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Alex Aljo
football matches for them when he does play and plays well. But I still don't think that many Madridistas like him very much.
Gary Lineker
I think they need someone with a big, big personality and who has a big, big personality.
Alex Aljo
Jose Mourinho I've just been watching a program on TV here. They were saying Les Flops de la Saison and they were talking about La Liga and Dean. How was one of the three flops of the season?
Gary Lineker
I just said since walking on the plane I went phew. Thank fuck for that. This episode Is powered by Fuse Energy. Before the action starts, a word from Fuse, who makes switching energy supplies easy to celebrate big moves. We're testing Alan and Micah on the legends of the transfer window. Which Premier League club holds the record for the all time highest spend transfer window? We know that we've done that on the pod before. It is Liverpool. I'll go City then. Micah is correct. Of course I'm correct. How much did they spend? And obviously it was last summer. Yes. How much? It was like 460 million, 425 million. You pretty much in the middle. 446 and a half million quid. And where. And you know. And they're not even in the league. Yeah. Deary me. From big match calls to moving house, smart choices make all the difference. Switch to Fuse Energy and save up to 200 pounds on your energy bills. It takes less than three minutes online. Visit fuseenergy.comfootball to sign up and view full terms and conditions. Hello and welcome to the rest is football La Liga with Alex Aljo and me, Gary Lineke. Well, the season is all over. We already knew Barcelona were going to win the league and a few things going on at the bottom of the table, but we thought we'd just kind of have a reflective view on the season as a whole.
Alex Aljo
Yeah. Wow, what a season. First season of the rest of football. La Liga is over. Barcelona are champions. Real Madrid eight points behind in second, Villarreal third. Atlet finish in fourth place. Real Betas take the fifth Champions League spot while Celta Vigor and Real Sociedad have qualified for the Europa League and Getafe will play in the Conference League relegation as well. That was so exciting, wasn't it? Went right down to the wire in the end. 19th up to 13th place, separated by just two points. Girona, Mallorca. The clubs who will join Real Oviedo in the Segunda next season. Mallorca went down by virtue of their inferior head to head record with Osasuna and Levante. So that's something they do differently in La Liga.
Gary Lineker
Indeed. Yeah.
Alex Aljo
And Eric. One last final thought from Eric, by the way. We can throw this in at the end. I just asked him to give Atletico Madrid season a rating out of 10.
Gary Lineker
What did he give?
Alex Aljo
That's what he gave it. What do you think?
Gary Lineker
I think six.
Alex Aljo
He gave them five, which I actually thought was pretty bad.
Gary Lineker
Semi finals of the Europa League and a Champions League spot. He's hard to please, Eric, isn't he?
Alex Aljo
He's very hard to please. Anyway. Oh, good. We look forward to his thoughts next season.
Gary Lineker
One of us predicted who'd win the league and the other didn't.
Alex Aljo
I think I said my. My heart says Real Madrid, my head says Barcelona. I think we'll have to look back to the first episode, but I'm pretty sure I said that.
Gary Lineker
You might well have done, but that's. That's like saying what. You could have used that now if Real Madrid had won the other way around.
Alex Aljo
True, true. It was a win win, wasn't it?
Gary Lineker
Or a loser.
Alex Aljo
I knew what I was doing, whichever
Gary Lineker
way you want to look at it. But, yeah, overall, I don't know. I suppose it was. It was quite interesting. There was, you know, there were times where there was, you know, Eeliga and then N Liga and Eileen, but Real Madrid fell away quite badly. I think we should probably start with Real Madrid because it seemed a bit chaotic at present and the whole situation now is who the coach is going to be and there's a lot of talk about Mourinho. And then apparently there was a kind of presidential election in which Perez wasn't as assured to win as normal. He normally. He goes unopposed, generally, doesn't he?
Alex Aljo
Yeah, well, he did that bizarre press conference, didn't he?
Gary Lineker
Yes.
Alex Aljo
Which I don't think went down too well, sort of criticizing La Liga. And he actually called for the presidential elections himself, which. Which could backfire, couldn't it?
Gary Lineker
I imagine he did it because if he thought. If he did it now and did it quick, no one else would challenge him in the space that they had. And then they did. Somebody called Riquelme. Do you know anything about this?
Alex Aljo
Yeah. Enrique Riquelme, 37 years old.
Gary Lineker
So significant played at all for
Alex Aljo
pretty sure. No businessman. And he rocked up to the final game of the season in a Danny Carvajal shirt. In a Carvajal shirt. It's obviously a massive madrita and I think there are some people that think it could happen.
