English Clubs Dominate Europe

16:01I'm like, well, how are they supposed to score? Arsenal are on the ball, recycle, recycle, recycle. Man United are in great positions. You're not going to break us down. You're going to have to put a cross in to no one. We'll head it out. Again, transition. We've got pace on the break. And that's how they got done. It was just, yeah. I think managers are just more tactically aware of what they need to do and the playing percentages. And Arsenal know they're very good at set pieces. They know they've got good defenders, and that's what they're trying to do.

16:36Alan Shearer:Do you think the physicality of the English game now, particularly with – I think there has been a change in the set pieces. I mean, it's not like – I mean, the crowd in the goalkeeper, for example, or things like that. Do you think that's one of the reasons why the English clubs have done so well in this group stage? And does that make it more likely that an English team will win it? Because it's really difficult for them to cope with perhaps the set-piece routines that the English teams use because we've seen they're struggling in the Premier League as well because it has become more and more prolific.

17:13Gary Lineker:Yeah, I mean, that was definitely in terms of the long throws last night with Newcastle PSG because up come the cavalry of Sven Botman, Malik Chau. Three centre-halves come up for throws in and they look really dangerous on the long throws and they couldn't handle it, PSG, in that second half. But yeah, I think that's one of the good things about our league is that the physicality and all of those things that go with it, the intensity, the pace and all of those things, that's what I think makes the Premier League stand out from any other league and why everyone looks all around the world and look at the Premier League and be jealous of it.

17:52You've done loads of games on Match of the Day, Gaz. Has it changed for you watching football? Is it still as exciting? Do you like this in football right now?

18:06Alan Shearer:It's moved on a lot, obviously, because you can't just kick people as well, which is what it used to be like. And I think that's a really good change. I think English football, even though it did change and has changed over the last decade or so towards a more technical sport, you know, people like Pep Guardiola came in. You remember when he first came in, they said, you can't build up that, never work in this league. And he proved everybody wrong. So I enjoyed the fact that we started to get more technical. I think we were helped by the quality of pitches as well, which improved things. and we started to train youngsters to actually football skills rather than full-size pictures where the big lad at the back would kick it as far as he could because the only way could get down to the other end, which is very true.

18:52Alan Shearer:So I've enjoyed the fact that we've become more technically gifted and we're kind of promoting that side of the game more. I think it's now taken a slightly backward shift. I think it's a balance in there somewhere, and if you can get that right, there's a lot of teams now I do play very defensively and low blocks and stuff like that. So for me, there's always a slight danger as someone who's lived through many decades of watching football that you go, it was better then. There's nostalgia in the air. Football was better back then because you see stuff and you'll go, oh, those games, they used to have brilliant games then, but you forget the nine out of 10 games that were pretty much dross back in the day.

19:35Alan Shearer:So I think it's always evolving. I think obviously nowadays every team has a player that can hurl it 60 metres or something with throwing. So it's going to drift back to that because they're actually harder to defend than corners unless you've got a delivery like Saka and Rice. Because you can't be offside from a throwing. So you can't push your team out like you can with free kicks. I should say that they're actually more difficult to defend than free kicks because you can't hold a high line. So the game's always evolving. I mean, I enjoy it whatever way it is. Sometimes you'll get terrible matches and lots of times you'll get really good games.

20:15Alan Shearer:But I think the mix in the Champions League is really good because you're going to get teams that are super technical. The Spanish sides, for example, their football doesn't change that much. But in my day, they were very much kicking and like whacking you up in the air and it was really physical. So that's evolved even over there since the days of Johan Cruyff came in and probably turned things around there. And Pep was one of his disciples. So, yeah, you know, people will always, always reminisce and think nostalgia and it used to be so good and now it's not. There are a couple of things I would say about the football now that I don't like.

20:53Alan Shearer:And that is obviously one is VAR. And people talk about the amount of time footballers waste. The biggest time wasters in football now are the referees. Every free kick we have to wait 10 minutes while they mark the ball, that might walk the wall and go back. Until the referee's ready, you can't take a free kick. The introduction of VAR, I think, has been, by and large, a disaster at the moment. I think it's a terrible experience for supporters in the ground where you can't see what's going on. It's bad enough on TV at home. I think that needs a complete rethink. So there are ups and downs in all things.

