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- [00:00]
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- [03:11]
The Athletic FC Pod
The Athletic FC Pod.
- [03:21]
Michael Bailey
Hello, I'm Michael Bailey. Welcome to the preview on the Athletic fc, focusing this week on Manchester City versus Chelsea before setting you up for the big fixtures elsewhere. Checking in with some of the club podcasts across our network. Joining me today are the Athletics football writer Tim Spears and football data writer Tom Harris. Morning guys. How are we all? Everyone okay? Tim, are you good?
- [03:48]
Tim Spears
Hey, I'm great. Michael, how are you?
- [03:51]
Michael Bailey
Very well, thank you very much. Tip top. Tom, you?
- [03:54]
Tom Harris
Yeah, really good, thank you. Still a bit frazzled to be honest, from all the permutations in midweek from the Champions League. But back to something a little bit more simple now in the Premier League.
- [04:04]
Michael Bailey
Anything we're looking forward to in particular this weekend. How about you Tim?
- [04:07]
Tim Spears
Bournemouth v Nottingham Forest. Who'd thunk it? It's a shame it's not on telly, to be honest. It's not. To be fair, you can't really blame the TV companies for not predicting that this one should be like 4:30 on a Sunday. But yeah, if I was going to watch a game, which obviously I can't because that would be illegal and I'm not attending, then it would be Bournemouth v. Forest.
- [04:27]
Michael Bailey
I think the good news is we'll be talking about that in a bit. How about you Tom?
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Tom Harris
Yeah, I agree. I mean I think it's as well as it being a kind of top of the table clash, it's also quite an interesting clash of styles as well. So I think that's going to be really, really good to see. Obviously City, Chelsea as Standout game, which we'll be talking about today. There's Leipzig Leverkusen in the Bundesliga, but yeah, probably. Probably those two that we mentioned before.
- [04:49]
Michael Bailey
Tom's got a busy weekend of football set ahead for us. Let's get stuck into Manchester City against Chelsea. And we will start with Manchester City, who look to have got back in the groove, beating Ipswich 60 last weekend. But they were beaten 42 by Paris St Germain in the Champions League on Wednesday night. And in rather dramatic fashion. Let's hear from the Athletics, Manchester City, City writer Sam Lee, who was in Paris covering the match.
- [05:16]
Sam Lee
Free kick taken by Vitinia. And there's a chance and they've gone ahead. It's a quite astonishing comeback for Paris Saint Germain. From 20 down, they lead 3 2. I think the issue with City's defeat at PSG was they looked exactly as bad as they had done in all those defeats before the end of last year when they won one match in 13. They had problems with pace in midfield. The players look leggy. Players like Kovacic, Rico, Lewis, Mat Nunes, underperforming Savinho, not having a great end product. This is exactly what happened. You know, PSG have been really struggling themselves, really under pressure. They were two nil down and yet they just look to get stronger and stronger. And they scored with their last kick of the game to make it 4 2.
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Tim Spears
It's a goal and it's victory for Paris Saint Germain.
- [06:09]
Sam Lee
They were two nil down and potentially dead and buried. But they've come back with one of.
- [06:14]
Tom Harris
Their greatest comebacks in a European match.
- [06:17]
Sam Lee
That game could have gone on for half an hour. City would never got back into it. They would have just conceded more. And then you look at the fixtures coming up. Chelsea, Arsenal, Newcastle, Liverpool, Spurs, Forest away. That takes them up till March. It might be hyperbolic, right, in the aftermath of that PSG game to say that it's hard to see them winning any of those matches. But to be honest, that is something I have felt for a long time. Even when, you know, when they beat West Ham 4 1, even when they beat Ipswich 6 nil. I was concerned about those games and I didn't think that City had turned the corner and got out of that poor run. Now, maybe I'm wrong, but all the evidence on Wednesday night suggests that they haven't got out of it and that things need to change. But the big issue is clearly in midfield, they were better.
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Tom Harris
They were quicker, faster. They win the duels with the ball. They have one moment in the Middle.
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Sam Lee
And we could not cope with that. If City gets something done in the market in midfield, and if that signing comes in and does well straight away, of course, then things will start to improve. But I think until then it's damage limitation, basically, because the old issues from the end of last year, they're still there.
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Michael Bailey
Tom, you described it as a basketball game in your post match briefing. How did Manchester City set up and how did Paris Saint Germain exploit them?