Gary Lineker
I presume he's exceptionally rich because you need to have a certain amount of funds, is that right?
Alex Aljo
So he has to guarantee that he has 15% of the club's annual revenue in his bank account, which is approximately 187 million euros.
Gary Lineker
That's quite a bit which he does.
Alex Aljo
He has that in his bank account.
Gary Lineker
Did you ever at any point consider making a effort yourself? Possibly be the first female president?
Alex Aljo
Well, it's something I can work on. I'm not quite there yet, Gary, but need to work a bit harder than. Yeah, a little bit to go.
Gary Lineker
It's interesting over there, isn't it obviously, it's quite like the way Barcelona and Real Madrid have run in terms of this. You know, at least the people do have some kind of say in who runs their football club. But, you know, this thing about guaranteeing a certain amount, it's quite restrictive. It means basically going to get the really super rich people that are always the best people. Alex, from my experience.
Alex Aljo
Well, I was going to say exactly the same thing, because obviously it's to prove that they're. Well, it's to try and say that they're not going to steal from the club, they're not going to steal money, but surely the really rich people are quite good at doing that.
Gary Lineker
And also the really rich people, I mean, how do they get that rich in the first place?
Alex Aljo
Yeah, anyway. Well, that's what I mean.
Gary Lineker
We digress a little bit, but I think, you know, I think the word crisis is off. Is. Is overused, particularly in Spain. From my experience, you lose two games and you're in a crisis. But I think actually at Madrid at the moment, it does seem a little bit that way. Obviously, you know, once again, no trophies this season. Missed out on the league by quite some distance and kind of limped out of the Champions League as well. Gone through two coaches this season. Now they're talking about another one. It looked like it was going to be Jose Mourinho. He was going to be announced. And then because of this challenge of the presidency, it looks like he's now got to wait. I suspect Perez will win. Will he? Is that the word in Madrid, or.
Alex Aljo
I mean, you'd think so, wouldn't you? But. But I just think. I don't know. I think I can actually see this. I've got this feeling. I don't know, I've got this feeling that someone else. It's time, isn't it? The time's come.
Gary Lineker
You've got a feeling that maybe the fans, because it's the timing of it, the fact that I had such a messy season, I think is perhaps the way to describe it. With all that's happened and all the arguments and, you know, managers and coaches or losing their jobs, that maybe this is not the ideal time for this sort of election. And you think there might be a thought amongst Madridistas that let's try change, maybe?
Alex Aljo
Yeah, I think so. I think so. And this. This guy was at the training ground, so I hear, meeting various people. So it's clearly quite far. You know, they don't just. It's not just a rumor. He's definitely in Talk with the important people. Yeah, absolutely.
Gary Lineker
When does this vot happen? Do we know how?
Alex Aljo
In the next couple of weeks. Yeah, it could happen any day now.
Gary Lineker
And Jose's on hold.
Alex Aljo
Yeah, Jose is on hold. But what I think is that Jose will probably still be manager next season, whatever happens in this presidential election.
Gary Lineker
Do you think so? Yeah.
Alex Aljo
I can't see why Raquel May would suddenly say, no, no, no, I don't want Jose Mourinho as manager of Real Madrid because I think most Madridistas would agree that it was a, a good move and they're saying Toni Cross is going to come in as his assistant.
Gary Lineker
Oh, wow. Really?
Alex Aljo
Which has surprised me. So Toni Cross has his own academy, football academy in Madrid. He still lives in Madrid. One of his teams recently thrashed one of the Real Madrid academy teams, so. And they don't tend to get thrashed, those youth teams in the Real Madrid cantera. So obviously he's doing something right. And they have a really good relationship, Jose and Anthony, from the days in. From the days. Well, actually when I was there, back, back in, well, 2012, they were both there when I was there, but for a few years together they worked together and so, yeah, we'll see, we'll see.
Gary Lineker
Must have been a child.
Alex Aljo
Yeah, yeah, that was my work experience. I was pretty young.
Gary Lineker
I think it's interesting what Joe says and it Jose Mourinho. I actually think, you know, whether you think that, you know, he's best managerial days are behind him or not. I think actually when you look at Real Madrid at the moment, I think they need someone with a big, big personality and who has a big, big personality, Jose Mourinho. So I get that. You know, I think he's, he's probably the right fit in an interim period or a year or two. I mean, you never know. Jose doesn't tend to stay a place for that long, but I think at the moment they need an iron hand and they need to, like some of the players, shake their, you know, shake their heads, get on with it, you know, dealing with some of the big egos. It's not easy for a young, up and coming coach to do that, as we saw with Xabi Alonso. So I think, yeah, I get it, I get it. Under these circumstances.
