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It feels like an absolute age since Thomas Tuchel was first announced as the England manager.

Truth be told, it is an age. On October 16th 2024, a year ago now, he was unveiled in front of the press.

This has been something entirely different for the German. He’s never managed at international level and since he began the job, he has still only managed eight games. It really is a struggle to gather any momentum or know truly what his Three Lions are capable of until the World Cup kicks off next summer.

Things started off pretty slowly in all honesty. Tuchel’s England laboured to a 2-0 win over Albania in his first game before beating Latvia 3-0.

His second international break at the beginning of the summer was even worse. They secured just a 1-0 victory over Andorra and then lost 3-1 to Senegal.

Fortunately, things have got better since then, putting five past Serbia in September and demolishing Wales 3-0 inside 20 minutes in October’s break.

Regardless of those results, England were always going to be one of the favourites in America next summer. But, the age-old question, who will be on the plane?

We asked AI to put together what they think Tuchel’s 26-man squad will look like and here was the outcome…

1

The goalkeepers

There are no prizes for guessing who AI reckons will be Tuchel’s no.1 next summer. That honour goes to Jordan Pickford who has cemented himself as one of his country’s finest goalkeepers in recent years.

The Everton man has been to every major tournament (4) since the World Cup in 2018 and according to AI, will be joined by Newcastle duo Aaron Ramsdale and Nick Pope. Ramsdale hasn’t appeared in any of Tuchel’s squad lists yet so will need to find a way to play some football before the tournament kicks off next summer.

At the moment, he is behind Pope in the pecking order but there’s no doubting that he’s a fine ‘keeper, someone who was seen as the future no.1 when at Arsenal.

Full list of goalkeepers: Pickford, Ramsdale & Pope.

2

The defenders

AI anticipates that Tuchel will take four out-and-out centre-backs to the USA next year with John Stones set to partner Marc Guehi at the back, just as they did during Euro 2024.

While denied his move to Liverpool during the summer, Guehi has begun the season in fine form at Crystal Palace and really does look like England’s standout defender.

AI also thinks that AC Milan centre-back Fikayo Tomori could be on the plane, set to earn his first minutes for his country since 2023. Note there is no place for Dan Burn who has been a regular in Tuchel’s first few England camps.

Levi Colwill is currently out with an ACL problem but is expected to be back for the latter stages of the season, potentially giving him the opportunity to make the squad.

At full-back, England are blessed with options. Trent Alexander-Arnold, Tino Livramento and Reece James have been picked on the right-hand side. James offers strong versatility and could be fielded at centre-back if required.

At left-back, there are places on the plane for Manchester City’s Rico Lewis and Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly. The England boss recently hinted that Lewis-Skelly would need to start playing more to earn his place in America.

Full list of defenders: Guehi, Stones, Tomori, Colwill, Alexander-Arnold, Livramento, James, Lewis-Skelly, Lewis.

3

The midfielders

To the joy of most supporters around the country, AI thinks that Jordan Henderson will miss out on this occasion. The Brentford midfielder has been recalled to the fray under Tuchel but despite his experience and leadership, could actually miss out.

There is also no place for Elliot Anderson who has impressed so much since earning his first England caps during the September international break. Perhaps he is going to pay the price for Nottingham Forest’s poor run of form.

Regulars such as Declan Rice and Eberechi Eze are included while there is a place for Jude Bellingham who was left out of the camp in October, allegedly due to fitness concerns and a lack of minutes for Real Madrid.

They are joined by some wildcard options in the form of Atletico Madrid’s Conor Gallagher, Liverpool’s Curtis Jones and Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton who gets in ahead of Anderson to fill the no.6 spot.

Kobbie Mainoo also makes the cut. Has Ruben Amorim been sacked? It’s likely if the youngster is playing enough minutes to be in the reckoning. The last name is arguably the biggest surprise of the lot with Everton’s James Garner on the plane. To his credit, he has started the season well under David Moyes, registering a goal and an assist in his first seven outings.

Full list of midfielders: Rice, Bellingham, Gallagher, Mainoo, Eze, Wharton, Jones, Garner.

