PSG back-to-back, Palace's first European trophy: European football recap, May 25–June 1

The Premier League and La Liga domestic seasons are already done — this edition is about the finals. Two European trophies were settled in the span of three days, and neither went to script. Crystal Palace won the UEFA Conference League final on May 27 in Leipzig, delivering the club's first European trophy in its 120-year history. Three days later in Budapest, PSG retained the UEFA Champions League against Arsenal, winning 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw through 120 minutes. The PL and La Liga tables do not move this week. Post-season storylines — Guardiola's departure, the managerial carousel, and the summer transfer window — fill the rest of this recap.

Arsenal led for most of a Champions League final they had no business being level in on the statistics, took it into extra time, came within 10 seconds of a Viktor Gyökeres winner, and then lost in a shootout in the cruelest possible fashion. Kai Havertz put Arsenal ahead in the 5th minute — latching onto a deflected Marquinhos clearance after Leandro Trossard's press, running 40 yards alone, and rifling a high shot past Matvey Safonov. 1 It was the first goal PSG had conceded in the 2026 Champions League knockouts. Havertz became the third player in history to score for two different clubs in a Champions League final, after Cristiano Ronaldo and Mario Mandzukić. 2

PSG dominated possession — 75.3% to Arsenal's 24.7% — and piled up 21 shots to Arsenal's 7, but for the first hour Arsenal's defensive discipline held. 1 The equaliser arrived in the 65th minute when Cristhian Mosquera — Arsenal's fill-in right-back with Ben White injured and Jurrien Timber only fit enough to sub in later — was caught by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia's (PSG left winger) give-and-go with Dembélé inside the box. Referee Siebert pointed to the spot. VAR official Bastian Dankert upheld it. Ousmane Dembélé sent David Raya the wrong way. 2

The second half of extra time produced two moments that will live in Arsenal's collective memory. At the 100th minute, Noni Madueke burst past Nuno Mendes into the box and was bundled from behind. Referee Siebert waved away Arsenal's appeals. Both Mikel Arteta and Declan Rice were booked for protesting. Arteta said afterwards: "I watched all the penalties in the competition in the last 72 hours to understand what is a penalty and what is not, and that easily can be a penalty." 3 Declan Rice told TNT Sports: "I was gutted at the time because I thought the ref would go and have a look but obviously it was not clear enough to be a penalty." 1

Then, at the 120th minute, Gyökeres produced a shot that hit a PSG boot and deflected agonisingly wide. Ten seconds of extra time remained.

Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal central defender, known simply as Gabriel) had never taken a penalty for Arsenal before this moment. He volunteered for the fifth spot, the decisive kick. Arteta confirmed: "He wanted to take it number five. We have prepared and trained for this moment." 3 PSG captain Marquinhos walked directly to console his Brazil teammate as the PSG players celebrated around them. The image of the two centre-backs in that moment — one in red, one in dark blue — became the defining image of the final.

BBC pundit Nedum Onuoha called it "heartbreaking." Rice put it differently: "Gabriel, I've run out of words for him as a person and as a player. Without those two [Gabriel and Eze] this season we wouldn't have won the Premier League, that's for sure." 4 Gabriel had made 13 clearances during the match — the most of any player on the pitch.

Arteta opened his post-match press conference with a single word: "Pain." He called PSG "the best team in the world," praised his own players — "If I tell them one million times 'thank you', it's not going to be enough" — and confirmed the club will make "some very important decisions" in the transfer market to reach the next level. 3 Arsenal held a Premier League title parade the following morning, which added a bittersweet layer to a weekend that began with Budapest and ended on an open-top bus in north London.

Guardian critic Barney Ronay described PSG's approach as a side that "bypasses their domestic league entirely to peak for the spring Champions League mini-season" — noting that Nuno Mendes and Marquinhos played more Champions League minutes than Ligue 1 minutes this season, and that Dembélé started only 11 of PSG's 34 Ligue 1 games before Christmas. 5

PSG are only the second club in the Champions League era (since 1992-93) to defend the title. Real Madrid between 2016 and 2018 is the only precedent. In the full 71-year history of the European Cup, PSG are the 10th club to win consecutive editions. 6 They are the first French team to achieve it — clearing Marseille (one European Cup, 1993) for good.

