#the only fans that have a right to be sad are dortmund fans

[swaggypsyduck]

It’s honestly so annoying how these Liverpool “fans”are making the rest of us seem as pathetic as they are. Yes, Jude went to Real Madrid but so what? It happens. We can’t blame him because FSG wasn’t willing to pay the price. Also what good would it have done if we got only one player who costed so much when we can get more players (who are also very talented) for a lower price? Yall seriously need to chill and stop dragging the issue. That’s not what football is about and if you call yourself a Jude fan then you’ll support his decision. It’s clearly the best one for him.

UR SO RIGHT!! ESPECIALLY THAT LAST PART!!! (imma preface this by saying while im a madridista in europe and la liga[2009], im a poolie in the prem[2010], and a bvb fan in the bundesliga[2012]. i'm also gonna take this ask as a time to mini rant so sorry if this wasn't the response u were looking for🫶🏼)

so when i heard the lfc rumors, even before the madrid ones, i was hopeful but i KNEW they wouldn't go anywhere. 1) bc as u said fsg aren't willing to cough up the money. 2) klopp said no and did NOT want to talk about him. 3) jude himself said NOTHING about ANY club. which was very smart on him and his family's part.

what many of these "fans" think is that jude gets all the 103m... no he does not. he is not a free agent. he's a transfer. so when he said it wasn't a money decision in his part he wasn't bullshitting (not completely at least). dortmund were not gonna let him slide off for free. if the highest bidder wants him they'll take the highest bidder.

a good comparison to this situation is the mbappe one happening rn. he "wants to stay for 2024" but psg want him to renew bc if he stays till then then he leaves a free agent and they can't sell him and get money for him.

i hate the inflation prices on young talent. so lfc is technically acting smarter by buying lots of young cheaper talent to train on a smaller budget. lord knows madrid need a proper striker and defensive line😭. do i think fsg need to splurge a lil more? yes. do i think they need 100m for a player? absolutely not.

its not just fans on here its fans everywhere. these were the comments under jude's on trent and hendo's posts...

i don't even want to tackle the shit i see on tikok and twt. like damn clearly yall didn't like him that much in the first place. he never said no... bc lfc... was never... in the running...

anyways imma end this w my new fave combo of pics (not directed at you but it'll piss off the ppl it needs it to):

[cherryxcadbury]

11 with jude please 💖

so ik there were a lot of reqs for #11, but this was the first one I received so this will be my #11;)

2nd person pov

“Why do you have chicken in your purse?” You asked your best friend, Natalia as you both looked on at the pitch.

“Not paying for that over prices stadium shit.” Natalia explained, as she happily ate her chicken nuggets in peace while people began to fill in the seats after half time.

You two were both huge Bayern fans. So when they posted on their social media, a giveaway for two tickets up close to the pitch, it didn’t take much for you two to submit about a thousand entries. And somehow, you guys won.

The score was 0-0, against Bayern’s biggest rivals, Dortmund. In honesty, Dortmund usually tended to get thrashed by Bayern, but they were the biggest competition in the Bundesliga.

“Look! Bellingham!” People called from behind you.

You angled your head and saw as Jude Bellingham was leading the charge back from the break onto the pitch. The nineteen year old captain had even the Bayern fans in awe of him.

“I hate him but he’s hella fit.” Natalia admitted, to which you only nodded in response.

He was good yes. Okay fine. He was really good. But you considered him overrated.

“There are way more options for captains though. I don’t know why the nineteen year old is the captain.” You grumbled, honestly a bit angry because of how close Jude had gotten to assisting.

“Says the one who’s no older than nineteen. Also bro, you know he deserves to be captain. Have you seen the way he is on the field. Captain material. And I say this as a lifelong Villa and Bayern fan.” Natalia responded.

You looked to her to see a brow raised in your direction.

“You’re more competitive than half the players I swear.” Natalia laughed.

“Chicken?” She offered, holding her hand out.

You chuckled before waving her hand away.

“Second half’s about to start.” You mumbled.

“WOOOOO MIA SAN MIA!” Natalia cheered, eliciting more cheers from fellow Bayern fans.

“What does Mia San Mia even mean?” You asked her, as Dortmund made their way up the pitch.

Natalia scoffed and turned to you, “You do not deserve to be wearing that Alphonso Davies kit right now.”

“In my defense, I’m not German!” You exclaimed.

“Y/N! I am literally from fucking Ecuador, I don’t know German either but at least I know Mia San Mia! Fake fa-”

She started to say before being cut off by you. Dortmund’s offense was getting suspiciously close to the Bayern net. You were tempted to grimace as Neur was out with a knee injury, not that his replacement was bad by any means.

The stadium almost fell silent as the ball made it to Bellingham’s feet. He was successful in weaving in and out of players, before the ball was deflected. And it was coming straight at you.

Your worst nightmare. You’d love football since you were a little girl. You’d watch it all the time, with or without your family. The one thing that kept you away from live matches as a kid was potentially being hit by a ball. The thought embarrassed you to no end. And now, it was about to happen, in front of tens of thousands of people.

This was what you deserved for sitting in the front row.

“DUCK!” Natalia screamed into your ear, physically pushing you down.

Luckily the ball didn’t hit you, and went flying to the row behind you. Hitting a poor unsuspecting boy.

“Oh shit.” Natalia looked at the wailing kid sympathetically.

You also felt your heart pang in sadness for the clearly hurt boy. But you also thought it was kind of funny. He’d been kicking the back of your seat for the whole first half. And you wanted to smirk and mention karma, but you were better than that.

You grabbed the makeshift ice pack in your bag, which was really just a bag of a lot of ice you’d bought at the stadium and handed it to the boy’s mother.

“I don’t have much but this might help.” You said, placing the bag in the mother’s hands who smiled at you gratefully.

The boy also thanked you, silently calling a truce.

You and Natalia told the boy jokes to help distract him from the pain but eventually it was drowned out by cheering on your side.

“Turn around!” The injured boy gestured.

You did so and saw Jude Bellingham jogging over to your area. Hence why you could barely hear anything. You turned back to see the gleaming boy, figuring it would probably be easier if he was closer to Jude.

So, you picked the boy up and transferred him to your seat, closer to the pitch, while you climbed over to sit a row behind.

Unbeknownst to you, the kind act did not go unnoticed by Jude, who’d seen it while approaching.

“I’m sorry about that bud.” The footballer smiled apologetically, ruffling the kid’s hair.

The boy just smiled, “It’s okay. You weren’t the last one to hit it anyways.”

“You doing better now eh?” Jude smiled.

“Yeah! She helped me by giving me ice and telling me jokes.” The boy answered, gesturing to you while he spoke.

This caused Jude’s eyes to flicker towards your for a second. A smirk found its way onto his face while you started blushing red.

“Ah well your sister seems very nice.” Jude emphasised the “sister”.

The boy quirked his brow.

“She’s not my sister. She just helped me after the ball hit me.” The child explained. “Ah, should’ve figured based off of the opposing kits.” Jude replied, noticing now that you sported a Bayern kit while the child was decked out in BVB gear.

You turned to Natalia who just sat there smugly, watching it all happen.

“Don’t talk much now do you?” Jude asked you, the smirk ever so present on his face.

You wanted to stop from blushing again. But you couldn’t. Instead you had to switch the topic.

“Don’t you have a game to play smart one?” You shot back, snark in your voice as you forced him to turn back to the field where the players were still waiting.

“If I were you, I’d go back to playing now. The quicker you lose, the quicker you get this over with.” You advised.

That flared some sort of pride and fighting spirit in Jude. He smiled to himself turning to go back to the pitch.

But just before that he looked at you and said, “I’ll show you why I’m the golden boy for a reason.” before stocking off.

Within a few seconds, the game resumed.

“I swear the golden boy was Gavi.” Natalia wondered aloud.

And you couldn’t help but laugh.

Approximately 48 minutes later, the match was at a standstill 2-2. Jude had already smirked in your direction after scoring. You however didn’t return anything because what if he had a girlfriend or something that was directed towards?

“Fuck fuck fuck.” Natalia breathed as Adeyemi made his way up the field.

That boy was faster than lightning.

Adeyemi handed it off to Jude who then passed it to Gio, outside of the box. The American faked Alphonso fucking Davies and shot the ball at such an angle that no one expected a goal out of it. But it was. It was a goal indeed. You bit your lip as Dortmund players and fans alike celebrated, going insane.

You could only think to keep your head down to shield yourself from the embarrassment.

15 minutes later

Most fans had left but you and Natalia hung around to take pictures considering how close you were to the field. Your back was currently facing the pitch as Natalia stood on top a seat to get your optimal angles.

“You look so good!” Natalia smiled, clicking away.

But she stopped abruptly.

You noticed.

“Oh are we done? Should we go now?” You asked her.

“Turn.” She commanded.

You whipped you head around to see Jude Bellingham shirtless. Kit in his hand, elbows leaning against the miniature wall.

“You.” You gulped, waiting to get trashed after seeing the look on his face.

“Unfortunate that you guys lost today.” He smiled.

“Yeah well match fixing’s always a possibility. Sure you know a lot about the match fixing.”

You referenced the interview which got Jude fined in the previous year.

Jude’s smile stayed, turning into an ever present smirk.

“Touché I suppose.” Before handing you his kit.

You grasped it, before looking in disgust.

“I don’t do Dortmund kits.” You tried handing it back to him.

You were actually freaking out on the inside.

“This is a Jude Bellingham kit though.” He bit his lip as he maintained eye contact with you.

“Even worse.”

He just laughed.

“Listen sweetheart. I’d take a good look at that kit before you feed it to the dogs.”

And with that, he winked, jogging into the tunnel.

“You better fucking open that kit.” Natalia commanded, holding it up.

Both your eyes shot to something scribbled in the corner.

Call me;) 49*** *** **** -Jude

Your mouth hung wide open at this point. He was into you.

“W fucking rizz Bellingham. W rizz.” Natalia muttered.

“You’re going to be a WAG Y/N.” Natalia’s hands clamped over her mouth.

You rolled your eyes at your best friend’s wild imagination. But secretly, 99% of you, hoped that what she was saying, was true

[kaivonhabsburg]

Football was never the most important thing

Leon Goretzka about the importance of taking a stance

Things could hardly be going better for Leon Goretzka. He won six titles within a year with FC Bayern München and maybe, but only if everything goes really well, he will add another one with the national team this summer. Before that, he makes a few statements

photographer: Markus Burke for DB MOBIL

We arranged to meet up with Goretzka to show him as he is often perceived these days: a man of supposed opposites. Who pumps in the gym but cycles to training on his girlfriend's ladies' bike. Who demonstrates strength with his powerful stature on the pitch, where the action is sometimes intense, and shows empathy off of it, for example when he collects money for victims of the Corona Virus. The midfielder with the number 18, one often reads, wants to finally lead — at Bayern, in the national team, but also as one of the few athletes who take a stance in agitated times. Not everyone likes his points of view. But the native of Bochum grew up with three sisters, he can deal with pushback. In the studio he slowly opens up, makes jokes; at some point, he waves a flag with the slogan "No football for fascists". Until the photographer has to move a spotlight. Then he gets to the ground and does a set of push-ups.

Mr Goretzka, do you sometimes feel lonely in the football business?

No, what makes you think that?

Because you are regarded as an exceptional professional football player — and as someone who bothers with things that go far beyond football.

I don't believe I'm an exception, but that we have a new generation of player personalities. The categories that [...]

The categories that make me a supposedly “special” professional footballer are outdated. In the past, those things might have made me an outsider. But in my generation, the vast majority are not the clichéd of out-of-touch millionaires people imagine them to be. Of course, there are also negative examples, but fortunately more people tick like me. Not only my friends Serge Gnabry or Joshua Kimmich, with whom I started the fundraising campaign "We kick Corona".

