Latest / The Calcio Guys / Sit down with Rocco Placentino of CS St-Laurent - Ep. 225

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Sit down with Rocco Placentino of CS St-Laurent - Ep. 225 · The Calcio Guys

0:26
Doing things a little bit differently this week on the Culture guys Nicholas Idri and
0:31
Johnny but always connecting back to Calchow joining us is a sporting director of c
0:36
S Laurent, former pro pro player Rocco Plegentino. How's the going? Rocco
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got you guys? How's and complain? Well, thank you for coming on
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Rock. It's a it's a pleasure to talk to you. And uh,
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we're really stoked. I think I di continued going, Uh and you know
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the reason we have you on in Rocco this week keeping a local uh so
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c s L the semi pro team. Uh became the first semi pro team
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from Quebec to beat a pro team in the Canadan Championship last week, beating
1:03
Halifax. Uh and they have a big game this week against Wednesday First Lake
1:08
here in Montreal. But you know, before we get into the nitty gritty,
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what we always do with our guests when they come onto the show Rock,
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But we always ask, you know, what's your passion with with Calcho,
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what's what's your show with Caultro? Sobviously you're a fad, you're a
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former pro player and now you you know, now is sporting director. You
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oversee development of all these all these young athletes. Uh So, just give
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us a bit of your background and what makes you so passionate about this game.
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Soccer is in my blood, you know, my having my dad and
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my brother being in soccer to their whole lives. Just you know, they
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took me under their wing and it's something I love since three years old,
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Like all I did was soccer, and and when I finished, when anyone
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I was going to retire and finished playing, I said, I still want
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to be in soccer. And you know, twelve years later after my retirement,
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I'm still in soccer and I planned to be for another twelve years and
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then another TLVE And yeah, it's just, uh I love the sport.
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I love watching it. I love you know, playing Europe. Maybe look
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at different divisions also, so I see the higher level, lower level and
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and for me, it's it's just something I fell in love with. And
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besides my my beautiful wife or my kids, soccers my my my love.
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And uh I just wanted to start off with the fact that, like you
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know, you're one of like a very like local homegrown hero. I remember
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I have a little something here in surprise. Oh no, hold on,
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let me think of my green screen. Hold on. Obviously when I want
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to show it, the green screen comes into effect us at any virtual background.
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Let's tread it off for a second. I got a little photo here,
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oh man, from when you visited. Well, I wasn't. My
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brother was in elementary school at the time, at Saint Dorothy Elementary School.
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You want to go visit to a visit at the school and any any and
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he had this in his collection and we kept it throughout the years. I
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think we had another one that was signed. I think my brother has it
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in his I think I still have all kinds of those in my bins in
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my little Oh my God, bring memories. Thank you. Yeah. And
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also I just want to pass over. Just sorry viewers or listeners for for
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just taking over to Como for a bit. But uh, my stepdad Joel
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Tom wants to say hi to you. He had to go fix his phone,
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so sadly he couldn't be on. I wanted to bring him on his
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a little surprise. No, and my mom my mom Mickey Chaffy says hi,
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you know, yes, of course your title shower. They wanted wanted
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me to pass the world, tiny tiny island. I will I want to
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I want to be Italians, but it's a very cut, tight knit community.
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It's it's a small it's a small world. And honestly being being you
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know, the legend that you are here here in Montreal, what Johnny said,
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local homegrown talent. You know, your your story has been pretty pretty
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amazing from from playing obviously here for the local team and the impact and going
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abroad to h to the home Onney Italy to play as well. Uh,
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it's it's an inspiration. And I'm I'm I'm assuming that anybody that has been
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associated with you, like within the ranks, has has definitely woked up to
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you and you know you as a player and as a person. So I
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just want to put that out there before we'll give your flowers, before we
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before we get into the nitty gritty, But I appreciate that absolutely. So
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this is Saint Lauran, obviously history was made, like Nick open the show
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with just if you want to give us, just us and the listeners just
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a brief you know history with with the club being a Semine Pro club here
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in Saint Laurent. Just you know, some quick facts about about the club
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and uh, you know the competition that they play in and and and what
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the club is all about. Yeah. So I arrived in CERN as a
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technical director in twenty twelve, very small club. We had aightngred fifty members,
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but I know that it was a lot of talent. Fast forward to
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twenty and twenty twenty twenty one, I became sporting directors, so I really
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overlook everything because from eight hundred members, eight hundred fifty members, we went
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up to twenty three hundred members, from twenty competitive teams to seventy competitive teams.
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From having ten percent girls, it's almost at fifty percent, it's almost
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like balancing out. So the club came along the way we grew. And
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then we had a lot of talent that were boys from the ages of let's
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see born in two thousand, two thousand and one, two thousand and two,
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and two thousand and three. But that was maybe six seven years ago,
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and they really wanted us to have a semi pro team, but I
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personally wasn't ready, the club wasn't ready. We when I do something,
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I flow one hundred percent committed and I do it right. And if there's
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one thing we've been doing sun for the last telve years, is things right?
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So we found partners. Semi Fruits and Cravy are two of our partners
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with the club that owned the team, and we we took off in twenty
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twenty two. So we're still babies in a big league because the league has
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been existing since twenty twelve and we're in a third year. And the first
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year in the league we finished second. We could have won it. And
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the second year in the league, last year, we killed it. The
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players and the staff did a fantastic job. I put a guy in charge
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of the program. His name is Matteo Cabinets. He's the drum manager.
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He put the team together, coaching staff together. I helped him on that
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part of it, and then the rest is history. Man. Honestly,
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it is literally history, because they created history last week. Absolutely. One
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question I have is because you know, obviously it's Saint Laurent, and you
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guys probably do some local scouting or local development. Because I'm a I'm a
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teacher, and I did some substituting stints at it called Evangeline and stuff,
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and I know it was a lot of the kids in the neighborhood and at
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that school specifically are really good. Is I like one of the schools that
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you guys like Target often or there's the Evangelin, There's there's a there's a
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couple of different schools in the area that to have all this this like raw
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talent, right and and like street players, and and our job is to
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try and take these players and take them from being raw and street ballers to
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a bit more structured and organized ballers. Right. And sometimes it goes well
7:15
where the kid listens and follows so and then sometimes it just doesn't pan out,
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and then they don't play soccer. Right. But the majority of time,
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like the ones that are on this semi pro team are the ones that
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want it. They really want it. So that's why we're successful. Yeah,
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I was gonna ask, like, the majority of the players on the
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semi pro team, is it just guys that have come up through the youth
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ranks with lar? Is it guys you take from other parts in Montreal?
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Like, you know, how does that work? So anything that's elite program
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So forget about semi pro. For a second ariything that's elite elite meaning Triple
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A. It's called the Change Novel College. A lot of the players that
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are on these teams because at fifteen plus you have to like it's a good
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thing to win because you are nationals. We all know that that's how soccer
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is. And for us, it's a mandate to try and go Nationals because
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that's why I put players, girls end boys on a stage right to perform
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and to to have maybe scholarship opportunities or whatnot. Right, So players come
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from different parts of the city or the province. To be honest, I
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have players that come from Gatino to play with us, right, but yeah,
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every team has. I would say our Triple A program is seventy percent
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in around sixty five, our semi pro program, our reserve team is like
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ninety percents in arow and our first team is like maybe six to seven players
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that are born and raised with our club Soul. It's it seems slow,
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but it's it's pretty cool at that level. It's a pretty high number.
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Yeah. Absolutely, And you know with all this development that going on and
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obviously getting back to the grassroots is really where especially hearing Quebec, to grow
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this game, I think is very very important to have these structures at the
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grassroot level. You know, concrete you know, solid and really working in
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and listened. I listened to you last week on UH on our good friend
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Steve Oo's MEWE weekly podcast, The Local Soccer Show. I listened to that
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episode and I took from that that, you know, you really take you
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know, this UH, this adventure and this journey with the csl RN UH
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professionally. It's really run professionally, and I think it's it's it's built,
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you know, having those building box to to hopefully get these players UH to
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the next level? Is that a goal for saying? Mourn? What's the
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what's the end goal for not only for you personally, Rocco, but for
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for the club itself and with the players at hand that are that are producing.
