My kind of buffet

0:00Jim Campbell: Looking for soccer analysis more knowing than a Carlo Ancelotti eyebrow raise? With the World Cup around the corner, join me, Max Rushton and the Guardian's expert soccer journalist on Football Weekly for all the latest soccer action and news throughout the week. We'll cover more ground than Drew Bellingham in a Champions League final with conversations sharper than an Arsenal set piece. For fine margins, fun debates and full-blooded tackles, Football Weekly. Listen wherever you get your podcasts and watch the full episodes on YouTube.

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3:49Pete Donaldson: All killer, no filler, everybody. Welcome to the Football Ramble. Arsenal stroll through and what is going on with AFCON? It's Wednesday, 18th of March. I'm Marcus Speller. I'm Jim Campbell. And I'm Pete Donaldson.

4:13Pete Donaldson: Hello, everybody. It's quite the Wednesday here at Football Ramble. Towers. Not to talk about. My goodness, Peter. My goodness. I've got to firstly say thanks to Friend of the Ramble, Steve Hayes for giving us that intro line. Steve Hayes, where Steve Les Ferdinand started his career, of course. Of course. It's always important to point that out. If you want to submit an intro line for a future episode and get an extended edition of today's show, then become a Friend of the Ramble on our Patreon. Don't delay. Just head to patreon.com forward slash football ramble to get involved now. There were three Premier League teams in Champions League action last night.

4:48Pete Donaldson: One of them went through a reasonably routine win with two quality goals. One of them crashed out to the champions and have financial difficulties on a quite unprecedented scale. Yes, indeed. And Manchester City were beaten again by Real Madrid, which involved sending off and so on and so forth. We're not going to start with any of that, though. Because one of the most stunning stories has appeared shortly after the full times of this game. Very few people were talking about, oh, Man City, what's going on there? Can they go all the way? Blah, blah, blah. All of our attentions were grabbed by the ruling body in African football, CAF, deciding to give Morocco the African Cup of Nations title, which of course happened all the way back in January.

5:40Pete Donaldson: Gentlemen, I'm very close to being lost for words, but Morocco have been declared the winners of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, because CAF have overturned the result to their final defeat to Senegal. The final happened in January, the tournament started in December of course, 2025. Those fucking ball boys. They hate those ball boys. They've got the last laugh. Although Senegal have a chance to... Jim?

6:07Jim Campbell: Senegal will appeal. This is not the end of it. It's the never-ending final. This already seemed like it had been handled as badly as possible on the day. I can't. All the players are like, come and get the fucking medals. All the players are like, come and get the medals.

6:22Pete Donaldson: Come and get them. We'll be in the town square, have a little of Senegal, and play you for them. Yeah, exactly.

6:29Jim Campbell: It is absurd, isn't it? Because, you know, the game was ridiculous. Obviously, Senegal choosing to leave the pitch was bad. But surely you deal with it then or not at all. They've essentially, they've given them a three nil defeat for essentially refusing to take part in the match there. But absolutely. Why now? You've dealt with it. It's been dealt with in a sort of slightly weird and confusing way. But I think, you know, it was the sensible thing to do was to continue the game. They could have stopped the game there and then and gone, right, you've, you know, you've left the field of play. You're disqualified.

7:06Jim Campbell: That would have been deeply unsatisfying. Well, bearing in mind there was already rioting in the crowd at that point, so I can understand why they completed the game, if I'm completely honest with myself, but why it's taken this long to rule it in their favour. I mean, let's make it very clear, the referee was a joke in the final. The referees were jokes completely right the way through the tournament. It's a massive rollback for how good they were in the Ivory Coast tournament last time out. And it was a very, very strange final that ended even stranger and, you know, three or two months later we're having to deal with this.

7:41I mean, Morocco wouldn't have wanted to win it in this way. 50 years trying to get there. And it's a real shame.

7:48Pete Donaldson: It's a real shame for everybody. I tell you, I had a great night last night. Brahim Diaz. But did he though? Did he? I can't work it out. Knocked out Man City and he's going, oh, sure, yeah. I can enjoy that golden boot trophy I got finally.

8:02Jim Campbell: Someone 3D printed him a medal while he was on the pitch.

8:04Pete Donaldson: If only he just stuck that penalty away. But anyway, I can't get my head around this. I mean, look, the statement that CAF said, I'll read that out in the interest of good practice. The CAF Appeal Board decided that in the application of Article 84 of the regulation of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations, the Senegal national team is declared to have forfeited the final match of the Total Energies Africa Cup of Nations 2025. Good to get the sponsor in there. It's good that Total Energy's paid for that. Indeed, yeah, yeah, yeah. That's exactly what they had in mind. There was too much energy. Can you not put the branding in on this statement, please?

8:40Just, we're absolutely fine. We think the contract may have ironically gassed out, so don't worry about it. I mean, it's a real mess for the next tournament. They're trying to bring in the Nations League for Africa, aren't they? Which is quite interesting.

8:55Pete Donaldson: That's something separate. Leave off the Nations League. But Kenya, I mean, I really fancied a bit of like Uganda for the next one. Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania. That would be a lovely little bit. Good away, Dave. I would love a bit of that to go to Uganda in controlled circumstances. But it looks like the security situation there, it probably won't be happening anyway, so they're probably going to move that to the next year, which has a knock-on effect with everything else they're going to be doing in 2028. So, I mean, the whole tournament is in tatters at this moment in time. It's incredible. Yeah.

9:28Pete Donaldson: Senegal. Fucking ball boys. Yeah, I know. King ball boys. It's annoying that they get some sort of celebration. I mean, there were fireworks going off in Morocco somewhere last night.

9:36Jim Campbell: Yeah, I did wonder, sort of, does this, you know, is this actually an enjoyable way to win a tournament? Of course, presumably it isn't. But the fireworks suggest that at least some people were like, brilliant.

9:45Pete Donaldson: Yeah. I mean, the only president, or not president, the only other example I could think of, and perhaps there's one that maybe I'm missing, was when Marseille was stripped of their Ligue 1 title in the early 90s, when they were being naughty little cheating buggers. And I think it was given to, was it PSG? And PSG refused and said, no, no, no, we don't want that. Anyway, whatever happened, it was all a bit strange. But I mean, it'd be the same if, you know, when people have been speculating what may happen to Manchester City. Yeah, yeah. I mean, Juventus as well would be bigger. Well, yeah, like it's...

10:18Pete Donaldson: It's empty. It's completely empty. But what happens is those who had those celebrations... They're still going to remember the night out. Yeah, exactly. What do you do? You can't sort of hand back your night out. Do you know what I mean? Yeah, well, indeed. So I'd like to I'd like to That's something different though But anyway Senegalese FA General Secretary said you know this is a travesty decision is based on absolutely nothing It has no legal foundation the president of the Federation will get in touch with the lawyers will engage with the appropriate authorities And then we will go to the court of arbitration arbitration sorry for sport which will issue the final decision So this is gonna run and run well, I mean Senegal player Amar Adi have tweeted.

