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Daily Women Football : Beyond the Pitch Episode 123 - WCL and WSL ( and Chelsea first loss!)
21 Plays13 days ago
Join Cate and Catherine for a podcast all about the Women Champions League's games and the exciting WSL weekend ahead.
@gspnwomens
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Transcript
Introduction and Podcast Overview
00:00:08
Cath
Hello and welcome to Beyond the Pitch, a daily women's football podcast brought to you by the Global Sports Podcast Network.
Euro 2024 Volunteer Shirt Discussion
00:00:15
Cath
I'm Catherine and today I'm joined by Kate. Hello.
00:00:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello, hello.
00:00:21
Cath
Can I ask what shirt are you wearing? If people can't see, I can see you're wearing a green shirt.
00:00:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
So basically, yeah of course you can ask me. This is, can you hear? Can you see?
00:00:30
Cath
Oh, volunteer.
00:00:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, this is the uniform we had last year when I was volunteering for the Euro 2024 in Germany.
00:00:37
Cath
Oh, wow, cool.
00:00:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, that i always thought like, but why do we have Jamaican colors? But...
00:00:44
Cath
yeah
00:00:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, yeah, bring on the party.
00:00:47
Cath
Yeah.
00:00:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, so it was... um ah The volunteers were all ah green and yellow on top. So you get given like four five shirts.
00:00:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah the The trousers were grey and the shoes were also white and green. Very uncomfortable.
00:01:05
Cath
Oh, lovely. Very bright. Wow.
00:01:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Very uncomfortable. Yeah, very brows. I mean, I get it so that you spot them straight away because obviously if they would all wear like... black or something how do you spot us while obviously with really bright colors wherever you are walking you straight away know okay that's a volunteer and everything was the same so like the rain jacket if we needed it the jumper and everything very looked after the backpack the little purse for your like the bum bag yeah no that's really nice like the package that comes with the volunteering it's
00:01:30
Cath
wow
00:01:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
really really nice just the shoes were really uncomfortable i am i reported back to Adidas and told them
00:01:43
Cath
ah
00:01:47
Cath
I'm sure he did.
Catherine's Scottish Heritage Highlighted
00:01:48
Cath
um Also, for those listening, I am wearing a Scotland shirt because Scotland men play tonight and I, despite my accent, I'm actually mostly Scottish, so...
00:01:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
come on bring the accent on okay
00:02:01
Cath
I can't. And I was just in Scotland literally two days ago. I should, but I can't. My dad has an accent. ah But yeah.
Champions League Fixture Highlights
00:02:10
Cath
ah So today's podcast, we will be talking about the blockbuster Champions League fixtures from the week.
00:02:17
Cath
Quick recap. Bayern Munich were beaten 2-0 at home by Lyon. Arsenal were beaten 2-0 away at Real Madrid. Wolfsburg were Barcelona'd. They were beaten 4-1 at home.
00:02:30
Cath
Man City ended Chelsea's unbeaten run, which I think stretched to 31 games. Insane! So, we'll go in order. ah We'll leave Man City and Chelsea to the end. Sorry guys, you're going to have to listen to the whole thing if you want to get that ah discussion.
00:02:47
Cath
So starting off with Bayern Munich versus Lyon. Firstly, a massive shout out to Marla Gross. ah So for those who don't know, she was diagnosed with cancer back in October and has missed the last few months while she had surgery.
00:03:01
Cath
She was reintroduced in kind of a baptism of fire against Lyon in the Champions League. What a game to return for. And she put in a player of the match performance, saving a penalty from Lindsay Heaps, making numerous other important saves.
00:03:19
Cath
Bayern played well, but suffered a Lyon who were very clinical and took their chances.
Arsenal vs Real Madrid Watch Party
00:03:25
Cath
The goals came from De Mourne and Chawinga. So, Kate, did you watch that game?
00:03:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, I didn't watch the game. I actually watched the Arsenal-Real Madrid game.
