Thomas Tuchel and New England Era

just take me back to that semifinal goalm because they're superstar players who've done amazing things in their careers and they are going to be leegends of the game Forever' never ever done what you've done. There's a few times in training you know I linked up well with Cole And like whenever I ran, he'd just find me. L it was just it was just easy. I didn't have to do anything and he just put it on a plate. So when I saw that he was coming on with me, I remember I was warming up with him and I said like I said to Louis Duncan Dan Henderson, I said, I'm going to score him. Welcome. to Rio meet. Before I head off to the World Cup in the States, I'm doing a bit of prep And I'm going to be speaking to some of the biggest names in the game and Airbnb have sorted us out with another brilliant day. So Let's see who I'm welcoming onto the pod next Ily' sing. are you doing? You right? nice are you? You right? Yeah, well good coming M. Nice,n't? Yeah, it's nice, man G you're in there one How you b been All good. All good. Fit, fight and fit? Yeah, feeling feeling healthy. Yeah good. That's good man. You look healthy, look like you' got a tan bro.' been out in the sun It' been sunny last few days We had a little break before I didn't go away with international, so it's half of France with the fireice. Where about you go? Oh it's a Can. Oh nice myaster anything. Yeah, it's my spot. What do you do to chill now, like, what do the flers do when they're just relaxing outside of the game like for me, I don't really have I've started to play more golf. Oh yeah. I went to play golf yesterday. Horrendous. It's more the fact the socials like you're out for four or five hours you're not thinking about anything. So I don't know, but I don't feel like you've got enough time to do stuff. Theel's just relentless know it's my because obviously we agreed for the interview to go ahead and I was looking at your journey it' my journey ain' it really? like from like lead two. Yeah, yeah. to scoring in like. semi final for England. And what's that like, mana? Yeah And you know what? that's I think for me in this stage of my career, like when I'm walking out in the tunnel, everyone deals with stuff like everyone reacts to things differently and has like some people are loud in the tunnel are kind of try and think back to, you know, I was playing in like non league and So you're that reflective at that moment. little things like we play in Europa League and I was looking down at the Europa League on the carpet and thinking like, you know, like enjoy it because you've come so far. I'm playing in Europa League, semifinals Paying in the Champions League, their experiences that I always strived for when I was younger and now I've done it so just enjoy it more than. pressure on yourself So I'll just take you it back toight when you' planing for exit at thaton. What was your genuine like aim when you were breaking into the first team there? was you looking at England and thinking about England No, never neverever. So I was always just I was trying to better myself and then just get a move to somewhere else, you know A lot of the players that I played with were experienced players and older players and they'd already played the game. so for like Clinton Morrison and Matt Oakfley players like that. so I would hear their experiences of what they've achieved and playing for their country I'd always aspired to do that, but I never thought too far ahead So I was always looking to just try and you know progress and then maybe get a move to somewhere bigger and then use it as a stepping stone You started playing widely, I'm right when I talked to the research guys and not. Was it wident in the youth team like so I kind of Always switched. I'd always drift out to the wing because I found like the ball was always going there So it was just like I wanted to I remember my manager Paul Tisdale used to say like you can't just stand up on the wing and just try and take people on like it's W the ball don't come, like you need to affect the game. and then that's when he started to move me more central and I found like that was good for me because I was always involved in the game and wasn't just like waiting for things to happen. H That's why you're a good mover. That's why you move well across the line then. Yeah, I think so. and sometimes we start games now and and I need to I need to like I feel like I need to be involved. So when the game's like very slow and stuff like that I don't feel like it helps me because youve got to be very patient. I may end up coming out of my position and then the ball goes across the that the face of the box and I'm not there But when teams are going man for man and Um, I'm like fighting with the center back and the's space for me to run, I feel like that's when I'm I'm a best if I't know he's like So you couldn't sit there and be like a harleland then You could just sit there and go, I'm going to take two touches in a half. And I'm going to wait and be patent. you have to go and you get starved Sometimes So what he does is that that's very difficult to do because you have to be patient and obviously you have to trust that your teammates is going to putut the ball out here Um I've watched like old clips of like when United used to play for unite and stuff and Like Van Nisteroy, whenever the balls going wide, like the ball's always getting crossed. Whereas now we're kind of told to like if it's not on then come back and make passes and stuff like that. So There can be opportunities where or times in a halfway I may not get a shot which for a striker you're thinking like you should be at least having three or four shots a game. But if you're playing against a low block team then is very difficult Do you ever look back and think about I'm going to take you back to another team Brentford and that front three that you guys had with BMW they record Yeah ye. what's your automatic thoughtas when you think like you smile straight away when you see that Now just because it was such a good time we Brian and Sed knew of each other two French boys, like Side couldn't speak much English and Brian was kind of like the the gel in between But we just had like such a good connection, like I knew that So he would do all the tricks and stuff like that. Id just