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Daily Premier League in English: Episode 93 - Arsenal & Aston Villa cruise towards the Champions League quarterfinals, Manchester United's last stance to win a trophy
17 Plays1 month ago
Our American duo of Michał Czarniecki from California and Viktor Plevnes from Illinois teams up to review the Wednesday’s Champions League action involving Arsenal and Aston Villa.
Also on the show, discussion about Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur who are yet to secure their Europa League quarterfinal spots, and Chelsea looking to clinch their 8thconsecutive victory in Europe as they take on Copenhagen in the Conference League match at Stamford Bridge. Tune in and enjoy!
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Transcript
Introduction
00:00:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello, hello, and welcome to the latest edition of the daily English Premier League podcast provided to you by Global Sports Podcast and Network. My name is Michal Czarniecki. So glad to have you with us. Coming to you live, prerecorded, but live from my perspective, at least, from California, and Victor joining me from Chicago, Illinois. Hi, Victor. are you doing?
00:01:07
Viktor
it going brother?
00:01:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, it's going pretty well.
00:01:08
Viktor
Pretty good, pretty good.
00:01:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it's going pretty well.
00:01:10
Viktor
We had an amazing day today in Chicago. so
00:01:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, and know and why is that?
00:01:16
Viktor
Sunny, 45 degrees, that's perfect for us. Oh, that would be like 10 Celsius.
00:01:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
45 degrees? Is it Celsius or Fahrenheit?
00:01:24
Viktor
No, no, no.
00:01:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
It's Celsius.
00:01:25
Viktor
Fahrenheit, Fahrenheit, Fahrenheit. No, 45 is too much. It's Celsius.
00:01:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, with Celsius, I would just be sending condolences for people just dying of the overheating.
00:01:29
Viktor
that
00:01:33
Viktor
Yeah, we don't want that.
00:01:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, we do really do not want that.
Controversial Champions League Moments
00:01:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, but i guess there is one other group of fans which could get some injury, mental injury sustained after the games of Champions League, and that would be Atletico Madrid.
00:01:36
Viktor
Yeah.
00:01:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes, we normally focus on English teams, but we cannot... start on with anything else because that is going to hit the headlines, Victor. That is actually the very first time that I have seen ah penalty cancelled because of the double kick.
00:02:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
like it It is that kind of a rule that you do not really know about and and until it actually affects your team and all of a sudden you're just like you just want to start throwing things around at at the TV.
00:02:14
Viktor
It feels like Atletico Madrid fans are already used to like losing this way, like painful to Real Madrid.
00:02:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:02:21
Viktor
And it felt like that penalty was, it felt like Florentino Perez was on the phone with VAR. So they're like, ah, this has to be ruled out. There's a little bit that they saw and and it was called off. It's just pathetic, to be honest with you.
00:02:35
Viktor
It's really sad for like if you're an Atletico Madrid fan.
00:02:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:02:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, but then again, I kind of, you know, VAR does not react on on such, like, small infringements and unless the referee hasn't hadn't seen it on the pitch live and he didn't make the right call. So then the VAR, like, talks to his ear, being like, hey, man, you have to check it.
00:02:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, of course, all the irony, who was the referee's team? Like, the team of of referees for that game came off course. from Poland, Szymon Marciniak, who is still the one of the best referees in in the world right now.
00:03:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
I will...
00:03:10
Viktor
Rumor has it rumour has it he's a Real Madrid fan.
00:03:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
and
00:03:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Ooh, you heard it here, folks. You heard it here.
00:03:16
Viktor
Yeah.
00:03:17
Global Sports Podcast Network
Somebody dug out those. That old footage from some a Polish Ekstraklasa game.
00:03:20
Viktor
There were some pictures I saw from the past how he has like a little pouch, Real Madrid pouch.
00:03:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, that was like that archive footage from Polish Extra Klasa when he was there freeing there.
00:03:27
Viktor
so
00:03:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like, he did not expect any Real Madrid there in Warsaw and Białystok. So why would he care? Yeah, but but all seriousness now, if there was a touch, I did not see it really.
00:03:36
Viktor
Yeah.
00:03:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Like, I saw that replay five times at least, and I just couldn't see that smudge of that left foot.
00:03:48
Viktor
It is. They cannot confirm it with 100% certainty because here's here's how it works.
00:03:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:03:53
Viktor
The difference this time was the ball did not have any chips. So you cannot make call based on what the ball touched the second time. what What they were doing was VAR, they were checking the points like ah using the semi-automated off-site rule.
00:04:11
Viktor
So that's how they figured out that there was maybe a little touch, but they cannot say for 100% But it's a big game. You don't have that much time to just analyze everything. So I guess he was just the main referees, the Polish referee, the decision to make.
00:04:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, and...
00:04:26
Viktor
And he was pretty quick with it, which is shocking to me in ah in a game of that caliber to just call it off right away.
