Battle of Manchester

28:23And finally, he didn't listen to his friend. Now comes a man more in line with the club's vision, who reacts like this when he hears the name of his favorite coach. You did your career here in Madrid as a football player with Mourinho in the bank. Only time will tell what that smile was hiding. Arbeloa arrives with the mission of waking up a group of players who lately haven't won much support at the Bernabeu.

28:57We don't forget that there are players who have 6 Copas of Europe, and it seems that this will be forgotten soon. Arbeloa is a footballer from Mourinho. He is a person of a direct language, even hard, who in the field speaks with the line, with the fourth-rider, with the rival coach, with the rival players. He comes very soon this opportunity. It's very complicated. It's very difficult to do with this vestuario, which has shown to be a very capricho and of bad habits. And Arbeloa's first team arrived in front of a crowd that was waiting for him like this.

29:35The fog over the pitch in Albacete seemed to describe Real Madrid's moment. How else to explain that in such a critical match, the brand new coach left out. Bellingham, Courtois, Chouameni and Carreras, four regular starters for Real Madrid.

29:55Although the fog was no longer visible for Madrid, it was still there.

30:07Everything looked blurred.

30:13It was a historic match.

30:21For Albacete, who had never beaten Real Madrid. and for the merengues, two eliminations in a row in just 72 hours.

30:36Now it's time to return to the Bernabeu and to what will be more than a football match, a public trial for the players and the president. This is the Bicycle Diaries. See you on the next journey.

30:53Potentially a tough weekend ahead for Alvaro Ablo. You've been writing about it and previewing this game, Real Madrid against Levante duels on the website. It's not going to get worse for Real Madrid, is it? Surely. I mean, it can't be Albacete was the lowest of the low, really. And this game, they play Monaco then on Tuesday in the Champions League at the Bernabeu as well. So these are the games where, at least in terms of result, because performance, one, we don't know really what to expect from Arbeloa as a coach and how this team is going to play. Is he going back to kind of basics, Ancelotti, hey, do what you want and let's hope for the best kind of thing, or be more structured like Xavi Alonso, but that didn't work because the players didn't really want it to work.

31:42We're not really sure. or certainly we saw nothing against Albacete that could tell us that it's going to be one way or another. What we saw against Albacete was just nothing. Tactically, collectively, there was just nothing. They scored two goals, I know, but there was just nothing with the ball, really. So let's see. But even that, even against the Levante team, that, by the way, has changed manager and since Luis Castro has come over towards the end of mid-December, they've actually unbeaten and they just won against Sevilla and drew against Real Sociedad. So they're not in bad form compared to the form of Real Madrid with two defeats in a row.

32:15But surely, surely the crisis has to stop right now. And already they're thinking about next season and players. We saw some of those rumors about them wanting to get Erling Haaland in the summer. Good luck with that. But the big thing for me as well for this Levante game is what about Kylian? If Kylian is fit and they want him to be fit and they want him to play and he doesn't really feel fit himself and he doesn't want to play tomorrow, that could be something because they've been so dependent on him, so extra reliant on him that if he's not there, I'm not sure where they go because he's the one that has won them game on his own pretty much.

32:51And without him, it's going to be more difficult. That's why they're pushing for him to play tomorrow. Even against Levante, that's how bad things are. And so far, he hasn't been too keen on playing tomorrow.

33:03Look, while there has been a slight improvement from Levante as of late, this is still Levante going to Santiago Bernabéu. And as I've said many a times in situations like this, somebody has to pay for the broken plates. Los platos rotos. It's a very Spanish expression. And Levante seems like just the right candidate for it. Real Madrid in Santiago Bernabéu, unless they are at their very, very best, whatever that version is, there's going to be a mix of boos, cheers, a mix bag of whenever Vinny touches the ball, is it going to be boos, is it going to be cheers? There's going to be a mix of feelings.

34:01And those feelings will grow one way or another depending on the sort of performance that they have on the field. Regardless of what Arbeloa is doing on the sideline. On the field. The players. And they know this very well. I'm not telling them something that they do not know. If they want this stadium to get behind them, it has to be. And it's an early start, by the way, for Real Madrid. Which is usually in this sort of games, daytime kickoff. they're usually slow to get going they gotta get going from the first minute so that then the potential for boost just kind of disappears even though it's still there kind of disappears and it allows guys like vinnie and bapé and whoever else is available to play and that'll be the interesting thing the team selection from arbeloa for them to actually get behind this team.

