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Beyond the Pitch Episode 75: Sir Jim Radcliffe's Women's Team Comments, WSL, Champions League, and European Leagues
8 Plays11 days ago
Join Cate and Catherine for a discussion about what is happening at Manchester United, a round up of WSL and Champions league action, and a catch up about European leagues.
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Transcript
Introduction to Beyond the Pitch Podcast
00:00:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome to Beyond the Pitch, a daily women's football podcast brought to you by the Global Sports Podcast Network. Today, it's me, it's me, Catherine, that is, and I'm here with one of your favourite Italians, and my favourite Italians.
00:00:24
Cate
Yeah, that's me, Katarina, or Kate, however you want to pronounce it.
00:00:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, is that your name, Catarina?
00:00:32
Cate
My name is Katarina, actually, my name is Katarina.
00:00:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, that's so cool, we have the same name.
00:00:39
Cate
Yes, I am pretty cool.
00:00:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, me too.
Ownership Controversies at Manchester United
00:00:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
um So today we're going to talk about what is going on at Manchester United. We'll also review the WSL weekend, preview this week's Champions League matches and lastly have a little look around Europe as I like to do.
00:01:01
Global Sports Podcast Network
So Manchester United, should I set the scene?
00:01:05
Cate
Should you watch?
00:01:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Here is this
00:01:06
Cate
i i your Your audio is very low today, so I'm going to be struggling, I think.
00:01:07
Global Sports Podcast Network
so
00:01:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, really?
00:01:11
Cate
No, that's okay. I think it's my problem. um
00:01:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Are you sure?
00:01:16
Cate
Yeah, yeah. So Manchester United, go on. I can see the list is endless in here.
00:01:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, so to set the scene, Manchester United um initially were owned by the Glazer family, and I think it was just over a year ago, maybe 18 months ago, that the Glazers decided that they wanted to sell, but they didn't know if they wanted to sell the all of their shares or just part of their shares. um One of their options was Qatar wanted to buy the whole club,
00:01:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Sir Jim Ratcliffe came in and gave them an offer essentially and said I'll become the new majority owner however you can still have a piece of the pie but I'll make all the decisions. Since Sir Jim Ratcliffe has been in It's kind of been constant negative press for United Women. um I think part of that we need to understand is just that this is Manchester United and there's always a negative press about Manchester United because it's Manchester United. But also Sir Jim Radcliffe has not helped himself at all. So firstly he said um he was um in an interview a few months after he joined and
00:02:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
about the women's team and he just said, oh, I'm not thinking about that yet. I'm focused on the first team. Red flag number one. Um, yes.
00:02:38
Cate
Indeed.
00:02:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Then in the summer, there were some big names left the club and at the time they didn't talk much about it, but they have since people like Katie Zellum, our captain.
00:02:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mary Earps leaving the club were definitely big ah names to leave. Around the same time it was announced that due to the men's facilities, men's team facilities being re refurbished, um they were going to use the women's new facility, which is a brand new amazing complex, and the women would be moved into porter cabins.
00:03:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
And lastly, he was recently asked by the fanzine United We Stand about the women's team, and he said quite a few things. Let me quote him. He said, one thing which is just funny, I don't understand this. He said, if we're losing matches, then I don't expect morale to be good. We want people here who are and either happy or unhappy, depending on what happened at the weekend.
00:03:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
okay so you want people to be happy when you win and unhappy when you lose that's just people like i don't understand what he's talking about he also said there's only so much you can do and our focus has been on the men's team if not you get spread too thinly we need to sort out the main issue the men's team and again it's just he needs help with his communications he needs help i i don't think anyone Well, some people would, but I don't think anyone would really have much of an issue if he...
Leadership and Fan Discontent
00:04:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Ooh, I've got an echo.
00:04:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
If... Yeah.
00:04:27
Cate
have an echo?
00:04:29
Cate
yeah Okay, that's weird.