You've been playing in empty stadiums for more than a year now. Do you get used to it?

Unfortunately, yes. But that doesn't mean I don't miss playing in front of fans. On the contrary, ghost games are getting harder and harder to bear. And it should be clear to all of us that it will remain as quiet in the stadiums if professional football makes the wrong decisions for the future. Football without fans simply won’t do. That's why we have to make sure that people are wanting to watch games in the stadium as soon as Corona is over. We agreed at the beginning of the pandemic that this is the right moment to question some negative developments in the football business. But not everyone seems to have understood that. The Super League plans came as a shock to me. With such elitist competitions you don't take a step in the right but in the wrong direction.

Do such excesses make you lose interest in playing football?

No, and it's very important that I keep my enthusiasm. Of course, I'm no longer as carefree as I used to be when I didn't think about the risk of injury whenever I was playing football - as a professional you’re constantly worried. But what made football for me is still there today: the unpredictability. The fact that you understand this game immediately. That everyone can participate and has a fair chance to win. And that everything in football can change within minutes. Just thinking about the derby in Dortmund in 2017, when we were 0:4 down with Schalke and still played 4:4! Immediately gives me goosebumps - still does!

Which match that you watched on TV as a child will you never forget?

The World Cup final in 2002, when I was seven. That was one of the first games I consciously noticed. Oliver Kahn's mistake after he had brought Germany this far in the first place. A tragedy that defines our sport. And despite the sadness, I remember the magic: at the other side of the world there was a football team on the pitch that electrified our entire nation. And I, at home on the sofa, was a small part of that history.

How important was football to you at home?

It was important. But never the most important thing. My dad always told me: If I have to persuade you in any way to go to training, that's it. Then we don't need to make the effort. You have to enjoy it. And that's how it remained. Originally, I didn't even have the motivation to become a professional either. I was just good at it and never could get enough of football — and that's why it went on and on as it did.

You also did your Abitur [TN: A-levels/Highschool Dimploma+AP Courses] on the side.

But if I hadn't really wanted to do that too, it wouldn't have worked. My parents didn't push me. My daily routine was already hefty back then: in the year of my Abitur, I was already playing Champions League with Schalke and therefore missed a lot of lessons, which I had to make up for at home. But I enjoyed school. Especially because it allowed me to move in different circles, outside the football cosmos. I met my best friends during the Oberstufe [last 2 years of school in Germany for people who finish school at the highest tier with an Abitur; grades 10&11].

Have they stayed with you until today?

Yes, just last week I had a visit from one of my best friends from Bochum. I still meet up with all of them whenever I'm in the Ruhr area. They knew me when I was not yet a professional football player or a celebrity. Exchanging ideas and views with them, talking to them, it means a lot to me.

What would you have become if you hadn't become a professional footballer?

I have often thought about that. My friends always say, lawyer or doctor. Lawyer, because I like to discuss everything and anything passionately. Doctor, because I have a great interest in the human body. Who knows if I would have even managed to complete the respective courses of study ...

Currently, many fans have the impression - not only because of the discussion about the Super League, but also with an eye on the World Cup in Qatar, for example - that football is all about money. Does your generation of players need to point the way against this [development]?

Yes, absolutely. I myself want to use the attention and reach that sporting success allowed me to have to put issues on the agenda that need to be discussed. I see that as my task.

What exactly are you targeting?

Above all, racism and xenophobia. Those concern me a lot and I will continue to take a stand on them at every opportunity. Team sport is the perfect symbol for how society should function: It doesn't matter where you come from, what language you speak, or what culture you live in. And I want that to be 100 per cent true for our country.

Where do you not see this accomplished?

I have to admit that racism was not an issue I was conscious of for a long time. I initially went to a Realschule [secondary school] with a very high proportion of pupils with a migrant background and believed that we had left the old prejudices behind us. Until I saw a video from our international match against Serbia in March 2019. In it a spectator insulted Leroy Sané and İlkay Gündoğan in the most vile, racist way. What shocked me most about it was that apart from the brave journalist who took the video, none of the bystanders did anything. That's why I took a clear stance at the press conference the next day. That was the initial spark for me to always speak out in no uncertain manner.

With "You can count on us", the football magazine "11 Freunde" [11 Friends; a kind of “high-brow” football culture magazine] recently launched a campaign against another form of discrimination in the stadium: that of homosexual players. Professional footballers pledged their solidarity if a fellow player came out. No one from FC Bayern did partake.

I thought the campaign was great and I was very happy about the positive response. Should there be another iteration, I can very well imagine that we as a national team or I as an individual would take part.

Philipp Lahm said he would not advise any professional footballer to come out.

I would encourage everyone, assure him of my support, and yet I would understand it if he doesn't dare to. My hope is that players will come out during my active career. And I am sure that the fans, despite all the prophecies of doom, would also deal with the topic much more relaxed than we sometimes think. Our society is often much further ahead than sport when it comes to such issues.

You recently set an example when you called the AfD [Alternative für Deutschland - Alternative for Germany; a faar right political party] a "disgrace for Germany" - and when you met up with Holocaust survivor Margot Friedländer.

I've made big appearances before and I know that millions of people watch my feet. But I have never been as tense as I was before this meeting. It was a privilege to meet this impressive woman. I've been getting a lot of encouragement since I started speaking out about political issues in public. But also a lot of opposition. Unfortunately, the dissenting voices are always more vehement than those of the silent majority who are on your side. That's the other issue that's bothering me right now.

Hate comments on the internet?

Yes. Even as a public figure — I don't have to put up with people insulting me or my family, or even wishing me dead. It's not as if we professional footballers don't notice what gets posted about us. I can deal with it, but this is an ability I had to acquire first. Not everyone can do that. Every few years, on sad occasions, we talk about the pressure put onto players. [most likely refers to two major collective memories in Football Germany: to the case of Sebastian Deisler, and the death of Robert Enke as a result of depression] But only for a week, then the business has to go on, the next match is coming up.

How did you learn to deal with this pressure?

When I was 17 I was already playing at VfL Bochum against relegation to the third division. I was pelted with rubbish in the foyer of my school after we lost 1:6 against Erzgebirge Aue. Or the moment when I announced my transfer from Schalke to Bayern - and then you're standing in front of 60,000 people who hate you at first. These are situations that can break you. There are people who are naturals and others who aren’t so good at it. But it's hardly something you can train.

What can be trained are muscles. Last year you suddenly had a lot of new muscle mass, your biceps was celebrated by your teammates every time they handed you a trophy.

When you get into pressure situations, in the stadium, in a final, you have to be so convinced of yourself that you know there’s nothing that can happen to you. You are strong as a player and as a person. I can say for sure that since I gained these muscles, I go into games with a different feeling. It has literally made me stronger. You can kind of call it a protective cloak.

You became an absolute leader at FC Bayern in the 2019/20 triple season at the latest. Honorary President Uli Hoeneß recently said that at the beginning of your time in Munich, in 2018, people were rather disappointed in you.

Even in my first season, I was one of the best scorers at FC Bayern — as a midfielder. But it's also clear that you become a leading player through performance, work, and time and not by making demands. I wanted to make it here. And I made it here quite quickly.

Unlike many other Bayern stars, you don't live outside in Grünwald [increabily rich municipal close to very rich Munich; well known for its mansion district], but in the middle of the city.

When you play for a club, you also have to get to know the city. I wanted to get to know Munich properly. I love sitting in cafés, preferably in the summer when I can keep my sunglasses on, and just take part in life on the streets. That's how I get away from the big circus. Of course, you get approached from time to time. Or the tabloids make headlines out of me riding my girlfriend's ladies' bike to training. But that’s a price I'm happy to pay for this life.

Do you miss Bochum?

Definitely. I feel very much at home in Munich, but Bochum and the Ruhr area are my home. That's where my friends and my family are. To this day I still try to watch every VfL game. And I can imagine playing there again one day, perhaps at the end of my career. I owe a lot to the club and the city. When I explain Bochum to strangers, I always say: You cry twice when you have to go to Bochum — once when you come and once when you go. The down-to-earthness, the social cohesion there is indescribable. That's what makes Bochum special. That's what makes the Ruhr area so special.

Your father was an Opelaner. [employee of the car manufacturer Opel]

Yes, I come from a real working-class family. I experienced first-hand what the closure of the Opel plant meant for the people. My father had to basically help closing down the plant where he had spent his entire working life — and then he had one last breakfast with his colleagues in the ruins. To witness that is very humbling. When I read the applications from charities and social associations on the "We kick Corona" donation platform last year, I was blown away. The solidarity and commitment in these difficult times really touched me. Once again, you understand how lucky we are in our professional football world.

Soon, not only the “era Joachim Löw” will come to an end, but also Angela Merkel's chancellorship. Do you already know who you'll be voting for in the Bundestag elections?

Of course, I do. But which party is a secret. I still have one hope for the election: that the AfD, which has repeatedly proven in the pandemic that it is not an alternative, loses as many votes as possible. If I'm allowed to play for our country, I want to play for our values and constitution, not for a country that hasn't paid attention in history. Black, red, and gold are the colours of democracy, not those of the right!

Will you miss Joachim Löw?

Absolutely. He has done great things for Germany.

Are you really looking forward to the European Championship after such an exhausting season?

At the moment, without fans, the joy of football is rather subdued. But this is my first European Championship and I'm really looking forward to the tournament. Also because, unlike at the 2018 World Cup, I can now play a more important role.

Do you want to be one of the leaders in the national team now, too?

Definitely. I would say that, like at Bayern, I’m now able to take responsibility in the national team. And I'm optimistic that we'll play a good European Championship, despite the recent setbacks.

What will you do if the European Championship is still cancelled?

Go to the Olympics and play there. I've only won Olympic silver, the gold medal is still missing!

source: DB MOBIL 06/2021 https://dbmobil.de/leute/interviews/fussball-war-nie-das-wichtigste

[spotofimagines]

Rivals Last ~ Jadon Sancho

A/N: So I had this in my drafts before he signed with man united but that's fine, we move, we adapt. A third piece for the @footballffbarbiex summer challenge. Hope you enjoy it :)

Warnings: none - reader is female

Summary: You love both your brothers dearly, but being in the football world with them can make some things a little complicated.

gif by @archivesbvb - gif by @ermuellert - gif by @italynt

Being a footballer meant living in a special world. Being in a footballing family meant living in a special world too. Being the younger sister of Lucas and Theo Hernandez meant living in a really special world. But nobody told you just how crazy it would be for all three of those things to apply to you.

You truly love watching your older brothers play football. They teach you something new during every match you see; even though you play as a striker, their movements and handling of the ball always inspire you to play better. After all, it was their defensive skills that helped you become a good goal scorer growing up since they never let a tackle go unchallenged in the park and you had to find out how to manoeuvre around them. A lot easier said than done.

Currently Lucas is signed with Bayern Munich. In his time there so far, he has learnt the heritage, history, and importance of wearing the badge and defending its honour in every match they play, especially derbies. Having supported Lucas, it quickly became easy for you to support Bayern Munich too and celebrate their victories like it was your own team. You'd always managed to do it with the clubs both your brothers played for, letting the atmosphere of the fanbase carry you away.

You have just finished your second season in England with Manchester City women's team. You'd settled in nicely now, having learnt a lot of the English language and culture already. The experience was made so much easier because of the help given by your welcoming teammates and the staff that translated things into French and Spanish during your first months there.