- [07:27]
Tom Harris
Yeah, it was very familiar, to be honest. Particularly offable, which obviously has been the big problem through this poor run that they've had. They like to try and press high in a 424 shape, which is essentially a 4, 4, 2, but you're asking the wide players to push up high as well. And the aim of that is to block off that kind of pass from the centre back into the centre of midfield. But City haven't been good enough at making that pass difficult. You know, they're often spread out a bit too wide, they're easy to move about and create that space to get the pass through. There was a few examples at Leicester actually, of kind of third man runs just getting through and players not tracking. I mean, de Bruyne let Soumare go on a couple of occasions. It just makes that front four really easy to play through. And then once you do play through that, you're bearing down on the midfield too. Of Bernardo Silva, Tao Kovacic, Ilkay Gundogan, Rico Lewis can be in there sometimes and they just don't win their duels nearly often enough. So it's really, really weak, kind of at the structural level. You can see why Pep wants to do it because, you know, it leaves the foremost dangerous players upfield if they win the ball back. But it's too risky, you know, particularly without a reliable duel winner in the middle who can bail them out. In that first half in Paris, they were quite passive, I think, to try and combat that. They had just 36% of the ball, which is their lowest first half possession. On the Pac Guardiola, they dropped into a bit more of a compact shape and they actually look quite threatening on the counter on a number of occasions. But that's not how City want to play. And I think it's too easy to kind of bait them into pressing high and then unlocking those spaces and finding those 1v1s which Paris Saint Germain exploited all throughout the second half.
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Michael Bailey
It's really interesting you used the word weak in terms of their structure. I mean, you could probably say the same, Tim, in terms of their mentality, because that's the ninth time they've been leading a match this season and not actually won it, which is remarkable. I mean, this Pep Guardiola side, you know, they used to be mentality monsters, didn't they? And now there seems to be that weakness in how they handle a match. And you look at the squad and wonder who's got the character, I guess, to get them over the line when they. When they need to. Right now?
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Tim Spears
Yeah, absolutely. I mean, they struggle sometimes to even just put their foot on the ball and like. And calm a game down. I think we saw that again against PSG midweek, which is bonkers, really, you know, considering what. How City managed to control all types of games against all types of opponents, you know, for. For quite a few years now. I mean, I do think, yeah, the midfield is. Is clearly the key area physically, with all those players sort of the wrong side of 30. You know, Kovic, Bernardo, Gundogan, De Bruyne, they do have a lot of. A lot of experience in there, and the mentality should be strong enough, but I think it is more of a physical thing rather than a. Rather than a mental thing, you know, and you sort of have to look at Pep for that. I think he had a rare blind spot in the summer in terms of how he'd failed to sort of rebuild the squad in the past. He's been very good at letting players go just as their prime is finishing, I guess, like David Silva or Aguero or Gundogan, you know, ironically. Whereas you look at what he did in the summer, you know, he kept Walker, which obviously, you know, turned out to be a mistake, kept De Bruyne, but sort of kept him as the main man when fit, which I think is possibly an error as well, and then brought Gundogan back. I thought it might be a financial issue, to be honest, but you look at what they're doing this month and spending 140 million already with more to come, and it's clearly not that. So I think Pep has just sort of dropped the ball in the summer and they're still playing catch up now and may have to for at least the rest of the season.
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Michael Bailey
Yeah, playing catch up. And they had been doing a reasonably good fist of it, I suppose, in the Premier League recently, Tom. Three wins in the last four Premier League games, and they're actually only two points behind Chelsea, who are fourth. So if they beat them this weekend, they obviously go above them. I mean, I feel like we've asked you this sort of question for probably about four months now. But I mean, like tactically and in terms of their shape and what they can do against Chelsea to make sure that they avoid what happened in Paris, what could you see them doing?
- [11:31]
Tom Harris
I don't think they'll do anything different, to be honest. I think Pep's been persisting with it, you know, particularly this 424 I'm talking about before. They do look a little bit better when they try and be a bit more compact, but I think Pep's almost kind of stubbornly waiting for the game when the attacking quality actually does tell and wins the game anyway, despite the kind of structural issues. But that's just not happening. And to be honest, I think Chelsea are in quite a good place to exploit what City are trying to do at the moment. You know, when they build up, they kind of one of the only teams really who use a kind of 31 6. They'll just have Caicedo in the middle and then they'll have six players across the back line. And when you've got players like Palmer, who's really good at dropping into space and receiving the ball, Jackson as well, for all of his issues in front of goal recently, he's one of the best at picking it up on the halfway line and just driving through the midfield. We've got some good 1v1 wingers who can take on the fullbacks who have looked a bit suspect in recent weeks. You know, I think. I think Maresca will be looking forward to it, to be honest, and I'm quite looking forward to seeing what he does to exploit the system.
- [12:33]
Michael Bailey
Yeah, we're talking about Chelsea in a bit these next few fixtures. Tim Sam did mention them. For Manchester City in the Premier League, it's Chelsea at home, Arsenal away, Newcastle at home, Liverpool at home, Tottenham away, Nottingham Forest away.