4

The forwards

To the surprise of nobody, Harry Kane is the first name on the squad list. The England skipper is one of the best in the world after taking his game to a new level in 2025/26, putting his name firmly in the conversation to win the Ballon d’Or. Why? Well, in his first ten games of the ongoing campaign, he had scored a mind-boggling 18 goals.

Joining him will be Ollie Watkins, who netted against the Welsh in October and Marcus Rashford who has rediscovered himself at Barcelona this season.

Further options include Bukayo Saka, Jarrod Bowen and Anthony Gordon.

Remarkably, there is no place for Chelsea star Cole Palmer. Currently injured at the moment, will he still be feeling the effects of that come next summer? There’s no room for Man City superstar Phil Foden either.

Full list of forwards: Kane, Watkins, Rashford, Saka, Gordon, Bowen.

Son Heung-Min shone in his MLS playoff debut, impressing throughout despite no goal contribution, as LAFC opened their pursuit of the MLS Cup with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Austin FC. An own goal from Brendan Hines-Ike and a strike from Nathan Ordaz sealed it for the Black and Gold, who will aim to close out the best-of-three series next Sunday at Q2 Stadium.

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  Ordaz seals it

  LAFC took a 1-0 lead into halftime of their MLS playoff clash with Austin FC after a largely cagey opening 45 minutes. Clear chances were scarce, but the hosts looked more dangerous and went ahead in the 20th minute when Brendan Hines-Ike diverted a Ryan Hollingshead cross into his own net. Austin stayed compact defensively and showed little urgency to respond, failing to record a single shot while LAFC tallied six attempts, two on target. It was a physical first half, with 17 fouls between the sides.

  Austin eventually found a way back in the 63rd minute when Jon Gallagher struck to make it 1-1, their first real threat of the night against Hugo Lloris’ goal.

  But LAFC regained control late on. In the 79th minute, the Son–Denis Bouanga partnership helped create the winner, with Nathan Ordaz getting the final touch after Bouanga’s effort to restore the lead. The 2-1 victory gives the Black and Gold the upper hand heading into next Sunday’s return leg at Q2 Stadium.

  Son finished the match with two shots on target, one successful dribble and connected on 86 percent of his passes. 

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• Did you know

  Since the current playoff format began, LAFC is 4-0-0 (4 wins, 0 losses) in Game 1 of Round One series. 

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  The MVP

  Nathan Ordaz earned MVP honors after scoring the game-winning goal. The young forward came on in the 74th minute and needed just five minutes to find the back of the net, sealing a crucial victory for the Black and Gold. Son Heung-Min also delivered a standout performance, helping create the 2-1 goal and consistently posing the biggest threat for the home side. LAFC will now head to Q2 Stadium next Sunday looking to close out the series and advance to the next round of the playoffs.

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  The big loser

  Austin manager Nico Estévez will leave BMO Stadium as the night’s biggest loser. His cautious setup offered little attacking spark, and while Austin FC nearly dragged the match to penalties, their lack of ambition ultimately cost them. Despite briefly finding life through Jon Gallagher’s equalizer, Austin never looked fully in control.

  A more assertive LAFC responded well after conceding, with Nathan Ordaz restoring the lead to seal a deserved 2-1 victory for Steve Cherundolo’s side — one that now puts the Black and Gold firmly in command heading into next Sunday’s return leg at Q2 Stadium.

Tottenham Hotspur breezed into the fourth round of the Carabao Cup last night, after beating League One outfit Doncaster Rovers 3-0 in North London.

Goals from Joao Palhinha, Brennan Johnson and an own goal from Jay McGrath secured the win for Thomas Frank’s men, setting up a fifth-round clash with Newcastle United at St James’ Park.

The showing on home soil last night was an extremely professional one, avoiding a slip-up and keeping their hopes alive of securing a trophy during the Dane’s maiden campaign in charge.

A strong side was certainly fielded in the meeting with Grant McCann’s side, as the new boss looked to keep the continuity that he’s built in recent weeks flowing ahead of Premier League action this weekend.

However, numerous players failed to grab their first-team opportunity with both hands, potentially leading to the 51-year-old looking past them for their clash with Wolves on Saturday.

Spurs’ poor performers against Doncaster last night

Brennan Johnson has seemingly fallen down the pecking order over the past couple of weeks, subsequently being named as a substitute in each of the last three of Spurs’ league outings.

