Futbol Americas: Brazil Squad Set! + Pepi Reaches 100 Appearances + Messi and the Fans Beefing?!? + Lewandowski Leaving Barca + Liga MX Final Set

28:41But Casemiro is 34 years of age, and if you plan to go far, it's another game. Instead of seven, it will be eight games to the final, a game every three, four days for a player that age in the climates that he will be playing in with the travel. It could be asking for a lot to expect them to play every single game and hold up physically. Gustavo, before we let you go, I know today's Neymar news gave the Brazilian fans a boost of optimism, much needed boost of optimism. But with all being said, the whole breakdown of the squad, what is real expectations for Brazil? during the World Cup? Maurício, well, the expectation in Brazil is always to win the World Cup.

29:26Always. I think that the fans in Brazil, the most fans in Brazil, they really believe that Brazil will win the World Cup. But I think that when we talk a little bit to people who really follow the national team, who work with talker, I don't see Brazil as one of the two or three best teams in the world now, of course. Brazil is not one of the main favorites for the World Cup. But if you ask me about the expectation in Brazil, it's always to win the World Cup. And this is the kind of pressure that Carlos Celotti will take with him. Can I just throw something out there on the table for your consumption?

30:11This is factual information. It's not even, it's not opinion. It's not a matter of thought or opinion coming from me. Brazil. And you know I love me some Venezuela, right? Yeah, yeah, yeah. I love me some vino tinto. Man, I bleed vino tinto. And I'm passionate about the vino tinto. This version of Brazil that we're talking about potentially in the latter stages of the competition and maybe the expectations are for them to win the World Cup. This version of Brazil did not beat Venezuela in World Cup qualifiers. Did not. But they drew both games. Now, I love me some Venezuela. But if that's the standard that Brazil is playing at right now, and that's what we have seen from them, and it's what we saw from them for the most part during World Cup qualifiers in South America, winning the World Cup is never, never, never in the cards for this version of Brazil.

31:01And I mean never, because that would suggest that Venezuela is at that level. and let me just tell you, as much as I love Venezuela, we are not at that level. No, Gustavo, that's the way we say obrigado and thank you for joining us. I mean, I don't know what else to add. It's all being said, but Ale. No, but in all honesty, he's wearing the vino tinto as well. Yes, yes. He knows it. He knows it. Gustavo, thank you so much. Thank you so much for staying up with us and we'll be talking to you very soon on Football Americas and on the platform because you're everywhere, my friend. Thank you, Gustavo.

31:35Obrigado. Thank you. Always a pleasure. Gustavo Hoffman, our ESPN reporter, Brazil insider. Speaking of Neymar, in case you missed this, he was playing over the weekend. He was getting some treatment, but then the fourth official displayed his number as he was going to be subbed out. That was not part of the plan. And the other player actually stepped into the field, so it was official, and Neymar was not let's back into the field. He had receipts. He had receipts to prove it. He's got the actual substitute card right there. He's showing them. That's not me. How does this happen at this level?

32:17Did it ever happen to you? Well, can I also say, and again, just to provide some context, the player that was supposed to come in that was on that substitution card was number 31. Number 31 was supposed to come in. or come off. How do you go from 31 to 10, look at it and say, yeah, we'll put up 10. You got 31 and 10. And you went, somehow you from 31, you go to 10. Look, I haven't, sometimes I come across as somebody who doesn't like Neymar. I don't mind Neymar. No, nobody thinks that. I don't mind Neymar. I just don't think he deserves to be in this national team, but that's a different conversation.

33:01Right? I don't mind Neymar. But in this particular occasion, I understand why he would be frustrated. And I get it. And if I had receipts, I would probably show it as well and say, this idiot somehow confused 31-4-10, and now I'm off the field. That was actually going to be the last minutes that Neymar would have had to show Carlo Ancelotti that he would have fit enough. He didn't need those minutes. Anyway, that happened. for more soccer breakdown from around the world. Remember to catch the Gavin Jewel show. I was actually listening to the latest episode. So basically, Manchester city. So basically you listen to Gab then.

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34:54Ricardo Pepi scored for the fifth game in a row. That's his 100th appearance with PSV. Three full seasons. His team comfortably won the league. El Tren Pepi just sat down for this exclusive chat with ESPN.

35:16Ricardo, if you have to rate the season so far for yourself on a scale from 1 to 10, what would you give it? I would give it a solid 8-9 to be honest. I feel like it's been a pretty decent season. Even though all the injuries? Because I can guess that's the one or two points that you take off the 10. That's definitely the one or two points that are missing from the 10, of course. But you know, it's part of the game, part of football and you know, it's part of what I do. Yeah, what makes it 8 or 9? Yeah, I feel like, you know, it's just been efficient the whole season, to be honest. You know, I've had a good amount of goals.

35:48You know, I've been able to help the team as much as I can. You know, when I'm on the pitch, I feel like, you know, I've been scoring goals. I've been playing good. So I think it's been a pretty decent season, if I can tell. Yeah, to be honest with you, I think you're one of the best strikers that has been playing in the Netherlands that has not been a starter. How does that feel for you? Yeah, you know, it's a little bit of mixed feelings, of course, because, you know, it's, you know, you always want to play as a starter, of course, you know, but it always takes time. It always, you know, you have to have to earn your spot, of course.

