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  Trusting and developing youth players could be seen by many football fans as one of the most virtuous, pride-evoking and exciting aspects of the sport in the modern era. In an age of sportswashing, petrodollars and multi-club ownership, seeing young players progress through academies and into first-team squads brings an almost forgotten sense of tradition to the beautiful game. Differences Across Europe Analysis of Europe's top 10 leagues (the big five plus the top tiers in Netherlands, Portugal, Belgium, Turkey and Czech Republic) reveals significant differences in approaches to young talent. Turkish Süper Lig occupies the lowest position with an average of only 5.6% of minutes played by players under 22 during the 17 analyzed seasons. The lowest recorded proportion in a single season was 2.7%. This isn't surprising, as the Turkish league has long been attractive to experienced players at the end of their careers. At the opposite end of the spectrum, the Dutch Eredivis...

  Arsenal are continuing to strengthen their squad, and the signing of Cristhian Mosquera from Valencia should push their other defenders to be even better. How do you improve the best defence in the Premier League? That was the question facing Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta as he headed into this summer transfer window. For each of the last two seasons, Arsenal have had easily the best defensive record, conceding at least 15 goals fewer than any other team (63). It's not really the most obvious area to try and improve, then, is it? But Arsenal finished second in both of those seasons and the one before that, and haven't won a single trophy in that time. Eight other Premier League teams have won something of note in that period. The Problem with Backup Players One problem – if that's what you can call it – in Arsenal's defence is that the drop-off in quality from the first-choice centre-backs to the second string is too great. That's always going to be a bit of ...

  Valencia CF - Sevilla FC April 11th, 2025 A clash between two traditional Spanish clubs will be offered on Friday evening at the Mestalla stadium. Valencia and Sevilla will conclude the 31st round of LaLiga with a match that could have historical overtones. If the match ends in a draw, Los Che would record three consecutive draws against the Andalusian club for the first time in history. Valencia has had difficulties against Sevilla recently. Of the last 11 mutual league matches, they have managed to win only once (5 draws, 5 losses), in August 2023 under the leadership of Rubén Baraja with a result of 2-1. The last two duels ended in a draw, and after January's 1-1 draw at the Nervión stadium, Valencia could draw with this opponent in both matches of one season for the fifth time in history, the first time since the 1992/93 season, when Guus Hiddink and Carlos Salvador Bilardo sat on the teams' benches. Sevilla has been feeling at home at the Mestalla stadium in recent ...