-awaited transfer to Bayern Munich two months after Postecoglou's arrival in north London. A huge job suddenly looked like an impossible one.

But Postecoglou has defied the odds in spectacular fashion. Spurs have picked up 13 points from a possible 15 at the start of the new season, and sit second in the table behind champions Manchester City.

The whole squad has got right behind the new manager, whose attacking style of play has been a breath of fresh air for a fanbase that was starved of entertainment under Conte, Nuno Espirito Santo and Jose Mourinho.

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  Spurs finally have some bottle

  The fresh mood of optimism around the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was minutes away from evaporating on Saturday, as Postecoglou's side found themselves 1-0 down at home to Sheffield United heading into stoppage-time.

  Last season, Spurs would have lost the match. But there has been a major mentality shift in the squad, and they simply refused to give in. Richarlison eventually broke through Sheffield United's stubborn rear-guard after stepping off the bench, heading home an Ivan Perisic corner for his first Premier League goal of the season.

  The Brazilian turned provider for Dejan Kulusevski less than two minutes later, with the Swede producing an emphatic finish to send the home crowd into raptures. Spurs have been accused of lacking 'bottle' for so long, but they showed it in spades last weekend.

  And no one was more pleased than Postecoglou. Pressed on whether it's his job to temper expectations amid dreams of a potential trophy pursuit after the game, the 58-year-old told : "Let them enjoy it. I've said this before, my role is not to burst peoples' bubbles. Let them get excited and ahead of themselves, that's the beauty of being a supporter.

  "They go through enough pain, let them enjoy and if they think we're going to be world-beaters great, it's then up to us to match those expectations. Our supporters deserve to have some happiness and they can enjoy it anyway they want to."

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  Smashing through the ceiling

  Tottenham's last few managers were unable to build a strong relationship with the fans – not least because they were too busy publicly digging out their own players or lamenting a lack of transfer activity. But Postecoglou is well aware of how important it is to have supporters on side, and that they can push the team that extra yard when the stakes are high – as they were against Sheffield United. He won't blame anyone else when Spurs inevitably fall short at times either.

  A disappointing penalty shootout loss to Fulham in the second round of the Carabao Cup saw one trophy route close early for Spurs, and Postecoglou took full responsibility. “When Daniel [Levy] and Spurs decided to go with me then I knew that they were open to going in my direction," he said in a recent interview with . "Then it’s down to me. After that I’m going to take responsibility for what happens here, good, bad or otherwise. If I don’t succeed it’s not going to be because of external factors, because I’ve accepted taking them on. It’s all up to me from now on."

  The Spurs boss added on his long-term vision: "I’m not going to tell [the fans] to not be disappointed. But I’m here because I want to create a club that has the opportunity to win things on a yearly basis. And there’s a difference, because us winning a Carabao Cup and finishing 10th is not what I think this club is about.

  “That’s not dismissing the Carabao Cup. I want to win every game; trust me, I was disappointed on that night as well. But that’s not the endgame for me. It’s not about just winning something for the sake of winning something. It’s about building something. When we get to where we want to and play the football we want to, the winning should take care of itself. Whatever the ceiling that may exist is, let’s see if we can smash through it."

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  Smart signings

  Spurs had a healthy transfer pot in the summer window, which was boosted significantly after Kane's £100 million ($124m) move to Bayern Munich. But instead of chasing big names, Postecoglou identified targets that fit his philosophy.

  Four major signings were acquired in the form of James Maddison, Micky van der Ven, Brennan Johnson and Guglielmo Vicario, while Manor Solomon joined the club on a free transfer. Tottenham also snapped up Argentine teenager Alejo Veliz, who has been tipped for stardom after a bright start to his career at Rosario. Postecoglou brought in six new players for a combined total of £150m ($186m), and all of them could have key roles to play as the season progresses.

  Maddison looks the best value of the lot so far, having made the switch to north London from Leicester City following their relegation in 2022-23. The 26-year-old has managed four goal contributions in his first five Premier League outings for Spurs, adding new dimension to their attack with his creativity and technical wizardry. Johnson, meanwhile, will no doubt be one of the beneficiaries of Maddison's service, though the 22-year-old is still getting up to speed after his deadline-day move from Nottingham Forest.

  Van de Ven, meanwhile, has injected much-needed pace into Spurs' backline while forming a strong partnership with Cristian Romero. The Dutchman is also brilliant at carrying the ball out of defence and will have a key role to play in kick-starting attacks.

  Signing a new goalkeeper was also a necessity for Spurs, with former captain Hugo Lloris now an outcast after pushing for a move away from the club. Vicario has already proven himself to be a big upgrade on the Frenchman with his distribution and shot-stopping skills, and will only keep improving at 26.

  Solomon is the only new arrival who looks set to serve as more of a squad player, but the Israel international has also shown his value with two assists in the 5-2 thrashing of Burnley on September 2.

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  'Everyone wants to play this way'

  Quizzed on his utilisation of inverted full-backs after Spurs' 2-0 win over Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium, Postecoglou quipped: “There’s no secret, I’m just copying Pep [Guardiola], mate.”