00:04:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:04:33
Viktor
So.
00:04:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah yeah that that is that is a little bit unheard of. And everyone was confused, especially...
00:04:37
Viktor
Yeah.
00:04:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
like I saw Kylian Mbappé fighting for ah for like this match ball with like someone from Atletico's side because people were getting nervous.
00:04:46
Viktor
Yeah.
00:04:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
And after that decision, everyone was just so just confused. And then all of a sudden...
00:04:51
Viktor
Get it going soon as possible.
00:04:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh my god.
Arsenal's Performance and Forward Lineup
00:04:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, ah but maybe enough about that, because unfortunately we're not talking about Spanish teams, we're talking about the um English sides participating in Champions League. And we ah well, this talk won't be super complicated, because ah about those upcoming two sides which we're going to talk about, there was pretty much certainty that both English sides would go through.
00:05:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Let's start with Arsenal PSV.
00:05:18
Viktor
Yeah.
00:05:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Eindhoven, first leg, finished in the Netherlands with the Arsenal whooping the PSV side with seven goals to one. So I really wasn't surprised that Mikel Arteta just threw the second suit on the second leg at the Emirates.
00:05:35
Viktor
Yeah, I mean, I'm even surprised that he even let Raya or Gabriel. Definitely Ben White needed the minutes, so he got some playing time. Kivir, you want to have him just in case someone get injured to get some playing time as well.
00:05:48
Viktor
Louis Skelly, still young kid.
00:05:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:05:50
Viktor
do You want to give him the minutes.
00:05:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Sure.
00:05:51
Viktor
Zinchenko, interesting to have him back in the team, even scoring. And then you have some experience in Jorginho and Rice. And then obviously Sterling, who apparently was man of the match. Yeah.
00:06:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:06:03
Viktor
Yeah, it's pretty much, it wasn't any complications in this game. When you win 7-1 away and you come back to play at home the second leg, it's pretty much over. So nothing really special in that game.
00:06:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm. Yeah, yeah, nothing really special. Like, the only thing that we can actually somehow ah look at are the stats of the man of the match who was, like who was like you said, Raheem Sterling. He was pretty active on the right ah wing.
00:06:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
He had just, you know, tripbble two dribble attempts out of those two. One was successful. And two big chances, which were missed by Raheem Sterling.
00:06:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think we can just go back to the same question. and Okay, I do not think it's actually fair. ah taking this game as a template on which you could start building the discussion of why on earth Arsenal does not have ah proper forwards, who could put the ball into the back of the net.
00:06:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah What's your take on this? like Should we like could continue you with this conversation or should we just skip it?
00:07:02
Viktor
i I mean, the number nine is the biggest topic for Arsenal, I would say. If they want to make that last step in the Premier League, they need a number nine. They can win them games on his own.
00:07:16
Viktor
And that's something they've been lacking for years. I don't think Havertz is and the number nine of the caliber of Van Nistelro was. so you're going to have to find someone that's going to be quality, that they can win you the games on his own.
00:07:31
Viktor
And that's what they're lacking.
00:07:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, not so much.
00:07:33
Viktor
But it's the Champions League.
00:07:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:07:35
Viktor
It's a knockout stage. You never know. Maybe they'll they'll get to the final. Who knows?
00:07:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
And on the way, yes, on the way to the final is what I wanted to say is on the 8th of April, Arsenal will take on Real Madrid at at the Emirates.
00:07:40
Viktor
Now they're playing Madrid.
00:07:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's the first leg. How important is it for for the Gunners to have that first game played against Real Madrid at home?
00:07:59
Viktor
Well, you know how it is in and knockout phase. You want to play the second game at home. So it's obviously advantage for Real Madrid, a little advantage here. But again, hopefully Madrid's going to run out of luck eventually.
00:08:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, because I think everyone is just sick and tired of calling Real Madrid, of calling this Real Madrid side the the Mr. Champions League, right?
00:08:21
Viktor
Madrid is very inconsistent this year, but the same is with Arsenal. So this is going to be an interesting game to watch for sure.
00:08:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, and and totally, like whoever will be analysing Arsenal somewhere in Spain, ah they cannot, under any circumstances, take this game of PSV under the microscope because it's just no use.
00:08:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
like There's no way Arsenal will be playing like that um against Real Madrid. We will see a completely ah another different side, maybe except for Raya, Luis Skelly, Rice.
00:08:45
Viktor
Yeah.
00:08:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, well, maybe possibly Zinchenko, because that's another thing that I wanted to ask you about, that the Ukrainian has made a pretty nice comeback to the first suit of Mikel Arteta's puzzle um back, well, before he had some problems with injuries. And then he just was just, it seemed as if he would just never ah get off the bench.
00:09:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
And then all of a sudden you see Ukrainian getting more minutes, you know, coming on. ah for 30, like 20 last minutes of the game or in Premier League. Or, for example, if here having, um I don't know how many minutes, but like he was subbed off for Sinchenko.
