Manchester City’s Treble Charge Is On

12:10Alan Shearer:he looks like and I saw him in his post-match interview and he's so relaxed and you just think to yourself, maybe put him in charge of this, what's going on at the end of this season. Because he's, you know, you know, he said, no, I'm not nervous. I just love playing football. It's great. You want to be in this position. Absolutely the right attitude. I mean, it's easy to have that attitude when you've just bent one in the top corner and a hugely important goal. But I see it. I get that. That's how they should be.

12:39Gary Lineker:If only the rest of his teammates felt like that, because there's no way they're feeling as relaxed as he is because they were there for the taking yesterday. They were there for the taking. Newcastle should have got something out of that game.

12:50Alan Shearer:That was another message I put in the post with the Wissler chance.

12:53Gary Lineker:Oh, I mean, even the Azula chance where he fluffed it when he made it with his right foot and trying to hit it with his left. I mean, they had two great chances, Newcastle. But positives for Newcastle were much, much better than last week. Looked certainly more energy, looked up for the fight, looked up to fighting for their manager. And as I said, yeah, created two good chances. But the disappointing thing is another defeat and Arsenal were there for the take. And strangely, I watched the Arsenal game last week against City and I watched the Arsenal game yesterday afterwards. And I was more hopeful of them winning the league after being defeated last weekend than I was after them winning yesterday.

13:40Gary Lineker:just because of how nervy and edgy they were yesterday against a team that were in rotten form. But they've won the game and that's the most important thing and that's what they have to do somehow from now till the end of the season. But they've got obviously Champions League Wednesday and then they've got to go and win again next week. I think they've got the chance to go six points clear.

14:05Alan Shearer:Follow them they play at home again.

14:07Gary Lineker:Before City play on Monday evening, I think, is it?

14:10Alan Shearer:Yes, that's right. Mikel Arteta was complaining a lot at the end. He thought that there should have been a red card against Pope. No. I didn't. I didn't at all because one, Giochrez kind of stopped and then Pope missed it and then he did. And he did bring him down, but the ball was so wide. And by that stage, I think Chau was back, wasn't he? And I think he would have covered it.

14:33Gary Lineker:It's never a red card. I mean, you've got to understand the laws. I mean, he's going away from goal and he's got a covering defender there. So it's not clear. And he's not only going away from goal,

14:41Alan Shearer:he's nearly on the sideline to that pitch. Agree with you.

14:45Gary Lineker:Once again, not for the first time in his career, Nick Pope comes running out without collecting the ball and missing the ball. But it's never a red card. The referee got it right, it was a yellow card.

14:54Alan Shearer:I think so. As you said, they had to win that game. Big game now in midweek against Atletico. Yeah. I think they're just not really creating it. I'm watching them and there's no... and we've said this the last few weeks and you know they've got the three points and now three points head they might go six points head before City play but they weren't like this in the first half of the season they were so impressed I don't know whether it's like nervousness or a confidence or but you know obviously as you quite rightly said it's the results that the most important thing at present and they managed to get three points but I'm with you I still think they look so edgy I think

15:35Gary Lineker:they do there's no doubt about it and I I get it to a certain degree. I've been there myself. I've been in a situation where somehow you just don't care about your performance. You've just got to get a result. It's a horrible feeling where you think, come on, where's our legs gone? Where's our creativity gone? Because it weighs heavy on you as a player, you know, the pressure on you, the noise around you. As much as Declan Rice after the game says, we've just got to cut out the noise, you can't. Even more so nowadays with social media. It's impossible to. You have to, you can't get away from it.

16:09Gary Lineker:You have to listen to it, unfortunately. And it is weighing heavy on them, but... They need more Eze's. They're in there fighting and they're in there winning. And that's the most important thing from an Arsenal point of view. But they do look very, very nervous. And they were there for the taking yesterday for Newcastle and Newcastle weren't able to do it.

