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Free Weekly Episode - Juventus’s Vlahovic Loses His Head, Acerbi Racism Scandal, Milan & Roma Roll On, Bologna Fairytale Continues & Much More (Ep. 405)
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From Francesco Acerbi allegedly racially abusing Juan Jesus in Inter Milan and Napoli hangover draw at the San Siro, Dusan Vlahovic loses his head when Juventus draw with Genoa, AC Milan and Roma continue to rack up wins, to Atalanta's clash with Fiorentina postponed due to medical emergency of Viola director Joe Barone, to Bologna fairytale continues, Europa League and Conference League draw 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.
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Transcript
Racism Incident in Serie A
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 Tivali. On today's show we will react to all the weekend action in Serie A but unfortunately the biggest talking point in Serie A is
00:00:23
Speaker
is something that we'd rather not talk about is the Francesco a chair the racism storm which erupted during the Inter and Napoli game at San Siro so we'll start off by talking about that and then we will review
00:00:39
Speaker
the game itself, which finished in a 1-1 draw as both teams showed all the symptoms of a Champions League hangover.
Juventus Crisis and Performance Issues
00:00:48
Speaker
The Juventus crisis goes on. They draw 0-0 with Genoa and Dusan Vlawovic is sent off for descent. Max Allegri goes mad with the media after the game. Milan dominate. Verona, they're in really, really good form. Roma continue their great form under Daniela de Rossi, albeit without playing particularly well.
00:01:07
Speaker
while Lazio get ready for Igor Chudor's appointment with a win. Bologna's fairytale goes on, they get closer to the Champions League with a dramatic late injury time victory and we will react to the Europa League and Conference League quarterfinal draw. We'll also
Introduction to New Listeners
00:01:25
Speaker
have our usual Baggio prem face and Celia as of the week.
00:01:29
Speaker
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 the questions from our patrons, plus the weekly
00:01:47
Speaker
Thursday midweek review show plus interviews post much reaction much much more then go to patreon.com slash TIP 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 links in the description same price in terms and for all of you who listen on Spotify Apple and iTunes podcasts would really appreciate if you give us a five-star rating give us a follow and a like we are on YouTube as well and if you really
00:02:14
Speaker
It really helps us to grow and do more quality content for you guys. We're actually almost at 2,000 subscribers on YouTube, so thank you everybody that has subscribed on YouTube. Okay,
Allegations Against Francesco Acherbi
00:02:28
Speaker
Nima, let's start off then with Inter against Napoli and the Francesco Acherbi racism storm.
00:02:35
Speaker
Okay, right, so where do we start here? Italian football really does have a habit of stabbing itself in the back, doesn't it? I mean, Francesco Achebe is at the centre of a storm limo.
00:02:54
Speaker
Yes, he is. Basically what happened was that he could be handed a 10-match ban if the investigation shows that he actually racially abused Juan Jesus, who basically, Juan Jesus
00:03:18
Speaker
midway through the second half, I think he goes up to Federico La Pena, pointing to the Keep Racism Out badge on his shirt and claiming that Achebe called him the N-word.
00:03:32
Speaker
Well, the referee did what he could do. He spoke to both players. He noted it down in his post, you know, in his in his match report, because obviously the referee didn't hear it at the time. And so he can't do anything about it when he can't hear it. But they need to investigate this. And then then, of course, Juan Jesus, after the game, said he made a mistake. He.
00:03:57
Speaker
he made a mistake, that he apologized for what he did, and things that happened on the pitch, stay on the pitch, and stuff like that. That's what Juan Jesus says. Today, Francesco Acherbi's agent Pastorello has come out and said that he denies that he's used
00:04:17
Speaker
racist language, says he didn't use the N-word, and the Italian FA and Francesco Archerbi have decided that, given the storm that's going on, it's inappropriate for him to be part of the Italy national team while this is ongoing, especially during this international break. And so he's pulled out and they've replaced him with Gianluca Mancini, which in and of itself is hilarious and insane.
00:04:45
Speaker
when you remove one player for a racist, for alleged racism and you replace him with Gianluca Mancini. I've seen Roma fans on Roma Twitter, Italian Roma Twitter going to town on this. And then you obviously have Inter releasing a statement saying that they are going to speak to the player at the earliest moment to understand what happened. And that's where we are.
00:05:12
Speaker
That's where we are with this. Oh, gosh,
Potential Outcomes and Investigation Process
00:05:15
Speaker
it's exhausting. It's exhaustive. And on the day that they were doing an anti-racism campaign in Celia as well. Yeah. Look, let's let's be crystal clear here. I don't know what Acherbe said. I didn't see I haven't seen any I haven't seen any anything, you know, him
00:05:36
Speaker
you know, video of him wording, you know, or video of him saying video proof of what video proof there is video proof of of one Jesus telling the referee what he alleges he said. We've seen that. But there's no video proof so far. And yes, if it comes about. Yeah. But all I can say is this does not look good at all.
00:05:58
Speaker
Um, but I mean they have to prove it. I mean, it seems to me that it seems to me, I mean, if it happens, it's, it's unacceptable. We have to, we have to see, you know, we have to say that here on the podcast. No, if it's, if it happens, it's proven that it's happened. Then a Francesco Acherbi's career at Italy and Inter is over. It has to be Inter have to tear up the contract and kick his out. It's as simple as that. There are no ifs, ands, or buts. You cannot be a player Inter and racially abuse, uh, opponents.
00:06:27
Speaker
It's just unacceptable. I don't know if where his political beliefs are, but you cannot ever, under any circumstances, play for Inter and racially abuse your opponents. Full stop. You can make mistakes. You can apologize.
00:06:43
Speaker
Fine, but your career at Inter is over if it's proven that he's done it. And the same should apply for Italy. Simple as that. You cannot have players racially abusing one another at this level, at this age. Francesco Achelebi is no teenager. You can't say that he made a mistake because he's young and stupid. He is a veteran. He's a seasoned veteran. If they can be proven that he's found guilty of having racially abused an opponent,
00:07:12
Speaker
Goodbye, Italy. Goodbye, Inter. Simple as that. It's as simple as that. Well, he is already goodbye, Italy, for this international break. He has been pulled out of the squad for the friendlies against Venezuela and Ecuador. And then I guess we see what happens looking further ahead. I mean, if he gets a 10-game ban, that's his season over, club season over.
00:07:34
Speaker
And then we see what the blowback is in terms of the euros. It seems to me from that statement from Pastorello that his defense is going to be that denial, that he's going to deny that he said it.
00:07:49
Speaker
and so if that's the case then I guess that muddies the waters in terms of what's going to happen because then how do you prove it there needs to be I mean what was what happens now Nima? What was the process now? No, they're going to investigate it. I mean they're you know inter going to talk to a cherby and they're going to ask him
00:08:06
Speaker
What happened? The FIGC obviously has, you know, they have cameras there. They're going to talk to other players. They're going to look at the evidence available. You know, they're going to look at all the video evidence. They're going to, because I mean, these guys are, you know, they're on camera all the time on the pitch. And they're going to investigate and they're going to hear both parties. They're going to talk to Juan Jesus. They're going to talk to Chachirby and do a thorough investigation and we'll see what they come up with.
00:08:32
Speaker
if it's as simple as that. But it's not a good look. It's unnecessary. Do you think there will have no choice but a therapist contract?
00:08:55
Speaker
They can't have him at Inter. You cannot racially abuse opponents and play for Inter. It's just not possible. And is that what will happen in Italy? We know that would happen probably in England or in
00:09:13
Speaker
No, Inter can't have him there. They have to make an example of that. I know he's very appreciated. People like him a lot at the club and that, but you cannot be at Inter and have racially abused an opponent. It depends on what he wants to do this, but Inter can't... He's put Inter in an impossible position. If he has said it, then he has put Inter in an impossible position.
