The departure of Steven Gerrard from Liverpool this summer ends his 17-year spell playing for the club’s first team and leaves a gaping void in Brendan Rodgers’ squad. So how do the Reds overhaul their midfield in the post-Gerrard era?

Gerrard will join MLS franchise Los Angeles Galaxy when his Liverpool contract expires this summer, and speaking to reporters in May, including the Mail‘s Dominic King, he revealed that he felt it was the the right time to go.

“I’m 35 in a couple of weeks. I’m not really sure how much more I could give the club at the level I’d like to give it,” he said. “Going back to when I peaked from 23 to 30 years of age, the reality is that I’m getting too old for this level and maybe a different level will suit me more.”

While Gerrard was undoubtedly on the wane in his final years at Anfield, there are still some who believe Liverpool will regret letting their long-serving captain go.

One such person is former Reds midfielder Graeme Souness, who spoke to Sky Sports:

I don’t understand why they’re letting him go. I know he wouldn’t be the same Steven Gerrard we’ve seen over the last decade—he’s not going to be 90 minutes, not going to be the game-changer he’s been time and time again.

[…]

[But] I’m a great believer that you cannot have enough senior pros around your dressing room. He certainly is that. They’re the standard bearers and that’s what Steven Gerrard is. Who else is out there? Liverpool don’t have any – Steven’s the only one they’ve got.

[…]

I think there’s life left in Steven Gerrard and I think the Americans are lucky to get him at this time. At Liverpool, they will regret getting rid of him.

Either way, the No. 8 is on the move this summer, and Liverpool must now build without him.

Where should they start?

Firstly, it would be wise to evaluate just what Gerrard has given to Liverpool’s midfield over the years—this is arguably why Souness was so vehement in his criticism of the club for allowing him to leave, with Gerrard’s world-class days still fresh in the memory for Liverpool supporters.

For almost 15 years Gerrard was Liverpool’s best midfielder, their driving force in the engine room; a fitting banner was conspicuous at Anfield in his final games as a Red: “The best there is. The best there was. The best there ever will be.” Gerrard warranted this gushing reception because of his dominance in a Liverpool shirt.

He will be largely remembered for his goals, be it a long-range drive, a well-timed tap-in or a spectacular set piece, Gerrard was known for being one of Liverpool’s primary goalscorers in the Premier League era.

In 504 league games, Gerrard scored 120 goals.

It wasn’t just converting chances, however. Gerrard was supreme in his creative abilities too. In 2013/14, performing in a deep-lying midfield role, the 35-year-old was arguably at his best creatively, laying on 13 assists in 34 league appearances. This was aided by his remarkable passing range and canny knowledge of when to switch tempo in possession—the latter saw him combine phenomenally with former Liverpool striker Fernando Torres.

While Torres, Robbie Fowler, Michael Owen, Luis Suarez, Daniel Sturridge and many others provided the final flourish in a Liverpool shirt, it was more often than not Gerrard who truly steered the Reds toward success.

He was not only a phenomenally talented player, but he was incredible passionate—his famous Istanbul inspiration in the 2005 Champions League final win is the perfect example of this—and that is why he was such a strong candidate for captaincy when Gerard Houllier gave him the armband full time in 2003.

Gerrard was Liverpool, and Rodgers believes that he is irreplaceable in this regard, as he told reporters, including the Mirror‘s Liam Corless, after his final Anfield outing in May: “Steven is a player and a person who is irreplaceable in terms of what he has given over his time here. The standards he has set have been second to none. We now go forward at the end of the season without him and try to find a way to improve. That’s our challenge.”

Rodgers says his challenge is to “improve” without Gerrard, and this isn’t through replacing him like-for-like. Instead, the 42-year-old must build on some key features within his midfield with some choice acquisitions this summer, as well as a rebuild in terms of structure.

One current Liverpool player who will undoubtedly play a key role in Rodgers’ move away from the Gerrard era is vice-captain Jordan Henderson.

The 24-year-old capped a remarkable rise from pariah to integral figure at the beginning of 2014/15 when he was named as vice-captain following the departure of Daniel Agger.

Henderson spent a fruitful spell under the tutelage of his compatriot within the Liverpool midfield the previous season, when Gerrard was flexing his creative muscles. The former Sunderland man was doing the donkey work, learning when and how to time runs, perfecting his recycling of possession and developing a nuanced appreciation of the tactical side of the game.

On Henderson’s appointment, Rodgers related his quality to that of Gerrard, speaking to the club’s official website:

Jordan is someone who represents the best values of what we are all about, as a team and as a club. Both he and Steven are examples to others in how they conduct themselves on and off the pitch. It’s how they live their lives, it’s how they train and it’s how they approach their work.

Jordan is completely dedicated to the game and his leadership qualities come from the example he sets. It’s another great story for Jordan in his journey as a Liverpool player and it shows the great progress he has made.

For club and country he holds himself really well, he’s got great stature and I believe he will be an important player here for years to come.

Henderson has the right character to compensate for the loss of Gerrard’s determination in midfield, and he has definitely developed into a higher-calibre midfield player over the last season, boasting six goals and nine assists in 37 appearances. That suggests, as he continues his progress, he can assume a major role with Liverpool moving on from Gerrard.

