Football Daily - UCL Debrief: Chelsea dominate, Man City's first loss & Newcastle rocked by Aubameyang

Episode Date: November 26, 2025

It was a mixed night for English sides in the Champions League as Chelsea beat Barcelona, while Manchester City and Newcastle both lost.Kelly Cates has all the reaction and is joined by BBC Senior Football Reporter Ian Dennis, former Chelsea winger Pat Nevin and ex-Man City midfielder Michael Brown.They start at Stamford Bridge where Chelsea dominated 10-man Barca. Chelsea winger Estevao Willian shone in the 3-0 win, scoring a stunning goal in the process. But Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca was quick to play down comparisons with the likes of Messi and Ronaldo, warning of the pressure that comes with such a tag.Pep Guardiola made 10 changes against Bayer Leverkusen who were just too good for Manchester City. Did the City boss underestimate the opposition who won comfortably by two goals at the Etihad.And it was another defeat on the road for Newcastle. Despite leading through Harvey Barnes, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang rolled back the years to grab two goals and the win for Marseille.The team also react to news that the top four seeded countries will not be able to meet each other until the semi-finals of next year's World Cup for the first time in the tournament's history.Timecodes:00'40 Chelsea13'00 Enzo Maresca14'00 Manchester City22'00 Pep Guardiola25'00 Newcastle30'00 Eddie Howe31'00 World Cup newsBBC Sounds / 5 Live commentaries: Wednesday 26 November 2000 Arsenal v Bayern Munich on 5live 2000 PSG v Tottenham on Sports ExtraThursday 27 November 1745 Feyenoord v Celtic on Sports Extra 2000 Rangers v Sporting Braga on Sports Extra 2000 Aberdeen v Noah on Sports Extra 2

On the Football Daily podcast, Champions League debrief with Kelly Cates. On a pack night of Champions League action, it was a mixed bag for the English side. Chelsea, 3-0 winners against 10-man Barcelona. Manchester City lost 2-0 at home to Baylor-Lavacuzin. And Newcastle 2-1 on the road at Olympic Marseille, another away defeat for them. Alongside me at Stanford Bridge, BBC Senior Football Reporter Ian Dennis, and former Chelsea winger Pat Nevin. Former Manchester City midfielder Michael Brown joins us from the Etihad Stadium.

But we're going to start with events at Stanford Bridge. Enzo Moreska talked before the game about the importance of this phase of the season. Ian Dennis, did they deliver a statement win? Oh, yes, they did, Kelly. It was an impressive and significant victory for Chelsea. It was an accomplished performance. It might have been different had Ferrantaras not squandered an early chance as Barcelona failed to score for the first time in two years in the Champions League.

But even before Ronald Araujo was sent off before half-time, Chelsea were in control. They were creating chances that had two goals disallowed before Kukurea set up a stumbling Kunday to concede an own goal. Another goal disallowed after half-time. And then Estevao, with an outstanding finish, fine footwork, blistering goal into the roof of the net, got the second. Delap scored a third after a VAR check. And at that point, Chelsea, we're just looking to cut loose. And they will go into Sunday's top of the table clash in the previous. Premier League with Arsenal full of confidence.

Pat, it's worth reiterating the point that Denno made there when he was summing up this game, which is that Chelsea were in control even before that red card just before half time. This was a complete performance from them. Yes, it was. And because Barcelona had that good 10, 15 minute period, you thought, right, this is a very, very good team.

And they were just blown away. They were physically blowing away. I think tactically they lost as well. I think the intelligence of a lot of the Chelsea players has just grown and growing. And as you say, it's a step forward tonight. It's a lot more from them. Now, I will keep it some way down a little bit.

By the fact that this is a Barcelona team that have had massive, massive financial problems over the last number of years. They were nowhere near the Barcelona of old. You have to put all those in things which gives you a level of perspective. But remember, they're still right up there at the top of the Liga. They're not hopeless.

