As soon as he received the ball from Kyle Walker, you just knew Bernardo Silva would cause havoc, and that he did. Running at Luke Shaw with such vigour, elegance and confidence. The second the ball hit the back of De Gea’s net, Luke Shaw could only throw a strop, simply asking himself what more could he have done.  You’re always taught as a full-back to always force the opponent on to their weaker foot and Luke Shaw didn’t take heed onto that instruction as he allowed Bernardo Silva to devastatingly run at him and bury a composed left-footed shot at De Gea’s near post.

It was clinical. Effortless. A true representation of the kind of quality that Bernardo Silva possesses. We’ve got to give Shaw the benefit of the doubt, he isn’t the only defender to be on the receiving end of an attacking masterclass by the Portuguese maestro. As City ran out 2-0 winners at Old Trafford in what was a key night on their quest to become the first back-to-back Premier League winners since their Manchester neighbours achieved the feat in 2009, Pep Guardiola will have been looking for his players to take another giant step towards the Premier League title. After a grafting first-half, City turned on the style after the break and Bernardo Silva was a pivotal component in City’s resurgence.

Not only was Bernardo Silva key against Manchester United, but the midfielder has been Pep Guardiola’s most trusted lieutenant throughout the course of the season. In the regular absences of arguably City’s best player Kevin De Bruyne, Silva has been the creative anchor that Manchester City have desperately needed in De Bruyne’s absence. He has become a player that his team-mates can heavily lean on and rely on to purr whenever City need some inspiration, some sprinkle of magic.

In what has been a frenetic couple of weeks for Guardiola’s side after the emotional roller-coaster ride of the Champions League quarter-final two legged ties against Tottenham which saw City’s chances of a famous quadruple halted by Pochettino’s men. After a 1-0 defeat at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Pep Guardiola’s men approached the reverse leg at the Etihad knowing they had to turn on the style and boy did they do exactly that, however Tottenham also turned on the style in what was a chaotic, pulsating and edge-of-seat stuff. Manchester City may have one the tie 3-2 but it was Tottenham who went through on away goals. A few days later, both sides met again for the Premier League fixture in which Guardiola required another stylish response from his men, he may not have got that sort of response, but it presented the Spanish coach with another side to his team. One that is good enough to grind out results in the midst of adversity and boy have City been up against it in recent weeks.

It was the performance of one man that would have had Guardiola twiddling his thumbs without his most creative force Kevin De Bruyne and that man was Bernardo Silva. It was his peach of a cross that perfectly found Sergio Aguero to head on to the on-rushing Phil Foden to notch City’s winner. The sort of quality City needed and Bernardo Silva was the man to provide it. It was his all-round performance that certainly caught the eye, when City needed to press their opponents, he was the first player applying the pressure. For a player so small in stature, Silva has such a terrier-like attitude when duelling with his opponent. If you need any examples, his duelling with Paul Pogba on numerous occasions at Old Trafford was a sight to behold. There was an instance where Silva ran rings around Paul Pogba, leaving the Frenchman in his wake on the way to a City attack.

Simply sublime.

We’re all accustomed to Bernardo Silva’s magic and wizardry on the ball. The way he weaves away from his marker with such calm and ease, always available to receive a pass regardless of him being in a tight spot or not, he somehow always manages to jink his way through. We’ve all seen it. But there is more to Bernardo Silva than meets the eye, and its the reason why Guardiola was desperate to invest heavily on the former Monaco and Benfica midfielder.

When Manchester City met Monaco on that famous Champions League night at the Etihad stadium in 2017 in what was one of the most entertaining games in the past decade. City triumphed on the night 5-3, but it was Monaco who won the war as they edged the second-leg at the Stade Louis ll. Certainly, it was the performance of one Kylian Mbappe and Radamel Falcao that grabbed the headlines, but little did Manchester City’s coaches know about Bernardo Silva as they were scrambling for their team-sheets trying to identify just who the Portuguese was. Wearing the white and red of Monaco, it was Silva who effortlessly plucked the ball out of the sky, ghosting past two players and almost setting up another opportunity for a bright Monaco team. It was that kind of play that made Guardiola stand up and take notice of a player who holds such extraordinary abilities. It was reported after the final whistle that Pep Guardiola urged Sporting director Txiki Begiristain to snap up Bernardo Silva that summer.

Indeed they did. Silva arrived for a fee of around £43million at the end of May 2017. He was the first capture of Guardiola’s overhaul that summer and till this day has been the only player that has repaid each and every single penny of that deal. The Portuguese maestro has been arguably been Pep Guardiola’s best signing in his time as City boss. And that says a lot.

To many around the club and the City faithful. Bernardo Silva contributed massively to Manchester City’s title triumph last season and their current defence of their title. Keeping out both Leroy Sane, Riyad Mahrez and David Silva on a number of occasions either being deployed out wide on the right or on the left of Guardiola’s accustomed midfield three. Silva has performed both roles with such consummate ease, so much so that you are overawed and overwhelmed with excitement and awe when he’s on the ball.

When Silva is in this sort of form, Leroy Sane and Riyad Mahrez can have no complaints about a lack of first team opportunities. The Portuguese is the one keeping both players out of the side right now and it’s difficult for Guardiola to not include Silva in the first 11. As is the case in both games against Manchester United and Tottenham, we not only saw Silva’s creative prowess, but his tireless effort in defending as well as attacking. Nowadays in the modern game, you’d hardly see a winger flying into a tackle or hustling and harrying their opponents to retrieve possession, Bernardo Silva does all that with aplomb, week-in, week-out you’ll find him working tirelessly to win the ball either high up in the opponents half or deep into his own. It’s no wonder Guardiola can’t afford to keep him out of the side.

Silva’s influence was very underrated last season, considering he only started 15 games and one which left Guardiola impressed – and almost shocked – by his resilience and determination to put the hard work in order to to get his chance. There’s two things we know about a Guardiola side, you either score or you don’t lose the ball. Bernardo Silva rarely loses the ball and he is just as impressive without it. Only Tottenham Hotspur’s Christian Eriksen has covered more distance than Silva. His most eye-catching performances this season have come in the big games, none least than his outstanding efforts against Liverpool in January, where he ran the game as well as covering a barnstorming 13.71km.

He holds the top two sports for furthest distances covered this season, one against Liverpool and at Tottenham. Two key fixtures, two huge indications of how important Bernardo Silva is to Manchester City. It was his stylish finish that set City on their way at Old Trafford and it was his rugged performance against Burnley last time out that has provided City with the edge in this enthralling title race with Liverpool.

Guardiola just couldn’t hold back on his praise for the midfielder stating after the victory over United that ‘his whole season has been a masterclass’. Is Bernardo Silva Guardiola’s best City signing to date? He may be so, although none can dispute the brilliance that Ederson has brought in the City goal. However, in terms of maximum effort and creative edge, Bernardo Silva trumps the lot.

Silva is the embodiment of what Guardiola is trying to build at the Etihad. This season has proven that, especially without Kevin De Bruyne. There is a strong belief around the Etihad that Bernardo Silva can become one of the best players in the world and for Manchester City, well the latter, he is already one of the best but the former, if he can improve on his goal return then you really cannot back against him even becoming a Ballon d’or contender. His goal at Old Trafford was his 13th of the season, a huge improvement on last season’s efforts.

Yet there is so much more to Silva. He certainly has the talent, but its his personality and heart that really stands out amongst the City camp, so much so that he has been described as ‘like having the sun enter the building every morning’. A huge testament to a player who has become a huge example within the whole squad and to the young players. The Portuguese maestro just oozes class.

Silva was handed the man-of-the-match award against Tottenham the other week, instead he graciously and humbly handed the award over to match-winner Phil Foden. Another indication as to how much of an impact he is having on his City counterparts.

What more can you say about such an unerring and wonderfully gifted player? Bernardo Silva is simply a class act.

