Football Daily - Women's Football Weekly: Kim Little on Arsenal & Champions League final

Episode Date: May 20, 2025

Jen Beattie and Ben Haines are joined by Arsenal captain Kim Little to talk the Champions League final against Barcelona in Lisbon this Saturday. Jen asks Kim what makes her such a special player, how it feels to make the final and where Arsenal can expose Barcelona. It was also the domestic treble for Chelsea as they beat Manchester United 3-0 at Wembley in front of new investor Alexis Ohanian. Hear from manager Sonia Bompastor on how she wants Chelsea to be challenged by the rest of the league to compete with the highest competition. Reporter Alex Ibaceta joins the pod to share her expertise on Barcelona, who are their biggest threats and how they will match up against Arsenal. 00:20 Intro 01:36 Chelsea do the treble! 06:10 Sonia Bompastor 08:28 Sandy Baltimore performance 10:50 Kim Little with Jen! 21:35 Katie McCabe & Leah Williamson on Kim 27:00 How do Arsenal go up against Barcelona? 30:30 Barca with Alex IbacetaBBC Sounds / 5 Live commentaries this week: Wednesday 20th May: Europa League Final - Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United, 8pm KO. Saturday 24th May: UEFA Women’s Champions League Final - Arsenal v Barcelona, 5pm KO. Sunday 25th May: Premier League final day from 4pm.

BBC Sounds music radio podcasts. On the Football Daily, the Women's Football Weekly with Ben Haynes, Ellen White and Jen Beattie. Hello everybody, welcome along to the Women's Football Weekly. The domestic season's done and dusted and it is mission complete for Sonia Bonfistor's Chelsea side. Domestic dominance achieved. The FA Cup completing their treble. And they have indeed been unrivaled, just like their flag said at the weekend.

There's just one game left and one matter to settle. And that is the Women's Champions League final between Arsenal and Barcelona. No Ellen White this week. So it's just me and Jen Beatty looking ahead to this one. How are your nerves, Jen? I'm all good. They haven't set in yet.

They might later in the week, but I'm okay right now. Thanks Ben. What were you like player wise as a, before a big game, were you one of those people that just couldn't wait to get out there? Or did you find that you had the nerves, the butterflies? Yeah, no, that's a really good question. I think when I was younger, I was quite an anxious player. I used to struggle. I was very quiet. I'd go quite internal.

I just put my music on and that was me. And then the older I got, the more relaxed I got. I just wanted to enjoy it and enjoy the sort of occasion of it and definitely the spectacle. But definitely the first few games that were, you know, we're at Wembley were pretty nerve racking. But I think, yeah, later in my career, I just wanted to enjoy it. I knew it was not going to last forever. So yeah, I definitely felt the switch. I was quite anxious when I was younger, but felt the switch. Well, with no Ellen White on the pod this week, we thought we needed a very special guest to kind of make up our trio and to help us look ahead to this one. So we are going to be joined by one of the most experienced

and no doubt the most calm players before any match, regardless of whether it's a Champions League final. And that is Kim Lue a little bit later on. Can't wait to listen to that. Jen's had a brilliant chat with her. But before we delve into all things Lisbon and Champions League, we do need to touch on Chelsea once again.

And it feels like over the course of this season, Jen, we've spoken about them so many times and through so many different lenses, because we've spoken about them as unbeaten league champions, we've spoken about their domestic dominance more generally, how could they have been in the Champions League and then with that little sort of hurdle that they couldn't quite overcome with Barcelona. But what does this look like in the bigger picture to go out and achieve what they've achieved in the league, but then to go and add the two cups to it as well, how big an achievement is that? I think it's huge. There's always a highlight on a team when a manager changes but it goes

as far as saying I think the signings that they've made, whether it's Luci-Bron's Kier Walsh coming in this season, I do think they've just taken them to the next level. But it is unbelievable. I think the start that they made going unbeaten throughout the entire season we've not seen that in a long time. Our whole narrative for the WSL is how competitive it is. So many top teams, hard to beat but Chelsea, let's just face it, they've dominated the WSL. Six seasons back to back won the league title. We can't now say it's a super competitive league at the top because one team have not just dominated the past six years but they've absolutely dominated this entire season and that is an

unbelievable and in this modern day and age of football when there's more investment more teams are more competitive there's more professional players more facilities an abundance of resources to a lot of teams. For Chelsea to be so dominant, we have to give them the credit where it's due and it has been for a number of years but this season to have a change of manager, domestic treble, Chamois League semi-final, knocked out to one of the best teams in the world, that's an unbelievable season so it's a huge huge credit to what they're doing and the most recent investment, reddit founder Alexis Ohanian coming in, this team is kind of in a scary position of the levels that they're going to. So I can't wait to see what's next and

