Barcelona Back on Top

19:56Alejandro Moreno:I think right now, he must be very happy. They've been conceding also less goals in the past month, month and a half, and I'm sure that this trophy is going to make them get more confidence for what is coming next in the coming months. So, yeah, congratulate Barcelona because they did a fantastic job, even though it was a very difficult game, but definitely they are in the right direction to be again a big successful year. You need to have your players bailing you out and supporting you and actually making sense of your decisions out on the field. When Hansi Flick's explanation as to why Lewandowski was playing today, where he hadn't been playing because Ferran Torres had been scoring goals, he'd been hot, and Lewandowski had not been playing, and he says, I had a feeling.

20:44I have a feeling. I have a feeling. and here's the feeling. Now, look, it so happens that Robert Lewandowski is able to deliver on that feeling.

20:55Dan Thomas:At 37 years old. And so while it is Hansi Flick being successful in finals and so far being very successful with Barcelona, it also has to do with the players answering the call. The players actually taking a step forward and being able to deliver. Whether that's Rafinha, who we already talked about, whether that's Robert Lewandowski, on today's feeling by Hansi Flick, imagine if you're in Ferran Torres and the manager is telling you, I have a feeling about the other guy. How does that make you feel? Well, the only good part that helped is it's a Robert Lewandowski. It's a legend that is kind of coming in with that feeling.

21:34But remember, this is also a Barcelona side that we never know who's going to be registered. We never know. There's always some. Why bring it there? Because it's relevant. You're having this success, and Hansi Flick is having this success, when there's still turmoil going around the club. And that kind of shows you how galvanizing he's been and how that locker room is kind of together.

21:59Dan Thomas:Yeah, speaking of galvanizing as well, because you think about it, they lost that first Classico this season in La Liga, and then they've only lost at Stamford Bridge to Chelsea in the Champions League since then. What you're seeing with this team, going back to the cohesion and the unit side of things, is that even if it isn't the best day of one of your better players. The other players are stepping off and being counted. And again, you're depending on the players to deliver for you. Think of Joan Garcia and the pressure of Joan Garcia going back to Espanol and all the buildup on that game. And Joan Garcia was the MVP of that match where he's making save here.

22:30And they find a win. And I save there. And I save here. And I save over there. Because most times as a goalkeeper, when you have a great game, you don't win. So what you're able to do is have a great game against your former club. When you get caught in a rat. Yes, but when your team isn't playing particularly as well as you expect them to do, so it's now his turn to help the team, and then they get a late goal and they win. And look, what has been clear, because you just mentioned the first classical that we watched, this was back October 26th. Since then, Barcelona has taken off. And it didn't seem like that was going to be the case.

23:05It felt like it was Real Madrid in full control of La Liga, and that has just disappeared. So while Barcelona seems to be trending in the right direction, trending upwards, Real Madrid, not so much. And while this Supercopa de España may be sort of framed by Real Madrid and Real Madrid supporters as a positive step, as a step forward, let's not forget that we're hanging on against Atletico Madrid in the semifinals. So we can shape the argument however we want to. The truth is that Barcelona continues to win, and Real Madrid has a lot of work to be done.

23:38Dan Thomas:Luis Garcia, we're going to let you go to bed, but you get the final say on the winners' Barcelona tonight.

23:44Alejandro Moreno:No, nothing. I think the guys just breaking down very well. I think that this Barcelona right now is stronger than a few months back. I think they understand that they're working together, that rotation is working. The manager's message is getting into the field. Today, we didn't even mention about Gerard Martin, that he was the perfect partner for Cubarsino long ago. and now it's Eric Garcia and the team is still working in the same way. It doesn't matter who is playing in the middle, who is playing up front. Rotation are working. Rashford came on in the second half and in a fantastic job, even though it was closer also to to score once or twice.

24:18Alejandro Moreno:So I think that the direction, the strength and determination of this team is in the right direction. We have to wait and see because anything, any game, any any moment can be a turning point and go to the other one. We've seen it so far with Real Madrid, with Atletico Madrid and also with this Barcelona at the beginning of the season. So strong Barcelona win, and I think that right now they are in a good situation to feel that they can be challenging once again for every single trophy. Yes, and we'll be following it closely. True professional, Luis, by the way. True professional. Because you know, you know within his heart and soul, he's enjoying this quite a bit.