Whether this is as captain, however, is still up in the air, as he told James Pearce of the Liverpool Echo in March:

Next season we’ll see what happens because it might not be me succeeding Stevie, it might be someone else. There are a lot of strong leaders in the dressing room. There are a lot of big characters in the team—down to earth humble people…I can only do the current job the best I can.

One theory is that a new arrival will take up Gerrard’s vacated captaincy next season, as suggested by former Liverpool vice-captain Jamie Carragher.

“The fact that Brendan Rodgers wouldn’t confirm Jordan Henderson as this season’s captain even though he was captain in Gerrard’s absence last season makes me think him and [James] Milner could be competing for the armband,” Carragher wrote on social media outlet Kicca (h/t This Is Anfield) at the beginning of June. 

“Was that another thing that enticed Milner to join?”

Manchester City midfielder James Milner was announced as a future Liverpool player on Thursday, via the club’s official website, with the 29-year-old set to join the Reds on a free transfer upon the expiry of his contract at the Etihad Stadium, subject to an upcoming medical.

Carragher continued his evaluation of Milner by highlighting his key attributes:

[He’s] a good character which you can see from the fact he’s left Man City in the Champions League for Liverpool. [This] shows that regular starts mean more to him at this time than being a squad player with more chance of picking up trophies at City.

[…]

Brendan Rodgers will have spoken to him about where he sees him fitting in but he’s very similar to Jordan Henderson and I have no doubt one reason he’s joining is to play in a more central role rather than out wide. Could Milner play a holding role? Maybe but I don’t think that’s what suits him.

His main strength is his engine which could suit him and Jordan to both play alongside a holding midfielder ([Emre] Can?) but his best position is tucked in from the right in a central role which is also Henderson’s so it’ll be interesting how those two fit into next year’s midfield set-up.

In theory, Milner will come in and complement Henderson perfectly in the midfield, with both working tirelessly to win back the ball when out of possession and propel Liverpool forward when looking to attack. In this sense, Milner is an upgrade on the modern-day Gerrard.

In 2014/15, Milner made an average of 2.30 key passes, 2.30 tackles and 0.97 dribbles per 90 minutes in the Premier League, recorded by Squawka, each higher than Gerrard’s output, with the Reds captain averaging 2.05 key passes, 1.49 tackles and 0.20 dribbles per 90.

City manager Manuel Pellegrini manager gave a glowing appraisal of Milner in an interview with the Guardian‘s Sid Lowe back in March: “I’m Milner’s No. 1 fan. Find me a more complete English player. There are players who’re better technically, yes. Quicker players, yes. Players who head better, yes. But show me one who does all the things Milner does well. There isn’t one.”

This testimony suggests that Milner will play a key role alongside Henderson, with the two hardworking midfielders set to provide the requisite thrust and fervour in midfield. But as they are both very similar players, along with squad player Joe Allen, Rodgers must look to add some further balance to mitigate Gerrard’s departure.

This must begin with the signing of a defensive midfielder.

Under Rodgers, Liverpool have consistently lacked a diligent and truly reliable, defensive-midfield option—a player who will sit in front of the back line, break up play with tenacity and intercept moves intelligently. Unfortunately, it has shown.

Liverpool’s defence has always been their weak point under Rodgers. The Reds have conceded 141 goals during his three seasons in charge, or 47 goals per season on average—no team in the Premier League’s top four in 2014/15 conceded more than 38.

While these woes can partially be attributed to the physical and organisational deficiencies in Liverpool’s defence in recent years—Dejan Lovren was a particularly culpable party in 2014/15—but every defender is better off with a defensive midfielder in front of them.

Take Chelsea‘s Nemanja Matic, Arsenal‘s Francis Coquelin and Southampton‘s Morgan Schneiderlin as prime examples, as well as Liverpool’s Lucas Leiva. The difference in their sides’ respective win rates with and without them in the league is stark, statistics via Squawka:

The benefits of having a defensive midfielder is evident.

Furthermore, the vast gulf between points won with Matic and Coquelin compared to the other two outlines just why having a player of genuine quality in this area is paramount—Schneiderlin is an excellent holding midfielder, but he also pairs this with a more attacking mindset than his Chelsea and Arsenal counterparts.

Their superiority when compared to Lucas, as well as when you consider the Brazilian’s long-term fitness issues, which partially contributed to his meagre 20 league appearances in 2014/15, outlines why a defensive midfielder should be a priority for Liverpool following Gerrard’s departure.

Gerrard’s gung-ho attitude won games for Liverpool almost single-handedly down the years, but perhaps now is the time Rodgers should focus more on a solid defensive approach. Gerrard’s best years arguably came when Javier Mascherano was at the club, with the now-Barcelona midfielder one of the world’s very best in the holding-midfield role.

AS Monaco’s Geoffrey Kondogbia, Lyon’s Maxime Gonalons, Bayer Leverkusen‘s Lars Bender and Feyenoord‘s Jordy Clasie should all be considered as options. Whoever the target, Liverpool must sign a top-class defensive midfielder if they are to successfully move on from the Gerrard era. 

While this solidity is paramount, Liverpool will also be losing a major goal threat in Gerrard, which must also be replaced this summer.

Gerrard was Liverpool’s top goalscorer in the league in 2014/15 with just nine goals. The fact a veteran was shouldering most of the burden in front of goal—particularly in terms of midfielders—should prove to Rodgers that another goalscoring midfielder must be targeted this summer. 

