Futbol Americas: Leagues Cup Recap + UCL Draw Reaction + LaLiga Check-In + Chris Richards Exclusivo

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29:54Terms and conditions apply. All right, so take a peek at this. The road to the Champions League. I'm sorry, what? It begins today. This is the league phase draw. Europe's biggest clubs have discovered their opponents for the season ahead. Third year of the competition's new format. 36 clubs competing in this league table every match. As you can tell, carrying a lot of importance. So now it's time to ask the matchups that we love. and we'll start. Are you okay, Ale? I'm all right. I think I lost my wallet. Are you doing okay? Hold on. I got too excited. You can look for your wallet. Talking about all this league's cup, your wallet went out the window.

30:38I know. As you saw. MLS was getting in my pockets again. A lot of games ahead. Give me the matchup that you are most looking after, Ale. I mean, there are plenty to look at. There's certainly many options available, but PSG hosting Barcelona. I imagine that PSG, that historically, certainly over the last couple of seasons, have been slow starters, they will get the full attention of Barcelona and vice versa. That Barcelona will get the full attention of PSG. In a game that, obviously the implications of Luis Enrique, former Barcelona player, former Barcelona manager, and what sort of all those things just kind of coming together, what they mean for the game.

31:28But more importantly, on the field, I can make a very comfortable argument that is the two best midfields in the world going against each other and certainly a couple of the most scary front lines that you can put against each other. So in theory, it should be back and forth. In theory, it should be open. In theory, there should be goals. In theory, it should be exciting. Herc? Yeah, I said the same one, but the producer said, No, you can't pick that one. Moreno picked it. So I was like, oh, all right. Like production secrets. All right. So I picked Manchester United versus Bayern Munich. Manchester United playing Champions League?

32:03They are. They're back in the Champions League. And this is why it's important for Manchester United. Last time they won the Champions League. Do you know that they only won one game in the group phase? I didn't know that. FC Copenhagen. Yeah. And it was Maguire with the goal. Oh, Nana actually stopped the penalty kick that day. That was the last time they won the Champions League. They also played against Bayern Munich. They lost two very tightly contested games to Bayern Munich, but this Bayern Munich is different. This Bayern Munich is probably one of the heavyweight favorites in this competition.

32:31With Harry Kane, with that scary attack, Luis Diaz, Ulisse, a trident probably that most teams around the world would envy. Versus this Manchester United that is looking to get back into their prominent role in world football that they've not been to in quite some time. The narratives, the ghost of 1999, the Champions League final, Bayern Munich, a comeback win from Manchester United, that famous class. A lot of narratives here that I think make for some compelling football. You remember 1999? Of course I was in high school. Come on, man. You don't remember that? So you're not that young then.

33:08Nobody said he was. All right. So nobody's mentioned the king of Europe so far. Nobody's mentioned Real Madrid. and I'm not going to be the one doing so. I'm going with Arsenal playing Bayern Munich as well. So this is the year for Arsenal. No excuses. They should run away with the Premier League. No clear second favorite to win it. And nobody expects PSG to win the Champions League three years in a row. Arsenal was one penalty away from winning it last season. Gabriel's ball is still flying. But this is the year for Arsenal. On the other hand, you had Bayern Munich. Not the best backline in the world, but one of the best attacking groups in the world.

34:02So I want to see if Arsenal has what it takes. playing against Bayern Munich, as you said, still one of the favorite teams to make it to the late stages. And if Arsenal is going to be for real, that's one of those games where they have to show authority and win and convince some of the people that don't believe in them that they have what it takes to win the Champions League. Arsenal plays against Real Madrid as well. They do, yeah. But I find Arsenal by Munich more compelling than Arsenal. The only thing that I would disagree in that dissertation is the fact that you said nobody believes that PSG can win this thing again.

34:45I think PSG are very much in the conversation. I raised my hand there. Very much in the conversation. Only once has happened. Who did it? Madrid. Well, I'm just saying. They're a team well suited to make a deep run once again. And there are other teams that have to come up to their level in order to challenge PSG. So I wouldn't just dismiss PSG just because it has only been done. Fair, fair, fair. I'll buy that. Now, let's take a look at some of four CONCACAF players who have the chance to play in Champions League. Let's see if Obed Vargas actually stays at Atlético de Madrid. Johnny Cardoso with Atlético.

35:28Ricardo Pepe and Serginho Des with PSV. ESV, Alex Freeman, Dave Buchanan, Oli Guayesi with Villarreal, Álvaro Fidalgo, Junior Firpo with Betis, and Alfonso Davis for Bayern Munich. Herc, is there anyone in particular that needs to take advantage of playing Champions League football this season? Ricardo Pepe's got to be the guy. You look at a guy like Ricardo Pepe who... Hold on, can I ask you a question? I'm sorry, I don't mean to interrupt you, but I'm going to do it anyways. Didn't we have upwards of a thousand conversations about Ricardo Pepe going to Fulham? Yeah, yeah. Huh? Yeah. We devoted time in this show.