34:55They have to regain the trust, the confidence, the love, the passion of Santiago Bernabéu, and you only do that by whipping the backside of Levante. And even that may not be enough. So, again, you mentioned, is this going to be a public trial? Well, it may very well be, but if you wanted a victim, might as well pick Levante, who's down at the bottom of this league. So it's all on the Real Madrid players. I'm not looking at Arbelova tomorrow. I'm looking at the players. OK, let's talk about the players. Let's talk about Kylian Mbappe and whether we see him or not, Jules. But the fact that Alonso is gone, has there been any word from his camp on the dismissal of Xabi Alonso?

35:40No, only what we saw on social media from Kylian. And again, I know there was this incident after the Supercopa final on ESPN. We saw where Xabi Alonso wanted the players to do the Guard of Honor for Barcelona on their way to their trophy. and their medals and Kylian and Rodrigo was like, no, no, we're not going. And I think it was more the fact that they didn't want, it was not like Xabi Alonso was asking, it was the fact that they didn't want to do it. It could have been anyone asking, they would not have gone. But it looked, it was not a good look, which I think kind of summed up quite well the Xabi Alonso seven months at the club.

36:14But he was happy to work with him. He did really well under him this season. Incredible, really, in terms of responsibilities within the team, in terms of the momentum that he got, in terms of the goals that he scored. Now it's different. There's this knee injury that has been really bothering him because he still feels a bit of pain. And remember, the club flew him to Saudi to play 15 minutes and touched the ball eight times in that Supercopa final, which was in itself quite crazy when you think about it now with a bit of hindsight because he was clearly not fair. Now it's a few days later, he didn't play against Albacete, obviously.

36:48and I think ideally he would pass on the game tomorrow and probably be ready for Monaco and even if not Monaco because again Real Madrid should beat Monaco without Mbappe the league game after that but the situation is so bad that the club like I said earlier and Arbeloa are pushing for him not just to play against Monaco but also to play tomorrow so he's in the squad I guess there'll probably be another test tomorrow but the truth is he doesn't feel 100 % And for me, you should not play him if he's not 100%. For a game like this, again, if it was Barca, if it was Atletico, a big Champions League game, OK, maybe it's a bit different.

37:25But Levante at home, for everything that we've just said, me and Ale, I don't think you should play him when he's not 100%. In terms of managers, Jules, and speaking from the Mbappe angle of things here, obviously we've seen Ancelotti, and in the end it hasn't worked out with Ancelotti this time around. We've seen Xabi Alonso come, and that hasn't worked out. What type of manager is going to be best for Mbappe here at Real Madrid?

37:48I don't know, you can't just pick your manager just on one player, right? But it's true that the Luis Enrique PhD type of manager didn't really work with Kylian. Remember this incredible scene that you can see on the Luis Enrique documentary where Luis Enrique is saying, listen, I need you to defend your idol, one of your idols was Michael Jordan. Why was Jordan the greatest ever? Not just for all the points he scored, but for the way he was defending, one of the greatest defenders in basketball history. I need you to be like that and, you know, cojones and all those kind of words, and that didn't work.

38:20Then the Carlo Ancelotti chilled, hey, I love you, come here, my son, do what you want. Didn't work either. Then we go to Xabi Alonso, who's there, I need you to be structured, I want you to watch this video analysis, I want you to do this and that, and it's not great from a team point of view, again. So when I hear that they want Jürgen Klopp, and that Klopp is the dream. I'm like, really? Why would you go there again? Because Klopp is a dogmatic. Klopp won't settle for, yeah, let them do what they want. I don't really care. I'm here for the vibes. This is not Klopp for you. So I'm not really sure why they're so keen on Klopp, apart from the fact that he's one of the biggest names and one of the top, top managers for the last 25 years or so.

39:06So I'm not really sure where to go. But what's for sure is that if they want another Ancelotti or another Zidane, we don't really make those anymore. They're not that available. So I think the next one, especially if Arbeloa doesn't work out, I think it's very difficult for them to find the right one. I won't ask you to translate Jules' Spanish there, Ali. Not tonight. No, please. But what I would like you to do is tell me which name you like on that list. Or which name you think would be a good fit on that list. Well, I think if this is what you're giving me, okay, Enzo Maresca is not part of the conversation.