It could be argued that Henderson (six), Adam Lallana (five) and Philippe Coutinho (five) should look to improve on their respective tallies next season, but they should still be supplemented by a more fine-tuned goalscoring talent.

“I would expect him to be getting upwards of 10 goals this season because he has the quality and the tactical nose to arrive in the area to do that,” Rodgers said of Henderson before 2014/15, as reported by Jack De Menezes of the Independent. Henderson’s failure to do that should be a warning sign.

He will hopefully do so next season, perhaps when released from the shackles of supporting Gerrard, but Rodgers cannot risk putting his faith in him, Lallana, Coutinho and Milner.

A true goalscoring midfielder is rare, with Gerrard and former England team-mate Frank Lampard two exceptional players in terms of their output in front of goal from midfield, but there are players available. 

Paris Saint-Germain’s Adrien Rabiot, Schalke 04‘s Max Meyer, Inter Milan‘s Mateo Kovacic and Swansea City‘s Ki Sung-yueng all represent midfielders who could potentially add a goalscoring sheen to Rodgers’ midfield post-Gerrard, with the former trio all in their early 20s and thus players who could come in and perform immediately but also develop into world-class talents on Merseyside.

A midfield consisting of Kondogbia, Milner, Henderson and Kovacic may be a thing of fantasy for Liverpool supporters, but it is this sort of structure that Rodgers must be looking to attain on Gerrard’s departure—a balance of defence and attack. Kovacic, Henderson and Milner could all arguably rotate roles and time in the starting lineup, with Coutinho in an advanced creative position, depending on the formation.

With Liverpool requiring a defensive midfielder and a goalscorer this summer, there is arguably one already within their ranks in Emre Can.

Can is something of an enigma following his first season at Anfield. After his £10 million move from Leverkusen, Can spent most of the 2014/15 season operating in defence despite ostensibly being signed as a midfielder.

Speaking ahead of Gerrard’s departure, however, the 21-year-old had some choice words when it came to his future in Liverpool red, as reported by the Anfield Wrap podcast (h/t the club’s official website):

[Brendan] talks all the time with me. He sees me as a midfield player, and I hope next year to be playing in midfield. Of course he talks with me every day and says what I can do better. He helps my game. He wants to play football and that’s what I want. That’s why I came to Liverpool.

Can continued: “I try to give everything in every game and give 100 per cent. That’s what the fans see and it’s a big honour for me that they love me, and I love them—they’re great fans.”

The German’s statement of commitment, and his concession that he is coveting a midfield spot next season, could point to a key role for him in Rodgers’ engine room in 2015/16.

Having flourished in defence, averaging a respectable 2.9 tackles and 1.4 interceptions per league game last term, there is a case to argue that Can could be Liverpool’s solution at holding midfield. He is adept at breaking up play, and the position could compensate for his lack of speed in the recovery. Rodgers told the club’s official website in December that this could be Can’s role in the future:

He is an outstanding footballer and is a very, very young player who is just acclimatising to the game here.

His favoured position is more of a defensive player, even though I’ve played him in an attacking role because I think that’s something he can do more of. But if you asked him his profile, he likes to be in that sitting role where he can play and dictate the game as well as be physical in the challenge and duels.

[…]

He’s a player I know can play in a number of positions and play them well. He’s someone whose influence will become greater as the season goes on.

Rodgers is right, Can’s influence will continue to grow as he acclimatises to the demands of the Premier League, and it could be in this defensive-midfield role that he eventually settles. But there have also been shades of the brutish, goalscoring box-to-box midfielder in his makeup during his time on Merseyside, such as his impressive display in November’s 2-1 loss at home to Chelsea.

It is this versatility and all-round superiority that may point to his being the most important player within Liverpool’s midfield following Gerrard’s departure this summer; Can could dominate in defensive midfield, he could shuttle in a box-to-box role or he could thrive in a more advanced attacking role.

Supported by the likes of Henderson, Milner and Coutinho, and perhaps supplemented by the addition of a player such as Bender or Kovacic, Can could be the key to Liverpool truly moving forward in the post-Gerrard era.

Statistics via LFCHistory.net, Squawka.com and WhoScored.com.

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After more misses than hits last summer, Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has to get it right during this year’s transfer window.

Having already agreed a contract to snap up ex-Manchester City midfield ace James Milner, per BBC Sport, Rodgers is reportedly close to wrapping up a potential £18.1 million deal for Inter Milan playmaker Mateo Kovacic.

A report from Croatian publication Vercenji List (h/t Metro writer Will Giles) indicates the Reds have even “agreed personal terms” with the player.

But any confirmation of a deal seems a long way off, with Giles also claiming Inter are “holding out for a fee in the region of £18.1 million,” which is above Liverpool’s initial £15.2 million bid.

Links between the Anfield club and mercurial schemer Kovacic have persisted ever since the calendar flipped the page to go from 2014 to ’15. Back in March, the Telegraph suggested Liverpool were prepared to offer £23 million for the gifted 21-year-old.

But the player’s agent, Nikky Vuksan, quickly dampened that speculation during an interview with Vercenji List (h/t Goal.com‘s Harry Sherlock): “It is not going to happen. Mateo extended his contract with Inter in January.”

