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Xavi often cites Luuk de Jong as setting the standard of professionalism and application that he demands at Camp Nou. In part two of our conversation with Luuk, there’s amazing content about the Barcelona head coach’s methods, which include fun team games at training that seem to have little to do with football yet which sharpen you mentally and teach you positional and possessional play, and also bond the players.

You’ll also hear great insights into the natural talents of Barca superstars Sergio Busquets, Pedri, Frenkie de Jong and Ousmane Dembele.

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Today's story comes from Brian Laudrup. In 1992, he was a teammate of Stefan Effenberg at Bayern Munich and they were both moving to Fiorentina after Euro 92. They met in the final, but Effenberg's pre-match promise of comradery faded quickly after Denmark's upset victory over Germany.

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There can only be one winner for the Ballon D'Or, but he has not done it alone. Here, from my writing for ESPNFC, is my argument that Karim Benzema must end the year in possession of his first Ballon d'Or - and my explanation that the key to his incredible level of performance has been his partnership with Vinicius jnr., a player Benzema himself has shaped into exactly the foil he needed. 

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To celebrate our sixth birthday, The Big Interview did something special: visited the Barcelona training ground to meet with their bright and brilliant Dutch striker Luuk de Jong.

In part one, you’ll hear about how Luuk formed a relationship with Ever Banega at Sevilla which helped them clinch the 2020 Europa League. Sevilla’s record-breaking win was achieved with zero fans present, but the Covid bubble actually helped bond the players for victory.

You’ll also hear about Luuk’s explanation of how the striker’s instinct kicks in in the heat of the moment, and his favourite footballing moment: PSV beating Ajax 3-0 to become Eredivisie champions in 2018.

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This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit revistadelaliga.substack.com

Today, Wolves defender Conor Coady sells us on the merits of his favourite formation – 3-4-3 – and his it has changed the way he watches football, not just plays it.

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Today’s story comes from Ander Herrer. I asked him to break down how he prepares himself for big games – here’s what he had to say, I think you’ll like it. 

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Today’s story comes from Michael Carrick, former Manchester United midfielder and now a key part of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s staff at Old Trafford. Here’s Michael transporting us – and himself – back to the penalty shoot out that ended the 2008 Champions League final. 

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This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit revistadelaliga.substack.com

Today’s story comes from Graeme Souness, once of Liverpool and Scotland. He’s going to tell you that even the most elite club game in world football, the European Cup final, can sometimes be a mismatch, when one team looks into the eyes of the other and sees fear.

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Today our story comes from Jonny Evans, an FA Cup winner with Leicester City in 2021. But he’s going to tell you about one of his earliest experiences of elite football, when, before he had kicked a ball for Manchester United, he found himself playing for Northern Ireland against Spain in a game that would change the course of football history.

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Today’s story comes from the Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, who is going to tell you about leadership and the power of second chances. 

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This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit revistadelaliga.substack.com