In short
Arsenal’s 2-1 loss to Manchester City at the Etihad and what it means for the Premier League title race; plus a rapid-fire round of other European football results.
Guests
Gab and Jules (co-hosts). No other guests are named in the transcript.
Key claims
- Arsenal didn’t “blow it” tactically; Arteta made brave selection changes (including Odegaard returning and Eberechi Eze on the wing) to counter City’s press, and Arsenal played their best football in weeks despite losing.
- City’s title push is strengthened: they’re three points behind with a game in hand, and could go top if they win their next league match vs Burnley.
- The Haaland vs Gabriel physical battles were mostly referee-acceptable; the late “headbutt” was judged not to be a red.
- The decisive moment was Bernardo Silva’s midfield control and especially Ryan (Riyad) Mahrez’s/“Shirky”-style “millimeter” finish for City.
Notable examples
- Havertz one-on-one chance saved by Donnarumma.
- Haaland goal involving Gabriel/Odegaard press triggers and a quick pass sequence.
- Quick hits: Liverpool’s late Virgil van Dijk winner vs Everton; PSG’s loss to Lyon; Bayern clinching the Bundesliga; and multiple other league/cup results.
Written by AI. May contain mistakes. Listen to the episode to check what was said.
Chapters
Tap a time to open that second in VOWeekend Highlights in Football
0:48 to 1:44
Discussion of key football events over the weekend, including wins and losses.
“And, you know, City had to win to close the gap even more and they're only three points behind.”
Significance of the Etihad Match
1:46 to 2:18
Analysis of Manchester City vs. Arsenal and its implications for the title race.
“before Arsenal play again in the league, which is Wednesday against Burnley.”
Tactical Decisions by Managers
2:20 to 3:12
Exploration of the tactical approaches by Guardiola and Arteta in the match.
“I think it was a very good advert for the Premier League?”
Match Performance and Key Moments
3:14 to 5:08
Analysis of notable performances and moments in the match, including player decisions.
“But then to bring back Martin Odegaard, I think this was his first start in, well, his first start in 12 days, but I think it was his first 90 minutes that he ended up playing since 2025.”
Physicality and Referee Decisions
5:10 to 7:22
Discussion on the physical aspects of the match and specific referee calls.
“that could easily have been a draw, for example, and that will give you even more momentum than you already had because you've been on great form for the last few weeks.”
Haaland and Gabriel Matchup
7:24 to 9:22
Examination of the individual matchup between Haaland and Gabriel during the game.
“I mean, he's good with both feet, but him being more of a left footer, that it seemed almost counterintuitive to go to the Gabriel side.”
Analysis of the Headbutt Incident
9:24 to 11:01
Discussion surrounding the headbutt incident involving Haaland and Gabriel.
“Now, while it looks like Gabriel can be wound up, he's normally under control.”
Shirky's Incredible Goal
11:03 to 14:02
Praise for Shirky's exceptional goal and its impact on the match.
“All right, let's talk to Shirky Goal, because it's all about Techers.”
Football IQ and Game Awareness
14:02 to 15:00
Learn how players like Bernardo Silva anticipate game dynamics.
“And I think he was almost, when he sees a space, it's a bit like a running back American football, right?”
Bernardo Silva's Evolution and Impact
15:01 to 16:03
Explore the evolution of Bernardo Silva and his vital role in the team.
“in the middle of the park against Rodri.”
Show all 33 chapters
Goalkeeper Performances: Raya vs. Donnarumma
16:04 to 17:51
Analyze the performances and mistakes of goalkeepers Raya and Donnarumma.
“But he does everything else in terms of balance and stability within this team that I don't know how you replace next season.”
Understanding Goalkeeper Mentality
17:52 to 20:44
Discuss the mindset of goalkeepers and how it affects their game.
“And smart thinking with that when he rolled the ball out or threw the ball out for the Holland goal.”
Title Race Dynamics: Arsenal vs. City
20:45 to 22:38
Examine the competitive nature of the title race between Arsenal and City.
“People made a big deal, Bournemouth, blah, blah, blah.”
Coaching Strategies and Substitutions
22:39 to 23:40
Delve into the strategic decisions made by coaches during crucial moments.
“And I look forward to a good title race, and I just pray, because you know my thoughts on goal difference.”
Quick Hits: Latest Football Updates
25:52 to 28:00
Get the latest updates and opinions on recent football matches and performances.
“Virgil van Dijk pops up in injury time with the buzzer-beating three-pointer, scoring the winner as Liverpool beat Everton 2-1 in the Merseyside.”
Bayern's Achievements and PSG's Struggles
28:00 to 29:00
Explore Bayern Munich's managerial success and PSG's recent home loss.
“Stuttgart are fighting to get desperately to get in the top four.”
PSG's Tactical Decisions and Consequences
29:00 to 31:00
Discuss Luis Enrique's choices in squad rotation and their impact on PSG.
“Paris Saint-Germain lose at home to Olympique Lyonnais 2-1 just a few days after reaching the Champions League semifinal.”
Manchester United's Path to Champions League
31:00 to 33:00
Analyze Manchester United's recent win and their position for next season.
“It's a lot of team with nothing to play for.”
Chelsea's Ongoing Struggles
33:00 to 34:40
Evaluate Chelsea's disappointing performance and fan reactions in recent matches.
“People weren't having a go at Rossignor, but the numbers are what they are.”
Spurs and Brighton's Draw
34:40 to 36:20
Review Tottenham's draw against Brighton and their implications for the league.
“And as we saw with the Danso mistake that caused them this draw, they're still not there yet.”
Copa del Rey and Matarazzo's Historic Win
36:20 to 37:50
Highlight Rino Matarazzo's achievement as the first US coach to win major silverware.
“Yeah, that was the only trophy they've won in 40-odd years.”
Aston Villa's Dramatic Victory
37:50 to 39:39
Discuss Aston Villa's thrilling match against Sunderland and Unai Emery's impact.
“This was back on Friday, but Inter rolled past Cagliari 3-0.”
Leipzig's Transformation and Milan's Struggles
42:00 to 42:51
Discussing Leipzig's rise and Milan's recent form, including racism incidents.
Marseille's Disappointing Performance
42:51 to 44:15
Analyzing Marseille's poor form and management challenges after a heavy loss.
“The Ligli defenders are coming out and saying, well, he has 15 points more than last season, and they're going to finish second.”
Gasperini vs Ranieri: A Managerial Feud
44:15 to 46:08
Exploring the ongoing feud between Atalanta's Gasperini and Claudio Ranieri.
“So now that has added even more tension within the Marseille dressing room when they're currently six.”
Newcastle's Financial Stability and Future
46:08 to 49:25
Examining Newcastle's financial situation and plans after disappointing domestic season.
“Roma and Atalanta draw 1-1, which really helps neither of them in their pursuit of the Champions League play.”
Saudi Arabia's Coaching Changes and Football Updates
53:22 to 56:00
Discussing Irv Renard's departure and updates on Benfica and Coventry City.
“I think there was just not a line really with the federation.”
Coventry's Premier League Return
56:00 to 56:40
Discussion about Coventry's return to the Premier League and their history.
“There was no like a Jocheres or something like that in that team.”
Leeds United and Wolves Performance
56:40 to 57:40
Analyzing the surprising performances of Leeds and Wolves in the league.
“And at this stage, I assume they're going to stay up.”
