“I am satisfied that we have done it,” Pep Guardiola told Sky, via Goal. His team, Bayern Munich, had just clinched the Bundesliga title with a 3-1 victory over Hertha Berlin.

On March 25.

With seven games still to go—a league record. 

Guardiola, to that point, had answered the lingering question at Bayern, the one succinctly outlined by Sky Sports‘ Adam Bate: “What do you buy the girl who has everything?”

Indeed, the task had been a daunting one, taking over from Jupp Heynckes who had steered the Bavarian club to an emphatic treble the season prior. Guardiola’s task in 2013-14—and beyond—was to make them, somehow, better.

Some will tell you he did. Others will argue he didn’t. But in the league, at least, his team’s record—or, more precisely, the records broken—tell their own story: fastest ever team to a Bundesliga title (27 matches), most consecutive wins (19), longest ever unbeaten streak (53), most consecutive away wins (10), longest unbeaten run to start a Bundesliga season (28), longest run of two-goal performances in winning matches (19) and most away goals in a season (46). 

Guardiola’s opinion? “They have got even better,” he declared without hesitation. 

In his first season at the club, the Catalan had taken his iconic, Latin style to Germany, implemented it, despite doubts, to force through a phase of rapid evolution at Bayern and lifted the league trophy in a more dominant fashion than any other in history. 

This season, on current pace, could produce more of the same. 

Of course, there will always be those connected to the club who are unsure of Guardiola, uneasy with his presence at the helm—a group who grew in number after the 4-0 loss to Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-final. But that’s also part of who he is; he can be a figure who polarises opinion. It was the same at Barcelona, where his ascension to first-team coach in 2008 was initially viewed cynically. 

And at Bayern, much like he was in Catalonia, Guardiola is a perfect fit for the German powerhouse. 

“Since my arrival I have tried to care for the heritage of the club,” he said after capturing the 2013 Club World Cup. Things such as heritage, tradition and identity are extremely important to the 43-year-old—winning football games is his job; upholding values is a duty. At Barcelona, he became a standard-bearer, a sort of moral compass, for both a football club and a region in need of positive and influential figures. 

It’s why, according to Guillem Balague in Pep Guardiola: Another Way of Winning, the former Barcelona manager chose to pursue Bayern despite offers from clubs in England and Italy. The club has a grand history, a defined structure and way of doing things, a strong connection with its members and a focus on homegrown talent. 

Like his beloved Barcelona, Bayern, in his eyes, stands for something. Embracing that and building upon it was the appeal. Just as it had been in Spain. 

In his first year in charge at the Camp Nou, he propelled Barcelona, with a method that would become world-renowned and admired, to the most historic of campaigns with the unprecedented capture of six titles. Adapting that method to his work in his first season at the Allianz Arena led Bayern Munich to the capture of four. 

For any other manager, such a haul would have constituted an overwhelming success. For Guardiola, it was considered by some as underachievement. 

That’s how high he’s set the bar. 

“Give me the B team,” Guardiola said, according to Balague. 

“What!? You must be crazy,” was the response of Txiki Begiristain, the club’s director of football who’d wanted to place the former player into a coordinator-style role, an overseer of all things at the academy level, upon his return to Catalonia. 

But Guardiola didn’t budge. He wanted to coach, not administrate. The B team was a perfect start—a team that, like the first team at the time, was struggling through a malaise and had just been relegated into the fourth tier of Spanish football from the Segunda Division B. 

Though some thought he was mad, he was unveiled as B-team coach in the summer of 2007. He had one personal goal: to earn promotion. 

As Bayern Munich have witnessed, and Barcelona before them, Guardiola’s approach to management is fanatical; obsessive almost. His attention to detail on the training pitch is staggering, he studies opponents for days, he monitors himself what players eat, his tactical brain never stops, he conjures footballing answers to every question before creating more questions and his passion to coach—to actually teach—might be unrivalled. 

He took that approach with the B team. In the Spanish fourth division. 

Instilling a ferocious work ethic in the club’s youth players and altering the academy’s structure, Guardiola rejuvenated La Masia. 

By the end of the 2007-08 season, and with the help of two players groomed by him named Pedro and Sergio Busquets, Guardiola’s B team secured promotion. 

If Frank Rijkaard’s Barcelona became known for complacency, a loss of standards and the wasting of talent, Guardiola’s Barcelona, aside from dominance and staggering excellence, became known for the polar opposite of such labels. 

