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You'll Never Walk Alone... Unless You're Salah
19 Plays3 months ago
Salah Conundrum
- Was he right for going to the media?
- Is he being scapegoated?
- Has Slot handled it well?
- How do you think it will resolve?
- Does Salah play again?
Trouble in Madrid
- Madrid 1 - City 2
- Xabi Alonso - right for the job?
- Do the pieces fit together?
- Vini - time up at Madrid?
Recommended
Transcript
00:00:01
Emeka
Thank you.
Introduction and Episode Setup
00:00:11
Emeka
Welcome, welcome, welcome to episode 42, 41, who knows, of the Love of the Game podcast. Recording this on December 12th, 2025 on a very, very, very chilly Friday night.
00:00:26
Emeka
Hope you're all staying warm at wherever you are listening to this podcast. As always, joined by the man magic making the magic happen, my man Chynoski. Chynoski, how are you doing today?
00:00:37
Chino Onwuka
I'm doing good. just want to say a happy holidays to everyone listening, you know, wherever you are, whether you're in your car, whether that you're in your living room with the fireplace on, with a hot cup cocoa in your hand, you know, listening to us. We appreciate you. Happy holidays. Compliments of the season.
00:00:53
Chino Onwuka
Glad you're here rocking with
Sports Excitement and Technical Challenges
00:00:55
Chino Onwuka
us. You know, like mic I said, it's a little bit chilly right now, but hopefully we can warm you up with some exciting sports talk, sports conversation. Let's get it.
00:01:04
Emeka
Hey, the weather might be cold, but the takes are hot. So, you know, thank you for rocking with us. And again, joined by the third man in the booth. Joining us, my man Chukwu. Chukwu, how you doing this Friday?
00:01:15
Chuku
Yes, yes, yes. You know, I'm doing all right. Thanks for asking. You know, i was just trying to, as you know, stay warm. As you mentioned, it's a pretty chilly, chilly Friday. But, you know, that ain't going to stop us from giving the people what they want. I know i was out last week. or Well, you know, I guess the true listeners will find out, you know, when the when last week's episodes come up. But I'm glad to be back and I'm just ready to chop it up with the boys. So let's get it.
00:01:42
Emeka
Yes, sir. Technical difficulties on last episode we recorded, but, you know, it's going to come out there. Everything, it's it was recorded, let me tell you. And if it doesn't come out, it was the best episode we ever did. And I'm sorry sad you guys didn't hear it. It was cinema.
00:01:58
Emeka
If it comes out, it was still pretty good, too. Jam-packed episode.
World Cup and European Football Updates
00:02:02
Emeka
We got a lot happening in the world of sports, primarily football, because, you know, it's that time of year. And World Cup tickets just came out last week, and I'm sure people are taking out second mortgages and refinancing cars and homes to get their tickets. And listeners, if you haven't, you haven't until January, but dar well also don't do it. Cause I want to get better luck on the draw, but neither here nor there. but We still on a lot of football and European domestic leagues before the summer.
00:02:28
Emeka
And it was as always a big champions league week, a lot of fixtures, lot of news, but I think it's fair to say there was one storyline that really carried headlines this week.
Salah's Controversy and Reactions
00:02:39
Emeka
Seven days ago,
00:02:41
Emeka
Liverpool up 2-0 against Leeds. You know, Slott was, wouldn't say he was back, but the vibes were okay, decent. And pre-match, he left one, you know, a little Egyptian winger, or should I say former Chelsea failure, on the bench.
00:02:57
Emeka
Long story short, Liverpool collapsed, match ended In the mixed zone afterwards, that aforementioned Chelsea reject, or better known as Liverpool's best player in the 21st century, Mohamed Salah, the stat was the eighth time in the last four years. He did not give interviews plenty.
00:03:16
Emeka
But for the eighth time in the last four years, Salah walked onto the mixed zone and essentially said, He's a scapegoat. He's been singled out. He has no relationship with the manager.
00:03:27
Emeka
He does not know why he's been on the bench three consecutive games. He feels he's done enough that he does not have to reprove himself to earn his spot back. He even went as far as name-dropping Harry Kane. Man said three years ago, Harry Kane was a bum for 12 games.
00:03:42
Emeka
didn't bench him. So why are you benching me? Explosive is not even like the one of the craziest things I've seen someone do in a casual post-game scrum. Usually people go on Pierce Morgan to do that. He just did it in front of all the reporters.
00:03:57
Emeka
As I'm sure you guys are aware, listeners, he got... He still benched, left at home. Liverpool went midweek to enter Milan and won. Some guy named Jamie Carragher had a nice little rant about how Salah as a Chelsea reject and blah, blah, blah.
00:04:11
Emeka
And then apparently today news broke. Slaughter him had a conversation. They've squashed the beef and Salah will be on the bench or might even start, but he will be involved at the weekend. Obviously lot to talk about.
00:04:24
Emeka
going to start with you, Chana. Just a simple question. Was Mo Salah in the right for going to the media like he did?
00:04:31
Chino Onwuka
I would just say that's not the way I would have handled things. Was he right? No, I don't think so, because I guess I'll i'll keep things a buck in that you know there are certain things that should be handled a certain way.
00:04:48
Chino Onwuka
Like you know any any issues he has, any disagreements, you know go talk to the people directly. But you talked about that stat of how often he's come to the media. It seems like he he's received criticism from the aforementioned Jamie Carragher that, you know, when things are down, he never gives interviews. It's always Van Dyke coming to to talk, Curtis Jones, is all the other players, but he's never up there to come and you you know you know, stand in the gap for the team. and But then, you know, when it's to complain, you know,
00:05:22
Chino Onwuka
he's there giving a a sermon on the Mount. So I wouldn't have done it that way. I don't think that's the way he should have done it because he knew what that would do, right? that's that's He was just playing politics there.
00:05:36
Chino Onwuka
But I do want to add that, you know, the way he was treated, the way he's been spoken about by Jamie Carragher, especially, is extremely disrespectful.