39:43I don't think Tocomazucco is part of the conversation. No chance Mourinho. Nagelsmann, no chance unless they want to copy the sort of the German vibe that you got going on with Hansi Flick and Barcelona. And Dona Hiraola, I think it would be a big leap. And Zidane, it's rumored to be taking over France after the World Cup. So, it leaves one. at least one, and it's one that Jules doesn't think all that much about, but it feels like if you're making a splash, and Real Madrid is a big splash sort of club, it doesn't feel Arbelo is a big splash. It feels like Jurgen Klopp is a big splash. And so while we're asking the question from the perspective of Mbappe, it's like, well, what manager would fit Mbappe?

40:24Maybe at some point we ask the question as to, from the perspective of the manager, hey, how come this guy doesn't seem to be, or the managers don't seem to be successful in getting him to do what they want him to do? Luis Enrique, that did what he was able to do with PSG, couldn't get through to Mbappe. That Ancelotti said, you know, I'm not even going to deal with it, bro. You do whatever you want, dude. Hey, I'm too old to be dealing with this nonsense and begging you to go and run here and run there. So then comes Xavi Alonso and says, I actually need you to do this, and it's working for him.

40:56It's working for him. He's scoring goals. And so you see the evidence. And so I would follow that path a whole lot more than I would any other path if it comes to killing Mbappe. And if Jurgen Klopp can give you the chabelon structure, but the personality of Jurgen Klopp, maybe that's where we got the difference. That's where we bridge that gap. And he can get through to Mbappe. And just as important, get through to Vini. and man, can you get this team excited to be around each other, which we haven't seen for a while. That's where I line on Jurgen Klopp, particularly if that's the list that you're providing.

41:32Yes, okay. Well, we'll definitely see how this all works out. But first of all, this weekend, it is Real Madrid, up against Levante, bright and early. Our coverage will begin at 7.30 a.m. Eastern and Ali and I will be with you. Oh, so we'll be back. So happy to bring it to you. You'll be watching us, right? You'll be watching us, won't you, Stevie? To Manchester Derby as well, Stevie. But of course you'll be watching this with us, we know.

41:57We've got German football coming up for you in the form of Leipzig against Bayern Munich on Saturday. Our coverage will begin at noon. Bundesliga Schaak will be with us. Oh, yeah! That is always very nice for you to hear. OK, we're moving on to talk about the Africa Cup of Nations final. There we go, Nadem and Jules are back with us. We know it is Senegal against Morocco. We want to get your thoughts, guys, on what you're looking forward to and what your expectations of the final are. Let me start with you, Nadem.

42:32Interesting. West Africa versus North. You know, this is the sort of rivalry that was going on in the semifinals as well. Do you know what? It's going to be so, so tough for Senegal with Morocco being at home, the passion, the joy. And obviously, they've not won it for a long time. But the fact is, you know, they seem very, very capable. You look at the youth systems within Morocco as well. They've been successful in recent years. So it's going to be interesting to see, can Senegal sort of handle that pressure? I thought Senegal in their semi-final, they had a lot of the backing of the crowd there.

43:01You could hear their fans in the stadium, but I think it'd be a very, very different case on Sunday. And to be fair, I think it's fair to say it's going to be a tight game. Only seeing one goal, I think, between the two semi-finals. You can probably expect the same thing to happen again. It may be in the final, it'll be a very, very tough game. Maybe decide on penalties again, but the star powers there, you know, these are some of the best players in the world getting chance to represent their nation in their Confederation Championship. So it's a big occasion for Morocco. There's going to be huge pressure on them.

43:29But I think I'm going to go for Senegal. I think that for me, they're the best team. They are the best team in Africa at this moment in time. And I think it could cause an upset. I think it might be ugly, but I think they can do it. What are your thoughts on the final, Jules? Yeah, I think it'd be great. I agree with Nadam in terms of Senegal. certainly having been the most consistent over the last, what, 10 years. Certainly this Sadio Mane generation has been outstanding in pretty much every tournament that they've played in, really, especially Afcon. So you can see their strength. They've got so much depth as well in their squad, even if Koulibaly will miss the final, which is a huge loss, huge loss for them.