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You guys are producing you know, not only you guys, but just
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here in Quebec producing one of great talent. What's the end goal for you?
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As for for us the club itself, is just to keep on developing
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the youth. And besides, you know, players getting pro contracts or playing
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semipro or getting university scholarships. It's for kids to love this beautiful sport,
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so the law younger, we could keep them playing, whether it's high level,
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low level doesn't matter. You know what, one thing I've learned in
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the last twelve years, and I'm inspired by it, to be honest,
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because I lived in myself when I was a kid, is that you build
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memories with You build memories with parents, with coaches, with players, different
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cultures, different religions. It's it's insane. Are not special. But we
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talk about sir, but Quebec is the same. I think that Quebec has
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so much talent and it's just, you know, we don't talk about it
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enough. It's not enough. It's not enough, and I just want people
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to understand that. You know, Wednesday night we're playing this big game and
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it's not Cile wrong, it's Quebec like honestly, it's it's to show people
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that even if you're not professional, don't give up. Man, keep on,
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keep on working hard, and things happen. For sure. Speaking about
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you know, developing these young players, I think you know, probably the
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most known name internationally coming out of Sin Laura is mal Cone. He's like
11:03
playing in sand before transferring to the Impact. Now he's at Watford. For
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you personally, you know, what was that like seeing him make that progression,
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make that progression also playing the World Cup. Like, uh, you
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know, and not only him, I was still so young too. Yeah,
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and he was still young. I know. There's a Moyes Bombito who
11:22
also played for Saint lad He's playing for Colorado. Now, Like, what's
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that like for you personally and even as the organization as a whole. To
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see these guys that play at such a high level. I'll start to Moise
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because I'll give him respect. He's a bit older than so I'll start with
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him. Moise is a fantastic kid. Honestly, I never saw a kid
11:41
that worked so hard in his life, and he was part of a generation
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that was super duper strong. When I tell you that he was not even
11:48
close to be one of the best players on that team, I'm being very
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honest, and he would admit that with pleasure. But what he had was
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that he didn't give it. He used to give his all every single practice,
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whether he would play a game of twenty minutes or ninety minutes, he
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would give his one hundred percent. And that's why. So his story is
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crazy. Because Bombito left Cinema. He played a year or two in Saint
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ser Bi Semi Pro and in twenty twenty two, he was supposed to like
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sign with US semi pro. Right, so homeboy coming back to semi pro.
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But in the meantime he was at a community college. Then he moved
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into a University of New Hampshire, had a killer season as a center backs
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for a couple of goals, went into the MLS draft and was picked turt
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overall out of the whole draft and went to Colorado and he's killing it.
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So I wouldn't be surprised if this summer he's gone somewhere else. And then,
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my boy, he's myl So isma comes from NDG. All right,
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I'm gonna throw a lot of flowers to ENDYG because they had him since he
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was I believe nine years old. He came to US at fifteen, in
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the fifteen and a half years old. The reason why he moved to our
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club is because r he programmed two thousand and two was very strong. So
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he wont to have a chance to go to Nationals. And we're talking about
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a kid that's been cut by the impact three times and he never gave up.
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And even him, he's he's a sweet kid. He has an amazing
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mother. It's him and his mom and he always said it, I'm gonna
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be I'm gonna be a pro and I'm gonna be a pro day and he
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did everything in the span of nine months. He became. He went from
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Montreal and my dear friend of mine that passed away, Jason Mitulio, had
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him with the reserve team of the Sea at Montreal during COVID and after two
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three weeks he causes a croc. I'm sending him to Wilfred on the first
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team. And at that time they were in a bubble in Florida for three
13:46
months, so he didn't have a contract, but he was training the first
13:48
team. He got his first contract and of July didn't play and then and
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then he started the season in April with the septh Montreal killed it went the
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World Cup. I went to the World Cup. I went and watch him
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play, and he's just killing it. The kids. He's Watchford. He's
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just he said, you know what it is. He's so poised as a
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professional, as a human being actually, and he's just doing what he loves.
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He loves it like he just plays it. Like I said, he's
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in a park with Princeton Soccer. Youet this playing in the Championship League,
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which is one of the hardest leagues in the world, and he loves it.
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He loves it and he's enjoying it. So it's just a start for
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these guys. Now, Rocco, I know you don't have much time left,
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but over okay, okay, beautiful, beautiful, thank you for that.
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So I wanted to get some of your thoughts on the previous game versus
14:41
Halifax, versus CS and uh, the upcoming game versus Toronto, and for
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people who might be interested in catching that game, how can, like especially
14:50
for locals here in Montreal, how can they get tickets to that or how
14:52
can they how can they participate in all that action? Yeah, so right
14:56
now, what we do encourage is for you to come to the stam because
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at the en we're playing in Toronto FC, like it's it's not their B
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team, it's it's it's me. Like people are saying we're playing the reserve
15:07
team, like no, no, no, we're playing against is a bit
15:11
mixed. But they can get tickets on our website. There's a link,
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it's a Zeffie link. It's on all our social media's my social media.
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It's on a semi process and around social media. It's on. Uh actually
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even clubs like RDP. I want to shout out to Steve Polo that he
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honestly and I really I would I would have done the same like he p
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reposted our club playing playing this game by tickets, go support, and that's
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what the club should do. They should We should all be in this together.
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It's not about about just c Rob, it's about soccer and Quebec.
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So they combined their tickets at Royard, they combined them online. It's it's
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on in an app called Zephi and twenty bucks general mission, first Come,
15:54
first serve. We already sold over three hundred, three thousand, five hundred
15:56
tickets, which is yeah, we're we're thinking that we're gonna hit five six
16:00
thousand people. So I was there today, guys, I was at the
16:03
stadium. Look, I haven't slept since since Halifax. Like I was gonna
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say, pound, I'm happy because I lost weight, So that's great.
16:11
And my family, my family forgot my name, don't know who I am
16:14
anymore because but it's all for a because like my kids gonna be well,
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my kids are gonna walk in you know the the you know, I asked
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my son, I go, but who do you wanna? Who you want
16:23
to walk in with? When you hold these hands with you know, player
16:26
does no me want to walk in with? Yan? It's one of one
16:27
of our players, right, so he doesn't care about he really wants so
16:32
beautiful. It's exciting moments. Man. Really is really Western rock, Western
16:36
rock. Our tickets are purchased, so we're part of that number. So
16:40
you will definitely see you on Wednesday, Wednesday night at quote Rudyard. But
16:45
just going back tracking a bit before, you know, kind of your expectations
16:48
and your your thoughts and feelings for this, uh this home and away uh
16:52
with with TFC. You guys did history right obviously being in helfax wonders,
16:59
Uh what was like? What was that all like? Just just I guess
17:03
just poured all of all the emotion because I could just imagine you how emotional
17:07
it was, you know, going all the way to penalties and uh you
17:11
know your your your team showing a lot of all the character and and if
17:17
I couldn't say at a grinta right uh for for for our good friend Jason
17:22
the tuio, but just all the emotions and and just want to just want
17:26
you to to kind of paint us a picture for all of that. Yeah,
17:30
so the half the halfbacks game, uh, when we went, when
17:36
we took the lead to one, we were the better team. And you
17:38
know, one soccer in the post the post game, they spoke about thirty
17:41
five minutes about that we were the better team and all that stuff. So
17:47
in when they tied up at the end of the game and those an outside
17:49
goal. But the tied up, we went to p ks and and you
17:55
know, we shot first. We scored, they scored, We scored,
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they scored, We scored. They were going to the fourth shooter, and
18:00
there was I was so there was five of my colleagues in a line next
18:06
to the bench, holding each other, and I was just pacing back and
18:08
forth by myself. At this I did maybe like ten thousand steps in that
18:11
five minutes. And before their fifth shooter went to shoot, no sorry,
18:18
before the fourth sholder went to shoot, I went up to my friend,
18:23
my MATEO medi Andrea. There was a couple of guys and I went,
18:29
I said, this is our moment. He's gonna miss. We turned around,
18:32
he misses, and our fifth shooter, Mama du Cane, scored a
18:37
winning goal, and you know a number he was wearing that game, number
18:41
seven, number seven. Yeah, so it was meant to be. So
18:47
when he scored, everybody sprinted to the corner and I was frozen. I
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couldn't move. I couldn't move, and that's not usually I go crazy.
