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Free Weekly Episode - Juventus 23/24 Worse Than 22/23, Can Anyone Stop Inter Milan?, Pulisic AC Milan Superhero, Roma Never Die & Much More (Ep. 403)
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From Max Allegri's Juventus having fewer points this season than at same point last season, exhausted Atalanta continue to get a good result, Fiorentina will kick themselves for squandering chances, why Roma should keep Daniele De Rossi, Is Roberto De Zerbi the Italian Zdenek Zeman?, AC Milan jump up to 2nd in Serie A, Inter Milan make it 13/13 in 2024 ending Bologna 6 game winning streak, outstanding Khvicha Kvaratskhelia back for Napoli in Torino draw, to relegation battle reaches fever pitch after Lecce coach sacked after headbutt scandal, and Champions League, Europa and Conference League previews, as well as Baggio, Premface and Serie Ass of the week and much, much more when Nima and Carlo break down all the main talking points from an action-packed weekend in Italian football.
Every Monday episode of The Italian Football Podcast is free for all.
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Transcript
Introduction and Hosts
00:00:02
Speaker
Welcome to the Italian football podcast. Hello, everybody, and welcome to the Italian football podcast. I'm Cardo Garganese joined, as always, by Nima Tovari.
Serie A Weekend Highlights
00:00:13
Speaker
And on today's show, we will react to the weekend set action into make it 13 wins in a row by winning at Champions League, chasing Bologna Milan move into second as Captain America. Christian Pulisic is the superhero against Empoli.
00:00:31
Speaker
Juventus' dismal form continues as they can only draw
Juventus' Struggles and Performance
00:00:35
Speaker
against Atalanta. Juventus now have less points this season than they did at the same time last season. Lots of criticism for Max Allegri. Napoli's slim Champions League hopes take a hit as they are held at home by Torino. And at the bottom, the relegation race is absolutely insane right now, as Nima is of course delighted about. And we will preview the European matches big, big week.
European Matches Preview
00:01:03
Speaker
of European Football in the Champions League and the Europa League, and we'll also have our usual Baggio, Premface and Serie A of the Week. For all our first time listeners, this is our free weekly episode that we do every Monday, reviewing the weekend 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 patrons, plus the weekly
00:01:31
Speaker
Thursday midweek review show plus interviews post-match reaction are much much more than go to patreon.com slash TIP and become a subscriber for just $2.99 a month plus VAT.
Podcast Support and Listener Engagement
00:01:42
Speaker
And 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, the same terms. And for all of you that do listen on Spotify, Apple, and iTunes podcasts, we really appreciate if you give us a five-star rating, give us a follow and a like. You can do the same on our YouTube page. All of that really helps us to grow and do more quality content for you guys. Okay, let's get into today's show.
00:02:07
Speaker
So
In-depth Analysis of Juventus vs Atalanta
00:02:08
Speaker
let's start off with the two Sunday evening games and we'll start with Juventus against Atalanta. Big big game for the Champions League race and also for Juventus. We start off talking about this from the Juventus point of view.
00:02:24
Speaker
The game of course finished 2-2 but this was a big game for Juventus because they were in dismal form going into the match, only one win in six and they'd completely fallen out of the title race and were now looking over their shoulder at Milan who were right on their tails and even potentially the likes of Bologna as well.
00:02:48
Speaker
So it was an important game for Juventus, and a kind of a strange game to analyze from the Juventus point of view. In the first half, they largely had the game under control, had lots of efforts, but created nothing of note in terms of actual real chances. Then they went behind. The second half, Juventus were more threatening. Chiesa came, who was terrible in the first half, was very good in the second half.
00:03:16
Speaker
along with Cambiaso, those two kind of took the game to Atalanta More and they turned it around and they went 2-1 ahead and you think well, Juventus are going to win from here and then they let in a really stupid second goal for Koop Miners, the second of the game and they draw 2-2.
Juventus' Form and Tactical Identity
00:03:36
Speaker
So it was a strange game, Nimmo. I don't...
00:03:43
Speaker
I don't know, I thought it was a rather entertaining game. I mean, maybe defensively, Allegri wasn't too happy, and he has every right not to be happy. And he's famously said about how you can't concede two goals a game, you can't win games that way. But I thought it was a rather entertaining game, to be honest. I thought it was... For the neutral, yeah. Yeah, I mean, I thought it was an entertaining game, but I thought you were...
00:04:11
Speaker
I liked Juva's tenacity. I liked how Juva reacted to situations. I think they looked good in the first half. I thought they looked in control, to be perfectly honest.
00:04:34
Speaker
whether that was fool's gold or not, or we can get into that, but I didn't feel, I felt like Juventus had turned a corner in terms of their bad form. They didn't look like they've done in previous games. I thought this was a step in the right direction from that aspect, but
00:04:51
Speaker
that they did concede a goal that somehow was a little bit against the run of play, if you will. But they reacted well to that. I mean, let's remember they equalized
00:05:05
Speaker
pretty, pretty well after I thought that move for the, the equalizer was actually a nice move. Yeah, it was very good. Very good move with Kiaza winning the ball. And then to Western McKinney who played a wonderful assist. I think that was his ninth assist this season, McKinney. And, and Cambiaso continues to have a breakout season. And then of course, McKinney again, four minutes later for Milik and, and it kind of cemented that you've turned this game on its head. But
00:05:35
Speaker
The problem is that what we've seen with Juve is that they're not really, or not really, they aren't there yet. This season in terms of stability, in terms of not looking, it looks better than it did last season with pretty much the same players. I mean, they haven't exactly strengthened. Some would say they've weakened even.
00:06:01
Speaker
but it looks better this season than it did last on the pitch maybe form points wise after 28 games it's pretty much identical and we're going to get into that too but I think it does look better than it did last season and I think if there is improvement there I just keep saying this weekend we can't I firmly believe it
00:06:26
Speaker
this Yuva side aren't there yet. They don't have that kind of experience to kill off games. They've got the experience to come back and never say die attitude. They've kind of got that. We've seen that throughout the season. They are such a difficult team to kill off.
Juventus' Management and Future Prospects
00:06:43
Speaker
And if you don't kill them off, they will come back and turn the game on its head. And they've done it time and time and time again.
00:06:48
Speaker
winning games late, turning around deficits and so on and so forth. But they're not there yet to be the top side that wins three points after doing that. They've still got a little bit left to reaching that point.
00:07:07
Speaker
mentally as well as qualitatively, qualitatively especially, I don't think this is a very good event to side. It's identical with the one they had last season, if we're perfectly honest. So, you know, some would even argue it's a worse side than last season. But what we have seen on an individual level, I think Vlawic has improved this season compared to last. Weston McKinney for sure. I mean, he's been, no one thought he would be this good.
00:07:34
Speaker
Um, and, and, and so there are, you know, there are things to be positive about this season, but of course, if you're expecting you were to win the Scudetto and have a fighter, you know, fight the, for the Scudetto until the end of the season, you're going to be disappointed. But I think that's more time to your expectations, to be honest.
00:07:50
Speaker
I think what Juventus fans want to see, if they're not winning, I think what fans of any club wants to see if they're not winning trophies, top teams that is, if they're not winning trophies and they're not, you know, like Juventus haven't won a trophy now, this is the third season without trophies, we'll see if they can win the Coppa Italia this season. Three seasons, you want to be seeing progress, you want to be seeing something being built for the future.
00:08:18
Speaker
and clear progress and we're now in the third season of Allegri and we've had no progress at all. I mean the stats are there in black and white. 58 points this season now after 28 games. This time last season Juventus had 59 points. They of course had 15 points deducted so that they were actually in the table on 44 but on the pitch they had 59. So they have one point less this season now
00:08:46
Speaker
after 28 games than they did at this time last season, which is terrible. Last season they were playing in Europe, they had no board, there was complete chaos with all the stuff going on in the courts with the penalties coming up, taking points off.
00:09:04
Speaker
They had all that kind of situation and that was always giving them his excuse last season for Juventus underperforming last season. They've got all this going on off the pitch. This season there's none of that. They've got no European football. They're playing once a week. Even this Atalanta team, they're playing as an Atalanta team that's exhausted. They've been playing non-stop.
00:09:25
Speaker
and they've got one point less. You can't tell me that the football doesn't, that they don't look better on the pitch than they do. No, they don't. They absolutely do. They look better in terms of the attacking and in terms of having an attacking identity. The attackers know better this season than it was last season.
00:09:48
Speaker
because there's again the quality of the squad. I'm talking about the play. I'm not talking about how many goals you've conceded and how many goals you've scored. I'm talking about actively watching the games. You can't tell me that Juventus aren't better this season than they were last season. It's a much more, it's a team. It's a much more cohesive unit. It's a team that actually looks much more mature than it did last season.
00:10:09
Speaker
with pretty much the same players. Now, is that good enough for Juve as a club? No. But there's also this notion of when you look in the mirror, what do you see? Do you see Hollywood superstar or do you see the reality? Juventus are not a Scudetto winning side. They just aren't. What they are is a team in transition in a new project. That's fine though. That's fine.
00:10:53
Speaker
It's not one play. There's multiple games where they're completely dominant. The midfield is dominated virtually every game that they play. And that's down to the manager because Allegri is incapable of having a team that's able to control a game of football. And I mean, the excuses are out now. There's no excuses. First of all, it was the first season. Then it was all the stuff going off the pitch. This season is something else. The excuses are out. We're in the third season of Allegri. There's been no improvement of points.
