Barcelona's Late Winner

23:45Dan Thomas:But he got inspired by your luck in Mallorca at the beginning of the season. And it worked for him and he won on the day. Brilliant stuff, guys. Everyone is a winner. But given that we have mentioned Bayern Munich, who are up next for Real Madrid in the Champions League, I suppose we should check in on how they did today. Oh, sure. Away to Freiburg. 34th minute, we're picking up things here. Manuel Neuer makes a big save here. Let's see. But he didn't really need to put himself out. Well, it's a really good save from Manuel Neuer. We'll see less encouraging signs from Manuel Neuer later on in the match.

24:21Dan Thomas:Yeah, he did turn 40 on the 27th of March. 46th minute here. Manzambi is going to open the scoring. Let me just say that Manuel Norris looked 40. While it is well taken from Manzambi and it goes around Leon Goretzka, I'm guessing that Manuel Norris sees it late, but not even a courtesy drive. He's just looking at it. In the 71st minute, it's Giannicholas Bestey on the corner. It's not dealt with. And so Lucas Hurl is lurking. He scores. Well, Manuel Neuer hunting for butterflies gets there, but it's a missed clearance. Resourceful finish from Lucas Holley. 81st minute, a moment of magic from Tom Bischoff.

25:00Dan Thomas:He's going to reduce the deficit. Usually we see him taking it with his left foot in this particular sequence. He cuts to the inside. They're playing to his left foot and he decides to take it with his right foot. Atobolo doesn't get there. 2-1. And then he would strike again in some style. Did I tell you, Kay, that Tom Bishop usually takes it with his left foot? And man, does he take it well. Atobolo doesn't get their 2-2. Good point for Bayern Munich away from home. Oh, no. Oh, what? No. Wait a minute, what? Lennart Karl gets the winner with the 99th minute on the clock. Of course he does. And he just felt like once Bayern Munich went 2-2, Freiburg were barely hanging on.

25:39Bayern looking for one more sequence in the attack. Good ball from Alphonso Davies. Tapping from my counter range. Bayern Munich, 3-2.

25:45Dan Thomas:Yes, 3-2 it would finish. And Luis Diaz got man of the match today. We didn't see much of him in the highlight, but he was involved in everything for Bayern Munich today. We already know the state of the table in the Bundesliga, but in terms of what's ahead for them, that has got to be a huge morale boost with Real Madrid on the horizon. And now it gets to the thoughts, guys, of that game between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. And looking at the two of them going into it, you can see why Bayern are favourites in this, can't you? No. It's the Champions League and it's Real Madrid. No one is the favourites against Real Madrid ever.

26:22It doesn't matter what's going on. No one is favourites except Real Madrid. Now, in all seriousness, obviously, you look at the way that Real Madrid have played this season and you feel that this should be a game in which Bayern start as favourites. But there is something about Real Madrid, which I think is about the quality of the players and actually something that Mario said earlier. And I've been kind of toying with this theory for such a long time watching Real Madrid in the Champions League. and that is that I think in the Champions League it is a bit different because there is an awareness that actually these teams are as good as us and I think the mindset is different I think the approach is different and I think when you look at some of those amazing comebacks I think sometimes with Real Madrid there's a combination of a superiority complex and not an inferiority complex but the humility to understand that there will be times when we don't dominate this game there will be times when we have to hang on but that superiority bit comes in with them thinking but there will also be a moment when we get our chance and we will take it And I think that's one of the big differences.

27:16And I do think it's about mentality, the difference often between Real Madrid and La Liga and Real Madrid and Europe. And I think you're right. If you look at this rationing, you look at this carefully and you analyse it the way that we shall analyse it, depending maybe in part on whether or not Harry Kane plays. But I think you look at it and think, yeah, possibly Bayern Munich are the stronger side, but it's Real Madrid and it's the Champions League.

27:35Dan Thomas:Mario? Yeah, said perfectly. It's Champions League, Real Madrid. and I think they know that when they play Champions League that if they don't give his 100%, maybe they lose. They are ready to suffer, they are ready to run, they are ready to press, they are ready to give their best and that's what I think makes the difference between Champions League and La Liga for this team because quality they have, good players they have. The problem is that the intensity or the intention to win or they are not so humble in La Liga and in Champions League they are and that's why they are Real Madrid. They have 15 Champions League, I think.

28:15And for me, if you ask me, the favourite is Bayern Munich, but when it's Real Madrid there and in Champions League, it's dangerous.

28:22Dan Thomas:Yes, we will be hearing more from Ale this week on ESPN FC when it comes to this fixture. But thanks so much for being with us, guys, from the stadium today for what was a big one between Athletic and Barcelona. And make sure to check in with Gavin Jules on Monday when their podcast will drop, looking back on everything that has gone down this weekend. But right now, we've got to get ready to hear from our team in LA. A SoFi personal loan is here to help you achieve something once thought impossible, overcoming high interest credit card debt. Walk the tightrope of your finances with one low fixed rate monthly payment, no fees required, and as soon as the same day funding.

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29:51Dan Thomas:It's a special edition of Extra Time. For the latest edition, we're sending it out to our West Coast crew of Alexis, Shaka and Kieran. They'll also be giving us right now a full review of Arsenal's FA Cup upset today. All right, let's get some post Game reaction, here's Mikel Arteta. The two guys. Yeah. What happened? What, from your point of view, was wrong about those two guys? We had a lot of moments. We had so much dominance, so much situations in and around the box. We conceded the first goal in a very unusual way for us when we defended the box. The second one from direct play as well. But they had another chance in the first half, very similar to that, even without touching the ball.

