Become a Creator today!Start creating today - Share your story with the world!
Start for free
00:00:00
00:00:01
Free Weekly Episode - Theo & Lukaku Set Up AC Milan Vs Inter Milan Champions League Classic, Leao Injury, Juventus' Iling-Junior Explodes, Napoli Scudetto Party & Much More (Ep. 321)
1.9k Plays3 years ago
From Napoli's fantastic Serie A title party celebrations at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, Theo Hernandez wondergoal in AC Milan win, Rafael Leao injured ahead of Champions League semifinal, woeful Maurizio Sarri Lazio playing with fire, Romelu Lukaku scores again as Inter Milan impress away against decimated Roma, to José Mourinho's Europa League plans, and Juventus win over Atalanta as Dusan Vlahovic racially abused and much, much more as Nima and Carlo break down all the talking points from an absolutely action packed weekend of Italian football.
Every Monday episode of The Italian Football Podcast is free for all.
To get ALL and never miss an episode of The Italian Football Podcast (as well as support the show), go to Patreon.com/TIFP to become a Patron for only $2.99 USD per month (excluding VAT).
Recommended
Transcript
Napoli's Historic Victory and Celebrations
00:00:02
Speaker
Welcome to the Italian football podcast. Hello everybody and welcome to another episode of the Italian football podcast. I'm Carlo Garganese joined as always by Nima Tavale. So Napoli are champions of Italy, their first Scudetto in 33 years. Of course, they clinched the title on Thursday of last week and Nima and myself did a special Scudetto celebration
00:00:31
Speaker
Extra episode, which we pushed out on Thursday night. So check that out if you want to review the fantastic achievement of Napoli winning the Scudetto once again. On today's show, we're going to be talking about Napoli's celebration of Scudetto on Sunday. It was absolutely incredible. Napoli playing against Burentina. Some of the celebrations after the game were out of this world. It's the most incredible stadium celebration I think I've ever seen.
00:00:57
Speaker
So we'll talk all about that. But we're also going to depth on the three huge games in the battle for the top four on the weekend. Milan against Lazio, Roma against Inter and Atalanta against Juventus. The picture for the top four is a lot clearer now. Of course, though, this week coming, we have the return of European football and that huge
00:01:25
Speaker
historic Champions League semi-final between Milan and Intel. We're going to be previewing that game, Rafael Liao, possibly, probably missing the game through injury. How big is that going to be in the outcome of the tie? Juventus and Roma in the Europa League semis and also Fiorentina in the Conference League semis. So it's going to be a huge, huge week for Italian football in Europe to preview all of that.
Significance of Napoli's Triumph for Serie A
00:01:51
Speaker
Okay so this is for all our first time listeners our weekly Monday show which is a free episode which reviews the weekend serie action all the biggest talking points in Italian football but if you want to support the Italian football podcast and receive all our content throughout the week not just our Monday one including our weekly Q&A episode every Tuesday where we answer all the questions sent in from our patrons
00:02:14
Speaker
plus the weekly Thursday midweek review show, plus interviews, post much reaction and much, much more, then go to patreon.com slash TIP and become a subscriber for just $2.99 a month plus VAT. And for all of you listening on Spotify, iTunes, Apple podcasts, we'd really, really appreciate a five star rating and give us a follow and subscription. It really, really helps us to grow.
00:02:38
Speaker
Okay, right. Let's start off then with Napoli and their celebrations. Okay, Nima. So, have you ever seen a title, Scaletta acceleration, like we saw in Napoli after their success? No, I mean, it was, I have a friend who was sending me videos of, because he was there, he had a ticket for the Fiorentina game, Napoli, Fiorentina at the stadium, and it was just absolutely fantastic. It was stunning. There was nothing,
00:03:09
Speaker
I've never seen anything like it. We knew it was going to be amazing, and it was just as crazy. It was fantastic. It was genuinely fantastic. I mean, we know Italy is a country that doesn't do anything with moderation, and Napoli is known to be the city in that country that doesn't do anything with moderation, both good and bad.
00:03:32
Speaker
happiness and sadness, and this was pure ecstasy. It was pure happiness and joy. And he texted me. He sent me all these videos that I forwarded to you, Carlo. And he said, look, I'm reading his message now. He says, look, it was incredible. You hear stories about nonstop parties and you think they're exaggerated and you see it and they far exceed anything you could have imagined or thought. It was insane, genuinely insane.
00:04:01
Speaker
It's the best atmosphere he says he's ever seen at a football stadium. So yeah I mean I don't know what to say other than to add to that is just congratulations Napolitani, congratulations Italian football because I think this is good for Italian football. I think the fact that a team from the south has won the scoretto again for the first time in 33 years is good for the league. It's good for
00:04:22
Speaker
the league to grow in Italy and all of Italy to feel part of it. Fourth Serie A title winner in four years. Again, when a league is tight, it makes it more interesting and exciting to watch. And when you add to the fact that this has made the success, the historic success of Italian teams in Europe, five teams in the Serie A of the three competitions,
00:04:49
Speaker
That also brings an interest to the city art. And that's why you get these special occasions like we saw with Napoli, because it really means something extra when your team is like, Napoli wins it. And it really was special, just to expand. I was watching it on TV.
00:05:05
Speaker
I really, really hope that they release a movie on this. I think they will. I think they surely will because Aurelio De Laurentiis, he's a movie producer and he really, you know, he was producing a movie here with the whole day on Sunday before the game where you had the
00:05:23
Speaker
the Fiorentina players doing a guard of honor, saw the fans, the choreography, all the blue throughout the packed Stadio Maradona. But after the game, it was just unbelievable. It was amazing. It was like a concert. It was a concert. They had all these different musical artists playing. They had the rapper, Clementino,
00:05:51
Speaker
then they had, you know, Eduardo Benato, who everyone will probably remember from the famous Italian 90s song with Gianna Nanini. So he was there. And then they had like, all the songs that you would associate with Napoli and Napoli winning the Scudetto, the Neapolitan songs, but also like Go West by the Pet Shop Boys, which is
00:06:15
Speaker
Which I still don't understand why they play and they've been doing it since De La Rente took over. That's like the song they march into. I still don't understand it. I want to know why that song is played. Why that song was chosen, yeah. It is such a beautiful song though and it does feel like it has become synonymous with Napoli and then they had the life is life song playing which is obviously the one.
00:06:40
Speaker
Maradona made famous for me. I gotta say that when they played Pino Daniela's Napole, that even choked me up. Yeah, it was. It was incredible. We are the champions, of course. But just the scenes, you know, like when it went dark, because it was getting into the evening, and it all went dark. And then all the Napoli fans with their phone lights
00:07:05
Speaker
and the green lights coming out of the stadium as well. And then they did the green, white, and red. And it was amazing. And all the players, and Politano especially, I loved him. And he was waving the flag. And Osseman was going crazy as well. And you know, it was Tomazzo, the espresso man. I mean, Tomazzo is such a character, isn't he? I mean, he's been there since. Tomistarache, yeah.
00:07:32
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, he's been there since the time of Maradona. You know, he was there with Maradona, so he's, you know, he's been there when they've last won the Scudetto, and he's such a, I mean, he's such a personality, and he picked up De Laurentiis, and then when he was doing the dance to the Raffaella Cara song, you know, the famous song, and he was holding up. When the game finished, he held up the,
00:07:57
Speaker
the stoppage time boards, you know, the boards that they hold up for the stoppage time. And the fourth official usually holds up. And Tommaso, Tommy, was holding it up with number three. He put the number three on it and he was holding it up. It was interesting to see how Napoli's Ultras reacted. I mean, there was a bit of talk about it.
00:08:20
Speaker
when it came out on social media, the sense that they had the scoreto, the shield, but they had it upside down, which in ultra's language means that when they conquer, when they take an opposing or rival ultra's groups,
00:08:39
Speaker
flags and banners, they wave them upside down. Now, this was to show that they had conquered Milan, Scudetto, or from the north, like not just Milan, but they conquered the Scudetto from the north. They conquered the league from the north. And they didn't say Campioni di Italia, they said Campioni in Italia, champions in Italy, not champions of Italy, even more to even more accentuate that they identify as Neapolitan and not Italian.
00:09:08
Speaker
So that was the cultural angle which is very interesting and dates back obviously which was what made Maradona's good essay so special is that it was a victory for the south against the north and against all the prejudice and the stereotyping and the abuse that
00:09:23
Speaker
you know, that the Napoli players and fans get from, you know, the northern teams. And yeah, I mean, it's very, very telling. But it was amazing. And even on Thursday, I mean, obviously, after the when we haven't talked about celebrations on Thursday, you know, I mean, that was that was special as well. I mean, all the fireworks, I mean, there was one video where I don't know if they have a category, if there's some kind of
00:09:47
Speaker
at the end of the year where they do a lot of video of the year around the world but it has to be in the in like it was it was a picture of the overlooking Naples and you could see all the way across for miles and
00:10:00
Speaker
in unison, everyone was letting off fireworks and lights. Have you seen that video? And it was
Milan and Lazio's Serie A Showdown
00:10:05
Speaker
unbelievable on Thursday. I think it was the Seriyahu published like this kind of of all of Naples. Yeah, that's the one. Immediately when the final whistle in Uldineh went, the fireworks like clock, just like that started going off and the entire city looked like
00:10:25
Speaker
this firework, like these incredible fireworks. And it is a Neapolitan thing because, you know, fireworks, that's how you celebrate these things. And everyone had like, it's like, where do you find fireworks in May? Like in Sweden, they just banned them all. But in Naples, everyone just had it. And that's how they celebrate. It reminds me of
00:10:52
Speaker
It reminded me of Iran, actually, and how people celebrate things there immediately. It was like a New Year's, wasn't it? Like a New Year's celebration, or like a wedding celebration in Middle Eastern countries. That's very much what they do as well. They shoot all their guns up in the skin to the air. For me, it was like the fireworks just reminded me of Iran, whenever there's a celebration, it's just fireworks go off.
