You know you’re on to a bright future when you’ve received a call-up for a major international tournament at the age of just 17. That’s where Borussia Dortmund’s wonderkid Jude Bellingham finds himself right now and he’d surely be pinching himself at the sight of how far he’s come in just over a year.

Jude Bellingham was in year eight the last time England graced a European Championship in 2016. How they needed his dynamism and charisma in that dreadful defeat against Iceland. And so, five years later, here we have on our roster one of the finest teenage footballers in Europe right now.

Making his first start for England against Austria, Bellingham made a strong case to Gareth Southgate that he should be starting in midfield alongside Declan Rice against Croatia on June 13th. He did not look out of place at the Riverside and he certainly won’t look out of place against the likes of Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic.

He’s already cut it amongst the best midfielders Europe has to offer this past campaign, so why can’t he do it at one of the grandest international stages?

Bellingham’s performance against Austria was one of such sublime assurance, peerless confidence and a charismatic presence that England have needed in their midfield since the likes of Paul Scholes or Steven Gerrard.

Jude Bellingham is a true box-to-box presence. A player blessed with raw dynamism. Strutting himself about the pitch like he owns it, and you rarely see that in a footballer making his first international start for his country.

Nothing fazes Bellingham. He wasn’t fazed making his first start for Birmingham at just 15 years of age. He wasn’t fazed making his first start for Borussia Dortmund nor was he afraid of performing week-in, week-out in Europe’s most prestigious club competition, the UEFA Champions League.

Did Bellingham actually make a single bad decision or misjudged pass against Autria? Was he ever caught in the wrong position? Not once.

If this was an audition to see who will be Jordan Henderson’s long-term successor for England then we already have our answer in Jude Bellingham.

Countless times Bellingham has been relied upon to sure up the midfield for Dortmund this season, he’s delivered. Never shies away when going in hard in a tackle, and he’s never shy to attempt an audacious run through the middle third if it means getting his team out of trouble or taking the onus upon himself to find his team a goal.

For a player so young, Bellingham rarely shirks away from his responsibilities. He is ever-so reliable. If you remember his performance against Manchester City in both legs of their Champions League tie in April, the 17-year-old was everywhere. A confident and charismatic presence piercing the heart of City’s midfield at will. He should have had a goal to show for his efforts in the first leg too.

Composed, controlled, aggressive, imposing and dynamic. As a double pivot in a 4-2-3-1 formation alongside the dependable Declan Rice, he looked like this was the stage he could easily take to as comfortably as he has been in the Bundesliga and Champions League.

Special couple of days. Euro selection and first start. Nice win to start our preparation.🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🙌🏽 pic.twitter.com/jbQHBwpqPr

— Jude Bellingham (@BellinghamJude) June 2, 2021

“Phenomenal,” Gareth Southgate called him after naming his final 26-man squad. This from a manager who is measured in his praise, mindful of the pitfalls of hype and headlines and the danger of expecting too much from young players. He’s shielded Bellingham from all that so far, and he’ll continue to do as long as he’s in charge.

Bellingham turns 18 later this month, yet already he is the youngest Englishman to start a Champions League match – beating Phil Foden’s record by 79 days – and the youngest player to ever represent England Under-21s and, with this appearance, he became the fourth youngest starter for England, only behind Wayne Rooney and the esteemed pair of James Prinsep and Thurston Rostron.

Only Gareth Southgate knows who he’ll start alongside Declan Rice in midfield against Croatia.

Whether its Mason Mount, Kalvin Phillips or even Jordan Henderson, Bellingham has certainly made his case for a starting berth. What was that famous Sir Matt Busby quote? “If you’re good enough, you’re old enough”, and that saying is perfectly reflective of Jude Bellingham’s unique qualities.

At 6ft 1in, Bellingham is a telling presence in midfield and he knows how to use that frame which, given his age, is also impressive. Every team needs a dynamic presence in midfield and Jude Bellingham offers everything you’d want in your typical modern day centre-midfielder – composure, technique, athleticism, strength, awareness and speed of thought.

Some would argue, it would be a huge risk to have Bellingham start alongside Rice against Croatia but its one worth taking. He offers a different option to Kalvin Phillips, who is probably the favourite to start against the Croatians should Henderson not make it.

Along with his shielding ability and the ease with which he can link play and make the astute and simple pass, Bellingham also possesses the unique eye for goal.

Not to mention it was his tackle that originated in Saka’s first England goal. That is the kind of hard-working midfield play that every team needs. What’s also so assuring in Bellingham’s game is he wants the ball, always making himself available for a pass, finding spaces and holes in which to make best use of talents.

Just take this in again… Jude Bellingham is still only 17-years-old. At that age, players are forgiven for struggling to find their feet or failing at every opportunity to impress but that isn’t him. It’s not in his nature.

We simply have a remarkable talent on our hands. A future leader, lets make the most of him while we can.

When Jose Mourinho was appointed Tottenham Hotspur manager in 2019, the former FC Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan and Manchester United manager come “serial winner” was supposed to usher the club into a new era, to set a siege mentality within his players and to adopt a win-at-all-costs approach. He was the natural-born winner whose methods and philosophy would inevitably sprout a few rocky relationships, form a dictatorship rather than a well-rounded group all the while winning a few much needed trophies along the way.

It happened in Madrid, in West London at Chelsea and up north at Manchester United where a League Cup and Europa League triumph gave the club the impression that they had successfully transitioned from the post-Sir Alex slump. A little under two years later, and the man once spoken as ‘top coaches in the world’ along with Pep Guardiola by Daniel Levy at his appointment was given his marching orders by the same man a few days before a cup final, a competition where he picked up the reputation of becoming unstoppable at: the Carabao Cup, against Guardiola.

Tottenham are searching for another new manager after sacking Jose Mourinho following a dismal run of form which has seen them fall out of the title race, dumped out of the Europa League and beset by stories of dressing room unrest.

As cruel as it may have seemed, Levy thought the shackles would have been off, and his club will finally express themselves, released from the chains of a pragmatist and finally win their first trophy in 13 years, under a coach with no managerial experience whatsoever. Certainly a silly and careless decision, and that’s not Ryan Mason’s fault at all but its clear the clubs needs a new direction, fresh impetus and a manager ready to take the club to the next level.