10:55Pete Donaldson: This is insane they get a trophy by email with a crying laughing emoji. So there's going to be plenty of this. I think that a new rivalry has been born between Morocco and Senegal which could run and run and run. Astonishing. Astonishing is the word, Peter. We're looking forward to that. Can you imagine the cart? We don't want to be a cart, but you can imagine the arbitration.

11:22Pete Donaldson: Absolute madness. Beautiful. I love it. So there we go. I'm sure there will be some sort of update As I say, Senegal will appeal and we'll probably get the result in September or something like that. It's a Senegal-ing. It is. This whole story affair. It is. Right. Champions League. Knockout football. Happened last night. Arsenal beat Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 on the note, 3-1 on Ag. All the way through to the quarterfinals. Eber Etriezzi opened the scoring gym, didn't he?

11:48Jim Campbell: What a goal. A lot has been made of this being Eza season between March and May. His productivity goes up. but you know this was a special example of hopefully you know a sign of that being a more regular thing what a volley one of Arsenal's goals of the season to kind of set yourself up with one foot and then lash it home like that with the other the pace on it was unbelievable it was actually not a bad height for the goalkeeper but it's so hard it doesn't matter he's got no chance he's got no chance I'm not if it was on Arsenal's goal obviously I have my own feelings about that he'll get a mention in a minute

12:25Pete Donaldson: yeah it's a stunning strike I mean I was I was there as you were Jim and that kind of moment the stadium erupt yeah and it was I mean it was a good atmosphere in the stadium last night but I mean you were there as well I was there yeah can you believe it what were you up to I was I was working you're working I see well you know I may well be at Spurs tonight if you can see me catch me I'll try and slip you a free packet of walkers but um that's how I deserve. To have the crisps stolen by Marcus. The crisps has already been paid for. Okay. Is there an open buffet in the place that you are? Because I worry that your lust for free buffet might, you know, see you off future work.

13:09Pete Donaldson: You might get distracted. No, no, no, you'd be surprised. Hands off that prawn toast. Arsenal.

13:14Jim Campbell: Yeah. When there's free stuff around, you are like a game game show host on set aren't you I am a bit so confident wheeling around clicking fingers yeah

13:25Pete Donaldson: I think that's a fair

13:26Jim Campbell: you are the happiest you ever are Michael Barrymore singing yeah hey what you said TV I'm not having that I'll see you when you get there singing at a Marcus Beller's My Kind of Buffet spring roll

13:39Pete Donaldson: never liked the man and I never will anyway where were we Eze Eze scored a lovely goal Peter it was a lovely goal it's a Champions League goal and his first Champions League goal and a fitting if he's starting like that do you know what I mean Jim you said against Everton Arsenal seem to be taking more shots from range because they know that teams are going to sit deep they've got it in their locker to score goals from range they've been scored two of them last night kind of fits you know goes into that doesn't it I mean I know the ball sits up nicely for Eze and so on but when he specifically can do that why would you not encourage him to do it

14:16Jim Campbell: a bit more absolutely It's a real sort of superpower of his because he hits it so hard, but it does seem to be a sort of deliberate tactical thing as well Leandro Trossard had three or four shots from outside the box last night as well We saw Villa doing it earlier on this yeah Notably seemed really determined to do it Perhaps it's just where the space was opening up Leverkusen's goalkeeper was very very good He made a really good say with his foot from Trossard in the first half as well I think he he probably kept the score down a little bit and again if Arsenal have been a little bit more decisive in key moments of essentially when to thread a player through and which pass to pick.

14:49Jim Campbell: They probably could have scored another couple of goals. They were that much better than Leverkusen last night.

14:53Pete Donaldson: It was a really, really dominant performance. That's right. There was a couple of moments when they kind of catching Leverkusen on the break who at the start of the second half kind of went on the front foot. Yeah. I was quite impressed at times with with Jokic. You know, he really showed his... He had an excellent game last night. Yeah, he did. He showed his quality. Obviously he didn't score, but he showed his qualities in the runs he makes, all that kind of stuff, but also again, his strength and so on, you think look, I know it's the first season of the Premier League, I don't want to go over you know, overboard on this point But if you do, it will mug off Luke what he said on Monday, Sean.

15:26Pete Donaldson: But maybe but I think, well Luke's talked about Jocker as, you know, the sort of strength and size of the guy He does like him. Yeah, and again, European football I understand if you're playing in a European league in a Champions League game, perhaps a style of football you're a bit more familiar with, and Leverkusen weren't sitting deeply, you know, they had to go and get something so again, that all kind of plays into it, but But yeah, I would think that Jokic can take a little bit more confidence and in these sort of remaining games of the Premier League season, use him as that sort of battering ram centre forward.

15:51Jim Campbell: I do think he's also a bit more aware of how much time he has on the ball in this style of play now. So he's making decisions faster. His link-up plays better. He's still in a situation where if you think he's one-on-one with someone and he's got quite a bit to do, it's better for him to just lay it off to someone else. Yeah, he'll always have Saka there. But that's fair enough, yeah. But yeah, I thought he was really lively, really good, really decisive as well, which makes a big difference when you essentially have to release the ball quite quickly.

16:19Pete Donaldson: And the man in goal for Arsenal, once again. Got his moment as well. Got his moment. What a moment it was. I mean, that save late on. I'm sure people watching on TV thought that as well. When it leaves the Labour Party's boot, you think, well, that's a goal. There's a few minutes left. It's a nervy ending that Arsenal could do without. And the way he just kind of gets over a goal. With a massive hand. Yeah, he makes it. He makes it look easy, but my goodness, a stunning save. I mean, the BBC with their player ratings, whatever you may think of player ratings and so on, they had Declan Rice down as man of the match in the player ratings, Eze just behind him, and then David Raya.

16:57Pete Donaldson: It shows you again just how important he is, even in what did turn out to be a pretty routine. I mean, as routine as it goes really in the knockouts of a Champions League tie, a reasonably routine 2-0 victory, he again is classed as one of their important players and performers on the pitch yeah you know he played his part again and what a save it was did you see during the first half the linesman tripped over at a Leverkusen I did and he fell onto the pitch I enjoyed it a lot he did a very theatrical role onto the pitch yeah why weren't they yellow carded what the linesman no that would be confusing the players who were in the linesman's wear they shouldn't be in the wear

17:36Jim Campbell: yeah it's pretty silly isn't it you don't really see that it's pretty naughty isn't it yeah She'll be running around that close to the pitch. It's confusing. Maybe in two months' time they'll overturn the result. Based on that.