16:27Alan Shearer:The Arsenal players and certainly their fans, consider this. At the start of the season, someone would say we're just a handful of games to go. you're neck and neck with City and you're in the semi-finals of the Champions League would you take that? Absolutely It's like you've seen the Rory documentary about when he won the Masters not the one he's just won the one the year before and his caddy said to him didn't he at the beginning of the week after he'd missed the putt on the 18th to win it on the beginning of the week we'd have taken this a playoff but you've got to you've got to somehow take out the positives and the positive for this is that they did somehow manage to win a game that was pretty even and Newcastle had the chances.

17:08Alan Shearer:So enjoy it.

17:09Gary Lineker:Well, the good news is also is Saka's back. I know Eze maybe went off injured and Havertz went off injured, but the good news for them is that Saka's back and hopefully he can get some sort of form and get up to speed straight away from their point of view and start creating again because that's one of the big things that they're missing is creativity. It's that there's hardly creating anything.

17:31Alan Shearer:All four of their games are very winnable, Alan. And the Fulham at home, West Ham away. Now, that'll be tricky. West Ham fighting for their lives and playing well at the moment. They've got pretty much as good a record as almost anyone since the turn of the year. That is a tough one. Burnley at home, you strongly fancy them to win that one. Burnley already relegated. And then obviously Crystal Palace away at the end of the season. Crystal Palace may be in the conference final, which might affect that. City's final games, obviously they've got one more now because Arsenal played and City played in the Cup this weekend.

18:05Alan Shearer:Everton away. Tough game. Tough. Tough, tough game. Did you... Oh, we're on Everton. Did you see the handball? Have you seen it?

18:13Gary Lineker:I saw the handball. I mean, it's...

18:14Alan Shearer:That's a penalty, isn't it?

18:15Gary Lineker:I just think it's a ridiculous decision not to get that as handball. And then for even... For what I heard about them and said about something about the grappling. I mean, there was only one person that was grappling.

18:24Alan Shearer:The defender was not only fouling him, but he was also... He also... His hand moved towards the ball. I mean, I don't like the handball law, but that was a penalty all day long.

18:34Gary Lineker:For the life of me, I cannot see how that's not given as humble, honestly.

18:37Alan Shearer:Absolutely agree. Then Manchester City, we've got Brentford at home. Brentford having a good season. Bournemouth away, which is also a tough fixture. And then Aston Villa at home. Then they've got to play Crystal Palace at some point at home as well. That's still to be arranged. That's probably because of the FA Cup. So I would say overall, Arsenal have got, I would say, slightly easier fixtures, but we know that City down the stretch are usually pretty good.

19:04Gary Lineker:And by the way, guys, I don't care how many times you've won the competition or you've won trophies, Arsenal have got an unbelievable chance to go six points clear before City play again in the league. So that could be a big advantage. That could be a big time where you try and put some pressure on the opposition. and if they do that, they might just feel that pressure city. You never know, but they've got an opportunity to do it anyway.

19:34Alan Shearer:Yeah, they certainly have. Fulham going well, though. They're a good side and very well coached, I think.

19:40Gary Lineker:I don't think both teams will go and win every game. I still think there'll be a twist or two between now and the end of the season.

19:46Alan Shearer:Someone will miss out. I think it's pretty much 50-50, isn't it? I mean, it really is. Pretty much 50-50, I would say.

19:52Gary Lineker:Yeah, it is, yeah.

19:53Alan Shearer:Shall we move to the other end of the table? All three of the sides, all three of them.

19:58Gary Lineker:That's where there is pressure.

20:00Alan Shearer:Oh, I was... Do you know what I watched yesterday? I don't think I've... This is mad, right? This is mad. Sure. Gillette Soccer Saturday. Oh, right. It's happened to switch it on. I thought I'll stick with that for the three o 'clock. Okay. I think... And I was thinking to myself, have I ever watched this programme before? Which sounds mad because it's been going forever. Yeah. Because I'm always... I was always at Match of the Day in the offices where obviously we're watching the football, so we never, ever watched it. I've seen finals score a couple of times earlier this season, and I thought, I'll watch it.