00:09:26
Viktor
He played like 80 minutes.
00:09:26
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Yeah, 79 minutes. so Yeah, like 80 minutes today in London.
00:09:27
Viktor
Yeah.
00:09:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
So is there a chance for a comeback to the starting lineup for s Sinchenko?
00:09:32
Viktor
I... i don't I don't think so. I don't think so. I feel like Arteta lost, ah not respect, but he's lost his confidence with Zinchenko because he he did some mistakes in the past.
00:09:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:09:46
Viktor
And I feel like Arteta looks at Zinchenko as a liability. So he needs to find someone that's going to be consistent and is not going to make the mistakes, even though Zinchenko came from Man City.
00:09:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Right.
00:09:58
Viktor
So You already have like championships under your belt. You should be the one that's going to lead this Arsenal team to a certain point. And then he's just not delivering.
00:10:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
right
00:10:08
Viktor
So I but i cannot see Zinchenko going back into the starting lineup anytime soon.
00:10:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, that's pretty fair. That's pretty fair. Like, not to mention Jakub Kivior. I mean, if Jakub Kivior receives a call-up to the Polish national team after this, then I will know that officially our coach has lost it.
00:10:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay. okay Okay. This is not the time to air dirty laundry about the Polish national team. Let's move on to Aston Villa taking on k Club Bruch. and Here, basically the same story.
00:10:34
Viktor
step.
00:10:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Exactly with like what happened with Arsenal. Aston Villa with a comfortable 3-1 victory away at Birmingham. And of course here... i think I guess the difference between what happened in London and what happened in Birmingham was that we actually saw a brilliant display from an English side and Espaniard delivered that beautiful performance.
00:10:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Marco Asensio is his name.
00:11:00
Viktor
Yeah, coming off the bench.
00:11:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
And yeah. Mm-hmm.
00:11:03
Viktor
Yeah, he's he's having an amazing i mean start to his Aston Villa career. I think he has like six goals already so far, and he's been with the team for like two months, not even two months.
00:11:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
Aston Villa vs Club Bruges
00:11:16
Viktor
It's a big time player. But when you're someone like Asensio, who has so much experience, won the Champions League, won the Spanish League a lot of times, and when you come to a team like Aston Villa,
00:11:28
Viktor
who's playing Champions League but hasn't won it in like 40-50 years and these guys don't have too many titles then you should be the one to to lead that team coming into it as as someone who's an experienced player so and that's that's actually what he's doing right now so yeah but very I mean this game was pretty much done after 15 minutes once Club Bruges got the red card in the 15th minute game is over you already have two down and then you play away ah So, and I'm not even surprised that, I mean, the coach decided to just take out Watkins at halftime and even Kamara.
00:12:04
Viktor
So, yeah, not too much to be said about this game.
00:12:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely.
00:12:08
Viktor
It was, this game was done in the very first 15 minutes of the game. So once you get the wreck.
00:12:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, but so of course, of course. But but then again, i also would like to underline that beautiful connection which was created under Unai Emery. And there's another accolade that could be added into like right to towards Emery's column.
00:12:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that is ah the link-up between Rashford and Asensio. That... has like is now one of the best things that could have ever happened to Aston Villa at this stage of the season.
00:12:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Because ah that link-up with Ole Watkins, especially in this game, having to come off having had to come off because of his injury, ah that link-up is super crucial to keep that offensive momentum going for Aston Villa.
00:12:49
Viktor
Yeah.
00:12:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Isn't that right?
00:12:56
Viktor
Yeah, no, they have all kinds of different players in that offensive line. So you have Watkins and Rashford who are very fast. You have McGinn who is very strong. Same with Rodgers. It's really hard to take the ball away from them.
00:13:07
Viktor
And you throw in Asensio in there as well. Bailey is also fast. This Aston Villa is, I think, very dangerous. And selling Duran was the right decision for sure and in getting that much money how to out of that player. Now you can build on that. and And that's what we're seeing actually in in that Aston Villa team. so
00:13:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely.
00:13:27
Viktor
I'm excited I'm not even obviously we know that Aston Villa now goes to PSG and that is that's gonna be yeah I mean I who knows maybe Aston Villa will take some miracle to to take out PSG at this point especially after beating Liverpool like that but who knows
00:13:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that's another caveat as far as Marco Asensio is concerned.
PSG vs Liverpool and Champions League Insights
00:13:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I mean, well, the PSG team, like, they completely... ah they They disabled all of those important aspects of Arnaz Lott's side. Like, the reason why Liverpool just could not extend their wings to their their fullest capacity was because of how Luis and Nika put those players in a nice and and thoughtful lineup.
00:14:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
That lineup was one of the reasons why PSG came out victorious against Liverpool's side, which is dominating in the Premier League.
00:14:13
Viktor
Yeah.
00:14:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that league is is not...
