Tebas & Real Madrid's War of Words

15:59Javier Tebas:And so to play this role of poor us, that doesn't quite fly. To God's point, it almost felt like Javier Tebas was like, all right, let's look up on the computer. Is there anything about Real Madrid that is talking poorly about La Liga and La Liga referees and conspiracy? There it is. Let's go. Get after it. It's almost as if it's looking for a reason to get after Real Madrid. And to be honest, Jose Mourinho had given every reason. And he could have addressed that directly. And maybe we're having a different conversation. It would have been a great opportunity for both. For both to be quiet. For both to stay away.

16:40Javier Tebas:And for Real Madrid to, dare I say, take the moral high ground. It is September, after all. It is September. There's a long way to go in this season. Address your own issues. And then we'll see where we are come May. But that was never going to happen because both of them, it's almost as if they're waiting for each other to say something. And they can't wait to respond. We can't wait to respond. I'll tell you one more thing. If you, right now, if you were to go on YouTube and you search for Real Madrid and the highlights for this game come out and you have La Liga highlights, you have our own highlights on ESPN and C, but then you also have the perspective of Real Madrid and their thumbnail and their highlights is a tackle by Canning Lee.

17:25Javier Tebas:Yeah. And then the headline is poor refereeing decisions, poor refereeing decisions affect the outcome of the game, so on and so forth. Now, in addressing this thing about Fede Valverde and the tackle, I think actually Fede Valverde, and I think it's a red card, but Fede Valverde helps Atlético Madrid because he gets up so quickly asking for a card. If he had attended the diving camp, you would know, Fede, that if you get your leg stomped on and you roll around for a second or two, you allow VAR to take more time. And the fact that you're rolling around and you're in excruciating pain, it may have brought more attention to the tackle.

18:07Javier Tebas:And maybe just maybe VAR gets involved. But Fede Valverde popped up like, I want a car right away. It's like, no, no, diving camp, roll around. You are in pain. Let them do the job. But apparently Fede Valverde did not attend.

18:21Real Madrid:We do not encourage such antics in the beautiful game. I do.

18:26Javier Tebas:I do. He teaches it. Never mind. But the Adamunna School of Diving does it need. Honesty.

18:33Real Madrid:We encourage honesty, don't we, Fred? Honesty.

18:37Javier Tebas:Honesty doesn't pay in football. And Ali is explaining that very, very well with his training camp where he knows exactly what to do to show that you have to stay on the floor and make sure the referee sees that the exaggerating pain is paid off. And to go back to Tebas and Real Madrid, I really think that silence is golden. And both of them, Real Madrid and Tebas, should have stepped back a little bit and let it go because referees were awful. Real Madrid were awful. They were both awful. So shut up and go back to work. There's something ironic with Frank saying that silence is golden. It's golden.

19:28Javier Tebas:I was going to say. There is something ironic. Second only to me. Yeah, but I'm being honest. Yes, yes. I'm being honest. That's the thing. This is no good in football, though.

19:43Real Madrid:All right, well, in Real Madrid's defense, slightly, when you continuously look at this challenge from Kang and Leon Valverde, and we know the outcome now that Valverde has indeed sustained an injury, you do realize that they have a certain point. and the refereeing committee, Xhaka, has come out and has admitted that they got this call wrong. So surely now Real Madrid will accept that and move on, right?

20:05Javier Tebas:Well, of course, because as we all know, silence is cold. So Real Madrid will take the opportunity to take the high ground, the moral high ground, and say nothing. Listen, I don't think the refereeing committee could have come out and said anything, but it was an awful challenge. And I haven't yet to meet somebody who didn't think that was a red card but the referees on the day. That being said, Real Madrid, again, have kind of painted themselves into this corner where they've complained so much over the years that when they have a genuine reason to levy this kind of criticism, it just feels a little bit hollow.

20:45Javier Tebas:And the thing for me is, as you read both these statements, and I'm with everybody here in that nobody comes out to this looking good. But if you choose any, you could pick any day in the last five years and stamp that date on this exchange and nobody will challenge you. Because it just feels like we've been hearing this and we've been living through these kinds of exchanges constantly for the last five years between these two in particular. And that for me is where Real Madrid's complaints start to lose punch. Because too often it's just felt like they're the club more than any other that cries wolf.

21:26Real Madrid:What does it feel like to have a better laptop like the Dell XPS powered by Intel Core? With a premium design that's thin and light, it feels smooth. Very smooth. for a better feel in your hands and less weight on your shoulders. With a responsive touchscreen, it feels fast and precise. For better scrolling, zooming, and swiping, so everything just flows. And with long-lasting battery life, it feels like non-stop energy for a better way to work without being near a charger. Built for those who want better. The Dell XPS, built for you. If you're a small business, the right hire can make or break.

22:12Real Madrid:Hoping the right people see your job posting isn't the best growth strategy. When the pressure's on and you need the right hire, this is a job for sponsored jobs. Sponsored jobs boost your job post in search results so you can reach the people that can help your business thrive. Plus, with Indeed Sponsored Jobs, you only pay for results. Spend less time searching and more time actually interviewing candidates who check all your boxes. Less stress, less time, more results. When you need the right person to cut through the chaos, this is a job for Indeed Sponsored Jobs. And listeners of this show will get a$75 sponsored job credit to help get your job the premium status it deserves at Indeed.com slash podcast.

22:57Real Madrid:Just go to Indeed.com slash podcast right now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast. Indeed.com slash podcast. Terms and conditions apply. Need to hire? This is a job for Indeed-sponsored jobs. All right, well, let's remind you how the top half of the La Liga standings look heading into this international break. It's all good in the hood for Barcelona, who are clear at the front. Atletico de Madrid are the ones that are in second with 16 points, and Real Madrid find themselves in fourth, just one less than Atleti and Real Madrid. All right, well, let's hear from Cholo Simeone after the Madrid derby where he was talking about Barcelona.

23:43Javier Tebas:Juan Bárbaro. It seems like they play another sport. It seems like they play another sport. They play great. It seems Barcelona is playing a different sport from the one we're playing. They didn't have a number nine, then Rafinha showed up has 12 goals in seven games, and Yamal has seven, if I'm not mistaken. The numbers are incredible. They press you in your own half and don't give you time. And they don't fear taking risks and conceding a goal because it seems like when they concede a goal, it's worse for the opponent because they're just better. They're the best team in La Liga based on what they've shown so far.

24:21Real Madrid:Very complimentary there, Cholo Simeone, on Barcelona. and let's be honest, it's because Barca have been looking so good and it's thanks to this man. Rafinha have been leading the line for Barcelona. Unbelievable form so far as Barcelona's number nine and just wrapped up back-to-back hat tricks for the Brazilian. And after the 7-2 thumping of Racing last Wednesday, Rafinha and Hansi Flick spoke about their relationship. The hug you share with Hansi Flick.