00:10:58
Speaker
and they have improved in terms of how they play on
00:11:20
Speaker
With Allegri, it's always about, oh, it's always about results. We told it's about results with Allegri. Well, the results are worse. So what is it about? Is it about results? Is it about... Because there's neither of them. Because this squad isn't good enough. Neither of them. You can't make chicken soup with chicken poo. And this is chicken poo. And it's old, right? Now it's chicken poo. Now it's chicken poo. It's always been that. Now it's chicken poo. Six weeks ago, everyone... I said they've overperformed all the time. Six weeks ago, you were saying that they were going to be five points ahead of Inter at the end of month.
00:11:50
Speaker
No, I did not say that. I said they could potentially be that. What I've had said throughout this entire season, consistently from match day one till today, is that Allegri has this event aside over performing. You yourself literally said throughout the season that there are patterns of play. I have never said there are patterns of play. I've said it about two or three times the whole season. I've said that's my entire point now, that there are no patterns of play. There are patterns of play. There are exceptions. There are patterns of play.
00:12:16
Speaker
There is, come on. Show me examples of Juventus building from the back in the same way that the same way that the Inter do within Zaghi or the same way. But they don't play the same way. They don't. They just get it out wide, cross the ball, do a long pass. They've got no patterns of play. They do have patterns of play. It's just that you don't want them to play. Show me them, show me them, Nimmer. Just watch the game. Show me them. Look at how Juventus scored the goal for Cambiaza. Those are exceptions. Those are exceptions this season.
00:12:44
Speaker
like it's it's nah come on excuse it excuse there is no excuse there is no excuse allegory has been an unmitigated 23 24 the squad is shit it's not better than this he has them over performing the fact that he was even in the discussions for a title race was a huge overperformance huge overperformance and that's just the fact that you're gonna have to accept western mckinney has got nine assists that is an overperformance on who he is
00:13:13
Speaker
It's as simple as that. Like you, I can understand that you're not happy with the results and that's a different thing altogether. But you can't sit and tell me that Allegri has done absolutely shit this season when it's evident for anyone who's won. He has less points than last season. There's no improvement. He's getting paid nine million a year to underperform.
00:13:31
Speaker
getting paid 9 million was irrelevant to the discussion that's again to do with with the board the previous board and and what they used to the Paratici and all that nonsense right that's that's got to do with them I'm talking about that I can clearly see Juventus improving on the pitch in terms of how they play and I look at the quality of the squad they haven't even strengthened with last season
00:13:52
Speaker
like compared to last season, how have the UVA improved qualitatively on the pitch? How? What players have they brought in? Well, that's down to the manager. Improving. Again, it comes back to the same debate that we had. No, I'm talking about play in terms of quality of the squad. Well... Flauvitch has improved. I think we can say Flauvitch has improved. For me, Flauvitch has improved based on... Gatti's been improved. Well, Gatti is improved from an E to a D. So let's not, you know, let's not, let's not over, you know,
00:14:21
Speaker
what I'm what with what I tell you to prove from last season to this can't be asked to improve from an E to a D. We're talking about players who are good enough for Juventus. This is not top. No, they're not good enough. That's exactly what you want him to do. Western McKinney suddenly magically turn into Peter Law. What do you want him to do? What do you want? Well, I'll tell you what he comes back to the debate that we had over over over in Zaghi versus versus versus Allegri and about
00:14:50
Speaker
how we view players, and I'm certainly not going to take Gattian Mckenny as an example of those, but what Dali Eliadani said about how you view insta from 2-3 years ago, and then you look at players like Makatarian, like Chalen Ogulu, and how in Zaghi you turn these players into players that people are considering as top-top-class players, like Cherby.
00:15:12
Speaker
and others that were when he signed them and then how you take the same players as Juventus who now players that people are considering as not being. No, I've never thought Juventus had a good squad for the last two seasons. I think this has been consistently my point that I think that Juventus finishing the top four on the pitch with this team. Last season, the football was worse, was horrible. This season, the football has improved.
00:15:34
Speaker
in both phases of play but the problem is this team qualitatively isn't good enough and mentally it's not quite there but if I if you nuance it I do see improvement I really do remember that play we've got remember was they play once a season they are fresh once a week you wish they played once a season
00:15:53
Speaker
season, but yeah, they play once a week and they should be so super fresh and that should be such a big advantage. If they were playing twice a week, goodness knows how much even worse they would be doing this season. If they were playing twice a week and they're still doing worse than last season, playing one games, I mean, the excuses around...
00:16:14
Speaker
excuses around, you know, six weeks ago, before this bad run of awful run of form started, you know, everybody, well, not everybody, because the people that know, no, but there was a lot of people that were saying, oh, Juventus are in the title rate, some people were literally definition in the title. When you're leading the night,
00:16:32
Speaker
And yes then, but I'm saying there were people saying that they were going to go on and win the title. They were actually realistically laughably saying they were realistically going to go on and win the title. And those that said that they weren't were saying that Allegri was improving the eventers and that next season they would be ready to challenge for the Scudetto.
Atalanta's Player Development Under Gasperini
00:16:52
Speaker
I think next season with a proper Mercato for the first time in two years
00:16:57
Speaker
they will be ready to challenge for the school, depending on who takes over. I don't think it's going to be. Not with Allegri, they won't, because that's the whole point, that there's been zero improvement under Allegri for three years. It's not true, it's simply not true. There isn't, the points are there, the points are there in black and white. I've given you lots of points to counter that point, and you just say, no, no, no, no, no, because you don't like them. I mean, there has been improvement this season to the last. You're just not happy with the level of the improvement, and that's fair.
00:17:24
Speaker
saying anything against that you can be unhappy with with the progress and the rate that it's going but to say that it's been flat but it's flat lined. Is ridiculous because it's quite so they're black and white and they've got one point let's how can you say there's been improving because the point is because if you look at how you vent is have played the season compared to last season you have to be blind not to concede that there has been improvement on the pitch.
00:17:44
Speaker
Maybe the results haven't improved, but you cannot sit here and tell me that the play on the pitch in both phases of play hasn't improved this season to last. And also not to mention the mental growth of the team. They haven't scored. They're not scoring more goals. The defence is pretty much similar level to what it was last season as well. So I don't see. They're not scoring more. They're not conceding less. Where's the improvement?
00:18:06
Speaker
Well, they are playing better. They are playing better. It's not a feeling. We're talking about facts here. No, we are talking about facts. Watch how you were playing. Don't sit here and tell me that you aren't playing better football this season. Well, that's a subjective thing. We're playing better. That's your opinion. That's not my opinion. If you watch, you will be playing better. My opinion is better. My opinion is there. There was nothing there last season. You've barely created anything. And it was genuinely unwatchable.
00:18:36
Speaker
but this season, there is actual things there. You see movement, you see patterns of play, you see an identity. You see something that used to remind you of you over, even though it's not at the level you wish it was, but there is something there. And to say that, well, no, nothing, nothing. I mean, that's just too simplistic for me. I think I'm talking objectively, objectively. No, it's simply you've been to have less points. They're not improved. Their attack hasn't improved. They have less points. And you've got subjective where is your opinion is that they're
00:19:05
Speaker
the the
00:19:23
Speaker
But they don't have a much. They actually have an identity. They don't have no identity. That's the problem. They do. They have no playing style. They have no patterns of play at all. Of course they do. They don't. They do. That's the whole point. I mean, listen, look, everybody that's listening to this, leave your opinions in the comments, whether Juventus fan or not Juventus fan. Do you think Juventus have been proved under a leg? Do you think there's patterns of play? Do you think things have been proved?
00:20:09
Speaker
see what everybody else sees.
00:20:09
Speaker
No. He's been a catastrophe, Nimr. I'm sorry, Vlawovic. Vlawovic has improved compared to last season and the season last season. That's exactly what I've been saying all along. I've been giving you examples of players that have improved this season compared to last season. But is he better than the Fiorentina of Vlawovic? No, he's not. Oh, stop. This is becoming a point where literally anything good with Allegri's Uwe is countered by something else that is completely irrelevant. Okay, do you think this Vlawovic now, this season, is a better player than the Vlawovic that was at Fiorentina? Yes!
00:20:53
Speaker
I see a Vlovich who is much more mature, much more complete as a striker than he was two years ago. It doesn't mean that he's fully complete now. I'm saying that compared to when he came from Fiorentina, he was still very naive, a bit like a kid. Now, since joining UVA, it's been a difficult
00:21:01
Speaker
I see a much more mature player than I saw at Fiorentina.
00:21:14
Speaker
very few difficult years, not just for him but for Juba as a whole, but this season I definitely see an improvement on Wlawicz. I definitely see an improvement on Mckenny, I definitely see an improvement on Katerina, on Bremer, on Mckenny.
00:21:29
Speaker
Zloketelli is completely the same player that he was. Again, those listeners aren't these points. Do you think Zloketelli is a better player now than he was at Saswala? No, he's
00:21:44
Speaker
No, I'm not talking about Sasolo. Again, I'm talking about this season compared to last. And of course he's a better player than he was in Sasolo. No, he's not. He hasn't improved at all from the Sasolo play. He's exactly the same player. Is he any better than the Locatelli that we saw at Euro 2020?
00:22:00
Speaker
in 2020. Why are we comparing with Euro 2020 now? Because that's when the events are signed. I'm comparing Juve this season with last season and I think that from Bremer to Danilo to McKinney to Locatelli to Vlawic to Cambiaso I see improvement from one season to the next and I think it's ridiculous to claim that there isn't. I see a Juve that actually
00:22:23
Speaker
has an attacking identity, even though it's not fantastic in Jogabonito, but it is an attacking identity. I see a Yuba with mental growth of a Yuba site that is starting to show that they are building, there's something there now, after three years of absolute darkness and horror, I see something there. Now, translating that onto the pitch is different.
