What is Success for Liverpool This Year?

26:50And we all know that we have, I don't know, 48 teams, you know, for the World Cup and we have more teams for the Champions League. And we all know why we have those amounts of clubs in the Champions League. It's because of money time. And that's what it is. So I'm okay with that. It's maybe too much for the players. But as Gap said again, they're going to make even more money. So it's good for them too. So I'm pleased with the system. It's kind of unbalanced at some point because you can play a team there, another team there, and then you get serious. Okay, that's the playoffs because first of all while you were talking Alino first did this and crossed his arms and then he put his head in his hand like this So I'm worrying about what he's about to say now.

27:37Well, no, no, I Frank mentioned American sports. I didn't bring it up. He brought it up, right? If if indeed you wanted to make this exciting and somewhat similar to American sports I'm not suggesting that you should, but I'm just drawing equivalents. Then do it as they do the NCAA tournament here in basketball, in which you have a seeding system, and actually you have Jeopardy, where the number one seed can play against the 16th seed, and it doesn't usually happen, but sometimes, sometimes there is an upset. Here, there is no upset. Not just yet. This league phase has been an extended period of time over a few months in which there is no real upset.

28:19There is no real significance to losing a game. Barcelona tying with Club Brugge doesn't mean anything, really. It doesn't. And so what I'm looking for is games that matter early on in the competition. So if you're playing one against... Yeah, but Ali... All right, go ahead, Frank. Go ahead. Go ahead. Honestly, go ahead. Yeah, I'm sorry, Ali. I'm sorry, Ali. When I referred to American sport, I was referring to the fact that I lived in L.A. and I saw the regular season where nobody cares. Nobody cares. We all know it's going to be the first eight. For example, in basketball. And we take it seriously when the playoff starts.

29:01It starts, sorry. So it's why I say that. It's because nobody cares really right now. It's just entertaining a little bit. And let's be serious. Let's get serious. It's why I was referring to the American sport. And the fact that it's not a championship, of course. Frank, you're making my point for me. You're saying that you don't care about this league phase. You're only waiting about the knockout stage. That's exactly what I'm saying. That this league phase is charades. It's for a show, but nothing else. There is no real substance to this. And yes, I agree. This gets a lot more exciting in the knockout stage.

29:37But you're making my point for me. By saying that you don't care about the league phase, yes. Yes, I agree with you. I'm with you 100 % in that sense. All right, let me take a look at the top of the table as it stands right now in this league phase because what we are seeing is the Premier League team is doing well so far in the league phase. And there's been a lot of talk this season, Shaka, about whether the Premier League is not so strong this year and other teams are falling off and Arsenal are up at the top there and they're up at the top here. But the team seem to be doing pretty well against European opposition, those Premier League sides.

30:08Which is odd, kind of given their struggles domestically. No, I've never bought into this. Well, the Premier League teams are doing best than anybody else, and that suggests something about the Premier League that the other leagues can't claim. I've never bought into that. And this table is a perfect example of that. How was Spurs fifth? The league face allows for this to happen. This version of Spurs. So something is happening here. Well, more than anything is an individual club basis where Spurs are competing in Europe in the way that they are and cannot put together any kind of a result domestically.

30:47The Premier League teams are doing well. They're strong. But I think in any league, all the strong teams are progressing, are doing well. So I don't read an awful lot into it. Not yet. Not in the group stage. Gab, do you read into it at all? No, it just tells us what we already know. Also, that table is pretty fugazi. Look at the number of teams that are on 13 points. You know, we're talking about really, really fine margins. It was the same thing last year. You're going to see teams making top eight because of goal difference, which is frankly incredibly stupid when you think about it as a way of separating teams when they've all played different opponents.

31:30I don't need this to tell me that the Premier League has the most really good teams out of any big league in Europe. I might also say you mentioned Spurs, but hey, look, just to underscore how single games matter. In their last game, the other team that against Borussia Dortmund, the other team had a guy sent off after 24 minutes. And that was that. It doesn't happen every day. These are lucky things out of your control. There's variance. Does anybody think Spurs are better than Man City? Because Spurs are ahead of them in the table. No. So, yeah, let's not read too much into it. The only thing you should read into is the top two probably really are the two best teams in the world right now.

