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Daily Premier League in English: Episode 81 - Manchester City OUTPLAYED by Kylian Mbappe, Aston Villa denies Liverpool the ten point lead!
16 Plays9 days ago
Kylian Mbappe and Carlo Ancelotti again outsmart Pep Guardiola as the French striker's hat-trick buries Manchester City in the Champions League! Aston Villa taking the fight to Arne Slot's side! Is this a lifeline Arsenal badly need? Join Michał Czarniecki as he discusses all of the action with Jools Jordan-Probert from Daily Man City, Eshan Weerasinghe, and Viktor Plevnes. Tune in and enjoy!
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Transcript
Introduction & Episode Preview
00:00:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
What a day, what a day full of football emotions and that means that it's time to review it all, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the Daily English Premier League podcast. I'm your host, Michal Czarniecki. Super excited for this one, really. I mean, we have so many things to talk about.
00:00:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
I am joined by three guests. Of course, the more the merrier, the more. gives them more perspectives on both of those games. We're going to be reviewing Aston
Guest Introductions & Excitement
00:01:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Villa-Liverpool. But before that, we're just going to be discussing that poor performance by Manchester City as they got knocked out of the Champions League by Real Madrid.
00:01:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Sorry, Jules, we're going to have to somehow touch on that. Choules from Daily Manchester City joining us, like I mentioned. And, of course, my two dear colleagues from Daily English Premier League, which is ah Ishan and Victor.
00:01:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
By the way, such a privilege to be able to do this recording with you, Victor, for the first time.
00:01:34
Viktor
Yep. Thank you for having me. So looking forward to this one, both of us, man, unit United fans.
00:01:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Wow, I mean, like, I...
00:01:40
Viktor
So we're not going to talk a lot about our clubs.
00:01:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, like but but this is why. We're just like those new neutral fans, which will just be um like like drinking it all in. Because, damn, I'm really excited for this one. I'm really super excited for recording an episode that much.
00:01:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
And so much has happened. So let's just jump right to
Man City's Performance vs Real Madrid
00:02:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
it. And Jules... jewels Before we started this recording, like you said, that like you just didn't want to say anything. Instead, you just wanted to um do some sort like a visual presentation on where Pep Guardiola's site is at the moment. But if you could just try describing in three or four sentences what we saw at Santiago Bernabeu.
00:02:19
Jools
Yeah, okay, I'll ah take my mother's advice and use my words. um Yeah, it it it was it was ah it was a hard watch. and Madrid turned up, dominated in all the areas that they needed to. And the match stats were close, but I think anyone that watched the game could see that Madrid were in control. They looked dangerous every time that they had the ball.
00:02:43
Eshan
you
00:02:43
Jools
Mbappe was roaming all around the pitch, going wherever he wanted, causing danger wherever he wanted. City didn't have the answers. we and We talked yesterday about how some of the new signings might have had an impact.
00:02:58
Jools
They did not. Kusinov was run ragged. Nikov looked a bit out of his depth and Marmouche couldn't quite get on the ball enough to make an impact. Of course, that great free kick at the end crashed off the bar for Nikko Gonzalez to tap in for a consolation. But yeah, the day was won by the European giants and um undoubtedly one of the world's greatest footballers in Kylian Mbappe. So I have to hold my hands up there.
Impact of Haaland's Absence
00:03:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, Mbappe's show at Santiago Bernabeu, well-deserved hat-trick. Ishan, I actually have a question to you about how Manchester City's approach was, like like what this approach was ahead of the game against Real Madrid, because um we did see that clear plan in the first leg when they tried to attack, but of course the Real Madrid's mid-block was ah like stopping them and and like halfway through, basically.
00:03:30
Eshan
Mm-hmm.
00:03:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
And what was Pep Guardiola's plan for this game? What do you think?
00:03:53
Eshan
um Well, I think he had a very decent plan. However, five minutes into the game, he's thrown out the window. Madrid get the early goal, and John Stones comes off injured. who if you watch the first leg, John Stones coming out of the midfield back into defense was more than anything the reason that Man City crumbled. like that There's such a composed control...
00:04:19
Eshan
nature with John Stones in the midfield. um But today, they was just a lot more chaotic. I think more than Man City's approach, I think today was the quality of Real Madrid's front line.
00:04:31
Eshan
um in In previous times of the season, we saw that Real Madrid's um attack was very static. Both Mbappe and Vinny were crowded in the left wing.
00:04:42
Eshan
But today, Rodrigo, Bellingham, Vinny, and Mbappe just moved all the way across. And Baal pays goals. um One was straight down the middle, lobbed through ball.
00:04:53
Eshan
The other one far left and the other one far right. I think City were just dismantled and I think that's okay to for it to happen.
