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Free Weekly Episode - Juventus Lucky, Napoli Fans Furious, AC Milan To Sack Pioli, Udogie Misses Euro 2024 & Much More (Ep. 413)
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From Juventus first half horror-show getting lucky to snatch a draw against a Cagliari who continue to impress against top Serie A teams, Atalanta relentless in race for UCL spot as Charles De Ketelaere redemption season continues, Napoli fans furious demanding Aurelio De Laurentiis sell club, to how 10 Serie A teams could play in Champions League, Europa League and Conference League next season, Lecce all but out of relegation battle as Empoli and Hellas Verona keep pulling off miracles, as well as Tottenham and Azzurri star Destiny Udogie to miss EURO 2024, and who will replace Stefano Pioli who is set to leave AC Milan at the end of this season, plus previewing both Coppa Italia semifinals, 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 Episode Context
00:00:02
Speaker
Welcome to the Italian football podcast. Hello everybody and welcome to the Italian football podcast. I'm Carlo Garganese joined as always by Nima Tovale.
Pre-Milan Derby Discussion
00:00:12
Speaker
We're recording today's show before the Milan Derby on Monday evening in to have the chance to win the Scoletto. Nima will be doing a post match reaction
00:00:24
Speaker
on that game and celebrating into Scudetto if they win it, looking at who the heroes of the triumph are, what's next for Insta, can they create a dynasty, their transfer market, all that kind of stuff. So if you've tuned in to listen to Inta winning the Scudetto, then just check out Nimmer's.
00:00:46
Speaker
post-match pods, which you can get on patreon.com slash TIFP for just $2.99 a month.
Serie A Weekend Review
00:00:54
Speaker
But on today's show, on today's free Monday show, we will review all the weekend study action. Juventus snatching a fortunate late 2-2 draw at Caliari. Max Allegri set in another negative record, which dates back 30 years. Wait for that.
00:01:12
Speaker
Napoli's own horror season goes from bad to worse. They lose at Emply. The Napoli fans are furious. They're protesting. Some are even calling for Aurelio De Laurentiis to sell the club. Elsewhere, Atalanta, Lazio and Fiorentina all win. The relegation race is starting to narrow down. A few teams are starting to pull away.
Coaching Changes and Player Updates
00:01:34
Speaker
The big news of the pitch is that Stefano Pioli is almost certain to be sacked by Milan now at the end of the season. Everybody is unanimous in the Italian media about that. We'll discuss this and we'll look at the possible replacements for Pioli.
00:01:50
Speaker
And there's also some really, really bad news for the Italy national team as Destiny Udoji, who's had such a fantastic season, Tottenham is out of Euro 2024. He's undergone an operation. He's going to be out for a few months. And we're also going to poke a little bit of fun at the Premier League's farming in Europe last week.
Coppa Italia Semi-finals Preview
00:02:10
Speaker
And we'll also have our usual Baggio prem face and Serie A of the week and look ahead to
00:02:19
Speaker
the second legs of the semi-final of the Coppa Italia this mid-week. For all our first time listeners, this is our free weekly episode that we do every Monday, reviewing the weekend Celly action, all the biggest talking points in Italian
Podcast Subscription and Milestones
00:02:33
Speaker
football. If you want to support the Italian football podcast and receive all of our content that we do throughout the week, including a weekly Q&A episode every Tuesday, where we answer all of the questions from our Patreons, plus the weekly Thursday midweek review show, plus interviews, post-match reaction, and much, much more.
00:02:47
Speaker
then go to patreon.com slash T-I-F-P and become a subscriber for just $2.99 a month plus VAT. 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 and same terms. And for all of you that do listen on Spotify, Apple, iTunes, podcasts, we'd really appreciate it. Give us a five-star rating. Give us a follow and a like. We're also on YouTube. We've just surpassed 2,000
00:03:14
Speaker
2,000 followers on YouTube and yeah, give us a follow there really helps us to grow and do more quality content for you guys. Okay, let's get into today's show. I'm sorry, but I can't stop laughing at you calling people on YouTube followers and subscribers. I mean, what do you expect never by now? Come on.
00:03:38
Speaker
come on sorry sorry i didn't i was i was like should i say anything should i not say anything i did i'll be honest i did actually think that as i said it i was as i was saying it i was thinking it's not a follower is it on youtube what is it it's a subscriber subscriber yeah
00:03:59
Speaker
Listen, you know me, I'm a dinosaur when it comes to these things. You know, who else is also a dinosaur? Oh, here we go. Who else is a dinosaur?
Juventus' Struggles and Analysis
00:04:09
Speaker
Max Allegri, of course. The first half of Juventus' 2-2 draw against Callery, I think, was the worst first half of Allegri's second spell. Do you agree with that, Noah?
00:04:21
Speaker
It was not the worst, but it was up there. I can't choose. There's been quite a few stinkers through the past few years. But it's like, I can't choose. There's so many to choose from. But it was dreadful. It was really bad. And I think, for me, it just hammered home the point that we've been making both of us, although for different reasons, that
00:04:41
Speaker
It is time to part like he needs to leave. That's not a good working environment for anyone. It's not a good working environment for him. It's not a good working environment for the new Juventus directorship and leadership. It's not a good for the players.
00:04:57
Speaker
They just, I think this, they need to start over. Like it's just for me, it was so bad. The first half was, it was, it was so bad. I mean, in every, in every way, uh, going forward, defending, I mean, created nothing, an XG of 0.29.
00:05:15
Speaker
just couldn't put two passes together, no patterns of play, couldn't get up the pitch, and then defensively, embarrassing. I mean, Calgary had an XG of 2.06. Okay, I know they had penalties, which obviously accounts for a lot of that, but they... Well, every penalty is like 0.75, 0.8, isn't it? Like on XG? Yeah, exactly. Yeah, but still,
00:05:38
Speaker
Horrible. Horrible. And the fending was so bad. Gattie. Gattie in these last two games has looked like a bricklayer in these last two games. But all of them. Honestly, like this game, I can't save anybody in this game from Juventus. Every single player was horrible. Every single one. Every player in the defense
00:06:01
Speaker
Every player in the midfield, Locatelli, just awful. Al-Qur'ah has taken off at half time, awful. In attack, Kieza, Vlawic, okay, he put effort in, but terrible. Every single player, Weyer, I mean, Weyer, I mean, gosh, I mean, is he really George Weyer's son? I mean, who didn't see that coming? I mean, so, so bad.
00:06:30
Speaker
Juventus at the end are lucky to get a draw in this game. They've created nothing at all in this game. The second half, they equalised with a free kick, so it wasn't created, and that was only because the calorie player, I can't remember which one it was, ducked on the free kick, which allowed it to go in. And then the second goal is just a lucky own goal, just a cross.
00:06:54
Speaker
again, exactly what I was saying last week the Juventus they only can only score and create chances of set pieces and And crosses and that's how they got their goals a free kick guy wasn't even a free kick the goal as well wasn't even a free kick and a bizarre a bizarre end goal, so Yeah, just just continues the event as his form in the last two months since that employee game and played 12 1 2 drawn 6 lost 4 and
00:07:22
Speaker
which is relegation form. This is now the worst second half of a season for Juventus in the three points for a win era. That's 30 years. So in 30 years, it's the worst second half of a season that Juventus have had, which is another, yet another negative record for Allegro. I have a new one every single week.
00:07:44
Speaker
that is just historically bad and there's no excuses at all. It's awful and when every single player is playing terribly that's on the coach. So yeah it's bad. Champions League qualification, you know, a draw takes them a little bit of a step closer I guess but then again
00:08:06
Speaker
you know, we're recording this before Roma Bologna, Atalanta got a win. So they still need to be a little bit careful. There's still five games to go. If Atalanta win their game in hand, they go, I think, seven points behind. So, you know, seven points behind, five games left should be okay. But, you know, you have to still have to be a little bit careful because they have some really tough games coming up. They've got to play Milan. They've got to play Roma away, Bologna away. You know, these are games, tough games that you're not going to back.
00:08:36
Speaker
to win. So they do have to be a little bit careful, Juventus. No, they do. Because I'm looking at like, I still think they'll finish third. And I think with this fifth spot, I just really, I struggled to see you finishing out of the top five. I do think, however, that they need to snap out of whatever depression they've got going there.
00:09:06
Speaker
Um, because if, I mean, look at it, I've Atlanta depression. Yeah. Well, if Atlanta win their game in hand, they have, they're on 57 points, not seven points with five games to play. That should be enough. But you look at U of S games coming up, they got lots on the Copa Italia return leg, semi-final. And they got Milan at home, Roma away. Those are, those are tough games. I think it's going to be a tough ask to see you win all of those together or, you know, win six points there.