32:35Sign up to learn more at Amazon.com slash hub delivery. That's Amazon.com slash H-U-B delivery. Avoiding your unfinished home projects because you're not sure where to start? Thumbtack knows homes, so you don't have to. Don't know the difference between matte paint finish and satin? Or what that clunking sound from your dryer is? With Thumbtack, you don't have to be a home pro. You just have to hire one. You can hire top-rated pros, see price estimates, and read reviews all on the Thumbtack app. Download today. One thing we will read into, though, is the clash between Napoli and Chelsea, where we do have you, Gab, because obviously there's a lot of games coming up to round out this league phase.

33:19I'm not going to read them all out because we'll be here all day if we do. However, this Napoli against Chelsea game is very interesting because Napoli need to win to stay in the competition and Chelsea need to win to stay in the top eight. It's pretty much a must-win for Napoli, whatever happens, though, Gab. Yeah, I mean, the table's very, very clear. They're in the situation. They're just outside. They screwed the pooch last week when they were 1-0 up against 10 men against Copenhagen. And then somehow they allowed Copenhagen to equalise. And no, in case you're wondering, Rasmus Hojland didn't switch teams halfway through.

34:00So yeah, they're in a tough spot. And to make things worse, as Serie A watchers know, they've had this incredible run of injuries where they've had maybe six, seven starters out. And they will likely play before... Cote will likely be forced to play the same 11 that lost to Juventus on Sunday night. So, yeah, everything is poised against Napoli. He's going to really have to pull a rabbit out of the hat, I think, to get this done. Yeah, including their manager right now in Champions League playwright, Gab, because there is this narrative with Antonio Conte that when it comes to European football, it's just not quite the success that he's enjoyed as he has in domestic football.

34:47Yeah, look, the narrative certainly exists. if you throw in the Europa League. I think he did go deep in that once or twice. But I just think this season, I'm giving him a pass on it, and I think everybody else should, because of the injury crisis. Just for reminders, it's Rachmani, it's Zambanguisa. Lukaku will probably be on the bench. He's basically been out all season. It's Davin Neres. I mean, top to bottom, they have so many guys out, and he's had to play the same 11. He's had to play kids like Vergara. You know, the things holding this team together is basically Scott McTominay and nothing else.

35:29That's the reality of what Conte is facing right now. So even if you don't like him, and many don't, you should have a tiny shred of sympathy and maybe agree that this season shouldn't be lumped in with his past Champions League shortcomings. Yes, however, Frank, former Chelsea man, And we need Chelsea to win this one if we're a blue. Because if Chelsea lose or draw against Napoli, a Barca win would take them up into the top eight. However, there is another chance for Chelsea, as we know. But what's your prediction on this game, Frank? Well, of course, hopefully, I want to see Chelsea winning away from home.

36:06But you have to respect Napoli. And I think it's completely abnormal to see them in that position. And Gab, explain why. But it's going to be a tricky game to play. Antonio Conte having been the former coach of Chelsea. So the pride will be at stake as well. So it's possible for the Blues, but we don't know anything about the Blues. We don't know what's going to happen. They can have a hell of a game or pull one, and we don't know where we stand. So let's pray for our Blue fans and just enjoy the warm-up of the Champions League, Mr Ali Moreno. Yeah. It's going to be whatever happens. They're going to be fine anyway, Ali.

36:45Well, this is for all the army of three that are for all this league phase format. We had Xhaka trying to change the format himself. Gab in his first answer wanted to change the format too. And then called it himself, not me, Fugazi because of how they separate teams because of goal differential. And then Frank said, I don't even care about what's going on in the league phase. It's a nice warm up phase to what is coming up next. So this army of three is really not making the argument that they think they are. Okay. Gab. Anything else you're looking out for when it comes to these matchups that I didn't want to read out?

37:20Because there are some standout ones in terms of narratives.

37:25This one's obviously far-fetched. It would be incredible. But we've seen the guy do his voodoo, black magic, black arts before. Jose Mourinho takes over a Benfica side that had lost every match. goes into it. And as Mourinho might have reminded us once or twice, he has already won the Champions League twice. It kind of turns it around. Not really. You look at them. They're way down there in the table. What is it? 29th. But guess what? Through the magic of the Swiss model, which Ali doesn't like, if they win their home game against Real Madrid and a number of other results, and I actually went through this, and it's really not totally implausible.