Flo Balogun's Scoring Streak
57:40 to 58:40
Examining Flo Balogun's impressive scoring streak in Ligue 1.
“8, Neymar and Kylian I think stopped at 7 or 8, something like that.”
Tribute to Alex Manninger
58:40 to 59:40
Paying tribute to former goalkeeper Alex Manninger after his tragic death.
“Gab, Saturday in football as Austrian goalkeeper Alex Manninger, who played for 14 different clubs through his career, including Arsenal, Juventus and Fiorentina, died tragically in a car accident aged 48.”
Messi's Goals and New Club Ownership
59:40 to 1:01:00
Discussing Messi's recent goals and his new investment in a football club.
“Lionel Messi Jules he scores twice in Inter Miami Street you win away to the Colorado Rapids and then buys fifth year's Cornelia in Spain as you do yeah as you do yeah another footballer buying another football club.”
Controversial Travel Arrangements for World Cup
1:01:00 to 1:04:00
Exploring the controversy surrounding travel arrangements for the upcoming World Cup.
“I'm not even sure if he's, I think he's based, according to his LinkedIn, he's based in Zurich.”
Transcript
Automatic transcript. May contain errors.0:00Hey sports fans, the ESPN app has all of ESPN all in one place. The ESPN app is your home to thousands of live events, ESPN shows, and originals across every ESPN network in service. And now you can check if you already have ESPN Unlimited as part of your TV package for no additional cost. Visit activate.espn.com to learn how to access your account or sign up, then start streaming in the ESPN app. It's all of ESPN all in one place. Sign up or activate now.
0:35I'm Gab, he's Jules, Blue Skies over West London I'm going to have to ask you all to bear with me As I lost my voice over the weekend But that's okay, Jules can do most of the talking Yeah, yeah, sure What a weekend, Jules So much going on Real Sociedad and my boy Rino Matarazzo winning the Copa del Rey Bayern winning the Bundesliga There's a shock Paris Saint-Germain losing do we have a title race in Ligue 1 Inter pulling away Liverpool, Virgil van Dijk with the buzzer beating three-pointer and Manchester United winning at Chelsea but obviously this all pales by comparison with the significance of the game that the Etihad City beating Arsenal 2-1 we have a title race, it's all square
1:21Julien Laurens:yeah, I mean like we've been saying for many weeks we still felt we had a title race and it could go down to the wire, this game was obviously very very important as we've been saying, if Arsenal had won it, they would have made a massive step towards this title that they've been chasing for 22 years now. And, you know, City had to win to close the gap even more and they're only three points behind. They've got a game in hand against Crystal Palace, but they also have another league game before Arsenal play again in the league, which is Wednesday against Burnley. And if they win that, they will go top of the table for the first time since October or something like that.
1:57Julien Laurens:that Arsenal would not be top of the table. So... They'll be level on points. They'll only be top of the table either on goal difference or if they just win 1-0, it'll just be on goal score. Yeah, exactly. Yeah. So big win. Big win. Great game for a season that has been lacking great games all along. We've been saying the quality hasn't been good in the Premier League this season. But this game was, despite the mistakes, was very good. Very entertaining. Very good tactically with a lot of talking points as well. So it was... I think it was a very good advert for the Premier League? So I was really interested in how these two managers would approach it.
2:31Guardiola played what is his best available XI right now. I've said it before, he's found the formula with Ryan Shirky and then Semenyo and Doku and Holland. And of course, O 'Reilly at left-back. What an impact I thought he had in this game. But Arteta is the interesting one. So those of us who are kind of negative Nellies have kind of said, bro, you haven't played well in two, three months. You've been getting results, physicality, intensity. You know, it could cost you. But at the same time, I generally thought you can't make wholesale changes because you're used to playing a certain way. This is what got you this far.
3:10D 'Arteta proved me wrong. I would have been happy just with Havertz for Giocheres, which I thought was the right call. Yeah. Maybe overdue. But then to bring back Martin Odegaard, I think this was his first start in, well, his first start in 12 days, but I think it was his first 90 minutes that he ended up playing since 2025. He'd been out. He'd missed the last two games. I thought that was a huge call. Putting Ebreze on the wing, again, sacrificing one of your wingers. I mean, I thought this was about you don't have Tim Burton, you don't have Calafiore, you've got essentially four center backs at the back.
3:46Against the press, you're going to suffer. You need more ballers to keep the ball. I thought he did that. I thought these were really, really brave decisions. Yeah. And if Arsenal had gotten spanked, not so much, I mean they lost the game obviously, but I thought Arsenal played really well, and City deserved to win, these two things can coexist. Yeah, yeah. And so when he comes out and he says we're even more convinced we can win, I don't think he's crazy. I understand what he means.
4:10Julien Laurens:Yeah, completely, yeah. It was the best we've seen Arsenal in a very long time, well in a very long time, in a few weeks. for sure the choices that he made and some are obviously very obvious for the reason that you just explained in terms of beating the press that City put and played in with at the League Cup final that we saw and we knew Guardiola would do something very similar so he was down to Arteta to find a plan against it and he did. I still think there were times where in terms of verticality they could have been braver, they should have been braver to play through City instead of trying to play over or around which I I think it's been lacking in this game and could have been better, as we saw in the big Kai Havertz chance, because that one-on-one, if he scores, I think the game is over, then I don't think City come back and Arsenal go and win it.
4:54Julien Laurens:But Donnarumma made a great save. The ball from other guard is not good enough, obviously, and I think Havertz should have scored anyway. But there, I think there was a lot of positive from Arsenal, even if they lost the game, and that defeat will hurt. And from a City point of view, you won the game that could easily have been a draw, for example, and that will give you even more momentum than you already had because you've been on great form for the last few weeks. It's a cliche, but it's true. The battle within a battle. Holland and Gabriel. I mean, we talk about sort of the physicality. I don't like grabbing and pushing and shoving on set pieces, as you know.
5:35In open play, if done the right way, if it's mutual, if it's a fair fight, if you're consistent with it, I don't necessarily have a problem with it. Do you think, leaving aside the headbutt incident, were you happy that he was allowed to play? It's like Holland's shirt gets ripped off and then he goes and plays in short sleeves.
6:02Julien Laurens:Yeah, it was the undershirt. Yeah, the skin's under. Yeah, yeah, I think they're both doing it. If only one is doing it, whether it's the forward or the center back, then there's a problem. if they're both at it, really. And that's part of the game. And if it's not dangerous, nobody's going to get hurt. Yeah, exactly. On the goal, for example, the Haaland goal, both of them are just kind of like grabbing each other, pulling each other. But in a way that because they're both doing it, I just don't think you can give a foul for one or for the other. It's just you let go, really. And that's why I think the referee was very good on that.
6:33Julien Laurens:You can understand the frustration too. The referee Anthony Taylor, by the way, for you refereeing nerds. Yeah, yeah. You can understand sometimes the frustration because Haaland would feel like it's a foul, Gabriel would feel that Haaland played for the foul and things like that. So that's also part of the game. But yeah, I thought it was great. For a long time, Haaland had been targeting Saliba when he played against Arsenal. The last few games, he went more on the side of Gabriel, which I think is better for him. Not so much for the physical battle, but also because I don't think Gabriel is as good as Saliba.
