Sid Lowe
Verified- Sports Columnist, The Guardian
- Writer, Freelance
- Co-Host, The Spanish Football Podcast (Podcast)
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Articles by Sid Lowe
‘I expect more': Lisandro Martínez hits out at Manchester United hierarchy
Lisandro Martínez has hit out at the Manchester United hierarchy, blaming the lack of investment as their dismal start to the season continued. Goals from Pablo Barrios and Ademola Lookman pushed United to a 2-0 defeat at Atlético Madrid, and the Argentina defender described that as a “mirror” of the way the club are. “Tonight it is easy to say the coach, easy to say the players but also we have to see other areas,” he said, pointing upwards.
Barrios strikes after 53 seconds as Atlético pile misery on 10-man Manchester United
Michael Carrick had seen it in his players, he said, but no one else can. Not so far in the Premier League, where they have suffered their worst start in 40 years , and not here in Madrid, where Manchester United's head coach insisted they would embrace the challenge. The reaction was coming, he promised; he had looked at them and was sure of it.
‘I expect more’: Lisandro Martínez hits out at Manchester United hierarchy
Lisandro Martínez came out with some fierce criticism of Manchester United after defeat in Madrid. Photograph: PSNEWZ/SIPA/Shutterstock Lisandro Martínez has hit out at the Manchester United hierarchy, blaming the lack of investment as their dismal start to the season continued. Goals from Pablo Barrios and Ademola Lookman pushed United to a 2-0 defeat at Atlético Madrid, and the Argentina defender described that as a “mirror” of the way the club are.
Barrios strikes after 53 seconds as Atlético pile misery on 10-man Manchester United
Michael Carrick had seen it in his players, he said, but no one else can. Not so far this season, where they have suffered their worst start in 40 years, and not here in Madrid where Manchester United's manager insisted that they would embrace the challenge. The reaction was coming, he said; he was sure of it. Instead, they were a goal down after just 53 seconds and another defeat did. That early opener from Pablo Barrios and a second from Ademola Lookman late on meant a 2-0 defeat.
Barrios strikes after 53 seconds as Atlético pile misery on 10-man Manchester United
Pablo Barrios (No 8) celebrates after firing Atlético Madrid ahead inside the first minute. Photograph: Juanjo Martin/EPA Michael Carrick had seen it in his players, he said, but no one else can. Not so far this season, where they have suffered their worst start in 40 years, and not here in Madrid where Manchester United’s manager insisted that they would embrace the challenge. The reaction was coming, he said; he was sure of it.
Barrios strikes after 53 seconds as Atlético pile misery on 10-man Manchester United
Michael Carrick had seen it in his players, he said, but no one else can. Not so far this season, where they have suffered their worst start in 40 years, and not here in Madrid where Manchester United’s manager insisted that they would embrace the challenge. The reaction was coming, he said; he was sure of it. Instead, they were a goal down after just 53 seconds and another defeat did. That early opener from Pablo Barrios and a second from Ademola Lookman late on meant a 2-0 defeat.
Barrios strikes after 53 seconds as Atlético pile misery on 10-man Manchester United
Barrios strikes after 53 seconds as Atlético pile misery on 10-man Manchester United Pablo Barrios (No 8) celebrates after firing Atlético Madrid ahead inside the first minute. Photograph: Juanjo Martin/EPA Michael Carrick had seen it in his players, he said, but no one else can. Not so far this season, where they have suffered their worst start in 40 years, and not here in Madrid where Manchester United's manager insisted that they would embrace the challenge.
Carrick promises Manchester United will come out fighting after sticky start
Manchester United have endured their worst league start in 40 years but Michael Carrick insists he is “loving it”. United arrived in Madrid without Kobbie Mainoo and Luke Shaw, who both picked up knocks in the draw against Tottenham at the weekend, and with the coach admitting that his team are in “a spot”, but he vowed that they would “come out fighting”.
‘No negativity’: Carrick still confident at Manchester United despite ‘sticky’ start
Michael Carrick takes training on Monday before Manchester United flew to Madrid. Photograph: Martin Rickett/PA Manchester United have endured their worst league start in 40 years but Michael Carrick insists he is “loving it”. United arrived in Madrid without Kobbie Mainoo and Luke Shaw, who both picked up knocks in the draw against Tottenham at the weekend, and with the coach admitting that his team are in “a spot”, but he vowed that they would “come out fighting”.
‘No negativity’: Carrick still confident at Manchester United despite ‘sticky’ start Original
‘No negativity’: Carrick still confident at Manchester United despite ‘sticky’ start Michael Carrick takes training on Monday before Manchester United flew to Madrid. Photograph: Martin Rickett/PA Manchester United have endured their worst league start in 40 years but Michael Carrick insists he is "loving it".
Grounded: Rayo Vallecano’s paper planes bring club’s crisis into the open
Fans of Rayo Vallecano throw paper planes in protest against their club’s chair, Raúl Martín Presa during the match against Athletic Club, which was eventually abondoned. Photograph: Ángel Pérez Meca/AFP7/Shutterstock It took 147 days for Rayo Vallecano to walk out for a competitive game on the Avenida de Albufera and 24 minutes and 56 seconds for them to walk off again.
