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In short
Champions League semi-final second leg recap (Bayern 1-1 PSG; PSG win 6-5 on aggregate) and preview of the final vs Arsenal; plus Europa League semi-final preview (Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest), Premier League weekend preview (Man City-Brentford, Arsenal-West Ham, Spurs relegation battle), and Championship/League One/Two playoff predictions.
Guests (panel)
- Barry Glendinning (from The Guardian/football analysis; discusses Kane, PSG/Bayern, Arsenal tactics).
- Mark Langdon (from Racing Post; focuses on match analysis and playoff predictions).
- Archie Rintut (adds Kane debate and tactical/club context; also comments on other fixtures).
Key claims
- PSG defended exceptionally vs Bayern, were direct late, and deserved to go through; Bayern’s key miss was earlier chances (e.g., Alise) and first-leg penalty controversy (Davies handball).
- Arsenal’s defensive strength and set-piece threat make PSG “winnable” in the final; Kvaratskhelia is the main PSG problem.
- Villa are better but Forest have momentum; Forest’s home Europa record is strong.
- Premier League: City must win; Arsenal at West Ham is likely but not guaranteed; Spurs’ odds improved.
Notable examples
Neuer’s save from Elyse header; Marquinhos/Paco defending; Kvaratskhelia vs Musiala/defensive plans; Kane scoring late; IFAB handball rule debate; Forest’s recent run and Manzambi for Freiburg/Braga context.
Written by AI. May contain mistakes. Listen to the episode to check what was said.
Chapters
Tap a time to open that second in VOBayern vs PSG Match Analysis
0:45 to 2:30
Discussion about Bayern's performance against PSG and the implications of the match.
“who need points in the relegation fight with Spurs.”
Tactical Insights from the Match
2:30 to 5:00
Analyzing the tactics used by PSG and Bayern during their Champions League clash.
“And I think that's the best any team has defended their box against Bayern this season.”
Key Player Performances
5:00 to 7:30
Highlighting standout performances from players like Manuel Neuer and Marquinhos.
“And it was it that was sort of that was similar of the kind of football that we'd seen in the first leg.”
Looking Ahead to PSG vs Arsenal
7:30 to 10:00
Discussion on how PSG's strengths will challenge Arsenal in the final.
“They all went in last week and they didn't this time around.”
Bayern's Struggles and Season Reflection
10:00 to 12:30
Reflecting on Bayern's season, their tactical issues, and player sentiments.
“And I thought that's important in this game.”
Bayern's Comfort in Defeat
14:01 to 14:59
Discussing Bayern Munich's unexpected comfort after losing a semi-final.
“Arsenal will not be as shy about defending as, say, Bayern would have been and wanting to kind of continually go on and score one more.”
Arsenal's Tactical Approach Against PSG
15:00 to 17:27
Analyzing Arsenal's strategy and past performances against PSG.
“You wouldn't want to give PSG that amount of space.”
Controversial Handball Decisions
17:28 to 18:36
Debating the clarity and fairness of recent handball rules in football.
Frustrations with Football Rules
18:37 to 19:11
Discussing the complexities and frustrations regarding modern football rules.
“And that's what I think is so frustrating about top level football nowadays is that throughout the season, we're learning new rules.”
Harry Kane's Big Game Performance
19:12 to 20:51
Evaluating Harry Kane's performance in crucial matches and his reputation.
“Barry, you were doing your Harry Kane big game bottle of routine in the WhatsApp group before he scored.”
Show all 26 chapters
PSG vs Arsenal: Champions League Final Preview
20:52 to 22:53
Previewing the upcoming Champions League final between PSG and Arsenal.
“And still, to stick away a penalty is a skill in itself, as we've seen in football.”
The Importance of Arsenal's Premier League Win
22:54 to 24:16
Discussing how Arsenal's league win impacts their Champions League final approach.
“I'm not sure it does make a difference, really.”
Women's Football Update: WSL Champions
24:16 to 25:20
Recapping recent developments in women's football and the WSL championship.
“given that they took it seriously and took advantage of kind of, I think it was a favourable league-phase fixture list, but did what they had to do and their path to the final compared to PSG's has been quite different.”
Europa League Semi-Finals: Aston Villa vs Nottingham Forest
25:41 to 28:00
Analyzing the upcoming Europa League semi-final between Villa and Forest.
“Villa are better, but Forest have all the momentum.”
Freiburg's Unexpected Success
28:00 to 29:08
Discover how Freiburg has managed to excel in European competitions with limited resources.
“but fair play to Braga for the way that they stole it at the end.”
The Stakes of Match Day
29:08 to 30:24
Explore the dynamics of upcoming matches and their implications for teams involved.
“So there's still an expectation that they win tonight But it's a good story.”
Predictions and Possibilities for Arsenal vs. West Ham
30:24 to 31:59
Analyze the potential outcomes and strategies for Arsenal's upcoming match.
“And then he said, he quoted Tony Polster when asked if he wanted a statue built at Selhurst Park.”
Tottenham's Fight Against Relegation
31:59 to 34:35
Delve into the challenges Tottenham faces in their bid to avoid relegation.
“The London Stadium has been better in recent months.”
Liverpool's Future and Managerial Decisions
34:35 to 37:15
Consider Liverpool's management and the potential changes on the horizon.
“They played well against Brighton, didn't win.”
Future Managerial Moves in Football
37:15 to 42:00
Discuss the potential impacts of managerial changes across top clubs.
“And yet you feel in today's climate that people want a head to roll, that there needs to be some sort of, yeah, sacrifice made from this.”
The Challenges of Managing Top Clubs
42:00 to 44:32
Discusses the difficulties faced by managers transitioning to top clubs, particularly concerning player management and expectations.
“And it was making me think, if Andoni Arreola goes with that to a big club...”
Fulham's Recent Struggles and Fan Concerns
44:32 to 46:30
Examines Fulham's performance against Arsenal and the implications of rising season ticket prices on fan sentiment.
“You're eating into your Fulham minute, Archie.”
Playoff Predictions and Team Dynamics
47:25 to 54:54
Analyzes the dynamics and statistics of championship playoffs, discussing potential outcomes for various teams.
“Welcome to part three of The Guardian Football Weekly.”
Schalke's Promotion and Miron Muslic's Impact
54:54 to 56:00
Highlights Schalke's return to the Bundesliga under Miron Muslic and the influence of Edin Dzeko on the team's resurgence.
“Some journalist in inverted commas has written a book for Gianni.”