00:04:32
Global Sports Podcast Network
That is weird. Okay, I'll just keep talking. um ah And the other thing he said was that women's football at United is an opportunity. And what I just think is, imagine how would you feel if you were one of those players going out after you've heard this with that badge on your chest, knowing that your owner doesn't believe that, you know, you're a priority. It really, really sucks. um Dan Ashworth was our director of football and he was a huge kind of champion of women's football. He was ah heavily involved in Newcastle United's women's football team, who of course are being really successful
00:05:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
and building building on that success he's just left and for me the worrying thing there is that it's we felt like um confident that the women's team kind of had a strong voice in him high up at United but that's gone now and recent comments from people like Mary Epps, Katie Zellum has also come out and essentially said she didn't like the direction that the club was going in. um Mary Epps has said similar things that her kind of philosophy and her hopes for the future didn't align with Manchester United, which again is very telling. So it's just really disappointing. As a United fan, it's really disappointed. And it kind of puts me off watching the men's team because I feel like, well,
00:06:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't know, it just feels so disappointing. um I mean, what does
Personal Connections and Nostalgia
00:06:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
it look like to you from the outside, not as a United fan?
00:06:10
Cate
There is a context in here that we have to say, sorry, there is some problem with the voice and my computer tonight. I apologize to all the listeners. um but i kind of like So, when I first moved to England 22 years ago, I had a soft spot for United because of David Beckham.
00:06:28
Cate
Yeah, I was a David Beckham generation. It was like, David Beckham, Michael Owen, David Beckham, Michael Owen. Oh, who do we choose? Who do we choose?
00:06:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
He chose right.
00:06:36
Cate
That's just ah just how much into football I was. ah Technical football. So I had a spot i a soft spot. And then when i when I moved into London, I was like, well, actually, I want to support a London team because that's you know like but that's what it is. So that's why I picked Tottenham. But when United then decided to build a ah women's team in 2018-2019,
00:07:03
Cate
I had a soft spot for them. And then obviously they grew. And then, you know, we had the duo of like Ella Tune and Alicia Russo, the Italian one, and some other players that are there as well, which are incredible.
00:07:15
Cate
So, I mean, I think I agree with Katie. I think Katie Zellum, I think, you know, United could be an incredible team. I mean, they had incredible players and I mean, you can see last year they won, I don't know,
00:07:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
yeah
00:07:30
Cate
the FA Cup against my team, so that was a bit heartbreaking.
00:07:33
Global Sports Podcast Network
4-0 in the final.
00:07:33
Cate
about I mean, the opportunities were there, right? And it's interesting on what you said before that you said, well, you know, if you are a if you are a player that you're there and you are entering the the football field and ready to play with the badge on your T-shirt, you know, that should be very disarming.
00:07:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:07:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm. Hmm.
00:07:53
Cate
I think it depends on the players. I think some players will feel like that and they left the club and, and you know, Katie, not the only one. ah And some players are like, do you know what? We're united. You don't want to show us. Fine. We'll show you what we can do and how we can do and why we are worthy instead of just
Communication Issues and New Hires
00:08:14
Cate
running away. So I think it's debatable. I feel like it seems like both Manchester teams have lost lost the plot.
00:08:23
Cate
It's just like, do you guys not have anyone with all the money that you have that really helps with your communication?
00:08:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:08:29
Cate
Like the way Pep Guardiola spoke in some, you know, recent interviews and things like that is like, what is going on?
00:08:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:08:37
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:08:37
Cate
And then, exactly.
00:08:39
Cate
And there's, you know, this sir coming out to just blurring out this sort of thing.
00:08:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Maybe in the air or in the mansion.
00:08:45
Cate
And you just go like, what? I have to say, I'm quite surprised because Actually, i i went to I went to Manchester City for a few of their leadership courses, ah thanks to Women in Football as well.
00:09:00
Cate
And I had the pleasure of meeting actually Omar, who is the and who is yeah now the CEO.
00:09:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, Omar Barana.
00:09:07
Cate
Yes. Who is the CEO of United, but was the COO of sitting group. And I just thought he, like, I loved him. Like he spoke a couple of times. I had like to the public and explained a lot of things. And then I had the opportunity to have a quick 15 minutes, one-to-one chat. And I just thought, wow, he's moving over to the other side. It's like, this is when, you know, United is going to come back.