Grounded: Rayo Vallecano’s paper planes bring club’s crisis into the open Original
Grounded: Rayo Vallecano’s paper planes bring club’s crisis into the open Fans of Rayo Vallecano throw paper planes in protest against their club's chair, Raúl Martín Presa during the match against Athletic Club, which was eventually abondoned. Photograph: Ángel Pérez Meca/AFP7/Shutterstock It took 147 days for Rayo Vallecano to walk out for a competitive game on the Avenida de Albufera and 24 minutes and 56 seconds for them to walk off again.
Czechia's Santi Denia: ‘Anthony Gordon? What a player! He's at the same level as Lamine Yamal'
At the end of a 2-0 defeat by England in Prague, the Czechia coach turned left, walked along the touchline, shook Thomas Tuchel's hand and said something he thinks he had never said at full-time: “See you soon.” To which Tuchel said back: “See you soon.” Seven days later, via Oviedo and Rijeka respectively, they meet again, at Wembley.
Lamine Yamal stars again as Spain see off Czechia and maintain perfect start
Lamine Yamal says he feels like Superman or Spider-Man sometimes, and Spain's fans are starting to wonder if he just might be. There is something comic book hero about what the teenager is doing right now, some unexplained super power swelling inside him.
How Aston Villa boss Unai Emery rescued Real Unión, his 'family' club, from ruin
IRUN, Spain -- "One of the things I most remember are the telegrams," Aston Villa manager Unai Emery says. Emery was 11 years old when his grandfather Antonio died at age 76. Messengers began appearing at the family home in Hondarribia, the tiny, pretty Basque town on the Spanish side of the border with France. He had heard some of the stories, but that was what stayed with him: a measure of the man, the pride the family felt, the ties that bind.
Lamine Yamal: ‘Football is mechanised but players like me have that special spark’
Like the kid he is, Lamine Yamal just wanted to keep playing. This wasn’t Plaça Joan XXIII, wasn’t El Parque de Rocafonda either; it wasn’t the Mataró neighbourhood where it all began, but it might have been. “We’re in a World Cup final and I wanted to carry on,” he says, and there’s the smile again, the braces. Really? “Yes”. No nerves? “No. I never thought: ‘Just blow the whistle’.
De la Fuente brings insatiable Spain to England knowing World Cup is not enough
“I'm going to tell you a story,” Luis de la Fuente said. “As soon as the game finished on 19 July, before anyone had cooled down at all, just two or three minutes after the final, one of the players – and you'll have to forgive me for not telling you which one, but it was one of those who has been with us for the longest time – came up to me and said: ‘ Mister , now what?
De la Fuente: ‘What we did at the World Cup is not enough to keep us winning’
De la Fuente: ‘What we did at the World Cup is not enough to keep us winning’
Raphinha: ‘In my head I was leaving Barça, but a few small words can change you’
For once, Raphael Dias Belloli puts the brakes on. The man who seems to be in perpetual motion, a footballer forever on fast forward, pauses, goes quiet for a moment and then, softly, utters something that says so much: “I think maybe people saw in me something I didn’t realise was there.” He did not know he was a leader, but he likes it. He did not know he was a captain, but according to his manager he is the “perfect captain”.
Paper trail of protests: José Mourinho plays the hits in Madrid derby defeat Original
Paper trail of protests: José Mourinho plays the hits in Madrid derby defeat José Mourinho holding up an A4 paper showing two moments he thought were red cards in the Madrid derby. Photograph: Sky There were many questions to emerge from the Madrid derby, which Atlético won 2-1 in front of 70,514 very, very noisy people at the Metropolitano on Sunday afternoon, even if not the one José Mourinho was asking. Like: what year is this? Or: what was Dean Huijsen thinking? Why always Arda?
Jonathan David earns Atlético precious win over 10-man Real Madrid in fractious derby
Diego Simeone said it had been a special week in Madrid, a “tremendous energy about the city”, and it closed the way he wanted. He had enjoyed the Formula One, he said, and he had enjoyed going to see Shakira. He enjoyed this even more, at least he did by the time the last of many, many blows on the referee's whistle brought it to an end, sending him sprinting up the tunnel punching the air.
Case not proved: Trent Alexander-Arnold’s England recall is based on patchy evidence
Thomas Tuchel said Trent Alexander Arnold had enjoyed a good start to the season, which came as news to those in England who have not been watching him at Real Madrid. It also, in truth, came as news to those in Spain who have. If the England manager did not see enough in Alexander-Arnold to include him in the World Cup in the summer he has not really had the chance to see enough to change that decision as autumn begins.
Kluivert and Rayan rock Real Sociedad as Bournemouth win on European bow
The first goal that AFC Bournemouth ever scored in Europe could be heard out on the Bay of Biscay. The second sounded around San Sebastián soon after. A tradition from Real Sociedad’s old Atotxa ground, recovered at Anoeta in 2009, dictates that a single firework is set off every time the visitors score while two are lit when the home team do; that way those out to sea know the score.
