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Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has been handed a welcome injury boost amid their statement 5-1 win over Ajax in the Champions League.

Chelsea demolish Ajax with Blues back to winning ways

The Blues have now won four straight games in all competitions — a striking turnaround in form right after their dismal 3-1 loss at home to Brighton nearly a month ago.

Their dominant performance against 10-man Ajax showcased a side that has regained confidence, cohesion and attacking firepower — silencing doubts about their ability to compete at the highest level this season.

John Heintinga’s visitors, who went into the game off the back of a terrible start to 2025/2026, didn’t spark any change in fortune as Chelsea absolutely dominated proceedings with the one-man advantage.

Immediately after Kenneth Taylor was sent off, goals from Marc Guiu, Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernández, Estevao and Tyrique George sealed all three points before 50 minutes were even on the clock, with former Burnley striker Wout Weghorst bagging a meek consolation for the Dutch side who went back to the Netherlands empty-handed.

From the off, Chelsea played with renewed energy and purpose.

Their attacking players combined excellently, creating numerous scoring opportunities, and Chelsea’s ability to break down Ajax’s defense repeatedly was a testament to their improved movement off the ball and sharper decision-making in the final third.

Chelsea also became the first team to have three teenagers score in a Champions League game, leaving Maresca absolutely thrilled.

With the west Londoners’ forward flair on full display, having now scored eight goals in their last two games, Chelsea are proving they can still be just as effective minus the likes of Cole Palmer and Liam Delap.

Palmer is set to remain out until December with a groin injury that has plagued him so far this term, while reports suggested that Delap could be back in action for Chelsea just prior to the end of 2025.

Enzo Maresca shares big Liam Delap injury update out of Chelsea

While Maresca has found a way to cope without both men for the time being, Chelsea are anxiously waiting for both forwards to be ready for selection again.

Delap, who signed from Ipswich Town in the summer for around £30 million, was brought in to spearhead the side as their number nine target man.

After the former Man City gem’s hamstring injury, Maresca was forced to cut short Guiu’s loan at Sunderland to fill the void, but according to Chelsea’s boss, Delap is now “very close” to returning to full training.

This is a major boost for Londoners, but Delap will take some time to get back up to speed as he looks to eventually play a key role in Chelsea’s top four challenge and hunt for silverware.

The 22-year-old bagged double figures for a side who were eventually relegated last season, which is very impressive in itself given the lack of quality around him, so just imagine what he could do in this Chelsea side lavished with exciting young attackers.

His imminent return is timely with the 2026 World Cup looming, and Delap will have one eye on battling his way into Thomas Tuchel’s Three Lions squad.

The Detroit Tiegrs are free falling.

Clinging to a 5-4 lead against the Braves in the top of the ninth inning and looking to end a four-game losing streak, manager A.J. Hinch called upon closer Will Vest to shut the door during Saturday's game. Instead, the Braves kicked the door open, rallying for two runs to take the lead and eventually, win the game.

For the Tigers—who have seen an AL Central lead that was once 15 1/2 games over the Guardians dwindle to just 1 1/2 as Cleveland continues to surge—it was the worst case scenario.

"Difficult to accept, difficult to explain," Hinch said Saturday after the loss. "It's hard trying to put into words what is going on. But I know how much we fought today. I know how well we played. Some big emotional swings and an absolute punch right to the face. Frustrating day, but I'm going to try to grab some of the good that came out of some good swings, some excellent bullpen work.

"Some emotional swings that went our favor and some high-end plays. It's hard to like much of anything right now."

Since September 1, the Tigers offense ranks 21st in runs scored, while the pitching staff has struggled to the tune of the sixth-worst ERA during that span. Not exactly a recipe for winning baseball at any time, but especially in the heat of a division race.

Meanwhile, Cleveland, once seemingly left for dead in the push for the postseason, is now within striking distance of first place in the AL Central with under 10 games remaining. A three-game series against the Guardians, beginning on Sept. 23, looms particularly large.

There was a lot of news in the world of Major League Baseball on Monday night. This is not exactly a surprise in the lead-up to the trade deadline, but many of the biggest stories from the diamond on Monday were wholly unrelated to real or proposed future deals.

The biggest story in the sport was obviously the death of Cubs legend Ryne Sandberg at the age of 65. Tributes came in from across the sport as fans, players, and Sandbergs peers celebrated his life.

But beyond remembering Sandberg’s incredible career, a whole lot of mesmerizing baseball moments took place on Monday.