The Next Mesut Ozil? Or even better?

There’s a certain media storm right now surrounding the future of Bayer Leverkusen’s wonderkid and future of German football, Kai Havertz with Bayern Munich reportedly attempting to stomp up £70million to secure his signature this summer.

Little is known about the little German playmaker other than the comparisons to Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil that have been thrown around constantly. What you would know if you’ve kept a close eye on the German Bundesliga is that Havertz is having a wonderful season with Leverkusen.

16 goals and 6 assists from midfield has shown why Havertz has been considered one of the hottest properties in Europe as of this moment and the German is following in a long line of impressive midfielders who have graced the BayArena in the past. Midfielders such as Michael Ballack, Arturo Vidal, Toni Kroos and Carsten Ramelow.

Not even 20 years of age yet and Kai Havertz is not only making his mark at club level, but on the international scene also with Joachim Löw’s new look vibrant, young and refreshed Germany squad. Much has been made of Havertz’ ability, he has been earmarked as the future of German football and will become a key figure in Joachim Löw’s plans as he looks to introduce some fresh blood into the Germany fold. On the evidence of this current season, Löw would be insane not to build his new look team around the Bayer Leverkusen wonderkid.

Born in Aachen, Germany, near the Dutch border in June 1999, Havertz received his first experience in football with amateur side Alemannia Mariadorf and then snapped up by second division side Alemannia Aachen in 2008 where he spent two years in the clubs academy before he eventually signed for Bayer Leverkusen at the tender age of 11. After notching 18 goals for the Under-17s, Kai Havertz was improving rapidly, deployed mainly in the centre of midfield showing his wide range of technical abilities which attracted a lot of attention. Shining with the youth setup, Havertz was then invited to train with the first team squad and from then on, he has never looked back staking a claim to be among the first names on the team-sheet during the 2016/17 Bundesliga season.

It was during that season Havertz made his first team day-view coming as a substitute against Werder Bremen and in doing so became Leverkusen’s youngest ever debutant in the league. His first season was a roaring success and finishing the season with 28 appearances, scoring 4 goals. Among some of his other achievements he set out early in his career – becoming the clubs youngest ever Bundesliga scorer and making the first of his appearances in the Champions League against Atletico Madrid where he was unable to play in the return leg due to sitting exams! The 2017/18 season showed just how valuable and pivotal he could become to Bayer Leverkusen project. By then, he was an established first team player and in April 2018 became the youngest ever player to amass 50 league appearances in the Bundesliga.

At the end of the 2017/18, Havertz had already started to look ahead, taking part in an interview stating how confident he was at becoming a key part of the German national side in the future. Some may have put his words down to arrogance, but if you’ve watched and evaluated the quality this kid has then you can only say that Havertz is a really ambitious player, and the way he weaves around the pitch with such vigour and art, you really can’t argue that the lad doesn’t believe in his own abilities – a rare commodity within young footballers in this modern age.

Almost a year on, and those words he spoke in that interview are ringing true. Already Havertz has become a vital cog in Joachim Löw’s Germany machine and is arguably becoming Bayer Leverkusen’s best player, certainly on the evidence of this season. Watch out on your screens come the 2020 European Championships when Havertz aims to terrorise defences and drive his nation to European glory. You can’t back against him. After making his Germany bow in September 2018 against Peru in a 2 minute cameo, two further appearances followed in quick succession, and Havertz looks well on his way to becoming one of the most decorated German players, probably even surpassing his idol Mesut Ozil.

So What Does Havertz Bring to Bayer Leverkusen Table? 

Well, this goal below against Leipzig at the start of the month is one to start off with, a goal truly reflecting of the kind of technical skills Kai Havertz holds:

Brilliant. Just Brilliant.

Take a look at the clip below to examine just how Kai Havertz is deployed in Peter Bosz’ fluent attacking Bayer Leverkusen line-up:

 

A gifted left-footed playmaker who started out as a central midfielder but is now Bayer Leverkusen’s main creative outlet as a No.10 in Peter Bosz’ very fluid 4-2-3-1 formation, but also the German wonderkid has the ability play in the No.8 position or even the No.6, another reflection of just the kind of player Bayer Leverkusen and Germany have at their arsenal. Havertz has been regularly been compared to the box-to-box Leverkusen legend Michael Ballack and ball-playing midfielder Toni Kroos and a conductor in the final third like Mesut Ozil. Think of all those players rolled into one, and you’ve got your answer. It’s Kai Havertz.

Along with Leon Bailey, Julian Brandt and Kevin Volland, Bayer Leverkusen have one the most destructive attacking forces in the Bundesliga right now, and its the understanding, the fluidity and the rapid nature in which they take apart defences that has been soo impressive under Peter Bosz. It’s frightening.

If you’ve even wandered what chemistry between two players looks like then look no further than Kai Havertz and Julian Brandt. In these two, you are looking at two of Germany’s brightest prospects. These two are border on telepathic. It’s the constant interchanging, weaving of positions and the understanding of where each other are in the final third of play that really is the hallmark of what Bosz is seeking to build in this impressive young Leverkusen side, a weapon Joachim Löw will certainly be looking to exploit as he aims to put Germany back on the map again after their downfall last summer.

What Bosz has also introduced into his set-up is the traditional 4-3-3 formation. Yes, its one commonly known to us all, but its the way in which Bosz utilises this set-up that makes his team so destructive – deploying Havertz and Brandt as No.8’s either side of Charles Aranguiz who plays in the holding role in front of the back-line. The two have formed such a formidable partnership that they have been nicknamed ‘Bravertz’. The 4-3-3 formation allows both players the freedom and fluidity to both interchange and to exploit the spaces in the gaps left behind by the centre-forward Kevin Volland. It’s because of this tactical setup by Bosz that both Havertz and Brandt are on course for their most productive seasons in the Bundesliga to date.

Kai Havertz is a player blessed with great vision, pace, passing range and also the ability and nous to pick out right positions in between the lines in order dissect defences with his sublime passes. Despite the number of comparisons to Mesut Ozil, this boy doesn’t give off the same lethargic work rate that Ozil is known to show on occasions. Havertz is the complete opposite. A player who is one of the first to press relentlessly within seconds of his team losing possession. Strong and combative in the tackle and most of all, he expresses the exuberant engine of youth. Havertz holds the potential to become one of the most compete performers of his generation. There has been a loss of emphasis on the need to play a no.10 on occasions in the modern game today, but a in Havertz, Bayer Leverkusen have a player that is very central to their play and almost puts an end to that modern trend.

A player of such wonderful abilities and potential, no wonder he is high on Bayern Munich’s priority list this summer as they aim to freshen their own attack with both Ribery and Robben both at the twilight of their careers, also Thomas Muller and Robert Lewandowski really aren’t getting any younger. Bayern Munich are in dire need of fresh legs and impetus this summer and the signing of Havertz may just provide with the technical they’ve been needing for a long while.

It is believed, his current value reaches the £70million mark, but in this current market, that figure may seem too small. Nonetheless, whoever is willing to cough up the big bucks for him, they are sure to have one of the brightest young talents in the world.

Kai Havertz. Remember the name.

 

The moment Antoine Griezmann released his La Decision, you would have probably been thinking this video would be the most defining moment in the French superstars career. After aiding his club to an impressive Europa League crown last season, it was thought that Griezmann would leave the Wanda Metropolitano on a high, joining the high calibre ranks of Lionel Messi and co that summer.

If there was any promotional videos/clips that would have had – not only Atletico Madrid fans – but the whole nation and the world on the edge of their seats and sweating then Griezmann’s promotional video comes at first place. His reasons for staying, you really can’t go against. To bring a new feeling of ambition, poise and drive to Atletico’s cause. Becoming the important and vital cog in a machine aiming to challenge the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona for the La Liga title and the rest of Europe for the Champions League gong. Or even on a more personal level challenging the likes of Messi and Ronaldo for personal honours.