Luis Enrique became the fifth manager to win three European Cup or Champions League titles, joining Bob Paisley, Pep Guardiola, Carlo Ancelotti, and Zinedine Zidane. 6 PSG also equalled the record for most goals scored in a single Champions League edition — 45, matching Barcelona's total from 1999-2000. 6 ESPN's Julien Laurens, who was at the Puskás Aréna, put it plainly: "Back-to-back, you join the greatest of all time. Pep never did it with Messi and Barcelona, or with Manchester City." 6

PSG chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi called Enrique "the best coach in the world" and promised the club would be "going to the market" this summer. 1 Enrique's own read: "I'm mixed. Excitement, fatigue — everything. But this is the best moment of the season. We are still champs, two in a row, it's amazing." 6

For Arsenal, the loss extends a singular unwanted record: they are now the club with the most appearances in the European Cup and Champions League history (226 games) without ever winning it. Their previous final was in 2006 — a 2-1 defeat to Barcelona in Paris. 7 Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal left-sided midfielder, 19 years and 246 days old) became the second-youngest Englishman to start a Champions League final, behind only Trent Alexander-Arnold's record from 2018. 2

BBC Sport's Pat Nevin framed Arsenal's season without sentiment: "If you'd offered them at the start of the year — Premier League title and lose the Champions League final on penalties — it's a great season." That's accurate. It doesn't make Budapest easier to process.

Three days before Budapest, at a smaller stadium in Leipzig, Crystal Palace (South London Premier League club) beat Rayo Vallecano (Madrid-based La Liga side) 1-0 to win the 2025-26 UEFA Conference League — the club's first European trophy in its 120-year history. 8

The only goal arrived in the 51st minute. Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace central midfielder, 22) hit a long-range shot that Rayo goalkeeper Augusto Batalla could only parry, and Jean-Philippe Mateta (Crystal Palace striker, French) reacted quickest to finish from close range with his left foot. 9 The scoreline understates how comfortable Palace were: their xG was 2.57 to Rayo's 0.52, they created four big chances to Rayo's zero, and had 8 shots from inside the box to Rayo's 3. 10 Rayo collected six yellow cards. Palace were the better team across all 90 minutes.

Wharton was named Laufenn Player of the Match (Sofascore rating 7.6) for a midfield performance that included two key passes, one big chance created, and 22 forward passes — the most of any player on the pitch. 9 Former England manager Glenn Hoddle, covering the final for TNT Sports, had been surprised before kickoff by Wharton's omission from Thomas Tuchel's 2026 England World Cup squad: "I love the way he looks forward and passes. He can hit killer balls, balls that take the whole defence out." After the final, Hoddle returned to the point: "This is the quality that we have got. I would've had him in the squad." 8 Tuchel's England squad for the summer World Cup includes Declan Rice, Conor Anderson, Kobbie Mainoo, Jordan Henderson, Eberechi Eze, Jude Bellingham, and Josh Rogers as midfield options — Wharton is not among them.

Palace are the third English club to win the Conference League in five years of the competition's existence, joining West Ham United (2023) and Chelsea (2025). The win gives them direct entry to the 2026-27 UEFA Europa League group stage. 8

The win was Oliver Glasner's (Austrian manager, 50) 121st and final match in charge of Crystal Palace. He joined in February 2024 as an emergency replacement for Roy Hodgson and spent 2.5 years winning three trophies — the 2024-25 FA Cup (beating Manchester City at Wembley), the 2025 Community Shield (beating Liverpool), and now the Conference League. 11 His overall Palace record: 121 games, 51 wins, 36 draws, 34 losses. 11

He announced his departure in January, citing feeling "completely abandoned" by the club during a turbulent period that included UEFA demoting Palace from the Europa League to the Conference League (due to John Textor's multi-club ownership structure with Lyon), the sale of Eberechi Eze to Arsenal, and the mid-season departure of Marc Guehi to Manchester City. A 12-game winless run in the middle of the season, and an FA Cup third-round exit to non-league Macclesfield — widely described as the biggest FA Cup upset in memory — added to the noise. He got them to a European final regardless.

