Football Daily - Euro Leagues: BlueCo crisis & Helsingborgs' Scottish boss

Episode Date: April 23, 2026

How do Strasbourg fans view Chelsea’s latest crisis under BlueCo ownership? Who will triumph in the French title race? How has Inter boss Christian Chivu proved doubters wrong in Serie A?Those questions and many more discussed and debated on Euro Leagues as European football experts Julien Laurens, Rafa Honigstein and James Horncastle join host John Bennett.And there's a fascinating interview with Scottish coach Stevie Grieve whose incredible career has taken him from being dubbed the 'Scottish Gary Neville' on Indian TV to managing one of Sweden's most historic clubs.Timecodes: 01:00 Gnabry to miss the World Cup, fears for Yamal injury, but could it help him stay fresh? 05:00 How is Chelsea's latest mess viewed by fans of Strasbourg, also owned by BlueCo? 09:10 Which Euro Leagues favourite coaches could be in line for the Chelsea job? 10:25 Would Cesc Fabregas become Chelsea manager? 12:40 The French title race is hotting up between PSG and Lens 15:10 Why are PSG complaining about the fixture schedule, and which French fans are protesting? 21:05 How do Italians view the suggestion that the Azzurri could replace Iran at the 2026 Men's World Cup? 24:30 How has Inter's inexperienced manager Christian Chivu proved doubters wrong this season? 31:05 Are Bayern Munich at their best since Pep Guardiola? 33:45 How worried will PSG be about Bayern? 36:25 Who has the better front 3 - Bayern or PSG? 36:50 Scottish coach Stevie Grieve, currently head coach at Helsingborgs in Sweden, joins the show to discuss his fascinating career 46:25 What happened at Roma as Claudio Ranieri and Gian Piero Gasperini fell out?!

On the Football Daily podcast, the Euroleagues with John Bennett. Welcome to Euroleagues, a lot to get into this evening. We'll talk Strasbourg and their fans' views on their Blue Co ownership after Chelsea sacked Liam Rossinia. The French title race is heating up as well. One of our guests will be a bit nervous about that. How, alas, keeping pace with Paris Saint-Germain, inter-closing in on the Seria title as well under the very impressive Christian Kivu. Byr, an already Bundesliga champion, so is the Trevolo.

and I'm looking forward to this. We're going to speak to the latest British manager making a name for himself in Scandinavia. With us today, ESPN's Julian Lorenz, Raphael Honnigstein, and James Horncastle. Hi, guys. Great to speak to again. Hello, Jamie.

No Guillain Balaget tonight. He's too busy, I think, worrying about Lamine Yamal's injury. So the Barcelona superstar ruled out for the season, but they do say he will be fit for the World Cup. It's less than 50 days to go, isn't it now, James? So we're getting into that, that nervy, time where any injury makes us a bit nervous, unless it's Italians, I guess. Oh, strong star, J.V. Or Lester City.

Exactly. I was going to come to that, Jules. We'll get to that in good time. I knew you'd bring up Lester City. But that is true, though, isn't it, Raffa? Any injury is a problem. And Serge Gannabri is out of the World Cup. I mean, that is really bad news, isn't it? He was injured at the weekend. He's going to miss the tournament. Yeah, it's really sad. He was really sad. He was really sad. He was a rupt it as a doctor. It's going to be more than three months, so well within the World Cup timeframe and big miss for buying, but perhaps even bigger for Germany because he's been really, really influential, lots of goals for him in the last couple of years or so. And yeah,

big shame because it might be his last World Cup or would have been his last World Cup. So, yeah, sad. What about Lemini Amal, James? Could this be a blessing in disguise? Because I know it's a hamstring injury and, you know, that could get serious, but I'm guessing he'll recover from that and he might be a bit fresher for the tournament because tiredness is going to be an issue the heat's going to be an issue perhaps i mean he's young when you're young we all know we used to get injured and we'd recover quicker it feels like a long time ago how would you know james about getting injured in football how would you know you know you and your knees are no no place to talk anyway um look I was seen Madrid for the Athlete Basso game and saw Laminia Mal.

I mean, over the last couple of years, I've had a privilege of watching him up close and personal. France, Spain, for example, European Championship semi-final. And you forget how old he is. You know, still 19. And for someone to be that important to his club and national team already is staggering. My concern with these things, you never want players to be rushed back.

obviously all of these guys want to play at the World Cup. I mean, Raff was just talking about Serge Ganabri. I mean, we've had the news of Estevao today as well. It's been really important for Carlo Ancelotti's Brazil. And all of these players want to be there if they can. And we've spoken in the past about some of these young Barca players who, by dint of their talent play a lot, but also by dint of the situation at Barca,

where their finances haven't allowed them to get the depth that maybe past Barser teams had. So these players are playing all the time. Remember that year when Pedri played like 700 games, between his club, his national team at one tournament, then the Olympics. And I do think you have to be protective of these players. I mean, after one of the press conferences following those athletic games, Hansi Flick said kind of that. You know, we have to be protective of talents like Laminia Mal

because he has the talent to be one of the best of all time. But then he says that, James, and then he's the player at Barcelona that's played the most minutes this season. He's actually amongst four was the third most used player in Europe. Highland and Vinicius are the only one who played more, but who have played more than his own goalkeeper at Barcelona, for example. It's crazy. And when you look at it, just quickly to finish on Lamin,

he has already played 45 games, just that's without the national team. He can't blame him. Can you for that? How important he is? I know he's young. I can't rotate. I know, but he can, even if he's young and great, you can still sometimes give him a bit of a race.

