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S1 E68 Champions League analysis
10 Plays9 hours ago
Dan is joined by Louie from the Daily EPL Podcast to cover all the Champions League action and gain an outside perspective on Villa's 1-0 defat to Monaco.
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Transcript
Return of the Podcast with Special Guest
00:00:05
Speaker
sports podcast network work work Hello and welcome back to the Daily English Premier League Podcast, brought to you by the Global Sports Podcast Network. Who'd have thought? Aren't we posting back to back once more? Fantastic to be back after the hiatus. And once again, I'm Louis Easton and I'll be your host ah today. And I am joined by someone who's not a regular on the podcast but came in as an emergency substitute from the daily Aston Villa team. Dan Tilly, absolutely fantastic to have you with us. ah Thank you for having me. Really looking forward to making my debut on
00:00:46
Speaker
this but this podcast.
Aston Villa's Champions League Challenges
00:00:48
Speaker
Brilliant and um maybe a disappointing ah evening for you in the Champions League as a Villa fan ah traveling to a very rich ah tax haven Monaco and unable to pick up any points with a 1-0 loss. We'll talk about that first as ah this was the early kickoff. We'll move on to the Liverpool games later and then we'll end up previewing the Manchester City and Arsenal games tomorrow night. But what did you think about Aston Villa's ah team performance? What went wrong for Aston Villa today which ah ended up with a loss against Monaco? Well, it's funny, I've just done my instant reaction with a chat called Joe Boone on the Daily Villa podcast and and we came to exactly the same conclusion.
00:01:39
Speaker
the The game really was lost in midfield for us. We looked like a team that um went to Monaco. As you say, they're a beautiful tax haven. And we we looked like we'd already qualified. And this has them caught us in the past with um our game against Club Bruges. We just looked like we were going to go and steamroller over them. And it came back to um bite us in the bottom. we We didn't play with enough energy. It's the age old thing. They wanted it more. And yeah, a really disappointing team performance tonight in my eyes. Yes, you brought on um John Duran in the ah in the second half. ah And it was strange seeing him on the pitch at the same time as Olly Watkins. Do you think you just look desperate?
00:02:35
Speaker
it it It isn't a move that Unai Emery usually does. If we've brought both of them on at the same time, then it it really is. We are desperate for a goal. And there didn't look to be a plan um or change of a system when we bought him on. I mean, one thing that certainly Liverpool can do with their attacking team is that they all know their own roles. They don't all stand in the same place. And that is exactly what seemed to be happening.
00:03:05
Speaker
um to us when we bought on to run. in In my eyes, it actually made us worse when he came on. Wow. And that's not something you often say about John Duran influencing a team negatively. And everyone's competing for his signature at the moment. And after looking at his performances earlier in this season, ah it's not hard to see why. But Astavilla have had a really strange experience in the Champions League for the first time ah since it's renaming in the 90s.
00:03:36
Speaker
I mean, the the match against Club Bruges was a very, very strange one, to say the least. um Now it's a loss against Monaco. And it's sort of a complete contrast to the way Aston Villa started off in this competition. I remember when they won three times, was it three times in a row? Something like that, whatever it was. Yeah. Yeah. Three times in a row. One of which was against Bayern, I think. Yeah. Bayern Munich. Yeah. what else at at Villa Park. yeah on That was the first one as well. So it's been a huge mixed bag for Aston Villa, but definitely an unforgettable experience back in the Champions League. I'd like to ask you now ah about a player
00:04:21
Speaker
that we forgot existed ah because it's been so long since he's been on the pitch in an Aston Villa shirt, let alone starting Emiliano Buendia. It wasn't a good day for Buendia, no pun intended, but we'll let that us one slide. ah it it was it was a ah It was an influential performance from him despite the score line, wasn't it?
00:04:47
Speaker
i I wouldn't have said it he's ah it was the standout performance of his career. I mean, out of the players that we saw tonight, he had one of the better performances in my eyes. um I think it actually um slightly disrupted our team, um him coming in um with Tillman's having to drop more into that defensive double pivot rather than playing further forward.