Alex Aljo
Yeah. And I think this situation has got to a point now. Well, did get to a point under Alvaro Arbolo towards the end when it was just out of control. Those comments that Kylian Mbappe made the penultimate game of the season, he came out and he said I didn't play because the coach told me I'm the fourth choice forwards in the squad behind Mast, Antonio Vinicius and Gonzalo. Then obviously Arbola was asked about that after the game. He said, I don't have four forwards. I certainly didn't say anything like that to Mbappe. Perhaps he didn't understand me. I don't know what else to tell you.
Gary Lineker
What's going on with Kylian Mbappe, do you think? Whenever I hear him talk, he's really articulate, intelligent and, you know, and obviously he's a wonderful footballer, but when you, when you hear things like he just thinks, you know, then he disappears, doesn't he? When the team, you know, I just wonder it's what's going on with him? What I mean, I mean, the Madrid, the Madrid fans are a little bit, I think, irked by some of the things that he's done off the field and. Yeah, what's going on there?
Alex Aljo
Well, they weren't happy with him at the end of last season either. Do you remember? He was, he was criticized. He scored all those goals, but the Madridistas still weren't happy. And I don't think that, okay, fine, he's La Liga's top scorer once again, but that's the thing, isn't it? Yeah, so he's obviously scoring the goals, you know, winning football matches for them when he does play and plays well. But I still don't think that many Madridistas like him very much, which is. It's crazy to say that, isn't it, when he's such a brilliant, superb player. But I think it's everything that you're saying, it's all his antics off the pitch and maybe what knock on effect that has in the dressing room and the divide it might cause in the dressing room, his relationship with the managers, but. But hopefully Jose can sort that out.
Gary Lineker
Yeah, exactly. That's why I think Jose might fit in. I think you always have to be careful when you're on the outside of things, you know. Yes, we have to give our opinions, but we don't really know what's going on. He might be the wronged one on this, we don't know, but I suspect not. And there's some big egos in that dressing room obviously as well, but yeah, they've got a lot to resolve in the, in the summer. As for Barcelona kind of tailed off at the end, but they'd already won the league and all in all, you have to say that's how you are, George, I think they'll be disappointed. They missed out on the Champions League wise, but I think they were unfortunate a little bit in those two legs. A couple of decisions, big decisions went against them in both ties. But overall, I think the future is pretty bright for Barcelona. I mean, it's very young squad, very talented squad, and we still don't know what's going to happen with, you know, this summer in terms of bringing in people, whether Marcus Rashford will stay or not. Is there any. Any further news on that?
Alex Aljo
I think he will. I think he will.
Gary Lineker
I sense.
Alex Aljo
I really do.
Gary Lineker
Well, that's my feeling. Yeah, I hope so. I think he deserves it.
Alex Aljo
I do.
Gary Lineker
I think he's been the perfect professional and also he's made massive impact, limited number of minutes. But still, overall, I think it actually might be quite beneficial for England because I think he'll go there, you know, full of confidence, not overplayed. Like a lot of English players are. Different style of football, obviously, in England. So I think that could benefit England. And also the subject of the World cup in England wise, that, you know, Jude Bellingham as well scored cracking goal, didn't he, at the weekend. And he's not been overplayed either because of injuries. So that both of those players will come.
Alex Aljo
Bodes well.
Gary Lineker
Yeah, bodes well. I was just on the. I'm just in the beater, actually. I was. And I flew out this afternoon and on my flight ahead, just in the row in front of me.
Alex Aljo
Who?
Gary Lineker
Conocador.
Alex Aljo
Oh, Conor Gallagher. Oh, my goodness, this is so weird, you know. Oh, my goodness. So last year in Ibiza, I saw Conor Gallagher everywhere. Started at Heathrow Terminal 5 in the Security line and then, I swear, every single day, wherever I was like, bar, restaurant, day and night, whatever. Well, we did. We had the conversation. I was like, one of us. Are you talking me? You know, so. So that's so funny that you saw him. Well, we prepared. You're going to see him every day from now on. It just happens.
Gary Lineker
When Conn gave mine, I just said he was. He was just sat. I just sat down. He seemed very. I just said hi. And then I. I just said yes, because obviously the game was yesterday. Tottenham stayed up, so.
Alex Aljo
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Gary Lineker
And.