  There are some similarities to be drawn between the Spurs tactician and his Manchester City counterpart, but Postecoglou's system is not as strict as Guardiola's. He encourages his full-backs to exploit any space in the final third without hesitation.

  Postecoglou also aims to build from the back and play through a high press with the least possible amount of players involved. Spurs' main focus is not to dominate possession, but rather to explode into life at the opportune moment.

  It certainly makes for an exciting spectacle, and the players are all enjoying the ride. After Tottenham's impressive 2-0 home win against Manchester United last month, Son Heung-min told : "It's very early, but we want to have the ball, create chances, play attacking football, if we lose the ball we're going to be counter-pressing, it's really, really fun even to play in, but I think watching this game is more enjoyable for the Spurs fans.

  "One hundred percent it's enjoyable for the players, for the attacking players, I don't know about the defenders, but for me, it's playing high, pressing high, it's an easier job than running 70 metres behind!"

  Kulusevski went a step further while away on international duty with Sweden, taking a subtle swipe at Conte when explaining the impact Postecoglou has had on the Spurs squad. “We had a tough time at the end of last season,” he told reporters. "[Postecoglou] has come in with really positive energy and it has gone very quickly. Of course, we are all a little surprised. But he’s really good. We are a young team and everyone wants to play this way. I’m not saying that what we did before was completely wrong, but it was something completely different.

  “I think it’s easier to come to training every day and know that you should play with the ball, that you should attack and run forward and not backwards. So, it is clear that all of us players have done everything possible to listen as much as possible.”

Leeds United are set to be part of an ‘auction’ for Udinese midfielder Rodrigo De Paul this summer, following an update on his future.

The Lowdown: Constant De Paul links

The Whites have been linked with a host of signings this summer, but De Paul has arguably been tipped to move to Elland Road more than anyone.

The 27-year-old is someone who Marcelo Bielsa is reportedly trying to snap up, having enjoyed an excellent Serie A campaign for Udinese, chipping in with nine goals and assists apiece from midfield.

The Latest: Fresh update on midfielder

A new update has been provided on the situation by Mundo Deportivo journalist Pablo Planas [via Sport Witness], who states that Leeds remain one of many teams keen on acquiring De Paul’s signature.

The likes of Atletico Madrid, Napoli, Milan, Juventus and Arsenal are also mentioned as potential suitors, ahead of what could be a bidding war for the Argentine.

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The Verdict: Game-changing signing

Leeds face extremely stiff competition for De Paul and the fact that Champions League clubs want him could make them outsiders to get their man.

If Bielsa did manage to entice the Udinese man to Elland Road, however, it could be a massive signing, considering the all-around quality he possesses, being lauded for his ‘enormous output’ by football expert Dan Altman in the past.

Not only does De Paul’s ability in the final third speak for itself, as mentioned, but he also averaged 1.2 tackles per game in the league last season, showing he is willing to shine in the grittier aspects of his game, too.

In other news, a pundit has failed to rule out the idea of one Leeds key man leaving this summer. Find out who it is here. 

Weston McKennie showed Juventus were right to keep him around this summer with a fine display against Lazio on his 100th appearance for the club.

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• McKennie involved in all three Juve goals
• Vlahovic and Chiesa on the scoresheet
• Weah plays final 20 minutes as sub

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  United States men's national team star McKennie continues to play as a wing-back for the Bianconeri, and the midfielder certainly seems to be taking to the role if his performance on Saturday is anything to go by.

  He played a part in all three of Juve's goals, kicking things off by (just) keeping the ball in play on the right flank before driving forward with the ball, which was eventually worked into Dusan Vlahovic to score.

  McKennie again provided the forward thrust for Juve to double their lead, as he cut inside two defenders before Adrien Rabiot poked the ball into Federico Chiesa's path to fire in a left-footed shot.

  Lazio pulled one back shortly after the hour-mark through Luis Alberto, but McKennie saved his best for last as his 50-yard diagonal ball picked out Vlahovic to net his fourth goal of the season and secure the points. That proved to be McKennie's final act, as he was replaced by USMNT team-mate Timothy Weah for the final 20 minutes, who in turn fired over from close-range when presented with a great chance in the last minutes of normal time.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Juve remain unbeaten through four Serie A matches, winning three of them, and victory at the Allianz Stadium moved them to the top of the table, at least for a few hours until the Milan Derby later on Saturday.

  Questions were asked of the decision to keep Allegri on as manager after two disappointing seasons in charge, but his tactical flexibility – as shown by using McKennie as a wing-back – is working superbly.

• USMNT IMPACT

  McKennie rounding into form after a forgettable season in 2022-23 is big news for the USMNT as it edges towards this summer's Copa America. The midfielder was surplus to requirements at the start of 2023 and struggled on loan at Leeds, but his resurgence is good news for Gregg Berhalter.

  That it is coming in a new position for McKennie shouldn't matter too much to the returning USMNT coach. As long as one of his main men is back playing and playing well, he will be pleased.

  He would surely love to see both McKennie and Weah on the pitch at the same time, rather than it being either or, but that time could come before the end of the season.

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  GOAL'S RATINGS

  Weston McKennie (8/10): His best game in a Juve shirt for a long time, and a great way to mark his 100th appearance for the club. Ensured the home side had overloads in attacking situations, used the ball intelligently and did some solid defensive work.