00:05:16
Speaker
um ah But, didn't know I mean, you know, my Miami from Argentina, is's the he's one of my absolute heroes. I think he's a fantastic player and I am so desperate for him to succeed at Villa. But, um yeah, it just didn't really work out for him tonight, in my opinion, but it was good to see him same back.
00:05:37
Speaker
Yeah, i'm I'm sure he was greatly missed. I mean, at the time of that horrendous injury, it did seem like things would just completely derail for Aston Villa. But um i ah did he I can't even remember him playing under Unai Emery. Has it been that long? I can't remember anyway. ah So he was playing in that sort of left ah role where Jacob Ramsey has had some recent success. ah Do you think ah there was any logic to him starting on the left ahead of Jacob Ramsey or maybe Morgan Rogers could have played on the left?
00:06:07
Speaker
um Because when I think of Buendia, I think of him on the right-hand side. I think it's more trying to get Bailey back in to the squad to see if he can build up a bit of his confidence. And and we all know that he's very much got a favoured side. um I think we um we left Ramsey out to see if we can um let him recover and get him ready for West Ham on the weekend, um in my opinion.
00:06:34
Speaker
um ah Yeah, I see Emi as much more of that number 10, not really drifting either side, to be honest. It was a bit of a surprise seeing him on that team sheet today.
00:06:48
Speaker
Yeah, absolutely. So looking ahead to ah to the Champions League fixtures, you've got one left, which will be against Celtic next week. ah How much does this loss impact Aston Villa? Do you think that you can still qualify automatically? Or do you think um maybe just go for the playoffs? Do you think this loss is a huge one for Aston Villa?
00:07:11
Speaker
So if um if any of your ah listeners have been listening to the Daily Villa, I am known as the optimistic one. I'm i'm the only one that believed we would beat Bayern Munich and... That doesn't surprise me, actually. Well, you know, you've got to keep the faith. So I don't think it's a case of let's throw the baby out with
Can Aston Villa Qualify Against Celtic?
00:07:33
Speaker
the bathwater. This is... It's not the result we were looking for, but, you know, we...
00:07:41
Speaker
We are not in a bad position. Who would have thought we'd have been in the position we were in in our first return to the Champions League and let it not be our our only return in so many 40-odd years. um I think it's now obviously a must-win game against Celtic and although um there there is the potential for us to breeze past them or that we would hope If um your team is stuck on form or you haven't had a striker score for a while, come and play Villa. you know And that run seems to end whenever any team comes to play us. I mean, Monaco had only won one in eighth before they played us, but lo and behold, with the team they turned turned round over.
00:08:32
Speaker
so you know i've I think we can still qualify in the top eight. I believe that, and that's what I think we should be aiming for. And I personally believe that all Villa fans should also believe that. if If we, the fans, don't believe that, how can the team take encouragement going out next Wednesday against Celtic and really go for it?
00:08:55
Speaker
And I do believe that Villa are definitely favourites against ah Celtic next week. I mean, the Scottish League, hey the the standard of that is not as high as the Premier League. that's that's I don't think that's a controversial opinion. Plus, it is at Villa Park.
00:09:13
Speaker
Indeed, indeed. The the the statement i'll I'll throw back at you with that is that, obviously, Ligue 1 is the one we all fought for for Farmers League. We certainly weren't playing in a cow shed tonight, were we?
00:09:26
Speaker
No, absolutely not. And Liverpool had a had to fight for our win as well against Lille. So, yeah, we are pleasantly surprised by the French league. It's just, i whenever I do actually watch the French league, I can't watch it for more than 10 minutes. It's just so much slower than the French league. That's fair enough. I do understand that opinion.
00:09:46
Speaker
And final question to you. um Obviously Aston Villa have been known to go on these sorts of cup runs in the past. I still remember when Aston Villa were in the FA Cup final 10 odd years ago um against Arsenal. And I will say I was actually rooting for Villa that day because ah I mean, even though you knocked us out in the semifinals, I remember that match very well as well. and There you go. The highs and the lows of that ah cup run for you. But do you consider Villa to be more of a cup team than a league team?