It won’t be an easy decision for Levy, and its one he’ll have to make with much consideration and avoid making the same mistake trying to sign a high-profile manager who may look ideal at face value, but end up having to be paid off in the end because the excitement fizzled out. As hard as it may be for Levy, there are some exciting managers for him to get his feelers into.

Julian Nagelsmann to join FC Bayern as head coach. Hansi Flick's contract will be terminated upon request. pic.twitter.com/tJBpXSiozu

— 🏆🏆🏆FC Bayern English🏆🏆🏆 (@FCBayernEN) April 27, 2021

The name around everyone’s lips has been RB Leipzig’s exciting, intelligent and innovative manager Julian Nagelsmann, but he’s reportedly chosen to represent Bayern Munich instead next season as officially announced by Bayern Munich above, which may come as a form of disdain for Levy, but the alternative candidates who could be available prove that you cannot always put your eggs in one basket, especially when trying to usher your club into a new managerial era.

So which of these exciting choices would be the ideal fit to take the reins at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium?

Ralph Hasenhüttl, Southampton

Despite Southampton’s current plight in the Premier League, with only 3 league wins since the turn of the year, there is no doubt that Ralph Hasenhüttl is amongst the most exciting managers in Europe. His work at Leipzig before his arrival in England is of notable mention, ushering in an exciting era at the German club but his work at Southampton cannot be understated too. The club play an exciting brand of football, and it is a vital element that Levy will look to consider when picking his next manager.

Yes, Hasenhüttl has had a few bumps on the road during his tenure, but how many times has he risen out of those ashes? It’s easy to forget that Southampton sat top of the league in November and that was down to the superb work the Austrian did in revitalizing and installing a mentality that took his players to such lofty heights, but also put him on the radar of top clubs around Europe. The injuries haven’t helped his cause this season, and its why Southampton are where they are, but yet every week they conjure up reasons to believe they will continue go places if the Austrian manages to steer them from trouble once again. Imagine what he could do though, with much better group of players at his disposal?

His current contract at Southampton runs until 2024 and, as reported by the Telegraph, there is a release clause in the deal which could see the club demand up to £20million to let him leave – his wages would be significantly lower than some of the starrier names that have been linked to the job.

The Austrian’s collegiate approach to management – few coaches in the top flight are as tactile or emotionally involved as Hasenhüttl on the touchline – would surely appeal to a squad that seems to have been depleted by Mourinho’s largely joyless and soul-less approach to management.

Throw in the fact that Southampton to White Hart Lane is a well-trodden path for managers – think Glen Hoddle and, more recently the successful, Mauricio Pochettino – now why wouldn’t Hasenhüttl be a good bet to take the managerial hotseat?

Erik Ten Hag, Ajax

According to various reports, Ajax’s Erik Ten Hag – one of the best and most innovative coaches in the business – is on the shortlist to take the Tottenham managerial hotseat this summer.

According to Football.London, Tottenham are looking for a manager who is progressive, attack-minded, favouring possession-based football and most importantly fits into the club culture. Those characteristics are Ten Hag in a nutshell, that’s if you’ve witnessed the astonishing football put on show by the prestigious European club Ajax.

Ten Hag: “23 games unbeaten? It’s a nice streak but it tells me nothing, it’s about trophies."

But do you not enjoy it?

Ten Hag: “I allow 24 hours of joy after a game, not more. After that I want my team fully prepared for the next opponent.”

Winner. Bring him to Spurs. pic.twitter.com/hZp0QfuUGr

— Chris (@CatenaccioChris) April 26, 2021

Tottenham know all about Ten Hag following their closely-contested Champions League semi-final against his Ajax side in 2019.

Since taking over for Marcel Keizer in December 2017, Erik Ten Hag has been a revelation at Dutch giants. In fact, it would have been difficult for anyone to do a better job. The Dutch manager scraped Ajax back into the title race in his first season in the dugout, only missing out on the league title by four points, and since then has won the Eredivisie, gotten his team to the UEFA Champions League semi-final and now looks set to win the league all over again. That has all culminated in an outrageous 74% of his matches won since the tail-end of 2017. 

Ten Hag favours a possession-based style of play and that would be a certain change of direction from Jose Mourinho’s dinosaur-style tactics. Ajax are a side who press high-up the pitch, looking to win the ball back as quickly as they can. The Premier League viewing numbers would sky-rocket simply as a result of such exciting and progressive style of football, and Erik Ten Hag will be a massive contributor to that. Like some of the candidates on this list, Ten Hag has experience of winning trophies and challenging at the top level every year.

He’d be a wonderful candidate to bring to North London.

Marcelino, Athletico Bilbao

According to various reports, not least The Athletic, Tottenham have contacted the representatives of Athletic Bilbao manager Marcelino. He’s only been in his current role since January, but has already garnered many plaudits for his managerial style, philosophy and tactics. The club currently sit 10th in La Liga, though Marcelino has brought much improvement after their disastrous start to the campaign under predecessor Gaizka Garitano.

Of his 24 La Liga games since his appointment, Bilbao have only lost five and much of that is down to the pragmatic counter-attacking style that Marcelino operates under. His philosophy may not win many plaudits in North London, after the exploits of former boss Jose Mourinho, but Marcelino has picked up a very favourable reputation of influencing his players to perform to the best of their abilities in every game. He also has a decent CV on his resume leading the club to an unprecedented Supercopa de España triumph over Barcelona in January, as well as a Copa Del Rey triumph with former employers Valencia in 2019, a club he was very unfortunate in being sacked.

Since then, he’s also lost the last two finals to Barcelona in April 2021 and Real Sociedad in the delayed 2020 final due to the coronavirus pandemic. Though, that shouldn’t derail his chances of picking up a job at a much bigger side. Like Hasenhüttl, you could argue that Marcelino could do really well providing he holds more quality in his weaponry. Athletic Bilbao may not be amongst the biggest in Spain, but they are a prestigious, well-run club and Marcelino has exemplified those hallmarks in the little time he’s been at the helm.

