TouchlineFootball

Manchester United 2021/22 Season Review: Kings No More -Samarth Purohit  -Editor: Mitansh Kagalwala Manchester United 2021/22   Manchester United. Perhaps one of the most successful teams in Europe, definitely in England, with 20 League titles (13 Premier League titles), 2 UEFA Champions Leagues, including a treble, and cups galore. Post the departure of legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson, however, the Red Devils have failed to hit the highs of his tenure, not lifting the league title since 2013, and being trophyless for 5 years now. However, by the start of the 2021/22 season, all that seemed set to change. Manchester had finished a resurgent second place in the previous season, ahead of rampaging rivals Liverpool, with a seemingly weaker squad. Club legend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was at the wheel, and for once, United started the season having had a great transfer window on paper. Young livewire Jadon Sancho arrived at the club, ending a long and frustrating saga. 4 time...

  BARCELONA’S 21/22 SEASON: A SEASON OF TWO HALVES - Mitansh Kagalwala FC Barcelona’s 21/22 season was supposed to start on a promising note. New signings Sergio Aguero, Memphis Depay and Eric Garcia had all joined on free transfers, and thus, despite Barca’s heavy financial problems, the squad looked in overall better shape. The promised return of Ansu Fati, the rise of youngsters Gavi, Nico and Pedri, and the upturn in form towards the second half of the previous season all pointed to a resurgence. This was going to be Barca's season of comeback. And, of course, Barca still had Leo Messi. What more did they need? Then, on August 5 th , 2021, president Joan Laporta announced that, for the first time in his glittering career, Lionel Messi would don a jersey other than the claret-and-blue. La Liga’s heavy financial regulations meant that Barca could no longer afford to pay Messi’s wages, and the Argentine was forced into a tearful exit to PSG. Even then, despite ridding themse...

  INDIA VS HONG KONG TALKING POINTS AS DOMINANT BLUE TIGERS ROMP TO 4-0 VICTORY IN KOLKATA -Mitansh Kagalwala Photo Via:  InsideSport On a rainy night in Kolkata, India took on Hong Kong in a clash to secure top space in their AFC Asian Cup Qualification group. Both sides had already qualified for the tournament, but a win would ensure a better pot and group drawing. The Blue Tigers started with a bang, Anwar Ali smashing home in the 2 nd  minute. Sunil Chhetri doubled the lead just before half-time, netting his 84th international goal in an Indian jersey, coming level with one Ferenc Puskas. Manvir Singh and Ishan Pandita sealed the victory late into the game with two well taken goals. Here’s what we made of it: 1.        INDIA’S ATTACK:  In recent years, much has been made of the difference in quality between India’s defence and offence: the former organized and successful, the latter boring and overly reliant on Sunil Chhetri. With th...

  TALKING POINTS AS REAL MADRID CLINCH LA DECIMACUARTA -Mihir Mehta -Editor: Mitansh Kagalwala Photo Via:  The Guardian Real Madrid locked horns with Liverpool in the Champions League final in Paris on Saturday. Liverpool were looking to add their second UCL title in four years, while Madrid aimed at winning their first European Trophy since the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo. Liverpool entered the game as favourites, and, while they created a number of chances, failed to capitalize on their dominance. In what seemed inevitable, Madrid eventually scored, Vinicius Jr. tapping in from a fantastic Fede Valverde pass, and Los Blancos held on to secure their fourteenth ever Champions League, extending their claim as the greatest side in European competitions. Here’s what we made of it:   1.      THE GREAT WALL OF BELGIUM: For all the attacking stars assembled on the pitch, from Karim Benzema to Mohammed Salah, from Vinicius Jr. to Sadio Mane, it was Thi...

REAL MADRID PLAYER RATINGS FROM MAN CITY 4-3 REAL MADRID -Shiven Roy -Editor: Mitansh Kagalwala Photo Via: www.cbssports.com Real Madrid took on Manchester City at the Etihad in a thrilling clash that ended 4-3 despite the hosts dominating most of the game and having a number of chances to increase their lead. The clash was the epitome of exciting, attacking football. Here's what we made of Real's performance on the night: Thibaut Courtois (6/10): The Belgian conceded four goals, but could not really blamed for any of them, except perhaps for the fourth, where Courtois was caught napping by Bernardo Silva’s ferocious strike. Ferland Mendy (5.5/10): Mendy made quite a few errors at the back and was beaten a number of times by City’s strong attack. He did, however, provide the assist for Benzema’s opener. David Alaba(5/10): David Alaba was playing injured which probably led to his poor performance in the game. A mistake by him cost Madrid a second goal within 11 minutes...

