Latest / Into the Channel ⚽️ A Podcast Primarily About Women's Football / Lianne Sanderson on Champions League, Barcelona v Arsenal, UWCL Final, 2025 NWSL MVP Race 🏆

Transcript

Lianne Sanderson on Champions League, Barcelona v Arsenal, UWCL Final, 2025 NWSL MVP Race 🏆 · Into the Channel ⚽️ A Podcast Primarily About Women's Football

0:03
OK, OK, OK, OK, OK, OK, OK. Welcome to Into the Channel
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podcast. Remember about women's football,
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I am your host, Dean of Desuspitus.
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And then today I am joined by my coast, Mr. Grant Angle, as well
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as a very special guest. I am feeling fantastic, Dino,
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and that is because we are once. We are once.
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Again. Yeah, feeling great, like I
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said, fantastic because we are once again joined by a true
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legend of the game. She is a quadruple winner with
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the mighty Arsenal FC, including of course the 2006, 2007 UEFA
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Women's Champions League and she is the owner of a third place
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medal from the 2015 World Cup. Now she spends her time
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globetrotting while educating the masses on the sport we all
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love so much. Where you've surely heard her
0:45
work on Dazone, Amazon Prime and a couple of little channels, you
0:48
might have heard of ESPN and ABC.
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She was a human avalanche of goals when she played, and she
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is an avalanche of information in the broadcast booth.
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It is truly an honor and a privilege to welcome back to the
1:00
program Leanne Sanderson. Oh, thanks, Grant.
1:03
Thanks Dino. Lovely.
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You always make me feel good. You guys really appreciate the
1:06
love and right back at you. Awesome.
1:09
Well, you're the best. All right, let's get into it.
1:11
As everyone predicted, Barcelona and Arsenal in the Champions
1:15
League final. The most obvious thing that
1:17
could have ever right now. I'm just joking before we get to
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the final, Liam, I want to chop chop it up with you for sure.
1:21
You obviously have that Champions League experience in
1:25
your in your background and obviously doing great, great
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work with the zone covering it. But I I want to get to the 2
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semi finalists that didn't get through Chelsea, my pick to kind
1:37
of like make it all the way. They got so close last year,
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tantalisingly close versus Barcelona.
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What do you think went wrong for Chelsea?
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Oof. I mean, we don't know if we have
1:48
enough time to kind of even touch upon it because, you know,
1:51
82 over the two legs. Barcelona were far superior, but
1:55
I just feel like they've never beaten Barcelona.
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I mean, captain got that goal at the end.
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It was the first ever time they've scored against Barcelona
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at home at Stamford Bridge in so many tries.
2:05
They played him in the final, they played him in the semi
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final and defensively they were all over the place.
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You know, they were so poor in the back line and I don't know
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what it is. It's like a psychological edge
2:16
that Barcelona seem to have over Chelsea because they've never
2:18
beaten them, that they never seem to stick to their game
2:20
plan. I love Sonia Bompastore, I think
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she's been brilliant in her first season.
2:24
I love her in interviews. I think she's got a lot about
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her, but I think the team just didn't turn up over both legs.
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I think especially the game at Stanford Bridge, like I expected
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more. The fans came out in numbers,
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you know, and I think the back line, Naomi Gurman just hasn't
2:39
been fit since she got there, you know, and I feel for her
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because to start in that game, it was only a first start that
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she had against Barcelona. The best team then get gets
2:47
pulled at half time based upon probably not being, you know,
2:50
able to kind of be in the game the whole time and like it's
2:54
difficult moments like the back line were just out of position.
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Need Charles against Caroline Graham Hanson, like the list
3:00
could go on. But like I felt for Chelsea
3:02
because every single year they are the team that everybody says
3:07
is going to win it. And now Arsenal are in the
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final. It's the biggest anti climax
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ever. But I'm delighted Arsenal are in
3:12
the final. But again, you look at
3:14
Barcelona, Bon Mati, Potayas, Mapi Leon was back, you know,
3:19
they just have every single player.
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It's just top. Yeah, you're totally right.
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The back line was really shocking.
3:28
But Speaking of back lines that were shocking, that Leon
3:31
performance in the second leg versus Arsenal, I mean, for a
3:35
team that would just had a dominant defense throughout the
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tournament, I think allowed one goal in the group stage was just
3:42
crushing teams. I mean, I know again, this is
3:45
probably a long answer to a short question.
3:47
What the heck happened to Lyon do?
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You know what, the first game I did at the Emirates, I thought
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they should have beaten Arsenal by way more.
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The more they, you know, I thought was excellent in that
3:57
game, Diani excellent. Lindy Lindsay Heaps was
4:00
brilliant in that game. Ellie Carpenter, like they had
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the game in the first that Arsenal had in the second.
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But then again, like Leon hadn't lost since the final, like
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nearly a year. Do you know what I mean?
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It's crazy to think about. And like the fact that Arsenal
4:15
went to Lyon yet again, because in 2022 they went there and won
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five one. But everyone was saying, oh,
4:21
maybe they can use that in their favour.
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I was like, no, it's different. Joe Montemiro obviously going up
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against his former side, Rene Segas was his understudy.
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Like there's just some amazing stories within that.
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But they just didn't turn up. And when I say they didn't turn
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up, Leon, that's what Chelsea needed Barcelona to do.