- [12:48]
Tim Spears
Yeah, and unfortunately for City and you know, good news for Chelsea is that there's almost a direct correlation between City either winning or losing when looking at the standard of opposition that they, that they play in their matches. So, you know, they basically beat the rubbish teams and lose to the good teams. Since the opening day of the season when they beat Chelsea, the only teams they've beaten of note in any competition really are Nottingham Forest and Fulham. If you look at the results since August, they beat Watford in the Carabao cup, they beat Salford in the FA Cup. In the Champions League, they've only beaten Slavan Bratislava and Sparta Prague. And in the Premier League, they've beaten the four worst teams in the league. Which are Wolves, Southampton, Leicester and Ipswich and West Ham are the only other team. So apart from that sort of that one nil win against Forest a little while back and then beating Fulham, I think back in October, they just can't beat teams that are of a decent standard. Time and again their deficiencies have been shown up by good teams like PSG and Liverpool and Juventus. So it's going to take more than one player to fix that. And obviously, you know, they are bringing in a few this month, but there are clearly deficiencies that are being consistently shown up, you know, time and time again. Which is. Which bodes well for Chelsea this weekend.
- [13:59]
Michael Bailey
Doesn't it just. Yeah. We should have a little look over their business. They've done, Tom, because they have been busy. Manchester City, it's a combined total of 75 million euros on defenders. Vitor Reich, who's 19 years old and please tell me if I'm getting these, if I'm pronouncing these wrong. And Abdoukadir kusanov, who is 20 years old and then there's also 70 million euros on forward Omar Mouche. I mean, in terms of the defenders, Tom, are they for the future, looking at their ages or do you expect them to get involved pretty quickly?
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Tom Harris
Yeah, I believe he'll be Heche in Brazilian Portuguese, but we'll stick with Rhys for now. Thank you. Yeah, I mean, I think he is definitely the more long term option of the two. He's only played around 1500 minutes of first tier football in his professional career. I wrote a piece on the Athletic recently where I spoke to some of his former coaches and they all spoke glowingly really about his mentality, his leadership, his calmness, his kind of, you know, when you look at him play, he's a very kind of tall, kind of slender defender. He kind of reminds me of John Stones a little bit. Whereas. Whereas I think Kusanov is more the Ruben Diaz. You know, he's more aggressive, he's more kind of last ditch, will put his body on the line and I think that is what City need a little bit more of right now. I think when Diaz is not in this team, things are even worse because they don't have that player who can, who can bail them out at the last minute. You know, Diaz is one of the best at that in terms of blocks and inceptions and being aggressive. You know, the thing I'd say about Kusunov is that, you know, he can be over aggressive at times, so we'll have to see how that goes. But I Think it'd be nice just to see somebody charging into midfield and kind of trying to do something about it, because not many players have been able to do that for City this season. You know, he might play at right back. He's. He's got that potential as well. He's got the recovery pace and the strength to defend the kind of transitions that City have been struggling with. So he will help for now. He'll get better in the future. But, yeah, I don't think he's going to come in and solve everything because there are still issues with kind of him being quite a young defender as well.
- [16:01]
Michael Bailey
Sounds like he might be quite fun as well. Yeah. And in terms of Omar Mahmouch Tom as well, I mean, do you see him having more of a significant role? I'm quite excited about seeing him in the Premier League, if I'm honest.
- [16:12]
Tom Harris
Yeah, I think he'll definitely help with some of the kind of transitional attacks because I think City had a few opportunities against psg, but they were just. When they're moving the ball at speed, I think De Bruyne overhead a few passes. Nunez was a bit off it as well. I think Savinho is probably one of the best players at attacking open space that City have. I think Mahmoud will definitely help with that, but obviously they don't get a lot of opportunities to do that because a lot of teams will play deeper against them. So that's a real question, I think. But, you know, he's one of the most informed attackers in Europe at the moment. He's got 15 goals, nine assists in the Bundesliga in just over 16 full games. So he's basically over a goal or an assist, a game. He can play that striker role, so he can be something different to Haaland if required. He can also play off him. The one concern is that he's running a little bit hot at the moment, but I think the fundamentals are there and he does seem versatile enough to help across the front line. So. Expensive sign, but I think it will be useful. What's the best time of day to get a deal? All day with Jack in the box's all day. Big deal. Meal you get to choose from four entrees like the supreme croissant and five tasty sides plus a drink starting at $5. So hurry in or take your time. You've got all day at Jack. Every bite's a big deal. From Marvel Studios.
- [17:35]
Tim Spears
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- [17:37]
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Tom Harris
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Tim Spears
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Tom Harris
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- [17:56]
Tim Spears
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- [17:57]
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- [17:58]
The Athletic FC Pod
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- [18:37]
Michael Bailey
Chelsea returned to winning ways on Monday after five Premier League games without a victory. They beat Wolves 31 at Stamford Bridge. I'm sorry, Tim. I mean, it wasn't the most convincing performance, but winning ugly for a team as young as Chelsea strikes me as probably quite a good thing. Quite a good learning curve.
