Barcelona: La Liga Champions 

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0:15Alan Shearer:Not only did they win it, they did it by beating their arch-rivals Real Madrid. There looks a million miles between the two teams at the present. A terrible way for Real Madrid to lose the La Liga type in a Clasico at the Nou Camp. Marcus Rashford started. What a goal. Unbelievable, wasn't it? Absolutely pinned perfect. Have you ever experienced this club in such a crisis as they are now? No, no, honestly, no. I just wonder where they go from here. I mean, that's probably one of the reasons why Mourinho's been mentioned so much.

0:49Alan Shearer:Hello and welcome to the Restless Football La Liga with Alex Alge and me, Gary Lineker. and it's a day after Barcelona won the La Liga title. And not only did they win it, they did it by beating their arch rivals Real Madrid. And it's the first time in their, I think, 126 year history that they've won it in a Clásico. There were a lot of great scenes I saw. We'll come to the game in a second. Great scenes in Barcelona last night. Saw three of their players riding off on little bicycles, which is a bit bizarre. Were they riding back from the after party or were they on their way to the after party or were they just going for a cycle ride?

1:30Alan Shearer:I hope they were on the way to the after party because you wouldn't want to be driving on those pedlows, would you? Pedlows. Pedlows. They weren't pedlows, were they? Bicycles. That would be fun. Yeah. They were very kind of small. I don't know what was going on there. Then I saw, did you see the clip of Chesney singing with the fans? Yeah, yeah. Chesney, Chesney. Was it Fumador? Is he a smoker, is he? Maybe. I don't know. He is. Yeah, confirmed. Okay. He's got the record thing. Because they sing. He's humid. And he was singing along with them as well. So I thought that was quite fun. I mean, obviously it's huge to retain their title as well.

2:07Alan Shearer:There looks a million miles between the two teams at the present. Yeah, crazy to think. I went to the Clásico back in October that Real Madrid won that, didn't they? They were top of the league and yeah, things were looking very good. And then things changed very quickly in football, as we know. Don't they just? But a terrible way for Real Madrid to lose the La Liga title. I mean, they were never going to win it, but in a Classico at the Nou Camp. And Hansi Flick lost his dad, didn't he, in the early hours of the morning. I know, I know. And then still went and showed up and won it. But what a manager he is.

2:43What a job he's done there. He's won six of his seven Classicos.

2:46Alan Shearer:Wow, that's pretty tasty, isn't it? He's been brilliant. Better than Pep's record. Yeah, I love his football. I know some people, and we've all been a little bit critical at times about the high line, but that high line, crazy though it is at times, does lead to breathtakingly attractive football. So, carry on doing that. Very sad on the morning of the Clasico, the morning that he was going to win the league, that his dad should die. I saw his interview and he was wondering whether he should tell the team and he decided they like his family and he wanted to and he said the response was amazing.

3:18Alan Shearer:I've got three quotes here, actually, from the players. From Rafinha, he said, For me, Hansi Flick is a father. He is the one who has made me believe in myself again. Frankie de Jong, Flick has very clear ideas, but within that, there's a great deal of freedom for the players. And in this way, we can show our quality. Pedri, this league title is dedicated to Hansi Flick and the loss he had today. May his father rest in peace. This is for him in heaven. We're looking out for Hansi Flick. It was a difficult moment for him and we did everything for him. Nice words. You can tell, can't you? You can see when a coach has a genuine connection with his team.

4:02Alan Shearer:And he has that, I think. Yeah, you really can. And it's the opposite of Real Madrid right now, isn't it? I know we'll speak about them a bit later on. But yeah, absolutely. Amazing season for them in the league. 11 games unbeaten out. No, sorry, it's 11 wins in a row, isn't it? Yeah, 11 in a row. 91 points. They can finish with more than 100 points because they've got three games to go. Just the four defeats. but they would have wanted a Champions League title this season, wouldn't they? And I thought actually over the two legs, they were a bit unlucky in that game. It went against them, the decisions, the two red cards.

