Valverde Dominates, Premier League Disappoints & Pep’s Odd Choices

Summary

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The Rest Is Football

Episode: "Valverde Dominates, Premier League Disappoints & Pep’s Odd Choices"

Release Date: March 12, 2026
Hosts: Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer, Micah Richards

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Episode Overview

This lively installment dives into a sobering week for Premier League clubs in Europe, analyzing why English sides stumbled across the Champions League last 16, with detailed debriefs on key games. The trio scrutinizes Manchester City and Pep Guardiola’s puzzling tactical tweaks, Real Madrid’s timely resurgence led by Federico Valverde, and the fortunes of Arsenal, Liverpool, Newcastle, Spurs, and Chelsea in Europe. The conversation rounds out with honest discussion about managerial pressure at Tottenham, VAR controversies, standout player performances, and a somber note on World Cup politics.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

English Clubs' Champions League Woes

• Opening Thoughts (01:10)
  • Gary sets the tone: none of the six Premier League teams in Europe won a match—an “alarming” downturn in form.
  • All three react with equal parts disbelief and resigned humor.

Newcastle vs Barcelona: A Silver Lining

• Alan praises Newcastle’s performance (01:49, 02:26)
  • "Best performance of the week in the Champions League from the English clubs."
  • Notes Eddie Howe's successful tactical setup, especially given squad rotation.
  • Shearer recalls restraining himself as co-commentator for Newcastle:

    “Did you see the little [twitch] when the cross went in from Jacob Murphy? I had to stop myself going ‘Yeah!’” (04:42)

Arsenal’s Fortunate Draw & The Controversial Penalty

• Penalty Analysis (06:07, 06:41)
  • Debate over the legitimacy of the awarded penalty versus Leverkusen. Alan and Micah agree contact was minimal but justify referee's call ("I thought he'd clipped him and it was a penalty.” – Micah, 06:58).
  • Gary notes that Arsenal now look best positioned to advance, though Alan favors Liverpool’s prospects.

Modern Pitch Conditions & Players Slipping

• Why So Many Slips? (08:00–09:51)
  • Discussion about the impact of new pitch technologies—mixes between grass and artificial surfaces, heavy watering, and players’ preference for molded boots over traditional studs.
  • Micah:

    “For some reason, you feel more mobile in molds than studs. Studs feel too heavy… When I had molds on, I felt like Cafu down the wing.” (09:20)

Real Madrid 4–1 Man City: Guardiola’s Gambles

• Pep’s Tactical Experiments (10:31–15:27)
  • Gary notes the “odd” team selection:

    “There’s no natural fullback… It was a strange formation and way they played.” (10:31)

  • Micah adds Man City were favorites but “defense were all over the shot.” (11:26)
  • Discussion of Valverde’s impact, Madrid’s discipline, and Haaland’s lack of involvement.
  • Shearer on Valverde:

    “That’s as good a hat-trick as you’re going to see for a long while… The finishes were just incredible.” (14:40)

Haaland’s Struggles

• Where’s the Spark? (15:27–19:54)
  • Micah observes Erling Haaland’s muted presence:

    “He used to score not being involved, but now he’s not involved and he’s not scoring.” (15:27)

  • Alan & Gary explain the difference between playing as a lone striker and having a partner up top:

    “It is a different skill set… you have to make your runs off your partner in many ways.” (17:21–18:58)

  • All agree Haaland “will be hating this moment” as he slumps in front of goal.

Did Pep Get It Wrong?

• Square Pegs, Round Holes (20:06–21:13)
  • Alan: “Defensively they were far outdone… They gave up big chances and got punished.”
  • Gary:

    “It just seemed like a lot of square blocks in round holes.”

  • Micah defends some of Pep’s logic, but credits “the individual brilliance of Valverde that turned the game.” (21:04–22:21)

Are La Liga Teams Fresher for Europe?

• (23:09)
  • Gary ponders if fixture congestion and lack of winter breaks hinder English teams compared to Spain, Germany, and France.

    “They always look after their teams… We don’t necessarily think that way.”

Spurs’ Turmoil at Atletico

• Keeper Crisis & Managerial Mishaps (25:37–31:42)
  • Gary deems Spurs’ loss at Atletico “not entirely surprising”.
  • Alan lambasts manager Igor Tudor for coldly subbing young goalkeeper Kinski after two errors.

    “For Tudor to just blank him on the way past… That was the most cutting thing for me.” (27:18)

  • Micah: “It was quite embarrassing… Stick with him until half time, show some empathy.”
  • Discussion on the club’s decline, likening the situation to Karius’ fall at Liverpool after the UCL final.
  • Micah calls for a managerial change, with relegation fears looming:

    “I think for his career… and for Spurs to get safe, they need to make the change.”

Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea: Mixed Fortunes

• Arsenal – Decent shape after an unremarkable but solid home result.

  • Micah raves about Leverkusen’s Grimaldo:

    “His left foot is not normal… I just love watching him.” (33:11)

  • Gary: “It’s hard to be too critical… Still think they are a bit short up top.”

• Liverpool – Expected to overturn a narrow Galatasaray defeat at Anfield.

  • Gary:

    “On another day, Liverpool could have scored three in that first half—put the game to bed.” (35:43)

  • VAR controversy over Osimhen’s disallowed goal ("terrible, terrible decision” – Gary, 37:05) and another handball error.

• Chelsea – Praise for attacking approach under Resinha despite defensive weaknesses and a 5-2 loss to PSG.

  • Micah bullish:

    “I think Resinha is cooking up a storm… Tactically, this guy has got it.” (39:04)

  • Alan calls it “a big call when they’ve just been dumped 5-2!” (41:13)

World Cup & Politics: Iran Withdrawal

• (41:42–44:40)
  • Somber reflection on Iran’s pullout from the upcoming World Cup and the political chaos surrounding the event.
  • Gary:

    “It is worrying… If only tribalism was left to football, not everything else in life.”

  • The trio mourns how politics has become inseparable from football, noting previous World Cup controversies and expressing hope for peace.

