Gab and Juls: Barcelona’s El Clásico victory seals LaLiga

26:39The problem, though, about this kind of, let's say, the six-yard box is that this is really just for England. Yeah. Because it's not the same problem in the rest of the world or the rest of Europe. So you could have a rule for England, but then when English clubs play in the Champions League, it's not that rule. No, it's crazy. Then you go back to it. So it can't happen. It's difficult. When we prepared for the show, I said to you, what if certainly to try to get a bit more discipline in that box and in the six-yard box, for the first few weeks, every time there's something like an attacking, what you feel like is an attacking foul from the attacking team somewhere, on the goalkeeper, on the defender, you just blow for the defensive team.

27:17The team that is defending that free kick, that's at peace. I don't think that they would stop.

27:22Don Hutchison:I think so. It would take a bit of time, but it would dilute the problem or the obvious fouls, referees have to be tougher. I mean, at the same time, imagine you being a referee, right, and you're standing on the edge of the box and there's about 16, 17 players inside the box and your eyes are drawn to me and you having a grammar but things are going on at the far post goalkeeper's getting which is a bit the case in this West Ham Arsenal game like you said that's what I'm saying so I don't know I mean even even like a radical thing where you appoint an extra official to be on corners as in like next to the post so he's got an extra eye on everyone inside the 18 yard box or even more radical you've got two I don't know something needs Yeah, yeah, yeah.

28:03Don Hutchison:I thought about that too. Even just trial it. Yeah. Trial it somewhere where an extra official, one behind the goal, sort of next to the goal, this side, another one at the top end of the pitch, corners and free kicks coming in. They might just be able to give a referee and VAR a little bit more help. Yeah. I don't know. It just feels like massively at the moment. And it's been coming, but it feels like this season especially. And again, it's nothing to do with Arsenal. I've got to stress it. It's nothing to do with Arsenal. All teams do it. It just feels as though what you're watching on TV now, it's all gone too far.

28:33Yeah, I agree. I agree. Before that controversy, before even the Trossard goal, before the VR goal, there was this big chance for West Ham and nil-nil, Mateus Fernandes, great one-two into the box and then it's him versus Raya and Raya makes the save.

28:48Don Hutchison:I mean, it is a great save and people have latched on to a magnificent save and could be the save that wins Arsenal the title. Which is true, yeah. Ish. It's a horrendous miss. I agree with you on that. I thought it was true. I mean, he's tried to take the mickey out of the goalkeeper by taking an extra touch, sitting him down and giving him the eyes. The whole finish was right-hand side. I agree. You had a gap of about two or three metres to the right-hand side. Slot it in. So, Raya, good save, granted. Yeah, yeah. Terrible miss. He stays on his feet a long bit. I mean, just score it. If you score that for West Ham at 0-0...

29:23It's finished.

29:24Don Hutchison:The worst you're going to get is a draw. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And you could take three points. So, I don't want to criticise Fernandes that much because I've watched him this season and he is the one. Yeah, he's been really good for West Ham. He's a Champions League footballer, I think. Yeah, yeah, yeah. He's been, I think he's been, yeah, he's been a fantastic signing and one of the better players. But yeah, bad miss. Bad miss that. And, you know, when we look back at the season, whether West Ham stay up or go down, you can look at some moments in the season and that'd be one of them. Same for Arsenal.

29:51If they win the title, they'd be the Tronsard shot, but they would also be the Raya save. And Raya has been excellent all season, really. I remember the save against Brighton that he makes a 2-1 up at the Emirates that he's going in the top corner and he saves it and that's also how you win the title. Talking about title race, we're back to five points clear for Arsenal over City, plus two in goal difference but with a game more played. City will play the game in hand on Wednesday night against Palace at home to bring it back to two points. Where do you think that title race is now?

30:22Don Hutchison:I think you're looking at probably 90-10. 90-10, that high? I think so, mate. I think West Ham was their toughest hurdle. I think they'll wallop Burnley. I think they'll wallop the bye. I think off the back of this win, knowing that they're so close and the carrot of a Champions League final against PSG must have that dressing room buzzing. And you're playing Burnley, and no disrespect because I was on comms for the game when City beat them 1-0 and everyone thought they might beat them 5-6. Didn't happen. I think Arsenal are home. I can see them beating them by 4-5. I think if they score early, floods gates could open and then titles probably theirs so if I think both I think both of them win games I think both of them win all their games from here you think I think so if City drop points against Palace on Wednesday then Arsenal can win the title by beating Burnley on the Monday that follows if City win against Palace which as we said it will go back to two points then Arsenal will be at home to Burnley away to Palace three days before their Conference League final yeah City will have Bournemouth away.

