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Gerry Cardinale & Co. provoked panic at San Siro by firing Paolo Maldini and selling Sandro Tonali, and a derby defeat has only heightened the tension

On June 6, AC Milan announced that club legend Paolo Maldini had been relieved of his duties as technical director in a 67-word statement. The news – and the manner of its delivery – sent shockwaves throughout Europe. Carlo Ancelotti was aghast.

“I learned at Real Madrid that the history of a club must always be respected," the former Milan midfielder and coach told . "Here, Di Stefano, Amancio, Gento, Puskas are still exclusive values towards which we have reverence. To preserve history at the highest levels, the memory of the past must be protected.

"What happened with Maldini demonstrates a lack of historical culture, of respect for the Milan tradition. While it is true that history does not make you win, it is also true that history teaches you how to win."

However, owner Gerry Cardinale has been "educated" in 'the art of winning' not by Maldini's Milan – but by Billy Beane.

"Billy's been in European football for 20 years and he told me I wasn't looking at the situation in the right way," Cardinale said of the revered baseball executive during a seminar at Michigan Institute of Technology in March. "I had to approach European football with the 'Moneyball' mentality, which says there is no need to sacrifice the level of performance on the field for cash flow or vice versa."

We'll soon find out if he's right…

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  What is 'Moneyball'?

  Billy Beane

  Beane gained global fame through the Hollywood-produced movie 'Moneyball', starring Brad Pitt. The plot focused on how Beane, in conjunction with Peter Brand (played by Jonah Hill), successfully implemented a stats-based scouting system known as 'sabermetrics' at the Oakland Athletics.

  The key, as Brand explained in the movie, was using in-depth data to identify "the value of players that nobody else can see" and, despite intense in-house resistance to the new recruitment strategy, including manager Art Howe (Philip Seymour Hoffman), it enabled the A's to make one shrewd signing after another.

  The net result was one of the franchises with the smallest budgets in Major League Baseball breaking the record for consecutive wins in a single season, in 2002. The following year, Michael Lewis' book 'Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game' was published to critical acclaim and became a commercial success.

  Even more significantly, the methods employed by A's were embraced – if not always completely, at least partially – by other MLB teams.

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  Taking over Europe

  Billy Beane

  Moneyball's influence extended well beyond baseball, though. Football also took notice, particularly after the release of the film based on Lewis' book in 2011. For a long time, it was felt that the statistic-heavy analysis prevalent in American sports, and baseball in particular, added little to understanding 'The Beautiful Game'. Football, it was felt by traditionalists, was too fluid; there were too many variables and far greater freedom of expression. A little over five years ago, video analysts were still being derogatorily referred to both behind the scenes and in the mainstream media as "laptop gurus".

  However, attitudes began to change, particularly after the success of FC Midtjylland, the first European club to truly employ a sabermetrics-based business model. The Danes won their first Superliga in 2015 and now have three titles to their name.

  Midtjylland's data-heavy approach to transfers has since been mirrored by Toulouse, who won last season's Coupe de France – just a year after gaining promotion to Ligue 1, after nearly two decades in France's second tier.

  Then there's Brentford, who reached the Premier League for the first time in 2021 and have since established themselves as one of the best teams in the top flight. The use of stats has clearly been key to their remarkable rise, though owner Matthew Benham is wary of the term 'Moneyball'.

  "The label can be confusing, especially because baseball has always been obsessed with numbers and data – but not football," he said. "We do not use statistics at random, but in a scientific way."

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  No one right way

  Peter Brand

  Cardinale has also stressed that "data is just one tool" Milan are using to construct a team capable of winning multiple trophies. "Moneyball was written 20 years ago and today everyone uses data, but in our portfolio there is an analytics company with 13 researchers from MIT," the American told the on Friday. "European football is not baseball; it requires a different level of sophistication and we believe we are at the forefront."

  At the very least, Milan are the most high-profile club to date to embrace Moneyball, with Beane even serving as a transfer market consultant.

  Liverpool were obviously universally lauded for the way in which they transformed a team in disarray before Jurgen Klopp took over into the 'champions of everything' with one excellent signing after another. The input of former director of research Ian Graham, who led a six-strong data analysis team, played a pivotal role in bargain buys such as Mohamed Salah and Diogo Jota, who were both (rightly) identified as undervalued and ideally suited to Klopp's specific brand of football. Liverpool also pulled off a masterstroke by effectively covering the cost of two transformative transfers in Alisson Becker and Virgil van Dijk by selling Philippe Coutinho – an outstanding talent at Anfield but one not strictly needed given Liverpool's plethora of options in attack.

