Real Madrid's Royal Rumble

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26:04Dan Thomas:OK, here's some of the newspapers from France and Spain. The reaction to PSG making it to the final, it keeps saying total pleasure as the champions go through. Mundo say blue and red final. And as for sport, it is another final for Lucho. Let's get word from Luis Enrique before we get into it.

26:49I can appreciate it. For me, Bayern Munich is at our level, they are at Arsenal. It's one of the best teams this season. What we have done during the entire season is incredible. They are still playing the Premier League and they are in the final. It's something that we need to value. But I have so much confidence in my team that I think it's important to value.

27:39Yeah, and I think what's most impressive about this team is that often when we are forecasting what's going to happen in Champions League, and particularly this season, we would have expected PSG to be in the latter stages of the competition. But I don't know that we would have expected them to go through the same pattern that they did last season, in which they were not great in the group phase. They did not finish in the top eight in the group phase, or the league phase, as it's called. and yet it's so impressive to see them building up the momentum in the same manner in which they did last season.

28:13And they get better and they get better and they get better and you feel the momentum happening, you feel the productivity and you feel that the level of play is improving and it's improving across all lines on the field. And you're also seeing a team, unlike say for example Real Madrid, that knows who is the boss, who is making the decisions, Who's holding the players accountable? We heard from Usmane Dembele last week when he was talking about if he doesn't run, he's going to be on the bench. We have seen Kavicha Cavarazkelia being sat on the bench earlier this season because he wasn't doing what Luis Enrique was asking him to do.

28:50And these are two of their best players being held accountable by Luis Enrique. You see all of that show up on the field. And so when you hold players that have this sort of talent, you hold them accountable and they work as a group and they work together. This is what you get. PSG, dominant as dominant they can be. And it's so very impressive to once again see them in the final and they go into the final as their favorites for me to win it.

29:15Dan Thomas:Yeah. And like I said, Luis, just getting better and better as the season's gone on, which we saw last season with them as well. Getting hot right now at just the right time, which from Luis Enrique is a skill in itself, isn't it? Yeah, exactly. They found a way of having the peak of the season right at the right time. Arriving to March, you can see the players are in the perfect condition. All of them, 90 % of the players are ready to fight. I was checking some of the numbers through the season, how Luis Enrique is rotating, how many minutes they have been involved. And most of the players, they didn't even get to the 1 ,000 minutes.

29:54So the rotation has been working. They managed to rest players during the season, not getting them involved into the league, fighting for the league, but understanding that rotation is so important. So now they are arriving in the best form of the season because they didn't have time also in preseason to have a good one, to get ready for a long one. They were involved in that Club World Cup International. I cannot remember how it's called. But they didn't even have the rest. So they knew that during the season you need to give that opportunity to the players to rest. So they were not involved in many of the games during the season.

30:28That's why Caravax Kelly was rested many times. Barcolat was switching with the way. Dembele, exactly the same, with a small injury during the season, but fresh in the last part. So in the end, they found a way of doing it. Some of the teams, they just managed to continue going on and on and on. And when this matters, and I think we talked about this many times, March, February, March is the right moment in the season. If you don't arrive with enough energy after a long season, you're going to have that low and then you're going to be out at every single competition. So I think they managed to do it once again so well.

31:01And again, as Ali said, I think they are favourites to win the Champions League once again.

