Motlhen

In Out

Transfers A big window, with a few massive deals on deadline day. Out Mitoma ended up being a fringe squad player so I wasn't going to turn down £50M. Igor was also in the same position and £30M for him I was happy with. Two players I was not expecting to leave were Verbruggen £37.5M and last season's big signing Theate £49M. Both were unhappy after I initially rejected bids, so I then lined up replacements and all of the deals went through just in time. In 4 freebies. Mosconi is one for the future and Delap is a decent home-grown backup. Milinkovic-Savic is a huge signing for us and if Kessie gets a work permit in 90 days, they will be a formidable duo in central midfield. If he doesn't, we'll sell him in January. The deadline day deals were Home-Grown-at-Club Sanchez as well as van de Ven! Looking at the comparison between each, I am very happy with the switches.

World Cup 2026 Panama making it to the knockouts ahead of Japan was probably the only real upset in the Group Stages. Belgium have won their first world title! Turkey were the surprise package making it to the semis The England job still remains Jose Mourinho's after he has guided them to 3rd place. Although it is not certain it will remain that way.

Man City won the league but suffered in every final they got to:

I've already started building for next season with a couple of big names joining us in July. But another focus this summer will be on the World Cup. I am hoping to end up as an International manager after the World Cup - with my sights set on the Euros in 2 years. England would be my first choice of the teams who haven't won the Euros, but Belgium and possibly Switzerland would be good options too. World Cup Groups There are some pretty big omissions from the World Cup, including Croatia and Switzerland!

May 2025 Another incredible end to the season! We were heading for 5ht spot and the Europa league until Asensio popped up with a 93rd minute winner against Newcastle! 4th is one spot (and six points) lower than last season, but I think this is huge progress considering we were not competing in Europe at all last season and this season we got as far as the UCL Quarter Finals.

West Brom got relegated and then capitulated against Newcastle.

Apr 2025 We let a 2-goal lead against Liverpool slip THREE TIMES. Including a 91st minute equaliser in the 2nd leg which forced extra time before they took the lead against us for the first time and pushed on to win. A rough way to exit the UCL. Wins against Spurs and Birmingham keep us in the hunt for UCL football again next season. Asensio's been on good form since joining and his 92nd minute equaliser steals what could be an important point against the league leaders. Will have to keep an eye out for this player in the next few seasons.

Mar 2025 A massive month. Through in the Champions League and beating 2nd and 5th in the league to close the gap to the teams above us. First place is seemingly impossible now - but after last years late surge, I am looking at that 5-point gap to 2nd place and wondering if we could get close. A huge tie against Liverpool is on the horizon - we'll be playing them 3 times in 11 days. I've managed to pick up a brilliant free signing of Asensio, who was a star in my PSG squad. ...and I also forgot to mention that I bought Garner in January as a decent home-grown backup.

Youth Intake Hunt looks like he could be very good, I'll be keeping an eye on him.

We've managed to get past Juventus! It was a lot tougher than our 4-0 win against them in the Group Stage.

Feb 2026 A really disappointing month. Both the Villa and Leicester games, we couldn't hold onto the 2-1 lead and conceded in the 90-plus minutes. Then going out of the FA Cup against Leeds with pretty full squad, was unacceptable. We have drawn against Juventus in the UCL R16. We beat them 4-0 already this campaign, but we need to show up! Knockout Playoff Round My old club PSG being knocked out was the biggest shock & Villa were unlucky to lost to Real Madrid.

Jan 2026 A couple of poor results against Bournemouth & Brentford, but a huge win against Juventus sees us finish 6th in the UCL group and jump straight to the Round of 16. In the Premier league, we're only 5 points off of 3rd, where we finished last season, and only 9 points off of top - but with so many teams jostling for position, there's no guarantee and we need to get back to form.

Dec 2025 A mixed bag to finish the year.

Nov 2025 A tough month. And how it can all change so quickly. From top-spot to out of the European places. Props to West Brom for making me feel better. We're still top of the UCL group though! Youth Intake Preview

Oct 2025 Going into our game against Man Utd, we were level on points at the top! So I guess a draw might have been expected. But Liverpool, who just knocked us out of our defence of the Carabao Cup, have also leapfrogged us both into pole position.

Sep 2025 AN incredible month, with a huge win against Inter Milan to kick off our European campaign. We're riding near the top of the premier league, although Man Utd have gone 6 from 6 so far.

Saudi clubs have come sniffing, but I'm not giving in!

Aug 2025 We managed to be comfortable against Brentford on the opening day, until a late goal. Then we strolled into Bournemouth and got caught lacking. They played us off the park and I blasted the team for a terrible performance - and they reacted heroically by smashing 7 past West Brom.

Start of 2025/26 Season Last season we didn't have continental football to contend with. This season we will be jumping straight into the Champions League with a mean list of fixtures. Because of the fixture congestion and our over-performance last season, I am glad that the board only want a top-half finish in the league. I would like us to at least get Europa league football for next season. Squad This is my favoured 1st and 2nd Xi for the coming season. Rotation will be key! Backups We have a solid list of backups. Bounanotte & Ilenikhena will hopefully be loaned out before the transfer window closes.

Transfers Out Transfers In We've got 2x new right backs who will fight for a first team spot. And we've added Theate as a first choice at centre-back with Dunk not getting any younger. I chose not to sign DCL for around £9m in January and I am glad I didn't, as he joined us on a free! He's a great alternative option up front as our pressing forward. Ilenikhena is another great signing, but we will look to loan him out this season for regular first team football.

I've immediately asked the board to use the Champions League money for improvements. And we managed to get an affiliate in France.

May 2025 What a way to end the season. After we clinched a Conference League spot for next year through the Carabao Cup, I thought we could maybe upgrade to a Europa league spot, but never thought Champions league would be possible.

We've beaten Liverpool! And with it qualified for the UCL!!! We were 9th for most of the season and have flown up to 3rd and I can't quite believe that we'll be playing in the Champions League next season.

May 2025 A massively disappointing draw. I was hoping we would battle for a point - but we were 3-0 up at half time and cruising. Losing in this manner feels like 2 points dropped and I hope we don't live to rue this. Chelsea (who we play on the last day of the season) and Man Utd (still in the current season's UCL) are hot on our tails. I don't know when our aim became top 4, but it is now! Next, we have the minor task of playing Liverpool, who have only lost to Villa this season.