00:05:47
Chino Onwuka
Jamie Carragher... Like, you're you're all cute and everything when you're surrounded by the real Gs on on CBS Galazzo, know, with Thierry and Micah Richards. But on any other platform, he's so annoying on Sky Sports. He's so annoying with his tweets.
00:06:05
Chino Onwuka
Who the hell do you think you are to talk about Mo Salah like that? Like, I've been reading some things on Twitter, and i'm maybe I'm starting to lean into some things that, you know, weren't my original thoughts because...
00:06:20
Chino Onwuka
it really seems like he has an agenda against Mo Salah, right? In fact, he's not even Mo Salah anymore. He's Mohamed Salah all of a sudden.
00:06:30
Chino Onwuka
He has really had an agenda against him. He's been speaking about him multiple, multiple, multiple times. Just last week or two weeks ago, he was saying that slot should be fired on air, on candid camera. And then now he's like, oh, you can't you can't come and disrespect the manager like that. That's a player...
00:06:48
Chino Onwuka
within the camp. Who are you to talk like that? Oh, he's never won a big trophy. You know, he's never going to be. Goes back to when he said, oh, African Cup of Nations isn't a a big tournament.
00:07:01
Chino Onwuka
You know, I know you asked me about Mosa, but I'm just here to rant about Jamie Carragher. I just think he's been super disrespectful. Slott has a right to to bench.
00:07:12
Chino Onwuka
Salah if he thinks he's not performing. Slott has a right to discipline Salah for the way Salah came out and made those comments like that. you know, we spoke about Chris Paul last week in the whole situation.
00:07:24
Chino Onwuka
You guys haven't heard it yet, but you will. I think there's a certain way you need to treat your your superstars. But he hasn't been playing well this season. He hasn't been playing well for a long time. So the coach, especially when the team is in a bad run of form, has every right to try and get the best players out there.
00:07:43
Chino Onwuka
So he was benched. Salah, if you have problems with that, either do what it takes to get back onto the field, talk to the coach, you know, in private, do whatever you do in private. But I don't think he should have come out like that. I know I went in a roundabout ways to your question, but I just have to get a lot of thoughts and feelings out.
00:08:01
Emeka
No, and this is a big talk. It dominated the media for the last a week or so. And like, there are lot of things you're talking We're going to talk about all of them. But just on the Carragher front, I will say this is a classic example of when you have a right point, but then you take it too far.
00:08:19
Emeka
Because the initial message he had of... Respect them, you know, you know is bigger the club is bigger than any individual. And I'm always, always, always going to be club over player. That's just how I am.
00:08:32
Emeka
We talked about this with the ESAC debate, you know, in the summer that I was saying, like, I just, you know, play a power and all that. But I just back the club because I just think end of the day, it's a job. And like you said, the manager has the rights to bench somebody if he thinks is best for the team.
00:08:47
Emeka
Now, if you disagree with that, there are avenues you can go to, and Mo Salah can call the owner of Liverpool. Like, when you're at that level, he has that kind of access. And wherever the boss is locally, you can call somebody. He can talk. He doesn't have to go the media.
00:09:04
Emeka
But to your point about Karaga, yeah, it's become personal, clearly. He doesn't like him. I don't know what the beef is. I'm not tapped to Liverpool like that. He doesn't like him, and he took it too far. And there's a thing I...
00:09:17
Emeka
And i'm I can't lie, I'm guilty of doing this too sometimes, and believe he would do it to me. When I'm going to say, you know, a point I have in my head, and in making that point, I will make an offhand comment, and then now the offhand comment is now the story. And, like, that's the whole Chelsea reject, whatever.
00:09:36
Emeka
Mo Salah cost 37 million pounds when Liverpool signed it. He was the record signing, I think, at the time. Didn't sign him because he was very good at Roma. Like, settle down, Jamie. Like, you went too far there when you're trying to say all that kind of stuff. And I get what he was trying to say. The message was, the team is, you need a team around you. I get all that.
00:09:56
Emeka
But then now that's because the headline. And he has to know. He's in amazing media. So he has to know. Now the headline becomes, like I joked about, Jamie Carragher calls him mic Chelsea reject and all that kind of stuff. And then the message gets clouded. And then now it went to some – and then it went on social media. And I i don't go on social media, so i I didn't see those parts.
00:10:13
Emeka
But just stick to your point. Like just say what he went to the media and doing that that's wrong and
Liverpool Management and Team Dynamics
00:10:20
Emeka
you move on from there. But – Regardless, it is what it is now, and I hope it gets resolved. But I guess I'll say, I'll throw it to you, Chuku. We've talked about how Mo Salah and Jamie Carragher handled it.
00:10:31
Emeka
How do you think Slott has handled it? Is it good, is it bad, or indifferent to you?
00:10:36
Chuku
I would it's indifferent to me, but I mean, i mean, you've asked me purely on slots management of the situation. i mean, it's come out, right, that they had a conversation. So I guess they've know both decided to be adults about it, you know, and come to some sort of a middle ground and, you know, Salah's involved and i was going to be involved.
00:10:57
Chuku
Whether he starts or comes off the bench or just on the bench, we'll find out you know over the weekend. But, I mean, the fact remains, this is Mo Salah we're talking about. It's not like because he's getting benched, with you know he's not going to get any playing time. like At some point, I but believe he's going to be back on the field starting games again. Whether he's still going to be playing at Liverpool, you know,
00:11:23
Chuku
by this time next year that might be a different story but I definitely do believe you know Salah has a part to play you know for the for the remainder of the season so look at end the day I'm definitely on the side of you know no player is bigger than the program you know players come and go but you know club remains, you know. So the way I look at it is, look, Salak has the right to be upset. He's been a big part of the club's, you know, success over the last decade.
00:11:54
Chuku
But at the end the day, you know, you got to understand right now you're, you know, what, 32, 33, 33, You know, you're not at the best form of your life anymore. You know, guys are starting to really dissect your game.
