In short
Podcast Notes: The Rest Is Football - Episode: Trent is BACK as Real Madrid hunt down Barca
Episode Overview In this episode, hosts Gary Lineker and Alex Algeau discuss the return of Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid, following his injury comeback in a significant 4-1 victory over Real Sociedad. They also delve into Atletico Madrid's inconsistent performance, including their remarkable 4-0 win against Barcelona followed by a disappointing loss to Rayo Vallecano.
Key Topics Discussed
- Trent Alexander-Arnold's Performance
- Return from Injury: Trent made a notable comeback, contributing significantly to Real Madrid's win.
- Praise from Coaches: Alvaro Arbeloa praised Trent for his understanding of the game and versatility, indicating he can play effectively in various roles.
- World Cup Considerations: Discussion on whether Trent's form at Real Madrid could secure him a spot in the England World Cup squad.
- Defensive Concerns: Acknowledgment of Trent's defensive weaknesses but a consensus that his attacking contributions outweigh these issues.
- Real Madrid's Form
- Current Standing: Real Madrid temporarily topped La Liga, showcasing their competitive edge.
- Upcoming Challenges: Acknowledgement of their upcoming Champions League matchup against Benfica, seen as a challenging draw.
- Atletico Madrid's Rollercoaster Season
- Dramatic Victories and Losses:
- Celebrated a stunning 4-0 victory over Barcelona.
- Followed by a surprising 3-0 defeat to Rayo Vallecano.
- Conflicting Views: Comments from Jan Oblak and Diego Simeone reflected differing perspectives on the team's mindset and performance.
- Barcelona's Struggles
- Recent Performance: Criticism of Barcelona's poor showing against Atletico, with suggestions for Hansi Flick to adapt his high-line strategy.
- Key Missing Players: The absence of Rafinha and Pedri highlighted as significant factors in their performance dip.
- Fantasy Football Club Promotion
- Mention of The Players Lounge, inviting listeners to join the fantasy football club associated with the podcast for tips and competitions.
Key Takeaways
- Trent's Impact: His return is crucial for Real Madrid, with potential implications for his international career.
- Atletico’s Inconsistency: Reflects the unpredictable nature of football, showcasing the highs and lows of team performance.
- Barcelona Needs Adjustment: Calls for tactical flexibility to ensure better outcomes in high-stakes matches.
Notable Quotes
- Arbeloa on Trent: "He understands the game very well and quickly grasps what we want from him."
- Lineker on Trent's England prospects: "It would be utter madness not to use [Trent] off the bench."
Conclusion The episode highlights the excitement and unpredictability of La Liga, focusing on key player performances and managerial decisions that impact the title race. The engaging chemistry between the hosts provides both humor and insight into the beautiful game of football.
Listen to More For more insights and episodes, visit [Goalhanger Podcasts](https://www.goalhanger.com).
Written by AI. May contain mistakes. Listen to the episode to check what was said.
Chapters
Tap a time to open that second in VOReal Madrid's Current Form
2:26 to 3:56
Discussion on Real Madrid's position at the top of La Liga and their recent performance.
“Honestly, every day I wake up in a different hotel room.”
Trent Alexander-Arnold's Impact
3:56 to 6:46
Exploring Trent's return to form and his significance to Real Madrid.
“And interestingly as well, because there are all these rumours that Arbeloa came in and said he doesn't want him around and all this.”
Tuchel's Comments on Trent
6:46 to 11:12
Analyzing Thomas Tuchel's remarks about Trent's defensive capabilities and its implications.
“and you can bring on a right back, who's probably the best passer of the football in world football now and has been for a long time, it would be utter madness not to use that.”
Real Madrid's Upcoming Challenges
11:12 to 13:12
Preview of Real Madrid's upcoming matches and challenges in the Champions League.
“Well, that's probably why he was trying to justify the fact that he wasn't in the England squad, maybe.”
Atletico's Unexpected Results
16:04 to 17:04
Discussing Atletico Madrid's surprising performance in recent matches.