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Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Alan on Newcastle vs Barcelona:
  “Best performance out of all the English teams this week.” (01:49)

• Micah on his preferred boots:
  “I felt like Cafu down the wing. I’m telling you!” (09:20)

• Gary on Pep’s gambles:
  “It just seemed like a lot of square blocks in round holes.” (20:37)

• Alan on Valverde:
  “The finishes were just incredible… a brilliant, brilliant hat-trick.” (14:40)

• Micah on Haaland’s struggles:
  “He used to score not being involved, but now he’s not involved and he’s not scoring.” (15:27)

• Alan on Tudor’s treatment of Spurs’ keeper:
  “For Tudor to just blank him on the way past... That was the most cutting thing for me.” (27:18)

• Micah, bullish on Chelsea’s manager:
  “Tactically, this guy has got it. I’m telling you, Chelsea, the way they played through PSG...” (39:04)

• Gary on World Cup crises:
  “If only tribalism was left to football. Just not everything else in life.” (44:40)

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Notable Timestamps

• 01:49: Alan hails Newcastle’s display vs Barcelona.
• 06:41: Debate over Arsenal’s penalty.
• 08:00–09:51: Why footballers slip so much—modern pitches and boot choices.
• 10:31–15:27: Dissection of Man City’s defeat at Madrid and Valverde’s brilliance.
• 15:27–19:54: Haaland’s frustrations and the nuances of striker partnerships.
• 20:06–22:33: Did Pep overcomplicate things? Was Valverde just that good?
• 25:37–31:42: Spurs’ keeper crisis, managerial troubles, and relegation fears.
• 33:11: Micah raves about Arsenal’s and Leverkusen’s left-backs.
• 35:17–37:48: Liverpool's missed opportunities and VAR controversies.
• 39:04: Micah’s bold faith in Resinha's Chelsea.
• 41:42–44:40: Iran’s World Cup withdrawal, political chaos, and a plea for peace.

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Summary

The episode delivers a spirited, humorous, and sometimes sobering analysis of English football’s European frustrations, rich in tactical detail and player insight, laced with witty anecdotes and poignant asides about the world game. Whether impassioned debates about rookie keepers or broader footballing lessons about pressure, confidence, and politics, "The Rest is Football" proves again why it’s essential listening for the devoted fan.

Transcript

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[Gary Lineker]

The banner to learn more coming up on today's show. Do you think Pep got it wrong yesterday?

[Michael Richardson]

Man City was by far the favourites in this game. But yesterday the defense were all over the shot.

[Gary Lineker]

He will be hating this moment. He will be hating the fact that he's not scoring goals.

[Alan Shearer]

Is it just because Real Madrid come alive at this stage in this competition,

[Gary Lineker]

not entirely surprising that spurs got battered at Atletica.

[Alan Shearer]

Or the lack of care or the lack of for even just to blank him on the way past. That was the most cutting thing for me.

[Gary Lineker]

Hello and welcome to the Rest is Football with Alan Shearer, Michael Richardson, me, Gary Lineker. Well, the English teams went into the last 16 of the Champions League with six teams. And over the course of the last two days they didn't win one single football match. So quite an alarming start for. For the Premier League sides. Firstly though, you both were working over the last couple of days. You, Micah, cbs. No doubt. Long nights.

[Michael Richardson]

Yes, long nights. Bad results. But it is what it is. We still had fun.

[Gary Lineker]

Alan, you were at Newcastle.

[Alan Shearer]

Yeah, I did the Newcastle Barcelona game. The result was harsh, I thought. Best performance out of all the English teams this week. I think

[Michael Richardson]

best performance of one. Come on. What?

[Alan Shearer]

Anyway, just before we go on, were

[Michael Richardson]

you the best performance of all the English teams? And a little grin. I mean, bloody hell.

[Alan Shearer]

Were you working Tuesday and Wednesday, Micah?

[Michael Richardson]

I was working, yeah. The double. The double.

[Alan Shearer]

Double. So you can do double bubble.

[Michael Richardson]

Depends how much you're getting paid.

[Alan Shearer]

Yes, Newcastle. Best performance of the week in the Champions League. League from the English clubs.

[Gary Lineker]

I did like the. I don't know whether you saw it, the story of the Barcelona fan that arrived in London, put into Google maps or whatever. St. James's park and he ended up at Exeter. Exeter the other St. Joseph park and Exeter. Good as gold. I think they said, well, you can come watch the game anyway. And I think he ended up watching Exeter vs LinkedIn. Brilliant.

[Alan Shearer]

He missed his team getting absolutely bad anyway. So he's probably fortunate.

[Gary Lineker]

Absolutely bad. Now they've gone from best performance, Micah, to absolutely battering Barcelona.

[Alan Shearer]

Newcastle. Newcastle. Were you not impressed with Newcastle's performance lads.

[Gary Lineker]

We were so impressed you honestly we were so impressed. Yeah. I thought they did really well.

[Michael Richardson]

They were excellent weren't they Eddie how with his game plan. Got it spot on. Bar didn't know what to do. They couldn't play. Newcastle were too aggressive and I was always looking for that ball over the top. I just thought the it was really good. I mean you know if you can do it against Barcelona you think you said why can't do that every week. And I know every team doesn't play like Barcelona. They do give you opportunities. They do allow you to run over the top. But I just thought there was a confidence about the team and a little bit of swagger. Is that fair?

[Alan Shearer]

Yeah, I agree with that. Especially the news beforehand that Anthony Gordon wasn't fit enough to start and he put Willisula in instead of Volta Marder and Whistler which is another thing I took. That goes when you look at the recruitment. But yeah it is very different when Champions League comes to town. The Champions League teams come out and play where a lot of Premier League clubs will sit deep and Newcastle have found that really tough this season because they've not been able to unlock too many defenses in the Premier League. But in Champions League they all come out and they all leave space in behind. Particularly Barcelona in the first half. Some brilliant balls going across but they just didn't have the quality in and around the six yard box to finish it off.