Take a look below at some of the strange, fascinating, and strangely fascinating highlights from around the league.

Maikel Garcia Gets Stung by a Bee

It was a big day for Maikel Garcia. The 25-year-old cousin of Ronald Acuna Jr. and his Royals teammates were facing off against the Braves, and Garcia was determine to get the better of the family rivalry.

Garcia was able to slide in under the tag when Acuna fired a bullet from the outfield in an attempt to stop him from scoring, and Garcia celebrated with a playful taunt.

But the real highlight of Garcia’s night came a few innings later, when he shook off getting stung by a bee to drill a single which he legged out to turn into a double.

This Might Be the Worst Ump Call of the Season

Listen, we’ve covered a lot of bad officiating calls through the baseball season so far. While the presence of the human condition in the calling of balls and strikes has long been a part of the DNA of the sport, it’s calls like this one from Brian Walsh in Monday’s game between the Orioles and Blue Jays that have people calling for the robot revolution.

O’s pitcher Zach Eflin delivered a pitch right down the middle… for a ball. The broadcast booth was rightfully stunned and appalled by the call.

The Angels Find New Way to Give Up Two Runs

There’s no good way for an outfielder to miss an easy catch, but there are several degrees of bad, and Angels outfielder Gustavo Campero unlocked a painful level of bad with his error against the Rangers.

With Los Angeles holding a 2–0 lead in the fifth inning and trying to get out of a bases-loaded jam, it appeared that Campero had the out to end the inning right above his glove. It was even in his glove… until it wasn’t.

The Rangers scored two runs on the play, tying the game.

Everyone Was Getting Hit by Pitches and Forced to Leave Their Game

It’s been a scary season to be a baseball this year, with sluggers like Cal Raleigh, Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani all hitting dingers at a ridiculous pace.

But on Monday, the baseballs struck back, as a string of players were hit by pitches. Some of these HBPs were scarier than others, but by the end of the night, it was impossible to ignore the sheer volume of hits.

Eugenio Suarez, who is one of the hottest names on the market ahead of the trade deadline, was caught on the hand in a scary moment for the Arizona Diamondbacks and any contenders hoping to secure his services for the rest of the year.

Thankfully, x-rays were negative and Suarez is considered day-to-day.

George Springer took a pitch to the helmet in another horrifying moment for the Blue Jays. He was down on the ground for an extended period but eventually was able to walk off the field with some help from team staff. Hopefully he’s doing okay.

Royals catcher Salvador Perez was also forced out early after getting tagged with a pitch on the elbow.

Even pitchers weren’t immune from the carnage, with Dylan Cease catching a grounder to the back of the head. Though he stayed in the game after taking the shot, he was clearly (and understandably) rattled.

All four of these plays came across the timeline within just a few hours, and at the time, it felt like it might be best to simply unplug baseball for the night and try again tomorrow. Best wishes to the health of all players involved.

Fernando Tatis Jr. Submits Catch of the Year Contender

Just look at this. It simply does not get better.

Another look:

Anything can happen on any given night during baseball season, but on Monday night, it felt like happened.

Alexander Isak has admitted he expected to do "much more" at Liverpool after a slow start to life at Anfield. The striker joined the Reds from Newcastle United for a Premier League record fee of £125 million ($167m) but so far he has failed to fire. The Swedish international also admits that injuries have hampered his progress, and he has never felt at 100 per cent so far.

• Isak and Liverpool struggle

  Since his blockbuster £125m move, which entailed a lengthy transfer saga where Isak refused to play for Newcastle and trained alone for much of the summer, the 26-year-old has only scored two goals in all competitions this season. The Swede has struggled with injuries and form since arriving on Merseyside, and so have Arne Slot's team, with the defending Premier League champions currently ninth in the table. As a result, the former Real Sociedad man admits this has not been an "easy" period for him and his new club.

  He told : "It's not been easy, of course, individually and also collectively. We've not had the best results lately. Of course, I wish more from me as well, so I think that's pretty obvious. I'm trying to stay positive, we as a team as well, it's a really good group and we're just looking forward and trying to do better as a team."

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  Isak not at full tilt

  The forward admitted he was his own harshest critic and that he is not happy with his goal-scoring output so far. However, he still stressed that injuries have taken their toll on him.