24:51Javier Tebas:I know you get asked about it a lot, but I don't know if there's a coach-player relationship as strong in the league right now as the one you have with your coach. Do you feel that? I can't comment on other relationships, but the truth is, I've always said it, and I'll always say it, he is the coach who changed my mentality within the club and what I thought about myself. I'm very grateful to him, and I'll show it to him whenever I can.

25:17Real Madrid:I'm very grateful for him and I'll always show him.

25:47Real Madrid:where Rafinha was almost surplus to requirements at Barcelona, and you look at what he is now, Ale, how much of the good that we're seeing in Rafinha now is down to Hansi Flick?

25:58Javier Tebas:Well, first let me address Mario Suarez, who was doing the interview with Diego Simeone, and who anybody that was paying attention during the broadcast as Grimaldo scores the goal, here comes Mario Suarez. Vamos! Wait a minute. Somebody's got to tell him that we're doing a job now. Where's the neutrality? Where's not?

26:22Real Madrid:A lot of objectivity. I'm loving that. Lord, Mario.

26:27Javier Tebas:Oh, boy. As for Rafinha, it is rare, actually, I think, and I think Xhaka and Frank would agree with me, it is rare that a player has this much appreciation for a manager And that tells you and gives you this much information about that relationship, saying that he changed the way my mentality and he changed the way that I thought and I looked at myself. Look, I've had many coaches over over the course of my career, and I can't really tell you that they've reached so deep into my heart and soul that they changed that they changed the way I thought of myself. But that's how he feels. And obviously, this is something that he carries on to the training field.

27:19Javier Tebas:And more importantly, he takes this on to the playing field. And you're seeing performances from Rafinha that are filled with confidence, that are filled with productivity, that are filled with tactical discipline, with leadership. And it's all in one beautiful package that wasn't even supposed to be the number nine for this team. and yet it's working out perfectly for him, for Flick, for Barcelona. This is a dream start for Rafinha and as good a start as Barcelona could have hoped for, he has been outstanding.

27:52Real Madrid:He has been outstanding. Frank, you absolutely love you some Rafinha. How much of it is down to Hansi Flick and what he's doing?

28:01Javier Tebas:A lot, a lot, because I think you bring confidence. You don't know, you don't teach a player, a professional player to be a fantastic football player. You prepare him. And I think Anzi Flick knew how to make Rafinha very confident about his football. And it's like love is in the air. I'm sorry, Ali. You don't have that with a coach because your heart is made of steel. I don't know. So you can feel that. Wow. Wow. Wow. But really, really, I... Wow. You know what? Let it go, man. At some point, let it go. You're not ready to accept the love of somebody else. And Rafinha opened his heart and his arms.

28:53Javier Tebas:And it happened to me the same with Ruth Gullit. When Ruth Gullit welcomed me and decided to make me come, I became a better person because love was in the air because I enjoyed being with him. and that was a perfect match and that was great. But I really think of Rafinha. He's a great player and he has the help of Flick to be serious, but he has the help of his teammates as well. All the moves that they make at Barcelona is made to create spaces for Rafinha. You know, there were coaches that I loved. Siggy. Can you name them? No, Siggy. Siggy was my guy. But not like Wise. But I couldn't tell you that he changed the way I thought of myself.

29:43Javier Tebas:That's a different type of conversation. However, let me just say, I'm going to take back that comment about the coaches not loving me, or me not loving the coaches, because you just mentioned Rude Gullit. And the only person that I've ever heard about Rude Gullit as a coach is Craig Burley, whose version of events is a little different than your friend, which then would equate Craig's heart of steel, if that's what you want to call it, or even probably worse to me. And I'm not having that. I'm not having that. I love every coach, and every coach loves me. I love the world. Well, we don't know.

30:29Javier Tebas:Maybe Nancy Flick is not loved by everybody. Maybe somebody in the squad hates him if he's on the bench and doesn't play. So maybe somebody else, like Craig, didn't like Ruud Gullit. Maybe some Barcelona players were on the bench, they don't like him. But personally, I opened my arms and I love Ruud Gullit, like Rafinha. And you weren't able to do that. And Craig neither. No, no, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. I said I took it back. I took it back, Frank. I took it back. No. Frank, I took it back. Too late. Too late. No, no. It's like diving and rolling. No, no, no, no, no, no, no. I don't want to be in any Craig Burley conversation.

31:05Javier Tebas:Please. Ali and Craig. I beg you. Ali and Craig. All right. Por favor. Por favor. More that unites us than separates us. Ali and Craig.

31:15Real Madrid:I've been told Gab that there is something else that separates us. And that's the fact that all of us rate Rafinha as a number nine. But he hasn't really impressed you in that position, Gab. Apparently, you said that on the show. Wow. Wow.

31:28Javier Tebas:No, I did not say that. What? I said. 65 league goals in La Liga. He's not going to get to 65. It's just not going to happen. The only people who've scored more than 40, even just 40 goals in La Liga, are named Cristiano and Lionel Messi. And they are not human. And Messi stopped at 50 and Cristiano, I think, at 48. So, no, he's not going to get to 65. He doesn't need to get to 65 to be an exceptional player. And by the way, I think when he talks about sort of the impact Flick had on him, it's good to remind ourselves about his past. This is a guy who, you know, he's a very gifted youngster, comes to Europe, goes to Sporting, kind of flames out.

32:16Javier Tebas:Then he went to Rennes. Then at like 24, 25 years old, he said Leeds United again. No disrespect, but nobody's talking Ballon d 'Or Rafinha then. he comes to Barcelona. You remember, he's supposed to play on the right wing. It's his best position. Oh, no, but here's Lamin-Yamal. Hey, Rafinha, you mind moving to the left wing? So he moves to the left wing. Then he moves into the middle. Then he moves to center forward. Superstars normally have egos. They don't accept being, like, moved all over the pitch willy-nilly. But obviously, he loved Flick. Flick loved him back. His heart wasn't made of steel or stone or whatever Ali's heart is made of.

32:53Javier Tebas:And he got the love into his heart. And now he's rewarded by it. I love the world. You love the world. You do feel a lot.

33:04Real Madrid:When you cut through the stone of Alex Harrell, the steel and the stone, there is something there. I love you, babe. I love you, babe. Just a reminder that, of course, this is the international break, but La Liga will be back next month. Here are all of the fixtures that await us.

33:26Javier Tebas:Rich Eisen here. Running a small business means every hire matters. A bad hire costs time and money, but the right one helps your business grow. The challenge? Finding that person without sorting through resumes. That's where LinkedIn Hiring Pro comes in. It screens candidates so you can focus on conversations with qualified talent. With Hiring Pro, you can hire with confidence and build the team you need. Join the 2.7 million small businesses using LinkedIn to hire. Get started by posting your job for free at linkedin.com slash Eisen. Terms and conditions apply. This is Buster Olney for La Quinta by Wyndham.

