Chaos and Criticism in Madrid

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When Mbappe came on as a substitute he was also booed and whistled by a number of the Real Madrid fans as well. On the night though Real Madrid did win two nil at finish with goals from Gonzalo Garcia and substitute Jude Bellingham. Luis Garcia was watching this game for us. Alex Kirkland as mentioned was at the stadium so let me come to you first Alex just tell us a little bit about what we were seeing in the stadium with Florentino having to argue with some of the fans there and some of those banners being taken down. Give us a feel of what it was like to be there. Yeah the atmosphere wasn't good Kay let's be honest there were whistles the biggest whistles of the night without question for me were for Mbappe in the second half huge whistles for Mbappe. I think the loudest we've heard maybe for any player this season a reflection I think of the frustration of the crowd with him in recent weeks his commitment has been questioned he and his camp would say unfairly as he recovered from injuries he was pictured on holiday while his teammates were still competing in the league so I think the whistles from Mbappe are a big takeaway you mentioned some of the protests against Florentino Perez after the week that he's had as you mentioned two banners which were quickly taken away by security but otherwise like I say they really struck me in that second half with the volume of the whistles for Mbappe because we've seen a bit of that earlier in the season for him for Venetius but not quite on this scale and like I said that's a reflection of the anger here and the frustration with another season a second season for Mbappe without a major trophy. Yeah the frustration really spilling over tonight Luis obviously it was a 2-0 win for Real Madrid but just the fact that we are seeing banners in the stadium against the president fans arguing with the president booze for Mbappe it's really not good at Real Madrid right now. No of course not when we discussed a lot during the past couple of weeks because of the problem because the moment the situation of Real Madrid losing the league in the stadium of the biggest opponent the way that they did it just the fight before we heard about the Carreras rumors then we heard about the 5-2 to Amnene and Valverde, Venetius is in a sorry Mbappe living for a period of recovery or free time probably knowing the best moment and all together we became something that we were not expecting from these three Real Madrid side it is true that it's two years in a row without a trophy and that's a big issue for Real Madrid that is a team built to challenge and to try to win every single one of them but at the moment we've been talking about it for quite a long period and I'm not saying this is the year before or even a couple of three years back that Real Madrid was in a different direction then yes they were getting the results but what we were seeing every single week in a week out it was not the strong Real Madrid the strong Real Madrid the team that convinced everyone and that showed the rest of the world that they were really very very respected so in the end it's a bad season very very humble the system for Real Madrid that needs to think about they need to look at themselves and not only to the players not only to the manager not only to the board it's all together we need to have a thinking we do not then have a big restructure and start over because you need to start over start from scratch if you want to rebuild what it was Real Madrid just ten years back so what does this rebuild look like Alex what do we see in next elections a new manager tell us more about what happens next at Real Madrid yeah we've talked about the process for elections which are called today candidates have ten days to present their candidacy Florentino Perez said that he and his boards will stand for reelection we don't yet know if anybody will stand against them if not Florentino Perez will be reelected unopposed as he has been time after time in in recent years and then the first big change of course is the manager we've talked about Joseph Merino being the leading contender right now to take over to return for his second spell in charge other changes well the squads we expect to see changes Florentino said in his TV interview the other day that there will be some assignings we don't think he'll be a massive overhaul of the squad I think that might be unlikely I think given you know the difficulties in moving some players on and the the budget available even for a club like Madrid but we understand that the the focus of investment in the squad will be in defense maybe midfield as well but certainly in defense whether there are any sort of bigger structural changes if Florentino Perez is reelected in terms of you know there's been talk of changes like a sporting director or something like that which we don't really have at the moment we don't yet know Florentino has talked about you know the physical condition of the players being the big issue this season he thought that was going right back to last summer the club will cut the lack of a preseason he thinks that sort of hums hamstrung the the squads from the start so will they look at that there are already some changes in terms of the the fitness and the physical preparation in midseason with Antonio Pintz just coming back in alongside Alvaro Arbalo big changes yes and really that actually here is this season needs to be over as quickly as possible and let's move on two more games to go of course one game away at Sevilla one game at home against Athletic Club and then we're done for the season and that will be welcome I think given the way this campaign has gone. We'll keep hearing Mourinho's name Stevie and there are many who dismiss Mourinho coming back to Real Madrid but it definitely needs to be someone who can control this dressing room is it such a bad idea? I have to say initially when I heard that Mourinho was the prime candidate I was kind of scratching my head thinking why but now we see how bad it is and I guess I guess today was just the cherry on the top of what a shambles it is at Real Madrid fans whistling the president crying about all kinds try to blame the fact that the players aren't fit they're going to they're not going to make that I mean they need somebody who is absolutely as strong as an ox to make these players do what he wants them to do and regardless of whether it's Josie Mourinho I'm still not convinced that Mbappe and Vinny will do what they're told I mean it's just an absolute nightmare the position that Real Madrid are in with these two players in particular there just doesn't seem to be an answer I mean I'm watching Vinny today I was telling Jacka this guy's thinking about whether he wants to run or not defensively do you think Josie Mourinho is going to put up with that? Well he can and so he's going to have to do what Lonsword did and but if he does that then we're going to have all the nonsense again and then you're going to have Mbappe what's Mbappe going to do because then all the players are going to say well Vinny's not running and this guy's not running either but then this guy's still playing I don't even know whether Mourinho is able to change this this is how bad a spot they run they absolutely need overhauling and they need to get rid of one of them they need to get rid of either Vinny or Mbappe because the two of them together on the same team is just a nightmare for the chemistry of the team for the chemistry of the team they're never going to get rid of one or the other though are they Alex right now? I think that's extremely difficult I think that's extremely difficult I cannot see a scenario in which that happens you can make a case for it you can make a case for it sure in terms of the way the team has been playing the way that they've been kind of repeated attempts to make this work different coaches multiple seasons now and it hasn't and it hasn't worked but I still think despite that on a practical level is that something the club are going to be willing to do I don't think so I think the hope will be that yeah the other changes that are made this summer in terms of the coach and the coaching staff and other players and tactical tweaks and maybe you give it one more go