English Team to Win UCL & Scholes' Best Ever Midfielders | The Overlap Fan Debate
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If you got Man United, they'd beat you home and away. Yeah. You've just smashed them 3-0. Yeah, they'd beat you home and away in Europe, though. Ruben Amorim's red and white army, mate. I feel like a spokesman for you. Are you for the air? I know. I know. You know when I hear people suggesting that maybe we should rest players for a cup competition? I think it's insane. With the injuries that we're faced with, the depleted squad, it is a bit... Don't forget the refs. And the refs.

And the referees. If you did the League Cup and FA Cup at Spurs, you'd have a statue of him outside. Yeah, I'd build it myself. LAUGHTER It did make me cry. Didn't make me cry. LAUGHTER The lawyers are typing right now, mate. LAUGHTER

Hello and welcome back to the Fan Debate brought to you by Sky Battle. In this week's episode, we are going to be hearing from the fans about their European ambitions for the season. But first of all, it's quiz time. So we're going to start this episode with something new on the show. And it's a new quiz feature called Time Added On. Here's how it works. Each week...

One of you will take on the quiz and their total score will be added to the leaderboard with a mystery prize up for grabs come the end of the season. And this season, we're going to start with Rory. Kelsey. I fancy you to do quite well on this. It's terrifying, isn't it? You can only lose, really. You're on the spot now, yeah? Right, so we're going to go. It's 90 seconds. I'm going to whistle and everything. I'm going to whistle. Come on. I need the time. I need the clock. Right, here we are.

So it's going to be 90 seconds. You're going to be asked a maximum of 15 questions. All questions are club specific. If I'm mid-question and the time runs out, I will finish that question and take your answer. I've started to all finish. You can pass on any. But if you get them wrong, I'll tell you what the right answer is straight away. To take a bit of your time away. Got any advice for him, Scorsese? Good luck, mate. Have you done your own work? Right, go on.

Who is Chelsea's all-time leading goalscorer? Frank Lampard. How many games did Winston Bogart play for Chelsea? One, nine or none? One. Wrong, nine. Name two Chelsea managers that have won the Champions League. Roberto Di Matteo Thomas Tuchel. Chelsea won the FA Cup in 1997, but what sponsor do they have on the front of their shirts?

That would be the cause kit. Yes. Which Danish midfielder scored the goal that secured Champions League football in 2003? Jesper Gronkja. Yeah. Name the four Coles that have played for Chelsea in the Premier League. Ashley Cole. Joe Cole. Cole Palmer. Does that count? One more. Centre forward. CC. CC. Carlton Cole. Yes. What famous Harry J All-Stars song plays... Nick Vimac. Yeah. From which club did Chelsea sign Gianfranco Zola?

Palmer. Which team influenced Jose Mourinho's first home Premier League defeat in 2014? Jose Mourinho's first defeat in Swansea? No, wrong, Sunderland. How many Premier League titles did John Terry win as captain of Chelsea? Four. Five. Which player crossed the ball for Didier Drogba's 2012 Champions League late equaliser? War Matter. Yes. How many signings have Chelsea made on the top bowl? 33, 39 or 45? 45. 39. Who did Gus Sidney replace in his first stint as interim manager? £5.

I've started to unfinished. Chris Hiddink came in for Roberto Di Matteo. Luis Felipe Scalari. I've got a problem with one of those. There's a problem with one of those. At the moment, he's got eight. He feels he should have nine because he's got a problem. The phrasing of the first defeat in 2014, the first defeat for Jose Mourinho's team, that sounded like it was that season.

Which team inflicted Jose Mourinho's first home Premier League defeat in 2014? Yeah. Danny Welbeck, that, hadn't he? Sunderland. So that was the first game he'd ever lost a home for Chelsea, was it? The first game that we lost... He said in the league. Did I say home in the question when I asked it? You got it wrong. Yeah, it's not like you'd ever appeal a decision. Eight. Eight.

How many questions did we actually get to? No, we got eight out of 30 and we got to the hidden quon, didn't we? What's going on there then? You're winning. Yeah, there we go. Stop the count. Sorry, Jamie, can we just get in and take the ball away now? Oh, who's doing that then? Do you want my whistle? For more camera time for Kate? He makes more appearance on the overlap than Gary there. LAUGHTER

Right, so let's get into the European ambitions of the clubs right now. So, Rory, we'll start with you. You've just done OK in the quiz. Will Chelsea do better in Europe this season than you did in the quiz? Yeah, I think in Europe we should win that competition. It's not necessarily suggesting anything particularly controversial here. We're in a competition that we're too good for. We're in a competition where we're clearly the best team. But I think that that can be extended. And it's not necessarily something that we should celebrate necessarily.

