Real Early Exit for Man City

25:41Did you get passed by? They were going, well, yeah. Wouldn't it be great if... You'd have to put your reading glasses on. Funny enough, funny enough, I've got a pair of reading glasses. I always kept a pair of reading glasses inside my shin pads for when a note came on. Wait a minute. Stop the game. Wouldn't it be funny if the note was getting passed along and it said, hey lads, we're still in this. We're still in it. Five minutes to go. We can get six. I believe in you. And not that Garnaccio should be the example to follow in anything in particular. But his first reaction when he was the one getting the note is like, now what do I do with it?

26:15And he could not wait to just get rid of that note and just pass it around and somebody else do it. My message to Leon Rossini is, it's not just the note. It's the press conferences. It's a conversation with the media. Less is more, buddy. Less is more. You don't have to be smarter than everybody else in this room and try to prove it every time that you speak. Your team needs to look the part on the field, and they did not look the part to be competitive with PSG tonight. Less is more, of course, something that we don't live by because extra time is always available on our YouTube channel. Yes.

26:50There we go. Look at that. Here's Stevie. Channeling Uncle Stevie. When you said less is more, I thought you were going to talk about Arsenal. Have you been to the hairdresser? Yeah, I got killed. Have you been to the hairdresser together? Yes, we went to the same one. Want to earn extra income for your business? Amazon Hub Delivery is looking for ambitious business owners to assist with local deliveries. When you become a partner, you and your staff will deliver packages to customers in your area on a schedule that works for you. With each package delivered, you'll gain extra income and exposure for your business.

27:21Plus, Amazon Hub Delivery makes it easy to get started. There's no upfront costs, delivery experience, or long-term contracts required. Sign up to learn more at Amazon.com slash Hub Delivery. That's Amazon.com slash H-U-B Delivery. In pro football, if a coach can't see the whole field, he's missing out. It's that simple. If you run a commercial trade business and you don't have service Titan, you're coaching blind. You need real-time visibility into project profitability. You need to know which jobs are making money and which ones aren't before it's too late. And you need to see the entire business in one place, from service work to construction.

27:56Service Titan is the end-to-end platform that helps you do all that and more. Win larger contracts, accelerate your workflows, and maximize your profit. Visit servicetitan.com to learn more. It was comfortable in the end for Arsenal against Bayer Leverkusen. Remember, it was 1-1 in Germany in the first leg. 2-0 here. They didn't have to break too much of a sweat as they knocked the Bundesliga side out. and make it through to the next round where they face sporting. Another one that will be in the corner of the TV. I mean, it's professional. You're getting through with no sweats. I've got no problem with Arsenal winning, and winning the league the way they are.

28:30I mean, I've got no problem with it. You know, whatever the success is at the end of the season is success. But until they play, and I know they've played Bayern Munich in this competition already, but until we get to the knockout stages, and it's not their fault, but until they play, which they probably will in the semi-finals, barring a disaster, one of the real big boys I'm not really going to sit up and take notice because there are better games to watch and there are bigger stories but that's not their fault they're in this side of the draw it's fallen on the lap Leverkusen was tougher than it should have been for them they put up a good fight over the two legs in all fairness to them they're not Germany's strongest team by a stretch and Arsenal are England's strongest team by a stretch so Leverkusen put up a decent fight but until they get to that semi-final which is where I expect them to be that's when the questions are going to be answered.

29:19And I think they have the answers to that, but they're going to have to play a more expansive game. I can't remember who they may or may not get in the semi-finals. So they're going to get Barcelona or Atleti in theory? Arsenal-Atleti. I've got the flu that game. Probably Barca. So they'll have to evolve if it's Barcelona in the semi-finals because Barcelona will not let them play that type of game. But they're doing what they're doing. they're in the cup final at the weekend they're going to win the league in the quarter finals of this still in the FA Cup so can't be complaining and will they win the quadruple Frank?

29:57well it's possible yeah why not you know they have the team for that they have the death on the bench for that and they have the football for that as well because today you know for example you know I checked the statistic with the Bayer Leverkusen having 54 % of the position of the ball made like 200 more passes than the Arsenal but have you seen the two goals? You know, you get the ball back, you want control, you shoot, goal. Second one, not a good clearance, Keklyn Rice got the ball, control, goal, shoot, goal. Football has to be easy. Nowadays, some people and most coaches think that to have the ball and to have the control of the ball and the position of the ball makes the difference.