4:31Alan Shearer:The one in the first leg in particular, I thought was a really poor call from VAR. One of many that they made this season. God, I hate that. We need to sign some kind of worldwide petition to get rid of it or to change it dramatically because it's just, it's honestly, genuinely the worst thing that's happened to football in my lifetime. Yeah. Just to think the Premier League title might be decided by that VAR decision. I was there yesterday at the stadium. Could well be. Crazy, crazy, crazy. Anyway, the Classico. The Classico. I know. Marcus Rashford started, which I was really happy for him. And what a goal.

5:12Unbelievable, wasn't it? Brilliant free kick.

5:15Alan Shearer:It was quite interesting when he was talking about it because he was saying that I didn't really fancy it very much for a shot. I was going to cross it. I think he said it was Danny Olmo and someone else came up to him and said, Pedri or someone came up to him and said, no, have a go, have a pop. And he said, and then I'm like, okay, focus. It was absolutely pin perfect, wasn't it? I enjoyed his post-match interviews afterwards as well because he's got that accent, doesn't he? He's doing it. He said, in the training, I don't score any yesterday. It's like, come on, Marcus. It's really funny, isn't it?

5:50Alan Shearer:I noticed exactly the same thing. I was watching the interview and I thought, crikey, he's doing that thing. And he's doing it. And it looked like it was a BBC interview, I think. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It was with BBC Galvez who's gone to live in Spain. So normally you do that. I mean, to be honest, I remember one particular incident. I was interviewed after a game at Wembley playing for England. And they said, you know, how was the game? And I went, oh, you know, fue un partido muy difícil. I mean, I just spoke in Spanish. And then I went, no, actually, actually it was a really tough partido. I went, I got completely lost.

6:27Alan Shearer:Spanglish, yeah. Well, I guess it's a good sign. Obviously you were learning Spanish and speaking Spanish. It's a good sign that he's learning Spanish. Well, yeah, because, yeah, I mean, he was basically speaking English in a way in the order of the Spanish words in the training in the training because we wouldn't say in training wouldn't we but they do say in el entrenamiento that's so funny it's so funny so good I love it I love it it's not quite as good as Steve McLaren because he did the full accent the Dutch accent didn't he not quite as good but I still enjoyed it and he was asked he said if 18 year old Marcus Rashford had been told he'd be scoring goals in El Clasico winning a La Liga title with Barcelona would he have believed them?

7:12And then he was like you know what it was actually always my dream to stay in Manchester at that age that was my dream but he did say Barcelona was always his second team. He should have just said yeah it would have been a dream I wouldn't have believed him.

7:25Alan Shearer:We all say that don't we? But we'll see what happens now. Do you think he'll stay? Well I was about to say he hasn't done any harm with scoring that goal in the Clasico. That would definitely definitely have helped. Yeah. I mean, if they are dithering, they may well have made their minds up already. We don't know. I don't think, I mean, I spoke with Marcus a couple of weeks ago and I genuinely don't think he knew at that point. I think it's very clear that he'd like to. Do you think it was a statement from Hansi Flick as well, starting him in El Clasico? Well, he hasn't started him much lately, so possibly.

8:02Alan Shearer:Only Hansi Flick will know that. But I was thrilled for him and that goal because, you know, I think it's pretty clear that he wants to stay. Yeah. And who wouldn't? Being part of that team as well, which is, I mean, they're so talented. They're so good, aren't they? The football that they play, you know, yes, they didn't quite make it in the Champions League this season, but we're a bit unfortunate. That can happen in knockout football. But I think you should always be judged on your league title as much as anything else, because even though I think they possibly would have preferred the Champions League because they've won a lot of league titles.

8:35Alan Shearer:if you win your league that's the best team in your country for the season there's no excuses there's no although Man City might have wanted to after that decision we'll have to wait and see but I think overall you know they've had a cracking season yeah yeah they had and the two changes he made obviously started Marcus Rashford and Ferran Torres and that was a brilliant goal that Ferran Torres scored as well a lovely little flip from Danny Olmo yeah it was beautiful wasn't it and a superb goal and as you said they all seem so united. I think he was doing an interview, Ferran Torres was doing an interview with ESPN and Marcus Rashford just came to join him and have a chat with them all.

