Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell jogs onto the field during pregame introductions, setting the tone as players follow and the crowd builds energy ahead of kickoff Oct 20, 2024, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota, before a divisional matchup against the Detroit Lions with preparation and urgency shaping the moment. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images.
Believe it or not, although the Minnesota Vikings’ offseason has not been stuffed to the gills with constant action, the last few months have brought quite a few surprises. So, we ranked them.
Minnesota’s offseason has featured more curveballs than expected, with surprises on the roster, staff, and front office.
The draft is less than three weeks away, and it’s time to recap the offseason to date.
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Several Unforeseen Moves Have Reshaped Minnesota’s 2026 Outlook
Ranking the Vikings’ offseason surprises from bottom to top (No. 1 = top offseason surprise).
Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores addresses the media during training camp, discussing defensive philosophy and roster progress July 25, 2024, at TCO Performance Center in Eagan, Minnesota. Flores continues shaping Minnesota’s defense after taking over in 2023, emphasizing aggression and adaptability heading into another season. Mandatory Credit: YouTube
5. No Head Coach Love for Brian Flores
In 2025, the Vikings’ defense ranked third in the NFL per EPA/Play and DVOA. In 2024, the same unit checked in at No. 2. Overall, Flores has fostered the league’s second-best defense overall since arriving in the Twin Cities three years ago. The guy deserves another head coach opportunity.
In January and February, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens came knocking for Flores, interviewing him for the vacant head coaching job.
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Flores did not land either position. For a week or so, it felt like Flores would take the bait and depart from an esteemed franchise like PIT or BAL. Instead, those organizations picked other candidates, and Flores is back in Minnesota for Year No. 4.
4. No Starting Center Signed
Ryan Kelly, a four-time Pro Bowler, retired from the NFL after one year with the Vikings. Minnesota would need a replacement starting center, right? Nope.
These men were available, and the Vikings signed none:
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Tyler Linderbaum (LV)
Elgton Jenkins (CLE)
Tyler Biadasz (LAC)
Cade Mays (DET)
Luke Fortner (CAR)
Lloyd Cushenberry III (BUF)
Instead, it sounds like Minnesota will promote jack-of-all-trades offensive lineman Blake Brandel to the starting center spot, and draft a center somewhere in the draft’s middle rounds.
3. Letting Jonathan Greenard Trade Smoke Become a Thing
In early March, ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweeted that Greenard was available for trade, wanting a contract extension and hoping to earn more than his current $19 million per year salary. After all, Micah Parsons and Aidan Hutchinson earn over $45 million per season, and they play Greenard’s position.
Since the Schefter tweet, the Greenard trade smoke has cooled, but that doesn’t mean he’s off the trade block.
The Vikings will claim to be playoff hopefuls in 2026, and trading top-tier EDGE rushers is usually the last thing a serious team does; in fact, the NFL’s best teams go out of their way to add pass rushers.
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ESPN’s Kevin Seifert on the latest Greenard trade fodder: “The Vikings made other moves to trim nearly $50 million from their 2026 cap total, but Greenard’s $19 million salary for this season sits in a tier below the league’s top pass rushers.”
“Until an adjustment occurs, a trade is possible if the Vikings are intrigued enough by an offer. Otherwise, the Vikings want Greenard to be part of a dynamic group of outside linebackers that includes veteran Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner, a 2024 first-round draft pick.”
2. The Kyler Murray Dream Came True
Back in December, websites like this one published articles outlining how much Murray might cost in a trade — because surely the Arizona Cardinals wouldn’t let Murray leave for nothing and pay for him to play elsewhere.
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What happened? The Cardinals let Murray leave for nothing and are paying for him to play elsewhere — for the Minnesota Vikings.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray drops back to pass during second-quarter action, scanning the field against Houston’s defense Nov 19, 2023, at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. Murray showcased mobility and arm strength while leading Arizona’s offense in a competitive matchup against the Texans. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports
From the moment Arizona “softly benched” Murray in November, it felt like the Vikings could have a shot at landing him in the 2026 offseason. Arizona later released him, and it just became a foregone conclusion that Murray would sign with the Vikings. He didn’t really entertain any alternatives.
