Onside/Offside: Breaking Down the Biggest Soccer Headlines
Welcome to a new season of Onside/Offside! Luis Miguel Echegaray dives into the latest soccer buzz, from jaw-dropping performances to under-the-radar games, and what’s coming up next. This week, we explore the striking similarities between Liverpool’s Arne Slot and Man City’s Pep Guardiola ahead of their massive showdown, preview the MLS Conference finals, and dissect Mohamed Salah’s contract drama. Let’s get into it!
Onside
Liverpool vs. Man City: Slot and Guardiola Are Two Sides of the Same Coin
Sun Tzu’s famous line from “The Art of War” feels tailor-made for soccer: “Know thy enemy and know yourself; in a hundred battles, you will never be defeated.” It’s a mantra that resonates deeply in the world of football, where understanding your opponent’s strengths and weaknesses is just as critical as knowing your own. This philosophy is why the best managers don’t just teach tactics—they instill a deep understanding of the game in their players. And this weekend, we’ll see two masters of this craft go head-to-head: Liverpool’s Arne Slot and Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola.
As Liverpool and Man City prepare to clash for the first time this season in the league, it’s worth noting how eerily similar these two managers are. Sure, Guardiola’s resume is unmatched, and his legacy is already cemented. But when you strip it down, Slot and Guardiola share a lot more in common than you might think. Both are former midfielders, both are obsessed with the finer details of the game, and both have a knack for building teams that dominate through control and pace.
Slot himself has acknowledged this comparison. Back in 2023, he told Dutch football magazine Voetbal International, “I certainly don’t want to compare myself to Pep, but he is a control freak just like me. If I look at myself, I try to win a match in the week before it is played, by conveying the training, pre-match team talks, and tactics to the players as perfectly as possible.”
Guardiola’s obsession with detail is legendary. Former Man City player Gaël Clichy once said, “Pep is all about the details. However you want to play—no matter your ideas, your vision, your love for a certain way of playing—details will take you there.” This relentless focus on preparation and repetition is a hallmark of Guardiola’s success, and it’s a trait Slot has clearly adopted.
Then there’s the way their teams play. Slot’s Feyenoord, much like Liverpool, emphasized building from the back, pressing aggressively when possession is lost, and operating in a 4-3-3 formation. Sound familiar? It’s textbook Guardiola. Slot has even admitted to showing his players clips of Man City during training sessions, particularly focusing on their pressing game.
But perhaps the most striking similarity is their shared emphasis on pace and control. Liverpool, currently leading the table, isn’t relying on Jurgen Klopp’s signature “heavy metal football.” Instead, they’re controlling games with a calm, methodical rhythm—eerily reminiscent of Guardiola’s Man City at their peak. Meanwhile, City has struggled to maintain that same level of control, as evidenced by their midweek performance against Feyenoord.
So, when these two teams face off on Sunday, remember: you’re not just watching a game. You’re witnessing two sides of the same coin. The only difference? Right now, one side is shining a little brighter.
MLS Conference Finals: The Final Four Showdown
As we gear up for the MLS Conference finals, the playoff picture is as unpredictable as ever. Only one of the top six Supporters’ Shield contenders remains, proving once again that MLS is a tale of two seasons: the regular season and the playoffs. Let’s break down the matchups.
- East: Orlando City SC has made history by reaching their first-ever Eastern Conference final. Led by Uruguayan star Facundo Torres, who became the club’s all-time leading scorer this season, Orlando is on a mission to claim their first MLS Cup. They’ll face the New York Red Bulls, who thrive as underdogs and have already taken down defending champions Columbus Crew and local rivals NYCFC.
- West: The LA Galaxy are back in the spotlight, reaching the Western Conference final for the first time in a decade. With offensive firepower from Dejan Joveljic, Joseph Paintsil, and Gabriel Pec, plus the creative genius of Riqui Puig, the Galaxy are a force to be reckoned with. But standing in their way are the Seattle Sounders, a team known for their resilience and hunger. Manager Brian Schmetzer summed it up best: “We never quit. We never give up.”
Who will emerge victorious? One thing’s for sure: the MLS Cup will go to the team that wants it the most.
Offside
Mohamed Salah’s Contract Drama: What’s Next?
After Liverpool’s 3-2 win over Southampton, Mohamed Salah dropped a bombshell about his expiring contract, which is set to run out next summer. “Well, we are almost in December and I haven’t received any offers yet to stay in the club, [so] I’m probably more out than in,” Salah said.
His comments sparked a wave of reactions, including criticism from former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher. “I must say I am very disappointed with Mo Salah,” Carragher said on Sky Sports. “If he keeps putting comments out, his agent puts out cryptic messages, that is selfish. That is thinking about themselves and not the football club.”
Manager Arne Slot, however, downplayed the drama, saying, “I don’t think it distracts Mo. I think it brings the best out of him.” While reports suggest that talks between Salah and the club are positive, the uncertainty surrounding his future—and that of teammates Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk—continues to loom large.
The clock is ticking for Liverpool’s owners to secure new deals for these key players. Until then, the speculation will only intensify.
Final Word
In a heartwarming moment, Lionel Messi’s eldest son, Thiago, donned the No. 10 jersey for Inter Miami’s U-13 team in a youth tournament hosted by Newell’s Old Boys in Rosario, Argentina. Playing on the same pitches where his father’s legendary journey began, Thiago stood in front of a TIFO of Messi lifting the World Cup—a poignant reminder of the family’s incredible legacy.
Originally Written by: Luis Miguel Echegaray