36:10Well, he wouldn't be playing Champions League then. I know, but I'm just... And then in the end, nothing happened. Listen, you took the words right in my mouth. I was going to start off with, we spoke about his failed move to Fulham, but he's the guy that's got to prove his worth. He's going to have, I believe, if healthy, a 20-plus goal-scoring season at PSB. But you're not going to be the striker many believe you to be if it's just in the area of Divisi. You need to do it at the Champions League. He scored some Champions League goals before against teams like Liverpool. He's a player that's very opportunistic.

36:43You put him in or around the goal. He's a very good finisher. He's going to get his due. But he's got to be on the field. Now, you're going to have this group phase, which is an extended group phase, like you've not had in the past. the old group phase of four teams. So you're going to get quality opposition early on, and you're going to get a chance to prove your worth. This is what Ricardo Pepe needs to do. He wasn't the man at the World Cup. He's not been the man at PSV. Everywhere he's been, there's always been, we're waiting for Ricardo Pepe to explode type of deal. It's off the bench, and maybe he could be typecast, and maybe he could be very good in that role, but that's not what he wants to be.

37:20And as Ali mentioned, we at Nazium spoke about the move to Fulham, which didn't transpire. Gonzalo's there now. Where do you want to go? He scored today. I did. Where do you want to go? Where do you want to go? Who do you want to be? If you could prove it in the Champions League, you can get there. If that door is closed, if you have a good performance in the Champions League, that probably means that another door, maybe a more compelling, attractive door, can open up for Ricardo Pepe. Yeah, well, if I may shift the conversation to the team that you guys both mentioned, Bayern Munich and Alphonso Davies.

37:56Yeah. He may be fortunate to be on the field because it may not be him. It may be Nathaniel Brown who's playing in that position, who was brought in by Bayern Munich. And if you're sitting there and you're Alphonso Davies and before you sort of had a free reign in that left-sided position, left-back position, because there wasn't a whole lot of competition, and whoever else was shifted over there was sort of a makeshift solution, a stopgap. Nathaniel Brown is not a stopgap. It's not a makeshift solution. He is the solution that was brought in because Alphonso Davies can stay fit, can stay healthy, can stay on the field.

38:29And when he has been on the field, hasn't been consistent over the last couple of seasons. And so now here is essentially an opportunity for Alphonso Davies to get that position back, get his place back. But in order to do that, he's going to have to compete for what perhaps he hasn't done at least over the last couple of seasons or hasn't had to because there wasn't real competition there. Now there's real competition. And if he's not playing at a high level, he may not be featuring in Champions League. I don't know how you feel about how he trusts his body, but I don't trust his body. And with Alphonso Davies, that's a massive issue because you're not talking about an overly technical player.

39:08You're talking about a player who's heavily relied on his physical traits for quite some time. And his learning curve into the position, getting thrown into it when he first comes into Bayern Munich, was second to none. I was really, really impressed with how quickly he took to a left-back position. He's never played that position. And he became, within a year, one of the best left-backs in the world. And they won a Champions League. He's far removed from that version of Alphonso Davies, both mentally and especially physically. Can I bring a full circle with the Fútbol Américas team? Nathaniel Brown could have played for the United States in his national team.

39:46For whatever reason, that didn't quite amount to what it should have. And now he's a starting left back for Germany. Yeah, played a World Cup. Two years ago, we were talking about maybe Alfonso Davies moving to Real Madrid. Yeah. It was an option. Real Madrid had openings at left back before the injury. ever since it's only been setbacks after setbacks for Alfonso Davies. We'll see how many minutes he sees at Bayern Munich with Vincent Kompany. Now we're talking about Ricardo Pepi. You can catch Ricardo Pepi's action and PSB playing at Utrecht this Sunday, very early, 6.15 a.m. Eastern Time on the ESPN app.

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42:09Barcelona, playing at home for the first time this season, facing Athletic Club. All eyes on Rafinha, playing at the false nine. Here drops and then finds La Minha Mal. Ale, La Minha Mal will make the move. the shot saved by unai simon it's a good save from unai simon i mean yamal tried and tried and kept trying during the match unai simon kept coming with saves in this case full stretch good save still zero 24th minute and it's now xavi spart with a cross and rafinha with the header hits the post yeah very good ball in by spartan a very good header off the post but rafinha was number nine right now showing his aerial presence off the post 37th minute still scoreless at camp no look at rafinha dropping back again pedri sees him and then there he goes ale makes the move for nancy moon and scores for the second game in a row third goal of the season for rafinha his arms sides barcelona leading the beautiful ball from pedri's great movement away from the ball by Rafinha coming in short draws the defender and then from there the passing late is open pedro recognizes that the finish from Rafinha gets around Unai Simón gorgeous and again the Spiderman celebration he explained it was for his son not for Julian Alvarez another chance for Lamine Llamal it's again saved by Unai Simón Simón Simón just the goal looks so small for Lamine it gets in behind very beautifully it's a good touch but doesn't get his head up and Shoes a corner, asks for power, and Unai Simon makes himself big off the shoulder, and he keeps it only one.

43:47Another chance before the end of the first half. Lamin Yamal. Look how he steps on Amaric Laporte. Tough challenge by Lamin Yamal, who really tried, but seemed a little frustrated, Ale. Yes, a continuation of the performance against Elche, in which he was frustrated as well. He was better today than he was against Elche, but still unable to find the back of the net. One of the seven shots La Minha Mal took during the game. This one hitting the crossbar. Yeah, not for a lack of trying. Gets a little deflection and off the crossbar. Very fortunate for Naizimón and unfortunate for La Minha Mal. Making his Barcelona debut, Rodri.