Alex Aljo
Yeah, well, he's. He's just come out and said he's had a really, really tough season and people don't appreciate how hard it is for these players when. And he. He probably regretted leaving Madrid. I think he just built a beautiful new house in Madrid. Goes to spurs, manager's not having him. He's hardly playing. Fans just don't particularly like him. Maybe the Chelsea, I don't know.
Gary Lineker
I don't think that's true. I think Tottenham fans, you know. No, because he's. He always gives everything. Conor Gallagher. Yes. I just said to his walking on the plane, I went, thank for that.
Alex Aljo
Did he? What did he say to you?
Gary Lineker
He went, oh, I know the same. I know, I know, I'm so. I mean, every spurs fan, you know, all former player, not myself, but. But yeah, it's funny because we've talked about him so often on the pod. He was on the plane.
Alex Aljo
But good news, I think, for Barcelona fans. Ahani Flick has extended his contract as well. It was due to run out in 2027, but he signed a one year extension with an option for a further year. He's done a very good job at Barcelona, hasn't he, Gary?
Gary Lineker
He's done brilliantly. He's won league titles, silverware in there. Sometimes we say it's a little bit crazy, but it produces really, really entertaining football. And ultimately football is about entertainment and that's what it should be. I mean, if everybody played that way, boy, oh boy, what a sport it would be. So I'm absolutely chuffed. He seems like an absolute diamond of a bloke. You can see the connection he has with his team, with his players. Players always speak well of their coach in interviews, but you can see, you can tell when it's genuine. I think we should all be pleased with that because it's not easy keeping a job at clubs like Barcelona or Real Madrid because the expectation level is so high. So, yeah, I'm thrilled that he's going to be there for a bit longer. It's more football to enjoy.
Alex Aljo
Absolutely. And I think, as we've said before on this pod, it seems like that team is so united, stark contrast to that Real Madrid team. But they do have big players, big names, big egos, as all these top clubs do. But somehow they found a way to gel and they seem like a real unit and a really great team, which is why other big names have been linked to Barcelona already. The likes of Julian Alvarez apparently could be off to Depends.
Gary Lineker
I guess they work things financially and all these limitations that they have.
Alex Aljo
Yeah, yeah. Joao Pedro, another name linked with, with Barcelona as well. And they have eight players in the Spain squad as well, compared to Real Madrid's. Yeah, zero. Which is for the first time.
Gary Lineker
Talk about. After we take a little break,
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Gary Lineker
Welcome back to the Resties football La Liga episode with Alex Alger and me, Gary Lineker. We're going to do a few awards shortly, but before we do, I think Alex has, you know, come up with a few. No trophies. He hasn't brought any trophies with us.
Alex Aljo
But, you know, pride Orguyo.
Gary Lineker
So before we do, that Spanish squad's been announced you mentioned just before the break.
Alex Aljo
Eight Barcelona players, zero Real Madrid players. Yeah. Which is surprising. I guess the one name that maybe stands out as. Yeah, I was going to say Dean Howson and I've just been watching a program on TV here, I'm in Paris for, for the tennis and they were saying Le Flop de la Saison and they were talking about La Liga and Dean Howson was one of the three flops of the season, which I thought was pretty harsh. They put Dean House and in Simeone and Perez in Florentino Perez. So he won't want to see that. Eric Elmi will. But yeah, Dean House and I feel, I feel a bit sorry for him, to be honest, because he, he was so good, wasn't he, at Bournemouth that. That season before he went to Real Madrid?
Gary Lineker
Quite. Well, it was a couple of times he stupidly Got himself sent off or certainly won, but he's still very young and he's incredibly talented and I think he'll be fine.
Alex Aljo
I think he deserves to be in that team. There was a sort of unofficial La Liga team of the season on Instagram and he was in it. In this LaLiga team of the season. It wasn't La Liga hadn't done. It was just a sports website. Anyway, his dad put it, posted it and then, and then Dean Howson reposted it today. Obviously. Probably feels like, you know, look at, look at this. You know, I've been putting the team of the season hard done by. Yeah.
Gary Lineker
But the thing is when, when squads are announced, we always tend to focus on the people that are not in it, rather than the ones that, that are.
Alex Aljo
But, you know, I know Danny Carvajal as well, but I do think that, you know, he's. He's. Yeah, he's struggled with his injuries, but I think they'll really miss his leadership. Yeah, in, in the, in the dressing room and. Yeah, for sure. But yeah, we'll see.
Gary Lineker
I just very, very, very strong squad.
Alex Aljo
It is. And I find it crazy to think,
Gary Lineker
yeah, really good back, midfield, absolute.
Alex Aljo
Is it unbelievable.