00:09:42
Speaker
There is no credibility left. What do you make of how Juan Jesus has dealt with this? I don't think Juan Jesus could have handled this any better at all. He should never have been in this position to begin with, but he handled it brilliantly. He went to the referee, he told the referee what happened, he explained the situation, he didn't lose his head, he kept cool despite being racially abused and scored the equalizing goal. I honestly don't know how Juan
00:10:07
Speaker
And his comments after the game, he basically said that he forgave Achebe. We should say that he said that Achebe apologized to him. Yeah, he said he's an intelligent person. He made a mistake. He went too far. He apologized for it. What happens on the pitch stays on the pitch. But no.
00:10:24
Speaker
That's the thing, you know, that's great that they've resolved it between them, but there's another aspect as well. And that is, the seria cannot, and Italy and Inter cannot have a player, even if you did it by mistake, even if you didn't mean it, they cannot have a player playing for them that racially abuses other players' opponents. It just can't. It's just not feasible. You just can't have that.
00:10:51
Speaker
No, well, I think also I think the city is also in a in a in a spotlight is on the city. Yeah. And by extension into well, in that, you know, it was on the day of this big anti racism campaign. And obviously, you know, Syria is trying to, you know, show
00:11:12
Speaker
that it's not like it was in the past when it comes to racism and when this happens with a high profile player, they have to be seen to act. So the question is, how do they act now? And if they're too lenient, then they're going to be criticized as not doing anything about it.
00:11:33
Speaker
is going to be interesting from that point of view, how they deal with it. But it's important to notice that, you know, Pastorello, as I said, who says Acherbi told me he didn't say anything, that he didn't use the N-word. That's really important at this point, at this preliminary stage when we don't really know what's happened.
00:11:53
Speaker
We really have to say that, too, because we don't know what happened. I've not seen anything to suggest, like any proof that he said anything like that. All I've seen is Quankos' reaction. I've heard what Quankos has said. I've seen what Acherbi, how he reacted. And I've seen what Pastorello, his agent, has said.
00:12:18
Speaker
So we're just gonna have to wait and see. We're just gonna have to wait and see where this goes from here. But if it's proven that he said it, then he cannot play for Inter. It's impossible. He has to go. It's as simple as that.
Inter's Stance on Acherbi Allegations
00:12:30
Speaker
And Inter will terminate his contract. I can't imagine they will do it by mutual termination, because this is just not...
00:12:36
Speaker
You cannot continue playing for Inter. Excuse me, Inter have Jan Bizek, Densel Dunfries, Marcus Taram in that dressing room. What possible credibility could you have
00:12:50
Speaker
with other black players in the club, all through the organization. One of the biggest, most important players in the first team says something like this, and there's no repercussions, just a few matches banned. Then you talk about that ridiculous anti-racism campaign, Brothers Universally United, boo, that nonsense. It means nothing. You're just going to make a clown of yourself.
00:13:19
Speaker
And they're not going to do that. And if Marotta's behavior on this issue, or not just this issue, but generally on matters of discipline is anything to go by, then if it's proven and established that he said it, then they will mutually terminate his contract. They will terminate his contract in the summer. He's only got one 12 months left anyway. So they will have to part ways. And as for Italy, I can't see him playing in the Euros.
00:13:48
Speaker
it just it just will not work it just cannot work not like you can't have a player literally calling another player the n-word
00:13:59
Speaker
and then expect to be appalled. The apology is between him and Juan Cazús. I'm glad that they've resolved it. But there's a largest context here, and that is it's the Italy national team, it's the FIGC, it's the Serie A. They can't allow this behavior, and they've said that they're going to have zero tolerance to it.
00:14:20
Speaker
Prove it. And if it's if it's established that he did say these things and there's no there's no out, there's no you can't mess about with stuff like this. I'm sorry. You know, it's you can't do that. You just cannot do that. You have to tell him it's a Italy national team knows how to shoot itself in the first. Oh, the Italian football is is is intergalactic or intergalactic champions of messing things up.
00:14:48
Speaker
First tonali, and then if they were to lose, they're only irreplaceable centre-path that they have. No, it's beyond stupid. It's so dumb. But I blame a cherby. This isn't anyone else's fault but a cherby. Like, Juan Jesus is being great about it. If he was racially abused and he accepts the apology, then I think that shows enormous class on Juan Jesus' part.
00:15:17
Speaker
I mean, he handled it brilliantly. He should never have been in that situation, but he handled it brilliantly. From going to the referee, keeping his cool, informing the referee what happened, moving on, concentrating on the game, scoring the equalizer. He literally did everything you should do in that situation, a situation you should never find yourself in. And Acherbi has just embarrassed himself and...
00:15:48
Speaker
And Italy. And I understand if he's made a mistake, that's fine. He apologized, great. But he can't play for Inter and he can't play for Italy anymore. It's as simple as that. Can't have it. Just can't have it. Well, let's see how this develops over the next... If, if, if it's proven that, again, if we're very preliminary stages right now, if it's established, they said those things.
00:16:10
Speaker
Yeah, you can make a mistake and you can be forgiven for it, but forgiveness, but when you make mistakes, there are consequences. And this is such a big mistake. But we'll see what video evidence is available if they've got the evidence. We'll see what happens. We'll see what happens. But as for the game itself, though, Nima, I mean, there's not really too much to talk about it. It was two teams that were
00:16:29
Speaker
Clearly, you know, suffering from a Champions League hangover, both teams going out of the Champions League, two Spanish swap positions in Spain, entering heartbreaking circumstances, won penalties, of course, and Napoli, you know, would offer a dismal performance and defensive performance against Barcelona. And you could tell, couldn't you, Nima, that these were two teams that, you know, were
00:16:54
Speaker
were suffering, you know, deflated, let's say, after those games in Europe. Yeah, I agree with that.
00:17:05
Speaker
I think it was quite obvious. Two teams that were completely just, you know, there was nothing there. They were completely hungover, you know, deflated, devoid of energy, devoid of any kind of fire. I mean, it was obvious both of them were focusing, you know, in Napoli's nightmare season,
00:17:34
Speaker
never ends and Inter were still upset about the Champions League exit. And they played football for 20% of the time and they scored, you know, created quite a few chances. Should have probably scored one or two more, but overall I think a draw is fair. I think it was a game that showed that Inter are going to cruise to the scoretto. I don't think they're going to break any record or do anything like that, but I think they'll reach 95 points, 96 points.
00:18:03
Speaker
And, you know, they need to regroup now. They've had a very good season. It's disappointing that they exited, of course, in the Champions League. But, you know, they're going to win the Scudetto. They're going to win the 20th Serie A title, the second star, which they have been obsessing about for 13 years. And so, you know, it's a great season for Inter. And I think we'll see that after the international break when things cool down and calm down a bit.
00:18:31
Speaker
We'll see a different Inter, and as for Napoli, that was a very important point. It's a point away to Inter. I think Inter had five wins in a row against Napoli at the San Siro. They put an end to that run, and they took an important point in the race for the Champions League.
00:18:48
Speaker
I think it's in usual normal circumstances. This is obviously a fantastic point for Napoli. Unfortunately, in these circumstances, when there's nine games left for the season and you're going into the game, you're nine points off fourth and you're seven points off fifth.
00:19:10
Speaker
then you have to win the game, unfortunately. I know that's an unrealistic thing to ask away in the form they're in. But, you know, they've actually, you know, they've lost more ground now in the race for the Champions League. So, you know, yes, it's a it's a it's going to give them confidence in that in that race and that you can't that can't be underestimated. But it's ultimately it's I think there's too much to do for Napoli now. They're going to have to be literally perfect for the rest of the season. They're probably going to have to win.
00:19:40
Speaker
probably gonna have to almost win all their games, like eight or nine of their games now if they want to get a Champions League place. They're definitely gonna have to win their head-to-heads. I mean, they've got Atalanta at home after the international break next. Then they will have
00:19:58
Speaker
Roma as well and Bologna. They're gonna have to win all those heads-to-heads and they're gonna have to be almost perfect in the other games. I think it's too much to ask. They're not creating much. I know they're planning to. You generally, except against Artetico, generally don't concede much chances. They don't really seem to be creating enough Napoli. But you know what? Then the dates are a good result for them. We can't really ask much more and they deserve the draw. I think the draw was probably the fair result, I think.