00:11:19
Speaker
I don't understand how, how do you have fireworks lying around the house? As you do. Just ask, just ask Mario Bellatelli. Who has fireworks lying around the house? Like, it's just mad.
00:11:35
Speaker
Yeah, it was really, really special. Let's move on to Milan against Lazio. Last season's champions Milan, officially now not the champions anymore, not the reigning champions of Italy any longer, but they're
00:11:51
Speaker
I mean, their priority, obviously, along with the Champions League semifinal, which we'll discuss in a bit, is getting back into the Champions League for next season. And they face a real battle now, especially after that terrible draw against Cremonierza in midweek. They had to win this game against Axio. It was absolutely must win. We'll talk about, you know what, we'll talk about Liao when we do the preview of the Champions League semifinal. Obviously,
00:12:18
Speaker
That is a huge, huge blow potentially from this game, but it was crucial. They won this game and they won it well and dominated. Yeah, no, look, it's there's no doubt about that. Milan were fantastic.
00:12:31
Speaker
We were very critical of them, correctly so, and Pioli, of the Cremonies again, after the Cremonies again, but this was a different Milan. They did what Pioli wants them to do in the sense that he had them. But he did start his first team, pretty much, didn't he? I mean, they pressed really high up, they scored pretty early on because of the press. This was Milan's Pioli when they are at their best.
00:13:01
Speaker
And now I was really, I was really, really, really impressed with how they did. We're going to talk about Lazio as well, because this is the second time we've seen Lazio completely, for a better expression, completely shit the bed at the San Siro. They were asphalted twice in a week. Yeah, I mean, I want to come on, let's come on to Lazio in a bit. Let's just just focus on kind of what Milan did really well in this game. I mean, I thought they dominated
00:13:31
Speaker
all facets of this game, every area of the pitch, every department, defence, midfield attack, they were better than Lazio. I thought they created good chances Milan, and they conceded very, very little. So when you're doing that, you deserve to win. But there's obviously one player that stands out above the rest and that is Teo Hernandez, who scored an absolutely fantastic goal. I mean, 80-yard run, he ran from just outside his own penalty area, he ran with the ball,
00:14:01
Speaker
and then I took a slight deflection, but absolutely brilliant. I mean, there's probably other than Alphonso Davies, there isn't another fullback either side, left or right, that can score that kind of goal, can go on that kind of run. He's a world-class player, Tayo Hernandez.
00:14:21
Speaker
and he is the best left back in the world, along with Davies. There can be no doubt about that, I think, now. And that was special. Did he get the Puskas Award, the best for goal of a season? He was definitely nominated, wasn't he? He was nominated, but I don't think he won it. I don't know if he won it, but he was nominated. I'm not saying this won't be nominated, but again, you're talking about
Lazio's Challenges and Future Prospects
00:14:45
Speaker
whenever you score a goal from one end of the pitch to the other you're talking about I mean I know Lazio they barely put a challenge in but but I mean it was an incredible goal and he is going to be absolutely crucial because if Rafael Liao is out for
00:14:58
Speaker
I mean, for this, not only for the Derby, but also essentially for at least one Serie A game, then Teo Hernandez is Milan's match winner, other than, I mean, it sounds crazy to say that your left back is your match winner. He is Milan's match winner along with Liao. He's the one that has that X factor that can produce out of nothing.
00:15:21
Speaker
He showed that in his game, but for the top four, huge. It was absolutely crucial that they got it. They're backing it now. They're still two points off the top four, but they just have to win their next two games against Betsy and Sampdoria and then see where they are before the Juventus game. And they've got no, they have to win. They just have to keep winning now. They've got no other alternative than that.
00:15:40
Speaker
They absolutely have to win the remaining games because Milan with Inter hitting form and Juve winning taking that crucial win against Atalanta. And to be honest, Lazio now have the easy games left. They've got the Leches and the Empolis and all that. On paper I say easy, but not in actual...
00:16:05
Speaker
They actually have to do the job now because, you know, that 10-point advantage to that spot, to that fifth spot, is shrunk down to three now in just two weeks, two, three weeks. So they, Laxio, need to get their shit together. It's very, very, very simply and bluntly put. They got Laxio at home, Udeniece away, Cremoniece at home, Empoli away. They have to win all four. I don't think they can afford to count to not win
00:16:33
Speaker
to draw, maybe draw one, but they have to pretty much win every single one of those games. Otherwise it will be, you know, everything that we've praised Sari for will be kind of, you know, he will be, it will be, it will fall on its face. It will become the biggest anticlimax ever.
00:16:50
Speaker
because they're in an excellent position to finish. I think that Milazzi will have to absolutely bottle it. Even now, after losing these two games, I think they absolutely have to bottle it to not get Champions League. With the fixture list they've got, Lecce at home, Udenez at away, Creminese at home, MPO, you could not dream of a better running than that. And they've got a three-point gap over fifth place, over Milan.
00:17:15
Speaker
Milan still have to play Juventus in between obviously they've also got to play two Champions League games which are going to take a lot out of them and we know Milan's depth is not great so the chances of Milan winning all four games
00:17:28
Speaker
I'm not gonna say slim, but it's gonna be very, very difficult. So, you know, I think Lazio can even afford to slip up in one, I mean, they can definitely afford a draw. They can afford at least one draw from these four games. They should be fine. They should be fine. They will have to bottle it, I think, Lazio, not to get the top four. I'm not saying they won't bottle it, but I think they will really have to mess up Lazio not to get top four from here, in my opinion. But they were awful in this game. I thought the whole,
00:17:55
Speaker
collectively and individually. They looked scared of Milan. Milan were the bosses and everyone was terrible individually. I thought Philippe Anderson was all right. Apart from him, I thought they were all bad. They defended terribly. For the best defense in Serie A before the game, the two goals they conceded were terrible. Playing out from the back and getting caught for the first goal
00:18:19
Speaker
And then taio was brilliant a goal as it was he ran the whole of the pitch that anyone even get close to putting a challenge in i mean he just i know he's so quick and when he charges and he drives it's difficult to get close to him but but no one to even basically put a challenge in i mean that that's weird and i want to do it was really really weird but also i have to say set again in quixote what the hell is going on.
00:18:43
Speaker
Yeah, yeah. This is, this is just... I wanted to raise this on the last game and I forgot. I had it noted down to mention this off the last map. No, this is the second time now. Like his form is completely off a cliff. Or 2023 generally has been dreadful. I mean, I don't think he is overrated. I think he just needs to leave Lazio. I think this is what happens when you keep a player too long. And I think that's what's happened here.
00:19:09
Speaker
Possibly. I mean, just to clarify what the actual form is, he's gone five games since that Juventus game, which was a gift for him. Let's be honest, they're gifted in that column, Juventus. Five games since the Juventus game without any goal contributions, but his numbers in 2023, as you said, not good. One assist in seven months is dreadful. I'm sorry. You can talk about his overall game. He's chipped in with some. He's got three goals in 2023, which is okay, but it's not
00:19:38
Speaker
what you expect from a player that's valued so highly. Of course, it's not just about numbers, you know, that's his midfield. I mean, I actually think Luis Alberto has been superior to him recently. But yeah, I
00:19:54
Speaker
Don't I'm not saying I don't know if overrated is the right word. I mean, I might have used that word I think it's the wrong word. It's minute which I would you put this but I can see why He's he's stayed at latsia all his career and it's not just down to latita That is an important part of it, but I think that if he really was that good I think big clubs would have paid the money for him and I think that he's lacking something as a team player as a
00:20:19
Speaker
consistent in terms of consistency. I think there's just something there's just something missing there that would make him for a huge, huge club, certainly a huge European club outside of Italy. I think there's something missing there. But his form, yeah, absolutely has gone completely off the boil. Completely.
00:20:40
Speaker
OK, just to build on that, I think I think he's regressed. I think he's regressed a bit as well because they didn't. The time to sell him was maybe one or two years ago and they didn't. And Covid was there, so there was not really any offers and the offers that came were not good enough. So that's why that's why I think he's regressed. But I don't think he's overrated. I don't think any of that. I think he's still a fantastic player. I wonder if he if maybe he has regressed permanently.
00:21:09
Speaker
or not, I have to ask myself that question. But I think, so I haven't decided on that yet, but I do think now he has to leave. And I don't think, you know, Milinkovitsavich in form walks into pretty much any midfield in the world. To me, he is a complete midfielder. When he's at his best, he's just, he's world class. There's no doubt about that. So I still believe in him. I just think that Lotito, they need to cash in.
00:21:38
Speaker
They need to cash in. They need to move. That relationship needs to end. And it probably should have ended maybe one or
Inter's Tactical Strength in Serie A
00:21:47
Speaker
two years ago. That's my point.
00:21:49
Speaker
Yeah, that's fair enough. And also his contract expires in 2024. So, I mean, they have to make a decision. They either sign him a new contract and he finishes his career with Lazio or they sell him. This summer, it's one or the other. Let's move on to Inter, Roma versus Inter at the Olympic car. We'll talk from Inter's point of view first, because we said after their win last midweek, 6-0,
00:22:17
Speaker
and that Inter were on fire and they just continued their fantastic form and another dominant performance and deserved to win, right? Controlled, patience, these are the key words again. It's in that midfield, you know, when they, that was, that is my Inter dream midfield. It's Barela, Chalanoglu and Brozovic and Brozovic in particular. Like this is again, we talk about how the midfield in today's game is so important that you have three central midfielders that can do everything.