44:26One of the most interesting signings of the summer. Playing for the first time in front of his new fans at Barcelona. 81st minute. Cross La Porta. Oh, what is he doing? Angale, piece of cake for Fermin, and it's 2-0 for Barca. Oh, my Lord. This is what my son loves. One dollar tacos right here. This is tapping from my kind of range. Good law, 2-0. No, number nine, no problem. Five goals against Elche, two goals against Atleti Club, and it's three now to start the league for Rafinha. Take a look at this graphic. This is the first time scoring in opening two league games of the season. Barcelona so far no number nine as such.

45:15So Hansi Flick was asked after the game, is that Rafinha's role for the rest of the season? Tonight we saw again Rafinha playing as a striker, but he plays as a true number nine. Three goals in just two games, but not only the goals, also the movements. Is he the best number nine you can have this season? We don't know that. For me, it's important that when we have a match plan like this and we have Rafa number nine or another number nine, that we follow our plan. And he's doing really good. It's great. His dynamic is very good for us. His intensity and his runs for this goal is perfect for us.

46:07All right, Herc, I heard you saying that this is sustainable for La Liga. Correct. We'll see if it's sustainable against teams like Real Madrid, Atletico de Madrid, teams that drop back and defend with five or six, when sometimes you do need a proper number nine. So would it be a mistake for Barcelona if they don't sign a proper number nine? Yeah, it would be a mistake because what you want isn't just to compete in La Liga, just to compete versus Atletico, compete versus Madrid. You want to compete in the Champions League. You want to compete globally. And at some point in time, you're going to need a specialist in the area, somebody that's going to be good at doing what they can do in between tight spaces, either in the air or on the ground, occupying center backs.

46:54It feels natural in that position. Rafinha gets away with it because his movement is so good. If you look at the first goal he scores, the goal he scores in this game, Firmin is the guy occupying that nine space, and he's in behind as a nine and a half, and he uses it to create his own space and then finishes off the play. But he's not always going to have that space. So when you face some of these teams, as you've mentioned, where you're going to be sitting back and you need more of a proper nine, who is going to be that nine? 120 goals left out the window with Robert Lewandowski. Ferran Torres may have been not as consistent or reliable, but was still a serviceable nine for this team.

47:25Now you don't have a nine. You've got players coming up through the pipeline that are unproven. But if you had to play a game today in the Champions League, in a final, would you feel comfortable if you're going to go against Arsenal and that's your nine? I don't think that's the answer. I don't think Hansi Flick would feel as comfortable, which is why we've heard so much of them pushing for Julian Alvarez, pushing for other nines, because they understand the limitations of not having a nine. What did you... Alec, go on. Look, a full disclosure, and as Eric Lee knows very well, I was a number nine.

47:58And by number nine, I mean I was a number nine. I wasn't messing around with any other thing other than. You were on a false nine. You were a nine. Yeah, I wasn't messing around with anything other than trying to be inside the 18-year box and getting on the end of tap-ins. That's who I was as a player. And when I was not doing that, I felt like, okay, the world is about to end. Having to run into wide areas, nah, I don't want that. So that's where I come from with this. Barcelona don't have to go chase a number nine that they don't want. See, they have to be very careful here, very disciplined, that because you made a mistake to begin with, all right, in committing and putting all your eggs on the Julian Alvarez basket, right, and that you didn't have a contingency plan, that you don't go now at the end of the transfer market window and go chase a guy and go pay him a bunch of money that is not going to be your guy.

48:53I would, if I were a Barcelona front office person, if I were Deco, if I were Bojan Kerkic, if I were involved with Barcelona, listen, we made our mistake. We're not going to double up on that mistake. So we're going with Rafinha. We're going with Anthony Gordon. We're going with Karina Delemi. And yes, it is not ideal. But we put ourselves in this position. But don't go chase and then go spend money, throw money into somebody who you know long-term is not going to be your solution. And the list of players that are available that keep coming up, and it's Lautaro Martinez, and then they're like, Mikotazzi.

49:30I'm like, all right, hold on a second. Do we rather have Rafinha playing center forward or Mikotazzi? Let's not get crazy here. I mean, Rafinha may have seen his limitations as a number nine, but from what I saw today, this man can move off the ball. and what he gives this team is constant movement, constant movement. How is that helpful for Barcelona? Even when teams are dropping off on Barcelona and there is no space, because he's giving you constant movement as a back line, you have to address his movement. This is a number nine sort of run. The coming and showing for the ball, drawing the defender out, and then the diagonal movement to find yourself a passing lane where Pedri can see you and can deliver that pass, that is giving a clinic on how to play the position.

50:14It may not be natural to him, but because he is a willing runner, the fact that he's able to move diagonally away from defenders, he pushes the back line of other teams, of opposing teams, to a position in which he gives underneath pace to guys like Fermín López, to Pedri, to La Milla Mal, to Dani Olmo, and that is where they can thrive. So as it pertains to right now, where we are with Barcelona, I don't go chase it if I'm not in love with what's available out there. I live and die with what I've got. And above all of those abilities just mentioned, he has the ability to finish. Two years ago, he scored 34 goals in all competitions.

