Man City Heap Pressure On Real Madrid, Madueke’s Screamer & Slot’s Big Win

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1:24Hello and welcome to The Rest is Football with Alan Shearer, Micah Richards in the back of a car and me, Gary Lineker. We're recording this just after the Champions League matches on Wednesday evening. And Micah, I presume you're working for CBS. I know Alan did co-commentary last night with Liverpool's win with Amazon. So how was your night, Micah? Yeah, it was a good night, actually. We integrated the Women's Champions League and the Men's Champions League together. So for two days, we've been dipping in and out both competitions, which was really cool. But if you can imagine, nine pundits or...

2:06Nine? Well, to be fair, two presenters and then seven pundits. It's a lot. But the girls who came over were outstanding. You know, the knowledge of the game, their enthusiasm was brilliant. and it was just all around a good couple of days after what was an amazing trip in Abu Dhabi. Tell us how that night panned out after we left you, or you left us, I should say. I got to sleep at 7.90 in the morning. On the dot. I stuck on the Rest is Politics podcast and I listened to that for about 20 minutes and fell asleep, listen to the rest of the morning but i was just on cloud nine guys i'm rejuvenated now i'm i've got my energy back i felt like i lost it for a couple of weeks but i'm back now guys how was that mate sceptre how was he was he all right he was like he's like gary and alan he was like a little kid he even put on his social media the effect that you guys have on people i just need two donuts but you know well we are two donuts but two old donuts as well yeah two old donuts yeah let's start with the big one Real Madrid versus Manchester City Xabi Alonso under pressure going into the game Manchester City needed a win obviously and they got it good performance the Bernabeu was full of whistles at the end which is their equivalent of booing and I'm not sure whether the old Pam Wello's the blancos, the white handkerchiefs were being waved, but it doesn't look good for Alonso at present.

3:50They're not a patient bunch in Madrid. Well, you would know better than anyone, Gaz, in terms of what they do and how quick you have to get results there or you know what's going to happen. I mean, it's probably worse there than anywhere, isn't it? Barcelona, Andrea, Madrid? Yeah, the expectancy levels are huge there. I mean, if you look at it overall, they're not doing too badly in the Champions League. They're in the top bunch. and also they're second in the league. I mean, it's just, but it's all relative obviously and the expectancy levels at Real Madrid are really high. But I think they're really missing and I spoke to, I mentioned it on the Rest is Football La Liga pod that I did a thing in Madrid last week and I was about the Hand of God game in 86 and I did part of it with Jorge Valdano.

4:35He used to be that, you know, the great centre forward for Madrid and of course Argentina. and he was also I'm not sure what his role was at the club like director of football or even higher I think for quite a number of years and he said we didn't really miss Ronaldo, we didn't really miss Benzema, we didn't really miss Gareth Bale, he said but who we are missing is Tony Kroos and Luka Modric he said because they just gave us control of football matches all the time and he says at the moment that central midfield that kind of pivot or double pivot. He said they're not really controlling matches.

5:14And you can see that to a degree. And I think Giabbi Alonso wanted Zubomendi in the summer, but the president didn't back him. But I imagine that the president won't be the one that gets the blame for the fact that, you know, they've only won one game in the last five in La Liga and now they've lost this big match as well. So there's a lot of pressure on him. There's a lot of talk that he might go by the end of the week. But it's a crazy world of football coaching. What was it like, Micah? You would have saw it all. You would have saw most of the game. Because I was flicking, obviously, with Newcastle game as well.

5:50So when I flicked on towards the end, Madrid were putting City under huge pressure. Yeah, I thought in the first half it was pretty even. I feel as though Man City are always liable for a counter-attack, which Real Madrid tried to expose that, especially in the second half. It was almost like one of those games where both teams wanted to win or there was an away goal or whatever. It was like a basketball game at times. But the question I wanted to ask you guys, and we were sort of speaking about it in the studio, you've been over there in Spain and the successful managers there, Someone like Zidane, who obviously won the Champions League three years on the trot.

6:34Then someone like Ancelotti, who those managers are supposed to be really good managers. So they manage players. And then coaches who have gone in there, say like Davi Alonso now, Art Leverkusen is an outstanding coach. He was doing all sorts of different things, whether it was playing his wing-backs really high, his midfield rotation. They would press at the right times. You could see a clear plan of what they wanted to do. But I feel like Real Madrid, it's just a different club where they're expected to win every single week. And it doesn't matter how you get it done. You just win. We bring the best players to Real Madrid and you do that.