Schalke's Revival with Edin Dzeko
56:00 to 57:08
Explore how Edin Dzeko's arrival has revitalized Schalke's performance.
“sounds too much like we're talking about U.S.”
Roy Hodgson's Chess Adventure
57:08 to 57:41
A light-hearted update on Roy Hodgson's recent activities in Bath.
“Jack says, hi, Guardian Football Weekly.”
Transcript
Automatic transcript. May contain errors.0:00Max Rushden:This is The Guardian.
0:30Mark Langdon:then about Harry Kane winning the Champions League in front of them. And PSG deserved it. Manuel Neuer was the busier of the two keepers. And so Arteta and the Gunners must face the holders in Budapest. Also today, we'll look ahead to the Villa Forest Europa semifinal and the Premier League weekend. City host Brentford for Arsenal go to West Ham, who need points in the relegation fight with Spurs. Then there's the playoffs that get underway. More Roy Hodgson in the wild. Your questions. And that's today's Guardian Football Weekly.
0:57Mark Langdon:On the panel today, Barry Glendennig. Welcome. Hi, Max. Hello, Archie Rintut. I used to have a photo with Roy Hodgson in the wild. It was my proudest possession when he was Fulham manager. Hello, Max. All right. Did you burn it? Why do you not still have it? Times change. Yeah, okay. Chuck away your stuff. It's a good way to live. Like the littlest hobo or Jack Reacher. It's just once it's done, it's done. It was in Basel when Fulham were playing there during the Europa League. So how wild it was. It's not nearly as wild as the stuff you've had. I'll put it that way. No, fair enough. From the Racing Post, Mark Langdon, hello.
1:32Hi, Max. No Hodgson anecdotes, I'm afraid, from me.
1:36Mark Langdon:You are forgiven, Mark. Let's start then at the Allianz Bayern 1, PSG 1, PS going through to the Champions League final 6-5 on aggregate. They'll play Arsenal. What did you make of this, Mark? Yeah, I think this is maybe the game that Jonathan Wilson wanted to watch last week, where Paris Saint-Germain showed more facets of the play, really, and were able to, defend and stifle Bayern Munich as much as it's possible to do that to a team that's got you know three brilliant attacking players like they have showed real discipline the early goal always helped because it settled them down and gave them that that lead to sort of hold on to but they felt sort of reasonably comfortable and defence played well midfield played well they were dangerous on the counter-attack and deserved to go through I felt over the course of the two legs yeah I think that's right Archie isn't it they did defend you know Marquinhos and Paco were brilliant even if there was only there were only two goals in this I still felt there were glorified five aside vibes in in the in the intensity of the game and the way it zipped back and forth and And the way that Marquinhos and Paco defended, as you said, was really impressive.
2:56And I think that's the best any team has defended their box against Bayern this season. From a Bayern perspective, the thing that everyone here is going back to is why was Nuno Mendes not sent off by Jao Pinheiro in the first half? It did seem like a red card, but obviously you can't review second yellows with VAR. hadn't limer got done for a handball that wasn't necessarily handball just before it isn't that he'd already yes for that yes and and the way that was explained as well seemed puzzling in that it was a decision which was given by the fourth official five seconds after it happened right okay and it didn't happen um but look ultimately i think there's a few turning points sliding doors moments where you see Bayern didn't quite take the initiative.
3:48And I'd go back even to the first leg where Michael Alisse has that chance to make it 2-0. And I think that that is ultimately the point where you really go, if PSG were chasing the game that hard, that would have made a difference. But the truth is for the majority of this tie, PSG still had it in their own hands. And Bayern just weren't sharp enough with their passing and with their general cleanliness of all their actions last night, I thought. So the fact as well that... So Manuel Neuer had a great game last night. The first saves he has to make in this tie come after he's conceded six goals in it.
4:32Mark Langdon:Yeah, yeah. That's insane. The first one that Neves header, because that is a brilliant save. I don't know if that's his first save. It's an unbelievable save. And I think Wilson, you know, it's not just let's get Wilson, but I think he wrote Neuer off last week. So, you know, if Manuel Neuer is a listener. There were none of the five goals last week where you'd go, what's he done there? Yeah, no, I agree. But as I suppose, you know, when that first goal goes in after three minutes, there was a little part of it goes, OK, we're back on. And it was it that was sort of that was similar of the kind of football that we'd seen in the first leg.
5:08Mark Langdon:but especially that sort of one-two between Kraut-Shellier and Fabian Ruiz.
5:12Max Rushden:Yeah, I'm not sure if it's just how the game began or if it was a deliberate tactic by PSG to roar out of the traps, try and get an early goal and then shut up shop insofar as PSG ever shut up shop at the back. But if it was a tactic, it certainly worked. They tore into Bayern Munich, got that early goal. Farris Kvely is such a difficult player to mark and is going to give, I suspect, Mikkel Arteta and his staff a few sleepless nights between now and the final, wondering how to try to contain him, if he can be contained. But yeah, once they got that goal, they had a two-goal lead and they were able to concentrate on keeping Bayern Munich out.
6:02Max Rushden:I mean, for all that, it wasn't another 5-4. there were a lot of chances for both sides. Elyse had a couple of chances. Moussiala, Jonathan Taad, Luis Diaz all had chances for Bayern Munich. Harry Kane obviously scored for them late doors. And PSG had five or six chances. So, you know, it was a very entertaining, reasonably end-to-end game. I think PSG were probably worthy winners, but ultimately Bayern were diddled by that first leg penalty awarded for an Alphonse Davies handball that shouldn't have been given.
6:45Mark Langdon:I mean, you don't need to start me, Barry. So that's an interesting way, isn't it, when you watch a game, Mark? Because Barry's right, there were lots of chances. You know, Alise puts that one just over the bar. There's the save, the brilliant save from the Neves header from Neuer. There's the, was it Nuno Mendes tackle on Alise, which is a brilliant last-ditch tackle. So I'm watching this game thinking this game isn't as good as last week. Like the midfield, the passing, the attacking just isn't as crisp. Was it the same, just the finishing wasn't there? Or was it just not as good? Or goals are an important part of a game being good?
7:19Yeah, I think the, as it would have been alluded to, like the goalkeepers barely made a save last week. And so from a sort of shot creation sort of point of view, it did feel like there were maybe as many chances. They all went in last week and they didn't this time around. I don't think you need to have loads of goals, though, for it to be a great and exciting game. I would love buying to have scored 15 minutes earlier just to really set up that grandstand finish. But I still enjoyed the game. It's a semi-final. Last week, we can't expect all semi-finals to be 5-4 shootouts. I mean, most of them would follow what happened last night.