00:09:34
Cate
and just kind of like take over again because he's done so much at City, at City Group anyway. And
Staff Concerns and Emotional Ties
00:09:41
Cate
I'm a bit like, ah okay, actually it's not. What's going on? So I really have no idea. I'm confused. it's It's quite sad in a sort of way. It's also a little bit frightening. Like what is actually going on? Like,
00:09:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:09:58
Cate
What's happening behind closed doors? What's happening? um i mean i feel I feel a bit sorry because I read in and in an article today that he was mentioned that they might be doing even further cuts to stuff and they did a massive one a few months ago.
00:10:14
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hmm. Yeah.
00:10:18
Cate
And i you know I have the pleasure to know a few people working there and I know that's going to impact them. And it's definitely not something you want to hear just before Christmas and the end of the year.
00:10:29
Cate
I'm not saying Christmas has to be just like a very idyllic time and we have to pretend everything is gray, but it's also nice not to have that type of news just a couple of weeks before it.
00:10:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah. Absolutely.
00:10:41
Cate
And for you to go in thinking, wow, what's going to happen to me in the new year? What's going to happen to my team? Let's also not forget that many people that work for the club also really love the club.
00:10:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well.
00:10:52
Cate
It's not just a job. So it's it's not just, oh, I lost a job and, you know, fine. I'll find another one. It's like, well, I lost a job in the club. I really love.
00:11:04
Cate
What am I going to go? It's not that, you know, it's not like a tech company or a shop. that you think like, well, okay, I'll walk into another shop. it doesn't It doesn't really work like that. I think people don't understand that about football. They've really done. It's not just a job. I'm sure for some people it is, but for many it's not. So I don't know. I just really hope that, you know, we are going into like a Christmas break for the girls, not for the men's, but, um you know, and maybe when they are coming back mid of January, there's actually a more stable situation and they can feel a bit more
00:11:39
Cate
the love from the club. Also, let's not forget that realistically behind closed door, it might not be as bad as it is in the press. So TBC.
00:11:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
I just wanted to mention one thing about the financial side of it, because a lot of people, when whenever you go online and you say something like, oh, it's upsetting,
Financial Disparities in Football
00:12:00
Global Sports Podcast Network
people say, okay, but the men's team is the one who makes all the money, so therefore we need to pay attention to that first. Just a word on the financial. So the club spent £200 million pounds on the men's summer transfer window last summer. They paid £10.4 million pounds to sack Eric Tenharg and his coaching staff. They spent £2.5 million pounds bringing Ashworth in from Newcastle United, only to get rid of him five months later. The women's team's total operating expenses, £6.8 million. So £6.8 compared to that £200 plus £10.4 million plus £12.5 plus £3.2 million, that is huge. The women's team does not cost a lot to run.
00:12:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
He can focus on the women's team as well as the men's team. He should be able to. He, I mean, ah surely there are enough professionals in that club but that they can multitask. Um, especially
Global Football Updates
00:12:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
when you talk about money, 6.8 million compared to like 228 million. It's a huge difference anyway.
00:13:08
Cate
The Global Sport Podcast Network is changing the face of football podcasts with dedicated daily content for every Premier League team, women's football, fantasy football, and a daily Premier League wrap-up broadcasted in five different languages. This is your one-stop shop for your daily fix football. Find GSPN wherever you find your usual podcast.
00:13:30
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, so now that I've just about recovered from the talk about United, let's focus on some good things. A brief roundup of the WSL results from the weekend.
00:13:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
There were quite a few 4-0s, quite a lot of goals. Maybe the wind helped. It definitely was very, very windy everywhere. So Manchester United beat Liverpool, yay, 4-0.
00:13:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Just a huge shout out for Dominique Jansen, who was player of the match.
00:13:57
Global Sports Podcast Network
She scored a goal and two assists.
00:13:57
Cate
she
00:14:01
Cate
Can I interrupt you there?
00:14:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah?