00:03:36
Cath
who
00:03:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
I went with Baller FC for the watch party. So, shout out to the girls.
00:03:40
Cath
Oh, cool.
00:03:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, one of the OG watch parties for women's football.
00:03:44
Cath
Yeah.
00:03:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I love to support them. I used to go to all of them. And now with the schedule, it's a bit difficult, but i love what they are doing. So, if you're listening, check them out. Baller FC watch parties in London for now and Manchester.
00:03:57
Cath
Excellent.
00:03:58
Cath
Yeah.
00:03:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
um
00:03:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, I didn't. I yeah i didn't. ah But I just wanted to say something.
Marla Gross's Inspirational Return
00:04:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, what ah not only like what a what's a woman, what's a young woman, because she's still quite young, you know, Mala Grof is.
00:04:05
Cath
Mm-hmm.
00:04:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
But also like, yeah, exactly.
00:04:15
Cath
Yeah, she's 23. Yeah.
00:04:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I never know. 23, are you a girl? Are you a young woman? So i'm going to say young woman. I'm going say young woman.
00:04:24
Cath
yeah
00:04:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, how brave?
00:04:27
Cath
Mm-hmm.
00:04:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Really how brave I, you know, I'm i'm thinking about her determination on just, it's only a few months.
00:04:33
Cath
Mm-hmm.
00:04:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's not a lot of time. I mean, I, in a sort of, totally different, but in a sort of way, obviously I just broke my wrist. And I remember when I had my surgery on Women's Day, like on International Women's Day, and the day after it was a Sunday, so I really didn't do anything.
00:04:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
And on the Monday, I started to work straight away. Obviously, I work from home.
00:04:55
Cath
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
00:04:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
I can type, so it's easier. And know everybody was like, No, you know, just take it easy. Let your body heal. Take it easy. But some people are not like that. So just knowing this about mala made me quite emotional because I just think the determination in that young woman of just saying, well, got this.
00:05:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
I got my surgery. I'm back on it. I'm going to train. And I'm going to be back stronger than before. And I just, you know, I just want to take a second to to really applaud her. But no, unfortunately, I didn't watch that game. I only watched the highlights.
00:05:28
Cath
so Really?
00:05:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
And so, yeah, interesting. I wouldn't have put I wasn't sure they that Lyon was going to win. I wouldn't have been so secure about it.
00:05:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
did Do you know what I mean?
00:05:39
Cath
Hmm.
00:05:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think it's a game that could have gone both ways.
00:05:40
Cath
I mean.
00:05:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Although I have to say that my friend who is a coach,
00:05:45
Cath
Hmm.
00:05:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah straight away said to me nah Leon's gonna do it and I was like really? and she's like yeah but she was so convinced and I was like I'm not that convinced so yeah
00:05:52
Cath
Hmm.
00:05:58
Cath
I have to admit, I was convinced I thought Lyon were going to win. um
00:06:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
okay how so?
00:06:02
Cath
I just thought Champions League, their history... For Bayern, I think the big thing was improving on last year's Champions League um when they went out in the group stages, I believe.
00:06:15
Cath
ah Yeah, just Lyon with their history, getting to finals, winning. Yeah, I just think they they know what it takes. And um although in saying that, that argument doesn't hold up due to something we'll talk about later.
00:06:28
Cath
Yeah.
00:06:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Also true, yeah.
00:06:31
Cath
yeah
00:06:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
But its yeah, I understand his mentality. um Shall we pass through the other game?
00:06:36
Cath
Yes, so Real Madrid hosted Arsenal.
Critique of Poor Pitch Conditions
00:06:40
Cath
Now, we have to start with the pitch conditions. I mean, absolutely awful. No professional game of football should be played on a pitch like that.
00:06:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, to me, it's very disappointing because this is the second time this week I'm podcasting exactly on the same thing.
00:06:57
Cath
Yeah, exactly.