And I know he wants to play every game and every minute of every game. I'm sure the other day he was sulking because he came on in the 85th minute or whatever. But I think there's a point where he's only 18 and he's played 45 games this season for Barcelona. 55 last season, 50 the seasons before. There's a point where your armstring and your whole body, even if you're lameen and young and fresh and everything you want, at some point it's too much and I think he's played too much

already in his career. Yeah, we just hope that he's fully fit for the World Cup. A bit more World Cup chat later where we'll mention Italy. It's not been a good week for the Blue Coe clubs here in England, Chelsea losing

for the fifth time in a row, sacking Liam Rossinia and the Blue Coe Club in Liga Strasbourg beaten in the French Cup semi-final by Nice on Wednesday. Jules, I think the Strasbourg fans

it's pretty clear that they resent a lot of them being owned by Blue Despite the recent success, they're in the conference, Europa conference semifinals, aren't they next week against Raya Vallecano? But what are they making over there?

What are the French press making it? What are the Strasbourg fans making of the fact that Liam Rossini left them? And what, three and a half months later, he's already been sacked? Yeah, I mean, that's karma for them. That's the way they see it, really. And without being, you know, happy because nobody's never happy when somebody loses their job, whatever job they do, it's true that from their point of view,

even if the relationship with the club, from the Ultras with the club and Bluco to a certain extent is getting a little bit better because for most of this season they were pretty much on strike for the first few minutes of each home game and they've got an amazing, amazing fan base at the Stade de la Menos in Strasbourg.

And because they wanted to display banners against Bluco, etc., there was a bit of attention between the top, the people at the top of the club and the ultras is getting a little bit better, but it still remains that when there was a protest before de la Chelsie home game against United, I think it was.

You had a lot of Strasbourg fan who made the point and thought it was important to come over from France to London to march with the Chelsea fans against Blueco. That's how deep the resentment is towards them and this idea of this multi-club ownership where basically Strasbourg is

the feeder club to Chelsea, which they have never accepted. So from the good things that Blue Co have done in Strasbourg, which is investing a lot of money in some really good talented young players, great, but for all the other aspects of being felt used by Chelsea and by Blue Co, really. That I don't think will never go down that well, really.

So it was a shame they lost in that French Cup semifinal last night because one of the objectives was to go and win that. They have another go in Europe, as you said, although that Rayé Valekano semifinal won't be easy. And then it's Braga or Freiburg potentially in the final, which won't be easy either. So they're still a long way out. If there's a trophy there at the end of the season,

I think it will help a lot in that relationship between Bluco and the Strasbourg Ultras, especially if there are reasons, then I think he'd be even more difficult. What do you think Gary O'Neill is making of this? Did he perhaps think that maybe I'll go into Strasbourg, a couple of years do really well, Chelsea come calling? I mean, surely that's the end of that for all Strasbourg managers. Chelsea won't be doing that again, will they?

No, unless somehow you manage to attract Strasbourg a more experienced, a bigger name maybe, and then he could do the job for Chelsea because we all knew really, as much as I actually, I like Liam Rosignor a lot. We all knew that it was a massive gamble still for him to get that Chelsea job and that he was not really ready for it. He might have stepped up

and on another time he could have, but certainly it looked like the gap was too big between what he was doing in France, which was a really good job to taking over one of the biggest clubs in England in the Premier League is a complete different story really

and board games. So I think Gary O'Neill was not really not thinking about the same, but he's doing a decent job, to be fair. And if he brings them a year, you're playing trophy, then I think he'd become a hero and everybody in Strasbourg will forget very quickly, Liam Rossini.

I mean, Strasbourg were absolutely amazing in the Conference League against Mines and the crowd were just unbelievable and such a huge factor in beating them. But my question is, Jules, what happens if they end up in the same competition, Chelsea in Strasbourg? So the famous blind trust, Raffi,

has been sent to UFAR on time, apparently, which means that because I think it was Lawrence Stewart and Paul Wynstanley, we're on the board at Strasbourg and obviously very much involved at Chelsea to run the club on a daily basis they apparently not involved at all anymore with Strasbourg if we believe them

and we believe them So apparently It's clearly why Gary O'Neill hasn't got the job To replace Liam Rossini Not yet So apparently it would be okay if they are both in either the Europa League or the conference league

Yeah so they're well prepared for that What about the next Chelsea manager I want to ask you James about this A new Raffer as well Because some Euroleague's names are popping up in the lineup of contenders being talked about by the media and by the bookmakers.

Some sound realistic, some less realistic. So Felipe Luis, Cess Fabragas, Diogo Scipioni, Julian Nagelsman, Edin Terzich, who I see is being strongly linked to Athletic Club today. Raffa, any of those stand out for you? They're all decent coaches, but it's hard to see anyone rushing to Stanford Bridge at this moment.

Yes, a period of self-reflection is coming as we saw on the press release. But I think for any manager, you'd have to really find out what it is you're actually getting there, what it is you're trying to do. Because so far, any manager who's been there, and they've been very, very different profiles.

You know, we've had Tuchel there, we've had obviously, Racineia, Graham Potter, Pochitino. Nothing really unites them, if you think about it, in terms of the playing style and so on, and their profile.

But none of them have been able to make this work and have fallen out with the, the hierarchy in one way or the other or fall in foul of poor results. I think it's a really, really difficult job for that reason. And if you're an up-and-coming manager or indeed a very experienced manager, I think you have to be very, very careful before you go there.