Fans were a little disappointed during the 2019 summer transfer window when it was confirmed all three Hernandez siblings would be leaving Spain to play separately in England, Germany and Italy, joking that no one could know what might happen with you all so far away. However, to you, it made things easier, as Lucas and Theo would stop making so many awful jokes about each other's clubs, only to join forces to diss your club even more afterward. Now the only connection you have to the clubs you all play for is the want for your sibling to win with them. And it is a great feeling. A welcome change of pace.

But no new change to your life felt as good as your blossoming "relationship", situationship, whatevership, you have with Jadon Sancho.

It all started with you flirting back and forth on social media, which turned itself into countless hours of DMs no one else could see. You congratulated his goals and he congratulated your wins. All the light-hearted teasing and the warm-hearted compliments stayed in your own little bubble. The only thing peeking out was your silly inside rule that if you were going to comment on a post, it had to be emojis only, stretching to a few words if you really couldn't help yourself - but it would earn you taunts from the other for the rest of the night.

Some eagle-eyed fans noticed how you'd been liking each other's posts every time they appeared for a while now, but it just added to the fun and thrill you got from flirting with him so much.

You weren't meant to be forming a bond with Jadon. He played for your brother’s rival. He was supposed to be the enemy. Someone you should dislike with a snap of your fingers. Certainly not a boy to fall for like you have.

You couldn't help yourself. Lucas and Theo had helped you since you moved to England by being the steady rocks they always were, cheering you on from afar. Your new teammates had helped you since you moved to England by introducing fun things for you all to do together and taking you under their wings. But Jadon had helped you in a different kind of way. He gave you a new kind of comfort and reassurance when you talked. He became someone to turn to with all your interesting news and your curious problems. He told you the good places to visit around the city that he remembered from his time there and taught you English slang to make your teammates laugh. You spoke three languages to varying degrees now, and you'd managed to pick up more German vicariously through Lucas in two years faster than Jadon had done living in Germany in four years, so you'd clue him into rude German phrases you had asked Lucas about, alongside the French and Spanish swear words he used more often than English ones now when you text. 

Even though a language barrier comes up once in a while, you have both learnt behaviours from each other and crave the contact you share. Jadon was starting to drop everything to send replies to you, a change his teammates have noticed and jokingly mock him for. Little did they know the unknown girl they joke he is smitten over is the sister of their rival.

Theo is the one in your family you usually tell about the boys you go out with; boyfriends and dates have been shared with him since you were 13 and doting on your first crush. He does the same with his girlfriends; asking advice and telling you more than you need to know at times. So, when you all went home for a bit of family time around Christmas, nothing could stop him from noticing the tell-tale signs that you had something going on. He already figured out through persistence that it was another player you were getting involved with, and his insistent questioning hasn't stopped in his search for who the player is.

But you keep it hidden from Lucas, and you don't know when you'll tell him. He has been your protector since you were kids, comforting you on sad nights when no one else was there, teaching you little secrets about how to navigate through the world, he even punched a boy who teased you once at school. The idea of telling him you were chatting romantically to another player would be trouble enough, but telling him it was a Dortmund player might just end up in another schoolground incident. You hadn't wanted Theo to know for fear he'd go dishing your dirt to Lucas, but he discovered it on his own and there was nothing you could do.

Who knows what might become of this thing you have with Jadon, and lord knows your eldest brother owns a hard as nails death stare that just might do Jadon in, but for now you actually quite like having the secret. A little mystery tucked away up your sleeve.

The rush you always get when Lucas calls your phone as you're typing a text to the Englishman,  feeling as though the first words from the other end will be shouts of how he knows everything and he'll never speak to you again for keeping it a secret, fills you with dread at times. But it never is the reason he calls, and it turns out he is just making plans or has something funny to tell you. But the way your heart thumps as you go back to texting Jadon, that is part of the chase you have to admit you enjoy.

Hardcore fans online have noticed the past few months that when you do interviews in English, the odd slang term comes up during jokes - terms you hadn't used before and stem more from London boroughs than northen towns - so speculation of how you'd learnt these things easily coincided with dating rumors.

Lucas had seen the speculation online; seen fans trying to put your interactions with the Dortmund player together through both your instagram stories and comments and the tweets you both had liked about the other. Lucas had even grown suspicious of the little questions you asked him about Germany, German phrases and his lifestyle there, not knowing why you would need nor want to know those things. But Lucas doesn't believe it. He knows that you know better to mix with a Dortmund boy.

Sometimes an older brother just doesn't get it quite right…

Soon, the chance will come to really see if your connection is something you can build on. Jadon's new signing with Manchester United has been confirmed and he will be moving back to England. It is a great opportunity to get to see him more often, rather than the odd rendezvous point or clandestine trip during small breaks in the season. You'll spend more time face to face instead of over the phone. You'll get to wake up in his bed and him in yours, without needing to sneak away from hotel rooms afterwards. You'll maybe even get to go on a proper date, just the two of you, where you can flirt across the table your joined hands rest upon. Hanging out with Jadon won't be the first time you've spent time together in person. However, getting a full day with only the two of you where you won't have to pretend you hardly know who he is, and you won't have to pretend your eyes aren't meeting across the group of people you're in - it fills your stomach with knots and butterflies.

A certain pressure has fallen off you now Jadon has no growing rivalry with Lucas, but not completely. You won't be able to take back the way their teams made the other feel in the past, but the fact there won't be more of it next season comforts you a little. The biggest thing that will hold you back from going public before the new season starts will be the media, but that is an issue you can't even begin to worry about yet. You are too caught up in the excitement of being in the same town as Jadon to care. Rumours are spinning crazier than ever about you two as some of your liked tweets about his move got reposted by sports pages and fan blogs - now joking about him being your rival instead of your brother's - and yet it didn't stop you, no longer all that bothered about keeping a low profile now you both will be living away from Lucas. If he gets mad, all he will be able to do is shout down the phone, and whilst you never want that to happen, you know the time to flourish with Jadon and capitalise on the foundation you have already built is better than ever, brothers be damned.

There are big changes coming for the both of you, yet one thing will remain the same no matter the outcome of your relationship. You can't quite stop being football rivals.

[horriblehistorieschild]

I know Dortmund fans now hate Haaland especially in twitter (it’s so toxic being a bvb fan on twitter), but i will honestly miss him. I wish him well and I hope he stays fit and help Man City win their first ucl. I will miss him. I will miss seeing him play with Jude and Marco. I really thought he’d help us win the bundesliga. So unlucky with the injuries. So unlucky we have a shit defense. I’m actually sad and I cant even tweet about it because these edgy bvb stans who suddenly think Haaland is the worst bvb players would for sure start abusing me and accusing me of loving haaland more than the club. Apparently for them there are sides to this- you can either be a true bvb fan who shits on Haaland or a Haaland stan. No in between. I hate football twitter. They are so disrespectful and vile. Players are only human to them when they are useful. The moment a player starts struggling, they stop being human to them and start assuming the worst in them. Haaland stopped playing because of injury but suddenly he gets accused of faking injury because he apparently is ungrateful and does not acre about the club. No proofs necessary. Just assume the worst in him and run with their agendas. They have found their new pet in Jude and I promise you, once Jude starts making the move to leave the club, they will also turn against him and call him all sorts of name. Sorry for ranting here.

No need to apologise I love me a good rant sometimes!! Football/BVB Twitter is a toxic dumpster fire, and I stay as far away from that as I can, but yeah it's getting way out of hand. I think some of that comes from the ongoing frustration of allowing/needing players to leave because we simply don't have the resources to keep them when clubs like City can pay them frankly obscene amounts of money. It's nearly impossible to mount a true, long-term challenge for the title when the players are constantly coming and going. Also, the fact that he is probably going to end up at City is upsetting some fans because of the fact that they can buy whoever they want without consequence. Frankly I will miss him. He's been amazing to watch when fit, breaking records left, right, and centre nearly every match. His passion is infectious and his work rate speaks for itself the man is a beast! He has done great things for the club and it will definitely be hard to replace him there is literally no one like him. BVB twitter "fans" tend to just be trolls who like to start shit and the stans are just as bad if not worse. There is no reason to blindly idolise anyone because they are human and they will eventually fail or fall short. As for Jude, I hope he stays with us for a long time because he does genuinely like it here and wants to see the club achieve bigger things. He doesn't seem to be as motivated by money or individual glory as some others have. He wants to do the best he can for the club and improve along side the other players to make the whole squad better. The whole is more important than the individual if that makes sense.

tl;dr I will miss Haaland when he goes and the BVB twitter "fans" and stans are toxic af and it's not worth anyones time or sanity.

[elishamanning]

Kramer: "Well, with us... we ask ourselves, how can something like (the Leverkusen game) happen, and we notice our surroundings asking that, we on the inside ask ourselves that, sometimes we come to a weird conclusion, what, do we have two faces? But we only think that because we only look at ourselves. But what do the Dortmunders think, winning 5-1 against Frankfurt, thus German champions obviously, then they lose 2-1 in Freiburg and everybody's thinking, well, they're not that good, are they. Will Bayern show their Supercup face, or their face-against-us, or against 1. FC Köln? The Leipzigers, do they show their Mainz-face or that outstanding show they put on against Stuttgart? These "problems of consistency" when you're a Gladbach fan, or a Gladbach player, you think 'these are Gladbach-only problems', but the others have them as well. It's always a matter of how you handle it and that you don't let it... well, tear you down emotionally. The important thing is to avoid a negative spiral, mentally, because, as everybody who's ever played football will know, in the end the decisive issue is always in your head (((aaaah, that's a bad translation. It's a mental issue, is what he says.))), and it always will be." Knippi: "Completely agree. And by the way, that's not limited to football." Kramer: "Well, exactly. It's not even worth discussing, when you enjoy doing something, when you're positive about it - it's not exactly a brand-new psychological finding - it'll always turn out better than when you're negative about it. So let's not, after the second matchday, tear everything down, and let's not, after the first matchday, praise everything to the heavens." Knippi: "Did you expect that? Becoming professional footballers, all that stuff that comes with it, besides playing football, all that stuff raining down on you?" Neuhaus: "Well, it just happens, it just all happens automatically. In the end, you become a footballer because you have fun playing football, and you don't much think about that kind of stuff that comes with it. You grow into it and you learn to handle it." Knippi: "So you're not actively getting prepared for that? Because in the last podcast you (Chris) said 'that's the guys from the NLZ' So it's not part of your training there?" Neuhaus: "No, it wasn't a subject in mine." Kramer: "Well to be completely honest, looking back, I thought football would be funnier, or at least less serious, and a bit more honest. That's also why I like this club so much, because I know that here at least you get an honest basis, like, I feel understood here, I have a certain relationship of trust to, for example, Max Eberl, but I wouldn't have imagined, without spilling any beans now, that football's such a not-really-nice business. So this is one of the best things here, for me, knowing that I have an honest and trustful basis that can be built on. And I really wouldn't have ever imagined it all to be so grossly serious. Sometimes I think inappropriately serious, because football is such a beautiful thing and when you get to do it as a profession, plaiyng football, there's nothing easier than joyfully going somewhere every day. These are the best conditions to have, the working hours, just turning your hobby into a profession - everything about football is 'geil', but still you get this completely inappropriate seriousness about it making you go, aw, it's tough. That's a shame I think, I wouldn't have thought so when I started out. I always wanted to be a footballer because, well, for one it's my passion, but also I thought every day would just be fun, and I think it should be, and that in the end that would be performance-enhancing, I'm quite sure about that. (laughing, saying that)." Knippi: "What do you think?" Neuhaus: "Always hard to disagree. The gist is we're all playing football because it's great fun being on the pitch. Of course there are always periods when it's a little harder but all in all and especially looking back you always regard things much more positive

