Evolution, not revolution, the way forward for Sanfrecce Hiroshima under Bartosch Gaul
Mar 18, 2026, 09:00 AMShareLikeOpen Extended Reactions HIROSHIMA, Japan -- Sanfrecce Hiroshima are one of Japanese football's most-successful clubs. Including the Japan Soccer Leag.
Currently second in the West region of the J1 100 Year Vision League, Sanfrecce Hiroshima look like they will once again be challenging for top honours in 2026. Masashi Hara/Getty Images
Gabriel Tan
Mar 18, 2026, 09:00 AMShareLikeOpen Extended Reactions
HIROSHIMA, Japan — Sanfrecce Hiroshima are one of Japanese football’s most-successful clubs.
Including the Japan Soccer League era, which preceded the current J.League, their eight top-flight championships is second only to Kashima Antlers — who surged ahead with their title triumph last season.
But it has now been over a decade since they last lifted the J1 League trophy in 2015.
They have consistently been challenging, having never finished outside the top four in the past four campaigns.
The 2024 season was a particularly bitter pill to swallow for them. Having trailed by 12 points at one stage, Sanfrecce surged to even top the table a month before the end of the season — only to falter late and lose out to Vissel Kobe on the final day of the campaign.
Sanfrecce will once again be aiming high in 2026, with the current season — the J1 100 Year Vision League — made all the more intriguing by the fact that it is a condensed half-year campaign as Japanese football transitions to a August-to-May calendar in line with the majority of prominent leagues around the world.
With the J1 100 Year Vision League divided into East and West, the ten teams in each region will play each other home-and-away — with the teams then facing off against the same-ranked counterpart over two legs to determine their final standing.
It means that only the teams that finish top of the respective regions will contest for the title.
Sanfrecce are currently second in the West with 11 points from their first five games, behind Vissel but ahead of Gamba Osaka on goal difference. There is still a long way to go there is every chance they will be thereabouts.https://www.instagram.com/reel/DV-0AguD04Q/embed/captioned/?cr=1&v=14&wp=540&rd=https%3A%2F%2Fglobal.espn.com&rp=%2Ffootball%2Fstory%2F_%2Fid%2F48237709%2Fevolution-not-revolution-way-forward-sanfrecce-hiroshima-bartosch-gaul#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A13261.600000023842%7D
On Saturday, they issued a real statement with a convincing 2-0 win over Gamba at Edion Peace Wing Hiroshima. They always looked in control of proceedings, even before taking the lead through Naoto Arai‘s long-range screamer shortly before the break, which was followed by a clinical finish from Sōta Nakamura in the second half.
It prompted Gamba coach Jens Wissing to label them “one of the best teams in the whole J.League”.
Perhaps what makes Sanfrecce’s bright start to the season even more impressive is the fact that they have a new coach at the helm this year in Bartosch Gaul, who took over after Michael Skibbe’s move to Vissel after a four-year reign in Hiroshima.
“I really appreciate that someone talks like this about our team,” said Gaul, when informed by ESPN about Wissing’s praise for his side. “I’m really happy about it.
“I think today was maybe one of the best matches from us – first half, second half.
“But I know that football is always about repetition. And, in sports, you will also have situations where you maybe don’t perform in some matches.
“I think [our] way is good. I have a feeling the players believe in this way, that we developed from every match step by step, and I think the progress is very important for me.”
Gaul has decided against changing much for now.
In fact, the way Sanfrecce continue to set out — and excel — in their preferred 3-4-3 formation suggests it may be less of a coaching preference and more the fact that it is almost part of the club’s DNA now.
The players, many of whom have been at the club for years, understand their roles to perfection. Even the newer faces seem to have been signed because their individual attributes are likely to see them succeed in the Sanfrecce system.
The back three are always solid. The wing-backs bomb forward at every available opportunity. The central midfield duo know they have to contribute both offensively and defensively. And the front three are always fluid, whether it is two No. 10s flanking a spearhead, or a playmaker-in-chief operating behind a striking duo.
“I said a few months ago I don’t want to come and change everything directly,” added Gaul.
“We want to implement things step by step, and I think we are [in] a very good way.
“Sometimes, as you’ve seen in the last two weeks, it [will be] different. You’ll have difficult circumstances and maybe you won’t win the match or you won’t qualify for the next round [like in the AFC Champions League Elite round of 16]. It is how it is.
“We have to believe in the way for the next months. That’s very important.”
Only time will tell how far Sanfrecce get in the 2026 J1 100 Year Vision League.
Still, they look every bit a chance as they have in recent times, even under a new coach.