20:32Alan Shearer:So it was like mad that I've never seen that particular programme. But we should probably start with a Friday night. I mean, Forrest, blimey, what a result that was. Four nil at half time.

20:44Gary Lineker:No one saw that result anyway, did they? It was like, oh, my goodness me. The stadium was empty at half time, wasn't it? It was half empty anyway. Forrest were outstanding. I mean, how good was Elliot Anderson and Morgan Gibbs-White?

20:59Alan Shearer:They've really turned it on when it matters at this point, haven't they? Made a serious distance.

21:04Gary Lineker:Superb. I mean, Old Forest, but those two in particular, I thought were absolutely outstanding.

21:09Alan Shearer:He's caught in a lot of interest, isn't he, Elliot Anderson? Obviously, he was a former Newcastle player.

21:14Gary Lineker:Don't talk to me about that crap, about honestly the shit of PSR or SCR, whatever it's called.

21:20Alan Shearer:Been linked with City and United. I mean, yeah.

21:25Gary Lineker:I mean, he's been outstanding.

21:26Alan Shearer:It's so wrong, you know, that is. Of course it is. It's so wrong that you have to kind of...

21:31Gary Lineker:It's outrageous, actually.

21:33Alan Shearer:You should be encouraged to sell players that don't come from your academy, your local players.

21:38Gary Lineker:It's just wrong. You've nurtured players from a young age, and yet that's the best way of you having to try and try. I know. Try and compete and sell those players. And then you see what's happening both to him, I mean, and Minter at Brighton. I get that it's worked out for Elliot in terms of, he probably wouldn't have played as much at Newcastle, but his price tag now has rocketed because of what he's done and his ability and everything else. He's going to have so many options because so many of the big boys are going to be after him because he'll probably star for England in the summer as well in the World Cup.

22:16Gary Lineker:And he'll be equally as good for England as he has been for Forrest.

22:20Alan Shearer:Has he surprised you, Alan? Has he surprised you? Because obviously you saw him when he was very young, but his progress has been meteoric.

22:27Gary Lineker:Yeah, I mean, when he got the opportunities at Newcastle, he always did well. But he had to get past Bruno, he had to get past Tonali, he had to get past Joe Linton. Now, when those three were playing really well, it was tough for him to get in. So what he's done is that he's gone out and played regular football, then shown his ability. He's grown, he's got bigger and bigger and he's more than proved his worth on the big stage. So did I see him being as good as he has been? Maybe not, but there was without doubt, there was talent there.

23:01Alan Shearer:Yeah, I saw him play twice live this season. I saw them play, Forrest play at Fulham. In fact, both games, Forrest were really poor. And this is before, obviously, Nuno came in. They were really poor. And also at Everton. And in both games, playing in a side that weren't playing well at all, he was quite clearly the best. In the game against Everton, he was probably the best player on the pitch. Yeah. You know, and that PSO, I know how irritating it is because we've had the same with Dewsbury Hall who's done really well and was good again yesterday for Everton. But it is, I mean, massive late goals for both West Ham and Spurs.

23:37Alan Shearer:I mean, wow.

23:38Gary Lineker:Well, I was sat on waiting for the game yesterday up on the gantry and I just kept on looking at my phone because West Ham score, Everton equalise, Spurs score, and then, of course, Callum Wilson scores for West Ham in the last minute or so. And I think, oh, my God, it's like it's – we've talked about the pressure at the top, but there's certainly more pressure at the bottom than there is at the top because you know that if you're a team that's going to be relegated, and it looks like it's either going to be West Ham or Tottenham.

24:10Alan Shearer:It does, doesn't it?