Describe his Barcelona and—once you get away from the beauty of the goalscoring and the sheer number of the trophies—you automatically begin to speak of his team’s intense pressing, their perpetual motion, the positional awareness, the defence through attack, the players’ tenacity and the squad’s durability.

Typically, such a process takes time.

Not for Guardiola, though.

In the space of 12 months, the Catalan took the Blaugrana from decadence to dominance. He transformed a club that was 18 points off the pace of champions Real Madrid in 2007-08 and without a trophy in two years to the most talked-about sporting institution on the planet. 

After little more than one year in charge, Guardiola’s record read: one Champions League title, one La Liga title, one Copa del Rey title, one UEFA Super Cup title, one Spanish Super Cup title and one Club World Cup title. 

Those who view him as a manager of great sides rather than a great manager should take note: He inherited a dysfunctional group of underachievers and turned them into the greatest force the sport has known. 

The key ingredient? The same obsessiveness and attention to detail that saw him win promotion with the B team—themes that were set when he first addressed Barcelona’s stars at St Andrews in Scotland in 2008.

According to Guillem Balague in the Telegraph, Guardiola’s first message mesmerised the group (you can find all of it here):

I’ve been part of this club for many years and I am aware of the mistakes that have been made in the past, I will defend you to the death but I can also say that I will be very demanding of you all: just like I will be with myself.

I only ask this of you. I won’t tell you off if you misplace a pass, or miss a header that costs us a goal, as long as I know you are giving 100 per cent. I could forgive you any mistake, but I won’t forgive you if you don’t give your heart and soul to Barcelona.

I’m not asking results of you, just performance. I won’t accept people speculating about performance, if it’s half-hearted or people aren’t giving their all.

This is Barca, gentlemen, this is what is asked of us and this is what I will ask of you.

Naturally, the distracted Ronaldinho didn’t fit into his vision. Nor did Deco. Samuel Eto’o, who has since spoken of his dissatisfaction with Guardiola, lasted just a season before he was discarded, too. 

The manager carried forward the essence of Johan Cruyff’s tenure, but added to it a work ethic and fanaticism that set Barcelona apart. His players would eat together sitting in an enforced seating plan that varied. They would only speak Catalan or Castilian. Staff with a long-running passion for the club were brought in. Their training ground was moved away from the Camp Nou to the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper to reduce the feeling of stardom within the group.

Every decision was made to boost professionalism and the squad’s collective strength. That itself benefited immeasurably from Guardiola’s unrelenting and unmatched passion to teach, his carefully constructed winning strategies and the devising of a style, an ethos, based on percentages, efficiency and effectiveness.

The result was six titles in a calendar year.  

Not bad, for a club that claimed one point in its opening two league games under its prodigal son. 

In the history of Barcelona, the 2008 Olympic Games stand as a critical juncture in the club’s fortunes. Perhaps the most significant juncture of all. 

Guardiola, having just replaced Rijkaard, was confronted at the time with a displeased Lionel Messi, who, initially, had been denied the opportunity to represent Argentina at the global event in Beijing by his club. 

The new manager, despite having impressed his players immediately, knew tension with his finest talent must be avoided. For modern football, like many sports, hinges on star power. And though yet to hit his peak in 2008, the club was well aware Messi was one of those. A star above them all. 

As such, it represented an opportunity for Guardiola. In a dispute between the club and its biggest star, the manager had the chance to side with the player and win the affection and trust of the Argentinian. 

He took it. 

“It’s the best decision as, although with Leo we’re a better side, these are exceptional circumstances,” Guardiola announced at a press conference in August 2008 to explain Messi’s involvement in the Olympic Games. 

Begiristain, who, according to Balague in Pep Guardiola: Another Way of Winning, had been persuaded by Guardiola to allow the Argentinian to compete in the games, added: “We want the player to be happy and his happiness is there for all to see.”

Guardiola, instantly, had won over a player who would become one of the greatest individuals the sport has ever seen. 

“I’m very grateful to Pep Guardiola,” Messi later said after winning the gold medal. “I want to reach to him and give him a hug because he understood where I was coming from and it was such a nice gesture.”

It wasn’t the first moment of significance for Barcelona that season. 

In the lead-up to the Blaugrana’s meeting with Real Madrid in La Liga in May 2009, Guardiola was sitting in his office contemplating ways to expose weaknesses in the defending champions: Where are the gaps? Where are the deficiencies? Where can Real be attacked?

