 We discuss everything that is happening around the world when it comes to matters of football, because that is what men love when we gather around our major topic of conversation has got to be football, women. And 2022. That's the major part of the conversation, but football takes precedence because that's what everybody loves. And we have this feeling that you can never explain someone loving his own football team, you can never explain that, but they love it. It's like asking a football player when he scores a goal, how does he feel, but he will never have that answer. Joining us here for this edition of the fans on is Eric Aganya. Eric, long time but now you doing? I'm good, I'm good, I thank God. Good to see you guys. Still doing a good job. Yeah, welcome to the touch and also Tairas here, still with me here as my co-host here today when it comes to matters of football and that is everything that we are going to talk about right now. And before we get into all matters that are going on to football, it is actually now the last month we're getting on to the last 100 meters when it comes to the leagues all over the world when it comes to the England, the Premier League, the Bayern in Germany, Italy. It is the last month with six or seven games remaining and by the end of next month actually we'll be knowing which teams are going to be winners. But before we talk about that for you Eric, what has been your highlight of the week when it comes to sports? It is a super copy issue. It caught people by surprise. It came within a short time, it had also disappeared, raised a lot of controversy within the week. And you look at the social pages, there's a lot of exchange and people are wondering. What did you make of it? Mine, I thought it was a good idea. It was a good idea. But these teams are not leaving their domestic leagues. They are asking them to come and represent the Champions League, the elite league. But I was not for the idea that they leave their domestic leagues to be playing wiki in wiki up now. I was for the idea that maybe we can replace the Champions League where you have them on Wednesdays and Thursdays, Wednesdays and Tuesdays. And then over the weekend they stay in the league. So for you, if it could have been franchise football? Yes, franchise football. Because if you look at it realistically you find that clubs are under pressure. Because if you look at the players we have right now, they are just mercenaries. The contracts are so high for these clubs. So they need other sources of revenue. I was looking at a case of Manchester United, Pogba is demanding £500,000 per week to sign another contract. Where do you get that money? And you see with the supercup coming in, other clubs will be able to make that amount of money easily. Yes. For you Thairas, it's an idea you call it. You got a lot of money. Because look at the ticket pricing. All the costs will be passed on to the football fanatics, the football fans. Yes. And then football goes further and further away from the common man. And football is the common man sport at the end of the day. Yes. How will you afford to go and watch your favourite club in the European Super League? Yes. Which for it to exist was going to borrow a lot of money from JPMorgan. Massive bank, one of the biggest banks in the world. Yes. At the end of the day, the tail end of the costs effect will come down to you and me, our clones in Europe. The ones who love football and they support those clubs and want to go and watch them. As they have been watching the UEFA Champions League through the years. Already UEFA Champions League tickets are out of this world. They are barely affordable. Now in the European Super League, just forget about it. So the football goes away completely from the common man. It is now, it was going to be like a game of the rich now. The rich of the rich are the crime of people of money. Are the ones who could sit in those stadiums to watch those games play. And even media, you can't afford to go watch. Then you stay at home and maybe you watch it on the internet or you get TV rights to watch. That would also cost you an arm and a leg. The time when people are struggling to put food on the table with COVID-19 and all that. And the effects of COVID-19, yes they have vaccinations, mass testing in Europe and all that. But the effects of COVID-19 are going to be felt for a long, long time to come. Priorities, where will you get money to now top up the bills to watch these games on your internet or on television. The game was just being taken further and further away from you and me. I think maybe, maybe the step was too rushed but I think if you look at the evolution of the game, we are heading there. The game is not being money minded. And you look at the ticketing, it is becoming more expensive as time goes by. Why? Because you see, the players we have right now are not the players we had 20 years ago. You find that the players that were there 20 years ago was because of passion. You love a certain club, you want to play for that club. You don't mind how much you will be paid at the end of the day. But today the players we have right now, together with their agents. We got an agent like Mena Rayola. He takes almost 30-40% of, you see, such kind of greed that is coming. Then what happens to meritocracy? If you have a cream of the crop playing in the European Super League and teams like Leicester who are now looking for a top 4 finish in England and hoping to qualify for the UEFA Champions League next season to play against the cream of the crop and hopefully pull off a 2016 surprise like they did in the English Premier League. There was still a chance because these 12 clubs were the founder members and it was supposed to be expanded to 20 clubs. So there is still a chance that we will have more teams coming. Just like the way the Champions League was formed. I started with a little number of teams and then they increased over. These 12 clubs were trying just to insulate themselves against things like COVID right now. But they made losses. Why the favoritism? Why these 12 clubs? The big club. How do you arrive at the conclusion that these are the big clubs? The honors that you won. The honors that you won. Look at Arsenal, what honors when we talk of Europeans. Look at Arsenal, really. What honors, what honors, they never won. The question would be, what about UEFA? It would be like the dead of UEFA now because these teams are the major maker of the Champions League. But the roti in UEFA and the roti that is in FIFA is what has led to this because FIFA had no plan to insulate these clubs and everything to Perez saying that we had to lay off some workers and workers worked for that, for Real Madrid since he was a small kid. He's now 58, you want to lay him off. It's so painful. And those are the things that, you