  However, it's also worth remembering that Liverpool were not afraid to spend big when required. Both Alisson and Van Dijk were the most expensive players in their respective positions at one point – and Maldini was adamant that a club of Milan's ambition and stature would have to spend significant sums on certain players in order to get to the next level.

  "With two or three important signings, and the consolidation of the players we have," he said after the club's shock Serie A title win in 2022, "we can compete for something bigger in the Champions League."

  Milan instead spent just €50m that summer – the majority of which went on Charles De Ketelaere (€32m). The Belgian's first-season struggles at San Siro were subsequently used as a stick with which to beat Maldini, with the argument being that it proved he was not worth backing in the market.

  However, the fact remains that Maldini masterminded Milan's first Scudetto success in a decade by acquiring 21 players at a net cost of €75 million (£64m/$82m) – as much as Juve had paid for Dusan Vlahovic. It's hard not to argue that Milan were practising Moneyball even before Beane was brought on board.

  At the end of the day, though, Maldini's view of the way in which Milan might get to the next level was fundamentally different to that of Cardinale. As club president Paolo Scaroni told the , "We are following a more innovative model, at least for Italy, in how to run a club. That leads us to consider all our activities as collegial, we work in a team.

  "It is an organisational model that our main shareholder (Cardinale) cares a great deal about. Let us not forget, he is a specialist in sport who had success in his activities, so when he suggests something, we pay close attention, as he brings innovation.

  "We got the feeling that Paolo felt ill at ease in this organisation, so when someone is ill at ease, it is best to go our separate ways."

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  Investing in both the future & the present

  Art Howe

  Maldini quite clearly felt that Milan's new owners were more interested in turning a profit than restoring the Rossoneri to their former glory. "With a strategic vision, Milan could next season compete with the biggest clubs. However, if we were to choose a vision of maintaining our current level, without investment, without an idea worthy of Milan, we would remain in limbo among the top six or seven sides in Italy, hoping to maybe win the Scudetto again and qualify for the Champions League," he warned last year.

  So, he wasn't the least bit surprised when a relatively young and inexperienced Milan side were overwhelmed by Inter in the semi-finals of the Champions League the following year. As far as he was concerned, it was clear that a balance had to be found between prudence and ambition.

  The importance of youth was obvious to him – how could it not be given he had come through the youth-team section at Milan and made his senior debut at just 16? But he also played during an era in which Silvio Berlusconi paid big money for world-class talents such as Marco van Basten, Ruud Gullit and Frank Rijkaard, in order to assemble arguably the greatest side the club game has ever seen. So, the sale of Sandro Tonali to Newcastle for €70 million was the antithesis of everything Maldini was trying to do.

  Coming so soon after Maldini's dramatic departure, it was a transfer that sparked fear into the fans. In the final game of the 2022-23 season, they had echoed Maldini's plea for investment in a banner unfurled at San Siro that read: "Another year has passed, it is time for the transfer market. We want [to take] a step up the ladder."

  Consequently, cashing in on Tonali, a 23-year-old boyhood Milan fan considered a future captain, unsurprisingly felt like a step down to the stunned supporters. The obvious concern was that Moneyball meant Milan becoming a feeder club.

An update has emerged on Glasgow Rangers and their plans to improve their attacking options in the upcoming summer transfer window…

What's the latest on Sam Lammers to Rangers?

According to Monday's edition of The Scottish Daily Mail [via Ibrox News], the Light Blues are keeping tabs on Sampdoria's loanee centre-forward, Sam Lammers.

The report claims that the Dutch number nine is one of a number of players on the club's shortlist as they attempt to replace Alfredo Morelos, who is set to depart on a free transfer this summer.

It is stated that the Serie A attacker, whose parent club is Atalanta, is also out of contract in the coming weeks and this means that the Gers could snap him up for nothing ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

Who is Sam Lammers?

He is a 26-year-old striker from the Netherlands who has struggled since leaving his home country to play in Italy and Rangers could get him back to his best by partnering the ace with Todd Cantwell next season.

Since the start of the 2020/21 campaign, Lammers has scored five league goals for Empoli, Atalanta, Sampdoria, and Eintracht Frankfurt combined and this run of form does not suggest that the attacker would be a good signing for the Light Blues.

However, the former Dutch U21 international, who talent scout Jacek Kulig hailed as "two-footed", enjoyed a prolific spell in the Eredivisie and for PSV at youth level and Michael Beale could have some player on his hands if he is able to get him on top form.

