The difference between Pep and Arteta? Success and Sentiment!

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0:42Do you know what? It felt to me that Pep showed that he's the person who's got around 55 or so trophies and Mikel Arteta's got one as a coach. I think he's got 44 as a coach Pep The way that he set that team up yesterday Pep Especially in the second half And there's loads of clips I can see going around It's been clipped up But you can see it in the match That you look at it and go He's just said Arsenal I don't think you have the ability To play through us If we put a four man Kind of barrier In a mid block And say go on Get through that To your midfield now I don't think you've got The defenders Who are capable to get through that line.

1:28Yes, guys, welcome to another episode of Rio Presents, brought to you by our partner, Crafted. Listen, man, I can't start anywhere but Wembley! Wembley! And I thought we were going to be coming here today with a man with a pair of sunglasses, a cigar, but not today! Not on this Rio Presents. Joel Baer, how are you this morning? Alongside Mr. Steve Housel, how are you doing? Yeah, I'm dejected. Just get my sunglasses one sec Oh whatever I'm really No All jokes aside I'm very disappointed Like very very disappointed Because I went there And It was Typical long trip to Wembley And I was really excited Planned out the whole day Wait wait wait wait wait wait You live in Croydon How is it a long trip to Wembley?

2:12This is how I know you're not from London Steve Because Wembley is A bit of a trek still Where did the other team come from? Every single one of them came from Poynton All of them that so it's still long anyway so on one coach and all i get there and then next thing you know we play that crap football bruv that first 45 minutes yeah we were better than them but i said it i said it along us there's no point of having the ball if you're not doing anything with it and you could see by the way that pep was allowing us to have it you're just like go on do something and we did nada the big chance was kai kai habits is um opportunity which you should be bagging And, you know, and you and it's important to be banging that, especially in those big games, because you might not get another one, you know.

2:55And we played it like a league game, Rio. And that's why I'm fuming that we went there, handbrake on as if we're trying to get a point and then go to the next game. No, it's the final. You've got to you've got to put your foot forward, man. That's what was not confusing, but that's what I thought yesterday. I thought we were getting to a point where this Arsenal team and Arteta especially were like, you know what, the shackles are off. We're starting to unleash a bit of a maverick side to us, be a bit more open and play a bit more or less uptight. And yesterday it just looked like, and you haven't got a keeper who can do it.

3:32And I think the keeper was the biggest, and we can talk about the mistake, okay? Yeah, that's a mistake, but I think mistakes can happen in any game, right? So I'm not going to use that as an excuse for you guys. I think more than anything, the goalkeeper was the big issue in terms of you playing through that press or that little block, that mid block. Because if Rhea plays, who I think right now is the best goalkeeper on form in world football right now, all right? I think his distribution would have been a big, big factor in that game. He would have played over. He would have played through at times, took risks.

4:08he would have made mistakes doing that I think but he still would have been able to put I think an element of you know what we can't really kind of you know what we can't fully press here we can't really go with conviction I think he could play for us at times or over us that given an opposition that kind of mindset and thought process makes them less convinced sometimes and they move with less conviction when they're kind of trying to carry out Pep's tactical approach And I think Arsenal didn't deal with that bit of pressure one bit. We didn't. We didn't. And you're right, Rio. I'm looking at Kepa, he gets the ball and I don't want to single out anyone because it's not just about singling out a player, but you're spot on with a distribution.

4:52You're just blasting it up top. Next thing you know, you've got Victor Jokorish with no service anyway, just fighting for balls, bruv. You know what, Joel? Joel, I think about it though. And I think like, this is again another situation where I think Mikel Arteta has got to learn from this. Because there ain't no place for sentiment in football, right? I don't think that, Pep Guardiola has gone into this game. He can afford to have sentiment because he's won so much. He can afford to play Trafford in goal because we've done this. This competition is minor to us. We've won so many big trophies.

5:29So the pressure isn't the same. Arsenal haven't won a trophy for six years. Six years. Do you know what I mean? You've got to be grabbing this with both hands. You've got to say, right, this is what we need right now. Because there was loads of chats. I saw people online saying, oh, well, you know, it could be a contract thing where, you know, you have an agreement with the... Listen, we ain't got time for that, especially against Man City. Look, then, we've spoken about Arsenal's mistakes. Let's now talk about Manchester City. You had the likes of Cherki doing kick-ups, right? on the corner flag.

6:02My man was having a samba party, brother. As soon as they scored the first goal, Cherky, who, Pep don't like it. We can see he's shaking his head. Bro, did you see when he went down and he looked at the Arsenal fans and he went... He was mocking Arsenal. He was mocking it. They don't care. He didn't even try, lads. The only player that I thought looked like they really wanted to do something yesterday was Semenya. And he was dangerous all game. He was on it. You can't say they didn't try. It's just they said, all right, what they figured out is what Peppard figured out earlier on. You know, when he had changed the tactics plan against us.

6:38We are probably a better side than them currently. So he said, all right, cool, give us the ball. Do what you're going to do with it. But we guarantee you one thing, when we get the opportunity, we're not going to squander it. And they didn't. Look at Nico O 'Reilly. I sat there. We're all big Miles Lewis Skelly fans. I know me and you are, Rio. And I thought to myself, that's how quickly football can change. you're watching someone who do you know what I mean? He's supposed to be competing. Ah, it was mind-blowing. That's probably, I thought Doku, not a great first half, but you saw him in the second half, started to cause problems.