  Tim Weah (6/10): Did OK going both directions in his 20 minutes on the pitch as McKennie's replacement, but should really have scored from close-range in the closing stages.

After Luciano Spalletti's shock departure, Aureli De Laurentiis has stunned the world of Italian football by hiring the Frenchman as his successor

Daniel De Rossi was on international duty with Italy in the summer of 2013 when Roma announced Rudi Garcia as their new coach. The midfielder wasn't just surprised; he was mystified. He'd never heard of Garcia.

So, he performed a cursory Google search and promptly discovered a video of his new boss playing guitar and singing 'Porompompero'.

He turned to Italy team-mate Andrea Pirlo and said, "Sh*t, look who they've got…"

"At the time, they were talking about (Massimo) Allegri," De Rossi recalled in an interview with So Foot, "and, honestly, I had some doubts."

It's fair to say that Napoli fans are experiencing similar sensations this morning, after the club confirmed on Thursday evening that Garcia has been appointed as Luciano Spalletti's successor at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

The situation is slightly different, of course. Unlike De Rossi, the supporters are familiar with Garcia – but that's actually the primary reason for their current state of shock.

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  De Zerbi was the dream

  Make no mistake about it: this is a decision nobody saw coming. On Thursday afternoon, some respected Italian journalists were still claiming that Napoli were going all out to try to convince Luis Enrique to take over. 

  The Spaniard's potential arrival had been greeted with enthusiasm by many fans. Spain may have been upset by Morocco at the World Cup but they weren't alone in that regard and besides, he remains a treble winner from his time at Barcelona.

  He wasn't the only high-profile coach linked with the vacancy either. Julian Nagelsmann's name was bandied about for a while, even if he never appeared a serious contender, but Antonio Conte was considered, just as he had been a few years ago. 

  Then, there was the group of up-and-coming managers, which included Thiago Motta, Vincenzo Italiano and, most thrillingly of all from the fans' perspective, Roberto De Zerbi. 

  The Brighton boss was deemed the dream appointment, with the former Napoli attacking midfielder having arguably proven himself the most intriguing tactician in world football with a sixth-placed finish in last season's Premier League. However, it quickly became clear that De Zerbi wanted to remain at the Amex; that he didn't feel his work there was done. 

  Consequently, in recent days, Paulo Sousa and Christophe Galtier emerged as the frontrunners in the Italian press.

  Sousa had done an excellent job after taking over Salernitana in February, avoiding relegation quite comfortably in the end mainly thanks to a ten-game unbeaten run that included a 1-1 draw at the Maradona that delayed Napoli's Scudetto celebrations.

  Galtier, meanwhile, is set to become the latest victim of the poisoned chalice that is Paris Saint-Germain, but he is still considered one of the best coaches in France, primarily because of the fact that he managed to win a Ligue 1 title with Lille.

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  Fired by Ronaldo

  However, Napoli instead turned to one of Galtier's compatriots, the one who had been last seen effectively getting sacked by Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr.

  Perhaps the pair's relationship had been doomed from the start. In Ronaldo's introductory press conference in January, Garcia had joked that he had actually tried to sign Lionel Messi first. Cue uncomfortable laughter all round.

  In truth, though, it would be a couple more weeks before things really took a turn for the worse. 

  After a 3-1 loss to title rivals Al-Ittihad in the Saudi Super Cup on January 26, Garcia argued that a Ronaldo miss had played a pivotal role in his side's defeat, claiming it "changed the course of the match". 

  Their rapport was never quite the same from that moment on and, after months of simmering tension, things came to a head after a 0-0 draw with Al-Feiha on April 9.

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  Garcia after Spalletti feels like a bad joke

  After Ronaldo had stormed down the tunnel at the end of a frustrating affair, Garcia publicly criticised his team. "I don't feel satisfied with the players' performance," he told reporters. "I asked them to play at the same level as the last game [a 5-0 win over Al-Adalah], but this didn’t happen."

  Garcia was sacked just four days later.

  Ronaldo paid tribute to the sacked manager with a social media post, saying that it had been "a pleasure" working with the 59-year-old, but it was widely reported that the forward had played an integral role in his exit, having been left distinctly unimpressed with Garcia's tactics, which he allegedly felt were holding the team back.

  Ronaldo is obviously not the easiest guy to manage – and it's worth pointing out that Garcia had Al-Nassr on top of the table before the mid-season arrival of the five-time Ballon d'Or winner.

  However, in the eyes of Napoli fans, failing to win the Pro League with Ronaldo up front is not a good look. Losing Spalletti was bad enough, but getting Garcia to replace him feels like a joke – and one that only their rivals are laughing at. 

  Indeed, there is an obvious concern that he will struggle to come close to matching the extraordinary work done by his predecessor, who managed to take a team that many feared would fail to finish in the top four and transform them into champions.

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  Fondly remembered at Roma

  After all, Garcia hasn't won a trophy since making a name for himself by leading Lille to a shock double 12 years ago. However, the importance of his impressive results at Roma should not be overlooked. 

  After rapidly implementing an attractive brand of football which saw the Giallorossi open with ten consecutive Serie A wins, Garcia ended his debut season with 85 points. He was just desperately unfortunate to run into Conte's centurions.

