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Watching McIlroy on a Sunday is easily the most mentally taxing sports viewing experience

Christ

Really lovely stuff

Had fun revisiting the last time Inter visited Barcelona for a CL semi-final, featuring my favourite ever heatmap. Think Mourinho's tactics that night have been slightly over-eulogised since. Barcelona were just really passive and easy to defend against nytimes.com/athletic/63061…

Writing this prompted me to redownload chess.com after years in the wilderness. Will resurface in 6-9 months

Really enjoyed this from Conor (along with the realisation that Eze would cook Alex at chess) nytimes.com/athletic/63439…

Eze, chess, and how his attacks from the flank mirror his game. Some essential pre-FA Cup final reading. Really enjoyed this from Conor O'Neill ⬇️⬇️⬇️

Is the Premier League as entertaining as it used to be? Some lament that we are living through an era of controlled, homogenous football — but, as Conor O'Neill explains, it's not as simple as that.

United have now lost to 12 of this season’s Premier League clubs, their most in a single campaign (h/t Conor O'Neill)

Just an outstanding, outstanding league.

👊 Eze's sucker punch 🧤 Henderson's VAR controversy and penalty save 🤔 Did Guardiola get tactics right? 🏆 What this means for Glasner's team We break down Crystal Palace's first major trophy win 👇 🔗 nytimes.com/athletic/63584…

Great final, but it's not even Eze's most prestigious piece of silverware this season ⬇️

⚽️High wing-backs ⚽️Narrow forwards ⚽️Dovetailing midfielders ⚽️Playing from the back ⚽️Not as much possession as you'd think 🐺What is Vitor Pereira's style with Wolves? A look into it with Conor O'Neill #WWFC The Athletic | Football nytimes.com/athletic/63621…

Betis seemed so close to their dream but reality caught up in the second half Snap analysis with Simon Johnson & Conor O'Neill nytimes.com/athletic/63887…

Long coveted across European football, Florian Wirtz might well be snapped up by Liverpool this summer The good news for those clubs who look likely to miss out is that this summer’s attacking-midfielder market remains stocked with enticing options. 🔗 nytimes.com/athletic/63874…

Fantastic to speak with Rodrigo Muniz last week, a genuinely friendly and insightful young striker. We got into box movement, eye-catching statistics and an interesting choice for his toughest opponent so far… 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 With Mark Carey for The Athletic | Football nytimes.com/athletic/63971…

Bit of a twitter kerfuffle during the week about United targeting xG overperformers. It's a valid concern, but overblown when talking about two players that have posted consistently good underlying numbers anyway. My piece here for The Athletic | Football nytimes.com/athletic/64047…

Talking ‘This is Manchester United Football Club’ with Carl Anka Mark Critchley & Conor O’Neill - inc transfers, Amorim, Brailsford, reshuffling & more. The Athletic | Football #MUFC Listen here 👇 pod.fo/e/2e0a93

Nadal-Fed 08’ for my generation, sensational level for the entirety

🧤 How 'cuts' and designs differ 🧤 Should gloves be damp? 🧤 Training gloves with purposely bad grip 🧤 Issues with sustainability What goes into what keepers wear on their hands? And where does innovation end and superstition begin? Caoimhe O'Neill explores the world of