In Minnesota, Murray has a chance to forge a Drew Brees-like path in 2026 — become the long-term starter after his previous team didn’t want him.
1. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah Fired
The Seattle Seahawks won the NFC Championship on January 25th, a club led by Sam Darnold. The Vikings let Darnold leave in free agency seven months prior. Seattle won the Super Bowl with the Vikings’ quarterback while the Vikings missed the playoffs altogether.
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Someone had to pay, evidently.
Meanwhile, Adofo-Mensah hit on about 15%-25% of his draft selections from 2022 to 2025, a mark that was as embarrassing as it was shocking. It would be hard for you to pick worse players while drafting from your living room couch.
Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah watches from the sideline during a college football matchup, observing prospects and game flow Oct 7, 2023, at Huntington Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. His presence reflects ongoing scouting efforts as he evaluates talent and shapes Minnesota’s roster-building strategy. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images
So, on January 30th, five days after Darnold and Co. won the NFC title game, the Vikings’ ownership put its foot down and canned Adofo-Mensah. The move was only stunning because of the timing; most teams make front office changes in early- or mid-January, not in the final days of the month.
Adofo-Mensah lasted four offseasons, and the timing of his removal shocked Vikings fans.
Here’s to hoping the draft classes can now fetch decent players.
Apr 4, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Jonathan Aranda (8) hits a two run double against the Minnesota Twins in the second inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images
Jonathan Aranda and Yandy Diaz drove in two runs apiece, and the Tampa Bay Rays cruised to a 7-1 win over the Minnesota Twins on Saturday night in Minneapolis.
Ben Williamson and Hunter Feduccia added one RBI apiece for the Rays, who evened the three-game series at one win apiece with the rubber match set for Sunday. Cedric Mullins and Chandler Simpson finished with two hits apiece.
Brooks Lee drove in the lone run for Minnesota. The Twins managed only three hits, none of which went for extra bases.
Rays left-hander Steven Matz (2-0) allowed one run on two hits in six innings. He walked two and struck out eight.
Twins right-hander Mick Abel (0-2) surrendered four runs on six hits in four innings. He walked three and struck out three before giving way to the bullpen.
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The Rays jumped to a 2-0 lead in the top of the second as Abel struggled early with his command. He hit Richie Palacios with a pitch to load the bases, and then he plunked Diaz to bring in the first run. Aranda ripped a two-run double in the next at-bat to make it 3-0.
Matt Wallner led off the bottom of the second with a single and scored later in the inning on an error after Lee’s single to center. That cut the Twins’ deficit to 3-1.
The Rays added a run in the third to go ahead 4-1. Mullins led off the inning with a bunt single before stealing second, advancing to third on a single by Simpson and scoring on a double-play groundout by Williamson.
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In the fifth, Tampa Bay scored two more runs to increase its lead to 6-1. Williamson ripped an RBI single to score Mullins, and Feduccia hit an RBI single to right to score Williamson.
Diaz added an RBI triple in the eighth to increase the Rays’ lead to 7-1. It was his first triple of the season and the eighth of his 10-year career.
Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma played some mind games with Delhi Capitals during an Indian Premier League 2026 match between the sides at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi, on Saturday. The incident took place on the fifth ball of the ninth over of the MI innings. DC spinner Kuldeep Yadav bowled a delivery down the leg side, and Rohit tried to play a sweep shot. The MI batter missed the ball, and wicketkeeper KL Rahul collected it behind the stumps. While Kuldeep and Rahul felt Rohit had nicked the ball, the umpire thought otherwise.
