Barcelona: La Liga Champions

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Rest Is Football – "Barcelona: La Liga Champions"

Date: May 12, 2026
Hosts: Gary Lineker, Alex Alger
Theme: Dissecting Barcelona’s La Liga title-clinching victory over Real Madrid, examining Real’s crisis, player dynamics, and season highlights amid managerial changes.

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Episode Overview

This lively episode of The Rest Is Football dives deep into Barcelona’s triumphant La Liga season, punctuated by their historic title-sealing win against archrivals Real Madrid in El Clasico. Gary and Alex offer expert insights into the differences between both clubs, the remarkable transformation under manager Hansi Flick, standout moments, and Real Madrid’s behind-the-scenes turmoil.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Barcelona’s Title Win in El Clasico

• Historic Victory: Barcelona clinched the La Liga title by defeating Real Madrid at the Nou Camp for the first time in their 126-year history.
  • Gary Lineker (00:27): “Not only did they win it, they did it by beating their arch rivals, Real Madrid. There looks a million miles between the two teams at the present.”
• Festive Scenes: Celebratory images, including players riding small bicycles and goalkeeper Chesney singing with fans.
• Hansi Flick’s Leadership: Manager Flick’s emotional day, overcoming personal tragedy (loss of his father) to lead Barcelona, earning warmth from players and fans.
  • Alex (02:23): “It’s huge to retain their title as well. There looks a million miles between the two teams at the present.”

Notable Player Quotes on Flick (03:15):

• Raphinha: “For me, Hansi Flick is a father. He is the one who has made me believe in myself again.”
• Frenkie de Jong: “Flick has very clear ideas, but within that there’s a great deal of freedom for the players.”
• Pedri: “This league title is dedicated to Hansi Flick and the loss he had today. May his father rest in peace. This is for him in heaven.”

2. Tactical Praise and Season Statistics

• Flick’s High Line: Despite past criticism, praised for producing “breathtakingly attractive football.” (03:01—03:25)
• Dominant Run: 11 consecutive wins, 91 points so far, and on course for over 100 points and goals.

3. VAR Controversies

• Gary’s strong dislike of VAR, blaming dubious decisions (notably red cards) for Barcelona’s Champions League exit.
  • Gary Lineker (04:36): “It’s honestly genuinely the worst thing that’s happened to football in my lifetime.”

4. Marcus Rashford’s Barcelona Impact

• Rashford’s Role: Scored a stunning free kick in El Clasico after being encouraged by teammates.
  • Gary Lineker (05:26): “I was absolutely pin perfect, wasn’t it?”
• Post-Match Musings and Language Twist: Humorous observations about English players speaking “Spanglish” in interviews.
  • Alex (05:55): “I enjoyed his post-match interviews...he was doing it, doesn’t he...in the training…”
• Future at Barca: Rashford’s desire to stay, great stats (14 goals & 14 assists in 47 apps, mostly as a sub), and perceived bargain value (~€30m).
  • Gary Lineker (09:45): “His first ever league title...14 goals and 14 assists in 47 appearances...16 starts...that’s pretty impressive.”

5. Barcelona’s Squad Depth and Philosophy

• Resilience through Injuries: The squad has handled big injuries due to their depth and La Masia’s steady talent supply.
  • Gary Lineker (12:12): “They’ve so much relied on La Masia as well, haven’t they?…this incredible kind of conveyor belt of talent.”
• Nu Camp Renovation: Fun anecdote about “culés” (the origin of the nickname for Barcelona fans) and stadium atmosphere.

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6. Real Madrid in Crisis

(14:03–28:00)

• Worse than Ever: Both agree they’ve never seen Real in such crisis.
• Dressing Room Chaos:
  • Divided dressing room stemming from Xabi Alonso’s tenure; favorites and opponents caused festering rifts.
  • Training Ground Fight: Details a fight involving Fede Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni, reflecting team disunity.
    • Alex (17:07): “It was brewing...tension building...terrible that this is happening.”
    • Gary Lineker (18:17): “Fights happen in dressing rooms...but you can’t have that kind of thing going on.”
• Leadership Vacuum: Alvaro Arbeloa compared to a “supply teacher”—lacking true authority.
• Presidential and Managerial Speculation: Florentino Perez’s reluctance to step aside, debate about Mourinho and Klopp as potential managers. Zidane’s legacy recounted with a warm anecdote.
  • Gary Lineker (18:55): “They need strong personality to come in there now, I would say. Otherwise they’ll have no chance.”
• Mbappe’s Issues: Mbappe’s controversial attitude, absenteeism, and social media campaigns to oust him discussed.
  • Alex (19:19): “Campaign to get Mbappe out...13 million signatures.”
• Coach Quotes: Arbeloa’s statement blaming himself, defending both Valverde and Tchouameni (21:19).
• Outlook: Debate if core stars can co-exist and on the need for a commanding manager (“massive personality”).
  • Gary Lineker (25:55): “Klopp would definitely have that...he’d just get them against the wall and shake their heads together.”