[Gary Lineker]

I saw some clips on Socials yesterday where they showed you and John Champion over I think over during the two goals. How hard is it when it's your team to do like when it's a bigger game as that not to like I saw you restraining yourself to celebrate.

[Alan Shearer]

Did you see the little when the cross went in from Jacob Murphy actually went.

[Gary Lineker]

I give it.

[Alan Shearer]

I give it one of them a little twitch as if to say go and get on the end of it. I was. I had to stop myself going yeah yeah.

[Gary Lineker]

So yeah it is. It is tough.

[Alan Shearer]

But then on the other hand when they got the penalty I wanted to scream fuck.

[Gary Lineker]

That would have been one of the great commentary moments of our time. I would have really enjoyed. I would really enjoyed that. And yeah just got to keep hold of that kind of energy haven't you? Oh energy. This episode is brought to you by Fuse Energy. No one likes a panic buy on deadline day. The smart teams do their business early not relying on dodgy fax machines. Are they still a thing rushed medicals or watching a plan B target become a plan C. The Best deals are

[Alan Shearer]

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[Gary Lineker]

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[Michael Richardson]

And it doesn't stop there. Switch to Fuse Energy and you could have your question answered on the show.

[Gary Lineker]

Sign up to fuse [e-mail] football use the referral code football and you could also win a 1990 England shirt signed by the three of us. The rest is football. It's going to be tough in Barcelona, Alan for new it's going to be tough for all the English teams. I suppose the best positioned her Arsenal because they got a late equalizer. What did we think about that penalty? This didn't look like he. There was hard any contact? I couldn't. Couldn't see any on the replay that I saw.

[Alan Shearer]

I thought there was a little bit of contact. I think his ribs or his side or whatever it was on his way down. So it did clip tiny bit of his heel, I think. I mean the ref give a penalty. So I don't think there was a clear and obvious enough error to overturn it. So yeah, I get why it was a penalty.

[Michael Richardson]

You know what? I thought it was a penalty. You know, when he went through, I was like, everyone's died. But if you actually look at one of the angles, his back left leg gets clipped, it sort of goes under it. I don't know if it's because he took a moment then I don't know if he was trying to stay on his feet. But I thought it was a sure penalty. And when everyone was going mad, I was like, oh, what's all the confusion about at the time? But I thought it was. I thought he'd clipped him and it was a penalty. I didn't think there was anything untoward about the decision, but maybe I saw more angles than. Than everyone else.

[Gary Lineker]

That's probably the best result of all the English teams in terms of the chances of going through. Yeah, sorry. Sorry Al. Don't get it. We won't take away your performance of the week award for getting a home draw. We'll give you a little medallion. Yeah, we'll send it over to you. I think Arsenal probably strong favorites now with that result.

[Alan Shearer]

I would still fancy Liverpool.

[Gary Lineker]

Yeah, Liverpool too because I thought galatasar I looked particularly, I know that Liverpool didn't score but I mean that first 10, 15 minutes of that game was completely bonkers. I mean Galatasarai gave it away. Their defenders were slipping. I mean we can talk about that now. I think it seems to me that these pitches now the way they're done, there's a little bit of a mix on there between grass and Astroturf almost in way and I think they bit firmer so they heavily water them before the game because they don't like the ball sticking. It slows the game down. There was quite three or four of the games players were falling over the. I mean obviously spurs being the most dramatic. We'll come to that shortly. But it was the same the Galatasaray falling over at the back trying to play out. So yeah, it was a slightly odd thing that's going on at the moment.

[Alan Shearer]

Newcastle, it was same as well in the, in the game against Bar. So there was so many players slipping over in the first 15 or, or 20 minutes. Oh, it's incredible, isn't it?

[Gary Lineker]

I think it's just the heavy watering they must be doing before. I can't think of any because it seems that then after 15, 20 minutes it, it turns to normal.

[Michael Richardson]

A lot of players are not wearing studs though, are they? Now they're wearing these mixed studs or, or mold. If you look at actually the players, what they're wearing, if you put studs on, you're not slipping, are you?

[Gary Lineker]

Why. Why are they doing that?

[Michael Richardson]

Just. You know what, for some reason, I know this sounds ridiculous, but you feel more mobile in molds than you do in studs. Studs feel too heavy on your feet and everything. When I used to play in studs, like when I used to try and burst down the line and all that, I just, I felt too heavy when I had molds on. I just felt like cat food down the wing. I'm telling you, let's. Let's put something on social media. The difference between studs and molds, it make you, it makes you feel different.

[Gary Lineker]

That was around my day and it's always been. I mean the thing is we played in a lot of bogs, in mud, bats and stuff. You had no choice. But I hated the feeling of not being able to turn really quickly to dig my feet in and churn. So yes, they're more comfortable molding, they always have been. But I mean if, if they're going to give away a couple of goals because you're falling over, hey, by the Way there must.

[Alan Shearer]

Those must have been some set of molders making you feel like Cafu, what the magical boots are.

[Gary Lineker]

I thought the most probably surprising for me was Real Madrid thumping City. I mean, that first half was extraordinary. Pep came even when his team came out. I thought, this is a bit odd. There's no fallback in the side, no natural fallback. Obviously O'Reilly was playing on the left, who's really a midfield player, and he's been playing midfield in recent weeks really well. We've seen him play fullback before, but he's not a natural fullback on the other side. Kusov, I guess he played there because of Vinicius junior's pace and he's really quick, but he's a central defender. And then obviously he played qu. You know, three wingers. Really. It was, it was. I thought it was a strange formation and the way they played. He left out eight. Nori, who's been, I think coming back to fitness, played really well. What do you make of it, Micah? Season hindsight, obviously, when it's gone tits up.