But not even that strong a denial has slowed the momentum of these rumours. A month after Vuksan’s claim, Italian publication Tuttosport (h/t Daily Star‘s Jamie Anderson) suggested Rodgers would swap Brazilian holding midfielder Lucas Leiva for Kovacic.

Anderson claimed Inter want “additional funds to bridge the gap between themselves and Juventus.”

Perhaps the only thing clear about this rumour is Kovacic’s talent. He’s exceptional in possession, thanks to a mix of quick feet and close control, along with stylish and accurate distribution.

Rodgers might even see him as less a natural No. 10 and more a deep-lying playmaker. He could envisage a possible transition similar to the one made by Santi Cazorla at Arsenal, as an attacking midfielder who drops deeper to dictate passing.

Such a switch would help make sense of Liverpool’s interest. After all, it’s not as if the current squad is short of attacking midfielders. Rodgers can already count on Philippe Coutinho, Adam Lallana and Lazar Markovic.

Of course, the latter two hardly wowed the crowds during their debut campaigns at Anfield. Lallana struggled to stay healthy, while Markovic rarely gained Rodgers’ confidence.

As a young technician, Kovacic is certainly in the mold of players the Reds’ gaffer has favoured during his time in charge.

Liverpool Close to Adam Bogdan Free Transfer

One smart freebie clearly isn’t enough for Rodgers. He wants to follow the pending acquisition of Milner with a free transfer swoop for Bolton Wanderers goalkeeper Adam Bogdan.

In fact, Mark Ogden of the Telegraph believes Liverpool will complete a deal to sign the Hungarian stopper at the “end of this month.” He also references Bogdan telling Hungarian outlet Nemzeti Sport he could switch clubs in the “next week or two.”

Ogden states Rodgers views the 27-year-old Championship ‘keeper as “cover for first-choice Simon Mignolet.” Bogdan may be more than that.

He certainly has the talent to supplant Mignolet after the Belgian endured a rough season between the sticks. Bogdan has been more than solid for a number of years now, but he really showcased his talent during Bolton’s visit to Anfield in this season’s FA Cup fourth round, according to Liverpool Echo reporter James Pearce:

Bogdan stole the show at Anfield as the Reds struggled to break down Bolton in their goalless draw in January’s FA Cup tie – although praise was, perhaps, a little over the top with Liverpool generally poor in front of goal. Did make a terrific save from Fabio Borini, however…

Like Milner, Bogdan would represent smart business. Liverpool can add a player with the ability to improve a vital area of the team without having to pay a transfer fee.

As for the potential big-money deal for Kovacic, Rodgers must decide if his fondness for the player justifies adding yet another creative midfielder to the ranks.

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OLYMPIASTADION, Berlin—There may be little love lost between Patrice Evra and Luis Suarez when they cross paths once again on Saturday evening, but on the sidelines at least relations should be altogether more convivial.

Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri and his Barcelona counterpart Luis Enrique have long been cordially acquainted as a result of Luis Enrique’s brief stint as AS Roma head coach during the 2011/12 season—an ultimately aborted one-year experiment abroad for the Spaniard—and, despite that season being a disappointing one for both men in the end (Allegri, then at AC Milan, losing out in the league), the two tacticians clearly hold each other in high esteem.

“It is not as easy to manage great teams as it appears from the outside,” Allegri said of his opposite number this week. “He [Luis Enrique] was a good manager when he was with Roma, but it was a new challenge and a new league. But even back then it was clear that he was right in his ideas.”

The praise was returned in kind: “Allegri had already won titles with AC Milan. He has great prestige and what he has done this season has demonstrated that: Not only winning the fourth league title, but also being here in the final.

“I hope they don’t win of course, but I want to congratulate Mr. Allegri on the fantastic work he has done, conveying his personal style on Juve.”

The plaudits may have been handed out equally (and liberally), but the two managers arrive in Berlin for the Champions League final in completely different situations and with utterly different expectations resting upon their shoulders.

For Allegri this is almost a bonus game, the Italian—abused viciously when appointed Juve boss last summer—having long since won over the fans with his team’s exploits already this season.

For Luis Enrique, however, it is a different scenario: The league and cup double has earned him some deserved credit after an up-and-down (or, more accurately, down and then up) first season with the Blaugrana, but you sense criticism is there ready to bubble to the surface if his team end up losing a final they are expected to win quite comfortably.

With speculation persisting that the 45-year-old could yet leave the club after the final, the stakes appear to be very high.

“I know what it means to coach a very high-level team, I know there will be moments of criticism,” the Spaniard, who never reached the Champions League final as a player with both Barcelona and Real Madrid, said. “But I just do my job—regardless of whether people like me or not.”

Such exacting standards are par for the course when you manage a club like Barcelona, a team for whom Champions League finals have almost become de rigueur over the last 10 or 15 years. Luis Enrique is not just competing against the cream of the crop in Europe this season, but against the memories of previous Barcelona teams, and especially previous Pep Guardiola Barcelona teams.

The nature of Barcelona’s stunning run to the end of the season—propelled by Lionel Messi‘s scintillating return to his very best form—has started tentative discussions about this side’s place in the pantheon. Winning on Saturday, and winning in style, would green light those debates in earnest and, perhaps, result in a very favourable assessment of Luis Enrique’s first group.

