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Final Weeks: Who Lifts & Who Slips (Episode #49)
24 Plays5 days ago
Vos & Mottsare back from Italy with stories to tell and plenty of calcio to cover. From stadium tours in Milan and Turin to catching a Juve match live, it was a trip packed with unforgettable moments. Lake Como offered serenity — but back in Serie A, the chaos is just beginning.
Inter booked their spot in the Champions League Final after a wild two-legged showdown with Barcelona and now face PSG in Munich. But domestically, Inzaghi’s side have faltered — crashing out of the Coppa Italia and likely losing the league. Is this the end of the road for him if they don’t bring home European glory?
Speaking of finals, the Coppa Italia is set: AC Milan will face Bologna in Rome. While Milan chase silverware to salvage their season, Italiiano's Bologna are looking for a statement on the biggest stage. But if Bologna fall short in both the cup and top-four race… is the season still a success?
In the league, Napoli hold a narrow 3-point lead at the top with three matches to go. Conte’s tactical flexibility has been the difference — Motts makes the case for why this version of Conte might be his most impressive yet.
Down the table, it’s a dogfight for European spots with Juventus, Roma, Lazio, Bologna, Fiorentina, and Milan all neck-and-neck. Roma look red hot, Lazio face a brutal run-in, and Juve… well, still look like Juve. Meanwhile, Monza are officially down, and Venezia, Empoli, and Lecce are in a desperate scrap to avoid joining them.
Hit play and join the conversation. And don’t forget to follow @calcioculturefc on X, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube!
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Transcript
Welcome Back & Italy Trip Introduction
00:00:06
Speaker
Ragazzi, welcome back to Calcio Culture. We apologize for our absence. We have been extremely busy. Busy at work, busy traveling. As you all know, made a trip to Italy and we had an unreal time there.
00:00:19
Speaker
In our absence, though, we have missed quite a lot of news. a good number of games, lot of competitions going on. So we have a lot to break down today. But as always, this is Vos, joined by my co-host Mats today. have to say it feels pretty good to be back here. it has been almost a month now. might be more than a month since we've been on here. We've really been slacking.
00:00:38
Speaker
Has it really been more than a month? Oh, my goodness. pretty close. Hello, Paisanos. Just me today. We actually left Logues in Turin. I think he's probably making his way back to Milan, though.
Italy Highlights: Flights, Stadiums, and More
00:00:50
Speaker
um But we had a great, great trip from from the beginning, from getting um upgraded on the flights to Extra Leg Room.
00:01:00
Speaker
Shout out, Vos. To the stadium tours to Lake Como. ah we did We did experience a little bump in the road with the Pope dying, but we made it work um to Turin, to Vincenzo. It all a great, great trip. um and But glad to be back, like you said, and definitely glad to be to be back on Calcio Culture.
00:01:23
Speaker
We did miss some games. However, we were at some games as well. um So that was that was a great experience. I'm going to already want to go back. Yeah, I already want to go back to it. I keep looking at flights and stuff. It's it's really tough.
00:01:36
Speaker
ah But today, guys, just to give you an overview of what we're going talking, we're going to give you a little bit, a little tasting of what we did do in Italy because it was really an incredible experience. um We did, like, Motsa, we went to some games. That was the first time I had ever been to any European matches. I don't know about you, but incredible experience. I just want to talk you through a little bit of some of the stuff we did over there because I think everybody listening would find it interesting.
00:01:57
Speaker
They're gonna be talking a little bit of Champions League, obviously some massive news there. a little bit of Copa Italia, and really the body of today is going to be looking at the table. Only three games to go now, ah real business end. We kind of have an idea of what we think is going to happen, but for everybody, every team in the league now, lot at stake.
00:02:16
Speaker
The end of the season is going to have a ton of storylines, and then going into the summer, going to have even more craziness. For me, I'm looking at looking up and down the table, This summer is more important than I think a lot of summers that we've had in the past.
00:02:29
Speaker
There's a lot of things going on with every one of these teams, a lot of teams in like an evolutionary stage, I think. um And it's been an exciting season now coming to an end. So yeah again, we have a lot to talk about. But let's start with Italy because Italy was amazing.
Navigating Milan: Weather, Transport, and Stadiums
00:02:42
Speaker
We flew from New York straight into Milan. We landed at 9 a.m.
00:02:46
Speaker
First day it was a great day. We brought the sun with us. It was supposed to rain every day. But first day we got in there, landed at 9. We're up until 1 or 2 a.m. and it started great from there. Yeah.
00:02:57
Speaker
ah We definitely brought the sunshine. That was kind of the motto that we were telling people because the weather beforehand, like you just mentioned, said it was supposed to rain every single day. And Turin actually had a flash flood warning all the week that we were going to be there. But it only rained two times when we were there. One time we slept through it because we were up till 6 a.m.
00:03:17
Speaker
And then the other time was right after the Coppa Italia semifinal game. um But I mean, all in all, fantastic trip um from the food.
00:03:28
Speaker
That was amazing. From the sightseeing that we did, from the games that we saw, ah the stadium tours, everything was amazing. it was ah It was a well-ran trip. I'd also like to give us all three a shout out.
00:03:41
Speaker
We did a great job on public transportation. selling. We did have one small hiccup getting, um, a ticket for not paying for the bus. But other than that, great, great job on the public transportation side of things.
00:03:55
Speaker
Um, One thing I wanted to to talk about that I thought was crazy, very interesting, and obviously made sense when I stepped back and thought about it, the San Siro, not your average stadium, very old obviously, but if you're if you' were at the San Siro, you're either outside of the stadium,
00:04:17
Speaker
You are either in the staircase of the stadium, in the bathroom, or at your seat. Like there is no walking around the outskirts of the stadium, like under the stairs.
00:04:28
Speaker
like There's no concourse. There's there's no concourse, right? like it's either There's a staircase to get to your seats. There's a bathroom on the staircase at some points. Some of them were overflowing. like They didn't even work.
00:04:40
Speaker
Or you're on the field. Like you're actually on the field in stands. Mayhem. Yeah, and there's nothing else. There is nothing else. They have one area for concessions, which is just mayhem as well, because there's only one area of concessions.
00:04:52
Speaker
I was not expecting that. It was crazy. It was a cool experience. And then going to the Juventus Stadium, being much more modern and new, there was like the, what what did you call it?
00:05:04
Speaker
On course, the area like inside, but not quite on the stands. Yeah, there was that there was concessions inside the stadium, much newer. We were very ah almost on top of the players. They're very close to the pitch.
00:05:18
Speaker
Very ah good atmosphere, like good. um um Like lights in and a show almost with a sense. Like just it it felt like more.
00:05:29
Speaker
Not quite like an NFL stadium, but I would say like similar to that, right? Like in the United States, like very modern, like speaker systems, modern lighting, modern, like the nice, like it's easy to get around and everything, like big spaces, concession stands. like there's a modern amazing stadium. Yeah.
00:05:47
Speaker
Yeah. I, e if you can go to the Allianz, you have to go because the difference from, but we're at the Sun Zero. Amazing experience of the Sun Zero. I can't say enough. 80,000 people in there. so loud.
00:06:00
Speaker
it's it's it's It makes it so much better to watch the game on on TV now. But now go when you go to the Allianz, it's a little bit smaller, but the way it's set up, it's very loud still. And it does feel like you're actually on the field, like on top of the players.
00:06:13
Speaker
I think we may have actually been further from the field when we were there, but it felt like we were way closer. Yeah, especially when they were on, we sat on the left-hand side. So when they were on, like, our touch side, we were, like, literally, like, I could, like, grab them, um even though we were slightly further.
00:06:28
Speaker
very Yeah, we but and we had an amazing angle of Yildiz elbowing a guy in the face. Yeah, that made the stick happen. and Excuse me, that made the second half pretty tough to watch for them to defend for 45 minutes. But we had a great angle to the Colomani goal as well, which was nice.
00:06:46
Speaker
um But just immaculate, immaculate vibes. But the atmosphere. So we we obviously went to a game on Easter. It was Milan-Atalanta. Milan ended up losing that game 1-0.
00:06:58
Speaker
That atmosphere, to be honest with you guys, wasn't there. It was kind of dead, if I'm being honest. It was Easter Sunday. Milan didn't play well. um Then three days later, we went to the Copa Italia Inter versus interverses ah milan and oh my goodness, that atmosphere was insane. That was crazy. It was different.
00:07:21
Speaker
And one thing that we we saw that um was interesting that we didn't know We probably should have known it covering the league, but Inter fans or their, what is it called? Their, always pronounce it wrong. The Corvinoord.
00:07:34
Speaker
Yeah. They do not really stand up or wave their flags until the 20th minute. And so during the game, the 20th minute happened and it was like a throw in, like nothing exciting happened in the Inter fans stood up and just went absolutely berserk.
00:07:51
Speaker
Exploded. The stadium felt like it exploded. It was so loud because with the whole game, we like all the Milan supporters in the core of school are pretty loud. and then it was just like, boom. And from there, they did not down or, so or stop singing or screaming.
00:08:06
Speaker
It was 70 minutes of just straight going, even though they were losing, they were down three, nothing inter's fans did not stop screaming. Um, that it was honestly, i think Logan said this at one point, it was tough to pay attention to the game at some points because of the two fan sections, just screaming and singing at each other.
00:08:25
Speaker
it was an unreal experience. You have to go to a game there.
Cultural Experiences & Meeting Rafael Liao
00:08:28
Speaker
um very, very, very crazy experience. Yeah. And on top of that, we had great. Yeah. Like you said, we had great food. We had some aperitivo. you guys don't know about that, go to Milan experience it. It's my new favorite thing ever. Yeah. I've been doing it every day since I got back.
00:08:45
Speaker
Also, so another another little cool part about the trip for the people that do not follow us on Instagram, you might not have seen this. um We obviously were supposed to go to Parma Juve at Parma on ah Monday morning.
00:09:00
Speaker
We were at our coffee shop, our breakfast shop. ah um What was it? Shishu? Yeah. so so step the camera We went there every morning in Milan. Um, and I'm scrolling on Instagram, looking at stories and unfortunately, St. The Pope passed away and the all the games on Monday got postponed. So that kind of, thank God we weren't on the train for that, that kind of, but that did kind of throw monkey wrench in our plans for the day.
00:09:26
Speaker
So we had to audible pivot, figure things out. We went to a castle and a park in Milan, did some sightseeing. Then we decided to try to go to like a flea market.