00:06:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
So on Saturday evening, Nat and I had a podcast about the Subway Cup, played at Derby, and I was raging about... Like, I remember literally sitting down on my friend's sofa, the game just...
00:07:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah She just put the game on, and I just was like... Is that the pitch we're playing on? Like, what?
00:07:19
Cath
Yeah.
00:07:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, wait, they are playing on. And then she was like, yeah. And I'm like, surely not. She's like, yeah. And obviously it got worse and worse. And to be honest, I did exactly the same thing when I walked into the sports bar, you know, on the...
00:07:32
Cath
Hmm.
00:07:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
On Wednesday evening, I was just like, sorry, on Tuesday evening, I was like, i that it's okay, it's really raining. It was really wet. Fine. But I was like, have they seriously letting these two teams play on this fit? Like, it's it's appalling. It's terrible.
00:07:52
Cath
What I really really hate is that so people who don't like women's football, mainly men who don't like women's football, complain about how unprofessional it is, how the standards are really low.
00:08:08
Cath
claying Putting a Champions League quarterfinal or a League Cup final on pitches like that just gives them more ammo. It just gives them more ammunition to turn on the game and say, oh, well, look at how they're playing.
00:08:22
Cath
And how they're playing is a result of the pitch conditions. It just gives them more ammo. There's a huge risk of injuries with it. Teams have to adapt their play style. I wanted to shout out Susie Rack, actually, who put a really good tweet out comparing, just saying, look, Real Madrid, look at the facilities that they have, and this is the pitch that they put this quarterfinal on.
00:08:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think what i liked about the tweets of Susie, which i also reposted, and i I mean, obviously, a disclaimer, she's my favorite ah reporter. Like I've said to you, we spoke about her a few times, but she is because...
00:08:56
Cath
Yeah, yeah, yeah. She's one of my favourites too.
00:08:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
she's She is because, first of all, she's very unapologetic of who she is.
00:09:02
Cath
Mm-hmm.
00:09:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
She's extremely knowledgeable.
00:09:02
Cath
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
00:09:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
She doesn't just spit out sentences for the sake of it. She would back up anything that she says. I love that. She was one of the very few ones, you know, going to to write and report about women's football when there were like, you know, 150 people watching the game, not 30,000.
00:09:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, you know, so I've got a massive appreciation for her. She wrote a fantastic book. I mean, she's just an awesome person all around. But again, you see, she puts out facts. She didn't just say like, oh, they play a bigger.
00:09:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
She just said like, you know, these are the dates Real Madrid is playing, which literally means the pitch would have been available without disrupting the men's game, which we understand, of course, that's where it brings in the more money and you have to be careful.
00:09:44
Cath
Yeah.
00:09:48
Cath
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:09:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I think the next time they play at home is next week. So the 26 or something like that.
00:09:55
Cath
Mm-hmm.
00:09:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
So it's just like you could have made it. It wouldn't have affected the men's game.
00:09:59
Cath
Yeah.
00:10:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
Plus they have a pitch that can be kind of like they've got different levels so they can use slightly different ones. And it's just like, so you, ah you know, you did this intentionally.
Facility Standards for Women's Football
00:10:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I love that she's not but unapologetic about it.
00:10:14
Cath
Plus, what, I mean, Joey Barton came back, of course he did, with just, I mean, my big issue with the things that he said, he says, oh, well, you couldn't fill this pitch, so how would you fill the, you know, Real Madrid stadium?
00:10:35
Cath
Is it the Bernabeu?
00:10:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes.
00:10:38
Cath
Yes. um
00:10:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Bernabeu.
00:10:40
Cath
Oh, okay.
00:10:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Go on.
00:10:42
Cath
and Sorry, did I sound very English when I said that?
00:10:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Bernabeu.
00:10:46
Cath
um But like, who when you're going to a football match, nobody can claim that they're only going for football. Like, who would want to go to this pitch that's out of the way, that's a really tiny pitch?
00:11:01
Cath
If the game was at the Bernabeu, you would get more people going just because it's a day out at a massive stadium at Real Madrid's home.