  "I expect to do much more of course, I always do that. Even when I do really well, I want more, so that's not a problem for me. But yeah, I'm trying to stay positive, trying to work to do better and that's what we're looking to do," he said. "Yeah, of course. I think obviously I'm the first one to know and I know best when I'm doing good and when I'm not doing good. So I don't need anyone to tell me how I'm doing, so that's not a problem for me."

  When asked if he had felt at 100 per cent at any stage for Liverpool, Isak replied, "I would probably say no, physically. I probably haven't felt at my best. But yeah, that's not really the way I judge myself either. When I'm on the pitch, I want to do well anyway. But yeah, obviously, there's more of me."

• Slot defends Isak

  Despite scoring just once in the Premier League this season, Liverpool boss Slot said the Reds are not bringing the best out of the Swedish star and must do all they can to maximise his strengths. 

  The Dutchman told reporters on Friday: "He is not the only No.9 who suffers in some games from not getting many chances. At this level it’s not like the No.9 is involved in eight, nine, 10 chances every single half. But it is obvious and clear that we want to bring him into more threatening situations. Before we went to only one goal conceded in two games [West Ham and Sunderland] we had a lot of chances. Because we are a little bit more compact and not taking as many risks, we have not been able to create as many chances as all of the games before. It is definitely one of the things on my list of things to improve to get our No.9 more involved in the game and more involved in the final third."

  The former Feyenoord manager also said that Isak's match fitness remains an issue and that it is "unrealistic" for him to complete three 90-minute games in a week. 

  "That’s not the way you want to start your career at Liverpool. It is far, far from an ideal situation but, again, this club doesn’t buy a player for half a year. We bought him for six years," he added.

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  What comes next for Liverpool?

  After playing 68 minutes in the 2-0 win at West Ham and 86 minutes in the 1-1 draw with Sunderland, it remains to be seen if Isak will start away at Leeds United on Saturday evening. If not, Hugo Ekitike may lead the Reds' attack at Elland Road.

Dave Parker, a Hall of Fame outfielder, first baseman and designated hitter for the Pittsburgh Pirates and five other squads over a 19-year career, died Saturday, the Pirates announced. He was 74.

"We are heartbroken to learn of the passing of Hall of Famer Dave Parker," Pittsburgh said in a social media statement. "The Cobra was part of the inaugural Pirates Hall of Fame class in 2022, and will be enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown next month."

Parker played 11 years for Pittsburgh from 1973 to '83, and was one of the team's stars when it was the class of baseball. In 1978, he was named the National League's MVP after combining a .334/.394/.585 slashline with 30 home runs and 117 RBIs. A year later, he was an All-Star and Gold Glover on the immortal "We Are Family" Pirates—the franchise's last championship team to date.

Parker was elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in December via voting from the Classic Baseball Era Committee alongside fellow slugger Dick Allen.

In the 1980s, Parker was ensnared in a wide-ranging drug scandal surrounding a Pittsburgh-area cocaine ring that tarnished his public image. He remained productive into his later years, making three All-Star teams in his 30s with the Cincinnati Reds and Milwaukee Brewers.

Parker was a native of Grenada, Miss., though he was raised in Cincinnati and continued to live in the area into recent years.

It wasn’t perfect, but Manchester United secured three points at Molineux to return to winning ways in the Premier League and gear up for another charge toward Champions League contention.

Bottom-of-the-table Wolverhampton Wanderers crumbled away after the break, and the Red Devils made them pay, with Bruno Fernandes’ brace coming either side of second-half strikes from Bryan Mbeumo and Mason Mount.

The home side might be at the centre of a catastrophic failure this season, but take nothing away from United’s slick attacking play, creating a platform to build on after labouring to a draw against West Ham United at Old Trafford last week.

How Man Utd beat Wolves

Amorim’s Red Devils have rekindled the feel-good factor. There is work still to be done, and the Portuguese tactician’s system leaves something to be desired, but Manchester United are just one point behind fourth-placed Crystal Palace.

Amorim knew his side would dominate the ball, and dictate the flow of possession they did, but he would have drilled into his troops at half-time a lesson about wayward shooting. As per Sofascore, United chalked up an xG total of 4.01 across the match, with 3.06 of that total coming after the interval despite 14 of the 27 shots on the evening being lashed across the first half.

It’s also worth noting that five of United’s seven shots on target came during the first half. This may have smacked of desperation in other circumstances, but at Molineux illustrated a tactical tweak orienting toward greater variation, a ramping-up of the gas that outfoxed a Wolves backline that crumbled under pressure.

One way of looking at it would be that United toiled, to little avail, before the break, but we also saw tactical adaptation from a manager who has been criticised for his obstinacy.