31:05Dan Thomas:And Chaka, just to Luis saying that finding a way of doing it, finding a way of doing it in both legs here as well. We saw that 5-4 shootouts in the first leg, but then Luis Enrique knowing how to get his team playing in a different way in the second leg to see out this result. Like just being able to switch it up. And tactically how that come about. they get the goal very early on and how despite everything we know about PSG, everything we've enjoyed about PSG being on the front foot and how they force you into errors how difficult they make life for your defenders, we're able to find a good defensive footing in denying Bayern Munich up until the very last stages of this one If this goal doesn't go in as early as it does, again, hypothetically we're discussing what comes up of the following 90 minutes but give PSG their credit for how they've been able to to adapt in Munich against in my mind the second best team in European football I will double down on everything that everybody said the amazing thing in looking at PSG and their progression during the last two seasons is how much they've improved not just that they've improved and gotten better as the season's gone on we've been able to see that about teams in the past first comes to mind Manchester City last couple of years apart we've always sung their praises about how they've been able to finish seasons off how they've been able to run down whoever is top of the Premier League table but their improvement from first half of the season to second half is nothing like the improvement that we've seen from PSG in the two halves of the season you could make the argument that they were just about averaged a little bit more first half of the season second half of the season they have just gotten better and better to the point there that it is beyond any argument who's the best team on the planet and now we're talking about this team in relation to some of the best club teams that we've seen looking to repeat as champions as as champions league winners only the great madrid have done and all of a sudden they're writing themselves into that conversation a team that just about got out of of the league phase that is is is down to lewis henrique how he's managed his team and how these players have stepped up to those challenges particularly later on yeah and it's arsenal now don standing in the way of another champions league trophy for psg do artes men pose a unique threat in any way to this psg team uh in their own way i mean just adding something to what the guys were saying i was watching the game live last night and it was bizarre that i was watching safon off in goal and he kicked the ball down PSG's left-hand side out of play for a throw-in every single time.

33:46And it was bugging me thinking, how can the goalkeeper not kick a ball straight and keep it on the island? Since I read the newspapers and the articles and seen it online, apparently it was a tactic to get PSG's players on the left-hand side of their pitch to stop Alise from building up. So I had loads of numbers in and around him. So little in-game management and in-game tactics from Luis Enrique. Okay, small things, but things that make a difference on top of having fantastic players. But Arsenal have got to approach this game and they've got to play it their way. They've got to play it the English way.

34:17They've got to play it the Arsenal way. They cannot get sucked into a game of football because they lose it every single time. They're going to have to be strong. They're going to have to show the best version of themselves. Set plays could be really important for them. They've got to muscle up in every area. They've got to fight tooth and nail for every inch. And that's what Arteta has to do. I don't think he can go into this game, which we've been talking about Arsenal lately being free and the shackles off and go and play your football and go and entertain. That's the last thing I would imagine his instructions are going into a Champions League final against PSG.

34:51Dan Thomas:Do you see this being really physical battle, Stevie? Absolutely, Arsenal have to make it that. As much as we talk about the running that PSG's players did for the team and for themselves, Arsenal have to put the pressure on them. and force them into making mistakes at the back. And then you have to trust your defence. Any other way, then I think they put themselves in trouble. They certainly can't sit tight and let PSG come at them. I mean, that front three is absolutely scary. You know, Arsenal have to do, in my opinion, what PSG did against Bayern. If they can get themselves ahead and then they can make a statement and keep things tight, higher up the field, not sitting at the top of their own box, and then they can go and emulate what PSG did to Bayern.

35:41Dan Thomas:But yeah, and we're done. They have to go and do it their way. Seeing as though we do have Bundesliga Alley on from Barcelona, I'll bet it. Let's talk a little bit about Bayern if we can, Alley. Will they be having any regrets about the semi-final? Will they be looking back at anything and wish they'd done it differently?

35:59Since you referenced Bundesliga, I would just answer that question by saying, Yeah! Yes, they will have all sorts of issues with not necessarily their performance. Because in watching Bayern Munich playing against PSG, you quickly recognize, yeah, these are the two best teams in Europe. But I think there are moments in which Bayern Munich and Vincent Kompany will look back and say, good lord. when the match got out of control in the first leg when it became 5-2 so very quickly in those moments you would want a team of this caliber to be able to slow down the play to not getting that back and forth with the PSG sometimes with to hang on to the ball and actually have control of the possession of the ball and not just expose your center backs and your outside backs to 1v1 situations against some of the most dynamic players in the world and Bayern Munich were unable to recognize that in the first leg.

36:57Look, you give up five goals in a semifinals or Champions League, more than likely you're going to lose. Now, to their credit, they showed that they had enough to come back and make it competitive, make it 5-4 and give themselves an opportunity at home. But I don't think it's a secret that Bayern Munich has been struggling defensively over the last month, certainly struggled defensively against PSG, struggled defensively against Heidenheim, struggled defensively against Mainz, and those things are going to show up, and they showed up in the worst time possible, and of course PSG took advantage of that.