00:11:13
Cath
Like, it's just, oh, like, yeah. Anyway, let's move on from that.
00:11:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I mean, obviously, i none of us were none of us for now works in operations in football teams.
00:11:18
Cath
Hmm.
00:11:22
Cath
Hmm.
00:11:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
We don't really know the insides of what really happens, why are the decisions made, etc. We are only assuming the fact that maybe they consider the women's team slightly less. It'd be nice to see more development going forward.
00:11:33
Cath
Hmm.
00:11:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think there are a few teams that put effort in there. And they're really setting the standard, you know, the same as what happens last season, you know, with Arsenal, Leicester, Aston Villa taking a stand and saying, you know what, the girls are going to play in our stadium unless it clashes with the men fixture.
00:11:43
Cath
Yeah. Mm-hmm.
00:11:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
And we also understand that. I get it. They are the one that brings in the most money. They also help to you know, fund the girls game, etc.
00:11:57
Cath
yeah
00:11:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I get it. Unless it clashes, you know, all the games will be played there. And I i love that. ah But yeah, I mean, this this type of games, this type of pitches, it reminded us like how much still we have to go and you know, we will.
00:12:15
Cath
I have a couple more points on that game. ah So Arsenal seem to be struggling to adapt their play style when the pitch doesn't favour them. i mean, do you see that?
00:12:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I'm going to say something here. It's maybe slightly controversial. And of course, please, anyone who's listening, a disclaimer, I am not a coach.
00:12:32
Cath
Oh, love it. Mm-hmm.
00:12:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't have Pro-A license. I don't have any of that. I think it's very important to remember that as much as Renee is great in many, many ways, ah you know she I think she's brought back the Arsenal spirit. She's done a lot for the team.
00:12:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
But the difference between an extremely experienced coach and someone who isn't as much, and this is not, in no way, this is a critics to her as a coach.
00:13:07
Cath
yeah, yeah.
00:13:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's just a question of experience.
00:13:07
Cath
yeah
00:13:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. You see, the more you carry on in seasons. Yeah.
00:13:13
Cath
Hmm.
00:13:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
so I think, ah that is It's definitely something she and the team have to work on. It's not something that is easy to work on and it comes with experience.
00:13:20
Cath
Yeah.
00:13:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, you know, obviously i i am a Tottenham fan, but I will be there watching Arsenal next week. ah You know, I will cheer them. i I want English teams to stay in the competition.
00:13:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's why I'm very upset that Manchester City and Chelsea played against each other because it means one of them is going to go.
00:13:40
Cath
yeah
00:13:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
um And i really I really wish Arsenal, like I hope they will be able to find a way to tweak things around.
Fan Criticism in Women's Football
00:13:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I know you wanted to make another point as well, actually, about that sort of, I don't want to use the word hate, but that kind of like non-love, let's say, that Beth Mead and Leah Williamson are getting.
00:13:50
Cath
Yeah.
00:14:00
Cath
yeah
00:14:05
Cath
Yeah, so i yeah, I've mentioned this before, but I quite like kind of going incognito into different fan groups. And I never say anything.
00:14:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
who
00:14:16
Cath
ah just look at what people are saying. I'm just amazed at how much hate Beth Mead and Leah Williamson get from Arsenal fans, from their own fans. I mean, they were blamed by a huge amount of them for the loss.
00:14:32
Cath
You just go, what are you talking about? What are you talking about? It's i think it's a key it's emblematic to me of people who joe who have an opinion.
00:14:45
Cath
They think that Beth Mead is washed at 29. nine they think They don't rate Leah Williamson for whatever reason. And so everything in psychology, we call it an attribution error when you attribute an event or an occurrence to the wrong thing based on preconceived prejudices and biases.
00:15:09
Cath
So I just think that these fans have these opinions that Beth Mead, Leah Williamson are bad for some reason and now everything becomes their fault, rightly or wrongly.