leave him to it but he would always I always knew what he was going to do. Um So after the four five step oververs, I knew what he was going to do. he's going to play a one two or he's going to and inwing cross to me. So And Brian was always so unselfish. like whenever we're around the box or There's times where he could maybe shoot he would always look across it and set me up. So yeah, it was an enjoyable time and it's nice to see that Um Yeah, they've had good careers and they're successful so. I don't know, I don't know if it was around that time or even before that where Probably when you left when you was leaving EXeter where you was like That is that That's the resident number nine back. When was it you actually fought in your head? That's my position. That's where I w to play now. becauseuse you said you were being swapped over as a kid Yeah, so we worked on it a lot in training Thomas Frank was really good with that and he just said to me, whenever we're going into the box rununning between both center backacks and I want the number eight or the winger or whoever is crossing the ball to always put it there So I knew for me it was quite simple and then I found like I Yeah, like I said, I started to Yeah to get my goals from the middle of the box and then I grew in confidence really. I think clear. like definitive lines and like Rules and regs almost players, especially the wide players for forwards like yourself. Yeah. If you know thisist and get there, I don't want no clips and fancy stuff. just want it nine times out of ten in that area. It makes it so much easier for you one percent. hundred percent. If you don't have that relationship with the wide player and you don't know what they're going to do, I think I feel like it's very difficult because crosses of I feel like it's It's a simple way to schoolore I think football can be made a lot more difficult than it needs to be sometimes. If you have a good crosser of the ball I just need to beat you and if you put it in the right area, I need to get a touch on it and it should be a goal.. What does Imory want from you as a striker as well? Be I always think that now with strikers. I used to always have two strikers in our team or against us. so it's very much one comes short, one goes long. What's the ask of a number nine when it's just you up front alone Aston Villen now Well, first of all, I think Taking away goals, assists, stuff like that. The number one thing he says is always to work hard and do your job. So If the if the it's not manant for man, but if the center back is if you're drimling with the ball and the center back is running with it, you know, into a half, I need to follow him and pressure him. pressure him. so straight away, I think it is quite demanding our job. You know, sometometimes we he'll say to me and the number ten to take all for players and the keeper So for that off the ball stuff. It is it is physically really demanding. but then again u, you know, on seen as the goal scorer and weser on me, so Yeah, obviously to produce goals, assists But yeah, I think the crucial thing is to work hard without the ball He's he's known for improving players for winning, but Just in terms of him, what specifically does he bring to you as an individual with that experience that he's got as a coach Be he players. he makes better. He does. Yeahah. But he's not said to me specifically like, you need to do this, you need to do that. I think the structure of the team has helped me. Obviously the way we play and Um Some things that I've done with an individual coach, one of his coaches Rodery We do a lot of work on how I can isolate the the center back and what movement I can do to put me in the best position you know to score. so There'll be things that I do with the number ten like Morgan Rogers or the whide players When they get the ball, what movement to make And that's one thing that I hadn't really done, like work with an individual coach like that. so I think that's been massive for me. You're the only Englishman, O of the guys behind the scenes told me this morning. You're the only Englishman. And tell me if you knew this already you're the only Engishman to score ten plus goals in the last six seasons knew that in fact I knew that but like my friends and family, they always send me like stats and be like, o you've a This is what you achieve little things like that. so Yeah, it is. and I do keep an eye on these things that I think they're important, you know, And like I said to always strive for for new things and to reach new goals and new targets. So yeah, it's something that' really I'm really proud of and I think it's not bad company to the other players that are They're not English that are up there as well. Who are they Hland and Sller. He knows You know what? Strikers always know these little details, you? It's weird Also, you spoken a lot about hard work and Is that your reward? like consistency When you know you're working hard, you're going to get that out of the back Yeah, I think when things aren't going for you, I think, When you're constantly putting hard work in, you know, the rewards may not come know straight away, but in three or four weeks you reap the rewards and then you look back and think, oh, that's why I did it. That's what I think anyway. I think it always pays off. If you work hard, there's no way that you can't be successful and succeed. Who's your toughest opponent? If you can give me like one or two defenders you found ways give you a tough tough time. In the Premier League, always tough time. Before Tiago Silver. Ja Silver He was so clever like so I played at him. I played against him obviously at the end of his career, but it still felt like he was still felt like he wass twenty five, you know, like he was always I feel like the best defenders are the ones that kind of read the read the game and they They gives them they're clever. they They're clebrer in a way as they don't get exposed. Like you'll see a lot of teams now at Barcelon will play a high line and'll be playing offside which I would like to play against because there's a space Whereas The other defends like Tiago Silver, he wouldn't do that so He would always cover himself and give himself an extra five, six yards. So I'd never have chance to run in behind. run in behind and beat him in a