44:09And Mamadou San, who's much younger, obviously, who one day is hoping to be like Koulibaly. He's not Koulibaly right now. so that could also be a big thing here but I would go for Morocco I think I looked it up in the seven finals that hosts have played in Afcon six of them they've won I think it's very difficult to be your host in the final and Morocco has this incredible momentum under Walid Regragui I think it's 39 home games in a row unbeaten in competition games they've got a solidity, they've got the backing from the crowd of course They're the best defence in the tournament. And they've got Brahim Diaz, who didn't score in the semi-final, but has scored in every single game before that, who's been the player of the tournament so far.

44:54So I'm just not sure what happened to Nigeria in the semi-final. I thought it was harsh for you to involve Nadem in this final preview, because I think he was, until this morning, still crying about what happened to the Super Eagles. Yes, we've been quite mean, actually, to the partners. Is this hard for you to watch, Nadem? Oh, no. Are you going to be in that group chat, Jurek? Oh, no. No, but I'll be honest, this penalty miss. Oh, no. No, no, we need to figure out this Bono save. If you go left and then save it to your right when it goes to your left, that's one of the weirdest saves and penalties I think I've ever seen.

45:29So from seeing that, at least I've witnessed history. I know, everyone's so mean. Poor Colin Uzo got it the other night. I know. Listen, I'm acutely aware that a lot of people don't like Nigerians. a lot of African people have told me that a lot of Europeans have told me that, a lot of Americans have told me that so yeah, let's just enjoy the fact that this summer you won't get a chance to see any more of Nigeria so I hope your teams do well at the World Cup because if they don't, I will be keeping receipts Sounds like Stevie's on your side He's even got a green tie on Yeah, and with you Nader, don't worry son Cheer up Nader, are you going to be going to that group chat there with Jules and having a go at him?

46:11No, no, no, not today, not today. I'll do that tomorrow. Can I just say, while the house is on fire at Real Madrid, the one Real Madrid player, Brahim Diaz, he's loving life. He's loving life. Look. Nothing to do with me. I wasn't here for any of this. I'm over here being the player of the tournament. I may win this thing, and I may come back to, well, guys, you guys think I don't. Yep, well, time will tell.

46:39That's all we've got time for in the latest edition of ESPN FC. Stick around, though. Nadam and Jules are. We're going to be answering your questions on the latest edition of Extra Time. See you there.

46:53Hello and welcome into the latest edition of Extra Time. I've got lots of different questions for lots of different things. So let me just check. I've got the right ones for you guys. Julia Leron and Nadam Anua are telling us today. Did you need me to go get the questions? Maybe, yes. Okay. Change your pace, baby. Change your pace. Speed. They're not here. They're not here. All right. OK, I have got them here. I was just testing. All right. Send your pace. I just tested your alarm. I've got them. I've got them. Don't worry. They're here. You didn't notice it? I was quick. He was quick. He was pacey.

47:22All right. First question from the Norwegian Racing Fish. Madrid legends have often been quoted as saying no one is above the club. Has Perez slowly eroded this and placed himself above the club, leading to the issues they're facing today, Ale? This seems different than the original Galactico problems faced earlier in his tenure.

47:45Yeah, no, I don't think this is accurate. This is no different. In fact, I would argue that this is not worse than when they had the Galactico players and were not getting results then. We think of Real Madrid and all their success. it didn't happen during the Galactico era. Of course, some people are going to point their finger at the Champions League that they won against Leverkusen and the goal by Zidane, and that's the one moment in time. But when you go year by year by year, as Barcelona was building what essentially became a machine and an empire, Real Madrid were dwindling and going in the wrong direction.

48:31And it wasn't until the arrival of Jose Mourinho that then he then understood, yeah, what Barcelona got going on here seems to be unstoppable. If we want to play toe-to-toe with this team, we are going to have to dirty this whole thing up. And we're going to have to mess this up entirely and build something different. So Real Madrid has had, the point being that Real Madrid has had these moments in their history in which there is very little patience with the manager. The players seem to have all the power. and that I think was confirmed here. The moment they decided to let go Xavi Alonso, they're essentially saying the players are the ones that have the power and have the responsibility.