Gary Lineker
The midfields as well? I mean, yeah, as an all round squad, I look at theirs and think that's got to be the strongest. Got to. It doesn't mean say, yeah, win it,
Alex Aljo
but I think, no, no.
Gary Lineker
Incredibly strong.
Alex Aljo
No. And the last time Spain made it past the last 16 was 2010 when they won it. But it's crazy to think that it's crazy. They did, they did. And the Nations League as well. But I do think that this Spain squad will go all the way to the final for sure. The midfield is actually, I was reading the. The list and the midfielders, absolutely unbelievable. And I'll be following them. So I'm really excited you'll be following everyone. Fingers crossed. Yeah.
Gary Lineker
We've got some awards. Alex, I'm going to let you in.
Alex Aljo
Right, Drum roll. So how we'll do this is I'll say the category and then we both try and agree on one. And if we can't, then we can say why we've chosen, who we've chosen or what goal we've chosen. Okay. Right. Okay, here we go. The award ceremony. La Liga awards. Premios. Los Premios de La Liga. Fin de Temporada. We start with Mejor Entre manager.
Gary Lineker
Well, it's easy. I think we'll agree on this. I mean, it can only be Hansi Flick, can't it? You're not going to go up? Well, are you on me?
Alex Aljo
No, no, no, no. I'm not going up. I'm not. Lovely man. Great man. Lovely person. But I don't think he's worthy of best manager. No. So Marcelino got the ral to third and automatic qualification for the Champions League group stages. Manuel Pellegrini. They were not. But that. Yeah, they were not. No, they were not. But they go again. They go again. And then Manuel Pellegrini giving Real best his Champions League football for the first time since 2005. Only the second time ever. Shout out for Pellegrino Matarazzo. First American manager I know to win a trophy in. In any of Europe's top five leagues, which was the Cop D' Ar final with Real Sociedad.
Gary Lineker
So I think that's worthy of an award.
Alex Aljo
I think that should be an award.
Gary Lineker
Best American that's never won a trophy award.
Alex Aljo
There we go. It's a niche category, but we'll give it.
Gary Lineker
But he wins it. You can't not give it to Hansi Flick.
Alex Aljo
No, no. Hansi Flick gets it. Yeah. Hansi Flick wins it. Yep. Every home. They won every home game. Second La Liga title in a row. He lost his father, didn't he? In the early hours before the Clasico. And then he was there. Fair play to him, you know, he didn't miss the classic. Yeah. Unbelievable. Yeah. Okay, so our first prize winner.
Gary Lineker
Yeah.
Alex Aljo
How's he. Flick. Best manager. Okay. Best playerada. Yeah.
Gary Lineker
Parami.
Alex Aljo
Yeah.
Gary Lineker
Pedri.
Alex Aljo
Okay, that's. But you can agree. So not. Not Lemine the dream.
Gary Lineker
Well, I think Lemine's been amazing, but he's had one or two injuries this season. But I think Pedri's been the heartbeat of that team this season. I think Lamine will win lots of mecho jurado del anuals, but for me, Pedri. But you can. You can disagree.
Alex Aljo
Mine's quite a rogue one.
Gary Lineker
Oh, well.
Alex Aljo
But I think he deserves a shout out at least. I don't know if he deserves a prize, but I think he might deserve the prize because his team got relegated and he still scored 23 goals.
Gary Lineker
Oh, yes.
Alex Aljo
This season is Vedat Morichi, known as El Perata. He celebrates like this. Second top score after Killian Mbappe playing for a side that. That went down.
Gary Lineker
It is an extraordinary effort and that's.
Alex Aljo
It's incredible.
Gary Lineker
It is. But he didn't score enough goals to keep them up. That'd be my argument on that.
Alex Aljo
True, true. I think I think I'm still gonna give it to him. Okay.
Gary Lineker
But.
Alex Aljo
And we want.
Gary Lineker
At some point I'm gonna allow your choice.
Alex Aljo
Okay. But you want bedroom to get this one. But actually, yeah, I was gonna say Fetty Valverde probably deserves a mention as well.
Gary Lineker
Yeah.
Alex Aljo
Because. Because he was brilliant all season for Real Madrid. He really was.
Gary Lineker
He was quite good. I wouldn't know too many.
Alex Aljo
Oh, sorry. He was the one that got flawed.
Gary Lineker
Y. Yeah. He needs to stay on his feet.
Alex Aljo
He needs to stay on his feet. Oh, dear. That's not good. That's not good. Hopefully we leave all that behind this season and we don't have more fights in the Real Madrid dressing room. Right. Mehor best young player. I think you can't look past Lamina.