36:15And I feel like, you know, like I said, I've I've done that sometimes this year. You know, I've been able to start. I've been able to play way more minutes than I did the last two years. So, you know, it's been great. It's been a learning experiences. And, you know, it's been good. It's been good overall. Yeah, there's always two type of persons when they're on the bench. the one that gets crumpy and the one that's calling the coach every day and saying or maybe even talks to the media about it. Or you have the other one, and that's the part I think you are in, the one that still can say it's a good season, I have to earn my spot.

36:44Is that just your personality? Does it have anything to do with you as an American maybe? Yeah, it could be. It could be. I mean, just the way I've been taught ever since being a young kid that my parents always tell me just work hard no matter what and everything's going to be okay. I feel like you know I wouldn't say that I don't get mad or I don't get upset of course but I always keep my cool I always try to do the best that I can for the next game and prepare myself So, you know, I feel like it's the right balance of you know Just being a little bit upset by using that as motivation at the same time Nice your nickname in the States was El Tren, the train I think in Groningen they also called you that.

37:20Did they call you that in Eindhoven as well? Yeah, you know a lot of people do here Maybe they don't call me as much but they definitely use the emoji as well So, you know, whenever they make a post or, you know, whenever people see me here at the club, then, you know, they use El Tren, of course. Yeah, it's just a nickname that stuck with me ever since I was at FC Dallas, to be honest. Yeah, well, why did you get the nickname El Tren? I've heard so many different stories, you know, but based on what I understood when I was young, it was just kind of like a hype train that, you know, Dallas fans gave me a little bit.

37:47And so they just decided to call me El Tren because, you know, I'm part Mexican as well. So I think it just sounds better in Spanish. Yeah, El Tren, El Tren, the hype train. If we're talking about trains and stations, you're now at station Eindhoven. Do you think this will be your end station in the Netherlands? You know, it's too quick for me to be able to say that, of course. At the moment I have one more game coming up with PSV. It's probably the final game of the season, of course. And I have a World Cup coming up, so we're going to see what happens. I'm just really focused on finishing the season strong here and looking forward to the World Cup.

38:21Hopefully I can get an opportunity and we'll see what happens from there. Yeah, how hard was it for you to see that next station already? Maybe you went already to London. You come there, you already feel like, okay, this is going to be my new home. And then all of a sudden, on the last moment, the deal is canceled. How did it feel for you? Yeah, difficult. I would say, you know, it's definitely a hard moment, of course. It's all about emotions. You know, as a player, you want new experiences, of course. And, you know, you feel so close to it, but yet so far away. So it's just about just being able to manage the emotions.

38:53Of course, it was a difficult moment, but, you know, I felt like at the end I used it as, you know, good energy, good motivation to be able to continue my season here and, you know, score more goals for the team. Yeah, but it's also a crazy part of football, especially in the States when you see the draft, for example, or trade system you have there. You're kind of like just a puppet. How does that feel as a football player in Europe? Yeah, it's difficult. Of course, it's difficult. You know, it's, I say, a little bit more controlled than it is in the States, of course. You know, in the States, anytime you can just get traded to another team.

39:22So, you know, that's also a very difficult thing to deal with. But I feel like here, you know, being so close to making a transfer and then it doesn't happen. You know, it's like I said, it's a roller coaster of emotions. But, you know, it's all about staying stable and, you know, having that balance in your life. How hard is it to keep that balance? There's a World Cup coming up. There's already trade rumors. There will always be trade rumors around strikers that make goals. Do you try to keep those trade rumors away from the World Cup and just talk about it after the World Cup? or are there already things going on before the World Cup?

39:54No, to be honest, I always just try to focus on what's coming up, you know. And like I said, you know, I have one more game coming up here and hopefully I get an opportunity at the World Cup. So then, you know, whatever happens before that, I'm not really focused on, you know, I'm just really focused on finishing the season strong and looking forward to see if I can get an opportunity. Do you tell your manager, I don't want to hear anything about it? Yeah, 100%. Okay. 100%. But what if he scored three, four, five goals at the World Cup? You know, then that changes a little bit, of course, you know, But I still tell them, you know, like at the end of the World Cup, you know, at the end of the season, then if we have the right time, you know, we will find the right time to be able to talk about those things.

40:29But let me just focus and let me just finish the season strong. Is Fulham still an option, though? You know, I can't really talk about that at the moment. It's just, you know, just really focus on what's coming up. Yeah, a hard no could also be an option. Yeah, it could also be an option. Yeah, but it's not. It's not, it's not. Okay, if you would have to choose a country to go to because it's always about opportunities But if you had all the opportunities beforehand, would you definitely go for the Premier League? Yeah, I feel like you know, there's a couple of leagues that I definitely see my game, you know, fitting fitting well into I've said like the Premier League is always a dream come true to to every single player I feel like every player wants to play in the prime of course being the best league in the world But you know, I'm open to to a lot of competitions.