33:59Javier Tebas:Just like a good football team sticks to the fundamentals, the best work trips start with a solid routine. At La Quinta by Wyndham, a full-size fitness center helps you keep that routine going while you're on the road. Get in a workout, wrap up the workday, then kick back and enjoy football all evening long. Plus, earn Wyndham Rewards points with every qualified stay. Tonight La Quinta, tomorrow you shine. Book your next trip at LaQuinta.com. Terms and conditions apply.

34:28Real Madrid:Let's switch focus now and talk about the Premier League. This is a look at the top half of the standings. It is actually Manchester City and not Arsenal that head into this international break at the top. That is, of course, because Arsenal dropped points against the team there at number three. This is the bottom half of the standings, and look right down there at 20. Tottenham Hotspur with just two points to show from their five games.

34:53Javier Tebas:You skipped number 12. No, we don't need to talk.

34:58Real Madrid:We're going to talk about it. All right, so five games into the season so far, and we have asked the panel what their biggest concerns so far are and for which club. Frank, I'm going to start with you.

35:14Javier Tebas:Yeah, naturally, I go for Spurs. I think if I'm not mistaken, they have spent like 400 million pounds for new signing. Last year, they avoided relegation because of the Zerbe, because maybe some players woke up. But since then, we go back to the same scenario, and that's really appalling. And when you see the names, players leaving, players coming, and when you see the players coming, I mean, Tonali, Matheus Fernandes, Savio, Mamouche, I'm sorry, I don't want to say Moudry, Zeneci, and so many others, even Andy Robertson who can help, even if he's older. You can believe and think that the season's going to be better.

35:59Javier Tebas:But two points in five games, that's unbearable. and for the club and for the fans. I mean, the fans might be fed up to be mocked, I would say, by the rest of the world because they spend so much money, but they do nothing. And there is a mentality for me. I think the cause of that is the mentality when you sign for Spurs, I don't know, it's like you don't feel the danger. There is nothing at risk, nothing at stake, no pressure. it seems to be the only club where you come and go and that's fine. And if they carry on like that, at some point, they're going to be really punished.

36:43Real Madrid:We all agree?

36:44Javier Tebas:Yes, sure.

36:45Real Madrid:All right. Well, we're going to go with Gab. Gab, you want in on the Spurs discussion?

36:52Javier Tebas:No, I just disagree with what Frank said. And I think when you look at that huge figure, my concern as well is the nature of these signings and what message they send when you bring in Marmouche and Savio, two guys who, you know, they were on the bench at Manchester City. They're guys who haven't scored very much. And then all of a sudden you're like, oh, look, this will be the centerpiece of my attack. And at number 10, oh, look, I'll get this Mateus Fernandes, pay the moon for him. you know, Matos Fernandez, who I think is right in saying has been relegated twice. You know, a very promising player, but then, you know, you just decide, oh, look, I'll play him in number 10, which probably isn't his position.

37:32Javier Tebas:So there seems to be a complete lack of clarity of vision football-wise, and that's not all on Dzerbi. He's not the one personally making the signings here.

37:44Real Madrid:Oh, Gab coming in to defend his Italians, of course. We love it.

37:48Javier Tebas:Yeah. Well, initially, and I think rightfully so, I was going to talk about Manchester United, but then I figured that. So, no, no, no, no. But then I remember. I remember because I don't forget. The mighty draw with Fulham? No. Shaq picked Liverpool to finish top four. Final answer, he said. He said final answer. Final answer. He was clear, adamant about it. And what I would say, while it's obvious to talk about Spurs and talk about Manchester United, You watch Liverpool play, and our concerns coming into the season, or at least the concerns of Steve, is how are we going to defend through the midfield?

38:24Javier Tebas:How are we going to defend in that back line? This team is going to give up goals here, there, and everywhere. But the saving grace was that apparently, offensively, this team was going to score a bunch of goals. And while on paper it would seem to be the case, you watch their match on the weekend against Bournemouth. They just don't create enough. they're not a dangerous team right now. They're not dynamic. Everything happens so slow. There is very little creativity. There is very little 1v1 situation. There is very little combination play. It's all happening sort of, kind of, maybe individually.

39:01Javier Tebas:Gakpo goes on the run, kind of throws the ball on the bus. It bounces to a second. Here's the goal. And that's how you go on to win the game. And that's how Liverpool seems to have an attack right now. More broken plays than patterns of play. more individual accidental goals than actual buildup, that actual creativity, that actual dynamic movement. So while I love me some Shaka Hisslop, because I love the world, I would also suggest that maybe, just maybe, this team is going to have to start scoring goals if indeed they're going to finish top four final answer.

39:38Real Madrid:Well, Frank, surely Liverpool's goal-scoring problems will be solved once your boy Hugo Eketike comes back, right?

39:45Javier Tebas:Hopefully, yes. But I think it's quite appalling again to wait for somebody to come back with a talent that you normally have and have enough to that conversation. I really think that there is something going wrong in a way that, well, now we didn't expect that kind of turnover. Where three years ago, we were enjoying Liverpool because they were playing vertically and they were doing great at least for seven months when they won the title. And now we are saying, oh, they're keeping the clean sheet. That's the only thing they do. They don't concede goals. There's been three games and he didn't concede goals.

40:31Javier Tebas:But offensively, it's so poor. And except Gagpo, I don't see anything coming. Bacola is trying to set up, settle down. The other's words is still inexistent. Isaac comes back scoring goals. That's OK. But being almost inexistent in the game. And we don't find the middle of the puck that we used to have. So there isn't too much positivity. They're good. They win games. So far, so good. but we are I think we know too much the football to know that Liverpool they they're not there they're not there they're not there and they're going to be in danger very soon

41:09Real Madrid:well I wonder who else is in danger in the eyes of our Xhaka Hislav Xhaka

41:14Javier Tebas:well let me just say

41:15Real Madrid:surely you have Spurs as well

41:17Javier Tebas:I had Spurs I think Spurs is the most concerning and rightly so and well I get Ali's point about Liverpool and what I had to say. Final answer. At least Liverpool are top off the team. If we start to look below the halfway point on the table, only just. There's a certain Manchester United that I think is giving us a course of concern.

41:43Real Madrid:I can't get up because I'm stuck to the chair.

41:46Javier Tebas:Sounds a lot like Spurs if you ask me. Say neutral. Spurs are stuck to the bottom off the table. Just so you have. Sounds about right. Hey, Mario Suarez, okay? Stay neutral, please. Listen, in Manchester United, we are talking about a team that finished third last season, that had, I guess, the majority of people's pick as player of the season. A team that so far have only amassed wins against Ipswich and Sabah. I never even heard about a team named Sabah before. They were formed in 2017. Right, okay, there you go. And then all of a sudden, they play Fulham, have 29 shots on target, and everybody's out of their chair celebrating.

42:33Real Madrid:I was not celebrating. Fulham were bottom of the table.

