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- [00:00]
Basketball Enthusiast
I'm not saying I'm obsessed with basketball, but my neighbors definitely know when there's a new doc on prime video because I yell at the TV like I'm coaching the team. And with Amazon Prime, I can always count on fast free delivery when ordering a mini hoop, ankle socks and three different headbands because style matters even when you're missing layups. Prime is my coach, my hype man, and my gear guy all in one. Whatever you're into, it's on Prime. Visit Amazon.comprime to get more out of whatever you're into.
- [00:36]
Apple Card Announcer
This message is brought to you by Apple Card.
- [00:38]
Podcast Host
Whoa.
- [00:39]
Apple Card Announcer
I just found out you can earn up to 3% daily cash back on everyday purchases made with Apple Card Map. You can earn unlimited daily cash back with Apple Card on every purchase no matter where you check out. With Apple Pay, you can always get daily cash. The possibilities are endless. What's better is the daily cash can dramatically grow when you open a high yield savings account through Apple card. That's like endless plus one. Visit Apple Co CardCalculator today and discover just how much daily cash you can earn subject to credit approval Savings available to Apple Card owners subject to eligibility Savings and Apple Card by Goldman Sachs Bank USA member FDIC terms and more@applecard.com.
- [01:23]
Raj Panjabi
Hi, I'm Raj Panjabi from HuffPost.
- [01:25]
Noah Michelson
And I'm Noah Michelson, also from HuffPost.
- [01:28]
Raj Panjabi
And we're the hosts of Am I Doing It Wrong? A new podcast that explores the all too human anxieties we have about trying to get our lives right.
- [01:35]
Noah Michelson
Each week on the podcast, Raj and I pick a new topic that we want to understand better and bring a guest expert on to talk us through how to get it right.
- [01:42]
Raj Panjabi
And we're talking like legit credible experts.
- [01:45]
Noah Michelson
Doctors, PhDs all around superheroes from HuffPost and Acast Studios. Check out Am I Doing It Wrong? Wherever you get your podcasts.
- [01:56]
Alex Napoli
Before we get into today's podcast, naturally we must acknowledge the horrific events that occurred during Liverpool's title parade on Sunday evening. For updates on this developing situation, head over to the Athletic website for the latest news. Plus, our dedicated Liverpool podcast, Walk on will be covering the situation as well. Thank you.
- [02:17]
Podcast Host
The Athletic FC Podcast Network.
- [02:25]
Alex Napoli
Welcome to the Athletic FC Podcast with me. Alex Napoli won a second Scudetto in three years as a dramatic Serie A title race went down to the final day. So how did Antonio Conte's side get the better of Champions League finalist Inter despite losing their two best players? And what part did former Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay play in the title tribe. Joining us today for this one we have the Athletics Italian football correspondent, James Horncastle. James, so good to have you back and what a great time to be talking Italian football.
- [03:06]
Podcast Host
Yeah, no, it's been actually great to come back because there's been so many fantastic stories to talk and write about, you know, from that. My first game back was the Inter Barcelona one which was, you know, quite the. Not the soft re entry into planet Serie A as people would have thought, but. And then for Napoli to win the title on the final day. Just whenever Napoli win something, there's no better place to be on earth than Naples because boy do they celebrate.
- [03:37]
Alex Napoli
Let's talk about this title run because it was Napoli and Inter and I guess with Inter Milan it was really fascinating considering their incredible Champions League run and the way they actually outsmarted devastated Barcelona. I mean, I'm talking Champions League heritage, those matches. But the reality is, you know, leading up to the Barcelona game, Inter had this weird turn where they just lost game after game, but also exited the Copper Italia. So they went from potential treble winners to like hanging on for the Scudetto and then hopefully for the Champions League. Did Inter just take their eye off the ball a little bit, do you think so?