24:53Dan Thomas:He's going to dance back to his room now. But yes, there we go. Congratulations to Barcelona on winning the Supercopa. They will be back in action in the Copa del Rey last 16 against Racing Santander on Thursday. Day before that, Albacete will be taking on Real Madrid. You can catch both of those games on ESPN+. Do you know what the scariest sound to hear on the factory floor is? Silence. That means something somewhere broke. Production has stopped and now you're paying workers to wait while the team troubleshoots and fixes the problem. Finally, there's a proactive way to reduce equipment downtime thanks to MaintainX.

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26:41Dan Thomas:Manchester United hosted Brighton in the FA Cup third round. It was a game they would lose. Brian Gruder and Danny Welbeck caught Brighton ahead. Danny Welbeck, by the way, a former Manchester United player, a sooner from him. Benyman Chesco made it a little tense towards the end, nodding in from a Fernandez corner. We also saw a red card for 18-year-old Shea Lacey. But in the end, it means Manchester United are eliminated from the third round of the FA Cup for just the third time since the 84-85 campaign. Let's hear from Darren Fletcher speaking after the game. It's been a difficult period for them in terms of a lot of games with a thin squad.

27:18So there's a lot of tired legs. But for me, they gave them all and they're going to have to regroup and come together. A lot to play from the Premier League. Did you think when it went 2-1 we might have seen a famous Old Trafford ending again? That's what I know, so I felt like the crowd was up, I felt like the players were in a good place and you almost felt like if we can get a few more opportunities to get the ball in the box it might happen because this stadium is special for that and I've got great memories of that. Unfortunately it wasn't me today. In terms of going behind, can you see the confidence levels drop?

27:43Are they a little bit fragile at the moment? Well they are, but they've got to get away from it. You could see that once they conceded the goal it was difficult for them to respond and it took them a while to get themselves back onto their feet. but that only changes with winning football matches and going on a run and for me you've got to dig deep to win football matches first it's not going to be from the football, it's going to be from rolling your sleeves up working hard, coming together as a team finding a way to grind out or winning a game ugly at times from there your football can develop and you can go on a winning run and you can build confidence

28:13Dan Thomas:Gab Marcotti joining us now and the problems continue to build for Manchester United, Gab?

28:21They do, they didn't need this obviously this means that there's nothing left to play for this season, except for the Premier League. But I think in some ways, if you're Darren Fletcher, you want to try to turn a negative into a positive. Make lemons with your lemonade, if you will, which is basically that it's a transition. You're building towards something. You're going to select a new manager. These players who are out there, they have a goal. And that goal is to get United into the Champions League for next season. no excuses, no distractions, no European football, no FA Cup, no League Cup, no nonsense.

28:57And now you can laser in. I think it's pretty much the only message you can give. I don't think United played that badly today. I think there were some positives to take, but obviously it's another blow.

29:08Dan Thomas:Yeah, and Casey, when you look at what's ahead for them, they've got Manchester City at Old Trafford coming up at the weekend and then a trip the following Sunday to face Arsenal. So it's not about to get any easier. No, it's not. But we've been hearing this for how many years now with Manchester United? It's a transition period. The new manager will come in. They'll, we'll give them some time for their transition to be able to. And sometimes the rhetoric has to stop. And I think everybody wants, well, I guess not everybody, but a lot of people want to see the Manchester United that I was used to playing against.

29:48That you were the Alex Ferguson Manchester United. Where is that next transition going to turn into reality? And because right now the reality is Manchester United are not a Champions League team, that Gab suggests the focus is there to go on and become that. And if you hear Darren Fletcher, and you see in the caption, interim manager, and he's being asked about the players and about the game, he referred to Manchester United players not as we, not as we the team, but they. They need to get over this. They need to be ready to play. They need to be able to overcome difficulties in a game. Almost as if to say, look, I'm here for now, but really this is not my problem.

30:43This is somebody else's problem, and I'll take care of this for as long as you want me to, but they, they. So who takes responsibility? Because if the interim manager is saying, it's going to be somebody else's problem, and then the players are not taking responsibility of their own performances, this is why it gives you an insight as to why this club is where they are. Everybody's like, it must be Amorim. It must be that guy. It must be Ten Hag. It must be them. It must be they. And you continue to see the same things over and over and over again.