24:11Gary Lineker:Then without doubt, people will lose their jobs in the football club and that's the reality of it is that it's just a horrible situation but one of them's going to go but for them all to be having a bit of form at this time of the season's incredible, isn't it? I mean, Tottenham's first win West Ham, as you said, have really responded well in the last couple of months Forrest are now flying as well so yeah, it's going to be tough

24:42Alan Shearer:Could be high points, Talib

24:43Gary Lineker:Yeah, it is It is from looking like, what, two or three months ago, we're thinking it's going to be really low tally. Now, because of the form of the clubs down there, it might not be.

24:53Alan Shearer:No, absolutely. No, I think it's going to be quite high. I mean, Spurs absolutely had to get that goal. I mean, I saw an interesting stat. I'm sorry to rub salt into the wounds. Well, John's not on this because he's still first week of parenthood, so he's had a week off. but Wolves are the first team apparently in the history of English football but let's say at least the Premier League to be bottom of the table for every single day of the season oh really I didn't see that what so they lost their first game 4-0 and then didn't win any so they lost to City on the opening day of the season 4-0 so they have been bottom on every I mean wow first time ever apparently so extraordinary statistic who do you think will stay up I'll ask Mike at the same question in a little bit

25:49Gary Lineker:I think West Ham might stay up I still think Tottenham had a couple of injuries as well yesterday didn't they? Solanke went off injured Simons went off injured

25:59Alan Shearer:there's a lot of injuries going on Mo as well, let's have a word on Mo Salah obviously because that game at the other end doesn't really concern the bottom of the table but he did his hamstring didn't he probably be his last game for Liverpool fingers crossed he'll be okay for the World Cup Simons went off as well there's so many injuries at the moment and I felt for Mo I mean obviously Egypt are there aren't they in the World Cup so and Laminio Mal has had his injury hasn't he so I mean a lot of the players that you want to see and you're just thinking

26:29Gary Lineker:oh no no you could tell with Mo's reaction couldn't you the way he was applauding the crowd when he went off that you suspect I hope not but you suspect that that could be how it felt like his last game because you know what it's like when he had a hammy injury

26:45Alan Shearer:yeah it looks a bad one very unlikely he'll play again but what a credit to our game he's been

26:50Gary Lineker:Noah Brilliant awesome been absolutely unbelievable I don't think many people thought when they signed him he could go on and achieve what he has done he's been ridiculously good one of the greats one of the best we've ever seen in the Premier League

27:03Alan Shearer:without question okay I'll enjoy your dinner

27:07Gary Lineker:yeah thank you

27:08Alan Shearer:And very shortly, I'll be back on with Micah after the Leeds-Chelsea semi-final, but I'll also get his view on City and Arsenal and one or two other things in the relegation zone as well. Back shortly. This episode is brought to you by Squarespace. All right, here's a quick off-pitch tip for anyone thinking of getting their brand online. Squarespace is a game changer. The AI-enhanced website builder helps you create a personalized website in just a few steps. And a custom domain has your site looking professional from day one. Go to squarespace.com slash football for a free trial. And when you're ready to launch, use code football, all uppercase, to get 10 % off your first purchase of a website or domain.

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28:54Alan Shearer:Welcome back to The Rest is Football. Alan Shearer's changed significantly into, he's morphed into Micah Richards. How are you doing, guys? I'm doing all right. I presume you're in London because you are not. Where are you? Actually, I don't know where you are. I've been up, down, round and round. So last week, I was in Harrogate, London for three days, and then I had to go back down to London to do some filming for an ad. then I did the obviously the semi-final Man City, Southampton then I come back to Harrogate last night and now I'm in Manchester for Borla League training I'm knackered. Borla League training?

29:41Alan Shearer:What's wrong with you? It's like just five-a-side nonsense just a bit of fun it's not real. I'm obsessed with it. I know you are I know you are. The lads are putting so much effort in We're in the top four now. We've got a big game against SDS tomorrow, which will probably mean nothing to you at all. But I just want to win it so much. Of course. And where are you in the league? Are you doing well? Top four. Top four, yeah. Top four is playoffs. Top four is playoffs. That's what we want. Is it as complicated as the top of Scottish football, the premiership? Please. Can someone from Scottish football please come on and explain how it works.