“Clearly we have a unique generation of players, given the trophies Barca have conquered [in recent years],” the boss acknowledged. “We hope to see a spectacular final tomorrow, as we saw years ago when the scoreboard lit up very quickly [for Barcelona]. That would be great for football, to have an open, fun game. And the one that wins will be the better side.”

The Spaniard, a friend of Guardiola’s, has certainly sculpted a subtly different side to that of his former teammate, with possession—while still cherished—perhaps not quite the overriding concern it once was. Luis Enrique has encouraged his side to break the lines with greater speed on occasion, adding an aggressive, unpredictable edge to their attacking play that has seen the attacking trio of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar sweep to some breathtaking goals against backtracking defences all year.

“We enjoy possession, although we’ve also had joy with counter-attacks this season,” defender Gerard Pique said. “[That] has added to our game.”

Allegri has no such comparisons to contend with, especially considering Barcelona have won the Champions League three times since Juventus last made it to the final (a defeat, in 2003, to AC Milan).

“The team is very calm and focused,” Allegri said. “I think we’ve reached the final seven times and won twice. Barcelona have reached seven finals and won four. You do the maths.”

Coupled with the fact that it is five years since any Italian team reached the Champions League final (Inter Milan beating Bayern Munich in 2010), and it is not hard to see why Juventus are seemingly everyone’s underdogs.

Free from the pressure of expectation (except from Juve fans hopeful of another historic European night), Allegri talked of “teamwork” and “concentration” as the vital attributes in potentially securing an upset.

“We need to be physically and mentally fit,” he added. “We need to play well because they are a great team, but like all teams they have their strengths and weaknesses.”

The midfield, apparently, is one of them—although Barcelona will look at their likely trio of Sergio Busquets, Ivan Rakitic and Andres Iniesta and feel more than secure in their chances. But even if Juventus lose, the season—and their European campaign—will go down as an unqualified success for a side that failed even to escape the group stages last term.

“We have played an important Champions League,” Allegri reflected. “We played well and less well.

“Against Monaco [in the quarter-finals] we were accused of playing badly but you cannot be at top form every time. It depends on your opponents as well, sometimes you can play well and sometimes you don’t.

“Irrespective of the outcome [of the final], I have to say Juventus have had an extraordinary season. We have to consider the consolidation of the team. This is important to move forward in future and position ourselves in the top eight in Europe. This season is important for momentum in that sense.”

For Juventus, the double will be celebrated even if the treble proves elusive. But Barcelona do not have the same luxury. They may have the experience of such games on such stages, plenty of it in fact, but with that comes an expectation of success that brings its own particular pressure.

The manager’s job is to block that out as much as possible, even if Luis Enrique knows how vindicating a victory on Saturday could be for him—perhaps even the difference between him staying in his job, with his power consolidated, or walking away with thoughts of what might have been.

“I said right from the beginning, that we wanted to win titles,” Luis Enrique said. “We have already won two titles and now we are only thinking about closing the season with a third title. That’s our only aim.”

After the game, then perhaps the comparisons between this team and previous iterations can begin in earnest.

“I don’t believe we play better or worse,” Pique concluded, when asked about the Guardiola years. “I hate comparisons.

“Now it is a different team, most of the players were in the team but there will always be different opinions. Some will say we play better [now], some will say they preferred how we used to play … but the important thing is it is working.”

All quotes obtained firsthand.

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This year’s Champions League final was fast approaching when the news broke. Giorgio Chiellini would not play for Juventus against Barcelona. He had suffered a calf tear. Juventini hearts sank everywhere, their defence was broken.

The experienced Italian bruiser has encountered a terrible misfortune. Alongside Leonardo Bonucci, he has been the rock upon which Juventus’ hopes have been built. The defensive pairing are accomplices, the Italian champions’ own striker-fighting duo.

Playing Barcelona is hard enough, though to do so without your most experienced and arguably best central defender adds another sizeable obstacle to an already mountainous task. Keeping quiet a forward line of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez is hard enough with everybody fit and available.

Without Chiellini, Bonucci will take on the mantle of defensive organiser. He must show deft awareness in the face of an unabated hurricane of movement, speed and flair. If Juventus are to keep a clean sheet in Saturday night’s final, it is likely that Bonucci will have to put in a career-defining performance.

This is something the 28-year-old has steeled himself for over a matter of years since he arrived in Turin in his early 20s. Back then he was still a youngster with doubt in his mind, having been let go by Inter Milan. It took mental development for him to get from there to the level he currently resides at.

Bonucci began working with personal motivator Alberto Ferrarini in order to toughen himself up. Stories were leaked of torturous methods, physical violence and dank basements. Ferrarini admitted as much himself, saying on Facebook, via Football Italia:

Over the years I took Bonucci into my basement. Underground. In the dark…There, with a tone anything but kind or sweet, I offended him in every way possible. I judged him. I insulted him. If he made even the slightest attempt to glance at me, he’d receive a punch straight to the stomach…That’s how I started making him into a soldier.

When Juventus beat Roma 3-2 last October in an early-season clash of Serie A title contenders, Ferrarini gave Bonucci garlic-scented sweets, according to Tuttosport (h/t the Daily Mail). Bonucci was advised to eat them and breathe on Francesco Totti and Gervinho to put them off. It worked. Bonucci put in a game-changing performance, even scoring the winning goal four minutes from time.