What made things interesting was Rohit’s reaction. The MI batter started walking off, hinting that he had nicked the ball. This might have prompted Kuldeep and Rahul to go for a DRS, and it turned out to be a wrong move. As the decision went upstairs, UltraEdge confirmed that Rohit didn’t get any bat on it, and the ball had in fact come off his pad.
After the match Rohit opened up on his tactical bluff, saying: “I know Kuldeep pretty well, likes to take the DRS. So, yeah, I was just trying a little bit of luck there. But again, I got out pretty much in the next over. I couldn’t carry on. I wanted to take the game as deep as possible, but couldn’t do so. But yeah, a little bit of fun there with the guys out there. I was just trying to be, I was just trying to walk there. So, I know Kuldeep, he likes to take the DRS as soon as there is a 50-50 chances. So I was just trying my luck there. It turned out in our favour, but like I said, I got out in the next over. Wanted to bat deep, but couldn’t do so.”
Mumbai Indians lost the game to Delhi Capitals by six wickets. Batting first, MI posted a below-par total of 162/6 and had a good start with the ball, but Sameer Rizvi’s sensational knock guided DC home in 18.1 overs. Rizvi scored 90 off 51 balls with the help of seven fours and as many sixes.
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Chelsea reached the FA Cup semi-finals in style with a convincing 7-0 win over Port Vale, easing the pressure on manager Liam Rosenior.
Chelsea were in control from the start against the League One side, with six different players scoring and an own goal from Jordan Lawrence-Gabriel adding to the tally.
The hosts were already 3-0 up at half-time. Jorrel Hato opened the scoring early on, before Joao Pedro added a second. Lawrence-Gabriel then turned the ball into his own net just before the break.
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Chelsea continued their dominance in the second half. Tosin Adarabioyo made it four with a powerful header, while Andrey Santos, Willian Estevao, and Alejandro Garnacho all got on the scoresheet to complete the rout.
It had been a difficult period for Rosenior, with his team losing four matches in a row before this game. Midfielder Enzo Fernandez was also absent after being suspended by the club following comments about wanting to live in Madrid.
Chelsea made a perfect start, scoring after just over a minute when Hato finished from a corner. Pedro doubled the lead midway through the first half after good work on the wing, and the third goal came late in the half after a save led to the ball going in off Lawrence-Gabriel.
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There was no let-up after the break, as Chelsea kept attacking and added more goals to seal an easy victory and a place in the semi-finals.
Two bidders are in contention to acquire the combined commercial rights of the Indian Super League (ISL) and Federation Cup with one of them offering more than Rs 2100 crore for a 20-year period after the All India Football Federation (AIFF) opened the bids on Friday.
FanCode and Genius Sports submitted bids for the commercial rights relating to the ISL and the Federation Cup (or the Super Cup), while Capri Sports placed bids for the commercial rights of the Indian Women’s League first division and the Indian Women’s League 2.
It is learnt that Genius Sports, the official data feed provider for the English Premier League, the Championship, and the Scottish league, made a bid of Rs 2129 crore over 20 years.
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FanCode’s bid amount was approximately Rs 1190 crore, nearly half that of the London-headquartered Genius Sports.
Capri Sports is the lone bidder for the commercial rights of the Indian Women’s League first division and the Indian Women’s League 2. They have made a bid of Rs 150 crore over 20 years, it is learnt.
“The AIFF opened the bids for the Request for Proposal (RFP) for Commercial Rights Relating to Competitions and Properties Owned by AIFF. Rights for the Indian Super League (ISL), Federation Cup (formerly Super Cup), the Indian Women’s League (IWL), and the IWL 2 were bid on,” the AIFF said in a statement.
“Bids were received from three organisations. FanCode and Genius Sports submitted bids for the commercial rights relating to the Indian Super League and the Federation Cup (or the Super Cup). Meanwhile, Capri Sports placed bids for the commercial rights of the Indian Women’s League and the Indian Women’s League 2.