00:12:09
Chuku
And, you know, it's a humbling moment, you know, because obviously he's been used to being the guy, the man. And, you know, even seeing some of the comments he was making over the summer when I'm not sure if you, you know, I'm pretty sure you know what I've been noticing on social media. not sure about my bro. But... Maybe you might have recalled or seen it, but there was some things in the in the summer where there was basically a post that showed a picture of Luis Diaz and Nunes leaving. And then, you know, everyone was talking about a hyping of the you know income and replacements of Wirtz and ISAC. And even Mo Salah was like, whoa whoa whoa, whoa, whoa, you know, let's not be too quick or hasty to, you know, start throwing shade. I'm just trying to paraphrase here, but basically not not to throw shade on on the on the players that have left and, you know and know, respect what they have done as far as their achievements within the league and whatnot. And, you know, with that being said, I mean, look,
00:13:07
Chuku
Salah, you know, I can understand his frustrations with a lot of the changes have taken place at the club and, you know, now that he's, you know, kind of been made scapegoat in a sense from, you know, Slott's treatment of him, that still no doesn't really give him the the the right, in my opinion, to kind of, know, talk or go off the way he did. Even though with a lot of what he was saying, I do kind of agree with, you know, his sentiments, but it's just...
00:13:37
Chuku
Right message, wrong time, and in my opinion. Because, again, you gotta to you got be able to know that you're not bigger than the club. And if the manager wants to sit you down for a few games, you sit down. You know, like, it is what it is. You know, he's someone that Salah referred to. He's someone that's, you know, been having but i like a lot of special treatment lately. I mean, if you looked at just last year,
00:14:01
Chuku
I can barely count on my fingers the amount of games he didn't start for Liverpool. you know As far as you know when it comes to game meaningful games in the league. So I think you know as you year older, form drops, the manager is definitely within his rights to try something new. And whether that includes benching, you got to take the the licks when they come. But know that when your name is called, you you know you're here you're there to perform. This is why you're a paid professional. So I just think Salah could have been better with his... you know, reaction towards the benching. But at the same time, I can understand where he's coming from with the complaints and the whole idea of being made a scapegoat. I definitely do get where he's coming from, but I just think Salah was in the wrong overall. So, yeah, that's where I, that's my guess stance on the matter.
00:14:49
Emeka
I guess, Chinon, I'm curious your thoughts on that whole scapegoat thing, like my my Juku said. Because there's a sentiment, from what I've seen from Liverpool fans, that are saying that Salah's being punished because of all the signings in the summer. Like Isak, Eketike, Wurz, and Slott can't bench these guys because, you know, Edwards and Co. spent hundreds of millions dollars per pounds on all these guys. So now, who has to hold the bag? And Salah, in fairness, his form has dropped, and now he's being, quote-unquote, punished for the failures of others. Because let's be fair, he's not the only guy struggling. In fact, I'm positive he's not one of the top bottom three. There have been lot people in Liverpool struggling, and he's the guy who's eating the bench that much.
00:15:33
Emeka
So do you do you agree with Salah in the sense that, like, I'm being singled out for the failures of others, or is he just any excuse to say, why am i I'm being benched, and i'm I need to start every game, in his words?
00:15:46
Chino Onwuka
Yeah, i
00:15:48
Chino Onwuka
I'm sure he feels that way, right? If you're someone of the stature of Salah, you've contributed so much to the club. You know, I think like we've said on this part several times, he's probably the main reason they won the title last year. And all of a sudden, know, in his mind, hey, I'm just in a, you know, he referenced Harry Kane. I'm just in a you know, a bad patch of form right now. I'll come around and this is how you guys are treating me when, you know, like you said, maybe there are others in the team that are aren't, you know, getting the same treatment from his point of view. Like, you know what it is when you're when you're the man, when you're the star. You see things a certain way.
00:16:25
Chino Onwuka
And so i'm I'm sure he feels that way now, whether he's the actual scapegoat or not. Well, if he wasn't before, he is now because do you know who has come off looking the best out of all of this?
00:16:40
Chino Onwuka
it's Arnie slot because
00:16:41
Emeka
it's Arnie Slot. I was about to say. Because...
00:16:45
Chino Onwuka
weeks weeks ago, even even Jamie, he was saying slot out. All the Liverpool fans were saying slot out. No one's really talking about that anymore. What I saw was people really hoping that Liverpool would win on midweek just to, you know, stick it to Salad to say, hey, we can win without you. We're bigger than you. So he's coming out of this, you know, smelling like roses as long as he can keep them up with some decent results. So, you know, if he wasn't the scapegoat before, he's definitely made himself the scapegoat now because if they, any time now they win or perform well without him,
00:17:26
Chino Onwuka
it'll just be used sort of as an indictment against, you know, some of his statements.
00:17:33
Emeka
You know, you're so right. Like, Slott, in a weird way, is the biggest winner from this because now they actually can't fire him. Because if they do, then it just, Salah wins, right? It's like player power, he made some demands, we're letting the manager go. And now I'll give credit to Liverpool fans.
00:17:51
Emeka
It was an away game in Champions League, but they showed up for their manager. And that was that said a lot to me, that even the fan base is say is's kind of backing slots. Hey, when you win a Premier League title, you get a lot of you know goodwill.
00:18:04
Emeka
But to back him against Talisman, against Mo Salah, I was surprised by that. So, yeah, it's just, in a weird way, Salah's doing him a favor.
00:18:14
Emeka
And it's it's funny to me because when Salah had his rant, one of my first takeaways was, you know of all the people in Liverpool who actually deserve to have that rant? It's Chiesa.
00:18:25
Emeka
Because this brother, don't know what he has to do to even get a game. Like, at least Salah had stretches of starting, and he it was terrible. Chiesa comes off the bench, and Bills slot out every single week, and yet doesn't get registered for the Champions League.
00:18:37
Emeka
But he puts his head down, and he just, you know, he's a good, humble Italian little boy. Doesn't really make shake waves that much. Meanwhile, Mo Salah, three games. Look, I get he's Mo Salah, but it's just so funny to me that it was three games in a row, so were like eight days.