00:22:46
Speaker
not just defend, not just tackle, not just pass, not just create, but all have, you know, not just be direct, not just be patient, all of the above. And those three, even though Chalanoglu, which I think is one of the most interesting aspects of this game tactically, was how Mourinho had decided
00:23:05
Speaker
that Chalanoglo had to be erased. He didn't do it with Brozovic and that's kind of what cost him the opening goal. But with Chalanoglo it was obvious he just did not want Chalanoglo to have an inch of space.
00:23:18
Speaker
Um, so, uh, yeah, no, that's interesting for me. But other than that, from a tactical point of view of how Roma play, but we'll get to that later. But no, for me, there were, were very controlled, calm, patient, composed. And, and that is so important. They, they're not, everything they did wrong up until a few weeks ago was this, they were too stressed. They were stressed. They were frantic. They were, you know, it felt like from minute one, it was minute 90, like there was no calm and composure.
00:23:46
Speaker
And the more they became like that you know in the way they behave they were not in control mentally now they are they are very cool the very calm the control their focus concentrated.
00:23:59
Speaker
mature. They acted like a big team. This is how Simona should have this team playing week in, week out. They shouldn't be panicking. They shouldn't be frantic. They should systematically and calmly, like all big teams, build. The game is 90 minutes. There's no need to start panicking from minute one.
00:24:23
Speaker
This is something they've done. And it's ironic that now when they're not creating as much chances as they did when they were much more frantic, they're actually scoring now as well. And I think that's... They've been really clinical, really, really clinical in the last few games. It also goes to show that I think that
00:24:42
Speaker
you know, if you keep playing well, and I think Inter definitely deserve more points than they've got this season, there's no doubt about that. You know, if you keep playing it eventually, you know, you talk about the XG and the expected points, eventually it does move towards the mean. And I think that is kind of also what's happening. But at the same time, I do think that Inter, like you said, I agree, they are
00:25:04
Speaker
a lot more calm and composed on the pitch and then that translates to when you have chances as well, you're more calm and composed in front of goal but it's not just the attack, I think the defence, defence has been great, absolutely great, I mean the defence of Darmian, Achebe and Bastani, I mean it's got to the point now where we can actually say that Scrinia hasn't been missed at all, I mean those three as a unit
00:25:30
Speaker
but Dharmiyan taking that right centre back roll. They're not missing Scrinia. They've been absolutely fantastic. They've got one conceded in the last five games. They never, ever looked like conceding.
00:25:40
Speaker
in this game, never. I mean, I know we'll come to Roma, I know they're decimated, I know they don't have that many options, they're attackers, even the ones that came on clearly unfit, but they never, but it's not just this one game, you know, Inter's defence, and we've seen the displays in the Champions League, like against Porto, you know, against Barcelona, earlier in the season, I know Scriny was, I think Scriny was around for that, but anyway, you know, Inter's defence,
00:26:05
Speaker
especially the three that are playing now, absolutely magnificent. They've considered one goal in the last five games, and they've won all of those five games. And Onana has been pulled out to make some of those saves, to make saves. And so has Handanovic. I mean, he started against Hellas, he started
00:26:27
Speaker
So, you know, it's good to see the goalkeepers and the defence kind of working out. But I have to say, yes, Acherbi, Darmi and Bastoni have been fantastic, but Scrinyar is missed. Scrinyar is without a shadow of a doubt missed, because Scrinyar to the right and Darmi to the right ahead of him is way, way better. And they have missed him, and because the alternative is D'Ambrosio and Dumfries, and that is just not good enough. Can we give some love to Dumfries, though?
00:26:56
Speaker
Can we give him any love after this game? Any? Is there a chance that we could sum a little bit of love for that assist and the way that you bullied Spin that Solo? The assist was good. There's no doubt about it. He dominated Spin that Solo in this
Champions League: Milan vs Inter Preview
00:27:10
Speaker
game. He bullied him. Spin that Solo didn't get a kick and the assist was great. It was a great club. The assist was great.
00:27:16
Speaker
but i mean i'm not sitting here saying he's pried my my con i know i'm white i know i'm we're in a group where i wound up all you interfans by calling him pried my con to wind you up because you all you all hate dumb frees and you bitch about him more than i bitch about allegory but but
00:27:31
Speaker
All I'm saying is, let's get done through some credit when he deserves it, because he's not always been shit. I mean, I know he's been shit a lot, but he's had some good games this season, and I think he's doing all right at the moment, and I thought he was fantastic in this game. Give him credit where he deserves. Spin at Solar, okay, he's not the same Spin at Solar he was, but he absolutely bullied Spin at Solar in this game.
00:27:54
Speaker
Every time Spinach only tried to take him on, he tackled him and then going the other way, he was effective as well. So, you know, just this is Carlo being, you know.
00:28:04
Speaker
layoff Humphries, you know, just sweet, just sweet. Yeah, well, you can have him and then you know, seriously, he makes like his technical again with the ball. Did you see he makes these errors that makes you wonder like, is he really a professional footballer? Like it's these technical errors that he makes.
00:28:25
Speaker
I feel like I'm standing there and I'm not because I shouldn't be. But so does Lukaku. He made those errors even when he was at his best. But is he getting back to his best, Lukaku? Because his great form, I mean, he's not going to be the same player he was. But I mean, that was a fantastic clinical finish. That is when you can tell that Lukaku is fully fit again. He feels confident again because
00:28:51
Speaker
You don't even think about it. When you're playing well as a footballer, especially for a striker, everything just comes naturally. You just unconsciously bang. You just hit it. You don't even have to think about it. And the way that he just took that first time, and again, like I said last week, you look at his numbers. He's got nine goal contributions in 10 games in the last month. I think he's only started six of those games. So nine goal contributions in six starts.
00:29:21
Speaker
I mean, it's getting to the point now where obviously, and we'll talk about this when we do the preview, but it's got to the point now where does he deserve to be the starter ahead of Jeko in terms of the pecan on? Because I think in terms of the big games, exactly still considers Jeko ahead of him in the big games.
00:29:38
Speaker
Does Lukaku deserve to start again? I don't think that's what he's doing. I disagree with that. I don't think he's starting over Lukaku in big games. What he's doing is he's rotating the squad, which is the exact correct thing to do. This is now when he has to rotate. April was nine games. Every three days there was a game. May is no better. He has to rotate. And that's why you have 22, 23, 24 players.
00:30:06
Speaker
And that's the job of the sport. All the big games, all the big games, the Champions League games, Jeko started. Previously, yes, because Lukaku was dreadful. I mean, have we forgotten? Exactly. That's the point I'm asking. That's the reason I'm asking the question. How has Lukaku shown with his fitness and his form and his goal contributions and how he's playing that now he should be ahead of Jeko? I think if everything goes well, if everything goes well for Inter,
00:30:34
Speaker
meaning no injuries and they continue, you know, if they can draw against Milan, because I think that's what Simon is going for. I think the plan is exactly what it was last year, as in last year in the semifinal of the Copa Italia. That was the dress rehearsal. The first game, if you remember it, I remember it vividly, it was probably the worst derby
00:30:52
Speaker
I think I've seen between Inter and Milan in recent years, in like at least three, four years, that that first leg Copa Italia semi-final was abhorrent. And it was clear that that's the strategy that Simoni wanted to use in cup games. He knows it's two legs. The first leg is safety, first control, don't.
00:31:11
Speaker
Don't do something crazy, just try to play off the game, finish the game off and try to get a result that is acceptable, that you can live with the head of the second leg, a return leg.
00:31:27
Speaker
That's what he's doing. And that's what I think he's doing. So I 110% think that we will see Mikitarion, we will see Jeko and Lautaro start against Milan on Wednesday. There's no doubt in my mind. Well, let's talk about the Champions League. We were going to talk about it after, but now we've given it a nice segue there. So Champions League Milan versus England on Wednesday in the first leg of the semi-finals. Now, you've just mentioned that you think Ndzagi should go for the draw.
00:31:56
Speaker
That's how he's going to play. He'll be happy with the draw and then come back to the home game in the second leg, if you call it that, with the fans for the second leg next week. Don't you think with the Rafael Liao injury, my understanding from the people I've spoken to is he's going to miss the game and he's probably going to miss the weekend game and they're going to try and get him back for the second leg. They just think it's too much of a risk.
00:32:20
Speaker
to play and that's what I've been told from the people I've spoken to, insiders and stuff.
00:32:27
Speaker
Given that Liao is out, we're coming to how important it is for Milan, but from an interest point of view, don't you think they try and take advantage of Liao's absence and maybe go for the win? More, go for the win? I think they will do. They will do. It's in Zag. It's not Allegri. He's not going to park. That's just not in his nature. He's going to play this like he did against Mephi Camporto, meaning
00:32:52
Speaker
you know, he's going to want to retain possession when he can, but he's not going to have the balance of the team disrupted and give Milan space to attack them. That's not what he's going to do. He's not going to Spaletti this. I mean, Spaletti against Milan, the naivety on display tactically was
00:33:08
Speaker
was horrible. I mean, that's what cost Napoli, that and Osseman. Osseman's injury cost Napoli the semi-final spot. You don't think they'll push up high, as high as that Napoli did? They shouldn't. That would be a huge mistake. Even if Liao's not playing, even without Liao. Now, there's still Theo Hernandez.