- [04:11]
Podcast Host
I mean, around those Barcelona games because they, they lost to Bologna and Roma, either side of the first and second legs, there was this feeling that perhaps they were prioritizing the Champions League. And in fact their sporting director, Pierre Arcillo basically said, you know, if it came down to winning the league or the Champions League, you know, he would go for the latter. But the coach, Simone Inzaghi and the players said that was never the case, that they, yeah, they wanted to win everything. And by everything. I think this puts into context really, you know, why Inter had some drop offs in that kind of final third of the season. Because it's not just the treble. It could have been a quintuple in terms of like league, Super Cup, Coppa Italia, Champions League and Club World cup which is on the horizon. And you know, I was at Inters media day in Milan yesterday and you know, one of the things that the club was saying was that, you know, we played 19 more games this season than Napoli. You know, Napoli were not in Europe. They went out of the Coppa Italia very early and they could just focus on the league instead. Inter tried to win every competition and yeah, that means that 19 games is essentially another half season on top of a full season. And it's unsurprising when you put it into that context that given the physical and mental wear and tear, there were some games where those games got away from them. I think it's actually testament to them that they were still able to take the title down to the final day.
- [05:50]
Alex Napoli
Yeah, for sure. Now let's talk about Napoli and incredible defense. Just 27 goals conceded by contest side in 38 games. The best in the division by any stretch. I mean, on the flip side, I think there were fifth best scorers in the league in general. Not high scoring team, but you know, Conte winning the title again in his first season. Another example of him having this, some might call it this sort of transformational impact on the team in a very short time. But also contrasting how it all started. When was asking for a bit more from his team, he said they melted or something along those lines, like they melted like snow in the sunshine. You know, that's quite incredible what he's done.
- [06:31]
Podcast Host
Yeah. Our colleague Michael Cox, I think tweeted about this. I mean, Conte has done some remarkable work. I mean, Juventus, you know, took a team that had finished sixth or seventh to winning the league in his first year. Chelsea team that finished 10th won the league in his first year. Working in a foreign country, different language and you know, what everyone says is the most competitive league in the world. I mean, I think a lot of people have maybe forgotten or underappreciated what an achievement that was with Chelsea. You know, I mean, as much as he, Conte himself liked to say it was coming off a Mourinho season in which everything had been toxic and all that sort of thing. His first season was also the first season of Pep Guardiola at Man City. It was also first season of Jose Mourinho at Man United. And Klopp had already had six or eight months at Liverpool. So to beat that competition, giving how fated that competition is here in England is extraordinary. Napoli did the same. Napoli finished 10th last season. And I mean, yeah, his detractors and people who I think have a kind of superficial view of things would say, well, look, in the Napoli and Chelsea case, he inherited a team that was a year removed from winning the title. So yeah, there were elements in this squad that had winning experience, but I think no one in the history of Italian football has taken a team from as far back to win the league. The three main protagonists of when Napoli won the league two years ago, Kim Min Jae had been sold to Bayern Munich because Bayern basically just paid the buyout clause. Nothing that Napoli could do about that Osimhen sort of a few months after winning the league was very clear I want to go and then ended up being sent on loan to Galatasaray. And then I think what really people need to appreciate when judging this title. Kavaratskhelia, the MVP when Napoli won the league two years ago, sold halfway through the season against Conte's wishes. He really wanted the player to stay. The player really wanted to go and the team didn't really replace him. In the January transfer window. They brought in a body, Noah Okafor on loan from AC Milan, but he played 37 minutes in the second half of the season. So again it felt like Napoli was like a Jenga tower where these pieces were taken out of the tower and like is the tower going to be still standing? And not only was it still standing, it stood higher than everybody else and they won the league.
- [09:06]
I.O.
You're listening to the Athletic FC podcast with I.O.
- [09:09]
Podcast Host
A.
- [09:13]
Apple Card Announcer
This message is brought to you by Apple Card.
- [09:16]
Podcast Host
Whoa.