see, COVID-19 has hit everybody. And everybody, once you're hit, even you as an individual, you go back and say, what can I do to insulate myself against... Like I was saying, Arsenal have never won the European Cup. They've dominated English Premier League. In the past, in the long time, a lot of waters... and past another bridge, you see, it's not based on fairness, to be honest. No, I understand the gloves. It won't take others did not take up that invitation. If we went by and refused to take up that invitation, that Arsenal was considered, you never know. Yes. We agree with FIFA. FIFA are not also exempt of blame. They are not exempt of blame. They are also talking of expanding a world cup. Yes. That's not right. For the world cup, they are taking it to 46 teams. That's not right. They want to expand the Champions League. They want the Champions League to be like a league. Also, UEFA, I don't agree with UEFA. Yes, you take away the excitement. And we discussed that earlier on. We are talking of that reforming of the 2024-2025 UEFA Champions League. Yes. It has a lot of question marks that it's raising, which we discussed earlier. For instance, they are reserving four slots for the cream of the crop of Europe. Yes. Again, that's not based on meritocracy. Yes, exactly. So the people I was taking seriously in this debate that lasted for about 48 hours earlier in the week are the fans. Those are the people I was feeling for. And of course, the beautiful game. But now, what about the welfare of the player? Because here are nobody. And the player obviously. Yes. I think you put it correctly now that these players are coming now mercenaries. Yes. They are playing for money. They are playing for money. Because you see, these clubs, they want to maintain their top players. And how do you maintain your top players right now? It's not because of passion. It's because you're paying them well. And you see, for you to pay them well, you need sponsorship deeds and everything like that. And you see what the Super Cup was coming to guarantee. These 12 clubs, because these 12 clubs were looking at their own welfare, was coming to guarantee that. That they will continue having the best players. They will continue to be able to afford the best players. You see, Rielma did in the last two seasons. They have not been able to sign. They are used to signing Galacticos, Christian Ronaldo, David Beckham. But at the end of the day. They have not been able to sign since Hazard. Or should happen. There should be a ceiling now. That sort of says, you can't spend more than this much. But you ever has failed in that. Remember the financial fair play? Man City was found guilty. They appealed. It was overturned. The corruption in UFR, the corruption in FIFA is what is resulting to this. But I think still at the end of the day. This is the discussion we should have. There should be a ceiling. Otherwise things will just get out of hand. And we'll keep on finding ourselves in this situation. It is a conversation that rose up during the week. It's on hold as of the moment. But you never know what will be happening in the near future. As these clubs also have a say when it comes. Because they own as also have a say when it comes to the clubs. Because they are the ones who came with this idea. But now, let's go ahead and talk about some. As the leagues now come to an end. We look at the English Premier League now. It's a dandale. Manchester City is going with that trophy. I think we can safely say that unless a miracle happens. If they had lost the other day. Maybe they'll still be hoped for Manchester United. But you see now it becomes really complicated for Manchester United. Because they are banking on Man City to mess up. Yes. For them to be able to win. And I think Manchester United shot themselves in the foot. With some draws that they were not supposed to get those draws. They were beaten by Sheffield. That game they should not have been beaten. You see such kind of games. And I think we can safely say Man City will carry it. But away from the title race that Manchester City has gone with. You look at. We remain with I think six or seven games to go for the English Premier League. But it has been a very beautiful season. Looking at the way Leicester has come up to challenge for the top four position. Western. Western, where they have come to challenge for the top four position. Liverpool, who are actually the league, the Premier League owners. Defending champions. Cannot even make the top five. They don't concentrate on the few remaining games. That's been a beautiful season so far. It's been a season of upsets. Very difficult to predict. And even just Newcastle. The other time a few weeks ago we were talking about them in terms of relegation. Then they picked up. Pumped up themselves just at the right time. And now we are talking of other teams in terms of relegation. That's the kind of season it's been throughout. And when you consider that it's been that way without fans. Then really football is such an exciting game. Because usually you'd think that the fans are the ones who would make. Their presence in the stadium would make the games more unpredictable. By making the David's of football knock out the Goliaths. But no, it's just football. That's the beauty of it. That's why I don't support any criteria that doesn't take into account meritocracy. But again the absence of the fans I think has affected some teams. For example Liverpool has lost quite a number of games at home. And if they had the fans they would not have lost those games. They would not have been beaten seven goals by Aston Villa if their fans were there. Because if you look at the English Premier League. Some of the most difficult grounds to go and win is Anfield and James Park for Newcastle. Because the fans are noisy, they sing. And I think that has affected teams like Liverpool. For Arsenal the players have, they're not playing for the badge. You see that you've been paid, there's no passion. I looked at yesterday's game against Everton. And they're playing at home. There's not that hunger to win a football match. And that has really affected Arsenal. They don't show up. Has that been their main undoing actually? For us we were talking here off the record and we were like, Arsenal is the club is bigger for Ateta. It's not capable to run that club properly. No, I tend to disagree because you see Ateta was at Man City as an assistant under Godiola. And Godiola is one of the best in the game. So he learned from the best. I think Arsenal is just a matter of one, the players. Secondly they are captains. We have a captain who cannot rally the team. You see a captain should be loud. A captain should be ready to go even when you are... Look at captains like Roikin. Look at Avera when he was at Arsenal. He could start a fight