Tuchel should use Mainoo more | What really happened after Ronaldo's wink vs Rooney

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0:58You guys are always talking about me being late. Where have you been? Logistic planning. What's that mean? Plans. You're very coy. Very, very coy. But I don't actually understand what's going on. You haven't got to worry about anything. All you've got to do is just start the pod. Let's go. That's a bit strange. It's fine. Don't worry, man. You're cool. Everything's fine. I want to keep it rolling because this week we need to start talking about forwards. All right. The World Cup has been spicy. The big boys are scoring, man. you've got Messi with five goals. Vinny, Mbappe, Haaland, all with four goals.

1:32Vinicius Junior becoming the first player, right, since Rivaldo and Ronaldo to score in all group games at the World Cup. That is unbelievable stuff, man. I think this has been the best World Cup that I have seen in terms of the big players all turning up from day dot. Agreed. In the group stages, every one of the players that we wanted or that you think was going to score or have some sort of impact for their team has done it. And all the names you mentioned have done that at some point in the group stages. And I think it's great to see. And I think it justifies why there's more teams being put into this tournament.

2:03Because yes, there are some weaker teams, but it's allowed the bigger teams to maybe bully and get their foot in and get a bit of rhythm. And those big players have taken full advantage of that. And so like, I mean, look at Vinicius Jr. I think he wasn't even being spoken about. It's true. And he's just come out of nowhere. And he looks like the player that we saw at Real Madrid in that Ballon d 'Or that he should have won year. and I think a shout out for Neymar he's somebody that can do things that no other player on the planet can do I'm not saying he's the best player on the planet I'm just saying that he's the only player I think on the planet that can do things that there's no one else that can do because he's got that much talent that much skill and to see the reaction of the fans when he came on the pitch there's only a handful of genuine absolute superstars at this World Cup he is one of them and to see him fit on the pitch creating free chances as soon as he comes on the pitch please please let us have some Brazil Jogo Bonito at this World Cup for sure have you enjoyed have you enjoyed watching Brazil since you've been here yeah and I enjoyed watching them slap up Scotland as well can I just say something Steve can I get a bit more energy and enthusiasm out of your voice did you enjoy seeing Brazil come on man I just said yeah I don't know do you like football I don't know who you support it's like it's Man United or nothing like what's going on that's it that's the game bro come on man it's the World Cup comes around every four years I've been enjoying the World Cup have you been enjoying it I've been enjoying it, yeah.

3:22Oh, man, you've got to show it. You've got to show us some love. I wonder how much of the... Rio did mention it, but I wonder how much of the goals that we're seeing flying in is because we've got like a handful, you know, half a dozen, a dozen weaker teams in the mix. And it's just allowing that little bit more of easing in. There's not really been major, major upsets just yet, has there? I don't agree with that because if you look at the first two games, you did have the smaller teams surprising people as well. So you had your Cape Verde's doing really well. you had your Congos in the first game doing well you haven't seen a lot of the smaller teams concede as much as you thought they were going to concede I don't know about that though I think you always get an upset here and there that's fine in the World Cup the first game of the last tournament for the eventual winners Argentina got beat by Saudi it happens but I think this time we've seen the big players being able to dominate and really get into their groove early and I think I've got a young five-year-old he's absolutely captivated because the big boys are scoring If the big guys aren't scoring, he's not interested right now.

4:22Because he needs Messi, Cristiano, Vinicius, Salah's squad, Harlan. He knows all them guys. Kids at that age, that next generation, they're not the Steez and the Joels who know all the players, every player. He just knows the big superstars. Dad, what are they doing? Son, they're banging goals. It's true, man. When you look at Cunha as well, honestly, he's vastly becoming Brazil's number nine striker, which, you know, when they were first putting the teams together, I kind of doubted that a little bit. I thought, oh my gosh, they've left, you know, our boy Jao Pedro at home. What's going to happen?