18:57
Veins come out of my neck and for a minute I had to just I
19:02
could move. I was. I was frozen in So I think that Jason
19:06
was definitely there and throw with us. He always always finds a way to
19:08
prick swear to god, man missed him so much. But yeah, he
19:12
was definitely there. I felt him. I felt him. I really did.
19:17
That's beautiful. Yeah, you know, just I know, I know
19:22
it's obviously, uh you know, touchy subject, but you know, I'm
19:26
glad that we brought this in and I was going to bring it up at
19:30
the end, you know, in terms of the obviously his foundation, you
19:33
know, going going on, and I think there's there having if I'm not
19:37
mistaken, it's the first annual event, I think, if I'm not gonna
19:41
in October. In October, you want to just speak about that before we
19:45
continue on with with with the show. Since we are on the topic and
19:48
I'm getting a lot of obviously the Jason the two year vibes right now.
19:52
So and obviously I know you guys were very very close. I've seen it
19:56
from afar. Obviously I can't say I Jason Dutulro personally, but I know
20:02
people who did who did and just his story. Uh, you know,
20:07
it's even if you're not a cultural fan, even if you're not uh you
20:11
know, connected to this game, I think the story and and the message
20:14
and and you know the fight agreed is really something that you know, really
20:19
poured through to that message. So if you want to just give us some
20:22
information on the foundation, and yeah, Jason the person maybe yeah, So
20:27
I'll start with the foundation. I think Vanessa the sister has been doing a
20:30
phenomenal job on getting this this going. You know, they put this fund
20:37
reason together in October the first ever annual poker retirement and looking for a lot
20:41
of sponsors, uh to to to be a part of it for a good
20:45
cause, like all money goes to certain things of you know, always do
20:49
with kids and with research and all that stuff. So I really I tip
20:53
might had to Vanessa for for keeping his legacy alive. But you know,
21:00
his legacy is gonna live like him. I have Alita tattooed on my leg
21:03
like all my all my club, my club jerseys, they all have them.
21:07
Are seven at the bottom, Ladlina. It's on all their jerseys.
21:11
He's gonna be with us forever. Jason I had I had a you know,
21:15
like we said, he had a lot of friends, Jason, and
21:18
you know I had a. I had a particular relationship with him in terms
21:22
of, you know, whenever I needed him or whenever he needed me.
21:23
We're always there for each other. And uh, I you know, it's
21:29
it's kind of sad, you know, short, short life, and he
21:32
has so much to give. Oh my god, he he uh the real
21:36
definition of Ladlina man. Honestly that the kid was a machine and he was
21:40
such a he was an amazing soccer player for people to know about Jason.
21:44
And Jason was like one of the best writing backs in Canada, if not
21:45
the best. If he didn't have me problems. And then as a coach,
21:51
I think he had he had big plans. But now he's coaching with
21:55
with the Maradona and he's playing a bit of football with Deli and and you
22:00
gotta you gotta laugh about it. Right at the end of the day,
22:02
it's life's too short, and we lost we lost a good one man,
22:04
we lost the fighter. Honestly, you guys. When in his in his
22:08
last month, I would go see him a lot, and he didn't want
22:12
to like, he didn't give up. Man, he had so much energy
22:18
and willingness to to try and beat it. And the end of the day,
22:22
uh, you know you got the best of him because it was just
22:26
it was too difficult. But his legacy, his name, is going to
22:29
be with us for for lives and lives ahead of us. And and you
22:34
know, I give inspirational stories to a one of my my teams and say
22:37
run about him, and I'm surprised I'm not crying now because every time I
22:41
talk about Jason, it's it's it's very difficult. And but when I'm having
22:45
a ship day, I just think about Jason, and everyic knows was away
22:51
because at the end of day, life is we're so we're blessed to have
22:53
to be alive and to have loved ones. If you you know, if
22:56
you have a girlfriend, if you're married, if you have kids, it's
22:59
if you have a family. We're so blessed, and uh, sometimes we
23:03
really take advantage of life and we shouldn't because life is very short. And
23:07
uh, you know, Jason, for for me, but for a lot
23:11
of people, it's a harder to swallow. And we've got to keep his
23:15
lot, his name alive for the rest of the time because he's a fantastic
23:19
he's a fantastic kid. Love him, love him to death, absolutely,
23:23
And Rock I just want to say personally, we really do appreciate you,
23:26
you, you know, opening up about about Jason Deutulio. Obviously, like
23:32
you said, his name definitely needs to continue to be spread out, his
23:36
message, his his story, So we really do appreciate you kind of peeling
23:41
open the onion a bit and and really you know, sharing, sharing that
23:45
and and really talking on a real level because like you said, uh,
23:48
you know, life is definitely too short, so we definitely don't want to
23:52
take it for granted. So from us to you, honestly, we really
23:56
appreciate you opening up for that because it gets us the most. Know even
24:00
though you know, our ties to him wasn't like yours, but it really
24:06
takes a lot of courage and we really do appreciate your opening about that,
24:11
and uh, you know, definitely whatever donations maybe we can we can give
24:15
out, We're definitely more happy to uh to do that. So yeah,
24:21
honestly, so I think we'll move on. I think, Nick, I
24:25
think, or Johnny I think. Had another question first, I mean,
24:30
how much time? Because I know where you gotta go, although another texting
24:34
me, texting another, I can do another five minutes sounds beautiful. I
24:42
do want to ask you because youro's coming up in a month from now.
24:47
I know you were part of the tv A Ball crew last time. I
24:51
don't know if you're doing that again, Uh the analyst crew. Are you
24:55
going to be joining them this this time around? Uh h no, I
25:00
know, understandable, understandable. Gotta you gotta clip that. We gotta clip
25:07
that because people and know you are not going to realize what happened, right,
25:12
It will be on YouTube. Don't worry. Let's just have to have
25:15
my wife between friends for next couple weeks. But uh, you know,
25:22
obviously I want to ask you know your thoughts on the Euros and and you
25:26
know how you think the zudio will do. But first, uh, people
25:29
listening probably don't realize they've probably seen a video of you a couple of years
25:33
ago after Italy won the Euros. You celebrating and people thought you were Alexander
25:37
de del Piero, which which is funny because when I first saw the video,
25:41
you know, I couldn't say. I can't say I would have recognized
25:44
you from behind, but I kind of recognized that tas Ball like studio and
25:48
I was like, wait, that doesn't look like that. That looks too
25:51
familiar familiar. So what was your reaction to people think you're a d P
25:56
and and and also that that video you're celebrating a lot like you're feeling of
26:00
winning, of seeing Italy win the year. I think we should ask Astanders
26:03
Alpero what was his reaction? It was pretty cool. It was it was
26:10
a guy from Dubai, so he was Astander's. Alpero was working the the
26:15
ESPN studio and that day were dressed similar, so he really thought it was
26:22
the al Pareo with ESPN, so he posted it because it was I was
26:26
really crazy, became possessed and I have some I have some back backstage footage
26:33
guys that you would die, you would live and uh yes, but anyways,
26:37
they thought it was him and they and he got over ten million views
26:41
on TikTok. So I reached out to him and I said, buddy,
26:45
just lets you know, it's not the al Pareo, it's me from He's
26:48
like, oh my god, I just realized it. Oh my god.