00:09:37
Speaker
Turns out we went to the wrong spot. So we were just like, oh, let's just go to a rooftop bar. We're at the rooftop bar enjoying some nice spritzes, limoncello spritzes, aperol spritzes, select spritzes. And um we're about ready to go.
00:09:50
Speaker
Who walks in? Rafael Liao. Casually walks in. Uh, so Cali Choculture met Rafael Liao. I think there might be a collab coming soon.
00:10:01
Speaker
He did like us. He got a picture of Logan, gave me a nice fist bump. Uh, crazy experience. Probably the last person I expected to see at a bar the day before semi-final.
00:10:12
Speaker
A derby semi-final two days before. yeah Pretty insane. But overall successful trip, right? I don't think we could have done anything better. No, super successful. Maybe gone a little less hard at the beginning. Yeah. We went pretty hard.
00:10:24
Speaker
Yeah, i started getting slightly under feeling slightly under the weather on the last couple of days in Turin. So we kind of had to pump the brakes there. But we went hard. we We went to Lake Como. We went to Bellagio. We did Milan. We did the Nivelli. We did Torino.
00:10:39
Speaker
Torino also has just a million piazzas, like just so many squares. um And then obviously Logan got to see Milan win. I got to see Juventus win.
00:10:49
Speaker
We saw a Milan Derby. So just all in all, fantastic trip. Yeah, i mean, highlight for me, i saw Bellanova, current favorite player in the league. So I was really put put layout in his back pocket too in that game. So that was good to see.
00:11:02
Speaker
um But yeah, anybody going to Italy have any questions, hit us up. Any suggestions we can also give you. We we kind of got the layout land of Milan. So if you have any questions about Milan, just let us know. and We'll we'll figure it out for you.
00:11:15
Speaker
um But to get into it, let's get into some footy mods. um The last 24 hours, we had one of the best games of football I think I've ever seen.
Champions League and Inter Milan's Season
00:11:23
Speaker
I had people that don't really watch soccer actually texting me about it, um saying how crazy it was, how much they loved it.
00:11:29
Speaker
And that was none other than the Champions League semifinal second leg in Milan, Inter against Barcelona. four three game. Inter tied it, I think, with two minutes to go. 88th minute off of and a Cherubi goal. Insane to make it 3-3. Then an add-in time. Fertesi gets it done.
00:11:47
Speaker
Sends them through. four three Final aggregate, I think, was 7-6, which is unheard of. It was virtually the same game. I want to take it a step further than what you said. I think...
00:11:59
Speaker
Probably the best, at least from what I can remember just off the top of my head and thinking about it, the best semifinal game or or two legs in the Champions League in minimum the last 10 years. I mean, maybe there was a Madrid one that that they when they came back.
00:12:16
Speaker
against sadie i don't know if that was quarterfinals or semifinals though, but these two games were virtually the same exact game, 4-3. ah come ah goal two Someone gets up 2-1 or 2-0, and then the other team has to come back.
00:12:30
Speaker
Just an all-out war, in you and you have to give the props to Inter. um I do think Barcelona did do enough to win the game and go through, but I think Inter did as well. I don't think either of the teams really deserve to actually lose the game.
00:12:47
Speaker
um And Inter just were the ones to sneak it out and squeak it out, but insane two legs. Yeah, and I think what's also interesting about this is it was you see the two contrasting styles and realistically had the same result. Like Inter wanted to sit deep and counterattack. Barcelona wanted to be ball dominant and exert their will that way.
00:13:08
Speaker
And basically, they canceled each other out. We had seven goals for Inter, six goals for Barcelona. And I think it just goes to show that there are different ways of playing this game. And you can be successful with both ways.
00:13:21
Speaker
This is now Inter Milan's second Champions League final in three years. I actually personally think this team is worse than the team that got to the final last year are two years ago than wants to Manchester City. I think they were unfortunate two years ago that they ran into Manchester City because that was kind of like the peak of City at at their power. They won the trouble that year.
00:13:41
Speaker
um So I like their, I think we'll do a breakdown and kind of preview that game in a couple of weeks, but I feel good against them going it up against PSG. i think PSG are really similar to Barcelona.
00:13:53
Speaker
So they kind of have plan. Yeah, a little bit of a blueprint. I think that they're coming with a little bit different formation. But what's really going to be interesting for me in that game is the wingback battle.
00:14:05
Speaker
It's going to be DeMarco or Carlos Augusto against Nuno Man or against Hakimi. I didn't even think about that. Hakimi returned her wow facing Inter. And the other side of things, it's going to be Nuno Man against Denzel Dumfries or presumably Denzel Dumfries who just had...
00:14:20
Speaker
the craziest two legs ever and is probably the best wing back in the world right now following that. Like he was, he wasn't a part of one goal. I think the, the Fertesi goal for the, over the two legs, he was a part of every single goal besides the Fertesi goal.
00:14:35
Speaker
Dumfries absolutely balled. Yeah, I think that goes to show they did miss him this year. He was in and out of the squad a lot. And if they have him, i don't know. I mean, we're going to talk about what they're doing in the league and how things are shaking out. But it was I think it's a bigger loss than we even thought. Like we knew how good he was, how important he was to this team.
00:14:56
Speaker
But the impact that he had, he had it's just it's mind blowing that a wing back can have that large of an impact on on a game. I think um especially when they're sitting back so far, it's like 16 or 17 now with those goals or in a goal contributions on the season, like some absurd number.
00:15:14
Speaker
But, uh, one thing I want to say about interim, obviously like I'm a even teeny. There's a big rivalry. However, I support the league slightly more than your traditional event. Juventus fan or Italian fan.
00:15:26
Speaker
Um, uh, And I do agree with you. This team, I don't think, was as good as the team that made it to the Champions League two three two years ago or even the team that did get knocked out by Atletico Madrid in the quarterfinals last year.
00:15:42
Speaker
But what I have to give this team credit for is When they want to lock in on a game and they like and they locked in on every single Champions League game this season, they didn't do it a lot in the league or in the Copa for um for reasons I don't know.
00:15:58
Speaker
When they locked in for 90 minutes, they got what they needed to to get done. And I mean i mean that like Bayern Munich, they went down or Bayern Munich tied it up on aggregate and a minute later they scored a goal.
00:16:11
Speaker
They went down on aggregate to to Barcelona, and a minute later, they scored a goal. like They knew what they needed to do. and If you were to tell me before Barcelona and Inter played, the aggregate over two games is going to be 7-6, I would have said, you're crazy.
00:16:28
Speaker
that's And if it was, would have said Barcelona is winning that. Yeah, I'll find your first time. Inter allowed... I believe Inter allowed four goals or five goals total up until this point in the Champions League. And four of those goals were Bayern, right? They allowed one game goal in the coming games before these first these last two legs are these against Bayern and Barca.
00:16:50
Speaker
And then in those legs, they the Barca scored six goals. like You didn't see that coming at all with how compact Inter is. And then to to to what's even crazier is they went goal for goal with Barcelona, even though Barcelona has such a high line, did not see that coming. So they really showed you you can they could do it in both ways.
00:17:08
Speaker
Yeah, I think on the flip side, the negative that I took away from these was they had a 2-0 lead twice. And then they had a, not 2-0, they had a 2-goal lead twice on aggregate.
00:17:19
Speaker
And they also had a 1-goal once and they blew all three basically until they ended up winning. And on the like the bad side of things, that's kind of been the story all season in League, where they've had leads against way worse opposition.
00:17:33
Speaker
They've sat deep, and they've they've given up late goals to to drop two points. Like, very rarely, obviously, dropping three. But we saw that I think the one that always comes to mind is at the beginning of the season, they dropped points to Parma, which they shouldn't have. um And you go through the whole season and that's been, that's been the story of it.
00:17:50
Speaker
So I think that's what we can leave that the Champions League where it is for now, enter it in the final. um And we'll talk about that in a couple of weeks when when we do have the Champions League final coming up, we'll give you a full preview of that.
00:18:01
Speaker
But we want to use this as a segue into, into the league, into the Scudetto race, because this is what we really want to talk about today. um And we'll start with Inter Milan, even though they they are in second place. We'll get to Napoli in a second.
00:18:12
Speaker
They're in second place. They're three points behind Napoli. And they're going face... her at They have to go to Torino, come home to Lazio, and then go away to Como. At this point...
00:18:24
Speaker
Their destiny is not in their hands. they They need an Napoli to drop three points. i I think that's highly, I wouldn't say highly unlikely, but this is probably the first time this season where they probably aren't going to win is is where i I'm looking at it. I think it's highly unlikely that Napoli lose any of those games.
00:18:44
Speaker
I think it's possible they draw. And I think it's also possible that Inter drop points in any one of these games. I think Torino is a very difficult matchup still. Lazio has been tough for everybody to play against, Cuomo's arguably, if not the hottest, the second hottest behind Bromo.
00:18:58
Speaker
Well, then Cuomo, I was just going to say, not to cut you off, with Cuomo also, the Champions League's final coming up as well, so are they even just going to rotate as heavily as they did last time?
00:19:11
Speaker
And then even even beyond that, we've seen all season Inter struggle after big games, right? Like we saw, like they've struggled against Milan several times after having big Champions League games. after having i mean, we saw what happened to Coppa Italia.
00:19:24
Speaker
The Coppa Italia second leg was one of the worst Inter performances of the entire season. I think they were completely out of that game. um And now I think we have to look at this season as a whole for Inter. They are in a Champions League final.
00:19:37
Speaker
they lost the supercopa final to milan they got knocked out of the coppa italia to milan and now they're realistically going to lose the league i would say if they don't win the champions league Is it a successful season?
00:19:52
Speaker
That's the trophy list. You got to two finals. You came in second in the league. You got to a semifinal Coppa Italia. And it's, when you look at it like that, you're you're basically second place across the board, which is, I think if it's a different club for me, it's okay.
00:20:08
Speaker
But for Inter and where I would have expected them to be at this point, and this is going to kind of lead into a bigger conversation around where they are with the club, where they are with Inzaghi. um But would it be successful for you or do they have to win the Champions League? And even if they win the Champions League, is that enough for you?
00:20:23
Speaker
I think if they win the Champions League, successful season, right? Especially because that's been what a lot of Italian teams have tried to focus on more and more over the last five, six, seven years. but ah Rather than them only focusing on the league like they've done in the past.
00:20:38
Speaker
So they win the Champions League, no matter if they came in second in the league and lost the co or lost the um Super Cup and got knocked out to the Coba, successful season, that's kind of what they built this team for to go try to win that Champions League.