50:55Last season, he was on a good run before he got hurt and missed over 20 games. But this guy can finish. He knows how to finish. So I go back to the PSG case. They don't have a set number nine. They used to have someone on the bench like Gonzalo Ramos, who, by the way, they just sold to AC Milan for over 70 million euros. But if you see how they play, how they flow, it's very fluid among Quarquilla, Dembélé, Desiredué, exchanging positions constantly. Could that be the plan that Hansi Flea was talking about without having a proper number nine? That would have to be the plan. And they were very deep.

51:40Barcola, they had a pick-your-poison type of scenario. By the way, they also just sold. They just sold for 135 million euros. It's a nice day. It's a nice day for Bradley Barcola. It is. Very nice, slow transfer. What can I tell you? But yes, in theory, Mal, that is what could happen. But you need to have the quality on the field as well. And I'm not saying that Gordon isn't a quality player. Rafinha isn't a quality player. Adeyemi isn't a quality player. Lamine isn't a quality player. They're quality players. Lamine's far off from the Lamine that we knew about two seasons ago. He can get there.

52:14Absolutely. But you're going to have to bank on him getting there. And Rafinha's a player who last season struggled to stay healthy. And Gordon's a player that, is he that much of an upgrade as to what Marcus Rashford did last year? We're going to wait and see. but Marcus Rashford was good for them last year. So can they, in theory, do this? Sure, but there's a lot more quality in that PSG side of when they were doing it. You know who doesn't have a number nine problem? Real Madrid. Let's take a look at their highlights, playing at home for the first time this season against Pelegrino Matarazzo's Real Sociedad.

52:45Look at the hug between Jose Mourinho, the special one, and Rino Matarazzo. We go straight to the 40th minute. Great run by Federico Valverde. What about the move, Herc, by Kylian Mbappé? Well, there's a touch. The first touch sets up the goal. It's ridiculous. Good entry ball right here. This touch eliminates the center back. And adios, hijo. Now, it looked like Real Madrid would take the lead into halftime. But Ibrahim Akone, very bad position. And then the move to find Luka Zucic. And Zucic scores, Ale. It gets fortunate in that the deflection takes it onto the path of Zucic. I appreciate the ball in behind.

53:24This should have been dealt with a whole lot better defensively by Conate. And then nobody tracking the run of Suchis. Carreras is late. He's trying to address the run down the middle. 1-1. Second half, 60 minutes. Cucurella already on the final. Look at this. Sirk, great combinations. Three passes in a row. And Kylian Mbappé with the finish, his second of the night. Valverde yet again, finding Mbappé. Mbappé fights Jude Belgen. A beautiful combination play and just puts it away. Beautiful goal. And then a good recovery by Dumfries. inside the box. Bellingham will take a shot. It will be blocked, but never mind.

53:58He goes, recovers the ball, shields it, and then makes the pass for Beeney. Great goal for, great Bellingham goal scored by Beeney, Ale. Love that. Love this from Jude Bellingham. Absolutely love it. The fact that the play didn't go the way he wanted, but he doesn't stop, and he knows he can dominate physically. Does so beautifully. Good finish. 3-1. And then Beeney, hey! Beeney assisting MVP. So it is work. So it can work. Look at that beautiful assist. Nutmeg's a defender. And then this little cheeky chip right here on the left foot. Oh, yeah. At-trick for Kylian Mbappé. Santiago Bernabéu. You hear them.

54:36You hear them, Vinny. You hear them. Real Madrid 4. Real Sociedad 1. For Pellegrino Matarazzo playing against Real Madrid. Not the best of news. Twice. He's faced them twice. He's lost 4-1 and then after the game, take a listen to this interaction between Reno and a journalist in the mix zone. Good evening. And you are a good mathematician. And first of all, considering mathematics is not an opinion, do you think to secure the Europe place for your club, considering also the last part of the season, you won with Copa del Rey and so on. Can you secure a European place for your club? Well, first of all, we're not in last season anymore.

55:31Number two, I'm not a mathematician, a good mathematician. I studied mathematics, but I haven't used it in very many years. And I think we've seen in the last two matches that our team is defending differently with a different structure. Not over 90 minutes, but we're doing different things. So I'm very secure. I'm not very secure. Very sure that we're on a good path. But at the same time, it's time to start winning again. Alright, so Real Sociedad is playing Europa League this season because they won. They are Copa del Rey champions. Now, yes, it's true. the final four games of La Liga were not the best for Real Sociedad already having secured that spot and being safe from relegation.

56:19But this team still has to make a proper signing, right? Can Rino Matarazzo lead Real Sociedad through, as he was asked, European spots after 38 games? I'm not a mathematician, but if they... But listen, some of these stats are a little deceiving as well. One of the four ones that they happened to play against Real Madrid, they were going to play the Copa del Rey semifinals, an alternate squad. They threw out it out there, and what happened happened. The rest of the season is what matters. You won the Copa del Rey, and you beat Atletico in a very good game, and it was a very good win, and it was a trophy for your club, and Pellegrino Matarazzo should feel very fortunate and proud of what he achieved.