In his book, Pep Confidential: Inside Guardiola’s First Season at Bayern Munich, Spanish journalist Marti Perarnau, while reflecting, provides insight into how the then-Barcelona boss propelled a star into a legend with one tactical switch: 

Having watched a previous match between the two teams, Pep noticed how much pressure Real’s midfielders Guti, Fernando Gago and Royston Drenthe put on his own players, Xavi and Yaya Touré. He also noticed the tendency of the central defenders, Cannavaro and Metzelder, to hang back near Iker Casillas’ goalmouth. This left a vast expanse of space between them and the Madrid midfielders.

It was 10pm and Pep was alone in his office. Everyone else, including his assistants, had gone home. He sat in that dimly lit room imagining Messi moving freely across that enormous empty space in the Bernabéu. He saw him face-to-face with Metzelder and Cannavaro, the two players frozen on the edge of the box, unsure whether or not to chase the Argentine. The image was crystal clear and he picked up the phone and dialled Messi’s number.

According to Perarnau, Guardiola called Messi into his office late that night and explained to him his plan and how it would transpire. Messi agreed. 

The next day, with Messi instructed to play as a false No. 9, the Argentinian scored twice. Barcelona defeated Real Madrid 6-2 at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Eighteen months later, with Messi deployed in exactly the same manner, the Blaugrana went better again: Barcelona 5-0 Real Madrid. 

Of course, Guardiola hadn’t conceptualised the false No. 9; he’d just positioned one of the greatest talents of all time in such a manner.

The results were devastating.  

“They are the best team we have ever played,” Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said.

Two years earlier in 2009, the Scot believed his team had thrown away the opportunity to claim consecutive Champions League titles, but, on this occasion, he was left in no doubt as to where the trophy deserved to be.

“We were beaten by the best team in Europe,” Ferguson declared. 

The occasion, of course, was the 2011 Champions League final between Barcelona and Manchester United at Wembley—a repeat of the 2009 final in Rome.

Barcelona, under Guardiola, had already claimed three straight La Liga titles, but Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan had stopped their European charge in 2010. The 2011 final of the continental competition was the chance to reassert their dominance in Europe. 

Goals to Messi, Pedro and David Villa did just that. The match ended 3-1 to Barcelona, the Spanish club starting seven players, and eventually fielding eight, who had progressed through La Masia—the revered youth setup rejuvenated by Guardiola.

Again, Barcelona had not only been recognised as Europe’s finest, but also as an example of a certain type of footballing purity. They’d triumphed their own way, Guardiola’s way. 

As his players celebrated, Guardiola, according to Balague, turned to his assistant Manel Estiarte and said remorsefully: “I will never forgive myself. I have failed.” 

He’d just won the Champions League for the second time in three seasons. In doing so, he’d just captured his 10th major title in that time. 

But Guardiola, the perfectionist, the obsessive manager with an unrivalled work ethic, thought he could have done better. 

That’s who Bayern Munich have now. 

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The original Ronaldo—the Brazilian one—could be set for a surprise return to playing action after the 38-year-old admitted he wants to turn out for NASL’s Fort Lauderdale Strikers, the club at which he recently became a part-owner.    

The two-time World Cup winner and Brazilian legend bought a minority stake in the Strikers—from America’s second tier—back in December, per Hamish Mackay in the Daily Mail, and he is now eager to lace up his boots once again, per Sports Illustrated‘s Grant Wahl.   

“I will try to play some games. This year I want to train a lot,” Ronaldo said. “The last three years I didn’t because I was too busy in other stuff. Maybe if we get to the final and I’m feeling good, why not? I will put my name in the NASL as an option.”

Ronaldo was widely regarded as one of the world’s best players in his pomp as he netted bags of goals playing for Barcelona, Inter Milan and Real Madrid. 

However, he struggled with his fitness towards the end of his career and eventually hung up his boots in 2011, finishing his playing days at Brazilian club Corinthians. 

It is unclear whether Ronaldo will actually go through with his stated desire to play in the NASL, although the prospect is likely to be hotly anticipated by many, including football writer Avi Creditor:

However, there is also little doubt that the move would draw criticism from many as it may be perceived as disrespectful for Ronaldo to decide he can simply put himself into the Fort Lauderdale Strikers’ side whenever he feels so inclined, per ESPN FC’s Jason Davis:

Whatever happens, there is no doubting Ronaldo’s legendary status in the world game and the fact he would certainly bring huge publicity to NASL with a return to action.

He would also potentially prove doubters wrong if he does indeed turn out to play once more.

