Football Daily - Euro Leagues: Vardy party heading to Cremonese? And the return of Real Oviedo

Episode Date: August 28, 2025

Steve Crossman is joined by Julien Laurens, Guillem Balague and Mina Rzouki to reflect on the opening weekend of Serie A, as well as discussing Real Oviedo’s long-awaited return to La Liga.Plus, is Trent in trouble at Madrid? And Olivier Giroud might not have ‘broken America’, but he’s still banging the goals in for Lille.Topics: 02:42 - Guillem's lunch with Getafe manager José Bordalás 05:26 - Champions League draw - Kairat Almaty - the Champions League's most easterly club 10:47 - FK Bodø/Glimt - the Champions League's most northerly club - with Norwegian football expert Mats Arntzen 19:30 - Serie A - Jamie Vardy on his way to Cremonese? 29:45 - La Liga - Trent on the bench at Real Madrid 33:35 - The return of Real Oviedo with fan Diego Crespo 43:08 - Lamine Yamal the new number 10 at Barcelona 46:05 - Olivier Giroud loving life at LilleBBC Sounds / 5 Live commentaries: Sat - 1500 - Premier League - Man Utd v Burnley Sat - 1500 - Premier League - Tottenham v Bournemouth Sat - 1730 - Premier League - Leeds v Newcastle Sun - 1200 - Scottish Premiership - Rangers v Celtic Sun - 1400 - Premier League - Brighton v Man City Sun - 1400 - Nottingham Forest v West Ham Sun - 1630 - Liverpool v Arsenal

BBC sounds, music, radio, podcasts. On the Football Daily podcast, the Euroleagues, with Steve Crosman. This is the Euroleagues. We'll reflect on the opening weekend of Seria R. We will discuss Rao Oviedo's long-awaited return to La Liga. We'll be live in Norway, too, to talk Bodo Glimt. We'll be talking young men and old men, Laminia Melle and Olivier Giroux.

Julianne Leone, Mina Rizuki, Guillaume Balaget are all with us. Hello, everybody. Good evening. Hello, guys. Who is the old man and the young man on the show? I'm kidding. I'm happy to call myself the old man. And wise, you can add that wise as well.

Might be the young one. I think it might be me. I might be the youngest, but I mean it's meaner. I mean it's meaner. Hey, Guillem, I've got a question for you, all right? So, this is your first appearance of the new season, of course. This is season 8, episode 2. Would you believe that of the Euroleagues?

No, I remember that meeting that we had where you were introduced as a potentially good percentage that we don't know yet. Brilliant. And that was like, yeah, let's give him a chance. And look where we are now. And now they know I'm not any good. Now we're lucky to have you. I think it's important to say that this means, Guillaume,

we have now beaten the following TV series. Malcolm in the middle, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Gilmore Girls, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, New Girl, the West Wing, and Boy Meets World.

They all finished after seven series. What does that say about the Euroleagues? Does that mean people are listening? I think it does. I think it does. Although Jules, We've got a while to go to match Ploubel Lavi. Pluble lavi.

I read it's on 18 seasons. So my question is, guys, do we have a decade left in us? Then we all be very old. That's true. That's true. That wasn't a yes. I was expecting like a real... Of course we do.

Ten years is nothing. It's a long coming. We'll still be in our 30s, so we'll be fine. We'll all still be in our 30s. That sounds great. We're going to get stuck into loads of stuff lately so we'll kind of do light touch, look at the Champions League drawer as we go

because ultimately teams will play each other and when they play each other we'll talk about it in more depth but there are some good stories to touch on right from the word go although I'm told Guillem before we do anything else you had an interesting lunch today.

Oh yes. First of all, apologies about the bell you may hear every now and again. It's the lift bell, I mean I'll tell and I try to convince them to force everybody to walk through steps instead of the lift because I'm in the Euroleagues

but no so apologies about that because you're Guillem Ballaget I mean come on no it didn't work I don't I use all that and I'm with jewels it's not working anymore no no no

I went for lunch with Jose Bordalas who is the Hettafe manager who after two games in the league with only 12 players of the necessary level with they've got for six players who haven't been registered

he used one substitution per game against telta minute 76 against seville minute 96 and he's got two wins and his top of the table with bella ral barcelona r madrid athletic club earned 32 million to uh telfth sorry to hettafe with the sales of the players he's had but that money's not being reinvested into the side and that means he has to do what what he's got including and this is of interest to england uh uche chrysendos uche who is the striker who was a midfield originally and his own training, when he didn't have strikers,

that he could hold the ball. Not that he could finish or anything, but he can hold the ball. You would do. And now, of course, he's wanted by Wolves and Leeds. And even though the story is that he's decided not to go to the Premier League, I think that's very much on. And both Wolves and Leeds have got the chance to get him,

which means he'll have no striker. I love that your first thing in EuroLeague season eight is just to shock the listeners who were thinking he's going to go in on Barcelona. owner. He's going to go in on Rail Madrid. No, Hataffe. Straight away, Guillaume. Great story. Gethafe. Brilliant story.

The most boring team in the league. The most, what do you say, Jules? It's the most defensive, boring style of football you can think of. Oh, come on. I mean, he deserves credit for doing a good job, but this is not my cup of tea. Steve, take it away. We can't all be Paris Saint-German fans, Jules.