It is claimed that, although Marcelino is under contract until 2022, clauses within his contract could allow him to leave for an affordable compensation fee this summer. A risky, outside bet but its one Daniel Levy will have no qualms in pursuing.

Rafael Benitez

Former Liverpool, Chelsea and Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez is eyeing a swift return to management in the Barclays Premier League and Tottenham Hotspur could represent the perfect opportunity for him to make his mark once again.

Benitez has been unemployed since ending his 18-month stint with Chinese club Dalian Pro in January and is back at his family home near Liverpool and holds an impressive CV that any young manager today will look to in much admiration.

He enjoyed a six-year spell with Liverpool, famously winning the Champions League in 2005 as well as the FA Cup a year later, and won the Europa League as Chelsea’s interim manager in 2013. The Spaniard is also loved in Newcastle after returning the club to the Premier League in 2017 before recording finishes of 10th and 13th on a limited budget.

He was criticised for his defensive approach at Newcastle, but there is an argument that the Spaniard could only work with the best he had on Tyneside, on a limited budget with only a few above-average footballers. The defensive, counter-attacking style was him making use of the players he had. If he does become Spurs boss, there is no doubt Benitez will make his mark again. He’ll surely be backed in the transfer market and will more than likely be given the freedom to work his magic, the way he wants to but more importantly, his experience in challenging for trophies and possibly getting Spurs back into the Champions League are targets he is more than capable in fulfilling.

“The priority is England,” Benitez told The Sunday Times. “Why? Because obviously I like the Premier League and my family is here.

“I have a lot [of offers] from the Emirates, United States, Brazil, China, but I want to stay in Europe. And I want to stay in England.

“If it’s the right one, we can do it tomorrow but the project, the competitive team, is not there at the moment so we have to wait.

“But I don’t want to stay without working. I want to be on the pitch as soon as possible.”

Tottenham are available, Benitez is available and hungry to return. Makes perfect sense right?

Ralf Rangnick

If Tottenham are due to look at one of the protege’s of the Ralf Ragnick style of football in Ralph Hasenhüttl, then why not turn to the teacher himself?

Rangnick has become quite the enigma in European football. He led the Hoffenheim project between 2006 and 2011, then guided Schalke into the Champions League semi-finals in 2011.

The German quit just months later citing exhaustion and tiredness, and his only managerial roles since then have been with RB Leipzig, taking interim charge for two separate seasons.

Rangnick most recently held a position with Red Bull and their football output, and his name always seems to come up for big jobs before falling away for some reason or another, such as with AC Milan last summer. At the age of 62, time may well be running out for the pioneer of the modern German game to test himself at the highest level once again.

Tottenham may well admire him, according to various reports but the thought of him working with Daniel Levy, considering their two strong characteristics seems a stretch in the imagination. However, you’d be mad to turn down the opportunity of recruiting one of the most respected names in the modern era of management.

He would bring an exciting brand of football to Spurs having been tabbed as the inspiration for Jurgen Klopp’s brand of football, and Spurs fans may be interested in that sort of change after Mourinho.

It’s not only Jurgen Klopp using him as a driving force in his management, but highly-rated coaches such as Marco Rose, Adi Hütter, Sebastian Hoeness and Julian Nagelsmann — have embedded his school of thought at teams across the Bundesliga. The dominant style of German soccer now — the one exported beyond the Bundesliga’s borders by the likes of Thomas Tuchel and Ralph Hasenhüttl — is the same style Rangnick advocated and brought to the fore two decades ago.

Rangnick transformed the way his teams played — either as a coach or as a technical director — because he importantly influenced the structure behind them. He left Red Bull in the summer, but a much-anticipated move to A.C. Milan never materialized. Wherever he lands next — ideally, he has said, in England or Germany — he will expect to do the same and Spurs are in dire need of a transformation, a fresh sense of direction after falling somewhat, into the abyss.

Who better to lead them into a new era and culture than the man who formed the one currently thriving in Germany?

Massimiliano Allegri

Tottenham need stability, shrewdness and an identity. Look no further than the man who provided two of the biggest clubs in Italy just that during his spells at both AC Milan and Juventus. Six Serie A titles, including the five-in-a-row he won at Juventus between 2015 and 2019 and four Coppa Italia’s and three Supercoppa Italiana’s. Decorated.

Max Allegri seems the perfect tonic for Tottenham. Out of work for a couple years now, there may no better time for to come back into management than now, and that’s at Spurs. The North London club are a perfect club to drive into the biggest stages and a club hoping to make their mark amongst the elite in the next five years. Allegri holds a winning mentality, a shrewdness and discipline to his approach that players will be willing to work under, players such as Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg who could make the step up to an all-round, high-calibre, extra-terrestrial defensive midfielder under Allegri’s management.

Known for his tactically fluid style, Allegri’s teams play a more patient, possession-based game. His Juventus teams would regularly switch between a 4-2-3-1 and 3-5-2 system during matches depending on the opponent and how much attacking pressure he felt he needed to exert.

A lot of people have mentioned his lack of speaking good English, which may prove a stumbling block for interestd parties. However, it is thought that during his time away from the game, Allegri has studied the English game, culture and language and is certainly ready to manage in the Barclays Premier League.

Silverware in every season with Juventus will be an appealing ingredient for Tottenham, who have not won a thing since the 2008 League Cup, you could imagine what could have been had Allegri managed the club going into the Carabao Cup final with Manchester City. The Italian has an amazing track record and could well be the man to put the club back on the right track if he was granted the opportunity to return to football with Spurs as his next project.

Defending champions Manchester City arrive at Wembley looking to secure their fourth successive Carabao Cup trophy by beating Tottenham Hotspur, who have been commonly derided for their lack of trophies in recent years and are now just one win away from their first major honour since winning this competition back in 2008.

Spurs head to Wembley under the command of interim manager Ryan Mason following the sacking of Jose Mourinho and Mason’s first game in charge saw his side beat Southampton 2-1 on Wednesday night. What will probably be his biggest match of his short interim manager role, he comes up against serial trophy winner Pep Guardiola, although the Manchester City boss without influential midfielder and key man Kevin De Bruyne. Tottenham could well also be without a key figure in Harry Kane as he faces a race against a time to be fit for Sunday’s showdown.