They're a decent team. They've got very good players. but they were completely and utterly stifled for about 70 minutes in that game so yeah, it's good to watch Chelsea doing that see them growing, seeing them getting better and as a team that is still pretty young and short

of being their full selves you suspect they're only going to get better and it's underline the fact that Fafana's back finally looks like he's fit in the player he has to be and that's very important but you've got Gold Palmer to come in as well this could be good to watch Two of the young players on the pitch were pitted against each other in Estavau and Lamin Yamal.

Estabal obviously got the goal and are putting a really good performance yet again for Chelsea. He's such an exciting player to watch. And Lemini Amal was unlucky in that he came up against Mark Koukerea. Yeah, it's funny. There are certain fullbacks that just kind of love tackling. They just love getting one in one jewels. If they've got a dribbling wing or against them, they think, right, okay, I'm into this. I'm good for this.

And by the way, you need to go and chase me because I'm going to run away from you as well. There's actually very few that are brilliant at it. Cuccarea is brilliant at it. And I was desperate to see this. And at the start of the game, Le Mignon Al was getting the upper hand. For 10, 15 minutes, he was getting the upper hand.

And they looked great, and they look graceful. And then he disappeared. The magic turned into a magic trick of disappearing because Cuccarea had in his pocket after that and he just went deeper and deeper. And remember, he's a young. He's a young player. He'll learn when things are going wrong. You keep on going. You keep on going. You just need to get it once. You need to get by this player once. But he never managed to do it. And I think by the end, I think his head was swimming. Laminia Mal's head was completely swimming because he couldn't figure out a way around it. And that's because he's up against one of the best.

And the contrast was so marked in terms of the performance of Esteval. Well, that's exactly the point. I should have gone to because in that far, the first 20-15 minutes you thought, well, Esteval, you know, the young pretender, he's a wee bit behind, you know, he's got a long way to come and by the end of the game you're thinking, not sure, there's not that much between them for pure skills.

And I mean, as in pure skills. I mean, the goal's a bit that everybody will see. And it was wonderful in a number of ways. I mean, the skills to beat the player in the box. I mean, it was just so tight the footwork. It's such incredible pace with such balance and understanding where he was. And this was the top defender of your playing, I guess.

I think it might have been Kibasi, although it could have been Baldy. But Kavasi, I think it was. And he's just left him for dead. But then he's been tackled. And as he's been tackled, he's roofed out from about eight yards. And it's in a brilliant, brilliant finish. But all the other parts of the game, the intelligence, the movement, they're picking up positions.

All of those showed the intelligence of someone that it usually takes years. And here's a phrase I hate using. and I really hate you, isn't it? He's natural because usually footballers are called natural and they're not. That's a lot of practice. That's thousands and thousands and thousands of hours of practice

and I'm sure he's done them as well. But it just looks so effortless for him to get all that stuff, to do all that stuff. You said even the way he moves? Yeah, it's a kind of odd thing that over the years, certain players moving a different way from other players. I remember talking about it recently.

Looking back to Real Madrid, Lorry Cunninghamen, when used to do it many, many years ago. and they have this grace and elegance and an ability to put their body in a certain position where you know even before you beat the player he's gone I've not reached you yet but I'm by you and some of us had it a wee bit and knew that feeling

but there's guys like him that they basically live in that area they live in that space and it's beautiful to see but yeah there's a grace and elegance of balance it's an understanding of the laws of the game the laws of genius and the laws of physics as well. You know Estevao tonight he became the second youngest player at 18 years and

215 days to score in each of his first three Champions League starts after Killiam Bappe. So he's not doing too bad following those. What will we all doing at that stage? Wasting our lives most of us. Probably not Pat Pat would have been applying himself

and getting the training in. Michael, do you know what I was I know you haven't seen the game and But if we tell you that this scoreline did not flatter Chelsea, this scoreline was not down to the fact that Barso played half the game with 10 men, how important do you think it is in terms of their confidence, in terms of their belief as they face Arsenal on Sunday with a chance to close the gap to three points?