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Have a nice day. We don't see them very often.
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They come along once in a blue moon, but when they do come
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along, you have to pray it's against your team.
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And thankfully Arsenal were on it.
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Katie McCain, Caitlin Ford, Alessia Russo, like they were
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all just on it. Kim Little had the best game
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I've seen her have. She's a top, top player, but her
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best game seen a play in about 3 or 4 years, she was
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unbelievable. So I think everything clicked
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for Arsenal. Nothing worked for Leon in that
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game. And you know, and now it looks,
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I'm pretty sure Joe Montemaro is now also moving on.
5:06
So it's like crazy times. It was funny watching your
5:11
coverage pregame, postgame at halftime of of both matches
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because I think you were like, OK, we're it seemed like you're
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just waiting for Leon to turn it on.
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And I, I agree with you. The first match, I think they,
5:21
they looked clearly like the better team.
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And then, yeah, just didn't show up for the second leg.
5:26
I want to talk about that Barcelona defense.
5:29
You know, obviously we know you're attacking prowess back in
5:32
the day. I, I wanted to play a little,
5:34
you know, mental. Let's do a little visualization.
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So you're playing for Arsenal tomorrow.
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You've got Barcelona, that defense, Peretez, Mappi, Bhatia,
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you know, that whole Katakoi, that whole, that whole lineup.
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If you have to wake up tomorrow and face that defense, how are
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you thinking about attacking them as Leanne Sanderson the
5:56
attacker? Yeah, I mean, I would be, I
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would be delighted. I love going up against top
6:00
players and I was able to do it a lot in my career.
6:02
I'd let them worry about me. But I think sometimes it comes
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down to the service that you're being given from the midfield as
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well, because I always like to occupy the space in between, you
6:12
know, the midfield and the frontline.
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And no one knew whether to take me.
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So when I, if I was going up against Saint Matthew Leon, for
6:17
example, I would drop deeper into the midfield and they'd be
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thinking, oh, do I take her? Take her, Do you know what I
6:23
mean? And I'd hear these players
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having these types of conversations about me.
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They'd be getting angry, like who's taking her?
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Because I wouldn't, I wasn't like a normal orthodox #9 I
6:31
would drop in and, and play those types of roles.
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But I think there are, as crazy as it sounds, I do think they
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can be like got at. But I think their midfield and
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their frontline are so good that no one ever really gets to the
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back line of Barcelona. And when they do, they try and
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play the ball in behind and Happy Leon just sweeps it up.
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I mean, the phantom Apple Leon takes corners and she's a centre
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back, just typifies her technical ability.
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Like the way that I've seen it live so many times.
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They ping a point in Apple Leon so close, it just kills it on a
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dime, like, and then he's able to play out and they just move
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around the pitch in triangles. They are like when you watch
7:05
them live, they they just are the most like perfect team with
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regards to what they're trying to do.
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And I don't even think like people say, oh, you know, they
7:13
don't even need to be coached, but they do, you know, Jonathan
7:16
Araldes did a good job, you know, before that Lewis Cortez.
7:20
And I think like they seem to recruit from within coaching
7:23
wise. And they, and I understand why
7:25
they do that because people might be thinking, why don't
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they go out there and get a massive name?
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But again, like you, I'm glad that they have him because they
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can then recruit from within and he knows the philosophy and
7:33
style. I'm glad you bring that up.
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I want to, I want to piggyback on that a little bit because we
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have a lot of pals and, and who leave comments on our YouTube
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channel who are huge Barsa supporters.
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And we have pointed out a lot of times that even, and we know, we
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know the roster is stacked, but even when Barsa is moving
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players in and out of the lineup, you talk about that
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philosophy and the way they bring in coaches.
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It seems like the philosophy is almost, I don't know if player
8:00
proof is too strong because again, they have great players,
8:04
but how, how do you view this? Like they play the same way no
8:09
matter who's on the pitch? How?
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How do you experience that? Yeah, I mean, I've actually
8:13
experienced it that myself when I was at Arsenal.
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I mean, I'm not saying we were like Barcelona, but from the
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young age at the Academy, from the age of nine, it was the
8:20
Arsenal way. And it's the same as the
8:22
Messiah. You know, they seem to have that
8:24
system where the players get to the first team and they know
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exactly what they're doing, they know their roles, they know
8:29
their responsibilities. And I felt that at Arsenal.
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So when I got into the first team, it felt easier.
8:34
I still had to step up, but I also knew what was expected of
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me, the non negotiables. And I think you're right.
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I mean, bringing in π all this year as well, like just
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unbelievable. I mean, if he was on the bench
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the first game, like it's like what?
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And in BRUGS, like they just got players.
8:49
Paola Luello, you know, and it's almost like quite difficult for
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the coach Pierre to find his best 11 because it's like, who
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do you take out? You know, Paola Luello didn't
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start the last game. It's like it's just frightening.
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And I just think they just all know their roles and
9:02
responsibilities. And there's certain players that
9:04
you think they are Barcelona players.
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I was quite surprised that Lucy Bronze and Kiera Walsh left so
9:10
quickly because Kiera Walsh had been there, you know, two years
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and then already moved on. And then it's like, yeah, I
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thought that was quite strange how both players left there
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because not many players do do that.
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Why would you leave the best team in the world?
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Can I ask? I mean, have have you had
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conversations as a a lioness yourself?
