Latest / Into the Channel ⚽️ A Podcast Primarily About Women's Football / LILY YOHANNES! LIANNE SANDERSON! Episode 200!! 💯💯

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LILY YOHANNES! LIANNE SANDERSON! Episode 200!! 💯💯 · Into the Channel ⚽️ A Podcast Primarily About Women's Football

0:04
OK, welcome to episode 200, Part 1 of Into the Channel podcast
0:12
premiere about football. I'm your host Dino De Suspicious
0:14
and today we're joined by a very special guest as well as my Co
0:17
host Mr. Grant Angle. How's it going?
0:21
I'm feeling fantastic buddy, and that is because our guest today
0:24
is one of the most dynamic young footballers in the world today.
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She burst onto the professional scene in 2023 as part of the
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legendary Dutch club IX, where she became the youngest player
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to ever start a UEFA Women's Champions League match.
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She went on to receive the Johann Kroy Talent of the Year
0:39
award for the 20/23/24 season. Then in November 24, she
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committed to representing the USA in her international career,
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a blockbuster move that was met with significant fanfare from US
0:51
supporters. In the summer of 2025, she
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signed with the legendary French club Lyon and is now on a quest
0:57
to help them secure their 9th Champions League trophy.
1:00
It is truly an honor and a privilege to welcome to the
1:02
program Lily Johannes. Thank you guys for having me of.
1:06
Course, thanks for joining us. Great, great intro.
1:08
Thank you so much. Appreciate that.
1:11
Crushed it. Lily, thanks so much for joining
1:14
us. You know, obviously you've
1:15
you've you've been a part of legendary clubs already
1:18
mentioned IX U.S. National team Leon.
1:21
I, I got to know, have there been any vets or like Ogs that
1:25
have kind of taken you under their wing and kind of taught
1:27
you a little bit of like the secret sauce or I don't know
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who's who's really made it impact for you from a veteran
1:34
standpoint? Yeah, I think honestly, I'm so
1:36
grateful to been in so many environments with so many vets,
1:42
legends of the game and from IX to the national team at Leon now
1:49
there's just so many experienced players that I'm so grateful to
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be able to learn from at I starting, you know, Sharita
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Spitz, of course on the national team, Lindsay Horan, Lindsay
2:03
Heaps, of course, and at Leon as well.
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And yeah, I mean, you have Rose LaBelle, Emily saw in it so many
2:12
vets there and at Leon now we have, you know, Wendy Renard at
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the Heckenberg. Yeah.
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I mean, I can. I can name so many.
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But yeah, I think just just being able to learn from them
2:25
every day and every chance I get, just trying to be a sponge.
2:29
And yeah. I'm glad you mentioned Sharita
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Spitza. So, you know, tiny bit of
2:34
background on us being Dino started this show when we were
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like talking about the 2324 Champions League.
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And you know, I mean, Spitzer, she's a legend.
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Her toughness just like jumps off the screen when when we
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watch her. Can you give us like maybe a
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little bit of info on like what it's like to play with her?
2:54
She feels like a culture setter, but this is all us just kind of
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guessing from the outside. What was your like direct
3:00
experience with her like? Yeah.
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I mean, I definitely understand the the toughness that you that
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you read from that. I think I was especially like as
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an Academy player coming up, you definitely see like, oh wow.
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Like that's Charita Spitz, son. Like she definitely had carries
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herself as this, yeah, like this leader, this bet.
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And, and I think one thing I can say is that she always brings
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this really like strong winning mentality to the group.
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So competitive, every training session, every match, she wants
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the top standards and she demands that from everybody and
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from herself as well. And yeah, I think as you get to
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know her, of course, it's also nice to joke around and you get
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that other side of her. But for sure, yeah, really a
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great leader and and the legend of the game.
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Lily, I want to talk to you about defense.
3:55
You know, you mentioned Sharita Spitzer and the toughness.
3:57
I looked at some of Leon's numbers, Leon slightly better
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defensively in terms of giving up slightly fewer goals when
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you're on the pitch versus when you're off the pitch.
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There's a lot that goes into that.
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So it's not just about you, but we do recognize that you
4:08
definitely have a little dog in your game and you don't when you
4:11
want to go get the ball, you you have a tendency to kind of go
4:13
get it, just kind of put your head down and make that happen.
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Can you talk about defense and, and like your commitment to it
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and kind of like how you you approach that part of the game?
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Yeah, I think that's definitely a part of the game that's that's
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necessary, especially in my position.
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And yeah, I definitely like to get into a tackle with if needed
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and yeah, when the ball for the team because we obviously love
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to have the ball. So if I can win the ball and
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keep the ball for the team, that's something that I
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definitely like to do. And I'm just continuing to grow
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in that aspect. And I just feel like that's
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becoming yeah. And even a greater strength of
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mine and something that I want to continue to grow in with, you
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know, positioning tactically and, and the physics physicality
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of it. I think I'm growing so much.
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And yeah, if I can help the team in that, in that area, I
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definitely like to. Unsurprisingly, you've played a
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perfect pass to me for the next question that I have written
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here. So you like you talk about like
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the defensive mindset kind of coming into the club.
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You've talked about the legends that you're playing with.
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When you come into to Leon as a major signing, you're you're
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automatically put in there with like some of the world's
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greatest players, a historic club.
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They also bring in, you know, Marie Antoinette, Katoto, you
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LeBron, Ashley Lawrence, others. What kind of strategies or what
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can you describe maybe a little your mindset of, OK, I'm coming
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in here, I got a show out, I got to be the player I know I could
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be. But what is like the chemistry
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building with a great club and those great players?
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What does that look like for you to kind of fit into the style
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but also continue to show your strengths?
5:55
Yeah, definitely. I think we have so much quality
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in the team with the new players coming in, with the players that
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we already had, I think we just have so much quality and so many
6:08
class players. Not only that, but great people
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and a great environment. I think we have such a great
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bond and within the team, great vibes.
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And I think that just translates to the pitch as well.
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And yeah, as as a new player coming in, you just want to to
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be yourself, to adapt. And I think I've done that well.