30:42No, no, I'm very sorry. Sometimes you have to be clinical. And Arsenal is clinical. When they have a chance to score, they don't bother. They go for it. And it's what I like today by Eze and by Declan Rice. They go easy. They have one chance to score. They go for it. They can win the Champions League. Arsenal has every chance to win this Champions League. And if indeed it's Barcelona in the semifinals, let's project forward. Because I think we all think that they're going to get past Sporting. And let's assume it's Barcelona. What are some of the areas that Barcelona struggle? Well, defensively they struggle.

31:19Defensive set pieces they struggle. What are some of the things that Arsenal can take advantage of? Oh, wait a minute. Offensive set pieces. Physically, it feels like they would be able to dominate Barcelona. And so as then you start kind of positioning yourself and who could they potentially face in the final? The one team that I think would give Arsenal issues would indeed be Bayern Munich. Because offensively, they can trouble this team. They can create chances of their own. But again, what is the one thing that I can point at Bayern Munich that they don't do very well? Defensive set pieces.

31:56And what does Arsenal do very well? Offensive set pieces. So yeah, the pathway is right there for Arsenal. And what I think is important for them is that they have time to get themselves better. I don't think they're going to be pushed in the Premier League. And let's just assume that this weekend they win the League Cup. Now there's a trophy that is going to only help this team elevate the level of confidence. I think the Premier League is going to be done by the time or closed by the time we get to that semifinal stage. You watch Manchester City play and you don't think that this team is going to stay with Arsenal consistently.

32:34so. So there is a pathway by which you can think that Arsenal can elevate their level of play offensively to where they not only work their way through Barcelona, but are the favorites going into the final against potentially a team like Bayern Munich. You can, of course, see whether or not they complete part of their quadruple. There we go. In the FA Cup quarterfinals, which are live at the start of April, Arsenal, of course, nice trip to Southampton. The big tie is Manchester City against Liverpool. Early start, of course, for Stevie. 7.15 Eastern on ESPN+. Right, we'll save the best till last.

33:14Bodo Glynn taking on Sporting. Bodo Glynn, of course, with a 3-0 lead going into the second leg in Portugal. This was just all about whether or not Sporting could get the goals and they get the first one here. Ignacio here. And they have had a couple of chances. Bodo Glynn themselves had had a couple of chances. Bagozaru Nassu with the header one nut. Yeah, this would have been a big goal, wouldn't it, for the visitors as the ball hits the crossbar not once but twice. Yeah, but as Ali said, they really sort of erode the luck a bit in the first 20 minutes of this game. Before the Sporting goal, they were under so much pressure.

33:49Into the second half, Sporting get their second goal on the hour mark here. Centre back is expecting the goalkeeper to come out. The goalkeeper is backtracking at that point. Centre back cannot catch up, and now they're struggling to keep up with pace. to the far post. Good service to the far post. Tapping from my kind of range, 2-0. 15 minutes to go. No penalty would be given initially here. However, they would go to VAR and check.

34:17Can you take a look? Yeah, unfortunately the arm... Handball. Yeah, I thought it would come off his left arm to start with, which is tucked by his side. Unfortunately, the right arm just peaks out a little bit. Luis Suarez then makes it 3-0. Sporting can get a fourth in normal time, so we go to extra time and it would just take two minutes in the added period to get that all-important fourth goal. The initial shot is blocked and Trincao has the presence of mind, laying the ball back to Marc Te Araujo. He gets it through a lot of bodies, goalkeepers going the wrong way, can't quite come back and make the save.

34:52Excitement for Sporting fans for nothing. One more of course for Bodo Glint with CSGO to penalties but it would be Sporting who would find that fifth goal here. Yeah it's just a great comeback after getting a wall up in Norway really. But just having that belief at home that if you can just peg away at this team that hasn't got experience have been in this competition at this stage and eventually it was just too much for them. So it will be Sporting who advanced to the quarter-finals where they'll face Arsenal over two legs. Right then, big news coming out of Africa as they have awarded the African Cup of Nations this year to Monaco.