Well, it's interesting listening to the guys there and everybody speak about the situation because they just start to have a look. We know we're going to talk about what we are, Chelsea Barcelona. I look at that red card and I think, Oh, is everybody over-egging it a little bit? But listening to how you explain it, how the dominance was there, how this Chelsea side who was sort of coming of age,

Enzo Moreska talked so much about young players, the joy to coach them. But obviously the pressure starts to increase. He's a little bit edgy when he's put under pressure. But now in the Premier League as well, also shown more of a consistency. Other teams in and around it, not necessarily grabbing those chances.

But yes, confidence to beat a side like Barcelona. to be on a run like they are. I think they've got to take it. Now, this is the next test. And that's what you need. If they're going to stay right at that top, put pressure on. The manager tactically is extremely good.

We know that, how he understands game situations. But some of the younger players to be playing in games like this, to dominate, to then understand the difference. Like you talk about Kukarela and how he has

or Laminia Mal, how he shuts him out. So it's not just going forward. It's not just an attacking flirt for these younger players. It's understanding the team ethics, filling the spaces, making them hard to beat. That's what's going to be important in these top games.

But what a squad they have. I think the formula is getting better and better at Chelsea. We still feel like they are not necessarily performing to the consistent level needed. And that's because of the players, but obviously still maturing. So it's a great lift for them. I think they'll be absolutely delight at the moment. It'll be a fantastic place to be around. Estevao told TV that his family were here to watch that.

So a really lovely moment for all of them. And he said, I don't really have any words to sum up how I'm feeling. It was all very quick. I found some space and I wiggled my way through, which is pretty much what he did. Yeah, very lyrical, wiggled his way through. Yeah, beautiful skills. I don't know if that's translated. Yeah, yeah.

Again, the balance and the knowing where everything is, where the ball is, where everybody else around them is, with millimetres to play with, with no space there. There wasn't a space to go by the defender there, yet he does it inside the box and finishes that way. And again, it's not a flick, but as I said, I've watched him score exactly the same goal against Chelsea in the World Club Championship as well. So, you know, he's got that,

he's got plenty of other things in his locker as well. It's really nice to have brilliant young players in the league. I don't care every place for Chelsea or Liverpool or Arsenal or anyone. Come back to the point about, you know, where are Chelsea now, where does this leave them, where does this put them now? There couldn't be a better tie to have on Sunday. It's Arsenal. Arsenal do look by a bit of a distance the best.

The squad's absolutely fantastic. They play like a single unit the entire time. They make a bunch of changes and nothing is different at all. They're all exactly the same. And that's a brilliant squad. It's not a squad that an entity. They're not individuals. That's what they are.

Now, that's a big call for Chelsea. That's an Arsenal team. They've had six, seven years to grow and come together to be that one thing. Has that Chelsea team here yet? No, probably not. But you can be for the odd game. You can be for games. And the excitement, the growing excited.

I just wish Cole Palmer was available for Sunday. And it might be. You never know. Because Chelsea will need everything to stop this afternoon because they are brilliant. There's a statue of him encased in ice outside Stanford Bridge tonight. So maybe they're saying they've got Cole Palmer and ice ready for that game against Arsenal at the weekend. The one thing maybe the one qualification, point we should put in there and we said it's not the red card is that this is not vintage

Barcelona by any stretch of the imagination it is a Barcelona side have moved to within a point of Real Madrid it is a Barcelona side who haven't scored in this game for the first time since December the 15th 2024 so they're not not a terrible Barcelona side but but they're not where they were you know there's there is a level above it right there's Bayam Munich there's possibly Madrid, there's PSG. There's Arsenal. There's this other level, this kind of stratospheric level. And Barcelona

aren't there just now. They may get back there, but they're not there at the moment. In fact, they're a wee distance, a good wee distance, away from that. But then, you know, the very top teams have always been the ones that you have to go and aim for, and you have to get by the ones just below that. And they are in that group just below that, Barcelona.

