The Bunny Shaw Show, Aston Villa’s upturn in form and Chelsea vs Arsenal in the Champions League!

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2:21Rachel: Welcome to Upfront. I'm Chloe Morgan. And I'm Rachel O'Sullivan. Another weekend of drama in the WSL, a late goal for Man United, an awesome hat trick for Bunny Shaw, and the threat of relegation grows for Leicester City. We'll be covering it all, or as much as we can, And on today's pod, as well as the action in WSL, we'll also be looking ahead to what the Champions League quarterfinals have in store for three English clubs, some of whom are facing each other.

2:53Rachel: Before we get stuck into the WSL action, obviously we have to go through our moments of the weekend. You're raising your eyebrows because once again, both of us have forgotten that the moments of the weekend will be in the running order every single fucking week. It's so annoying. it's baffling to us that it comes up as a surprise

3:07Chloe: oh no we can't we're going to talk about her later we can't do that that was the most obvious one

3:11Rachel: literally I'll go first go for it I finished the Seven Sisters walk didn't die that was great for me obviously I'll make it a football one as well but as I was sitting down to enjoy my post Seven Sisters walk I got a lovely text message in from none other than Rachel O'Sullivan asking me to do a speech for her 10 year wedding anniversary did I walk in October and obviously I said that I would it felt like a really great moment Rachel obviously appreciated the significance of the part that I've played in the relationship for the last four years and I'm just really happy that you've given me that honour and bestowed the gravity of that is quite huge do you know what I mean so it's funny how people interpret different things

3:52Chloe: different ways isn't it very much did not include the word speech in the invite I sent you through but you replied asking if you could have 35 minutes set aside yes so that's not enough we will work that into the running order thank you appreciate that I suppose it is a football one if you like my moment of the weekend we were trying to work this out pre-record and I was saying if we had like a dictionary of all the football players right and next to it you had a little clip that just kind of summarised that player

4:21Rachel: the quintessential nature of the players yeah okay go on you're with me an encyclopedia of the WSL

4:26Chloe: yeah that goal Beth Mead scored was trademark Beth Mead picking it up out wide little one-two around a player whipping it with her left foot into the bottom corner and then a proper Meedo celebration as well. So I'm going to go with that because I'm like that would be what would go next to Beth Mead in the little football encyclopedia or dictionary.

4:45Rachel: There's quite a few of those, isn't there? It's like Bunny Shore and headers. Oh my God. Kira Walsh and screamers. Georgia Stanway and screamers. Yeah. Chloe Kelly and last minute penalties. Yeah. It's the kind of I'd love to listeners let us know what your quintessential WSL moments and trademark would be. Yeah. Well, you should get them trademarks actually because they just they just keep happening no one else can score a goal like this this is mine literally that literally that um okay let's get stuck into the football then because there's a lot of things that went on this weekend uh we're going to start first with uh Leicester Aston Villa um a big loss for Leicester kind of leaving them again uh three points adrift at the bottom of the table so 2-1 to Aston Villa uh they've now lost six of their last seven games and have scored just nine goals in the league all season.

5:33Rachel: This was a really tough run-in for them. Obviously, I think their position, it feels like a reoccurring theme that we keep talking about Leicester and how they struggle to make any kind of progress in the league every single year. But somehow, they still managed to survive.

5:48Chloe: It's almost like sacking the manager wasn't the answer.

5:52Rachel: We've seen a lot of that in the WSL, haven't we? The fortunes haven't turned during a mid-season sack-in. but let's concentrate on the focus on the positives for now because there were some positives in the game obviously they took a very deserved lead into half time Alicia Lehman scoring her first goal for the club since signing in January from Como converting Hannah Kane's cut back from 10 yards out this was a good goal and it also felt like Leicester City did have quite a good strong first half you know they did have their chances it It kind of felt like they were taking the game a bit to Aston Villa in the first half.

6:29Rachel: It felt like actually this was quite promising. And to get that first goal, to draw first blood, I thought, do you know what? This could go their way. But I was... Alas. Yeah, but alas, yeah.

6:40Chloe: No, you're right. They did start well. Probably came out maybe slightly unexpected in terms of like stepping up on Aston Villa, pushing them a little bit onto their back foot. Villa did create, and they are dangerous on the counter-attack. And there were opportunities for them. Kirstie Hansen got in very, very close to getting the opener. We'll talk about her later. We will. Because I want a whole section on her. But, you know, other than kind of a couple of those moments, I thought Leicester did really well to kind of be the more, if you like, aggressive team and front-footed team. And their goal was a lovely bit of creativity.

7:11Chloe: Very, very nice goal. You know, maybe don't leave Alicia Lehmann completely unmarked. Where were they? All watching the ball, evidently.

7:20Rachel: They were watching the ball. And then also there was about three or four of them on the front post. and the ball obviously managed to get through. And Alicia Leibniz, it was such an easy goal to score. Like it was pretty much a wide open net. But I mean, credit to her. I mean, it's always a bit of a bogeyman when you come in as a front player and you kind of have to get that first goal to kind of like shake off a little bit of like the expectation around it.