31:26Yeah, tricky. Still fighting for Champions League football. Unbeaten in 16, I think. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And then home to Villa to finish the season.

31:33Don Hutchison:Yeah. I think City will win all their games and I think Arsenal will win all their games. I think the game against West Ham was so crucial. Yeah. And City will look back and they'll look at the Everton game where... They were in control. They were in control. Exactly. And then they collapsed. Exactly. But do you know what? I think when you look at the season as a whole and you evaluate it when and if Arsenal win the league, which I think they'll do, I think City win the league by about 10 points next year because I think they will be so much stronger in a transitional year to still be fighting for a treble and still could walk away with at least one trophy.

32:11Don Hutchison:FA Cup weekend against Chelsea could be two, so it could be a double or a treble if they manage to get over the line. For a club and Pep to be in transition and still be in contention to win three trophies, they're going to be unbelievably strong next year so everyone Liverpool Arsenal Chelsea whoever Villa whoever's fighting for top 4 top 5 the top first and second place they're all going to have to seriously improve because City will go again in the summer I think Arsenal get a ton I do I think so too for City I think Guardiola will go this summer whatever happens in the FA Cup I think if they don't win the title I think they'll stay one more year to win it He's got one more year on his contract, to be fair, but I don't know.

32:55I've got a feeling that he might not be there next season. What about West Ham? You're one of your foremost clubs. They're one point behind Spurs now, who obviously have a game in hand to play tonight, as we record this on Monday night, at home to Leeds. If Spurs were to beat Leeds, there would be four points clear with two games to go.

33:12Don Hutchison:Do you know what, mate? I think about a week ago, 10 days ago, I was certain Spurs would go down. Adamant that it would go down. Then they've just gone back-to-back wins. great win at Villa Park never saw it coming that's the turning point never saw it coming at Villa Park when West Ham got beaten at Brentford 3 and even the 1-0 win against Wolves the game before they didn't play well you know they really didn't play well and they looked second half in that game they looked as though they had no ideas no sort of any patterns or authority and they got the 1-0 win again it's like Arsenal win the title it's just about winning if you're Tottenham just win and then to go to Villa Park I thought not a chance they go there and win best case to get a draw they've gone there and won then West Ham obviously play Arsenal and lose that game.

33:51Don Hutchison:They're in a great position now, Spurs. I think off the back of the two wins back-to-back, I think they'll beat Leeds tonight. I think they will. And unfortunately for my old club, I think it has us down. What would that mean to West Ham to go down? It was the case that Nuno, they sacked Potter too late, that Nuno didn't come up a bit earlier because he's done clearly a good job, especially at home. Yeah, I think all of that, even you can go back to the appointment of Lopetegui, never looked like that was ever going to work for me. I think the best thing for West Ham have been here before and they've been down in the championship before so they know how to handle it.

34:25Don Hutchison:They'll have a great chance of coming back up. The worry, if you're West Ham or Tottenham or whoever goes, I think now it's West Ham, is the players or the top players. Liverpool might be tempted by Jared Bowen. Absolutely. Fernandes might be tempted by a move. There might be one or two players. Fernandes might be tempted by a big money move. Somerville, maybe. That's always the worry. I had it when we went down and all of a sudden you've got the likes of Joe Cole and Michael Carrick and Trevor Sinclair and Freddie Canute and De Caneos and Jermaine Defoe all these guys not all left at the same time but you know you're going to lose some of them and then like you get good guys in like Joby McAnuff and Marlon Hare and Nigel Ryokoka and you get good guys in for the championship to get you back up but you're losing the quality and don't disrespect the lads they'll know what I mean and those boys got us back up that's the hard part but the good thing for West Ham as a club they've been here before.

35:20Don Hutchison:Like if Tottenham went you would fear for them how do they handle it? Because they're all going to want to be off. So panic stations, yes. Nuno, it's a must that you keep. Keep as many players that you can and then bounce straight back. It's not done though yet. If you're a West Ham fan anything is still possible in this Premier League season but it's fair to say that that defeat against Tarsnall didn't look good for the rest of the season. Save money on your next oil change with O 'Reilly Auto Parts. Get a$15 O 'Reilly gift card after rebate when you buy five quarts of Mobile One full synthetic motor oil for just$35.95.

35:58Don Hutchison:Stop by your local O 'Reilly Auto Parts. Avoiding your unfinished home projects because you're not sure where to start? Thumbtack knows homes, so you don't have to. Don't know the difference between matte paint finish and satin? Or what that clunking sound from your dryer is? With Thumbtack, you don't have to be a home pro. You just have to hire one. You can hire top-rated pros, see price estimates, and read reviews, all on the Thumbtack app. Download today. Right, enough Arsenal and West Hampton. What about some quickets? Let's do it. Just before we start the quickets, our friends at Panini's have sent us the official sticker collection book for the World Cup with all the teams, all the players involved.