42:37Javier Tebas:Almost. And kick off. And all of a sudden, this a point, a late goal, because you have 29 shots is reason to celebrate and reason for optimism. How far have Manchester United fallen in the space of two or three months? Very. And so that's why I have Manchester United as my cause for concern.

43:01Real Madrid:And you are very justified. Very justified. Gab, last but certainly never least. What? Who is your biggest concern?

43:12Javier Tebas:So, it's not my biggest concern as a club, But I think Chelsea are going to run into trouble if they don't address the situation that they have in midfield. People can look at Chelsea and point out, well, the defending's been poor. And yes, and Levi Colwell isn't himself yet. Lacroix maybe isn't$70 million or however much they paid for him and whatnot. And yes, there's a concerning attack too. Because who's backing up Ja Pedro? Pedro, is it really Danny Welbeck pushing 37 or Emmanuel Emega who's permanently injured and kind of did nothing last season with his injuries? But for me, it's midfield.

43:57Javier Tebas:And I know Moises Caicedo's been injured and he's going to come back. Hopefully he'll make the midfield better. But where are the alternatives to Caicedo? Who plays with Caicedo? Because you're looking at Romeo Lavia, whose injury record is obviously horrendous. and then once you get past him, you're getting into what? Valentin Barco, who a lot of people seem to really like because he's skillful. Look, he's a recycled fullback. I've seen Valentin Barco in person. He looks like a child. I mean, physically. He's a child. In the Premier League, like... No, but I don't know. He's not going to have...

44:35Javier Tebas:You're asked to replace Enzo Fernandez, who a lot of people don't like, but who's a freaking dervish on the pitch. He's just a completely different type of player, and I'm not even sure he can play that position. Or what do you do? Or, oh, let's move Reece James into midfield, or Malagusto into midfield. Dario Sugo, thankfully, is gone. We're not going to see him again for a while. Or, wait, maybe it's Jordan Henderson. Remember him? He's still playing. He even went to the World Cup, apparently. This is the situation you're in, and I think especially for a Xabi Alonso team, there's a lot to work on.

45:09Javier Tebas:He's got to work in different areas. I think he's going to be okay long term. But he has to find some solution in the middle of the park because you can't be this Caicedo dependent. And also, even if Caicedo's there, you still have another slot to fill. I have a question. Oh, boy. Enzo Fernandez is a what on the pitch?

45:27Real Madrid:Ask Gab.

45:27Javier Tebas:A dervish? A dervish. A whirling dervish.

45:32Real Madrid:A whirling dervish. Oh!

45:36Javier Tebas:Yes.

45:37Real Madrid:A whirling dervish.

45:38Javier Tebas:Just remember, you've got a couple of simpler guys. One simpler guy on your desk here. Gab, please. The lack of culture in this thing. It's just embarrassing, really. Some people, they know words. That's what it is. Some people, we don't. But you know what, Gab? Yeah, a lot of people don't. But really, Gab, you're absolutely right. I'm very concerned about the midfield. and Kai Sido has to come back very quickly. They didn't sign that Monaco player that I forgot. And I think it should have been a very good idea to think about getting him, but it's too late now. But really, if you count on Kai Sido injured and Rhys James, who is mostly injured most of the seasons, it's going to be complicated.

46:27Javier Tebas:And you have to restrain the middle of the park because otherwise you're going to struggle. The back is not good enough. but if you don't have a strong like you had used to have with Endo Fernandez it's true and Caicedo you're going to be in danger because scoring goal is not going to be enough to finish in the first four for sure Frank's argument lost a lot of steam and strength when he said you know we need to add that player I can't remember who he is but we need to get him that guy good lord I think it was Sarban I'm not sure

47:04Real Madrid:Remember, some of us are for words and names. Others, not so much. Well, thankfully...

47:09Javier Tebas:I have a friend with names. Yeah, a lot of us do.

47:12Real Madrid:Well, thankfully, our Gab Marcotti definitely knows his way with words. And if you're in need of a Gab staple, Marcotti's musings are out every Monday. And you know you can find it on our ESPN website.

47:25Javier Tebas:This was particularly thorough this week, let me tell you. There's nothing worse than waking up sick. In this time of year, with the kids back in school surrounded by hundreds of others, yours may bring home a whole new world of viruses and bacteria your family may have no immunity to. No kids, viruses are still everywhere, and one ugly strain just showed up. Now it's 2 a.m., your throat feels like strep, and your fever is spiking. Urgent care? Get dressed and wait in a room full of sick people. Your doctor? Good luck. Or open your medicine cabinet and smile, because you have a fully stocked medical emergency kit from the wellness company.

48:00Javier Tebas:It's like an urgent care and a drugstore right at home. It contains essential prescription medications in your name for over 30 common conditions, strep throat, sinus infections, pneumonia, UTI, stomach bugs, and more. Plus, telehealth doctors standing by for questions. I trust my medical emergency kit, and I can save you$45 right now. Visit urgentcarekit.com slash sports promo code sports. That's urgentcarekit.com slash sports promo code sports. O 'Reilly Auto Parts can help take the guesswork out of your vehicle's check engine, ABS, or maintenance light with O 'Reilly Veriscan. The service is free and provides a report with solutions verified by ASE certified master technicians.

48:41Javier Tebas:Ask for O 'Reilly Veriscan today.

48:46Real Madrid:All right, well, the Women's Champions League kicked off this weekend, and former champions Arsenal took on HB Khaji in the first match. We take this up into injury time now, where Sergi is brought down in the box and a penalty is awarded.

49:03Javier Tebas:Sergi run, it's a really poor challenge. Probably back of three poor challenges, in all honesty. Easy penalty. Caldente steps up, makes no mistake.

49:13Real Madrid:No mistake whatsoever. Here's a look at some of the other results from Tuesday. Bayern Munich blowing a 2-0 lead against Manchester City. My girl, Bonnie Shaw, missed a penalty, but no worries about that. Glad she'll get him again next time. And Real Madrid played out a 1-1 draw with PSG. Well, I'm sure they'll be talking about that along with our Ali Krieger's fabulous boots there on Football W. A fresh episode drops tonight at 8.30 p.m. Eastern time on the app and Disney+.

49:42Javier Tebas:The jorts and the boots, it's a look.

49:45Real Madrid:And there's more Women's Champions League coming your way on ESPN Deportes tomorrow. Tomorrow, the champions Barcelona going up against Paris FC. That's at 3 p.m. Eastern time. Who are Roma playing? Make sure to tune in. Yeah, yeah.

50:02Javier Tebas:And on Sunday, NWC is back BFC.

50:06Real Madrid:I was trying to make this about Barcelona. Up against Orlando, Sunday, 5 p.m. Eastern time on ESPN and the F. All right, that's it for this edition of ESPN FC. We're going to see ourselves and Ale Moreno and his cold, non-existent heart. Whoa. We're greeting you adieu. Whoa. Please be sure to check out tomorrow. Love you, baby. Extra time, though, is next.