00:14:19
Viktor
Yeah.
00:14:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
We're not talking about the Czech, Slovak or Polish League. We're talking about the Premier League, one of the best leagues in the in the world where you really have to be competitive and you have to be creative. and if you're managed And if you manage to stifle such an offensive side just the way PSG did, then I really cannot see how Aston Villa could go past PSG.
00:14:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
But then again, it's football.
00:14:41
Viktor
Yeah.
00:14:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Who else?
00:14:42
Viktor
yeah
00:14:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Anything can happen, really.
00:14:44
Viktor
PSG is very dangerous now, and I'll tell you why. Going into that Liverpool game to play at home and show no respect to arguably the best team in the world right now, which I think we can agree Liverpool is or was of before losing to PSG.
00:14:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:15:01
Viktor
ah you go into that game with no respect, you lose the game 1-0, but you outplay them completely. And then you're mentally broken. You go away to Anfield and you manage to win that game in 120 minutes and to win on penalties on their stadium.
00:15:18
Viktor
Now that puts you, you have the confidence to go all the way. And I can see PSG going to the final, to be honest with you.
00:15:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely.
00:15:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Me too, me too.
00:15:25
Viktor
Yeah.
00:15:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
And just so as so talking briefly about the bracket because we have to move on to other European games because we have to preview them.
00:15:32
Viktor
Yeah.
00:15:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah So Arsenal playing Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain playing Aston Villa. And ah whoever comes out victorious out of those two ties, they will meet each other in the semifinal at the end of April.
00:15:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Right now, I guess the bets say that Real Madrid is the favorite to take on Paris Saint-Germain in the semifinal. But let's just not write anyone off at this point. Although, like you said, Paris Saint-Germain, they are the favorites to go to the final.
00:16:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
And on the other side of the bracket, Barcelona will take on Borussia Dortmund. Borussia Dortmund, which actually struggled two um to go past Lille, the French side. But you know, when when it was all said and done, they went through.
00:16:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
And Bayern Munich will take on Internazionale Milano. So, yeah. So out of all those teams, who do you see lifting the trophy um in May?
00:16:25
Viktor
I think it's going to be Barcelona against PSG and Barcelona will beat PSG. Even though that will be a crazy final to watch because you have Luis Enrique, the coach of PSG, playing against his Barcelona.
00:16:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:16:38
Viktor
so
00:16:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:16:41
Viktor
But it's everything is open. I'm not ruling out any team out of this eight. Not even one. Like, I even give chance to Aston Villa to surprise PSG.
00:16:52
Viktor
And we just spoke of how strong i think PSG is.
00:16:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:16:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:16:55
Viktor
It's a knockout. You never know what what's going to happen. And that's the beauty ah beauty of it
00:16:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Exactly. And also, um i read this opinion somewhere that this quarterfinal setup has to be one of the strongest setups in the quarterfinals in Champions League history, or at least recent history.
00:17:11
Viktor
Yeah.
00:17:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
I really do not remember quarterfinals being this strong in any other season.
00:17:13
Viktor
Yeah.
00:17:17
Viktor
I agree. I agree. This looks strong.
00:17:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:17:19
Viktor
there's yeah Every year there was at least one team that would surprise everyone get to the quarterfinals or at least the last 16.
00:17:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:17:25
Viktor
And this bracket is just insanely good.
00:17:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
The Monaco's, the Porto's.
00:17:31
Viktor
Yeah.
00:17:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:17:32
Viktor
Yeah.
00:17:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Well, Porto ended up winning the entire thing in Galzongkishan.
00:17:35
Viktor
Yeah.
00:17:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Yeah, but that is...
00:17:37
Viktor
Porto had a sick team.
00:17:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Oh, yeah, they were
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00:17:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
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00:17:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
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00:18:31
Global Sports Podcast Network
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00:18:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
So we have now come from... reviewing what already happened to what is about to happen today as Europa and Conference League goes back for the reverse ties. And that is going to be interesting for so many reasons. And we will start for with the Europa League and two English sides there.
00:19:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Manchester United, which will take on Real Sociedad. That is going to be a a treat of perhaps complaining or maybe a treat of some, I don't know, naive hope ah but for anyone from from anyone who will actually be listening and to our ah podcast as the two Man United fans here. And um What are your thoughts about how this second leg will go, especially considering how the first leg um transpired in Spain?
00:19:36
Viktor
I don't care how United needs to win this game. This is literally everything that's left to play in this season for Man United. So if they fail this and the rest of the season is just you literally the players would be fighting for who's going to be able to stay there.
00:19:53
Viktor
So they're fighting for their jobs at United if they fail to win this game.
00:19:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:19:56
Viktor
So I think it's going to be tough game, and united is going to go United will find a way to go through, but it's going to be hard. I would not be surprised if this game goes to overtime. It's going to be another tie and goes to overtime, and either it's going to go to PKs or someone's going to get super tired and and concede. and Yeah, but...
