The Athletic FC Podcast

With the Ballon d'Or fast approaching, this week’s episode of ‘What If’, Emma is joined in the studio by The Athletic’s Tim Spiers, Dan Kilpatrick and Jack Pitt-Brooke to pick apart the unfathomable… What if Messi and Ronaldo didn’t exist?

Who scores their goals? Who’s career skyrockets? And topically, who wins their Ballons d’Or?

Plus, we discuss who we think will be just the 5th player outside of the two main men to win the Ballon d’Or since 2008.

Host: Emma Paton
Panelists: Jack Pitt-Brooke, Dan Kilpatrick, Tim Spiers
Executive Producers: Adam Jones, Max Curwen Bingley
Producer: Mike Stavrou
Videographer: Grayson Moody
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It’s a jam packed show this week as Kate Mason is joined in the studio by tacticos Liam Tharme and Rob Green to discuss all the weekend’s goings on, including a fierce London derby as Chelsea host rivals Spurs.

Plus, we’re joined by former Brighton defender Adam Webster to get an inside look at all things football on the south coast. What’s it like to play for Roberto de Zerbi? How do you stop Erling Haaland? And, the question on everyone’s lips - how are Brighton that good?

Host: Kate Mason
Panelists: Rob Green, Liam Tharme, Adam Webster
Executive producers: Adam Jones, Max Curwen Bingley
Producer: Mike Stavrou
Videographer: Liam Warburton
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Manchester United’s ownership is in the firing line again, with players accusing leadership of negligence and just two wins so far all season.

So with United in their latest doom cycle and growing unrest across their other clubs and investments, is Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS sports empire crumbling?

Kate Mason is joined by Matt Slater, Adam Crafton and former England international Rob Green to examine the impact of United's constant failings on the INEOS landscape.

Host: Kate Mason
Co-hosts: Matt Slater, Adam Crafton, Rob Green
Videographer: Lara Sinclair
Producer: Jay Beale
Executive Producer: Adam Jones
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tuesday saw PSG and Barcelona lock horns at the Parc des Princes as Luis Enrique’s side came out victors despite injuries to key players Ousmane Dembele and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

Emma is joined in the studio by Manchester United writer Cerys Jones and Senior Editor Tomas Hill Lopez-Menchero to break down all the action.

Plus, Laurie Whitwell dials in to tell all about his two days spent with former United boss, Erik ten Hag, and we discuss the future of El Clasico, and if it remains the biggest fixture in football.
Host: Emma Payton
Panelists: Cerys Jones, Tomas Hill Lopez Menchero
Featuring: Laurie Whitwell, James Horncastle
Executive producers: Adam Jones, Max Curwen Bingley
Producer: Jay Beale
Videographer: Liam Warburton
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It's a bumper week in the Champions League with arguably the best four teams in Europe — PSG, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Arsenal — all facing each other. But who is actually the best side in Europe right now?

We dissect the star power, team identity, weaknesses and managers across all four teams and pick some Combined XIs.

Plus, was Spurs' first victory of the season a launchpad for their season? Or was it just Coventry at home?

Jon Mackenzie, JJ Bull and Seb Stafford-Bloor joined Emma Paton today for a bit of a Tifo takeover.

Host: Emma Paton
Panelists: Jon Mackenzie, JJ Bull and Seb Stafford-Bloor
Producers: Mike Stavrour, Grayson Moody
Executive producer: Adam Jones
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.