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7. Atletico Madrid’s Season and Simeone’s Future

(27:32–29:37)

• Another Defeat: Atletico’s loss after Champions League exit, season fizzling out.
• “El Pupas” Nickname: Discussion of Atletico’s reputation as the unlucky “jinxed ones.”
• Simeone Praised: Despite tough defeats, recognized as a genuinely nice guy in person—echoing that hard men are often gentle off the pitch.

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8. La Liga Roundup and Relegation Battles

(30:06–32:10)

• Results highlighted: Sevilla’s late win, Levante’s survival hope, Atletico’s loss, Valencia and Mallorca moving toward safety.
• Notable: Real Oviedo all but relegated after another goalless draw.
• Rayo Vallecano’s Conference League Journey: Story of coach Inigo Pérez’s visa denial, now finding success elsewhere.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Gary Lineker (04:36): “It’s honestly genuinely the worst thing that’s happened to football in my lifetime.” [on VAR]
• Alex (17:07): “It was brewing...tension building. So then the fight happened at the end of the week in the dressing room at the training ground...”
• Gary Lineker (18:17): “Fights happen in dressing rooms. They do, but, you know, you can’t have that kind of thing going on, you know, when you’re struggling a little bit just before, you know, one of the biggest games of the season that you’ll play.”
• Alex (25:56): “I think Klopp, I think, is a really great coach, but...he needs a massive personality. Probably more than coaching ability, I think.”
• Gary Lineker (13:36): “That’s where that phrase, you know, ‘let’s loose as culés’, that’s where it came from...all you could see was people’s backsides looking up.”

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:27 – Barcelona’s win, festive aftermath, Flick’s emotional night
• 02:58 – Flick’s managerial impact, players’ support, quotes
• 04:36 – Champ League misfortune, VAR rant
• 05:26 – Rashford’s El Clasico goal; post-match Spanglish
• 09:45 – Rashford’s statistics, value, contract talk
• 12:12 – La Masia and squad resilience
• 14:03 – Real Madrid crisis begins, Alex’s past experience, Zidane story
• 16:28 – Xabi Alonso fallout, fractured dressing room, fight details
• 18:55 – Mourinho/Klopp speculation, Perez reluctance, new manager needs
• 19:19 – Mbappe criticism and fan campaign
• 21:19 – Arbeloa statement defending players
• 25:56 – Klopp & Mourinho for Real? Zidane’s prospects
• 27:32 – Atletico’s unlucky run, Simeone’s future, praise for ‘hard men’
• 30:06 – Full La Liga round-up and relegation fight
• 31:45 – Rayo Vallecano’s European adventure and coaching story

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Final Thoughts

The episode blends sharp tactical analysis, emotional club stories, humor, and inside anecdotes. The chemistry between Gary and Alex brings La Liga’s drama to life—offering listeners both the latest headlines and the deeper currents shaping Spanish football right now.

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For die-hard fans and casual listeners alike, this episode captures the essence of Spanish football: glory, rivalry, and the ever-unpredictable human side of the game.

Transcript

[Alex]

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[Gary Lineker]

Not only did they win it, they did it by beating their arch rivals, Real Madrid. There looks a million miles between the two teams at the present.

[Alex]

A terrible way for Real Madrid to lose the La Liga title. In a Clasico at the Nou camp, Marcus Rashford started. What a goal. Unbelievable, wasn't it?

[Gary Lineker]

Absolutely pin perfect. Have you ever experienced this club in such a crisis as they are now?

[Alex]

No, no, honestly, no.

[Gary Lineker]

I just wonder where they go from here. I mean, that's probably one of the reasons why Mourinho's been mention much. Hello and welcome to the rest is football La Liga with Alex Alger and me, Gary Lineker. And it's a day after Barcelona won the La Liga title. And not only did they win it, they did it by beating their arch rivals, Real Madrid. And it's the first time in their, I think, 126 year history that they've won it in a Classico. There are a lot of great scenes I saw. We'll come to the game in a second. Great scenes in Barcelona last night saw three of their players riding off on little bicycles, which is a bit bizarre.

[Alex]

Were they riding back from the after party or were they on their way to the after party or were they just going for a cycle ride?

[Gary Lineker]

I hope they were on the way to the after party because you wouldn't want to be driving on those pedlos, would you? Pedlos? They weren't pedlos. Bicycles.

[Alex]

That would be fun.

[Gary Lineker]

Yeah, they were very kind, small. I don't know what was going on there. Then I saw. Did you see the clip of Chesney singing with the fans?

[Alex]

Yeah, yeah.

[Gary Lineker]

Chesney. Chesney. Was it Fumador? Is he a smoker? Is he? I presume. I don't know. He is, yeah.

[Alex]

Confirmed. Okay. He's got.

[Gary Lineker]

And he was singing along with them as well. So I thought. I thought that was. That was quite fun because it means. I mean, obviously it's huge to retain their title as well. There looks a million miles between the two teams at the present.