However, the Welsh international was handed a start against Doncaster last night, subsequently getting on the scoresheet in the closing minutes of the encounter in North London.

The 24-year-old had the least amount of touches of any player to play 90 minutes (36), whilst also being caught offside three times – showcasing his lack of positive impact against the League One outfit.

Johnson wasn’t alone in failing to capture the opportunity handed his way, with Djed Spence also looking lacklustre against the opposition two divisions below them in the pyramid.

The full-back failed to complete any of the dribbles he attempted, whilst only winning one of the five duels he entered – often struggling to get the better of his opposite number.

However, despite the showings of the aforementioned duo, one other starter for Frank’s side looked way below the level expected, which should result in the player being dropped once again.

The 5/10 Spurs player who must be axed

Coming up against League One opposition was always going to be a tricky task for Spurs and Frank, but it was one that the side navigated with flying colours.

The Lilywhites restricted Donny to just two shots on target in the 90-minute display in North London, subsequently keeping their fifth clean sheet in the 2025/26 campaign to date.

Whether it be Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero, Kevin Danso or Palhinha at the heart of the defence, the side have still managed to thrive without the ball.

Frank’s arrival has certainly added the needed defensive solidity that has been greatly missed in recent years – hopefully allowing the club to compete for more trophies in the months ahead.

In the attacking third, Richarlison has been one of the side’s leading talismen, scoring three times to date, but the Brazilian was handed a needed rest in the win last night.

Such a decision gave Mathys Tel the chance to start just his second outing of the new campaign, but it was one that he failed to take – ultimately enduring a night to forget.

The Frenchman featured for 87 minutes and failed to get himself on the scoresheet, but it was his underlying stats which highlighted his lack of impact in Frank’s side.

The 20-year-old registered two shots on goal, only one of which was on target, whilst also missing one big chance – showcasing his wasteful nature when in possession.

He also failed to complete any of the dribbles he attempted, whilst losing 60% of the duels he entered – often being dominated by the side two divisions below the Lilywhites.

Tel could only register a total of 29 touches during his time on the pitch, a total fewer than that of goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky, who registered 35 – further highlighting his lack of positive impact.

To top off his dismal showing, the former Bayern Munich talent was handed a measly 5/10 match rating by Football London’s Alasdair Gold – the lowest of any player who started the encounter.

As a result of his showing, Frank desperately needs to drop the youngster from his starting eleven, with the Dane currently having numerous better alternatives already at his disposal.

The decision to leave Tel out of the Champions League squad now appears somewhat respectable, with the player evidently lacking huge confidence after his summer transfer.

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Ethan Lamb

Sep 24, 2025

Glasgow Rangers have decided that they will not wield their axe to part ways with Russell Martin this early into his tenure after the 2-0 defeat to Hearts on Saturday.

A brace from Lawrence Shankland condemned the Light Blues to their first loss in the Scottish Premiership this season, after they had drawn their first four matches.

RangersReview journalist Chris Jack has reported that the manager has the support of the board, for now, and that there are no plans to hold talks over his position at Ibrox.

Why Russell Martin is under pressure at Rangers

Four points from five matches is the worst start to a top-flight season by the Light Blues in 47 years, which is part of the reason why the head coach’s position is under pressure.

The former Southampton manager’s style of play is also yet to resonate with supporters, who have seen just three goals in five league games with the possession-heavy style.

Crashing out of the Champions League qualifiers with a 9-1 loss to Club Brugge on aggregate did little to help Martin’s relationship with the fanbase, as some supporters decided to call for him to be sacked after the 6-0 defeat in the second leg.

However, the team’s problems on the pitch this season are not solely Martin or the coaching staff’s fault. The players have to take some accountability for the performances, as Nasser Djiga has been as much of a problem as the manager.

Why Nasser Djiga has been a problem for Rangers this season

The Wolverhampton Wanderers loanee made an impressive start to life at Ibrox in the 2-0 win over Panathinaikos in the Champions League, helping his team to keep a clean sheet with four out of five duels won, per Sofascore.

Unfortunately, that performance was not a sign of things to come from the Burkina Faso international. Instead, the Premier League loanee has been too much of a liability in recent weeks.

