PSG ADVANCE TO UCL FINAL 🏆 Previewing Arsenal vs. PSG + INFIGHTING at Real Madrid⁉️ | ESPN FC
ESPN FC
0:05 Welcome in today's edition of ESPNFC.
0:07 I'm Dan Thomas joined by Craig Burley and Stevie Nickel.
0:09 We of course had that second Champions League semiinal today,
0:13 the much anticipated second leg between PSG and Bayern Munich.
0:17 Remember 54 when these two teams met last week in Paris,
0:22 but in the end it's the French side who advance 65 on aggregate.
0:26 [music] For more, let's welcome in, shall we?
0:28 Frank Lefur joins us as does Jurgen Klinsman.
0:32 Fair to say Craig the best team won over the two legs.
0:34 I think so just about.
0:35 I mean obviously possession was Bayern but it's not
0:38 we don't we don't judge on on possession alone.
0:40 I think they dominated the uh the first game as well in terms of possession
0:44 but actually I felt in Paris they were I don't know what you guys think.
0:48 I felt in Paris Bayern looked more dangerous.
0:50 Although they had a lot of shots,
0:52 you saw the graphic, they did have a lot of strikes,
0:54 most of them were from an area where it was going
0:56 to be really difficult to score unless there was something special.
0:59 Where in the game in in in Paris,
1:02 it seemed to me that they created better chances and that's a credit to PSG
1:06 in terms of it was more of a defensive display from from them today.
1:09 Uh they of course themselves were dangerous uh going forward.
1:13 The early goal really was a big killer,
1:15 a big killer in terms of the momentum uh for Bayern Munich.
1:19 Yeah, I think you know PSG they've proven themselves to be last
1:23 year you know an amazing end to the season beating into 5-nil
1:28 European champions and they are there to be knocked off their perch
1:31 again until somebody does that they are the best team still in Europe.
1:36 No question.
1:37 Right.
1:38 You know, I think I think Frank was laughing before
1:41 we actually started the show about defending Hallelujah at last.
1:47 And I think that opportunity that we showed that Diaz had where you've got two
1:51 defenders closing them down which means that Diaz
1:54 doesn't have a lot to shoot at.
1:56 That kind of happened all night and they only really made one chance by for me
2:00 and that was a Musella one that he put way too near the keeper.
2:03 So yeah, I think we got to say that PSG,
2:06 we know how good they can be on the break,
2:08 but tonight they showed us that as a unit
2:10 they can defend because they they had to.
2:13 They were in their own half for long periods,
2:15 but you never get we never got the feeling
2:18 that Bayern were ever ever going to take over this game.
2:21 Uh who's got the window open?
2:23 They sound someone's backing up [laughter] into somebody's
2:25 backing a garbage truck in our rear here.
2:26 I mean, uh Jurgen, why wasn't this what we saw in the first leg?
2:34 Yeah, I mean [clears throat] it's it's as you guys said, you know,
2:38 it took a lot of the air out
2:40 of uh the situation with the early goal from Dembele.
2:42 I mean, this was a shocker and I think they Bayern Munich
2:45 did not expect such an early goal from from PSJ and then it
2:49 was a defensive uh masterpiece how they kind of defended the entire game
2:55 PSJ and then Frank can talk about that far deeper as a defender.
3:00 um they didn't give them any space.
3:02 I mean, Musala's chance, as you said,
3:04 was probably the the best chance they had until finally
3:08 Harry Kane uh basically equalized the game in the last minute.
3:12 Um but it was uh yeah, it was frustrating.
3:16 It was um something that I think Bayern in that moment
3:20 didn't expect that they run after a 2-nil basically deficit.
3:24 And um and yeah, I I I think you know,
3:28 some players did not perform at their best, which is, you know, happens.
3:33 Uh but if you want to get into a Champions League final in the semi-final,
3:37 you need to have almost your entire team,
3:40 all 11 on the field, almost reaching all of them 100 100%.
3:45 And I think they're they were lacking a couple
3:47 of percent in many of the players today.
3:49 Uh Harry Kane did not get into the game at all.
3:51 I mean, they shut him down fantastically.
3:53 to both center backs from from PJ but until
3:56 his last strike then last minute you you really
3:58 didn't see him much which is a compliment
4:01 to P and Luis Diaz didn't have the sharpness Musa
4:05 didn't have the sharpness um and uh yeah that's
4:09 what happens then and then you kind of you
4:12 look at it and say you know what it didn't go the way we wanted it and it's
4:16 highly highly frustrating I think a positive note
4:20 you know to the way they swallowed the fact
4:23 that it was not giving a penalty with uh
4:25 the hand ball there because it was a huge discussion
4:28 point obviously but uh they they moved on Bayern
4:31 Munich they didn't complain much about it and and they
4:35 try to get back into the game but you
4:37 know huge huge compliment to Paris for this performance
4:43 Frank yeah I was very pleased with the the way Paris defended especially Pu
4:48 and Marinos but I want to add when Zary Emry on the right
4:53 side substituting Akime injured um and they did all well and of course
5:01 we have to add Mendes all know that he's a fantastic player
5:04 and finally got uh got O in his in his hands because
5:11 and that was hard on the first leg but second leg we didn't see
5:14 too much Michael it's it's maybe the the turning point and the X
5:18 factor is the fact that O Kane and Louis weren't at their best.
5:24 But I don't want to be too hard on on Bayern Munich.
5:27 There are so many chances, their chances.
5:29 They weren't maybe lucky or maybe a little bit clumsy,
5:32 but it could have turned the other way and they had some chances,
5:36 especially the first half and I'm thinking about
5:38 the tah header and and Moa chance and also once.
5:44 So it could have been each way either way for me
5:47 and you have to congratulate Bayern Munich for their campaign.
5:51 But Paris Jama is Paris Sanjama and they know how to deal with games
5:56 uh if they have to go be offend offensive and also defensive in that game
6:00 and you have to congratulate of course
6:01 Lis Enrique for putting the right tactic today
6:04 again against one of the best team in Europe maybe the best team in Europe.
6:09 Bayern sorry Bayern Munich seemed to get frustrated.
6:11 I know Jorgen said they moved on from the penalty,
6:13 but as the game went on, which I think by the way
6:17 the referee by the letter of the law got got correct,
6:19 but as the game moved on, it seemed
6:21 that every decision not necessarily uh was going against Bayern,
6:27 but you know, they felt it was going against him.
