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Free Weekly Episode - AC Milan In Crisis - #PioliOut, Allegri Terror-Ball Rules, Lautaro & Raspadori On Fire, Lukaku Late Show, Bologna For Europe & Much More (Ep. 374)
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From a vintage Allegri style Juventus win over Fiorentina after Fabio Miretti finally breaks his duck, AC Milan in crisis with calls for Stefano Pioli to be sacked, Lautaro Martinez scores a wonderful goal as Inter Milan take a heavy win in title race away vs Atalanta, to Napoli back in Serie A top 4 after Giacomo Raspadori continues impressive form, to Romelu Lukaku in tears after scoring winner for Roma at the death, as Bologna continue to impress in win over Lazio, to review of all the other Serie A fixtures, preview of the midweek Champions League clashes as well as Baggio and Premface of the week and much, much more when Nima and Carlo break down all the main talking points from an absolutely action packed weekend in Italian football.
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Transcript
Introduction: Italian Football Overview
00:00:02
Speaker
Welcome to the Italian football podcast. Hello everybody and welcome to the Italian football podcast. I'm Carlo Garganese joined as always by Nima Tavalli. On today's show we will review the weekend Serie A action, another thrilling and dramatic weekend.
Serie A Highlights: Inter, Juventus, and Milan
00:00:18
Speaker
Inter stay top with a massive result at Atlanta. Juventus are only two points behind
00:00:26
Speaker
after they went full allegory ball in beating Fiorentina in Florence. Milan are in complete crisis now as they lose again at home to Udenezer with purely out trending on social media. Napoli are back in the top four after winning at Selenium Turner. Roma had an epic win over Lecce scoring twice in injury time to overturn a 1-0 deficit to win 2-1.
00:00:51
Speaker
Well,
Subscription Details and Podcast Promotion
00:00:52
Speaker
we asked, can Bologna challenge for Europe after they beat Lazio to extend their unbeaten run to 10 games? We'll also preview the Champions League matchday 4 where Lazio and especially Milan simply must win.
00:01:07
Speaker
For all our first time listeners, this is our free weekly episode that we do every Monday reviewing the weekend's Serie action and all the biggest talking points in Italian football. If you want to support the Italian football podcast and receive all of our content that we do throughout the week, including a weekly Q&A episode every Tuesday where we answer all of the questions from our Patreons plus the weekly
00:01:28
Speaker
Thursday midweek review show plus interviews post-match reaction and much much more then go to patreon.com slash TIP become a subscriber for just $2.99 a month plus VAT and now you can also sign up to be a paid subscriber on Spotify we'll provide the link in the description it's the same price same terms and for all of you that do listen on Spotify Apple iTunes podcast we'd really appreciate to give us a five star rating give us a follow give us a like we're also on YouTube
00:01:55
Speaker
and
Juventus Defense Analysis
00:01:56
Speaker
it really helps us to grow and do more quality content for everyone. So let's get into today's show. Okay right let's start off with the Sunday evening game. Fiorentina versus Juventus always a very heated rivalry there. Juventus win 1-0. Let's talk about this from from the Juventus point of view because
00:02:20
Speaker
as peak allegory ball or terror ball or whatever you want to call it goes, this was peak prime allegory as Juventus win 1-0 with an XG of 0.19, 30% possession, five shots to Fiorentini's 24, two corners to nine. It was, well, from an aesthetic point of view, pretty unwatchable.
00:02:47
Speaker
It should be unsustainable, but Juventus won. Juventus are two points off the top. They have six clean sheets in a row. And they are there. They are there. They're only two points off Inter. They're breathing down their necks. And this was an important win away to Fiorentina. It's not an easy place to go to for anyone, including Juve. And I thought Juve, they handled it really well.
00:03:15
Speaker
I thought they were incredibly defensively sound. If you look at the other side, Fiorentina had lots of possession.
00:03:26
Speaker
But they didn't really create that much with it. I mean, they had, what, four shots on target. They had a total XG of 0.7. I mean, 0.3 in the first half and 0.4 in the second half. It wasn't that, you know, I thought you were very controlled and composed. And despite, you know, four of those shots on target, you've had, sorry, if you want to have one that were,
00:03:50
Speaker
you know, we're in the first half and they barely created anything in the second half, Fiorentina. I thought you were in control and just got everything the way they wanted, the game exactly like they wanted. The game played not exactly as I expected it to. I thought Italiano showed once again that he's very naive in these situations. And I think some of the tactical decisions, which I'm sure you will get to as well, were a bit, I was a bit surprised by them to be honest.
00:04:18
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, from you, from you, Vince's point of view, defense was, was fantastic. If we're talking about as a defensive unit, the organization, the structure, I mean, the XG's are differently, are different in some places, you said 0.7, the what I use said 0.94. But regardless, you're right, it,
00:04:38
Speaker
Even if you're into that didn't create much clear cut really anything clear cut says he did make a couple of of excellent saves in the first half one from Gonzales and then a free kick as well but apart from that I mean if you're into it didn't create any clear clear opportunities and you know that this is this is generally been the case
00:04:59
Speaker
since that Sasuolo aberration is Juventus have been very very good defensively. I thought Bremel was a monster, so many clearances, his position was superb, he was just everywhere. Rugani as well was really really excellent. I believe I would need to double check this but I've seen people tweeting that Juventus haven't conceded with Rugani
00:05:24
Speaker
playing this season. I need to double check that, but this is what I've seen people tweeting. So if that is true, then it just backs up that he's been really, really good this season regarding me. But yeah, so many blocks, throwing men in front of the ball, but winning all the crosses, I think Fiorentina had something like 30-odd crosses in this game.
00:05:48
Speaker
Juventus were winning everything. Gatti obviously very good in the air as well. McKinney is abysmal on the ball and going forward but defensively, he's actually very good defensively. He doesn't really get done by his man, he's good position, he doubles up, he carries his job out well.
00:06:06
Speaker
So, yeah, Juventus have sorted out their defence. They have sorted out their defence. I thought Chesney was very good, was commanding. He's been superb as well since that Sassuolo game. He was really good in the Atalanta game, which Juventus were 0-0. So, we have to give it to Juventus defensively, for sure.
00:06:28
Speaker
We also have to credit Meretti. I think that was a nice, lovely moment for him. He's finally scored his first Juventus goal. It's been a real weight on his shoulders. You know, everybody's been, oh, Meretti, when's he ever going to score? When's he going to score? And I think Allegra even said before the game that he needs to start scoring and he got his goal. He took it well. He's got a chance now to be a regular as obviously with Fagioli and Pogba being out.
00:06:52
Speaker
between now and January, this is, Moretti's got a big, big opportunity between now and January when Juventus are expected to, well, I think they're almost certainly, they'll definitely sign a sense of midfielder in January. So this is a chance for Moretti. So yeah, I mean, those are the positives as is the result, as is the fact Juventus are only two points off Inter. There's no Europe, of course. And the other thing, the other positive way of looking at this, I mean, I think Inter, who we'll come to, I think we're on another level to everyone at the moment,
00:07:23
Speaker
People that want to be critical of Juventus and how they're playing I mean look at Milan
00:07:30
Speaker
look at Napoli, but especially look at Milan right now. I mean, they have big problems themselves.