than maybe you felt in that particular moment. (I don't really understand what he's saying there), but anyway the positives should always be front centre." Knippi: "What you just said, Chris, the seriousness, I also think it's too much sometimes. For example if a team's not playing well and the people on the pitch get personally attacked/insulted. I get to witness that when I'm down there, and sometimes I think 'what is wrong with you?', like, I get being unhappy when the team that has your heart isn't doing well, being unhappy, or sad, or disappointed, I get that, but not attacking the players personally. Well thank God that isn't an issue currently, and there's no reason why it should be." Kramer: "No, I don't think that's happened to me in my career... Well, once, playing with VfL Bochum in Aue, I was pelted with snowballs by our own fans but, in retrospect, that was quite funny." Knippi: "Like how?" Kramer: "Well, because we lost 6-1 playing in the snow. I'd say I'm a good player on snow, but, well, Ronny König is the best snow-player on this planet. He (literally he says 'he put four cherries into our basket', meaning he scored four goals... as you probably would have guessed.) So then our own fans, who'd travelled to Aue on a Monday night, threw snow balls at us, and we completely deserved it. And I do think every fan is right, and has the right, to use this outlet, that they're paying money for, to let off steam. Because football, in the end, is entertainment. Only, it doesn't help. What I meant with the seriousness is the whole stuff around it as well. Football is just a game. It's supposed to be fun, but sometimes I think, looking at the newspapers, all the sociopolitical issues, and seriousness... it's still football." Knippi: "Did I just understand you correctly, you're saying it's a fan's right to pelt you with snowballs?" Kramer: "Well... it gets its down dynamic, and it's not too bad. If someone insults me, say, I don't really have a problem with that. I don't take it personally because I don't think it's meant that way. It may not be the right approach and I may not understand their motive, but... that person is angry, they've had a bad week at work, then they come here, and we play badly ("nur hintenrum" - too defensively) so they have a right to...-as a fan, of course, you have to question whether that's doing any good. We've not really had that here in Gladbach and when there were beginnings of it, we had talks with the ultras, and stuff, we're quite close to the fans, so we don't really have that issue here, but you do see it with other clubs, and close friends of mine, they have had situations where I'd really say, now this is too much (I wonder if he's talking of Leon/the end at Schalke here), and that's just not on, but generally, we are an outlet for many and football is entertainment. When you're not being entertained you're entitled to boo. I don't mind. There's just this double standard - look at me, talking again for ten minutes straight (Knippi and Flo laugh), and you have to cut it all afterwards- once again I take ten minutes to get to the point, but you can't - you want to play with a young squad, and they'll make mistakes. You can't boo them. Or you can't say you want to play with a young squad. Very simply put." Knippi: "Tommy Schmitt, your successor at 11Freunde put it quite well there, I thought. It's very counterproductive to boo and whistle." Kramer: "Yes, well, you have to ask yourself, no matter what you do - I mean when you get to the office and everybody's scowling at you, thinking 'what an idiot!', you'll feel that as a person with empathy, like every footballer, and when you're booed, that does something to you... I can promise everybody: booing a player will never make them better, not ever." Knippi: "'Snow-player' you just said. You're not a good 'snow-player'." Kramer: "I'm a GREAT snow-player!" Neuhaus: "They lost 6-1, I don't think he's that great. They wouldn't have lost 6-1, would they?" Kramer: "Well Leon, Leon Goretzka

and I, we still talk a lot about that day. I'd say, Leon and I, we both have these long levers, we really are good snow-players, on a proper layer of snow, like there in Aue. But Ronny König! He's Messi on snow. Awesome, really." Knippi: "Wouldn't it be better to have short legs and a low centre of gravity?" Kramer: "I don't know. I don't think so. I mean, looking at Leon, and myself, AND Ronny König you can conclude the tall ones with the long legs are good on snow." (very scientific, this.) Knippi: "What kind of a snow-player are you?" Neuhaus: "There weren't any snow-games anymore in my time." Kramer: "NLZ, dude!" Knippi: "I know but..." Kramer: "No!" Neuhaus: "Climate change." Knippi: "But in your youth you must have played on snow once, haven't you?" Neuhaus: "Hardly." Knippi: "You're THAT young?!" Neuhaus: "At 1860 we had astroturf with undersoil heating." Knippi: "Did you ever play on clay?" Neuhaus: "...and anywhere in the stadiums today. There just aren't snow games like that anymore these days." Kramer: "He's from Bavaria, they don't have clay. They just have meadows and pastures, they play on the most beautiful pitches. Here in NRW when you're playing Galatasaray Mühlheim you know what's going down? You know what's going down, playing on clay?" Neuhaus: "I can just imagine." Kramer: "You take two weeks before you can go back to school because your legs - you simply can't walk anymore..." Knippi: "You've never played on clay?" Neuhaus: "No, never." Knippi: "You don't know that feeling when your grazed-open thigh is stuck to your jeans?" Neuhaus: "Yes, well, as a little child I played on the street..." (It goes on a bit yet, but I've already fallen asleep twice and I'm not sure these "translations" are making much sense anyway, so I'll leave it at this, now, alright? Flo played on asphalt, so he knows about open wounds from football. And Knippi claims he's still got remnants of clay in his thigh from decades ago. Hehe. I'll do the rest another time.)

first of all THANK YOU SOOOOO MUCH

it's always interesting to hear about a player's mindset

it's really interesting to see how an athlete's relationship with their changes over time. like to have something that was for fun and a hobby turn into your job is a pretty incredible transition. it's something a lot of people experience to an extent, but to have it on this high a level is pretty unique.

Kramer: "No, I don't think that's happened to me in my career... Well, once, playing with VfL Bochum in Aue, I was pelted with snowballs by our own fans but, in retrospect, that was quite funny."

chrikra???? please??? what is this... snowballs???

i also agree that while fans are allowed to show their discontent, it does often cross a line. idk if he was referring to something like leon's ending with schalke, but that instance of schalke fans chasing and attacking the players is something that definitely comes to mind here. i think i actually draw a shorter line than chrikra here.

Neuhaus: "There weren't any snow-games anymore in my time." Kramer: "NLZ, dude!" Knippi: "I know but..." Kramer: "No!" Neuhaus: "Climate change." Knippi: "But in your youth you must have played on snow once, haven't you?" Neuhaus: "Hardly." Knippi: "You're THAT young?!"

omg flo please

i do love the idea of chrikra and leon reminiscing about their old games together... my heart

anyway i love this podcast and i hope they do more of it

and thank you again SO MUCH

[footballxwrites]

Ridiculously in love with your writing so giving another one😂

So read reports that Christian pulisic maybe going back to the bundesliga to play for Bayern so maybe you could write one on that where he feels guilty for not having been able to probably make it work in Chelsea. He’s been with his fiance since they were like 12 and she’s a British citizen and an arsenal fan so she was definitely the happiest when they moved to london as because she runs her own company and their main office is in London. Christian feels like a crap fiancé also because now she’ll have to travel up and down every other week like she did when they were in Dortmund, and she’s done and sacrificed so much for him and he couldn’t even make it work so she can be in her hometown for once and also be with her family, plus they’re looking to start a family so this travelling business and not having grandparents around the corner isn’t ideal either. With all this plus not starting games plus family stuff weighing him down, he starts to be distant from her and she obviously notices. She gives him a bit of space at the beginning but then quickly realises that they should talk about it like they always have in their relationship. So she brings it up and he lets out everything and she’s like “ don’t be stupid, I want the best for your career and if that’s in freaking Finland well go there, you’ve had a tough year and not the ideal start to your time at Chelsea ans that’s okay. Everyone has set backs but we need to make a comeback so we’re gonna do what’s best for you and then go from there. Europe is small and London to Munich or wherever it is isn’t too bad at all, plus you know I genuinely like travelling for work. And when the kids come we’ll just figure out a schedule that puts them first and have you seen our parents, they’re gonna be coming and seeing us all the time. It’s fine, we’re gonna be fine, you’re gonna be just fine” and then Christian is just crying by then because how did he get so lucky blah blah blah... can’t wait for this one xxxxxx

Long Distance Love ♡

𝖧𝖺𝗁𝖺 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗇𝗄 𝗒𝗈𝗎! 𝖨 𝗅𝗈𝗏𝖾𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗋𝖾𝗊𝗎𝖾𝗌𝗍 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖨 𝗁𝗈𝗉𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗂𝗌 𝖺𝗅𝗋𝗂𝗀𝗁𝗍 (𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗂𝗍 𝗆𝖺𝗄𝖾𝗌 𝗌𝖾𝗇𝗌𝖾 𝗅𝗈𝗅)...𝗈𝗇𝗅𝗒 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗂𝗌 𝖨 𝖼𝗈𝗎𝗅𝖽𝗇’𝗍 𝖻𝖾 𝖻𝗈𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖾𝖽 𝗍𝗈 𝗌𝗉𝖾𝗅𝗅 𝖼𝗁𝖾𝖼𝗄 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗌𝗈 𝖺𝗇𝗒 𝗆𝗂𝗌𝗍𝖺𝗄𝖾𝗌 𝖺𝗋𝖾 𝗍𝗈𝗍𝖺𝗅𝗅𝗒 𝗈𝗇 𝗆𝖾 😅𝗑

January 10 2021

Suddenly, you felt him stir slightly, readjusting his arms that were snaked around your body, which made your head shoot up to gaze at him, seeing his eyes fluttering open and a lazy smile creep upon his lips as he leaned into a kiss. His arms were quick to pull your waist against his so your head was flat on his chest, listening to the peaceful sound of his heartbeat, instantly making you feel at home. You little moment was cut short when his phone went off and he rushed out the room with a groan, leaving you annoyed and your heart pounding, having a feeling you knew exactly what the phone call was about, hoping he come back and give you the answer you wanted to hear...

“It’s gone through...the transfer” he sorrily spoke, making your breath hitch in your throat, although knowing it was a high possibility of the move actually happening, a part of you was certain he’d be staying here in central London for at least another year. “Guess you’d better get packing then” you softly laughed, feeling disheartened to say the least, the words of “it’s happening” not being the ones you wanted to fall from his lips, “look can we talk about this properly-“ he began, reaching for your hand as you swiftly dodged his grip and made your way to the bathroom, ready for a complete meltdown about everything, “No I have to get ready for work...while I still have my own business” you trailed off, letting the door close behind you with a slam...

————————————————

January 2 2019

"The real question is, how did I get so lucky?" you giggled before he gently pushed the mug of coffee into your hands while leaning in to plant a small kiss on your forehead. Instantly, that warm feeling flew through your body just from the smallest, loving touch he gave you, it never getting old. “Good morning, beautiful." he mumbled against your lips, before wrapping his arms around your neck and resting his head on top of yours, “and a very good morning to you handsome” you smiled, feeling the most relaxed you’ve felt in a while, lifting your gaze to him, love dancing in your eyes as you leaned in to clasp your mouths together.

"Kissing you never gets old," you mutter softly as you both pull away, Christian flashing you a cheeky grin before spotting his luggage packed and ready for the off beside the front door of your new complex, a sigh falling from his lips, “can’t believe I arrived here a week ago and I’m already flying back to Germany” he frowned, pulling a pout. “It’s only six months and it’ll be over before you know it, I’m not going to lie I will miss living over there, especially the weather” you giggled, messing up his perfectly gelled hair to which you got no thanks for, “hands off, this took ages to do” he said, pretending to be serious and grabbing your hand as if to say ‘go on do it again I dare you’. “I’m gonna miss you, the apartment’s gonna seem empty without you here...and it means I have to build all the flat pack furniture from IKEA myself” you huffed, pointing at the hundreds of cardboard boxes filling the spacious room as he laughed, culling your face and running a finger along your cheek, “you’ll be fine, we’ll FaceTime every night and whenever we have a minute spare because you’re gonna be busy as hell now...my super business woman” he winked as you shook your head, still not quite believing you actually own a company, like a whole ass company belonged to you and it was mad to just even picture it.