  Roma finished second to Juve again the following year before things began to unravel, with Garcia sacked in January 2016 and, coincidentally, succeeded by Spalletti – the man he is now replacing at Napoli. 

  He remains fondly remembered by Roma fans, though, and not just for his style of play, but also his passionate personality. 

  After a 2-0 victory over Lazio in September 2013 – just four months after a devastating derby defeat in the Coppa Italia final – Garcia proudly declared: "We have put the church back in the centre of the village."

  And when Roma were beaten 3-2 by Juventus in Turin the following year, Garcia made his infamous 'violin' gesture towards referee Gianluca Rocchi, effectively suggesting that when it comes to the Bianconeri, officials are often singing from the same hymn sheet.

  "We were ahead, then Juve scored an equaliser but there was a foul on Medhi Benatia," he told the Corriere dello Sport. "It was an instinctive gesture. I have always defended the clubs that I have trained. 

  "In that case, I couldn't support a great injustice." 

According to TuttoSport (via The Boot Room), Tottenham are interested in signing Arkadiusz Milik from Napoli this summer.

The Lowdown: Spurs target a striker

Harry Kane recently dropped a bombshell on the club when he revealed that he wants to leave north London this summer (Sky Sports).

As such, Spurs could well need a new striker. That has led to them targetting a forward who has regularly been compared to Robert Lewandowski.

The Latest: Spurs eye Milik

It is now being reported Spurs are interested in Poland international Milik, who currently plays for Marseille in France on loan from Napoli.

Along with Tottenham, Juventus are also said to be interested in signing the 27-year-old.

The Verdict: Good target

Milik has struggled with injuries in the past, but he is certainly a forward who knows how to find the back of the net. In 281 senior career matches, he has managed 119 goals, with his best spell coming at Ajax, where he managed 47 in 75 outings (Transfermarkt).

With 34 career assists, he is also capable of creating for his teammates. Currently valued at £19.8m (Transfermarkt), he could be available for a good price as well.

The sale of Kane would bring in a considerable amount of money for Spurs – if they could sign Milik for a reasonable price, they would have plenty of funds to improve other parts of the squad as well.

In other news, Spurs are interested in signing this Bundesliga midfielder.

The Bianconeri have been blighted by problems off the field this season, but that's still no excuse for them stinking out Serie A…

"It's not a failure; it's steps to success," NBA superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo argued last week in an extraordinary post-match press conference. "There's always steps to it. Michael Jordan played 15 years, won six championships. The other nine years was a failure? That's what you're telling me?

"It's a wrong question; there's no failure in sports. There's good days, bad days, some days you are able to be successful, some days you are not, some days it is your turn, some days it's not. That's what sports is about. You don't always win."

Given the circumstances, it was an impressively rational and reasoned defence of the Milwaukee Bucks after their shock first-round elimination from the play-offs, the most polite put-down you'll ever see, with Giannis repeatedly interrupting himself to make it clear that this wasn't a personal attack on the journalist who had sparked such a passionate response to the idea that the Bucks' entire season should be considered a write-off because of one series defeat to Miami Heat.

The Greek's argument also provoked a broader debate about the definition of success and failure, and the media's coverage of those two 'impostors'.

Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri even name-checked Giannis in his press conference ahead of Sunday's Serie A clash with Bologna. "There will be moments when we don't win, but we need to create the conditions to do it," he told reporters. "Only one team wins and we need to be that team."

And he's right, because it is absolutely impossible to defend Allegri unless his team wins. The end needs to justify the means because there is simply no longer hiding the fact that Juventus are one of the worst teams to watch in world football at the moment, which is disgraceful given their resources.

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  'Allegri makes Inzaghi look like Cruyff'

  Last week's performance in their 1-0 loss to Inter in the second leg of their Coppa Italia semi-final was embarrassing. They were a goal down, both on the night and on aggregate, from the 15th minute, and yet they ended with an xG of just 0.15.

  "Allegri makes (Inter coach Simone) Inzaghi look like Johan Cruyff in comparison," Daniele Adani argued on . "His objective in life is to stop the other team from winning.

  "Do you know why that game ended 1-0? It's because Inter stopped playing in the second half and sat deep, just like Juventus did in their golden era, and the second half was in fact shameful. I hope whoever was transmitting it on international TV cut off the signal to save us embarrassment.

  "A team like Inter ought to beat this Juventus 4-0, they were playing against a Dead Man Walking. I think Gianni Agnelli was turning in his grave seeing that Juve performance. I’ll be honest, though, not even I believed he could be worse than last season, but that’s where we are."

  Indeed, Allegri has actually managed to make a really bad situation even worse.

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  'Physically, we are broken'

  He is obviously not to blame for the many financial and institutional issues Juventus are facing this season, and keeping players focused on the field, given the chaos unfolding off it, is not an easy task.

  Directors are coming and going, as are points, with the Bianconeri the subject of constant court-room drama that could drag into next season. There are difficult working environments, and then there is Turin.

  However, what's clear is that Allegri isn't part of the solution at Juventus, he's part of the problem.It is no coincidence that reports of player unrest are now appearing in the press on an almost daily basis.