00:15:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, um yeah, I'm going to say something very quickly and then we jump on to the next one.
00:15:21
Cath
Mm-hmm.
00:15:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Again, you and I spoke about this before. This is one of the things that, for me, rings an alarming bell because it's very typical of the men's game.
00:15:35
Cath
Yeah.
00:15:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
And it really, really, really makes me sad to see it move it into the women's game. It wasn't like that. So this is when you go and watch a men's game, you know, they they all go in, they all love their teams, et cetera.
00:15:47
Cath
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
00:15:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then it's soon... you know someone doesn't perform it's like all about that person that person should leave the club why did they even spend that money buying that what is going on they forget about everything i mean these people forget that beth mead and leah williams um really are the two i don't want to say the only two but they were two pillars that made us win the euro in 2022 you know like they are two you know lie they are they they make such a difference in the game and hey okay maybe they didn't play the best game of their life so what you know they play at home next week they have the opportunity to win to win big and to get back in there so that's really if you are a fan and if you are a fan of the women's game that's really how your behavior should be should be like okay we lost let's go next week we're playing at home there's going to be a lot of us supporting you cheering you
00:16:39
Cath
Mm-hmm.
00:16:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
We're going to come back in there. You're coming back stronger than before. Come on, let's go. Not like, oh, you made us last. But yeah, I just, I have no time for that type of behavior. And I hope it will be tackled as soon as possible.
00:17:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
um So, second part of the pod. Now we are going to talk about Wolfers... Wolfers...
00:17:41
Cath
Wolfsburg.
00:17:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Alex Pop team and Barca. How about that? And then City and Chelsea. I don't want to say anything about City and Chelsea because I'm going to cry.
00:17:51
Cath
Yeah, that ah but let's leave that ah for the last one.
00:17:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:17:55
Cath
or
00:17:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:17:56
Cath
um By Munich's manager, Alexander Strauss, he calls Wolfsburg the green team because they're very green.
Barcelona's Champions League Dominance
00:18:02
Cath
Like your shirt. They're very green.
00:18:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
i called them I call them Alex Pop team.
00:18:05
Cath
Yeah.
00:18:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
But anyway, yeah.
00:18:07
Cath
Yeah.
00:18:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
So ah just to recap, but Barcelona wins actually away. So at the green team home, 4-1.
00:18:13
Cath
ye
00:18:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's big statement. Big statement. Because, I mean, Wolfsburg is a strong team. So that, I think, is a massive, massive statement from Barca.
00:18:23
Cath
yeah
00:18:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
And yeah, and the other result, I don't know. I didn't look at it. What happened?
00:18:34
Cath
So yeah, it was never going to be easy to face Barcelona. um Wolfsburg will not be happy they conceded four.
00:18:42
Cath
ah The return lag, I think it's pretty insurmountable. and We'll come to this later, but i I fully expect Chelsea to turn it around. um And I expect Arsenal to turn it around.
00:18:55
Cath
But a three goal gap. ah So goal scorers included Paraluelo on the score sheet, Irene Paradis, and Minge got one back for the green team.
00:19:09
Cath
Barca just looked, I watched the game, they just looked at their best. Bonmati was everywhere. ah Alexia Patel was everywhere.
00:19:20
Cath
And yeah, it was just one of those games. Wolfsburg didn't really ever emerge into Barca's half of the pitch, apart from when they got that goal.
00:19:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I mean, you knew it because like we were supposed to, just a disclaimer, we were supposed to to supposed the podcast last night and then Catherine just went like, look, whatever time we podcast, it has to be around that because I am watching that game.
00:19:35
Cath
Hmm.
00:19:46
Cath
yeah
00:19:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's like there was no thing. So you knew it was going to be a great game.
00:19:48
Cath
but
00:19:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
I didn't. I didn't watch. I watched the other game, but only the first half. And yeah, i i yeah I mean, you never know. Football is always unpredictable, you know, whatever, whatever, whatever.