Barcelona's Struggles Under Pressure
17:05 to 19:19
Analyzing Barcelona's poor performance against Atletico and the impact on their season.
“I think I said a couple of weeks ago, oh, you know, they're not going to win anything again.”
The Intensity of La Liga's Title Race
19:20 to 21:10
Exploring the competitive landscape at the top of La Liga between Real Madrid and Barcelona.
“And also, I hope he doesn't in a way because it's quite really refreshing to watch because you never know what you're going to get.”
Atletico's New Signing: Adam Ola-Lukman
21:11 to 22:48
Discussing Adam Ola-Lukman's impact and recent performances for Atletico Madrid.
“So this is a bit of a testing period now for Barcelona.”
Fan Reactions and Team Selection Insights
22:49 to 23:49
Delving into fan sentiments and strategic choices made by Atletico's management.
“Watching Atleti this season has been a rollercoaster.”
Weekend Match Round-Up
23:50 to 25:57
Reviewing the key results from the weekend's La Liga matches.
“And he says the next few weeks are going to be intriguing.”
Transcript
Automatic transcript. May contain errors.0:00Alvaro Arbeloa:This podcast is brought to you by Carvana. Car shopping shouldn't feel like preparing for a marathon of paperwork. That's why Carvana makes buying and financing your car easy. From start to finish, search thousands of vehicles with great prices. All online, all on your time. And when you're ready, your new car shows up right at your door. It doesn't get better than that. Buy your car the easy way on Carvana. Delivery fees may apply.
0:31Trent Alexander-Arnold:Somewhere out there is a Chevy truck. And the person who drives it, well, that's a Chevy person. You probably know one. Your buddy. Your sister. Ones who always show up. They're the first to rise, the last to leave. They always have that little extra something. And maybe you've got it too. Chevrolet. Together let's drive. Visit chevy.com slash trucks to explore the lineup.
0:58Trent Alexander-Arnold:We're leaving today. and entering a world of Mickey Mouse waving, princess meeting and greeting, lightsaber clashing, the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror dropping, Banshee flying, Space Mountain launching, galaxy rewinding, what's the whole death of galaxy rewinding, fireworks igniting, World of Other Worlds, for whatever you love. Infinite worlds await at the most magical place on Earth. Walt Disney World Resort.
1:28Jan Oblak:It looked like things are starting to click. Alexander-Arnold looks towards Garcia, who gets a little touch in. Now probably Madridistas are starting to realise, oh, OK.
1:39Alan Shearer:He's a bit special. I think inside there somewhere, I think he's basically an absolutely brilliant midfield player. And it's a bit of a shame that he's ended up having to play at full-back.
1:49Jan Oblak:I think it was the worst performance probably under Hansi Flick so far. I think they'd take the Champions League, wouldn't they?
1:55Alan Shearer:As in over La Liga.
1:57Jan Oblak:That will be their focus.
2:03Alan Shearer:Hello and welcome to the Restless Football La Liga with Alex Algeau and me, Gary Lineker. It's been a while since we've been able to say these words on the podcast, Alex, but Real Madrid are top of the table. It might not be for too long. We're recording this on Monday and Barcelona play this evening against Girona. But before all that, where are you this time?
2:26Jan Oblak:Honestly, every day I wake up in a different hotel room. You're a jet setter. And it takes me a while to work out where I am. This morning I woke up in Lisbon. It's actually sunny, which is nice. Makes a change.
2:39Alan Shearer:You're there for Benfica versus Real Madrid, no doubt.
2:43Gary Lineker:I am indeed. Real Madrid are staying in this exact hotel as well. So yeah, looking forward to that. Looking forward to that. Obviously, Real Madrid would rather not be in the playoffs.
2:52Alan Shearer:No.
2:52Jan Oblak:But Trubin made sure they were. What a game that was. What a game. Did you see what Trubin said in my interview with him about Jose? Because I said, what did Jose say to you? Oh, nothing. And he just said nothing. I'm like, what do you mean nothing? But that's so Jose, isn't it?