 

 

Well, almost a year on… it seems Antoine Griezmann may currently be regretting that big decision he so much desired to advertise. On current evidence, Atletico’s demise over the last few weeks has been pretty damning. After conjuring up a comfortable lead over Juventus after their 2-0 triumph at the Wanda Metropolitano, Simeone’s warriors went to Turin knowing that  another one their trademark sturdy, rigid and astute performances will have taken them to the Quarter-finals and the knowledge of keeping their arch-nemesis Cristiano Ronaldo quiet will have been all the more sweeter. But it wasn’t to be. Cristiano Ronaldo ran riot and encapsulated the gulf in class Antoine Griezmann would personally have to reach if he aims to be considered to be worthy to sit at the same table as Lionel Messi and Ronaldo.

 

A crushing defeat at the hands of Ronaldo and co to knock them out of the Champions League and to make matters worse, they succumbed to a surprise 2-0 defeat to Athletic Bilbao, all but ending their fading La Liga title hopes. Griezmann’s season is theoretically over. And now various reports are emerging that Barcelona may be back in for a player they were really hoping to secure last summer. The question is, will they be willing to stress themselves again over a potential deal after Griezmann turn them down in the first instance? On the other hand, the Catalan giants will certainly be on the search for a replacement for the great Luis Suarez and maybe, just maybe Antoine Griezmann could be that man. However, sources close to Griezmann say that there has been no concrete interest from Barcelona over a summer move. The one problem is, while they are on a lookout for a striker, Luka Jovic of Eintracht Frankfurt has rapidly emerged as their top target which will tarnish any ambitions Griezmann had if he ever desired to turn heads to the Camp Nou.

Nonetheless, the French forward is stuck in a predicament. Does he leave the club he has performed so admirably for or will he really search for pastures new this summer? Especially with the release of his Netflix documentary, ‘Antoine Griezmann: The Making of a Legend’. At this moment in time – to many fans – he won’t be considered one, justifying that tag to himself may even seem all the more difficult for him as he reaches the peak of his career. Again, the big question is, does he need to leave Atletico Madrid in search of becoming a great? Is the club holding him back? These are questions Griezmann will surely be asking himself as the season draws to a close. How that resonates with the fans is entirely another matter, you would have forgiven them for being overly excited, overwhelmed and shocked at Antoine Griezmann’s La Decision, shocked at the sight that a top 10 player in World football chose to stay at the Wanda Metropolitano than move across the country to the Camp Nou. It was yet another example of Atletico’s efforts to chip away at the top two: Real Madrid and Barcelona.

Lets not forget, it has been another good season for the Frenchman, statistically –  reaching the 20-goal mark yet again for both club and country – but this was supposed to be the season that Atletico Madrid would be challenging on all fronts including the Champions League but those lofty ambitions have faded away within a matter of weeks, and Griezmann as well as the whole club, will be evaluating what went wrong come the end of the season. You wouldn’t back against both parties declaring a clean slate this summer. After throwing away a two goal lead against Juventus, and slipping well away from Barcelona in the La Liga title race, it could be that this current Madrid team now disbands. A team that has been built on togetherness and solidity in every area, yet Diego Godin and Lucas Hernandez are both set to leave this summer which could have Griezmann seriously considering his future.

Robbie Dunne – a sports journalist in Madrid covering La Liga – told Bleacher Report:

“Godin is one of Griezmann’s closest allies in the squad and the one who stopped the Atleti fans from booing him during the whole debacle last season. He was so important in convincing him to stay. 

Lucas Hernandez is on his way to Bayern Munich, which is another French player gone out of the squad. Thomas Lemar hasn’t settled, and his future is up in the air after Griezmann pushed for that signing.”

Dunne also interestingly added:

“Also, fans are probably thinking if they are going to rebuild, why not cash in on a player who is getting €20 million a year and spread those wages around a little. If the question over his future keeps popping up at every bump in the road, then why not eliminate the speculation by just getting rid while his value is still high.” 

That may be easier said than done. It will be very difficult for the Atletico fans to forget all that Griezmann has done for them since his famous move from Real Sociedad in 2014. However, what’s so intriguing is that the fact that Griezmann has never won a Spanish league or a domestic cup with the club, the only major trophy he will have to show for his efforts is last years Europa League triumph. Sure, Griezmann had the beauty of lifting the World Cup last summer ending the season on a remarkable note but it is at club level where he may feel he deserves more accolades, whether he will fulfil those ambitions at Atletico Madrid remains to be seen.

There is no denying Griezmann’s brilliance and he has once again shown those abilities this season especially between December and February where he just couldn’t stop scoring, but its after that period where fans will really start to question his commitment to the cause going through a six game goalless run including the ties against Juventus in the Champions League. All season Atletico have lacked a reliable no.9 alongside Griezmann, and maybe that’s taken its toll on the Frenchman physically and mentally.

Former Chelsea powerhouse Diego Costa has been unbelievably inconsistent since his return to the club, becoming a shadow of his former beastly self at Chelsea. Also, Simeone’s plunge in signing Alvaro Morata doesn’t look to have worked out either with the Spaniard struggling to finally make a name for himself. Griezmann has more or less been Atleti’s main goal threat this term, a worrying fact that is further evident by their goal tally in La Liga with only 39 goals scored from 28 games – 34 less than leaders Barcelona. A damning statistic and one not truly representing a team aiming to cause panic towards Barcelona in the hunt for the La Liga title.

When Griezmann put pen to paper on that new deal last summer – a deal lasting till 2023 – there was hope that the Frenchman would lead the club into a new project one that would take the club to that next level. However, the way things have taken a turn as this season draws to a close not only creates an uncertain future for certain players in the club but also in the future of their prized asset Antoine Griezmann.

If the French superstar is to prove himself to the world and become the player he has always been primed to be then a move from Atletico may just be what he needs. If a move to Barcelona isn’t on the table, then where could he be heading next? Manchester United? How Ole Gunner Solskjaer would love to utilise Griezmann’s prowess in a team well decorated to counter-attack sitting alongside his close friend Paul Pogba. A tantalising prospect. What about Bayern Munich? The German giants are in need of some fresh blood in attack and with the Golden oldies of Ribery and Arjen Robben moving on, the potential signing of Griezmann could be appealing to the club as a whole. Could a surprise move to Paris Saint-Germain be on the cards? Though, we can all agree Griezmann wouldn’t fulfil his ambitions over in France. The French league is hardly the platform to exert yourself when it comes to challenging for individual honours. You may have to ask Neymar and Kylian Mbappe sooner rather than later.

What we do know is that Griezmann’s future is hanging in the balance, it may be yet another summer of ‘La Decision’. Don’t be surprised to see another televised advertisement.

Last week saw Real Madrid’s three year reign as European champions come to an end as they were soundly and emphatically beaten at the hands of a technically gifted Ajax side 4-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu – their fourth consecutive defeat at their own stadium.

Almost three years since their dominance over Europe began by beating fellow Spaniards and close rivals Atletico Madrid in the 2016 Milan final, they have been finally knocked off the top of Europe after three titles in a row. Since his appointment in October, Santiago Solari – a former Madrid player himself – has overseen two of Real Madrid’s Champions League home defeats, with this defeat coming after they were outclassed by CSKA Moscow in December by a 3-0 scoreline.

To put it plainly, Real Madrid are in a real mess so much so that there have been various widespread reports on Solari’s future with some claiming he may be sacked in the next few days and to be replaced by former manager and Jose Mourinho – who himself was relieved of his duties at Manchester United in December. 12 points behind Barcelona in La Liga, and having been knocked out in the Copa Del Rey by Barcelona few days prior to the defeat by Ajax, you could almost admit that Real Madrid’s season is over with nothing left to play for, the end of the season cannot come fast enough for the whole club. After so much success being centred around the figure of Cristiano Ronaldo who left for Juventus last summer, the club simply have not been able to cope with his absence and also Zinedine Zidane who felt his time was up after leading Real Madrid to three unprecedented Champions League trophies and the La Liga title in 2017.