“Ah shut up, you’re making me blushing Mr Pullisic, now go before you miss that flight of yours” you grinned, going in for one last peck while shoving him out the door with a struggle, feeling like his clingy self wasn’t ever gonna leave, “I love you, see you in half a year” he happily said, grabbing his many cases and walking out, letting the door gently fall closed...

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July 1 2019

The classic iPhone ping went off as an incoming text message lit up your phone screen, instantly opening the pic attachment of him saying ‘en route’ which meant he was on his way and by god you couldn’t wait to just see him in person after all this time. He barely got through the front door before you took a leap, linking your legs around his torso as his hands secured under your thighs to carry your weight. Squeezing him tight, you rested your head in the crook of his neck, enjoying his presence as a laugh escaped his lips, “missed me just a bit?” he stupidly asked, not even bothering to let you answer before smashing his lips on yours for the first time what felt like in forever.

Gently tapping your legs, he slowly placed you feet on the ground and then cupped your face, pulling you in for another long, loving kiss, “so how’s everything been then, and by the way you’ve done a good job decorating this place” he nodded, eyes gazing at all the modern interior, “funny you asked, I managed to open two more branches this week, one in Gateshead up north and the other in Manchester!” you exclaimed letting out a small squeal, not able to control your excitement any longer as his eyes went wide with joy. “I didn’t think you could make me any prouder but I guess I was wrong eh” he gushed, heading over to sort out his cases, “I’m saying the same about you” you laughed as he pulled out a couple man of the match awards along with a jersey signed by all the teammates. “It felt strange to say goodbye to them after all these years...but it’s time for a fresh start, here in London with Chelsea Fc and with you” he whispered, excited for the new chapter in your lives to finally begin.

——————————————————

The next year could only be described as perfect for the both of you, his career taking off and loving every moment at the club, getting along with everyone in the dressing room and then loving the fans and atmosphere within the stadium, and knowing you were in the stands somewhere cheering on your ‘captain America’ made it all the more special. As for you, your company was doing beyond amazing, going from National to world wide, owning buildings in Dubai, Spain and you’ll never guess where, Germany. Your main branch was of course London, where the company was founded and to which was the office you managed and were based at, meaning you rarely visited the abroad ones but you weren’t complaining, with you being a London gal to be in your home city with your own bloody business was unimaginable, not to mention you were only a 20 mins drive from your family.

Oh yeah and he popped the question about four months into the move on your eight year anniversary which you of course said yes to, already having planned out your dream wedding, the pair of you agreeing to have it here rather than America with work and travel and all that malarkey.

For the first time in ages, it all seemed to be coming together for yous...

———————————————————

January 10 2021

8 hours later and the two of you hadn’t spoken all day, with him going off to what you assumed was his last training session and proceeding to ignore you and your many questions, you decided to go to work too, trying to get this whole moving countries once again after only one fucking year back home thing off your mind.

“Right that’s it, you’re going to talk to me Christian because you must think I’m a mind reader or something and I can just tell what’s going in in that brain of yours” you said, stumbling through the door and throwing your keys in the side before throwing yourself on the sofa beside your sad looking boyfriend. “I’m sorry” was all he could say, looking down at the ground leaving you with a confused frown on your face, “enough with the apologies, I just want to know what this means, for us” you sighed, placing a hand on his cheek and giving it a small pinch, hoping it’d put a smile on his lips.

“Well I’m definitely leaving Chelsea, guess not everything works out...but it means I’m back off to Germany” he said as you slowly nodded, “you have to do what’s best for your career, ok?” you smiled, running a hand through his hair as he was quick to shake his head, “no I can’t. I don’t wanna leave you, not again. And anyways we’re supposed to be trying for a baby and that’s going to be a challenge if we’re in different countries don’t you think?” he’s spoke with a slight laughter. “I’m not arguing with you Pullisic, go and sign that contract and get yourself away to Germany to revive your job. I’m not saying I’m going to drop everything and move again because I have my work and life, but I can easily fly out and visit, you’re forgetting I have an office over there. As for kids, we’ll get to that part when it comes around...so just take one step at a time and get on the phone to your agent to tell him you’re taking the transfer” you blurted out with a soft smile, knowing exactly what you were saying and that this was just another step in your life, at the end of the day, life isn’t life without it’s challenges along the way...❤️

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If you got this far reading it, I hope you enjoyed it! x

@kingkepa @champagne-coys @footballcloud @footballmagical @alexajanecollins @masonmounts @hoely-pavard @hazardybala @jamesmaddiscnx

[loveactionsspeaklouder]

dangerous love - erling haaland & jadon sancho fanfic

Part 1 - Beginning

Grace had spent the last thirty minutes pacing around the bedroom, within that time she had almost covered every corner nearly five times and changed outfits over three times. It wasn’t that she was nervous about what was happening today; she was more an emotional wreck. She hadn’t been to a football stadium in over a year; after her first and last break-up, Grace promised herself she would leave football behind and she did just that, until now.

Grace didn’t know whether she should be happy or sad about the situation she was in. She had only been living in Dortmund for less than a year and in that time, she had managed to bag herself Borussia Dortmund’s star player as a boyfriend. Jadon Sancho was the rising star of the Bundesliga; he had speed, tricks, goals and most importantly to him, he had Grace.

The two had met a month after she had arrived in Dortmund, a normal night out ended up with the start of a blossoming friendship. That is all that Grace wanted, it was still only a few months since she had her heart broken by the person she trusted the most. But Jadon somehow managed to change the blondes mind, it was a shock to her as well. Now here she was seven months into the relationship and patiently preparing to attend her first Borussia Dortmund home game.

“Babe, are you ready to go?” Jadon called. He entered the bedroom and placed a soft kiss to the forehead of his nervous girlfriend. He had never questioned Grace about her past, she told him what she wanted and he was okay with that. He knew as time went on she would soon fully open-up to him.

“Is it too late to back out? I think I’m coming down with something” she lied. Grace knew Jadon wouldn’t believe her, but it was worth a shot.

“Please Gee, you haven’t been to one of my games yet and you promised!” Jadon pouted. “Just one game then I won’t pester you again, please?”

Grace rolled her eyes. Technically he was correct, she had promised him she would watch a game live but only one. The first step was promising him she would watch a game on TV, she managed to complete that one but she was sure that this one was going to be a lot tougher.

“Fine! One game and that is it. I know I promised you Jay but I’m being serious, I’m not happy doing this” Grace sighed. “I promised myself when I moved here I would leave football alone, you know how much pain it caused me.”

“I know and I totally understand but this time isn’t going to be the same. I promise you I won’t hurt you” Jadon softly smiled. He slowly placed both her small hands in his, gently grazing his thumbs over the top of them. “If you start to feel uncomfortable then you can always leave but you’ll have your family with you so there is nothing to worry about.”

Jadon was right. Grace was thankful that her parents and Emily had agreed to go with her. She had met Emily a few days after she had arrived into the country, she partially blames her for the reason she met Jadon. As she gazed lovingly into her boyfriend’s eyes she realised that this time it would be different, she had grown into a strong woman during the past few months.

“Okay let’s go, don’t want you to be late and we unfortunately miss the whole game!”

--

“Baby that was amazing, I’m so proud of you!” Grace squealed, she ran as fast as she could leaping into the arms of her sweaty boyfriend who spun her around at a rapid pace. “I think I definitely picked a good game to go to!”

The match had finished 5-0 to Borussia Dortmund, Jadon had scored two goals and got himself an assist. Grace managed to watch the whole game with a smile on her face, she didn’t realise how beautiful the stadium was. The fans spent the entire game singing, chanting and jumping up until the final whistle.

“See I told you it wouldn’t be that bad, I think you might be my lucky charm!” Jadon smirked. It was the best game of his career and it was made even more special that Grace could witness it. “I’m so happy you were there, I could see your cute smile in the stands! So, you coming to the next one?”

“Hang on superstar, baby steps!”

--

It had been five months since Grace had been to her first and last Borussia Dortmund game live. This wasn’t because she was scared but her own career had started to develop. She had finished her studies and was now working for an interior design company, a passion of hers from a very young age. She was working long hours which meant she had no time to attend the games nor pay attention to news of the club. But this didn’t bother Jadon, he was happy that she was doing something she enjoyed.

Grace finally had a weekend off, she hadn’t told Jadon this but she was going to surprise him at the home game the next day. She decided to treat him with a home cooked meal, she knew he would be exhausted from training. She felt bad that she hadn’t been paying attention to his football, every time they would try to communicate Grace would always be distracted by work, but she promised that this weekend belonged to Jadon.

“Hey, is that my beautiful girlfriend?” Jadon grinned. It was a lovely surprise seeing Grace during the day, he had gotten so used to welcoming her during the night-time. “What did I do to deserve this? It must be Christmas!”

“Oh wow, did you quit your job and become a comedian?” Grace laughed, a little shake of her head when she saw the big grin Jadon was wearing. “I thought because I’m home extremely early on a Friday we could have a movie day and I could cook you a meal?”

“That sounds perfect but I promised some of the guys from the team we could hang this afternoon, but I’m all yours this evening!” Jadon nervously smiled, he knew Grace must have put a lot of effort into organizing the day for them.

“Actually, that’s a better idea because I don’t know what I’m going to cook yet!” Grace giggled. She wanted it to be a special dinner so she needed to prepare, luckily, she knew Jadon would be distracted by his teammates. “Anybody interesting coming over?”

“Yes, Mats is coming over so you can put your tongue back into your mouth!” Jadon glared. He had completed his mission of getting Grace to attend a game, now he had to figure out how to get her to stop obsessing over Mr Mats Hummels. “Just the regulars, Mario, Marco, Roman and some new faces, if you behave I might introduce you to them!”

Grace was preoccupied looking at cooking recipes when the boys arrived. Her attention was soon turned to Jadon who called her over. “Everybody this is my girlfriend Grace, so you can stop with your jokes as you can clearly see she exists!” he laughed. Jadon was excited this moment was finally happening, he had to endure countless jokes about him having a fake girlfriend for weeks. His team mates didn’t think he could be dating someone as smart as Grace.

Grace started introducing herself to everybody, she had learnt so many new names she was sure she would forget them in a few hours. She focused her gaze on Jadon who was talking to a player she hadn’t met yet, he was a lot taller than Jadon with bright blonde hair. She started walking towards him when he began turning around, they were soon facing each other when their eyes met and that was when she realised who he was.

She had once loved gazing into the brilliant blue eyes she now found herself staring at. She had gotten so used to having him around that when he left nearly sixteen months ago, she was left heartbroken. Grace couldn’t believe how quickly he could leave her life, they were only young but they had created a wonderful life together. That day was forever in her mind, it was the main reason she had kept her guard up, she didn’t want to go through that again and here she was staring at the man that gave her that memory.

Grace didn’t realise how long she had been stood staring until she was distracted with Jadon’s hand waving at her. Her attention soon turned to her laughing boyfriend who gave her a small kiss on her cheek before turning around to the blonde-haired boy.

“Grace I’d like you to meet Mr Erling Haaland.”

“Hey Gracie, it’s been a while!”

a.n: i am back!! and i have a new story, it’s only a few parts but i am so excited to share it with you! enjoy x

[jadonsanhco]

Wrong Timing

Request: Meeting Jadon, but you have a boyfriend. You and Jadon become friends but over time you realise that you’re falling out of love with your boyfriend and falling for Jadon instead.

“Oh! I’m sorry,” you heard as someone bumped into you, your coffee cup falling from your hands and onto the ground. A groan left your mouth as you watched the drink spill out on the streets, there goes £4. 