7:38Chloe: Yeah, especially when you are coming into a club that I know we keep calling it a relegation battle, but it's like a potential relegation, if you like, given you're playing against the third place team in WSL2. So there is that kind of expectation on you when you come in where it's like okay if I'm coming in in this moment of a season it's because they expect me to be one of the players that can help turn this around so yeah yeah so getting the goal is um was quite good for her and um Rick Passmore being full of praise for her uh this week um and her professionalism and her hard work etc so it was great for her to get that goal um but I guess what concerned me a little bit about Leicester was whether they could sustain that type of intensity and pressure into the second half and Aston Villa have shown while they might not be brilliant across 90 minutes they generally have a very good 45 minutes in them which they didn't really display in the first half so part of me was like well are Villa going to come out now in the second half and that's going to be that's their 45 minutes that's their 45 minutes and I absolutely think it was like Natalia Arroyo seemed so chill on the sideline at halftime when Joe Currie spoke to her and she seemed very kind of like well we'll see what happens you know we've got another 45 minutes it's only one nil etc so worry about it so yeah it was very much a game of

8:52Rachel: two halves if you like yeah definitely and i think i mean we've got to talk about villa obviously i think they did they 100 i don't know what the team talk was at half time but it did feel like they were spurred into action and it was like now we've done the shit 45 it's done for the good 45 100 and what a time to do it if you're gonna have a shit 45 i'd rather have it in the first half to be able to recover in the second than the other way around but obviously right at the start of the second half you've got anna pattern with the near post flick at the it was lovely from a defender 100 outside of her boot it was so deft i almost didn't see how it gone in because it almost like glanced off the side of her boot and i think it obviously caught a lot of people unaware but i mean that's a rookie error to not cover your your front post and i think that i mean where where are the defenders again behind her that is the crazy thing about it it's like where where were you um but yeah and then also we i mean kirstie hanson okay let's get stuck onto her because I feel like every single week we have the same conversation where it's like you know what you're going to get with her you know you're going to get directness you know you're going to get impact you know you're going to get a player who is every time she doesn't score she misses a chance the frustration she's raging at herself killer oh my god you're doing so much you have to believe what she's saying yeah she's literally it's just like it's so but that's how much it means to her that she's you know creating so many chances for for the team um I mean she had that good chance obviously in the in the first half as well she kind of rounded

10:08Chloe: the keeper and it hit the side of the net it was tight left foot it was hard like really difficult

10:12Rachel: but again she was oh god it was like devastating for her which was absolutely baffling and then in the second half she had that the long range strike that just kind of again her left foot definitely and you feel like something is coming because the defenders i think they're so scared of her they're so scared of what she's going to do like she can drive she can take on she can round players she can strike from distance and it's like what the bloody hell do you do with the

10:32Chloe: kirstie hansen i don't know and i think part of it as well is her confidence she very much understands her role in this team and the confidence she has she could pick up the ball and sometimes in her own half and just you're pretty much guaranteed to have a shot off if she picks up the ball in her own half you could probably put your house in the fact that she'll get down the other end of the pitch and at least get a shot off definitely ball control physicality the fact is she can shoot from tight angles and that's probably why she was disappointed because she absolutely could score from there um but she was very worthy of a goal i thought ebony salmon made a huge difference when she came on and their link up play was fantastic and you know I think sometimes Ebony Salmon struggles a little bit productivity wise in terms of the end product and when she gets the end of an amazing run but actually she almost was such a good provider in this half and she was setting people up left right and center and yeah that was that was such a

11:23Rachel: difference for Phil in the second half well I think it's that kind of link up play that they now have and I feel like as soon as Ebony Salmon came on the second half it almost felt like the BBC he said this it was like they she caused a bit of a distraction it was almost like they already had a distraction kirstie hansen but then they were distracted by ebony salmon and then that kind of gave kirstie hansen a little bit more freedom and flexibility to go up and kind of get in behind and that is where essentially that that 84th minute goal coming comes in you've got ebony salmon with this absolutely beautiful launch this pinpoint pass over to kirstie hansen and then she obviously gets in drives forward uh leaving three leicester city players like behind her like in in the dust like that is those are the moments that you think yeah Aston Villa deserve to win this game and also I think for Villa I mean it's seeing Kirstie Hansen score so many goals this season

12:10Chloe: has been brilliant she's second in the charts I mean miles behind Bunny Shaw because everybody is but she's scored 10 goals this season and you know I think that's been not validating for her but like she's really shown her worth in this team but they've been so without Rachel Daly and it's been so evident that they've been without Rachel Daly that you you're kind of looking at Villa going you can't be so over reliant on a single player and if they're not there you can't be having these games where you're creating and creating and creating and not scoring you've got something in Kirstie Hansen there where you're you're fair as I said fairly guaranteed she's either going to get a shot off or pretty high chance that she'll at least you know she'll get a goal as we've seen but to be my fear is how much they rely on one or two players that's my only kind of concern a little bit with Villa but what they do do is create it's just they've not always being very effective in front of goal, which can be very frustrating to watch.

12:59Rachel: That is the scariest thing. If anything happened to Kirstie Hansen, touch wood, touch wood with both hands, 100%. I think they'd be running out of options pretty quickly. I mean, this was her 10th league goal of the season. This is the best goal scoring term she's ever had in the WSL. And just to play off the back of what we said about the frustration, disappointment she felt. So after the game, obviously they've won the game, done a really good job. She's obviously been integral to all the winning mentality of the team. and she said I was really frustrated but in my head I was thinking it's coming Kirsty is coming you you just have to keep going I took my chance and I'm happy that hard work pays off and she's

13:32Chloe: so happy for her yeah she's very humble and I remember when we did a podcast up with her a couple of at the end of last year and you know we were asking her about that like when your form when you're just in that that kind of I guess as a player when suddenly things are just clicking and things are going well and she was like you know I don't I don't know why that happens because I put in the hard rock all the time but sometimes you just have these moments where things are clicking and you're confident and definitely you just have to keep going and driving and yeah I think her consistency has just been something she can be really proud of and probably goes under the radar a little bit because she's playing at Aston Villa and Aston Villa haven't been doing that well this season but she's been you know player of the season for them I think I think she's really the

14:12Rachel: move over to Aston Villa I think has kind of like reignited a bit of a spark in her it kind of feels like she's a bit more of a a big fish and she's thriving yeah a little bit thriving off that um

14:22Chloe: not pressure but that expectation on her that she's such an important player to this side 100 %

14:26Rachel: and as soon as you have a couple of good performances i feel like you kind of like you start to own this fact of like being one of the leaders in the team and then you kind of lead by example but smart play for from aston villa obviously they extended her um deal uh in july 2025 and now she's contracted to the club until june 2027 so she's locked in she is can i ask you

14:44Chloe: question have you ever had to wear one of those masks when you've like damaged your nose or anything when you're playing no you've never had to no anna pattern i don't know like if it gives her superpowers or what but batwoman and a batman well it's weird because she almost has scored she

14:58Rachel: almost scored so she obviously scored the goal and then there was a i think it was it wasn't even that long later that she scored the nearly scored the one in the the other front post in the other corner on the other side it's exactly the same thing and i'm thinking lester one they're not learning from their mistakes and two there's something in this movement because like she's She's very deaf. You don't even recognise that she's even there until the last minute. It's because of the mask. Do you reckon? Yeah. You know superheroes.