31:22Dan Thomas:Well, it's not his problem. But whose problem is it going to be, Gab? Is it Ole Gunnar Solskjaer? Is it Michael Carrick who is taking over from them? Not us, them.

31:34Personally, I think obviously a lot of the buzz has been, I think probably also fueled by a lot of the former Manchester United players who kind of populate the punditocracy and the commentariat seems to be about Michael Carrick or Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Personally, I think if you're going to go interim, you go interim. If you bring in Michael Carrick, I think you have to give him the job and not just say, hey, you're here to fill the seat till the end of the season. Solskjaer been there, done that. What, you're going to learn from your mistake in the past where he won a few games and suddenly said, oh yeah, he's the right man.

32:11Let's give him the job on a permanent basis when clearly that didn't work out. Certainly the noises that are coming is that, well, we can look at one of these guys through the end of the season and that'll buy us time to go and select the manager that we really want, bearing in mind that there's obviously many more managers you can pick from if you make a change in the summer and if you plan it out. Problem is, we've been here before. That's what happens when you sack a guy or maybe he sacks himself in mid-season.

32:43Dan Thomas:But they're not in such a bad spot in the table. Yeah, well. Like if you're looking at who could take over and have this job to be attractive for. Yeah, so there's a way to formulate that argument, to package that argument and say, hey, look at you. The feeling about this club is very low, and yet, if you look at the standings, there's a run to be made. And while you can package that argument to whoever this next manager is going to be, it's difficult to package that argument to a Manchester United fan who's sitting there in Old Trafford today and seen Danny Welbeck score goals against you. And you can't get past that.

33:20This is the reality of this club. that Danny Welbeck, who basically, hey, see you later, not quite good enough to be here, is now thriving somewhere else and coming into ultra-offering scoring goals that eliminate you from the FA Cup. That is the reality. And so, yes, you can package the conversation.

33:42Dan Thomas:Or Marcus Rashford winning the Supercopa. Or Marcus Rashford, hey, hey, hey, hey, winning the Supercopa de España and thriving, thriving. A guy who was basically training with the reserves over there is like, no, he's not good enough to be here. He's got to go over there. It's hard to make an argument for the whole structure of Manchester United right now and for that argument to be believed by anybody that can actually look at the facts. Arsenal were at Fratton Park to take on Portsmouth for their FA Cup tie. They actually went behind in this game, but not for long. Soon enough, they would equalize from an own goal, and then Gabriel Martinelli would go on to score a hat-trick to make it 4-1.

34:24Dan Thomas:After the game, Archirintos caught up with Mikel Arteta. Mikel, how would you sum up that performance and that game in the end? Well, we are in the next round, we are very happy because it's never easy. And we started the game exactly how we didn't want to, giving them momentum, hope and an early goal. But it's true that after that, we reacted, even though the first start was a bit scrappy scrappy and the conditions obviously were quite tough to play the game that we wanted. We improved in the second half and then the margins became much bigger. Can you talk to me about how your players negotiate these kind of conditions?

35:00Because at no point did your players seem phased by anything. Of course, this season you've only lost two games. But just even when Nani Madueka was taking the penalty, just seeing the way that Gabriel was talking to Ethan Wanieri saying, hey, these are the things you need to do. Can you just talk me through that? Well, the players are taking another step in terms of ownership and initiative. And you can see that we knew that today was going to be very rainy, big atmosphere, windy and difficult. And you need to embrace that. You want to win this competition, you have to come to these grounds and do the things that have to be done to win the game.

35:37And we've done it. And the moment that our quality showed up a little bit, the margins were bigger. In terms of the danger that you pose from set pieces, everybody knows it and no one can stop it. And just hearing the way that the opposition fans are ironically cheering when they successfully defend a set piece from your team, that's kind of a mark of respect, I guess. How do you see it? Yeah, obviously there is a massive weapon for us there. And when we're executing it, the consistency that we showed and the quality to what we have to do, makes it very difficult for opponents. So good to have a very direct way of scoring goals that is very efficient.