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Do you do we have any information?
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Because like when you talk about Barcelona players too, I feel
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like Walsh fits that mode. Felt like Lucy Bronze, big game
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player leader. That's a Barcelona player if
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I've ever seen one. Yeah, I mean, I haven't had any
9:41
conversation with them individually about it, but I
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think like it's difficult because sometimes players just
9:46
want to come home, depending on the part of their career.
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They're I mean, I've played in other countries and I can only
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speak from my experiences. Sometimes it's more difficult
9:53
than you think, you know, when you're playing for.
9:55
When I was at Juventus, I had a really difficult time and we won
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the Double. You know, personally it was
9:59
quite difficult for me because I just felt like it was quite, you
10:02
know, the culture was quite cold.
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I wasn't really feeling welcomed by the outside, you know,
10:07
culture where it's like in the team, OK.
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It was a bit different to what I was used to.
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It was very much like military style, you know, football,
10:13
football, football, which I'm obsessed with football anyway.
10:15
But I think there's a lot more that goes on when you're playing
10:18
in another country than just playing football.
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So I, I, maybe that's one of the reasons, I don't know.
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But I can only speak from my experiences.
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And with Lucy Bronze, I mean, she's won the Champions League
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so many times with Leon, with Barcelona.
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So, you know, maybe she wanted to come home for Kiera Walsh.
10:33
That one really surprised me because, you know, she's only
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been there for a couple of seasons.
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And, you know, I mean, like I said, sometimes players just
10:40
want to come home and that's the reality.
10:43
But I'll try and find out some information for you, Grant.
10:45
I appreciate that. Love it, appreciate it.
10:49
For sure, Leanne, I want to talk a little bit about Arsenal.
10:52
So this is a team, you know, they start to see.
10:56
I mean it, it's hard to imagine, but we started the season with
10:59
Yonas Adoval at the helm, who I want to talk about that one
11:02
later too, because it seems like both of those managers ended up
11:05
in better spots. But thinking about the ups and
11:08
downs with this Arsenal side obviously losing to hacking way,
11:11
way, way back during qualifying, getting embarrassed by Bayern
11:15
coming back and getting some redemption there, falling behind
11:18
Madrid, falling behind Lyon. Do you think this Arsenal team
11:23
has any kind of specific ability to bounce back or are they is
11:26
this like a mentally tough team for usually like these teams
11:30
have some kind of signatures good.
11:31
This is a defensive DNA kind of team.
11:34
This is a possession type team. Is Arsenal like the bounce back
11:37
kind of team or how do you how do you see this team's
11:38
personality? I think from our conversations
11:41
with individual players and from speaking to Renee, I think it's
11:44
the calmness and the composure that she brings to the team and
11:48
I think it just works. I mean, she was at the club
11:49
before as the interim, like interim basis, but she was
11:52
assistant before that. She's actually at the Academy
11:55
when we won it in 2007, which I wasn't aware of because when I
11:58
when I met her, I introduced myself when I interviewed her
12:01
after the buy in game at Borehamwood and she said, Oh no,
12:04
we've met before. I was in the Academy when you
12:06
were in the first team. I was like, oh, so she kind of
12:08
gets it like the DNA of the football club.
12:10
But I think the players seem happier.
12:12
Sometimes things just need a change.
12:15
And I did think like when you have a coach come from the Inc,
12:17
from an assistant to a head coach, I've never, I say it all
12:20
the time and I sound like a suck record, but I've never not got
12:22
along with an assistant because they're usually the ones that
12:24
will come and put their arm around you.
12:26
They'll come and tell you if they were the man, they were the
12:28
coach, you'd be playing like those types of things.
12:30
They're always fun. They always lift you when you're
12:32
down and you know. So I think what Renee has done,
12:35
I understood over the Christmas period when there was there was
12:37
doubt whether she'd get the job. It wasn't because she didn't
12:40
wasn't going to get it because she didn't know she was ready
12:42
yet. I mean, you're talking of a
12:43
coach. She's like 3637 years old, like
12:45
to manage one of the biggest clubs in the world.
12:47
That comes with pressure. And considering she isn't the
12:50
most experienced, she's done an incredible job.
12:53
And sometimes you don't need all the tactics in the world.
12:57
I'm just speaking about my experience, like best coaches
12:59
I've ever had have. Let us play, you know, let us do
13:01
what we want to do, have this, have the tactics, have all those
13:05
things. But let me be Leanne, let our
13:07
team be our team. And I think you can see Alessia
13:10
Russo. She's flying because she knows
13:12
Renee. You know, Steena Black Sinius
13:14
has got minimal minutes. Now when Alessia first got to
13:17
Arsenal, the other side of our starting Steena Black Sinius and
13:20
Alessia was playing a bit part role, which not saying you do,
13:23
it's a divine right because they paid a lot of money for you, but
13:26
why would you sign one of the best forwards in the world and
13:28
not give him a chance? So, and now look what's
13:30
happening. Golden Boot Player of the Year.
13:33
Yeah, absolutely. And and so I mean, we're here
13:36
now when we talk about, you know, the team under Slagers,
13:39
the team under Idol, the the ascension of of Alessia Russo.
13:45
Is that the biggest change? What else?