35:32We all remember those scenes, Morocco, sorry. We all remember what happened at the end of the game, of course, we saw the Senegalese players walk off. And as a result of that, the African FA have said they forfeited the game, therefore they have given it to Morocco. We have found Colin Udo. Thank you so much for coming on, Colin. And of course, this is breaking news. What was your reaction when you heard this? I think I had my jaw on the floor when I heard it. I was speechless. Absolutely unbelievable. Like, I think this, for me, this is the most disgraceful decision that CAF has ever taken in the history of that organisation.

36:15This should never have been allowed to happen. And the fact that the CAF Appeals Committee have done that is disgraceful, is shameful. And I think it sets Africa football back 100 years, to be honest, because there is no way they should have been allowed to stand, whether by the rules of the competition or by the FIFA laws of the game. It's very clear. Look, they claim that Article 82 said that if the team leaves the grounds, then they forfeit the game. But Senegal never left the ground. Senegal were on the ground because you can say the difference between on the pitch or the field of play and the grounds.

36:51And the laws of the game with FIFA, laws of the game are very clear. The pitch and the grounds are two separate things. Senegal never left the grounds. But more than that, the most important thing is when they came back, the referee continued the game. And the law five says that the referee's decision on the field and the results of the game are final. So for an appeals body to come and overturn the result of the game, I think it's shocking, it's disgraceful, it's illegal. And I would be surprised if Senegal don't take it to Cal. And if they go there, I expect them to win. Why is this taking so long, Colin?

37:29Well, they made a decision earlier and then Morocco appealed. But then a lot of stuff was going on. I mean, a couple of weeks ago, we had the South African minister of sport had a long press conference where he talked about the fact that Morocco were holding CAF hostage because Morocco did not want to host the Women's Africa Cup of Nations. Apparently, he was insinuating that it was sort of leveraged by Morocco on CAF to ensure that, you know, they got because they did not win the Africa Cup of Nations. So whether that was true or not, I don't know. But the Minister of Sport, Gaten McKenzie, said that CAF are trying to hold the CAF president hostage just because they lost the Africa Cup of Nations.

38:15And that's why they are withdrawing from hosting the Women's Africa Cup of Nations, which was supposed to start yesterday, but has now been moved to August. And then immediately after CAF announced that almost immediately, we see this result from the appeals committee saying that the result of the AFCON final has been overturned and Morocco declared winners. So, I mean, I can't say for sure if that's what happened, but the fact that it took so long and then all of this happening in quick succession, I think it's just a big problem for CAF. Wow. If you're a Morocco player, are you celebrating this?

38:53Well, Brahim Diaz is. It feels empty, doesn't it? Well, I don't know how busy they are with the open-top buses, but I don't know if they've got one. Morocco's having a parade. Get another parade. I'm with Colin. I just don't like this. What happened was distasteful. and I think it was unnecessary and pretty unsporting from the Senegalese players but the result stood. The game finished. Morocco had an opportunity to still win this final and they did not. So, and I think most people had moved on from that as well. Although it was a big talking point at the time. That was then, this is now. The game was played out.

39:41did it finish on penalties? I think it finished on penalties when Braham Diaz tried the Panenka and blah, blah, blah. So both teams still have an opportunity to win it. You can't go back. You just lose all... You lose any... There's already a big credibility problem for AFCON, right? There is a big credibility problem for some of the things that go on there. And this is just putting another nail in the coffin of people that say this region lacks credibility when it comes to big decisions. You can't go back a couple of months later, whatever it is, and just change a result in a final. And say, all right, no, you didn't win it, Morocco won it.

40:19It can't happen like that. This decision, if it was going to be made, it should have been made by the referee the moment that Senegal walked off the field and refused to come back on the field. Up until they were convinced, essentially, by Sadio Mane and others to say, no, no, listen, hey, come on back. At that point, if the referee wanted to continue the game and Senegal was still in the locker room, then that's when the decision needed to be made. That's when you can bring into question whatever the behavior was of Senegal. The moment the referee allows Senegal to come back on the field, and now we play the game out and Sars scores the goal that he scored, or Diogo scores the goal that he scored, it was 1-0, then that's it.

41:03As Craig just mentioned, everybody's now playing under the same rules and everybody understands that the outcome of this extra time is going to be the outcome of the game. This has now been decided essentially under the table in back alleys in a boardroom somewhere with shady phone calls and shady behavior from people that have power over people that want power and need power. And that is when you start questioning who indeed is making these decisions and why are these decisions made. Frank?