  According to the , the ankle injury that ruled Angel Di Maria out of Sunday's 1-1 draw at Bologna only appeared after the winger had been informed that he would not be in the starting line up for the game at the Renato dall'Ara, while it was claimed afterwards that Federico Chiesa has grown extremely frustrated with being employed in a variety of different roles – often within the same game.

  There has long been a suspicion that the coach has no clue of his best team, as underlined by the fact that Allegri has used 100 different line ups in the 100 games he has overseen since returning for a second spell in charge in 2021.

  "Physically, we are broken," an anonymous player told the . "By changing line up every time, we struggle to have a playing style."

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  'There are no ideas'

  The net result is a rotten run of form that has seen Juve pick up just one point from their past four Serie A games. They still sit third in the table, a top-four finish remains there for the taking, but there is no guarantee that the Old Lady will be playing Champions League football next season.

  Firstly, there is every chance that their 15-point penalty deduction for breaching financial gains rules will be restored, while they could yet be sanctioned in relation to the criminal investigation into illegal salary manoeuvres.

  Secondly, the paucity of Juve's performances means they could end up sliding down the Serie A standings anyway. This is a team that is largely devoid of an attacking threat. Juve paid €70m for Dusan Vlahovic and yet the Serbian, who continues to score freely at international level, has now gone 744 minutes (11 appearances) without a goal in Serie A.

  The Bianconeri have managed just four goals overall in their last six games – only Empoli, Spezia and Lecce have managed fewer (three each).

  "It is honestly sad to watch Juventus players in these conditions," former forward Christian Vieri lamented on . "Whatever they do, it is almost accidental or a fluke, they have to rely on the opposition making mistakes [to score]. There are no ideas."

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  'Allegri just doesn't care'

  It's difficult to disagree. Or indeed argue that things wouldn't at least be better with a new coach with modern ideas.

  As Antonio Cassano argued after the Coppa Italia exit, "Juventus defended in the hope of reaching extra-time and perhaps penalties, and I can accept that from Cremonese, but not Juve. They play bad football, Allegri and his staff have got to go.

  "He's an embarrassment and cannot represent Juve. His football ideas are still the same as 30 years ago. In the two-year hiatus (between 2019 and 2021), he went fishing, but the other coaches use that time to study. I think of coaches like Thomas Tuchel, Marcelo Bielsa, Roberto De Zerbi, who clearly love football and study it from day to night. Allegri never has done, because he just doesn't care."

The Gunners have an awful record at Anfield in the Premier League, but Mikel Arteta is confident they can end their 11-year wait for a win on Sunday

Here we go again! Another day, another monumental game on the cards for Arsenal as they go hunting their first Premier League title in 19 years. There have been so many huge moments for Mikel Arteta’s side already during their increasingly remarkable season, but Sunday might just be the biggest yet

The Gunners head to Liverpool having won their last seven games in the Premier League, picking up 21 points from a possible 21 since their defeat against Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium in February.

Many felt Arsenal’s title challenge would fall away after that 3-1 loss against Pep Guardiola’s side, but instead it has picked up pace.

And should they make it eight wins from eight at Anfield this weekend, it would be the biggest sign yet that they are ready to finally end their long wait to be crowned champions.

• The biggest of tests

  Arteta’s young side have faced many big obstacles already this season and they managed to successfully avoid every almost one that has stood in their way.

  Liverpool were seen off at the Emirates, as were Manchester United. Tottenham were beaten twice, while Chelsea were outclassed at Stamford Bridge.

  Aside from the home defeat by Man City, Arsenal have stepped up when needed this season against the so called big six in the Premier League.

  "We really need to embrace the moment and go for it,” Arteta said ahead of Sunday’s game. “The team is full of enthusiasm and positivity and we know that we have a big challenge, but I see a big opportunity to go to Anfield and do something that we haven't done for many years.

  “That's what is driving the team in the last few days."

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• Banishing demons

  But if they are to get past Liverpool, Arsenal are going to have to do something that they haven’t done in 11 years and that’s win in the league at Anfield.

  Arteta was playing the last time the Gunners picked up three points on the red half of Merseyside, with goals from Lukas Podolski and Santi Cazorla earning them a 2-0 win in 2012.

  Anfield has been a miserable destination for Arsenal since then.They have visited Liverpool nine times in the Premier League since that win 11 years ago, and have picked up just two points, conceding a staggering 32 goals in the process.

  It’s an awful record, but Arteta is convinced his team has what it takes to finally end it on Sunday.

  "We've been to a few grounds this season where we haven't won in 17, 18 and 22 years and we have managed to do it,” he said. “So we are capable of [winning at Anfield], that's for sure.

  “We are coming from a different position and what I see is enthusiasm, positivity and something that you need to have: courage. Courage to play, courage to impose yourself on the game and be dominant.

  “On Sunday we will try to be that team."

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  Following in the footsteps of greatness

  One potential positive for Arsenal going into the game is that past history suggests that a win at Anfield during a title chase tends to end with them lifting the trophy.

  There was of course the famous night in 1989 when Michael Thomas’ injury-time strike saw Arsenal crowned champions at Liverpool’s expense in the most dramatic end to a league season of all time.