13:46
What else do you kind of see in the squad since Slagers took
13:50
over? I think knowing her 11 and not
13:53
really tinkering too much, obviously we saw she tinkered
13:55
against Aston Villa and she had to really.
13:57
I mean the players got back on Monday from Leon, the mental
14:01
side of that attacked everything about that winning in the semi
14:04
final, then to go to Aston Villa on like the Tuesday play away
14:07
like she had to make. She made seven changes in that
14:09
game. But I think I just see that
14:11
players seem more confident because there's nothing worse,
14:14
right? You always want to be kept on
14:15
your toes as a player, but there's nothing worse when you
14:18
know a manager or a coach isn't having you.
14:20
You just know it. No matter what you do, you're
14:22
not starting or if you do start, you're coming off.
14:25
And that's happened to me many, many times.
14:27
I think with Renee, she's fair in her team selection.
14:30
There's been times though, where I've been quite, it's
14:32
interesting. She's had to be quite ruthless.
14:34
I mean, Beth Meade's been put on the bench a number of times
14:37
since Chloe Kelly's come back on loan.
14:39
So that's been a difficult decision.
14:41
And I feel for Beth because I think it's almost like people
14:44
are kind of forgetting about her and she's a top, top player.
14:47
Like she could go anywhere else and start every minute of every
14:49
game. So, you know, but I think she's
14:51
had to make difficult decisions. Caitlin Ford and Caitlin McCabe
14:55
I think have been excellent, especially in the Champions
14:57
League, and I think she just believes in them.
14:59
You don't see her on the sideline screaming and kicking
15:02
and all that. She's sets the team up similar
15:04
to what Victoria did with us. We won everything and we just
15:07
played, and you'll win some, you'll lose some, but this is
15:10
the philosophy. Yep, you could just like lean on
15:13
more muscle memory at that point, I think and you know,
15:15
just kind of make it happen. I want to switch gears, Liam a
15:18
little bit. Talk about Barcelona.
15:20
So you mentioned some of those attackers.
15:22
You know, we haven't even mentioned Claudia Pina, you
15:25
know, even the midfield, Alexia, you know, battery is probably a
15:30
good reason why Kyra Walsh probably saw some minutes
15:32
reduction and maybe that that definitely encouraged to change.
15:36
But that Barcelona attack like even just thinking about payor
15:41
versus Pina, what they're able to do or even like you mentioned
15:44
Moppy from from way, way deep as me Brooks, I think she she's
15:48
found a home at left back that Barcelona attack.
15:51
Have you have you seen anything like this?
15:56
Honestly, no, I don't think so. I mean, I think they're 5 is
15:59
just the front 5 is unbelievable.
16:01
I mean, my my only concern last season was that when Alexia came
16:04
back, it was like, can you have two number ones?
16:08
Yeah, it's just, it's just difficult because you have to
16:10
find it in the chemistry with regards to pie or peanut.
16:14
But it's like one of those ones where it's like, OK, they have
16:17
this team. They have, you know, top
16:20
players, but how do they find a way for Bob Matty and Alexia to
16:22
play together? And they have it's difficult
16:25
because Alexi potatoes got injured and then, you know, Bob
16:28
Matty comes in or not, doesn't come in, but then gets to
16:31
balloon doors. Alexi got 2 before that.
16:34
Then it's like they flip flop, you know, and I don't I don't
16:36
sense there's a chemistry problem there with regards to
16:38
them individually. But it must be quite difficult
16:40
because, you know, I say you can't have two number ones.
16:42
But what I mean by that is 2 goalkeepers that fight into that
16:44
number one spot that are number ones because that that can upset
16:47
the chemistry. So, but I just think they found
16:50
the way. They're a top team peanut pie.
16:53
Your Paola Whaler can come off the bench or start a game.
16:56
I'd be interested to see the team selection in the 11 in the
16:58
final because there are some questions over who will play in
17:01
that frontline. I have a feeling she'll go with
17:02
the same frontline and against Chelsea with para Luello coming
17:05
off the bench. That, that was going to be my
17:07
question. I mean, Claudia Pina has just
17:10
been on such a heater lately, she has to start, right?
17:15
Yeah. I mean, yes, 100%.
17:18
And I think with Paiur as well, I mean, you've got two players
17:20
in there that like are out and out goal scorers.
17:23
And usually you find that when you play 1, the other one will
17:25
be on the bench. But I think the way they play
17:29
the system together, I think they can play together as we've
17:32
seen, you know, it's not like one of they're not, they're not
17:34
making the same runs. They're not moving into the same
17:36
spaces. One goes short, one goes long,
17:38
one goes central, one goes left. Do you know what I mean?
17:41
Like they're in, they're on, they're in a good page.
17:42
But I understand why at times people probably thought they
17:46
couldn't play together because in the first leg they didn't.
17:48
And then Pile comes off the bench and obviously bangs in the
17:50
goals because it's what she does.
17:52
And I think it's quite cute when you see Pyre in her post game
17:55
interviews talking about the fact that why she signed for
17:57
Barcelona from Wolfsburg. And you can see she's just so
18:01
excited and grateful to be playing for Barcelona.
18:04
Like anyone could say, I've come here to win the Champions League
18:07
and I guess that's a no brainer when you sign for a team like
18:09
Barcelona. But it doesn't always work that
18:11
way. Look at them by pay at Real
18:12
Madrid and I love them by pay, but it doesn't always work like
18:15
that. You sign for a team, it doesn't
18:17
mean you're going to win the Champions League just because
18:18
you won it the year before. Yeah, no doubt.