I know, but I'm just saying, you know. There is such peer pressure to play this really fancy football, right? Like poor Atletico Madrid, they can't just, you know, lean into what they do best. They've got to try to find a way to do what they're doing. I love Hattah. I love Vordelaus. I love that he makes the most out of so little and always wins. I feel like we're just so into peer pressure now where everyone's got to be so fancy.

All right. Well, I mean, listen, I'm all for a bit of ugly football. I certainly watch a lot of it in England outside the Premier League. That's a lot of ugly football at Hettafe. I'm not right, right. Champions League, obviously eight games per team. So I'm just going to give you a flavour of the drawer, otherwise we'd be here all night. Trent, Alexander Arnold and Rail Madrid will play Liverpool at Anfield. Liverpool also go to Inter. They host Atletico Madrid.

Chelsea have got Barcelona at home. They've got Bayern Munich away. Newcastle also have Barcelona at home. They go to reigning champions, Paris Saint-German. Spurs will be in Paris as well. They've also got to go to Bodo glimped again. Manchester City are going to be in the Arctic Circle as well. It wouldn't be the Champions League without them going away to Rail Madrid, of course. Arsenal have got Atletti and Bayern Munich at home and Inter away. You will get all of the best commentaries on Five Live and BBC sounds throughout the new Champions League season.

We're going to start with one of Arsenal's other opponents on the Euroleagues tonight. This is a team that they will be over the moon to have drawn at home. The Kazakh club, Kairat Almaty, who beats Celtic in the playoffs. They are the easternmost team to have played in the competition proper. But Guillaume, Rail Madrid, not so lucky. They will be making the long journey to Kazakhstan. Which is with the direct flight that they're going to take the players, it's going to take them nine hours.

I've been looking, I'm in Madrid now, and I've been looking at what you do to get there. it's three flights 12 hours so yeah it's going to be far but it is already one of the stories of this Champions League I remember many people complaining

oh more teams in the Champions League has no good this is actually good and it's one of the stories that I'm sure we're going to get into more detail of Almaty a city of 2 million inhabitants and it's only 300 kilometres from the Chinese border

closer to Dubai on Kabul than it is to the centre of Europe. So it's great. And definitely one of those trips, especially around what it being there, that I hope to make. I was just looking, Mina, at the geography of this.

You remember when we all used to talk about Carabag and be like, oh, Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan, that's an incredible trip for clubs to make. Well, if you were coming from England, you get to Carabag and then carry on for another 2.5,000 miles to get to Cairo. It's amazing.

So they're going to cover 45,000 kilometres in their campaign. That's a record-breaking distance, and it actually is more than doing a full lap around the earth. So that's crazy to me. I mean, think of the trip that they've got to go to Lisbon, which is nearly 7,000 kilometres to cover. So we're looking at, like, I mean, the one thing that you had was Pepe Marotta from Inter saying, I'm so glad that we're playing them at home, because I just... that's the fear right that you're going to have about you know doing that journey to them and back so it's like you'll be so thankful if you get to face them at home rather than having to make the journey over there um did anyone else watch the get oh go on jill sorry no i was just going to say i mean maybe the most beautiful is that they had to go through four four rounds of qualifiers together and in a way if you they were not celtic were the best team that they had to face because it's not lubiana or kUPS from from finland or even slovan bradislava but it still you've earned that right, you know, you played teams that were, I've been playing in Europe

well longer than you, far more regularly than you that have more money, more money than you, it's slightly different because they have very rich owners, but still, you know, I'm like leagues that have more money than their league in Kazakhstan. So well done to them, four rounds. They made it against Celtic, they rode there like a little bit, but in the end they got there. So now they can enjoy it. They might not make it out of this league phase, but they would have a lot of fun before that at home and away. anyone else watched the penalty shoot out so funny story right like I was watching the penalty but we were with a group of friends when we're watching it and we

had to watch it on B-in and they it was like on that we were on the third penalty shoot and then the programming had ended the time so a whole new show just started they didn't extend it so you didn't even get to watch the last two so I was I had to like Google who won imagine you know and I was like does that happen like aren't you supposed to extend the program if there's like a penalty shootout, but apparently not. Would never happen on 5 live, Mina, that's all I'm saying. That's the thing.

That's why we listen. Yeah, so Tamil and Abekov, back-up goalkeeper, 21 years old, saved three penalties. And I think those are the kind of stories that we're talking about here, aren't we? And, you know, we might find more stories like that when we're into the league phase, but I love stuff like that.

Yeah, we're going to hear about Georgineo, the striker, Luis Mata, the left back, and Dustin Sat Paef, who is a 17-year-old on loan from Chelsea, who's got a panelie, a lot of talent, and he's been somebody lazily compared to Mbap, and I just repeated that, so I've been lazy as well, but certainly has got talent, and we'll hear, of course, that this is not just a team that's lucky. It's been a reference of the Cascan football, five league titles, 10 Cops. So they know how to win, and I'm sure they'll know how to make things difficult to whoever they face them.