00:20:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
That could really happen, especially, ah you know, go going back to how the first leg looked back in and like in the Real Sociedad Stadium. ah Up until the penalty conceded after like a very soft handball by Bruno Fernandes, but still, that is a handball in nowadays football.
00:20:32
Viktor
Yeah.
00:20:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah Ever since that moment, Real Sociedad managed to basically squeeze the Man United to deep defence. And we all know, and all Man United fans know, that once that happens, a goal is practically imminent. And the fact that it didn't get in, that I guess we can just pay tribute to a credible slice of of of good fortune and some Andre Onana good acrobatic saves, really.
00:20:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
um But what those first 70 minutes of that game in Spain showed is that Man United are capable. of pressing, of but being creative or creating chances.
00:21:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, too bad that Bruno Fernandes has to be involved in any phase of the attack. Otherwise the attack breaks down, but you could, you know what I mean, Victor, right?
00:21:15
Viktor
Everything. Yeah.
00:21:18
Viktor
Yeah. No, I agree. I agree. But again, this game is everything for those players. They they need...
00:21:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely.
00:21:25
Viktor
dan I hope they get good sleep and they're fully in in it mentally. And hopefully with the crowd behind them, we can find a way to to win this one and get to the quarterfinals, which will be a game probably against Lyon, which is another French team.
00:21:42
Viktor
So...
00:21:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, and
00:21:44
Viktor
Not a fan of yeah of English teams playing French teams or or Spanish teams. For some reason, United always struggles with so with Spanish teams.
00:21:54
Global Sports Podcast Network
for some reason, I always have that Europa League, Final League Dynesk in mind when I was volunteering, by the way, Man United VRL.
00:22:01
Viktor
Mm-mm.
00:22:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh my God, that last De Gea penalty. oh That still hurts. That still hurts, really.
00:22:06
Viktor
Yeah.
00:22:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
But okay, but like that's the past. And yeah, just one last question about this particular tie, because I think we've said it all, really. ah If there was one player from Real Sociedad's side that you would instruct Ruvim or inside to have ah under constant supervision throughout the game,
00:22:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
or like to for them to have some double cover, or for them just just for them to keep them quiet, which play would it be?
00:22:37
Viktor
I would say Zubimendi he controls the game for Sociedad so you have to be tighter on him and don't let him dictate the game and again we're at home this time so we want to be the one to control the game and you cannot just give him too much space but again Sociedad has a lot of players that are dangerous and it's not just him so as long as ah United is mentally focused and they're in the game they're going to be fine
00:22:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Absolutely.
00:22:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:23:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, let's hope for the best. And to all of those players, like remember like like please keep in mind what Victor said there. It's going to be your butts on the line because this is exactly what's going to happen if you do not.
00:23:18
Viktor
You're fighting for the jobs. Yeah, that this is it.
00:23:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes, you're fighting for your jobs. You have to fight as if your jobs depended on it because they do.
00:23:22
Viktor
Because...
00:23:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
That's a classic from any other drama about corporate structure.
00:23:26
Viktor
yeah Well, these players these players know it's not going to be Amorim that's going to take the fall. It's their job to lose. So Amorim is staying for sure.
00:23:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yep. Mm-hmm.
00:23:37
Viktor
He was brought to kind of clean up a lot of this mess that we have and then bring his own players. So these guys that we have right now, they're fighting for their job. So whoever's going to show in the next a few months his word to stay, they're going to stay eventually.
00:23:53
Viktor
If you get a lot of money, if you're getting a lot of money, we won't be able to sell you, but we can probably loan you out.
00:23:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, or or we can just move you to the second or third team because, well, those first or second tier clubs, they are capable of, let's just say, bullying a player out into either them living on their own or just and finishing their career on the sidelines for good.
00:24:00
Viktor
and I'm...
00:24:04
Viktor
Yeah. Yeah.
00:24:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, that is the brutal side of football. And speaking about the brutal side of football, ah You could say a lot of things about how brutal football is, but you know what? At the end of the day, please say please say it to Bergvold, a person, ah the own goal of whom, ah for now decides the tie between Tottenham Hotspur and Azzet Alkma. That's going to be a second and Europa League game that we're going to talk about.
00:24:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
And well, Bergvold, he's got a lot of pressure on his shoulders because Tottenham has to deliver.
00:24:51
Viktor
Yeah. Well, the good news about Tottenham they're having a lot of their players that were injured, big players coming back into the the lineup. So you have the center back duo, Van de Ven and Romero. So that's a big boost for Tottenham in the next few months.
00:25:08
Viktor
And I think they'll they'll find a way tomorrow, I mean, ah today to to get it done. Yeah.
00:25:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:25:14
Viktor
I hope they lose because I'm pretty sure Tottenham is one of the main, I would say, opponents for Man United.
00:25:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
The reason.
00:25:22
Viktor
They will be potentially. they will They will play against us in the final because they're on the opposite side of the of the bracket. So we can definitely play in the final against them. So fingers crossed they lose.
00:25:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yep.
00:25:34
Viktor
Yeah.
00:25:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
But I got to tell you, their stat is still a very long way until the eventual final in Bilbao. I mean, there are still so many teams which are still up in contention for the trophy.
00:25:42
Viktor
yeah
00:25:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
I mean, it's Roma, which is still in contention, which they won their first leg against Atletic Bilbao with two goals to ah one. um There is still Lazio, which is in a pretty good form.
00:25:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Eintracht Frankfurt, of course. like we ah We know their story with with the Europa League, how it was super um beneficial to them. ah So yeah, there are still some sides which could blindside either Man United or Tottenham on the way to the final.
00:26:08
Viktor
Yeah. Yeah.
00:26:15
Global Sports Podcast Network
So I really wouldn't predict any of those English sides reaching the final, especially Man United with such a shape, but we'll see.
00:26:25
Viktor
I just, that's another thing. Sociedad and Bilbao are motivated extra because this, the final will be played in and kind of like their area. So if they get to that point, it's going to be like a home advantage for them pretty much.
00:26:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
Pretty much.
00:26:41
Viktor
So San Mamesh is Bilbao stadium, but still even Sociedad is, it's going to be motivated.
00:26:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yep.
00:26:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, and just so one last thing about the Ezzet-Alkmaar-Tottenham tie before we move on to the last game that we want to preview here in in today's episode.
00:26:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
um we We're talking about that Tottenham side. um How do you like the performances of Humeing Son so far?
00:27:08
Viktor
mean you can You can tell age is catching up.
00:27:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
so
00:27:11
Viktor
And that's why he he cannot play every game. But when it comes to like big games, he needs to deliver. He's still the captain. He's still the player that the stadium comes to watch and loves more than anyone. So...
00:27:25
Viktor
ah Yeah, I mean, I expect big game for him tomorrow. he He scored over the weekend, so he's definitely in form, I would say.
00:27:35
Viktor
And hopefully he will pick it up even more from from here. But yeah.
00:27:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
And with the presence of...
00:27:42
Viktor
tough tough The tough part is for this game is there are no away goals, obviously. so and Any win for Tottenham, knowing that that even if they concede, if they score two, it's going to go to overtime, they're not going to be out of the cup, out of the Europa League.
00:27:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:28:00
Viktor
So that's another thing that puts less pressure on them.
00:28:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, and that is just... ah That will certainly act as a as an advantage ah for the Tottenham side.
00:28:09
Viktor
Yeah.
00:28:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
and And then just one last question before we move on. With Hyunmin Son, like you said, that age is catching up to him, but it's still an important ah part of the Andrzej Postekoglu's puzzle there. But um ah for some reason, last week, Tottenham was totally inept to score the Netherlands against Azed Alkmaar. Is Son the only cure to the droughts?
00:28:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
or
00:28:34
Viktor
No, they they need to get Tell on the scoreship. The new signings from Bayern, he needs to start scoring goals.
00:28:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:28:43
Viktor
They have a lot of quality players. It's just they can never deliver. you know And Madison is is another one that's like there's there's no consistency. And people laugh at me when I say Roy Keane, when he called him out saying...
00:28:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:28:58
Viktor
yeah how he can't score and then he scored against United and the next game he's on the bench against Ipswich so that shows you something is off he's it's not like he wasn't fit to play you something is going on at practice that Andrew Postacoglu sees and he's like I don't like that behavior you just scored a big game and then you're coming back to practice not giving 100% and you're going to be on the bench so
00:29:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yep.
00:29:22
Viktor
Yeah, I think it comes out to discipline.
00:29:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
yep
00:29:26
Viktor
That's what I think it is when it comes to Tottenham. And it's not an issue that just happened this year. It's been forever like this since I remember.
00:29:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, yeah, that is that the curse of Tottenham not only being able to be consistent, but also not being able to put anything in and the trophy cabinet. I'm sure that Tottenham fans listening or watching this podcast right now, they are sick to death.
00:29:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
hearing about the same joke over and over again. So yeah, Victor, you said it yourself. You do not wish him a lot of luck. I will, because the longer and and an English site stays in the competition, the more episodes previewing or reviewing the European nights we'll have here at GSPN.
00:29:56
Viktor
Yeah.
00:30:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
And speaking about our podcast, let's time it's time to hear about our another sponsor, which is Zencaster, a platform for performing some wonderful and to have some wonderful podcasts. So Louis, take it away.
00:30:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Thank you, Zencaste, for being able to um like provide us with a platform on which we could make our podcast. Thank you so much, Zencaste, again. And just like that, we have come to the last part of our preview preview episode, if you will, which is the last European competition under the auspices of UEFA, which is the Conference League, the one that...
00:31:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Of course, selfishly, I'm super interested in because of two police sites there, but we're not going to talk about that. no no, no. We cannot fall into the same foxhole.
00:31:19
Viktor
Mm-hmm.
00:31:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Otherwise, just going to have another awesome discussion about how great Jagiellonia and Legia are. ah So let's just focus on that one game of Chelsea taking on Copenhagen and in the round of 16 of Conference League, the return leg at Stamford Bridge.
00:31:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
and That should be a treat for Chelsea fans as they are on the they're on the way to see their team. score an eighth consecutive victory in European Cups, which is, ah well, pretty impressive. Of course, somebody could say that Chelsea is such a team that ah Conference League is really, like, below them, that they are, um like, at least European, like Europa League ah caliber, not Conference League caliber.
00:32:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
But still, you have to get to the final Wrocław. And just looking at that first leg, looking at how Chelsea dominated the Copenhagen side in Denmark, how do you see this the chances of Copenhagen of turning it around?
00:32:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm.
00:32:20
Viktor
Not too good. And I feel like this competition is Chelsea's to lose. So no matter what lineup they come up with against the smaller teams, then you would expect to win. So once they get closer to, let's say, like the semifinal or the final, then you play your best team.
00:32:38
Viktor
You don't do any calculations there. and You're expected to win this competition. So I think that's what's going to happen. This game, like last game, it's going to be mixed of first team, second team, and then Again, in the in the quarterfinal, then Chelsea obviously will potentially play Legia, and hopefully that's the case.
00:32:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Fingers crossed.
00:32:57
Viktor
So, yeah. And even against Legia, you can still combine, calculate, because, again, still Chelsea has the Premier League to focus on and and get to that Champions League place for next year.
00:32:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:33:09
Viktor
And winning this competition is not getting you that. So you need to get to the top four, top five eventually. Yeah.
00:33:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Of course. Of course, of course. And with, like, just just looking at the lineup of Chelsea from last week, ah where Rhys James turned out to be the player of the match based on one of the um one of the websites which follow all of the football matches out there in the world.
00:33:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Rhys James with a score of 7.7. Of course, him having scored a goal, which was pretty important. But then again, i just want to say something about um those maybe not big problems of Chelsea in the European competitions, because they don't have none as of right now.
00:33:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
But what is happening with Enzo Mareska's side in terms of attack? Because looking only at the statistics of the first half, right? ah The first half ended in a goalless draw. The expected goals of Chelsea from that game was 0.08%.
00:34:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
which was worse by this 0.01 than Copenhagen's.
00:34:08
Viktor
Yep.
00:34:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah And that goes to show that if you have a solid defense and you play put pretty like solid football in the back, you can actually bring it to to Chelsea. And it's not that Chelsea does not have any flaws. Of course they do. Just look at the Premier League.
00:34:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Maybe you could elaborate on that, Victor.
00:34:30
Viktor
Chelsea is not a team in form. That's number one. And I think that's why Maresca even gave Palmer minutes in the in this game, hoping that he will find his form, which he didn't.
00:34:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm.
00:34:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
00:34:41
Viktor
So now i'm um I want to see what kind of lineup they're going to come up with today in the second leg. So that's something to look forward to. But yeah, Chelsea needs to pick up their form if they want to win this competition.
00:34:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yes, and to be honest, and of course, like we ah maybe I can just take a look at what's going to happen right after ah this game of Chelsea-Copenhagen, because right after that, they play Arsenal.
00:35:07
Viktor
Oh, they play Arsenal. Yeah.
00:35:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
And this is something that I want to ask you about. that Of course, they could... somehow suspect that this round of 16 tie is over. Of course, there is this one goal difference, but with even the second suit of Chelsea, they still have a ah pretty big chance of going through to the quarterfinals, either against Molde or Legia Warsaw.
00:35:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
But then again, they have this well rivalry with Arsenal in the Premier League. Do you think that ends up that the the Chelsea ah coach Enzo Mareska will calculate?
00:35:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
Maybe we will see some players which wouldn't play normally?
00:35:40
Viktor
Yeah, 100%. Yeah, 100%. i can I could tell right away it's going to be combined team, something similar to what it was last week.
00:35:52
Viktor
I think this game Palmer is going to get a rest because he wants him obviously to be fit for, extra fit for for the Arsenal game. That's the bigger game for them this week. And yeah, but Chelsea shouldn't have any problems with copen Copenhagen.
00:36:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm. Yeah.
00:36:07
Viktor
And they'll still have it'll still have the main players on the bench.
00:36:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:36:10
Viktor
So if they needed to get in, they'll be they'll do that in the second half. So.
00:36:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Sure, sure. Okay, so we have probably come to the end of previewing that game because like that is this is basically pretty much what ah all we can say about it, which has some merit.
00:36:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Well, I guess the ah the last thing that we can finish it off with is how the lineup of for like how the lineups of of of those thread of this ah look and how the potential quarterfinals could look and who could actually clinch the title, if not Chelsea.