17:46Pete Donaldson: Yes. That would be good, wouldn't it? Yes, please. But at least with that, someone could turn up and give him the yellow card. A bit more theatrical about it. Before the game, Mikel Arteta was inevitably asked by the media and the press how to protect Max Dowman. And he replied, are you about to attack him? No, he said, I need your help. Did you just email the football ramble? he said if I have do you want some crisps if I have 15 questions on Max it doesn't really help if we just bring the temperature down and understand what is the best thing for this boy what's the best thing for my boy the next question in the press conference was also about Max Dowman yes

18:26Jim Campbell: before the game a Max Dowman mural appeared near the stadium oh my goodness lovely to be fair the murals are regularly changed by a fella called North Banksy so they're They're fairly topical, but still, yeah. I mean, the cat's out the bag with Max Dallman now, though, isn't it? It has to be managed for what it is, which is an extraordinary amount of hype. Oh, my goodness, yeah. Will he need somebody with him to fly on the plane to the World Cup?

18:52Pete Donaldson: Peter, quite literally, get on board with it. Get on board. No, I'm not... Again, in the spirit of Mikel Arteta, I've had a fair few questions about Max Dallman and getting on the plane, but to protect the boy, I'm not going to answer them. Okay, nice. Now, don't ask me about that. May I go back to Eberichese for a moment? Did you see the video on social media recently where he met Romário? Yes. The great Romário. Brazilian striker, of course. So Romário seemed to be doing a piece with Gabriel Jesus. Yes. Which sort of makes sense in this social media age that we're in. And Eberichese appears from the other side of the training pitch where they're from.

19:33Pete Donaldson: I don't know whether he was... It didn't seem to be a part of it.

19:37Jim Campbell: No, but he also seemed like... It also seemed like he didn't know that Romário was in the building, learned about it, and was like, I've got to go and get myself some of this. Yes. He was like any of us would have been if Romário walked in here. I love that. 20 years later than you'd expect him to be a big deal, if that makes sense. For sure. Yeah, but you've got to remember, since Pelé died, he is the Brazilian squad that most goals in the world. So you'd think... According to him. According to him, Neymar's not getting close to what... Even his fake, even his real scoring. He scored a lot of goals.

20:08He scored a lot of goals. That is indisputable. But he must be up there. Oh, he's a legend. He's a total legend. Yeah.

20:15Pete Donaldson: But you're right, though. Everett says he would have been too young or maybe not even born when Romario was having it. Ah, but this is the YouTube generation, right? Sure. They've got access to all this. No, but that's what I love about that. The history of the game still kind of goes on. Because if you think about it, you know, if we'd have met, I don't know, Eusebio or somebody like that, It wouldn't have had the same impact, yeah. Yeah, we've still got your cheapies. But I just find that so heartwarming. A player like Eze, who would have played against so many of the greats, just becomes, as you say, like a proper fan, a little kid when he meets the great Romario.

20:46Probably what spurred him on last night.

20:47Pete Donaldson: Well, maybe, Peter. I think we can only put two and two together there. Do they ever call Eberche's Eze at all?

20:54Jim Campbell: I've not seen it, but you can start doing that if you want to. I did enjoy his celebration where he was holding up the Adidas logo rather than the Arsenal badge. and then corrected himself when he realised what he was doing.

21:06Pete Donaldson: Ah, you know, always about the sponsors. Yeah, I like that.

21:09Jim Campbell: Presumably there'll be a new range coming based on that.

21:12Pete Donaldson: Yeah, exactly. He's a big fan of Total Energies. He's a Total Energies stan. Big time, big time. Now, Arsenal will of course play Sporting Club de Portugal, or as we affectionately call them in this country, Sporting Lisbon, much of their annoyance. They're going to play them in the Champions League quarter-final, because they are enemies of football. They are. They really are. In their grass. On their grass. They beat Bodo Glimp 5-0 last night after extra time. Out of order. It's 30 minutes in, they scored their first goal. And I was like, oh, that's taken a bit longer than I expected.

21:42Jim Campbell: They probably should have scored a little earlier, but no. But you know what as well? The penalty that they got I thought was really harsh because it hits the defender's knee and then bounces up onto his hand. Yes. And that doesn't feel very fair. And that is the goal that took it to extra time. So I think Bodo Glimp can be pretty miffed about that. I mean, I suppose that the way the game was going,

22:03Pete Donaldson: it was just wave after wave of Sporting. Even though, that was the goal we didn't score. 38 shots, I think I read. I mean, you are right, Jim. Araujo was absolutely imperious. He was just having a lovely time. Yeah. Under massive pressure. The only thing where you take maybe an ounce of solace, if indeed they can, this morning is, if it was an injury time penalty, blah, blah, blah, blah, it would still feel pretty similar. And then Sporting go on to win 5-0, of course. but yeah it was such a shame because I thought to myself would it have been better if they had the home leg Bode Gleman had the home leg in the second leg but of course against Inter that's not what happened against Inter they put a good performance in and then got the famous victory in the San Siro and look they still have that you know it's been an incredible campaign that's the first quarter final for Sporting as well yeah that's a massive deal yeah indeed it's still a good new story in a week full of shit ones in my opinion yeah fucking ball boys

23:00Pete Donaldson: are we going to see them at the World Cup yeah maybe if Morocco take their own ball boys to the World Cup that's a piss take Scotland you need to counteract that somehow but yeah so sick enough for Bode Glimp but what a story I honestly thought that this Bode Glimp side especially being 3-0 up from the first leg I thought we might see a kind of an Ajax situation here when they went obviously Spurs beat them in the semi-final but as in that kind of run because you know again winning in the San Siro the way they did against Inter I thought bloody hell this is going to be quite something facing Arsenal in the quarterfinal would have been a tall order but it just wasn't to be and as you say Pete sporting are hardly European heavyweight so a very history club with proud tradition and many players that have come from there most notably Luis Figo and Cristiano Ronaldo so fair play to them but still I was gutted for Bodoglim

23:55Jim Campbell: but they took the game to Bode Glimmt in the way that a lot of teams haven't managed to do and that Bode Glimmt have been really good at stopping teams from doing and you know they are obviously enemies of football for stopping this story but at the same time they do deserve I think maybe more credit than they're going to get for you know such a energetic and emphatic approach to this game they were just like we're not having this we are not having this indeed and of course sporting they beat Arsenal would it have been in the Europa League it was yes in a penalty shootout in the quarters possibly yeah penalty shootout yeah Aaron Ramsdale was chipped from quite a long way out, if I remember rightly, in a deeply, deeply annoying set of circumstances.

24:34Jim Campbell: Well, that can't happen this time.

24:35Pete Donaldson: But Arsenal owe him for that, Jim.

24:37Jim Campbell: Indeed.

24:38Pete Donaldson: Yeah. I mean, look, a quarterfinal in the Champions League against Sporting, and again, no disrespect to Sporting, but Arsenal, who are the favourites for this competition, I mean, you take that all day long. Absolutely.

24:50Jim Campbell: Honestly, it's a big advantage play in the home game second as well. That was clear last night, wasn't it? It really kind of puts him in charge of the tie.