37:29So for Bayern Munich, I think there will be some regret in the sense that we were right there. We're very close, and had we taken care of some of the smaller details in the game that make all the difference, especially against a team of the quality of PSG, we may just be going to the final. They did not, and now they focus on, yeah, they won the Bundesliga. they're looking ahead to that final. And then beyond that, they'll probably look back to this Champions League as what might have been or what could have been.

37:59Dan Thomas:And of course, let's lean on your experience of Atleti now, if we can, Luis. Given the fact that they were the other team that were eliminated, are we seeing their ceiling, the way that this team's built, that they'll be third or fourth in La Liga each year and have a deep run in the Champions League, but ultimately be knocked out by a better team? Yeah, it's been the life of Atletico Madrid supporters for the past 12-15 years or so. A team that has been, I was reading that they took I think one trophy in the last 10 years, it's 2016 until today. They only won one Copa del Rey and that was about it and that's something that even though that this year they managed to get into the semi-final of the Champions League, that that's something that no Barcelona did or not many big teams did, but definitely something that for the supporters of Atletico Madrid is not anymore enough.

38:53Atletico Madrid was built to do something else. I think that they decided to throw away the league quite a long time ago and now they try to fight to get in the third position. But I think Simeone was very clear the other day when he was saying, yeah, but it's not enough. The supporters and the club wants to win things. In the end, it's what it's all about. So I think that they will regret how they played that game. I think they could have done a little bit more. We saw Atletico Madrid a little bit afraid or a little bit hanging at the back, not trying to throw, because when you arrive to that stage where it's only about one game, you have to go with everything.

39:28And I think that if they look back to that game, they will miss a few things that are from. We didn't see anything from Griezmann, from Julian Alvarez, from Simeone, from no one else, not even the players who came out on the bench. So a pity that Atletico Madrid is not once again in the Champions League final, but Atletico Madrid needs to think about the future in trying to change what it is. The drama of Atletico Madrid in the past few years is that to arrive there, almost there, third position, fourth position, but never to grab a trophy.

39:56Dan Thomas:OK, before we do say goodbye to you guys, it's just past midnight right now in Barcelona. It's a city you know well, Luis. Are you going to show Ale some of the nightlife there? Ale, we go for... Sure, Luis. Where are we going? I can just tell you. I can just tell you. Unrelated. Unrelated. Let me just say, and obviously you cannot sense this yourself because you're in the studio, but somebody around us in this environment is smoking a funny cigarette. And let me just say, somebody's having a much better time than we are. Oh, yes. And we don't go to those places. No, you don't go to those places.

40:36Dan Thomas:And you always have a good time on this show, surely, Ali. How does he know what the smell is? Yeah, how do you know, Ale? I've been told. I've been told. I also did go to college at one point. Yeah, that is true. Good stuff, guys. Have a good night. Get some rest and we'll speak to you across the weekend as well. We'll get to see both Athletes. Yes, straight home. Stay away. Athletes against Southampton on Saturdays. Wolfsburg against Bayern. Our coverage will begin at 12. Eason on ESPN Plus looking at both of these games. Be sure to be with us. I don't get the impression they're switching on to the dancing shoes these days.

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41:54Dan Thomas:In a contracting business, you're either growing or you're grinding. Success is no longer about hard work alone. It's about using AI to accelerate impact. Service Titan is the only integrated intelligence that seamlessly automates your entire workflow from first call to final invoice. Born in the trades, built for visionaries ready to stop operating and start automating. Service Titan, AI for the trades. Aston Villa booked their spot in the Europa League final with a 4-0 win over Nottingham Forest on the night. coming back in the second leg to advance 4-1 on aggregate. But for Villa, it is their first Euro final since 1982.

42:41Dan Thomas:Don, you were watching this game. That's a big comeback win for Villa, isn't it? Yeah, I felt as though when they lost the game last week at Forest, it wasn't the worst scoreline in the world, losing 1-0 because Villa Park, even though they've been in indifferent form, True, and all the major players turned up. I thought Buendia was amazing. Ollie Watkins got his goal. I thought Morgan Rodgers, John McGinn, the guys at the top end of the pitch, Tielemann's a class act. They were on it. It was two different sort of tales, really, where Forrest have been in really good form, but they capitulated tonight, and they gave up some really bad goals.

43:20And unlike Milenkovic, given the penalty away with a shirt pull, some of their defending for the goals they conceded was terrible. Villa's point of view, the atmosphere inside Villa Park, the way they played, the goals that they scored, they were magnificent.