00:33:27
Speaker
You don't concede space to Milan. That's what Milan want you to do. That's what purely wants you to do. They want you to push them high up so they can win the ball and hurt you on the counter and you have to be an idiot to walk into that trap. Inter will have to what they did against, to a certain extent, what they did to Roma as well. This game plan of composure, calm, control the ball, build from the back. That's the thing. Inter are so patient. If you look at these goals that they score,
00:33:55
Speaker
against the goals they've scored against, the first goal against Roma in particular. Look at how patient Inter build up from the back. They are so controlled and composed, they are so well positioned. The players know exactly where to go and how to go and when to move. The positional interchanges. If you push Inter too up, too high up like Roma did and lose positioning, well, then Brozovic has got all the time in the world on the ball, or Chalanoglu, or whoever's playing, and they will hurt you.
00:34:23
Speaker
Um, so it's, uh, you know, that's, that's going to be, um, you know, that's, that's the danger. And I think that's the game plan he's going with. He's not, you know, he, of course he wants to win the game, but he's not going to play against Milan. Like he played earlier in the season against other teams where they just pressed, pressed, pressed high up and exposed themselves. That would be mad. Um, that would be crazy. He's not from Milan's point of view, though. Obviously we can't, we can't.
00:34:52
Speaker
sugarcoat how much of a blow this is if Liao's out. He's absolutely huge. I just saw a stat before we started recording when Liao hasn't played this season from the start. When he hasn't played due to suspension or him not being fielded from the first minute, Milan have only won once in 10 games in the current season.
00:35:14
Speaker
without him and that speaks for itself about how important Liao is and we've seen obviously in the game against Napoli how devastating he was against Napoli and how he's such a huge shame for him because he's found his form so much since the start of April and he has been back to his best back to the Liao that was so devastating in the Scudetto season
00:35:38
Speaker
last season. So I mean, it's absolutely huge, also from a psychological point of view, I think it's absolutely massive. And it just goes to show kind of in the Champions League, you know, how important it is that you have your key players and injuries and, you know, Milan losing Liao, their best player before the semi final, I mean,
00:36:03
Speaker
You know, if you're going to say, is this, this could be the, what knocks them out, possibly it could be like costing them for Napoli. You know, how, how do they replace him? Who do they replace him with? That's the question. Is it seller makers? Is it, um, do they change their system a little bit? Is it Origi? I don't know how they replace him to be honest with you. I think it probably be seller makers. I think they'll probably go, they'll probably go with seller makers instead of, instead of, um, I'm sorry, but.
00:36:29
Speaker
I'm sorry, but I'm not buying this too. I'm not buying this too much. Yes, he got injured. We saw he got injured. It's a muscle injury. But he's going to start. I'm watching this game thinking Rafael Liao is going to start the game. Simple as that. If there is a possibility that he starts, he's going to start. Simple as that. Everything else is just blah, blah, blah, blah. I'm not buying it. I'm not buying this. He's going to miss the game.
00:36:53
Speaker
He's in there bluffing then. Oh, I think he is injured. We saw that he was injured. I don't think they invented that. You think they're bluffing that he's maybe not going to play the game. Yeah, that's the dude. I think he's too smart to fall for that trip. You know, that kind of a trap. I think he's he's preparing his game plan regardless. I mean, I don't know exactly what the injury he's got. It hasn't really been specified exactly. Is it the adapter? But I mean,
00:37:19
Speaker
I mean, I used to get a lot of injuries when I played. My experience with muscle injuries is... Oh, it takes two weeks. The muscle injuries are two to three weeks, even if they're very, very minor. So the idea that you can be back in four days.
00:37:33
Speaker
I don't know. I can't see it. If it is a muscle injury, like they say it is, I can't see him being back for this game. I really can't. If it is, like they've said, if it is a muscle injury and the ducks are muscle injury, like they've said, I don't see how he's back for this game. I can't see it. And if they do play him, I think then obviously with a muscle injury, you're risking a pull.
00:37:55
Speaker
uh or worse and then you're you're out for the rest of the season um so you know from the people that i've spoke to milan think it's too much for a risk to play him he's going to miss the game against inter he's going to miss the game against spezia is it at the weekend yeah spezia i'm trying to get to the preview part because that relegation battle is just yeah wow okay yeah no but it's not just that because it's involving the big teams as well because they're all playing the champions league chasing teams as well it's it's mad it's absolutely mad
00:38:23
Speaker
It is, it is. But I mean, away from the whole Liao thing, I mean, let's just underline again, like we did in the preview, which you can find on our YouTube channel, that this is for Italian football, but from the city of Milan, the footballing city of Milan. I mean, this is such a historic game, such a great game.
00:38:42
Speaker
I mean, it's going to be absolutely massive, isn't it? And you're going to you're going to the second leg. Yes, I'm going to the return leg. I'm going to the return leg. It's just going to be one of those quick in and out, like 24 hours. Just go there, come back kind of thing. But no, it's going to be really nice. I haven't been to Milan in May in a very, very long time. And it's it's I love it. It's proper spring because it's you know, the sun is shining here in Sweden, but it's bloody cold.
00:39:05
Speaker
It's not called that, so it's going to be nice. And I've got a few special, hopefully a few special things planned. I'm looking forward to be able to do so. Now it's going to be, you know, I just want there to be a game to go to. I don't want Inter to get smashed 3-0, a shock defeat. And, you know, I want it to be competitive. And that's what I'm saying. And I think... So you don't want Inter to be 3-0 up then going to... Well, no, I don't mind a coronation. That kind of a coronation I do not mind at all.
00:39:33
Speaker
Yeah, I don't mind that kind of coronation either. I don't like the one we saw this weekend. Yeah, I'm not a big fan of that either. But look, no, it's like that, you know, it's, I think everything that comes out for me, that every time Bastoni, Darmian, Lukaku, Inzaghi, every single one of them talks, it's
00:39:53
Speaker
they keep accentuating and stressing this point. It's two games. It's 180 minutes. That's not by chance. That's the mentality they have. And that reassures me a little bit. But we'll have to wait and see. I mean, will will purely surprise us again? Will you play a 3-5-2? Will you play a 3-4-2-1? Will you play a 3-5-1-1?
00:40:14
Speaker
I think everything is possible. But the good thing for that is that Inter have already played Milan, playing all those formations. And so they know how Milan, I mean, these teams know each other inside and out. Yeah. So there's not there's not much. And also, it's also Derby. And I mean, I mean, don't get me wrong, I make into
00:40:31
Speaker
good favourites for this game. With Liao being out with the form that Inter are in, they're playing fantastically well. Milan are not in terrible form, but they've been drawing a lot of games and they're nowhere, no way at the level that Inter have been in the last five matches. I mean, the Inter, 15 goals scored, one conceded in the last five games, playing brilliantly, defending great, attacking great and scoring goals, taking their chances. The midfield looks the most complete midfield
00:40:55
Speaker
maybe even in the competition right now. You know what? That's what I was something I wanted to talk about.
00:41:10
Speaker
That's everything. They have everything. They can do everything. Everything you ask of a midfield, they can do. But I don't think he's going to start Chalanoglu against Milan on Wednesday. I think he's going with Mikitarian because Mikitarian
00:41:28
Speaker
offers calm, cool on the ball, especially defensively. Chalanogli was a little bit more direct, which is a problem when he's in the Regista role, that he can sometimes make Inter a bit frantic. He doesn't have that patience and calm. He goes for killer passes more as well, doesn't he? Which they can come off, but they also can give the ball away if it's
00:41:47
Speaker
Well, yeah, but I'm not worried about his delivery. I think he's been really good at that. It's more the fact that he's not. He's still I think he's not the finished product just yet in that role. You know, let's remember he only arrived in the last season. He's improved incredibly better than I ever imagined, but he's still a little bit too.
00:42:06
Speaker
frantic at times. I think the midfield battle will be important for Milan because if they've not got Liao, they need to take control of that midfield battle and try and kill and control the game that way. I think against Roma against Lazio, they were absolutely dominant in centre midfield and Lazio have a good midfield. They have a very good midfield, but Lazio didn't turn up.
00:42:29
Speaker
Yeah, but Laxio didn't turn up. Ben Eser has been really, really good recently and he's got some important goals and Tonali I thought was really good against Laxio as well. There's lots of intriguing battles. Milan's defence in the Champions League has been amazing, hasn't it? They haven't conceded for almost six months until that last-minute goal against Osman and hence conceded in Europe for almost six months until that Osman goal in the 93rd minute.
00:42:58
Speaker
You know, they're defending really, really well. It's going to be, it's going to be an amazing, amazing game. I mean, it's no doubt. There's no doubt for me into a favorites, but it's a Derby. And in Derby, it's a Derby. It doesn't matter. The rule, the rule, the form goes out the window. No, no, it's a Derby games have Darby's have their own logic. Um, and especially with the city, uh, with the, with the, with the, with the champions league, uh, Darby's well, it has its own thing.
00:43:24
Speaker
But no, I'm expecting a much more tactical KG affair on Wednesday. I think both, I mean, with Liao out, I think Pioli will want to kind of just play off this game as well. I'm not... I think he'd be delighted with the draw and then try and get Liao back and then, you know, home or away, whatever you want to call it, San Siro, second leg, you still got that Liao on the counter attack, even if into a more...
00:43:47
Speaker
proactive than they would be away. I think it still leaves it open, doesn't it? No, it does. It really does. But we'll see.
Roma's Struggles and Europa League Hopes
00:43:54
Speaker
We've got to talk about Roma because... Yeah, so let's talk about Roma from, I mean, more from the bigger picture, I think, because this game showed what has happened to Roma. They've not won in four in Serie A and that has totally
00:44:10
Speaker
sent them off the rails in terms of the Champions League race. I think we can almost say they're out of the Champions League. No, they are after that. This is why I was saying that they should just punt the Serie A. It doesn't matter where they finish. They need to finish and they need to get to the Champions League. And the only way they do that is via the Europa League winning that. And to be honest,
00:44:30
Speaker
For me, their chances went when Smalling got injured, because he is way too important for them, as we saw with Roger Ibanez doing Roger Ibanez things. I'm going to take a victory lap on that, because I've been saying for three years, he is not good enough for Roma. It's as simple as that. And you saw again, he is a walking red card penalty and a stupid mistake waiting to happen. And he does it time and time.
