Amorim Sacked, Garcia’s Perfect Hat-trick & Olmo’s Late Stunner

0:01Somewhere out there is a Chevy truck and the person who drives it, well, that's a Chevy person. You probably know one, your buddy, your sister, ones who always show up. They're the first to rise, the last to leave. They always have that little extra something and maybe you've got it too. Chevrolet, together let's drive. Visit chevy.com slash trucks to explore the lineup.

0:28This podcast is brought to you by Carvana. Car shopping shouldn't feel like preparing for a marathon of paperwork. That's why Carvana makes buying and financing your car easy. From start to finish, search thousands of vehicles with great prices. All online, all on your time. And when you're ready, your new car shows up right at your door. It doesn't get better than that. Buy your car the easy way On Carvana Delivery fees may apply Spring starts at the Home Depot And we are bringing the heat to your backyard this season Fire up the flavor with our wide variety of grills for under$300 Like the next grill four burner gas grill That's perfect for hosting your spring cookout Then set the scene and turn your outdoor space Into the go-to spot the patio sets for every budget Bring it this season with grills that deliver flavor and patios that set the vibe from the Home Depot.

1:22Start your spring with low prices guaranteed at the Home Depot. Exclusions apply. See homedepot.com slash price match for details. Coming up on today's show, no Mbappe, no problem. Gonzalo Garcia bags a hat-trick for Real Madrid in their impressive win against Real Betis. Barcelona left it late to claim the bragging rights in the Catalan derby. Atletico Madrid drop points on the road once again as they're held by Real Sociedad. And Villarreal return to winning ways after victory at Elche with Alberto Molero leading the way in front of goal. Stay tuned for all the action.

2:11Hello and welcome to the Rest is Football La Liga with Alex Algeo and me, Gary Lineker. and we're back after the winter break, Spanish winter break, I should say. How was your Christmas, Alex? Do you play a bit of darts? Because is that a dartboard I see behind your head?

2:27Vinicius Jr:Yep, yep. The Christmas tree has gone and I've now put my dartboard up here behind me. I was getting rid of my Christmas tree and I thought to myself, hold on a sec, this would be a really, really good place for my dartboard because I used to have a table there and other bits and bobs. So I've got rid of all of them and my dartboard now has been playing every night since Christmas. Luke Littler coming over? No, he deserves a rest. He deserves a rest, doesn't he? Was it? I mean, I don't know. Did you watch the final? Yes. I watched it. I watched it. Incredible, wasn't he? It's just unbelievable.

2:58Vinicius Jr:Incredible talent. So young as well. So much money, a million pounds. So good. But no, good Christmas. Thank you, Gary. Very quick because we do not have the winter break here. But I had a rare boxing day off. Went racing, went to Kempton Park. Backed the winner in the King George, Harry Redknapp's horse. The jukebox man. Harry Redknapp won a horse from a race, didn't it? Yeah, yeah. I don't follow a race. In the King George. So, no, had a great day out and then back to work on the 27th. So, yeah, it's been good, but quick Christmas. What about you? It looked like you were having fun. Yeah, we had fun here.

3:31All my lads came around and we had a quiz, which I won. You won the quiz? Yeah, yeah, of course. Harry loses every year and he just can't cope with it.

3:43Vinicius Jr:The pressure. yeah I think that's what it is who writes the quiz who's the quiz master Angus is the quiz master the youngest and this year we just split into teams and yeah comfortable victory really so that was that was a lot of fun and then we had a darts tournament and who won that well mate JD was unbelievable I mean he just it was around the world because we're rubbish at darts we don't play it's the first time I've played darts I think ever just about and we went around the world and in both games my mate JD had the ball to win and did it twice in the first start it was a joke it was like one of those mad moments where everyone was dancing around the kitchen but it was a bit of fun so it was good tell them he can come play around here with the elites yeah with the elite dartboard you wouldn't want me there though because it looks like you've got windows on either side and I think my dart goes straight through it's dangerous it's dangerous straight through the glass window, which wouldn't help.