What about Cess Fabragas, James, doing so well at Como. Do you think he'd be tempted? Look, I think CESC one day would like to work in the Premier League, but I think he appreciates that he's onto something good and unique now. you know he has a stake in Como he's not just emotionally invested he's financially invested in that

club the club has come a long way very quickly um in part because of the investment made by uh the owners but in part because seska's been allowed to develop and show his talent there and i think he has a long-term project um at comal he has a stability there um that a coach at Chelsea, I don't think, can count on. And I think that does matter to young coaches, the ability to have a platform where they can work gradually and develop themselves and their style. And I think we've seen as Raffa has gone through the role call of Champions League winners that Chelsea have had, you know, guys who've got to Champions League finals or have been

club builders that they've had or young coaches at the beginning of their their careers. They've all struggled and they have all struggled because of the instability and the confusion behind them. I would expect CESC to stay at Como this year. They still have a shot of qualifying for Champions League. I think if they were to do that, then being in the Champions League with that club and what it means to him, I think would make it very difficult for him to leave. And one last one on Gary O'Neill Jules. He's really getting into the culture food-wise, isn't he? Where did he choose to dine

after the semi-final of the conference league? Fans spotted him, didn't they? Yeah, the quarter-final second league, the game that Rafa referred to earlier against Mainz, he went to McDonald's. Why not? We saw Lamin Yamal coming back from the Laurel

Award on his private jet with McDonald's as well. Gary O'Neill, maybe to coach at that level or to be as good as Lamin-Yamaal. We all need a bit of McDonald's, another. Other fast food outlets are available. It's his five-life sport.

It's Euroleagues with Rafael Honestine, James Horncastle, and Julianneuron's joining me, John Bennett. And let's check in quickly in the league on title race. Is Julian getting a bit nervy because there was a defeat last weekend, wasn't there to Leon for Paris Saint-Germain? But they did win midweek against Nantes. So what is it, a four-point lead now. Lance, though, have been an amazing story. Not only are they keeping up with Paris-Sangeme at the moment in the title race, but they also beat Toulouse's four. on Tuesday to reach their first French

Cup final in 28 years. What a campaign Lansa having. Yeah, incredible. And they're very much in for the double. I think overall, I know PhD are, you know, are picking now and playing at their best again. But if you count the whole season since August, Lans have been the best team in France, by far as well.

They've been really outstanding. And the fact that they didn't play in Europe, for example, has helped them as well. But the recruitment in the summer that Jean-Louis Leucca, the new sporting director did. From, you know, Baidu from Salzburg, for example, to Florian Tovin, from Odinez.

Those guys that they went to get, Sangare, as well at Rapid Vienna, guys for 5 million euros, 8 million euros. Otson-Edouard, for example, a palace for 3.5 million euros, who's been outstanding for them. So everything pretty much has worked

in their recruitment, Pierre Sage, obviously Stonewise, as we call him on the show, as the new coach as well in the summer, everything has worked for them. we are only four games left in the league plus this final that we'll play against Nice at the start of France.

They've never won the French Cup. They obviously never won the double. They only won one French title ever. That was back in 1997. So it would be amazing for them. And as much as I love my PhD team, if there's one team I can allow to win the title in front of us, is them.

And I'm really hoping that their owner, Josefou Gourlion, who lives in London, who works in London, will join us on the show. He could not do tonight, so maybe next week or the week after. because just for him to tell us this great story where since he took over,

certainly they went up from the second division to the third division, they went back to the championship. Remember, they even played Arsenal and beat Arsenal at the Stade Ballout not that long ago and now have another go at the title like they had three years ago.

So great story for them and very much nothing to lose now. If they don't win the title and his PhD, then that's what everybody expects, really, they will have still the Coup de France after that to go and win. And if they can make the double,

then it'll be even more special. for them. Yeah, amazing fan base as well. I love watching last play. What do you make guys, though, of Louis and Riquet, the Paras Jemar, head coach, complaining about their schedule? This is Paris Sajima who get games postponed, don't they? I'm not sure he complained, really. I'm not sure he complained.

He think he did complain. Raffer is doing the crying gesture here. So this is what he said. He said, what can you do? You have to play nine games in 27 days. Oboo, boo-hoo. Turnover is the solution. If you don't understand it, you don't understand anything.

He is complaining there, isn't he, James? Yeah, absolutely. But he does, I mean, I'm interested to hear Jules' counter to this. But his club has been able to influence their own calendar in ways that other clubs haven't been able to in Germany, for example. I don't think Bayern have been able to say, hey, Bundesliga, can you give us the weekend off? We're playing PSG in the Champions League semifinals.

Woo, thank you. that hasn't happened. Look, you know, when you are a team that is as good as PSG and you are in all of the competitions or, for example, you've moved fixtures before other games and now you're getting the congestion because you move them before. Like, it's normal that in April or May,

you're going to be playing nine games, but they're fiddling with the calendar has come back to horn them a little bit, Jules, no? No, I know, I know. To be fair, they would have had a lot of games to play if they had to move those two games before the quarterfinal, second leg, and obviously the last 16th second leg.

I've always said that English clubs are easy to beat, you know, the Premier League is not what you used to be, especially for league and clubs. So it would have been better to try to get the weekend off between the two-by-and-tie, which the two-by-hand games, which I think are far more difficult to deal with than the two Chelsea games or the two Liverpool games, you know.

Raffa, what do you make of this? Nine games in 27 days. That is a lot. You feel sorry for them before they meet. But I mean it, you must be absolutely dejected that they have to play this weekend. You must be really upset about that. Incredibly sorry. But in a way, I think, I mean, the justification from the league has always been

that a strong PSJ helps Liga internationally. And I think there is some truth in that. But at the same time, PSG having to play those games in between big championship games, of course, helps everyone else. and that makes the league more excitable and more, yeah, more open. So I think they really should probably use this slightly sort of extreme outcome to reconsider this rule because first of all, it's supposed to be both clubs agreeing and that hasn't really quite happened this year. This year was like PSJ wanting it and then the other club saying no, but then the league saying,

fine, PSG, have a game off anyway. and also I think it makes look League on a slightly unsurious as a competition and I don't think they need that. Yeah, the Nant fans held up a banner, didn't they, Jules at the game in midweek, said Qatar demands, the LFP obeys French football suffers, we are sick of you.