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“The bids have been submitted for a 15-year term with a provision for an additional five-year extension, with the bidder having the right of first refusal. The proposal also includes a five per cent increase in value every year over the duration of the agreement.”
The bid evaluation report will be placed before the AIFF Executive Committee, which will meet on Sunday. A decision is expected on the same day.
AIFF Deputy General Secretary M. Satyanarayan rubbished reports of Genius Sports being connected with betting and bookmaking.
“Genius Sport is not a betting company. They are a data and statistics provider. They work with FIFA, AFC and over 100 clubs,” Satyanarayan told PTI.
On March 2, the AIFF invited bids for the commercial rights of both men’s and women’s club competitions for a period of 15 years minimum starting with the 2026-2027 season.
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The AIFF has offered two packages for bidding pertaining to men’s and women’s club competitions.
Package A consists of Indian Super League (or seniormost men’s league) and Federation Cup (or seniormost cup competition). Package B comprises Indian Women’s League (IWL) and IWL 2, and at the bidder’s option, Women’s Federation Cup — which is likely to be introduced later on.
The bids for the commercial rights of the recently rechristened Indian Football League (earlier I-League) were not included in the latest Request for Proposal (RFP).
However, unlike in the past, the RFP was not made publicly available. Instead, interested parties will have to purchase the document for Rs 2.5 lakh from the AIFF.
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The latest tender process came against the backdrop of prolonged uncertainty surrounding the start of the ongoing ISL season which began on February 14 in a truncated format.
The start of 2025-2026 ISL was delayed by around five months after crisis hit the country’s football after the national federation and its previous commercial partner FSDL failed to renew the Master Rights Agreement (MRA) beyond December 8 last year.
A tender was floated by the AIFF for the selection of a new commercial partner under the supervision of a Supreme Court-appointed committee, but it found no takers.
But, after the intervention of the sports minister and following some tough negotiations, all the 14 clubs confirmed participation in the truncated ISL with 91 matches set to be played on home and away basis.
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The ISL clubs would share 60 per cent of the financial cost (around Rs 1 crore per club) for the 2025-26 season of the league, while the AIFF’s contribution would be around Rs 9 crore. The total cost for the 2025-25 season has been pegged at around Rs 24 crore.
On January 18, the AIFF issued the Request for Proposal (RFP) document for broadcast rights relating to the truncated ISL.
The AIFF, on February 2, awarded the exclusive global broadcast rights of the truncated ISL 2025-26 to FanCode for Rs 8.62 crore.
Kaleidoscope Production and Services (KPS Studios) was awarded the production rights of the league — global as well as domestic.
Chennai Super Kings’ Matt Henry and teammates (ANI Photo)
Chennai Super Kings head into a crucial clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Sunday, looking to bounce back after a disappointing five-wicket loss to Punjab Kings at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. Despite posting 209 on the board, powered by a fluent 73 off 43 balls from Ayush Mhatre, CSK failed to defend the total as Punjab chased it down with eight balls remaining. Shreyas Iyer led the charge with a composed fifty, while early fireworks from Priyanshu Arya (39 off 11) set the tone for the chase. Following the defeat, Ravichandran Ashwin called for patience from fans, urging them not to target the younger players. “My request to CSK fans is, please do not slam any player. Support each and every one of them,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel. “Being a fan of a team isn’t just about winning. The five titles CSK have won is a legacy, but the youngsters shouldn’t be burdened with the weight of it,” he explained. “The burden shouldn’t fall on Ayush Mhatre or Urvil Patel. They have to go out and play with joy. They willl learn and couple of years down the line, the side will become invincible again,” he revealed. CSK’s innings had begun with Sanju Samson and Ruturaj Gaikwad opening, but Samson’s struggles continued as he fell cheaply once again. Mhatre