26:49
Well look I got ten millions it So I'm like, where's my cut?
26:52
You know cut? So yeah, that was Look, honestly, we're just
26:57
going out of COVID that that summer, and like I remembers at the end
27:03
of the game, like, okay, you know we're all going to get
27:06
somewhere, you know, the whole crew for and my guys, I'm going
27:08
toward p and parade not coming. Yeah. So we left and I left,
27:12
and yeah, I know that year was magical. Man, that summer
27:15
was beautiful. From working only eight games that worked like sixteen games because literally,
27:19
so I maybe more money, so it's perfect. Any any any thoughts
27:25
for this summer? You know, the friendly Champions Rocko, what do you
27:29
do you make? You make up anything with with that going. I'm a
27:33
very uh, I'm a I'm a when it comes to like life and soccer,
27:37
I'm very honest, and uh, I don't likeinale I don't I think
27:41
that we're now we used to be. But it's a tournament and anything can
27:45
happen to tournament, just like for itally. It could be for speed,
27:48
it could be for Germany. You never know. I think France is super
27:52
duper strong. Uh, you know, on paper at least, but uh,
27:57
you know the zoodie and I look at the picture that hands in the
28:00
back end, like we don't have that anymore. Come on, that doesn't
28:06
exist anymore. But you never know, you never know. The ball is
28:10
round. I mean that's my thing. The ball is round, and and
28:12
there's three games to come out of the group and then we'll see what happens.
28:15
Man. We'll ticket from there, one game at a time, it
28:18
absolutely said, beautifully said, just one thing. Well, before we we
28:22
wrap this up, Rocco, Wednesday can't come soon enough. You said the
28:26
tickets are sold. I hope there's more tickets being sold. Uh, then
28:33
I'm going I guaranteed that there will be. But just as home and away
28:37
before we wrap this up. Excited, nervous, ready, like what's the
28:42
what's the vibe going away? Excited no matter what the result, excited,
28:48
I just want to see, uh, the soccer community come together and and
28:52
win this history, right, an amateur club playing against David against Goliath,
28:56
right, So for us it's uh, it's it's a historical, magical moment.
29:00
So we're gonna embrace it no matter what the result is. But like
29:04
I said in my last part podcast, they asked me, what what do
29:07
you think that the result is gonna be? As I said, We're gonna
29:10
tie Wednesday, and we're gonna go win, and we're gonna go win the
29:12
twenty first there anytime we get to cheer against Toronto, we'll take it way
29:26
he good night, all right, but thank you so much. Honestly from
29:33
the culture, guys, we really do appreciate your time. I know,
29:37
anytime, we really appreciate you. We'll hope to see you. Well,
29:41
we know we will see you on Wednesday. We hope to maybe uh you
29:45
know, get a few words in but before call my name and I'll definitely
29:51
turnround you guys for sure. Perfect, So we'll see you. We'll see
29:53
you Wednesday, Roc. Best of luck, not only this moment away,
29:59
but for for the for the future of appreciate you guys. Thank you very
30:03
much, man, thank you for that. Yeah, thanks so much.
30:06
This was amazing and Laurent Wednesday, thanks Rock Rock up, welcome back to
30:15
the couch of guys. That was. That was a great conversation with Roca
30:18
Plagentino. You know it would have been nice. We could have probably talked
30:22
you know, spoken to him for like an hour an hour and a half
30:26
because even before Asia you missed it. But uh, he's talking about in
30:29
his pro days in Italy, how yeah he had zed Man as a coach
30:33
and uh how everyone used to spoke then, you know, so uh you
30:37
probably probably could have spoken to him forever and uh but you know, show
30:41
goes on without him. Uh the couch guys like I said, Agiano,
30:45
Johnny and and Nicholas so uh Cityah but uh, you know, before we
30:49
get today, I just wanted to to, uh, you know again bring
30:55
up for anyone in Montreal c S Laurent does play against Toronto FC Wednesday night.
30:59
That sounds Clode rub Are. Uh you know I had to to you
31:02
know, Laurent social media if I out any ticket info, first come first
31:07
served, so you know, to get good seasons. Not a lot of
31:08
seats at that at that stadium of Janey. I know you've probably been there
31:12
multiple times when Montreal Impact used to play their prey s. That's a khudo.
31:17
Yeah, I've been there. You know. It's it's not the fancy
31:19
stadium, but it gets done. Yeah, Like it's it's a nice little
31:23
vibe. It's close like it it's it's a there's a track around the pitch,
31:26
so you're not super close. It's like, but it's it's where that
31:30
when we had the Summer Olympics, a lot of the swimming competitions happened and
31:34
yeah, or a lot of uh yeah, it was like a lot of
31:37
the gymnasts used to do their stuff either as a training center. Uh I.
31:41
But like what's really great about it? Funny enough. I remember one
31:45
time I believe Pele actually played Ako. I was a kid. I think
31:51
there was a I was like four years old, I have to I remember
31:53
the details were fuzzy. I was four or five years old. My dad
31:56
brought me and in the little stadium of like like five thousand and six thousand
32:00
people was crammed. Where it was crammed that even added benches on the sidelines
32:06
just to have people more seating arrangements. But Probaly came to play an exhibition
32:09
game or something on. I gotta I gotta take a look at it.
32:13
Uh but but yeah, like I was, I was there, and I
32:17
was like interesting, you know, like I don't know, it was just
32:21
it was just kind of cool. Yeah, here we go Petterium Matchum oh
32:24
yeah yeah. It wasn't like a meet up dream or something. No,
32:30
it's real. It's real. Yeah, I got it. But yeah,
32:34
like anyways, I gotta find it. I gotta find it. Was it
32:37
was something really cool. It was something really cool. So's it's nice to
32:39
see that. Like now, like you know, guys like Lorenzo and Seni
32:44
are gonna play at that stadium, Like, yeah, it'll be funny,
32:50
kind of funny. I dive laughter. But if you've spoken to us like
32:57
years ago, there was no chance in hell it would ever thought that that
32:59
would ever be a possibility. But hey, guys like next Teck, get
33:02
your tickets. If you're here in Montreal, come and support. I could
33:07
just imagine how the fear are going to be. So we're looking forward to
33:09
it. We hope to maybe see some people there and yeah come in sport.
33:14
Yeah, and and you know, just for for clarity for people who
33:16
you know aren't aren't in Quebec aren't in Canada basically pro levels. There's MLS
33:22
and then below that there's Canadian Canadian Premier League, which is you know,
33:24
pretty much the second division. Obviously there's no promotion relegation, and below that
33:29
there's a semi pro league. Well it's a league in Quebec, and so
33:35
that's where CS Leron plays. They beat CPL team Halifax Wanderers and you know,
33:42
even the CPL it's it's five years old. Look, league in Quebec,
33:46
it's, like Rocco said, started twenty twelve. So you know,
33:49
professional soccer is growing in Canada. There's no CPL team yet here in Quebec.
33:53
Maybe maybe CSI, I think exactly it's a matter of time. Maybe
34:00
we can have it right here in Saint Laurent. So you know, to
34:02
put this in into perspective, this is like a city at Chi City,
34:07
a d team even playing against you know, a city team. So obviously,
34:13
you know, for people here in Montreal to be able to see an
34:15
MLS team, obviously we get the opportunity right with the with the impact,
34:20
but to see it for so cheap, for twenty dollars on Wednesday night,
34:23
like you know, it's a great opportunity. But yeah, city a lot
34:30
of draws this weekend in Citi, including between our two teams Johenny Roman Juventus.