00:04:59
Jools
I think
00:05:02
Viktor
Mentally, they were not there. I think they lost the game last week, conceding those two goals at towards the end, and I think they just killed them.
00:05:07
Eshan
Yeah.
00:05:08
Viktor
They were not in the game right off the
Haaland's Role & Team Dynamics
00:05:10
Viktor
start. You could you could tell, and yeah, that's how it turned out to be. I think they never had a chance.
00:05:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Victor, do you think yeah sorry do you think that the presence of Erling Haaland would have helped in any way?
00:05:20
Viktor
I don't think so. I don't think so, to be honest. Obviously, Haaland is Haaland, but I don't think so. I think, yeah, again, mentally, they were not in it.
00:05:27
Jools
I'd have to i'd have to and have to disagree there. i think I think it obviously gives a boost to anyone if the star man isn't in the team. And Haaland had just scored two goals out of two chances in the previous leg.
00:05:39
Jools
So I think that obviously the game isn't won and lost with that. But I do think it would have given... ah Madrid a boost and City a bit of demoralisation, that late, late news that he wasn't in the team.
00:05:51
Jools
and And yeah, I think, like you said, Eishan, I think Real Madrid's quality was the main factor here. i think Mbappe and that front four could have done that to anyone at any given time. It looked like they had another gear or two to go even, you know.
00:06:07
Jools
In past years, Mbappe, It would be very and dissatisfying to admit that City lost to the better team because over the past few years, I don't think there has been.
00:06:07
Eshan
Mm-hmm.
00:06:18
Jools
Maybe they don't have the same amount of Champions League to show for it because, you know, Real Madrid are just a monster in this competition. But yeah, I think the the guard has definitely changed and Manchester City cannot count themselves at the top of the table anymore.
00:06:33
Eshan
Yeah, I'd also like to add that I kind of agree with Jules that Holland brings a big pet presence, but I think he is it like the like primary focal point for City for a number of years.
00:06:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, but like...
00:06:45
Eshan
And I think that's specifically why Marmouche is in there. We saw it against Newcastle. dropping into those spaces right behind Holland like that's there Holland keeps the two center backs up top and it just becomes a completely different game without Holland and I think we saw the struggle with that every time City went forward there was a lack of efficacy there was a lack of lethalness because Holland just stays up top
00:07:13
Jools
Yeah.
00:07:13
Viktor
City is more predictable with Haaland up top. Maybe that's why with Marmushi, Pep, the plan was to be a little bit more unpredictable and go into the game.
00:07:20
Jools
Well, that's why you get both, right? Like ah against Newcastle, um that's why it worked.
00:07:22
Eshan
Yeah.
00:07:22
Viktor
Yeah.
00:07:25
Jools
Like Haaland occupies defenders exactly like you both say and City, yeah, play too much
Defensive Struggles & Key Players
00:07:30
Jools
into that a lot. And that's exactly why Marmoush was signed because the ah combinations between the two, whether one would drop or one would go further...
00:07:38
Jools
Yeah, they were just creating danger in in a different way than what City have had for quite some time. There's plenty of good attacking midfielders in the City team, but none that are willing to make those runs in behind defences to stretch them to allow the other good number 10 type players more space.
00:07:55
Jools
And it creates more space for Haaland to finish his chances. So theoretically, that would have all worked well. But yeah, when Haaland goes, I think the game plan went and a lot of the momentum that City gained from Saturday's demolition of Newcastle completely dissipated because that team was set up with that Haaland-Mamouche duo, which obviously didn't happen today.
00:08:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right.
00:08:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
right
00:08:15
Eshan
Yeah. I think it also leads into um the discussion about Julian Alvarez and how how much of an unsung hero he was at City. Because it's it's one of the hardest things in football is when you want to be a regular starter and you're coming off the bench consistently and consistently.
00:08:32
Eshan
And Alvarez just came off the bench and gave a 9 out of 10 performance almost every single game and occupied that space very well that, as we see with so many players, that it's hardest to adapt to that.
00:08:45
Eshan
So credit to Julian Alvarez.
00:08:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right. And yeah and and actually, like when we a ge spirit is you were discussing like the the absence of Erling Haaland there, I just recalled how Man City was conceded the very first goal.
00:09:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
And all it took for Real Madrid to ah get that first blow going was one pass. One pass was enough to dismantle the entire city structure and defense.
00:09:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
What does that tell us about that team? i really can't I can't wait to hear your opinions on that because if one pass can dismantle the entire defensive organization, then what have you actually built there?
00:09:19
Eshan
Mm-hmm.
00:09:24
Jools
um Well, I think like Victor said, um I think it speaks to the mentality of the team at the moment. and
00:09:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:09:31
Jools
Yeah, I think it wasn't necessarily a tactical thing, right? But then Ruben Diaz, someone who but is one of the most safe and consistent defenders over the last half a decade in world football, completely makes a flap at that header.