30:31Dan Thomas:And, yeah, when you have that many situations, the final setting around the box, We had two massive chances just before Southampton scores. You need to capitalise on that. Otherwise, if you make the defending errors that we made today, it's very difficult to be in the semi-final. Did they surprise you? I mean, they caused you problems. I know you've talked about the ones you caused them. Surprised, no. No. They're a really good side. They've been in a really good run, and you have to congratulate them. Yeah. And again, not to make excuses, was the conditions a headache, a problem maybe for both teams, but for your back line tonight?

31:05The wind?

31:07Dan Thomas:You have to adapt to the wind, to the injuries, to whatever. You want to be in every competition and win, you have to adapt to any context. And now you have to adapt to difficult situations in the season or disappointing situations because difficult is something else in my opinion. And now I have to show what we are made of. And you had to pick a team maybe out of necessity that doesn't play all the time with each other. Again, is that an excuse? No, it's not. That team had very good moments in certain moments in the game that should have capitalised and been in Wembley, and we haven't done it, so that's our responsibility.

31:39And another headache, your centre-half, Gabriel, coming off injured. What can you tell us?

31:44Dan Thomas:I don't know. He had to come off. Obviously, that's a strength coming from Gabi, but we're going to have to assess and see how he is. And a difficult couple of weeks now, straight into Lisbon. Yes, but some beautiful weeks ahead as well, with what we have to play in the quarterfinals of the Champions League and what we have to play for in the league as well. We look forward to that. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thanks, Matt. All right, Kieran, the floor is yours. What went wrong for Arsenal today? Well, I think from the early signs, from the start, they looked vulnerable from the counterattack, which we haven't seen too much from Arsenal this season.

32:20I think missing Declan Rice was big in that respect. And then I think in terms of offensively, similar to what we've seen already this season. Not a huge amount of dangerous chances created. I thought Max Dalman was a huge positive. I thought everything Arsenal did that was positive came through him. And I thought Martin Odegaard had spells, but I think that chance that he has does a fully fit firing Martin Odegaard, put that away or at least get it on target probably yes um but i think in terms of the overall picture um do i think that this is going to derail them for for the rest of the season no i don't think it will i think if there ever there was a time to have these performances in the last couple of games or these results that the time is now um but but moving forward um i think that we have to get back, the club have to get back to the performances that we've seen that have gotten them this far in terms of, you know, yes being dangerous from set pieces I don't think we saw that enough today and that creativity that has been lacking we need to find it, there are enough players in this squad to cause any team in the domestic league, in Europe big, big problems and he has to get the formula right now.

33:51So a couple of things to pick up on there. One, I think there's been an over-reliance, and we've spoken about it, by Arsenal on set pieces. Nothing today other than the one Martinelli chance, which has kind of come back around, not usually hung up in the boxes, as we've seen from Arsenal, but up against lower league opponents. Listen, I've played in this division. To be successful in this division, you've got to be strong physically. And I think that's what you saw from Southampton in terms of dealing with those set pieces that Arsenal have had so much joy in the Premier League from. At the same time, the interviewer asked about the conditions and Arteta didn't use them as an excuse.

34:26But when you see Gabriel run under a ball, as he did, when you see Ben White run under a ball, as he did, you just wonder if those moments are inevitably what kind of came back to haunt Arsenal. But saying that, to Kieran's points, I felt that at the same time, there were a lot of things that Arsenal didn't do well. I thought that there were spaces through Arsenal's midfield where they just did not have enough cover. Norgard was probably the only defensive-minded, overly defensive-minded midfielder in position for Arsenal. At times, it hasn't been either just passed or ran through Arsenal's midfield, which I have not been able to identify.

35:05I can't see when Arsenal... I've seen a team do that to Arsenal. But at the same time, and while, yes, this is the FA Cup, and if you told Arsenal fans at the start of the season, the only title they'll win is the Premier League, they would have taken it. But given how dominant they'd been all season long in every single competition, now in successive games, you find yourself out of two. You've gone from talking about doing a quadruple to now talking about, now we focus on the league. And given a lot of the discourse around this national team, around the fact that we've not seen them win a title for very long, you just cannot help but wonder how does that pressure affect this team i thought they needed this game to bounce back from what we saw a couple weeks ago and all of a sudden arteta is having more work to do you've now got a sporting uh bournemouth sporting in the champions league then manchester city who do not play the champions league themselves after that you've got newcastle united in the next three or four weeks we could be having a very different conversation about Arsenal, but it's all about how Arteta handles this movement, how, as a team, they handle the pressure.

36:19Yeah, Kieran, we speak so much about Arsenal's mentality and what it needs to be like if they want to win multiple pieces of silverware this season. You look at that running of games that they do have, and now you look at their last two games, and they've been ousted in two cup competitions. How much is that going to play on them for this running? Well, at this stage of the season, this is where things change the fastest, you know, Because they've been in these competitions all the way up until this point. And then you have, within the space of, like you say, two weeks, you're out of two competitions.

36:49And so it all of a sudden looks a lot different. Many people were talking about them winning a quadruple. But I think now the writing is on the wall. There's two competitions left. They had a great Champions League campaign so far. They're in an amazing position in the Premier League. and the time is now. The time is now to perform, to block out all of the outside noise that's going to come off of the back of this. We all know how much everyone enjoys to see Arsenal fall short. And listen, I've been in teams that have been on the wrong side and fallen short. I know how it feels and how painful it can be.