There have been too many questionable lapses in concentration defensively. Michael Stewart criticised the defender’s failure to get back and help his teammates out defensively against Alloa.

Stewart said: “He has not helped his team out one little bit. He was lying on the ground as if he had been pole-axed, and whether it’s a foul or not, he needs to get back and help his team out. They were left short of numbers at the back, brutally exposed, and he’s on the ground rolling about.”

As you can see in the clip above, Djiga also had a nightmare in the opening minutes of the first leg against Club Brugge, as he inexplicably allowed their forward to race clear through on goal.

As you can see in the table above, the Light Blues have conceded 16 goals in the ten matches that he has played for the club to date, which is a woeful defensive record.

His latest performance did little to change the narrative because Shankland got the run across him to score the first goal for Hearts in the match, and the Wolves loanee was substituted at half-time.

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As is also the case with Martin, not every problem or defensive problem has been Djiga’s fault this season, but both the manager and the centre-back have to be accountable for the consistently poor defensive displays up to this point.

Former Juventus defender Danilo believes the club’s clash with Real Madrid on Wednesday could serve as the catalyst for the Bianconeri to turn their season around. Currently sitting seventh in the Serie A table and still winless in the Champions League, Juventus find themselves in a difficult spell. However, Danilo noted that there is a growing chemistry within the squad that hadn’t been seen before, and urged patience as the team continues to develop.

• Juventus winless in six games after brilliant start

  Juventus suffered their first loss of the season against Como, inspired by a brilliant individual performance from the 2024-25 Serie A Young Player of the Season, Nico Paz. The Argentine midfielder’s precise cross to the far post was met by defender Marc-Oliver Kempf, who tapped it home in the third minute to give Como an early lead. Despite Juventus goalkeeper Michele De Gregorio making several key saves, Paz sealed the win in the 79th minute with a curling strike beyond De Gregorio’s reach to make it 2-0.

  The defeat saw Juventus slip to seventh place in the Serie A table after what had been a strong start to the campaign with three consecutive wins, including a thrilling 4-3 triumph over Inter in the Derby d’Italia. Since then, however, the Bianconeri have gone six games without a win, drawing five times against Borussia Dortmund, AC Milan, Villarreal Atalanta and Hellas Verona.

  However, former Juventus defender Danilo believes the match against Real Madrid could serve as a springboard for the Bianconeri to turn their season around.

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• Real Madrid clash could spark change for struggling side

  In an interview with , Danilo called for unity and urged Juventus to view their upcoming match against Real Madrid as an opportunity to turn things around. He said: “In these moments, we need unity; everyone needs to help each other. Now there's the Champions League, a different story, and the match against Madrid could be an opportunity. Juventus never gives up in difficult times.”

  While Danilo admitted he is not aware of the day-to-day dynamics within the squad, he noted that there appears to be greater chemistry between the players and the coach compared to previous seasons. “I'm not involved in the day-to-day dynamics, and giving an opinion on the spot would be disrespectful to the group, the coach, and the club. From the outside, however, it seems to me that compared to a year ago, the spirit is different, the attitude different: there's a chemistry between the players and the coach that wasn't there before.”

  Acknowledging the challenge of facing Real Madrid, Danilo emphasized that getting a positive result at the Bernabeu could serve as a turning point for Juventus. “The Bernabeu is a very important test; Madrid are clearly in a much better moment, top of La Liga, six points in the Champions League, but if Juve get a result, and they can, it could be the match that changes the season.”

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  Danilo pleads for more time to be given to Tudor

  Igor Tudor was appointed interim coach of Juventus last season following the sacking of Thiago Motta. After unsuccessful attempts to bring in Gian Piero Gasperini or Antonio Conte, Juventus confirmed Tudor as the permanent head coach. However, with results currently poor, Tudor has come under mounting pressure. While the club have publicly backed him, they have quietly explored two other managerial options as potential replacements. Sacking Tudor and appointing a new coach could prove difficult, as Juventus are still paying Motta, and adding a third coach to the payroll could further complicate the club’s ongoing issues with UEFA Financial Fair Play compliance.

