A 1-1 draw at Blackburn on Friday night sealed promotion for Frank Lampard's team – this is how they fought their way back from League Two to the Premier League.

📝 @tburrows16.bsky.social

🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/719...

How Coventry City and Frank Lampard ended 25 years of hurt and returned to the promised land From downward spiral to the fourth tier, back up to the top flight, via Wembley ups and downs – this is the story of their return

After 25 years, Coventry City have returned to the Premier League - sparking jubilant scenes in the away end at Ewood Park tonight

A look at their remarkable journey back, the painful near misses - and Frank Lampard’s impact

www.nytimes.com/athletic/719...

Lille were close to bankruptcy. This is how they became Europe’s most profitable club Lille were Ligue 1 champions in 2021, but there were major underlying problems that needed addressing by the new owners

From a dire financial situation to Europe’s most profitable club

I spoke to Lille's owners and president about how they did it: big focus on the academy, smart squad planning, finding 'raw diamonds' in the market + selling players for hefty profits

www.nytimes.com/athletic/716...

Cardiff lose €120m damages claim against Nantes in Emiliano Sala case The League One side were instead ordered to pay Nantes $480,000 in damages and legal fees.

Cardiff City have today lost their damages claim against French side FC Nantes - more than seven years after the tragic death of Emiliano Sala in a plane crash

Cardiff had sought €120million in damages

Story on what's been a long-running and bitter legal saga

www.nytimes.com/athletic/715...

Mohamed and Al Hassan Toure were born in a refugee camp. Now they are dreaming of the World Cup Both players are in contention to make the Australia squad and could play against the United States this summer

I interviewed brothers Mohamed and Al Hassan Toure, who are dreaming of representing Australia at the World Cup

That would mark another incredible chapter in their life story that began when they born in a refugee camp in Guinea

www.nytimes.com/athletic/711...

Inside RC Lens: The David challenging Paris Saint-Germain’s Goliath in France We visit northern France to speak to the key figures at a small club taking on the might of a team funded by a nation state

'Anything is possible with bravery, with willingness'

I made a trip to Lens last month, who are trying chasing a first league title since 1998

They currently trail PSG by one point, albeit the European Champions have a game in hand

www.nytimes.com/athletic/701...

PSG successful in request for free weekend between Liverpool Champions League games PSG were also granted the weekend off between their two games against Chelsea in the previous round of the competition.

LFP have granted PSG their request to have big match vs RC Lens postponed - as it was in between their two games vs #LFC

That match will now be on Wednesday May 13

LFP said decision taken to 'help France maintain its fifth place in the UEFA coefficient rankings'

www.nytimes.com/athletic/714...

From Norwich to Barcelona: Ajay Tavares, the England Under-17s winger at La Masia It is not exactly a path well travelled, but this move from East Anglia reflects an established youth policy at the Catalan club

'This might have been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to join arguably the biggest club in the world. And he’s earned the opportunity'

Visited Norwich to chat to Ajay Tavares' youth coach about his rise, after his Barcelona move

With @laiacervello.bsky.social

www.nytimes.com/athletic/714...

Special report: Violence in amateur football – ‘I can’t comprehend why you would do that to someone’ Physical attacks against players on the pitch - often by opponents - can have serious consequences for the victims

‘He wound his arm back and sucker-punched me in the back of the head’

After a series of recent incidents, I spoke to a number of people across amateur and non-league football in the UK about their ordeals - and what’s really happening

www.nytimes.com/athletic/708...

Paris Saint-Germain request Lens match postponement due to Liverpool tie PSG are due to face second-place Lens in the week between their quarter-final legs in April.

LFP confirm PSG have asked for big Ligue 1 match vs RC Lens to be postponed

PSG currently scheduled to play Lens on April 11, in between their two #UCL matches vs #LFC

Lens strongly against fixture being moved, but LFP have final say

#LFC also play on April 11

www.nytimes.com/athletic/714...