who they might bring in. I don't want to take attention away from the team, because what they have done is unbelievable, really when you consider the levels that they've hit, the tactical dexterity that they've shown over the course of the season and the way that they've approached games and approached big occasions with that minor asterisk of the Barcelona game. But I always think it's a pretty scary sign when you see other successful people desperate to be involved with what you're doing. So when you see images of people like Serena Williams wanting to be a part of it,

and the quotes coming out around Chelsea's silverware showing just how elite a club they are, I think it's a bit of a scary sign for the rest of the league, isn't it? Absolutely, and I think, you know, in this day and age of modern football, like what I said earlier, it's like you see the likes of Michelle Khan

investing in London city. You see the likes of Alex Morgan investing in San Diego wave and this sort of investment phase of women's football that everyone's wanting to give the most tactical to where they think it's going to build. So to see the likes of them at Wembley, at the FA Cup final.

And whenever you see that you're thinking well where's this gonna go and that's what's quite scary to build a team from the ground up like what Michelle's can has done with with London City, Lionesses but Chelsea are already successful they already have the domestic treble to think where it's going to go is exactly what you're saying it's a scary thought and an unbelievable one but I think it's what it's going to go is exactly what you're saying. It's a scary thought and an unbelievable one. But I think it's what women's football deserves. It's what these players deserve. It's what Chelsea have built for so many years to have the success, do the work day in, day out.

So to then have the investment on top of that, if you're in that dressing room right now, you're thinking, this is awesome. This is everything I've dreamed of and I can't wait for what's next. Winning breeds winners, right? Just getting a taste for it. People are within that group, not just the players, but also the staff, the mindset around the place is not going to slow down on you don't get the impression that things are going to stand still there, they're going to keep moving forward. And I do just want to listen to a little bit of Sonia Bompastor from from the weekend, I do just want to listen to a little bit of Sonja Bompastor from the weekend, because naturally, over the course of time, she and all of those around the hierarchy at Chelsea

are going to be questioned on whether the league is competitive enough, whether perhaps they are skewing the scales a little bit too much in their favour. But just listen to these quotes from Sonja Bompastor. As a Chelsea team, we want to make sure we want to be the top of the league and bring everyone with us. So this is what we want to achieve, but we need the other teams to still invest and come with us. Because coming into this league, I said as a manager, probably when I was in France, to be fair, 80% of our games in the league were games where even if we didn't play the game plan right, because we had more talent than the

other teams, we were able to win. I think here as a manager, if I don't get the right game plan, I know we can be in trouble. So this is something really great because it makes us better. A really cool message there from Sonia Pompastor, very much making the point that in her mind it's not just Chelsea that should invest, it's everyone across the league almost should have the ambition to do similarly to what they have done. I couldn't agree more with her. I think it's not a case of, I think it's so disappointing when people turn investment into a negative. I think at the end of the day, Chelsea have

created a structure and a system that big people want to come and invest in and I think that's credit to them for what they've done. They've built the foundations, they've also achieved the success already and now people are still wanting to invest and I think other clubs need to do the same, follow suit. Create the foundations, the structure, a club that looks like a good investment so that people come in and want to do it. I find that pretty frustrating actually because I think as a former player in the game, all we ever wanted was investment. And I think if I were at a club at that time that got the investment, I would be absolutely over the moon. So to think that people are trying to turn that into a night, and I get it.

You don't want one team to drift away and make it impossible for the rest and spread the moon. So to think that people are trying to turn that into a night and I get it. You don't want one team to drift away and make it impossible for the rest and spread the wealth and I completely understand that. There's a structure in the NWSL where you can invest in the league, not specific clubs and can we follow suit with that? But yeah, I struggle when people turn it into something negative and I do think other clubs need to step up now. If we just focus on the final a tiny bit, I feel like Sondé Baltimore has, at time to season, got a lot of credit but in and amongst a team that's littered with so many stars and so many elite players, what a lovely moment for her to shine and play in that slightly more advanced role but actually get a moment of her own where people turn and go, you know what, like she's really arrived on this stage and will be the player that really will be remembered in that final.

