It has surprised me how much I've missed Riyad Mahrez. Like many I loved this player since he came into the league with Leicester, even more so from that unbelievable title winning season. Eventually he moved to Man City, the club I have the most dislike for in the league, but I just loved watching him. I guess I never realised until he was gone just how much I loved watching him though.
Kind of wish that if he was planning on leaving City that he'd have stayed in the league for a new challange. To go from a team that won everything to an Arsenal or a Newcastle and try to take those clubs to the next level perhaps. But yeah it did surprise me just how much I've missed him this season.
I also have to throw in David de Gea, made sense for United to move him on, I mean they had believed Onana was available and he had just played a Champions League final, but de Gea would have done the bits for United again this season no doubt. Miss his goalkeeping in the PL
Man United - just more biased to them as I supported them when I was a kid. Lost interest as I got older but that feeling of bias still remains
Roma - I actually like a lot of the Italian teams at the moment but Roma just gets ahead because I'm a bit of a Mourinho fan
Leverkusen - Also going with Leverkusen since Xabi Alonso took the job. It makes it even better that he has actually done so well but it was obvious he'd be a top manager
Atletico Madrid - I really like the big two as well but for as long as Simeone is at Atletico then it's them. I just really buy into how the club is almost like the cult of Simeone. I mean even the way Simeone played as a footballer is the way Atletico play their football. His energy just runs through the entire club it's fascinating. Also they win less than the big two so they've got a bit of an underdog tag
For Ligue 1 I'll just go any side other than PSG. And it's not that I hate PSG but in those one team leagues it's just nice to see another team winning. Although probably not my top club in France right now I will keep an eye on Marseille now that they have Gattuso as I've followed his career closely. Yes there is a running theme of shithousery here but I love these kinds of characters in football