with Roikin in the tunnel. Bumeyang does not talk. Bumeyang has discipline issues. There's another game he was left because he came late. That's what you expect from your captain. So they have a few exciting young people coming in. The problem is now the senior players are not showing up. If you look at somebody was talking about budget or Ateta was not given money, David Moyes was not given money. Kalo Angeloti at Iwaton. Arsenal has a bigger budget than that. Leicester, whom did they buy? That cannot be the exit. Aston Villa. So you see the players have just refused to play for the club. Especially the senior players. A tough one for him. They are looking as the season comes to an end and which players are going to win that one. But away from England we'll be coming back to preview some of the matches that will be coming your way. But you also got La Liga. It's also coming on to the end because now I think for the first time we are seeing three hostries in La Liga where we are seeing Barcelona there, Atletico Madrid also stamping the authority very well and also Real Madrid separate also three points with game in hand here and there. It looks like a season that will go all the way to the wire. It's tough. And really for Atletico Madrid their nickname is the unlucky ones and they have accepted it. They are unlucky. But I'm hoping that doesn't come out to play and they are unlucky enough to bottle it just at the end of the season. I hope and this is to just cut that dominance of Real Madrid and Barcelona. It would be good for football also. If Atletico Madrid can at least win the Champions League this season. But then again it's not about my emotions here. Football has no room for that. I think they are going to have to earn it at the very end, Atletico Madrid. They do still have the chance. They have the best chance out of the three teams you just mentioned. But all teams are sort of having a realistic chance at it. Any team that drops points from now between those three teams can safely start saying it's not for them this season. Actually when you look at the table at the moment you look at Atletico Madrid at the top of the table 3.2 of Real Madrid and 5 points above Barcelona. Barcelona have a game in hand and they play Atletico Madrid on the 8th of May. 7 games remaining. That game will have to be key for both Barcelona and Atletico Madrid. And even for Rea. I think that game gives advantage to Real Madrid because Real Madrid has already played Barcelona home and away. Atletico home and away. So it gives advantage to Real Madrid because if this game can end in a draw both teams will have dropped points. And I think what will assist maybe Barcelona and Atletico is the fact that they have been knocked out of the Champions League Real Madrid has still to prepare for the Champions League. And that may be an undoing factor for Real Madrid. But as Tyra said I also wish Atletico wins it. They have a hardworking manager who drills his team so nicely look at what happens in the Champions League they have reached the final they have lost it to Real Madrid so painful. If you ask to give it to them you can give it to them as an appreciation. Early Christmas Really they really work their socks off and it's been season after season after season not just this season they've been very consistent they've been such a fantastic side to watch because they combine the technical aspect of the game and the tactical plus the skills they're everything you want if you want them to defend they'll defend tight if you want them to attack my goodness they'll attack like a swarm of bees so you just want them to win also because of the underdog factor they are the small brother between Barcelona and Real Madrid really you want them to win and therefore the La Liga brothers let's see who is going to win that one and as it is going also to the wire but in Germany also we can also say that Bayern Munich will go and win their ninth consecutive Bundesliga title talk about Spain the Dominants being Real Madrid Barcelona Atletico I think they have won in the last 10 years Atletico they have won twice but now when it comes to the German team it's bayana nine titles straight for them they have no competition down there I'll blame Dortmund Dortmund have not lived up to the expectation I remember this season we were expecting a lot of things from them they have not lived up to the hype because if you look at now Bayern is almost 10 points ahead of the closest rival where is Dortmund because I believe it came the other day but Dortmund has been challenging and you see Dortmund some key players who performed last season like Jordan Sancho has not shown up this season and that has affected their squad big time and then Bayern has a tendency to do their business quietly and early enough they don't wait for the last minute and you see that they already captured up Makano they are budgeting with the next season their coach is stepping down so they are looking at another coach before even the season ends they have a complete squad so when they start the season they start the season off Hans Fleck is rumored that he might be joining the German national team Yes, in that talk and I think he was built for that team because he understands German football the man is an expert typical German, they are very good as players and then they go on to become very good coaches of the game and I mean look at Thomas Tukel at Chelsea he is done joined mid season and he has been there for ages and what Erica said about Dutchman is true, we had high expectations very high hopes of them they were supposed to be like the Atletico Madrid of the German Bundesliga but now they are sitting fifth but you got to give it to Arpi Lipsig because they are second in that table and they have really fought hard to get over the likes of from there the likes of Huffenheim who usually make on to the top four of that stream they are not going to play again so Arpi Lipsig is not a bad season for them not a bad season but you look at last season they went also up to the Champions League I think they were semifinalist in the Champions League so for the last two seasons Arpi Lipsig have done a good job and they have a young exciting manager at the age of 34 Negalsman at the age of 34 who is also rumored to be the one who wants to take over after Tottenham looking at him what about Bayern Munich so he is in between Bayern Munich Tottenham and you see what that young man has done for the last two seasons is exciting they came from nowhere the semifinals of the Champions League last season this season they are number two in the Bundesliga so the problem now is they sell their best players the mechano is already gone there is another defender who is rumored to come to Manchester United or Manchester City the moment you are losing your best players to your