4:59But this might be a really good thing for Man United next season. Yeah, I think Steve's definitely was infused as in levels of Jao go up a little bit. We're now talking about a Man United player, Cunha. And I think for Manchester United, they'll be looking at this closely because I think Sesco has done really well when he came to Man United but he can't be the only number nine that we have at the football club so we'll be looking Man United will be looking in transfer window this summer but Kunja I think will be sitting there going maybe you need to look for another left winger mate because I can be your backup number nine if need be Well there's a lot of talk isn't there about us starting to the left winger and at the same time there's a lot of talk about that dog who is considered a left winger and you go well how's that going to work then because that's too potentially in that position but maybe you're right maybe because he sort of played in the half space anyway at Wolves and was more like It wasn't quite in the centre and it wasn't quite in the wing.

5:45It was just sort of off, wasn't it? A bit of an angle. Because he likes to come on the inside a little bit. Doesn't tend to hug the touchline in a traditional sense. Maybe having him playing off that side is what you need as an alternative. And it's weird because we tried Mbumo loads down the middle last season. And not once did we try Cunha. I don't understand why. I mean, sometimes these tournaments, they unlock things as well, which is the good thing. Speaking about Brazil, how impressed have you been with how they performed so far? Blitz in the group, top of the table. What do you reckon? Yeah, I don't know if they've been that great.

6:18I think the opponents, I think, in a game or two have been probably under par, that we've spoken about. But you've still got to go and beat what's in front of you. But I would say that, listen, Brazil for many years, especially my generation, were most people's second national team who they looked at. And they've come away from that because they've lacked the quality and haven't performed in tournaments. But I think most people sitting there going, you want to see the Brazil that I played against with the Ronaldo's and the Rivaldo's and Ronaldinho's, etc. And this team, they may not have those superstar names, but they could become a team because they've got Ancelotti at the helm, the manager, who's one of the best managers of this generation.

6:54Can he cultivate an environment that is conducive for them to win now? And it's not about the names. They had a team before where they could play very badly, but they had two or three players that would unlock any game. Yeah. I think they've got Vinicius who can be that. If Neymar gets into his groove, he could be that. and they've got other players around that they really can, I think, consolidate their team and make them a decent team. I don't think they can win it, but I do still want to see the superstars perform with this. You never know though, man, because I know you said they've played weaker opposition, but they've got their groove back and I love seeing them.

7:27The dancing's back. That's what you want to see from Brazil, man. The dancing's back. The vibes are good. Casemiro looks lean as well. Honestly, man, they're looking all right at the back after the first game. The first game was a bit, but they're looking all right at the back. Steve, there's a lot of teams that are topping the group at the moment, right? Your big teams, as we've mentioned. Does anybody stand out for you to actually go on and win the tournament? Germany have surprised me because I totally like written them off. I think we all did. I think I totally ignored, I thought maybe lack of goals with them.

7:58But when I've seen them play, I go, it's Nagelsmann, innit? He's actually getting more out of the, than some of the parts. And that could be dangerous come the latter stages. And they've got, they have got genuine quality and experience all the way throughout the team. We've just completely written them off. I think Holland as well. Yeah. Holland looked... They've got experience, like you say. They've got players who are dangerous as well. They've got speed in their team. I think they've got a lot of experience, man. And they're a team, I think, that have gone under the radar massively. But the obvious ones are, I think, France.

8:28What France can do through individual talent, they can play the whole team at a six out of ten. But when you've got Mbappe, when you've got Alise, when you've got Dembele, When you've got Douay, when you've got Bacola, these guys are game changers at any level. At the tip top of the game, these guys on their own, in one second can change the dynamic of a game and scoreline. Alise, player of the tournament so far? Alise, bye. No, no, no. I have to argue. What? It has to be Kylian, man. Because I know, I'll be honest with you, because Alise, of course, he's opened up play. He's been amazing. But we have to remember what Kylian's been doing here, right?