race because he would never put himself in that position. So he was always like one step ahead. I think he's seen everything. He's obviously played the game at the highest level. so I think for me T ye, TRious was the toughest one. Just on defenders. Ezri Kondza Well, he's going to play for England in summer. I think he'll be him and gay center backs. Well, what's his best attribute? You training him every day? You see him. I think the fact he is so composed on the wall So I've played with Ez, I think I've played with him the most out of all my teammates my career, I played ro at Brentford and then all the time at Villa and I felt like he had always been not spoken about enough. he's just so composed on the ball. and evenven when I'm playing against him in training like there'll be times where he'll It'll dribble out with the ball and then Oiously he dribbles across you so you can't you either foul him and he's ahead of you or you have to like let him run. You'll never be playing like a long dag or anything like that. He's always keeping it short and he's comfortable on the ball quick as well, so He never gets caught out like that and then he's aggressive. so Yeah he's got's got he's got a lot of good action. must give you your confidence as a teammate that when you're playing and you know you've got that behind you Yeah, exactly. And I I judge a player, an attacking player as well. If they've gone past s Okay So we played Bologna and there was a winger that went past theirairs and I was like, Ohh, he's good because as't get be often. Yeah, yeah Just to go back to Emary, when he first came and obviously, you guys must have been Fans don't understand it. ers are that funds and we' we look at the media for information and stuff and you hear about Eory coming in like what What was one of like the biggest discipline changes? that happened when he came in Because there's always going to be a shift and difference. What were they looking like when he changed? It wasn't disciplineed as in like, o you're turning up late for training, you're fine. like he's not big on that on like timings out to training and stuff like that It was more, I remember we came out to training and we just didn't really do much with the ball It was all about like structured shape U and I was surprised as well really like Spanish coach, you think maybe like . Yeah yeah, it was just four for two. Basic like running, like moveving to the mannequin, pressing without the ball And it was surprising really because you don't think that from a Spanish coach I didn't know what to expect really. I know he did really well at Arsenal, but I hadn't watched much of that Villao and stuff. so I think that was the main thing how drill he was And yeah, he was basically telling us to just to enjoy it. We're very like privileged men to do. he always reminds us how privileged we are to do our job paid handsomely to play football at the end of the day. so Yeah, just He just reminds us that all the time. He still says it now That's good. I always find that good managers always talk beyond football to try and get your attention and fut to appreciate where you are and stuff. Another manager that you played under Gerard Yeah. I us a bit of insight into him like. What was his first impressions like with him Yeah, like when When Gerald came in, I was kind of I was excited I didn't know how he was going to like I've seen Joe obviously play and stuff like that. likeike the last time I saw him was when he was playing for Liverpool. so And then next thing, you know, he's your manager. so I was really excited Just to see how he was, obviously, he's played at such a high level, I thought He's so relatable He's been in opp position. He knows how we feel He can talk to you a kind of on a level. whereereas some managers, for example, like our boss now he is the boss. like you You don't really have many conversations with. But I like it like that. it's good I But yeah, we've gerard it It was really it was really good at the start. I felt like we were we were playing some good football there was a good feel around the club and then Things changed a little bit when he had a a new assistant that came in, I think Things have changed and we just didn't hit the ground running at the start of the season like you know, like we were before. And u But I took a lot of I felt really bad, like I felt I felt terrible when when he got sacked, we found out on the coach and I don't know, I fel like I took a little bit of responsibility for that because He's looking at me to me and all the other attackers to score and produce and we weren't doing that. so I felt a little bit U Yeah you took on your chest, ye. A little bit because As the attackers, you should be scoring and there was one game we battered Totten them first half but we just couldn't score We just had so many chances that we just couldn't put it in the back of the net and they came out second half and they destroyed us to be honest. Song got hatchick. I can remember that day and it was just like yeah justn't it wasn't going our way. as a manager and as a person who was Really good guy Itt matter because a lot of people are not a fan being he and talking about players nowadays. They just think huge money all the adulation that goes of it. they don't have those feelings. they don't take responsibility for those type of situations and just think, o All right, I've got my free four year deal. I'm fireing new manager. let's move on Clearly that's different Yeah, it's not like Fans, I think it's easy for fans to say Oh it's all right. He's going to get into his flash car like he doesn't care. But it's like no, even if you' in a flash car driving home, you're still thinking, oh my go p today or you hate the feeling of losing. it doesn't make it any much better. I know that's easy for me to say in a privileged position, but It doesn't make things it doesn't make things better, you know, if you've lost the game, you're still annoyed and You can't do anything to change that. No I agree.' I tell people that all the time, but it's like I say it's difficult when people see how you're earning so much money, they just bypass that completely Just stay on manager South Gate. H How strict worries like tactical instructions and these expectations that you put on you guys I think for For me, I think