rival it rarely happens in England in England you don't find a player moving from Liverpool at his peak to Manchester United that's why I was talking of the ceiling on how much clubs can actually spend on plans because in this kind of scenario you always have the big fish eating the small fish so a team like Leipzig is reinvented it comes so close then just when it's getting there the key components that have made that ingredient almost perfect are bought away by the bigger teams that is what happened to the Monaco team exactly so you find that at the end of the day the same old names are the same ones they are creating the beautiful game and it sort of kills football because you want a scenario whereby Leipzig can win the Bundesliga instead of buying and dominating season in season out the major problem with that is because these big clubs are let's say yes they are companies and they are big companies but at the end of the day they are also toys to these rich people that's why you find someone like Abramovich has no problem buying a player and relieving him of with 40 million you see or you can get another player you can buy a whole team the way he gave lampad 200 million to just go and buy players because at the end of the day for him he looks at the team as major leagues play toy for him is not more of a company and also the players being following money you remember long time ago I remember I was reading somewhere Paul Scholes was saying that the owner of AC Milan at that particular time when Paul Scholes was at his peak approached him and told him I want you to play for me so you wanted to get Paul Scholes from Manchester United to go to AC Milan and Paul Scholes said then you have to buy Manchester United you see that patriotism that love for your club and right now all his life you don't find such players who can play even more than 10 years more than 10 years look at the likes of Harry Ken maybe next season he'll be in a big club there is all of that talk so you see that lack of patriotism and lack of identity or a certain club you find that it becomes a problem because when money comes then you go to Holland and he's looking at Paul Scholes was making very good money at Manchester United now imagine if he was playing for West Ham and the owner of AC Milan approached him let's go and I'll give you this obviously former Prime Minister obviously that time you'd have said chances are higher you'd have said that so the money factor still at play for that one person to remain at a club in this era from start to finish like Steven Gerard did at Liverpool there is the money factor and Liverpool were paying Gerard handsomly so that's why I'm really saying at the end of the day this thing of having a sort of ceiling that says ok this is the most this is the limit for managers, for players I understand what you are saying but also that ceiling is there but let's say complicated because it works with the amount of money you make as a club the amount of money you make as a company so if Manchester United turnover is high then Newcastle for them they are allowed to buy so Newcastle cannot buy more than they make we say that that's where the problem comes in these owners who came in that's where the financial fair play came in so that they wanted to stop owners from injecting money to the club that's when the financial fair play so that the clubs can make their own they generate their own money to buy their own players but now when the likes of Abramovich came in the likes of Sheikh Mansur, the Glazers came in for them it's a business so they injected outside cash to the clubs then they let financial fair play came in but now I think also the UFA Champions League as formulated in 1992-93 there about that season when it came into force it brought about the manifactor and that really went on an inhibited to phenomenal levels that was the last time just before that that a team like Stuart Bucharest could win the European Cup if you go further down that road you'll find names like Aston Villa having won the European Cup you'll find you'll find those teams you'll find Leeds United competing in the 70s for this thing but ever since the UFA Champions League era was constituted almost 30 years ago you find that it's only certain names that will go on winning this thing because that is where the money is that's where they buy they see Osora is playing well for Y-254 they take him so Y-254 is left almost without anyone they can depend on in terms of experience skill and so on and so forth so you keep on going back to the drawing board assuming Y-254 was a football club really that continuity can't happen you can't win anything big one there for us Teras Weyaki here on Y-254 and Eric Agani Eric let's go on and talk about Italy now Antonio Conte left Chelsea went to Italy to cover Inter Milan most likely is also going to win that league and also kill the Juventas dominance Juventas had won it for nine times this was their 10th in a row that is not good for football that's not good for football so I'm really excited for Inter Milan because breaking that dominance has created excitement and you find that Antonio Conte is a winner and when he went to Inter Milan he was backed he brought in the likes of Lukaku was scored a lot of goals for him he brought in Ashley Young for Manchester United who came in and have really assisted the team so you see that one has brought a challenge to Juventas and I pity Pilo because he was a great player but he took Juventas at the wrong time too early for him too big shoes for him like Lampard at Chelsea like Lampard at Chelsea maybe like a theta at Arsenal you remember when Javi was asked to take over Barcelona he said maybe one time one day in future but not now now I am not ready I think Pilo should have done that because look at this season he may end up trophy less if Atalanta beats him in the final that he is going to play that is it the champions league is out the domestic league will not win that is it AC Milan also I think this season they have tried to get out of the other shadows for a very long time we have never been here but now they are coming back to the top they are second in that league even though they are 10 points behind Inter Milan has been also very good season for them I am impressed they have come back from the dead they had actually hit rock bottom and I think the only way was up for them they have been a joy to watch this season and they extended Slatan Ibrahimovic's contract by one more year meaning that they are going to continue with that excitement that Ibrahimovic has brought onto the squad unbelievable he is 39 going on to 40 soon and he is playing like he is at his prime for a striker usually at that age he must play they come off the bench to do the business Ibrahimovic is good to start in the first 11 he is good coming off