Part of the blame will be placed on Florentino Perez for his poor decisions in regards to the appointments of both Julen Lopetegui and Santiago Solari who have both failed to change the clubs fortunes. Not only in that department has Perez failed to make an immediate impact on but also trying to secure an adequate replacement for the departing Cristiano Ronaldo. Youngster Vinicius Junior has been a revelation since his move from Brazil but it is too much to ask for a player of his age to carry Real Madrid back to where they belong and this summer will be huge for Real Madrid in terms of managerial changes and player recruitment, just who can take the club back to where they belong?

Jose Mourinho? Mauricio Pochettino? These are questions that will almost certainly be thrown around during this summer for Real Madrid. However, there will be players they will be scouring over to take them back to where they belong, challenging for European honours and domestically too.

Here are five players that could potentially take Real Madrid back to greatness once again:

Matthijs de Ligt, (Ajax)

If there is one lesson Real Madrid learned from their disappointing defeat to Ajax is that Matthijs de Ligt is a player they should move heaven and earth to recruit come this summer. De Ligt was head and shoulders above everyone in the defensive department last week, showing his world class potential and even showing Real Madrid’s defenders the true art of defending at such a tender age of 19. Raphael Varane, Nacho and Sergio Ramos certainly need to be upgraded on current form and their is no better defender to transform Madrid’s shaky defence than De Ligt. The only problem for Real Madrid, is that their El Clasico rivals Barcelona along with Bayern Munich, Manchester United and Liverpool are all hot on the tails of the Dutch defender.

A wonderful young player. Technically gifted, well rounded and well built to withstand any competition in world football and that has been shown on many occasions in Ajax’s impressive run in the Champions League this season. His abilities on the ball is highly valued and a real asset in Erik Ten Hag’s philosophy at the Amsterdam. Wherever he ends up in the near future, his next club is going to have a world class talent on their hands.

 

Alex Grimaldo, (Benfica)

With Madrid’s current debacle, there are various uncertain futures at the club right now. Players such as Isco and Gareth Bale who are key figures are both considering leaving to seek pastures new. Another player who is reported to be looking elsewhere is left-back Marcelo. The Brazilian has been a wonderful servant and has become part of its decorated history but it is believed he wants to join with Cristiano Ronaldo at Juventus. Whether that is the case, it remains to be seen. Real Madrid may have found themselves an understudy in Sergio Reguilon who has impressed massively since he came into the scene this year. However, there are still some doubts on whether he can be Marcelo’s heir with the games against Barcelona and Ajax fully solidifying the stance that the young left is regularly susceptible to the odd mistake though he is still young at 22.

If Real Madrid are on the look out for a new left-back, then they should scour no further than Benfica’s brilliant Alex Grimaldo. A player who has been hot on the tails of Europe’s top clubs for a number of years now. Providing he finally moves on this summer, the Santiago Bernabeu just may be the place for him to continue his fine development. There is no doubting that Grimaldo can become one of the best left-backs in European football if not the world and his record this season has proven his abilities; 6 goals and 5 assists from defence is a mean feat. Benfica have a real knack of developing real talents and it has been reported on numerous occasions that Grimaldo is the best of the lot.

 

Ruben Neves, (Wolves)

For me personally, if Ruben Neves is to leave Wolves in the near future, I would love to see him stay in the Premier League and move to one of the top clubs here. However, his ball playing abilities and the levels of tenaciousness in which he approaches every single game is something both Barcelona and Real Madrid would be drooling over. A wonderful talent.

This season has shown remarkably how Real Madrid’s midfield is in real decline. Toni Kroos, Luka Modric and Casemiro just haven’t been as destructive and in sync as they were for the last two or three seasons and Real Madrid will be looking to rejuvenate the midfield area over this summer and the signing of Ruben Neves would make soo much sense. No disrespect to Casemiro, the Brazilian has become a stellar feature in Real Madrid’s midfield over the last few years but his dominance has waned a few bit, also he isn’t blessed with the same ball playing skills as Neves does. Ruben Neves can perform a lot of roles in contrast to Casemiro. Not only has been deployed as a domineering No.6 but he can also playing as a marauding box-to-box No.8 and if any man is smart in the Santiago Bernabeu, they would look no further than Ruben Neves to transform their midfield. How the Real Madrid faithful will also love experiencing his ferocious shots from outside the box. A sight that can get fans off seats again.

 

Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, (Lazio)

A few who have watched Serie A this season will disagree with the selection of Sergej Milinkovic-Savic on this list due to his inconsistent form for Lazio this season. With only four goals and two assists from midfield this season in 22 games – for a midfielder of his incredible abilities, you can deem those numbers a poor return. However, there is no doubting that when on song, Milinkovic-Savic is a real fine player to watch. Bullish on the ball and in the air, a brilliant first touch and his real knack of scoring absolute scorchers. Real Madrid would be extremely silly not to consider the Serbian maestro to boost their qualities in midfield. Certainly, Milinkovic-Savic hasn’t shown what he is truly capable of on a consistent basis so far this season but imagine what he could do when in the bright lights of the Santiago Bernabeu, it would present a real and worthy opportunity for him to finally cement his position as one of the finest young midfielders in Europe.

 

Kylian Mbappe, (Paris Saint-Germain)

Only God knows what could have gone on in Kylian Mbappe’s mind as Marcus Rashford smacked home the decisive spot-kick that sent Paris Saint-Germain packing on a night where they were expected to cruise through to the quarter-finals but instead they failed yet again, to set the Champions League alight. Mbappe was the sole reason for Paris Saint-Germain’s cruise control exploits at Old Trafford a weeks ago after his two well taken goals and for his team to disappoint yet again when it mattered most, he must have been thinking what he has got to do to get himself on the headlines in the Champions League. Maybe, just maybe Paris Saint-Germain isn’t the club to help him fulfil his lofty ambitions of becoming one of the finest players ever to grace the game.

Despite Real Madrid’s problems this season, there is no better place for Kylian Mbappe to become the great players he is aspiring for than at the grandest stage of them all – the Santiago Bernabeu. Not only, will it be a lift off for him personally but for the whole club and the Real Madrid faithful most importantly. You know how the recruitment of one player can lift the mood around the whole club and the signing of Kylian Mbappe to Real Madrid may just be what Real Madrid need to stamp their authority not only in Europe but on the domestic front once again. Imagine a Lionel Messi vs Kylian Mbappe, El Clasico every season, a game in which the whole world would be dying to see. If Kylian Mbappe is to truly have his grasp on the Ballon d’or as his abilities so far have promised then the Parc des Princes really isn’t the place for him to write his name in lights.

 

Mauro Icardi, (Inter Milan)

Take nothing away from Karim Benzema, he has been a terrific servant to the club and a player who has always given his all when called upon but Real Madrid have been in need of a more potent and threatening number 9 for a few years now and despite his troublesome nature, Real Madrid can afford to take a punt on Inter Milan’s Mauro Icardi.

Say what you want about the Argentine, he is without his critics in relation to his off the field issues but on the field is where it matters most and you’d have to wonder where Inter Milan would be if weren’t for his predatory instincts in and around the penalty area. Recently shun from the club after his refusal to play again after he was stripped of the captaincy and replaced with Handanovic, you could argue that Icardi hasn’t really covered himself in much glory but who’s to say he won’t be humbled by a potential move to the grandest stage?

Real Madrid are in need of someone with his goal-scoring exploits.