So we've got the Champions League Easternmost Club and also the Champions League northern most club. Bodo Glimp will be in the Champions League proper for the first time in their history. They beat Sturmgrat 60 on aggregate in the playoffs. So as I mentioned, they've got Tottenham again. They've also got

Manchester City at home and Juventus at home as well. Let's speak to Norwegian football journalist Matt Arnston, who joins us live from Oslo. Matt's good evening. Good evening. They must be over. I'm very good, thank you. They must be over the moon with that draw?

Well, in a sporting perspective, it's quite difficult, but there will be some really cool fixtures. I think the fans are happy with the way games, going to Dortmund, going to Madrid. But the chances for going to the next round, not so sharp. You know what? I really hope that we get to see either Spurs or Manchester City there when it's really properly cold

because it was a bit overdone when Spurs went there in the Europa League about, oh, they're going to the Arctic Circle. It was about 12 degrees because it was at the back end of the season. But around Christmas time, that would be something else, right? Yeah, it's way too beautiful in the summertime

and it's just a pleasure going to Boulder. But in November, December, I think Jose Mourino could say something about that because I was there and I think it was minus 10 degrees and the wind was coming straight from the sea and over the stadium. So that was not a rainy night in Stoke

but the rainy night in or snowy night in... That was Roma, right, wasn't it, when they hammered them? Yeah, yeah, six fun. So it's based in a town of all, 50,000 inhabitants, but their success is not by chance, is it? We're talking about a team that is dominated the domestic championship. Yeah, and they've done it like step by step with a clear plan all the way.

For example, I think it was maybe, when was this, 2017 or something, they got rid of their top scorer because they wanted the striker that was more oppressing. They wanted the centerback with a better playing style. They did some choices that we were not used to in Norwegian football. That were I thought behind it. And they've done it step by step with a really good coach, having a plan, having a system that's their way or the highway. So, and they're just built step by step. You mentioned the coach there, Keatil Nutson.

He's been linked with a few jobs in Europe, including in the Premier League. He's been there since 2017. And really, this is part of the success, as you said, is also him. Are you surprised he's still there? Is there something special there, like he just keeps him there instead of maybe going to a bigger club? Or do you expect him at some point to leave for a bigger club? I think it surprises everyone.

I think there's sporting directors all over the world thinking what's wrong with this guy? Because he didn't even want to speak with Ajax when they were for him. But they're now able to pay a good price. I think they can pay the same as if you go to Netherlands or Belgium for example so they're competitive in that way now but before it they he still stayed and I think this project they're like three guys that has totally control over the club

working really close together and I think I think he just thinks that it gives him more to personally to build on this like when you have a really good save on football manager you just want to stay in that that's a great shout it's a bit it's a bit like that I think yeah can I ask from a financial point of view this is a club that has earned every bit of money and has had everyone contribute fans and everything and what is the budget like for them do they think that they have a hope of getting as in winning a few matches financially how do you think whether they will use that as a way of saying you know we can't compete although they've shown themselves

to be able to at least in the europe league uh well financially they're miles above every all the other clubs in norway right now um i think their economy like i said before it's like some of the top clubs in the Netherlands with a few exceptions. So it's quite, because they have so much profit, they don't have so, so, it's such a small club, so this money becomes very big for them. But right now, the most important thing for them, I think, is to build a new stadium because I'm not sure if you've seen the stadium they're playing at. It's not very cozy for the weight teams, but not very cozy for the fans either.

So they need to build something around the new stadium, a more modern stadium. So they will try to use as much money as they can on the stadium. And they're also trying to get the city to spend as well to invest. So because there's a lot of people coming to Budu because of Budap's as well. It's really good ad for Northern Norway. I love going to Norway because people are very knowledgeable on football, on European football. they buy all my books

that also helps but I don't know generally when you had the book learned sometime about I think it was with the messy book yes

yes well in that in that visit in fact in every visit to Norway I've always been a little bit shocked about the

cultural debate that's been going on on how you should play football Norway were number two in the world with a very very defensive style

and there was others that are in love the Pepo Ardiela football, and I just wonder if what the success of Odo gleamed and Keitel Nudsen and the style that he uses has finished that debate for good. I think so. Everyone's going to press high now. Everyone's going to play from the back. As you said before, we had two successful teams. It was the Norwegian national team and Rosenborg. And Rosembourg tried to play their own style, really offensive. And then you had Norway sitting back playing gong balls, countertacks.

So there were two different styles, but both having success. So it was always a bit 50-50, the old school saying that you have to be pragmatic and everything. But I think now if you want to achieve success, that's more than you thought. You have to build a style that's possible to take the next step and then the next step. And I think you see a lot of other Norwegian clubs trying to do the same. as Bouda Glimb. And if Bouda Glimp are able to do it, I think there's no excuse for other teams in Norway not to do it because a team from with 50,000 in absence, so far north with those conditions, yeah, it's then then it's just a matter of trying hard enough, working

good enough, and then we'll see if there's someone else able to come to the same level. Matt's, this is how it always goes on the Euroleagues. The guys ask you really interesting, deep questions. And then it's left to me to ask you things like, why do fans bring giant toothbrushes to matches? I'm not really sure how that started, but that's a really old thing. They've done it for, I think it was at the Cup final

when they went to Oslo. They had this big toothbrushes slow. So I'm not sure why it started, but it's become a good symbol for them. But they're weird up north. My family is from there, so you never know. Matt, it's been lovely to have you with us. Thank you very much. We'll definitely speak to you again.