30:24I look at the table. I know it splits and then there could be a playoff.

30:29Alan Shearer:It's the top six, isn't it? And then they play at the end. So it's a bit bonkers. It's different from anywhere else, I think, on the planet. But I saw hearts came from behind. I know that Hibs got in the derby there and Hibs got a couple of sent off. Rangers were two down, got to 2-2 and then lost. I think Celtic won. Yeah, it's really tight. I think most neutrals outside of Scotland and would like, and probably a lot of people in Scotland, although pretty much everyone supports Celtic or Rangers, I guess, but would like to see Hearts do it because it's, what is it, 40 years or something since a non-Rangers or Celtic team won.

31:05Alan Shearer:But it's all a bit mad up there. But you were at the game yesterday, but let's talk firstly about, because I spoke with Alan about all yesterday's stuff, but I want your opinion on that as well, particularly the title race and City's another cup final for City. So I want to discuss all the same things and get your take. I've had mine, Alan's had his. Firstly, Chelsea-Leeds. It wasn't a great game. Leeds had their chances, but Chelsea got it done. I felt a little bit for Rosinio, who's perhaps watching, thinking, you know, if it's still been there, his team might well have been in the... We don't know.

31:45Alan Shearer:It might have been a different result. You never know because things change. but I felt for him a bit, to be honest. You never want to see a manager lose a job and especially as a pundit, you will never hear me saying that. I'll give you opinion and reasons why I don't think it's working out. But, you know, people calling for people's jobs, it's never a nice thing. However, I did say early doors, I remember on the podcast and I just said Liam Resenia was talking too much and I didn't mean it in a disrespectful way. It meant he was giving the media too much. And, you know, all the respect thing, however you want to do it, it is what it is.

32:24But he was getting judged because he'd not won anything as a manager in football. And rightly so, if you're managing a team like Chelsea, especially with the manager they've had in previous seasons, and especially Maresca as well, who'd won trophies with Chelsea. So I understand why the Chelsea fans were upset. I said tactically, as a coach, I thought he had it. And I think I said after the PSG game, I said he was cooking. And I did really believe that. You know, styles of play, as a coach, I think he's got it and he can come back, no problem whatsoever. Yeah, of course he can. I didn't think at the time the job was too big, but you've got to be open-minded in these things.

33:03You've got to give everyone a chance. And they thought he deserved it. However, when you're managing a big club like Chelsea, you can't give the media nuggets every single week and I know a lot of people would say to that well he's got to do a press conference you know with so many competitions he might be doing three a week at times but you just got to calm everything down and he was almost adding to the the talking points and the chaos that was going around Chelsea and giving everyone an opinion on that. And the thing that I felt strongly on, and when he talked about Fernandes' comments and Cucurella and all that sort of stuff, did he need to leave him out of two games?

33:51He could have done one in the cup, which they won and they could have won with a weakened team. But the game he missed was Man City, I believe. You need your best players available for that. So what's that famous say? Cut off your nose to spite your face? Spite your face, that's right. That's what I thought he did and who goes and scores the goal in the semi-final.

34:13Alan Shearer:I think that was a mistake, Micah, as well. I think it didn't make any sense. And Pep showed you how to deal with that with Rodri, didn't he? Similar circumstances. Rodri talked about wanting to play for or live in Madrid at some point. And Pep just went, who doesn't? Biggest club in the world. He's from there, et cetera. And that's the way to deal with it. You don't take someone out of your team unless they've done something really, really bad. And just saying you want to live in Madrid is not a big deal. I don't think it was a punishable offence at all. And why wouldn't a player? If you're Barcelona and Real Madrid, they're still the two clubs in the world that draw the biggest talents in world football.