And Chelsea are blowing them away. Absolutely blowing them away. So, yeah, we've got a realism about it. understanding is in the teams and I did mention right at the start of the show yeah by a minute taught Chelsea a lesson there was men against boys well

this big bloke called Harry Kane was a real bully against boys for most of that game but watching that game I remember thinking good distance to go but the learning curve at the moment it's pretty exponential looking they are a Barcelona side though

that at the weekend only kept their first clean sheet in 11 so they do have defensive frailties but going forward they do score a lot of goals they are a free scoring side and let's not forget they did get to the semi-finals of the Champions League last season

so and whether they are the same side is again open to debate but I still think they are Barcelona and we've seen them go to Newcastle and win by two goals to one and therefore I think this is still something where Chelsea can take heart from the manner of the performance

now if Chelsea beat Arsenal on Sunday, that's more impressive than being Barcelona. And that might sound to a lot of people as if it's almost offensive towards Barcelona. No, that's just telling you how good Arsenal are just now. So that's a big call. Before we move on to Manchester City, let's hear from Chelsea Boss and Zomereska. For me, personally, as you said, it's a big win, especially because the other team was Barcelona. But nothing changed in terms of what team we are, what we can achieve.

For sure, it's important tonight game, but no more than that. It's finished. Now focus on the next one that it's difficult again. Estevao, he had a very good game, not only for the goal, because he helped a lot the team in the way we were pressing. No, the goal from Estevao reminded me the goal is scored against us in the club world gap that is very similar, same action. Estevao needs to relax.

He needs to enjoy. He needs to session. He needs to play football. Him, Lamine, they are so young with 18 that if you start to talk about Messi, Ronaldo, I think it's too much pressure for young boy like them. 18, they need to enjoy. They need to arrive at the training ground,

happy session, but when you start to compare them with Messi or with Ronaldo, I think it's too much for them. A much change in Manchester City, went down 2.0 at home to buy a Lavikuzin. Made a triple change at halftime. and introduced Erling Harland, but that wasn't enough to save City from their first defeat in Europe this season. And it was all in all a frustrating night for them. Mike Miney.

Yeah, it was losing two, Neil. Frustrating the right word from the fans in the first half, they felt the build up was a little slow. They were crying. Come on City to cheer on the team. There was frustration from the players and the managers in the second half as chances. Never really quite fell their way. But if City were frustrated, Leverkusen were fastidious, stuck to their game plan. They tried to hit City on the counter. That's how they scored their goals. Grimaldos clean hit, low strike in the first half.

Schicks header in the second half as he got in front of Nathan Ake to guide it into the right-hand side of the goal. And as City increased the pressure to make it attack versus defense as the second half went on. The Bundesliga Club were organized in numbers when they needed to be. And if that was breached, then goalkeeper Mark Flecken was on hand to deny any city player who got a shot on target. He's got formed from his Brentford days.

He carried it on tonight. City losing Europe for the first time. season and it's not a happy century up then for pep guadiole's 100th game in charge of the blues tonight city lose 2 nil to labikuzon michael's almost similarly to to people who didn't listen to the chelsea game and will look at it and think well balsa were down to to 10 men for half of the game so that must be what it is people will look at the at the city game and think well pep guadiola made 10 changes so that must be the the reason for the for why they lost the game was it that simple was it that much of a step down for city

Well, it's obvious really that they're not going to perform to the level what's expected when they have all of those changes, but did he obviously feel like they could go on and win the game with this side? Yes, I'm sure he does, and that'll be the problem, really. It started quite comfortable for them. They moved the ball around with ease, just literally, you know, sort of attack v defense, just really comfortable. But it was side to side, back and forth,

and not really any clinical bit about it, no pace or power, or someone brave enough to go through somebody and make something happen. They got counted a couple of times, there was a warning, and then after the first goal, you could see they give the visitors a real lift, and they were composed when they had to be.