7:06Julien Laurens:And Saliba, I thought, used to do a really good job on Haaland and I'm not sure Gabriel does as well. Yeah, I was curious about that matchup, if it was intentional, because I remember that too. And I wonder if there's also an element in Holland's, from Holland's side, you know, with him being, I mean, he's good with both feet, but him being more of a left footer, that it seemed almost counterintuitive to go to the Gabriel side. but equally I think he he felt that something could happen and yeah and you can wind him up you can't wind up Saliba you see on the head but Saliba gets involved I think he's the first one to push Rodri once Rodri has arrived on the scene and then William very quickly just moves out of the way this is not for him I think I think Gabriel gets really winded by things like that All right, let's talk about the head butt.
8:02It's one of those things where there's a whole kind of visual dimension to this, right? And I'm just talking about, so in terms of Holland and the legend of Holland, he's not had the best second half of the season or the best season, but he is finishing stronger. And so the whole notion of him with the flapping undershirt, removing it, you know, loosing his hair so he goes full-on Viking. And then he gets in the face of Gabriel in that way. Just before we get to the Gabriel moving his head forward. That's the kind of stuff that kind of galvanizes. It adds to the narrative. At least for those watching, do you think it impacts people on the pitch too?
8:49Julien Laurens:No, I didn't think so. I just think this is part of the... Everybody does that kind of stuff anyway. Yeah, but not everybody looks like Erling Haaland. Yeah, but I don't think... If Zubimendi does it, I would argue nobody notices. I think usually the strikers are tall and strong, so I don't see... No, I don't think it changed anything. But then that get-together was always going to happen at some point. I was even surprised it happened so late in the game, because there was so much tension, as good as the game was, there was still so much tension because of what everything was at stake. Now, I was a bit surprised we didn't get this kind of stuff earlier in the game.
9:28Now, while it looks like Gabriel can be wound up, he's normally under control. And I think he knows how to push things. I mean, this is an experienced player we're talking about, right? So when they go head-to-head, we normally know with experienced players, they know the stakes are way too high not to get sent off, right? So they push it as far as they can. But they've also been told, if you make a move towards an opponent, you will be sent off in those situations. Gabriel makes the move towards the opponent. It's obviously not enough to bring Holland down. Probably not enough to bring, I don't know, Bernardo Silva or Schurke.
10:09Yeah, nobody should go down on this. But equally, we know many players who would have gone down. Do you think that would have pushed Taylor to give the red? And should he have given the red anyway?
10:20Julien Laurens:No, I don't think it was a red card. I think they're already touching heads. it's a push like a headbutt is Zidane 06. This is not a headbutt. So Zidane is a red. This is a push like you could push somebody, you know, body against body and you push him away. I think it's Gabriel pushing away Haaland. So I thought it was the right call. I can understand why some people are frustrated. It's a stupid thing to do. It's a stupid and risky thing to do. It's extremely risky. You don't want him doing that in the Champions League? Yeah, no, probably not. I never wanted to see him doing that again, but I just don't think there was enough there for a red card, which again, there was no strength to it, nothing.
11:01Julien Laurens:It was just pushing him away with his head. All right, let's talk to Shirky Goal, because it's all about Techers. I'm just going to make my little point, re-watching it, as they maybe could have gone there and done a better job of shutting down. But as you were saying off air, that's not really the talking point. the talking point is what Shirky pulled out of his backside because that was special. Yeah, yeah. I mean, he's a magical player. Anyway, we say that. For me, he's like the Eric Cantona of this Man City team. Very similar. I see a lot of similarities between Shirky and I in this Guardiola team and Cantona when he arrived in this United team in the sense that they are free spirit.
11:42Julien Laurens:They are magicians that you just need to let within the structure good and there's rules for others and there are different rules for them. And you just let them, like Fergie, let Cantona expressing himself and like Guardiola is letting Ryan expressing himself as well and that goal is just to the millimeter on how he beats the three defenders especially Gabriel because if you look again on the slow motion there's literally I don't know five millimeters between the the stud of Gabriel and where the ball goes and then even between the legs of Saliba. It would be something new for English people who never watched Ligue 1 before.
12:24Julien Laurens:But if you watched Shaqi earlier in his career, even last season, the season before, and yes, there was a problem with consistency, sure. But he used to do things like that on a regular basis anyway. Against a different standard of defenders. Yeah, sure, sure. But still, I think if you've done things like this all your life, it doesn't really matter who you play against you are capable of doing it again and that's exactly what i did yesterday it's just an incredible piece of brilliance do you think like in terms of defending that because it's not i mean we obviously we see players run at opponent defenders all the time i think in this case what made the difference is i don't think gabriel felt he was defending in space because he had he had help i mean the the the space that it's not just about the tackle but he's got a teammate right there there is literally no space yeah yeah and then somehow i don't know he's like it's like he's two-dimensional he like moves through that space yeah yeah you can't really fault the defending although he turns his back a little bit to be fair but but no yeah he's too quick he's too good the ball is stuck you know glued to his feet.
13:33Julien Laurens:Easy to give away a penalty there too. Yeah, probably. And because he's so two-footed, Cherokee, you just never know really which way to go. Let's say if he's a player with a very strong feet, stronger than the other, even like a doku type, for example, you kind of show him one way and then feel confident. But with Ryan, you can't because he's just as good as with right or left. And this goal shows it exactly. And I think he was almost, when he sees a space, it's a bit like a running back American football, right? Your favorite sport. Like, we don't really see that space when you're watching on television or if you're in the stadium.
14:14Julien Laurens:But those guys see it even before he opens for them. And that's exactly what he did. He just knew he was going to open. He went for it. That's a great analogy because, obviously, the defenders aren't static, right? So they can actually predict how the defenders are going to move. Don Hutchinson says that footballers have computers for brains processing information. Not all of them. Certainly not all of them. But in this case, it was beautiful. I actually, I generally like it that we can talk about some of the beautiful things that happen in this game rather than usual controversy, recrimination.
14:48And I think both these teams really put on a show for us. maybe standing out a little less in terms of the highlight reel, but a phenomenal performance from Bernardo Silva in the middle of the park against Rodri. And, you know, in a different context, too. He was, I guarantee, was not expecting to play against Martin Odegaard in this game.
15:12Julien Laurens:Yeah, no, no, maybe not. But again, you look at Zubimendi and Rice, who are very good, but also very young compared to Rodri and Bernardo Silva, who have got so much experience and so much winning experience too, that it was going to be an interesting matchup, probably the energy against that kind of experience. And I thought in terms of football IQ, you can't really do better than Bernardo Silva anyway, right now in European football. And then if you add next to him Rodri, even maybe not Ballon d 'Or Rodri, but still a very good Rodri in this game that uses his brains a lot, it's very difficult to play against them and I thought Bernardo had a masterclass of controlling games, controlling tempo, reading games, reading trajectories.
15:57Julien Laurens:Just be fair, he's not as efficient in the final third for City and that's not his job anymore anyway so don't expect goals and assists Galo this season. But he does everything else in terms of balance and stability within this team that I don't know how you replace next season. I don't know and I guess it might not even be Pep's problem because if he leaves then leave that to the club. But I just don't know how you replace Bernardo Silva. I don't know even how you would replace a double pivot of Silva and Rodri either. And let's remind ourselves too about the evolution of Bernardo Silva. This is a guy who was very much an attacking midfielder, a number 10, played on the wing even early on in Monaco in his career.
16:37Despite not being fast, but so much stamina, uses timing so intelligently. Honestly, somebody you can learn a lot from. Two goalkeepers, two very good goalkeepers, both of them making similar, if you want, mistakes early on. Raya got away with it. Donnarumma did not.