- [18:55]
Tim Spears
Yeah, definitely. They'd been on a pretty, not alarming run, but just in a bit of a slump. Yeah, I mean, it was ugly. I wouldn't read too much into it, personally. I mean, I remember when Everton beat Wolves 4 nil before Christmas and people thinking, oh, maybe Everton have finally sorted things out. I was like, no, Wolves are absolutely abysmal and you know, beating them convincingly is not necessarily a sign of things to come. And I would say the same with Chelsea. You know, it was Wolves worst performance under Vital Pereira. They were very sort of passive and submissive and I wouldn't even say Chelsea took full advantage, really. They just sort of stuttered to a. To a fairly straightforward victory. But yeah, I'm sort of. I'm sort of hearing and reading about Chelsea having problems all over the pitch at the moment in terms of the goalkeeper and obviously the issues in defense and having to bring Chalabar back and problems in midfield and you know, they're looking to sign the new winger. I mean, it's only a few weeks ago that they were sort of being labeled as everyone's sort of second favourites for a title. So, yeah, as ever with Chelsea, I think there's a slight sort of overreaction to a few results. There aren't too many players that are sort of playing consistently well for them at the moment. I think they just need to sort of play their way out of this slump and a victory against Man City would would certainly help and give them a real big boost for the. For the next few weeks to come.
- [20:16]
Michael Bailey
I guess that's the interesting thing, though, isn't it, Tim? Because if we were having this conversation at the start of the season, we probably would have expected a more erratic Chelsea. I don't think anyone expected them to have gone and done so well over the first half of the season. So, like, maybe this isn't the slump, maybe this is like the. The equilibrium kicking in and maybe they're just not quite as good as they were over the first half of the season.
- [20:37]
Tim Spears
Yeah, and I think. I think most people would have said that at the time. I think, you know, if you, if you follow the Chelsea writers closely at the Athletic, you know that they weren't kind of saying, you know, Chelsea are on for the title here. They were kind of pleading with caution. And, yeah, Chelsea, the youngest team in the league, one of the youngest teams we've ever seen in the, in the Premier League, certainly from one of the sort of the. The big six clubs. So there was inevitably going to be that inconsistency. I think Palmer's form and Jackson's form maybe produce results which were a little. A little bit better than we would have expected. So, yeah, maybe sort of returning a bit to the norm. Now, as much as there is such a thing called normal at Chelsea, you are.
- [21:14]
Michael Bailey
Yeah, quite. Tom, you've hinted a little bit about this earlier, but, I mean, you could maybe look at Chelsea's form and think that teams had figured out how to deal with what Enzo Maresca is trying to do with them. Can you see him trying to evolve what they're doing and react to that?
- [21:30]
Tom Harris
Yeah, I mean, I think Maresca is one of the most active managers in the league in terms of changing things around. But the base system always remains broadly the same. They always build up in that kind of 316ish shape that we spoke about before. So managers do know what to expect, but there are always little tweaks to try and catch people off guard. You know, Neto started on the left against Wolves, which was first time, I believe he's done that in the Chelsea shirt. You know, we've seen Malagusta, the right back pushing on into the front line against Arsenal. Cucure has done that. James played on the opposite side. I think, in that game. Lavi and Caicedo have been a defensive midfield pairing and so Fernandez has come in, Palmer's been played out wide. Lots of things going on, lots of little changes that he makes to find these Marginal gains. But I think, yeah, Maresca's system is kind of set up to dominate games and increase the chances of winning, but not necessarily guaranteed that you do win them because you do need moments of quality, you do need clinical finishing. It's a system that sets up the opportunity to do that. But sometimes it does rely on momentum, it relies on the opposition, it relies on players like Jackson and Palmer just finding their kind of moments to win games. So I don't think Maresque is going to change what he's doing because generally he's doing all right. The underlying numbers are good. It's only Arsenal and Liverpool have a better expected goal difference than them this season, which is always a good indicator of how well a team are creating and conceding chances. So I think it will be more of the same. But we're just going to be looking out for these little tweaks that he likes to make kind of week by week.
- [22:59]
Michael Bailey
Tim, you hinted at some of these issues at Chelsea. There's a couple I want to ask you about. Firstly, I mean Trevor Shalaba, what did you make of that situation? Because feel a bit for the defender himself I suppose, but he was their man of the match and by all accounts is now expecting to be a, a fully integrated part of this Chelsea. Well, 11 I suppose. Not even squad, I mean, yeah, I.