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And yeah, I'm just trying to continue to help the team as
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best I can. And yeah, I'm just really
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enjoying it, really enjoying the group, the new staff.
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And yeah, I'm really, really loving my time so far.
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Lily, you mentioned all those fantastic players that Lyon, not
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just the new additions, but the the players that have been there
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as well. Has there been anybody in
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practice that's just giving you a nightmare?
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You just haven't been able to figure out that just is is like
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you're you're not quite your your mortal enemy.
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But maybe, you know, I'm just something that that is a big
7:02
pain in the butt for you. I think the first one I just
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kind of jumps out is like chubbing A tabby's pace.
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Her face is crazy. Like it's, it's unbelievable.
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So I think you definitely have to like pick your battles and
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know when to get tight or when to keep your distance.
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But yeah, really, really crazy pace.
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So that one for sure I would say.
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I'd imagine, I'd imagine many players all over the world have
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felt the same way. So Speaking of, you know,
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thinking about Lyon, the trouble that you guys have been able to
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give other teams in the Champions League, I think, you
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know, I mean, it blew up over social media over here.
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You have a long range missile against St.
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Polton, you know, thinking about like the club culture as a
7:57
whole. I'm really curious, you know,
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playing for Yonatin Geraldes, how does he empower players to
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basically so you feel comfortable, like pretty close
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to midfield to turn and fire a long range shot like that?
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Does he tell you like, hey, if you think you have a look, have
8:14
a go or how does how does that work?
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Yeah, yeah. Jonathan is just a really great
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coach. I think just learning from him
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everyday, there's always something new to learn and, and
8:28
to take in from the little details to our philosophy of how
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we want to play and just every everyday growing that, that,
8:38
that game plan, that the different tactics.
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And yeah, I think he really just makes, makes everything really
8:44
clear. And for me as an individual, I
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think he, yeah, makes my role clear each game.
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And yeah, what he wants from me, what he wants to see from me.
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And, and within that, I think he knows, he, he says like, just be
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yourself within that, though, obviously we have our, our
9:01
rules, our game plan, but to just be ourself within that as
9:05
well and to show our qualities in the right moments.
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And I think that just gives me confidence, I guess, to, to do
9:13
that and to, to be myself. And yeah, if I think I have a
9:17
look to, to take it. And yeah, awesome.
9:21
You mentioned that confidence. I want to rewind back a little
9:24
bit to your US from his national team debut versus Korea.
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So obviously, you know, there was the first Korea match.
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You didn't get into that one. Your boys were salty.
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You know, we didn't, we didn't really get too mad about on
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social media, but you know, we were feeling, we were feeling it
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in private. But a few days later, you make
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your debut and a spectacular debut.
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Obviously you get you to get the goal, the crazy celebration.
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I'm very curious as to what change with regard to your
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mindset before kind of it going being a little bit hypothetical
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to now we've checked this box. Like did your mindset change
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from like pre match to post match or is or is that
10:01
simplifying it too much? Well, I mean, I think firstly,
10:07
like that's just a moment that I've dreamt of since I touched
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the football and to have that happen and to, to be embraced by
10:18
the team like that in that way, I, I just felt so loved from
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everybody from from the team to the staff, the coaches, the
10:28
yeah, the fans, everybody in my family, friends.
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And yeah, I think when you dream of that moment and it happens,
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you definitely let it sink in for a bit.
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But it also just, I think for me made me, yeah, I guess hungry
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for more and, and let's go just determined to to want to
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continue to help and help the team and to help impact and to
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have more moments of, of joy and, and moments like those for
10:58
sure. When you talk about like feeling
11:01
that love from your teammates on the US women's national team,
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it, it goes back and you know, Dino and I, we talk a lot about
11:08
the way teams play together. Like, you know, you watch
11:12
Barcelona, you watch Leon, you watch these teams that, like you
11:14
said, hungry for the ball, share the ball together.
11:17
Are there differences like building that chemistry with
11:21
your teammates? You talked about, you know,
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obviously doing it at Leon, but it feels like with these short
11:26
windows in the national team, is it more challenging?
11:29
Like how, I guess I'm asking can you explain the difference
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between like bouncing from the national team to to work with
11:35
your club? Obviously national team you have
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shorter periods together while in the club.
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At club you are with each other every single day.
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Yeah, at national team, you really have to make the most of
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every second in in in camp, whether that's in meetings, on
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the pitch, in your free time, just trying to yeah, keep making
11:59
steps together with as a team as well As for yourself.
12:03
And you also have more of the day together, I would say.
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So you try to to use those moments whenever you can,
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whether that's just building relationships with the players.
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I think if you have, yeah, good chemistry off the pitch that
12:21
also translate on the pitch and doing doing different film
12:25
clips, trying to just keep keep getting steps, steps in your
12:29
game. And I think at club as well.
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I mean, you obviously have everyday together and it's it's
12:36
a different dynamic, I would say.
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But yeah, I think that in camp we definitely try to make the
12:42
most of our time. And I guess they're they're
12:44
different environments, but both used in in the best way I guess.
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I had a quick follow up question about another U.S. team.
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She believes versus Colombia. There was 1 moment and apologies
12:59
might be putting you on the spot here, but you played a ball up
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at the Yasmine Ryan who plays it across and that ends up being
13:05
the Macario go to kind of open things up.
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The ball was unbelievable. You were in a ton of space in
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that moment and from from observing you play and correct
13:15
me if I'm wrong, because I'm very curious about this.
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Sometimes I kind of can sense a little spice like, oh, wow, I've
13:21
got this much space. And like the the pass that you
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played was perfect backspin. You look like a little bit like
13:26
an angry golfer that was, was upset that he put the ball in
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the I. You just got to like whip right
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through it. Perfect backspin ends in a goal.
13:34
And I've kind of seen you like, you know, not quite sided, but
13:36
but put some energy out there. So Lily Johannes, I'm very
13:39
curious. Are you the the trash talking
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type? Are you the silent kind of
13:44
killer type? Or are you I'm going to let my
13:47
play do the talking type? Like what is it like to be out
13:49
there against you? Just just to kind of let let
13:51
everybody know. That's tough one.