Milan's Struggles: Tactical and Performance Issues
00:07:35
Speaker
So as much as we can sit here and look at Juventus and, you know, and say, oh, this should be unsustainable playing like this and creating this little. I mean, offensively, Juventus were abysmal again in this game. And, you know, you've got to be able to keep the ball. You can't just defend. Even if you're going to be defensive, you have to keep the ball better than Juventus. Keep the ball. They just give all they do is just give it straight back. They give it straight back to Fiorentina every single time. Back to Fiorentina.
00:07:59
Speaker
They defended it well when they did give it back to them but you've got to be able to keep the ball better for this to be to be sustainable you think but if you look at some of the other contenders into a side.
00:08:11
Speaker
Milan and Napoli, I mean, they've got big problems themselves and we're going to come to Milan and talk about their crisis. So I think, yeah, there's lots to be, you know, there should be lots to be positive. And they do look like there is a togetherness there with Juventus. You can see them fighting for one another. You can see that they're in it all together. And I think that's definitely positive as well.
00:08:34
Speaker
No, I agree. I want to echo everything you said. I just want to add that I think that, you know, like I said, the season really starts from matchday 10 onwards and Juve are in the thick of this. This is, you know, they're only two points behind and they only play once a week. They're not scoring a lot, but they're not, you know, offensively, they're not playing too well.
00:08:56
Speaker
Usually with a legally sides in a normal season if they can have that without much without nonsense off off the pitch Then then from January onwards is when his teams really hit the ground running And they really they really really fly from then on towards the end of the season and for him to have this you were two points off in there and
00:09:18
Speaker
after not really playing too well in attack is a sign of concern for everybody else, especially in that who are playing well and look really good. But then again, if you have a situation
00:09:34
Speaker
you know, from February onwards, and you got the Super Coppa, the Inter, and then you got the Champions League, the Inter, you know, the Rounder 16, and the Coppa Italia, etc. That's a lot of games between February and May, and three, four fronts. You've only have one, or two, it's Coppa Italia, and it's Celia, that's it. Well, that's the thing, I mean, I would say, usually, I would say that Juventus play in the way they are, and create in as little as they are.
00:10:00
Speaker
I would say in a normal season, I would say 100%, it's unsustainable. It's unsustainable. You can't, we saw it last season when I remember when you went to that long unbeaten run of that long winning run of winning, how many did they win in a row, one-nills. Something like that on Christmas time and everyone was getting carried away and I was steadfast. It's unsustainable. You cannot continue like this with such a low XG, with such low chance creation. And in the end, that proved to be true. But this season, we're not being in Europe,
00:10:30
Speaker
It could be different, it could be different. I had to take off my hat to Allegri in the sense that Juventus have got a lot of players out as well. Look at the midfield. Campiasso had to come in and play as a central midfielder in the second half.
00:10:49
Speaker
Rabio is going to be suspended for the game against Callery. I have no idea who's going to play at Centre midfield for that game. I mean, they have no Centre midfield, Juventus. He's managed to get these results. And then you see people like Milan.
00:11:06
Speaker
purely apologists and I'm allowed to call these plays out and they do have all these plays out. But you know, look at your interests has been filled. Look how decimated they are. And they're still getting results. So, you know, I think you have to, you know, you have to say well done, in that sense, for sure. But they are definitely they're going to have to start
00:11:25
Speaker
at least keeping the ball better. You can't, you can't just, you can't just play like this with, with, with just giving the ball back. I mean, it was, it was, it was pretty, there was one moment in the second half. It was, it was like, uh, just you better see the penalty area. But I mean, they weren't, they were, they were well organized and they, and they never, and honestly, Fiorentina could have been there all night and they weren't going to score once that second half was going. So. Well, that's exactly how it felt. I mean, it just felt like Juva was so solid defensively and Bremer is finally starting to deliver at the level that we
00:11:55
Speaker
Yeah, he was fantastic. Let's talk about Fiorentina though. Let's talk about Fiorentina because I mean, they did totally dominate this game in terms of possession, in terms of territory, in terms of number of shots and everything. But as I said, you know, as the game got into the second half, Fiorentina just
00:12:14
Speaker
They were just so predictable. It felt like they had no plan B. I mean, first of all, I want to start off. The starting point is what I've all what I've said for two years now, which is Fiorentina just have a lack of quality in attack. There's nothing can attack apart from Nico Gonzalez. There is nothing can attack. And, you know, Bellatralin and Zola have come in this season as the two strikers. Right now, they don't look any better than Kabralin Jovic is still early days. You know, we'll see.
00:12:41
Speaker
if Beltran can develop, he was very good in Argentina. Unzola is looking more and more like the kind of player who maybe he's a step below this level, maybe Spezia or a mid-table team is more his level maybe, but they don't have the striker. Their left wing, I'll say it again,
00:13:00
Speaker
Cristian Kwame for me, he's not even, he's a Serie B level player. How the hell he is still, how the hell he is still, is still starting for Fiorentina on the left wing. I mean, it's, it's, it's a damning indictment. Less so on, on Italiana, although Italiana does have this weird fetish for, for Kwame, for some reason, but more so on Daniele Pilade and the Fiorentina transfer team.
00:13:25
Speaker
Really? 2023, and they're still playing Kwame, still their left-winger? I mean, what are they doing in the transfer market? I mean, there was just a lack of quality. I mean, they were absolutely dominant in terms of territory. They were all, Juventus were just defending in their box for large portions of this game. They never looked like creating anything. There's just no quality there in attack at all. So I mean, as long as this continues, I think we're going to see this story play out a lot, not just against Juventus.
00:13:53
Speaker
We're going to see Fiorentina have all the dominance but struggle to create. Having said that, though, on the Italiano point of view, too many crosses in this game. If I'm going to be critical of Italiano, I think it was 38 crosses. I mean, you're playing against three monsters aerially.
00:14:11
Speaker
Two especially, I mean, Rene is maybe the best in the air defensively, in the air. If you look at stats, the last two seasons. Gatti is a monster in the air. Rugani is excellent in the air as well. I mean, what do you expect? 38 crosses in the box against Juventus. You're not going to score. You're not going to score aerially against Juventus. So I think Italiano, yeah, I think he played into you in his hands a bit in this game.
00:14:37
Speaker
I, without a doubt, he did that. As I said, this game went exactly the way I expected it. The way I thought it was going to go, I thought they were going to have a lot of possession. I thought you were going to give them that position and keep them controlled and not allow them to create anything. And in order to break down, you need to have much movement.
00:14:56
Speaker
you need to have movement from midfield and I'm surprised Bonaventura didn't start because of that. I don't get that at all. I mean I like Barak but I think in this game you wanted to Bonaventura in there simply because of the traits. He's a good finisher from outside the box, his movement. That was very strange for me.
00:15:17
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, look, when we talk about Kwame, I've said it so many times, I've really nothing more to add. Kwame is only a world-class player when he plays Inter. If he played Inter 38 times a year, he'd win the ball on-door. But luckily, unfortunately for him, he doesn't play Inter every week. He only plays them twice a year at most.