Post-match, Glasner was asked repeatedly whether he would reconsider. He declined. "I took this decision. It's a chapter. A good chapter. But other chapters will follow." 12 Former Palace winger John Salako told the BBC live broadcast that he had spoken to Glasner the night before asking him to stay: "It's heart-breaking really. I'm speaking to him last night saying, 'Why can't you stay, please?'" 8 Wharton captured what the dressing room felt: "He has got to be one of the best managers Crystal Palace have ever had. He has made a massive difference for how the club looks at competitions. We are not just looking to stay in the Premier League and be in Europe, we are looking to win and be as high as possible." 11

Glasner's next destination is not confirmed. He has been linked most strongly to Bayer Leverkusen — where Kasper Hjulmand's position is uncertain after a sixth-place Bundesliga finish — and AC Milan. 12 Crystal Palace have identified Andoni Iraola (Bournemouth manager, known for leading the club to Europa League football this season in his second year at the club) as their preferred successor; BBC Sport's Sami Mokbel reported Palace made Iraola a proposal and were awaiting his answer by the end of the weekend. If Iraola declines, options reportedly include Frank Lampard (currently at Coventry City), Thomas Frank (Brentford), and Kieran McKenna. 8

This is the week that completes a remarkable managerial exodus from the Premier League's top clubs. In the first 151 days of 2026, all six Big Six clubs have replaced or lost their manager: 13

Mikel Arteta, who has managed Arsenal since December 2019 — now more than seven years — is the only head coach at a Big Six club who began the 2025-26 season and will still be in charge when the 2026-27 season starts. 13

Guardiola's next chapter. Pep Guardiola (former Manchester City manager, won 6 Premier League titles among 20 trophies in a decade at the club) departed with his full coaching staff — Pep Lijnders, Kolo Touré, Xabi Mancisidor, Lorenzo Buenaventura, and Manel Estiarte — all leaving simultaneously. 14 He is moving to a City Football Group global ambassador role and expected to take extended time away from management, much as he did after leaving Barcelona in 2012. Where he coaches next is one of the summer's most discussed open questions in European football.

Xavi Hernández, speaking at a Heineken promotional event before the Champions League final, pointed toward the England national team: "He's obsessed tactically and I learned a lot from him... Why not? Spain is so difficult but maybe England." 15 TalkSPORT reporter Ben Jacobs separately reported that Guardiola is "keen" on the England job and that the FA considers him a "dream candidate." 16 The practical obstacle: Thomas Tuchel has just signed a contract extension with England through the 2028 European Championship. Any Guardiola-England reunion is, at minimum, two years away.

Enzo Maresca — sacked by Chelsea in January after a poor first half of the season — is heavily tipped to take the Manchester City job, a reunion with the club where he previously managed the Elite Development Squad. 14

Slot's Liverpool exit. Arne Slot (former Liverpool manager, Dutch) was sacked on May 30 — the same night as the Champions League final. He won the Premier League in his first season in charge (Liverpool's 20th title), but finished fifth in year two. 13 He wrote an emotional open letter to the Liverpool Echo: "Change is part of football, but I know that this club will continue to make its people proud. When I first stood beneath that sign in the Anfield tunnel, I knew what this club demanded. I leave knowing we never stopped striving for it." 17

The Athletic's Oliver Kay reported that Slot's relationships with players had become strained towards the end — with some privately questioning certain tactical decisions — and that no first-team player publicly acknowledged his sacking on social media within 20 hours of the announcement. The fan reaction on Reddit r/soccer was sharp. One post, from user wellburrowedoldmole, gained traction: "I am 35 and Liverpool have won the league twice in my lifetime. Truly pathetic how much hatred the person who delivered one of them has received... unfortunately the fan culture is rotten and ruined by internet attention spans." 18

Xabi Alonso confirmed at Chelsea. The new Chelsea head coach (Spanish, most recently managed Bayer Leverkusen to the Bundesliga title in 2023-24) takes over on July 1. 13

The transfer window opens June 15. The Premier League summer window runs from June 15 to September 1 (23:00 deadline), with the 2026-27 season kicking off August 22. La Liga opens July 1, as does the Bundesliga and Ligue 1. Serie A opens June 29. 19

James Milner retires. James Milner (English midfielder) retired at 40 this week after a 24-season professional career. Reddit r/soccer gave him a genuinely warm send-off, with the top comment noting "24 seasons is crazy. Gotta be one of the most consistently great English players ever." 20

2026 World Cup brings new IFAB rules. The summer World Cup in North America will be played under rules including a 5-second countdown on throw-ins and goal kicks (ball possession handed to opponents on violation), a 10-second limit for substitutes to leave the pitch (team plays short for one minute if breached), and a potential red card for covering one's mouth toward a match official. Goalkeeper tactical timeouts are banned. Iceland have already conceded a goal under the substitution rule in a pre-tournament friendly against Japan. 21