Football pays its respects, as Chelsea's owners look forward

The Independent’s football newsletter [The Independent]( September 16, 2022 [View in browser](   [The Independent]( [The Independent]( Football pays its respects, as Chelsea's owners look forward The game seeks to put on its best face While the [Premier League made a solid show]( of publicising its measures to mark the Queen’s passing - and that after so much criticism for postponing last week’s games - there were some elements left out of the official statements. Managers will be encouraged to wear suits, and lead out their teams before games, like in the FA Cup finals of old. This has led to quips within clubs of who will risk wearing a tracksuit and what kind of response they’ll get for it. Liverpool miss Mane, but he's not yet a hit at Bayern For all the focus on Darwin Nunez’s struggles, and reputable reports that he has provoked discussion among Liverpool’s hierarchy, his predecessor isn’t doing much better. Sadio Mane has been the subject of a lot of debate at Bayern Munich, and the source of a fair few questions at Julian Nagelsmann’s press conference following the 2-0 win over Barcelona. The coach made one conspicuous comment when he spoke of how Mane “put a lot” into his time at Liverpool. Was there an implication that is relevant to Jurgen Klopp’s struggles this season, that many of his longer-serving players are now feeling the effect of playing at that intensity for so long? Boehly's most important comment overlooked While Todd Boehly’s comments about an [All Star game generated](so many headlines, far more relevant to the future of the game was his broaching of Chelsea starting yet another multi-club approach. This is one other element that has evolved in the game without much discussion or elaboration, and yet is starting to transform it. Deloitte’s last financial report estimated that there are over 70 multi-club projects in the game, which is more than double the 28 of even five years ago. The most famous of those are City Football Group, Red Bull and the Pozzos but the idea has taken hold. It is a situation that provokes a number of discussions, that football hasn’t really dealt with at all. Is this actually good for the club’s involved? What does it do for identity? Is it just servicing the super clubs? Many in the game are now wondering whether this will be the only way for other clubs to survive, to almost be “minor league” teams. Should Uefa be more proactive about this? As ever with football, it has been too slow to react. By the time it does so - as with state takeovers - too many have happened for proper regulation to be in place. Some in the game weren’t as resistant to Boehly’s headline plan, though. A few figures have pointed out how it makes more sense from a sports science point of view than far-flung pre-season tours. Chelsea making inroads on another pursuit Chelsea are meanwhile starting to get to the latter stages of their search for a director of football. Among the names the Independent has been told they have approached are Real Madrid’s Juni Calafat and Red Bull’s Christoph Freund. The timing, with the club wanting a figure installed for the start of the World Cup, almost certainly rules out Michael Edwards. Seagulls willing to fly further than most The latest name that Brighton have looked at is Palmeiras’ Abel Ferreira, one of the most highly rated coaches in South America. He has already won a Copa Libertadores, and is generally praised for his emotional connection to his players, and how that amplifies his tactical approach. This is also one unintended consequence of football’s prevaricating over gestures of respect towards the Queen. It means Brighton will not play for a month, which has greatly lessened the time pressure to appoint a new manager. They can be even more studious than they usually are.   Top stories [Wolves turn to ‘animal’ Diego Costa for some much-needed bite]( [Improving Everton search for more tangible proof of progress](   Karl's Dispatches As worrying as Bayern Munich’s domination of the Bundesliga is, and as much as they look the ultimate Super Club, what is striking about a trip to the Allianz Arena is that you wouldn’t guess it from their raucous fanbase. They are far from spoiled, or just passive consumers. You can see why they protested against Bayern’s deals with Qatar from their match behaviour. On Tuesday, against Barcelona, the ultras even protested how other clubs’ supporters had been treated by the late movement of European games due to the Queen’s funeral. It is genuinely admirable stuff, and matched by the superb atmosphere. They never stop. It is almost a pity that so many Bayern home games are processions - if not yet this season - because they are also proper football occasions.     QUOTE OF THE WEEK "Ultimately I hope the Premier League takes a little bit of a lesson from American sports, and really starts to figure out, why don’t we do a tournament with the bottom four sports teams, why isn’t there an All-Star game?" New Chelsea owner Todd Boehly sparks a few days of debate   Reading the game quiz Reading the game quiz Out of England’s 15 World Cup appearances, only seven of the final squads featured players that didn’t at that point play in the country. Name the tournaments that this was the case for, and the 11 foreign-based players picked. Note: Scottish-based players are included. ([You can find out the answers here](. The answer page will be updated weekly and contains answers from previous newsletters, too)   INDYBEST /BEST SPORTS BUY]( 8 best foam rollers to help speed up exercise recovery Pushing for the burn? These accessories will help you limber up and ease sore muscles [Click here for our reviews](   Essential reading Liverpool trend underlines Manchester United’s malaise in reminder to past glory [Women’s Super League preview: Can growth off the pitch be followed by another close title race?](   [How the Premier League tied itself in knots over the Queen’s death](   OTHER NEWSLETTERS YOU MIGHT LIKE [Sports Brief] Sports Brief Every Monday, 6pm (UK time) Written by Ben Burrows [Join now]( [Fantasy Football] Fantasy Football Every Thursday, 6pm (UK time) Written by Mark Critchley [Join now]( If you can spare a minute we’d love your [feedback]( on our newsletters. 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