That must be the general feeling, I guess, from the other clubs and the other fan bases around France. Yeah, and I think it was even worse to some extent for Lans because this would have been the league final, really when it was supposed to have been played was by the time this game is played now for all we know the gap might be a bit too big even for that game to be

to matter which is completely wrong that's why I don't think the league should have postponed that last PhD game especially for example the Strasbourg game between the two minds ties they were playing against Brest Bresz were happy they have nothing to play for they can't go down they can't go into Europe

so they said okay no problem if that can help Strasbourg we're all for it the last PhD game was really different. I think it's a small league mentality, which is what we are, to be honest. You know, this is not like the Bundesliga or the Premier League or Seria or La Liga. Although we heard Conati and Sobozla in the Liverpool PhD last quarterfinals, also saying, hey, why not us? What about us? Because, you know, they could feel that physically. It's also very demanding to play those games back to back in the Champions League with your league fixture in between. So maybe there's a broader conversation to have, even in the big leagues,

but only for us, it's what they do in the Netherlands, in Portugal, in Belgium, and that's what they do in France. It's a small-ling mentality. Quick update, because I've enjoyed you talking about the French Big Sam. Le Grand Sam, yeah. The manager of Paris FC. So how's he getting on? I always mess up the pronunciation of his name.

Antoine Cumbouare. Is that correct? Yeah, Comboire. He kept them up. Is he still being the French Big Sam? He is. is very much so. And his legacy and his legend continues because he kept them up doing much better than the guy before him, Stefan Gilly did. I mean, signing some Italians clearly because they didn't

have to think about the World Cup anyway. Clearly helped because Tiro Immobilia has done really well. Coppola has done really well too. And Kaleo showed the other one has done also very well. So their recruitment in January has worked well, much better than the one in the summer. So well done to Paris FC, who by the way, just in case this title race between PSHs, and Lance goes to the wire, the last game in the season is Paris FCC against PSG. Wow. And that could be maybe the moment where Paris FC,

after having knocked PhDR in the French Cup, can also maybe preventing them from winning the title. Which day? Does it have to travel far? Does that game have a name, Jules? It would be like the Paris Born and Bredico or... Yeah, that's a great name. At the moment, the other day I called it,

oh, I can't remember that. Because obviously the owners of Paris FACC, as you know, are the Arnault family, one of the richest families and who owns, like, some really, really luxurious brands. But yeah, I would think about a good name, but I like, I love your Paris Bonne and Bredico. So we've talked about France. Let's head to Italy now, James. The US Special Envoy, Paolo Zampoly, told the Financial Times, I confirm I have suggested to Donald Trump and Gianni Infantino that Italy replaced Iran at the World Cup. He said, I'm an Italian native and it would be a dream to see these Eurozone. at a US hosted tournament.

So it's made lots of headlines this story, hasn't it? Has there been lots of talk about it in Italy? Have they been saying, wow, we've got hope again. Maybe we'll be at the World Cup. No, they haven't taken this seriously at all, J.B. In fact, there's been a sense of shame, really, about it. I think even if Zampoli had secured this, I think members of Italian Parliament and the Italian Football Federation,

would maybe have said, no, we do not want this because we did not qualify. And they're in no state to be at the World Cup. They currently don't have a president of the Italian Football Federation. They currently don't have a coach. Apart from that. Every day is going through what needs to be done in Italian football in order to make the Italian national team competitive again. So it can actually qualify for World Cups, let alone can tend to win World Cups.

like it used to do. And so I think there was a sense that this kind of almost like interfered with this whole process. It's like, hang on a minute, just let us sort ourselves out if we can do that. And so, yeah, it was not taken serious. I spoke to the Italian Football Federation this morning. It was completely over their heads. They were like, you know, we haven't been involved in any of this.

We don't know anything about it. You know, Zampoli very much sees himself as Donald Trump's kind of dealmaker. but I think even he conceded that this is a deal that cannot be done. So, yeah, the Italian Football Federation, the national team, the Italian football movement as a whole is purely focused on who should be the next president, who should be the next coach, and what reforms they need to bring in in order to be at the next World Cup. The focus is the next World Cup. Yeah, that is good.

This summer. Yeah, the sports minister in Italy said, first, it's not possible. Secondly, it's not appropriate. You qualify on the pitch. Have you guys been discussing? I think you have, haven't you, who James is going to adopt as a team to follow during the World Cup?

Did you choose someone? I think Brazil were mentioned because of Ancelotti? So at the Euros in Germany, we were together a lot with Horny because our hotels were close to each other, et cetera, et cetera.

And to a sudden extent, he brought luck to my French team because we went to the semifinal. But then we were there together for that loss against Spain in the semifinals. So I think at the end of the day. I don't really want him to support France anymore. I don't really want him to be there

again. I'm doing two France games, Jules. I know. That's why I'm really fearing. We'll put you in for the final. No, no, no final, no, no semi-final for Horncastle with France. Germany, James? Germany, would like to follow them? Go with the Germans. Very good. I have told our BBC bosses that I will be at every Brazil game because there is a certain Mr. Carlo Angelotti is coaching Brazil. So I will be the Carlo Whisperer for the World Cup. So that is very much what I'm doing. Of course, I'll be following Fabio Canaveras as Bekistan. I'll be following Vincenzo Montel's Turkey because that's how Italians get to World Cups these days. They coach other national teams. Let's talk Seria. So Inter could secure the Seriair title as soon as this weekend.

