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Here's part two of this month's Q&A, with a focus on the upcoming Clasico. What does the rest of Spanish football make of the global fascination with Barcelona and Real Madrid? And how will a faltering Barcelona cope with Vinicius as the Real Madrid forward develops game-by-game into a world-class talent? Pete Jenson and Graham Hunter have the answers.

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Here are Graham, Pete Jenson and our beloved socios, asking and answering all around this coming Sunday's Clasico - in this first part, we connect the Champions League performances of Barcelona and Real Madrid to the possible outcome of the weekend's La Liga meeting. And the focus falls on two of the hottest properties in Spain: Ansu Fati, whose signature is still fresh on a new Barcelona contract, and Vinicius Jnr, who shone in Madrid's hugely impressive win in Ukraine. 

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Here’s another chance to hear my interview with Alan Smith from season four.

Alan was part of an Arsenal side which won England’s top division twice, and he won the golden boot twice, but a crisis of confidence blighted the end of his career, even when he scored the winner against Parma in the 1994 European Cup Winners’ Cup Final.

The Gunners’ success was due to the camaraderie and chemistry instilled by George Graham, and Alan offers us brilliant insights into the approach of that managerial legend. The highpoint was winning the league title in 1989 at Anfield with the last kick of the ball – a moment Alan considers English club football’s most iconic.

You will love this fascinating Big Interview.

Graham

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Welcome to our Big Interview Icons series where we shine a light on a legend whose name has lit up some of the conversations I’ve had with my guests over the years. This episode focuses on Jurgen Klopp.

Liverpool assistant manager Pep Lijnders tells us how Jurgen and his coaches instil the players’ inner voice in training. Jurgen’s charges can adapt to personnel changes by sticking to a collective philosophy which is drilled into the squad.

Jamie Carragher describes Liverpool’s amazing 4-0 thrashing of Barcelona in the 2019 Champions League semi-final at Anfield. The Reds trailed 3-0 from first leg, but Jamie contends that Jurgen made his players believe that they could achieve anything.

We caught up with Liverpool left-back Andy Robertson in early 2018, just after he had played a vital part in an awesome 4-3 victory over Manchester City. Andy tells us what it’s like to play for the legend Klopp, and why he isn’t scared to take a creative risk on the field.

Brilliant stuff.

Graham

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In part two of my fascinating conversation with Michael Laudrup, we continue talking about Swansea’s 2013 League Cup triumph. They won the final against Bradford 5-0 but Michael never liked humiliating teams or individuals.

We hear about a masterclass dealt out in Naples by one Diego Armando Maradona when Michael was playing for Juventus. Michael also explains his philosophy of a happy retirement and why he thinks we are asking too much of our modern footballers.

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As a player and a manager, Michael Laudrup was pure footballing nobility, so much so that they made him a knight of the Danish realm.

Michael is one of that rare species who can articulate his playing genius. Crucial to his development was playing under Johan Cruyff at Barcelona, who was a genius at conveying his message in simple terms.

There’s great stuff about how the Danish national team transitioned from Corinthian purity to become perennial overachievers. And about how trophies won as a manager – not least Swansea’s 2013 League Cup triumph – felt better than those won as a player.

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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

Here’s another chance to hear my interview with Christian Fuchs from season four.

Back then, Christian was still at Leicester, where he had won the Premier League against all the odds. Nigel Pearson signed him for the Foxes from Schalke – and was then promptly sacked. But the left-back fitted in with Claudio Ranieri’s plans. Ranieri made every player feel special, which was key to their amazing success. Christian describes watching Tottenham drawing with Chelsea – which clinched the title for Leicester – as an incredibly exhausting experience. He had never quite believed that they would become champions.

You’ll also hear about playing alongside the great Raul at Schalke, how Mattersburg captain Dietmar Kuhbauer toughened a young Christian up, and how a loan spell at Mainz under coaching genius Thomas Tuchel was a seminal experience.

Enjoy,

Graham

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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

In part two of my fascinating interview with Aberdeen boss Stephen Glass, we hear about how everyone goes on about ‘pressing’, but no side can truly pull it off for ninety minutes.

You’ll get the skinny on some of the great coaches Stephen has worked under or alongside: Roy Aitken at Aberdeen, Ruud Gullit at Newcastle, Gianluca Vialli at Watford, Tony Mowbray at Hibernian, Tata Martino at Atlanta. Stephen has hired the redoubtable Scott Brown as player-coach, and promises Dons fans will come to love the man they used to hate.

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Stephen Glass might have been brought up as a Dundee United fan, but he gave everything as a player and gives everything as a manager to my beloved Aberdeen. Once, he even helped relegate United while wearing a red jersey.

Stephen learned his trade from coaches who had played during the Dandies’ golden age, but boy, it was a tough apprenticeship. Such were his talents that when at Newcastle, he was compared with Magpies legend Tony Green.

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In part two of my riveting Big Interview with Aston Villa manager Dean Smith we hear about how he establishes the right culture by leading by example. He thrives on developing players, and consistency is his byword. All of this laid the groundwork for the incredible 7-2 destruction of then Premier League champions Liverpool in October 2020.

Thanks, Dean. That was special.

Graham

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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