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Inter Milan manager Roberto Mancini has watched from afar as the career of Mario Balotelli, who he worked with at both Manchester City and Inter, has headed down a disappointing road. He hopes the striker is able to regain his focus and form before it’s too late.

James Pearce of the Liverpool Echo passed along comments the longtime boss made to Italian outlet Corriere della Sera about the Reds star. He said there were never any behavior issues during their time together, but admits things have started to get away from him ever since:

It has all gone downward a bit since he left City. I thought he would do well at Milan, but it didn’t happen.

Mario is at risk of following the same path as Adriano. I hope that he wakes up one morning and realises that he is wasting everything.

Mancini stated he hasn’t talked with the controversial Italy international since the City days. His word of warning will surely reach Balotelli one way or another, though.

It seemed like moving to the Reds was a good match for Balotelli. The side needed more of an attacking presence, meaning he would be featured prominently, and had qualified for the Champions League so he could play on the big European stages.

The situation hasn’t played out according to plan, however. He’s scored just two goals since arriving to Anfield and has failed to lock down a consistent role for Brendan Rodgers. His level of play has rarely risen above mediocre across 18 appearances.

Ultimately, Balotelli needs a wake-up call to get him back on track. He’s filled with talent but if he never capitalizes on it his career won’t reach the heights he was capable of. Perhaps Mancini’s comments can help provide the spark he certainly needs.

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How can Brendan Rodgers improve his Liverpool side defensively in 2015?

It seems like somewhat of a million-dollar question, given the manager is renowned for his poor defensive record; under Rodgers, Liverpool’s game plan has seemingly been to outscore the opponent, at all costs.

As LFC XTRA statistician Andrew Beasley noted, Rodgers has the worst record of goals conceded per game of any Liverpool manager since the tenure of Bill Shankly from 1959 to 1974:

Beasley continues to detail how Liverpool have experienced their best average of goals per game under Rodgers, however:

As such, this seems a phenomenal, institutional issue, and one that would require a major overhaul under the 41-year-old.

Rodgers has already stressed that “There won’t be a lot of transfer activity from us, if any, over the course of the January period,” as reported by James Pearce of the Liverpool Echo,

For the short-term, at least, the manager seems happy to make do with the personnel currently at his disposal.

With that in mind, there are three key areas Rodgers must focus on to improve his side’s defensive record in 2015.

The Back Three

Towards the end of 2014, Rodgers addressed his side’s poor 2014/15 season’s form with a major formation change, and the Reds lined up for December’s Premier League clash with Manchester United in a 3-4-2-1.

Although Liverpool lost that game 3-0, the upturn in performance levels was encouraging.

Rodgers saw his side create 16 chances, an vast improvement on their average of 10.3 per game in league games previous.

After a 3-1 League Cup quarter-final victory away to AFC Bournemouth in their next game, Rodgers praised this tactical switch, as The Guardian‘s Andy Hunter reports:

When you have got the players to play in the way we want to work you can see the issues and the problems we can cause opponents. We had that ability to break forward with speed and on the counterattack for probably the first time [this season]. That was clear. That tactical element is critical to how we work.

Clearly, the focus was on reinvigorating a stuttering attacking phase, but key to the success of this 3-4-2-1 is Rodgers’ back three.

After experiments involving Glen Johnson, Dejan Lovren and Kolo Toure in the lineup, a mixture of injuries and international duties has seen Rodgers settle on a hugely effective trio.

Mamadou Sakho and Emre Can serve as the defence’s more cultured, creative centre-backs, with the brutish Martin Skrtel utilised as a purely defensive outlet in between the pair in their three league games together to date.

Liverpool’s partnership of Lovren and Skrtel was hallmarked by a chaotic unease in possession, which saw the pair make 10 defensive errors between them.

Sakho and Can, with an average of 0.5 chances created per game as part of the back three, are clearly much more comfortable and confident in possession, particularly when compared to Lovren, who has averaged 0.06 chances created per game this season.

This has added a sense of calm to Skrtel, with his average of often rash clearances per game falling from 10.39 to 7.67, and the Slovak is yet to make an error when operating between Sakho and Can.

In three league games, Sakho, Can and Skrtel have conceded just one goal.

The signs of improvement are already there at centre-back, and Rodgers must resist the temptation to reintroduce £20 million summer signing Lovren in order for this to continue.

Wing-Backs

Ahead of the back three, Rodgers’ formation functions with a pair of wing-backs, and their role is crucial in the success of this system defensively.

As Jonathan Wilson wrote for The Guardian in 2009, the role of the modern wing-back is primarily to support the attack: “The advent of wing-backs can be seen as attempt to liberate both full-backs again—particularly in a world without wingers.”