00:20:28
Speaker
I think if you look at the balance of play, well the balance of chances, the XG, they were pretty much the similar. So it's
Juventus' Ongoing Struggles
00:20:36
Speaker
a good draw for Napoli and now they have to really be perfect.
00:20:42
Speaker
A team that isn't perfect, though, Nemer, right now, far from perfect, is Juventus, whose crisis goes on in a nil-nil draw against Genoa. But the big talking point here is Dusan Vlovich is sending off. He gets sent off after losing it at the referee in the final minutes, seconds of the game, and then he gets a red card for descent. Now,
00:21:13
Speaker
First, I've got an important point to make here. First of all, yes, of course, you know, Vlovich needs to grow up, as does anybody who gets sent off a descent. You know, you can't do that. It's stupidity. You're a professional footballer. You're well paid. You've got to be able to control your emotions. However frustrated you are.
00:21:32
Speaker
or however bad things are going for yourself, for your team. Juventus are an awful run of form and the way that game went, it was a horrific game to watch. It was awful. It was genuinely awful. I think it was Juventus' worst performance in the league this season. Yeah, it was terrible. I get that.
00:21:58
Speaker
I also think that, I mean, Meretti even said at the end of the game, players like Vlovich and others as well, they're lacking the serenity right now and I blame Allegri for that because the players are, especially the attackers, they're fed up because Juventus and Allegri
00:22:18
Speaker
incapable of constructing attacks, playing any kind of football. And the Juventus players in the attackers are frustrated because of Allegri. We've seen Chiesa's frustration numerous times recently. He went berserk when he was subbed off the other week. He's been disobeying orders and moving to the left side. And again, yes, we can criticise Chiesa and we did do on this podcast saying he's been a baby. He needs to grow up as well. There is definitely an element of truth there.
00:22:41
Speaker
But I think that the players are nervous and they're lacking the serenity of these players like Vlaovic and Kiese because they're so fed up of the way things are going in attack. And that's on Allegri. Allegri doesn't have the faith of his attackers and they don't trust him. And this is boarding over with these ridiculous reactions. And so, yes, we can blame the players, of course.
00:23:04
Speaker
I think it shows everything, it just proves everything I said last week. Juventus are not mentally ready. This Juventus squad, these Juventus players are not mentally ready. They're not mature enough, they're not psychologically strong enough to handle playing at Juve and facing disappointment. Juventus players in the past, from the Del Piero era to the Chiellini era and everything in between them before,
00:23:32
Speaker
When have you seen any of them behave like this? When have you seen them sock like insufferable little children whenever when things don't go their way? Never. You don't see that. You saw what you saw was even when Juventus were relegated to Serie B you didn't see this behaviour. But that's as much on Allegri though as it is on these players, no?
00:23:50
Speaker
I don't see how it's Allegri's fault that Vlawic behaves like a skunkier child. Because Allegri is unable to control these players and get a tune out of them. No, I don't think it's got to do with that. I think Allegri's career has shown that he is more than capable of handling big players and fantastic players and building a dressing room and having them behave. In the past, again, this is the thing, we're talking about the past.
00:24:12
Speaker
Yes, but we're talking about players who are not champions, that are supposed to be champions, but evidently are not good enough on a mental level for sure. Qualitatively is a different debate with Laovich and Kiesa. I still think that qualitatively they can become with tweaks, but mentally neither of them are here. No one at Juventus is there.
00:24:33
Speaker
And that's not on Allegri, that's on the player. Allegri is not a daycare center teacher. He's not supposed to pamper and change their diapers. He's supposed to show them what it means to play at Juve, what it means to behave when you play at Juve, what it means to wear that shirt, and he's done that. They're the ones who are incapable of handling it when things go bad, and they have gone bad ever since the Empoli game, if we're perfectly honest.
00:24:59
Speaker
Yeah, I think Allegri's definitely has to be held responsible for this because your manager has got to be in control of his players and has to be able to get reactions out of his players. They're now on an eight game run where they've got one win. Juventus in these eight games are fourth from bottom in the table, from these last eight games. And he's not getting any reaction. He even put them on a retreat, on a ritero, which doesn't surprise me, most outwardly.
00:25:25
Speaker
The most outdated concept in football by one of the most outdated managers. It doesn't surprise me that that got no reaction out of these players. You know, these players, the attacking players like Kei's and Allegri, they're so frustrated because, you know, being an attacker in an Allegri team today in 2024 has got to be one of the most frustrating jobs. I mean, Juventus yesterday, I mean, they're absolutely, Juventus are absolutely incapable of putting attacking moves together. The first half yesterday, Juventus had a 0.25 XG.
00:25:55
Speaker
And then I looked at it at the 70th minute. I checked the 70th minute. I've even got a screenshot of it. So I'm not making this up if anybody wants proof. At the 70th minute, Juventus had an XG of 0.38 at the 70. Then Juventus had a little bit of a rally when Illing Jr and Keane come on. They both hit the post and you know, Blauwitsch had a good chance with a header when he headed, when he headed over stretching a little bit. So they rallied a little bit later on, but I mean,
00:26:23
Speaker
it was from an attacking point of view. I mean, you're meant to think to see anything in defense. I think Genoa had an extra 0.2 themselves. But as an attacking force, it was abysmal. It was absolutely abysmal. And it's just a damning indictment of
00:26:41
Speaker
what everything that I've said about Allegri as an attacker, being able to construct attacks and create chances and attack. It was so, so bad. And staying on Allegri, his quotes after the game, he lost his rag.
00:26:57
Speaker
completely, and I thought he was very arrogant and very condescending and very rude to what was a very fair journalist. I'm the last person to stand up for journalists, mainstream journalists, you know that. Generally, I'm not a fan of many mainstream journalists, probably even lesser than you know.
00:27:17
Speaker
I thought it was a totally fair question by a journalist who simply asked him two questions in the general theme of what he was asked. And that was why Kiele keeps using what the journalist considers Kiele as being out of position as a center forward. And as part of that, why he can't use a three-man attack of Yildiz, Kieleza and Wlawicz.
00:27:39
Speaker
And the answer he gave was, we are third in the table. Do you know how to be a coach? I don't know how to be a journalist. I do not follow what the public says, which is fine. I do what is right for Tim. I do not dare tell a journalist how to do his job. So don't tell me how to do mine. And then he then continued that and was basically saying to the journalist that you don't understand. If you can't understand the point I'm making, then don't ask me. Then I won't give you an intelligent answer, basically. He said, I just thought, what an arrogant answer.
00:28:09
Speaker
But it's Allegri. I mean, he's permaloso. This is the thing that I love about him, that all that trolling he was doing of Inter a couple of weeks ago, and Inter just ignored him like an insufferable, like just a rude little child. He is what he...
00:28:28
Speaker
He was prickly. He's very prickly and he's nervous and he's on edge because these things aren't going well and it's not going his way. And so he reacts the way he always reacts. He's always been like this. And when, you know, what is it you say? What you are yourself, you accuse others of. That's what Allegri is. He's perma lorzo. He's prickly. He's nervous. He likes to rattle. He's rattled.
00:28:52
Speaker
That's fine. Listen, I agree with him about the public. You shouldn't do what the public said. I agree with that. You have to be yourself. But I just don't like how he talked down to the journalists in such a way as if they were worthless. And I thought that was because it was a fair question. Lots of people are asking the question, why can't you play three-man attack? Well, answer. Say we haven't got any fullbacks. Give an intelligent answer.
00:29:17
Speaker
Why can't you play Free Manatec with Yield? Don't speak down to the journalists like that. I thought it was a very valid question, but he's nervous. What is it, seven points? What is it, eight points in seven games? What is it? It's one more than eight. They're fourth from bottom, basically.
00:29:55
Speaker
please. No, we don't want people to say please just to say yes, we were today we went out our best, we need to do better
00:30:00
Speaker
No,
Allegri's Behavior and Comments
00:30:01
Speaker
if you want to be diplomatic. Don't say you're pleased with the performance. I mean, that is that's just going to trigger the fan base and everyone even more. I mean, that's just just a joke. What you're pleased with that performance. I mean, as you just said to yourself, it's one of the worst performances of the season or the worst you said of the season. I mean, it's laughable.