Gareth was more of a leader as in, He was the face of it. Yeah, his assistant, Steve Hllanded quite a lot of the tactical work on the pitch and He was really clever with the way he approached things so he would take training and the build up play and stuff, the set pieces and stuff the day before the game and the training. Yeah Garf was more of a He would always stick stick with you even if you felt like we hadn't played well or there was situations in the media. I felt like he always had your back and was Um you know, there to put an arm around you. so Yeah, it was u ammazing to play under him and obviously It's a shame that we didn't get to you know for him to leave on a hide like I think he was wishing to Was it was he someone who lost his temper much or not? Becauseuse I always look at him, I'm fascinated as to like, wasas he like and I didn't. I think he was very cool Um There was not times if there were times where you know, we can play better at halftime, he may say something, but there's not many times I could remember him being Very angry, I felt like he was always quite calm and collected I And he was like he was obviously criticized at the end. Yeah. and like C couldould you understand that orr would you that a Mus this guu's done a lot for the country Yeah, not really, I think. Like people think obviously with the England squad and the talent and the amount of plers there are that like We should beating teams like six no every game. it's just like it' not it's not a It's not like that. like football's not that easy Um No matter who picks a team, like it's always going to be difficult. So I think to go back to back findalessself the euros You know, is an amazing achievement and There's things that he that he's done that not many Englland managers have done. so It It's a diffult it's a difficult role to role to have. and I feel like you're always going to be scrutinized, you know, whether you win or whether you lose. so Um can't speak highly enough of them Just take me back to that semifinal goal man. What's that feeling like? Be they're superstar players Yeah who've done amazing things in their careers and they are going to be legends for the game forever never ever done what you've done I score a go at that. Just tell me the feeling and like what was that night like for you? Yeah, so previously to that, I felt like had a great season with Villa. Obviously we got to Champions Leag And then I'm used to playing every game for for my team. I think I've missed maybe two games that season. And I can remember voice note to my mate saying,, it's like They get me wrong, it's good O obviously the Eururos, but like I'm just not playing you. Just I'm not happy to just be sat here like watching all the games. I know if someone's got to be a sub at the end of the day, but I felt like I could brring something to the team by coming off the bench, you know, for the last fifteen, twenty minutes, whatever that may be. And he was like, No mate, you're going to have your moment. like just keep positive, keep positive And then yeah, that night, obviously I came on I scored and Yeah, it was it was the best feeleding ever just to Because I called it as well, I could see that there was quite a lot of space. The game was opening up, like it was hot The tempo was slowing down a little bit and There's a few times in training I are linked up well with Cole And like whenever I ran, he'd just find me. like just it was just easy. I didn't have to do anything and he'd just put it on the plate. So Um Yeah, when I saw that he was coming on with me, I remember I was warming up with him and I said like I said to Lewis Duncan and Dean Henderson, I said, I'm going to score here. And they were like, makeake sure you do when you when you do run over. So like on my face like I'm like, that's why I'm like, because I couldt see them Yeah I called it and they're running over to me and yeah, it was just It was the best feeler ever because I was calledall it, but I was surprised still Um because I've actually, when I've got the ball on the turn The defender's quite close to me, so I'm thinking, Ohh I'm just going shoot here and I may get a corner or something As he's opened his legs I've hit the ball so sweet and it just It just didn't move and last finish Yeah, N room into the corner It's mad because I mean like you say about being a subist it's a very difficult position to be in like you say when you're the main man at your club, you scorer and you're confident and you go at national level And it's not working out the way you might have envisioned it goingnt Hh I mean,' for a lot of listeners, a lot of viewers, I think it'd be nice to hear you explain how you get your head r that mentally, stay in tune for games, how difficult that is I think so that was the first kind of experience I had had of it Um at this level. So before when I was an exn and stuff like that, I was used to it. but Then when I moved, I was just used to playing and starting regularly for you know six, seven seasons. So then to have that and probably like the The prime time of my career, it was difficult, but it's understandable as You know, I have Harry Kane in front of me who speaks for himself But I've kind of taken it now as Sometimes the game is tight, you know, for this first sixty, seventy minutes. so when the game opens up, it's probably It's good to come on fresh. You've watched the game as well. likeike when I'm on the bench, I'm just chatting like Hving Banta with the boys. I'm focused on the game and seeing what the defenders do so I can So you're studying straight away. Yeah, because know you never know when you you can come on. There's been times where I've been sat on the bench and I can come on in the first. twenty minutes. for example, So you've got to be ready Yeah, and I just study what's going on. what the defenders do, like if they're aggressive, if they If they get dragged out into pockets and stuff like that. So yeah, I do focus when when I'm on the bench You know, I have to say thanks because you gave me an unbelievable night because I was actually day I was in the stands. Adele was in front of me. It was like a superstar show man. Yeah and then You was d in c up with Ed Shearin? Yeah, ye into that Yeah then I end up having a night out with Ed Shearin that night He was just mad and obviously