I do it myself. Being British, I looked towards Lucy Bronze and I say her name all the time because we all know what she can do, but Baltimore genuinely has been my play of the season for Chelsea. I think even playing at left back at the start, I was always, you know, her technical ability going forward, her defensive attributes, her pace getting box to box. When she came into the league, I was like, she is unbelievable. And you're so right, Ben, to stand out in that kind of team that have so much quality. And then not only that, to move into a more forward role and still bring that

same amount of you know what I think few people will understand how hard it is to be versatile and to still perform at that level and not just doing that but executing goals she's had a couple of moments she scored an unbelievable goal early on in the season but you're right to have that in an FA Cup final get the penalty get another goal I think she think she's been unbelievable and to do that in one season and for us to be talking about her in that kind of way just goes to show the the level of player that she is and she's still young, she still has so much to bring but to do that over a couple of positions throughout a Chelsea team and be consistently in the lineup,

Bonpasdor clearly backs her, we all see why. She's been unbelievable for this team, for Chelsea. And it was great to see her get that, well, a couple of moments at Wembley in front of a huge crowd for Chelsea, a new team for her, a new environment to go see her threat. Because we all say it takes time for players, right? We all say that. She needed no time. And I think that is an unbelievable sort of characteristic trait for her to bring. So Chelsea with a clean sweep then of the domestic honours, but there is still a chance for Arsenal to make it an incredible season in Europe. And as I mentioned earlier, Ron,

we're one member of the Kim Little fan club down. So with Ellen being on holiday, we thought we do need to get a really big Arsenal voice on the pod to look ahead to the Champions League final. We thought who better than the woman herself. Let's go one step further and get Kim Little onto the pod. So Jen Beatty sat down with Arsenal skipper Kim Little a little bit earlier on today. Just going to flip into journalist mode if you can. Okay. Yeah.

All right, Kim, you are one of the best footballers in the world, but I would argue to say one of a better friend. So it's an absolute pleasure to have you on the podcast with me and Ben and Ellen. First of all, obviously, I know you've just come off the back of a few days off. How important is that at this point in the season going into such a big game like a Champions League final? Yeah, I think obviously we finished our league season last weekend, so the week kind of allowed for having a little bit of time off. So I think that was what as a club and a staff,

yeah, we decided to do before we'd even reached the final. So obviously we decided to keep this game's schedule leading into the final, which allowed us a little bit of time off in downtime, which is coming to the end of a long season but also enough time for days to prepare with training and meetings and stuff so I think it's been a nice balance and now obviously after having that time to kind of decompress and refresh we turn our focus now to preparing for the game. How has the feeling actually been? Because I was there when you got through to the final and know how emotional it was and even, you know, for us being his friends but for even from take that out of it just from a professional standpoint you signed the

year after they'd just won it and then 18 years later you've got an opportunity to go and win it yourself as part of the team. Can you sum up just how much that means to you specifically and the team at this point as well and the feeling of going into the final week for the game on Saturday? Yeah, obviously first of all it's the game you want to be in at the end of the season, you know, it's the very last game of the campaign so it's obviously so special to be involved in that. I don't allow myself those kind of very often, but obviously after the semi-final when we'd reached the final, I think it was just that moment of realisation of one, personally just the achievement it was, obviously I'd never been to a final, and then two and more

importantly the level of achievement for the club. Like you said, I signed the year after the team won the quadruple and the UEFA Cup then, and now 18 years later, you know, it's a fairly long time, most of my career basically, or all my career, to then have been a place at the same club going and taking the team into another final, yeah, it was just a realisation of how special that is and yeah, there's so many parts to that, you know, like obviously the whole squad but you know, players who've, the whole squad, but, you know, players who've been at the club a longer time.

And then also just former players, Kelly Smith, obviously working with us now, what it meant to her, you can see it in her. It's honestly gives me goosebumps. And then, you know, other former players who were so successful and are absolute club legends supporting and being so proud of us like Alex and Emma Burn and things. And it's just it's such a it's like a it just brings people together right it connects all these moments and it's just something really special.

Have they had an opportunity to come back into the club to say congratulations or how has that been brought to you? Yeah they reached out personally and then obviously to other players that they you know know well or obviously played with but I do actually think there is something where some of the former players are coming in. I don't know the details, but yeah, that is something we've even spoke about as players, you know, about how can they be involved in some way.

You spoke about the amount of time, and I said it as well between, you know, 2007 to now and the time that's passed and 35 in summer. You're still playing like you're in your prime. Everyone sees it. Your performances over the semi-finals, this whole season, you show no sign of slowing down. Ellen and I can testify to the fact that you are the ultimate pro and you're the hardest worker

from the moment you've stepped into the game and still now. Can you give us a little bit of an insight of why that? What's your drive and what does a day look like? What makes you different to everyone? Because you are different Kim and I can sit here and say it and Ellen will back me up. But what is your one percenters? What are the little bits of detail that you do that nobody else does? Yeah it's obviously nice, I don't really think about this too often but it's nice for you to speak in that way and it means a lot. But yeah I hope, yeah a real intrinsic motivation with things. I think who, you know, you don't