41:13So, you know, hopefully it's a top-five competition Of course, I feel like that's the next step for me. But, you know, like I said, I'm just really focused on what's coming up next. Yeah, that was an interesting deposition that Ricardo Pepi was put against the wall. All the hard questions, he answered them all the proper way. But, I mean, she was asking the right questions. He was not always a starter for this club. But whenever he had a chance to play, he delivered. He scored. Has he outgrown the Eredivisie PSV at this point? Ugh. You all right? Okay. It's just, you'd love to see him as a consistent starter, and I'd love to sit here and say, well, he wasn't a consistent starter because of the injuries, but we will never know.

42:01What we do know is Ricardo Pepe has a penchant for being on the field and scoring a goal. He gets himself into great positions, and he puts the ball away. How that translates from the Eredivisie to a league like the Premier League? or another top five league in the world? I do not know. I think he's a player that is just in between. He's in between in how he uses his body, how he combines, but he's a finisher and he's a true finisher. I don't know if I see him in a league like a Premier League where he is thriving, but I do think there is a level in a top five league in the world where Ricardo Pepe can find consistently a way to score goals.

42:39I would have loved to see him do that at the Area Divisie for a whole season. Healthy as a starter to see how that can translate and right now we don't know What a backhanded compliment he received there from the interviewer You are the best substitute there is Really making a difference coming up Congrats on the 12th man award Yeah, congrats on a guy that doesn't really earn a starting spot consistently, but you really make a difference of the bench and But as a backhanded compliment as that might have been it is indeed the way that you describe his career at PSV. And it's a, whether we like to look at it from that perspective or not, is a guy that, yeah, coming off the bench has proven to be a player that gets on the end of things and gets opportunities and more importantly, puts those opportunities into the back of the net, which is exactly the same role that he's going to have with the United States men's national team come the World Cup.

43:38Now, as it pertains to his club career, the natural evolution would suggest that first you become a consistent starter, wherever your club may be, in this case PSV, and then you grow from that consistency of performances, you evolve into whatever that next phase may be. We have seen many a player from the area of the BC that are well-established players, that are out-and-out starters, that then they go on to the next phase, whatever that may be. Certainly the Premier League seems to be what he's focusing on. And those players have a difficult, difficult time sorting out their time in the Premier League.

44:24It was a different time in his life. Ricardo Pepe had an opportunity in the Bundesliga which is not the Premier League and again I qualify that comment by saying that it was a different time in his life and he was younger and not as mature and his game hadn't evolved nearly as much as he has now but that didn't seem to work out or match any of the attributes that he brings on the field and so it's a leap of faith now if I'm Ricardo Pepe I'm taking the leap of faith because I'm banking on myself. I'm believing on myself. This leap of faith would be on whoever and whatever the club may be on the other side that's saying this is our guy, reportedly Fulham, has been Fulham for a while.

45:07We have discussed that many a time in this show, but it's a leap of faith and a risk from that club, whatever that club may be, to think that this is going to be the guy and the answer for you. Just going to what Ali is saying, that leap of faith of Ricardo Pepe wanted to bank on himself a club like fulham was willing to do a record transfer fee for a player like ricardo pepi so that leap of faith goes two ways so he has that going for himself and certainly a good world cup whether off the bench or not can do wonders for that transfer market in his future but i'm with ali you would have loved to seen that body of work leading up into this moment yeah and he will have as alice said maybe that kind of a same role the next weeks when he's called by Mauricio Pochettino and play for the national team in the World Cup.

45:57Let's run it back. Let's stay with Ricardo Pepi. As I said before, fifth game in a row scoring hurt. This is his 16th goal of the season for the Champions PSV. Yeah, as the reporter said, a leading goal scorer of the club while not being a consistent starter, but he bags another goal. Alec, can you believe this is Anthony Robinson's first goal in the Premier League? It came from the spot against Wolves. What I cannot believe is that we're showing a full-on penalty kick as not taken by Raul Jimenez. Good Lord, we have done that enough here. Only CONCACAF penalty takers. Wasn't on the field. Austin Troste is a game league champion with, oh, sorry, Christian Pulisic first, fourth assist for Milan this season.

46:43That's half of what he had last year. You're bearing the lead. He finally got a goal contribution. It's his second of the year. This is good. This is good. Fourth assist. We are highlighting the fourth assist. Second of the year. What about this? Trusty again, league champion with Celtic, but at what cost? Literally breaking hearts around the world. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Sorry to our good pal, Mark Donaldson. I mean, yeah, this was not offside. I thought it was offside at first, but second play, it was a dramatic finish in the Scottish Premiership. Celtic win the title again. Hearts, they led the league for most of the year.

47:28They had this final chance in one of the most incredible stories of the current football season in Europe. But good for Austin Trustee winning another league, Herc. Yeah, Austin Trustee gets the game or wins the league with Celtic and maybe find himself with another opportunity. Can I count as a champion or not? You get it too. There you go. And not so great news for the US Men's national team. Let's start with Brandon Aronson. Substituted after 59 minutes with what his manager called a dead leg. Former pro players, what is a dead leg? It's a contusion. A dead leg is something that you can treat and you'll be fine.

48:11With his manager. Come the World Cup. If it's a left knee injury, that's a different conversation. A dead leg is a muscle contusion that is treatable and he'll be fine. What about an ankle injury? This is what happened to Chris Richards. His match against Brent Ford. Oh, boy. He needed to be assisted off the field with an ankle injury. Yeah, he would come back on. Certainly, we have to see once the adrenaline wears off where he's at. Crystal Palace has a few big games coming up.