00:18:52
Emeka
He ate the bench for three games, and it just crashed out. Like, normally people have like a month or two months of being like on the bench in the reserves. Like, oh, they even put in the bomb squad. and he didn't none of that. It was just he missed three games.
00:19:04
Emeka
And we walked down to the mixed media. And, man, I know all those reporters' eyes lit up when he saw Salah because he never comes out. But, yeah, I'm really curious how this resolves.
00:19:16
Emeka
And I'll go to you, Chiku. I think it's no – I said 21st century. There's some fans who say Stevie G, and I'm not going to argue with Stevie G. He's a legend. So, in his case, he's the second best player in Liverpool the 21st century.
00:19:29
Emeka
Definitely the best of the last decade. Liverpool legend, all-time. I would argue Mount Rushmore. They're very, you know, long-history club. So, whatever. my point is he's up, up, up there for Liverpool.
00:19:42
Emeka
How does this end for Mo Salah? Does this end with he goes to Egypt with the combinations, comes back, and gets shipped off to Saudi Arabia like people are thinking? Or can he actually resolve this and he goes back into the fold and he now ends the year a Liverpool player?
00:19:58
Emeka
like does it end Is this the end of it or is there a way back for the rest of the year at least for you, Chukwu?
00:20:04
Chuku
I definitely think it's the end. If I had to put my money on it, I think it's the end. I just don't think it's going to end as early as what people think.
00:20:17
Chuku
I think i there's a better chance, I think, depending on how the season finishes, I think it's going to be this summer. you you know I think is like it's is's time to... like He's come to a realization like, look, man, he's been in Liverpool so long.
00:20:31
Chuku
He's seen plenty of ins and outs. The Mane's, Firmino's, Nunez, Diaz's. It's time. It's time.
00:20:42
Chuku
I think it's time to you know find a new challenge, a new new new new team. He's getting up there in age now. I'm about to take a guess, a swing at it. I definitely think this is the last season we see most out of Liverpool, in my opinion.
00:20:58
Emeka
So, okay, I'll ask you this way then. February 10th, whenever chamber the transfer window ends, he's still a Liverpool player.
00:21:06
Chuku
Oh, my answer is that.
00:21:06
Emeka
My answer is, I'm sure it's two scenes.
00:21:07
Chuku
I think Zuma is still staying in the season.
00:21:10
Emeka
Yeah, it makes sense to do with the end.
00:21:10
Chuku
Hmm?
00:21:11
Emeka
So I guess I'm curious, what does end mean? End is, because when I hear the end, I'm thinking, that's it. Like, I'm going to a couple nations and I come back and you're not seeing me again.
00:21:19
Chuku
No, no. When I say end, I mean, I think they've come to a real... I just think his time at Liverpool has like is is done, but doesn't mean it's going to end. He's going to be like moving on this Christmas, January transfer window. I think it's going to be in the summer. He moves on, is what I'm saying.
00:21:37
Emeka
Okay, fair enough.
00:21:37
Chuku
So I certainly see it through this season. Liverpool, the way theyre they're moving, I mean, they'll be lucky if they make it to top four. But my my guess is I don't think Liverpool make top four at this stage with how they're playing and how things are going.
00:21:54
Chuku
They make it up, maybe make make top six, top eight. And and let they finish out top four and that leads to, you know, them revisiting things. And part of that revisiting is Mo Salah leaving the club. That's the way I look at it. But yeah, that's my that's my belief.
00:22:14
Emeka
Do you think they resolve this and at least the end of the year or he's gone January 1-0? january window
00:22:22
Chino Onwuka
You know, before the reports came out today, would have said there's a high chance he would leave in a genuine window just because there was so much malcontent, so much strife. I don't think, I think, you know, if that beef was still going on, I don't would have been healthy to keep him around the team because, you know, like you understand, you know, in FM, when these things happen and if the...
00:22:44
Chino Onwuka
If the squad sides with the player, then everyone's morale is in in red and the team's already not playing well. But now that they've had this this conversation, I do think there is, you know, room for them to stick it out, at least at the end of the season and more just at the personal level. Like he's going to be leaving...
00:23:07
Chino Onwuka
for AFCON pretty soon. So, you know, he's had he has that to deal with and then he'll have to come back. You know, he probably has a family with kids in school. So, you know, when you read about these things, I'm just thinking about a lot of the reports i've seen on on trades and stuff.
00:23:24
Chino Onwuka
A lot these players, even though they want out, they prefer to move in the summer just so they can handle all that personal stuff. You know, if he could go anywhere, it would be Saudi is Saudi ready to to come in for him in the summer.
00:23:38
Chino Onwuka
What would in in the winter? I mean, what would Liverpool ask for him? First of all, it's annoying that they they might get a bailout, but it is what it is. man, it might just be something that's more more feasible in in the summer because then you know Liverpool could kid get a replacement for him, although they might already have one you know, who could be lined up in Semenyo because of the release goals. But anyway, suffice to say that i think I think with, you know, let's see how this this reconciliation goes over the next couple of weeks or I guess not even the next couple of weeks. It's just probably a couple of days before he's off the AFCON.
00:24:18
Chino Onwuka
But that's probably bought him some time and then, you know, feel like it's just because there's not a lot of time, it's more likely it happens in in the summer.
00:24:30
Emeka
No, I definitely agree that it's more likely in the summer.
00:24:30
Chino Onwuka
What do you think?
00:24:34
Emeka
Although you made a funny enough, that FF comment, which is so true. Actually, point I forgot to bring up. I thought it was really interesting, the reaction of the other players to this thing. Because Salah is a huge, like, you know, like I said, he's a Liverpool icon. Like, he's a legend. And the player's not in this uncomfortable position of, like,
00:24:53
Emeka
Salah's my guy and he's whatever, but lee he messed up and I have to talk about it. And for them, I can't recall a single guy going out there and saying anything short of like Salah knows what did was wrong.