Have PSG rediscovered the form that led them to Champions League glory? The holders dismantled Chelsea with ease and now have many of their injured players back as they head into the quarter-finals

Paris Saint-Germain’s demolition of Chelsea over two legs suggests they’re peaking at the perfect time

Their injury problems are easing, Barcola is in fine form, while Kvaratskhelia was a constant menace last night

My piece on #PSG from Stamford Bridge

www.nytimes.com/athletic/712...

Paulo Fonseca: From a nine-month ban to rebuilding Lyon’s reputation – ‘Football is a pleasure’ The Portuguese coach is loving life in Ligue 1. After a nine-month suspension, he is spearheading Lyon's push for silverware

My interview with Paulo Fonseca - very engaging company

▪️ Lyon’s 13 straight wins
▪️ Navigating a nine-month ban
▪️ Why he deserved more time at AC Milan
▪️ Calling football 'pleasure' but sadness at how game's changed
▪️ Heartbreak over the war in Ukraine

www.nytimes.com/athletic/705...

Inside Roberto De Zerbi’s wild ride at Marseille – TV bust-ups, European highs and a 2.35am exit The Italian's tumultuous reign contained big highs and crushing lows before ending on a sour note this week

Roberto De Zerbi is gone, but the drama continues at #OM

Another 2-0 lead thrown away (with a 96th min equaliser). Protests during the game. And now Mehdi Benatia has departed too

My piece on De Zerbi’s 18 months at a club lurching toward yet another crisis

www.nytimes.com/athletic/704...

Timothee Chalamet – the soccer years: ‘I’m sure his dream was to become a professional’ Timothee Chalamet has been nominated for this year's Academy Award for Best Actor - but before all that, there were his years on the pitch

Timothée Chalamet, the football years

🧤 Playing in goal at Manhattan Kickers
🇫🇷 Summers at French football camp
💚 His love for AS Saint-Étienne
⚽️ Idolising Bafétimbi Gomis growing up (I spoke to the ex-France striker about that)
🥅 Facing Joe Gomez in pre-season match

www.nytimes.com/athletic/700...

Inside Roberto De Zerbi’s wild ride at Marseille – TV bust-ups, European highs and a 2.35am exit The Italian's tumultuous reign contained big highs and crushing lows before ending on a sour note this week

Roberto De Zerbi’s 18-month spell in charge of #OM featured real highs but there were also moments of severe turbulence + wildly inconsistent results

A big read on his tenure, exit, and a dramatic final fortnight at one of Europe’s most volatile clubs

www.nytimes.com/athletic/704...

Inside RC Lens: The David challenging Paris Saint-Germain’s Goliath in France We visit northern France to speak to the key figures at a small club taking on the might of a team funded by a nation state

'It’s David against Goliath'

I went behind the scenes at RC Lens last week, who are trying to do the unthinkable and pip Paris Saint-Germain to the Ligue 1 title

Includes interviews with their owner, head coach and captain

#FiersDEtreLensois #RCL

www.nytimes.com/athletic/701...

Spent some time with Racing Club de Lens this week, one of the feel-good stories in Europe this season, who are dreaming of a first title since 1998

At Stade Bollaert-Delelis for tonight’s match vs Le Havre

A win puts RC Lens back to the top of Ligue 1, above PSG

Football’s sleeping pills problem: ‘My usage was ridiculous – I was in La La Land’ The Athletic spoke to people involved in football about the problems with sleeping pills

At his worst, Omar Bogle was taking 18 or 19 sleeping pills every night.

Bogle is not an isolated example — one expert warns that “most clubs have got at least three or four people who are taking sleeping pills on a regular basis.”

@tburrows16.bsky.social on football’s sleeping pills problem.

Football’s sleeping pills problem: ‘My usage was ridiculous – I was in La La Land’ The Athletic spoke to people involved in football about the problems with sleeping pills

'I was in a constant state of sedation'

Football has a hidden problem with sleeping pills

I spoke to a number of players who developed an addiction to them - and explored why footballers may be especially vulnerable

www.nytimes.com/athletic/698...

