 It is the touch line here on Y254. I'm Robert Rosoro. Big things are happening and we are here to discuss everything that has been happening in the world of rugby and joining me to discuss football now. It is that time of the season where teams are preparing for the pre-season as they wait for the season to start actually next month. Eric, welcome to the touch line. It's been a minute. Thank you, thank you sir. It's been a minute. So many things up and down here. How are you doing? I'm good. I'm good. I thank God. Despite the fact that it has been a difficult week for us. But we believe it's God's will. Our mum rested on Monday and I think by next week on Friday we'll be laying her to rest. She was a great fan of sports. She loved sports, specifically netball. And she was a trainer and a coach. And we pay tribute to her for the life we've been together. Yes. As we say, it is the will of God. As Gladys, that was her name actually. Yes. Gladys Adarumulupi. As we lay her to rest on Friday on 15th. Why? The touch line condols with your family. Thank you, thank you sir. Alright. So let's talk about football, some things that happened. What has been your highlight on the week when it comes to transfers because everything is happening very, very fast. So much is happening at the same time and you're finding that teams are strengthening especially in England. In the Premier League I think we're going to have a very interesting season because we're looking at the big teams are really, really strengthening. And we've had Harland to Manchester City. That's a big, big, big season. Finally Manchester United brought in and left back in... Tyra. A good player for Manchester United to have? A good player. I've seen glimpses of him on YouTube. And I think on training the last two days he's been in training with them. He's an exciting young man. But my problem is that was that really what they really needed at that particular time. Because you see at the left back they already have look show and they have the other Brazilian. So is that really what Manchester United needed? Because I think the priority should have been probably a centre back. Yes. Because you look at the centre backs that we have in Manchester United. We have Rafael Varane. Yes. He's barely fit. We have Maguayo. I don't need to explain more about Maguayo. I was looking at... I was looking at something changed actually. My perspective yesterday when I was looking at... I was just perusing through online. And there was a lot of stories that Ten Hagas came in with some strict demands on what he wants to happen to Manchester United. So players having personal chefs. So you're in a club you've got a personal chef. He's brought in now you'll eat food that is prepared by the chef of the club and all that. So you realize that it was a regime that players had a lot of power in Manchester United. And that's what is coming in to slash it completely. To slash completely because if you look at Manchester United since the departure of maybe Jose Mourinho. Yes. I think Van Gaal era there was a little bit of discipline. Jose Mourinho there was that discipline. Yes. But since the departure of Jose Mourinho because when Solcia came in. Yes. He relaxed things a little bit. Yes. And Rangni came in and made it even worse. Yes. Because you see for a team to perform there has to be three things. One discipline. Discipline yes. Discipline among the players. Yes. And off the field. Because you see that it is the discipline off the field. Yes. That has been killing Manchester United because if they are not dieting properly. That is part of discipline. Yes. You see Cristiano Ronaldo the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo doesn't take coke. Doesn't take soda. Yes. Because he believes the soda will mess up his fitness levels maybe his diet and what have you. And then there has to be commitment and sacrifice for the club. That has been lacking in Manchester United. On and off the field you've seen players who don't want to track back when they lose the ball. And lastly there has to be that cohesion amongst the team. Now the team spirit, the teamwork. And that is what is going to work with more. Yes. That is what is going to work with more because you see football is a game of eleven players. So you must have understanding and unity. Yes. That is such that you know when this striker makes this run. I'm going to place this ball this way. Do you see a scenario where these are the players who are not performing under say Mourinho and even a soldier's time and coming on to Rangrik. Now with the Eric Ten Hargets like a new list of life for them. So this is like the last point in the road where if you don't prove yourself here. Then you go. I think that is what is going to happen because we have players like the likes of Lingard who have been fringe players. The likes of Eric Bailey. But although there were issues with him being sold and what have you. But this is the last because if you look at what has also been affecting Manchester United is we have a lot of deadwoods in the team that have not been cleared. Soja was afraid to clear. You look at a player like John's. Yes. He's played one game a whole season. You're still on the payroll. This is such kind of such kind of players. Yes. And we've gotten a manager who is at least I can say since you say Mourinho who is on top of things. Who knows what he's doing. And what he wants. Who has the balls to make the tough calls. Yes. Soja didn't have. Ragnik was an interim manager. So he didn't do it. And he lost the respect of the players. And eventually when he lost the respect of the players the players could not deliver. I was reading and the players were shocked because now Tien Haag when it comes to training sessions he's hands on. He's doing everything by himself. So he's showing them the Fagason style. I am here. I will follow you up to your house. To see what you are eating. These players are vast. Yes. To