15:19Chloe: You put the mask on, you don't know who the fuck they are. It must be so uncomfortable. I've never known about that. It's gone up for a header or something. I know you're not going to head up with your face, but you just have that concern of that under there is sore. I don't know how you do it.

15:31Rachel: I wouldn't be putting my head in or near it.

15:32Chloe: Lisa Copp is another one. She put that mask on. She was unreal.

15:34Rachel: At least you've got your hands to protect you as a goalkeeper. So you're not like, oh, Christ, I've got to actually take this one to the face. to know what it's like

15:39Chloe: having to wear that like are they nice and soft underneath

15:42Rachel: they're padded underneath but also they aren't I mean they're specifically moulded to the shape of your face so like you do have like they're contoured to it so wow yeah it's interesting we should get a couple technology has advanced now we could wear some while we

15:54Chloe: we probably do like unbelievable episodes if we wore them can you imagine they look amazing

15:58Rachel: this is escalating so this result now moves Villa up to 8th in the table they're enjoying an uptick in form at the moment after their point against title chasing Man City they needed that

16:10Chloe: they were in like a bad run and they just needed a performance like that to just kind of go okay we do know what we're doing things you know we do have a style and a plan that we want to play and it does work and I think the draw against City probably gave them a huge amount of confidence particularly after that dreadful Tottenham game and it's probably hard to believe given how many goals they've conceded but they have something like six clean sheets this season which is the best equal to the best clean sheet record they've had in a season and you wouldn't necessarily know that because they have one of the worst goals against in the league and that's because they've had a couple of howler games where they've conceded quite a few goals or they might win like 3-2.

16:49Chloe: So that is also worth pointing out and it just makes it interesting. I mean, not that there's necessarily a race for sixth but you know this kind of like the best of the rest type vibe. There's now three teams on 20 points. Everton, London City and Aston Villa are all on 20 points. So, you know, a win could suddenly propel you from oh God, we're languishing near the bottom to suddenly mid-table.

17:07Rachel: I mean, that is so tight.

17:10Chloe: Yeah. And like when you talk about Everton and Villa, the troubles they've been having this season, and now Everton's in sixth. It's amazing how tight it is in that middle pack.

17:19Rachel: I think it's going to be really interesting to see what Villa do off the back of this. It kind of feels like getting those four points out of six, our potential six in the last couple of games, is a mood booster. Do you remember them at the end of last season as well? Different story. Very different story.

17:32Chloe: Maybe they won five games in a row at the end of last season. Maybe they just really liked the running. this could be the start of that upward trajectory

17:38Rachel: I let's let's okay sorry yeah let's not get ahead of ourselves you know so Arroyo after the game said these are the type of games we need to win to grow and to show character and I think that's the kind of balanced narrative that we need coming out of this game not this is the trajectory for a fucking 20 game streak

17:55Chloe: they beat Arsenal like 5-2 around this time last season do you not remember right talking of a team that obviously aren't oh they're facing Chelsea next okay sorry

18:02Rachel: oh dear good from you what a great omen talking of a team who are not in the best run of forms let's go back to Leicester just briefly because obviously it kind of feels like there should be positives they take away from this but also the end result is you're still bottom nothing's really happening it kind of feels like they're just trudging through mud to get to the end of the season it's so hard because

18:26Chloe: they have a thin squad when everyone's fit and then suddenly I think last week was something like nine injuries they had how difficult that is to then go out and try and attack a game like it's really bloody hard and you know the timing of that Villa goal I think was just after half time so you're kind of forced then to do sit and try and get a point an important point or are you going to push to try and get that winner and leave yourself exposed like Anna Patton I think scored in the 47th minute so that's really difficult when you don't have a variety of players of quality players that not that they're not quality but they're young and it's a thin bench to then bring off the bench and sustain that level of you know front-footed play it's really difficult they need a number nine number the lack of like out and out striker and depth in that position has been a massive issue for Leicester not just this season but the same as last season and last season they had the same problem with injuries and the manager got sacked for it you know and we're seeing now that it wasn't necessarily the manager that the issue that was the issue but actually investing in depth in your squad and I think that's something they really need to look at if they do stay up and want to stay up it's great that you know they play at the king power that they've got really good training facilities but they need to invest in in strengthening the squad and expanding the squad massively well just off

19:45Rachel: the back of that I mean the stat is so 17 matches into the campaign the foxes are yet to score more than a single goal in a game and that just sort of leads into what you were saying about the attacking strengths there um and then you've got rick parsmer obviously saying you know the the weight and the will is there the togetherness is there the culture is there he's so positive it is really it must be it's a hard job to kind of maintain that kind of level of optimism around what the squad can achieve but what they're also not achieving at the same time so but also that there's no point your manager's sitting there and saying we're shit nothing's going to plan we don't have the players like we don't have that like there's no point saying that because it's not helpful so he very much believes in them so i really i really rate the positivism like because sometimes that does just spur you into thinking, like, you know, fake it until you make it, essentially.

20:28Chloe: It just reminds you of that gif of like, you know, the dog sitting in the burning room and he's like, this is fine. It gives me that kind of vibe.