17:01Julien Laurens:No, but then for Donnarumma, we knew that at some point this could happen. He'd already had a few shaky moments in possession in this game because Arsenal were always going to press him and target him more than anything else. It's a bad one. It's nothing new. He's done it so many times in his career. He's not very good with his feet, with the ball at his feet. What he's good at is saves, and he did that really well in this game too. But nobody can... We've told you so many times when he signed, it's not a dig at him. It's just the way it is. He will never be good in his distribution with the ball at his feet.
17:35Julien Laurens:Never. This is just not happening. Same on crosses, but on the line, he's the best in the world. So he saved them in a way. He cost them in another way through the season like that. And again, this game was just a summary of his own season. Brilliant on the line. More difficult in other areas where we've known from the beginning that it was not a strong point. And smart thinking with that when he rolled the ball out or threw the ball out for the Holland goal. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Because not many would have seen that straight away. I mean, we expect it from Alisson. We don't expect it from him. True.
18:06Julien Laurens:Or the guards saw it quickly and he told Martinelli, don't go and press Gehi and what did Martinelli do? And I think those games also turn on mistakes like that because Martinelli should never, ever have gone too high on this press. That was all the guards' role. Martinelli's role was O 'Reilly. He let O 'Reilly on his own and three passes later, Haaland scores. And that's sometimes just the difference in a game like this. I'm going to take it back to the goalkeepers because we talked about Donnarummo. We didn't mention Raya's mistake. And again, obviously he got away with it. But it's got to be terrifying when you see this gigantic Holland bearing down on you.
18:45Yeah. And it's interesting because, you know, you can say you got away with it, but yes, he knows you made a mistake, just like Donnarumma didn't get away with it. But if he had gone away with it, he knows, oh, I cut this way too close. We're not goalkeepers. They often have different mentality. They're all told to bounce back, bounce back, put it out of your mind. You can't change what happened. But it still has to impact you. and I don't think Raya had to make too many spectacular saves in this. No. But he stayed very much in the game. And I thought also on a team where, again, against the City Press, where the back four are not particularly good on the ball, I thought his game was really good in a different way.
19:29And I think he's kind of overlooked. And I think Raya's been one of the stories of the Arsenal season.
19:33Julien Laurens:Yeah, no, no, he has. I was at times a bit disappointed by his distribution in this game because he was the one to be braver and he wasn't. And I just don't think part of the build-up structure of this game and especially the game plan from Arteta, which was brilliant as we said, I think Raya had a massive role to play in possession in the build-up. And I think at times he maybe didn't execute it exactly like he should have. And that could have, I think that cost Arsenal a little bit. It could have been much better. But yeah, the problem with his touch on, you know, on his mistake when Haaland almost, you know, got there, he was already thinking of what he was going to do with that pass from Gabriel, which sometimes we've all played football.
20:14Julien Laurens:That can happen to anybody because you're already thinking. So the ball goes under your foot because you're already thinking about your pass. Or that touch would be heavy because you were already thinking where it's going to go next. For Donnarumma, it's more he gets the ball and then has no idea what to do with it. And then that's the problem. So two different mistakes. I think his touch was heavy more than that, actually, with Donnarumma. He panicked completely too. He didn't control it the way he would have wanted to. And it gets away from him a little bit. More like a technical error, I thought, than a mental one.
20:45In terms of the run-in, I can't... People made a big deal, Bournemouth, blah, blah, blah. But I can't separate the two on the run-in. I can't say this run-in is easier or harder. And I also think it's very level in terms of Arsenal have the Champions League. City have the FA Cup. You can say two games, there's just one game, but then I can't separate them. Can you?
21:11Julien Laurens:No, no, no, not really. There's three home games for Arsenal, two away games, three and three for City, because they've got obviously the game in hand. No, I don't know. I mean, can they all, can they win, can Arsenal win five and City six? Yeah, maybe. Can they drop points? You can think so too, probably. not many but there might be a draw there for one or the other at some point or for both even. It would go down to goal difference or goal scored. You know, I think if you had to put your money on who would score more goals between Anilson and also they would have again more to play, probably would be City.
21:51And they've already scored more goals too.
21:53Julien Laurens:Yeah, not many more but still more, yeah. So, I don't know. Yeah, I really think it's 50-50. But I've said that for me, whoever won Sunday's big clash would win the title. And I still think it's true. So you're a leaning city now? Yeah, I would love Arsenal to win it. I think they would be deserved winners. I think they've waited a long time. I think they've built something really, really good. But I've always thought from the beginning that a game on Sunday would be the decisive moment, more than all the games remaining now and things like that. We've talked all season long about how this isn't an excellent Premier League compared to other seasons.
22:31Maybe it's true, but I think it's been a very tough Premier League, and maybe that's why we haven't seen that dominance. But, I mean, I think whoever wins this is going to be a worthy winner. And I look forward to a good title race, and I just pray, because you know my thoughts on goal difference. I do not want to see this title decided on goal difference. Yeah. You know, because it's not always exciting. It's like Aguero in 93-20. I don't want to see this come down to whoever they play, whatever Muppet Show teams they play on the last season. Yeah, but then if City wins it on goal difference,
23:03Julien Laurens:they would have the head-to-head. So you'd be happy with that? Because you're for the head-to-head. So they are the head-to-head. I am for the one-game playoff. I don't like the head-to-head either. I don't. I mean, it's better than goal difference, maybe. But yeah, the problem with the head-to-head is you can't change it after it's happened, right? But yeah, one game playoff in Doha. No, not Doha. But you know what I mean. I don't know how much more exciting would that be. Yeah, sure. But I guess World Cup, Champions League, FA Cup, all these other annoying competitions get in the way. It made a point about second guessing, and we talked off air about substitutions.
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23:44If you want to get into it, we can. I also feel like right now I just feel such gratitude towards these two coaches. and their teams that we shouldn't maybe question why? Guilcaraz, or do you want to question that Guilcaraz could have come on earlier?
23:58Julien Laurens:With hindsight, there's always reasons why coaches make those substitutions and when they make them, they're no better than us, for sure. I just expected Guilcaraz to come on a bit earlier than the 84th minute and I certainly would have kept Eze on the pitch for a bit longer but I didn't have the information that Guadalupe and Arteta had and things like that. Do you think Odegaard, like would you have kept Odegaard out there for 90 minutes or do you think you started flagging? No, I thought he was good until the end. So it wouldn't have been one of those substitutions where you maybe bring on Giocheres for Odegaard, drop Havertz and kind of keep that pressing?
24:37No, I would have gone from two. You would have made the same substitution, but you would have made it earlier.
24:40Julien Laurens:Yeah, I would have gone from two. I would have taken one of Zubimendi off just to go for it, really. Because at that point, you have nothing to lose. Exactly.
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26:04Julien Laurens:Yeah, that was a bit cruel for Everton. I thought the draw would probably be a fair result. Great game, great intensity. I mean, great game in terms of intensity, not so much in terms of quality, but in terms of intensity, as expected, first one in the new stadium for Everton. at a time where Everton had more momentum than Liverpool and probably were favourite before the game, which is rare enough to be mentioned. And I thought, you know, bar the mistake from Dwart McNeil, that cost the first goal, and it's a good pass and a good finish in the end from Salah, good pass from Gakpo, but the mistakes makes everything here.