37:31But this is such a unique opportunity that they find themselves in and they have the ability to write themselves into the history books forever. It's been over two decades since winning the Premier League, and they need to see that as a positive, that they get the chance. They are the chosen ones to be in the position to change that. I think, personally, they have the character, they have the quality, and they have got themselves in this position for a reason. it's interesting to see what Mikel will do with the squad now because he's gotten this far because he's used a certain formula to get there and now that the results haven't been there the last couple of weeks what will he do will he tinker the squad a little bit and the start of 11 I'm sure once we see Declan Rice come back into the starting lineup things will shore up defensively and there will be less holes in the midfield and then that forward line can they click?

38:36Can they click? Because when they do, if you look at the likes of Martinelli, Saka, Trossard, Eze's missing, but obviously you have Giocarez up there. When these players are firing, very few people can stop them. Has Dolman, given his performance today, given Arteta a reason to change that formula? Well, I think given the performance today, yes, because obviously everything that Arsenal did today came through him. And he was one of the bright sparks in today's otherwise pretty average performance. Will he go and put that pressure on him in the Premier League, in the Champions League? Remains to be seen.

39:15Does he look ready to handle that pressure? I think he looks ready. I think he's not a player that really plays the occasion. He plays the game and what's in front of him. And I think that that's why he's such a special talent, because he has the ability to take in a lot of information and have his speed of thought and execution is so high to at least get into the opponent's box or get a corner. And that is what he's been so good at. Will he go and put him in these next few Champions League and Premier League games when he's used a certain formula that hasn't involved him as much up until this point?

39:58for me no I don't think he I don't think he will rely heavily on him he'll probably get him in in the squad and get him involved and put him on if he if he really needs to you know maybe if he's trying to find they're trying to find an answer and they just can't I think that's how he will be used but at the same time he's he himself personally has made a case to play in these big games that are coming yeah he is absolutely a joy to watch it's a shame that He will not be in the semifinals of this FA Cup as Arsenal crash out Southampton will be there. And so will Chelsea as they took on Port Vale earlier on today.

40:33And strap yourselves in because this was an absolute goal fest, wasn't it? And Chelsea just needed two minutes on the clock to take the lead. Well, it's a perfect start for Chelsea. I think disappointed from Port Vale point of view. Don't deal with the corner from a first and second phase. and it's a bright start from a Chelsea point of view. 25th minute, Pedro Neto here leaving the defender, finding João Pedro, waits for his moment and puts it in the back of the net 2-0. Ball just held over into space. Neto does really well to shrug aside the attention of the defender. João Pedro does really well to shrug aside the attention of the defender.

41:11Just before half-time now, good team move from Chelsea. Nice work from Malagusto here who crosses it into the box. a rebound falls to Cole Palmer he thinks he has it but it's more of an own goal Kieran yeah I think it's going wide yeah it's going wide it's unfortunate for the defender but it's a wonderful wonderful link up play from uh from Chelsea and Gustav into the second half well the goals kept coming for Chelsea as Malagusta crosses it to Tosin who heads it in to uh Gustav just hangs the ball up Tosin powerful header again ball just hung up powerful header powerful header indeed 82nd minute.

41:48Garnacho would hit the post and then Estevão taps in the rebound. Great inside run from Garnacho. Devastating on the counter. Does really well here as well to get the better and get inside the box and make the defender commit the foul. I'm sure he'll be happy with his contribution and his cameo today, Garnacho. Yep, he absolutely steps up, converts the penalty and Chelsea win this one 7-0. Let's hear from Liam Rossigno. Created such good chances. 11 shots on target, 7 goals. Your team was clinical, weren't they? Yeah, that's what happened. You've got the quality of play that we do and they arrive in the areas that we spoke about before the game.

42:31That can happen. I wish Port Vale all the best as well. It's a massive day for them. And I wish John and his players really well. Look, a difficult international break for you, the managing player situations. How much did today show the togetherness? and is that just what you needed heading into what will be a difficult run of fixtures? It's difficult from the outside. It's not as difficult as probably people think from the inside. I know what the players are giving. I know what they want to achieve as a group. And yeah, it was a good first step in terms of the running for the season. Manchester City up next, then Manchester United.

43:05Has today set you up well for those that the habit of scoring goals, winning a football match? Yeah, that was the kind of the idea today in terms of giving the players confidence, He's playing at home. I'm a good feeling. And, yeah, I'm delighted with how today's gone. We know we have a really tough test next week, but it's one that we can achieve something really good in. Liam, well done. Thank you. All right, so a big win for Chelsea in the semifinals of the FA Cup. This is exactly what they needed because there was so much outside noise after comments from the likes of Cucurea as well as Enzo Fernandes.

43:35Enzo Fernandes now being dropped for this game and the game against Manchester City. But this is what Liam Rossini needed. Well, they needed a reason to not be talking about what we've heard and seen over the last couple of weeks. Now, you come up against a team that's bottom of League One, you do as Chelsea did at Stamford Bridge, that's the least you could expect. At least it quietens things until the next game comes. This performance, this result, doesn't really do an awful lot to cover over the cracks that we've been witnessing within that dressing room. and to the interviewer's questions, you've now got the two Manchester clubs to come.

44:12That's where Liam Roussinia and Chelsea will be judged. This doesn't do an awful lot to negate some of the criticisms of the last couple of weeks. Karen, how much can we read into what we saw from Chelsea today, given the fact that, as Xhaka said, the opposition just was never really there? Yeah, listen, it's a small step in the right direction. I think there's still many, many issues that are happening with Chelsea at the moment. Both on the pitch and outside of the pitch. We mentioned earlier about the culture of the club. And I can see that Liam is really trying to change that. Not sure how much control he's really having on these decisions in terms of the sanctions of the players and whatnot.

