Bruno better than Cantona? Rio Responds to Carrick’s Man Utd Revival

0:00Hi Pod fans, Max here. Barry's here too. Hello. And now the Premier League is back, Barry, meaning we'll be providing incredibly astute analysis three times a week wherever you get your podcasts. Barry, with the remaining 10 seconds of this advert, can you provide some astute analysis? I think Arsenal are going to win the Premier League. And there you are. For more hot takes like that, watch or listen to Football Weekly wherever you get your podcasts. Hold on. So the question was in the group, is he better than a number of these players that played before? Is he better than Verona? yeah enjoy my personal mate so I don't know what I'm going to get

0:35I've got a text obviously I can't he's not open imagine leaving that see how it's never not unread with the cheek in it oh my gosh yeah how did you see that so quick he said is he better than Carrick Bruno better than Carrick yeah yeah yes he is come on listen I respect Michael Carrick guys I really do Okay, yeah, yeah, all right, fine. But the answer is yes. Is Cantona or Bruno? Nah, you can... Cantona all day, every day. Loads, Stee. Stee, don't forget who the king is, Stee.

1:16Yes, guys, welcome to another episode of Rio Presents. I'm here with Mr. Stee Howson right next to me, live and direct. We're together, man. When it may not, Edwin, we have to sit together. We have to gloat together. Do you know what I mean? Win or lose. We're here. We have to give yourself an arm around the shoulder. Joe, you didn't get the memo, man. You didn't get the email. Real, what's happening here? Like, is there a trip that was supposed to be on? Did we not get on well in LA? What's going on? A new WhatsApp chat. You know, I call it jealousy, mate. Because then we're going back to back jealousy.

1:48I don't want to hear your drivel, man. But you know what? May United won 5-2 yesterday, right? May United are back, guys. I told you, do not panic. I said it in the group yesterday. Do not panic. I had all this negativity flying in. Don't me make grumpy off about what you did say in the group yesterday. Oh, oh. I said it on the show yesterday. I said it on the show. I said, carry a cow. When these guys were all going, I was like, carry a cow. Do you think I really mean that? Come on, guys, man. I don't panic like that. But we'll also discuss Chelsea, man, because Chelsea's front three is something to talk about.

2:17They made a 100 % start in this campaign and the front three had a lot to say about that. New signings, players just coming out of nowhere. this is the thing with Chelsea last season is Chelsea's squad is too good that if they get the right gaffer in and they get the right system and there was always going to be a problem no Europe this year no Europe a bit like Maynard last year we'll get into that later on Maynard in the back 5-2 Steph I've not spoken to you about it yet other than the first half where you were just throwing your toes out of the pram what are you saying I can't repeat what I was saying I was trying to get you to say I've seen people saying that United who's going to try and outscore teams because we've had a lot of shots against Hull we've had a lot of shots against Dipschitz I actually don't think that's what we're trying to do I think the goals that we've conceded apart from the set plays against Hull they were mistakes it was a mistake from Massandro so you see a 5-2 score you go oh yeah that wasn't the game and also the first one Luke Shaw gets done for the first one and then we've allowed a ball into the box and again it's been crosses since the start of the season yeah yeah it's been a bit of a season last season was the same crosses that's a dying art I think that's come out of the game as a team because I remember it used to be like if a ball came into box here from say from Gary Neville's side because he was always on my side I would deal with it or whatever happened and then I'd be straight on as soon as we got the ball and we're going up the pitch Nev stop the fucking cross what are you doing get against him like that's all I'll be doing and then it's like yeah but fucking defend the cross do you know what I mean if the cross start going to come in which is fine yeah not only mate this is every team I watch right now so it's not just my United thing this is football in general defending crosses that are dying you taught me something which I've used since which is when a cross comes in you've got to be able to you said put one arm out so roughly where the attacker is but you've got to look at where the cross is and that was it and then I think the other half of that was you can't defend the goal by looking at it so obviously turn your hips outwards and you're back to the goal and these things by the way are not easy like the best in the world still you can still pick holes in the way that they position themselves and timing and foot patterns etc but unless you do the reps on the training pitch you will come unstuck and you will get opened up and you'll concede goals facts and we're seeing loads of that now and it seems like there's a change in the way that teams approach is really more focused about winning the ball high and then there's less focus about defending fundamentally in the back line of the new own 80 yard box where we're seeing loads and loads of mistakes but But Jujitsu didn't go on.

4:53No, I was going to say, you just spoke there about the standards, about when you played, you would get onto someone, et cetera, you know, at the right times. When you look at that second half of the performance for United, it was a bit of a throwback performance, won't you agree? Like, it's like you came out, it was a bit old school United. Yeah, it was almost like there'd been a rocket just throwing up all the players because, like, listen, are we going to go out like this or are we going to go out there and show people that we can actually play and run and move and be aggressive? and I thought in the second half that was what you want to see.

5:23I think players running in behind, Bruno setting things up and teeing things up, but Kobi Maynou winning ground duels against players. I thought it was just the running of the team. I think sometimes you've got to... Marcus Rashford, sometimes you've got to just set the tone sometimes and go, it's not about quality in class and doing stepovers and skills. It's about, can we outrun this team and outwork this team? If we can do that, they're not as good as us. simple 33 shots right in total which is the most in 10 years like there's these mad stats that have been going on like obviously you guys see i think you mentioned the crosses last week like what where are you guys when it comes to this kind of football do you understand your style yet it's only two games in do you understand the man united style yes or no steve i'll start with you on this one yeah i think we're trying to it is a bit of a throwback united it is kind of the team that Carrick played in, in a way.

