Wednesday cannon fodder: neutralizing charter kryptonite

Premier League/England

Tottenham struggle for firepower after Donny van de Beek strikes early for Ajax | Football | The Guardian
Ajax have pushed aside Tottenham 1-0 in the Champions League semi-final first leg at Spurs’ new stadium.

Tottenham v Ajax: Nine arrests during Champions League tie - BBC Sport
Nine people are arrested following disorder at Tottenham’s home Champions League game against Ajax in London on Tuesday.

Andy Mitten column: Something is clearly wrong with David de Gea – but dragging contract negotiations are on him | FourFourTwo
Manchester United’s No.1 has suffered a torrid month for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side, and his future is no closer to being resolved.

League One promotion: Luton Town and Barnsley return to Championship for 2019-20 - BBC Sport
Luton Town and Barnsley secure promotion to the Championship after Portsmouth and Sunderland both lost on Tuesday.

The best of Lawro’s Reddit AMA: Robbie Savage, Roy Keane - Planet Football
You can be forgiven for letting this pass you by, but former Liverpool hero Mark Lawrenson is a comedy genius.

Barca ‘respond forcefully’ after sensitive Klopp comments - Football365
Jurgen Klopp touched a Barcelona nerve by suggesting that the Nou Camp is “no temple of football”.

Man United’s Pogba would need to take pay cut at Real Madrid - sources
Paul Pogba will be forced to take a pay cut if he leaves Manchester United for Real Madrid this summer, sources have told ESPN FC.

Virgil van Dijk has no fear of annulling Lionel Messi threat at the Camp Nou | Football | The Guardian
The Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk has no fear of annulling the threat of Lionel Messi.

Arsenal honour founder David Danskin at special graveside ceremony - BBC Sport
Arsenal pay to restore the grave of the man who inspired the club’s formation more than 130 years ago.

Antonio Rudiger: Injured Chelsea defender to miss end of season - BBC Sport
Chelsea’s Antonio Rudiger will miss the end of the season because of a knee injury that forced him off at Manchester United on Sunday.

Manchester United considering Rio Ferdinand for technical director role | Football | The Guardian
Rio Ferdinand is among the candidates being considered for a senior football role at Manchester United.

Report: Bolton takeover talks break down – ProSoccerTalk
Bolton Wanderers are in an even more alarming financial position, after reports of potential owner Laurence Bassini missing a deadline on Monday to provide proof of his financial capital.

Europe

Montpellier 3-2 PSG: French champions suffer third straight away defeat - BBC Sport
Paris St-Germain’s stuttering end to the season continues as they suffer three straight away defeats for the first time since 2010.

Inside Ajax: how to become the world’s greatest talent factory | FourFourTwo
In 2011, we visited Holland to see what’s so special about the Dutch giants’ famous system.

If Barcelona don’t improve, Liverpool will be the kryptonite to their Superman
Barcelona have sleepwalked to the La Liga title, and if they don’t wake up, their Treble dreams will end at the hands of Liverpool.

MLS/Americas

Alejandro Bedoya on lack of charter flights: ‘This is not a Philly issue. This is a league issue.’ | Pro Soccer USA
This is your periodic reminder that MLS clubs, alone in major US sports leagues, fly on regularly scheduled commercial flights to away games.

Will the Canadian Premier League turn the country into a football power? | Football | The Guardian
Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver compete in MLS, but an exclusively Canadian professional league is hoping to boost the national team.

How LGBTQ Fans Are Making Space In American Soccer - Howler Magazine
A look at some of the strides queer fan groups have made in recent years, and some of the challenges they still face.

Other

Ken Early: Football’s new age neutralises philosophies of the past
The game is more collective than ever, yet the players are still judged and criticised as individuals.