44:55But listen, winning games is, he knows as a former player, winning games will always help change the trajectory of a club. and all he can do is deal with one game at a time. As Shaka says, the big tests are still to come. They have a huge opportunity to try and get themselves into the Champions League, which everyone at Chelsea will feel that they belong. But these tests still remain, and it's going to be a huge job on his hand to get there. All right. Well, that's pretty much going to do it for us. What a time. We get to finish work by 3 p.m., guys, in L.A. Kieran, what can we do after this to make you feel better?

45:34So, should we go out? Shaka, you know the city? Me? No, no, no, no, no. Shaka City was buying earlier. Shaka, you going to buy a couple of ones? Should we go? Should we get ready? All right, guys. We're going to go. Shaka's buying. So, back to you guys in fun old Bristol.

45:45Dan Thomas:Yeah, I hate to be the one to tell them that they're actually sticking around for extra time. That's right. Yeah. That's right. That's coming up a little bit later on. Yeah, they are. So, we do thank them for their time. And we thank them for sticking around for extra time as well. But now, let's send it out to Craig, Dan, and Stevie with more on the FA Cup today. Oh, oh, oh, O 'Reilly. Check engine, ABS, or maintenance light on. Take the guesswork out of your warning lights with O 'Reilly Veriscan. The service is free and provides a report with solutions verified by ASE certified master technicians.

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47:10Dan Thomas:Keep up to date with everything that's going on in the world of football over on our YouTube channel ESPN FC. But for now, though, we're going to send it out to Dan, Stevie, and Craig for more on the FA Cup game between Man City and Liverpool. An absolute nightmare for Arna Slott. We'll talk about Liverpool in a moment, but first let's talk about the winners and Alex called out with some men. Four goals, a clean sheet through to the FA Cup semi-finals. How pleased can you be with how today went? Yeah, I'm happy with the performance. The team played really well, defended really well and scored our goals.

47:46So, yeah, great result and on to the semis. Yep, an assist and a goal for you. Talked me through that lovely little chip, wasn't it? Yeah, just getting to the byline has been the messages from the manager. and dinking it to the back post where Erling is always going to be. So I perfected that well and he got on the end of it. And yeah, the goal was good. Nice little dink over the keeper. Yeah, great finish. Talking about dinks over the keeper, almost had a second, Mamadashvili off his line. What was going through your head in that moment? Just improvisation, to be honest. I've seen him off his line a couple of times in the game, so I thought, why not catch him off guard?

48:21And yeah, I was close, but we'll go again. A 12th Manchester City hat-trick for Erling Haaland. just how good was the man up front today? Yeah, I mean, he's always in the right places at the right time and we know that once he's in the box and he gets the opportunity to shoot, he scores. So, yeah, world-class striker. How much confidence does this performance give Manchester City going into this final stretch of the season? The important stretch. Yeah, I mean, we had that confidence after the final and we said after the international break that we wanted to continue to find form and win as many games as we can and close the gap.

48:52So that's just been the message and we hope that continues. It's a domestic treble on how much belief is there? Yeah, there is a lot of belief. I think I don't want to say too much don't inject anything, but yeah, we'll just take it game by game Well, Alex and Augie were both pitched side for this game We'll talk about Liverpool and their woes later on, but let's focus on the winners first Alex Yeah, brilliant day for Manchester City Mark before the game you said you were confident that City would win this But were you confident it would be that dominant the win? No, I mean, City have got a great record here against Liverpool, so I just felt that they would use that record, that confidence.

49:30But I thought Liverpool started well for 40 minutes, but after that there was just no contest. City blew them away. I just thought that there was no sense of Liverpool getting back into it. City didn't have to be at their best today. You know, Haaland scored his hat-trick, Semenil scored his goal. I thought they were like at three-quarter pace. Yeah, there was no stopping Arling Haaland today, was there? He was playing with so much confidence. No, I mean, Haaland has got that ability when he wants to, to blow teams away. And three chances, three goals, another hat-trick. Is that 12 hat-tricks now?

49:58Yeah, 12 for Manchester City. 28 in his career. Sometimes he's just unstoppable, isn't he? Yeah. Speaking of being unstoppable, the domestic treble is on for Manchester City. Could they? Could they? No, Alex, don't start that. We've got enough things to talk about. What Augie said there, though, you know, Man City, it was a contest for 40 minutes, but Man City have beaten Liverpool 4-0 in second gear. Without really having to, you know, up the speed to some unstoppable force, how many challenges did Liverpool get in the middle of the park? I mean, that's kind of where Liverpool are. And I do think there is going to be a feeling within this City dressing room that somehow Arsenal might implode and there's more for them at the end of this season than maybe they thought there was a month ago.

50:46And that's a pretty good position to be in from being written off. So, yeah, it's been a really good, I would say, what, three or four weeks for Manchester City? 28 hat-tricks for Haaland at 25 years of age.

50:59Dan Thomas:Scary. Just frightening. I mean, anybody who doubted him coming into this, talking about how he's dried up, well, Ellen Haaland does it the right way. He keeps his mouth shut, he doesn't say a word. All he does is do his talking on the field, and he did it today. Yeah, he takes these goals nicely, doesn't he? the first one here, obviously. Good header. Well, it's the second, obviously. There's not a lot right by this point. Yeah, we can complain about Liverpool defensively, but you know what? Every good side takes advantage of teams that don't defend properly. And that's exactly what City did.