Aston Villa: Cup Team or League Team?
00:10:17
Speaker
I think that is quite an interesting point, really, because I mean, this is the our first time in um the Champions League for 40 years. It's the first time we've gotten into the FA Cup fourth round in X number of years.
00:10:33
Speaker
um I think our league form has drastically improved since um the the chap that shan't be named has moved over to Saudi Arabia. President and present company accepted, but I won't mention his name. umm And I think we are building to be more of a league team, but Emory is a bit of a cup specialist.
00:11:02
Speaker
you know I think he realized is the importance of European football and its qualification, even if you don't go off to win it as a cup, the importance of qualifying for it is so desperately important now for clubs finances. It's why these, I don't want to say the so-called big six with a Liverpool fan that I'm talking to, but you get the point.
00:11:28
Speaker
yeah With that money constantly rolling in year on year, the moment you dip out of that, you start seeing those sort of clubs start to you know get a bit itchy and get a bit worried. it It's so important European football qualification. and Absolutely.
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Speaker
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Speaker
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00:12:35
Speaker
So Dan, you ah you can take the reins on this one, ah obviously Liverpool, with ah the opposite result, Sir, tonight, ah as Anfield against Lille. You take the reins. Indeed. So obviously, um you came out of that 2-1 winners and and, you know, Villara are not, um you know, we know Leo, they're not an easy side to play against. Now, unfortunately, I was still licking my wounds while this game was a was carrying on. So, talk me through it. How did you find Leo? How did you find Liverpool's performance?
00:13:14
Speaker
Well, it was a little bit dominant. I will say only a little bit because we didn't actually find ourselves ah constantly finding space in front of goal or anything. They were mostly sat back and very organized in defense. um And I thought the game was over in the second half when one of their players got sent off. I can't remember the names of any of them, of the of the players, but ah Once they got a red card i thought okay well it's time to bring on some of the players who need more minutes you know and bring on federico chiesa bring on what's our window and then they scored. say Yeah we and that's took me a bit off guard um we still bought on what's our window and i thought.
00:14:02
Speaker
Well, that's not the most attacking switch in the world. But, you know, he did have a bit of an impact in midfield, getting himself into some 50-50s. And then our goal came from Harvey Elliott. It was, it's in my opinion, I still think it was an own goal because the ball was going completely the opposite side of where of the goal to where it ended up.
00:14:25
Speaker
and I wasn't even sure it was going in but I mean that's his first Champions League goal at Anfield. Mo Salah got his 50th European goal for Liverpool so a very pleasant night ah for the statisticians um and a pleasant night for Liverpool fans as well and may I just say the atmosphere was boiling point so loud um and the ah my only criticism as well of um of the match is amazon prime because they do not know how to operate all of the camera cuts they're showing the fans ah when there's a chance brewing and it's so frustrating to
00:15:03
Speaker
yeah Anyway, I would like to also make it clear that the opinions and thoughts shared by the podcasters are not the thoughts and shared by the Global Sports Podcast Network. into you za and And obviously other football viewing platforms are available and all of that sort of thing. I mean, I'm just looking through the stats here. Obviously, you've got 13 shots on goal to therefore.
00:15:27
Speaker
7 shots on target today at 1, 56% possession to 44, a much higher pass total and just a little bit more pass accuracy. So it does look like you are you really did take them to bed. and Obviously, um Jonathan David with their goal, and I'm not going to try and pronounce his first name, but um Is it Mandy on 59 minutes with the play? Yeah, monday I think he just went as Monday anyway, so I mean it and get it on a man Yeah, it's it's not something you need to have happen to you when you go and play Liverpool at Anfield I think we struggle there when we had 11 players on the pitch, but never mind so
00:16:15
Speaker
I mean, the question I've always wanted to ask the Liverpool fan, and I don't have any makes of a Liverpool fan being from the from the Midlands. Are you going to go off and win the Champions League then this year?