41:37No, I think about the players, both sides. If I'm a Moroccan player, to start with them, I say, well, okay, I won the Afghan title. Yeah, but it's too late for me. I already digested it. I lost on the field. So what's the point to get the trophy and to get the title? Because it's not the feeling that I have. And then if I'm a Senegalese player, I played, I won. I got the silverware, I got the medal, I won't give it back. and I will put on my resume that I was the winner. So it doesn't mean anything. People will still think that Senegal won and it won't change anything. That's the thing. Because even on the player's head, it is what it is.

42:19Like the guy said, that was the final whistle. And at the final whistle, Senegal won the game. So it's over. It's too late. How does this end, do you think, Colin? Do you think their appeal will be successful? Going by the loss of the game, I think it will be. I mean, we've said the same thing over and over. What Senegal did was not right, no matter what happened. But the point is the loss of the game are clear. The referee's decision is funny. If the referee, at the point that Senegal left the field and went to the dressing room, if he had ended the game there and then, then yes, Senegal would have forfeited.

42:54But Morocco came back. They had a chance to win the game. They played a penalty. They missed it. And that aside, the moment the referee restarted that game, everything that happened before then was out the window. So if you go by that and Senegal go to Cass, the referee's decision on every football game is the final decision. Once the referee restarted that game and the game ended, the result will stand. And it's clear in the FIFA laws of the game. I mean, if we look at it, the PGM world in England came back, I think it was this week, to say that there were 18 refereeing errors during the course of the Premier League.

43:33None of those results have gone, nobody has gone back to overturn those results, even though admittedly there were errors. So the simple thing is caught and dried, black and white. Once the referee has ended the game, the result of that game must stand. So whatever CAF has done now, I think Senegal should go to CAF and I think they'll win their appeal. Colin I appreciate you very much for coming where were you driving anywhere exciting oh I was actually refereeing again I went to referee a high school game and I just came out of the referee a game and I got in the car I was about to go I checked my phone and I see it and my jaw completely dropped so yeah I just finished refereeing a game and I'm on my way home now the game stopped of course the kids are still waiting where's the referee he said he's going on ESPN Colin, thank you so much, mate.

44:20Really appreciate it. A lot more on this on the latest edition of the Gav and Jules show, which will be available for you on Thursday. I'm sure Senegal is going to give back the team bonus, by the way. Oh, yes. Ali's all about the money. Liverpool against Galatasaray. 1-0, of course, lead that Galatasaray will take into the second leg at Anfield. Here's Arnaz Lov. I just wonder what concerns you may have that looking even longer term, the fans are beginning to get restless. and what impact that can have. Yeah, no, it's never nice that they are frustrated because usually fans are not frustrated after you win.

44:56So first of all, you're frustrated yourself and disappointed about the fact that we haven't won. Second of all, people have told me when I came here that if I think you mean it was also towards me, I don't know if you mean that, but when I came here, people have said to me, this club is different than other clubs. they will support the manager for such and such and such a long time. So the moment, if it's true what you're saying, I don't feel this at all, but you are supposing something, then I must have done a lot of things wrong. And that's never a nice feeling to have, because being in the club that's always so supportive for the manager in good and bad times, then if they are not happy with me, then apparently I've done so many things wrong.

45:40And that's never a nice feeling to have. but I also know how the football industry works. Winning can change a lot and that's what we are trying to achieve tomorrow night and we're completely ready for that, I can tell you that. Who's going through, Frank?

46:02Well, according to what I saw from Galatasaray away from home, I would say Liverpool, I want to believe that the Reds have all the tools at Anfield to win that game and go through but it won't be easy for sure because we have seen Liverpool playing lately and it's not of course the Liverpool we have known so a tight result but for Liverpool Bernie? It's hard to just go back to that the answer is I don't know because Liverpool I just cannot trust them one iota at the moment. The only thing in their favour, they're at home and Galatasaray tend to struggle away from home. They're much more of a force in Istanbul.

46:47You know, we talked a lot about managers and press conferences and rhetoric, and I know he's struggling at the moment. I know his team are not playing great. But it is kind of hard to dislike him when he talks to the media because he talks at least with some respect to people asking the questions and he talks with, for the most part, there's the odd occasion, but he talks with common sense. He knows they're struggling. He knows he's struggling to find the answers. He knows they're not defending particularly well. Dominic Sabozlai was quoted at the weekend saying, we need to wake up. Well, that's been from the first day of the season.