20:35Rachel: Yeah, I think that's a really nice, I think that's a really nice analogy for what's happening at Leicester. Talking of someone who obviously, you know, attacking prowess, you know, Ford showing herself this game, Alicia Lehman has been in the news this week. There was an article published on the BBC in which he spoke about how she's perceived on account of her social media following. She said, sometimes it's frustrating. People don't see the work that I put in. They think I just train and then go home to make TikToks. It's not true. And then Rick Passmore has obviously spoken about her work ethic as well, Rachel, as you alluded to.

21:06Rachel: He said, she's incredible. She's exactly what you want. A leader, a professional. She works harder than anyone else in the building. So obviously, I mean, everyone kind of feels like they know Alicia Lehman because they see her in all these publications. They see her in all these like big brand campaigns. She's got nearly 60 million followers on Instagram.

21:23Chloe: I mean, according to the BBC, she's the most recognizable female footballer in the world.

21:27Rachel: I mean, it's hard to know because I think when you're football heads and you know the game, you'd be thinking, oh, it's probably like your Leah Williamson or your Alessia Russo. You see them on the brand campaign. Yeah, 100%. Yeah, definitely. Even like Alex Morgan, Megan Rapinoe, like the old schoolers, like that kind of thing. But I suppose in the Gen Z day and age, it's like who you're seeing most on socials. And she does have the biggest social following by far out of all of the women's footballers that we've just listed.

21:55Chloe: Yes, but that's also like curated and cultivated and it's part of her brand. Like it's not like it happened accidentally. So yeah, interesting to be like people just think this, but also like this is something you're working on alongside football and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that, but it is a part of your business. So yes, people are going to know you for that because that's something you're working on. I've heard a lot of really positive things from people who've worked with Alicia Lehman, managers who've worked with her and said that she is unbelievable, like absolutely wonderful person and such a hard worker.

22:28Chloe: Like I've only ever heard positive things from her as a football player, which I think is a really, I'd love to know that that's how people spoke about me when I wasn't in the room. Like they all speak really, really well. I wouldn't, no offense, trust you. God knows what you'd say. It's worrying.

22:43Rachel: I'll let you know in the speech.

22:45Chloe: I do think it's really nice to hear that from people. And, you know, I also think in women's sport particularly, and I think it was off the 2021 Olympics maybe, or maybe it was the next one, where a lot of the female athletes, there was a whole piece done about how a lot of female athletes have recognized the importance of social media and the fact that that's an area that they can make money from because, you know, they're not getting the kinds of contracts that you get in men's football that doesn't kind of give them this long term, you know, money for the rest of their lives. and social media, TikTok, things like that have become a really important revenue stream for female athletes.

23:19Chloe: So, you know, it's not to be sniffed at. It's an area of her brand, if you like, where she is getting money from. So I can totally understand it. I just, the article was interesting because it's not like accidentally happened. It's like part of...

23:33Rachel: Who she is.

23:34Chloe: Yeah, which is nothing to be ashamed of.

23:36Rachel: 100%. And I think it also adds to her value as a footballer. I mean, when she joined Leicester, you know, I can't remember how many hundreds of thousands or tens of thousands it was of followers that had actually joined Leicester when her signing was announced. And I think, you know, that is the commercial value that she brings. Like sometimes, I think in the WSL, there's a bit of a reluctance to kind of hear her and profile, like individual players. They kind of want to go with a team mentality over saying, oh, well, Sam Kerr's incredible or actually Alyssa Thompson, we're going to go with her as kind of a big pull.

24:03Rachel: But actually that's what the NWSL is doing. And like, you know, you look at someone like Trinity Rodman, I mean, Christ, like you can't really go anywhere without seeing something around Trinity Rodman. But she is a pull. Like people go and see the games, they see the NWSL because of her. So I think Alicia Layman does add a lot of value to the WSL. And whether that's you're drawn into that through TikTok or seeing stuff that she does in fashion or, you know, seeing her at some of the fashion weeks or whatever it is, actually, like she's a massive benefit, a commercial benefit to the WSL, her being there.

24:33Rachel: But yeah, I think it's, you can't, like you said, build this brand, have everyone know you as this kind of like fashion influencer and all the other things that she does. And she's also an incredible businesswoman. and she monetizes in a way that, you know, no other WSL footballers are doing. Maybe some of the tops are your Russos and your Lears, maybe. But again, I mean, it doesn't really matter. Essentially, people know who you are and they're coming to the games and they're commenting about you and, you know, engagement's engagement. So I back it.

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27:13Rachel: Right, moving swiftly on. We tried to cover a Gen Z topic. We did it as well as we could, given that we're almost boomer level. Let's talk about Man City. A absolutely rampant game from City, in particular, Bunny Shore. 5-2 to the light blues. The title, almost people are saying it's almost wrapped up. I'm going to say it's almost wrapped up. We've been saying that for a while. Yeah, it's close, isn't it? But let's talk about Bunny Shore because it was the Bunny Shore show. It was Bunny Shore in the first half. it was Bunny Shore in the second half it was Bunny Shore before this it was like it was entirely and it would be Bunny Shore after this it's a Bunny Shore production essentially like a religion I would subscribe to it honestly out of all the religions that are currently available the Bunny Shore religion would be you would bow down

28:06Chloe: to Bunny Shore

28:07Rachel: 100 % I'd read the book of Bunny Shore I would worship the ground of Bunny Shore on a Sunday and everything in between anyway Shore scored a hat trick in 12 minutes her third goal meant that she now has 18 goals in 18 WSL appearances this season. And for anyone who can't do math, that's one goal per game. It's the fastest hat-trick in WSL history. And it was a fourth successive hat-trick against Spurs.

28:31Chloe: Do you know who wouldn't be worshipping the Bunny Shaw religion? That would be Spurs. They would be like the opposite of that. They would have the Holy Wath are out. I don't know what they would do. They'd be seeing her coming going, no, not Bunny Shaw, not another hat-trick. She scored at home. Every time they face them at home, she has scored a hat-trick against them.