00:20:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I'm going to have to say this is a goodbye for Wolfsburg because ah if it would have been the other way around, as in if they lost 4-1,
00:20:06
Cath
Oh yeah.
00:20:13
Cath
Hmm.
00:20:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know, at Camp Nou, so at Barcelona, and then Barca had to go to their home, you think like, okay, maybe. But going to Barcelona and scoring all of, nah.
00:20:27
Cath
No.
00:20:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, again, you know, football is football, so really you never know.
00:20:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
But it would have to be that, you know... Wolfsburg would have to play like really the game of their life and Barcelona would have to play the worst game of their life. Not going to happen.
00:20:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I think this is a seal for Barcelona to move to the, you know, to the semis and well done to them.
00:20:46
Cath
Me too.
00:20:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, boring because with again them, but you know, well done to them.
00:20:53
Cath
Yeah.
00:20:57
Cath
I think Wolfsburg are going to be green with envy.
00:21:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
I see what you did there. i see what you did there.
00:21:05
Cath
Yeah.
00:21:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:21:06
Cath
um So we should talk about the other game.
00:21:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Should we?
00:21:12
Cath
Manchester City.
00:21:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
don't think so. No, why We don't need to. hi Let's move on.
00:21:16
Cath
Manchester City and Chelsea.
00:21:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
No.
00:21:20
Cath
I'm not going to say that City won. I'm going to say that Vivian Miedema won.
00:21:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean...
00:21:26
Cath
And why doesn't she have a Ballon d'Or? I was looking at this. Or a FIFA the best for best player? Like, that's insane
00:21:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, but also, why doesn she doesn't she want to date me? i mean...
00:21:37
Cath
insane.
00:21:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:21:38
Cath
I think she's happy with Beth and Miley, okay?
00:21:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, let's who? heles Let's send out a survey and let's find out about it.
00:21:45
Cath
Yeah. Yeah.
00:21:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
Now,
00:21:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, for someone, you know, if you followed us for a long time, you know that although I'm a Tottenham Hotspur supporter, I have a very soft spot for Chelsea.
Chelsea's Impact on Women's Football
00:22:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
Reason being, I think they have done so much for the women's game.
00:22:06
Cath
Mm-hmm.
00:22:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
And they've done so much for the women's game, in England at least. And they've done so much for the women's game. And I'm talking, you know, from their academy. ah so the foundation, the academy, the whole of it.
00:22:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
And they've done it for a long time, very quietly. So I think for a long time they've been underrated, underestimated on the work that they've done towards the women's game, yeah?
00:22:27
Cath
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
00:22:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah It makes me sad because I think ah replacing Emma Ayes was big.
00:22:36
Cath
o
00:22:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
like It was big to step into her footsteps. you know You're talking about like the best of the best of the best club ah club-wise.
00:22:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah So I think Sonia took on a fantastic challenge in there. You know, when people say like, oh, well, easy, she already found a team of superstars, et cetera. Easy? Not really.
00:22:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Not really.
00:22:58
Cath
You would say the same about Manchester United after Sir Alex Ferguson left.
00:23:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Exactly. Well, there you go.
00:23:04
Cath
yeah
00:23:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, exactly. and But it happened before, right?
00:23:07
Cath
Yeah.
00:23:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's not said that, you know, exactly that. So... so Coming out from, you know, obviously ah Chelsea played Manchester City on Saturday and they won.
00:23:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
It wasn't their best win, I have to say.
00:23:21
Cath
No.
00:23:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think maybe on Saturday Chelsea didn't win, but Manchester City lost. you understand what I mean?
00:23:29
Cath
you Yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:23:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
they played in a way that really facilitated their loss. And I think it's that's what happened, really.
00:23:38
Cath
Hmm.
00:23:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think, you know, um Manchester City really sat down and thought, OK, let's really analyse the game. Let's really analyse what we can do. They really understood how to go around it.