47:18That's been from the community shield and that's not really changed. Whenever you think they've got a big performance in them, they make mistakes. It's whether Galatasaray can take advantage of that. Now, if you'd have said to me, this Liverpool team were at the top of the game with all these new signings, it's quite an easy one for me. They're going to go through. But I haven't really seen a Liverpool game this year. Maybe it's been the odd one, I can't remember, that I've sat back and I've gone, well, that was easy. Yeah. Well, that was a walk in the park. Well, they're smoking a cigar here because there's been hardly any games that they've done that.

47:53Every game, even when they've been leading, they've coughed up goals or chances. So I've probably got Liverpool by a smidge, but I wouldn't put money on Galatasaray going through particularly after watching Liverpool at the weekend against Tottenham. I'm going to take Liverpool but stressful. Suffering. Stevie's not here tomorrow. Anxiety at Anfield. Anxiety in the sidelines. And while I understand that Arnest Lott feels the need to engage the conversation and the back and forth and while he's respectful of doing it I would also say to him the same thing I was saying to Liam Rossini. Less is more.

48:36That answer should have been winning changes everything. And our intent is to win tomorrow and to advance. And if we do that, we know that this stadium is going to get behind us. We have to give them reasons to get behind us. Period. We don't have to get into what you mean, what I mean, what he means, what he means. Look, it's about winning and it's about advancing against Garata Sarai. You do that, it sets you up for success into the weekend. But you need to find momentum from Liverpool. And the only way that you manufacture momentum is by playing well, being dominant. They'll be dominant enough tomorrow.

49:12Right. Survival. Barcelona, meanwhile, taking on Newcastle. 1-1, of course, at finish at St. James' Park. No surprise. Barca are the favourites to go through. What are you expecting in this, Frank?

49:26Well, I don't want you to win your bet. So I'm expecting Barcelona to do the job and go through. I seriously have a hard time to see Barcelona being in danger at home. You know, they're going to try, of course, offensively. They're going to be open defensively. We know that. But if they are good enough in the counter pressing, if they are good enough, you know, not losing the ball when they are attacking, I have a hard time seeing Newcastle being able to survive in that pressure and not making mistakes at a certain point. So, yes, Barcelona with his squad, forward line, I think they're going to go through.

50:06I can see Newcastle giving them a few problems with their pace. If it's Barnes, Alanga and Anthony Gordon, I can see some opportunities. But I just don't think they're good enough defensively to keep out this Barca midfield stroke front line, particularly at home. They were, Barca that is, they were really pedestrian in the game at St. James' part. I don't think we'll see that again. So, yeah, Newcastle will huff and puff and may get a goal. May get some chances over the top against the high line. But I don't see them looking at the record this year defensively keeping out this Barca attack from scoring two or three goals at home.

50:43I just can't see it. So Barca to go through. Yeah, you take Barcelona but more importantly what you want to see from Barcelona is them being able to recreate the performance from the second leg of the Copa del Rey semifinal against Atletico Madrid at home. If they play with that sort of intensity, with the crowd on top of the players and the players on top of Newcastle, let me just tell you, this will not be competitive. But they have to be able to play at that level. And I think Barcelona will. I think Barcelona wins this and wins big. I will, of course, be looking back at that Barcelona game and the other three Champions League ties on the next edition of ESPN FC.

51:20Big weekend in La Liga, big day on Sunday. We're up early. Barcelona taking on Raio Vercano. Then the late match, it's the derby. Real Madrid against Atletico Madrid. An hour-long preview for that game. 8.30 early? That's lunchtime for me. Yeah, but I've got to go and make up. Actually, Kane needs to go to make up. So, anyway. Real Madrid against Atletico Madrid. So, you're not getting up early. I'm doing Real Madrid against Atletico Madrid. We'll be live with you for a big preview ahead of that time. Live on ESPN+. Quick time out. Some breakfast intel you want to know about. Kodiak Frozen Power Waffles and Flapjacks are built for busy mornings.

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53:19Some of them have rhythm. There we go. Some of them. I'll not be going on there. I don't think you're invited. That's it. We'll be back tomorrow to talk Champions League. Be sure to stay tuned as Extra Time is next.