34:35
So it's what like back to back weeks, there's a there's a culture
34:37
Guy's Derby two weeks ago was've Milan. This week's Rome. I don't know
34:43
if you had a chance to watch a game, Johny, No, Fortunately
34:45
I didn't have a chance. I had my cousin's baptism this Sunday, so
34:50
basically the whole day was spent with family and h and like going to the
34:54
church and then after eating altogether at a restaurant, so shut out s it
35:00
was that, yeah, we did it at Casta Luca. You know,
35:06
his his son Luigi is the star. I was. I was like,
35:10
we's squal you know, because uh yeah, he has Sundays off, so
35:15
sadly he wasn't. There. Also, no fantastic, fantastic service. Just
35:22
I get Castay like I think it's the best pizzeria in Montreal or not,
35:27
Like it's the most most authentic. Yes, actual, actually I have an
35:30
apol from Pizza Iolo Fromnopoly come in and actually established a restaurant there. Enjoy
35:37
while you can. I mean, like just having discussions with the guy.
35:42
You know, he's he's thinking about maybe one day going back home. He's
35:45
thinking about it. He's not it's not a guarantee. I'm not saying anything
35:49
about he was. We had it. We had a discussion, and I
35:52
think you know, he's he's starting to like, you know, he's up
35:54
with this weather. He's got up. But yeah, so if you're a
35:59
Montrealer, go and Drake cass stay while you can. I don't think it's
36:01
going like I'm not saying this anytime soon. They got now right, Yeah,
36:07
So like so like for him, it's more like, yeah, it's
36:08
for him, it's like, well maybe it's not. It's not something that's
36:13
like written, it's it's not not a pent to paper yet, you know.
36:15
So, But yeah, fantastic food. It's just you guys. Go
36:19
if you can always talk, always talk. But yeah, sidetracked, Yeah,
36:25
I mean your your cousin wouldn't have guys, yeahs always always talking to
36:30
take over the show. Guys, it's incredible. But Jan your cousin.
36:35
When I have known that you miss you missed the baptism to watch a game,
36:37
come on, they're yeah come on, but my would my zeal would
36:45
and be like, yeah, the chance and Luca would have played that at
36:50
the restaurant. So no, So I don't blame I don't I don't blame
36:53
that. And I mean, you didn't miss much. I I didn't get
36:59
to a chance to see the whole game either, Like we didn't miss much,
37:01
you know, one to one, Lucaku Bramer scored. You know,
37:06
it was a complete mid off, completely what you were expecting. If you
37:07
had asked me to score before the game, I would have said probably like
37:09
a one to one or even two to one. Max. I think for
37:14
you, it's what two wins fourteen games. You know, at this point,
37:16
it's pretty much expected like whatever, or we're we're suddening across the finish
37:22
line. We all know what's happening. We all know what's what's gonna come
37:27
in the offseason. But as I've said time and time again, like you
37:30
know, if fans think changing one coach is going to magically solve this,
37:34
it's not like the you know, the the minutes I did get to see
37:38
in the game, Like there's so many misplaced passes, there's so many mischances
37:42
at time and Tom again, and this is the story of every week.
37:45
You know, you could have Ancelotti out there and you're still You're still gonna
37:50
have the same issues. So you know, at this point whatever, just
37:52
going and win the kope Italia. And the fact that you know, Bologna
37:58
keeps drawing too. They've had four draws in their past five games as well,
38:01
just like Juve. And the fact that Bologna is below them, still
38:05
two points out and not picking up points. It makes me feel better for
38:07
sure. But Atalanta's right there the six points out with the game in hand
38:10
and it's three wins in a row. Now, Atlanta they won today against
38:15
Ilaritana. Some Scamaka scored again. But you know the fact that Italy has
38:21
that fifth spot, like if anything, you know, Roma really needed this,
38:25
uh to you know, get into that top five for Champions League.
38:30
Now they are tied in points with Atlanta, but Atlanta does have the game
38:34
in hand, so it feels like, you know, I saw one tweet
38:36
from a Roma fan fit from whom but it feels like they said, it
38:39
feels like Roma dropped two points, which it's probably fair. You know,
38:45
again, I didn't get to see I didn't get to watch all of it,
38:46
but it seemed what I saw, it seemed, you know, a
38:51
couple of chances missed for Roma, a couple of chances missed for Juve.
38:53
But yeah, if if Roma wants to qualify, wanted to qualified top five,
38:59
this would have been a game to to pick up three points. I
39:00
don't know if what you think about that, Jenny, Well, I mean,
39:04
that's that's that's totally fair to say, just looking at like, like
39:07
I said, just looking at highlights and looking looking at like just the way
39:12
it was played. First of all, the fourth three two one is rather
39:14
interesting. Something I haven't seen that Ossie try out yet. I can't recall
39:19
what if he did try it out earlier this season, but ever since he
39:22
took earlier this season, ever since he took over. But it, I
39:27
mean, Ccku got a goal ten minutes fifty minutes in, like it was
39:30
like, oh, something's working. I wanted to troll so bad that Lucaku
39:34
scored because I got the notification on my phone and I wanted to write something
39:37
on Twitter just to just to mess with people, but especially how buch shit
39:39
times people gave ship to to Ucacu. But obviously you know that was short
39:45
lived because not even like fifteen minutes later Bremner tied the game. So and
39:52
after that it just seemed to like it just seemed to be just a rather
39:54
like a fifty to fifty type of game. It didn't seem like as if
39:59
either team woul more dominant than the other. From what I from what I
40:01
saw and from what I've read, you know, so I think it was
40:05
a pretty well like even game. It's like Ruba's finding their legs and slowly
40:09
getting back some confidence, whereas Juvent this is holy slipping away there, there's
40:14
their frustrations are starting to kick in. I also read up some interesting things
40:16
about Kiaza. What happened with that? Did he get injured or something or
40:22
was it like I know him subbed off. I figure with ten minutes he
40:25
was playing well, honestly, and he's been playing well. It's just that
40:29
creat chances. Sorry, he got the assist, right, yeah, yeah,
40:34
he got the assist. But it feels like sometimes he pitched chances and
40:37
then he passes into a tree, you know, Like I'm not saying he's
40:40
making bad passes. I'm just saying the players he plays with there are trees,
40:45
you know, as Jenny always says about Kamaka, he's a fridge with
40:50
you. We have trees, so there's only so much you can do.
40:53
He's you know, I've talked about this before, even kids. He's not
40:57
at the level in which he's gonna do everything on his own career and score.
41:01
He's going to create, or he's gonna finish, but you know,
41:05
he can't really do both. And when he passes off and you don't have
41:08
that finisher, there's only so much you can do. There's only so much
41:13
you can criticize. I guess also, but again I think you know,
41:16
we we've we've kind of driven home these points pretty pretty clearly. I thought,
41:21
I thought these weeks on the show. One thing I would say for
41:22
Roma, I mean, obviously the them still being in Europa. I don't
41:28
know if it played a factor, but you know, losing Tonail Tobiol lever
41:32
CU's in, I mean obviously wanting to do well in that competition as well,
41:37
and and coming back into City I, whereas you know, Jove doesn't
41:42
really have anything going on in midweeks. So I agree on the point that
41:46
you may make in terms of Roma dropping those two points or whoever. I
41:52
said it on Twitter and again forgive us for not remember who it was.
41:55
But you know, at the same time, it's like you have a just
42:01
like Melan, I'll say, is kind of just going through the motions.