00:25:06
Emeka
essentially. And he was really, they didn't call him, you know, in crazy terms, they still are, we love Mo, whatever. But they kind of took their side with Slott's. I thought that was interesting. Like, it's definitely the gives me the vibe that Slott has more cachet with the team than I expected. Like, so to go up against a guy like Salah, if the locker room was even like 60-40, he's getting fired. Because then people start talking, stuff comes out,
00:25:36
Emeka
It can fall apart really fast, but the reaction afterwards kind of shows that the team is behind Sala at the very least. Or also, I think the players also know Sala ain't that good right now.
00:25:48
Emeka
Like, if Mo Salah was killing it, then people would actually be like, nah, this is crazy. But I'm sure they're seeing him in training and in the pitch, and they're thinking, man, like... Bro, he ain't really producing to be making all this noise. Like, you can get benched, man.
00:26:01
Emeka
And also, in fairness to slot, he benched Wurtz. Like, he's gone back to the old, you know, midfield. And it's now Shabazz Lai, McAllister, Gravenberg, and Curtis Jones. Wurtz not starting half the time.
00:26:13
Emeka
So, like, he's... The whole scapegoat thing kind of fell apart when i when I had that kind of thought. Like, car you know, he's coming off the bench more, but he's still benching him. And he's not... Like, yeah all the new signings aren't guaranteed to start.
00:26:25
Emeka
So it's it's an interesting dynamic of Slott's actually clearly just trying to figure out something. He's scrambling. He's thinking, man, I'm losing. I'm trying to see something. And you know last year in Nepal, we gave him all the credit of Slott changed the system so that Salah just stays up front now.
00:26:43
Emeka
He contributes nothing defensively, and we're going to win off that. We're going to win off. We're going platform Mo, and you're going to score 30 goals, and we'll cover it for you in the back. That only works when you're scoring 30 goals.
00:26:55
Emeka
When you stop scoring goals and you don't track back, now it's a whole issue. And Slott's just thinking to himself, he's 33. If I ask him to start tracking back now, that ain't gonna work.
00:27:07
Emeka
So let me just put, he just put Shabazzlai there. Shabazzlai has the biggest engine. He keeping the back more secure. Trying to protect Konanti as well, who's struggling the most. I kind of see tactically why he made that adjustment.
00:27:21
Emeka
Personally, for me, I think Slott up in the sense of, and we talked about last week, there's a certain cachet you give your legends. He should have given Salah some token minutes over these last three games.
00:27:34
Emeka
It is what it is. Like, sometimes, for the betterment of the team, you just gotta, like, try something out. Eating the bench three times in a row and not even but coming on as a sub— It sends a strong message.
00:27:49
Emeka
i I personally would have tried to fit, even if I thought I'm making a change, you benched him for the first game, you play him for the second or something, just to out of respect to a legend.
00:27:59
Emeka
But I will say, i will definitely let it be known to him. I tell Salah in the locker you you're gonna have you're now you're part of the squad. like If you want to start every game, show me something on the pitch.
00:28:11
Emeka
You've got to be scoring every game now. Because if you're not scoring, we're going to rotate. And it is what it is. We're going to go from there. The funny thing is, to Drukwu's point about Liverpool being top four, they're only three points behind fourth.
00:28:25
Emeka
Two points behind fifth, and for all we know, fifth could beat Japsic again. They're not that far behind because they started off so hot. And I know I always joke about table only matters at Christmas. Well, the points matter all year round, and when you stack up five straight wins to start the year, that could carry you pretty far.
00:28:39
Emeka
And that's what they're coasting off right now. So it's not unfeasible they turn it around and finish top four. it Really, it's not unfeasible, but... hey I personally am very, very curious to see how this pans out. And it's cinema.
00:28:53
Emeka
It absolutely is cinema. I guess before we move on, I'll just, for both of you, but I'll start you, you know. If this happened under Arteta, does Salah ever see the pitch again for him?
00:29:05
Chino Onwuka
he would have to come back and make the same public apology as he did in his rant for him to come back against Arteta. Because, you know, it's so funny you ask that question cause i was just thinking, you know, how would I feel if this happened, you know, at Arsenal with someone like Thierry Henry and reent thank God nothing like that ever happened. But it's like, you know, my favorite player versus my club. And you know what? I have been through this.
00:29:32
Chino Onwuka
I have been through this and I know which side I sided on because y'all know Kawhi was my son and I'm switching over to basketball, but when he did what he did against the Spurs, I sided with the Spurs completely. So, so yeah, anyway, I, yeah, you know, the the club, like you say, the club lasts forever. Players come and go, no matter who that player seemingly may be, but yeah, he would have to come out and make a a public apology. And even then it might not be enough.
00:29:58
Chino Onwuka
We saw happened with Ozil. We saw what happened with, You know, Aubameyang, you know, in Aubameyang's case, you know, he went to see his mom's, but he just had so many st strikes that Arteta didn't even care that his his mom was sick.
00:30:02
Emeka
Our captain, Obama Young, yeah. yeah
00:30:13
Chino Onwuka
And all he cared was you broke the rules. I know your mom was sick. You probably could have handled it a better way. You broke the rules. You're done shipping you out. to In fact, we're paying you to go. That's what that's what's going to happen. So honestly, we know the answer to that.
00:30:31
Emeka
And that's honestly what I kept thinking about. like Obama Young got iced for a lot less than what Salah did. And that was it. And we have an Amazon documentary showing it. It was it.
00:30:42
Emeka
Teta just said, you're done, brother. And at the time, I remember thinking he was wilding out for doing this. I was pro Arsenal, but I can't lie. I was slightly more pro Alba than I was pro Teta. But now the years have gone by, i kind of respect it. like It sets...
00:30:56
Emeka
such a strong message to the rest of the team that I don't tolerate nonsense. I'm the manager. You want to come against me, you're going to get bounced. And i the entire time thinking about this, I just kept thinking, like, yeah, this if my man had the no-to-doze against Arteta, he's Siberia.
00:31:12
Emeka
He's not seeing the pitch again. I promise you that. Any closing thoughts, Chiku, before we move on from this topic?