Lammers scored 19 goals and provided five assists in 35 appearances for Heerenveen in all competitions in 2018/19 after he caught the eye during his time in PSV's academy.

The marksman plundered an impressive 46 goals and 21 assists in 101 appearances for the Dutch giants at U19 and U21 level combined.

These statistics suggest that the £17k-per-week finisher has the potential to be a prolific scorer, and provider, at Ibrox if he can get back to the levels of form he displayed at PSV and Heerenveen and Cantwell could help him to do just that.

The Englishman was a shining light in the Scottish Premiership in the second half of the season after joining from Norwich in the January window.

He averaged a Sofascore rating of 7.36 across 14 appearances in the division and contributed with six goals and four assists from the middle of the park.

The maestro also created five 'big chances' for his teammates and made 1.3 key passes per game, which shows that the magician is capable of opening up the opposition's defence to create opportunities for his teammates.

Therefore, Cantwell could be exactly the man Lammers needs to return to his goalscoring best as the Norfolk-born wizard could present him with chances to find the back of the net on a regular basis in the Premiership, which could make them an exciting pairing for the Light Blues.

Football writer Aaron Catterson-Reid has slammed the news that talented teen Charlie Patino now looks likely to leave Arsenal in the summer.

What's the latest Arsenal transfer news?

As the Gunners look to build a team that can consistently challenge for Premier League titles in the coming years, big moves can be expected in the summer window.

Indeed, there has already been plenty of talk in the media about Mikel Arteta potentially adding the likes of Declan Rice and Moises Caicedo to his midfield.

Of course, though, if one or both of those two were to arrive in North London, this could spell trouble for other options within the squad.

With that potentially in mind, it sounds as though talented youngster Patino no longer sees a path to first-team action with Arsenal.

Indeed, as per The Athletic, the 19-year-old is expected to leave on a permanent basis at the end of the season, with the club "receptive to his desire to seek" senior football elsewhere.

In reaction to this, Catterson-Reid warned that it could be a big mistake, writing on Twitter: "This is a Gnabry situation. That’s how good Patino is. This is such bad news for Arsenal."

Will Patino leave Arsenal this summer?

Arsenal fans will no doubt remember how they let Serge Gnabry football slip through their fingers as a youngster before ending up becoming a star with Bayern Munich. That must have scarred many supporters and they won't want to see the same happen with Patino.

After all, the teenager has shown the potential to be a future top talent having scored on debut for the Gunners and since excelled while out on loan at Blackpool this season.

Indeed, after scoring in the FA Cup against Southampton, his current boss Mick McCarthy said (via The Athletic.): "He has a right go at it, Charlie. He's a young man and sometimes he doesn't always get it right.

"He might press and get played past, but in the first half, he lost it in front of us about 20 yards into their half and won it back in the 18-yard box at the other side of the pitch. I said, 'If you can do that, you'll do for me'.

"The willingness to do it is great. I've loved working with him for the last few days, he's going to be a very good player."

No doubt, Patino has plenty of potential but there is no guarantee he will be a star. Even so, if he does leave in the summer, Arsenal would be wise to include some sort of buy-back clause in any contract as Manchester City have done with Romeo Lavia.

Jurgen Klopp has changed the fortunes of Liverpool FC and cemented himself into Anfield folklore by bringing the first Premier League title and a sixth Champions League title to the second-biggest club in England.

While he has a reasonably consistent hit rate with bringing in some big players to change the trajectory of Liverpool's fortunes, there have been a few notable big-money flops, and Naby Keïta is probably the highest-profile player who didn't quite meet the expectations at Anfield.

Liverpool's fortunes this season

Liverpool started this season neck and neck with Manchester City as the second favourites to lift the title. However, they took it to the final day in the 2021/22 season, and the two teams had set the bar so high that nobody could see past the two for the title.

As we know, Mikel Arteta and his magisterial Arsenal have gate-crashed that particular party and look like they could be on course to lift their first Premier League crown in nearly 20 years. Betting markets at Bet UK offer comprehensive outright markets on Premier League events and you would have got fantastic odds at the start of the season for Arsenal to win the title.

It looks like Liverpool has started their season too late in their bid to qualify for the Champions League. Having been destroyed by Carlo Ancelotti's Real Madrid in this year's knockout stages and comprehensively beaten in the league by Man City, it looks like it is back to the drawing board for Klopp, including shifting out the deadwood.

What went wrong for Keïta?