57:02But the last 10 games, if you include that Copa del Rey final in 90 minutes, they didn't win a game. They've not won a game in 90 minutes in the last 10 games. And to start off this season, not easy. You play Real Betis the first game and then you play Real Madrid the second game. It's not an easy first two games on the road. It is what it is. But you've got to start winning. You've got to start winning soon. I know there's a feel-good story for Pelaguerne Matarazzo. It's a trophy, Copa del Rey. You're going to be in Europa League. But if you're already struggling, what's it going to be like when that roster is stretched?

57:34Is that roster good enough to compete for European places in La Liga? I think so. I think so. If you stretch it out over a season with Europa League, that's where you get in trouble. And when I saw the starting lineup for Real Sociedad in that game, he also rotated some players. Carlos Soler didn't start. Barrenechea didn't start. Ollar Zabal started, played only 60 minutes, coming back from the World Cup. So it feels like, yes, this first three to four games, it will still to see how good this team can be. But still, it's the same squad with the one he worked last season. And even when everybody's on the field, the common denominator about Real Sociedad, certainly over the last few seasons, has been they struggle to score goals.

58:20They'll create a lot. They'll have opportunities. They'll have a lot of the ball because they have a lot of good players on the field. But they're unable to find that final touch and the final moment of productivity. And so, look, Takekubo cannot be scoring just two goals as he did last season, and that's enough for you. That cannot be enough. And so, individually, this team can do a whole lot better offensively. the problem that Pellegrino Matarazzo is going to have is that the way he structures his group, it is more of an attacking team. It is more of a back and forth sort of group. It is more of a team that wants to get on the ball.

59:00And so if you start losing games and you go on negative momentum, this team is not suited to just sit behind the ball and we're going to defend because it's not what they do. So they're not exactly a team that is going to grind. They're more of a team that is going to create. And it's difficult when you're not scoring goals that you're creating opportunities to maintain that level of play and ask your back line that is not suited to defend as much as you would want it to be to then, hey, keep it at zero back there and give us an opportunity to score goals. This is why they're not winning games consistently.

59:30But I think he agrees with you. The last thing he said in his answer was, we've got to start winning games. But as we all know, starting to win games, And sometimes the first win has to be a grinding result. I don't know that they have it in their makeup to grind out results in the manner that you would expect. You look at the first game of the season, Israel Betis, which I think is a team that's very comparable to what they are. They were outplayed for the majority of this match and hit the post and had one save off the line. It could easily have been two goals for Real Sociedad, but they can't finish.

1:00:04And both of the opportunities were created by their number nine, Ollier Sarbal. He created for other people, but they can't finish. Coming off the bench. And it doesn't help that Alex Ramiro, the goalkeeper, has been really struggling after being left out of the World Cup, after playing or being a part of the group for the last three years. I'm really good at math. And here's the proof. Multiple goal contributions by El Tridente, Beanie, Bellingham, Kylian Mbappé against Real Sociedad in 75 games played together. But why, Ale, why did it work against Real Sociedad? Let me tell you that Jude Bellingham has continued his level of play from the World Cup on to Real Madrid.

1:00:48He has been outstanding in the first couple of games they've played, some live against Española in Barcelona. And let me just say, he was their best player on the field by far. And he continued that in this second match against Real Sociedad. his ability to provide this team with energy, both defensively and offensively in the final third. Let me repeat that. Defensive energy in the final third is what gets you a goal like this. It is nothing more than I can still win this ball. I can still go and challenge. I can still do something with this play. I didn't do it with my first attempt, but I can still make a play for my team.

1:01:29not for myself, for my team. And I cannot begin to tell you how popular that makes you in a locker room when you do something like that. He, for me, holds the keys to what they do offensively if indeed he is in this sort of advanced position. Because then he will attract attention, and in attracting attention, it leaves space for Kylian Mbappe. It leaves space for Vinny Jr. And as it pertains to why is it working or why did it work against Real Sociedad for Vinny Jr. and Mbappe, if you see the assist from Vinny Jr. to Mbappe, he's not on the line. He's off the line. He's more of an inside channel where now his connection with Kylian Mbappe is not 25 yards, it's 10 yards, it's 7 yards.

1:02:16And in that connection, you now see the passing lanes much easier, much quicker. The recognition, and I think that's the importance of having a guy like Marco Curella as well, who gets up and down the line and forces Vinny to get on the inside. The combination play from Real Madrid was outstanding. Jude Bellingham was outstanding. And then Vinny Jr. and Kylian Mbappe sealed it off with that last goal. So it was as encouraging a performance as you could have, again, within the framework and the context that Real Sociedad don't defend very well. There's a balance to this team that wasn't there last year, wasn't there with Carlo Ancelotti in his final year, and that balance is in the midfield for the first time.

1:02:56And the work rate you are getting out of players like Arda Gouler, who has been very good, very good in the first game, very good in this game, with Bernardo Silva and with Valverde, who's shown tactical discipline, has been very good. That balance has allowed este tridente, this trident, to really flourish going forward, giving players like Jude Bellingham the liberty to take those chances, to join in the attack, where he doesn't feel so overwhelmed like he did in the past having to cover for those two. It's just a more balanced team. This entry pass right here from Valverde, when he needs to go forward, he goes forward and he goes with purpose.