see what you are eating. To see what you are drinking. Yes. To see how many hours are you sleeping. Yes. And one of the rules was that if you drink on weekdays when you are supposed to have games then you are fine. Yes. Then you are drunk. There's not drinking. Yes. If you have a problem you come talk to me. No agent will be involved. Exactly. That I support. Look at what Pogba was doing. The late Milo Raiola. Milo Raiola was all over the news speaking here and there. And you see when your agent in the middle of the season when your agent comes up and starts your star player and comes up and starts saying that he's looking for another team for you it destabilizes the whole team. And you see it's your responsibility as a player because without you this agent doesn't have a job. So you're like the employer. And that is changing actually. Now you have brought in Taylor Masih and then if Frankie Dijong manages to come and then Eriksen also gets a chance to get on to the team and is also talking about getting a new striker. So they have jetted today to Thailand for their first pre-season and he said also he has been impressed by the youth. You know the players are social signed but they don't get a chance to use them. There are some exciting talents coming up and I think the youth under 17 and 20 years they are very lucky because they are coming up when there is a manager who believes in the youth system. Look at the team he created at Ajax. The team that went on to up to the semifinal of the Champions League. From nowhere, the likes of Dijong, the likes of Van de Beek he created them from nowhere. And these are players that nobody knew. These are players who had been signed for 2 million and were sold for 98, 100 million and maybe 70 million. You see Dijong from Barcelona we are talking about 80 million pounds and these are players whom Ajax signed for 2 million pounds. If he manages to get a player I think he is also looking at Anthony. Anthony, yes a very exciting winger left. Very very powerful left foot because he is looking at it that you see the style of play that Ten Haag plays is like Pep Guardiola but now with speed. You move the ball short passes but very fast. If you look at Liverpool they move long passes but very fast. So you see that is the style of play that they want to be in position throughout and then you are working on and off the ball. So that comes in now that is what is insisting on the personal chef and diet because that player you must be very fit. Can imagine if you want to run for 90 minutes. Because I remember Rangnik came up with a very good analysis of Manchester United where he talked about you look at Liverpool being in 4-5 competitions and players are not getting injured. Then you look at Manchester United one competition but you go a whole Whole injured is because of unfitness and that blame has to go to Solger. Solger is lacking. Solger wanted to be a friend to these players and you see at the end of the day coaching is just like teaching and there has to be some toughness when you want to deliver whatever lesson. There is some level of fear. Yes and firmness. The players must fear you to a certain level for them to deliver. Because if they don't fear you they are just like kids and if you look at now the players of nowadays they don't have the passion for the club. They are there for the money, they are there for the cameras. Look at the likes of Roiki, look at the likes of Patrick Vera, Tony Adams. Those were diehards for the club and those were passionate players. A big one there for Manchester United but we are going to talk about us and also very good strengthening that they have done so far bringing in Gabriel Yesuza from Manchester. Yesuza from Manchester. City also coming on to the side that they are also chasing the signature of Rafinha. The guy from Ajax we are fighting over Martinez, Martinez defender. I think Gabriel Yesuza is a good addition because remember they lost Abu Mayang to Barcelona so they have also lost La Cazette. So they needed to add fireworks up at the front and that's what exactly they have done because I think Gabriel Yesuza it was a good move him leaving Manchester City already he was not getting chances now with Haaland in the team his talent would have been wasted but he's not as good as maybe Abu Mayang but he will score some good goals. Very big changes that you are bringing because Manchester City now is like also building another team with Manchester because now he is letting off Gabriel Yesuza bringing in Haaland. There is a big conversation of also Rahim Staling going to Chelsea Kevin Phillips Kevin Phillips I think has already been a very different scenario forward line that will be expecting for Manchester City. I think what Godula is doing is freshening up the team and for Haaland I think it was that position should have been filled even last season because I remember Guero left and when Guero left they never replaced Guero with a proper number nine and Gabriel Yesuza could come in from the wings most of the time and they have been playing with a false number nine in Bernado Silva false number nine sometimes De Bruyne false number nine sometimes even Staling and you see they want to bring in a seasoned goal scorer a proper number nine and you find that the traditional number nine we are remaining with very few and Haaland is one of the best and maybe because Kilian comes in also can cut in from the wings but Haaland basically he is a traditional number nine so that was a good acquisition that is going to really feel that void that had been left by Guero and then Kevin Phillips coming in to freshen the team he wants to have a squad depth because remember he is going to play in four cups he wants to have squad depth he is still looking for the elusive champions league tough one for you we don't know if it will actually materialize but it's not eight or nine years it is a trophy that it's not easy to come by but