6:16Like, Pep sort of made everyone really wise up to possession-based football, but United always had that. I can remember 18, 19 games at home in the league a year were pretty boring, to be honest with you, because we controlled the game and we lived in the opposition half and we throttled them. And you would always find a way because the forward lines that we had had goal scorers in them, so we really would find something. Giggs would find something. Paul Scholes is going to find something. Cristel Ronaldo, he's a pretty good one, so he was going to find something. But then it was just so dominant.

6:44We probably had 65-70 % possession, but no one really made a deal out of those stats at the time. I remember us just like horseshoeing it around for ages. But you know what I would say though, the difference today compared to then is that Agatha would go absolutely bananas if there wasn't a cross or a shot at the end of it. You couldn't have them recycling, recycling without any purpose. What are we keeping the ball for? We want goals. We want to put the defenders under pressure. Cross that ball in the box, make the defenders defend. and I'll never forget that when I was here it wasn't about keeping possession for the sake of keeping possession which I think a lot of teams do now and some do better than others but United back then was very much about and I think Carrick is going to be like that and I think that's what the demand will be on the team which shows the cross of the shots exactly so and I think that's a great a great point and a great direction that they're going it points you to where they're looking to go I think it's not about keeping possession and stat padding get possession pin them back cross the ball but the important part I think is lock them in when we do cross the ball have a shot when it comes out regain possession quick because we're in good positions and I think that's the part I think there's still a lot of work to be done about penning teams back after the shot after an action towards goal and I think that's and that will stop the transitions yeah we saw that out and we saw our like you know our static defending in our own third from opposition attacks like open play attacks and we're going to be very very hard to beat because we are creating chances obviously we're getting a hell of a lot of shots It was something I criticised Cary for last year and in two games, he's already rectified it.

8:17So, do you remember what it was? No, go on. It was the same 11 every single week. Yeah, yeah. And in two games, he made four changes yesterday. He brought Deleuwe in for Masraoui, Martin has in for Heaven. He's brought Rashford in for Dogu and he's brought Manu in for Santos. He maybe never had the trust in the players, enough players last year to do that. Well, I look at the bench now and I go, it's a bench? Yeah, I think you've got, as a manager, you've got to know who your players are and can you trust them. And maybe last year that was the case. And they didn't have as many games last year.

8:50You mentioned earlier on, I'll say last week, Steve, you mentioned that there's different personnels now in the midfield. And that's actually a good thing because obviously there's more players, but it means that different players react in different ways to their teammates having the ball. Are there any notable memories from your time, Rio, thinking Mbwemo reacting to Bruno getting the ball compared to when Mano gets the ball? What does that do to defenders? And how do you reckon the players are reacting to this? Well, I think if you listen to Chicharito, which I think if you haven't listened to Chicharito's interview on Rio Meats on the platform, you have to go and listen to it if you want to understand about how players react to other people.

9:25That was one of the most informative interviews, I think, that I've done on here. He was left. Just in terms of... Any fan or any young player, it's importantly a young player, understanding how to work around teammates. It was an unbelievable, insightful interview. And he talks about this. And he says, he was saying, when Scoles got on the ball? I just ran. I just ran because he even told me the ball will arrive. Don't look back again. And there's certain players you can do that for. Ryan Giggs was another one. He said that Ryan Giggs got the ball. If I wasn't moving, the ball would go where I should be.

10:01So I've got to be there. Do you know what I mean? So that is the way football is. And that is never, ever going to change. When Bruno gets on the ball, players will move differently. and I'm not saying anyone's any lesser player, but players will move differently than when Tielemans or Cobby Main is on the ball. Because the range of passing and the arrogance to play balls that other people won't and the confidence to do it and then the ability to execute, Bruno has more than most, if not all, players playing today. And then he does it consistently every single week. So if you're not running when he's on the ball, you're a fool.

10:37That's the point. If you don't run when Bruno's on the ball, you're a fool because he can get the ball to you within 30, 40, 50, 60 yards. The ball could land on your toe and you're in on goal. And it proved it again at the weekend. That pass from Abumbo's goal. Ridiculous pass. Ridiculous. I mean, just his presence alone on the pitch affects the opposition. Steve, when people start doubting him, I don't understand. What do you think of these people when you see this online? Paul Ponko said it, didn't he? Play the clip. Play the clip. Play the clip. Say the clip. Bruno Fernandes in other big clubs is in the top three Ballon d 'Or.

11:16Punto final. Finished. Seriously. Seriously. I don't disagree, by the way. I agree. For me, as a midfielder, we talk about Kevin De Bruyne. We talk about Modric. Talk about Ozil and stuff like that. Talk about stats. Stats. I think he came as a midfielder he scored more than Lampard in the season as the same position 8 10 you know he does more assists he's everywhere on the pitch he has a volume he keeps running he's smart he can play two touch one touch he can shoot but they say Bruno is a problem they need to find somebody he's at United they need to find somebody but football lovers will always respect Bruno Fernandes and he's not wrong he isn't wrong he played for him by the way he ain't wrong and the one thing that I didn't think he had in his locker was the run yesterday as soon as he was running that away he got the legs yeah I feel the same he got the legs here for this and then he managed to keep the ball only one touch kept the ball onto his other side and managed to touch it made it possible so even that angle of his game I mean we talk about him being a creator he's just scored three goals yes one of them was from the penalty spot still got to do it mind you because he missed his last two so the fact that he did that in front of the Stretford end lots of pressure on him to do that when he did it but he did it so yeah I mean I'm glad he plays for Manchester United would you swap for anyone in that position that he's playing where it's the creative hub of the team, the instigator, the one who you want on the end of chances or the one creating chances.