Still, there will be some intriguing and exciting talents on show as we pick out five key battles that could prove pivotal in deciding who takes home the Carabao Cup trophy:

Harry Kane v Ruben Dias

The best striker in the country up against arguably the best central defender in the county, in what he’s first campaign in the English top-flight. Ruben Dias has enjoyed a remarkable breakthrough season under the tutelage of Pep Guardiola. The Portuguese captain has proven a vital component in City’s defence, vastly improving the performances, the defensive nous and abilities of those around him especially John Stones.

Dias has got to be a sure bet for player of the year come the end of the season, and will be vitally key to City’s hopes of claiming a fourth successive Carabao Cup triumph by trying to stop the best striker in the country in Harry Kane, that’s if Tottenham’s talisman is fit to start the game.

Tottenham’s feint hopes of lifting this trophy rests on his shoulders.

Pierre Emile Hojbjerg v Phil Foden

Tottenham’s key men may well be Harry Kane and Hueng-Min Son, but midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg has enjoyed a stellar campaign in Tottenham’s midfield despite their struggles under Mourinho this campaign. Recording the most tackles won in the division and a player who can be relied upon to set the tone and standard for his teammates to follow.

However, the Danish international could have his work cut out when he comes up against one of England’s most promising players right now in Phil Foden. The 20-year-old scored his 14th goal of what’s been a spectacular campaign against Aston Villa in midweek, and you wouldn’t bet against him overcoming the difficult challenge of coming up against one of the Premier League’s most destructive midfielders.

Phil Foden has arguably come up against tougher challenges than Hojbjerg, and reigned supreme. Can he do it again come Sunday?

Son Hueng-Min v Kyle Walker

This will be a tough stone-cold battle between two established players and former teammates. Son Hueng-Min will be hoping he can finally lift his first trophy in a Tottenham shirt against Manchester City, and also stop them coveting a trophy once again. He did just that in Tottenham’s route to the Champions League final in 2019, scoring twice at the Etihad in a thrilling encounter where Tottenham came out triumphant on away goals to set up a semi-final date with Ajax, despite losing on the night 4-3.

Hueng-Min Son came out on top that night. England international Kyle Walker will be hoping he ends up on the winning side once again come Sunday.

Riyad Mahrez v Sergio Reguilon

There’s no doubt about it, Riyad Mahrez is one of the Premier League’s most successful foreign imports ever to grace the division, and if City win this final, it would be the Algerian’s seventh major honour in English football. A terrific and tricky footballer who will feel he can aid City’s trophy chase in the absence of key man Kevin De Bruyne.

He’ll be up against Spanish left-back Sergio Reguillon who’s gone through a somewhat mixed season in North London, but has shown that he has what it takes to play at the top level especially joining from Real Madrid last summer. Reguillon has shown why Mourinho poured everything to sign him, but not on a consistent basis. However, a tremendous showing against Southampton in midweek will do his confidence the world of good heading into Sunday’s finale.

Tanguy Ndombele v Rodri

Arguably Tottenham’s most improved player this campaign. After enduring a difficult spell when Mourinho first stepped through the door at the club, its safe to say that Ndombele is a much better player despite the Portuguese being forced to walk out again. If Tottenham are to achieve their aim of ending their long trophy haul against City, they’ll need to put in their most complete performance of the season and Ndombele will play a vital role in that. The Frenchman has the talent in his locker, but can he now translate that on a more consistent basis, when his club need it most?

Ndombele will come up against another improved performer in Rodri, who has taken his defensive game to another level under Guardiola this season. There’s a reason why City hold the best defence in the country, and that’s down to the stark improvements and levels of maturity in the Spaniard’s game, becoming an assured and commanding presence in front of City’s back-line. He’s also become a much more confident and well-rounded component in possession of the ball, arguably living up to his billing, as the next in line to Barcelona’s Sergio Busquets.

May the best midfielder win.

Let’s forget about the European Super League talk for now. As ridiculous as it is, its wasted energy.

On a more pleasing note, Manchester United made it five wins on the bounce in the Premier League, for the first time since January 2019 beating 3-1 Burnley at Old Trafford last Sunday. It means Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men are now eight points adrift of Champions-elect Manchester City, with six games to play.

It took a while for United to get going, but we’ve seen it all before, its been a hallmark of their game for much of this campaign. While many may see it as a frustrating element in Solskjaer’s ‘almost there’ team, there can be no doubts that this current Manchester United crop is making giant strides forward.

They’ve already matched their points tally for last season, and are on course to not only surpass it but also on course to finish in an second place, for the first time since Mourinho achieved it in 2018, considering where the team is in their development under Solskjaer.

As we’ve seen this season, United are a weird and difficult team to pin down when analysing their patterns of play, when they are bad, they are bad but when they are on song, they are indeed a force to reckoned with. They’ve scored the second most goals in the league this season, and that’s a further representation of their giant strides to where they want to be in the near future, fighting for the prestigious titles once again but there’s still a lot of work to be done, especially in some elements of their defending.

But, as stated previously when United are in the mood in attack, they are an irrepressible force. Take their goals against Burnley for an exhibition or their impressive and complete showing at Tottenham. Exciting, free-flowing moves that leaves you wondering what would have been had they stayed consistent throughout the season.

Had United started the season better the title race may have been even closer, with the Red Devils having lost just once in their past 26 league games after slipping to three defeats in their first six.

Solskjaer’s men showed the perseverance, patience and never-say-die attitude when things weren’t falling for them in both games against Burnley and Tottenham, characteristics you’d find in potential title winners, and that’s down to the characters in the team.

Bruno Fernandes, Harry Maguire, Marcus Rashford, Edinson Cavani, Luke Shaw and Scott McTominay to name a few, though one man whose name has dragged through the mad in recent years throughout his time at Old Trafford, a player who we all know, on his day is amongst the most pleasing and attractive midfield performers in the world, Paul Pogba.

We know how good he is, and how great he can be, but with his immediate future at Old Trafford up in the air, and his controversial super-agent continuing to needlessly flaunt his services around, there’s been a requirement and an expectation on Pogba to get his head down and focus on his football, and that he has done with admirable aplomb.