00:31:20
Chuku
Yeah, I mean, look, I definitely agree with y'all guys' points about if this was in Arsenal and Ateta's manager and Salah done this, he's definitely not seen the pitch again, that's for sure. But I do think, like I said, Salah was, there can be two rights, man. And I just think a player of Salah's stature,
00:31:42
Chuku
And to go three games, it's fine that it didn't start, but to go three games and not even get a minute on the pitch, that's kind of brazy on the manager's you know on the manager's point of view, on the manager's yeah situation there. But then at the same time, Salah should not have been reacting the way he did or know making those type of comments the way he did just from not seeing the pitch for three games. But like I said, it's one of those situations. Regardless,
00:32:11
Chuku
Regardless of the manager's choice and decisions, you know, the club is still the the important the most important thing. Respect to the player, but, you know, the end of the day, you know, a player's career comes and goes, but the club remains forever. So Salah's just going to have to bite, you know, he yeah what he had to do was bite his tongue and just, you know, wait it out because, you know, unless the manager, know, comes out came out, and specifically mentioned he's no longer in his plans. I just think he should have just waited it out and just, you know, seen it through when it comes to just working hard in the in the practice and let the manager do his job and pick his you know pick his side. Because there's no way I believe the manager...
00:32:58
Chuku
was just going to out of the blue, never play Salah again prior to him being, you know, sat those three games. So Salah just had to buy this time, but he chose to air things out the way he did. And now, you know, he paid the consequences of it but by the media's reaction to to some of his takes. But I think this is things they they're going to put under this under the rug, as they've had their know their talks between him and the the manager now. And I just think the damage has been done.
00:33:31
Chuku
i just don't know if there's going to be a world where Salah is going to be able to stay past this season, but I guess we'll find out come the summer.
00:33:43
Emeka
Before I move on, I just... Slight correction. I said he didn't play the last three games. I forgot he played a half against Sunderland. So, you know, Slott did try. He gave him a half. But, yeah, three games on the bench to start. It rotated a little bit. But neither here nor there. Again, i was an Arsenal fan. I'm loving it. But as a fan of football, I truly hope they resolve this. I hate when legends don't get proper send-offs. I want Salah, rivalry aside, Salah is amazing to watch in the Prem.
00:34:11
Emeka
I hope they resolve it. And if they don't, I hope he gets a proper send-off. He deserves it. Well, moving on from Liverpool and slots to the man who potentially could be replacing him if this keeps going on.
00:34:25
Emeka
The biggest match midweek, I think it's fair to say, was Madrid versus City for what feels like the match.
Challenges at Real Madrid
00:34:33
Emeka
In the last eight years, Madrid went up ahead 1-0 with the Man City merchants. I cannot believe saying that phrase, but this man hates city like I hate the cold. Rodrigo breaks 32-game scoreless run i repeat, scoreless run. by finally scoring against Man City just for them to concede two stupid goals, to say lack of the at least. Back and forth game.
00:34:59
Emeka
The headline entering the game, though, was that there's some reports out of you know Spain that if Madrid lost, that would be for Alonso. i Maybe was the performance, maybe it was you know exaggeration, but he's still the manager, although those same reports have have risen again and say if they lose if they don't win this weekend,
00:35:18
Emeka
That's it for him. Regardless, my man, Xabi Alonso, the hottest manager prospect in the summer, I think it's fair to say, has been having a time at Madrid. Right now they have been struggling.
00:35:33
Emeka
It's funny because Madrid struggling is you know it's all relative, but this is a pretty but bad run. In their last eight games, only two wins, a lot of draws, lost to Liverpool, lost Now lost to Man City. Lost the sell to Celta Vigo the weekend in a hilarious game, if you haven't seen it. Some of the red cards Madrid got were actually very funny.
00:35:53
Emeka
Alonso is... After all the struggles, though, the funny thing is they're only like four games, four points back of Barcelona. Still in this. Like, the season's just started.
00:36:05
Emeka
But the question about his tactics, question about the fits of the players. So as the resident Madridista, Chukuma, I guess I'll say, one Two-part question. First part.
00:36:17
Emeka
Personally, do you still back Alonso? And second part is, do you think the club will, does the club still back him? So you and the club, a.k.a. what would you do? Would you fire him or what do you think the club will do?
00:36:30
Chuku
What would I do? so what What would I do starting with that? I would keep him for another year, man. i gotta I've always rated Xavi Alonso and know for from his time at Bayern, Leverkusen. I just think you know he's a good tactical mind. i just want to i want to see see long a little bit longer. right i just see a little bit longer. that's just me personally however what i think the team would do it won't shock me if the team decided to let you know let him go uh this this year if depending on how you know things you know i guess know second half of the get of the season goes and quite frankly you know we're just talking about how you know we believe the
00:37:19
Chuku
you know, I guess the club is bigger than the player. Well, you know, it's funny how things work in Madrid. You know, if there's ever going to be a club that, you know, is run by his players, Real Madrid is one of those clubs where, you know, the players definitely have a huge sway on how the things turn out to be as far as, you know, management. And,
00:37:40
Chuku
When you're coming in, Alonso, that is coming in and you're having riffs with with top know top players and guys like Vinny, it's it becomes a problem. It becomes an issue because, you know, you see the the president, he he and Vinny have a really good relationship. And i just don't know if the president had a choice picking between the the manager, Alonzo, or the player right now, especially at the age and, you know, time and where a player like Vinny is at.
00:38:13
Chuku
I just think, know, the... The club was going to pick the player. So my worry is they're going to let Alonso go if things don't go well, especially with no how Vinny and the the club's relationship has kind of taken a downward spal spiral. since Alonso stepped in. i just don't see how a world where Real Madrid would want to let go of Vinny that easily. i just I don't see it. So it would be shocking to me. i'll I'll be surprised if Vinny does end up leaving and the the club picks Alonso to stick with long-term.