to try and make this work because I think there are some I think they like to say really major problems in terms of actually moving one of those on you know what sorry Shaq you know what that tells you that Perez needs to go what Alex just said there tells you Perez needs to go he's he's made it clear that he doesn't intend to go anywhere well it's ridiculous the position they're in is absolutely ridiculous you're telling me that for the good of the club one of them should go but you're not going to do it because why well he seemed to actually be backing them in everything he was saying he was backing his players and those two names came on yeah again another reason why he needs to go somebody needs to come in and hand the reins over to the manager and say right go on you you get on where I'm not going to take any partners because Perez ain't even if he says the new manager's got full control you know he's not so really how do we really think that too much is going to change at Real Madrid and I know I keep pointing the finger at Vinnie and then Bappie but the truth is if you had two guys on front you swap two of the PSG forwards regardless of which two you want this would be a different this would be a different team listen they do need to strengthen in other parts of the field there's no question but this would be a different team with two guys who actually want to play for the team what do you think of what Stevie's saying Luis? what I think is we've been used to see Real Madrid just signing players not because of sometimes because of the quality or not because of the name and then becoming a strong team by just adding and spending a lot of money on these days Real Madrid maybe is not in that line so you got two options or you go back to that way of signing that way of building the brand and becoming a global club that is the galactic of time where you sign Ricardo Carlos and Luis Figo and Becca and so many stars so many big stars that you become so respected and so strong that is very difficult to manage or you restructure the whole way we've seen so many so many teams so many clubs that when they've been told or they've been run by the chairman the things they don't well you need to be there you need to support whoever it is that you think there is the person that needs to run the club but there is always a structure right there there it has to be a sporting director there you have to be a general manager they have to be a manager who works with the sporting director to sign the players because in the end there is only one way there is how do we want to play how do we want to have our philosophy and from that one then work on that direction if not it's not going to be impossible it's going to be very difficult because the financial situation of Real Madrid is not any more than one that it was 10 20 years back right now it's about trying to sign the right players trying to sign the players who we think that they are going to give us something different and at the moment it's nobody's happening so you they go to option and we'll have to wait and see what the direction is the one they want to take Alex any update on why those banners were removed tonight? Yeah as we said Kay there were two banners that we saw one that said Florentino guilty one that said Florentino go now and they were within seconds removed by security staff now some reports here from the radio station Cope having spoken to sources of the club saying this is essentially a health and safety issue now it's true that any sort of large-scale banners inside stadiums in the league do have to there's a degree of coordination in terms of approval and for things like safety and these banners they weren't massive kind of TIFOs but they were banners that were stretching across you know a number of seats maybe 10 or 15 or something like that and suggestions from those reports that these banners if they haven't been kind of cleared in advance and checked there might some health and safety issues so that's certainly one explanation that's being given by the club right now at least unofficially from sources rather than it being they say a matter of the the message that's contained on those banners. Well that explains it all Shaq. Yeah if you keep that banner up it'll be bad for your health is what I heard. Listen there's a lot to unpack with Riam Rajid and everything that's going on. Well whether we want to start with Joseph Marino and with Stevie at first instinct no it's not a good fit but then you see the unraveling and then Florentino Perez as Alex was telling us before certainly did an outstanding job as to defining why Joseph Marino is exactly the man they need right now whichever way I think it has to be I think it should be on the shorter term it's more about discipline and culture than it is about football. I will say though kind of give them what you've heard from Florentino Perez and and and the siege mentality around Riam Rajid that that he's kind of described there's nobody better at amplifying that than Joseph Marino so there's a perfect fit at least between between those two but then you've seen this partnership between Killingham Bap and Venetius Jr. cost Carlo Ancelotti's job cost Javier Alonso's job and now Arbeloa will go back to his previous job because nobody's been able to figure that out and similarly I'm not sure that Joseph Marino is the man to do that either but then okay move move one on as far as you said than done here and and right now if it's one you're thinking Venetius Jr. because he's only got a year left on his contract whichever way the kind of money that either of these two players combined who's going to pick that up and and right now I think there are two candidates PSG and Man City give him what we know of Luis Enrique he's not going to touch either the two given how good PSG are playing and what he gets out of his front three and and similarly Manchester City may take those boxes but there are question marks around Pep Guardiola and his future at at the Etihad as well so it's there's no just ready-made answer for for what's next for either of those two players or indeed Real Madrid Newcastle take a pick up yeah Alex will let you go and enjoy the soap opera up close for the rest of the week actually I think we are keeping you around a minute yeah god okay let's keep you around a minute because we do have a relegation talk coming up and of course was Rielo Viedo tonight you're already relegated taking on Real Madrid but we will bring you first Valencia against Raya Vallecano Pache Spino here draws a foul in the area and this is a chance for Ryo to score from the spot yeah that's a still more belly for me I wasn't sure I'm not sure you know I'm not sure Randy and Tech at this chance keep her head covered all the way obviously yeah 20th minute though Raya would go on up here Florian Lejeune with the header in a crowd Lejeune just gets up and that's really a good header 40th minute Valencia would level it through Diego Lopez yeah nice finish didn't have enough a lot to shoot out here makes a good run across the box and at the bottom corner Gerona caught up at the bottom end of the table up against Real Sociedad today 28th minute John Martín scores a header here to put Real Sociedad ahead and there a bit of pressure from the three of the opposition still finds that corner 66 minute though what a loyal servant Christian Stouane is being for Gerona here he is getting a late leveler a really nice finish as well times the drum to perfection create more to pick him out just so control with the finish yeah very late on here this wasn't given no deflection off his leg into the arm no so a very important point for Gerona when it could have been no points out of this game as you can see they are 15th on 40 points level on points with Alves in 16th Elche sits on 39 points in 17th as do my Jorca and Levante who are in the bottom three as it stands right now Real Oviedo already gone two match days left to go my Jorca and Levante still to face one another Alex and Luis still with us Alex this relegation battle looks like it's going to go down to the wire what are your thoughts on it yeah it's been an incredible week in the relegation battle some amazing results for the likes of Sevilla and Levante we're looking as you say which two teams are going to join Real Oviedo in