51:32Dan Thomas:That's what the best teams do. And Semenyo has done it since he's arrived at City. And it's a great ball. And Haaland gets across Kanati. And it's a great finish. City just making the most of the space. It's all about Nico O 'Reilly and Liverpool's lack. But you watch him. He was waiting. He sells Van Dijk a dummy here. Watch Haaland in this build-up. Van Dijk's the man picking him up. So he takes him away a little bit. He takes him in, takes him back out and then back in again. It's very subtle, but it sort of sits Van Dijk back on his heels. And then that gives him that, what, yard and a half?

52:10Just to put it into an empty net. He doesn't always get the most touches in a game. his play is not always the most subtle he doesn't always hold up the best but when it comes to the crunch more often than not he's in that place not always at the right time but a lot of it and that's why he gets his goals and he uses his physicality but in that goal there it was quite simple but he's got the movement as well just to make sure he shifts Van Dijk and then after that empty net So a great day for Manchester City one to forget for Liverpool here's Virgil van Dijk Virgil, a really disappointing result for Liverpool.

52:47How do you sum up today? Very difficult, very difficult to accept, very difficult to be out there. So yeah, very tough day and I feel bad for the fans as well. And the penalty that you conceded on another day, I'm sure you'd have done that very differently. It went so fast. The ball comes in on O 'Reilly's right foot. Obviously, I planned my foot behind him. And I think he bounced it to Doku. Obviously, it went so fast. It's a split-second decision. Eventually, I managed to block the shot, but the pen is given already. There is pressure on the manager, but how much responsibility do you players feel?

53:32It's all the responsibility, we're the ones performing on the pitch but we know how the world works and we have to stick together even how difficult that is. It's just a big blow that we are out of the FA Cup because up until the penalty I don't think there was any issues. How important now to get this result, this performance out of your heads before a massive Champions League tie against Paris Saint-Germain and how do you go about doing that? It's very important to try and get it out of the system as soon as possible. At the moment I can only speak for myself that this is a big blow. This is tough to take, especially the way, second half.

54:17The reality is that midweek there is a very good PSG waiting for us. I could say the only good thing is that there are two games to be played. but even in between those games we played a tough game against Fulham so yeah tough one just finally most of the Liverpool fans did leave the stadium early today do you have a message for them no I can understand that you know obviously they've been they've been going through ups and downs like we obviously as well and obviously we would love them to be staying up until the end, but if you're 4-0 down in the way we play the second half, then I can understand the anger.

55:01Obviously, in my time at Liverpool, we have been going through tough times and at the moment it's a tricky one as well. Steve, you've backed Arna Slott throughout all these turmoils, all these problems. Do you still?

55:18Dan Thomas:I'm beginning to waver. I'm beginning to go the other way. I think you can see with that interview that your captain is devoid of energy. The life's been sucked out of him and right now this team is sucking the life out of the fans as well. Alex is talking about how they left. I don't know how Anastasia can rejuvenate this side between now and Wednesday night to play PSG. He really has a job on his hands, not just to get this team going but to keep his job because it's getting worse. Every time they step on the field, as a fan watching it, you're scared because you're not sure how many it's going to be.

56:01Dan Thomas:You know there's going to be goals, you're just not sure how many. And for any manager to be in that position where everybody and everything around you is beginning to lose trust in you, you're in big trouble. I don't think there's many that now believe Anneli Slott can turn this around. The big question is, what do Fenway Sports Group, the ownership ship and all the people behind the scenes at Liverpool, what are they thinking? Because I don't think the fans, I think the fans have lost confidence now. I think that ship has sailed. Because there's been so many, it's not like, it's just been the odd one.

56:35There's been so many performances like this this year. I mean, I would say 60-70 % has been the odd decent one, but there's been a lot of bad performances. And the question is, do Liverpool sit in their hands and wait and other managers that are out there and there's obvious ones for Liverpool and do they wait and give Arnely Slott more time and more money in the summer because they had a hell of a lot of money last summer and these managers like Xabi Alonso and one or two others maybe go somewhere else so you're taking that chance if Alonso's your man and he's out there now it's a bit of a risk to say well we might come to you in another year, another six months, but we're going to give Arnley Slott another season or another half season after this one to see if we can turn it around.

57:28Meantime, other managers out there, go and take work. It's a really difficult one. I don't think it would be if Liverpool had one. Is it difficult? No, I think in a sense that because he won the league last year and you can't deny that was a big achievement. I think had he not done that, there would have been no tears at all for Arne Slott. But I think he's had a little bit of money in the bank because of that. But that's kind of eroded now.

57:54Dan Thomas:I think what's eroded in it is not just the fact that they're losing. It's the way they're losing. That's what... If he doesn't keep his job, that'll be the reason. Because we saw on the clock, not every season was fantastic and they lost some games. But when you're losing games, in the manner they are. And the feeling at the club right now, there's a cloud hanging over Anfield. And the owners will only take that for so long. So, Anislaut has to produce something between now and the end of the season in terms of both fans and the players on the field can see a chink of light. Because if there's none, then it seems inevitable.

58:40Let's go back to pitch side, shall we? Alex, Stevie mentioned it it's not very often you see Liverpool fans leaving early Yeah and I thought it was really interesting what Virgil van Dijk said in that interview there, he said all the responsibility is on the players, he understands why the fans left early but let's talk about the manager, they've been discussing it in the studio there, how much time do they give Arna Slott now? I think to be realistic, I think he's probably got the PSG game, I mean if he wins the Champions League is safe, that's a big, big if. I mean, if they get past PSG, you're looking at Bayern Munich, Real Madrid in the semi-final.