00:09:34
Speaker
maybe two, maybe four. But then they have Salah and Etana at home, they have to win that. And then Bologna away on the penultimate match day of the season. And that's going to be very decisive, I think, for whether they finish third or not. I still think they'll win the Copa Italia. I still think they'll win, they'll finish third. I think it will be, I mean, I look at the, they haven't lost too many games. They've drawn a lot of games, Hubert, and they've won only 18.
00:10:01
Speaker
I think the issue here, it feels like we have kind of laid, I mean, if we leave all the other stuff behind, just look at the results. Third, Copa Italia trophy, 26 goals conceded, 5 losses, 10 draws, however many they end up being.
00:10:17
Speaker
It does feel like Juve have turned a corner in terms of results wise and that there is something to build on from here on. I just don't think that Juve can continue with Allegri for anyone's sake because they won't be given any peace. The atmosphere, the environment is so toxic after these three years that I think the best thing that can happen for all parties is just to part ways. And I think that's going to happen anyway. I think it's almost inevitable.
00:10:44
Speaker
I know Giuntoli said we were programming the future, we're planning the future with whatever he said. I don't buy it. I'm sorry. I just don't buy it. I just don't see Allegri as a Giuntoli coach. Listen, I agree with you. I can't agree with you on the results.
00:11:06
Speaker
At the way they're going, it's going to be the worst of the three seasons for Allegri in terms of results. And it's obviously the worst second half of the season in 30 years. So I can't agree with you on the results, but I mean, obviously I agree with you on Allegri. Well, if you look at the squad, Carlo, in the last 30 years, this is the worst squad they've had in those 30 years.
00:11:22
Speaker
So naturally they're going to have the worst results in the league in the last 30 years. I disagree with that. I think, listen, we've had this discussion, done this discussion to them. The quality of the squad and the players also comes down to the manager and how he improves those players or does he get the best out of those players, which Allegri hasn't. You've got midfield.
00:11:42
Speaker
of a start in France, France International, a start in Italy International, Rabio and Bocatelli, just to give you an example, you know, but if you can't get the best out of them, they play like a San Marino International and a Guadalupe International. So anyway, listen, we've done that discussion to death. I do agree with you, though, that, you know, generally, what can he say? He's not going to come out and say, you know,
00:12:12
Speaker
Allegri's leaving at the end of the season. Can't say that. Of course you can't say that. I never look into public statements. No one has still got a trophy to play for. I mean, it would be suicide if he did that. It would be absolutely insane if he did that. I never look into public statements when they're denying something. I only look into public statements when they're confirming something. I look at public statements when the season is over, in the sense that when there's nothing left to play for, then I give it more credence. But other than that, I'm with you.
00:12:39
Speaker
Yeah, yeah, yeah. As for Cadbury, I mean, they'll have they'll have regrets here. I mean, they they've battered Juventus in the first half. And they're really unlucky with the two goals conceded. I mean, they got lucky with I mean, they should have had a penalty conceded for that for the elbow by by by Mina.
00:12:56
Speaker
But in terms of overall game, I mean, they were the better team. They should have won the game. And if they'd have won this game, they would have been really close to pulling away completely from the relegation zone. And now they're still in a decent position. They're four points ahead of the drop zone. But it's four points. And it only takes one result. And then they're right back in there again. So it's a shame. I think they would have basically been saved if they've won this game.
00:13:26
Speaker
with what, two minutes to go? That's a little bit gutting, but the positive side of things is they're in fantastic form. They've lost only one game in nine games, so they've hit form at the right time, and they've got such a great record against big teams recently. I mean, their last three games, they've played Atalanta, Inter, and Juventus. If you'd have said before those three games started that Calgary were going to be unbeaten in all three games, and they're going to take five points from those three games, I mean, no one, you would have called them mad,
00:13:55
Speaker
I think even Ranieri could have dreamed. So, I mean, if they take a look at the bigger picture, it's been a fantastic, it's been a fantastic spell for calorie. It is. And I'm looking at their, I'm looking at, at their, like their last few games. And I mean, I'm seeing
00:14:20
Speaker
2-2 against you at home. 2-2 against Inter away. A win against Atalanta. Those are the three last games. That's five points out of against top teams. That's so impressive. Now they've got Genoa and then they got Lece before Milan. I think they're going to be safe before going to the San Solo game, or before going to Milan.
00:14:50
Speaker
Uh, probably, you know, cause lecture just above them, three points. I have, I think both, I think they're going to draw that game. So they're on 33, let's on 36. And then.
00:15:00
Speaker
And then they're going to play a little Biscotto in that game. Classic Italian Biscotto, April, May, where everyone, nobody tries to hurt one another. And then Genoa, who have nothing to play for, they're in no man's land. They're probably going to win that game too, to secure their position or draw that too. That's 34 points. I didn't see them going down with 34 points. Not when I look at Frosinone and Sasolo.
00:15:25
Speaker
I just don't see how those teams overtake Caliari or Lecce. So as far as I'm concerned. They should be okay. Let's move on to Monza versus Atalanta. Atalanta have had a wonderful past week. They win this game 2-1 in the end.
00:15:46
Speaker
coming off the back of knocking out Liverpool of the Europa League. They made mass changes. They started only three players from the Liverpool game, but they still deservedly won and comfortably won despite Monza getting a goal back by Maldini at the end. And what is very noticeable from this game is just how deep this Atalanta squad is. Like they have two options, decent options in every position, basically on the field. And if you look at the lineup that they put out against Monza,
00:16:16
Speaker
you wouldn't pick any players out and say, oh, that's really, that's really a weak player, you know, and that, I mean, considering they were playing virtually playing a backup 11, I think that is really testament to just, again, what we always say about Adsanza, just pound for pound, just what an incredibly run club they are, maybe the best run club pound for pound in Europe. And that's fantastic. And I think in this game, you know, I thought the kettle there,
00:16:44
Speaker
his goal kind of epitomized the improvement that he's shown in the second half of the season with with Atalanta that he scored with a header off a corner in which he held off physically held off Galliadini. De Quetzalero in his first season at Milan and even the first half of the season he was he was somebody that was just
00:17:07
Speaker
Just look at these stats. It's just crazy. I mean, 39 games, 11 goals, 8 assists at Atalanta this season, the Kettler. And most of that's come in the second half of the season. Yeah, but I mean, it's still incredibly impressive and I think
00:17:33
Speaker
I really hope for Atalanta's sake and his sake that he stays there. I really hope that they buy him. It's good for me, Lantu. It's good for everyone. Because his confidence is back. He looks like... I mean, I've always believed in him. I always thought that there's a player there. But he's now looking like someone who's kind of being rehabilitated and, you know,
00:18:01
Speaker
and someone who's only now beginning to express, I still think there's so much he can improve.
00:18:07
Speaker
but he looks so, so healthy. He looks, his confidence, his, his, his, his, like from a psychological point of view, he looks happy. I remember I was, I was at, I watched two games where he was, you know, kind of on the pitch last season. And, and, and, and the second game, like just during warmup, he looked like he wanted to hide. That's what I mean. Yeah. It's like the, physically and mentally, but I just think that the goal kind of epitomized that change around because
00:18:34
Speaker
There's no way, like can you imagine, remember the amount of times he was so weak and he used to get pushed off the ball, brushed off the ball, he wouldn't apply himself with his, you know, even just with the way that he positioned himself with his body and showing the aggression and
00:18:48
Speaker
he and belief as well in duels and and and he you know he here he is scoring a header off a corner i mean it's not nothing special about the goal but it just kind of epitomized you know the improvements that the kettle has shown so that was that was really really nice to see and he's in really good form and
00:19:08
Speaker
Bill Altore scoring is a really nice score and a nice goal as well. I think that's a positive for Ratolanta because you know he's had you know he came in as their big along with Scamaca as their big summer signing last summer and then he got immediately got a really serious injury he's missed most of the season he's come back he hasn't been obviously fully fit and they've got lots of options up front he hasn't played much and he comes he plays here and he scores
00:19:31
Speaker
So it's been a great week. It's been a great week for Atlanta. They're now in a decent position, so it's a challenge for that top five Champions League players through the league. They're five behind Bologna, having played the same number of games. They're one behind Roma, having played one game more. But remember, we're recording this before Bologna and Roma play on Monday evening. So they're going to gain on at least one of those two teams.
00:19:57
Speaker
or they're going to be in a much better position once that game's played, basically. If it's a draw, then fantastic. They have the chance with their game in hand to close. Or if one team wins, then they can close on the team that loses. So they put themselves in a good position now. And they've got Empoli home, Selena Tanner away next. So yeah, happy times for Atlanta.