18:20
I think we had been talking about Pyor who who's racking up
18:24
goals for sure in League FI definitely want to see some
18:27
Champions League productivity. And then she got on the board
18:30
real quick versus Chelsea and has looked great since then.
18:33
I want to ask you, Leanne, what would be the bigger story here?
18:36
Let let's say on one hand, Barcelona just mash his Arsenal
18:40
51 just as he gets real ugly. And we're just like, OK, this is
18:44
this is just the Death Star of of football teams right now.
18:47
Or Arsenal considering their road to the final coaching
18:52
change, falling behind pretty much every Champions League tie
18:55
that they were involved in and then lifting the trophy.
18:58
What, what, what to you would be the bigger story here.
19:00
I mean, I think it's a no brainer for me.
19:02
Arsenal obviously winning. I think what they've done in a
19:05
short space of time, considering beginning of the season, you
19:07
mention it before Dino, you know, with regards to starting
19:10
off the season, not great on the onus.
19:12
But I think this story like similar to when we won in 2007,
19:16
like we were the underdogs. This could go two ways this
19:19
game. It's either there's three
19:20
stories that could be here, right?
19:22
And it's difficult to really say which one it will be.
19:24
My head and my heart are telling me two different things, three
19:26
different things. It's even going to be Barcelona
19:29
will win really comfortably and everybody will say, oh, it's
19:32
what we expected anyway, or Arsenal will win.
19:36
And what I mean by that, they won't win comfortably.
19:38
I can't see Arsenal completely annihilate in Barcelona.
19:40
I think it'll be tight if they do, but they're going to have to
19:44
have like all the games going to go into extra time and it'll be
19:47
anti climatic and Barcelona will win.
19:49
So there's three different scenarios I like portrayed there
19:52
because the only thing I'll say is that Barcelona probably would
19:56
have loved to have played. Like, I know they played Chelsea
19:58
already, but a team they know in the final Barcelona history
20:01
don't play Arsenal. They seem to always avoid each
20:03
other in the group stages or in the league.
20:05
I didn't play against Barcelona when I was playing, like we
20:08
always avoided each other and it wasn't as good as they are now
20:11
then, if that makes sense. But like, I think Barcelona will
20:14
be thinking, oh, this presents a different kind of basis, like
20:18
skill here. You know what I mean?
20:19
Like, we're going to have to really, you know, dig deep.
20:21
But the one thing about Barcelona?
20:24
They don't care who they're playing against, they never go
20:26
away from their game plan and their individual brilliance and
20:29
quality. They they're so consistent,
20:31
aren't they now? How many times do you see any of
20:33
their players having a bad day? I don't think it happens.
20:36
We we talk about it all the time where the margin for error with
20:40
every opponent who plays against Barcelona is absolutely tiny.
20:43
And like you touched on earlier, you hope that Barcelona has like
20:48
an off day in a couple of different spots.
20:50
It it leads perfectly into the question I want to ask.
20:53
I mean, obviously this match has not been played yet, but we see
20:56
the two dominating 41 victories. What they had a they had a six
21:00
to one and a four to one over Wolfsburg.
21:03
You know, they're just mowing teams down.
21:05
Only loss of the Champions League was to a full strength
21:07
city in the group stage. Is the gap getting bigger
21:11
between Barcelona and the rest of the field?
21:15
You know what, I don't think so because I actually think it's
21:17
been a really good Champions League phase.
21:18
But I think when you look at the score lines that they've had in
21:21
the quarter final, in the semi final, then that's obviously I
21:23
can understand why people are saying that.
21:25
I just think that the group stages have been good.
21:28
I think there's been more competition within that.
21:30
But obviously, as we know, when I did my preview show Champions
21:34
League draw before this had even happened, I said I couldn't see
21:37
pass Barcelona and Leon. And people might think that's
21:39
boring, but that's the reality. You know, with regards to the
21:44
team, the players, they're just so good.
21:47
So I don't think the gaps getting bigger, but I do think
21:49
Chelsea, that one will hurt for a long time.
21:51
I think it's hurt them more than they're letting on to us,
21:54
certainly because I still had to wrap up the WSL.
21:57
But if I was on that Chelsea team, that one would hurt me for
22:00
a really long time because it's like, how do we how can they
22:03
turn around and say potentially we need to get more players, We
22:06
need more players, We need to recruit more because club of
22:08
back them, you know, they bring in Naomi Gurmakira, Walsh, like
22:11
record-breaking fees. They've got top players there
22:14
already. They just fell short.
22:16
So I think a lot of it is psychologically because none of
22:19
the players seem to show up over the both the legs and they're
22:21
top players. So to me that leads to like
22:24
another issue, the psychological side of it, the pressure side,
22:27
because as soon as they go down against Barcelona, it probably
22:30
feels like a deja vu. Here we go again.
22:32
Yeah, Leanne. You talk about the psychological
22:34
side. You mentioned the psychological
22:36
edge earlier to can you talk a little bit and just maybe share
22:39
a little bit about with with some non athletes?
22:41
You know, Grant and I are barely athletes, but can you share with
22:46
some folks in the audience how big of a role the psychology
22:50
plays? Yeah, I think.