7:11Like you said, Steve, Semenyo having a good game, it's a wasted opportunity. I'm here for people actually attacking. You lot do well to try doing the same thing. Actually running at people and putting crosses in. What the? No service for our striker. None. But you know what though? The question is, has Pep shown a chink in Arsenal's armour and for other Premier League or Champions League sides to follow now in the way that he set the team up? Because if I'm a coach, I'm sitting there and going, how kind of toothless Arsenal looked when they set up like that and they said, right, break us down then.

7:45Right. And it wasn't saying break us down on the edge of our box. We're going to go high to a point. It was that mid-block kind of thing and go, right, OK, what have you got? Are your centre-backs capable of playing through, around or over us? Are your fullbacks capable of doing that? It's our number six, Rio. You see, if you've got Vettina that gets the ball there, you can't afford to give a man like that space. Do you see what I mean? When we receive it, we ain't got no ideas, bruv. We're not cutting through the lines. You're not looking. There's certain players in world football, you love PSG.

8:16You've gone to see them X amount of times. You can't give their midfielders that kind of time. You can't. I think they were trying to get Declan Rice the ball beyond that press, beyond that front four that were pressing. And I think that was the main issue of getting the ball to him. Zubimendi is the one who's meant to come deeper and be the dictator maybe and drop behind that line of four maybe and be one of the other players that does it. But they didn't have anybody capable in your team yesterday that looked like they had the confidence or the know-how to do that. And that's when you find a player that goes, no, no, no, hey, hey, give me the ball now.

8:50Like, can you imagine the best ones when you go, Tony Cruz. If you don't have Tony Cruz, what he's doing in that situation. what's Modric doing in that situation do you know what I mean probably even Rodri I would say at Man City if that situation happened they'd find a way to work it out either as players or the manager on the side would change something and that just didn't happen yesterday and that was one thing that left me thinking wow this Arsenal team again they've got to find ways of working things and different puzzles out against the big teams you can do it all through the season and you can do what they've done and they've been brilliant the way they've played They've been hard to play against, hard to beat, defensively really great.

9:29But in these moments, especially one-off games and the knockout stages of Champions League, there's something else that comes within your make-up that you have to draw upon to be able to get over them different hurdles and different questions that are being asked. And yesterday was one big question that they was asked and they didn't answer it. Bottle. You know, when you look... What? Bottle? Bottle. Bottle. And do you know what? I think this is just a problem with modern football. as like a real broad statement, to be honest. There's not enough people that actually really deeply understand the game, playing the game.

10:03There's far too many people just doing what they've been told to do. Get the ball, move it here. Like, it's far too predictable. And it all kind of feeds into why it's become more of a dull event. And that's why, actually, I did enjoy what Semenya was doing yesterday. Because that's what you're supposed to do. Get the ball and run at people. That's the stuff that we pay our money for. It's for people attacking people. not endless patterns and rotations and triangles and no penetration and clapping and absolutely pulling your cock off when you get a throw in or a corner. What's all that about? It's a different sport.

10:37I come to watch football. Keep the ball in play. Get people running at people. Put the ball in the box and have some shots. That's what it's all about. And that's why people love to watch this Arsenal team fail. Hear what, Steve. Forget the Arsenal team. What you want to see is being killed by the same person who signed Semenyo. Because as soon as Cherky starts doing kick-ups, Pep's there shaking his head. You know, he didn't want to see the... Kick-ups is different. I think kick-ups is different. Didn't Fergie see his ass with Nani doing that as well? I know I'm... Can I just say... You didn't want a Rabona, though.

11:09I was there, right? When Nani done that, I was there, right? In the change room and stuff. And Nani was one of the guys that would do that, yeah? Not just against Arsenal. He'd done that loads of times. And I would always be one of the guys... And you've got to remember, you guys know, I love skills. I love to be entertained. I scream, I love it. But when I was a player, if my teammate done that and was trying to take the piss out of opponents, I used to shout, hey, let's win the game. And then after we can have a laugh and enjoy it. I was like that as well. But I'm on the other side now and I'm sitting there going, Pep, man, just chill out, man.

11:42Just let him do it. We want to see that. I get it both ways. Because when Rinaldinho did it or Robinho did it or whoever, we weren't against it. Even Neymar. By the way, bad Neymar shouts, by the way, by pundits this week. Bad Neymar shouts. I don't care if it's in the script or not. We're going to get onto that later on because that was woeful. Yeah, I agree. Woeful. But just back to Steve's point about players and not wanting to take people. And you said about Pep. I don't think Pep, me personally, is trying to control players so much in the final third. he wants them to be positioned and stuff but when you get the ball I think he's saying go and do it Semenya's a great casing in point there Doku the same he's getting the ball just running at people so I don't think he's trying to stifle these wingers I think there's a system and a shape the way he wants to play up to the final third and then he says go and play and that's where I think Pep could I mean that's where I think Mikel Arteta could take a leaf out of his book because Mikel Arteta he looks like he's a coach he wants complete control over every single part of the game and it doesn't seem like there's a lot of room for being able to kind of just think for yourself, let's just work it out.

