Your guide to a season of hope

MUMBAI: What will Europe look like now that Lionel Messi has moved from Barcelona to Paris? After a season of battling the pandemic, emerges a new Europe, a new season of football where one team has become the new Galacticos, the team that everyone will want to watch, even before a single home game has been played. Here’s a look at some of the most interesting developments and the things to watch out for in Ligue 1—which started last week—the Premier League, La Liga, and Bundesliga—which will begin this weekend and the Serie A which is set to kick off next weekend. real challenge for them will be how they go about it in the Champions League.

They have a settled and experienced squad now, the defence has been rock solid with Ruben Dias and John Stones leading the way. Their one concern—who replaces Sergio Aguero?

The lack of a proper centre forward hurt them in the Champions League final against Chelsea. Guardiola will be hoping that the Harry Kane deal goes through. crucial as they could hold onto Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, who were rumoured to be on their way out if Liverpool hadn’t qualified for Europe.

Injuries and the lack of backup hurt them last season and it may be a cause of concern this time as well. The good news for them is Virgil van Dijk is back in training along with his defensive partners Joe Gomez and Joel Matip. Considering how frail they were at the back, they have added Ibrahima Konate from RB Leipzig. Other than that, there is not much movement at the transfer market and angst over a quiet summer has been growing at Anfield. But if any manager can rally a squad, it has to be Juergen Klopp.