9:03Goal scoring has been 10 out of 10, okay? But the tricks off the ball. I don't think I've seen another striker in the tournament score goals and give us the skills that we want at the same time. That's why I put him there. I'm not saying that Alise hasn't been good. He's obviously been who he is. But did you see the other day when he got nutmegged immediately? Not said, no, I'm not having that. Gave him one back. Yeah, yeah. You know what I mean? Put him down the line. I have to give it to Kylian. And I also have to add that I thought France were going to get far like semis or the final, but I didn't have them down to win it.

9:33Now I changed my mind. Because what I've seen so far, if it's not Mbappe, it's Dembele. He's on the score sheet now. The way they move, I thought Rabiot was past it. No, no. These guys are all, nah. No, the best player in the tournament, I think Mbappe, yeah, you can argue with him definitely, but Elise, Elise makes me make noises that like when I was a kid, it makes me scream and stuff like, oh, oh my God, oh, I'm jumping off my seat because he's moving people out of the way and then his vision and his execution of the pass, it's him and Laminia Moura are two that do that for me. They make me feel about the game like I did when I was a kid.

10:10Yeah. Like I'd go around my mate's house and sit there for hours and hours, just rewinding play, rewinding play constantly. On that VHS, yeah? Yeah, man. They're just dream players, man. And I love it. And Mbappe, yeah. I love Mbappe as well. Do you know who else has quietly impressed me is Mexico. Oh, they've been brilliant, man. Not just their fans. They've literally cruised past, haven't they? England can get them in Mexico. Is it the round of 16? Yeah. That's not a good day. Where would it be as well? In Mexico. You don't want that. That's a tough game. In this heat here. Lowing. Imagine the third degree burns on some of our players.

10:44Lowing. While running around in that heat. You don't want that. Who would you say has been the most underwhelming team so far in the tournament? England. England? Is that what you reckon? No. That's just an overreaction. That's typical of English people. Well, maybe it is because of the expectation. What, were you expecting us to win it? No, I expected to absolutely slap up Ghana, though. what that's disrespectful to Ghana Ghana if you go through Ghana's team most of them are playing in Europe I know but I still expected it to slap up Ghana yeah we all expected it no we didn't I never expected that the African teams I've spoken to probably three or four managers of probably teams that are in the top eight in the world leading into this tournament and every one of them's first reaction was about being very hesitant and apprehensive about games against African teams It's true, man.

11:36They've been a pleasant surprise, though. It was Kyrgios, wasn't it? Yeah. Sitting in and making it difficult. But I was disappointed with how England couldn't find a way through. There you go. But that leads us on, I think we should talk about it, and I think it's important, England's midfield. Because I think that's a big talking point in the way that we play. And I said this going into the tournament on another episode of Rare Presents, that if we play Anderson and Rice in midfield, we're not a team I think that can control a game or actually can go do quick transitions through the pitch because I don't think that's their best assets as two midfielders they're great at retrieving the ball at stopping we saw some great stuff especially Anderson in terms of turnovers and winning the ball back and then setting us off again but being able to get the ball off the back line and transfer it through the team precisely through the lines into the more dangerous areas and the final third, those players, that's not their first call and their best attributes as players.

12:36So who are we going to have to do that? And that's why I thought, especially in the group stages, Kobi Meynou, I thought was one of the players I thought could come in and do that because his ability to beat the press first and then play or dribble through the press, I think is better than Declan and Anderson because that's part of his game. But for who though? Because we all know what Paul Scholes said And if you don't know, he basically said that the midfield isn't right. You know, Tuchel, he's beat a team, right? But they're all about aggression and moving forward. But like you said, they're not really good at, you know what I mean, controlling the game.

13:10If you're saying Kobi Menuh comes out, then who sits out? Comes in. I don't know. I mean, I would have, before a ball was kicked, I would have played Rice as the holder and I'd have played Kobi Menuh alongside him and the one to be able to transfer the ball. I think you've got to look at past tournaments as well. Kobe Maynard's best football that I think he's played in his whole career was at the Euros on the international scene. He was our best player then. He was getting likened to Clarence Seedorf, who we got on meets this week. Like one of the best players of a generation. He's a player, I think.