Rodgers’ formation features no traditional wingers, with the wing-backs providing this width.

Goals from Alberto Moreno and Lazar Markovic from this position of late highlight the success of the wing-back in an attacking sense, with the latter’s man-of-the-match performance running from deep in Sunday’s 1-0 victory over to Sunderland the perfect example of this.

From an attacking point of view, the aforementioned pair would be Rodgers’ most effective wing-back options.

But with a testing run of games against West Ham United, Everton, Tottenham Hotspur, Southampton and Manchester City to come in the next six weeks, the manager will need to address a balance.

In order to solidify this back line even further, Rodgers may need to opt for a more defensive outlet.

Javier Manquillo, the 20-year-old Atletico Madrid loanee, could provide this option, and his five defensive actions—including interceptions, blocks and clearances—per game since the switch to a 3-4-2-1 is higher than any other wing-back used.

Another option would be the returning Jon Flanagan, who WhoScored.com shows made the most tackles per game (3.4) of any Liverpool player last season.

Flanagan recently outlined the importance of his commitment in response to a question posed to the club’s official Twitter account:

Both Manquillo and Flanagan offer a more conservative option at right-wing-back, and in order to continue to improve defensively, Rodgers may need to opt for one of the pair to provide balance for the attacking Moreno or Markovic.

Lucas Leiva

The final, key defensive player in this new formation, and an increasingly important player in Rodgers’ revival of form of late, is defensive midfielder Lucas Leiva.

Lucas’ role is of immense importance to the side’s success, as Rodgers’ only specialist defensive midfielder, as a post-Sunderland statistic highlighted by Squawka shows:

In that Stadium of Light victory, Lucas ran Markovic close to being Liverpool’s top performer, and this was purely based on a diligent, simplistic approach in the defensive third.

Lucas made six tackles and two interceptions, according to WhoScored, and with 90.2 percent passing accuracy, the midfielder recycled possession confidently and was key to Liverpool’s control of the encounter.

Perhaps most importantly, with Lucas in the side, Liverpool have conceded fewer league goals this season:

As such, in order to improve defensively, Rodgers must continue to deploy the 28-year-old in front of his back three.

This may be scuppered, however. As David Maddock of the Mirror claims, Serie A side Inter Milan are interested in a £7 million move for the midfielder in January.

These rumours were fuelled by a cryptic tweet sent by Lucas after the Sunderland victory:

Therefore, if Lucas is to leave Liverpool, Rodgers must counter this move by signing another specialist defensive midfielder, of the calibre of Bayer Leverkusen‘s Lars Bender, Olympique Lyonnais‘ Maxime Gonalons or Southampton’s Victor Wanyama.

In some ways, this may be preferable.

Liverpool’s defensive improvement hinges on Lucas’ future, in this sense.

Overall, in order improve his side defensively in 2015, Brendan Rodgers should continue the course he is currently pursuing.

This means a back three of Mamadou Sakho, Martin Skrtel and Emre Can shielded by Lucas Leiva, with a pair of diligent wing-backs, perhaps offered balance by the introduction of a more defensively minded option in either Javier Manquillo or Jon Flanagan.

Statistics via Squawka.com, unless specified.

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Yaya Sanogo has become the second Arsenal striker to leave the club in a matter of days. Not long after Lukas Podolski joined Inter Milan on loan, Sanogo has followed suit by signing a temporary deal with Crystal Palace, per BBC Sport. Gunners fans hoping to see Arsene Wenger press on with new recruits will have been mildly disappointed—thus far, they have simply made their squad smaller.  

At any other club, the departure of two strikers would be seen as cleaning the decks for a new arrival. However, Arsenal isn’t any other club. Their squad is so imbalanced that moving on two strikers is more likely a ploy to free up space on the wage bill for new defensive players.

At the start of this season, Arsenal barely had enough defenders to form a cohesive back four. However, they were blessed with a luxurious surfeit of strikers. Even having let Sanogo and Podolski leave, Wenger can still call upon Alexis Sanchez, Olivier Giroud, Danny Welbeck, Theo Walcott and Joel Campbell. That list doesn’t even mention teenage sensation Chuba Akpom, who will be keen to get some game-time under his belt if he is to be convinced to extend a contract that expires this summer. 

There is a distinction to be drawn between the Podolski and Sanogo deals. Podolski was a senior international who had grown increasingly frustrated at a lack of playing time. Even though there is no fixed option for a permanent deal with Inter, it would be hugely surprising to see him return to Arsenal.

