The Ringer - 2021 Season Reviews for Europe’s Big Five Leagues2021-05-28T11:22:54-04:00http://www.theringer.com/rss/stream/222227352021-05-28T11:22:54-04:002021-05-28T11:22:54-04:00Serie A Season Review: Glory for Romelu Lukaku, Inter Milan
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<p>Lukaku’s best season in his career helped Inter to a long-awaited league title. Juventus, meanwhile, are turning to a familiar face to reclaim their dominance.</p> <p id="8QnHlr">Inter Milan manager Antonio Conte went out on top, leaving the club after winning the title comfortably, powered by Romelu Lukaku’s 24 goals. Here’s the best from the 2020-21 season in Italy: </p>
<h3 id="H4k0Ye">Player of the Year: Romelu Lukaku, Inter Milan</h3>
<p id="UeiYYH">Watching Lukaku <a href="https://twitter.com/inter_pictures/status/1396488618311622657?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1396488618311622657%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.planetfootball.com%2Fvideos%2Fwatch-romelu-lukaku-left-in-floods-of-tears-as-inter-milan-lift-scudetto%2F">weep</a> as he celebrated Inter Milan’s first Serie A title in 11 years reminded us that this was not only the end of a long journey for his club but the culmination of a grand quest for the Belgian forward. At the start of this season, Lukaku, despite having scored over 300 goals for five different clubs and his country, still had only one senior trophy to his name, the national title that he had won in 2010 with Anderlecht. He ended last season with one of his greatest misfortunes as a professional, an own goal to decide the Europa League Final in Sevilla’s favor. This season, he shared the city and the stadium with one of the best AC Milan teams in several years, whose attack was led by Zlatan Ibrahimovic, a man for whom he had a deep and mutual loathing. Lukaku also had his challenges at the edge of the field, with racist chants punctuating several of his performances. Faced with all of that, Lukaku excelled. He formed a superb partnership with Lautaro Martínez, with the Argentine international scoring 17 times in 38 games. Meanwhile, Lukaku found the net 24 times in 36 matches; his crowning glory probably came in the 3-0 win in <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwSx_yXnD-4">the Milan derby, a victory he sealed with one of the goals of the season</a>—a turn, surge, and strike as elegant and devastating as almost any that the fixture has seen in its long history. </p>
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<h3 id="c8fLFk">Spirit of the Year: Lorenzo Insigne, Napoli</h3>
<p id="zJ0eav">This season in Serie A was typified by narrowly unrewarded brilliance: Atalanta, Napoli, and Sassuolo, the three teams that consistently entertained us the most, ended up without the prizes that their efforts perhaps deserved. Atalanta succumbed in the final of the Coppa Italia to Juventus, while Sassuolo and Napoli missed out on Champions League qualification on the final day of the season. That’s why the 2020-21 Spirit of the Year has to be Lorenzo Insigne. In a season when <a href="https://www.theringer.com/2020/11/25/21720683/diego-maradona-death-argentina-legend">Napoli lost Diego Armando Maradona</a>, their greatest idol, Insigne showed again why he is one of his club’s modern greats. He scored 19 times in 35 matches, including one of the most poignant celebrations in many a year when, the first game after Maradona’s passing, he scored a majestic free kick and then ran to the touchline, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3pfyuXr6_c">holding a shirt bearing Maradona’s name up to the television cameras</a>. Every so often, football produces moments that resonate far longer than trophies ever can, and Insigne did that. </p>
<h3 id="G5WvTq">Manager of the Year: Antonio Conte, Inter Milan</h3>
<p id="Mxtjrp">The man who has transformed or restored so many players to their former selves should forever be known as “the calcio whisperer.” There is a staggering list of players who arrived at San Siro in need of revitalization and perhaps even repair: Lukaku, Ashley Young, Alexis Sánchez, Matteo Darmian, Christian Eriksen. One by one, Conte coaxed strong appearances from them. As usual, he built his team upon the foundation of a fine defense and relied primarily upon the emergence of Nicolò Barella and the resurgence of Eriksen for creativity in midfield. The only sadness for Inter is that Conte has now left the club since he was not sure his squad would get the investment it needed; he has departed almost as swiftly as he arrived two seasons ago. Perhaps that was to be expected since he never spends much more than a couple of years in any position: Intense as a sandstorm, he works himself and his players far beyond ordinary limits. Yet consecutive top-two league finishes, as well as that aforementioned Europa League Final appearance—Inter’s first in a continental contest since they claimed the 2010 UEFA Champions League—represent an excellent return on investment for the club’s owners. Though Conte will doubtless not be short of job offers, it is a shame that he will not get to continue his work with Lukaku, with whom he shared a rare bond and who penned him a moving farewell on Instagram. It’s unusual to see that depth of affection for a departing manager, and it speaks volumes of the atmosphere of respect and mutual sacrifice that Conte managed to create in such a short time. </p>
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<br>Game of the Year: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcayQ8EACsw">Atalanta 4, Napoli 2</a>
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<p id="RlNVfl">A match between the two most consistently exciting teams in the league delivered—eventually—on all expectations. The first time these teams met this season, Napoli delivered a signature performance, scoring four times in the first half without reply on their way to a 4-1 win. Atalanta would duly get their revenge in some style. Those of little faith may have changed the channel while the game was still goalless in the first half, but Atalanta’s incessant attacks and the ejection of their coach Gian Piero Gasperini for dissent hinted at the chaos to come. Atalanta scored through Duván Zapata seven minutes after halftime and thereafter we saw a breathless procession of thrills and even brilliance: a rousing counterattack ended by Robin Gosens, an exquisite volley from Piotr Zieliński, a sensational solo strike by Luis Muriel, an own goal from Gosens, and then a header to clinch the game for Atalanta by Cristian Romero. The match saw six goals in the space of 27 minutes. It also gave fresh urgency to two principles for deciding which games to follow in Serie A: One, you should always watch Atalanta, and two, you should never ignore Napoli.</p>