The psychological training had an impact on Bonucci away from the football pitch, too. In 2012, while at a car dealership with his wife and son, he was approached by a man whose face was covered. As reported by Gazzetta dello Sport, via Eurosport, the man pointed a gun to Bonucci’s head and told him to hand over his watch. Bonucci responded by punching the robber before chasing him away.

A football pitch is a world away from poorly lit basements and the threat of armed robbery, though Bonucci nevertheless looked troubled at times in the Bianconeri’s most recent game of real note—their Coppa Italia final against Lazio.

Playing in the centre of a back three, Bonucci appeared uncharacteristically flustered. Lazio surprised almost everyone that evening by playing a 3-4-2-1 formation, but some of Bonucci’s distribution was noticeably poor, and—per WhoScored—his pass success percentage for that match was below that of his season average. By contrast, Chiellini handled the match extremely well.

Clearly for Bonucci, victory on the pitch comes first in the mind, so what must he be thinking at this moment as he prepares to swim in extremely deep waters with sharks such as Messi, without the aid of his regular team-mate?

As illustrated by Squawka, Chiellini has better stats than Bonucci in most significant departments. He makes more blocks, interceptions and clearances, while his passing is of a higher quality. Worryingly, Juve’s other two central defensive options—Andrea Barzagli and Angelo Ogbonna—don’t come close to either Bonucci or Chiellini’s stats.

Depending on coach Massimiliano Allegri’s formation of choice, Bonucci could find himself in a central defensive trio or a duo, with one or both of Barzagli and Ogbonna adjacent to him. In either situation, Bonucci will need to cajole those around him, lead them and offer solid defensive and distributive foundations upon which Juventus can build a winning performance.

Physically and technically, there is no doubting Bonucci is one of the finest centre-backs in the world today, but it is his mentality that will prove crucial against the world’s most awe-inspiring attacking force. Garlic sweets might not be enough.

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Perhaps huge change at Manchester City won’t be forthcoming this summer.

Manager Manuel Pellegrini appears safe in his job until the club’s No. 1 target, Pep Guardiola, becomes available. Pellegrini’s job was under severe threat after City’s derby hammering at the hands of Manchester United back in April, but a run of six straight wins after the match at Old Trafford steadied a somewhat turbulent ship.

James Milner will leave for Liverpool, according to BBC Sport, when his contract at City officially expires on July 1, but that’s been on the cards for some time, as have the departures of Alvaro Negredo, Matija Nastasic, Micah Richards, Scott Sinclair and John Guidetti. Milner aside, these are departures that will barely register given the limited role each player has had over recent months.

Edin Dzeko, though, is a current first-teamer who could well be on his way. Six goals in all competitions last season was a paltry return for a player of his calibre, and he spent the final five matches of the season as an unused substitute. In fact, since his woeful display away at Crystal Palace—arguably his worst for the club—Dzeko managed just nine minutes in the final seven games.

A haul of 26 goals in all competitions last season represented his best as a City player; this season, though, has been by far his worst.

Pellegrini’s late-season switch to 4-2-3-1 certainly didn’t help Dzeko’s cause, nor has the January arrival of Wilfried Bony, a younger, arguably more complete striker who brings perhaps even greater physicality and graft to the side.

Bony has had a slow start to life at City after his integration into the side was delayed by international duty and then hampered by niggling injuries, but he is expected to play a more significant role next season. The need for Dzeko, it seems, is somewhat on the decline.

Arguably, at 26, Bony is seen by City as the long-term heir to Dzeko’s throne. Dzeko, three years his senior, may well feel now is a good time to move on after four-and-a-half years at City, a period in which he has helped them become a dominant force in English football, winning a clean sweep of domestic honours and establishing them as a regular in the Champions League.

The difficulty Pellegrini has in letting him go is finding a replacement who can match Dzeko’s ability to score important goals. Prior to last season, the Bosnian proved consistently that he is very often the man for the big occasion.

His goals towards the end of the 2013/14 season, which were crucial in securing City their second title in three seasons, were the most recent reminder of his ability.

He has done exactly what was asked of him upon arrival in January 2011: provided goals—72 in all competitions—and often from the bench. There aren’t too many forwards in world football capable of coming off the bench with such devastating effect. It’s a valuable role in any squad.

But Dzeko cut a frustrated figure for much of the season. A move could be just what he needs to reignite is stalling career.

Alexandre Lacazette could well be the addition City need to alter their striking options. With Stevan Jovetic also surely on his way out of the Etihad exit door, City will need to sign another forward to join Bony and Sergio Aguero. Lacazette, 24, was awarded the Ligue 1 Player of the Year having scored a remarkable 29 goals in all competitions last season and would be a wonderful signing for City.

Where Dzeko will go if he does leave remains unclear, but his reputation as a goalscorer means he won’t be without offers. His stock remains high in the Bundesliga, having been at Wolfsburg prior to his arrival at City, and his style could well suit Serie A, with former manager Roberto Mancini, now at Inter Milan, likely to be interested in a player he brought to Manchester.

But where many perhaps expect dramatic changes, City’s forward line is in need of a tweak rather than a significant overhaul. 

Rob Pollard is Bleacher Report’s lead Manchester City correspondent and will be following the club from a Manchester base throughout the 2014-15 season. All quotes are obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow him on Twitter: @RobPollard.