4:47We'll come to Spanish football in a minute, but the news has just broken. We're recording this on Monday morning that Ruben Amorim has been fired as the Manchester United, well, manager, as he wanted to call it, or coach, as they might call it. Clearly a bit of a fallout. We discussed it last night on the podcast after his comments at the end of his Prince conference, and we thought we wouldn't last much beyond that because once you take on the hierarchy, there's only one winner in those things. So, yeah, Amory was gone and I think it was almost as though he provoked it.

5:24Vinicius Jr:He wanted out. Yeah, and maybe he's felt that way for a while as well. It was one of those classic examples of, is the grass always greener? You know, it was going so, so well for him out in Portugal. He was riding the crest of a wave, managing sporting club, top of the league and leaves thinking he's got this incredible new opportunity at Manchester United. And it hasn't really felt right for him at Manchester United from the start. I don't know if you agree with that, Gary, but I think from the opening matches, it didn't seem like it was the right fit. Yeah, it didn't seem to be the right fit.

6:04And I think he was obviously a bit stubborn about the way he wanted to play. I don't think the players suited the way he plays. the club should have recognised that sooner or before they signed him or before they signed him really I'm sure in these interviews how do you want us to play you must ask those sort of questions and if he says well this is how I play he could look at it and go I'm not sure we've got the players to suit that or we'll give us two or three years and a few windows and we'll buy the players to fit in I suspect they haven't supported him in the sense that bringing in the players that he would want to play in certain positions I don't know Also, I think it's been a bit of a basket case of a football club over the last few years.

6:46So they've had all sorts of issues. They brought in Dan Ashworth, didn't they, from Newcastle, and then they got rid of him quickly. I understand it might have had something to do with the Amarim appointment, and he didn't think it was right. So there's a lot going on here. as for Amarim he was always one to speak quite frankly and quite openly and quite honestly which sometimes caused him a few issues in his press conferences Really, really nice guy

7:12Vinicius Jr:I know Nice guy doesn't matter in this industry but he really he really was one of the best to speak to post-match pre-match And he'd always give you something Yes Possibly slightly naively at times but I think yesterday was I think it was a conscious decision to upset you know overturn the apple cart fire things up and see what happens and I think it was almost like he provoked it yeah what next for Ruben Amarin a few jobs going yeah I mean yeah there are a few jobs going and what next for Manchester United how about how about Enzo Maresco he's available yeah likes Manchester yeah I think Darren Fletcher's been put in temporary charge at the moment if he gets a good start they might keep him for a while and then maybe review it at the end of the season or, you know, there's talent around.

8:05Could bring in someone, you know, like Xavi or Jurgen Klopp be interested, former Liverpool manager. I don't think that would happen. No, can't see that happening.

8:13Vinicius Jr:Surely not. Surely not. Imagine the Liverpool fan base reacting to that. But well, another manager bites the dust. Yeah, indeed. Let's shift our attention to La Liga. A good start to the year, Alex, for Xavi Alonso, which he probably needed. an emphatic victory against Real Betis. Let's see it.

8:35Alex Scott:So how will Real Madrid cope without Kylian Mbappe, their top scorer missing in the league for the first time this season as they host Real Betis?

8:51Alex Scott:It's Rodrigo's free kick. It's Gonzalo Garcia who has a free header to deliver his first La Liga goal. that is how to step up in the absence of your top scorer Bellingham Fede Valverde Garcia takes it down and scores brilliantly fine technique to chest it in and the finish superb too

9:26Alex Scott:Asensio Real Madrid have three And Raul Asensio Again Left largely unmarked Has nodded it home Raul Asensio just slipped there Cucho Hernandez has a little bit of work to do From Rubial's pass Cucho Hernandez pulls one back Raul Cortois Then the angle was against him And he did well to compose himself and finish that's Rudiger's ball for Ardegula and Garcia Gonzalo Garcia completes a brilliant hat-trick