42:06
Every week. It seems to be that we're we go into the match day
42:09
five points difference, we come out of the match day five point different It's
42:14
been like what two or three weeks now that second place, second place,
42:16
third place hasn't really changed. So it's disappointing, I think. But at
42:22
the same time, it's like, but we said last week or the week
42:25
before or maybe both weeks, a lot of these teams that are not really
42:30
fighting for much kind of just want the season to end and and uh you
42:32
know, get ready for the summer and start fresh from then exactly and agri
42:39
even for for your melon three three against uh Genua. Uh you know,
42:45
last minute own goal by by uh so I don't you know pronounce his name
42:52
probably whatever whenever I see like a Trino game or whatever. And then and
43:02
then gets the ball in the commentary is like one drawn not and like one
43:06
drawn not but up the head down head always some respect. Uh, but
43:21
you know, this is a weird game. You know, General scored first,
43:24
Nelon Ted General scored after Melon went up three two, and then you
43:29
know three three. This is a home game. This is another team that,
43:31
like you've it feels like the inevitable, inevitable is coming with Poli out,
43:38
Uh, you're just stumbling into the finish line. I mean, what
43:40
did you think of the game? Adery disappointing, Like I've said, you
43:45
know, for these past couple of weeks, and you know, we sullenly
43:46
broken records I feel like until the end of the season for for most of
43:51
these teams. But it's kind of just what the reality is. We kind
43:53
of have to call it, call it, you know, call it for
43:55
what it is. So disappointing, like I said, some some missing players,
44:02
but again, uh, you know, not just not good enough.
44:07
You know, credit to Genua far Hard. I know, they're again them
44:10
to the not really I don't know if they're really fighting for anything per se
44:15
in terms of uh, you know, they're not in the relegation battle.
44:17
They're kind of that mid middle of the pack, so they really have much
44:21
to play for it. But hey, you know what they came into san
44:22
Ziero didn't feel like it was sero because obviously the the big news around the
44:29
courva not not cheering and not having the t foll not know, no no
44:32
banners, no fights. Well sorry, they had banners sending a mess sending
44:37
a message. But you know, the famous shot over the weekend is is
44:43
that is that touch line shot of POI and then in the background you see
44:46
the curva pretty much empty and then the the the banner of of it was
44:54
a little motive. I think it was h so listen, not a good
45:00
look. Had a bit of character obviously to to come back into the game,
45:05
which was nice to see, even though I didn't know if it was
45:08
going to happen, but new and should have taken the three points. I
45:12
think, Uh, it's a it's a shop to general, like I said,
45:16
Uh, Retegi's scoring Uh to open the game off the penalty queer penalty
45:21
tomorrow another boneheaded mistake. He's had plenty of them this season unfortunately. So
45:27
you know, we're just leaking all kinds of goals. We've been leaking all
45:29
kinds of goals. Uh. You know, granted Sportello only so much he
45:34
can do, I think in this game. So yeah, you know,
45:37
from not being critical or not not even not sorry being critical, but not
45:43
being you know, technically sound, you know, defensively. Uh. You
45:47
know, he always throwing on some extra defenders at the end, and somehow
45:51
that comes to backfire and and and bite us in the ass. So again
45:54
one of these things. It's like you know, when it when it rains,
45:58
it pours. Uh. So, yeah, disappointing. You know,
46:04
Leal's attitude when he got supped off, obviously it was another talking point and
46:07
going straight to the locker room obviously something you don't want to see. I'm
46:12
not gonna go to I'm not gonna dive too much into that. I mean,
46:15
it is where it is. I think he has the right to be
46:19
frustrated, but at the same time as fans have every right to be frustrated
46:22
as well, you know, paying him a lot of money. Uh,
46:24
he's our star. And when you're not performing, even at this business end
46:28
of the season, even though there's not anything to play for. For me,
46:30
the biggest thing is pride. I don't think there's any bit any pride
46:35
that's really been shown to try to end the season. Like we said with
46:37
Va, like you know, we said it would not put you in the
46:39
past and and you know the Meal one as well. So it's uh,
46:46
it's a shame. But again we go on and hopefully we can at one
46:52
point in the next to what three or four games, kind of officially secure
46:55
second place and and uh, you know, call it a season and wait
46:59
till the summer. I mean again, nothing's concrete for for now. POI
47:04
out is probably the only thing that's close to that. But again, the
47:08
every day it's a new rumor for for a different coach. You know,
47:12
we're having we're talking about lot Pateaggy well last week, two weeks ago.
47:15
Now it's comes to in sau Mota. Now is is a name that it
47:20
looks like it's closer, you know, bad the days go by, but
47:23
who knows. So what we've been saying, and like I think we all
47:29
kind of want is let's finished this season on a positive note and and go
47:34
on from there, start starting fresh in the summer. Uh. Looking at
47:38
some other results, as I mentioned, a lot of draws. I think
47:43
it was seven draws if I'm not missaying seven seven draws in total, which
47:50
is which is crazy. You know, empl frozen zero zero, you dons
47:53
napolely today shot you know, I'm gone shocked to this one one one,
47:57
but you know the way uh Napolis has been going, not so shocked.
48:00
And it was a goal right at the end to Tide by success, which
48:04
I I guess you could say he had a successful game. Uh. Guy
48:12
laughed at his own joke. Guy left at his own drunk, his bull
48:15
dad mode, better check if your girlfriend's pregnant. Then he slapped his Me
48:22
too, he slapped his knee. Uh lean back on my chair. Uh
48:32
called he lets you win one Manzolazo to to Bologna again. Like I said
48:39
before, Bologna has been drying a lot, but one result that shocked me,
48:45
but not so shocked me. Uhl Winter, which we know Solo has
48:49
an ISSU has a history with melon teams. I'm pretty sure we even brought
48:52
it up last week, you know, looking at their head to head this
48:54
year. So Solo beat Inter twice. They're the only team to to beat
49:00
Inter twice, which is which is insane because uh Inter has they're the yo
49:07
losses and it's only to them. Yeah. Period, I thought I thought
49:09
there was another team that beat them. I thought Inter had three losses.
49:13
No, that's that's insane. That's insane, especially because even Silo their nineteenth
49:19
place, they're they're they're battling relegation. That's crazy, man. Can they
49:22
beat the best team in the league that no one else could beat? And
49:29
you know, even looking at you know, UH in the past, like
49:31
the past couple of years, Inters Inters one, but I think it was
49:37
pre pandemic, Solo would beat you know, they tie them back in twenty
49:39
twenty and twenty nineteen, they beat them in August twenty eighteen, you know,
49:45
so they definitely have a history against this team. But yeah, like
49:52
you know, like I think what sucks for so Solo is the teams above
49:57
them also tied this weekend. Like I said, you Denay's a empolice.