  Danilo stressed the importance of patience and reaffirmed his trust in Tudor. “Patience is needed. They've changed several players, and the transfer window has been delayed, which has affected our preparations. It won't be an easy year for Juve, but I have faith in Tudor.”

  He also drew a comparison with Madrid coach Xabi Alonso, suggesting that even the most promising managers face early challenges in conveying their ideas. “Xabi Alonso has a modern, different vision of football, and he's also struggling to convey it to his players. But obviously, it's much easier to work when the results come in, and we always end up back there.”

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  Juventus' Champions League test and Mbappe challenge

  Juventus and Tudor will look to strengthen a defence that has conceded 10 goals in their last six games. In attack, the team has managed just eight goals over the same period and will look to improve. However, their biggest challenge will be containing Kylian Mbappe, who has scored five goals in his last two matches.

Lionel Messi made a bold claim when talking about the best player England have ever produced, naming a 114-cap star as the “greatest”, ahead of Wayne Rooney, Harry Kane and a storied list of strikers.

Messi continues to light up the global game

The great Argentine may now be 38 years of age but he’s continuing to perform remarkably well, standing the test of time compared to some of his peers.

He scored twice during Inter Miami’s recent 4-0 victory over Atalanta United in MLS, taking his tally across his last ten outings to nine goals and seven assists. He notably picked up a hat-trick of assists during their 4-1 win over New England Revolution at the beginning of October.

He also starred for Argentina in October’s international break. Although he did not score, Argentina defeated Puerto Rico 6-0.

The Inter Miami star is yet to decide whether he will go to the 2026 World Cup, but if he is able to do so, Argentina should be in a strong position to go all the way once again, having blitzed their way through qualification.

England, on the other hand, officially qualified for the tournament in America with a 5-0 win over Latvia. The Three Lions will be hoping 2026 is finally the year when football ‘comes home’, but talisman Harry Kane will need to be at his best.

England have a great recent record of producing top strikers, with Rooney scoring 53 goals in 120 international appearances, but Messi has suggested a different Liverpool-born player is the best-ever.

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Speaking after Steven Gerrard’s retirement in 2016, Messi picked Gerrard as England’s greatest player of all time.

Gerrard without doubt among England's best-ever players

It is arguably a bold claim to suggest Gerrard is the Three Lions’ greatest-ever player, but he is certainly in the conversation, given the instrumental role the 114-cap star played in Liverpool competing for major honours until the mid 2010s.

Of course, it will probably haunt the 45-year-old that he never managed to win the Premier League title, but the former Liverpool captain certainly wasn’t unsuccessful, winning 11 trophies during his time with his boyhood club, including the FA Cup in 2006.

Most famously, the Whiston-born midfielder instigated the comeback in arguably the greatest final in Champions League history, with the Reds coming from 3-0 down to beat AC Milan on penalties in 2005.

Not only did the Liverpool legend always step up when required, scoring a number of crucial goals in finals, but he has also received praise for the impact he had on his teammates, with Gerard Houllier once saying: “He is a natural born leader, a very inspirational leader. He is somebody you want to follow.”

West Ham have been told that they missed their chance to sign Jose Mourinho as their head coach, but they have signed the next best option in Nuno Espirito Santo, who has replaced Graham Potter at the helm. The Hammers made a disastrous start to the 2025-26 campaign as they lost four out of their first five Premier League matches and were languishing in 19th position.

• Nuno replaced Potter after terrible start to new season

  Days after his sacking as Nottingham Forest boss, Nuno Espirito Santo returned to the Premier League as he replaced Potter at West Ham. The 51-year-old's stock was at an all-time high after he marshalled Forest to a seventh-placed finish in the top tier last term, while they flirted with Champions League qualification for much of the campaign. Ironically, the Portuguese's last game in charge of the club was a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Potter's Hammers at the City Ground.

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  Mourinho was linked with West Ham job

  After Fenerbahce parted ways with Mourinho at the start of the season, the legendary manager was briefly linked with a move to West Ham as they continued to struggle under Potter. However, by the time the club actually sacked the English coach, Mourinho was no longer available as he returned to his homeland and took charge of Benfica. 