26:40Julien Laurens:Everton, I thought, reacted really well from that, and for most of the games were the better team. but hey, you know, 90 plus 10 for Virgil on a set piece, a set piece that was so easily avoidable for Everton, must be really frustrating. There was so much fighting before the corner came in as well, which I didn't like. Strikers, Salah better, getting stronger as a World Cup Nears. Yeah, it's a good goal. Two goals in two league games, that's pretty good. Yeah. Better than Isak, yeah. I mean Isak, I don't know. I'm being told he's sharp at training because I don't see the sharpness in games. I mean, yesterday, I think he had two touches in the first 40 minutes of this game.
27:23Julien Laurens:That's one touch every 20 minutes. I mean, what do you do the rest of the time? Like, really? Bayern Munich make eight changes and still come from behind to be Stuttgart 4-2 at home to clinch their 13th Bundesliga title in the last 14 seasons. Gab, they're one third of the way to the treble. Yeah, and they have the German Cup coming up in midweek. and then obviously the Champions League. It's not a surprise that they win, and we can go and make jokes, ha, ha, ha, 13 wins in 14 years, but they've already set the goal record. They can equalize the points record. And what really impressed me here is Stuttgart went ahead.
28:01Stuttgart are fighting to get desperately to get in the top four. This is not a bad team. And it's like you make eight changes. The only guys who are out there, Joshua Kimmich, who I think gets overlooked. he really is the energizer bunny. I think he may be Bayern's potentially most important player right now. I think it was him, Diaz, and Stanisic, I think, were the only three holdovers. And the B team says, oh, look, you dared go ahead in our house, and he scored three times by halftime. What are you going to do there? How do you compete with this? Vincent Kompany has been absolutely phenomenal.
28:36And reminder, he was what, Bayern's fifth choice to be manager. coming off a relegated Burnley side. And I think there's few people who are better just from the PR side to be the face of a club. I mean, he's got Ancelotti-type riz when it comes in. So well done, Bayern. I mean, the fact that it was coming doesn't change the fact. It's a tremendous achievement to do it this way. Jules, I have to go there. Paris Saint-Germain lose at home to Olympique Lyonnais 2-1 just a few days after reaching the Champions League semifinal. It's now just a one-point lead over Lons. PSG do have a game in hand, but there's also a head-to-head coming up, second to last day of the season.
29:18And mind I remind you, last day of the season, you know who you're playing. The derby against Paris FC, packed with Italians. Well, three of them anyway. Did Luis Enrique make a mistake by sending out the B team?
29:29Julien Laurens:It's always the same debate. I think he felt like he had to rotate after the Champions League and the game on Tuesday in Liverpool. So he did it like he's done it all season and he said he would keep doing it too. They have nine games in 27 days, which is a lot of football to be played. So I can understand his point. The expected goal is almost three in this game.
29:55Julien Laurens:Enric was great. Moreira was great. The game plan from Paulo Fonseca in possession, out of possession was great as well and everything worked for them. And then they rode there luckily with the penalty miss or saved I would say by Griff so it was a very good night for Lyon not so much for PSG. Maybe the mistake was not resting William Paco who I thought was at fault for the first goal. Maybe it was just a point of resting. I mean nobody can expect a missed shot like that turning into an assist. On the run of play though I thought there's no question Paris Saint-Germain should have won. Yeah it's just one of those nights you know.
30:30Julien Laurens:Napoli Folahum to Lazio 2-0 Gab Conte admits the title run is over now and says that maybe the rumors of his future affected him and it would have been better if everyone had kept their mouth shut including him you took the words out of my mouth bro when it comes up rather than saying well if I were in charge I would definitely consider myself if you think this is going to affect you and you should know because you've been around the block just say oh I'm only singing at Napoli right now that's all you got to say All you got to do, they were really, really disappointing. It's a lot of team with nothing to play for.
31:04To go down like this at home just ends with a whimper. Manchester United beat Chelsea away 1-0. The arithmetic isn't quite there yet, but United have a 10-point lead over sixth place. So I think we can take it for granted that they're going to be in the Champions League next season. Their last Champions League game was way back in 2023, if you can believe that.
31:27Julien Laurens:Yeah, yeah, of course, because it's been a disaster really the last three years or so but they are there and sixth place by the way might also qualify you if Aston Villa win the Europa League and finish top four themselves which she looks like too so um top five so well done to United that was a big win it was a bit of a smash and grab to be fair because they had one shot on Tiger and that was the gorgeous before the break didn't really play that well again it's not the first time but the job is there they're about to do it to achieve it well done Michael Carrick well done Bruno Fernandes who is getting closer to this assist record in the Premier League, which I think would be something very special as an achievement for him individually, but also for taking the team into a top three finish, which probably when Ruben Amorim was still in charge, we would have never anticipated.
32:13Bruno Fernandes is something else. He just appears to something magical. And the amazing thing is he does not look like a... He does not look like a superb athlete or anything. He looks just like a guy. Yeah. It's a bit of the Bernardo Silva there.
32:30Julien Laurens:Yeah, De Bruyne even. Yeah, you know, those kind of guys. And sticking with that game, Gab, it looks really bad for Chelsea and Liam Rossigno, though at least Mosek Cido has inked a new deal. Yeah, he's got that out of the way. I mean, he had a deal for like a zillion years, and now it's a zillion years plus two. Hopefully he got a nice pay bump. I don't think that moves the needle at all. I agree. It's just Chelsea's business model. There were protests before the game. It got ugly at halftime, Chance of Roman Abramovic. People saying they don't want to ball at the club. People weren't having a go at Rossignor, but the numbers are what they are.
33:07Chelsea haven't won at home since January. They've lost six of their last seven in all competitions.
33:16Julien Laurens:Four defeats in a row, six hours without a goal. Yeah, and one win against top flight opposition in all competitions. And the thing is, though, they didn't actually play badly in this game. No, no, I agree. You know, they hit the woodwork twice, maybe even three times. The lap was actually useful. There was no João Pedro. Interesting, too, that he did what we said didn't make sense, but he, which was go back to the, you know, the front four, Inzo plus Caicedo, which looked okay. Inzo looked motivated, very motivated. I don't know if you can do this again, though. Heartbreak, meanwhile, for Spurs as Jorginho Ruter scores a last gap equalizer for Brighton, and they have to settle for a point.
33:56Jules, this looks like more of a Dezerbi team, and he says they can win their last five. But not looking great.
34:03Julien Laurens:No, and we're waiting for West Ham to play on Monday night. We're recording the show, obviously, on Monday morning. But if West Ham win, they're four points clear. Forest have won, so they're five points clear of Spurs. And that starts to be a gap because if West Ham do win on Monday, the gap would have been worse before this game, after this game, sorry, than before. And yes, they had more heart. They showed more character. There was more intensity. Still not that great in terms of, you know, creating goals and everything. They needed a big Verbruggen mistake to score the first and the second one is a worldie.
34:35Julien Laurens:But at least in the intentions, it was better. And the intensity, but it's still very fragile. And as we saw with the Danso mistake that caused them this draw, they're still not there yet. and time is running out. This is true. So I think they would pray for West Ham not to win against Palace on Monday night and then they would have to beat Wolves. I mean, that's, you know, as obviously Wolves away next weekend is the most of the most of the most wins. And then it's Leeds and I think they'll be hoping that Leeds keep winning so that they can take their foot off their ass. Yeah, exactly. Real Sociedad and Rino Matarazzo, your boy, make history as they beat Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey final.