<aside id="F7d96g"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Bundesliga Season Review: A Striker for All Seasons","url":"https://www.theringer.com/2021/5/25/22453109/bundesliga-review-robert-lewandowski-goal-record"},{"title":"Man City, Jack Grealish, and Jesse Lingard Headline a Trying EPL Season","url":"https://www.theringer.com/2021/5/24/22450370/english-premier-league-review"},{"title":"La Liga Season Review: Atlético Madrid’s Triumph, Eibar’s Sadness","url":"https://www.theringer.com/2021/5/27/22456910/la-liga-review-atletico-madrid-lionel-messi"}]}'></div></aside><h3 id="t8RUCP">Biggest Surprise: AC Milan</h3>
<p id="dPiwxJ">Milan were a fairly young side impressively coached by Stefano Pioli. After finishing sixth last season, Milan emerged as the main title challenger to their city rivals Inter in 2020-21. When they faltered for a crucial couple of months late in this campaign, they attracted some criticism, but in truth, they were due such a stumble: It’s more that their excellent start raised expectations to an unsustainable level. This was a tremendous campaign. They had to contend with the significant absence through injury of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zlatan_Ibrahimovi%C4%87">Ibrahimovi</a>c and the growing pains of Sandro Tonali, a superb midfielder signed from relegated Brescia who never truly found his rhythm. At various points, they received stellar showings from their midfielders and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franck_Kessi%C3%A9">Franck Kessié</a>, their attackers <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rafael_Le%C3%A3o">Rafael Leão</a>, Brahim Díaz, and Jens Petter Hauge, and their enterprising left back Theo Hernández, who helped himself to seven goals and five assists. There is plenty for fans of the <em>Rossoneri</em> to look forward to next season. </p>
<h3 id="XFKuSU">Biggest Disappointment: Lazio </h3>
<p id="AmAqT6">Compared to their previous campaign Lazio had a disappointing season, but one of the main reasons for that speaks to the moment that we are in. COVID-19 hit them harder than most. In March 2020, Serie A was suspended with Lazio just one point behind league leaders Juventus: This season, when we might have expected them to launch a title challenge, they finished 23 points behind champions Inter and 10 points away from the Champions League places. They started this season in striking fashion, beating Borussia Dortmund 3-1 at home in the Champions League, but then <a href="https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20201031-entire-lazio-squad-in-quarantine-after-covid-19-positives">the entire squad was placed in quarantine</a> after several positive tests for the coronavirus. It was difficult to maintain any kind of consistency under such conditions. The club could and should have taken far better precautions at certain points—they allowed three players to attend training after receiving positive coronavirus tests, and they also twice fielded asymptomatic players who should have been isolating. As a result of these breaches of COVID protocols, two of their club doctors were banned for a year, they were fined €150,000 (later increased to €200,000) and <a href="https://www.espn.com/soccer/lazio/story/4346976/coronavirus-lazio-fine-presidentdoctors-banned-over-test-violations">club president Claudio Lotito was banned for seven months</a>—which was <a href="https://www.aa.com.tr/en/sports/lazios-fine-increased-amid-covid-19-protocol-breach/2226184">later increased to a year.</a> When football historians look back over this league table and wonder why Lazio’s performance dropped so dramatically, they should know that many of the problems began beyond the field of play. Given the departure of coach Simone Inzaghi straight after the end of the season, it is anyone’s guess which direction the club will now take. </p>
<h3 id="JRzZA8">Biggest Question This Summer</h3>
<p class="c-end-para" id="XLHQyW">With Massimiliano Allegri returning to Juventus following the dismissal of Andrea Pirlo, the key question seems to be whether they will again become a dominant force in the division. It’s unclear whether Cristiano Ronaldo will return to the club after two seasons in Turin. There is a sense that AC Milan outdid themselves and that Inter Milan may have a drop-off after the departure of Conte: The stage is very possibly set for the Old Lady to reclaim her title. Time will tell whether they and Atalanta, who perhaps lack the squad depth to compete with a newly galvanized Juventus, are innovative enough to resist.</p>
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https://www.theringer.com/2021/5/28/22458382/serie-a-review-romelu-lukaku-inter-milanMusa Okwonga2021-05-28T06:00:00-04:002021-05-28T06:00:00-04:00Ligue 1 Season Review: Good Things Come in Lille Packages
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<p>Paris Saint-Germain’s extravagance fell flat in the face of Lille’s youthful exuberance in an entertaining and unpredictable French title race</p> <p id="0Xr70g">Few would have pegged Lille to stave off Paris Saint-Germain for the League 1 title. Here’s the best from the 2020-21 French season: </p>
<h3 id="phRCpZ">Player of the Year: Burak Yilmaz, Lille </h3>
<p id="LVCDPe">Just as in Spain, where Luis Suárez’s goal on the final day of the season led Atlético Madrid to glory, a veteran gunslinger stepped up when his team needed him most. On the final day of the Ligue 1 calendar, Lille faced Angers, needing a win to claim the championship ahead of Paris Saint-Germain. Leading 1-0, they earned a penalty on the stroke of halftime and Yilmaz, just as he had done all season, provided the decisive flourish. His goal, the last kick of the opening period and his 16th of the season, ended up being the one that won the title. It was the 277th goal of his nomadic and hugely successful career, and there cannot have been many more important than this. Along the road to this triumph, his strikes have ranged from the businesslike to the spectacular—see, for example, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmQ36pO5L2Q">his masterpiece of a free kick</a> in April’s crucial 3-2 win at Lyon—but whatever form his finishing took, it was routinely lethal.</p>
<h3 id="wzi84c">Spirit of the Year: Kevin Volland, Monaco</h3>
<p id="8LhFjH">Defending champion PSG had already lost twice by the time they faced Monaco last November. Their situation only worsened after losing 3-2 in a thrilling, open game. It was one thing to be defeated by a team that did nothing but defend, and another to be beaten by a team that came out to play them. Volland, who scored twice, was one of the architects of PSG’s downfall. His swagger was a defining feature of Monaco’s campaign as they earned France’s final Champions League spot under the revitalized Niko Kovac. His fearlessness was typical of the chasing pack of teams who pursued PSG all season, and his style will rightly grace a European competition a few months from now.</p>
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<h3 id="WqIOYK">Manager of the Year: Christophe Galtier, Lille </h3>