then steadied things alongside Gaikwad, racing to a 29-ball fifty and taking CSK past 100 inside 10 overs before Yuzvendra Chahal removed the skipper for 28. Mhatre carried on before being dismissed by Vijaykumar Vyshak, who also climbed to the top of the Purple Cap standings. However, the bigger concern for CSK remains their bowling unit. Across two matches, they have leaked 338 runs in just 30.5 overs while taking only seven wickets. Even their spinners, Noor Ahmad and Rahul Chahar, were expensive against Punjab, conceding 84 runs in eight overs without the challenge of dew. The pace attack of Matt Henry, Khaleel Ahmed and Anshul Kamboj has also struggled to make an impact. Things do not get easier for CSK as they now face a confident RCB side that looks far more balanced than in previous seasons. Led by Virat Kohli at the top, RCB’s batting unit appears settled, with Devdutt Padikkal rediscovering form through a blistering 26-ball 61 in their previous outing and skipper Rajat Patidar anchoring the middle order effectively. RCB’s bowling, once considered their weak link, has shown significant improvement. In the absence of Josh Hazlewood, Jacob Duffy impressed with a three-wicket haul, using sharp short-pitched deliveries to trouble opposition batters. The team may also consider bringing in left-arm pacer Mangesh Yadav in place of Abhinandan Singh. Meanwhile, Krunal Pandya and Suyash Sharma have provided control in the middle overs. For CSK, much will depend on Samson rediscovering form quickly. With scores of 6 and 7 so far, the T20 World Cup winner has not provided the strong starts expected of him. A clash against RCB could be the perfect stage for a turnaround, but unless their bowling unit improves significantly, CSK face an uphill battle against an in-form Bengaluru side.
Haaland scored a hat-trick as Manchester City beat Liverpool 4-0 in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Saturday
Erling Haaland received an X-rated message from one of his Manchester City teammates following his hat-trick against Liverpool. The Norwegian striker added yet another match ball to his remarkable collection as Pep Guardiola’s side tore apart the Reds 4-0 to secure their place in the FA Cup semi-final.
Despite a lively opening from Arne Slot’s outfit, they fell apart against the Carabao Cup holders as the Dutchman’s troubles mounted with pressure growing considerably. For City, they became the first team through to the last four at Wembley later this month, with Antoine Semenyo also getting on the scoresheet in the victory over Liverpool.
Reflecting on the match, Haaland said: “This club has to win trophies on the biggest stage. It’s been some time since I have done it [scored a hat-trick] for City. It is special so I am super happy.”
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For the Norwegian, he has rediscovered his scoring form at precisely the right moment, with City locked in a Premier League title battle with Arsenal.
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Guardiola got the better of his former protégé, Mikel Arteta, on the eve of the international break as City defeated Arsenal 2-0 to clinch another Carabao Cup triumph. City trail the league leaders by nine points heading into next weekend’s fixtures as the Premier League resumes. They travel to Chelsea on April 12 (4.30pm) with Liam Rosenior hoping his team can build on their 7-0 victory over Port Vale in the FA Cup quarter-finals.
Arsenal resume their campaign following their clash with Championship outfit Southampton with a journey to Sporting CP in the Champions League. After their quarter-final meeting with Viktor Gyokeres’ previous club, they welcome Bournemouth on April 11 (12.30pm).
Pep Lijnders heaped praise on the City star following their triumph over his old side. The City assistant said: “I worked with a lot of good strikers, with a lot of goals, with a lot of finals and trophies.
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“Erling scored the 12th hat-trick today for Man City and the second goal was insane.
“He weighed the attack, he flies, the way he puts the ball into the corner. I love these old-school striker goals.
“I am not saying he carries Norway, but we all know how important he is for them, he feels that responsibility.
“It is clear then that not everything throughout a long season will go your way, but it shows character again and mentality that he comes back in this fashion.”
Paul Onuachu scored his first goal against Galatasaray as Trabzonspor claimed a 2-1 win in the Turkish Super Lig on Saturday evening.