35:12Julien Laurens:Gab, put this in context for us. Well, Matarazzo is the first US coach to win major silverware in the big five European leagues. Obviously, Jesse Marsh won titles at Salzburg. Salzburg, yeah. But I think my pen would win titles at Salzburg. Not a knock on Jesse. But this is next level. He took over a side. There were two points above the relegation zone in December. Led them on the Copa del Rey run. Led them on a run in the league. Yeah, they said they can do Champions League football. You know, it's pretty remarkable. obviously they had an edge over Atletico Madrid Atletico Madrid had played Champions League in midweek so you know they were maybe not as fresh but they went right at them from the start my boy Ruggeri getting done he found it easier to play against Lamin Yamal than he did in this game frankly but then Atleti battled back, Juliano Alvarez put on a show tremendous equalizer and when it got to penalties especially you know they had the backup keeper in who's played in all the cup games instead of Ramiro I thought, all right, this is going at Letty's way.
36:15Nice run. But no, they stuck it out. They were big on penalties. Well-deserved. They won a COVID title in 2021. Yeah, that was the only trophy they've won in 40-odd years. So this says a lot. He's already a legend. Tammy Abraham pops up in injury time to score the winner for Aston Villa, who defeats Sunderland 4-3. Jules, they remain joint third in the table, and they're in the Europa League semifinal. I know we're going to talk about Debu's save, which maybe might remind you of the save off Callum Moani. Maybe you don't want to remember that. Within 30 seconds, it was right back up. Tammy Abraham works his magic.
36:54I also want to talk about Unai Emery. He deserves a statue outside Villa Park. Wenger has one outside Arsenal. Build one outside Villa Park for Enri. I don't even like Emery, as you know.
37:03Julien Laurens:No, no, no. He would get one. Not now, obviously. But yeah, he would get one. Amazing job. Rollercoaster of a game. everything hasn't been perfect for Villa and Emery this season. He struggled that time, the team has struggled too for consistency, especially on back of European games. Like this one, they were 3-1 up and cruising and then just fell asleep and considering two goals, a 3-3 is a very different story with the Abib Diarra chance and then the goal, but they deserve, I think, to finish top five. What would be interesting to see if at some points they kind of privatise the Europa League in a way because right now they should be okay, a bit like United as we said, they should be okay for a top five finish in the Prem.
37:46Julien Laurens:So go for the Europa League, for rest in the semis and then Freiburg or Braga potentially in the final, I think they can win it. Tremendous. This was back on Friday, but Inter rolled past Cagliari 3-0. They didn't know it at the time, but we know now they've pretty much won the title, haven't they? I think so. They're eight points clear, five points, five games to go. You don't want to count your chickens before they hatch. But even though the goals came in the second half, they dominated. And yeah, Marcus Turam scoring again on the day that you're wearing a Turam shirt. Exactly, yeah. Thank you, Marcus.
38:19Huff and I stay alive in the top four race, beating Borussia Dortmund 2-1, thanks to two VAR penalties. Jozo, it's the first one, which coincided with Nicolas Souley's injury, which seems cruel and unjust. Yeah, he's on the floor. We both support VAR.
38:33Julien Laurens:Yes, sure. But this is where the letter of the law is from. Yeah, exactly. You saw a bit of common sense maybe there. It was really harsh. Kramaric took his score. Then he got another one late, late, late. United time at the end of the game to win it. Even that one, the second one, was a little bit... If he had thought, Gerasi in between. We've said Borussia Dortmund are guaranteed second. So there's nothing to play for. But well done, Hoffenheim. Juventus beat Bologna 2-0 to make it three points on the... Three wins on the spin. and Gab one step closer to the top four. That's right. And it speaks to the jobs that he's doing.
39:05I think they also played really well. They were fun to watch. Now, Bologna, again, coming off midweek, tired, laggy, anything you want. But I saw Locatelli was exceptional in this game. He's going to get a new deal. Whatever was happening between him and Spalletti in the past is clearly forgotten. Jonathan David scored just good. Again, finally. Kefren Teran. Well, he's got nine goals this season. Yeah, yeah, it's not bad. So, things going swimmingly. In today's world, planning ahead isn't always top of mind, but not having life insurance can leave families facing difficult financial uncertainty during already emotional times.
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41:12Leipzig stay on track for the Champions League with a big 3-1 win away to Eintracht Frankfurt. Jules, I did it before, now it's your turn to wax lyrical about Jan Diamande after that opening goal. he has more goal involvement this season than anyone in the Bundesliga except for the Bayern front three, this is pretty amazing
41:30Julien Laurens:Incredible breakthrough season for him unless you follow obviously Spanish football a little bit and the decent season that he had last year over there but well done to Leipzig for getting him now he's worth I think the value is quadrupled now, they can sell him for close to€80 million Euros is a this kind of amazing winger quick strong two footed I mean if you haven't seen this goal he just goes from the right side almost to the left come back and then curls it is just and he curls it with his right foot too like which is weird like so nonchalant so good and well it's big game big game for Leipzig to win in third place now it is good for them to finish top five that could be fifth place could be Champions League as well for them so you know two years ago he was in florida yeah like when people talk about development and whatever like like academy never give up that's the thing because but it's it's i mean this transformation also says that you don't necessarily need to have a fancy european academy to be exactly to to be a talent like this adrian arabio scores the only goal as milan get a big win away to verona gabby wasn't pretty and mac manuel had to report racist abuse as well yeah i'll get the football side out of it no it wasn't pretty and you know like you will say well it's All that mattered after recent results get the win.
42:51The Ligli defenders are coming out and saying, well, he has 15 points more than last season, and they're going to finish second. But you've got to do better. You have to do better. You're not developing your players. You're relying on older players. Verona have won one game since mid-December. They're 10 points away from safety. Impose yourself. Don't make it about Manyan having to save it. a word on Manan so Rafael Lau was racially abused by a portion of the support it wasn't very loud it was early in the game nobody kind of really picked up on it Manan found out at halftime he's the Milan captain and he goes and he reports it to the referee and then they make the they apply the protocol and there's no more abuse after that I mean there was no abuse before that either other than what he suffered earlier so So, well done, Mike Mignon.
43:45It could have easily been ignored. You know, Allegri came out and said stupid things. It's like, well, well done, Mike. You know, there's many ways to fight racism. You can ignore it or you can speak up. And I'm like, yeah, maybe ignoring it isn't quite the way to fight racism. Yeah, I don't think we need to take lessons. I don't think he should be giving lessons on this. But, yeah, he didn't need to do this. He really did not need to do this. And it just speaks to the kind of person Magic Mike is. Massey's season continues to head south, Jules they lose 2-0 at Lorient who are managed by a guy whose name I discovered whose name means trousers in Italian and they love him
44:22Julien Laurens:and he's leaving the club yeah I think you might have done this joke before Olivier Pantalone doing a really good job it's funny Oliver Ollie Trousers yeah it's just not really in line with what the ownership who obviously own Bournemouth Belag Bluco with Strasbourg and Chelsea want to do so he's leaving and they have nothing to play for but they've been a really good team this season considering their promoted side and Marseille were horrendous in this game to the point that Mehdi Benatia, the sporting director, after the game destroyed all the players and it's unacceptable. There was no reaction.