But Premier League clubs should be winning virtually all the competitions that they're in. The amount of money sloshing around the Premier League is distasteful, but it does lead to a situation where when Aston Villa come up against somebody in the Champions League, not necessarily Bayern Munich, but they're more likely to win the game. You know, when West Ham were playing in Europe, of course they won that competition. They should win that competition. They're

They're playing in Europe's premier competition. You're comparing basically the money they bring in each year compared to the opposition that they're coming up against, basically, and the players' transfer fees and wages. And it's not necessarily a good thing. I think that sometimes... Do you know, I had an epiphany where I just thought... Another one! Do you know what? I did. I remember it was a couple of years ago. And I just thought, as good as it is and as proud as Brighton should be on the European run that they're in, this result, it popped up on my phone. I just thought, that...

That is a microcosm of everything wrong with football. I looked at my phone off the back of a score notification and it came up, Ajax 0, Brighton 2. I thought, it's broken, isn't it? Like, Ajax, you think about what Ajax represent. Think about the history, the glory, the stature, the prestige of that club.

Like Brighton are two Bob, aren't they? They shouldn't be playing each other. That's true, isn't it? I understand where you're coming from in that the European giants of the past just can't compete with the money that is going on in the Premier League. And I'm with you, Chelsea should win that competition. But I think...

We should win that competition every season. No matter who's in it, we should win it. And one of our teams should be getting to at least the final of the Europa League when you consider the sums that are spent. Do you know, it's interesting. If you look at the bookies odds for who's going to win the Europa League, and if you look at the teams that are in it, there's some huge clubs in there. Manchester United are in there, for example.

You know, Tottenham are genuinely the favourites. Doesn't that tell you that it's kind of broken? A team that hasn't won a trophy since 08, a team that have won two League Cups since 1991... You understand how form works, right? No, but I also understand that Tottenham, all of that to be considered, are favourites for a competition simply because of the money in the Premier League. It is broken, isn't it? Brighton beating... You're a bit arrogant with it, though.

I'm not arrogant because I'm not celebrating it. No, I don't mean just you, but I think all of us were a bit arrogant in saying how good the English league is. And we don't really... Dominate Europe? We don't really win as much in Europe as we should, do we? I think United get a bit by severe. Pardon? I mean, in the Champions League, they generally do much better. But other than that... Champions League we do, yeah. Other than that, yeah. Inter were brilliant against us. Inter were absolutely phenomenal. What an incredibly coached side. I don't buy that they wouldn't be challenging for the title in the Premier League, for example. I also think, like...

When we're in the Europa League, I hate it. It's horrible. It just feels like I don't want to be in this competition. And I think a lot of teams, like Sevilla and Villarreal, when they're in the Europa League, it's like, this is us. But we're in it for a reason. We're in it for a reason, because we're not. No, we deserve to be in it. We deserve to be in it. How we feel about it isn't the same as some of these clubs in Spain and stuff. I don't care about Europa League. But we do, Ad. I think it's only Manchester United fans. Only Manchester United fans and Liverpool fans have the luxury of

of being slightly sneery towards certain competitions because of the rich history that they've got. Most other fans, I think, and Chelsea have won the European Cup twice. If we're in the Europa League, I'm desperate to win it. Yeah, but look at some of these teams. They're in the Europa League and they rock up with half their recognisable 11 out because they don't rate it as much as getting sixth in the league or something. I love it. And clubs, yeah, of course you do. I love it. What, the Europa League? Yeah. Why? To win it.

We're going to win it. You're not going to win it. If you look at it, if you've got Man United, they beat you home and away. You've just smashed them 3-0. Yeah, they beat you home and away in Europe though. Ruben Amarim's red and white army, mate. I need about 12 months to get up to speed probably. But if you look at the Europa League, it's not a specially strong competition this year. You've got Frankfurt, oh good. You've got Galatasaray, I've got some big names, Osserman leading the line.

But you think Spurs and Man United need to really have a good shot at winning that? Is that because, I mean, we've always criticised the fact that teams from the Champions League dropped into the Europa League. We always say you should start in one competition and finish. And I get the argument and the sentiment. But the Europa League almost becomes exciting at the quarter-final stage because those teams have dropped in. You've just mentioned certain names there. And it doesn't sort of have that gravitas of the Europa League of maybe the last sort of 10 years or so.

Yeah, it's exciting for everybody else, but if you're in it, you don't really want the teams dropping down because it makes it suddenly very, very difficult. This is a great opportunity for Spurs to finally have a significant...

and a legitimate trophy win because I don't think a League Cup gets the monkey off our backs. I think we still get... Oh, it does, of course. Do you think it does? I agree. So the League Cup isn't a Mickey Mouse competition anymore? No, it's a big competition. So if Spurs win it, everyone's going to say we never win any games. That's going to be the end of that narrative, yeah? Slambly, man. Slambly, yeah.