Onuachu gave Trabzonspor an early lead, marking a personal milestone for the Nigerian forward, who had previously failed to score against Galatasaray. His goal also emphasised his importance to the team this season, bringing his league tally to 22 goals and keeping him among the top scorers in Turkey.
Galatasaray equalised in the second half, creating a tense finish. However, Chibuike Nwaiwu restored Trabzonspor’s lead with his third league goal of the season, assisted by Anthony Nwakaeme. Nwakaeme’s creative delivery proved decisive in the match.
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The combined efforts of Onuachu, Nwaiwu, and Nwakaeme secured the victory and all three points for Trabzonspor in a closely fought contest.
Stephen A. Smith is waiting for the NFL draft to happen later this month, so he is giving his take on college basketball’s latest controversy.
On Friday, the University of Connecticut Huskies lost 48-62 against the University of South Carolina Gamecocks in the Final Four of the NCAA women’s basketball tournament. After the game, Huskies head coach Geno Auriemma had a verbal confrontation with Gamecocks counterpart Dawn Staley.
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Minutes later, he posted this apology on social media:
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“It’s unlike what I do and what our standard is here at Connecticut. I want to apologize to the staff and the team at South Carolina. It was uncalled for in how I reacted. The story should be how well South Carolina played, and I don’t want my actions to detract from that.”
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There was a great amount of blowback from fans, but Smith urged them to move on:
Stephen A. Smith quashes rumor surrounding Molly Qerim’s departure from “First Take”
For years, Stephen A. Smith has been considered the face of ESPN’s flagship program “First Take”. One of only a few other people who would be considered for that pedestal is Molly Qerim, who was its host from 2015 to September 2025.
At the time of her departure, there was much speculation that her working relationship with Smith had worsened in the buildup to the decision. However, Smith dismissed such notions when speaking on Wednesday’s episode of Brandon Tierney’s “Unleashed” podcast:
“I miss Molly because I love (her) as a person and as a friend. I know what kind of a person she is, so because of that I don’t look at her as just as a host, I don’t look at her as just a colleague. We worked together for 10 years. Nobody is ever going to come say something negative to me about (her). I will always support her because it’s beyond the professional.”
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As of October 2025, “First Take” is hosted by Shae Cornette.
The Gunners have not won the Premier League for 22 years and have finished in second place for three successive seasons.
The Carabao Cup final was Arsenal’s first chance to win a major trophy for six years.
And after losing to City and now being knocked out of the FA Cup by a lower league team for the first time since 2021-22 – a third round loss to Nottingham Forest – the Gunners need to ensure these defeats do not turn into a slump in form.
“They have to not let the season run away from them,” former Arsenal and Southampton forward Theo Walcott told BBC Sport.
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“Everything they have built this season, don’t let it affect them. They have been in this situation before and they don’t want to relive that.”
Mikel Arteta has consistently spoken about everyone at the club’s desire to win but with the end of the season approaching, games running out, and a £250m spend in the summer, the pressure is at an all-time high.
Walcott said he noticed a “nervous energy” on the touchline at St Mary’s that has been seen before in recent years.
“Visually watching Mikel on the sidelines, it was elements of previous years where that energy reflected into the team,” he said.
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“It was very tense. Not just Mikel but a lot of the staff were out there at times. It was like too many cooks in the kitchen, too many messages.”
It was a poor Arsenal performance by the high standards they have set throughout the season.
And despite dominating possession, having 23 shots and levelling the game in the 68th minute, the Gunners never really looked like they would go onto win.
“I love my players. What they have done for nine months. I’m not going to criticise them because we lost a game here in the manner that they tried,” Arteta said.
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“And the way they are putting their bodies through everything. Some of them probably didn’t even have to be here. I’m not going to do that. I’m going to defend them more than ever.
“Someone has to take responsibility. That’s me and we have the most beautiful period of the season ahead of us.
“In the season, you always have moments. Normally two or three. This is the first moment that we have.