36:40You stick your stickers in there, and we've got a few packages to open. Go on. Should we go?

36:45Don Hutchison:Let's do it. I mean, I'm hoping, as you know, that I get Kylian Mbappé or any of the French stars or any of the shiny ones. I get a bit of Paraguay. Paraguay 1. Channel Oglu. Oh, nice. Mexico team. Demirovic. Kovacic, I get. And the USA badge. Look at this. All of you Americans. I've got you in the book. Yeah, we'll do a trade because you've got your Arsenal top one. Bakayi Osaka. Oh, my God. We'll do a trade. Yeah, but what do you want with? I don't know. What do you got? Okay, we'll sort that out after the show. Manchester City played their game in hand on Wednesday against Crystal Palace that we just mentioned that's three days before the FA Cup final at Wembley against Chelsea if you were Pep what would you do on Wednesday what's the priority for you here do you play strength full team full strength against Palace on Wednesday and maybe rotate a bit for the FA Cup final or the other way around it could even be a bit of a hybrid where you'd rest one or two players I don't think he will though I think Pep's one of these managers where he plays He's a strong 11 and he treats every competition with respect.

37:48Don Hutchison:He's played Haaland in some FA Cup games early on when I thought, surely, was it Exeter they beat 10? Was it Exeter they beat 10 and Haaland played? Yeah, I think he came off for halftime. Yeah, and I was like, I didn't see him playing on that one, but he did. No, I think he'll probably go close to a full strength as possible. I think so. He's got four games in 12 days now. Obviously, midweek, FA Cup final, midweek, and last game of the family. I think on the outside, outside world, probably think, right, you might need to tweak win every single game. And he'll still believe that there's a twist in the Premier League.

38:19Don Hutchison:He'll still believe. So I think you'll, I think Baran maybe, I don't know, like a Marmusha someone might come in. Maybe Ake. But I think eight or nine of his first teamers will start in that game. I think he'll go very, very strong. Let's see what they do. With their win against Brest, PSG of virtually, I didn't know you were celebrating there. Yeah, man. You've won it. You was well done. I sound a bit of, I can hear a bit of sarcasm No, no, no, no, no, no I mean, I've seen the team that you put out I mean, you're obviously resting for the Champions League final Everybody's rested I mean, he's been rotating a lot in the league Six points clear with two games to go Massive, much better goal difference than Lens Where they travel on Wednesday for that, you know Infamous game in hand They brought that postponed game He hasn't been straightforward in the league Because he rotated a lot He played a lot of the B team at times Like last night, for example, against Brest I guess the most important is to win it it's five league titles in a row I was just going to ask you how many?

39:17Five Which I'm not sure again is great for the league but this is a very special team and we've said it before on the back of last season and the six trophies that they had they could go again and you know win the Champions League in that final against Arsenal so it's been good it hasn't been plain sailing but I think it's been very good and they are pretty much there in the league so well done to Luis Enrique again and to the players

39:41Don Hutchison:Another trophy for them in the cabinet. Exactly, yeah. I mean, working on the Club World Cup in the summer, it was like they were going into that tournament with four trophies in the bag. Incredible. Incredible job he's done. Wonderful stuff. Chelsea stopped a terrible run of six losses in a row in the Premier League, but only to get a draw at Liverpool, whose players and managers were booed off by Anfield. Don, are they both in crisis, or who is more in crisis than the other? That's a great question. I think Chelsea are more in crisis. I mean, they're ninth in the team. I know. They can't win a game.

40:10Don Hutchison:I haven't even got a manager. The board's getting criticised left, right and centre because of the model and everything they've done. Do you know what? It was one of them when I was watching the Forest game and Forest turned them over big time. I couldn't help but take my brain to the Liverpool game at the weekend. The game after and I thought they'll get a draw there. It reminded me of when Spurs couldn't buy a win but they'll go to Anfield and nick a point. But what does that say about Liverpool? And what would you do with Slott? Would you keep him? The fans are clearly unhappy. Yeah, the honest conversation I think FSG and the board need to have with themselves, because we're in a summer where there's going to be so many managers available.