- [09:16]
Apple Card Announcer
I just found out you can earn up to 3% daily cash back on everyday purchases made with Apple Card map. You can earn unlimited daily cash back with Apple Card on every purchase no matter where you check out. With Apple Pay, you can always get daily cash. The possibilities are endless. What's better is the daily cash can automatically grow when you open a high Yield savings account through Apple card. That's like endless plus one. Visit Apple Co CardCalculator today and discover just how much daily cash you can earn, subject to credit approval. Savings available to Apple Card owners subject to eligibility Savings and Apple Card by Goldman Sachs Bank USA Member FDIC terms and more@applecard.com I'm not saying I'm obsessed.
- [10:02]
Basketball Enthusiast
With basketball, but my neighbors definitely know when there's a new doc on Prime Video because I yell at the TV and like I'm coaching the team. And with Amazon Prime, I can always count on fast free delivery when ordering a mini hoop, ankle socks and three different headbands because style matters even when you're missing layups. Amazon Music that's my pump up playlist for driveway dunks and imaginary crowd cheers. Prime is my coach, my hype man and my gear guy all in one. Whatever you're into, it's on Prime. Visit Amazon.com prime to get more out of whatever you're into. Prime One membership endless assists hi, I'm.
- [10:46]
Raj Panjabi
Raj Panjabi from HuffPost.
- [10:48]
Noah Michelson
And I'm Noah Michaelson, also from HuffPost.
- [10:50]
Raj Panjabi
And we're the hosts of Am I Doing It Wrong? A new podcast that explores the all too human anxieties we have about trying to get our lives right.
- [10:57]
Noah Michelson
Each week on the podcast, Raj and I pick a new topic that we want to understand better and bring a guest expert on to talk us through how to get it right.
- [11:05]
Raj Panjabi
And we're talking like legit, credible experts, doctors, PhDs all around.
- [11:10]
Noah Michelson
Superheroes from HuffPost and Acast Studios. Check out Am I Doing It Wrong? Wherever you get your podcasts.
- [11:37]
Alex Napoli
Move on to some of the protagonists who have really helped him win the league this season. Because that was Scott McTominay's crucial goal to put Napoli one nil up against Caglieri on Friday night. Or Scotto McTominay as I think the stadium announcer. It sounds like he's trying to call him when they all shout and scream his name. I mean, look, he's been awarded Serie A MVP in his first season at the club after signing from Manchester United in the summer. 12 goals and 4 assists. How much do the fans of Napoli love this Scottish dynamo?
- [12:10]
Podcast Host
I mean, they absolutely adore him. I mean, yeah, Naples is a place that loves like no other. He will never have to buy a cappuccino, never have to buy a pizza, you know, never have to order a limonata. It'll just be presented there in front of him because yeah, it is a city that really opens its arms to its players. And for him to make the impact that he's. He has done in one year, I mean, yeah, to put it into context, I mean, two years ago Kvadatskheli, in his first year not only took over the team, but took over the league and was also the MVP. For McTominay to do that, I think is, it's not even more surprising because no one had heard of Kvalatskhelia up until now. He was, he was an authentic revelation. But, you know, we're all more familiar with McTominay. You know, he think turned 28 when, when he moved to Napoli. We'd seen him score goals from midfield for Man United before and a number of go. But you know, for him to do this, it just what a move for him. I imagine he knew some things about Naples and Napoli before moving there. I'm sure he's kind of well schooled in Maradona and you know, going to the Spanish quarter and seeing the murals and you know, I'm sure he'll have watched that great Asif Kapadia Maradona documentary, but I think he would still have been taken by surprise by the reception that was waiting for him at the airport when he touched down and how he's been treated throughout his time there. And also, I mean, just the videos of McTominay over the last 36 hours. I mean, there's living your best life and then living your best life in Naples. I mean, it's just sort of. There's him in clubs in Bagnoli, one of the kind of neighborhoods in Napoli. I mean, just seems to be having the time of his life. For me, as someone, you know, who lived in Italy and is kind of, you know, aware of, you know, some of the music, neo melodic music in Naples, but also Neapolitan, also rap. Yeah, he's there sort of just, it's. It's so incongruous to me to see this. This Scottish guy in Naples sort of bouncing up and down to like one of the biggest rap hits that we've had in. In Italy. In Italy for. For decades. Him on the open top bus at the front, sort of a scarf tied around his head next to one of the. I'd say one of the not fringe players, but squad players, Pasquale Mazzocchi. Mazzocchi, whose surname means crazy eyes and, you know, like Mazzucchi's from Naples and was the guy who gave him this nickname, McFratma. McFratma, which. Which means McBro. You know, you're my. You're my mukbig bro. And on the bus with him, he's having a great time. And then it seemed that he was. He was swigging from a bottle of the famous grouse. Other whiskey distilleries are available and again, just people loving it. But for him to be their top scorer, to score the goal at home, that started the party on Friday night because for 20 minutes or so, Napoli were trailing in the Serie A title race because Inter had gone ahead against Como. In Como. And then that McTominay, it's not a scrappy goal, it's not scruffy or anything. It's a great goal.