know because you've played with me and Ellen as well, that I come in and I train every day with an intensity and purpose which I don't generally have to think about. It's something that's really just within me. Arguably as I've gone through my career, like you said, I'm in the later part of my career, but that hasn't changed with the time, you know, and the age I am or how I'm feeling. Obviously with sport that can be a thing that you get to a point where your body doesn't feel like it's in a place that it was, but I've not reached that point. I don't feel like that, like you said, and it maybe comes across in how I play and I think, yeah, it's, yeah, I think it's a lot to do with my consistency and professionalism and my detail on a day-to-day basis. And it's, yeah, I just do what I need to do every day and it doesn't really, it doesn't really go off, off that path. And it's just,

yeah, it's just within me and whether that's recovery or the intensity I train at or, you know, how I manage my load, which I don't always get perfect. There are times when I've picked up little things, but it's hard to put into words, maybe when I'm just so used to doing something and it's not something I overly think about, it's just something in me that just allows me to be that way.

Yeah, and like you said, I feel better than ever. I don't feel particularly any different to when I, you know, Steve in 10 years ago. So that's a nice feeling. I know that's not the case for everyone. Okay, well, it's definitely the best place you could possibly be in leading into a game like playing against Barcelona, right? The form that they've been on, let's get into the game a little bit. What do you think it's going to take and how big of a task is it to beat Barcelona?

Even just what you said about myself, I think being at that peak performance and then, you know, you can't be like that every single game and every single training session. We all know that it's unattainable, but you can get as close as possible at the right moments. And I think for all of us as individual players, there is that focus. Like we all need at this highest level game playing against, playing within two teams, you know, that have some of the best players there are. For us, we all have to individually be at that, you know, close, as close as possible to that kind of peak as we can, so that we can then all connect to the team, which will then allow us to minimise obviously a team like Barcelona and also just be on top of our game in what we do. And I truly believe that if we can do that then we can win.

Do you think, because I know that Arsenal have obviously come back from, whether it be the quarterfinal or the semi-final, come back from deficits. Do you think this will benefit you, just 90 minutes, all to play for, give it everything you've got? When you're coming up for a game like Barcelona, you don't really want to play them twice. Yeah I think it's quite a different thing, we've obviously not performed maybe as we'd wanted in the first legs so we've been given an opportunity to fix that and we have but that's not the case on Saturday. I think that's a learning also from us, it's like there's not another opportunity for us to redo it and obviously that's great for us that we've done that because it's two legs and that's what the two legs are for

but now it's a completely different game, it's one game and you know we have to show up and there's no do-overs for this one so yeah I think we're aware of that and yeah we know that we need to be very focusing on that. I do want this podcast to be the Kim Little Show and I do want Saturday to be the Kim Little Show as well but I have to mention Caldente and how much of an impact she's been this season obviously winning player of the season and especially going and playing against her old team. How much has she been of an impact in sort of giving little bits of information not just throughout the season but specifically this week going into Saturday?

Obviously Mariona has been incredible this season. She's come in from Barcelona and had a great impact on the team both individually on a personal level but also to how we play and what we're doing here. So yeah, she's been incredible. Like I said, she obviously came from Barcelona. She was there I think for 10, a very long time. I mean her and Coddy, another player who'd been there a long time, you know, they obviously know what Barcelona is about. So yeah, there's obviously a little kind of insights and things that you have when you've obviously got players who have been at other teams. And she's obviously got the experience of being in finals as well, which I think she's

obviously won it with Barcelona in the previous year. So she also has that within her and that feeling. So I think, yeah, that it with Barstow on the previous year, so she also has that within her and that feeling. So I think, yeah, that'll be incredibly beneficial to us. Okay, so if you win the final, biggest career achievement so far, would you say? Yeah, probably. Probably. Yeah, I mean, the European, yeah, the Champions League domestically is definitely the ultimate. So you know what I'm like, I don't like to single out anything.

Yeah. OK, yeah, it'll be it'll be up there, that's for sure. Yeah. Well, Kim, even for me as a mate, I was beyond proud to see you perform in the semis and get to the final. Thank you so much for joining the podcast. I can't wait to be there on Saturday. I'll be there working and watching and wishing you all the best of luck I hope you and the team absolutely smash it and beat Barcelona, but I'll see you there and good luck. Thanks Jenny

I appreciate you. Jen at the top of the pod I asked you if You were the sort of person that gets nervous and you said as you grew through your career You've had a less and less. How will Kim be in that change of rumours? She's about to leave the team out Oh Ben, that's such a good question. I think she'll be the leader that she is. I think she'll be very focused, very tactically on point and answering any questions that anyone has, discussing things last minute, bits of information, making sure everyone's in the right place going on to the pitch. She'll be her usual focused, ready, the leader that she is going into this game. She won't be any different to she has been this whole season.