No doubt about it, when Paul Pogba has played for Solskjaer this season, he’s proven that he is indeed a big-time performer. 5 goals and 6 assists this season may be perceived as small-time numbers for a player of Paul Pogba’s individual qualities and talents, but we must remember, for much of the season he’s suffered with injuries and niggles, especially being tested positive for COVID-19 earlier in the season.

Let’s be honest here, Manchester United are better team with the Frenchman starring in it. So far this campaign, he’s come up with the goods in key moments. His goals against West Ham and Burnley in December and January. His superb strike against Fulham at Craven Cottage to drag United to a pivotal and priceless three points, and his winner against AC Milan at the San Siro, an indication that Pogba does indeed turn up when United and Solskjaer need him most.

For much of Pogba’s career at Old Trafford, he’s been criticized and accused of shirking under the weight of expectation, and flattering to decieve at the pivotal moments for United, ever since he was bought by his current ‘enemy no.1’ Jose Mourinho in 2016. Indeed, there are some truths to those criticisms, we know who those critics are infact, pundits like Garth Crooks, Roy Keane and Graeme Souness to name the main culprits. We know how good Pogba can be, and at times he has gone into hiding when United need him most.

But its different now, he’s playing under a coach who knows him inside-out, having coached him during his youthful years at the club. This season, when Pogba has been in the spotlight, he’s been spectacular to watch. Whether that’s because he knows this will be his last campaign at the club, he’s finally giving his all, who knows? But who’s benefitting? Both parties, both Pogba and Manchester United. There’s still the slimmer of hope, that if United do end this current campaign, having caught up to City to a more pleasing degree in the Premier League table and win the Europa League, that the Frenchman may be persuaded to stay.

Nonetheless, the midfielder has shown that there is more to him than the goals and assists we know he can contribute to the cause. He’s provided four assists in his last five games, taking the weight off Bruno Fernandes’ shoulders in the creative department, but his performances over the past couple months has been excellent, especially in the last couple weeks.

Paul Pogba’s game by numbers vs. Burnley:

89% pass accuracy
60% aerials won
34 final third passes
9 attempted long passes
8 successful long passes
4 ball recoveries
4 attempted take-ons
3 successful take-ons
3 fouls suffered
3 switches
2 clearances
1 assist

Outstanding. 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/ImlzHkcbPC

— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) April 18, 2021

You can tell the difference when Pogba is on the pitch and when he is not. In his absence, Solskjaer’s team have looked at times aimless, lacking in imagination especially when Bruno Fernandes has his rare off-days. But with Pogba, United look purposeful, assured, confident and an attractive proposition. Against Tottenham, United were stunning to watch, the football mesmerising and much of that was down to the Frenchman’s craftsmanship. Lining-up on the left of the three in Solskjaer’s customary 4-2-3-1 behind Edinson Cavani, Pogba was afforded the freedom to roam infield and carry United forward, coupled with the defensive responsibility, but more importantly putting in a man-of-the-match performance.

Before we get to his irresistible assist for Mason Greenwood. Take his assist – which should have stood by the way after McTominay’s supposed foul on Hueng-Min Son – for Edinson Cavani, caressing a sublime pass through the legs of Serge Aurier for the Uruguayan to clinically dispatch past Hugo Lloris. A fine example of the kind of delightful attributes Pogba offers United when creating chances, he’s capable of the extraordinary, the outrageous and his assist for United’s third was sumptuous.

Leaving Eric Dier and Pierre-Emile Højbjerg in their wake with the effortless dribbling and deceptive movement that is tailor made for a player of his standing, it was a special moment in front of a manager who once made up his mind that Pogba wasn’t good enough to grace his own team a few years ago. Now, Pogba is enjoying his football, like that kid who wowed the whole of Europe during his days at Juventus.

His performance against Tottenham last week was a perfect ‘look at me now’ statement to Mourinho, but we’ve always known Pogba to be capable of those exceptional moments. When United perform those subtle, intricate and entertaining passing moves on the edge of the penalty area, its down to the understanding and ability to operate in tight spaces that Pogba possesses (Fred’s equaliser a fine example). Give Pogba that freedom, release the shackles from him and he will create chances like the first-class technician we know he is.

His dribbling effortless, the step-overs and deceptive footwork so exquisite, so in tune with an unintentional, majestic and harmonious orchestra, the way in which he dazzles past his opponents whilst driving with the ball at his feet is an elegant but frightening sight.

6.57 progressive passes, 6.01 progressive carries, 2.16 dribbles completed, 5.64 final third passes per 90minutes is truly indicative of the impact and the unique dimension that Pogba provides in United’s attacking play. He is delightful, especially when attempting those long-raking passes in order to dissect the tightest defences. His defensive contributions are as stark too: 1.91 tackles, 2.41 aerial duels won, 1.41 blocks, 0.81 interceptions and a staggering 13.61 attempted pressures shows Paul Pogba is the all-action, complete midfielder a club of Manchester United’s traditions and stature have daringly demanded.

It’s imperative he stays fit until the end of the season, because with him on the pitch Manchester United always have a chance of winning games, and who can put it past them to capture the Europa League trophy come May? We don’t know where Pogba’s immediate future lies, but his performances right now is what the focus should be. We are seeing the best of the Frenchman once again, and long may it continue. It’s evidently clear, Solskjaer’s men are a much more complete unit when Paul Pogba graces the field.

Not many teams go to the Etihad stadium and come out the other end victorious – sure, fierce rivals Manchester United achieved that feat only a few weeks ago, but so few of the so-called ‘smaller sides’ runaway victorious in Guardiola’s territory the way Leeds United did.

You certainly won’t be scolded for lauding Leeds as one of those ‘smaller teams’ but the way they so clinically dispatched of Guardiola’s much changed, but still star-studded team can certainly be placed in one of the highlight-reels of an otherwise strange but unpredictable campaign. A result which took them to ninth in the Premier League table on 45 points.

Leeds United not only showed that they are a force to be reckoned with under the highly reputable Marcelo Bielsa, that they can triumph against ‘better’ teams but that they are a team soundly built for a full assault on regular Premier League participation for years to come.