[Alex]

Yeah. Crazy to think I went to the Classico back in October. That Real Madrid won that, didn't they? They were top of the league. And, yeah, things were looking very good. And then things changed very quickly in football, as we know. But a terrible way for Real Madrid to lose the La Liga title. I mean, they were never going to win it, but in a Clasico at the Nou camp. And Hansi Flick lost his dad, didn't he, in the early hours of the morning, and then still went and showed up and won it. But what a manager he is, what a job he's done there. He's won six of his seven classicos.

[Gary Lineker]

Wow. That's pretty tasty, isn't it? He's been brilliant.

[Alex]

Pep's record.

[Gary Lineker]

Yeah. I love his football. I know some people, we've all been a little bit critical at times about the high line, but that high line, crazy though it is, at times does lead to breathtakingly attractive football. So carry on doing that. Very sad. On the morning of the Classico, the morning that he was going to win the league, that his dad should. Should die. I saw his interview and he was wondering whether he should tell the team and he decided they're like his family and he wanted to. And he said the respons was amazing. I got three quotes here, actually, from. From the players from Raphinha. He said, for me, Hansi Flick is a father. He is the one who has made me believe in myself again. Frenkie de Jong. Flick has very clear ideas, but within that there's a great deal of freedom for the players. And in this way we can show our quality. Pedri. This league title is dedicated to Hansi Flick and the loss he had today. May his father rest in peace. This is for him in heaven. We're looking out for Hansi Flick. It was a difficult moment for him and we did everything for him. Nice words. You can tell, can't you? Can see when. When a coach has a genuine connection with his team and he has that,

[Alex]

I think, yeah, yeah, you really can. And it's the opposite of Real Madrid right now, isn't it? I know we'll speak about them a bit later on, but, yeah, absolutely amazing season for them in. In the league. 11 games on beaten out. No, sorry. It's 11 wins in a row, isn't it? 91 points. They can finish with more than 100 points because they've got three games to go. Just the four defeats. But they would have wanted a Champions League title this season, wouldn't they?

[Gary Lineker]

And I thought actually over the two legs, they were a bit unlucky in that game it went against them. The decisions, the two red cards, the one in the first leg in particular, I thought was. Was a really poor call from var, one of many that they made this season. God, I hate that we need to cite some kind of worldwide petition to get rid of it or to change it dramatically because it's just. It's honestly genuinely the worst thing that's happened to football in my lifetime.

[Alex]

Yeah. To think the Premier League title might be decided by that VAR decision. I was there at the stadium. Could well be crazy, crazy, crazy. Anyway, the classico. The classico Marcus Rashford started, which I was really happy for him. And what a goal. Unbelievable, wasn't it?

[Gary Lineker]

Free kick. It was quite interesting when he was talking about it because he was saying that I didn't really fancy it very much for a shot. I was going to cross it. I think he said it was Danny Olmo and someone else came up to him and said, pedri or someone came up to him and said, now have a go, have a pop. And he said. And then I'm like, okay, focus. I was absolutely pin perfect, wasn't it?

[Alex]

I enjoyed his post match interviews afterwards as well. Because he's got that accent. He's doing it, doesn't he said in the training.

[Gary Lineker]

In the training,

[Alex]

like, come on, Mark.

[Gary Lineker]

It's really funny, isn't it? I noticed exactly the same thing. I was watching the interview and I thought, crikey's doing that thing and he's doing it and he's.

[Alex]

It's.

[Gary Lineker]

It looked like it was like BBC interview, I think.

[Alex]

Yeah, it was with BBC girls who's gone to Lemon's plane. Yeah.

[Gary Lineker]

So normally you, you do that. I mean, to be honest, I, I remember one particular incident. I was interviewed after a game at Wembley, playing for England and they said, you know, how was the game? And I went, oh, you know, I went. I mean, I just spoke in Spanish and then I went, no, actually, actually it was a really tough partido.

[Alex]

That's so funny.

[Gary Lineker]

Completely lost. Yes. Spanglish. Yeah.

[Alex]

Well, I guess it's a good sign. Obviously you were learning Spanish and speaking Spanish. It's a good sign that he's learning Spanish. Yeah.

[Gary Lineker]

Because. Yeah, I mean, he was basically speaking English in a way, in the. In the order of the Spanish words in the training. In the training. Because we wouldn't say in training. Wouldn't we? But they do say in. So good.

[Alex]

I love it, I love it.

[Gary Lineker]

It's not. It's not quite as good as Steve McLaren because he did the full accent, the Dutch accent, didn't he?

[Alex]

Yeah, not quite as good, but I still enjoyed it. And he was asked, he said, if you. If 18 year old Marcus Rashford had been told he'd be scoring goals in El Clasico, winning La Liga title with Barcelona, would. Would he have believed them? And then he was like, you know what, it was actually always my dream to stay in Manchester at that age. That was my dream. And. But he did say Barcelona was always his second team. Well, he should have just said, yeah, it would have been a dream. I wouldn't have been.

[Gary Lineker]

We all say that, don't they?

[Alex]

But we'll see what happens.