00:20:25
Speaker
Absolutely. But having said that, I know we're going to talk about this or I want to talk about this now because it is absolutely not unlikely or it's kind of unlikely, but it's absolutely possible and probable that Serie A could have 10 teams in Europe next season. Now, how do I get that to 10? Well, the top five will go to the Champions League.
00:20:53
Speaker
If Atalanta finish outside of the top five and win the Europa League, they too go to the Champions League. That's six teams in the Champions League. Or if Roma do that. Well, yeah, but one or the other. If one of Roma or Atalanta wins... But I don't want to confuse it too much because Roma are clear favourites to finish in the top five. So let's say top five ends as it does, they go to the Champions League. Atalanta finish six, win the Europa League, they go to the Champions League. That's six spots in the Champions League. Now already,
00:21:22
Speaker
Italy are guaranteed two teams in the Europa League and one team in the conference league. That's nine. However, if Fiorentina finish 10th and win the conference league, they too go to the Europa League. Half the Serie A could play in Europe next season. I need this to happen. I need this more than fish need water. Okay. Fiorentina have to finish 10th though, don't they?
00:21:52
Speaker
Yeah, I think so. 10th or 9th, something like that. Because if Juve win the Copa Italia and Fiorentina win the conference league,
00:22:07
Speaker
then it goes to six, seven, eight, and the team that finished ninth. It's a bit complicated, but basically there is a really good chance that we could have 10, half the Serie A could play in Europe next season. That's mad. In a position and a situation where the Serie A has probably in terms of overall quality never been, it's not exactly at its highest compared to money and all that stuff.
00:22:32
Speaker
the Premier League should be doing this. These are the numbers the Premier League should be delivering and producing, given the ridiculous disparity financially and spending. Well, we weren't going to talk about this afterwards, but let's just spend a minute now on the Premier League's farming in Europe last week. What did you make of their harvest? I think Matsumels is one of my favourite people on earth.
00:23:00
Speaker
Nice, what was it? Nice farm, nice harvesting fellow farmers, he tweeted out after they went through. It was absolutely hilarious. Listen, I think they should be ashamed of themselves. And I think Doug, Doug Critchley, Dougie Critchley said it best. He's like, you know, this is the Premier League. I'm paraphrasing what he says. But he said pretty much that, look, the only the only
00:23:30
Speaker
You know, the Premier League has more money than anyone else. I got it here. Eight Premier League sides entered into European competition this season and one, just one, reached the semi-finals. Aston Villa and the Conference League via a penalty shootout. Given the discrepancy in spending over the last few years, this is nothing short of a humiliation for the league.
00:23:54
Speaker
I've never been a fan of making sweeping statements on the quality of an entire league of knockout games. But I do hope this puts an end to the condescending, patronizing and dismissive attitude towards other European leagues in this country. Well said. Nothing to add to that.
00:24:14
Speaker
Yeah, well, we've seen it. We've seen it all and we will carry on seeing it even after or even we have seen it even after the even after the all these teams went out last week, they were they were still seeing it. I mean, the excuses that we've heard, I mean, Arsenal went out and the excuse was that they're tired because of the because of all the games that they play in the Premier League, the intensity of the Premier League, the other leagues, the other teams in the other leagues have, you know, play a much
00:24:41
Speaker
lower intensity, so they're able to prepare for these European games with more, you know, their fitter and stronger for these games. You know, Liverpool go out, they lose to Atalanta.
00:24:54
Speaker
cannot just remind everyone that Liverpool's wage bill is 159 million per year. Atalanta's is 45 million a year. Atalanta's wage bill is lower than every club in the Premier League, except for Luton and Sheffield United. It's the same as Burnley's. So every single team in the Premier League, except for Luton and Burnley. I mean, that's absolutely insane. And then when they go out, what's the excuse? And they deservedly go out. I mean, Atalanta absolutely outplayed them at Anfield.
00:25:24
Speaker
The excuse they give, they use is again, that Liverpool are tired, they've got injuries and that they're too complacent. They took the first leg too easily. They thought they could just turn up and win. You know, Manchester City go out, they lose to Real Madrid. What excuse do they give? They say that they completely dominated the game. Real Madrid just played Catanaccio. They would get these absolutely ridiculous, Jamie Carragher saying that the best team, Jamie Carragher saying the best team doesn't always win. And it's funny though, isn't it?
00:25:54
Speaker
When the English teams go out in Europe, they say that the best team doesn't always win. When the English teams win in Europe, they never say that, do they? Have you noticed that? When Liverpool, the worst Liverpool team
00:26:09
Speaker
that I've seen in the last 30 years, win the Champions League, coming back from 3-0 down against that great Milan team, you know, and they completely fluke a comeback with a penalty that was never a penalty, with Miracles saving extra time with Jersey Dudek standing on his penalty spot for every penalty. You know, oh, it wasn't the best team, wasn't the best team doesn't always win them, wasn't it? It was, ah!
00:26:36
Speaker
Miraculous comeback. Amazing. Istanbul miracle. New Castle. We were told they were going to win the group of Deaf. We had Martin Samuel calling Milan the Chelsea reserves. We had your best friend, Tarek Panja, saying that Brentford were a tougher team for Milan, the New Castle. We had Owen Hargreaves tipping the New Castle to win the group.
00:27:02
Speaker
They come bottom of the group. What's their excuse? Oh, it was if it wasn't for a penalty that that penalty that shouldn't have been given, Newcastle would have gone through and now they'd be in the semi finals. You know, they were saying this the other day. They were saying if it wasn't for that penalty, Newcastle would be in the semi finals now, you know, and then you have Brighton. Remember the actually was to be fair, it wasn't Dougie that said that, but people on his show, the Sky Podcasters.
00:27:25
Speaker
oh Brighton could win the Serie A and then afterwards, oh we're only joking, we're only joking, you know you could go on and on and on, I mean it's just, it's beautiful, it's beautiful to see this, you know it's absolutely beautiful because the arrogance, the ignorance, the prefacery, you know and the money that they have
00:27:46
Speaker
that's selling out their league to states, to criminals and then they can't even win with all those advantages that they have. It's nice to see, it's nice to see.
00:28:04
Speaker
Anything to add? No, I'm good. Are you good? I went off over there. You reckon? But no, but listen, it's it's just I just find it fascinating. And also, because if we have 10 teams in the in the Europe next season, I you know that would mean that it would be Fiorentina, Lazio and Napoli in the Europa League, which I think is good.
00:28:33
Speaker
And it would mean that Torino would be in the conference league, which I would love. And Atalanta, Roma, Milan, Interjube in the Champions League. Now, Bologna, sorry. And if we discard Bologna, all those other teams, they have European pedigree and they have European experience in the sense that they're used to playing there. So we would need to win the
00:29:01
Speaker
to win the conference. They have to win the conference. We'll come to that. I'm not convinced to play well enough. Anyway, let's move on to Napoli. Let's move on to Napoli. They lose 1-0 to Emply. Another awful, awful, awful performance, especially in the first half. They were lucky to not be two guards behind at half time. They can be agi-missed an absolute sitter to make it 2-0. They were a little bit better in the second half and Guisa passed. We should have shot.
00:29:32
Speaker
a few nice moments from current scale but ultimately created very very little in this match 0.51 xg in this game so it was just another terrible terrible performance from Napoli just as we've seen all season and the Napoli fans are not happy they left the banner
00:29:51
Speaker
In the stadium for the first 15 minutes, which they weren't present at saying only the fans always men Win they missed up. They missed the employee goal that came from Alberto cherry his first going three years And then when they did did enter the stadium they were they were insulting the players insulting De Laurentiis and some of the ultras were were chanting at one stage for a
00:30:17
Speaker
De Laurentiis to sell Napoli, they were chanting. So it does show really, I mean, it's incredible. Well, they're not blind, are they? I mean, they have, you know, at the end of the day, the De Laurentiis part, I mean, they're not blind. They've seen him do fantastic things and build Napoli systematically up. And they've seen him them. Is that extreme, though, to call for him to sell? I mean, is this something? Because I don't think he can take it higher. I'm sorry, I just don't see him. I don't think he can take Napoli higher than he's done.
00:30:46
Speaker
I don't think he can stabilize Napoli as a scored at all title challenger every year. He's done it twice, three times at most, during his tenure. And one of them he succeeded. The Sarri thing, I mean, that is just you were better and everything that happened that season, because whenever you finish on 90 plus points and you don't win the league, I think it's time to just tip your hat to the opponent and say you were better. But normally they would have had two.
00:31:16
Speaker
But I just don't think that he can, given his personality and who he is, what needs to be done in Naples, building of a new stadium, working with the local councillors, working with the, you know, cooperating with politicians and bureaucrats. I don't think he's, you know, growing the brand. I think he's fantastic at some of the things he does, but I don't think he's very modern in his communication and in the way that he markets Napoli. There are instances where he does fantastic stuff and the Napoli fan base is huge and very loyal.