6:30 you know, even when Kane fell on the ball near the end and and it was handled,
6:33 he gave the free kick correctly to PSG and they just seemed a great
6:37 frustration and I think that was borne out by Josh Kimich getting booked after
6:41 the final whistle because he was just
6:43 berating the referee and I think that frustration
6:46 in the end just and not necessarily because the referee had a bad game.
6:50 I don't think he did to be honest with you.
6:51 They might have been the odd little fell here or there,
6:53 but I think he got the big decisions.
6:55 Technically got them correct,
6:56 but that frustration when you think it's not going your way,
6:59 when you're not getting those little decisions,
7:02 and that's just how it felt in the end for Bayern,
7:04 that they felt every little decision the referee was given was going PSG's way.
7:09 It's interesting, Jurgen, you mentioned yesterday how this is the be
7:11 all and end all really for Bayern season.
7:13 Frank said, you know, it could in a different day,
7:16 they could have taken those chances if the ball had bounced their way.
7:19 Does that offer an up an excuse for Vincent company in his side?
7:24 I I don't think that they're going to look for any excuse.
7:27 I mean, they going to be hugely hugely disappointed because they badly
7:31 wanted to get into the final since it didn't happen last season.
7:34 Um I don't think that they complain too much about,
7:37 you know, what what happened today on the field.
7:39 But it will have an influence on the upcoming months for obviously for the club.
7:44 I mean, they're going to win the German title.
7:46 They're in the German Cup final.
7:47 So they they might win a dubal but um
7:51 the majority of their German [music] players will go
7:53 to the World Cup and this sits deep with them
7:56 you know to lose in the semi-final of the Champions League.
7:59 So to shake that off um kind of psychologically that will take some time.
8:04 Um but yeah, there were moments, you know,
8:06 where I I mean they could have scored,
8:08 they had enough chances as Frank rightfully said so as well,
8:12 but they were never really kind of determined
8:14 and decisive enough to finish things off, you know.
8:18 Do you see?
8:18 And and that's also the the masterwork of Paris
8:22 Jim because they shut down if it's Miala, if it's Luis Diaz or if it's O,
8:26 they were always with two guys against
8:28 those guys because obviously they know their moves.
8:30 They know how they come inside from the out from the outside.
8:33 they come inside and they get on a better feet
8:35 and then they want to finish in a certain way.
8:37 Um because that's that we all know that.
8:39 But but still you got to run after them.
8:42 You got to be on them.
8:42 You got to be one one yard in front of their face,
8:45 you know, and and make sure that they never relax and pull the trigger.
8:49 And this was fantastic from Pier and and there
8:52 you know probably [clears throat] when you kind of look
8:54 at that game in the next couple of days
8:56 you analyze this game you know for Vincent company he
8:59 will realize that his key players you know were
9:02 not at their best just in these 90 minutes today
9:05 they tried they were okay they created okay chances
9:09 but they were not decisive enough when it really mattered.
9:13 Princing company 100% will look on this game and say,
9:16 you know what, I set this team up, the right way, and the best way I could
9:21 because for the amount of ball they had in and around the final third,
9:25 the amount of ball Diaz had,
9:26 OI had on that side, Kane was giving it away and Miala had that one chance,
9:32 his front four let them down,
9:35 basically let them down because the rest of the team got them enough
9:38 of the ball where they were in positions where they could hurt PSG.
9:43 Yes, PSG defended well,
9:45 but Vincent company can look at this game and say, you know what,
9:48 it's one of those days where the players
9:50 we needed to be at their best just weren't.
9:53 Uh, and it was nothing to do with the tactics or the way he set the team up.
9:57 But those [clears throat] those players, Stevie,
9:59 they've been they it's hard to be you
10:01 can't really be harsh on them because those players, you know, Diaz, Kane,
10:06 Michael Lisi particularly, uh Musi's come back from uh from injury obviously,
10:12 but those are those other players have been brilliant for Vincent company.
10:15 Absolutely outstanding.
10:17 But on their biggest one of the biggest of evenings
10:19 for them in the second leg of the Champions League semi-final,
10:23 as Jurgen said, Harry Kane couldn't find a way into the game.
10:26 Michael Elise was trying things that have been coming off from all season
10:30 and know and and pretty much last season and when he was, you know,
10:33 he was running into defenders or that pass was either to the wrong person
10:36 or it was behind somebody and you know when he was taking the strike at goal,
10:40 it wasn't even close.
10:41 All the things that they were doing and have been doing that have been
10:44 finding the back of the net and you sat back and went that was brilliant.
10:47 M it wasn't there tonight that first for whatever
10:50 reason whether it was the pressure from PSG or whether
10:53 it was just one of those nights where the longer
10:56 it went on and the more frustrated they got.
10:58 Uh Frank, yeah I just want to add something.
11:02 I'm going to put that on the table and know
11:04 you three maybe is going to deal with that.
11:06 But it's kind of a theory of conspiracy.
11:08 But when when I saw the the name of the referee
11:11 and his nationality at the beginning of the game,
11:14 I say I say, "Oh my god,
11:15 the German will will be able to complain about it." And when you see
11:19 Vitinia kicking the hand of Neas on top of having Mendes and and Ramos,
11:25 I say maybe, maybe you have could have chosen maybe somebody.
11:30 No, but I say that.
11:31 But I can tell you the first thing that I thought
11:34 when I saw the national team of the ref, I say, "Wow,
11:36 four Portuguese in Paris and German team could be
11:41 a next factor because I remember playing in European
11:43 cup." When I had a French when I
11:45 had a French coach play referee playing with Chelsea,
11:48 I say, "Oh, good for me.
11:49 I would be able to talk to him." And don't tell me guys
11:52 that you never had that and you never thought that was a good point.
11:55 I don't say because the ref was perfect.
11:58 But that's why we give something up.
12:01 We've had it
12:02 just for the Bayern Munich people to complain about Jurgen.
12:09 A word on Lewis Enrique and what he's done at PSG.
12:12 We discussed it yesterday.
12:13 Yesterday last week Dembele was saying if I don't run I don't play.
12:17 And to get that out of a Balonor winner,
12:19 you've got to take your hat off, don't you?
12:20 To what Enrique has done.
12:24 I think it's uh it's huge what Louis
12:26 Enrique has done there the last couple of years.