00:30:07
Speaker
it's not going well at all.
00:30:19
Speaker
and then he had the the anti-racism message which I think we can let him off on because it was a bit by that by that by that presenter that no listen the question people are saying like they need to look at that clip it was a very tense interview things weren't going too well he was annoyed and then the question wasn't about the racism the question was do you have a message
00:30:41
Speaker
to add and he said no and then he went now what they wanted him to do what they had planned was that he was going to come out you know they were all going to read off the same him sheet and say the same you know racism is bad thing but
00:30:56
Speaker
you know, he wasn't there and he was obviously completely, his mind wasn't there. He was thinking of something else. He just wanted to get out of that interview situation. So I think we should, you know, let's not, you know, let people need to chill out sometimes. I know you don't want to have a bit of fun with it. I've laughed my ass off at the memes of him, you know, the last few days and jokes are jokes. They don't need, jokes don't need to be fair.
00:31:23
Speaker
Jokes can be gratuitous. That's fine. But we shouldn't like people trying to say that he's racist and this time the other like chill out. OK, just calm down because that's the situation wasn't like that at all. There's a time to be to be, you know, like a chair if it's true. That's when you go hard. But then there's when you have to be otherwise it loses its impact when you don't want to do that either because it's too serious of a matter to be treated as
00:31:49
Speaker
as childishly and in an unserious matter, in an unserious, non-serious way. Yeah, I agree. He was pissed off. He was really annoyed. He wanted to get out of that situation. It was awkward. He was angry. And they didn't even ask him about the racism thing. They just said, do you have anything to add? Which is a very common question in that situation. And when you don't have anything to add, you say, no, I have nothing to add. And then he goes away.
00:32:14
Speaker
So it was very poorly handled, but this is the Lega Calcho, this is the Serie A, they're everything about them. Let's remember that this is the organization that had a bunch of chimpanzees to promote anti-racism a few years ago. I mean, let's remember who we're dealing with here. And they are clumsy and they are shit at it. I'm sorry, but they are. Pardon my French, but they are not very good at handling these campaigns. They're not very good at promoting themselves. They're not very good at marketing and PR at all, generally.
00:32:44
Speaker
And this is just another step of that. And this is just another example of that. No, it sure is. I mean, as for Allegri's future, everybody knows. That might go. I mean, he's got to go now, but I wonder whether Juventus should
00:33:01
Speaker
They have to be careful, Juventus, because they've got a nine-point lead now over sixth place. If I'm not mistaken, let me just double-check that. So, Juventus are on 59 points in third, Bologna fourth with 54 points, Roma fifth with 51.
00:33:22
Speaker
So the eight points over Roma, but then Atalanta in six with 47. So if Atalanta win their game in hand, they go up to 50. So we're assuming that Serie A gets five places for the Champions League, in which case there's a nine point gap. If it's four places, then there's an eight point gap over Roma.
00:33:43
Speaker
In usual circumstances, that's a fantastic lead to have, as I've been saying for a few weeks now, even though it's slowly getting, you know, they're slowly closing on you. In usual circumstances, that's a great lead. I mean, if this form continues for another few games, that can suddenly become five points, six points, five points. They have so many difficult games coming up now. They have
00:34:06
Speaker
Lazio away and home, first in the Seria, then in the Copa Italia, then they have Fiorentina at home, they have the Darby against Tugano, then they have Caliari away, then they got Lazio away in the Copa Italia, then they have Milan at home and Roma away.
00:34:20
Speaker
And they have the long year away penultimate game as well. But that's what I mean. On paper, it looks, I mean, it should be okay on paper because in usual circumstances, nine games to go, eight point lead. I mean, that's fantastic position to be in. But the horrible run you've entered are in. The form that they're in, the way that they're playing, the whole environment, you know, the lack of serenity, as Moretti said,
00:34:46
Speaker
You know, Vlao, which is now going to be suspended. Milik is out. You know, I mean, this carries on for another few games. All of a sudden, you know, Roma in brilliant form. Bologna are obviously in fantastic form. So those two teams are not, you know, they're not slowing down. Then all of us, I mean, you know, it should be OK, but which is what this is what brings me to. I wonder, I mean, should should Juventus
00:35:16
Speaker
get rid of Allegri now to try and get a reaction out of the squad because they're not getting a reaction, Nimmer, at the moment. He seems incapable now. I'm not going to say he's lost the change in room, but he's lost the ability to get a reaction out of his players. I don't think so. I think it's just a bad run of form and I think it's also a question of
00:35:40
Speaker
He's doing what he knows works and he's trying to get the players focused again because they are rattled. They're not there. I think this international break really comes at a good time for you. I think it gives them a bit of peace of mind. It gives them some time to focus on what they need to do and to address all the issues and to work the players that are there. It gives everyone a bit of calm and serenity and time to work through this.
00:36:08
Speaker
So yeah, I think it would be like, I don't think that as long like sacking him now would just be silly. I mean, it's just it doesn't, you know, it's not how you do things and it's not how I think it would be very, it would you would open up a can another can of worms. What if they don't win the next two games and that reduces to five points? Would you consider it then because Champions League is at risk or do you just
00:36:36
Speaker
I mean, they've got to come a point where I mean, it's eight games now that becomes a 10 game run. I mean, there has to be they're playing a they're playing a latio in complete freefall. If they're gonna have a new man, they've got a new manager tutor and they could definitely gonna have a new manager bounce they're gonna and they just want you know, it's I mean, anyway, listen, you can't you can't back you into against anyone right now, as we've seen with this
00:36:58
Speaker
No, their form is awful. And back in England, Genoa was dreadful.
Milan's Victory and Christian Pulisic
00:37:03
Speaker
It's one of the worst games. I mean, they couldn't even be Verona who, you know, they hired players, they found players off the street on the way to the match. You know, they couldn't even be them. They just drew with them and they released it. You know, Verona had to find players off the street for that game. You know, do you want a game? Fancy a game today, mate? Yeah, plenty of enters.
00:37:28
Speaker
Talking about Verona though, Verona gets Milan. 3-1 win for Milan. Milan playing really good now. Really, really good form. They increased their lead now. Three points over Juventus. They're looking really good for second. And Pulisic, as we said, what a fantastic form Pulisic is in now.
00:37:47
Speaker
Four games in a row that he has scored now. 12 goals this season in all competitions, and it's really now. He had his good start, then he kind of had a death and people were like, oh, you know, maybe he's not, you know, he's not as good as we thought it'd be. And now he's really hit form again. And those numbers are fantastic numbers really for the season. No, they are. They are. It's
00:38:14
Speaker
I don't know. You know, he reminds me of lima. No, you're like this, I think, because he's Freddy Bloomberg. He reminds me of him. Frederick Bloomberg, the Swedish. How? Frederick Bloomberg. Frederick Bloomberg. Yeah, he reminds me of him because Bloomberg was the kind of player that was really good at getting into the box, late runs, good finisher, come from the far side to finish off chances at the back post, good pace, direct player, but not somebody that could really beat his man. Not not the most like an amazing dribbler, but he had those, you know,
00:38:44
Speaker
he had that ability to score goals. That's what he reminds me a bit of Lindbergh, Pulisic.
00:38:50
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, I don't know. I thought, yeah, I can see what you're saying, this kind of running in from the left and deep. Yeah, I see those. But look, he's having a fantastic season and he's turning out to be very useful in the system. And he has had, he's been consistently in terms of goal scoring, very important for Milan this season. And I think he will, it's been one of those instances where
00:39:19
Speaker
he's really hit the ground running from day one since joining Mila and that's been very important for them. Where does he go from here? Because I think if there's one thing, one place that he did to support this season, it was the Champions League. That's where he was just a little bit, he was a bit below the required level and that's why when we started having the question marks about
00:39:40
Speaker
you know, is he of that level? So I think maybe that's where next season he needs to step it up. He needs to show that, yeah, he's proven himself now at Serie A level. Now he needs to step it up and prove himself. Champions League level at that next step up. That's true of all. That's true of all of Milan, isn't it? Like, for me, I look at it, for me, Pulisic is a little bit of a, like a
00:40:07
Speaker
representative of Milan this season. It's a new Milan. They've had a good season. They're probably going to reach the semifinal final of the Europa League. They're going to finish second in the Serie A.