13:55
I think. I think it it depends depends
14:00
yeah, the game, the moment, the the feel.
14:03
I just I think I just feel the game out.
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I'm usually pretty like calm and composed and maybe I don't show
14:11
like the side of me, but I definitely have that in me for
14:15
sure. And I mean, I wouldn't say trash
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talking, but I mean I think I give what I get maybe there.
14:26
You. Go.
14:27
But yeah, I definitely have a fire in me, I think.
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And I definitely like I'm very competitive.
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So I just yeah, try to do what I need to do to win and to help
14:39
the team win. And I think my game is calm and
14:43
composed, but in the right moments, I let that let that
14:46
show for sure. Very cool.
14:49
So we, we've asked, you know, we talked about the long range
14:51
goal, 1st St. Paul and Dino references, the
14:54
great pass. I'll ask, I'll ask for yourself
14:57
and maybe you know what, what other players do.
14:59
Also, do you watch your own highlights out of curiosity?
15:05
Sometimes for sure, yeah. I mean, I I always watch my
15:08
games back and watch my my clips of of myself and see, yeah, just
15:14
analyzing what I can do, what I've done well, what I can do
15:17
better and what I can take on to the next games.
15:22
And yeah, after the math, I think, I mean, I definitely
15:26
watched like my debut goal back and just special moments.
15:36
I think special moments I definitely watch back.
15:39
Yeah, for sure. Very.
15:41
Cool. And with regards to other
15:42
players, if we if we got some access to your YouTube or IG
15:44
search history, what other players are you watching
15:47
highlights of? Like who's who?
15:49
Who have you logged the most hours of watching highlights of?
15:52
I think #1 is definitely Neymar. Let's go.
15:56
Yeah, I've, I think since I was a little kid, I've always
16:00
watched Neymar and yeah, it's just like pure entertainment
16:04
watching his move, skills, goals, assists.
16:09
And yeah, I think he just has a certain flair.
16:11
That's that's just I just love to watch.
16:15
I think I also watch like players that are more in my
16:18
position for sure. I would say like Pogba, I watch
16:22
Pogba's highlights, Hazard and then like, yeah, some like
16:28
players nowadays that I just love to turn on the TV for I
16:32
think are like Ryan Hoffenberg, Pedry, yeah, I can name a couple
16:39
more, but Shirky, Ryan Shirky. But yeah, I think I definitely
16:45
would love watching football. So if it's just for like
16:49
entertainment, I I watch highlights of of different
16:52
players, but also just watching games and and learning as I as I
16:57
did. Very cool big shirky supporter
17:01
over here too. So so you know, I, you've been
17:06
very generous with your time. We very much appreciate it.
17:09
I we know you got things to do, You know, busy trying to win
17:12
some trophies over there, thinking about this year as it
17:16
goes on. You know, obviously your team
17:18
goals, personal goals. What are you kind of for your
17:23
game personally? And you know, if, if, if it's
17:26
giving away too much strategy here, you can tell us to mind
17:29
our own business. But what are you looking at in
17:33
your game specifically to kind of build on this year?
17:38
Yeah, I think, I think many things like I feel like I can
17:42
continue growing in, in every aspect.
17:45
I think building on my strengths and also developing places that
17:51
I can improve in as I as I play more games in, in high, high
17:56
stake games and high level matches, I think I feel like I'm
18:01
just growing each one. And yeah, I'm taking like the
18:06
experience in, I would say yeah, I think when you feel like
18:11
different scenarios, you can can improve in the in the next one.
18:16
And, and I feel like as a midfielder, just having that,
18:21
that like feel for the game and, and knowing after you've
18:26
experienced a certain situation, then you can adapt at the next
18:32
one. And I feel like at Leon I'm in
18:35
at the in the national team, I'm in two really great environments
18:39
to to continue to grow my game and to learn from 2 amazing
18:46
coaches so. Awesome.
18:48
Well, Lily, I want to get you out of here.
18:49
One last question. I want to I want to Fast
18:52
forward. We're going to go straight to
18:53
the Champions League final pregame an hour before a kick
18:57
off. I want to I want to know what
18:59
you're listening to what, what the what's, what's the, what's
19:02
the process like it? Is there a playlist or is there
19:04
one on repeat or I don't know. How do you how do you get all
19:07
the way up to to 100 before a kick off?
19:10
It's a tough question, you know, because I, I do definitely have
19:15
like a pregame song, but it depends like the like a period,
19:20
like there's certain periods where I can remember that that
19:24
period by the song that I was putting on repeat before games.
19:29
I would, I can say like for example, our champions of the
19:33
year, I was playing this one song or we would always put this
19:38
on before the game. Sorry, I'm going to search it up
19:40
because that was. A group of life here.
19:44
This is sorry, this is, this is a good scoop.
19:46
No, we'll, we'll wait. I got it, yeah.
19:51
You can't play it though. We got serious copyright issues.
19:53
Here. OK, OK.
19:54
I won't play. It I could cut it out anyway.
19:58
Oh wait, OK, incredible sauce. Gigs and featuring Dave that
20:05
that song like I remember the Champions League year at IX from
20:10
because it's like talking about playing in the Champions League.
20:14
So then we always would put that on before the matches for this
20:18
year before matches. We always play giving the scoop
20:24
a Leon here. We always play this song called
20:28
Charger Charger. It's like Charger.
20:31
Yeah, we always play that song and it gets us all hyped.
20:34
And yeah, it's a. It's a fun one.
20:37
Love that. There we go.
20:39
We appreciate the giving us the scoop, the exclusive reporting,
20:42
the other song. Excellent.
20:44
Some somebody inside the locker would love it.
20:46
Lily, thank you so so, so much for, you know, joining us.
20:51
Obviously we've we've enjoyed watching your career kind of
20:53
take off. We've coined, well, I've coined
20:57
you the supernova or supernova. I'm like in the social network
21:00
is like, do I drop the the OR do I keep the the I don't know, But
21:03
we're still workshopping it. I'm going to keep using it even
21:05
if it's unapproved. But either way, thank you so,
21:09
so, so much for the time and we appreciate you joining us.