Thank you. Great stuff. Brilliant. Matt's answer and their Norwegian football journalist, joining us live on the Euroleagues from Oslo. We have got Guillain Balaget, we've got Mina Rizuki, and we've got Julianne, on and we're now going to talk seria are and before we get on to the kind of the meat of it and we talk about napoli and that kind of thing the story of the week from my perspective is that it

looks like jamie vardi is on his way to cremenese uh kremona's about an hour from milan tell us about them mina tell us about the club and the place that jamie vardi looks like he's going to it was interesting because actually uh nikola davina nikola who is a specialist when it comes to saving clubs from relegation. But never has really shone when he has been in charge for a whole season for a team. It's almost like, you know, you bring him in for the last 12 matches of a season

and he'll get you through. But Kremendez, it was the last team to be promoted into Seria, just like you said, an hour away. And in keeping with the senior citizen theme that Seria has got at the moment. At the moment? For the last 50 years, you made.

Hey, hey, once upon a time, this was the Crem de la Cremme of all football league. Sure, sure, sure. But, yes, indeed. They've decided to go for Jamie Vadi. Now, when I first heard this, this was being reported by DiMazio, and everything that he reports is usually always spot on. So when he was saying this, I was like, are you sure? Jamie Vardy is going to go to Cremone, is it?

Like, it just didn't make sense to me considering their budget at the moment, considering the team they got. But obviously this is the side who, on the first game of the season, defeated Max Allegries Milan, who were being tipped to be sort of the anti-Napoli, to really make a go of it in the Scudetto because of Allegri's pragmatism, because of his ability to win all these different competitions. And then Cremonese had the most amazing game at San Ciro, and everyone is, you know, piled onto Milan.

And you are thinking to yourself, yeah, but it's Cremonez. And now they're going to add Jamie Vardy, and it looks like this rumor is actually true. It is taking off because now he's shown a willingness to go in. He's going to be 40 in September, in the first week of September, and yet they do think that his experience and his know-how is what they need to move forward. Now, here's the thing, right? Italy complain all the time every time they don't qualify for a World Cup that they don't develop youth in this league.

Oh, you know, this is what the media complains about all the time. We don't give any youth a chance. We don't allow them to develop. progress, we don't even give them the space to play. And then since Kevin DeBroner and Luca Modrich has come in, the media has been beside themselves. Gazeta tipped Napoli to be the best this season for the simple sake that they're the oldest squad in the league. They actually said that. They said, you know, it's because of that experience, because Antonio Conte knows how to work with that experience, because having the oldest outfield player since the 94-95 campaign in

Kevin DeBroner is going to make the difference. Now, watch whether or not they're going to maintain that when and i mean i'm thinking this is for sure going to happen when italy don't qualify for another world cup and i wonder then whether they're going to say yeah well maybe we shouldn't have been so happy that all these older stars are coming in and taking away the youth that are not being given any opportunity at all to show what they can do in seria in fact is is it is a genuine suggestion that experience is absolutely you know that the worth of it is huge and is it a cultural thing that the respect for the eldest actually is it's something that comes out into football and especially the managers managers you would be 60 and still would be considered to have the right energy for what you need to do as a manager where does all that come from well listen I think there's a there's a there's a valid point to needing experience and needing leadership within your side right that was kind of a little bit of the stick that we used to beat Chelsea with it was too much of a young squad was there enough leadership within it was there enough experience within that side right and that was kind of a little bit of the stick that we used to beat Chelsea with it was there enough experience within that side and I certainly think there's a lot to be said about that.

And if we actually are to study the statistics of winning teams in the World Cup at the time, and even, I would say, in league games prior to maybe five years ago, then you would have seen that the age is about 29. If a team had an average age about 28, 29, then they were usually a winning team, which is on the older side of things. Of course, now everything is about going younger, right? Like even Laminia Mal and it's always about targeting the youngest as possible. but there has been this shift and I do think that in a league that has a generational problem

and is not really developing kids very well at the moment and you don't really there's just not enough talent right now when it comes to Italy if there is an opportunity to actually start doing something then why not give some of these youth a chance and I think these are the questions that we need to ask like Milan sold off some players which were given less than 100 minutes in Seria action. And then they're bringing in Luca Modrish in midfield. And you have to ask yourself, and by the way, I mean, Gazeta was beside themselves when they were rating.

They called him the best player that Milan had in the game. And by all means, Luca Modrich is Luca Modrich. He's a Ballandoor player. So by all means, we always tip his hat to him when he plays. But it does worry me when you are not engaging with the youth that you can develop, especially in academies, to continue going for these older experienced stuff. and paying them quite a lot of money to come. And when you have a really good young one,

like Giovanni Leone, Parma, who didn't actually play that much, but still clearly, at 18 is a very talented kid, and you're thinking, okay, Inter are going to come or Milan are going to come, somebody's going to come, yet it goes to Liverpool, because Liverpool are clearly very happy

to put 30 million euros down on the player at his age, where clearly on the top Italian side, we were thinking, okay, well, maybe we just wait a little bit and see how he develops and this and that, And I think this is the mindset too. Can I just say I'm thoroughly disappointed in how quickly this became a really interesting, detailed and nuanced debate about the age of Seriaire players. I mean, it's fascinating.