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Barcelona and Juventus have arguably been the two most in-form teams throughout the 2014-15 campaign, and it’s only fitting the two football giants will face off in the UEFA Champions League final on Saturday in Berlin.

For the Catalans, European glory has become almost routine. The Blaugrana have won the tournament three times in the last decade, most recently in 2011.

Juventus’ European pedigree is less impressive, and the club had to work hard to bounce back from the Calciopoli scandal that saw the Bianconeri relegated to Serie B. After four consecutive Italian titles and a spot in the Champions League final, it’s safe to say the Old Lady is back.

Let’s have a look at the form guide for both teams as we try and break down Saturday’s big match.

Juventus

Juventus’ last loss came on March 26, when they were beaten 2-1 by city rivals Torino. Since then, the Italians have won six and drawn three, but they’ve played a good chunk of those matches without several key players.

The Bianconeri locked the Serie A title up weeks ago and fielded a number of backups to rest their starters, but they still managed to beat Lazio, Napoli and Inter Milan. It’s a testament to the incredible depth Massimiliano Allegri’s squad boasts.

Said depth will be tested on Saturday as veteran defender Giorgio Chiellini will not be making an appearance, per the Champions League’s official Twitter account:

Chiellini has had an up-and-down season for Juventus, but he remains the club’s most decorated defender. Andrea Barzagli will likely replace him alongside Leonardo Bonucci, and while the veteran is a fantastic defender in his own right, injury concerns throughout the season mean he isn’t in top form.

In midfield, Juventus’ depth shines brightest. Andrea Pirlo and Xavi have been exchanging compliments all week, per Juventus’ official Twitter account, and it’s easy to see why:

Pirlo has played in more Champions League finals than most of his team-mates combined, but he might not even be in the starting XI on Saturday. Arturo Vidal, Claudio Marchisio and Paul Pogba are locks to start, and Roberto Pereyra is making a strong case to be the fourth man on the pitch over Pirlo. Stefano Sturaro provides even more depth.

Up front, Carlos Tevez had arguably his finest season to date, and his incredible work rate has rubbed off on Alvaro Morata, who will likely start ahead of Fernando Llorente. Overall, it’s a very deep squad, as explained by Bleacher Report’s Sam Tighe:

Juventus are in a winning mood and will start the final with a well-rested squad. Whether that will be enough to beat Barcelona is a whole other matter.

Barcelona

Like Juventus, Barcelona have been winning most of their matches of late, with their last loss coming against Bayern Munich last month. Since then, the Blaugrana have won two and drawn one.

The Catalans haven’t had the luxury of resting players, having to battle Real Madrid for La Liga title until Matchday 37. Luis Enrique also decided to field his strongest XI in the final of the Copa del Rey, whereas Juventus won the Coppa Italia without Gianluigi Buffon or Morata.

Marc-Andre Ter Stegen has been Barcelona’s preferred goalkeeper in the Champions League, and he has nothing but respect for his colleague on the other side of the pitch, per Football Italia:

Dani Alves and Gerard Pique both had tremendous bounce-back seasons in 2014-15, and as a result, Barcelona’s defence looks far better than most would have expected before the campaign started. Jordi Alba and Javier Mascherano will join the duo along the back four.

Ivan Rakitic may have just been the best signing of the summer, giving the Catalans a physical presence in midfield that will be sorely needed against Juventus’ army of gladiators. Sergio Busquets remains one of the world’s best holding midfielders, and Andres Iniesta is a legend on the level of Pirlo.

But it’s up front where the real magic happens. Neymar, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez combine to form the strongest attacking trio in the game today, and they have the potential to one day be mentioned among other great trios, like Real’s famed group of Ferenc Puskas, Alfredo Di Stefano and Francisco Gento.

Before that day comes, they’ll have to perform on the biggest stage first, and football writer Christian Nyari thinks Juventus will give them their toughest challenge yet:

Like Juventus, Barcelona are on course for a historic treble, and in the case of the Catalans, they would be the first team to manage that feat twice, per Bleacher Report’s Sam Tighe:

As far as form goes, you can’t really knock either side. Both on the domestic and European stage, Juventus and Barcelona have been dominant.

Keys to the Game

Juventus: Win the Midfield Battle

With Tevez and Morata tracking back better than any attacking duo on the planet, Juventus should have the advantage in midfield in terms of sheer numbers. By being physical with Rakitic and Iniesta, the Bianconeri could cut off the attacking trio, thus negating Barcelona’s biggest strength.

The downside to such numbers in midfield is that there will be spaces in other areas of the pitch. If Juventus lose the battle in midfield, they won’t be in position to stop Barcelona’s direct runners.

Barcelona: Work the Ball Wide

Just ask Borussia Dortmund how dangerous Juventus can be when you try and work the ball through the middle. The Bianconeri completely shut down Dortmund and hit them hard on the counter at Signal Iduna Park, undoubtedly their best Champions League performance of the season.

Suarez, Neymar and Messi have all shown the ability to attack teams from the wing, and Juventus will not employ the high defensive line that saw Bayern get ravaged by the Blaugrana. Using the width of the pitch will be Barcelona’s best chance of grabbing the win.

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Arsenal have made a £25.7 million bid for Monaco midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia, according to Calciomercato (h/t Jamie Sanderson of the Metro).

Sanderson claims Inter Milan are also interested in the French destroyer but that the Gunners are “close” to confirming a deal.