38:10A number of other results go Benfica's way. Jose Mourinho will stay alive to fight another day in the Champions League. And with him, Benfica and the Eagles flying over the Estadio de Luz, all that magic. And look, this is special. We can look at this and scoff and say, oh, no, they're not a big team. Give me Barcelona, Arsenal, whatever. But you look at Benfica's history. You look at the size of the club. You look at the character that Mourinho is. And so we do have this other subplot. They're going into this very star-crossed Real Madrid, coached, of course, by his former protege, Alvaro Arbeloa.

38:49Weirdly, I think this says a lot. I think Murillo said he was his favorite player when he was coaching Real Madrid. So, yeah, this would be pretty delicious, pretty special if it happens. I'm not trolling Real Madrid fans in any way, shape, or form. You guys will be fine anyway. but if Benfica could pull this off Mourinho pulls this off I mean I think this is pretty special comeback yeah but Gab once again you guys will be fine anyway if Benfica do beat Real Madrid they're going to be fine anyway there's nothing to worry about nothing to see they have put themselves in this one make sure to join the team on tomorrow's show as we look back on the last round of the Champions League phase games and no doubt more talk about the format and what's next ESPN Plus coming up tomorrow

39:37OK, these are the matches coming up in La Liga this weekend. You have got Levante against Atleti and Elche against Barca on Saturday. And then bright and early on Sunday morning, it's Real Madrid taking on Rayo Vallecano. All of these games, as always, available on ESPN+.

39:57OK, some news and notes here. Jadro Fernandes is set to join PSG for an€8.5 million fee from Barcelona. Patrick Dorgou is out for 10 weeks with a hamstring injury. Douglas Luiz is set to join Aston Villa on loan. And Tammy Abraham is also rejoining him, joining Aston Villa from Besiktas. Gab, what stands out to you among these news and notes that you want to talk about? Well, I think the most interesting one in some ways is Douglas Luiz. in the sense that, you know, here's a guy, highly rated, moves to Man City, doesn't quite work out for him, goes to Aston Villa, becomes one of the better defensive midfielders in the Premier League, moves to Juventus in this weird trade with all these players going the other way and money and outcry, whatever the heck that was.

40:56And then at Juventus, he's absolutely terrible. Nobody likes him. Nobody wants to see him. Actually, goes over there, starts dating Alicia Lehman, another, maybe his dad, I don't know if he was dating him before or whatever, but, like, there's something that they're supposed to be, the glamour couple. Doesn't work out for either one, the men's team and the women's team. Goes on loan in Nottingham Forest. More problems, more issues. Forest send him back to Juve. Juve send him back, not that far away from Nottingham, actually, to Birmingham, where it looks as if he's going to rejoin Aston Villa.

41:27Now, how does this happen? Well, from Unai Emery's perspective, he's a guy he's already worked with. He's worked with him well, didn't always get along, but got productivity out of him. Villa very limited in what they can do. Let's not forget, Villa are under settlement agreement for breaching financial sustainability rules with UEFA. if they break the rules again, if they don't hit certain targets, it's an automatic one-year, at least one-year ban from Europe. But he needs bodies in, right? So I think it would be quite the story if Emery gets Douglas Luiz ticking again and he moves the needle in their push for a Champions League spot.

42:11Yeah, all that Gab left out there was Douglas Luiz's height, wage packet, and the address of where he lives right now. We got the relationship gossip. Did you get the recap you needed? I heard more than I needed to, I'll be honest. Thank you so much, Gab. Make sure to join the team on Extra Time. They will be answering your questions on the latest edition. You can catch it over on our YouTube channel.

42:37Do you know what the scariest sound to hear on the factory floor is? Silence. That means something somewhere broke. Production has stopped and now you're paying workers to wait while the team troubleshoots and fixes the problem. Finally, there's a proactive way to reduce equipment downtime thanks to MaintainX. MaintainX is the AI-powered maintenance and asset management system that brings your unplanned maintenance downtime to zero. MaintainX lets you build preventative maintenance schedules, manage work orders in real time, and access the data you need to make better decisions. Try MaintainX for free, control the daily operations of your business, and transform your maintenance program.

43:12Go to maintainx.com slash sports. That's maintain and the letter x dot com slash sports. Rich Eisen here. The tax deadline will be here before you know it. And you just want to know your taxes are actually being handled. But the old way, you hand everything off and then silence. Days pass. Weeks pass. You start wondering, should I send another follow-up email? It feels like you're chasing updates and getting nowhere. But now taxes are different because your taxes are done for you by a TurboTax full-service expert. With Intuit TurboTax, you can match with your dedicated tax expert and hand off everything right in the app.