00:31:46
Speaker
so they will always back that stuff up. I just think it's time to move on. Is it possible that he hit his peak, the culmination of all the great work he did last year and now he's going to turn 75 next year? Is it a case of maybe that was his peak and now he's getting a bit old and that's why he's making mistakes as well?
00:32:09
Speaker
Is it just a case of he got drunk on his power and he was too cocky and arrogant and then made some massive mistakes as a result? I think it's a combination of all of the above. I also think that you have to remember how he's been there for a long time. It's almost 20 years now soon. At the same time though, Nimr, is it a case of after what he did last year that we should give him
00:32:36
Speaker
you know, another chance. He deserves another chance. I think he does deserve the benefit of the doubt, no doubt, based on what he's done. I just think it's when you've been someplace for almost two decades, or around two decades, and you've done an historic job, at some point, it's always important to know when it's time to exit. You know, I think it's important. Otherwise, if you overstay your welcome, a little bit, I mean, if you speak to some of the Milan fans, I mean, some of my friends were Milanisti,
00:33:05
Speaker
When they talk about Berlusconi, I notice that they are more annoyed with the last five, six years than they are with the preceding years because of how he overstayed his welcome, the circus that it became when he wanted to sell the club and everything that happened that came along with that. Because he overstayed his welcome by six, seven, eight years, the way some see it.
00:33:33
Speaker
I'm not saying all Milan fans, so calm down. I'm saying some of the Milan fans, I know, kind of when you talk to them, when they look back, they view it like that. And I'm thinking that's avoidable. You can avoid that. It's best to leave before, you know, before you're before they demand that you get kicked out, you know. And I think with with de la rentes, his legacy is truly remarkable what he has done with Napoli, because again,
00:33:59
Speaker
look at how he did it. Qualifying for Europe every single year, fielding and competing since returning to the Serie A, competitive, you know, perfecting the player trading thing, always improving, winning every trophy you can win in Italy, you know, some, you know, setting a new record for the Champions League of how far they got. Those are all that's going to remain in history forever. So in my opinion, after 20 odd years when you've done all of these things,
00:34:30
Speaker
And the next step is to build a new stadium. Not really need a new stadium, not really need to come into the 21st century like all the CDR teams need to come into the 21st century, right? And I just think that maybe it's time at that point to hand off to someone else. But that's the only thing. It's not a criticism of him. I just think life is cycles and they all come to an end. Father time, undefeated.
00:34:57
Speaker
Yes, yes. One of your famous days. Yes, I did. I needed to end on a nice little Nima bingo night. Let's go through the other results from this weekend. So, Genoa, Neil, Lazio and Luis Alberto, after telling everybody that he's going to leave, he then scores a big, big goal for them to win the game, which I found quite amusing. Verona won Udenez
00:35:23
Speaker
Neil, late goal. Oudeneza in real trouble. It looks like when we're recording this, Choppy hasn't been sat yet, but it looks like he's going to be sat and maybe Fabio... Fabio Canavaro replacing him. Yeah, that's an interesting one. You know, look, I'm not going to hide.
00:35:41
Speaker
that we don't want Udinesi to go down, given that we have a good relationship with them, so I'm not going to hide from that fact. I hope he keeps them up and gets the job permanently and we can have him on the farm. Yeah, that's exactly what I was thinking. No, but seriously, it's like, it's, um, I just hope that they stay up. I don't think they deserve to go down. I think Frosinorn and Sasolo deserve to go down with Salah and I just don't think Udinesi do. And I hope they snap, I hope they resolve it.
00:36:08
Speaker
Yeah, absolutely. Right. Before we go, I am the relegation thing. Hellas Verona. I mean, it's just, you know, after everything they've gone through with with with the club being essentially confiscated from the owner, and, you know, everything that happened in January where they basically was like a fire sale. Yeah. And and for them to to continue
00:36:36
Speaker
to, you know, to win and avoid what look, I mean, they're still there, you know, they still could be, you know, thrown out. And if I'm not mistaken, Coppola is a youth team player coming on and scoring the winner. I mean, it's just it's just mad the way that they managed to do that, another great escape. And and if they managed to pull it off, I'm saying, you know, what, you know, what do we it's like him and Davide Nicola,
00:37:04
Speaker
Like, those are, you know, Marco Baroni and David Enicola were talking, accomplishing like, coach of the season thing here. Baroni, it's miraculous what they went through. They virtually sold the entire, pretty much the entire first team in January. And they were siding like players that, you know, if you ever play championship manager, they're like,
00:37:28
Speaker
championship management regens you know like when it gets to a certain point in history where like all the players that start the game have all like got old and retired so they have to like the game has to make up new players names regens like like listening
00:37:45
Speaker
Look, just listen to the goalkeepers. Matija Kiesa. If that's not a region named from football manager season 15, I don't know what is. A lot of these names are definite regions. I don't believe. Charlie's, look, they could have got number 37 from Brazil. His name's Charlie's Charlie's. He's got the same person.
00:38:03
Speaker
He's got the same first name and surname. That happens on Championship Manager. Because sometimes, you know, because it's like a lottery, how they choose the names. They can choose any first name and any surname. And then sometimes they pick the same first name as the same surname. Tijani Nosslin. And he's really good. Tijani Nosslin's really, really good. No, I know, but what I'm saying...
00:38:25
Speaker
And the Ghanaian player, Fili-Pancra, I mean that, I mean, I'm sorry. And look at the Polish guy. Karol ลwiderowski. I mean, that's a definite region. Alfadio Sisi. I mean, these guys are, these guys are regions. I'm sorry. And this other Netherlands guy, Elais Tavzan. I mean, it's a definite region.
00:38:46
Speaker
I don't, I can't, somebody can't convince me that these are, these are real. Yeah, these are simulation. These are real players. We live in a simulation. We live in a simulation. But I remember on one championship badger game there was a regen player who was called Miraslav Maldini. I'll never forget that guy. Yes, yes, yes.
00:39:08
Speaker
Miroslav Maldini. That is it. Until Verona filled Miroslav Maldini. When they do that, we know that we live in a simulation. I mean, this Charlie's Charlie's. No, it's unbelievable what they are. They've got 31 points. It's truly remarkable.
00:39:40
Speaker
want two teams to be relegated. Well, let me just rate three for the other results. So Sassuolo lose 3-0 at home to Lecce. So Lecce, I think we can now safely say that they are safe. 35. They're on 35. God bless them. They are seven points ahead of course. So I think we can call them safe and they were excellent in this game. And of their fan base as well, did you see how many Lecce fans there were at the Mapei?
00:39:52
Speaker
an employee on 31 as well. I think I'm close to counting them all out. This is going to be between
00:40:10
Speaker
you know, what if I, I'm in love. I'm just, I'm in love with that fan base. I'm in love with that club, man. Like, it's just, it is such a, you know, it's such a charming, and Luca Gotti, what he's done since taking over, it's just, no, man, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's nothing but love for Lecha. Nothing but love for Lecha. And, and, and, and, and it's like, you know, I'm, I'm actually planning, I want to go there next season. I want to go there next season and watch
00:40:40
Speaker
a game there and have some of the local delicacies which include horse meat because that's what they eat in the lecture. It's a local delicacy that they eat horses there. Love it.
00:40:51
Speaker
Yeah. And fantastic wine as well. Torino nil, Flossinone nil. So, Torino with a yet another nil-nil. It's that eighth nil-nil of the season. I love Yurich! I love Yurich! I think they've got like the second... I think it's second or third for most clean sheets, haven't they? It's possible, yeah. It's possible. I mean, they've scored 31 goals in 33 games, which is, I believe,
00:41:22
Speaker
I think there's only, wait, one, two, three. Yeah, 17. 17 clean sheets into 19. That's unbelievably good. But they've also got the fourth lowest goal average again, this season. Udenezer, they're the fifth lowest scorers in Serie A this season, although Udenezer still have that.
00:41:49
Speaker
the rest of that game that they could go above them. So their fourth or fifth lowest scores.
00:41:55
Speaker
My gosh, but yeah frosting on in right in trouble now and the other game was Selena turn and nil Fiorentina to Southern internal. Well, they're still not officially down but but but we know they're going down. I think that could be confirmed This weekend, I think if I'm not mistaken, I think they I think it could be confirmed this weekend they go down So good win for Fiorentina who also like at Atlanta played their entire reserve 11
00:42:22
Speaker
and they didn't score till the 10 minutes from time, Kwame with a great header and that's their first win in 6 in Serie A so that puts them back in the European race as well and if they win their game in hand they actually go above Napoli, above Napoli into 8th and only 2 points behind Lazio in 7th so that puts them back in it and they got a good victory this end of the season.