13:43Now, certain players suit international football. And by that, I mean international football plays at a slower pace for most of the game. Who can then switch pace of the game? Either with the ball, running, or passing it through the lines. Kobe Maynard is that guy. He can do that. He's proved it at international level. And the two that are there, they are great at other parts of the game, but their game is very similar in that. So I think, again, I think something we can look, can be looked at. Scholes has said something quite interesting. Jude Bellingham could play as one of the eights as well.

14:15All through his career as a kid, he's played in various different midfield positions. He's a talent that can do, he's a Swiss army knife. He can do any of those jobs. Crashing in late into the box. Yeah, he can do that. If you want him to hold, if you want him to be an eight, if you want him to be a 10 he can do all of them and I think he can do all of them equally as good but I think that Declan Rice and Anderson are just a bit too similar for me right now in the way we're playing. What do you say? I think it just depends on who you're playing and I think against Ghana half an hour into the game you could see what it was going to be like and I think having two what we would call holders even though they're technically both really eights but the role that they're in is like holders probably would have switched one of them out yeah I don't mind Drew Bellingham going in there maybe put in Rodgers so you've got another 10 creative that's going to crash the box a little bit you can play with a little bit more risk I didn't think the full backs got forward enough yeah for the way they were playing like you was up against they played a 4-4-2 you only need three back to defend that I think Jed you could have Rice yeah you could probably use Jed a little bit but like you could have Rice and your two centre halves and look after them two strikers maybe you needed a little bit more pace in there that's fair but we still had like a five back we didn't need a five back I agree and I think what's interesting is people are probably saying I don't want to see Rice and Anderson together against Panama I think that's absolutely 100 % the correct thing to say but you pull up France or Argentina or Spain they're the first two names on the team sheet because that's going to be their game is disrupting what they're doing winning the ball and then playing it forward and it won't be pretty breaking the lines forward it'll be hopefully sticking it in the channel for people to run on to but my point is I understand what you're saying but Declan most of his positions in that game we had the other day, when we had the ball, he was playing as almost an eight-stroke nine with his back-to-play high up the pitch.

15:59That's not Declan, I don't think. Declan's better facing the game. He can drive with it if you want him to. He can break things up and he can play simple passes, right? But to have him up there as an eight or nine, surely you look at it and go... Cobby would be better there. Cobby would be better there. Jude can play there. Yeah, and I think, yeah, if you're going to play two there, I don't think you have to have two destroyers there. Like, even against the best teams, like, I still think you've got to think to yourself at some point we're going to get the ball and when we do get it even if we're going to have it probably say we have it 35 40 percent of the time we need to actually be very efficient with the ball in their moments if we're having it so little amounts of time compared to our opposition so it's even sometimes even more important then that we've got players that can make those passes between the lines through the other team's midfield into our dangerous players get the ball to harry kane in one pass how do we do who can do that right We've got loads still to come right on this pod, but we'll be back shortly after this.

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17:59I want to bring it back to Clarence Seardorff. I mean, he did mention Declan Rice and he reckons he's a great player. Obviously on the Rio Meats interview, if you haven't seen it, go check it out. Wicked, wicked chat. One of the goats, man. He said that he reckons Declan Rice is a little bit timid and And why are you, mm, for? Nothing. Like, you know, he reckons he should have a little bit more of Jude Bellingham in it. Jude Bellingham. Are you saying he's risk-averse? I wonder where he gets that from. He didn't say risk-averse. What do you mean? Say it then. What were you trying to say? Guys, let's not lose the ball.