Gary Lineker
It's hard, isn't it? I was going to say if he
Alex Aljo
didn't win the best player.
Gary Lineker
I mean there's a lot of really good young players at Barcelona. Kubarci. I mean, he's. Yes people. So many of them.
Alex Aljo
Yeah.
Gary Lineker
I mean Lamina is so ridiculously good.
Alex Aljo
24 goals, 18 assists.
Gary Lineker
Yeah.
Alex Aljo
18 years old. So good. I think we have to give this to him.
Gary Lineker
I only went Pedri for the player of the year because I thought he's going to win it every other year for the next ten. So.
Alex Aljo
Yeah, true. Got to share it around. Yeah. We'll agree on Lamina Mal, right?
Gary Lineker
Yeah, definitely on that.
Alex Aljo
Okay. It's all surprise package.
Gary Lineker
Surprise package is not Barcelona.
Alex Aljo
Betty's maybe. Although I feel like I said they'd finished top four, didn't I, at the start?
Gary Lineker
Well, yeah, I did, but. But they weren't far off that.
Alex Aljo
No, I know, but I think.
Gary Lineker
I don't think that's a real surprise, is it? Vera do tend to perform really well in the league.
Alex Aljo
Yeah.
Gary Lineker
So who you think?
Alex Aljo
Rayo Valle Cano. So Rayo Valle Cano.
Gary Lineker
Yes. Good shout.
Alex Aljo
Getting. Getting to the conference final. Actually, Inigo Perez probably deserved a mention in the best manager category. So I think Rayo or Getafe because they finished seventh and qualified for conference league, which is amazing that he are going to be in European football. I'm going to go Rayo. It's a Madrid team. I'm happy for the manager. Nobody saw that coming. Playing against Crystal palace, playing it's a Premier League team in a European final. Imagine if they go and win that.
Gary Lineker
Obviously it's Wednesday night, so I mean it's massive for both teams. The first ever European trophy, whoever wins.
Alex Aljo
Yeah. Incredible. And who are you going for? Who do you Want to win.
Gary Lineker
Steve Parrish is a really good friend of mine.
Alex Aljo
True, true. He won't let you use his apartment in New York.
Gary Lineker
Well, I don't need to use his apartment in New York. I just. I'd just be thrilled for him because obviously they won their first ever trophy of any kind last season. And. And also there'd be, I think, sometimes a little bit of good karma because obviously they were booting out the Europa League. It's playing the Conference League, kind of. Really?
Alex Aljo
Yeah. That wasn't really fair, was it? I did, yeah.
Gary Lineker
But I remember saying, Steve at the time, you've got a real chance to Conference League. If you win that, then you're in the Europa League.
Alex Aljo
Yeah.
Gary Lineker
And I think it will be like little bit of nice. Nice, nice feeling for that.
Alex Aljo
Yeah, that'd be so good.
Gary Lineker
So I'm a little bit biased on that one because.
Alex Aljo
Yeah.
Gary Lineker
Personal thing and. Yeah. So good luck to Palace. But watching, they've got Fruity George,
Alex Aljo
so they've got to watch out
Gary Lineker
my favorite name in full. Can we have an award? The best name.
Alex Aljo
The best name. Who wins that.
Gary Lineker
He wins it.
Alex Aljo
Well, what about Largi? Let's not forget about him. We like him.
Gary Lineker
Don't go there. There's been some good ones.
Alex Aljo
Okay, so surprise package. We're giving it to Rayo. Yep. Brilliant. And Mejor goal. De la Temporada. Best goal of the season.
Gary Lineker
Oh, there's been a few belters, isn't it? Molina banged in a couple, didn't he? For Athletica. Real long range bullets. So Rockets, you know what happened here? We think about this thing, then you go, forgot about that goal.
Alex Aljo
Yeah. Well, Ardagula's 80 yard strike against El Che. Do you remember that?
Gary Lineker
Oh, yes.
Alex Aljo
That was so good. Yeah, I think that one. I'm tempted to give it to Marcus Rashford for that free kick just because it was in El Classico and they won La Liga that day for the whole. Everything around it. But the 80 yard strike. We probably won't see another one of those for a while, but hopefully we'll see more. Brilliant free kicks from Marcus Rashford.
Gary Lineker
I don't know when you give a goal scoring award, whether you should take into account the significance of the game.
Alex Aljo
No. Should you not?
Gary Lineker
I don't know. That's why I'm asking myself that question.
Alex Aljo
I make the rules. This is my competition.