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50:06Shopify.com slash network. It's Charles Barkley here with Wayfair. Let me tell you, game day is serious business at my house. If I'm grilling, chilling, and watching hoops, my outdoor setup better be ready to play. That's what Wayfair wins. From patio seating and umbrellas to grills and grill accessories, Wayfair's got it all, and it shows up fast. I'm talking fast and easy delivery. So level up your grill game and your outdoor chill game And head to Wayfair.com to get your outdoor space ready for the season. Wayfair, every style, every home. All right, a lot going on with Inter-Miami. Seems like a regular thing to say, but especially, let's start with the game, the actual game.

50:51Miami facing Portland, 31st minute. Luis Suarez to Telasco Segovia, and then Messi takes it home. Miami is leading 1-0. I do not know if Segovia meant to do that, sweet little backheel. Great finish. Your anti-Venezuela agenda. Messi definitely tried to do this. What an assist for Germán Bertrami. Hey, Germán Bertrami. Hey. To nail for Inter Miami that moment. Beautiful combination. Then this work from Messi in tight spaces. Attracts all the attention. Lays it up to Bertrami. And at this point, you're saying, Germán, please, please put this into the back of the net. And he certainly does that.

51:292-0. It's called the season for him. Yeah, yeah. Will he be a part of the Mexican national team? We're about to find out. And this is a great save by James Pantamas. Messi with a free kick. It's 2-0 the win for Instagram. He's finally getting W at home. But take a look at what happened during the game. The fans started chanting something to the tone of, Players, you got to come and say hi. You haven't approached us in the last games. James Messi with a reaction that maybe leads to think that he was not pleased with what the crowd was chanting. In the end, waving at some other part. This is from this official supporters group called La Familia.

52:17There's another clip where Leo Messi pulls his own players and basically tells them not to go to where La Familia is. it's a common thing to do for players to go where the supporter group is, say thank you, gracias for the support. Is this, I mean, what is going on here between Inter Miami, Messi, and the fans? It's just another disconnect between this club and I would say its fan base, but I think Major League Soccer fan bases, how they feel they are above certain things. And I'm not saying the players have to go and acknowledge. I'm not saying Messi has to go acknowledge La Familia, the supporters group, or Rodrigo De Paul has to acknowledge Luis Suarez.

53:04But this is, I think, an immediate reaction to, by the way, the first game they won in their new stadium was this game. And this fan base have been there. Not only all the other games they've not won, supporting, singing, chanting. but years before there was a Messi, before there was a Suarez, before there was a Rodrigo de Paul and they feel connected to the club. They want to feel acknowledged. They want to feel heard and they think that maybe some of these idols are checked out once the 90 minute hits. That they send the young kids to go do the pressers. That they act above and there would probably be people out there that tell you, well, they are above.

53:45Messi is above this club. Suarez is above this fan base. Rodrigo de Paul is above this and that. They just want acknowledgement. They want to feel heard and part of this story, and they don't. I understand Messi being frustrated, and I'll concentrate on Messi. I understand Messi being frustrated as a, are you seriously saying this to me? I'm part of this team. You're going to say this to me after I've given you everything? I understand that part. I don't understand Rodrigo de Paul. I don't understand Luis Suarez. These are two players that maybe feel they are above this. But in Rodrigo de Paul's case, he's been bang average in Major League Soccer and just along for the ride with Messi.

54:30So if I'm the fan base here, I feel slighted? Sure. Should you be slighted at Messi? Probably not. This is so easily addressed. So easily resolved. if you have a club and a front office that actually have something about them that can control the behavior of the players which front offices should be able to do and communicate with the players and say listen you have a meeting with them on monday morning before they go out to training for that week and you say listen when we play at home and we finish the game regardless of what happens in the game you must go and acknowledge the fans. That is a mandate that comes down from the ownership and is for you to go and execute it as part of you being a player for this club.

55:30And it doesn't take much. It doesn't take much. It doesn't take much for Lionel Messi, for Rodrigo Deport, for Luis Suarez, for Noah Allen, for anybody in this club to go and just give it one of these and then we move on with our lives. You may not mean it. You may not be fully engaged. But just walk 10 yards from the middle of midfield, 10 yards towards the fans, maybe 15, make it 18. And then just a little clap and then you move on. It's a mandate that can come down from ownership. It's a mandate that can come down from the front office. You address it with the players and you present it as such.

56:08It doesn't take much. We're not asking for much here. This is not a thousand items autograph session that you have to attend to. You're not taking pictures with anybody. You're not having to do this, that, or the other. You're just acknowledging this group of people. In fact, how about you make it a global thing, and then once you acknowledge these people, then you kind of give it one of these, give it one of that, and then walk away. It takes less than three minutes to be able to do that. If players are not willing to do that, then you have a bigger problem. You have a cultural issue in your club.

56:43And players may very well be above MLS. Never mind the club. Messi's above Major League Soccer. Yeah, 100%. He's above Major League Soccer. But you tell him. You don't have to force him to do it. You reason with him. Who? Who tells him? Ownership. David Beckham? Jorge Mas? Mas brothers? Do you honestly, I mean, and this is not a rhetorical question. Do you guys honestly believe that Jorge Mas and David Beckham will take the fans' side on this topic? Well, to Alec's point, this isn't something unreasonable. It is not. It is not unreasonable. It's not even like I'm taking the position of the fan.