21:30Alan Shearer:They're going to apparently bring in this new offside law where your back foot would be on, you know, as long as part of your body is in an onside position, I think it's Arsene Wenger's thing. My fear for that will make teams perform even more of a low block because they won't be able to play offside anymore. They really won't. And then you'll end up with teams just defending their own box all the time. So it's always evolving, but, you know, you go with it and there's still great games and then not so great games. The reason why I ask the question, because, you know, when you watch games and you analyse, and you see what, that's why you have to give a lot of credit for Barcelona, for what they're doing.

22:08Okay. Good point. Their high line is frustrating for us to watch. It is so frustrating, especially for me as a defender. I'm looking at thinking, it's making me cringe every time I watch it. They conceded a goal yesterday that the players are still running forward when they need to run back. But the way they entertain and play football, if they could move that line, five yards back, just five yards. That's all I'm talking, five yards. Barcelona could beat anyone on any day because the football that they play, the rotations, the movement, the pace, they've got absolutely everything. So I would always advocate for a team like Barcelona because it's entertaining and it's good football and a different way to play football.

22:57And that's what you want. I always use the phrase, football's a winner, don't I? but I love watching Barcelona play. But like Gus says, it is constantly changing and teams are doing whatever they have to do to win games.

23:11Alan Shearer:Totally agree with you on the Barcelona front. I mean, it's very rare that you get a bit of a dud or a boring game because they play gung-ho style. They go for it. They do it for a reason and to play that high. So when they win the ball, they're high up the pitching. But I mean, there's so much talent in there and the football that they play. I mean they go goal down in every game whereas most teams you go oh they're in trouble now but you go wow they'll probably win 4-1 or something

23:36Gary Lineker:yeah they have they've got the forward players to hurt you as well haven't they but yeah it's incredible I watched them when they played Chelsea didn't they and Chelsea just killed them with their tactics and how they exploited that high line but it is definitely good to watch it's entertaining for sure

23:53Alan Shearer:who was the pick of the England teams do you think I suppose Arsenal so far in the Champions League because eight out of eight, what they conceded just three goals, was it all in all? Remarkable, really. Yet, you know, one or two people are starting to question them and say, well, because they got one bad result and they're just saying, well, they're just set pieces and they're just crowding the goalkeeper. And lots of people complain and say that, you know, the game needs to look at this sort of thing, the treatment of goalkeepers. I've got no sympathy for goalkeepers because they've had it easy for years and years and years.

24:30Alan Shearer:You go near a goalkeeper and you breathe on a goalkeeper and they used to give a free kick. But Arsenal, so what, the top of the Premier League and top won the league phase in the Champions League. If Arsenal were in the final right now, would you back them against any of the big European teams? Yes, I would. You would. For what reason? for a reason they're very difficult to score against. They're very well organised and they will hurt you with a set piece. And I don't see that many European teams at the moment probably being able to deal with their set pieces. And I think, I mean, people say, well, it's not great, you know, to watch, but, you know, it's mainly because teams play low against them.

25:18Alan Shearer:They could be more pleasing on the eye on occasions, but I mean, look where they are. They're clear in both competitions. They're going really well.

25:27Gary Lineker:And also, Mike, if that was the case, then the probability of the team they're coming up against isn't going to sit back and try and nullify them and have everyone back like they do in the Premier League in this low block because the team they're up against will fancy themselves to go against them, which then should free up the wingers, which we haven't really seen in the Premier League for the last. So I would back Arsenal in the final, definitely.

25:50Alan Shearer:I think it depends also who they're playing because if they played another English club, they have tended to struggle a little bit against the elite teams in the Premier League. Not terribly, but they've found it more difficult. So, you know, if it were, you know, Manchester United or Liverpool at their very best, you could say maybe be difficult. But if they were, you know, if they were up against Barcelona, you would think, oh, I think they're, I mean, they're not brilliant defensively, Barcelona, particularly, I think, from set pieces, as well as the high line. So it depends. But I know exactly where you're going at because against the very best in the Premier League, they've not been as brilliant as against other opposition.