Marcelo Bielsa praised his ‘rebellious’ Leeds United team for their ‘spirited’ display against runaway league leaders Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.

The Whites went down to 10 men in the first half but still managed to secure a famous 2-1 win thanks to a Stuart Dallas brace.

The midfielder opened the scoring in the 42nd minute after being set up by Patrick Bamford. Just minutes later, defender Steve Cooper saw red for a dangerous tackle on City forward Gabriel Jesus. In the second half, Leeds – a man down – managed to keep their opponents at bay until the last 15 minutes when Ferran Torres sent a first-time effort past Illan Meslier to end his goalscoring drought for City.

But the heroic Dallas bagged an injury-time winner for Leeds after a flowing counter-attack to take them up to 45 points in the Premier League.

Reacting to the victory, Bielsa told BBC Sport:

“I think we have to link the victory to the spirit of the players. The spirit of all the players added together creates a uniform effort. It’s very difficult to win games like today. I think we deserved it but the fair thing would have been for City to win it because they had the dominance and the chances.

“From the adversity and effort of the players it was emotional for me. It was a rebellious team. They weren’t resigned to lose what we had at play.”

Bielsa was spot on with his assessment. Throughout his tenure at the club, he’s instilled belief, desire, courage and a bravery in their game that so few can in the division match.

Tremendous performance from Leeds United. They are one of the success stories of this season. Every single player is a testament to the rich ethos of the club. Hard work, desire, graft and a sheer mentality. They showed all of those characteristics today.

Brilliant. #MCILEE

— Anthony ⚽️🎙 (@antzhumbleent) April 10, 2021

At the Etihad, Leeds were indeed ‘rebellious’, and full of ‘spirit’, even when the odds were stacked against them after going a man down, they still held the energy levels, the desire and determination to defy the odds, to upset the order, the hallmarks of what Leeds United as a club have represented throughout their decorated history.

Teams are not generally beating Manchester City. And teams do not beat Guardiola’s men in the face of such a ripe disadvantage. It is one thing preparing to play against City’s methods when the odds are even but another thing to confront them in circumstances which threaten the inevitable.

But that’s what’s so good, exciting and admirable of this Leeds team, they never give in. They’ll keep on fighting. From the first minute against Bielsa’s team to the last, you’re in a nerve-wrecking, gut-wrenching battle.

Match winner Stuart Dallas insisted after the game that there is always belief in Leeds’ squad that they can upset the odds wherever they play.

“You’ve just got to look at the game on Saturday,” the Northern Ireland international told Sky Sports News. “We went to Manchester City to win the game, whether people call us crazy or naïve that’s their opinion.

“He (Bielsa) showed a belief in us that we can go to these places and get a result. Of course we’re not going to win the league but we’re more than capable of putting in a performance and we’ve shown that throughout the season.”

Rightly so, its the manager who instills belief in his team but when a team possesses players like Stuart Dallas running around like never-ending freight train, impacting the energy and intensity levels of those around him, the manager’s job becomes much easier and that is certainly the case at Elland Road.

Much of the talk, as we approach the tail end of a remarkable Premier League season, has been about Marcelo Bielsa’s immediate future at the club, which will leave most Leeds fans at the edge of their seats sweating with nervousness and hope.

Bielsa has his detractors. Their visit to Old Trafford in December which ended in a 6-2 defeat had his critics furious at why a coach could be praised for such a thrashing after employing tactics that left his players exposed, but his players didn’t care, nor did Bielsa himself. They’ve kept plugging away and look at what they have achieved six months from that result.

Whether Bielsa is at the helm in the immediate future or not, he’s already laying the groundwork for the club to be a long-term success, and it is why owner Andrea Radrizzani believes that this club will continue to grace the Premier League with their ‘spirited’ and ‘rebellious’ characteristics for the long haul.

Borussia Dortmund’s Erling Braut Haaland is currently the most talked about player in the world right now. With the striker’s future up in the air, the club’s immediate future playing at the top level in Europe has gone up in smoke as Dortmund fell victim on Matchday 27 to another striker currently making tremendous waves under the radar, Eintracht Frankfurt’s Andre Silva.

It’s quite poetic that the man who may have denied Borussia Dortmund a top-four Bundesliga finish this campaign is also being talked up as the perfect alternative to the Erling Haaland to grace a host of top European outfits in need of a reliable goalscorer, most notably Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Manchester United.

Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester City, Liverpool and United are all hot on the trails of Haaland, and while Solskjaer may be prioritising the capture of his compatriot, there is no guarantee Haaland will choose to join his former manager at Old Trafford, especially if Dortmund demand an astronomical fee.

United cannot afford to place all their efforts on signing the Norwegian this summer, there’s another goal-machine in the Bundesliga who has enjoyed as good a season as Erling Haaland and is arguably quite more experienced on the European stage, that is 23-goal striker Andre Silva.

Whilst the Haaland fired a blank as Dortmund fell to a 2-1 defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt at the start of April, who occupy the last Champions League spot and now sit seven points ahead of the Yellow Blacks in the Bundesliga table with six games to go, it was Andre Silva continuing his fine form in front of goal putting Dortmund to the sword with a real poacher’s header in the 87th minute from a Filip Kostic cross at the Signal Iduna Park.

Frankfurt’s no.33 has now hit – at the time of writing – 23 goals from 26 Bundesliga games, an astonishing record, with four assists to add to his goal tally. His winning goal against Dortmund means been involved in more league goals (27) than Erling Haaland (26) and only four less than Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski, who has struck 35 goals and six assists.

His goal scoring exploits of late, including his strike against fellow Champions League hopefuls Wolfsburg in an enthralling 4-3 win was a pointed message to everyone focusing on the abilities of Haaland, that the Portuguese hotshot is just as good as the Norwegian, and his numbers so far this season testify to that fact. Haaland may well be the talk of the town but Andre Silva deserves as much acclaim and hype too.

Since joining from AC Milan, Andre Silva has produced 40 goals and 13 assists from 65 appearances having been signed as the successor to Luka Jovic, who returned on-loan from Real Madrid in January. The Portuguese striker has delivered when called upon.

