Union Berlin appoint first female coach in Europe's top five leagues
Union Berlin have appointed Marie-Louise Eta as the interim head coach until the end of the season, making her the first woman to manage a men’s team in one of Europe’s top five leagues.
Eta succeeds Steffen Baumgart, who was dismissed along with his coaching staff following a 3-1 defeat at FC Heidenheim on Saturday. This result left Union Berlin in 11th place in the Bundesliga with 32 points, positioned in the lower half of the table.
In November 2023, Eta made history by becoming the first female assistant coach in the German top flight with Union Berlin. She later became the first woman to lead a Bundesliga team from the touchline during a 1-0 victory over Darmstadt in January 2024, when then-manager Nenad Bjelica was suspended.
“Given the points gap in the lower half of the table, our place in the Bundesliga is not yet secure,”
“I am delighted the club has entrusted me with this challenging task. One of Union’s strengths has always been, and remains, the ability to pull together in such situations. I am convinced that we will secure the crucial points.”
sport’s Barry Glendenning is running the London Landmarks Half-Marathon this morning to raise funds for the Great Ormond Street Hospital children’s charity. He has already surpassed his original target of £13,100 by more than four times but welcomes further donations ahead of the race, emphasizing the cause’s importance and the motivation it provides.
Tom Garry offers an insightful analysis on the timing of the women’s international break. With the WSL season approaching its climax and improving weather conditions for fans, the 11-day window allowing up to three international fixtures appears to disrupt the momentum of the domestic league.
Jamie Jackson reports from Manchester City, where Pep Guardiola addressed Rayan Cherki’s controversial mid-match shirt swap with an opponent during the FA Cup semi-final run.
Cherki, who impressed during the cup run, briefly wore the shirt of Liverpool’s Hugo Ekitike, a friend, after being substituted late in the game. Guardiola commented on Cherki’s style and potential.
“I think he’s a little bit of a free soul,” said Guardiola. “You have to understand, every player is completely different. He’s one of the most unbelievably talented players I’ve seen. Just in the future, hopefully he can stay [here] for longer, because he has the attributes to be one of the top players. One of his attributes is difficult to find – in difficult moments, with a lot of pressure, he plays like he is in a friendly game.
“So in the future, what will be his behaviour: to stay humble enough, to stay and work for the team?”
Arsenal’s recent struggles and tactical concerns
Despite widespread criticism of Mikel Arteta for perceived negativity, some commentators believe his approach reflects deeper issues within Arsenal’s recent performances.
Yesterday marked Arsenal’s first league defeat since January, and they have now lost three of their last four matches across all competitions.
Concerns have been raised that Arsenal’s recent strategy focuses on avoiding defeat rather than pursuing victory. Critics argue that playing cautiously at home limits scoring opportunities and that a more attacking approach is needed, especially ahead of their Champions League fixture and the upcoming match at the Etihad Stadium.
Failure to adjust tactics could result in a heavy defeat and potentially cost Arsenal the title, handing advantage to Manchester City.
Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma on upcoming challenges
Jamie Jackson spoke with Manchester City’s goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma ahead of their trip to Chelsea.
Donnarumma acknowledged the difficulty of the fixture at Stamford Bridge.
“It’s always going to be a complicated game,” he said. “It will be a difficult because going there to play is never easy. We hope to get a great result because it’s very important for us for the title race.”
City’s victory at Chelsea could allow them to move within three points of Arsenal, with a game in hand. This would place the title race firmly in their hands.
“The destiny [of the title] is no longer in our hands, but we will try to hang on until the end and put pressure on them. These two games for us are important,”Donnarumma added.
Regarding working under Pep Guardiola, Donnarumma shared his perspective.
“I think until you live it, you will never understand. Until you experience him, you can’t understand the importance he has and the effect he has on a team. Sometimes you are shocked, you are enchanted, sometimes to hear him speak, to prepare a game tactically. I am very lucky in my career to be coached by him.”
Arsenal’s matchday review
The focus turns to Arsenal’s recent match at the Emirates Stadium. After a slow start, the Gunners appeared poised to secure a win when Viktor Gyökeres equalised from the penalty spot following Junior Kroupi’s early goal. However, Arsenal’s performance remained flat and lacked creativity.
Alex Scott’s well-executed goal ultimately decided the match, leaving Arsenal with a disappointing result.
Questions arise about Scott’s future, with speculation about potential suitors for the English midfielder during the upcoming summer transfer window.
The defeat was described as a “big punch to the face” and a “painful day” for Arsenal.
“There’s no grey areas,”said an Arsenal representative.
“We need to be very, very, very strong and determined to approach it in a different way than we’ve done today, especially when the game wasn’t going our way. There’s a lot, a lot, a lot on our plate to look at ourselves.”
Sunday’s Premier League outlook
Welcome to Sunday’s matchday live coverage, which promises significant developments in the Premier League, including implications for the relegation battle, Champions League qualification, and the title race.
Attention also turns to the Crystal Palace versus Newcastle fixture, which holds its own importance.
Following West Ham’s emphatic victory on Friday night, the question remains whether Nottingham Forest and Tottenham can respond effectively. Additionally, Aston Villa’s capacity to revive their top five ambitions will be tested.
As always, comprehensive reaction from Saturday’s matches and build-up to today’s fixtures will be provided. Readers are encouraged to share their thoughts and predictions via email.
To begin, Paul MacInnes’s piece from the Emirates offers an in-depth examination of Arsenal’s exposed weaknesses.
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