49:18And so again, I repeat, as I said on the show, it's now on the players. The guy that they didn't want is not here anymore. It's now on the players to prove their worth. What do you think, Jules? Yeah, I agree with Ali. I think Ramajuda is a unique club, really, when you think about it. And I understand this, there's no player above the club, right? But if there's one club where player power is at the strongest, it's this one. And again, we go back to this, but not just Xabi Alonso. For years and years, like Rafael Benitez was not a bad coach. Players didn't like him, six months out. Xabi Alonso, we don't like you.

49:57Too many video analysis, too much this, too much rigidity. out. It's just as simple as that. And they are the biggest club in the world. They're the most successful. So if you've learned in O 'Perez and you've been here before and you've always managed to go back to winning ways and win again, why would you change? You don't need to. So I think they're going to go again. And he's the most powerful president in club football and his players are the ones with the most power too. And that's the way it is. Stevie, it looks like Gehi is heading to City. What could possibly be the reason Liverpool has sat this one out after having him almost locked in last summer?

50:39I don't think this has got to do with Liverpool. I think this has got to do with Gehi. If you're Gehi, City or Liverpool, you go to City. I think anybody in his position right now, if they want to move in this window and you have a choice, It's going to be City. I think Liverpool realised that they weren't going to get them, which is why there hasn't been an awful lot of noise coming from Liverpool. So I think it's more to do with Gehi than anything else. I bet you're not too upset with how it played out, are you, Nadem? No, no, I'm quite happy with that. I'm quite happy, yeah. I think early in the season, obviously, the talk was, you know, he could have gone to Liverpool and that would have been a great signing.

51:23But my only wonder there was, to be fair, that kind of feels it falls into Stevie's point, was I thought, is he gonna play instead of Kanata? Is he gonna play instead of Adaiq? I'm not sure. But as he arrives at City right now, you know, they've got Kushinov and Max Alain who got recalled from alone. So these aren't two of their starting center halves. So Gehi can basically, you know, leave one club playing week in, week out, and arrive at a new club playing week in, week out, but have added games in terms of playing Champions League and be in the late stages of some other competitions as well.

51:51So, yeah, I am quite happy with that. I think he's a really, really good player, and I think you can go to the next level as well. Ale, will United learn or not from Ole Gunnar and offer Carrick a full-time role if results drastically improve? Who's your favourite for the United manager role? Lots of coaches available this summer after the World Cup. These are multiple questions. You can do it.

52:19I hate to answer this different question with a similar package of an answer, and that is while we focus on Ruben Amorim, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Michael Carrick, and you can go on and on and on, Darren Fletcher, if you want to. players. In the end, and I think those of us that were fortunate enough to have played professionally know that or would appreciate if the responsibility was actually on the players. So at some point, Manchester United, in order for them to make coaching decisions and give the power to save Michael Carrick, then the players have to show something different than what they have shown so far and do so consistently not in moments not once every three weeks but week in and week out until they do that then this coaching carousel will continue and so while i can answer the question yeah they'll back michael karrick it depends on results it's always dependent results and it will always be dependent on results and it also depends on who becomes available after the world cup a big name comes around you may think that he has a different plan it gives you a different profile elevates your profile as a club elevates the amount of excitement that there is around the club because the results are not doing enough for you then you make that decision so this is there's so many layers to this question but it goes back to something very basic unless you have the players you're not going to achieve the things that you want to achieve okay jules do you see robertson staying at Liverpool beyond this season?

54:01There's two parts to this question. Let's start there.

54:07That's a good question. I think the question is more, is he happy with the game time that he has now? You would assume that by next season, Kerkers would have got better or suddenly would have finally got to the level that you have to be to play for Liverpool week in and week out, which probably would mean just the backup role for Robertson, even less game time, and he might not want that and he might decide, you know what, I still want to enjoy the last few years of my career, go somewhere else where I will play even if it's not the level of Liverpool. If you're Liverpool and he's happy to stay and be the backup, you keep him 100%.

54:43He's a great guy to have in dressing room. He's won everything with you. He's been part of this great generation and the club. He's got so much experience. If he plays now and again, he's still good enough, obviously, to be there. I don't think he's good enough anymore to play every three days. I don't think his body can probably take it anymore. But yeah, I would keep him. If he's happy with the conditions, and those are the conditions, I would keep him for sure. And the next part is Stevie. Would you like to see him stay or do you think it's time to move on? No, I'm with Jules. It'd be great.