00:20:52
Speaker
um It's obviously built to win more. They were extremely close. like You talked to us when we were in Italy. They were steps away from a treble, right? Obviously, didn't get that done. But if they win the Champions League, successful season. If they do not,
00:21:06
Speaker
I think that it's you can't classify it as a successful season, but you also don't classify it as necessarily a failure because they did make it to the Champions League final. that's That's not easy to do. they are i mean I do think the the league was bad because...
00:21:24
Speaker
um I said it a couple of weeks ago or or the last episode or one of the last episodes that nobody wanted to, wants to win the league this year. Everyone was fumbling when you just take advantage of some games. Inter could very well have a seven, 10, 12 point cushion.
00:21:41
Speaker
Um, if they just played like they did last year. love So I think that their biggest miss was the league. Cause this was a very, very winnable league in the Serie A. If you're,
00:21:52
Speaker
Napoli's probably going to win like 82 points maybe. And Inter had like 97 last year. So like it's a big drop off that that way. So I don't think that you can label it unsuccessful if they don't win the Champions League.
00:22:08
Speaker
But it or not. I think you can label it unsuccessful. I don't think you can label it as like a failure of a season. We need to blow everything up um because we didn't win a trophy because they're on you see what they're on the brink of with this with these players.
00:22:23
Speaker
They are on the little older side, but they're just going to be, if they can just keep most of the guys reload in some areas, they'll be right here again next year in all three competitions. Yeah, and that kind of gets me into what I want to talk about, what I messaged you and Lokes about yesterday is Where are we at with Nzaki now?
00:22:44
Speaker
Because for me, I think I fall on more of the negative side than you guys. i i I guess the question really is, is his job safe? what What results change? where He gets sacked if they lose the Champions League? um If they win the Champions League, is there is there a different outcome? I just kind of want to get your thoughts there.
00:23:06
Speaker
My personal opinion is i'm ah if I'm making the decisions, I'm not. Win or a lose, Nzagi's my coach next year. I think Nzagi has proved how good of a ah manager he is, being that they were so close too.
00:23:23
Speaker
um a treble, right? um there are yeah There's obviously areas where he needs to improve. like I didn't love, even though they did squeak out the win against Barcelona, I thought he was making too many defensive substitutions when they had their their lead and just allowing Barcelona team to attack and and get three goals.
00:23:42
Speaker
um But we see what he does with tactics. Another thing is is how they play is beautiful. Another thing that I mentioned earlier is when they want to lock in and Nzaghi relays to them how important this game is, you see what how good they are.
00:23:58
Speaker
He's also been with this group of guys now for four five years. A lot of them are gonna be coming back. I don't think you can get anybody better than Inzaghi.
00:24:09
Speaker
um And I think he's proved himself. I do agree but the with your take on he should have one more in this window that Inter has in their reign right now. He should have more Scudettos. He should have more for sure.
00:24:23
Speaker
But I think that... He's done a great job. And if you let him go, you're letting you're letting somebody go who's a proven winner in the league, proven to win in multiple competitions, which some managers can't do that we know.
00:24:37
Speaker
And you're also sacrificing the way in which they play. And I think one thing that Inter fans and Inter supporters love to have over Juventus is Is that they play a beautiful so style of soccer.
00:24:52
Speaker
They love that. And Juventus is it's all that matters is winning the game, getting the points and enter where that still matters. They also play a beautiful brand of football.
00:25:02
Speaker
And if you let Nzaki go, you potentially, you potentially abandoned that.
00:25:09
Speaker
it Yeah. And it it's a risk, but for me,
00:25:15
Speaker
It's a very difficult decision. I think, in my opinion, if they lose the Champions League final, you walk away from Inzaghi. I think if they win the Champions League final, there is still a discussion about letting him walk. And I think that's probably a hard ah hot take.
00:25:29
Speaker
And it is it is harsh. But the way that I look at this, when he took over the reins, Inter just won the Scudetto. They were the best team in the league by a massive margin under Antonio Conte. That team was amazing.
00:25:44
Speaker
And then going into the next season, they were, I mean, i I think it's hard to say they weren't the best team in the league. That was another season that was very similar to this one. AC Milan ended up winning that year. And I think across the board, especially on, on this podcast, we all kind of agree that Milan probably didn't, shouldn't have won it. Right. They weren't good enough.
00:26:02
Speaker
And it was, and when I say it's similar to this season, nobody really wanted to win it. Entered plenty of chances to take over. Get that 6.9 point, 12 point coaching and win it. They didn't. Um,
00:26:15
Speaker
And we go back now. This year is the same thing as that. Inzaghi did win last year, which was big. The Napoli year, I'm going to say is a wash because Napoli were just so much better than everybody.
00:26:26
Speaker
But when you look at it like that, this is Inzaghi's fourth season. He's got most likely have one Scudetto. He's going to have one Copa Italia, two Champions League final appearances, and maybe one Champions League. So it's three trophies.
00:26:43
Speaker
in four seasons. And if you had told me that when they hired him, I would probably say that's not enough. um I think a very clear representation of where the club is at is sticking with him through this.
00:26:59
Speaker
I thought when we when they first when he first came on but this what we were talking about at beginning of the season. This is the year if Nzaki does this, dynasty's going. like they You have three Scudettos in in forty four years or five years, whatever it is.
00:27:12
Speaker
Should have four. Should still have more. But three and three and five, you go on you you're looking like you're going to be the the best team again next year and you go on. The difference is when we look at Juve. yu wei When Juve fired Pirlo, he had probably had better seasons than Nzaki has had. He won the Copa Italia, right?
00:27:30
Speaker
And then he finished in Champions League spot in that and they fired him. Inzaghi, bigger leash than that because Juve were so focused on that you have to win everything. and It's like Inter don't have that mindset yet. and it The Scudetto piece of this is just inexcusable for me.
00:27:49
Speaker
and if i i have I do have a biased opinion. I know Lokes is kind of on the other spectrum of things where for me it's When the league, anything else is a bonus for me. I think the Juve have a little bit different of a take because they won so many Scudettos and they're they're so far ahead. The Champions League has been so a loser for them that it is a priority.
00:28:08
Speaker
But for Inter, when the league is in your hands and you lose it, this is going to be probably the second time for Nzaghi. I don't know how you how you defend that.
00:28:20
Speaker
You have three three times now. You should have won it and you have done one time. That's valid. yeah That's very, very valid. Very valid. I definitely, like, Inter should have more Scudettos for sure.
00:28:31
Speaker
i think it's just, if they can win the Champions League, they're going to forget about that. um But that's, what you make a valid point. I just, like, where would you go? Who would, like, there's not many options. There's going to be options out there. People are going to sacked.
00:28:44
Speaker
But... Do you think, do you feel confident that you're going to get somebody who's going to be able to do a better job Inzaghi? And maybe Scherf is, in your mind, is a better job than winning the, is like last year winning the Scudetto and then getting knocked out in the, in the,
00:29:04
Speaker
first leg of the Champions League ah knockout stage and whenever they did in the Copa, like, is that better than this season when they're they're knocking on the door to the treble? Like, he's building stuff.
00:29:15
Speaker
You know, so it's it's how you look at it. Yeah, but at the same time, when when I look at this... There are other, there's like other, there's other pieces to the puzzle when when I'm judging Inzaghi.
00:29:26
Speaker
Because again, this year they did a lot well, but then what did they do wrong? They lost a cup final to Milan. they Then they got knocked out of a cup in a two-leg semifinal to Milan, who are substantially worse than them, have been a bad, I would say Milan have been a bad team for most of the season. They've never beat, they're unbeaten.
00:29:48
Speaker
They haven't beaten this year. Yeah. So they, So when you look at it like that, realistically, you should have one trophy in the bag in the Supercopa. You definitely should have beaten Milan over two legs. The second leg performance that we saw at the San Siro from Inter was inexcusable. It looked like they didn't show up to play that game.
00:30:10
Speaker
And then we go down to the league, like we just talked about, and the champions league is your only saving grace. And what I think will happen is if they do win it in Zaki, will be safe because it's that big shiny trophy, isn' it but it's very hard to defend to say he's a good cop like a knockout.
00:30:28
Speaker
Hernament manager. When you look at what happened in super couple, what happened in the cup Italia? Granted the champions league is like the pinnacle. Like that's a, that's top trophy you can win. So I think, it I don't know. I, I think my guess is if they win it, he stays, if they lose.
00:30:46
Speaker
I, I don't, I don't know. i I think it needs to be revisited. And on'm on, on the piece of what do you do next? I have a hundred percent faith in Maratha to make the right decision and bring in the right person because when they brought in Zagy on board and Zagy wasn't. on la yo He just was a co-bud talent guy. Yeah.
00:31:08
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, it'll be interesting to see. i if i'm If I'm them, I keep him. I think he's good. I love the way they play. I think you got to value that. it Maybe just because I'm Juventus fan and we play like dog shit. They play beautiful soccer.
00:31:23
Speaker
um And they there they were right there. Although I definitely, definitely agree with you on he should have had way more Scudatos, especially like because of what this season has been.
00:31:35
Speaker
the AC Milan season, just like you said, like those were kind of these are kind of just like seasons where it was like, you've got to go grab that. The missed opportunities for Inter. Definitely missed opportunities. Yeah.
00:31:49
Speaker
Let's kick it over now to league leaders. Three-point cushion, arguably one of the best seasons of all time, regardless if they actually get this done or not. um That's Napoli.
00:32:01
Speaker
Again, like i said, three-point cushion. where We have them tipped to be favorites at this point because of who they are facing next. They've got Genoa home, which isn't the easiest thing in the world, but at home it makes a big difference.
00:32:13
Speaker
Then they go to Parma, who have been a little bit shaky recently, a lot of draws. And then they're at home against Calgary, who have been up and down all season. So they have an easier schedule, three-point cushion.
00:32:24
Speaker
I think they get this done.
Napoli's League Success and Conte's Impact
00:32:27
Speaker
i would be very It would be a surprise if they don't win the league at this point, in my mind. i'm I'm in agreeance, especially with Antonio Conte, knowing like how close they are and how ready he's going to have those boys and and the the way he's going to relay the message of Three games in our hands. All we need to do is win every game. And guess what? We have a trophy.
00:32:49
Speaker
um I mean, even although we did see last week, they did they they struggled. don't want to say they struggled against Lecce because they they definitely handily won. Like Lecce didn't have many opportunities.
00:33:02
Speaker
But they only one won 1-0, and it was ah on a free kick. It was a training ground goal, but it was only 1-0 against Lecce. However, if you take another step back and look at their past four games, dave they have um they've gotten four clean sheets in a row. So their defense is locked in. Kante is locked in on relaying the message, and I would be...