00:15:42
Speaker
of your antenna and that's when he scores his goals and that's why they keep him. But other than that, no, they look so. It's a strangely built attack. It's Nico Gonzalez and then I don't really know what the idea is. And I think there's
00:15:59
Speaker
It's Niko Gonzalez and Inshallah. Yeah, it's very weird. And they do have a lot of possession. The thing is, possession is safe. It's always safe possession. It's not threatening anymore. Well, I think that if you're in Sina, listen, I think that...
00:16:13
Speaker
It's very, very impressive what Italiano has done in terms of getting this kind of team to dominate games so much with this standard of players. Yes, we know the Italiano weaknesses, we've spoken about them so many times, and including how they executed it in this game. I think it's very, very impressive. If he had better attackers, I'm sure it would be much more successful. But, Fiorentina's attack, I mean, what do you expect?
00:16:41
Speaker
with Kwame and this level of strikers. And I've said it, I've been saying it all season, I was not impressed by Fiorentini's transfer market at all.
00:16:53
Speaker
And I don't expect much from them this season. I'll be honest with you. I said it from day one and they've now lost three games in a row. So we're starting to see it. I think they have been unlucky these last two games. I mean, they didn't deserve to lose against Juventus. They didn't deserve to lose against that. So they probably deserve draws in both those games. So they've been a little bit unlucky. But if we're talking generally,
00:17:15
Speaker
I'm not expecting much from this Fiorentina this season. Neither am I. I think they're going to finish 7th somewhere there. The only thing I expect from Fiorentina is to get at least to the semi-final of the conference league because I think they do have the quality to do that.
00:17:31
Speaker
But other than that, no, top seven, eight, something like that. I don't think, I think the top four. And they always give you a chance as well. And that's the thing. I mean, the goal was awful defending from Fiorentine. There was three mistakes in there. First of all, Pareese is caught out. He lets Kostich get in behind him. Okay. We can maybe let Pareese off because he's not a right back. He's a left back. They're decimated at right back. They've got both their two right backs out.
00:17:56
Speaker
and Caillou so he's playing out of position so we can kind of let him off but then Martinez Cuarto gets beaten to the near post and then Teller Chano as well I mean I thought he could have done better as well his bad very bad movement towards the towards this near post I mean we know he's I mean again talking about Cristian Cuame, Teller Chano is still Fiorentina's goalkeeper in 2023 and you want to
00:18:20
Speaker
You want to be challenging at the top of Serie A? I think it's embarrassing that they don't have a better goalkeeper to be honest. Again, is it even a Serie A level goalkeeper? We have some players that have no business being in Fiorentina or Serie A for that matter. It's astonishing to be honest. It really is. Talking about problems, Milan and Stefano Pioli are definitely in a full blown crisis now.
00:18:49
Speaker
Well, it will be full blown if they don't beat PSG this midweek, but it is certainly a crisis. They lose at home to Udenezer. Udenezer hadn't won in Serie A this season. I think it dates back 14 games or something. They hadn't won or something like that.
00:19:10
Speaker
This was a, there's no way of sugarcoating this. This was an abysmal performance from Milan. One of the worst performances I've seen since Pioli's took charge at a club. Dreadful, collectively, individually, all departments, dreadful in attack, created virtually nothing, all game, 0.4,
00:19:32
Speaker
XG. Well, I saw they had a 0.4 XG going into injury time. And in injury time, they had a little bit of a flurry, and they had a few chances in injury time. But until then, nothing, created absolutely nothing. They conceded lots of opportunities. Udenezi had an XG of 2.1. It was a fully deserved win for Udenezi. And the big question here now really is,
00:20:02
Speaker
Pioli's position, should he be in danger now because he's lost a lot of the Milan fans are turning against him now. This is what I said, I think it was in one of our earlier was a preview even when I said that I think this season the patience with Pioli will not be as long
00:20:22
Speaker
or there won't be as much patience with them as in previous seasons because well he's been there for what is it five year, fifth season, sixth season now, fifth season and this summer they really gave him everything he wanted. He can't say he wasn't back, okay they sold Tonali but they gave him the depth and the player he literally got everything he pointed at and it's not looking good at all. It looks exactly like it does when things go to hell for purely.
00:20:52
Speaker
It looks just completely... nothing's working, they look disjointed, they look unorganized, they look...
00:21:01
Speaker
they just look so frustrating and they act frustrated and they are frustrating to watch. They just seem, you can almost touch the anxiety on the pitch when they're playing and it's just, it's so weird to see. But yeah, no, I think there is,
00:21:23
Speaker
there is a big chance that they get rid of him. I really think so. I don't know if that's the right thing to do, but then again, I don't want to say too much either because I've been here with Pioli before so many times. He has more lives than a Cheshire cat and he's shown that to us every time we think this is it. Because he's been in worse crises than this time, but he's always bounced back and he's found some way, whether it was tactical changes,
00:21:51
Speaker
you know formation changes whatever it was he's managed to get them back on on board and they've always reacted to his changes and unless you know if you were to make changes and not get any reaction from the team well then then he has to go because that means he no longer has the dressing room right but as long as he's got in that dressing room i think it would be foolish to get rid of him and to me it seems that they are still behind him but i don't think the patience with him from
00:22:19
Speaker
uh... jerry card in our land these guys are is is as much as it was before we gotta remember purely wasn't he won't cost them any prestige to get rid of peole because peole is kind of almost you know over achieved everything you know anything and everything they they expected of him in his first season for first season charge he was second anyone the school that the last year he finished fifth
00:22:46
Speaker
So, you know, he's been there for quite a long time now. Yeah, I think on the question of Pioli, I think the PSG game really is crucial, I think. And whether or not Milan would sack during the season, I don't know. I'm not sure whether that's the way they do things. I mean, time will tell. But I think if we're looking at certainly the end of the season,
00:23:14
Speaker
I think if Milan don't beat PSG, I mean, we know if they don't beat PSG, that's basically it. They're out of the Champions League. I mean, we might as well write them off now. They need an absolute miracle to qualify if they don't beat PSG. And, you know, you look at Serie A, I mean, again, like you just said it, they finished fifth last season. They shouldn't even be in the Champions League this season. And now they're starting to fall behind. I mean, it's not,
00:23:43
Speaker
it's not it's not a total crisis in terms of the six points behind inside. So I mean, it's not like it's all over. But but, you know, it's if you if you look at it last season, and now there's six points behind into already now, and then they're losing all these big games. You know, maybe I think the Milan leadership will look at and say, well, we're not
00:24:06
Speaker
We're not progressing anymore with Pioli. I think the PSG game in midweek is going to be absolutely crucial for Pioli's position because that will determine whether Milan are actually progressing anymore. If you look at Milan over the last year or so, they probably
00:24:31
Speaker
At the very least, they've been stagnating. They finished fifth for last season in Serie A. Let's not forget that. They shouldn't even be in the Champions League this season. They got to the semi-final of the Champions League. That's fantastic.
00:24:46
Speaker
But that can happen in the cups. You can have a good cup run sometimes. If Milan go out of the Champions League in the group stages, and then we look at them, they're already six points behind. I think the Milan leadership will look at this, and maybe they won't sack him mid-season. I don't know if that's the way they would do things, but I think they maybe will come to the decision that, yeah, maybe this is just natural. The team
00:25:08
Speaker
He's been there a long time. He's been there since 2019. He came in. It's nearly five years. He's going to be coming on five years. You know, that happens. Teams go stale. They need new motivation. Peyote's been there. Maybe he's been there too long. Right now, he doesn't seem to... I mean, it's always been a problem with his. He doesn't seem to be able to adapt and change the way of playing. I mean, he's tried a 4-4-2 here in this game against Udo Neza in the first half.