34:59Alan Shearer:So that just shows you've got drive and commitment and ambition. and I don't think it was necessarily any kind of offence whatsoever. I think he got that wrong. If they'd have been winning at the time, it probably wouldn't have mattered that much. They're not and the results subsequently didn't happen. But taking your best player out when you're playing against one of the best two teams in the league was a fundamental error. But having said that, who scores the goal, of course? Who scores the goal such as football? Yeah, I feel it's disrespectful, not only to the manager for Fernandes. We all know he's a World Cup winner.

35:36He's a very, very good player. But I felt that he dealt with that poorly. And it's easy to always blame the manager. And I'm very disappointed with how Chelsea have dealt with the whole thing. So before Resinia got appointed, there was a few calls with a few people who were associated with the club, etc etc and they was giving me and us all the reasons why they thought liam was the right man for the job and i know you and al did the emergency pod so i won't dwell on it too much it's good to get your view it's it's one of those things where they've gone out the way to get a manager against all odds and by his managerial record it didn't stack up being the chelsea manager and that's why we all questioned it seemed early seemed early the minute he goes through a bad spell you get rid of him so now all these fans are saying it's not good enough and they the fans are right to be to be angry about the situation because i thought the long term was young players young manager yes you're gonna get bumps in the road but this is the way we're going but now they've sacked him so i don't understand in which direction chelsea football club want to go and And that's the thing I'm struggling to understand.

37:01Alan Shearer:I think it's hard to understand what Chelsea's whole plan is. I mean, I talked on the pod with Alan about the debt, the issues that they've got. It's huge, huge issues. It seems to be a bit of a basket case of a football club at present. But they are in the FA Cup final. It's in the game. And so a good goal, I thought. You know, good header. The Leeds had a couple of chances. And, you know, we've been critical at times, particularly Alan I think of Sanchez he always says you know Chelsea haven't got a goalkeeper but they were largely thanks to him because he made two well three really good saves two exceptional saves in the game to deny Leeds and it wasn't their day either Leeds yeah I mean I wanted to be coming on the pod today to say well of course Leeds Leeds Leeds they did so well though Daniel Fark's done a really good job he has at the start of the season when his job was in question and then They sort of did a tactical tweak when they went from a four to a five at the back of three, is how you on the ball that they would say.

38:03To get to Wembley and to look like they're going to be safe, he's done a brilliant job. But I thought Leeds was going to be a little bit more. I think it was overrunning midfield a little bit. The sort of two against three in there didn't really work. They had to go in the second half. But Leeds' record at Wembley recently is not great at all. So in terms of Leeds, can hold their heads high, but I wanted a little bit more. I thought the fans on the day were great. They were singing all the way to the end, as they always do. But I wanted a little bit more from the team.

38:39Alan Shearer:And they're going to play, obviously, Manchester City in another final. I mean, it's incredible. His record in cup competitions is quite remarkable. Pep Guardiola's, and obviously he's already won. Carabao now they're in the final against Chelsea could win another cup and of course they're going hammer and tongs with Arsenal for the Premier League it could be I said to Alan in the start they're on the brink of a domestic triple which would be very special indeed you were at the game yesterday yeah and yeah I mean it was a slightly odd game I thought Southampton were terrific as I said with Alan in the first half and what a goal they scored.

39:21Alan Shearer:But even when they scored the goal, there was never any point where I thought they wouldn't come back. I mean, they got a bit of luck with a deflection. Yeah, but I looked at the clock and when Azaz, beautiful technique, the way he turned and whipped it into the corner. What a goal, yeah. I was thinking they scored too early. Man City are definitely going to score. They might not score two, but they're definitely going to score one because at that stage of the game, there was really deep. there was tired. The big guns coming on. All the big guns. Doku comes on. Haaland comes on. He's thinking Bernardo Silva comes on.

