On Matchday 6 of SACKED! in partnership with The Brain Charity, we sit down with former Chelsea, Leeds United, Stoke City and Reading centre back Michael Duberry to share his powerful story about resilience, perseverance and the realities of life at the top of the game.

But one of the most remarkable moments of his career came when he was diagnosed with Bell's palsy just days before the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup final.

Unable to properly move part of his face, Duberry reveals how he handled the diagnosis, earned his place in the starting XI and survived the dressing room culture of the time.

He also opens up about the tougher chapters of his career, including difficult moments when a club no longer wants you and a relationship with a manager breaks down.

Along the way, Duberry shares stories about teammates and life at the top of the game in the late ‘90s and early 2000s — from limo rides with Linda Lusardi to stories about Diego Maradona from Gus ‘Radio’ Poyet.

This episode is a candid and revealing conversation about what it really takes to survive and thrive in professional football.

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On Matchday 5 of SACKED!, we sit down with former Manchester United coach Rene Meulensteen — and what starts as a chat quickly becomes an identity crisis for the modern game.

Who killed the No.9? Why don’t wingers like David Beckham, Ryan Giggs and Andrei Kanchelskis take on full-backs and whip crosses in for a centre-forward anymore?

Meulensteen reflects on an era when United fans were spoiled by elite finishers such as Wayne Rooney, Andy Cole, Dwight Yorke, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Teddy Sheringham — a golden generation of No.9s who defined a dominant period in the Premier League.

Those days feel long gone. Today’s game is different — more systems, fewer mavericks — and fans are crying out for creativity, drama and exuberance from modern stars.

Meulensteen also delivers brilliant insight from his time working alongside Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford, offering a rare glimpse into the standards, psychology and philosophy behind one of football’s greatest dynasties.

It’s a fascinating, honest and provocative conversation about how — and why — the modern game has changed.

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Bonus section with Neil Ashton reflecting on our episode with John Cross and answering fan questions about our previous episodes.

Each week, SACKED! brings together decision-makers and insiders — owners, chairs, executives, managers and head coaches, sporting directors, former players and leading journalists — to discuss the biggest issues in the game.

Please spread the word and tell the football family there’s a new show in town.

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