Silva’s consistency throughout the current campaign has been nothing short of superb, never going more than two games without a goal in the German top flight. He has also contributed to almost 50 per cent of his team’s league goals. Aged only 25, Silva still has the peak of his career too come if he can continue in this rich vein of form.

The Portuguese frontman is not only potent at club level, but holds a relatively excellent international goalscoring record with 16 goals in 38 caps for his country and looks set to fire Eintracht Frankfurt into the Champions League for the first time since they lost the European cup final to Real Madrid in 1960.

Silva could also go onto become the most prolific top-flight scorer in the club’s history, if he surpasses Bernd Holzenbein’s record tally of 26 league goals which he set in 1977.

And while Champions League qualification may strengthen and improve the Hessians’ desire and ability to keep their prolific striker, you wouldn’t put it against Andre Silva aiming to try it out at an elite European side once again after previous underwhelming attempts at Sevilla and AC Milan. If there is to be any suitors for his signature this summer, Manchester United should place themselves amongst the interested parties.

Andre Silva has shown this season that he is a reliable goal machine. Manchester United are in desperate need of one if they are to take that step further and sustain a proper challenge for the Premier League title next season. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men are the second top scorers in the English top-flight, but its amazing to note that only Bruno Fernandes (24) and Marcus Rashford (20) have hit double figures for goals this season, and they aren’t traditional strikers.

United need to ease the burden on them both going into next season, as Manchester City are showing when the whole attack chips in with goals, you have a greater chance of bettering the rest – despite them playing without a recognised striker for most of the campaign. From looking at the tally of United’s other attackers, it doesn’t make for telling reading, and probably a strong indication why United aren’t challenging City for the title.

Mason Greenwood, Anthony Martial and Edinson Cavani have scored 18 goals between them all season, eight goals behind Andre Silva’s tally, and it is evidently clear that Solskjaer must go out this summer and get a striker who is guaranteed goals. It’s been an underwhelming campaign for Anthony Martial and Mason Greenwood although the latter has remarkably improved his game without scoring as much as he did last season.

Otherwise, for Anthony Martial its been campaign to forget after hitting 20-odd goals last season, he’s only hit six this season, and to make matters worse he’s suffered a knee injury which could rule him out for the rest of the campaign. His goal involvements has decreased remarkably this season, his xG per 90 reads at 0.40, while last season it read at 0.37 meaning he is contributing less than he was in the previous campaign when United are attacking. 0.09 goals per shot, in comparison to 0.22 last year, Martial’s game has been on the wane for a while now, and Solskjaer may well be losing patience in his main frontman.

It’s clear United need a penalty box poacher, a striker who can come alive in the 18-yard box, they’ve desperately needed one since Robin Van Persie left in 2015. Martial isn’t made for that role, even though his career goal tally for Manchester United is impressive. Edinson Cavani who has spent his career adhering to that poacher’s role with expert aplomb – as shown in his goal against Tottenham – in all honesty isn’t at a similar level right now and the amount of injuries and muscle fatigue he’s suffered so far this campaign is indicative of that despite him being a much needed presence in most games this season. His future isn’t certain at Old Trafford either, with reports suggesting that he is leaning towards continuing his career in Argentina next season.

The Uruguayan has registered seven goals in 20 league games for United, and averages 0.22 goals per shot, around the same figure as Andre Silva’s tally (0.20) but can he be relied upon to fire Manchester United to a Premier League title if he does stay on beyond this summer? Probably not.

That’s where Andre Silva could step in, providing Manchester United do indeed go on to secure Champions League football for next season, the Portuguese hitman will of course represent a much cheaper addition than Erling Haaland’s reported €150million fee. Like Haaland however, Silva has shown he is a striker who can be relied upon to score goals. His npxG (non penalty expected goals) per 90 minutes of 0.59 stands up amongst the best goalscorers around in Europe right now, despite six of his 23 league goals coming from the penalty spot.

The 25-year-old isn’t quite as relentless a penalty-box presence as Haaland but his smart, sharp runs gets him into the right scoring positions frequently and one he’s there, he is more than capable of converting clinically as shown in his superb headed winner against Erling Haaland’s Dortmund. Like the Norwegian and even Robert Lewandowski, the Portugal international is outperforming his npxG of 13.9, and his xGper90 (expected goals) of 18.5 which reflects brilliantly on his finishing and this is already his best scoring season as a professional, considering he’s had chances to shine at Sevilla and AC Milan since his breakthrough at FC Porto. Since the start of 2020, he has scored 33 goals in 53 appearances for club and country across all competitions.

That is a big enough evidence of his exploits in front of goal, albeit disrupted by the pandemic shutdown, to suggest Silva is on more than a hot streak right now. It has indeed taken him time to get to this run of form in his career following an ill-fated move from Porto to AC Milan in the summer of 2017, but now at 25, he appears fully formed and ready for a much bigger stage again.

This campaign has shown also that Andre Silva is more than just a goalscorer, he is a much more rounded and complete presence not just in an around the penalty area but also outside of it. He isn’t afraid to do the dirty work, through his pressing as instructed by his manager Adi Hütter, his relentless energy and his all-round playing linking up with his teammates, especially the likes of Daichi Kamada, Luka Jovic and Filip Kostić. He’s successfully completed 3.12 pressures this season as well as averaging 0.49 tackles plus interceptions which reads better than most centre midfielders in the division. Solskjaer’s need similar workhorses in his weaponry and Andre Silva represents the perfect solution.

Whether his immediate future lies at Manchester United is another matter entirely, though Solskjaer will do well to identify Andre Silva as one of the strikers that could propel the club back to the top of the English football pyramid again. Part of United’s problem this season is the amount of needless and frustrating draws they’ve registered especially against teams in the top six, and with more ruthless and clinical finishing in attack, they could well turn those results into more wins and a more sustainable challenge on Manchester City’s title defence next season. Solskjaer needs to address that issue swiftly and smartly. Andre Silva has done extraordinarily well to rise up from the dark periods in his career to become currently one of the most ruthless finishers in Europe.