39:58It was going to be difficult for them. But again, they were really good against Arsenal in the quarters. And then they backed it up against City in the semis. But ultimately, moments winning games. And Man City, at the moment, they're just getting over the line. Great winning goal, isn't it? It was brilliant, wasn't it? And he needed that. Nico Gonzalez is coming. I think he's more of a number eight than number six who wants to arrive in the ball. I agree. But the way City play, there's not really space for him. So with Shirky going in there in the pocket and Foden going in the pocket there and Rinders want to be arriving.

40:37Remember Rinders, when he scored so many goals at AC Milan, I think the season before, he coming up 16 in Serie A. He's really good at arriving, but it's just not work for Gonzalez. So I was happy for him.

40:50Alan Shearer:Yeah. And so it's a City-Chelsea final, which will be a good watch in a few weeks' time. Prior to that, we've got the title race. I mean, Arsenal was... Obviously, you weren't watching. I watched that game because I knew you and Alan were at Wembley, so I thought one of us needs to... And it was, let's say, slightly tense affair. I mean, Newcastle had a couple of really good chances, There's one in particular with Wissler near the end that he knocked over the bye. He tried to hit it too hard. All he needed to do was just get some kind of contact on it. And it is edgy. But as I said with Allen in the first half, they've now got the opportunity to go six points clear before City play again.

41:32Alan Shearer:If they can beat Fulham at home, which won't be easy because Fulham have, you know, they've been bloody impressive generally. They're really well coached, well managed. What do you think, Bill? I know you said Arsenal. Do you think they, because they play again, don't they, before City play, so they could go six points, do you think that gives them the advantage? Well, it would if they win. But we also know, and I said this, I don't want to repeat myself too much, but I'd prefer to get your view, but City have done this and they're good down the stretch. They're good, they're good. They're good down the stretch.

42:07Alan Shearer:This is a different City team, but it's the same coach and the same manager. I don't know I think he's 50-50 I think at the moment it's 50-50 I think if Arsenal do beat Fulham at home obviously I think it's 60-40 in Arsenal's favour but it's you can say you can pretend you know who's going to win but you don't know the only thing I would say is that I watched that game Arsenal weren't very creative again I mean they really weren't they do struggle they've not really got a number nine you know Haberts got injured as well. I mean, he's more of, I think he's more of a 10 drops deep. Jokeres has not really done it.

42:47Alan Shearer:He's struggling. And yeah, and they're still struggling to like, there's not real like pace to the game. You know, before Christmas, I thought they were really good in loads of games. Yeah, especially the Champions League. Like remember when they played Bayern, battered Bayern. Bayern have beaten everyone this season and they were really good. I don't think this is a team where you just go, well, that's the way Arsenal play. I know everyone talks about the free kick and the corners and set pieces, but I also thought they played some really good stuff but I've not seen that in the last few weeks but if they get over the line if they get it done and they do win the league and and also said you know they're three points ahead and they're in the semi-finals of the Champions League and those two Champions League games as well that's going to be tough for them to mix that whereas City now haven't got that they've got an extra league game to play because they're playing catch up but I think it's fascinating and I I don't think you can call it, really.

43:43Yeah, I'd probably agree with you. 50-50. I think I said a couple of months, but I'm a month back after. I still think Arsenal are better suited to win the Champions League. I know that sounds ridiculous with the teams that are in there, but when Arsenal defend properly, there's no one who can do it like them. If you look at the teams left in the Champions League, I think Arsenal are in a one-off game. Obviously, the semi-finals are different, but if they get to the final, I think they've got enough to beat Atletico. I do. If they get to a final, a one-off game, if they defend well and nick a set-piece or a goal, like Chelsea did to Man City a few years ago when Haber scored, it could be done.

44:25I always thought in the Premier League there wasn't creating enough to go that far and that's why I would say the ascendancy will be with Man City. I think Man City will just get over the line because they're used to the pressure.