But equally, I am sitting here thinking, hang on a second, weren't we talking about Jamie Vardy in Cremonaisi? But it's a great point. No, no, it's a really good point. I actually, I am also curious to know, Mina, how you think he will get on at 38. because he's still, he is still Vardy, 38, I think. I'm going to Google that while I talk to you. I think he's 38.

I think he might be 39 next year. Oh, you're right, you're 38. Yeah, yeah. That's going to get us into that bad Twitter debate. Actually, that's not very old then. He's 38 until he's 39, all right? Oh, no, so now he's a spring chicken, right? He is, he's a spring chicken by all means, yes, certainly.

But like how pacey are Seria defences in the round right now? because I can't see any reason why it wouldn't be a success potentially for a season. Well, here's the thing, right, as in he is a good striker and certainly probably above what Karamanezia could ever bring in, to be honest with you, because they do have budget limitations. So, of course, he's going to make the difference because he does have that experience. And I do think that he's still a clinical forward for them. And if you see what's on offer and a way of, like, keeping the fans on board.

But, you know, they just scored two of the most delicious goals against Milan. There is this part in you where I just don't, it worries me a little bit like this is the kind of player that they continue to turn to, not because I don't think Vardy's a great striker, not because I don't think he'll elevate them, but you are going to need those around him to continue to run to give him the opportunities.

When opportunities are created, I don't doubt that he can do a job. And so, you know, devil's advocate, if he can still do a job, then why shouldn't he be allowed the chance to shine? So, and I would agree with that. But there is this other problem. part of me that just thinks, are we trying to say that there's no Italian kid that we can

actually try to launch at the moment and give him a chance? When you think of players like Francesco Camarda, who Milan got rid of, and you just think, this is a wonder kid, this was going to be the next big thing. People had dubbed him the next Thailand. And they just discarded him. But they obviously have space in their team for Luca Modrich's different positions, of course. But this is what worries me. But yes, I certainly think Evadi will make the difference for Camonesse. But I already think it's a good team, and it's already one that already shocked us the first day of the season and deserves a lot of praise

for the way that they're already playing under Davy de Niquola. But it was the first game of the season so we can't get too carried away. Whatever happens, I want a documentary on the BBC on Netflix and anywhere of the year of Vardy and the Vardy family in Italy

when he arrived at training at 9 a.m. with his Red Bull, kind of Red Bull when everybody's drinking the espresso and I just want to see the Vardis in Italy. Please somebody make it happen. We could do the wags of Cremoneze. What about the wags of Cremonesi?

Even better, Mina. I'm in for that as well. And the Bardi jokes, because he's a constant joker, isn't it? And nobody understanding any one of them. I can hear this on BBC Sounds, right? I think it'll be hosted, it'll be presented by somebody like Alexander Armstrong, right? And the Vardy's in Cremona. I think I'm up for it.

Five Live and BBC Sounds. Coming soon. Rebecca Vardy, yes, yes, please. That's going to be amazing. It's going to be amazing. We can see her watching, like, buying tomatoes and maybe eating them with McDominy and showing, like, the differences, you know? Perfect. Also, the best news for Jamie Vardy is that he's got a year younger throughout the course of this conversation.

Yeah, that's true. He's absolutely on fire. He scored goals, lifted trophies and broken records along the way. There it is. It's a day to remember the Wayne Rooney. And now he's got a podcast. Welcome to the Wayne Rooney Show. Wayne Rooney, Cake Hurd, and me.

Kelly Somers break down the biggest stories in the Premier League and beyond. Plus, we'll hear the funniest, wildest and most outrageous stories from Wayne's career. Me and Colleen were in Las Vegas for our honeymoon. The McDonald's was closed so you could only go through the drive-to. Did you walk through it? I was pushing her in a shop and trolley. The Wayne Rooney Show. Listen on BBC Sounds.

On the Football Daily Podcast, the Euroleagues with Steve Crosman. Right, let's go on to a bit of Lala Liga, shall we? do Barcelona's new number 10. Obviously, Lamin Amar's taken on the shirt. We're going to talk Real Oviedo in a moment as well, back in the top flight after so many years away. They faced Rail Madrid, of course, first game of the season. So just before we do Oviedo, let's do a bit of Real Guillem.

I don't just want to make this about Brits abroad, because we have just talked about Jamie Vardy, but for Madridistas, Trent on the bench, Carverhal, returning to the starting 11, is significant. And I know the bench in of itself wasn't necessarily just the backup players, though, for that one.

Well, it's three games in 11 days, so that explains it. Carvajal has come back from a very long injury, but he's got an hour in him, which is a bit surprising. He's training really, really well. And the biggest thing for him is that he loves competition.