[Michael Richardson]

But no, I, I didn't think it was so bad because, you know, when people say man City playing this 433, basically play 4, 4, 2. Yeah, that's exactly what they do. Island so many up front. I think the, the idea was to get the ball wide as early as possible to Doku, who's been really good up against Trent in, in recent games, and then Savino maybe. That's the one I was thinking, yeah, could you have gone with a fold and could you have gone with a shirky? Could you have midfielder in there? Because if you watch Madrid, the players that they have out as well, and it's so frustrating because people just see the result and say, oh, typical Madrid. If you, if you'd watch any of Madrid games before that game, mush them all. Man City was by far the favorites in this.

[Gary Lineker]

Oh yeah, they've been really poor, Madrid. Really, really poor.

[Michael Richardson]

I mean, the first 20 minutes, Man City could have call them clear cut chances, but you've seen Man City put them away. Doku going down the left and someone tapping them in. And when they didn't take the chances, I'm thinking to myself, this is real Madrid. You don't get these chances at Madrid. You've got to take them while you're on top of the game. They didn't take them. And then Valverde we've talked about many times whether he's playing on the right, where he's playing in the middle, where he's Playing right back, left back, off the front, he's just got something different. I've sort of praised in recent weeks in the way they've defended. I think Mark Gay has been outstanding, but. But yesterday the defense were all over the shot. They didn't know the positions. The first goal, Nico Riley, I don't want to give him excuse because he's gone then into midfield now. He's been playing fullback and he's been getting plaudits for playing fullback too. And what Real Madrid did on the goal was very smart. They said what Man City the theater was going to press and they sort of went wide and thought, okay, if Man City want to press one part of the pitch, we're going to go high and wide. In the 1v1 situation with the wingers and goes to Valverde. And all Nico O'Reilly needed to do was just stay on the halfway line. You know, he sort of crept forward a little bit and was anticipating where the ball was going to go, not realizing Valverde is just right behind him on side because he's on the halfway line. So it was just little details that let City down and then once again get stretched. They couldn't get back into it.

[Gary Lineker]

Very odd one with Donna Rumma coming out as well, wasn't it? I mean, a. Should he have come out that. I don't think so necessarily flying out like that. If he does, he has to get the ball. And the weird thing, he took his hands away. I think he obviously thought he was outside the box. So he's thinking, oh, I'm going to get a red card and, you know, so I'll leave it. And he was clearly comfortably inside the box. Those sort of things do happen. But I mean, Freddie Alverde, I don't know when he saw the quotes that Trent said after the game, that is the most underrated footballer in the world's game. I don't think he's underrated here particularly, but I. I get his point. He's not a kind of household name. You know, he's along the lines of mbappe or Vinicius Jr. Etc.

[Alan Shearer]

I think that's the problem, isn't it, with the superstars?

[Gary Lineker]

Yeah.

[Alan Shearer]

That they've. That they have there. But in terms of ability, fantastic. I mean, that. That is as good as a hattrick. You're going to see for a long while that. I mean, the finishes were just. Oh, the last one, the over the top and then the finish was just incredible. Yeah. I mean, even the one that he went around Donna Rummer, that Isn't an easy finish to get that on target and to finish it as he did it was a brilliant, brilliant hat trick. I think a key moment in the game was Vinicius missing the penalty because 4 nil. It's all done, I think.

[Gary Lineker]

Do you still think they're in it City?

[Michael Richardson]

I do, yeah.

[Alan Shearer]

I mean, next goal, you can imagine if you get that first goal, it's. It's game on. We're doing that game, Amazon as well, so it should be a cracker, but I don't think it's over. I do think that with the ability City have, if they can get that first goal, then pressure will be on.

[Michael Richardson]

Can I ask you something, guys? Because it's been, I want to say, annoying me for a while, but I'm finding it hard to see Harlan not be involved in the games. So when he's not involved and he used to score, but now he's not involved and he's not scoring, so.

[Alan Shearer]

Does seem a little bit different with him, doesn't it? Yeah, it does seem a bit with him, too. Up top, he seems. Yes, does seem different with him, doesn't he?

[Michael Richardson]

I feel like he's not. He's not in the game, but I don't. I don't necessarily think it's actually his fault this time. You know, I just. I don't know if players are running into his spaces and Semenya has been doing so well and he's scoring a lot of goals, but he's taking a lot of shine away from Haaland. And even the runs that he used to make. Gary made a good point when Harland. And look, all the runs that he makes, and it's not just a goal he scores, but even the runs that he used to make, he's no longer making them runs. And he just feels really frustrated. So what's the difference between playing as number one and then having obviously two

[Alan Shearer]

up there just before you come in? I. I thought that, you know, what you mentioned about those balls going across the box in the. In the first 10 or 15 minutes, Man City, I think. Where are you? Do you know, normally you'd see him running in and just having a tap in for two or three yards, wouldn't you?

[Michael Richardson]

Yes, exactly that.

[Alan Shearer]

But it is a different skill set, Micah. It's a different skill set playing up front on your own, having the ability or authority to basically go where you want when you want, but when there's someone else up there alongside you and with you, it's very different because you can't run into that space where he is. You can't. If he's gone short then you, you have to work in tandem, you know and, and there's definitely a difference in his play with some with while Semenya's been there to the difference when he' there on his own. Unbelievable.