00:22:49
Speaker
That is the next step. And I don't think that our lady is going to be there to do it. And I don't think he should be because it's you can't have a situation where one half of the fan base hates him. And the other half of the fan base more than one half. I can tell you it's whatever third half quarter, whatever.
00:23:07
Speaker
but a lot of stupid ultra is to put up that stupid banner that seems to like... Yeah, well, whatever. Okay, whatever. 20%, whatever. However you want to be. But there's a sliver of the Juventus fans that support him, and there's lots of Juventus fans that absolutely despise him, and you can't have this situation. You just can't continue. And I think that's why he's going to leave, and that's my feeling as well. But regardless, if Juventus are going to finish in the top four this season, I think it's obvious they are,
00:23:36
Speaker
and if they win a cup by Italia,
00:23:39
Speaker
That is obvious improvement after an absolute disaster of last season. There was nothing there. I mean, the nuclear bomb went off at Yuva last year, and they're picking up the pieces. Now, if you expect Yuva to come from that and start winning trophies and fight for the Scudetto until March 30, and I'm sorry, but you're expecting millions of the time. I don't. I don't. And I've said that all along. I've said that when people were saying they could win the Scudetto this season. I'm saying it's laughable to think that they could win the Scudetto.
00:24:08
Speaker
I think they are doing exactly what can be expected. But I also think it's laughable, and I've said all along that it's laughable that people see an improvement to the extent that they actually think Allegri, if he was there this season, could actually challenge for the Scudetto. Because again, there's no... They did challenge for the Scudetto, objectively until Matchday, whatever it was, 22, 23, 24. So have so many teams. Aston Villa challenged for the Premier League in 97-98 until Christmas, and then they finished 30 points behind. You get teams that overperform for a while during the season, and they can't
00:24:36
Speaker
And that's what you ever did. That's what you ever did. They overperformed. Yeah, but I'm talking about, I'm talking about those that thought they can actually win the Scudetto this season. It was laughable. And then, and then I'm saying it's laughable. Anybody that thinks that the allegory is improving the team and getting, and improving the improving event to, to, to, to be actually be able to challenge for the Scudetto last. There's no, there's no improvement objectively.
00:24:57
Speaker
in terms of points. There is improvement on the pitch and how they play. Again, that's your opinion. We're not talking about facts. It's not objective. Objective is it's black and white. Bremmer has improved the season to the last. Vlauwitsch has improved the season to the last. You can't tell me they haven't. Weck Mckenny is having the season of his career since joining Uber. That is an objective fact.
00:25:21
Speaker
You can't tell me that that's not true. You're picking out little examples of players. I'm talking about overall. There's no improvement in the event as a team. There's no improvement. That's what I'm saying. That's my opinion. Your opinions, they haven't. But objectively, the objective facts are they've got worse this season compared to last. They haven't gotten worse. I'm talking about objective facts.
00:25:45
Speaker
No, you're talking about points. The points, the attack, the defence, there's no improvement. Those are objective acts. Then you can have your opinion if they've improved. I'm talking about the numbers on the board, whether they be goals conceded, goals scored or points. I'm talking about the football on the pitch and the football on the pitch has improved. The problem is that it doesn't translate to
00:26:07
Speaker
points on the board and goals scored and goals conceded. And that is a problem. That is what needs to be addressed. But to basically look at this as a black and white simplistic thing and say, no, look, last season, same shit, no difference. That's silly. It's not true. The problem is, it's just like with Inzaghi last season. Inter's Inzaghi played really, really well, but they could not kill off games and therefore they lost 12 games as a result of it.
00:26:34
Speaker
If Inter were losing 12 games but they weren't creating anything, there's a difference between that and what we saw last season when Inter were creating chances and missing sitters. That's the point I'm talking about. You have to look at the games. You can't just look at the numbers.
00:26:49
Speaker
just just just look at the numbers and then do like this and any idiot with with a pair of functioning eyeballs can just look at teletext look at the standing and say oh but I mean yeah well no that well that's your opinion my opinion is this season they were they were even when they were in the title race they they were weren't playing well they were they were winning 1-0s winning game last season yeah
00:27:07
Speaker
No, but this season as well, they were winning games with up until December that the attackers weren't scoring any goals. It was all goals from headers, from corners and defenders and midfielders. And you can see who scored the goals in October, November into December, who was scoring all the, you know, they were one nil wins. And humans unsustainable, which is why I said all along, it's unsustainable. The Juventus are not the finished product. Juventus are not. And neither are Atalanta.
00:27:31
Speaker
They're not, they are projects in transition in year one or year two or whatever of their project with you, it's literally just six, seven, eight months old. I mean, when did Junto take over? So my point is simply that I think there is improvement on the pitch and how the teams play and in how Juventus behave. I see improvement in key players in the starting lineup in terms of how they're playing, looking at the entirety of the season and
00:27:59
Speaker
whether or not that's enough for Juve is a completely separate discussion, whether or not Allegri should continue, completely separate discussion, but to claim that there is zero improvement.
00:28:11
Speaker
on the pitch and on an individual level, I mean, that's just not true. Then the problem is it's not translating to points. And that is a huge problem. And of course, the manager is always the one to blame for that utter completely. But if we nuance it... The only positives that can come of this, and you've entered on a dreadful run of form, last seven games, one win, three draws, three losses,
00:28:37
Speaker
The only positive to come of this, as I said last week, is that the Juventus management surely have to look at this and realise he's there, he's got to go now. They should be making decisions now, planning for next season, and this should confirm to them that Allegri is not improving the team and they have to hire their next manager now for next season and start building around what that new manager will want. I think it's obvious. If it's Thiago Motta or whoever else, whoever it may be,
00:29:06
Speaker
I think it's obvious. If Juventus had won these last seven games, maybe they might have made another decision and that would have been a mistake. So I think this can be a positive if it actually leads to Juventus actually doing something about this and making a decision. Juventus need to... I just hope they do. No, Juventus need to...
00:29:25
Speaker
to make a decision period. It's not even about Allegri anymore, it's about what is this Juventus, this new Juve, what is the identity of it, in terms of what kind of football do we want to play.
00:29:39
Speaker
We know the identity of the club and how you behave and on the pitch and all of that. That's Alegri sorted all that. They're happy with him there. The question there is now, what do you want to do? What kind of football do you want to play? Do we want to continue with the Alegri style or do we want to play a more progressive style similar to what Milan and Inter and Napoli have done when they've had success?
00:30:04
Speaker
you brought in Juntoli, he was the architect behind the Napoli success. That to me is very indicative of where you would want to go. So that discussion has to be had regardless. And they've had to make that decision and they should do it quickly. And if they bring Tiago Mota in, they need to give him time. They need to give him two, three years to do something because again, this squad is not good enough without improving it is my point.
00:30:35
Speaker
Yeah, I think there's definitely elements of the squad that are just not Juventus level. Absolutely. But at the same time, it's also down to the manager to improve these plays. And that's one thing that Thiago Motta has done. I mean, he's taken players.
00:30:49
Speaker
that, you know, a year ago, you would not have thought are good enough to play, even for even for Bologna. And then he's turned them into players that are, are, you know, wanted by the biggest clubs in Europe, like Joshua Zucksi, like Riccardo Calafiori, you know, these kind of players, you know, I mean, the whole point I'm making about Allegri is that this is what, you know,
00:31:13
Speaker
you can look at the manager and you can say, oh, this player for event is not good enough, or this player for event is not good enough. Well, is that because they're actually not good enough? Or is that because the manager is is not able to improve them and develop them. And that was the whole point that the Danny Ali Adani debate that we had a few weeks ago, about how in Zagi two years ago was taken on players who actually many of them were considered not good enough for Insta, and he's turned them into among the best. And that's down to
00:31:42
Speaker
It's not just in Zaghi, as much as I love Filipe Simoni in Zaghi as a coach and as a tactician, and you know, I was pretty much the only person to do that back in 2017. Since then, it is also the club as a whole. It is also the fact that Beppe Marotta is there, that Pierao Cido, that they've built the structure, that they understand what kind of football do we want to play? What kind of players do we need to
00:32:08
Speaker
bring into that and also respect financial parameters and not end up having SWAT teams barging through the window, okay? None of that has existed at YUVA. None of it. And now you have Juntoli there and you're trying to do something along those lines. And therefore, that's what I take issue with, with this Allegri.
00:32:29
Speaker
criticism. It's one thing to criticize, but to just blame everything on him is just... Well, no, they're not. Yeah, of course. I absolutely can't blame everything on him. There's been lots of things done around him. But when you're talking about player development, that's the coach. That's simply down on the coach and the coaching team around him. Absolutely.
00:32:46
Speaker
And the quality of the players available to the coach, no? I mean... Well, yes, absolutely. But again, it comes to, again, that Anthony Aliadani's point is, you know, Nzagi was taken on plays like Makatarian, like Ochebe, like Chalanoglu, and he's turned them into world beaters, you know, with his work, with his fantastic work on the training ground and developing these plays in... Well, because the scouting was properly, and the quality of those players, with all due respect, I think Chalanoglu and Mikitarian,
00:33:11
Speaker
are better players than Weston McKinney. No, but we're not talking about Weston McKinney. We're talking about players like Locatelli. We're talking about players like Giese, like Vlawovic, you know. The kids, I was at an ACL. I mean, in terms of Locatelli. Locatelli versus Cella Nogolu in 2021. There's no even debate.