28:49Rachel: That's what's more painful. You've done it in their patch. At least you've got to come to their house. Out of the way quickly, right? You've taken their tea and biscuits. You've shat on the carpet and you've laid. You're not being invited back, but you have to be invited back because that's the rules. It's me again. I'm here to destroy your dreams. 100%. And that she did. I mean, the first goal in the eighth minute, a bit of a scrappy sort of like bounce around ball. Spurs struggling to clear off their lines. and then Bunny Shaw, the agility that she shows to maneuver her body, to get around the ball, to kind of wrap her leg around and get this kind of like half folly.

29:25Rachel: It was the opening acts of the Bunny Shaw show. And you kind of felt like there was a look in her eye, a glint of danger that I saw that I was like, this is one of many happening. Here we go. It begins.

29:37Chloe: I'm starting early.

29:38Rachel: And then again, 18th minute, almost a template, another Alex Greenwood corner, Bunny Shaw header. I mean Her headers

29:45Chloe: the power that she generates like crazy we're going to criticise the defending and rightly so 100 % goalkeeper wise there is absolutely nothing that Lisa Kopp could have done about those headers you almost have to get

29:56Rachel: out of the way of it because you could end up the ball going through you I mean I couldn't

30:00Chloe: kick it that hard I agreed the power she generates she's not even looking at the goal as well and she has to jump up and she turns I just couldn't wrap my head around the speed of that header

30:08Rachel: it's the movement of her body which is unbelievable it is I don't really get it and I was kind of we will get on to Spurs and kind of their deficit in defending but at the same time I watched that goal back again and I was like where was Spurs defending and actually nobody jumped no well there were two of them kind of like trying to put her off but not really leaping watching it but also Bunny Shaw the elevation that she gets off the ground even if they are jumping she's still going to be winning that header

30:33Chloe: true but at least try you could put her off you might lean into her a bit but to not even jump

30:40Rachel: can I just the cold commentation they were kind of jumping it was like a no no no you know when you get on a tiptoe no there was no jump what I quite enjoyed I tried and it's not often that I'll have you back

30:50Chloe: I quite enjoyed the commentary the comms team on this had quite a lot of fun during this game for whatever reason but whoever was on cold comms I can't remember her name she said if you were to put cones in there for defending they would be doing the same job that's what she said about Thomas defending and I was like I need to write that down because that is savage what the it wasn't that it was it wasn't that bad i'm i'm gonna get on to the result says otherwise yeah i'm gonna get on to the second half and give them praise in the second half but the first half just and look tottenham are missing their two key center defenders because of the asian cup right for sure you very much see that and i don't think it's a coincidence that the two games they've lost back to back losing games back to back for the first time this season yeah has been when those pair are missing but they just could not defend set pieces or crosses um they were just kind of like occupying space rather than actually kind of engaging in in it do you know that kind of way there was a little bit of ball watching at times and look i appreciate i can't even imagine trying to defend bunny shaw but like you at least try at least try and put her off whatever that might be and it just felt like it was yeah occupying space as opposed to really engaging in any kind of active defending second balls they were really not alert to as well so it's one of those the goals were unbelievable and the defending was dreadful and that's not to take away from the quality of the goals but equally it looks even worse when you're not even trying to defend with any kind of but then the second half is a completely different situation definitely and i think i mean just on

32:25Rachel: you know what what went wrong for spurs essentially yes you've got the set pieces yes you've got i mean the clearances were absolutely shocking they just weren't going far enough it was just yeah it It was kind of like the clearests weren't even clear in the penalty area, let alone trying to, you know, release the danger there. And then you've got the aerial threat. I know Bonnie Shaw is obviously incredible in the air, and so is Viv, as she showed. But at the same time, like you said, you're not even putting bodies in and around to kind of jostle them off. So there was a couple of kind of like the basics here that Spurs really weren't doing.

32:54Rachel: So Martin Coe kind of spoke about the performance of the game. He said, we can take a lot from those 45 minutes of football, but it's a 90-minute game. Powerful stuff. I think we looked shocked in the first half if we're being honest are we ahead of where we should be yes but from a competitive perspective we didn't get close enough to Man City and what's mad is right you might look at that

33:14Chloe: first half without looking at the stats and it's 5-1 and you must think Jesus Manchester City are all over them right and they were they had four shots on target in the first half Manchester City and they scored five what? one of them was an on goal so it's not even like do you know what I mean And we've spoken in the past about, you know, City, Bunny Shaw, Miedema, you know, Carolyn, your Hemp's, having chances and not converting them, right? We've spoken about that in the past, about Bunny Shaw maybe needing numerous opportunities before perhaps she gets that first goal. Not today. Every single shot they had on target was a goal.

33:51Chloe: Even the ones they didn't have on bleeding target ended up in the back of the net. But I just think what was interesting was the scoreline. and again the commentator said this particularly towards the end of the second half didn't really reflect the commentator was basically like it's not like Tottenham have just been completely outplayed off the park do you know what I mean? Yeah yeah for sure. It was that the opportunities they were ruthless Manchester City and I just think when Bunny Shaw's in that kind of like mood there's no stopping her but then come the second half completely different story Tottenham created I think six shots on target you know obviously had that lovely goal from Olivia Holt in the first half yeah which was an example of how you can get in behind city they are there to be got at good solo effort for sure but the second half it was all like tottenham had created so many opportunities and you have to look at it again with the quality of goals versus the corners are defending man city were five one up so understandably probably foot off the gas a little bit but the other side you're looking at it going if tottenham had scored even half of the opportunities on goal you're going to and at 5-4.

34:52Chloe: And that's the difference in, like, it's being quality in front of the box. That's where sometimes the, not the main difference, there's lots of differences, but one of the key areas for these teams is getting, taking your opportunities. And Tottenham just didn't do that.