18:35So you're... Dutch, who's that Dutch? That wasn't Dutch. That was flawless. Normal Spanish. He was certainly Mikel Artel, for you guys who don't know. Do you reckon he's carried that into the international scene, do you reckon? Yeah, because if you get told all year, stop trying to pass the ball forward, just play for corners, it's going to bleed into what you're doing in England. This is why I don't ask you questions. This is exactly why I don't ask you questions. That's why he don't shoot. I think with Declan Rice, I think he's got so many great attributes. I think he's a top player. He's one of the main reasons that Arsenal won the league this year, okay?

19:07Could be the main one. But I would say, if you're looking to improve and become an even more all-round better player, I think he needs to take some more risk in the attacking third of the pitch. And by that I mean, I don't mean he has to be someone who's like Bruno, making passes from 40 yards, 30 yards, trying to be the assist man. Simple things. Tweak one thing at a time. I'd be saying to him, listen, three shots each half, two or three shots each half. And if one of them is a target, keeper has to save it. He might not, he might go in or rebound. but become a threat in something else, somewhere else in your game.

19:41Two or three shots a game, I mean a half, and then you see where you go. It's a game, it's a law of averages for this game. Sounds like Frank Lampard. Frank Lampard built a career on a law of averages. His game was, listen, four times, five times, depending on the game. If I get in the opponent's box, the ball might drop to me once. And then it's about how clinical I am and the work I've done on the training pitch and the reps I've done will determine whether that ball hits the back of the there. But if I'm not in there four or five times, I ain't really going to be the player that I want to be.

20:09And I think Deke needs to just add one of those layers to his game. And I think the shooting, he becomes such a big problem. You can see his shooting and his delivery is phenomenal. He starts shooting, right? Being a threat like that. What happens then? Midfielders come out to him. What happens then? Space behind those midfielders where he can then start playing balls into our more attacking players who then become a threat further up the pitch. So he's a threat in different ways then but I think again like you say whether he's being told or whether it's just in him to be that I think we have to see what that is but I think it's down to him as a player to add layers new layers to his game and I think he's intelligent enough to do that we also have to remember though that Frank Lampard played with Jogba and Heskey and different kind of players you could hold it up you wind him up we've got Harry Kane bro yeah I know but it's a different game though isn't it what are you talking about I'm just saying that's a bad comment I don't need that stitched out for your own sake I'm just saying man what do you mean?

21:03Explain it then. Go on. Can you explain that to me? Let's move it on, guys. There's shouts about Marcus Rashford and Bakayo Saka starting. I don't think people are really feeling the Maduweke and Anthony Gordon forward lines up top. What do you reckon? I think Saka's carrying an injury. That's why Maduweke's starting. I think Maduweke, I think the manager summed it up perfectly when he was asked why Maduweke. His season this year has been an impact player coming up supporting cast for Saka and I think he's done really he's done well at doing that yeah and he understands it so you need players that understand that role I think because of the injury to Saka or what he might be carrying he's been forced to start him I think that will change as the tournament goes on if England stay in and Saka gets more fitness because even when the other day he came on he had a shot could have been easily a guy was a good save from the keeper yeah he's got an efficiency that is hard to match from any England players are Saka so I think he eventually will start and I think I was actually surprised that Rashford didn't start or actually didn't come on earlier in the game the other day to get 10 minutes yeah because what he done last game he was potent he looks really he looks like he's matured I think I think his spell in Barcelona has been the best thing that could have happened to him you won him back at United didn't it I said I think it needs to be re-evaluated I think it was a hard no before from everybody all people at the club about Marcus Rashford's coming back.