12:57Actually, they're pressing with a four, there's two in midfield, why don't we go and drop one or two of our wide players into those central areas and just dink balls over that four into that area there. Like there was no difference or just the capability of the players to maybe even just either one, execute or even think about doing that. And that was a strange thing for me yesterday. Jack Grealish what about him? a player that was controlled in the final third we were used to seeing him do what he wanted to do but Pep didn't like it so I still think you're right with what you said about the Arsenal controlling factor but that is a player that stifles your argument in my opinion if you say okay if I gave you Jack you know what I feel about that we've spoken about that a lot on the pod right but if I say okay Jack is okay for you to say that I'll give you that.

13:50There's probably about six or seven other players that Mahrez wasn't stifled. Sterling played his best football under Pep. Leroy Sané played his best football, most explosive football under Pep. Semenyo now looks like a player who just wants to take people on. Doc, who's grown since he's been there. That's six there that off the bat I'm talking there that would you say have been stifled and held back the way they want to play football? I think Mahrez was not the same Mahrez in Leicester. So that one, I've got to take out of it. But... He had way more room at Leicester. Yeah, I think we can take out the Maris.

14:25I'll give you the rest of the four or five, but I'm taking back Maris. It's all he is. Lego head, mate. Just risk averse. That's all he is. But it's funny. He wants to control absolutely everything. And when the interpretation of the rules changed next year, you lot are being lucky if you come sixth. Leicester have won. Leicester have won. They've won all three domestic trophies more recently than Arsenal. Like, Lots has been, you know, what are you laughing at, Steve? What do you mean, what am I laughing at? That's not funny. That's not funny. You lot, you got Robbie out here saying that if you don't think Arsenal are a bigger club than Real Madrid, you're in Egypt.

15:00And then you're just sitting here telling me that Leicester have won every major trophy in England more recently than you. And you're asking me why I'm laughing. Are you insane? But, you know, when it comes to the keeper selection, obviously that was a massive topic. Now, we touched on it earlier on. Real, what do you make of the decision? I think that Mikel Arteta will look back and go, I was too sentimental in that situation. I was too sentimental. He's played in all the rounds before. I've got to let him play. I don't agree with that. I think if you're a team, if it's Man City, I agree with it.

15:35Yeah, you can do that. You can afford to do it. There's enough trophies that they've won to go around, OK? But Arsenal, you're trying to build a winning culture. You're trying to build an environment that is conducive to winning big moments. This was a big moment, Carabao Cup, the first trophy on offer in the season. Can you go and win it? And he's let it slip through his fingers. And again, the way the game panned out, he actually exposed it even more as a bad decision because, yep, Kepa made a bad mistake. Okay, that happens with players. But I think tactically through the game, it was glaring to see that Raya would have been an absolute three or four markups because his ability to play with the ball at his feet, his bravery with the ball.

16:17And we could talk about how good Rhea is, shot stopping and whatnot. He's been great, comes out, claims crosses the lot. He's great, set pieces in that respect. But his actual bravery on the ball to play and try and play the harder pass through the press, over the press, around the press, I think has been sensational this year. And I think that that would have been something that would have definitely altered the way, I think, that Man City's tactical approach in that sense of having that block of four and a two in the midfield, I think he would have maybe given that a bit more of a challenge.

16:47So, yeah, and also, I think they've been a confident back four, right? And Raya makes that a confident back five, okay? And I thought yesterday when you looked at it and as the game wore on and on and on, that the frowities of the goalkeeper behind them, given the mistake and their inability to play, I think was glaring to see. Remember when Mikel said that he had bought David Rea so that there are times in the matches where he wishes he was able to change the goalkeepers and make decisions? Do you remember when he said that? Yeah, what are you saying? I'm just asking if you remember. It's not even really a question.

17:32I think I heard before we came on, Joe, you were saying I was just in the bathroom before, but I think I heard you saying, oh, he's got to play him because if he doesn't play him, he's going to be a bit disgruntled and then he's going to leave or he's going to say something. Bro, you're number two. You know what the draw is. The score is. That's it. Like, you're number two. Yeah, you've played every round. That's fine. But I'm afraid, listen, mate, we need to win this one and David Rai's the best goalkeeper in the world right now. So, and I don't think Kepa's going to sit there. Yes, he'll be disappointed 100%, but he ain't going to flip out and go, right, I'm going to demand a transfer.

18:05Oh, get me out of here. He's number two. He knows his role. Do you think, though, you lose out with the rest of the players there in that scenario. So for example, like I said, if he doesn't play, and let's just say he doesn't play and you lose, the rest of the players are going, you know, especially the ones on the fringes, which you all need during this time of the season, right? They go, hang on a minute. Doesn't matter what I do here. You've had Kepa, who's been brilliant, gets to the end and he still doesn't pick him. And the next thing you know, you get all you need is a bit, one or two players being unhappy.

18:37And then, do you know what I mean? That's the exact same reason why I don't feel. The difference is, Joel, they might all have a medal now and they might have all got their fingers on a trophy. That would have shut that whole conversation up. If they lost, Mikel Arteta's job is to show them there's justification in his decision-making at that time and just say exactly what I just said. We were trying to win our first trophy in six years. Guys, the momentum that we would have built off of the back of this, we would have gone on to maybe be favourites to win the Champions League now. It's like how you narrate this whole situation.

19:08It's just not, oh, make a decision, live with it, guys. You've got to build a case for players to understand as to why you're making those decisions. And I think Mikel Arteta was in a great place. If he puts the argument right and forward right, even if they lost, the fringe players would understand. Is this the only change in a modern game where there's no or little evidence that it actually helps the team? What? So, for example, the changing of the goalkeeper, like, you know, when you change a goalkeeper, we know that it can affect the defence. It can affect team structure or what's your thoughts on that?