With Manchester United looking to add more potency to their weaponry this summer, there’s no doubt that if Silva does indeed end up at Old Trafford for next season, his abilities in front of goal may well be more complemented through a wealth of attacking talents for him to work with and efficiently feed off next season.

Manchester United must act while the iron in Andre Silva’s career is finally heating up.

For the first time in a long while, there isn’t a Liverpool player represented in the England squad for this month’s international friendlies. Is there a need to state the obvious reason? Well, to put it plainly, Liverpool have endured a poor campaign, domestically at least.

Currently, champions Liverpool sit seventh place in the Premier League, twenty-five points behind leaders Manchester City who are running away with a title Liverpool worked effortlessly last year to lift for the first time in 30-odd years. This is historically the worst title defence in English top-flight history, even toppling Manchester United’s post-Fergie defence during the 2013/14 Premier League under David Moyes.

Joe Gomez and Jordan Henderson are of course part of that “squad” on the treatment table, and would have obviously been had they been fully fit. Certainly, a few familiar faces have missed out on receiving Southgate’s call, while others can rejoice at their first cap.

However, the most surprising name missing from the squad is Champions’ League and Premier League winner, Trent-Alexander Arnold.

It’s a decision that has raised a whole host of eyebrows, and not just those around Merseyside.

Gareth Southgate will not have made this decision lightly. However, the England coach says he took the difficult decision to drop Trent Alexander-Arnold because of the right-back’s struggles in his England squad as well as the decline in his performances for Liverpool this season.

The 22-year-old now finds himself behind Kieran Trippier and Reece James in the pecking order at right‑back and possibly also Kyle Walker, who Southgate has played as part of a three centre-back system.

The headlines centred around Southgate suggesting Alexander-Arnold’s club form has dipped this season compared to his two previous campaigns, is unquestionably true.

Whatever viewpoint fans hold towards Southgate’s decision, there can be no argument that its a brave and bold one. Most importantly, its a significant lesson that Southgate is putting across to every England youngster, that players will not be picked on reputation but on club form. If you have not been consistently playing at a high level for your club, there’s a high chance you won’t be picked.

The same cannot be said of Alexander-Arnold’s right-back rivals Kieran Trippier and Reece James who have both enjoyed fruitful seasons for both Atletico Madrid and Chelsea respectively. This is the attitude international coaches need to have, as players will strive to perform for their clubs to earn their England spot. 

Alexander-Arnold can of course feel aggrieved at his omission, but its a decision which is represented through his club’s currently plight so far this season. The numbers involving all three candidates for the right-wing back spot tells its own story, Reece James and Kieran Trippier richly deserve their spots.

Whilst Alexander-Arnold played a major role in Liverpool’s title winning success last season and the season before last, he has struggled for consistency during the current one.

Currently averaging a relatively underwhelming WhoScored match rating of 6.82, the defender has not performed as consistently and as well as Kieran Trippier (7.26) and Reece James (7.00). In comparison to the others, Trent Alexander-Arnold still holds a decent level in his attacking play for his club, shown through his 3 assists so far this season, but its nowhere near the numbers registered last campaign (4 goals, 13 assists).

However, his effect to Liverpool’s attacking play has of course maintained a decent level. He averages 1.7 key passes, 6.80 final third passes and 9.19 progressive passes (completed passes that moves the ball towards the opponent’s goal 10 yards from its furthest point, or passes into penalty area) per90 mins.

For a player of his technical qualities, you’d expect that from Alexander-Arnold, but when Liverpool have needed him to perform in his defending, he’s failed to convince. Klopp has had to suffer the anguish of putting his team out without the likes of Virgil Van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip and that will certainly have a ripping effect on nearly every top side in Europe, but the players that are left, need to step up in their absence.

It’s all well and great being brilliant in attack, but that must be backed up in defense too. It’s probably the main reason why Southgate hasn’t picked him for England and it was particularly evident in their win over Belgium last October where he struggled to cover the space behind him and failed to have an efficient effect in attack when it was needed the most. He was correctly replaced by Reece James in the final 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, Reece James has formed a significant part of Chelsea’s resurgence under Thomas Tuchel, especially in defence where they have kept eight league clean sheets in nine games since the German’s appointment. Kieran Trippier, has also played a massive role in Atletico Madrid’s rise to the top of La Liga this campaign, despite him being banned for a month. Still he’s managed to record six assists and become a solid element of Diego Simeone’s sturdy and rigid defence.

Reece James and Trippier have proven they can be relied upon in defence, and its an element Gareth Southgate will be paying stark attention too before England get their Euro 2020 campaign underway in June. When James, and Trippier have played for England, they’ve wholly impressed.

To get back in the squad, Trent will need to improve his defensive performances, he has only 2.71 tackles won + interceptions per 90 in comparison to Reece James (4.7) and Trippier (3.78). Also, for a player of Alexander Arnold’s size, he hasn’t performed in the air as well as his ground defensive duels, averaging just 0.20 aerial duel successes while James (1.57) and Trippier (1.94) trump him in that area also, despite both possessing short frames. It’s these small margins that Southgate will be looking at and spotting in his defenders. Trent Alexander-Arnold will know he needs to improve in those areas to have any chance of becoming England’s most trusted full-back.

There are no doubts, Alexander-Arnold is the most talented amongst his peers and could probably walk in this squad when he’s on song. He’s been an England success story ever since his surprise inclusion in the Russia 2018 squad and arguably the best right back in Europe let alone England. But selecting an England squad is not like picking a fantasy squad based on glamour and reputation, its about picking and developing a cohesive unit, a squad filled with players becoming a reliable presence in each of their unique roles.

Southgate admitted he needs to “look at himself” as to why he hasn’t got the best out of such a quality individual, but it won’t be right to lay the blame at the manager. Southgate has given the Liverpool full-back numerous opportunities over the past couple years, and for whatever reason, it hasn’t worked out. That’s for Trent Alexander-Arnold to solve.

For now though, Reece James and Kieran Trippier have performed admirably at every opportunity both at national and club level, so their inclusions at the expense of Trent-Alexander Arnold is very much justified.

If Alexander-Arnold desires a path back into the England spotlight, the ball is now in his court.