24:58Pete Donaldson: Yeah, I mean, the only thing you would say is that first leg that Arsenal played against Bayer Leverkusen, with that penalty, it was slightly fortuitous to get out there with a one-all draw. For sure. But they did, ultimately, you know, as you've seen what Sporting did to Bodo Glimm, and Sporting have a very good home record this season. Arsenal will have to be at the races a bit more in that first leg. It's going to be a tough game. Yeah. But they're all tough at this point, right? It's all tough, Peter. That's the point. It's all tough, mate. Indeed. and maybe Newcastle United in the semi-final bring on Spurs yeah well it's fair to say there's a lot of work to do for both teams tonight but we'll get to that much later on alright coming up after this it's been a very very bad week for Chelsea Football Club

25:52Jim Campbell: brow raise. With the World Cup around the corner, join me, Max Rushton, and the Guardian's expert soccer journalist on Football Weekly for all the latest soccer action and news throughout the week. We'll cover more ground than Jude Bellingham in a Champions League final with conversations sharper than an Arsenal set-piece. For fine margins, fun debates, and full-blooded tackles, Football Weekly. Listen wherever you get your podcasts and watch the full episodes on YouTube. Hi, this is Matt from P1 with Matt and Tommy, and this episode is sponsored by eBay. The cars you'll find on eBay are just different.

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28:18They play in the same play style as Queen's Park Raisins. You don't have to do that because then you please Queen's Park Raisins.

28:29Jim Campbell: I completely forgot about Queen's Park Raisins.

28:33Pete Donaldson: Lovely that. Always good to hear Louis van Gaal's voice. Welcome back to the Football Ramble. Chelsea 0, Paris Saint-Germain 3-8-2 on ag to the current Champions League holders. It's Chelsea's joint heaviest defeat in a two-legged European tie. Oh, this was a bad one. We'll get to the financial misconduct in a minute. But my goodness, it always seemed an unlikely thing that Chelsea would manage to overturn this. because as we have come to know with Paris Saint-Germain, they come alive in the knockout rounds of this competition. If they have to play a playoff to get into it, it doesn't seem to bother them.

29:14Pete Donaldson: And my goodness, they love beating Premier League sides in the knockout rounds of this competition. They were absolutely rampant here. But I mean, it didn't really help. Six minutes in. Just saw, just going, I'm respecting the ball too much. I am respecting it. Like the ball is going to stick to the back of my heel. and I'm probably not going to bother trying to get it after that. And Fats Calio was just, I'm having this, see you later. He couldn't believe his luck, could he? And the keeper probably should have done better. It was just a real comedy of, not even errors, just complete disinterest with what was going on.

29:45I feel for Mamedesar though,

29:47Jim Campbell: because he's not a right back. He's not been at the club very long. They brought him back from his loan at Strasbourg. Rhys James is unavailable. Malagusto is ill. So he's kind of filling in as an emergency right back against Fats Calio. that's not ideal is it? Yeah but I mean to have the foresight of just you know possibly just turning around and taking the ball where it needs to be taken I agree he could have done better from a goalkeeping hit it just seems yeah I don't know I think yeah I think both points could be correct yeah I mean well he was replaced at half time with him by Josh Achenpong but I mean it's one of those results obviously I was at the Arsenal game so you see it all happening at once and it almost you always feel like did they get someone sent off or something like that no no PSG are just bastards sometimes but again

30:36Pete Donaldson: and the way Barcolla takes his goal unbelievable it's the manner of it I mean obviously the goal in itself puts the tie beyond any doubt although I think Kvarek Skane had already really done that but again it's the manner of the way he just lashes it in it's a beautiful history what do you do like that is so demoralising Mugula's goal was also very very good as well yeah well that that makes it embarrassing almost right such a young player managed to do something like that from that position uncontested the scoreline is still half an hour left to go Rosinha had just before that taken off Palmer, Joao Pedro and Enzo Fernandes and he said to be fair to him he's quite honest and he said I have to think about what's best it's a really difficult and unpopular decision you're chasing the game you need goals but he basically admitted the game was gone we have important games now coming up you've got a few injuries like why bust a gut to make the scoreline a little bit more respectable.

31:30Pete Donaldson: I understand the fans who have paid a ridiculous amount of money to be there might think, well, come on. But I think that's the least of their worries at the moment. Good cause, Marcus. The barcola goal made me laugh because it was the commentator. I never know the commentator's name. But he just went, oh, dear. And it wasn't like, oh, dear, for Chelsea's benefit. It was very much the air of a man who's got 80 minutes to just hand-ring and soul-search about talking how Chelsea rebuilt from this. I don't care. I honestly don't care about who it was. But like, it was just the way... I'm not asking you to care.

32:04I was merely telling you that his name is Sam Matafase. You probably have heard of him. They'll tell us in the comments anyway, it's absolutely fine. Right. But it just made me laugh. It was just kind of like, it genuinely sounded annoyed where he just goes, I'm going to have to spend the rest of this match with nothing to talk about apart from Chelsea's shortcomings. And it's quite annoying.

32:24Jim Campbell: All my Chelsea goal puns looking out the window. I've written loads of those. Apparently he supports Chelsea. Oh, right. Okay, so there's a little bit of... So, knowing the commentator is helpful sometimes.

32:34Pete Donaldson: Yes, there we are. But I think as well, though, like, commentators will have an English team biased, you know what I mean? Yeah. And I think that's fair.

32:42Jim Campbell: Also, they're broadcasting to an English audience, right?

32:44Pete Donaldson: So that's completely reasonable. Yeah, exactly, yeah. But yeah, it was an utterly demoralising goal for fans and commentators who support Chelsea.

32:52Jim Campbell: Yeah, and I suppose as well, you know, going into this 5-2 most fans are probably hoping there might be some sort of miraculous display but not really expecting it to happen. But to lose 3-0, having just lost at home to Newcastle as well, you know, Rossini's been there a little while now and results are starting to get a little bit kind of underwhelming. It's just pretty demoralising, isn't it?

33:14Pete Donaldson: But Chelsea's team news, Jim, was once again leaked to the French media. Did that have an effect on what happened? Probably not. Who is this dirty little leak? Luke immediately left to the conclusion

33:25Jim Campbell: that it is Alejandro Garnett well yeah people were saying that he used to do that at Man United although Man United were very angry about that apparently and suggested there was no evidence to say that it was him I think we should get

33:37Pete Donaldson: comment from them what do you think what's going on spoken like a team where I was at Salon Klaus somewhere hidden in his contract yeah they said that then what are they saying now it was Alejandro Garnett his brother did you say that he was getting handed a note I love that At the Respire Senior, like the 84th minute or something. It's your noughts. What's that for? It surely just said... What's that saying? It must have just said no injuries. Nor leak it. Stop us leaking. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Stop leaking. This is what you get for a leak. You only get six minutes. Yeah. Oh, dear. I know, yeah. Just make sure that they don't get a fourth.