13:08Is there anyone else in the world right now of that ilk that you would rather have playing for Man United than you think to come and replicate what he's doing or better what he's doing? Jude Bellingham. That's the only person. And I know that you're going to say he moves, plays a bit forward up, more forward up, but if anyone can do it, I'm watching Jude week in, week out. He's different. He does it. But if you're looking at someone who can create for people and score the goals. He's the only person in the world. I don't think Jude will create as much as Bruno. He could score more, I think. So it's what you want, really.

13:43I think you can make a business case that if someone offered you a world record fee for him and you was going to be able to reinvest that and build up the rest of the squad, that might be a thing with his age being a factor. But I don't know if there's a like-for-like swap. It would only be someone that's 10 years younger that you would go for to have that longevity. in terms of what he's going to offer us right now this season no absolutely not what's that group last night? may you know what's that group last night? little debate went on oh yeah about Bruno whether he played with your lot no no no I think everyone in our group would say play in our team whether he starts or not is another question but if he was put into our first Nevin I don't think he looks out of place how much of the runners for him that front three Tevez Rooney Ronaldo Hold on.

14:31So the question was in the group, is he better than a number of these players that played before? Is he better than Verona? Yeah. He's been more effective. For United. Yeah, that's the answer. For United. Verona had some silky games. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Who do you have a player that they said? Hold on, I'm going to get him on.

14:54He's got a text off. He's not open. imagine leaving Sia 7 unread the cheek of it oh my gosh how did you see that so quick oh my gosh yeah so Veroni said he said is he better than Carrick Bruno better than Carrick yeah yeah yes he is come on listen I respect Michael Carrick guys I really do you've got to see what Michael Carrick did not see okay yeah yeah alright fine but the answer is yes he is let's stop he is Respect to Michael, but yes, he is. Who's that? Who's the person that's? Is that Quinn? Yeah. Is Cantona or Bruno? Nah, Cantona all day, every day. Loads, Steve. Steve, don't forget who the king is, Steve.

15:42He's not better than Cantona. Yeah, don't forget the king. It's not a lot in it, though. There's not a lot in it. Oh, by the way, whilst you're doing that, Rio, my boy Rance, I was going back and forth with my boy Rance. I said, listen, listen, I know that you say things in a way, but you cannot say, you cannot describe Bruno being as bad as you're describing him. And he said to me, he goes, it was so bad in the first half that Carrick had to change it. Yes, stats don't look good, but if he's not doing his job as a midfielder, then what is he doing for us? I said, come on, Rance, man, that can't be the case.

16:22I saw that you even commented under his post and you put your hand up yesterday he is not having him at all that was a slap, it wasn't a hand up it was a slap, it was one of them what are you chatting about I don't know how you I can understand talking, it's even the way he's speaking and the terminology the words he's using and some of it's actually quite disrespectful for a man who's broken a 20 plus year record of assists, I don't care how you do it but he's done it right and the guy scores goals, he creates goals. If he's not in Manchester United, the last, the whole time he's been here, Man United are finishing five or six, maybe ten places below every year.

17:03Imagine it with a dynamic week. But that's what I'm saying. And then this guy is just continuously hammering him. It's like, bro, it must be for clicks because you can't, his argument can't stack up. He can't stack up. He generally, I know him enough to know, he's not doing this for clicks he generally believes it i'm just like i don't believe in you in what you're saying and i don't believe in the way you're saying it as well he reckons i'm too soft because like he likes he says it as it is i'm like but the the way you're describing him is not fair but the way he's saying it saying it like it is it's like you're wrong and strong doesn't mean because you say it you're saying it like you're the tone you are that oh i've got the balls to say it and you ain't the numbers can't lie here it's too compelling one way like okay okay he didn't have a good first half he's the reason they were so bad in the first half he's the reason it ended up scoring five goals though so what are you going to say so if he's rectified a mistake from the first half where he was according to this guy shocking second half what was he done because certain man when they have a bad 10 minutes let alone a bad 45 they can't bring it back.

18:14Bruno says, listen, guys, follow me. We're going behind. Come in behind me. Follow me in, guys. And delivers. Is that something great players have to have? Because, like, I remember Cristiano Ronaldo would lose the ball a lot. He would cross it and there would be zero out of five, zero out of six, zero out of seven. He's blazing shots over the bar. Goldfish memory. He keeps getting the ball and keeps trying and keeps making things up. I interviewed Pep Guardiola, arguably the best manager ever, right? And he said to me, one of the best things and the biggest traits of the best, the greatest players like a Messi is their ability to forget the last action.

18:53If it's negative, if a mistake's made in the last action, the best players, the greatest players, most consistent ones delete that immediately and then go, let's go again without any, any hangover from the last touch. I know I played man. If you have a bad touch, someone almost gets in the ball comes again. It rattles. The blood's not flowing around the body. It ain't. And it's the guys whose body temperature doesn't change. Taking two touches now. Yeah. You're overdoing it. You're looking down at the ball. Touch it. I don't know when we take the ball. Yeah. Or you're playing it safe. Huh? Or you're playing it safe.

19:29You ain't trying to play that through ball no more. Yeah, yeah. Just giving it a go. Run away. Turn, turn, turn, turn. Like, just pop it. It's like the balls are on fire. But I see men in training who look unbelievable. Make a mistake in the game. and they're doing mad Rabonis in training, etc. That one mistake in the game in front of 70 ,000, their whole body language changes. Shoulders go from there to there. Head over the ball, arching your back over the ball like this to make sure you definitely get your good touch. And then it bobbles and you see the panic in a man's eyes like I've never seen.