- [15:25]
Alex Napoli
Acrobatic, beautiful. Not what you'd be often associate with him, actually. Yeah, he's found something there, hasn't he?
- [15:32]
Podcast Host
Brilliant. So, yeah, I mean, chapeau to him. And again, just. He was so ecstatic, you know, after the game, sort of speaking in English, but, you know, dropping the odd Italian word in there and just. Yeah, I mean, so pleased for him. And again, just. Just what a move. What a life experience that is for him.
- [15:56]
Alex Napoli
Yeah, for sure. Well, McTominay's change of position and role at Napoli have Been really interesting from my perspective. He actually spoke about this in an interview with Rory Smith on the Athletic earlier this year. Let's hear what he had to say.
- [16:08]
Scott McTominay
And there was a point like last year where it felt like you were playing that kind of box to box role for United, but then you were suddenly whenever you put on a Scotland shirt, you were a striker. And now here again, it feels like your role is to be that kind of box crashing like full on eight. But there were points in your career earlier when you were kind of defensive midfielder. How do you. How do you self define?
- [16:30]
I.O.
Yeah, I feel like whenever I got into the first team, through no fault of coaches, it was just the situation at the time, I was quite misprofiled in terms of where I was playing. My strengths of running into the box, trying to score goals, being a bit of a problem in there. Obviously I was being used as more of a defensive player, centre back, central, like a. Like a six. And that's not really my game. But you play Man United, you can't really knock on the manager's door at 20 years old saying, listen, I expect to be playing number eight in front of Paul Pogba. It's just not realistic. You just have to know your place. And yeah, for me, eventually I began to score more goals, I began to get into the box a little bit more and that was seen as my role. And last year it was my best year in terms of playing that role consistently. And so, yeah, it's just football, like you can't ever have the perfect pathway where it's. There's bumps and there's knocks in the road and you just got to get on with it.
- [17:23]
Alex Napoli
Yeah, I mean, like, he definitely showed glimpses of scoring goals at Manchester United for sure. And, you know, I'm looking at the. The two top goal scorers for Napoli this season, Lukaku and McTominay. Lukaku with 14, McTominay with 12. Is this something that Antonio Conte saw and he thought actually this, this is really why we're bringing him in, because I know this boy can score goals?