50:00
So you know, now with UH with three games left, right, yeah,
50:06
yeah, three games left, three games left, like you know,
50:08
they're they have to they have to pass Udinese and either Empley or Frozen Frozen
50:14
known it's even saying City, but yeah, it feels like, you know,
50:21
a lots to be decided in that relegation. But you know, looking
50:23
at City by Parma's back up, which I'm excited about because they're a team
50:28
full of history. I know, you guys always liked when Parma was up
50:30
and they were they came up, what was it twenty eighteen, I believe,
50:36
and they were there. They were in for two or three seasons,
50:38
and there was one season where they were almost battling for European spot, like
50:43
you know, so I'm happy for them to be back. I don't know
50:46
if you guys have any thoughts of this relegation battle or even Parma coming back
50:51
up. Well, Parma coming back up, like you said, is always
50:54
is always uh, it's always a I guess a plus if you want to
50:59
call it that. I mean, like you said, the history, the
51:00
kids, the legends that have come through there, you know, back in
51:05
the days, So you know, it's it's exciting. Obviously American ownership,
51:08
so it's it's another one, you know, in that realm of North American
51:15
influence. So I guess for us, you know, it kind of doesn't
51:17
really touch home in terms of, you know, the guys from here,
51:20
but you know, just having more North American influences is always nice to see,
51:25
you know, in terms of as slow I think, you know,
51:28
the game I ain't see to this weekend, there's no I think. Good
51:31
for them obviously in terms of them, you know, trying to get out
51:35
of that relegation zone. But you know, inter it's the season's over,
51:39
it's all wrapped up. They have the you know, not really much to
51:44
really say in this season anymore. They've said it all. So maybe an
51:49
expected not expected result, But at the same time, you know, the
51:52
first the first result was a lot more impressive earlier on in the season by
51:57
a team beating beating the intern earlier on in the season like that for me
52:01
was was a shock. It was a bit more impressive. But again,
52:07
you know, you go into every game, you know, like Rocco said,
52:08
the balls round uh and anything as possible, So you know, it
52:15
is what it is. I still have a crazy odd feeling that I'm gonna
52:17
go off the limb and say, and is going to go down with sel
52:22
Anitana. I hope not, but I feel for whatever reason in the back
52:28
of my back of my head, it's gonna be those two teams. I
52:31
feel like maybe kind of got there a bit too late to try to save
52:36
this aside getting you know, getting a point today against his beloved and Upolia
52:43
is huge in what his only second or third game in charge. So by
52:50
the same time. I don't know if there's enough time for for him to
52:52
pull uh the kton coach back in back in what twenty twenty sixteen, twenty
53:00
seventeen. Oh my god, the name is escaping me, Nicole. Yeah,
53:07
yeah, and he biked, he biked like Torino After afterwards, I
53:12
think I think I forget. Yeah. Yeah, I don't know if kind
53:16
of is gonna be able to pull off win in Nicola, but I guess
53:22
only time. We'll tell him this last three weeks of the season, so
53:25
I'm not sure. Going back down to the city com talking point, I
53:30
don't know. Uh So Parma, Parma is official? What's who's who's what's
53:37
the table look like? Nick? Or I I got right here? So
53:39
Parma's official. Right now, Colo venets are playing to see who gets that
53:44
last official spot for first verst and the second. But it's basically the top
53:50
eight is more or less locked up for the players. Yeah. The other
53:52
playoff Yeah, Brescia, Sania, Palmo and Catanzado have to play the quarter
53:57
final and Demons secure the semi final spot so they could they secured the first
54:02
buy Vanetsimo playing between who gets the guaranteed second spot up to Saria versus who's
54:08
gonna get the guaranteed buy in the playoffs. So it'd be pretty interesting because
54:13
there's a chance that we see one of three former Citiac like big Citiac quote
54:17
unquote big in terms of Brescia, Sandoria and Paladimo back into CITYA a team
54:22
that had like not only like Parma had a lot of history in Seria and
54:25
the nineties, but you know, like Brescia, Sandoria and Paladimo like platimal
54:30
more towards the late nineties, early two thousands up until twenty tens, but
54:34
like you know, like Sandori and Brescia, you know, like like in
54:37
the early nineties were very very massive clubs for it in terms of international results
54:42
and play and stuff with I think s and Scudetto. I think was ninety
54:45
one that they wanted to Scudetto ninety one. Two, it was early nineties.
54:50
Nine, it was early nineties. It was early nineties for sure.
54:55
So either way, you know, like it's it's one of three, can
55:00
like one of those three anyone? Yeah? Yeah, So that's what I'm
55:04
saying, Like you got one of those, you could potentially get one of
55:07
those three back WHI would be interesting, so you know, and then you
55:10
have the loent. This is the second club body fighting relegation. But speaking
55:15
of City s C, you know, shout out to camp for for qualifying
55:21
into City s C. Very very very very big thing, especially but I
55:28
know Adrias, so it's it's it's it's always nice to see that. Uh
55:31
A shout out to our friend Patrick Chauvin. You know, part of the
55:35
ownership group there really took over Campo bas from like a small grassroots I want
55:39
to say grassroots, but you know what I mean, like, uh,
55:42
you know, like a dream team type of thing. They went from Metro
55:46
right, yeah, with and and and and and they're getting closer and closer.
55:51
So very nice to see Patrick. Was like when I was in Italy
55:53
the last year, Patrick was very kind to offer a chance for me to
55:58
go watch a game, and so if I made the drive out there or
56:00
made the visit, He's like, let me know, if you go,
56:04
I'll get you tickets and stuff you can watch a game. And I'm like,
56:06
Patrick, I would love to, but I don't. I don't have
56:07
a rental car. Unfortunately I can't drive manual. Yeah, but uh,
56:12
because because it was about maybe now our drive away from my norm those towns.
56:15
So yeah, either way, very very happy for them, especially for
56:20
for Patrick a friend of the show, So yeah, absolutely shut out.
56:23
I'm glad you brought that up. Obviously, it hits home for me a
56:27
lot. Uh you know, my my coumble bust with Jerseys upstairs. But
56:30
uh, you know, yeah, just incredible for Mitchells to uh to to
56:35
Schia. It's it's it's huge for for a team like Camos so yeah,
56:39
Patrick, Chauvin, uh, you know everybody else involved, Mark and Wolfs,
56:47
everybody that's involved, right, so definitely a shout out, uh,
56:52
their strikers. It has my last name as well, Dinardos. So uh,
56:57
it's it's huge, Antonio, if you're listening to this, which I
57:00
know you're not, but I'm glad to see that there's Anato leading the line
57:04
form Baso so with the number nine as well, so my favorite number.
57:07
So uh, it's amazing. I'm hoping I'm hoping for big, bigger and
57:12
better things for Combo Basso and we're hoping to uh to have another special episode
57:17
hopefully in near future. Uh maybe once those guys get back to the States,
57:22
maybe we can have a podcast. Uh, you know, centered around
57:24
that, so uh always appreciate the love that they give and we we will
57:30
to reciprocate that having them on the show soon. You know, you got
57:37
you got camp. You know, my my hometown now Wednesday against and we
57:44
hope and we hope one day goes up to set one day. You never
57:51
know, you never know, a little American, a little bit of an
57:52
American money and influence maybe, uh, you know, before we wrap it
57:59
up, wrap it up, guys, I want to talk Europa League semifinals.
58:02
Uh not the best results for the Italian teams, at least in the
58:07
in the Europa League Roma Romola was it to nothing? They lost against lever
58:13
Cuson at home. On top of it, I mean, Levick Cuson is
58:15
a really really good team, still undefeated after what forty six, forty seven
58:20
games whatever it is. On the other hand, Atalanta did did Ty Marsell
58:24
one one in Marseilles, so that's a lot better for them. Any thoughts
58:30
on Roma. You know what was it for the conference one? Uh three
58:38
two three two against Bruges. It's it's not a not a surprise by the
58:45
loss. I just wish they could have kept like the two zero just hurts
58:47
a bit because that's such a big, big gap to make up for it,
58:52
especially against for the hottest teams in Europe right now, Lever Custon.
58:55
So uh, I I still believe AMA can do it. I I am
59:00
not saying this is an insurmountable it's the away rules. Yeah, I know,
59:06
it's just very tough. It's a very tough match. So plus they're
59:10
very confident right now, and I like, like I said, if you're
59:14
gonna, like, if you want to win that championship, why not go
59:16
through the best team, you know, make that effort, make that push,
59:19
and I think it gets I still can't. I still still believe in
59:22
it. I won't hate them if they lose. I'll be like, you
59:22
know what, hey, semi finals is still very good, especially considering the
59:27
fact of who they're playing against. But yeah, but no, I mean
59:30
it's feasible, but tough. It's a tough loss to take one zero could
59:36
have been like you have a you know, you have very minimal breathing room
59:39
minute to zero deficit. You're gonna have to make up and now you have
59:43
to go. Now you have to go to everkuz In and play as well.
59:46
So I agree with you, Johnny, but you know, like like
59:50
we said, if it was the last episode of the webisode before, I
59:52
mean, this rate, this team has nothing to lose quote unquote per se.
