Each week, Luis Miguel Echegaray discusses the latest from the soccer world, including standout performances, what you might have missed and what to keep an eye on in the coming days.

ONSIDE

Pep Guardiola’s genius

On Wednesday, Manchester City delivered one of the most scintillating performances from an English team in this history of European competition. Pep Guardiola’s side dismantled Real Madrid — the most successful club of this tournament with 14 titles. They were that good. Fifteen minutes had gone and not a single Real Madrid player had entered City’s half with the ball. In that timeframe, Madrid had only made 13 passes. The goals arrived as easy as the breeze and City’s 4-0 victory (5-1 in aggregate) could have been much more. It wasn’t a victory, it was a parade: one that sealed their place in the final against Inter Milan on June 10 while they continue the hunt for the treble with the Premier League title and FA Cup final against Manchester United within their reach.

– Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.)

It was Pep Guardiola’s 100th Champions League win, joining Man United legend Sir Alex Ferguson and last night’s opposing manager, Carlo Ancelotti. It only took him 160 matches to do it.

That’s how we begin this week’s column, by paying homage to one of the greatest footballing minds the game has ever seen. At Barcelona, Johan Cruyff coached Guardiola into becoming one of the best decision-makers in the world and that instinct never left him. Guardiola thinks of the pitch as a chess board where the way to achieve victory is by knowing where to be on the board. Passing, in his world, must have meaning. But it’s not only chess. Football to him is the game of risk, where conquest is achieved by strategic overloading.

“In all team sports, the secret is to overload one side of the pitch so that the opponent must tilt its own defense to cope,” said Guardiola in a 2017 interview with the Daily Telegraph.

That’s how he wins, by dominating so much of the game, that the opponent has no choice but to surrender. Here’s to Guardiola, a living legend of the game.

Have the United States found their star striker in Folarin Balogun?

Brooklyn-born Flo! This is a great get for the USMNT and let me tell you why. At 21 years old, Balogun is fifth in Ligue 1’s scoring charts with 19 goals for Reims. Take into consideration that he has achieved this in his first season in the league and with a midtable team (Reims are currently 11th in the league). With all due respect, it’s not like he has Kylian Mbappe or Dimitri Payet next to him.

Balogun was born in New York City to Nigerian parents but moved to England when he was two, so he had choices when it came to national representation. England has a massive pecking order of strikers and you have to feel for Nigeria, as there could have been an opportunity alongside the mesmerizing Victor Osimhen, but in the end, this is the right move.

The USMNT have still not found their star striker since Jozy Altidore and those in contention are inconsistent. The Americans only scored three goals in last year’s World Cup, one by a striker (Haji Wright). Balogun, a great finisher with both feet, is now a promising project for the squad. The most important factor now lies in his own club future as the loan deal at Reims will finish this season and he will return to Arsenal. Is he good enough for Mikel Arteta’s squad? If he goes on loan, should he aim for a different league? Big questions lie ahead. For now, the USMNT can celebrate that the talent within the No. 9 position has elevated.

Are Mauricio Pochettino and Chelsea a good fit?

This is Chelsea owner Todd Boehly’s best decision yet. There are so many things about Pochettino’s pending move to Chelsea that I like, and with support, the former PSG manager can get the best out of this squad, who are desperately in need of an identity. Chelsea have a large squad but many are also young and eager to play, carrying attributes that compliment Pochettino’s philosophy. The likes of Reece James, Enzo Fernandez and Mykhailo Mudryk are some names that could benefit from the Argentinian’s do-or-die pressing mentality and commitment to defending from high areas.

The other component is experience. This is going to be Pochettino’s third club in the Premier League after managing Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur, so he knows what he’s coming to. His time at PSG will also have helped him deal with big personalities. It won’t be a walk in the park, though, and I’m sure tough decisions in terms of squad reduction will have to be made, but overall, I think this could be a fruitful relationship. Chelsea need a fighter as a manager, so they can turn into fighters themselves. Pochettino is that man.

USL announces pro league in U.S.

The women’s game continues to grow in the United States as the USL Super League made some big announcements this week. Owned by the USL, the Super League is scheduled to debut in 2024 and has officially applied for Division I status, making it a direct rival to the NWSL. Eight markets will take part in their inaugural season, with more to come. Other cities will join in 2025, pending on their project’s final work. One of them is Jacksonville, Florida, as Heisman Trophy winner and former Florida Gator quarterback Tim Tebow joins as a prospective owner.