He didn't even celebrate an FA Cup last year. If he did the League Cup and FA Cup at Spurs, you'd have a statue of him outside. Yeah, I'd build it myself. Adam, when you're talking about the feeling of Manchester United being in the Europa League, and I get that. You know, Manchester United, one of the biggest clubs in the world, they're a Champions League, you should be there. Do you think that sort of negativity or feeling around being in the competition means that, you know,

you don't go on and win it because I actually remember there was a season when you were in it with Alex Ferguson I think you played Atletico Bilbao we got battered by Marcelo Biasa didn't we so you played Bilbao you got hammered yeah you played Bilbao I think Oli got to the final lost to Villarreal did Ten Hag lose to Seville

Yes. Okay, so what I'm saying is they're not even like a top European team who've dropped down to the top Europa League teams. Do you think that feeling around is one of the reasons why you haven't gone on to win that competition? I don't know if that extends to the players because a lot of the players will have higher wages if they're in the Champions League. I don't know if that extends to them but I'm just talking about how I feel about it and maybe like then you get the crowds aren't always the same crowds. A lot of people give up their tickets for the Europa League games. I just feel like we see it as a second-rate competition but we also have to face facts.

We're in it for a reason, like Scolesy said. It's our only way into the Champions League this season. And if we have got a new manager coming in, which is obviously going to happen at some point, then he's got a big opportunity to kind of get a trophy in his first season, get us into the Champions League so next season we can look up.

But that's the way we're looking at it at the moment, is a pathway into the Champions League. Because we looked at those earlier. Are we going to finish above Villa, Chelsea? Even if we go on an incredible run, I don't think we're going to do that. So we have to take it seriously. It's our only way into the Champions League. But I do think that I just, I don't care. I get the impression that European teams take it a bit more seriously than we do. For some reason, we see it as detrimental to be playing on the Thursday night in the Europa League.

Because sometimes they put you on a Saturday evening and you've just played on a Thursday and you think, how is this working out? No, it never happens. It feels like it happens, doesn't it? Maybe because we just lose after. But you do, you feel, we shouldn't be in the Europa League. And as players, you mentioned that time with Bilbao,

There was definitely a lack of motivation for that competition when you come into it and honestly we got hammered by a really good Bill Belty. I was so back to the ball games. It was Pogba versus Herrera in midfield, wasn't it? It was what? It was Pogba, Herrera in midfield, Herrera was playing for them and we had a young Pogba.

It was an interesting game. Did it really? Yeah, it was in their old stadium, if you remember. It was some atmosphere. And then they controlled the game at Old Trafford. Oh, they battled us, yeah. Ajax as well did it to us. I'd never seen a team so fitting all my life. But it was Bielsa's team and it's what we came used to, to Bielsa when they called us to leave. They overpowered and overpowered us. But I'd say for some reason, I just think them European teams especially...

people like Unai Emery as you say they take that competition more seriously with Valencia and Villarreal Sevilla Sevilla won it three out of four years or something didn't they I think we see it as a real negative thing in this competition we always talk about Thursday Sunday don't we we never talk about Wednesday Saturday it's always Thursday Sunday you know that's just sort of the mentality and I always see when you see teams like you're maybe not expected to get into Europe sometimes like just get in there seventh I think I remember Burnley getting in there maybe about seven or eight years ago or something and

and there's this big thing about getting into Europe and then as soon as this next season starts they can't wait to get out of it yeah they're like oh Thursday Sunday Thursday Sunday yeah and you're like what is the point but it doesn't seem to listen it doesn't seem to happen so much you know abroad these series are much more prestigious because managers can still get sacked even if you win it and I think they have that in their head as well like

Them finishing higher in the league than having a deeper run in the Europa League isn't beneficial to them. I thought that was a massive missed opportunity for United in terms of the manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, because no-one ever really thought he was the real manager as such. And I thought losing that final against Unai Emery, who completely, he'd done him in that final with his substitutions and how he changed him. Is it on penalties in the end? Yeah, you see De Gea now. He saved two pens in a game for Fiorentina. Couldn't save one that day.

Yeah, they're about 15. Shall we get to the big competition, Gareth? The big one. But you know what? I don't like the snobbery about competitions like that. You know, one of the best seasons I've ever had as a Liverpool fan is 2001 when we won the UEFA Cup, the League Cup and the FA Cup and that was absolutely brilliant. Went to all of those games, went abroad, went to the final, great final against Alaves.