43:35Dan Thomas:Yeah, wonderful stuff. And of course, it gets us talking now about that sixth spot in the Premier League table, Shaka. Don't worry, we're not going to get the algorithm going. We're not going to get all the explanations going. But basically, Aston Villa would have to win the Europa League and finish exactly where they are right now, in fifth for the Premier League, to get that sixth Champions League spot next season, which would be big news for those teams below us. Are you saying Bournemouth are all of a sudden huge Villa fans? Absolutely. Yeah. Listen, I think it speaks to, well, one, certainly the strength of the Premier League, at the very least in this competition.

44:09Nottingham Forest put together an incredible run despite their position in the Premier League table to get this far to the semi-final. But Aston Villa were deserving over the two legs. I think they've shown it all season long. Probably dropped down to fifth because of the test of playing in European football in midweek. They just don't have the squad depth that others do. So give Unai, Emery and Aston Villa their flowers. Fully deserving to be where they are in the league. Fully deserving to be in a Europa League final. It speaks volumes to how well they have done as an outfit. For everybody else, and again, given the surprises that we've spoken about all season long, whether it's Bournemouth or Brighton or whoever else, all of a sudden, their good fortune, or at least their good football, may yet be even better rewarded.

45:02Dan Thomas:Yeah, and so to face them in the final, in the other semi-final, it was Freiburg taking on Braga. We should have kept Ali Moreno on. Freiburg's favourite Bundesliga team even visited the city a couple of years ago. Sixth minute, though, we're going to see lovely scenes before the game. Braga coming into this one, leading the tie 2-1. but Nicholas Bessay is through here for Freiburg and gets brought down by Dorgeres well a smart player because he knows he doesn't have the pace to get past but to outrun the defender so he cuts across him defender doesn't have the brains to get out the way he gets the contact down he goes red card 19th minute ball into the box Braga try to clear it but it comes off Lucas Kerbler and it goes into the back of the net and that was 1-0 to Freiburg That really is a striker's finish.

45:47The ball has just kicked into his knee. That was three touches. Into his knee and right into the bottom. Both knees.

45:56Dan Thomas:And before the half was through, Johan Manzambi makes it 2-0. Fantastic strike. Should have been closed down. Five jerseys around him, but he's picked his spot. Nice finish. Again, keeper can't get close. They lead the tie on aggregate, but Braga come close here. First half stoppages. Victor Gomez there hitting the post, follow-up attempt blocked here. Does really well, keeper comes, commits, Gomez does really well but unlucky with his finish. Yeah, free kick into the box here, Freiburg 3-0 up Kubler again. Yeah, somehow he gets himself, cheers so free, look at that, nobody close to him. Man, it's a perfect header.

46:34Dan Thomas:Set piece for Braga, ball eventually does come to Paul Victor, heads it in. So Braga get the goal but it wouldn't be enough because Freiburg would win it 3-1. Oh boy. 4-3 on Aggregas. They will be advancing to the Europa League final and advancing to the centre of the pitch as well. So, Freiburg against Aston Villa in the 25-26 edition of the Europa League final. Let's take a look at the Conference League then. Palace ahead 3-1 on Aggregas against Shakhtar in the second leg of their semi-final. 25th minute. Adam Wharton shot saved here, but the rebound comes to Daniel Munoz, cross deflected off Pedrinho, own goal 1-0 Palace.

47:18Dan Thomas:Well you know when this happens it's not your night, I mean just a fluke, even comes in off the post. Checked out, going to get one back here though, Euginaldo, nice stuff. It's a really nice finish, very clean first search and just sets himself and almost just passes this top corner it's a really nice goal is he brazilian by any chance 52nd minute cross into the box it's mylessar with a slight touch on it does score 2-1 on the night 5-2 on aggregate and palace are going to the conference league final

47:59Dan Thomas:that is massive for crystal palace who would they be facing though in the other game with Strasbourg against Rayo. Rayo leading 1-0 after the first leg. 42nd minute. It's Rayo with a chance here. Initial shot saved, but Alimau scores the follow-up. 1-0, 2-0 on aggregate. Yeah, goal is a little unfortunate here. It comes up so quickly, all he can do is beat it out. But Alimau sticks it behind him. This is going to be a lifeline here for Strasbourg. Handball on Oscar Valentin in the area. Penalty. Yeah, I don't think there's any doubt to this. Arms go straight away, referee points at his spot And then Ciso's penalty was saved The pull-up was saved as well by Batalla Two really good saves by the goalkeeper here Good reaction first time And then just makes himself big And gets the luck that he deserves So it is Euro-Rio all the way to the final To face Crystal Palace And that is how the UEFA Conference League final Shapes up Crystal Palace taking on Rayo Vallecano Will any of these teams be in check his power rankings?