3:10Alan Shearer:Well, you never know what you're going to get from Jose, do you?
3:13Jan Oblak:I know. Anyway, yeah. So looking forward to that. That'll be good. Yep.
3:16Alan Shearer:And I suppose they go into it with a bit more confidence, though, Real Madrid, don't they? because things are looking marginally better. As I said, they've gone top of the league. They comfortably beat Real Sociedad by four goals to one. So Arboloha seems to have settled in a little bit. And I think the big story for us on this particular episode is the return of a certain Trent Alexander-Arnold, or Trent, he's now known in Spain. Alexander Arnolds looks towards Garcia who gets a little touch in yeah I'd probably say
3:53Gary Lineker:it was the best performance so far under Alvaro Ablo I know there haven't been many games but it looked like things are starting to click starting to work yeah Trent five minutes in wonderful superb assist for Gonzalo Garcia and just proves what he can bring to any team really and it has taken a while I know he's had injuries, but I think now probably Madridistas are starting to realise,
4:20Jan Oblak:okay, okay, he's a top player.
4:25Alan Shearer:I mean, he definitely is. And interestingly as well, because there are all these rumours that Arbeloa came in and said he doesn't want him around and all this. And we very, very much doubted that. And after the game, here are the quotes from Arbeloa on Trent Alexander-Arnold. He understands the game very well and quickly grasps what we want from him and where we can make the most of his abilities. He is not the typical fullback who will always stay wide. He can play a lot inside in our system where we want them to move and interchange positions. It's a privilege to have a player like him. He is a great player.
5:02Alan Shearer:I'm not discovering anything new. Very happy to have him with me to see him continue to gain minutes, get into rhythm and gradually show his best version. Now, I suggest that means that the aforementioned things about him not being satisfied, not wanting Trent around were complete nonsense.
5:22Jan Oblak:Yeah, absolutely.
5:22Gary Lineker:And you could see Arbola was hugging him when he came off and he came off for Danny Carvajal, which I think also I think Danny Carvajal is maybe starting to realise he needs to pass the baton over now. But yeah, it'll be interesting to see whether Trent gets called off for England. Hopefully it hasn't come too soon and he can put in a few really, really good performances before then. And Thomas Tuchel can't exclude him, but we'll see.
5:49Alan Shearer:It depends on what Tuchel thinks of Trent because he's very different. Defensively, we all know it's not his greatest forte, but does he more than make up for it in terms of the way he's passing game, his creativity, et cetera? And I would say most definitely he's unique. I mean, it's a fit Trent. It's hard to imagine him not being an England squad. I mean, it seems ludicrous to even suggest it. As I said a few weeks ago when we were saying it's been really tough for him, there's a World Cup coming up, he won't get a look in. I did say at the time he's at Real Madrid. if he comes back and he starts playing great football at Real Madrid, if he's seen as one of the superstars in world football, which he could easily be at that particular club, then it would be hard and utter madness not to have him around the squad because he gives you something completely different, even if it's off the bench.
6:45Alan Shearer:You know, if you're trailing with half an hour to go and you can bring on a right back, who's probably the best passer of the football in world football now and has been for a long time, it would be utter madness not to use that.
6:59Gary Lineker:Totally agree. But it's interesting because he's never really been a regular starter for England, has he, even under Gareth Southgate?
7:05Alan Shearer:Well, Gareth also is obviously a more defensive-minded coach.
7:09Gary Lineker:Yes.
7:10Alan Shearer:Perhaps even more so than Tuchel, who is more of a, I think, likes to be on the front foot a little bit more. So there's an obvious reason why I don't think he really, really ever appealed too much to Gareth Southgate. I mean, different styles of managing, you have to respect that. But he wasn't a fit. And what England ultimately struggled to do was create attacking opportunities, particularly in the last tournament, I would say, not necessarily in tournaments before. And I thought he was missing and then he sort to put him in a midfield role, didn't he? And hung him out to dry a little bit. But it will be interesting.