21:13
Thank you so much for having me. My dad tells me that you guys
21:17
have been really supporting me from from really early on, so I
21:20
really appreciate that and everything you do covering
21:23
women's football, so appreciate it.
21:26
Well, thanks for that, Lily. We appreciate it and good luck
21:28
out there. Thank you.
21:30
Shout out to dad. OK, welcome to episode 200, Part
21:41
2 of Into the Channel podcast premiere about women's football.
21:44
I am your host, Dino de Suspicious.
21:45
And as always, I'm joined by my Co host as well as a special
21:49
guest. But first I want to talk to my
21:50
coach real quick, Mr. Grant Angle.
21:52
What is up man? I'm feeling fantastic, buddy,
21:55
and that's because our guest today is back, back, back for
21:58
the third time on the ITC and is one of the premier voices in
22:02
women's football. But before the legendary
22:04
broadcasting career, she was one of the premier players in the
22:07
world, completing the quadruple with the legendary Arsenal squad
22:10
in 2007, winning a Scudeto with Juventus, earning a third place
22:14
finisher medal at the 2015 World Cup and much, much more.
22:17
That's right, check the trophy case, check the jewelry, and
22:21
check out the women's football show on Talk Sport, where
22:23
however you get your podcasts, it is always an honor and a
22:26
privilege to welcome back our friend Leanne Sanderson.
22:30
Thanks guys, I always love the intros, always make me feel
22:33
really, really good. So thanks for having me on
22:34
again. Really appreciate you.
22:37
Awesome. I want to like pump up the
22:39
energy a little bit. So I want to play a little game
22:41
with you that I created in in Your honor called in Her Locker
22:45
by Leanne Sanderson. OK, so I want to give you some
22:48
players and I want a rapid fire. I want you to say the one skill
22:53
that this player's got that you're like, oh, you know, maybe
22:56
I don't want that, but that is the skill for this player.
23:00
I'm I'm very interested to hear what you think.
23:01
Bunny Shaw finisher, Let's go. Melchi du Moinet.
23:07
Visit Awareness. Mariana.
23:14
Ball Mastery. Eva Payer.
23:18
I've said finisher already. Let me think lethal in front of
23:25
goal, and that's not one word, but like deadly, lethal in front
23:28
of goal. Let's go.
23:30
I love it. Last one, and this is the player
23:32
I want to talk a little bit about, Beth Mead.
23:35
Consistent. I wanted to talk about Beth Mead
23:38
because we were talking about her on our show and it just
23:41
seems like a she. She has such a unique, a unique
23:45
game. You know, she's unpredictable.
23:47
Like she really, she's always keeps catching, you know, the
23:49
defenders, defenders off guard, but she's also such a
23:52
professional. Like she could sit out, you
23:56
know, 10-15 days come in 10 minutes a Year 5 and it's like
23:59
you still get maximum Beth Mead. Can you talk a little bit about
24:03
your, you know, your perspective on, on, on that player in her
24:05
game? Yeah, I mean, that's why my
24:07
word, I mean, you just exactly said what I was kind of thinking
24:10
about consistency. I think we're Bev.
24:12
What you see is what you get. And it's another player at
24:14
Arsenal that set a contract in the summer.
24:16
So there's been a lot of speculation about where she's
24:18
going to go. Why have they not tied her down
24:20
already? And what I love about her, like
24:23
you say, Dino, it's like whether she starts, whether she comes
24:25
into the game, she's consistent now.
24:27
She's been linked to London City Lionesses in the offseason.
24:30
Then I understand she had a conversation with Renee Slagers
24:33
and you know, it was put to her that she'd be playing a lot
24:35
more. Because when Chloe Kelly came
24:37
obviously on loan from Manchester City, Beth Mead was
24:39
the player that got benched. And then on the flip side,
24:42
whenever Lauren James is fit and healthy, Beth Mead is a player
24:44
that gets benched for England. But whenever she's called upon,
24:48
she's a top professional, she's a top person.
24:50
And you know, wherever she, I hope she stays at Arsenal,
24:52
wherever she goes to next, she'll still continue to have a
24:55
fantastic career. Based on your playing experience
24:59
and you know the the wide range of leagues and countries that
25:03
you played in, you know, Beth Meade is 30 years old and that's
25:06
not old for a footballer, but you know, you're getting on the
25:09
down slope of the career. Is it easier, easier in quotes
25:13
for a player of that age and with that experience to have
25:16
that role? Could you give that role to a 23
25:18
year old and expect them to feel it that way?
25:20
Probably not, because it depends on where you're at in your
25:22
career. I think sometimes there's a lot
25:24
of players that are young that expect too much too soon.
25:26
You know, I was always coming from a place where when I went
25:28
into the Arsenal first team, yeah, I was really, really
25:31
young. I was only 14 years old.
25:33
But like, I had that respect for Kelly Smith, Rachel Yankee, Emma
25:36
Byrne, Jane Ludlow. Like, I was literally like a kid
25:39
in a candy shop. I was like, Oh my God, I want to
25:41
be here forever. And then when I was like getting
25:43
went back to my normal age group, I was like, oh, I want to
25:47
be with the big girls, you know what I mean?
25:49
So I think like that role, Chloe Kelly, very similar.
25:52
She kind of pigeonholed into herself being a a superstar.
25:56
But I think for someone like Beth, me 30, you know, it's
25:58
almost like you're 29, you're in your prime, 2829, you're 3031,
26:01
you're coming towards the end. Like I think a lot of Americans
26:04
play for a lot, lot longer. Obviously goalkeepers
26:08
historically will play for longer anyway.
26:10
But I feel like in America, players don't retire until
26:13
they're quite late, you know, 3637.
26:15
Whereas I think in Europe, we seem to retire a lot younger
26:18
now. I don't know what the answers,
26:20
but I think a lot of it's due to the fact that before people used
26:22
to have to retire to have kids. Now, because there's much more
26:25
support around that people are now able to play for a lot
26:28
longer. I have the kids and then come
26:29
back. That's a great point.
26:32
Yeah, definitely. A lot of, you know, families
26:34
getting started. It's lovely to see you for sure.