That's like the soft skills version of the player that she is. You know how if people are in trouble, they sort of just look and go, can I just give you the ball for a bit? Yeah. Like, can you just get me out of this? I love the idea that even in the change room, maybe 10, 20 minutes before kickoff, it's just like, I just want to put some mental load on you, Kim, and you just take it off me for a bit. 100%. Any, she'll be doing that all week. She'll be making sure everyone's calm, everyone's

ready, everyone's focused, everyone knows the plan. And I think she'll, she'll look at this game or she'll try to anyway. I know she'll be a little bit, you know, nervy on the inside, but she won't show it. She'll be cool, calm and collected and making sure everyone's OK going into this game. Well, let's get the thoughts of some of her teammates. Jo Curry has been speaking to some of her colleagues at Arsenal to get their thoughts on their skipper. Kim is for me one of the most underrated midfielders, footballers in the world. She goes about her business quietly, she keeps her head down and she does her work every day, she's so consistent, she leads by example.

She's a quiet leader off the pitch but also when she steps on the pitch she leads with her action, her ability to get on the ball in such tight spaces, her ability to control a game with the tempo and yeah her quality in the box, goal scoring ability. Yeah she's incredible, even now obviously how we kind of changed the way Kim maybe plays. And she sits a bit lower rather than being that 10 when she was a younger player. But I'm trying to get in the box, get in the box.

Because I know when she's around the box, things will happen. So yeah, for me, she epitomizes what Arsenal Football Club is. She acts with class every day. And yeah, for me, I've just been very lucky to be able to learn from her. I think from an international point of view as well we're quite similar Scottish, Irish and nations are quite similar as well and I've had some really important conversations

with her over the last few years and how she kind of deals with that. So yeah, for me, I'm just very lucky to be able to learn from her and take her her words of wisdom and yeah, and just enjoy Kim Little. Some of the things, sometimes I'm standing there thinking My god, how has she done that, you know? So yeah, she's incredible. How will she react to hearing all of that? She'll probably cringe. The thing is, you don't tell these people this, you know. You don't say that every day, you just kind of appreciate it.

And for me, I respect her so much, so yeah, she'll probably be cringing. Kim Little will lead the team out as captain at the weekend. Talk to me about the kind of person that Kim is and how much she's done for this club. We talk about legends a lot. Kim Little is a legend isn't she? Oh she's more than a legend. Kim's one of those players that Kim's lowest level is most people's average and potentially highest and I think that's the way that she carries that is she doesn't put other people down you know she doesn't she doesn't get frustrated when people aren't at her level which I

think she would be fair to do because most of the time throughout her career she has been she's been a leader in every aspect of the game but I just think her that the who she is as a person speaks volumes and that's the respect that she commands from other people not because she asked for it because she earns it and she earns it with her behaviours every day and she cares. If she's going to be somewhere she cares about the environment that she's in and the people that she's doing it for. So I couldn't be happier for somebody like Kim to have an opportunity like this because she deserves it and I think she missed out on the last one by a year or she's had a long time to wait but she left, she went and did

her own thing in America and she chose to come back to Arsenal and I've spoken to her about that decision so I'm I'm very happy that she now gets to experience this with Arsenal. Yeah she's an all-around good egg is all Kim isn't she? Yeah she's just a good person she's the type of person that we all wish we could be. You all want to be Kim? Yeah. Jen why is it that Kim Nittal is underrated? I think it's mainly because and I've said this quite a few times, it's almost as if because everyone knows how good she actually is, that it's almost like she's so consistent that nothing is out of the norm from what we see. So it's almost like everyone has this expectation on her

that she is just unbelievable every single week. I also think a big part of it, I've thought about this a lot before, but because Scotland never had many opportunities to play on a major tournament, you know, she did with GB at the Olympics, won World Cup in 2019 with Scotland, but I think that's the next level that, you know, the top, top players have a world global opportunity to perform on and get the sort of conversation on a global scale. Whereas Kim's not have many opportunities to do that because Scotland haven't qualified.

So I do think there's an element of that, but guarantee you if you talk to any midfielder in the league, if you talk to anyone that's ever played with her, she's the best. She'll be up there in every conversation that comes up. The narrative in the NWSL, she was only here for a few seasons but the narrative that she's still built over here of how good Kim Little was. So yeah, it's a frustrating one because I think she should be a bigger conversation and I was beyond ecstatic trying to get her on the podcast this week because she is one of my favourite human beings. She's not just the best player I've ever played with, but the best friend I've ever had. So

to have her on the pod this week was awesome and I can't wait to watch her at the weekend. What would you say to her if you weren't worried about making her unbelievably embarrassed because she's incredibly humble, right? She's one of those people that does not like the attention. But what would your kind of message have been if we asked you that question? Like Joe asked some of the Arsenal players about her. I just think she is the most humble, hardworking, professional, best captain, best teammate. She tops the charts on every single level of how a football player should be.