19:59Like on a dark night after a nightclub and the police are chasing them to their eyes. Crazy. Like, he don't fear making mistakes and he doesn't fear the ball after he's made mistakes. In the first minute When there's no hangover from any touches He'll try a worldy ball To the 80th minute where he's at a Stinker of a game He will still try that ball Here's the acid test I want you to imagine a scene You're in a changing room You're sat next to Bruno Fernandes And he's had a very normal Bruno Fernandes game So he's lost the ball 14 times in the first half Trying things in the style And we're either drawing or maybe we're 1-0 down.

20:40It's not quite going to plan. And Stralix Ferguson is standing in front of you. What is he saying specifically to Bruno? Because there must have been times when Rooney's on that spot. What a question. Fucking sort yourself out. You can fucking do it. You deliver. You're the guy who delivers. He's not telling him to be safe, though. No, no, no. He might say, listen, play your way back into the game. Play a couple of simple passes. But when it's on, you fucking go for it. I know what you're capable of you guys are here because you're top you have the ability so Alex Ferguson was never going to go stop doing what Cristiano stop doing skills to beat people if you've lost the ball four times in the first half don't happen keep going and make them defend here's a question I saw a graphic over the weekend sorry do you think he's going to say to Scolese listen Scolese keep just ticking it now playing it sideways for the next 10 minutes no I thought I knew the answer I just wanted you to 100 % I saw a graphic on the weekend I just want to confirm if this was true or false in your experience of it that sometimes Alex Team Top would have been Jesus Christ look left and right and trust me yeah I saw Scolzi say that the other day on his podcast yeah not as cut and dry as that but it was like there might have been about another sentence or two on the back of that and that's it he whoops out but it's true Scolzi was right I texted him as well but it's like if I'm sitting there and I've got Roy Keane there and I've got Rude Van Nistelrooy there or I've got Rooney and I've got Ronaldo or I've got Tevez or Scolzi or Giggs or Bida I can't go into a game worried I can't my whole mindset in our purple patch era where we won three back to back probably four or five years especially all I used to say in a change room I'd go to every individual player I used to have like a really like three or four words to each like Nani goals and assists waza shoot on sight santh and whatever all right and all i would shout as well at the end of that is when before we're going out right is is like we keep a clean sheet they spot that's it it's all i say to vito i'm gonna move it me and you just keep clean sheet patrice clean sheet edwin just talk clean sheet today they score they don't have zeros they don't have zeros and that that's why when i when i see and we'll come on to them in a minute we're talking front threes in a minute right when you've got a front three that they're showing you levels that you've never seen before or you're seeing it starting to creep in, the confidence that then goes through the team to go, well, we just do, we ain't got to over-elaborate now.

23:12We ain't got to overdo it anywhere because these three are going to open up anyone. Now, the game's changed a bit because it's become systematic, so it might not be as easy as that, but that's how it was when we played. Right, man, we've got loads still to come on this pod, but we'll be back shortly after this. Hi Pod fans, Max here, Barry's here too Hello And now the Premier League is back, Barry Meaning we'll be providing incredibly astute analysis Three times a week, wherever you get your podcasts Barry, with the remaining ten seconds of this advert Can you provide some astute analysis? I think Arsenal are going to win the Premier League And there you are, for more hot takes like that Watch or listen to Football Weekly, wherever you get your podcasts

23:51Aria, really quickly, just before we go on to the front threes I want to talk about Bruno at the PFA Awards. Again, congratulations to him. Well done. Obviously, it's something that the players vote for, which makes it even more prestigious, in my opinion. You was there, I'm sorry, looking smart with the misses. Yeah, I was there with the misses and Jaiq as well. Have you seen your mind about it? You, sorry? Yeah, was you one of the Arsenal fans who was crying about it? Nah, I wasn't, bro. If I'm honest with you, we won the league, bro. That's all that matters to me, if I'm honest. but yeah talk to me about the logistics of how your players would cast a vote because you're all competitive you know you're going to want your teammate to do better but it looks like it was unanimous it was clear that it was Bruno how did you do it in your time as well do you know what it's mad because this is a massive award isn't it so you'd come in one day and on your spec where you sat your locker would be a little letter open it lads get a pen and paper So get a pen, fill in the form.

24:55So you've got to write your team out and then you vote for a young player and PFA player of the year. And we've always done it. But I've got to be honest with you, it was a little bit tribal. Like, say for instance, I don't know, Wazza was going for the PFA player of the year. Did you ever write the team and just put R11 in? No, no, no. I weren't as brutal as that. I think the only time I might have voted for an opposition player might have been Gareth Bauer. and Thierry Henry. What was the year we got like nine? Yeah, we smashed it. I don't know. It might be 2008 or nine. Yeah, we won. I think I was in about eight or nine of them, you know?

25:34Eight or nine. Just put it in there that Saliba's been in there four times in a row already, guys. Just wanted to drop it in there. Mate, he's done well. He's done well. Still four, I think. Like me. Anyway. Yeah. No, no. He's got years. He could be in there for the next four years. Easy. Yeah, he could be. even though he's playing for Real Madrid that's the thing if you can stay players have got to stay here long enough to be able to compete with them I think Stevie's the most out of any player I think Steven Gerrard I think out of any one oh really I think so yeah but yeah I think it does become trialable I think I only ever voted for like Gareth Bale and Thierry Henry outside of my squad like for instance if Stevie Gerrard who would have been up for it a couple of times was going for it and I'm thinking and he's like vying against Wazer or someone like that I'd vote for weather 100%, even if I thought Stevie was the best that year.