19:48Go on, Steve.

19:51I think in the earlier rounds, I don't think there's an issue with it. And I think you can get through there and you can use that as a tool as a manager to be like, show me why you should be playing in the league games in those games. show me I've been wrong by picking him over you in the league games but in a final like you've got to go win a final yes it's the lowest ranking trophy that you're going to compete in this year right but you haven't won any of them in how long you've seen Newcastle picking up trophies you've seen United in our worst season we've picked up that trophy a handful of times recently like it's still winning trophies and when you've got this reputation of bottlers, well-earned by the way, you've got this reputation of nearly men, haven't won anything besides the FA Cup, that shuts it up.

20:41And even if people go, it's only the League Cup, it's still a cup. And that matters. And when you've not done it, I think that you should have gone all out for it. Because you've got to have a massive wobble in the league now to really balls it up. And I don't think you will. I think you've pretty much sown the league up now. I don't think City can catch you. I don't think you're going to drop enough points to be caught. So what was you protecting the players for? Half of them lads are going on a national break anyway. Like, imagine the vibe this morning compared to what it could have been like if you'd have got that one done.

21:15Yeah, Steve, Steve, Steve. The difference is massive. I massively agree with Steve. If you're in Arsenal's position where you haven't won any trophies and the impact of winning a trophy, what that could do for the remainder of your season and for your football club, for your fan base, for the players, you go all out and play your best and most strongest team to win that title, that trophy. It was there for the taking. Like, if you don't win the league this year, I think you will. I agree with Steve. I think you'll win the league. If you don't win the league this year, this game is that pivotal moment in the season where you go, that's where it changed.

21:49That's the importance of this game. I actually think you're both right. And I have to be honest here. It was very disappointing because it was up for grabs. and I think we kind of like, we're not in a position where we should be batting it away. We really are not. But like, you know, lots of people, they're wondering whether this particular result, you've said that we're going to win the league, but does it have an impact on the title race itself? Do you reckon now Man City go, we can potentially catch these luck now? And also second part to that question, Rio, did you ever have one particular match where there was a scar left, tissue scar left and you go, you know what, that game would have made a difference then.

22:31That impacted other games. Yeah, I mean, the first part, I think that the next game is going to be huge. I think me and Steve were talking about, I think it was that, does this game, no, I was talking to one of the other guys behind the scenes, does the international break work for Arsenal more now than having a game straight away? So there's a long time now before the next Premier League game. I think it might be really good that there's no game now. I think they've got a time to go and get their head on international games and then come back and maybe that scar isn't as deep and isn't as visible when they come back.

23:08Because I think if they were to go straight into another game now, all of the media would have been on Arsenal now. This game would have been built up to be like a mammoth, like gigantic game, which it will be, but I don't think the energy will be the same after an international break. It'll just, you know what happens, you roll into that next game after the internationals and it kind of just happens and then we see what the aftermath is. But imagine now waking up this morning and you've got two days to prepare for the next game and Arsenal are just getting called bottlers and they're getting called like, can they deal with this now?

23:38This is the moment where the league title is taken from them, blah, blah, blah. That generates some anxiety, some pressure, some like doubts even will creep in. And also, what about the next game after whoever they're playing? Who have Arsenal got next, guys? It's Southampton next though, Rio. That's why I feel like they need... I would have liked for us to play straight away. Because I think you need it to hurt. You need it to hurt. You can't play like that and think, oh, it's all right. You know, let's take off the pressure. What are you talking about? You're supposed to be competing for three, four trophies.

24:10This is your best opportunity. We've got the easiest run, potential run to a Champions League final. Even the FA Cup's looking light. Easiest? You've got Boston in the semi-final maybe. But still though, Rio, look who we had in the last 16. Look who we got sporting. I'm not even going to the sporting games. Why, you think you're going to blast them away that easy? If we don't blast them, then I shouldn't have been there in the first place. You should be blasting them home and away. This is why Arsenal fans get grief, right? Because of takes like that, what you just said.

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25:23Who are you in the Champions League football to be going, I ain't going to go to a game because we should just blast that team away. We should. Quarter final in the Champions League, you know. We should, Rio. We should, because I'm sorry, but we should be blasting them. Why? No one's going to see them. First of all, because they're one of the weaker teams and we're supposed to be top two, top three, minimum. What? you are top two, top three minimum in the Champions League? Yeah, I would say so. I say the only team that I really put above us is Bayern Munich. I reckon, you know, they're probably, they can really chat to us.

25:57I think before Real Madrid smashed Man City, we all thought City was going to beat Real Madrid. And I think Barcelona, they're probably the only other team that you can go, all right, cool, let's talk some business. Everybody else can sit down. PSG? Yeah, I reckon we could take them. What am I hearing this? They haven't been their best. You've seen them in the league this season. You've got less trophies in Newcastle this last decade. They haven't been the best in the league. They haven't been that good in the league. Wait, wait, wait. Please just clip this up. That type of take there epitomises some of the Arsenal fan base as to why people get Arsenal, man.