57:28It's quite honestly just common sense. Like, you could sit down and talk to Messi. Fans are irrational. We know this. But they idolize you. and all they want from you is acknowledgement of their existence. And I am not of the vein of the fan pays your paycheck. I am not of that vein. You buy a ticket, it does not give you the liberty to demand, to yell, to aparaxigil, a certain type of thing. But if you are somebody of messy stature, this is so far beneath you, it should be like, of course. Of course I'll do that. Of course I'll do that. I don't think it's too much of an ask, especially for the headlines that this is getting.

58:13You know, like you could think it's stupid and we're talking about it here. But it's not just that we're talking about it here. This is being this is headlines elsewhere. Especially because it's probably the first time in 20 plus years of professional career from Lionel Messi that we have heard of a disconnect between Messi and a group of fans. and a group of supporters. PSG. PSG was a little different. It's not that he was disconnected with the fans. It was just he hated being there. But you can never question his commitment to the club in general. And acknowledging the fans, thanking the fans for the support, is part of being committed to a club.

58:58Which leads me again to question, is this the last we're seeing from Messi at Inter Miami after the World Cup? Or after this year finishes. Maybe so. Maybe he doesn't feel a part of that anymore. Maybe not. But he is tied to this league, essentially, as an investor. And so a lot of... Which brings a different conversation, by the way. And so whatever direction this league takes post-Messi is going to affect him. so look if all it takes is for you to wave smile wave and smile then it's not I don't think this is Jorge Mas or David Beckham taking the side of the fans it's as much as it is we're all in this together right we're all in this together and and and while you are the central figure to what everything that has happened and will happen at Inter Miami for the foreseeable future, you're also a reference point.

1:00:05And there is a certain responsibility that comes with that. So reason with Leonel Mesa and say it takes a couple of minutes and it's going to save you, me. You know what? If I'm the owner, I say, fine, you don't want to do it for the fans, then do it for me. Do us as a favor to me. And you present it like that. But yeah, I've done I've done everything that I could to make your life as easy and convenient as possible here in Inter Miami. And you, in turn, have provided us with so much success on the field. But as a favor to me, can you just go and do this? I don't think it's unreasonable at all.

1:00:42I'll go back to what you just said about maybe being a cultural, like the culture at the club. To me, that's the bigger issue here. And it goes, you mentioned front office, from the way they handle media to pulling credentials, to the way they treat their fans, to the way players feel they are above not only their team, but the league. And choose what media to do and what not to do. Choose to send the kids to go out and talk to the public after they lose to their rival, after winning by three goals. Sorry to interrupt you, Herc. Which I think is connected to this. This is what I'm saying. That's the bigger issue for them.

1:01:18and that I think the fans see that it's Noah Allen that is thrown out there in front of the media to answer questions, and they're kind of like, okay, this is great, but we need to hear from the others. And that also generates a connection. And they refuse to do that too. Yeah, no, I agree 100 % with you. So I think it goes much deeper than, hey, you didn't say hi to us. This is the fans saying, hey, maybe for you this is a stop in your tray station, but this is my home. This is a club I chose. It will say a lot whether Messi addresses this or not. Either way, it will say a lot of how Messi right now persists, stands on Major League Soccer and Inter Miami.

1:02:00Big game coming up this weekend is the Women's Champions League final. Barcelona lost last year to Arsenal. Now they face Olympique Lyon. That's on Saturday at noon on ESPN Deportes and on the ESPN app. Barcelona lights up, carrying the weight of a story that keeps growing. Barca returns to the top of La Liga EA Sports. A season built step by step. Months of demands, conviction and an idea carried all the way through. Because this title is no coincidence, it's a reward. Barca doesn't just win, Barca does it their way. It's a triumph for the club, for the fans and for a style. A journey that has found its destination.

1:02:50Barca lifts their 29th league title. And the story shines once again.

1:03:04Barcelona won the league again. Robert Lewandowski said his goodbyes to Camp Nou on Sunday. He announced that he will be leaving the club after four seasons, seven trophies, so far 119 goals for the Polish international. This is Robert Lewandowski saying goodbye to all the Cule fans at Camp Nou. And this is Hansi Flick talking about his striker.

1:03:38It was a perfect goodbye for him. We will never forget this. I think, as we said, it was very emotional and you can see also his whole heart is here in Barcelona with this club, with the people here in this area. And I have to say thank you, thank you Robert, because he's a fantastic person and a world-class player. He gave us very fantastic, unforgettable moments here. A lot of goals, a lot of titles. And I think we also miss him. We also miss him. But at the end, it's a part of the life. It's a part of the game. And at the end of the season, some players are leaving. Some new players are coming.

1:04:28It's normal. But of course, the club will miss him. Everyone will miss him because he's not only a world-class player. He's also a good person. All right, that was Hansi Fleek, Robert Lewandowski. He decided to join Barcelona at the lowest point of the club, and that's why the people were very grateful to him and wanted to say adeo the right way. All right, let's play buy or sell Robert Lewandowski. Herk, levy to Major League Soccer. Buy or sell? I'm buying. Listen, I know he's going to be 38 in August, so 38 this summer, but there are a few plazas I think he just makes sense. This is a goal scorer.