44:39Alan Shearer:Do you think the fans would prefer to win the Premier League, which they haven't won for a long time, but they have won it on numerous occasions under Arsene Wenger, or win a Champions League, which they have never won even in its previous form as the European Cup? Premier League. Do you think? Arsenal fans would win the Premier League, without doubt. I know what I mean. If you win the Champions League, people would argue that it's a better competition. I always say league. There's other people who say the Champions League, because it's the whole of Europe. That's why I asked you what you thought, yeah.

45:11I always said I prefer to win the league, but I think our Arsenal fans, because they've been there, they've been close in recent history and have not been able to get over the line, I think Arsenal fans would prefer to win the Premier League. But if they win the Champions League, they're still in both. So they're in an ideal position now, aren't they? People can talk as much as they want about bottling this, that and the other, but they haven't they've still got the chance to win it they're on the top of the Premier League and they're in the semi-final of the Champions League

45:45Alan Shearer:I said to Alan earlier that the one person who looks really relaxed at the moment is Eze I think his interviews after the game so relaxed, so calm and he exudes confidence and he's just said this is beautiful this is what we want, it's football I just thought it was such a great interview. Maybe he should take the team talks over the next few weeks. And his goal was nice, wasn't it? Oh, stunner. Stunner. Wow. I don't know. It's difficult to predict because even just the rest of the results in the Premier League this weekend, you know, Spurs. I know you guys have talked about it. You go ahead. Give it all for you.

46:30Spurs, you know, Palinja. I know. But Paulina getting it. And then you look at Villa's results. You just never know. You can predict as much as you want. But we don't know. It's who deals with the pressure the best. And Man City are best equipped to deal with that. And that's why I say Man City win the league.

46:49Alan Shearer:Man City win the league. Who goes down? I hate to ask you this because it's horrible. But, I mean, all three of them won. I mean, it was mad again. Late goals, West Ham. and Spurs as well managed to find them. I mean, they had to win that game. I think if Spurs hadn't got anything from that game, I think they were absolutely doomed. Given the form of West Ham, who've been terrific lately and Forrest winning as well. 5-0 away from home at Sunderland. I watched that game on Friday night and I looked at the XG and I don't know if you said the XG to Alan, but the XG for Forrest was like one point.

47:26I saw that. I was thinking, and it's gone fine. But the keeper, the keeper who's been brilliant for Sunderland, roots all season. He makes two blunders. And then they get an own goal. And then they get a wonder. It's just, it was one of those days, wasn't it? It was one of those days. And they deserved it, though, because Gibbs White's playing really well. Yeah, he is. He was aggressive on the press. He looks like he's confident. He's a captain, that leadership. It looks like he's sort of embracing that role as well. So you can't predict the results or not. It's just pressure, isn't it?

48:02Alan Shearer:No, it really is. It's the fun time of the season. We're certainly in for a really, I think, brilliant title race and relegation fight if that's what floats your boat at the other end of the table. But I just want to finish, Mike. Did you see that in the little game between Rochdale and York City? The finale of that, was it? National League, isn't it? Yes, yes. It's National League to go up to League Two, I believe. That's right. It was at Rochdale. York needed a point to win the league and thus get promotion. Rochdale needed to win. Rochdale scored in, what was it, the 95th minute to take the lead.

48:40Alan Shearer:And then it was a pitch invasion and it all kicked off. So therefore, they played an extra few minutes and then York scrambled one over the line. I mean, crazy scenes. But that's football. It's mental sometimes. No, but it's heartbreak, isn't it? Because now they've got to go into the playoffs. Rochdale have, yeah. And they both got 100 plus points. They should be having two going up. That is ridiculous, that, isn't it? You're playing that well all season. Comes down to the last game. And a minute, a minute was a difference between them. A few seconds. It was ridiculous. But it was a great game.

49:19That's why we love football, though, isn't it? That's why we love it.

49:22Alan Shearer:It certainly is. Thanks for jumping on Micah. We'll call it a day there. So that's it for this episode. Goodbye from me. And goodbye from me.

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