They sat back and waited and just sort of just said, okay, keep coming on to us, and we'll count to you when we're ready. It was a real top class of way performance. Pep reacted very, very quickly at halftime with the three substitutions, and then they just couldn't find the way. It was flat, it was a little bit lackluster

from really the whole stage, It was almost like maybe an expectation that it was just going to be routine. But what it did do with those changes is give that away side a massive lift. If you're walking onto the pitch looking across and you're thinking, well, we've got a great chance now and all those players are sat on the bench. And that gives them the belief, although you still feel like the performances could have been a lot better from a city perspective for the players they had. What did you make of those halftime changes?

I think we expected them straight away. We said it in commentary just before that. He won't sit and wait much longer. He has to grab hold of this tie quite quickly. I think the one notably, you go, well, okay, Rico Lewis, he was playing in a midfield area. He was sat in like sort of a false nine go-to-press to try and getting somewhere where he's not really used to it.

Oscar Bob showed some promise, some good wing play down the right-hand side. He's quick with his feet, but still a little bit safe. But the one with eight norie, you're the big signing. You're coming back into an area where there was no left back. Nick O'Reilly's done exceptionally well, got into the England squad, playing really confidently, getting better and better. You come back in and then you get taken off. Unless we hear you different, that it wasn't sort of just,

like there wasn't an injury or something bothering him. It's like a lot, you took a big blow there for Ryan Ait Nore. I think for the first time, I think those changes really positive from better. I think for the first time tonight, we've said over the seasons, we Manchester City made 10 changes and it still looks like Manchester City. you still think they are going to find a way through and win the game, no matter who the opposition is. I think for the first time tonight, maybe in a long while,

that's looked like a city side that made 10 changes. Bob and Lewis were impressive in the first half, yes, I think trying to be a little bit creative, but they missed Erlinghalen. Pet then changed it up. He brings on the players who would regularly start perhaps in the Premier League, and City do get a little bit better. I know they caught on the counterattack for the second goal,

but they looked more man. Manchester City than perhaps the 11 that started the game did. It's interesting because by Loverkusen defender, Jarrell Kwanza said how, you know, what an unbelievable feeling it was to win at the, at the Etty had. But he also talked about a lot of senior players missing for Leverkusen as well. He said they weren't even around the dressing room. So he said that they showed a lot of character, a lot of fight and a lot of grit. Well, they did.

Alex Gassie in the middle of the pitch. He was trying to create Patrick Cheek at the top. He was a hold-up. He was an outlet, and obviously at times he was just left on his own, but he brought players back in. Polku at the right sort of wingback position showed real intensity getting forward. And he showed some real sort of quality as well, getting to good positions. But then he was tested late on with Docu,

and every one-on-one duly did fantastically well. So there's players all over the pitch for them. Romaldo with that wonderful strike. But that back line, that three, Kwanza leading it as well, some great blocks. and they were rigid. They stuck to the guns and then Mark Flecking in the net as well.

Some routine saves that looked and maybe made by him better than what they were. But there was a real notable one when Erlin Harlan come on. It was a header down which was his first chance and his second opportunity goes to go round the goalkeeper,

pushed it, tries to play it quick, but Fleckham was ready. Down to that right-hand side. That was the save probably at the moment where you felt like that if City had scored with Erlin Harland, come back and and maybe gone on and won the game, but that was probably the the game changer. So it was a good game from him, a real solid performance away from

home. The manager's got to be delighted with the turnaround and the way they were composed on the ball as well. Here at the Etihad, they give everything. This was something they were looking forward to with all the fight and you can tell by the celebrations after they got what they deserved. So Manchester City in sixth place and there's still teams to play on on Wednesday night. They've got 10 points, which means they're two points off by and Arsenal and into Milan at the at the top of the table but they are some of the teams who are playing on on wednesday night so it's you know it's not looking desperate for Manchester City in terms of their their Champions League league position and they did make ten changes so much do we read into this Michael well when you come off the back of it you asked me before didn't you do you know are we going to see a reaction what's happening you'll lose at Newcastle when it looked like it was it was so good for City like back towards their best And when it had those changes, rather than, say, a bulk of six or seven of those players could obviously put it right, the weekend's result. But, you know, it wasn't to be.