8:02I felt it was really interesting the way that PSG were happy to concede possession to Bayern and actually didn't, in the second half particularly, were not interested in risking sort of playing in their own half and were very direct and sort of in that last 25 minutes. The point where the goalkeeper was, well, I don't know if it was a tactic to keep aiming for the touchline, But it felt very much like he was told, do not pass it short, do not risk. We're just going to give the ball to Bayern and defend the box. Probably the least amount I've seen Nuno Mendes and Zay Emery rather than Hakimi go forward.
8:42But to me, that just makes total sense. When Alise and Luis Diaz are on the wings, just vacating those positions like they did in the first leg just seemed nonsensical to me. So I just felt BSG were much more sensible in the second game. And that maybe spoilt it in terms of just how many goals there could be. And even the substitutions that Luis Enrique made were probably about as negative as he ever sort of goes, really. So that was respect to Bayern and the threat that they've got. But I do, I mean, I don't know if Archie agrees he watches more of Bayern, but I do feel like Bayern are a very, they're a one-trick pony.
9:22I mean, they're a very good one-trick pony, but I just, I don't know, like, you know, Kane wasn't able to drop deeper and sort of link up the play like he maybe would because PSG just put their midfield in those positions. And I just felt like they maybe ran out of ideas slightly in that sort of second half. I would say Bayern are a multi-trick pony. It's just that PSG took away those tricks. The fact that Bayern have scored, I think, in all competitions around 30 goals from set pieces this season. And there was one point where it flashed up saying, Bayern, no corners so far tonight. And I thought that's important in this game.
10:03What you mentioned there about Kane not being able to come deep. And one of the things, actually, when these two teams played against each other in the league phase, is that Bayern rotated a lot more when it came to their positions on the pitch. And actually, Bayern blew away PSG in the first half. That's probably their best half that they've played this season. And they were 2-0 up and Luis Diaz then got sent off and then they had to really defend for their lives. and I think that ultimately, I think they won the wrong game this season. They've been so emboldened by how they've played throughout this season that they have this belief that they can take on anybody.
10:52It's just that I think that PSG's best players and Bayern's best players, there is just a tiny difference in them knowing exactly what they have to do. And just in terms of quality, I think that Kvaratscalia is a little level above Musiala, Elise, Diaz, in the same way that I think Dembele is also on that level above. And that's ultimately what's made the difference is that efficiency of chance taking.
11:25Mark Langdon:Yeah, you make such a good point, Baz, about Kvaratscalia because it's the close control. Like, do you go, do you, it is, do you get close? Do you back off? What the hell do you do? And if you're thinking ahead to Arsenal, it could be Ben White, who actually played pretty well against Athletic, but isn't the best part of that Arsenal team.
11:43Max Rushden:One presumes it'll be Ben White or Uri and Timber. If it, I think, with all due respect to Ben White, I'd go Uri and Timber. But then do you put in an extra defensive midfielder to help whoever is playing at right back? because Faris Kaelin is virtually unmanageable in a one-on-one. And even when he's double teamed, it's still hard to contain him. And even if you can manage to contain him, there's so many, you're leaving spaces elsewhere. I'd love to be a fly on the wall in the Arsenal coaching staff room when they're trying to figure out what to do. PSG are beatable, we know that. but I think it's fair to say they're probably the best team on the planet on their day and Arsenal are a really good defensive team so I'm really looking forward to this final and I will happily excuse Mikel Arteta for wearing belt, braces, another belt and another pair of braces just in case for this one.
12:53Max Rushden:It's going to be intriguing. Just the nature of PSG. who needs a number nine when you've got three players with the dribbling ability across the front three that they have. And also, they do one-twos quicker than I've seen any team in history do them. It's like, and I think that's the thing watching them, is that they do the simplest things at the highest intensity that also I think must be pretty galling for the teams that they're playing against because these are very simple moves and yet they do them so well that it feels like it's impossible to stop I'm not saying what Kvarrat Scalier does is very simple that's obviously not but but the way that they're able to just yeah pull coins from behind your ear on such a consistent basis as a defender and just your morale is dropped through a game.
13:52Like, given how much Arsenal enjoy defending and the art of that, I think that this is a fascinating final because of the tests and the challenges that they will be posed with. Arsenal will not be as shy about defending as, say, Bayern would have been and wanting to kind of continually go on and score one more. and just a word on Bayern it's weird that they are, I've never seen them be as comfortable with losing a semi-final even if they're really disappointed with it because of the journey that they seem on. Joshua Kimmich usually feels like he's about to go through an existential crisis after he loses an important game of football and the fact that he came out and said this is the best Bayern season that I've played in 11 years at the club and there's a chance that they also may only win one trophy this season despite despite all of this they've still got the German cup final to come against Stuttgart but I think it speaks for the the journey and what Vincent Kompany has has done at the club I think just looking at the the goal that PSG scored I think that's harder to score against Arsenal Cavaret Scalia had a lot of space to run into it was a great one too with Fabian Ruiz but but Arsenal will have unashamedly be sort of 15 yards further back in in those moments and I think that's the right thing to do.
15:14You wouldn't want to give PSG that amount of space. I think Arsenal can take great heart from last season's semi-final. I know Mikel Arteta got mocked afterwards for saying we were the better team and even Luis Enrique agreed. And then Luis Enrique didn't agree in the press conference afterwards. But I felt Arsenal, particularly in the second leg in Paris, gave a very good performance. At that point, PSG were ahead, and so you do have to factor in the state of the game. But they caused them problems throughout that match. And the set-pieces, there is a clear advantage for Arsenal. Bayern scored one goal from a set-piece in this game.
16:00Maybe Jonathan Tarr could have had another one in the second leg as well. So Arsenal will have to defend really well. But they have got opportunities to hurt Paris. There's no doubt about that.
16:12Mark Langdon:Yeah, and Patricia Tire saying Donnarumma was incredible in that game and he doesn't play for PSG anymore. And actually Barney tweeted, PSG have no weaknesses, only strengths and perfect high-spec parts, except perhaps for the goalkeeper who seems to have wandered in from a rave in Kent in 1989. I don't know if that's it. Is that long-hairst Barry? Because I actually think Safinov played pretty well yesterday. He doesn't fill you with confidence. And I don't know if that's just having long hair as a keeper because it's sort of rare.
