Set out to cover team departures (5)
I believe the answer is:
exits
'departures' is the definition.
(exit is a kind of departure)
'set out to cover team' is the wordplay.
'out' indicates anagramming the letters (out can mean wrong or inaccurate).
'to cover' is an insertion indicator.
'team' becomes 'xi' (eleven, a football team).
'set' is an anagram of 'ets'.
'ets' going around 'xi' is 'EXITS'.
(Other definitions for exits that I've seen before include "Ways out" , "Departs" , "Withdraws" , "Egresses" , "Goes out, leaves" .)