26:36
I want to talk to you, Leanne, a little bit about the WSL race.
26:39
The, the, the Walsall community seems pretty split.
26:42
I think half of the community thinks it's over and half of the
26:45
community is like, whoa, whoa, whoa.
26:47
There's still some really good teams in the mix here.
26:49
Where do you land on that? Yeah, I mean, I said before the
26:51
start of the season Chelsea were going to win the WSL and I felt
26:55
like they added the firepower, you know, last season, Naomi,
26:58
Germa, Alyssa Thompson, Ellie, Ellie Carpenter, you know, and
27:02
then Kiera Walsh last year and Lucy Bronze came back as well.
27:04
So, and I keep saying it time and time again, those players
27:07
have not been brought to win the WSL.
27:10
Isn't it crazy to think that I think City at this moment in
27:13
time, 9 points clear, you know, they still have to play Chelsea
27:16
at the weekend. Interesting that Sonia Bompastor
27:19
has come out and said she thinks the race is over, which I
27:21
thought was quite interesting because we heard Emma Hayes say
27:24
that last year, the year before Last Story.
27:26
But I think it was more of a kidology for Memma Hayes as
27:28
opposed to is Sonia Bompastor really throwing in the towel?
27:32
Interesting, because Arsenal still need to play Man City.
27:35
You know, there's still a lot of teams.
27:36
And as we saw at the weekend, Liverpool got their first win
27:38
against Tottenham, who have been flying.
27:41
So I think like the league consistency since the break,
27:44
it's hard to call. And in London City, Lionesses
27:46
nearly got a draw with City. But for me at this moment in
27:49
time, if City have everybody fit and healthy like they do, then
27:54
it's theirs. And it could be unfathomable the
27:56
fact that Chelsea might only end up with the League Cup
27:59
potentially, and they still have to play Man United in that.
28:01
You know, they've got a big draw in the FA Cup.
28:04
They've got big draws in competitions.
28:06
If they win, if Arsenal beat Louisville, which it seems like
28:09
they will, no disrespect to Louisville because they've been
28:11
fantastic. They play Chelsea in the quarter
28:15
finals. So these things are not foregone
28:17
conclusions. So if they only end up with the
28:19
League Cup this year, if they they could end up with nothing,
28:21
that is crazy to think about. Absolutely, and I'm glad you you
28:26
brought up Sonia Bone Pastor's comments after the loss to to
28:30
Arsenal. So 9 points back, a city, 9
28:33
league matches remaining. I just, I know Emma Hayes has
28:38
done it before. I'm glad you mentioned that.
28:39
What? What's the psychology behind a
28:42
manager saying Oh well yeah, maybe that maybe the title race
28:45
is over. That just seems counter
28:47
intuitive to me. Yeah, it does.
28:48
Because there's something maybe sometimes in the heat of the
28:50
moment you say things you don't mean.
28:52
Because I was all I, I mentioned them how you said it before, but
28:54
like, I still don't think. And then they went on to win it.
28:57
I still don't. After games, managers are going
28:59
to say things. As a player you say things.
29:01
On the flip side, if a player came out and said that, I don't
29:04
think Sonja would be happy. And you've got winners in that
29:08
team like Lucy Bronze, like loads of winners that I'm sure
29:11
are thinking, hold on a minute here, why would she say
29:15
something like that? As a player, you might get the
29:16
feeling it might be over, but you don't really say it
29:21
publicly. Yeah.
29:22
And you don't really want that from leadership either because
29:24
it, you know, for for anybody that's not in that mindset, you
29:27
immediately have to entertain that mindset.
29:29
Makes it a little bit weird. Leon, I want to talk to you
29:32
about obviously, you know, there's three teams in the WSL
29:35
race that are also in the Champions League.
29:37
One team we haven't talked about just yet, Manchester United.
29:41
They've had some moments in the Champions League, but it has
29:44
been a little up and down. What are your expectations for
29:47
United and also for, you know, if we if we do see Chelsea and
29:50
Arsenal in the quarter finals, what you expect there?
29:52
Because I think Arsenal has kind of turned the table from a
29:56
mentality standpoint a little bit.
29:57
I don't think that they're approaching those games like,
29:59
hey, let's stay in it. Like they were very much on the
30:02
front foot. And then you look around like,
30:03
you know, Manila Caldente has a real argument for with even with
30:07
all that talent to be the best player on the, you know, on any
30:09
pitch pretty much just because he's just that level of
30:12
phenomenal. But I'm very curious to hear
30:15
about your expectations for the three teams as they approach
30:18
Chimsey Knockout. Yeah, I mean, obviously
30:20
Manchester United have got Athletico Madrid.
30:22
That'll be a tough game. I mean, they didn't start out
30:24
too badly, you know, getting good results against Vela Renga,
30:27
but the Lyon game three nil at home.
30:30
But this is Manchester United's first time in this competition.
30:32
And I know Mark Skinner comes under a lot of scrutiny,
30:34
sometimes rightfully so. But at times I'm like, he's lost
30:37
so many top players over the years, you know, and they
30:40
continue to even be in this position.
30:42
For me, it's quite amazing, you know, losing Alessia Russo,
30:45
losing Mary Herbes and those types of players.
30:47
And, you know, there's times this season Ella Toon's been
30:50
injured, but like, she hasn't even been starting in the games,
30:52
which I'm quite surprised at. And they've also bought Insula
30:55
now, so, you know, they've added.
30:57
So I think, you know, they're going to give it a good go.
31:00
But I'm also quite proud of where they've ended up, you
31:03
know, at this moment in time because it was a bit of an
31:05
unknown quantity. And I said they were going to be
31:07
my dark horse, not to win this competition but to go further
31:10
than people expected because people automatically look at the
31:13
WSL in the last few years, you know, Manchester United haven't
31:16
been anywhere near winning the WSL, but Arsenal went anywhere
31:19
near winning the WSL and they won the Champions League.
31:22
So you know, for the teams like Chelsea, as I mentioned directly
31:26
through, I think that helps because they won't have to play
31:29
a double leg. You know, no teams at this point
31:31
in the season wants to play 2 legs and Arsenal.
