the first big segment, which is the Champions League
semi-finals. It's now set. We know who are going to be
playing each other. Now, let's focus on those two matchups.
Obviously, it's Manchester City against Real Madrid Liverpool
against surprise package via Al.
And also, let's talk John
who are the favorites now
to win the champions league, but
andyman City, Real Madrid, I mean, this is an epic Clash to
two of the favorites way, obviously, should potentially be
the While many would say, but do we see Karim, Benzema doing
demands City?
What he did to Chelsea in the quarterfinals because that was
just impressive, right? He was the difference between Chelsea
and Real Madrid and Why Real Madrid a planned city in
the semi-finals. So
that's it. You kind of edge their way in past Athletico and just
did what they had to do and a very
tricky situation, which I let it go always create in these
knockout games. But what are you looking forward to heading
into that game? Because there's so many storylines
between Around Madrid.
Yeah, I think if you take these two teams and you compare them
1 through 11 1 through 18 1 through the bottom of
the entire Squad, you probably say this is Manchester City every
single time, but I think the one difference in these teams
are
maybe not the difference. But the equalizer between these
teams in a cup competition is Karim, Benzema in the form that
he is in in the Champions League this season, over 180
minutes. One player can kind of drag a team
over a better team and Advance them in the knockout.
Age is that doesn't quite work the same and over 38 Game
season when you're trying to win your domestically can so
you put these two together with just 180 or maybe 210 if we're
lucky minutes that they're going to play against each
other
and Karim Benzema needs
two or three moments of real true quality to
to lift Real Madrid and to put Manchester City their backs up
against the wall because I think that's the one thing that
we've seen through Manchester City's Champions League run. So
far this season. As
we know they're very good defensively. They've done that
in the Premier League. Season. They've managed to score enough
goals domestically, but I still worry a little bit about what
they've got up top. And so when you compare these two teams
that one position, if everything else is fairly
similar, I think it's a slight Edge to Manchester City
elsewhere, but if it's fairly similar and then you've got
that that one player up top, who makes the difference for
one team and doesn't
make the difference for the other team.
I still feel pretty good about picking around Madrid. I've had
a few weeks ago when we pick the the Champions League winner
before the round of 16 started. And even though they have to go
through and Chester City. I think I still feel pretty good
about it now.
Yeah, it's a great, cool back then and I think we've just seen
what experience can get you right with, you know, it just
bends them up, Tony crows, moderates Casimir. They've all
won the Champions League with real. They've all just had that
extra experience at this stage of the tournament. And as we
know man city,
I have never done it. And that's the holy grail for. This
is the trophy they want to win a lot of their players haven't
been there and actually done it before. So that could be the X
Factor I think.
This game, it'll be really tight all over the pitch, like
you said, and I think that you do have the edge in terms of
overall quality 1218,
but then around Madrid if their key contributors
play as well as I did against Chelsea
that I think they can get them over the line again,
Nick. What do you think about this matchup City around
withdrew? Do you think it would be a similar kind of tied to
the one that Real Madrid just had against Chelsea? And
the way that they played,
I don't want to sound rude, but if it is, I think they lose my
for
I think their best hope is to do something. Thing like
Atlético Madrid tried to do, they were some of the most
boring games are my life and I should say this II would have
caused fires. Dammit,
Simeone admirer.
I like a lot of players on the team but I found myself. So,
disappointed that a team with that caliber of talent just
wouldn't try and go get it except on the counter. Even
when they were down one. Nothing. I was
that's a little bit over simplifying yesterday because
they wanted to fight as well or not yesterday when it would
have been earlier this week, but I just think that man city
over to likes isn't losing to anyone in the world.
Anyone in the world, not Liverpool,
not Real Madrid and that's why we can hope that this final maybe
is Liverpool man. Say, that's what I learned from
the weekend. It's what I learned from every time I watch them
play
at letting you have to be clinical and how you get them.
And then you have to be clinical the next time you play
them. And the one thing I learned from Real Madrid and
the only thing because and he's right. I mean, there they have
so much
explosiveness. They have tenacity. They have guys
learning how to be the new Casimir. Oh, you know what?