55:11If he's content to play a bit part, then he's the perfect guy to be able to bring on for any manager. However, I don't see how that's possible because I quite frankly I don't see how Kierkegaard gets better I honestly don't and I don't I don't see Liverpool taking 10 million to get rid of him so for me next season Kierkegaard is going to be the backup and Liverpool look as though they're going to have to sign a left back which means that Robertson has pushed back another slot which means they would go but Listen, if somebody wants to come in and give a silly offer for Kerkers and Liverpool sign another left-back and Robertson stays, that's the ideal scenario for me.

56:03But I don't see it happening. Nobody's going to go and buy Kerkers. Liverpool ain't going to take such a big hit, having spent the money on them, they did. And I don't see Kerkers reaching the level that he's supposed to. I just don't see it. You're in the group chat with Virgil van Dijk. Just don't see it. Stevie, if Liverpool manage to win the FA Cup this season and finish in the top four, given the expectations entering the season, would you call that a success or failure? Right now it's a success. Obviously before a ball's kicked, you're thinking, well, if we don't win the title we want to be pushing whoever does.

56:47And the FA Cup really is a nice little trophy to have but considering what's happened so far I would take that I'd take your hand off right now do you agree Nadem do you think that's a success for Liverpool yeah I think it I think it has to be seen that way yeah start the season you know absolutely not but for now 100 % the position that they're currently in seeing some of the players out of form sort of wondering about new signings like Kirk has Frimpong has not hit the ground running you know a few others I think if you're going to be making a trip down to Wembley to lift the trophy and you're still in the Champions League for next year.

57:22Yes, you didn't retain your title, but I'd say that's a springboard for the next season. Stevie, any centre-back you wish to join Liverpool? That's available, of course.

57:34Listen, there are not too many world-class centre-backs kicking around.

57:43I mean, I can't, honestly, I can't think of too many. I really can't. And as I always say, Liverpool have a department, as other clubs do, it's called the scouting department, and they better have a list of who could be good enough and who can we get. You know, they're going to have to sign two centre-backs. And are they going to be able to sign two centre-backs with the capability of a Van Van Dyke, that probably isn't going to happen but they're going to have to sign some players at that position and so whoever is in charge of recruitment is going to have to earn his money by bringing in a couple of players who are going to be able to do a job, we're not expecting them to be world class but do a job until you can find the next Gehi or the next Van Dijk.

58:45And not let them go. And not let them go. Where are the top line center backs? Where have they gone? It seems like there is a shortage of players in that position. You know, and I had a very, I have a very capable defender next to me and a more than capable center back in Nathan. Where has have those players gone? Because it used to be the center backs were sort of position that you would have plenty of. And that doesn't seem to be the case anymore. I'm just saying. At the high level, anyways. You think of a club like Bayern Munich, and they're blessed to have Kim, Ta, Upamecano, that they can rotate those guys that Kim is sort of coming off the bench whenever he gets to play.

59:27But I can't think of many clubs at the very top end of European football that have a rotation of three or four centre-backs that they can play. So Needham's the closest one of all of us that recently stopped playing. and I know in my time that teams worked on defence both the first team, the reserve team academy kids, the whole thing did did teams work on defence as much as they should or do I mean what's going on at Man City's academy, did it work on defence or is it all, well it's all about passing the ball, it's all about going forward it's all about this and that Never mind the basics of how you defend.

1:00:11That's the impression you get, because what other reason is it why we're sitting here and we can't come up with anybody? Yeah, Nader, can you answer that? Well, yeah, yeah, of course, yeah. Let me answer for this generation of players. No, I don't think it's that bad. I think it's just, you've just been caught in a moment where we don't have a list of all these players, but I'm sure if somebody presented you, they'd be like, yeah, that's a good signing. That'd be a good signing and so on. I think the fact is like yes we're talking about world class players in terms of replacing a Van Dijk long term and so on and ultimately if everyone was of that same standard you wouldn't think that they were that good so I think he has to stand out for a reason those types of players should be at a premium they shouldn't be seen very often and everyone else below it you know they can still be national level standard can be Premier League standard but they won't stand out the same way that say a Van Dijk and other people will do so I'm at peace with it and you know if you want to see like good quality defending for example you know watch Sunderland look at Alderete look at Mukiele look at people like that I think they've got probably the third or fourth best defensive record in the league but none of those guys are essentially world-class but then also they've only scored 21 goals I think in 21 games so it's a guess it's a bit of a trade-off do you want your defenders to be really robust and nothing more or do you want some attack as well and maybe the defenders aren't necessarily up to the standard that you'd hope for yeah man if the answer is go watch Sunderland then I don't know then I think I think I'm out.