31:33
I've got Leuven in Belgium, I'm actually doing that game in
31:36
Belgium which I'm really looking forward to.
31:38
But I feel for Leuven because you know, they lost 2.
31:41
Arsenal last group game three nil.
31:43
They've had a fantastic run but realistically Arsenal should get
31:47
that one wrapped up and then Chelsea away in the next round,
31:50
which is going to be spicy to say the least.
31:54
No doubt, and I'm glad you talked about Arsenal.
31:57
Louvin. I have a theory.
31:59
Obviously you are a Champions League winner, You've won, you
32:02
know, pretty much everywhere. I'm some dope sitting in my
32:05
office in Seattle. So.
32:06
So tell me, just tell me if this is wrong, Leanne.
32:08
I have a theory that sometimes as as teams round into form, as
32:13
they get, as they progress through a tournament like this
32:15
or progress through a season, that Arsenal should relish the
32:20
opportunity to get those two matches for against Louvin, to
32:23
even build on that form and that confidence as they go.
32:27
Is that does that make any sense?
32:28
Or is it just we wish we would have finished top four and
32:31
didn't have to play these two? Combination of the two really.
32:33
But I think when you look at Arsenal's form this season, I
32:36
mean, that result of Stanford Bridge at the weekend will work
32:38
wonders for their confidence. But I think, you know, this game
32:42
against Louvre and they won't be taking it lightly.
32:43
It's not a foregone conclusion and I know the new format has
32:46
divided a lot of people. I think on the men's side this
32:48
year there's a lot of criticism. I quite like it in the women's
32:51
game because I think it encourages a lot of strong
32:53
opposition. I mean, Barcelona beat by Munich
32:56
7/1 in the first game, you know, and now buying her all the way
32:58
through and doing amazingly well.
33:00
So we're seeing these massive match ups.
33:02
But yeah, as a player, do you really want to be playing more
33:04
games at that point? No, but it's the card they've
33:07
been dealt and it's only because of their own performances why
33:10
they're in this position. So I think they'll go there,
33:13
have a professional performance, get the job done and I think
33:16
they'll go through and they'll play Chelsea and that will be,
33:18
like I said, an unbelievable game.
33:21
Cannot wait for that. Are there are there any other
33:23
players or teams under the radar?
33:25
Actually, you know what I did? I did want to talk about
33:27
Juventus a little bit because I think the last couple years
33:31
they've been coming on. Grant mentioned it up top.
33:33
You know, you've got a little dip your toe in there.
33:37
And I have another UN question for a little bit later.
33:39
But can you talk a little bit about your, your experience
33:42
there and from the outside looking in, what you've been
33:45
able to see in terms of like the growth of that organization?
33:48
And just kind of like they have, they have such a really unique,
33:51
they're at a unique point. They're like right at that,
33:54
right outside the the second tier.
33:56
They could be competitive with these top teams.
33:58
Yeah, I think from the moment I signed there, I signed in their
34:00
second season, so it's in their inaugural season.
34:03
I then signed and the number one priority was Champions League,
34:07
not just to kind of compete, but to win it.
34:09
And I was thinking, OK, I understand where they're coming
34:11
from. They bring a lot of
34:12
internationals in, a lot of foreign players, but there's a
34:14
lot of turnover at eventers now. Cristiano Giarelli has been a
34:18
mainstay there, Barbara Bonancio, Martina Rizzucci,
34:21
those types of players. But like, they've had a lot of
34:23
players coming through the door, haven't they?
34:25
I think their performances in the Champions League have been,
34:27
they could be that team, you know, that like might cause an
34:30
upset because when you look at their performances, right?
34:33
If they would have they considered late, then they were
34:36
three nil, three nil up against Lyon, right?
34:39
If they win those games, I know football's like hypothetical.
34:42
Hypothetically speaking, they could have been pushing for the
34:44
top four. With Bayern, they've been on
34:46
same points, they've gone down to goal difference and now they
34:49
find themselves all the way down.
34:50
So, you know, I think they can be proud of where they're at
34:53
right now in Serial, they're in 3rd, you know, and they're not
34:56
running away with the championship like they usually
34:59
do. But I do think they have the
35:02
priority, which is the Champions League.
35:03
It's a big focus at Juventus, but I think they could be that
35:06
team. Like I said, that can cause a
35:07
lot of upsets and they've had a really good run so far and I'm
35:09
always obviously looking out for them being a former Juventus
35:12
player. Quick, quick follow up there.
35:14
I'm going to put you on the spot.
35:16
I know that you don't. You don't appreciate when people
35:19
sit on the fence. You don't allow it, you don't do
35:20
it. Doesn't, doesn't happen.
35:22
I want to put you on the spot here a little bit.
35:24
Juventus versus Wolfsburg, Who do you have advancing?
35:27
So my head of my heart telling me two different things.
35:29
I think Wolfsburg will, but there's something telling me
35:33
that Juventus is going to make it really hard for them because
35:35
I don't think Wolfsburg have been annihilating teams this
35:37
year. You know, got a very young team.
35:40
Berenstein's been fantastic in this team.
35:42
You know, she's the one that's scoring the goals.
35:44
They've got fantastic midfield, but they're a young, young side.
35:47
This isn't the Wolfsburg of all. But I do think if I was
35:50
Juventus, I would fancy myself against Wolfsburg.
35:53
If they play the way, if Juventus play the way they
35:55
played the first half against Leon, they will win this game.
35:58
But I just think Wolfsburg have a little bit too much quality
36:01
and they've been in this competition, had the experience
36:04
far more than Juventus. How much?
36:08
How much does organizational experience matter in the
36:12
Champions League? Organizational, like how many
36:14
times you've been there or tactically?
36:17
Yeah, kind of, I think maybe a little bit of both.
36:19
Like what? What is like if you're a
36:21
Wolfsburg player and you're a younger Wolfsburg player who
36:23
wasn't a part of those, you know, wasn't a part of the club
36:25
back when they won those trophies, those Champions League
36:28
trophies, How much does that really matter?