Trend. Yeah, bring it on. And we thought it was going to take a month to see Carvajal in the lineup, but he has taken much less. and I have to say that the Spanish media have got already a narrative in place

that has to do with Trent he's too shy he doesn't fit in Carvajal will surpass him and I hope that he hears this and I hope he can go with the Spanish that he speaks he can read the Spanish media

because he's the type of guy that would say really challenge he loves a challenge trend but he's got one he's got a big one because it's not just that We know he can go up and down, the pitch, et cetera,

but to adapt to the requirements of a Chabby Alonso team and do it consistently and at the high level that he's expected, Carvajal has got an advantage. He can do it straight away, understand it, knows what he wants, what Chubby wants, and Trent has got an education to be done, which may take him a while. And if that's the case, that's when Carvajal,

who was before getting injured, one of the top players in the world, not just a fullback, one of the top players in the world, Carvajal, even though he's 33, will be there and it'll be difficult to take him off the lineup. So can I ask you on Jabby Alonzo right now, just to take this way, because Vinny was benched too. And from what I understand, his camp was very upset about all of this. And is this the style of Javi Alonzo that everyone's going to get a chance?

Because playing Rodrigo in that position that we've always wanted to see, and Rodrigo is a clutch player that's so underrated. I mean, he's always come through in these big championship matches, always wanted to play on that side, but obviously when you have Vinny ahead of you, then it's so much harder. But is there going to be this competition now where Vinny maybe isn't prioritized and is anything to do with his contract or not? Let's start with Rodrigo and it will end up in Vinny.

Rodrigo has been sulking for a while, but really he hasn't shown the level that he had in the last year. He hasn't shown the level that he had a couple of years ago or that he regularly shows in Europe. So in the States, in the Club World Cup, there was a conversation between Chabby and Rodrigo. I want to play on the left-hand side. As often as is possible,

that's where I want to play. And there wasn't, of course, the threat that unless I play, I'll go. But Chavez thought, you know what? Venetius in 2025 score five goals and his influence has diminished. This is now clearly Killian-Envapest team. So why not?

So given the first opportunity, Rodrigo plays on the left-hand side. Does quite well. Was with Enbapé, the one that shoot more often on goal. And I think we're going to see. more of that. Then Vinny comes on, scores a goal, assists, and the happiest man there was perhaps not Vinny, who on the bench was like, I want to play. Rodrigo, not happy because he's coming

off. It shouldn't be taken off. But Chabby Alonso, who thinks I've got competition on the left. Rodrigo will be a left winger the rest of the season. And let's see how that works out. We're now going to talk about the story that I think I've been most excited to talk about all night. And that is the return to La L'IGA of Real Aviado, who lost that game. game 3-0 to Rail Madrid. It was their first home match back in the top flight since 2001. Their last home match in the top flight, also against Real Madrid. There are so many great stories around this. I love this from Sidlow in The Guardian, who talked about the teams that have been to Real Oviedo in between those two matches against Rail Madrid, separated by 24

years. 168 teams have been there in the interim. Teams like, Poole. Alessico Astoga Coyota Montanieros Condal de Noreña Reale Titanico or Cidi Mosconia Well, I am delighted to say

that Rail Oviedo fan Diego Crespo has joined us live on the Euroleagues Diego, good evening. Good evening. How you doing? Really good and it's lovely to see that big smile on your face so just tell us the emotions

for a Rail Aviado fan right now. Well, Guillermo knows a lot about our history, but, man, returning to the first edition was a dream for all the fans. And 24 years of waiting, we are talking about different generations of fan base, of hobbyistas. It's a common goal that is something that very few fans can understand. I think there are cases in, for example, in England, Nottingham Forrest, give an example they were longer than us

I think out of the top flight but it's something that it's not common in football because you can go up and down you can go down and disappear but this

a very few ones can say and that of course is something very important for us I hope always make us feel proud because it's part of our history and also is something that make us different.

Deo, we've been celebrating the return of Oviedo, but let's go back to the worst moments of the team. Just take us to moments where players weren't paid, where the fans perhaps were very unhappy, where the club almost looked like that was going to disappear. Give us more of that. Well, fans very unhappy. Don't think so. Don't think so. In 2001, we went to second division to the second tier of spanish football as you know uh yeah of course we were unhappy but nobody expects the future after after that and when we went to the third division the fourth tier in the spanish football on those days that was uh i don't know uh i think uh it's something if you if you see that you understand different way of football because all

the teams you say are teams that only locals know only people who follow very low tears knows about them but it's being a long journey we are really happy because all the things happen in those years because it was more like the road not not the ending no for us was always waiting for for the returning but right now when you look in your back it's a way it's something that you are very proud of all the all the things when were any problem at the moment was was something very problematic controversial but right now seeing that was like we need to to feel very very very very very proud of that so so what happened then how did they come back up

what what changed and why has been the key to to the success and and more importantly maybe can you stay up now that you've waited so long to be back again we'll see we'll see this year this season of course for us is celebrating now being having fun enjoying creating new community more more sharing the moment with all the fans but i don't know if we are able to be in the top tier i hope so i i really think that the team the club are ready to do that it's nothing crazy of course if you check only the numbers but i think we have a strong fan base a strong team there was a moment of course a key moment there were many but but certainly around 2012 when the

owner kind of goes missing and the club is on the verge of folding, the fans saved it. But that moment is one that perhaps is not very well known before Carlos Slim, the millionaire Mexican, put two million into the club, to match the two million that the small shareholders all over the world through social media had actually put into the club to save them. And that moment is a radio show. So there's a comedian in a radio show and rings the son-in-law of Carlos Slim, this millionaire, Mexican millionaire. And this comedian puts the voice of Butragueno. And he starts talking to him about saving Oviedo and would you save Oviedo. And he changes his voices to Hugo Sanchez and to