34:11Pete Donaldson: I don't know. I don't think any Chelsea fan was under any illusion last night that they were going to go through. You can't help yourself, though, can you? No, you can't. I mean, that makes... you've always got a dream, Jim, even if it's just 2 % of you. Why about the turning up? Do you know what I mean? But, yeah, but, it's been, it's been a terrible week for Chelsea and I do have a degree of sympathy with the fans that the club right now has been run in a shoddy way. Clear Lake, they've spent so much money and they look so... That bomb squad is going to look so big. Did Donald Trump say it on satellite?

34:46Oh, blimey. Watch out.

34:47Pete Donaldson: Well, you know, I mean, he has celebrated with that Chelsea squad. They have, good point, yeah. Lest we forget. So Chelsea, yeah, like I say, a lot of the fans are very angry with the board right now. Clear Lake in particular coming under a lot of scrutiny and getting a lot of criticism about how the club is run and the sporting directors, you know, who they're signing, how much they're signing them for, et cetera, et cetera, and so on. However, it seems that not all was rosy or legal under the Roman Abramovich era. I think last night, maybe against Newcastle, I forget when, they were singing, you know, Roman Abramovich's name.

35:27Pete Donaldson: And look, again, I get it. Under Roman Abramovich, there was unbelievable success for Chelsea Football Club. But now we know that for a big old period of that, they were cheating. They were bloody well cheating. Because on Monday, Chelsea were fined£10 million and handed a suspended transfer ban after remitting, making£47 million in secret payments to unregistered agents and third parties over transfers between 2011 and 2018. And the nefarious nature of this cannot be skewed, it cannot be shaped or moulded in any other way. It was blatant cheating. Well, the thing that gets me is like usually when these financial improprieties sort of come to light, it's always like a kind of a youth team player here or like a lawney there.

36:11But this is like David Lewis, Hedon Hassan, Sammy Ayrton. It was all the big boys. It was all the big boys.

36:17Pete Donaldson: I mean, Eden Hazard, right? Let's take him. One season was voted the best player in the Premier League, right? I mean, he owned the Premier League that season. He was a magnificent player, right? So the signings of him, Samuel Etou, okay. But Willian, Ramirez, David Luiz, Andrew Schurler, and Nemanja Maticis were named in the report. There was four more players' names were redacted. But, I mean, the Times reported last year that Eden Hazard had signed for Chelsea after Manchester United refused to make an off-the-books payment of more than£5 million to his representatives.

36:48Jim Campbell: I mean, Hazard being at Old Trafford would have been massively different for that season. Yeah, totally. And it's essentially a very light punishment for very serious cheating, the type of which contributed to them winning trophies because they had advantages that nobody else did. And it's frustrating to me that it feels like the Premier League are embarrassed by how poorly they handled this at the time and how little they had in place to stop this type of thing happening. so the punishment has been liked to essentially try and just stop there being too much attention on them essentially because they were weak in the past they're now being weak hoping it will all go away and that is silly isn't it now I mean I think there's a good argument that the current Chelsea set up and the current Chelsea players are blameless here so they probably do take that into account yeah absolutely and they self-reported which has apparently made a big difference as well

37:38Pete Donaldson: they were very overwhelmingly helpful

37:39Jim Campbell: and pointed a lot of this stuff out which may become relevant later with City. And you've got to make it clear, it's not illegal in a law sense. It's against the rules of the Premier League and we'll come to find out whether it was against the rules of the FA. So it's not a criminal trial. And there's still an FA investigation ongoing as well. Which it sounds very much like it's going to fall in line exactly with what the Premier League did. That seems to be what's expected. But still, you can argue that it isn't fair on these players, but it's also not fair on the other teams at the time. And it really, it completely undermines the competition.

38:13Jim Campbell: Since Abramovich came in, Chelsea obviously used money as a weapon, really. And the Premier League wasn't ready for that, wasn't prepared for it. And it's just a drag, isn't it? It's an understandable kind of disgrace how this has sort of come to light. Because insolvency was a very real danger for Chelsea. And the transfer to the new owners was rushed by its very nature. because of what happened with Abramovich and the invasion. So it's almost like an understandable fucking disgrace. It's a fuck you on a fuck you because the money doesn't come from Chelsea and the new owners, who would have been insolved against it anyway.

38:52It comes from the Ukraine benefit fund that was set up for the money that Abramovich was due to.

39:01Jim Campbell: There was money set aside for anything like this, which was far more than the fine. So, I mean, essentially, as long as Chelsea don't break the rules again in the next couple of years, their transfer embargo won't happen. So they really get away with it completely. And if something like this, you know, has such light consequences, what's the deterrent? It's the integrity of the sport. Especially because the people at Chelsea will still be in the game. They'll still have a radius of influence in the game. So what happens to them? Are they going to face any charges? are they going to be banned from the sport?

39:38Because they're the ones who administer it. They're the ones who put their hands in their pockets and threw offshore accounting, squirreled some money away to brothers, fathers, whoever the hell these non-registered agents were. It's a shocker.

39:50Jim Campbell: The Premier League's put itself in a position where its top clubs are essentially kind of bigger than them. They just do not know how to handle them. Any of the big clubs could get away with this. It's not just Chelsea. It's not just City. This suggests that if Arsenal want to cheat, if Newcastle want to cheat, if anyone established with a bit of money behind them want to do it, you just pay a fine later and you'll probably get away with it. But you have to self-report, because that will have been taken into consideration. I think two things were taken into consideration. The speed in which the takeover had to happen, because of the sort of Damocles that Chelsea would have faced, and also...

40:25Pete Donaldson: And it was the self-reporting. Yeah, and the self-reporting. You know, them being very, very cooperative, as it was described, has helped. which I think is understandable but this is the very frustrating thing about this because as you say to these players and even these owners, do they deserve to be punished? But then if you go, well, no, well then as you say, that opens the door to owners coming in and going, you know what, for four or five years we are going to absolutely roast it and then we'll sell on and we'll be off and then that's that.

40:54Jim Campbell: Yeah, it might not be fair on Chelsea now but it wasn't fair on their competitors in the past so there has to be consequences somewhere.

41:00Pete Donaldson: I mean, I wonder what the fans make of this, because as I say, I get why they look at that period in their history. And it was obviously the period before that, because it's 2011 to 2018. You know, they had success before that. We all remember Mourinho and so on. They look back at that very fondly, because again, they had that compared to now, the trophies and the results. But it has been tarnished. I get that fans are so partisan that they probably won't be too worried about that. But it just goes to show that Chelsea Football Club, for a long time now, has been a shit show, whether it's because of blatant cheating or just downright incompetence now.

41:38Pete Donaldson: And it's, again, the fans who suffer. And it's a very, very miserable place at the moment. Mike, actually, when he was in Chelsea, Newcastle, for all his faults, he did sort of say he was very surprised how much the Wild West football was. And I think for the longest time, it was kind of like that. It was, yeah. It was just, you know, brown pit of bags and all that nonsense.

41:58Jim Campbell: but the Premier League is essentially the biggest league in the history of the planet why are they so bad at this?