[Gary Lineker]

You think he'll stay?

[Alex]

Well, I was about to say he hasn't done any harm scoring that goal in the Classico.

[Gary Lineker]

That would definitely, definitely have helped. There's no question. I mean, if they are dithering, they might weigh. May well have made their minds up already. We don't know. I don't think. I mean, I spoke with Marcus a couple of weeks ago and I genuinely don't think he knew at that point. I think it's. It's very clear that he'd like to.

[Alex]

Do you think it was a statement from Hansi Flick as well, starting him in El Clasico?

[Gary Lineker]

Well, he hasn't started in much lately, so possibly only Hansi Flick will know that. But I was thrilled for him in that goal because, you know, I think it's pretty clear that he wants to stay.

[Alex]

Yeah.

[Gary Lineker]

And who wouldn't, being part of that team as well, which is. I mean, they're so talented, they're so good, aren't they, the football that they play, you know. Yes, they didn't quite make it in the, in the Champions League this season, but we're a bit unfortunate that can happen in knockout football. But I think you should always be judged on your league title as much as anything else, because even though I think they possibly would have preferred the Champions League, because they've won a lot of league titles, if you win your league, that's. That's the best team in your country for the season. There's no excuses, there's no although, although Man City might have won or two after that decision. We'll have to wait and see. But I think overall, you know, they've had a cracking season.

[Alex]

Yeah, yeah, they had. And the two changes he made obviously started Marcus Rashford and Ferran Torres and that was a brilliant goal that Ferran Torres scored as well. Lovely. From Dani Olmo.

[Gary Lineker]

Yeah, it was Beautiful, wasn't it?

[Alex]

And a superb goal. And as you said, they all seem so united. I think he was doing an interview. Ferran Torres was doing an interview with ESPN and Marcus Rashford just came to join him and have a chat with them all. They just all seem like they get on so well and it's a really great group of players and that's. And that's down to hands and Flick as well, keeping them all together. And because. Because there's always going to be big personalities in that. In the Barcelona dressing room, you know that. No, Lamin still, who's on the sideline,

[Gary Lineker]

who joined in the celebrations? I saw.

[Alex]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, he did.

[Gary Lineker]

I've got Rashford's assist, Rashford statistics here, actually. His first ever league title, of course, didn't manage that with Manchester United. 14 goals and 14 assists in 47 appearances. But I think it's all important to how many starts, because a lot of those would be late substitutions. So, you know, considering 16 starts in the league, 14 goals, 14 assists, I think it's all competitions, but 16 starts in there, I think that's pretty impressive. Yeah. Considering the minutes that he would have played.

[Alex]

Yeah, absolutely. In a Barcelona team full of talent. Right. So many talented players. He was subbed off in the 64th minute for Rafinha, so he's done brilliantly. I'd like to see him stay there, there. I want to continue watching him play for Barcelona, so. So fingers crossed they can get a deal done. Because surely, 30 million for Marcus Rashford. That's what it was, wasn't it? 30 million euros.

[Gary Lineker]

I keep reading different. 30 million euros. 25 million pounds. Yeah, I think.

[Alex]

Yeah, that would make sense.

[Gary Lineker]

Maybe that.

[Alex]

Surely that's a steal. It's a steal.

[Gary Lineker]

He's 28, Marcus. 29 October. So I think. I mean, he's in his prime. And obviously in my time, you'd have gone 28, 29. You'd have been slightly nervous about, you know, extending a long contract or something. But I think nowadays, you know, the new 32 is 35 probably at least, and with some players, a lot more. So, yeah, I think he's still got some great years left in him. He's certainly not been overplayed like a lot of players, so that. That will be in his favor. And if he doesn't go, will he? I think there'll be clubs looking to snap him up, to be perfectly honest, at that sort of price tag, considering what you get for your money nowadays. Because I. I think it'd Be difficult for him to go back to Manchester United. Although I can see it if with, you know, Michael Carrick, who I'm sure he respects and, you know, Amarim's not there anymore, who clearly, you know, they didn't see eye to eye, but so, you know, interesting to see what happens there. A lot of star players, star performances this season for Barcelona, I think having Pedri back to his best has been hugely important. Even though, you know, they've had injuries, big injuries. Rafinha's been out a couple of times for lengthy spells. Lamina Mal's had his issues last season. So despite that, the squad depth has been really strong.

[Alex]

Yeah. Their keeper's been brilliant as well.

[Gary Lineker]

Yeah.

[Alex]

John Garcia.

[Gary Lineker]

And they've so much relied. Relied on La Massir as well, haven't they? Because they haven't had the massive budget in recent years. So they've actually culminated in this incredible, incredible squad with a bit of clever recruitment from elsewhere. But, but, but by and large, it's this incredible kind of conveyor belt of talent that this, that club seems to produce.

[Alex]

Yep. Something in the water. We've said it before, haven't we?

[Gary Lineker]

I didn't drink enough of it, obviously.

[Alex]

You were drinking the Agua del Grifo.

[Gary Lineker]

Yeah.