7:52Alan Shearer:It's only one game in at Real Madrid, so let's not get ahead of ourselves. But it's good. I mean, the reason he's coming back is from injury. It's not the fact that he was left out. So he'll be a massive addition to Real Madrid for sure, whatever.
8:04Gary Lineker:Yeah, absolutely. I'm sure he'll start against Benfica as well. And yeah, we want him to do well, don't we? We want these English players to go out to Spain and have successful careers. So fingers crossed, because it would have been a disaster had he left Real Madrid after only being there for a season or so. So yeah, fingers crossed. And hopefully we'll see him play for England in the summer as well.
8:27Alan Shearer:Well, I mean, Tuchel talked about Trent back in May in 2025. He said, I can see that sometimes he relies heavily on his offensive contributions. It gives not so much emphasis on the defensive discipline and effort. this major impact that he had for Liverpool for so many years. If he wants to have this impact in the English national team, then he has to take the defensive part very seriously. Because when we are talking, especially about qualifying football and then tournament football, the one defensive error, the one moment where you are not 100 % awake can be decisive. It can be the moment where you pack your suitcase and go home.
9:06Alan Shearer:So not particularly supportive comments from Thomas Tuchel. And I don't see why Tuka would have said that. It's a very bizarre statement for a manager to make. And I remember thinking the similar things at the time. But he's the guy in charge. So it doesn't particularly bode well for Trent.
9:27Gary Lineker:He's worded that quite strangely, I think.
9:29Alan Shearer:Basically saying, yeah, I mean, he's not as strong defensively. Is he attacking? Oh, really? Who would have thought that? I mean, the reason is for that is because he's one of the best attacking players in world football. I mean, I've always been very pro-Trent. And the whole thing about his defensive side, well, if you're playing that far forward and moving into midfield, there are going to be elements where you don't defend particularly brilliantly. But other right-backs make mistakes as well, but nobody says anything. If a player goes past Trent, oh, see, there's his weakness. So it became this thing that people look for more than probably was actually in reality was there.
10:09Alan Shearer:No player can do everything brilliantly. If they do, they're generally midfield players. So they go up and down and stuff. But I always thought Trent was probably a midfield player, turned into a fullback at some point when he first got into the Liverpool side and never kind of shifted out. And then on the occasions he's just chucked into the England set up as a midfield player. Well, he hadn't had that experience over recent years playing there. So it's difficult for them. But I think inside there somewhere, I think, is basically an absolutely brilliant midfield player. And it's a bit of a shame that he's ended up having to play at fullback.
10:46Jan Oblak:Yeah.
10:47Alan Shearer:That's my thoughts on the matter. Also, you can't have your coaches, managers talking negatively about you in public. That's wrong. Tuchel shouldn't have done that. I don't know what possessed him to do it. Because if you think that, that's fine. You think that. and you can have private conversations with the player about addressing his issues. But you don't do that publicly just to justify your own decisions. It's just wrong.
11:11Gary Lineker:Also, at the time he wasn't even playing him. He wasn't in the England squad.
11:15Alan Shearer:Well, that's probably why he was trying to justify the fact that he wasn't in the England squad, maybe. I don't know for whatever reasons he would have said that, but it is distinctly odd, unusual and a mistake actually. You don't do that publicly about players.
Read the full transcript
11:29Gary Lineker:So yes, positive game for Trent, but a positive game overall. 4-1, Vinicius Junior could have got a hat-trick, but no, two penalties for him. Fede Valverde scored an unbelievable goal.
11:43Alan Shearer:Can I hear this? Valverde! What about when he came off and he whacked the drinks bucket thing? He didn't look too happy, did he? What's that about?
11:53Jan Oblak:No, it's not a good look, is it? He was fuming.
11:56Alan Shearer:You can lose your temper occasion and then he kicked out and kicked the thing with all the drinks flew out of it. But then he left it for someone else to pick up and I just thought, hmm, is he a bit of a dick? Is he? I don't know.
12:07Jan Oblak:Is he a bit of a dick? Is he? I mean, I'm fine.