<p id="58KnBl">He left as soon as the season finished, but his work at the club was a chapter completed. When he arrived four years ago, his first task was to rescue Lille from relegation, which he did by a single point; the following season, he took them to second place in the league. This season, he led them to a remarkable triumph. In doing so, he managed a perfect blend of youth and experience—illustrated nowhere better than by his superb forward line of 21-year old Jonathan David and the elder statesman Yilmaz, both of whom were on target in Lille’s title-clinching win. Among others, Galtier also provided room for Renato Sanches, still only 23 but a talent on whom far too many observers had already given up. His man management and tactical nous make him an excellent target for any club with even a reasonable amount of resources. Whoever ends up with him will have made a premium signing.</p>
<h3 id="kHk1HN">Game of the Year: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8gGBfwRaLY">Lorient 3, Paris Saint-Germain 2</a>
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<p id="794Gnv">This game was so instant a classic that they should have been screening it in open-air cinemas straight after the final whistle. It requires an extended look because it was, in many ways, the entire Ligue 1 season in microcosm: Lorient’s approach typified the attitude that teams deployed against PSG, one where they finally lost any fear and attacked the wealthy giants with a rare fury. The first thing Lorient did, signaling their intention to claim territory where they could, was to thrash the ball deep into PSG’s half from kickoff, so that PSG would have to restart the game from near their own corner flag, and so that Lorient could press them aggressively as they did so. The message was clear: Wherever possible, Lorient would not be pushed backward.</p>
<aside id="leefX7"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"La Liga Season Review: Atlético Madrid’s Triumph, Eibar’s Sadness","url":"https://www.theringer.com/2021/5/27/22456910/la-liga-review-atletico-madrid-lionel-messi"},{"title":"Bundesliga Season Review: A Striker for All Seasons","url":"https://www.theringer.com/2021/5/25/22453109/bundesliga-review-robert-lewandowski-goal-record"},{"title":"Man City, Jack Grealish, and Jesse Lingard Headline a Trying EPL Season","url":"https://www.theringer.com/2021/5/24/22450370/english-premier-league-review"}]}'></div></aside><p id="g1wVcT">The numbers in this game tell much of the story. Though PSG dominated possession with 65 percent of the ball, Lorient—who had lost their previous 10 games against the reigning league champions—made their moments count. They broke forward with intensity, winning almost as many corners as PSG—seven to nine—and unlike PSG, they scored all their goals from open play, each of them progressively more thrilling. PSG, for all their riches in attack, had to rely upon two penalties from Neymar—both of which were won at the expense of right-back Houboulang Mendes, who was too often bewildered by the fast footwork of PSG’s superstar forwards—while Kylian Mbappé was kept scoreless. </p>
<p id="IR2R04">Lorient’s first goal came from a common problem for PSG all year: a lack of authority in central defense whenever Marquinhos was missing from the starting lineup. Thilo Kehrer and Presnel Kimpembe failed to clear their lines and Lorient captain Laurent Abergel took gleeful advantage, floating a gorgeous strike beyond the clutches of Sergio Rico. Neymar’s two penalties seemed to have put PSG ahead to stay until Yoane Wissa found the net after a brilliant one-two with 10 minutes left, and with the scores level, Terem Moffi strode forward from his own half to score Lorient’s winner in the 90th minute. It was a shock result in one sense—Lorient’s first victory over PSG in 10 years—but in another sense, it was entirely in keeping with this wild and utterly untameable season.</p>
<h3 id="WAWYtT">Biggest Surprise: Lens</h3>
<p id="OxY6Fh">The newly promoted side, who finished second in Ligue 2’s truncated season last year, came in seventh in Ligue 1, 15 points above Lorient, who had pipped them to the Ligue 2 title last year. Lens set the tone for their Ligue 1 return with a 1-0 victory in their second league game over a much-depleted PSG and at one point looked as if they might even qualify for the Europa Conference League. That they did not may yet prove to be a blessing—the burden of extra fixtures might have placed undue pressure on their squad. One stand-out performer from that squad was Gaël Kakuta, the former prodigy on loan from Amiens who has fought back from the derailment of his career at Chelsea through injury and whose excellent showing this year has apparently attracted the interest of some Premier League teams. At 29 years of age, having scored 11 times in 35 league games, Kakuta still has plenty to offer at the top level in France or elsewhere. </p>
<h3 id="e8caAo">Biggest Disappointment: Marseille</h3>
<p id="FZcvFn">They began the season with confidence and then fell away disastrously with a very poor stretch of games in December and January, during which they lost in the league to Lens, Rennes, Nîmes, and Angers and dropped points in a goalless draw against Dijon, who would end up bottom of the table. That was a grim enough passage of matches, but worse was to follow. André Villas-Boas, who had already stated his desire to leave the club when his contract was up at the end of the season, fell out with the board over its transfer business. He criticized them in a manner so severe and so public that it made his position untenable, and <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/feb/02/andre-villas-boas-offers-to-resign-as-marseille-coach-over-signing-of-ntcham">he was duly sacked</a>. Around the same time, Marseille’s ultras demonstrated their anger with the running of the club by <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/feb/01/violent-marseille-ultras-bring-more-shame-upon-french-football">storming its training ground</a>. </p>
<p id="nXnLUl">Given the surrounding unrest, it is probably unsurprising that Marseille finally found itself in fifth place in the table, a full 16 points behind fourth-placed Lyon. Arkadiusz Milik performed well following his signing on loan from Napoli, getting nine goals in 15 league games, but the team lacked the production it needed elsewhere. This will be a summer of some upheaval, with several departures; most notably, Florian Thauvin, who is going to Mexico to join Tigres. Jorge Sampaoli has plenty of work to do to restore Marseille’s stability and competitive spirit. Thankfully, with his CV, he has as good a chance as anyone. </p>
<h3 id="oZkbdS">Biggest Question This Summer</h3>