00:42:46
Speaker
So yeah, yeah, five games to go then in Serie A, not including the games in hand and the Roma Bologna and Milan Inter just a reminder that Nimmel will do a post match reaction on the Milan Derby in which Inter could clinch the Scudetto. Yeah, and I'm going to do that regardless of the outcome of that because it's a big game and we need to have some coverage on that. So regardless of what happens where I'm doing a post match reaction on that.
00:43:16
Speaker
Excellent. Right, let's move away from the football on the pitch. Two important issues. First of all, Stefano Pioli. It's now pretty much unanimously reported in Italy among all the top journalists and media that Stefano Pioli will be sacked by Milan at the end of the season. This has been a big talking point really all season.
00:43:42
Speaker
for the first half of the season, at least, it was pretty much accepted that this would be Pioli's last season. Everybody was pretty much in agreement that it was the right decision. But then Milan have had started 2024 really, really well. They went on a fantastic seven game winning run. They got into the quarterfinals of the Europa League. They moved above Juventus into second in the
00:44:05
Speaker
in the Serie A they were the informed team in Serie A and suddenly there was you know it started to be suggested that Pioli could actually now stay at Milan and there was a kind of a split in the debate there were those that were still no Pioli needs to go and there were those that were like no he's shown here that he is the best man to take it forward and we had a debate on this a couple of weeks ago before the Roma first leg and we basically I think both of us said look we need to see substance and
00:44:35
Speaker
The Roma game is going to be key for that. This seven game winning run in this good start to 2024 is meaningless if Milan then go out to Roma in the road police. And that is exactly what happened. And they went out really with a whimper, if we're honest. They lost the first leg at home and they lost away as well, despite playing against 10 men for over half the game.
00:45:01
Speaker
And so now I think, yeah, we basically, I think both of us agree that it is the right decision for him to go now at the end of the season. I couldn't agree more. I think it's, I think as I've said many times with the risk of being repetitive, I think history will be very kind on Stefano Pioli for what he did at Milan. I think he will be remembered as a Milan hero.
00:45:32
Speaker
for bringing Milan back into, you know, back into the football that matters when Milan need to be in the Champions League. They want to score it on 86 points, which was remarkable feat when they didn't expect to even be challenging for a score or much less win one back into the Champions League, back into playing European football, developing young players, playing modernizing how Milan play, but
00:46:00
Speaker
after four and a half years, almost five years, which is a long time in football, that relationship has run its course. And I think that Milan, he will hand over having set the framework and set something there that now is up to someone else to take the next step. And what is the next step? Well, that is to actually start winning titles again, competing in the Serie A more often, more consistently, whilst also
00:46:30
Speaker
year after year after year getting through from the Champions League, the group state of the Champions League to the latter stages, and perhaps even winning at once, you know, who knows if everything, if the cards fall the right way, are dealt the right way. It's, you know, that's what Milan want to do and that's what Milan should be able to do and I think that
00:46:55
Speaker
it's time to say thank you for this, thank you for this time Stefano, but it's time to pass on. And also because, look, I think he has completely reestablished himself and I'm looking at him, he will have a good career from after Mila, regardless of how annoyed some people are with Pioli, he's going to have a good job next. I personally think, I don't understand what De Laurentiis is doing.
00:47:20
Speaker
He has, you know, you talked, you just, we were speaking earlier about, you know, can de la Chiedelerantes be given a second chance? Well, I want to reserve my judgment based on who he picks next. If he goes after Vinny Italian, then no, but if he goes after Stefano Pioli, who I think is the perfect man to take over from, to take over this Napoli project and do something given the plays they have there and given the style of football they want to play.
00:47:46
Speaker
To me, Pioli is tailor-made for that job. And he's also such a calm character. He's a gentleman. Just look at how he's handled the pressure of being questioned at Milan from the very first day he was appointed. I mean, I remember the day he was appointed in the mid-season after Gianpaolo was sacked. Pioli out was trending, hashtag. Literally on the day he was appointed. So you can't tell me that that man can't work in difficult conditions.
00:48:16
Speaker
He has worked and he has succeeded in difficult conditions. And if you can do it at Milan and you can do it, you know, then I think you should be you can't you can also handle it at an happily who's trying to, you know, rebuild and reestablish themselves. So for me, he should he must be treated with respect. And I think he will have a good career.
00:48:39
Speaker
But the question then is who who takes over after it? Yeah, well, there the the feeling is among I mean, Demacia has said this and some others have said this is that Milan are adamant
00:48:54
Speaker
it's going to be a foreign coach. They're refusing to even consider any Italian coach at all. So before we come to the name, just on that concept, I find that very strange. And I find that actually quite discriminatory, if that's true. They just decided, we are going to go for a foreign coach. We're not even going to consider an Italian coach. Well, I don't care who it is. We're just not going for an Italian coach. If that's the case, I think that's actually really quite wrong, actually. But they should just, I mean, for starters, you know, you should never
00:49:21
Speaker
choose a coach based on his nationality at all. That's number one. But number two, there are some bloody amazing Italian coaches out there and a lot that are actually going to be available this summer. So not saying that they should appoint an Italian manager, they certainly should be considered and be on the shortlist. And what we've seen so far is we've seen a long shortlist of possibilities for the Milan job.
00:49:45
Speaker
there is not a single Italian on that on that list and there there's a lot of Italians that are better than at least half of these names that are on that are that are on this list as being possible replacement so that I find very very strange that Milan are just just decide you know we are going to go for a foreign coach we're not even going to consider an Italian name I think that's quite discriminatory if that if I think it's I think it's it's you want the best person for the job there it's an important appointment because this is Jerry's first appointment this is redbirds
00:50:16
Speaker
first appointment, they have to get it right. They can't mess this up. So first coaching appointment, that is. So they have to get this right. And and I think deciding beforehand who can even apply for the job based on passport is silly. And I don't believe it either. I just don't believe that's how
00:50:40
Speaker
I just don't see that a US hedge fund works like that. Unless they're thinking, unless they're thinking, you know what, we're trying to be a global. I think the style. Unless they're thinking globally, we want a foreign name because we want it to be more attractive globally. Or they've got some kind of idea that the Italian mentality is more
00:51:03
Speaker
I don't know, outdated when it comes to that. That's what I was going to get. Which is just simply not true. I think there's been a lost in translation here, I think, between in whatever source they have when they reported this. I don't think Milan are looking at just foreigners based on being foreign. I think what they're talking, what they're looking for is someone who plays continental football. That's what I think they're looking for. Now, whether or not that coach is Italian or wherever, that's a separate debate.
00:51:32
Speaker
I don't think Milano, I just don't, I can't imagine that being true. I just can't do that. You might be right. You might be right. It just doesn't make any sense. If, you know, if, if they want a continental suppose, there's lots of Italian coaches that play that, play that sort of like me, you know, Italiano, for example, dessert, but you know, they play the most, the most, they don't play Italian football at all.
00:51:56
Speaker
old-school Italian football at all. They're the complete opposite of that. Thiago Motta doesn't play old-school Italian football either. I forget that he's Italian. And neither does Luciano Spalletti because I wouldn't rule out Spalletti in a few years going to Milan. Do you know what I mean? I didn't see that, but the thing is I view it like this. I think Antonio Conte needs a job and Antonio Conte wants a job and Italian football, the politics of it, it means Antonio Conte is going to get a job.
00:52:26
Speaker
And the question is, where does he want to go? Well, depending on which reports you read, some say, you know,
00:52:33
Speaker
He wants Milan. He wants to be the first coach to win the Scoredto. Well, yeah, I agree. He should be in the reckoning. But I'll read out the list of what is supposedly the shortlist from what we've from what we've seen. So if I don't have any inside information myself, this is just this has just come from the some of the top journalist, Di Marzio Skira and some of the Sky Italian, some of the others.
00:52:57
Speaker
that Julian Lopategi seems to be the favorite of the board right now, but there is big opposition from fans already against this appointment, like there was a period. Then we've got Ruben Amorim, but as it stands, he's the favorite for the Liverpool job to succeed. Jรผrgen Klopp, who's leaving, of course,
00:53:16
Speaker
Then we've got Javi, who will lead Barcelona at the end of the season, who is the favourite of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, like this is who Zlatan wants to appoint at Milan. Then we have other names in the shortness are Unai Emery of Aston Villa, who I spoke about this software before, I think is
00:53:36
Speaker
I think that would be a very difficult deal to do because I think he's doing a fantastic job at Aston Villa. And he completed the Champions League, exactly, with the Premier League side. I just don't see why he's building something really good there as well. And then we have Sergio Conseil at Porto.
