Welcome everyone to the football podcast for learners of English. On this week’s show we look back at some of the football language from the Champions League including the phrase ‘scoreless draw’, while we also look ahead to this weekend’s football. Jose Mourinho left Chelsea last year in acrimonious circumstances and so this week we look ahead to his return to Stamford Bridge with his new side Manchester United in our predictions. You can read the transcript for the show in our post below (Damian = DF, Damon = DB).

Learn English Through Football Podcast: Mourinho’s United at Chelsea

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Transcript of the show

DF: Hello everyone and thanks for listening to our football language podcast for all those who wish to improve their English language skills.

My name is Damian, and I am talking to you from London here in the UK where the weather is cold and foggy. In fact the Olympic Stadium, which is very near to my house – or the London Stadium now, where West Ham will host Sunderland later on today, is covered in early morning fog. Hello Damon, how are things there in Tokyo?

DB:  I’m aching all over, Damian, after the football match I had this morning. We did win, which is some compensation. How about you, any footballing plans this weekend?

DF: Well Damon, I’m off to see a Premier League game at the Emirates Stadium – Arsenal versus Middlesbrough where, of course, as a Spurs fan, I’ll be supporting the north-eastern side Middlesbrough though I have a feeling they’ll find it hard going!

DB: Brilliant! There could be lots of goals. Make sure you take a few photos and post them on our Instagram feed!

DF: Will do! Now, on this week’s show we will be looking back at some of the big football stories from the week in our Good, the Bad and the Ugly review section. Then, we’ll have our regular weekly quiz, and after that we will be focusing on some key language from the past week – including the phrase ‘scoreless draw’ while we also look ahead to the big games in our predictions battle: Chelsea host Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United and Spurs travel to Bournemouth.

DF: Damon, let’s start with our good, the bad and ugly section. What was good in the footballing news this week for you?

Good

DB: Well, can I be a bit selfish and talk about some news about my home village? Last weekend 17- year old Ben Woodburn from the same Cheshire village I was born and brought up in was given a 3- year professional contract at Liverpool! Great news for the rising star but also brilliant for all with a connection to Tattenhall in Cheshire – blink and you’ll miss it!

Bad

DB: As for bad, it has not been a good couple of weeks for Manchester City and their boss Pep Guardiola, as they have not won a game in their last three matches: a slump or dip in form that has seen them draw at home with Everton, lose to Spurs and be thrashed 4-0 by Barcelona in this week’s Champions League.

Ugly

DF: Interesting times for Pep Guardiola’s side indeed. Now, I’m going to mention two ugly things from the football world this week. First up a player from Championship side Brentford, Alan McCormack , was suspended for five matches for sexist abuse of a female assistant referee in a recent Division One game. Outdated views indeed.

DB: I agree. Bad.