7:15Where Xavi's trying to coach and the fans are not buying into what he's trying to do, which just left them... Well, in fairness, they've only won two in the last eight games. but just from someone who's been over there in Spain, knowing what Real Madrid and what their club expects, is it going to be too difficult for Alonso to coach like he wants to do? Well, it depends how much time he gets, doesn't it? You know, as I said before, they're not particularly patient. The expectant levels are incredibly high. I noticed when I went there, you know, our press is pretty fierce, but it was more it was more off the field that you used to have to worry about than anything else where they don't bother you with your off the field life really but actually the focus on the football itself is so intense and so immense and so pressurised they have daily papers in both Madrid and Barcelona that only cover that football club so in Madrid there's like Marca in Barcelona there's Sport and El Mundo Deportivo and they're basically 50 pages on the club every single day so you can imagine what it's like it's like the pressure at a big club here times about five and it's been difficult for Alonso and I think he's been caught between a rock and a hard place because he's not playing the way he played with Leverkusen and I think when he played at Leverkusen he played three at the back and as you said he played his wing back super high really high and they had this way of playing it was dynamic but I think he's gone to Real Madrid and he's not really played that formation at all, only on occasions.

8:59And I wonder whether he's thinking, I can't really get away with playing three at the back that sometimes will obviously be five at the back with a team like Real Madrid, who most of the clubs that they'll play will sit back and sit deep. So I wonder whether he's, I don't know. He would know the expectations though, wouldn't he? Of course he knows exactly what it takes. He would know how it works there. Yeah. Oh, very much so. He'll know and I think he'll probably fear the worst at the moment. But, you know, for most teams, where they are in the season they've had is not too bad at the moment.

9:32But that's not the perception in Madrid. A lot of whistles, pitos at the end of the game, a lot of them. And that is their way of showing their dissatisfaction with the way that it's going. But it's hard to know unless you're on the inside. And obviously, there's a lot of rumours that, you know, some players are not accepting, you know, the way it's going and stuff like that. you're dealing with bigger egos, you're dealing with big superstars, he's left big players out of certain games. Also, it's very fair, I think, and should be said that they've got a number of injuries, including Kylian Mbappe missed tonight's game.

10:06You know, Bellingham was out for quite a time as well. Trent Alexander-Arnold has been missing for most of the season. So it's not been easy. And they're very short on fullbacks at the moment as well. Yeah, Mendy's injured as well, isn't he? And Mendy, yeah, Carvajal as well. Yeah, exactly. So it's not been easy. But I don't think there's a lot of, you know, sympathy. And it's always the coach that gets the blame. I mean, that's the same in world football. But, I mean, it's so much more difficult there because the success that they've had, obviously, they're probably the biggest club in the world.

10:40And I hate to say that as a Barcelona person, but they are huge. and they're so used to winning that a coach comes in and he needs time. I mean, come on. I think it's so early. But we'll see. We'll see if he survives. Good result for City, though. Brilliant. Very good. City are a strange team to watch at the moment because they're getting over the line. You know, they're conceded, what was it? I think they scored 10 goals in the last five games. I know that game I've fallen where they're conceded for but they're getting the job done offensively but they still look very vulnerable yeah defensively you know every time a team on a counter attack i've got a heart attack it's it's it's it's just we there's so much space in in the middle of the park which when you look at peps teams have always been about control and city at the moment don't have any control but still getting over the line so once we sort that bit out then if you can go to to real madrid we all remember what happened last time when mbappe got that hat trick i thought doku was was very good again he was lively trying to make things happen i thought foden was quite quiet he got a yellow card early doors didn't he um i was surprised to see harlem come off but again probably just a little bit of rotation in there.

12:07And then Nico O 'Reilly gets his first Champions League goal. And I just think he's been outstanding this season. Special talent, I think. Yeah, but it's not just that. It's the fact that he's a midfielder playing left-back. I know, it just shows you how intelligent he must be. Exactly that. And he's making a difference. So, yeah, it's all positive for City in terms of results. I think performances still need to become better if they're going to challenge for that Champions League and then push Arsenal all the way for the Premier League as well. How far is Rodri off? Do we know? I don't know. He keeps saying one week and then he's saying a couple of weeks.

12:43Nobody actually, well, the information I'm getting, I don't actually know. I think he'll make a big difference if he can get a fit Rodri again. I mean, it's such a shame, that long injury, and then he's come back and he's had obviously problems trying to get fit again. But O 'Reilly, has he got a chance to be England's left back in the World Cup? I mean, if he keeps playing like the way he is now, yeah. And he played well for England in the last international meetup. But they've got so many players in that position. I really like Hall at Newcastle. I really like him. And I think he started in midfield as well.

13:22When they got him from, it was Chelsea, wasn't it, Al? Yeah. If I remember correctly, and I remember I was doing one of the games and after the game said he's normally a midfielder, but to go out that left back, he's so intelligent. And when he goes forward, he goes forward with conviction and has quality at the end of it as well. So I really like him. I think it's going to be competition for places, but it's good that teams are playing well, certainly in the Champions League. Yeah, it certainly was. Newcastle out, I mean, they 2-1 up with just a couple of minutes to go. they would have been in that top group, wouldn't they?