<p class="c-end-para" id="FWZNh3">How much of the band can Lille keep together? They have already lost Galtier and their goalkeeper Mike Maignan, with the France international signing a deal with AC Milan to replace the outgoing Gianluigi Donnarumma. Boubakary Soumaré, their brilliant young midfielder, looks to be on his way to Leicester City. The price of footballing success is the vigorous attention of wealthier clubs, and there will doubtless also be a great deal of interest in Sanches, David, and defender Sven Botman. It is sad that the breakup of fine teams seems inevitable, but in at least a couple of cases, it might be good for these players to stay another year at a club where they are more likely to get a good stretch of playing time. From a pragmatic and a romantic point of view, it would be interesting to see what Lille’s youngsters, their confidence freshly fuelled by this victory, could do on the Champions League stage.</p>
https://www.theringer.com/2021/5/28/22457822/ligue-1-review-psg-lilleMusa Okwonga2021-05-27T13:57:08-04:002021-05-27T13:57:08-04:00La Liga Season Review: Atlético Madrid’s Triumph, Eibar’s Sadness
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<p>The closest league title race in years went to Diego Simeone’s side. How will Barcelona and Real Madrid respond?</p> <p id="OQeSsV">The late, great Andrew Weatherall famously had a saying <a href="https://djmag.com/news/andrew-weatherall-s-fail-we-may-sail-we-must-origin-story-uncovered-irish-radio-dj">tattooed across both arms</a>: “fail we may, sail we must.” And while a reference to one of underground music’s most beloved DJs might seem like an odd place to start a La Liga review, I thought of these words often this season, especially when it came to Atlético Madrid. League leaders by 11 points in late January, Atléti allowed Real Madrid, Barcelona, and even Sevilla to close the gap late in the season. At times, it was questionable whether Atléti or anyone else wanted to win the league at all. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">i don’t think anyone actually wants to win la liga</p>— Ryan Hunn (@ryanhunn) <a href="https://twitter.com/ryanhunn/status/1389326517327499266?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 3, 2021</a>
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<p id="ddLlsG">After sailing through the first half of the season and almost failing in the stormy seas of the second, Atléti eventually secured the title—their first since 2014—on the season’s final day, ending one of the closest races in league history. “We’re Atlético,” <a href="https://theathletic.com/2577690/2021/05/22/atletico-won-la-liga-title/?source=user_shared_article">said midfielder Koke</a> after the championship-clinching 2-1 win at Valladolid, “if we do not suffer, we are not ourselves.” Win they may, suffer they must—it was all part of a wonderful season in Spain’s top flight.</p>
<aside id="HEtqQX"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Man City, Jack Grealish, and Jesse Lingard Headline a Trying EPL Season","url":"https://www.theringer.com/2021/5/24/22450370/english-premier-league-review"},{"title":"Bundesliga Season Review: A Striker for All Seasons","url":"https://www.theringer.com/2021/5/25/22453109/bundesliga-review-robert-lewandowski-goal-record"}]}'></div></aside><h3 id="10iMHR">Player of the Year: Lionel Messi, Barcelona</h3>
<p id="ubGSc9">Much like <a href="https://www.theringer.com/2021/5/25/22453109/bundesliga-review-robert-lewandowski-goal-record">Robert Lewandowski in the Bundesliga</a>, it’s hard to look past Lionel Messi for this award. If you looked past him, there were many players in for a shout: Luis Suárez’s 21 goals won crucial points in Atleti’s title triumph, whereas Villareal’s Gerard Moreno and Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema finished behind Messi for the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pichichi_Trophy">Pichichi</a> with 23 goals each. Ten of Moreno’s goals came from the penalty spot, but his overall play and importance to a Villarreal side who had already qualified for next season’s Europa Conference League before winning this season’s Europa League—the first major trophy in club history and one which meant they will compete in the Champions League—put him in consideration for being La Liga’s best Spanish player. Marcos Llorente and Kieran Trippier were integral to Atleti’s title win, and Iago Aspas worked miracles again at his beloved Celta Vigo, but there’s no real choice but Messi.</p>
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<p lang="it" dir="ltr">Lionel Messi is ridiculous. <a href="https://t.co/6yT68ukdF4">pic.twitter.com/6yT68ukdF4</a></p>— Squawka Football (@Squawka) <a href="https://twitter.com/Squawka/status/1396208201947881472?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 22, 2021</a>
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<p id="YaNGGv">Suárez’s departure, injuries to Ansu Fati and Philippe Coutinho, and Barcelona’s continuing failures in the transfer market left even more of the attacking and creative burden to Messi. However, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/sep/04/lionel-messis-father-la-liga-has-made-clear-error-over-700m-buyout-clause">the Argentine put his public dispute with the club behind him</a> and dragged a Barcelona side that lost four of its opening 10 games under new boss Ronald Koeman into title contention late in the season. He dropped into deeper roles to link play even more than in previous years. And although it’s hardly a secret, Messi proved himself not only to be one of the greatest scorers of all time, but also one the greatest passers.</p>
<h3 id="3uS50J">Manager of the Year: Diego Simeone</h3>
<p id="Nmq8WT">It may seem like an obvious choice, but La Liga had so many strong coaching displays this season. Julen Lopetegui guided Sevilla to a club-record point total, Imanol Alguacil led Real Sociedad—left without Martin Odegaard, whose loan spell ended early—to a fifth-place finish and their first Copa del Rey trophy since 1987. Manuel Pellegrini took Real Betis from 15th last season to sixth place and a Europa League spot, whereas Marcelino and Eduardo Coudet worked wonders after taking over at Athletic Bilbao and Celta Vigo, respectively, midseason. Unai Emery, meanwhile, is already a Villarreal legend for overseeing the club’s Europa League win and a seventh-place finish in the league.</p>
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<p id="ZFtZmh"><br>But it has to be <em>El Cholo</em>, because, boy, did he suffer. It must be exhausting managing Atléti and it must be exhausting being Diego Simeone, who prowls the touchline with the chaotically balanced energy of a nuclear reactor, one missed breath away from unleashing Hulk-like rage (much like his assistant <a href="https://youtu.be/JxPiN-A4rOQ">Nelson Vivas did during a match against Boca Juniors</a> as Estudiantes head coach).</p>
<p id="t5neMf">Even though this season’s Atléti side is built less in Simeone’s image than his earlier teams, it’s still a team with his personality imprinted on it. Atléti suffered because Simeone suffered. I’m sure if you asked any of the players, they would say it was worth it.</p>
<h3 id="ulXAwm">Game of the Year: Real Madrid 2, Sevilla 2</h3>