And also, when you go into a team, when there's all of those changes, you're looking around, and there's too many off speed. So this has a big blow for them, you know, going into it, you go to Real Madrid. So coming back off the Newcastle performance as well, so you could have went either way. lead united at the weekend the games come thick and fast and there's no room for error because of that slow start that city had and just as you're sort of going right city is cementing themselves right at the top of this champions league group with that real Madrid game now all of a sudden the whole aspect the whole group the whole mood around the place will be changed will add pressure and that's maybe the disappointment was come from tonight so a first defeat four-man city in europe this season here's pep guadiola

Yeah, too many changes, so it's a good. What I said, always have believed that the long seasons are two days, three days, two days, three days, everybody has to involve, but maybe it was too much seeing the result. I think they played to make a mistake, and to play to do what you have to do. And you are thinking to avoid, you know, to don't punish the team, you are not free or not relaxed, but not just with the ball, without the ball, we are close, and not aggressive enough, and they are a really, really good team. Congratulations, of course, Leverkusen.

But, yeah, it's what it is. I take absolutely for responsibility, but I think I see them, and I like to everybody be involved to be a football player when you are three, four, five, six, seven games, don't play, don't play, don't play. It's, you know, it's tough, but, yeah, maybe it was too much. Yeah, when you are in a big team, you have to, you know, show off. And yeah, it's a lack of the other one, but everyone. The guys who come from the bench was the same.

So it's slippery 10 times. Every shoot is was blocked. And they are a fantastic team, fantastic players. So I'm not saying the opposite. But yeah, it's maybe, you know, with the players that play regularly lately and maybe we'll have be confident for the new players come. But always I like to be sometimes too nice and to be involved everyone because I had the feeling. We're having a international break.

You have four, five games and after break. But here are now three, four days, three, four days until March, hopefully. You are at the FFARCAP or Caravau and there is no human being can sustain it for that. And I thought, okay, at home, we are in good position in the Champions League. Okay, let's go, let's do it to try. And of course, you have weapons in the bench. Nothing can happen in the second half. But honestly, it didn't work.

And I have to accept it. Now it's leads. Now it's leads. And you have still three games and we'll see what happened. I'm a supporter of flags. It turns out time is finite. Government doesn't want to be involved in this. I did not think the candidates are fruit books.

Match or release. Urgent questions. Subscribe to the podcast and you'll get the best bits every day from around 5 o'clock. Listen on BBC Sounds. On the Football Daily podcast, Champions League debrief with Kelly Cates. So disappointment for Manchester City and Newcastle having beaten City at the weekend continued to disappoint in terms of their away form. A two-one defeat for them against Marseille.

Chris Coles was across all the action for us. How did it happen, Chris? Well, they'll rue, Kelly. A costly start to the second half. Newcastle losing the game in five minutes after they had the half-time advantage and that was given to them by the prolific Harvey Barnes in excellent form currently,

drilling a loose ball into the corner. It could have been any score in an extremely open first 45 minutes. Excellent chances for. for both, the better falling to Marseille. And they corrected their wastefulness in devastating fashion after the break. Pierre Emrich Or Bamayang rounding Nick Pope

far too keenly off his line. Orbanian passed him, finding the net from an angle. And soon after, he poked in at the front post for 2-1. But with so much of the game to go, you still felt Newcastle could get something. The openness continued, Willock, Barnes, Ilanga, all with presentable chances, just not clinical enough. And this will irk, Eddie Howe,

perhaps more than some of the other defeats on the road, as they played well, just a sloppy five minutes costing them. So now one win from eight games on the row in all competitions. They're still well placed in the Champions League, that just their second defeat, but a fourth straight loss in all competitions on the road. The problematic form away from St. James's Park still need solving. And Pat, while as Chris was saying,

they've lost their last four away games, they've won their last six home games. What do you think is going on? I mean, I know Chris is saying this one is slightly different, and they actually played well and were just a bit sloppy at times. But what's going on with a team that has that consistency of inconsistency, if you like? Do you know what? It's every manager's dream of finding that question.