[Gary Lineker]

Yeah. So many. Even though he plays up with him most of the time, I mean obviously switched it a bit in the second half but when he's playing up there with him, he get. He also gets a lot of the ball. Simono. He still does. Whereas you go, well, where's, you know, Haaland's not getting. He's probably not really accustomed to playing that way. I mean I thought it was a lot of players on that pitch yesterday for City that were not necessarily accustomed to playing that way on a regular basis. We've already talked about the two fullbacks that play. One's a midfield player, one's a central defender. You know, you're talking about elsewhere on the pitch as well with Haaland Semenyo. I've not really seen him play up front much prior to this. He used to play wide left mostly, didn't he for Bournemouth or he could play as a 10 or either side. So. But Semenya when he's playing up there is getting a lot of the ball because he's a player that kind of likes to be on in possession. He's used to it. So Harlan's like, well, I'm not going to get touch here now we're used to seeing him play in a way with three up top. Aren't we the supposed forwards? Right side, left sided forwards and Haaland just has the rein and he can spin behind. He largely do what he wants now. He's never been a player that gets involved too much in the build up. I wonder how many times in his career he's played with two up top. And it is a different skill because you've got to make your runs off your, your partner in many ways. If he drops in short, you want to get behind him. If he goes behind, you can perhaps go short or he goes left, you go right and you have to. But if he's not that way very often because he's always been the main focus up front, it's not necessarily easy for him. You talked about in the first 15 minutes where he would normally be making. Maybe he's thinking, well is Semenya gonna go do I? I don't know. I'm just thinking out loud. But you know, Alan would Have grown up playing with someone else alongside him. I grew up playing with someone else alongside me and then it was only in the latter stage of my career I played up top on my own for quite a bit and. And it is different. It' different skill set. And he's also probably, you know, he always strikes you as a very confident lad, but he will be hating this moment. He will be hating the fact that he's not scoring goals. It's the worst, Alan. When you're going through these kind of spells, all eye strikers will do it. But what you've got to do as a striker, I think you've got to keep getting in there. You've got to make the runs that score you the goals. Don't shy away from it.

[Alan Shearer]

No, I totally agree with that.

[Gary Lineker]

Yeah.

[Alan Shearer]

I wouldn't. I wouldn't take any of that back or go along with it. It's. It is different. You do have to make your runs else and understand that when he goes, it's a different. It's a different ability to be up top with someone else.

[Gary Lineker]

Yeah. Do you think Pep got it wrong yesterday?

[Alan Shearer]

Well, the result will tell you that. He will argue to the one or two chances that they had early in the game, but I thought defensively they were far outdone. I mean, ability wise, they were always. They were up against it because you're playing against top players. But the chances that they gave up then you were going to get punished. And we've always said. I didn't. I think. I don't think City are the same defensively and they were punished for that last night. But it was a very attacking system he played.

[Gary Lineker]

It was. And the other thing I, I thought was that, you know, normally he tries to boss midfield, doesn't control the game from midfield. But you only had two midfielders in there and one of those. He's not really a. I mean, Bernardo Silva's not quintessential midfield players. He's more forward thinking. So basically Rodri's kind of managing that on his own and I think. But I mean, they still had a lot of possession, but it. I don't know, they just seemed like a lot of square blocks in round holes.

[Michael Richardson]

Yeah, I think Pep always tries something unique, didn't it? You remember, I think a couple of seasons ago he put Fernandinho right back, didn't he?

[Gary Lineker]

Against.

[Michael Richardson]

Against Vinicius role, scratching her head. But when it works, it looks like a genius. I don't necessarily think he did anything that wrong. I, I understand Kusanov maybe O'Reilly into midfield for a little bit of energy, just to get the ball back and put eight, eight Nori left back, maybe the Sabinha one. I understand why he played Doku, but yeah, I don't. I think it was just the individual brilliance of Valverde that turned the game and when he scored, if you watch the game, the game turned, then Man City would dominate in the game. And then it's the same old thing with, with individual errors in Man City. We saw at Leeds, with Manchester City, Calvert, Lewin could have scored a few goals and against top teams, you're going to get punished. I, I will not blame Man City for trying to play good football. There's times where you have going to be overloaded in certain areas and you are going to be exposed. So maybe another midfielder in there, guys. Yeah, maybe. But in terms of the game, I just thought Valverde took the game to a different level. He was just the best player on the pitch and he made the difference when he scored, you know, and then the fans got up, the players started to lift and then the quality shone through.

[Alan Shearer]

I've seen a Real Madrid live a couple of times and there's no doubt that that performance last night was the best. Is it, is it just because Real Madrid come alive at this stage in this competition?

[Michael Richardson]

Maybe, yeah, maybe, yeah.

[Gary Lineker]

I, I, I've watched a lot of them this season, obviously, because we do an episode about La Liga that was probably their best display by some distance this season. You know, Valverde's been pretty good overall, but most of the players have been a bit short. You know, you still don't, they're still not playing the football of the team that was, that had Modric Cruz and Casemiro.

[Alan Shearer]

No, no.

[Gary Lineker]

Yeah. I mean, also, you got to point out that Real Madrid have an awful injury list at the moment. You know, a lot of players. Yeah. Mbappe, Bellingham, Militao. So many of their players, there's about eight or nine of them missing. So you have to bear that in mind. Having said all that, they beat City comfortably and looking at all the English teams, I don't know there's anything in this. But in Spain, they have a little break in the football in a lot of these countries is not as dynamic, as physical as the Premier League. We go into this round of matches having played through that mental Christmas stage where the players, loads of matches, FA cup, carabao, twoleg stuff, all our big teams are in those competitions and I don't know, it's like PSG at the start of the season. They're not looking that great. But then all of a sudden they burst into, into life after they don't have the commitments that the English clubs have. You'll also notice that Spanish clubs, German clubs, French clubs, they don't play on Saturday and Sunday before I know it's FA cup then anyway, so it doesn't already apply. But they always look after their teams. They play, they give them the break before the Champions League. We don't necessarily think that way. So I don't know whether, you know, you run out of steam trying to make an excuse here, obviously for, for the English clubs, but let's take a break here and discuss the other sides when we come back. This episode is brought to you by Squarespace. Need a website? Squarespace makes it easy. I'm talking three nil up, 90th minute and they've just got a red card. Easy. Start with Blueprint AI, Squarespace's AI enhanced website builder. To get a fully custom website in just a few steps. Go to squarespace.comfootball for a free trial. And when you're ready to launch, use code FOOTBALL to get 10 off your first purchase of a website or domain.

[Alan Shearer]

Close your eyes, exhale, feel your body

[Michael Richardson]

relax and let go of whatever you're carrying today.

[Gary Lineker]

Well, I'm letting go of the worry that I wouldn't get my new contacts in time for this class.