42:04Pete Donaldson: And Jim also though, the Premier League as well is seen as compared to, I'd say pretty much all the other leagues in Europe by and large, as quite a clean league and you think about the Calciopoli scandal and one or two others in Europe as well and this affects so much I think one of the things the Premier League will be wary of is, as you say, they want to kind of, right, quick fine and let's move on from that. This Manchester City stuff, goodness knows what's going to happen there. We still wait on that. Well, this kind of lays the groundwork for it being quite light, doesn't it? Well, maybe.

42:42Pete Donaldson: But it does damage the reputation. Or everyone's really angry about what's happening. So maybe the appetite for any sort of judgment. But it damages the reputation of the league and that has potentially serious consequences. I wonder what Everton fans, Nottingham Forest fans are thinking right now.

42:58Jim Campbell: I read something that suggested that because this is not to do with PSR and therefore it's different from Everton and Forest, the rules only allow for points. Sorry. I read something that suggested that the current rules only allow for points deductions when it's to do with PSR, which is very short-sighted, I think. So that is possibly why Everton and Forest have been so hard done by there. But yeah, I completely agree. They must be absolutely fuming about this, rightly so.

43:22Pete Donaldson: Yeah, we could, again, without getting into the weeds of it too much, there are errors that people make and, you know, maybe people are not too fussed about making those errors and think it'll be fine or whatever. This, they knew what they were doing. It went on for a long time and it was blatant cheating. And I can understand why others, I don't like too much whataboutery, but I can understand why fans of certain other clubs are a bit like this.

43:50Jim Campbell: It's not a level playing field. It's a joke. There's the academy transfer ban as well, nine months. They'll probably weather that. They'll probably go in. I think that'll hurt them, though.

44:00Pete Donaldson: They do love signing young players. It's true. All right, everybody. Coming up after this, Manchester City lose to Real Madrid again.

44:38Jim Campbell: We'll be right back. Football Weekly. Listen wherever you get your podcasts and watch the full episodes on YouTube. Youth mental health is a complex challenge that requires comprehensive solutions. We must strengthen after-school programs. We must make digital literacy tools available in our schools. We must work with mental health professionals to support children. And we must empower mentors, educators and parents to keep kids happy. Learn more about our commitment to finding lasting solutions at empowerourfuturecoalition.com slash solutions. Paid for by the coalition to empower our future. Blood donation is now more inclusive.

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45:55That's redcrossblood.org slash LGBTQ.

46:05Pete Donaldson: Yes, that's right. Manchester City are out of the Champions League. They lost 2-1 on the night to Real Madrid, 5-1 on aggregate. For the third consecutive season, Real Madrid have got the better of them. It's like being stuck on a boss on a video game, isn't it? Oh, God! It really is. I mean, I wonder if this all goes all the way back to that time when Real Madrid beat them on penalties, when it was such a one-sided game. How Real Madrid won that game, I don't know. Was that the moment? You know, when we talk about PSG and Liverpool, when PSG knocked Liverpool out of the Champions League, was that when it started to slide a little bit and under slot?

46:45Pete Donaldson: And obviously, Liverpool went on to win the title at a canter. Was that the moment where Pep's spirit was truly broken? Again, I understand they went on to win the league that season, but last season, we remember what happened, of course, and this season, it's similar.

46:59Jim Campbell: Well, on City's way to winning the Champions League, they put in one of the great European performances against Real Madrid. They haven't forgotten, have they? House always wins. No,

47:09Pete Donaldson: indeed it does. Indeed it does. People wondering whether it was going to be a famous comeback or not. I really thought it was. Did you? I really thought it was, and I thought, Peter, have you not listened to me? Well, I don't know. watching this match I mean like I don't know whether it was because like Real weren't greatly drilled on playing against 10 men because maybe they don't face it quite as much or they don't face a competitive 10 man side but they were there for the taking at times really poor at the back they were four and up on aggregate where they could I thought they were pretty poor and they let Manchester City just advance on them and Man City should start every match for 10 players is that right I agree with that Man City Man City overcomplicate things so much so one man less is a really good thing for them, I think.

47:51What a punishment that would be.

47:54Pete Donaldson: That's a punishment we could all get behind. No, no, we don't have to take points away. You're still competitive. I said it on the WhatsApp. The amount of teams this season who have played better were 10 men. They just look better because they don't have a complicated... They look better because Real Madrid knew the game was done. Yeah, exactly. They didn't really need to exact themselves

48:09Jim Campbell: and they still won it. I mean,

48:11Pete Donaldson: the incident, of course, occurred when Bernardo Silva was sent off 20 minutes in for a deliberate handball.

48:17Jim Campbell: Which you rarely see. A deliberate handball. it's a misjudgment isn't it he thinks he can get that away with his shoulder and he doesn't quite manage it

48:24Pete Donaldson: his arms were behind his back which was the funny thing like he was very well prepared and then he's like come on you chickens oh no I mean he got around he was sort of like he thought he could sort of shoulder it away but he just it was hit really hard at him so I kind of feel sorry for him look I understand what you mean but it's an error you are running a risk you are running the risk it's an error especially the way Donnarumma celebrated with him going yeah it's good clearance is like, no, that's... He was trying to get into the narrative a little bit. I thought Clattenburg was quite good on that point because obviously there was a bit of a wait and Clattenburg was saying, look, if it's not offside, he'll probably go for that.

49:02And I thought he was... I'll have always liked Clattenburg. He was Klierenberg on the night. He was good. Right, Peter.

49:08Pete Donaldson: Spoken on behalf of some Forest fans. Bernardo Silva went off and that was the end of that. Vinicius Duda then obviously scored the penalty. And off we went celebrating. I mean, early Haaland finally scored. I suppose that was the only positive, really. But it was routine. It was absolutely routine. It was just surprising, really, that Real Madrid maybe didn't think, you know, we could absolutely hammer them here. But why do they need to? I thought Real Madrid were poor. They won the game, Peter. They won five on an over again. They didn't need to be good. They could have done it. Man City could have done it with 11 men.

49:38The idiots.

49:39Jim Campbell: Yeah, I don't think they could. I mean, whenever there's a situation like this, we get stories about the comebacks, the famous comebacks that have happened, like Deportivo, Lacarinha and obviously that amazing Liverpool game when they turned it around against Barcelona. But the reason they're so iconic is they don't actually happen that often, right?