40:48Don Hutchison:So you cannot lose this window. So have the conversation, is there a better manager out there than Slott? If there is, change him. Because this season has been awful. The football's been terrible. They've been boring to watch. The game against Chelsea was like a testimonial game, which over the years, that's been like elite level game. Liverpool-Chelsea Champions League semis they're going for titles it was dull so you have the conversation is it Xabi Alonso to get the best out of Frimppon and Wurz maybe that's the way to go or do you say to Arna Sla are you capable and are you confident that with Richard Hughes and Michael Edwards in the summer you're going to do a proper rebuild because or continue the transition exactly and this season might be one of them where you go right won the league the season before transitional period this year finished in the Champions League investment in the summer kick on the trouble with that that has to be the last chance but the trouble with that is if Xabi Alonso gets a club and the Glasners and the Marco Silvers and the Pochettinos of this world all these guys get a job and then you're Liverpool and you go into the first five games of the next season and Slott gets off to a bad start you sack him where do you go from there?

42:04I know

42:04Don Hutchison:so I think the conversation is is there someone better out there? If there is, then that might be the conversation. That might be the way to go. Bayern bounce back after a loss against PSG. But what happened to Harry Kane? He missed a pen, which has never happened in the Bundesliga. Took some sort of weird. Yeah. So 24 of 24, it scored before. First miss in the Bundesliga, that is. If you look back at the footage, the spot was scuffed by one of the Wolfsburg midfielder, which, you know, you often see now, somebody else with the ball, not the taker. And then you see a lot of the players who have the penalty who are protecting that spot.

42:42And Bayern didn't do that. And I think that's a bit on them. And I don't like it because you should not be doing this. It's not fair. And Harry, as soon as he hit it, he looked at the spot and knew something. And because his foot went by a mile. And he missed it like 20 feet.

42:56Don Hutchison:That was unusual. I know. They still won against Wolfsburg 1-0. Ulisse scored. But yeah, I think Harry will remember that one in a long, long time. bad weekend for Milan you were commentating on that game here in the UK beaten by Atalanta while they were also wins for Juventus Roma and Como which leaves us a very exciting to be fair title no Champions League race yeah Napoli can still be caught they play Bologna tonight five teams in five points yeah it was an incredible game because there was protest before the game at San Siro the ultras weren't happy yeah and then within five minutes Milan are 1-0 down within half an hour they're 2-0 down and then I think just shy of an hour they were 3-0 down And Atalanta and Palladino's men absolutely played them off the park.

43:39It could have been fine. It was easy.

43:42Don Hutchison:And then the scoreline, 3-2 in the end, flattens Milan a little bit because they scored a couple of late goals. Nkunku done quite well coming off the bench at half-time. But it was nothing apart from Nkunku and Pavlovich to lean on, thinking what's the future here for Milan. It's worrying, I think. And yeah, but I think from Milan's point of view, the mentality before the game should have been, right, who can we reel in? can we try and get a little bit closer to Napoli can we get a little bit closer or go above Juve now all of a sudden with that loss as you said Roma good win Como good win so now the pressure's on Milan with two games to go and Allegri are you confident you can get Champions League football because on what I saw last night it was an awful watch and it just took me back Jules to watching the great Milan sides and watching some of these players thinking how far has this club fallen on and off the pitch they honestly were but we're nowhere near it.

44:35Don Hutchison:Another loss for Alain Degas, Madrid, Jules. Yeah, I mean, and this time you can't say that he played the kids or the B team, and that's why they dropped points again and fell again, this time against Celta Vigo at the Metropolitano as well. So, you know, in their own stadium, 1-0. If you haven't seen the goal from Boja Iglesias, go and watch it. It's goal of the season. One of the goals of the weekend for me, where he dings it over Oblak, the keeper. It's amazing. but I guess for Atletico Madrid after losing to Arsenal in that Champions League semi-final, second leg, even if he kept a very strong team, they probably switched off already.

45:12They guaranteed Champions League football for next season. Why I would say though, Antoine Griezmann got subbed off again on the hour mark, which is something that has been happening regularly. But because Atletico have nothing to play for anymore, because they're guaranteed to be in the Champions League, because this is the last few games that he's had with his team now before going to MLS. I was watching, I was a bit disappointed because I thought, leave him on the pitch, please,

45:35Don Hutchison:just leave him. Would there have been a scenario where you take them off to get a standard ovation? They did not feel that way? Not the hour. No. And they've got still a home game to come, so he would have another chance and that would be beautiful next weekend. But I thought from Simeone, that was maybe a little bit harsh. As you know, managing maintenance, repair and operations is never easy. But for the ones who always rise to the challenge, Grainger has your back. From professional-grade products you can count on to fast, dependable delivery, they're there to help you keep things running smoothly.

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47:22That's ethos.com slash sports. Application times and rates may vary. Bruno Fernandes won the FWS, the Football Writers Association Player of the Year, Don, ahead of Declan Rice, while Burnishaw won it in the women's game. Is it fair? You're happy? Would you have had Rice first and Bruno second for the man?