00:53:54
Speaker
and then we have the most recent name that's really come through and he's been linked to quite a lot of uh it seems to be like his agents seem definitely seem to be trying to push Manuel Pellegrini so it's because he was he was he was had negotiations with Romeo before they confirmed
00:54:09
Speaker
before they confirmed De Rossi. And now he's right in the line for Milan as well. He's become the biggest name recently. But as we discussed when we were discussing him for Roma, he can be 71 this year. So yeah, that's a bit of a strange one. Outsiders are Marcello Gallat, Gallardo, Christophe Galtier, Paolo Fonseca, Tiago Motta, who of course is
00:54:38
Speaker
is in talks with Juventus, and then Thomas Tugel, who's leaving Bayern Munich at the end of the season, although he would come with a massive, like Conte would come with a massive, massive weight. So these are the names that we mentioned the shortlist, not a single Italian has been mentioned, including Conte on the shortlist. So what do you make of these names? Who do you, you know, if it was going to be a foreigner from this list, who would you like? I don't know.
00:55:05
Speaker
I really like Unai Emery, but I don't think that's going to happen. I do think the Lopategi and Pellegrini thing is not something that I discount because of the style of football they play. Everyone knows, I think Sarri, just for the tactical football, technical and tactical reasons, is the one I think is best suited. I know that as a character, he doesn't fit into Milan's style at all, neither
00:55:34
Speaker
Graphically or behaviorally in terms of behavior off the pitch. He just, he just went, you know, he's not that guy, but I think the football would be unbelievable. Um, I, I still can't discount Antonio Conte. I see. I have a really hard time believing Antonio Conte and how really the Laurenti's is going to, are going to work together. I just don't, I don't buy that at all. I don't buy those rumors at all.
00:56:01
Speaker
Um, so I just, um, so I think it's, uh, my, my money is on one of. You know, one of those, um, I don't see shavi coming. I think that would be insane. I don't see the board giving Zlatan or who, if it's true that Zlatan wants shavi, I just don't see that. Not after this, not after what's happened in Barcelona. Um.
00:56:29
Speaker
I, that would be mental. I just didn't see that happening. But one of those, and also of course, with Sarri as a dark horse, we're working hard, we're working overtime over here to try to get Sarri to Milan, because it's for the good of Milan. Yeah, I mean, my problem is absolutely, he should absolutely be, like Kante should be in the
00:56:53
Speaker
in the least in the frame. You know, it should be a possibility for the job, you know, to not even be considered is, I think, just madness, really. But yeah, we'll see how the next few weeks pan out, really, it's going to be a big appointment for Milan. But in my point of view is that, yeah, I'm like you, I think Emery would be great. Amorim also, because I think he fits the model of Milan in terms of
00:57:23
Speaker
developing players, younger players, done a great job at sporting in that sense as well. Lopategi, I do like, I have to be honest, I do like Lopategi, but yeah, I can understand that the opposition from fans, and Konsi Saigon I think is just a bit too defensive for what Milan... No, I don't see Konsi Saigon because of the style he plays, it just didn't make sense and the players they've got, I just don't see him going there.
00:57:51
Speaker
And Javi, Javi's a weird one. Is it difficult? Javi's a difficult one to assess. I feel like with Javi, like he could be good, but he could also be a bit of a massive flop. It's hard to know with Javi. Okay. Destiny Adorgi. This is really, really bad news for the Italy national team. His season is over and he is out of Euro 2024. He undergone
00:58:19
Speaker
underwent an operation at the end of last week. This news came completely out of nowhere. No one had a clue about this. He did a post on Instagram, on his social media, in a hospital bed, having just undergone an operation for quadriceps injury, which no one seemed to know about either.
00:58:39
Speaker
And no one knew about it. Like even Tottenham didn't even put out a statement or Dodgy put out the statement before Tottenham did. None of the journalists seemed to know anything about it. No one had an idea about it, just completely out of the blue. And it's just such a crushing blow for Italy because
00:58:56
Speaker
We've lost another big player. I mean, he probably wouldn't have started. Probably DiMarco is going to be the starting player on the left hand side, but he would have played a lot. He would have had a lot of game time at the Euros as a lot of matches. DiMarco doesn't really play much. I mean, doesn't last games. He usually 60 minutes and he's getting tired. So Dodgy would have been would have been a big player for Italy at the Euros and he's had such a fantastic tournament. So huge blow.
00:59:26
Speaker
Yeah, I'm getting tired of this now, like enough with these Italian talented players getting injuries, serious injuries and missing 6-4, 5-6, I'm tired of this now, like enough.
00:59:40
Speaker
You know, thank God. It's not, it's not an ACL, is it? But I mean, it's not serious injury. Apparently it's going to be three months. He'll be back for the next three months. I don't. Yeah. Listen, if he had this injury earlier in the season, I wouldn't care less. But the problem is he's missing the Euro. So that's the, that's what counts. It's, yeah, but it's, it's look in, in that position, Italy, I mean, we DeMarco is are doing well, but, but
01:00:01
Speaker
it's it's a bit annoying because now bloody hell bloody hell Birag is gonna get called up and it's like he's not good enough. Be better not get called up. I hope Spinazzola at least Spinazzola like I just I can't see Birag like it just drives me mad and you know even Parisi I mean do you know I mean like it's just crazy because he doesn't play but yeah I know do you know what I mean? I think it's DeMarco and Cambiaso and then if he takes an extra left back
01:00:28
Speaker
I'd rather he just take I'd rather he just take I'd rather he just take I'd rather he just take I'd rather he just take I'd rather he just take I'd rather he just take I'd rather he just take I'd rather he just take I'd rather he just take I'd rather he just take I'd rather he just take I'd rather he just take I'd rather he just take I'd rather he just take I'd rather he just take I'd rather he just take I'd rather he just take I'd rather he just take I'd rather he just take I'd rather he just take I'd rather he just take I'd rather he just take I'd rather he just take I'd rather he just take I'd rather he just take I'd rather he just take I'd rather he just take I'd rather he just take I'd rather he just take I'd rather he just take I'd rather he just take I'd rather he just take I'd rather he just take I'd rather he just take I'd rather he just take I'd rather he just take I'd
01:00:45
Speaker
Udoji gives us something that we don't really have much in the team. He gives us that those physical qualities, the pace, the drive, the ability to cover the ground. We really don't have those players, many of those players in the squad at all, not playing at our top level. Bellanova has it, but playing for a top team, you know, in a top league, top competition regularly, it's a big blow. And it's really frustrating because we, you know, we've now lost
01:01:09
Speaker
two really important players for the Euros. Tonali, obviously, he still exists, and Udoji. And that's weakened our two strongest areas of the pitch, which are the center of midfield and the wingback areas, which is really, really frustrating. Of course, we've lost Peradi as well. He would have been a first teamer.
01:01:29
Speaker
as well even though he's not the strongest player in the world but he still weakens the team so you know Italy are weakened through these injuries and that is really really frustrating and that is really really important in tournaments you know avoiding injuries but if you want to do well at major tournaments is crucial if you get lots of lots of lots of injuries
01:01:49
Speaker
you've got less chance of doing well in sort of it's so obvious thing to say, but sometimes people forget about that, you know, and it's, so it's, it's, yeah. Just have to pray we don't get any more. We don't get any more.
01:02:05
Speaker
Yeah, no, enough, enough now. Like, seriously, enough. And like, it's between suspensions and chaos, like, enough now. Like, I mean, I want, like, can all Italian football players just not get injured? Like, the best ones, can they just not get injured and stay out of scandals for at least just...
01:02:23
Speaker
24 months. Can we all get a break? Just until the end of the World Cup. Just until the end of the World Cup. Please stay away from scandals. Just enough. I won't come. It's too much. I need time to regroup.