26:29It's not the Arsenal team. Hear that tune and absolutely buttfuck you. Yeah, yeah. We heard remontada last season and we know what happened, right? and arguably I don't even know if there is I don't think they're better than last season it don't matter it don't matter how good they are it don't matter whether it's Carlo or his hand on his hip on the touchline it don't matter that music starts playing and they just beat you that's the game how did we lose to them in 2000 2001 United were top of the pops in there we got clarted the standard of football the standard of football is not the same man honestly Rio I'm telling you They lose to him in 2004, Rio.

27:12That wasn't a vintage Real Madrid team. That's 2004. They just found a way. Yeah. Listen to that tune. R9 scores that trick. Rio's still trying to chase him for an autograph right now. Steve, you just said R9. That's arguably the best striker I've ever seen. Yeah, it was R9 with no knees. He weighed in at about 17 stone, and the closest Rio got to him was standing in the tunnel at the start of the game. Still better than 99 % of the strikers in the game today, my friend. Can I say something, though? like for you've got great players at Arsenal right but who's your Vinicius Junior when it comes to Champions League knockout stages we don't know yet we're going to find out that's what I'm saying who's your Dembele in the knockout stages I'm just sitting there and going like what I mean by that is that like you've got great players right but you can't sit here and talk with the conviction you're talking when we're still waiting to find out who those guys in your team are?

28:10I can for the sporting games at the very least. That's why I'm not going. You know what? You had a final yesterday and Declan Rice is world hide-and-seek champion. No, you can't say that. I'm not having no bad words about it. No, you can't. No, no, because... That's the guy that you want to talk about winning a Ballon d 'Or? Yeah, but Steve, Steve, I see a couple of people... Come find him with both hands on a TV camera. I see a couple of people saying this, yeah. He's rolling a team isn't to go and it wasn't to go and drop Zuban Mendy's the guy before him to be doing that like dropping the line below that four breaking the line what was his job then?

28:47they've got to get him the ball behind that press but they weren't able to do it I just don't think they had the players that were capable Saliba's good on the ball he's good travelling with the ball he's good with manipulating the ball I don't see Saliba as someone who's going to thread passes Gabriel is a very kind of economical passer gets it gives it moves it shifts it he's good at that Why did he play soccer yesterday as well? No, he did play. Stop being silly. And then you've got Eze, and you've got Eze, who didn't play yesterday, of course. We all know that Kai and Jokeres doesn't really mesh very well together, man.

29:20So, boy, it is what it is. But yeah, any of those games, Rio, like I asked? Any long-lasting tissues? Scar? No, I don't remember. I mean, we played against Everton at home, and we drew 4-4. And it wasn't really about the game. it was more like a moment in the game that I thought we just didn't have a handle on tactically what we were doing. We didn't try and protect this game. We were at the other end of the spectrum to what Arteta's doing, right? So we're saying he's playing uptight and he wants just dominant control of everything. We played at home against Everton, who were a good side then with like Fellaini, PNR, these guys in the team, right?

29:59And I remember we were, I think we might have been 2-1 or 3-2, I don't know what it was. our right back crossed the ball and our left back scored or hit the bar or something like that then they got they hit the bar I think they saved it and then then they come up the other end and score and I'm like looking at the game from now looking back at him going why wasn't I in the moment going listen stay everyone stay we just got carried away we were looking to blow over and away 4-5-1 and the game ended up being 4-4 and it messed up our whole season because City then we lost to City and we lost the league So there was a moment like that where you go, OK, tactically, we got it wrong there and not the manager.

30:41Us as players didn't take control of a moment in a football match where we were in the driving seat and then shut things off. And that was down to us. Man, that's a solid example. that. I mean, sticking it with your team, United, it was a good weekend overall because obviously it's a point gained due to the Liverpool and Chelsea result but it's frustrating though, Steve, isn't it, against Bournemouth, the draw? We were absolutely robbed, Joel. Let's have it right. Let's have it right. Absolutely robbed. The most obvious of the three penalty shouts in the game was the one that didn't get given.

31:18And it was an absolute robbery. There's no two ways around it. I've seen Dermot Gallagher on Sky today saying it's not a clear and obvious foul shut up you sausage that is no matter what the result is he just sides with the ref like there's an absolute waste of time it's pure rage bait from Sky to have him on because anything that he says is absolute chaos like there is no justification in that whatsoever it's an absolute clangor I agree 100 % Dermot Gallagher what is he on about I agree with Steve on all fronts. I even saw him debating with Jay Bothroyd about a decision, I think it was the tackle by Anderson.

32:02And you're looking at it and going like, are you just being paid to chat rubbish and just to go against the grain here? Like you say, rage bait, because it is so obvious. And like you say, when you put the penalty against Harry Maguire alongside Ahmad's penalty, there's no real big difference in it. And if anything, Ahmad's one is worse. I just couldn't believe the way that that was officiated in that sense. I didn't even go into town on it as much as I should have on the Rio Reacts that we'd done. But when I was seeing other people talking about it and thinking people were trying to justify it, I was like, what are you chatting about?

32:35But what I would say is the results went for us because Chelsea and Liverpool dropped points and it seemed like a point gained. And I think when you look back as a team and you go, you know what, actually, it weren't actually a bad result in the end, they weren't a bad point. For the Champions League though, if you get in, where do you expect them to finish? this current United, are you going to go as far as... Joel, we have got so much work to do in the summer. They need to be buying players like January sales, mate, because we've already lost Casemiro. There's a good chance that... I mean, I can sit here and go through the entire squad right now.