“Really, I’m sorry.” You looked up as you heard the person apologise again. You were met by two dark brown eyes, a sweet smile and black curls, the stranger looking so friendly you couldn’t help but smile.

“It’s okay,” you quickly said. “I should have watched where I was going..” You felt like such a bitch for groaning about your stupid coffee, he probably thought you were annoyed with him now. You tried to give him a reassuring smile, hoping he wouldn’t feel bad about it.

“Please, let me buy you a new coffee,” the guy offered. Even though you tried to convince him it wasn’t necessary, he insisted on buying you a new drink so you followed him to a local coffee shop.

“I could just buy you a coffee to-go if that’s what you prefer, but would you like to sit down?” He asked, looking a little nervous. You hesitated for a little while, after all he was a stranger, but you nodded.

“I’m Y/N by the way,” you said as you followed the boy to a table. He turned around with wide eyes, realising he’d never introduced himself to you. “I’m Jadon,” he said with a smile before sitting down.

You sat down in front of him and took the menu, choosing a new drink while Jadon did the same. Over a cup of coffee you learned that he’s from London, and is only in town to visit family before going back to Dortmund. He told you all about his career, even mentioning it was a little lonely in Germany sometimes, making you feel sad for him even though you barely knew him.

“Oh wait a second,” you said when you felt your phone vibrate, a new message coming up on the screen.

Babe where are you? I’m waiting at the store

“Shit! I’m sorry I really have to go, thank you so much for the coffee,” you said when you read your boyfriend’s message. You quickly put your coat back on and were about to leave when Jadon stopped you.

“Wait Y/N, can I get your number?” Jadon asked nervously, handing his phone out to you. You put your number in his contacts and quickly left, hurrying to meet your boyfriend at the store where you agreed to buy his mum a birthday present together.

The moment you met your boyfriend you felt guilty. Guilty because you basically forgot about him while you spent time with a stranger, yet you couldn’t get him out of your mind. Talking with Jadon was a lot of fun and you enjoyed every minute of it, and deep down you felt bed for leaving him like that.

That night you got a text from an unknown number, a smile on your lips as you read it.

Hey Y/N, this is Jadon. Hope no other idiots bumped into you and spilled your drink, sorry again.

You giggled and replied, a full conversation starting over text, picking up where you left off in the coffee shop. You talked for longer than you should have, your eyes eventually getting heavy and even though you didn’t want to you told Jadon you probably had to go to sleep.

Ok then :( Goodnight pretty girl

You sighed at his flirting, realising you should probably tell him you have a boyfriend before he’d get the wrong ideas, but at the same time you didn’t want to upset him, though there was nothing to be upset over. You had a coffee together as an apology for spilling your other one and that’s it, right?

Texting continued after that night, waking up to a ‘good morning’ text every morning and talking throughout the rest of the day. You both wanted to meet up again but since Jadon was back in Dortmund that was difficult. He invited you to watch an England game at Wembley and you were really excited for that, even buying yourself an England jersey to blend in with the fans.

When the day of the match at Wembley arrived you were so excited. You couldn’t wait to cheer Jadon in for 90 minutes and to talk again in person, FaceTime and iMessage just not enough anymore. He was waiting for you inside the stadium, having reserved a special seat for you. When you saw him you excitedly ran up to him and gave him a hug.

“Wow, nice to see you again as well,” Jadon laughed as he wrapped his arms around your waist. “Sorry, just really excited.” You giggled a little and blushed, afraid you’d made yourself look silly. Jadon noticed your shirt and told you to turn around so he could see the back.

“No name huh? Should have ‘Sancho’ on there,” he winked at you, making you laugh and playfully slap his chest.

“Let me show you to your seat,” Jadon said and guided you through the stadium, stopping at the seat he had reserved for you. “Here you go,” he said and smiled, giving you one last hug before running off to the dressing rooms as you wished him good luck for the game.

While you waited for the game to start you thought of Jadon. The boy that could always bring a smile to your face since the first day you met, who brought some excitement into your life and who was starting to make you feel funny inside. You knew you shouldn’t be feeling this way, you still had a boyfriend, but he just didn’t make you as happy as he used to, the relationship was becoming boring and no matter how hard you tried you couldn’t improve it. And now as much as you didn’t like it, you were catching feelings for Jadon.

During the game you cheered loudly, Jadon even scoring making you jump up and clap your hands. Afterwards you almost ran to where you were supposed to meet him, huge smile on both your faces when he came out of the dressing rooms again.

“You did so well!” You said when you jumped into his arms, your legs wrapped around his waist while Jadon held you close. “Thank you babe. That goal’s for you,” Jadon said and winked at you when he put you back down, making you blush. He was making you nervous, but in a good way. But also in a way he shouldn’t be making you feel.

“Do you want to hang out? Have a drink at yours?” Jadon asked. You smiled at him and nodded before walking to your car, Jadon following close behind you.

Once you arrived at your place Jadon threw himself on the couch, obviously exhausted after running around for 90 minutes. You made some tea for the two of you before joining Jadon in the living room, who instantly pulled your body into him for cuddles. You giggled at how clingy he was being but let him, putting your face in the crook of his neck while he played with your hair.

“Is this okay?” Jadon whispered, making sure he wasn’t crossing any lines. You nodded and smiled, feeling really content in that moment and relaxation taking over your body. You hummed at the feeling of Jadon massaging your scalp and you tried to stay awake, though Jadon’s body was so comfortable and you were about to fall asleep any second before you realised what you were doing, suddenly remembering you still have a boyfriend. You sighed when you realised you had properly fallen for Jadon and you were now in a complicated situation, inevitably having to hurt one person.

Despite your worries you soon fell asleep, your tea forgotten about as your eyes closed and you cuddled more into Jadon’s body, who had already fallen asleep before you did, and you knew the next day and days after that would get messy, with difficult choices to make.

[amoveablejake]

The Death Star Versus, um, The Death Star

Bayern Munich against PSG, a Champions League final preview, sort of. 

Before I begin this, I have a small disclaimer. I was not going to write a Champions League Final piece. I just wasn’t going to do it. I have sat at my keyboard for the past half an hour starting and then deleting quite a few different ideas for today’s entry but none of them have clicked. I think thats mainly because today is quite a big day in the world of football and even though this is not a football blog I feel that as I have mentioned it here and there I would be remiss if I did not talk about one of the biggest games in the football calendar. But I promise, this isn’t going to be a traditional football piece and I will try to make it at least somewhat interesting for those of you who don’t care at all. And then tomorrow we’ll have an album of the week post to absolve me of my sins. 

Perhaps I should explain the title. Bayern Munich and Paris Saint Germain are two giants in European football. No, they are two juggernauts. The difference there being that they should not only be classed as huge but as overwhelming forces aswell. They are also both seen in their own ways as bad guys. Bayern are perhaps seen as the bad guys in the Bundesliga as they are just so damn good and it seems that no one can stop them. Well, not yet anyway but as I’ve mentioned before I am a die hard Dortmund fan and I have every confidence we will take that title one day but lets get back to business. PSG because, well, a lot of people have an issue with their owners. PSG are owned by Qatar Sports Investments which means that they are state owned team. Yes, this does mean that they get a lot of money and whatever advantages comes with that isn’t really the issue here, the issue is that a state owns a football team. That shouldn’t be allowed. I’m sorry, but it shouldn’t. A football club should not be owned by one autonomous power especially one that, how do I put this delicately, has some of its own problems on the global stage. Now, we won’t get too deep into the weeds about PSG’s ownership here but its important context to know as we move forward. 

Paris Saint Germain are a team I like. I don’t like the ownership, and I don’t like that the team is being used more as a brand than a club, see Nike and its almost celebrity status for further details, but I do like the actual club. I love Paris as a city and so naturally I looked to their football team. I did not know when I was younger the problems that it has off the pitch but on the pitch I liked what I saw. And also, they play in Ligue 1 so they are Europe’s underdogs. That might sound like an odd thing to say when they are backed by a financial powerhouse and win in France 90% of the time but thats just it, they win in France. Now, before I make a lot of French enemies here, this is not a dig at Ligue 1. Its a good league, but PSG is a big fish in a small pond. It does not have the same competition that exists in Serie A, La Liga, the Bundesliga and especially the Premier League. Thats okay, it just means that when it comes to the Champions League they are sort of the underdogs. Also because they have never won Europe’s most prestigious trophy. If it was any other team in the final tonight playing against Bayern, five time champions, I think they would get unanimous support especially a team who could make history but because it is PSG neutral fans are left with a decision to support the Death Star or, the Death Star. 

It is always nice to see a team win something for the first time and as I said I do sort of like PSG, but I don’t want them to win. I don’t think they should. If they win it would be validation for the way the team is run, and it doesn’t need that. I don’t want it to have the praise for winning when quite frankly it is run appallingly and is not the team that it used to be. Yes it wins every year in France but at what moral cost. I would rather support a team with a conscious who loses then a juggernaut with absolute power. If we can look past all of that it is a dream final, two teams that play some very exciting football will come together for what I’m sure will be a historic match but I don’t think I can look past PSG. And Bayern, they’re not really a Death Star, not in the same way at least. They’re a team that are just so damn good and if you don’t support them then ofcourse they’re the bad guys. But at least they’re bad guys who are sad about blowing up Alderaan. 

As I said up top, this wasn’t a piece that I wanted to right but I felt perhaps that I should. I felt I should because it is an important game but also because its an opportunity for the spotlight to be on an ownership scheme that should just not exist. I know its only football but sometimes, it can be way more and this, this is one of those times. So as much as it pains the Dortmund fan in me, Bayern don’t let us down. 

[kevkesblog]

Translation Throwback Series (Part II): Julian Brandt Interview (September 10, 2014)

This is an interview during Julian’s first major injury where he wasn’t able to play. He talks about his injury, his love for Werder Bremen and he also talks about Marco Reus and his english skills.

Mr. Brandt, thank you for not having canceled our interview appointment despite your injury. How are you?

Ju:       It is slowly going upwards for me again. It was a shock, of course. But it could have gotten worse too. I'll be back in a few weeks.

How bitter is it, as a native of Bremen to be absent against Werder Bremen?

Ju:       Very bitter. It would have been even worse if the match were in Bremen. I would have been annoyed.

Are you still a Werder fan?

Ju:       Of course. then you can not forget that, if you were born there. I myself was standing in the fan curve - in the really good times of Werder with Diego, Özil and all the others. It’s a club close to my heart.

Did you have Werder posters in your room at that time?

Ju:       I did not have so many posters, but a jersey for almost every season - and I got the gloves from Frank Rost as a small child. They were the size of my whole leg. That was a great time.

As a "Werder fan" – are you sad that the glorious times are over in Bremen?

Ju:       It's a pity. Werder had a great standing in the Bundesliga, they were just behind Bayern at the time. I'm currently a bit sorry for the Bremen fans. They always try to cheer on their team to victory. The people in the fan curve are fine. That's why I hope for them that they are at least back in the top half of the Bundesliga standings.

There are many stories why you didn‘t choose Werder but  Wolfsburg instead during your youth. So what’s the true story?

Ju:       My heart told me to go to Werder. But then Wolfsburg put forward an offer and I looked at it. I was offered such outstanding perspectives there, so my head said: Wolfsburg is better for me at this moment. Which turned out to be true. But I'm still young, maybe I will eventually land at Werder.

Who do you know from the current Werder team?

Ju:       A few youth players who have not yet come into action in the Bundesliga. And of course Davie Selke from the U19 national team. I would like to play against him. I will definitely say hello when I see him.

How often are you in Bremen these days?

Ju:       I just went to the Ailton game. I sat with my family over the fan curve. It was really funny, looking at him playing again.