So to see her be emotional after the semi-finals and to experience that as a friend, right? Because I'm not a teammate anymore. Just to be there as a friend. Just the immense sense of pride I had for her knowing how much she does on a day-to-day basis. Bottom line Ben, she deserves everything that comes her way because she puts the work in. And I don't think many people can compare to that level of hard work and dedication that she's said it herself and when I spoke to her, that's instilled in her. She's been like that since under 15 Scotland. I experienced it there. She was above and beyond anyone else, not just as a player, but the work rate. And I think there's two parts. She has the natural talent, but she's put in the day-to-day extra runs, extra training, off-season plans,

nutrition, everything psychological. She ticks every box that a professional player needs to be. And I think that's the immense sense of pride, her humility that comes with that. She deserves to be on every pedestal possible. And I really, with everything, hope she gets the Champions League medal around her neck on Saturday because she deserves it. So no doubt in our minds that Arsenal have got a wonderful leader ready to lead them out to the pitch. But what do they need to do as a team on the day? Yeah, I mean, they have to play the perfect game. There's no denying that. They have to be defensively the most compact, the most disciplined, the most mentally switched on that they have been all season. I think seeing their WSL results have been frustrating and

I know they'll have felt the same, the amount of goals they conceded because they can't afford Barcelona even to get 1-0 up or 2-0 up because that's such a hard deficit to come back from. They can't allow goals to be conceded. So for me it's been defensively really solid because ultimately they haven't been since the semi-final. I think against Lyon they were unbelievable and then off the back of that they've kind of slipped

up over a couple of occasions from and I'm talking about the whole of living when I talk about the goals being conceded right not just back four and then I think the transitions have to be perfect whenever they get the ball back they have to be so smart with it they can't give the ball away cheaply again because Barcelona want to dominate possession. They've done that. They've done it against such top teams, Wilsburg, Bayern Munich over this course of the Champions League. So to go into a final, that will happen. You won't have as much possession. So when you win the ball back, you have to be smart with it. You have to make the most of your chances. You have to be clinical.

So that's the priorities for Arsenal going into Barcelona game for sure. Well, we've covered Arsenal, but standing in their way this weekend, our defending champions Barcelona, we'll have a good look at them after this. The 72 Plus on the Football Daily. I'm Aaron Paul. And I'm Joby Mackenna. And on Wednesdays on the Football Daily we bring you 72 Plus, the home of the EFL from Five Life Sport. As we'll get stuck into the latest from the Football League and beyond.

They've got so much quality there, for me, worthy winners. They've only actually lost four games all season, which is quite remarkable, really. That's 72 Plus, the EFL podcast only on the Football Daily. Listen on BBC Sounds. On the Football Daily, the Women's Football Weekly with Ben Haynes, Ellen White and Jen Beatty. An opportunity for Barcelona to make it hat trick of Champions League titles. So to give us some insight into them, let's welcome to the pod football reporter, Alex Iversetta.

Alex, thank you so much for joining us. It's wonderful to have you and it's brilliant to get the other point of view on a massive final like this, because of course in in the UK we have looked at things through an Arsenal lens but I wanted to know how are Barcelona fans and the media around Barcelona approaching this game? Are they feeling confident? Yeah, it's definitely, it's an interesting one isn't it because obviously over the last few years you've had kind of the same opponents. You've had you know the Leons so to speak for themselves, you have the Wolfsburgs speak for themselves as well.

The Chelsea's as well. That has been kind of that bone to pick in the Champions League. It's become a rivalry. And Arsenal's the team that nobody was going to bet on them at the beginning of the season that they were going to make the Champions League final, but here they are playing against the very mighty Barcelona. And I think it's an interesting bit because no one really knows about Arsenal. Their Champions League history, obviously, you know, back then in 2007 when they won it,

nobody knows about that, especially the modern day, you know, journalists, the youngsters coming up that cover woman football, you know, they don't know about the history that Arsenal has in the Champions League and the players that they used to have. So it's an interesting one because everyone's kind of, I wouldn't say clueless because obviously Arsenal played against Barcelona in the group stage not too long ago, and they have players like Mariana Caldente and Laia Godina, but they don't know who they're coming up against. You know, you come up against Lyon, you know who you're coming up against. You're coming against, you know, seven-time Champions League finalists. You come up against Arsenal and, and you know, I think half of these players don't really know who Victoria Pelova is, who, you know, Lea Valti, they know each other