- [17:44]
Podcast Host
Yeah, absolutely. IO. I mean, he's spoken about that Conte, because he was very precise in what he wanted in the transfer market last summer. And, you know, they do have a new sporting director at Napoli, Giovanni Manna, but I think Mana was given a list and it wasn't a list of players with a profile. It was Conte, who'd already done his scouting, knew what he wanted and said, Scott McTominay is the guy for me. And it's very interesting listening to Scott talk just then about how he was misprofiled for many years at Man United because Conte understood exactly who McTominay is as a player and how he was going to play him. Which, you know, is why, why Man United have continued to overlook Antonio Conte. Why Gary Neville thinks he would never want him at his club is just, it's just mad because Conte seems to, in every league title he has won recently into Annapolis. You know, he's embarrassed Man United by taking Ashley Young, taking Dadmian, you know, taking, taking McTominay, taking Lukaku and showing what he can do with them. And you know, I think it's very interesting what you were. You set this latest part of our conversation up by mentioning Lukaku. You know, Lukaku has this, it's not a father son relationship with Conte, but I think, you know, he believes that the coach who's understood him most in his career is Antonio Context. When he was at Inter and won the league, he won that by being top scorer, you know, absolutely supreme in that season. Then got sold to Chelsea because of Inter's financial problems. You know, Conte kind of left also because of. Because they knew that one of those big players was going to go. Obviously it didn't work out for him at Chelsea. You know, he had his own. He was complicit in that himself with some of the things that he said about missing Inter. And then, you know, I mean, Lukaku ever since went back on loan to Inter where he was a bit part player, missed chances in the Champions League final two years ago, went to Roma last year on loan, was pretty underwhelming and then reunited with Conte again. And I think obviously Conte wanted him to be his goal scorer, but he also saw in Lukaku an ability to get the most out of McTominay. That meant Lukaku playing with his back to goal and almost being as a playmaker and assist man. Lukaku led the league in assists this year, double figures in assists. And again, I think that comes down to Antonio Conte knowing exactly the skill set of the players, what they're best at, what they're good at, how they can enhance each other's game. And I think that footballing IQ that Conte has again is there are very few coaches on the planet who can match him. I mean, this is his third league title in Italy. Well, it's not league titles, won five league titles in Italy, but three different Clubs, you know, only Fabio Capello had done that and you know, the titles that he won with Juventus were revoked. So it just goes to show the impact that Conte can make at clubs and on players careers.
- [20:50]
Alex Napoli
Yeah, I mean, very quickly on, on Conte again is. Is that what the, the secret sauce has been for Napoli this season? Is that he's got them and those players playing to their potential and also playing to their attributes as players as opposed to trying to get them to do something different. An assistant that probably wouldn't suit them. He's actually played to their strengths.
- [21:11]
Podcast Host
Yeah, I mean, I think, you know, Antonio like he's always been presented, I suppose since first few months that he was at Juventus being a rigid coach. Right. You know, he's probably more associated with one system than any other coach on the planet, which is Antonio Conte 352. And instead, you know, Conte, you know, when he was at Bari and when he was at Siena, he was associated with the system, but it wasn't 3, 5, 2, it was playing 4, 2, 4. And he tried that the first few weeks at Juventus changed to play 3, 5, 2 because he was like, hang on a minute, I've got Andrea Pirlo, he can't play in a 4, 2, 4. I need to have other midfield players around him. How do I do that? Okay, let's build around it with a, with a 3, 52 at Chelsea. First few weeks, you know, he started playing 4, 2, 4 and then changed. Yeah. This time around at Napoli started playing 3, 5, 2 and then he was like, yeah, but I've got Kovisha Kabadatskhelia, you know, I mean, do I really want him playing wing back or inside as a 10 or a second striker? No, let's play 4, 3, 3. And yeah, they've done that for most of the season alternating. And yeah, again, like some of the players he sort of not necessarily reinvented, but just understood how to get the best out of them. Yeah. Victor Moses is a great example of this at Chelsea. You know, let's, let's play Victor as a wing back. Yeah, Victor was, was excellent for them in that season. Yeah. Did. Did similar things at Inter as well. And, and now you see him kind of fully understanding how to get the best out of McTominay. I know some people will be out there saying it's City ads, it's not as competitive as the Premier League, blah, blah, blah, you know, as we see, you know, I mean, I again, I find it so embarrassing for, for Man United and Also for sort of members of our. Our English media who looked at sort of Henrik Mikhatai and Matteo Damian, I was like, these guys can't play for Man United and blah, blah. Second Champions League final in three years, guys. So, you know, I think Conte's understanding of what he needs and how to make a winning team function again just kind of separates him from so many coaches and puts him really in that. That very highest bracket that there is.