9:14They just all seem like they get on so well and it's a really great group of players. Yeah. And that's down to Hanson Flick as well, keeping them all together because there's always going to be big personalities in the Barcelona dressing room. You know that. No Laminia Mao still.

9:29Alan Shearer:Who's on the sideline, who joined in the celebrations I saw. Yeah. Yeah, he did. I've got Rashford's assists Rashford statistics here actually it's the first ever league title of course didn't manage that with Manchester United 14 goals and 14 assists in 47 appearances but I think it's all important to say how many starts because a lot of those would have been late substitutions so you know considering 16 starts in the league 14 goals 14 assists I think it's all competitions but 16 starts I think that's pretty impressive yeah considering the minutes that he would have played. Yeah, absolutely.

10:06And in a Barcelona team full of talent, right? So many talented players. He was subbed off in the 64th minute for Rafinha. You know, what a player Rafinha is. I know. So he's done brilliantly. I'd like to see him stay there. I want to continue watching him play for Barcelona. So fingers crossed they can get a deal done. Yes. Because surely 30 million for Marcus Rashford. That's what it was, wasn't it? 30 million euros.

10:30Alan Shearer:I keep reading different. 30 million euros, 25 million pounds. Yeah. So I think that's... Yeah, that would make sense. Yeah, maybe that. Surely that's a steal. That's a steal. He's 28, Marcus. 29, October. So I think, I mean, he's in his prime. And obviously in my time, you'd have gone 28, 29, you'd have been slightly nervous about, you know, extending a long contract or something. But I think nowadays, you know, the new 32 is 35, probably at least, and with some players a lot more. So, yeah, I think he's still got some great years left in him. he's certainly not been overplayed like a lot of players so that will be in his favour and if he doesn't go will he I think there'll be clubs looking to snap him up to be perfectly honest at that sort of price tag considering what you get for your money nowadays because I think it'd be difficult for him to go back to Manchester United although I can see it if with Michael Carrick who I'm sure he respects and Amarim's not there anymore who clearly they didn't see eye to eye but so So, yeah, interesting to see what happens there.

11:35Alan Shearer:A lot of star players, star performances this season for Barcelona. I think having Pedri back to his best has been hugely important, even though they've had injuries, big injuries. Rafinha's been out a couple of times for lengthy spells. Laminio Malt has had his issues last season. So, despite that, the squad depth has been really strong. Yeah, their keeper's been brilliant as well, John Garcia. And they've so much relied on La Masia as well, haven't they? Because they haven't had the massive budget in recent years. So they've actually culminated in this incredible, incredible squad with a bit of clever recruitment from elsewhere.

12:16Alan Shearer:But by and large, it's this incredible kind of conveyor belt of talent that that club seems to produce. Yeah, something in the water. We've said it before, haven't we? I didn't drink enough of it, obviously, when I was there. You were drinking the Agua del Grifo. Yeah, well. The stadium looks impressive, doesn't it? It looks so good as well. It's getting there, isn't it? It's getting there. Still not got the upper tiers full of people yet, but hopefully next season. But, you know, it was atmospheric, not quite as it will be, because once it's got over 100 ,000 fans in there, that'll be a bit like the old days.

12:56Alan Shearer:220, I think, the capacity was when I was there. There was a lot of standing, obviously, particularly at the top back in those days. And that's where that phrase, you know, Los Cules. That's where it came from. Do you know what that is? You know it's backside, isn't it? Yeah, yeah, yeah. But apparently on the upper, so high up on the right at the top of the stand, from down outside the ground, all you could see was people's backsides looking up. So there you go. I never knew that. I hope it's right. because that I mean it's 40 years since I was there but that was what was told to me so hopefully makes sense that's true yeah yeah because it's Catalan for us it's culos in Spanish obviously culos yeah exactly yeah so yeah not particularly important bit of trivia but some people like that sort of stuff no I like it I like it that's a good story yeah should we chat Real Madrid or we're having a break before Real Madrid I think I think we need a break before Real Madrid we need a break Real Madrid need a break from Real Madrid.