Let's get to Leverkusen: Why is Bayer so strong this season?

Ju:       It’s crazy! We grew together. We do more stuff outside of football, that was not the case last season. Everyone runs for everyone. The coach did a good job there. And of course we have super individual players.

You have already mentioned coach Roger Schmidt: What distinguishes him?

Ju:       He is a great guy. He talks a lot to the players. We like his system of play. It is very special - maybe comparable to Dortmund. Nobody else is playing this system in the league.

How would you describe this system?

Ju:       It's a modern form of counterpressing. The coach once said that it would be better for us if the opponent has the ball.

Something you do not have to understand that at first, right?

Ju:       That's right. But it really makes sense, because we fight the ball so deep in the opponent's half by counterpressing so that we immediately create opportunities. That's our strength.

You have only been playing for Leverkusen since January and played in the Bundesliga and Champions League as a 17-year-old. Can you even grasp this rapid development?

Ju:       Sometimes you really have to rub your eyes. It's a dream.

It is always said that the jump from youth to professional football is extremely big. How did you feel?

Ju:       It's a big jump, sure. But you also need a bit of luck. Like with me. I benefited from Sydney Sam‘s injury. If you are then subbed, of course you have to be there. That worked for me.

What's the most fun in the Bundesliga?

Ju:       Playing in front of so many spectators. If you get to play in Dortmund in front of 80,000 people, then you get no fear, but it's just endless fun.

How hard is it to stay on the ground?

Ju:       My parents would make me very, very clear, if I would get some sort of star behaviour. In addition, we have no players in Leverkusen with that kind of behaviour, so you can adapt well.

Where do you have to improve?

Ju:       The old topic of defensive work continues to be my top priority. I do too little from my scoring chances which personally annoys me. I have to be cooler with that.

It is said that Marco Reus is your role model. Who did you like in Bremen?

Ju:       Marco Reus is not a role model for me, but one of my favorite players. We play the same position. Of course, I'm looking at this style of play. And of course Diego was my favorite player at Werder. I believe he had 480 jerseys from him (laughs). When I moved to Wolfsburg, I even had the honor to train with him. This guy is just amazing.

Do you still have contact with him?

Ju:       I actually talked to him back then - in English. And then I was really surprised how well I speak English (laughs). But we don‘t have any contact anymore.

Do you occasionally talk to your teammate Karim Bellarabi, who is also from Bremen, about Werder?

Ju:       Of course. He is also looking forward to this game. He was also in Bremen on the weekend and is highly motivated.

Will he score on Friday?

Ju:       Karim has exploded this summer, I would expect everything from him.

How do think will the score be after the game?

Ju:       I hope it will be a victory for us.

Wouldn’t you be a bit sad as a Werder fan?

Ju:       Let's put it this way: If I could ever allow a team somehow to score and make points against us, then Werder.

Source: Julian Brandt Interview for Kreiszeitung

[borussia-xoxo]

I am pissed.

Derby. was it a fair play tho,really?

That sign the s04 fans brought along was disrespectful! I hope they get what they deserve. People could've died that day! And they also throw things at Sancho. Disgusting, they deserve place 15 on the table. I hope they Enjoy this win because next week you're back to losing. As for Dortmund , I'm honestly tired to see our defence acting the way they do. Something has to change , we need to show stronger mentality, we need to buy some new defensive players asap. Our GK cant take it anymore, theres a reason why roman is always pissed at his players. He cant always save us, every damn given game. He is probably sad right now after getting a 4. And that makes me sad as well. We're almost at the end of the season and we can't look like that ,really. Cracking under pressure like that is not what we need right now. I wouldn't blame it on favre cuz if it wasn't for him we wouldn't have been the place we are right now. Every time a new coach starts at Dortmund they say he matches Us like a glove to a hand. I fully support favre but I don't know how much longer we can take that. Also, what happened today with the referee and the var , was awful. I dont want to say we lost the title, but really, Seeing bayern fans cheer other clubs only when dortmund loses. Really ? thats not the spirit im looking for in football. Today was an awful day. I feel sick after watching the game, Also,Marco reus gets a red? Really? How are we going to play without our captain ? This guy along with burki carry the whole team on their backs. I'm so sad, and tired , and I think I'm going to cry in the corner.

Support bvb, always 💛💛💛

[rnodric]

i agree with that too - i think there's lots of times where you'll see kroos sit at the base of the midfield bc casemiro isn't the greatest on the ball sometimes and imo he's also the best at consistently not getting overwhelmed with pressure. yeah exactly - i think fede is very talented, but he needs to get a more consistent run of games to pick up any sort of form, which is why i don't think carlo is a good long-term solution (love him but we need more variety in how we play, bc it's basically "general plan and you go be creative" at this point), esp not if a lot more significant signings are made in the summer. and no, i don't really see any way out for our right wingers - asensio will do the job, but his form is shaky and the same goes for rodrygo. and as much as i hate to admit it, having eden on right wing doesn't work because he'll keep drifting centrally. is mbappe to right wing a move that'll work? i really, really don't know but i sincerely hope it works.

manager wise, i'd genuinely like to see ten hag or (sorry in advance) tuchel. the former because i like ajax's flexibility and ten hag's known to be able to make the best of his players, even "difficult" ones, so i think he'd be able to get a handle on egos and everything. and tuchel also because i think he's tactically a bit of a chameleon too (dortmund's fluid attack, finding solutions for psg's messy collection of players, shoring up chelsea's shaky defence, etc etc) and because he'd be fine to deal with players. i think both of them could do a stellar job esp bc i do think both of them are the "our tactics work if players are okay but they'll get even better if the players are good" type - but the board has to work with them/not get in their way and be willing to splash funds on signings they want, and given how we like to operate sometimes, i don't know if that'd even be possible.

yes - im a believer that hazard not getting in his elite form is partially because he isn't being positioned right and honestly also because he will have do a lot of work himself because i haven't seen any real signs of stable pass to pass play between him and the others in the offense. it's so frustrating because so far we have only seen glimpses of how great he was at chelsea and it makes me want to scream at ancelotti.

im actually not opposed to ten hag or tuchel tbh but maybe i lean more to ten hag? but logically tuchel would fit better in the with types of players we have and the expectations the board and fans have.

in the end it all requires a lot of patience and neither the fans or the board have those with is truly sad because post 2018/19 would've been the perfect time to start creating the 'new era' instead of just keep doing the trial and error thing that obviously didn't work and only resulted in players getting frustrated and overworked in many cases. i don't think ancelotti is going to stay for long term.

[thesoccerballguy]

Glasgow Rangers, 56?

It seems like years since rangers were crowned champions for the 55th time. Just over the half way point this season and there has been a ring of changes in the dug out and on the pitch, in all aspects, personnel, results, style and performance.

Gerrard is very much in the past now Gio has had 8 games and a number of weeks to work with and get to know the players himself. There does seem to be a new mood in the squad a feel to impress and fight for the shirt again which was lacking under Gerrards latter days. Currently 4 points clear of second place Celtic and still in the europa league things at ibrox in first glance do seems almost flawless but 4 points is only 2 bad results and it’s a very strong Dortmund team awaiting in Europe.

Does Gio know his strongest team? With the number of absentees you would assume he doesn’t but he has been getting a tune out of a number of players again. Kamara and Goodson were just 2 of many who you could accuse of coasting under Gerrard this season but not any more they seem eager to impress and performances have been a lot healthier just a bit more urgency and focus in them again.

The absentee list is a worry especially with the old firm game sneaking up and Dortmund loom in the knock out stages of Europe. Helander, jack, Aribo, Steve Davis, Arfield, Balogun, Roofe and now Kent all missing for one reason or another whether it’s the Afcon, suspension, covid or injuries. The sooner these players are available the sooner Gio can make decisions on players from first hand experience and then maybe he can figure out his best 11.

Nathan Patterson’s exit feels like the beginning of things to come, that type of money for a prospect could not be ignored and there has been whispers of interest in others in the playing squad which is only to be expected when the club has been winning games like they have these last 2 seasons. Many fans were sad to see Patterson leave but it’s the best bit of business Rangers have been able to move on in a decade. Too often have players left Ibrox for a pittance of their true value and if Rangers can continue with this model they could attract serious players to use them not just as a stage to attract from premier league clubs but a chance to win silverware also. Jermaine Defoe has said himself his only regret about Rangers was not singing sooner.

Rangers have already recruited highly rated versatile James Sands, also Hearts centre half John Souttar has signed a pre contract with the Ibrox giants with whispers he could make the move this window. There have been other rumours though right now that’s all they are though the one that has seemed to build a bit of momentum again and has never really gone away is Aberdeen’s Lewis Ferguson. He is arguably one of the best midfielders in the league but you would imagine cost Rangers an arm and a leg but with Arfields contract running done, Davis another year older and Jack’s fitness issues this one does seem to make the most sense, he is a sure thing and a massive rangers fan himself. Leon King has been promoted to the first team which is great to see, defence is an area where Rangers do seem strong on paper so they must think very highly of the 18 year old. Nathan Patterson has shown that there is a pathway to the first team at Ibrox and it’s up to these young players to walk it themselves.

The club is in a very good place and Gio does seem to be the right man for the job as Steven Gerrard did set the bar high Gio has walked into the club unfazed and knew exactly what was expected of him and his team. If he delivers another league title this season to the iconic trophy room not only will it cement Rangers as ‘being back’ it would look mighty good on Gios CV himself. Rangers are a huge club an institution and even though Scottish football has suffered from lack of funding over the years nobody can ignore the buzz at the Ibrox club. As much as Celtic have cruised almost effortlessly over almost a decade to title after title every single football fan would be hard pressed to say they didn’t miss a competitive Rangers team, it would seem they have gotten one. Glasgow is blue.

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Paul Pogba and PSG are the perfect match. Pog-bye…

Thanks for your mails over the weekend. Come them coming to theeditor@football365.com… The Pogba debate A collective shrub is right. Paul Pogba came, he dazzled, he faltered, he will go. Meh is right. I wish it wasn’t so but it is looking like it will be so. Blaming United or their fans is silly. He has been given more chances than anybody, more system changes to accommodate him, more attention than anybody. Still he can never consistently done it. I would agree that our team has never fully had all of the tools to make him fully shine. But just after Mourinho’s departure we got to see 4 goals and 4 assists in his first five games. Never before had we seen this form and never again would we. Did Ole decide not to play the way that gets this form? Nope. Did something change for Pogba in order for him to slow down? More likely, because within 2 years we were desperate for Bruno and some impetus from midfield. For me that was the deal breaker. He showed the world what he can do in the right head space and yet that was that. Never again. I would consider him the ultimate luxury player who is perfect for PSG. He has the amazing long passes and the occasional dribble from midfield as well as the potential to score goals. But as you rightfully pointed out, he is a liability. Defensively and in terms of possession. If his hearts not in it, then our entire team suffers. He will go there and for sure make the reels with Neymar, Mbappe and co, and hopefully with Gini and Veratti, as well as 3 world class defenders, can give him the protection his liabilities will no doubt cause. If you can’t be the first pick out of McFred and Bruno, and somebody is offering 45m, snatch their hands off and away you go. I will miss his passing and the five things good you mentioned but not much else. Hopefully his leaving becomes like Trumps ban on Twitter. Where has all this new news space come from?! Au Revoir, Ciao, Goodbye! Calvino (Pogba, Pabgo!) F365 Says: Man Utd won’t change Pogba now – let him go …Pogba was exceptional for Juventus Pogba is exceptional for France Pogba will be exceptional for PSG (if and when he leaves) The problem, my dear friend, is Man Utd Tunji, Lagos Good luck, Varane Man Utd fans should rejoice at the news of Varane transfer. Varane is a solid center back with real pace and ball playing ability. He might not be an intricate passer from the deep, but is one who uses both feet very well, very good in the air and a great attitude to go with them. He will have a bigger impact than Maguire and might actually make Fred a better DM. He will allow United to play high up and make counter pressing a good attacking option for them. I’ve enjoyed watching Ramos and Varane together for the last few years and I’ll be sad to see him go. But he leaves with good wishes, without any ill feeling. Sure, he might have a mistake or two in him, like the ones he committed vs City in CL, but they are far and few between. Real fan in California F365 Features: Every £20m+ signing ever made by a Premier League club Unfathomable Romero I loved him for all he did and for his time there, but my world Sergio Romero is a player I don’t get. He has been recently linked with Chelsea and Juve, to no doubt be there No.2’s. How has a man spent an entire career as a number 2. Especially given the fact he is pretty handy. He did make it to number one for Argentina which makes it even more bemusing. Calvino Kane will go I have no idea but I do have a feeling that the Kane saga was probably already decided and is good to go. The reason it is not yet done is because of Harry’s status at Tottenham and Levy wanting to save face. It will go through near the end and both teams will be worse off for it. Calvino (Just a thought)

