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The 47-year-old opened up about his talks with U.S. Soccer and his time as an American at a German club

Matarazzo confirmed he had conversations with U.S. SoccerEmphasized that coaching the USMNT remains an ambitionDetailed how skepticism toward American coaches in Germany motivated himGetty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED

While Mauricio Pochettino was appointed as the new USMNT head coach, US Soccer reportedly held discussions with several other potential candidates before giving the Argentine the job. Pellegrino Matarazzo was one of the managers linked with the job, and he confirmed this week that he was one of the said candidates. The former Hoffenheim boss admitted that while the discussions didn’t lead to anything, he remains open to coaching his national team in the future.

“I’m not going to deny it – there were good talks [with U.S. Soccer] that took place,” Matarazzo told Give Me Sport in an interview. “At that time [last summer], it was not meant to be. As a coach, the chance to lead a national team – especially your own – is something special. It was an honor to be associated with a role like that. Of course, I would be open to it in the future if the project fits and the timing is right.”

Matarazzo also reflected on his journey as an American coach in Germany, where he has established himself as a respected Bundesliga manager despite initial skepticism about his background.

“I have been here for 25 years, and I’ve broken many barriers along the way. In the beginning, people knew I was Italian-American, they had doubts. It was a motivation for me to be better. To be better in every way possible, I could be," he said.

He added, “I remember applying for my pro coaching license, and the extra difficulties for me to get in. Maybe that’s what helped me get to where I am now, the need for excellence. I was fluent in German relatively early. That was an advantage in the German football culture, you need to be able to speak the language. I definitely had my obstacles to overcome, and I think I did an alright job.”

AdvertisementWHAT PELLEGRINO MATARAZZO SAID

Matarazzo was the head coach at TSG Hoffenheim from February 2023 until November 2024, when he was sacked with the club languishing near the relegation zone. However, despite that, Matarazzo admitted that he’ll always be grateful for his time with the club and is proud of his success.

“To be honest, I look at the positive side. I’ll always be grateful for my experience in Hoffenheim, I was able to work with some great people. Despite a very turbulent environment at the club, we were relatively successful. Many times, extraordinary circumstances are the chance for a tremendous learning experience. I know I grew as a coach and a leader.

“When I joined the club in February 2023, there was this ongoing internal power struggle happening, and they were in a nine-match winless run. We managed to build a focused, strong, cohesive unit and save the team from relegation. The following season, we qualified for European competition," he added.

“One game that sums up my time there was our 4-2 win against Bayern Munich in the final game of the season last year, securing a spot in the Europa League. It was a special moment that showed our true character….That showed who we were, and football doesn’t get much better than that.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE

American coaches working at high levels in European football remain relatively rare, making Matarazzo's success in Germany particularly significant. While his time with Hoffenheim may have ended by being sacked, he led the club back into Europe with a seventh-place finish in his first full season with the club.

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Getty Images SportWHAT’S NEXT?

Matarazzo admitted that he is open to a role anywhere, as he is open to many things. For U.S. Soccer, Pochettino's tenure is just beginning, with the focus firmly on preparing the team for the 2026 World Cup on home soil.

Is there anything more unstoppable than Rangers after the Europa League anthem has been blared out on a Thursday night?

Despite their continued turbulent domestic form, the Ibrox side are now on the cusp of the quarter-finals on the continent, following a 3-1 victory over Fenerbahçe at Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium.

When winning the first leg away from home, the Gers have won all 21 two-legged European ties they’ve ever played, so supporters will surely fancy their chances of getting through, thereby setting up a last eight clash with Athletic Club or Roma.

While Jack Butland made a few smart stops, Mohamed Diomande was stupendous and fellow-midfielder Nicolas Raskin’s performance was described as “unbelievable” by Rangers legend Ally McCoist, during TNT Sports’ commentary, it’s the Light Blues’ attackers who deserve to be spotlighted.