00:40:18
Speaker
you know, for the 2.0, Milan 2.0 of that project, it's actually good for a season. Question is if, you know, what happens with Pioli, does he stay in charge of that? But that's a separate debate. But I feel like he's kind of, punicic is kind of a very good representative of this Milan where they are. It's a good start, but it can be better.
00:40:41
Speaker
It's a good place to be. I tell you, he did impress me though. Okafor at centre forward. He played at centre forward with Giroud rested because he played in the Europoli game and Jovic not starting, which will definitely have been a big disappointment for Jovic. But Okafor started as a centre forward and I liked him in this role. I thought he was very dangerous, his pressing, his running,
00:41:03
Speaker
his interchange with Liao, but mainly like his pace in his movement, very, very quick player, very nippy, very dangerous on the transitions, along with of course Liao. And I think from a tactical point of view, I see Okafor away from home more than at home as being someone that you can potentially play in that centre forward role away from home, because when you're away from home,
00:41:27
Speaker
you're going to be less it's less about possession having all the play in front of you all the time which is something that obviously naturally he's not going to be someone with back to cup like a jurude or like a zixie or latin or you know that kind of player where everything's in front of you you need to be play the wall you need to be able to bring others into play and and link that way
00:41:47
Speaker
when you're playing away from home, you know, it's going to be more kind of transitional play with space ahead of you. And I think in those aspects, Verona did try and play, he did come and play. I think Piolo actually had to give him praise. He actually read this game spot on. He saw how this game was going to play out, that there were going to be those spaces, and he saw that Ocophur's pace
00:42:13
Speaker
was going to be useful and I thought he did really really well and thanks to him that Poulisic scored the first goal and so yeah I was impressed with Okafor and like I said last week I like him I think if you can stay injury free I think he's a good weapon in the Milan forward line either from start or certainly off the bench.
00:42:35
Speaker
No, I agree. I really agree. I think, no, I agree with everything you said. I've got nothing more to add. I think all of these guys are starting to, the Okafors, the Chukwezes, all of these guys are starting to... It was a good day for the Milan attack, wasn't it? Because in Liao, even though he didn't score, and he did have a one bad miss again, where he put it wide, he was electric. I mean, he was beating his man for fun.
00:43:00
Speaker
He's really hit form now, even though he didn't score. He's being used much more. Pioli's using him much more as opposed to 60% of the season so far. He's used him more in the build-up play, but now he's pushing him more towards goal. Ever since you did that fantastic breakdown,
00:43:20
Speaker
I feel like his decision-making has really, really improved when to pass, but also the execution. I thought they were going to do it next season and they were going to continue with this build-up, but since then it's like purely has pushed him more like, okay, well, we're done now. You've done great. Now we're going to, we want you to use what you've learned so far in that final third. And they've, I think actively pushed him more towards goal. I think he's been outstanding.
00:43:44
Speaker
Yeah, the last few games. One other attacker I thought was a nice guy from Chicoese. One attacker that I really like the looks of is Tijani Noslin, who joined Verona. He's got a great goal. He went close with another fantastic shot. I've really liked him, what I've seen of him since Verona got him, bought him off the street in January. I mean, no one had heard of him when he came.
00:44:06
Speaker
from the Netherlands. He's very good. I like him. He's direct. He's got good pace. He's quite good physique. He's got a really great shot on him, really powerful shot. I like the look of this guy. I really do. He's very raw, but I like him. I think
00:44:25
Speaker
Well, we'll see if Verona stay up, but I think he's somebody that maybe some of the bigger clubs should, not the biggest clubs, but some of the teams higher up the league should be looking at this guy for next season. He's definitely got something about me. He gave Milan quite a few problems in this match. If it wasn't for him, I think this game would have been well over before he brought them back into the game. So yeah, certainly one to watch in the future. Absolutely.
00:44:54
Speaker
Right, another player to watch in the future, Fabian, who scores another key goal for Bologna, their fairytale continues, 93rd minute winner from the Inter-owned player. Yeah, I mean, he's at Bologna, but
00:45:13
Speaker
Bologna, there's a clause for Inter to buy him back. I think it's next summer. Bologna can't sell him without Inter's permission this summer, essentially. It's a bit convoluted and complicated. Basically, Inter sold
00:45:33
Speaker
Fabian to Bologna for four and a half million euros. They can buy him back next summer, not this summer coming, but the summer after that for 12 million. But Bologna can't sell him this summer unless Inter allow it. So Inter kind of have control over the situation.
00:45:50
Speaker
to a certain extent, is how I read the situation. But yeah, he's had a very, very good, he's had a very good season. He's had a very, very good season with Bologna.
Bologna's Young Talents and Victory
00:46:01
Speaker
This was a player who had an outstanding season last season in the Serie B and is doing really, really well for Bologna and Bologna, it's
00:46:10
Speaker
He's become almost like him and Zirkse are probably, you know, him, Zirkse and Doy, you know, they're these young players that not many, very many people knew about, but they've all exploded onto the scene this season and playing really good football. It's interesting to see. It's interesting to see what's happening there. And they win a very, that's an important game that they win, and they win it
00:46:32
Speaker
fairly late on. Yeah, no, it's they're looking good. Yeah, this was a big test for them in the sense that Joshua Zixi was missing because he got an injury and he's going to be missing a few games. And, you know, I said, I think last week, before the Zixi injury, I said, I can't see how Bologna possibly throw away this Champions League place unless
00:46:55
Speaker
There's an injury to succeed and he misses a bunch of games and then he gets injured the next day after I said that. Maybe, even though they've got an easy run of fixtures, maybe this could be...
00:47:10
Speaker
But having said that, even though they scored in the 93rd minute, Bologna had dominated this game, had chance after chance. Caprille, who actually made a mistake on the goal in the build up to it, he made some miracles. Or Solini, straight after he'd got a call up for Italy, missed an open goal.
00:47:30
Speaker
and it was all bologna they completely dominated but they got the win in the end and i think this is another sign that they're answering every question bologna because
00:47:43
Speaker
you know, they score in late goals, late winners, they're getting comeback wins like against Atalanta, they're reacting to a setback like they lost to Inter and you're thinking, oh, could this be a setback? You know, they lose to Inter, then they lose the XC, they immediately react with dominant performance and a win with a late goal without their best player. So I think the Motta and Bologna, they're just ticking every box and their next three games are Salen Itana, Prossinone, Monza.
00:48:10
Speaker
I mean, you back them to win all three games and then it's all over, I think. I don't think they can possibly lose it from that if they win those three games. And so they're... And I have one other thing I wanted to say. We had a debate, I can't remember if it was last week or the week before, and I posed the question, I said, is it good for Serie A? Should we want Bologna to be in the Champions League? Because, you know,
00:48:36
Speaker
Well, is it bad for Serie A? They lose Mota, they lose, you know, maybe Zirksi, they lose some of their key players and they get humiliated in the Champions League. I mean, that's no good for anyone. I've changed my mind now. You know what? I want them to get in the Champions League, you know, because
00:48:53
Speaker
After Inter went out, Napoli went out with such a pathetic performance, Napoli. I'm thinking, you know what? Who says that we're going to do anything in the Champions League anyway? Forget about it. We've got no teams in the quarterfinal. I don't care. I'd rather see this beautiful story, see this provincial team getting the Champions League. I'd rather enjoy that story, however they do in the Champions League. They do.