Jorge Baldano. I'm not sure the son-in-law, Arturo Elias Ayup, kind of knew what was going on, but eventually he was told, this is a bit of a joke. You know, this is the Sovieto club that is almost in the verge of disappearing. See if you can do something and talk to your father-in-law. And he goes like, actually, that's a good story. I think I should do that. And on the back of that joke, yeah, they actually got involved. Carlos Sim put the two million.

As I said, plus two million of the fans, and then the club was saved. Wasn't more or less like that? Yeah, it is. But of course, they are big guys in business, in football, in everything, all the things they are doing are big money. But I always say,

the fan base was also a key, because if we are not a good business for them, they are not putting money on us, no? So, and of course, we show a lot of muscle because, you know the story of the shareholders, as you said. A lot of shareholders here in the UK came to us and came to be able to visit us. And for me, that's the most incredible thing, because maybe. or for Carlos Slim, for all the people who invest in the Biodo, okay, you are a fan base, but there are a lot of teams in the world. Everyone are saying, we are the best, we are the most passionate, whatever. But also that turn with the shareholders across the world and mostly in the UK was huge.

As you know, Sid Lowe and they put a tweet saying, amen. The team who bring us, Michouda, and Juan Mata, and on those days we are talking about three of the big names in the Premier League and not also not only talking about football players

and talking about real cool guys you know the last Romantics Michi Kathorla, Juan Mata man everyone loves them and for us we are very proud of them also because of that because they are our ambassadors outside

and thinking about them with Tobedo is something that you can pay for that. You know, you can buy that. And I always say that there were also a kind of help in that operation, I think. Diego, it's been lovely to have you with us

on the EuroLeaks. Thank you so much. I'm sure we'll speak again, but good luck for this season. Thank you. Thank you. I hope you come to Oviedo. Oh, yes. Because whatever happens, it will be an assistant of celebration. So, sure.

Come to Obedo and enjoy our story. We're booking the flights, Guillaume. We're booking the flights as we speak. Oh, yeah, definitely. Let's get tickets from Santika Favla, who also needs a mention, who for two years in the second division, he was getting paid the minimum wage

which is 90,000 euros a year gross. He was two years there and he still didn't want anything to be paid to him in the first division but he's got to be paid the minimum wage which is a 195,000 euros gross as well and 10% of his wages and the sell of his shirts go to the academy.

So it's a club full of stories and it definitely would need to do a show from there for sure. I mean we could do a whole show just on Kathaula actually I think, couldn't we? Which we probably should 100% do that. With him on the show too. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.

I'm so happy to do that. Yeah, that would be awesome. Right, we've got 10 minutes left of the Euroleague's left. It always goes very, very quickly. We'll finish with a bit of Olivier Juru. Before we get there, did want to do a bit on Lamin Yamal, who of course has got the iconic number 10 at Barter for the first time this season. Had a really good start.

Scored from outside the box on the opening weekend. Lovely Yamal-esque finish. just perfectly whipped into the top corner and he then kind of lowered an invisible crown on his head jewels as well you know there was sort of sort of like a mock coronation going on 18 still but not shy about it you know you can just see and hear he wants to be in the bracket as so many great players he've worn that top yeah yeah and i mean there was enough debate around that number and will he change and will he get is it heavy to carry is it heavy this heavy that and I think he's showed already that it feels very comfortable in that number 10 shirt that as you said has had legends at the club wearing it through the years really and

it's just another one and yes some people might not be happy with his attitude or with his personality or with the the image that he presents maybe sometimes on and off the pitch I just think that he's an incredible footballer and that we have him for the next 15 years so we should enjoy him that's a very very big point that you'll just make in there about the image that he projects and how people are criticizing it. And I think they're not getting him at all. Football has changed, so have footballers. They are products of a globalized game.

And fame brings rights and personal branding is important. And if in the past it would have been discreet footballers who would just take the stage every now and again, they are now pop figures. His 18th birthday was a show of that, wasn't it, a mafia aesthetic guest dressed in white suit, dark sun glasses

with all kinds of accessories. It's only accepted, right, when you're producing the goods because when Pogma was doing all of the stuff, everyone was like, well, Pogma's too obsessed with these things rather than producing. So I feel like sometimes there can be a bit of

we'll accept it from certain players but not. So is it about how good you are on the pitch? Maybe, but for me, it's a genuine reflection of this era where a display of a status luxury ambition. It's seen as a good thing. And if ordinary people like ourselves do it in our Instagram or whatever, why wouldn't he somebody who's a world star do it as well? Some say, yeah, the risk is that he could lose contact with the fans. I cannot identify with private jets or stuff like that. But these players are not wrong. They are children of the time. And being of

your time is not good or bad. It's just what happens. It's inevitable. Let him get on with it. As long as he's not hurting anybody, it's his money, you can do what he wants. Agreed. I do not understand that kind of thing. Right. Very, very happy to be finishing

on Olivier Giroux, who is more than twice the age of Lameen-Umal. Turns 39 next month. Back in Europe, Jules, loving life at Leal. Yeah, back in France. After 13 years, he obviously left Montpellier at the time back in 2012 to join Arsenal.

