The 2025/26 season opens with storylines everywhere, new dugout eras at giants like Real Madrid and Inter, an England coaches under instant scrutiny, and Premier League heavyweights spending heavily to chase (or defend) crowns.
Pressure doesn’t come only from poor form, it comes from huge transfer outlays, trophy droughts, contract clocks ticking, and clubs redefining their standards. Here’s why each of your picked managers enters the season with a shorter leash than usual.
Thomas Tuchel — England
Tuchel begins his first full year in charge of the Three Lions, a job where expectations are permanently sky-high and patience is famously thin.
After taking the post in late 2024/early 2025, every squad decision and result will be judged against a golden-generation yardstick and the road to 2026. The job is his biggest balancing act yet: imprint a clear identity, refresh an aging core, and win… quickly.
Mikel Arteta — Arsenal
Arsenal have pushed the door for over two seasons; now the demand is to walk through it. A major summer outlay, headlined by Viktor Gyökeres and other high-profile additions raises the bar from “progress” to “silverware.”
Pundit consensus is blunt: to sit with Europe’s elite, Arsenal need a major title this year. That’s pressure at Emirates levels not seen since the prime Wenger years.
Pep Guardiola — Manchester City
After a extreme fall last season, Pep Guardiola is definitely under presuure to restore Manchester City’s lost stand. And while new signings like Rayan Cherki, and his wife back to him, he has a lit to prove at the Etihad Stadium this season.
Carlo Ancelotti —Brazil
Ancelotti has left Real Madrid and taken over Brazil, ending his latest Bernabéu chapter. That means he’s not managing in Europe this season. It’s still white-hot pressure but in the Seleção job rather than LaLiga or the Champions League.
Enzo Maresca — Chelsea
Chelsea arrive as Club World Cup holders with a squad built to contend at home. That raises the temperature for Maresca to translate global shine into a sustained Premier League push. Early adversity (like Levi Colwill’s ACL and the public push for another centre-back) adds urgency to get recruitment and results right fast
Roberto De Zerbi — Marseille
De Zerbi’s OM are going hard late in the window, and expectations in Marseille are never mild. After his Brighton success and a bold, front-foot style, he’s expected to vault OM back into the Ligue 1 title frame and make waves in Europe targets that bring immediate scrutiny if performances wobble
Xabi Alonso — Real Madrid
A new era in Madrid. Alonso steps into the hottest seat in club football with a three-year deal and an elite squad. The mandate is obvious: compete for everything, straight away, while shaping a modern identity around Vinícius, Rodrygo (and new faces). Transition seasons don’t exist at Real—only trophy seasons.
Rúben Amorim — Manchester United
United’s worst league finish in over half a century cranked expectations to the max. Amorim has been backed heavily Sesko, Cunha, Mbeumo and more to fix goals and identity. The message from media and supporters is clear: early proof of concept or the pressure spikes quickly.
Diego Simeone — Atlético Madrid
Cholo remains the constant in Madrid—but the league isn’t waiting. Atlético have refreshed the squad and invested big; now the demand is to turn that into a real title tilt and deeper European run. With spending up and rivals reloading, “competing” won’t be enough for fans or board.
Cristian Chivu — Inter
A club legend steps into one of Europe’s toughest first-team jobs. Chivu’s rapid elevation from Primavera and a short Parma stint to replace Simone Inzaghi means expectations meet inexperience. Inter’s standards domestic contention and European relevance will test his ideas and man-management from day one.