00:33:26
Speaker
which which player was was was at a high level and which player was was was seen to have a bigger future and and and and wanted by the big clubs and everything and then and then look at the way that these two developed one is completely the same now three years later and one is now the maybe the best in his role you know that's just one example but you know this is this is the whole thing that you know we're bringing in a Tiago Motta that maybe he can make some of these plays maybe he can make
00:33:50
Speaker
Locatelli become one of the best midfielders in the world, you know, like, like, because he's good at developing players, whether, I don't know, you know, so that's just an example. But that is why Juventus need to move now. And that's the positive of this bad run is that hopefully it can lead to bring to making that decision now, rather than, you know, just paper. And I like his job this season was to get you back into the Champions League and perhaps win a win a trophy Copa Italia. I think he's going to do both of those things.
00:34:20
Speaker
Um, but then I do agree that it's time to go move on because again the sporting director juntoli suggests to me that
00:34:29
Speaker
they don't want to play the kind of football Allegri plays. And then when that is true, there's no point in continuing this. It's just an exercise. We better move on ourselves. But just a quick note on Atalanta, I think it's a big boost for them getting this draw because they've had a difficult spell with the Inter and Bologna results. And then they got the draw against Sport in Lisbon away in the first leg of the last 16 of the Europa League on Wednesday.
00:34:58
Speaker
and they played really really well in that game they should have won they hit the post three times and they were really really good and and then they come here and they i mean they were tired you could see they were really tired and and that's my my only concern going into the sport in second leg is i hope they're not exhausted and that they can win that game um but to get a draw here um
00:35:22
Speaker
Always getting a draw at the events as well, however badly they're playing, whatever bad form they're in, is always... It was impressive. It is positive. And what I liked about Atalanta was the fact that they started to show a little bit of ruthlessness, because in the first half, like we said, Juve were in control, but Atalanta scored the first goal.
00:35:48
Speaker
And then to come back after Juva hit them twice in five minutes to equalize as well. Now, for me, Atalanta are side that are rebuilding, but they're further ahead in their project. And it's good to see, because we were all charmed and fell in love with Atalanta a few years ago, how they are topside in the Seriana, which is insane, given that they're a small provincial club from Bergamo.
00:36:18
Speaker
and that they continue to get the most out of the players that they have available to them with not that much investment, not that high of a wage bill.
Transfer Speculations and Scouting
00:36:30
Speaker
And, you know, again, Coop Miners is the latest of this conveyor belt of fantastic players that they seem to be able to produce. Yeah, what Gasparini spoke about after the game with Coop Miners, how he's developed him into a more advanced position from a more deep-lying player. Which I think is the right thing. Which I think is the right centre back in Holland a little bit.
00:36:52
Speaker
and to a goal scorer in midfield and now with you know I think that's his tenth this season I'm not ninth or tenth this season he's got two or two yes say the great first goal although it was horrific defending from Juventus but it was really well worked on the training ground and he's got a great left foot shot he does takes free kicks as well and Manchester United scouts are actually there watching him oh god please don't don't go to Manchester United like
00:37:16
Speaker
i think again i think he's now being able to be outpriced out of a i don't necessarily move now so i think we're looking at 60 million now and yeah this is a club that knows how to sell let's put it that way do you see an italian club so i'm paying 60 million for him no no but we that's what i mean i mean atalanta know how to sell players yeah they're gonna charge they're gonna milk that cow so yeah i think you're right i think it would take
00:37:44
Speaker
No, no, said the art club is paying 60 million for him. Like you just don't see that happening. Um, to be honest, no, no, I just don't hope you got going. We've seen how many players now we've seen go to man United and just.
00:37:59
Speaker
die, die. It's literally become career suicide and move to my head. And it feels weird to say that. Given that you and I grew up with No, grammar has been linked. Brahma is somebody they're looking at as well. And they were actually scouting him in the same game. And I would say the same thing to Brahma. Just just just don't Yeah, just just
00:38:19
Speaker
think carefully if you are. And also they'll play a back four, which I think is a gamble as well for Manny Knight as well. Yeah, he's well, he's not proven. I don't see why he couldn't play in the back four, but yeah, I think it's a, you know,
00:38:34
Speaker
He's not going to just slot in there, is he? No, he's not. That's the thing. Shkamaka as well. I thought he had, after a really great game against sport in midweek, I thought he had some positives in his first half, not so good. But second half, I thought he had a decent chance at 1-0, but then he had a really great long shot. One thing we know about Shkamaka is
00:38:55
Speaker
He's one of the best with his shots from outside the area. He really is. He also trapped back at one stage to make a crucial challenge on Moretti, which is maybe the first time ever. It's exactly what I was going to say. That's fantastic news, isn't it? Because that means that whatever Gasparini is doing, even though we from the outside are very critical of it, well, if it's working, then
00:39:26
Speaker
Who are we to knock it? You know what I mean? At the end of the day, if it works, if it ain't broke, why fix it? And if Gasperini's way of communicating, albeit
00:39:34
Speaker
I mean, you call Alegre a dinosaur, then I don't know what to call Gasperini. If Alegre is a dinosaur and how he is, then Gasperini is the Big Bang. How is Gasperini the Big Bang, though? Have you seen him talk? He plays modern football. He plays modern football, but have you seen how he treats other human beings? How he talks to them? He's a dinosaur, maybe as a man manager, maybe. That's what I'm saying. If Alegre is a dinosaur, then this guy is like, he predates that. He predates time.
00:40:04
Speaker
like time itself. But again, who cares if it works? We'll know you on that. I mean, we're talking like the single cells in the water after the Big Bang. That's the level we're at. Bacteria, bacterial level of prehistoric level of communication.
00:40:22
Speaker
But again, who cares if it's working? And if Skamaka is responding to it, then more power to Gasperini, who cares? I mean, if it works, to be honest. And if he's improving Skamaka and he can unlock him and get inside his head and push him to be a better player and to unlock the incredible potential that we all know that Skamaka has,
Fiorentina vs Roma Match Analysis
00:40:45
Speaker
Because time is running out for him. He's not getting any younger, and he's not a young player. It's only in Italy where your 25-year-old is young. But elsewhere, this isn't when he should be hitting his prime. And if Gasparini can get the most out of him, more power to Gasparini. Who cares what anyone thinks, to be honest.
00:41:01
Speaker
Yeah, fair enough. Let's move on to Fiorentina Roma. Another 2-2. This was a fantastic game. I really enjoyed it. Well, the second half especially. If we talk this from the Fiorentina point of view first, I think Fiorentina aren't going to be gutted. I mean, Vincenzo Italiano admitted as much at the end of the game. The first half, Fiorentina were completely dominant and they could have been three up.
00:41:28
Speaker
by half time. They were first to every ball. They wanted it more. Second half, of course, Roma will come to Roman a bit. They changed tactically and they were much improved. But then Fiorentina showed a good reaction so that the Roma equalised. They went 2-1 up. And then this is where the regrets come in. They had the penalty to end the game in the last 10 minutes. Biraghi steps up and misses.
00:41:52
Speaker
and then they concede with basically the last kick of the game to draw 2-2 and Fiorentina would have been back in the Champions League race, there would have been only two points off Atalante Roma in fifth with a win and now I think we can probably kiss goodbye to it now and there's got to be a lot of regrets for Fiorentina because they were so good in the first half, I know Roma were part of the reason for that and we'll come to that
00:42:17
Speaker
But this was there for the taking and penalties again, they missed Fiorentina and penalties. They're like England with penalties. And not Old Napoli with penalties. Yeah, Osseman and Lautaro with penalties. Yeah, I mean, whether it's Nico Gonzalez, whether it's Birage, whether it's, I mean, I saw some people saying Bellotti should take the penalties. No, you don't want Bellotti taking the penalties over. They've got to sort out their penalties.
00:42:45
Speaker
No, they need to have a proper penalty taker, someone who's secure because right now you don't feel secure when Fiorentina get a penalty. You feel like, oh, actually, actually, you know what I mean? And goalkeepers feel that way too when they go up against them because you can tell that. It's not like when any other side gets a penalty and you know someone like Chala Nogla stepping up, you know that there's a 95% chance he's scoring that.
00:43:13
Speaker
with Fiorentina, it's not. Same thing with Napoli and Laotara, it feels like it's 50-50. And that's not how it should be. And at this level, when you get these chances, you have to bury them. But I feel like it's Groundhog Day with Vincenzo Italiano and Fiorentina. We keep saying this round and round and round and round and round and round we go.
00:43:35
Speaker
about Fiorentina creating chances, it looks good on the ball, they look good on the ball, the passing is great, the movement looks nice, but it just doesn't translate to goal scored. And the striker issue that they've had.
00:43:49
Speaker
since Vlovich left, which is pretty much... To be honest with you though, I thought Belotti was really, really good in this game. He is good, but that's because Belotti is a hard worker. I thought he was excellent. I thought he was really putting himself around. He was causing him all kinds of trouble. I mean, he got the assist. He won the penalty. I mean, he made a meal of it. And we know Belotti is one of the biggest divers in football.