35:05Rachel: Definitely. I think, I mean, there were some good chances in the second half. You had the Bethany England, obviously she scored, but before that, you know, she had the chance. She had Gawpset having the chance as well. Kiara Keaton, again, got to give a little bit of a shout out to her. Some really great saves, especially the foot save that she did. But it felt like, obviously, it was too little too late once Beth had converted in the 85th minute. What I would say about Spurs is that it takes real mental resilience to go into a half-time or go into a second half, 5-1 down. I know the weight of expectation against you is so big now.

35:35Rachel: To even get a foothold back in the game, to even get equal doors, you've got to score four goals. And it kind of felt like there was a mentality at least that they could do something. Maybe that it wasn't going to be four goals, but they were at least going to get some goals back. It could have been, but I think it takes real resilience to even come because I'd be thinking at 5-1 against a team like Man City who are obviously running rampant in the league right now you've got Bunny Shaw scoring goals for fun like she's out on some kind of I don't know fiver side of the local primary school and then you've got Spurs coming out and actually thinking do you know what it was a bit of a shit show in the first half but we're going to actually come out and do something in the second I personally would be like we're just going to have to write this one off and I would understand that mentality

36:17Chloe: to some extent Yeah, and look, Buddy Shaw stayed on for the whole game as well. You could have bloody given her a rest. But no, she stayed on and they reduced Manchester City to one shot on target in the second half. Kiara Keating had to make five saves.

36:30Rachel: Well, I think this was obviously a very important game for City to get back to winning ways after being held to a draw last weekend. That goalless game with Villa was only the third time the City have dropped points all season. City now need to win three of their final four games to mathematically guarantee that the title is theirs.

36:47Chloe: They need seven points, I think, out of the next games coming up. So that is three, essentially results in three games. That's crazy. And what could have been interesting would have been if Arsenal had played their two games in hand before City essentially could have had it wrapped up. But City could essentially have it wrapped up in this penultimate game of the season. It should, teams in and around them not drop points. They could have it wrapped up by Liverpool. and what's a shame is that Arsenal's they play Leicester but then their Brighton game is after that so you can't even generate that little bit of excitement where you're like oh the gap is down to five it's so close it's not even it's not even going to happen but they could yes I think should everyone keep winning Manchester City I think can do it at Liverpool in the second last game and I actually think they're at home for that which is good because you don't want to lift the and this is the thing will they lift the trophy then?

37:43Chloe: Probably yeah I imagine because they don't want to do it in a you know joy at the joy you know um I've

37:50Rachel: always felt a little bit sorry for Arsenal because they've got those games in hand two games in hand is it just makes such a big difference of where your positioning is so even though like you know that you still have those games in hand I think you look at the table and you think oh Christ like Arsenal aren't where they where they could be right now like there's always that kind of like it's the aesthetic of them just being there do you know what I mean the managers always say that

38:09Chloe: They don't look at the table. Yeah. What was interesting was that midweek, Chelsea and Manchester United swapped places because Manchester United drew against West Ham and Chelsea beat Brighton. So Chelsea went back up to second. Yeah. And then after this weekend, Chelsea drew and Manchester United won and they've swapped back to second and third again.

38:27Rachel: This is so close for that champo spot though. For that third one, yeah. So close. So you've got Chelsea on 37 points, Man Utd on 38, Arsenal 135 with the two games in hand that's

38:39Chloe: and Manchester United are playing Manchester City next weekend

38:42Rachel: oh that is a spicy spicy fixture are you going up to that one?

38:46Chloe: I'm not I have work at the North London Derby oh mate

38:50Rachel: what are you doing you match floor manager match managing

38:53Chloe: I'm not quite match manager level I'm floor manager

38:55Rachel: you'll get there mate thanks I believe in you cheers by the time your 10 year wedding anniversary comes round that's October that's going to be a quick

39:02Chloe: promotion for me put in a word will you

39:04Rachel: I'll do my best they don't really listen to me at the WSL, weirdly enough. They were like, you're out now, so fuck off. Anyway, after the break, we will be previewing the Champions League quarter finals.

39:21Rachel: Champions League, Rach. Comes around so quickly, doesn't it? I'm excited. It's Champions League, WSL, Champions League, WSL. International break. Yeah. WSL, League Cup finals, Champions League. So much trouble. There are now three WSL sides in action midweek. Arsenal face Chelsea, tonight and Manionese Manionese Manionese played by Munich for Arsenal Chloe Kelly being back to her best is ideal timing for this fixture she scored three against West Ham on the weekend the first time she scored in the league since the 4th of October 2025 which was also the last time Arsenal lost a game it was against Man City for that this will be the first time that these two sides have faced each other in a UEFA competition this is huge I am I'm actually quite gutted I'm actually not at this game and I was offered hospitality tickets to this game from two separate

40:10Chloe: from two separate brands I am also available by the way I don't know why these you know hello you get anyway I'll be there working great yeah yeah I mean it was really enjoyable when Chelsea and Manchester City you know faced each other and what's good is it guarantees an English team into the semi-final which I think is great but like I remember that those two-legged last year went between City and Chelsea and it was super interesting because Man City won the first one and then Chelsea came back, had that great comeback at Stamford Bridge. So across the two legs, makes things really interesting.

40:42Both sides, obviously, impacted by injury.