Václav Černý the star against Mourinho

Václav Černý was certainly the star of Thursday night’s victory in İstanbul, scoring twice.

The Czechia international restored Rangers’ advantage on the cusp of half time, slotting past İrfan Can Eğribayat after some neat link-up play with Cyriel Dessers, before also scoring the crucial third nine minutes from the end, having been perfectly played in by Raskin on the counter-attack.

Černý’s performances for Rangers have been described as “outstanding” while, as former Rangers striker Kris Boyd put it on Sky Sports: “where would Rangers be if it wasn’t for him”?

Having previously netted against Steaua București twice, Nice and Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, Černý has now scored six goals in UEFA competition this season, so let’s see how that compares to Rangers players of the past.

Václav Černý

2024/25

6

James Tavernier

2021/22

7

Alfredo Morelos

2021/22

6

James Tavernier

2020/21

5

Alfredo Morelos

2020/21

5

Alfredo Morelos

2019/20

14

On top of this, Černý’s tally of eight goals and assists combined in this season’s Europa League is second only to Rayan Cherki of Lyon.

Along similar lines, the Gers’ total of 11 goals on the road is the second-most in the competition, behind Olympique Lyonnais, four of which came at Ibrox in October.

Performance in Numbers

Want data and stats? Football FanCast’s Performance in Numbers series provides you with the latest match analysis from across Europe.

However, another Rangers attacker deserves some rare praise too.

Rangers star enjoys his best night for the club

Scottish Football analyst John Walker believes Thursday’s victory featured Cyriel Dessers’ “best match for Rangers”, adding that he put in a man of the match performance up front.

The Nigerian striker – who earned a 9/10 rating from the Scotsman – broke the deadlock inside six minutes, rounding the goalkeeper before his shot, just about, crept over the line.

That was despite the best efforts of Çağlar Söyüncü, as referee Alejandro Hernández Hernández’s watch flashed up that it was a goal, much to the delight of those who’d travelled from Glasgow.

Dessers then also set up the Gers’ second, with an inch-perfect reverse pass to tee-up Černý, before having not one but two goals disallowed in the second half for very marginal offsides; if he was a size five, he’d have had a hat-trick.

As Jonathan Wilson of the Guardian puts it, Dessers ‘divides fans’, but Gavin Berry and Andy MacKay of the Daily Record described the striker’s performance as ‘superb’, with the Nigerian having taken his tally to 22 goals for the season, four of which have come under Barry Ferguson.

If that praise wasn’t enough, then we’ll hand over to Mr Mourinho, who said that the enigmatic striker “looked like the best player in the world” on Thursday evening.

Many were surprised that Dessers got the nod over Hamza Igamane in attack, but Ferguson was certainly vindicated in his decision, with Mark Atkinson of the Scotsman stating that the win was a tactical ‘triumph’ for the coach.

Speaking of the interim Rangers boss, this was his first involvement in a European match since leading his club out in Manchester for the UEFA Cup Final of 2008 against Zenit Saint Petersburg, the occasion of his 400th appearance for the club, and what a victory for him, with Černý and Dessers spearheading the Light Blues to victory on the Asian side of the Bosporus Strait.

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Lanning, Gardner, McGrath could miss 2023 edition amid Australia’s packed schedule