22:52
For me, I was very blessed that I played on really good teams so
22:54
I was never in really in a relegation battle war.
22:56
I was like, but going into the Champions League final, we were
22:59
the underdogs. You know, we were playing into
23:01
Umayya Martyrs team Ramona back when we were 16 years old.
23:04
They had some of the best players in the world, Hannah
23:05
Lundberg, Elaine, like they were unbelievable.
23:08
And I think going into that game, we were the underdogs, but
23:12
we didn't feel it. Everybody was talking about us
23:14
being the underdogs, but we knew we were very, very good.
23:17
But we knew we'd have to, you know, have the game of our lives
23:19
and best believe in 2007. It was over 2 legs, which is
23:23
crazy to think about like finals over 2 legs.
23:26
Like we won the first one, Alex scored, Alex Scott scored the
23:29
goal and 11 nil away. But I think like I love pressure
23:34
and I think thankfully I was on a team that thrived under
23:37
pressure. The bigger the challenge, the
23:39
bigger we became and that you don't know that about
23:43
individuals until you get put in that position.
23:45
Whereas I was very, when you look at the best teams in the
23:47
world, whether that be Barcelona, Real Madrid, Man
23:51
City, when they were obviously good last year, like they have
23:53
players that can handle it. So mentally, because you, you
23:56
can have like all the attributes as a player.
23:58
I've had players that they have a game being sick.
24:01
I've had players that like, you know, every time there was a big
24:04
game, they would say they were ill and they, you know, and you
24:06
just had a miraculous recovery afterwards.
24:09
Do you know what I mean? Like sometimes pressure is too
24:11
much for people and that's the reality.
24:14
But again, you don't know it until you go through those
24:16
moments. So I'm a bit like, I'm a bit
24:18
like I call myself like a bit like an alien, like where I'm
24:21
not normal. Do you know what I mean?
24:22
Like, because I loved pressure. Like I thrive under pressure.
24:26
Even now when I'm on television, I love it.
24:27
When it's live, I love it. And, and I know I'm different
24:30
like that. And I was like that as a player.
24:32
So I think you don't really know the like the mental side of it
24:36
until you kind of have that team like Sonia Bon Pasteur will be
24:38
looking at the players and coaches look at the players and
24:41
think, OK, are they ready for this?
24:42
They might be ready when it comes to speed, agility,
24:45
technical ability, but are they ready psychologically?
24:48
And it's a big part of the game. I love that I.
24:50
Feel like, I feel like across all sports you see that too,
24:54
where a team, they might have those questions or pundits might
24:57
have those questions, like are they ready for this?
25:00
And then you I feel like you always hear, and maybe some of
25:02
it is a bit cliche, but cliche DJs crop up because there,
25:06
there's some facts behind them where a team says we didn't feel
25:09
that pressure because we didn't know any better.
25:12
Like, yeah, I I feel like you hear that phrase a lot, do you?
25:15
Then when you talk about, you know, you don't know how it's
25:19
going to go till you're in it. Is there a jump after that?
25:22
Like, I feel like sometimes you see a team win the title or win
25:25
a trophy and now they like hit this next gear.
25:28
Did you kind of feel that during your playing days?
25:31
I did when I was at. Arsenal, but it was like a
25:32
domino effect because once you won once that we, like I said,
25:35
our team was like a different breed.
25:36
Like I don't think we'll ever see that again or I've never
25:39
felt it again. I've come close when I've been
25:41
on teams, but the feeling we had at Arsenal, the camaraderie,
25:44
like the respect we have for each other, the quality we had
25:47
and I think, you know, I've never really had that in my
25:50
career because I always been surrounded by amazing people and
25:53
teammates and players. So my my situation was quite
25:56
unique. Grant because I've always like,
25:58
I mean, because I was good. I'm not saying I was Ronaldo,
26:00
but like I was always wanted by top teams.
26:03
So therefore it's like a domino effect because then you go to a
26:05
top team and you just continue winning.
26:07
But they're obviously is that saying, you know, it's it's hard
26:10
getting there, but it's hard, even harder stay in there.
26:13
And I think Arsenal, we were so dominant and we were just on a
26:15
roll like Man City men, you know, the amount of trophies and
26:19
titles they won over the 4-5 years or eight years on the pet
26:21
like it's and the wheels have fallen off this season and that
26:24
will happen. But you have to ride that wave.
26:26
And I think for Chelsea, for example, when they're 6th
26:29
consecutive WSL title, that shouldn't be undervalued because
26:33
that is hard to do. Like everyone's coming for them
26:36
every single year. They're they're they're adding
26:38
players, Man United, Arsenal, Arsenal want that, City want
26:42
that. But Chelsea keep doing it year
26:44
after year. So that shouldn't be diminished
26:46
by people based upon, you know, I think a lot of fans are like,
26:49
oh, it's getting boring. No, it's not boring.
26:51
Everyone else has to step it up, I think.
26:53
The the the thing I remember most and I was like lucky
26:56
enough, the timing worked out. I covered the match where City
27:00
lost to Arsenal with those two Black Stenius goals late and
27:06
then Chelsea, because that's who they are.
27:08
Exactly. To your point, they go out and
27:09
they smash Bristol City like 8 to nothing, erase the goal
27:13
differential. It's like they smelled the blood
27:15
in the water because that's who they are.
27:16
They play like champions every week.