00:33:25
Speaker
very, very shocked given who they're playing. if they If they're dropping points, it's a tie. There's no chance that they fully lose a match. I mean, there's obviously a chance, but I don't see it.
00:33:36
Speaker
And I see all things pointing to Napoli winning, kind of doing what you just said Inter should have done, winning two Scudettos in the last four years um, at making their fourth Scudetto win and Conte doing maybe his greatest achievement as a manager, taking a team from 11th to first, uh, in one year, losing his two best players, losing their two best players, selling Cavana, not getting a replacement, having their probably marquee summer signing in Bongiorno in and out of the lineup for most of the season.
00:34:09
Speaker
Um, um, It's been a pure masterclass from Conte. And one thing that I will say, and I want to give him his flowers here, which i've seen him I haven't seen him do ever in his career, not at Chelsea, not at Inter, not at Juve, nowhere, that he's done Napoli. And I think he's he's realized he has to do it because of the people at his disposal.
00:34:28
Speaker
He has decided this is the year where I'm going to... Be flexible. I'm not going to run a 3-5-2 and only a 3-5-2. I'm run a when it's needed. I'm going to run a to run a 4-2-3-1 when I need to. He's been changing his formation.
00:34:47
Speaker
given the lineup that he can he can run with and the players he has on the pitch. He's even changing his and his formation in-game, and this is something Kante's never done. And I'll even take it a step further. I think too many managers live and die by their formation.
00:35:01
Speaker
Like Tiago Mata on Juventus this year, 4-2-3-1 every single game. Last year, Allegri, 3-5-2, never mixing it up, never changing it up. I understand that when you do change up the formation, the guys have different rules and things that they need to follow but these guys are professionals they can do that they've been playing this their their whole life you can coach them and challenge them and Conte showed that and it's one of the reasons why I think Napoli is is in the place that they are because he's been so flexible and needed to be so flexible Definitely. And i agree with you that more managers should do this. And it it used to be a thing. I mean, I think early 2010s, it was a very normal i kind of switch systems, game different games.
00:35:40
Speaker
And we've kind of migrated to this. You have a system, you stick by it robotic football. Not robotic football, but that kind of thing, right? Like Inzaghi, always same system.
00:35:51
Speaker
Pretty much every major manager is like that. And I think part of it was Kante. i mean, this is this is really what the masterclass is, right? He had guys injured, he lost players, and just saw what he had at his disposal at every any given game and changed up what he needed to do. I mean, at points he was running Lukaku and Raspidori as his two strikers in like a 4-4-2.
00:36:14
Speaker
At times he was playing a back three. he seen Spinazzola play as like a traditional winger at times. And not every manager... would do that and be able to get the most out of his players and recognize the strengths of his players and put them in the right place to succeed and kind of somebody you wrote down here arguably the mvp of their season i think personifies this more than anybody is Scott McTominay.
00:36:38
Speaker
When this summer, coming out of this summer, I don't think anybody would have said the guy they need is Scott McTominay to play as the 10 and kind of act as a second striker. And realistically, they're winning the league because they bought him.
00:36:54
Speaker
100%. I think that, once again, just goes to goes to show how good Kante is. And like Manchester United had this guy, 11 goals this season, a lot of game-winning goals this season from Scott McTominay. And he was warm on the bench, barely could get in. If he did get in, he looked terrible.
00:37:12
Speaker
I think that's Kante recognizing a player, putting him in in position that he feels comfortable in, coaching him up, telling him where he needs to be, giving him pointers, playing around him.
00:37:22
Speaker
Like this is, it's not just be like, I know all the Prem people are gonna be like, well, that shows how bad the Serie A is, but it's like Scott McTominay has said, it's actually much tougher to play in this league than in the Premier League.
00:37:35
Speaker
Granted, he's probably saying that because he's doing well, but like, I think that goes to show Kante and Kante has always been like this. He's always been, you gave me this player and I'll be able to get the most out of him and, and make him be better than what he actually is. He's done it with Lukaku, obviously.
00:37:51
Speaker
um and he's done it with even Andrea Pirlo. He switched Pirlo's gameplay. Um, but it's just Kante knows who he needs, how to relay the information and coach a player into getting the best out of him. And then I've said it all season. I'll say it again.
00:38:06
Speaker
He also just gets these guys to buy in and care about the team, the badge, and the guy next to them, which goes um ah it goes so much further than people give credit in this game um when you're when you're willing to die for the badge and give for the for the guy next to you.
00:38:21
Speaker
And Conte, he's able to do it. And I think that... If they win the league, there's no question in my mind that Scott McTominay has to be the MVP of the season. um Because he's won games for them. He has 11 goals. but you take him You take those goals out, Napoli are probably not even in the Champions League spot in his goals. um it's got it And then I also want to give flowers to somebody that you talked about in Rachmani.
00:38:48
Speaker
He's been kind of their... yeah um even in two seasons ago when they won the Scudetto, Kim had kind of got all the praise. He won Serie A Defender the Year, but Rachmani has been a stable pillar for the last four years, going to be part of the two champions or the two Scudettos if they do it this year, not missing a game, defending very, very strong. Like, I think those two players for me have been...
00:39:17
Speaker
um Kind of the the pillars that, and Zombo, obviously, the pillars that have launched Napoli to this spot. Definitely. I agree. And one thing I did want to talk about, and I had pulled out, listened to a couple of podcasts, listening to some of the broadcasts on CBS.
00:39:34
Speaker
There's kind of been this discussion about how Napoli have played kind of terrible football all year. um And how they're like, kind of not under I don't want to put words in everybody's mouth, but undeserving champions, essentially.
00:39:47
Speaker
and And because of the way they've been playing. And I... i I don't see that at all. I adamantly disagree. I think they've actually played good ball. um I think it's more attacking football than Kante's played in a really long time.
00:40:01
Speaker
I think it's more so they just haven't had the quality that some of the other top-level teams have to really showcase that to the best of their ability. But when you look at this, fourth in the league in goals scored, number one in goals against, and then third in goal differentials. So it's like...
00:40:16
Speaker
What more can they do to show that they deserve this? I mean, when you concede the least amount of goals in your top five and goals scored, that's a recipe for success. I mean, I think that's more goals than Conte maybe would have even anticipated scoring with this team.
00:40:32
Speaker
And if they did have better players and if they do reinforce in the summer, I mean... They basically did this without any scoring, without anybody that is a goal scorer, period, in the team.
00:40:42
Speaker
Because Politano's not really a goal scorer. David Neresh is in and out of Reno. Lukaku was their theoretical goal scorer, but he hasn't been that. So, I mean, if they had better players, maybe the football would looked better. But I'm not going to sit here and say they played this uber defensive style. I mean, they played offensive style. They brought a game to Inter Milan.
00:41:03
Speaker
And the fact that they were able to do that shows that they are deserving champions if they do get this done. And I don't think it is right to say they played one of our buddies, Paki, when Conte was the coach yeah at Spurs, said he played terrorist ball. And I would say this is not Conte terrorist ball by any means.
00:41:22
Speaker
So I definitely don't think that it's valid to say that it's their underserved undeserving because of the way they played. I think I just spoke about how they played all season and how they would be a chameleon and and figure out the way they needed to play each game to win.
00:41:39
Speaker
um But what I will say is, listen, this is what Conte does. Like we know what Conte does. And we also talked about this in the beginning part of the season. it's that It is an Italian league. That's what they do. They do defend, right? Their priority in Italy is defending.
00:41:53
Speaker
Guess what Conte did? He made them the not only the best defense defense in Italy, that they have the best defense and um and the top five leagues, allowing the least amount of goals in a season with 25, right?
00:42:06
Speaker
they They have the same amount of goals that they had last year in 55, which just goes to show like Conte just strengthening the defense has helped them.
00:42:17
Speaker
But I don't think that it's undeserving. I think somebody that would say that is watching kind of what I said earlier in the season saying no one in the Serie wants to win the league this year. Like Inter could have grabbed this by the balls and same with Atalanta.
00:42:31
Speaker
They both could have grabbed the league by the balls and won it. However... um If you look at other leagues as well, it's kind of the same across all other leagues. So I think that there's ah there's a part of it where, yes, you're right, they don't have the star level that everybody else has.
00:42:47
Speaker
But I also think these these guys are getting worn out. Like, if you look at La Liga, Barcelona's on top with 79 points. Sure, they have a lot more goals, but Real Madrid don't have a ton. Like, they don't have a ton more than Napoli. They have, like, 10 more than Napoli.
00:43:01
Speaker
um You look at the Prem, right? Liverpool's on top with 82. No one's even close to them. And Arsenal only have 64 for, so it's nine more. So I don't think that it's they're undeserving at all. I think they're playing, it's very similar to all the other leagues in terms of goals and points.
00:43:20
Speaker
um I think these guys are worn out. I think Napoli don't have the stars that everybody else has. And I think we we knew what Kante was going to do The first thing it was going to do was solidify the defense. This league is, ah you win the league by defense.
00:43:33
Speaker
And Conte did that. They have the least amount of goals scored, not only in the league, like I said, but in all five European competitions or all five European leagues. And that's what that's what wins you the Serie A. And that's why they're in this position.
00:43:47
Speaker
Yeah, I think deserving to be there. But I mean, if they whoever wins it, we'll get into the the gritty of it. I mean, on Monday, we're going to talk and who knows but what's going to happen this weekend. I mean, Inter could win and Napoli could lose. I think that's highly unlikely that both of those things happen.
00:44:03
Speaker
But we're going to be here in three weeks and we're going be talking about who who ultimately wins a Scudetto. Um, but let's kick it off from Napoli. Now there's a little bit of a gap here. There's the battle the Scudetto between enter Napoli and one and two.
00:44:15
Speaker
Then we have third place Atlanta who were very much in this race for a really long time and ultimately have fallen out of it. They're on 68 points. Um, how many points back there?
00:44:26
Speaker
ah Six points from enter. Yeah. So there's six point Greg there's no, there's no realistic way where they make up getting into first spot. More than likely, they're not going to drop to four. We would think they're five points.
00:44:41
Speaker
They're five points clear of four. So they should be good there. um So i don't I don't want to overly talk about Atalanta because it's the the season's kind of said and done. I think it's going to be more of a discussion of what the summer is going to look like for them.
00:44:55
Speaker
ah But for me...
00:44:58
Speaker
disappointed. i I think if there was a year for them to have won it, it was this year.