  Paul Merson then scored the winner in a 1-0 win as George Graham’s side won the title again in 1991.

  Freddie Ljunberg’s strike saw a 10-man Arsenal triumph at Anfield during their title winning 2001-02 season, and Robert Pires was the hero as the Invincibles came from behind to earn a 2-1 win in 2003-04.

  So history shows that it can be done, and what this Arsenal have team has shown this season is they like nothing more than proving people wrong.

  Their fearless approach to games is what's taken them to the top of the Premier League, and they will need to show that type of attitude again at Anfield this weekend if they are to maintain their advantage over a Manchester City side that look like they are hitting top gear.

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  Calm heads will be key

  If Arsenal are to end their Anfield hoodoo on Sunday, then they are going to need to keep their heads amid the usual intense atmosphere.

  They didn’t manage that last season, with Arteta actually the chief culprit.His side had actually done well to quieten the crowd, but his touchline spat with Jurgen Klopp seemed to spark Liverpool into life and they went on to run out 4-0 winners.

  Arsenal can’t allow something similar to happen this time around, and they will need to draw on their experiences from the victories at Chelsea and Tottenham this season.

  Arteta’s side stamped their authority on those games early on and gave the home crowd nothing to cheer about. They went on to dominate both matches and returned to north London with maximum points.

  If they can do the same at Anfield on Sunday, then they would take another massive step towards the title.

The Bundesliga club recently welcomed its top talents from its North American academy, continuing its focus on developing future internationals

Call it scouting, call it luck, call it whatever you like, but you have to admit that Borussia Dortmund struck gold with Christian Pulisic and Gio Reyna.

While many in Europe ignored the American market, Dortmund, and the Bundesliga, saw opportunity. They saw ready-made players that wouldn't require massive transfer fees, with many not requiring any at all.

That was the case for both Pulisic and Reyna, both of whom arrived in Germany on free transfers.

Pulisic, meanwhile, left for the third-largest transfer fee in club history when he signed for Chelsea in a whopping €64 million (£57m/$73m). Should the club ever want to cash in on Reyna, there's no doubt that he'd go for millions as well.

So, while other clubs around the world are now making their own push in the American market, Dortmund are just building on a foundation that's been laid down over the last decade or so.

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The hope? To find the next Pulisic or Reyna or, as they continue to expand, perhaps even the next Alex Morgan or Mallory Swanson.

Dortmund, in many ways, remain committed to the U.S. and, at some point, the hope is that they'll reap the rewards once again.

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  Dortmund's American academies

  Dortmund's American academy system began in 2006 and, over the last 17 years, has developed to expand Dortmund's footprint all over North America.

  Now, in 2023, there are 12 affiliate clubs scattered across the U.S. and Canada, with the club instituting many of the same training principles used at their own academy back in Germany.

  "We have history in the U.S., and we have had great experiences with American players," said Dortmund legend and current first-team assistant coach Jorg Heinrich."We now have a special opportunity to have an International Academy in the U.S where it allows us to bring players to show them what it means to play and train in this environment and in this culture."

  "The best case would be to find players for our first team," added Henrich. "We are looking for players on a Champions League level, but even Gio and Christian first played with our youth teams to get used to the environment and then they made the next step to the first team.

  "It's a long way, a long, long way. In the best case, success would mean exactly this: we get players for our first team."

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  A trip to Dortmund

  As part of Dortmund's academy programming, the club has what they call the School of Excellence, their talent ID platform for the best of the best in their system. As part of this, the elite players of certain age groups are evaluated and, ultimately, invited to Germany to get a taste of the Dortmund experience.

  Earlier this month, the club hosted a total of 18 boys and 17 girls alongside six International Academy coaches and Director of Soccer Development Dru Wright. The players trained twice a day with Dortmund's coaches, getting a look at what life is like in the German academy while giving club coaches more information on the best of the best currently in their North American setup.

  Additionally, players were able to tour the club's facilities, attend a match against FC Koln and meet many of the club's most important people, including first-team head coach Edin Terzic and, of course, Reyna.

  Perhaps the most important part of the trip, though, are matches. The boys faced a mix of U-14s and U-15s from Dortmund's academy, while the girls invited were able to to face Dortmund's women's team, which was launched in 2021.

  "They're evaluating and watching the players throughout," says Wright. "The players also have the opportunity in terms of going on a tour of the stadium, and they also finish off this trip with a match so they have an opportunity to go see the first team play, which is kind of the pinnacle of the trip. From a player perspective, more important, in terms of opportunities for them, is the way we train. Every time they're on the field, they're being evaluated, both on and off."

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  A rising women's program

  While the club's men's team has established itself as one of the best in the world, especially when it comes to talent development, the club's women's team is still very, very new and very much in development.

  When the women's team was launched, supporters made it clear that they didn't want the club to buy their way up the ladder. They wanted to do it "the Dortmund way" by starting all the way at the bottom in the seventh tier of German soccer. They earned promotion in their first season but all involved know there is a long way to go.

  And that is what makes the club's interactions with the American market so interesting. Historically, no country has produced more top women's players than the U.S., where the game has been far more advanced than in most other countries. In recent years, many European giants have started to catch up but Dortmund, as a club, know they're far behind.

