Ex-teammates exposed in court

GM football fans. Route One here, and we’re covering more updates on Tuchel’s appointment, Benjamin Mendy calls out five ex-teammates in his tribunal and much more. Enjoy Route One? Share us with a friend on WhatsApp with this link.

TONIGHT’S WOMEN’S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Real Madrid vs Celtic (17:45 UK). Real Madrid are on rocky form after losing their first Champions League match this campaign and subsequently drew with Atletico Madrid on Sunday. Wolfsburg vs Lyon (20:00 UK). Lyon have won their last three meetings with Wolfsburg and will look to extend their unbeaten away run in European competitions to 11 matches. Twente vs Chelsea (20:00 UK). Chelsea have now gone seven competitive matches without defeat since losing to Liverpool in May, and remain unbeaten in the first four matches of Sonia Bompastor’s tenure. Women’s UCL results and fixtures here.

Plus…

• Opta’s latest Premier League predictions (More)

• Paul Pogba’s first interview since his ban for a doping offence (Watch)

• Ange Posecoglou says he’s ready to “explode” at Spurs players when they return from international break (More)

• Premier League fixture changes summarised (More)

• Eight things learned from Tuchel’s press conference (More)

• Chelsea have prevented Liverpool scouts from watching youth games (More) / behind paywall

• MLS chief understands call to cancel new Club World Cup (More)

MORE TUCHEL DETAILS

Tuchel officially confirmed as England manager from 2025, new details emerge

Thomas Tuchel has been officially appointed England manager from 1 January 2025. He has signed an 18-month contract which will see him lead England in the 2026 World Cup. The German coach spoke for the first time in a press conference yesterday.

Addressing doubts about a foreign national manager, Tuchel apologised for having a German passport and admitted that he hasn’t decided if he will sign the national anthem. FA chief executive, Mark Bullingham, claims the governing body interviewed 10 candidates for the role, including English managers. Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer say they are reliably told that Eddie Howe was not involved in the process – but Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti were.

Tuchel will be assisted by Anthony Barry, who worked with him at Chelsea and Bayern Munich. The Liverpudlian is widely regarded as one of the most promising upcoming English coaches. Aside from Chelsea and Bayern Munich, Barry has held assistant manager roles with the Republic of Ireland, Belgium and Portugal (More details on Barry here).

POLL

HEAD START

😬 Investigative journalists double down on Mbappe claims. An investigative journalist at a Swedish tabloid told RTL France: “We are 100% sure that [Kylian Mbappe] is the suspect, without a shadow of a doubt”. The video clip is in French via X. This refers to serious allegations against the Frenchman in a Swedish hotel. The journalist added: “The police seized evidence [including] clothes from the complainant”. Mbappe publicly denied any wrongdoing and said it was fake news.

⭐ Trent is Madrid’s priority target. Several sources with close knowledge of Real Madrid’s recruitment plans said that Trent Alexander-Arnold was their priority target. The Spanish giants are also considering Pedro Porro and Jeremie Frimpong. From January, Alexander-Arnold will be able to negotiate a free transfer with another club as his existing deal expires in June 2025. Fabrizio Romano confirms the rumours.

⏭️ City consider Amorim to replace Guardiola. Manchester City are strongly considering the Sporting head coach, Ruben Amorim, as their next manager (manager profile here). Pep Guardiola’s contract at City expires at the end of the season and has not made it clear whether he will renew his contract. Some reports suggest that the Spaniard plans on extending his stay by one year, but this is largely unsubstantiated.

MENDY LEGAL SAGA

Benjamin Mendy names five Manchester City players in tribunal evidence, all involved in infamous parties

After being fully acquitted (case details here), Benjamin Mendy has launched an £11mn unpaid wages claim against his former club Manchester City. Mendy’s case is, in short, that City assumed he was going to be imprisoned and unlawfully withdrew his salary for almost two years.

As part of the evidence, Mendy said that several City players “all drank alcohol” and “all breached Covid-19 restrictions” on the night in question. Mendy’s scandalous parties were attended by, according to his evidence, Jack Grealish, Kyle Walker, Riyad Mahrez, Raheem Sterling and John Stones. The Frenchman feels other players accused of wrong-doing, like Mason Greenwood, were treated more favourably by their clubs and the FA.

In court, City’s lawyers argued that Mendy wasn’t paid because he thought he could “ignore all the rules”. Manchester United’s chief executive Omar Berrada – who was chief football officer of the City Football Group at the time – was cross-examined at the tribunal. Reports say he was “evasive” but strongly denied agreeing to Mendy’s wages if he was acquitted.

AROUND THE FOOTBALL WORLD

🇦🇷 Argentina national team: Lionel Messi scored his tenth international hat-trick as Argentina beat Bolivia 6 – 0 in a World Cup qualifier (Highlights)

🇺🇸 USMNT: Mauricio Pochettino loses his second game in charge of the U.S. men’s national team in a 2 – 0 defeat to Mexico (More)

🇪🇸 La Liga: A Spanish sporting body has recommended Atletico Madrid’s stadium be closed for 15 days over the crowd trouble during last month’s game with Real Madrid (More)

🇫🇷 Ligue 1: Paris Saint-Germain name former player Yohan Caybe to be their youth academy sporting director (More)

ROUTER’S VOICE

Yesterday, we asked you: Is Thomas Tuchel the right manager for England?

🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 🟩 ✅ Absolutely, lots of experience... (59%)

🟨 🟨 🟨 🟨 ⬜️ ⬜️ 😬 Nope, he isn't the right choice... (39.3%)

⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ⬜️ ✍️ Other (write in!)... (1.7%)

Your punditry takes:

• ✅ J.C: “Definitely a master tactician. Definitely a winner. England is lucky to get him. He will bring a trophy to the English fans.”

• ✅ J.H: “Great appointment but if he doesn't succeed in what Southgate has achieved he has got to be ready for some heavy criticism and nationalism.”

• 😬 W: “I would have liked to see Eddie Howe given a chance!”

EXTRA TIME

Jude Bellingham unveils his first-ever Adidas football boot.

Breaking down Thomas Tuchel’s tactical style.

Al-Nassr release Real Madrid-esque football kit.

The best Premier League goals in the last 10 years.

Analysing Liverpool’s horror run of fixtures.

Hazard explains shattering Spurs’ title hopes.

A detailed look at Premier League corners.

20 years ago Messi made his La Liga debut.

Luca Toni confronts Guardiola on why he’s the reason he couldn’t find a team to play for.

GAME FACE ON

Question: Who Am I…

• I scored two goals in a Champions League final but I’ve never won it.

• I’ve scored over 300 goals in a career that spanned 19 years.

• I spent the majority of my career in the Serie A but had a spell at Chelsea.

Scroll below for the answer.

ON TODAY

Women’s Champions League

• Galatasaray vs Roma (17:45)

• Real Madrid vs Celtic (17:45)

• Wolfsburg vs Lyon (20:00)

• Twente vs Chelsea (20:00)

League One

• Shrewsbury vs Exeter (20:00)

*All times in UK. EST -5. PST -8. CET +1. CST +8. JST +9.

Answer

Hernan Crespo.