36:17Dan Thomas:Yeah, granted they're against lower opposition today, but those set pieces are serving them well, even against their peers in the Premier League, Casey. Yeah, when you play for a team that scores a lot of goals on set pieces, you always feel like at any time there's a foul, there's a corner, there's a chance and it's so much more difficult. You think of like the now the trend of got to play on the back. You got to what's easier to score on a set piece if you're good at it or 40 pass combination from your goalkeeper to put the ball in the back of the net. So I think it gives any team a ton of confidence knowing at any time you win a set piece or you win a corner, you have a great chance of scoring.

36:59And it also puts stress on the other teams that they are conditioned now to basically tell themselves we cannot give up a corner kick. We cannot give up an opportunity because it feels that every time there's a corner kick, Arsenal grows in confidence and the other team grows in fear, whoever the opposition is. It doesn't even matter whether it's Sportsman or somebody in the Premier League. Whenever Arsenal gets a corner kick, now they're to the point to where it is fearful defending. Rather than commanding defending, it is fearful defending. And you're hanging on and hoping that the service is not good.

37:36If the service is good and the movement is good, and they seem to have 27 set plays coming out of corner kicks, and they're able to execute, which is the most important thing, because I don't care how good of an assistant coach you have that focuses on set pieces, as a set-piece coach, if you don't have the service and you don't have the movement and you don't have the quality of the players, all of this is for naught. And so the first thing is that the service is always there. And in this particular game, it was complicated. And it was the set-pieces that got them out of trouble. And we have seen this with this Arsenal team, that it is set-pieces that at times is able to get them out of trouble.

38:14And that's just as valid as a combination play would be. For them, this goal is kind of exactly the same. and they continue to be a threat. That's undeniable.

38:23Dan Thomas:Yes, and Kai Havertz is back. He made his return from injury today. So things could be about to get even better for Arsenal. Let's get you caught up on more FA Perfection. We saw West Ham taking on QPR today. We're taking it to the very late stages of the first half. There have been 10 minutes of injury time added due to an injury to Mavropanos, and this is where we would see Somerville score. That second touch that he takes with his rifle that I'm not sure that he meant to take actually worked out for him finds the finish with the left foot but this would be the equalizer for QPR through Richard Cone yeah again good whip in good header 98 minute though because we are in extra time here and it is going to be Valentin Castellanos just arriving from Lazio earlier this week to seal the deal the turn of Somerville is fantastic and then the service puts it onto the Tati Castellanos, former NYCFC player in Major League Soccer, now thriving at West Ham.

39:20Thriving.

39:21Dan Thomas:West Ham finally ending a run of 10 matches without a win. These are some of the results from the day as well. The upset on the day was Mansfield Town from League One claiming the name of a championship side in Sheffield United. No such problems for Norwich City today against Warsaw. As you can see here, West Brom and Hull City both advancing following penalty shootouts over Swansea and Blackburn, respectively. More FA Cup action coming up tomorrow in the form of Liverpool against Barnsley. You can catch that at 2.15 p.m. Eastern on ESPN+. As you know, managing maintenance, repair and operations is never easy.

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40:33Alejandro Moreno:Then there's Mr. Pibb. Sweet cherry, bold outbursts. The kind of flavour that gets attention. Bold kick of cherry. Hey yo, Mr. Pibb.

40:44Dan Thomas:It was a top of the table clash today in Italy as Inter took on Napoli. It was Inter who'd go ahead through Federico Di Marco in the ninth minute, but Scott McTominay would level things out in the 26th minute. In the second half we see Amir Rahmani late with a challenge on Mkhitaryan. That would give Inter a penalty. Chanalalu took that penalty and scored to make it 2-1. Antonio Conte was furious and sent off for his protest. But in the 81st he would have been a bit happier to see Scott McTominay score another. The game would finish 2-2. It is Inter who are sitting top of the table. Milan dropping more points today in their game against Fiorentina.

41:22Dan Thomas:And this is how things are looking at the top of the table. But what's the story from this game, Gab Marcotti? I think the story is that that penalty to Inter was so infuriated. Antonio Conte, Rachmani and Mkhitaryan. Look, we know that the trend has been if you step on an opponent's foot, then it's a foul. It's the kind of anywhere else on the pitch argument. This was in the penalty area. However, I think what really bugged Conte is that it wasn't given by the referee who saw it as sort of like a natural challenge. Inevitably, if you play football at any level, at some point you will step on another dude's foot or he will step on yours.