12:29 an amazing uh work that he's done, you know,
12:32 to have this team um committed to do all
12:36 sorts of work and not only going forward, you know,
12:38 with all the qualities that they have and score amazing
12:42 amount of goals and and and have really fun going forward,
12:45 you know, he has them committed to do defensive work like
12:49 like no no other coach maybe has right now in Europe.
12:52 You know what really really impressed me, you know, you thought,
12:55 okay, you know, Bayern Munich um puts him under pressure.
12:58 You know, they're trying to find solutions the usual way,
13:02 but what was really impressed me was they did not even give away any sorts
13:06 of corner kicks or free kicks around the box
13:09 because when your plan A is not working,
13:11 you know, you go to plan B and you may pay hope,
13:13 you know, for a couple of corner kicks.
13:14 You know, you have T and you have Uber and you
13:17 have some some guys that can really hurt you on corner kicks.
13:20 They pier did not give away those moments.
13:23 So, so Luis Enrique prepared his team not only for the most likely
13:28 kind of strategy that Bayern Munich comes up with, he also prepared them
13:32 for the plan B of Bayern Munich that if they are breaking through
13:35 with the usual kind of players O and Kane and and Luis Diaz,
13:41 then we are ready also for their plan B with going
13:43 with set pieces with with free kicks and all that stuff.
13:46 And so the work that he's uh he's done is is humongous because
13:51 he has the players buying into a lot a lot of [clears throat] work.
13:54 A lot of work.
13:55 And I mean you can talk about the biggest teams in in in in Europe, you know,
13:59 that's that's the main job of a of a coach that you get everybody
14:03 behind you and and do also the dirty work and u he's he's done that.
14:07 And this is outstanding.
14:10 How it's changed.
14:10 It seems a light years away now of the the Messi Mbappe Neymar days.
14:16 Yes, exactly.
14:17 And it's really amazing to see that team after getting rid of all
14:22 the his stars uh getting result like that and twice in a row
14:27 getting the Champions League final and as you mentioned and as you
14:30 were talking about it with Jorgen the commitment of every players is 100%.
14:36 You see people on the bench being with the guys.
14:39 They they get out and we saw Dembele and Der
14:41 on the bench with Fabian Ris being with the guys on the field,
14:46 you know, supporting them.
14:47 Uh and you feel the un the unity of that team.
14:51 You feel the the hard work that they put on every training session and uh
14:55 and uh and what you get out of it and it's really amazing the way they play.
14:59 Of course, they're talented players,
15:01 but today they show that after that 54 that everybody say it's a game
15:05 of the century offensively perfect that they
15:08 capable of defending in front of 80,000
15:11 people crazy atmosphere and they were there and as soon as they have a chance
15:16 with players like Velia and of course
15:18 Dembele that first goal is absolutely fantastic.
15:22 That team has no weakness and I don't see any weakness right now.
15:27 We'll see against the Gunners because it's going to be a final.
15:29 It's going to be totally different.
15:31 It's a final, but really they are the favorites for me.
15:34 I don't see them losing, but it's a final.
15:37 We'll [clears throat] talk about the final a little later on.
15:39 You look at some of the players that stood
15:40 out over those two legs and come out scalier.
15:42 Of course, it's just so much fun to watch.
15:44 Liverpool bound.
15:45 Well, yes, according to yourself, I believe.
15:47 [laughter] Listen, he'd walk into he'd walk in he'd walk into any team.
15:52 I mean, and it's it's scary to think he was actually out the PSG team.
15:56 Yeah,
15:57 when they played actually when they played Liverpool
15:59 uh in one of the previous rounds uh he
16:03 he doesn't look the quickest but but he but he has got a good turn of pace.
16:07 It's the way that he drops the shoulders.
16:09 He's just he's got the he's got great movement and Michael Le is
16:12 kind of similar in a sense that he throws these dummies as well that
16:16 send send some of the fullbacks for for a cup of tea.
16:19 And he's got this as well.
16:20 So he he he stood up when it's been been needed.
16:22 He's a brilliant player.
16:24 He's got end product his game.
16:25 He can run with the ball.
16:27 He's a great dribbler.
16:28 As I say, throws a great dummy in there.
16:30 It's very difficult for a one-on-one defender to defend against him
16:33 and he works hard.
16:35 Mhm.
16:35 And that's the common theme with this Lewis
16:36 Enrique side is is is supremely talented,
16:40 but it is uh aligned with the work rate and that is
16:46 that's got the signs and that's the making of of a great side.
16:49 And they're not always a big physical powerful side.
16:52 Yeah, we got Pacho and Makinos are big lads.
16:54 But you look at Foutinho, you look at Xiao Neas.
16:56 Cavaskell is not the biggie.
16:58 Doo is not huge.
17:00 Dembelelli is not big.
17:01 They're not a huge Nuno Mendes, the fullback.
17:04 He's not.
17:04 Neither's Hakeime.
17:05 They're not a huge physical team,
17:08 but they're they're they're a strong side and they can mix it in that department
17:12 with with most and they will have to do
17:14 that with Arsenal who are a big physical side,
17:16 but they are brilliant to watch and they and one thing is clear.
17:21 They respect their manager and they want to play for him.
17:24 Most definitely a lot.
17:26 PSG of course will face Arsenal in the final.
17:29 Saka dominates the back pages as the Gunners Booker
17:32 plays in their first Champions League final in 20 years.
17:36 Now, I just want to make reference to something I said yesterday,
17:38 an off-hand comment about Art Teta, which landed literally.
17:42 Obviously, it was something it was not intended to land that way.
17:46 I thought about it today and obviously I
17:48 could have phrased it in such a better way.
17:51 So, going forward, I'll definitely try now not to say anything silly.
17:56 [laughter] Frank, looking at this Arsenal team,
17:58 obviously they did it over two legs against Atleti and you have
18:02 to say they haven't had the hardest of runins in a Champions League,
18:05 but they've got it done.
18:09 Yes.
18:09 Yes.
18:09 And you have to congratulate them and and again just said,
18:13 you know, it's going to be a final.
18:14 You never know.
18:15 You don't need to play well for a final, just need to win it.
18:18 And Arsenal definitely has all the tools to to do so.
18:22 Uh they, as you say, a physical side.
18:24 They but they know they have experienced players.
18:27 You know, we know on set PC they can make the difference and uh
18:30 and and get get rid of all the the talent that the Paris may have.