There were doubts about it, really, weren't they? As recently as a month ago, but they now have a 12-point lead over their city rivals, A.C. Milan. And if they better the results of Milan and Napoli this weekend, they will win the title Inter away at Torino on Sunday. Christian Kivo, do you think he's proved his critics wrong, James? Because you look at some of the stats this season. They've been absolutely sensational, haven't they, in terms of goal scoring?

It's only his second senior managerial job. I think it was only 13 games he had at Palmer. What have people made in Italy of the job he's done specifically? Yeah, I mean, he came in this time last year at Palmer and kept them up on the final day of the season. His only coaching experience, up until to then,

had been working in Inter's Academy, which is why they thought he would be well suited to the club to replace Simonin Zaghi. I remember Inter reached the Champions League final last year, which they lost 5-0. And, you know, that final, it happened quite late. And when Simonin Zaghi communicated the decision that he was going to leave the club a week after that final,

it left into a little bit of a bind because they had to immediately go to the Club World Cup. Keebu is kind of someone who that they fell back on. And, yeah, I was at his first game. It was a 5-0 win against Torino. Look, there have been ups and downs. But, yeah, the narrative about Inter after that championship league final was it's a team that's at the end of the cycle.

It's an old team. Instead, he's managed to get the team to go again. And during the Club World Cup, yeah, that wasn't taken for granted because it seemed that his captain, La Tada Martinez, was falling out with Hacanchalo. He's integrated some young players. He's reinvented some players. And look, some of their

results in the big games were not great. They obviously went out in the Champions League to Bodo Klimt. Yeah, that was humiliating and sort of cast a pall over the spring. But, yeah, he will become the third intercoach in the last five years to win the league. I think that to some extent shows how well run that club has been, regardless of who the coach has been. to be a young coach in a big job like that, as, you know, Raffer and Julian know, I mean, Rafi can maybe speak to this on Vincent Company. When you coach a big club, it's not only about

the tactical or the game model that you implement. There are so many things that go into managing a big club, the kind of scrutiny, can you handle big personalities in dressing rooms? And he's been able to do that. And, you know, given into, have lost a couple of finals on the final day of the season in the last five years, having twice of them, for them to wrap up a title possibly as early as this weekend would be quite the achievement for a young coach. It's interesting that James was talking there about the preseason expectations because Christian Kivu had an interesting quote about his doubters. He said, we were supposed to finish eighth and I was meant to be gone straight away with even a list of replacements already out

there. Jules, Raffa, inter surely were never predicted to finish. eighth. He's exaggerating a bit there, isn't he? I mean, I know he's done a great job, but that's a bit of an exaggeration as to preseason expectations. Yeah, obviously, I mean, he's having a dig at his critics and his perceived lack of expertise. I think the critics did come back when they got knocked out in the Champions League, which was a big blow for this interside having finished as runners up. But, you know, the league formed domestically has been wonderful. And I think he has proven himself as a coach who belongs at this level. And he can start again and maybe with one or two additions,

Inter can be, as James likes to tell us every year, favorites to win the championship again. Yeah, every year. Every year. And to be fair, he had to this season saying that. He had injuries at the wrong time as well, right? Because Lactaro obviously was out for quite a while, Chinatou, maybe more importantly,

there was the whole Bastoni issues, you know, and the Kalulu incident and all that. So they've been a lot of it. a lot of things for him to deal with, right? Yeah, absolutely. I think there's been a feeling that other teams have had worst injury crises, like particularly the one that Antonio Conte faced at Napoli, where it felt like everyone was injured all of the time.

But he's had injuries too. And, yeah, particularly the injuries to Laotado through the spring. Lao Tado is not only their captain, but no matter who plays alongside Laotado, that player does really well, you know, be it in the past, Lukaku, Jekko, Marcus, to ram, he gets the best out of the player next to him. And when Laotado is not there, those players suffer.

And Laotado, even though he can be a bit streaky, he always gets into 20 goals every year. You mentioned Chalonolu as well. Chalanolyu is one of those rare six players, who really gets the team going. And it meant that Kibu had to reinvent Piotr Zelenskyy as a number six. and that worked really well.

You talked about Bastoni becoming this kind of pariah after diving to get Pierre Colulu sent off in the Derby de Italia against Juventus and celebrating the red card. There was a former Prime Minister of Italy who was saying he should never be called up for the national team again. And perhaps Gatuzzo should have taken that advice because Bastogne got sent off against Bosnia.

But these are all things that add up to a lot. I mean, it's not straightforward being the coach. of a big club with a lot of talents. There are lots of bumps in the road, and I think Kivu's dealt with them very well. Still to come on Euroleagues, Bundesliga chat, and a British manager working in Sweden, joins us to tell his fascinating story.

All after this. Five light sports. So here's the first ball of this series. All the cricket you laugh. Jet Railway W. Ouch. Lives on BBC sounds. Smash straight back down the ground.

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On the Football Daily podcast, the Euroleagues with John Bennett. Let's head to Germany now. Talk about Bayern Munich who beats Stuttgart at the weekend to secure their 35th Bundesliga title, second in a row under company. And the treble is still on. Jules won't like us talking about the treble still being on, considering they've got to play Paris-Sange in the Champions League semi-final.