from international breaks but they're not players that they're used to seeing every single season. So it's definitely, I guess confusion would be kind of the nearest word to it because I think nobody really knows what to expect to Arsenal in this final. So a little bit of the unknown there, that's really interesting because we spoke with Lucy Bronz at the beginning of the season and she told us about what a mental barrier it was for the Barcelona side to overcome Lyon in Bilbao last year. And that's why the celebrations were so big because it felt like they'd finally overcome this hurdle that they've been waiting to overcome. It maybe feels a little bit different this time around that this is not a case of going out there

to try and achieve the thing they've never done before. Instead it's a complete unknown almost. Yeah I think that's an interesting bit. I think for them as well from the players that I've spoken to about it, it's kind of it's an unknown and it's so rare for them to come up against that. In the league, you know, they know every single team very well, a lot of the players know each other. I mean, there's a lot of Spanish players and other teams that they've played the youth ranks, so there's always that connection of knowing. You look at the Champions League, you know, the semi-finals, the final against Chelsea, against Wolfsburg, that's a known thing for Barcelona as well. You know. They played Lyon plenty of finals, they played Chelsea plenty of semi-finals, quarter-finals, Wolfsburg as well, finals, semi-finals. It's teams that they know already

how the match is going to go up against. Sometimes against Lyon, as you said, they had that barrier, they had that history of having to overcome this team finally in a Champions League final and it happened. But against Arsenal, it's all new. It's a fresh slate for both teams. It's Barcelona trying to get a third consecutive Champions League. Now their narrative is trying to catch up to Lyon being the almighty Champions League holders overall. But going up against Arsenal, it's something new and Barcelona hasn't had that surprise in a very long time, I think, in these

matches. Because you look at the group stages and yeah, you know, they have that. They've had a few, you know, knocks. They tied against Benfica not too long ago last season, so, but in a final, in a semi-final, quarter-final, it's been very rare that Barcelona have had to come up against a team that they don't really know. Yeah, and really exciting for the Champions League, I think, to have a different side, a different way of playing in this final. But you mentioned Mariana Cardento there, a player that Barcelona players will know a lot about. What do you think the view is at the moment from the Barcelona side of things on Mariona, do they still see her

as a huge threat for Arsenal or is that not being spoken about so much? Yeah, I've asked a couple players around it. I did an interview with Tatiana Bonmatis the other day, I mentioned Mariona and she was like, we know the player that she is, you know, we know what she's capable of, they rate her probably even more highly than what the English league, she came out player of the season for the WSL and Barcelona players have been playing with her for so many years that they know exactly who she is, they know the quality that she has and they know what she can do in an instant. We've seen it plenty of times throughout the season, Mariona can score goals from whatever

angle she can do, passes that you don't see. She's an outstanding player and the players recognise that. They're like, it's a shame that we have to go up against her because they know the quality that she has, but they're definitely someone that they're going to keep an eye on her and to say that they know her is an understatement, I think. It would be a different game for her though, won't it? It would be an interesting one for her to go into a game where perhaps we were just speaking with Jen Beatty about how the Arsenal players will have to be comfortable in the uncomfortable, in not having the ball so much. I guess for Mariana Cardente it will be a case of having to really take her opportunities when they can't her way.

Yeah, definitely. I think one of the most interesting things about this final is the style plays. I think Arsenal take up a very Barcelona-esque style play and I think under Renes Legers they've really kind of put that play into very concrete manners of, you know, this is our style play and it's worked well for us and I think it's worked well, I mean, evidently for them. And yeah, I think the style play is going to be quite interesting because obviously Barcelona want to dominate the ball, but we saw Chelsea kind of disturb that motion. That was probably one of the most uncomfortable games that I've seen Barcelona this entire season, the way that Chelsea, you know, really, really suffocated them and didn't let them have as much possession. Arsenal could potentially do the same because

Arsenal are a possession-based team. It's just a matter of who recovers the ball better. I think that's going to be the interesting bit of how possession goes. But possession can go either way. But I think yeah, Mariona is probably going to be key to kind of letting the players know what disturbs Barcelona. She's been there for so long. I mean, if she wins the Champions League with Arsenal, there's going to be her third consecutive Champions League. So if there's one player that's going to lead the pack, it's going to be her. But I think at the end of the day, Arsenal have enough quality on the pitch to be able to put out a game plan that Mariona might give them the tips and tricks on how to defeat Barcelona.