They don't have the new Sergio Ramos. And I'm if
If I'm Pep Guardiola, and I'm watching that tape of that,
last game is good as Chelsea's been reigning Champs. I'm
licking my lips about playing that back line.
I think the key thing that second leg was lat Millet
Albion out, right? And being suspended that her Trail pretty
month that was pretty disastrous of them at the back
and they look much better in the first. But even in
the first leg against
Chelsea, Nick, you're right real gave up a lot of chances,
a lot of chances at Stamford Bridge. So
I think City
will favor themselves and we've seen Pep Guardiola. You
surprised Few people with selections being slightly more
defensive certain games, but then there's a plan, I think
for the 180 minutes over the two legs to play,
you know, foden de bruyne a greenish one game on a Mara
Sterling, Jesus the other. And when you've got that many
different options and the way they play, and the way they
play together, then I feel like City just have enough in
the tank here to get passed around Madrid, but it's always go back
to that
Benzema when he's on the form that he is moderate. H@can.
Put a pass on an absolute time for him.
And as always, As there's always danger here because
Carlo ancelotti. Usually you can usually
set up a team to defend while, right? And yeah, and let's not
make it up to me Benzema against the world. When easiest
junior is having the breakout season, that we've been waiting
for, for three or four seasons. He's got the goals. He's got
the assist, and I think.
Yeah. And just with the form and the understanding that he's
obviously built up with Benzema this season. I look at, I guess
I look at that duo of those two and I say, Okay, Kevin De
bruyne Anna and
who form it? Like what? Is what is the the opposite number of
those two? Because
it feels like it's on a game to game basis. Somebody always
steps up for Man City and 99% of the time somebody steps up
into that role. It's just feels a little bit, I guess more
worrisome looking forward and projecting and trying to kind
of predict and preview it to
not know who that's going to be.
That's very true. But
that's the beauty of this game. I think that could be so many
match winners on both teams. It's could be someone that they
will all have the quality to be the key player to decide who
goes to the finals. So
Yeah, it's going to be again. I think like the recently formats
that you clashes. We've seen high-quality high-caliber great
Tempo to these games and a very small margins will determine
who reaches the Champions League final. So I'm going to
be
a great match at their between Manchester City and Real Madrid.
And on the other side of the bracket, Liverpool against
Villarreal. I mean, yogin clop sighed, heavily favored. They
must have obviously been thinking that we play and
Bayern Munich at the semi-final stage, and it's gonna be really
tough.
We will they he's through Nick Mandola. I mean, are we going
to see it when I am remaster? Laughs here and be a real, have
to go to anfield in the first leg. So
it's quite good at going to places and getting some shout
outs. And as we've seen over the years of many, many teams
for this is Liverpool and they're actually fine.
It's so weird because it's the Benzema story that Andy told
except it's not a player. It's
it's a guy who just knows how to win, tournament football
games. And this isn't what let's not say that vrel is
bereft of talent, right? I mean, they have players and specially
Centre-backs who Premier League's have been targeting
the transfer Mill for approximately. I don't know two
years. So but then you look at
this guy's from is a former Cherry there.
There's a colon.
There are the there are guys in the Premier League, and he is
just getting the best out of these players. So, giving all
that Preamble, if you're a livable value like is Mandola,
just building me up to tell me that my team's gonna
lose. No,
absolutely not. I'm ready for the final
as you can tell from my first thing. I think that Liverpool
is at the point where it can throw out its B+ game in terms
of everything is because it's never going to throw anything
worse than a - out and attack. The finished may not always
happen. But again,
over two legs if Villarreal does this then it's not owing
them an apology. It's celebrating them as
perhaps the best tournament team that we've seen in a long time.
It's true. I because they'll see
raining Europa League champions the way that they
just that built for this, right, it feels like This group
of players there. There are they're gonna you know
Bend but not break. They are resilient. They have said that
the defensive players there
are quality and you've got just tough guys at the end, kapu
obviously cockle and you've got the cell so he's been given
a second Lisa life after leaving Tottenham Hotspur
and there's just
there's just something about them that I feel like Liverpool
fans will be a little bit uneasy being the favorites.