18:36 They know they can they can be United as well and work very hard.
18:40 Uh we don't know what kind of Arsenal we're going to get.
18:42 Is it the Arsenal of the beginning of the season,
18:44 the Arsenal for the last game against Fulham
18:47 or the Arsenal that we saw that the last
18:48 two months where definitely if they play like
18:51 that they're going to lose against Paris and Jama.
18:53 So therefore, Paris Jama is of course favorite,
18:57 but I'm pretty sure Arsenal is going to be hard
19:00 to to be beaten and they're going to give everything
19:02 to in order to to maybe overturn all
19:05 the the the the betting that we can can make about that.
19:10 And uh and I'm pretty sure Arsenal can win that final.
19:13 So Paris will have to respect a lot the gunners.
19:16 Ste, you thought on yesterday's semi-final?
19:19 Uh it pretty much went the way I thought it would.
19:21 Um, and then when Arsenal go ahead,
19:23 then all you can see is Arsenal's not going to give anything away.
19:27 Uh, and you think Atéico are going to throw the kitchen sink at it.
19:32 But they didn't.
19:33 I couldn't figure out.
19:35 Did they Did they forget this was the second leg or did they I
19:39 when you when you're only one goal behind in the semi-final of any tournament,
19:44 never mind the Champions League,
19:46 surely if you're not if you're not going to go through,
19:48 you need to leave everything on the field.
19:50 I get the feeling they didn't do that.
19:53 You know, when you need one goal, just one goal,
19:56 you got to start taking some chances and and show and show every
20:00 single thing that you've got to try and get forward and try and create.
20:05 And yes, they had that one chance we saw, love, but other than that,
20:09 I was like, this team doesn't know where it's going going forward.
20:12 I mean they just did and and and again Arsenal
20:16 for the last 15 minutes were kicking lumps at the ball.
20:20 I mean they were they were panicking.
20:23 They were just kicking it anywhere and everywhere
20:25 and Atletico Madrid had no answers for anything whatsoever.
20:30 They had no they had no ideas in the final.
20:32 No, it was scary.
20:33 You know the they the they the they the uh the chance
20:36 for semion came about from a from a bad celiba header.
20:40 They really didn't didn't create much.
20:42 So that's listen that that that's on them.
20:44 There's nothing Arsenal can do about that.
20:46 They go through and got what they deserved.
20:48 Uh so taking a look at the odds
20:50 when it comes to this year's Champions League final.
20:52 Frank alluded to it.
20:53 No surprise it is PSG who are favorites just
20:56 not too much advantage to Arsenal according to the bookies.
21:00 Jurgen Arsenal go into this tie as underdogs.
21:03 If you're Arteta, what's the plan to stop that PSG defense attack?
21:10 attack.
21:10 [laughter] I mean, for sure they're going to go into as the underdogs,
21:14 but still it's a final and as Frank said,
21:16 you know, anything can happen in a final.
21:18 It's just there to play.
21:20 It's there to fight for every single ball
21:22 and and and to make it your biggest day of of your career.
21:26 So, um even if PJ is the the favorite,
21:28 I I I think it's going to go down really till the last moment of the game.
21:32 It will not be a clear result.
21:34 It will be it anything can happen you know with a set piece which is Arsenal's
21:38 kind of specialty at le at least in the last couple of years might be a chance
21:42 to to do well against this strong defensive PS side but um Pier is the favorite
21:49 but once they step on the field it doesn't
21:51 really matter what sort of final are we expecting
21:59 well one thing I'd say is Arsenal
22:00 sorry I thought you were going to answer this I think and I'm not used to seeing
22:05 well [laughter] tough one is it if you think about Arsenal right if you think
22:08 about it and say well I think Arsenal sit in
22:12 and won't try and go toe to toe and make an open game of it because if it's
22:15 open Dell and you know Bola da d or whoever
22:19 cav run in behind but the the danger is
22:23 for Arsenal that they got very and I keep
22:25 going back to this game but they got very defensive
22:27 in the Caribel Cup final against City another side
22:30 that can pass the ball and keep it for fun
22:32 and have got a little a bit of pace about them and they
22:35 got so defensive in that game that they basically handed that win at Wembley.
22:40 All right, Kea made a bad mistake in goal,
22:42 but they basically handed that game to Manchester City because they
22:45 made it so easy for them to have possession of the ball.
22:48 And whilst you can't leave yourself wide open, of course, that would be crazy.
22:52 You can't allow a team like PSG that mount
22:55 that amount of easy possession of the ball
22:58 deep in your territory because eventually even if
23:01 you've got a bunch of players you've got
23:02 nine or 10 behind the ball I I think eventually one of these players in the PSG
23:07 team will find a way to poke something
23:09 through or create something or do something special.
23:12 So it's a bit of a juxiposition for Arsenal
23:14 because I think they will have to come
23:15 out and play a little bit but how much
23:18 I'm not quite sure at this moment in time.
23:20 See I I just keep thinking of of the Arsenal
23:25 City game where they decided to sit tight
23:28 and it just completely and utterly backfired.
23:31 They completely forgot how to play.
23:33 You mean the fact the cup final?
23:35 Yeah.
23:35 But then the game at the Etiad they actually came out and played.
23:39 Yes.
23:38 And it it was it was one of their better performances.
23:41 And that's why I think they have to do that in this final.
23:44 I don't think they can they can go and set
23:47 and I'm not saying you go toe-to-toe and it ends
23:48 up buying PSG from the first leg of the semi-final
23:52 but they have to they have to be on the front foot and and and and try
23:56 and squeeze PSG in my opinion because I I
24:00 can't get the the cup final out my head.
24:02 Um, now in some ways that's good for PSG,
24:07 but at the same time I think for Arsenal
24:09 it's better than sitting tight and sitting too
24:11 deep because if they do that you can't you can't ask this team to come at you.
24:16 You're asking for trouble.
24:18 Jurgen, how much an advantage does it give
24:20 PSG that they've been there done that last year?
24:22 They know the preparations they're going to have to go
24:25 through and obviously they know exactly what it takes to win.
24:30 Well, it's always good to have
24:32 a bit of experience with these specific situations.
24:35 Obviously, it's a huge huge game, but I think,
24:38 you know, once the Arsenal players step on the field,
24:40 they they are really aware of, you know, what they could do,
24:43 what special moment that is in their in their career, in their life.
