Vítor Pereira: ‘When I go to a pub it’s not about beer. I go to be with the people’ The Wolves head coach tells Ben Fisher about mingling with supporters, why he is ‘a man of the sea’ and the art of football management

‘Gold, like our club,’ says Vítor Pereira, pointing towards his pint of Asahi, ‘this is the colour.’ The charismatic Wolves head coach on mingling with fans at the pub, being a ‘man of the sea’, the pains of management, painting + missing the meat of films: www.theguardian.com/football/202... #wwfc

Evanilson: ‘I left 40C in Rio to go to -5 … I couldn’t finish the training session’ Bournemouth striker tells Ben Fisher about seeing snow in Slovakia, being helped by Pepe and how he gets his Brazilian food

Went to Bournemouth’s incredible new training base to talk to Evanilson, their £40m record signing. FA Cup, faith, body paint, Pepe’s shithousery, kickstarting his career in the Slovakian snow + buying Brazilian delicacies pão de queijo and pastel in town: www.theguardian.com/football/202... #afcb

Bristol City’s Liam Manning: ‘Losing Theo will be a hole in my heart for the rest of my life’ Manager opens up on losing his baby son, how close he came to quitting and the Premier League promotion push

Big interview: Liam Manning spoke with immeasurable strength about the loss of his baby son, Theo. He revealed how he considered quitting #BristolCity, and talked pushing for the Premier League. But football was secondary. Plenty of lump-in-the-throat moments: www.theguardian.com/football/202...

‘World-class talent’: how Tyler Dibling rose to be a shining light in Saints’ gloom Teenager and people key to his ascent reflect on a journey that began in Devon and takes him to former club Chelsea this week

The rise of Tyler Dibling, a shining light in Saints' gloom.

By @benfisherj.bsky.social

‘World-class talent’: how Tyler Dibling rose to be a shining light in Saints’ gloom Teenager and people key to his ascent reflect on a journey that began in Devon and takes him to former club Chelsea this week

The rise of Tyler Dibling, Southampton’s beacon of light. #saintsfc www.theguardian.com/football/202...

Miron Muslic: ‘We became refugees overnight. It was just devastating’ New Plymouth Argyle manager on fleeing from genocide in Bosnia when he was nine and the ‘fantasy’ of managing against Liverpool in the FA Cup

Big interview with Miron Muslic on his journey from fleeing Bihac, Bosnia, to frontline management. He had a happy childhood but some things will stay with him forever: ‘My past defines the person I am. Real life is more difficult than football.’ www.theguardian.com/football/202...

Miron Muslic: ‘We became refugees overnight. It was just devastating’ New Plymouth Argyle manager on fleeing from genocide in Bosnia when he was nine and the ‘fantasy’ of managing against Liverpool in the FA Cup

'We became refugees overnight. You fear for your life, you’re scared. It was devastating. I don’t think I was really aware of what was going on. How could I be?'

Big interview with Argyle manager Miron Muslic on fleeing genocide and the 'fantasy' of taking on Liverpool. By @benfisherj.bsky.social

‘I’ve always been pretty chilled’: Dean Huijsen on Bournemouth, defending and his celebration The teenager on his calm demeanour, learning the defender’s art in Italy and his side’s European credentials

Just two Chill Guys.

Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen and @benfisherj.bsky.social

‘I’ve always been pretty chilled’: Dean Huijsen on Bournemouth, defending and his celebration The teenager on his calm demeanour, learning the defender’s art in Italy and his side’s European credentials

Big interview with Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen, one of the brightest talents in the game, on that viral Chill Guy celebration, his laidback persona, rejecting Real Madrid in favour of Serie A, socks at half-mast and kind words from José Mourinho:
www.theguardian.com/football/202... #afcb

Matchday in Monaco #avfc

Youri Tielemans now the pacemaker at heart of Aston Villa’s resurgence Former Leicester midfielder has proved sceptics wrong with displays central to the transformation of Unai Emery’s side

Youri Tielemans, the pacemaker at the heart of Aston Villa’s resurgence, a player returning to the peak of his powers having been written off after relegation with Leicester. Emery loves his versatility. ‘But his best quality is in his mind.’ www.theguardian.com/football/202... #avfc

Donyell Malen arrives in full bloom for Aston Villa debut on familiar ground Versatile forward’s coaches share what makes the former Arsenal youngster so special as he returns to the Emirates with new club

On Donyell Malen, who could make his Premier League debut for Aston Villa at Arsenal, where he spent two years as a teen, living in St Albans. Insights from coaches at Ajax/PSV, where he flourished with Gakpo. ‘Now it’s Donyell’s time.’ #avfc #afc www.theguardian.com/football/202...