00:44:12
Speaker
But it was still a penalty, like by the letter of the law, it was still a penalty with stupidity from parades, but then they miss it. And I think Fiorentina should feel a groove, it actually should have been a second yellow as well by the letter of the law. I know he made a meal of it, but you pull a player's shirt like that blatantly and deliberately, it's got to be a second yellow. So I think Fiorentina can feel a groove with that. But there's positives to take from it. It's showed again that Fiorentina
00:44:37
Speaker
although both of us think that they're not as good as last season I think in terms of quality of players available and you know I don't think they had I mean Pallade I think is the most overrated transfer chief in Italy and it had a bad summer market. I don't think he's constructed a very you know they've downgraded I think this season. I think this game though showed that they can still compete against the
00:45:03
Speaker
against the bigger teams. I think they've had a few changes. Not just that. Look at how they've spent the Vlawic and Kiezah money and what they've spent it on. It's not good enough, especially in the attacking department. Nico Gonzalez apart, if we take him away, I mean, Harto Cabral flop, Lukajovic flop, although he didn't cost him a lot. But do you know what I mean? No, all the strikers have been on the other side of the field.
00:45:29
Speaker
like it's just been flopped off the floor as well. But on the other hand, I mean, the midfield looks good. I think, again, like the football they play is it's a progressive football. It's
00:45:46
Speaker
that they're hollow defensively and they make... But I mean, the positive take from this is, look, they're in a good position in the Europa League. They won 4-3 and... In the conference league. Yeah, sorry, in the conference league. They're in a good position. They're going to go through and, you know, playing like this, they've definitely got...
00:46:05
Speaker
they've got a chance because I would have put Aston Villa as the favourites to win the tournament but Aston Villa, I've been watching a lot of them recently, they're starting to decline now towards the end of the season, they're starting to run out of steam a little bit, they're fighting for that Champions League play so maybe it's not the Aston Villa of the first half of the season which means Fiorentina maybe have more of a chance against Villa than I would have given them
00:46:25
Speaker
you know earlier in the season so they've got a chance in that conference league as well I think this game can they try and take the positives out of this game as disappointing as they will be they can take from this that they can compete against the bigger teams having said that though we have to say that there is a reason why Fiorentina dominated that first half so much and we have and we're going to talk about De Rossi now
Daniele De Rossi's Impact at Roma
00:46:48
Speaker
We have been so, I mean, he's done such an amazing, amazing job for Roma since he's come on. It's been incredible, but we have to criticise him for the first half. He got it wrong. I mean, he admitted it after the game. He got it completely wrong. He went to a back three. It didn't work at all. I thought it was a strange decision to play with a back three, given how they were in such excellent form, playing in a four and one, four and then against Brighton. Thought it was strange playing Angelino.
00:47:14
Speaker
at right back. Maybe he needed a bit more rotation as well because they did look a bit tired as well. Maybe he just overthought it, but he got it wrong, De Rossi, from the start in this game and almost cost him the game because of it. I think there was always going to be a reaction to that unbelievable game against Brighton midweek.
00:47:41
Speaker
where Daniela de Rossi tactically mopped the floor with Roberto de Zerbe from minute one to minute 90. And Roma were just fantastic. There's no other word to describe that Roma side. The thing with Daniela de Rossi is that he is this, you know, he's going to make, he's not the finished product again. He's going to make mistakes like this. He's going to learn on the job at Roma.
00:48:10
Speaker
The question is, should Roma keep him and is he a right horse to bet on to allow him to learn on the job? And when he does, he will make mistakes like he did against Fiorentina in the first half, where he gifted it away. But the counterpoint to that is, well, does he recover? And how well does he recover in that same game? Well, I thought Roma were really good in the second half. I thought Roma recovered really well. I thought Roma showed character.
00:48:40
Speaker
um and and belief and they and and and Reacted the way that you expect roma to react a club like rom of roma stature to react in a game like that And that I think is also down to daniela de rossi which brings me To the next point and that is that I watched daniela de rossi at spall It was atrocious. It was genuinely atrocious. It was unwatchable. I remember we had joe takopina on
00:49:09
Speaker
uh after uh he was sacked at Spal and he said I listened to the back to that interview and people should check it out which we did and he said that Daniela de Rossi I've no I had no he said I have no doubts in my mind that Daniela de Rossi is going to be a fantastic world-class manager there's no doubt the football he tried to play at Spal we don't have the players for and I was thinking at the time
00:49:37
Speaker
You know, is Joe being a little bit too nice to his friend and all of that? But to be honest, no, I don't think he was. I think he was 100% honest and accurate and spot on. What we've seen from Daniela de Rossi since he took over from Jose Mourinho is not good vibes. It's not a manager that loves the club and the club loves him and he's a club icon and he's come in there and he's getting everyone to be a Grinta merchant like Gatuzo at Milan.
00:50:07
Speaker
No, what we have is a very talented Italian young tactician and I want to do a mea culpa on that. I did not in a million years see Daniela de Rossi, the ability that Daniela de Rossi has and has shown since taking over Roma from Jose Mourinho because there was no evidence to suggest that. What he's done since taking over Roma, the identity, the movement, the patterns of play, the tactical
00:50:37
Speaker
the jocate, if you will, the plays, is that of one of the most talented and exciting Italian coaches that are available out there. And I sincerely hope from the bottom of my heart that Daniela de Rossi stays at Roma. I really do. I can't think of anyone better with the budget that they have that would be able to take over Roma and also attract players to come to Roma like Daniela. That's a very good point.
00:51:05
Speaker
And the football they play, just look at that first and fourth goal against Brighton. That is fantastic. That's what we would call patterns of play. That's patterns of play.
00:51:22
Speaker
The movement of that team, if you look at the entire movement, the way that everyone in the team, the way that the defenders move out, the way that the midfield drops deep, the inversion of the attackers centrally, from centrally out wide. And then in the precise right moment, when that ball from Paredes comes, the ballas run in.
00:51:45
Speaker
The fourth goal, the way that they play out from the back, the triangles, okay, it's deserbe. He doesn't know how to defend. He can see space. His press is sometimes not very cohesive, but it doesn't matter. That's an identity of a club that knows how it wants to play football. And that is all on Daniela de Rossi.
00:52:08
Speaker
all of it. I can just add to that and that is the biggest positive about this last minute of injury time, last kick. The equalizer against the Fiorentina is that this shows that he's brought back the spirit because actually there's one thing about Jose Mourinho is that they had a never say die attitude, this disromation. I mean they had no
00:52:36
Speaker
They didn't play football, they played outdated football, but when he got to the last five minutes, got to injury time, Roma would fight and they would score late goals and they fought and he was great at that, Mourinho. But that hasn't been lost, he's kept that as well. So that's the one thing that they haven't even lost from Mourinho.
00:52:59
Speaker
and which is which is fantastic which is incredible he's kept that he's kept the organization he's kept the structure spirit but what he has them in the spirit and the character but what he has done is unleash dibala pellegrini lukaku
00:53:17
Speaker
Spinazzola, El Shara, all this attacking talent that Roma have, he's unleashed.
De Zerbi's Coaching Style and Potential
00:53:24
Speaker
I tell you what, if you can rehabilitate Husamuwa who scored, just give him the keys to the city. But it's truly, truly beautiful to see. The football he plays is truly wonderful to see.
00:53:38
Speaker
That brings me on nicely, though, to your point about how he was really, really bad at Spell, to the discussion of Deserbe, because I think it's an interesting point, because I think that sometimes there are managers whose styles of play are more suitable to
00:53:56
Speaker
let's say, bigger clubs. You can't play the same kind of football that you want to play with really great players, with passing players, with big players, big clubs, that you want to play with a, let's say, a set of your B or set of your G team. So maybe that is where De Rossi went wrong. And that brings me on nicely to Deserbi because
00:54:18
Speaker
You know, deservedly, there's no doubt about it. I mean, everybody that works with him or has worked with him and de Rossi said it himself, they, you know, they call him he's been called a genius so many times. And there's no doubt about it, what he's done with Brighton, he's over performed massively to get them into Europe for the first time in their history. And again, they're challenging for Europe again, this this season. But, you know, you've always been you've been one of the one of those who has been very critical about him.
00:54:47
Speaker
from a defensive point of view. And this game, I have to say, I did think about you during this game, because for me, this game, it was too much. The defensive weaknesses were too much in this game. Now, I'm going to defend them a bit in a while to combat this, but I am going to concede
00:55:09
Speaker
that this was unacceptable i mean i'm gonna i'm not gonna take it try and not take too much away from rome because it was great but it was too easy it's not acceptable to me it was not acceptable in this game you get through the first press and then you're basically through on go i mean that's that is not acceptable and i think this is where.
00:55:29
Speaker
this is what he needs to needs to accept that that's not acceptable and i think he's still refusing to accept that well that's exactly it and that's why i i've been pondering on this for quite some time and i'm kind of still on the fence but i'm leaning towards roberto de zerbi is not the italian pep guardiola roberto de zerbi seems to be the italian zidanek zema and
00:55:53
Speaker
That's not a derogatory thing I'm saying. I'm not saying it as a slander, absolutely not, because Zdenec Zeman Italian football should probably erect a statue in Zdenec Zeman's honor for the talent, the attacking talent, Italian talent that he has unleashed between from Francesco Totti to Lorenzo Insinie. That's the span of career we're talking about. That's what Zdenec Zeman has done. And what I mean by is he the Italian Zdenec Zeman is exactly that.
00:56:24
Speaker
All, I feel in football generally, there's this thing where Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Pep Guardiola, these are now, that's the standard. When in fact, these are the fantastic overachieving greats. We can't have the lowest bar for a player to be Ronaldo and Messi. We can't have the lowest bar of acceptance for a coach to be Pep Guardiola.