00:44:57
Speaker
It's ridiculous. It's ridiculous. These goal-causing errors that he can't cut out of his game. And he can't, I mean... He's not good enough. This game's the point now where you're thinking, is he ever going to cut them out of his game? No, because he's not good enough. I hope he leaves Roma because he's not good enough for Roma. He's cost them three dabbies that I know, that I can remember off the top of my head. It's just always like this. And it's not, it's unforced. It's like he does well to win the ball and then he just squares it squarely to Lautaro for no reason.
00:45:27
Speaker
It's just brainless moments. That's what I mean. He literally has like these brain farts and it happens time and time again and you can't do that. You just simply cannot do that and it's not one time, it's not twice. Look, when Chris Smalling made a mistake in the fixture against Napoli at the Olympic or where Ossiman scored, which was, by the way, a fantastic finish, it wasn't a decisive error, it was a tiny minuscule error.
00:45:53
Speaker
That's okay. A slight fraction of a session has a hesitation and then from that angle Oseman scores one of the goals of the season. I mean it was reminiscent of Van Basten, if you remember, from 88. Like that angle, it was crazy. It was more a rue patricio error in that case. But this is what I mean. Defenders can make those kinds of mistakes but you cannot make these kinds of mistakes.
00:46:18
Speaker
You can't do that, and given how good he's been this season, we don't really see him do that too often. With Ibanias, it's just Tuesday afternoon for him. It's just another day for him. It just happens every weekend, every week, every game. He can do that. He's a walking
00:46:34
Speaker
own goal, walking goal, walking red card, walking penalty waiting to happen. And he's just not good. Well, Roman made two big errors on both goals. The first one was spin-up solar. Huge, yeah. For spin-up solar pushing up. I can't understand, I've watched it a few times, I can't understand what he was trying to do there.
00:46:52
Speaker
I mean, the offside trap wasn't on, so he clearly couldn't have been playing an offside trap. And I don't know why he just charged up the field and left that spacing behind. The problem is, I don't think it would have been Antzola. For me, it's more that they missed Brozovic. Like I said, it was clear that Chalanogli was the man that Mourinho honed in on.
00:47:14
Speaker
But the fact that they didn't have any, they allow Brozovic after inter-pass around for two minutes in their own half building from behind. Roma then they play past Roma's press and Brozovic is alone for 10-15 yards, can drive the ball and pinpoint pass, pick out pinpoint passes.
00:47:33
Speaker
But that pass is only on because the spin at solo is his big error. You can always go further back and say, yeah, you shouldn't have had all that time on the ball and on space and everything. But I don't know what spin at solo. There was two disastrous errors, two disastrous mistakes. I mean, obviously the Ibanez one is bigger because it
00:47:55
Speaker
outright results in a clear chance for lee clark. Where's the first one? He still needs to be created the first one. The Ibanias for me is the Roma version of Lazio's Johnny and Patrick. This is getting enough now. It's been going on for seasons. It's not going to work. Get rid of it. Thank god Italy didn't take him for the Italy Nestle. Which I said at the time, if you remember, I was like, no, no, no.
00:48:24
Speaker
that he's not good enough. And I feel bad for Roma because the injuries, I mean, the decimated... Well, that's it. I mean, ultimately, the injuries have killed them in recent games, haven't they? I mean, it is... But it's how many... It was going to be difficult. It was going to be difficult.
00:48:41
Speaker
With Senate midfield of Bove, the young kid, and Madi Kamara, who's clearly not at the level. I mean, have you ever seen him try to shoot? He actually probably had the best chance for him. He can't even kick a ball, like shoot a ball, like lace it. I feel bad for him because I think he was decent in Greece.
00:48:59
Speaker
But Cristante at centre back and Bellotti at striker. I mean, Bellotti, I mean, I mean, it's embarrassing. Zero goals. He's got zero goals. But it's not just that. I mean, he's never really recovered from that injury at Torino, has he?
00:49:15
Speaker
I mean it's just he just looks like a shell of a play. He looks like an ex-player, like he moves like a former player. Have you seen like exhibition games when former players move? That's how it looks when Belotti moves on the pitch and that you can't at this level, I don't know if it's permanent or if it's just you know he has to, this is a season is a write-off but he looks like an ex-player. It's not a good look at all for him and I feel bad for him because I really rate the player.
00:49:48
Speaker
For me, Roma, again, another ACL, again, injuries at this point, once, twice, is it what, fifth, sixth year now in a row that Roma have this? What is going on? How many ACLs, how many injuries, they are decimated, they are completely decimated again when it matters the most in May.
00:50:04
Speaker
I think there was a player there at some point in his career. Hope he can get back to something.
00:50:11
Speaker
We know Mourinho has a history of not many injuries, so you can't blame it on Mourinho. He's actually lowered the number of injuries they have, and still, they look like they do. It's been going on for years, isn't it? Serious injuries. The ACLs, especially, for years and years.
00:50:31
Speaker
10 years, at least 10 years. Yeah, it's getting to the point where you're thinking, it's not just bad, it's not just bad luck, it's not just there, there is something more. If it goes, if something happens repeatedly for almost a decade, there's then there's something you need to look into. While we're talking about, while we're talking about Roma though, let's, let's talk about their Europa League game against Bayern Leverkusen. Are the injuries going to kill them for this, for this title? Do you think?
00:50:59
Speaker
I think 3-5-1-1 is the way to go forward. He has to start Tammy. I don't know Di Bala. I mean, I thought Pellegrini was okay and decent. I think the 3-5-1-1... Pellegrini's been better. I think he has been better recently, Pellegrini. Yeah, because Di Bala's not starting and we know that those two can't play together, unfortunately. And that's, if I were to blame Mourinho for something, it is that he's not been able to unlock Di Bala and Pellegrini together. I think that I do, I expect more. Even though I understand that Di Bala is a special player and you should cater to his needs,
00:51:27
Speaker
I still think that you should be able to fit in Pellegrini in there somehow. And that's that I blame with Mourinho before. But having said that, I think they're a player 3-5-1-1. I think Leverkusen, they lost on Friday, if I'm not mistaken, for the first time in 15 games or 16-17 games. Two and a half months. Yeah, Leverkusen had been unbeaten for two and a half months. I mean, it's going to be a very difficult game. I mean, they've been in fantastic form Leverkusen. They'd won seven in a row until a few weeks ago.
00:51:54
Speaker
But they did lose 2-1 at home to Cologne and that would have knocked their confidence. But I think they do have dangerous players going for the first. I think they are. Diabe, Diabe, I'm a big fan of Diabe. Vrimon at wingback. I mean, they play... I think it's that the two systems are going to match up with each other because they play exactly the same system as Roma, 3-4-2-1.
00:52:12
Speaker
or 3-4-1-2 because it sometimes places the number 10 behind two men. But basically the same system with a back three. They have very pacey wing back two who like to get forward. I guess it becomes a like-for-like tactical battle in that sense. Maybe that might suit Mourinho more because he's good at that. I don't know. I would have said 50-50 or slightly in favour of Roma before.
00:52:41
Speaker
But the injuries, obviously, I think a lot will depend on who comes back. It looks like Di Barla will be back. Will Tommy Abraham be back? I mean, he came on as well. So if they can play those two, you know, along with Pellegrini, they'll have a... Then I think they have a chance. They have some firepower. Yeah, they do. And I think the fact that we know that Leverkusen are a much more progressive side. They like to attack and they like to move forward.
00:53:06
Speaker
And I think that's good for Roma. I think Roma have to. Mourinho has to. They have to do peak Mourinho. They have to be disciplined, and I think they will be disciplined, work hard, organised. They can't go to bed, spin-ups, all I can't do, things like that. The midfield can't give space to the centre of the pitch and they're at home. So the longer that game goes on and it's goal-less, then, you know, I think Roma could snatch a goal and maybe steal a win. Because for me, Lévic was in our favourites going into this game.
00:53:35
Speaker
given where Roma are. The injuries, yeah, I think it depends who comes back and how fit they are. It's not just about coming back. It's like, you know, I mean, Deval has been playing on one leg for the last three weeks. I mean, it was enough against Bayern, but, you know, you can't play. How long will he be able to play for in this game? You know, will he get injured again? You know, so the injuries are a bit of a concern. What's happening with Smalling? When is he back?
00:53:58
Speaker
Well, he was on the bed, but I mean, then again, he called everybody, didn't he? Yeah, no, but Pinrino said that he called them up just to be part of the team. Yeah, exactly. I mean, there was talk of him coming back. I mean, there was talk of him coming back for next weekend, but I don't know, man. Like, it's a huge, huge, I think for all my sake, I think the most important thing is to try to keep the tyre live for the return. Because I do expect, I think Smalling will be back for that. I do expect him to be back for that.
00:54:26
Speaker
uh and and be able to to keep but but one thing that is certain and that is that this team is united the fans are behind this team they're behind their coach they're rallying behind one another they're very united it's not it's it's a very united team it's a very united group it's a very united club which is very rare for Roma this is what happens when Mourinho has his way when he unites everyone behind him
00:54:51
Speaker
They become like this diamond in terms of how hard... And I think they're all out for the Europa League as well. I think they are very much, you know, I think they will maybe hopefully get an extra gear out of them that they really are all in this together and united for this with the fans as well. I think the fans can play their part as well.