42:07And that doesn't make it a foul. And it certainly doesn't make it a penalty. And I think Conte was incensed that VAR came back in and basically forced the referee to look at this. and then the referee Doveri at that point felt he had no choice but to give the penalty which obviously Cananogo converted. Now when you have McTominay in Serie A you're never out of it and they got that late equaliser but Conte not happy at all today as we saw.

42:34Dan Thomas:Inter sitting top of the table as it stands though right now Gab and obviously we've seen it a bit closer. Are they going to pull away and win the title this year? But they certainly have the talent to do it. I think, and they have the squad. A lot depends on who goes further in the Champions League and how long are they going to compete, them and Napoli. Obviously, Milan don't have this issue. But I think this is a really well-drilled machine. I think they've added a dimension since Christian Kivu came. They're not afraid to say, give us the ball. we're going to try to go and beat you rather than being reactive like a number of teams in City are.

43:17So they can go and press you high, they can sit, they can beat you many different ways. But I think today they got a real scare from Napoli. I mean, forget the penalties. I thought Napoli certainly in that intermediate period of the game, sort of from the equalizer right up until the penalty, it certainly felt to me like the momentum shifted. and it looked as if Inter were outplayed there. But again, Inter, never say die, they get back into it and then of course McTominay with the equalizer at the end. So I think if you're Kivu, you realize this team can get better and this team probably needs to get better if they're going to win the title.

43:54Dan Thomas:Yeah, no doubt more talk about Conte's outburst on the latest Gab and Jules podcast that will drop tomorrow so you can hear more from Gab and Jules wherever you get your podcasts. Score more with the college-branded Venmo debit card and earn up to 5 % cash back with Venmo Stash. Got paid back? With the Venmo debit card you can instantly access your balance and spend on what you want, like game day snacks, gear, tickets, and more. The more you do, the more cash back you can earn. Plus, there's no monthly fee or minimum balance. Sign up now at Venmo.com slash college card. The Venmo MasterCard is issued by the Bancorp Bank N.A.

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44:52Dan Thomas:Bayern Munich increased their lead at the top of the Bundesliga table with an 8-1 win over Wolfsburg. We saw goals in this game from Michael Alise, Luis Diaz, Harry Kane in on the action as well. They even benefited, not like they needed to, from a couple of own goals. Let's hear from Harry Kane speaking after the game. You waited a little bit and then scored an absolute dream goal. Tell us about that scene and how you hit that ball with your foot. Yeah, it was one of those where obviously Lucho played me the ball and the space just kind of opened up and I always feel like in that kind of left half position I can use the defender to kind of bend it around him.

45:28This one obviously come off perfect and couldn't have been any more top corner maybe. So, of course, looks nice on the camera, but a goal's a goal, so I'll take it no matter how they come.

45:39Dan Thomas:And there we go. Bayern Munich riding high at the top of the table. It certainly is over, but let me just show you, it is not only exclusive to Barcelona that I ask this today. Champions League is what's got to be on their mind. That's what they're focusing on now. Have they got the team to do it? Yes. No question. And again, I think when we get into those quarterfinals finals and you've got you know eight very good sides who then is has that togetherness has that moment has the the stars that rise to the occasion to be able to put you over the top the only thing my question mark will be will Byron be in such a cruise control mode that when they do get pressed in those knockout stages is the mentality there because it's been so easy this season in the Bundesliga?

46:33My concern with Bayern Munich is actually an area that some people may think is an area of strength for them, and that is the midfield. You have Kimmich, Pavlovich, sometimes Koretska, sometimes Conrad Leimer. Maybe there will be a return of Jamal Musiala, who will lift this team, but he's more of an attacking presence. If you match that midfield that I just mentioned, those players against Frankie De Jong, Pedri, Fermin Lopez, or maybe Rafinha drops into there, or maybe Dani Olmo drops into there, or maybe you push Eric Garcia into that area of the field. Look, I think in that case, in that matchup in particular, Barcelona are superior.

47:18And those are the sort of conversations that you need to have when you're talking about, well, you're playing against Arsenal, or you're playing against PSG. That's the competition that we're talking about, and that's the comparison that we're talking about. Now, they have everything you need in order to make a deep run, and the X factor is going to be not Harry Kane, not Luis Diaz, not Michael Elise, indeed the return of Jamal Musiala. Because if he's able to play that role underneath, it frees Harry Kane to stay in a more central position, still could be more of a playmaker, but it gives another player that people have to pay attention to.