being relegated I've got to say if I was a fan of Elche I'd be extremely worried if I was a fan of my Jorca I'd be worried as well Levante their situation looked impossible what they've done over the last couple of weeks they've given themselves a chance the results today have secured the safety of a couple of teams including Rival Carno for another season which is great news for for them and their fans but like I say if it's if you're asking me for which two teams are going to join Oviedo I think Elche and and Mallorca might be the ones and maybe just maybe Levante can pull off this great escape yeah Levante have had a few things go their way recently even though they do sit in the bottom three what are your thoughts on it Luis? I was thinking the other day we talked about and I thought the Sevilla was going to go down because of the momentum that they were going through and suddenly Luis García managed to get fantastic results to get them out of the way and right now I don't see them just going there so I think that between Elche and Mallorca they will face very soon one against each other I think that's going to be one of those that is going to join the three at the bottom with Elche already done. I think that even with the with the fantastic win yesterday they probably they thought that they were going to be enough but it's not going to be enough closer again and the other one is very going to be very difficult because any one of them they can lose they they show us during the whole season so trying to find the two teams that they're going to follow Oviedo is going to be quite difficult if you try to to see it again Levante I thought that's on point because of the win again and they're still just not not getting out of the relegation so difficult difficult to call so in between Elche and Mallorca I think they're one of those when they face each other they will they will call us them the third one okay well we'll find out how it all plays out and you will find out right here on ESPN Alex now you can go and enjoy the rest of the soap opera at both ends of the table Sunday all of these games coming up in La Liga many of them played at the same time due to the implications at the bottom end of the table we'll also see Sevilla taking on Real Madrid and Barcelona taking on Real Betis here we go Celtic were awarded a match winning 99th minute penalty at Motherwell and it changes the title race picture before the final day showdown at Celtic Park between Park and Celtic as it stands right now Hartsley Celtic by a point in the table a daily record going with the hand that rocked the table controversy raging over the Celtic penalty Luis Garcia is still with us and Don Hutchison is also joining us because he's been tweeting about this Don's feeling very strongly about this tell us why Don it's just Va over the last couple of days couple of weeks K it's just got me right down and I was watching the game last night and I just thought it was an incredible decision because it's getting to the point now where the referees are not applying their own laws and it has to be a clear and obvious the referee on the pitch didn't give a penalty so to overturn that and give a penalty the Va team have to instruct the referee that he's made a clear and obvious error he went to the monitor he then give a penalty and I'm just thinking I don't see it the more I watch it I don't see it being a handball you saw the second guess yourself because handball the laws an absolute mess so sometimes you're setting guess yourself and you go am I getting this one wrong and you watch it again and then you go no you can't get that much distance if anyone launches a throw in and a ball hits your hand it's going to drop within like a yard or two of your of your body the fact that it's it is forehead of my opinion goes about 10 yards away you can't get that distance if it hits your hand so the whole Va laws at the minute it's just getting me down Don we're just seeing your tweet there on the screen asking about putting Va in the bin do you really want that I know you're a bit down with it but do you really want no Va? I don't want it anymore I don't think anyone does I mean Alan Shearer tweeted tonight went and we were over at Stockley Park many moons ago and we were the first ones in and the referees were sort of shown what we're going to be what Va was introduced for and they said very minimal we're not going to re-ref the games it's only going to be for absolute howlers and mistakes now what you're watching now okay you're watching five or six VaR calls every single game and it's it's everything's being checked too much it's sanitizing the game I don't think we'll ever get a Jose Mourinho Porto moment when a manager goes crazy after a goal or a player will celebrate because they'll always be checking is he offside is it Robby show I can't stand it don't come on here Stevie don't come on here Robby show about you can't celebrate anymore what's a lot of nonsense Don I've got Robby it's not it's not I was watching the game at the weekend and he scored a goal and the whole team was in the corner jumping around and then it went to Va so don't don't throw out that that nobody celebrates anymore so what about then Stephen when we were when we were promised when we were promised right when it all got brought in years ago it was only going to be for absolute howlers and it was never going to re-ref the game now the balance has gone too far where there's five or six seven VaR checks every single game look if you the less the less checks I agree the better but are you telling me that we take you telling me we'd be better off we're just referees refereeing the game the fact I think it's an opportunity to see it again is absolutely fantastic and it's not the VaR implication that's the problem it's the people that gets the final decision it's the referee who gets the final decision that's the problem not VaR that isn't the problem but Stevie it's the idiot who gave that penalty and then we and he went against he went against all the rules of VaR but that's not VaR's fault that the referee went against the rules but Stevie but Stevie the the referee on the pitch human you're only going to go to another human who might have a different opinion or the same opinion everything just seems to be subjective you're trusting a referee on the pitch I don't think the referees at the moment are refereeing at a very high standard and I think some consciously they're probably waiting on help from the AR I'll tell you what referee standards are not as good as anymore if you are correct that the refereeing standards are way below where they were then we're absolutely 100% need VaR no because you're missing my point the referee standards the fact that the referees are underperforming tells you you need VaR how do you expect the referee to get a decision right if we can go to a VaR screen and give us a completely and utter wrong decision that we can all see but you don't want VaR to help these numpties that are not good enough to referee but you're you're missing my point completely that what well what I'm saying is because you're missing my point what I'm saying is the referees are not making good decisions anymore they're not steadfast in their decisions because subconsciously they've no they've gotten out with VaR okay doesn't make any sense Don Luis what do you think about this argument VaR well I think and I can agree with both sides I think that we are going just too far I think the VaR arrived to help everyone else to try to be this this game a little bit more fair the big mistakes to to be held back to the referees and just to talk about it to discuss about a situation that happened in the game and not be consistent that means that Don will see one thing I will see different things and and the team will see different things shows that it's very difficult to be refereeing so having people outside who can see it in a slow way plays in a slow emotion and to analyze it to look at it closer I think is is helpful but not to get involved in every single matter because that that example that we just saw with the with with the hand I I mean at some point you have to see and say I got my doubts in the moment that is a doubt you cannot call again the referee to see if there is a there is a penalty or not if it's if you've seen