Liverpool's Champions League Journey
00:16:25
Speaker
Well, I've looked at the bookies and they actually do have us as the favorites. ah I think it was five to one. like that so i'll I will take that, but I am not the sort of person that goes out and makes predictions about outright winners of competitions, especially the Champions League. But I definitely say we are contending. I don't think we've played perfect football these last ah few matches. and isn't it
00:16:51
Speaker
Certainly we're not the team we were a few years ago under clock when we still had Sadio Mane and Gini Wijnaldum and Co. But I do think we are playing decent football and if we can be at our absolute best, especially during an Anfield night when all of the fans are rallying us on, I don't see why there's any reason we can't go out and beat the best teams in Europe. We've already completely dominated Leverkusen,
00:17:19
Speaker
We comfortably beat Real Madrid, granted that they weren't at their best at that point, but I still think we are definitely within a chance.
00:17:31
Speaker
I think to hear you say that slot obviously hasn't quite managed to necessarily encapture the same sort of performance as when maybe clock was there. What I was going to ask is what has slot done that clock couldn't? You guys seem to be running away with it all at the moment. you you are um head and tail um at the top of the Premier League. I believe you've still got a game in hand with points to spare. Now obviously we had a bit of a drop off from um the but the noisy neighbours in blue um in man's pity, not your noisy neighbours obviously. um But um you know yeah i did I didn't necessarily have Liverpool running away with it quite so much at the start of the season when I when i was thinking about league leaders. but
00:18:22
Speaker
The slot seems to have splotted in just perfectly at Liverpool. Yes, i had I actually haven't heard that pun mentioned this month. I think people are too responsible to be saying stuff like that. But no, you're you're absolutely right um about the predictions because I don't think anyone predicted Liverpool to be ah dominating the league, so to say. I mean, I still don't think we are absolutely running away with it at this point. Let's not forget it is only January and we're only six points clear granted with a game at hand.
00:18:57
Speaker
But, i I mean, the way things are going with the other teams, I think that is the difference between us and the other team. I think the reason we're doing so well is the fact that everyone else isn't doing as well as they should be. I mean, Arsenal, they've had Saka out, they've had Urdugard out, they've had Saliba out now as well, three key key players. And I think they haven't been able to replicate the magic that Saka can provide from the right hand side with um with Nwanyri who's 17 years old I think and also Raheem Sterling who just seems to be completely past it at the moment. Indeed. and Nottingham Forest have surprised everyone obviously with the way that they have been playing their football recently off the ball you know just classic to mid-2000s Premier League side park the bus and hit them on the counter that's why Chelsea did so well. Indeed. Under Mourinho so I
00:19:51
Speaker
I just think, you know, as long as nothing goes wrong, we should win the league. But again, it's football, it's the Premier League, we're in a very busy period at the moment with plenty of midweek action going on. um And, you know, if we are actually going to go for the quadruple and try and push on all four fronts, then you know, maybe we will run out of energy and maybe get a couple of injuries. You know, Diego Jota's out again. That's so annoying. Luis Diaz has been trying to fill in as a um as a striker and, you know, Darwin Nunez had a good performance today, I think. But again, he's not the sort of person who's going to be scoring week in, week out. ah He keeps on getting caught offside. He did again today and had a goal disallowed.
00:20:39
Speaker
So, you know, plenty of things can change is what I'm saying. But at the moment, I am very pleased with where we are and where other teams are. I mean, i mean this this obviously um comes from a Villa fan that hasn't tasted success quite so recently as as Liverpool. if i If Villa were in the same position that Liverpool in, I would be screaming it from the rooftops. I think you'll be incredibly modest. um ah Yeah, I have a reason to be because of my recent trauma facing a Manchester City. You know, the amount of times I've had my heart broken because, you know, we finished twice or three times, whatever it was, with one point off the top and beaten in two Champions League finals. Honestly, when that carriers gate happened, I didn't watch football for six months.