00:09:47
Jools
And as soon as that happens and Mbappe finishes it with utmost precision as
Champions League Bracket Insights
00:09:52
Jools
he can at any given time, then the mountain starts to look a lot steeper from that moment and Yeah, the like you said, Ishan, as well, the game plan goes out the window then, doesn't it? when Mike Tyson says everyone's got a plan until you get punched in the face and Mbappe punched us in the face ah quite a few times tonight.
00:10:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
No.
00:10:06
Viktor
yeah
00:10:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Ah.
00:10:12
Eshan
Yeah.
00:10:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
i
00:10:12
Viktor
Yeah, he's in form.
00:10:13
Viktor
I mean, obviously his his quality has always been there, but at the beginning he wasn't, like, I would say confident enough, but now he is, and then he would score those chances, and that's what happened.
00:10:24
Viktor
You can't just let him be in front of the goal like that.
00:10:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Victor, if you were to ah drop any of the players from the starting lineup at Man City so that they could spend a couple of games on the bench or outside the squad, who would it be?
00:10:42
Viktor
Like to give him like a breeder, send him to Vegas like Bulls was doing with Dennis Rodman.
00:10:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, if that's the definition of of going on like on on being barred from starting lineup because of their poor performance, then okay.
00:10:53
Viktor
I don't know. I mean, who else?
00:10:56
Jools
I wish City had a defender like Rodman.
00:10:57
Viktor
Who else would you? yeah
00:11:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
by
00:11:01
Viktor
Who else would you put in that lineup? out i mean, really. Really Stoku on the bench.
00:11:04
Jools
No, it was the team.
00:11:06
Viktor
Yeah.
00:11:06
Jools
It was the team that everyone wanted.
00:11:08
Viktor
Yeah.
00:11:08
Jools
Haaland, obviously, you can't change that, but it was the team everyone wanted, that was.
00:11:10
Viktor
Yeah. Pretty much.
00:11:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, so we're going for the...
00:11:15
Viktor
I don't know how I feel about Kusanov yet, but he needs playing time and that's what Pep gives him.
00:11:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, actually, as far as Kusanov goes, I kind of, I did not, I i do not think anyone was impressed with his debut, but since that debut, his improved a lot.
00:11:31
Viktor
Yeah.
00:11:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
And today, Kusanov was where he was supposed to be in that defense, and Real Madrid did not have an easy task so and with Kusanov. I'm not saying that it was like the most difficult task of their lives, but still, like, Kusanov made his presence felt.
00:11:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
on the pitch. So I think that's, that's still maybe a little positive for Man City fans out there. He's still young. He could like, there are other things. There's still perspectives with this, with this player, right? Isn't that right? Yep.
00:11:59
Viktor
Yeah, well, they didn't sign him for nothing.
00:12:00
Jools
Thank
00:12:01
Viktor
He just needs to find his confidence, see how he feels in that defense with City and then go from there.
00:12:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah Yep, yep. So, Real Madrid is through to the round of 16.
00:12:08
Eshan
Yeah, it's stuck in.
00:12:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
it's like They have already joined Paris Saint-Germain, Club Bruges, Feyenoord, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and Benfica from those teams which had to go through that first knockout playoff round.
00:12:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Looking at how the bracket is shaping, i don't think I want to ask that cliché question of who do you think will win the the Champions League. My question would be, if you were the teams that finished at the league phase, like in top eight, what part of the bracket would you avoid if you had that control?
00:12:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Whoever can take that question. What do you guys think?
00:12:53
Viktor
I don't know if there's...
00:12:53
Jools
I'd avoid whichever part of the bracket Real Madrid are in.
00:12:53
Eshan
Let me look bracket.
00:12:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay. All right. Pretty pretty obvious, but the apart from Real Madrid.
00:13:00
Viktor
i think Liverpool and obviously Barca finish one and two. You want to avoid them. But even playing one in form-wise, they're in big form, in a good form. So you want to avoid those two.
00:13:12
Eshan
Wait, so, okay, just just to clarify the question.
00:13:13
Viktor
And again, you can play with the same... yeah
00:13:15
Eshan
um So are you asking from the 1 through 8 teams perspective, or are you asking through...
00:13:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes, from top-eight perspective.
00:13:21
Eshan
Oh, okay, interesting. um How do the teams we just saw...
00:13:30
Eshan
I think Benfica would be a scary team if they ah weren't scheduled to play Barcelona and Liverpool next.
00:13:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
All right.
00:13:37
Eshan
um PSV also did very well, obviously, Real Madrid. Oh,
00:13:42
Viktor
Well, PSV is still not true, so there's still like 12 minutes left. So hopefully, but hopefully they'll go through.