But they beat by Leverkusen on Wednesday night to reach the German Cup final, the DFB, Poccal final. They've scored 109 Bundesliga goals, which is extraordinary. And it's even more extraordinary. When you look at Brissier-Dortman, how many goals they've scored, their second, 61 goals. Raffa, are we talking about the best buying team here

since the Guardiola era, or is that harsh on Hansi Flick and their winners of the Champions League, what, six years ago? Yeah, I mean, we can only really have this discussion after the end of the season because Hansi Flick managed to win the travel, then managed to win a few more titles in the next season, including the Super Cup and so on, the Club World Cup. So if they do all that, then they're in the conversation. But I think if you just want to talk about the football itself,

I think Byrne are probably as close as they, as they have been for a long time, to the dominance that we saw in the Guardiola years, starting with the travel season under Heinkis in 2013, when no one in the Bundesliga could live with this team, and it was just a given that they were going to win games, and it feels a bit like that. You know, they rest half the team at the weekend

and still completely dominate a very decent Stuttgart side, who are the cup winners last year, and contenders for the Champions League places. So, Bayern are on another level. level. I think it also reflects a little bit on the Bundesliga. This is not a vintage season for anyone else. You know, Leverkusen are

much weaker than they were a couple years ago when they won the double. Dortmund have had decent results but they haven't beaten the bigger sides and have really struggled in Europe as well. And Leipzig are only just beginning to find themselves under Olyverna. So I think two things happen at the same time.

Bayern in the second year things tactically worked out a lot better than they did last year. Louis Diaz has been an incredible addition, and the Bundesliga as a whole isn't quite as strong as they were maybe two or three years ago. But the real test, as often does for buying teams when they dominate domestically, is what happens in the Champions League. People will fondly remember this company team if they get knocked out by PSJ

and they'll probably win the double, but that's not going to be enough to be a historic buying team. You need to win the Champions League, and that's going to be very, very difficult because of the calibre of the opposition. How worried are you then, Jules? how worried a PSG. And what do you think they're looking at

as the key part of this team? I mean, we're all talking about the front three, aren't we? K. and Lisei Diaz,

they must be concerned about that front three. Yeah, yeah, sure. I mean, you know, I raise you my front three of Duet and Belling. It's a good debate, isn't it?

It's a good debate. Maybe James should be the referee of that on that in a moment. But I think it's the two, you know, the two best or most informed front three is really

of this moment in time, probably. And I think that would be very special. I think they, for me, slightly in Bayern's favour because they've got the second leg at home, which I think still makes a big difference. Mind games. Mind games. Of course, man. Of course, always. But other than that, I think you can look at them and be very much like 50-50. But between that game and the,

the contrast with the other semi-final, obviously, of Arsenal against Sarteclico, Madrid, I don't think you could be, you could have a bigger contrast at all. And I think this is going to be an incredible game. We know it already. So I just, We just can't wait. I still think that the second leg being in Munich is a bit of an advantage still nowadays. Although I think PhD can be really anybody on there. So is Bayern. So I think it's going to be great.

And Raffa, did you see the reports this week that Anthony Gordon is being linked with Bayern Munich? What do you make of that? I mean, he's not going to get into the team. Could you see this happening? Yeah, of course I saw the reports. It's a big talking point in Germany. And there seems to be a feeling that this could happen if, if, and it's a big if, if the valuations can be agreed.

But Bayern are looking for another winger who can ideally play both positions, maybe through the middle as well, as Anthony Gordon has done quite successfully for Newcastle, of course. And I think Bayern have been, I don't know if Lucky's the right word, but it's been a very risky set up this year

where they said we want a very small squad. We want to give space to the youngsters. We want to keep the squad small, for everyone to gel, everyone to feel important, not to have people sitting on the bench. And so far it's worked, but there's almost no room for any more injuries. Now that Serge Gannabry has been injured,

there is really no one on the bench of the calibre of the players that you mentioned with the possible exception of Leonard Carver, who's still so, so young. So, Bayern look for a little bit more depth. And that's why I think whoever comes, whether it's Anthony Gordon or anyone else in that similar position

will get a lot of game time because Louis Dias has been a machine who's played every single game when he's been picked, of course, sometimes rested, an absolute machine physically and also in terms of performance, but you wonder how long that can

go on and you want to give the likes of him and Michael Olysa a bit more rest at times. So Bayern need more bodies up front. So James, in a word, best front three. Paris Saint-Germain or buy Munich? Come on, you know. You know this answer. The best team I've seen live this season was by Munich.

Slightly on the fence, man. I think we've got an answer. Let's bring in another guest now on Euroleagues on Five Live Sports because he is carrying the proud tradition of British coaches cutting their teeth in Scandinavia. Roy Hodgson, of course, and Graham Potter are two of the bigger names to do it, both coaching in Sweden early in their careers. And of course, Graham Potter is Sweden boss right now.

And after a successful stint in Finland with S. J K Senu Joki Scottish coach Stevie Greeve has now taken charge of five-time Swedish champions Helsingborg as they try to bounce back to the Swedish top flight and I'm delighted to say Stevie joins us now

Hi Stevie, thanks so much for joining us. Three games into the season, one, two, lost one. You've got a game tomorrow as well away from home. How's the season started for you? Yeah, it's been quite good. We got off to a good start in the season premiere and then with a really bad game, the second game,

but we bounced back really well in the third game last weekend. So a good start out of the first three. You've got an amazing CV. Tell the guys about your coaching journey and where it is taking you. You have really travelled around the world. Yeah, I've been lucky. Like I've been coaching since I was 16. I've been to America, Canada, Finland, Sweden, India,

Switzerland, Scotland, worked in England for a bit. I've done some consultation stuff around the world. Yeah, it's been quite an adventure. Yeah, so you began so early. Tell me how that started then, how your coaching journey started when you were just 16 or 17? Yeah, I was actually playing footsile. And then some kids were watching me and I was doing like elastikos and rainbows over people's heads and stuff. Some of the real young kids came and asked how did you do them.

So I was teaching them. I must have been quite good at teaching them because Steve McPhee, who used to be the head of the coaching company in the council, he came and asked me if I wanted a job. but I think I was 15 at the time, so I had to wait a few months before I could get a job. That's really how it started. So you were doing these amazing tricks and skills and these kids spotted it,

and then someone spotted that and said, wow, that guy would be a great coach. That's an incredible story. Yeah, like in Perth, where kind of futsal started in Scotland, I was just playing and because I was doing the things and there was a lot of kids playing, so everybody wants to do something new.