what I wonder is that as much as Robert I agree with you it's not easy to come by but look at the squad that he had at Bayern Munich look at the squad that he has assembled even last season we don't know if it puts it very well when it is a when it's a cup tournament and you go one game you are going games by games it's a game per game some players usually lack that concentration compared to the league football where you are you are going for a whole season I also think Robert that if it's a cup tournament then you throw a philosophy through the window and you go for tactics you go for tactics you approach that game from a tactical point look at Angelotti but you see Kikudel overthink too much even himself he says my problem is that I do overthink too much and that might be the main and doing and it's actually showed in those teams of so Chelsea so Paris in Germany so Man City itself Canon Zalota seems to be relaxed taking his decisions bit by bit because Kalo is looking at look at Kalo is being pragmatic look at Morinio won the nations whatever the conference with Roma out of nowhere Morinio is being pragmatic look at Kalo Angelotti from the quarterfinals you play PSG you come and play Chelsea and then you come and play Liverpool in the final you see those are three difficult you play Man City on the way I think second round was PSG and then Chelsea quarterfinals and then Man City and then now this is a squad that everybody had ruled out but you are being pragmatic and you are approaching this game as it comes you throw philosophy to the window and you say I'm going to be tactical about this game and if you've listened to Pep he's undoing also apart from overthinking he believes his philosophy doesn't have a problem so when the philosophy is not working he doesn't have the right players and that's why he keeps on bringing in players and releasing players but you see in a final you approach that game with the opponent in mind if the opponent is going to defend but he will defend for 90 minutes score one goal and I remember one day he says you can get the possession stay with the ball I'll go with the trophy I'll go with the three points I have a very big change of conversation but also I look at the transfers Real Madrid has not done a lot of transfers but they have been doing transfers gradually building on to the team because you look at the bro team he has giled on to the team he is now working very well and now they are plotting to a many joining the team so you look at that midfield line of Kama Vinga to a many and Valverde and I saw their contracts and now going up to 2027 2028 they are 2223 I think it's a military 24 looks like a team that is still going to dominate without people realising that these guys are building a very serious team yes and you see had they gotten Kiliyan and it's just a much of time it's just a much of time because at one given time Kiliyan will play for Real Madrid I will I think players also should learn because you look at players now and I might not be an expert in the field but you look at players now so they check too much football mercenaries I call them football mercenaries the zeroes they are reading there is no loyalty in football now there is no loyalty I was listening to Paul Scors at one given time at his peak I think I don't know if it was Esimilano or Real Madrid wanted to buy him I think Esimilano and Balusconi or somebody wanted to buy him he told him unless you buy Manchester United I'm not coming very true because is it Del Piero he told of Fagason I respect you a lot but I'm not going to come you see that is loyalty Fagason respected that when you think up to that level that's serious loyalty but you see now look at Kiliyan he has toyed with Real Madrid throughout the season Real Madrid passed up the opportunity of signing Harland and then the last minute you pick the check you see that is football mercenaries but now the problem is this check you are picking might not translate into trophies they care about trophies at the end of the day you need that trophy you need that trophy where you that shows the mark that you have added and that's why you find that Manchester United has tried to spread money around they have not gotten any trophy throughout and as you see they have gone for a coach who is going to instill discipline and for PSG to win anything substantial then they have to go for a coach but we will pin down this place do you know what I have liked with this guy Eric Tenhaag Transifa strategy this time round not every player has been linked to United exactly this time round it has been only Frank Dejone then all of a sudden they are signing the left back now he is looking for us so that being a little bit mik not throwing your cards out you don't just throw your aces the moment the media picks up the rumor that you want a player then for a club like Manchester United then the prize escalates you cut Maguaya you bought Maguaya for 80 million pounds and we had cheaper options look at Varane even Varane Real Madrid knew very well his best years because of injuries and what have you and you find that those are the challenges that they are right now but one team that has really made us signing has got to be taught the challenge on that forward line I posted it on my social media and I said I want us to look at one thing one Conte is a specialist of the counter attack now he has Song he has Richard Son and he has Harry Ken look at that counter attack and then he has Tugendombele in the midfield and then he has this other guy Kalaweski look at that blend Totenham is going to be a nightmare to most of the teams people are underrating the signings Totenham but let me assure you Robert by the time the Premier League starts I think they are serious contenters of the top four they are likely to remain there unless something happens in the middle of the season they have a reputable coach a serial winner and a good squad because I saw with