1:03:30But the identity of Mourinho's team is we're going to defend well. We're going to have balance in what we do. Alex Pukecureya and how he's a constant, you know, menace down that flank. Dufres down the right-hand side, the same thing. You're getting players who are participant. And when it was Carreras, and Carreras got into trouble, Mourinho said, I need to make a decision. Took the right opportunity to take him off because he's on a yellow. Put Cucureya in, and you saw a team that was willing to take more chances and suffocate the opponent even more. But it starts with that balance in the midfield, which they didn't have the last two years.

1:04:00I also don't think that that's going to last, by the way. That balance that you're talking about. Well, per personnel. Yeah, per personnel. Because you could be right. I don't think any of us think that Silva is going to play plus 30 games this year. Yeah, I don't think it's going to last simply because Bernardo Silva is not a disciplined player in midfield. He goes and gets touches, touches, touches, touches over there, touches, touches, touches over here. Because he wants to get on the ball, he'll get himself out of position. And while you highlight Fede Valverde, Fede Valverde is having to cover a whole lot of ground.

1:04:32He's able to do it, but eventually they're going to get exporters in that area. Because if Bernardo Silva gets out wide to go and get touches over there, and Federer has to go and sprint out of position to try to press the midfield of the opposing team, then he leaves space right in front of that back line. Look, it's working right now. They beat teams that they should be beating. But I don't feel that this particular balance that you're talking about is not, I don't think, long-term is going to be the solution. Because you're going to have a Chumeni who's going to come in at some point in time.

1:05:04And on the Chumeni thing, Jose Mourinho has been very dismissive about it. Yeah, that, oh, these players are fine. These players are good. Which in Jose Mourinho's language means, hey, you know you're going to have to work your way into the starting lineup. Yeah. Just mean it's not going to happen. Yeah, okay. But, you know, I'm talking about because he was asked about, or he's been asked many a times about the interactions between Chumeni and Valverde, given the fact that Chua Menei knocked Valverde out. The table knocked him out. No, no, no. Chua Menei knocked Valverde out. Middleweight champion of the world.

1:05:41I see where you're going. I see middleweight. Right? Okay. Look, let me just put it to you this way. I see where you're going. Not that it would ever happen. If you were to punch me, I'm not just letting this thing go. Human resources are watching, by the way. Yes. He's doing that. He's the violent one, this guy. Right? All I'm suggesting is you don't just let these things go. Right, right, right. And while theoretically things are good. You hold grudges. Wow, this happened three months ago. Let it go. Easy for you to say. You didn't want that guy that didn't get knocked out. It happened already.

1:06:19No. Come on. No, no, no. See, I didn't know you were going down this route. But now when you mentioned, I don't know if this will be a situation because at the end of the day, you want to win. But it did happen. It did happen, but the conversation started with, hey, look at this. They are getting on really well together, Mbappé, Beanie, Bellingham, and for some reason, we ended up wondering if there's still a rift. The beacon of positivity. No, I'm not going well. I asked a question. Were you always like that in dressing rooms? No, I asked a question. Wow. If somebody punches you, do you let that go?

1:06:59Depends. Somebody punches you in the face, you let that go? I don't. I'm saying that they do or don't. I've had friends punching me before and they're like, those are your friends? Yeah, semi-friends. And it's in the past. And I've punched friends before and it's in the past. The past is the past. He lost the finger that way. Oh, no, that's not the degree. Beyond all of that, at some point, this team is going to lose a couple of games. Oh, yeah. At some point, all this joy that we're seeing, and somebody who I described on the weekend as Melo Mourinho, do we think that Melo Mourinho is going to last?

1:07:37Let's be honest. This is the honeymoon. Yeah, and this is very weird. It's very creepy to see Melo Mourinho. You know what happens when the honeymoon is over. Well, yes, exactly. So I want to see. Everything is great right now. And I was the first one to say, man, they look good. Yeah, they were outstanding, certainly in the second game. First game, not so much. Barely got a result there, so let's not forget that. But I want to see when things start going in the opposite direction, what the reaction is from these guys. Everybody right now is ready to run because Mourinho is there. We'll see if that actually happens this weekend on Sunday.

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1:10:12And because Granger knows safety is always a priority, they're committed to being your partner in protecting both your people and your facilities. Call 1-800-GRANGER, click granger.com, or just stop by. It's been an eventful three months for Chris Richards from dealing with injury. Setbacks to being part of the U.S. journey in the World Cup. The Crystal Palace defender has experienced plenty of both on and off the field. So this feels like the proper moment to have a one-on-one conversation with Chris Richards.

1:10:50Can you just kind of take me through the last, I don't know, from the ankle injury, a bit of the World Cup, and then obviously disappointment as well, what it's been like in the last couple of months for you? Yeah, of course. I think the last couple of months have been, I think, a big range of emotions. Obviously, I think of the Conference League final, which was a big up, football so I wasn't able to play in it so it was a it was a weird day for me because obviously you know I've been a part of the team that that won it and everybody on the pitch though those are my brothers so uh was very happy for them um but again you know I had the World Cup coming up and I wasn't sure if I was gonna be able to play in it due to my ankle injury so get into the camp and uh you know got fit in time uh so playing in the World Cup has always been my I think my my goal in my career.