Atalanta, Juventus, and Roma's League Aspirations
00:45:05
Speaker
And I think this is ultimately going to be the downfall of Gasparini. And I think Gasparini is the reason they got to this position and were able to win, could have won it this year.
00:45:14
Speaker
But he's also the reason that they're not going to do that. He has said a lot of bad things this year and really ruined the good vibe that they did have going. He's called out his best player and Adamalookman a model look man ah bunch of times.
00:45:27
Speaker
He said some outlandish things about the club. Outlandish in my opinion, like Matsu had said here. He's saying that finishing in a Champions League spot is like one of his greatest achievements with this team, which I adamantly disagree with.
00:45:39
Speaker
I think this is a team that could have competed with anybody in Champions League. I think this is Scudetto in a team. He also made it to the semifinals at Atlanta not so long ago. so like that and a far war I think a far worse squad too. I mean, I think this is the best squad Gasperini's ever had.
00:45:57
Speaker
um And again, just to wrap on them for me, I would like to see them cut Gasperini in the summer. I think the cycle's over. i think he's burned too many bridges in terms of the roster that they do have.
00:46:10
Speaker
And for me, it's a very scary time for Atlanta because If they do move on from Gasparini, it becomes a question of who is staying and it could be a mass exodus. It could be everybody does stay.
00:46:24
Speaker
And then if they add a couple more pieces, they could be right back up here next year. i i think that's highly unlikely because I think a lot of these players did come to play for Gasparini. I think Bellinova is probably the best example of that.
00:46:35
Speaker
ah He was somebody that pretty much could have gone to any club he wanted. And I guess he ultimately picked Atalanta. Um, So they're going one of them going to monitoring in the summer. um But i don't I don't really have much more to say about them at this point.
00:46:48
Speaker
Third place is pretty much they've got it. yeah I think that, like I said, it's a debacle if they fall out of third and don't get a Champions League spot. I just totally disagree with Gasparini saying this is his best achievement.
00:47:00
Speaker
But I do think that they, in my opinion, I thought that they weren't going to finish in a Champions League spot. thought the Coupe Miners was going to be too, ah was a big hole of him leaving.
00:47:11
Speaker
Scamaca and Scalvini both. missing half the season or turns out to be the full season. So I think that they overachieved little bit in my eyes, but I do think that it's going to be very scary in the summer because Luckman seems like he wants to leave Gasparini.
00:47:25
Speaker
Everything that he's saying in the media, just like you said, hints to him leaving. Although I don't know where he would really go right now. um So it's going to interesting to see. But yeah, I think they probably have three locked up.
00:47:37
Speaker
However, we've seen crazier things happen. and Especially from that. Yeah, I would love if they fall out um and they lose every game. But I don't necessarily see that happening. But we will see what happens. But you're right. The summer can be scary for them.
00:47:52
Speaker
Yeah, just so and to wrap on the summer being scary, we already have Ederson linked away. um Rategi is inevitably going to have suitors coming to get him. Luckman is... I would be shocked if Luckman is on this team next year, no matter what happens.
00:48:06
Speaker
um And then you probably go through the team and other people are going ah attempt to poach them. Full for stop. um So it's going to be scary. But that gets us out of 1-2-3. 1-2-3 is its own deal. Now we have an insane, insane battle for European spots. And that's 4-5-6. 4 is Champions League. 5 Europa League. 6 Conference League.
00:48:30
Speaker
Little snafu in there have to mention. If you win the Copa Italia, you automatically qualify qualify for the Europa League. If you have already qualified for the Europa League, then an additional spot is added for the Europa League. So two teams would be in the Europa League and one team would be in the Conference League. And ultimately, seventh place gets you Conference League, sixth place gets you Europa League.
00:48:54
Speaker
So that is something we have to keep in mind because the two teams in the Copa Italia final are Milan and Bologna, and there's a realistic chance that Bologna finish in Europa League spot and also win the Coppa Italia, which would then add another spot.
00:49:09
Speaker
But I think for this discussion, let's just assume four, five, and six are the only spots available. It's actually an insane race. Yeah, it's an insane race. This is why we love the Serie A. There there is one point separating four to six, and then there's four points separating ah four to seven. So it's anybody's race, really, between...
00:49:35
Speaker
um Or no, I lied. There's four teams with one point. cause And then there's five teams with four points. um It's really anybody's race. There's teams, obviously, that are much hotter than others within the within this one point.
00:49:48
Speaker
But they are it it also seems like, it not seems like it is, For the most part, these teams are all playing each other right at the end of the season. So these games X matter. They're high stakes games. And then also a lot of these teams are playing teams that are also not only fighting for the Champions League spots, just like I said, they're playing each other.
00:50:10
Speaker
They're facing relegation teams, which we all know when you place a team that's fighting for relegation, they have a lot to play for and they're going extra hard and they're extra locked in. So...
00:50:21
Speaker
There's a lot at stake in these games. These final three match days, match weeks are going to be very crazy. Yeah, just so before we get it, we're going to talk team by team. I think that's the best way of doing this, Mats.
00:50:33
Speaker
But just to bring you through in fourth place, Juve on 63 points. Fifth place, somehow, Roma tied with Juve, 63 points. I don't know how it happened. Unbeaten since, like, December.
00:50:47
Speaker
Lazio in sixth, tied with Juve and Roma on 63, ahead of Roma. Or no, behind because it's head-to-head, right? It's not goal differential for here?
00:50:58
Speaker
So no, right now it's gold differential, but if they end on even points, it goes to head to head. So Lazio are tied with those two. Bologna are then in seventh on 62 points. So one point behind.
00:51:13
Speaker
And then Fiorentina in eighth on 59 points, four points behind Juve, Roma, Lazio. And then we're going to throw them into this because of who they are playing.
00:51:25
Speaker
Milan on 57 points. So realistically, six points off of a spot. But notably, they're playing Bologna and a Roma who are both above them. So at... real chance of actually breaking into this. Although we would say they are probably the worst of these teams. They are, I think definitely the worst of all the teams that we're talking about right now.
00:51:45
Speaker
But with that being said, let's start with Juve, Mats. These are your love. We saw them in Italy. we went to the Alps. We went to Turin. We had some bra and we watched them. You Yeah, this is, i mean, Juventus have their destiny in their hands. Granted, they are tied um with Roma and Lazio. However, they're playing Lazio this week. So if they win, they kind of can knock Lazio down.
00:52:11
Speaker
And then it's just Roma that they have to deal with. And they obviously aren't playing them. Yeah. But then if they can just take care of business against Udinese, which I think will be tough, however, they are home. And then Venezia, they'll qualify. Add Venezia.
00:52:26
Speaker
Add Venezia. It's a very tall task for a team that since Tudor's appointment has not scored a goal in the second half. However, I do think and I think you agree they have looked much better under him.
00:52:38
Speaker
But then we saw against Bologna. They were once again very kind of look like Tiago Mata attack very sterile. The goal that they scored was a clear goalkeeping error. Bologna deserved to win that game.
00:52:50
Speaker
um And we have to mention this. I'm not trying to play the Juventus victim card. I don't think I mentioned it once this season. But their injuries have just stacked up. Cambiasso.
00:53:02
Speaker
Oh, my God. He's going to be out for the game. I'm just saying that you have to mention the amount of injuries. Did you see their lineup on their bench against Bologna? I'm not making an excuse. Yes, they've had a deep – the bench has been an issue, but I would say starting 11-wise, they've had pretty much everybody outside of Browner.
00:53:21
Speaker
um Coop Miners is injured right now. Vlaovic is injured right now. Cambiasa is not injured. I mean, we have a ton of injuries. Yes, you do have a ton of injuries. We played, Gatti's injured right now. We don't have a set. That is true. No, that's true. That's true.
00:53:35
Speaker
Gatti was phenomenal before. We're not using it as an excuse. I'm saying like that's going to make it this so much more tough for Juventus. And Juventus need to qualify for the Champions League because if they don't, it can be selling yield is.
00:53:51
Speaker
Doosan's obviously gone, but then DiGiorgio might be gone because you can get a profit for him. they' so they'd they'd have to have They'd have to sacrifice players, and then they're not going to be able to bring in these names that they're linked with.
00:54:05
Speaker
So it's do or die for Juventus. And the way that they have been playing, even with Tudor's appointment, It's looking like they're going to drop points and trend out of the top four.
00:54:17
Speaker
And I'll be very upset and very, and very upset. But I'm being realistic. And that's what I think is going to end up unfortunately happening. Although they have the Juventus DNA and they know um Tudor has that and he knows what it takes. These players, they are and when it comes to big moments all season besides the Leipzig game, they have shrunk in the big moments. They've been afraid of it.
00:54:41
Speaker
And i i don't I don't see anything that tells me it's going to change this time around. um So, yeah, we'll see what happens. But I think i think the Lazio game is, as I don't think, I know.
00:54:53
Speaker
The Lazio game is the biggest game. If we tie that game, we're done. If we win that game, we have a chance. Pending on that result is going to determine where Juventus finish.
00:55:06
Speaker
I mean, what I will say is, of all these teams, they have arguably the easiest schedule, I would say, which works in their favor. So I think if you drop three points, the last year, you're dead. Definitely. That's it. Like, you cannot lose that game. didn't even think your it's I think a tie might get you there, though.
00:55:27
Speaker
I don't think If you win the other two. You're talking her about Roma's tie on the same points. They have not lost a game since December. know, Roma have three very difficult games. Dude, I don't think so. I think Torino, they get done at home.
00:55:41
Speaker
i don't Milan have nothing to play for at that point in the season. It's after the Coppa Italia. They're not getting a Champions League spot. If they win the Coppa, they've already qualified for your your the Europa League spot.
00:55:55
Speaker
So they could just be like, let's put the kids out there. And even if they if they put their guns out there, in Rome, with the way that they've been playing, i back Rome every time. And even Bergamo, they haven't lost. Not only haven't they lost, they barely concede goals.
00:56:11
Speaker
yeah They just have a great defense. And so I was sometimes i backed Roma to get minimum, minimum seven points there. yeah Seven points minimum. that's true That's true. So then you so you have to go get all nine if you're Juventus because I don't know we have to do a little bit more research on how they who has the head-to-head if it's tied at 70.
00:56:31
Speaker
So if Roma's going to get minimum seven, you have to get all nine to to take the spot. So it's it's goingnna it's going to be crazy. And I think that um I don't want to jump around here, but I think Lazio have the toughest road with Juve and then Inter back to back there.