the bench he is just unbelievable he has been a leader on the pitch and I think of it as well so AC Milan have been exciting to watch but it's unfortunate that when they came so close and it looked as though they would win this season they sort of started backsliding but either way finishing in the top 4 for them and it looks like they might finish second is good enough next season could be one that they go for the trophy I hope the Italian squad a big one there for Italy but also in France we've got Paris and Juman with 5 games to go and they are there with the champions leading the way PSG second Monaco and then Leon how do you see Mauricio Pochettino and PSG can he land that trophy he is more focused on the champions league because if you look at that Paris and Juman they have dominated that league for quite some time so there is no excitement in winning the domestic trophy and the thought that they are in the champions league semi finalist they can go to the final and win it is exciting to them remember last season they won the final and they didn't win it so I think if he is asked to pick between the two trophies we will pick the champions league and that has shifted because I saw them beat Barcelona for 4 goals in the champions league in midweek and they were beaten back a small team in the domestic league over the weekend the mentality of the players the mentality of the players they are putting more emphasis on the champions league and it is also interesting because we have seen the sleeping giants coming up now Monaco, Leon they were gone now they are coming up to challenge and it will go up to the last maybe the last two games the french league will go up to the last two games big one there let's see how big they are going to go but right about now let's also give you a preview of some of the games that I playing this afternoon it's already kickoff actually nine minutes gone between Liverpool and Newcastle and already Mosa has put Liverpool ahead in the fourth minute and they are leading Newcastle by one goal to nail a big game there today that you are going to see there Liverpool playing Newcastle and now they have to fight for that fourth position well it's too early to tell whether it's a game they could lose or not because it's just started and it's no surprise that Mosa is the one who's found the back of the net for Liverpool he's been the guy who against all odds he had COVID-19 at some point he overcame that having tested positive and now that meant he had to go into quarantine he came back recovered that form and he's been going for top scorer of the English Premier League this season in as much as Harry Kane has also been going for it and has been on form Mosa has been one guy who has even though he's not hit his peak this season like he has done in previous seasons he's been the guy who's kept Liverpool alive this season somehow he finds the back of the net yes some may argue the penalties come in handy for him doesn't matter he's been finding the back of the net at a time when Sadio Mane has been going downwards and then coming up again at a time when Liverpool has been as good as dead but Mosa, it doesn't surprise me he's found the back of the net but I'm not writing of Newcastle United what I'm going to post to you Harry Kane Liverpool this top four position I think that's where the league is now at the moment who is going to finish in that fourth position because we've got Liverpool now the moment they get the three points they jump on to the fourth position with 56 points but you've got Chelsea that have not played you've got Western that have not played and you've got Tottenham that have not played and they all they have in the margin the moment they win their game they push Liverpool to the seventh position I think now five matches to go down to the wire for Liverpool to make it to the champions league or next season we might say they are playing in the Europa Cup on the top four according to my assessment I think Chelsea will pip Liverpool to the fourth position despite the fact that today Chelsea is supposed to play Western and both of them if Chelsea wins today's game then Liverpool may not get that top fourth position because again the reason why I'm banking on Chelsea Chelsea have a bigger squad the Chelsea manager can afford to rotate Liverpool one of their problems their squad is aging most of their players are in their early 30s or late 20s so you find that they cannot play week in week out I read something about the captain of Leeds United Liverpool scored an early goal the game went up to the 90th minute when Leeds equalised and they banged for actually it was banged for the striker for being a captain shouting to the other players the Liverpool players they were playing too deep meaning they are tired they cannot come up and go before they considered that goal in the 90th minute and you see when you are 39 or when you are 29 or 32 it becomes a problem for you to go up and down and then you are against a 23 year old a 22 year old and you see that has affected them because of that and now the injuries that came up really took a toll on the team because the central defence has practically been out the whole season and you see if you look at the Chelsea squad now the Chelsea squad is big if you look at their bench power is strong enough so the coach can be able to to rotate and maybe that may be the factor that will make Chelsea now to become to pipi to the fourth position and then now that is the game that now everybody will be watching today because now Western playing home to Chelsea is going to be a cracker because all of them are fighting for that fourth position that game will determine a lot for Liverpool and it's funny how the mathematics are panning out right now remember earlier we said that the Barcelona Atletico Madrid match will determine a lot for Real Madrid now even here the West Ham Chelsea game will determine a lot for Liverpool whoever images tops in that game or if they draw still that will determine a lot for Liverpool because all those three teams are in contention for a top four slot to secure a champions league spot and it's the mathematics at play so you're watching this game with another one in mind and then when you watch that game you'll have this particular game in mind so really you have to factor in all these things every touch counts every throwing counts each and every decision made or not made counts that's where we've reached in the season because obviously as Eric said earlier the Manchester City have taken the English Premier League that one is a forgotten conclusion now the maths is about top four finish so that's where all the focus is on is on right now and Chelsea West Ham remember that is a dubby it's crazy crazy crazy West Ham feel that they are the men of London and Chelsea they feel are