00:55:10
Speaker
at the Olympics. Absolutely. I mean, that's another thing that Mourinho has done since taking over, is that the European Knights at the Olympico have become this kind of... Everywhere he goes, European Knights even in games become this kind of almost magical aura about them. And now that they've won one tournament last year, now... It's a shame they're not at home for the second leg. Yeah. And the same for all the Italian teams, all three of them that are playing
00:55:37
Speaker
foreign teams, they're all at home first leg, including the Juventus. Let's talk about the Juventus.
Juventus' Pursuit of Top Four and European Glory
00:55:43
Speaker
Big, huge win, huge win for the top four. I mean, they won 2-0 here at Atlanta, which puts them above Lazio now, intercepting on 66 points, two points above Lazio, three above Inter, five above Milan in fifth, which puts them now, if we're assuming they don't get any points penalties,
00:56:04
Speaker
He puts them in a really strong position now to qualify for the Champions League. I think Roma and Atalanta are now out of it. They are. So we're looking at now four teams playing for three positions from second.
00:56:18
Speaker
second to fifth and the Juventus have the biggest gap out of all of them. So I think they're in a good position now. Big, big win. I mean, Illing Junior, we'll come to, we've got a little, we're going to do just a short profile second on him. So we won't talk about him now, but obviously he was the star of the show, the big talking point. But I think that the positives from this game, other than that, is do something about which is back now, which is massive for Juventus going into the
00:56:47
Speaker
the last few games of the season and especially for the Europa League. He came on the last 25 minutes. He scored a brilliant, brilliant finish. He could have probably should have scored another one before that. But if you look at him in the last two games, the brilliant goal that he scored against Lecce and then Niska, I mean, that was the Fiorentina
00:57:04
Speaker
in the way that he connected with those shots, the confidence, the way that he was just single-minded and no faffing around, just bang. The inevitability factor, like when he's at his best, he looks inevitable. That's it. Just get it out your feet and hit it. And hit it, strike it sweetly. And that is massive. That can't be underestimated how big that is.
00:57:28
Speaker
defensively Juventus were were it felt like I mean you know my opinion I don't like this low block defending but it felt like Atalanta could have been there
00:57:38
Speaker
all day, all night, and they were never going to score in this game. They had 26 shots in this game, which, again, I don't like. I think it's too many. You can't concede that many shots, but Chesney only actually had one save to make in the whole game. Who cares how many shots they take when they don't even come to the goal? Well, they hit the post twice, so let's not pretend there's nothing. But what I'm saying is, you just felt like they were never going to score. I thought that defensively, this was
00:58:06
Speaker
What you've been critical of, the point I'm trying to make is the point what you've been critical of, you've had this in recent games, is organizationally they were very, I thought they were very good at this game. They completely addressed it. He, you know, and he was a back three of Danilo Rugani and Sandro, like he got them, you know, he got them doing what he wanted them to do. And they did it, they executed brilliantly. I thought,
00:58:35
Speaker
They were defensively wrong. Uwe were outstanding. They were back to being an Allegri team. I do think that from the Atalanta point of view, the fact that they were decimated in attack, I thought that was also played a role in Juventus being able to hold them at bay. Atalanta had nothing can attack, no cutting edge. They had no hoilland or hook. But this notion, I'm sorry, I'm not letting you off the hook here.
00:58:59
Speaker
Allegri this, allegri that. Second in the Serie A, 28 goals conceded. That's the third best in all of the Serie A. He's got a five-point cushion down to fifth-place Milan. He's in the semi-final of the Europa League. This in a situation at the backdrop of complete chaos and turmoil with a squad that we all know it's not that good. We know it's not Squaredo winning good. And we know that they're recovering from the Paratici years, not for the nonsense he did off the pitch, but actually the squad.
00:59:28
Speaker
and I don't understand what else you can ask for.
00:59:33
Speaker
given the circumstances, this notion of what do you want from him? What do you want from him? Well, I think we've done that to death. No, because- We've done that to death. Listen, my opinion is never going to change. I've gone through it to death and we're already an hour into this podcast. I'm not going to change my opinion just because they've won one, two games. No, it's not just one, two games. They're second in the seria and they're going to finish the top one. I think to be honest with you,
01:00:03
Speaker
I'm looking at these games and I think Cremonese at home, they're going to bore people to death and win that. And they're going to do something similar against Empoli away. And then it's the Milan game.
01:00:15
Speaker
You know, he was talking about that after the game, saying, you know, I love him. It's not. It's not. Listen, listen, what he said after the game, I was laughing. He's like, well, the maximum that Inter can get is 75 points. The maximum that Milan can get is 74 points. The maximum that we can get is 70, 70, 78 points. So if we get between that, we're fine.
01:00:43
Speaker
Like, if we get between 74 and 73 and 74, we should be okay. I mean, he's just... I love him. I absolutely love the man. Of course you bloody love him. Of course you bloody love him. You're an inter-fab. No. Every inter-fab that I know loves Allegri. No, no. If I want... Look, again, I love him. If I want Juventus to do poorly, sack him and bring in the therapy.
01:01:07
Speaker
Please do it now. I'm dancing that dance. From an inter perspective, please bring in Italiano and D'Zerbi. Nothing would make me as an inter hand fan happier. Be careful what you wish for, Nemo. No, I'd love it. I'd love it. Bring him. I hope you get him. I really do. I'm really looking forward to him coming in.
01:01:25
Speaker
I pray all my prayers would be answered if we get deserved with a young team and young players developing them. I mean, he would develop these players. I mean, it'd be fantastic. I'd love it. I'd love it. I'd love to see if he doesn't get sacked by December of that season when he's appointed, when he's conceded about 40 goals and you've lost eight, nine games in the league.
01:01:44
Speaker
But we'll see, we'll see. But first of all, we will see how he does next season with Brighton, because I think he's going to stay there. I mean, they're going to be finishing European spot. And I don't think he, you know, I think he would want to stay there, have a full season in the Premier League. But and also when they're in Europe. But we'll see. But for me, Allegri, look.
01:02:01
Speaker
it's, he gets the result. It might not look pretty. Oh my God. Only an allegory disciple could give allegory credit for getting less points than Pielo and say that he's not in the sense of a job. Who cares about the number of points? It's about, no, no, it doesn't matter. He's broken virtually every historical record. It's completely irrelevant. He's broken historical record. The only thing that matters is finishing. Allegory has broken historical record after historical record this season and these people still want to give allegory credit. I find it astonishing, but we have to move on then.
01:02:28
Speaker
No, all I'm saying is the point thing is irrelevant. What matters is finishing where you do in the league the year you play in. Again, Inter won the treble winning the Serie A with 82 points after 38 games. Napoli are on 83 now. Let's move on to Europa League because where this game was absolutely vital for Juventus was the Juventus getting a bit of confidence and form because they were in absolutely horrific form before the lecture game. They had won winning
01:02:56
Speaker
in eight and you know I was not feeling confident going into that Sevilla game at all. Now they've got these two wins, Velalvic has found some goals and confidence, they defended better in this game, they'll have to defend better you know at least as well as that against Sevilla. You know I feel more confident now going into this game. I think that
01:03:19
Speaker
Sevilla will be very very difficult because they've hit form themselves I mean it had a disastrous season that they're 11th in La Liga and they were lower They were fighting relegation for much the season, but they have suddenly found form since the international break since April They've lost only one of nine games and they've won five of their last six matches And of course, they not many knighted out of the Europa League. We know that this is the Europa League of Sevilla is the Sevilla league their record in the Europa League is incredible They've won it more than anyone else six
01:03:49
Speaker
Six victories, I mean, the last was in 2020 when they beat Inter, of course, and they have a lot of things going in their favour because of the form. They've had three days extra rest in Juventus. They've had the weekend off, they played on Thursday. Juventus have only had four days rest. So, you know, they've got some advantages over Juventus and they've got some dangerous players, and Nesri I'm a fan of, or Campos, the former Milan guy, very, very good form as well.
01:04:16
Speaker
It is going to be a very, very difficult game. But you know, I think I think you just can do it. I think that, you know, you're in the fight semi final of a European competition, you're playing Sevilla. Even though it's their competition. I mean, yeah, you you you have to
01:04:33
Speaker
feel like you can get to the final. Look, I think in terms of how they play, they actually suit Juver, but they are good in this competition and they feel they are very relaxed in it and they win this thing pretty much every year. I think Juver has to be really switched on and I think it's going to be important to see
01:05:02
Speaker
It's going to be important to see how allegory
01:05:08
Speaker
How does he manage this? How does he, what does he think he's going to do? Is he going to just do the usual? Well, I think that's obvious. Yeah, but also, no, but I'm also thinking, no, no, but I'm thinking, does he start Wlawic from start or does he put Milik on there and then he puts Wlawic on later? You know, is he going to start Kiers? Is he going to study Maria? Like, how is he going to do? I know that what he's going to do, we all know he's going to do. I'm just looking at the kind of details of it. Yeah.
01:05:38
Speaker
I think he starts, I think he has to start Vlawic after. But then he has to start Kiese as well. Because I want to see Kiese of Vlawic together. For me, it's Kiese of Vlawic di Maria Milik. Those are the ones I go with. Those two duos. I think Kiese and Vlawic complement each other.
01:05:53
Speaker
It's going to be interesting. Does he play Samuel Elling Junior? That brings us on nicely to Samuel Elling Junior because he had his first start for Juventus in this 2-0 win against Atalanta. The first Englishman to start for 30 years for Juventus since David Platt in June 1993.
01:06:11
Speaker
And he had a fantastic, fantastic performance. He was lively and he scored really the decisive goal in this game. Blauwitsch's second goal came deep, seven minutes, eight minutes into injury time and he was ill and junior that broke the debt block.