00:56:52
Speaker
That's insane. They are not the average. They are not normal in their fields. They are over normal. They are unbelievable. They're legends of the game. Deserbi, I think we should remember here that maybe this is his role in football. Maybe his role in football is to develop and unearth fantastic talent and allow players to take the next step.
00:57:18
Speaker
if he's going to which because he needs to be happy you can't get someone like the zerbi you can't forge then examine to play defensive football because it doesn't look good and and it just he's not happy with it the players won't be happy it just it just becomes wrong same thing with the zerbi
00:57:35
Speaker
to build on your point. If he doesn't want to do that, that's fine. That doesn't mean that he can't have a good career. That doesn't mean that he can't, his role in football can't be that of someone who develops fantastic talent that creates, that is a visionary in terms of attacking football, that produces plays that are genius-like. That's fine. But this notion of him becoming the new Guardiola, wait, let's finish.
Brighton's Achievements Under De Zerbi
00:58:01
Speaker
But to compare him with Pep Guardiola and all that, I think that's silly. Let him be the Zerebi. If that means that he can understand that you also sometimes have to defend and not be carved wide open, great. If it doesn't mean that, let him just have that career. I don't see anything wrong with that, if that makes sense. I think there's two points here from me. One is that clearly in this game, and we've seen it in other games as well, of course,
00:58:31
Speaker
It's not acceptable. It's like I said before, it's not acceptable to be able to play through you so easily as Roma did in this game. You get through the first press and then all of a sudden you're four on two at the back. I mean, that's just not acceptable. The question for me is, well, two points. One, the question will be answered once he goes to a big club and he will go to a big club. Is it because Brighton are
00:59:00
Speaker
Is part of the reason why it's so easy to play through this Brighton team like Roma did? Is it because Brighton are just not very good, they don't have the players to be able to carry out what, and this is where I come back to the D'Rosi spell point. Is it because the players are just not good enough to carry out the very, and it's very kind of advanced high risk, high reward style of football that D'Rosi plays with the high press and they're trying to push up the field.
00:59:30
Speaker
Is it that the Brighton players are not good enough? That is why from a defensive point of view it fails so spectacularly defensively when it does fail like it did in this Roman game. Is it because of the Brighton players and that when he goes to a Man City or Liverpool or you know one or Real Madrid that the players will be so good that they'll be able to carry this out and and they won't get
00:59:52
Speaker
you know, found out is, is, is, is that will that happen? We won't know until until until he coaches those teams. I mean, I would say on that point that
01:00:01
Speaker
I've said it all along, the Brighton team this season, not last season, the Brighton team this season, on paper, I have them around 16th or 17th best team in the Premier League on paper. They're not, I mean, they're obviously like Luton Burnley and, and, and Sheffield United are like, they're all championship teams, basically. But after that, I had them about 16th or 17th. But we also have to remember, I mean, how many again, I hate to be a prem faces as kind of thing, but
01:00:27
Speaker
in martin samuel boy in sam martin samuel boy how many how many brighten plays would get in aroma team i mean honestly though how many would get into the brighten team i would probably honestly i'd probably pick one mitoma who was injured anyway he didn't miss out they did have a lot of plays injured for this game mitoma instead of el shirawi would probably be the only player
01:00:46
Speaker
from the Brighton team that would get in their arms. Then on paper, this is really a bad Brighton man. He is overperforming massively to get this team into Europe for the first time in their history. So he's doing an incredible job from that point of view. So that is number one. And then number two, if the answer to that question is no, which I think
01:01:09
Speaker
I think there is definitely a flaw there. There's no doubt about that. Yes, better players would mask that flaw more, but I still think there's clearly still a flaw there. Is he prepared
01:01:25
Speaker
And if he is prepared, is he capable of correcting that flaw at the big club? And these are the two questions that need to be answered. And if the answers are positive answers, then he's going to be one of the greatest coaches of his generation. If they're negative,
01:01:40
Speaker
then maybe he is more going to become more of a Zeman. But my point is simply that that's fine. That's okay. I don't think it makes him any lesser of a coach. I think it would be a shame though, because we can see that from an attacking point of view, he has something very, very special. And I think it would be a shame if he's not able to
01:02:02
Speaker
to sort out that this clear, and I think there's definitely clearly a flaw there. And I think everybody's realising it now that there is a flaw. It's been obvious for it's been staring everyone in the face, but everyone's been blown away by people also need to be realistic. Like what do you expect from Brighton?
01:02:17
Speaker
Do you know what I mean? I mean, let's be honest, no other manager, I don't think any other manager, how many other managers would be able to get this Brighton, who are like I said, about 16th or 17th on paper to qualify for Europe. I mean, it's incredible what he's done. So people need to be realistic. What do we expect Brighton to do? Brighton shouldn't be competing really with Roma, to be honest with you. No, they shouldn't. They shouldn't be losing 4-0.
01:02:40
Speaker
Any fact that i was a bit of a exaggeration i think i mean bright actually had quite a few chances did probably should be about four to game really and also. I mean i'm not going to talk about anti-italian discrimination but that third goal i mean i don't know what's going on with the outside. Wasn't offside they showed it was he was on site not well there's there's there's a lot but the if you look at the if you look at the they didn't use the technology that they usually use the good for every goal.
01:03:09
Speaker
not in europe they don't have the same technology they don't have the proper technology in europe to show the two lines it looked there's a big debate over whether that was actually was actually offside for that goal and looking at it i'm not
01:03:25
Speaker
I don't want to admit. It didn't matter in the end, I don't think, because I think Rome was so much better.
Milan's Performance and Key Players
01:03:32
Speaker
But yeah, I think it was a little bit harsh, the result as well. But anyway, the point is... I'm pretty sure they use the semi-automatic. No, they don't. Not in Europe, they don't. Not in Europe, I believe. They don't. They don't.
01:03:47
Speaker
I think Brighton have actually put in an official complaint about it, along with, and we'll come to that on the Badger of the Week, along with something else from the game, which is my favourite moment of the week from the game, Milan Empoli, we're going to have to zoom through the other games quickly, because we're already over an hour,
01:04:04
Speaker
So Milan Empoli, not a great game this, Milan win 1-0, Poulassic with the goal, he's having a good season actually in terms of numbers in Serie A, a heavily deflected goal, positives for me, two positives, Okafors performance, he got the assist, I think he showed
01:04:23
Speaker
showed himself to be pretty lively on that left-hand side, filling in for Liao. Five goals, two assists this season. He's only had four starts. He's contributing a goal, having a goal contribution every hundred minutes. I think, you know, if he can just have a few less injuries, I think he's proved to be quite a successful sign-in in the end, Oka Fornema. Would you agree with that? Yeah, I think he is. I think if we can stay fit, that's the key. Can we keep him fit?
01:04:52
Speaker
But he's an exciting player and he's very dynamic and he's difficult to mark and he's a technical player. So that's the key. I think as the other positive, Milan are such more controlled teams, more compact teams. When he plays, they just, you know, we talk about, you know, does Ervi being open, but Milan have been similarly so open.
01:05:15
Speaker
this season so easy to play through once you get through that first line and not having anyone protect the defence from the midfield and when Benesir plays that defence is protected so much more because he has one of some of the one of the highest football IQs in all of this area Ismail Benesir
01:05:30
Speaker
I mean, he's just, he's such an intelligent player. I hope he plays against Slavia Prague because they need to be a little bit careful. I did not like Milan's performance against Slavia Prague. I thought they were really poor. They were lucky. Liao scored a magical goal though. He did, but they were lucky they got that red card because, I mean, it was a red card, but if they hadn't had that red card, I'm not even sure Milan would have won that game the way they were playing. They were really bad. But they weren't good in that game. They weren't good in their favor. No, I won. Beneser has to play against Slavia Prague just to make sure they're protected for the onslaught that's going to come in in Czechia.
01:05:58
Speaker
But I've just got to say about Pulisic, as I said before the season, I think he predicted that he was going to be the first American player to succeed in one of the classic European clubs. And I think he's kind of done that already. I think he's going to be a
Inter's Winning Streak and Title Prospects
01:06:17
Speaker
star. If he's not already at Milan, he's going to be a star.
01:06:20
Speaker
Milan. I think the fact that he just always scores for them. It's not the most beautiful goals, but who cares? He continues to deliver week on week from Milan when they need him. That was a very intelligent signing. And I think Milan are going to enjoy him. Yeah, he had a really good week, didn't he? Because he scored in the Europa League, didn't he? Did he score against Slava? Yeah, and then he scored this. He's had a very, very good week and he certainly
01:06:49
Speaker
somebody that in terms of numbers is producing. Let's move on to Inter, whose numbers are absolutely insane. They keep up their incredible 100% record in 2024, 13 wins in a row. And I don't know what newspaper it was, but it was a great, great headline that says, even when Inter don't want to win, they still win.
01:07:11
Speaker
And I thought that really summed up this game so so well It's like they didn't even really care about winning They just wanted to go in put in a kind of a really good defensive performance if they got a draw They would have been happy with it, but they come away with another win. I mean 13 wins in a row this is this is That game to me was one of the more enjoyable ones I've seen from into this season for a couple of reasons the first one is they rotated but
01:07:39
Speaker
and they showed in the opening 20-25 minutes that they were going to attack. And boy did they attack. And they did everything they usually do when attacking the positional changes, the wide players becoming wingers,
01:07:57
Speaker
the the the wing the full backs becoming wing backs you know all of the usual Inzaghi dance of position positional changes of players midfielders becoming defenders defenders becoming number 10s I mean all of the stuff that we've seen all season we with Inter right and from left center back to right center back is when the goal came from as well all of that we saw for the opening 20-25 minutes and they put Bologna into into some some problems um or you know and then they scored but for me
01:08:27
Speaker
was the second half when Inter decided that they were not going to attack, they were going to defend and that this was going to be a game where they simply gave possession to Bologna. The Bologna team was very well coached, very well drilled, played good attacking football, had very interesting attacking patterns of play and jocata and plays, but did not create a goddamn chance.