12:11Alan Shearer:That's fine. If you kick it and you lose your temper, it's great. But then you think, oh, actually, all right, okay, I'll go and put all the, but don't leave the kit man or the physio to do it.
12:21Jan Oblak:I think you do see it quite a lot. Often where I'm sat in the reporter's seat, I'm right there. And I do probably see it every match week, players fuming, throwing things. and they're just having little tantrums, aren't they? But I think it's just not often filmed. So I think it's unfortunate that someone had a camera because it does happen, doesn't it? But yeah, it's not a great look. But no Kylian Mbappe either in that game.
12:46Gary Lineker:Unused sub and still managed to win 4-1. And Real Sociedad had been in really good form as well. So yeah, certainly a big three points and on to the Champions League now.
12:58Alan Shearer:Well, it's huge for them, that two-legged affair against Benfica. It's probably one of the toughest draws they could have had in that. I know Benfica haven't been brilliant this season, not in the Champions League either, with the exception of the Real Madrid game, but it will be a tough one. It's Jose. And Jose would love nothing more than to find a way to get back. I know it's his ex-club and he has a lot of affection for the club.
13:21Jan Oblak:And he coached Arboleda as well.
13:22Alan Shearer:Yes, he did. Of course he did. Yeah. So, yeah, it'd be intimidating to have him next to you on the touchline. but I mean Real Madrid will be strong favourites for that and they seem to be in a bit of finding a little bit of form. And this is Junior to score. Okay, let's take a little break there Alex and when we come back we'll talk about Atletico and what they did to Barcelona last week and then how they completely vanished at the weekend. This episode is brought to you by Whoop In the modern game of course There are a lot more games And that feeling of being slightly off By Monday And that's how it shows up Not as an injury It's just fatigue creeping in Off the pitch Everyday life stacks up too Work, travel, late nights, early starts Whoop helps you see How sleep, recovery and stress Are impacting your overall health over time
14:21Alvaro Arbeloa:It's like a health scout Working quietly in the background, no screed, no constant pings, just deeper insight into your health when you actually need it.
14:31Alan Shearer:WHOOP makes it easier to see what's helping you stay well and what's taking more out of you so you can build habits that actually last. It's about keeping yourself steady over the long run. Consistency beats intensity every time. If you want to understand your health better and how your daily habits impact you over time, head to join.whoop.com slash T-R-I-F to get started with Whoop.
14:57Diego Simeone:When you want your spring break to feel like, and your kid's pool day to feel like, and your hotel bed to feel like, and room service to feel like, because at Hilton, hospitality feels like
15:16Alvaro Arbeloa:Your cabana's ready. Would you like fresh towels?
15:18Diego Simeone:It matters where you stay. Book now at Hilton.com. Hilton, for this day. This episode is brought to you by Nespresso. Introducing VirtuoUp, the latest in a long line of innovation from Nespresso. It's innovation you can touch, sense, and taste in every single cup. With a three-second start, easy open lever and dedicated brew over ice button, it's even easier to enjoy your coffee your way. Sip for yourself. Shop Virtuo up exclusively at Nespresso.com.
15:57Alan Shearer:Welcome back to the Restys Football La Liga with Alex Halcher and me, Gary Lineker. What a few days for Atletico Madrid.
16:06Jan Oblak:honestly their last four results just crazy absolutely crazy no one saw that coming that
16:13Alan Shearer:result against barcelona four nil at half time we have to play eric's son don't we
16:20Jan Oblak:alex was at the stadium and this is alex speaking at halftime let's see if it'll play out
16:27Alvaro Arbeloa:this is amazing this is the most fun i've ever and this is incredible four nil at halftime wow this is just incredible this is just amazing this is Atleti man this is amazing I love that
16:40Alan Shearer:this is Atleti
16:41Jan Oblak:man this is amazing
16:43Alan Shearer:I also love the fact that Eric's son's got a proper Spanish accent
16:47Jan Oblak:yes yeah yeah because his mum is Spanish and I think they always spoke Spanish at home he's a lovely guy Alex so I'm pleased he had the most fun ever at the stadium I know
16:57Alan Shearer:4-0 at half time what's bonkers
16:59Jan Oblak:I know there's another leg to play and anything can happen this is Barcelona but an incredible opportunity now for them to win a trophy and have something to celebrate this season.