43:52And while your expert checks for every deduction, you'll see real-time updates on your phone so you always know exactly where things stand. Suddenly, you're not refreshing your inbox. You're going for a run, grabbing a coffee, scrolling anything other than a just checking in message. because your TurboTax expert is handling it and keeping you in the loop. So this tax season, get your best possible outcome and every dollar you deserve without the guesswork. Visit TurboTax.com today to learn more. Real-time updates only in iOS mobile app, only available with TurboTax full-service experts. That's all we've got time for on the latest edition of ESPN FC.

44:33but Gab and Frank and Ale and Shaka will be joining us on Extra Time. That's coming up right now. Stay right where you are. Extra Time is on the way next.

44:47Welcome into the latest edition of Extra Time. There's been some ganging up on Ale today from the three of Frank and Gab and Shaka. They define themselves as the army of three. Tell us, Frank. Ali, you know what I learned from you today is you don't like entree. You want only main course. You know, you don't like antipastis and stuff like that. You only want the main course and you don't care about the dessert as well. You need a warm-up. You need something to prepare your stomach. Then you get the wine course and then you enjoy the dessert. You don't like that. Good take that, Frank. Have a little soup or something.

45:27A little soup. So the army of three likes appetizers, is that what I get out of this? Yep, yes. You like appetizers. That is it. And a moosh-boosh, is that what you need? Some to cleanse the palate. I don't need Slavia Praga to cleanse the palate. I like the analogy, Frank. Hey, are we going to talk about the really most important thing today? Shaka's exercise routine. Yeah, yes. Shaq is getting spotted in the hallways and the studios of ESPN right now because of his time spent in the ESPN gym. What are you bench pressing there, Shaq, to be getting talked about? He's pressing buttons. Oh, boy.

46:11We're a little family, we are. Right. Us gym buddies. What are we going for? Are we going for the weights rack? Are we going for the machines? A little bit of everything, Kay. You know me. A smorgasbord. A smorgasbord. everything there's classes as well i'm not i'm not classes guy no i'm just leave me alone let me just figure out what i'm doing here okay but also what was the routine today shaq take us through it i went for a brisk walk okay all right risk walk and then some weights happy days see you tomorrow you don't want to get up to a jog just yet we're not quite there no all right i'm I'm in my walking face.

46:51You're not quite in Frank Leboeuf's face. No, no, no. There's going to be no gym pictures. There's a lot of appetizers in your workout routine. I'm in my walking face. Remember when Frank was posting some pictures of his gains in the gym? You're not going to be sending us any of those? No, you don't. It was a shirtless Frank. See, to post photos of your gains, you need gains. That's where I'm getting unstuck a little bit. You're just keeping it at starting points. Maintenance. Very level. Consistent. Mid-40s. Boom. Yeah, good work, Shaq. And good work, Frank. OK, do you really think Arsenal will win the league, Gab?

47:34Do I think yes? I think four points is still a significant margin. They do have, look at their head-to-head clashes. They do have City away. OK, you want a pencil and a defeat there. but the rest of the way I think a bunch of nerds have looked at this and said the schedule other than that clash obviously favors Arsenal. I think they have the depth, I think they have the nerve and also it's not like City are pulling up trees right now. You know they haven't necessarily suffered too many injuries going forward, they suffered injuries at the back, lots of question marks there. So yeah, I have Arsenal as favorites.

48:17I think on the show, I think I said I gave Arsenal 60%, City 35%, and Villa 5 % because everybody's overlooking them, but they have the same number of points as City. Okay. Just a quick question. When Gab is so dismissive of a bunch of nerds, that means that he's not including himself in the group of nerds. No, Gab spends a lot of time with Okay. Yeah, he spends a lot of time. But he's not one himself. Well, when he's with them, he's a nerd. He's a multi-faceted. He adapts. He adapts to his environment. I need us a clarification. Thank you. You're welcome. You know, the feeling that I had, that was very critical to all the nerds, you know, the way he was saying it, you know.

49:09So I don't know what he really thinks about them when he's with them. That's the thing. They understand. They understand. OK, despite slot soft landing, agonal stats superseding players' physics claims wind, basically blaming the wind, during presses covering LFC beat. Is it the ageing of linchpin's verge, mo, or last season's forced multiplier ceased to imbue the best year with champion Mojo? Is LFC math dead, dying, or just hard? Who wants to translate? Wait a minute, is it your reading that is the problem or is it the question that is the problem? Can you translate that? Somebody got a thesaurus for Christmas.