27:18
Yeah, and it's. Difficult because there were
27:20
moments last year, I mean, and again, that's the pressure
27:23
moment, you know, Arsenal conceding late on and those
27:26
types of things. It makes it Man City, sorry,
27:28
conceding late on it, it's a it's a thing where it makes a
27:30
difference. Like you're ahead.
27:32
You have to make the most of that game management and then
27:35
like a lot, but like I said, a lot of people can say, oh,
27:37
they've got the best players so they should win it.
27:38
It doesn't work like that. Honestly.
27:39
Chemistry on a team also is really important because you can
27:43
have so many top players, but they might not get on, they
27:46
might not listen to the manager, They might think they're always
27:48
right. Like you just have to find the
27:50
best chemistry for a team. Totally agree.
27:54
You mention your heart versus your head.
27:56
Can Arsenal win this match? I think they can if they play
28:01
the perform the way they did in a second leg against Leon.
28:04
And I also think if Barcelona have an off day, which I've not
28:08
seen them have, do you know what I mean?
28:10
Because I know a lot of people saying, oh, in the in the
28:11
league, they're not annihilating teams and all that.
28:14
It doesn't matter. They're still getting the job
28:15
done. So my head and my heart's
28:17
telling me two different things. I think it'll be really
28:19
difficult for Arsenal to beat Barcelona because I think like
28:22
sometimes in England we have this ability to think when an
28:25
English team gets to a semi final, they're automatically
28:28
going to win. Like everyone was saying
28:29
Barcelona, Chelsea would beat Barcelona and I was probably one
28:31
of the only people saying they wouldn't.
28:33
And everyone's like, well, you're from England, why are you
28:34
saying that? I'm like, because Barcelona are
28:36
the best. Like much?
28:38
I'd love Chelsea to get there. Like let's let's not be real
28:41
here. I think sometimes there's a bit
28:43
of lack of respect for these teams like Leon and Barcelona
28:46
and Wolfsburg. I know they fell short this
28:48
year, but every single year to repeatedly come back in that way
28:52
and especially for a team like Leon that you know, doesn't have
28:55
the best league and the most competitive league are able to
28:58
year after year come back. But I think I don't know, I'll
29:01
be able to tell after the 1st 10 minutes of the game.
29:04
So I'll message you and let you know what I think because I'll
29:06
be able to tell how the game's potentially going to go
29:09
depending on if Barcelona come out and the occasion.
29:12
Arsenal have to manage the occasion as well because you
29:15
know, they've not. These players haven't been there
29:16
before. We've been there in 2007.
29:18
And none of those players were part of that.
29:20
None of the staff was part of that apart from Kelly Smith.
29:23
So she'll be able to, you know, really speak true to that
29:26
experience. And I know a lot of the players
29:28
are drawing on that experience of ours.
29:30
A lot of them are aware of what we did because they're reminded
29:33
of it, but they're also respectful of what we did.
29:36
And I I'll. Say Arsenal, you know, Arsenal
29:38
and Chelsea do a great job of the supporters, you know,
29:42
packing in the stadium, playing in big moments.
29:45
I mean, it's fair to say though, as a guy who obviously never
29:48
stepped on a big field, there's, there's just a difference.
29:51
Even if you have 50,000 at the Emirates, there's just a
29:54
difference between playing in the Champions League final,
29:56
right? There's no comparison.
29:58
No, there isn't. And I think, like I said, the
30:00
occasion is going to be like Barcelona have been there the
30:04
last four years. You know, they're in the, I know
30:05
it's a different location, but like they bring a lot of fans.
30:08
Barcelona last year when we're in Bilbao, it was like Barcelona
30:11
were at home. I know they're close fighting,
30:13
but like everywhere they go, wherever it be Einhoven, they
30:16
always carry so many fans. And I think what's great about
30:18
this final is that Arsenal will be bringing fans as well.
30:22
And that'll make a big difference.
30:23
And I think the fact that Arsenal's home games have all
30:26
been at the Emirates this year, you know, they're used to these
30:28
big moments. They've had these big moments.
30:30
They've gone to Leon and won. They can take a lot of
30:33
confidence from that. But Arsenal haven't had the best
30:35
start end to the season in the WSL.
30:38
You know, it was in a bit of an indifferent time.
30:40
And I think these things happen. You know, Brighton and Villa
30:43
based upon it was like they were hungover, not drinking, hungover
30:47
from the game, but the again, the physicality, the
30:50
psychological part of playing in a big game like they did against
30:53
Leon, then to go again 3, two days later against Villa is
30:56
difficult. Like people can say, oh, you
30:58
know, it's your job. Yeah, it is.
30:59
But it's hard. Like these intense games are
31:02
really hard, so obviously the. The final coming up May 24th
31:05
9:00 AM Pacific. We're on Pacific Time now May
31:09
24th 9:10 AM Leanne will be texting us letting us know who's
31:12
going to win the match. So we're we'll be looking
31:13
forward to that. No, I'm not unless.
31:15
You said who's going to win. I'm saying that you can kind of
31:18
tell in the 1st 10 minutes what teams come to party like the
31:22
Leon Arsenal game, What are you going to be looking?
31:24
For those first 10 minutes, I'm really curious.
