Jack Lang, The Athletic Journalist Profile

Articles

Decisive Donnarumma, worthy finalists, Arteta's set-piece problem

1 week ago | nytimes.com | Jack Lang |Jordan Campbell

Paris Saint-Germain moved a step closer to a first Champions League title by withstanding Arsenal's early barrage to book a final date with Inter in Munich on May 31. Goals in each half from Fabian Ruiz and Achraf Hakimi made it 3-0 on aggregate before Bukayo Saka's deflected shot reduced the arrears.
What people who know football say about Barcelona's teenage star

1 week ago | nytimes.com | Pol Ballús |Jack Lang

Asked about Lamine Yamal in the aftermath of the teenager's scintillating display against Inter, his Barcelona coach Hansi Flick called the winger a "genius". Others went further, suggesting he is Barcelona's best player, the finest 17-year-old in modern times, or simply the world's best footballer. Flick added a note of caution to his praise, saying: "It can't just be a one-off. That's what I want from him and all the players. The ability to improve. You have to work hard.
Breaking down Yamal magic, Inter's fast start, Dumfries' unlikely double

2 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Jack Lang |Dermot Corrigan |Liam Tharme

Barcelona and Inter shared six goals in a classic of a Champions League semi-final first leg at Montjuic. Inter went ahead within 30 seconds from an audacious Marcus Thuram back-heel before Denzel Dumfries put them 2-0 up in the 21st minute with an acrobatic finish following an outswinging corner. But Lamine Yamal then dragged Barca back into the game with an extraordinary piece of skill in the 24th minute.
Our writers pick their combined XIs

2 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Jack Lang |Nick Miller

How do you pick between Lamine Yamal and Bukayo Saka? Do you opt for Robert Lewandowski up front or Lautaro Martinez? Is there a place for Khvicha Kvaratskhelia? The Champions League semi-finals get under way this week and the four teams involved - Arsenal play Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona face Inter - boast an incredible array of talent.
Premier League all sewn up? This is where to look for drama in the coming weeks...

3 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Jack Lang

You see the bus at the stop. It's just over there. You can obviously make it. You quicken your step. As you do, you hear the engine start. The doors fold closed. You could sprint for it - you're fast enough - but the idea is unappealing. The sweat, sure, but also just the indignity of it. You don't need this bus. There will be others. The doors reopen. Someone else is now getting on. It's extremely makeable now, you could probably just jog. But something stops you.
How Raphinha became a world-beater for Barcelona – and how he compares to their Brazilian greats

4 weeks ago | ourcommunitynow.com | Jack Lang |Thom Harris

Share At the end of the 2023-24 season, Raphinha got out his whiteboard and a coloured marker pen.There was plenty to reflect upon. It had been a poor campaign for Barcelona: political and financial turmoil, a sense of drift on the pitch, no trophies. Nor was there much to celebrate on an individual level. He had shown glimpses of quality, but his manager, Xavi, did not view him as a central figure.
How Raphinha became a world-beater for Barcelona

1 month ago | nytimes.com | Jack Lang |Thom Harris

At the end of the 2023-24 season, Raphinha got out his whiteboard and a coloured marker pen. There was plenty to reflect upon. It had been a poor campaign for Barcelona: political and financial turmoil, a sense of drift on the pitch, no trophies. Nor was there much to celebrate on an individual level. He had shown glimpses of quality, but his manager, Xavi, did not view him as a central figure. Raphinha completed 90 minutes on just six occasions all season.
Barcelona 4 Borussia Dortmund 0

1 month ago | nytimes.com | Jack Lang

Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha and Lamine Yamal tore through Borussia Dortmund to help Barcelona take a 4-0 goal lead into the second leg of this Champions League quarter-final. Raphinha scored from on the goal-line to put Hansi Flick's side ahead, and Lewandowski scored from about 30cm out to double their lead after being set up by Raphinha.
Arsenal 3 Real Madrid 0

1 month ago | nytimes.com | Jordan Campbell |Jack Lang |Mark Carey

Declan Rice stunned Real Madrid with two brilliant free-kicks to help Arsenal to a commanding 3-0 win in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie. Rice stepped up in the 58th minute to whip a fine set-piece past Thibaut Courtois that bent remarkably wide of the goal before curling back in. Then 12 minutes later he fired another into the top corner to put Mikel Arteta's men in full control ahead of the return game at the Bernabeu next Wednesday.
Would Viktor Gyokeres be a good fit for Arsenal?

1 month ago | nytimes.com | Jack Lang

There are plenty of reasons to be excited about Swedish goal machine Viktor Gyokeres, the best striker operating outside Europe's top five leagues. First and most obviously, there are the numbers - stupid, laugh-out-loud, so unrealistic that the temptation is to think there has been some kind of accounting error, a gross clerical snafu for which someone, somewhere, will end up getting sacked before long.