13:57Yeah, conceding another goal late again, Gary. God, how many times has it happened? I mean, I thought they were really poor in the first half. Played well in the second half. Two times they hit the inside of the post. They did, yeah. Eddie must have got stuck into them at half-time because they were a different team in the second half. I thought they played really well. Lewis Miley coming on, getting his first ever Champions League goal. And his night was ruined. I mean, it was looking so good. And three points, I think, would have put them in sixth, I think. something like that sixth or seventh I would say at the worst though Alan they'll probably be in that middle block and if they're in that I mean that which you'd probably take absolutely I think so I mean it's hard you would never thought they'd been a bottom I think it's just what could have been you know when you you're 2-1 up with three or four minutes to go and you concede again I know they've got PSV I think in their next game which is at home so you would hope they could get a three points there and then they got a really tough one the last year which is PSG away so they're going to have to stop conceding those late goals.

14:56It really, really has cost them. Yeah, I had that on my phone actually watching that one and I was watching the Real Madrid but it looked like Anthony Gordon was really impressive. Another goal, another assist, great ball in. And very unlucky not to score as well when he hit the inside of the post. In the post, yeah. He had a great cross in for Miley's header for his goal as well. So he looks to be back to his best, Anthony Gordon. So where are Newcastle at now? I know I always ask you every couple of weeks Are you... I think Visser came on as well, didn't he? Late doors? He came on at the weekend, obviously and then came on again tonight only for the last four or five minutes just to see the game out, I think Hopefully it's not too far away from him starting the game If he can get another half an hour or an hour in sometime in the next week or two then I don't think he'll be too far away from starting the next two or three weeks.

15:52So that has to be a plus for Newcastle. So will he go away with African nations then? No, he's not going away. He's not going away. He's not going away, which is a big, big plus for Newcastle. Yeah. Which I think is the right decision because he's hard. Well, he's, what did he have at the weekend? He had probably 20 minutes at the weekend, half an hour, and he's had only five minutes tonight. So I don't think that would have been a good look if he had just played those games and then gone off for another month or so next week. I don't think that would have been a good look. So I think that's the right decision.

16:21He'll want to get playing and settled in as well, won't he? I mean, the African Cup of Nations is obviously hugely important, but if you've not played any football for months, it would have been a big ask to play in a major tournament as well. No, exactly. And I think he's made the right decision. They're looking pretty good, I would say. And I'll tell you, are looking very, very good at Arsenal. I mean, six games, six wins, 17 goals, one conceded. and don't forget they're missing their two main central defenders, which is, but Donny Madweki came in and I mean, the two of the goals in that game, I mean, Madweki's first one and Martinelli's two absolutely wonderful finishes.

17:04Before you guys go, can I ask you about that technique of that strike? Because he sort of took the shot, but I actually don't think he meant to do that. And I know it sounds ridiculous, but it's because of the height of where the ball went. So he didn't catch the ball cleanly. It was an amazing goal. I don't want to take anything away from him. And I think he had a brilliant match. And I really like him as a player and all that sort of stuff. So I'm not picking, but just the way he struck the ball, it looked like he didn't mean to do that. Do you think it was a cross? I just think the technique was odd.

17:46Like the way he was falling back and the ball. I don't want to be disrespectful to him, but I don't think he meant it. Did he say that? What do you mean he didn't mean it? Exactly. What do you mean he didn't mean it? What happened was the ball got in a slightly awkward position and I think he manipulated it to make sure that he kept it down. And that's why it looked, but I think that's what it was. But I mean, it was, I mean, what did he mean to do then? I just think he hit the ball earlier than when the ball was coming across. Then that meant that the ball went up instead of like a bendy one.

18:27It went up and hit the bar. It was like a weird technique. Whatever it was, it was a bit special, I thought. It was amazing. It was amazing. As was Martinelli's as well in the second half. That was a brilliant strike as well, wasn't it? Top corner as well too. Absolutely wonderful goals for them. I mean, it was a good result for them. I mean, Brugia can be tricky. They've caused a few teams problems, but they probably really needed something like that. You know, after that defeat at Villa, if you get another defeat off the back of that, then people start, you know, like us, start questioning them and stuff like that.

19:01But I mean, I think they look, you know, anyone can lose at Villa and the way they lost in the last minute, that sort of thing will happen. You're going to lose the odd game. But, you know, people are saying, and Arsenal starting to do it. And I just, I don't buy it. You're going to lose the odd game in the season. I think they're looking pretty damn good, personally. Absolutely, yeah. But it's really important that when you get that bad result, which it was, it wasn't necessarily a bad performance, just a bad result. You need to get back straight away and play and win a game like they have done.

