Five Things From the Week: Oct. 28-Nov. 3

Rodri took home the Ballon d’Or, Manchester United made a managerial change and the Columbus Crew crashed out of the Major League Soccer playoffs. Five Things From the Week covers all that and more.

1. Real Madrid can be upset without denigrating Rodri and the Ballon d’Or

Real Madrid were right to assume Vinicius Júnior would win the Ballon d’Or. He was the obvious choice based on past voting trends. It is valid to wonder why the Black player who has bravely launched a public battle against racism didn’t take home the award after winning the Champions League when two of his teammates – one former and one current – not named Cristiano Ronaldo did. Sadly, that has to be part of the conversation. None of it means Rodri is an undeserving Ballon d’Or winner.

He is the most important player on the best team in the world and was a key part of Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph while Vinicius and Brazil were underwhelming at Copa América. His surprising win is completely justifiable and awkwardly timed. There is no denying that the optics are bad, but that is not necessarily anyone’s fault. It is also not what the award should be about. Real Madrid’s boycott and attacks on the Ballon d’Or’s credibility damaged their own credibility, disrespected Rodri and were a general disservice to the sport. The questions they raised are fair ones. It’s fine to complain and criticize. Nobody benefits from the way they did it.

2. Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United tenure came to a fitting ending

Erik ten Hag survived the humiliating defeats and an open search for a potential replacement only to get fired after losing a game in which his team actually played well. There is nothing he can do if his players can’t finish the chances they create. Of course, he didn’t get sacked because of the West Ham game. He lost his job because there were no signs of improvement, which was also true in the days following the FA Cup win over Manchester City last season.

Ten Hag did just enough during his reign at Manchester United to convince some people to believe progress was just around the corner. He was there long enough to bear responsibility for the fact that the improvement never came too. United’s managerial evaluation process over the summer was flawed from the start. They knew exactly what they were going to get and decided it was good enough when it clearly wasn’t. That forced them to make the coaching change now, at an odd time, following one of the better performances of the confusing ten Hag era.

3. Manchester United finally have an identity 

It's hard to imagine Rúben Amorim coming into Manchester United and changing his philosophy the way ten Hag did. They are going to play three at the back, press high and dominate the ball. Part of what makes Amorim such an appealing candidate is his ability to implement his tactical vision clearly and quickly. The 39-year-old knows what it takes to bring clarity to a chaotic situation. In many ways, he seems like the exact type of coach United need.

The risk comes with a former Manchester City executive hiring a manager City were rumored to be targeting as Pep Guardiola’s replacement. That sounds an awful lot like an attempt to create some sort of City 2.0. Considering United's recent track record, that seems like a recipe for disaster. It did work at Arsenal, so maybe it can work on the west side of Manchester too. Just remember how many times United have been “back” since Sir Alex Ferguson left before believing some dramatic transformation is around the corner.

4. The Premier League title race is far from over

City have won the last three Premier League titles by a total of eight points. Their historic four-peat was achieved by edging out the competition, not by blowing them away. Combine that reality with Rodri’s injury and the late heroics they have already required on multiple occasions, and it's even less likely they will waltz to the title this season. Saturday’s loss to Bournemouth was a continuation of an established trend, not some shocking, incomprehensible defeat.

Declaring any title race over a couple months into the season is lazy and silly. Of course, City are the favorites until someone actually dethrones them. That does not mean they will go unchallenged, nor does it mean victory is inevitable. Treating the season as a story with one possible ending is just factually inaccurate, even if it winds up playing out that way. City don't always win. They don't even always beat Bournemouth.

5. The Columbus Crew’s exit illustrates why MLS Cup is overrated

The Columbus Crew had a chance to become the greatest team in MLS history after winning MLS Cup and then Leagues Cup. They've been brilliant in knockout competitions under Wilfried Nancy. The problem with their dominance is that it has always been built on the fragile foundation that is tournament play, and the New York Red Bulls made them pay the price. They easily could have won the second game, just like they easily could have lost to FC Cincinnati last season. That is the nature of knockout tournaments. 

The early exit doesn't change how great of a team Columbus is. Nor should it. But that means greatness cannot be built solely on tournament triumphs either. As the Crew just learned, no team will always have things go its way. The margins are too thin to draw any sweeping conclusions because of a handful of games. MLS Cup is not designed to determine who the best team is, and that's fine as long as it doesn’t get more weight than it deserves.