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<p id="MVnyUD">There are a few games that could have won this award: Levante and Barcelona’s <a href="https://youtu.be/5Phg12jGfKw">six-goal thriller</a>, and the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeTQO5DgOXI">best edition of El Clásico</a> in a while, to name just two. Perhaps it’s recency bias, but the 2-2 draw between Real Madrid and Sevilla on Matchday 35 was hard to top.</p>
<p id="HSPC31">After Atléti and Barça had played out a goalless draw the day before, a win for Real Madrid would have taken them top. A win for Sevilla, on the other hand, would have seen them pull within one point of Barcelona and Real Madrid and three points of Atléti. Despite having most of the chances, it took a 67th-minute equalizer from substitute Marco Asensio to pull Real Madrid level at 1-1. </p>
<p id="I1mUxl">Then came the drama. The referee didn’t notice Éder Militão’s handball in the Real Madrid box, and Real charged to the opposite end of the field where Benzema was brought down by Sevilla goalkeeper Yassine Bounou in the box. A penalty appeal for each team in one sequence of play, so to VAR it went. The referee <a href="https://twitter.com/sidlowe/status/1391525950815412227?s=20">stood at the replay monitor</a>, surrounded by both sets of players and staff. It was a momentous call that could have decided the title. Eventually, he awarded the first penalty to Sevilla, the result of Militão’s handball, and Ivan Rakitic coolly scored from the penalty spot. Sevilla were moments from a gigantic 2-1 win, but Toni Kroos’s shot deflected off Eden Hazard’s ankle to salvage a point for Real Madrid, while maintaining the intrigue around who would win the title race.</p>
<h3 id="yaywuG">Biggest Surprise: The Title Race Itself</h3>
<p id="UUWycb">The fact that Atléti raced out to an <a href="https://twitter.com/KebAbbas/status/1396466090151133187?s=20">astounding 50 points in the first half</a> of the season, and with the aforementioned struggles of Barcelona and Real Madrid, it’s a surprise that the title race was as close as it was. In recent years, tight title races usually consisted of Barcelona and Real Madrid, with a single point dropped by either enough to decide the title. Here’s to hoping that future title races make this year’s feel less abnormal.</p>
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<h3 id="WMa4Yg">
<br>Biggest Disappointment: Eibar’s Relegation</h3>
<p id="SLwh0f">Eibar, from Gipuzkoa in the Basque Country and one of the smallest clubs ever to play in Spain’s top flight, were relegated after finishing bottom of the table, ending an improbable seven-season run in the first division. In 2014, <a href="https://www.espn.com/soccer/blog/name/93/post/1842069/headline">they essentially had to crowdfund to ensure their survival</a>, selling shares of the club to raise money to facilitate their promotion from the second tier. They finished in 18th their first season but avoided relegation because Elche was sent down instead for financial irregularities. Eibar has finished no lower than 14th, including a frankly unthinkable ninth-place finish in 2017-18. Last weekend, they posted a thread of <a href="https://twitter.com/SDEibar/status/1396367729888743424">personalized messages on Twitter thanking each club</a> in the league and club president Amaia Gorostiza <a href="https://twitter.com/SDEibar/status/1396777969834762240">said in a press conference</a> that the foundations of the club are stronger than they were eight years ago. “What we all want is to return to the First Division as quickly as possible and we are working on it,” she said. Many would echo her wishes for Eibar to return soon.</p>
<h3 id="r05Wc6">Biggest Question This Summer: Can Atléti Become a Genuine Force?</h3>
<p class="c-end-para" id="6PQ1kA">It’s an obvious but valid question. Atléti have a chance to solidify themselves as the team to beat. They continue to evolve—stylistically and in terms of their mentality—with emerging leaders in Mario Hermoso, Trippier, and Llorente, and <a href="https://www.theringer.com/2021/3/5/22313981/welcome-to-dark-side-joao-felix">João Félix has yet to reach his final form</a>. What’s been so impressive about Atléti this season is that so many players have shared leadership responsibilities. Barcelona and Real Madrid’s financial constraints prevent them from responding as aggressively in the transfer market as they might have in 2014, when Atléti last won the title, meaning it’s all set up for Simeone’s side to become Spain’s dominant team. </p>
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https://www.theringer.com/2021/5/27/22456910/la-liga-review-atletico-madrid-lionel-messiRyan Hunn2021-05-25T13:26:30-04:002021-05-25T13:26:30-04:00Bundesliga Season Review: A Striker for All Seasons
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<p>Robert Lewandowski earned his place in history, while managerial turnover leaves many open questions for teams at the top of the table in Germany</p> <p id="CGcNvG">If you avoided the Bundesliga this season and glanced only at the final table, you would be forgiven for thinking that it had been business as usual. You’d be wrong, but forgiven. Bayern Munich secured a ninth consecutive title, followed by RB Leipzig in second, and Borussia Dortmund in third, but there was so much more to the 2020-21 campaign. </p>
<p id="OKlDbl">The absence of supporters was felt acutely in the Bundesliga, where fan culture is an integral part of what makes the league unique. There were no huge tifos, pyro displays, or protests against the sport’s governing bodies. Eerily empty stadiums left us to imagine what it might have sounded like during Bayern’s 8-0 demolition of Schalke in September, or after Robert Lewandowski’s record-setting goal on Saturday. So, <em>herzlich willkommen</em>, as we take a trip through the Bundesliga season.</p>
<h3 id="LCbWW1">Player of the Year: Robert Lewandowski, Bayern Munich</h3>
<p id="mNc6Rp">It has to be, right? Lewandowski scored his 41st goal of the season in Bayern’s final match, breaking Gerd Müller’s 49-year-old single-season record. It would seem deliberately contrarian to give this award to anyone else, but that doesn’t mean other players aren’t worthy of consideration. </p>
<p id="aJPYmP">Eintracht Frankfurt’s Daichi Kamada and Filip Kostić were a joy to watch. They combined for 26 assists and were integral to one of the best Eintracht sides in years. If not for a slip-up against Schalke in the season’s penultimate match, Eintracht would have qualified for the Champions League, which would have been their first appearance in Europe’s top club competition <a href="https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/52692003">since 1960</a>.</p>
<p id="BgSz00">Other shout-outs go to their teammate André Silva and Borussia Dortmund’s Erling Haaland, whose tallies of 28 and 27 goals, respectively, would’ve been far more newsworthy had it not been for Lewandowski. Elsewhere, Maximilian Arnold enjoyed probably his finest season to date for Wolfsburg, which qualified for their third Champions League in club history; Jadon Sancho’s form for Dortmund since Christmas has been otherworldly; Joshua Kimmich and Thomas Müller had fine seasons at Bayern; but the top honor can go only to Lewandowski.</p>