19:31So I think that was an important result for them tonight. And the squad's looking good, Micah, isn't it? I mean, to miss some of the players that they've missed, particularly it's always hard when you miss your central defenders. Yeah, definitely. But we've mentioned them a lot over the last couple of weeks with them being out. But it was nice to see Gabriel Jesus back, wasn't it? You've got Jokeres back, Gabriel Jesus back. So you've got even more competition. If there's ever a time to push all the way, it's this year. Because everyone's, okay, they've had injuries, but they've got enough quality to deal with their injuries.

20:07that is the difference and that could be the difference at the end of the season Who have they got this weekend? Oh good question They've got Wolves at home Yes Saturday night Yeah Wolves at home Oh am I after triple captain someone? Yeah actually that's a good shout If you ever wanted a game on the back of a defeat a league game then it's Wolves at home isn't it? look away now John producer John look away now Wolves fan No They are looking good in both competitions at the moment and they're going to take some stopping. And Michael, is that your tummy rumbling there after a big couple of days in Abu Dhabi?

20:48I can hear. No, no, no. They're now calling me Slim Meeks, not Big Meeks. Slim Meeks. I can't wait to see you again. See what the slimline Meeks look like. At least they haven't got those stupid glasses on you on Sunday. They're not bad either. They were special, those ones. Yeah. Well, good stuff, Michael. We'll let you go. Where are you going? Home or? Yes, I'm heading back up to Harrogate tonight. So I'm due to get back at approximately three o 'clock in the morning. Oh, dear. Well, close your eyes in the back of the car, make up for some of that lack of sleep you've got. Alan and myself will talk about Tuesday's games when we come back.

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25:19into yesterday and they found a way. They did all right. Yeah, I thought they did well, yeah. They did the ugly side of the game really well, defended well, looked solid. Weren't too many errors at all. I mean, defensively, I think Liverpool have been all over the place. But that wasn't the case last night. I thought they did well, did what they had to do with the pressure that they were all under. No one more so than the manager because of the big call that he made. He needed a huge result. and they got a huge result. His players responded. They had a, I thought, I mean, VAR, goodness me. Oh, don't get me started.

25:57I mean, to be honest, I thought it levelled it up in a way because I think the handball was ridiculous. If it had gone in from that, then we know the law. But I mean, come on. Very soft penalty at the end, but I suppose it evened itself out. But then it's playing different laws in different competitions. We had Mark Clattenburg come on saying that wouldn't have been given in the Premier League. No, it wouldn't. Slightly different laws, I guess, when you're playing European football. But the first one was really, really harsh, disallowing that, because there was no intent at all. Yeah, I thought it was a poor decision.

26:33And then, you're right, I mean, they evened it up with... Because there's no way, for me, that was a penalty. I know he's had a little tug on his shirt, but even Vert's left it a second before he even went down from it, you know? So much for maximum benefit, minimum interference and all that rubbish. I don't think that applies to European competition or indeed other places, but you need it consistent across the board. It's consistently shit. Yes, it was. That's what it is. But Liverpool will not mind at all. They've got the result they needed and then they now have to look to Saturday to play Brighton.

27:11But I think you could feel the relief, you could sense the relief. and even in the interviews afterwards and before to be honest because I thought Alisson spoke really well before the game when he said Mo's a friend of everyone and particularly a friend of his played together for so long and then Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson and then Arna Slott came out at the end of the game and spoke about it and you could tell there was huge relief from Liverpool because that's exactly what they needed and there's an irony of ironies wasn't it that they should win it right at the end from the penalty which obviously that Mo Salah normally takes and Sabojlai knocked it away.

27:48Brilliant. Seen a run of his penalties now. He hits the same penalty every time but he seems to be pretty fearless. I find it a little bit sad. Yeah. You know, obviously a lot of the footballing world are attacking Mo and I understand why. I just hope his legacy's not sport here and I think he's just got a bit emotional and he got caught out the wrong time having not been brought on. I wonder if he regrets it now. I saw him post it on Instagram of him just in the gym, totally on his own. I hope they can find a way out of this. Maybe Mo can go, well, you know, I'm sorry. I got a bit emotional. I shouldn't have done it, blah, blah, blah.

28:28That might sort it out. Otherwise, what are they going to do at the weekend now? I suspect he'll be out again because he's got the African Cup of Nations. But if they can have a kind of peace conference before he goes, kiss and make up, go away, play the African Cup of Nations, come back refreshed, reinvigorated, perhaps slightly apologetic, because I'd hate, it'd be awful if it ended kind of miserably after such a wonderful, like, what is it, nine years? Yeah, I guess, yeah, it would be actually, because he's a superstar and he's been amazing for Liverpool. And I'm not sure we know the full reason yet, only he will know why he's come out and said it.