1:11:35But also to do it at home, I think there was no better way to do my first World Cup. And then afterwards, the Belgium game obviously didn't quite go to plan. Can you kind of take me into the changing room in the next couple of days after that? What sort of emotions are you going through? Yeah, I think directly after the game, and I know for sure the days after the game for myself, I felt like I let myself down, let kind of my country down, let my family down who all came to watch me. And again, As a defender, you know, you live by the sword and die by the sword. So, you know, you make one mistake, and ultimately that's the other team's gain.

1:12:11And, you know, I think when you lose a game 4-1, ultimately you made more than one mistake. And so for me, you know, I really took that heavily, and it hurt. And then I remember a few days after the game, obviously, you know, my family let me kind of just breathe on it, and I was on holiday, and it was hard to enjoy the holiday because, again, I was just continuously thinking, like, what if I had done X, Y, and Z different in the game? But my family, you know, they called me. And I want to say my family, my mom, dad, and my little brother and little sister, they called me and they were like, you know, this was an experience of a lifetime.

1:12:44Thank you so much for taking us. Like, this is, you know, this has been more than enough seeing you live out your dream that you've had on your sticky note since you were, you know, eight years old. And so I guess when you think, when you step back, when you step outside of what happened on the field, what the final result was on the field, you think about all the, hopefully all the changes, all the positive changes and positive influences we've had on not just our country, but on hopefully this next generation of football players that we can hopefully look forward to one day the U.S. lifting a World Cup.

1:13:22Looking forward, USA. Pochettino staying, which I guess must be good news for you guys. What were your sort of reflections when you heard that he's sticking around then for a little while longer? Again, exciting. You know, I think one thing that he's definitely brought to this team is passion. And I think now we have World Cup qualifiers and things like that. And so he's going to see kind of really how CONCACAF is. You know, I think he got a little glimpse of it when it came to Nations League and things like that. But I think for him, it's a new challenge when it comes to World Cup qualifying.

1:13:55But for us, you know, it's continuing to try to build the game. And I think that's the number one thing that he's really taken on as well. I mean, ultimately, he's Argentinian, but he's embraced kind of the American mentality, the American lifestyle, the American sports mentality. That's something that he's very much learned, but also brought his Argentinian passion to it. How do you refocus and recharge now ahead of the new season, I guess? For so long, that must have been circled in your calendar, that 2026 World Cup. Now that's been and gone, how do you sort of refocus on the next few challenges?

1:14:30Yeah, I mean, that's exactly what I spoke to my family about the other day, is that this is a lifelong dream of mine. And now it's done. It's on to the next thing, you know. And so obviously it's running down the next World Cup, but it's also making sure that everything I want to do in these next few months, years leading up to that that they're also very substantial so uh ultimately you know one of european competition last year i want to do the same thing this year but also for me it's just continuing to to become a leader both for club and country uh i think that's one thing that um really means a lot to me i think people come into me when now they're in a tough moment knowing that i can be kind of that rock that you know they can look to for for guidance in the last year or so is when i really kind of stepped into that mindset i guess would be the best way to put it in the grand scheme of things 26 is young you know but i think once you get to this sport you know i'm playing with guys who are 2006s and it's uh it's like the younger kids refer to me as now like it's crazy so it's a to kind of be in that role but ultimately you know the game the game is getting younger and younger and so uh obviously it's not slowing down for me and so i'm getting older in that sense and also i have a lot of games a lot of experiences under my belt so And a new manager as well at Palace.

1:15:49What's it been like so far with him? Intense. I think it's been very intense, but in a good way. I think ultimately he comes with a good CV. Having done really well at Mons last year, getting them a second place finish, and also Champions League is no big feat at all. And so for us, it's a different way of coaching. It's a different style of coaching. It's a different style of play. Ultimately, it's been very beneficial for us so far, and it's something that everyone's been very excited for. All right, there you have it. That's Chris Richards. A lot of expectation regarding his presence with the U.S.

1:16:28Mets national team during the World Cup. Came injury to camp. Didn't play until the start of the World Cup. Barely played. But it's always been said that he is the guy in the back line for the U.S. Did he meet those expectations during the World Cup? And that performance, do you think, can boost a move to another club in Europe? Yeah, he's one of the few players in that back line that I think you're going to have inked for the next cycle. That should be one of the players, not only to start, but to be a leader. When I think about the leaders on this team, there are two that come to mind. One would be Tyler Adams, who's been the de facto leader for, feels like, four or five years now.

1:17:06The other is Chris Richards. He couldn't go to Qatar that World Cup because of an injury. He comes in injured to this World Cup. And if you recall that Paraguay game, playing injured with torn ligaments in that ankle, he's the best players on the field. He didn't miss a pass. In the first two games, I believe he missed two passes. Now, what happens in the Belgium game in that fourth goal, it's already done and dusted. He can learn from it, but certainly Chris Richards will be looked on and leaned upon from Maricio Pochettino and this U.S. men's national team, not only for what he's at the club level, but for what he's already done and will continue to do the national team all.