17:08Alan Shearer:Very much so.
17:09Jan Oblak:I think I said a couple of weeks ago, oh, you know, they're not going to win anything again. Sorry. I take it back.
17:16Alan Shearer:And then at the weekend against Rayo Vallecano, to get thumped like that, I would say somewhat of a surprise.
17:24Gary Lineker:Yeah. A game that wasn't played at Rayo, by the way, because of the pitch issues still. So it was played at Leganesa Stadium at Butarque. But yeah, again, maybe they all went out after that Copa del Rey win. They're all still hanging. But no, interesting comments from Jan Oblak as well after the game. He said, there's no explanation. You can't choose which games to play. You have to play them all to win. We went out there to play to win, but our minds aren't in the right place to win games in a row. There's no other explanation. It's so weird because then Simeone came out and said, I don't agree with what Oblak said.
17:59Gary Lineker:The team doesn't pick and choose games. They competed poorly. And when the opponent plays better, they're superior. They beat you.
18:06Alan Shearer:But they were obviously brilliant in that first half against Barcelona. And that was bizarre. The eight-minute VAR decision for the offside for the Barcelona goal just after halftime that was ultimately decreed as offside. Eight minutes.
18:24Jan Oblak:Yeah, that's crazy, isn't it? I think it was the record, what equaled the record with the Bournemouth FA Cup game as well last season. It's just not necessary, is it? But concerning for Barcelona, I think, I think it was the worst performance probably under Hansi Flick so far.
18:40Alan Shearer:They need to bounce back tonight, or if you're listening to this on Tuesday, I hope they bounced back last night.
18:51Gary Lineker:but I just I think does Hansi Flick need to adapt his style to these bigger games I don't think he will
18:57Alan Shearer:he's pretty adamant that's the way he plays why would he after all these years and they played and ultimately it cost him his job with the national team didn't it because they played that high line with players with no pace at the back and they were humiliated in the major competition so if he's not going to change it with that why would he change it with this when he has got players that at least have got some pace that can get back. And also, I hope he doesn't in a way because it's quite really refreshing to watch because you never know what you're going to get. You can get like the most unbelievably brilliant performances and the most absurd performances.
19:34Alan Shearer:And we've seen lots of really great ones and a few, not too many, but a few really disappointing ones this season notably probably Chelsea and Real Madrid away and also obviously Atletico in the first leg of the Copa del Rey so you're never quite sure but it makes great entertainment so I'm not going to have a go at Hansi Flick I find it incredibly brave good for the game because it's entertainment that we want when we watch football matches so I'm not going to have a pop at him do I think ultimately it's the way to win the big tournaments? Possibly not, although he's got a league title under his belt.
20:16Alan Shearer:But I hope it is. I really do.
20:19Gary Lineker:Yeah, there are reports in Spain that the players aren't happy with this continued use of highline. I know, reports. Reports suggest the players aren't happy.
20:27Alan Shearer:Highlines are fine, but there are moments when you've got to recognise your opponent has a massive advantage if you don't just drop a couple of yards when they're about to play the ball through.
20:39Jan Oblak:Also, no Rafinha, no Pedri.
20:42Alan Shearer:Pedri's a big miss. Pedri's the one.
20:45Jan Oblak:Without them, maybe it doesn't work as well either. So he needs to be slightly more flexible and adapt because, yeah, 4-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid is not what they wanted.
20:56Alan Shearer:No, but...
20:57Jan Oblak:Work to do in the second leg.
21:00Alan Shearer:Yeah, they need to pick up and get back to winning ways quickly. Otherwise, it could be Real Madrid's title. I think it's going to be a really interesting finale to the season in La Liga, particularly between the big two at the top and who's going to win the title. So this is a bit of a testing period now for Barcelona. They need to find their feet again.