26:36Well, could I just want one more to add to that? Okay, the lack of goals then. You guys have been strikers. I mean, Champions League, I totally agree with what you said, Gar. I think they've got an amazing chance to win the Champions League. I really do, because of the things that you've just said. That's why I asked you guys. But the lack of goals... All the strikers scored last night, Michael.

26:56Alan Shearer:Yes, we're talking about Premier League now. Let's switch the competition to the Premier League. I think there was a stat that you think you mentioned on the last pod about the own goals was really high. I think the top scorer has only got five or six goals. Does that worry you then going forward? Can you sustain that for the rest of the season and win the league?

27:20Gary Lineker:Well, they've done it up to now. So the answer to that is yes. But that will prove, I think it will be very difficult. They're going to have to start scoring more goals, there's no doubt. I mean, because Jokka has five. I mean, Saka hasn't scored for, what, 12 or 13 games, as some of the others haven't either. That has to improve. There's no doubt about it. Those guys have to start scoring in between now and the end of the season. They're two good players not to. Something has to change with Saka. I mean, Saka's an amazing player, as we know that. But in terms of assists or goals, they haven't worked for a while.

27:56Gary Lineker:That has to change. He's too good for that. What is the mindset? You know, you're going, you won a league at Blackburn, Al. I know we're going a little bit off topic, but the insight in Arsenal, where they are, they're going for the league, going for the Champions League. As a defender, my mindset was, just do the basics. Do the basics right. You must have went through a little spell. I don't know in that season, but you're the talisman of the team. You're going to get them over the line. And Saka, Jokarez, Havertz coming back now, Jesus, Trossard, Martinelli, they're the guys who are going to do it.

28:31Yes, they always say defense wins your championships. I always get that. But the lack of goals to some people is concerning. What was going through your mind throughout the season? and did you feel that you had to be that guy to take him over the line?

28:45Gary Lineker:Yeah, I mean, I felt that. I enjoyed that. I enjoyed everyone looking at me to try and score the goals and obviously everyone was trying to stop me, but I enjoyed that pressure there. But that's why I say that has to improve if they're going to go on and win the league. But they also, it's not just that, I mean, what they have to deal with. They've got to deal with the mental side of it and the noise because after every defeat or every game they don't win, the noise gets a little bit louder because of what's happened in previous years. And it'll get a damn sight louder if Man City keep putting the pressure on them or even Aston Villa, you know, Aston Villa are there or thereabouts.

29:22Gary Lineker:So the more the teams win below and they don't, obviously because of what's happened, then that's what they have to deal with. We had to have that as well at Blackburn because, albeit it wasn't for so long, we were newer to the party, if you like, but we had to deal with that as well. and we very nearly tossed it away come the end of the season. So that's another thing they have to deal with, the mental side of it.

29:44Alan Shearer:I would say, Micah, that yes, they can win the league playing as they currently are, but they'd have a hell of a much better chance of winning the league if one of their strikers could start banging on a regular basis. Now, there's both a glimmer of hope in Jorke Reza's had a couple of decent goals in his last couple of games. Jesus has come back and scored one or two goals and Havertz now as well. So they've got more options than they've had in the first half of the season. Havertz has shown in the past that he does score. I don't think he's a natural nine by any means, but at the same time, he's also intelligent and his movement's pretty good in the box.

30:27Alan Shearer:So someone like that might come in and score the goal. So I think they'll have a much better chance if they can find someone to score on a consistent basis rather than relying on defenders and set pieces and stuff. But, I mean, you couldn't have a much better first half of the season. You couldn't have a much better first half of the podcast. So we'll be back in a minute.

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31:19Alan Shearer:This question is brought to you by Fuse Energy, our presenting partners here at The Rest is Football. Each month, Fuse give their customers the chance to send in a question for us to tackle on the show. And today's question is from Sarah. Thank you, Sarah. She asks, how did Senegal's decision to walk off the pitch impact AFCON? And what could it mean for African football as a whole? Good question. Well, you was there, Gus. I was there. Tell us. I've seen a lot of things in my footballing lifetime, but I don't think I've ever seen anything quite as mad as that 15, 20 minutes at the end of the final.