44:56Julien Laurens:It was a disgrace. Everything you want. So now that has added even more tension within the Marseille dressing room when they're currently six. And now in the Champions League next season, which they need to be really so Habib Bay under massive pressure. I think Habib Bay must have been, I don't know, I didn't really check. but Habib Bey when he was the Rennes manager earlier in the season had already lost twice to Lorient so that means he would have lost three times in the league against the same team in the same season which surely has to be a first surely it has to be a first so you know he lost twice already in the French Cup in the same season obviously with two but he's still in the same season and now he lost three times against the same team in the same manager I mean I don't really have much more word for that is I like maybe Benassi I've met him a couple times.
45:41I think he speaks well when I've seen him on television, shouting at players as a motivational tool. That's what he does.
45:47Julien Laurens:This is his style. He's done it many, many times before. It's worked great, hasn't it? Well, I guess that's the question. But yeah, that's what he does. That's his personality. I don't know. Let's see, because they've got obviously four games left now. And they can still finish third. He's very tight between third and sixth and seventh. So let's see. It's going to be exciting, but they're in trouble for sure. Roma and Atalanta draw 1-1, which really helps neither of them in their pursuit of the Champions League play. His bag, this feud between Gian Piero Gasperini and Claudio Ranieri is spinning out of control.
46:19Yeah, it's gotten really ugly. It's gone on all week. Gasperini cried in his pre-match post-conference at the end. He does that. He does stuff like this. On the Atalanta angle, obviously, they've got bigger fish to fry. with the with the Coppa Italia this week against Lazio but Roma really needed this they really need this for many reasons this whole story we've touched upon this before and it shows you that just because you're old and have grey hair doesn't mean that you're wise Gasperini can be difficult even now today the stories clearly leaked from Roma about his demands for staying next season and they include the replacement of the sporting director, Ricky Massara.
47:14They include not having any relationship, never speaking to Claudio Ranieri at all. Claudio Ranieri is the owner representative, as is kind of his role. Claudio Ranieri does not need this crap from Gasperini. I don't know who's at fault who started it. It has to do with the signings in January. the fans applauded Gasparini when his name was read out along with the lineup but then Claudio Ranieri wasn't read out because why would it Gasparini double downs as a lot I'm not the one fueling this feud it's not me it's him it's the kind of character he is he's a brilliant coach but he has these weird spots and of course the ownership is silent because the Friedkins are mutes and some people think silent owners is a good thing.
48:02Yeah. In Rome, it doesn't fly. We've seen it before. You have to be visible. It can't just be Regnetti speaking out for the owners, not when he's embroiled directly in this feud. Let's go back to Friday night. Lawns have to huff and puff with a mad advantage since minute 17 and an injury time winner. But they beat to lose 3-2. As we said before, they're still in it. But Are they losing steam?
48:31Julien Laurens:Well, they hadn't been in good form before that. And then when they were two goals down, it looked another of those games too. But then, Young Ball gets sent off, and rightly so, after 17 minutes, as you said, Gabi. And then it changes everything, obviously, because I thought Toulouse just got really deep, instantly after the red card, where they were 2-0 up and could have played a little bit more, inviting the pressure. and then Ganyu, one of the last Academy products, lost through and through, scored the winner in the 91st minute on set piece, the centre-back, who is very, very promising, by the way.
49:05Julien Laurens:So they need a win. They got the win. It's good. It's great response. The atmosphere was incredible at Bollard again. And that's really, really good for them. So, you know, we see, I think they had something like 42 shots in the game, which is, I think, a record in the Big Five League. They see something like that, something crazy like that. So I think they deserve the win, but it didn't look like that at the start. Repeat the name of the centre-back for those who like to say, oh, I heard his name first. Yeah, Gagnou. Yeah, very, very, very promising. Newcastle lose at home to Bournemouth 2-1 and Gab.
49:37Julien Laurens:There's worrying news coming out of the golf. Yeah, look, I mean, in terms of what happens on the pitch, Newcastle's season is over domestically. They're not going to go down. They're not going to qualify for Europe. We'd already told you because to their credit, David Hopkinson, the new guy at Newcastle, was very honest about this, saying that there's tough times ahead. They have to rein in the spending. They need to comply with financial stability rules. More broadly, and I think this is a story about Saudi Arabia and all those people were talking about the Saudi Pro League and blah, blah, blah.
50:11The Public Investment Fund, they've come out. They published their kind of five-year plan, and they say that they're going to get rid of investments that aren't performing. And obviously if you're into live golf or you're Arlo White, then you're really concerned because that's the one everybody points to, right? Because that's lost enormous amounts of money. They say they're going to be reallocating capital towards the domestic market. That can mean the Saudi Pro League. But then again, they just sold their 70 % share in El Halal. Funny enough, they sold it to Waleed bin Talal, who's a cousin of MBS, the ruler, I believe.
50:56He's the guy that, I mean, he's a very wealthy billionaire. I think he owns part of the Ritz in Paris and Savoy in London and whatnot. But the funny thing is, this is the guy that MBS, if you remember, he put him under house arrest at the Ritz in Riyadh, back in 2017 for corruption. I guess they've patched things up or maybe he said, hey, do me a favor. What does it mean for Newcastle? I don't think Newcastle falls into the bucket of underperforming investments. That's the good news if you're a Newcastle fan. I don't think they're going to put Newcastle up for sale or just start selling everything that's not nailed down because I think it's been run very judiciously.
51:38However, it does mean that chickens come home to roost and it's really difficult for a club to kind of move into the middleweights of English football and then into the heavyweights is really, really difficult. And they're not going to necessarily push the boat out. So they have to find other creative ways. But if there is something can be said, is they're being honest and they're being straight up about what's ahead.
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52:38Quick time out.
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53:18Julien Laurens:They're the ones with the bear on the box. Sticking with Saudi Arabia as we feared Irv Renard's departure after getting them to the World Cup is now official, Jules. Any more insight into what went wrong? Not really, no. I think there was just not a line really with the federation. Maybe the objective at the World Cup. It's quite strange to live so close to the World Cup. I think he really wanted the Ghana job that he didn't get, obviously. But I think he was really interested in going back to Africa anyway. So I guess he would have to wait until what's next for him. But I'm convinced he would be a national team from Africa.
53:58Do you think Crocker had a hand? Do you think he even asked him like, or do you think it's like, hey, we're going to fire Renard and you come in and help us find a replacement?
54:07Julien Laurens:Yeah, I don't know. It's a good question. Maybe. Yeah, maybe those two might be linked, to be fair. Rafa Silva scores deep in injury time and Benfica win 2-1 away to Sporting, moving one point ahead of them in a table gap. Jose Mourinho is at it again. Yeah, he's up in the second place. Sporting do have a game in hand. Porto with the magnificent Francesco Ferrioli, of course. Out of sight, seven points clear. Jose Mourinho is just he's having fun there still unbeaten as you said he won't confirm if he's staying or going he obviously has a contract because that's how Jose rolls I mean given the way the season started I mean you gotta give him credit he's done what he was supposed to do on the pitch I think sporting especially now that they're out of the Champions League can focus more and I think they're still going to finish second.
55:00Coventry City have been promoted to the Premier League. Jules, I don't follow the championship at all, but I do know that my Frank Lampard Jr. is back in the big side because I know he's the Coventry manager.