00:25:35
Speaker
I mean, it was bizarre. It was a bizarre lineup. Jovic and Giroud up front in a front two. Two slow strikers with no movement. I mean, it's really bizarre. Liao was wide midfield left.
00:25:48
Speaker
Musa was wide right midfield, so you're not going to get anything in terms of wing play from Musa. I think Florenzi was left back. I know there were injury issues and they had to improvise a little bit, but it was a total mess. The whole game was a mess, but the first half in that 4-4-2,
00:26:10
Speaker
I mean, they couldn't put any moves together, structurally, positionally, no patterns of play. I mean, it was a total, it was like they'd never played together before. And Pioli does this, you know, he occasionally tries to change something and then it never works. And then, you know, and he returns to reverse the type again. I mean, I don't know what that 442 was. I have no idea. I think the 442 was more to kind of get them to find some sort of balance in their shape.
00:26:39
Speaker
I think that's been his problem that he you know he tries to do many times when he makes formation changes he doesn't he doesn't do it permanently just to kind of get them to understand a pattern of weather where he wants them to be balanced on the pitch and then he goes back to his you know four two three one four three three.
00:26:59
Speaker
I think that's the idea behind that 4-4-2 against Woudini, I think he was basically trying to, you know, ease them in. It is the safest formation in football, isn't it? And I think that's what it was more than anything. He wasn't safe in this game. No, he looked horrible. He looked absolutely horrible. And Jovic and Giro, I mean, they have a problem in up front. They have a problem with strikers up front. I still don't understand why they didn't keep Lorenzo Colombo. I just don't understand that.
00:27:27
Speaker
He's a young player, he's a good player, he's strong, he's physical, his movement is excellent, he can hold up players we've seen. And instead they went after Jovic, which makes no sense to me whatsoever. Makes no sense to me.
00:27:43
Speaker
Yeah, it doesn't make sense. Columbus started to pick up as well. It's got two lovely goals yesterday. The second one was just out. I mean, go look at that. He's alone against four defenders. He drives the ball forward. He's alone. They can't get near him because he's a big physical guy. He protects the ball. He cuts out from the right in the middle to his left and then buries it into the... I mean, that is a top-class goal.
00:28:11
Speaker
It was, it was fantastic. I mean, I would counter that and say it was also really bad defending, but it was, it was a beautiful, beautiful goal. And he's really starting to progress now. And you can't tell me that Colombo wouldn't be, wouldn't be better than Jovic. I mean, don't get me wrong. I'm glad that Colombo is at Monza because he's going to get game time and he's going to improve there. He's going to play regularly, more regularly than he would at Milan. But from Milan's point of view, you can't tell me that.
00:28:37
Speaker
You're better off with Jovic than... No, I think next season, next summer, they have to make a decision where Colombo's getting ridiculous. Either you're going to give him a chance to sell him, because this is just ridiculous now. When you've got players at the club who aren't anywhere at all better,
00:28:55
Speaker
then Colombo and you're like, you can't, you're not even prepared to give him a chance. I mean, it's just, it's weird. No, for sure. I mean, Milan are struggling in front of goal. I mean, they are. I mean, Giroudo think he's only scored him one game of the last.
00:29:08
Speaker
10-11 matches, that Napoli game, other than that he hasn't scored. Liao is now 10 games without a goal for club and country. Eight games without a goal or assist. When we discussed this, we spoke about this at depth on the Thursday show.
00:29:26
Speaker
I mean, Liao is really in a situation here where he needs to find a way out of this. I don't know if teams are starting to figure him out, but certainly Udenezi were doubling up on him in this match, and lots of teams are doing that now on Liao. And when teams start to double up on you,
00:29:43
Speaker
you know, as a player, you need to, you can't keep playing the same way that you've been playing. I mean, when Liao was at his best during that Scudetto winning stretch in the second half of the Scudetto winning season, you know, he was receiving the ball on the left-hand side in acres of space. I remember saying it on this pod about how naive teams were defending, just making it so easy for him, going one-on-one against him. Now teams aren't doing that. They're doubling up on him. They're cutting out the space.
00:30:10
Speaker
and he needs to find a way around that you know and whether that means that he moves over from the left and comes into the number 10 area of the pitch or he moves to the other wing or or he moves into a as a as a center forward he goes into the center forward row and he lets
00:30:26
Speaker
He becomes a team player and he vacates that area on the left-hand side for somebody else to use it, maybe like Teo Hernandez. He didn't play in this game, but someone like Teo Hernandez to make use of his space or somebody else from the Milan team to make use of that space. Maybe Pulisic switches over onto the other side. Something like that.
00:30:45
Speaker
That's not just on Liao, that's also on Pioli. They need to find a way between the two of them to get round this slump that he's in, but not just as much for Liao, because I've just read out his numbers, but also for Milan, because at the moment it's a waste of time having a Liao that's in the team like this, because he offers nothing off the ball, he offers nothing defensively,
00:31:11
Speaker
And, you know, he almost works against Milan, having him playing like this. So, yeah, that needs to be sorted. That needs to be sorted. Because if he can't sort that out, Leo, we can't be talking about him as a top player. No. Because the top players find a way round these difficults. This happens to everyone. When anyone, all the great players, once they break out, teams start to find out what they're good at, what they do well, and the great players adapt.
00:31:38
Speaker
they tweak their game, they're adaptable enough and they've got, they're complete enough to be able to play in a different way. And I think Clara Tegevia is starting to show that. Yeah, we can see Clara. Because he was having the same issue, wasn't he? He went a long time without scoring. Teams were starting to find him out a little bit. And now he's come through it because he's found a way. He's coming inside more. He's, you know, he's improved.
00:31:59
Speaker
He's improved. He's improved everything. And I think we need to see that from Lao as well. It can't be just the same one-trick pony kind of thing. He needs to adapt to that. There's no doubt about that.
00:32:12
Speaker
Yeah. I mean, we listen, we have to also say Milan do have an injury crisis. They only have two center backs. I mean, Ben is there has been out for ages to Tayo was out of this game, Poulassich was out. I mean, Chukwesi was supposed to be someone they could bring off the benches out. Krunich has now got a muscular injury as well. And then, of course, we've got as a result of all that, we've also got players being overplayed lightly out like Giroud. So, you know, we also do have to accept that Milan Milan do have to have some injury problems. But they are.
00:32:41
Speaker
Yeah, they're in terrible form. One winning six, one drawn three defeats in their last four games. Yeah, I'll say it again. Simply have to beat PSG.
00:32:53
Speaker
I mean, there's a great result. It's a great result for them, a deserved win as well. You can't say this wasn't some smash and grab, this was a deserved win. They had the chances, they had other good chances to go 2-0 up. The defence conceded nothing, and like I said, until injury time when Milan kind of peppered the goal in injury time, they had a few chances. Nothing conceded.