Sanogo, however, is almost certain to cross the Thames back to north London this summer. This spell at Crystal Palace is simply about affording him the first-team football he requires to accelerate his development. With such a quality queue of players ahead of him at Arsenal, Sanogo was always going to struggle for regular action. There is only so much he can improve on the training ground. 

Palace seems a good match for him. It had been suggested he might return to Ligue 1 with Bordeaux, but Wenger was insistent that he preferred a Premier League move. Palace’s physical style should suit Sanogo: they have already made good use of another former Arsenal target man, Marouane Chamakh. Sanogo could thrive on the service provided by the wing pair of Yannick Bolasie and Wilfried Zaha.

Palace boss Alan Pardew also has a decent track record of dealing with young Arsenal talent. It was he who took Alex Song to Charlton, overseeing his transformation from joke figure to promising midfielder. There are still those among the Arsenal fans who have little patience with the raw Sanogo, so Pardew may have to work a similar trick all over again. 

Whatever happens, it’s likely Sanogo will return to Arsenal in May. It’s clear Wenger has enormous faith in him, given how frequently he has thrown him in against top-class opposition. With that in mind, the Arsenal boss will be unwilling to block his path to the first team: There is no chance of a new striker arriving in January.

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Lazar Markovic took the headlines as Liverpool beat Sunderland 1-0 at the Stadium of Light on Saturday. The Serbian winger’s early goal proved the match winner and he enjoyed by far his best performance for the club since arriving in the summer from Benfica.

However, there was one more standout performance from a man in yellow—that being Lucas Leiva in Liverpool’s midfield.

The Brazilian demonstrated his growing importance to the side and also why it would be foolish for Liverpool to sell him to Inter Milan this month.

The Italian side are clearly interested in the player, with manager Brendan Rodgers asked about such a move on BT Sport pre-match, via This Is Anfield: “There will be no loan deal for Lucas. We have had nothing as of yet in writing. I have spoken to him. He has been a player who has been in the team so we will look to keep him.”

Writing in The Telegraph, Liverpool correspondent Chris Bascombe explained: “European clubs were alerted to the Brazilian’s availability when he was on the sidelines, and, even though circumstances have changed, they [Inter Milan] are still keen to sign the 28-year-old.”

Change

There aren’t many Liverpool supporters who would have been too disheartened had Lucas been allowed to leave the club in the summer, with reports then strongly linking him with a reunion with Rafa Benitez at Napoli, per the Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Mirror).

Indeed, a move to Italy would have made sense, with the slower pace of the game suiting his style as he struggled post-injury to recapture his form of 2010.

Having seemingly been told to find a new club, Lucas has now done that with Inter Milan—only for Liverpool to now need him in their own midfield.

For much has changed from the start of Liverpool’s season, not least in their midfield. 

The campaign began with Steven Gerrard still the de facto holding midfielder and Lucas very much a peripheral figure.

But as Gerrard began to struggle in the deep role in which he’d enjoyed great success in the latter half of last season, Lucas got his chance to shine in two successive games—at home to Swansea City in the League Cup, then away to Real Madrid in the Bernabeu. He impressed in both games.

Dumped back to the bench for the next two games, at home to Chelsea and away to Crystal Palace, it looked like no matter how well the 28-year-old performed he would find it tough to get ahead of Gerrard in the Reds’ midfield.

Alas, Rodgers reinstalled him in the next game, away to Ludogorets, and since then he’s started every game except Manchester United away—which is, incredibly, Liverpool’s only defeat in those 13 games since Lucas returned to the side. 

Lucas’ improved form has been part of Liverpool’s improved form on the whole, particularly since changing to a 3-4-2-1 shape in mid-December. Changing to three centre-backs, plus having Lucas in midfield, has given Rodgers’ side better balance and improved stability at the back. The leaky defence now has a protector in front of them and no longer are opposition midfielders able to run unopposed through Liverpool’s midfield.

Sunderland

This protection of the defence was underlined by Lucas’ performance against Sunderland, where he recorded six tackles (more than any other player on the pitch, as per WhoScored). Two interceptions and three clearances added to his defensive contribution, while one key pass and a pass accuracy of 90.2 percent certainly showed his influence overall.

Breaking up play and keeping it simple can be an undervalued aspect of the modern game, and Lucas is certainly proving that since his reintroduction to the side. He has become a key cog in the Liverpool engine room.