49:48Big Taylor Marine had his thesaurus. I have no idea what that question is. It's thesaurus, please. It's not thesaurus. Can you say it in French? Thesaurus. All right, nerd. I don't know. I'm just saying. I don't know. Okay. It's vice versa again. I don't know. I don't know. What did I say? You said these are us. Okay. We obviously did not get it right. I feel like Gab could translate this for us. Why, because Gab's in it? That's the smart one. Yep.

50:28100%. Gab, I say the smart one, okay? I say the intellect of the panel, okay, Gab? Can't call it, can't call it. Mm-hmm. I think in general terms, he's asking why are Liverpool in a spot of bother right now. He's inquiring about the impact the wind might have had on the game. And the rest, I don't know, the screen's a little too far away from me. So maybe you can get Xhaka to translate. I mean, there is math mentioned here, Shaq, and that is usually your field. That's right, Kay. Slot's excuse at Bournemouth, the wind was one of them. Maybe it's coming down to stats. The algorithm. The math ain't math in at Liverpool.

51:21Algorithm, Shaq. It's like your algorithm. Work it out. What's the math? The most serious I've seen Shaq in ages. I'm trying to figure it out. They ain't good. Liverpool ain't playing good. OK. You're thesaurus. You're thesaurus. That's exactly the thesaurus. Liverpool not playing good. OK. Thanks, Tinker Tailor-Marine. While Spurs seem relatively safe from the relegation battle, they're only three points clear of 17th place, where they finished last season. So, Frank, why stick with Thomas Frank? Well, because you made a change last season and you want to give some chances to the product. I was really optimistic that Thomas Frank will do very well and he started pretty good, pretty good.

52:10But, yeah, it's becoming a nightmare. Well, you have the Champions League. Don't forget they are fourth or fifth in the Champions League rank. So let's see if it's something that he can deal with in the Premier League and make Spurs better. I really want to believe that what I saw with Thomas Frank is going to be able to make Spurs better and I'm still optimistic about that. But so far, it's been a real disappointment, that's for sure. OK. Xhaka, and you're really well placed to answer this right now, given a lot of your appearances on the German league of late. Xhaka, which league currently has the best goalkeepers?

52:48The Premier League, La Liga, the Bundesliga or Serie A? The Ligue 1. It's not mentioned to you, sadly, Frank. Sorry.

53:01I'm going to lean La Liga here. I'm going to lean between Barça and Real. I think they are arguably the best to gokeepers in the world. Sydney right now in form and league form.

53:17You were just saying all amazing things about Manuel Neuer the other day on our Bundesliga coverage Shaka yeah but Malone is for 64. No Malone is outstanding no no question but for 40 now we saw a clearing mistake from him a couple weeks ago he's still still outstanding but now La Liga is my final answer and if you're gonna make an argument for La Liga goalkeepers I think we must point Now the fact that say for example Girona have Marc-Andre Ter Stegen in goal and we're talking about really deep into the league table and we haven't even mentioned Jan Oblak but you can go down the list and I agree with you Shaq and I know you have a Bundesliga bias but I agree with the fact that La Liga.

54:07I am as partial as they come Alejandro. I like it when you say it. Oh boy. Move on. Gab, who's been more impressive with Juve this season, Weston McKennie or Jonathan David?

54:23Well, I think it has to be Weston McKennie. Jonathan David was being questioned left, right and centre until maybe, what, three weeks ago. I think the low point for him was when, you know, he took and missed that penalty. I think some of the criticism towards McKennie has been unfair. Sorry, towards Jonathan David has been unfair. But he's turned it around. McKinney, I mean, he's been a model citizen all season. You can play in him anywhere. He always gives you effort. And he often gives you quality as well. And Spalletti came out and said, you know what? I bet McKinney could play center forward for me because David likes to come short and McKinney can go deep.

55:11So he's been versatile. He's been available. You know, they say the best ability is availability. He's always there. Coaches change. McKennie always seems to be on the verge of moving in the summer, largely for contractual issues. But in the end, he always plays. And I think, you know, I know he's gotten a rough ride and some of it may be brought unto himself in the past, but I think professionally, he's been absolutely unimpeachable this season. Doit McKennie. Say what? It's time to bring God to full of Americas, let me just say. Oh, baby. He's breaking it. Along with you, not instead of... And Shaq.