01:02:41
Speaker
Like it's just um, so no look well that wanker was his name that paparazzo wanker is on corona Yeah corona he's he's threatening to release more names now. So don't worry. Yeah, but he's like I know what's going to happen already Listen, I can I know how he works as soon as the seria season the week leading up to the euros he'll release some more names of Italian players and then he'll get soon guaranteed
01:03:06
Speaker
And then he'll get sued like he did with with every other time and then he you know, while that is being litigated He'll either settle out of court and apologize or he'll release some names just before the euro is just to disrupt everything just so that so we might be we might have to Some plays we have to pull out and then all this, you know, no one's gonna pull out He'd if he had anything he's got nothing wish if he's if he had anything it already out Well, what? That's what I wish his dad had pulled out
01:03:35
Speaker
Oh, dear Lord. No, but it's not. It's not. I'm not worried about anything that idiot has to say. It's it's just it's just exhausting. And and he's he's like the stuff that he does is just so gross. And and he's been, you know, he's the man was in prison for all of these things and for doing exactly this. And
01:03:57
Speaker
You know, he I remember the one time Brosovich sued him because of the he said that they had a relationship and he applied to pay them. You know, he apologized and he doesn't care because he knows that they will report it uncritically everything he says. And he's he's he's a pathological liar. We know that he's been found. The courts have found him as being a liar. So, you know, I just find it, you know, I just I don't pay attention to anything he has to say. And I found that entire thing when he was somehow
01:04:27
Speaker
somehow the lead reporter on what happened was nonsense because he wasn't the one who broke that story at all. He was just the only one dumb enough, you know, crazy and dumb enough to talk about it nonstop, just blaming everyone left, right, and center, talking about people's sexuality, talking about this, that, and the other. And it's just like, why give this guy airtime? We know who this guy is. For 30 years, he's just been a complete douche. And just ignore him.
01:04:55
Speaker
Yeah, he's right. Yeah, agreed. Right. Uh, copper Italian semi-final second legs this week. Lazio Juventus, Juventus leading two nil from the first leg. The second leg is in Rome and Atalanta against Fiorentina in Bergamo Fiorentina leading one nil.
01:05:14
Speaker
from the first leg, Juventus with that lead and with Lechsen not really having that much firepower, you'd probably bet Juventus to go through as badly as they're playing right now. But Atalanta Fiorentina, that's a 50-50, isn't it? That could go either way.
01:05:31
Speaker
don't think Atalanta will put much effort into that, especially since they're trailing. Really? Yeah. No, they'll go for it. That's why they rested their entire team. Yeah, but I still think the focus has to be on the Europa League. I'm sorry, but Marseille are beatable.
01:05:48
Speaker
Like, they really are beatable. They are a good side, I respect Marseille, but they are beatable. They are absolutely... Of course they are. I think they go for it. Absolutely go for it. They're in a semi-final. They can win a trophy, which they've never won. Yeah, but playing against Juve... Playing the horrific event, the worst form in the second half of the season for 30 years, they absolutely can win that final.
01:06:10
Speaker
Bloody hell. You've been co-pitalia. I don't care. In the finals. Yes. Allegri. Seven years ago in finals, yes. Allegri, now, worse than 30 years. No, don't give me that bloody stuff from the past. Bloody hell, man, my man. Oh, man. You're about winning the co-pitalia and you're going to have to praise Allegri at the end of the season. They may well do, but I'm not having this. Oh, Juventus don't lose finals because of something that Allegri did seven years ago.
01:06:39
Speaker
Oh, good. Right. Bad Joe Premfei, Cecilia S. of the Week. Bad Joe, I want you to take this away, Nimr. This was absolutely beautiful. I was almost brought to tears watching this. It was a tribute by I.F.K. Gothenburg to Sven Goraneksson before their game at the weekend. They brought Sven Goraneksson as a kind of a guest of honor because he was the manager of Gothenburg during the 80s. He won the UEFA Cup in 1982 and did some absolutely miraculous things there at Gothenburg. He's a hero there.
01:07:09
Speaker
As he is many places a complete legend of the game and obviously he's he's suffering from terminal cancer and He's doing a kind of a football. I think this is beautiful. He's doing a like a football farewell tour Yeah, which I think is so amazing because when people are dying, you know and they don't have long left and
01:07:32
Speaker
usually the tributes come after they've died and they're not there to see it and that's beautiful as well. I think it's absolutely lovely that he's doing this and teams are doing this for him while he's still alive and he can be there and be part of it and almost celebrate
01:07:51
Speaker
what he's done in life with the people that love him and I thought that what Gothenburg did it was it was it really did it was so touching them and they brought him out on the pitch didn't they and the crowd and the and the way that they they cheered him it was it was amazing
01:08:08
Speaker
So what he came to Gothenburg in 1979 from from Varmland and he had a pretty difficult start and people were very critical of him. I remember I've read since when he first came, but then he kind of turned it around and it all, you know, came in. It was a climax in 1982 when they won the UEFA Cup, the Swedish, the Swedish Championship and the Swedish Cup.
01:08:38
Speaker
And he went off to Europe. And before the game started, they were, you know, because what he started with that UEFA Cup, that was the signal of what became the next 15 years, 15, 16, almost two decades of dominance by FK Gothenburg, not just in Swedish football, but also a lot of success in European football. Another UEFA Cup win in 87, knocking out Inter on the way.
01:09:07
Speaker
champions league games, which I attended as a kid, you know, beating Milan with that Milan, with Maldini, Veyar, Bajo, Alexander, Sean spun Maldini up like I've rarely seen Maldini be spun. You also saw, you know,
01:09:28
Speaker
that Barcelona side with Romario Haji Stojcov beating Manchester United at Ulevi with Kanchelsky's inns and all these guys, Galatasaray home and away, Bayern Munich, those years, like this team of semi-professionals essentially, he laid the groundwork for that.
01:09:49
Speaker
for what became a unique period of dominance by a Swedish football club at international level that we've never really, we've never seen since or before. And so he is a hero in in in in Gothenburg amongst the Givkor fans. And when he came out, they before he came out on the pitch, there was a video they put together of him
01:10:16
Speaker
through the years and of course an interview where I think it's from around 8182 that season, it's from a documentary where he speaks about the mentality and how important it is to have the right mentality and he says we don't know where it ends but we know where it begins
01:10:38
Speaker
And those are the words of the banner that IFK Gothenburg's support, Ultras, Englana, their supporter club, in that choreography of that Tifo, those are the words that they had at the bottom. And they had this image of him when he first, the iconic photo of him coming to Gothenburg in the middle of
01:10:59
Speaker
surrounded by blue flags. It's very, very beautiful. And yeah, that's that's it was it was very beautiful to see because given that, you know, Italians are the best at paying tribute to their heroes are known for that. But it was nice to see that Swenis got that love and recognition, like you said, during his lifetime also in Sweden and Gothenburg. That was very beautiful to see.
01:11:27
Speaker
It was. It was amazing. There's a video doing the rounds actually on social media. I tweeted it out on Sunday. If you go to my feed, you'll see it. It was about four minutes long. It was absolutely beautiful. It almost brings tears to your eyes. It was that beautiful. I have another bad jaw as well. I can't decide if this is a bad jaw or a prem face. I just know it's absolutely fantastic.
01:11:57
Speaker
Nottingham Forest on the weekend tweeted out the single greatest thing I have ever heard seen read from a statement from a football club at this level. Here's the tweet, three extremely poor decisions, three penalties not given, which we simply cannot accept. We warned the PGMOL that the VAR is a Luton fan before the game. They didn't change him.
01:12:26
Speaker
The VAR is a Luton fan. It's the greatest thing I have ever read in my life. I don't know if that's a bad Jora Primface. I can't decide. I just know it's brilliant. It's hilarious, whatever it is. It's brilliant. The VAR is a Luton fan. I love that.
01:12:50
Speaker
Oh, thank you to Nick Costa for sending that in. That would have come straight from the owner, by the way. That would have come straight from the Cricona. 100%. Yeah, that does have that Mediterranean vibe to it, doesn't it? 100%. It's got that Zamparini madness flavour to it. No, there'll be five in Forest, where you'd loot in a plane at the moment.
01:13:15
Speaker
prim face of the of the week. We've got quite a few as we always have when there's Simon Jordan. I mean, Simon Jordan has got to be that Madrid of the Gareth Southgate of domestic football. I don't even like.
01:13:38
Speaker
I love the tweet that was done by our friend Adrian Del Monce where he basically listed all the achievements of Real Madrid during their history. It was like 35 La Liga titles. How many Champions Leagues is it now? 14. 14 Champions Leagues and all this and then he showed the list of honours from Gareth Southgate and it was like one manager of the month in 2008, one Toulon tournament, one
01:14:06
Speaker
BBC Sports Personality of the Year. And then the best one was 2021, almost knighted. Yeah, that was hilarious by Adrian. I love that tweet, that thread. He did a tweet thread as well about the cope, how badly they've been coping recently this season about how arrogant they were.
01:14:38
Speaker
before and after and it was hilarious. There's nothing that winds Adrian up more than that. It's so funny, it's like you. I wind him up all the time. I said the clips of these kind of things. Michael Richards getting all four predictions.
01:14:56
Speaker
we're talking of jinxes i mean that is he's funny but he's funny michael richards i gotta be honest he makes me laugh he just seems like such a nice guy and just easy guy and just he just seems funny yeah well he is but they use him as just like the i think he i think he's probably gonna address the clown on cps yeah they do but he's much better than that do you know he's much better but i do think that he will probably make fun of that fact himself that he got every
01:15:24
Speaker
thing wrong. No. He's funny. We've got some other ones. So we had, I don't know which game this was now, but Ali McCoist saying Ernst Happel was he Dutch or Belgian?