Inter interest

The Liverpool Echo‘s James Pearce says Liverpool are “reluctant” to sell Lucas now and it’s clear to see why.

You can, though, understand why the player himself may take the move if Liverpool accepted a bid—pondering what the future holds for him, especially when Liverpool inevitably overhaul their midfield in the summer following Gerrard’s departure.

The reported £7 million fee, per Pearce, would also represent a fair price for Liverpool given Lucas’ age and squad status. But accepting a bid for financial logic would be extremely disappointing given how he has become so important to the side of late.

It’s not as though there is a suitable replacement ready to take on the role Lucas has played in midfield, with Joe Allen and Jordan Henderson not as defensively sound and Emre Can actually adding a lot to the back three playing there.

A rather cryptic tweet post-Sunderland from the Brazilian did seem to indicate that he thought his time on Merseyside was coming to an end, saying, “thanks for everything”:

Grande vitória, obrigado por tudo !!! Great win , thanks for everything !!!

— Lucas Leiva (@LucasLeiva87) January 10, 2015

But Rodgers now appears to have realised his worth and will now resist Inter’s approach—something that he must do in order to keep this momentum going.

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Bayern Munich have wasted little time in this season’s January transfer window with midfielders Xherdan Shaqiri and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg being sent on loan to Inter Milan and Augsburg respectively. 

The moves can be considered little more than some early spring cleaning, as Pep Guardiola looks to tidy up his squad and solve any potential uprest among personnel before the season reaches its conclusion. 

Whether or not the Spanish coach will now look to bring in some new faces to replace those that have left is up for debate. Anything could be just around the corner in the mayhem of the transfer window.

Last updated: Monday, January 12 

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In a month where Chelsea have been linked with Lionel Messi—as reported by the Daily Express‘ Anthony Chapman—the “Egyptian Messi” already on their books may be more consequential.

Needing midfield reinforcements after Juan Mata left Stamford Bridge for Old Trafford, the Blues bought Mohamed Salah for £11 million from FC Basel last January. Replacing an out-of-favour player may have been a clue has to the Egyptian’s future, and Salah’s west London adventure as largely gone to predictable type.

Appearing in just five matches for Chelsea this season—compiling under 300 minutes of game time—the winger’s chances have been limited, so one would think a loan opportunity would be ideal for all parties involved.

Football, however, does tend to be complicated when it should be rather simplistic.

Chelsea already have seven attacking midfielders on loan around the European continent, so loaning another could potentially create a shortage. Still having four competitions to handle, Jose Mourinho may think to give preferred options rest—whether via the bench or substitutions—and Salah’s presence is key in this prospective effort.

That said, the best interest of the player and club is development.

Marko Marin (25), Victor Moses (24), Gael Kakuta (23), Christian Atsu (23), Thorgan Hazard (21), Lucas Piazon (20) and Bertrand Traore (19) have all been loaned to hasten their development and/or receive extended minutes—difficult tasks to accomplish in west London—and Salah (22) should been in their category.

Brought off the bench in all three of his Premier League appearances, Salah has likely been kept at Stamford Bridge for possessing Olympic sprinter-like pace. Mourinho vs. Swansea City, Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur allowed the budding winger an opportunity to run at tired defences.

Despite his blistering speed, Salah—playing behind Willian, Andre Schurrle and Ramires on the right side of Chelsea’s attacking-midfield trio—has found breaking Mourinho’s starting XI difficult. Having no shortage of potential suitors, going on loan for six months would only help his case for next season.

Linked with Queens Park Rangers, Sunderland, West Bromwich Albion, Besiktas and Inter Milan—per the Daily Mail‘s Simon Jones—Chelsea do hold several options, and they should explore them; but as suggested by Harry Redknapp, there seems to be an understanding Salah is unavailable for loan this window.

The QPR boss, told reporters, via the Express‘ Chapman:

[Would I take him?] Of course I’d take him! But he’s not available.

I don’t think Chelsea would loan him, I’ve never asked for him. I’ve never thought about him until it was mentioned now.

He’s a very good player, but I don’t think we’ll get him on loan.

Were the main arguments for not loaning Salah “team dynamics” and/or “squad depth,” Mourinho could justify the loan by saying the 22-year-old has played around 10 percent of Chelsea’s total minutes this season and would not greatly alter the squad’s personality. Secondly, if his main advantages are speed and spelling preferred options, there are academy products who can do the same—Isaiah Brown for example.