  CHAMPIONS IN REBUILD PART 4/4 JUVENTUS FC -Samarth Purohit and Mitansh Kagalwala We're back with the fourth and final installment of our Champions In Rebuild series, where we take a loot at clubs that once dominated the footballing world, but have since fallen down the pecking order, and are currently in a state of rebuild. In Part 4 of the Champions In Rebuild series, we visit Turin and the Allianz Stadium, to meet with the most successful side in Italy, the Old Lady in their famous black-and-white stripes, Juventus FC.  Photo Via: www.viator.com THE JUVENTUS STADIUM (KNOWN FOR SPONSORSHIP REASONS AS THE ALLIANZ STADIUM)   THE PAST Juventus. A name synonymous with the Serie A, the Bianconeri are the record Scudetto champions and are the pride of Italian Football. Nicknamed the Old Lady, the name “Juventus” ironically is Latin for youth, the Turin-based side have won 36 Serie A titles (Scudetto’s) since their inception in 1897. Juventus went through a short period...

  PLAYER RATINGS FROM MAN CITY 2-2 LIVERPOOL - Parth Pabaru Photo Via: www.talksport.com Manchester City and Liverpool played out an electric 2-2 draw at the Etihad in the biggest fixture in the race for the Premier League. Both team's pushed hard, and it wasn't hard to see why exactly the two are the probably the best in the world right now. Here's what we made of it: ALISSON- 6/10 Made 2 stunning saves from sterling and jesus and kept Liverpool in the game in the early stages. TRENT ALEXANDER ARNOLD - 5/10 Wasn't at his usual best but did assist Liverpool's first goal with a fine layoff for Diogo Jota for the 1st equalizer of the match. Was caught out of position for both of City's goals, however. VIRGIL VAN DIJK - 6.5/10 Lead the team well and made some clever diagonal passes setting Sadio Mane and Mo Salah on their way. Managed the backline well and guided the players in front of him taking up a major role , as always. JOEL MATIP - 6/ 10  The ball, unfortuna...

  TALKING POINTS FROM HUGE CLASH AT THE ETIHAD -Mihir Mehta  -Editor: Mitansh Kagalwala Photo Via: www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk Manchester City and Liverpool faced off at the Etihad on Sunday in a top of the table clash that could very well decide which city the Premier League trophy heads to come May. Before the game, only a single point separated the two sides, and, following the draw, the title race looks like going to the very end of the season. City started off much the brighter side, as Kevin De Bruyne opened the scoring in the 5 th minute. Liverpool responded quickly, when Diogo Jota equalized, but Gabriel Jesus put City back into the lead again. Into the second half, Liverpool came out all guns blazing, when Sadio Mane latched onto a Mohamed Salah assist to level once more. The match was end to end throughout, and clearly showed us why Pep and Klopp are the two best managers in the world right now. Here’s what we made of it: 1.       Adva...

  CHAMPIONS IN REBUILD PART 3 ARSENAL FOOTBALL CLUB - Mitansh Kagalwala We're back with the third part of our Champions In Rebuild series, where we take a look at clubs that once dominated the footballing world, but have since fallen down the pecking order, and are currently in a state of rebuild. In Part 3 of the Champions In Rebuild series, we visit lively and fierce North London and the Emirates Stadium, to meet with Arsenal Fan TV, the Gunners faithful, and Good Old Arsenal FC.  THE PAST If ever there was a club that perfectly embodied the picture of frustration, it’s Arsenal. Once the Kings of England, the Gunners were the Pride of North London. Premier League wins, European titles, domestic doubles, a legendary manager, a flamboyant squad, and fierce derbies that closely resembled war against archrivals Tottenham Hotspur; Arsenal really had it all. Arsenal have rarely done things the regular way. In the summer of 1966, following the dismissal of Billy Wright, Arsenal...