53:38Welcome in to the next edition of Extra Time. I'm Dan Thomas. Craig Burley is here, as is Ali Moreno. Frank Leboeuf joins us from France. Let's start off with this. Arsenal's POTS so far. Gabriel, Rice or another? Frank, player of the season if you would like that cleared up. Who's that? Dick, Dick and Rice? Who would be your player of the season from Arsenal? Gabriel, Rice or someone else? Now Rice. Rice. There is no competition for me. The guy has been the best player maybe in Europe, maybe in the world. For most of the time he's been at the top of the top. The music is really loud today. They're trying to drive Frank out.

54:25But the fact that it is Rice, it kind of tells you what Arsenal have been this season. Sort of that industrious sort of style. and that's how they've gotten results and more power to them. If that's how they go about winning, so be it. What could Liam Rossini have possibly written on that piece of paper in the 80th minute? Would you have even bothered reading it if you were on the field? We discussed this, obviously, during the show. Yes, indeed, it was the 85th. I was just reading what was there, Chris. Yeah, I know. You can always paraphrase. I'm just there. What would you have done if Jim Smith had brought you over back in the day to show you a bit of paper?

54:58Chocked it up. And I went to him, what's the point? Like that, like that. There you go. Jim wouldn't have done that, right? Jim would have been in the bar. His game's over. Frank, you played on to some great managers. Would they have done that with you? And how would you have responded?

55:19I don't know. I would have gone to the touch lines. Are you kidding? That was a joke or what? Because you really think that it would be useful what you are doing right now? Now, really, you know, that doesn't mean anything. You know, maybe it was a joke, really. Maybe it was a joke. Keep going, guys. You know, I believe in you. Whatever, you know, stupid thing. No, but the funny that the guy who received it, you know, was looking for another player to give him instruction. Yeah. And maybe the player that he was talking about was already substituted. We don't know. Maybe it was a... He lost his mind, maybe.

55:50That was insane. I mean, and it's not the only one, again. I said it during the show. He's not the only one to have done those kind of things. I don't know what those new coach from the new era are trying to show us because we know that's completely useless. First of all, it's all for show. Right. It is all for show because how many tactical changes did you need to make at that moment in time that you couldn't just say to somebody, you drop in a left back, you step into the midfield? Why does this need to be... Maybe he just needs to write that down to communicate it clearly. Or maybe he's taking food orders for the post-game meal.

56:26But it's just unnecessary and it's all for show and it doesn't help anybody. For Frank, if you were the current Chelsea player, what would be your dressing room talk after such one-and-two-leg horrendous performances?

56:47Well, I don't know if people would talk and would allow me to talk, but I would say to the guy that what we did was shameful, that we didn't do what we had to do, especially the second leg. The first leg, we make mistakes, you are punished for that, okay, but you cannot have this attitude on the second leg where you have to make sure the opponent is going to struggle because you play at home. You have to have a warrior attitude, you know, you have to be aggressive in a good way, but very aggressive. You have to scare the opponent and show them that you're at home and it's gonna be that way and not the other way.

57:29And it's been the other way from the first second. So I would have said, you know, guys, we didn't do it, but what would have been my performance as well? You know, you can talk if you've been there, if you've been good, but if you've been bad, you shut up and you take your shower and you go back home. I'm intrigued here. Oh, oh, oh, oh. Yes. When you go into the barbers. Yes. What's the conversation? What do you ask for? What do you mean? What do you ask for? I just said I wanted a, like a... No, but seriously, because you've came out and it's like, what did you ask for? I wanted a fade up to a one to the top and then short on the top.

58:10That's what I said. What did you say to the guy, or the woman? Craig, let's not do hair. Well, no, no, I'm comfortable with it because I'm older than you. Right. But you have a hell of a V at the front now. I know. I know. It's OK, but I'm comfortable with it. No. You need to try and grow up. You should be comfortable with it. You've got to try. But I'm happy with it. I'm very happy. But I'm not happy. Look at it. It looks like a parrot. No, it looks like a parrot. When you've been through what I've been through, you don't care about hair. You don't care about hair. Are you setting me up for HR at this point?

58:43Yeah. You see life from a different perspective. Up building 13 or wherever it is, over there. Don't pretend you don't know. I've just come out. I've just had a life-saving liver transplant. Oh, the stress, the pain. And I'm getting abused about my haircut. Was there somebody in your parking spot today? Yes. Yes. You really have to grow a pair. Because people keep parking in your spot. Well, I'm parking it when you're not here. But I know you're off. We can hunt down 3 ,000 employees to find out which one. No, it's the same one. No, it's different. That car's been in there more than once. It was the Kia, wasn't it, today?