16:40Max Rushden:He's probably the weakest link in the team. I don't think it's anything to do with the length of his hair. And it was a rather unorthodox flap slash save from him that led to the handball that Bayern Munich's players thought should have led to a penalty for them because a PSG player hit it off his teammate's outstretched arm. it wasn't given correctly because that is the law of which I think quite a few of the players on the pitch from broad teams didn't seem to realise but I'd say Arsenal will fancy the chances of getting a goal or two at set pieces of corners in the final they will have to obviously get corners to score from them and that might be tricky.
17:31Max Rushden:On that handball thing Archie and it's obvious where I'm going to come from with this
17:36Mark Langdon:which is which handball please oh not the nino mendez the the jaunevers one right okay yeah yeah um because it seems insane to me that ifab have realized that if somebody kicks the ball really hard near you and it hits you on the arm even if it's outstretched it shouldn't be a penalty but obviously at the same time if somebody hits your arm and it's even a tiny bit outstretched at point blank wrench then it is a penalty it makes me sort of makes my blood boil that they've sort of accepted that this is a rule because there's no massive difference i know the ball's going the wrong way but you know apart from that is there a massive difference good this isn't a penalty do that more my point with this is if the people who are playing the sport and therefore are having supposedly the most briefings about what the rules are at the start of every season If they don't know that that's the rule, then we're in a worrying place.
18:36The joy of football is that it's simple. And that's what I think is so frustrating about top level football nowadays is that throughout the season, we're learning new rules. It's May and no one really knew this. And we all had to kind of look it up and find that out. and it's just really tiring because we want to talk about the football and instead we find ourselves talking about referees and yeah, I support you in your quest, Max.
19:12Mark Langdon:Thank you so much. Join us. Join us, everyone. We will march on IFAB. Follow me. Barry, you were doing your Harry Kane big game bottle of routine in the WhatsApp group before he scored. does that make a difference that he's scored? Look, Harry Kane is a fine footballer
19:31Max Rushden:he's one of the best strikers in the world blah blah blah blah blah but there is a worrying pattern where he does fails to grab big games semi-finals, finals by the scruff and bend them to his will that's an undeniable fact he's clearly a very good player He scored over 50 goals this season. He scored and played brilliantly in the first leg. He was anonymous last night until he scored. And I wish he'd scored, like Mark said, 10, 15 minutes earlier. And then we'd have had a right ding dong of a finish.
20:12Mark Langdon:We should come on to comp together all of the times you've said. Well, you keep teeing me up for it. And then what am I supposed to say? Sorry, you started it. I didn't say anything. It was in the WhatsApp group. It became part of acceptable discussion points from you. Anyway, Archie, you were going to make an interesting point on this, perhaps. I would like to defend Harry Kane. This is a point that could have been made in the past, but not this season. Not this season at all, because he scored in each of the quarterfinals against Real Madrid, and he scored in each of the games against PSG, and only one of them was a penalty.
20:56And still, to stick away a penalty is a skill in itself, as we've seen in football. And I think that last night it lays more on the shoulders of... There were other teammates of his that had bigger chances where they could have scored in Alise and Musiala and even Diaz taking the right decision at the right point. And when his chance comes along, he takes it in a really impressive way. And also, let's not forget, if we look at Bayern's route to the final, or what it would have been, to score home and away against Real Madrid in those pressure moments is what we would attribute a big game player doing.
21:37And scoring against PSG in both games as well. I think, yeah, I think this time he deserves a little bit of slack.
21:46Mark Langdon:Mark, we haven't talked about the final a bit. How do you see it playing? Is it as simple as attack versus defence? or not? I mean, it could be. I think if both teams play the way you expect, but sometimes that doesn't happen. For instance, Manchester City didn't go and press Arsenal in the Caraval Cup final and just let them have the ball for large spells and just waited for their moments. Luis Enrique might have watched that and thought, actually, that's not a bad tactic and we'll be patient and just expect to score at some stage in the game I I would be very surprised if Arsenal played any differently um but they're up against you know a world-class team the champions in Europe with threats everywhere so like I think they have to play that way they have to play cautiously and and wait for um their moments so I'll make PSG favourites I would I would I think if they both play to their levels, I think PSG will win, but football's rarely that simple.
22:48Mark Langdon:Yeah. And I think it obviously makes a big difference, Baz, if Arsenal go into that game holding a Premier League trophy. And they should be. I'm not sure it does make a difference, really. Do you know what? I think because there's no... Because then it becomes much more of a free hit. It's not a free hit because they've never won a European Cup. But if they go there and they haven't won the Premier League, the pressure on them is mad. Can you imagine the discussion of, You know, the amount of that man with his bottle at Man City and all this bullshit, you know. Like, the whole narrative will be different to, you've got this medal, it's time to basically have the best season that Arsenal have ever, ever had in their history.
23:26Max Rushden:Yeah, okay, that's fair enough. They would go into it with a massive monkey off their back. But I don't think it would alter their approach to the game. they'd just be playing with more of a spring in their step, I guess. I don't think anyone was expecting Arsenal to win the Champions League at the start of the season. So the fact they're in the final, but God, they're up against such a good team. But it's winnable. It is winnable. I think this is a win for me over Barry in the league phase. It doesn't matter that we... I was just thinking this yesterday. The Barry beef started a while ago. I would say it's a one-all on aggregate and we go again next season.
24:15But Arsenal won the league and deserved to win the league, given that they took it seriously and took advantage of kind of, I think it was a favourable league-phase fixture list, but did what they had to do and their path to the final compared to PSG's has been quite different. So yeah, I'd say it does matter.
24:37Max Rushden:But if they do lose the final, then it'll be 2-0 to me on aggregate. I think Arsenal, you know, you look at, I think Bayern Munich did very well in the league phase. It'll be 2-0 to me on aggregate in a best of three. I'm sorry, but Bayern Munich also did well in the league phase and end up with a hard draw. But I just think overall, you've got to give yourself the best possible opportunity. And that's what Arsenal have done and they've taken advantage of that.
25:04Mark Langdon:I also remember, Barry, you know, Mark is living with us for, I don't know, 10 days at the World Cup or something. So, you know, let's keep him on side for now. Anyway, while we're on Arsenal, their women drew a Brighton last night, which means Man City are the WSL champions. This is the Guardian Women's Football Weekly because it's excellent. And that'll do for part one. Part two, we'll look here to the Europa semifinal, do a Premier League preview as well.
Read the full transcript
25:32Mark Langdon:Welcome to part two of the Guardian Football Weekly. Solik, it's Villa-Forest in the Europa League semi-final tonight. Clearly a lot of you will know that result by the time you listen to this podcast. But it is Baz, fascinatingly poised. Villa are better, but Forest have all the momentum. They've won their last five, haven't lost in ten, and Villa have lost their last three, including the first leg.