24:46 And uh and it's a once in a-lifetime opportunity that is now there.
24:50 And I really hope so that they go for it that they don't
24:54 you know sit back and just just defend and and wait for some
24:57 counter breaks because I think that the one of the strengths of Arsenal
25:01 certainly in many of the games not saying all the season long
25:04 but in many of the games is when they are on the starting
25:07 it on the front foot when they go up you know they're
25:09 high pressure they they put their opponents a bit under pressure and and uh
25:13 in their on their half and and yeah and take some risks.
25:17 I think this is uh um I I would not play now
25:20 a final like that not taking any risks you know against fantastic PJ side.
25:26 I think you you can surprise them as well
25:28 and then you have your own weapons different
25:30 weapons than PSJ has but but I think Arsenal does not need to to hide at all.
25:35 They can go for it.
25:37 Right.
25:37 Then early predictions Frank uh well you know what if Paris can score a goal
25:44 like tonight very early it could be a disaster like
25:46 last season with inter Milan but um I would be
25:50 more respectful towards the Gunners we say 2-0 for Paris Jame
25:57 what if it's a Portuguese referee
25:59 well this is it do we know who the referee where he's
26:01 from and [laughter] whether or not
26:02 he can talk Jurgen prediction Oh, predictions.
26:09 I was so bad today with the prediction.
26:12 You know, said 42, [laughter] you know, that really uh I like everybody.
26:18 But I I would I would give the the Gunners a chance in that game.
26:22 I mean, obviously Pier is the favorite and it's fantastic
26:25 team and and deserve all compliments in the world today.
26:28 But I I think, you know, this is a it's a unique game.
26:31 It's just one game and I I think Arsenal will win it too.
26:35 One in extra time.
26:36 Wow.
26:37 Oh, the ex the ex Tottenham man there.
26:39 OH MY GOD.
26:40 EXACTLY.
26:42 WOW.
26:41 As long as first returning your best we see in French.
26:45 [laughter] Well, you know
26:50 if PSG play to their potential which can be quite scary.
26:55 Uh I think they win the game.
26:59 PSG win the game.
27:00 Yeah.
27:00 Okay.
27:00 Why are you saying it with a whisper?
27:02 [laughter]
27:05 Stevie,
27:05 you did.
27:06 Yeah, I'm going with PSG.
27:08 PSG.
27:08 I agree with Jurgen.
27:09 Ask them all the way.
27:10 Uh PSG then.
27:11 Oh yeah, we knew that.
27:12 We knew that was coming final.
27:16 Hate the French.
27:17 You hate the French and the Portuguese.
27:19 Real Madrid are the only side [laughter]
27:21 who of course have won the Champions League.
27:23 Backto back.
27:23 PSG looking to join them in the record books.
27:28 More European action tomorrow.
27:30 Be sure to tune in to ESPN FC.
27:34 Right then, quite the drama around Real Madrid over the last couple of weeks.
27:38 According to reports in Spain, there's been a lot of infighting.
27:43 Valv against Chumeni.
27:44 Apparently, players
27:45 You want me to read this?
27:46 No, I can read it.
27:47 Why?
27:47 Well, you want to stay away for this, can you?
27:49 Players nearly came to blows during Wednesday's training session.
27:52 Carreras of Rudiga.
27:53 Carreras confirmed there is an incident
27:55 with a teammate that included Rudiga slapping Carreras.
27:59 This was back in April killing Mbappe.
28:01 Of course, lots of talk about him.
28:03 Uh he's been involved in a flare up
28:05 with an assistant coach during a training exercise.
28:07 He took that trip of course to Italy
28:09 this weekend while recovering from a hamstring injury.
28:12 Jurgen, when we've spoken about players and infighting before,
28:15 you [laughter] said I'm going to take them all for a nice
28:17 cup of tea and we'll have a chat about it.
28:19 That's a lot of tea at [laughter] the moment to keep all these players happy.
28:23 As a new manager coming in, of course,
28:25 it won't be Arbaloa, but whoever takes the reigns,
28:28 how do you deal with all of this turmoil that seems to be going on internally?
28:35 Well, it it shows you a bit the the [snorts] master work of Kalo Angelotti,
28:39 you know, over the years,
28:40 at Real Madrid, how he was able to deal
28:43 with these big big egos and and big names and big players.
28:47 uh because it's it's really difficult because they all have
28:51 their own agendas and they all you know they have
28:54 their their ambitions and and uh and all have different
28:59 things on the side you know besides just playing football.
29:02 Um it is it is uh really important
29:05 as a manager to have them kind of yeah with you
29:09 to have them you know positive towards you because they
29:12 [clears throat] make they can make you or break you
29:16 and uh and that's that's obviously in a locker
29:18 room like Real Madrid or any of the big big
29:20 teams in in Europe it's it's tough it's difficult
29:23 and I think PSJ is the the the fantastic example you
29:27 know to go a different direction and to get rid
29:30 of the big big names and build build a team
29:33 with very very good fantastic players but not superstars right
29:37 away and uh and look where they are right now
29:41 and uh um no this this uh the these things
29:44 I mean I went through them at Bayern Munich
29:46 as a player too I was involved in arguments every
29:49 single day and uh um they're not pleasant they're not pleasant
29:53 and and you got to figure out a way you
29:55 know to to get through these uh uh periods you
29:58 know so maybe maybe said I rather go for a couple
30:01 of days to Italy and and and eat some pasta,
30:04 you know, and and have some cappuccino instead of fighting,
30:07 you know, in the locker room at Real Madrid.
30:10 But it it it happens.
30:11 Absolutely, it happens.
30:12 And uh uh it's nothing new.
30:14 Um but you got to figure out a way as a club um meaning also there,
30:18 the management with your with your coach and whoever will be
30:23 the coach there in the future time now after this season.
30:26 Um to get that under control otherwise you're not going anywhere.
30:30 It's amazing when things are not going as well as a club would like,
30:34 how the sort of blame game starts to fester within the dressing room, right?
30:39 People just you start looking after yourself.
30:41 you start looking at people who you think are making
30:43 mistakes or or not necessarily making mistakes because everybody makes mistakes,
30:46 but maybe you look at somebody who's maybe not training
30:49 properly or pulling their weight in games or working hard enough
30:52 or or whatever it is or maybe speaking to the media
30:55 about things they shouldn't be and things start to to to fester.