22:27That chapter's closed, let's go. I think that chapter's now open and people are having a little look back. Hold on. His makeup's a little bit different. I think he's more confident again. I think he looks more confident in himself. He seems to have cheered up a bit and he's matured. With that, I think it's now a conversation that can be had within the football club about bringing him back now. Do you know what the difference is with Marcus though, really quickly? I think when he's not in the limelight, I think it's better for him. you know like he's at Barcelona and he's away from all of it I think it's better for him I think you said it the other day Steve if he comes back to Man United I fear for him that the spotlight's going to be back on him because he's a superstar you know he he really is the main man whether people like it or not he's the type of player where if he's not playing remember there was a time where he's not playing and he's still making the headlines for something he hasn't done and there's a lot of that in England you've seen it you know I mean and it just seems that people build you up and then they throw you away i think united fan base is probably pretty much done with him i think there'd be zero patience i think the first time he didn't track back the first time he fluffed his lines on the shot first time he made a bad decision i think the reaction from the fan base would be ott he's going to have to come out and have a conversation about the way the relationship with the fans has gone if he wants to stick around i think that's a requirement hmm yeah here yeah yeah that would work there no i think that'll be great i mean i want us just simple uh really really really comfortable environment really safe space for you to just sit here and let us know how you feel big shout out i think that'd go down well i think i think it would actually be required and if he said you know i've made mistakes but you know i felt i was treated harshly at times and this and the other i think a lot of people would go yeah he it was yeah big shout out to marcus rashford okay so jose marino right he's been seen speaking for the first time since he got the real madrid job big shout out to yes i can fenwar beast mode podcast absolutely smashing it we love it uh what did you reckon uh of his comments about managing egos and do you reckon he's the man to go in and do that well he said it's a privilege to manage egos and i think it's an unbelievable statement if you've got egos you've got big players especially if they're the right players, right?

24:38And if there's anybody who's going to be able to handle them and control them, it'll be him because he's had loads over his career. And you don't get to play for Real Madrid if you've not got an ego. All of the players that are playing, the starting XI especially, have egos. And it's how best those players are managed. So that's Tom Cruise flying his, playing across there. Don't mind him. Anyway, no. I think Jose Mourinho, if anyone's going to handle egos, I think he's somebody who knows what one looks like because he's got a massive one, right? and he'll be able to deal with it. And I think that he's so right in what he's saying that, yeah, there's egos here, but I'll deal with it.

25:13I'll get through it. And I'm happy to be doing that because I've got the right type of people here. My biggest thing about it is, is that a Man United are going to get Chiumeni because I keep seeing that talked about and he'd be one of the first midfielders on my list if we had a possibility of getting someone to go in there to replace Casemiro. Chiumeni would be that guy. Because he seems like the type of player that Jose will say, come you stay here the problem is the Valverde situation yeah that situation oh okay yes yes that was but you've seen it before in football though it's happened before people fall out fights why can't they fix it especially with Jose it depends what's happened and it depends what's happened how it finished like these situations I've seen fights at training and the next day people are shaking hands but that was a different generation can these guys get through it if we believe what we heard and Chirmini's punched up Valverde is Valverde the kind of guy who's going to go listen I'll forget that or is he going to go, listen, unless he goes, I'm going.

26:06Like, if that's the conversation that's been happening, it's out of the manager's hands. Yeah. I thought it was incredible what Jose said as well. He said, you know, he spoke about players and the egos and the problems. He goes, but I want these players. He said, I want the best players. And I'm not going to lie, that scared me. I thought that might ruin Arsenal's chances of winning the Champions League next year because the way he was chatting, I thought, ooh, that's the Jose we know and we remember. Has he still got it in him, Steve? Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid is the best thing that's happened this summer so far.

26:33I can't wait. He is going to be box office. Box office. Do you know what? I know I've been sitting here saying that Jose's going to be the man to reintegrate like Chiuamani and Valverde together and keep them at Real Madrid. But I've got to say, if Chiuamani has a half a sniff of getting out of that club, Man United have to be the first team at the door knocking and make sure he can't even talk to anybody else. Get him signed, he'll deliver. Chiuamani, I know we've had a few conversations in private, but man, I know you watch the show. Looking down the lens right now at you, behind these shades, there's only one club for you man if you're looking to leave Real Madrid we are the club Man United are the club man if you want to make it happen make the call that's what I'll do if not you can always come to Arsenal you don't want to go Arsenal you don't want to go you don't need him you don't want to go to you lot I reckon players can get over things I mean you've seen players fighting in the dressing room look at the situation with Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo at the World Cup big big issue wink red cop like it was absolutely crazy there was no drama with them two though but there was no there would have been this is the point so in that situation that's why teammates are important in that situation after the game Cristiano come to me and said can you speak to Waza get Waza I want to speak to him so I went on the coach got Waza and said to him come and see Cristiano and they had a conversation there and then yeah and it's like and then the manager when they came back brought him in and spoke to him and then just where Jose is going to be important because again the respect that those players will have for Jose immediately will be there.