[Alex]

Well, the stadium looks impressive, doesn't it?

[Gary Lineker]

It looks getting there, isn't it? It's getting. They're still not got the upper, upper tiers full of people yet, but. But hopefully, hopefully next season. But, you know, it was. It was atmospheric. Not quite as it. It will be because once it's got over a hundred thousand fans in there that we bit like the old days. 120, I think the capacity was when I was there. There's a lot of standing, obviously, particularly at the top back in those days. And that's where that phrase, you know, let's loose as cooles, that's where it came from. Do you know what. Do you know what that is? You know, it's backsides in it.

[Alex]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Gary Lineker]

But apparently on the upper. Yeah, so high up on, on the right at the top of the stand, from down outside the ground, all you could see was people's backsides looking up. So they got.

[Alex]

I never knew that.

[Gary Lineker]

Well, I hope it's right because that. I mean, it's 40 years since I was there, but that was what was told to me, so. That's true. Yeah, yeah. Because it's Catalan for us. It's coolos in Spanish, obviously. Yeah. So, yeah, not particularly important trivia, but. But some people like that sort of stuff.

[Alex]

No, I like it. I like it. That's a good story. Yeah. Should we chat Real Madrid or. We're having a break before Real Madrid.

[Gary Lineker]

I think. I think we need a break before. I think Real Madrid need a break from Real Madrid. We'll be back. Welcome back to the Rest of Football. La Ligue episode with Alex and me, Gary Lineker. Right. Alex, it's your team. You know, you worked there for many years and you followed the club, obviously. Yeah.

[Alex]

But nothing like this happens.

[Gary Lineker]

That's what I was going to ask you. Have you ever experienced this club in such a crisis as they are now?

[Alex]

No. Honestly, no. The dressing room was amazing when I was there, because it was, what, Cristiano Ronaldo, Benzema, Tony Kroos, Luka Modric, Casimiro, you know, great, great players and great personalities and. And leaders. Real. Sergio Ramos, he was the captain and Zidane was like, obviously, he was a manager when I was. When they won the three Champions Leagues in a row. And how was.

[Gary Lineker]

How was. I just want to ask this for my own interest, because I've never met Zinedine Zidane. How is he?

[Alex]

He's amazing. He's so nice.

[Gary Lineker]

Yeah.

[Alex]

I remember one story that just sums up how he was. We were on tour in America. Can't remember. We were in the hotel having dinner and there was like, buffet. And we were always told, like, let players go first and then it's your turn. You can't. Like, Christianity. Other ways. I want to eat.

[Gary Lineker]

Save a prawn for me.

[Alex]

Well, exactly. So we were always told, hold back, hold back. And I remember Zidane saying to me, you go, you go. You go and eat first. You go. And I was like, no, I'm not allowed. You know, I'm not allowed. I've got to wait. You've got to go first. He was like, no, no, no, I insist, you go and eat. You know, he was. He was just so nice and just like, please, please go and eat. Please go and get something. I've said yes. And he was just a really lovely man.

[Gary Lineker]

I'm glad about that.

[Alex]

The players respected him, you know, he had. They had so much respect for him. I mean, how could you not?

[Gary Lineker]

His record's incredible, isn't it? Because he had nine finals, nine wins, and Hansi Flick is now eight finals, eight wins. I know that's separate from the league. The league doesn't count. But it's an interesting.

[Alex]

It was.

[Gary Lineker]

They're the top two in terms of, obviously, 100% records.

[Alex]

Yeah. It was crazy. It was crazy. And then I think the club really wanted him to stay on. It was his wife that said no. Really? Why no? I don't think she wanted him having the stress and the pressure of it anymore. So he listened to his wife and ended after three Champions leagues in a row.

[Gary Lineker]

Where do we start with this?

[Alex]

Yeah, where do we start? With the dressing room now. Well, I think it all went wrong when Jabby Alonso was in charge this season and there was a divide in the dressing room with the players that liked Jabby Alonso and the players that didn't. And then that created this divide between the players in the dressing room. Xabi leaves, then that problem. The problem remains in that you have a divided dressing room. And I think Alvaro Arboloa came in and again, he's a great guy, but I don't think he had the authority. It's almost like a supply teacher coming in when you're at school and you all muck around and you're naughty. I think. I think that's.

[Gary Lineker]

Speak for yourself, Alex.

[Alex]

Yeah, Yeah. I always remember Mrs. Blabla's not in today. It's this. You're like, yes, like, they won't know. Like, we can just muck around for the next hour. But that's sort of what it. Sort of what it's like in the dressing room right now. And it sounds like he's not asserting any kind of authority over his players and sort of letting it unfold and get. It's completely out of control now. So I asked my source in Madrid, that's what I'll say, like, exactly what happened with this training ground fight. And apparently it been brewing. So during the week in training, like, there'd been a few bad tackles. Fedi gives a lot of chat, apparently, but he's not. But he's not physical like Tchuameni. You know, Chua Many is hard as nails. And so it was sort of. It was brewing, it was. There was tension building. So then the fight. The fight happened at the end of the week in the dressing room at the training ground. And Fedi has obviously come out and said that he hit his head on a table, but I'm not sure that's entirely true. But it's terrible, absolutely terrible that this is happening.