 

The Portuguese Primera Liga title race is looking very intriguing as another exciting season of Portuguese football draws to a close. With only a solitary point separating both Portuguese giants FC Porto and Benfica with Porto leading the way with 3 games to go, the close season will be exciting to watch especially with the talents and hot prospects on show for both clubs, but there is a particular player who is taking all the headlines and has become a revelation since his inclusion from the academy, taking the whole world by storm with his exuberant and stylish performances… step forward Benfica’s teenage maestro Joao Felix.

On numerous occasions this season has the Portuguese starlets had scouts drooling over his performances. Eyes are all drawn to Benfica’s no.79 – a small 19-year-old, with braces on his teeth and fuzzy haircut combed out to the left. As soon as he sets his foot on the ball, you would know why clubs such as Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool and Bayern Munich are all scouring for his signature.

Although, some of those top clubs may be put off by his soaring release clause of a deal worth anything around the figure of £105m. However, its a figure that will be an investment into the future of not only the player but the club because this boy is something special. Despite being just 19, he has managed to restore the joy back into the Estadio da Luz and place Benfica amongst the top the Primera Liga once again.

There’s something special about Joao Felix – and his fans clearly know it.

Deep down, they know they will have to savour him while they can. Joao Felix won’t be around to wet the apetites of the Benfica faithful, lighting up the whole stadium for much longer. It was that night against Boavista that was a true reflection of what Felix is destined to for years to come – on the world stage that is. The wonderkid was directly involved in three goals during their rampant 5-1 victory. After the victory, Portuguese newspaper A Bola headlined the next morning “Served by a Genius”. Record meanwhile referred to him as the “new golden boy” and “a hurricane”.

Certainly, we’ve got to be cautious of labelling youngsters like Joao Felix and placing unnecessary pressure on his shoulders but the whole nation may be forgiven for thinking so highly of the player. There is no doubt it, Joao Felix may just justify the hype. Some in Portugal are already arguing that the 19-year-old may be even more developed than Cristiano Ronaldo was in his early days at Sporting Lisbon. Ronaldo himself has watched Felix on a few occasions and he may even be thinking that he will be leaving the national team with a bright future in their hands.

So what might his future employers expect if they are able to prize him away from Benfica?

 

 

Well, there are various opinions as to what position Joao Felix actually fits perfectly in, some would argue – reflecting on his style of play – that he is the perfect no.10. However, that isn’t the case for his club side. Since Benfica coach Bruno Lage took over in early January, Felix has been deployed just behind the striker – almost like a second striker and he has made that position his own since his promotion to the first team. The Portuguese wonderkid has notched an incredible 11 goals and laid on 4 assists from that role.

Felix is devastating when driving and running towards defenders, which means he has the ability to play anywhere across the front line. The forward holds vast skill sets that certain players his age would kill for. Trickery, speed on the ball, eye for a telling pass and also the added icing on the cake, his finishing capabilities are so rare for a player who only just started first team football this current campaign.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bDS28Q5lMw

 

Since becoming the youngest Benfica goalscorer in a Lisbon derby after only being on the pitch half-an-hour, Felix has already lived up to the hype that surrounded him since his days in the youth ranks. It’s no surprise that Felix has already drawn much comparisons to Brazilian legend Kaka in the way they move effortlessly across the attacking third and attempting the most audacious of passes in order to create, not only that but his fantastic finishing abilities is almost reminiscent of Kaka’s glory days at AC Milan. Under Bruno Lage, Felix has been utilised sparingly, as the second striker in a 4-4-2 formation behind Haris Seferovic or on the left of a 4-3-3 as an inside-forward – both roles have been executed to perfection so far this season.

Having been released by FC Porto because of his slight frame – how they will be regretting that decision – Benfica have been attempting a whole host of avenues to keep the youngster in shape and in tip-top condition. After such an impressive breakthrough season, the question Felix may be have to answer this summer is whether he will be ready to make the step up to a top club or does he ride it out another season in the Primera Liga to continue his rapid development. Whatever happens, Joao Felix is certainly a player to watch for the coming year.

A true talent Portugal have on their hands.

 

Everton manager Marco Silva and his side endured yet another defeat at the hands of Watford at Vicarage Road last weekend condemning them to their fourth defeat in a row and their third defeat in a row in the Premier League – their first time since January 2018.

A game in which Everton produced very little throughout the whole 90 minutes which also saw defender Kurt Zouma red carded at the end of the game picking up two yellow cards for confronting the referee. After such a spirited display against champions Manchester City – despite their 2-0 defeat – Marco Silva hoped his side will build on their small improvements against his former side Watford but all those hopes diminished as Watford dominated from start to finish with Everton misfiring in all departments.

Upon Marco Silva’s arrival in the summer, much was made of Everton’s potential rise up the Premier League after their dour end to the season last year under Sam Allardyce. Despite the former England coach steadying a rocky ship at Goodison Park after Ronald Koeman’s sacking in 2017, there was always a feeling around the club that change was needed. Allardyce’s management style, philosophy and ways of playing – deemed unattractive and not fitting in line with Everton’s lofty ambitions under owner Farhad Moshiri.

Moshiri’s aspirations, commitment and dedication to the Everton cause is not in question. Lavishing funds for Marco Silva to spend in the transfer market plus talks of potential £500m new stadium already under way, forcing his own “commitment of equity” to fund the new project. His stake increased in December and he is already planning for more increase from 68.6% to 77.2% no later than this summer. However, his decisions lately have been perceived as ‘lacking football knowledge’, lacking direction and massively flawed. Earlier this week, he had reiterated his stance on Marco Silva’s position claiming that the club needs to ‘hold their nerve’ in this difficult time. As past history suggests – this is not one of his character traits.

Marco Silva is Moshiri’s fourth manager under his tenure – a club that has been renowned for its stability and faith when David Moyes and Bill Kenwright were in partnership. Roberto Martinez – although not his own appointment – was sacked as the Spaniard’s tenure hit the rocks after such a promising 5th placed finish the season before. Ronald Koeman was then appointed – sighted as a major coup and a step forward for the club, enjoying a brilliant and fruitful first season finishing seventh. The present Dutch manager was then sacked nine games into his second season with the club in the relegation places.

After various failed attempts to prize Marco Silva from Watford, Moshiri appointed Sam Allardyce – as uncanny and desperate as it was, the former England coach was certainly seen as a last resort however, it was perpetually seen as a club lacking in ambition. Moshiri had promised a bright future upon his arrival at the club but the appointment of Allardyce was a true sign of desperation and a man no longer having the clubs best interests at heart.

Marco Silva finally arrived in June last year with his former club Watford wanting Everton punished for their persistent touting of the Portuguese coach while under contract at the Hornets. Silva’s sacking – a decision which was well in the works – was seen by many as a result of his head and heart turning towards Goodison Park. Watford – at face value in this point in time – seem to have made the right call providing the toxic nature the Portuguese coach brought after Everton’s call. Never did he rule out moving clubs but also unresponsive to questions regarding his future at Vicarage Road hinting at the fact that a move to Everton would have been too good to turn down.

Upon his arrival last summer, there was much anticipation, vibrancy and excitement after what he had brought to his previous clubs Watford and Hull. Along with him, came highly respected Director of Football Marcel Brands from Dutch high-flyers PSV Eindhoven. A potential match made in heaven which will have brought a lot of cause for optimism not just on the pitch but off it as well.

However, 5 months in and things are looking bleak for Everton on all fronts with the club caught in a landslide in the Premier League. Silva’s side have only picked up 12 points from 13 games, and even to put matters worse they were knocked out of the FA Cup by Championship minnows Millwall. Had they gone on to win, you wouldn’t have backed against Everton to go on and cause a stir in the latter stages of the competition.

So can Marco Silva arrest Everton’s current slide?

On previous evidence, there must be some doubts regarding Silva’s abilities to turn things around. His career so far in England have been defined by bright starts before steep declines both at Hull and Watford and this current stint at Goodison Park seems like its heading in the same direction. At Hull, he accumulated 17 points from his first 11 games but only four from the next seven which led to relegation to the Championship. He won 21 points from his first 13 games at Vicarage Road then only 5 from his next 11 games which leads to the question what led to these drop in results? The same is happening this season with Everton looking a shadow of the side they really good be.