26:25I just couldn't bring myself to vote for someone from Liverpool. As much as I love Stevie now, but I'm sure they wouldn't have voted for us. So that's just the way it was. Yeah, you guys dominated, man. I've got the list here. And from 2000 all the way to 2013-14 season, it's a lot of United for either the football writers or the, you know, the PFLs. Do you know why? Why, why, why is that? We own that league. Yeah. Well, boy, Fergie time, mate. Anyway, listen, let's do a quick fire analysis on three key players before we get on to Chelsea. Starting with Lissandro Martinez. Rio, yesterday you said that Martinez is the best in the world at being on the ball at the centre.

27:10And that's big praise. But for a simpleton like me, can you break that down a little bit, please? What do you mean by that? I think if you look at your stats yesterday, I know it's against him, but he's still got to do it. 90 % pass accuracy, which is fine. There's a lot of defenders that have been doing that nowadays. But 21 of those passes were line-breaking passes. 10 more than Bruno. We've just been waxing lyrical about. Eight passes into the final third. Only one fewer than Bruno. That's a centre-back. You don't see centre-backs doing that. He's precision passing in and around the opposing final third.

27:45When he gets it off the keeper, the way he receives it. I spoke to Edwin Van der Sar when he signed for United. I didn't know too much about it. I said, what's your like, Edwin? He said, well, listen, physically, he's aggressive, but he's obviously high. It's going to maybe be something that they have to look at, etc. Which is obvious. He says, Rio, trust me, I ain't seen many better on the ball. And Edwin knows a player, too. He's played around some big players. He said, Rio, I don't know if I've seen anyone as good as this. How he takes it. He just wants it. Anywhere on the pitch, he'll take it.

28:14That's why he can go into midfield and play midfield. so I'm not saying he's the best centre half in the world because I wouldn't say that I think he's a very good centre half but on the ball I don't think there's anyone as clean as him at all and then meanwhile he does a pleading cry turner and loses it yeah yeah yeah but that's what happens when you take that many risks you're going to make mistakes that was my thing I made mistakes yeah because I was playing a different type of football I was trying to beat forwards or beat midfielders commit players further forward you're taking more risks you know someone sent me a video the other day when i was at west ham is this not me like dancing through midfield mate i i actually i'm going to say something yeah it's mad but i actually forgot i did like i knew i was all right when my kids saved me dad was you only gonna say yeah i was all right man i was going to be decent i was good man i was all right i've done my thing hey rio send steed that clip that you sent me the madman compilation I was on holiday and Rio sent me a clip, yeah.

29:12We were talking. Bro, I actually forgot. Like, I'm doing myself a disservice. Like, on the ball. Yeah, nah. Before I go on to the other player, I was with Ashley Young this weekend, right? And we were at the big church festival. And I said, Ash, when are you coming on? Like, when are you coming on? He said, boy, you know. And I'm seeing him do a lot of, like, media nowadays, Rio. Go get him. Because here's insight on football. That's your boy. oh my gosh he knows a thing or two please go get him Young is moving like a chick he's playing hard to get I've been chatting to him we'll get one I just think what he's doing is he's trying to make it a situation where he doesn't have to be with Steve alone that's his thing yeah he's speaking about outrageous stuff about him in the past and I actually want him to be in the same room and see if Steve comes with that same energy nah he's a great guy man and he's he's a good guy yeah man we spoke about everything we spoke about your changing room stuff anyway we'll get back to that shortly see i'm going to ask you about marcus rashford very quickly sorry did he tell you about the detail about the video that we've got and i watched that group of him eating chicken no what i've no see i'm a good guy i don't send these things on from the group yeah but whoa i mean i love chicken yeah but what i thought what i win none of those will sponsor immediately immediately No way.

30:35After every training session? Or what were you talking about? I don't know. It was someone caught it on camera. It was wild. Oh, my goodness. Well, we can talk about that when he comes on. But yeah, Steve, I want to talk to you about Rashford. He's back at the club. What do you make of his performances? And also, the fact that the media talks about him a lot. What's your stance on that as well as a second part of the question? What's your stance on Rashford? And I'm not really talking necessarily about Steve in the sense of the media, but when you look at other platforms and how they speak about him, so those two parts of the question.

31:10I think it's a good question because, Steve, you were clear about your stance on it before. Yeah, I would have sold him. Yeah, so after two performances, I know it's not a lot, it's too early to really make massive call on it, clear. But after what you've seen so far, where are you now? I would have sold him. I'm not going to backtrack on that because I would have done, I thought. and one of the major reasons for that was I didn't think that he would be given a fair shake of it by the fan base and he does get completely overblown by the media in terms of anything that he does whether it's good or bad, it gets completely overemphasized and I didn't want that noise because I feel like United at the moment feels like it's going in a direction that's quite dedicated, professional and sort of focused and sometimes I think that I think Marcus has been guilty of maybe losing focus or at least on the surface it looks like he's been losing focus.

31:58And he didn't feel like he was feeling the love for the club in some of his actions that he'd done. So for me, I thought the best for everybody was that he moved on. Now, that's obviously not happened. And I don't know how he was available for 20-odd million, and I'm seeing the things that mean. Cody Gap over 100 million has sent my mind into orbit. Has he signed for 100 million? He's going to City for 100 million. 100? 100. What's going on with you? Wow. It's insane to me. how people are having bad seasons and making profit on them. It feels like there was a meeting where everyone went to just blow it up and United didn't go out.