Matt Roller14-Feb-2023Meg Lanning, Ashleigh Gardner and Tahlia McGrath are among the Australian players set to skip the third season of the women’s Hundred in order to manage their workloads during a busy 2023.The trio was among the 14 Australian women signed in the inaugural WPL auction on Monday. The tournament due to take place immediately after the ongoing T20 World Cup, adding to a hectic 2023 schedule for Australia’s top players.Australia tour England for the multi-format Ashes series in June-July and will play three Women’s Championship ODIs against Ireland in late July. The Hundred runs from August 1-27, with Australia’s home international summer due to start against West Indies in September. They then play the WBBL before a multi-format tour to India.As a result, several leading players will opt out of the Hundred, instead using August as a rare opportunity for a short break from cricket amid an increasingly busy domestic and international schedule in the women’s game.Hundred salaries frozen for 2023Salaries are significantly higher in the WPL than in the women’s Hundred: the 14 Australians will earn a combined INR 14.25 crore (£1.4 million approx.) in the WPL, while the top salary in the women’s Hundred is £31,250.While Lanning, Gardner and McGrath are all believed to have made themselves unavailable before Monday’s auction, it had been apparent for some time that the WPL would be significantly more attractive financially than the Hundred.The ECB froze 2023 Hundred salaries at last season’s levels in both the men’s and women’s competitions, but the absence of some of the world’s best players may prompt a re-think ahead of the 2024 edition.McGrath played for Southern Brave in 2022, while Lanning was due to play for Trent Rockets but withdrew, instead taking a break from the game. Gardner has briefly held contracts with Welsh Fire and Birmingham Phoenix, but has never appeared in the competition.Pre-draft retentions confirmed this weekTeams in the Hundred will release their lists of retained players later this week ahead of the inaugural women’s draft on March 23, following several weeks of discussions with players and their representatives.Each team was permitted to retain up to four women’s players from their 2022 squad. Those four players can include a maximum of three ‘marquee’ players – comprising either two England-contracted players and one overseas player, or two overseas players and one England-contracted player.Some Australia players will feature in the retention lists, with Alyssa Healy (Northern Superchargers), Alana King (Trent Rockets) and Ellyse Perry (Birmingham Phoenix) all expected to renew their existing deals.Alana King is expected to be retained by Trent Rockets•Getty ImagesBeth Mooney is also expected to be part of the Hundred in 2023, though most likely not for London Spirit. It is understood Spirit have retained Charlie Dean, Heather Knight (both England-contracted), Dani Gibson (domestic) and Amelia Kerr (overseas).Other players expected to feature in the draft include Sophia Dunkley and Danni Wyatt, with Brave understood to have prioritised youth by retaining Lauren Bell and Freya Kemp as their England-contracted players. All teams have one Right-To-Match (RTM) card available, which Brave could use to keep hold of one of their England openers.Related

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Kate Cross, Sarah Glenn and Mady Villiers could also feature on the long-list of players heading into the draft.After the draft, all women’s teams will have a core of eight players. They will then be able to fill their remaining spots through an open-market process.The draft has been introduced in part to ensure that the women’s Hundred retains its competitive balance, after Oval Invincibles and Southern Brave’s dominance of the first two seasons.Jon Lewis becomes Trent Rockets coachMeanwhile, Salliann Beams will not return to the Hundred in 2023 after two seasons as Trent Rockets coach. She has stepped down from the role, with former Durham batter Jon Lewis confirmed as her replacement after missing out on the England job to his namesake.”The opportunity to step up as head coach is a huge honour, building on the foundations that have been laid over the past two years,” Lewis said. “The competition is hugely exciting because it is giving the women’s game a brilliant platform and players a bigger stage on which to showcase their skills.”Lewis was part of Rockets’ support staff last season, when they finished third after losing a tight eliminator to Southern Brave at the Ageas Bowl.

New Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta has an almighty job on his hands to right the wrongs of prior transfer windows this summer.

Mikel Merino and Riccardo Calafiori were brought in last summer and while the Spaniard has been an able deputy up top amid the Gunners’ injury mayhem, Calafiori has been in and out of the treatment table with injury on a regular basis.

A shiny centre-forward continues to elude Mikel Arteta and Co with the hierarchy at the Emirates Stadium deciding not to sign anyone in the winter window.

That has proven incredibly detrimental to their title challenge, now sitting 12 points behind Liverpool while a Champions League quarter-final tie against Real Madrid awaits. Good luck with that if Merino is still up front.

Berta will need a new forward but he must also look at other positions. That includes the Granit Xhaka role which has been left vacated since he departed for Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2023.