00:33:16
Speaker
some of which we know what an amazing player he is. But I want to give a word of credit to one player, Festi Ebosele, who I'm not sure if I said on this pod, but I've certainly said to you privately that he's somebody that has really impressed me this season. He's been one of the best dribblers in the league. He's actually statistically the sixth best dribbler from right wing back
00:33:40
Speaker
for Udenezer and he was fantastic. Not only did he tie up Liao, I think Liao only got past him once in this game, but going forward he was really really dangerous and he won the penalty going on one of his dribbles. So he's been really good, he's Irish, Irishman and he was definitely the standout I think for Udenezer.
00:34:04
Speaker
He
Inter's Tactical Success and Challenges
00:34:05
Speaker
really was. And no, it was important for you, for for Dinesse to win, to to get out of the problems they are in in the table. I mean, they're 16th now. They took the first win of the season away at the San Siro clean sheet. Now, it was it was a very impressive win for Choffee. And it's yeah, no, they had to win that. They really did because otherwise the other teams are doing, you know, Caliari won again as well. So
00:34:34
Speaker
Yeah, that's going to be a hornet's nest, the relegation battle as always. Absolutely. Right, so let's move on to Inter now across Milan.
00:34:48
Speaker
Fantastic win for Inter, away from home at Atalanta, who are very difficult teams to play away. Hadn't conceded a goal, I believe, this season at home. And the weather conditions were really, really rotten. And Inter come away with a 2-1 win. Very tight, tough, it was a tough game, very tough game. And Atalanta were pushing for the equalizer at the end. But this is the kind of win that
00:35:18
Speaker
at the end of the season kind of wins you titles these kind of really
00:35:23
Speaker
intensely fought games in bad weather conditions away from home in a tough game like this, isn't it, Nimr? It really is. It really is. It's a huge, huge, huge important win. And also the way that Interplay, I thought they were even in games when things aren't clicking, they have this kind of calmness about them and almost like this kind of feeling that they will resolve it sooner or later. They have this methodology where they just keep drumming away and then the goals will come.
00:35:54
Speaker
Because they do have players who can shoot from outside the box, they know how to, they can cross the ball in and score you that way, they can play past you down the middle, they can hurt you in so many different ways. And that is why what makes Inter so much more mature this season, I think, than in previous seasons.
00:36:17
Speaker
uh it's been in the league I mean even though there were those missteps against the solo and Bologna which was really unnecessary um but they learned from that and they've bounced back from that and and and I feel like I'm watching and in there that has taken strides and steps um but having said that they're only two points ahead of julve and and they play julve in a couple of weeks time so that's going to be massive um but I do want to talk about
00:36:43
Speaker
Charanoglou. The pass for Darmia, for that penalty, was just absolutely ridiculous. When he joined Intel, I remember he was supposed to be his Luis Alberto
00:37:01
Speaker
But he's turned him into his new Brozovic and he's just, he's one of the best, if not the best midfielder in Serie A right now, isn't he? Yeah, that's what I was going to ask the question. Is Chalanogli the best centre midfielder in Serie A? For me, on form, there's no doubt about it.
00:37:15
Speaker
No, there's no one comes near him. And the fact that in terms of how intelligent he's become too, like the way that he- So complete as well. Yeah. Because he's not even bad. He's pretty good defensively as well, which he's not even expected. No, he's really, he was speaking about that himself, how he's improved his defensive work rate and read of the game and know what to do. And he's been, no, look, this is Simonin Zaghi's masterpiece, if you will, in terms of
00:37:44
Speaker
He always develops player, but Charanoglo has just become unbelievable under him. He is one of the best-selling cinemas in all of the world. I can't think of. He's definitely top three.
00:38:01
Speaker
his penalty taking as well. I mean, now he just doesn't miss a penalty either. And then he creates because of the fact that, you know, when he drops deep and he plays these wonderful balls, you know, as a wingback or a winger, that ball is coming. So you just need to time your run.
00:38:16
Speaker
And it's really difficult to defend against when you have a player like him. And I think he's really replaced Brozovic in the sense that for very many years it was just, you know, if Brozovic has a good day, Inter have a good day. Well, now you can say the same is true of Chalanoglo. Chalanoglo has a good day, Inter has a good day.
00:38:39
Speaker
Yeah, I actually think he's the one. I think he's even more irreplaceable than Lautaro for Inter right now, which sounds mad, but I think... No, he's not, because if Lautaro does not... Look, no, he's not, because Inter don't have any strikers. If Lautaro's injured, that's it. There's no one there. Charanoglou, there's literally no one there. It's just...
00:39:03
Speaker
Yeah, I see your point. I see your point. In terms of scoring goals, I see your point. In terms of playing, in terms of actual playing style, I mean, everything goes through cell and ogleena. No, it does. But I want to say though, Christian Aslani has, you know, there's some inter-believe in this kid and I think he showed
00:39:23
Speaker
that when he came on in the Champions League, when he's called on, I'm very, very optimistic about the kid because the
00:39:40
Speaker
what I've seen from him. I know he's no Chalanoglu, don't get me wrong. I mean, it's Roma, for example, not Champions League, sorry, but it's Roma when he comes on and he plays those cross balls, you know, which Chalanoglu also does. I mean, yes, of course, he's nowhere near Chalanoglu, but
00:39:56
Speaker
From what we've understood when they speak together I mean the way that they've spoken about each other are slightly says he's like my bigger brother is each other and says he's like my little brother I learned from him ever during training, you know, like he's basically grooming him up to be his replacement at the club and he's in that position and that's a really good environment and good.
00:40:15
Speaker
vibe to have at a football club where you have two players who are going for the same starting position, but you have a situation where one of them takes on to teach the other one, like a master teaching a teacher, and they compete that way. That's a very good problem to have.
00:40:37
Speaker
No, it is a good problem to have. We're talking about Milan and Juventus. Look at the players, they have to come off the bench to compare that to Inter. Inter rotate players in this game as well against the way Atalanta. The Pavard injury, how serious is the Pavard injury? I don't think he needs an operation, but it's a knee injury, which is never really good.
00:41:04
Speaker
But they're going to have, he's going through tests today, from what I've understood. I just checked the papers this morning. And yeah, they're talking about 40 days. He's going to be up for 40 days. So it's Christmas time here, we've got kind of something about that. Yeah, I mean, the thing is like,
00:41:26
Speaker
I just hope that it's not something serious. That's the only thing. They were worried that it was going to be something much more serious than that, but apparently they feel more optimistic.
00:41:44
Speaker
Uh, but yeah, no, they, they, they're doing tests today and hopefully it's nothing long with a ligament or anything like that, but just, you know, you know, he needs to just, you know, rehab, rehab, luckily, quote unquote, is an international break coming up. So you lose two weeks there.
00:42:00
Speaker
So, you know, hopefully by the end of the year. But it's a weakness because he's become so important and surprisingly really defensively as well. He's become very important defensively. But now it's, you know, it's Darmian now. You know, now it's up to Darmian and he was outstanding against Atlanta and we'll see. Yeah, we shall see. Talking from the Atalanta point of view though, I thought that
00:42:30
Speaker
I guess kind of maybe what we expect from our time to this season, like good but maybe just not good enough if we're talking top four.