1:05:10Give him an opportunity to score a goal. He was scoring in La Liga. He's been scoring in Champions League. Only Messi and Cristiano, those two monsters, have more goals in Champions League than Robert Lewandowski. He's going to score goals. He's got a certain profile, a certain presence that I think would be very valuable for certain franchises within Major League Soccer. And I'll go out and just throw one right now. I was of an age where the Chicago Fire was a place where Polish national team players went with that community and were very successful and they can draw in numbers the Polish community.

1:05:41I think he would be a good fit. They have Ugo Kuypers right now, who's actually leading the league in goals. If they played a two-striker type of setup with Greg Berhalter and the verticality that he has shown in his Major League Soccer career with the understanding of what it's about. I think Robert Lewandowski can strive in a market that has been underserved, would be the word I would use within Major League Soccer for quite some time. This could be the jolt that Chicago needs. I think it's a perfect fit for both. Ah, that makes a lot of sense. I'm just going to look at it from the perspective of Robert Lewandowski.

1:06:16Never mind the perspective of Chicago Fire and Major League Soccer. How about Cell? Just go and lay in a beach somewhere. Go play some golf. They got beaches in Chicago. Okay, not good beaches. Look, just go play some golf. Enjoy your family. You know, your kids are growing up. there's no need for this man to be going across this country this way, that way, this way, that way. There's more than$10 million a year on the table for Robert Lewandowski, either at Major League Soccer, at Saudi Arabia, or he has other offers from European clubs that will play Champions League next season. With all due respect, there is a way of doing both, Ali, and I think some of these players see Major League Soccer in that way.

1:07:05This is a bail certainly did. Well, yes, the golf part. His good buddy, his good buddy, Marco Royce is in Los Angeles right now. I'm sure there's a part of him 38 years or not that still enjoys competing, that still wants to compete, that wants to give his family maybe a different taste of the life while competing. And there is that itch for a lot of European superstars of America. What is Major League Soccer like? And I think there's a way of getting both, where he takes it seriously enough for Major League Soccer, but enjoys his time away from the field enough that a country like the United States can provide for some of these athletes.

1:07:44Do you buy now? No, I would go sit on a beach. I would go play soccer. Now, look, I'm not going to tell a player that he should retire if he feels like he can still contribute and he has a passion for it. And that's the part that I really think is important here. If he still has a passion for it and he doesn't feel that there is such a letdown from being in Barcelona than having to go and play elsewhere where it becomes a transition to retirement, then okay, hey, listen, go and do you. And if the family wants to go on some sort of expedition and live a different experience, sure, you do you and the family will take or will get something out of it as well.

1:08:32I'm just merely suggesting. At some point, even though there's a lot of money on the table and it's hard for me to say to somebody, hey, walk away from$10 million. You know, maybe you jump ahead of the curve. Maybe you are the one that is making decisions on your career, and you can do that in MLS, you can do that in Saudi Arabia, or you can go to whatever team that is offering you this money, and so be it. If he has the passion for it, go do it. But if there's any doubt, then you look at your kids and you kind of go, I want to be there. All right, now on the Barcelona side of the story, they're going to miss out on 25 goals per season.

1:09:14So that's an average what Robert Lewandowski provided for Barcelona in the past four years. Who would be an ideal player to take his place? At Barcelona? At Barcelona. Well, the name that's been in the headlines, which I don't know how realistic it could actually be, given Barcelona's financial circumstances, but Julian Alvarez would be a perfect fit. Julian Alvarez embodies what I think would fit perfectly in a Barcelona uniform. Hashtag Valores. But also on the field and his play, his ability to combine, his ability to press the way Hansi Flick would like to press, his ability to score goals, to facilitate.

1:09:55I just think it's a perfect marriage. Again, given Barcelona's financials and what we know of it, I don't know how realistic that would be. But in terms of on the field and in the profile, I think that's the perfect player for him. I think it's a one-name list, and it's Julian Alvarez. What about Joao Pedro? His name has been also thrown in the hat for replacing Lewandowski. Well, talk to Carlo Ancelotti. See how he feels about it. No, I don't think he's quite at that level. And there have been other names that have been thrown around, like Alexander Sorlot the other day. I heard Verdad Murici, and I always fell off my chair.

1:10:37I was like, look, this man is perfect for Mallorca. He's a leading scorer in La Liga right now. Perfect for Mallorca. But if you look at a player that does not fit the profile of a Barcelona player, that would be Vedad Boricci. And so there's a lot of names being thrown around, but the name that really makes the most sense is Julian Alvarez, but it's probably the most unrealistic name. And if they're going to make that happen, then they're going to have to make other decisions. They're going to have to open up some more space. There's some space, of course, with the absence of Robert Lewandowski, But I think there are other decisions to be made by Barcelona and other players that are going to be sacrificed.