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<p id="X5WhpG"><br><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUHK5LhXuDQ&ab_channel=Bundesliga">He broke Müller’s legendary 40-goal record</a> in the 90th minute on Saturday, converting a rebound after Leroy Sané’s attempt was saved by Augsburg goalkeeper Rafal Gikiewicz. Lewandowski responded to his scruffy, desperate goal—his 10th attempt in the game, as his teammates were doing their part to help him break the record—with relief as much as joy. His achievement is even more impressive considering he played in just 29 games this season. Bayern rarely reached the fluidity and dominance we’ve grown accustomed to from them—they conceded 44 goals, their highest total since 1995-96—but another title was never really in doubt.</p>
<h3 id="rOu0Qj">Spirit of the Year: Silas Wamangituka, VfB Stuttgart</h3>
<p id="Lw20mS">Rightly crowned the Bundesliga Rookie of the Year, Silas Wamangituka epitomized Stuttgart’s return to the Bundesliga after their one season in the second tier. The 21-year-old Congolese forward was one of Sven Mislintat’s first signings as Stuttgart’s sporting director in 2019, arriving from Ligue 2’s Paris FC.</p>
<p id="IGQaAF">Wamangituka burst onto the Bundesliga scene and took defenders by surprise, much as <em>die Schwaben</em> did this season. Both player and club have been fun to watch, with Wamangituka’s individual highlight being a solo goal against Mainz, when he collected the ball on the edge of his own box and dribbled the length of the field before cutting into the box to score. </p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Silas Wamangituka, OH MY <br><br>This was just magnificent. <a href="https://t.co/bYxU04kS43">pic.twitter.com/bYxU04kS43</a></p>— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) <a href="https://twitter.com/Sportsnet/status/1355268229661253632?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 29, 2021</a>
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<p id="bfuTw5">Wamangituka’s importance to Stuttgart was apparent after he suffered a season-ending ACL injury in March—Stuttgart lost five of their last seven games without him (they lost only eight of their 27 league games with him). A ninth-place finish marks a positive Bundesliga return for Stuttgart, who bore no resemblance to the side that was relegated in 2019.</p>
<aside id="qtVEMF"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Man City, Jack Grealish, and Jesse Lingard Headline a Trying EPL Season","url":"https://www.theringer.com/2021/5/24/22450370/english-premier-league-review"}]}'></div></aside><h3 id="ghEZ24">Manager of the Year: Urs Fischer, Union Berlin</h3>
<p id="RteoyC">Much like the Berlin winters, this decision was tough. The depth of quality coaching in the Bundesliga rivals any league in world soccer and there were many nominees for this honor. Mainz’s Bo Svensson and Borussia Dortmund’s Edin Terzic each took over midseason and have saved their respective clubs from disastrous seasons. Mainz was second from the bottom with six points after 14 games when Svensson, a former Mainz player, took charge. They went on to take 33 points in their remaining 20 games, delivering the best second half to a Bundesliga season in the club’s history, bettering previous Mainz managers like Jürgen Klopp and Thomas Tuchel. Terzić spared Dortmund missing out on the Champions League, and therefore a summer of intense transfer speculation, while delivering a German Cup. It’s a remarkable transformation, given that he was in the stands cheering the team as a fan and scout 10 years ago. Dortmund’s had a rocky season, but Terzić has more than delivered, making Marco Rose’s imminent arrival from Borussia Mönchengladbach a little bit awkward. </p>
<p id="Fg9Ij9">Other notable mentions must go to Oliver Glasner taking Wolfsburg to the Champions League, Christian Streich making Freiburg’s quiet mid-table finish seem normal, and Pellegrino Matarazzo turning Stuttgart into one of this season’s best stories. For those hyping <a href="https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/jesse-marsch-replaces-julian-nagelsmann-as-rb-leipzig-coach-red-bull-salzburg-15651">Jesse Marsch’s Bundesliga arrival next season</a>, don’t forget Matarazzo, the American manager already succeeding in the Bundesliga. </p>
<p id="JJ9HJg">However, the award has to go to Urs Fischer. What he’s done at Union has been <a href="https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/how-union-berlin-went-from-bundesliga-2-to-europe-in-only-2-years-15989">nothing short of extraordinary</a>. The Swiss coach guided Union to the top flight for the first time in their history in his first season in charge in 2018-19. Last season’s 11th-place finish seemed miraculous for the club in Berlin’s Köpenick district, but they did even better this season, finishing seventh and qualifying for European competition for the first time in 20 years.</p>
<p id="zbsVCq">With such success comes harsh realities. Clubs with greater resources than Union struggled domestically while competing in European tournaments—just ask Gladbach—but <em>die Eisernen</em> have been on a textbook fairy tale journey under Fischer. Just two years after entering Germany’s top flight, fans may also be welcoming some of Europe’s legendary clubs to the Stadion An der Alten Försterei next season, just over a decade since <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/soccer-fans-build-stadium-for-east-berlin-cult-club/a-4243189">fans helped renovate it</a>.</p>
<h3 id="53N3cs">Game of the Year: Union Berlin 3, Eintracht Frankfurt 3</h3>
<p id="iYnKSl"><em>“Was für ein Spiel!”</em> yelled the commentator as Eintracht’s André Silva scored his second goal in 10 minutes, tying the game after Robert Andrich and Max Kruse had given Union a 2-0 lead inside six minutes in the German capital. Union entered the game in fifth place, though they benefited from a relatively soft opening schedule. After sharing the points with Eintracht, Union went on to lose to Hertha in the Berlin derby, then picked up five points against Bayern, Stuttgart, and Dortmund. Kruse’s wonderstrike in the final 10 minutes against Eintracht drew another <em>“Was für ein Spiel!”</em> And what a game it was, one that seemed to solidify the belief that Union were for real.</p>
<h3 id="lASWCf">Biggest Surprise: Wolfsburg’s Goal Difference</h3>
<p id="0ctjo3">Yeah, I could have gone for Stuttgart, Union, or the fact that Hertha managed to burn through <a href="https://www.transfermarkt.com/hertha-bsc/alletransfers/verein/44">over $170 million in transfers</a> and four managers in the past two years before asking Pál Dárdai to save them from the drop. He succeeded and celebrated by <a href="https://twitter.com/archiert1/status/1393680763569180673?s=20">smoking a cigar</a> during a television interview. But, let me nerd out a little because it’s time to fire up the Wolfsburg-plus-20-goal-differential air horn for only the second time since they won the league in 2009. </p>