Content creator Adam Joseph said that “tonight doesn’t solve any issues”, but he praised the victory all the same. Now, Amorim needs to go one step further and deepen the nuances of his system, surely ending one protracted experiment which might have seen the visitors come unstuck, had they been playing a higher calibre of opponent.

Amorim must boldly drop Man United talent

Amad Diallo is one of the most talented players in Manchester United’s squad, but he’s also been played out of position for the lion’s share of the Amorim era, and the contest at Molineux issued a reminder that he cannot continue in an unnatural wing-back berth forever.

Not only does it hinder the 23-year-old’s attacking play, but it also fails to offer United’s system the balance and fluency it requires down the right channel.

This was by no means a, quote unquote, disasterclass, but Amad did leave something to be desired, lacking end product and culpable for a few defensive lapses. The Manchester Evening News recognised this, handing the Ivory Coast international a 6/10 match rating.

Amad, after all, was perhaps at fault for the Old Gold’s parity-restoring goal before the break, failing to close David Møller Wolfe as the wing-back cut back to Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, who scored.

There were flashes of quality, for sure, but we must remember that Amad is performing, dutifully, in a role that is not his own, and this was picked up by analyst Raj Chohan, who remarked that it has been “completely unserious squad planning” on Amorim’s part, shoehorning a fleet-footed forward into a position that he “does not suit playing” in.

This season, ten of Amad’s 15 appearances have come as United’s right-sided wing-back, with five outings made in an attacking role off the central striker.

There he plays his best stuff, and if Amorim is to succeed at the club and lead the squad for the long run, he will need to find a way to maximise this talented forward’s skills in a position that he can call his own.

Bad news for Mainoo: INEOS make £70m "passing machine" Man Utd’s no.1 target

Man United’s need for a new centre-midfielder is as pressing as ever.

By
Angus Sinclair

Dec 8, 2025

Former Paris Saint-Germain defender Thiago Silva has revealed the circumstances behind the "rift" which developed between Kylian Mbappe and Neymar during the latter stages of their time together at the Parisian giants. The pair, signed as the world's two most expensive players ever and amongst the biggest stars in the game at the time, shared a close friendship at first but saw issues between them grow over their period at the club.

• Mbappe and Neymar relationship at PSG revealed

  Silva was PSG captain during the first three seasons of the pair’s time at the club, before departing for Chelsea in 2020 and winning the Champions League at Stamford Bridge. Such European success had not been repeated during his time in Paris despite the record-breaking signings of Neymar and Mbappe, whose relationship deteriorated over time, revealed Silva.

  The 41-year-old, now with Fluminense, revealed in an interview relayed by Tribuna that the pair were close early on during their time as team-mates, amid a “beautiful story” prior to their arrival where Mbappe told Silva that even if Neymar joined PSG, he wanted to sign for the club and play alongside him.

  The pair were close, enjoying each other’s company on a daily basis, but this changed as a “rift” appeared between them. Silva expressed how unfortunate this was and explained that he does not have all the answers for why this occurred, as it was after he had already departed Paris for west London.

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  'It made me sad' – Silva speaks on Mbappe and Neymar falling out

  Silva explained: "At Paris Saint-Germain, Mbappe and Neymar got along well at first, but their relationship deteriorated. Why? It was a beautiful story. I remember the Trophee des Champions match against Monaco, Kylian Mbappe's team, in Morocco [a 2-1 victory for PSG on 29 July 2017 in Tangier]. At the end of the match, Mbappe wanted to talk to me. He said, 'Even if Neymar signs, I also want to come and be part of this team. If you could talk to the president…' They both arrived that summer, and their relationship was incredible. They were very close, among those who had the most fun on a daily basis.

  "I didn't understand why they drifted apart. I was no longer at PSG. I don't know which of the two caused the rift, but it made me sad. They are two great guys, and it's disappointing that it ended like that."

• Both Neymar and Mbappe have publicly had their say

  Speaking on a podcast with Brazil legend Romario earlier this year, Neymar gave his side of the story.

  "I have my things with him [Mbappe], we had a little fight, but he was fundamental for us when he arrived," Neymar said, as relayed by TNT Sports.

  "I used to call him golden boy. I always played with him; I said he was going to be one of the best. I always helped, talked to him, he came to my place, we had dinner together.

  "We had some good years of partnership, but after Messi came he was a little jealous. He didn't want to split me with anyone. And then there were some fights, a change in behaviour."