25:52Max Rushden:Yeah, and Forest go into this game on the back of that big win over Chelsea at the weekend, in which they were well, they would have a completely different team, one imagines, but spirits will be high in the camp Villa obviously stank the place out at the weekend with their B team but again there'll be changes all around at the time of talking I don't know if Morgan Gibbs why I think he's going to play because he didn't suffer a concussion he just suffered a quite deep cut on his head so one presumes he'll be fine and I think if he'd been out that would have massively swung the game in Villa's favourite.
26:33Max Rushden:But yeah, I can't really pick a winner, to be honest.
26:37Mark Langdon:I'd probably go Villa, but not with any confidence. It's interesting that if you're not concussed, but half your head has fallen off, you can still play. But yeah, he's had a protective mask fitted. So, you know, he'll be the Zorro of the team. How do you see it, Mark? Very tight match. You know, the league table would suggest Aston Villa are way better than Nottingham Forest. I think Forrest clearly had, when you're on your fourth manager of the season, there's been issues earlier on in the campaign. But in more recent times, they've played so well. And so I think I wouldn't judge Forrest as being this kind of team that's been battling against relegation.
27:18But this current team, if the season started now, I think would be comfortably in mid-table and not that far off of Aston Villa. So I think Villa have got it all on to get past Forrest. It's a really tight game. I'd just about rather have the lead rather than home advantage.
27:39Mark Langdon:The winner meets either Freiburg or Braga. Braga are 2-1 up. Freiburg, lovely place for a mini-break. I may have said that before, Archie. But are they good or do you expect Braga to go through? I still love the fact that 39-year-old João Moutinho is pulling the midfield strings for Braga. I watched the first leg of this last week and I think a draw would have been fair, but fair play to Braga for the way that they stole it at the end. And Freiburg are the best they've ever been. And yet it still doesn't feel like it's quite enough. It's amazing that they're in a European semifinal at all, given the resources at their disposal compared to the likes of Villa and Forest, for example.
28:27Okay, one guy you have to watch out for, Johan Manzambi. That is a name you will hear in the future. And even at the World Cup as well. For Switzerland, he plays generally out wide. For Freiburg, he plays as a holding midfielder or as a central midfielder. To be honest, he plays everywhere. and this guy does not run with the ball, he dances with the ball. He is a real difference maker for them. It's a big blow for them that they've lost Yuito Suzuki who fractured his collarbone at the weekend. Suzuki and Manzambi are the two players who really make Freiburg tick. Freiburg have won their last 10 Europa League home games stretching back over the last two seasons.
29:11So there's still an expectation that they win tonight But it's a good story. Whoever does get to the final, from an English perspective, if it's Forest who win, then the end of the season in England becomes just that little bit less interesting for a batch of teams behind the top five.
29:29Mark Langdon:Yeah. And actually on that, I was going to do this when we were talking about Brentford. Very occasional FSA rivals, the Football Ramble, noticed this, which is Liverpool play Brentford on the final day, right? Yeah. So Brentford go to Liverpool on the final day. Now, if Brentford are sixth and they can't be caught, so they are definitely sixth, and Liverpool and Villa are still vying for fourth, fifth, Brentford need to lose to Liverpool to get Champions League football, which is absolutely sensational, isn't it? What do you do? Do you just sit down? Is there an integrity thing somewhere? How do you subtly lose?
30:09Mark Langdon:because it would just be like that would be definitely in their interest to lose a football match, which is totally fascinating. Palace play Shakhtar tonight. They're 3-1 up. Some good quotes from Glasner. It could be his fourth consecutive final in four seasons if Palace make it there. He said, the fans have tasted honey. Now they want more. They won't be happy with just avocados. And then he said, he quoted Tony Polster when asked if he wanted a statue built at Selhurst Park. He said, I don't want a statue. Birds shit on a statue. so good luck to Palace then to the Premier League Baz the title race Man City home to Brentford Saturday 5.30 and then Arsenal go to West Ham on Sunday at 4.30 and it is pretty simple isn't it City have to win City I'm going to sound like
30:55Max Rushden:I'm talking about Harry Kane again City are an undeniably good team but they have this habit of ceding control of matches to opposition when they look on top. And then, as we saw, when they did it against Everton, they conceded three goals and found themselves in all sorts of bother. Brentford have plenty to play for because they won't be trying to lose this one. And I could envisage them giving City plenty of problems. As for West Ham-Arsenal, I can't see anything other than Arsenal win. but I suppose West Ham have to hope they've got a bit of a Champions League semi-final hangover and maybe start with intensity and try and get at Arsenal right from the start while they're a bit leggy and they'll need big performance from Jared Bone I suppose but I can't see West Ham winning this game.
31:59Mark Langdon:Can you Mark I mean as a Spurs fan you can obviously can't you yeah I mean it would be the one time settle for Arsenal winning a sort of virtual title decide it might be the time they don't this is not sort of with the Tottenham hat on I feel like this is a more a trickier game maybe than what Barry's suggesting now I see it as being similar to the one that Everton and Man City played out where there will be moments in the game where I think West Ham will have to ride their luck but then have also you know got some opportunities to hurt Arsenal. The London Stadium has been better in recent months.
32:41This feels like a game where West Ham will need something from as well. Even a point might not be a bad result. So I think it's a hard enough game for Arsenal. You'd expect them to win, but of the three remaining matches, this is the one by far where they're most likely to slip up.
32:59Mark Langdon:Yeah, I'd be interesting to see if they arrest anyone. Barry's sort of one-man campaign to get Christian Norgard just one game of football probably won't happen, will it? They'd probably start Zubimendi or Lewis Gale. I mean, I guess because it is their toughest game and now they don't have that many games, there's every chance they'd just go absolutely full strength. They don't play again until the following Monday against Burnley. I'd be amazed if Arteta rotated. This feels like the title-winning opportunity, really. There is a rumour. This may be nonsense, and if so, it can be cut. There's a rumour that Palace gets some money from the Eze deal if Arsenal win the league.
33:39Mark Langdon:And Palace play Arsenal in the last game. Maybe, I mean, it could be absolute bullshit. I have no idea. Conspiracy theory, Max. Yeah, what's happened to me? He's motoring. Also, why aren't we wearing glasses inside?
33:58Max Rushden:Please don't start arguing with Brock.