it properly or not I think that it can help I think that is been very good in many occasions they are big offside position that they they help there's been penalties that they've been well well called for via yard and even situation of an elbow that a player does in a far away of the vision of the referee I think that it can be helped but in the moment that the via yard start and being used for interpretation of the people there is in the VR room and trying to tell that do you miss this one let's have a look and there is a communication in between I see I think this look at this look at this is like you are trying to re-referring once again so I think that via yard can help I think that is been useful but right now we are going and I agree we don't just too far and right now we don't know what is happening anymore because the consistency of the refereeing is being outrageous I mean it's been so bad because when we see hands and in the other games are not the hands and we've seen what happened just lately in the last one with them with Arsenal and then you go back with the videos to two months ago and then you see exactly the same play in another different game and it's been used and it's been calling in a different way that's what I don't think that this via yard situation is helping so in clear options yes via yard is good but trying to analyse every single play I don't think we are helping or moving forward let's bring more in for the World Cup corner kicks yellow cards more via yard shack I will say one thing though FIFA and Uncertainty Workup tournaments have used via are better than the domestic leagues have ever since its first introduction a couple of World Cups ago so I'm less concerned about about the World Cup and FIFA's involvement in it just because they are they employ a far more common sense approach to this they want to make decisions quickly and the authority sits everybody knows the authority sits with the man in the middle and that for me is one of the bigger issues around well this this time around we talk in Scottish football be seated in English you seat in Spanish so often it feels as though the referees in the VIA are via both are the ones of authority and the guy on the pitch is just there to keep things ticking over and that is a total role reversal of how it should be of how it was defined when it was first introduced by FIFA I think was a 2018 World Cup was the first time it was used that is a total role reversal and as a result I think that is why you're seeing the kind of disparities that you are now because the referees in the middle don't see themselves as the ultimate authority for me time somebody says have a second look at this you know the outcome and that is not how it should be okay we're going to put you guys as our VAR team to the test tonight we're going to call you Shockley Park because we are going to bring up something else that Don had a few thoughts on Spurs had a late penalty denied in that 103rd minute against Leeds you'll remember Madison argued he was fouled by Mecha here the ref waved it away and VAR agreed now Don let me start with you because I know what the guy's in the studio think well I mean I saw this K and I was I was watching it and watching it and watching I was thinking I don't see the touch from the defender and then everyone was commenting on the game and everyone was going yeah the defender definitely got a touch and then I sort of got sucked into thinking yeah the defender got a touch and I seen James Madison's tweet and he said watch it again I'm the one that toe poked it away and that's what I saw originally when I first saw it but I couldn't sort of be like a hundred percent I was like sort of 90 percent sure Madison nicked it away from the defender but I got sucked in a little bit I've gone back to my first thought and off the back of what James Madison when you see it again I think he's the one that toes it away and not the defender it's nice to be able to see it again though isn't it Don well yeah but but but the but if I say James Madison toed it away then the wrong decision was made because then it should have been a penalty and it wasn't given so Louise did you think it was a penalty? I think that the defender thought the ball but that I definitely see I've looked at it very slow I picture it on my phone again and again and slow it down and I think that that ball moves a little bit but again in the moment that we are talking about this in the moment that don't see us one way I see one way the VARC a different way they shouldn't go in they shouldn't get involved listen we've seen like this but we really don't know if this is the striker who touched the ball or the defender who touched the ball so whatever it is what the referee have seen it yes let it go let it play we cannot go in for it because we are not really hunter-pissed sure don't see it one way see in a different way imagine that 80 000 people they are in the stadium so VARC shouldn't get involved in these kind of situations. A reminder of how you guys felt about that. That's what VARC is foreign it. VARC is for the big decisions that's a big decision so for me 100% VARC should get involved and the fact is they absolutely got its spot on regardless of whether you think he did or whether you think he didn't you can't tell even though you've seen that again and if you can't tell you can't give the penalty and they didn't give the penalty so perfect outcome that's exactly what VARC is for truly. Yeah take that Don. All right I think we're done there. Just remind you of how things are looking in the Premier League right now this is the top of the table ahead of Villa playing Liverpool it is fifth versus fourth coming up this weekend so we've got the predictions of the panel for this very game and it's a tough one to call for many of us because three of us have gone for a draw here in studio however Don's got Villa winning and Luis Garcia loyal Liverpool 2-1 win. Don why have you got Villa winning this one? I love Lewis's loyalty that I listen I just don't see Liverpool going to Villa Park and winning the only way they might get a result is Villa have got a cup final about four days later against Freiburg unless you and Iemri go to the really weakened side I don't think you will I think you'll go strong I think they've had enough upsets off the back of European football where they've been disappointing. Friday night football at Villa Park atmosphere will be great I don't see Liverpool going there and winning. Meanwhile Luis it looks like Slopp might just be staying at Liverpool he said today that he has every reason to believe that he will be Liverpool manager next season what do you think about that? Well they might have some information that we don't have but definitely this season it hasn't been the best one a lot of people accuse him of maybe not doing the right job but don't forget they won the Premier League last year and issue that we have our doubts that Liverpool was going to get to not even in the in the top five in the Champions League spot but in the end they managed to get enough results or at least it was on the way to do it so yeah why not to give it the opportunity to to to build it up again the team that managed to get the trophy last year I think that there is a lot of things that happened during the season they came from a very very tough season and doing in a row by two by two years is not as easy as it might look and you think always that now because you did the last year is going to be the same way if you don't change many things and if you bring all the people all their players but you can see that it is not exactly the same because you don't need to change position you need to adapt the new players to to assist and that you were working with so I think they will give it the opportunity to continue and see if they can manage to to get back to to their best because definitely the squad is strong enough to to compete to any competition. Don do you think he should be given a bit longer? Do you know what K? I'm torn because I think we're in a we're going to be in a position in the summer where there's going to be so many top-class managers available. Javier Lonzo, Irola, maybe Thomas Tuchel, Marco Silva, Glasna, there's going to be so many managers that are going to be looking for work and I'm torn because