<p id="eUyLrY">This may not seem like such a big deal, but the specter of former coach Dieter Hecking’s brow looms over Wolfsburg much like the <a href="https://global.espn.com/football/vfl-wolfsburg/story/4366356/wolfsburg-are-often-overlooked-in-bundesliga-but-the-wolves-are-hunting-a-champions-league-return">Volkswagen chimneys</a> and another coaching icon, Felix Magath. Hecking oversaw the club’s last foray into the plus-20 GD promised land and it seemed current coach Oliver Glasner—much like Bruno Labbadia and Andries Jonker before him—would fall short of that mark. However, Wolfsburg scored seven goals in their final three games, finishing with a plus-24 GD while qualifying for the Champions League. They’ve been good under Glasner the past two years, but he’s expected to leave the club, leaving many questions ahead of next season for <em>die Wölfe</em>.</p>
<h3 id="sKjToX">Biggest Disappointment: Bayer Leverkusen</h3>
<p id="yiTqJN">Accumulating 28 points from their opening 12 games, Leverkusen faced Bayern on Matchday 13. Patrik Schick gave Leverkusen a 1-0 lead in the 14th minute and everyone looked around to see who would say it first: Would this be the year that the club—having recently sold Kai Havertz to Chelsea—finally gets rid of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neverkusen">that cruel nickname</a>. </p>
<p id="MxVgZ8">Narrator’s voice: No, it would not. Lewandowski equalized before halftime and netted a 93rd-minute winner that derailed Leverkusen’s season. They won two of their next 10 in the league, exited the Europa League after losing both legs against Young Boys, and Peter Bosz was fired after the 3-0 defeat away at Hertha in March. His replacement, Hannes Wolf, managed to steady the ship—Leverkusen lost only to Bayern and Dortmund for the remainder of the season—but finishing 26 points behind Bayern, in sixth position, after such a strong start will go down as a real disappointment for <em>die Werkself</em>. However, Lars Bender <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNFC/status/1396937695511957505?s=20">being allowed to score a penalty</a> before his retirement on the final day of the season did provide a nice moment to the end of a tricky year.</p>
<h3 id="kLJ33E">Biggest Question This Summer: What Will Next Season’s Top Four Look Like?</h3>
<p class="c-end-para" id="iihv1W">If Glasner does leave Wolfsburg, all of this season’s top six will have new managers next season, with Adi Hütter’s move to Gladbach making it seven of the top eight. Another key factor will be player transfers: Bayern expects to have a high turnover, while Dortmund are rumored to be keeping Sancho and Haaland, so next season’s battle at the top of the table could be the most exciting in some time. Let’s hope that it’s accompanied by those tifos and pyro displays from fans we’ve missed so much.</p>
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https://www.theringer.com/2021/5/25/22453109/bundesliga-review-robert-lewandowski-goal-recordRyan Hunn2021-05-24T06:15:00-04:002021-05-24T06:15:00-04:00Man City, Jack Grealish, and Jesse Lingard Headline a Trying EPL Season
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<p>In a title race defined by attrition, Manchester City pulled away from the competition with astonishing precision </p> <p id="zvhgWm">This Premier League season is difficult to review for one main reason: Though it ultimately returned to some form of order, historians will need to understand just how wild it was when looking back. On the surface, the past 12 months have been just like any other recent year in world history: A wealthy club won the league, <em>The Walking Dead</em> embarked on yet another series, and Jeff Bezos got even richer. Beneath that, though, it was all change; given the terrifyingly fast spread of a global pandemic, we were lucky, in some sense, to watch any soccer at all. This was typified when Shakhtar Donetsk found themselves having to play Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League, despite the COVID-related absence of ten first-team players. (<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/oct/21/real-madrid-stunned-in-champions-league-by-covid-hit-shakhtar-donetsk">Somehow, they won.</a>) This review of the 2020-21 Premier League season is therefore written with an asterisk of gratitude to all the players, coaches, and other non-playing staff who did their best to create a spectacle in conditions that were often exceptionally grim.</p>
<h3 id="ZNpHxK">Player of the Year: Rúben Dias, Manchester City</h3>
<p id="APvLeg">It has to be Dias, not because he was the most eye-catching player or out of sympathy for defensive players never truly getting their due, but because, in a season of unprecedented turbulence, he was quietly, magnificently steady. Being an elite center back these days, given the huge amount of ground they are asked to cover, can sometimes look like the sporting equivalent of being sent all by yourself to guard Yellowstone National Park. But Dias didn’t mind that task: He hopped off the plane from Portugal and went to work. Thanks in large part to him, Manchester City conceded less than one goal a game. Thanks to him, the light blue machine moved smoothly from zero to warp speed. His utter dominance of the backline cannot be overstated: At times, Pep Guardiola was able to cram most of his players into the final third of the pitch, knowing that Dias could regulate the play perfectly in the event of an opposition counterattack. What’s more, Guardiola knew that Dias had a range and subtlety of passing that would intimidate most central midfielders (and more than a few attacking ones). </p>
<h3 id="PT0ilV">Spirit of the Year: Jack Grealish, Aston Villa </h3>
<p id="7oU7xh">This award is for the player whose style most embodied the spirit and soul of the season, and that is why it has to be Jack Grealish. He defined 2020-2021. Indeed, there is arguably no one with a more wholesome enjoyment of being a footballer than Grealish. He is half-man, half-calf muscle, his flailing hair barely contained by a band, his mind primed for attacking mischief. As everything we knew about the game was falling apart, collapsing into dust, there was Jack, scampering barefoot through the wreckage. He missed a third of the season with a shin injury, but he had long ago provided perhaps Aston Villa’s signature performance: a masterpiece in a 7-2 win over Liverpool, in which he scored twice, provided three assists, and even nutmegged Virgil van Dijk. </p>
<h3 id="5tZCJM">Manager of the Year: David Moyes, West Ham United</h3>