00:13:46
Eshan
well, there's still a little bit left.
00:13:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, for all the viewers and listeners out there, you already know the outcome. So you can basically say, Wes, Sue,
00:13:53
Eshan
and Please don't spoil it for us.
00:13:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
well, they can't.
00:13:56
Eshan
um
00:13:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
they can They could scream at us, but we won't be able to hear them. That's how it works. yeah So, no, but but seriously, I mean, like, like if the way I look at it, of course, somebody could say that the part of a bracket with Real Madrid, PSG, potentially Liverpool, ah that is a nightmare of a bracket and no one, if if somebody wants to get...
00:14:01
Eshan
But...
00:14:09
Jools
Thank you.
00:14:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah more or less an easy way to the Champions League final in Munich, then that's the part of the bracket that they should avoid. But is that kind of rationale... is that is that kind of rationale make does does does it Does it make sense, guys?
00:14:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
or Or is it just wishful thinking? And if you want to be the best, you have to be able to compete with everyone.
00:14:36
Eshan
play the best.
00:14:38
Jools
You have to beat Real Madrid.
00:14:38
Eshan
Yeah, I... Yeah.
00:14:39
Jools
Sorry.
Liverpool's League Performance
00:14:40
Jools
like To win this competition, you have to beat Real Madrid.
00:14:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right.
00:14:40
Eshan
Yeah.
00:14:42
Jools
It's as simple as that. like We can go down all the different paths that we want to go down, but at the end of the day, there is one juggernaut that stands above all the rest of them, and you'll have to beat them to win the competition.
00:14:44
Eshan
Yep.
00:14:52
Jools
It's as simple as that, in my opinion.
00:14:52
Eshan
Agreed.
00:14:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:14:55
Jools
Sorry to cut you off there, but you know you can't win this competition without so without someone smashing Madrid out of the way, right?
00:14:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, it's fine.
00:14:57
Eshan
No, no. Real Madrid are...
00:15:02
Eshan
Yeah, the be-all, the ends-all.
00:15:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:15:03
Eshan
I think um when Ajax went on that incredible run like a few years ago when they beat Real Madrid and they beat Juventus, that was part of the reason that everyone thought that that's the team that was going to win the Champions League is because they had they had Real Madrid in the back burner.
00:15:15
Jools
Yeah, yeah.
00:15:19
Eshan
And how many teams do that to Real Madrid?
00:15:21
Jools
And then Spurs of all of them, come on.
00:15:24
Eshan
ah The most anti-Spurs thing...
00:15:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then the Spurs went marching in. oh my goodness.
00:15:29
Jools
The Lucas Moira went marching in indeed.
00:15:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, not the best of memories for Arsenal fans, but Arsenal wasn't involved today. We will be talking about Arsenal later in our episodes.
00:15:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
We're going to have to move on unless there's something you guys want to add about this thread, about City-Real Madrid standoff.
00:15:51
Jools
um I would also say i think Liverpool go in equal favourites as well, to be fair, because Liverpool already comfortably beat Real Madrid this year, didn't they?
00:15:57
Eshan
Yeah, I...
00:15:59
Jools
Mbappe wasn't quite hitting the levels he is now, but um yeah no one's going to want to draw Liverpool or Barcelona it in that particular part of the bracket too. so Of course, it it's easy to say Real Madrid will win it, and I'm being a bit facetious, so but there's obviously quality teams littered out through this competition.
00:16:09
Eshan
yeah i
00:16:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, Benfica and Paris Saint-Germain await Liverpool in the round of 16. They did not at play ah today in the Champions League because they had, of course, their spot a round of 16 secured.
00:16:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
But Liverpool did have a game today. And how how did how did it go for them? You'll find out after the ad break.
00:17:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
And what's good for us right now is to talk about how liverpool um but how Liverpool's trip to Birmingham went. And how it went is that they dropped two points. And those could be the crucial points in the title race. And especially that must have been good news for Arsenal as they have a chance to um to somehow rectify that, maybe not completely, but at least partially, the gap in the Premier League table. That was such an exciting game. I think that game was...
00:17:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
even more exciting than the Champions League bout we had. I was watching those games simultaneously. out I was just trying to stay up to date with what was going on. Ishan, did you see that game?
00:17:52
Eshan
um I saw bits of it. I was
Liverpool's Defensive Rotation
00:17:55
Eshan
more focused on the Champions League. But what I did see was um in the first half, especially um is where I was catching most of the games.
00:18:04
Eshan
Rashford. Rashford did fantastic. He seemed like for I think the biggest complaint us United fans have and with Rashford is that he didn't track back.