33:10Goalkeeper, happy days. We probably need two new fullbacks. Our best two centre-halves are made of chocolate, right? So De Ligt and Martinez should be a fantastic partnership. Never seen them play together. Don't know if they'd be any good together. but they're both injured. And in fact, Rio, I wanted to ask you about this because all we get from United is back injury. Talk to us about the back injury that you had because there's a chance that what he's got might be similar here, right? And it's like inexplicable, isn't it? How long we got? I mean, my back injury still plays me up now. Like I wake up even now and there's days when I'm, like I said before, I don't know what I'm going to get.

33:47Like a couple of times a year, I do go in a wheelchair sometimes because for a couple of days because I'm in that mad pain I have to go to hospital so I understand that like when there's a back injury it's not it's quite a you can't really well my situation was a wasn't able to pin down and go that's what it is I still go to specialists today to try and find out what it is what where's it coming from is it my back is it is it something to do with my glutes is it my upper back my lower back is it my like it's just it's just crazy so the frustrations if it's similar to anything that I had that Matthias De Litt will be having, I can imagine it's off the scale.

34:25Because what happens is you go into the training ground and everyone's going, what's wrong? Are you all right? When you fit, you can't even give them a proper solid answer. So you're sitting there and you're flipping like, you're getting depressed because you're hiding almost and you feel like you're hiding and lying, which you ain't. It's just, I don't know the answer. And it feels stupid to sit there and go, when they go, how is it? And you go, I don't know. it's not an answer that you're able to say in a training ground like we want we want some like where's the end goal here when you're back we need to look at when you're going to be playing and when there's points on the ball to be won what are we doing so it'll be frustrating and I just hope he can get to the bottom of it and he finds the right person that understands his body because everyone's body's unique and they get to the bottom of it So yeah you've got two centre-halves both of them with who knows what level of fitness going into next season you're losing Casemiro Komi Menu's a great option but realistically you need four starters for those three positions Bruno, a Casemiro replacement one more and Menu you've got a forward three which in Kunia, Sesko and Mbumo with Ahmad is pretty good, we need a natural left-sided winger and maybe someone else as a back-up forward, you ain't getting all of that in one window and we probably need a hell of a lot of that to be competitive in the Champions League so this is a huge window and I don't know if we've got the cash yes we're going to lose a ton of wages but have we got the Bugs Bunny in the bank to be able to go and buy what we need in terms of transfers I think if I was the club my priorities we can all go through it and go we need 10 players right because you can say we need full back centre last but every position we need we can get a better player that's fine but if you're prioritising for me I would go you need two centre midfielders one who starts and maybe a younger one that you can blood in here and there around sits with Bruno Cobby and the the other two now if you bring them in and I think I would go for another forward that is a younger one who's more of a who's going to be a more of a backup to what we've got

36:39and I would go for a fullback probably that's it I don't think you've got to go for a whole big revamp. I think it's realistic. It's still a lot, but it's realistic to go. If you go to May United, go and get four, maybe five players in the window, and two of them are to start, definitely, then I think that's a realistic window. We need to look at free transfers, I reckon, as well. If we could pick up a Christian Eriksen style, maybe you've said younger, but I think even someone like that, 30-31 on a Freemans, that wouldn't be a bad idea for us, I don't think. I bring back Danny Welbeck, man. What are you lot doing?

37:18I'll pick him up myself and I'll carry him like a baby all the way home. That guy. Right, I know we're not talking about England today, but how has he not been selected? You can't not take him, though. If he's doing what he's doing now at the end of the season, I don't know how many goals. If he gets 16, 17 goals, right, and he gets to the end of the season and you tell me he's going to take one of the others who are struggling for form, struggling for goals. Over him, I just can't see it. And someone who's actually happy to be just a bit part player knows he's going to get 20 minutes here and there.

37:46Nah, man. Can't see that. With Spurs, though, Rio, they could actually be going down, getting slapped 3-0 at home to Nottingham Forest. They're just lucky that West Ham lost, man, because, yo, this is worse than not looking good. Not looking good is an understatement. No, Spurs, for me, everything is suggesting that they're going to go down. Unless there's a drastic change, unless there's a huge change behind the scenes, I don't know, I think even the management, needs to be looked at in that sense. I think that the players, man, did you see, did anyone see the clip of the Spurs captain making a rallying call to the fans that we care and we're trying hard and stuff like that?

38:29Whoever was in any creative room at Spurs going that this is a good idea needs to be really called out and slapped with a wet fish in their face in public because it's a disgraceful bit of content that I've seen put out. And we're in a content world, I understand it, but you're on your knees, your club is doing all they can to go down at the moment. And someone thought it was a great idea to go, let's get the captain to do a really close-up, really slow visuals, looks like he cares, and give him a speech that's going to be a rallying call to the fan base. The fans don't want to hear that. They just want to see you go out, roll your sleeves up, and get some results, work hard.

39:10right show like you care show like you want it show that like you're you're putting yourself in a position that actually you're fighting right and and all this stuff that they're doing behind the cameras and stuff like that who in their right mind is sanctioning that and going you know what guys this looks like a great bit of content we're going to get loads of likes and you know what everyone's going to be rallied by this bollocks anyway uh that got me off guard i heard that the big interviews coming out this Wednesday. Didn't hear it from you, Rio. Who'd you hear it from? Heard it from the Rio Ferdinand Presents team, right?