00:38:50
Chuku
But right now, from what I've seen with with the Madrid, I think the more likely outcome is Alonso gets his stepping boots and Vinny still remains at the club, for the at least for Superfuture. So that's what I think.
00:39:07
Emeka
Chinon, same question to you. What would you do? And if what do you think Papa Flo is going to do handle the Alonso situation?
00:39:16
Chino Onwuka
What would I do? i would give him the year to see how things shake out. But I am not Florentino Perez, who is probably the greatest
00:39:30
Chino Onwuka
football, if not sporting president of our time. And, you know, I am not a madrista. There are certain standards at that club, the football And so they might lean a different way. You know, I've heard this over the last couple of days.
00:39:48
Chino Onwuka
It is much easier to replace a manager than it is to replace someone like Vinny, even though Vinny hasn't been to his standards. Really, you know, the inflection point to me in terms of Vinny's play, you know, some could point to Mbappe joining the club, but also sort of, again, the is graceful way Real Madrid acted for that whole Ballon d'Or situation. And I think,
00:40:10
Chino Onwuka
you know, Vinny maybe bought into certain things rather than doing the things that made him up for that consideration. But I digress. You know, they might lean a certain way, especially if there's a lot of pressure coming from the players, although the players did seem to fight for him during the midweek. They, you know, in some of the public statements, they said it's not on the coach, it's on us.
00:40:32
Chino Onwuka
So i would I would give him the year, you know, the reasons being, you know, one, who out there is better? You know, for Liverpool, we said Klopp.
00:40:43
Chino Onwuka
For Madrid, you're probably saying Klopp, but I don't really think Klopp wants to coach. So who else are they going to be able to get right now? Guardiola ain't walking through those doors.
00:40:55
Chino Onwuka
Honestly, their best bet is, you would say, if you're looking at, you know, big you know big eating little would be Arteta, but Arteta is a similar type of coach as Alonso, so that wouldn't go well.
00:41:08
Chino Onwuka
In fact, a lot of the modern day managers, you know the ones who are sort of hotly tipped, come from that same school of, you know, jugo de posicion, you know, very tactical play, lots of instruction, high pressing. So, you know, unless you're trying to do a remontada with Ancelotti again and his last season didn't really end well for them,
00:41:35
Chino Onwuka
Zidane ain't walking through those doors either. I don't think. I think he's waiting for the France job to come open. Then it's like right now, especially midseason, what out there is really better. Now they do have some internal candidates. Arbaloa, he's the coach for their B team.
00:41:52
Chino Onwuka
I think Solari is still doing something over there so they could hire within, but None of them have the pedigree that Alonso had, who has worked his way up the racks.
00:42:03
Chino Onwuka
Had an amazing season at Leverkusen. They won the treble. They went undefeated. And part of the reason they hired him was to bring a certain amount of discipline into the team because of how things went last year.
00:42:18
Chino Onwuka
Part of why they thought he'd be a good fit is not only does he have those elements to to the way he coaches, but he's also played for Real Madrid in no sort of the expectations and all the things that come with it. So you just got to give him time. He's got a lot of talented players, but the pieces don't really fit.
00:42:36
Chino Onwuka
You know, there's a lot of blame on, on Alonzo potentially, but you know, one could say that Papa flow, hasn't given him the right balanced squad to compete properly.
00:42:48
Chino Onwuka
They have superstars at the forward positions who all play in the same area. They haven't addressed a certain, archetype of midfielder that they need since they've lost Cruz and Modric.
00:43:02
Chino Onwuka
You know, in in defense, they spent on Hoisin, but, you know, there's been a lot of suspensions and injuries in that area. You know, Trent Alexander has been hurt.
00:43:13
Chino Onwuka
Carvalho has been hurt. So, you know, the the squad's on balance right now, like to the point where against Man City, you're still having to dust out, you know, as much as we love them, Danny Ceballos to come and play in there. So,
00:43:26
Chino Onwuka
You know, I don't think it's all on Alonso. Part of it is him. Part of it is the players. Part of it is is Perez. And, you know, they got to see it through, try to give it time to work, see if they can address some more needs during the summer and all for a better season next year.
00:43:46
Chino Onwuka
And the season's all done.
00:43:47
Emeka
both done
00:43:47
Chino Onwuka
they can like i Like I said, they can still catch up in the league. Last year, they were crap during the league phase of the Champions League as well and still made it to the semis. So, you know, it's it's still Real Madrid.
00:43:58
Emeka
Quarterfinals. ah's Let's not get up too much here. But... a
00:44:02
Chino Onwuka
Oh, because we beat them. Sorry, I just have to put it.
00:44:04
Emeka
was about to say, let's not give him too much here. Let's not give him too much here. i I'm i with you guys. I'm pro Alonso. He's amazing. You don't win the trouble of Leverkusen and then fall apart. like It is what it is.
00:44:22
Emeka
I don't know if it's a hot take because I've made this take on this podcast before, but I'm just going to double down on it again. I love Vinny. I think he's amazing. I think when he's on form, he's a top five, top three best player in the world.
00:44:35
Emeka
And I think that this the Vinny situation, that is it doesn't dominate the news. And I get that you know we don't live in Spain. So maybe if we were the Spanish equivalent of Sunday Night Football, maybe they're covering it. But I don't speak Spanish, so I don't know.
00:44:52
Emeka
But this should be leading the biggest top news story to me. Vinny Jr. contract expires 2027. twenty twenty seven We're a year and a half away from that.
00:45:04
Emeka
He's not going to sign another one. And you touched on the Ballon d'Or thing. I want to double down on that point because I agree with it so much. Everyone points to Mbappe joining as the... Inflection point.
00:45:16
Emeka
And I fully agree with you, Channel. The real inflection point is that four months later, he didn't win Ballon d'Or, even though he commissioned whole documentary about it. And then after that, he had a whole thing of, I'm going to kill these men now.
00:45:29
Emeka
Like, they didn't believe in me before. Wait till they see me now. You know, all hype and everything. And then in that time, he had to, coincidentally, when that Ballon d'Or thing happened, Mbappe was struggling.