you squred the goal. it was just like, wow, did iceon was on the cake. What was the night out that good That for another for another podcast. That was a good b. It was a good one But it was it' Is that a career defining moment for you so far Yeahes, definitely So I just feel like people have've noticed me more and will always say like, are you've You've given me the best moment of like, They'll say like you've given me a best moment in an England shirt and stuff like that, which is mad because you've got Bex's free kick um, some, you know, massive goals and P peop' Choose mine, you know? So yeah, it is nice. it's definitely maybe more recognized. and I think after that then, Maybe I put a little bit more pressure on myself and then there was pressure on me to deliver as well, Senas called such an important goal Mas Was any other people like new people in your DMs like any stars coming onto you and going, No, thank you It's different now it's social media Yeah, quite a few. We a Bxt message for me Yeah, just reaching out saying like Amazing well done mate But yeah, just I had quite my phone was pinging. It was too much. It was too much I've never had anything like that. that's what it must be like for like Ronaldo Mery every every game to be honest But yeah, it was another level That must be a massive incentive to be g again now,n't it? Yeah, I think that feeling as well, like I was on a high for a week. like I didn't sleep much that night. I think I sc got like two hours sleep and I was just up the whole day buzzing. in training and stuff they' lads to say to me like, mate Come on like focus now you're still like you're still like bouncing around, like buzzing, but u Yeah, that was the best moment for me to fast forward to where we are today, like Thomas Tu call, the new England manager What has changed since he's com in? Beuse Garth had it a set way. there was great relationship with the press. He changed it all so positive.. The country absolutely behind the team U You were playing a certain way get into last stages of tournaments most successful England team in my lifetime But newew manager now What's the different? He's very hands on with like tactical work and stuff like that. he's very like jokey around the lads when it's off the pitch like you'll be playing table tennis and stuff I think Robin's Yeah unbelievable. Unbelievable No way. Yeah, he'll be anyone. We got a table down now. I'll play you after. No, not me. No I'm Rubbish. But he's good it I he'll be having like jokes with the lads and stuff like that, but then when it's time to work on the pitch's very very serious stern and he gets his point across massively. so I've only had a couple of cams of him, but yeah, his energy is really good. He makes it clear. I think that's that's one thing when you're on the pitch He makes it very clear like what you need to do off the ball and then on the ball. Yeah I think That's that German mentality in it like got to be efficient B both sides of the ball. Yeah. and I think he wants everyone to just react and get the ball back and kind of like smub the teams and have that arrogance, you know to like we're in England at the end of the day and I feel like mayaybe Fans have watched games and previously not thought A, They're at their top level. So I think he what he's doing is really positive so far. You mentioned him talking about confidence and arrogance. Does he talk about that? Yeah, I remember when we played against Wales and I think in the first half we were three no up within You know, twenty minutes and we literally we did suffocate them like they didn't They couldn't get out there half really. They didn't have many opportunities and that was the game plan that he envisioned and set up for us to do and Yeah we got that down to a T and And yeah, I think that's what he wants you to be on the front foot and be aggressive and Like I said, like you said, someother team Just great, has anyone beaten ping pong yet? if he's the best I'm not sure. Someone's gota beat him but. Who's good who's actually good because I need to know I love ping pong. Harry might be good. He's got good technique Yeah. He's got good hand eye coordination, probablyably all the Well the boys, some of the boys that probably play paddle as well Paddle as well? who's good Padd But you went into Paddle? You you got this buug as well? I love it. In the Euros, I had I was playing Paddle a lot and Yeah, we kind of we were all playing too much really. They were like we've got a game in a couple of days you need to slow down a bit, but Paddle, paddle's good. I'm not too good at it though, I need to I would say I'm' better at golf. What are you good at? What's going on there? me nothing Just chilling. nothing just talking about how we L because he's doing so well by Munic now manount goals. He's almost like he's gotone up levels again since leaving sppurs. What's he like a captain?'ve been in an England C captive room? What' he like as a leader Yeah, I think He leads by his performances. I wouldn't say like he's a big vocal leader But he leads by his performance is the way he trains the standard on Ething he does, that the way he executes passes and his finis in, I think that's just something to He's a good role model and someone to look up to for the young boys and how to you know to be a professional and how He trains every day, I think Yes Sometimes and you don't need to be like a vocal leader. like obviously you would have played with like Roy Kini, I'm sure is probably shouting and screaming and demanding like that Um But no he just Yeah, I think the way he trains and the way he's always quite positive and focused ' ye Ling by example. Yeah, leadading by example like that, I think it's massive. I like listening and seeing what training would be like. Like in the shooting dels I to sit behind and watch the strikers Yeah and when I first got the England team it was like Sarer sharing them. R Andy Cole might have been Litisser. L Lisser was the best like ridiculous. Really Yeah. You' seen of his goals L L All of them are just bangers, aren't they? Crazy. Jin sc school like a normal goal like So for me, Like all my goals are like. justust in the box like nice taps and stuff like that. His is just like he's not scored one of them. they're all just worlded He forty yards strokeking them in he's