47:44Don Hutchison:On Burnishaw, I mean, she's been at the top level for years, hasn't she? I mean, what a player. Yeah, no, I think on Bruno, I think he deserves it. I've heard a lot of sort of rhetoric where people have latched on to, well, they haven't played that many games, so he's played half a season. I don't buy that at all. I think he's had a season where he's trying to break Premier League records with his assists. God forbid where Man United would be if they had sold him. Absolutely. And especially the numbers that he's produced. And I think he's matured a lot because I wasn't really a fan of his antics probably two or three years ago.

48:12Don Hutchison:but I think he's convinced a lot of people like myself where you start to look at him and go, captain material. He's starting to act like a captain. He's a leader. He's not throwing his arms up like he did at Anfield when they were getting beat and giving it the all and want to come off. It looks like a completely different player. So, yeah, I get the argument. I get the argument to Raya or Declan Rice. I think Bruno deserves it, in my opinion. I agree. I think Rice could have easily won it too. I think the thing with Rice, which we've seen before, remember the 2018 Ballon d 'Or where the Liverpool boys had won the champion in 2019.

48:45But there was a lot of vote splits between Salah, Van Dijk and Mane, which I think in the end cost them. I think what costs Rice in this is that a lot of people voted for Raya or Saliba. And I think even some, I think, voted for Saka to the point that that took away some of the votes that could have gone to him. Tactical, isn't it? Yeah. Whereas for Bruno, it was all like, I mean, nobody else at United could have got some votes.

49:08Don Hutchison:That's what does my head in about the Ballon d 'Or. I know. I hate the Ballon d 'Or. Because it should just be. It doesn't matter if you're in a Champions League final. Who do you think is the best player this season? Right, it's him. Vote for him. I know, I know, I know. We are halfway through the Champions League playoffs duels, semifinals. Are you awake? Yeah. You fall asleep? What's happened? No, well, that's the thing. I love the playoffs. Same. But it feels that those semifinals are very, year after year, it seems that the first leg is often a nil-nil draw. I've played in them. They're horrible.

49:36Don Hutchison:You just don't want to give anything away. Don't want to lose. Yeah. So you end up going into them going, and we know there's a second leg subconsciously, let's not lose this one. Would it be better to just have it over one game, maybe? It'd be a good shot, actually. But, I mean, the second legs are lively. Yeah, yeah, it's true, always. Yeah, so I think it's very much standard where you can look at these games and go, ah, nil, nil, a bit boring. Second legs will not be. Yeah, that's true. Because then there's drama on it, there's jeopardy. Yeah, so Hull and Millwall first, where I had a nil, nil go at Hull.

50:08The second leg would be, I think, on Monday night, again in a few hours as we record this in London at the New Den for Millwall to try to make it to the final I mean if Millwall come up Jules

50:20Don Hutchison:I'll be unsackable I know because I'll have played for about 30 % of the Premier League teams you can't get rid of me all your clubs are there and we wish Millwall and Hull City obviously the best the other semi-final is between Middlesbrough and Southampton was 0-0 at the Riverside on Saturday and then that second leg is on Tuesday night and that's our next question because we can talk about Middlesbrough versus Southampton and that first leg where Middlesbrough played really, really well just couldn't score which is a bit of a story of the season really since Helberg arrived but the big story here is this spike Great, isn't it?

50:56Incredible It is great Just before you gave us your view on it, Don the story, if you've missed it if you lived in a rock was that Middlesbrough caught a Southampton staff member spying on their training before the semifinal first leg on Saturday. The floor is yours now.

51:14Don Hutchison:What do you make of it? Well, since then, I mean, do you remember when Leeds done it and Bielsa? Bielsa actually paid the fine. So he held his hands up and he actually paid the money the fine, which is incredible because that's just like, that's typical Bielsa. But the fallout from it, I think from what I've read is Southampton have blamed like an intern. Yeah, saying that they knew nothing about it. What sort of intern has got the money to start getting drones and cameras and all sorts? I don't buy that a second. Me neither. Me neither. The other fallout, which I was reading or hearing on the radio as I was coming in today, a lot of other championship teams now are studying their CCTV to find out if Southampton have done this before.

51:52So it's incredible. Do you really believe? I know we don't know, so we're only speculating. But would you think that somebody does this without the manager knowledge or the club knowledge? It's not possible, right? No, I don't think... Because that's their defence. They're saying, we knew nothing about this. He did this on his own.

52:09Don Hutchison:initiative. But then you sort of do because let's say I'm the intern and I take it upon myself to go and do it and I go and get the footage I've still got to give it to someone senior at the club so someone's gone oh we'll have that then we'll have a little bit of a look at that. Because you can't be just the guy just do a Bielsa. But then what should be the punishment? I don't know that's the thing because you can't dock them points because you're in the playoffs. So you banned the manager or but again you have to prove that. That's what I'm saying I think it's probably a monetary fine. Yeah.