I thought the board let Arna slot down with a standard of a squad that he got left behind and how thin the squad was. I thought they let them down big time with it we're having a small squad going into so many games. Having said that the football hasn't been great so I think I would be having the conversations behind closed doors is there a better manager out there? Is Javier Lonzo a better manager to get the best out of Virts, best out of Frimp on having managed them before in Germany? The trouble with keeping Arna slot and you hope he gets off to a good start and you hope he's going to be given the funds in the summer to revamp the squad and go through a real transition and buy a more balanced squad. The trouble is if those managers go elsewhere in the summer and Arna slot gets off to a bad start then you're left. What do you do then? All right well we've also got coming up this weekend the FA Cup final our boys will be in London for this game and we've got the predictions of the panel ahead of it as well it is a clean sweep from Manchester City you know it's not good. That's not good for City. Congratulations Chelsea. Don you've got a theory about Pep Guardiola? Well I think because I've seen it on on Instagram tonight and there was some random sort of there was some random sort of thing on the pitch now it might not be for Pep it might be for John Stones but there was a there was a picture I think of the Etihad and all the trophies laid out in the middle of the centre circle so hopefully it's not going to be Pep's last couple of games. Hopefully I want it to stay on because I want the standard of the Premier League managers to be top draw and the City fans that I know that have seen that knocking around on social media it's pretty sad. Do you know anyone who goes on social media more than Don Hutchison on our panel? Well let me just start by saying I know better than to trust one of Don's predictions especially one that just come out of lefties. It's not mine. Don you see a couple of weeks ago he's getting rid of it? Well let me tell you something I'm not trusting Don as a matter of fact I'm going to put a bet on whatever Don the opposite of whatever Don says that's how confident I am in Don's predictions. Let's be honest right think about this rationally. Who Don? Do you think? Think about Don Rasmussen? Do you think when somebody said okay let's get all the trophies on the thing and get a picture taken with Pep because he's leaving? Nobody'll notice. He didn't say he will picture with Pep. He didn't say Pep was there. Thank you shock. Don's getting rid of Pep, he's getting rid of VAI, he's getting rid of it all. We've got to say goodbye to Luis Stasi Thank you so much for being with us Luis. We'll speak to you again very soon. Make sure to be with us to see if Pep's waving goodbye. The Premier League season is wrapping up and we're getting ready for a World Cup on home soil. It's now just a month away and we are happy to welcome to the show Fulham and the US men's national team Anthony Robinson. Anthony thank you so much for being with us. Obviously lots of US fans really excited to have the World Cup coming here. We all need to know are you fit? Are you 100% going into it? Yeah thanks for having me and yeah 100% fit ready to go. Hopefully you know get that phone call soon. Let me know that I'm going to be on the plane out there and yeah ready to give everything to try and win some games and make the country proud. We'll keep this quick then since you're expecting a call. It's been a frustrating season for you Anthony. A lot of injuries. Something that you're not at all used to. How have you been able to manage this season and again with the expectation or the hope of what's to come this summer? Yes but it's been very difficult me on a personal level. I mean very up and down the last couple of seasons you know with a club and country. I've been pretty much available for every game. I've missed you know a handful of games in this season. It's been a lot more so it's been very tough you know to deal with mentally and physically trying to get myself right but I've been doing all I can to get on top of myself off the pitch and get myself in good shape and thankfully I'm you know heading in the right direction. We've got two games left and I'm feeling good for that and you know going into the summer I feel like I'll be in good condition and you know ready to help the team. Anthony I've got you to ask you this. Why did you leave Raul him in as on his own with Saka? Oh boy. When he put him on his backside. Tell me why. Yeah it's a difficult one. I mean we we were just kind of set up in how we usually set up. It's usually our strikers like the last man and unfortunately you know they had a very good winger at the who could get on the ball after that so good a swap roles in the moment and we are punished for that which is unfortunate and something we've spoken about. Yeah well it was a good for him I know that. Right. He must have said something to you though. No they're not focused at all. Have the lads been taking the mickey out of him in the training and stuff. And not a whole lot. It's a bit of a touchy subject when we lose a game like that so we just kind of try and move on. Yeah we'll move on then. Listen we've got extra time every single day on our show when the the viewers send in their questions and these guys always get asked who's the toughest player that they've come up against in their career. As a player that you are now who's the toughest player that you faced or that you don't like facing when it comes to it when you do meet up with them. I mean you just showed one of them to be fair sack is obviously you know world class top a top player but if I off the top I remember like my first Premier League season when he was at Leeds playing as Raphinha and he was you know he was a problem and played against them when he was playing for Brazil as well and he's so direct and fast and good on the ball that you know he's constantly threatening him behind so then you drop off and then he just comes to feet and gets them runs at you so he keeps you on your toes you know throughout 90 minutes and it's mentally tough but they're the type of games I love and I love going up against good opponents so I wouldn't say there's any game where I think I can't be bothered going against them. I kind of relish in the challenge. Anthony we've got the epic up final to come this Saturday and just as it so happens right here on your friendly neighbourhood worldwide leader in sports now you face both these teams in City and Chelsea who is the tougher opponent between the two in your experience. In my experience it's definitely Man City because that's the one team that I've not beaten yet. I mean I've beaten Chelsea a couple of times now and they're a very good team and on the day you know they've got really good players and go against anyone but we haven't cracked the code against Man City yet they're just a completely different animal and you know they started this season slow and they've took the title race to you know the last two games somehow so I'm very impressive team and hopefully the final is going to be a very good game but I think if they're on it then they're heavily going to be favourites. You know I was thinking about the Champions League and we we sit here and we've kind of criticised Arsenal a little bit because of the second part of the season they keep letting City back in they keep letting City back in. Now they're in the Champions League final against PSG and obviously obviously you haven't played against PSG but this Arsenal team I mean how good are they when you face them because we're sitting here it's dead easy watching TV and commenting how tough are they to play against and who's going to win? PSG or Arsenal? I mean the top team that you can tell they're so well drilled and know what they're doing they're so well organised everyone wants the ball and they've got different options whether they want to run in behind and just goes long or they want to play to feet and kind of pull you out of position so you know they're very well drilled in what they do and obviously they're so physical and they get away with a lot here and there when it comes to you know files and stuff pieces and whatnot but if they end up winning the season then over the