00:56:53
Speaker
So it's going to be tough for Lazio to get in that fourth spot because of But if they get the three points against Juve, then they can... Inter might also be wrestling with the Champions League. So there's so many parts, moving parts to this last three games that can play a factor in this that can help or hurt some teams that really are all dying for the Champions League spot.
00:57:17
Speaker
So then question for you here. Because I don't think we need to look at this as like what's successful season for Juve. um We know that they need to finish in fourth. They need to finish in fourth for the implications of who they may lose.
00:57:30
Speaker
This is something that I haven't thought about until literally we were just talking. Is this team overachieving? Like, when you look at what they spent, it's like, oh my god, they spent all this money.
00:57:41
Speaker
But are those players good enough to wear this shirt and, like, where they're at now? Could they have gone any further than this? Like, were they good enough to finish above four?
00:57:53
Speaker
I don't mean know. Because when you look at it, for me, the only two players... that seem to have the quality to be in a Scudetto winning team that they signed this year?
00:58:06
Speaker
Kefra and and Renato Vega, they didn't even sign. They're not even signed. Kalulu. Kalulu. Kalulu can be in a Scudetto winning team for sure. Even then, I i love Kalulu.
00:58:21
Speaker
But Kalulu should not be a starter in a Scudetto winning team. i don't I disagree. He's very, very good. He's been one before on a team that let, what, 10 goals in in the second half of the season.
00:58:32
Speaker
um I think those two are the only players that have had consistently good season. And I think that they're underachieving no matter what, especially with the money they spent, right? They just bought Douglas Luiz for $50 million, who...
00:58:45
Speaker
who didn't miss a game and now can't stay healthy who's commenting on Instagram about that so I also think that Juventus medical staff should be investigated because if you come to Juve you get injured like it just I have been saying this for a long time that they do a terrible job getting people into shape The quintessential example of this is Weston McKinney.
00:59:08
Speaker
Weston McKinney should it be a brick shithouse at this point, and he's, I don't even know. He's fat. He's overweight playing soccer, running around. But so um you signed Douglas Louise. You signed Coop Miners, who had an amazing season last year.
00:59:23
Speaker
um who else did you get? i mean, Quantico Ball got injured. There's more people can't think Quantico Sao. Conceição on the loan. Nico Gonzalez is kind of a question mark.
00:59:34
Speaker
But so like Nico Gonzalez has been there. He's been in the league. I don't love him. I don't love the signing, but it doesn't matter. You spent 130, 140 mil. And last year you had 71 points. And so you've now spent on that. and now you're 63.
00:59:53
Speaker
So no, they're not overachieving. They're definitely underachieving. I don't think that they should have been competing for the Scudetto at all. But yeah, Once again, there was a point in time when Juventus was four were points off of number off the first place and they just kept drawing and they didn't go grab the grab the game by the balls or grab the league by the balls like any other team did.
01:00:15
Speaker
So these guys are ah by all means underachieving. um They're all injured. They... They all are afraid of the moment. None of them care for the badge besides like Yildiz, Tef, Taram, Kalulu, who's still a on loan and Di Gregorio's had a good year.
01:00:32
Speaker
So there they they need to take a step back and really think about what they need to do moving forward in in order to get that off on the right foot.
01:00:43
Speaker
They need top four. need, need. need
01:00:48
Speaker
Yeah, I agree. And I do think what they've missed, and and i what I would probably say this comes back to is Juntali, is they lost that DNA, that phenolafine. They sold anybody they wanted. Yeah, and they didn't replace think it's...
01:01:05
Speaker
i think it's This is what we said with Conte. like The psychological side of the game means something. And they lost that psychological edge that Juve had for the last 15, 20 years.
01:01:21
Speaker
And I i think to to what we've seen, two doors a step in the right direction. He very clearly has a mentality that he's trying to get across. And I think a great a great example is that we talked about it when we at the Juve game.
01:01:35
Speaker
When they were warming up, he was fully observing what every single player was doing in warm-ups. And what he comes out and says in the press conferences, completely different from what we saw from Thiago Mata.
01:01:49
Speaker
And it's starting to be in the right direction. We see Chiellini now getting more and more involved. He's at every game now talking with the board members. Um, they need to build on that and that's going to set them in the right direction because I do agree with you. i think the quality is there, but they need the guys that can get people motivated to get it done in the easy games, right? Or even the big games. They don't even get it done right now.
01:02:14
Speaker
Um, But it's crazy to because like I feel like next year like they're kind of right in it again if they if they keep everybody and add a striker.
01:02:24
Speaker
Who's to say they can't win the league? There was a, Dybala just came out with an interview that when people came to to ah the Allianz Stadium in Turin, when they were in the tunnel before they walked out, you could hear people saying, we know we're going to lose. We just hope we don't lose by that much.
01:02:41
Speaker
Not, obviously that wasn't like Champions League. Those were lower level teams, lower, lower Serie A teams that they just knew that they were going to lose. it now you come to the Allianz, We can go win or maybe maybe we can't go win.
01:02:53
Speaker
We can tie and get somebody to get a red card and get under their skin to show that we can compete just like Manza did. um So it's a total different mindset when you go into Turin and just play Juventus now than it was seven, 10 years ago. And it's because of that leadership, like you said.
01:03:09
Speaker
And because of that, I think, I think that's the reason why they do not get it done. And then the team below them that has their identity, has the leader, has a style of play, ah and can read the game and make the salt, small, simple changes when needed.
01:03:25
Speaker
and Ranieri and Roma are going to get it done even though they do have somewhat of a tougher schedule um I think they will finish in that fourth spot and they will finish the season they will finish 2025 hopefully I don't jinx them unbeaten since December 18th and and qualify for the Champions League and I think Talked a little bit earlier about Kante and his greatest achievement possibly.
01:03:53
Speaker
Is this better than Ranieri winning with Leicester? They were four points off relegation. No, it is not better. but And it's not better for one reason.
01:04:05
Speaker
We all had Roma finishing top four, I think, at the beginning of the season. Because we knew what they could be. And Ranieri has brought that to light. I think I probably agree with you. i think they blow the doors off of Milan.
01:04:21
Speaker
Atalanta is going to be tricky because I'm not sure how motivated that team is going to be to go get it done. Torino, i think they'll beat. Although in the summer, I'm going to talk about Torino a lot because I'm really excited about them for next year. I am. like I've literally been thinking about Torino nonstop.
01:04:37
Speaker
Yeah. But Roma are the best team in the league right now, like which is insane to say. like They are the best team in the league. If the season had started in December, they would have won the league. This is what we thought they were. i think the crazy part about this is the players that are in the starting 11 are not the players that we would have anticipated being their best lineup.
01:04:58
Speaker
And now they are. i i would agree with you. I think this is the team most likely to finish four. I think this is team I would like to see finish for because if they get Champions League, I think they can do a little bit more recruiting in the summer. And then this is a very scary team come next season.
01:05:15
Speaker
If they hire the right manager, which they've proven to not do correctly in the past. Um, And yeah, Claudio Ranieri deserves um all of the credit. i don't I don't even give credit to anybody else.
01:05:28
Speaker
I think another thing that I've talked about a couple times before, and I think has even come more to light over the last three to four weeks, is the players that they have, Ranieri has developed into being starters now.
01:05:42
Speaker
is going to pay dividends for the next five to seven years probably. And that was accelerated when I said last three to four weeks by the Dybala injury. This is the best football Sule has ever played, and he is the best player on the pitch when he's out there.
01:05:56
Speaker
He has been instrumental in winning all the games they've won over the last three to four weeks. he is He understands more of what he needs to do. Like when you watched him at the beginning of the season, he would get the ball on the wing. He would get the ball slightly inside. And it was like crazy. Just be direct. Try to get things done. He lost the ball a lot.
01:06:15
Speaker
He looks more like Dybala now to me. He's coming inside and receiving the ball to link up play. He doesn't need to win the game on every time he touches the ball. He's just understanding it more. And I think that goes to Ranieri putting players in the right position and also having the balls to bench players like Pellegrini and Cristante.
01:06:32
Speaker
Granted, they've come back in the team more over the last couple of weeks. Um, but in my mind, both of them are not good enough to start for this team come next season. I think it's a, it's a drop off when they do play. Um,
01:06:44
Speaker
and they're really fucking good. I think Sule has shown improvement for sure and looks much better and the beginning in this part of the season, in the business and in the beginning.
01:06:54
Speaker
But I think there are three players that Roma have had and play every single game and that... that that pull the strings and keep them in every game, win them the games, and that those three players, I'll start from the back, their goalie, Sfilar, nasty, amazing.
01:07:13
Speaker
Indica doesn't miss a single game or a minute. And then Kone, those three players solidify them. They allow them to be in every single game. And then with They get a goal from somebody. They get a goal from Dovbeck. They get a goal from Shamaradov. They get a goal from Sule.
01:07:28
Speaker
They get a goal somehow, some way. um But those three guys, keep them keep them in the game. They're their heartbeat. They are very, very solid. And... um Having a goalie being able to win you games is going to be a great thing come the business end of the season because just like you said, you need a goalie to go win you some games and there's always a chance at the end of the game that that that desperate team has.
01:07:52
Speaker
Filar's been the guy to to put all of those away and not let one in the net. I think he's the goalie of the season. I think i just very strong i do i think Indiga has a shout for for defender of the season and Kone is in 100 million percent in my team this season in the midfield.
01:08:10
Speaker
um I think in those three guys, have they played every game. They've been in every game and they haven't been unbeaten since. That's true, but ah what I will say about Svilar is I think he made some big mistakes this year that he is never going to make again.
01:08:26
Speaker
And I think after this season, we can talk about him as maybe goalie the season. I'm not going to say that yet. I think De Gea has been... no i think jahaya deia has been lights out like he he has stolen games for Fiorentina all season um and Svilor has lost some games for Roma this season yeah but most notably the the Napoli result was because of his 80 yeah but that was pre-run area that doesn't count it does count to his and good all season um but yeah I think building onto to next year I I think you'd hit the nail on the head um
01:09:03
Speaker
And Dekio, I've been talking about, I mean, I've i've been saying you should be team the season for for a really long time now. He's been, the all i would say the only guy, because he was he was in the lineup even before Kone was playing. yeah He has been the one bright spot the entire season.
01:09:16
Speaker
um Yeah, i mean I think regardless of what happens this year, i think they'll be disappointed if they don't get any European spot. I think that's highly unlikely. They're going to finish 4-5-6, and think...
01:09:28
Speaker
and i think They'll be okay with either one. Champions League is obviously, like now that they're here, they're they they should get it. They're the best team here. But if they don't, I don't think it's the end of the world.