Although some Liverpool fans say they have operated on a shoestring budget compared to their rivals, this isn't the case. Manchester City has spent more money but Liverpool isn't just getting by on a frugal budget.

In the same way, the likes of Brighton currently sit above Liverpool in the table and seem to have a conveyer belt of world-class talent that they bring in for incredible prices. Although Kopites might like to think they fall into this bracket, the figures show they have spent a fortune.

An eye-watering price tag of £48m was the cost for the Guinean international. But, to be fair to Liverpool, it looked like it could be a bargain at the time. He had a great strike rate for a midfielder at Leipzig and at the age of 23, it looked like his best years were yet to come.

One of the main reasons Keïta has failed to fill his potential at Liverpool is due to several injuries he has sustained during his time there. However, saying he has been a total flop would be unfair. In some games, he looked very much like the player Klopp would have wanted, and he was given the legendary number eight shirt, which was vacant due to their talismanic ex-captain Steven Gerrard leaving the club after 26 years.

Keïta has played dozens of games for Liverpool and has been lambasted on social media by LFC fans for his perceived lack of commitment in big games, although injuries and often being played out of position definitely haven't helped his cause.

He has been overshadowed in his area of the pitch by other quality additions, such as Thiago, and Keïta hasn't gelled well with other midfielders, such as captain Jordan Henderson. Therefore, Jurgen Klopp is happy to allow Keïta to see out the remainder of his contract this summer and leave as a free agent.

Keïta’s next club

Given that he commanded such a colossal fee back in 2017, there are still plenty of clubs interested in the Guinean's services and it could be a smart move if they can land him on a free transfer. Wherever Naby finds himself, they will be delighted if he can recreate some of his Leipzig form that led to Liverpool splashing out nearly £50m.

Internet rumours and media stories come cheap, and if you were to look at social media, Naby could be joining half of the top clubs in Europe. However, the rumours that seem to be gathering the most momentum include signing for FC Barcelona or Borussia Dortmund.

It would seem a natural fit, given that Keïta has already prove himself in Germany, and Dortmund will likely lose their superstar midfielder Jude Bellingham this summer. Whether Keïta wants to travel back to Germany at this stage of his career or would rather play in another of Europe's top leagues is a decision that only he can make.

Players must often factor in what is best for themselves and their families. However, if the circumstances are favourable, we would expect to see Keïta travelling back to Germany to rekindle some of that excellent form that made him one of Europe's top talents just five years ago.

Tabraiz Shamsi expects higher totals as the Caribbean tri-series shifts from the slow pitch and sizeable outfield at Providence to a quicker strip and smaller ground in St Kitts

Firdose Moonda10-Jun-2016Tabraiz Shamsi, the South African chinaman bowler, expects higher totals as the Caribbean tri-series shifts from the slow pitch and sizeable outfield at Providence to a quicker strip and smaller ground in St Kitts, but hopes spinners will still be able to play a role.”They say cricket’s a batsman’s game, and this leg showed they’re probably just making us bowlers feel good before they start giving us some big hits again,” Shamsi joked. “That was nice as a spinner – to get a turning track with a big field to go with it. But if you’re given a small field, you’ve just got to make the best of it and come up with a plan. Hopefully, it works.”That the Guyana conditions are tough for batsmen and spinner-friendly was obvious. None of the teams managed a total of 200 in the three matches, with scoring rates hovering around the four-runs-an-over mark. Of the 49 wickets that fell, 31 were claimed by spinners. In the last fixture, between South Africa and Australia on Tuesday, the teams had seven spin options between them, with South Africa fielding three specialist spinners for the first time in five years.That is certain to change at Warner Park, where South Africa will certainly field a smaller spin contingent, but Shamsi has a good case to keep his spot. He was impressive on debut, with captain AB de Villiers noting that not many of the Australian batsmen were able to pick him. He is also well-acquainted with Warner Park, his home ground in the Caribbean Premier League, and the venue of both his four-wicket hauls for St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in the 2015 season.Even though the surface won’t offer the same assistance as Providence, Shamsi, who has knowledge of the conditions, still expects some help. “In the Caribbean, all the pitches turn. I played here last year, so I know the surfaces are quite friendly towards spinners,” he said. “Anywhere we go in the Caribbean, spin will definitely play a role.”That means the quicks will still have to concentrate on doing as much containing as they can, leaving it to Shamsi and Imran Tahir to attack through the middle overs, which will also allow for an interesting interplay between student and master. Shamsi has admitted he wants to learn as much as he can from Tahir, who he is being touted to eventually take over from.”Imran has been a world-class performer for many years. He has been a big help for me, not just on this tour, but over the last couple of years,” Shamsi said. “I’m always on his case, asking for tips, because he’s performing at such a high level and that could only help my game.”It also means that South Africa could have two of the most exuberant wicket-taking celebrations in world cricket, with Tahir well-known for running elatedly towards the stands, and Shamsi imitating a bus-driver when he strikes. For both, those moments are the most precious, so it was hardly surprising to hear Shamsi echo what Tahir has often said about why he overflows with joy every time he takes a wicket.”As you grow older and get into the professional environment, there’s a lot of pressures based on performances. There’s a lot of people scrutinising you. So we tend to forget that fun factor,” Shamsi said. “That’s one thing I never want to forget. Ultimately, we play the game because we love it initially. That’s something I always want to remember going forward into my career, however long it may be.”