And I just think we should try to remove that a little bit from our football culture. It doesn't do us well. It's still a set before. I think it's just there, isn't it? But it's a cup. It shouldn't be there. It doesn't make any sense, though. Any sneeriness to silverware... It's weird. I'm of an age where Chelsea went 25 years without a trophy. You know when I hear people suggesting that maybe we should rest players for a cup competition? I think it's insane. Imagine.

My son's a Liverpool fan and he went to the League Cup final last season, the first cup final he's ever been to in his life. He absolutely loved it. He's got the right mentality. Some of the best memories of my life were with my dad watching League Cup games. I think it is our mentality. You think of Mourinho, talk about Mourinho before, when he wins a charity shield, he counts it as one of his trophies. Did you suggest that it was also apparent in the dressing rooms in which he played? That maybe the players weren't as up for it?

up for I don't think you'd openly admit it but you could see God that's fascinating I'm so surprised I could understand your Manchester United team in terms of like you're so used to being a champion and you end up in this competition I think you probably turn up the earlier rounds and once you get to sort of semi-final of course it becomes a huge game but I'm

I'm with Gareth on that and that when people talk about people always say to me you never won the league and yeah of course we didn't win the league but then I think it's sort of the trophies that we won but I think of the really good teams where I think we're good teams in the Premier League we haven't won anything I think the Leeds team you know they had a lot of good players Arsenal right now Tottenham under Pochettino Newcastle's Keegan they didn't even win a league cup you know so sometimes when people we all have a

a bit of banter with each other's clubs and you haven't won this and you haven't won that but it's hard to win trophies it's like the competition's tough you look at a team like Arsenal right now I think Arsenal are arguably in the top five or six teams in Europe you know there's probably three in the top three in the Premier League Real Madrid probably Inter Milan maybe a Barcelona Bayern Munich so there's probably six or seven teams there

But you still haven't won anything like... Forget the league, the FA Cup or the Carabao Cup. It's not easy to win it. So I think sometimes when you come out, you've picked up a few and you're lucky. You're fortunate to play in a team. You've picked up a few. Never turn your nose about it at any trophy at all. Well, Gareth, anyway, can Liverpool win the Champions League? I always think we can. Any time that we're in it. Can I rephrase that? Sorry, because I actually...

Do you think Liverpool have got more chance of winning the Champions League than the Premier League? Probably because of Man City in the league. They are in the Champions League as well, aren't they? They are in the Champions League. I don't know, but there's something about the fact that it's in Europe somehow, do you know what I mean? Even at Anfield, there was a debate on a previous one of these shows, a recent one, I think it was a Forest fan saying Anfield atmosphere is a myth.

And I agree, it's not great at some league games. Europe, though, more often than not, there's just something about it. There's a spark, there's a buzz. We all love going. We all love going away. There's a huge culture, as you know, Jamie, around going to those aways, a big fight for the tickets to go to the aways, whatever European competition it is. So all that in mind, and the fact that we've got players on the pitch who've won the thing as well.

Why not? The one thing I was saying about Arne Slott before, and I really sort of knew him, if you like, and I'd seen what our side looked like under him, I was looking at his European record and saying, well, he's not really got pedigree in the Champions League, has he? He's done all right in some of the other competitions and got to a final, didn't he? But

I was a little bit worried about that, but look how we've done already. People said Leipzig was tough. We've gone to Leipzig and won. AC Milan might not be the force they once were, but going to the San Siro and winning, not to be sniffed at. We've done all right. I think it's been a great start. I'm not convinced by this league format. I don't like that. That would take me to something you were talking about before, just in general about

the general, how the change in football... It's interesting because I've got a probably slightly different take on it. What I would say is I think that I want to see everyone's opinion at the end of it because I think the last three weeks of it I think will be really, really exciting when a league table's moving and someone's fighting to get in. Because the thing that I think is hard to get your head around is when you've played someone

and they're playing someone else and that's got nothing to do with it. You can't quite go, well, why aren't I looking at the results and why aren't we playing them again? And when we go into a Premier League weekend now, any fan of a top team, you want at least two of the others to drop something, don't you? Maybe someone gets beat or someone draws. You think, OK, because the league, I think we've got to get our heads around it, the league. So I was watching, we do it, the Champions League, and I'm watching Real Madrid against Dortmund and I'm saying, what a game, you know, amazing game. But then I'm thinking,

I just want Real Madrid to get beat because of the league. They might not make the top eight and then they'll be in another game. But you can't get your head around the fact the group... So I think that'll take a while to get your head around that. And you don't play them home and away and all that. Yeah, exactly. So I think it's getting... The way we think going into a Premier League weekend, we've probably got to go into...

that thinking if you're a top team you probably think someone of the other ones should win type of thing but I do think the last two or three weeks I think will be really exciting going forward in terms of the league format and you think of the league the Premier League I feel like a spokesman for your wife are you? I know that's right but I think the last match day is there eight games now isn't it?