- [23:29]
Alex Napoli
Okay, now I want to go Back to Scott McTominay now, because you talked about things that might have surprised him in Naples. Something that definitely surprised him in Naples was the Italian tomatoes. He was talking to Rory Smith about it as well. Here's what he had to say.
- [23:42]
Scott McTominay
What's the food like?
- [23:43]
Podcast Host
The food is incredible.
- [23:44]
Scott McTominay
Is it?
- [23:45]
I.O.
The food is so fresh. The fish, the tomatoes, the zucchini. Oh, my goodness. I'm telling you, I never ate tomatoes before I was here now. I could eat tomatoes. The vegetables is probably one of the only things that I wouldn't eat in the uk, Right. Like, those are only foods. I eat everything. Yeah, but that is the only thing now that I'm like, wow, now I eat everything.
- [24:07]
Scott McTominay
Yeah, but they do. They do taste different. Like, tomatoes taste of stuff here.
- [24:11]
I.O.
Yeah.
- [24:11]
Scott McTominay
They don't in Britain. They're just sort of red, watery.
- [24:13]
I.O.
Yeah, Just red water.
- [24:14]
Podcast Host
Yeah. Yeah.
- [24:16]
Alex Napoli
I don't know what's more surprising about that conversation, whether or not he is so fascinated by Italian food or whether or not he actually, as a professional footballer, rarely ate vegetables in the uk. I mean, talk to me, James. Do the tomatoes taste differently in Naples?
- [24:35]
Podcast Host
Oh, yeah, they do, yeah. No, like, there are a couple of things to say here. One is, you know, tomatoes around Naples, San Marzano tomatoes are different, you know, if. If you're in terms of pizza, for example. Like, I mean, I remember sort of when I lived in. In Rome or if I was working in Turin and Milan, you know, and I'd have friends of mine who would drive down to Naples or the area around Naples, buy mozzarella that had been freshly made, drive back and eat. And yet mozzarella is perishable, but, like, you're supposed to eat it within 24 hours. So that supermarket stuff, or even the deli stuff that you're eating in the UK or in the us, which has been flown over, is not the same. It doesn't. It does not taste the same. And, you know, I mean, those tomatoes, you know, if you've got vines growing in soil that has, you know, sort of volcanic ash and stuff like it's been in the sunshine, but of course it's going to taste different. So, yeah, I think, you know, I hope Scott spends many, many more years sampling the cuisine of the Amalfi coast and Campania. It'll be a miracle. Like, there was a viral story the other day about Orion Air flight touching down in Puglia and saying, ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Bari. You know, you will struggle to follow your diet here. People always ask, like, how do Italians, like, always look so great, given that their food is, you know, pizza, pasta and all this. Surely it's super calorific. But as Scott says, the vegetables. The vegetables are amazing. So, you know, you can just have meat. Meat and veg. You know, protein rich. Exactly. Rich diets. There's no better place.
- [26:28]
Alex Napoli
Yeah, I can attest, man, Italian food is next level, especially Napoli. The pizza so good.
- [26:35]
Podcast Host
Oh, yeah.
- [26:35]
Alex Napoli
Yes. Scott, I'm with you on that one. Right, Another player as we're on this sort of Scottish thing. Billy Gilmour, a little shout for him as well. Yeah, James. But also, you know, I think. I don't know if it was you I was talking to this about, but there's a real sort of interest in Scottish players across Europe. I'm even thinking about Louis Ferguson at Bologna, for instance. You know, there's something I read, maybe it was a piece you did, or someone else was saying that a lot of Italian teams and maybe Spanish teams like these guys, because they actually embed themselves in the culture and really SAP it in. And. And Scott McTominay and Billy Gilmour don't live too far away from each. Both have the same chef. So they're all both loving the tomatoes as well.