  "This definitely is the beauty of this relationship, because it's not one way," Heinrich said. "Especially when it comes to girls soccer, we also can learn something because girls soccer in the U.S. is well-established and we are making our first steps. We're building it from scratch.

  "We now have two women's teams. We started with one and now we have two next year when we bring in our U-17, so we are really doing it the BVB way and not just buying a franchise or buying a license from a professional women's team. We are doing it our own way starting in the lowest league and then getting promoted step by step and, for sure, I'm convinced the U.S. girls will play a role in this in the next few years."

  The group of girls brought to Germany were mostly in the U-15 through U-17 range, with a few in the U-18 and 19 age group. And, according to Wright, they showed fairly well against Dortmund's first team.

  The club understands that, as things stand, the best American players have an obvious pathway that brings most of them from college to the NWSL. Will we see the next Morgan or Swanson in black and yellow over the next few years? Probably not, but the club hopes that American players could play a big part in lifting the club to where it wants to be.

  "Our girls are competing right at the level where there's an opportunity in the next, to be honest, probably the next two to five years, where we can potentially have a player opportunity for these girls to come play professionally here as a part of this relationship," Wright said.

  "It's something that's changing in the mindset of female soccer in the U.S. Currently right now, for the average female player in the U.S., the number one path is to go play in college. That's their pathway to go. That's what most people do in this day and age, but players are now starting to broaden their horizons to wanting to go play overseas.

  "Obviously in the professional game for the women in the U.S., they don't only just play in the U.S., but a lot of them also play overseas in offseason. That mindset is starting to change a little bit as an opportunity that girls want to go to want to take early on."

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  What makes success?

  The hope is, as always, to find a diamond in the rough, to find the next USMNT or USWNT star, but the club does understand that players like that are one in a million. The chances of a player rising from an American academy to the Dortmund first team, at least on the men's side are, in fact, very slim.

  The odds are a bit better on the women's side, given their current place in the pyramid, but there's still so much work to do before the club can attract elite players on the women's side.

  But that doesn't mean they aren't looking.

  "For us in the U.S." Wright says, "our main goal is to produce that next player that ends up in the youth academy, and to potentially have the opportunity to go into the first team. I think that's a very honest approach."

  He added: "My job is to make sure that we bring the best players we can and put them in front of the people who do have to make those tough decisions. I think we do have some potential players in the pipeline and I'm interested to see how they hold up around here… Those players will come to the top for us and I believe one of those will end up, one of these days, here. That's the goal for sure."

  And still, that doesn't mean the club's only priority is those one-in-a-million players. The club is adamant about sticking to the Dortmund Way, about doing things in a way that helps people. Most players that walk into the academy will never play in front of the Yellow Wall, but that doesn't mean they aren't important to the club.

  "Success for us is also about character development," added Florian Ingwersen, Program Manager of the BVB Football Academy, "and so we are focusing on every individual player. It's a holistic approach, which means character here in Dortmund…For us it's so important to not only focus on the player as a player. We are also focusing on the human being and at the end we are more than convinced better people make better players.

  "Success also can be success in life being a teacher, being a doctor, being a pilot, whatever. We want to play our part in the progress of young people's lives, and this is what we believe and what the International Academy believes as well."

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Classic club colours, retro styles.

Featuring throwback replica designs for some of its leading clubs and federations, adidas bring it back to the nineties football era that inspired and defined a generation of style both on and off the pitch. Launching a series of designs for the adidas football family – including Ajax, Arsenal, Juventus, Man United, Real Madrid, and more – the football icons collection revives old, loved classics.

adidas

The icons range takes a deep dive into each team's most memorable football moments from the period while unlocking retro looks, blurring the lines between football performance and streetwear culture. Centralised branding, glossy finishing, and laid-back, loose fits find the balance between instantly iconic and immediately wearable.

adidas

From track tops to jerseys and shorts, the collection is designed for all fans who live and breathe football culture. Who are passionate about their club's heritage and who prize nostalgic style as much as the high-performance technology of modern sports performance apparel.

GOAL takes a closer look at each club's '90s-inspired collections – if you want to skip ahead to shop the collection click here.

Italy icon Jersey

adidas

The Italy jersey celebrates the ‘90s decade of the beautiful game with football’s biggest tournament on Italian soil. From its centrally placed, '90s-style badge to its bold 3-Stripes and loose fit, the shirt is every inch an icon.

Ajax icon Jersey

adidas

Classic club colours meet iconic adidas style, the Ajax football jersey boasts all the hallmarks of iconic ‘90s style. From that central club badge to those in-your-face 3-Stripes on the sides, it's a look that many fans recall with affection.

Arsenal icon Jersey

adidas

Cup double glory and bold adidas heritage come together in this Arsenal icon football jersey. This top radiates early '90s style with that much-loved Arsenal and adidas heritage.

Boca Juniors icon Jersey

adidas

The Boca Juniors jersey rekindles a classic football era with those signature diagonal 3-Stripes on the sides. It even feels the part, thanks to its soft fabric and loose, laid-back fit.