00:18:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:18:13
Eshan
He didn't track back. You see it every game. remember there was a game against like Wolves last season, that 4-3 away win, and he just wasn't tracking back. And it was like I was pulling my hair out watching that game.
00:18:24
Eshan
But he was tracking back Berville, who's a very, very willing runner. i think it's um i think it's very telling that with this new move, he has like this new lease of life.
00:18:36
Eshan
He doesn't have the match fitness. He's been away from the first team for God knows how long at this point. So um you yeah he's definitely working to them.
00:18:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right.
00:18:44
Viktor
He even did a slight tackle. I don't think I remember anyone tackling, it doing a slight tackle, which is kind of painful to watch him.
00:18:48
Eshan
Yeah, yeah.
00:18:52
Viktor
I'm not a fan of him. I've lost all my patience with him, so I really hope he doesn't even come back at United.
00:18:58
Eshan
Fair enough. I think a lot of United fans probably share the sentiment.
00:18:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Wow.
00:19:00
Viktor
ah yeah umm um I cannot deal with that kid anymore.
00:19:04
Eshan
um
00:19:04
Viktor
I lost all my nerves.
00:19:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:19:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Interesting.
00:19:07
Eshan
But I think I'm watching Rashford now from like more of just like a footballing perspective, and I'm just like enjoying that somebody has like yeah just like the curiosity.
00:19:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Interesting.
00:19:12
Viktor
Right, same. I want to see how he's just going to respond to everything.
00:19:15
Eshan
And I think today was a great example of that. um
00:19:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think we're just going to have to see it until the end of the season to fully assess Rashford's move.
00:19:22
Eshan
Of course, yeah.
00:19:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
But well,
00:19:24
Viktor
He can do worse than what he did at United the last couple years. Yeah.
00:19:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
True, true. So we're not praising him entirely just yet. Let's just wait and just stick around and see what's what's going to come out of that. But Victor, like question to you. ah How do you think how do you think a Villa's approach to the game ah improved?
00:19:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
like in Not improved, but impacted the how the game was going on? Because Villa, they were actually pretty smart about their approach to the game, weren't they?
00:19:58
Viktor
It was a pretty open game from the start. Liverpool started strong. actually watched that game before, and I thought they going get an easy win. But then, again, you have Ancensio and Rashford, so it was a new life for Villa, I would say. and Yeah, it could have gone ah both ways. So a tie probably was the best result for both teams here.
00:20:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I felt to be honest, I felt super. I felt for the defender.
00:20:22
Viktor
Mahlon almost scored at the end.
00:20:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Marlin, there you go.
00:20:23
Viktor
don't know if you guys caught that, but yeah, he...
00:20:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah, yeah. I kind of felt.
00:20:27
Viktor
Could have been easily Sure.
00:20:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I kind of felt pretty sorry for Garcia for like that one mistake which led to the opener. But the way how Villa responded, and to be honest, especially those last minutes, I really... Liverpool came within live within an inch of not dropping two, but actually three points, or just like Victor used to saying there, that Marlon wasted an incredible situation, but Liverpool wasted some of situations of their own.
00:20:54
Viktor
so
00:20:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
So are those the cracks beginning to show in the Liverpool's in the liverpool's facade, it just fatigue? or is it just
00:21:02
Viktor
I don't know. i think it's just they're getting tired.
00:21:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
fatigue
00:21:05
Viktor
Yeah. And then, again, the second half against Wolves over the weekend, that was a tough one as well. So that that shows signs of being tired. And then we'll see how they respond the next to few weeks. Because, again, the deeper we get into the season, the more you have to think about contracts and stuff. And nobody signed yet a new contract. And you have the three big names, obviously, into it. So the deeper we get into the season, if they don't sign, locker room will get tricky, to be honest with you. so
00:21:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:21:32
Viktor
They need to get that sorted before big names get into Salah's race and especially clubs from Saudi Arabia that's going to offer him probably way more money than what he makes now.
00:21:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
um
00:21:43
Viktor
So you want to get that done as soon as possible before you get to the semifinals of the Champions League or whatever.
00:21:46
Eshan
Yeah.
00:21:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm, that's going to be interesting, well, tale of what's going to be happening there. ah But as we we're we're discussing that, I'm looking at the quotes from the game.
00:22:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that's going to be a question for you, Ishan, because Arnest Lott said that it was a great game, but he was not happy with the result. And say, I quote, um It was a great game going in 2-1 down at halftime. Didn't feel like the game went for us like that, but I was disappointed.
00:22:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
We came out in the second half in school to all and had some good chances to make it 3-2 and then we could even have lost it. It was a great game, but I'm not happy with the result. um He then also mentions, he where he goes on to to to mention how Liverpool defence wasn't good enough against that Villa line-up.