00:14:04
Cate
Can I ask actually request request as ah your co-host, the next time you win that next time your team wins 4-0, you don't say just, yeah hey, you just go like, yes, United, yes, we put some passion in there.
00:14:08
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah!
00:14:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well,
00:14:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
it felt...
00:14:19
Cate
you want You want the owner to care about the women's team, we have to show him.
00:14:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, it felt kind of like I didn't want to do that after we've just been talking about all the problems. It was like, oh, I'm going to say, oh, but yay. It's like, I didn't want to do that. This is what I mean.
00:14:34
Cate
i mean this is
00:14:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
This is what they're doing to you.
00:14:35
Cate
and doing Yeah, but we need to fight that.
00:14:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
Fight that feeling.
00:14:40
Cate
Yes, because the girls are going in and they're playing and they're bringing the result and they're still fighting. So we need to be behind them. That's how I feel anyway.
00:14:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
No, that is that is true. That is true. OK, I take your point. Um, should I do a bigger? Yay! Is that better? Yay! And it was Liverpool!
00:15:01
Cate
Yeah, it's much better.
00:15:03
Global Sports Podcast Network
okay good ah Manchester City Boo beat Leicester 4-0 Arsenal Boo beat Villa 4-0 sorry I'm just adding boos now to show my passion um Chelsea beat Brighton only 4-2 so Brighton West Ham beat Palace 5-2 in what I think was the game of the weekend and Spurs beat Everton 2-1 yay yore okay do you want to do your yay?
00:15:31
Cate
Yay! We got a victory bag! We got a victory bag!
00:15:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
I'm Beth England, score to praise.
00:15:40
Cate
Yay!
00:15:43
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay, some highlights. um I was quite happy to see that the lionesses on the show were doing well. Jess Park, Aggie Beaver Jones, Russo, Mead, all got on the score sheet. Although she didn't score, Grace Clinton played really well. Ruby Mace was kind of the one bright spot for Leicester, despite the loss. um I think we need to shout out playing out from the back during heavy wind against teams.
00:16:10
Global Sports Podcast Network
that you shouldn't really be playing out from the back a again. um Yeah, I think caused quite a few issues for Chelsea, for Brighton especially. um Hannah Hampton had some amazing saves, but there were also quite a few nervous passing out from the back moments um between her and the defence. ah I think the main reason Chelsea won was because they're more ruthless um and have that finishing quality. West Ham, where did that come from?
00:16:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
I- who would expect West Ham to score five goals? Like, I know. And would you like to talk about Spurs?
00:16:46
Cate
so I mean, actually, no, I mean, yeah, well done the team.
00:16:50
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh.
00:16:51
Cate
I'm happy is my team. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, whatever. I mean, the girls made us proud because the boys was the boys was like, shocking result.
00:16:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Say, no, you need to share more passion.
00:17:01
Cate
No, no, no, I want to but I want I really want to talk about the Western Palace because
00:17:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Okay.
00:17:06
Cate
Actually, first of all, I have a soft spot for Palace. I was so happy when they came up last year.
00:17:11
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, me too.
00:17:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:17:13
Cate
And um I'm gonna be honest, I will be very gutted if they don't stay up.
00:17:18
Cate
But also I wouldn't know what other the other team I wouldn't want to go.
Women's Football Highlights
00:17:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Liverpool can go.
00:17:22
Cate
So it's very hard.
00:17:24
Cate
Well, I think I think they've done a fantastic job last year, like crazy job. I love the coach. I love the team. I love the, you know, the, the, the general manager. ah that It's like, you know, a heavy women, uh, team as in like not just the player, but also the management that comes, you know, in, in this, the C suit level. And I really love that. And it was just really beautiful that both teams were up in, uh, you know, up in them.
00:17:53
Cate
in the top tiers and obviously it spoils us because then we can we have so much choice to go and watch a lot of games. But yes, I don't know what happened to West Ham and I want to really clap them because I think it's really hard when you you know you you spend a certain amount of weeks
00:18:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mm-hmm. Mm.