00:21:29
Speaker
and that's not an exaggeration. li me that is that is the wounded soul just there i feel for you Yeah, I mean think about where we were a few seasons before, we were like eighth I think we finished one season and then we climbed up and we managed to get to the Champions League final and then Carius does that and gets elbowed in the head by Ramos and no one saw it. and indeed yeah that's that's there's a lot of There's a lot of pain there. That's fair enough. Now obviously your your first goalscorer, Mohamed Teller, now I haven't been keeping totally up with his
00:22:06
Speaker
Um contract are you still having him next year and is he going to be playing for you for the next? Two years or it's up to me. Absolutely If it's up to me, give him a lifetime contract. That man is just unbelievable I mean it's not just his football but the way he takes care of himself, you know, have you seen that man's physique? He's still so quick He can still play for 90 minutes yeah and he can still strike at any time. He's like a python uh and The way he's playing and the way he's taking care of himself I don't see you any reason why he can't be at the top level for the next two or three years Good news and it's good news for the Premier League to to have a striker like that that we can watch week in week out um I mean, I'm in awe and I've always had a bit of a soft spot for Liverpool You seem to have built your club the right way rather, you know through pedigree and I
00:22:58
Speaker
That's why I'm so happy to see teams like Knox Forest doing so well at the moment. yeah the These teams that have gone about football, in my opinion, the right way and built a good culture around their squad. So um I'm really pleased um to see you guys do most. So who have you got next in the Champions League? In the Champions League, your PSV next week. Okay, and obviously we think that's a bit of a winnable game.
00:23:24
Speaker
I think so and if we do win that then in the first season ever of this new format Liverpool have got maximum points and I just I mean I remember when we got maximum points from our group stage a couple of years ago I think it was 2022 I could be wrong ah but we got maximum points and we were all just freaking out over it but now we got 21 points from seven games and PSV next week granted it's in Holland but I don't see any reason why we can't go ah and win that. I think we definitely have the quality. It will be a huge match for um Cody Yakpo, playing against his former sides. And and um it will be a spectacle, I'm sure. But we got Ipswich before that on Saturday during the blackout. I have no idea how I'm going to be able to watch that game, but let's hope for three points there as well. Fantastic. Well, let's keep the faith.
00:24:14
Speaker
Absolutely, and we'll go into another short break now as you find out what we do here at the Global Sports Podcast Network. This podcast is part of the Global Sports Podcast Network, the only network bringing exclusive daily news and views on your Premier League team, the Premier League, women's football and fantasy football. A unique listening experience that puts the fans first, bringing you the very latest breaking news from your team. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and make us your first listen every day.
00:24:44
Speaker
The Global Sports Podcast Network. Every club. Brilliant. And now, as we go into the final segment of this podcast, ah we have two massive games tonight at the time of this episode coming out. PSG against Manchester City and Arsenal versus Dynamo Zagreb. Now, ah we'll start with the Arsenal match. You are a Villa fan, obviously. You saw Arsenal's last match. And yeah I mean, what did you make of Arsenal's performance?
00:25:14
Speaker
um um you know i I've always followed Arsenal. A lot of my family are Arsenal fans. so i'm I'm not a massive, deep appreciator of of Arsenal Football Club. um They've hurt us quite a lot in the past. um However, um the they're a team that certainly are going to go, and I think they're going to do fairly well against ah Is it Dynamo Kiav or Dynamo Zagreb? Dynamo Zagreb. I think they're going to go and turn them over. it's It's at the Emirates, so there should be no reason why they don't get a result there tomorrow. They are missing Erdogan. Sorry that he's been out. They have missed him. Thacker, obviously, is still um a massive miss and he was clearly missed.
00:26:08
Speaker
playing against us, they seem to lose quite a lot of creativity down down the right hand side. um yeah But I don't fear them um not getting a result tomorrow night. I mean, the the trouble with Arsenal is you can't underestimate anyone who's in the Champions League. However, they have to rotate their squad, but they don't really have much squad depth to rotate at the moment. If they were to rotate their squad entirely, they'd be playing academy players.