It really is. But the home and away problem, is it something to do with how they've been playing? Is it something to do with their approach? Is it how the players feel about playing at St. James's Park? There's a number of different things that work there. I mean, St. James's Park should be a job. joy to play at right but the expectation is so gigantic

you know it's the entire city everybody knows it's the entire city they've lived for it etc sometimes when you're away from home it can relax you a little bit but it doesn't always work that way it's just hard to win games in the Champions League it's a wee bit disappointing I have to say for

Newcastle because you know the Champions League is one thing they would love to get qualified or into the playoffs anyway and get a wee bit of concentration in the Premier League because it's not being a good start in the Premier League as well. And that's probably part of the difficulty they've got. If they could

put a wee bit more concentration on either one or the other, but they keep only having to go to the well with the same players often. And it's usually that midfield. You know, it's been a game of rest. But why the swing, though, Pat? You know, we've been in those dressing rooms.

You've been on the pitch. Surely it can't be that much of a swing. I know St. James' part, it's incredible atmosphere, intense, plays. You know, people go there and you're seeing there's that lift and it drives you forward. But that big change from Eddie Howe, who's got such knowledge, detail, the experience of what he brings now to those players, I'm surprised that's still happening.

So is that mentality? You know, I understand that they're asked to do it every single week and they can't. But why is it just one-sided? The weird thing is when I've been watching the last wee while, it has felt like when they're going to be able to do, works brilliantly, they can bully anyone. They're absolutely phenomenal. Chanali, he's a fantastic player,

but Monster in midfield, Guminous, is great, great skills as well, and you add the Joe Linton Power. And when they're working great, they're just such a handful. And then when they looked hard, you think, oh, right, well, that's a massive, massive difference.

And it does make a difference. No, they've got young players and other players that you can bring in there, but when those three aren't as a unit together, working really, really well. They're a much, much lesser side. We might have to look at Eddie's approach as well. Do you know, like when he approached city straight away,

they're out the blocks, there was four right in front, pressing to stop them playing out. They were leaving one for one with Harlan, making them go direct. Maybe away from home that a little bit more cautious where you might have to stick to type and actually still get after people. Well, here's my... I'll stop being delicate then.

I don't think those three can do that. Every two, every three or four days. I don't think they've got it. in them. That's basically the truth of it. And although they're very fine players and you know, you're very strong players, etc. Can they do it to that level every three or four days? No. They've not struck me over the last number of years that they're capable of doing that. So they need a little bit more strength and depth in that midfield.

And that's why they want players like Miley to come in and be able to do that. And they're desperate to have a wee bit of cover in that area. Another defeat on the road for Newcastle. Let's get the thoughts of Eddie Howell. Yeah, such disappointment for us because it, could have been so different and it started so well for us. I thought we took a really positive step forward in terms of how we wanted or approached the game today and we were a transition through it.

We pressed really well in that first half and could have been so different. I think the goal straight away, near enough after half time changes the whole feeling around the stadium and the game itself and it was just a lapse of concentration from our perspective, I think. And then we didn't maybe react well enough to that.

We can see the second and from there it was difficult. We worked hard to get ourselves in a good position. There's a lot of tests ahead, a lot of tough away games in this period, but today's a disappointment. As Chris said, Newcastle's still well placed. They've got nine points. They are in eighth place in the Champions League table.

Manchester City in sixth with 10 points. And Chelsea in fifth, also with 10 points. Now the four top seeded clubs will not be able to meet each other until the semi-finals of next year's World Cup. That's the first time that's happened in the tournament's history. Ian Dennis, what can you tell us about this? Well, I feel I've covered the top line, but what are the details of it? Well, basically, Spain and Argentina, number one and two, respectively, will be paired

and therefore placed into groups on the opposite side or opposite halves of the draw. France will be three and England will be four. They'll also be paired. and so that means that Spain and Argentina from an England point of view, they can't be England's opposition until the semi-finals or indeed France until the final. However, that only applies if the four countries win their respective groups. They've got to top their groups for this to happen.