34:02Mark Langdon:I was looking at the aeroplanes in the sky the other day. We're on the relegation fight. Spurs leads on Monday night. So obviously we have a pod before then. But you were saying, Mark, when everyone was going, actually Spurs are getting relegated, you were saying it's 50-50. Now it's probably what, 40-60? No, no, much more in Tottenham's favour than that. Tottenham is kind of about 25 % now, just in terms of the odds. I've been so impressed with kind of what's happened in the last few weeks and I'm going to have a bit of a pop at the media in inverted commas. They played well against Brighton, didn't win.
34:40And the sort of narrative afterwards that when you're in the bottom three or in that dogfight, you've just got to win. It doesn't matter how you play. So they went to Wolves, didn't play well, won. And the narrative was we're not creating any chances. And you think, well, what have you got to do here? So you put both of them together against Aston Villa and then people start talking about the integrity and Villa weren't trying. You just think, well, I know everybody wants Tottenham to be relegated, but it's been a breath of fresh air really, De Zorby, the way he's come in. Spoken so positively about the team, the club, the situation, which is, you know, he said losers cry, you know, we can win five in a row.
35:21and when Igor Tudor walked in, after a week he said, oh, things are much worse than I thought they were. A week later, he subbed in the goalkeeper after 20 minutes and Thomas Frank in pre-season promised the fans that he would lose matches in one of the most bizarre kind of opening press conferences and he was good as his word. He lost a lot. So it's just nice to have kind of, I think everybody pulling in the same direction. I don't think Leeds is an easy game at all. And, you know, I wouldn't be surprised if Tottenham dropped points, but it's back in their own hands. And that's a lot more comfortable position to be in than sort of this time, sort of last week.
36:04Mark Langdon:Obviously, you know, Spurs have to go to Chelsea. I know Chelsea are on a six-game losing run and they go to Liverpool, Archie. So a seven-game losing run, presumably. But there is just absolutely written for Chelsea to beat Tottenham. But they go to Liverpool. there is a there's going to be a protest from a group called Not A Project FC before the FA Cup final there's going to be a project at the last home game of the season against Spurs where fans turn their backs in the 22nd minute that'll show them club yeah I know I don't want to say Barry it's something isn't it it's not much is it no no I suppose not if I've learned anything from German football you need to be disrupting the game in some way for people to really take notice like seeing it was for a protest a season or two ago where they flew remote control aeroplanes onto the pitch at one point for example or the tennis balls but also I think it's very difficult to have yourself listened to in English football regarding a protest because of the way that the power is structured.
37:13Sure.
37:14Mark Langdon:Everyone now seems to say Slott's going to be there next year Mark so if that's the case maybe he doesn't need to finish strongly yeah I mean well they need to just absolutely kind of make sure that they they're in Champions League and I think finishing as hard you know if they can finish fourth it's still better than finishing fifth um he's 28 till he's 29 yeah exactly I would get rid I would get rid of Arnaz if I was I don't think Liverpool will I just I do think he rode that kind of Klopp um sort of wave when when he first went in and then the team next season is going to look so different from that Klopp one and I just don't I don't trust him or see kind of a way where he is like massively successful trying to build his own thing at Liverpool and wouldn't be amazed if like he left by say Christmas or something like that I I do I he probably does deserve a third season and this has been a tricky one but I wouldn't have much faith in him being able to improve them massively next year this this point of whether it works for slot or not it feels like the um the the deciding point of barry against mark um given that i know that barry has has has expressed sympathy for the slot before it's such a difficult season to to really analyze with liverpool given everything that has gone on there yeah of course and where to land with it.
38:44And yet you feel in today's climate that people want a head to roll, that there needs to be some sort of, yeah, sacrifice made from this. If I've learned anything from succession, it was that, well, somebody's got to get fired, but who's it going to be? I mean, Salah going is not someone getting fired, but that is going to be a significant change in terms of the hierarchy of that club, in terms of how that dressing room works. And if I've seen anything from Bayern Munich this season, the fact that Thomas Muller left, it allowed different personalities to speak up and become greater characters in the dressing room.
39:21And that's something that is difficult to predict right now. I always find that it's very easy to make conclusions about what next season will look like, given the amount of the body of evidence that we've just had in front of us. But in the end, it can look so very different. I don't think we would have predicted Liverpool becoming title winners under Arna Slott, for example, at the end of that Klopp season. But look where we are. And I mean, to be fair, that still keeps us engaged, right?
39:48Max Rushden:I predicted it.
39:50Mark Langdon:Well done, Barry. Another point for you. Mark languishing here now after this. He wasn't even in that contest. Brighton Wolves, Fulham Bournemouth, Sunderland Man United. Sunday sees Burnley Villa, Palace, Everson Forest, Newcastle. Any of those catch your eye, Baz?
40:04Max Rushden:Well, Sunderland to play Man U, that could be an odd old game because neither of them really have much to play for. But no team has beaten Sunderland as often in the Premier League. And a lot of teams have beaten Sunderland in the Premier League. No team has beaten them more often than Manchester United. And I suspect that is unlikely, that record. They will just extend it at the weekend. He's talking about that kind of sixth spot potentially getting Champions League. Bournemouth in the Champions League would be fairly crazy I think and it's obviously it will depend somewhat on what happens this evening at Villa Park but to even be in that conversation in May just remarkable given what they lost in the summer the whole defence just departed and the goalkeeper and they've got better which is some going If Bournemouth did qualify for the Champions League, would the Vitality Stadium be up to standard for the Champions League, or would they have to play somewhere else?
41:10Max Rushden:Is that a size thing, or just a, I don't know.
41:15Mark Langdon:It's a good question. And finally, that was when the pod ended. The silence in its 20th year, Barry ends the pod with a question about the Vitality Stadium that nobody can answer. It's a question I probably should have had the answer,
41:28Max Rushden:come armed with the answer to, but I just crossed my mind. You can't do it. you can't do everything.
41:33Mark Langdon:Actually, because, um, Iriola isn't going to athletic club, which we, a lot of people thought he would mark. Where's he going to go? I mean, cause that's another thing about this summer is there's just so many possible city job will be up. Chelsea, maybe Liverpool, maybe Newcastle. There's lots of jobs around. Yeah. I mean, I assumed he was going back to Bilbao. I think most people did. Um, it does make Manchester United slightly more, intriguing um you know Carrick maybe felt you know a week ago that he was getting it but there's potential to go there I wouldn't like to see him at Chelsea um because you know I just think that's the place that you can just cook here as a manager and like you you know you're almost back to square one um and I think wherever he goes he might need time you know I remember Dominic Solanke speaking about Iriola saying it was so complicated at the start what he wanted them to do and they did start very slowly and you just imagine like at Chelsea you know you're out the door before you've even managed to implement your plan so I sort of feel like Carrick just the easy option is to just give him the job but if they don't I think him at Manchester United would be fun to watch I heard a clip of an interview with Antoine Semenyo the other day who was detailing how Bournemouth players don't get any days off.
