The Athletic FC Podcast

Manchester City and PSG put on a show in the Champions League last night, but their situations off the pitch are very different.City are now public enemy number one after being ruled to have systematically broken Premier League rules. So why are PSG, who have their own historic financial breaches, not legally viewed the same way?Kate Mason is joined by Adam Crafton, Jacob Whitehead and former England international Rob Green to explain. Plus, Matt Slater joins down the line from Zurich where Gianni Infantino is making his first public FIFA appearance since the World Cup.Host: Kate MasonPanelists: Adam Crafton, Jacob Whitehead, Rob Green, Matt SlaterVideographer: Lara SinclairExecutive producer: Adam JonesProducer: Jay Beale

Manchester United continued their poor run of form with a 2-0 loss to Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid on Tuesday night, but it was Lisandro Martinez’s explosive post match interview that grabbed the headlines.Emma is joined in the studio by The Athletic’s Manchester United writer Cerys Jones and Senior Editor Tomas Hill Lopez-Menchero to dig into all the action, plus, Senior sports news reporter Matt Slater explains the IFR’s State of Football report.Host: Emma PatonPanelists: Cerys Jones, Tomas Hill Lopez-Menchero, Matt SlaterFeaturing: Laurie WhitwellExecutive Producers: Adam Jones, Max Curwen BingleyProducer: Jay BealeVideographer: Liam Warburton

Cole Palmer signed a contract extension with Chelsea over the weekend to signify his commitment to the club. So are the Blues entering a long overdue era of stability under Xabi Alonso, and has new signing Morgan Rogers become the glue at the club already?Plus, are Everton’s American owners looking to sell the club already?Emma Paton is joined by David Ornstein and special guest James Allcott in studio to discuss two big stories that emerged over the weekend.Host: Emma PatonPanelists: David Ornstein, James AllcottProducers: Mike Stavrou, Grayson MoodyExecutive Producer: Adam Jones

Manchester City's 3-0 win at Liverpool on Sunday felt surreal, with the football itself almost a footnote to the wider picture surrounding City since they were found guilty of almost all the Premier League charges relating to financial breaches.Are all of City's games going to feel this way until the sanctions are delivered? How are their players and fans meant to react? And what did the display say about Liverpool?Host Emma Paton was joined by former England international Rob Green and The Athletic's Manchester United correspondent Cerys Jones to discuss the fallout from Anfield. Plus, does Michael Carrick have more problems than Roberto de Zerbi? And are we worried about Fulham?Host: Emma PatonPanelists: Rob Green, Cerys JonesFeaturing: Sam Lee & James PearceExecutive producer: Adam JonesProducer: Jay BealeVideographer: Lara Sinclair

In the latest episode of David Ornstein's 'Truth or Padel' series, David meets former Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Liverpool midfielder Thiago Alcantara.Thiago discusses coming to terms with his body being unable to play anymore, advice for the next generation of players, the ‘death’ of beautiful football, and the best young players in the world.Host: David OrnsteinGuests: Thiago AlcantaraExecutive Producer: Joe DevineEditor: Don Ma

This week's Tactical Preview focuses on one of the biggest games in Premier League history: Liverpool vs Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday.The matchup has been given more significance after the news of City's guilty ruling, so how will the players fare on the day and will it alter their tactical approach?Kate Mason is joined by former England goalkeeper Rob Green and The Athletic's tactics writer Liam Tharme to discuss the game at Anfield, plus Manchester United vs Spurs, Arsenal vs Leeds and Brentford's trip to Villa Park.The panel also discuss the concepts of rest defence and counter-pressing; who does it best and why it is so important.Host: Kate MasonGuests: Rob Green, Liam TharmeExecutive Producer: Adam JonesProducers: Mike Stavrou & Liam Warburton (

Liverpool went toe to toe with Manchester City during a period when City have now been found guilty of breaching the Premier League's financial rules. So does this change how we should view Jurgen Klopp's achievements as Liverpool manager and FSG's running of the club?Adam Crafton, Matt Slater and Rob Green join Kate Mason on the usual Thursday Club to discuss that era, the best run clubs in the game and what truly makes a good owner.Host: Kate MasonGuests: Rob Green, Matt Slater, Adam CraftonExecutive Producer: Adam JonesProducer: Jay BealeVideographer: Ben Whitcombe

This week's What If is centred on the biggest story in town: Manchester City's guilty ruling.Emma Paton is alongside The Athletic's Tim Spiers, Jack Pitt-Brooke and Dan Kilpatrick to discuss who was the most impacted by City's spending, and if that money hadn't been spent, where would the rest of the division be?What if the big signings they made went elsewhere, who else would they have signed in their place and what is an appropriate punishment?Host: Emma PatonCo-hosts: Tim Spiers, Dan Kilpatrick, Jack Pitt-BrookeExec Producer: Adam JonesProducers: Mike Stavrou, Grayson Moody