Carlos Espí gives Real Madrid hope in the face of Barcelona’s La Liga storm
Updated Thu, September 17, 2026 at 1:29 PM UTC Carlos Espí has scored two goals in four matches to help Madrid stay within touching distance of Barcelona at the top of the table.Photograph: Alberto Saiz/AP José Mourinho called and Carlos Espí came to his side. It was late, it was noisy and it was almost over – the match and maybe even something more – when Real Madrid’s coach took the forward who is also his flatmate to one side on Tuesday night.
‘Very weak. Very bad’: how Rodri’s verdict exposed woeful Valencia’s crisis Original
‘Very weak. Very bad’: how Rodri’s verdict exposed woeful Valencia’s crisis Valencia fans hold up signs that read: 'Lim, go home' in a protest against the clubs president, Kiat Lim, during the match against Barcelona, which they lost 5-0. Photograph: David Ramos/Getty Images Kiat Lim wanted to see Valencia play so badly, so that is what he did.
‘Very weak. Very bad’: how Rodri’s verdict exposed woeful Valencia’s crisis
Valencia fans hold up signs that read: 'Lim, go home' in a protest against the clubs president, Kiat Lim, during the match against Barcelona, which they lost 5-0. Photograph: David Ramos/Getty Images
Dani Olmo: ‘Winning the World Cup changes you, it changes your life’
Dani Olmo nods towards his right arm. “Look: goosebumps,” he says. The Spain midfielder is sitting in a back room at Barcelona’s Joan Gamper training ground trying to pinpoint the moment he knew he was a world champion. “There’s an image in my mind with Ferran [Torres]’s mum: hugging her, the two of us in tears,” he says. “‘What your son just did … what we all did … this is historic.’ And that’s when you start to feel it.
Dani Olmo: ‘Winning the World Cup changes you, it changes your life’
Dani Olmo says himself and his teammates have not yet truly grasped the enormity of their World Cup triumph. Photograph: Pablo Garcia/The Guardian
Real Madrid somehow cling on to beat Inter on José Mourinho's big night
Sometimes football is silly, sometimes it doesn't make much sense, and sometimes it's fun for it. On a night when there were 37 shots and the goalkeepers shared 13 occasionally absurd saves between them, José Mourinho's current side beat his former team Inter on his Champions League return to Real Madrid. Just don't ask exactly how.
Mbappé and Valverde fire Real Madrid to Champions League win against Inter
Sometimes football is silly and sometimes it is more fun for it. On a night when there were 37 shots and the goalkeepers shared thirteen saves between them, some of them absurd, José Mourinho’s Real Madrid found a way to beat his former team Inter in his first Champions League night of his second spell. Just don’t ask exactly how.
Mbappé and Valverde fire Real Madrid to Champions League win against Inter
Mbappé and Valverde fire Real Madrid to Champions League win against Inter
Mbappé and Valverde fire Real Madrid to Champions League win against Inter
Sometimes football is silly and sometimes it is more fun for it. On a night when there were 37 shots and the goalkeepers shared thirteen saves between them, some of them absurd, José Mourinho's Real Madrid found a way to beat his former team Inter in his first Champions League night of his second spell. Just don't ask exactly how.
Julián Alvarez walks alone at Atlético in transfer saga with no end – and no winners
Julián Alvarez was the target of fan frustration at the Metropolitano as he seeks a move away from Atlético.
Julián Alvarez walks alone at Atlético in transfer saga with no end – and no winners
Julián Alvarez walks alone at Atlético in transfer saga with no end – and no winners Julián Alvarez was the target of fan frustration at the Metropolitano as he seeks a move away from Atlético.Photograph: Europa Press Sports/Europa Press/Getty Images Julián Alvarez entered a long, dark tunnel on his own. "We're stronger together," Giuliano Simeone said but that wasn't the way it went.
José Mourinho marks Real Madrid return with late drama and touch of humility
José Mourinho says he is calmer now so when the rest of the bench emptied, sprinting down the touchline to celebrate the 90th-minute goal that finally delivered victory on his first game in charge of Real Madrid in 4,380 days, he didn't set off with them. Instead, he clenched his fists, got to his feet and walked down the touchline behind the subs, watching them head, shouting, towards Carlos Espí. As they piled on down in the corner, he pulled over his captain Fede Valverde for a word.
José Mourinho marks Real Madrid return with late drama and touch of humility
José Mourinho marks Real Madrid return with late drama and touch of humility
‘He doubted’: Mourinho says Real Madrid did not want Rodri after hesitation over move
Barcelona unveiled Rodri on Tuesday after completing a €75m deal with Manchester City Photograph: Bruna Casas/Reuters José Mourinho has confirmed Real Madrid made Rodri an offer and that he spoke to him about joining the club, but claimed the player’s doubts about the transfer made him unsure about signing Spain’s World Cup-winning captain.
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