[Michael Richardson]

I got them delivered free from 1-800-contacts. Oh, my gosh, they're so fast.

[Gary Lineker]

And breathe.

[Michael Richardson]

Oh, sorry. I almost couldn't breathe when I saw the discount they gave me on my first order. Oh, sorry. Namaste.

[Gary Lineker]

Visit 1-800-contacts.com today to save on your first order. 1-800-contact. Welcome back to the Rest is Football with Mike Richards, Alan Sheeran, me, Gary Lineke discussing a tough night for English clubs in the Premier League. And I thought it was not predictable but not entirely surprising that spurs got battered at Atletico. Atletico have been scoring goals in recent weeks and playing quite well. Spurs have been in turmoil, but I didn't expect, well, the shambolic events on the pitch and obviously have felt for the Kinski, the goalkeeper who's brought in by Tudor. I mean, it's a mess there at the minute. I'm really, it's really worrying. As a Spurs former spurs player, my

[Alan Shearer]

take on that is, is that he has to also accept responsibility. By the way, Tudor for he's made, he's made the decision. I know Vicario's been poor, but he must have have seen enough to think, well, I'm leaving you out and I'm going to put Kinski in for his champions league debut. 22 year old. He's. He's thinking that that's the right decision. Yet clearly he's made two huge errors, cost the goals and after 16 or 17 minutes, I have no problem with him. He probably had to bring him off. But the one thing for me would be. Is that the lack of. I don't know, the lack of care or the lack of. For even just to blank him on the way past. Just totally, totally blank him. You can imagine how the keeper's feeling. He's. He's.

[Gary Lineker]

Oh, I mean, embarrassed, destroyed.

[Alan Shearer]

Everyone would have to feel for him. But for. For Tudor to just blank him on the way past him. That. That was the most cutting thing for me.

[Michael Richardson]

Yeah, it was. The whole thing was quite embarrassing. The game was embarrassing from stairs. The run is quite embarrassing and it's. It's not nice to see footballers going through this, is it? Especially that moment with Kingski and players have had it. Some. Some players have been brought on and brought back off. You know, it's not the first and it's not the last. I think he could have waited till half, time, you know.

[Gary Lineker]

Do you think he was influenced by Romero? He obviously had a chat with him. We don't know what was said in that chat, but I don't know.

[Michael Richardson]

But end of the day the manager's got to make strong decisions, hadn't they? The game, like bringing the goalkeeper on or off is not going to change the course of the game, is it?

[Gary Lineker]

Let's be honest, not when you're three nil down.

[Michael Richardson]

Vicario's not being great of late. Kings is coming. You've played him. Stick with it. Have a word with my half time and say, you know what, it was too early for you. And then. And then change it. The embarrassment to go through that. It's just whether he's able to come back from that.

[Gary Lineker]

That.

[Michael Richardson]

I'll ask you a question now. Where's Karius now? Remember the Champions League final and then his career just. I don't want to say nose dive and I play with Carus. I was with him at Manchester City.

[Gary Lineker]

Yeah, he never played for Liverpool again, did he? Carus, after that?

[Michael Richardson]

This is. This is what I mean. And it's just. It's one of those moments where if there's a goalkeeper, you get scrutinized a lot more. You don't need your manager then, you know, adding fuel to the fire. Which I just thought was it. Was it Was out of order and he could have done it at half time. That's the way to.

[Gary Lineker]

Well, he could have done. But even when he did it, I agree with Alan. He showed no empathy whatsoever. He just like let him walk past. There were a couple of player. Romero put his arms around him. One or two of the other players did one. But Tudor didn't do anything at all. Didn't go towards him. I mean they weren't ones where the weird thing was both the mistakes were actually him slipping again. Another slipping events really rather. It's not like he's let two goals go through his hands. He's just. He's just slipped at them and made bad decisions at the wrong point. But certainly I don't know what stoods he had in. But I mean you had to feel. I mean, I mean I can't ever remember a goalkeeper being taken off that early for anything other than an injury. Not. Was it 17 minutes? No.

[Alan Shearer]

I mean outfield players I guess have come off and, and been taken off, but the manager was the one that thought it was a great idea to put him in. So he's clearly got that wrong. I mean not, not all the problems at spurs are Judah's fault and he's walked into a really, really difficult situation. But it seems to be getting worse, not improving, not getting any better whatsoever. And they've got a trip to Anfield and you think, oh my God, after

[Gary Lineker]

that there's an international break. Do you think they'll probably stay in charge of this one? If they don't get a result, then the, the Tudor age could be over.

[Alan Shearer]

Well, they've got, they've got the Champions League game, which I think is probably done and then they've got forest after that. My guess is is that if they're not already speaking to someone just in case, then they should be. So I, I would think that even if they're sounding someone out because if the result goes against them at the weekend, which I've not. I've got no confidence to say that it won't. Liverpool will beat them then they should already I guess just be getting ready in case.

[Michael Richardson]

They brought him in though for these balance effect, didn't they? That's what everyone was saying because he would get results early doors and it's not happened. I, I think for his career, Igor Tudor and for spurs to get safe, I think they need to make the change. I, I do. I think after this game, international jury they've looked at, it's not worked. Shake your hands and say said I tried. It's not happening. But the most important thing is Tottenham,

[Gary Lineker]

they've got to stay up. They've got to stay up. They got to give themselves the best chance Stadium.

[Michael Richardson]

They've got to stay up. It's as simple as that. And I still believe they will do because I think we've got a goal scorer in Solanke who will. Will get him goals in. In tough times. However, I just feel like they need to make the change now.

[Gary Lineker]

They got what, three games before the international break, right? To get that? Absolutely.

[Michael Richardson]

How many is it? Three games is it?

[Gary Lineker]

Well, they've got Liverpool away, then they've. Second leg. Second leg is next week. They're all next week.

[Michael Richardson]

And then out in the Champions League there are. Forget Champions League. They did so well to get that.

[Gary Lineker]

No, but they're just saying that's. There are three games before the ch international, but they're all within a week. So.