  Meanwhile, the Frenchman responded to these claims of jealousy in an interview with TNT Sports Brasil: "The truth is I have nothing to say. I’m very concentrated on what I’m doing here in Madrid. I have a lot of respect for Neymar.

  "I could talk many times about Neymar but I want to remember the positives, of a unique footballer in the history of football and all the moments we had in Paris.

  "Now I’m in Madrid and I want to enjoy being in Madrid. All the best to Neymar and to all his family and friends."

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  Mbappe and Neymar both aiming for 2026 World Cup dream

  With both players and their former captain having spoken, it is possible that the entire truth may never be revealed about why Neymar and Mbappe fell out in Paris.

  Both players have gone on their own unique paths in their careers since, as Neymar spent a period in the Saudi Pro League before returning to boyhood club Santos, while 26-year-old Mbappe is at the peak of his powers shining for Real Madrid.

  The France international will compete at the World Cup next summer barring injury, while Neymar is hoping to force his way back into the Brazil squad to get what could be his final chance to play on the global stage.

Arsenal got back to winning ways on Wednesday night, with a 3-0 demolition of Club Brugge in the Champions League.

It was a much-needed result following their 2-1 loss away to Aston Villa in their last Premier League match, and the fifth time this season the Gunners have won after dropping points.

There is something different about Mikel Arteta’s side this season, a sense that this is finally the year in which they’ll get over the finishing line.

Perhaps in a bid to ensure that happens, reports now suggest Arsenal are making a move to sign a seriously exciting attacker next year, someone who could be an upgrade on Martin Odegaard.

Arsenal target Odegaard upgrade

Arsenal did go unusually big in the summer transfer window, but with a potential league title and more on the line this season, they’re being linked with a plethora of potential game-changing talents ahead of the January window.

Transfer Focus

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

RB Leipzig’s £87m Yan Diomande, for example, has been touted for a move to the Emirates, as has Real Madrid’s Rodrygo.

However, as brilliantly talented as those two players are, their positions mean that neither would represent an upgrade on Odegaard, unlike Arda Güler.

Yes, according to a recent report from Spain, Arsenal have reignited their interest in the Turkish wonderkid.

In fact, alongside the likes of Liverpool and Manchester United, the report claims that the Gunners have already made their move to sign the Madrid star.

However, the Spanish giants are reportedly still unsure whether they want to keep the 20-year-old, and if not, another report from earlier this month stated that a fee of £88m might be required to get them to sell.

In all, this could be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but given Güler’s ability and potential, it’s one Arsenal should fight for, even if it’s bad news for Odegaard.

How Güler compares to Oedegaard

Now, one of Güler’s best traits is the fact that he can be moved around a bit and, if the manager needs him to, do a job out wide.

However, while he can do this, it would be foolish to sign him to play him in wide areas, as he is now spending most of his time in attacking midfield and playing very well there.

In other words, were Arsenal to sign the Madrid star, one of his main rivals for game time would be Odegaard, but who’d come out on top?

Well, starting with their raw output, it’s the Turkish superstar who comes out on top, and quite comfortably at that.

For example, in 21 appearances this season, totalling 1365 minutes, the “generational talent”, as described by journalist Dean Jones, has scored three goals and provided seven assists, averaging a goal involvement every 2.1 games, or every 136.5 minutes.

In contrast, the Gunners’ captain has provided just two assists in 12 appearances this season, totalling 587 minutes, which is a goal involvement every six games, or every 293.5 minutes.

Okay, what about their underlying numbers, then? Who comes out on top when you take a look under the hood?

Unfortunately for the Norwegian maestro, it is once again his potential rival who comes out looking better, although it is a little closer this time.

For example, the former Fenerbahçe gem comes out on top in most relevant metrics, including shot-creating actions, key passes, non-penalty expected goals plus assists, tackles won and more, all per 90.

What’s even more impressive about all of this is that the Ankara-born gem is doing all this and outperforming the North Londoners number eight despite being six years younger than him.

Ultimately, Odegaard is a brilliant player and could play a huge role in Arsenal’s success this season, but Güler looks to be the better player, and therefore, Andrea Berta should do what he can to sign him for the club.

Not just Madueke: Arsenal star had his best ever game for the club v Brugge

It was a night to remember for Noni Madueke and one of his new Arsenal teammates.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

4 days ago

Boston Red Sox top prospect Marcelo Mayer is getting called up to the big leagues, and now we have video of the moment he learned he was joining the MLB club.