59:16If they lose to PSG, which is, that's the odds favour that then, I think the game after that is Everton away. I think if they're not out of the Champions League and Everton beat them at the new stadium at the Hill Dickinson, I think that could be the end for Arniss Slott because you get into the point then where maybe five, six games left in the season, you're desperately trying to beat Chelsea and Villa for that fifth spot in the Premier League. I think Slott's got a problem. I'll take it what the guys are saying about, you know, he's running out of options and ideas, but I do think he's been kind of let down quite a bit by the people above him, you know, the Michael Edwards and the Richard Hughes.

59:44And FSG, because, yes, they spent a lot of money in the summer, but they let a lot go. You know, Darwin Nunes went, Luis Diaz went. He had the tragedy with Diogo Jota. They never signed the centre-half. So Arne Slott can only work with what he's got. Now, obviously, he's got a squad that won the league last season, but the people above him didn't sign the plays that he needed to take this squad on. And obviously, Isak's been injured all season. He's not going to be fit for the midweek against PSG. And you look at the team today. Now, how did he change it for Wednesday night? you could maybe bring in Frimpong for Joe Gomez, but I wouldn't trust Frimpong against Cavallo Scalio at PSG.

1:00:14You'd probably bring in McAllister for Curtis Jones, but McAllister had a poor season. And up front, I mean, what do you do with Salah? They bring in Chiesa. So he's not really got the options to change it. So I think Slott is running out of time, but he's not being helped by the people above him. Yeah. Thanks, Mark. On a slot running out of time, a lot of pressure on him and on those Liverpool players, head of a huge tie against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League. Much has been made on social media about the late shirt swap. You and Mark, obviously, no, don't. What did you make of that?

1:00:43Yeah, what did you make of that? Listen, I'm with Craig and Steve on that. I'm a bit old school. I just thought it was ridiculous. But the best thing to do is somebody tapping him on the shoulder saying, what are you doing? Take that shit off. He had to be told. They are good friends, by the way, in the French national team. Does that make it OK? Does that make OK, Craig? Read the room. Yeah, it's embarrassing, isn't it? I mean, look, it's embarrassing what Cherky did there, right? But they've won. and he's a bit of a maverick.

1:01:11Dan Thomas:Maverick's a polite way. Yeah, he's not normal. Eki-Tiki. Eki-Tiki is just playing a team that's struggling. They've just been absolutely pumped away from home. He missed a kind of big opportunity and he's changing, even if you're changing shots after the game, I still don't get it, not after this result, but before the game's finished, I mean, come on, let me just go back to what Augie was saying there to an extent about the summer. Arne Schlott got Van Dijk signed a contract he got Salah signed a new contract he got Iketiki, he got Alexander Isaac he got Florian Wirtz the superstar from Germany yeah yeah the centre half not getting gay was a problem but who was to know Van Dijk and Kanaty were going to play the way they were so it's really, are we saying that having signed your players on longer contracts and having brought in the players that I mentioned that all Liverpool's issues are because they didn't get one cent a half to cover the back four.

1:02:08I think that's a cop-out. I mean, I really do. He's got some injuries now, and he didn't have the bench that Man City did to make changes. But there's been periods in this season, he's had a full bench. And I honestly think we're giving him a runway to get off here. He just, for some reason, hasn't been able to get out of these players this season what he got out of them last year. Because at no point did we sit in the summer and say, that's not a very good transfer window. We did not.

1:02:40Dan Thomas:The bottom line is that if you're the coach of Liverpool or United or any of the so-called giants, there's a level of performance that's expected. And regardless of whether they made mistakes and not signing players, as Craig said, they did sign players. But when you go below that level of performance, then you can't look for excuses. You have to look in the mirror and that's where the excuse is. Liverpool under Klopp weren't always perfect. At the start he was building and then he built him in. But there was a level of performance. And they tasted defeat like everybody else. But how many times in a season did we sit and watch Liverpool and say that was embarrassing under Klopp?

1:03:23Not often, just now and again. It seems like most weeks after Liverpool play we come in and say what the hell was that? that was a shambles and as Stevie said that's about level of performance about level of desire and the one thing you could always say about Klopp's teams even in defeat they were at it work-work in terms of work rate they almost gave up today Liverpool the second half there was absolutely nothing and the manager as you said earlier on in the live game he sat in his hands at half time and did nothing Thank you very much guys thank you very much to Alex and Mark Stevie was up earlier this morning Back to bed.

1:04:01I'm going to lie done. Well, you deserve it. City 4-0 then is how it finished in the FA Cup.

1:04:10Dan Thomas:Thank you so much, guys. And then we find out who makes up the last of the teams into the next round as West Ham take on Leeds on Sunday morning. Our coverage will begin at 11am Eastern, kick-off at 11.30 Eastern. Now that's all we've got time for. Craig was trying to bring Sexy back with the Demichelli slot. He was doing that look too, but extra time is on the way next. We're going back to LA for that, where maybe there will be some download buttons after they've been inspired by you guys over to Alexis and the crew for extra time. If you've shopped online, chances are you've bought from a business powered by Shopify.