39:46The production team have said the big one's coming out. Yeah, man. We've been teasing it for a while. Gabriel Batistuta, we sat down with him and spoke with him. And I think there'll be a younger audience that are going, Gabriel Batistuta are going, oh, I've heard of him. Go on YouTube and look at this guy. And if I was looking for one of those old icons from the 90s when Serie A was the best league in the world, right? And go, is there a number nine that you think could come over and play in the Premier League right now? He would be one of my first picks. He was an absolute animal. Baty Go, his name was, right?

40:21And some of the stuff he, because you've got to remember, he's from Argentina. He's been around the likes of Messi. He's been around the likes of Raquel. He's been around the likes of Diego Armando Maradona. And some of the stories he's got about Diego. Wow. and some amazing stuff. But one of them was like how Maradona motivated the dressing room before England matches and built up that crazy rivalry that they had and what he was like in those moments. And that's where we're talking about the comparison or the differences between a Maradona and a Messi. He's talking about the characteristics, the personality before the football.

40:59Do I really want to ask how Maradona motivated the dressing room? I knew that's what you wanted to ask. I knew, I knew. You know what he said as well? We were talking about injuries, yeah? I had a chronic back injury, obviously, by the end of my career, but he was talking about, he was sitting there looking at his ankle and thinking, I want to take you off because you're giving me so much pain. I want to take my ankle off. And he was saying like, even one of the things he mentioned, which was really, really sad, and it kind of just took the whole, the room that we were in and the people that were in there to a different place.

41:30And he was talking about how he actually blames himself for the demise of Maradona and how he could have played a better role and a bigger and more influential role with him. So yeah, there's some really, some ups and downs in the interview, but listen, man, make sure your notifications are on, guys, because it is a really good, good popping interview. He is your bags man, your favourite bags man's favourite bags man, I reckon, by the way. Yeah, bad boy. I spoke to Martin Edwards, interviewed him a few years ago, and I was like, was there any truth in us? Because we was linked with him for years in the 90s.

42:02And I was like, was there any truth to him coming to United? And he was like, yeah, yeah. He goes, we actually agreed a fee with Fiorentina. It was like, mad world record fee at the time. He goes, and then we sat down with Batistuta and he wanted, after tax, what he wanted was like three times what we were paying gross. So, which makes it like six, seven times, whatever. I think, it would have been in like 97, 98, our highest earner, possibly Roy Keane. Yeah, Roy Keane. It was like, he wanted like five, six times what Roy Keane was on and he was like, we couldn't even entertain it. So it never happened.

42:35But to illustrate just how good he was, he was on four or five times what Roy Keane was on. And that's how much... And United were thinking about it at least. Top player. I mean, you mentioned there that he spoke about Maradona and the conversations and the influence. I saw this on socials the other day. They were saying that Maradona is the only footballer from the non-Premier League era who could cut it in the Prem today. From the non-Premier League era? Yes. I don't agree. I think the best players transfer to different generations. I do. I just think because they, with all of the facilities and so them players get to have those facilities and get to use the lighter ball and the better pitches and whatnot.

43:21I just think that those players are able to transfer. You can't, Diego Madona, obviously, but you can't tell me that Joanne Kroeff ain't coming into this Premier League era. You can't tell me that Eusebio ain't coming into this era. You ain't telling me that people like even like George Best, Bobby Charlton ain't coming into this era. Rude Hillett. Do you know what I mean? Rude Hillett. Van Basten. Van Basten. Come on, man. Come on. Do you know what the difference is with those players that you just mentioned and the players that we're seeing now? Johan Cruyff, perhaps the biggest example of this because he was a standout even in his own era.

43:55But they understood the game. like they weren't given 75 ,000 precise tactical instructions. They would go and figure out what needed to be figured out on the pitch. Brian Robson, like you're telling me Brian Robson couldn't play in this era. They just work it out there again. You know what you got? What's a common denominator with them guys as well. They were men amongst men as well. The personalities, the characters, like you say, go and work it out. It's a different era now. So it's different, but they're being asked to go on. Listen, if it ain't working find a way and all of them had the ability to do that so that's what makes me think these guys in this day and age would 100 % be able to play like because they were just they were great then and they'll be great now I think like we're going okay in the Premier and this is more like a bit more recent you alright so it changes the argument a little bit and I've thought about this before Cole Palmer maybe form wise right now is a little bit off it but for the last over the last year since he's went from City to Chelsea, everyone's going like, he's a, what a talent, Maverick, refreshing to see someone like that back, almost going to be the face of the Premier League if he'd continued that form, I'm sure he would have been and he's got a chance to still be that, right?

45:10Wonderful footballer, great left foot, right? You look in, 20 years ago, Premier League, a bit longer than that. Like, where would he sit in those Maverick conversations? Like, I think he's definitely below the Bergkamp's and the Cantona's of this world, right? But the rung below that, you're looking at, I don't know, the Zolas, the Dicanios, the Matt Letiziers of this world, right? Like, where does he sit even within that group? Like, I think it's a conversation. It's not an easy one to go, oh, he's above or he's below or he's middle. I think it's a conversation. But, like, he seems like the standout one over the last 18 months he's been, right?

45:51But those guys, there's a load of those guys that we're looking at in the past. And maybe because the football was different and it allowed for more of those guys. But the standard of those players and the depth is just like... You go and look at Matt Letizia's best goals and moments on YouTube right now. I showed my son the other day and he was cracking up laughing and then sending them to his brother and going, have you seen this geezer? I didn't even know who he was. Couldn't even get in the England squad properly. Do you know what I mean? Was he uncapped or did he have one or something? I think he had one.