It's the first time it's ever happened, as you say, in the World Cup, and essentially, Kelly, it mirrors what we're witnessing here in the Champions League as well, the way that the top teams are going to be kept apart. Pat, what are your thoughts on it? Is it a necessary change? It drives me absolutely nuts, right? I'll just be honest with you. It's much, much easier for the big nations

and in the Champions League, the big clubs to get through whatever the circumstances. So what did they do? They make it easier still. They give you a seeding so you can get easiest draw possible and stay away for the big ones. It's grotesquely unfair on everyone else. If you qualify for a World Cup of a major tournament,

it should be just a major tournament. Just do a draw. and go on with it. And the thing is the FIFA are so open about it. Oh, we're doing this so we can get the big teams through at the end. That's not your job.

Your job there is to make it fair. And it's honestly, I find it, A, it's upsetting having seen it in the first place, I think, to make it even more extreme and even easier is their own word, but less difficult for the very top four seeds. I find that personally quite offensive. Having said that, Michael,

it's good news for England. Yeah, well, Take it, won't we? I thought Pat would just be delighted to be there this moment in time after a fantastic week of football. But, you know, now Pat, we do understand it, don't we? Do you know, when you say the draw is the draw, yes, England can maybe benefit. We'll take all we can get in regards to England and a major trophy. It's desperately needed and is this going to be the summer? But I think we start messing around with things that historically for such a long period of time don't need to be touched. And you've got to earn your way, you've got to earn your right to get through. sometimes it can be cruel, sometimes not so much, and that's what we're seeing in different competitions, Champions League, etc. regards to what we've just seen with a change of format and things must move on and develop, that's for certain.

But let's see. I mean, it'll be interesting morning when the draw comes out where everything puts in place and where it's going to be. I think what's interesting this year is because of the locations and getting your head around where everything is. I think there's enough to be going on, but now another complication has been drafted in. To reinforce Pat's point, Kelly, if you think back to the 2018 World Cup in Russia,

England and Belgium were together in the same group. With the pots this time, the United States, Mexico, Canada are joined by Spain, Argentina, France and England, as well as Portugal, Brazil, Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. So England know that they're not going to avoid all of those sides in the group because there is the possibility that two UEFA teams could be in the same group. Scotland, incidentally, are in pot three with Norway. who I think will be the team for everybody to avoid out of pot three, Egypt, Algeria, Panama, Paraguay, Ivory Coast, Tunisia, Uzbekistan, Qatar,

Saudi Arabia and South Africa. Yeah, Scotland being in pot three and Wales and Northern Ireland will be in pot four if one of them gets there. Two UEA for teams, as you said, can be in the same pot, which means you could, or in the same group rather, which means you could have Scotland against England. Yes, you could, yeah. See, I'm more looking at Scotland,

by point of view, obviously, the first thing we all do. So I'm wanting either New Zealand or Curious Howl from Pot 4. For Pot 3, I'll take Qatar. No, we're in Pot 3, so we can't have them. Looking at Pot 2, I would take Australia. And in Pot 1, Canada, or the USA will do as well. So you can still get a very good draw, even if you're a pot 3 or a pot 4 team.

The thing is, it's just that more likely that you're going to get a right tough one as well. And that change means that, as we were saying, that the top four seeds are going to be kept apart until the semifinals of the tournament should they get there. On the Football Daily podcast, Champions League debrief. Listen on BBC Sounds. Thank you so much Ian, Pat and Michael. That is it for this episode of the Football Daily podcast. Mark Chapman will be back on the next one with more Champions League reaction to Arsenal by Munich, Liverpool, PSV and Tottenham's trip to PSG.

Bye for that. Football Daily podcast Champions League debrief with Kelly Cates This winter cricket's oldest rivalry is reignited England and Australia

do battle to compete for the ashes Here live ball by ball commentary on five sports extra and get analysis and reaction of every day's play with the Test Match Special podcast. The Stops out of the ground.

Test match special at the Ashes. Listen on BBC Sounds.