the softies of London so there will be a lot of dynamics into that and then this one is also a dubby in a sense because Liverpool and Newcastle are up there in north of England they are sort of neighbours up there towards Scotland so in a sense this one is also a dubby it's interesting this one I mean very very interesting so you see there are some of the other matches that will be playing play today because Sheffield United playing Brighton will be playing home to Burnley tomorrow we have Leeds United playing Manchester United Aston Villa will be playing home to West Brom then at the King Power Stadium Leicester will be playing Crystal Palace let's talk about the game tomorrow Eric Leeds Manchester United also a big one for Leeds actually but also United have already also stamped their second position but also they need these points they need the points and it will be an explosive match because we have two teams that play attacking football Leeds will not sit back Leeds will come Manchester United will be counting on that come we hit you on the counter last encounter ended in 4-1 6-2 I think when they play last 6-2 in favour of Manchester United so it's going to have goals because Leeds play an open game they don't fear they will come to you they concede four goals Manchester United are very good on the counter and Olegana will be banking on the speed wingers in Rashford to harass the Leeds defense and you will find that this is an open game that eventually I see a lot of goals it's not a game that can end in a nil nil drone there will be a lot of goals the only problem with Manchester is that they usually slow off the track the after the gun has been shot in there now start the race they take their time and they become more of a second half team and because they've won so many games in the past or just survived losing games and drone in the past in the last few minutes of the game they've escaped from intense scrutiny in terms of their first half performance whereby they play well in the first half kind of but fail to score and then they come in the second half and play so well and bang in those goals when you're playing a team like Leeds that Eric has just pointed out they'll come out guns blazing attacking attacking you want to get off those blocks at the same time with them so that it's you give them as much as you're taking from them you don't want to give them that advantage of hitting you first and then now you wait until the second half to come in strong for them you've got to go all out and if I really had to a gun upon my head right now and I'm told who between the two sides will win I think if Manchester United get it right they'll win this one I think big one there for Manchester United but we'll be hoping next season is well now they need to start on the front foot to start winning those matches but let's also finish off with the Champions League that will be coming next week the semi-final of the UFA Champions League Real Madrid what are they playing? Real are playing Chelsea Chelsea and PSG are playing Manchester City it's because I don't like pronouncing the other things well there you go yes I know Eric said Eric said given a choice PSG what would they pick the Champions League or the French low champion the league one I think maybe PSG as a team would pick the Champions League as Eric has just said but Pochettino would pick both because he needs that for his legacy it wouldn't be good enough if he wins the Champions League and doesn't win the French League one they'll always be those question marks about how comes he didn't win the league one so I think he's going all out for both and I think he's got a higher weight on the scales against Manchester City terrific side Manchester City but man PSG are playing football made in the stars and Mauricio Pochettino has played Pep Guardiola for some time and he has actually won against Pep Guardiola Manchester City, Paris and Germany the game that is also going to be very explosive is a bit giving Mauricio Pochettino a chance there but it is the Champions League and you cannot write off Pep Guardiola as a team the only problem with Pep Guardiola is sometimes he over things and when he over things he tinkers a lot with his his formation and his starting lineup today you cannot tell me man cities predicted lineup especially upfront maybe in the defense you know there will be their stones and their keeper but upfront you don't really know and of late he's frozen out sterling sterling is not starting games because at the time he had frozen out mares and you see that is the biggest problem with him and when you over things and over tinkers then it affects the stability of the team and that is why you find that Mauricio Pochettino knows how to beat Manchester City because he has done it with Tottenham not once and in this game I am putting my money on Mauricio Pochettino because his hard name come back into the team I remember he beat Barcelona without name and he is going to attack man city from the ward go because he plays attacking football it will be an interesting game wow the semifinals attack playing Manchester City is going to be another game but also we got Real Madrid playing against Chelsea also in the other semifinal what do you make of that one well the champions league is not about favourites it's about surprises but pretty much amongst the elites these are two elite sides and Real Madrid are more elite than Chelsea because they say some animals are more equal than others and even though Real Madrid have that chance over Chelsea the way Chelsea are playing right now and the way Tukel understands football I would not be entirely surprised even though I think Real will win over the two legs on aggregate I will not be entirely surprised as to lose my sleep if Chelsea have the last laugh I am not writing them off but Real have the upper hand nobody expected them to beat at La Tico Madrid Chelsea and many people are not expecting them to beat Real Madrid but they are capable of beating Real Madrid if they score fast the problem with Chelsea after Tukel came in is that they have a lot of possession they are very compact but that precision that last pass to get goals so you have seen them winning 2-1 1-0 they have not scored 4 goals but they have the fire power is emphasising on compactness of the team and that one will create problems for Real Madrid because Real Madrid again they have a few injuries here and there and it's a very open game Real Madrid winning again as the Liverpool without Sergio Ramos without Verane in that defense also spoke a bit of Zinedine Zinedine Ziderezi Dan is a specialist of the champions league he does there was a time he was barely making impact in the La Liga and he won the champions league and you see he beat at Atlanta nobody expected him to beat at Atlanta because at Atlanta