<p id="t3QZ87">The Premier League is a manager’s league. We probably haven’t seen a depth of talent like the whip-smart minds in charge of teams all the way down the table. This season, amid unusually challenging circumstances, several of them distinguished themselves. Marcelo Bielsa was typically thrilling and strikingly effective at Leeds United. Scott Parker coached far beyond his means at relegated Fulham. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, through shrewd man management and some brave tactical tweaks, has converted many doubters with Manchester United’s second-place finish, especially given their advance to the Europa League final. Dean Smith, before injuries to key players derailed his Aston Villa team, led a joyously irreverent side to an early surge up the table. Brendan Rodgers has been excellent at Leicester City, bringing the best from their superbly recruited playing staff. Given the abundance of resources at Pep Guardiola’s disposal, it is sometimes difficult to assess the quality of his work: Limitless wealth should, in theory, mean that you win the league each year. Yet he has still managed to make his team evolve, and the game along with it. Most managers would not have regularly and successfully fielded İlkay Gündoğan as a central forward ahead of the club’s record goalscorer Sergio Agüero, but Guardiola is not most men. Yet the manager of the year, by a narrow margin, is David Moyes. He was not a wildly popular appointment at West Ham given his failures at Manchester United and Real Sociedad, and he had to contend with a fan base who were increasingly unhappy at the way the club was being run. This season, though, he has thoroughly reasserted his credentials. Under his guidance, Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek have developed an excellent chemistry in midfield, and Michail Antonio has latterly found a brilliant accomplice in the form of a reborn Jesse Lingard. At one point, West Ham even put together a credible run for a Champions League spot—a scenario that was utterly unthinkable at the start of the season. Well done, David Moyes, and welcome back. </p>
<h3 id="1ppb5P">Game of the Year: Liverpool 4, Leeds United 3</h3>
<p id="lVCOji">The game of the year was the very first match of the season, taking place on September 12, 2020: Liverpool 4, Leeds United 3. If we were going to be dramatic, which of course we are, we would argue that this was one of the contests that proved crucial to the destination of the title. Liverpool, who had charged to their first league title in 30 years the previous season, were effectively at full strength, and were six days from signing Thiago Alcântara from Bayern Munich, who had been many observers’ man of the match in the Germans’ Champions League final win over Paris Saint-Germain a few weeks prior. Liverpool had not lost at home in the league since April 2017. They were welcoming Marcelo Bielsa’s newly promoted Leeds United, whose game of astonishing attacking intensity had won over many admirers. Bielsa, in the best possible way, showed Liverpool no respect whatsoever. Jürgen Klopp’s team, famed for their ferocity of their pressing, were introduced to a blizzard of their own as Leeds, resplendent in their all-white kit, turned Anfield into a snowstorm. Each time Liverpool took the lead, Leeds pulled them back: It was 3-2 to the hosts at halftime, and the only thing that made their visitors succumb was Mo Salah’s third and final goal two minutes from the end. Leeds left Anfield with a loss but emerged with a far greater victory: They had shown that the champions were mortal. Before Liverpool had to deal with a horrific run of injuries, they had to contend with the fact that their feared defense—which had been breached only 33 times in 38 league games the previous season—had yielded three goals in just 66 minutes. Without that match, it is doubtful that Aston Villa would have had the audacity to go at Liverpool as they did in their 7-2 win; without that match, Leeds might not have had the springboard they needed for their wonderful season.</p>
<h3 id="Dcpoiv">Biggest Surprise: The Resurgence of Jesse Lingard </h3>
<p id="dzE4yk">By the time Lingard left Manchester United on loan, his reputation as a player had suffered apparently irreparable damage. He spoke <a href="https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/jesse-lingard-man-utd-news-18680225">candidly last year about his mother’s struggles with depression</a> and how it impacted his family and his performances. The statistics from his last three years at Old Trafford were utterly unforgiving. In his previous 79 Premier League games, a player best known as an attacking midfield or wide forward had found the net just 13 times. Yet when he moved to West Ham in January, he was magnificent from the outset, a blur of intelligent movement, linkup play, and goals by the wheelbarrow. Lingard struck nine times in his first 16 matches, and almost led West Ham to a Champions League place. His performance is almost as extraordinary as that of David Moyes, the man managing his comeback. In soccer, as in life, perhaps all that you sometimes need is a change of scene. </p>
<h3 id="Uyzbr4">Biggest Disappointment </h3>
<p id="5v4v4q">There are two main contenders for this: a loud disappointment and a quiet one. The quiet disappointment is probably what happened at Wolverhampton Wanderers. They never fully recovered from the sale of Diogo Jota to Liverpool and the loss of Raúl Jiménez to a terrible head injury in November. Beyond that, though, they were too often underwhelming, lacking penetration in attack and consistent creativity in midfield. It is no surprise that Nuno Espírito Santo paid for this inability to push on from the previous season with his job, though he might argue that he needed better reinforcements. The loud disappointment, though, and the winner of this category, is Tottenham Hotspur. When Spurs defeated Manchester United 6-1 at Old Trafford, there was talk of a title push from José Mourinho’s team. Just months later, so much at Spurs is in disarray: Mourinho has been sacked, and Harry Kane, the Premier League’s leading scorer this season, is eager to leave. This is a disastrous outcome, presided over by Daniel Levy, the club chairman who in his hubris considered Mourinho to be one of the two best coaches in the Premier League. There were many who feared that Mourinho’s abrasive style would see him fail quickly at Spurs, but none of them anticipated the sheer speed of the implosion.</p>
<h3 id="z9DKWd">Biggest Question This Summer</h3>
<p id="QmPR02">What do Manchester City’s rivals do in the transfer market? Liverpool possibly need another central midfielder. Leicester City could do with another attacker. Manchester United could do with a defender, a defensive midfielder, and maybe one more attacker. Chelsea may have to find another central midfielder and a free-scoring no. 9 (unless, of course, Thomas Tuchel brings that quality out of Kai Havertz or Tammy Abraham). City already have a clear run at next season’s title: If these teams do not recruit well, it will become a procession. </p>
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https://www.theringer.com/2021/5/24/22450370/english-premier-league-reviewMusa Okwonga