A quality finisher who cannot lose foot races will always have a place in the Premier League, but in this particular case, Salah’s long-range potential (and market value) should not be stalled (or lowered) sitting behind better options.

Kurt Zouma, by comparison, has played in 11 games—logging over 720 minutes—this season and seems to be quickly developing at Stamford Bridge.

Salah has not been afforded such time (though bought in the same transfer window as the French defender) and should be given every opportunity to play regular, first-team football.

When teams come knocking for the “Egyptian Messi” as the January transfer window closes, rejecting even the premise appears detrimental for both the player’s development and Chelsea Football Club as a whole.

*Stats via WhoScored.com; transfer fees via Soccerbase.com where not noted. 

Follow @ChelseaTaIk

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It’s a good thing Inter Milan saw off Genoa 3-1 on Sunday, or else boss Roberto Mancini probably would have been in a very foul mood. 

Well, more so than usual after dropped points. 

During Inter’s win, Mancini’s first home victory since returning to the club, the Italian’s face was on the wrong end of of a stray football. 

The result was a very dramatic fall and drew a lot of laughs from casual observers. Watch the video here.

At least he smiled and took the whole thing in stride.

It’s now our second-favourite football-to-the-body-part moment of all time.

[Mirror] 

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Liverpool‘s latest transfer rumours focus on movement in midfield. Brazilian anchor man Lucas Leiva could be headed for the exit, while the Reds might ask him to leave the door ajar for AS Roma‘s technical wizard Miralem Pjanic.

Beginning with Leiva, the 28-year-old is reportedly being eyed up by Serie A side Inter Milan. Daily Mirror reporter David Maddock suggests Inter will pay £7 million to secure a permanent deal.

That’s a figure Anfield boss Brendan Rodgers has to seriously consider. When everybody’s fit, he has little need for Lucas.

That reality is reflected by how little Rodgers has used the one-time Gremio man this season. Lucas has made just 14 appearances in all competitions, per WhoScored.com.

Lucas’ battling qualities and physicality can provide balance in a midfield mostly populated with small and slight schemers. However, the Brazilian just seems to lack the necessary technical guile Rodgers covets for his quick-paced and fluid brand of football.

However, Chris Bascombe of the Telegraph believes Rodgers may still be tempted to keep Lucas a little while longer. Bascombe has cited the difficulty of signing a replacement during the January transfer window as a major stumbling block.

Yet Rodgers hardly needs a replacement. After all, his midfield is already amply stocked.

He still has veteran deep-lying playmaker Steven Gerrard, at least until the end of the season. Rodgers can also call on tireless runner Jordan Henderson.

But his most intriguing option might be Emre Can. The former Bayer 04 Leverkusen bruiser has the rugged qualities Lucas can offer the Liverpool midfield.

Can just needs to stay fit and receive more playing time. Along with Gerrard and Henderson, Can will offer credible support for attacking midfielders Adam Lallana, Philippe Coutinho and Lazar Markovic.

One player who would add even more craft and flair to Liverpool’s midfield is Pjanic. The Reds are being linked with an ambitious bid for Roma’s chief creative force, per Italian publication Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Mirror reporter Aaron Flanagan).

The Italian source credits Liverpool with a possible £30 million bid. That’s a hefty sum even for a player of Pjanic’s talent.

However, this could be a swoop with Gerrard’s exit in mind. The club’s skipper will leave this summer.

Filling the void will certainly be tough for Liverpool, but Pjanic is an interesting target. He won’t ever offer the power and drive Gerrard displayed during his peak years.

But the mercurial 24-year-old is an artist in possession. He boasts skill, close control and excellent vision. Like Gerrard, Pjanic is also deadly from set pieces and has a real flair for spectacular goals.

Luring him from Italian shores will be tough, though, especially before the end of the season. But it would represent a massive coup if Rodgers could pull this deal off.

However, Norwich City‘s young star Nathan Redmond seems like a more realistic immediate target. Liverpool maintain a strong interest in the £10 million-rated winger, according to Mail Online writer Joe Bernstein.

He states Redmond is seen as a great replacement for flop loanee Oussama Assaidi, currently floundering with Stoke City. Redmond certainly has the pace and trickery Rodgers loves to release from wide areas.

This isn’t the first time a winter bid from Liverpool has been mooted. Back in late November, Daily Star reporter Paul Hetherington suggested Rodgers was intent on a £10 million move.

He may finally be ready to get his man.

Rodgers still has enough numbers and talent in midfield to let Lucas go. Unfortunately, he’s unlikely to be able to tempt Pjanic to Anfield just yet.

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