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1:06:50Hello, everyone. Welcome into Extra Time from our lovely Los Angeles. Team LA. It's Max here, right? Team LA. I feel like... It's been a tough day for one of us. It's been a tough day for some. It's been a tough day for some. I'm not calling any names. But it's been a tough day for one of us. For our gunner, our favourite gunner. Kieran, you okay? He's over it. He's ready to go home. I've already bounced it off. I've already bounced it off. Shaka's buying the drinks. Shaka's buying the drinks later. So let's fly through these. We're back. I've already tried to buy enough drinks. And the sun still shows up.

1:07:20It's okay, he said it was a distraction, Xhaka. He says he wants Premier League and Champions League. That's what he wants. All right, well, let's start with the first question, Kieran. Who would have thought? It doesn't have to do with Arsenal, though. Oh, okay. Kieran, if you're Trent Alexander-Arnold, what can you do to change your play to be selected by Thomas Tuchel for the World Cup? He got an assist today. Don't think that's enough. I mean, I think for him, remaining fit is obviously important, right? Because on a World Cup year, managers just don't like really picking players unless you are completely integral to the team.

1:07:57They don't like picking you if you haven't had a full season. So he needs to remain fit for the rest of the season because he's had his injury problems. And then, you know, if you're part of a winning team, especially a team like Madrid, it's very difficult to leave you out. if he goes and wins La Liga or other competitions in the Champions League. So I think going far in these competitions, they've got a chance. I think that's another important part. And then obviously minutes. He has to be featuring week in, week out in these big games and performing well in the big games. The World Cup is the biggest stage that you can compete in.

1:08:37And so if you're performing well in the league, in the Champions League, that will give him the best chance. Here's a challenge, though. World Cup's international football is very different from domestic football. Yeah. And to go deep in a World Cup, as England would be expected to do, you've got to defend well. And Trent Alexander-Arnold is an incredible footballer, but not a very good defender at that level. So the balancing act becomes, do you need Trent Alexander-Arnold for his passing range going forward, what he offers you, the attacking end of the... at park, but sacrifice defensive solidity about your game.

1:09:19That's a question for Tuchel. I say that to say I'm not sure Trent Alexander-Arnold is as good in the national team as he is for club teams, and that's even regardless of injuries. Well, I think especially if you look at Rhys James now, he looks like he's going to be out, right? He's more of an all-rounder, I would say, in terms of he has the ability to see a pass and deliver a good ball, set-piece specialist as well. And so with him out, then you're going to have to step up your game in terms of defensively as well. Because, of course, if you have Rhys James going, then it's like, does Trent get on the plane just because he has that ability from a set-piece, from a delivery?

1:10:08if England are struggling in a game and they need to find another solution. So I think with him being out, that puts more responsibility on Trent Alexander's overall game. All right, let's go to the next question, shall we? And it's about Arsenal. All right, what does Arsenal have to address to turn their momentum around? Their performances have been bad for nearly two months.

1:10:36If I could pick anything from today, I felt that they were exposed on the counter attack, not just through the middle of the park, but also in wide areas. I saw Monseru Eskele coming into midfield and trying to make things happen, but sometimes I think that you can overcrowd the middle of the park, and you need to spot that. if it's not working in the first 20 minutes, do I need to just stay in my position a little bit more and keep the whip and try to mix things up in that way? And I think that we were kind of guilty of not adapting in those early stages of the game. But I think from an offensive standpoint, they created chances, but just not enough real clear-cut, dangerous chances.

1:11:23But then again, I don't know if we've done that this season so much. I don't think we've really been a team that has cut through teams like a knife through butter and been that really dangerous team. It's always been this season about gaining that territory, getting into the final third, getting a corner or a long throw. You want to say it. I didn't say it. You said set piece FC. But that is ultimately what has gotten Arsenal where they've gotten to this season. So they haven't been as dangerous from set pieces in the last few games. I just saw that stat earlier, which is alarming, considering that that has been a huge part of their game so far.

1:12:06So we're missing Declan Rice massively today, I think. So with him coming back, I'm sure that that side of the game is going to improve. And then from an offensive standpoint, I feel like the frustrating thing about them is that they have the talent there and it just hasn't seemed to click. They haven't moved the ball quick enough in certain instances. I think that a team like Arsenal are renowned for switching the ball at high speed and then kind of cutting in and being that penetrating side that they are. we haven't seen that as much from them this season and I think that that is probably because that's so new for Arsenal fans and they don't associate you don't associate Arsenal with being that style of team and so it's an adjustment for all fans if you're not an Arsenal fan or you are an Arsenal fan that's probably why there's been so much scrutiny because you just don't associate Arsenal with being that style of team I never played in this style of team.

1:13:18I think that we always fell short to go and win a Premier League, but we also played, I would say, more exciting football than we do now. But you have to admit, you have to come clean and be honest about what you want. Would I have rather have played in a boring team but gone on and won multiple Premier Leagues? Yes. so that is where Arsenal are at right now and I believe that they're still going to go on and lift the Premier League. Shaq, I couldn't have said it better. Well, I hope this is cathartic for you talking about Arsenal because the next question is for you and about Arsenal. Kiran, at what point do Arsenal fans run out of patience with the overtly cautious and negative approach from Arteta in big games?

1:14:08at the point at which they don't win. The point at which they don't win. I think it's as simple as that. I think it's as simple as that. The time is now, as you said. There's still so much to play for. There's still so much to play for. And I think it's very early to start losing patience. I think you're sitting nine points clear at the top of the Premier League. You've had an amazing Champions League campaign thus far. I think to lose patience now would be extremely short-sighted, extremely short-sighted. Zach, you agree? No, I do. Listen, for all our criticisms of Arsenal and, you know, all the jokes we tell off here, etc., etc., Arsenal are still in the best position in English football.