[Alan Shearer]

Yeah, my guess. My guess would be is that if. If they get beaten at Anfield, which we all think then I think that then the change may come after that, if that's what happens. Because they've then got Forest before the international break. Micah. And then, I mean that size of that game. If as expected, they don't go to Anfield and get anything.

[Gary Lineker]

Julian Alvarez look something back to his best. He's had a really tough run over there in Spain, but seems to have got back to full form in that game. So they're looking good. Arsenal probably in decent shape. Wasn't a particularly good game, but it was. It was very Arsenal.

[Alan Shearer]

Yeah, they looked a bit. They looked a bit flattish. Didn't they hit the bar early on maybe, what, after 15, 20 minutes with Martinelli creating one or two chances. But they found it tough. Leverkusen were decent, actually better than I thought they would be. But then they got the penalty and then one you thought at home they'll have enough. So they're sitting okay. Arsenal. I don't think they'll be too worried about that result.

[Michael Richardson]

I tell you who's a player. And I might have said. The oracle might have told you before. His left foot. It's not normal. It's. It's not normal.

[Gary Lineker]

The.

[Michael Richardson]

The precision he puts on his crosses. The honest, he. I just love watching him. I just love. And when he. When he had that corner, I was thinking, this is going right on someone's head.

[Alan Shearer]

This.

[Michael Richardson]

I. I called it in agreement before not with you guys on cbs. I said, grimaldo's gonna get assist today. And I was like, no Arsenal not conceding. I said trust me. They're not watch. His delivery is ridiculous. He's one of my favorite players to

[Alan Shearer]

watch at the moment.

[Gary Lineker]

Yeah. Can you see him moving?

[Michael Richardson]

How old is he? Because he's not a little bit older because I think he's already had. He's eight. You'll know. How old is he?

[Gary Lineker]

He's 30.

[Michael Richardson]

Yeah.

[Gary Lineker]

So he's been around a bit. Yeah.

[Michael Richardson]

But he's really at home. He's really at home at Liverpool.

[Gary Lineker]

I look at Arsenal and it's hard to be too critical because they've done so well this season. But still think those. They are a bit short up top. I prefer Havertz up there personally. I think if he can get him fit because he gives you. It's more of a false nine but gives them a bit more I think. I don't know. Yes it's. It's one to watch. But they're. They're going better than everybody else. Everybody.

[Alan Shearer]

They're in a good position.

[Gary Lineker]

They're in great. They're in a fabulous position in terms of. Of all the competitions Liverpool could turn it around. It was a game where there should have been loads of goals but there are only one. You could see why in the last round of matches when they played Juve Galatasaray. Why it was I think 7, 5 on aggregate. Because they're very good up top. Osimhen is a real handful handful isn't he? He really is lovely. Moment before the game with the. The tifo with his mother obviously passed away and it was. It was. He was in tears before the game. But he is a handful at the back though. They look very vulnerable.

[Michael Richardson]

We've seen Sanchez before though, haven't we At Spurs.

[Alan Shearer]

That wasn't a big surprise for me. Liverpool going there and Galatasarani winning. But I would still fully expect Liverpool to have enough to beat them because they. I think they'll be too open and Liverpool will. Will score goals at Anfield and have enough to get through.

[Michael Richardson]

I actually thought Liverpool were excellent in the first 25, 30 minutes. I. I thought the game. The pressed a little bit.

[Gary Lineker]

Pressed really well.

[Michael Richardson]

Yeah, a bit higher and I was struggling a little bit. On another day it was. I would say it was similar to the City game but another day Liverpool could have scored three in that first half, put the game to bed, gone back to Anfield and happy days. And then second half it was similar to what we've been seeing with Liverpool good in spells and bad enough. But they could have put that game to bed early doors but but then it just looks like another bad result. But actually when they watch the game it's not as bad as as everyone thinks I I, I still think they go through in that second leg.

[Gary Lineker]

Verts had a couple of good chances or virt I think as they commentate well that's what these commentators of they completely. It was like Hang on a minute, you invented something else here. Both the co comment I can't remember the commentator was but and the co commentator commentator would throw in that one in and I thought oh blimey, that's an, that's a new version of it. But he, you know, he had one he probably should have scored with early on. What about the two decisions in the second half though? A I thought they were both complete. I mean the offside osimhen goal. I I've watched it 50 times and I it's absurd. There's no impact on on from Rob. It was just a terrible, terrible decision Var it just waved it off on

[Alan Shearer]

I didn't see that because I was up in the, in the, in the stands getting ready for the game because that was the early kickoff, wasn't it?

[Michael Richardson]

Well they're talking about the interference though because.

[Gary Lineker]

Yeah, there was no interference though on whatsoever. No, he didn't. He really didn't.

[Michael Richardson]

It wasn't.

[Gary Lineker]

It was the wrong player as well. They got completely wrong. They got it completely wrong. I've made sure I've double checked it a thousand times something.

[Michael Richardson]

You didn't think the guy who was was running back from offside position though. No.

[Gary Lineker]

Yeah.

[Michael Richardson]

And then you're trying to say in it's it's not it's minimal contact or

[Gary Lineker]

no, there was no contact which I've checked and also it wasn't that player that went through it was. He had, he had no impact on the game whatsoever.

[Michael Richardson]

No, but I think what they're trying to say the guy. You said the guy.

[Gary Lineker]

They can tell you what they like

[Michael Richardson]

M. If if he didn't touch him on the angle that I saw obviously that wasn't our main game but the angle that I was I saw it looked like it impacted the player. Turn.

[Gary Lineker]

No, not at all. Have another look. Honestly, it's Weir but at the same time the handball nonsense again, because it wasn't the hand. It didn't come off his hand to go into the net. So it came off the backside, I think of the goalkeeper or the defender. So that was also a poor mistake. So I suppose, you know, honours were Warners were even on that one more mistake. So I thought Chelsea did all right for quite a bit of their game, but Kravatskhelia came on and made a massive, massive impact. I mean, brilliant goal and missed two goals actually, but one brilliant one.