47:58And alongside Jamal Musiala, I would also say the growth and maturation process of Lennar Carr. If he continues to grow at the level that we have seen so far, then them too can be the difference makers that they may just need in order to make a difference in the final stages of the competition. But yes, they're very much a thing that will be there or thereabouts.

48:18Dan Thomas:Okay, we've got a little bit of women's football to show you now because Man City took on Everton. And here's what happened in that game. They've been pretty strong, and they've showed their appetite for going the distance this year. Carolyn who gets the opener here. Does a lot of good work down the right-hand side, and then the deflection helps as well, 1-0. And then we're going to see Vivian Medema getting the second, so it's a goal either side. Too much time and space when she collects the first ball. It was everybody dropped off, gave her the opportunity to make the nice little pass centrally.

48:52Dan Thomas:And this is how things are looking in the standings, and as you can see, things are going very well for Man City as it stands right now. That's all we've got time for in the latest edition of ESPN FC, but Extra Time is on the way. Next, Gab will be joining us to answer your questions, and Ale and Casey are thinking around.

49:14Dan Thomas:Hello and welcome into the latest edition of Extra Time. We've got Casey and Ale here in the studio. Gab is with us as well. And we've got the questions to ask you on what's been a big day of football action. So let's get to it because we've had to talk through eight goals in Bayern's game today. All right, Ale, after today, do you think people will finally see that sleeping on Rafinha is a crime? Is anyone actually doing that? A couple of years ago, maybe. Maybe a couple of years ago. Maybe Hansi Flick would argue that those that selected, I think it was the best 11 or something like that. Oh, yeah.

49:45He wasn't included. Maybe that's the direction this question is taking. I actually think that, and I'll challenge anybody to find any other player at the highest level, that has taken his profile from where it was to where it is now. Rafinha was borderline on his way out of Barcelona because it was felt that he wasn't quite the player that he thought he was going to, or that they thought he was going to be. and has now turned that into he was on his way out to now he's on his way in to staying, to being the captain and being not only a key contributor, but an impactful player, both for Barcelona and now his national team in Brazil as well.

50:29He has taken his profile to an entirely different level.

50:32Dan Thomas:And we're hearing in the press conference from him today that he said he would have gone had Hanti Flick not came in. That's what encouraged him to stick around. And obviously it's been a match made in heaven between player and coach. Okay, Gab, who leaves Real Madrid first? Vinny Jr. or Xabi Alonso? I know what Casey thinks of this. Ooh.

50:53Well, that's a good question. I think the reality is, as we saw in the summer, there isn't a massive market for Vinny for the simple reason that he makes a ton of money and the teams that can afford them either have other options who play the same position and there aren't very many teams that can afford them. So I think this ends up with him sticking around. And so therefore by inertia, I think it's more likely that it's going to be Xavi Alonso. Not because he's necessarily going to be a failure, but because you could see Vini sticking around endlessly, kind of the way Gareth Bale did. and maybe carving himself out that position where, you know, he plays well in a couple of big games, he turns things for you and you can't really move him because he makes too much money.

51:49Whereas Xabi Alonso becomes expensable. I mean, you look at the fury that was vented against him just before Christmas and probably what he's going to face now after losing the Super Cup despite the fight back and whatever. So yeah, I'm going to say Vinny will outlast Charlie Alonso. Also because I'm not in charge of Real Madrid.

52:12Dan Thomas:What did you say, Casey? Yeah, I think that makes a clear point. They don't want to give Vinny Jr. away. And is Vinny ready to go to Saudi Arabia, which might be the place that would pay the money to get him? But also you have to understand, And it's not as if Vinny is going to be an easy person to put into your locker room. You've seen that he's always wanting to fight somebody. And sometimes other clubs think, is that the personality we want to bring in? You have to be better than one goal in your last 17 matches to deal with that personality. And with the price tag, yeah, I agree with Gab. I think unfortunately it's a lot easier to say, hey, let's change the manager and see if he can get this player playing back the way we know he's capable of playing.