00:49:17
Speaker
the other teams, the so-called better teams are not doing anything really anything special anyway, not this season, not for most of the last season. So let them go then. Let this have their fairy tale. Let's have a nice story and you know, well done to them. That's what I'd say. Changed my mind. Yeah. I mean, I don't, it's not like I'm not, no, it's not a direct and that are you, I'm just saying in general. No, I know. But it's like, of course, if, you know, if they finish fifth, they deserve it or the fourth or whatever they deserve it. There's no doubt about that. But it's just,
00:49:47
Speaker
It's a wasted spot. It's a wasted spot. Yeah. But should we want, I mean, why should we want Napoli to get in it? And then they do because Napoli won't waste it unless, you know, because Napoli will have the financial muscles to waste it. But they did waste it this season, didn't they? I mean, yeah, it was the last 16 and below and you probably won't get out of the group. But I mean, I mean, like, you know, it's not like the final and then won the competition. Do you know what I mean?
00:50:14
Speaker
Yeah, but you can't tell me that Napoli haven't shown these past few, well, over a decade since the La Retes took over, that overall they can handle these situations. They actually, they don't embarrass themselves in Europe when they reach there. They actually go, they qualify from the group. Well, I mean, yeah, I mean, they've...
00:50:30
Speaker
and they've got past the last 16 once during that time so I mean it depends how you look at it. Well I don't expect Napoli to go to the semi-final. No I don't but I just I guess the point I'm making is like we're not going to do anything in Europe in terms of reaching the latter stages generally anyway okay Inter might but you know so aside from Inter Milan and Juve and none of them can reach a semi-final it's just not you know it'll take a miracle.
00:50:53
Speaker
quarterfinal at most is what they can do. Bologna won't even won't do that. What I mean is I don't want to take away the beautiful story of a historic story just for the sake of oh we want someone else to do well and they're not even going to do well anyway. Yeah but I mean I think there's levels to this this notion that everything else but winning the Champions League is a failure I mean I don't buy that I think that there is it's important because also because of look reaching the
00:51:20
Speaker
quarterfinals reaching the last 16 is an achievement. It is an achievement. I think this is, it's again, this thing we were talking about a couple of weeks ago about how football is now the ground floor is scoring like Missy and Ronaldo. Like anything other than that, it's you're a mid, you're this tiny. And no, Ronaldo and Missy are the outliers.
00:51:42
Speaker
Do you know what I mean? It's this notion that only winning the champions, that's the ground floor, everything other than that is a flop. It's silly. It's
Childhood Memories and Transformers
00:51:51
Speaker
pointless, ridiculous. I'm laughing because I've just seen you've done a post about Transformers and I'm just trying to work out why you've done a post about Transformers. Because this tweet asked me if I was, name a character, was it a fictional character that died?
00:52:06
Speaker
They made me sad. An Optimus Prime dying was a traumatic experience in my childhood. I don't know why I was talking about that. But yeah, so everyone who was in my generation would remember. Come on, it was Transformers. I did like Transformers when I was a kid. I have to say. Okay, right. Let's move on to Atalanta Fiorentina. Very, very serious.
00:52:33
Speaker
issue here and that is the game, well the game was postponed after the Fiorentina director general manager Joe Barone was rushed to hospital before the game with a, it seems a suspected cardiac arrest. I'm not sure if that's actually been confirmed. No I haven't seen anything about it being confirmed, just that he started feeling bad suddenly. Nothing else, nothing official. The reports are that yeah he was in a bad way, he was rushed to hospital, there was emergency surgery,
00:53:03
Speaker
his family has flown over to be with him, the Atalanta team, obviously the game was postponed, who witnessed the incident, Italiano and some of the Fiorentina players went to the hospital to be with him and there's been a recording this on the afternoon of Monday, so
00:53:29
Speaker
probably by the time this comes out, there will have been another update on the situation with Barone. We just wish him all the best and hope that he pulls through and he makes a good recovery from this because it does seem quite serious. I think it was clear it was serious once the game was called off. You don't call off a match on this.
00:53:56
Speaker
is something very, very serious. So, yeah, we pray for Joe Boron and we hope that he makes a full recovery.
00:54:05
Speaker
Yeah, we absolutely do. OK, let's move on to Roma against Sassuolo. Roma continue their magnificent form since the arrival of Daniele de Rossi. They win 1-0 against Sassuolo, but this was maybe their worst performance in Serie A, well, probably in any competition. I know they lost the game to Inter, but they actually played very well in that game. But this wasn't a good performance from Roma.
00:54:35
Speaker
I think understandable. They were so flat. You could see how leggy they were. They were exhausted. The number of games that they've been playing every three days for the last few weeks has finally taken its toll. I think the international break comes at the right time for Roma. Lukaku had a few big chances. One that he should have buried.
00:54:58
Speaker
But apart from that, I mean, Roma really never really looked like creating much. They didn't create much. And it took just a fantastic goal from that man, Pellegrini, really, out of nothing, cutting him from the left, becoming a bit of a trademark goal that now from Pellegrini into the far corner. He's six goals since De Rossi took over. Pellegrini was the difference in this game. Otherwise, this probably would have ended a draw, wouldn't it?
00:55:25
Speaker
Yeah, it is. Again, Pellegrini shows how what an improvement he's done under the Rossi and how important he's become for this Roma. It's crazy the development he's had and Roma take a really important win. These are the kinds of wins that Roma need to have in order to win, in order to get to the Champions League. And I'm starting to think that they can actually pull it off. I don't know about what you think.
00:55:53
Speaker
On form, if we're talking about fifth place, we're assuming they're going to get five Champions League places. On form, you would probably have the back roamer on form right now, but there is still a long way to go. There's still nine games. There's still head-to-heads to be played, and I think that will decide
00:56:14
Speaker
the outcome as well. And also what happens in the Europa League, which we'll come to. If Roma go out, that probably will help them even more in the league. Injuries, I mean, Di Bala has got another injury. He should be back for the next game. But these kind of things are all, I think they really missed Di Bala in this game, definitely.
00:56:34
Speaker
So these things are all important. If we're going on form right now, if you have to put money on it right now, yes, you're going Roma, aren't you? You're going Bologna and Roma right now. If you have to put money on it, then your things can change. So what we have to say is, De Rossi's been there long enough now. It's been, what, two months or so since he's replaced Marina. He's been there long enough now for us to say that this isn't just the usual new manager bounce, which you get. I mean, that's a real thing. That's provable by the stats of it, that on average,
00:57:04
Speaker
a new manager almost doesn't matter who he is, there is a new manager bounce. When a new manager comes to a club, generally, there's an uptick. He's been there too long now for us just to say, it's just because it's a new manager bounce. This is real now, I think, with De Rossi that he's doing well.
00:57:24
Speaker
Yeah, I think they're looking good. I think they're looking good. Like I said, good time now for the international breaks. I think they need just a little rest and a recharge.
00:57:40
Speaker
Rest of the Serie A fixtures there just to read out the results. So we had Monza one, Bologna, Neil, Daniele, Maldini. I mean, that was not his dad, but he's in good form. He got three goals in his last full game. And that was a great goal.
00:58:00
Speaker
It was a fantastic free kick. It was a brilliant free kick. He tried to ball pretty well, actually. Yeah, he does. He's got a good strike on him, Maldini. What I love most about this is the fact that him and his dad, Paolo, scored 33 years apart against the same manager. See, Paolo Maldini scored against Ranieri when Ranieri was at Caliari 33 years ago in 1991.
00:58:29
Speaker
And here we are a third of a century later and his son is scoring against the same manager. I mean, I find that that's just amazing. That's just mind blowing for me. That really is.
00:58:44
Speaker
No, I'm with you. Amazing, isn't it? Amazing story. Udinez and Neil Torino too. Selenitana, Neil, Lecce one. And people in Zaghi is about to return to the Selenitana bench, which suggests Nima to me that they want in Zaghi to lead the promotion charge next season. Well,
00:59:06
Speaker
I'm not, I mean... Otherwise, what's the point? I mean, they're coming down, so... Because they're in panic mode, and Sabatini has failed miserably. And there's talk of him being sacked as well. Bringing Liverani into to attain the Salvatza was mad. It was a really weird January transfer window as well. No, it's, they're going down. I don't know if Filippo and Zaghi is going to stay over the summer, but I think what they're doing is just throwing
00:59:35
Speaker
Yeah, shit at a wall and hoping it sticks. And yes, if Inzaghi returns, then I don't see how Sabatini stays and what's going on there. So, you know, Jervolino's cocked up, let's be honest. He's cocked up completely. But it was an interesting one for all of the all of the relegation battles.