59:21The Kia. Go out and rip the windscreen wipers off. And Kia, scratch the car. All right. All right. HR, here we go. No. Huh? Building thirds again. I'll do it for you. You shouldn't be parking in... Two things. Two things? People shouldn't be parking in your spot and talking about your hair. There you go. Right, let's get back to soccer. Right, let's go. Enzo Fernandes said to ESPN Argentina... Shut up! No, you have to leave some... No, no, you have to leave some instruction, you know, on the window. Right. You know, like Liam Rinsenor, you know. Yes, yes. Get out of here, you know. A piece of paper.

1:00:00Otherwise you're going to struggle. There's no respect. A piece of paper, you know. That's what you have to do. ESPN Argentina did an interview with Enzo Fernandes after the game. After the game, right. And they said, are you going to stay at Chelsea? He said, I don't know. There are eight games left and the FA Cup. There's the World Cup and then we'll see. Yeah, what? And what? That leads to this question. What do you guys make of Enzo Fernandes refusing to guarantee he's going to stay at Chelsea in the future?

1:00:28Well, that's, that's, that's Joyce. Like every, every player. That's a come and get me plea though, isn't it? That's not, I'm staying, I'm committed to Chelsea, I look forward to battling next season to win the Champions League. Why would certain players, and I'm not, listen, I think some of the things he, good player, but you know, he's a bit of a crybaby on the field. But if you look at it from a serious player's perspective, the club's hiring and firing managers in to bring in this young guy, who is very inexperienced and there's already talk about him being under some sort of pressure from the boardroom.

1:01:05His rhetoric is not helping, his recent results are not helping. So maybe his aspirations about going to play in Spain or somewhere else. I haven't got an issue with that. He's got Atletico Madrid written all over him. Well, I mean, if there was ever a player that fits the mall, it would indeed be Enzo Fernandes. But basically, it's a wait-and-see sort of thing. And that's why you answer the question in that manner. Let me see what's going to happen at this club. I don't have to make this decision now. let me allow things to play out and then with more information I can make a decision that is best for me.

1:01:39Hasn't he got like the rest of them some crazy long contract? I imagine so. So yeah so it's not really his decision is it? Frankie wants to leave.

1:01:49Well yeah good luck you know I never forgave him for what he did you know straight after the World Cup to his French friend from his team so I don't mind if he leaves the club He's a good player, but he's not the kind of player that I want to see at my best club because he's not an example for me. So again, what he did after the World Cup, if some other players forgive him, I will never forgive him. That's the song that he sang. It was absolutely stupid. Wow, Franklin. But that's Evening Standard material. Good riddance to Enzo Fernandes. There we go. Chelsea legend. Evening standards will exist.

1:02:32Anyway, Frank, a record six Premier League clubs advanced the round of 16. Your friend Michel Platini's famous phrase was, English soccer is lions in the winter, lands by the spring, refers to the tendency of Premier League clubs to perform strongly in the winter but fade during the knockout stages. Your thoughts?

1:02:52Well, when Michel Platini talks, I listen to him because he's a legend and he knew the football at the time. Well, I want to say that nowadays I can see that it didn't really change for English football. But, well, you know what? Most of the time when Michel Platini was playing against English club, players were English or Scottish. Now I saw Liverpool playing without an English, except when some other players come. I played before Chelsea without an English guy in the first in the first 11. So that's a different era. But it's true that lately we have seen English club being better during the winter and not that good at spring because of maybe the heat, maybe the tightness, I don't know, of the Premier League.

1:03:46So that's still okay for me. This new Champions League format somehow coughed up fixtures and results that allowed a struggling Liverpool and more importantly an awful Tottenham to get into the top eight with a bye. And Newcastle advanced as well. So who are struggling in the Premier League? This isn't because the Premier League is strong. It's because the format, for whatever reason, coughed up games that were winnable for these teams. Do you think the mentality is different? Do you think the Premier League sides go into this, into the group stage matches at full throttle, as opposed to a Real Madrid or PSG?

