Coach Troussier could return to Vietnam, Real Madrid looking to rediscover victory.

Coach Philippe Troussier may return to Vietnam to work in youth development.

Coach Philippe Troussier is reportedly set to return to Vietnam in the near future, but not to coach the national team or a professional club. According to sources on the evening of April 21st, the French strategist is likely to reappear in the field of youth development, which is his strength and also his biggest achievement during his time working in Vietnam.

Previously, Mr. Troussier was associated with the PVF Center from 2018 to 2021. During the period from 2019 to 2020, he also served as the head coach of the Vietnam U20 team, helping them qualify for the 2021 AFC U20 Championship after a draw against Japan U20 in the qualifying round. Although the tournament was later canceled due to the pandemic, his professional contribution to youth football is still highly regarded.

Compared to his time coaching the Vietnam U23 team and the senior national team from February 2023 to March 2024, his time working with young players is considered more successful. However, the possibility of Troussier actually returning to Vietnam remains unclear, as he declined an offer from a V.League club about six months ago. Nevertheless, if he does return, he could still bring significant value to Vietnamese youth football.

The Vietnamese women's national team continues to hold the number one position in Southeast Asia on the FIFA rankings.

The Vietnamese women's national team continues to maintain its number one position in Southeast Asia in the latest FIFA rankings, providing positive signals for new head coach Hoang Van Phuc before officially taking on the role.

According to the rankings released on April 21st, the Vietnamese women's national team is ranked 37th in the world with 1,593.71 points. Despite dropping one place, the team still maintains its leading position in the region. Following them are the Philippines, Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia, and Indonesia. In Asia, the Vietnamese women's team is currently ranked 6th, after Japan, North Korea, Australia, China, and South Korea.

This is very encouraging news for coach Hoang Van Phuc, who will officially lead the Vietnamese women's national team from May 1, 2026, until the end of the 34th SEA Games. His main task is to build up the team and prepare for the 2026 Asian Games and the 34th SEA Games.

Maintaining a high ranking on the FIFA rankings is not only significant in terms of image, but also crucial for seeding in upcoming major tournaments. This will provide a favorable foundation for the Vietnamese women's national team to continue pursuing new goals during this important transitional period.

Chelsea suffered a heavy defeat to Brighton, their chances of qualifying for the Champions League are almost over.

Chelsea continued to disappoint, losing 0-3 to Brighton at the Amex Stadium, a result that has left the London club's hopes of qualifying for the Champions League almost dashed.

Brighton took the lead in the third minute thanks to a goal from Ferdi Kadioglu. In the second half, Jack Hinshelwood doubled the lead in the 56th minute, before Danny Welbeck sealed the 3-0 victory in injury time. Brighton not only won convincingly but also showed a sharper and more proactive approach than their opponents.

The most worrying aspect for Chelsea was their lackluster performance. Throughout the 90 minutes, Liam Rosenior's team failed to register a single shot on target. Their attack was ineffective and lacked creativity, while their fighting spirit also showed little sign of improvement.

A run of five consecutive winless matches in the Premier League, coupled with a nearly 500-minute goalless streak, is putting immense pressure on the coaching staff. Following this defeat, Chelsea dropped out of the top six and are now seven points behind fifth place, despite having played one more game. With only four rounds remaining in the season, the door to Champions League qualification is virtually closed for the Blues.

Real Madrid beat Alaves, continuing to chase Barcelona.

Real Madrid rediscovered their winning form by defeating Deportivo Alaves 2-1 at the Bernabeu, thus keeping alive their hopes of catching up with Barcelona in the La Liga title race.

The home team opened the scoring in the 30th minute when Kylian Mbappe's shot deflected off Jonny Otto, changing direction and leaving the Alaves goalkeeper with no chance. This goal boosted Real Madrid's confidence after a period of pressure following a series of disappointing results.

At the start of the second half, Carlo Ancelotti's team doubled their lead. Federico Valverde made an impressive run before passing the ball to Vinicius Junior, who unleashed a beautiful finish to make it 2-0. This crucial goal helped Real Madrid control the game for most of the remainder of the match.

Towards the end of the match, Alaves mounted a strong comeback and scored a goal to reduce the deficit thanks to Toni Martinez in injury time. However, the visitors were unable to complete a full-scale reversal.

The 2-1 victory ended Real Madrid's four-match winless streak and narrowed the gap with Barcelona to six points. Although the title race remains challenging, this result holds immense morale for Ancelotti's team at this crucial stage of the season.

Liverpool continue to place their trust in manager Arne Slot.

Liverpool are reportedly set to continue placing their faith in manager Arne Slot for next season, despite the team's less-than-ideal season.

According to Sky Sports News, the future of the Dutch manager is becoming clearer as Liverpool move closer to securing a Champions League spot. The Merseyside team currently holds a 7-point lead over Chelsea, with a fifth-place finish this season guaranteeing qualification for Europe's most prestigious competition.

After a successful first season, Arne Slot faced considerable pressure in his second year as Liverpool failed to maintain their title challenge against Arsenal and Man City. However, the club's management still viewed this as a transitional season with many difficulties and were willing to give the Dutch manager more time.

Liverpool are also expected to support Slot in the upcoming summer transfer window, especially given Mohamed Salah's likely departure from Anfield after the season ends. This will be a crucial time for the team to strengthen their squad and prepare for the next phase.

Although some fans had hoped for Xabi Alonso's arrival, that is highly unlikely if Liverpool continue to place their faith in Arne Slot.