1:01:31I think I'm out, guys! Okay, Jules, is Mbappe kryptonite to the Champions League? Oh boy. Oh boy. Kryptonite for the dressing room. Is kryptonite like... does that mean that he doesn't go with the Champions League? Is that what that means? Yeah, it's weakness. Well, let me explain kryptonite to you, Jules. See, there was this character, Superman. Go on. And kryptonite would hurt Superman. So is Mbappe the kryptonite for the Champions League and whatever team he's playing? I get you. Yeah. I mean, he reached a final that he could have won, to be fair for us, against Bayern Munich and missed that massive chance at 0-0, to be honest, to be fair.

1:02:17He had a semi-finals where it didn't work out for him, whether it was Dortmund or City. The irony, as we mentioned many times last season, is that the day he leaves PSG, they go and win the Champions League in the most incredible way. So I don't think it's as simple as saying that, obviously. But he's 27 now, and I think by now he would have thought that he would have won it already, which is the big objective of his career. And he also thought going to Real Madrid, who win them all the time, that it would also be easier to win the Champions League, and it's not proven to be the case. So I guess they will have another go this season, But if you look at them compared to the top top teams in Europe, I don't think there's a match I don't think they can go and win the Champions League if nothing changes.

1:03:04So yeah, you could tell that for now He certainly has escaped him massive massively massively. I do have a question for Jules. So When he was referring to PSG and the chances that PSG had to win Champions League with Mbappe He referred to PSG for us. We right and so I imagine he'd do the same thing if Arsenal are about to win Champions League, he said, us and we. If Real Madrid go on to win it with Mbappe, he says, us and we again? Nah. No. No. That's where you draw the line. I'd be super happy for him and for the family. Yeah, I drew the line there, Ali. I feel like he wouldn't even say we on Arsenal, even though he likes that.

1:03:44I think the we, we, we is reserved for the French team. Seems we're asking questions of Jules. Yeah, I agree. Jules, you know when we were doing the show and you were saying about Mbappe, well, he was just doing this, about not doing the Guard of Honor, and they just didn't really want to do it. Any manager who lets a player do that and completely overrides them. No wonder Xabi Alonso's not there. Xabi Alonso, every manager I've ever had, would have been straight over and grabbed Mbappe by the ears and pulled him over. Pulled him over. There's not one of them would not have gone over to him, Rodrigo, or anybody else who decided that they didn't want to do it.

1:04:25and would have dragged them across there. That's your kryptonite with Mbappé. And he's got a cheek, by the way. You know, we asked a question when, had anybody, like, put in on social media? Oh, and guess what? Mbappé, he's on social media going, oh, really sorry, and blah, blah, blah. Yeah, well, how about just do as you're told? Never mind hypocrite. Oh, I'm really sorry, and I really enjoyed being under you. What if he was a messenger saying the others don't want to do it, boss? Yeah. Yeah. At least Vinny didn't go sucking up and put something saying, oh, I really enjoyed him as a manager. And then you've got Mbappe getting all these troops saying, no, we're not doing that.

1:05:07We're not doing what the manager says. Come over here. And then he starts trying to suck up. From how Mbappe is kryptonite for Stevie. Yeah, I know. I don't think he'd react to the well. How about Mbappe realises to be a team player, he might win the Champions League. All right. Doesn't it actually be better closing down? Maybe that would help. All right. Okay. All right. So you think Mbappe was the problem here? Well, it seems to be. Or his ears, for that matter. It seems to be. All right. That's all we've got time for. Stevie needs to vent. I know. We let him get it off his chest. We should probably stop there.

1:05:42A bit while we're ahead. He's also decided what movie to watch tonight. We gave him about 35 options. He wasn't happy with any of them. So if you've got any options, let us know. Put it on the chat, Nato and Drew. Yes, put it on the chat later. People send postcards anymore. Rate it on a postcard. Carry a pigeon. All right, thank you so much for sending in your questions. We'll be back again tomorrow on ESPN FC.