00:42:41
Speaker
They were probably the better team until the penalty, but without really creating anything really much. I think Ruggieri had a kind of a half chance where he put it across the goal mouth, but I mean, it wasn't like they were really creating much. I thought Lukman was really good, very good on the ball. He was dangerous, but I thought Inter generally
00:43:01
Speaker
defended him quite well. Two things I do want to talk about. I know he scored, I know he nearly scored the equaliser, but I was studying him a lot and I think we need to see more from his overall game still. I just find him
00:43:19
Speaker
too static. I find his movement and his intensity needs to improve, like making himself available, finding the space to receive the ball, making those runs in behind. For me, he's too static. He just stands still too much and waits for the ball to come to him. And for me, that more than anything is his biggest weakness. And that is still what is stopping him from being
00:43:47
Speaker
you know, a top-top play because we know he has the quality. We know he has the incredible technical qualities. We know he has the incredible shot. He's tall. He can be a real aerial threat. He's so physical and strong. He's got all those qualities.
00:44:04
Speaker
but I still find that his kind of movement, I'm not going to compare him to Balotelli, but if you look at someone like Balotelli, like Balotelli never used to do it and they never used to move at all. And in modern football, you can't have strikers that are that still up front. And I feel with Schimacher that I get that impression with him too much that his movement off the ball is not good enough. That might sound crazy saying that after it came through.
00:44:30
Speaker
I can agree with that I think that's a really fair point I think I want to see him more involved as well yes I agree with that that he can be a little bit too like you said too static but more than just that I just think his his movement patterns need to improve for me it's not about as much as as much about how how much he moves but what how yeah yeah that's what I want him to improve I don't think you're ever going to see Skamaka be this kind of
00:44:59
Speaker
you know, Osseman Striker that runs everywhere, that's just not who he is. But I want him to time his runs and make him more intelligent runs than he's doing right now. That I do want to see.
00:45:11
Speaker
And because I think if he does that, then his teams will benefit greatly from it because of the fact that he's so damn good at holding up the ball. He's a big guy. He's a great passer. His linker plays great. So no, I agree with that. But I think that's part of his development as well. I mean, he lost an entire year yesterday playing injured.
00:45:30
Speaker
for Scottish Allegri, as you call him. I feel like looking back at him now, maybe it's not something I've noticed until, but maybe that has always been his weakness. I think it needs to improve. I'm also thinking Italy national team are playing on someone else's letter who requires his players to move and come out of position and everything.
00:45:53
Speaker
you know, that kind of more total football, you know, so we'll see. But I do feel like
Napoli's Performance and Challenges
00:46:00
Speaker
it's starting to irritate me now a little bit. And then the positive side of the positive point of view, you know, scored two last Monday, including that fantastic back here on the scored again against Inter could have scored that equalizer. Sommer made a really good save.
00:46:12
Speaker
Well, he would work twice on Monday. Yeah, he scored against England as well. So I mean, the scoring run has improved. So I'm going to take those positives. The other thing I want to say is Musso obviously gave away the penalty. I mean, he's been a disappointment. He's been a disappointment for me because I liked him. I thought he would be a good sign. Me too. He's I think he's been a disaster. I just think he's
00:46:37
Speaker
just not being that great. And then with Kana Secchi there, I mean, Kana Secchi is someone I'm still not sure how good he is either. I want to see more of him before I can say, oh yeah, he's going to be fantastic. But Kana Secchi is there waiting in the wings. I mean, there is the question now, should Kana Secchi be playing instead of Musso? I mean, I think Gasparini has a decision to make that. He makes too many mistakes, Musso. Too many mistakes.
00:47:05
Speaker
Agreed. I agree 100%. I think he's been a disappointment. He was supposed to take the next step and he hasn't. And I think it's weird because if you're in, you know, Atalanta usually don't spend a lot of money on the signing players and here they actually did that on Luso. And it turned out to be, well, not failure, but he didn't exactly improve. And with Kainaseki there, I'd rather play Kainaseki, to be honest with you. Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. I think he probably deserves a chance now.
00:47:33
Speaker
I think he deserves a chance. Right, let's move on to Napoli. Napoli win well. They win 2-0 away at... Who did Napoli play? I've come totally blank. Saloni Tana. Saloni Tana, yeah, Nadabi. So they win 2-0. Goals from Elmas scored as a substitute and the first... Chris Badori. Chris Badori, which I've got written right in front of me, but I'm...
00:48:01
Speaker
It's still early in the morning here. Listen, I think it was an excellent Napa performance. They created lots of chances. They dominated the play, they dominated the midfield, they conceded nothing. Lots of good individual performances. I think Raspadourri is obviously the biggest positive. He's really finding his feet now. Two goals in a year up until the Milan game and now he's scored again. Two goals against Milan, the free kicker, now he's scored this goal. Really nice finish.
00:48:29
Speaker
So that's really, really positive. I thought Polatano was really lively. Kvada, brilliant as always with his dribbling. The midfield, this was more of a real mid, Napoli midfield. Anguisa was back, properly back, and was really good. La Boca got the assist for respiratory was really good. The L mass was really good as well when he came on. So, yeah, Napoli won.
00:48:53
Speaker
I think the next step now for Napoli is we've seen this season that against the small teams, they've actually still been pretty good. But when they played against the bigger teams, that's when they've really, really felt fallen short. They lost to Lazio, lost to Fiorentino, lost to Madrid. They were disaster in the first half against Milan as well. But when they played against a small kind of whipping boys like Saloni Tana, like Lecce, Udenes, and Frosinolo, they've actually
00:49:21
Speaker
actually look like Spoletti Napoli. There's a big gulf in performance there. That needs to be the next step if they're going to salvage anything under
00:49:34
Speaker
Would you agree with that? I think that's fair. I think one of the most important things is that Aspadori is having the season he's having. He's finally coming to his own Annapoli and he's showing off what a quality player he is.
00:49:52
Speaker
And now he's becoming concrete as well. He's scoring goals, he's delivering assists, he's creating problems. And it's nice to see both him and Skamaka, the formal Sasolo duo, coming to their own in their respective clubs.
00:50:12
Speaker
I 100% agree with what you said about against the small teams because Napoli are such a skilled team with a ball that there's so many quality players that when they play against teams that are not as good, they just can't keep up with them. But it's against the bigger teams when they kind of
00:50:29
Speaker
They get posed questions that affect the fans. Exactly. Defensively they get asked questions and then that's where they are weak. Because Kim and Jay, you know, you don't just replace Kim and Jay. It's like that. And also the defensive structure under Spaletti isn't there anymore. So I think that's what it is. I still think they'll finish top four. I've said it consistently. I don't see a problem for that. I just don't think they're going to win the Scoredetto or even be involved in the Scoredetto race.
00:50:58
Speaker
But top four, they should definitely get that. I mean, the top four to me, Inter, Juve, Mila and Napoli, they are just better than everyone else, qualitatively, on paper and otherwise. So I think that is the top four. The question is, who joined Inter in the scoretto race? I'm not ready to say goodbye to Mila just yet, but I am more than prepared to say goodbye to Napoli because I just don't think they've got what it takes.