How Arsenal have tried fixing their Xhaka-shaped hole

When Xhaka left after a career-best season, it left Arsenal supporters feeling a bit empty.

The Swiss was a marmite figure and nearly ended his stint at the club after he threw the captain’s armband to the floor during that infamous incident against Crystal Palace.

His revival was quite something, therefore, scoring nine goals and assisting seven strikes for his teammates throughout 2022/23.

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2

2

5

38

1

7

10

29

4

2

10

31

1

2

10

31

1

2

7

27

1

2

10

37

7

7

5

Since then, Arteta has tried and failed to replace the qualities Xhaka brought to that left sided 8 role in the middle of the park.

Kai Havertz was signed as the solution but has instead become a centre-forward, Merino didn’t quite live up to expectations in midfield and is now filling in for Havertz while he’s out injured.

Then there’s Declan Rice. The £105m-record signing was brought to the Emirates as a sitting midfielder but has been given more offensive license, particularly this season.

While Rice has netted five times in 2024/25 and also posted eight assists – the majority of which have come from set-plays – they’ve still struggled to find the right balance.

The former West Ham man is still learning the more advanced role and he’s not left-footed. As a result, Arsenal’s left side has suffered.

Winger Gabriel Martinelli bagged 15 goals during Xhaka’s final campaign in red and white and in nearly two years since Xhaka’s departure, he has scored the same number of goals over a much larger time frame.

Perhaps this man could be the solution in midfield…

Arsenal make bid for their new Granit Xhaka

While Arsenal’s priority this summer must be a striker, if the opportunity emerges for the Gunners to sign another midfielder they must do so.

According to reports, a deal to bring Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi to London is as good as done but there is another rather flashier midfielder in their crosshairs.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Indeed, according to reports coming out of Spain, Arsenal have submitted a bid worth £58m to prise Brazilian star Bruno Guimaraes away from Newcastle United.

The report claims that the Toon – recent Carabao Cup winners – are unlikely to be willing to sell the 27-year-old who was rated as highly as £100m in 2024.

If the Gunners are to sign him then it’s likely it’ll take a bid close to that. Arsenal have been interested in Guimaraes stemming back to his days in Ligue 1 with Lyon.

How Bruno Guimaraes compares to Granit Xhaka and Declan Rice

Considering Guimaraes is right-footed then Arsenal may well encounter the same sort of problems they’ve had with Rice in the left 8 role. However, with experience of being a tempo setter and playing in a slightly more advanced role than the Gunners’ no.41, he could suitably fill the role.

Unlike Merino too, he would arrive with experience of English football and thus knows exactly what it takes to keep things ticking over in the engine room of a Premier League club.

Last season he scored seven goals and supplied ten assists, numbers that are certainly comparable to Xhaka’s final campaign in the capital, while in 2024/25, he has netted three times and posted eight assists, numbers similar to Rice in the final third.

Comparing him to the club’s record signing in a bit more detail, it’s evident the Brazil international has got through more defensive work but that’s not at the expense of his attacking involvements either.

Crucially, the “world-class” midfielder – as he was described by scout Jacek Kulig – also has that nasty side to his game that Xhaka so famously brought to several Arsenal sides.

In 2024/25, no player has been fouled more regularly than Guimaraes in the Premier League (92 times), while only nine players have committed more fouls than the Brazilian (42).

#1 Bruno Guimaraes

92

#2 Anthony Gordon

58

#3 Matheus Cunha

58

#4 John McGinn

55

#5 Cole Palmer

53

#6 James Maddison

53

#7 Mohammed Kudus

49

#8 Youri Tielemans

47

#9 Georginio Rutter

45

#10 Moises Caicedo

44

Not many players pick up more yellow cards either. Guimaraes was handed 14 in all competitions last term.