01:09:40
Speaker
What I'm looking at is, again, towards next season, I think we're going to see a much better Dovbic next year. And we kind of what you pointed out, Dovbic has gotten it done. Like when they need somebody to score a goal, he's popped up.
01:09:51
Speaker
But I definitely don't think we've seen the best of him. i'm kind of going and Yeah, exactly. Now going into next year, we talked we talked about this with so many players. You need to give guys a year.
01:10:02
Speaker
um He's going to have a year under his belt, a very difficult year that turned into a positive year. Which sets him up for success next year. And if you have a dangerous Dovbeck, then now your spine of your team is Filar, Indica, Kone, Dovbeck.
01:10:15
Speaker
I mean, who are that's that is ah very dangerous team. And for me, yeah, like you said, these guys should finish four. They're the best team of the four here, four or five here.
01:10:27
Speaker
And they have a hard schedule, but it shouldn't matter because they're they're the best. Let's flip it over now to their their inner city rival. One more thing I do want to say, and this will be a good transition.
01:10:38
Speaker
I said, i think I want to, I got to go back and listen. and You said this a long time ago. Maybe 20, 21, even when Roma was way down there, Roma are going to finish higher than Lazio.
01:10:50
Speaker
They're officially above them in the table. They have slightly easier schedule than Lazio. They are in spitting distance to get this done, to get what I call done. And I really hope that they do.
01:11:04
Speaker
And so to transition to Lazio, they have what I mentioned earlier as the toughest schedule. twenty one it's It's looking good. You've come to them and then they go to Inter and then they play Lecce at home.
01:11:19
Speaker
Um, But listen, even though Juventus are going to them and they are struggling, Tudor knows Lazio. Juventus have the DNA.
01:11:31
Speaker
Can Lazio get it done? You've been hot on Lazio all year, so what are your thoughts? I think Lazio are are better than Juventus. I think they have less quality. I think they have a better coach.
01:11:43
Speaker
I think they care more about every game they play in, and we've seen that all season. And since they since they got Tati Castellanos back, they're a different team again. I mean, that has been the single most important player to this team the entire season.
01:11:57
Speaker
When he doesn't play, they're not very good. When he does play... They are like a top five team. And I don't see way Juventus beat them at the end of the day.
01:12:09
Speaker
They aren't going to beat them. they Lazio is very good at getting draws. They play a very difficult 4-4-2 to break down. and they counterattack well, they possess the ball well.
01:12:20
Speaker
I think their midfield is better than Juventus is. I think Tati Castellanos has been just as good as Colomani the entire, like you can say like Colomani is a better player than Tati Castellanos. Probably.
01:12:31
Speaker
Yeah. But Castellanos has been exceptional all year. Um, I think Zikani and Isiksen are better than any winger that Juve have thrown out there all season. Like, again, we could say Yildiz's ceiling is better. Nico Gonzalez is, like, historically better.
01:12:46
Speaker
But those two guys have been lights out. um And then the defense has just been much better than everybody expected. So I think, again at worst, this game for Lazio is a draw. The intergame is going to be tough for them and then I see them beating the piss out of Lecce at home end the season.
01:13:02
Speaker
So I think they get...
01:13:05
Speaker
ah i it's hard to say how many points they get because I don't know how many points they need to get in Europa League, but I see them i see them in five, honestly. i see I see them getting five points max out of these two games.
01:13:21
Speaker
um I think the best-case scenario against the Mendes is a draw, best-case scenario against Inter is a draw, and then best-case scenario is win against Lecce. That's five points, 68. Yeah. um So I think that I don't know where that lands them, um but I think that that's where they finish is 68 and five points.
01:13:42
Speaker
And I think whether they finish in Champions League spot, whether they finish Europa Conference League, I think for my eyes, for Lazio, they can view it as a successful season because...
01:13:55
Speaker
They lost all their pillars. Everybody was like, they're not doing anything. And somehow they've been in this race the entire time. They very well could finish in in top four.
01:14:06
Speaker
um And that would be a huge accomplishment from for them for how many players they lost. And last year, they finished seventh in 61, right? So they already have more points than last year with all those players leaving and what we didn't know what they were going to be.
01:14:21
Speaker
And if they finish in seventh and they have a conference league again, um they can, or they were in the Europa League this year, actually. If they have conference league, they have a at least a European competition and they can ah kind of hold their hat on that.
01:14:34
Speaker
Yeah, I agree 100%. I don't really have much more to add there.
Bologna's Rise and Top Club Strategies
01:14:37
Speaker
So we can kick it on to seventh place, Bologna. They're one point off of Juve, Roma, and Lazio. um They played Milan on Friday, which is fucking nuts. So they played Milan on Friday.
01:14:47
Speaker
Then on Wednesday, they play the Coppa Italia final. Then they go to Fiorentina, and then they host Geno at home. Really hard schedule. Very, very, very hard. Here's what what what I want to talk about with Bologna, and let's get your opinion on it.
01:15:02
Speaker
Bologna have had and incredible season, obviously. um I believe they're going to have finished with more points than they did last year. They're projected to 68 points last year on 62. So right in the middle there.
01:15:15
Speaker
But ah the players have came out, said how much how much they prefer Italiano to Mata. They're in the Copa Italia final on the verge of something they've never they haven't done in i don't know how many years.
01:15:27
Speaker
with Champions League right in their grasp as well. But my question to you is, if they do not finish in a Champions League spot and they do not win the Coppa Italia, can we view this as a successful season for Bologna?
01:15:42
Speaker
I would say yes. And I say that because when you look at the season as a whole for Bologna, they started pretty poorly. they were now I wouldn't say Bologna were ever bad, but they were kind of...
01:15:56
Speaker
The worst part of Italiano is Fiorentina at the beginning of the season. lot of possession, very few goals. And over the course of the season, they have gotten better and better and better and better.
01:16:08
Speaker
And arguably now they play the best football in the league. They are one of the hardest teams to play. I don't think anybody wants to play Bologna. I don't think you feel like you're going to win when you play Bologna. um So for me, the progress has been enough on on ah on a and i met from a manager a manager perspective in Italiano.
01:16:25
Speaker
The players are clearly liking what they're seeing. And I think to hold the bar to what happened last year was never realistic. I think it was all it was always a goal to recreate and next recreate last year.
01:16:37
Speaker
Granted, there was five European spots for Champions League last year, which is not the case this year. If they finish four or five, I think you're happy with that. If you finish 6 or 7, think it's also okay.
01:16:51
Speaker
This is a very dangerous team, and I would be very surprised if anybody, Apollonia, is going to classify this as a failure if they don't make a Champions League spot. And I think getting to the Copa Italia final on its own is is a major achievement for for this club. like managing three They managed three competitions this year for a team.
01:17:10
Speaker
that That's pretty hard. And they they they didn't make the knockouts, but they they were close in the Champions League. like They started really bad, like I said. But things have gotten better for me. No matter what happens now, it's been a successful season. You're in a Copa Italia final.
01:17:25
Speaker
You're competing for a European spot. You cannot ask much more of this. um And it's another one, depending on what happens in the summer, it's they could be very dangerous next year. If they keep everybody, they're going to be better.
01:17:37
Speaker
And if they add anybody, they're going to be really, really scary. um And that makes me think of something I i forgot to kind of bring up. And I want to talk to you about this. And ideally, Lokes, if he was here. Do we need to rethink what is a successful season yet for for every club?
01:17:54
Speaker
Because top four used to be realistically like five teams that were 100% like you should finish top four. and now we're in the point where Milan's in ninth.
01:18:08
Speaker
and everybody above them kind of deserves to be top four, depending on what happens. Like, do we have to shift what we think is success? Like for you, they... don't think you can. Because it's hard for those three teams, it is tough. It's tough, but you have to you have to do it. For Juventus, Inter, and Milan, the Champions League or Bust, just because of the money it brings into the clubs and the players you can attract.
01:18:32
Speaker
But a team like Bologna, whether they win the Copa Italia or not, this is a successful season for them. They got picked apart in summer and no one expected them to be there. I think me and you had them kind of still being what they are now because they have good players and they just formed a very strong team and they play like a team.
01:18:52
Speaker
But no one expected them to to be in the same position when they lost their striker and Zerg, say the the their best defender in California and their manager, right? And they're here now. The one thing I'll say about them, and not really about Bologna, it's more about Italiano, is if they don't win the Copa, this is just kind of what Italiano does. Like, doesn't win trophies and gets you in seventh place. Like, he did that with Fiorentina for three or four years until they were like, all right, it's time for a new new person.
01:19:20
Speaker
So that's the one thing where I'd be a little skeptical of, but I think the style of play, the the way in which they played this year, they have things to build on if they can keep their squad together. Because I think it's going to be, it's got to like, someone has to go get Lukumin or Selene. Like, someone has to go buy those. Those guys are so good. And in Doi, like... Yeah, and Doran as well. Correct. And and then you have Castro as well, who, young player, I think he needs to prove himself one more year, but could be gone in the summer if someone wants to take a bargain. So um they have a great team. It's just Italiano kind of this is what he is, this is what he does um in terms of like seventh and no trophies.
01:19:59
Speaker
And then I know that was a two two-part answer, but for but the big teams, you can't rethink it just because of the players you want to attract. who you want to compete with in terms of the brand name, like Inter, Juve, Milan.
01:20:12
Speaker
ah You want to be able to buy the or get the same players that a Man United, Real Madrid, Barcelona, a City can attract. Maybe it's tougher to compete, but if you don't if you don't shoot for one, two every year, then you're not going to get they're gonna fall behind.
01:20:30
Speaker
Yeah, I agree. And I think ultimately this year was always for Italiano, it would have to go very wrong for him to get fired. And I think next year is going to be more, we need to see a step forward. And we've seen the step forward this year.
01:20:43
Speaker
It just hasn't turned into the league table yet because of, and there was a long run, Mike, like I said, but yeah, I agree with you. It's been a great season for them. um Moving it on eighth place. We got Fiorentina on 59 points, three back from Bologna. So a little bit outside looking in.
01:20:57
Speaker
They've got Venezia, then Bologna, then Udinese. I would say at Venezia, at home against Bologna, at home against Udinese is not the easiest. Also, they have the Conference League, Real Betis, which they're down 2-1 on think you're right now.
01:21:12
Speaker
So for me, this is...
01:21:16
Speaker
I don't think they're going to move from the spot, personally. I think this is where they're going to end. um But for them, i would again I would say successful season because of what the Brights... The best version of Fiorentina we've seen this year is probably as good as Bologna has been this year.
