Football
Five things we learnt from brilliant and unpredictable Premier League season

The Premier League has wrapped up one of the most thrilling and unpredictable seasons in recent memory.
What began as a two-horse race between Manchester City and Arsenal evolved into a drama-filled campaign that delivered surprises week after week. While few anticipated Liverpool lifting the trophy, even fewer foresaw the extent of Manchester United’s downfall.
Liverpool’s title win marked a spectacular debut for Arne Slot, shaking up the expected order and ending City’s era of dominance.
For the first time since 2017, Pep Guardiola’s side ended the year without any silverware, with key players like Kevin De Bruyne reportedly heading for the exit. Erling Haaland expressed disappointment over their performance, calling the season frustrating.
Guardiola even considered stepping down, citing issues with squad depth, though he later walked back those comments. This shift in power has opened the door for a more competitive title race next season.
Arsenal, despite high expectations, failed once again to clinch the league, finishing second for the third straight year. After falling short behind Liverpool, pressure is mounting on Mikel Arteta to deliver.
The club hasn’t won the Premier League in over two decades, and frustration is growing among fans and pundits alike. Former player Paul Merson voiced concerns, suggesting Arteta might not survive another trophyless campaign if results don’t improve quickly.
Manchester United’s season went from bad to worse, plunging to a new low under Ruben Amorim following Erik ten Hag’s dismissal in October. A club once known for excellence finished 15th, their worst showing in the Premier League era, and missed out on European football entirely.
Despite Amorim’s willingness to resign if deemed unfit, the real problems at United run deeper. The transition under part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has done little to steady the ship, and with high-earning underperformers on the books, the future looks bleak. Even captain Bruno Fernandes is rumored to be seeking an exit.
Elsewhere, Crystal Palace and Newcastle made headlines for their cup success. Palace secured their first-ever major trophy by defeating Manchester City in the FA Cup final, a moment that will go down in club history.
Newcastle also ended their long wait for domestic glory with a Carabao Cup triumph over Liverpool. These achievements serve as a reminder to Premier League sides that silverware still matters and should motivate more clubs to take domestic competitions seriously rather than fielding weakened teams.
Chelsea rounded out the season with a return to the Champions League after securing fourth place on the final day. After finishing 12th and 6th in the two prior seasons, this turnaround signals progress under new ownership.
Should they defeat Real Betis in the upcoming Conference League final, Chelsea will become the first club to win all three major UEFA tournaments. Manager Enzo Maresca has silenced critics of his youthful squad, responding with confidence and pride in their achievement.
This season was full of unpredictability, from Tottenham’s bizarre campaign—finishing 17th in the league but finally ending their trophy drought in Europe—to Nottingham Forest’s shock qualification for continental football.
With the traditional powerhouses shaken and underdogs rising, next season promises to be just as compelling.
Football
Napoli-linked Sancho ‘attracting interest’ from new Serie A side

Juventus are reportedly set to compete with Napoli for the signing of Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho this summer.
The 25-year-old is back at Old Trafford following a season-long loan at Chelsea, where he made a solid impact with five goals and 10 assists across 41 competitive appearances. He also found the net in Chelsea’s convincing 4-1 victory in last month’s Conference League final, though his efforts were not enough to convince the club to make the deal permanent.
Chelsea were initially expected to secure Sancho for £25 million as part of their loan agreement but ultimately chose to walk away from the obligation. As a result, they were required to pay Manchester United a £5 million penalty fee.
Despite being under contract with United, Sancho is not considered part of manager Ruben Amorim’s long-term plans. If he fails to secure a transfer in the coming weeks, the winger is expected to be left out of the club’s pre-season tour to the United States.
Juventus enter the race for Sancho
Napoli had previously emerged as the frontrunner for Sancho’s signature, with the player reportedly reaching a verbal agreement with the Serie A champions. However, a deal between Manchester United and Napoli has yet to be finalized.
According to Sky Sports News, Juventus have now entered the picture, exploring the financial and contractual terms of a potential move. The Turin-based side is seriously evaluating the opportunity to sign the England international, who has earned 23 senior caps.
Is Juventus the right fit for Sancho?
Juventus manager Igor Tudor is preparing for his first full season in charge after leading the team to a top-four finish last term. Known for deploying a 3-4-2-1 formation, Tudor’s system does not traditionally utilize wide wingers like Sancho.
If he joins Juventus, Sancho would likely compete for one of the two attacking midfield spots behind the main striker—a role that currently sees strong competition from Kenan Yildiz, Francisco Conceicao, and Nico Gonzalez. Unless one of these players is sold, Sancho might struggle to find regular playing time in Turin.
Napoli, on the other hand, could offer a more suitable environment for the former Borussia Dortmund star. With the club still looking to replace Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who departed in January, Sancho may find more opportunities to thrive in his preferred position on the wing.
Football
Flamengo punish 10-Man Chelsea in 3-1 Club World Cup stunner (Highlights)