31:59Alan Shearer:I mean, firstly, the stadium was incredible. The atmosphere was amazing. The noise inside was, you know, the stadium was gorgeous. And you're thinking, this is really good. The pitch was perfect because sometimes in the past, a lot of the, actually, I went to the game with one or two of the, Canu was in the car. We saw Adebayor and Makaleli and chatting to them. And they were all saying, it's really great. African football's, you know, it's getting itself act together. The pitch is perfect. And then it all went a little bit pear-shaped. It was mad. What VAR were doing again, I mean, I've been meaning to get this rant out of it, VAR.

32:36Alan Shearer:Firstly, the referee made a mistake because Senegal scored, right? They scored what was a perfectly fair goal, but the referee blew his whistle before it went in the net, so VAR couldn't intervene, unfortunately. Then at the other end, a very, very soft decision. I mean, you were watching it, weren't you? I know you were watching it, Mike. Yes, I was watching it, yeah. I mean, it was the softest of decisions to turn over a game in the last kick, basically. I mean, it was mental. Why do that? Unless it was absolutely clear and obvious, which it was far from.

33:08Gary Lineker:It must have been a great experience for you. I know it was slightly bonkers in terms of what you saw and everything else, but it must have been a great experience for you.

33:15Alan Shearer:It really was. And he looked after us very well. That 15, 20 minutes there, it was like, you're just going, what is happening? It was kicking off then because he gave the decision. half the players stormed down the tunnel with the coach and you're thinking, well, what are they going to do? You can't just go off. You're going to forfeit it. They might miss a penalty. And then the hero of the occasion was Sadio Mane. I mean, that fella, he just gets everything always right, doesn't he? I mean, incredible player. He's been throughout his career. You know, he looks after people in Senegal. He's built hospitals.

33:47Alan Shearer:He's an incredible human being. And then he's the man, and you can see him. I could tell on the pitch, I'm thinking, Mane's going to he doesn't want them to go and he's gone down the tunnel and you can see he's get them back out on the pitch we cannot do this this is not right referees makes mistakes and he gets them on there and I said to Harry who was with me I said he's not going to score this penalty and probably it was for the best that he missed the penalty not for him and there's a lot of conspiracy theories aren't they saying he missed it on purpose not a chance not a chance would you do that if you want to miss it on purpose you say right we're going to act out of sporting behaviour you kick it towards the corner flag because you make sure everybody knew why you did it.

34:29Alan Shearer:You wouldn't do it. That's absolute nonsense. No chance. They said because the way Senegal players reacted but the game's still in place so you've got to see it out. But in the end, Senegal won. I thought they were probably the best team in the tournament overall. I think a lot of their players will regret having run off the pitch at the end but in the end, they saw it through. Yeah, I would say I don't think it puts a stain on AFCON at all. I think it was just one moment. It's difficult because not everyone watches AFCON. And I've watched it recently. Some very good players and a lot of players are really passionate about going there.

35:06And then you don't want the tournament to be defined by that moment. And I don't think it was. We could all agree it was wrong. You shouldn't be walking off the pitch. But it was justified to a certain degree with the refereeing decisions. So it's more about get the referees better than the standard that they have. Get VAR better. And then, you know, I think it's a good tournament.

35:33Alan Shearer:Okay. If you want your question answered on the show and you fancy saving a bit on your energy bills, sign up to Fuse Energy at fuseenergy.com slash football. Just make sure you use the referral code football. Welcome back to The Rest is Football. with Alan Shearer, Michael Richardson, me, Gary Linick are discussing, well, an incredible night, Champions League football and a brilliant night for English clubs. And let's talk about two of the teams that perhaps slightly surprisingly, given the circumstances of this season and things that have been going on at the top of their clubs, Spurs and Chelsea both made it through.

36:15Alan Shearer:Let's start with Chelsea because it's been a hell of a start for Liam Resenia, hasn't it?

36:21Gary Lineker:Yeah, other than the Carabao Cup game against Arsenal, he's won every game. And obviously I didn't see them last night, but I've read about what happened and going behind and then finding the way to come back.

36:34Alan Shearer:Have you not seen João Pedro's goals, Alan?

36:36Gary Lineker:I haven't seen it yet, but it's meant to be a good one, eh? Well, two.

36:41Alan Shearer:Two good ones. The first one was incredible. The second one was pretty damn good too.