00:22:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I guess the question now is, how can Liverpool like can that liverpool rotate their squad so that the defence can still maintain a good quality in the Premier League ah without the same top quality players having to ah be in so much of fatigue?
Aston Villa's Game Strategy
00:22:56
Eshan
um In specifically defense, I think not just after recent stuff. I think Gomez just suffered another long-term injury, which has been par for the course for him, and we wish him the best.
00:23:07
Eshan
And I um didn't see it, but I saw on the match chart that Connor Bradley went off and...
00:23:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right. Hmm.
00:23:12
Viktor
Yeah. He pulled something. i don't know what, but yeah, he's...
00:23:15
Eshan
Yeah, so Trent is working his way back from a little injury as well. So it's not like if you don't have 100% right back and you don't have like really good cover and center back because they ah have Kwanzaa, Van Dijk, and Kanate, and that's it.
00:23:30
Eshan
So um I don't think that they do have the squad to really rotate very well. I think they have the squad to compete, but the squad to rotate is a completely different squad, and I and just don't think they have it, unfortunately.
00:23:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, so next question would be, what's next for Villa?
00:23:48
Viktor
And obviously you had you had the Darren Nunes, the usual miss. He could have won the game for them twice.
00:23:52
Eshan
Oh, yeah. apparently I didn't see the mist, but everyone online is talking about it.
00:23:53
Viktor
So yeah, he was literally an empty goal.
00:23:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right. Right, yeah. I was about to ask about that, but Victor just jumped in a little bit. Okay.
00:24:04
Viktor
Yeah.
00:24:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
i was about to ask for that. Never mind. Okay, we mentioned it. Yeah, that those were like couple of 100% situations that should have been capitalized on, but they were just wasteful. And i think that point really is fair, but really, like just like Arnest Lot said, that game really could have gone either of way.
00:24:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, what's next for Villa? Guys. What do you think?
00:24:28
Eshan
Well, I think it really depends on the European campaign, to be honest.
00:24:29
Viktor
Uh,
00:24:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:24:33
Eshan
I think that's the theme of Villa season so far is like giving their all in Europe and then coming back with a depleted squad. um I think the fact that they played Liverpool today will help them very much. They'll get a break in match week 29. So in like three, four weeks, um I think it's after the international break when the League Cup final happens between Liverpool and Newcastle. That's why they played Liverpool today.
00:24:58
Eshan
But I think a lot is determined on how far they go in Europe. If they get knocked out in the next stage, then I think they'll be fine for the season. But if they are pushing in Europe and and continue to push in Europe, then it's going to be ah completely different season.
00:25:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right. Right.
00:25:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
right
00:25:16
Viktor
They have depth, though.
00:25:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
right
00:25:17
Viktor
That's the difference, I think, for me.
00:25:18
Eshan
They have depth.
00:25:18
Viktor
They they sold Durant, but they brought Asensio, Rashford, brought Malin.
00:25:18
Eshan
They have depth. They rate January.
00:25:23
Viktor
Yeah, so I think they're going to be fine. And it's it's pretty exciting now with all the new names that they brought just because of the money with Durant.
00:25:30
Eshan
Yeah, I mean, I can't even think about the last time um you've really had like a exciting January window with like lots of players that came in and rejuvenated the squad.
00:25:31
Jools
but what would
00:25:31
Viktor
Yeah.
00:25:31
Jools
what would
00:25:39
Eshan
It's been a few years since I i think we've seen one of those.
00:25:43
Jools
What would we class as fine for Villa?
00:25:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right. Hmm. Hmm.
00:25:45
Jools
Because obviously they've set their standards now of with a top class coach and quality transfers, like you guys have just said. I think if they didn't qualify for the Champions League, because let's just say they probably won't win the Champions League, even if they have a great ah greg go at it, you know which I expect them to.
00:26:01
Jools
So if they didn't reach the Champions League again, that would be...
00:26:01
Eshan
Yeah.
00:26:06
Jools
Is that fine? Do you know what i mean? The standards are different now.
00:26:11
Eshan
Yeah, it's like good it's a good question.
00:26:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
well
00:26:11
Viktor
I don't think going to get Champions League next year, even though they're still close. You can say they're like, what, five, six points maybe behind, but I don't think they're gonna get to top four.
00:26:18
Eshan
Mm.
00:26:18
Jools
Yeah, it's very tight. They're they ninth, but they're still only five points away from City in fourth currently.
00:26:20
Viktor
Yeah.
00:26:24
Viktor
Yeah.
00:26:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yep.
00:26:26
Eshan
i just
00:26:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
yep
00:26:26
Viktor
So...
00:26:27
Eshan
While I think Villa have a great squad and they will have a consistent output, I think they're just a this season is not as cohesive of a unit as we've seen in Villa last like last year.