Gary Lineker
You make the rules. Therefore, all the good lair. We've got to give one to Real Madrid. We've got to give something.
Alex Aljo
This is true. They've Got to have a bit of silverware this season. Yeah. Okay. Yeah, we'll give our De Goola. I think he deserves it. He deserves it because he was in the mix for young player as well. I was thinking maybe, but yeah, so we'll give him a goal of this season.
Gary Lineker
I think he's actually considering the shambles and the shit show that's been at Real Madrid this season.
Alex Aljo
I think he's.
Gary Lineker
He's kind of come through, particularly in the first half of the season. I thought he did really well and then, you know, petered off a couple of injuries and stuff. But I think overall he's. He's a very, very talented footballer and I think he's got a really good future ahead of him.
Alex Aljo
I totally agree. So final prize.
Gary Lineker
Yes.
Alex Aljo
Is a lifetime achievement award.
Gary Lineker
This is the first year of the podcast and we're doing a lifetime achievement.
Alex Aljo
You know what I mean? You know what I mean?
Gary Lineker
Go. Oh, blimey.
Alex Aljo
Jugando and La Liga. So I think it's quite obvious, yeah,
Gary Lineker
to justify everything they've done in, In La Liga.
Alex Aljo
Well, there's two.
Gary Lineker
I mean, well, there's Levandowski you could date, but he's only been here a few years and stuff. But. And you know, he's had a lifetime, his actual career for a lifetime, even though. So, yeah, a lot of it was spent elsewhere. Then you've got. Who are you thinking?
Alex Aljo
Antoine Griezmann.
Gary Lineker
Griezmann. Great.
Alex Aljo
Yes.
Gary Lineker
Yeah.
Alex Aljo
And you saw how, how emotional he was and he actually apologized. Yeah, I saw. He said to Atletico fans, I look, I'm so sorry. I made a mistake by leaving. I shouldn't have never gone to Barcelona. He said, I didn't realize how much you guys loved me and if I did, I wouldn't have left. And so, yeah, he. He leads Athletic Madrid having made 501 appearances. Scored 212 goals across his two spells at the club. Europa League winner, UEFA super cup, runner up in the Champions League. I do feel for him because I spoke to him before that at the Emirates before the game against Arsenal and said, like, this is, you know, this is your chance now to go and win the Champions League. And I truly felt he believed they could. And I think Simeone thought they could as well. Turns out they couldn't. But they came close, didn't they? Never won the League with Atletico twice a runner up. And then obviously went off to Barcelona as well. Scored 35 goals in 102 games, but didn't really go to plan. Now he's off to the mls. But I think for everything he represents, for how much he means to everyone at Atletico Madrid, he probably deserves this award. But the other player that I wanted to mention as well is Dani Carbajal, who is leaving the club or has left the club. And he laid the first ever brick at Valdob at the training ground when he was 12 years old. He's been there since then. I think he's been there for 23 years. And just probably the best note. I think the best right back. That's ever played at Real Madrid. Possibly Chendo, maybe, but he was. He's still at the club.
Gary Lineker
Yeah. That's a shout, isn't it?
Alex Aljo
He. He started.
Gary Lineker
If it wasn't a play. You could also mention someone like Simeone as well as a lifetime.
Alex Aljo
Yeah.
Gary Lineker
There's no one.
Alex Aljo
But we don't know he's leaving. But I'm picking people that are leaving.
Gary Lineker
No, that's. I think that's a really good. We've got three there. I think Lewandowski would be in third place in those three because of the fact he's only played in La Liga for what, four years? Was it?
Alex Aljo
And in terms of what Danny Carvajal won as well, started six Champions League finals and won six Champions League finals. Not many players.
Gary Lineker
I think Danny Carvajal.
Alex Aljo
Five players have.
Gary Lineker
For what he's achieved. I think edges it for me.
Alex Aljo
Yeah.
Gary Lineker
But I love Antonio.
Alex Aljo
I think so.
Gary Lineker
I think he's a credit to the sport. We could. They could share the award. Why can't we share the award? We can do whatever we like. Because we're not actually giving them anything anyway.
Alex Aljo
Yeah, yeah. They can share. They can share. Do you know who else has won six Champions League trophies? Because I had to. I had to look it up.
Gary Lineker
What, player wise?
Alex Aljo
Yeah.
Gary Lineker
There'd be one or two at Real Madrid, wouldn't there?
Alex Aljo
Yeah. Tony Kroos, Cross Nacho, Luka Modric.
Gary Lineker
Modric, obviously.
Alex Aljo
And one more.
Gary Lineker
Anyone?