like crazy indid driuals like that, who's the guy like go, wow, that's a different level Is it Yeah, he's finishing off both feet like sometimes, you know, if you've had a bad touch and the ball's under your feet you'll still find a way to Yeah to dig it out and he hits it with so much power as well, but like accurately. So yeah, he's he's by far the best, I would say. As a striker, I'm keen to understand a lot. Are you discussing your styles or do you see something like that in? How do you do that? You asking questions or is it like you're a bit proud and a little bit like I need to keep a bit back for myself and stuff? No, not really. I don't ever Like I' never have that like mindset where I'm like, o jealous or or like I feel like you're both in your own lane and is if I see something that I think he Oh, I can take a little bit of that and put it into my game or then I do it. but sometimes like yeah you have that debate on the discussion on the training field and ask little things, but no, not too much. Sometimes I just see what what he does in scenario when he's in front of the goalkeeper and try and Do that replicate that next time? Is there any other strikers that you'd watch and analyze and you take bits from at all Be I would do that.'s what I would do a lot of the time. Well, I think it's hard to and B. know what I mean? can't I can't really impicate that, but I love watching him just because Like he's transitioning from a winger to a striker like we what we were talking about earlier But he's just so deadly. He's just so deadly and he's like he's just electric. You never know what he's going to do. he can you and Yeah, I feel like he's exciting to watch. When I think about Mbap, I always think about Michael Lowan Really? Yeah, because like the pace pace Yeah deadly killer pace like And when Michael was younger it was like he was like He was unplayable. crazy, But I saw something I think You said before about Michael Oan that he couldn't jibble through cones or something? No. if you've done it, so Glen Hoder was the manager.. people were laughing you Gen Huddle was a manager he was a sillesm So his warm upps is always based around doing like juggling and G in out of cones and team stuff, so competitions So it'd be like free teams Go through the cones Ping it back on the volley youve got to break it down and go Mael used who used to go right waralm up at Michael's g He's like devastated He used to hate it because he wasn't great at it. But if you said, right, get from the halfway line to the goal quickest He would be even if there's players in the, Michaels getting an equicup Yeah reallybody. Just knew he had he had an understanding of where to be hard to get from A to be on the pitch and he had jet heills. he was just so fast But just talking about him. we interviewed him on the show before in Ro meets and He said you in in ch Yeah, so I speak to him like At times I felt like When I'm going for a difficult period or something like that, I can speak to you I can speak to the misses, I can speak to my friends and stuff like that, but they're always going to have a biased opinion. So like, I'll play a game where my misses go, Oh you played great. We lost four Nil, what you know about. So sometimes she's not the best person to speak to love and then yeah, I know. And then also Also my mates as well, they do they will have a biased opinion and put the blame ont to someone elsewhere and you know, I want to be accountable for For that so I just reached out to him. So you took it up on yourself to find his number and speak to him Yeah, well, he followed me on Instagram. like we followed each other on Instagram and I just thought I'm just going to message him like who better? Michael Owen? Like I feel like he doesn't get the applaud that he deserves. So reached out and I was just like make like a free to chat, whatever. He was in Dubai at the time and He rang me, And was just saying, look, I feel like when you're at your best, like when you play aggressive U like you're a nightmare for defenders and that's where I've seen you at your best. like And yeah, I was just gettingting kind of little like nuggets like you said. from him And I just feel like it's like, whoo can really do that? know, be in a position where they can reach out to someone who's won the Batandor You see the way slpp it on the table for the interview as well. Yeah he slaps it in the middle of the scen. Yeah ye. I wish I could do that. I can flex through Nice strees on nle. But that's quite telling about you as a person really, thatre you have that humility to be able to reach out This is someone who's playing in the Premier League playing the Champions League and you're still looking for that extra one percent Yeah, because I always want to improve. I always want to get better. and I think Like I always wanted always want to Like I'm never happy, I'm never satisfied, so I'm always I'm not thinkinking I like I'm in the frame relax. like always I don't I don't want that to kind of go away. I'm always striving to You know, a minimum to be where I am and then you go on and do better than what I've done before. Yeah Like I said, to reach out to him and get some advice Yeah, a nice feeling and an amazing thing to be able to do And youah just learn from Best reing just talk for going back to England camp n Who was the first like even maybe unexpected person to make you feel welcome when you walk into the England camp? Becauseuse we see all the pictures of you guys getting out of your cars in in your track is you ain't doing that that u That u what look drip from drip? Yeah the drip stuff yet. What's going on? When's that coming? Yeah Is that a you? wouldould you be happy to be doing that I'd like to wear my an ge. Yeah. I would as well. a few sponsors But some of the French squad, what they wear is crazy. The French and the D squad are they're on it. They're crazy. But to be fair, they perform as well. so I feel like Yeah, they can do it. Um But now I'm happy with a tracksuit. Yeah. Yeah, whatever. Nice So when you walk into the Eng an England squad whoo was the person that you thought, w, that made me feel really comfortable and welcome when you got there. My first squad, I was tight with Luke Shaw actually. Oh nice Yeah, so Luke, I just found like he was He was just dhing out Banner. You