36:30
It doesn't. It doesn't because they've got a
36:31
completely kind of new revamped team are far from players like
36:35
Pop, you know, So I think in the back of your mind you'll
36:38
understand the history of the football club.
36:40
And I think that's not to bring it back to Arsenal, but I think
36:42
that's been one of Arsenal's problems up until recently, that
36:45
the history that we had at the football club, there was a lot
36:47
of players there that didn't recognize what it took to play
36:49
for Arsenal and what it meant. And I think now they finally,
36:52
because Renee Segars has been there for a long time, she
36:55
actually went to the Arsenal Academy.
36:56
There's something to be said about doing it the Arsenal way
37:00
or the Wolfsburg way. What is the DNA of this team?
37:03
And I think German teams historically like Wolfsburg,
37:05
Bayern, they are so good at pressing and they are so good at
37:10
delivering on the run. And I used to say we could never
37:12
beat Germany, we could never beat German teams.
37:14
Up until recently, in the last 3-4 years, English teams started
37:18
to do better in the Champions League.
37:20
My national team used to get battered by Germany every single
37:23
time because they were so much stronger physically, tactically,
37:27
they were like machines and we couldn't get anywhere near them.
37:29
So they do have that kind of still about them, but I just
37:32
don't think Wolfsburg have that fear factor they used to have.
37:35
But they still have the DNA of the football club.
37:38
Yeah, you never have to pause it for Arsenal on the show.
37:40
Just want to remind you of that one.
37:43
Did you? I know I kind of primed you
37:45
earlier, but do you think that WSL race is over?
37:48
Has City like locked it up? I.
37:49
Think so. I mean, it's giving me vibes of
37:51
the men's Premier League, to be honest, where it's like no
37:53
one's, everyone's reluctant to say Arsenal, we're going to win
37:56
the league still because obviously they've not had the
37:58
great run of form. The men's side.
37:59
I'm going to say City are going to win it.
38:01
At this point. They're nine points clear.
38:03
You know, I think Andre Yegler is doing an unbelievable job at
38:07
City. He's kind of going under the
38:08
radar. And ironically, he was actually
38:10
ume as coach, when we beat them in the final of the Champions
38:12
League, when I won it with Arsenal and when he signed with
38:15
Man City, I was like, I know that guy from somewhere.
38:17
And I was obviously like 1718. I've seen him kind of stick
38:21
around. But if you notice, he kind of is
38:22
going under the radar. You don't hear him talking a
38:24
lot. But his team this year are doing
38:27
exactly what I said City should have been doing for years.
38:30
They should be winning Champions League.
38:31
They're not even in it this year, but they obviously will be
38:33
next year. The roster is unbelievable.
38:36
The money the men's team have put behind them has been
38:38
unbelievable. And they haven't achieved
38:40
anywhere near what they should be.
38:41
So if they were to win the WSL this year in his first season,
38:46
like on a slot done last year with Liverpool, it's an
38:49
incredible achievement. Coming back to WSL here, which I
38:53
think is, is fine. I, I want to, you know, also
38:56
rewind to some of the Chelsea talk.
38:58
You talk about like, what does it look like if Chelsea only
39:01
wins the League Cup? Only wins 1 trophy, right?
39:05
Is that enough? Is that enough for Sonia
39:07
Bompastor to keep the job? I mean, I'm not a big fan of
39:11
getting rid of managers and coaches so soon, right,
39:13
Especially after the success. But I think when you look at the
39:16
we talk about, I spoke about the investment of Van City, Serena
39:19
Williams, Alexis Ohanian's come in as well.
39:22
They haven't come in and they haven't invested just to win one
39:26
trophy, especially the League Cup.
39:27
These things happen. I think she'll be given more
39:29
time. I do I think she'll be given
39:31
another season if it doesn't work out this year and there's
39:35
no trophies or there's one trophy she might be get, she
39:38
might get maybe halfway through the next season, but she won't
39:41
be there longer than more than two years.
39:43
If there's no trophies, you know, like you just the
39:46
investment is unbelievable, the amount of money they pumped in.
39:49
But it goes to show you have to get the dynamic right.
39:52
You can sometimes have too many good players.
39:53
Genuinely, you have to have the dynamic, the chemistry.
39:57
You know, Sam Kerr, Sid coming back from her injury, she got
40:00
five and five but doesn't look like the Sam Kerr that we know.
40:04
I would love Sam Kerr to come back to the NWSL because I think
40:07
it suits her a lot better than the WSLI know.
40:10
Chelsea fans might not like that, but I think what I'm
40:12
seeing, I'm thinking, you know, Sam Kerr did unbelievable win
40:15
the NWSL and fans love her. In the league, so I can see that
40:19
happening. Not necessarily right now
40:21
because I know last time when Emma Hayes left Chelsea, I said
40:24
a lot of the players would leave and then all the Chelsea fans
40:26
are coming after me, which is fine because I always give my
40:29
opinion. It's not factual, it's my
40:31
opinion, you know, so you know, you've got Macario to come back,
40:35
you've got Ramirez to come back, Aggie Beva Jones isn't getting
40:38
any minutes so and James is still not healthy.
40:40
The back three though for Chelsea at the weekend was
40:43
nowhere near it. You know, Millie Bright, Lucy
40:46
Bronze and Naomi Gurman, the back three just wasn't working
40:48
and it was too easy for Arsenal to get through and that was for
40:51
me one of the biggest problems. Yeah, one quick follow up that,
40:54
I'm so glad you mentioned that. I'm glad we've like circled
40:56
back, circled back to the WSL. There was a ball early and you
41:00
know, sometimes I have a propensity to maybe make a
41:02
little too much out of like single plays or single things
41:05
that I see. But there was a play early in
41:07
the that was in the first half of that Chelsea Arsenal match
41:10
where Kim Little plays a diagonal ball and it just cuts
41:13
through a giant chunk of the of the 18, the defensive 18 for
41:18
Chelsea. And that just set off an alarm
41:20
bell for me where I was like, whoa, why?
41:21
Like they're playing basically in a low block, they're playing
41:25
a defensive style and that you're still able to complete a
41:28
pass through the middle of their eight through the 18.
