Rijkaard pays price for the listlessness of his number 10

On May 17 2006, Ronaldinho stood on the brink of greatness. On the cusp of a level that very few sportsman have ever graced. He stood on the turf in the middle of the Stade de France with the Champions League trophy raised high above his head. But that was then - and the Brazilian’s fall from grace has been dramatic. Dan Bailey investigates why it went so wrong for ‘Gaúcho’.

Why England should trust Young Guns

Whilst we are distracted by the ease at which English teams have dominated the Champions League, it only serves to cement the exile of our young players. Messi has been the star in Europe, but few English players have shone as domestic clubs look abroad for youth of the future. It’s time to change this worrying trend.

Floundering Ronaldo can only fantasise about number one status

Onde está Ronaldo?
‘Stubbornly resilient’ is the greatest praise that can be afforded to Manchester United’s performance at the Camp Nou against a Barcelona side high on household names but low on belief.

The defence was once again sublime - as against Roma in the quarter-finals - and they were constantly at work as a dishevelled midfield […]

Champions League Predictions

The quartet of English sides enter the quarter-finals of the Champions League in differing degrees of form and confidence. But whilst some have been disappointing domestically, they will all have reason to believe that they can go further in the competition this year. But which of the four have the right blend to go all […]

Peak time for Barça as momentum carries them towards the title

Barcelona have moved within two points of Real Madrid at the top of La Liga after a potentially critical set of results in February, and Rijkaard’s side could be heading for an unlikely treble.
Real seemed destined to make it two La Liga titles on the spin after a fantastic first half of the season that […]