1:11:17Yeah, the crucial part will be the finance element to this. How much can Barcelona afford? Would they sell someone in order to balance the numbers and try to bring a superstar striker? Robert Lewandowski is gone after four years and so forth. 119 goals for Barcelona. He won the Deutsche Pokal. Now Bayern goes for the domestic double facing Stuttgart, One of the best clubs in Germany in the past year, Saturday, 2 p.m. Eastern on ESPN Plus, ESPNU, and ESPN Deportes. In today's world, planning ahead isn't always top of mind, but not having life insurance can leave families facing difficult financial uncertainty during already emotional times.

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1:13:46Semifinales. Liga MX. Chivas facing Cruz Azul 2-0. The aggregate after the first leg, and it was going to be Cruz Azul striking first. Jeremy Marquez leading the way. Yeah, it's a good strike, but Wally's going to want this one back. He gets a whole palm on that. And Chivas down 1-0. Three minutes later, you do it to me, I'll do it to you. Almost the same way, Omar Govea, everything 1-1. It's a good hit, but similarly, as you just mentioned, goes through the goalkeeper, seems to hop over the goalkeeper. And at this point, our producer was jumping. He was excited. Yep. Three minutes later, long ball for Christian Ebere.

1:14:27Ebere makes the move, takes the shot, and now Oscar Wally makes the save. Yeah, Christian Ebere for me was a difference in this matchup, in this series. He's just so powerful. He's so strong. He created tons of opportunities for Cruz Azul, but that's an excellent save. First minute of the second half. Rotoldi, what is he doing? No, no, no, no, mamita. What happened? What happened? He missed it. Close his eyes. You know that's my kind of range, by the way. Is it? Yes, it is. three yards out yeah i can take care of that

1:15:02they were calling palavecino during the broadcast why is that my friend uh lopez i don't know lopez thinks he's italian that's not the right way to pronounce it last night but cruz azul is back on final chivas adios now who would cruz of course face pachuca leading after the first leg 1-0 now at Ciudad Universitaria facing Pumas. This is the first chance for Robert Morales, who had a complicated game. This was a good try. Yeah, hits the crossbar. La Pantera gets up high, but no good. Again, Morales, how? Why is he sliding for this? There's no need to slide for this. Stay on your feet and make clean contact.

1:15:49Oh, Lord. The moment he starts sliding the ball, his body is going backwards and the ball is going up. Oh, Laura. Pumas only needed one. And this is Jordan Carrillo, the 24-year-old. No! Is this a colazo or this is a goalkeeper mistake? It is both. He caught the keeper sleeping. Yeah, it's the keeper's post. He caught him sleeping. This is wild struck. Tons of pace. But Cesar Moreno is going to want this one back. He guesses the wrong way, leans one way, catches him sleeping. Now, Pachuca would have their chances. Stoppage time. Efrain Juarez. Look at that celebration from the Pumas manager. 91st minute.

1:16:29Álvarez. Keylor Navas with the save. Kennedy with the cross. Salomón Rondón. Ale. We'll have the best chance of the game again. Kennedy. Rondón. No. Oh, no. Salo. Salo. This is not what we talked about. This is not what I taught you. No, no, no, no. No! Oh my God! Look at Solari. Solari cannot believe it. Pachuca had it. They let it slip and it's Pumas going back to the final to face Cruz Azul. This is the tale of the tape. You can see how Pumas first, top of the table after the regular season, first in scoring, Second in conceding, not a lot of chances created, but they've been a very effective team on their current manager, Efrain Juarez.

1:17:28Cruz Azul changed managers during the season, and it's now Joel Wiki leading Cruz Azul to the final. That means that we have two Mexican managers in the final for the first time in 13 years. The last time that happened, Miguel Herrera with America facing Guillermo Vázquez with Cruz Azul, that famous Moises Muñoz header to tie the final. And then on penalties, America winning the title. What does it mean to have two Mexican managers back facing each other for the title? Well, not just Mexican managers. They're young Mexican managers. You're changing that Rolodex. It isn't the same Barajas. It isn't the same, you know, coaches that used to coach in Mexican soccer that are recycled from one team to another.

1:18:18But it almost feels like it was done by accident. Joel Wiki was the assistant coach with three different coaches, from Anselmi to Vicente Sanchez to now Larcamón, and finally gets his chance. And they were winless in nine, and now they're undefeated and playing a beautiful brand. And on the other side, Efrain Juarez may be the coach or the flavor of the month, if you will, when it comes to coaching in Mexican football. But he had to leave. He was an assistant coach in Major League Soccer. Then he was an assistant coach in Belgium. And then he became a head coach in Colombia. He took the road less traveled.

1:18:52And why? These two coaches are here now. It's because he finally got an opportunity in Mexican football. A Mexican league, a league in Mexico that doesn't give opportunities to their domestic coaches. For whatever reason, they value the foreign coach more. And these two finally got an opportunity. And they didn't just get an opportunity, and I say this with all due respect, out of Puebla, with all due respect, out of Querétaro, with all due respect, out of Necaxa. They got it in two of the biggest clubs. That's a lot of disrespect is what it is. They got it at the two biggest clubs in Mexican football.

1:19:23And these teams are playing the way they've coached. It's not by accident they are here. There's no coincidence that Javier Aguirre is on his third term as a Mexican national team coach. that means that they have no other places to look for Mexican managers. And you know how they call Joel Wiki's style of play? What's that? Wikipedia. Oh, well, of course. Great. Great. They do. Can I just say what's important? Yeah, that was beautiful. It was well done. It's a good try, really.