36:46Gary Lineker:Brilliant result, though. Great for him. Great for his belief and confidence. him settling down at Chelsea. It's a great answer to anyone who didn't think it was perhaps the right appointment, but he's getting his right to reply, isn't he? Yeah, he is. He's getting a tune out of him. I spoke to Gio Pedro after the game, actually. Yeah, he's so cool. Not a lot of Brazilian, I don't want to disrespect any Brazilians here, but my Brazilian friend told me that not a lot of Brazilians speak English. So his English, I know he's been at Watford and Brighton and all that sort of thing, but his English was very good.

37:27And he talked about the new energy that Resenia's brought to him. Team look a lot more, I think energised maybe was the word that he used. But for him to come from Strattsburgh and then have instant impact after all the doubt at the start, it's just amazing for him and for the players. I think there's just that one question with Chelsea is what they're going to be satisfied with. Because I still see Man City ahead of them. Liverpool on their day are still ahead of them. And obviously Arsenal and Villa too. So it's going to be intriguing how that goes. But it's a great start. They really are playing some good football.

38:11And when they went down, was their heads going to drop? They didn't drop. The comeback, two good goals. Yeah, they look really good, Chelsea, at the moment.

38:21Alan Shearer:And Cole Palmer returning to action. Nice little ball for one of them. And who would have thought Napoli would miss out? And obviously, he was up against a former Chelsea boss as well, Antonio Conte. So, I mean, that was a massive surprise that Napoli didn't even make the playoff stages. And for Spurs as well, big win for Thomas. I mean, I know Frankfurt have been struggling, but to finish so high. It's incredible, isn't it? A bit like last season, did really well in Europe. I know it was an easier competition last season, but really struggling in the league.

38:55Gary Lineker:The performances against Burnley, the performance against West Ham, and then you go into the Champions League and it's just like totally different. It is remarkable, isn't it, that they can actually do that? But amazing that they've had such a good run and deserve to finish where they have. It's just strange though, isn't it, seeing it? Mad. Because normally when you go to the Champions League, you're thinking, ooh, this is the best of the best now. And Spurs absolutely flying, but then can't do it in the league. It's just weird to see, you know? But I was happy for Colin Mouane, because he's a striker, I watch.

39:29He works so hard for the team. When he gets in front of a goal, he doesn't really have that composure, but he deserves a goal for his performance.

39:38Alan Shearer:That's not a great asset for a striker. I know, but I mean, in terms of, he snatches at a lot of things, guys. You know, when he's in there and when he gets his chance, he might not get a chance for 30 minutes and he gets it and it's not quite the right connection. So I was happy for him to get his goal. And then Solanke as well got his goal after coming back. He's been out for a while, hasn't he? Been back the last few games. So yeah, I'm happy for them. And I'm happy for Thomas Frank as well. Well, he's finished above Luis Enrique, Hansi Flick, Pep Guardiola, Simeone, Conte and Mourinho. I mean, I know it's only the group stage, but it's not a bad list to finish above.

40:15Alan Shearer:I mean, there are so many English teams guaranteed to be in the last 16. Two of those, Manchester City and Liverpool. Ooh, ooh. City are back. Ooh, ooh. City are back. Calm down. Haaland is scoring five. You see his little chip. Great little finish. Lovely little finish. We like those finishes. Was it comfortable, Micah? Yeah, because we had the games and all but I had my eye on this. It was just to the left of me. City looked comfortable, had a lot of chances. Shirky looked like he played really well. Haaland took his goal. Although he had a few more chances as well. But I think City now are going to start to climb.

40:57I think they're going in the right direction. Semenyo's signing was massive. Gueye's signing was big as well. And I always said, and we've said on a pod many times, I think it's going to go all the way to the end of the season. if City can stay within two to three points of Arsenal when it comes to that game in April, I think it's at the Etihad as well, that it's going to be very entertaining towards the end of the season. And the reason why I say that, City are not what they used to be. The intensity is not there. They're not getting the ball back as quickly. But when you've got Haaland and Shirky and Semenyo, Doku come off injured.

41:38You've got Foden, the squad. Although it's not been clicking as we expect it to, you still look at the names on the team sheet and think, if they get it right on their day, they could beat anyone.

