The Kickback FC

Premier League Matchday 9 comes to a close, and The KickBack FC is back to break down all the chaos! This week, the guys dive into Manchester United vs. Chelsea, debate whether Chelsea are legitimate title contenders, and react to Arsenal vs. Liverpool, including a controversial VAR decision that has everyone talking.

Is Tottenham finally turning things around? Should Manchester City fans be worried? And can anyone stop the Premier League title race from getting even crazier?

Outside of England, we discuss Cristiano Ronaldo closing in on another historic milestone, Barcelona bouncing back, and whether Christian Pulisic deserves a contract extension.

We also shift our focus to the MLS Eastern Conference, react to the league's new sprint schedule, make our NWSL playoff predictions, and break down what's ahead in the Champions League. Plus, we wrap things up with our Select Sport Ball of the Week and a discussion about Neymar.

Plenty of debates, bold predictions, and hot takes in this one. Make sure to drop your thoughts in the comments and let us know which takes you agree or disagree with!

TIMESTAMPS:

0:05 - Intro

1:15 - Ronaldo 15 Goals Away…

2:19 - Barcelona Bounce Back

2:56 - Pulisic Worth an Extension?

6:55 - Bayern vs. Dortmund Finish Level

8:20 - Manchester United vs. Chelsea Recap

25:37 - Are Chelsea Title Contenders?

28:25 - Spurs on the Rise?

32:50 - Man City Going Through a Blip?

43:15 - Arsenal vs. Liverpool Recap

50:15 - Arsenal vs. Liverpool VAR Controversy

58:15 - Chelsea vs. Sunderland Prediction

58:58 - Arsenal vs. Hull City Prediction

1:00:00 - Manchester United vs. Aston Villa Prediction

1:02:15 - MLS Eastern Conference Breakdown

1:08:30 - MLS News

1:09:44 - MLS Sprint Schedule Reaction

1:18:30 - NWSL Playoff Predictions

1:23:40 - Champions League Predictions

1:29:15 - Top 8 Champions League Predictions

1:31:30 - Select Sport Ball of the Week

1:37:10 - Neymar Unlucky?

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#TheKickBackFC #PremierLeague #ChampionsLeague #MLS #NWSL #FootballPodcast

The Premier League continues to bring the drama as the guys break down another wild weekend of football!

Manchester United's struggles continue as questions surrounding Michael Carrick's future grow louder. Is United's squad simply uncoachable? Meanwhile, Chelsea delivers another disappointing performance, Spurs continue to raise questions, and Arsenal may be starting to hesitate.

The guys also discuss Aston Villa's massive victory over an unbeaten side, give their predictions for Arsenal vs. Liverpool and Chelsea vs. Manchester United, and preview El Clásico.

Plus, we shift our attention to MLS as the Ohio clubs make headlines, Philadelphia Union's unbeaten streak comes to an end, and the NWSL playoffs approach. We wrap things up with our Select Ball of the Week and a discussion about the Ballon d'Or winners!

⚽ Premier League | MLS | NWSL | European Football 👑 Subscribe to The KickBack FC for weekly football discussions, predictions, interviews, and more! 🔥 Join our Discord community and get exclusive content through Patreon! Links in our bio!

Time Stamps:

0:05 - Intro

1:10 - NFL CONVO

2:13 - Manchester United Disconnected

8:00 - is Carrick Keeping his Job?

14:00 - is Man United Uncoachable?

22:50 - Chelsea Disappointment

39:00 - Spurs Still Aren’t Serious

40:23 - Arsenal Hesitating?

52:20 - Aston Villa Take Down the Undefeated Team

52:52 - Biggest Highlight of the Premier League Through 8

57:30 - Arsenal vs. Liverpool Prediction

58:20 - Chelsea vs United (all three guys)

1:01:20 - El Clasico

1:09:40 - Ohio MLS Squads

1:17:42 - Philly Unbeaten Streak Ends

1:20:20 - NWSL PLAYOFFS COMING SOON

1:25:00 - Select Ball of the Week

1:29:20 - Ballon D’Or Winners

1:30:30 - Outro

Manchester United are in shambles, Liverpool are looking shaky, and the Premier League continues to deliver chaos!

The KickBack FC crew breaks down another wild week of football, including Arsenal's latest performance, Chelsea vs. Everton, Alex Scott's value, and whether Brighton can make a serious push for the top four.

The guys also dive into the latest MLS action before making their Champions League predictions, including Arsenal vs. Bayern, Manchester United's chances, and the highly anticipated El Clásico matchup!

Plus, our weekly Premier League predictions and Select Sport shoutouts!

TIMESTAMPS:

0:05 - Intro

1:48 - Did Ohio State Get Lucky?

8:30 - Alex Scott's Value

18:25 - Arsenal Recap

26:30 - Manchester United Are SHOCKING

27:00 - Chelsea vs. Everton

59:30 - Liverpool Looking Shaky

1:01:00 - Manchester City

1:07:05 - Brighton Top 4?

1:12:05 - MLS Breakdown

1:29:30 - Champions League Predictions

1:34:10 - El Clásico Predictions

1:36:40 - Manchester United UCL Predictions

1:39:49 - Arsenal vs. Bayern Predictions

1:46:20 - Can Spurs Climb the Table?

1:50:20 - Premier League Predictions

1:55:25 - Select Sport Shoutouts

1:59:00 - Outro

Subscribe to The KickBack FC for weekly Premier League, Champions League, MLS, and world football discussions!

#PremierLeague #ManchesterUnited #Liverpool #Arsenal #ChampionsLeague #ElClasico #TheKickBackFC

The Premier League is officially BACK after what felt like an eternity of an international break, and the drama has picked up right where it left off!

On this episode of The KickBack FC, the guys break down the biggest matches and talking points from the weekend, dive into Manchester United's continued struggles, and discuss the defensive issues that continue to haunt Chelsea.

The guys also unpack the latest developments surrounding Manchester City's ongoing legal troubles, what has unfolded, and what it could mean for the club and the Premier League moving forward.

From controversial moments to heated debates and everything in between, you won't want to miss this episode of The KickBack FC!

Chapters:

0:05 - Intro

1:47 - USA International Break Breakdown

7:30 - USWNT Breakdown

11:09 - Manchester United SHOCKER (not)

16:35 - Where is Andre Santos?

25:50 - Arsenal Unstoppable?

33:55 - Chelsea Bounce Back

46:00 - Manchester City GUILTY

1:06:00 - Select Ball of the Week

1:12:00 - City vs Liverpool Prediction

1:15:00 - Chelsea vs Everton Prediction

1:17:25 - Man United vs Leeds Prediction

1:20:50 - Outro

On this episode of The KickBack FC, the guys dive into all things Ballon d’Or, breaking down this year’s nominees, the biggest names in the race, and who they believe deserves to take home football’s most prestigious individual award.

But the debate doesn’t stop there.

The crew also gives their picks for Keeper of the Year and Young Player of the Year, discussing the players who stood out most over the past season and which performances deserve the recognition.

As always, things get heated when the opinions start flying. Expect bold takes, disagreements, debates, and plenty of back-and-forth as the guys make their cases for who should walk away with some of the biggest awards in world football.

🎙️Chapters

0:03 - intro

1:24 - Ballon D’Or Intro

3:50 - Who Makes Top 3?

18:10 - Who Do You Wanna See Win?

18:40 - Lewandowski Conversion

20:00 - Mbappé Conversation

30:00 - Should Kane Win The Ballon d'Or?

33:50 - The Hypotheticals

36:40 - Men’s Best Keeper Award

46:20 - Young Talent of the Year Award

52:50 - Mainoo vs Lewis-Skelly

57:30 - Outro

Chris Mueller joins The KickBack FC to reflect on his professional soccer career and the journey that took him from Schaumburg, Illinois to MLS, the U.S. Men’s National Team and Europe. We talk about his development at Sockers FC Chicago and Wisconsin, being selected No. 6 overall in the 2018 MLS SuperDraft, his time with Orlando City, playing alongside Nani, and Orlando’s breakthrough 2020 season.

Chris also takes us inside his USMNT debut, his experience playing for Hibernian in Scotland, and what it meant to eventually come home and represent the Chicago Fire. We then get into the more personal side of his career, including his hip injury, recurrent pericarditis, his comeback in 2026, and ultimately his decision to retire from professional soccer.

Chris also talks about BTB, what he wants to teach the next generation of players, fatherhood, and what life looks like after professional soccer.

Where you can find more of Chris

BTB By Chris Mueller - https://btbtheofficial.com/

"Bet On Yourself: How to Build Unshakeable Confidence, Tune Out the Noise, and Rise to the Occasion" by Chris Mueller - bit.ly/3V69L5b

Chris Mueller Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cmueller1662/

BTB Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/btbtheofficial/

🎙️ Chapters

1:03: - Intro

1:30 - Origins & Sockers FC

10:50 - Wisconsin

18:00 - Getting Drafted

23:50 - MLS & Orlando City

28:50 - Playing with Nani

34:00 - USMNT

51:35 - Hibernian & Europe

1:03:30 - Chicago Fire

1:09:00 - Injuries & Pericarditis

1:19:00 - Retirement

1:23:50 - BTB & The Next Chapter

1:39:30 - Rapid Fire

Subscribe to The KickBack FC for more conversations around soccer, culture and the people shaping the game.

#ChrisMueller #MLS #USMNT #TheKickBackFC #soccer

On this weeks episode of The KickBack FC our hosts break down matchday 5 in the Premier League. They talk the shocking upsets, the not so shocking Spurs result, the USMNT Call Ups and also give us a preview into the International Break.

Chapters:

0:05 - Intro

1:20 - NFL FOOTBALL TALK

3:40 - Tottenham Still Suck

10:20 - Coventry’s Massive Win Before the Break

13:20 - Chelsea vs Brentford Recap…

28:20 - Arsenal First Loss of the Year

36:15 - Saka Starting Slow This Season

45:10 - Manchester United in SHAMBLES

54:40 - What Would Get Carrick Sacked

1:01:50 - Liverpool Showing Up

1:05:50 - Are City the Best in the Prem Currently?

1:08:30 - USMNT CALL UPS - What’s Pochettino Cooking?

1:19:50 - Ohio MLS Seeing Some Positives

1:28:50 - NYCFC vs. RED BULLS MASSIVE BRAWL

1:31:50 - Select Ball of the Week Selections

1:35:00 - Prayers for Injury Free International Break

1:38:00 - EAFC TRAILER

In this special episode of The KickBack FC, we sat down with former MLS goalkeeper Jeff Attinella to look back on the stories, moments, and experiences that shaped his professional soccer career. Jeff takes us through his journey to Major League Soccer, his time with Real Salt Lake and the Portland Timbers, the mentality and pressure that come with playing goalkeeper at the highest level, and some of the personalities and moments he encountered along the way.

Time Stamps:

0:05 - Intro

0:38 - Guest Introduction

1:30 - How Jeff Attinella Got Into Playing Soccer

6:00 - Florida Soccer Scene Evolution

9:40 - Getting Drafted and Getting Released

14:58 - Building His Name at Tampa Bay Rowdies

17:30 - Penalty Shootout Mentality at Tampa Bay

20:20 - Player vs Goalie: Who Has More Pressure Taking Penalties

33:30 - Real Salt Lake Was STACKED

42:05 - What Was Jeff’s Most Difficult Moment at Real Salt Lake

44:30 - Getting Picked up by Portland Timbers

50:05 - Caleb Porter as a Manager

53:40 - Timbers 2018 MLS Cup Run

1:01:50 - Mercedes Benz Stadium Atmosphere

1:05:50 - 2021 MLS FINAL

1:07:00 - What Makes a Great Goalkeeper?

1:09:00 - How to Make a Mistake and Move On

1:12:30 - How to Stay Mentally Ready for Big Moments

1:15:05 - From MLS to Children’s Book Author

1:21:00 - Hard Hitting Parenting Questions

1:22:30 - Building a Media Company

1:27:30 - What Separates a Good Sports Interview?

1:30:21 - Rapid Fire Questions

Make sure to like, comment, and subscribe, and follow @thekickbackfc on all platforms for more interviews, football discussions, and exclusive content.

On this episode The KickBack FC hosts breaks down the latest chapter of Manchester derby, the young Americans who continue to impress, and whether Chelsea are actually moving forward or starting to feel stuck. We also get into the biggest performances, storylines, and takeaways from another wild weekend of football.

Time Stamps:

0:05 - Intro

1:01 - NFL Talk

3:05 - Ballon d’Or Conversation

7:00 - Manchester United vs. Manchester City Recap

9:40 - Manchester United need to find their identity

12:47 - United Might Need to Move on from Carrick

19:30 - Chelsea vs. Leeds Recap

21:30 - Chelsea are missing key pieces still

22:40 - Chelsea vs. Hall City Recap

30:40 - Arsenal have set their standard EARLY

33:30 - Arsenal vs. Sunderland Recap

39:50 - Bottom of the Table Conversation

44:00 - Columbus and Cincinnati MLS Conversation

47:15 - Front Runners for the MLS Eastern Conference

49:40 - US MENS TEAM YOUNGSTERS POPPING OFF

53:06 - Select Sports Ball of the Week Picks

56:00 - Arsenal vs. Brighton Preview

58:03 - Chelsea vs. Brentford Preview

58:50 - Manchester United vs. Fulham Preview

1:00:15 - Outro

Make sure to like, comment, subscribe, and follow @thekickbackfc on all socials for more football content.

On this episode of The KickBack FC, the crew breaks down another chaotic weekend across the Premier League, including Arsenal vs Chelsea, Manchester United vs Everton, Liverpool’s latest win, Manchester City surviving, and more questions surrounding Spurs.

We also head over to Spain to talk about Lamine Yamal continuing to show why he’s one of the most exciting players in world football and whether Barcelona has what it takes to go back-to-back.

Back in the U.S., Josh Sargent puts together a massive hat trick performance and forces us to ask the question: Is it time for him to get another real shot with the USMNT? Plus, Cavan Sullivan continues to turn heads in Philadelphia, Columbus gets a much-needed win, and we dive into the biggest questions surrounding Messi and Inter Miami.

We finish things off with Champions League predictions, Premier League picks, Ronaldo’s chase toward history, and our Select Player of the Week selections.

Time Stamps:

0:05 - Intro

2:00 - Lamine Yamal is BALLING 🔥🔥

3:30 - is Barcelona capable of going back to back?

7:00 - is Real Betis Ready for the Mainstage Spotlight?

9:30 - Atletico Madrid is in Trouble?

14:00 - Manchester United vs Everton Breakdown

15:40 - United Keep Learning Lessons

21:09 - Everton Stayjng Quiet in the Transfer Window Worked

23:50 - Chelsea vs Arsenal Breakdown

25:20 - Cole Palmer Didn’t Show Up vs Arsenal

26:30 - Chelsea vs Arsenal (Chelsea Perspective)

32:00 - Chelsea vs Arsenal (Arsenal Perspective)

38:00 - Players Looking for Moves From Chelsea?

40:00 - Chelsea Defense Still in Question

45:50 - Spurs Back Where They Belong

49:00 - Spurs Players Need to be Held Higher Standards

52:30 - Everton Are One Loss Away From Making History

53:00 - Spurs Might Be Trying to Get Relegated

54:00 - Manchester City Squeaked Out a Win

58:15 - Liverpool Pull Out a 2-0 Win

1:00:10 - Alexander Isak Looked SOLID for Liverpool

1:01:00 - Wirtz is Looking Rough

1:02:20 - Columbus Get Their Must Win Win

1:07:05 - Josh Sargent Hattie in a 4-4 BANGER Match

1:09:50 - Can Josh Sargent Make it Back into the USMNT

1:12:30 - Cavan Sullivan is a True SHOWSTOPPER For Philly

1:13:00 - Can Philly Make the Playoffs?

1:15:10 - The Real Inter Miami and Messi Questions…

1:20:50 - Ronaldo 22 Goals Away From the End….

1:22:30 - Manchester United Champions League and Manchester Darby Predictions

1:25:00 - Chelsea vs Hall City Prediction

1:26:15 - Arsenal vs Napoli and Sunderland Predictions

1:31:20 - Select Player of the Week Selections

1:34:30 - Outro