00:59:55
Speaker
The final team of which was Frosinane, who played Lazio and they lost in a very exciting game. Can I just say on Frosinane though, I had never seen a team concede more goals when they're completely on top than Frosinane.
01:00:10
Speaker
I've never seen it. They'll serve you the Francesco. Yeah. It's unbelievable. It's unbelievable. Like, Frosinone will, will, will have played, will be 30 minutes into a game. They'll be 1-0 up. They'll have had a 75% of possession. They'll have had 10 shots to none. The other team haven't even got into their half. And then two minutes later, they'll be 2-1 down. Like, you know, that is, I've never seen it. That is Frosinone this season, you know, is, is, is they just concede goals.
01:00:37
Speaker
out of nowhere when you just don't see it coming. It's really, it's incredible to watch really. And yeah, so they lose three too. And I mean, we'll come to lapsi in a second, but yeah, how do you see, I mean, that again, that relegation race is so tight and it's just so impossible to call now, isn't it? It is, but
01:00:59
Speaker
Frosinone, Sassolo, Empoli, Cali, Riverona, Udinese, all lost. Like this weekend. And this is, it's crazy. But Sassolo and Frosinone are looking like... Yeah, the bottom six. No, the bottom seven all lost.
01:01:16
Speaker
Yeah, yeah, they did. But I mean, Salah and Etan are out, so I'm not even going to bother with them. But Sassolo, Frosinone, Empoli, Cali, Arriverona, Anudinese, all lost, and there's only four points between them. Five points if you throw in Lece in there as well. But Lece won on the weekend, which was incredibly important. I think there's a good chance of a relegation play-off, isn't there? Could happen, could happen. We'll see, I mean,
01:01:43
Speaker
If anyone points, there is a relegation playoff, isn't there? Is that correct? Yeah. Playout. Playout, sorry. Playout, yeah. But yeah, like we had last season, didn't we? We had last season. Yes, we did, yeah.
01:01:55
Speaker
so um look it's going to be very very tight i'm looking at you know i'm looking at these games you know what we could even potentially have more than more i was going to say that's exactly what you got after the international break you got um
01:02:21
Speaker
Verona Genoa, I mean, it's just that they're all going to play each other soon. And it's like it's just going crazy. But yeah, Leccia Empoli after that, it's nice. This is going to be this is this is crazy. And then Verona Odineze, you know, it's just it's just mad. And then, of course, you got Sasolo Leccia a couple of weeks after that as well. I really don't know who's going to go down, but I look at Sasolo and I feel like what I see a Syria beating.
01:02:50
Speaker
I did feel like they were more organized and they were more, there was more fight in them or fight an organization in that game against Roma. So that is the, that's the one positive I take from the game because until then I saw no relegation fight. You know, there's relegation fight in teams where, you know,
01:03:08
Speaker
You look at frozen on and they probably don't have that fight. Whereas calorie, even though they're probably inferior on paper in terms of the quality of players and the technical and attacking qualities, they do have that fight that that Ranieri can install in them that they can, you know, eke out a drawer here and there or get a late scruffy wind. So that's why that's my concern with certainly frosting on it for sure.
01:03:32
Speaker
Okay Europa League conference league draw I'm just going to read them out. So the quarterfinals of the Europa League Milan and Roma all Italian quarterfinal and then Atalanta against Liverpool Very very frustrated. I'm very very frustrated that Milan and Roma are playing against each other. I really wanted them to miss each other I wanted because I really feel like
01:04:00
Speaker
both of them have the chances and both of them are playing so well in this competition, well from the last round anyway, that they had the chance to go to the semis, both of them. So I'm really frustrated that they're playing against each other. I mean, yeah, okay, there's the argument that it'd be great to have and great to see, kind of like a Derby, an Italian Derby, if you like, but I wanted them to miss each other. That really frustrates me, that does. And then of course, Atalanta play Liverpool.
01:04:28
Speaker
which is going to be very, very difficult. Look, the Liverpool thing really annoyed me because I really thought that Atalanta
01:04:42
Speaker
because I want Atalanta to win the Europa League, because I think Milan and Roma are going to finish in the top five in the Serie A, so they're both going to be there anyway. So if Atalanta, who finish outside of those places, win the Europa League, then Italy potentially has six teams in the Champions League. So that annoys me. But I'm not going to discount Atalanta. Okay, defensively, they're awful. We saw that against Sporting again. But don't discount them. They could cause an upset.
01:05:14
Speaker
Yeah, it's a 5% chance. It's going to be very difficult, lyrical. Although, you know, Liverpool lost to Man United. So, you know, the Atalanta are better to use than Man United right now. So, who knows? I mean, I think the one positive is that the second leg is in Bergman. If you're playing the second leg at Anfield, forget about it.
01:05:36
Speaker
completely forget about it. And in fact, playing the second leg at home is I saw a stat that since they got rid of the away goals rule, 68% of the two legged knockout ties in Europe, 68% of the winners are teams that play the second leg away from home.
01:05:59
Speaker
sorry, the second leg at home, sorry. So you play the second, you've got the second leg at home, you've got 68% chance of winning based on, you know, all the matches we've had since the away goals rules were scrapped.
01:06:12
Speaker
which I think is pretty damning, isn't it, Nimmo? Yeah, it is. And it adds to your argument the other day when you said about, you know, I'm not sure whether Scrapping the Away's goals rule was a good idea. Look, I think it was a good idea because it was archaic. But my thing is, I think the balance is tilted too far the other way now. I think there's no need to, like, if you're going to have
01:06:35
Speaker
extra time, then I think you should have, then I think we should have the extra goal, like the, the away goal rule, just for that, or scrap extra time altogether. Do you know what I mean? Like, I just feel that this, I want, I want it balanced out. I think that the away goals rule for 90 minutes. Well, okay, you could say, well, they also have it in the first leg, but I feel it was too archaic and it was a good change. But I just, the those extra 30 minutes to me,
01:07:04
Speaker
without it are an advantage I don't particularly like. Yeah, yeah, I agree with you. Absolutely. It's an unfair advantage to get 30 more minutes at home in front of your own fans. It's not, it's not fair. It's not fair at all. And then the semi-finals depended on obviously what happens. Milan, winner of Milan, Roman will play the winner of Leverkus in West Ham and the winner of Liverpool Atalanta will play the winner of Benfica Marseille.
01:07:35
Speaker
conference league conference league better news though for for Serie A in the conference league Fiorentina got pretty much as good a draw as they could have got they got Victoria Pilsen in the next round which is probably
01:07:50
Speaker
on paper the best draw that they could have got. And they play the first leg away from home against Victoria Pilsen. But even best than that, if they go through that tie against Victoria Pilsen, they play against Club Bruga or PAOK Salonika of Greece in the next round. And after Victoria Pilsen, the next two weaker teams are those two teams. So they miss out Aston Villa,
01:08:20
Speaker
Leo, who play against each other, Olympiacos and Fenabachi, they miss out all those teams until the final. So it's a really great draw from Fiorentina. And now, I mean, Fiorentina have been given a golden opportunity to get to a second successive conference league final, haven't they?
Fiorentina's Conference League Draw
01:08:36
Speaker
They really do. They have to get, I'm sorry, but if they don't get past Victoria Pilsen and Pau Korcla Brige, that's a failure. Yeah. I remember you saying exactly the same thing at this stage last season. Yeah, it is. I remember you saying the same thing. Yes, it's true. Fiorentina are qualitatively, together with Aston Villa, the two best teams in that tournament. It's as simple as that. And with the Drog, you know, avoiding Olympiacos, Fenerbahce, Lille,
01:09:00
Speaker
come on, they have to reach the final. Anything other than that is an abject failure. I saw some people saying things like, oh, we should praise Italiano for reaching two European finals with Fiorentina. I'm like, no, I'm not doing that because have you seen who they played against? Yes, it's an accomplishment for a club of Fiorentina's level to reach two European finals, absolutely. But if we analyze it a little bit deeper, you can't tell me beating
01:09:26
Speaker
what you call the furniture store on the roof. I can't remember what they were called, but you said their name sounded like a furniture store last season. I mean, they were literally playing teams like that. And I'm sorry, but it's a Seriat team that finishes seventh.