- [23:20]
Tim Spears
Guess we'll see how long it lasts really. Like, you know, and you sort of feel for the player, I mean you feel for palace as well really. Obviously he's fully integrated into their team. I wouldn't read too much into his man of the match performance against a sterile Wolves attack on Monday night. You know, this weekend obviously represents a far bigger test for Chalaba and whoever's alongside him. I mean it is just nuts. The transfer policy sort of defies all football conventions and you know, in the summer, you know, Chalabar not given a squad number and I guess banned from training with the first team, you know, had to use a different building and taken off the pre season tour, sent on loan. You kind of think Chelsea career over really now he's back in his first choice like five months later. So I don't really know how that works. And then on the flip side you've got, you know, Renato Vega who signed in the summer, you know, young 21 year old Portuguese player, played 18 times in all competitions, proved himself, you know, a pretty useful sort of utility player in defense and in fullback in midfield. Broken into the Portugal team. He's playing every minute for Portugal already and he's on loan to Juventus now, so, you know, make it make sense. I don't know why that, how that works. It's just a very football manager way of running a football club. There's, you know, their solution is to buy players at every turn. We see the, you know, the wingers in the squad, Sancho, Neto, Madawake, Joao Felix, they're all pretty new to it, albeit Madueke played a bit last season, but other than that, they're all brand new. And now they're looking at Garnacho, apparently, or, you know, looking at bringing wingers in. They haven't even bought Sancho yet via the obligation that they've got to buy him. And you already kind of doubt that he's got a future at the club. Like, it's just. It's just insane. It makes no sense. You've just got to laugh at it and roll with it and. But it won't make any sense.
- [25:14]
Michael Bailey
The other situation, Tim, is. Is Robert Sanchez in goal? I mean, there are. There are mistakes. There have been mistakes, and I guess some people would look at that being the weakness in their 11 in terms of trying to reach the top four. I suppose from my point, I'm not necessarily convinced they've got a better goalkeeper, even though they've got about eight goalkeepers. But other people will know more about that than me. Maybe you do.
- [25:35]
Tim Spears
No, I mean, that's another sort of puzzling thing. All their willingness to spend every turn and have this large turnover of. Of players in every window. Goalkeeper is probably the main position they need to upgrade. And I think a lot of people would have said that in the summer. Actually, I don't think you're kind of saying that with hindsight. You know, Sanchez is prone to errors. Another one against. Against Wolves on Monday night. Not convincing from set pieces, not convincing when playing out from the back. So, yeah, it's a. It's a strange one to sort of persist with him and put your faith in him when it's pretty clear that he's got. He's got weaknesses that he hasn't been able to eradicate yet. And you look at spurs bringing in, you know, Kinski and sort of making an immediate improvement in an area that they needed to. And I guess you kind of wonder why Chelsea don't appear to be looking to do the same. You're correct if I'm wrong, but I've not seen them linked with any keepers this month. So. Yeah, again, make it make sense, Michael.
- [26:27]
Michael Bailey
I guess it's just not very Sexy. That's what goes to my men. Poor goalkeepers. That's what I think. But you know, as you said, others will probably know better. I tell you what, let's check in with someone who would certainly know better. That is the Athletics. Chelsea writer Simon Johnson on YT Chelsea have to believe they can exploit Manchester City's defensive issues.
- [26:46]
The Athletic FC Pod
Chelsea have to see this as an opportunity. Clearly they concede goals more than we, we are used to seeing. For Man City, it's only a few weeks ago they were 2 nil up at Brentford and conceded twice late on to drop two points. So how, how bold are Chelsea going to be? That's the question. Maresca is a big occasion for him, of course, his sort of first return as a head coach, so he'll want to go back and, and show what he can do. But Chelsea have also not won. You know, their, their impressive away record has taken a little bit of a hit the last few trips they've had. So both teams have got a lot to prove.
- [27:26]
Michael Bailey
The only problem really is that the goals have dried up somewhat for Chelsea's forwards. Noni Meduke's goal on Monday was only his third in 19 Premier League appearances. Pedro Neto and Jadon Sancho, they have just three between them from a combined 35 Premier League appearances. Tom, are Chelsea too reliant on Cole Palmer and Nicholas Jackson? I mean, Jackson's struggling to find the net at the moment as well.
- [27:50]
Tom Harris
Yeah, but you know, a lot of teams rely on their main striker for goals. I don't think it's, it's an issue unique to Chelsea and I do think that Jackson, I will stick up for him because I do think he's very kind of useful from a pressing perspective. He's one of the most kind of active kind of presses in Europe, really. I think he's really kind of powerful when he can kind of run through the midfield, as I mentioned earlier. And I think his goals have always come in burst, really. I mean, Chelsea kind of, obviously they would have been scouting him for a long time, but he went on a run of eight goals and six for Via Real towards the end of the season and then Chelsea suddenly appeared and signed him. He's kind of been scoring in burst route his Chelsea career as well. So I think, you know, he's still getting the chances there will come a time when he'll start scoring them again and I think Chelsea as a whole will look better for that. And yeah, Cole Palmer, he's technically the best player on the team. So you want to look for him for inspiration and it can't happen all the time. I think with the amount of money that Chelsea have invested into attack, I think you do have to look at the other players and say, look, these two need a little bit of help sometimes.