After a promising summer of recruitment, securing the services of Richarlison from Watford for £50million – albeit controversially. Highly-rated Colombian centre back Yerry Mina arrived from Barcelona for £28million along with left-back Lucas Digne for £19million and Andre Gomes who joined the club on loan. You can’t say that Silva wasn’t backed by the clubs board. These are players who are primed for much more especially Richarlison, a player Silva previously managed at Watford last season. You can add in the signings of Brazilian winger Bernard on a free from Shakhtar Donetsk and Kurt Zouma from Chelsea which will have surely had a number of managers drooling at the sight of such quality additions.

However, much of these signings have flattered to deceive at best. Richarlison despite his unerring abilities and potential seems like he is entering that second season slump he endured last season at Vicarage Road. 10 goals in 25 Premier League games is pretty impressive but you always feel the Brazillian could do more. Having been deployed in a number of positions lately really haven’t helped his cause either. How about Andre Gomes? The Spaniard has looked assured and composed in spells but has a tendency to vanish into thin air when it really matters most – the reason Barcelona lost faith in the midfielder so soon after his arrival from Valencia. When he is good, Gomes is really good however, that hasn’t been the case so far during this loan spell. He’s not the only one, Bernard has flattered to deceive too, only performing to his irresistible abilities in spurts. What must Marco Silva do for these players to really turn on the style? He invested heavily in his defence with the signings of Digne, Mina and Zouma however that hasn’t worked either with Everton shipping goals for fun of late conceding 8 goals in 6 league games since the start of the year.

Marco Silva must show he has the capacity to plug holes in his defence, again a factor which he has struggled with since his bow in the English top division and one must correct if he is to survive. The defeat to Wolves a mere reflection of the improvements Silva must make to his leaky defence with Wolves’ attacking efforts dissecting and taking apart their defence constantly at will. Even when things were rosy earlier this season, Everton still looked susceptible and Silva has shown no signs of solving a puzzle that has repeatedly plagued him. All three goals against Millwall in that FA Cup defeat were all from set-pieces, and Raul Jimenez’ goal against Wolves and Aymeric Laporte’s header in the defeat to Premier League champions Manchester City. 12 goals Everton have conceded from set-plays – the most in the division.

Can we say Silva is solely to blame? Certainly not. The Portuguese coach along with Brands walked into a club in disarray in terms of its structure and transfer policy. Silva’s appointment was supposed to be that precious drop in the ocean but at this point in time, his recruitment and strategies seem to be aligning with the club’s current failures. Right now, the club might just be the shining example of how not to operate in the transfer window with some big spending deals that have failed to deliver. Examples being the huge contract handed to striker Sandro Ramirez, bought from Spanish club Malaga in 2017 for a fee of £5m. Though the former Spanish under-21 player has become expendable drifting on loan from Sevilla and Real Sociedad in a matter of months. Former Ajax midfielder Davy Klaassen – a player promised for so much – was signed for a huge fee of £25m when he was clearly not fit to carry the flag at Goodison before being shun out to German club Werder Bremen at a £12m loss only a year later. What was even more bizarre about the Klaassen capture was the senseless nature of the signings of three players for the same ‘number 10’ position in Wayne Rooney and Gylfi Sigurdsson – bought for £45m. Such acquisitions took a massive hit on the wage which as a result has led to Brands doing all he can to drastically trim the squad. Wayne Rooney has since left to DC United while the likes of Yannick Bolasie went on loan to Aston Villa then Anderlecht and the likes of Morgan Schneiderlin, Cenk Tosun and Theo Walcott are all at the point of pondering their futures at the club.

England number one, Jordan Pickford, a £30m purchase from Sunderland has been an isolated success but you feel the club is still in disarray with a host of bad additions to the squad. The club have generated a fair bit of cash from the sales of Romelu Lukaku, John Stones and Ross Barkley without finding adequate replacements and much of that cash has been squandered. The signing of Cenk Tosun from Besiktas has been a failure, with the striker failing to impress many when called upon. The lack of fire power up front has led to Silva utilising Richarlison as the main front man on numerous occasions this season but those plans seem to have been halted due to the Brazilian’s inconsistencies. Certainly Silva has struggled to get performances and results out of these players who at face values have such individual qualities, but that’s just it…individual qualities.

The question is, whether Silva still possesses the managerial qualities to maximise the potential of these players. Players such as Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Ademola Lookman, Jordan Pickford, Jonjo Kenny and future Everton captain to be Tom Davies are all the future of the club and maybe starting from grassroots may be just the way to go for Marco Silva, that’s if he is still at the club come the end of the season.

These next few months will be vital for Marco Silva and his men but also whether the Portuguese coach has the managerial capabilities and nous to turn Everton’s fortunes around not only on the pitch but off it too. Recent history suggests he may struggle, and there are currently no reason for optimism right now around the club but its time for Silva to dig deep and find new ways in which Everton can build upon. Rather than being a monument for underacheivment, there are certainly components within this side that can catapult the club to being a monument for steady progression.

These next few months of the season will prove pivotal.

 

 

It was raining goals in the South Coast on Wednesday evening as Bournemouth trounced Chelsea with an emphatic 4-0 victory, producing an impressive second-half display. Striker Josh King notched two goals as Eddie Howe’s side ran rings round Chelsea’s hapless defence.

Chelsea dominated the first half at the Vitality, but collapsed to their heaviest Premier League defeat in 23 years after the break as Bournemouth registered their first home win against Chelsea since 1988. It was another night to forget for Maurizio Sarri’s Blues as they were made to look average on a night where they needed to re-affirm their position in the top 4 after Arsenal’s win over Cardiff and Manchester United dropping points at home to Burnley.

It is now the third away game in a role that Chelsea have failed to find the net and their attacking ploy will be a major worry for Maurizio Sarri with Gonzalo Higuain, Eden Hazard and Pedro all failing to conjure up any threat to Bournemouth’s much improved back-line. Huge credit must go to Eddie Howe on the tweaks and improvements to Bournemouth’s game. No longer are they trying to control the game – leaving gaps within defence and midfield in the process – but Howe has now implemented changes such as Bournemouth now becoming more dangerous on the counter and that was perfectly highlighted against Chelsea.

There were many instances during the match where Chelsea struggled to break through the defence, with much of their passing being played in front of the Bournemouth rearguard, attempting to play through with intricate passing and movement but to no avail – a testament to the way Eddie Howe has adapted his game plan. Josh King, Junior Stanislas, Ryan Fraser and wonderkid – Bournemouth’s breakthrough star this season – David Brooks tore Chelsea’s defence to pieces with their constant movement and pace, it was a joy to watch.

The Welsh international was the one to watch on Wednesday as he put in yet another assured, confident and stylish performance. After the game, Eddie Howe heaped praise on the youngster who was also tasked with man-marking Jorginho:

“It was something we looked at an planned and David did a brilliant job beyond his years with his diligence, and then he showed his class at the other end as well so I’m pleased for him.” 

It was a plan that worked to perfection as Jorginho was given the run around by the midfielder. Brooks has had to come up the hard way after being released by Manchester City as a teenager. Now at 21 years of age, he has been a revelation propelling himself as one of the breakout stars of the season.

“Devastation” was how the Welsh youngster described his emotions after being rejected by Manchester City at youth level, aged 17. He had enjoyed a progressive 10 years at the club only to find that they were not going to offer him a professional contract which threw his future in doubt. Four years on, however, he is not just playing at the level he has always strived for – but really excelling at it too.