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14:33Alan Shearer:Welcome back to the Rest is Football La Liga episode with Alex and me, Gary Lineker. Right, Alex, it's your team. You know, you worked there for many years and you followed the club, obviously, subsequently. Nothing like this happened. That's what I was going to ask you. Have you ever experienced this club in such a crisis as they are now? No, no, honestly, no. The dressing room was amazing when I was there because it was, what, Cristiano, Ronaldo, Benzema, Tony Cross, Luka Modric, Casemiro, you know, great, great players and great personalities and leaders, real leaders, Sergio Ramos. He was the captain.

15:11And Zidane was like, obviously he was a manager when I was there, when they won the three Champions Leagues in a row.

15:18Alan Shearer:I just want to ask this from my own interest because I've never met Zinedine Zidane. How is he? he's amazing he's so nice yeah i remember one story that just sums up how he was we were on tour in america i can't remember we were in the hotel having dinner and they there was like a buffet and we were always told like let players go first and then it's your turn you can't wait christianity other ways i want to eat save the prawn for me so exactly so we were always told hold back hold back uh and i remember zidane saying to me you go you go you go and eat first do you go and and I was like no I'm not allowed you know I'm not allowed I've got to wait you've got to go first he was like no no no I insist you go and eat you know he was he was just so nice and he was like please please go and eat please go and get something I've said yes and he was just a really lovely man I'm glad about that the players respected him you know they had so much respect for him I mean how could you not and his record's incredible isn't it because he had nine finals nine wins and Hansi Flick is now eight finals eight wins I know that's separate from the league the league doesn't count but it's an interesting they're the top two in terms of obviously 100 % records incredible it was crazy it was crazy and then I think the club really wanted him to stay on it was his wife that said no really why I don't think she wanted him having the stress and the pressure of it anymore so he listened to his wife and ended after three Champions Leagues in a row so the dressing room where do we start with this mess Yeah, where do we start with the dressing room now?

16:49Well, I think it all went wrong when Jabby Alonso was in charge this season and there was a divide in the dressing room with the players that liked Jabby Alonso and the players that didn't. And then that created this divide between the players in the dressing room. Jabby leaves, but then the problem remains in that you have a divided dressing room. And I think Alvaro Arbeloa came in and again, he's a great guy, but I don't think he had the authority. It's almost like a supply teacher coming in when you're at school and you all muck around and you're naughty. I think that's what's happened. Speak for yourself, Alex.

17:26Yeah. I always remember, Mrs. Blah Blah's not in today, it's this. And you're like, yes. They don't know, we can just muck around for the next hour. But that's sort of what it's like in the dressing room right now. And it sounds like he's not asserting any kind of authority over his players and sort of letting it unfold and get, it's completely out of control now. So I asked my source in Madrid, that's all I'll say, exactly what happened with this training ground fight. And apparently it'd been brewing. So during the week in training, there'd been a few bad tackles. Fede gives a lot of chat apparently, but he's not physical like Chua Mini.

18:12You know, Chua Mini is hard as nails. And so there were, there were, it was sort of, it was, it was brewing. It was, there was tension building. So then the fight, the fight happened at the end of the week in the dressing room at the training ground. And Feddy has obviously come out and said that he hit his head on a table, but I'm not sure that's entirely true. But it's terrible. Absolutely terrible that this is happening. I mean, fights happen in dressing rooms.

18:37Alan Shearer:They do. But, you know, you, you, you can't have that kind of thing going on, you know, when you're struggling a little bit. just before one of the biggest games of the season that you'll play. And it just kind of encapsulates everything that's wrong there at the moment. Yeah, exactly. I just wonder where they go from here. I mean, that's probably one of the reasons why Mourinho has been mentioned so much as a possibility. I think everyone knows that the president, Perez, he's the one manager, they say, in the past that he still really, really likes, perhaps didn't fall out with. I don't know whether that's true, but they need a really, really, really strong personality to come in there.