30:59 I mean, Ferry Valver taking on Chenny,
31:01 that's a bit of a fair play to Valver, that's a bit of a mismatch there.
31:05 J, some some big lads in that dressing room.
31:08 But you you very rarely, not not never,
31:11 but very rarely hear of a a team that's successful having a scrap.
31:14 I mean, it it it it does.
31:17 What the heck was that?
31:19 [laughter] I don't know if you can hear that at home.
31:21 I don't know.
31:21 It's not it's not coming from me.
31:23 I don't have a dog in my [laughter] in my room.
31:25 I don't know.
31:25 Maybe.
31:26 I don't know.
31:27 Something open.
31:28 Was that you?
31:28 No.
31:29 Dogs are dogs are outside.
31:31 [laughter]
31:32 The dogs are outside.
31:32 This is this is we've had the weirdest noises in in 35 minutes of TV.
31:38 But you know it's it's not a surprise is it Stevie that this Real
31:43 Madrid side we've been listening to these noises all day with him.
31:46 It's not a surprise.
31:47 The problem is you've got such big characters
31:49 there and I suppose in theory you can
31:51 say well get rid of a couple of them get back to basics but you can't.
31:54 You're not getting rid of Vinnie or Mbappe.
31:56 No.
31:57 That's why that's why the next manager is important.
32:00 That's why you need somebody like Angelotti.
32:03 You know, every club has people falling out, right?
32:08 Yeah.
32:07 But it it it's the important thing is why and it seems that Real Madrid,
32:13 it is the blame game.
32:15 You know, individuals sometimes don't get on.
32:18 Sometimes you catch somebody in training,
32:19 but when it comes down to the players pointing the finger at each other,
32:23 that's because of the manager.
32:25 because the manager is the guy that steers the ship
32:27 and he has to get everybody going in the same direction.
32:30 And the problem Real Madrid have is they have two players in particular,
32:34 at least two, who want to go their own way.
32:37 And so that just causes trouble with everybody
32:40 cuz now when things are going badly,
32:42 you've got players like Freddy Valver going, "Hold on a second.
32:45 I am doing everything I'm told.
32:47 I'm running my guts out for this team.
32:49 I'm doing everything.
32:50 But we've got players who are not doing that." Right?
32:53 That's when everything starts to go haywire.
32:55 Then every single little thing becomes an argument or if
32:59 or it gets worse and it ends up with a fight.
33:02 That's why it's huge that you get the right manager
33:06 because if they don't get the right manager, if they don't get a guy who's going
33:10 to make Vinnie and Mbappe and Bellingham to the line,
33:14 then just look forward to another season of what you've got.
33:17 And you you got to have a dressing room
33:19 that that when this when this kind of thing does happen, you get over it, right?
33:27 Yeah.
33:26 You know, I'm not suggesting there's a fight,
33:28 but quite often things get a little heated and you got to make sure
33:32 that it it's sort of done and dusted and the next day you're back at it.
33:37 Whereas you get the feeling here,
33:38 you go into that Real Madrid training ground on on a Monday or a Tuesday,
33:43 he's not talking to him and he's not
33:44 talking to him and you know what I'm saying?
33:46 And that's that's when it becomes a real
33:48 mess because you know these altercations do
33:50 happen when players get frustrated or somebody gives
33:53 somebody one in training or whatever it is.
33:56 But most of the good squads certainly the the teams I've played
33:59 in if there's been something like that do you know what by the end
34:02 of the day and certainly by the next morning it's done and dusted
34:05 and they might not be best of mates but you just you just move on.
34:08 Whereas this dressing room you feel
34:12 some of them don't want to let it to move on.
34:14 don't want to let it move on.
34:15 And that's why and Jurgen mentioned Ancelotti.
34:18 Even Ancelotti and his brilliance in the last
34:21 year was just I can't figure this out.
34:24 Yeah.
34:24 You know, it was so difficult even for him who
34:26 who has been arguably the master manager of the current era.
34:30 Go on, Frank.
34:32 Uh the thing is which for me is the most insane thing
34:36 is I see the blueprint of what I saw with Paris Sanjain two
34:41 years ago when they had to get rid of the stars to in order
34:44 to get a team and and Florentino Perez is guilty for that.
34:48 is the one who has to put down the Iraqi that every club
34:53 need and he has to step back from the from the dressing room,
34:57 stay in his office, knock lock the door
34:59 and I don't want to see any player complaining.
35:01 It's what happened with Naser Khalifi.
35:03 He's a friend of mine and we talked about that and and and and as soon as he
35:08 decided to cut off all all relationship
35:11 with the players and put and put one one boss,
35:15 one captain in the in the ship, [clears throat] Luis Enrique, it worked.
35:19 It worked.
35:20 Now they have the recipe how it can be working with Paris and Jama.
35:25 That's the best recipe that they done.
35:27 Just copy it and but as you said,
35:30 it's going to be hard because you can't get rid of Vin Jr.
35:33 You can't get rid of Mbappe or Jude Bellingham.
35:36 You have to deal with that.
35:37 But put one boss in the dressing room and the boss
35:41 decides for everything and you don't
35:44 overturn his decisions otherwise you're screwed.
35:47 And it's what happening right now for Real Madrid for me.
35:49 Which seems simple Jurgen, but say you're appointed at Real Madrid tomorrow.
35:53 You know all the pressure and everything that comes with it from above.
36:01 Yeah.
36:01 But the key in in this whole discussion is always
36:03 obviously the relationship that the manager has with his players.
36:07 For sure it's a very very important p piece of the puzzle.
36:10 But the most important piece is is the manager backed
36:13 by the owner by the CEO by the big boss by Perez.
36:18 That is the key question.
36:18 And if the players know that you know the the manager right
36:22 now in this moment has not a thousand% backing of of uh
36:28 uh the president of the owner then they start they start playing
36:32 games with with him and with the manager and uh there's so many
36:36 people have access to to the owner to you know these people
36:40 that run the club you know that's that in in that moment you
36:43 as a manager you know you just yeah you're just the last
36:47 the last piece you know at the end of uh um the chain.
36:50 And um and that makes it almost impossible then to go
36:54 into the face of big big name players and tell them what to do
36:58 and tell them to run back and tell them to high pressure
37:00 and tell them to to give their best in every training session,
37:03 you know, because you have the feeling that okay, but my bosses,
37:07 they don't really back me and this is maybe
37:10 the situation there that they have to figure out.