- [27:14]
Podcast Host
No, that's right. I think it was. It was Jordan who. Who wrote a piece about that and I'd spoken to. Who for me, is the trailblazer in all of this is Liam Henderson, who went to. Went to Bari from Celtic very young, is still in Italy. He's played for. For Bari, for Verona, for Empoli. You know, he's. He's really gotten around. And I think the trustworthiness that clubs found in Liam encouraged them to a scout more in Scotland and bring more Scottish players over. Because in the 1960s, when Italian clubs would buy the likes of Denis Law and something like that, I think the feedback they had at that time was that these lads like a bit of a night out, like a drink, and if we stay in a hotel the night before the game or two nights before the game, these guys are sort of opening the windows and jumping out so they can go, they can go to a bar and, and have a, have a bit of a, a good night out. Whereas I think what they found recently is the likes of Liam, then Aaron Hickey. And I think Aaron Hickey was important as well because Bologna showed that with him they could pick up a player very cheap in Scotland and then sell him for a big premier, Big, big markup to the Premier League. Lewis is the one who's. Along with Scott. You know, Lewis won a trophy before Scott just because he was part of the Bologna team that won the Coppa Italia final against Milan as the captain of the club. Which is extraordinary really, for. And maybe this day will come for Scott as well. But for a Scottish player to be captaining an Italian team to their first title, their first trophy since 1974, amazing. And yes, Scott and Billy, I'm sure they've helped each other settle in, you know, during times where both, both have been, been trying to get to grips with the language, getting to grips with.
- [29:07]
Alex Napoli
Driving, goodness me, that is driving in Napoli. I wouldn't wish it on anyone, Trust.
- [29:14]
Podcast Host
And I think they really, they all appreciate Serie A and they see through the stereotypes of Syria and there's no kind of prejudice about going there. I think they see it for the competitive league it is and I think they see it for the brilliant life that one lives and one can live in Italy. So, yeah, let's, let's hope there are even more Scottish players to follow. Steve Clark must have a fantastic life being the Scotland national team manager because.
- [29:44]
Alex Napoli
Flying out to Italy to see his players.
- [29:47]
Podcast Host
Imagine like the expenses at the Scottish fa. He's like, well, yeah, why are you in Italy again?
- [29:51]
Alex Napoli
For the fifth time this year, mate?
- [30:04]
Apple Card Announcer
This message is brought to you by Apple Card.
- [30:07]
Podcast Host
Whoa.
- [30:07]
Apple Card Announcer
I just found out you can earn up to 3% daily cash back on everyday purchases made with Apple Card map. You can earn unlimited daily cash back with Apple Card on every purchase. No matter where you check out with Apple Pay, you can always get daily cash. The possibilities are endless. What's better is the daily cash can automatically grow when you open a high yield savings account through Apple Card. That's like endless plus one. Visit Apple Co cardcalculator today and discover just how much daily cash you can earn. Subject to credit approval savings available to Apple Card owners subject to eligibility savings and Apple Card by Goldman Sachs Bank USA Member FDIC terms and more@applecard.com I'm.
- [30:52]
Basketball Enthusiast
Not saying I'm obsessed with basketball, but my neighbors definitely know when There's a new dock on prime video because I yell at the TV like I'm coaching the team. And with Amazon Prime, I can always count on fast free delivery when ordering a mini hoop, ankle socks and three different headbands because style matters even when you're missing layups. Amazon Music. That's my pump up playlist for driveway dunks and imaginary crowd cheers. Prime is my coach, my hype man and my gear guy all in one. Whatever you're into, it's on Prime. Visit Amazon.comprime to get more out of whatever you're into. Prime One membership, endless assists.
- [31:37]
Instacart Announcer
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- [32:17]
I.O.
This is the Athletic FC podcast with I.O.
- [32:20]
Podcast Host
Acemolara.