Celtic FC icon Jersey

adidas

Celtic FC fans didn't get to live the larger-than-life adidas Equipment era the first time around, so this football jersey reimagines what the green-and-white side of Glasgow may have looked like in the early '90s.

CR Flamengo icon Jersey

adidas

CR Flamengo DNA wrapped in adidas Equipment style. This football jersey rekindles a classic early '90s look with oversized 3-Stripes on the sides, a centrally placed team badge and an adidas Badge of Sport at the base of its signature collar.

FC Bayern icon Jersey

adidas

A blast from their past. This FC Bayern football jersey borrows its bold colours from the away shirts the club's players pulled on during the mid-'90s.

Juventus icon Jersey

adidas

Everything about this Juventus jersey shouts "football classic." Flashing diagonal 3-Stripes on the sides and a centrally positioned adidas Badge of Sport and team crest, it takes its lead from larger-than-life adidas Equipment gear.

Manchester United icon Jersey

adidas

Reimagining what Manchester United would've looked like in iconic adidas Equipment gear. This jersey combines modern details with a classic look, including an adidas Badge of Sport at the base of the collar, a central team crest and large diagonal 3-Stripes on the sides. It's sure to stoke memories for fans of a certain vintage. For others, it will be a whole new football experience.

Real Madrid icon Jersey

adidas

Real Madrid narrowly missed out on the adidas Equipment era. So this football jersey reimagines what the team could've looked like in the mid-'90s. Those large, diagonal 3-Stripes and that central team badge catch the eye.

River Plate icon Jersey

adidas

River Plate's colours and adidas Equipment style come together in this football jersey. From those large 3-Stripes on the sides to the centrally placed team crest and adidas Badge of Sport, there's no mistaking those early '90s influences.

adidas icon collection price & how to buy

The adidas icon collection is available to buy right now from adidas, and you can shop the entire collection here. GOAL takes a closer look at some of the collection:

• Shop: adidas Icons Collection

  Italy

  adidas$90.00 at adidas

  Available in XS, S, M, L, XL, 2XL and 3XL.

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• Ajax

  adidas£70.00 at adidas

  Available in XS, S, M, L, XL, 2XL and 3XL.

• Arsenal

  adidas$90.00 at adidas

  Available in XS, S, M, L, XL, 2XL and 3XL.

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• Celtic FC

  adidas£70.00 at adidas

  Available in XS, S, M, L, XL, 2XL and 3XL.

The 1986 World Cup offered plenty of entertainment, with the Argentines eventually going on to lift the trophy

Just eight years after winning their first-ever World Cup on home soil, Argentina repeated the trick in Mexico at the 1986 World Cup.

It all started with a 3-1 routine win over South Korea in the group stages, followed by a 1-1 draw with Italy and a 2-0 victory versus Bulgaria.

A narrow 1-0 win over Uruguay in the round of 16 set up a quarter-final clash with England, which would end up becoming one of the most famous matches in the history of the beautiful game.

Diego Maradona. Hand of God. Goal of the tournament. Argentina through to the semi-finals.

Belgium were up next and were dispatched 2-0, before West Germany ended the final in tears following a 3-2 defeat.

But who were Maradona's team-mates on Argentina's way to glory and what happened to them afterwards?

Let's take a look!

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  Nery Pumpido – GK

  Argentina's No.1 goalkeeper at the 1986 World Cup, Pumpido made 36 appearances for his country between 1983 and 1990.

  He played in all seven games at the tournament, conceding just five goals in 630 minutes of action, keeping three clean sheets.

  Pumpido also featured at the 1990 World Cup, where he broke his leg in Argentina's second group game against the USSR.

  After retiring in 1990, Pumpido turned to management in 1999, taking charge of Union Santa Fe, Olimpia, Newell's Old Boys and Veracruz among others, before saying farewell to the game in 2013.

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  Jose Cuciuffo – CB

  Cuciuffo got the chance to feature at his first and only World Cup in 1986 and made six appearances at the tournament, playing some of the best games of his career in helping Argentina win the trophy.

  The defender passed away aged 43 in 2004 from a fatal gunshot would in the stomach while out hunting.

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  Jose Luis Brown – CB

  The rock in Argentina's defence at the tournament, Brown scored the opening goal of the 1986 World Cup final courtesy of an assist from Jorge Burruchaga in the 22nd minute.

  Nicknamed 'Tata', he also represented his nation at three Copa America tournaments and made 36 appearances over the course of his international career between 1983 and 1989.

  He passed away in 2019 at the age of 62.

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  Oscar Ruggeri – CB

  Nicknamed "El Cabezon", Ruggeri was part of three World Cup campaigns with Argentina.

  His most epic moment for his country, though, came at the 1986 World Cup where he was one of the best defenders of the tournament as he led his team to glory.

  Four years later, Ruggeri also witnessed one of the most disappointing moments of his career in the 1990 World Cup final against West Germany as Argentina lost.

  He ended his career after Romania knocked Argentina out of the 1994 World Cup.

  Ruggeri played 97 games for Argentina between 1983 and 1994, scoring seven goals.

  He is currently a member of the show '90 Minutos de Fútbol', which airs in Fox Sports Latin America, having previously tried his hand at coaching at clubs such as Club Almagro, Atletico Rafaela and Ferro Carril Oeste..