21:23Jan Oblak:Yeah, but I think they'd take the Champions League, wouldn't they?
21:25Alan Shearer:That's quite, as in over La Liga.
21:29Jan Oblak:That will be their focus come the end of the season.
21:32Alan Shearer:It's always Real Madrid's main focus, isn't it? They seem seemingly obsessed with the Champions League.
21:38Jan Oblak:Oh, competition.
21:39Alan Shearer:Yeah, well, it is actually. The kings of Europe. Yeah, and all that. And I think it would mean a lot to Barcelona to stop that happening to Real Madrid and do it for themselves more frequently. You know, they've won lots of La Liga. So I think it would definitely take precedence.
21:54Gary Lineker:I was going to say one player I wanted to mention that looks like it's been a brilliant signing is Adam Ola-Lukman, who scored in that game,
22:01Jan Oblak:scored against Betis. So good, so good. 35 million pound move from Atalanta in January looks like
22:09Gary Lineker:a very very good signing for Atletico was really dangerous on the left throughout that first half and yeah scored again
22:17Alan Shearer:yeah he did I was at the game when he scored the hat-trick I was at the final Atalanta against Leverkusen in Dublin and I went to that game I mean that was I mean a couple of those goals were absolutely sensational I watched him a few times at Leicester. And you could see he's one of those players that on his day he can be incredibly dangerous. So he seems to have found more consistency as he's got older. And if he can maintain that sort of form he's going to be much loved by Atleti fans.
22:48Jan Oblak:Yeah. We haven't had Eric's thoughts yet.
22:52Alan Shearer:Oh yes. We must have Eric's thoughts. We've had his son's thoughts.
22:56Gary Lineker:He said, where do I begin? Watching Atleti this season has been a rollercoaster. I'm probably headed
23:01Jan Oblak:towards a similar fate as one in Final Destination and we know what happened in Final Destination. It wasn't a great ending. Oh dear.
23:08Alvaro Arbeloa:Oh dear.
23:09Jan Oblak:Mixed the highs of beating Real Madrid 5-2
23:11Gary Lineker:and Barca brilliantly in midweek 4-0 with losing at home to Bodo Glint being really poor away from home and now getting well beaten by Rio 3-0. No tickets were sold to away supporters for that game in Legones. Luckily, no Atleti fans actually paid money to watch that shambles.
23:28Alan Shearer:The ups and downs of a football fan, eh?
23:30Gary Lineker:Yeah. And yeah, team selection, he said, Simeone obviously had eyes on Club Bruges. They play in a Champions League this week. Can't blame the manager for this one. Clearly not going to win La Liga. And then he said about Obelac's comments, he said that after the game, it looks like we've thrown La Liga, Simeone said straight after he doesn't agree. But yeah, Club Bruges is a massive game. And he says the next few weeks are going to be intriguing. P.S. Filippo Luiz start warming up. He's wanted Filippo Luiz as manager for a while. He's kept very keen on him, hasn't he?
23:58Alan Shearer:Very keen. I mean, can I just beat the 4-0? Just a few days ago, they were 4-0 up at half-time against Barcelona. What a mad game football is.
24:07Jan Oblak:I know.
24:08Gary Lineker:Right, okay, let's have a round-up of the other results from over the weekend. Valencia secured a massive win against City rivals Levante. They were in the relegation zone before kick-off, but goals from Laji Ramazani and Umar Sadiq lifted them to 14th. Getafe made it two wins on the spin with a 2-1 victory over Villarreal. Goals from Mauro Arambari and Martin Satriano were enough to secure the points, despite Villarreal's Jorge Micaldazzi pulling one back late on. Mallorca now find themselves in the bottom three after a 2-1 loss at home to Real Betis. Goals from Abdi Ezelzuli and Cedric Bacambu put Betis 2-0 up by half-time.