Evolution, not revolution, is the way forward for Sanfrecce.
Goals from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Bradley Barcola and Senny Mayulu ensured Chelsea were beaten 3-0 on the night at Stamford Bridge to lose 8-2 on aggregate — tied for the worst European defeat in the club’s history.
Fernandez is Chelsea’s vice-captain and led the side in captain Reece James’ absence through injury against PSG.
The 25-year-old — who joined from Benfica in a £106 million ($141 million) move in February of 2023 — is under contract until 2032, but when asked whether he can guarantee he’ll be at Chelsea next season, Fernandez told ESPN Argentina: “I don’t know. My focus is here for now. We have eight Premier League matches to play and the FA Cup. Then, the World Cup coming up so we’ll see after that.”
Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior said in response: “Firstly, I haven’t seen that. It’s hard for me to speak on speculation after a game and I need to focus right now on the most important things, which is making sure we get a result against Everton on Saturday.”
Fernandez’ comments compound a miserable night for Chelsea, who were booed off at halftime and full-time.
“I think we failed to control the game. In the first leg, we lost focus in the final 15 minutes and conceded three goals, and here it happened at the very start,” Fernandez said of Chelsea’s performance. “At this level, you can’t concede two goals so quickly because of small details. Ultimately, over the two legs, PSG were the better side and deserve to go through.
“Since I arrived at Chelsea we have already passed through similar situations and we were able to turn them around. Now, our focus must be on winning the FA Cup and achieving our goal of qualifying for next season’s Champions League.”
Rosenior was also criticised by some supporters when taking off Fernandez, Cole Palmer and João Pedro just before the hour mark at 2-0 down on the night.
Asked about the atmosphere inside the stadium, Rosenior said: “I think it’s two-way. This is a fantastic football club where the fans want success instantly and that’s rightfully so for the size of the club.
“I have to say, I understand because of the aggregate scoreline in the tie, why fans are frustrated. They want us to win. So, I completely get it and I understood that before I came in. I also want to make them happy and give them the nights they deserve. Not just me, but us as a group, as a team.
“That was a really, really difficult one to take because of the manner in which we went out this evening.”
On top of their exit in the Champions League, Chelsea are also outside of the top-five in the Premier League, albeit only a point behind Liverpool in fifth place and two behind Aston Villa in fourth.
“We have to learn at the top, top level to be clinical and to make sure we keep the back door shut,” Rosenior added. “We’ve done neither over the two legs and that’s why we’re out of the competition.”
Senegal’s AFCON final win overturned as Morocco declared winners
ESPN News Services
Mar 17, 2026, 09:50 PMShareLikeOpen Extended Reactions2.6K
Morocco was stunningly awarded the Africa Cup of Nations title Tuesday by appeals judges who overturned Senegal‘s victory in a chaotic final in January.
The Confederation of African Football said its appeal board ruled Senegal was “declared to have forfeited the Final” and its 1-0 win in extra time becomes a 3-0 default win for host nation Morocco.
Senegal later said it would appeal the decision, but did not indicate where. One such avenue is the Court of Arbitration for Sport, a Lausanne, Switzerland-based independent body which settles sports-related disputes through arbitration or mediation.
In the Jan. 18 final in Rabat, Senegal players, led by coach Pape Thiaw, left the field in protest during stoppage time for 15 minutes — and fans tried to storm the field — when Morocco was awarded a penalty that was set to decide the match.
When play resumed, Morocco forward Brahim Díaz‘s spot kick — a controversial slow chip shot known as a “Panenka” — was saved by goalkeeper Édouard Mendy and Senegal scored the only goal in extra time.
Tension in the stadium was already raised by Senegal being denied a goal minutes before the penalty was given to Morocco.
In the second minute of stoppage time, Senegal’s apparent go-ahead goal was ruled out for a foul by Abdoulaye Seck, but TV replays showed little contact on Morocco defender Achraf Hakimi.
After the Senegal walk-off, the team’s return to the field seemed to be as a result of urging by star forward Sadio Mané to complete the game.
At an initial disciplinary hearing, CAF imposed fines of more than $1 million and bans for Senegal and Morocco players and officials but left the result unchanged.
Senegal defender Moussa Niakhaté posted an image on his private Instagram account of himself holding the trophy with a message in French that said: “Come and get it! They’re crazy!”
In a similar post on his Instagram story, left back El Hadji Malick Diouf added: “It’s not what I expected … this thing isn’t going anywhere.”
Abdoulaye Seydou Sow, secretary general of the Senegalese Football Federation, said the organization will file an appeal.