00:51:26
Speaker
under this manager and where they are defensively to pose a serious title charge. I would
Bologna and Lazio: European Aspirations
00:51:39
Speaker
definitely agree with all of that. Lazio certainly don't look like they're going to be challenging for the top four after they lose 1-0 at
00:51:50
Speaker
at Bologna, I mean, they were really poor Lazio. If we're talking from Lazio quickly first created basically nothing apart from a couple of those couple of chances from corners early on in the game. But apart from that, nothing at all Nimmer was there really from Lazio. I don't understand. Lazio, this season Lazio confused me so much. I don't understand what they're doing.
00:52:16
Speaker
Sometimes I feel like, okay, now it's clicking and now it's working, and then they just revert back to form and look static and slow and confused.
00:52:30
Speaker
I don't understand Lazio. I really don't. They frustrate me, and they have problems up front. They have a problem up front. I mean, Camarda has not turned out to be what they wanted him to be. He was supposed to get quite a few goals. Chirimobula is declining.
00:52:49
Speaker
Isak-sen is yet to show who he is. But then also the other players that they've got there are not, you know, it's not clicking. It looks disjointed at times. And it's weird. I can't figure Lazio out. I know what they want to do and sometimes they're able to do it in a few games and you're thinking, okay, now they're going to start flying.
00:53:14
Speaker
and then they pull up to stink. No, it's not. It's just not something just not working there. Listen, I think number one, the biggest issue is that their offense, they're they're just they don't have the same firepower. They're not the same goals in the team. They basically
00:53:29
Speaker
You've taken away Milinkovic Savage's goals and you've taken away Immobiler's goals. When I say taken away Immobiler's goals, he's still there. But Immobiler is, I mean, he's old and he's declined so much and he's turning 34. So you're basically taking away all those goals from those two players. And then so you lose a lot there. And then in addition to that, you obviously lost a really good set. Your center midfield is weaker because you've lost to Milinkovic Savage, but also
00:53:56
Speaker
Yeah, the defence is not working, but the two centre backs, Romanioli and Casale, have been so bad, so poor this season, haven't been so good last season. So you add that all together and I think that's what you get, what we've seen really with Lazio. But I mean, as for Bologna, the big question with Bologna now is,
00:54:16
Speaker
How far can Bologna go this season? Can they challenge for Europe? Because they're unbeaten in 10 games in Serie A this season. They only lost the first game of the season at Milan, and it's their best run in 43 years. Obviously, it's going to be very, very tough to keep it up. I mean, this unbeaten run is going to end at some point, probably soon.
00:54:41
Speaker
they've had a really hard start to the season as well. That's what was so amazing about it is they've played Juventus and Inter away.
00:54:49
Speaker
which they got draws against. They played Napoli at home, which they drew. They played Milan. They played Lazio as well now, and they beat Lazio. So all these games, they've only got one defeat. I mean, it's very, very impressive. And they're now currently in the European places. So can they stay there, Nima? I don't think so, but I know that you think they can.
00:55:18
Speaker
No, no, I don't think I never, I never said they worked. I never said they worked. I said that they had some challenge for European players. I think that was probably the only person that said that. You did it. Yeah, you did. I'm not, I think they can, I don't know, man. I just feel that, let me put it to this way. If they do it, I think it would be a very, very big achievement. In fact, I'll regret myself. I never said I think they can challenge. I said, I think they can be a dark force. I said that they could be a dark force.
00:55:45
Speaker
And I said that for a couple of reasons. One, I think Motta is doing an incredible job. And there's every game that passes now, he looks more and more like a manager that's going to manage a top team. I mean, he's doing a great job. He improves players. I mean, we spoke about Zirksi. We did a profile on him on Thursday, which is not going to be on our YouTube channel today or tomorrow, about what a job he's done in improving Zirksi. And he got the assist in this game.
00:56:10
Speaker
But also, and I know you've been a really big fan of him this season, kind of fury, like adapting him to be a center back. I mean, what, what? I mean, he's been really good as well. He's been so damn good too. Where did that come from? Who would have thought of that?
00:56:23
Speaker
Calafiori's been outstanding in central defense. He's such a pain in the butt. He's difficult to play against. He's young, too. That's the thing. People think, oh, no, he's just 21. But he's been such a good central defender.
00:56:47
Speaker
He's eating up the attackers that he's faced against. Their defense is really good.
00:56:58
Speaker
They don't play this kind of old school defensive football. They are sound defensively and they're a tough team to play against, but they are very progressive when moving forward. I think Amata's adapted this season because he's not as gung-ho as he was in times last season. They're selective. But what impresses me most is what impresses me the most about Bologna when I watched them is
00:57:25
Speaker
The patterns of play are very good, but there's always options. They always find their way out of areas. Like when the press, they're very good at press breaking. He's very good at positioning his players to always be available for the ball. That really impresses me with belonging. That's kind of, I get that, you get that with Deserby as well. Like Deserby is a master at positioning his players so that however the opposition attacks you,
00:57:51
Speaker
there's always players available to play their way out. And I think I've noticed that with Montelok, they keep the ball and get their way out of areas really, really good. Whether or not they keep it up, I mean, you know, on paper, they shouldn't based on the players that they have. But, you know, these other teams are not great either, Nima. I mean, Fiorentina, we've spoken about, you know, Atalanta have their weaknesses. I mean, Roma, Lazio. I mean, these teams are in Europe as well. So, you know, Milan are not in Europe.
00:58:22
Speaker
Yeah, let's see. Let's see how we can do. I don't think they'll finish in the top six because I think Roma is too good. Conference league, maybe. Yeah, that's what I'm thinking. But we can battle Fiorentina for seventh and finish in the conference league. I definitely think they can battle Fiorentina. I do think that maybe Roma, I mean, those top four you've mentioned, then you've got Roma, Lazio and Atalanta. I think
Roma's Comeback and Upcoming Derbies
00:58:47
Speaker
I put all three of those above Bologna, if I'm honest with you.
00:58:50
Speaker
If you're on Tino, I don't see why they can't challenge against against me on Tino. But the problem with Latio is that I just don't trust them this season. I don't trust them either. But I mean, let's see. I mean, how far they go in Europe could be important as well. I mean, you know, if they if they stay in a Champions League or if they stay or if they go to the Europa League, I mean, that will take something out of them as well. So I think the European factor could could could play a part as well. Absolutely. Talking of Roma, though,
00:59:18
Speaker
I mean, this was another epic ending, just like last week with the game between Calgary. I mean, it wasn't the same as Calgary. They didn't come from four goals behind, but like Calgary, they were losing by a goal deep into injury time.
00:59:36
Speaker
They're losing one there and then they scored the 92nd minute with Azmoun, scoring a header, bullet header, first goal for the club. And then Romelu Lukaku, who had earlier missed the penalty, scores in the 94th minute, crazy celebration, burst into tears. I mean, this was just another epic ending to the match, Nima, wasn't it? Oh, it really was. It's just, it's like,
01:00:01
Speaker
Roma are already like this crazy place, right? And then you bring in, you bring in Mourinho's madness into that. And then you have all like, it's just like this melting pot of just psychotic energy, isn't it? It's just, it's just mad. It's just absolutely mad. The club is absolutely batshit crazy. And, and you have all these big characters and now it was crazy, man. It was, and then you have the crowd there as well, which eggs them on and they have a fantastic support at home.