So, yeah, that's kind of where it started. So talk to us about the job you did in Finland. how you came to get that job and you coached some big games, the Europa Conference League that the club were involved in, weren't they? Yeah, I went over initially as the B team coach, which is in the Finnish second division.

The coach had left and there was, I think I joined one game into the season and we nearly got promoted. And then because the B team did so well, nearly getting promoted to the top division, I moved up to the first team job. Keeney, who was the coach before me went to Saudi. My first year, we were expected to be in the bottom half

and we qualified for Europe. So it was quite a good achievement. We brought up eight players from my academy team. So we did it with one of the top five youngest teams in the world. I mean, your CV is really impressive. All those clubs, all those countries that you visit, was that because you wanted to, I don't know, broaden your mind maybe, you wanted to see those different countries in the football?

Or it just happened that you just saw those jobs and applied for them and then got the job of, you know, what was the logic if there was one even? Honestly, no logic. It was, there's a job going in India. I met the guy when I was working in Switzerland. I liked the project. I thought, let's try India for a few years. I went there for three years.

And then when I was in India, I had my own TV show and stuff like that. Don't just say that. Don't just say that quickly. You just dropped it over. So like Kim Kardashian. Basically, there was the Kardashian and then there's the Greaves. He was nicknamed the Scottish Gary Neville in India. This is true, is it?

Tell us about this TV show. You can't just say you had a TV show? Yeah, like I got asked to do punditry on a Monday. And then after I got a one-show contract and then we did the Champions League Tuesday, Wednesday. And then I had a one-show contract that went to one week and then one month and the end of the season. And it was when Davy Moyes was the coach of Man United, so it was in 2013.

And then in my second season, I had a one-year contract. And after, I think, two game weeks in the Champions League, they bought the Piero software and gave me a long TV show. Honestly, it's surreal. You guys are on TV, you know what it's like, but it's surreal seeing yourself the first couple of times. Was that really your nickname, the Scottish Gary Neville? Is that true?

I was actually, it was one of the boys on my B licence was taking the Mac. I was doing the B licence and the boys were hammering me like, Scottish Gary Nevels here and I was like, come on, man. And now it's Helsingborgs. I mean, for me, I don't know if you agree, guys, but that's a big name, isn't it? I remember when I think Helsingborgs, I think some big European fixtures, James,

back in the late 90s and 2000s and 2010. It's a big club. Yeah, they famously knocked out into Milan, I think, in the first round of the UEFA Cup, which led Marcello Lippi to basically tell the interplayers that they needed to kick up the backside and then he left a game afterwards. The goalkeeper coach actually saved the penalty.

So the current goalkeeper coach is still there. Amazing. Really? Yeah, it's Ben Anderson that saved the penalty to qualify for the Champions League. He's still the goalie coach. now. Does it feel like a big club? Does it, does it feel like a big club that you've walked into? Yeah, like where I've come from, there's not like much media attention. No matter how well you do

or how success for the club is, the media attention is quite small. You come to Ellsingborg and it's there's like four or five journalists watching training every day, taking notes, asking you meals and questions, you get phone calls at all hours. It's pretty full on. Even like when you go down the street, even though it's like a small city of 150,000, it takes me 45 minutes now, which is 20 minutes longer to walk home because people always stop yet. It's, yeah, like, I didn't... The Scottish Gary Neville, I mean, come on.

Yeah, yeah, come on. I'm a bit better looking than him. Are the people supportive? What the fans like at Helsing Pogs? What's the atmosphere like in the stadium? Do you know what, it's good. I've spent so much time trying to change the narrative and the mentality around the club

because we've been in the second division for four years and we shouldn't be, so it's trying to change the mentality and the narrative. And I think the fans have really bought in But in the first game of the season they put up a big one of those TIFOs with noisy and hostile which is kind of what I've said

that I want the fans to be since I've got the pyro and the fireworks and the TIFOs and stuff it's a good atmosphere now. So you called on them you said noisy and hostile, that's your kind of motto is it? You called on the fans to be like that for the season.

Yeah, I think like if you've got 17,000 theatre stadium and it's the biggest club in the league we should use the fans as a home advantage. Like some of the teams who play against them maybe have 1,200 fans.

and it's, you come to our stadium as minimum 8,000, and it's, of course, it's a completely different environment when it's noisy and hostile. So we want to use the fans to our advantage, and I've kind of pressed on that since December. What kind of level are we talking? League one, League two, something like that? A really good standard of League one?

Yes, probably closer to, like, top-end league two. Like, Al Svenkinskins, like, bottom-end championship, top-end league one, where the super-evens, top-end league two, bottom-end league one. But obviously, significantly lower salaries. When you're coaching so many different areas, and countries and so on, can you still develop your own style

or have you, do you always have to adapt to what you find? Elasticos and rainbows, Raffa. That's it. It works everywhere that. Do you know what? When I played at the very bad level, I played that,

I was kind of like a free role player and don't give me too many instructions. So I kind of take that as a coach, no matter where I've been. Give the players some guidelines and some movements that you want to see and some attacking actions, but in the end, it's the behaviours and intentions that you want to try and elicit from the players. So for me, like, we don't really have, the team I left before

didn't really have positions. We have centrebacks playing number 10 and fullbacks coming into centreback and strikers just wandered around. We didn't have many positions, whereas this team's a little bit more rigid than my previous team. So the idea is always to, like, be attack-minded with all our actions and to try and press as aggressively as possible. And if we can have a lot of freedom in the attacking movement and try and you know when you watch a lot of teams and it's like three, two, four, one positional playing. You can go man to man and the game becomes stuck. I don't like that. So I just give the players more freedom to wander around. Like, our left winger, you can quite often see him underlapping on the right hand side because

he's got a three roll. But he's not the only one. There's three or four that will have three roles, but it's a work in progress. Sounds like a fun team to watch. We're going to check out Helsing Ball's games. What's the dream now? I know, you know, you'd be hoping to stay Helsing Borgs for a long time and getting them promoted back into the top flight. But would the dream one day be to return to Britain, return to Scotland or return to English football? Yeah, like I've always said I'd kind of like to coach one of the bigger teams in Scotland. So at some point to coach one of the big two and to try and maybe coach Scotland in the future as the national team coach when I'm a lot older.