31:27
I'm looking. For the press from Arsenal, if
31:29
they're sitting off a Barcelona and allowing them to have the
31:31
ball, if they're showing them too much respect because you can
31:34
see what Chelsea did in the foot in over those two legs.
31:37
It's like we respect this team but we're over respecting them
31:40
in a weird way. Whereas I think Arsenal need to
31:42
see what they did against Leon. Doesn't matter the occasion.
31:45
Play the game, not the occasion. I was always told I can tell
31:48
from a warm up the players how they're feeling.
31:51
You can see how laid back they are.
31:52
That's why I love watching warm ups.
31:53
That's why I love watching the players and seeing, you know,
31:58
where they're at with that. Do you have a prediction?
32:00
Do you have an official prediction?
32:01
Have you made a prediction? Can you share a prediction?
32:03
I mean, to share a prediction with us.
32:05
I I can do yeah, I. Mean I can do what I like, but
32:07
at the same time I feel like I have to back Arsenal because I
32:10
want them to win. But I just think boss oh God, I
32:14
think it's going to go extra time.
32:15
Can we say that? I think boss, everyone will be
32:17
an extra time. But I I really want Arsenal to
32:20
win, but they just have to show up like they did against Leon.
32:23
Please love it. Love it one leg, who knows?
32:27
I had a quick NWSL question, I think.
32:29
Did you mention Debina was your MVP through 8 weeks?
32:33
Yeah. OK.
32:34
I want to take a little take for a test spin with you.
32:37
I think Alyssa Thompson, it's early, but I think her play,
32:42
she's making a big impact. She's distributing, she's got
32:45
Angel City kind of feeling looking like a real team.
32:50
Is there any merit to my very early MVP stealth campaign for
32:55
Alyssa Thompson? Yeah, absolutely.
32:57
I mean, just because I said Davinia doesn't mean there's not
32:59
other players that can be in amongst it as well.
33:01
I think Alyssa Thompson has been brilliant this year.
33:03
Last year also was really good. I think not making the Olympic
33:07
squad. I spoke to her and she was so,
33:09
so refreshing. To hear a young player just say
33:11
I wasn't good enough, you know, I wasn't ready yet.
33:13
I worked on my game in the offseason.
33:15
You can see it's making a big difference and sometimes when
33:18
you get selected for major tournaments when you're so
33:20
young, the pressure then comes and you might not be ready yet.
33:23
That's not on Alyssa Thompson. The coach picks her.
33:25
Of course she's going to go, but was she ready yet?
33:27
You know, maybe not. But at the same time, like she's
33:30
been exceptional this year. She's been brilliant.
33:32
I think Sam Leighty also has done a really good job with
33:34
Angel City, so I'll be interested.
33:36
Now. Obviously he's not going to be
33:37
there. Like I think they're keeping him
33:39
on board in some capacity, whether it be an assistant or
33:41
something like that. But I think it's a big call not
33:44
keeping him on really well. Alyssa Thompson has been
33:47
brilliant, but Debenia, for me, I just think she does things
33:50
that no one else can do. And it's not just her goals that
33:53
she scores, it's her touch, it's her ability to be able to
33:56
manipulate the ball. She's always a threat and I
33:59
think that injury she had to her ACL a couple of years ago, it
34:02
takes a little while for players to kind of come back to the
34:04
levels we know, but we knew she still had it in her.
34:06
Then she picked up that hamstring injury the beginning
34:09
of the season last year. So I just think she's been
34:12
brilliant. And yeah, but I equally agree
34:14
Alyssa Thompson is in with a shout as well.
34:17
Definitely going to be. Exciting to see how it plays out
34:20
the rest of the year. I mean, you know, it's a, it's a
34:22
basic take from me. I still got my eyes out on a
34:26
stare. See what kind of upward mobility
34:29
Gotham FC has? Obviously leading the Golden
34:31
Boot race. But, you know, yeah, that's a
34:32
great show. I love a stare.
34:34
She's unbelievable as well, like she's just so good and she took
34:37
to this league coming over from Spain so easily last year, which
34:41
doesn't usually happen, especially from European
34:43
football coming straight here and I love her.
34:45
I think she's top player. We'll have to wait and see at
34:47
the end of the season. Keep an eye on that for.
34:50
Sure. All right, Leanne.
34:51
Well, absolutely appreciate the time.
34:53
As mentioned, as Greg mentioned up top, you know your voice,
34:57
your insights definitely got me into the game.
34:59
So maybe without you, there's no us at at the ITC.
35:01
So I appreciate you. I'll say that for the probably
35:04
like the last time or maybe I'll say it every time I see you.
35:06
We'll see. Either way, definitely
35:08
appreciate the time. I think we did it episode into
35:11
the channel. Huge thanks to our guest, Leanne
35:13
Sanderson. Thanks guys.
35:15
Appreciate you both and yeah, looking forward to hopefully
35:18
seeing you at some point soon in the end of yourself season.
35:21
Let's go. San Fran, Seattle, you let us
35:23
know. And a big thank you to my coast
35:24
as well, Mr. Grant Angle for, you know, being my, you know,
35:28
Leanne liked when coaches let her do what she does.
35:31
I let Grant do what he does. That's my guy.
35:33
That's that's my guy up top by #9 So I appreciate you, bro.
35:37
Likewise, buddy. Thanks again Leanne, we will see
35:39
you down the road and for everybody watching, thanks for
35:41
watching and we will see you all next time.