50:35Real Madrid:Welcome into Extra Time, everybody. I'm Alexis Nunes with a very warm heart. As long as Shaka Hissop is here, too. Ale Moreno, not so much. Gab Marcotti and our Frank LaBeouf. Oh, Ale, you want to bring up some photos?

50:50Javier Tebas:Full of love. I was, see? See? It was senior day for my son Alejandro. See, and look, it's love. Love is in the air. Love you, babe. Senior day.

51:03Real Madrid:What do they do on senior day?

51:05Javier Tebas:Well, they acknowledge the fact that he's a graduating senior. And so they...

51:08Real Madrid:Already? Yeah.

51:10Javier Tebas:So they parade on the field, take a picture. He gives flowers to my wife. Wow. Did it warm the deep cockrails of your heart? Absolutely. Did you not see the love in that picture? Could you not feel it? Could you not sense it?

51:26Real Madrid:Tell you what, my wife is looking nice. Oh, there you go. Love you, babe. He does. I feel like he's making up for something. I know.

51:34Javier Tebas:You know what? I'm just saying. All right, let's get to the questions. Love you.

51:38Real Madrid:Because I feel like there's a question in here that we all may come to blows, but we'll get to that differently later. First question. what's with Mbappe's media blitzgab? Will this really help his Ballon d 'Or chances?

51:54Javier Tebas:You know what? I read some of his interviews. I liked reading them. I like hearing from Mbappe. I actually find them thoughtful when he talks, so I'm glad for that. I think certain clubs who value the Ballon d 'Or a lot think that this somehow helps you get votes. if you stop and look at how the Ballon d 'Or is awarded, you realize it probably doesn't. Because guess what? People know who Mbappe is. And they're not going to change their vote based on an interview. I think it's absolutely demented. But there's a lot of people in PR, a lot of former colleagues and current colleagues who make money and get to interview Mbappe thanks to it.

52:39Javier Tebas:So long may it continue. The Twitter handle is perhaps the best.

52:45Real Madrid:The absolute best.

52:46Javier Tebas:Give Shaq more vacay days.

52:49Real Madrid:It just so happens that he's already in vacay days.

52:52Javier Tebas:You want to tell the people about your plans? No. Okay.

52:56Real Madrid:Put it this way. Shaq already has his vacation for next year planned out and put in.

53:01Javier Tebas:We're in September. We're in September.

53:03Real Madrid:But this man is thinking in the future. Yes, very much. Our Shaq. Our Shaq.

53:09Javier Tebas:He doesn't know what he's going to do next week, but he knows when his next vacation is.

53:14Real Madrid:Next year. He knows when next year's vacation is. Clever. All right. Next question. The perfect panel for this question. Who would you vote for to win the Ballon d 'Or?

53:27Javier Tebas:Okay.

53:28Real Madrid:Frankie, let's start with you, since you are French.

53:34Javier Tebas:I don't care. I knew you were going to say that. I don't care. Leave me alone with that. But if you had to choose one.

53:41Real Madrid:I'm so ashamed. If you had to choose one, Frank, just to answer a question.

53:50Javier Tebas:Oh, my God. From Craig's Positivity Corner. I'm so sad and humiliated. That's a French creation on top of it.

54:06Javier Tebas:My God. Who was the midfielder we should have we were talking about before? The guy from Monaco? You're going to save for Chelsea?

54:22Javier Tebas:Yeah, yeah, him! Him! He's my winner! He's my winner, that guy! That guy! Yeah, he's my winner. Really, I don't want to upset anybody. Go ahead. I don't want to upset anybody either. Oh, come on. I'm old school. I think it should be somebody who... I'll go down the route of somebody who's won. I know that Craig Burley is the most extreme anti-ballon door guy here. I'm not far off. Clearly, neither is Frank. But, no, I think traditionally, people have awarded it to people, to guys who've won. major trophies and Pau Kubarcy won the World Cup and he won La Liga. Not the only one to have done that.

55:16Javier Tebas:I believe Laminya Mal did too. I would give it to one of those guys. And maybe because Yamal will have many more opportunities to win it and defenders often get overlooked. Right, Frank? Let's give it to Kubarcy. Wow. Yes, I love that. I think Frank is more anti-ballon d 'or. Than Craig. I think Frank is the most anti-ballon d 'or. Oh, yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

55:41Real Madrid:Frank won't even listen to the discussion.

55:44Javier Tebas:I vote for Frank for the ballon d 'or for anti-ballon d 'or.

55:47Real Madrid:For anti-ballon d 'or.

55:48Javier Tebas:Yeah, yeah.

55:49Real Madrid:Yeah, definitely. Shaq, Ale?

55:51Javier Tebas:I'm going Erling Haaland.

55:54Real Madrid:Oh, wow. That was a very passionate plea. What?

55:58Javier Tebas:Was it two trophies with City last season? And then... What trophies? What nonsense. What trophies did he win?

56:09Real Madrid:Did City win the FA Cup? Yes.

56:12Javier Tebas:Oh, sorry. The FA Cup? This is your candidate. You're making the case for your candidate. You should have yours. They said what trophies. I was confused.

56:22Real Madrid:Gab is saying that no trophies of real weight to enter the Ballon d 'Or.

56:26Javier Tebas:Okay, but that's fine. But I also, and I've made this point multiple times over the years I've been here, that when you play for a small country at a tournament like the World Cup, no, we're not going to win it. But you've got to take them to heights that nobody expected you to take them to. And I think Erling Haaland did that. When you look at Norway and who were the big stories coming out of this World Cup, I thought Erling Haaland covered himself in as much glory as anybody else. maybe with the exception of Rory. Harry Kane as well. Harry Kane as well. He plays for small country, so he shouldn't...

57:05Javier Tebas:Frank, I don't even care about Ballon d 'Or. You can make the argument for Harry. You can similarly make the argument for Harry Kane. Absolutely.

57:11Real Madrid:Frank doesn't care about this discussion.

57:14Javier Tebas:Can I...

57:15Real Madrid:Or so he thought.

57:16Javier Tebas:Honestly, while I understand what you're saying about Erling Haaland, he already won. You know what? He left the World Cup with a raccoon that was holding a ball. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, I'm a cowboy. I don't know. Why do you need a ballon d 'or when you have a stuffed raccoon? I mean, what else do you want? I'll make the case for Harry Kane. Go ahead, Frank. I think nobody cares about the ballon d 'or today in the panel. Nobody cares.

57:50Real Madrid:Ale was about to make a case for Harry Kane.