49:06Yes, big European weeks. Again, PSG Arsenal as Champions League finalists. No surprise to see them top two. Bayern Munich in at number three despite losing. Again, I thought Bayern continued to show themselves to be one of the best teams in European football. Still, German champions and through to a cup final. Barca in at fourth. Villa are in after they get to the Europa League final and they continue to stay in Champions League spots in the Premier League. Freiburg, PSV is just champions, Porto is Portuguese champions, Sporting are in after, well, they're currently second in Portugal, but they're through to the Cup final.

49:44And then Manchester United are in the top 10. I can't remember when last I said that, but given that they secured third spot or secured Champions League football for next season, I thought Michael Carrick and his boys should be rewarded.

49:58Dan Thomas:Yeah, no rewards though for the lakes of Rio and Crystal Palace doing the big stuff. No. Not in the Europa Conference League. Because I do.

50:10Well, just one for Xhaka's algorithm. Al-Halal in Saudi could go invincible, but they might not win the league. And I'm pretty sure the last time I checked, Benfica are in the same scenario, Xhaka. So, might be worth giving them a mention. Yeah, well, for going undefeated and not winning? Yeah, I mean, they could be invincible. Oh, good. I'd prefer to lose one and win. Listen, I get your point. I get your point. Benfica undefeated, but Porto are top. Sporting are through to the cup final against lower league opposition, so they're odds on to win it. They got the nods. I'm sorry, going undefeated and not winning anything.

50:52You look at anything in my algorithm. This is not just kind of some kind of kids party done with bouncy castle and also know he's come prepared today

50:59Dan Thomas:Any he has come prepared but palace and rio have both made their first ever European final thought to you leave You don't even care. It's so tear You've got to be in it to win it you can only win it what you're playing in well Well, where they win it they qualify for the Europa League and then next year they're in it Whoever wins that final do they make your power rankings? We'll see. Dorking have won the National League South. If you think about them. It's the same thing. Are they undefeated? It sounds Stevie like you're okay with his power rankings. I'm fine with his power rankings. I think there's nothing wrong with it.

51:36Dan Thomas:I can't even argue Man United are on it. Extra time. I'm retiring the power rankings right now. Absolutely not. I'm going to be downhill from here. Until next week. All right. Until next Thursday. Make sure to check out the latest Extra Time. Don, Stevie, and Shaka are answering your questions. You can check it out over on our YouTube channel. Evan Cohen here. PayPal is now the official peer-to-peer payment sponsor of the NFL, which means all the money moments that fandom creates, whether splitting tailgate costs or chipping in on tickets and game day food between friends, are covered. Wherever the game is played or watched, PayPal moves with fans.

52:14You can send money through text, email, or directly to your friends with eligible accounts on Venmo. Just download the PayPal app and share all the moments that matter. Account with PayPal is required. Not available in all regions where PayPal operates. Evan Cohen here. Game day brings the excitement. Your stay should feel just as memorable. With Marriott Bonvoy, official hotel partner of the NCAA and U.S. soccer, you're connected to a portfolio of brands designed for how you travel. Some offer complimentary breakfast. Others give you room to spread out, space to stay productive, or extended stay comforts.

52:48So whether you're a traveling fan or part of the team, Marriott Bonvoy celebrates the moments that live on before and after the game. Marriott Bonvoy, where game day checks in.

53:00Dan Thomas:This is Man City winning from the sofa. The WSL title yesterday with one game left to play. They have an insurmountable lead in the table. Congratulations to Manchester City for their 25-26 title win. More talk about that on the next Football W with Christina, Ali and Jeff.