10:17Alex Scott:here's Valverde that's Fran Garcia it's a day for Real Madrid they have five what a start to 2026? Just what Real Madrid needed to start the new year because it was a kind of end of the year there was a lot of murmurs, a lot of worries and everyone, I think they stuck with him during that period and a bit of a vote of confidence to do that over the Christmas period because it's an obvious time where you would think if they wanted to make a change that would be a good time to do it but they didn't they come back and won comfortably

10:54Vinicius Jr:Yeah, and it felt at the time that Kylian Mbappe was carrying them, that they wouldn't be winning these games without his goals. So the fact that he wasn't playing out injured and Gonzalo Garcia comes in and steps up in his absence was really, really positive for Real Madrid. A perfect hat-trick as well, right for left for header. All five goals came from academy players, from Castilla players. But it was a brilliant, brilliant performance from a young 21-year-old Gonzalo Garcia. I think I preferred the second goal. They were all good goals, but what a goal that was, his second goal. The chest and volley.

11:30Vinicius Jr:Unbelievable. I mean, brilliant bit of skill. I like them all. And what I liked, even with the kind of back flick one, what I liked in that one was not necessarily the finish, but watch the movement. He goes, he backs away and then sprints in. And he completely gambled and that's how you score goals. So I love that goal. I thought his technique for his header was absolutely perfect. Head it back where it came. We see so many players now try and flick it with the side of the head, which doesn't usually work. Head it back where it comes from. He impressed us in the Club World Cup, didn't he, Alex?

12:04We talked about him a lot there. And I think it was a few weeks ago you mentioned him and said, well, why is he not getting a look in?

12:10Vinicius Jr:Shabby Alonso was listening to the podcast. He did, obviously. He must be. Shabby, thanks for listening. Yeah, because Mbappe was obviously out during the Club World Cup, so he was playing. So Mbappe out now, I guess. Now what does Xabi Alonso do when Kylian Mbappe comes back? Is there a way that he could play with both of them? Well, how about this, right? So he can play with both of them. Garcia plays centrally like he's done because he looks a natural. He seems to have a few issues. I don't know. This is a fact with Vinicius Junior. there's a lot of talk about whether they might even sell him during this window I think he was linked with Manchester United I suspect that will not happen during this window given the aforementioned issues going on at Old Trafford at the moment but then playing Mbappé back in his favourite position on the left yep yep there's a plan hopefully he's listening hopefully he's listening well I don't want to you know I don't want to do the dirty on Benicius Junior but it doesn't seem to be He was booed when he came off yesterday again.

13:14Vinicius Jr:So I think that relationship, Real Madrid-Venicius Junior, is going to end at some point, but maybe not in January, maybe in the summer. But back to Gonzalo Garcia, I read this crazy stat that the last time a Spanish player scored a hat-trick at the Bernabeu, he wasn't born. It was 23 years ago and it was Raul. So he was the last Spanish player to score a hat-trick there. So a massive date. But he'd never scored a La Liga goal before Sunday. So a massive, massive day for him. Huge day for him. Oh, it was. And I mean, three brilliant goals in different ways. You said a perfect hat-trick. And a perfect hat-trick can actually not be particularly brilliant at times.

13:55But I think his was. It stands out. I mean, he's been banging in the goals. He's scored a lot of goals for Real Madrid. B or B. Was it 25? Mit? Castilla? Last season. The hard thing is breaking through at Real Madrid, isn't it? Because they're not quite like Barcelona. in terms of producing their own talent. They obviously do. And you mentioned the fact that they all scored the goals yesterday. But it's not like Barcelona who, actually because probably financial reasons as well, what's happened there. They've produced so, so many players, huge numbers of players over the last couple of decades.

14:33And so it's probably good to see Real Madrid do that because what they do normally obviously is go out and buy Galacticos and it makes it almost impossible for young players to get through. So you have to do something sensationally good to get yourself noticed. And he's clearly now done that.