Elyse Villani top-scored with 43 from 35 balls to keep Australia women’s semi-final challenge firmly on track in Delhi, as Ireland’s disappointing campaign came to a close with a seven-wicket defeat, their fourth loss in as many outings

The Report by Andrew Miller in Delhi26-Mar-2016
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsMegan Schutt’s three-for kept Ireland to 91•Associated Press

Elyse Villani top-scored with 43 from 35 balls to keep Australia Women’s semi-final challenge firmly on track in Delhi, as Ireland’s disappointing campaign came to a close with a seven-wicket defeat, their fourth loss in as many outings. Australia’s qualification to the next round was secured following New Zealand Women’s big victory against South Africa Women a few hours later. *On a slow surface, the same one that was used for England’s men’s match against Afghanistan and will be back in action for their Group 1 showdown with Sri Lanka tonight, boundaries were scarce and dot balls plentiful as Ireland struggled for headway after being asked to bat first.Thanks to a doughty trio of 20s from their top three, Clare Shillington, Cecelia Joyce and Kim Garth, who top-scored with 27 from 46 balls, they eventually reached 91 for 7 in their 20 overs. However, as a measure of their struggles, that total was their second highest of the competition, behind the 115 for 8 they made against Sri Lanka.The tone for Ireland’s innings was set in the first 11 balls, from which they failed to score a single run, and though Shillington in particular responded impressively with three fours and a solitary six through midwicket in her 22 from 18 balls, her team-mates struggled to obtain the same momentum.Megan Schutt returned Australia’s best figures of 3 for 29, but it was Rene Farrell’s accurate medium pacers that really derailed Ireland’s challenge.With 2 for 11 in her four overs, Farrell combined with the spinners Kirsten Beams and Jess Jonassen to squeeze the life out of the contest, and she was aided by some exceptional work in the field as well. Two direct-hit run-outs came on her watch, as Jonassen pinged down the stumps to remove Laura Delany before Villani did likewise to Mary Waldron from the final ball of the innings.Ireland’s total never looked like being enough to challenge the irrepressible Australians, the three-times reigning champions whose key defeat to New Zealand earlier in the tournament has left them guarding against complacency as they seek their habitual place in the knockout stages.Australia did ship two early wickets in their reply – Isobel Joyce’s brilliant one-handed scoop at midwicket to remove Alyssa Healy was followed by Meg Lanning’s swipe across the line to be bowled for 8 by Garth. The ball seemed to keep a touch low as it plucked out Lanning’s middle stump, which was a sight that may have some bearing on how the men’s match pans out.Villani and Ellyse Perry, however, combined for the key stand of Australia’s chase – a third-wicket alliance of 54 in 7.4 overs that featured the sort of power, placement and judgement of a single that their opponents had been unable to match.Villani struck six fours before miscuing a wipe over mid-off to give Garth a hard-earned second wicket, but by that stage Australia needed just seven runs to win. They might also have removed Perry late in the chase, when she hoisted a full-toss from Ciara Metcalfe to deep midwicket, only for the dismissal to be overturned because the ball was above waist-height.*GMT 16:43 – This report was updated to reflect that Australia are through following the result of the New Zealand-South Africa match

Newcastle United’s fantastic season under the tutelage of Eddie Howe has hit something of a snag in recent weeks, but a victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League this afternoon could go a long way toward reinstating stability.

Having blitzed into Champions League contention before the season paused for the 2022 World Cup in December, continuing the fine strides made in the latter phase of last term, the Magpies have indeed faltered over recent weeks, some of the fluidity unhinged and the cutting-edge blunted having secured victory in just one of the past eight league matches.