53:23Dan Thomas:This is a known goal from South America that we wanted to show you guys. Oh, goalie. It's actually for you, Shaq. No, please. No, no. No, no. No, no. Oh, boy. Oh, Jesus. They blamed the artificial pitch. Oh, I think... Who would you blame, Shaqa? The goalkeeper, yeah. That's not nice. As much as I'm a fully paid member of the goalkeepers union, I'm not sure. And why did he go that way? I don't know. Why didn't he go that way? I don't know. Why did he go this way? Why didn't he just run to the goal? Right on through to Extra Time. Why did he go that way? Say right on through to Extra Time. Extra Time is on the way next.

54:02Dan Thomas:Welcome into the latest edition of Extra Time. Stevie and Shaka are here in the studio to answer your questions. And Don is staying up late for us as well to do so. Thank you, Don. All right. You don't have anywhere to go. All right, Don, let me start with you. Have you ever been involved in a club drama like the one happening at Real Madrid right now? Let me start that by saying I've never seen club drama like what's happening at Real Madrid. Really? Even though you've seen fights and stuff? We've seen fights. If you're talking one incident, great. But all week long, it's just one nonsense after another.

54:36It is absolute. And a club of that size, that stature, to just have these things one after the other. and lean it into a classical of all games. Can you imagine if 60 minutes in and he scores 4-0, they're just going to start fighting each other on your pitch? Yeah. Total madness. It is absolute chaos.

54:56Dan Thomas:And you've never seen it either, Stevie? No, no. Everything Xhaka said, you know, yes, there's been disagreements, fights, arguments, a lot. But they're usually one-offs. Not three in one week. Yeah. This is just unique. Don, can you top it? No, I can't top it but Stevie would have been at Liverpool when I was a youngster there and Graeme Sooners, our manager, was going to try and sell me and he was going to try and sell me to Southampton. He wanted to buy Tim Flowers, the goalkeeper, and I didn't make the move. When we come back, he put a 7v7 on at Melwood and he put me in one team, himself in the other team, and he two-footed me and topped me.

55:40And like a cartoon sketch, I went right up in the air, landed on top of the gaffer, and we ended up rolling around the training ground, semi-punching each other. And Jeremy Redknapp, since then, done a book saying everyone was standing there gobsmacked, thinking that's the end of hutch, he'll be gone, he'll be sacked in the morning. As me and Graham, the gaffer, were having a bit of a scuffle, he popped up and he went, see, that's what we need. we need a little bit more character lads like him he'll be in the team on Saturday that sound about right Stevie?

56:16Dan Thomas:every single thing about it sounds right and Soonus would have done that because he fought back if he hadn't fought back he would have been out the door no danger because listen in terms of size Don was like that Soonus spends hours every day in the gym a lot of it because he's got a dodgy ticker but he is he is as fit and as strong today as he's been so it was a complete mismatch physically but the fact that Dom was like I don't care less and he fought back straight away as soon as we go you know what maybe it was a little hasty I'll keep this guy nice one okay company used his top players to salvage points in the Bundesliga prior to the Champions League second leg Is this a reason why their finishing was off yesterday?

57:10No. It was one of those days, and it was a bad one of those days. I don't think the likes of Kane coming off the bench, etc., I don't think that affects what you saw yesterday. No. It was a bad day at the office for Bayern's front.

57:31Dan Thomas:And I said that yesterday on the show that, you know, the front four just weren't good. You know, yes, Harry Kane got his goal the last kick of the game. But in terms of actually the 90 minutes, all four of them were not at the best. And having had more time to think about it, as much as we said it was a great defensive display, I still think we should give them even more praise. because that's... For those four we're talking about to all be that bad on the same day... So let me ask you the other way. You have to look at the opposition and say, you know what, they've done a great job here. They've done a great job.

58:12Dan Thomas:It was the last couple of Bundesliga games that he didn't play them from the start and he brought them off the bench. His Shaq has said, should he have been playing them from the start? Did it have anything to do with that?

58:22Dan Thomas:Everybody will say yes. Well, you'd rather just keep ticking over and keep playing it. And that's all great after the event. But there's absolutely no question, at the end of a season where they've played, what, 60 games? You're really saying it's better to have another game? Yeah, I think that's just looking... That's just trying to figure out where you can pin it on. Where at the end of the day, the reason the top four in particular didn't perform is because PSG didn't let them. Great. In hindsight, would Real Madrid signing... Harry? And in hindsight, yeah. Would Real Madrid signing Harry Kane have been better than signing Mbappe?