28:01And it's how that is managed and navigated is going to be key. But you need at least one of those guys to be on side and want to make it right. Because when the first person makes that call and goes, you know what? And they soften the other person by going, you know, listen, man, whatever's happened, I apologise. And the most important thing to the team here, because put this to a side, we're never going to be best mates anymore. But we're never going to go for dinner, but we need to win. We want to win together. I think you've skirted past that a little bit too quickly. This is the insight that we get on this platform which is incredible so do you know the words that were said between cristiano and wayne in that period them situations there like i i want them to sort it out i don't need to be the guy i need to put them together and then they sort it out like and i and i knew i know that wayne loved cristiano i know cristiano loved waza and then i know there was a genuine respect between them yeah and i know that both of them are winners yeah and they want to win for man united and they're both and the reason they're having that conversation why cristiano wanted that conversation because he knows he's got to go back to Man United and he knows he wants to win and all of us want to win.

29:01So he wants to make it right as soon as possible. And I thought it was, for two so young, I thought it was a really, really good example of the right mentality, maturity and making sure they got the timing right around a really delicate situation. And it also shows that Mr Ronaldo is a team player as well. I don't want to have to keep reiterating. What did he really say when you got back to him? Because he must have reported back to you once he'd spoken to him. Yeah, Wazer weren't happy. Don't get me wrong. Wazer's not sitting there going, oh, it's a great conversation and that's it, gone. It wasn't that, but these things, again, a seed has been sown and then he's sitting there.

29:32He's got a tournament and a summer to get through. And then the manager then comes in at the end and goes, listen, boys. What did he say? Was it more of a... That was between them. What's mad to me is that there was any hint of an issue between Ronaldo and Rooney anyway. Rooney stamps all over Carvalho. It's nothing to do with Cristiano Ronaldo. Yeah, but the wink. What do you mean the wink? What's the wink? The wink could have been anything. It could have been like... It's because you don't care about England, right? that ultimately the way that was brought up on TV and Ian Wright pissed me off that day as well because he went in hard on the wink thing you have no idea what he was winking at but it was obvious though wasn't it no come on Steve no like they could have gone right the doubt of 10 men turn the screw sound it could have been that after you go and you have a serious chat if you're a referee right do you honestly think that Ronaldo was like we got him sent off no because Rooney stood all over himself it don't matter if you're playing against someone, I don't care what happens.

30:28You're the opposition at that time. And if I've got to get you sent off with a wink or whatever it is, it's happening. No, no, but he wasn't sent off because of the wink. The wink was after the incident and so we don't know. But it pushed it though. No, no. We don't even know it was after the incident. My point is it's all an assumption here. So we're all assuming that this, that happened. Why do we do this when it comes to Christiana? That's the British media. That's the British media for you. That's what they did. Because it sounds like we're going, oh, but we don't know if he winked. and that what he was trying to do he was trying to instigate for wayne to get sent off that's what you're talking about who did he did he wink at the ref yeah but how was he instigating for for him to get his own bench how is that wink making him get sent off it don't matter because it's like you're taking it a step too far no no no one thing about did that did that wink get contribute to wayne rooney getting a red card we gotta look at the footage are you crazy it was like 10 minutes afterwards let's exaggerate because it's ronaldo no no wait how does it wait So have you ever seen a wink to a referee and you go like that and then the referee goes, you know.