1:19:59Wikipedia. What's really going to be critically important for both of these managers is that they have staying power. Because if there is something that we know about Liga MX is that manager is hot today, it's very cold tomorrow, and out the door the day after that. And so could there be a possibility by which both of these managers are able to develop el proyecto, a project, a project for longer than a six-month season? because that's all of this that we're talking about loses a whole lot of steam and loses a whole lot of value if six months from now a year from now both of these guys are out of the picture and wikipedia is no longer it i'm just and that is if we were to sort of place bets as to what's more likely to happen is for these guys to thrive or for these guys to eventually being faced out because they didn't get, not necessarily the right results, but the right results according to the ownership or according to somebody who got emotional about a loss and said, we've had enough with this guy.

1:21:11And sometimes those emotional decisions in Liga MX lead to lacking consistency and continuity. And if you don't have consistency and continuity, you cannot fully develop a project into something that can become truly successful. To your point, last season Efrain Juarez and Puma struggled and struggled big time. And there were reports that he may be on the outs. There were actual reports that he was going to leave because they couldn't get the results they wanted. Six months later, they're playing at a final at home. They will host a return leg at home. They're saying that even if Joel Wiki doesn't win the title, they'll look for another manager.

1:21:49He's an interim manager, and he led the club to the final. That's the hypocrisy of Mexican soccer, if you will. So it's time to book out odds for Liga MX champion, according to DraftKings. For the first leg, Cruz Azul is favorite and Pumas a heavy underdog. La Máquina, the blue machine, it is the favorite to win the title. Minus 160. 60 if Pumas win it all it's plus 120 for the first leg the draw is at plus 290 who will win the 2026 Liga MX Clausura hurt uh by the bed I bet with Cruz Azul listen in Pumas you have a very good story but come this postseason it's a very different team it's a team that gave up three goals in the home leg first series against uh Club America excuse me away leg and then three three goals at home against America.

1:22:53Six-goal series right there. You go with Pachuca, they lost 1-0. Here, they win 1-0. They didn't win a single series in aggregate. Now they have to win. That goes out the window. They have to win outright against a team that is flying. Well, they don't have to. Well, they can go to penalty kicks, but you still have to win in penalty kicks. They have to somehow find a way to win against a team that is just deeper. And them being deeper, I think, will be the difference. Joel Wiki has a lot more to pull from that bench than an Efraín Juárez. Yeah, it seems to me, Ale, that Cruz Azul has overall the better team, the better squad.

1:23:29And even though Efraín Juárez is a more experienced manager, Joel Wiki just has best players around him. But it feels like Pumas is a team of destiny. They have momentum. It's been almost 15 years since Pumas won their last title. and it feels like it is, sorry, ahora o nunca, for Pumas under the frame Juarez. I'm taking Pumas to win it all. Who you got? Can I just say in general, just seeing that it's Pumas and Cruz Azul in the final, you guys know this better than I do, but it is this feeling of two clubs that are usually the bridesmaid and never the bride that I think, and I don't think this is an unfair statement to make, that chronically underachievers in Liga MX, and that they don't quite reach the level that the potential would suggest they should.

1:24:31At least that has been the case in terms of getting to this moment of where you need to take that next step to win the title, and it's like and it feels like it just it's a letdown and so the emotional part to that point I think is critically important and so Mauricio I am with you thank you sir I see in Pumas a team that yes that has had difficulties in the in La Ligilla but has survived and how many times have we seen in competition in tournament competition the teams that barely make it that barely survive that barely get there, that haven't been all that dominant, that don't seem to have the momentum in terms of the level of play, but have found a way to get to the final, that eventually they are the ones that lift the trophy.

1:25:24I'm going to take Pumas, if for no other reason, because I like the logo better than I do. Yeah, it's a sweet logo. Can I ask you a question? Where are they playing the first leg? I don't know. Has it been announced already? No. That's the thing. They were trying to go play in Estadio Azul, former Estadio Azul. They can't play in Estadio Azteca because they've got to turn that over to FIFA. And they don't want to go to Puebla. Ciudad de los Deportes. Formerly known as Estadio Azul. That could be a problem for them as well there. For whom? For Cruz Azul. For Cruz Azul. I just mentioned Ahora o Nunca.

1:25:56You can catch the popular ESPN Deportes show, Ahora o Nunca. And you can subscribe to Ahora o Nunca's YouTube channel. Become part of La Banda de YouTube de Ahora o Nunca. Oh, boy. Just talk some trash to her. He's got a very Barcelona-like. It's very Barcelona. It's very much so. On Thursday's show, Herc will have a conversation with Clint Dempsey. Wow. So make sure to check that out. Remember to download the podcast. And it's been awesome to be back on the show. So thank you, Ale. What? Thank you, Mauricio. See you guys January next year. Hercules' boy Neymar will be in the World Cup. Thanks for joining us.

1:26:40This has been Football America. We'll see you next time.

1:26:59This is what everyone's talking about. Everything's on the table. this is what champions come to take this is what everyone came to see no do-overs no second chances no more mr nice guy this is winner take all and it's all happening now on the home of the nba finals don't miss it june 3rd on abc and the espn app