I think that one, you know when we got the Premier League season the last day and everyone's playing at the same time. So everyone's playing at the same time, the last one, and obviously a goal goes in there, now they're there. And the table's continually sort of moving because there's a lot of top clubs who aren't in the eight at the moment. And it's funny when you think about Real Madrid, because we were doing it. If they'd have lost to Dortmund, obviously they'd have been three points low, but they're not in the top eight at the moment. And the next two games are AC Milan and Liverpool.

So you get to a stage where then AC Milan, let's say we beat them at Anfield and they maybe got a draw against Milan. You're in a situation where like Real Madrid, they've got three games to go and they've got to like, you know what I mean, the table's moving and stuff like that. So I think it might be, it might get a little bit better. You might get more into it.

Yeah, we'll see. I mean, I don't know. You know, I'm old, so I can remember Red Star, Belgrade and things like that. Do you know what I mean? When you were talking about Ajax before, it felt more like anyone could emerge from somewhere and win the European Cup in the past. Who was the centre forward for them? Diago Pancha. Where did he go afterwards? I don't know. Into Milan. LAUGHTER

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We lose top of the league at the moment. Villa, mate. Three clean sheets in a row, unbeaten. If we could play Bayern Munich every week, I'd be buzzing. We've never lost to them, so... But, yeah, it's massive. I mean, as a fan, you know, I'm a season ticket holder, I go to every game. Champions League nights, you know, you walk into the ground, the air smells differently. It's just...

It's just elite. And when we played that first game against Bayern Munich, and that's where Emery comes into his own. You know, as a fan, you think, oh, Bayern Munich, like Musiala, Kane, Gnabry, all these really good players. But he did a job on them and we defended so well. And I think we're a real force in it. It looks like we potentially could get top eight now. We've got three wins, so we've got some tough games to go. But I think we're doing really well in it. And I think we're just embracing it and...

Yeah, it's going to be exciting. Going back to what Rory said, because I know Aston Villa have won the European Cup, I'm not daft, but you're probably not seen as one of the elite in Europe because you haven't been in this competition for so long. But the fact that you're in the Premier League, you've got Unai Emery as the manager, the funds you've got to buy players or the squad that you've created, he's always making changes from the bench. Do you think you've got an outside chance of going far in this competition? And a little bit to Gareth.

more chance of winning that than winning the Premier League. Yeah, I think we've got a great opportunity. Albeit Unai hasn't done it... Well, he's got to the semi-final in the Champions League, but he's been smashing the Europa League. So I think that's where his game management and tactically he can come into his own. When he's coming up against top opposition, he's able to find weaknesses and the players are able to fundamentally follow his plan and that's where we're so good. So, yeah, I think if we can get top eight...

and then we'll sort of get that two-week game off and then I don't think Villa will be fearing anyone in the Champions League. Personally, I think our biggest challenge would be if we played an English side in the Champions League. I think that's probably where I'd be more worried but I think we've beat Bayern Munich. I think we can beat anyone. Did you get a little bit of a bitter taste at the charge of 95 quid for tickets? Mine's a little bit different because I'm a season ticket holder so mine was 70. So, so f*** them. No, no, no.

LAUGHTER No, so, I mean, I thought... LAUGHTER I thought it was going to be about 60 to 65, so when they charged 70, I thought, OK, it's not as bad, but, you know, they're paying non-seasonal holders 98 quid, and that's a lot of money, and then I think when you've got a family, you know, so two adults, kids, you know, that's all mounting up, and that's only for one game, so when you're talking there's four games...

People are having to pick and choose when they could go. And you think from Villa's perspective that it's the first time we're in that competition for over 40 years. And fans are having to miss out and go in and watching your team.

It's not good enough. The issue, though, is that this is Villa's chance to maximise revenue. They have a distinct disadvantage to every other club in the big six. Spurs' revenue is something like between £500 million and £600 million. Villa's is around £350 million. I disagree. I get what you're saying. I don't think it's good. It's a bad thing.

That extra bit of £20 does not move the needle at all in terms of bringing a payer in or paying... No, no, I got you, I got you. But they've got to maximise, from the business side of it, this opportunity. I don't think they should. Calm down, Tory. You should love this.