[Gary Lineker]

I mean, fights happen in dressing rooms. They do, but, you know, you can't have that kind of thing going on, you know, when you're struggling a little bit just before, you know, one of the biggest games of the season that you'll play. So. And. And it just kind of Encapsulates everything that's wrong there at the moment.

[Alex]

Yeah, exactly.

[Gary Lineker]

I just wonder where they go from here. I mean, that's probably one of the reasons why Mourinho's been mentioned so much as a possibility. I think everyone knows that the President Perez is. Is. He's the one manager. They say that if the past. That he's still. Still really, really likes, perhaps didn't fall out with. I don't know.

[Alex]

Yeah.

[Gary Lineker]

Whether that's true. But they need strong personality to come in there now, I would say. Otherwise they'll have no chance. Someone needs to sort out the dressing room.

[Alex]

It's going to get more and more toxic, I think, you know. And the images of Kylian Mbappe leaving, just laughing away. He was off on. On holiday, was he on a boat in Sardinia while they were playing against Espanol the week before? And then this campaign to get Mbappe out, I think it had 13 million signatures.

[Gary Lineker]

But a lot of. I mean, I saw that and I thought to my. Myself, that's going to be a lot of signatures from people from other clubs just doing it anyway, isn't it?

[Alex]

Yeah, yeah.

[Gary Lineker]

It's not just. You're not telling me. It's 30 million Real Madrid fans. I mean, the guys. I mean, I know it's. It's a funny one with Killian, isn't it? Because obviously he's left PSG and now they've started winning Champions Leagues or they might be back to back Champions Leagues. He goes to Real Madrid and they stop winning Champions Leagues. So I. I think people are pointing to. I mean, you know, you can. I've seen lots of these clips now with Lewis, Enrique, where he's talking to Mbappe and trying to get him to buy into the work ethic. I don't think that sort of thing will help overall in. In the perspective of how fans see him, that won't help. You know, sometimes. Wasn't he seen in this training session when they had the fight, walking out smiling? Yeah. So, I mean, if I always. I'm always reluctant to have a go at players just for smiling, because sometimes that's how you deal with things. So I think.

[Alex]

Well, he could have been laughing for a totally different reason.

[Gary Lineker]

It could have. I'm sure it probably was, but he

[Alex]

might not have even been in the dressing room when it was flawed.

[Gary Lineker]

Right, Exactly. I mean, there was also a clip of Valverde after his hat trick in the dressing room after the City game where he shook everyone's hand. And the only bloke he didn't look at was Tchouameni. So it might have been bubbling along this. They are, they, they. It's not great when you, a couple of your midfield players hate each other. If that is indeed the case, it's not good.

[Alex]

But this goes back to what I said at the beginning of the Xabi Alonso situation. So Tchouameni and Kylian Mbappe were massive Xabi Alonso fans. They really liked him, really got on well with him and Fede Valverde didn't. So I think that's where it was.

[Gary Lineker]

Sound like he might be a bit of a common denominator in these things. Here's what Arboloa said. I'm responsible for what happens at Real Madrid and if you want to have someone to blame, here I am. Anyone can make mistakes, but Fede Valverde and Aurelien Chowmani are two players who represent very well what Real Madrid is, who deserve a chance to turn the page, to keep fighting for this badge. They've said sorry to the fans, the

[Alex]

club and the dressing room.

[Gary Lineker]

That might be. The translation might have gone a bit. Lucando Luchando. They do not deserve to be publicly burnt at the stake. I will not allow people to use this to question my players professionalism because there are a lot of lies being told. A lot of lies. Well, we don't want to jump into that, do we? It's false that my players are not professional. It's false that they've shown a lack of respect towards me not even once. It is false that their lifestyle is not what the lifestyle of a Real Madrid player should be. I'm not going to allow that because it is just untrue. It's an absolute lie. Look, I had a teammate who got a golf club and whacked another teammate. He played with Joey Barn.

[Alex]

Did he?

[Gary Lineker]

Situations that should not happen between teammates have always happened everywhere. For things that happen in the dressing room to be filtered out is a betrayal of Real Madrid and it is something that saddens me a lot. So, you know, he stuck up for his players. That's what he has to do under these circumstances. He's, you know, he's.

[Alex]

Is.

[Gary Lineker]

Is it official that he won't there next season or is it just taken for granted?

[Alex]

I think it's not official, but.

[Gary Lineker]

Yeah, but it's unlikely, isn't it? It's unlikely.

[Alex]

It's really unlikely. It's not a good look. Especially if he did take a back seat with all of this and he hasn't sorted it, you know, it's Very

[Gary Lineker]

difficult, though, as you said that, you know, the supply teacher. It's almost like an interim. And how do you deal with this? And players will go well, even if it's subconsciously they're going well. He's not going to be here next season, is he? So that is. So. Yeah.