57:52Javier Tebas:I'll make a case for Harry Kane because I do think that of all the favorites, if you will, according to the bookies, he is the one player that had a historically good season with Bayern Munich individually, won his league, and then had a good World Cup. Not necessarily a great World Cup, but a good World Cup nonetheless. less. You cannot make the same argument for all the other players, including Pau Cougarcy who had a great World Cup but did not have a good La Liga season. He had difficulties and part of the reason as to why Barcelona was in trouble in Champions League was some of the mistakes that he made against Atletico Madrid.

58:31Javier Tebas:And there were other mistakes like that over the course of the season. Rodri, same argument. Did not have a good club season, had a great World Cup. And so when you consider about who was the full package in the club season, as well as the World Cup, I think Harry Kane is closer to that than everybody else.

58:50Real Madrid:There we go. We eventually got to well calculated. Frank, I thought you don't care about these conversations. And he's throwing out extra numbers.

58:58Javier Tebas:I just tried to put the mess in that discussion. You know, Declan Rice. Declan Rice, Ballon d 'Or. You know, he won the Premier League. All right. Okay. All right. Okay, Frank. Anybody else? I thought you were making a case for that guy. Stop it. Cucurella. Cucurella on the left side.

59:17Real Madrid:Oh, boy. Next question, and this one's for Gab. Gab, with Bollie & Co. now out of the ownership group at Chelsea, do you expect any significant changes in how the club operates?

59:31Javier Tebas:Well, we already saw no. I mean, it's a short answer. Bollie was already, when he came over, he was kind of the face of the club, and he sort of set the agenda, but then Badadig Bali, who is part of the majority group that owns a club, he really took over and he really set the tone. We've already seen a big shift away from what some of us like to call the model, the one that the five, count them, five directors of football put together. and it's gone more this summer into adding veterans and adding more of a mix and here's Emi Martinez and Welbeck and Jordan Henderson. And so that change has already happened.

1:00:19Javier Tebas:I think the incredible thing is that Todd Bowley and Mark Walter and those guys, it's a purported evaluation of$5 billion, are true. Weirdly, even though especially Mark Walter, you know, You know, they're in a position where they have to raise money and sell their shares, and they're only allowed to sell their shares to Clear Lake and Ibali's group. Somehow, those shares are worth, what, twice what they paid for them. And they're walking away, I think, with something like$700 or$800 million each, which I find absolutely extraordinary. They basically doubled their money after four years in which Chelsea have, other than winning the World Cup, which is really important, other than that, have not been good.

1:01:00Javier Tebas:and have backed up huge losses too and not built a stadium. That's good money if you can get it.

1:01:08Real Madrid:Ooh, Shaq sounds like he wants in.

1:01:10Javier Tebas:Yeah, I do. I want to sell my shiz. That'll pay a lot of credit cards. You could go to a nice vacation next year.

1:01:20Real Madrid:That'll pay for a lot of vacations, Shaq. For all of us, Shaq could finally take the whole panel on vacation. He's not that team player. Yeah.

1:01:31Javier Tebas:Heart of steel. Yes. Heart of steel and stone over here.

1:01:36Real Madrid:When it comes to money and vacation. Fair play. Next question. Mbappé's Mount Rushmore was Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, or Phenomeno, as in that Ronaldo, and Zizou. What are yours?

1:01:49Javier Tebas:Oh, baby. Oh, my God.

1:01:52Real Madrid:Let's start. Okay, so that's Mbappé's Mount Rushmore. Absolutely. That one's hard to argue with, to be honest.

1:02:00Javier Tebas:Mmm.

1:02:01Real Madrid:I mean, O Phenomeno is definitely on my Mount Rushmore.

1:02:04Javier Tebas:Yeah.

1:02:04Real Madrid:Can I go? Sure, go ahead. Go.

1:02:09Javier Tebas:So, Beckenbauer, Barrezi, Desailly, and... Leboeuf. Mariusz Trezor. No, Mariusz Trezor.

1:02:20Real Madrid:I really thought he was going to say Leboeuf. They are my fourth at the back, Mount Rushmore. Oh, I love that. Very defensive, Mount Rushmore. Gab?

1:02:28Javier Tebas:Yeah.

1:02:28Real Madrid:Is it going to be an all-Italian Mount Rushmore?

1:02:31Javier Tebas:I mean, was the rule that they had to be players who he's actually seen play? And so, therefore, people, like, with all due respect to Phenomeno, maybe even Zizou, like, people like Pele and Maradona don't get considered for this? Possibly. I just thought it was kind of weird. It's your list, guys. You pick your players. Your mountain. Have what you want on it. Frank didn't even have Pele. It's your rock But I'll give you number 10 That I really like and admire Obviously Diego Armando Maradona Has to be there I would also add Manuel Rui Costa For me Possibly the most talented player I've ever seen And then we'll round it out With Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo Just because Not bad

1:03:24Real Madrid:Ale?

1:03:25Javier Tebas:Not too bad Diego Armando Maradona, Pele, the OG Ronaldo, and a favorite of mine when I was a child, Michael Loudreau.

1:03:39Real Madrid:Oh, wow. What a left field, but fair. Xhaka, are you going to do a goalkeeper's Mount Rushmore? Hell yes! Oh, yes, Xhaka! On Xhaka's Mount Rushmore.

1:03:50Javier Tebas:If you're having a goalkeeper's Mount Rushmore, you've got to start with Levi Yashin, who kind of set the standard as goalkeepers being part of. You see them play many times. Yeah, I know, I know. Hold on, it's my mountain. You grew up watching it. I didn't invite you to my mountain, Gab. It's my mountain. I'm putting Levy Asheen in. Levy Asheen, favorite of mine growing up, Ray Clemens for Liverpool. Oh, yeah. I then go Manuel Neuer. Oh. And no surprise for who's front of the mountain, Gigi Buffon.

1:04:22Real Madrid:Oh.

1:04:23Javier Tebas:No surprise. There you go, Gab.

1:04:25Real Madrid:He brought it back. He brought it back.

1:04:28Javier Tebas:Gigi Buffon. If I could have four Buffons of one. What about Dino Zoff? What about Dino Zoff, Shaka? Dino Zoff. He's on the back of the mountain. The other side. He's on the east face. He's on the east face of the mountain. Jason. He's like Jason. Schmeichel's a good show.

1:04:45Real Madrid:Thank you very much. Edwin Manessar, Great Wall of Holland.

1:04:50Javier Tebas:No, Schmeichel.

1:04:51Real Madrid:Schmeichel.

1:04:52Javier Tebas:I think Ray Clemens is going to have to agree.

1:04:54Real Madrid:Yes, bye, Ray Clemens.

1:04:57Javier Tebas:I think Ray Clemens is going to have to agree. Alexi, what would be your Mon Rushmore best player outside Manchester United players, please? Oh, I mean, yeah, I would definitely choose.

1:05:08Real Madrid:I actually would choose one. I would definitely put Ophenomeno, Ronaldo. I fell in love with football watching him and a certain Roberto Carlos. So they have to be on there. Of course, I'm going to put my boy Cristiano Ronaldo. And you know what? I'm going to put Dwight York. Hey! Bring it into the Caribbean. Yes! That got me to watch.

