Trevor Steven: Thomas Tuchel must be brave if Chelsea are to deny Manchester City their Champipons League moment May 27, 2021 Football is about moments and Saturday’s Champions League final against Chelsea feels like it is Manchester City’s. When City hired Pep Guardiola five years ago it was in order to win this competition and they have never had a better chance than this. Saturday’s clash in Porto is their opportunity to make the step up [...]
Europa League final: Why stakes are high for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Manchester United against Villarreal May 25, 2021 By reaching the Europa League final and finishing second in the Premier League, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has delivered the necessary progress to keep his job. But that doesn’t mean that the stakes aren’t high for both Solskjaer and Manchester United when they meet Villarreal in Gdansk on Wednesday night. Like a lot of people, I [...]
Trevor Steven: Steven Gerrard has instilled his winning mentality to reinvigorate Rangers and Scottish football March 8, 2021 I saw it at close quarters when I played opposite Steven Gerrard in a Rangers v Liverpool legends match. The death stare, as Peter Crouch calls it. The fire in his eyes. It was a friendly match, but Gerrard was still clattering into Alex Rae. He is so driven, so hungry. And instilling some of [...]
Trevor Steven: Lampard’s Chelsea had become a runaway train but Tuchel is the perfect man to steer them back to the top January 27, 2021 Chelsea need a manager who can pick up the reins quickly and in Thomas Tuchel I think they’ve got the perfect man. Experience at a big club? Check. Knows how to handle superstars? Check. Able to get a team performing at close to their maximum? Again, check. And that’s all in his last job at [...]
Trevor Steven: It’s time for Manchester United to cut loose and show they deserve to lead the Premier League January 14, 2021 When Liverpool and Manchester United meet it is always a massive fixture for both clubs and their fans. But this Sunday at Anfield the match will have wider significance, due to United and Liverpool being first and second in the Premier League. It’s strange. A few weeks ago, the only discussion around United concerned Ole [...]
Trevor Steven’s heroes and villains of football in 2020 December 24, 2020 From Jack Grealish to Liverpool becoming champions of England again at last, the resurgence of Everton and Leeds to empty stadiums and bad rule changes; football in 2020 may have felt different but it was still eventful. Here, City A.M. football columnist Trevor Steven picks his heroes and villains of this unique year. Greal deal [...]
Trevor Steven: Born again Tottenham are genuine Premier League title contenders December 4, 2020 As Tottenham prepare to host Arsenal this weekend, the north London rivals could hardly be in more contrasting form. Spurs sit top of the Premier League after 10 games, 13 places above their neigbhbours, so the momentum is firmly with them. And I put that down to three main factors: Harry Kane, Gareth Bale and [...]
Trevor Steven: I feel lucky to have shared a pitch with the greatest footballer of all, Diego Maradona November 26, 2020 My initial reaction when I heard about the death of Diego Maradona was real sadness. I think there was a bit of sadness about his existence too. For all of his footballing genius, he often seemed a troubled soul away from the field. Of course it’s all subjective, but I consider Maradona probably the greatest [...]
Trevor Steven: It may have ended in tears but 1990 World Cup was the best time of my career March 17, 2020 Picking a highlight from my playing days is so difficult but – despite it ending in disappointment – for the intensity of the emotions it generated, I would choose the 1990 World Cup. At that time Serie A was the best league and Italy was set up to host a great event. Hooliganism was an [...]
Liverpool’s season is at a pivotal point but return of Jordan Henderson can tip balance in their favour against Atletico Madrid March 10, 2020 I never thought I’d be writing this but Jordan Henderson has been a huge loss to Liverpool during his recent spell on the sidelines and it’s a major boost that he’s fit to face Atletico Madrid on Wednesday night. Henderson hasn’t just been missed for his play. He is the glue in this team, the [...]