David Brooks has taken in the demands of the Premier League like a duck to water so far after his summer move from Sheffield United for a fee of £11.5m, adapting seamlessly to the rigours of the competition. Brooks has established himself a vital figure within Eddie Howe’s fluid system at the Vitality so much so that he has started all but two of Bournemouth’s 24 Premier League games. His brilliant and vibrant displays coming off the right-flank in a fluid 4-4-2 formation has reaped many rewards for the club and also for him personally, tallying six league goals and 4 assists in 22 appearances. Brooks has earned himself a reputation as one of the brightest young talents in the Premier League this year making him a shoe-in contender for the Young Player of the Year Accolade at the end of the season.

It makes you wonder what would have been had Manchester City offered him that pro contract back when he was 17, finding himself struggling to break into the first team due to all the talent at their disposal. However, it was Sheffield United that decided to give him the chance he deserved and he has never looked back. In the last few months, Brooks has come up against the likes of Manchester City, United, Arsenal and Chelsea to name a few – games where youngsters freeze, failing to make any impact but that hasn’t fazed Brooks at all, in fact, it has propelled him to that next level. There were times when all of this seemed unimaginable. With all his talent and technical abilities, Brooks was considered too short by some of the clubs he trialled at.

Even Sheffield United had their reservations.

Nick Cox, Sheffield United’s academy manager at the time told Sky Sports: 

“He had some obvious qualities that wouldn’t look too different from what you see in him now. Great awareness, good technique, good decision-making, composure on the ball. Those were the things that sprang out straight away. The questions we had were around his physicality. He was two or three years behind in terms of his physical development. His shirt was hanging off him, his shorts were below his knees. Looked like a little boy.”

Despite all of those reservations, Sheffield United decided to take a punt on him anyway, taking on the remainder of his two-year scholarship he had signed with Manchester City. That decision taken by the club was Brook’s breakthrough during a time where he doubted he would get another opportunity.

Cox who is now academy operations manager at Manchester United added:

“David made a brave decision to come to a football club which looked very, vey different to Manchester City. It is a humble, industrial, hard-working, no-nonsense, no frills football club. It offers brilliant development but is a heart-on-sleeve kind of place to be. He always showed a determination to be the best player he could.”

Brooks even had to endure short term loan spells at Halifax where he had his first taste of men’s football in 2015 in the National League. The circumstances at the club didn’t help – the clubs poor form would eventually cost the job of coach Neil Aspin – but with one goal in five appearances, he was sent back to Sheffield United. He was on the verge of being farmed out to Chesterfield at the end of the 2016/17 season, but his impressive displays for England at the Toulon Tournament changed their decision, he would then go on to pledge his allegiance to Wales but when he returned to Sheffield United that summer, it was clear to the club that he was ready to make a name for himself.

David Brooks impressed right from the get-go during the 2017/18 Championship season but it wasn’t until the Steel City derby at Hillsborough against Sheffield Wednesday in September 2017 where he gained the recognition he deserved. Gaining a few wandering eyes from clubs such as Tottenham, Arsenal and Manchester United but having seen his pathway to stardom blocked by City, he decided to shun those big clubs in favour of Bournemouth and that will probably be the biggest decision in his bright career. Having had his technical abilities nurtured and honed as a boy in City’s academy and at Sheffield United, David Brooks is now showing the benefits of his steady and astute footballing education.

As we saw against Chelsea, there is endless amounts of flair and assurance to his game; when in possession of the ball, his ability to find pockets of space in between midfield and attack – there is also that hunger and intensity. What’s even more impressive of Brooks is his ability to weave his way past defenders and the way he took his goal on Wednesday was a real joy to watch, a gentle reminder of his qualities all stemming from his constant movement and composure. Taking the vital touch of the ball to take it in his stride past David Luiz and carefully and coolly slotting the ball past the Chelsea goalkeeper. A touch of class from a player who has deserved every bit of the plaudits that has come his way so far.

Eddie Howe and Bournemouth have a real bright prospect on their hands. With much of the season still to come, David Brooks will have the opportunity to turn a few more heads as he goes seeking stardom. Potential Premier League Young Player of the Year? You’d be mad to bank against it.

 

It says much for Manchester United wonderkid Marcus Rashford that there are those at the club that mention his name in the same breath as the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney, and rightly so. The England international’s prolific form in front of goal continued against Brighton on Saturday so much so that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer couldn’t help but heap more praise on the youngster saying declaring that Rashford is “playing the best football in his career” and “can be absolutely top class” after watching him score his fifth goal in six games since the Norwegian took over the reigns before Christmas.

There are various moments that herald a young players career which catapult them from a budding talent to an established superstar. What tends to differentiate the greats from the rest is that these events are fairly frequent and set at double speed. Marcus Rashford is admirably among those select few.

In the last month alone, Marcus Rashford has consistently and forcibly underlined his unbelievable talents, not least with the manner in which he clinically netted United’s winner over Tottenham at Wembley and his superbly taken goal against Brighton last weekend. We were always aware of Rashford’s abilities under Jose Mourinho but it can be argued that he wasn’t given the opportunity and the freedom to express himself. Most of the time under the Portuguese coach, the youngster would find himself starting a few games and then dropped – albeit surprisingly – for another few games.

Since Ole Gunner Solskjaer’s appointment as caretaker manager before Christmas however, Marcus Rashford has started in six of his seven games, and introduced him from the bench in the FA Cup against Reading. While there has been the lingering perception that Marcus Rashford has been underused this term you only have to check the stats in comparison to other young stars in the world of football and find that Marcus Rashford has been utilised heavily over the past few seasons, it even got to a point last season where Mourinho had to justify that fact when criticism – something he was very accustomed to – came his way for his sparing use of the striker. Marcus Rashford, this term hasn’t missed a single game since September’s Carabao cup defeat to Frank Lampard’s Derby at Old Trafford. God knows what might’ve been had Rashford been involved – a tie that signalled the completion of his three match ban following his red card against Burnley earlier that month.

In truth, the United speedster has been involved in the first team picture since photo-bombing it in February 2016 – being brought to the side after injury trouble had kept Van Gaal’s side without a first team attacker in the Europa League tie against Danish outfit FC Midtjylland. It has been 35 rapid months since Rashford broke into the scene scoring four goals in two starts in the Europa League tie and famously against Arsenal at Old Trafford in a 3-2 victory.

Ever since then, we have experienced the rapid rise, and unspeakable growth of Marcus Rashford not just physically, but its his understanding of the game and his ability to find the back of the net. The 21-year-old today stands on the cusp of making his 150th United appearance; a landmark he has reached younger and much faster than any one of United’s superstars in its rich history. Cristiano Ronaldo, David Beckham, Ruud Van Nistelrooy, Wayne Rooney, you name them.

What’s mightily impressive about Marcus Rashford is that he is improving all the time, his maturity and stature steadily growing with each passing game. Not only that, but its that consuming fire in his belly to try new things whether its getting past his man, shooting from weird angles or attempting a kind of pass that former United player and legend Paul Scholes would be proud of. Another Reds legend, Sky Sports Pundit Gary Neville reflected on Rashford’s ability after the victory over Newcastle:

“The spring in the counter-attack is there and Rashford playing up top is fantastic – I love him to bits. He’s played nearly 150 games at the age of 21 and his potential is enormous. It’s actually now stepping up beyond potential to where he will be a top class player.” 

Indeed, Marcus Rashford is well on his way to being referred to as a world class player, which begs the question can we only refer to him as a player with enormous potential? However, the England youngster has got to carry on this rich vein of form on the European and World stage before he can be considered in that world class bracket.

Neville also added:

“This kid is going to devastate teams. Rashford gives them something different and he is a fantastic player. He is on the right trajectory to become something really special for Manchester United.”

Under Ole Gunner Solskjaer, Rashford has found a new lease of life. The Norwegian coach’s tactical acumen as freed up the forward and has give him the license to fully express and flaunt his tremendous abilities, to be devastating on those trademark quick-fire, rapid counter attacks. His cool and composed finish against Tottenham at Wembley is a perfect example of the way Solskjaer has got his team playing. A quick and lethal striker with pacey wingers who also hold the ability to quickly and sharply get by their markers – that’s the Manchester United way.