Juventas Chelsea they like using wingbacks three defenders and those wingbacks when I saw that signing and there was a conversation about which team is going to get this striker from Everton because he is a proven goal he is a Brazilian he comes onto the dressing room he makes you good he makes the other players around him better and I thought Madrid was going to get Richard Son no Totenham 50 million 50 million I think that's a good investment even top two next season it will give the big teams around for their money it will give the big teams around for their money but again that transfer that surprised me and I think it was good is money leaving money you know I usually say a player even if he performs for you doesn't perform for you there is supposed to be appreciation of the player respect of the player and giving Sadio Mani 100 million it doesn't look like a greedy player but even so for him it was not complaining but the public opinion was it was too little after Salih has left after Salih has left a player like Sadio Mani 200 Malundo Domnumini and then look at since the time he left he turned to me to live up look at what he has done for them he has lifted the league he has lifted the champions league the question will be these are the kids of coming the likes of Damien known for 22 years old can he feel that the shoes that Sadio Mani he can't immediately because Damien Nunes is coming from a different league so there is the culture shock there is adapting to life in England and now performing the premier league is aggressive the premier league is rough and you see it's not like where he is coming from so he cannot make an impact immediately I think Liverpool as much as they have replaced him they are going to miss Sadio you know that forward line of Sadio Mani, Fominu and Mo Salah was very scary it was very scary they are best because you have a finisher in Salah you have a workhorse in Fominu Fominu will work will not get the glory at the end of the day but will work who can produce individual brilliance at any given time in Sadio Mani who is also a worker off and on the ball now that becomes a complete and you see since the coach came in he has been using that 433 because it was trusted now you destabilize that I think they are going to feel the effect that one definitely it will be a trick for them but also one team that has also been quiet in this transfer world has got to be Chelsea with Thomas Chuka we are not seeing a lot coming out of the Chelsea but they are being linked with a player like Osman Dembele Raim Staling Rafinha too has been linked down to the team and quite a number of their players are linked to be living Bill Quelter alone so to Barcelona and such kind of business they need to sign because Rutiga also living must be Rutiga left for a very big blow in the defense because Silva is aging he will be 36 he will not play week in week out there goes Silva is actually 37 he will not play week in week out and you see when Rutiga came into the team I think he stabilized the team and Rutiga by the way is a big acquisition for Madrid because him and Miritao and then Alaba that is complete Alaba went back to his original position Miritao, Rutiga and then Alaba and Kavayal and these are you don't want to play them but maybe to comment on Chelsea they are problems of the field has really affected because you see there is new ownership that is coming in and the problem is that the guy who is coming in may not be as passionate about football as the guy who is left very true because Abramovich was really passionate about football he could have splashed money Haaland could be in Chelsea right now if Abramovich was still there but they have also released Lukaku a good point you have brought in because when you look at these owners you look at the American owners they are really business oriented they don't just give you money they don't just they are all about yes you are putting money we have to get there look at these PSG owners Man City because they have got the muscle let's put our money it's not about the sport but it's about the business business has to make profits that's what they are looking at it's a big one we will have this conversation later on Man City it is now the city football group because they are acquiring clubs the latest club they acquired was Palermo but what is shocking about this transfer Windorobot is Newcastle I was expecting Newcastle to splash money to now come back to the top 6 I think he has made some signings but not big signings and I think we need to stabilize first we need to stabilize we need to stabilize that will get him fine they want to perform at the highest level this is going to be a tough season that we will be looking at but those are some of the major transfers that have been happening and we are waiting for others to start so Manchester starting their pre-season they might play Liverpool anytime but which kids you like to see what would you like to see from the players of Manchester United under 10 hagas they start their pre-season I would like to see love for the budge love for the budge because when you love the budge you will die for the budge and I still believe Manchester United has some of the greatest talents in Rashford do you remember Rashford under Van Gaal Rashford was a beast I would like to see that back Sancho is coming in beautiful talent but what do you do with the talent and then I can't imagine now having Ericsson in that team good creator with Bruno Fernandes commitment love for the budge if they love that budge they will play for it well that is where we finish of the touchline with the last words of Eric about the love for the budge for Manchester United for 2 hours touchline will be having you here again next week and Maxwell Oseke will be in studio with me as we dissect matters thanks a lot for coming and for the touchline crew we say good afternoon and as Santesana enjoy the rest of your viewing here on Y254