And with the disappointment of falling at the final hurdle in the Carabao Cup, against Manchester United, followed by a battling away defeat to league champions Manchester City, the affair against the Old Gold represents the perfect opportunity to rekindle the verve that has left the club in sixth place after 24 games.

Wolves are 13th, five points clear of the drop zone, but have exhibited discernible improvement under Julen Lopetegui’s wing, having lost just three of the past nine divisional matches, beating the likes of Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur.

With powerhouse Joelinton suspended, Howe will need to devise a plan to ensure that the robustness of the midfield stands firm, controls the flow of the match and overwhelms the combative nature of the Wanderers centre.

Who could replace Joelinton?

With this in mind, dynamic midfielder Joe Willock must be unleashed at St. James’s Park, with the former Arsenal product performing admirably against the Cityzens last time out, hailed as “hungry” by Ciaran Kelly for his cameo display.

Since signing from the Gunners for £25m in 2021, Willock has amassed 12 goals and two assists from 76 appearances, including a remarkable consecutive scoring run of seven matches to close the 2020/21 Premier League campaign, when the dynamo was completing an initial loan on Tyneside.

As per Sofascore, the 23-year-old has started 20 league matches for the Toon this term, averaging a solid rating of 6.8; with two goals and two assists apiece, Willock has indeed been a steady presence and complimented his output with 1.4 shots and 0.9 key passes per game, creating six big chances and completing an impressive 85% of his passes, also making 1.5 tackles per outing.

Wolves are typically hard to break down, and a progressive presence from the centre could pay dividends for Howe’s outfit, looking to rediscover their clinical touch; as per FBref, the £80k-per-week phenom ranks among the top 10% of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues for shots, the top 10% for progressive carries and the top 1% for touches in the attacking box per 90, illustrating the offensive impact he could make against Wolves.

Journalist Simon Collings lauded the star’s “limitless” potential, while Graeme Bailey also once waved lyrical over the “stunning” progress of the dazzling machine, and with Joelinton indeed sidelined at a time when Howe needs someone to stand up, Willock might just be the man.

With Emma Hayes watching on from afar, there are a number of storylines to follow as the U.S. aims to secure a first trophy of 2024

They're almost here. We're now closer to the Olympics kicking-off than we are to the end of the 2023 Women's World Cup ending, meaning the next big tournament will be here before you know it.

Yet, the U.S. women's national team still finds itself in a state of limbo. Waiting for Emma Hayes to come in, interim boss Twila Kilgore is using her time in charge to integrate young players, but there's only so much we can learn about the team as a whole before Hayes steps in.

Because of that, the upcoming Gold Cup is largely about individual cases and battles, not about an overall style of play. Hayes' tactics will shine through once she's actually in charge. Until then, it's about preparing for that moment.

So who can seize their chance? Which players, both new and familiar, will be under the microscope? GOAL takes a look at the USWNT storylines to watch during the tournament…

GettyHoran's apology

Lindsey Horan addressed the elephant in the room rather quickly. After calling American soccer fans "not smart" during an interview with , Horan made sure to get her apology out there right as camp gathered. She was sorry for the statement; it wasn't the right thing to say.

So that part of it is done. Now, though, we'll have to say what comes of it. Horan was the team's captain at the World Cup, and one would assume she'd remain in contention for that spot heading into the Olympics. With Hayes coming in, nothing is certain, but Horan is still one of the team's senior leaders.

However, we'll have to see what fan reaction is like to her in the months to come. Did she upset too many people? Or will enough of the population have understood what she was trying to say, even if it was poorly worded?

Either way, Horan is one to watch. Fans will be looking on, many with a critical eye after the Lyon midfielder's comments. She'll need to put in some good shifts during this tournament or else fans, both educated and uneducated, will have plenty to say.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesOlympic-like scheduling

Let's make it clear: the Gold Cup is no Olympics. The quality just doesn't match up. It does, however, offer the U.S. a chance to adjust to an Olympic-like schedule, helping them prepare for the cadence of what's to come.

If all goes to plan, the U.S. will play six games over the next three weeks. It's very similar to what the Olympics will look like, with the U.S. needing to play six games in 17 days to claim the gold medal. This is a pretty good tuneup, a chance for the U.S. to map out recovery, rest and training schedules for the bigger games to come.

The Gold Cup games will be centered around Southern California, allowing the U.S. to also get used to something of a base camp. It'll be a bit more spread out at the Olympics, with games scattered around France, but this will get the team used to being in an extended camp together.

It's not a perfect comparison, as the two tournaments aren't like-for-like. But even so, there are things to be learned from this Gold Cup ahead of the big one this summer.