01:08:54
Speaker
The only thing Bologna created came from an Aslani headless pass right down the middle, which is something he needs to improve, even though I think Aslani has improved week on week on week. And I think that's a positive thing. He needs to get that nonsense like that out of his game when he plays the ball straight into the middle of the park, where two, three Bologna players are, you know, put the pressure on and Zeiksev scuffs the chance right at Sommer. But other than that,
01:09:21
Speaker
Bologna did not create anything. Inzagi nullified via defensive football. He played Allegri ball in the second half. Inter did not even cross the line. They had 0.0 XG, 0 shots on target, 0 shots off target. Nothing. And that was a clear decision by Inter. It's a dress rehearsal for Atérico Madrid because that's how it's going to look. Now obviously Atérico Madrid are much better side than
01:09:47
Speaker
than Bologna, but for the first time, look, because we know that Interkin attack in a wide variety of ways, very, very versatile in attack.
01:09:56
Speaker
But if they can start playing on command, defensive football is secure like that and give defensive solid performances like they did against Bologna on command, that's the hallmark of a campion. That's the hallmark of a team that can actually win the Champions League. This is the first time in the season I've said it. Other people have been all excited. I've been very skeptical.
01:10:18
Speaker
But if they're going to play, if they're going to master that in their toolbox as well, then yes. No, they're in such a complete team. They've got so much depth. I mean, bisek is six choice centre back. He scores the goal. And the defense, like you said, I mean, 13 goals conceded in 28 games. That's just outrageous. 17 clean sheets in this area for Jan Sommer. The record is at 21.
01:10:41
Speaker
shared by Cudicini and Ross Sebastiano Rossi at Milan, twice by Buffon at Juve, once by Provedel, once by Morgan de Sanctis at Roma in 13-14 season.
01:10:55
Speaker
There is a good chance that Jan Sommer breaks. He's going to break it. There's 10 games left. He's going to break it. There's a chance left. I mean, Interef can, you know, have 18 clean sheets. One was Aldero, but 17 Jan Sommer. So, yeah, there's a good chance that he breaks it. But for me also, when you talk about the defense, this Jan, this B-SIC kid, where did they find him? What a piece of scouting.
01:11:22
Speaker
It's, you know, he's still rough, but he's a diamond in the rough. And what's so impressive about him, in my opinion, is that he still makes stupid, you know, immature mistakes on the pitch tactically and gets the game wrong and positionally. But he immediately makes up for it because he's so quick and he's also very reactive. And I mean, if you're going to have this guy
01:11:45
Speaker
I really think the future should be Bastoni Bizek Pavard, because he's also a very good ball-playing defender. He's strong. I want to see that back three. I think that could be a classic back three for Inter. Bastoni Bizek Pavard, for Inzaghi, that is, in this system. I'm really, really blown away by him. It's the first time I really feel like I said,
01:12:15
Speaker
Inter are complete, and for me complete teams, they win the biggest trophies. Not just at Serie A level, but at the international level. And if Inter can marry all of these aspects into their identity and do it on command,
01:12:32
Speaker
then they are a genuine challenger to win the Champions League. No doubt. Yeah, I think so too. Bologna, no panic. They have a great run of fixtures now. Napoli only drew. Roma only drew. Atalanta drew, so they've got rid of what they're
01:12:52
Speaker
tough game. And now they have Empolisa, then it's Anna Fozin on in Monza in the next four games. And they play Romeo, then they've got Udenezer. I mean, they've got a great amount of fixtures now between now and the end of the season. They've got no Europe. Spelon used to lose, as we said, as we said last week, they're in such a great
Napoli's Champions League Ambitions
01:13:07
Speaker
position. But they do have Roma and Napoli and Juve left to play. We should remember that. Well, they do, but they can be by then, they can be the next four fixtures. They can, they can be pretty much. If they win the next four fixtures and take 12 points, that brings them up to 63. I think that almost
01:13:21
Speaker
Yeah, they're almost there. Yeah, they're almost there. Especially with a fifth spot being enough to get to the champion. Napoli blow it, though. I mean, a big blow for the Champions League chances. They only draw with Toreno. And that's a big, big mistake from Napoli. They had to win that. So it's all down to the Champions League now.
01:13:41
Speaker
The positives are that I'm still insistent watching them. They are improving. The improvements probably not going to be enough. There's not enough time maybe for this improvement to rescue their season. It's going to be difficult because they just can't afford.
01:13:58
Speaker
draws really they just have to keep winning really but they are improving i'm certain that they're improving their possession the triangles the philosophy of play you know that they are improved they're maybe not still not creating enough chances which is why they've drawn three of the five games but i'm certain they are improving and one player that is definitely improving his color
01:14:19
Speaker
This performance is one of the best individual performances of Serie A this season. He was unbelievable. He had eight shots in this game, four of them on target. He was just unplayable. He was taking players on. He was going right, left, shooting. He scored.
01:14:35
Speaker
He went closer scored another two times You said last week that this is becoming Clara's Napoli. Yeah, and he absolutely right. I'll see when I have to say I've been really disappointed I feel like I'm always feel like he's gone. I feel like he just doesn't care anymore. He doesn't care Maybe the Champions League. I think yeah, probably there'll be a new level of motivation He's thrown it in in the league. He's going through the motions. It's all Clara that's driving the team He was brilliant if he plays like this against Barcelona then
01:15:03
Speaker
Napoli are right in there with a chance because absolutely he was this was this was simply world-class like he's playing at a world-class level now under cut zone and so that is the big positive. I agree with all of that but the only thing I want to add is I'm not sure I'm ready to write Napoli off. I'm not writing them off I'm just saying that
01:15:23
Speaker
you know, they've got a lot to do. And is their improvement going to be fast enough to? Well, I'm not. I look at this, the results this weekend, and I see that they actually they didn't they gained a point on Bologna and they maintained the same distance to to Atlanta and Roma. They they've got the games they got going on, of course, Barcelona and Inter before the international break. And then, of course, Atlanta, Monza, Frosinone and Empoli before Roma. That's when this is going to be decided. I think Napoli
01:15:52
Speaker
I think Napoli have enough quality to maybe win, not all of those games, but four out of five. If they do that and draw one, then we're talking 17 points before they go up against
01:16:09
Speaker
direct rival. I think this was a mistake, seeing as they've got into a way this weekend, Roma have Sassuolo. So, I mean, Napoli lose, they're looking at, well, seven points behind Roma, and then they've got a lot to do. So, I just think that they can't really slip up now from here.
01:16:31
Speaker
It's going to be difficult, but I'm certain that the improvement that they're now playing at a level where they are. I really think that they've got a chance.
01:16:40
Speaker
against Barcelona. Absolutely. It's 50-50 for me against Barcelona. Also because I didn't realise that Barcelona are actually not playing at the Camp Nou either. They're playing at their other grounds because of the renovation. So they're going to lose something from that as well. As long with the injuries. And of course, Chavi and the disaster that is Barcelona this season, generally.
01:17:09
Speaker
they're not a very good side Barcelona this year and they just look like a mess. I don't know. I give Napoli a historic chance to upset Barcelona here, to be honest, away. Yeah, but I mean, they've improved their form now. I mean, I think they're unbeaten in about
01:17:29
Speaker
nine games now. They've won six of them, I think. So they are in improved form Barcelona. We definitely can't... No, it's 50-50. I think it's 50-50. I think Napoli have a fantastic chance to reach the quarter and nine. Yeah. Okay. Well, we'll see. I'd maybe put Barcelona in slight favourites, but I do think Napoli can go through.
Relegation Battle and Team Challenges
01:17:49
Speaker
Okay. I've just round up the rest of the Serie A results. And the calorie for Selena,
01:17:55
Speaker
Two wins in a row, four unbeaten for Callery, they're in a good run. Sassuola won, Frosinone in nil, huge win for Sassuola. Keio, George, missing an 89th-minute penalty for Frosinone, who now go into the relegation zone. Gen. 2, Monza 3, very exciting game, and Lecce, nil, Verona 1. And the big news from that is Roberto de Versa headbutting Thomas Henry at the end of the game and now being sacked
01:18:19
Speaker
by Lecce and they have used that excuse. I think they've done him over dirty here, Lecce. They're basically going to use the head button as a reason not to pay him off. I mean, they're obviously in a bad run of form, which might be the real reason they're getting rid of him, but they're going to use the headbutt as an excuse not to pay him off. They've done him dirty here, but I mean, he can only blame himself. You can't headbutt a player.
01:18:45
Speaker
Yeah, look that that was my serious to be honest because that entire incident and the whole his excuse Sad excuse on social media as well. I mean it was insane but again, this is when you know, the pressure is mounting on these tea and when you have like, you know look from from 13 to 19 three-point separate seven teams it's it's you know, the pressure is on and
01:19:11
Speaker
Verona, Caliari, Lecce and Polio Nese, Frosinone and Sassolo are all in the relegation scrap and many of these teams like Frosinone and Lecce have not been anywhere near this all season.