32:33Sevigny, that's an unbelievable transfer. Yeah. Anyway, so I stand by what I said I would have sold him, but he was great when he came on against Hull. He had 45 minutes where he looked electric and he was completely different to what Dargill offered. Yesterday, it was the same. He didn't get a goal or an assist yesterday, but that cross that he managed to get on the volley, that shown commitment and quality to get on it, there was a few times when he ended with the ball centrally, he looked quality any time he got it and I think you look at the options that we've got for the pivot in midfield, we've got four completely different players that can play in that pivot on the left you've got Cunha you've got Rashford, you've got Dogu they couldn't be more different with the amount of games that we've got if he's going to continue to put performances in like that, I've got no qualms right in staying whatsoever because he's been creating chances.

33:31People just haven't been putting them right. I think when you look at him as well, all the stuff you talked about attacking-wise, but the other side of the game, defensively, is where I think was most important for him because where he would be judged massively. Even yesterday in the game, he averaged eight. I think he got 8.5 kilometres yesterday in the game he ran. He averaged six before he left. So that's a two and a half kilometer jump. It's ridiculous. And it's not only one where you go, oh, I didn't think he ran that far. Watching the game, I knew he ran well in the game. Tracking back, I think he lost the ball in the first half.

34:02He ran back 20, 30 yards, won it back, made a tackle on the edge of his box. I spoke about that yesterday. But I look at him and I think in both sides of the game, he's not delivered in terms of an assist. Like you say, maybe others haven't finished their chances or scored a goal yet. I look sitting there looking at him going, he's always spanked. Yeah, yeah, no. He looks dangerous. Yeah, and Morgan Rodgers is the only player in terms of open play, chances created, has more. I think he's got nine and Marcus has seven. And what's the minutes? I'm with you guys, but that's standard behaviour, though, as well, at the same time.

34:30I think he's been treated unfairly and he gets spoken about a lot. But at the same time, I also don't really think we should be praising those stats. Oh, you've gone from six to 8.5. Mate, you're playing for Man United. You should be running. So I'm not, that's just me. Yeah, yeah, I agree with that. And I'm not disagreeing with what you guys are saying. It's great to give the context. But I also think it's important to remember that that is, it should be a given and where that got lost in his game, somehow, somewhere or whatever he was going through. I'm glad he's got that back, but that should be standard procedure.

35:06No, it should be standard, but it wasn't standard. That's the point. That's the point. It wasn't because that stat there alone, his average was six kilometers per game before he left. Okay. And he ran 8.5 when he, when he, when he was in this last game. So that's just going by what there was before and what we're seeing now. and it's not that where we're going oh well Daniel brilliant he's running it's like no no we're just seeing what we expect to see from a Man United player and it wasn't it wasn't the Marcus Rashford we knew I didn't recognise that version of Marcus from what I've seen when he came through and that's what was the most startling thing for me so it's just good to see listen we're only two games so also if we're not going to buy and he's going to fall oh you take it yeah listen if Marcus Marcus Rashford this is how Marcus should be if I was sitting with Marcus now I'll be saying to him, this isn't your swan song year.

35:57This is your chance now to show the manager, show the club, you want to finish your career here. What are we going to do now from this point on to the end of the season that is going to make sure that that is an absolute? Well, I've got to score 10 goals, double figures assists, and I've got to run like it's my last game every single game. if I do those three things there there's no it's not past him to get a new deal because they're going to have to go and spend 80 to 120 million pounds to get someone like Marcus Rastrid in the building so why not just give him a new deal and listen and then his performance will determine where that money is where the wages are there's also things that we're not going to know about you might end up finding out is he on time for training what's his attitude like in training I don't want to hear any of that stuff.

36:50That annoys me. When you start talking about, is he on time for training? I know what you're saying, Steve, but that pisses me right off. I don't want to hear that. That should be the standards. That's just standard. It should, but that's one of the reasons that was put out there by the last manager in terms of why he didn't want him. So if he can change that, show that he's changed, then... From what I've heard from the guys, the players, the manager, the staff of the club, he's been there on perfect since he's been back in the building. That's really good. Last player I want us to analyse. Kobe Mainu.

37:25For me, when I see this guy and I think, what, he didn't get no minutes at the World Cup? Like, zero minutes. Like, alright, you might not think he should be starting, but zero minutes. Anyway, carrot quote on Mainu. I understand Bruno will be getting a lot of credit, but Kobe was immense. Carrick also said that Manu's effort underpinned the result of the team. Rio, playing him alongside Tillemans, do you reckon that's what's been missing so far? And do you reckon we missed that against Hull? I think the game yesterday against Italy, it didn't lead me to believe that those two, against those type of teams where you want to dominate position and really dominate tempo and pen teams back and get control of a game, them two were going to be hard to budge, I think, in that sense.

38:14if they played to the second half level, especially. I think Kobe was, I thought, really, really good all the way through the game. I thought his ability to beat the press with the ball, dribbling out of tight situations, bring others into the game. He looked like yesterday there was a bit between his teeth. Like, he was getting to people. I saw the clutch line a couple of times, a few jewels that he had. And I look at him and I think he won nine from 11 jewels yesterday. Like, so he was, I think there was an headstream yesterday. I think there's some players who haven't gone to the World Cup, he's one of them, who's sitting there going, give me the shirt, I am going to show everyone now why I should have been there.

38:51And this could be a great season for him, I think, and really put him in the position, what he's been dreaming about, where he thinks he should have been two years ago, if he was given the chance. First 10 minutes of the game, he was just doing stuff. And it's almost, it's hard to describe what he was doing. Because others can't do it. But it's just almost like when you're watching him, you just know that that was the right decision, what he made. and it's his decision making, his intelligence, and like, you know, anyone can charge around a picture, smash people, right? And he doesn't do that.