To put those numbers into context, Xhaka holds the record for the most fouls committed by an Arsenal player across a single Premier League season with 57. If we analyse the most yellow-carded players in Arsenal history, the Switzerland international appears regularly too.

Looking at the list for the top ten Arsenal players with the most yellow cards across a single Premier League campaign, Xhaka appears four times, picking up 40 cautions across the 2017/18, 2018/19, 2019/20 and 2021/22 seasons.

So, even if Guimaraes is more adept on his right foot, it’s clear he’d bring a similar level of nastiness to Arteta’s midfield. Perhaps that isn’t a bad thing.

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Lucknow Super Giants will now be led by Krunal Pandya as they look to seal a place in the playoffs

ESPNcricinfo staff05-May-2023KL Rahul, the captain of the Lucknow Super Giants, has been ruled out of the IPL, and India’s World Test Championship final in June against Australia, with a thigh injury that he sustained earlier this week. He took to Instagram to say he will need surgery and was “absolutely gutted” to not be able to play at the Oval next month.”My focus will be on my rehabilitation and recovery in the coming weeks,” Rahul’s post said. “It’s a tough call to make, but I know it’s the right one to ensure a full recovery.”Rahul tore a tendon in his right leg while chasing a ball in the second over of their match against Royal Challengers Bangalore on Monday. He had to be helped off the field at that point, and did not return until a chase of 127 got unexpectedly tense. The 31-year-old walked out to bat at No. 11 in the hopes of winning the game. But he was unable to run between the wickets, which resulted in the No. 9 Amit Mishra facing every single ball of the last over.LSG eventually lost by 18 runs and then the game got mired in the Virat Kohli vs Gautam Gambhir controversy, which Rahul tried to mitigate by separating the two men.”As the team captain, it pains me deeply not to be able to be there during this crucial period,” he said. “But, I’m confident that the boys will rise to the occasion and give their best performance as always.”Super Giants are in second place on the IPL points table, with five wins from 10 games. Their push for a second straight playoff appearance will now be spearheaded by Krunal Pandya, who takes over the captaincy on an interim basis. He has already led the team in one game, against Chennai Super Kings, although it got washed out.This injury puts an end to Rahul’s efforts of scoring 500-plus runs for a sixth successive IPL. He is the only Indian to have even gotten as far as five, and was 226 runs off the mark this time around.Rahul’s career has recently hit a crossroads. India took away his vice-captaincy and dropped him from their Test XI after the first two Border-Gavaskar Trophy matches in February 2023. And he hasn’t played a T20I for them in almost a year. It’s only in 50-over cricket that he commands a spot in the team, where he also doubles up as their wicketkeeper. All of this was reflected in his moving down from Grade A to B when the BCCI handed out central contracts two months ago.This is the second major injury Rahul’s had in two years following a sports hernia in 2022 for which he needed surgery.”The last few days have been really hard, but I’m determined to come out on top,” his post also said. “Injuries are never easy, but I’ll give it my all as always. Thank you for all the support and good wishes.”

Ruben Dias posed alongside Maya Jama as the Manchester City star shared holiday pictures from the Amalfi Coast.

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Romance blossoming in AmalfiDias & Jama go public with their relationshipEnjoying well-earned downtimeFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Although speculation had surrounded the pair’s relationship for some time, their latest trip seems to have cemented things publicly. Their vacation comes after the conclusion of the football season and ahead of a hectic summer for both stars, providing the ideal window for some quality time together.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Their Italian escape has featured stunning coastal views and luxurious experiences, including a private yacht where the duo were spotted enjoying a variety of water-based activities. From jet-skiing and diving into the clear Mediterranean waters to indulging in fine dining on board, the couple soaked in the sunshine and savoured some rare downtime away from their fast-paced careers.

WHAT DIAS SAID

Dias shared a carousel of pictures from the trip and captioned the post: "Amalfi."

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Getty/InstagramWHAT NEXT FOR RUBEN DIAS & MAYA JAMA?