And then there was obviously Chelsea as well. and Milan, then he went to the U.S. for L.AFC in MLS didn't really work out. They played counter-attacking football with him, and he was like, hang on a minute, have you never seen me play or do you want me to run 80 yards? I can't do that at my age. Even when I was younger, I could not do it. So it's probably the only place where things haven't really worked out for him, because apart from that, everywhere, he's been great.

And I guess there was always, because of his age, a little bit of skepticism, maybe about him coming home and see what he's. he could do again in Ligaun where he was left in the best of situation after winning the title with Montpellier in front of PSG and finishing top scorer but really he picked up where he left it because he scored two goals in two games one in each the winner against Monaco in the 91st minute was still on the page still still good enough physically to last that long and and in the first game as well it was outstanding really was good in preseason and he just has that aura about him

and the charisma in the team that is a young team he's got you mentioned twice the edge of of Lamine for example but Boudi who he plays with who is this wonder kid from the lead academy

is only 17 as well so he's old enough to be his dad too it's just and that role of big brother in the dressing room is something that he really really like so I think everybody in France is loving the Girou mania

and very much very happy for him to come back in that manner Has he always embraced that, Jules, or not? Because my experiences of Olivier Giroux of him sort of sweeping through mixed zones after France matches at Euro 2016. And he didn't seem like a player who was massively interested beyond his own career, but then we all get older and we all change. Yeah, it's an interesting one.

I think at times, especially 2016, he was not really a start. in that team. Then his role became obviously much, much bigger in 2018. And then the rest, and he had an incredible international career when you think about it. And he's still France top goal scorer ever ahead of Tierra Henri or Michel Platini or those kind of guys. And Killian obviously will overtake him at some point very soon. But for now, he's still Olivier holding a record, a record that nobody would have ever thought he would get. Because let's not forget, this is somebody who, when he was younger, nobody believed in. no academy wanted him, no top flight team wanted him either.

He had to go through the lower leagues, third division, second division, before finally making it quite late. He was very much a late bloomer. And that's why maybe also at 39 is still kind of fresh, because unlike a Lamin, for example, he didn't start at 16 or 17 or 18. He started much later in the top flight, you know, football that matters the most. But yeah, I think he became a, also he became very much a team player from quite early on because he knew he didn't have the talent of a of a Benzema or an Mbapé or a Grisman.

And for him to be relevant in a team outside of scoring goals was to be that team guy that would press and run and do everything. He's been asked and try to be a good teammate. And I think this is why as well maybe he has been a bit underrated, I think, through the years because he's a wonderful goal scorer, but people maybe didn't see that much inside of his game. I do love a late bloomer as well, me. I think those stories are great. I mean, this is not exactly on the level of Jamie Vardy, is it? But my first memory of Olivier Jou is when he's playing for Tor in League Derr.

And Middlesbrunerly signed him in the championship. And that for me is a real sliding doors moment because, yes, he went on to play for Chelsea, Arsenal, AC, Milan, Los Angeles FC in France. But he almost had it all, you know? I'm just disappointed he's not in, that's a group. I'm just disappointed he's not in Sediah, because that's, That's ultimately where they are. I mean, he was such a clutch player that when Nina lost him. Yeah, you're right.

He is too young. Speaking of, actually, for another oldie, Edinjeco, back at Fiorentina, just scored the third goal for Fiorentina to qualify them for the UAF Conference League group stage. So just another nod to one of these older strikers, 39 years old as well, and still so clinical this time for Stefano Piori's Fiorentina. But yeah, when Milan lost Rood, I feel like they've never been able to replace him. And I think that was one of the major problems that they had last season. It's that they just didn't have somebody who was able to have that chemistry with Raphael Liao

to convert with such ears. And he was so clutch, especially in those big matches against Inter. He's never lost that. He has that cool calmness about it. And it's almost like he trolls the opponent with the fact that he can just score at any time. And losing him was actually really sad. but glad to see him back in the top five leagues. You remember when a player got to 30 and was like,

oh, that's the end of the career, this is finishing. Today in the launch I had with Bordalasa, I said, what's football like in five, 10 years time? I said, well, all full backs will be fast runners, 6'5, centerbacks, yeah, as they are now, everybody will be very strong physically, and players will be at the best in the late 30s, early 40s. so that's what we're heading

and it's true but if you're medium on and you start at 18 and then how are you going to still like when you hit 35 what's going to happen

medicine nutrition analysis looking after yourself change of calendar maybe at some point lovely stuff thank you all very much team speak to you all soon

cheers Mina Rizuki Juliana Laurent Guillame Baleigh that's it from the Euroleagues the next episode of the Football Daily will be the commentator's

view so look out for that on your feed as always Thank you so much for listening.