course of the whole season they probably have been the best team in the league so it'd be fair to them and then in terms of PSG I mean that PSG buying first leg at the same finals probably the best game of football I've ever watched it was so entertaining it was fun seeing two sides just full on attack each other I think it'll be a completely different game in the final because Arsenal won't be that silly they're not going to just you know go all out and let PSG you know have their fun it's going to be a very talented attack against a well organised beast and we'll see what happens. Yep we definitely will so let's talk a little bit about the World Cup then if we can because what we have seen with some of the US men's national team players Anthony is that there have been some injuries this season there have been some players who perhaps haven't had the best domestic seasons with their respective sides but do you think you guys can pull it together and put out a top team this summer? Oh yeah 100% I've got full faith in you know whatever team we managed to bring obviously I'd like everyone who is still fit to try and keep fit and healthy in you know the last couple of weeks leading up to it because we've had some guys who would have been you know big parts of the team who unfortunately could be missing out I know Johnny Cardo so it's just that surgery on his ankle which it means he's probably going to miss out which is unfortunate for him Pat doing his Achilles so you know it's very upset and anyone getting injured before the World Cup but you know I've got full faith in the team like you said about you know form going into it the some guys who haven't had their best season I'd include myself in that like the kind of standards I've sent myself this season that's been great for me but I'm still going into this fully positive thinking you know like the World Cup is kind of separate from the season it's a clean slate and it's just a tournament it's trying to perform in and I'm sure other boys will be thinking that as well and the lads you know like flows been scoring pretty much non-stop if they can take the confidence they've got from the season then even better for us and I think we can feel a really strong team and have a great chance even despite the one that Anthony despite the injuries despite the loss of form sitting domestically for for some players going into the squad there's a lot of expectation around the US especially especially as hosts difficult group to navigate while listen as a player I know you go into every single game every single tournament thinking firmly believing that that you win it but what's the minimum expectation from this this USA from from your perspective from my perspective I kind of had the same feeling going into the last World Cup I mean you don't turn up to a tournament I'll try and win it so like that's that's obviously the main goal and I truly believe in myself and I'm sure other lads do that if we you know believe in ourselves a confident and we do what we can do then you know there's no reason we can't win it but in terms of minimum expectation I don't think that's something we set ourselves that's probably what the outside you know fans and whatever would put on us so like a minimum sort of go I mean we haven't won say a quarter final for however long certainly not since I've been alive so you know if we managed to do that that put us into the semis and then it's a bit of a dog fight for two more games to lift the best trophy in the world so I suppose that would be a good target to get past that and go from there. Anthony last one from me I'm very glad to see you've still got your skills accent lad nice one I don't know if you can still hear it I try and speak a lot clearly you know that's all right Laugh no last one from me genuinely Anthony how excited are you for the World Cup here in the US? It's a difficult question for me to be honest because like we've said with form and injuries I've I said it around the last World Cup I don't really get excited until I'm you know until the first game and I'm stood there like in the squad waiting for it so I know it's getting a lot closer now and whoever's out there there's I think the squad's going to be released in like 12 days or something so it's getting closer and you know it's something that you know in the background in my head it's thinking you know it's a once in a lifetime opportunity to play in a World Cup on home soil and it would be it could be the crown and achievement in my career if we do something special well I mean if we win the whole thing it definitely would be but it's probably going to be one of the best experiences in my life if I go so you know it's kind of quietly building up the excitement in the background but I'll be a hell of a lot more excited when I'm there yeah well wishing you all the best we're glad to see that you are fit again for it thanks so much for joining us tonight on ESPNFC thanks for having me guys see you later Football America is coming up a very special with more US men's national team players Joe Reiner and Joe Scali special guests 8 30 p.m. eastern how can Alexis what have you covered all right let's get to FC Cincinnati taking on into Miami in MLS action lots of goals to show you in this 24th minute some good build up here Jesus messy is he playing them though what is that oh god to the 39th minute we go Kevin Denke comes down in the box here to penalty for sincey yeah I don't think there's any door to it two arms wrapped around them I suppose it comes in Tim we see that every weekend but well there should be given every weekend all right take it into the 49th minute now and have all put Cincinnati ahead here turns it around Leonel Messi responds though in the 55th to Paul into Messi I mean a magnet yeah I don't even know what to say again it just makes this look so easy little give and go and then tapping for him 64th Evander Ferreira oh yeah a couple of defenders then I'm so rockin this week you think so all right Stevie just calling it himself do you just call it what is today messy to Matteo Silvetti a nice little finish under some pressure that ties the game and it just gets himself an absolute muddle good finish up AC4's messy free kick saved by a challenge best that I made tapping in in glad you're the zone man get out of the way you oh geez Messi's shot here is going to hit the post come back was it not the keeper yeah we're all does an own goal let's talk about your power ranking shall we yeah just a couple of changes uh entering um Decent round scene and crown crowned Italian champions City are back in after somehow getting past Chris Apaz but continuing to to make a title race of this uh Bournemouth and Betis Betis have secured Champions League football for next season and Bournemouth are trying their damnedest to do exactly the same both teams put together incredible runs and so are rewarded because I'm a lover of the beautiful game that's why do we like it Stevie of course it does um I'm not sure if it real better so don't oh they're back in the Champions League for the first time in 20 years even I'm not just not a romantic that's your problem no I'm not oh you're right I am absolutely no who should be in ahead of them then uh I mean hearts have never ever been in his power rankings as far as I can remember certainly the top of the Scottish Premier League we're going to if they get a draw the next weekend they win the Scottish title for the first time since 1960 if they get a draw so then they'll be we all bet as yeah there you go if they go exactly that's not enough we have this have secured Champions League football has to put the self in a position to do it that's what counts well they put themselves in position to be in the top 10 how many years are we talking from 1960 a lot a lot come on tell you what if the draw they're in a number one all right I'm holding on any issues no no no no no number one no but they're in they're in I'll tell you what I love K I tell you what I love like me and stevia arguing about VAR and the first highlight you put in with that Cincinnati Miami penalty stevia and shaka are straight away arguing about VAR that's what I loved and that's my takeaway shaki algorithms are quite good there I love it whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa what do you mean shaka know