39:19He does things that are just really like, simple. that was the right thing. Yeah, that was the right thing. There was a corner at one point in the first half yesterday where he could have just cleared it out for a throw and it wouldn't have been any drama. And he took a nice little touch, went past the defender and then played it up the line and kept possession. And you just think, that's really, really elite. And it's simple. Close. But like, how many players would have just cleared it for a throw and lost the ball. Yeah. And you just think that, there's those little things and then he's weird because he can move but he doesn't look like he's moving.

39:49Popper was the same, like he was going really fast but actually done because of his strike and looked like he was going and Cobby's got these weird little feints where he just kind of rocks to the left or the right and he sends defenders. It's mad. Yeah. Yeah, the way he bursts through the press sometimes, like two or three players just, and if you can see their reaction is a little bit like, how did that happen? Yeah. Do you know what I mean? And they probably can't describe it and explain what he was there and he's gone and it ain't speed it's like you say it's them faint little death movements I've got a friend who I grew up with Gavin Rose he's not he's not coming mainly but on our estate that's how he played you don't know he wasn't quicker than everybody but he just had movements where you just go how did he move like that what was that about was that him did he have that in his locker yeah Gavin we had an answer with him the other day yeah Gavin and we've all got friends like these right and a lot of my friends were big council estate footballers.

40:43You could go to other estates and play and we had some I was nowhere near the best player in my estate. These boys are bad players. But my mate Gavin Rose whoa. Gavin's only letdown was his capacity to his pain threshold. Couldn't get through the pain threshold of running and almost killing yourself cooling round. I used to be running right and he'd be on the floor. But you put a ball there he was the best. but that don't make a footballer. It's a bit like me when we're in LA. You know what I mean? Actually, yeah. But you just weren't smooth on the ball. That's the only difference. Speaking about earlier on, you said that some players benefited not going to the World Cup.

41:22You said Kobe Mane is one of them. Cole Palmer is clearly another player. Cole Palmer! Now, putting it on to Chelsea. Smooth segue day, Joel. No Chelsea manager has seen their side score more goals in their first two Premier League matches than Xabi Alonso. I'm going to ask you first, Steve. because you mentioned it at the start of the show. What have you made of how they've started? I'm not surprised in the way that they attack with the freedom and the numbers that they attack. I like Xabi Alonso. He was one of the people that I love. One-minded for United. We didn't really see him in Real Madrid, because I think Real Madrid tells you what you're going to do, and that's that.

42:04Probably that's ultimately why he's no longer the Real Madrid manager. but what we did see at Leverkusen was him really showing how you can get a team going forward and they attacked in numbers and they rattled teams but they were also really tight defensively and that's what I'm not seeing with Chelsea at the moment is I'm seeing a team that you talk about are United trying to outscore people I don't think so, I think we're trying to control games I think Chelsea are trying to outscore people at the moment that's just the way it looks like to me especially, I mean yesterday's game in particular.

42:37Just like, they all go through that way. Yeah, yeah. I said before, as the game started, this is a dangerous game for Chelsea because they just go for it and they leave the back door wide open. And I don't think they've got the cohesion yet, maybe even the personnel in their back line to deal with being open. Those guys, I think, need protecting, if anything, more than anything. But the way that Alonso is, he's a front foot type of manager and he's not going to worry about that first. He's going to worry about how do we get to their goal and score goals. So he's going to leave some players exposed and wide open and can they deal with it and time will tell.

43:07But at the moment, they're conceding as many almost as they're scoring. So it's going to be an exciting season there. One thing I would say about their front three, which I think if it goes to... If Jao Pedro scores 15 goals this year... I think he scores 15. If he scores 15 goals this year, 15 to 20 goals this year, I think they'll probably be the most exciting front three to watch. Because with Palm and Rodgers, that blend, the mix that they've got there, I think blistering Doku type pace is the only thing that they don't have in that third three but everything else they've got I think us versus them could be a man yeah good big game big game whoa whoa Manchester United are not at Chelsea's level so don't what do you mean us versus if they played I think they're more of a level for like when we play them on Sunday I think that's more of a game to watch like I don't you're not going to bore the piss out of them what are you talking about he's talking about style he's talking about we're very open they're very open that makes for fireworks you guys are controlling games and controlling teams you guys are going to Mr.

44:11Riskiverse is watching now he's hiding behind a sofa our kid you know he is you beat them I think you I think we're different this year Steve if you saw us against seeing a community shield big game by the way we take it to teams now community shield is never been a big game bro you're just happy to beat you don't go there every year we do we've got a lot of big community shields actually over the last 10 years it's a fitness test that's all it is Oh my goodness. Listen, I'm not going to argue with you, but I think this season we take it to teams more. We do. Anyway, keeping it back to them, how does it affect the way they play together?

44:43Like obviously Rodgers and Palmer, great mates. Same celebration. No one seems to have a problem with it. Is there a joy you get when you play with your mate, your real mate that you grew up with, Rio? When it's going well, yeah. But like anything, if it starts going a bit wrong, then it can blow up. But I just feel at the moment, it feels like there's a real kind of like enjoyment factor, a fun factor in attacking areas, definitely in that front three where they're going happy to be I think Cole Palmer and Pedro Chelsea are going to benefit from the fact that they both went to the World Cup Palmer looks like he's got something to prove Pedro, you saw the emotion in his family, the clips with him and his family like not getting into that squad we interviewed him just prior to the World Cup he was talking like he was on the plane he thought he was there and then he's omitted from the squadron which I think was a massive shame and the wrong decision but with hindsight it's easy so these guys have got something to prove and when you've got fire in your belly like that man you become a danger when you've got the quality that those two players possess Are they title contenders in your eyes with one game a week?