59:06I'll tell you what, that's a great question. In hindsight, yes. Let me just, let me say that. In hindsight, yes. But given how everything's progressed for Real Madrid since, and for Harry Kane to that matter. But when they signed, killing Mbappe, I don't think anybody questioned it. I said he didn't. I thought about this. Kylian Mbappe coming into who were then the best team in Spain, the best team in Europe, only made them better. So I did not question that at all. Now, of course, roll the clock forward two years and you kind of see how things have progressed and what's been happening this week in particular Real Madrid.

59:49to say yes in hindsight it was your wrong answer is easy but I don't think anybody truly saw it coming. Don?

1:00:01This one's a little bit like the last question really where when I was watching PSG when I was watching Bayern build up I was stunned that they never got the ball out to the left hand side. You know that's where they should have went to Luis Diaz because he would have been playing against Warren Zaya Emery who's a winger playing at right back and they didn't problem solve. With a Real Madrid question, football's not that hard, K. I still can't understand why they can't find a way of playing Kylian Mbappe on the left-hand side and asking Vinny Jr. to play on the right-hand side and playing a centre-forward.

1:00:35Mastawana was playing at the start of the season or by an elite one.

1:00:39Dan Thomas:He doesn't want to. Well, I know. I'm not playing over there. I know, mate. I know, but football's not that hard. Nope. I know football's not that hard, but surely if you've got anything about you, if you're Vinny Jr., unless it's a real ego thing and you're Mbappe and it's just all about the ego, surely just go and learn and one of you is going to play on the right hand side. Problem solved. Nobody's going to turn around and say, told you so, right? Because nobody's going to say that, sign Mbappe. But we all did talk about, well, where's he going to play and how are these two going to get on?

1:01:18Dan Thomas:We did talk about that. But nobody's saying, no, that's daft, don't sign him. Sign Harry Kane. But at the end of the day, in hindsight, if you look at it, there's no question the chemistry at Real Madrid would be miles better with Harry Kane instead of killing Mbappe. And you know Harry's still going to score goals, but you also know he's going to be the team guy. He's going to be the one pulling them all together. And when you've only got one guy in Vinny who thinks he's above everybody else, you can maybe get away with it. Well, you can get away with it. But the fact is, Vinny and Mbappe, you can't get away with it.

1:01:58Dan Thomas:And you've just got to look at PSG to confirm it. Is Unai Emery underrated? No. Everybody thinks he's a fantastic manager, he's got an incredible record in the Europa League, but at the end of the day the Europa League is the tier below the Champions League.

1:02:20Dan Thomas:And whatever titles he's won in his travels, again, none of them have been as tough to win as the Premier League. So I don't think he's underrated. I think we all know he's a fantastic manager. Tactically, he's really good. But, you know, he did get a chance at Arsenal to turn Arsenal around. And he couldn't do it. I would say I think he is. For the reasons that Stevie just finished up. Unai Emery succeeded Arsene Wenger at Arsenal. Those are big shoes to fill. Manchester United are still trying to fill the shoes of Sir Alex Fugues. he then goes into PSG has a difficult time there before Luis Enrique everybody did and a lot of it was to do with Frank spoke about it last night ownership getting involved and putting together almost trying to emulate the Real Madrid approach and just signing stars without any real sense of balance or chemistry and good managers kind of failed at doing that in much the same way that Unai Emery did until Luis Enrique and kind of got all those superstars out and brought, he formed this team as he wanted.

1:03:35Now, given the job that Unai Emery has done at Aston Villa, I can't overstate how good a job that was. And let's keep in mind where Villa were when he took over from Steven Gerrard. This was a team that was plummeting towards the championship. Now has them competing regularly top end of the table, playing Champions League football or European football at the very least, regularly without a budget with a very small squad by comparison to everybody else. I'm not sure who else comes in and does as good a job with Villa under their constraints than Unai Emery has done.

1:04:13Dan Thomas:Who are you leaning more towards Don? Shakur or Stevie?

1:04:18Well he's not underrated because he's brilliant so everyone should know about him. I disagree with Stevie slightly with the Arsenal one because he took over after Wenger with a bunch of players that were a little bit problematic at the time so that needed Arteta to go in and get rid of Aubameyang and Ozil and the guys that had been there a little while.