I don't think they should, but I think that's the mindset of where the clubs are at. It's not just the Champions League. The average Premier League game at Villanueva is over £70 a ticket. I think clubs are trying to capitalise off that. There's a big neutral football crowd now that go to all these games and I think they're trying to capitalise off that. And that's why you see...

people with season tickets, if you don't go to certain amount of games, you can't renew anymore because Man City aren't introducing any new season tickets. They want that neutral crowd of just people coming in. What the crowd wants is they're not interested in the most loyal fans. They're interested in the fans with the most money. Yeah, who are going to go to the megastore and all that. It's the fans who turn up once or twice a season and drops 500 quid in the megastore before the game and then comes back a year later and does it all again. They get the 800 quid off me once a year. They're not going to get...

They want somebody that drops that per game three times a season. Charlene, I want to ask you about...

Arsenal, you had a decent run in both competitions in the Premier League and the Champions League last season. I mean, if you had the choice to win one, what would you like to win? Well, Champions League, you know, that's something that we need to win. So ideally, that is, yeah, what I would want to win. But, you know, doing the double would also be great. Why is everyone laughing? Don't you think that's possible? Baby steps.

And I do feel like we are really going for it in this competition, you know, from our performances, the way that Mikel Arteta, you know, the team that he puts out, the way that he manages the squad as well. So we are really going for it in the Champions League and it'd be great to lift that trophy. When I look at it, I see the teams, English teams, who've won the European Cup and the Champions League. My feeling when I watch Arsenal in Europe, and this even goes back to the Arsene Wenger days...

when you had a great team and you were competing with United, but they were winning the European Cup in 1999, but you were competing with them in the Premier League. I think you even went out on the group stage then. I get the feeling that Arsenal almost plays smaller in Europe. I think Liverpool play bigger in Europe. I think Arsenal play smaller. Do you agree with that? Do you think that's fair? Is there a reason for that? I feel like we are pushing now, maybe before we might have, whereas now we are really pushing to try and go for it. So,

I wouldn't say going forward that's our plans or that's our objective. We really want to try and fight for everything. So going forward, that's not our ambition to be smaller. It's to be bigger and to be bolder. I think winning the Premier League has to be your first target, surely. Yeah, I think that is more likely, but we're not losing all hope and faith in the Champions League. But I feel like it is more likely for us to win the Premier League and I feel like we may have a better chance of winning that as opposed to the Champions League. But don't rule us out.

You need to deliver a trophy this year. Do you know what? How are the fans feeling about not winning a trophy? Because I know he won the first one in his first year. That was Emery's team, wasn't it? It wasn't his team really. Yeah, so he's won the FA Cup. He's won two Community Shields. Let's count everything that's been won. And yeah, you know, obviously we do want to be winning trophies and Arteta's been there for a number of years. So it's about time he has started to deliver. But

for me personally, I am patient and I want to take into consideration all of the changes that he's made around the club, you know, all of the positive impacts that he's brought in, you know, winning over the fan base, you know, bringing that positive energy, winning over the changing room, which, you know, for a United fan, I'm sure you probably understand the importance of, you know, your players playing for you, which Mikel Arteta gets out of these players and everything. So he's done the foundation works, um,

He's built those foundations and now it is time to start bringing in the trophies. You know, I'm hoping and praying it will be the season. But, you know, with the injuries that we're faced with, the depleted squad, it is a bit... Don't forget the refs. And the referees. Poor refereeing decisions. But I feel like a trophy is coming soon.

Does Arsenal's poor, almost pitiful record in Europe make any sense to you? They've been brilliant over the years and they've always, whether it's John Carew's score, it doesn't matter. They always fall short. I go back to what Gareth said. As Liverpool fans, I think...

You believe in people coming to the Champions League just because they've done it before. It's nothing to do with slot or the players. You just believe it. And I think it's probably the opposite with Arsenal. Probably because you haven't won it before. It's not that real belief. It took City ages to get used to it. And Cheney didn't even get out of the group stage. That was as champions of the Premier League. So I think obviously if you've been there for a long time, like City are relatively new to the competition. Yeah.

you have to learn how to play it. You have to learn the expectations because it's such a different feel, isn't it? And I've noticed that as a City fan. The amount of disappointing exits we had against Spurs, against Lyon, against Monaco and so on. I think Arsenal are going for that as well because it took City a lot of blood and sweat to get there, to win it finally. I think the City though,

It felt like it was coming, didn't it? It felt like you'd been progressing. I don't really see that with Arsenal yet. Time. It doesn't help when they used to celebrate Champions League like it was a trophy just for getting there, and it probably kind of sums up the mentality of... Well, we...

We do work on our mentality. I'll say we're quite a mentally strong team. No way. You know, we've got to celebrate all wins. You know, I mean, you guys didn't get top four last season. We've got three of those big boys in the trophy bag. Stephen, perhaps last season, would he want the Champions League more than anything? I think so. I actually do think so. I think obviously it's been a phenomenal... I don't know if it's last season, he could extend and we'll find out soon. But as it stands...