00:36:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
and like Of course, like this is the this is something that we need to, let's just say, assume that Chelsea does not go to the end.
00:36:53
Viktor
Yeah.
00:36:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
So who else could win this competition?
00:36:57
Viktor
Chelsea will get to the final, and their bracket side is pretty much set. I can't see any of the other six teams go beating Chelsea. But on the other side, you have some dangerous teams.
00:37:09
Viktor
Betis, you have Fiorentina, you have Panathinaikos, which is surprising. And then... yeah I wouldn't say Aguilónia, but I'll mention it because, again, it's still an impressive 3-0 win. So they're going to be in the quarterfinals. And again, it's a knockout. You never know. But um I feel like Real Betis is going to get to the final, even though they they have to win and in in Portugal now against Vitoria de Guimarães.
00:37:38
Viktor
so That's going to be a big game. That's that's a, that's a real, I would say that's the derby in this competition today because you have Spanish against Portuguese team and those are always fire. So.
00:37:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, but then again, ah you know what? I do not think that I can agree with you 100% about Jagiellon not being one of the contested contenders. And i'll let me just tell you why. We're talking about the one of the best, like not one, the best strike in Conference League right now, which is Afemico Pululo from Jagiellon.
00:38:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
He scored a brace against Celso Bruges. So... To be honest, with Jagiellon, especially the way how Adrian Siemieniec, the coach of Jagiellon, how he puts all of those ah players together um with Afimiko Pululu being on on on um ah up the front with Churlinov, by the way, on on his left-hand side.
00:38:27
Viktor
We are on the same team, my friend.
00:38:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
I think that...
00:38:30
Viktor
We are Team Jaguilonia.
00:38:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Yeah, I know, but like what let's just...
00:38:34
Viktor
Indirectly, I want to jinx it by saying they don't have a chance, so they proved me wrong.
00:38:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
There you go. Okay.
00:38:40
Viktor
It works for me the last few years, so...
00:38:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, okay. So I will not try to convince you, but if there are any viewers and listeners out there who think that Jagiellonia might not be that big of a contender, you know, just just seriously speaking, the way how Adrian Chiminez has put this team together, like they are the reigning Polish champions, I think that they could put up a fight against Real Betis. And do you remember the very first match day of Conference League when Real Betis went to Warsaw?
00:39:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
They lost that game. against Ligia Warsaw.
00:39:09
Viktor
Mm-hmm.
00:39:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
And some would say, yeah, because Real Betis was playing and in the like with the second suit. Legia gave it all, and they wanted to start off there another European campaign with a bank. Yeah, yes, granted.
00:39:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
But Polish football has made some good good improvements as far as style goes. And I do not think I can say it about Legia, but as far as Jagiellonia goes, there could be a a a threat which is underestimated.
00:39:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I'll just kind of allude to what you just said there. And I'll just say that, yes, it's good that you underestimate them because then they could go all the way to Vroslav. Who knows? Who knows? And then, and as far as ah Chelsea's side of the bracket, yeah, I think I have to agree with you there.
00:39:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
That as as as much love and as much appreciation as I can have to the Legia team,
00:39:52
Viktor
Yeah.
00:39:59
Global Sports Podcast Network
They will be no match for Chelsea. I'm sorry, but but that's just that's just how it's going to be.
00:40:01
Viktor
Yeah. Yeah.
00:40:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
And just like that, again, this is what happens when you have a Polish host on GSPN podcast talking about English Premier League. All of a sudden, one way or another, we will start talking about Polish football.
00:40:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
So, that hey, that is just the curse. But if if you guys enjoy it, then I'll be more than happy to provide more of this curse. Is there anything else, Victor, that you'd like to add ahead of today's action?
00:40:25
Viktor
No, not really. I'm pretty excited.
00:40:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Not really. about any About any of the matches?
00:40:28
Viktor
um
00:40:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
And
00:40:30
Viktor
I'm just excited for my United game. I want to see something different today. Yeah,
00:40:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
and this is exactly what we will hope to see at Old Trafford, right?
00:40:40
Viktor
yeah I don't want to say anything else because whatever else I say, I might jinx it.
00:40:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
and With that being said, Victor, thank you so much for joining me here today. And to all of you guys listening and viewing out there, subscribe, give us a like.
00:40:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
Please be with us because the more you guys are out there, the more excited we are to make some more more content for you. And yeah, jump in tomorrow because tomorrow we will be reviewing all of the action from today, me and Michael Thompson. So join us there.
00:41:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
And until then, Michal Czarnycki from California and Victor Plevnis from ah Chicago, Illinois. I hope I pronounced your surname correct.
00:41:20
Viktor
Yeah, that's pretty good.
00:41:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Amazing. Thank you, man. Cheers.
00:41:23
Viktor
Thank you, Mikhail.