19:20Alan Shearer:Now, I would say, otherwise they'll have no chance. Someone who needs to sort out the dressing room. It's going to get more and more toxic, I think, you know, and the images of Kylian Mbappe leaving, just laughing away. He was off on holiday, was he on a boat in Sardinia while they were playing against Espanyol the week before. and then this campaign to get Mbappe out. I think it had 30 million signatures. But a lot of it, I mean, I saw that and I thought to myself, that's going to be a lot of signatures from people from other clubs just doing it anyway, isn't it? Yeah. It's not just, you're not telling me it's 30 million Real Madrid fans.

19:59Alan Shearer:I mean, guys, I mean, it's a funny one with Kylian, isn't it? Because obviously he's left PSG and now they've started winning Champions Leagues or they might win back-to-back Champions Leagues. He goes to Real Madrid and they stop winning Champions Leagues. So I think people are pointing to it. I mean, you know, I've seen lots of these clips now with Luis Enrique where he's talking to Mbappe and trying to get him to buy into the work ethic. I don't think that sort of thing will help overall in the perspective of how fans see him. That won't help. You know, sometimes, wasn't he seen in this training session when they had the fight walking out smiling yeah so I mean if I always I'm always reluctant to have a go at players just for smiling because sometimes that's how you deal with things so I think well he could have been laughing for a totally different reason I'm sure it probably was he might not have even been in the dressing room when he said it was flawed right exactly I mean there was also a clip of Val Verdi after his hat trick in the dressing room after the City game where he shook everyone's hand and the only bloke he didn't look at was Chiumeni.

21:14Alan Shearer:So it might have been bubbling along this. It's not great when a couple of human field players hate each other, if that is indeed the case. It's not good. But this goes back to what I said at the beginning of the Xabi Alonso situation. So Chiumeni and Kylian Mbappe were massive Xabi Alonso fans. They really liked him, really got on well with him and Fede Valverde didn't. So I think that's where it all started. Does Fede Valverde sound like he might be a bit of the common denominator in these things. Here's what Arbeloa said. I'm responsible for what happens at Real Madrid and if you want to have someone to blame, here I am.

21:48Alan Shearer:Anyone can make mistakes but Fede Valverde and Aurelien Chalmini are two players who represent very well what Real Madrid is who deserve a chance to turn the page to keep fighting for this badge. They've said sorry to the fans, the club and the dressing room. Should he have said fighting? Yeah, fighting's probably... That might be the translation. Might have gone a bit. Luchando, luchando. They do not deserve to be publicly burnt at the stake. I will not allow people to use this to question my players' professionalism because there are a lot of lies being told, a lot of lies. Well, we don't want to jump into that, do we?

22:25Alan Shearer:It's false that my players are not professional. It's false that they've shown a lack of respect towards me, not even once. It is false that their lifestyle is not what the lifestyle of a Real Madrid player should be. I'm not going to allow that because it is just untrue. It's an absolute lie. Look, I had a teammate who got a golf club and whacked another teammate. He played with Joey Bond, didn't he? Situations that should not happen between teammates have always happened everywhere. For things that happen in the dressing room to be filtered out is a betrayal of Real Madrid. And it is something that saddens me a lot.

23:00Alan Shearer:So, you know, he stuck up for his players. That's what he has to do under these circumstances. But is it official that he won't be there next season or is it just taken for granted? I think it's not official, but he won't be there. It's unlikely, isn't it? It's unlikely. It's really unlikely. It's not a good look, especially if he did take a backseat with all of this and he hasn't sorted it, you know? It's very difficult though. As you said, the supply teacher, it's almost like an interim and how do you deal with this? And players will go, well, even if it's subconsciously, they're going, well, it's not going to be here next season, is he?

23:32Alan Shearer:Yeah. Not good though Not great Who do you see going out I mean Can you see Vinicius And Mbappe Playing together Next season Can you see Chirmini And Valverde Playing together I'm not saying Vinicius and Mbappe Don't get on But in the sense That they're Similar style of footballer They've got a lot To sort out there They've got to get The midfield Has really struggled This season Defensively They've had injuries And stuff But what do you think Yeah No no No, it's been obviously a terrible season for them. Not winning anything either. It's never good at Real Madrid. It's not going to have gone down well.