49:55Pete Donaldson: Indeed, and that's sporting. Well, actually, we didn't say that when we were talking about sporting, but to come back from a 3-0 deficit, it's only happened four times previously. You mentioned Deportivo, obviously Liverpool, Barcelona against PSG and Roma, I think, when they beat Barcelona when I think away goals were still a thing. So it is very, very rare. so again to give sporting their dues but you're down to 10 men and you look to the manager and he's dressed like fucking Eddie Vedder it's like he was like Eddie Vedder yeah that is a it's not going to fill you with confidence it's not going to fill you with confidence it's going to fill you with grunge on we yeah it might fill you hanging off the rafters we are going to die men of our age men of our age Jim it might fill us with nostalgia yeah you know but those players a lot younger that's not what they need they don't know who Eddie Vedder is no exactly yeah so look there's a wrestler who dresses as Eddie Vedder when he wrestles and he's called Stephen Flo yeah and his theme tune is just the song Stephen Flo yeah every line

50:53Jim Campbell: is just Stephen Flo even the lines that aren't just that

50:56Pete Donaldson: in the Pearl Jam song it's great I like the sound of this guy but Manchester City though they're out of the Champions League now which again was I don't think much of a surprise to anybody really especially after the first leg concentrate on breaking spell of hearts well they they've slipped away in the league like this League Cup final is very important for them. I know they're still alive in the FA Cup, but there's a bit of a danger here for them for their season to kind of slip away from. Absolutely.

51:25Jim Campbell: They can do the dickhead double. Do the what, sorry? The dickhead double is the two cups. I see.

51:32Pete Donaldson: If you win the League Cup and the FA Cup, why is it the dickhead double? It's the dickhead double. Right. If you just win the League Cup, it's just a great performance. I see. And a great win. Historic win. But if you win both the FA Cup and the League Cup, you're running from something. I see. You're a dickhead, mate. I see. The dickhead double. Thank you for clarifying that for us. I enjoyed it. Dickhead double. Is that because if you're on for the, if you win those, you're usually on for the quadruple as Jürgen Klopp and Liverpool were. And you've chucked it in. Yeah. Dickhead double. You know, I'm duty bound to remind Jim and everybody that Arsenal are still very much on for the quadruple.

52:04Pete Donaldson: Whereas emphatically, Manchester City are not anymore. They could win a domestic treble. That's true. Or a dickhead double. Or a dickhead double. They are still alive for that. But yeah, I mean, this is a superior single trophy. I don't know what it is.

52:15Jim Campbell: But anyway, Jim, this is a potentially draining defeat, isn't it? Because they played for 10 men, played with 10 men rather for a lot of the games. So that's not ideal preparation for the Carabao Cup. And yes, I hope they lose it, obviously.

52:28Pete Donaldson: Well, obviously, but going into that game, Arsenal's tails are up. And Manchester City, there's so much going into this. I mean, because you could end up with a situation which Jurgen Klopp found himself in final season at Liverpool. and he obviously called it far earlier on. But they won that League Cup, which he said was one of his most precious trophy wins that he had at Liverpool. And one might say, well, that's a bit convenient to say that. But I think the manner of it with a transitional side and so on. Ending with a trophy is a great thing. Yeah, exactly. Pep Guardiola, right now, we've said this for perhaps a season or two, this could be, I mean, if they win the league, I'm convinced he'll go.

53:03Pete Donaldson: But right now, I think you might say to him, Pep, take the League Cup, mate. you know that's the way the season's going it's early days I understand they are still in a title race they've got to play each other again and so on and so forth

53:16Jim Campbell: we've seen a lot of times this season that has changed so if Man City win their game in hand which is against a Crystal Palace team who aren't in great shape and probably are also safe they'll probably win that that obviously cuts that down to six if they beat Arsenal at the Etihad very possible that cuts it down to three so it's you know it's still to play for in their minds

53:36Pete Donaldson: for sure definitely but they're going to have to pick themselves up because they have a cup final, but we're going to talk about that on the preview show on Friday, of course. Tonight, Liverpool host Galatasaray. They're 1-0 down from the first leg. I wonder how confident some Liverpool fans are with this one. We've got the whole history of the famous nights at Anfield and so on and so forth.

53:56Jim Campbell: But the way they've been playing, there's a lot to do here.

54:01Pete Donaldson: Yeah, exactly, yeah. Galatasaray are no mugs. so I think that I'm intrigued as to how this one's going to play out tonight, I mean Dominic Zbosla has been speaking about playing at Anfield and Liverpool's habit of conceding late goals and he said I don't think it helps that after 80 minutes people start to go home, everyone is noticing that and when we concede a goal still people are leaving the stadium I understand the frustration but we need them, now I can't imagine they'll be leaving I wish I had agency here I wish I could do something about this

54:34Jim Campbell: he's the guy which is probably why he's been chosen to say this right yeah they've all drawn straws yeah Dominic it needs to come to you

54:42Pete Donaldson: Dominic is the best one

54:43Jim Campbell: forget the straws I don't know why we brought that system in Dominic come on

54:46Pete Donaldson: Mo I understand alright

54:49Jim Campbell: that you've done a lot you've got some big feelings again right right look I've emailed that bloke from Spurs who looks like our manager he won't do it so it's going to be down to you mate

55:00Pete Donaldson: If not him then who? If not him then who? Yeah So intriguing game Peter I want a prediction from you For this game tonight I think they're going to win 3-1 Liverpool I think Liverpool Are going to tidily put them away Okay Tidily? I think an unconvincing Unconvincing Liverpool What is convincing nowadays? We're all in a state of flux Nobody knows what's up nor down So don't worry about it I'll take an untidy everything I think convincing is more I had spaghetti last night

55:30Jim Campbell: What's that about? I think it's more... Mess. That's normal. That is an appropriate meal for dinner. Put it in lines. Put it in lines. Make it appear in monstrosity. All right, fine. You had long length-wise spaghetti. That is weird. I want in a matrix of spaghetti with little colours in, like Piet Mondrian.

55:49Pete Donaldson: Remember, we're still doing the Wednesday. We haven't got to uncut yet. Right, okay. Lovely. Bayern, let's talk about something that has been convincing.

55:57Jim Campbell: They won the first leg. I thought it was on RTC then. Marcus, isn't it a shame that they won the first leg six one because of the circumstances they're under for this game? Yes.

56:07Pete Donaldson: Yeah. All the first team goalkeepers at Bayern are injured. So they will be playing, I don't know, a fan in goal or something. It's a 16-year-old goalkeeper. It is a 16-year-old goalkeeper, yeah. And as you say, if Atalanta, even if they were just two goals behind, it would be a shoot on site policy.

56:26Jim Campbell: 100%. Which never worked, by the way. And it will be anyway. Do you know what?

56:29Pete Donaldson: It will be anyway and it won't work as you suggest. It's the worst thing in the world isn't it? When you're playing like our level of football grassroots football and you go you remember the guy they've got in goal that's that that's that that's that unfit centre half they've got normally shoot on sight shoot on sight and then of course you do shoot from 30 yards and you give away throwing do you know what I mean? In fact it's a worse thing you should just play your normal game never works never works oh dear so of course it does mean though quite wonderfully that as Bayern don't have any first team goalkeepers available the only player in their squad with any kind of goalkeeping experience to my knowledge is of course Harry Kane I'd love to see it it's not going to happen but I'd love to see it I'd absolutely love to see it it would it would be one for the edges they should stream it on YouTube and everyone should watch it bring the game into disrepute it'd be so unbelievably well there's a lot of that going around at least it'd be a likeable way to bring the game it would be so unbelievably disrespectful to your opponent what if it backfired with 4-0 down alright but some pain off rubbish I know hound him out cancel his contract but I tell you what though Bayern they win that PSG that'd be a tasty one wouldn't it it would be a very tasty one I mean you look at the way Bayern are playing I mean they're free scoring in the Bundesliga they're having a lovely old time but PSG you know they're a handy side as well that is a be a hell of a game yeah that is a mouth-watering prospect and Arsenal breathing.