24:47Gary Lineker:And Vedat Marucci's second-half strike was all Mallorca could muster in response. The win sees Real Betis close the gap to Atletico in fourth to four points. Sevilla played most of their game against Alaves with 10 men after Juanlu Sanchez's 16th minute red card, but they still managed to go ahead thanks to Jibril Sao. However, the disadvantage eventually told and Tony Martinez equalised on the hour. The result leaves Sevilla just two points above the drop zone. Real Oviedo took the lead against Athletic Club, but hopes of an unlikely victory for the league's bottom side were extinguished thanks to second-half goals from Mikel Jarraghiza and Ojen Sanset.
25:24Gary Lineker:Espanyol and Celta Vigo remain in sixth and seventh after their two-all draw. It was a back-and-forth affair as Celta took the lead with a goal from Ferran Jutla before Kike Garcia and Tyrese Dolan put Espanyol ahead, only for the points to be shared thanks to a 93rd-minute equaliser from Celta's Borja Iglesias. And finally, Elche and Osasuna played out a goalless draw on Friday night, leaving Elche just a point outside the bottom three and Osasuna safely in mid-table.
25:50Alan Shearer:Yeah, absolutely. Well done. some absolute tongue-twisting names there today. When I used to do games, you know, you're doing live matches and stuff and people go, God, I'm not quite sure how to say his name. And you can't, and it obviously varies in different languages and stuff. Always just say it with confidence and people will believe you. Yeah, and no one more question.
26:12Gary Lineker:We get sent all the Premier League players saying their names, so obviously there's no excuse getting it wrong.
26:18Alan Shearer:Yeah.
26:18Gary Lineker:But I need the equivalent
26:20Jan Oblak:for the La Liga players saying their name.
26:22Alan Shearer:But also sometimes, you know, you'll get a Dutch name and it's unpronounceable. I mean, like Gravenberg is nothing like that. I mean, Arnie Slott, when I interviewed him, and he said, blah, blah, blah. And he went, and I went, who? And he went, I went, how do you say it? And I tried about 10 times. I couldn't get even closer. My favourite name of the week though is Largie. Largie Ramassani. I mean, largely, I mean, I hope he's slim. Otherwise, that would be a terrible first name. It's a good name, isn't it? It's a really good one.
26:58Jan Oblak:Largy. Largy had a large one.
27:02Alan Shearer:Okay. On that, I think we need to finish, Alex, because, I mean, that's just...
27:09Jan Oblak:I meant a big night out. Okay.
27:13Alan Shearer:Una noche muy grande, yeah? See, see, see. Muy bien, muy bien. well I think we should end there that's all we've got time for on tomorrow's episode of The Rest is Football just point you up for that one in our latest episode of the moments that made him it's a son Dennis Bergkamp he was a pretty tasty footballer so try and listen to that if you can but for now though goodbye from me
27:39Gary Lineker:goodbye from me
28:15Alvaro Arbeloa:We'll see you next time. Available at participating locations only.
From the publisher
Trent Alexander-Arnold starred for Real Madrid as he made his return from injury in the 4-1 win over Real Sociedad at the Bernabeu, a win that saw them go top of La Liga at least temporarily. Gary and Alex look at whether he is finally finding his feet in Madrid, the praise he's getting from Alvaro Arbeloa and what that could mean for his chances of making the world cup squad.
Atletico Madrid continue to put their fans through it as they followed up a stunning 4-0 win over Barcelona in the Copa Del Rey by meekly surrendering to Rayo Vallecano on Sunday in a 3-0 defeat. Diego Simeone and Jan Oblak were at loggerheads after the game, so we check in on Atleti and look at why their season is so continually up and down.
Join The Players Lounge: The official fantasy football club of The Rest Is Football. It’s time to take on Gary, Alan and Micah for the chance to win monthly prizes and shoutouts on the pod. It’s FREE to join and as a member, you’ll get access to exclusive tips from Fantasy Football Hub including AI-powered team ratings, transfer tips, and expert team reveals to help you climb the table - plus access to our private Slack community. Sign up today at therestisfootball.com
https://therestisfootball.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=episode_description&utm_content=link_cta
For more Goalhanger Podcasts, head to www.goalhanger.com
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices