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Hola! 

Well, I’ve had a busy day… all thanks to a certain Brazilian midfielder who has just landed in the city I call home, Barcelona.  

This was Coutinho Day at FC Barcelona so please join me for a behind-the-scenes report on how it all went down.

You’ll hear snippets from the press conference, insights from colleagues in the Spanish press and get a flavour of the atmosphere around one of the highest-profile signings in the club’s history.  

Enjoy! 

Graham

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Hello Big Interview listeners! And a Happy New Year! We’ve picked out a juicy chunk of my Big Interview with Roberto Di Matteo. In this extract, Robbie talks about taking over Chelsea in March 2012 after the sacking of Andre Villas Boas. Robbie describes the mixture of personalities as the most difficult dressing room he ever faced as a player or manager.

But it held the key to unbelievable success. Here, he talks through the incredible second leg of their last 16 tie and a nerve-shredding quarter-final win over Benfica.

To hear the full 80-minute episode, including Roberto’s take on their epic semi-final win over Barcelona, and then that incredible night in Munich against Bayern in the final, it’s time to become a Socio.

   

 Sign up now and you’ll not only unlock the Robbie interview, but my conversations with Rafa Van der Vaart, Ledley King, Robbie Keane, Kevin Phillips and Jermaine Defoe. Go to  patreon.com/grahamhunter. 

It’s the best £2.99 you’ll spend this year.

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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

As we recorded Season Two of The Big Interview, one theme tended to stand out above all others: street football. It seemed as though every one of our guests was able to share a memory of being a kid kicking a ball about on the street outside their house, in a nearby field, or simply against the door of a shed so, clearly, we were left with no choice but to bring those childhood tales together and to create a clip show dedicated to street football. 

It is perhaps fitting that we begin with a history lesson, as Alex McLeish and Walter Smith recall the carefree days, coming home from school and rushing right back out the door to join in the game they knew was already under way at their local field. Mark Noble also remembers joining every youngster on his street to play a game on a school field behind their houses.

Thomas Hitzlsperger explains how he was able to transform the family farm into a football pitch to rival Wembley and Matt Le Tissier describes the game he made up for himself in his back garden and which honed his technique. 

Those were idyllic childhood memories, but street football taught harsh lessons too. Just listen to the testimony of John Collins and Jonny Evans. Benni McCarthy will also take us on to the deadly streets of Cape Town, where playing football meant stopping occasionally to avoid a gangland shooting.

Street football is no longer a glorious part of growing up and, in the final part of this clip show Smith laments its loss, while Neil Lennon argues that the development of youth players is being stifled by too much coaching.

Enjoy!

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Recorded on the final whistle at the Bernabeu, here's my take on where a record-breaking Clasico was won and lost - tactics, discipline, the graduation of Sergi Roberto, the extension of the reign of King Leo.

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We're taking a short break for Christmas - full details here, as well as a preview of what's next from Between The Lines.And if you want to get us a present... nothing says Merry Christmas like a review on iTunes.

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Hola!

Well, not long now until FC Barcelona arrive at the Bernabeu. Are you excited? I sure am.

This is my take on what to expect from what is certain to be a captivating Clasico - from the chances of the FC Barcelona players giving their rivals a guard of honour, to who I expect to start the game.

Oh, and I also piece together a composite Clasico XI.

Enjoy!

Graham

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Simon Kuper reports on sport and real life for the Financial Times, and is the author of several landmark football books. The first, Football Against The Enemy, made his name and won the William Hill Sports Book of the Year award in 1994.

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Hello and welcome to another Big Interview! This time it's with Mr Terrence Gibson.

Now, I know Terry well given that we have both covered Spanish football during our careers, with Terry having become a respected co-commentator for Sky Sports since his playing days ended. But I was delighted that, during the course of our chat, I was still able to learn from him.

For example, in Part One of this Big Interview, Terry tells me about what - or who - scared him most when he was coming through at Tottenham; he describes what it was like to play in the infamous 'Friday kick ups' at Spurs, brutal games which took the place the day before big first-team matches; and he speaks honestly about how it felt to leave the club he has always supported.

Terry is very, very funny, but there is still frustration in his voice as he recounts a trying time at Manchester United under Roy Atkinson and then Sir Alex Ferguson, a manager with whom Terry had a massive fall out before moving on to have success at Wimbledon.

This was fun to record and, I'm sure, will be entertaining to listen to.

Enjoy!

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The guys who produce The Big Interview (and also publish my books) have a new podcast out, starting today. This is me talking to them about it. If you enjoy my shows, this is definitely worth a listen - they talk to authors and journalists about the making of a great sport story. The first episode, featuring Rory Smith talking about his 10-months-in-the-making profile of the recovery from injury of Ilkay Gundogan, is out now.

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Rory Smith spent 10 months building a story about the Manchester City midfielder İlkay Gündoğan's recovery from a serious knee injury. His feature ran in the New York Times earlier this year.

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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 backpagepress.substack.com