know if someone has like dishes banner at you straight away and then you're like poured them back icebreaker Yes, an icebreaker is a good. For some people I think keep themselves to themselves and I don't know, sometimes it's not uncomfortable but it's better. I feel like when you're audition ban around and everyone has sometimes you can have you like your little clicks and And so for him to obviously come over and Yeah, it was it was good. And we still chat now. Are you still chatting that's good That's nice when that happens. And just talking about tra because I used to think that going to England I was always likeack Especially when I first started getting Eng school, I used to think my mateates are always ono me but Who's the guy in training, Wh who's doing bits in training every day? Wh surprised you most in training? like levels surprised me the most different because there's so many there's so many good players. So like in the Rondos likeike I'm like You don't want to go like I look at who's going into the certain Rndo and then I go I'm not going Now like Rushy is Is it? Like in a Rndo as well. likeike sometimes I'm on the outside and he does something over there and he's sending me and I'm not even in the middle. So I would say him Everyone says about him, you know that. and I've ask people but he's always one of the guys that do talent is nuts I think he's ye I think I can't speak hardly enough of him. think' come to villa as well, didn't me Yeah, there was times where like I was on the bench and he was keeping me out of the team and I was frustrated because about him, it was just I just wanted to play, but I could understand it. you know, there was times where Like the PhG game he absolutely ripped them apart ando I'm on the sideline I'm thinking I shouldn't come on here really. because he no, but I'm honest like that. like I don't have an ego like I thought he was because you read things and stuff like that, but I knew I knew Marcus his talent and I knew that the manager would get the best out of him, and to be fair he did Like he was unbelievable but his ability is Yeah, it's frightening. You spoke about Morgan Rodgers An know' a creator And to be a creator in your team not only with Aon Mill, but of also of England when you go together And you mentioned Marcus Restford How important is it to have those good relationships on the pitch to get good outcomes And how'd you create them Yeah, I think For a start, it definitelyomes off the pitch So It does help. the more time you can spend with each other and sit down, just have lunch together You know, how it is you can have a teammate and you may not know anything about their personal life or not speak to them for for ages and I feel like if I see him you know, going into tackle whatever any he gets fouled there to back him up or feel like the connection is much better. so Yeah, I felt like the relationship is built off the pitch and then the better off the pitch is taken onto the pitch. I'm close with Morgan And since he's come in really, we've always been we've always been quite tight and I think it reflects on the pitch. We're always working hard together. whenever he gets the ball, he's always looking for me and and vice versa. Are you ever not thoseice conversations like after pitch like I don't youre like in the gym or even the personal when you're going out for lunch or dinner or something like that as well? Yeah, so I'll always say to him like or sometometimes Ill say to the ball like boys look for Morggan. like give him the ball. He's going because I know Morggan's going to get Morgan gets the ball. He's going to look for me. So I'm saying get the ball to Morggan. But not only that, not selfishly because of me, but because he's player that couldn create things from nothing. You know, he's very talented He's always going to look forward and he's probably not going to just get the ball and play it backwards. He's going to try and create something and and make things happen Do you think he starts Wingon? Oh that's. Wh why he put me on the spot Ro? that It' a question everyone wants to know, man? Yeah,m not I'm not the manager so I don't know. I'm not going to give the standard media answer, that I wouldn't be surprised if he did because you know, he's He's so talented. He's had an amazing season He's very he's very confident and You know backs his ability so And I think you can see the way he's performed this year. I think you can you can see that he's a very confident guy. So He does, ye. That's probably the position This probably is being spoken about. You mentioned Morgan there. Yeah What about you Brennadan What' he sees super strreump H super strength is, I think, He's an all round complete midfielder So I think that he can do everything and I think his ph physical capability as well getting around the pitch. he always wants the ball I think that's massive, you know, for a midfielder as well Where are you going? lose the ball at times, but he he'll he'll run back, he'll obviously sprint forward I think he can run a game and I think his confidence and belief in himself. I think that's one thing that probably takes into the next level And you know what I see people trying and criticize him about his demeanor and stuff. They find in ways that they want to get a pick at him. You're playing with him Surely that's not something that you guys look at and guys a problem No, to to be fair, whenever I've played at him, I think I've looked around and think You would you would feel like he's a you know, twenty eight. thir year old guy the way he handles himself and the way he carries himself, you know, on the pitch He's, you know, throwing his arms around, not like Manin, but you know to get the crowd going and I think he gives off a feeling that you know, just to always believe and and and keep pushing. and I think that's He takes I think he likes that responsibility and takes it on his shoulders and I think as a teammateates, You know, it's good to see players that do that. I agree. I love that me. I don't Fans try and media try and pick up players for stuff like that. but I think when you're in a team, you need players like that to spur you on sometimes in big moments. Yeah crritical moments. It was the one that did it for you most, you think? Christiano was like we had great players like like