14:50Vinicius Jr:And I think a big moment for Xabi Alonso as well, because he's clearly backed Gonzalo Garcia. So the fact that he's come in and stepped up, maybe a moment for Xabi Alonso to say, see, I told you this guy was talented. So positive for Real Madrid when it wasn't positive before the break. Marco calling Garcia the magician, El Mago, on the front page this morning. They're still four points behind Barcelona, but Real Betis are having a great season. So I think it was a massive three points and a big boost before the Spanish Super Cup. Yes, they've got the four clubs going to Saudi Arabia. I suppose they'll get a bit of sunshine, but I mean, it's not like Spain.

15:34It's particularly cold in the winter. It's snowing today in Madrid. No, it can get cold in Madrid because Madrid's quite high altitude, isn't it?

15:40Vinicius Jr:Yeah, you can ski an hour outside of Madrid. I was going to say that. I remember scoring those four goals for England against Spain at the Bernabeu and it was bloody freezing. But any excuse to mention that? Drop that one in. Drop that one in. Yeah, it's right. What does he do now then, Javi Lonzo? What does he do with his situation? You can't drop someone. I mean, he's got this little tournament now where I guess they'll probably fiddle around a little bit and almost use it like a kind of post-first half of the season, pre-season tournament in a way. But what did the fans feel about it going to Saudi over there?

16:15Vinicius Jr:No, it makes it incredibly hard to go and watch your team play in the Spanish Super Cup, doesn't it? It's a long way to go. And it makes me think that the fans in the stadium might not be genuine Madridistas, unless they're living out there, of course. Well, I mean, the thing is, if you've got Madrid and Barcelona, you've got two clubs there that have a massive following around the world fan base but I'm just saying not your season ticket holders yeah well they're not massive travellers to away games anyway are they Spanish fans I mean it's a different thing particularly in La Liga you go to an away game and you don't get the amount of support that it's different for obvious reasons I mean geographically obviously it's a lot larger country than somewhere like England for example yeah true and the kick-off time is ridiculously late as well often so can't be coming back at 2 in the morning can you yeah it's difficult isn't it I think I did hear a few Madridistas saying right start start Gonzalo Garcia over Kylian Mbappe now it's like hold on whoa calm down come on this guy Kylian Mbappe scored the same number of goals in the calendar year as Cristiano Ronaldo in 2025 you know you can't start saying Benji Mbappe I'm not saying they were saying benched Mbappe, but surely, I guess, as it gets later on in the season and they've got big Champions League ties coming up and, you know, it's going to be essential that they rest Mbappe.

17:45Vinicius Jr:He's just picked up an injury. So that's a prime example of the fact that he can't be playing week in, week out, midweek, weekend. Do you know what the injury is? It's a left knee sprain, nothing major, probably a few weeks. So he will be back, but they're going to have to manage him, aren't they? So the fact that Garcia is in brilliant form is only positive for Xavi. It certainly is. Elsewhere, Barcelona left it fairly late against their local rivals, Espanyol. And in the end, though, they walked away with three points and this is how they did it.

18:19Alex Scott:What a way to start a new year. The Catalan derby as Barcelona look to start 2026 as they ended 2025 with an eighth straight win. in all competitions.

18:33Alex Scott:Esposito.

18:39Alex Scott:Romero's cross, it's Mia's header! He just kisses the top of the crossbar and goes over. And almost went in front. In fact, it's a fingertip save by Garcia.

18:56Dion.

18:58Alex Scott:Firmin Lopez just rolling away from a challenge there to tee up Dani Olmo. Barcelona have left it late again but Dani Olmo puts them in front in spectacular fashion. Right in the nick of time. Well crafted but beautifully finished.

19:27Firmin it's Firmin's ball

19:30Alex Scott:it's a dink and it is finished off by Robert Lewandowski

19:38Alex Scott:the deftest of touches to give Barcelona all three points

19:47well the Catalan derby was won just by Barcelona it took them a while the Espanyol are having a really good season I mean recent seasons really they've been pretty cadden fodder in many ways but different proposition this season Espanol.