00:18:12
Cate
just really not delivering being buttered and just being trashed on the you know on the media and everything else and then you stand up and you say do you know what do you know what actually we're still gonna keep fighting and we're gonna show what we do and do you know what good for them i also really love the fact that there's so many goals when you go and watch a women's game i mean it happens sometimes in the premier league as well like
00:18:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:18:40
Cate
but to and I'm in Chelsea, but we don't want to talk about that. ah but But it's just very nice. It's entertaining. Imagine you're there.
00:18:49
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah?
00:18:50
Cate
Imagine you're there and it's like 5'2", you know?
00:18:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, yeah.
00:18:54
Cate
So I just want to say, you know, kudos to them, absolutely very happy, very, very happy. Spurs, as you asked me to talk about my team, very happy they come back to the win, very happy who scored, but also what I really like is the fact that, as I said to you in some of the games that we played before, we actually didn't play Like we didn't this on paper.
00:19:19
Cate
Yeah. We didn't deserve to lose. And that's really upsetting. You know, when you're playing somewhere and you're like, okay, we really did not deserve to lose, but we lost.
00:19:25
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, yeah.
00:19:30
Cate
We, we weren't able to bring in the result. Um, I'm glad, I'm glad that they did this. I'm glad that they got a win. And I hope again, you know, um, well, we are recording on Tuesday and the podcast is going to go out on Wednesday if I'm not wrong. So they will play tonight. So Wednesday. Um, and then, you know, I hope they're going to get another good result before the Christmas break last year. It really, really helped us.
00:19:57
Cate
We came back like so good after the Christmas break and we smashed the FA and like the team was like so on it. And yeah, that's, that's my wish for my team.
00:20:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Excellent. Well, just a quick a glance at the Champions League games this week. We have Galatasaray versus Leon, Wolfsburg and Roma, Celtic versus Real Madrid, Chelsea and FC Twent, Bayern versus Juventus, that's going to be, that's my pick of the bunch, Valorenga versus Arsenal, Hamaby versus Barcelona and Man City versus Simpholton.
00:20:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
So which games are you most looking forward to hearing about or watching?
00:20:39
Cate
Well, actually I was supposed to be at the Chelsea game, because I was invited, but as I said to you before, I really don't feel well.
00:20:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
and
00:20:47
Cate
I really, really wanted to go walk go and watch that game.
Supporting Women's Football in Large Venues
00:20:51
Cate
um Also, they're playing at Stanford Bridge, really appreciating of that. And I think, you know, we always say we want the women to play in the big stadiums, but if we want them to play in the big stadium, we need to go and watch them.
00:21:01
Cate
We need to fill those stadiums, because if we don't do it, they will start to say, okay, people are not coming, so back to the small stadiums. And I don't want that. um I think
00:21:02
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:21:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
Podcasting and Zencastr Promotion
00:21:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, especially again, I'll mention it when we talk about the European leagues, but especially Wilsburg coming out of a loss into that game as well. That'll be interesting.
00:21:36
Cate
Correct. And Roma, and I mean, I'm going to say this, but just as a little head up and also Roma not doing particularly well this year in the, in the league, not as much.
00:21:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Ooh.
00:21:47
Cate
So I wonder if maybe they are really pushing it for the Champions League this year. Do you know?
00:21:52
Global Sports Podcast Network
Ooh, let's think about that. Hold on to that thought. Here at the Global Sports Podcast Network, we spent a lot of time selecting our delivery platform. Zencaster came out the clear winner with 4K video recording from your phone and AI editing that automatically removes all of those ums and ahs. It's super easy to start a podcast that sounds great and is delivered efficiently. If you're ready to tell your story, check out the link in the show description to learn more about Zencaster.
00:22:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
ah okay so our last topic for the day is looking around this is my favorite
European Women's League Updates
00:22:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
segment now i love this looking around europe at the different leagues um so i'll talk about germany france and the netherlands and then i'll let you talk about spain uh spain italy you can talk about spain if you want but you can also talk about italy ah so over in germany georgia stanwesk ordered screamer as bayan swept past essen two nil
00:22:38
Cate
No offense.