00:26:38
Speaker
ah Granted, they've had a couple of brilliant prospects come up through the ranks this season, Miles Lewis Skelly, Ethan Wannary. But if you're in the Champions League, you need players with experience. And Dino Mozagreb, granted they may not be a great team of individuals, but they're definitely, especially in east southeastern Europe, there are a lot of teams you'll find who work so well in a system. And I think if they underestimate them, they could be in a lot of trouble.
00:27:06
Speaker
But also, if you're Mikellar Teta going into this game, you may have a little bit of a headache with who you choose. I mean, if you are Mikellar Teta, would you rotate or would you save up for the weekend? Or would you just go out and field an entire squad of first team players?
00:27:24
Speaker
Well I'm just looking, you've asked me if I've got Wolves on on um Saturday the 25th and they're away at Molyneux. No team in the Premier League is an easy place to go to. um so you know Although Wolves seem to be having a ah horrid time of it at the moment. I think you're going to have to keep a certain amount of first-team players in for the Champions League to keep that level of experience. but I don't think I'd be afraid of seeing um a couple of the academy prospects or certainly some of the um the the more bench players. maybe yeah I think it's definitely keep a stronger time ah strong defense for the Champions League game. and um they I mean, they've got a torrid run of features, haven't they? Because then it's um um who have they got in the Champions League next? Is it Genoa? And then they're at home to Man City on
00:28:23
Speaker
Sunday the 2nd. So they have got a really tough run. It's a rough time for Arsenal and they need all the players they have and they can get available. um But I think a lot of questions will be asked of Kai Haberz because he's been having a pretty mixed time recently. I mean he got a goal against you guys, but then he disallowed a goal from his own team by sticking his arms out in front of his chest um while turning away from the ball. yeah Loads of people, Mikel Arteta included, were saying that that it wasn't handball. I just, I can't understand the logic behind that. Me and ah Irby White spoke about that.
00:29:03
Speaker
in yesterday's episode but i mean if you're an arsenal fan are you worried at the moment are you because i don't i don't know if you're going to go for the premier league or the League Cup or the Champions League. I mean, FA Cup, they I think they're out of, I can't remember. of Yeah, they are out of it yeah because Man United knocked them out. So, you know, they have chances and you would fancy them for all of these ah competitions with a fully fit squad. But I mean, are you anxious if you're an Arsenal fan at the moment? Well, it it was an interesting one when we did the crossover episode with the ah
00:29:39
Speaker
the Daily Arsenal, um they were getting incredibly concerned about not having a proper hour-and-hour number nine. And if I was an Arsenal fan, excuse me, I would be as well. And, you know, listening to them, there have been doubts amongst their own fans about CHI habits. I mean, I personally not rated him fully as an out and out goal scorer. I mean, he's not a bad player, but not an out and out goal scorer. And obviously with that injury to Gabriel Jesus, they've got a real problem. i' I'd be surprised if they yeah if they weren't going out and looking at least looking in the January market at an out and out goal scorer. But who'd you go and get?
00:30:26
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, I never rated Eddie and Kettier, but I think selling him to Palace, although I can't remember if it's a sale or a loan, and not replacing him with some more squad depth, I never understood. ah especially And getting rid of Rhys Nelson as well when they're lacking, clearly, a natural right winger. I don't think Raheem Sterling is.
00:30:47
Speaker
Ethan Wainery has had his flashes, but I don't understand why they don't put Kai Havitts on the right, because we saw him play there sometimes when he was playing for Chelsea. I understand that he's 6'3 or 6'4, whatever he is, and he does have an aerial threat inside the box, but I i don't understand the logic with the Arsenal Boars, and I think that's what's costing them a proper title challenge this season ah with us.
00:31:14
Speaker
Now, the other match that I would like to mention just love lastly, before the end of this podcast, PSG versus Manchester
Manchester City's Champions League Struggles
00:31:23
Speaker
City. Both teams have been severely struggling for points in the Champions League thus far. But in on the last weekend, just gone of the Premier League, they went to Ipswich and they smashed them 6-0.