what I'm going to be VAR what did we say you were arguing over the penalty you over the penalty in the highlights there shaka said pen and you said no right so what's that got to do with VAR there you go then more to the point was that going to do the talking hey just part of the conversation there you know that shaka your algorithms are quite good there what I would say shak yeah what I would say the harmless is in your one to ten there man city are higher than Bournemouth man city are unbeaten in 14 Bournemouth are unbeaten in 16 yeah there's a lot of draws second though so I get your point though it's a good point but I still lean city as being higher than Bournemouth it's a draw the way so can't heart going at number one higher knowledge if Bournemouth draw that we can't they're in at number one too nah put hearts yeah no no I said I've got no well done Bournemouth and Betis hearts are 11 come on the jam tarts come on the jam tarts all right shaka's power rankings come on two weeks in a row there's been next to no complaints about the power rankings what is the time of the years the easiest time to do it I'm just saying you just call me who's winning who's who's got the top four I'm just saying it's pretty simple just making a point I'm on a roll yeah all right right okay little beer showers it's that time of the season when we get to see those beer showers particularly in Germany you'll remember this a few seasons ago and buying he's back he's back at the weekend so we'll see he's getting on it's funny look actually got blitzed as well look at yes he did more of the same this weekend no doubt saturday 8 30 a.m eastern buy a munich against calm now we need to show you and bap a speaking after real madrid's game today because the storylines continue with real madrid he has addressed the booze and he's addressed not starting today and this is what he's had to say that's life I don't think you can change people's minds where they're angry like I said six months ago it's a manner of them to communicate and express their opinions I don't think you should take it personally in my career there have been many times when people have whistled me I think that's the life of a real madrid player that's the life of a famous player like me I feel very well 100% I didn't play because the boss told me that for him I'm the fourth attacker on the roster behind my start to war no Vinny Gonzalo I accept it and I play the time that I get to play and I think I played well I gave during the assist I think we played well we won it's always important to win at home and always be positive what do you mean you're the fourth on the roster what do you want me to see yes I was ready to be a starter but that was his decision I can't be mad with the boss okay that is very interesting Abelo has also spoken in the post match press conference and said that he didn't say that and maybe it's been misunderstood if that's how Mbappe had interpreted it all the things we said earlier that just that just proved the point he still can't he can't help himself stirring the pot he could have said he could have said anything else but he didn't he actually had to still still what should he have said even if he's annoyed that he didn't play today well he's got he's got to see this listen the boss thought it would be better if I didn't start then nobody's how did nobody takes that any other way right he didn't say that though he had to say that he oh I was told it was fourth fourth behind any names all the names he's just stirring it this is exactly what we spoke about during the show it's it's all about me me me me me me me me and if it doesn't go my way then you know what I'm going to make sure everybody knows about it so I'll just stir the pot when all the flags flying around I'm not going to help I'm just going to try and make it worse is that's all he's done is that fair shaka um I I want to give him a little bit of uh Lee we are grace here keep in mind that he's speaking in Spanish that's not his first language and what I think how I think that could be interpreted is the boss comes in he comes in fresh off of injury and the boss says well you're not starting you're first off the bench which means you're fourth in line right um so I think there are a couple of ways and and again just kind of understanding well it's been one language and I I recognize how when players where English isn't their first language how sometimes they say things that can be misconstrued I'll give I'll give Clinton Bappé the benefit of that same doubt here in speaking a language that's not his first just to reinforce out of below uh Alvaro Abelo did say in the press conference afterwards when that was put to him what and Bappé had said that he did not say he was the fourth choice striker and he thought it had been misunderstood he didn't understand how could I say that he right the thing to inform me is he names the three players who started which is why I'm I'm being sympathetic right nobody thinks my santoano short term or long term is ahead of killing in Bappé in anybody's pecking order but he started which is why I'm a little more sympathetic to Clinton Bappé here okay no doubt there'll be more talk about real Madrid on tomorrow's show and the next show and the next show and maybe even in extra time tonight stick around extra time is on the way now Don Hutchison is staying up late so answer your questions with these two see you in a minute welcome into the latest edition of extra time my three starters Sineis Chakrislav Stevie Nicholl Don Hutchison fourth choice was Luis Garcia but didn't want to start him does that make you Abelo didn't say that you didn't have to say that you didn't have to say that you couldn't you just didn't even need to mention Louise nobody would have any other wiser but no no you got to get down to the point she was the one for the average TV member that's where it comes from yeah so at the end of the show tonight you'll have heard that we were talking about what M Bappé has said in the mix zone after Real Madrid's game could you hear the boys talking about it what did you think about it yeah I think I agree with Shaq I think he's probably took it like his fourth choice when actually his first choice because he's the first one off the bench so listen we listen when you're going through a difficult period I know what Steve is saying Steve is right as well like he stirred it a little bit but when you're not having a good time he could have just said if I was in his shoes he could have just said listen I'm not 100% fit I'm glad to get some game time I'm thankful of the boss he put me on give me some minutes and I played quite well that's the way to go but I do agree with Shaq where it's probably got lost in translation a little bit all right I thought Louise wasn't on I mean that was a fence one no Luis isn't on that's why I said oh he's just taking place I don't he's just agreeing with me he's on me tonight and he he's on me he's on me Kay he is on you he is I'm sorry Don it wasn't me I was actually trying to get it okay he's trying to catch me out I'm trying to get it okay like when he tried to convince me I wasn't a quarter Scottish but I am sorry all right I just made a bomb Don after hearing the VAR audio from West Ham's disallowed goal you finally have closure I know but I don't I don't I don't have closure because I've got to go through it all again so the first action in my humble opinion Trossard was fouling Pablo first and it was so many different fouls going on and Declan Rice was rugby tackling Mavry Panos which is not part of football you can't rugby tackle someone then Pablo's fouling the goalkeeper he is fouling him 100% I'm not denying that my opinion and my take on it was there was so much going on he's fouling him he's fouling him six things going on on field decision ref give a goal give a goal if money wasn't the issue Stevie would you have Mbappe at Liverpool to replace Salah or would it be a personality and cultural misfit that's a tough question by the way that is a great question right that is a great question you know got him okay you've got him you always have to think what's best right what's best what's best for everybody right and if you're doing what's best for everybody do you want a pain in the backside who's going to destroy whatever dressing room chemistry