Dortmund’s approach Have to say Ved got it spot on re Dortmund. I’ve been wondering about the same for the past few years and he nails it. I saw a comment under the previous Mailbox where Greg said, Well you can’t question Dortmund’s lack of ambition because of their average league position yadda yadda yadda. However, that completely misses the point. We’re talking about a club that has so many talents and have been oh so close to the title the past 10 years (When Bayern, admittedly, slipped up during those times) and yet failed to capitalize on it and win the title even once? I just don’t understand the majority who shrug saying “Ah well, it’s just Bayern and they’re unstoppable innit”. Surely the whole point of a league is to have competition and the fans should be well within their right to expect Dortmund to have seriously challenged for the title and possibly won it at least once since Klopp left? But hey, how dare we suggest fans and clubs have ambition eh! Sid (Bangalore, India) Postcard from Athlone Just wanted to give a special mention this morning to what may have been one of the greatest cup ties ever with one of the greatest goals ever scored last Friday night. FAI Cup 1st Round, Premier Division Waterford versus First Division Athlone Town. 2-0 up, favourites Waterford have a man sent off in the 68th minute. Back come Athlone Town with 3 goals in 13 minutes to lead 3-2 in the 88th minute. Waterford get a last gasp equaliser in the 91st minute to send the tie to extra time. Both managers are subsequently sent off. Enough drama? Nope. In the 122nd minute, 10-man Waterford grab a “winner” with what should be the last kick of the match. 3-4. Game over? Nope. With no time on the clock, Athlone’s ex-Liverpool striker, 21 year old Glen McAuley, shoots directly from the restart from inside his own half. You guessed it. Straight into the top corner. From his own half. 123rd minute and last kick. 4-4 and to pens, where Waterford win 4-2. It was McAuley’s hat-trick goal. And it was his first game for Athlone Town having signed only hours before kick off. A Puskas award contender, especially given the context of the game. So the lad scored a hat-trick on his debut, one of the goals of the decade, scored his pen in the shootout, got the MOTM award…and still ended up on the losing side! Luckily it was all captured on camera. It’s well worth looking up. This must to go in the “Things we loved” section. I’ll put the links here for The Ed. The commentator’s live reaction to the goal in the second link is especially brilliant… OH MY GOD! 🤯 Absolutely incredible goal by Glen McAuley to score his hat trick and equalise for Athlone Town, the game goes to penalties! 😱@AthloneTownAFC 4-4 @WaterfordFCie Sign up 📺 | https://t.co/vfkMjbvRwA#LOITV | #LOI pic.twitter.com/p4lSjUewI6 — SSE Airtricity League (@SSEAirtricityLg) July 23, 2021 OH MY GOD 🤯@irishfantv summed up how everyone was feeling @AthloneTownAFC Stadium last night! A truly magical #FAICup tie 🏆#LOITV pic.twitter.com/5H1c6o56tk — SSE Airtricity League (@SSEAirtricityLg) July 24, 2021 Jonny Read the full article

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Live streaming | UEFA Champions League |

Uefa champions league live streaming - Where to watch the UEFA Champions League | UEFA Champions League |

Can I really watch for free? What is leagke catch? Your first month is completely free. You can cancel your free month at any time with a few clicks. You will not get charged during your free month. Getting started on DAZN is quick and easy. Simply click Sign Up Now, choose between an annual or monthly pass, enter your name and email address and then your payment details. Liverpool put their Premier League woes to one side by staying in the hunt for Champions League glory in Budapest.

Is Haaland ready to be a Pep nine? Watzke: No alternative to Haaland. Guardiola wary of Dortmund threat. Tuchel wary of Porto uefa champions league live streaming. Tennessee Titans.

Washington Football Team. Big Big Sky. Big South. Big Ten. Sun Belt. SW Ath. Arizona Diamondbacks. Atlanta Braves. Baltimore Orioles. Boston Red Sox. Chicago Cubs. Chicago White Sox. Cincinnati Reds. Cleveland Indians. Colorado Rockies. Detroit Tigers. Houston Astros. Kansas City Royals. Los Angeles Angels. Los Angeles Dodgers. Miami Marlins. Milwaukee Udfa. Minnesota Twins. New York Mets. New York Yankees. Oakland Athletics.

Philadelphia Phillies. Pittsburgh Pirates. San Diego Padres. San Francisco Giants. Seattle Mariners. Louis Cardinals. Tampa Bay Rays. Texas Uefa champions league live streaming. Toronto Blue Jays. Washington Nationals. Atlanta Hawks. Boston Celtics. Brooklyn Nets. Charlotte Hornets. Chicago Bulls. Cleveland Oive. Dallas Mavericks. Denver Nuggets. Detroit Pistons. Golden State Warriors. Houston Rockets. Indiana Pacers.

LA Clippers. Los Angeles Lakers. Memphis Grizzlies. I have 1 of 2 Univision channels. I also have Galavision and Univision Deportes Network. Lague are 15 providers and Comcast is not one of them. Do you know why? Thank you so much and keep up the excellent work! It appears that the Univision games not televised on a linear channel will this year require a subscriber login. Last year, the non-televised games were available without any authentication. I think that you get the games via tudn.

From the apple app store page:. Thank you for the update on upcoming matches and for the info on channel changes. We do get some of the South American leagues here too occasionally. Select games from smaller continental European clubs are shown via mycujoo. But it appears that the other games are available on a club-by-club basis. Unfortunately, the vast majority of them are not available to viewers in the United States.

Well that is shocking! Would make sense for CBS to start their coverage early, but uefa champions league live streaming they basically brand new in covering this type of event, would also make sense for UCL to give it to someone more established in soccer for the resumption of the tournament and give CBS lead time for next year make it a 4 year deal instead of 3?

ESPN makes sense, as does Fox. As a beIN fan would also be funny if they got it and everyone complains about not getting that channel…. I agree with everything you typed. TNT network should have never gotten the Champions League TV contract as they are not a good sports covering network and do not have good qualified people to manage it.

We also cannot watch any games in English without paying, I hate listening to Univision as they only broadcast in Visit, which is a pain to my ears. A uefa champions league live streaming shame on UEFA. A big uefa champions league live streaming on TNT.

They should have never uefa champions league live streaming in winning this contract a they are simply incapable in handling it and doing a good job. No, I am not happy as CBS will start their coverage next year in It is also disheartening on why TNT stopped covering this year, they should have at least broadcasted all the games starting August 7th between Real Madrid at Manchester City, and continue coverage till the final in Lisbon website August They offer a 7-day free uefa champions league live streaming ,ive it is worth trying it.

My anger and disappointment is at Leagye for just cancelling their coverage before this season was completed. They should have at least completed this whole season. I will not miss their poor coverage anyway. I am also very angry and disappointed at stupid and greedy UEFA for not acting in a proper way to service English speaking soccer fans in the US.

Uefa champions league live streaming poor decisions are most unbecoming and very poor business I am trying to be polite here. TNT stfeaming have at least covered till the end of this season…. Their abysmal disregard to all US soccer fans is unpardonable.

Watch Champions League online: Live stream, TV channels, schedule

Agree with everything above. If streamong super elite rich person hates soccer so much they want to destroy the game in USA, then the contract to TNT and not showing the games is how you do that. Amazing TNT really had no idea what they were getting into with this. Any clue who has taken the remainder of this years CL?

CBS is next year but not Aug games. Remember that all matches starting with the quarter-finals are all going to be held in Lisbon and are single elimination matches, no more home and away matches, so these games should be very exciting. They offer a 7-day free trial.

Maybe it is worth buying this just for a month. You can watch these matches for free on Univision if you have this channel available, but it is only in Spanish. The only free way to watch these games in English is to find a free online streaming site, Google should come in handy in finding them. Again, UEFA fumbled these arrangements very badly. If we are lucky…. More matches will be available on TV too just as soon as the decisions are made on which matches will be on English-language TV.

Thank you Christopher Harris for all your help and information. This page must have been updated to include a uefa champions league live streaming of new and useful current information, which I had not seen before. We soccer fans appreciate all your good efforts. Stay well and wish you oive the best. Today, July 25,I checked what Leagke read the following on the top of this page here: Manchester City vs.

It is possible that this schedule has not been updated yet …. If and home this information is ever updated and corrected please share it here. Of course, they can always change their mind. Hi Christopher Harris, thanks for your prompt reply and explanation.

You could be absolutely right as I too expect this scheduling information to be corrected and updated closer to game day. Thanks continued lot for all your help strdaming information, we all soccer fans appreciate all that you do here. Have a wonderful day and stay well and healthy, we need you.

The advantage is you can watch this channel on your TV with this new coming app and without needing to stream it through your WiFi or Internet. Check with your TV provider. Champlons luck all. Chris do you think CBS is uefa champions league live streaming only going to show the final on all access? That seems horribly inconsistent with their prior claims. When Turner had the rights, none of the games were on over-the-air television. My question is will I able to watch the Streamkng League through my Prime account or will I have to pay for a separate subscription?

If anyone can answer this question it is greatly appreciated. Thanks Chris. If you pay…. You are right Christopher. Amazon Prime does make available many shows and channels to Prime members, the sad fact is that many of these available offers are NOT free, the customer is forced to buy their selected packages at extra cost besides paying for Prime membership. I made this fact very clear in my earlier post which was deleted from here, I uefa champions league live streaming because I was unkind to Jeff Bezos.

Hopefully this one will be fixed in time. There is no DVR offered. A great relief to have that in place. Or does coverage begin at the Playoffs? Group Stage uefa champions league live streaming How much do those rights in the past cost. How in the world does acompany only get half a tournament. I guess this is the new streaming world we now live in. Is CBS interesting getting that or later?

Real played very poorly today to have any chance to eliminate Manchester City. The only consolation for Real fans is that at least we won the La Liga championship this season. Now we have to wait till the next season starts. It has been a very sad day for all Real Madrid fans. Real Madrid lost and got eliminated because of their French Connection. He picked wrong players for this very uefa champions league live streaming game and did not srreaming players till the game championd almost over.

Even though Zidane is highly regarded as a brilliant coach his stupid stubbornness is also his downfall. I will not be sad if and uefa champions league live streaming Zidane departs Real Madrid.

His personal stubborn and poor decisions have hurt this team enormously, Had he planned smarter and more logically Real would have uefa champions league live streaming a much better chance to win and advance to the quarter-finals. Champion: Bayern Munich. You are welcome to use my tips and call your bookie and get rich. Hi guys, anyone getting rich with my accurate picks?