55:48Don't forget Shaq. Ali, I know you keep your eye on this team. Oh, boy. If Wrexham get promoted again, where would that achievement fall historically? Well, forgive me if I don't know the history of promotion and relegation going all the way down to the National League in England. But you have to say this would be a remarkable achievement. And it's one thing to have owners and say, hey, we're going to put the money and we're going to do this. And then you get the TV show around it. And yeah, there are some very cool stories there. And you can get behind the players and you can get behind the team.

56:25But then the results have to come with it. And what has been the case with Wrexham is that the results have certainly come with it. it's undeniable the rise of this team, the rise of this brand, the influx of interest around these players and this club as a whole. Wrexham was in nobody's, and I'm in nobody's, radar a few years back. And now they're very much part of the conversation of a team that is in a playoff position and could potentially be soon in the Premier League. Yes, absolutely. They're in sixth right now in the English Championship. Go ahead, Gab. Okay, I know some old-timers out there would have a go at me if I didn't point out.

57:06I agree with Ali, it would be a tremendous achievement. Of course, they have put the money in. But I was going to say, it wasn't that long ago. It was a long time ago, but some of us are old enough to remember it. There was a team called Wimbledon, which rose from the ranks of non-league football, lower than where Wrexham were when they were taking over. and not only did they go all the way up to the Premier League or the Football League as it was then and then they stuck around in the Premier League for a whole bunch of years. They also won the FA Cup, beating Liverpool. Stevie Nichols, Liverpool.

57:40Yeah, why are you bringing that up? If I'm not mistaken. That was in 1988. Schocker can correct me. I'm sure he remembers this. So, you know, it's a tremendous achievement. But let's not put it anywhere near the same class as what Liverpool under the leadership of Sam Amam, sorry, Wimbledon, under the leadership of Sam Amam, put together in those years, because that was unprecedented and maybe will never be repeated. Okay. And there I was trying to keep it positive about Wrexham, and you know, we just can't let it go. There's no need. Can't let it go. Gab, who's the GOAT Serie A team?

58:26You know there's no correct answer to this because no matter no matter what I say the other ones will accuse you of one thing or another. Actually I do have an answer. I'm not gonna mention Milan with their 10 billion Champions League titles. I'm not gonna mention Juve of course won more titles than anybody else including the ones that were taken away. I'm not gonna mention Inter who won the treble. I'm gonna mention Torino who won five titles in a row between the war for the Second World War and in the start and who of course suffered that great tragedy at Superga in what were the plane crash in 1949 or 1950 I think it was.

59:14That team, I wasn't around to see it but you could the numbers, they were more dominant than anybody else and they lost 10 of 11 players on that sad day. So I think the greatest team in the history of Serie A is undoubtedly that one. You must have seen that team play, Shaq. No, I didn't see that either. What? Frank, you can have your own personal view on this one. Who is your favourite Serie A team, your greatest of all time Serie A team? team? Well, the one I comes to me, it's is the Bellus conist team with Barresi, of course, Maldini, the side and some others Gullit Van Basten, right card and some others.

1:00:04They won so many Champions League. I remember that final against Barcelona when they won. I don't want to be mistaken for one. I think with Marcel, the size scoring the last one that That was a hell of a team. I had the chance to play against them when I was in Strasbourg and we were lucky to be only between 1-0 and 2-1 I think. So that was quite okay. But that was a great team and of course I don't want to forget the Juventus with Platini, Boniac and some others. That was a fantastic team as well. My choice will be AC Milan in the 90s. Who did you like growing up? Because we all watched it growing up, didn't we?

1:00:46La Vecca Signora, with Platini and Boniak and later Michael Laudrup as well, who I've said many a times is one of my favourite players growing up. And truth be told, the way it worked in my house is that you're watching Formula One and then it would be the Italian game would come right after. And usually my dad and my brother were supporting Napoli because at the time Maradona was with Napoli. And because I didn't care to go along with what my brother and my dad, I said, you know what? I like that thing. You are a contrarian. I like Platini. I like Laudrup. I like Gornier. I like Taconi. I like Cabrini.