[Alex]

Not good, though.

[Gary Lineker]

Yeah. Who do you see going out? Do you. I mean, can you see Vinicius and Mbappe playing together next season? Can you see Chermani and Valverde playing together? This. I'm not saying Vinicius and Bape don't get on, but in the sense that they're similar style of footballer, it's got a lot to sort out there, haven't they? They've got to get it. The midfield is, you know, has really struggled this season defensively. They've had injuries and stuff.

[Alex]

Stuff.

[Gary Lineker]

But what do you think?

[Alex]

Yeah, no, no. Well, it's been obviously a terrible season for them. Not winning. Not winning anything either. It is. Is never good at Real Madrid. It's not going to have gone down well. But. But I just don't. I don't really know what they do. I think, well, number one is they bring in a top manager.

[Gary Lineker]

Right.

[Alex]

That's probably number one priority.

[Gary Lineker]

Who are the rumors there? Who are. Who's. Who's. It's. I mean, I've seen Mourinho and I've seen Klopp top.

[Alex]

I can see Mourinho going back because of what you said about Florentino as well, having such a good relationship with him. My concern is Florentino Perez is almost 80 years old now. You know, it's like, at what point is he too old to do a really, you know, to do his job?

[Gary Lineker]

I would say when he decides.

[Alex]

Yeah.

[Gary Lineker]

And they don't tend to decide, do they?

[Alex]

No.

[Gary Lineker]

Yeah. Just look at some of the people running countries around the world.

[Alex]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, true.

[Gary Lineker]

So true.

[Alex]

But yeah, they. They need. I. I don't know. I. I'd like to think Killian, Mbappe and Vinicius Jr. Can play together, but. But it hasn't been great for the last two seasons, has it? And Vinnie played so well last weekend when he was off inside, in here on the boat.

[Gary Lineker]

So good. Look, is it really.

[Alex]

It's toxic. It's toxic.

[Gary Lineker]

So, yeah, it is a mess. I suppose the thing is, as well, the fans, I mean, obviously it's the same as Barcelona. The fans vote for the presidency, don't they?

[Alex]

Yeah.

[Gary Lineker]

The next election there is not until like 2029. So he's got A few years and he just. It does seem to be one of these elections that you know it's gonna win.

[Alex]

We know the answer, we know what's gonna happen.

[Gary Lineker]

Like when FIFA do them, they kind of. Yeah, yes, it's a. It's an election, but they do certain things to make sure they get elected. Oh, no one's running against him. Oh, wonder why.

[Alex]

What a surprise. What a surprise. Yeah, well, we'll see, we'll see. Who do you think would be a good fit as manager there? Andon?

[Gary Lineker]

I think. I think Klopp, I think, is a really great coach, but I'm not. Has he got the presence and the personality to deal with this? I think he needs a massive personality. Probably more than coaching ability, I think.

[Alex]

Yep.

[Gary Lineker]

So I would say Klopp would definitely have that. He'd just get him against the wall and shake their heads together and get, you know, he'd have that connection with the fans. I don't know whether he'd be the slightest bit interested in going back into coaching then. Obviously, I think Joe say, you know, you could. His prime years probably behind him, but I think he'd sort it out. Even if it was only, you know, it might be toxic for six months to a year, but he might be. Make it good for the next person he's hindered by, you know, what happened in the Benfica tie? I don't know. So beyond that, who's available is also the question.

[Alex]

Is it they could get the damn back?

[Gary Lineker]

Well, Zinedine's a damn. But is it. Is he waiting for the France job? I don't know. I've got a feeling, yeah, he will get that at the end of this World cup, whatever happens to France, if he wants it, I would. I mean, I'm only presuming he. That's what he's waiting for. Would he go back again now? At the moment, he doesn't need it, does he? So why would he want to go back again? Because it will be very difficult to do what he did before on a different set of players and the state of the club at the moment. So there are not many people that I think could probably take on that job. Someone like Luis Enrique. Good. But he's not going to go to Real Madrid. I mean, he wouldn't do that, I'm sure. Former Barcelona man, of course. So I don't know. Any thoughts?

[Alex]

I agree with Klopp. I think. I think he'd be perfect. Yeah, I really do. I really do.

[Gary Lineker]

Me too.

[Alex]

So let's see, let's See what happens. What about Atletico and another defeat for them?

[Gary Lineker]

Well, another defeat and of course, the disappointment of going out to Arsenal. You know, it was a tight game, could have gone either way, so it wasn't to be. So their season sort of peters out now, doesn't it? And.

[Alex]

Yeah.

[Gary Lineker]

Yep.

[Alex]

Eric is saying El Pupas is a Spanish nickname for Atletico Madrid. That translates to the jinxed ones or the unlucky ones.

[Gary Lineker]

Well, they were pretty lucky against Barcelona, I thought.