52:40Don Hutchison:Just. Is that enough though? That's the thing. I don't know. Would you say something to knock out Middlesbrough and then go and get promoted? It's, it's unbelievably messy. I'm not, it's one of these where you have that conversation and you go, what's the punishment? Yeah. And you're like, it's unprecedented apart from the Bielsa one. But he went, he went, I done it. Here's the fine. Even in other leagues, I promise you, I don't remember a case where something like that happened somewhere else. It's crazy. Probably a monetary fine and give the money to charity. Just find the football club. I don't think you find the manager because the manager might say, nothing to do with me, even though I've probably watched the tape.

53:22Don Hutchison:You can't find the kid. You ain't got any money. It's incredible. It is crazy. What about the race for the Champions League places and the Bundesliga duels? It's another crazy weekend, Don. A bit like what we talked about for Serie A. There's one game left one game week left in the Bundesliga last next weekend where a lot of things can still happen we've got basically Schroeger in fourth 61 points they will play Frankfurt away Offenheim also have 61 points in fifth they will play away at Gladbach then you've got Leverkusen in sixth with 58 so three points behind so Leverkusen need to win and hope for one of Schroeger or Offenheim to lose Leverkusen losing at the weekend which was a really bad one when Schroeger and Offenheim both won it's been really really good i think this has been a good season in in the bonesliga to be fair even if brian kind of ran away with it a little bit and vini done an amazing job but it's been great so it will go down to the wire for those champions league places next weekend also for the last uh playoff position and relegation position as well between walsburg and eidenheim were both on 26 points so it's all down there either one of them will go straight down and the other will play in the playoff against the team that finished third in the Bundesliga too so really really good things if you like the Bundesliga you can watch it on ESPN next weekend there's really a lot to still play for great league isn't it great league great season for them talking about Champions League done here in the Premier League as well Bournemouth are still chasing top five which would be incredible for them they're currently six after they win at Fulham this weekend yeah well it's funny because six might be enough to get you Champions League football Villa have got to win the Europa League and finish fifth yeah that's That's the scenario.

55:05Which is where they are right now. Exactly.

55:07Don Hutchison:So Liverpool are not getting away from them. And Villa had another poor performance off the back of a great semifinal against Forest. So that was a little bit understandable. But Bournemouth, Brighton, they're all sort of chasing that. That fifth or sixth. Brentford, another one. Bournemouth had been the story with Ira Ola. I mean, to lose a goalkeeper, majority of your back four. To find players like Rayan and Kruppi, who probably Barcelona are checking out the minute, find young player. Ira Ola's improved the majority of players that he's worked under. They're a great story, limited budget, data, analysis.

55:42Don Hutchison:It'd be an amazing story if they got Champions League football. I agree. I mean, it'd be phenomenal. I would put, if his stock's not high enough, Ira Ola, put some serious teams into the conversation where he has to be a manager that we've got to interview or check out because the job that he's done has been incredible. So they've got City at home and they go away at Forest for the last two games. So they're going to have to win them both, which is a little bit, I mean, I say unlikely. I mean, they could turn City over. But I mean, the chances are probably not. So you probably are looking at the top five as it stands.

56:17Don Hutchison:That's going to get Champions League football. But to be in the conversations, it's still a great thing. Do you know what I feel a little bit? I know he's announced that he was leaving out of contract. But if he takes them into the Champions League, would he not want to be there? for when they're in the Champions League and by the way they or you can say yeah what a job I've done my stock my stock and my stock is the highest it's probably ever going to be yeah yeah true you know what I mean unless the club can kick on I mean their stadium holds what 12 and a half yeah in the Champions League which is a shame for them because they could probably feel 40, 50 easily in the Champions League if they play you know like Bayern or PSG or Real Madrid or whatever that would be amazing what a story this week I know I mean talking to Champions League another theme this time in Ligue 1 yeah incredible We mentioned the top two and the PhD winning the title in front of Lens.