00:23:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I mean, for me, i really i think the reason why Vivian hasn't got a Ballon d'Or is because of her injuries. So she's been out so much that she hasn't been highlighted in a certain way, like,
00:23:59
Cath
Yeah, for sure.
Vivian Miedema's Overlooked Talent
00:24:04
Cath
Mm-hmm.
00:24:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
you know,
00:24:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
nothing to take away from Bon Mati and Poutelas at all.
00:24:09
Cath
Mm-hmm.
00:24:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Not at all.
00:24:10
Cath
Oh, yeah, definitely not.
00:24:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
You know, also two fantastic athletes and fantastic football players. But I really think that's why i think, I mean... I'm going to put it out there, but I think Vivian deserves it more than Alexia.
00:24:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think Bob Matty, I don't know.
00:24:27
Cath
Hmm.
00:24:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
i mean, that's she's an incredibly impressive player. And like, if she's on it, that's it. Like, that's it. there's that's There's no other thing. But Vivian is also a player that shows her...
00:24:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
experience not only only like how good she is, but also her experience in leading the team, in understanding the game, in being at the right place, at the right really her understanding of the game for me is so good.
00:24:45
Cath
Yeah. Mm-hmm.
00:24:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I hope that with the new changes in Manchester City, ah with the new coaching staff, etc., she will find really hard place to shine.
00:25:03
Cath
Yeah.
00:25:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I think Yes, I think Chelsea can turn it around.
00:25:13
Cath
Mm-hmm.
00:25:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Next week also I will be at the game, but it's time for Bridge, so please come. ah But it will be very, very, very hard. Just a little disclaimer here. I mean, Chelsea had so many fantastic opportunities. ah
00:25:28
Cath
yeah
00:25:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, like, both goalkeepers did incredible in this game. um But, yeah, they just couldn't finalise And I think it's the first time that I've seen Chelsea like that since the beginning of the season.
00:25:42
Cath
Yeah.
00:25:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Go
00:25:43
Cath
I mean, I actually have a little bit of a controversial thought.
00:25:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
go on
00:25:50
Cath
ah I think Chelsea needed this loss and I think they will use it to push on for the rest of the season.
Chelsea's Loss as a Growth Catalyst
00:25:59
Cath
This is a Chelsea who...
00:26:02
Cath
I think Sonia has done an amazing, an amazing job. um She's become one of my favourite managers as well for how she comes across in press conferences and just, ah I just love her basically.
00:26:16
Cath
um What I think is that Chelsea haven't been playing their best for a little while. The loss hasn't come. I don't think that people with the mindset that they have in this Chelsea team get complacent, but I do think maybe they get a bit oh almost like the standards...
00:26:38
Cath
need to be higher from within the team, which they've come out and said themselves. And I think teams, some teams, we've seen this with England as well. Some teams need a loss to push them forward to learn. Yes, you can lose a game.
00:26:54
Cath
We've all been saying Chelsea are going to go unbeaten. Amazing 31 win streak, 31 game winning streak. Maybe Chelsea needed to be shown. Yes, you can lose. Yeah.
00:27:06
Cath
And this is a big game to lose in. It's making your job very difficult next week. I believe they're going to do it because i i yeah, I just think the mentality within the team um is such that they won't let this go.
00:27:23
Cath
However, I do think if City score early, that would change everything.
00:27:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
So my opinion is different. ah um i
00:27:37
Cath
That's okay.
00:27:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
i think it's a um and I don't think City is going to score. I think City is going to come to Stamford Bridge and is going to put an incredible, massive gridlock on defending their score.
00:27:45
Cath
Hmm.
00:27:52
Cath
Yeah.
00:27:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah That's really, that would be the best technique. As in like, we are massive on defense and then we play, you know, Vivian and e etc. on the front. So if we score is a bonus, but the key factor is defending, defending, defending, defending because it's a two nil lead.
00:28:04
Cath
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:28:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
So it's not too, too bad.
00:28:12
Cath
Yeah.
