1. Sadio Mané may have saved the AFCON final
It all started with the soft foul that wiped out the goal Senegal thought was a winner. Absolute chaos ensued when Morocco were awarded the penalty only a few minutes later. Fans throwing objects and breaking through the advertising boards. Senegal's team leaving the field in protest. Brahim Diaz having his panenka saved once some semblance of order was restored. It was ugly and a bad reflection on just about everyone, except a certain Senegalese star who helped get his team back on the field.
Sadio Mané has always been a class act, and Sunday may have been his finest hour in what is likely his final African Cup of Nations. The refereeing left much to be desired. Fans trying to get onto the field is never acceptable. A manager pulling his players off the field doesn't help either. It should not be Mané’s responsibility to sort this mess out, but he assumed the burden anyway. Everyone associated with this tournament should be immensely grateful for the way Mané conducted himself. A deserving champion if there ever was one.
2. Firing Xabi Alonso doesn’t solve the problem
Real Madrid were really left with no choice but to sack Xabi Alonso. It was only a matter of time once the speculation over his future began. There were too many key players who refused to embrace his ideas and didn't seem to respect him. When a coach loses a locker room like that, they have to go. The issue Real Madrid have is that Alonso did exactly what he was asked to, and the players had very little interest in making any changes to the way they operate.
Alonso’s predecessor didn't win a single trophy in his final season. His successor lost his first game to a team near the bottom of the second division. The club's struggles did not start or end with Alonso. Perhaps trying to get some of the world's most powerful players to change their ways was not even worth the effort. The performances still aren't good enough, though, and that starts with the players. They ultimately got their way like they almost always do. There's nowhere to hide now if they don't start delivering.
3. There is no denying that Manchester United are getting better
Through 22 games this season, Manchester United have scored 38 goals and collected 35 points. They finished last season with 44 goals and 42 points. The Red Devils need just two more league victories to match their total from 2024-25 and have already improved their goal difference by 16. United’s advanced metrics are even better: They rank second in expected goals and third in expected goal difference.
Obviously, the chaos within the club is still there. Saturday’s emphatic Manchester derby win might be the high point of Michael Carrick’s time in charge. Even if it is, it is worth noting that two of the club’s marquee summer signings played crucial roles in the goals and have generally made positive impacts. It’s a low bar, yes, but United have to start somewhere. Progress is being made. Whether it’s enough to do anything more than fight for a Champions League spot when a permanent manager comes in next season remains to be seen. For now, let’s focus on the fact that fifth is a whole lot better than 15th, and the numbers indicate the improvement is real.
4. The NWSL replaced one star with another
Lindsey Heaps coming back to the National Women's Soccer League is a big deal. That she is returning to the U.S. to play for an expansion team in her hometown makes it an even bigger deal. Like the two of the three recent California expansion teams, Denver Summit FC get to start with a U.S. national team star who has deep ties to the city. One, Alex Morgan, worked out extremely well. The other, Christen Press, was derailed by injuries.
Heaps doesn't have to lead Denver to a trophy for her signing to be a massive success. She's probably worth her salary solely from a marketing standpoint. Just as the league was celebrating Heaps’ return, Manchester City signed fellow national team midfielder Sam Coffey from the Portland Thorns. Heaps will be 32 in May. Coffey turned 27 last month. One has a husband in San Diego and nothing left to prove. The other wanted the chance to challenge herself the way Heaps did at Lyon. That sounds like something that would happen in Major League Soccer, not the NWSL. The league is losing the battle to maintain its status as the premier league in the world.
5. Just like that, Crystal Palace are starting from scratch
Crystal Palace beat Manchester City in May and Liverpool in August to win a pair of trophies and secure European qualification. The FA Cup final was only eight months ago. Palace sold their best player shortly after the Community Shield. Now, their manager is leaving at the end of the season – if he lasts that long – and their captain is on his way to Manchester City. Jean-Philippe Mateta and Adam Wharton may very well be gone by the summer too.
Unless they win the Conference League or go on another tear to end the season, they will have no European competition to offer and an uncertain managerial situation. That’s not exactly an appealing combination for players being pursued by multiple Premier League teams. The greatest moment in club history happened in May. It is already beginning to feel like a distant memory.