There's something about a second Champions League I think would be the icing on the cake. I think as a City fan as well, I think I would genuinely prefer that than obviously five would be insane in a row. But another year in the Champions League, there's also the added Madrid angle after the blow-up with the Ballon d'Or stuff as well. So,

I don't know if it's going to be easy though. If he was sat here with the Ballon d'Or when they were available, Rodri, I'd be a lot more confident. But he won us the Champions League and he's not there. And Kevin De Bruyne right now, I just don't know where he's at. His fitness is so up and down and Guardiola doesn't know when he's going to be available. Look, I'm hoping they will be and maybe in January be linked to the likes of Zubin Mendy and so on. Maybe we'll sign another midfielder because we're going to need one. But right now, my head's not in a positive place because of Rodri, as simple as that. So I think Guardiola, look,

I think he'll want it. Will we get it? I don't know until February, March. How long, if Pep does leave, what would he have done? Would that be eight years he's done? He's done, this is his ninth season. Okay, so this is nine seasons. How can you be, you can't be critical of Pep, really. I mean, he's amazing. Would you be disappointed or do you think he'd be disappointed if he won one Champions League in nine years at Man City who've got

more revenue than anyone and he's the best manager in the world everyone every time he speaks about it he doesn't give the impression he would be I mean Pep's he's a serial winner so maybe deep down he'd want more but he always talks about how hard it is to win it and how you know the Champions League can be decided by a moment you know there's fans and loads of teams here know how much a referee decision can just switch it or a deflection can just knock you out of the Champions League because it's a it's a it's a couple of moments isn't it really you know and

And I do feel, look, as a fan, no, not even a single criticism because I understand now, having gone through it, how much it takes to get there. And look, Alex Ferguson, arguably, you know. Won two in nine years.

And two and how many years before that? It takes a while to learn. Cup winners, Cup though. Yeah. But it's one of those things where the expectations, you want to treble. There is nothing we could throw at him as a City fan. Absolutely nothing. And I wouldn't be surprised, actually. I think we'll probably be more likely to win the Champions League than the Premier League this year because I do think that would be the aim for City. And Madrid... Three teams are more likely to win the European Cup.

Well, only one of them is going to do it, so we'll see how it goes, eh? It's important for the Premier League that he does go, though, isn't it? We get it, you're brilliant. You're going to win the league most times. Like, just go. You've done it. Do you not think he would be a bit of a loss? Lost Klopp, lost Guardiola. He's the best coach the Premier League has ever seen. But part of the richness and part of the reason that you love the Premier League so much is the brilliant characters within it. Jurgen Klopp's gone, that's a sad loss to the Premier League. Yeah, no, that is. I'd be happy for Klopp. Yeah, but the...

It just feels like it's cheating because he's so good. Let's everyone else have another. No, it's cheating. It's cheating because he's good. The lawyers are typing right now, mate. It's better for the competition if he's gone. Absolutely, so Arteta can shine.

we want the best hero don't we yeah Arteta is one of the best but he's not the best I was talking about Guardiola so you just find a way to beat him and that's the glory of it yeah that's the that's the challenge of it isn't it try and beat him look a lot of teams have struggled especially in the Premier League but in the Champions League

teams have found their way I think Arteta's existence makes him more likely to stay I think he loves it I think he loves playing against Arteta I think he loves the fact that slots now made Liverpool probably a challenge not that they weren't before but he's come in and kept those standards higher Pep is motivated by challenge he's motivated by success you guys have played with serial winners and they just care about winning full stop and I think Pep yeah the better teams are around him I think he's more likely to stay I really do believe that Show of hands here who do we think will win the Champions League I think

Who thinks City will win the Champions League? Wow. I don't know. City shares. I'll say yeah, go on then. Okay. Who thinks Liverpool will win the Champions League?

So all the Liverpool have voted for Liverpool. All the City voted for... Who do you think is going to win the Champions League? Real Madrid. Real Madrid. I don't think they'll win it again. Maybe Mbappé coming in. We always think that, but then they just do it. I know, but I just think Mbappé, fact, I just... Do you not think eventually he'll settle, though? Because obviously it's been a bit... You've got the best two left-wingers in the world. You can't play two left-wingers. You just...

I think he's going to start to play through the middle. He's playing through the middle now. Yeah, I think eventually he'll get going there. I think it's just a big change for them. Obviously, Jude Bellingham not playing as high up the pitch, so they need to kind of adjust to that. Vinicius and Rodrigo and all these guys trying to adjust to playing with Mbappe. I think once they get that,

I think Barcelona could be dangerous. They've been off the scene for a little while. They've got to watch who gets by. Wow, I've not seen that in a Barcelona team for a long time. So I think they're a very young team. It's like they are who they are again, almost, isn't it? Like Barcelona, what you associate with Barcelona. Yeah, exactly. You know what Real Madrid are going to do with this new format? They're going to sneak through that qualifying round by the skin of the teeth. And they'll just end up going on and win it, won't they? Honestly, what a club.