Paul Skulls would do it in a more unassuming way where he's like always available, give it to me any time of a day I've got three or four man round me Domal. Just give me the ball. and if you didn't give it to him You get a look really? or you get a little that real. give it to me. Yeah And you're like, you got too m on you, don m. It's pass the ball. Yeah And that just instills confidence and it spreads in the team. But Christiano was like, like you said about Dude, the big moment comes if he hasn't got that opportunity to take the big moment He's not happy. Yeah. I mean where he scores or not, but why are you giving it someone else?' in his mind he's thinking how can you give it some else It's me. Yeah ye. And that just grew and grew. And even when went to Realmadrid, I think that got bigger and bigger. But Wayne had did it as well in a different way. But Wayne was more of a He didn't mind someone else having that opportunity, but he was like, but just give me the opportunity sometimes as well. Share it out.. Where Chrishana was very like self that's mine. You what I mean? So different, but there's lots of players that would do it in different ways. And again, Jews delivered Yeah, Champions League with Ramadid doing it so it's sl understandable that he's doing it based off of experience of doing it. So I get it for me playing with players like them, they're always looking forward and looking for me to running behind. like for me, I'm staying away there's no point me dropping in because I'm only going to go into their space. I just need to You know, my superpower is running that way Um, I don't need to drop in and be in the pocket there much better M than that. so I just know my game, leave them to do it then I can run ono that end of their passes. Yeah, likeike I said, I don't want to I don't want to make a decision. I can't speak hardly enough of all of them. I'll let you off Yeah. But after pitch I think it's importantough for players with social media And I see with Under Armour. you've also got a deal with with Alo. Alo. yeah. what's that because normally you wouldnon't be able to work with two companies like that. Yeah, so for me, I've always worn Um When I was younger I was wearing night boots and then when I moved to Brentford I was wearing started to try under armour boots and I really liked them. And from there we've always had a relationship where I just felt really comfortable with them. It was a brand that I that aligned with me that I felt like they cared. It wasn't just about a sponsorship deal. and Yeah, I just felt like it was a bit different as well. Everyone wears like the standard nike andy dress. I wanted it to be a bit different. so Yeah, that's why I chose them. How important is that to you like working with a company that actually gets you and willing to help you in your journey of being a professional footballer. becausecause some people like say, well just go it's a transaction. Yeah biggest biggest check, I'll go, Ill go there. Yeah, see, I didn't want that, I didn't want that. There was things that they were saying to me like we can put like Um You know, like red light therapy in your house, like we can We' invest in like ice bathars for you, just stuff like recovery stuff off the pitch that You know, that It matters, you know, like little things like that can help you recover and those little one perents can help you perform a lot better. So Yeah, just to, you know, feel like you're wanted and they care about you It was important. So we go to it now. Fers side team, Best players that you've played with. Yeah. No goalkeepers, they don't count. Right Okay. some good teams on there you know Yeah, I have Katinia I forgot it was at Villa in it? Yeahah It's just like the Brazilian like you would always just do that little. Send the defender. Jack Greelish talkal to me about, Jack and what's so good about it? Like Jack was Especially when he was at Villa, you had that freedom where he was he could go whereever he wanted It was kind of like it was always like, give me the ball and Literally youn't tackle them You cann't lie He was so strong as well, like And his ability to move so quickly. hisis balance was, I think that was probably his best attribute, his balance. I think people You couldn't really knock you couldn't knock him off balance, like you can't Yeah, he was Like I felt like if he didn't get injured during that period, there was a long three or four months period where he was injured It kind of disrupted the rhythm of the team but I felt like if he had played then then We were done a lot better and then I would have scored a lot more gold as well. But yeah, Jack Phill Catino Um I've got have a keeper? No keepers don't count, man Yeah,t in that case, it was Um Petus Catinia. Harry Kane Jonn Stones. Oh Tell me about Johon Stones. What's so good about John Stones He's just so composed on the wall. Like I remember the first Every time I've gone to England I'll be pressing him and he's just So relaxed He's so relaxed on the ball like he always makes it the right decision. L as well his passing is so crisp. Like I always notice small details because My manager before when I was at Eo he was massive on like passing and like the way of pass and stuff like that. So Like I always pay attention to those little things But yeah, he I don't know, I just felt like he's so composed on the ball and he's like a bit like a Rlls Royce It smooth like Yeah, he was he's unreal. He's one of the best He's one of the best like even to play against, he's difficult to play against Just because the fact that you're always, I'm thinking I shouldn't press you. You're just gonna either dribble past me or you c off so U Yeah, I can't speak kind enough of Stoneesy and Yeah that's where he makes it into the the five aside team and And then I'll probably say, Prob say dude Ro team good team in there No keeper, but it Yeah, that's nice that What Oho, what's mine? No one's ever asked me that What is mine You've got a good Christiana Rooney. goes Gerard Eggs. who wins second my teams to too Yeah that that wins it. That wins it, I think. That's my five I would say. off the bat just like that. Wh's a good way to finish. Obviously it's a big summer coming up as well, so good luck with that M. Thank you, man. Good to see you, man. All right, thank you. Stay healthy