Mayer was playing for the Triple A Worcester Red Sox when manager Chad Tracy called him into his office. He informed Mayer that he wouldn't be playing in the second game of the team's doubleheader against the Durham Bulls on Saturday. Then Tracy revealed the reason Mayer would miss the game is that he'd be starting at Fenway Park for the Red Sox.

Video is below.

That's a great moment.

The Red Sox will be starting Mayer at third base in his big league debut after Alex Bregman hit the injured list with a right quad strain. It could be a long injury, so the 22-year-old is likely to get a long look in the lineup.

Boston selected Mayer with the No. 4 pick in the 2021 MLB draft out of Eastlake High School in Chula Vista, Calif. Through 43 games at Triple A, he was slashing .271/.347/.471 with nine home runs and 43 RBIs.

Ange Postecoglou has reportedly been tipped for a shock return to management with Premier League strugglers Leeds United, but is likely to face competition from Brendan Rodgers. The Whites find themselves in the relegation zone, winless in their last four matches and spiralling into a crisis that now threatens to sweep away manager Daniel Farke, only months after he masterminded a 100-point promotion campaign.

• Leeds plunge toward crisis as pressure mounts on Farke

  Seven defeats in 12 games have left the Whites 18th in the table, and according to , there are no reassurances coming from Elland Road’s hierarchy regarding Farke’s future. His Premier League record, dating back to his Norwich City days, now gives him the lowest points-per-game return of any manager with more than 50 matches in the competition’s history (0.61). With Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool looming in their next three fixtures, Leeds appear to be edging toward a tipping point. 

  Postecoglou, who was once hailed as the charismatic architect behind Celtic’s resurgence, has unexpectedly become a name floated for the Leeds hot seat. His brief, bruising stint at Nottingham Forest, where he lasted a record-short 39 days, may have dented his Premier League credentials, but not his admirers within the Leeds boardroom. Figures at Elland Road are said to be intrigued by his front-foot philosophy, believing it fits the club’s identity.

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  Rodgers emerges as a serious contender

  Rodgers, who stunned Celtic supporters last month by resigning and exiting Parkhead for the second time in his career, is reportedly eager for a Premier League return. His departure sparked a furious statement from Celtic chief Dermot Desmond, who accused him of behaviour that was "divisive, misleading and self-serving". 

  He told Celtic's official club website: "Brendan Rodgers has today tendered his resignation as manager of Celtic Football Club. I want to acknowledge Brendan’s contribution across his two spells as manager, during which he helped deliver success that forms part of the club’s modern history. However, I must also express my deep disappointment at the way the past several months have unfolded.

  "When we brought Brendan back to Celtic two years ago, it was done with complete trust and belief in his ability to lead the club into a new era of sustained success. Unfortunately, his conduct and communication in recent months have not reflected that trust. In June, both Michael Nicholson and I expressed to Brendan that we were keen to offer him a contract extension, to reaffirm the club’s full backing and long-term commitment to him. He said he would need to think about it and revert. Yet in subsequent press conferences, Brendan implied that the club had made no commitment to offer him a contract. That was simply untrue."

  Despite the acrimony, Rodgers’ coaching reputation remains largely intact. His time at Leicester saw him deliver an FA Cup triumph and consecutive European qualifications before the Foxes’ late nosedive in 2023.

• Will Postecoglou accept the offer?

  Reports indicate Postecoglou has privately ruled himself out of any immediate managerial return, including the vacancy at Celtic. After an emotionally draining few months, he is believed to be deliberately stepping back from frontline football to rest and recharge before deciding his next move. To many Celtic supporters, Postecoglou remains a beloved figure who delivered five domestic trophies in two years and revolutionised the club’s style of play. But for now, he appears committed to pause rather than plunge into another high-pressure environment, making a Leeds move far from guaranteed.

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  What comes next for Leeds?

  Farke arrived at Elland Road with a clear mandate to lead Leeds back to the big time, stabilise the squad and embed a long-term identity. For a year, he did exactly that. But the Premier League has exposed his tactical rigidity and the limitations of a squad still adapting to top-flight intensity. Leeds look vulnerable in transitions, short on creativity and low on confidence. The issues are exacerbated by the relentless fixture list. The next three matches may prove terminal. Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool represent an unforgiving gauntlet for a side battling to stay afloat. Anything less than a shock turnaround could leave the Leeds hierarchy with a decision they already appear to be preparing for.