01:06:26
Speaker
In the second half, he won the ball back with his work rate and his press in, and then he played it to Rabio, who then played it back across the box, and Illing Junior.
01:06:42
Speaker
and inning junior scored and I think that he's been one of the positives of this season for Juventus has been some of these youngsters that are getting a chance and they're coming through the next gen and have shown that they do have potential for the future if they are developed.
01:06:59
Speaker
correctly in the future and I think he definitely has potential. So we'll do a little profile on Illing Junior. He joined Juventus in 2020. He came from Chelsea. He spent nine years in Chelsea's youth academy between 2011 and 2020.
01:07:19
Speaker
He was in the same age group as Armando Broja, who's at Chelsea now, an Albanian striker. But he left four Juventus because he felt he would have more chances in their next-gen team. He's been really one of their bright spots in the Primavera team last season. He got 10 goals and seven assists from 26 games.
01:07:39
Speaker
That allowed him to get his chance in the first team and of course he really has done well when he's played for the first team this season. He came on in that defeat to Benfica in the group stage, the 4-3 and thanks to him really they launched a late comeback and almost got a point. They ended up losing 4-3. He got an assist in that game and nearly set up an equaliser as well.
01:08:02
Speaker
I mean, he's a winger. He's a winger. That's his natural role. But as is the case of Allegra, Allegra has been playing him left wing back quite a lot. But he's actually shown that he's actually very, very tactically versatile because if you saw him in the Atlanta game, his defensive coverage, his work rate gets up and down. But he's also seems to be very switched on in the way that he tracks back and gets in position. We saw that with the way that he won the ball for the
01:08:28
Speaker
for the goal that he scored. He's actually done really, really well at left wing back, but he is naturally a winger. He's quite tall, he's powerful, he's quick, he goes both outside and inside, and he's got a goal for it. His three seasons at youth level for Juventus, 19 goals and 20 assists, I like him.
01:08:55
Speaker
Yeah, no, I like him, too. I think he's been one of, like, this... Allegrian the kids. It's been really interesting to see. Vaggioli Miretti, this kid. I think that's good news for Juba, because with Rovela and Cambiaso,
01:09:12
Speaker
being as good as they've been this season in the Serie A. That's great news for them. But no, he's a really, really interesting player. And I like the fact that he's, yes, he's a winger, but he's actually been really good as a left wing back as well. And I like his technique.
01:09:30
Speaker
I think he comes across as a very mature and intelligent player and person in how he behaves on the pitch. I like him because he's unpredictable as well, with Costitch.
01:09:45
Speaker
He's predictable. Costich is the most predictable player that you will ever get. He just crosses it as soon as he gets it. It doesn't matter where he got it. You can't argue with the assists that Costich has got over the course of the season. I think that obviously he's going to guarantee you a number of goals through his goal contributions, through what he does. But I think that sometimes in certain games against certain teams, against certain level of opponent and proposition, he can be predictable.
01:10:11
Speaker
whereas Elling Junior, especially as an impact player, as a sub, and that's where I think he'll probably come on as he'll be a sub, I think, for this severe game.
01:10:19
Speaker
because Legri is a pragmatist. I think he is unpredictable and he gives you that X factor. And because he's so young, he's 19, he still hasn't had that coached out of him. And I think that, I hope it isn't coached out of him, but I think that he's, yeah, I think he's a useful weapon. And I think he can be a useful weapon for the rest of this season for Juventus.
Serie A Relegation Battle
01:10:41
Speaker
He will play his part, I think, between now and the end of the season. Agreed. Okay.
01:10:50
Speaker
Renegation race in Serie A. We said on Thursday, if Cremonese win that game, they threw a monkey wrench in it. Well, they won and they threw a monkey wrench in it. They did, only for 24 hours because Lecce then bloody lost at home to Verona, which leaves a six point gap between Cremonese and safety. So I think that
01:11:20
Speaker
I think it's Kremenazia down now because of that result. I think if Lecce had won that game, I think Kremenazia are right in there with a chance of saving themselves. But six points with four games left and Kremenazia still have to play Juventus in their next game. And correct me if I'm mistaken, they have to play one of the other big guns as well before the end of the season, if I'm not mistaken. Well, they're playing Lazio. Yeah. So, I mean,
01:11:47
Speaker
It was always a tall order. It was always a tall order and a big ask, so it's not going to happen. But it was it was very interesting that they beat Spezia because I think that defeat essentially relegates Spezia. That's where it's massive. That's where the monkey wrenches is with Spezia. You're back in Verona to stay up now. Yeah. And you've got to hand it to them because what Verona did, Zafaroni has done a fantastic job. And Helas, I think they're staying up now again.
01:12:17
Speaker
And it's astonishing because the great escape that they keep doing year after year after year.
01:12:23
Speaker
is really impressive. The second half of the season, they've really stepped it up. They've been playing well in the second half of the season. The signing of Ungong, if I'm pronouncing it right, is definitely been key for them. I think he's been really, really good since they signed him in January.
01:12:47
Speaker
And again, Hien at the back, he's worthy of a bigger club. Well, he is. I mean, I think Torino, but we're not sure about what's happening. Even potentially higher level, potentially. I mean, I think that's his next step. But after that, I think there's the possibility he could even go higher than that. I agree. He's only 24. So there is potential. And there are years that... No, I'm so impressed by what they've done and the fact that they beat Lecha. I mean, Lecha
01:13:16
Speaker
They're four points off Spezia. I mean, this is where it gets a bit, because I think it would be so unfair if Lechia were to go down. I don't think they deserve that. No, I don't think so. Especially the way they played the first half of the season. But I mean, you look at Spezia, they've got Milan in the next game. I can't see them.
01:13:36
Speaker
Look, I wouldn't put it past if they... Milan might rotate their whole team, so who knows? This is what I'm saying. But the thing is, if you look at La Spezia's form, they haven't won since the 10th of March, when they beat Inter. Since then, they've lost five and drawn three.
01:13:57
Speaker
Well, they've got one point in the last five games. Yeah, it's just they are awful. And they're at home. So, you know, we'll see. I mean, this is the last chance saloon. But having said that, this, you know, they can afford to lose to Milan as Lecce go to Lazio. And I expect them to let you to lose that game, too. But then on the 21st of May, noon kickoff, Lecce Spezia. Oh, my gosh.
01:14:26
Speaker
Ah, every year it happens, doesn't it? That's already in your calendar. Oh, you betcha. I'm not missing Letcher Spezia for anything in the world. And yeah, no, it's going to be really interesting, but I really want Letcher to stay up. I don't think they deserve to go down.
01:14:42
Speaker
I think we should get back to that when the season's over in our final to see how we did with our predictions. I'm not sure if I would see. I think we both had Inter to win the Scletta. I remember that. Yeah, I did. But I had Scletta going down and I think I had Napoli as my dark horse to win the Serie A.
01:14:59
Speaker
Yeah, no, you did. You did. I'll give you credit for that. You definitely, I'll definitely give you credit for that. The other the other Serie A fixture was Torino, Monza, 1-1. This is, to me, this classic end of season between two teams who've got nothing to play for. They're mentally already on holiday. It's just mid-table clash that ends in a 1-1.
01:15:19
Speaker
There was an outrageous piece of skill in this game by Pacina before Monza's goal, where he played it through his legs and flicked it. Oh, wow. Wow, absolutely amazing. The other games that we're recording this on Monday afternoon, on Monday evening, are Empoli, Selene, Tano, Udene, Sis, Sampdoria, and Sassuolo versus Bologna. Not really too much to play for, in all honesty, in those games, I don't think. Empoli can pretty much, or Anselinte can pretty much,
01:15:47
Speaker
definitely make themselves safe but I think they're safe already if we're being honest. Okay the other game just to mention we've already done Champions League and Europa League previews just to mention the conference league there's Fiorentina versus Basel in the semi-finals the first leg in Florence. I think we're both very confident that Fiorentina go through this because
01:16:09
Speaker
Basil, I'm kind of surprised they've got to semi-final. They're not having a good season. They're fifth in the Swiss league. Their form is very inconsistent. And Fiorentina's form has gone off the ball a little bit, but I think that has been partly down to their focus has gone and I think they really are concentrating on the cup competition. Which is the right thing to do.
01:16:30
Speaker
like you can't I mean if you're in team I haven't won anything in ages so yes yes yes yes yes they I thought they did all right against Napoli I mean I know Napoli were not probably not 100% focused either but I thought that they they you know they they played well enough in that game to give them confidence you know going into this match and
01:16:49
Speaker
I think that, yeah, I think they're strong favourites to go through. If they don't go through, I'll be the first one to be having it at Italiano for not going through, because I think this is a golden opportunity for them to get to a European final. Milenkovic is suspended for the first leg. Cabral, we hope, is back from injury. I think it's touch and go, because I think that is important, having that strike, because he's been really good
01:17:11
Speaker
in 2023, and I think that definitely makes a difference for them. Once Cabral started scoring in 2023, the whole of the attack started doing better, and they started scoring more goals. Just having that number nine that can score goals, because Jobic has been a disaster this season, let's be honest. Cabral has just turned it around completely, so having him back, I think, is important. But ultimately, yeah, we are expecting Fiorentina to go through here.
01:17:37
Speaker
For sure, for sure. OK. And I think they have to. And I love that you call Basel Basil. That is something that I absolutely love. I'm going to call them Basil from now on. What do you call them? Basel, their name. Basil, Basil. If you watch Faulty Towers, never mind. Of course I have. Basil Faulty. It's brilliant. Absolutely brilliant. I love that you call them Basil. It's brilliant. It wasn't even the wife.