00:22:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
um The biggest statement in the Frauenbunders League there was from Frankfurt, who beat Walsberg, as ah we just mentioned, 2-0 I think that was, to move into the top spot. ah So it's hugely competitive at the top of ah the league over in Germany, which, you know, you love to see. Over in France, PSG drew with Paris FC. Paris FC, I always just remember that Man City thrashing and thinking what an odd stadium it looks like. It looks like a very futuristic stadium.
00:23:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
Mary Ups played well, she couldn't do anything about ah Paris F.C.'s goal. Leona's still top, they're three points ahead of PSG, but listen to this. Their goal difference is plus 43, and number two is PSG, with a goal difference of plus 20. So that's 23 goals ahead, they are. Which is just insane. In the Netherlands, we can celebrate Ado got a win!
00:23:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
so Um, they hosted the US at, at O stadium. Uh, it was the Netherlands versus the USA at that stadium. And I thought that would be, that would be good for them. Uh, they recently lost their coach before this game. Um, and their, and his assistant Sandra Van Toel took over. This is interesting. She, apparently she only has a diploma.
00:24:13
Global Sports Podcast Network
high enough to be a temporary head coach. She doesn't have like the qualification high enough to be the permanent head coach. So she's only allowed to remain in charge for four weeks, which means that they really need to get moving on the head coach train.
00:24:29
Global Sports Podcast Network
um Yeah, they beat Excelsior Rotterdam 4-0. There was a debut goal from, I'm not going to pronounce her name correctly, Flauch Bowl, or Flaucher Bowl, who is only 17. She's so young. It's like when I was 17, I couldn't, I don't know, I didn't even kick a ball.
00:24:48
Global Sports Podcast Network
um At the top, PSV beat Ajax, which was a big game. Ajax looked very discombobulated. You could see that Hesterin de Rous did not look very happy with her Ajax team at all. PSV are definitely looking in a strong position for the league. ah Lastly, Spain Barcelona beat Betis 4-1 with Caroline Graham-Hanson getting a brace. And I've just written in the show notes here, why was she left out of the FIFA best 11?
00:25:18
Global Sports Podcast Network
We should talk about that on another day, but why was she left out with the fever best leaven? Anyway, over to Italy.
00:25:26
Cate
When you move into Italy, I just want to say interesting how, you know, sorry, the head coach has left the Netherlands team.
00:25:37
Cate
So the head coach has left and they won and they won by a lot of goals.
00:25:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:25:42
Cate
It reminds me a little bit of Arsenal, isn't it?
00:25:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:25:45
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, definitely.
00:25:46
Cate
The nail coach leaves, the interim woman coach is there and the team goes out and performs like crazy.
00:25:46
Global Sports Podcast Network
they
00:25:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
who
00:25:54
Cate
what's going on behind closed door.
00:25:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
That was just one more thing.
00:25:56
Cate
Anyway.
00:25:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
That was such a weird game though because i they almost got to 90 minutes without making a substitution, Ado. Which is just insane to me.
00:26:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Literally it was on like 88 minutes they made their first change and they only made like one change in the whole match. Which is just like people complain about Serena Wiegmann not making subs. Is this a Dutch thing? Maybe it's a Dutch thing. Eric Tenharg never used to make changes for Manchester United men's team until quite late. Anyway, on to Italy.
00:26:29
Cate
I think it's maybe is a Dutch thing, but I think it's also a bit of like in Italy, we say a team that wins or that works don't change it.
00:26:38
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:26:38
Cate
Let it, let it find their own way. And it's just too easy to just say like, ah, okay, that's not working. So let's just change it. Let's just change it. Different in friendlies. We spoke about that already.
00:26:47
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:26:48
Cate
Very different. Cause that's the whole point of the friendly games, right? Yeah. You want to win them, but you also want to give the opportunity to
Italian Football Developments
00:26:55
Cate
people. and to players that don't get always, you know, big stages to go there and play. But anyway, um yeah, I'm going to give a quick overview. of We've got only a few minutes left on Italy.