46:19He had one under Odell maybe.

46:24But anyway. Yeah, I mean, we saw Rooney talking about Neymar, didn't we? Oh, it's a bad take, that. Bad take. I'm not sure it's a bad take. I think they're just so different players that it's difficult to compare. Nah, Steve. I would prefer a Rooney in my team because I think that he's one that will get you over the line because he'll do what it takes. I think if you're looking at pure highlights and technical ability, I'm taking Neymar. Steve, that's a bad shout. If you want to win a game of football, I'm taking Wayne Rooney. That's a bad shout because Neymar, what are you talking about? How many times has Neymar been the standout player for his nation alone?

46:58Even when you take it back to Santos, where he was the only player nominated for Ballon d 'Or, by the way, outside of Europe. Bro, that guy knows how to take it. Ballon d 'Or is a popularity vote. It's won and lost on highlights. You know what? You can take away the Ballon d 'Or if you want. It doesn't take away the fact that Neymar, how many times that player has been able to stand up and grab the game by the scruff of the neck. It don't matter how he's getting kicked. I think what's ruined Neymar's whole profile is the diving and the injury and all that kind of stuff. He never plays on his sister's birthday.

47:29Yeah, stuff like that. But when you look at him as a pure talent, we all love Eden Hazard. And he was a level above Hazard. Even when there was this Bell and Neymar comparison, we can't take away what Gareth Bell has done in La Liga. But he was better than Gareth Bell in La Liga as well during the same time. No, they were different. I just don't, I just, I just, I don't think it was a Wayne versus Neymar conversation. I don't think that was it. I think it's like, I just thought that there's, there's, there was names that were mentioned that you're going, wow, that's just pure Premier League bias.

48:05Like, I just thought that people are not watching enough football to be saying that. And that just played with Wayne Rooney. You've been in a dressing room with Wayne Rooney. You tell me what that's like when you see, when you look left or right and you've seen Wayne Rooney, is there not like a level of confidence where you go, we'll find a way to win here today. Yeah, yeah, 100%. And I'm one of Wayne's biggest admirers and shout loudest about Wayne and we're talking about what he done, what he achieved when you put him up against other greats, OK? But I have to say that Neymar could do things that no other player in the world could do.

48:37And I'm talking Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in terms of he could do things that those two couldn't do, right? I'm not saying he's better because he isn't better than Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo, right? But there's a time when you're looking at him and going, right, this is the hair to the throne. Like, he's that close. You take away those two players, it's him. Yeah, he's that close at a point in his career. When he was at Barca... You take away those two players, I think it's Rooney. No! Not at that time, not at that time. I wouldn't say that. I went and watched him, right, play for Barcelona against Arsenal at the Emirates.

49:15and don't forget you've got Suarez and Messi and Neymar and I came away going Neymar is born on a different planet I know what Messi is he's great he's the best right in that sense in that team 100 % right but this kid here his ability to run off the ball the speed he was running with you know another thing I went for a coffee the other day with Iniesta right and he I asked him about Neymar before this debate happened actually and I asked him and said to him I'm like, how good was Neymar, bro? And he was like, there was a period, got to say, where you're looking at him and going, like, he's carrying this team.

49:55Like, Messi might have had a little bit of a dip or whatever, but this kid is carrying everything because he's that good. Now, his window at that level, that's the difference. His window at that level wasn't eight, nine, ten years. Do you know what I mean? I think that's the thing that is what people can hit him with. but you go and look at even his stats I keep seeing people saying he didn't score or he wasn't a killer go and look at his stats about goals to game ratio his assists and stuff like that even at PSG Rio he was injured for a lot of the times but he almost single-handedly took that team to the Champions League final his first year was outrageous his first year or two there was outrageous it's not even close man and it hurt me I'm not going to lie I heard those debates and I was just like Wayne I love you but Wayne I love them debates.

50:44I love them debates. He said, I've never even looked at Neymar as a top player before. Like, I thought, come on. Yeah, I thought that was wild. I think the WhatsApp group, Quinton Fortune is a funny guy. And he was like, I think it was him or Darren Fletcher was saying, no, no, no, this isn't, you can't say that, can't say that. Because Neymar, and again, the impact that Neymar's had on a generation of people has been nuts. and I would say it's up there with the Ronaldinho in terms of impact. You go Brazil and you speak to all these young players. We've done an interview the other day with a Brazilian player and he talks about Neymar on the highest of high podiums with all the big names you're talking about.

51:26The impact that this guy had on those players, I'm not saying he's as good as or better, I'm just saying impact, cultural impact. Neymar is a beast because there's young players that are playing football now who have been idolised by people that are going, Neymar was my god. Neymar was my best player. My God, who I looked up to. I wanted to be. On that note, Rio, Neymar, the silver, Santos Jr. What a guy. Listen, we have to wrap it up. We've got Rio Meats coming out this Wednesday. Let us know what you think in the comments. I don't even know what to say, what I've heard there. It's just been mental across the board.

52:03I'm going to have a chat with Steve afterwards, after the cameras are off, because I don't know what I was just hearing there. But anyway. Steve said Bobby Charlton won't be able to play in today's year. That's what he said. I'm letting you know. Anyway, let's go, man. Nice to see you guys. Yes, guys. Thank you for watching. Speak to you guys soon. Peace.

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