Right, now that we're talking about Europe, Scolzi, you're a man who's played over 100 games in the Champions League? I think so, yeah, something like that. Yeah, something like that. Name the best five players that you played against. Not necessarily the best players in the world, but who you actually came up against and thought, wow, in the Champions League over all your years. You've thrown that on me, haven't you? I played against some incredible teams, as you know.

I think the different spells of teams you think of that great Barcelona team the Real Madrid team when it was the proper Galacticos it's your thinking time isn't it yeah how long we got who else had a say Real Madrid Barcelona Juve 98-99 were strong right come on top five Messi 5-0-1

I'll just give you five there's no order Chavi and he has two straight away we've got three yes I want to pick midfield players but is there anyone who is not necessarily just a big name it might just be someone you think wow surprised you

I remember yous playing a game against Deportivo La Coruña and they had a player Valeron yeah Valeron yeah Tristan was up front yeah Tristan was up front I'm trying to think Beckham scored a great goal I always think look he does get a lot of credit but Clarence Seedorf yeah

Yeah. He did probably get the recognition, but... Wow. Is that when we got beat 3-0 at San Siro? Probably, yeah. Rooney scored the late one at Old Trafford and you thought... I'm trying to think of midfield players. That Real Madrid team was unbelievable. Redondo, again, as a midfield player, was sensational. Henning Begge, still spinning. I know. I don't know his.

Ronaldo, Figo, Zidane, yeah. We're up to ten now. That's the era we were good in. Imagine that. I'm not saying the era is not as good now, but there's many good teams. You agree? When we were trying to win European Cups, Champions Leagues, them teams were just...

ridiculous and it's a little bit the same with England you think of the squads we come up against you think of the French squad the Spain squad I think about this when I think about the European Cup now and I think we'd all agree it feels like in the past you'd name four or five teams like Barcelona and you'd go through all the players and we'd say wow but do we say they're not wow now because we think we're the best when you're the best at something are they not looking at the English Premier League and going oh my god they've got in they've got in they've got in

Or does it feel like the level of football has dropped slightly? I sort of play both arguments in my head. I think it's overexposure because of social media as well. Previously, these plays were sort of exotic because you didn't see them every single week. And now, we've seen every goal for Rafinha or the Minium. We've watched every development. There's no mystery there. So I think that plays into it big time. I'm always like that when the World Cup comes around. When you're a kid, it'd be exciting to see someone from Brazil. But now you're almost critiquing them, aren't you? Rather than praising them. What was the difference? You mentioned Xavi and Iniesta. What...

At that level, you can see they're amazing players, but for you playing against them, what was it they were doing? You just think these people are different clubs. They never give you time to tackle them. Do you know what I mean? They always know where everyone is on the pitch and they know where the opposition are. So you think you can get to them before you know it, it's gone. And all of a sudden you're just running around in circles and circles. I think Xavi and Iniesta, I think they were different players.

Xavi was amazing at controlling a game along with you can't rule Busquets out of that as well he probably doesn't get the credit he deserves because the three of them were so Iniesta was a little bit different because he could go past people do you think as a not individual as a well not a quartet as a midfield do you think there's ever been a better midfield than Busquets Xavi and Iniesta?

Beckham, Keane, Scholes, Giggs there's one no not a chance not a chance no I think that's the best I've ever seen you have to I'm trying to think about Real Madrid midfield with Redondo McAlealy as well was in that for a bit with Zidane and

You had Casemiro, you had Kroos and you had Modric. I think I'd still go Barcelona one meter. I think the Barcelona one's better. The way they used to play, the Barcelona one's better than that. Yeah. They made you feel helpless. I remember, obviously, you played in the final in 0-9-11 but...

Just watching them games, we were a great team as well. I think arguably the greatest Fergie team, but just watching them pass us to death. Painful, yeah. It did make me cry. Didn't make me cry. Scorsi, give us the five. You need ten. So we go Messi, Xavi, Iniesta. Who's the last two? Zidane. Zidane. I love R9. I know he's set it forward, but Brazilian Ronaldo.

That's some five-a-side team, that, isn't it? Yeah. Don't need to keep it up for them, do they? Yeah. Brilliant. 231. That's the average number of apps used by many companies. This leads to a lot of context and tab switching that drains employee focus and costs your company. Grammarly can help. Grammarly's AI works in over 500,000 apps and websites, making it easy for your team to write clearly and on brand without disrupting workflow.

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