57:59Pete Donaldson: A sigh of relief that it's in the other side of the draw. Absolutely. At worst, you can only play one of them. Alien versus Portman Pat. I didn't realise he was involved. Elsewhere, of course, there are two other English teams involved. Spurs play in Atletico Madrid. How do they approach that one? Because to think of that being a famous night there is pretty much unthinkable. Imagine if they're the only ones who do it, though. It'd be really funny.

58:24Jim Campbell: Yeah, I mean, you've just got to go there and play without any fear, right? Start with Charleston. There's kind of nothing to lose at this point. Well, I...

58:32Pete Donaldson: You could lose a lot of plays to injuries, though. Sure. So, I think... Bring on the keeper. There we are. 30 minutes in. That'll mess with them. That would, wouldn't it? Hello, everyone. He's back. Thanks for your support. Thank you. I'm feeling good again. It was just a thing we were doing. It was his birthday at the weekend. Yeah, it was. I think for Spurs, I think how they'll approach it is, I don't think they're going to go all in and go, right, lads, here we go. because that will result in injuries and being battered. I honestly think they'll probably, the way they'll approach it is, let's just kind of make sure we're still competitive, we're still in the actual game rather than the tie as it goes on because they are in a relegation battle.

59:09Pete Donaldson: They're not going to win the Champions League, even if they overturn this, which they're not going to. So I think it's basically avoid, you know, like be competitive, don't do anything stupid, but kind of, you know, give a respectful performance.

59:22Jim Campbell: But I think the key thing for them you should just try to score first. Try to score first and then see what the state of the game looks like. If they can go 2-0 up, then... They're not a romantic, Marcus. You're usually more romantic about this. Hang on.

59:36Pete Donaldson: I'm going to talk about your boys in a minute. You've been watching Spurs, haven't you? Yeah, that's the problem. No, no, but I wish that... I would love it, but I suspect that'll be the approach that they'll take. But what I would say is, though, that in Madrid, when they were beaten, they had three calamitous goals, of course. they did score two and it wasn't so it was individual kind of fucker fucker yeah and the point at Anfield

59:59Jim Campbell: have that in themselves as well

1:00:00Pete Donaldson: yeah the point at Anfield of course gives them a bit you're right Jim if they score first you never know you never know but Newcastle United Peter yes it's an early one I think they've got a chance I am not picking up my daughter from nursery my partner is I'm going to ensconce myself in the cinema room aka the bedroom right I'm so glad you clarified

1:00:20Jim Campbell: that she is being picked up well we'll see what goes I think I've emailed

1:00:24Pete Donaldson: How are you feeling ahead of that one? I'm excited I did see I'm not going to talk about Bruno too much but I did see Bruno get on the flight and I was a bit like

1:00:33Jim Campbell: Oh, okay Oh, that's going to slow things down a little bit which is not Newcastle's greatest gambit Slow things down? You wouldn't want to see Bruno Gimaraes start this game? I think he slows things too much down in transition and we saw from the verse leg you need speed Sure I'd be surprised No, he's not going to He's not going to He's not going to start and he's not going to play

1:00:54Pete Donaldson: so he's a bit more relaxed about that. Just on a jolly with his mate. You'd rather he wasn't there though. He's back from Brazil. He's been in hospital bed for ages. He's not been very well.

1:01:03Jim Campbell: Isn't Newcastle's record with him like much, much better than without him? Well, we only had seven matches to judge so I just don't think there was enough data. We've got a lot more data now and it's not as bad. He's not going to play

1:01:12Pete Donaldson: but I think Newcastle they have to approach it like they did the first leg. Obviously, with not at home, you know, you don't have that kind of Geordie support of the 50 odd beautiful Bobby Robson connection Bobby Robson will get us through well indeed

1:01:27Jim Campbell: I don't think you can expect

1:01:29Pete Donaldson: home fans to sort of be on your side they're off their heads on bifters we know that yeah well maybe but I think I honestly think Newcastle have a fighting chance because they were so good in that first leg look Barcelona you've got to go go for it but Barcelona are a better side right that's obvious however this is not a great Barcelona side we know how they play blah blah blah how of course we'll be well aware of this I I think it could be a famous night for Newcastle it does feel like the ingredients there

1:01:55Jim Campbell: particularly because Hansi Flick likes to leave the door open he's absolutely fine with that I think Newcastle were physically stronger than Barcelona as well we saw that in the first leg they were able to dominate them in a lot of one-on-ones and I think if they can get their mentality right it's the mentality which is I think they absolutely have because of this this kind of underdog feeling and we've seen Newcastle channel that in the League Cup final where they were they were far better than Liverpool on the day if they can take that spirit to it, I think they've got a real chance. Yeah, they have to do that.

1:02:24Stop Jollin from getting sent off in the first 10 minutes.

1:02:27Pete Donaldson: But they won't have the support like they did, obviously, in the first leg. That's how it works. But you're right, Jim. If they can really, if Howe and Tindall can wind them up and just kind of let them go, they'll have to be very disciplined. But they were in that first leg. To me, it's sort of more of the same. They're good in these moments, I think. Totally, yeah. But this is where it's all in. because if they can beat Barca, if they can get through this tie, the confidence it would give them to then face, surely it would be Atletico Madrid. Again, that is another, that is a tie that they could win.

1:02:59Pete Donaldson: That's winnable, yeah. Indeed. I honestly think Newcastle, it's such a shame they conceded that late goal against Barcelona. But Pete, as you said, it gives you the brief of, right, you've got to go, there's no kind of, oh, hang on to the 1-0, you've got to go and do it. Lewis Hall, get on that field, open your pockets and just let Lomain just climb in. Let's get going. I think that that is such a, it's such a, you know, intriguing and exciting tie for Newcastle tonight. I don't like it being at 5.45, as discussed. I'll get over it. 2-1 Newcastle. Famous victory I'm going for. That's what I'm doing.

1:03:31Pete Donaldson: You said the romance. You said my romance was dead. Well, there it is. Have a big old, have a big old blob of my romance there. It's been on the tablets. There we are. Thank you very much for listening to the Football Ramble, part of the ACAR's Creator Network. Friends of the Ramble, don't go anywhere. Keep listening for Ramble Uncut. And if you're not a friend of the Ramble, what are you doing with your life? Head over to patreon.com forward slash football ramble to sign up now. Thank you, Jim. Thank you. Thank you, Peter. Very well. And thank you, Kath.

1:04:08The Football Ramble is a Stack Production and part of the Acast Creator Network.

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