1:04:27Like, we're going to get through, it's fine. You know, we don't need to go 100 % in these ties, hence we talked about PSG struggling in the group stages. Real Madrid losing stupid games, yet you see the Premier League clubs going, we've got to win every single match and we've got to put in 100 % as opposed to others that have got more experience. Real Madrid weren't trying, they were just not playing particularly well. but obviously Arsenal could still fly a flag for a Premier League and obviously Liverpool and Newcastle but it's unlikely but I've always felt that Arsenal are the only ones Arsenal will be the only team standing when they meet a decent side potentially, the others will fall by the wayside because they're not strong enough and that's because the Premier League itself regardless of what people say Arsenal are the only real heavy hitter in there at the moment, the rest of them have all got their issues all got their issues And I also have always believed that some of the Central European countries, like Spain and Germany and Italy, but particularly Spain, I think their teams, a lot of the time, are technically and tactically more astute when it gets to these nitty-gritty games in semi-finals and finals.

1:05:35I do. I think just technically at times, they understand the game a little bit better. not all the time. And I think that's where some of the Premier League clubs have faltered over the years. What do you want to say, Frank? Just one thing that, yeah, the most English clubs like Chelsea, Manchester City, and I forgot some others, didn't have a break time during the summer because of that Club World Cup. And they don't have the break for winter, which is kind of useful. I remember playing in France and they say, well it's nice to have a week of break and I like that you can go back and train with the guys and keep the willingness that you need.

1:06:22In England you never stop so maybe you have to rethink that a little bit. I think that people bring that out as an excuse. Honestly Frank I know what you're saying in the sense that you know Germany have a break and some of that I think Spain of a shorter break. However, Liverpool have won it, City have won it, Chelsea have won it. They've all won it in recent times and nobody really talked about a winter break when they were winning it. It certainly only raises its head when some of the teams struggle. At the end of the day, there are other teams outside the Premier League and other leagues that are very competitive.

1:07:03We obviously cover La Liga every week. When it comes to the crunch, a lot of times the Spanish and the Italians, in particular, and the Germans, have been a little bit better. Could it be just as simple that, in this year in particular, there's only one good, really good elite-level team in the Premier League, and that's Arsenal. Everybody else is not at that level, so it's not a surprise that, more likely than not, all of them, except Arsenal, will be out at this round. Final question, Ali. will you be watching the World Baseball Classic Final tonight between Venezuela and USA? 100 % I'll be watching and, of course, supporting Venezuela.

1:07:40What's the percentage chance? How do we work this out? I'm concerned about the pitching for Venezuela. That's what Craig was saying. Whether he can hold up. Whether he can hold up. Is that a slider? What are you throwing? A slider? A curveball? What is that? All right. All right. Okay. Where are you laughing at? I'm concerned about the pitching, but if it holds up, then we can hit from the first hitter to the ninth hitter. And Venezuela has a lot of good hitters. And we have the crowd with us in Miami. Right. All of Venezuela will be in that stadium. Venezuela. Vamos, Venezuela! Have you won it before?

1:08:18No, sir. We've never made it to the final. What about when they get the celebs out now and again in these games to throw the first pitch? Yeah. And it looks so weak. Yes, there is a break. If you throw it like that... I thought you had a rotator cuff injury there for a second. When you lived in LA, did they ever ask you as a former World Cup winner to throw out the first pitch at the Dodgers or something? No, no, I didn't have that chance. I've never been to a baseball game. I would have loved to. No, no, no, no, no. No, no, but France, was that kind of a World Cup, baseball World Cup, or just a one game?

1:08:56I know, it's a World Cup, yes. It's a World Baseball Classic. Venezuela, Italy. And France... Oh, that well-renowned baseball team, Italy. And France, France, where were France? They were there, France, or no? We don't have any team there? No, you did not make it. No, no, no, no, no. There we go. Sorry, Frank. Okay, we missed the cut. No, that's okay, that's all right. We cannot be good at everything, you know. Why do we care of Canada's anyway? Why are you telling you that? Because they speak French. Oh, don't bring that up. Canada's kind of French. That's a bit of an insult. That's a bit of an insult, isn't it?

1:09:28Just because they threw out the odd bit of French lingo in Quebec. Is that an insult to you? Yeah. Is that an insult to the French or the Canadian? Are you insulted? ESPN FC returns your screen tomorrow. Galatasaray playing Liverpool. Spurs against Atleti. Newcastle. Respect Dan's parking spot, please. Respect the hair. God, it's been a hard year.

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