were exciting they had a good squad he had injuries he came and beat comprehensively he beat Liverpool when nobody was expecting he beat Liverpool 3-0 when he knew he had injuries and it will be interesting to see how these two play out but above everything because of Zinedine Ziderezi I will give it to Zinedine Ziderezi over the 2 minutes the point I like most about what Eric has said that compactness of Chelsea Ziderezi Dan usually has a problem cracking a compact side that's why you see he struggles beating atletico Madrid almost always ends in a draw when he faces atletico Madrid because they score fast and then they go compact he really plays his last card to score and equalize against a compact side so it's going to be very interesting to see how especially if Real concede fast how they'll be able to crack that but you cannot write Real Madrid under Zinedine Ziderezi Dan in the I've done it before in private I didn't say it publicly I didn't post on Facebook but man I swallowed my pride Zidane is good he's a quiet guy he's an introvert and when you're quiet people will write you off people respect the loud mouth Zidane is just quiet in nature and he gives you the results so I can't write them off a big one there for Real Madrid and Chelsea in the other semifinal of the Champions League then we have Paris and German and also going head to head again Manchester City that's a game also everybody will be watching to see how it is going to play out but also we go to the Europa League Manchester United are in the semifinal also do you fancy their chances to the final? yeah I fancy their chances to the final because they have players who've come back from injury and they're doing very well like Paul Pogba in the last two games he really played brilliant football and they have the bench power to change things up in the midfield and you see the moment they can go to do that then they become unpredictable and then they have they are combining a youth plus experience upfront when Greenwood cannot do the job then Kavani comes in and does the job you see that one if they get to the final then they are very high chance that they lift it because equally Roma is a very good side and if they can be able to beat Roma then they will lift it and to make even the situation even be more important to Manchester United that's the only trophy they can win right now yes and the Olegana has been accused of not bringing silverware and even Morino had a dig at him telling him I was there, I won this, I won you've not won anything so he's banking on the champion because it's like a specialist failure when it comes to the semifinal if you can get past the semifinal he will win it because there are very few finals that Manchester United gets in and loses and the exit also also brings in it is going to bring in a lot of involvement from Fagason Fagason is going to be involved a lot in the school it's good you have brought in the Eduardwa living Manchester United I remember when Fagason was working for Manchester United at that time is a point man in the boardroom was David Gill and they had a very good relationship getting good players and all that seems that Eduardwa came with a point man Eduardwa is a businessman so he's not the kind of person you go and tell him get this player for 100 million he refused to pay 100 million for Jordan Sanjo out of the last season but if it was David Gill David Gill loved football Fagason loves football so he'll do everything anything in his power to get I remember I read somewhere Christian Ronaldo they played against Lisbon Christian Ronaldo terrorized Manchester United defense and when the game was at half time Rio Ferdinand and the other players told Fagason you must go with this kid and by the time they left that they had already signed Ronaldo that person who loves football but Eduardwa actually was being accused he was the point man of JP Bank and there are very high chances he's going back to JP after he has the situation he used to work there he's going back there and usually that's the clash in a club normally there's a businessman in the club who's been tasked to make profits for the club and then there's a tactician in the club who's been tasked with the job of getting results for the club and usually a clash between these two because the guy who's the tactician is saying I need this player so that I can be able to provide the results and then this guy is saying no no no we are cutting down on costs and he's got to make profits so he's thinking in terms of you make do with what you have then there's a culture clash there in the other semifinal we have got a Villa Real playing Asano so chances Manchester United Asano in the final of the Europa League Asano will not make it to the final my friend Unai Emery is at Villa Real he knows Unai Emery is a specialist of the Europa League he's won it with Xavier several times so Asanoil may not make it to the final and you see there's a way Unai Emery sets up his team and look at since he came to Villa Real they've been able to reach the semifinal of the Europa Cup but they've not done that before so we can not rule them off Asanoil it's hard for Asanoil it's an uphill task really and they're not consistent you've got to be consistent well I know we have played a very good campaign when it comes to the Europa League we have been the they messed up in the first game against the quarter final they lost one nil and then they came in the second game and won four nil Unai Emery will not allow them to do that you see they start off slow and then the second leg they came and beat them four nil and you see that one you cannot mess up like that when it reaches to the finish line you know it's at the finish line last weekend they lost was it one nil to Deportivo Alave Villa Real but I think that was a one off really they are more consistent than Asanoil and at this level you must be consistent I don't fancy Asanoil's chances and if somehow they miraculously get because miracles happen in football get to the final I still don't see them winning the final they are lucky they count themselves lucky to be here I wanted to say about Tukel and Chelsea that I didn't say let me say before we go off air apart from building a compact Chelsea side Tukel is also a good man manager because if you look at how Katzuma has improved under him Katzuma had become the fall out guy he was scoring on goals against his own team and he was also playing up other mistakes that were costing Chelsea at the back but since Tukel came Katzuma has been reborn and he is the Katzuma of the Chelsea and the youth side that really did well in the FA Cup and in other tournaments Tukel is also a good man manager back to the UEFA Europa League UEFA Europa League is the semifinal matches in the United we will be playing Roma and then Villa Real will start