01:00:29
Speaker
Nah, it was too much. It was too much. I think they really deserved to win this. I mean, to be honest with you, I thought Roma were too good. I was impressed by Lece, I was, but I think Roma deserved to win this. Well, based on the chances, they definitely deserved to win. I mean, they had the penalty, of course.
01:00:52
Speaker
then there was a DiBardi shot that was inches wide. Lukaku had another one and then there was an El Shurari charge. I didn't think Roma played particularly well. I don't think they played well at all.
01:01:06
Speaker
If you look at the XG, you look at the big chances they created, I think they definitely would have been unfair if they'd have lost this game. It's a very, very important win for Roma. It's a very, very important win because they're now four points off the top four, which puts them in striking distance now. It would have been seven if they lost a game or six, which is not good. And now they go into... I mean, it sets up the derby next week. Oh my God, that derby is going to be mad.
01:01:33
Speaker
Yeah, I don't know what's going to happen with that Derby. I mean, it's just it's going to be absolutely insane. You have like, I mean, those games are always crazy. Rome Derby is just is its own kind of lives in its own bubble. But but then you have all of this going on with Romain Latzio and you got Sarri and Mourinho on top of that. And it's just.
01:01:53
Speaker
And also it's a case where I think now if you look at where they both are in the table, whoever loses that game, you can almost rule them out in the top four.
European Matches: Crucial Outcomes for Serie A Teams
01:02:01
Speaker
So it's a big, big game. Whoever wins it though, they're right in their own contention for the top four. It's a lot riding on this game, not just for the result, for the table, for pride, but also, like you said, the managers, both managers are under a bit of pressure.
01:02:18
Speaker
Yeah, it's a lot going to be on this game, it's going to be very exciting to see. Yeah, cutting for lecture, the other weekend fixtures, Verona won Monza 3, as we mentioned before, Colombo with a couple of really fantastic goals. The second goal, you have to look at that, I mean that is just
01:02:39
Speaker
That is why I rate this kid. That is a top goal. That is a top quality goal. To get the ball like that alone and keep four or five defenders occupied and be able to cut in. That was just the finish too. Yeah, fantastic.
01:02:58
Speaker
And calorie two, general one, so calorie make it three wins in a row now in all competition, two wins in a row in Serie A. Just goes to show, doesn't it, how, how, you know, a dramatic game like that. You said it last week, that can really turn around your season. They've got Juventus away next. That will be interesting. Frosting on it, Empoli, Torino, Sassuola on Monday evening.
01:03:20
Speaker
Right, Champions League returns this week, huge, huge Tuesday for Lazio and Milan. Lazio play final at home, Milan play PSG at home. They must win games for both of them. It's as simple as that. If they don't win those games, I think we can
01:03:37
Speaker
almost rule them out in terms of Champions League qualification. Lazio might still have more of a chance, but I think with them as well, they need to win, or they're probably going to go out of the Champions League. Milan, 100%, they do not beat PSG. They're out of the Champions League, and as we discussed earlier, the knock-on effects are huge for the club, for the financially, for the progress the club's making, but also for Stefano Pioli.
01:04:07
Speaker
if not necessarily his immediate future, but his future past the end of the season. I think regardless, unless Milan win the Serie A, I think this could be the last season with purely, generally speaking, because then he would have been there for four and a half seasons and that's...
01:04:24
Speaker
That's a long time to be at one club. It is, but, you know, let's say for certain if they lose this game, I think it's probably curtains for him, I think, if they lose this game. And it's a massive game for the fans. They just have to win this game. Wednesday, Napoli, Uni and Salzburg into both teams are in really strong positions in the group. Both teams can
01:04:53
Speaker
Well, Napoli won't be 100% qualified if they win. But if they beat Salzburg, they're through. It's as simple as that. Because they can't be caught by Benfica, points-wise. And Salzburg, they would have beaten them twice.
01:05:13
Speaker
Yeah, so beat Salzburg and Inter are through. Then, you know, with two games left to spare, and then it's just a top spot to play for, which I think Inter should be, should be winning anyway. So, yeah. Yeah. Okay. And then Thursday, Atsolante Sturmgrat, Slavya Prag, Roma and Kukariki Fiorentina. That name, Kukariki, I'm sorry, just every time. Just remember, I'd say, Salma Hayek saying Kukuracha.
01:05:37
Speaker
in that film with Samuel L Jackson. I can't remember what the film is called. That name Kogariki just makes me giggle every time I read it. They lost 6-0 so they can't do any worse than that. They played like a team that is called Kogariki. Right, let's finish off with Bad Joe and Prim Face of the Week. Right, Bad Joe of the Week.
01:06:06
Speaker
Who we got? Who we got for Peche? Peche of the week. I've got, I mean, for me, Skamaka's back heel goal against, I think it was Empoli, I mean, that's just stunning, and Colombo as well. There was, no, so for me, Skamaka's back heel like that was just, oof. Yeah, I'll give a shout out for Bologna as well. Prem face of the week. Yeah, I mean, Celia count.
01:06:38
Speaker
Posting hyping up Giroux's goal against Napoli, but posting a video of Raspadori's free kick, leaving it up for an hour and not noticing. It's just, it's unbelievably funny. But also I saw something from the MLS yesterday. I don't know if you've seen it.
01:06:57
Speaker
Oh, I saw that. Yeah, the referee barging a player. Yeah, that and also the offside. I mean, it's offside, for goodness sakes. They don't know the offside rule. And no one... Oh, is that what they were complaining about? Because I didn't realize that. I only looked at the referee barging. I saw everyone kicking off. Like, how can the referee bow that guy? He's just barged to stop the player from getting to it.
01:07:18
Speaker
It's like blatant offside. It's so bad. And it's like, it's just, how was that goal allowed to stand? And then you see Chiellini running around happy as well. It's just, oh, the whole thing is just so cringe. It's one of the most embarrassing things I've seen in a professional league. Like how, like we're talking basic offside rule knowledge here.
01:07:43
Speaker
Oh, so bad. It was all of the entire situation, all of it. The referee, the the offside rule not being applied. I mean, it's just all of it, all of it. It's just it's just so bad. It is literally just cringe. Hmm.
01:07:57
Speaker
So that's got to be my prim face of the week. Okay, fair enough. Physically hurt me watching that. Yeah. Well, it's Champions League week this week. So, you know, it's always a prim demic whenever it's Champions League week. So we can guarantee there'll be more next week. Right. Let's leave it at that. We will be back on tomorrow. Yeah. So we're back on Tuesday. And this week we won't have a Q&A. We have an interview come in, which
01:08:27
Speaker
we will announce on social media once we've done it because we both me and them are superstitious. We don't want to jinx it and announce something that doesn't end up happening and so yeah we'll push out that interview on Tuesday instead of the Q&A and we'll do the Q&A next week so anyone that's sending in questions just hold them if you can and send them in ahead of
01:08:54
Speaker
Next Tuesday. Next Tuesday. Yeah, exactly. Or send them before Monday because we usually record on Monday. Sometimes we record on Tuesday, the Q&A, but it's generally better if you can send in your questions before Monday. It helps Nimr as well. Yes, it does. Yes, it does. Yes, it does. Right. Okay. Right. Let's leave it at that. We will see you on Tuesday. Until then, ciao ciao.