00:28:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
um I mean, as in like, you can do a little error where Chelsea can score one ball and you can still go through. So that's that that's my opinion. ah But I absolutely agree with you on the fact that sometimes a team needs that type of reality check.
00:28:30
Cath
yeah
00:28:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Maybe Chelsea mistake, let's put it in this way, was also walking into the game thinking, OK, we just beat this lot on Saturday, so we just got to do the same again. ah Yeah.
00:28:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
And and i am hoping next week to be a Stamford Bridge. and You know, Sam Kerr is going to walk in and it's cool.
00:28:50
Cath
I mean yeah I think that the league game this weekend I think Sonia would sacrifice three points in the league game for reversing this scoreline and so
00:29:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
As in, as in, okay, so let's just, a disclaimer. ah So this weekend on the WSL, surprise, surprise, Chelsea is playing Manchester City.
00:29:20
Cath
Yeah?
00:29:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Unbelievable. And you think she's going to let that go?
00:29:26
Cath
I don't think she'll come out and say it and I don't think she'll let it go fully but I think Champions League trumps League and they do have a bit of a cushion ahead.
00:29:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't know.
00:29:43
Cath
When it comes to player players some of them did look a bit overplayed a bit fatigued
00:29:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, i mean, they have been playing a lot of games. So did City, actually.
00:29:53
Cath
Yeah.
00:29:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
But don't know. i guess we'll see you next week.
00:30:23
Cath
Okay, ah just to finish up.
Preview of Upcoming WSL Matches
00:30:25
Cath
So coming up, we have the WSL is back. Arsenal face a Liverpool who have been rested after a game that we're not going to even talk about because I have erased it from my memory. It does not exist.
00:30:39
Cath
Manchester United did not go to Anfield and lose. That did not happen. I am not recovered from that, so it didn't happen. um But my point was Liverpool have had a more of a break than Arsenal have.
00:30:52
Cath
Arsenal, as we said, just ah played on that pitch in Madrid, had to travel, come back. ah Liverpool, if they played the way they did at Anfield, They will give Arsenal a very tough game.
00:31:06
Cath
um Of course, they've beaten Arsenal very recently and the FA Cup. I get confused with all the cups.
00:31:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:31:14
Cath
Yeah, the FA Cup.
00:31:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, they're fake.
00:31:16
Cath
um Manchester City face. Should we do three guesses? We've already said it in the last segment, but let's do three guesses. Who do you think City will face this weekend? It's Chelsea again.
00:31:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, is it? No, you don't say.
00:31:32
Cath
um Yeah, City face Chelsea for round three in their four game kind of mini tournament with with Chelsea. um Yeah, so that'll be interesting.
00:31:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, it's one of it's going to be very interesting because they are all up there quite together, right?
00:31:48
Cath
That is...
00:31:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, I mean, you said before maybe Chelsea would be happy to sacrifice a little bit.
00:31:53
Cath
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Mm-hmm.
00:31:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes, of course, they have an eight-point buffer, but eight-point becomes five if Arsenal wins. Five becomes one game and a half. It's very easy, so I'm not sure.
00:32:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
They have to be very careful.
00:32:10
Cath
Yeah.
00:32:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
If Arsenal want to even keep their hopes a little bit open, they have to win. They have to win.
00:32:17
Cath
Yeah.
00:32:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
City will want to win. Like, it's going to be an intensive weekend because it's not going to be any of those games where you're like, well, you know, we are all a bit like mid-table and we've got big games coming up, so let's just take it easy.
00:32:26
Cath
Yeah.
00:32:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's like, no, these points are very important for every single team playing.
00:32:36
Cath
yeah
00:32:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
So it will be a very, very exciting weekend of games for sure.
00:32:42
Cath
It will.
Conclusion of 'Beyond the Pitch'
00:32:43
Cath
Well, I think that's all we have time for today. So thank you for joining us. We look forward to welcoming you to the next episode of Beyond the Pitch. Goodbye from me.
00:32:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
And goodbye for me.