1:05:34Javier Tebas:Did you not hear what Frank said was not Manchester United players? I mean, two of them. There are already two. Too many.

1:05:43Real Madrid:Okay, well, if I had to pick those out, then you know what? I would put John Barnes just because he was a brilliant player and, of course, Jamaican-born. And I would put Edwin van der Sar, the Great Wall of Holland. No, no, no. It's still a Manchester United play. That's still a Manchester United.

1:06:02Javier Tebas:Somehow, we just keep finding ourselves here.

1:06:05Real Madrid:Somehow. You just always find your way back home.

1:06:08Javier Tebas:Hey, Messi. How about Messi? Peter Schmeichel. Go for Peter Schmeichel.

1:06:12Real Madrid:That's Manchester United, too. It's a thing. It's a thing. I know. I feel like the Messi and even though I did put Cristiano Ronaldo, that's obvious pick. Pele why not? I'll just have a Brazil and John Barnes. Well Brazilians Jamaicans love Brazilians so there you go. Free Brazilians.

1:06:31Javier Tebas:Exactly.

1:06:33Real Madrid:Alright next question. Frank did you have a problem with what Rosinior did on the pitch post match after Paris FC beat Strasbourg last weekend?

1:06:46Javier Tebas:Oh yes. Yes what a shame. What a shame. He decided to go to Chelsea, insulted the fans, the Strasbourg fans. I think it's when you're a coach, you have to go above that. You congratulate your own fans and you go back to the dressing room. I don't know why he did that. That was shameful. He was lucky that the Strasbourg player didn't say anything. would have been very, very upset.

1:07:20Real Madrid:Gab, you didn't like it either, did you?

1:07:24Javier Tebas:No, I mean, I handed him a new one. He should be banned and suspended. First and foremost is what he did was absolutely dangerous. You know that as a footballer on the pitch, you go and do things like that. It can create crowd disturbances. People can get hurt. Second of all, it's absolutely cowardly. You want to go do that? Why don't you meet the Strasburg Ultras outside in the car park and tell them how annoyed you are? right? But you don't have the cojones to go and do that, do you? Because you don't, because you're just, you guys stay there with your nerdy glasses. The whole basis of this, that they're angry because of the way he left, he gives us this whole entitled vibe.

1:08:03Javier Tebas:Bro, you went to Strasburg, you had the opportunity, right? And then when your master said, come to Chelsea, you just dropped them like a bad habit. He doesn't seem to understand. He said never seem to understand that Strasburg fans don't want to be owned by Clubby Blueco, right? They would rather be their own thing. He never seemed to get that. He's like, oh, I don't know why they're so hard on this. He had the same thing when he defended Emiga, when Emiga decided to leave or said he was going to leave at the end of the season. The fans gave Emiga a hard time. He's like, oh, they shouldn't leave him alone.

1:08:30Javier Tebas:He plays for the club because they're not morons and you're not a moron either, I'm told. Or maybe you just look intelligent because you wear glasses. I don't know. But But somebody like this comes across as so entitled and so tone deaf. And to go in and have done something that was potentially so dangerous as well, I don't know. He said, like, the matter's closed. He's not going to apologize. Blah, blah, blah. Fine. But then take the opportunity to reflect on what happened, on why it was wrong. And since you're all about self-improvement, be a better person. That was not a very friendly gap music.

1:09:05Real Madrid:I felt like I was being told off.

1:09:07Javier Tebas:Yeah. No. I'm being a better person. I'm going to reflect on. Gab has always reflected. Well, for those who don't know what happened, Liam Residio. Don't take too much time to reflect.

1:09:22Real Madrid:Liam Residio, who is now at Paris FC, after they beat Strasburg 2-1, he went over to the traveling fans and kind of taunted them, and then that led to quite an ugly melee that involves some club staff and fans.

1:09:35Javier Tebas:Gab called him bro. Bro. He said, bro. No, and by the way, you know what his own players think. You saw Philip Jorgensen was about to turn him into a little puddle on the pitch. And these are guys who work with him. So you know what the mindset of the Strasburg players was. I'm just speechless. I wish Paris FC would come out, and maybe they should be the ones disciplining him if the league isn't going to do it.

1:10:06Real Madrid:We're all going to reflect on ourselves after this one. Next question. Gab, is Daniel Malin City A's greatest ever player? And why is the answer yes?

1:10:25Javier Tebas:Yeah, I think undoubtedly he is the greatest. I mean, he's on pace to break it now. He's the right man, right time. and he scores goals, which by the way, if you look at his goals per minute, you know, throughout his career, he's always had that. I think he's greatly benefited from Roma's system as well. He's found a place that has really unlocked his abilities under Gasperini. Gasperini's even getting a tune out of Paolo Di Balla this year, who's somehow magically fit and playing 90 minutes every game. He sees plenty of the ball, and if you give him the ball enough times in dangerous positions because of the way they play, he's going to score you goals.

1:11:05Javier Tebas:I think it's as simple as that. A really astute signing. Also, a player I know that if Aston Villa could have, they would have wanted to hang on to.

1:11:16Real Madrid:All right. Let's move on to the next question then because I especially want to hear the answer from Ale Moreno. Who is the funniest manager or coach you've ever had? Ale, I know you have a deep affinity with your coaches. They were able to really have quite an effect on you. permeate through the layers of your heart. So who was the funniest?

1:11:40Javier Tebas:I don't think you can. Honestly, I don't think you can call managers funny.

1:11:45Real Madrid:Oh, Ale has some rough managers, man. No. You see? You see? Well, no.

1:11:51Javier Tebas:That has nothing to do with love. He doesn't like coaches. Yeah, he has no love. It has nothing to do with love. He has no love, no respect. He doesn't even want to talk to coaches. You are right, Frank. That may be true. That may be true, but that has nothing to do with being funny. Frank could sense it. Frank could do something. I don't know. Well, look, I think, I call me all school, but I think there needs to be a separation of church and state. When you are a coach, you can have a good relationship with your players, but there has to be a, I do think, and this is me, and again, all school, admittedly, there has to be a separation.

1:12:33Javier Tebas:There has to be a distance between you and the players because you need to make tough decisions. You need to make decisions on this player's livelihoods. So you need to be a little detached from the, hey, let's be funny, guys. And, hey, I'm one of the guys. You need to have clarity of thought and objectivity when you're making these decisions. And so, therefore, being part of the group isn't exactly what I would do if I were a coach. I would have a good relationship, a respectful relationship with the players. I would appreciate my players and have my players at the forefront of all my priorities if I were a manager.

1:13:11Javier Tebas:But that doesn't mean that we're buddies and let's go out for a drink. That wouldn't be the case.

1:13:17Real Madrid:So Frank was right.