00:27:06
Cate
So historical moment for Italy, Serie A at the weekend. This was the first time that actually the women Milan Derby, so Inter and Inter Milan, sorry, Milan and Inter Milan played at the San Siro and it was great. Although the saddest thing for me was the fact that they've only announced it like a week before, a few days before, it wasn't like you know, planned long in advance and so people could organize and, you know, the whole thing.
00:27:38
Cate
It was just like, oh, actually, yeah, let's play a San Siro. So it was nice. It was a good turnout, but it could have been much, much better. It was a draw in the end, which absolutely doesn't help Inter as they lose their second place to Fiorentina, which alongside Juventus is keeping very stable on top of the table and strongly both of them won at the weekend as well.
00:27:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Ooh. And they were purple.
00:28:01
Cate
Uh, interestingly, interestingly, next weekend they play each other.
00:28:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Ooh.
00:28:06
Cate
Uh, so that, that is going to be a game to watch for sure. They both definitely, and it's the last game obviously before the Christmas break. So they definitely will both want to go in with a win.
00:28:16
Cate
They are going to play in Florence. So home of Fiorentina. I don't know, I wouldn't be able to predict the result, but both teams very competitive. I think with regard to Juventus, I think the score from the Champions League will also make the difference on their performance on Sunday. Either way, either way. So I don't know, let's see what happens in the Champions League and what happens on the next weekend. Anyway, very interesting, very interesting Serie A.
00:28:47
Cate
um As I mentioned before, Roma, who is last year champions, also finally got a victory back after a few games where they were not winning. And as I said, you know, so I think that will also help the mood for their Champions League game coming up.
00:29:04
Cate
Again, we'll see what happens. Um, but yeah, so what I wanted to also say very quickly is about actually the Serie B, so the championship in Italy, which, um, sadly is still considered just a little bit ah above grassroots, but it's not professionalized at all. So it's not professional, but what's interesting is that, uh, so this year is the last year where the Serie A will be only 10 teams. for So from next year.
00:29:32
Cate
is going to be 12 teams. So there will be three teams from the Serie B moving up, and there will be only one going back down. And it's very interesting because we've got two extremely strong team, Parma and Ternana, who are, I need to really say, you know, they're flying away. So it's just like, they are going, and I think it's going to be very difficult to catch them up. So it would be a really great battle for the third place.
00:29:59
Cate
And I think it's becoming a very, very interesting championship as well. Maybe not to our level, to the level that it is in here, but very interesting. And although there is not as much in the press as yet, I can see that it's coming more and more with with regard to European press um about Italian women football. I think the fact that obviously they won against Germany
00:30:23
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:30:24
Cate
even if it's a
Italy's Prospects in UEFA Women's Euro
00:30:25
Cate
friendly and you know I think they will perform, I am hoping they will perform very well, like the Euros as well, will push the agenda of women higher and higher and the fact that the quality of the game is getting better and the results are getting there, it's um it's it's a bright future for women's football in Italy.
00:30:44
Global Sports Podcast Network
Well, if Italy get to the quarterfinals of the Euros, I'll be at the game. So I got tickets to all four quarterfinals. So I'll go and I'll support Italy for you.
00:30:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
If I, unless they're playing England, I was going to say unless they're playing England or Scotland, but we know what happened to Scotland, don't we?
00:31:04
Cate
Yeah, I hope not.
00:31:05
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:31:06
Cate
I really hope not. It would be very difficult. It would be very difficult because I love the lionesses. My heart is there.
00:31:12
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah.
00:31:13
Cate
But then I also know that if Italy performs very well at the Euro, then, you know, it will happen the same day happening here. There will be a massive push on women's football and it's so needed in Italy.
00:31:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
hmm yeah okay shall we leave it there for this evening okay well thank you everyone for joining us uh that was beyond with the pitch
00:31:24
Cate
So debatable. But hopefully, if Italy gets to the quarter final, you don't need to support Italy for me. I'll be there too. Yay!
00:31:38
Cate
We should leave it there this evening.