“We will not back down. The law is on our side,” Sow told the public broadcaster Radiodiffusion Télévision Sénégalaise late Tuesday.
He called the ruling a “shame for Africa.”
“This decision is a travesty that rests on no legal basis. We felt that the panel was not there to apply the law, but to carry out an order,” Sow said.
CAF cited article 82 of tournament regulations for its marquee event to justify the verdict enforced on appeal, though not at the first hearing.
It states “if, for any reason whatsoever, a team withdraws from the competition or does not report for a match, or refuses to play or leaves the ground before the regular end of the match without the authorization of the referee, it shall be considered loser and shall be eliminated for good from the current competition.”
Still, the appeal verdict did seem to override the referee’s authority making field-of-play decisions.
In a statement, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) said “its approach has never been intended to challenge the sporting performance of the teams participating in this competition, but solely to request the application of the competition’s regulations.
“The Federation reaffirms its commitment to respecting the rules, ensuring clarity in the competitive framework, and maintaining stability within African competitions,” it added.
“It also wishes to commend all the nations that took part in this edition of the AFCON, which has been a major moment for African football.”
The case could go to a further appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) based in Lausanne, Switzerland.
CAF cited article 82 of tournament regulations for its marquee event to justify the verdict enforced on appeal, though not at the first hearing.
It states “if, for any reason whatsoever, a team withdraws from the competition or does not report for a match, or refuses to play or leaves the ground before the regular end of the match without the authorization of the referee, it shall be considered loser and shall be eliminated for good from the current competition.”
The verdict Tuesday awarded Morocco its first African title since 1976 and denied Senegal its second title, and second within three editions after also lifting the trophy in 2021.
Any appeal by Senegal to CAS in Lausanne, Switzerland, would typically take about a year to reach a verdict – long after both teams play at the 2026 World Cup being co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Senegal has been drawn to play in a group with France, Norway and a playoff bracket winner this month, which could be Iraq. The games against France and Norway will be at MetLife Stadium near New York.
Morocco was drawn to face Brazil, Scotland and Haiti, with an opening game also at MetLife against Brazil.
Under coach Walid Regragui at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Morocco became the first African team to reach the semifinals.
Regragui left the job two weeks ago following fierce criticism for not winning the AFCON title, saying “the team needs a new lease of life before the World Cup.”
Eberechi Eze scored a stunning first Champions League goal as Arsenal beat Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 on Tuesday at the Emirates to march into the quarterfinals.
Eze opened his European account with a spectacular 20-yard thunderbolt before Declan Rice added a classy second to seal a 3-1 aggregate success.
Arsenal had found Leverkusen tricky opponents in Germany last week, needing a last-gasp Kai Havertz penalty to snatch a 1-1 draw.
But they were totally dominant and there was nothing “ugly” or “boring” about this win for the critics to moan about, either.
Mikel Arteta’s side swaggered their way into the last eight for the third successive year and, with Sporting Lisbon the opposition, they will fancy their chances of reaching another semi-final at least.
Moreover, with a nine-point lead in the Premier League, a Carabao Cup final meeting with Manchester City on Sunday and an FA Cup quarterfinal at Championship Southampton to come, an unprecedented quadruple is edging tantalisingly closer as the weeks go by.
With 16-year-old Dowman among the substitutes again, Leandro Trossard was back in the starting lineup after a hip injury.
The Belgian had the Gunners’ first real chance after he was teed up by Bukayo Saka 20 yards out, curling his shot towards the top corner and forcing a flying save from Janis Blaswich.
Moments later, a Saka corner found the familiar head of Gabriel Magalhães, but the defender nodded the ball just over the crossbar.
Blaswich had to parry a free-kick from Rice and an angled drive from Saka, before the busy Leverkusen goalkeeper made a superb reflex save from Trossard.
When Saka took another corner short, Blaswich kept out Trossard’s shot and then denied Ben White from the rebound.
The dam finally burst 10 minutes before half-time, and it was well worth the wait.
Eze, on the edge of the box, took one touch with his left foot to control Trossard’s pass, swivelled and launched a rocket with his right past Blaswich and into the top corner.
After the break Piero Hincapié — against the club from whom he is still on loan — and Viktor Gyökeres went close to doubling the lead.
However, it was Rice who put the tie to bed just after the hour mark, latching on to a weak clearance, striding forward and stroking the ball home from the edge of the area.
Even when Leverkusen threatened late on, David Raya pulled off a fine save to deny Christian Kofane a consolation as the Gunners completed a statement win.
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James OlleyMar 17, 2026, 11:40 PM
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