1:17:41Well, he hinted at it himself that he is now among the senior members in this national team and projected into the next World Cup. Yeah, he'll be very senior in comparison to some of the guys that are going to be in this team. So my challenge to Chris Richards would be, don't just be a senior guy because you're one of the older guys. Be a senior guy because you are a leader in this team. And a leader takes on many shades and many forms, and some are going to yell, some are not. Some are going to be more vocal, and others are going to be more by example. But there is, I believe, there is a void in this team of actual, true leadership.

1:18:24Because you would think that that would come from your flag bearer, and that is Christian Pulisic, and he just doesn't have it in his nature to be that guy. So that void needs to be filled by others. And while I appreciate the effort of Tyler Adams, sometimes he's injured. And by injured, I mean quite a bit injured. And you think, well, then who can be that guy that indeed fills that void consistently? And so you look at Chris Richards and say, this is one of the guys whose career I think is still in an upward trajectory and may just take over the next four years a step to where he is in a bigger place, in a bigger stage than Crystal Palace.

1:19:03And if he's able to do that, he's got to bring that to the national team. I think he's capable of doing it, but he's got to take on that challenge. Speaking of Crystal Palace, he now has a new manager. PSH is the new manager, and it's also a new backline. No longer the same three center backs that had a really good run with Crystal Palace. Lacroix now playing for Chelsea, and Marguerite now playing for Manchester City, both also 26 years old. Lacroix sold for almost 60 million euros. And Gueye sold for 30 million euros to Manchester City. Should he also be on the move? Because this is not the same Crystal Palace team that won the FA Cup and left a really good impression in the last two seasons.

1:19:50No, but that's the type of team that Crystal Palace has been. He's been a proof-of-concept team. You go there, Michael Olisse from Reading, I believe it was 9 million euros. He gets sold off. You've got the likes of Ese. He gets sold off. That's what they do. Munoz was in the transfer window rumor reports of Manchester United, Barcelona. Right back, they bring another right back. The idea is to sell these players off. He's of the age right now and of the pedigree that you could get sold off. In the Premier League, elsewhere, but that's up to Chris Richards. Chris Richards started Bayern Munich and wanted playing time.

1:20:26found himself at Crystal Palace, has earned his right. But if we are looking at that upward trajectory that Alejandro's talking about, the most logical thing would be another club. Can it be a bigger club? That's what he has to do now. And if you're Crystal Palace and you're already Dale Lacroix and Marguerite, you've got to hang on to somebody. But then that puts a responsibility that I was just talking about. And I think it's a good thing for Chris Richards. It's that people have to lean on him. They're looking at him as being the guy going forward, at least in the short term, for Crystal Palace in terms of leading that back line and, by extension, leading the rest of the team.

1:21:08It's a good challenge for him to have, and it's something that could benefit the United States men's national team if, indeed, he's able to thrive in this environment and take that to the national team. But it's a big if. I like Chris Richards. But we're going to see a lot from Chris Richards, and we're going to learn a lot about Chris Richards in this season in the Premier League. It is a new manager. It is a new back line. But the one guy that everybody can reference to is, well, Chris Richards. Let's see what you got. Yeah, he's now the anchor of that back line. He has to be the anchor. All the other players around him in that back line have the built-in excuse of, well, you know, they're getting used to the Premier League.

1:21:45Well, that excuse doesn't apply to Chris Richards, and he's going to be looked upon and leaned upon to lead that back line. And again, as I said before, by extension, to lead the rest of the team. I think it's a challenge. I think he's capable. But it's something that he's going to have to rise up to if indeed he's going to be successful and Crystal Palace are going to be successful. Extend or sell Crystal Palace, Chris Richards.

1:22:09You've got to be bringing players up in order to sell. They just sold two center backs. I don't know how you sell them right now. Even if you extend him, that doesn't mean you keep him. Most likely when you extend, it's insurance policy because you're going to sell. You're just upping the ante. You're upping the price. So either way, it's fine with me. But he's a player that I think has shown that he's got a market. He's a player that can play multiple positions. A few seasons ago, we saw him playing as a defensive midfielder. He's got the capabilities. Right now, if you extend him, you give yourself the opportunity to sell him later down the line.

1:22:42If you're buying Chris Richards, you're not buying him to run the midfield. You're buying him on what you have seen. And I think if you're Chris Richards, what you have in front of you is an opportunity to raise your value. And if indeed you're able to do that, then you may have the pick and the choice as to where is it that you need to go or where is it that you want to go. It was a rough start for Crystal Palace, losing 2-0 at Everton. And now next game this Friday against Manchester City. We'll extend the invitation. NWSL on Sunday, 12.30 p.m. Eastern, Washington Spirit. Bay FC on ESPN2. All right, that's the show.

1:23:27Thanks for watching on Monday. When we see you again on Football America's transfer window will be closed. So we'll be deciding who won the transfer window, who lost the transfer window. So for Ale, Eric, Mauricio, thank you for watching. Make sure to download the Football America's podcast, and we'll see you in a month.

1:24:12Plus, their technical product specialists are here to help answer your toughest questions. And because Grainger knows safety is always a priority, they're committed to being your partner in protecting both your people and your facilities. Call 1-800-GRAINGER, click grainger.com, or just stop by.