Nicolas Jackson endured a nightmare cameo as Chelsea collapsed in the second half against Flamengo during their FIFA Club World Cup clash, suffering a 3-1 defeat that puts their tournament hopes at risk.
Chelsea initially took the lead through Pedro Neto, whose composed finish through the goalkeeper’s legs gave the Premier League side a promising start. However, the momentum quickly shifted after the break.
Flamengo responded in ruthless fashion, netting twice in quick succession. Substitute Bruno Henrique capitalized on a defensive lapse to slot home from close range, followed by another back-post finish from Danilo that stunned the Blues and put the Brazilian side ahead.
Matters worsened for Chelsea when substitute Nicolas Jackson was shown a straight red card just four minutes after entering the pitch.
His dangerous challenge saw his studs connect with Lucas Ayrton’s shin, leaving the referee with little choice but to send him off immediately.
Flamengo sealed the win with a third goal, as Wallace Yan added the final blow to a chaotic second half that Chelsea will want to forget.
The result means Chelsea must now beat African side ES Tunis in their next match on Tuesday to progress to the last 16. However, finishing second in the group could set them up for a much tougher path, likely facing the winner of Group C, which may include Bundesliga heavyweights Bayern Munich.
Flamengo’s victory strengthens their bid to top Group D and extends the unbeaten run of South American teams in the Club World Cup’s newly expanded format.
Flamengo vs Chelsea Highlight
Football
Monterrey 1-1 Inter Milan: Ramos opener earns shock draw after Lautaro misses sitter

Monterrey secured their spot in this summer’s FIFA Club World Cup by winning the 2021 CONCACAF Champions League, now known as the CONCACAF Cup.
Fast forward four years, and the team returned to the international stage at the Rose Bowl with only one player from that title-winning squad still in the lineup: veteran goalkeeper Esteban Andrada. The club had not lifted any silverware since that 2021 triumph, which made what happened next even more unexpected.
In a surprising twist, Monterrey opened the scoring against Inter Milan in the 25th minute, as Sergio Ramos delivered a perfectly placed header.
The Spanish defender, who joined the Mexican outfit earlier this year on a one-year deal reportedly worth $4 million, had cited the Club World Cup as a major influence in his decision to sign. His goal sent the Monterrey fans into wild celebrations.
However, their joy didn’t last long. Inter’s star forward Lautaro Martínez—fresh off a World Cup win—responded with a close-range finish following a perfectly orchestrated set-piece.
The Argentine’s goal silenced the Rayados-dominated crowd and brought the game level at 1-1 before halftime.
The second half saw both teams tighten up defensively, limiting each other’s chances as the game wore on.
Inter, still recovering from a heavy defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in last month’s UEFA Champions League final, looked eager to reassert themselves. But it was Monterrey who rose to the occasion, matching their European opponents stride for stride and leaving the pitch with their heads held high after a gritty performance.
Monterrey 1-1 Inter Milan Highlights
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