59:57
You know, so I still think they got to give it. They're
59:59
all I'm expecting them to do that, you know, did I'll see,
1:00:04
we said it, uh time and time again. Has this team playing uh
1:00:09
you know, inspirational football for for for Rome. So now there's a chance
1:00:15
for them to to really lay it out, lay it all out on the
1:00:17
line, and really go for it, maybe hopefully being that team to break
1:00:22
that unbeaten streak for bioliticals. And so we'll see. We're hopeful for for
1:00:27
Roma here on the culture guys. But uh, the Atlanta mar One just
1:00:31
to bounce off to that I think is again not not the ideal result obviously.
1:00:39
You you basically go into the second leg all to play for as well,
1:00:43
So not really much has changed from from the first match to the next
1:00:47
one. Remind me of, guys, I don't know if they did that
1:00:51
on the play at home or they away for that match. Uh the next
1:00:54
next games at home, the next games at home, So there you go,
1:00:59
why not aage the job at home at the Jewish stadium and in front
1:01:05
of your home crowd and and make it another hopefully a special European night.
1:01:09
Uh. You know, for Atalanta, I think they can do it.
1:01:15
This this Marseille team doesn't, doesn't really scare me per se Again, I
1:01:19
don't. I don't WATCHGA weekend week out, but we see this Atlanta team,
1:01:24
especially on this run of form that they're on. I think they can
1:01:27
keep it going, hopefully at least so you know, their main man's coma
1:01:30
is on form. Everybody's player that they love to hate currently, So again
1:01:37
I'm excited for that to see if they can if they can do it.
1:01:43
Yeah, and you know what, they're the top players are playing, you
1:01:45
know, are playing at a high level obviously. Coop Miners twelve goals and
1:01:51
staid yeah after the goal today, I think tyme i'd seen it. It
1:01:54
was Op the opt the football on on Twitter that posted it. I think
1:02:01
it was Coop Miners is the first player to first Dutch player to reach twelve
1:02:08
goals in city since Uh since who it I think it was. I'm gonna
1:02:14
have to go double check that. But again, when your when your name
1:02:16
is is in UH is in the realms of players like that. It's it's
1:02:22
incredible. So I hope, I'm hopeful. I think we're all hopeful for
1:02:24
Atalanta to make it past. We still have a chance for the All Italian
1:02:29
final, so let's hopefully make that happen. And for Fidentina again in the
1:02:36
in the conference in the Conference League, another another terminal where I think they
1:02:39
can they can continue on and hopefully progress. Bruges is not an easy comp.
1:02:44
It's not an easy team like they like we saw in the first leg,
1:02:46
but you know, Atlanta has has their players, you know, playing,
1:02:52
so we're excited for that as well, and hopefully they can finish the
1:02:54
job and UH and advanced UH into the kind of conference final. UH shout
1:03:02
out to our friend Theater on Twitter because he's a Bruche fan and they played
1:03:08
UH Fiorentina UH three two for Fiorentina, so you know, a lot I
1:03:14
left to play for in the second League, but it would be cool to
1:03:16
see Fiorentina back in a conference in the Conference League final. They didn't get
1:03:22
the job done last year, so I'm sure they're hungry UH for it to
1:03:25
get to get back there. Guys, I think that'll do it for us,
1:03:30
I know, unless you want to talk some some champions I don't know
1:03:34
if you guys had a chance to see, but I watched Champions League games
1:03:37
last week, and you know it's fun to watch as a neutral because you
1:03:42
know, obviously no stress and then also just seeing these teams. You know,
1:03:45
obviously we don't get to see UH play in Italy. Uh. It's
1:03:50
just the level of place there is so much higher than what we see week
1:03:53
to week. You know, Dorman beat PSG, want nothink PSG had so
1:03:57
many chances, a couple of posts, and then you know Byron Real Madrid
1:04:00
to too, so again all left and play for there's you know, there's
1:04:03
a chance we have an all German final. I don't know. I don't
1:04:06
know if you guys had UH chance to see these games? Have any thoughts
1:04:10
on this? The uh, the real Byron game. I caught a bit
1:04:15
of it, the dormant p G when I I can't say I did.
1:04:17
I saw obviously the result, like you said, UH, the one nothing
1:04:20
but which is huge for for for for Dortmund. You know, these these
1:04:27
these were teams in Mel's group group of death. UH at the group stage
1:04:31
level, so they're they're facing against each other again at this stage of the
1:04:35
competition, which is which is crazy. So you know, good for Dortmund,
1:04:42
you know, pH G, PHG. So whatever it's, it's it's
1:04:45
gonna. I think it's gonna be an interesting second leg. But the wild
1:04:49
one for me was definitely the uh, the real real Madrid buyering game.
1:04:55
I mean, two to two heavyweights in European football on the biggest age Champions
1:05:00
League. The lights are bright, I mean all the cliches you want to
1:05:03
say, I mean, this was this was a great game. You know,
1:05:05
Anchilotti versus Clop sorry, Ancelotti versus uh, who the fuck's their coach?
1:05:13
I remember enagos Man. I don't even know. Sorry, I'll sing
1:05:18
sing I'm drawing a blind too, Sorry, I I I saw. I
1:05:24
was thinking German had Clop right away. I don't know, it's it's sorry,
1:05:28
yeah, it's not nagos Man, you know, two yeah, two
1:05:31
heavyweights in in European football. Like I said, so, I'm obviously again
1:05:38
Rama has enough trophies in their cabinet, so you know, we don't need
1:05:42
them to get another one. But for my guy Ancelotti, I want him
1:05:45
to to continue to succeed. So I think I think they I think they
1:05:49
can do it. Uh and and I feel like they get past this buyering.
1:05:54
I think they can you know, go all the way and and uh
1:05:57
and when the when the finals, so we'll see uh second legs there are
1:06:03
soon approaching us. So exciting times in European football, all all across the
1:06:08
board. Unfortunately, like we said, no Italian teams at the stage in
1:06:11
the Champions League. But as a neutral, it's uh, like Max said,
1:06:15
it's it's exciting to watch. But there's there's uh, there's four Italian
1:06:23
managers across uh, you know these these semi finals, which is which is
1:06:28
pretty cool. So you know, our Italian coaching is definitely still improving and
1:06:32
and and still at its height as well. So so it's good to see
1:06:38
definitely and uh so yeah, like like I said, I think that will
1:06:42
do it for us, uh easier. Where can people find us on social
1:06:45
media? Yeah, Like, before we say that again, we just want
1:06:49
to say a big thank you to Rocco Bagantino for for our quick interview at
1:06:54
the beginning of the show. It was definitely an honor and a privilege to
1:06:58
to chat with him. Montreal impact legend. So yeah, definitely it was.
1:07:03
It was. It was a great opportunity to speak to him again.
1:07:09
CS and Laurent Wednesday Night, TFC David versus Gohia Guys eavre in Montreal.
1:07:15
Like we said earlier in the show, buyer tickets get the Cold Roadbyard a
1:07:19
lot of memories obviously for for for for guys like like rock coll going back
1:07:24
to your stopping ground to try to beat uh the mighty TFC uh in this
1:07:29
in this Canadian championship. So we're excited we'll be there and looking forward to
1:07:33
that. But yeah, like we say every week, guys at the Culture
1:07:38
Guys follow us on all socials U, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, all
1:07:44
that good stuff. For the audio version of the podcast on your favorite podcasting
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1:07:50
you can find The Culture Guys. Rate us five stars. We have
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1:07:59
on and uh yeah, subscribe on YouTube as well for all video clips and
1:08:02
audio video content of the of the show. Subscribe their post notifications. We
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post equips there. Shorts definitely show some one on YouTube. And yeah,
1:08:14
we'll be back next week to talk a lot more culture. Don't criticize us
1:08:17
too much, though it's gonna hurt our exactly. Please please, but well
1:08:25
do keep keep it easy on us. But yeah, forts, Forts or
1:08:30
Wednesday night. Thanks for listening, Chopne