1. José Mourinho got one more magical moment
To the degree that a manager of his stature and charisma can, José Mourinho has largely been out of the spotlight since winning the inaugural Conference League with Roma in 2022. He spent last season at Fenerbahçe and was sacked by the club in August. Mourinho then returned to Benfica, and it has not gone particularly well. A loss to Real Madrid on Wednesday may have led to his dismissal. Instead, the game produced one of the most extraordinary series of events in recent Champions League memory.
Mourinho didn't know until the final seconds of the game that his team needed a fourth goal to reach the knockout stage. Thinking they had done enough with Marseille losing 3-0, Benfica are wasting time whenever they could. Now aware of the situation, they get one last set piece opportunity. Goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin rises to head the ball into the net. Mourinho gets his team to the playoff round, kicks former employer Real Madrid out of an automatic qualification spot and gives to former nemesis Pep Guardiola, all at the same time. It was vintage Mourinho, and now he gets to face Los Blancos again in the playoff round.
2. Mauricio Pochettino didn’t help anyone with his comments
All Tim Weah did was repeat what everyone else was already saying: World Cup tickets are “too expensive.” Mauricio Pochettino’s response was to say it was “not [Weah’s] duty” to discuss ticket prices because “we are not politicians.” Pochettino added that “if FIFA does something or takes some decision, they know why.” Exactly. FIFA knows precisely what it’s doing and why it’s doing it. That’s the problem.
This is the same manager who’s complained about the lack of attendance at U.S. men’s national team games in the past. If he wants fans to show up this summer, he should absolutely care about the cost. There is also no getting around the political context of this World Cup, no matter how hard he may try to avoid it. Pochettino doesn’t need to be giving his opinion about everything, but it will not end well if he keeps trying to prevent his players from sharing theirs.
3. Bodø/Glimt deserve their flowers
Through five Champions League matchdays, Bodø/Glimt had two points with seven goals scored and 11 conceded. Remaining on their schedule were trips to Borussia Dortmund and Atlético Madrid plus a visit from Manchester City. Only a handful of clubs in the world – and certainly not one from the Arctic Circle – could have reasonably expected to get through that three-game stretch without losing at least once.
Bodø/Glimt picked up seven points while outscoring their opponents 7-4 to sneak into the playoff round. All told, they faced six clubs from top-five leagues and came out with a positive goal difference in those games. Their reward is a meeting with last season’s runner-up, Inter Milan. Even if they get blown out by the Italian giants, simply advancing is a remarkable accomplishment. Just don't be so sure that's going to happen.
4. Timo Werner is an interesting test case for MLS
Once upon a time, Timo Werner produced 36 goal involvements in a Bundesliga season. He is still just 29 years old and hasn't scored a goal since Oct. 30, 2024. His move to Chelsea was a disaster and his stint at Tottenham wasn't much better. Even returning to RB Leipzig didn't help rejuvenate his career. There were only so many options left, which is how Werner ended up joining the San Jose Earthquakes. This is not one final payday in a less demanding league. It is an attempt to find himself again.
Major League Soccer has never had a situation quite like Werner’s. He is a big name but not a big brand. His stock has never been lower. In theory, he is an ideal fit for the high-intensity style of MLS. The German international should have every opportunity to rebuild his confidence by feasting on flawed defenses. If he does, he might get one last opportunity to play at an elite level in Europe. He could also stick around and help boost the league's credibility. However it plays out, it is a fascinating experiment.
5. Some notable names are back in MLS
When the Columbus Crew signed Diego Rossi, they weren’t just getting a really good player. They were getting someone who knew the league and all its quirks. That prior knowledge is particularly valuable in MLS because of its geography and unique structure. Two teams in Texas – Austin FC and the Houston Dynamo – are hoping that they can also benefit from welcoming high-level players back into the league.
Facundo Torres is Orlando City’s all-time leading goalscorer and has 53 goal involvements in 95 career regular-season appearances. Austin should be extremely confident Torres will be just as good if not better. The Dynamo have also been busy, adding former LAFC winger Mateusz Bogusz – who scored 20 goals across all competitions for the club in 2024 – and re-signing former captain Héctor Herrera. These returners have become one of the storylines of the MLS offseason.