01:18:07
Speaker
Well, on that note, we're going to do Premface of the Week and Badger of the Week. Right, that's my Premface moment. First of all, before we get to Premface of the Week, Badger of the Week is an easy one, right? It's Napoli, right? Yeah, no, it's many things. It's Napoli, it's Pacina's skill. And I've got to say, for me, it's also Vlawic.
Racism in Italian Football
01:18:31
Speaker
I can't think, remember, I have rooted for many players in my life who wear the u-wisher to score as much as I did that afternoon when they were racially abusing him. Gosh yes, that was down in our plan and we should have talked about it by now and I'm glad you mentioned it because we absolutely have to chat about
01:18:50
Speaker
the racist abuse, because that was absolutely shameful. It was disgusting. It was the anti-Zingaro, the objective. No, the anti-Romani chants. That's something that people need to understand. This isn't
01:19:08
Speaker
This has historical connotations that go back to Nazism, this referral to Slavic people in the derogatory term, a gypsy, tsingaro. This has historic people in other countries and other parts of the world may not know this, or even in Europe know this, but this has deep historic connotations. No, he's not a vlaw, which does not belong to the Romani minority.
01:19:37
Speaker
Because he's Slavic. But the fact that it's not even the calling him a Romani, no, they're calling him the equivalent of the N-word, if you will. That's what that word means. And it is the Romani people, the way that they have been persecuted throughout history and in Europe especially.
01:19:58
Speaker
Oh, no, absolutely. All I'm going to say is Google, Romani Holocaust. Well, yeah, during the Holocaust, the Jews, the Romani, the disabled, I mean, they were all equally executed and murdered. We're talking about a group of people in Sweden up until 1976. The Swedish government had to in the 90s apologize for this, right?
01:20:25
Speaker
They were forcibly, even knowingly or not, sterilized. 60,000 women, because they were deemed to be racially inferior. That's the level of the persecution that we are talking about when we talk about what happened to the Romani people.
01:20:42
Speaker
and still happens, by the way. This is a group that for centuries, a minority that for centuries have not been allowed to own property, to move where they want to, live where they want to. They have been denied citizenship and still are in parts of Europe. This is something so the fact that... This is a big Italian problem as well, the referring to anybody from not just the old Yugoslavia, but Eastern Europe. It's an Eastern European
01:21:12
Speaker
they're gypsy. This is a big, big problem in Italy and elsewhere, but we're talking about Italy here. It's a huge, huge problem. When we're talking about racism in Italy... That is part of it. Very much part of it. This is a huge, huge cultural problem in Italy, and it's not helped when you have the remarks of Gasparini at the end of the game. It's just not helped. Here's the thing though.
01:21:38
Speaker
I'm not going to defend him because his comments are indefensible, but he is 65 years old. And his reaction to that, to me, is exactly that of a 65 year old man. It's also a reaction of how Italians often refer to racism and discrimination against players that are black or are
01:22:01
Speaker
or Romani or whoever they're discriminating, is that they don't see it as discriminatory. They see it as getting an insult in your opponent in order to try and put them off their game or to get ahead. What he's saying, what he said was there's a big difference between racism and insulting, and he doesn't think this was insulting because
01:22:25
Speaker
You know, and it's like, that's because, again, it's an education issue. He does not know this. He's not aware. Doesn't he not mean that because he thinks that he sees it like, remember the way that they used to describe the Balotelli racism, like it was, you know, you're doing it not because you're being racist to him, but because you're trying to put him off his game. Yeah, that's fair enough. Is that maybe what he meant?
01:22:47
Speaker
Maybe, but it doesn't matter because it's stupid and he didn't make it any better. And it's not the first time that this happened to Vlawic at the Inbergamo against Atalanta. I think most of us have seen that infamous video now when he's waiting to be interviewed and about thousands of people are shouting at him that he's effing gypsy.
01:23:06
Speaker
And I'm glad that he reacted the way he did and said, you know, score. And then he gets booked. This is what we learned from the Lukaku debacle is this is what they want the referees to do.
01:23:24
Speaker
The referees have to act this way, and then this is going to go to the FIGC. They're going to appeal it. The yellow card is going to stay, and then the president has to intervene and pardon it. This is apparently how they want to run things in the Italian FA. I find it ridiculous, but that's how they've decided that they're going to handle it.
01:23:44
Speaker
I mean, you're just encouraging... I don't even know what to say. I mean, you're encouraging it, surely. Just don't even know what to say anymore. So what if Flauvitch is on a yellow card, like he wasn't Lukaku? Then he would have been sent off, and then the entire... No, he wouldn't have, because the entire circus we saw with Lukaku would have repeated itself.
01:24:03
Speaker
But I mean, the difference is, is that Lukaku and Blauwitsch didn't have any effect on that game in particular, because it was the end of the game. But can you imagine if it was the 30th minute and they get a second yellow card and they're off and it affects that game? I know, I know, I know. And it's stupid. And it's... Ah, that's my reaction to it. Just sigh. It's exhausting. Well, we'll see what Atalanta do. We'll see if they put out bans and, like Juventus did, or if they try and do what Gasparini did and, like,
01:24:29
Speaker
don't do anything about it, not see a problem in it. It is a problem in Atalanta as well, actually. It's a problem all over Italy. It's a problem all over Italy, but Atalanta do have form on this as well. It's all over Italy and then nothing happens.
01:24:44
Speaker
And there needs to be a uniform action, everything we've spoken about this in the past, and there isn't any, and it's absolutely disgusting. I have to give credit, though, for Juventus, for the fact that they did end up banning two players, two... No, I'm sorry, I can't, I'm sorry. Two people out of a majority of... Yeah, but they banned 171 after, with all the authorities. I mean, that is more than any club has ever done, and that's what everyone needs to do. That's the problem. It shouldn't be a club that does this.
01:25:14
Speaker
This is exactly it. It shouldn't be the club. That's great that they're doing it, but I'm not giving anyone credit because this should not happen because there should be a mechanism in place for this not to happen.
01:25:29
Speaker
Like, do you know what I mean? This is, again, and Juventus should not be doing this themselves. There should be a rule in place that prevents this from happening and that there are actual consequences. There should be a strategy and there should be step one, step two. No, absolutely. Yeah. I mean, I'm just talking about this from Juventus' point of view. We need to see the same
01:25:48
Speaker
reaction from Atalanta. You know, what Juventus has done, however critical we want to be on them for others done, they did brilliantly on this. They found 171 people. That's more than anyone has ever done in any area of Italian football weather. So we have to give them credit for that. However long it took to get to that stage or whatever, it has happened. So I'm in agreement with you. Yeah, it shouldn't be down to the clubs. But you know, I'm saying I'm saying I want to see Atalanta put out a strong, you know,
01:26:16
Speaker
stance themselves. And if that happens, then hopefully that puts the pressure on the FYGC more. Well, we'll see if I have, we'll see. Prem face though, Prem face of the week. Do you have one?
01:26:28
Speaker
I think we have like, I don't know, five.
Sam Allardyce's Bold Claims and Humor
01:26:33
Speaker
No, but like, I think Sam Allardyce is the like, creme de la creme, isn't it? Sam Allardyce saying he's the best manager in the world. After getting appointed by Leeds United last week, he had his press conference and he said, I quote, there's nobody ahead of me in football terms in world football, not Pep Guardiola, not glop, glop, clop, not Arteta.
01:26:55
Speaker
They do what they do, I do what I do, but in terms of depth of knowledge, I am up there with them.
01:27:01
Speaker
I am not saying I'm better than them, but I'm as good as them. Oh, I love it. I love it. It's so good. A lot of people have been sending us clips of an old clip of some guy saying that Erling Horland was crap. I think we already had him as a prim face before the season started, and there's a guy who's holding his face. Oh, I know which guy it is. It's that Rory the Tory, isn't it? Thank you. Rory the Tory.
01:27:28
Speaker
Rory the Tory, the Chelsea one. Is he Chelsea TV? Something like that, but we can't pick that because that's old. He's the guy that said that basically only fans that go to the stadium can be called fans of their club. Everyone else is not a fan. That's what he once said. Because he basically said that any Chelsea fans that don't go to Stamford Bridge can't be considered Chelsea fans.
01:27:55
Speaker
That's what he said. I remember the poll of Chelsea around the world went absolutely berserk it in. I remember that. I remember he said lots of it. But I'm just saying we can't pick that because it was not just one person. I think 10, 15 people sent that to us. I just want to say that's really old and we did pick it at the time.
01:28:18
Speaker
Yeah, we did. We've done that before. That's been a previous prim face. But yeah, so this is that that's an oldie. It's an oldie but a goodie. And there's far too many contenders for prim face. We would never dare do the same prim face twice. No, we can't. We don't recycle prim faces now because there's so much of them and they're fresh. We like our prim faces fresh and juicy.
01:28:44
Speaker
Okay, right. Let's leave it at
Podcast Team's Upcoming Schedule
01:28:46
Speaker
that. It was a bit of a longer show today. Quite a long show actually, one hour and a half. Didn't realise it went on that. Yeah, it was a lot to talk about because of the Champions League and European football as well and three huge games in the top four race.
01:29:01
Speaker
Yeah, there was a lot to talk about. Okay, right. We'll be back on Tuesday for Q&A and then Thursday to review the Big Champions League game between Milan and Inter, which is on Wednesday evening.
01:29:16
Speaker
So, yeah, lots to talk about. We will see you then. Actually, we might also have an interview this week as well, which will come out on Friday. So we'll, you know, a special interview with someone. But, you know, watch the space for that. Yeah. Yeah. If it's not this Friday, it'll definitely be probably next week or very soon. Yeah. Yeah. Brilliant. OK. Have a great week, guys. We will see you on Tuesday. Ciao ciao.