- [28:55]
Michael Bailey
Yeah. And I suppose a little bit of help from the existing players. And when you've got players like Christopher Nkunku that Maresca doesn't appear to have faith in and is utilizing, then that just puts extra pressure on those who are starting regularly and relied on.
- [29:09]
Tom Harris
Yeah, it does speak to the mess that Tim was talking about in terms of. Yeah, how do you keep this squad happy? You know, I don't know what's really going on with Nkunku because he was electric in the Bundesliga. He has impressed on the occasions that he's played for Chelsea. But maybe it is to do with that kind of pressing I was talking about. Maybe Jackson's preferred in that aspect of the game. And I do think that Jackson does sometimes some of his finishing does look to be kind of dictated by how tired he is in a game. You know, there have been some kind of moments where he's been a little bit kind of loose, where, you know, it's looked as if he's kind of done and he needs. He needs some support in that respect. So, yeah, I don't know. It's a very unique situation with the fact that they play in the Conference League and basically give all of the players don't play minutes in that competition. You know, I wonder what would happen if they were playing in the Champions League, how they would manage this squad.
- [29:58]
Michael Bailey
If you haven't already listened, make sure you check out Tuesday's episode of the Athletic FC where IO is joined by Liam Toomey and Phil Hay to discuss whether after spending more than a billion pounds, Chelsea really need any more signings, which does lead us onto some predictions. So, Tim, do you want to go first? What do you think is going to happen? Manchester City against Chelsea?
- [30:18]
Tim Spears
Feel like Chelsea are probably well set up to exploit City weaknesses, you know, in terms of driving through those yawning gaps that they tend to leave. So, yeah, I think maybe in a way, win two one to Chelsea.
- [30:29]
Michael Bailey
Oof. Tom?
- [30:31]
Tom Harris
Yeah, to be honest, hearing what Simon was saying about Chelsea's away form has kind of led me to just saying that City will get something from his game. I don't think they'll win it and I think it'll be high scoring. So I'll go for a two, two.
- [30:46]
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- [31:20]
Michael Bailey
Let'S look at what's going on elsewhere then. Fulham host Manchester United on Sunday Lots of speculation around Alejandro Garnacho's future, as discussed here by Laurie Whitwell and Andy Mitton on our Manchester United podcast, Talk of the Devils after their dramatic Europa League win over Rangers on Thursday night at Old Trafford.
- [31:40]
The Athletic FC Pod
I don't think Garnacho leaving will be popular, but I don't think that every United fan would be protesting either. There is such a thing as selling a player at the right time. I don't know, hand on heart, how good Alejandro Garnacho will be. I do know that he's one of the rare Manchester United transfer success stories given how little he cost and how effective he has been so far.
- [32:03]
Tom Harris
Wouldn't you like to find out Old.
- [32:04]
Tim Spears
Trafford though, rather than yeah, I would.
- [32:06]
The Athletic FC Pod
I would, I would, I would. And I used the word before. Confusing. I think a lot of fans are confused.
- [32:12]
Tom Harris
This is why it's a crossroads moment. Basically, if they sell him and bring in a win back and kind of reshape the squad for Reuben Amarin.
- [32:19]
Marvel Studios
You're going with Reuben Amarin, aren't you?
- [32:20]
Michael Bailey
Yeah. There's no doubt it's an interesting one, Tom, because is it United possibly needing the money and the pure profit on someone like Garnacho, or is it just that Garnacho doesn't really work in what Ruben Amarim is trying to build and the system that he likes to operate in?
- [32:35]
Tom Harris
Yeah, potentially. I mean, I do think that Garnacho is kind of caught between two positions in this system that Amarim likes to play. I think Garnacho is at his best when he can be that kind of direct winger that he is. I mean, only Bukayo Saka had more touches in the box than him last season across Europe's top five leagues. So he's he likes to be in those advanced positions, he likes to drive into the penalty area, he likes to make those runs. And there's a feeling that has to, you know, be a little bit, has to be tamed a little bit if he's playing at wing back because obviously he's got more Defensive responsibility in that respect. And then it's just a question of whether he's technically trustworthy enough to play in the number 10 role, the kind of wide number tens that play in that system. Has he got the ability to operate in tight spaces? Is he good enough creatively? You know, it kind of feels like, yeah, yeah, he's caught between those two positions. But yeah, just like they alluded to on the talk of the Devils there, it's, you know, throughout this kind of United malaise which we've seen over the last 15 years, they have sold players who don't fit the current system only to then go on and abandon the current system. So I think they need to be careful of doing that. I think this would, as they said, be a massive vote of confidence for Amorim, particularly because Garnacho is probably one of the most well liked players at United at the moment.