00:26:41
Eshan
For example, when when Villa went away to Arsenal last year, that was of an elite away performance. Every single person knew what they were doing. Every single person was chasing after every ball. Every second ball, was they were winning.
00:26:53
Eshan
And... Now with Villa, youre it's a little more that they have to like motivate themselves, it seems like, for each game. And like they have so many moving parts and so many new signings that it seems that, like like against Ipswich on the weekend, that that's ah that should be a win.
00:27:09
Eshan
That 1,000% should be a Villa win. And if you want to challenge for the top four, what we've what we've seen is that you need incredible consistency. Now, especially with Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest coming into the mix,
00:27:22
Eshan
an extra two teams for slots that
Aston Villa's Future Competitions
00:27:25
Eshan
don't exist. So I just don't see them having that consistent of a run going into the rest of the season.
00:27:34
Viktor
I think that was Emery's mistake over the weekend that he took off Dean at halftime and then they conceded the goal from that side. He should have waited until like 15, 20 more minutes to see how the game is going to go from there.
00:27:43
Eshan
Hmm.
00:27:46
Viktor
I know they had an extra player, but he should have given those couple players that he took out at halftime another 15 minutes and then make the subs because Madsen was at fault for that goal and then they couldn't score a winning goal.
00:27:48
Eshan
Hmm.
00:27:55
Eshan
Yeah. Yeah.
00:27:59
Jools
He's not had a great season really, is he? you know Considering how um how much potential he's got and how good he was at Dortmund last year, I've been a bit underwhelmed.
00:28:06
Viktor
Yeah.
00:28:07
Jools
I think they were planning for him to take Luca Dean's place, but he hasn't been good enough.
00:28:10
Viktor
Yeah.
00:28:12
Eshan
yeah
00:28:12
Viktor
Yeah. Defensively, yeah, he's nowhere near Luka Dina, I think. And his positioning is questionable at times. so But he cuts in offensively.
00:28:20
Jools
Agreed.
00:28:21
Viktor
that's He gets in a shooting position. Even at the game over the weekend, he's getting to pretty much to the box to take a shot. No problem.
00:28:32
Eshan
Yeah, you need your left back to defend.
00:28:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
well Well, so, wow, we've just've we've covered so many players and so many different stories there.
00:28:35
Viktor
Yeah.
00:28:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
and well And that is why i love doing this podcast because as a host, it's a really an easy job. All you have to do is just to drop a general topic out there and have the guests take it to some other levels. And of course, ah stay tuned. And the more you the more you are out there,
00:29:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
the more excited we are to ah make more and more content just like that. and We'll be back after and another ad break.
Game Highlights & Standout Performances
00:29:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you, Zencasta, for ah allowing us to use your platform so that we could just publish it so that we can publish our brand new episodes here at the Global Sports Podcast Network, especially at the Daily English Premier League Podcast. Thank you so much.
00:29:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
and yeah And with that being said, let's move on to the last segment that I got planned for you guys, and that is the highlight of the day. If you were to choose one story one situation, one goal, or maybe one disaster that happened during this day, which one would it be? Highlight of the day.
00:30:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Maybe let's start with Jules because it should be easy, right?
00:30:18
Jools
Yeah, i mean, you can't look past the world's biggest footballer scoring a hat-trick for the world's biggest team in the in the world's biggest match of the day, really, can you? And yeah, he was he was phenomenal.
00:30:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right.
00:30:31
Jools
and He's had a lot of doubters since his move, but I think he's allowed teething issues, especially when they're so stacked in that specific area of the pitch. And today was a real milestone performance in his Real Madrid career, I think. We'll be looking back on this one when he collects one of the numerous mor awards that he will in his time there as the day he really, really arrived on the on the global scene for Madrid.
00:30:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
hmm global global door what am i what am i saying sorry balloon door is what i wanted to say question mark in its future
00:31:06
Jools
Oh, yeah, no doubt in my mind.
00:31:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, Lewandowski will still have to wait.
00:31:09
Eshan
Yeah, agreed.
00:31:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Maybe they will give him the Ballon d'Or post-mortem. What do you guys think?
00:31:15
Jools
They should. They should. They should. i think that's what it's going to to take, though.
00:31:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
oh God. ah Well, he will have it. I mean, yeah, he will just win. he will have won. Never mind. Okay, sorry. It's just my like my Polish football heart just cracking again.
00:31:28
Eshan
he's He's the winner on our hearts.
00:31:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Ah...
00:31:30
Jools
You're not wrong, though. You're not wrong. He did deserve that one. He did deserve that one in COVID, yeah.
00:31:33
Eshan
Yeah, it was undisputed.
00:31:33
Viktor
Yeah.
00:31:34
Eshan
Undisputed.