00:31:37
Speaker
Would you put Manchester City as favourites in the Champions League again if they can keep this sort of performance up? and I personally wouldn't because I don't think they're necessarily going to keep this performance up to myself. Football comes in rotations and I i personally believe Manchester City needsat potentially are going to be um i'm trying to think of the best way of describing it. Their their time has been, and they're going to there's going to be a bit of a revolve. So we'll see the resurgence of Chelsea and Liverpool maybe dominate for a couple of years. And I think then we may see Man City come back after that. Now, that's quite a bold statement that I've just spat out there at 20 to 11 on
00:32:26
Speaker
on a Tuesday night, but that's how I feel. I don't think they're going to win the Champions League this year. I don't see them coming back to challenging for the Premier League. I think this is a year where they're going to have nothing myself. and I don't think that's bad for the Premier League, and I don't think it would be bad for Man City. I think if that happens, they strengthen over the summer and come back stronger the following year. Yeah, I mean, their transfer markets ah dealings in the summer was questionable to say. Yes, indeed. Getting back 34 year 33, whatever it is, your old Ilkay Gunduan, selling Calvin Phillips. I mean, Savino, I think has been a decent signing, but I was wondering what was going on and they
00:33:10
Speaker
and And getting rid of Julian Alvarez, it's hurt them more than I could have imagined. yeah but i mean He's having a good time in Atletico Madrid at the moment. Atletico Madrid are up to third in the Champions League table ah in current standings. That could change if Arsenal or Inter get a win tomorrow, or even Brest.
00:33:29
Speaker
ah but It's a crucial, crucial match going to PSG. PSG are a team also struggling for points in the Champions League, currently not even in the playoffs bracket. Sat at 26th, Man City sat at the lowest possible position to advance into the playoffs at 24th.
00:33:52
Speaker
A proper six pointer. It almost feels like a knockout match this one and it would be so strange if we went into Champions League knockouts without Manchester City or PSG. Man City's final match is against Club Bruges which will be um i mean one you still fancy them to win.
00:34:11
Speaker
um Whereas Arsenal sat up in 5th place and, I mean, Deena Mozagreb and Girona, without any disrespect, they should be beating those two teams. So it's a crucial night ahead of us ah in the Champions League and, I mean,
00:34:31
Speaker
against PSG, do you fancy their chances in this one? I mean, based on current form, suggesting, you know, yeah going to Ipswich and getting six goals, maybe that might have tired them out even, Dan. I think it's interesting, you know,
00:34:48
Speaker
um Man City this season have not been the Man City of old, of of recent years. It's been, it's you know, it's plain to see. But I see them, you know, they're going to, in my opinion, finish in that sort of bottom um half of the play-off qualifiers of the Champions League. I think they're going to go and get a result against PSG.
00:35:11
Speaker
You know, they're going to then play someone in that sort of 9, 10, 11, 12 position for the Champions League, which, you know, potentially could be someone like Juventus Dortmund or Bayern, potentially Manal looking at those.
00:35:26
Speaker
those sort of moments there or who drops out then of that top eight. It's going to be a tough one for them to qualify after that, but, you know. And it's a strange format, isn't it? That we're still getting used to. So, I mean, there'll be, I'm sure in about 10 years time when we have gotten used to this format, we'll be used to all of the phrases that we, the new phrases that we'll have come up with by that point to throw around whilst analysing the table. I mean, who knows? We might have even got used to the nation's league by then.
00:35:55
Speaker
um or Oh, the Club World Cup, even.
Closing and Guest Appreciation
00:36:00
Speaker
I still don't understand the qualifying format for that, and i doubt I doubt I ever will. I've tried to grasp it. It's out of my comprehension, to say the least. No, I'm not even going to try. Not even going to try. Yeah, and I don't blame you. We are going to end the podcast there. ah Dan, it has been a pleasure having you on ah off the Daily Villa podcaster for this one-off episode, which I've quite enjoyed, actually.
00:36:23
Speaker
Wonderful. Well, thank you for so much for having me. Brilliant. And you are listening to The Daily English. We'll see you for tomorrow's episode.