1:01:29I like Shirea. I like that thing. But I don't like the Champions League new format. The contrarian. Well, that's a different conversation. That would make sense. I think even my dad, my brother and I would agree on that. That would make sense. Big face. Oh, boy. Ale, what's the best way to keep track of all the Champions League games tomorrow?

1:01:50Well, what we're doing is a little sort of insight as to how we will deal with this. We have a viewing room in which we have six screens. We can't have any more screens than that. And I am guessing I'm going to be sitting on the right-hand side and I'm going to be paying attention, close attention to two screens in particular with an eye here in the middle two screens. The far screens over there are probably going to go to Craig. That also keeps me away from Craig, so it works out well for everybody. And then, of course, if you want to know what happened and get all the takes on it, you join the team on ESPN FC afterwards to hear what went on in all the Champions League games.

1:02:30So if you don't have six screens in your house, I'm not quite sure as to what you're going to do. For Shaka, today is National Plan Your Vacation Day. Have you done that already? Did you actually lobby for this day? Have you done that already for your trip to Carnival? My wife plans our trip to Carnival. I do what she says. Wise choice. Lord have mercy, Jesus. You're suggesting that you have no involvement and no participation whatsoever. None whatsoever. You only participate in the Carnival parade where you're wearing some feathers and other outfits? Well, no feathers. But everything else, my wife.

1:03:13Have there been no pictures of you? No. It's my wife's feathers. I carried my wife's feathers before sometimes. Oh, all right. That's kind of good, yeah. Teamwork. Yeah, that's, you know. I feel like you like this, though, National Plenty of Vacation, Dethi. I feel like that's a bit of you, chef. I don't need a D for that. That's every D. That's every D. Every D is Christmas for me, baby. People don't know this about Shaq, right? But I think it's important that we all find out. I'm laughing already. There, it's difficult to get Shaq to focus on something that he doesn't really care about. But when he comes to planning his days off and his vacation, this man, he is.

1:03:57I mean, he's clickety-clacking on the keyboard. He's like, it's like he enters the matrix and he's just seeing things at a different level. spreadsheet for the days off that he's owed. I mean, he's just in a completely different world. He's in the zone. And then it's like somebody unplugs him. Once he's done, he checks out from the world. Yeah, but that's Xhaka. Work hard, play hard, you know, enjoy. That's what it is. That's right, Frankie. Thank you very much. Which one is the part about working hard? I agree. I agree, Frank. I agree. I agree with Frank. Am I exaggerating? Yes, you are. Yes, you are.

1:04:39Yes. When nobody could enter the vacation system in this company, you knew how to enter the vacation system. They held a class. You ran the class. They had a class. I was in that class and I still didn't know and you seemed to take all the notes and really get it. Yeah, it was automatic. Didn't he have the little link that he sent around to us all? This is the link. You are such an instigator, you are. Oh, man. Shaq, we just want you here, that's all. We like you having a vacation, but we'll see when you're gone. I'll come back. I'll come back. Okay, good. All right. Last question. Gab, who's going to win the Super Bowl?

1:05:19Oh.

1:05:23All right. Go on, say it, Gab. Say it. For obvious reasons, I'm going to say whoever's playing the New England Patriots. Is that right? Is that right, Ale? I think so. I think the Seattle Seahawks are going to win. No, no. Oh, because, oh yeah, your boy. Yes, the Seahawks. Your boy. Obviously. Your boy, Drake. That's right, that's right. You just watch. You just watch. Can you name another player? Huh? Can you name another player? At the Patriots. Stephon Diggs? Yes! Yes! Yes! Let's go home. Oh my goodness. Never mind Bundesliga. I'm going to be the NFL shot next. Woo, baby. Let's go. Frank, do you follow it, Frank?

1:06:05No, no, no. We've got no more questions. You got one. You got one. What? Will you be watching, Frank? Oh, yes, yes. I've always been watching, you know, for the past 20 years. So, yes, I'm going to enjoy it. OK. Apparently, nobody cares, Xhaka. All right. I did care. I care about your opinion, Frank. Yeah, I see that. I love you, Frank. Make sure to join us tomorrow. You're the only one.

1:06:36Two teams, one cup. The primetime stage is set for the TGL presented by SoFi Finals, Los Angeles Golf Club versus Tigers Jupiter Lynx. Keep up, it's playoffs. Tune in Monday, March 23rd, 9 p.m. Eastern on ESPN2, and Tuesday, March 24th, 7 p.m. Eastern on ESPN and on the ESPN app.