‘Why is the world so judgmental?’ Ian Holloway on painting, metal detecting and his 1,000th game As the Swindon manager hits the dugout landmark he reflects on his ‘rollercoaster’ life and why he would be first to go in a nuclear attack

Ian Holloway on being a member of the Caravan + Motorhome Club, lessons from his art teacher, Mr Low, Most Haunted, metal detecting - and reaching the milestone of 1,000 games as a manager. ‘Little bloke from Longwell Green. Come on.’ www.theguardian.com/football/202...

Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez: ‘Everything has changed quickly. It’s a bit crazy’ The defender is, like his club, a bundle of energy with grand ambitions – and he wants to build a lake

Big interview with Milos Kerkez, Bournemouth’s ‘crazy left-back’ on all the usual stuff: wanting to build a fishing lake, camping alone in the Serbian wilderness, blocks of stone for goalposts in Vrbas, video calls with Maldini + kids’ increased screen time: www.theguardian.com/football/202... #afcb

Leipzig #avfc

Harborough have just scored to make it 3-3 after 86 mins …

Torp holds nerve on Lampard’s return to earn Coventry draw with Cardiff Victor Torp’s 88th-minute penalty secured a 2-2 draw against Cardiff in Frank Lampard’s first game as manager of Coventry

After the big, bold buildup, Frank Lampard’s entrance was low-key. ‘I’m here as a head coach, not a celebrity,’ he said after an underwhelming if not fortunate draw. ‘My enjoyment out of this comes out of trying to make a team better.’ www.theguardian.com/football/202...

Cupcakes, Sandro and a Gladiators champ: inside Harborough before FA Cup tie of their lives Competition’s lowest-ranked team travel to Reading and hope their shock Brazilian signing will be ready for his debut

Inside part-time Harborough Town, the lowest-ranked side left in the FA Cup; Martha the spaniel, breakfast with Wolf after winning Gladiators at Shepperton Studios, Sandro, a yin-yang coaching team, and a squad of bricklayers + care workers: www.theguardian.com/football/202...

Sky-blue thinking? #pusb

Tyler Dibling. What a talent. #saintsfc

Harry Wilson: ‘With Bale retiring last year I definitely feel that extra responsibility’ Fulham’s attacking midfielder tells Ben Fisher about Bellamy’s Wales revolution, Wrexham’s takeover and the buzz of scoring in the Premier League

Harry Wilson is a man in form. Four goals in five for his country, three in two for club. At the forefront of Craig Bellamy’s new-look Wales, he is pushing to start for in-form Fulham. ‘With Bale retiring, I feel like it is on me to step up, score, create.’
www.theguardian.com/football/202... #ffc

Ryan Yates: ‘I wanted to sign my contract in a snorkel but Forest wouldn’t let me’ Nottingham Forest cult hero on how close he was to leaving, cooking spinach in a hotel room and his latte art hobby

Ryan Yates on wanting to dive in the Trent, change the narrative at Forest, thrive not survive, latte art, glory days in his beat-up Corsa, boiling spinach in a Premier Inn, and the big transfer news: poaching the barista from the players’ favourite haunt: www.theguardian.com/football/202... #nffc

Harry Wilson: ‘With Bale retiring last year I definitely feel that extra responsibility’ Fulham’s attacking midfielder tells Ben Fisher about Bellamy’s Wales revolution, Wrexham’s takeover and the buzz of scoring in the Premier League

Harry Wilson is a man in form. Four goals in five for his country, three in two for club. At the forefront of Craig Bellamy’s new-look Wales, he is pushing to start for in-form Fulham. ‘With Bale retiring, I feel like it is on me to step up, score, create.’
www.theguardian.com/football/202... #ffc

Ryan Yates: ‘I wanted to sign my contract in a snorkel but Forest wouldn’t let me’ Nottingham Forest cult hero on how close he was to leaving, cooking spinach in a hotel room and his latte art hobby

Ryan Yates on wanting to dive in the Trent, change the narrative at Forest, thrive not survive, latte art, glory days in his beat-up Corsa, boiling spinach in a Premier Inn, and the big transfer news: poaching the barista from the players’ favourite haunt: www.theguardian.com/football/202... #nffc