against Asanoil in the first of the semifinal of the Europa League but we will be looking at it also next week when these games have been played this gentleman will be here to tell us if their predictions are going to be going to be perfect given Real Madrid he also gave Real Madrid to go through he also gave PSG, I remember you never gave Manchester City a chance there with Pep Guardiola to get onto that semifinal but we might see how it is going on there games that are happening at the moment still leading no council by one goal to nil and then Western will come away at 7.30 against Chelsea that's a very good London derby and we'll be finishing off the day with Sheffield United against Brighton half but we are back to England then there is one talking point we cannot leave this table without discussing it and we are going to talk about our favourite coach Jose Mourinho being let go on Mujcho concert by the man himself Daniel Levy of Tottenham to me personally and I said it earlier on when he was hired it was not a matter of if he will be fired but when he will be fired one these are two strong personalities Jose Mourinho is a very strong personality and we have Daniel Levy on the other side a very strong personality and they will happen they will be clashes and then secondly we have Jose Mourinho who doesn't really know how to deal with the current crop of players that we have right now Deli Eli is not Didier Drogba Didier Drogba will bench him will go and tell him words and those harsh words will strive him to want to do better Deli Eli you do that with him will shrink and you find that that is the current crop of players that we have right now during Sir Alex Fagason he shouted at everybody apart from Luis Nani he never shouted at Luis Nani he never that noise he never made because he understood what kind of player Luis Nani is there are those kind of players if you want them to perform you bring them closely Jose Mourinho doesn't know how to do that he comes hard on them and the crop of players right now I will say they are wrapped in cotton wool and there was a time I think he went to the dressing room after a game and he took a photo of the Tottenham team after a game and every player was on a phone and he wondered if that is a dressing room but he has also been known as a coach who every club he has been into I think let's say except Inter Milan he ends up having conflicts with the players and he ends up leaving that club Chelsi the second spell he had conflict with the players look at Tottenham the same thing Manchester United had problems with Pogba and all that as Erika said he has a problem managing these players but also he loses the dressing room real quickly and he has just got the words out of what I said we said on this show last week he didn't know how to deal with the current crop of players he knew how to deal with that previous generation the ones you cast at you swore at and you told the men you're better than that these ones of today are different you have to approach them more diplomatically and we said it over here we said even parenting has changed the way our folks brought us up is not the same way we are bringing up the generations of today it's different an African father and I'm sure you've seen those jokes on the Kenyan social media space African fathers of our time were distant you spoke to him on a need to basis today I hear my neighbours kids say dad say ma you couldn't do that Murinyo now needs to adapt to the people relations of today become an Instagram dad because times have changed and times will always change those are the realities so you have dads having conversations even with their daughters that fathers of our time would not have had with our sisters where do you think he will end up now any hopes of him joining national team or he will also go back to another football club he will go back to another football club because let's not take away what he has done for football look at his owners look at what is done for football and not only in one country in Portugal in Spain, in Italy and also in England very brilliant manager but he said himself that he is coaching a national team because it is boring he wants action weak in weak out a national team will not give him that but what I am sure is that he will not end up in a small club because he cannot survive in that small club I was thinking of him going to the Syria if Antalanta don't do well next season maybe midway they can have him he is built for Syria and someone else mentioned France when he took over the work at Tottenham as manager that one I sent on social media and I said Tottenham is not built for him for Tottenham he was going to fail why he plays a different kind of football from Mauricio Pochettino plays attacking football open game him now he plays compact game now to drill these players to accept his compact game it was built to fail it's just the way he went to Manchester Manchester are an attacking size and he was not given a spot in the bus bad one there for Jose Mourinho and then now Tottenham will be playing over the weekend also in the EFL cup I didn't understand the saking I didn't understand the saking for me 6 days to the EFL cup EFL cup you suck your manager I did not understand anyway but an exciting manager came in Ryan Marston very good for him 29 years old 29 years old he had to cut his career short because of a concussion on the head so that's something good for him he came in and won against he's a Tottenham boy he's been in Tottenham throughout he won against Southampton I don't know I was reading as I was coming my character is reminding me of Vege at the moment and I look at him and say he's 29 years old he has started his career in the Premier League and once or twice a year he will be playing Roy Hudson who is the oldest who is the oldest and then you try to picture in what is our 29 year old doing right now he's an admin of a WhatsApp group maybe he can't boost up this 29 year old coach can be the one who can manage to handle not this generation of players at the moment maybe because he understands them if you look at Tottenham apart from Hurricane and maybe Song there are the others a pancake can say who galore maybe who galore and that's why you find who galore because he doesn't understand why are you not tracking back why are you not doing this Hurricane has that hunger these are the ones they want to go to and do you know such kind of things you know such kind of things but it wasn't fair to Sakmurinio just before getting them to a final that was wrong that one I'll stand for him that's where we come to the end of the touch then we are going to perform Robert Osoro, Erika Ganya here it's a pleasure for everyone who has managed to make this sure a success we say good afternoon and thank you enjoy the rest of your broadcast here on Y254