Getty ImagesStriker situation

Alex Morgan isn't at the Gold Cup, and the discussion as to whether she will be able to force her way back in by the time the Olympics rolls around will go on and on. For now, though, the question is who will get the nod at striker during this tournament?

Sophia Smith feels like the likely answer. A striker for the Portland Thorns at club level, Smith played out wide at the World Cup and never quite got going. A move back inside makes too much sense, particularly because it opens up a spot for someone like Mallory Swanson (when healthy), Jaedyn Shaw, Lynn Williams or Midge Purce to start in attack.

The central spot, though, could go to Mia Fishel, and this Gold Cup feels like a perfect chance to see if she sinks or swims, pun intended. The 22-year-old Chelsea forward scored her first goal for the USWNT against Colombia back in October, but only has three caps to her name. This could be a chance to give her a real runout to see how she'll fare at a higher level. If that does happen, Hayes will be keeping a close eye on her, even if she already sees plenty of Fishel at Chelsea.

There are options here, and Hayes will at some point need to put some very good attacking puzzle pieces together. This tournament could show off a bit more of what that looks like, even if we have to wait for Swanson and Catarina Macario to heal up to get the full attacking picture.

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Getty ImagesRodman's ascent

The USWNT has played six games since their World Cup elimination, and Trinity Rodman has scored in three of them. It's an indication that she's next up in becoming a USWNT star, if she isn't already.

Yes, Rodman was a starter at the World Cup, but it feels like she's really starting to find her place in the team. There's another level to her game, for sure, and the 21-year-old winger is just starting to scratch the surface of it. The Gold Cup gives her another chance to rise, another chance to inch closer to being a superstar.

Now, you don't become a superstar at a Gold Cup; you do it at a World Cup or Olympics. Rodman will inevitably be judged by what she can do during the bigger tournaments ahead. The question is if she'll be a piece or a bonafide leader of the next generation. If Rodman can continue her ascent, the USWNT attack reaches a whole new level of scary.

Carlo Ancelotti has hinted that Real Madrid may not need to sign Kylian Mbappe, amid frenzied links with the Paris Saint-Germain superstar.

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• Ancelotti plays down links with PSG ace
• Real linked with blockbuster free transfer
• Mbappe already a world icon

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  After seeing his side beat second-placed Girona 4-0 on Saturday, Ancelotti was quizzed on the prospect of Mbappe moving to the Bernabeu at the end of the season in a blockbuster free transfer. Real have consistently been linked with the World Cup winner and reports have previously suggested that Mbappe has already decided to make the move to Spain.

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  WHAT ANCELOTTI SAID

  Ancelotti said in a press conference: "You keep asking about a player who plays for another team."

  He added: "We already have the best players in the world here. In order: Vini Jr first, Bellingham second, Rodrygo third. Then Kroos, Valverde, Camavinga…"

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Mbappe has been in genuinely glorious form this season and has scored 30 goals and provided seven assists in 29 games in all competitions. Such numbers would not look out of place at the Bernabeu.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  The saga is not going away any time soon. Mbappe will almost certainly continue to dominate the back-page headlines both in Spain and in France; it remains to be seen when it will come to a head.

The England striker needs to continue his electric form if he is to have any hope of finally ending his wait for the first trophy of his career

England fans will remember the scene all too well. Harry Kane went about his penalty routine in the usual way, as he adjusted his socks, repositioned the ball on the edge of the spot and took seven steps back before first looking into the the eyes of France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, and then at the ball. There following his trademark staccato run-up, the slight crouch, the opened hips, and a clean strike.

But instead of nestling in the net, the ball soared off his foot, clipping the top of the crossbar before sailing into the stands behind the goal. The Three Lions went on to lose 2-1, and fell out of the 2022 World Cup at the quarter-final stage when many thought this might just be their time.

And so continued the curse of Kane. The England captain, for all of his brilliance, is yet to win a trophy in his career. He has come close – heartbreakingly so – on several occasions for club and country, but that elusive winners' medal has not yet been placed around his neck.

Having joined Bayern Munich last summer, many believed it was a foregone conclusion that Kane's curse would be broken in 2024. But it hasn't been that simple. The Bavarians sit second in the Bundesliga table, are out of the DFB-Pokal and face an uphill task to win Champions League if their recent performance-level doesn't improve.

Not much of that can be pinned on Kane, who is on pace to break the Bundesliga single-season record for goals scored while enjoying the most prolific campaign of his career. On Saturday, he will get another chance to add to his tally when Bayern travel to face unbeaten league-leaders Bayer Leverkusen in a fixture that will go a long way to deciding who wins the German title.