- [32:24]
Alex Napoli
We can't go through this pod without talking about Bologna and we've spoken about the Scottish influence there, but you know, 51 year trophy drought, winning the Coppa Italia. Such an amazing moment, right?
- [32:36]
Podcast Host
Really incredible because I think this time last year they thought this is as good as it gets. Yeah, they finished fifth, qualify for the Champions League. And then Thiago Motta, he was headhunted by Juventus. Man United paid the buyout clause for Xerxe. Nothing that Bologna could do about that. And Ricardo Califiori had an excellent Euros and Arsenal came in for him. You know, we mentioned Lewis Ferguson. You know, Ferguson missed the end of last season with an ACL tear, missed most of this season with an ACL tear. And so it was a really daunting job for Thiago Motto's replacement, Vincenzo Italiano, to basically come in and take because it felt like the only way was down. And instead he's proved that's not the case. You know, they, they've won the Cup. They did it against AC Milan, who had beat them in the league the previous Friday. So there was some, some doubts, you know, are Milan going to basically show up and yeah, their aura, is that going to matter in a final? Instead they not only took the lead in that game there was no reaction from Milan, but Bologna, they're a big club, but I wouldn't say they're a sleeping giant, but a team that's won the league seven times, which is more than Napoli. For example, Napoli's title at the weekend was their fourth. But obviously Bologna hadn't won anything for so long. And I think even under the current owners, who are the longest running foreign owners, although they're Italian, Canadian, there was a feeling like what's their purpose here? We've been sort of middling around in mid table for so long. What's the ambition? And they got the sporting director from Atalanta, someone credited with a lot of Atalanta success over the last eight or nine years, made the right choices of coaches, made the right choices in terms of recruitment and they've just got a really good culture at the club. Lewis Ferguson, I mean if Scott McTominay likes the tomatoes in, in Naples, you know, Lewis Ferguson loves the totolonic with cream in, in Bologna. So no. Magnificent.
- [34:47]
Alex Napoli
Before you go, James, we have to talk about the Champions League final. Inter yet again. Champions League final. I wouldn't say back to back, but almost. I mean what a firstly, what an achievement. But secondly, after that Barcelona game, surely if Inter lift this cup, man, it would be extraordinary for Italian football.
- [35:06]
Podcast Host
Yeah, it really would. I mean it'd be the first time Italian team has won champions league in 15 years. The last team was Inter, which had its own mythical semi final against Barcelona, but one that was very different. One in which, you know, that went down in history as the game where Inter and particularly Jose were the, the counter to Barcelona and Pep Guardiola in terms of the football that they played, it was the kind of, it was the we didn't want the ball game. You know, we had, you know, 3% possession game, stuff like that sort of thing. Whereas rather than backs against the wall, you know, Inter, Barcelona was like, you know, who can score more than each other? So you know, I remember when to reach the final two years ago. There are a couple of things that stood out. One was people said, oh, they fell on the right side of the draw, they got to play Porto, got to play Benfica. Then the semifinal was a derby against Stacey Milan. It was the most one sided final in history. That was, that was the, the build up, remember? And instead know, interplayed really well for an hour and could have taken the game to extra time and felt they could have won it. And then this time around you can not begrudge their place in the final. They've knocked out Bayern Munich, they've knocked out Barcelona. You know, that is running the gauntlet, the most difficult gauntlet there is. And I think just goes to show how mature and how complete this team is.
- [36:28]
Alex Napoli
Yeah, for sure. Honestly, so much to talk about. And very quickly, Claudio Ranieri. What a season. With Roma finishing fifth as well. Wow, what a gent. What a legend. Right, let's end it there. James, thank you so much for your time and also thank you guys for listening. We'll be back tomorrow.
- [36:48]
Podcast Host
The Athletic FC Podcast Network.
- [36:56]
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- [37:14]
Podcast Host
No.
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Uber Eats Announcer
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- [37:16]
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- [37:26]
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