Yes, they'll be happier to get be a real in the semi finals,
but Andy, do you agree with that?
Little bit that maybe this is just
something for should be a bit worried about being real and
there's something about the almost the team of Destiny,
right? And the way I do and I am Marie is Led them and that
they have absolutely nothing to lose and everything to gain
where the opposite is true for livable.
Yeah. They're in a European semi-final. They should worry
a little bit about whoever they're going to play. Whoever
got to that point obviously quality. And you're right to
mention last year's, Europa League winners and everything.
And I'm just looking down the team and, and the
island of Misfit toys is kind of the, the way that I would
almost describe this team because you're right. It's
a lot of second and third chances for players. But as we've seen
in the Premier League players, that we've seen two other big
clubs around Europe, and it
just hasn't worked for whatever reason.
And so una Emery, I think has got them.
Hey, I think it's a mentality thing with them as much as
anything, because obviously there's Talent, there. There's
talent in almost every single team across the entire
continent of Europe, but I think when you have
the collective belief in the same ideas and everybody pulling in
the same direction,
the way that they are doing clearly a via real, right? Just
given the 18 to 24 month run that this club is on and that's
sustained success. By the way. I, that's something that we
lose. We lose kind of sight of, I think, when teams
let's take, I acts as an example from a few years ago.
They make a Deep Run in the Champions League at all the way
there to the semifinals. They go out to Spurs the way that
they do and then they just kind of disappeared back into
the shadows of in European competition terms, and we've
not really heard a ton from
them since. And so I think the areal have the ability to
sustain that just given the manager they had. I think
that's a great point from Nick. Is
emery has made an entire career out of typically winning
the Europa League, but now making a push for the Champions League.
My only question is and
I guess it's a bit of banter. It's maybe having a little bit
of a dig if they were to go on and reach the final even let
alone win this how bad will Arsenal fans, feel that they
had this man in their Club a couple of years ago
and said, no, thanks. We don't like you, we hate you.
Essentially, the fans were done with him. So quickly after
success in Europe.
He believes he goes and has more success.
I don't know. I don't think they're going to be Liverpool
and semifinal over 180 minutes. It's a really, really big ass
because that front five now from Liverpool, five players
competing for three spots. I don't know how you stop that.
That's very true. A couple of final points of ear out for me
because we all know how great look for on the, the huge
favorites.
When you look at you and I am react, I can feel it. There's
something that New Castle came in for him and he spoke to them
midseason, as always like a confidence booster.
Newcastle, we know what their resources could have basically
gone for any manager in the world, but they chose to go
through and I am Marie and I think that gives him
a confidence boost. Not only in his own ability, but for
the are real. And the players say, okay. This coach is very, very
highly regarded. That
this is the kind of thing that's happening.
And on the other side of it,
they have extra motivation because they are probably not
going to finish in the European places in La Liga. So if they
would be playing in Europe next year, they're going to have to
win the Champions League. That's just the way it is. So
don't underestimate how
Much of that is a carrot dangling as great as this would
be and huge of an upset. These flyers want to be playing in
Europe next season.
They're gonna have to win the whole thing. But final fall on
Liverpool for me. Again. I think the rotation the fact
that they could rest seven of their starters in the Champions
League quarter-final against Benfica still. He's through
shows you the strength and depth, they have
defensively so strong, so solid, and I think they just
have too much going forward for this year, our team, but
I think it will be a lot tighter.
Than we all think and I can definitely see VIA Rail going
to anfield and maybe going back to Spain with a draw and then
and then forcing Liverpool to really go at them
in the second leg and what an occasion that will be. Okay.
Jen says put
all of this in the mix and decide are we sticking with our
favorites? I know and you said Real Madrid favorites,
pretty sure Nick and I said, Man City, a few weeks ago.
Personally. I'm sticking with Man City, but Andy who were
your favorites right now to win the Champions League?
Yeah. It's still Real Madrid.