37:12 Jurgen, good man.
37:13 Thank you very much.
37:14 Of course, so many of these subplots going in to our Classico this weekend.
37:18 Of course, a glide game you can see live on ESPN and ESPN.
37:22 Plus, our coverage starts at 2:30 Eastern.
37:25 And if you're on the West Coast, don't miss the Alasco fan experience.
37:28 An unforgettable Alasco watch party and live concert by Esavan Armadoo
37:32 featuring appearances by La Liga legends Carlos [music] Pu and Edin Hazard.
37:37 That's May the 10th at the torch.
37:38 Just click on the old QR code.
37:43 Welcome in to the latest edition of Extra Time.
37:46 Thank you very much for all your questions.
37:47 Right.
37:47 Did we get to the bottom of where all the noises were coming during our
37:51 It's got to be Jurgen.
37:52 We think it was Jurgen.
37:53 Got to be his [music] house.
37:54 Maybe.
37:55 It sound like those animal noises.
37:57 It sounded like it was a budgy at one point.
37:59 There we go.
37:59 What does a budgy say?
38:00 [music] What does a budgy say?
38:02 I don't know.
38:03 Uh what do you think?
38:04 I heard a budgy chirping, Stevie.
38:06 No, I didn't.
38:07 I heard a door open.
38:09 You know the old movie?
38:10 You know the scary movies when you help.
38:14 Uh what did you think of the officiating today?
38:16 Uh Bayern, of course, not happy with some of those decisions.
38:19 Frank, well [music] after after all, you know, I think they've done the job.
38:25 I think the referee did well and I have nothing
38:27 to complain about any decision but um it's an accumul accumul sorry
38:35 sorry accumulation of of tough decision to make and he all
38:38 went against the German team that's why at certain point you say
38:43 was he right every time I think he was but I'm sure there will
38:47 be a a matter of discussion for the for the Bayan fans for sure
38:51 Stevie as a defender Mhm.
38:53 Who do you think it's easier to defend in a one-on-one right now?
38:56 Kavat Scalia or Doku?
39:01 Oh, [laughter] I would say K Skellia, right?
39:08 Yeah.
39:08 Doku's got a couple of moves.
39:12 When he goes to the right, he does the whole thing where he's right.
39:14 Wait, wait, wait.
39:15 The question was, who's easier to defend?
39:16 Oh, who's easier?
39:17 Yes.
39:17 I would say Douku.
39:20 Okay.
39:19 Yeah.
39:19 If if you would if you gave me the choice and said, "Right, I'll tell you what."
39:23 What do you think the first play against either him or him?
39:26 I'd rather play against Do you surprised that you obviously misunderstood
39:32 because you can't watch Cavis Kelly out because he's he's old.
39:35 No, I was surprised at your answer the first time.
39:37 You obviously you misunderstood the question.
39:39 All right.
39:39 Cuz when you said Dou, I was like, I No, I did.
39:43 I misunderstood.
39:43 [music] It's not the first time I misunderstood a question.
39:46 Frank, have a Skeleia for you.
39:49 Uh yes to I mean the legs the guy has very strong legs and uh and as as um
39:55 um u Craig was mentioning during the show
39:58 when he drops when he drops is is shorter.
40:00 I mean you don't know where he going he's going to go and he's very skillful.
40:04 Um Douku is more using his pace let's say
40:08 than anything else doesn't need to be uh fast.
40:13 He he has all the skill to put you on your on your bottom
40:16 and uh and without knowing uh how to deal with it.
40:20 I think you have to call for help.
40:22 You need to be too to deal with him and uh so
40:25 you have to call for a midfielder to uh to help you out.
40:28 It's a bit of a random one that isn't it really?
40:30 Well, Doue's been all right, but you know,
40:33 I thought the question would have been Capit Skelly or Elise.
40:36 And what would your answer be to that?
40:37 Well, that wasn't the question.
40:38 Okay.
40:38 Uh should I know Dou is a kind of he's [laughter] chuck Duo in there, isn't he?
40:43 Should Liverpool sign Kavat Scalia?
40:46 It seems like it could do with an upgrade [snorts] over this was
40:49 of course the conversation we had a couple of days ago where Listen, [music]
40:52 I'm not going to backtracking that in case you're asking.
40:55 I didn't ask you to.
40:56 I was just receded.
40:59 He won't be attracted to Liverpool.
41:01 I know.
41:01 And I'm not [laughter] we're not we're not going to go over this.
41:03 At no point did I suggest Liverpool are going to get scalier.
41:07 Mhm.
41:08 Well, uh, last year PSG, but they can get Dway.
41:14 Oh, maybe they can get D.
41:15 Okay.
41:16 Or Cola, you know,
41:17 the the competition the competition Liverpool maybe the competition,
41:21 you know, bakola due in Paris, some players would be fed up to be
41:25 on the bench because you have so many fantastic players.
41:28 So maybe Der or Bakola could be seduced by the Liverpool challenge.
41:34 Take Dwey.
41:35 Take D.
41:36 [laughter] That's That's not a revelation.
41:39 I'm just sorry.
41:40 I ch
41:42 uh last year PSG finished 15th in the group stage and they beat the number one,
41:46 number three, number four, and eight seeds.
41:49 This year they were 11th and beat the number two, number three,
41:51 and six on their way to the final against number one.
41:54 Is doing good enough early on and waiting to gain
41:57 steam the way to [music] win this new Champions League format?
42:02 This is definitely a question from the amateur.
42:04 The surely the the contrary argument to that is
42:07 that Arsenal have had such an easy run in comparison
42:10 to others because they finished in first place because they
42:15 were 100% and therefore they were rewarded by a better draw.
42:20 So therefore maybe it isn't doing good enough.
42:24 It's just doing well.
42:25 Well, it's just making it more difficult for yourself.
42:27 Yeah.
42:27 Yeah.
42:27 There's easy ways to do it, but Yeah.
42:29 [music] Yeah.
42:30 But you can bet your bottom dollar PSG want to be
42:34 first after the to give to get themselves an easier run.
42:40 Yes, but you just it doesn't work that way.
42:41 Well, it does.
42:42 That's the whole point.
42:43 No, no, you want that.
42:45 But sometimes what you want you can't get.
42:48 And clearly PSG for the last two years haven't
42:51 been able to do it the other way around.