41:31
But you know what, Grant, Kyra Walsh also wasn't playing and I
41:34
couldn't get my head around it. You know, she wasn't starting in
41:37
that game. I don't know if she's carrying a
41:38
knock or an injury, but like when you take a player like Kyra
41:42
Walsh out of the team, she's not glitz and glamour, but it will
41:45
have a massive void. And that's what I felt in that
41:47
game. The play, the team looked
41:49
completely unbalanced. There was too much distances.
41:52
Alessia Russo's ball for Beth me just about epitomize how deep
41:55
they were. And you know, it was a style
41:57
that I've not really seen Chelsea playing.
41:58
We've seen the Player 3 before, but not in that way where they
42:01
were sitting so deep. Yeah, it was weird as I think
42:04
Baltimore was like sliding back one side and carpenters and I
42:07
think they thought they could make up the ground that way, but
42:09
it really didn't take off very well.
42:11
One of the quick hitter, Leanne, who's the who's the player that
42:15
you saw at a young age? Because I know you've seen
42:17
everybody. I mean, you're tapped into
42:20
pretty much everything. Who's the player that you saw at
42:21
a young age? And then now you see them today
42:25
and you're like, I cannot believe that that is the same
42:27
player. Who is somebody?
42:31
Maybe Chloe Kelly, but not in a not in not that she wasn't good
42:35
when she was younger, but I was with Chloe at Arsenal way back
42:38
when. And you know, Chloe's gone on to
42:40
be European champion scoring goals in games.
42:44
And it's just amazing to see because Chloe always had it in
42:47
her. But like, I didn't see this one
42:50
coming at all. And there's a few players, you
42:52
know, that you play against at some, I wouldn't say Chloe's a
42:54
late bloomer, but there are some players that are late bloomers
42:56
where you're like, oh, you know, you've actually improved a lot
43:00
in this in the in the game, like Kylie Nadana.
43:04
I was with Kylie in her rookie season at Boston and she didn't
43:07
make the roster and she had an incredible story of travelling
43:10
around different clubs, going to Czech, going to play in Prague.
43:13
And you know, now she's gone on to be one of the best defenders
43:16
in the NWSL and been in the league for a long, long time
43:18
now. So, you know, there are players
43:20
that sometimes it's a lot to do with Dino, the coaches, right?
43:24
It's not always the players, they can take weak of that
43:27
responsibility, but sometimes if you get a coach that likes you,
43:30
you've got to stick with them because they'll play you and
43:32
you'll get your flowers. Love that, nice to meet you
43:35
guys. Makes a lot of sense.
43:39
Well, Leanne, you've been incredibly generous with your
43:42
time. We would be remiss obviously
43:44
over here in USA if we didn't at least get you out of here on an
43:48
NWSL question league. You work so closely with coming
43:53
into the league, A lot of lot of movement in the transfer window,
43:56
a lot of changes. What are the things that really
44:00
pique your interest going into this next?
44:02
Yeah, it's funny, I just did my match ups for the the league
44:04
today that are my hot takes that will be coming out very, very
44:07
soon. So I think there's a couple that
44:10
I really have done fantastic business.
44:12
Lindsay Heaps coming back to the NWSL is just unbelievable to
44:18
Denver. I know she's not coming, you
44:20
know, for a couple of months, but I think that's a fantastic
44:23
signing. Castle Picket to Denver as well.
44:25
Ali Watt to Denver. I think Denver have done some
44:27
really, really good moves. Obviously, Sam Coffee leaving
44:31
Portland broke my heart because I also thought she was coming to
44:35
Arsenal. I'm sure Dino, we felt the same
44:37
because she's an Arsenal fan. How we dropped the ball on that
44:40
one, I don't know. Beer Zanarato leaving Kansas
44:43
City has also broken me because I love her.
44:47
But The thing is now because of the CBA and players being able
44:49
to kind of choose where they go, there's a lot more movement.
44:53
I mean, as a commentator and analyst, one of my biggest
44:57
things I have to do in your season is think about people
45:00
that have got married and their and their surnames.
45:02
That has been something I've been, you know, working on today
45:06
because every single offseason it's amazing people get married.
45:09
But it is a nightmare for a commentator because you're used
45:12
to calling this player like, you know, it's happened previously
45:15
Mal Pugh, now it's Mal Swanson. But now we've got all these
45:18
players in the offseason. You know, even before when I
45:20
said Kylie Nadana, I'm I'm thinking Kylie's strong because
45:23
that's what I knew her as, you know, So that's that's something
45:25
that's an interesting take for a commentator.
45:29
But I think, you know, Utah have done bits as well.
45:31
They had to Blaco and Anoski going upstairs as well.
45:35
You know, it, it's kind of a big move as opposed to like and
45:38
Chris Armours coming in. I'm a I'm a big advocate of, you
45:41
know, I know it splits opinions, men coming in to link.
45:44
I like it. I think why not if you're good
45:46
enough. I know a lot of people say, oh,
45:48
you know, where's all the women coaches?
45:50
I get that. But I like the fact he's come
45:53
from the MLS. He was at Manchester United as
45:55
well as an assistant under Ralph Ranik.
45:58
And you know, fair play to the longs because they don't hang
46:01
around, You know, they they've got this unbelievable stadium,
46:05
fantastic fans. There's still no championship.
46:08
So for me, massive take in the offseason is bringing in Chris
46:12
Armours. Love that all.
46:15
Right. Thanks guys.
46:16
Thank you so much for the time and the takes.
46:19
Everybody go follow Leanne everywhere on all the socials.
46:22
My, my mom actually dropped me a note.
46:23
She's a oh, and actually Grant, I think we need to add this to
46:26
the to the intro the next time around.
46:27
Low key fashion icon over there. Leanne Sanderson, My mom, my mom
46:32
made a point to to say, you know, I follow Leanne on
46:35
Instagram, which is, you know, if you know my mom and where
46:38
she's at that that's, that's a specific level.
46:40
I knew what she meant by that. So go follow Leanne everywhere.
46:45
Always a pleasure to be with you guys.
46:46
Thank you. Thanks, We'll talk to you soon.
46:49
Thanks guys.