• West Ham told Nuno was next best option after Mourinho

  Speaking to , former West Ham and England star Joe Cole said of Nuno's likelihood of reaching Europe with his new side: "Well, I don't think it'd be a European spot, but to safety, certainly. I think he'll do a good job. I don't believe the way that the club handled or treated Graham Potter was correct. But unfortunately, it seems to be par for the course for not just West Ham, but a lot of football clubs. The way that head coaches are sort of up there with a target on their back, with not as much control as you probably need to implement your vision. And Graham Potter can certainly walk away from that club and say, 'I didn't get the time, I didn't get the backing.' 

  "Nuno coming in, on the other hand, I think, is a very smart appointment by the club. I think he’s the right man. Once Joseph Mourinho wasn't available, I would have probably gone for Nuno – Nuno or Sean Dyche. Someone who understands the league, and somebody who was very strong in the areas that West Ham needed to improve – the defensive unit, defending set pieces. So, Nuno or Sean Dyche – it would have been a pick between those two for me."

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  Nuno's difficult start to life at West Ham

  Despite Nuno's arrival at the club, West Ham are yet to end their winless run. In his first match in charge, the Hammers held Everton to a 1-1 draw, but went down 2-0 against Arsenal last weekend. The club will hope that they register their second win of the season after the international break when they take on Brentford on October 20.

Tottenham Hotspur have received a boost in their pursuit of a “fantastic” Chelsea player, with it being revealed the Blues are now willing to sell him to their rivals.

Tottenham prioritise signing of new number 10

As we enter the final week of the summer transfer window, Tottenham still have an awful lot of work to do, having missed out on a number of their main targets, and Alasdair Gold has revealed signing a new attacking midfielder is now deemed a priority.

However, Spurs were recently handed yet another setback, with it emerging that Como have rejected the north Londoners’ offer for Nico Paz, as the Italian wants to stay with the Serie A club, ahead of a potential move back to Real Madrid in the future.

Consequently, Thomas Frank’s options are thinning, although the manager has made it clear he is never too disheartened by rejections, as he only wants to sign players who are committed to playing for Tottenham.

Frank said: “I don’t want any players who don’t want to come to the club. If they don’t want to come here and wear this fantastic badge, we don’t want them here.”

The Lilywhites have previously held talks over a deal for Chelsea’s Christopher Nkunku, who is expected to leave the Blues this summer, and there has now been a promising new update, which suggests a move to N17 could be possible.

Indeed, according to a report from The Daily Mail, the west Londoners have previously been unwilling to do business with their rivals, but if Tottenham made an approach for Nkunku before the deadline, they would now be willing to take the call.

Enzo Maresca’s side would still prefer not to strengthen a direct rival, but the willingness to listen to a Spurs approach suggests a deal could be possible.

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By
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"Fantastic" Nkunku could reignite career at Spurs

Once lauded as “absolutely fantastic” by members of the media, the Frenchman has struggled to force his way into Maresca’s plans, often featuring as a substitute last season, which meant he was never truly given the opportunity to prove himself.

However, there are signs the £195k-a-week forward could reignite his career if given consistent game time at Tottenham, having previously demonstrated a very keen eye for goal in the Bundesliga.

With James Maddison out injured, and Son Heung-min departing, Frank could also do with a versatile forward, and the 27-year-old fits the bill, having regularly featured in attacking midfield, on both wings, and at centre-forward throughout his career.

It would be a risk to sign Nkunku, given that his Premier League career is yet to truly take off, but Tottenham are running out of options as we approach the end of the transfer window.

It was obvious that Jose Mourinho was finished at Fenerbahce the moment the full-time whistle blew in last month's Champions League qualifier at Benfica. However, it also felt like his time at the top was over, too, because Mourinho no longer seemed quite so special.

During this year in Turkey, he had continued to court controversy like no other figure in football, but he failed to win a trophy, which is why Fenerbahce decided that the outspoken Portuguese was more trouble than he was worth and, thus, dismissed him on August 29 – two days after the 1-0 loss in Lisbon.

And yet less than three weeks after his sacking, Mourinho was asked to return to the Estadio da Luz, with Benfica president Rui Costa having come to the rather surprising conclusion that the best man to replace Bruno Lage was the coach he'd just outwitted to reach the Champions League proper.