40:46Chloe: Chelsea very much more so, which makes things really interesting. I think makes it harder to call. You know, Chelsea have won the Subway League Cup. That will give them the spring of their step as well. I know they drew at the weekend and I think a lot of that was potentially down to a little bit of, you know, game management, player management, player loading management you know that there was a lot of change in the back line during the game as well which I think disrupted things a little bit but they very much have had to have one eye on this game so I'm intrigued to see what the lineups will be for both of these teams obviously both of them missing players from the Asian Cup because they're only they've only just come back

41:23Rachel: and give them a minute yeah like fucking hell they're still in Australia time Leah Williamson

41:28Chloe: is injured for Arsenal. Agui Beaver-Jones did not look great in that London City game. Absolutely heartbreaking to see. When a player who's been struggling with injury, it might have been Natalie Bjorn, she's obviously got a problem with her ankles and it was such an innocuous little tweak of the ankle and she just looked obviously in pain but also it felt a bit like she was like, fuck my life, I cannot catch a break. So whether she'll be available or not, I don't know. but it makes for quite an intriguing kind of how they're both going to line up and then of course it's two legs and we saw last year things can go completely the opposite way in the second leg

42:05Rachel: 100 % I also think it's a bit of a match of ego because of where they are in the WSL there's also this kind of additional battle of them trying to get one up on each other and that kind of mentality shift but I mean Rach you spoke there about some of the injuries and the missing players and it kind of feels like it's because they've both got missing players it kind of feels like it's rebalanced itself like there's yeah I think Chelsea are more impacted more detrimental slightly but there was a really funny comment actually from Sonia who said are we not playing when asked about um eight players and asked about the amount of players that she's actually able to field for for this game she said are we not playing the world seven tomorrow that's why I thought we only needed eight players which is which is good bants it is but also just to remind people when

42:43Chloe: there's such a short amount of time between games they don't always get time for a full training session so you're going to have players who are on their own individual programs who may not you know physically it's better for them to be inside of the gym or doing their own their own program rather than being potentially put a little bit of risk during training so that's the one thing i'd say to fans of both sides is that i know some players may not have been on the pitch but it doesn't necessarily mean that they're not going to be available there's a very very short amount of time between these games so they're going to be being looked after well the first leg is tonight

43:17Rachel: The second leg is Wednesday, the 1st of April at 8 o 'clock, obviously at Stamford Bridge this time round. I actually can't call it.

43:25Chloe: No. I actually can't call it. And I just don't even think you could say, oh, well, Chelsea drew at the weekend and Arsenal won. So therefore, I don't even think you can take that look at it. Yeah. I genuinely don't think that matters. It's like Chelsea is the one trophy that has eluded them. They are desperate for it. Arsenal have got it. It's the one bleeding trophy they've won in the last couple of seasons. So that adds to it as well. but there's just different stakes and it's Champions League and it's under the lights and it's just like it's a bit like an FA Cup you just form goes out the window for me it's like just a totally different kettle of fish tonight and as you say impossible to call

44:00Rachel: what I would say is that this game is more important for Arsenal to pick up the win at because I feel like it's the crowd at the Emirates the vibe at the Emirates is very much like this is our home ground I still don't feel the same way about Chelsea at Stamford Bridge I feel like there's positives that you can take from being at the Emirates that I think is going to go really against Chelsea. So I think this is the time for Arsenal to capitalise.

44:21Chloe: To capitalise. They're unbeaten in 16 games at the Emirates. Renee Sleggers has gone unbeaten at home in 16 games. So they do love playing at the Emirates and I think they have to use that because if they don't, it's going to be very difficult to turn around at Stamford Bridge. 100%.

44:38Rachel: I'm still not a fan of the old bridge. Going down there is a pain in the bum.

44:43Chloe: I love it because it's a 10-minute walk from my house. however I don't love shooting at it because you have to shoot from the side and I hate shooting from the side it's really hard work so a bit of love hate

44:52Rachel: also I have less relationships with brands from Chelsea so less hospitality chances that is the obvious reason

44:56Chloe: I love going to Stamford Bridge you know from a work perspective and it normally rains

45:00Rachel: I don't know why it's normally sun at the Emirates and rain at the bridge

45:03Chloe: I hard disagree I've nearly drowned don't question this

45:07Rachel: what was it the Champions Cup

45:07Chloe: is that what it's called almost drowned at the Emirates

45:10Rachel: anyway the second fixture we want to focus on for this Champions League matchup is Manchester United against Bayern Munich. And then they face City in the WSL this weekend. So it's been a tough start to progressive Champions League life for Man United. It's been game after game after game after game.

45:28Chloe: But they got to the quarterfinals for the first time. And that's a huge plus. I think they've had in a really difficult block right now. And this is the kind of test of their mettle and their mentality because obviously they lost the Subway League Cup. Then they drew midweek to West Ham. so I think getting that last gasp and again if we had our little football dictionary last gasp it'd be that clip of Melvin Mallard scoring in the 94th minute of four minutes of extra time scoring that that will do wonders for their confidence their mentality you know I thought they were the better side against Everton but very easily could have gone away with a point so to get that win big relief but also you know confidence mentality wise going into this Bayern game because God it's going to be hard Bayern are in flying form at the moment, doing really, really, really well in the Fran Bundesliga.

46:17Chloe: You know, players like Pernilla Harder, you know, I hope she doesn't, but I can see her getting like a hat trick. She's in that kind of form. Do you know that kind of way? So Manchester United very much need to be on it.

46:27Rachel: Definitely. But I do feel like there's a resilience and a gritty determination from Man United. It feels like we've just got to get these games out of the way and just finish the season in one piece. There must be that kind of like,

46:36Chloe: just keep going. Nobody mentioned the fact that...

46:38Rachel: Just keep swimming.