- [33:51]
Michael Bailey
After losing 32 to Everton at Goodison park last weekend, Tottenham bounced back in the Europa league. They won 32 themselves against Hoffenheim on Thursday night. They host Leicester on Sunday. James Madison and son Heung Min were back among the goals in midweek two. They are going to be without Dominic Solanke though. He's the latest player on the treatment table. Although goodness knows how big this treatment table is at the moment. I mean they've got to win this game, haven't they Tim? Ange Postecoglou needs to win this game. They're 15th in the Premier League.
- [34:25]
Tim Spears
I mean, yeah, but then you know, you ask how big the treatment table is. I mean it needs to fit 10 grown men on it at the moment. Fully grown men. You could basically put a team out, you know, Vicario would be in goal, Van der Ven, Romero on Odoghi at the back, Saharan Bissouma in midfield. And then you've got Johnson, Ode, Bear, Timo Werner and now Solanke all out. They can still put out a decent team but the problem they've got right now is they're playing a lot of games as everyone is in a really busy month and some of them just look absolutely gone. Like Kulasevski's been their best player this season but he's basically having to play every minute. You know, a lot of the most dispersies player will go through him because he's their most creative player and yeah, he looks knackered and you know, drag us in. Their only sort of senior recognized centre back way out of form now and definitely needs to sort to, to be taken out the team but he can't be taken out team because there's literally no one else. All their senior players started against Hoffenheim. You know, youngsters are really sort of stepping up. Archie Gray's been a bit of a revelation. Lucas Bergval looks like a hell of a player. Mikey Moore's back from injury now and he's making a contribution again. Very exciting future. But as for the present, of course they need to win, you know, particularly given Leicester's woeful form. If they were to to come to Tottenham and get a result, it'd be interesting to see the reaction. I mean, the fans are sort of, you know, had a wobble with postecoglou. There was those, those scenes at Bournemouth away before Christmas which were pretty ugly. But then they've had a couple of home defeats recently where the fans have really stuck with them. So. Which probably speaks to fans being confused about who to point the finger of blame at. The bigger picture with spurs as always, really, you know, they need help from above. They desperately need reinforcements and Postecoglu saying this week they might not get any. So, yeah, Daniel Levy needs to help fund a squad that's competitive. You know, where have we heard that before?
- [36:24]
Michael Bailey
Let's move on to what many would say is the other highlight fixture of this weekend as Bournemouth play Nottingham Forest. As you mentioned at the very top of this show, Tim, who would have thunk it at the start of the season? Bournemouth are unbeaten in the last 10 and no side has picked up more points over the last 10 games than Nottingham Forest with 25. Tom, first of all, where do you see this one going?
- [36:50]
Tom Harris
It's quite a difficult one to predict because as we also mentioned, it is a clash of styles and I think what Bournemouth are so good at is what we saw against Newcastle where they kind of sit off and they get into a good defensive shape. They make those inceptions in the middle of the park. I think Ryan Christie and Lewis Cook have been two of the best players in Europe for that season and then they, they transition but Forest are not going to give them the chance to do that because they don't play out from the back. I think Matt Sells has launched over 70% of his goal kicks this season. So, you know, they don't mess about in that regard. So yeah, I think it's going to be quite interesting to see how Bournemouth adapt to that. Obviously they have quite a lot of grit under Andoni Rolla. We've seen that throughout his time there. We saw it in his rivalry Cana team as well. So I think they'll still be in the game but they're not going to be able to do the things that they do do the best. So probably a draw I think, which will be, yeah, probably a fair result for these two teams who are both really, really doing very well at the moment.
- [37:44]
Michael Bailey
Timothy?
- [37:45]
Tim Spears
Yeah, I guess for Forest the concern would be the way that they conceded those goals against Southampton. I don't know if that was complacency but yeah, they were sort of hanging on at the end and that that will be a concern to Nuno. But you know, before then they'd held off Liverpool, you know, so admirably and before then they'd had five clean sheets in a row in all competitions. So they're pretty much, I think the hardest team to play against in the league certainly right now, certainly in terms of breaking down a defense. So that's the key. You know, they have their formula so Forest will look to control the game, you know, without the ball and they do that pretty much better than anybody. So I would pack them to avoid defeat and maybe, maybe get a sneaky little counter attack based victory.
- [38:29]
Michael Bailey
League leaders Liverpool. They host Ipswich on Saturday. Liverpool made it seven wins from seven in the Champions League on Tuesday they beat Lille 21 at Anfield. Let's check in with James Pierce speaking on walk on about Harvey Elliott's recent.
- [38:43]
Marvel Studios
Performances to do what he's done against Brentford and then against Lille. In terms of earning the manager's trust, I think that's big for Elliott. He has still hasn't started, has he in either the Premier League or the Champions League so far this season. So when that happens and you're, you're 21 and you've been on the scene as long as Harvey Elliott has and you've got what, 130 odd senior Liverpool appearances under your belt, there's bound to be speculation. But I asked him after the game at Brentford about that, you know, he was absolutely emphatic. You know, he said, you know, this is my club, I absolutely love being here and I'm going to stay and fight and prove that I deserve to have a bigger role. And yeah, much more effective than bold words, bold deeds. And he, he certainly did that with the way that he's impacted the last two games.