00:45:40
Emeka
He was, oh, is he a bust? Vinny was still, quote unquote, the guy. Since then, Mbappe has been on fire. In this 2025 calendar year, he has scored goals that only Ronaldo and Messi have scored more than him.
00:45:54
Emeka
He's like, I think, 60 goals now in Colombia country this 2025. Like, he's up there touching things that, like, he is his team now. I think it's Unassailable on whatever Jude Vinny Great great guys. It's in by face team So the Vinny's gone from i was gonna win the Ballon d'Or to I'm not even the main guy on my team anymore like this is crazy like now I'm just I'm a role player and want so like you said comes from the school of strict tactics and he's a he's thinking listen We can get one passenger
00:46:28
Emeka
Even though i'm I'm not a fan of it, but like I mentioned with the slot and Salah, you don't get the track back if you score 30 goals a season. So Mbappe scoring 30 goals a season, he can stay up front it and do whatever.
00:46:40
Emeka
Vinny's not scoring anywhere near that. fact, he's having a pretty down year. So if you're not going to do that, I need you to put in a shift. is just It is what it is. we can only A squad can only support so many passengers.
00:46:53
Emeka
And Vinny... I love the guy. He ain't built like a passenger. He wants to be the star. And it's the dichotomy is struggling. And all this is happening when my guy's contract is about to expire.
00:47:06
Emeka
I am so curious where Vinny, how the situation resolves itself. You can fire Alonso. think it's going to change anything. Unless the manager comes in and just decides that we're going to play two up front, Mbappe and Vinny. In that case then, Rodrigo, the... I'm not going to try and pronounce. You know who you are. You know, all the... Like, Gouler, Brandi. All the other guys who, you know, were playing three forwards. Andrik...
00:47:34
Emeka
there there's the third, fourth spot for you to play in. We move that away. Where are they playing now? Let's talk about, like you mentioned, Cruz is Modric are gone. They don't have that kind of midfielder with that La Pazza.
00:47:46
Emeka
I love Jude. Fantastic player. I'm not sure he's he's a playmaker. He's more of forward. So really now we have three forwards and no one's really conducting the tempo of the team.
00:47:58
Emeka
It's just a mismatch. i love but I fully agree as well. that Papa Flo is the best football director of my lifetime. I don't watch all the sports in the world to say otherwise, but for football, he's the best GM of my lifetime.
00:48:12
Emeka
Maybe he's getting washed. I don't know. Because this whole relying on free transfers, yeah sometimes you you got you there's a reason why you pay for people because they're good.
00:48:24
Emeka
He's not, the fact he's not, hasn't bought a quality replacement for Cruz and Modric. I don't really understand it. Because when you watch Madrid, it looks like a basketball
00:48:36
Chuku
the Wait, I don't mean to interrupt you there, bro, but when you say he hasn't bought a quality replacement for Modric and Kroos, what the hell Kamavinga and Chomeney supposed to be then?
00:48:47
Chuku
don't understand.
00:48:48
Emeka
I'm Modric and Cruz, I'll tell you that for free.
00:48:51
Chino Onwuka
And those aren't the same type of players. Do you know who the player you know who the player was that they were going for?
00:48:53
Chuku
But
00:48:55
Chino Onwuka
We all know who it is.
00:48:59
Chino Onwuka
Chupu, you should know because it's a win-win for you.
00:49:03
Chuku
What, you gonna say Zubamandi?
00:49:05
Chino Onwuka
Zupo Mendy, that's the guy they were feeding for, who would have been perfect for what they need right now. And hopefully we secured him. But those guys that your Chouamanis and your Kamavingas are good players, but like Choukou is saying, he's talking about an orchestrator, right?
00:49:22
Chino Onwuka
Which is not what makes you
00:49:22
Emeka
Yeah, especially when you play them with Jude, we just have three athletes. That's what we have. We have Jude, Kamavinga, and Chukomeni, fantastic players, great engines, can run around, none of them can conduct the game.
00:49:36
Emeka
And now now we have games like against Man City. If you saw the Man City game, it literally looked like a basketball game. They get the ball, first thing, look up, long ball to allla on the wing.
00:49:47
Emeka
No control of the game whatsoever. And in another day where the ref wasn't just blinded by the aura of Madrid, they have three red cards because the defenders are getting isolated by themselves, easy counterattacks, and just foul people and get away with it.
00:50:02
Emeka
Like, that's the thing of Madrid I'm seeing, and it's blowing my mind. And Flo is so much smarter than me. I don't get how he hasn't seen this. It just doesn't make sense to me. Like, they rode the Cruz and Modric bandwagon to the death of them, to literally Cruz retired, and Modric went to Italy to – he's still up being good, by the way. Shouts on Modric.
00:50:21
Emeka
But they roll they extracted all the juice out of these guys. And just don't understand how you can clearly see the end of the road coming. And they didn't make adjustments to prepare for it. i just I just don't get it personally. And now they're paying for it.
00:50:35
Emeka
They're paying for it in the midfield. They're paying for it and not really buying good center backs. And they're in my opinion, the fact that this Vinny thing, you never see stars. I'm talking about...
00:50:48
Emeka
top five in the world type of guys potentially get an expiring contract. And again, Flo is much smarter than me. There's no way he's going to let Vinny play out on the last year of his deal and leave as a free agent.
00:51:00
Emeka
Like, PSG did that with Mbappe because they have pride and whatever. Flo is a smart man. There's no way. If Vinny doesn't sign another extension by the end of the summer, he has to be sold.
00:51:11
Emeka
And I am so curious where he'd go to. Everyone says Saudi and one to me that'd be the biggest shame. I know they've got some good guys and some younger guys now. Vinny would be by far the best guy ever touched Saudi. Yes, I'm saying that Ronaldo.
00:51:26
Emeka
You went there when you were 40. Vinny is 25 in his prime. I would be disgusted if he went there. And I read some reports recently that he doesn't want to go there. Respect. So he's not going to Saudi, where would he go to?