01:21:32
Speaker
They were very electric at different points. They were another one that were very much plagued by injury for a long time, um most notably in Gudvinson. Colpani never really got going this year. um lot of lot of different things like that. Granted, they had ah they had an over-performing Moise Keane.
01:21:48
Speaker
But I think Paolo Dino, of all the managers here, is the most immature. And we saw that this year. And kind of what we've seen out of this team, and I realized it over the course of this last weekend, is teams like Roma, teams like Lazio have had a way of getting it done when they play poorly.
01:22:05
Speaker
Fiorentina aren't there yet. they They either win comfortably or they really struggle in games. um And that has to do with the kind of a younger squad, younger manager.
01:22:16
Speaker
And I think that's... that why they're going to stay right here where they are because they haven't pulled off those surprise results enough or when you play bad getting results. And I think they ultimately deserve to be in this eighth spot. And again, is it as successful season as Italiano last year winning the conference league?
01:22:35
Speaker
No, they didn't win. They they lost in the final. I think I agree with your points in terms of like, and like this is a big step for Paladino, the step that I think was justified.
01:22:48
Speaker
Young team with Fiorentina. Gudmundsen didn't do much in terms of just because he was injured. and Same with Kopani. But they played good football. They played great football. Yeah.
01:22:59
Speaker
they they've had just the same amount of points as last year as well so they're probably gonna finish higher in points playing better football um i don't know if the fiorentina fans will be thrilled with this because they've been in the conference every year and they might not be this year but this is definitely a building block for them and they're just gonna have to try to keep boise keen because keen goes then it's like that's a lot of goals they have to replace um But I think this is a very, very good building block for Palladino.
01:23:26
Speaker
You've seen the highs of Fiorentina and what they can be. um And you've seen the lows in their inconsistency, right? So if they had a more experienced team, I think theyre they are right in this 62, 63 spot, which is only four points but back. So they're still technically in it, but I totally agree with you. I don't see them making a jump into four, five, or six.
AC Milan's Struggles and Final Predictions
01:23:50
Speaker
Yeah, and that ultimately brings us into nine ah with AC Milan. 57 points. They're five points off of Bologna in that in that conference league spot. um Six points off of the lead.
01:24:01
Speaker
They've got Bologna at home. Then they go to Roma, and then they play Monza. In the middle of that, they also play the Coppa Italia final, which is next week. um Terrible season for them. And I think they they're they're bad.
01:24:12
Speaker
i think they're very bad. but you So you think this isn't... If they win the Copa and they have two trophies because they finish in ninth unsuccessful season... Yes. the And I base that off of the football that we've seen.
01:24:25
Speaker
It has been abysmal time and time again. They beat Inter in the Copa Italia semifinal, and I think that was more Inter not showing up than them playing well. when we When we watched that game, they won 3-0, and the first thing I said when we left was i I don't think they played all that well. I think Inter just played very poorly.
01:24:41
Speaker
Yeah. In games that they've gotten results this year, they've played bad and somehow won. That has been the story of the last two months. They go down 2-0 and then somehow win 3-2 or tie it two to two I have nothing good to say about this team. we were in Italy and we watched them play Atalanta, I said they are actually garbage. i I have nothing positive to say about them, and I think they deserve to be in this place.
01:25:05
Speaker
I think they are the worst of all these teams by a pretty substantial margin. um And yeah, I mean, this it's the same thing. we Every week we've come on here and we've talked about Milan the same exact way under Fonseca, under Contra Sao, and nothing has changed and we're 35 games in and we're still in the same place.
01:25:25
Speaker
Yeah, i would and I would agree it's unsuccessful only because they're also in ninth. A team like Milan who kind of, they kind of hold, think like they they they've won the Champions League before they won their last Coppa Italia. Like they don't hang their hat on the Coppa Italia and they only have one star, right? They're still searching for their 20th Scudetto.
01:25:48
Speaker
They don't hang their hat on the winning the Serie A. They kind of, for the last 20 years, have hung their hat on, we're good in Europe. that's That's our competition.
01:25:58
Speaker
We have the most Champions League trophies in the league. That's where we hang our hat on. I don't think necessarily they needed to finish in top four if they get two trophies to find it a successful season.
01:26:09
Speaker
But I think how they're in ninth, even if they get the two trophies, you can't look at it as a success. I think if they were in this top four race, um like these other teams are, and it doesn't go their way in the last three games, but they win that Copa, you can look at that as a so so successful season for Milan.
01:26:28
Speaker
But them being in ninth, unacceptable for a team like Milan with the players they have, and now they're going to have The same situation that possibly Juventus might have where they're not going to be able to attract players.
01:26:39
Speaker
Can they keep a guy like Reinders? Can they keep a guy like Tio and Liao? Although, do they want to because their inconsistency? Can they keep a guy like Mignon? um So I know we've had ups and downs with them, but those are still players that are big names that want to play Champions League. That's going to be tough to keep with you not in a Champions League spot.
01:27:00
Speaker
Yeah, definitely. And just to wrap on these, um what do you think it ends up as? Talking through these teams, what do you think 4 to 9 looks like here? I think we both agree. Do you think Milan are 9 and Fioranti are 8?
01:27:12
Speaker
ah Yes. So 4, 5, 6, 7. We started with 9 to 8, so then let's go 7. Lazio. but then let's go seven yeah lato
01:27:27
Speaker
I think Bologna beat Milan, Fiorentina, and Genoa, so they get nine points.
01:27:35
Speaker
I think Roma are going to drop. I'm going to go Oh, but oh my God. At what, seven? I think Juve fall to seven. Oh, you're plugging.
01:27:48
Speaker
Okay, I have Lazio. You have Juve. Six.
01:27:53
Speaker
I have Bologna. I have Lazio. Yeah. Okay. Five. Five. Bologna.
01:28:03
Speaker
Roma. You're leaving Juve four. and that i have to. them ah I'm a Juventini, baby. and that puts some So you have Roma five, Juve four. I have Roma four then.
01:28:15
Speaker
Yeah.
01:28:17
Speaker
All right. italyll so In both scenarios, Roma finishes above Lazio, which I called 20 weeks ago. Yeah, you did. No, you nailed it. You're right. You're right. um Quickly, but break we got to talk about the rest of this really quick. Just going to run through it. um Notable mentions, Como, Serino, Udinese, Genoa, 10 to 13. I think they've all had solid seasons.
01:28:39
Speaker
Good things to point to. Udinese, I think, is kind of fake news. I'm not i'm not a huge fan of them. um But Genoa have been great under Patty Cakes, Patrick Vieira, Como, we've talked about enough this season. Torino, I'm going to keep talking about it You're going to be sick of hearing about how much I like Torino coming into the next season.
01:28:56
Speaker
So quick shout out to them. um And just to talk about the relegation battle really quickly, Monza has officially been relegated. Empoli is in 19th on 25 points. Venezia in 18th 26 points. So they're in the relegation spots right now.
01:29:11
Speaker
Just outside, we have Leche on 27 points and then kind of a little bit further away, six points clear. Our Parma, Hellas, Verona, and then my beloved Cagliari are seven points clear.
01:29:22
Speaker
So interesting stuff down there. A lot to play for. A lot of hard games coming up for all of those teams. um But yeah, that that brings us through the table. we got we got We got through a lot today, Mots. We did also last last thing to make be aware of another team got promoted to Syria Pisa, which is very close to the leaning tower of Pisa.
01:29:41
Speaker
The stadium is at least. um ah So that's cool. So we got Sassuolo and Pisa so far that are coming up promoted. Congrats to both of them. ah They'll be in a very tight race with whoever's at the bottom of the table ah next year. Although Sassuolo might be able to finish mid table. We'll see what happens. But last up is going to be the last
Relegation Battle and Podcast Wrap-up
01:30:00
Speaker
segment. Everybody's favorite segment.
01:30:02
Speaker
Which is the... don't have a button, but it's a Colpi di Luna. Colpi, Colpi. We've missed a lot of weeks on the Colpi. I can tell you that the super mega Colpi that we did before ah we left did not hit.
01:30:18
Speaker
It did not get over. Juventus did not beat Parma.
01:30:23
Speaker
and Good thing we missed that game. Milan did not beat Adelante. Pulisic did not score. Tegi also did not score, although I thought he played well. um Yeah, but let's get into it. Mott's computer is almost dead. He pinged me, so we got to go quick here.
01:30:36
Speaker
We do. ah So us started off. Big game for Juventus. Faith is in their hands. So i'm good I'm riding with the boys. Juventus money line to the top, baby, to fourth place. Here we come.
01:30:49
Speaker
ah Plus 200. Juventus money line against Lazio in Rome. I hate my pick after we just talked about all this, but I i i don't have time to change it, so riding it.
01:31:02
Speaker
I've got Fiorentina Moneyline at Venezia, plus 135. Idiotic pick. You should never bet against Venezia in Venezia. And they're in a relegation battle. all right they are they're They're fighting to—they're one point behind Lecce, so that's gonna be tough. Also, Logan's pick's even worse than your pick because he's taking the under 2.5 in the Lazio-Juve game.
01:31:22
Speaker
So we have two legs in one game. This is not a good Colby. but I also just, I think there's goals in that game and to be honest with you. So I just don't like that one whatsoever. Yeah. That's it. That breaks Colby Colby 11 plus 1190.
01:31:38
Speaker
ah Pretty good. um But that's it for us guys. a Hour and a half in pretty solid. We got a lot, we got a lot done in an hour and a half. So we're pretty happy with that. Happy to be back. We're going to be back on our regular schedule for the next couple of weeks. And then we're hitting the summer. We'll we're still decide what we'll do. We're definitely going to some content.
01:31:53
Speaker
Trying to change it up. Yeah. Give you guys a little bit more content, maybe bite-sized pieces of content. Yeah, for sure. But um that's it for us. As always, guys, please leave us a review if you're still here. it helps us a lot. We got a lot of five stars. We got to keep those going on Apple, Spotify, YouTube. Give us a subscribe. But we're back.
01:32:12
Speaker
We're happy to be back. It's going to be a crazy end to the season. um And with that, Mots, take us away here. Like, comment, subscribe. and by Just kidding. Do not be a gagout in Forza Calcio culture.
01:32:25
Speaker
Also, really quick, let me and we redo that. Shout out to boy Vincenzo. Just want to give them him a shout out. Now do not be a gagout in Forza Calcio culture. Bang, bang.
01:33:13
Speaker
Bye.