45:52No I don't think they're defensively going to be good enough to be able to compete They're right in the top four though Yeah, top four right at the top four and they will take points off all of us yeah they're going to be I think one of the most exciting teams to watch this year I think they've got a couple of goals up against you I don't know if you've got the firepower to come back against them I don't agree man I think with the creativeness that we've got from Solis your beauty is that you can keep clean sheets you don't concede a lot which is true but I think with Solis creating chances now Steve I don't know if you've been watching a kid but we will get we will get chances and seeing the Saka that we've seen last week as well.

46:30As long as he's playing like that, the goals will come. I'm not worried about it. And Odegaard as well, creating the way he is. It's up to Giochoresh or Havertz, whoever's up top, to do what they have to do. That's it. I'm not worried. I'm not. I don't know why you're watching me like that, Steve, because I'm telling the truth. I'm genuinely not worried. You don't need to be worried. You're not going to piss the league. Yeah. It's yours to lose, which is weird to stay two games in. I want to talk about this transfer market at the moment. 100 million euros to sign Cody Gakpo I think they've signed Boadi for 100 million as well listen I understand financial fair play to an extent but is this right?

47:14I just don't know where Gakpo fits in in that squad when you've got Doku who must start when he's fit and they've bought Semenya as well who's done well last season last season and then they're going to get Gakpo Like, oh, is he going to be the£100 million understudy for home? You don't have to spend£300 million on your midfielders. Mate, it's unbelievable. I don't see where he fits in. Whether he's good enough or not to be£100 million. I've heard the nod and the wink about the charges finally landing four years later. And they've gone, you're either getting a transfer ban or you're getting something and they've just gone empty the coffins.

47:50I'll tell you what, the kid, Boadi, is a player. We were loving him in the World Cup. Oh, man, he's so smooth on the ball, man. plays so, so much more mature than his age. Simple passes and again, another one can beat the press. Interested to see how he does. But they... Go on. They've got Cherky... Obviously, we're seeing Cherky play and stuff like that. Cherky? Cherky's taking the nickname. He is... He is full to watch. Cherky, man. He actually, at the moment, is my favourite player to watch at the moment in the league. Yeah, he's up with... Him and Cole Palmer for me. But it's like, did you see what made him up the tempo?

48:29Why he started playing well? Did you guys see it? Basically, Alonzo, not Alonzo, he was told by his manager, like, look, you're going to be coming off soon. And he said, no, no, no, no, no. Oh, yeah, I see that. Just give it, don't worry, I'm going to up it now. All of a sudden, he turns it up. Like, do you know how good you have to be to decide when you're going to play well? There's only a few players. I'm not saying he's as good as Eden Hazard, but those are the kind of players that decide, okay now I'm going to stop messing around now I'm going to play well. Did you have any players that you played with who decided you know what enough's enough?

49:03Only players with outrageous different ability can do that Cristiano could do that Waza could do that obviously the Messi's and those guys can do that and Mbappe these guys go listen and they do it on their own like Haaland Haaland needs to rely on others to get him that chance nine times out of ten right that's true but the guys that can go give me the ball and I'll beat four or five players and then I'll score because I'm upset and you've really ticked me off it and I mean you're going to pay for that that don't happen on the States let alone in the glare of millions of people watching we've pissed off Barajan as we go by the way what do you mean it's a bad draw isn't it it's a hard draw we're going to be favourites for every game except Bayern but none of them are easy yeah hard hard tough I'll see you there I will guys I want to talk about the whatsapp channel whatsapp channel that we have it is popping you know i reignited it the other day when i was back on a horse showing you guys that you know i mean i've learned i've learned from the world cup experience if you haven't joined the whatsapp group chat what are they missing out on rio please tell them no this this is the first place you hear about new episodes of real meets who's going to be on there um all different episodes and different formats that release you're going to hear about it there first um and you get to see me trying to calm steed down during games as well because in the whatsapp group mate this guy he's so uncontrolled he's so emotional he's up and down i'm telling you it's a joke so i have to maintain a bit of calm wait wait wait wait you see this whatsapp channel that we're talking about it's not just the one on ig is it this is an actual whatsapp like oh my goodness yeah so get in there guys go on the go on the people.

50:50We're all going to jail. Where's the link? Where's the link for this? I ain't got the link for this. The link will be down there somewhere. Get on the link, man. You get in there. It's easy. Oh my gosh. That's so sick. I'm looking forward to that. Guys. Anyway, thank you very much for watching another episode of Rio Ferdinand Presents. Rio Presents. We are back for this season. Like Rio and Steve said, it's going to be amazing, man. New guests, new adventures, new journeys. We love doing this, man. And we love having you on a journey with us. Follow us across all social platforms whether it be X, whether it be Instagram, whether it be YouTube, please.

51:24Your community support is what we need to keep on going. So, yeah, we will see you soon. Joel Baer, Premier League champion. Rio, Steve, signing out. Peace.

51:50Hi, I'm Max Rushton, the host of The Guardian Football Weekly, alongside me, Barry Glendening, my co-host. Hey, Barry. Hello. Now, although every American found us during the World Cup, for the two that didn't, what can they expect? Found us and fell in love with us, Max. They can expect three episodes each week of occasionally insightful analysis covering the Premier League, Champions League and beyond. Football Weekly is back. Watch on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts.