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Here is my latest column for ESPN FC on tonight's (Tuesday) Champions League quarter-final second leg between Bayern Munich and Villarreal. The Spanish side lead 1-0 from the first leg - and it could prove to be a tale of two keepers.

Enjoy

G

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Here’s another chance to hear my Big Interview with Don Hutchison from season four.

You’ll hear about Don’s meteoric rise from boys’ club to Hartlepool to Liverpool – where he formed a midfield three with the magnificent Jan Molby and Ronnie Whelan under manager Graeme Souness. Don speaks about the vision, courage and split-second decision making required to be a midfield fulcrum.

There’s moving stuff, too: how Don’s winner for Scotland against England brought his tough miner father to tears. And how Don found Howard Kendall weeping after leading his beloved Everton to top division survival. There’s also a tale about another late, great manager – Walter Smith, who sprung the best bit of man-management ever on Don at Goodison Park.

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Today our story comes from John Collins, who moved from Celtic to Monaco in one of the first major Bosman transfers. He tells us how when he got there, he got to witness the making of a future superstar – Thierry Henry.

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Today’s story comes from Emile Heskey. He remembers the fun of the footballer’s daily work – training – here as part of the Leicester City team that won two League Cups under Martin O’Neill. It’s the part of the life that almost every ex pro tells you they miss the most. Here’s why. 

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Today’s story comes from Darren Fletcher, who’s going to tell you about the master of man management, Sir Alex Ferguson – the hairdryers, the calmness, and why he could never tell which of those was coming next. 

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Today’s story comes from David Weir, former centre-back and captain of Scotland, Everton and Rangers, who’s going to tell you about his formative years playing college football in the United States – as a centre forward.

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In part two of my fascinating Big Interview with Jaap Stam, we hear about how Johan Cruyff said that the centre-half could have defended for a team by himself.

There’s great stuff about being part of Manchester United’s annus mirabilis of 1999. Also: playing with and against Filippo Inzaghi, rating Virgil van Dijk, working under Roberto Mancini… and just missing out on promotion to the Premier League as manager of Reading.

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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

How has a player who was subjected - not entirely without reason - to some of the most brutal treatment I have seen from the supporters of FC Barcelona become a favourite of that same crowd, while remaining a possible candidate for a summer departure from this financially stricken club? This, from the column I write for ESPNFC, is the story of Ousmane Dembélé and the Camp Nou. 

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Today, you’ll hear Wolves defender Conor Coady break down the science of recovery at the club – and his respect for former boss Nuno Espirito Santo.

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Jaap Stam was one of the most eloquent guests we have ever had on the Big Interview.

The Dutch centre-half had a glittering career, not least at Manchester United. He is perplexed by the current state of the club, and compares it to the ultra-competitive environment he arrived at in 1998. Sir Alex Ferguson admitted letting Jaap go was his biggest regret. For Japp, the experience still hurts.

Subscribe to The Big Interview YouTube channel

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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