53:09And not that Vinny Jr. needed to audition for the Saudi League. But if indeed you take this match as an audition, this final, for the Saudi League, and whatever team was willing to pay ridiculous money, that ridiculous money is times, times, times after the performance in this final. That number grows exponentially. And so if indeed they put forth an offer that is just ridiculous, both for Real Madrid and the player, maybe Vinny says, well, I'll tell you what, I can get used to. playing in Saudi Arabia. And Real Madrid will be more than happy to cash on that and sort of pivot and move away from the Vinny experience.

54:00But that's a huge decision to be making. And I don't know that Xavi Alonso outlasts Vinny in order to have the power to make that decision.

54:08Dan Thomas:All right. Ale, is anybody other than Manchester United fans surprised with the results versus Brighton today? No, I don't think Manchester United fans are surprised themselves. Even Manchester United fans in losing to Brighton, they're now like, Man, I'll tell you what. Never saw this coming. I think now there is real fear, and has been for a while, within Manchester United fans that it doesn't matter who we play, when we play, or where we play them. There's an opportunity that we may lose this game. And even though their standings in the Premier League is not all that bad, I think there's this just this black cloud that is just hanging over this team that doesn't seem to go anywhere.

54:56That has just stayed on top of them and it doesn't matter what changes you make. It's just always raining. Always raining. And again, Manchester United don't seem to be going anywhere anytime fast. I mean, it is always raining in Manchester. Well, like I said, always raining.

55:13Dan Thomas:The better job at the moment, Gab, managing Manchester United or Chelsea? Ooh.

55:24Okay, look, I would have thought Manchester United, and I think for the reason that, obviously, it is a bigger club and they'll probably pay you more money, but I think if you get it right at Manchester United, you can shape the direction the club is going, and you can shape it from a manager's perspective. I think Chelsea is a different situation. At Chelsea, you have to marry the model that Badadig Bali and the other owners have put out there, and that is buy young players, develop them, financialize them, move them, trade them, and you're kind of on this sort of constant treadmill. So for that reason, I think there is, well that and the fact that United are a bigger club, I would say there's more of an upside at Manchester United.

56:17Now, if you're asking me, what's the better club to manage if you want to win another piece of silverware, then I'll tell you it's probably going to be Chelsea. But as a manager, if you want to build something longer term and kind of do your own thing, it has to be Manchester United. I think the answer is who's going to give you the best payout when you get fired? Because that seems to be the pattern right now. Because nobody seems to be able to stay there long enough to build what Gab wants them to build. And I think it's crazy how you look at the unbelievable stability of Manchester United under Sir Alex.

56:57What Mourinho was able to do at two different times with Chelsea. and now it's just a constant marigold round. The only reason I would say Chelsea is because in the end managers depend heavily on the players and the quality of players that you have available and I think that Chelsea has a better group available, although extensive a better group available than that of Manchester United and so you depend on the material that you have available, I think Chelsea has better material right now

57:26Dan Thomas:Extensive is an understatement, right? Chelsea. Okay, Gab, is Scott McTominay already the best player in Serie A again?

57:36He's certainly up there. For me, I would probably go with somebody like Lautaro, but it's close. He's certainly in that conversation and I think what really sets him apart isn't just the goals and the leadership, it's also been the adaptability. When players went down, when he had to play deeper, go back to the Manchester United position and kind of in front of the back four. He went and he did that. When he needs to score goals, become like the de facto centre forward because the other centre forward is Rasmus Hoyland, who's not exactly Mr. Prolific. He goes and he does that. His adaptability, his embrace of Naples, of the city, of the club, his willingness to follow very detailed orders from Antonio Conte, all of this stuff together with his productivity tells you he's really a very, very special player who's come on in leaps and bounds.

58:37Funny what can happen. I mean, Ali's right what he says before. You need the good players. Yeah, you also need good managers who know what they're doing with you to get the best out of somebody. He didn't have the luxury of that, certainly in his latter years at Manchester United. I don't know that Gav has a soft spot for many people. He has a soft spot for Scott McTominay. Anytime I hear Gav talking about McTominay, it's like he preps. It's like, all right, he strains up a little bit. He sits up a little bit and gets all excited. You see the smirk, you see the smile. I like Gav in a good mood.

59:09I like Gav in a good mood. It's hard not to. He's been so good. It's coming there.