This is great news for the women’s game in America for a few reasons. One, it creates more opportunity for undiscovered and emerging talent in cities across the country. Two, competition with the NWSL is a good thing as it will push both leagues to be the best version of themselves. All in all, as long as quality meets demand, the growth of the women’s game — especially in a World Cup year — is a great thing to see.

OFFSIDE

How can players and coaches protect themselves from pitch invaders?

On Saturday, Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe was physically confronted by a Leeds fan during their 2-2 result at Elland Road. The following day, Barcelona players were chased off the pitch by Espanyol fans after celebrating their title win. In January, Aaron Ramsdale was kicked by a Spurs fan who entered the perimeter barrier. Last season, when Man City dramatically won the league, a fan attacked Aston Villa’s goalkeeper Robin Olsen. Weeks before in the same year, Sheffield United’s Billy Sharp was assaulted by Robert Briggs, a Nottingham Forest fan, after an EFL Championship playoff semifinal. The incidents go on and it seems the PFA has had enough as it seeks legal advice to see how far players can go when defending themselves.

It’s a disgrace that this continues and the blame is shared. Stadiums? Are you doing enough to protect the players and staff as well as establishing a strict set of guidelines on what won’t be tolerated? Should alcohol be banned? Do we need higher barriers around the pitch? Closed-door matches if it continues? Some of these might be drastic measures but we continue to see a point of no return and unless clubs do a better job at enforcing better security and stricter protocols, then it can only get worse.

Attending a football match is a privilege and most importantly, it’s meant to represent the best of a sporting community. Let’s do a better job at eradicating anyone who threatens these ideals.

Who’s joining Southampton for the drop?

The Premier League relegation telenovela is coming to an end soon and at this point, I have no idea what’s going to happen. Let’s take a look at the scenarios. Nottingham Forest are in 16th place with 34 points (three from the danger zone) and with two matches remaining, you would think that one more victory should do it. However, their goal difference is not great. At minus-31, it’s significantly worse than anyone else below them, so the Tricky Trees might need more than just a win. Their remaining schedule is also not a friendly one. At home to Arsenal and away at a confident Crystal Palace is going to test Steve Cooper’s side.

Then there’s Everton (17th with 32 points) who one day beat Brighton 5-1 and get schooled by Man City 3-0 the next. The Toffees might have the best shot as matches against Wolves and Bournemouth are winnable. That leaves Leeds United (18th with 31 points) and Leicester City (19th with 30 points). Leeds have to travel to West Ham before a final home game against Tottenham, while Dean Smith’s Foxes have Newcastle United as well as the Hammers on the final day.

So you can see my dilemma. Do you go with form to decide who goes down? Difficulty of schedule? Goal differential? Okay, you want a prediction? I think Leeds United escape this one and it’s Forest who join Leicester City and Southampton in the Championship next season. If I’m wrong, you can hardly blame me given the twists and turns of the English top flight.

Can anyone stop Manchester City?

Now that Manchester City have booked their place in the Champions League final, the next proverbial land for them to conquer is the Premier League. A win against Chelsea (or an Arsenal loss against Nottingham Forest on Saturday) will hand Guardiola’s side the league for a third straight season, their seventh overall. After that, it’s a chance for the historic treble as they’ll face Manchester United in the FA Cup final.

City are on a 23-game unbeaten streak in all competitions and still on an upward trajectory. So my question is: Can anyone stop them? You can’t have this conversation without the charges of alleged financial breaches. Whatever the outcome and whether you’re a die-hard apologist or a detester of the club, the fact remains that murkier storylines will surface.

But right now they are almost invincible and Mikel Arteta or Jurgen Klopp would tell you that in order to beat them, your team must achieve perfection with a deep, healthy squad. Otherwise Man City — who will guarantee at least 90 points every season — will have your number.

I don’t have the answer on how to stop Man City, and I don’t think I’m alone.

Tweet of the week

Let me get this straight. 2026, the largest World Cup ever, hosted by three nations (U.S., Canada and Mexico), in a continent with a sea of multiculturalism and nationalities, ready to fully celebrate this sport as the world’s game, and FIFA goes with a plain, white, chunky “26” with the trophy as the logo.

*sarcastic slow clap begins*