57:04But behind them, it's pretty incredible as well. Because same for, as we said, in England, in Germany, and now in France as well. Lille at third with 61 points. Lyon fourth with 60. So fourth will take you in the Champions League qualifiers, though. Not directly to the league phase. But third will take you there. And then Rennes on 59. So 59, 60, 61. Only two of them can make third and fourth. obviously Rennes will go to Marseille who are sixth but can't really make it to finishing third or fourth so it's just incredible and again in France last game week is next weekend all the game kick off at the same time on Sunday night even that if you can watch it will be very spectacular and very

57:46Don Hutchison:special and fallouts everywhere at Marseille Aubameyang setting off fire extinguishers extinguisher everywhere getting dropped for the game Greenwood not talking to anybody not the manager not the sports narrator not the rest of the squad it's just exploding but for now they could be in Europa League which I think even if the aim was Champions League the objective was Champions League I think considering how crazy the season has gone they will take Europa League for next season yeah Tottenham host Leeds in a few hours on Monday night we mentioned that already earlier Don Leeds are safe for now after West Ham's loss against Arsenal it's supposed to have a great chance I know you don't think that Spurs can bottle this no I just can't see it I mean listen my predictions have been way off in the last week honestly I thought there's not a chance that Spurs go to Villa Park I said Leeds would go down like four weeks ago five weeks ago I had Brentford going down with Keith Andrews that's how my predictions have gone this season they've been terrible but for Spurs to go back to back wins listen I've been there Jules when you're in the bottom three and you're there for a reason because you've got no consistency and you can't win games you can't score and you're just all over the place.

58:57Don Hutchison:I've been there myself. And very rarely when you're in the bottom three do you ever go back-to-back wins. Yeah, yeah. Ever. Yeah, yeah, true. Like, that's why you're there. True. And they've got a scrappy win against Wolves. Terrible performance, but they won. Then they can't beat Villa with a really good performance. Great win. I think with momentum and West Ham losing against Arsenal, I think Spurs beat Leeds tonight. Yeah, I agree. I don't think that Leeds will be on the beach or anything like that. I just think Spurs have got it where, and people might say the home record, only two wins a season.

59:24Don Hutchison:I think you park that. You've been it. And you more or less say to your players tonight, if you're De Gerbi, win tonight, lads. Every chance we're going to be safe. It puts too much pressure on because their goal difference is better than West Ham at the same time. So it's almost like if you win, they're five points clear. So the chances are it's going to be done. Going back to Serie A, Inter got an easy win against Lazio Duels, which is perfect before their cup retaliation final against Lazio. Would you have liked that in a season done where you play in the league, the team that you faced three days later in the cup?

59:54Don Hutchison:No. No, because it's too familiar. It's too familiar. It's like when you go, like, we've beat them. There's every chance they're going to beat us. I know. So first round, Inter won, as you said, easily 3-0 against Lazio. Lautaro scored. Turan was very good again. But they meet again on Wednesday night in the Coppa d 'Italia final. Same, Inter against Lazio. And I agree with you. Watching that game and Inter were very good, much better than Lazio. Yeah. I mean, Sarri's done a great job there. Yeah. To have no investment whatsoever and a transfer embargo. Only, I think, Sarri could get Lazio into a cup final until about a month ago trying to compete for European football.

1:00:35And they would be massively underdogs, Lazio. Make no mistake about that against Inter, who have been really good lately. They've already won the title. They could win the double, which hasn't happened to them for a long time. I can't remember now the start.

1:00:49Don Hutchison:And Kivu, when you go back to the start of the season, the first three games he had, he lost two. and he was under pressure massive pressure even later on even after the Bodo glimmed really you know elimination so he's done a great job we'll know on on Wednesday if they can do the double they met the Pope which maybe helped them a few days ago as the Serie A you know winners and champions which I think is really cool I love the fight that the Pope can do that's amazing hey Inter do you fancy coming in? let's come for a cup of tea Aston Villa dropped more points after he drew a Crystal Palace on Sunday we mentioned that a little bit they could not miss out on Champions League and top five finish don't could they?

1:01:27Don Hutchison:No I don't think they will because I think they'll beat Freiburg in the final of the Europa League so that's obviously one avenue but in the league they're four points clear of Bournemouth I mean I think they've got enough four points with two games to go exactly it should be and as we said Bournemouth play Man City but they're going to need one more win to secure it but I think if you're Villa I think the season that they've had with a top class manager in OEMRI and he's so passionate and he's so easy to relate to I think he's an amazing manager I think they'll get Champions League football I'm pretty much certain they'll get it within top five but I'm sort of I'm really confident they beat Freiburg they play Liverpool and City in the league so that's where so that's where Villa fans are panicking because they're looking at the fixtures because you go Liverpool City oh what if we lost both of them I mean Liverpool would have to put a performance in for a start yeah exactly so it's like yeah I think they'll get it done mate A new twist in the Scottish Premier League duels.

1:02:25Don Hutchison:I watched Hearts on, what was it, Saturday night? And Celtic scene off Rangers and the tense old firm. I mean, what a season. I know. We have to say again, and we said that often when you're on the show as well, it's been an incredible season in Scottish Premiership. Really. Hearts haven't won the league since 1960. I mean, nobody outside of Celtic and Rangers have won it since Sir Alex and Aberdeen, obviously in 85, I think it was, or 86. I mean, I think it's a great thing if they win the league. Amazing. I think it livens Celtic and Rangers up. Absolutely. Because as much as Hars is of credit and the way they invested the money and the arrival of Tony Bloom in the summer grade, it's also because Rangers and Celtic have been chaotic.