55:12Julien Laurens:And I think Ipswich are also a place to come up or no? So no, the race for second place and then the playoffs is really, really tight. So it's really good. Ipswich got a really important draw on Sunday against Middlesbrough. I hope Middlesbrough also fighting to finish in either second or in the playoff position. Midwall are there, Southampton are on an amazing run in the league are there too. Raksama not too far, Hrstutia not. So he's going to be great, whoever finishes second and then in the playoff down to sixth will be amazing. It's been a really good championship season from Coventry, from everybody else, but credit to Frank Lampard.
55:47Julien Laurens:Back after 25 years in the lower leagues, including bankruptcy and all of that. So incredible achievement from them with a squad of good players, very big on cohesion and things like that, but not outstanding. There was no like a Jocheres or something like that in that team. But well done to them. It'll be interesting to see what they do next season in the Premier League. It's so nice to have Coventry back because they were really Premier League stalwarts, not just in the Premier League, but often finishing mid-table and stuff. They had this nightmare with a weird Finnish woman who took over the club and then the bankruptcy and then the business with the with the stadium um those vans have been through a lot and i was struck by coventry that their nickname they were nicknamed the sky blues and i didn't understand why because i looked at their shirts and i said that's not the color of the sky and then i look up at the sky here in england and say oh i get it now it's the color of an english sky come on come on we're sorry that's not sky blue it's that story why did you say this story well because it's right leeds united let's go more as more leeds united be wolves three nil gab you had them going down like me to be fair after eight points in the last four games are you changing your tune 100 um wolves are not bad i mean i'm sorry we've said it but like you know they're they're right down there um but they're a tough out um leeds also have the fa cop to worry about i thought things were going to spin out for daniel farke i thought you know Dominic Carver, Lewin, only has so many tricks up his sleeve up front.
57:20And I thought the vibes were bad. But I was totally wrong. Well done, Daniel Farka. And at this stage, I assume they're going to stay up. I think so too, yeah. Monaco are held at home by Oksair 2-2, which means the Champions League is getting further away, Jules. But how about that Flo Balogun? Yes. He has now scored in eight streak games. USMNT center forward, Potts, yes. don't know no screwing around no hard rate none of these things oh he's in great form i mean this
57:48Julien Laurens:one is a penalty uh and overall his game was not that great but eight leagues in a row where he scores getting closer to the records in so in french football history is 14 i don't know i don't know if he would get to 14 between that and next season obviously because he can only do 12 now um But, incredible, even Zlatan never did. 8, Neymar and Kylian I think stopped at 7 or 8, something like that. So he's already beaten them or equaled them. Messi probably stopped at 2. Sonny Anderson is the one in the 21st century who's got the record of 10 or 11, I think. So he's en route for that. He's got that confidence.
58:31Julien Laurens:Shame for Monaco, they had a really poor first half, much better in the second half. They should have won this game, they were the better team. But they're still very much in this incredible fight again in France for a Champions League position. Gab, Saturday in football as Austrian goalkeeper Alex Manninger, who played for 14 different clubs through his career, including Arsenal, Juventus and Fiorentina, died tragically in a car accident aged 48. Tributes have poured in from all over. Yeah, this is touching. Look, I think Manninger, most people will agree, he was never, he was Austrian international.
59:00He played for these clubs, but, you know, he was often the number two keeper. but you find somebody who was just so loved and so admired such a connection with the fans, with teammates Juventus staging a big tribute Gigi Buffon of all people coming out at Fiorentina as well at Arsenal I think in the club shop they put up like a mannequin with like a Manninger number 13 jersey I had the privilege of met him a couple times really an absolute gentleman and one of the good guys and it's it's it's obviously very sad thoughts go out to him to his loved ones that he's in a better place now it's a busy few days for Lionel Messi Jules he scores twice in Inter Miami Street you win away to the Colorado Rapids and then buys fifth year's Cornelia in Spain as you do yeah as you do yeah another footballer
59:56Julien Laurens:buying another football club. There's many now of them having either shares in a club or owning the club fully. This is the latest one. Cornelia, where your friend Gerard Martin is from, by the way. And Jordi Alba as well. And Jordi Alba as well, that's true. Messi two goals in a pretty normal win for Inter Miami. And then Cornelia, let's see if he can maybe do like Gerard Piquet, who has brought Andorra getting closer and closer to being promoted to La Liga. I'm going to come out and do this. If you're a footballer or you're a coach or an agent, you should not be allowed to own a football club.
1:00:33I think there should be very clear rules about this. Once he retires, he can do what he likes. But yeah, this is my view.
1:00:41Julien Laurens:Controversy of a travel arrangement for the World Cup. Rumble zone, Gab. New Jersey governor Mikey Sherrill hits out at FIFA and somebody named Haimo Shirgi. Sorry. Fires back. Haimo Shirgi, who I believe is Austrian, but grew up partly in South Africa, I think, according to his LinkedIn. So this guy is the chief operating officer for operations, which doesn't really matter. There's a lot of operating. Yeah, he's a surgeon. No, just kidding. I'm not even sure if he's, I think he's based, according to his LinkedIn, he's based in Zurich. I assume he's in Miami with the rest of FIFA. So this is the whole story about travel arrangements and whatever else.
1:01:25This is just dominating headlines right now that, you know, you can't drive. You won't be able to drive to Giant Stadium or MetLife as it is. You're going to have to take the train and there's reports of$100 train tickets, reports of Penn Station in New York being shut down entirely except for people traveling to games. and I think people are just scoring political points with this left, right and center. And I can see the arguments on both sides. Mikey Sherrill, she's the governor of New Jersey. She was elected recently. She inherited this whole thing and she says like, look, it's going to cost us, I think she said, $48 million to get people back and forth.
1:02:05Why should, and by the way, you take New Jersey Transit from New York City to Giant Stadium via Secaucus. why should the taxpayers of New York of New Jersey have to pay for this and when FIFA are making 11 billion dollars off this tournament I think she has a point at the same time our friend Haimo who I have to say I follow FIFA pretty closely I was not familiar with I'd never heard this guy talk it's not clear that he did talk I think he might have issued a statement he comes out and he says look the host city's agreements were signed in 2018 others have pointed out that in some places like in Russian and Qatar travel for fans was actually free they made commitments he was very critical of the New Jersey transit putting up the pricing model, putting up the fares saying that's going to be terrible because it's going to push fans towards driving congestion, ripple effects, harder to police
1:03:11and look what I find shocking here is that both these people they both make valid arguments as the Zoran Mamdani of course weighed in because he's a football fan supposedly these decisions were made above their heads they were made by other people who were in charge at the time Gianni Fantino should come out and address this issue and find a solution and he can talk to his friend in the White House who's very powerful as we know for now anyway and you find a solution 48 million dollars when you're going to make 11 billion not a lot of money if it really is 48 million they should be encouraging this they should be encouraging greener alternatives because that is part of FIFA's mission statements and they should get people safely and efficiently to and from we can't have people just score points and finger pointing what are we doing here the tournament starts in less than 2 months I think it's an embarrassment Jules this brings us to an end but we're going to come back on Thursday aren't we hopefully my voice will be a little bit better by then until then love the game love your neighbor love yourself
From the publisher
Gab Marcotti and Julien Laurens review Manchester City’s 2-1 win over Arsenal in the Premier League and ask whether Arsenal are still favourites for the title. The guys also discuss Bayern Munich’s Bundesliga success, Real Sociedad’s historic Copa del Rey trophy & pay respects to Alex Manninger.
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