The revival at the club under Solskjaer is not only down to the upturn in form from Paul Pogba but it is Solskjaer’s belief in Rashford and his bravery to make him is number one striker at the expense of Romelu Lukaku. Rashford has already learned valuable lessons under seasoned and reputable managers like Louis Van Gaal and Jose Mourinho, but the appointment of Solskjaer has been the springboard for his performance levels. The Norwegian has made no secret for his admiration for the wonderkid, while quickly insisting on passing on many of his understanding and tricks when it comes to his positioning in the penalty area and his finishing – tips that will only elevate Marcus Rashford even more.

While his goals may have garnered much of the praise and headlines, it is his pace, fearlessness, unpredictability and tenacity that has been just as impressive and have made up the cornerstone of his game. Certainly there is still much for Rashford to learn and a few tricks to pick up and also what needs to follow, in every case is his consistency and functionality. You could argue those have been steadily growing within Rashford’s game, and now that his talents are in the hands of a United coach – a vital component himself in that famous United 1999 treble winning side – the Wythenshawe-born forward is now privy to a higher education of what being a United player means and the ethos of such a famous club built with such a rich history – an education of the greatest relevance.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aaKV2dgUdf4

 

The signs so far will stand Marcus Rashford in good stead for the future, not only for himself but for the club as a whole. It took only three minutes of Solskjaer’s reign for Rashford to stake his claim, thundering a vicious, stunning free-kick against Cardiff in December, then following up that performance with an impressive all round showing against Huddersfield on Boxing day and then audaciously making fun out of Bournemouth’s sorry defence a few days later where his quick feet and trickery led to a sublime assist for Paul Pogba to open the scoring in front of the United faithful. After that, a clinical and predatory finish to put United out of sight. Rashford’s brilliance has shone through time and time again since the beginning of Christmas – even when it matters most too. His winner against Tottenham now means he has scored in victories over all of the big six over the past few seasons – picking up the knack of finding the net on the big occasions.

You’d be mad to argue that Marcus Rashford does not have it within himself to become a Manchester United icon – providing he stays at Old Trafford for the rest of his career. Given his achievements at such a young age, it is hard not to cast a wondering eye on the talents of Rashford. If he carries on in this sort of form and freedom then the future really does look remarkably bright. Solskjaer’s appointment may be short-term but for Rashford, the instruction and advice he is gathering now will only do him the world of good for years to come.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has enjoyed a fruitful start to life as Manchester United caretaker manager, could the Norwegian have asked for anything more? Following the dismissal of Jose Mourinho, United have enjoyed a 100% winning streak with 6 wins in their last 6 games since Solskjaer’s arrived before Christmas, scoring 16 goals and only conceding three goals along the way. 

More importantly, though, Solskjaer has restored the attacking prowess which we would delightfully associate with a Manchester United team, the vigour, the excitement and the squad harmony which was in ruin by Jose Mourinho’s negative demeanour and constant complaining. Lost, as the clubs philosophy may have seemed under the Portuguese coach, Manchester United in their recent displays seem to have their swagger back under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer which has led to many discussing whether the Norwegian may be handed the reins permanently.

Sunday’s hard-fought and inspired win over Tottenham was the clubs 6th in a row in all competitions. Certainly, the win was a far cry from their enthralling attacking displays in recent weeks but it was a performance which showed how far United have matured and become a force to be reckoned in such a short space of time. This is the sort of football the United faithful have been longing for ever since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure in 2013. David Moyes, Louis Van Gaal and Jose Mourinho have all tried and failed to reignite the fire back at Old Trafford, and all three coaches all missed the one key component: the culture and traditions of the football club – a component Solskjaer has successfully ingrained throughout the whole club from the clubs staff to the players which is being reflected in the nature of United’s performances.

United’s attacking players – the likes of Jesse Lingard, Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford and Romelu Lukaku have all been rejuvenated by Solskjaer’s inventive and innovative attacking style. Pressing from the front, intricate passing and free-flowing movement are characteristics that we should be regularly accustomed to when watching United play and Solskjaer has implemented those attributes successfully so far. Certainly, there is a lot to work on for the Norwegian coach, especially in defence and that goes without saying as United’s defending at times this season has not been pleasing on the eye, and as a result, it has led to the club being closely linked with whole host of centre-backs this month. However, the performance at Wembley has highlighted the amount of work that has been done behind the scenes to perfect the balance between defence and attack, and Rashford’s goal on Sunday was a mere reflection with Paul Pogba’s beautifully lofted pass picked up by Rashford who then coolly and stylishly beat Hugo Lloris at the far post. A goal truly reminiscent of the kind of counter-attacking manoeuvres Sir Alex Ferguson executed to perfection during his own glory days.

The midfield triumvirate of  Nemanja Matic, Ander Herrera and World Cup winner Paul Pogba is a perfectly combined mixture of creativity, strength and energy. Both Ander Herrera and Paul Pogba have added much in United’s rich blend of attacking displays so far under Solskjaer and has allowed the trio to fully complement each other when on the front foot.

One man who has been key to United’s success so far is Ander Herrera.

David De Gea may have gathered all the plaudits for his heroics at Wembley against Tottenham but Ander Herrera deserves as much praise as his fellow Spaniard putting in a dogged, disciplined and assured display as United were put under intense pressure for large parts of an intriguing spectacle. The Spaniard has been an awfully vital component in United’s resurgence under Solskjaer, having a tendency to control the midfield of the park with his intelligent positioning, passing and tenacity within a combative and fluid midfield. Herrera has become a huge fan favourite since signing under Louis Van Gaal in 2014. Ever since his arrival at Old Trafford, Herrera has performed with a certain edge and craftiness, performing with his heart on his sleeve – the reason why the United faithful have endeared themselves to the Spaniard.

Ander Herrera may have found himself on the fringes of Mourinho’s team on a number of occasions but when called upon, you knew he would put in 100%, and for the remainder of the season Herrera will be one of Solskjaer’s trusted lieutenants.The Spaniard may not be the quickest off the ground but his relentless approach, never say die attitude and application to each game is the reason why he is held in such high regard within the whole club, it makes you wonder why the Spaniard has not put pen to paper on a new contract with his current deal running out at the end of the current campaign.

Paul Pogba has certainly sprung to life under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, with his world class displays attracting a whole host of attention – propelling the Frenchman greater heights racking up the numbers on the goals and assists charts. Pogba now has seven Premier League goals and seven assists to his name so far this season. While the Frenchman has been strutting his stuff further up the pitch, Ander Herrera has been lurking behind him like a shadow waiting to pounce on any loose balls. Ander Herrera is a bull-terrier, like a rash that just won’t go away ss Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli found out on Sunday.

Herrera put in a remarkable performance at Wembley, showcasing the complete midfield repertoire of a modern-day midfielder combining his calmness and assured nature on the ball along with his combativeness and tenacity without possession. More reason to justify why Mourinho’s £50million signing Fred has not been able to get a look in within the first 11 setup.

Not many players in the current era can match the type of enthusiasm and ‘heart on sleeve’ characteristics that Herrera shows on a weekly basis. A player that every manager would love to work with and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is reaping those benefits, utilising the Spaniard to devastating effect. United will be facing many bigger tests in the coming weeks and Ander Herrera will be once again be a key component if United are to step away from those tests victorious. Herrera would be free to talk to any clubs now that his contract is out at the end of the season and there will definitely be no shortage of takers for Herrera’s signature. However, if recent sources are to be believed, United still remain in talks with Herrera and his representatives over a new contract.

If United are really wanting to sound out their appreciation for such a joyous player, then the club would be wise to offer Ander Herrera a new contract as soon as possible.