The top-of-the-table encounter offers Kane another opportunity to exorcise his big-game demons – and take a huge step towards finally having a team trophy to place alongside all the individual awards in his trophy cabinet.

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  Bayern's troubling form

  Given Kane's career trajetory, it is somewhat ironic that Bayern have endured their shakiest start to a season in years – especially considering how often he has been finding the net. Although their Bundesliga and European form doesn't look overly bad, a closer look at their displays suggests that something is amiss.

  While they have only suffered two Bundesliga defeats all season, they have come since the start of December, as they fell 5-1 to Eintracht Frankfurt before being beaten at home by Werder Bremen, a side they had not lost to in any of their previous 32 meetings.

  Since that game, Thomas Tuchel's side has put together a run of three successive wins, though they have hardly been convincing in any of them, as they edged out Union Berlin and Augsburg by solitary goals before coming from behind to beat Borussia Monchengladbach last time out.

  The Bavarians also suffered brutal embarrassment in the DFB-Pokal second round earlier in the campaign, crashing out of the competition with a 2-1 loss to third-division Saarbrucken – one of the most significant upsets in cup history. Kane spent all 90 minutes of that fixture on the bench, and could only watch on as an otherwise full-strength line-up paced around a raucous stadium after conceding a stoppage-time winner, his chances of a first domestic cup win gone just like that.

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  Leverkusen's magnificence

  This time last season, it was Borussia Dortmund who looked almost certain to end Bayern's era of Bundesliga dominance. The Jude Bellingham-led side went on an unexpected charge during the second half of the campaign, going 10 games undefeated. It all fell apart, of course, as a damning home draw on the final day with lowly Mainz saw Edin Terzic's side throw the title away.

  A year later, though, and Bayern's latest title rivals seem more fearsome. Leverkusen have now gone 30 games undefeated in all competitions, with Xabi Alonso's side rolling through the season with aplomb. The former Bayern midfielder has constructed a dominant side that is excellent at both ends of the pitch. Leverkusen's defence has only let in 14 goals in the league, while they have netted 90 times in all competitions.

  Alonso has overseen a clinic in squad building, with the notorious pretenders having revamped their roster over the summer with a series of bargain-bin finds and hot prospects to piece together a well-balanced side. Granit Xhaka looks like a midfielder reborn, while Florian Wirtz is well on his way to realising his potential as a world class No.10, two years removed from a devastating ACL tear. Piece it all together, and they are top of the league by two points – and every bit deserving of their lead.

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  Kane's history of near misses

  This would all seem to be rather cruel on Kane. The Englishman is the subject of ridicule for his barren trophy cabinet, despite being one of the most talented and statistically-brilliant forwards the nation has ever produced. A look at his stats – 312 goals and 66 assists in 507 club games, an average of 0.86 goals or assists per 90 minutes, and three Premier League Golden Boots – suggests that he deserves a glistening array of silverware.

  The reality is different. Kane doesn't have a single trophy – major or minor – to his name. Instead, his career has been defined by a glut of near-misses, and a dusty shelf packed with silver medals. Kane has lost two Carabao Cup finals, a Champions League final, and a European Championship final with England.

  And in the biggest games, he has pulled off something of an unwelcome disappearing act. He failed to find the net in the 2018 World Cup semi-final, went missing in the 2019 Champions League final, and then suffered that penalty woe in Qatar just over 12 months ago.

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  Record-breaking exploits

  This season, though, it would be hard to ask Kane to do much more to break his own personal curse. He is not only having his most prolific season ever, but he's also piecing together one of the great Bundesliga campaigns. He has bagged 28 goals in 27 appearances in all competitions, with eight assists thrown in for good measure. He has scored hat-tricks against Bochum, Darmstadt and Dortmund.

  His tally of four goals in six in the Champions League is less impressive, but a wider look at the stats shows that he had a hand in half of the Bavarians' goals in the competition so far. The natural fears of durability around Kane's famously unsteady ankles haven't been given any life either. He has started all but one game for Tuchel's side, and has played every possible minute of football since late October. This is what dominance looks like.

  The records have racked up as a result. Kane is the quickest player to ever reach 20 Bundesliga goals, the top-scoring Englishman in a single Bundesliga season, and has already surpassed the goal total of 2022-23 Golden Boot winner, Christopher Nkunku. The single-season goalscoring record, Robert Lewandowski's 41 in 2020-21, is now well within reach.