59:17Dan Thomas:Yep. Casey and Gavin, I'll bring Ale into this one as well because we've heard Cain talking about this in an interview. Why does the nearly 33-year-old Cain insist on playing as a deep-lying playmaker for Bayern? Is he trying to show us that he's a great overall footballer? It makes no sense as he's there to score goals and isn't getting any younger. Go ahead. I mean, Cain, I think, always played that role. Even at Tottenham, he would drop a little bit. Now he'd play it wide and then kind of be that late run into the box. and I think he still shows that when it needs to. But I think Ali made the point earlier when he said when Musiala comes back, there won't be maybe as important for Kane to then have to drop back and be that playmaker.

1:00:04So, you know, I think most of us enjoy a player that's able to do what the team needs you to do at that point in time. Gab talked about it with McTominay. And I think at this point in time with Musiala out, for Bayern, it helps because in the end, it doesn't matter who's scoring the goals and who's facilitating them, but you need that balance. What did we talk about that with Real Madrid today? That without Mbappe, who wears that balance? Barcelona, the balance is there that it doesn't have to be just the one person. And I think at Bayern Munich right now, Kane is like more than happy. I mean, you saw in the highlights, Canes one-on-one could have shot.

1:00:51I said, ah, no, here, I'll just kind of pass it over here for the tap-in. And I love that player, that unselfishness. Well, I would have an issue with his willingness or this variety of his game to go in a deeper position and be getting balls from center backs and actually spraying balls over the top if somehow that would affect his productivity in the final third. Last time I checked, Harry Kane is scoring like a thousand goals at Bayern Munich. So the productivity is not suffering. So what I'm thinking is actually he's added more variety to his game. While he did do it at Spurs, now he's doing it from even deeper positions.

1:01:33There is hold-up play. There is combination play, switching the point of attack. In fact, he is giving you the full gamut of skill set and he's showing it to everybody, but he's not doing it because he wants to show it to everybody. He's doing it because it's what Bayern Munich requires from him and Vincent Kompany requires from him at the time. And again, more importantly, it doesn't sacrifice his productivity. When you need a tap-in, he's still there to provide you the tap-in. Gab? Yeah, just two things to add to that. I completely agree. One is it makes sense within the functionality of the team because you have wingers like Luis Diaz or Michael Alise or Gnabry or whatever who are very good and are prolific goal scorers themselves who can run past you.

1:02:24It doesn't do you much good to have a center forward dropping off if there's nobody then occupying that space that he vacates. The other thing is, and I say this with the greatest of love and respect for the Bundesliga, Bayern Munich are playing a slightly different sport when they're there. Because they often face teams that go and put a bunch of people behind the ball and then the penalty area is clogged. So then Harry Kane can either sit there and wait for balls to come into the box and then score, or he can actually go and get the box, try to move his markers out of position and so on. If Bayern played a transition game where they're sitting and playing on the counter and he had space ahead of him to run behind, sure, maybe he would occupy a more central position.

1:03:16But I think given the way they play and given the way their opposition plays in most games, it makes a lot of sense for him to go and find space. There we go. Thank you. I do like the handle here, the macaroni and chiesa. That's nice. Nice, right? I don't know if it works. But I like the effort.

1:03:34Dan Thomas:Yeah, the effort's there. That's very negative from you. I mean, you know what it is? Italian husband. No, yeah, I don't. Well, listen, let's put it to an actual Italian. Are you happy with macaroni and chiesa? Gab? I mean, if most people actually know that his name is Chiesa and not Cheeza, maybe if there was some doubt about that, maybe it would be kind of funny. Okay. Oh yeah, there's that aspect too. Chiesa literally means church, of course, which, you know, some people may have some issue with that, but hey, I'm fine. He gets points for effort. Points for effort. It's cute. You know, it's a nice effort.

1:04:16Dan Thomas:Yeah, tough audience today, let's say. Well, you, you, you. Yes. Not them, me, us, we. All right, thank you so much for sending in your questions. Barcelona, great victory, but can they win the Champions League? Yes, what a caterer. Listen, I like to, you know, push these teams. They've got the potential, they've got the ability, let them do it. All right, okay. Macaroni and Chiesa for everybody.

1:05:13We'll be right back. ESPN.com to learn how to access your account or sign up, then start streaming in the ESPN app. It's all of ESPN, all in one place. Sign up or activate now.