The serene scenes are only temporary, however, as both Dias and Jama are preparing to dive back into their respective professional commitments. The Portuguese international will soon join City’s squad as they gear up for the 2025 Club World Cup, which kicks off on June 14 in the United States. Meanwhile, Jama will be gearing up to front another season of the ever-popular dating reality show, Love Island. With the show’s return imminent, her hosting duties will demand her full attention, marking a sharp shift from the leisurely pace of her Italian retreat.

Wolverhampton Wanderers must bolster their squad this summer if they are to challenge the top half of the table under Vitor Pereira.

It appears as though the manager has done enough during his short stint to maintain the Old Gold’s Premier League status, for another year at least, but an interesting summer window is on the horizon.

Could the Portuguese boss raid another top-flight club for a player who enjoyed an excellent spell at Molineux between 2017 and 2020? Diogo Jota has been linked with a return.

Wolves' interest in re-signing Jota

According to reports from earlier this week, Wolves are showing interest in bringing back Jota to the club after nearly five years away from the Midlands.

It appears as though Liverpool are looking to cash in on the winger, who has missed 93 matches since joining the Anfield side, and Wolves could be the frontrunners.

A return of 64 goals and 22 assists for the Reds across 174 matches is a more than respectable return by Jota, but Arne Slot is looking to go in a different direction next season.

Pereira, however, has a player in his first-team squad who might be even better than Jota and is certainly worth more than him in the current market…

The Wolves star who's worth more than Jota

There won’t be many supporters who would want to know what position the club would be in if it weren’t for Matheus Cunha’s efforts in front of goal this term. Across 26 Premier League games, Cunha has scored 13 goals while providing four assists for the Old Gold.

The South American forward scores every 165 minutes in the top flight for Wolves, along with registering 3.3 shots, averaging 1.7 key passes and succeeding with 1.9 dribbles each game.

Market Movers

Football FanCast’s Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club’s star player or biggest flop worth today?

Add in the fact he has created 12 big chances for Wolves, it becomes clear that Cunha is equally adept at scoring or providing teammates with plenty of opportunities to find the back of the net.

Metric

Cunha

Jota

Goals

13

5

Assists

4

3

Big chances created

12

3

Shots per game

3.3

1.9

Key passes per game

1.7

0.5

Successful dribbles per game

1.9

0.6

Former Man City defender Micah Richards praised Cunha on Match of the Day 2 in November, saying: “His football IQ is absolutely sensational. He’s the one who can unlock the doors. He finds the little pockets of space and makes the right decisions at the right times.

“He’s always scanning where he needs to be and always plays the right pass. He is so key in what Wolves are trying to do. He is the best at everything.”

That importance is shown by his soaring market value. Indeed, Jota is currently worth €45m (£38m), as per Transfermarkt, and Liverpool will be looking for this sort of figure to let him leave Anfield in the summer.

Cunha, on the other hand, is currently valued at €55m (£46m) by Transfermarkt and this value will only keep increasing, especially considering how impressive the Brazilian has been this season for Wolves.

If, and it is a big if, Wolves can keep him for the 2025/26 season, then they have to build a team around the former Atlético Madrid star.

Wolves chiefs have made offer to sign £29m striker this summer for Pereira

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ByBrett Worthington Mar 20, 2025

The former USMNT star has pointed to the lack of quality coaches as the main reason why the U.S. struggles to develop world-class players

Gomez identifies coaching quality as the fundamental issue in U.S. player developmentAmerican soccer infrastructure and facilities exceed many countries producing elite talentCultural development gaps from early stages prevent technical and tactical growthGetty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED

Former USMNT striker and current ESPN analyst Herculez Gomez addressed the persistent question of why the United States fails to produce world-class football players. Despite billions invested in facilities, youth academies, and professional infrastructure, Gomez argued that the coaching methodology at youth levels remains insufficient. He specifically highlighted that while the U.S. has built impressive stadiums and training facilities, the quality of coaching instruction at formative ages is preventing young players from maximizing their potential.