43:01And it was making me think, if Andoni Arreola goes with that to a big club... Real Madrid, come on. Go to Real Madrid. If you're not giving the players the day off, you're going to have a mutiny. And I do wonder if... Because I think the narratives we create in the Premier League is that of this clutch of teams that are behind the top six, that these managers who have done well, like Marco Silva, like Andoni Iriola, like before Thomas Frank, that the next step for them is to go manage a top six club. And I just wonder if it is, if that is going to end up working. I see facets of Marco Silva's management where I think, I tell you what, at Fulham you can get away with that but a top club that's gonna that won't go down well and there'll be far less tolerance for that even if I do think like these guys are outstanding at what they do but the dynamics I don't think are always as we portray them and I think that actually in the media we are we're not very good at picking coaches uh for new clubs I only have to look at the fact that Vincent Kompany was what fifth sixth choice for for Bayern Munich for example it's not always the most obvious candidate I think that that ends up being the best one so yeah I think it's a really interesting thing to see what would happen should it be Iriola but also because of what the Carrick reign has done in terms of if they if they don't have Carrick at the start of next season then the foot and their things go south in the first five six games the noise will be well what's Michael Carrick doing of course but if they keep if
44:49Mark Langdon:If they keep Carrick and he has five bad games, it's the same thing the way around. You're eating into your Fulham minute, Archie.
44:54Max Rushden:Sorry, Max. Did you retire Pep from Man City there? Or have I missed some bit of news? Yeah, I just presumed he'd gone.
45:03Mark Langdon:But maybe I did. Maybe I did prematurely. Breaking news. I can't believe it. Archie, a Fulham minute. I wanted the pod to be harsher on Fulham on Monday. We rolled over and had our tummies tickled at Arsenal. The fact that Raul Jimenez was the guy sent into a different postcode by Bukayo Saka when defending that, I just like, how can that be the case when you know what's coming? Arsenal played really well, but I felt like we allowed them to do that. It's difficult to feel too much goodwill towards Fulham right now because, drumroll, season ticket prices have risen again. Good, good. And the way that the club have done this is that they've spoken to the fans.
45:50Hang on a minute. They spoke to the fan advisory board who checks notes. They picked, they handpicked the fans for the fan advisory board. But it's okay because those fans can tell. Oh, wait. They all have to sign an NDA with the club to be on the fan advisory board. But they did consult with them. And after some hard negotiations, those season ticket prices went back up. I know I am continually beating the same drum. And in the media, it feels like if you're still saying the same point, however long it is, it's like, oh, this is boring. You need to make a different point. But we need to change that culture because if the point is important enough, then you've got to keep saying it, regardless of how dull and monotone it sounds.
46:31It's like, I hate so much of the core elements of football. Can I have a Harry Kane minute?
46:39Mark Langdon:Listen, I'm looking around. I, for one, have never repeated a story. I'm sorry, Archie. That is shit, isn't it? Yeah. As you said about Chelsea, what power do you have? Anyway, that'll do for part two. In part three, we'll talk about the playoffs. Here is a bit where I encourage you to listen to other Guardian podcasts. Listen to all of them, please. There is a new video podcast our New York office is launching. It's called Stateside with Kai and Carter. It's hosted by our colleagues Kai Wright and Carter Sherman each week. They're going to be trying to make sense of some of the biggest stories happening right now.
47:13Mark Langdon:The show will feature conversations with some of the smartest thinkers and reporters, not just from The Guardian, but across the world. It's launching next week, the 13th of May, with episodes every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. You can find it in full video on YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts.
47:33Mark Langdon:Welcome to part three of The Guardian Football Weekly. So it's the playoffs in the championship. It's quite an interesting stat. In the last 20 years, I think it is. The team that's finished third has gone up nine times. fourth six times, fifth four times, sixth just twice. Because in my mind, Mark, it's the team with momentum that squeeze into sixth that always do it, but that isn't true. No, and like a lot of football stats, it's kind of, it's one of them, you only remember it when it happens and then you feel like it's sort of more frequent. But it makes sense because the team in sixth has got the hardest game in the semi-final against a team that finishes third, first of all.
48:09And, you know, they've been the worst team in the league out of them four more often than not as well. Like Hull come into that in that sixth position and would definitely be the weakest team in the championship playoffs. Now, as you said there, there's a couple of times that they can win, but I think Millwall will fancy their chances of getting to Wembley and winning that two-legged tie. Alex Neal's side, they play up to the Millwall stereotype at parts. Like, you know, Jake Cooper at the back just heads everything. He just comes into the box and he just heads it away. and the slide tackle headers and stuff like that.
48:44He's just like a man-mounting. But they actually have got creative players going forward. And I think that if they do get to the final, be a tougher game, obviously. Harder to call that Middlesbrough-Southampton tie. I'd probably edge towards Southampton. But I can see a Southampton-Milwall final. and I wouldn't rule Millwall out, although I think Southampton are probably the team that everybody fancies, given the way they finished the season and won the FA Cup tie against Arsenal, got to the semis. So, yeah, I can see a Southampton-Millwall final.
49:25Max Rushden:Just in terms of momentum, Sunderland lost five games in a row going into last season's playoffs. Is that right? But they were able to, they were kind of having a little mini-break on the beach because it cemented their place in the playoffs with seven or eight games to go. But yeah, they lost five in a row before their playoffs semi-final against Coventry.
49:47Mark Langdon:League One playoffs are on Saturday. Stevenage, Stockport and Bolton, Bradford. Stevenage, you sneaked in with that. Did it cross the line at the expense of Luton? You said you had this all covered, Mark. So this is tricky to call, I think. You imagine Stockport will get past Stevenage. The other one, I have no idea. Yeah, so Stockport have just had quite a few injuries. that's been the problem for them. Kyle Wotton, the centre-forward, has been playing centre-back and has been converted by Dave Chaloner. It's not an ideal situation. But when they signed Louis Barry on loan, they already knew that the top two was basically done at that point and he wasn't even fit when they brought him in.