1:03:07For years.

1:03:08Don Hutchison:Absolutely. And it's almost like, right, there's a new contender here. We can't just rely on one of us being just better than the other. So the standards in Scotland need to improve. And we saw Hars dropping point against Motherwell. Who Motherwell are a good footballing side. really good footballing sides. There's a game in, there's a game week in midweek and then next weekend, which will be the last one of the season, is Celtic against Hearts at Celtic Park. So, if you have no plans on Sunday, I know there's a lot of football that we say to you, you should watch. Yeah. But this is it. This is the end.

1:03:36This is exciting. It's for everybody. It's just like you got one game on the line. Winner takes all. Exactly. It should be like that. It would be like a, like a league final if you want between Hearts and Celtic, Celtic and Hearts. So, yeah, make sure, make sure you watch this if you can. Don Galatasaray, well done to them. They've crowned champions in Turkey after they win against Antalya Sport and another player that a great performance I love him. Ozyman. What? Fourth title in a row for Galatasaray.

1:04:03Don Hutchison:Oh, mate. Yeah, I mean, great job they've done. But Ozyman's just, I love him. I know. I love him. I love everything about him. Is he trying to be the summer where he moves away from there? I don't know. Yeah, well, I hope so. I mean, listen, I'm a Newcastle fan, as you know. I would take him in a harpy at Newcastle. I think he could be a cult hero there. Yeah, I agree. But it's whether Newcastle are even on his radar. He might have ideas of playing at a much higher level and rightly so because he's an amazing player. He ticks every single box. You're going to buy a guy in that's going to work his socks off.

1:04:33Don Hutchison:You're going to buy a guy that's physically very strong. You're going to get a guy that's great in the air. You've got a guy that can score spectacular goals. I don't really buy these. He's had a few knocks every now and again. I think he gets his knocks because he's not soft. It's because he puts himself in a difficult situation. Jumami fractured his cheekbone when he was at Napoli so he's a brave guy no I love him I'd love to see him in England I think he'd be amazing and then the FA Cup Finals coming up yeah we know the line-up for the women's FA Cup Finals are Wembley on the 29th I think it is or something like that or the 30th Brighton beat Liverpool 3-2 in the first semi-final coming back from 2-0 down Brighton by the way on top of the stadium that they're going to build for the women's team only for the women's team.

1:05:19Having a really good season, great momentum for them, amazing achievement to reach the EFA Cup final. And then the other semi-final was Chelsea against City. Again, I think the fourth or fifth time that they face each other this season. And again, City came back from behind in extra time to win three to Berniceau that we mentioned, player of the year. Again, with the decisive goal, incredible performance, incredible game. I think great publicity for the women's game. And then so will it be? We'll have Brighton against Man City in the FA Cup final and City potentially in for the double. Don, remember Rochdale, heartbreaking draw against York, which prevented them from going for automatic promotion from the National League to League Two.

1:06:01Don Hutchison:Well, they're still going to go up. I love it. I love these stories when you see a team go back into the Football League and it feels like for Rochdale, it just feels like karma. yeah doesn't it and the drama of the game when the 2-0 down and Boreham Wood going up and you think what a story that is let's lean on the Boreham Wood story what a story that is them coming into the Football League and then they come back and win it on pens and it's just like it's 97th minute equaliser to get to the extra time and then if Rochdale stay up it might be one of them where it's like a Wrexham where that was the season you remember coming from the National League back in the Football League and then sort of building from there what a story talking and building from there Mary Louise Etta wins her first game in charge, Jules.

1:06:42I know. Remember, she was appointed as the Union Berlin manager, the first woman ever to manage in the top five leagues, big five European leagues. And after one draw and two defeats, she finally won a Wehrmines, who were doing quite well 3-1, which is really good. They've got their last game of the season next weekend in the Bundesliga. She will be back at home with the team against Augsburg, so potentially going back to back. But it's good. I think it was very good for Union to appoint her in the first place. Yeah. And good to see. good for her to finally get a first win as well and they played really well so I think she's a really good coach I don't know if she would get the job permanently at the end of the season but certainly she's giving a good go with that win so Don we'll finish on that note thank you so much for coming down I love having you on the show no problem come back next week I'll have another one probably a PSG one you know after we win another Champions League the PSG new one oh and you would like that for your boys as well definitely it's coming your way thank you for listening to us watching us we'll be back on Thursday Gab will be back as well.

1:07:39And like he always says, love the game, love your neighbor, love yourself. It's something like that.

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