00:31:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Yeah, yeah. Well, fingers crossed. Fingers crossed that Barcelona does well. And maybe, just maybe, maybe, just maybe people from France football.
00:31:43
Jools
Rafinha.
00:31:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Here we go.
00:31:44
Jools
If Barca go all the way, it's Rafinha, isn't it?
00:31:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:31:47
Eshan
Yeah.
00:31:47
Jools
He's the main man now, in my opinion.
00:31:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, there goes the chances. Never mind. So, Ishan, what is your highlight of the day?
00:31:55
Eshan
I mean, i like um I'm trying to play devil's advocate because ah my highlight walls will also be the Mbappe. Because that second goal, I like literally leapt out of my chair because it was so good.
00:32:08
Eshan
But I'll go with PSV. I think PSV upsetting Juventus is not something that many people had on their cards. Juventus... uventus Usually a defensively resolute side, you um under Thiago Motta, they have had something crazy in the league of like 13 draws, but were unbeaten until like a month ago when Napoli beat them.
00:32:30
Eshan
So very, very defensively solid. Going away to PSV, there's a ah great argument that you think Juventus are just going to shut up shop. I think they definitely tried to, but PSV kept on pushing, and kept on pushing, and...
00:32:45
Eshan
More than a highlight, I'm just going to go with a standout player when I was watching that game, Noah Lang. I think he will be in a top team. I think it's only a matter of time. I think, unless you consider PSV a top team, in which case he's already there.
00:32:59
Viktor
Yeah.
00:33:00
Eshan
um But he was spraying like balls around, like just pushing people up. like Progressive ball carries, I think is the statistic. um But more than that, as soon as he did something, had a great shot to the bottom corner, he was like G-ing up the fans. And I think I love that from our player. I think that's incredible. So I'm going go with him for my man of the day.
00:33:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, that's not that's not playing devil's advocate. That's actually pretty good. Come on, Ishan.
00:33:26
Jools
Yeah, it was a well-informed and executed argument.
00:33:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
and Don't be so modest.
00:33:28
Jools
Come on.
00:33:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Of course, of course, of course.
00:33:29
Viktor
Yeah. yeah
00:33:31
Eshan
just Mbappe first Bernabeu hat-trick is kind of hard to top though.
00:33:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
wouldn't be able to constrict that argument. but ah OK, well, there's still Victor. Let's give Victor a shot. So what's your highlight?
00:33:39
Viktor
I mean, no matter how hard I try to find something else, no, the hat-trick by Mpappe, that's the highlight of the day for sure.
00:33:45
Eshan
yeah
00:33:47
Viktor
I mean, he's been soaring, like, but what, four games in a row against Atletico Madrid and City twice, so, yeah.
00:33:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:33:54
Viktor
He's picking up his form at the most important part of the season, so that's dangerous. That's why Madrid now, yeah.
00:33:58
Eshan
I think it's his seventh goal at home in a row.
00:34:02
Viktor
Yeah.
00:34:02
Eshan
Yeah,
00:34:03
Viktor
Crazy.
00:34:04
Jools
And if if he if he can maintains this form, we're not no one's going to be talking about that sticky start today.
00:34:04
Viktor
Yeah.
00:34:09
Eshan
yeah.
00:34:09
Viktor
Yeah.
00:34:09
Eshan
yeah
00:34:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
We will just just see how it goes. And of course, I can go for my private highlight of the day, which is Matty Kaszowski, as Ishan calls him, coming back after brigading his strengths, after the injury.
00:34:19
Viktor
MediCash.
00:34:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
And he got a little bit of a... He actually got a decent performance. He got some runs on the wing. He actually even took a short on goal. which is more than we can say about Manchester City's performance when there was like after a 75th minute, I guess it was just only one shot and was off target.
00:34:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Damn, i actually I actually felt for you.
00:34:42
Jools
Yeah, that sounds about right, yeah.
00:34:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah, yeah. I do not remember entirely correctly, but but but that must be it. And Matty Cash coming back. Really looking forward to seeing him in the Premier League again. So, with that awesome positive note, that concludes our review of what was going on in Birmingham and in Madrid.
00:35:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Aston Villa with a to old draw against the Liverpool. And, of course, Manchester City just having some sort of like a train wreck match, to be honest.
00:35:14
Eshan
Thank you.
00:35:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
when they lost three nils in Madrid in the second leg. Thank you guys so much. Jules from Daily Manchester City. Thank you so much. Ishan and Victor from the our team of Daily English Premier League. Michał Czarniecki from California. Thank you guys so much for joining and the tune in tomorrow and the day after that. And then join in for all of the days that when we publish our episodes because you will have plenty of listened to.
00:35:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you so much again. And from California and everyone here, i will say zobaczenia, do usłyszenia. Yeah.