“You look at the U.S., you don’t have great coaches,” Gomez said on . “So you could have all the resources, all the material in the world you need but if you don’t have the methodology to mold these players, you’re not going to have a player like Lamine Yamal who at 15 is debuting at Barca, 16 playing his first Euros, 17 is probably the front-runner for the Ballon d’Or.

He added, “You’re not going to have that because here at 15, you’re maybe getting approached to go to Europe. At 16, you can finally be in Europe; that’s when you can legally be there. At 16, 17, you’re stepping out into the first team [like Pulisic] and that’s the most accelerated examples I can go with. You don’t have that [in the U.S.], so it goes back to coaching, that’s why you don’t have and never had a world-class player, or probably are going to lack for world-class players because you don’t develop them."

AdvertisementWHAT HERCULEZ GOMEZ SAID

Gomez further touched on the fact that part of the reason is also cultural because a lot of world-class talent starts young and is mostly started by their family because football is part of their lives. He admits that that isn’t the case in America and it needs to change for the U.S. to produce a world-class star.

“That’s not per se what happens here. So if it’s not cultural and you don’t have the methodology, your behind in that resource which is the greatest resource of all, who gives a sh*t what the stadium looks like? Or the grass is like, or what kind of gear you have, or what kind of sensors they put on your chest that measures how much you run?! But that’s what I’m saying, you don’t have that [culture and methodology] and if you don’t have that, it’s very, very difficult to be put with the rest of the world.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE

The United States has made significant strides in football over the past two decades, with MLS academies, youth development programs, and improved professional pathways. However, Gomez's critique points to a deeper issue that resources alone cannot fix: the cultural understanding of the game that informs coaching philosophy. South American and European countries have produced generation after generation of elite players through consistent teaching methodologies that emphasize technical skill and tactical awareness from the earliest ages.

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Getty Images SportWHAT’S NEXT?

The U.S. Soccer Federation has recently expanded its coaching education programs and invested in bringing international expertise to influence American coaching methods. With the 2026 World Cup approaching, there will likely be increased scrutiny on these efforts to improve coaching quality at youth levels.

He is expected to fly home at some point in the coming weeks for the birth of his daughter

Matt Roller25-Apr-2023Mark Wood is set to miss the final stages of IPL 2023 to attend the birth of his daughter in late May, but the majority of England players involved in the competition are expected to stay in India for the whole season.Wood has missed Lucknow Super Giants’ last two matches due to illness but has been a revelation for them this season, taking 11 wickets in his four appearances including 5 for 14 on his debut against Delhi Capitals.He and his wife Sarah are expecting their second child towards the end of May, and Wood will fly home at some point in the coming weeks in order to be present at the birth. At this stage, it appears unlikely that he would return to India afterwards.Related

Ben Stokes vows to leave IPL early in order to prepare for Ireland Test and Ashes