01:15:39
Speaker
Agerovitz gave it one, but he's neither. Then we had on Irish TV, our good friend Jerry Armstrong, who's becoming a regular now on this segment. So Dave McIntyre, I think this was the commentator of the Man City game versus Real Madrid. So as Bernardo Stilva was stepping up, Dave McIntyre said, this is a man who has never taken a penalty in his professional career.
01:16:07
Speaker
and then obviously it was saved by by Andrei Lunin of Real Madrid and then Gerry Armstrong the co-pund that said he's done his homework.
01:16:19
Speaker
I love that. I love that. And then finally, I love this as well. So during the FA Cup semi-final between Manchester City and Chelsea, Jermaine Genes, former Tottenham midfielder, was the co-commentator, the pundit for this game. And when Kevin De Bruyne came up, came off,
01:16:41
Speaker
he goes I've never seen Kevin de Bruyne make as many tackles as he has done today and then we saw the stats and it was Kevin de Bruyne made one tackle. Which I absolutely love. So yeah some fantastic ones this week.
01:16:59
Speaker
Yeah, of course, the character as well. Let's let's not let's not forget Jamie Carragher as well for saying this, as I mentioned earlier, it's the best team doesn't doesn't win in the in the Champions League. Carragher, as I like to call him, the spitting llama of Liverpool. Spitting nonsense, as always. Sarriya Ass of the Week. Nima, you take this one away.
01:17:19
Speaker
So there's quite a few here. One is, I mean, after Fiorentina, manager Vincenzo Italiano, it looked like he kissed Vanessa Leonardo, whose company on his wife, after Fiorentina scored in the conference league. And it was, you know, he denied it, she denied it. But Maurizio Compagnone said on social media, I think it was just like, do you think he's going to do that in front of 1000 cameras and
Scandals and Corruption in Italian Football
01:17:46
Speaker
and and his and his and his own wife and it's just like the whole thing is so cringe the way that he would do it when the cameras are not there basically yeah exactly saying like it's just like it's just you know you're not thinking clearly and then of course there's another one as well
01:18:06
Speaker
which I just say though on that compagnoli Leonardo thing like it's one of those where it does look really suspicious because like the way that he leans in then the way that the camera goes then if what's really really funny is that as he stands up and gets up because he's kind of like crouching over when when he's allegedly talking to her in her ear he's like wipes his mouth away as he's walking away which is like it makes it look even more like he's just kissed her I do believe that he wasn't he didn't kiss her though but it was quite funny
01:18:36
Speaker
Yeah, it is. And then we have another one, and this is about someone who was sent to prison for five years and eight months for trafficking drugs. The reason why I'm bringing it up is because he was the former Procoratora Capo del Aya. Aya is the Italian referees association, and he was the head, I don't know what Procoratora, like what do you call it, like head agent or head, head, head, sorry, chief.
01:19:05
Speaker
Yeah well he was one of the directors, I don't know exactly his role, I've not been able to discern exactly how to pronounce that in English, but he was one of the head senior people at the Italian referees association and he was sentenced for drug trafficking five years and eight months! I remember when this broke out a couple of years ago because there was another guy that was actually the chief as well that resigned at the time, I can't remember his name, but I remember because I remember us talking about this on the pod before a couple of years ago
01:19:33
Speaker
Is another guy not actually this guy that also was part of it as well and he resigned as well So it's yeah when people try and claim that there isn't like, you know Anything corrupt with referees are that kind of stuff doesn't go on and you know, also the mutant family Yeah, this kind of stuff just makes you think you know, you know what it reminds me of though This this remote this story reminded me of it reminded me of bite on Moreno every Italian person's
01:20:02
Speaker
favorite referee, right, who of course was the infamous Ecuadorian referee that cheated Italy out of the 2002 World Cup against South Korea, who was about, I don't know if it was a year, two years after that game, was arrested at JFK Airport in the United States for smuggling heroin into the... Was it heroin or was it cocaine?
01:20:28
Speaker
I can't remember. It was one of the two anyway. It was smuggling class eight drugs into the United States. It just reminded me of that, you know, and then it's just kind of like, well, you know, told you so. Everybody that was doubting there was anything corrupt about that game. Well, you know, I love the guilt by association we're doing here.
Serie C Complexity and Future Prospects
01:20:49
Speaker
But listen, the final, the final, I have a serious that serious that is just this is
01:20:58
Speaker
This is just so quintessentially the reason why I love the lower tier of Italian football. So in Serie C, in Group C of Serie C, this situation is this, that with one match date left, so Catania won the Serie C Coppa Italia. And therefore, when you win that, you have a right to play in the playoffs to get promoted to Serie B. However, Catania are in 15th spot.
01:21:28
Speaker
There are 42 points, one game left to play. One point ahead of Toria, who are in the relegation or play out zone. The only problem is that finishing, because it's a 20 team league,
01:21:50
Speaker
where 20th team gets relegated, but 16, 17, 18 and 19 do a play out. And so if you finish 16th, it doesn't mean that you automatically have to do a play out. You have to have less than eight points in order to... So basically it says that in order to...
01:22:16
Speaker
to not make the play-outs. You also have to have less than eight points ahead of the team that is second to last. So basically the second to last is Monte Rossi. They're on 10 points below Catania. Now what that means is that on paper Catania could either end up playing in a play-out to play Go to Serie D or
01:22:42
Speaker
or play a playoff to go to the Serie B. But the problem is, the rules state this, that because at least they have legislation or rules in place, what happens in this happens, is that Catania will, if they finish 16th in the 16th spot, despite having won the Copa Italia, they'll play in the play-out. So basically, what can happen is that they all
01:23:10
Speaker
We can also have a situation where several teams end on the same point tally and then they do an internal thing where Katanya is last.
01:23:21
Speaker
Now, does that sound chaotic and confusing? I'm lost. Yes. Yes. This is no. And the reason this is said yes is this kind of stuff, this entire thing, this structure can only exist in Italian football. That's kind of complicated drama and different, you know, different scenarios. And, you know, it's just it is it is quintessentially
01:23:49
Speaker
the most Italian football thing ever. Like, it's insane. They can either end up playing for the playoff to the Serie B, or they can end up going to Serie D.
01:24:00
Speaker
Like there's no in between here. It's heaven or hell, shit or champagne. And it's just beautiful. It's just, I love this about Italian football, but the sheer complex madness. It's not, there's a methodology to the madness as well. Cause somebody actually thought this out and thought this was a good idea. Let's spice it up for shits and giggles.
01:24:22
Speaker
Because, I mean, why not just have the usual stuff? No wonder Italian football is the state it's in. I mean, they're trying to conquer, they're trying to, this is, and this is the final city, I said to be, they're trying to conquer America.
01:24:31
Speaker
or they believe they already have conquered America. And then they hold the biggest game of the season, the Milan Derby, on a 245 in the afternoon in the United States. I mean, you know, on a Monday. Monday, 245, and that's the Eastern time as well. So what is it on the other coast? I mean, it's absolutely insane, man. It's insane.
01:24:57
Speaker
No, it is. It's hilarious. But yeah, Catania, so, you know, obviously, I have very strong ethnic sympathies. So Fortsa ethnic, let's hope they finish out of the playoff, play out zone, and that because they won the Seriaci Copa Italia, they play
01:25:17
Speaker
They play for the playoffs to Serie B because it would be awesome. Good luck planning for the new season right now, guys. What? Good luck to them trying to plan their new season. Oh, it's not going to happen. That's not happening. It's just not happening. It's hilarious. But yeah, it's basically it's and it's like looking at the table doesn't mean anything. And it's just madness. And also congratulations to Spal, our good friend Joe Takopina and Spal for securing
01:25:47
Speaker
They've had a very, very difficult season, and they secured the city-achieved football for next season, because they were, for large parts of that season, of this season they were in the relegation battle.
01:26:00
Speaker
They finish mid-table and a couple of points away from the playoff spot. But yeah, good luck to Joe and Spaal and hopefully they will use this summer to rebuild and get themselves back into Serie B first before they get back to the Serie A.
01:26:18
Speaker
Absolutely. Right. Okay. Let's, uh, let's leave it at that. Uh, we'll be back on, well, we'll be back for tonight, depending on when you're listening to this and then we'll be doing a post much reaction on the Milan Derby and potentially into a skeletal victory. And then we'll be back on for the Q and a on Tuesday. And, uh, and then, um, a show later on in the week as usual. Yeah. Okay. Until next time.