01:19:23
Speaker
Um, so it's, it is a problem for them. And then the pressure amounts when you thought that you were out of the woods, but you're actually in, in peril. Um, but of course there's no excuse for what he did. Uh, but it's, it's, um, yeah, it's quite interesting. I mean, I think frozen on are going down now. I think that result against us all always is so they couldn't afford to lose that and missing a penalty like that. I think frozen on are going down. The question is who joins them?
01:19:54
Speaker
I can't call it. I think anything could happen between 13th to 19th. I think any of them can go down. Of course. Honestly, there's not one of those that I can sit here and say, I think that team is going to be okay. I don't. I think I really think it's
01:20:11
Speaker
take your just just yeah put all the names in a hat pick one out it could be any of them or any two of them it's impossible to call every week it changes one team goes into the pools in another team comes out it's it's it's mad isn't it it's absolutely mad
01:20:27
Speaker
OK, right, European fixtures. Barcelona and Napoli on Tuesday in the second leg of the Champions League last 16, which we've said, 1-1 from the first leg. Then Atletico against Inter, both these games in Spain. Inter, of course, 1-0 ahead from the first leg. Atletico, home record is amazing, by the way, this season. I think they've got the best home record in Europe, if I'm not mistaken, in the league. But obviously, Inter looking really, really strong. Griezmann,
01:20:55
Speaker
uh i think that could be key if he's out then i'm really feeling really confident for him so if he's back then and he's properly fit and i think he'll play i think simian is playing mind games now of course he is he's playing it's so obvious what he's doing it's hilarious and it's like he did it for before the first leg as well and all of a sudden morata came on and uh it's just him being it's just him it's just him being himself and yeah
01:21:21
Speaker
I don't think any more falls for it. But look, you know, I think inter inter have inter have it's going to be difficult as hell. I saw a stat somewhere that I thought it committed have not lost at home in a knockout game in Europe since the 90s or something like something crazy like that.
01:21:37
Speaker
I don't know. I mean, that doesn't matter because Inter don't need to win. So it's fine. They could draw. They'll be fine. That's what I mean. And that's good for Inter, but it's not going to be an easy game. No, it's not. Because they are a very good side and I think they're going to, you know, I think they're going to, it's going to be a very tactical game and I think that Inter are going to struggle and I think they need it to give that performance and have that run through a dress rehearsal like they did defensively against Bologna.
01:22:04
Speaker
ahead of that athletic game. It's going to be difficult. But yeah, no, look, it's that's going to be a battle and it's going to be exhausting. Inter are going to be exhausted. But then again, so an happily because they, you know, when they they both play each other this weekend and because I mean, playing away to Barcelona is not going to be easy either. So now it's about those two, those two ties are fascinating. They really, really are. OK, Leela Natalanta Roma.
Cultural Aspects of Italian Football
01:22:29
Speaker
Yeah, Brighton, Neil, Roma 4, Brighton, second leg, Milan, Milan have to be careful, Salavi, Prague 2, Milan 4, and then Atalanta 1, Sporting 1. I mean, Italian teams are all in a decent position going into the second leg, and just Atalanta just hope that they're...
01:22:43
Speaker
physically in good condition. That's my only concern. That's exactly what I mean. Roma and Milan, they have to go through. I think they've got sport in Lisbon's number tactically. I think they've got them. They've shown that in all three games. It's just the physical side of things. It's exhausting, isn't it? Well, it is. And every three days. Every three days. Milan into Bologna, sports in the event of sporting again. I mean, it's going to take... It's crazy. Every three days, yeah.
01:23:12
Speaker
And then they got Fiorentina and Napoli after that. I mean, of course there's an international break-off. And then the Coppertaglia as well. And then the Europa League who lost quarter-finals as well if they get there. So it's going to be non-stop for them. Okay, right. Let's finish off with Badjo, Primface and Seria as of the week. So Badjo, we've got Danny Motta, Sisakic. Yeah.
01:23:36
Speaker
from Monza against Genoa, magnificent, magnificent goal. Then we have, I have, and I don't care, you can all criticise me as much as you want, the Roma banner against the Queen. It's Badger of the Week, absolutely magnificent. Fantastic, brilliant, fantastic. Anything against the Royal Family, I'm hoping.
01:23:55
Speaker
I don't care how insulting it is. It's brilliant. Magnificent. I love that Brighton have put in an official complaint about it as well, which I find hilarious. Like, why? What's it got to do with Brighton? Do you know what I mean? This is what I talk about, people kind of bowing down to authority. Like, who cares? What's it got to do with Brighton? I mean, the Royal Family can put in a complaint if they want, but why Brighton got to put one in?
01:24:21
Speaker
That banner, but it's just the thing is like it's part of Italian ultra's culture. Anything goes on banners. I remember one banner that Inter fans had when playing Milan, and there's like a peace treaty between them in terms of violence. They don't go up against each other violently.
01:24:43
Speaker
you know, Barbara Berlusconi loves bukkake in a giant, giant manner. Like, you know, that's the level we're at here. Like, this is what they do. So, so, yeah. And, you know, there's lots of stuff like that. And it's just like, it's raw, it's unhinged. And that's why it's shock value. And so you giggle. But yeah, it's, it's, you know, it's just part of Italian ultra-sculpture. Like, love it, hate it, it is what it is. But I'd rather they
01:25:10
Speaker
We use banners and then stab and punch each other. Well, yeah, that's the other side of things as well. Absolutely. I prefer the banners to the.
01:25:16
Speaker
to the violence. Yeah, for sure.
Miscellaneous Discussion Points
01:25:19
Speaker
But I've just got to say that Danny Motto's Scissor Volleykick was insane. Please go watch that. It's one of the goals of the season. I also want to give a shout out to do this with Italian sport, the Italy Rugby Team beating Scotland. First home win in 11 years in Six Nations. They were magnificent. They were so, so good. And that came after they drew with France. The Italy Rugby Team is really improving. It's really, really improving. And it was a deserved win. They were fantastic.
01:25:42
Speaker
so they now play Wales in the last game and yeah if they win that I mean it's been a brilliant brilliant tournament so yeah really well done to the early rugby team. Prem face we we've got two on here the first one is the TNT commentator during the Lazio versus Bayern Munich game in Munich that Munich went Bayern 1-3-0
01:26:04
Speaker
Fletcher, I can't remember his first name, something Fletcher. Anyway, he's the main commentator for TNT. He called Luca Pellegrini, Lazio left back Lorenzo Pellegrini. I did that for about a good two years too, because I couldn't get it like, I confused him. Which one's Lorenzo, which one's Luca, like for a couple of years ago? He's constantly getting, oh, Lorenzo, no, Luca, Lorenzo, no.
01:26:29
Speaker
It's, um, the second one, the second one's Paul Merson, who, I mean, listen, I've got a preface to say, I love Paul Merson. I've, I've, I've interviewed a fantastic player. And, but as a person, he's a magnet. He's a fantastic person. He really is. He's one of the good guys in football. Like he's so kind. He's so like empathetic and cares about other people. He's a wonderful person, but.
01:26:53
Speaker
yeah he can be a bit of a come up with your prem face comment now it's like it's like a it's like a prem face hall of fame yeah i'd be shocked if we england don't win it only two france players would get in the england team it's like it's a it's a checklist of prem facery like tick tick tick tick and it's like again england are among the favorites to win the euros there's no doubt about that and i i personally think they will do it but
01:27:24
Speaker
To say that only two France players would get in the England team is nonsense. It's just nonsense. What are you talking about? Manon gets in, Theo gets in, at least one centre back. I would say two centre backs. That's four already. Then you've got Tuomaini, I would certainly get in at Centrefield. England have only got one Centrefield. I didn't have another one.
01:27:48
Speaker
and obviously Mbappe obviously gets in as well. At least five, if not six. I'd pick Kyle Walker because in France he doesn't have a right back.
01:28:06
Speaker
They don't have a right back. They don't have anyone at right back. They play centre backs at right back, like Kunde, who's horrible there. As we'll see, as everybody will see, during the Barcelona against Clara. Clara can have a lot of fun against him because he's not a right back, he's a centre back. But yeah, Puma said, I love you, but yeah.
01:28:24
Speaker
I'm face serious of the week we've already done it's it's gotta be the best it's just and so weird tweet from Milan as well about kilometers and police which i didn't know what i do have another serious of the week i didn't write it down it was the actually official Syria
01:28:42
Speaker
account again, surprise surprise. This is actually not from last week, it's from the Sunday before. It's from eight days ago, but we didn't include it last week. So when Kvara scored against Juventus, the Serie A official Twitter account, I can't remember what the exact tweet was, but it was something like, oh, Kvara humiliating Juventus again. So something like that, like it was just something that you just don't do as the official neutral
01:29:10
Speaker
They did something on the weekend which was the most embarrassing. I almost coughed up a lung when Lapadula for Cagliari scored a goal was nothing special about it and they were hyping it up, stop that Lapadula as if he did like
01:29:31
Speaker
like messy, dribbling, six-player, like it was so embarrassing. It's la-pa-do-la. Like, do you know what I mean? It wasn't anything special about it. It was just, oh, they are, they are a walk.
01:29:44
Speaker
like Mohammed Salah winning the push gas award for that like tapping for Liverpool and everybody voted for him to remember that. Let's leave it at that. Yeah, long show today. We will be back on Tuesday for the Q&A and then Thursday for the review of the two big Champions League games massive, massive, massive matches for Napoli and for Inter.
01:30:11
Speaker
So yeah, big week ahead. Enjoy the week, everybody. See you on Tuesday. Ciao, ciao.