- [39:28]
Michael Bailey
Liverpool extended their lead at the top to six points after Arsenal dropped points at home to Aston Villa last weekend. Mikel Arteta head to Wolves on Saturday. Let's hear from James McNicholas speaking on handbrake off after Arsenal's 30 victory over Dinamo Zagreb. In the Champions League, where Ethan Waneri returned and shone after coming off the bench to replace Raheem Sterling before Christmas.
- [39:50]
Ollie
There were a number of games, weren't there, where Sterling didn't even get off the bench. We had a lot more sort of depth and options at that particular moment in time, but it was kind of night and day watching him and then Wen Aeri and you felt like Ethan, he can sort of sense that opportunity that's there for him. And it was interesting listening to Arteta after the game, speaking about how he's learning that position. You know, I think he recognises maybe a bit like Miles. You know, this isn't his natural game, it's not the game he's played for the majority of his career to this point, but it's where the opportunity exists right now and he's seizing.
- [40:21]
Michael Bailey
It does really feel like keeping Wen Airy fit will be key while Bukayo Saka is still absent. Tim, how are you feeling about this one? Do you expect Matthias Kunha to feature? There's a lot of speculation around his future at the moment. Wolves.
- [40:33]
Tim Spears
I'd be very worried if he didn't feature and if that was a sign of things to come. He didn't look at all bothered against Chelsea on Monday night. He has been a bit ill recently, but, yeah, his body language was not the best. There's a lot going on behind the scenes with Cunha in terms of not signing a new contract. They've been in discussions for some time. I mean, he's not out of contract for two and a half years. That's not the issue. It's more. They were going to give him a pay rise and then I guess there's issues over certain clauses should Wolves be relegated. There are also issues in terms of. Of Arsenal and Nottingham Forest believed to be interested in him, which would be the ultimate. I can't swear, can't be the ultimate kick in the teeth for Wolves to sell their best place in Nottingham Forest. And yeah, and then there's other things going on. I mean, he. He composed his first tweet since May the other night, to call a local journalist a liar for tweeting that he'd gone straight down the tunnel at Stamford Bridge on Monday. So, yeah, it's a delicate situation. I mean, he's a temperamental guy anyway. But if he wants a move this month, I'd be amazed if he was to get it. Wolves are 17th and they need the best players and it is kind of irrelevant how much money might be put at their door. If it's 70 million quid, you know, whatever, it's not worth it. I don't trust Wolves to buy good enough players to replace him, certainly at this stage of the season in the January window. So yeah, look, if he wants to play for Arsenal next season, then the perfect thing for him to do would to be to give a man of match display on Saturday a hat trick. 3 nil help keep Wolves in the Premier League and then he can do whatever he wants in the summer.
- [41:57]
Michael Bailey
To be honest, that's a nicer note to end on than the still remaining pain in your heart over Nuno that I heard there. So with that we will leave it. We are done. A big thank you to Tim, Tom, all the production crew and to you guys for listening. The Athletic FC will be back on Monday. Until then, enjoy the weekend Football.
- [42:18]
Tim Spears
You've been listening to the Athletic Athletic FC podcast. The producers were Guy Clark, Mike Stavroot and Jay Beal.
- [42:23]
Ollie
The executive producer was Aimee Moorhead.
- [42:25]
Tim Spears
To listen to other great athletic podcasts.
- [42:27]
Ollie
For free, search for the Athletic on.
- [42:29]
Tim Spears
Apple, Spotify and all the usual places.
- [42:32]
Ollie
The Athletic FC Podcast is an athletic media company production.
- [42:41]
The Athletic FC Pod
The Athletic FC Podcast.
- [42:43]
Michael Bailey
Network.
- [42:48]
Ian McIntosh
Hello, I'm Ian McIntosh and I'm the host of the Daily Football Briefing. What is the Daily Football Briefing? It's a special 10 minute daily show designed to bring you up to speed with the most important stories from across the football world. Except on Monday mornings when it's 15 minutes and we try to cram in the results, standings and stories from the top 10 leagues on the planet. Or at least the top 10 leagues that I run on a football manager site. Follow this show today and you'll never miss another big story again, whether it's news that the Athletic has just broken. David Ornstein what happened? News from outside the Premier League that other podcasts might ignore.
- [43:22]
Sam Lee
That is a difficult one to explain.
- [43:24]
The Athletic FC Pod
So let's go bit by bit.
- [43:25]
Ian McIntosh
Or it's Champions League week and you just need someone to put it all into context.
- [43:29]
Marvel Studios
It's made for a very useful away point in a difficult game in a difficult week.
- [43:34]
Ian McIntosh
Listen to the Daily football briefing in 2025. It's out every weekday. Wherever you get your podcasts.