41:52Gary Lineker:So you think they'll win it, do you? No, it depends what they do defensively. It depends when all the big hitters are back. So you have Gueye back, you get Diaz back. Obviously, Guardiola's a little bit longer than that. You get Stones back. Rodri will have more game time. Nico Gonzalez as well. And with Semenyo and Haaland. Look, they're not at their brilliant best, but I still think they could trouble teams. I do, yeah. Maybe not win it, but there are thereabouts.

42:26Alan Shearer:It's always a tough competition to call. A lot of big teams. And if Liverpool can get back to their best form, I mean, they're banged in six. They got, dare I say, a carrier bag full of goals against Carabag, as you might expect, and a goal for Mo Salah, which will help him perhaps a bit like in the same way as Haaland, because you need your style men in the second half of the season, because the season sort of starts now, doesn't it? In many, you know, Ferguson used to say, didn't it, it's all about after Christmas, get the second half of the season, but the English teams are in really good shape.

43:01Alan Shearer:Looking elsewhere as well, you've got Barcelona, probably Bayern Munich, Real Madrid struggling. They're very in and out. They were poor again, really poor last night. We saw quite a bit of that game. I think also looking ahead to the World Cup, I mean Foden's sort of gone. He had a great spell and now he's out, maybe needs a bit of a rest. The fact that they might get a bit of rest though, look at someone like Harry Kane. They have a little bit of a winter break in Germany and he comes back and he came on a sub and banged another brilliant finishing last night. Marcus Rashford's not playing all the time, but he's contributing really well when he does.

43:42Alan Shearer:And all of a sudden, England might have one or two players who are not completely knackered. That's my point. Come the World Cup in the summer, which is often the case. I think in terms of the Champions League, we can't get too excited. Do you remember PSG last season?

43:58Gary Lineker:They just started now, didn't they? They just started now. I was looking at them last night, though, Mike, I was thinking that. I said, because maybe a week or two ago, I said, I went for PSG, because I thought, yeah, they kicked in at this time last year when they played City, wasn't it? And then they played Liverpool in the round of 16 and knocked them out. And from then on, looked really, really impressive. I don't know, I'm not, I wasn't. And for them, yeah, I'm not, I wasn't that impressed with them last evening. But back to Gary's point, and what he's talking about going to the World Cup.

44:30Don't forget the French League. They can afford to take their players out of the games because they're going to win the league anyway. So that's where the rest comes in. And that's what, you know, them extra games that PSG had to play last, it didn't matter to them, you know? And that could be the difference. But I agree with you. I don't think they're quite right yet, PSG. But yeah, the table, you can't get too excited. with the table I think the biggest win is you don't play the extra two games that will help

45:01Alan Shearer:most English clubs definitely a little bit a little bit

45:04Gary Lineker:and also is that is it the top is it the top two or the top four are all guaranteed yeah top two going forward that their second legs are all at home from now on which

45:16Alan Shearer:which gives you a slight slight advantage doesn't it again goes to extra time obviously you get longer at home okay before we wrap it give me your winner

45:25Gary Lineker:er change my mind from a couple of weeks ago because I wasn't that impressed with PSG so I'm going to say Arsenal

45:32Alan Shearer:but you weren't very impressed with them last year when they played Arsenal were you in the early stages true

45:37Gary Lineker:very true very true yeah Arsenal just for me Micah if Bayern turn up on their day I'm telling you now that they can cause people problems

45:49Alan Shearer:Arsenal battered them though didn't they yeah I just there's something about Harry Kane Alise Diaz they've got that young Leonard Carl and they're going to win their league so they might have time to rest their players can I pick two oh stop it stop being so stupid and hurry up because I've got a flight to catch you know what I'm going to say Arsenal too Alan just because defensively could be the difference I think Arsenal will take a lot of beating but I can't go with both of you so I'll go with Barcelona oh yeah yeah Barcelona I mean yeah they give a bit away

46:35Gary Lineker:no one fancy Newcastle then that's all for the rest is football go on carry on Mike you can wrap it go on go on Mike where's your next joke Alan go on

46:50Alan Shearer:oh that's harsh that's harsh I love the Jardies. It's only a Jardies. It's only a Jardies. Great stuff. Well, goodbye from me. Goodbye from me. Goodbye from me.

47:05Gary Lineker:Have a great weekend.

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