Kondogbia is a physical specimen and someone who could offer vital cover in defensive midfield for Arsenal. He dominated during the French side’s Champions League trip to the Emirates Stadium in February, scoring a vital goal as Monaco eventually progressed via away goals after two legs.

The 22-year-old offers assurance on the ball and the ability to win possession back. He averaged 3.4 tackles and 2.3 interceptions across 31 appearances in Ligue 1 and the Champions League last season, maintaining a pass accuracy of 85.7 percent along the way, per WhoScored.com.

Francis Coquelin‘s emergence at Arsenal suggests the need for a combative midfielder isn’t as prominent as it once was, but Gunners boss Arsene Wenger must find quality cover.

Coquelin underlined his importance with a masterclass performance during the recent FA Cup final win over Aston Villa.

However, the 24-year-old needs competition to keep him progressing and to ensure his absence doesn’t disrupt the team. Neither Mikel Arteta nor Mathieu Flamini—two players Wenger has deployed in a combative midfield role—has the presence to dominate against the best.

Kondogbia‘s qualities can be seen below:

Southampton midfielders Morgan Schneiderlin and Victor Wanyama are also linked to the club, as Bruce Archer of the Express and Alex Crook of the Daily Star, respectively, report. Schneiderlin recently posted a cryptic message on Instagram:

Crook reports that Wanyama has admitted he wants to join the north London club on Kenyan television. “It would be nice to move to Arsenal,” Wanyama allegedly said. “But at this moment such decisions can only be made by Southampton and that is where my concentration as a player is.”

Arsenal are also touted to move for Sevilla striker Carlos Bacca, as A Bola reports (h/t Tom Olver of the Metro).

Olver indicates Manchester United are “desperate” to confirm his signing for around £21.3 million after letting Radamel Falcao return to Monaco, meaning Arsenal “may have a fight on their hands.”

Bacca recently scored two in the Europa League final and racked up 20 La Liga strikes during a successful season with Unai Emery’s side. He is capable of playing on the last defender’s shoulder or as a holdup man, a combination of qualities Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud currently offer at Arsenal.

B/R UK’s Andy Brassell recently discussed other potential signings Arsenal could turn to:

Wenger‘s need for a defensive midfielder is likely to dominate the Gunners’ transfer window despite Coquelin‘s run of form in the first team.

Cramming the squad with quality, developing stars should ensure progress after a successful season that saw Arsenal finish third in the Premier League and retain the FA Cup.

Arsenal must consider Kondogbia after a quality campaign of his own, one that his performance in north London earlier this year underlined.

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Mario Balotelli isn’t the type of striker who is regularly welcomed back to clubs he has departed, but Italian publication Corriere dello Sport (h/t Joe Short of the Daily Express) claims AC Milan wish to re-sign the 24-year-old enigma.  

Balotelli headed to Anfield from the San Siro last summer in a £16 million switch, a deal which was worth taking a risk on for Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers.

However, he failed to score more than one goal in any competition during the 2014-15 campaign, often playing wasteful, lazy football when utilised as Rodgers’ lone striker. Corriere dello Sport‘s report suggests Sinisa Mihajlovic—who is expected to replace Filippo Inzaghi as Milan boss, per La Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Sky Sports)—wishes to bring Balotelli back to Italy.

Sampdoria, Mihajlovic’s former club, were linked with a move for Balotelli throughout the recently concluded season, as reported by Gazzetta (h/t Neil Jones of the Liverpool Echo). Balotelli previously scored 14 goals in 30 Serie A appearances for Milan during ’13-14, per WhoScored.com, having also represented their local rivals Inter Milan in the division.

Liverpool will consider Balotelli’s sale if they can “break even,” according to Short’s report. It seems unlikely he will drum up £16 million again, despite possessing the natural talent needed to be a star. Balotelli’s career is so far defined by the familiar story of his lack of application outweighing his quality, though.

His goalscoring prowess can be seen below:

Rodgers is likely to already be preparing for the exit of Raheem Sterling, who will soon be the subject of a £25 million bid from Manchester United, as reported by David Anderson of the Daily Mirror. The newspaper’s corresponding headline was tweeted by Nick Sutton of BBC Radio 4:

Former Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry believes Sterling is in the best place to progress, but that nobody should be surprised by his willingness to leave because he’s carried out a similar move before. Parry spoke to the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast show (via Ian Cruise of talkSPORT):

What Raheem should have done is knuckle down and sign his new contract. He’s got plenty of football ahead of him. I think the best place for him would be Liverpool and the best manager would be Brendan Rodgers, given the support they’ve given him and his development.

But, equally so, he’s done it once. They took him from QPR and it’s going to happen again. So in some ways what do people expect?

B/R UK’s Sam Tighe recently discussed the possible landing spots for Sterling:

Liverpool announced the signing of James Milner from Manchester City on Thursday, as confirmed by the club’s official Twitter account:

Milner can perhaps replace Sterling in the side. His versatile qualities are likely to be extremely useful for Rodgers, who is also looking to find suitable reinforcements after the departure of captain Steven Gerrard.

At this point, getting rid of Balotelli will be seen as a positive step by most. Rodgers must ensure his squad is filled with hungry players who are willing to work hard for the club, a trait severely lacking in Balotelli’s performances.

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