“So stand up, make yourself comfortable and deliver like we’ve been doing all season.”
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The Gunners boss was then asked how he can prevent this form rolling into the rest of the season and derailing their Champions League and Premier League campaigns.
“Giving them [the players] clarity, giving more conviction, trusting our players, believing in what we are doing,” Arteta said.
“And continue to do that with the tweaks that every game demands.
“But especially maintaining the speed, the attitude and the energy at the highest possible level. Because that’s critical to perform at the level that we need to win matches.”
The Indian Super League clubs on Saturday urged the All India Football Federation (AIFF) not to take any “binding decision” on the new long-term commercial rights holder during Sunday’s executive committee meeting, citing a lack of meaningful opportunity to evaluate the bidders.
The ISL clubs have been embroiled in a conflict with the AIFF, with recent developments focusing on the commercial rights tender.
Two bidders are in contention to acquire the combined commercial rights of the ISL and Federation Cup, with one of them offering more than Rs 2100 crore for a 20-year period after the AIFF opened the bids on Friday, and the national federation is expected to get its new commercial partner by Sunday, when it meets for an executive committee meeting.
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The clubs, though, said in a joint statement they “cannot be expected to arrive at a considered view” on the competing bidders without being “afforded a more meaningful opportunity” to assess them in substance while also pointing out that they were not part of the drafting process.
“As you are aware, the clubs were not part of the drafting process of the RFQ (Request for Quotation) and were only provided access to the relevant documents less than 12 hours prior to the bids being opened.
“In those circumstances, any expectation that the clubs should now immediately indicate a preference between the bidders would, with respect, be both premature and inconsistent with the seriousness of the decision at hand,” the ISL clubs said in the statement.
FanCode and Genius Sports submitted bids for the commercial rights relating to the ISL and the Federation Cup (or the Super Cup), while Capri Sports placed bids for the commercial rights of the Indian Women’s League first division and the Indian Women’s League 2.
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“This is not a routine commercial appointment. The party selected through this process will have a material bearing on the structure, commercial direction and long-term future of Indian football.
“A decision of this nature must be informed not merely by the fact of a bid having been submitted, but by a proper understanding of the respective bidders’ business plans, revenue generation models, cost structures, operational capabilities, strategic assumptions and overall vision for the property.”
It is learnt that Genius Sports, the official data feed provider for the English Premier League, the Championship, and the Scottish league, made a bid of Rs 2129 crore over 20 years.
FanCode’s bid amount was approximately Rs 1190 crore, nearly half that of the London-headquartered Genius Sports.
The clubs further wrote in the letter, “We would therefore request that the AIFF facilitate separate presentations and discussions for the clubs with each of the two bidders, namely Genius Sports and FanCode, so that the clubs may hear directly from them and properly evaluate their respective approaches.
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“Following that, the clubs should be given reasonable time to deliberate internally, including with our respective owners and key stakeholders, so that any view expressed is informed, responsible and, ideally, reflective of a collective position on the RFQ process and the bidders.”.
The clubs added, “We are also aware that an Executive Committee meeting is scheduled for tomorrow. In that regard, we would strongly urge that no binding decision be taken at that meeting..
“Doing so, before the clubs have had a proper opportunity to understand the bidders and deliberate amongst themselves, would not be in keeping with the spirit of inclusiveness and collective decision-making that we have all repeatedly spoken about and sought to uphold.
“This request is not being made to delay matters unnecessarily, nor to create difficulty, but simply to ensure that a decision of such long-term significance is taken in a manner that is fair, inclusive and worthy of the game’s future.
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“We trust the AIFF will appreciate the importance of allowing this process the time and consideration it properly requires, and we would be grateful if the necessary interactions with both bidders could be arranged at the earliest.”.
On March 2, the AIFF invited bids for the commercial rights of both men’s and women’s club competitions for a period of 15 years minimum starting with the 2026-2027 season.
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