1:04:42Dan Thomas:Can I stop you there? But then, what do you want? Are you saying that you can only go into a team that's actually flying and got great players and no problems. But do you think Unai Emery could go there now and do good stuff with this Arsenal team? Well, the problem is now the difference... So Unai Emery had the opportunity to go into Arsenal and turn Arsenal around, right? Right? Right. And did he? Was he getting everything that he needed, that he asked for? Well, we can't sit and talk about, well, what if and what if that and what if that. We can only go on, what did he actually do? And he didn't do anything at Arsenal, did he?

1:05:28Dan Thomas:He didn't turn anything around at Arsenal. And you can talk about PSG. He didn't do anything at PSG. I mean, you and I could have sat on the bench at PSG and they were the one that were on the league. So, you know, I'm talking about facts here. Are we saying that to say, is he underrated? And you say, well, no. but then you can't put them with the likes of Jose Mourinho or Klopp or Fergie or you can't put them there can you? So I wasn't being disrespectful when I said at the end of the day he is a great coach but he's a tear down and that's not being disrespectful that's just telling you that what he has won in his career is a tear down.

1:06:13done see I think I think he's the man which again probably wouldn't happen because he likes to run a football club and control a football club but if Chelsea are serious he should be the man that goes into Chelsea and say to their five sporting directors I don't need you a lot I might have one of you other four can go we're going to be a proper football club we're going to do things correct I'm a top class manager and I'll win his trophies it probably even goes to if Liverpool sacked Arna Sla surely he's got to be in the conversation he'd have to be in the conversation for the Man United job surely the body of work that he's done over the years and everyone can have one club where you go didn't quite work there that might just be his Arsenal thing coming off the back of Wenger to Stevie's point I don't think he's in the same level that when we talk about Pep Guardiola or Jurgen Klopp or Jose Mourinho at his best.

1:07:15But at the same time, we're holding failures at Arsenal, post-Wenger and PSG as reasons why he isn't. No, I agree he's not in... Carlo Ancelotti, manager at Everton, didn't do an awful lot. Carlo Ancelotti also didn't do an awful lot at PSG. Yeah, he did before that. But my point is, when you look at the, especially the PSG, if Carlo Ancelotti goes into that club and doesn't do an awful lot, it says that there is something wrong there. And that's why I don't hold Unai Emery's failures or perceived failures at PSG against him in the way that Stevie's suggesting.

1:08:01Dan Thomas:Okay, last question. I'm just checking which one our last question is. Okay. There are strong rumours linking Alisson to Juventus. If they come with a decent offer, should Liverpool sell him, considering that they also lose Salah and Robertson in the summer? Won't that create a huge leadership vacuum in addition to other issues they're facing? Don, you're shaking your head, they're nodding it. Great. I'm shaking it in my head because they can't sell him, surely, when Robbo's going and Salah's going. and the leadership questions absolutely spot on. That's why I was nodding. They can't afford Liverpool to lose more leaders out of that dressing room.

1:08:44Even if it's for one more year to see Mamadashvili through into having more appearances and making him the number one in 12 months' time. To go into a new season without Alisson at the back in goal, I think on the leadership front and his quality, I think it would be a massive loss.

1:09:03Dan Thomas:I tend to disagree with Don. And I disagree because I'd like to know where these leaders have been all season. You know, I understand. Four years ago, four years ago, this question is crumpled up and thrown in the bucket. It would be insane four years ago. But not now. Alisson in my opinion this season and the back of last season hasn't been making saves and you have a goalkeeper in Mamadash Vili who is ready to state his claim and I think there's plenty of top sides with the love Mamadash Vili in goal for them so yeah if you can get money for Alisson now I think yes you make that move and so they'll have to buy a number two then I get a buy a number two well that's fine go and buy a number two that's fine but but Salah and Robertson you know at the end of the day it's night it's 12 o 'clock midnight as Don's just gone past so yeah I think yeah I mean that would be my answer yes okay good stuff thank you for your questions today thanks to Don for staying up late.

1:10:28Dan Thomas:Thanks to Shaka and Stevie for answering them. We'll be back tomorrow to do it again.

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