1:14:53Yep. They are still in poor position. Every other club would like to be where Arsenal are. Now, to the question, you lose patience when it does not look like Arsenal, even when being in pole position, as they have been for a couple of years, aren't able to see that through. There's still a big opportunity here. Let's not... The two biggest opportunities. Yeah, yes. There's no denying it's a huge opportunity. And if Arsenal find a way to blow this, I think there are a lot of questions for Arteta to answer. there'll be a lot of questions that we'll be asking of our dear Kieran Gibbs. And I don't think we have enough money to buy all the drinks that Kieran would need.

1:15:38No, I cannot afford to drown Kieran's sorrows. No, no, no, no, no. All right, next one now. Ian Dark used the word combustible to describe Arsenal, not Arsenal, to describe today's Atleti-Barca game. What was the most combustible game you've been a part of as a player or media person? Oh, that's a good question. Like one where cards were flying, because of course, I mean, it was quite a feisty match between Atleti and Barca, as it tends to be. There should have been probably two red cards. Obviously, one was called off. Probably, you automatically start thinking of derbies. I played in the 10-year derby Newcastle against Sunderland.

1:16:22They hate each other. There's absolutely no other way to put it. those two sets of fans absolutely hate each other. So much so that when I played, there were no away fans allowed in the stadium because they just could not. They could not. It took away from the game as an atmosphere with no away fans. Yeah. But in terms of on the pitch, you knew it could go crazy any time. Kieran? Yeah, I played in my fair share of North London derbies, which are feisty to say the least. And particularly, I think, the White Hart Lane games were, because, you know, the stadium was that little bit smaller. You're closer to the fans.

1:17:11To say that I have a fair share of stick from the Spurs fans over the years. All deserving. It was, yeah, it's an understatement. But definitely the North London derbies were the games that were separate from the rest of the league. You could be having a disastrous league from a Tottenham standpoint or an Arsenal standpoint, and you go and play that game, and nothing else matters, really, from the rest of your season. So I think that that always had a special feel about it, those games. And I suppose as a media person, I don't think you guys, we don't send them out to games. I get to stay comfortable here in the studio with catering and all of that.

1:17:52It's me that's in the trenches. Like when I did Colombia Argentina, people climbing through the docks, players cussing each other out. I remember that. Oh, yeah. She was in the trenches. Me. It's okay. I'm used to it. All right. Final question. Were you there for the Uruguay game? Was that? Yeah, Uruguay, Brazil. They were trying to climb players. Oh, yes. And Darwin Nunez. Darwin Nunez was climbing into the state. I was there, too. I was there, too. Oh, boy. That was like a UFC game, honestly. Yeah, yeah, yeah. When you see players climbing into the stars, you know, it's different. South American football, man, there's nothing quite like it.

1:18:24Final question, cooking at home or eating out? Cooking at home. Cooking at home. Cooking at home. I'm not known for my cooking skills, but I do enjoy a home-cooked meal over a restaurant. Well, when you go out, do you cook like this, though, or do you dress like this? Because we have a little picture here. Oh, wow. Wow, there they go. There goes the jorts. Ah, the jorts. Wow. Jorts are back there. Jorts are coming back. How much to get Burley in a pair of them? Oh, goodness me. Please, guys, come on. I don't know. How much money are you willing to put down, Mr. Former Premier? Honestly, I have to see it before the end of the year.

1:19:06It would just make my year complete. I want to see Craig in that outfit. I don't know if I've ever seen Craig in shorts. I want to see Craig in the gold outfit. In the gold. Yeah. No, but seriously, we've got to get him in a pair of those jorts, please. So if we call him Shaka, you know we do drippin' or trippin' on Football Americas. Are we giving Kieran drippin' or trippin'? No, no, no. Come on, Shaka, you've already done me with basketball today. Oh. Kieran, I love you to bits, but I can't. That's trippin'. Wow. Trippin', a big T for trippin'. Trippin' over your own jorts. Oh. Not just jorts.

1:19:44Three-quarter capri jorts. You have to give me a capri jorts. Capri jorts. I love it. How many stars? Y2K, when was this? Because this had to be. This was like. This was two weeks ago. I was going to say, if this was like 2002. No. When we were all teenagers. This was two weeks ago. All right. Another thing. Another thing Kieran can't quite do is shoot some hoops. I'm getting roasted today. He let me pass, though. He let me pass, though. He was all dribbling and looking fancy. He can do that. He can do it. Oh, look at that. It was brick after brick. Where is the mercy today, guys? Where is the mercy?

1:20:22Hold on. Hold on. I'm eating my donut at this point. Shaka did get buckets, though. Yes. Shaka did get buckets. If you don't believe me, go on my Instagram. Yes. He's there. This is the person that said that the basketball was like a 10K. Whoever comments there that Kieran handles the basketball like it weighs 10K. 10 kilograms. Wow, what a legend. Team L.A. It's been a tough day for our Kieran. It's been a tough day for our Kieran. Alright, well make sure to tune in to ESPN FC. We will be back tomorrow to look back at all the action in La Liga, Bundesliga and of course the FA Cup last quarterfinal that takes place tomorrow.

1:21:01In the meantime we're going to buy Kieran some cold ones and probably some new clothing. New outfit. Yeah, boy.

1:21:35This might be a hit. You want the truth. They just want a conviction being placed under arrest. We had a killer amongst us. Murder at the U. Listen now.