you have are you really going to do that and you're going to pay them ridiculous amounts of money money is the money is the money is you can answer the question yeah but yeah but you well I think I think I've pretty much answered it no no no no no not sure he answered that guy no he said he answered no I'll tell you what well see in another part of the reason I'm saying no is look at look at we've just been talking on the show but we are Madrid and how what they should do is exactly what PSG did right but the fact is they can't the fact is they can't so why why do you want a problem so you want you want to take the problem the possibly the biggest problem away from Real Madrid and plant it in Liverpool do you really want to do that tell you what though I tell you what though steve live up or would love 40 of his goals next season and you have to make a choice do you do what's best for the yeah the whole for everybody shabby a lot so you just go well you know what we'll sort it all out around them you like shabby well guess what what's happening at Real Madrid they've tried to sort it all around him and look where they are and buffet is going to be absolutely money money or not if money's no problem I'm pretty sure there are other there are other players that's going to be a headline in the echo that'll be a headline in the echo tomorrow morning steve and nicole says no to him back they for Liverpool considering the amount of problems Liverpool have you just want to go and spend all your money and bring another one money's not an issue steve knock it's in your money he can't see but that's a question that's a game you can't you can't see that you cannot see that all right I'd have him wherever I think don't want as well all right do you think west ham regrets moving away from david moidshacker in 2024 they wanted to play more attractive football didn't they yes another great question by the way yes they absolutely do and I think it was summed up well they did it twice they're sac de ven moise things go pear shaped bring them back in he saves them you save them bring them back up anyway saves them and then you decide to sack him again and no no he's got a job so you can't bring him back in that's I absolutely yes they regret it okay don what can be said about seria are when inter's goal difference is plus 54 with 85 goals scored and napoli uve and meland second to fourth have only scored 54 59 and 50 goals respectively can we say that these issues domestically with the other top teams translate to italy's poor international results maybe because I tell you what's happening in italy and we talked about the lack of number 10s there's a dearth of number nines now in italian football in seria you know italyans anyway you know latino martinez is the top man at inter but you go to me land and their experiment with playing pulisic and liao was too false nine every time I commentate on them it never works vlava itch has been linked when you castle today I'm not sure we're taking a new castle it's hardly fit for uve so I think the question is fair when you think of the amount of goals or the lack of goals that italians are actually scoring in seria that has to an impact on the national side so you take away the culture of no del pieros and no badgers and no zolas and no totties as 10s the lack of number nines italian number nines in seria is startling okay flick now and earlier shavi sorry flick now and earlier shavi have called gavi a leader can such a young player be a leader and how have you played with slas coached any such player I well I'll jump in first john terry was an outstanding from a very young age so yeah it's not as as as rare as it is it's not unique I'll tell you what I'll answer for dawn oh boy my shuck is my maristar so double check this shuck what you call the centre back played for everton played for bolton he was captain of bolton when he was 19 he's got a dodgy mince pie uh he was coach of hybbs as well centre back who's that no I think I know you played for years at everton he's a captain not Dave not Dave Watson but I'm trying to think we played for no after watching played for bolton as well oh allen stops allen stops he's the first guy that came to my mind he was young he was young he was he was captain of bolton when bolton had all these players he was a captain I think he was a captain when when he beat us in the playoff final thanks for bringing that up to the TV for him he was he was 19 so age ain't nothing but a number if you're a natural leader yeah pretty much yes absolutely you agreed don yeah I I seen young Rio come through at west arm and frank sorry Michael Carrick come through at west arm as well so yeah you can sort of see him and Shaq made a great point with John Terry you know when you see one and you know when you see a young player come into your team and they've got something about them where they're not shy they've got an opinion they've got a voice because you know normally young players go into a into a team like when I went to the Liverpool team and you've got Stevie and you've got John Barnes and Steve McMahon and Ronnie Whelan and Jan Mulvey and Peter Beers and Allen Hansen and all the greats you've got no voice you've just got no voice whatsoever and you've just got to try and get by on your ability and show enthusiasm and then when you get a little bit older and a little bit more confident then you can have a voice but you can see when the Terry's of this world and the Rio's and the Michael Carrick's come in you can see them and you go yeah leadership yeah nice stuff okay Stevie and Don how credible of a title race has it been in the SPL even the best script writers couldn't come up with this scenario where the two teams play on the final day to decide it Don amazing I mean like as much as you know Scottish football and VARs took a bashing over the last 24 hours and it has you can't write a script where hearts play Celtic at Celtic Park this weekend the whole world at 12 30 is going to be tuning in for this game watching it thinking like can hearts go there and get a point can they go there and win or will they be off the floor watching Celtic get a late winner the other day against Motherwell it's going I mean the stadium's going to be packed the bars in Glasgow all around Edinburgh any way you want to look it's going to be rammed and all the eyes of the world will be on Scottish football and that can only be a good thing I don't there's not a league in the world that wouldn't want their title regardless of where it is maybe everybody would love to have the title decided on the last game between the two teams that are going for the title I mean you just couldn't make it home yeah and everybody's waiting to see if hearts will make it into Shakur's power angle well sort of coverage is only having Trinidad track on this game well apparently all eyes will be on it yeah come on you I love to see hearts win it I love to see hearts because as we've established in show I'm a footballer prediction done I'm a footballer how they're going to win it uh backing hearts I'm backing hearts backing them to get it done that didn't sound very positive no that was more that was more of a I want hearts to win exactly you read my mind how you're feeling Stevie I think it's still to go winning yeah because the hearts just need to not lose is it parked ahead is that parked ahead I don't think Stevie would you would you would you say the last Stevie would you say the last time in in sort of recent memory the Liverpool Arsenal game in 89 was when because you don't see like at the end of this season obviously Liverpool sorry Man City playing Arsenal I can't remember it in years gone by in recent years I can only go back to probably 89 where the two teams played each other on the last day of the season I think you're right I think you're right yeah I can't think I won that since then it's much smaller scale but Middlesbrough when they did go up automatically last time they went up they played Brighton on the look at the time okay what you say whoever won that one would have got off who does it play give K her moment give K a moment please maybe in my moment you don't even want it's been a tough week for K get the music round it's been a tough week for K let her have it all of it be ever self-sufficient let K have her moment go on K哎哎哎哎