Consequently, Mourinho is not only back at Benfica, he's also back where he belongs – at least as far he's concerned.

"I was lucky in my career to coach a lot of giants: Real Madrid, Inter, Manchester United and Chelsea. Benfica is also a giant and a giant club entails giant responsibilities, giant expectations – it's all giant," Mourinho told UEFA. "But it's the kind of challenge I need."

Whether it's the kind of challenge he can still overcome remains to be seen. Indeed, as the 62-year-old prepares to lead the Eagles out in Tuesday's Champions League clash with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, the scene of some of his most memorable triumphs, Mourinho is undeniably under pressure to prove that he can still cut it at the very highest level.

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  'What was done before doesn't count'

  Mourinho has always claimed that while his enemies in the game can "steal everything" from him, nobody can take away the "story" he has created – and he's got a point.

  The Portuguese is one of the most compelling characters in football history – and also one of its most successful. He really has seen and done it all, the only manager to have won all three current UEFA club competitions.

  For all the accusations of arrogance levelled against him, one can hardly blame him, then, for considering the room full of trophies, medals and mementos that he has in his home as a kind of "museum". After all, when it comes to retelling the story of modern football, Mourinho's name will feature frequently.

  However, he is absolutely adamant that he's not done yet, that there are still a few chapters to be written. "When you're still working," Mourinho says, "when you still have your ambitions, what was done before doesn't count."

  It's a sentiment that explains why he jumped at the opportunity to make an immediate return to club football with Benfica. 

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  An unquenchable fire

  Mourinho himself thought that when he finally returned to work in his native Portugal, it would be to take charge of the national team. Even from the outside, it looked like the logical step – and particularly at this stage of his life, and his club career.

  As a younger manager, Mourinho wasn't sure if he would always have the same fire burning inside him – but former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson once assured him that, for men like them, it never goes out. And Mourinho has found that to be the case.

  After taking charge of his first Benfica match on September 20 – just under 25 years after his last – Mourinho realised that while the time had flown by, it had not changed his "nature", "passion", or "way of being".

  And there can be no arguments on that front.

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  A 'f*cking disgrace'

  When Mourinho returned to Italy to take charge of Roma in 2021, 11 years after his treble triumph at Inter, he claimed that he was a changed man. He'd matured, he insisted, and no longer went looking for arguments.

  However, in his very first press conference as Roma coach, he immediately opened fire on a wide range of targets, including Didier Deschamps, Antonio Conte and even Luke Shaw. Then, just over a month into his first season in the Italian capital, he received the first of his seven red cards with the Giallorossi.

  During his two-and-a-half-year spell at the Stadio Olimpico, Mourinho showed that when it comes to firing up a fan base, he has few rivals, while he also led a success-starved club to back-to-back European finals.

  He won the first, too, against Feyenoord, but after losing the second, to Sevilla, he waited around in the carpark at the Puskas Arena to launch a foul-mouthed tirade at the blameless officials.

  The only "f*cking disgrace" in Budapest that night was Mourinho and it didn't really come as much of a surprise to see the Friedkin Family fire him after a rotten run of Roma form midway through the 2023-24 season.

  Basically, once Mourinho stops winning games, it becomes difficult to justify either his tedious tactics or touchline tantrums – as Fenerbahce quickly discovered to their considerable cost.

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  A clever PR move from the president

  Fenerbahce took a major gamble on Mourinho reproducing his old magic in Istanbul but it backfired badly. According to , sacking Mourinho and his coaching just over a year after hiring them will set the Super Lig side back more than €10 million (£8.7m/$11.7m).

  So, why did Benfica feel that Mourinho was a risk worth taking?  Well, for starters, Mourinho's stock has fallen in recent years – meaning so, too, have his salary demands.

  Rui Costa revealed that Mourinho will earn €3m (£2.6m) in the first season at Benfica, and €4m (£3.5m) in the second. These are obviously not insignificant sums of money but they are quite small for a man that was once considered the best manager in world football.

  It's not just about money for Rui Costa either. Mourinho remains "a global brand", as he put it. "Jose's presence will spark interest and curiosity," the former Portugal international said. "Both Benfica and the league will benefit from his exposure."