01:09:44
Speaker
for two seasons in a row and I'm looking at who they're playing. For me, beating West Ham in the final would be an accomplishment and an overachievement or something big. If they'd be Aston Villa, who are definitely going to the final, then that would be an overachievement. But reaching the final of the conference league, playing against furniture stores, I'm sorry, but I'm not going to jump for joy. I found that team. I had to look it up. It's a Latvian team. RFS.
01:10:10
Speaker
That's the one, RFS, yeah. I'm sorry, but it's not what, so this is where we are now, we're giving credit for beating Latvian teams and I don't know, Bulgaria, like, come on. Like, it's not serious, let's be serious, we're beating, we're playing teams... I'm sorry RFS, buy one sofa, get one free. I'm sorry, but it's Fiorentina for crying out loud. It drew with the furniture store as well, it drew 1-1.
01:10:35
Speaker
Yeah, I know. I remember we were talking about it, but it's like this is what I'm saying. Look, Fiorentina have been lucky in the draws because they could have also faced up with other teams. To be fair with you, there never really is that many quality teams in the competition, is there, generally? No, that's what I'm saying. For me to consider that Vincenzo Italiano has done something historic, like beyond the Wikipedia stuff of reaching two European finals in a row,
01:11:03
Speaker
Which is historic in the sense that Fiorentina haven't done that fine. That's great But if we actually analyze it and look at who he's played on the route to the final Then yeah
01:11:14
Speaker
It's good for Serie A as well in the race for that fifth place as well, because we did lose three clubs, which is a big knock in that race, but luckily all our four teams went through in the week of competitions. But then also having Roma play against Milan is also a knockdown. That really annoyed me.
01:11:34
Speaker
because we're going to lose a team there and we're probably going to lose at Solana, so you're already down to two teams in the semi-finals. That really annoyed me, to be honest. And me. The Milan Roma draw just pissed me off because it really, really annoyed me because there's no
01:11:57
Speaker
It
Anticipation for Milan vs Roma
01:11:58
Speaker
annoys me when Napoli played Milan. Yeah, me too. I would have liked to see them play other teams, but it is what it is. But I do think that Milan strikes me as slightly more favorite over Roma, even though I think Roma have played
01:12:13
Speaker
really well in the Europa League. Can I just say that Nima Intra put out a statement as we're talking now about Cherby. I read it out. So, Intra takes note of the press release published by the FIGC in relation to the facts concerning Francesco Achebe during last night's match against Napoli and of the fact that the FIGC and their Cherby have agreed on the players' non-participation in the next two friendly matches of the national team scheduled in the United States.
01:12:39
Speaker
Inter reserves the right to consult with its player as soon as possible in order to shed light on the exact dynamics of what happened last night. So I think I said that this isn't new. This was the one. Oh, did you read that out? Yeah. I didn't read out verbatim, but I said that they're going to speak to our chirby and conduct our own investigation. I was referring to. Yeah. Yeah. No. So yeah, no, this is this doesn't look good at all. And inter taking it seriously as they should. And we'll see where it goes. But Mila Roma
01:13:08
Speaker
I can't help but feel that Milan will edge this out. I don't know. What do you think? You think Milan will edge it out or Roma? Yeah, yeah. It's going to be tight. Don't get me wrong. It's going to be really tight. But I think Milan will just slightly edge out. Yeah, I mean...
01:13:27
Speaker
Gun to the head, I think probably I'd go Milan, but I do think Roma have got a chance. I do think Roma have got a chance. It's a hard one to call. Again, let's see what the situation is in terms of injury news and form going into those games.
01:13:48
Speaker
The one advantage Milan have is that Milan will definitely afford to rest players before the games.
01:13:58
Speaker
in it because they've got the top four basically wrapped up. Well, it's certainly wrapped up, I think. So before the game, Milan can basically rest Liao, rest Giroud, whereas Roma can't afford to do that in Serie A. And that could be decisive. In fact, Milan have Lecce at home.
01:14:19
Speaker
before the first leg, and then they have Sasuola away before the second leg. I mean, I know they're relegation teams and they'll be fighting, but you can't ask for much better, whereas you look at Roma's games before, and they have the Derby against Latzia before the first game, which is going to take a lot out of them four days before, and then they play with Dinérzé away.
01:14:45
Speaker
in the game before, but as I said before, they can't rest players because they're going for that top four. So maybe physically, I think Milan probably will go into this game better and that might be, that could be the difference maybe. But yeah, it's going to be a fantastic tie. It's going to be a fantastic tie. Let's finish off with Badjo, Primface and Sadia as of the week. Okay, Nima, so who do you have? Anybody for Badjo of the week?
01:15:10
Speaker
Well, it has to be Maldini's goal. That free kick is... That would have made Bajo proud, no? Yeah. Yeah, I can't argue with that, Nima. I can't argue with that. It's a stunning goal. It really, really is a stunning goal. It's... No, I was like, whoa. When I saw that, it was absolutely stunning. Yeah. Yeah. No, I can't argue with that. Right. Prem face of the week,
01:15:38
Speaker
your new friend, Nimmer, UBL. Is this an actual real person? I can't... Has anyone ever heard him speak? Has anyone actually seen him on a video? Even if it's on Twitter, or even if you're not on Twitter, you have to check out this new king of the... Who is this guy?
01:15:54
Speaker
His handle is at EBL 2017. He's been tweeting out some incredible stuff recently. His latest one was during the game between Manchester United and Liverpool, which was one of the most incredible games I've seen in a long time in the FA Cup. 4-3 win after extra time. 121st minute winner by Ahmad Diallo, the former Atlanta player.
01:16:18
Speaker
He tweeted, Gapo is as complete as they come. He strikes through the ball like Harry
Player Comparison and Criticism
01:16:23
Speaker
Kane. He dribbles like Sadio Mane. He crosses like Marcus Rashford. He runs in behind like Mohammed Salah. He links the players a nine like Anthony Marcial. That cannot be a good thing. It's a focal point in the number nine, which enables him to score tappings and headers. 37 million pound plus add-ons. Unreal. Yeah. Yeah.
01:16:47
Speaker
It's who last week said that Van Dyke was the best defender of all time and better than Maldini and he Van Dyke in his performance was at fault for two of the goals and he got turned by Anthony who hasn't scored a goal in England for a domestic goal for a year and hasn't beaten a man probably in his entire career and he got turned by him for the Anthony equalizer that took the game to extra time.
01:17:15
Speaker
EBL 2017,
Serie A's Anti-Racism Campaign Failings
01:17:16
Speaker
the new king of the prem faces. Seria ass of the week, Nima. Do you have anything for that? I think this entire thing, their racism campaign and the way they handled it with Allegri was just so embarrassing and cringe. So typically of Seria ass. It's just Seria ass. And of course, Acherbi allegedly racially abusing someone during that as well. This can only happen. It's the most Seria ass thing ever.
01:17:41
Speaker
Like on the weekend where they launched their anti-racism campaign, the biggest racism scandal of the year happened. You couldn't make it up. You couldn't write. You couldn't make it up even if you tried. You couldn't. It's just, I don't even know where to begin with this. How do you manage to cock things up like this? I know. Unbelievable.
01:18:03
Speaker
Anyway, let's leave it at that.
Upcoming Q&A Episode
01:18:05
Speaker
We'll have the Q&A episode. We will confirm on the Thursday show because Italy are playing on Thursday, so we will be in touch about that. We could do that on Friday. Potentially, yeah. We will confirm on that, but we'll definitely have the Q&A. So until next time, ciao ciao.