42:53 Obviously PSG will be favorites in the Champions League final,
42:55 but what would Arsenal need to do to win it, Frank?
43:00 not consider goal early in the game.
43:03 Be strong at the back because they will have to set
43:06 uh to set tight and and there are no other choices.
43:10 And of course, what is their skill?
43:12 Make sure they score in set pieces otherwise they won't have too many chances.
43:16 What the odds of seeing a repeat of last year's PSG interstyle defeat?
43:20 Is it 5-0?
43:22 Five.
43:23 No.
43:23 No.
43:24 No.
43:24 Arsenal's not losing five goals.
43:26 No.
43:26 No.
43:26 No chance.
43:27 No chance.
43:28 I wouldn't think so.
43:30 No, no.
43:34 Frank, I I do not get B5.
43:37 Again, if they consider goal very early, they will try to get out and they
43:41 can be punished in counterattack by Parisian German talent.
43:45 So, and if they carry on like that, you never know
43:48 what at what point they're going to say, okay, we stop.
43:51 We don't want to do like this next last last
43:53 season and and sit tight and lose like two or three.
43:57 But I don't think is I think they're more experienced than Inter
44:01 Milan and they have a better player than Inter Milan last season.
44:06 Final question.
44:06 We're continuing the wedding theme.
44:07 Obviously, we're invited to a wedding on Monday
44:09 and we decided who would be a great guest.
44:11 Frank, we thought you'd be a great guest at a wedding.
44:13 Craig, not so much.
44:15 Well, you know, I just I do feel that in my absence from that show, right?
44:19 [music] I was uh
44:20 Didn't the last wedding you go to, you shouted at the groom for crying?
44:26 No, that was that was that was father was it?
44:30 No, I did.
44:32 Yes.
44:32 No, I didn't shout at the grim for crying.
44:34 He did cry at which point his father
44:37 was a little mortified cuz he's not that [laughter] but the big lad.
44:41 The big lad the big lad's a big soppy lad.
44:43 Very emotional boy.
44:44 Anyway, after he cried times, I I had a bet with him, right,
44:49 that that he when he made his speech, he'd start sobbing again.
44:52 Yeah.
44:53 and he bet me $100.
44:55 So, and he got up to make his speech
44:57 and he started sobbing like a big baby again.
44:59 Yeah.
44:59 So, that's that's why that's why maybe he wouldn't be the best guest.
45:02 However, this person disagrees saying, "I don't know about you guys,
45:05 but Craig Burley would be at the top of my wedding invite list.
45:08 Any good stories from the boys about former teammates weddings?" Oh, yeah.
45:13 Wow.
45:13 So, Simon.
45:14 Wow.
45:14 Wow.
45:15 Good.
45:16 Simon.
45:16 What could possibly go wrong with these answers?
45:19 Simon, [laughter] look at you.
45:21 Well, I've got one I can tell you.
45:22 Simon Donley and my and Malcolm Mai, my two colleagues at Celtic, right?
45:26 Uh they were big buddies, but all the boys were buddies,
45:29 but Simon got married on the Friday or the Saturday.
45:33 I think it [music] was a Friday.
45:34 And Mali got married on the Saturday.
45:36 What a weekend that was.
45:38 So, we were up, we were all at both.
45:40 Wow.
45:40 Right.
45:42 And Malkey's wife, she kind of knew what the lads were like.
45:47 and she went round a bunch of us with the wedding dress on before
45:51 we even get in the church and we all got a a major warning.
45:55 Yeah, I'm sure that was about uh our behavior.
46:00 Mhm.
45:59 And the proceeding.
46:01 Yes.
46:01 And how was said behavior?
46:03 Uh it gradually went downhill as the evening went on where
46:06 the boys were doing handstands and everything on the dance floor in kilts.
46:12 I didn't have a kilt on.
46:14 Stevie Bruce Groala's wedding, right?
46:17 [music] We had the our boss that used to take us to and from game,
46:22 so we hired it for everybody.
46:23 So all the boys and the wives got on it.
46:25 [music] Drove down to down by Bristol in the UK.
46:31 Mhm.
46:31 Went to the wedding, had a great day, and on the way back,
46:34 we stopped at a service station for something to eat, just to grab some stuff.
46:39 So we all piled down and then as we've all got the food,
46:43 the drivers went, "Look, we need to get back."
46:46 So everybody got all the stuff, all the food, got on the bus.
46:50 We got home.
46:53 Okay.
46:52 Monday morning, they pulled us in, the manager, [music] they said,
46:56 "Uh, the police have been at Anfield this morning.
47:00 Uh, apparently all the plates, cups, cutlery,
47:05 the whole lot had been stolen from a service station by the boss.
47:09 Oh no.
47:10 So we had to have a whip round and pay for all the stuff.
47:14 [laughter] I had a guy in uh I had a friend and by the way,
47:18 you'd love this cuz we that Simon and Mali's wedding
47:22 a couple of months before we went on a staging stag.
47:26 One week in Portugal.
47:28 A week.
47:29 That's such a long week.
47:31 Honestly, I never I was barely alive when I got back from it.
47:36 But I was in a pub once in Nottingham.
47:37 It was not wasn't a footballer,
47:39 but a guy that used to drink with us and we knew and he went to me,
47:41 "Hey, Craig, [music] you see that couple over there?
47:44 That's John and and Irene or whoever." He said,
47:48 "They haven't talked to me for 20 years." [music] And I went,
47:52 "Why?" He went, "Well, I got a bit drunk at their daughter's wedding." He said,
47:57 "And before they made the speeches,
47:59 I was running up to congratulate them at the top table
48:02 and I tripped up and I fell into the wedding cake." Wow.
48:07 Splattered.
48:07 [laughter] Wow.
48:09 He said he said I was going up and I went, "Congrats." He said,
48:12 "He fell on the step and he went down and he says the whole wedding cake,
48:15 all the tears went down." This was your friend.
48:20 Yeah.
48:19 And he said, "The bride and groom, please come up now and cut the sponge."
48:24 A jam sponge.
48:26 prank.
48:28 Now, I never been invited by any teammates wedding.
48:31 I guess they don't want me to steal their thunder.
48:33 Maybe [laughter] that's why.
48:37 Good stuff.
48:38 Thank you very much.
48:39 ESPNFC returns to your screens tomorrow.
48:42 Be sure to join us where our focus,
48:43 of course, uh will turn to the Europa League.
48:51 [music]