[Alan Shearer]

Chelsea goalkeeper defensively again though.

[Gary Lineker]

Yeah, yeah.

[Alan Shearer]

I've said it before, haven't we, about the money that they've spent and not having top quality in those big positions. And I would go along with that. And I think they were punished for that last night.

[Michael Richardson]

I think guys, honestly, I think Resinia or Resenia, I think he's cooking. I think he's cooking up a storm. I'm telling you now.

[Gary Lineker]

Here we go.

[Michael Richardson]

It's the oracle, this guy, honestly, tactically, this guy has got it. I've seen everything. I need to see the way they build up. I was completely right. Mistakes again. But Sanchez, he probably should have played the other night. Jorgensen comes in. But the way they want to build once they, if whatever happened in the goalkeeper situation, if they get unbelievable number one who's good on the ball, who knows what he wants to do. I'm telling you, Chelsea, the way they played through PSG and the way they can open up teams want to play through the middle, then they get it wide and then they've got runners from the midfield. Enzo fantastic. Neto was brilliant. J Pedro's playing some of the best football of his life. Cole Palmer now getting involved like the. Ok, Palmer we need to see. There's just certain aspects which he needs to tweak for them to be competitive. And Al's completely right defensively. It's. Sometimes they're going to in sometimes are dropping off for one of the goals. Aimi burst through and I think it was Chalaba who went all the way and it's like, no, relax, you've done the hard part. Everyone's doing what they're supposed to do. If you're going to press, go all the way in. But the way Racinia can pick teams off by his style of play, honestly, I, I think tactically he's got it. I think because he come in and it wasn't a big name in the Ver cup and because he come from Strat's, people are thinking it doesn't deserve. Actually I, I, I see it, I see it. And obviously it has to be something at the end of that. They've got to go win something. You can't just play good football. But the, the way they went to, to, to Paris and opened up them when, when Paris was sort of on the ropes, I thought, okay, yeah, I see. And then Jorgensen makes a mistake and then Clavaskelia. Of course, give those boys chances, you're gonna get punished. But no, I'm liking the look of Chelsea. I'm telling you. Remember, I say it here, remember. What day are we on? What day I want to get 12th March. It is 2026.

[Alan Shearer]

It is a big call when they've just been dumped.

[Gary Lineker]

Five, two.

[Michael Richardson]

Oh, now you're jumping on a bugger right now.

[Alan Shearer]

I love. It's a big call in it Gaz. When you've just been dumped.

[Gary Lineker]

Five, two and know exactly.

[Michael Richardson]

But it's not about this is what I mean. It's short sighted.

[Alan Shearer]

No, I'm just saying. I'm not saying, I'm not saying you're wrong. I'm just saying it's a big call when they, when you've conceded.

[Michael Richardson]

You've got to look at the overall picture, guys.

[Gary Lineker]

It's a good time to do it. Micah, that shows you how bold and what an oracle you are. Yeah, I mean we need an oracle in terms of the World cup looking ahead. Iran have now pulled out of the World Cup Cup. It's a bit worrying. Obviously. We, you know, we're going to be covering it. We've got the Netflix show out there. We don't quite know what's going to happen now and who will replace Iran, if anyone or whether any. And it'll escalate any further. World's in a bit of chaos and obviously a lot of that chaos has been caused by the country that's. That's hosting the World cup in Fantina obviously is. He's got himself in a situation. He's just, he just granted the, the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize, obviously to, to President Trump. So it looks like he's probably got some egg on his face at the moment. But it is worrying. Now. I've covered a lot of World Cups and there's generally going into the World cup there's always some kind of issue or scandal or, or concern. You know, going back to Brazil, there were massive demonstrations, if you remember, around across the country that they, they shouldn't be invested in football stadiums, they should invested in their country's infrastructure. There was, you take it onto Russia, remember they'd invaded Crimea just a couple of years before that and that was massive issue. Even going back to Qatar and you had the LGBTQ rights and then people dying making the stadiums and there was uproar over those sort of things. And now we've got Another one now I just hope, hope, you know, somehow we can get peace and, and the world gets a bit more stable. But obviously at the moment it's, it's, it's looking a bit worrying really.

[Alan Shearer]

Well, it's impossible to say because you don't know how or if it's going to escalate.

[Gary Lineker]

Yeah.

[Alan Shearer]

Doesn't it? So you don't know what can happen in between now and, and the World cup, so.

[Gary Lineker]

I know.

[Michael Richardson]

It's just sad, isn't it?

[Gary Lineker]

Very sad.

[Michael Richardson]

It's just, it's just sad. Like the world now just seems, everything just seems so extreme. I know you give a couple of examples of guys, but everything just seems so extreme. You know, you want to just do your best and you want people to be treated equally and, you know, that's a big reason why I come off X, you know, just because you can have a clear mind. You could wake up in the morning happy. You go on there, you see what's. And it's just, it's a sad, sad society we're living at the moment.

[Gary Lineker]

Yeah.

[Michael Richardson]

And yeah, when you see a team having to pull out, out because of what's going on, the politics, you know, we always say stick to football, you know what I mean? This is, this is what we do, this is what we like to talk about. But the politics is dictating what we are talking about, which is, this is very sad, you know.

[Gary Lineker]

Yeah, it's impossible to keep. You know, people say you should separate sport and politics. You can't because it's, it's everything, it's all consuming. Politics is involved in everything. So I don't know, let's hope it. I mean, I got a feeling that I think he'll just pull out and claim victory shortly, but I mean, this is going to do massive damage to the, to that area for a long time to come. But in terms of football in the World cup, hopefully it all calms down and normally the World Cups, once they start, everyone focuses on the football and if only tribalism was left to football. Just not everything else in life. Yeah. Worrying times, but hopefully, hopefully, hopefully peace will come soon. On that note, goodbye from me.

[Michael Richardson]

Goodbye from me.

[Alan Shearer]

Goodbye from me.