1:13:19Javier Tebas:No, I... For me, my answer is Harry Redna. But Ali's point is not. He wasn't a stand-up comedian funny. Harry was just so old school It was funny Now Please you can find this on YouTube There's a time we're at Portsmouth We're on the training ground and one of the apprentices Or somebody kicks a ball And hits him in the head While he's doing an interview Harry's Harry's response Is the funniest thing You can see him unraveling live on camera And so Finally he turns around and shouts that's why you're stuck in the reserves.

1:14:04Javier Tebas:You can see him. He's trying to stop back. You can see him unwrap. He's just naturally a funny man. I give it to Harry all day, every day.

1:14:15Real Madrid:Love that one. Frank, you must have had some funny coaches.

1:14:22Javier Tebas:Is somebody who passed away last year, Roland Corbis, a French coach, played as a football player for Monaco, Marseille, and Toulon. I had a beautiful career as a coach for Montpellier and Marseille. And the guy, I couldn't stop laughing. He worked with the media after, and I had the chance to work with him. And the guy, I was talking with Christophe Dugary and some others, where he was insane, you know, but he was very sarcastic. That's the way it was funny. That he was teasing everybody and how he was talking to the opponent before the game was absolutely crazy. He was painting them as clowns and it was very, very funny.

1:15:09Javier Tebas:And you wanted to fight for those kind of guys because they were showing you how important you were for them compared to the others. So Roland passed away last year. And with Zizou, we went to his funeral with so many other players. Manuel Petit as well. Because that guy was a character and a fantastic coach.

1:15:34Real Madrid:All right. There it is. See, Ale, you can have funny coaches. I mean, if you just warm that heart.

1:15:41Javier Tebas:If you just warm that heart. Just warm that heart. Leading to joy. Look. Open your hearts. Dali, open your heart. I think my players would enjoy playing for me. But I don't think that they would call me funny.

1:15:58Real Madrid:Francis, open your heart. Open your heart.

1:16:03Javier Tebas:Keep going.

1:16:04Real Madrid:Final question.

1:16:05Javier Tebas:I don't know what the next line will be. No, don't. Final question.

1:16:09Real Madrid:This is a question that I said we could come to blows on or we could all just agree. To all, I am a brand new foodie of all your countries. which has the best culinary scene. And that's a tough one because we have Italy, we have France, we have Jamaica, we have Trinidad and Tobago, and we have Venezuela. So I think we can all just unanimously agree that it would be Jamaica. I think so. That's it. Of course. Like Manchester United is going to win the Premier League this season. I never said that. Don't humor, Alexis.

1:16:46Javier Tebas:Jamaica is the best in the Caribbean. It would be Jamaica.

1:16:47Real Madrid:Shaka.

1:16:48Javier Tebas:Not in the best in the Caribbean.

1:16:48Real Madrid:Who was enjoying patties and red pea soup the other day?

1:16:52Javier Tebas:That's a very aggressive pointing finger. I mean, that's just...

1:16:58Real Madrid:In Shaka's defense, so Trini food. You know what? You know what?

1:17:03Javier Tebas:I'm going to make it clear. I'm going to make it clear for everybody. Instead of culinary, you know, I would say that it's a fight between Italy and France, and that's it. And after that, there is no contest whatsoever. And I'm sure Gap would agree with me. And there is a European arrogance that we come to love and respect. Yep. No, no, it's reality. It's realism and reality. I, I, sorry, I would say to agree is, I do spend a fair amount of time in France. And we've had this question come up before. And I think top to bottom, in terms of raw materials, produce, ingredients, I think we in Italy probably have the edge over France.

1:17:55Javier Tebas:But the question was culinary scene. And one of the remarkable things is what French cuisine does with those ingredients, manipulates them, uses chemistry, uses technique, and it takes them to a different level. And they do it with so many different influences. If you go to Paris, you're not just getting, you know, the guy from the Cordon Bleu making the same dishes he was making 50 years ago. There's influences from all over the world, including, yes, from Venezuela, and maybe from Jamaica, too, and Vietnam, and God knows where else. But not from Trinidad and Tobago. From Trinidad. from three years but if you talk we can all agree on that if you talk about seeing if you talk about seeing I think I genuinely think there's many great food cities in the world but I do think and it's not just Paris by the way I do think France is unparalleled you okay?

1:19:09Javier Tebas:I've opened my heart to French cuisine.

1:19:14Javier Tebas:I've opened my heart to French cuisine, right? I haven't grown up a certain way. I've let the sun shine into my heart. Fantastic, yeah. And, you know, not everybody can do that. Not everybody. It's a bit by far the hardest thing.

1:19:26Real Madrid:I would have to say that Venezuelan cuisine also has a lot of influences.

1:19:31Javier Tebas:And also, I think it's important to bring some context to the conversation. Like, if you have your toes in the sand about to go on the beach, whether that's Jamaica, Trinidad, Tobago, Venezuela, look, a beef patty or an empanada, seafood empanada right there. I mean, look, you can keep all your French chemistry all you want. You give me that, and that is a different level entirely. What kind of crappy that? Tell him we have some beaches and sun and sea in Italy and in France. Okay, all right. If you're going to compare European beaches to this side of the world beaches, now we're really going to fight.

1:20:14Javier Tebas:There's no competition. Of course not. But go to Nice. Go to Nice.

1:20:19Real Madrid:Ours don't have oil. Go to Nice and you will see how beautiful the beaches. Our water is actually warm. Thank you very much.

1:20:26Javier Tebas:I can't.

1:20:27Real Madrid:White sand too. I mean, Trinidad doesn't really have those beaches, but Tobago does.

1:20:34Javier Tebas:Whoa, whoa. What?

1:20:37Real Madrid:Trinidad. Trinidad, the mainland.

1:20:41Javier Tebas:What?

1:20:41Real Madrid:Because it gets the ocean. Go, Chicago.

1:20:47Javier Tebas:I mean, you're expected to come from them, but not from. Go back to Newcastle, Chicago. Already? Your vacation's not until February, Zach.

1:20:58Real Madrid:We're going to continue fighting. I did tell you this question was going to bring us to blows, but the great answer is that all of our countries have an amazing culinary scene.

1:21:08Javier Tebas:Well, apparently not turning into Vegas.

1:21:11Real Madrid:It's going to be a scene. We are back tomorrow.

1:21:13Javier Tebas:For sure.

1:21:25Javier Tebas:Buster Olney here for La Quinta by Wyndham. Cooler weather, changing leaves, and scenic road trips are even better when your best friend comes along. At La Quinta by Wyndham, many locations are pet-friendly, so there's no need to leave your furry travel companion behind. Whether you're hiking a new trail, exploring a charming small town, or simply enjoying a relaxing fall weekend, everyone in the family is welcome and earn Wyndham Rewards points with every qualified stay. Tonight, La Quinta. Tomorrow you shine. Book your next trip at LaQuinta.com. Terms and conditions apply.