Super Giants play their next fixture against Punjab Kings on April 28, before back-to-back home matches against Royal Challengers Bangalore and Chennai Super Kings on May 1 and 3. In Wood’s absence, they have selected the Afghan seamer Naveen-ul-Haq, who has bowled tight spells in his first two games.England play a one-off Test against Ireland at Lord’s on June 1, four days after the IPL final, but ESPNcricinfo understands that the ECB does not intend to pull players out of the tournament against their will, having previously indicated to the BCCI and to franchises that they would be available for the full season.The ECB has actively encouraged players to travel to India to gain experience at the IPL over its last eight seasons, and the current hierarchy believe that being involved in high-stakes, knockout fixtures serves as ideal preparation for playing in semi-finals and finals of world events.In previous seasons, the board has set a fixed return date for players involved in their first international commitments of the home summer, but they will manage them on a case-by-case basis this summer. The league phase of the IPL ends on May 21, with play-off fixtures on May 23, 24, 26 ahead of the final on May 28.Ben Stokes, who has not played for Chennai Super Kings since April 3 due to a couple of niggles, has previously indicated that he may leave the IPL early in order to prepare for the Ireland Test, but does not have a fixed return date set as things stand.A potential early departure will depend on his own fitness, whether CSK reach the knockout stages, and whether or not he wins back his place given the success of their four incumbent overseas starters: Devon Conway, Moeen Ali, Maheesh Theekshana and Matheesha Pathirana.The other England players likely to be involved in both the IPL and the Ireland Test are Joe Root – who is yet to feature for Rajasthan Royals – and Harry Brook, whose Sunrisers Hyderabad team appear unlikely to reach the play-offs after suffering their fifth defeat in their first seven games on Monday night.Jofra Archer, who returned to Mumbai Indians’ XI for their defeat against Punjab Kings on Saturday night, will not be rushed straight back to Test cricket after two years without playing a first-class game, though remains hopeful that he will be involved in the Ashes at some stage.

Enzo Maresca has personally been in ongoing contacts with a transfer target’s representatives, while Chelsea themselves have also approached his club over the possibility of a transfer this summer.

Chelsea planning to invest in new centre-back this summer

According to some reports, Chelsea are planning to significantly invest in the acquisition of a centre-back this summer, and there are a few targets who are said to be on the agenda heading into the next transfer window.

Chelsea now determined to win race for Ramos-esque £50m Real Madrid target

The Blues are looking to move ahead of Real Madrid in the race for a “phenomenal” defender.

ByDominic Lund Mar 27, 2025

Crystal Palace star Marc Guehi, who is about to enter the final 12 months of his contract at Selhurst Park, could be available for a much cheaper price than in previous windows, with Tottenham most recently having a £70 million bid rejected for the England international in January.

Tottenham (home)

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Brentford (away)

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Ipswich Town (home)

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Fulham (away)

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Everton (home)

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Chelsea are rumoured favourites to re-sign Guehi, after the centre-back departed Stamford Bridge for £18 million in 2021, but another Premier League star is also thought to be high on their transfer shortlist.

Bournemouth starlet Dean Huijsen has starred under Andoni Iraola for the Cherries this season, and news of a release clause in his contract is reportedly motivating clubs to seriously consider a move for the Spain international this summer.

Chelsea are expected to make a serious push for Huijsen, with Spanish news outlet Sport now claiming that they’ve already begun to lay the groundwork.

Chelsea make approach for Huijsen after "direct contact" from Maresca

The website and journalist Fermin de la Calle reports Chelsea have approached Bournemouth over signing Huijsen, as have PSG, Man United, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, but Maresca has done serious homework on the player.

The Blues boss has strong connections to the defender through Malaga, and he’s been in “direct contact” with Huijsen’s representatives “for years”.

Maresca is also apparently very acquainted with the coaches who worked with Bournemouth’s star youngster in the youth academy at Malaga, and while Real are working hard to get close to the player through his agents, Chelsea’s manager is already there and has been for a long time.

This is why Real aren’t counting their chickens just yet in the race for Huijsen, as Chelsea and Maresca specifically pose a serious threat to them.

The 19-year-old, whose exit clause stands at around £42 million according to this report, is being continuously linked with an exit from the Vitality Stadium, and Bournemouth expert Mark Mitchener admits that his exit is a possibility.

“If his release clause doesn’t come into play until the summer at least you know you’ve got four, five months left of him,” said Mitchener.

“If Bournemouth are in a position at the end of the season where they will play in Europe next year, then you would like to think he would want to stay unless a team came in and offered him a deal too good to turn down.

“He made the decision to come to Bournemouth as a 19-year-old and not wait for a bigger club even though people were saying very nice things about him so he wants to play. He’s doing a very good job of it.

“I’d like to think the club can keep him, but with some of the very best young players in the world it’s very difficult to tell what will happen.”