[Alex]

Yeah, well, yeah, it says, Coined in the 1970s, it refers to the club's history of suffering agonizing last minute defeats at major finals and big games. But he says he's looking forward to the summer and a break from football. And he thinks Athletico should commission a statue, put it up, say Hasta Luigi or Simeone, as he will be back and move on.

[Gary Lineker]

Does Eric know there's a World cup on?

[Alex]

Yeah, someone. Someone tell Eric.

[Gary Lineker]

There's someone tell Eric.

[Alex]

But yeah, we'll see what happens with Diego Simeone. I think he might be off as

[Gary Lineker]

well to Real Madrid.

[Alex]

Yeah, imagine, Imagine. Sure. I mean, he'd be perfect for that dressing room.

[Gary Lineker]

Yeah, that's what made me say it. But I'm somehow not sure happening.

[Alex]

It's definitely not happening.

[Gary Lineker]

No, there'll be another civil war in Spain if that happened.

[Alex]

Yeah, there would be. There would be.

[Gary Lineker]

Just in Madrid alone.

[Alex]

I. I interviewed him before the game at the Emirates. I interviewed him and I interviewed Griezmann and Diogo. Simeone is actually a lovely man. Like, he was really nice.

[Gary Lineker]

Do you know what?

[Alex]

All the hard men are, most of

[Gary Lineker]

the hard men in football. When you meet them off the pitch, you think, well, you know, really gentle and kind and nice. There's a lot of people.

[Alex]

Like, I remember Pepe was like that at Real Madrid. It was terrifying on the pitch. Pitch.

[Gary Lineker]

I heard he's one of the nice men off it.

[Alex]

Yeah.

[Gary Lineker]

Yeah. It's mad, isn't it?

[Alex]

Yeah.

[Gary Lineker]

The shits are us center forwards that don't kick anyone.

[Alex]

Yeah, exactly.

[Gary Lineker]

Yeah.

[Alex]

But, yeah, no, obviously was disappointing for them, but they did well. They did well to get to Champions League semi.

[Gary Lineker]

No, they did. I suppose we better round things up. I mean, there's not much to play for now for the rest of the season. Except Barcelona. Three games to go. 91 points. Can they get to 100 points?

[Alex]

91. 91 goals.

[Gary Lineker]

91 goals as well. Can they get 100 goals and 100 points? That would be beautiful symmetry. And then possibly can Real Madrid sort themselves out a little bit before the End of the season, we should say. Do you want to do the roundup? Yeah, go on.

[Alex]

Yeah, why not? Let's round up the rest of the results now then. A huge result at the Ramon Sanchez piss one as Sevilla beat espanyl 2 1. Thanks to late goals from Andres Kastin and Akor Adam Adams. The win takes Sevilla up to 13th but still only three points above the drop zone. Levante kept their hopes of survival alive with a 32 win over Osasuna on Friday night. A first half brace from Victor Garcia and a 90th minute winner from Eta Jong gave them the points. Atletico Madrid were still reeling from their Champions League exit midweek as they lost 10 at home to Celta Vigo. Borja Iglesias with the winner in the 62nd minute. Valencia are surely safe from relegation now after their 10 win away at Athletic Club. Umar Sadiq netted the winner in the 72nd minute to give Los Che a five point cushion. With three games remaining, Real Sociedad move up to eighth and Real Betis remain in fifth after a two all draw on Saturday. Goals from Antony and Abdeze Azuli put Betis 2 up, but Ori Oskarsen and Mikel Oriathabal levelled for Real sociedad in the second half half. Elche and Alaves played out a 11 draw in a result that was probably unhelpful for both teams as it keeps Alaves in the relegation zone and Elche only two points clear themselves. Mallorca gained a valuable point in their quest to survive the drop thanks to a 10 draw at home to third place Villareal. Vedatmuruchi's leveller came on the stroke of half time after Ajose Perez had put Villareal one up from the penalty spot. Bottom Club Real Oviedo are all but relegated after their goalless draw with Getafe. Their nine points from safety with three games left left and their goal difference is vastly inferior.

[Gary Lineker]

Oh, well done. Well done. That was a long one.

[Alex]

Andrea Vaikano play tonight Monday, day of recording and they're through to the Conference League final, which is massive.

[Gary Lineker]

I know. Massive. Play. Crystal Palace.

[Alex]

Yes, Huge. And Inigo Perez, do you know, do you know this? He wasn't granted a work visa to come with Andonia Raiola because they didn't say that, you know, what he was going to contribute to football here was worthy of a, a, a work visa. And now look. Look at him fly.

[Gary Lineker]

No, he's gone there.

[Alex]

Good for him.

[Gary Lineker]

So, wow. Good story that. A lovely way to finish this episode of the rest of football La Liga. Goodbye from me.

[Alex]

Goodbye from me.

[Gary Lineker]

Some follow the noise. Bloomberg follows the money because because behind every headline is a bottom line. Whether it's the funds fueling AI or crypto's trillion dollar swings. There's a money side to every story. And when you see the money side,

[Alex]

you understand what others miss.

[Gary Lineker]

Get the money side of the story. Subscribe [e-mail].