Could Chelsea and Liam Rosenior benefit from looking after rather than protecting Estevao? Estevao was the difference maker for Chelsea against Crystal Palace on Sunday

Chelsea’s most complete performance under Liam Rosenior so far, vs #CPFC

Estevao the standout, but Santos - whom Rosenior has compared to Dunga - excellent too

A platform for #CFC + Rosenior to build on, ahead of a packed schedule

My write up from Selhurst Park

www.nytimes.com/athletic/699...

McLaren awarded more than $12m in legal case against IndyCar champion Alex Palou The dispute dates back to October 2022, when Palou agreed to sign for McLaren’s IndyCar team, Arrow McLaren.

McLaren has been awarded more than $12m in its legal case against four-time IndyCar Series champion Alex Palou.

The dispute dates back to October 2022, when Palou agreed to sign for McLaren’s IndyCar team, Arrow McLaren.

More from @tburrows16.bsky.social ⤵️

Chelsea 1 Pafos 0 – Low-block toils, set-piece reward but will this do in Naples? Liam Rosenior's side dominated against the Cypriot minnows but only prevailed with a goal from a set piece 12 minutes from the end

Piece with @sjohnsonsport.bsky.social from an unconvincing #CFC victory against Pafos

#CFC struggled again against a team set up in a low block, while Delap + Garnacho flattered to deceive

Still, an important win for #CFC who are now 8th

Napoli (a) their last game

www.nytimes.com/athletic/698...

PSG defender Lucas Hernandez denies charges of human trafficking and undeclared work from Colombian family The Versailles Judicial Court have confirmed that an investigation is underway. Hernandez denies the charges.

Paris Saint-Germain defender Lucas Hernandez and his wife say they have “never acted with malicious intent or in contempt of the law” after it was alleged they had trafficked and overworked a Colombian family in their employ.

More from @nnamdionye.bsky.social & @tburrows16.bsky.social

At Stamford Bridge where there’s a #CFC fan protest against the club’s ownership

‘We don’t care about Clearlake, they don’t care about us, all we care about is Chelsea FC’

Other chants of ‘BlueCo out’

RC Strasbourg fans also have a protest planned tomorrow against BlueCo

At Stamford Bridge tonight for #CFC v #AFC where Liam Rosenior has just been introduced to the home supporters for the first time

Liam Rosenior, Chelsea and the benefits and risks of hiring within a multi-club model Rosenior has joined from their French sister club Strasbourg. How will that impact his time at Stamford Bridge?

If Liam Rosenior had any doubts about the scale of the job he’s taking on, it was made clear during Wednesday’s defeat at #FFC

As he looks to win over #CFC fans, starting in the FA Cup vs #CAFC, what are the supposed benefits of hiring within a multi-club model?

www.nytimes.com/athletic/695...

What Liam Rosenior might have learned watching Chelsea from the stands The new Chelsea head coach watched the loss at Fulham alongside co-owner Behdad Eghbali and there was plenty to digest

At Craven Cottage yesterday, #CFC travelling fans turned on their owners

It puts Liam Rosenior - who was watching from the stands next to Behdad Eghbali - under even greater pressure to hit the ground running

Here's what he would have learnt from last night

www.nytimes.com/athletic/695...

At Craven Cottage tonight for #FFC v #CFC

Chelsea fans in the front of the away end holding up a ‘BlueCo Out’ banner

New #CFC head coach Liam Rosenior watching from the stands tonight, seated next to Behdad Eghbali

Strasbourg fans on Liam Rosenior’s potential exit and comparisons with INEOS-owned Nice BlueCo's Strasbourg drew 1-1 with INEOS' Nice on Saturday – The Athletic spoke to supporters of both clubs about life in a multi-club model

Piece from Nice where I spoke to RC Strasbourg away fans about how they feel about Liam Rosenior’s potential exit to #CFC, BlueCo and how all that compares to INEOS-owned Nice

With INEOS still actively looking to sell Nice, it’s left the club in limbo

www.nytimes.com/athletic/693...

At the Allianz Riviera tonight for Ineos-owned OGC Nice v BlueCo-owned RC Strasbourg - a multi-club clash

Strasbourg head coach Liam Rosenior is the frontrunner for the Chelsea job 

Nice have lost their last 7 Ligue 1 matches + have a new manager in the returning Claude Puel