  Certainly, from Rui Costa's perspective, you really can't put a price on this kind of publicity – and particularly just a few weeks before a presidential election…

Marcus Rashford's stunning volley proved to be a consolation goal for Barcelona, who were hammered 4-1 in Seville. The defeat was compounded after Robert Lewandowski missed a penalty, but Sevilla were well worth the scoreline and it was only a fine performance from Wojciech Szczesny which kept the scoreline down.

The hosts took the lead in the 11th minute after a clumsy challenge from Ronald Araujo on Isaac Romero, referee Alejandro Muniz Ruiz initially failed to give the penalty, but pointed to spot after reviewing the challenge on the pitchside video, and Alexis Sanchez sent his former Arsenal team-mate Szczesny the wrong way to give Sevilla the lead. 

The conditions in southern Spain were sweltering, hitting 33 degrees, and it was the hosts who were on fire, doubling their lead in the 37th minute, courtesy of a well-taken finish by Romero after Joules Kounde had been caught in possession. But Barcelona game themselves hope deep into time added on in the first-half, when Pedri picked out Rashford who timed his run to perfection and fired an unstoppable shot past Odysseas Vlachodimos. 

And while Hansi Flick's side were improved in the second half, Lewandowski fired his penalty wide in the 77th minute and the league champions conceded two further late goals to slump to a demoralising 4-1 defeat. 

GOAL rates Barcelona's players from the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan in Seville…

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  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Wojciech Szczesny (8/10):

  Making his third appearance as he continues to cover for the injured Garcia and was well beaten by Alexis Sanchez's penalty, but made stunning saves  throughout the match. The margin of defeat would have been much wider if not for his heroics.  

  Jules Kounde (5/10):

  Sanchez caused him massive problems and was at fault for the second goal after being caught in possession inside his own half. He tried, in vain, to claim he was fouled. Poor afternoon. 

  Ronald Araujo (5/10):

  Was clearly at fault for the early penalty. A clumsy challenge, and the referee initially waved away the shout from the hosts, but it was given after pitchside video review. He was fuming, but a penalty was the right call. Substituted at half-time. 

  Pau Cubarsi (6/10):

  Important to remember he's still young and finding his way and deserves credit for hardly making a mistake all game. 

  Gerard Martin (4/10):

  Was given a torrid time throughout the first-half as Barca were overrun on both wings and through the middle. Hooked at half-time, replaced by Alejandro Balde.

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  Midfield

  Frenkie de Jong (5/10):

  Did his best to find pockets of space, but was well shepherded by the Sevilla midfield. Had one of those days where everything he tried failed to come off. 

  Pedri (6/10):

  Stunning pass to set up Rashford late in the first-half and was a constant attacking threat whenever he got on the ball, but this was nowhere near often enough. 

  Dani Olmo (6/10):

  Barely put a foot wrong, but was well below-par. Will consider his shift to have been solid but, like so many of the visitors, nothing worked for him on the day. 

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  Attack

  Marcus Rashford (8/10):

  Squandered a wonderful opportunity in the 43rd minute, through on goal he fired it wide when he really should've scored. But made amends in time added on in the first-half, firing home a stunning volley. Remained a positive attacking presence for Barca all match, but couldn't stop a dismal defeat.

  Robert Lewandowski (4/10):

  A diabolical afternoon, fired his penalty wide and his finishing was poor throughout. A dire day at the office, which he'll be keen to forget in a hurry. 

  Ferran Torres (5/10):

  Replaced in 69th minute by Roony Bardghj. Only managed one touch in the opposition box. 

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  Subs & Manager

  Alejandro Balde (6/10):

  Brought on on the 52nd minute and his positive run into the box won a penalty for Barcelona after he was fouled by Adnan Januzaj.

  Eric Garcia (5/10):

  An uncomfortable afternoon for him, made little impact after being brought on. 

  Roony Bardghji (5/10):

  Was brought on in the 68th minute and was a real live wire, but wasted a gilt-edged chance to equalise with just a few minutes to go. 

  Hansi Flick (5/10):

  Will argue the huge number of injuries his side had to deal with was to blame for the defeat. But his team played without any real urgency and were out-played for large swathes of the match. Has plenty to ponder after that shocking performance.