Who will be key for Barcelona? Oh, so many players, I think. I think the game plan is going to be so interesting to see. I've thought about this plan many, many times and I can't wrap my head around it. Because their style of play is so interesting, I think it is going to be down to one key player that's going to be playing a big role in terms of possession recoveries and attack. But I genuinely think the midfield is going to be probably two of the best midfields in the world when you look at individual quality. Those six players that are going to be in the middle three for either team, it's going to be a talent. I mean, it's ridiculous no matter who

plays in that. But I think particularly the way that Arsenal play and the way that Barcelona play, we've seen their wingers be very, very important, especially with the overlap with the fullback. So I would like to say that Caroline Graham-Hanson is going to be very, very key in the attack, but it also depends who they put on the other side because a lot of times they have a fullback that plays both as a fullback and a winger, and then that winger goes in as a fourth midfielder. So that player could potentially be key as well. But I think individual talent and kind of being able to make that final pass, final move, especially when you're serving in balls to Ewa Bayo or that fourth midfielder coming in as a winger or the overlapping fullback,

I think Caroline Graham-Hanson is definitely one to watch. One of the other things with this final is that we get to see two of the best fan bases in the game go head to head as well. How excited are you for the atmosphere? Because it was incredible to watch last year with Barca and Leon, but I feel like maybe Arsenal might even bring another level to it just in terms of the atmosphere on the night. Yeah, that was definitely one of the biggest things that I was excited about when I saw Arsenal made the final. You know, Lyon don't have many travelling fans. Wolfsburg and Eindhoven were actually quite good because I think of how near the Eindhoven was to Wolfsburg particularly, but I think Arsenal,

you know, are probably the second best fan base in terms of travelling, in terms of always being there. You know, San Mames last season was essentially Camp Nou. It was a home advantage, you know, the anthem played, everything was Barcelona and, you know, Lyon just had a little corner of fans just drowned out by Barcelona fans. But yeah, I think this season, the final is going to be very, very special because, you know, Barcelona aren't going to have that advantage that they're used to necessarily. Even in away games in the league, most of the fans go there to see Barcelona. So they're kind of used to having that advantage even in away games. But I think actually, for once, their fan base is going to be matched up and I think, yeah, it's going to be brilliant. It's going to be a 50-50 match. Hopefully it's a really good

football match because I think tactically and analysis-wise on the pitch is going to be really, really interesting and I'm very curious to see how the game goes. But yeah, it's going to be brilliant atmosphere. I think both teams bring such a special football culture as well. It's not only about the mass crowds that they bring in, but Arsenal fans are very Arsenal fans. It's a club rich in history. It's a club that you love the badge and Barcelona is like that as well. So I think it's going to be very, very special. It's going to be a beautiful day of football culture all around. Lovely stuff. Thanks so much, Alex. Enjoy it.

No, thank you. A huge Champions League final coming up this weekend then for Arsenal and for Barcelona. But just before you get stuck into that, you may have also noticed on your feed there's a bonus episode of the Women's Football Weekly out today and it will help you get your fix of Ellen White too. We sat down with CEO of Women's Super League football, Nikki Doucet, to talk all things rebranding, relegation rumours, transfer windows, budgets. Here's a little taster. Is there conversations or a streamlined blueprint, if you will, to enable and help those teams that maybe aren't as savvy marketing, for instance, getting their fans engaged, getting their fans into the stadium, building revenue. Is there, is there conversations throughout the whole league or with you guys

yourselves to help and enable and be like we're doing this for instance they say Arsenal the Emirates what they do there is phenomenal it's almost world-leading is there conversations to be like how can we at say Leicester for instance we we're at the King Power how can we use that our community use your marketing use your blueprint and and enable us to be able to bring in the fan base that you guys have got. Maybe not the same, but something similar that we can maybe use little bits to be able to help. Yeah. So we have workshops, we help facilitate workshops with all of the clubs and also external

partners around ticketing strategies, around learning. And I think it's interesting because if you're a Premier League club, you probably don't have to have a ticketing strategy, right? You've already sold everything out. So I think it's also a new learning for a lot of clubs because how do you sell tickets if you've never had to do it before? And I think there's different learnings and there's different, there's all kinds of different pockets of success across all of the clubs. I think everyone's really trying and, uh, and we're trying to share best practices and

our job is to help facilitate that. So we would have, you know, we have, I can't tell you how many meetings, but a lot of also trying to bring everyone together. And I think it's also going back to one of the first things I said is trust. You know, the difference, you know, while each club is obviously trying to compete on the pitch, we're also trying to grow the game together. And I think you also have to build trust that actually we can share best practices. We can be transparent where that might not necessarily, you might not have to do

that on the men's side, but on the, on our side and where we are in terms of the development cycle of our business and of the are in terms of the development cycle of our business and of the industry, how do we share best practices? Huge thanks to Nikki for sitting down with us. And it really is worth a good rummage free because there's so much great stuff in there and so many of those questions that lots of fans will have wanted to know the answer to answered on that pod. So make sure that you give that a go. In terms of the Champions League final, live commentary is on 5 Live in BBC Sound, Saturday 24th May. Kickoff is at 5pm and all the build-up starts from midday.

Up next on the Football Daily is our Europa League preview with Kelly Cates.