31:28Wasn't it to his own bench? Let me play it really simply, right? You know when you've got someone pushing the agenda, people don't like that. Whether it's to the referee, whether it's to their teammates, whatever it is. In that scenario, Wayne's not going to like that. Do you even know what happened? What happened then? Go on. What happened? Carvalho and Rooney are going for a 50-50. Carvalho hits the deck. Rooney stamps all over his b****. Ronaldo comes in and goes like that. The referee sends Rooney off. There's a bit of a melee. And then at some point afterwards, because I wasn't in the stadium, I don't know, Ronaldo winks to his own bench, which we have no context of what was said.

32:04So why then is Cristiano Ronaldo trying to squash it with Wayne Rooney? Why? Because the media create a whole big narrative and story and make it Rooney versus Ronaldo. That was already the case at full time. That was it. So why does he have to say anything if he knows just the media then? Because it's our media. Why would he say anything? You just leave it if you know it's not you. That's what I said. Oh, because Ian Wright said something. Then Cristiano said, all right. Then you know what? Because Ian Wright said something all the way back in the UK. No, no, let me finish, right? Because that's how the media narrative got shaped up.

32:34Straight away on British TV, there was this witch hunt against Ronaldo because they'd spent so long building Rooney up because of his foot injury that it was like, we can't go back on Rooney. He's our hero. So we need a scapegoat. Bosh, Cristiano. I don't understand. That's why Cristiano went to drag Wayne. I don't understand how you can't see, right? If a narrative is being built, you don't want to nip it in the bud. How does he know what the narrative was? Because they've just finished the game. Because you've got a whole press team in your dressing room. Yeah, the press team have gone, oh shit, has hit the fan.

32:59And you've got Man United, Man United's press team ringing Portugal's press team and going, listen, this needs to be sorted out because it's getting out of hand. Okay, Ronaldo, I'll go and sort it out. I'm mature enough to do that. Did you know there'd been a shitstorm straight away? Yes. There you go. It's the first thing everyone's talking about. Waz has been sent off. He's the biggest player in our team. If he's off the pitch, we don't win it. so it's going to be a huge story who's at the centre of it oh someone's seen him wink they're assuming that he's winked they're assuming like you that he got sent off because of that oh wow that's how the narrative got built we're digging deep here guys you're in the media you should know we're digging deep here guys they didn't want to blame the penalties they didn't want to blame Rudy let's blame Cristiano Ronaldo yeah that's how it went now that's how it went now also you wouldn't understand because it's a Man United player and they get treated differently oh I wouldn't understand that's what you need to know it's the truth you don't understand that do I have to relax

33:48oh man okay look listen you let us know what you think happened in the comments it's been absolutely brilliant here today a little bit of fire that's what we need on the channel listen please i'm still annoyed mate it was 20 years ago mate please make sure you keep on going in the comments we've got fantastic rio meets we just had karen's seared off on the channel it's got to be up there though you know what we're going to continue this debate around the pool i'm not happy with this i've got to be honest let's do it man i'm ready i'm ready rock bottom you went you put your arm bands on put your arm because you might get thrown in listen I'm ready man I'm ready to stand up you know what I'm saying I know what happened I was there but listen please make sure you like share comment and subscribe we're loving the interaction you guys have been brilliant across social media you've even been voice noting fans yeah man that's what we do get in the chat guys get in the chat the Instagram we've got a chat room there get in there and you see some of the stuff that's going on Joel missing training Steve pretending he's training and me training ladies and gentlemen Joel Bayer Stephen Alston Rio Ferdinand signing out peace

35:12analysing the game for more than 20 years, then this is it. Join me, Max Rushton, and our expert team of soccer journalists every day of the tournament. Can England end 60 years of hurt, or will this be another year of falling just short? Probably. World Cup Daily, listen wherever you get your podcasts, or watch full episodes on YouTube.