50:26I mean, they brought him in effectively to try to win the playoffs. And so that gamble kind of starts here. I think you're right. I think they will beat Stockport. like Bradford I was speaking to a Bradford fan said the reason their home form has been so good is the pitch is not amazing and some teams struggle and Bolton would be sort of more of a footballing side but if you sort of follow the stats and expected goals like Bolton would be the sort of the best team out of those four and would expect to go up but yeah I think Stockport got the easiest semi-final and yeah I wouldn't be surprised if maybe if they can get a few players back maybe they might be able to shot Bolton maybe in the final?
51:08Mark Langdon:Sunday, League Two, Grimsby, Salford and Chesterfield, Knox County. And actually, Grimsby, you know, did finish bottom of all these sides, but they really do have the momentum, Mark, you know, and I've watched them win at the Abbey and Salford missed out not getting an absolute stonewall penalty and missing an open goal from about a yard, which helped us go up. But I think Grimsby might do that, actually. Yeah, Salford, like their goal difference, Not great for a team that finished fourth and nearly got Automatic. Obviously the most famous club of that quartet, given the ownership of them. I've watched quite a lot of Salford this season.
51:48Mark Langdon:Fabio Berrini up front for them, isn't he? Yeah, he doesn't always play though. When he does play, it's in a deeper position. But I agree with you. I think Grimsby might be able to shock Salford in that one. Notts County against Chesterfield. One that just can go either way. type things are probably edged towards Notts County, who I think will, there's definitely been times this season when Notts County have felt like they're one of the best free teams in that league and should have got automatic. And, you know, they just, when others kicked on like Cambridge, that they weren't able to quite match it.
52:21So maybe it'll be a Grimsby versus Notts final. And I think Grimsby might do it.
52:28Mark Langdon:Gianni Amfantino has defended World Cup ticket prices. Good old Gianni. insisting that football's global governing body was was obliged to take advantage of u.s laws that allow tickets to be resale for thousands of dollars above face value uh fifa's world cup resale website last week advertised four tickets to the final at a cost of 2.3 million dollars each fifa does not control the asking price but it takes a 15 purchase fee from the buyer of each ticket and a 15 resale fee from the seller that means fifa would make 690 000 if someone is stupid enough to spend 2.3 million on a ticket for the final.
53:02Mark Langdon:Speaking at the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills, Infantino said, if some people put on the resale market some tickets for the final at$2 million, number one, it doesn't mean tickets cost$2 million. And number two, it doesn't mean that somebody will buy these tickets. And if somebody buys a ticket for the final for$2 million, I will personally bring him a hot dog and a Coke to make sure he has a great experience. Producer Taiya Wright said, I'd pay$3 million to have Gianni not come and give me a He said people received in excess of 500 million ticket requests for 2026, compared with fewer than 50 million combined for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, added that 25 % of tickets for the group phase were priced at under$300.
53:40Mark Langdon:You cannot go to watch in the US a college game, not even speaking about a top professional game at a certain level for less than 300 bucks. And this is the World Cup. On Wednesday morning, tickets were available for the next home game for the New York Yankees for as little as$11. other tickets for more prestigious events often well below$300 playoff seats for the reigning NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder's current series against LeBron James's LA Lakers available for 158 tickets for Ohio State Miami in last season's Cotton Bowl started at$32
54:12Max Rushden:anyway all going well I read an article somewhere I think think it might be in the Athletic saying that in whole cities, the take-up for hotel rooms is nowhere near what was expected. So that suggests that all may not be well.
54:32Mark Langdon:I once hosted a quiz on BT Sport. It didn't last. And it was one where they sort of had to ship in an audience. And, you know, at one point we had to stop, and you'd film like five episodes in a day, and at one point we had to stop filming because some old lady had just fallen asleep and was snoring incredibly loudly. That'll happen for some of the group games. Just to bust people in to watch these footballs to make it look full. I don't know if anyone else has seen this. I did put it in the group. Some journalist in inverted commas has written a book for Gianni. The 10 moments to celebrate Gianni's 10 years in power at FIFA.
55:08Mark Langdon:It's every bit as good as Grisham. A real page-turner, as you can imagine. You wanted to ask you to give a shout-out to Schalke and Miron Muzlic? Yeah, Schalke are back in the Bundesliga, which German football, I think, really needs. They are one of the biggest clubs in the country. And Miron Moslitz deserves great credit because even though Schalke, the name and the club, the stature is big, they were not amongst anybody's favourites to get promoted at the start of this season. he really caught my eye just as a as a different character as well he gave this interview to German football magazine El Freunde where he's talking about his past as a refugee and moving from Bosnia when he was nine to Austria and and this came in the context of when he was asked like you know how does he work with the players is it stick and carrot and he goes no that that sounds too much like we're talking about U.S.
56:05foreign policy under Condoleezza Rice and I was I was like, you're not speaking like every football manager there, but then again, because of his past, he's not. And it should be said, key reason for them going up as well is that fellow Bosnian and legend of the game in Bosnia, Edin Dzeko, gave him a ring over Christmas and was like, I quite fancy coming and playing for Schalke. Could we make that happen? And Miro Muslic, who kind of was a fan of Edin Dzeko, was like, yeah, yeah, yeah, we can do that. Oh, that's great. Absolutely. And Edin Dzeko has been a real hit there. He's really helped, you know, and energize the place as well.
56:45And it is really no mean feat to get these big traditional clubs moving again in a good direction. And yeah, great credit to Miron Muslic because I remember, I mean, understandably Plymouth were not too happy that he was leaving in the summer, but at the same time, And Schalke is just a completely different stratosphere of club to Plymouth.
57:08Mark Langdon:Jack says, hi, Guardian Football Weekly. Just thought you'd like another weekly update on Roy Hodgson and his whereabouts. There's a man who plays chess on the high street in Bath City Centre. And look who recently turned up for a game. Not sure if he managed to get the checkmate, but Roy is ticking off more side quests in the West Country, I see. Yes, the travelling chess man on Instagram, sitting there very happy alongside Roy Hodgson. Although it looks like the game hasn't started, so we do not know if they played or not. The game is still going. But if you know, if you're wandering through Bath City Centre right now and you let us know if Roy is or isn't there.
57:40Mark Langdon:Thanks. That'll do for today. Thanks, everybody. Thanks, Mark. Thank you, Max. Cheers, Barry. Thank you. Cheers, Archie. Thanks, Max. Football Weekly is produced by Tayo Papula. Our executive producer is Joel Grove. And we'll be back on Monday.
58:02Max Rushden:This is The Guardian.