Alex Aljo
No, no, no. In like Casamiro's fight. Only. Only. Only. And then Paco Gento won six European Cups. Yeah. They're crazy. It's some achievement. Yeah. Okay, let's. Let's let them share it.
Gary Lineker
Yeah.
Alex Aljo
Danny Carvajal and. And Antoine Griezmann.
Gary Lineker
Agreed.
Alex Aljo
And that's the end of. Of our awards ceremony.
Gary Lineker
And that's the end of the season.
Alex Aljo
Crazy. It's weird. I feel like. This is a strange thing to say, but I feel like. Because I work on both, obviously, but I feel like the La Liga season went faster than the Premier League season, but I'm not sure why that is because obviously it pretty. I know for me it makes no sense. It makes no sense.
Gary Lineker
I think they ended on the same day.
Alex Aljo
I honestly can't explain the logic. I just feel like it's been more premier. The La Liga sort of just flew by.
Gary Lineker
Yeah.
Alex Aljo
Maybe because there was more of a title race. Yeah, well, actually, yeah, there was more of a title race in the Premier League.
Gary Lineker
Well, it's been a pleasure. It's been great pleasure. Talking football.
Alex Aljo
It's. It's strange for me because I'm in Paris, you see, there's something. Paul. Oh, there's something on there.
Gary Lineker
You're working on the tennis.
Alex Aljo
So it's very. It's bizarre for me talking about tennis and not.
Gary Lineker
Do you know your tennis? Are you.
Alex Aljo
I do, I do know my tennis. Luckily because I've been. It wouldn't be going very well for me if I didn't because they come to me for constant live updates from various courts. So it's a. Yeah, it's a 10 hour day. So it's a long day in the.
Gary Lineker
Have you got to go back there?
Alex Aljo
Parisian sunshine? No, no, no, no, no. I'm done for the day because there isn't a huge match on. Yeah, well, because it finishes at 2, 3 in the morning if you're working in the night match, which is crazy. But no, it's nice work or something different for a couple of weeks and then off to. Off to the World cup where we will see each other out there. Sounds like a plan.
Gary Lineker
We will indeed look to see you out there, Alex.
Alex Aljo
Yes, me too. I'm excited.
Gary Lineker
It's been a delight. Great season. Thank you very much. So good and let's call it a day there for the season. Goodbye.
Alex Aljo
Yes, thank you. Adios for me.
Gary Lineker
Adios. Hasta la proxima.
Alex Aljo
Hasta la proxima. Temporada.
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Podcast: The Rest Is Football
Hosts: Gary Lineker, Alex Aljo
Date: May 27, 2026
Episode Theme:
A lively, in-depth review of the 2025/26 La Liga season, focusing on Barcelona's triumph, Real Madrid's chaos on and off the pitch, managerial intrigue, player stories, and a playful end-of-season awards ceremony.
The episode delivers a reflective season wrap-up of La Liga, spotlighting:
“I think the word crisis is overused, particularly in Spain… but I think actually at Madrid at the moment, it does seem a little bit that way.”
— Gary Lineker [08:23]
“I’ve got this feeling… maybe it’s time. The time’s come.”
— Alex Aljo [09:10]
“Whether you think he’s past his best managerial days or not, I think at the moment they need someone with a big, big personality… Jose Mourinho.”
— Gary Lineker [11:26]
“I’m absolutely chuffed. He seems like an absolute diamond of a bloke… It’s not easy keeping a job at Barcelona or Real Madrid.”
— Gary Lineker [18:09]
“Pedri’s been the heartbeat of that team.” — Gary Lineker
| Segment | Timestamp | |-----------------------------------------------|------------------| | Season Review & Standings | 04:05 – 05:14 | | Real Madrid’s Season & Presidential Drama | 05:36 – 12:23 | | Mourinho & Star Power Crisis | 11:26 – 14:17 | | Barcelona’s Triumph & Young Stars | 14:17 – 19:34 | | Spanish National Team Insights | 21:45 – 23:55 | | Awards Ceremony Begins | 24:29 | | Best Manager Discussion | 24:57 – 26:26 | | Best Player/Yng Player/Dark Horse/Goal Awards | 26:27 – 32:56 | | Lifetime Achievement Award | 33:21 – 37:14 |
Listener’s Takeaway:
This episode offers both expert analysis and an entertaining, personality-driven review of a dramatic La Liga season marked by Barcelona’s ascent, Madrid’s self-inflicted chaos, and memorable player stories. The chemistry and wit of the hosts, plus their unique insights, make even familiar football topics feel fresh and essential.