46:39Chloe: Basically, just keep going. nobody mentioned the kind of the next game just you've lost your legs

46:43Rachel: don't worry about it just keep going doesn't matter we'll get through Bagunovic yeah so

46:48Chloe: and they've obviously had to deal with a couple of injuries and players again missing from the Asian because of the Asian Cup as well for sure so that all adds to it but a huge test for them and it's at Old Trafford as well so that'll give it that kind of big momentous occasion too where they'll be facing Manchester City

47:04Rachel: following week following

47:06Chloe: sorry not following week mere days later

47:09Rachel: minutes later really no recovery whatsoever not at all no time to train no time to think it's an interesting one for City who'll be able to capitalise on this fact not they need any more advantages in their court really but at the moment obviously Manchester United sitting second in the WSL table with Chelsea drawing with London City Lionesses but talking about their sort of clean sheet record and their run in the Champions League game so they've kept eight clean sheets in 12 games and interestingly enough obviously they now have three former Bayern players Lea Shuler Ziggotti and here we go Fridolina Rolfo well done come on that was very good yeah I think it's going to be a very interesting match up and again it's one of those ones that I can't call but I do think Bayern

47:55Chloe: might win oh I feel like I can call and I think Bayern will win I just think the form they're in at the moment I thought you were going to challenge me their tails are up they're confident they're scoring goals you know and yeah I just feel a Manchester City are through this like tough window at the moment with so many games so many big games so many important games and everyone always says they just focus on one match but I imagine it's really hard to that Everton game you're like Jesus Bayern's on the horizon over there I might keep one eye on Bayern and now in the Bayern game you're like shit Man City's on the horizon over there I'm going to have one eye on Man City

48:28Rachel: it's a lot it is a lot Bayern started the competition quite poorly losing 7-1 against Barcelona but now recovered obviously to record four wins and a draw and finish fourth in the table. This is their eighth quarterfinal in 10 seasons.

48:43Chloe: They're desperate as well to win the Champions League. Isn't everyone? I know, but it's one of those, you've got players that have gone there because they're like, I want to win the Champions League. I'm going to, you know, this is our moment. And I think some seasons have perhaps underperformed. Whereas now they're like, okay, this is our moment. This could be our opportunity. It's elusive. There's some big, tasty fixtures in these quarterfinals. You've got Wolfsburg against Lyon. You've got Barcelona against Real Madrid.

49:05Rachel: Like, yeah, it's... It's top tier. Yeah, I love it. It's top tier football, this. And then obviously added to the fact that Bayern are so confident at the moment, in the Fran Bundesliga, they played 20, won 19, won nine, lost zero, scored 79 goals and conceded six.

49:27What?

49:28Rachel: Yeah. Do you know what I mean? If you needed any kind of validation that you are a very strong person, a very strong team. It's clear as well. At the top of the table. It's a lot. It is a lot. I fear for United lives. Maybe.

49:43Chloe: Maybe they'll underestimate Manchester United.

49:46Rachel: I mean, they shouldn't. If they've got anything about them, they shouldn't. Yeah, they probably won't. Yeah, good luck. Good luck to United. Good luck to all the teams competing in the Champions League tonight and next week. That's such a parent thing.

49:57Chloe: Everyone do your best. Yeah. You'll get a participation medal at the end.

50:01Rachel: Yeah, you're all really good. So do some good stuff. Enjoy it. And play some good football. Yeah, I won't be there to watch. but hopefully I'll get invited next Wednesday. Any shout outs, any brands listening, hit me up. I'm actually free. So peace. Thank you so much for listening to Upfront. We'll be back next Tuesday. In the meantime, you can find us on Instagram and X slash Twitter. I'm at morgy underscore 89. Rach is at girls on the ball and we are at Upfront underscore pod. You can also find us on YouTube at Upfront pod. See you next week. Someone tried to throw me off for the see you soon.

50:34Rachel: Yeah, I'm not doing it. She will read everything you write in that thing. I'm not doing it.

50:38Chloe: Well done. I was intrigued to see how you managed that. You thought I was going to fall for it, didn't you? No, I was watching. I was like, come on now, you want to do it? I'm Ron Burgundy and see you soon. Go fuck yourself, San Diego. I actually chat GPT to see if I could get like a little logo drawn up for see you next week that we could get on some mugs and a t-shirt or something. We're going branded. What do you think? I think it'd be really cool.

50:57Rachel: That's sick.

50:58Chloe: That is very sick with the sound waves as well.

51:01Rachel: It looks almost like Spotify sponsored.

51:02Chloe: I think we could do it in our upfront green. get it on a mug, get it on a t-shirt I'll get you that

51:09Rachel: I'll get some for us, I know people you know people

51:12Chloe: we can finally use your contacts for us rather than for you thank god are we still recording?

51:17Rachel: Upfront is a Stack production and part of the Acast Creator Network

51:28This episode is brought to you by Progressive Insurance Do you ever think about switching insurance companies to see if you could save some cash? Progressive makes it easy to see if you could save when you bundle your home and auto policies. Try it at Progressive.com. Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and Affiliates. Potential savings will vary. Not available in all states. Looking for soccer analysis? More knowing than a Carlo Ancelotti eyebrow raise? With the World Cup around the corner, join me, Max Rushton, and the Guardian's expert soccer journalist on Football Weekly for all the latest soccer action and news throughout the week.

51:59We'll cover more ground than Drew Bellingham in a Champions League final with conversations sharper than an Arsenal set piece. For fine margins, fun debates, and full-blooded tackles, football weekly. Listen wherever you get your podcasts and watch the full episodes on YouTube. The Bleacher Report app is your destination for sports. Right now, the NBA is heating up, March Madness is here, and MLB is almost back. Every day there's a new headline, a new highlight, a new moment you've got to see for yourself. That's why I stay locked in with the Bleacher Report app. For me, it's about staying connected to my sports.

52:33I can follow the teams I care about, get real-time scores, breaking news, and highlights all in one place. Download the Bleacher Report app today so you never miss a moment. Hello, listeners. Meet Lisa.

52:45Rachel: Hey there. Lisa runs an online boutique specializing in sustainable fashion. With Acast, she found a whole new way to reach eco-conscious shoppers. Yep, I recorded a quick ad targeted listeners interested in fashion and sustainability using Acast's audience attributes targeting feature and set my budget. Before I knew it, people all over were hearing about my shop. Now that's a smart way to grow your business. Hey, Lisa, what's trending right now? Shopping sustainably and my sales, of course. Start reaching your ideal audience through podcast ads with Acast. Visit go.acast.com slash advertise to get started.