So, yeah, I'd like to work at the highest level possible. I always said I wanted to coach in the Champions League. So if I can get to that level, I'll be pretty happy. And finally, Stevie, were you tempted first trading session at Helsingborgs to bring out the elastico? No, it was sick for January and, yeah, it was too cold for them. Too much snow for that. Steve, it's been great to speak to you. We will follow your progress in Helsingborg's progress on Euroleagues with interest.

Brilliant to speak to you. That is Stevie Greve, who is the coach of Helsingborg in Sweden. Remember the name because I think he has a big future in the next few years. Let's end by going to Italy. and there's been a lot of talk about Leicester City this week. We won't get into that. My club who I support. I know a couple of the guys are desperate to talk about this.

We're going to move on swiftly. What happens? What happened? Let's talk about what happened 10 years ago. Because 10 years ago, Claudio Raniari was in charge and amazingly they won the league. But now Claudia Ranieri is senior advisor at Roma and he's had a big, very public row,

with the manager at Roma, Jean-Pierro, Gasparini. And it seems, James, that Raniari might be leaving. The reports in the Italian press that he might be going. I've seen Gazeta Della Sport, their headline Raniari on the edge, waiting for the Friedkin's decision. That's the owners. The departure of the senior advisor is near. That's a shame, isn't it? The legend, Claudia Ranieri, leaving Roma again. Yeah, it really is. You know, I've had some conversations this evening. He's set to go. They're just preparing a statement. The sporting director, Ricky Masa,

who is someone who is very close to Claredeo Ranieri might leave as well on the back of this. This all comes down to an interview that Claudia Ranieri gave before a game a fortnight ago. It's quite unusual really for him to do a flash interview before a game. That's usually what the sporting director does in Italy. And he just wanted to set the record straight because there's been a lot of reports about a rift between himself and Jampiero Gaspari. And, you know, Gasparini, as good a coach as he is, you know, he's very forthright in his press conferences. You know, he's been very critical of some of the signings that they made.

He's been critical of the medical staff. And, yeah, I think Ranieri felt that he needed to speak in order to say, right, this is how things really were. I had a list of five coaches that I wanted to hire. Three of them said, no, the club chose Jampiero Gasparini. All of the signings that we made were approved by him. It wasn't the case that he only got two of the players that he wanted. And, you know, Claudio, you know, sort of this not just a vuncular,

but kind of almost grandfather-like figure. It was quite surprising to see him speak in the manner that he did. And, you know, for someone who is from that city, who supports that club, it's been very interesting to see the reaction because I wouldn't say the fans have turned on Raniere, but they have been very supportive of Jean-Pierre, The first game back last week against Atalanta, when his name was read out by the stadium announcer, massive roar for Gasparini.

The Freakins, who obviously owned Everton, wanted a reconciliation. But it appears that that reconciliation has been impossible. And, you know, as much as Ranieri wanted this senior advisor role because he wants to spend a little bit more time with the grandkids, you know, and have a little bit more time off. You know, what's happened with the Italian national team is also, I think, I wouldn't say had an impact on his decision, but certainly at the moment there's a feeling that if a particular presidential candidate gets the job to be the next Italian Football Federation president, then Ranieri might have a role within that Italian Football Federation

to be some kind of technical director above a coach. So let's see. But, yes, certainly not what Ranieri envisaged when he took this senior advisor role, on the back of doing a fantastic job last year where remember Roma went through three coaches last year they were close to the relegation zone and they were to the Champions League and then they finished just one point off the Champions League

is the job that Ranieri did before he moved upstairs so yeah not the way he would have liked to have gone out I don't think that's interesting the crowd reaction Raffa are you surprised that the fans seem to be team Gasparini rather than team Raniari there yeah a little bit but then I guess there is a natural disposition to be slightly more sympathetic to a coach who you feel hasn't been given the right tools to succeed by those upstairs rather than the other

way around but yeah I'm surprised a little bit sad as well it's a shame for it to end this way isn't it jules to see those two falling out and ranieri on his way yeah although maybe if ranieri's name had been you know read out at the stage I mean I've got a good reception as well we will never know but the feeling is not like that. And maybe two strong personalities like that, James could just not work together. And Gasparini, I think, is probably very hard to work with at times.

And I think maybe that was also part of the problem. But if one has to go, if you're Roma, it's better for you if Ranieri goes more than Gasparini. Even if you don't think that Gasparini, as usual, the potential of his squad, he still has done quite well this season. So there was always going to be one winner if that battle, if they could not reconcile it.

Jules, thank you very much. Thank you very much as well and Rafa as well. That is it for Euroleagues. Thanks as always for listening. By live sports. BBC Women's Football Weekly. The latest news, insights and analysis from across the women's game. Dame Serena Vigman.

Are we including Dame in your title now? You know how much an honour that is? You want to play in a way that they can show their skills. So that's what we're trying to do. Win the World Cup. It's a dream. Listen. With the BBC.

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