Me. I think that what we saw from them against Chelsea and
the second leg. It was a little, it was a little bit
worrisome, but I'm going to write that off. To obviously,
Chelsea, very talented team and A desperate team at that point.
And so
they were able to do what I think, a lot of teams aren't
able to do and that's throw caution to the wind and say
we're going out if we don't try to go win this. So let's try to
go win this and they just about, did they
give him something to think about? But I think
the experience that we've talked about the Benzema factored,
the vinicius breakouts. It may be a month from now we're talking
about.
This is one of the top 10 players in the world because of
what he did this season and down the stretch of
the Champions League. So I'll stick with Real Madrid.
You need that as well, right? From apply just
to take it
by the Scruff of the neck every game inside. This is my
tournament and I'm going to finish it off and win it for my
team. It feels like there's always somebody that just does
that every season bit Lewandowski or
or, you know, even pull a suit, you could argue. Did that for
Chelsea last season down stretch.
I'm just going to go
when I say man, sit. Yeah. I just wanted to just make one point.
I was a bit worried with how they played against Atlético
over the two legs. But the fact that came through that, in
the quarter-final that proved to me, that they're learning. And
I think a few years ago, man, said, you'd have actually lost
that quarter-final tie, but they're finding a way to grind
it out. And even if they're not, there they're free-flowing
best.
They're proven. I think they've learned from past experiences
where they lost the Chelsea and the final last year and they
weren't as patient and maybe a bit too gung-ho and got caught
out. I like that. I've seen that from City this season even
without Ruben Diaz
for these big games,
they found the way to To be more solid. But Nick you went
with man city, right? You sticking with that?
Oh boy, I'm starting to the point where here's what I think
we ought to do. We oughta just predict the final because I'm
so nervous about tilt, those two teams over, 90 minutes or
120
minutes and what can happen.
I do think
both Premier League sides will go to an all Premier League
final for the second year in a row,
then there will be questions about. I mean, look, Liverpool
and Matt and Real Madrid are two clubs more than anyone
perhaps on Earth that.
Four teams that actually treat their big domestic competition
like it matters.
Somehow treat the Champions League. Like it's more
important, you know, Real Madrid who won until 10 years
ago all of their trophies when like three teams are in
the competition.
This is was such a part of their lore.
I can remember the first Liverpool song that I heard
from Liverpool fans like kind of in person and that one was
a counting, their trophies like in the sort of grandiose. This
is so important to us
and the European cups were more important.
So
I think there's a pressure there. What I worry about for
Man City, though isn't about pressure. It's about, we have
seen two teams in man, sitting Liverpool operating at their
impossible to be A-Plus game for his good as they are.
Because City doesn't have the reliable Center forward to make
the plan around and Liverpool, whatever their whole is,
whether it's Jordan Henderson or whoever is next to Van Dyke,
or Trent Alexander Arnold at the back.
They just give up so many chances.
So, I will tell you, I'm comfortable saying that will be
the final.
I'm going to tell you, I think man said he's going to win, but
what's my reasoning? Because that's what I've been taking.
That's my reason.
Yeah, you know, I was on the trying to match the head of
mansouri Liverpool. When I was speaking to some fans of both
teams. I sat around the table. Then I said, okay. What do you
guys prefer Champions legal Premier League, you know what?
Both sets of fans said, I'd rather win the Premier League
and the Liverpool fans reason was
I've seen it when so many champions leagues in my
lifetime. It's fine wait,
You fans and then they said oh, yeah, but we just, you know,
you proved you the best team of the course of season of your on
the Premier League, I think from their point of view, sit.
You've been hurt so much in the Champions League in recent
years that they're trying to downplay it. I think some of
the fans but no doubt about it. It's epic or at the
semi-final stage of the Champions League
round Madrid against Man City Via Real against Liverpool
to Spanish-English to clashes. And
yeah over on pro soccer. Talking NBC sports.com will
keep you updated. All the latest news around those games,
how to watch and it's Going to be
an absolutely tremendous occasion to see who can reach
the Champions League final in Paris at the end of this
season.