Preparing for the Champions League Final

Just before we get started, I just wanted to say a big thank you to our partners Skyberet and please don't forget to subscribe if you like I hope you enjoyed this episode Today, we'll attempt a feat once thought impossible, overcoming high interest credit card debt. It requires merely one thing, a soopI personal loan. With it, you could save big on interest charges by consolidating into one low fixed rate monthly payment. Defy high interest debt with a soFI personal loan. Visit sofi dot com slash stuck to learn more Loans originated by SopFi Bank NA member FDIC. Terms and conditions Apply N MLS six nine six eight nine one Oh, oK. well done. Congratulations. Thank you very much. Well done. Thank you orning. G pal get up a little bit. Yeah do put like that on there., you do the hors No. Don't let him touch your. Well need to tou I can't do that. You do it. Oh Wow. kiss it Thank you guys See, I' remembered He They are my inspiration and at the same time, they are the ones that have my back. This fan base has been through ups and downs over the years. The baner years, all those different things Bally now Yeah we were always behind y. Come on I put. I always find a hope to optimism and faith in my situation. It just I ex so emotional just listening to just talking so calmly. Our saying at this club is victory through harmony. and you know, for whatever reason we finally have achieved that harmony all across the club I get winning goal energy off of you at the moment I could feel the story now being you know' being injured, you just come back at the end there and then bam' winning goalf. Yeah hopefully heard it here first. we're winning off field. We' wning on the field. We're wning with the suppors' winning our community. It's a really good time to be there. and it feels like it's just the start. There you go, you see? Arsenal fans, we knew it all along, didn't we G on, G, dear stuff Right,. Michel, what a few days you've had just talk to us about it in sort of your immediate feelings Well, it's been much better that I could never imagine to It's been so emotional, so natural and to see that much joy, happiness and pride around the club. It's just amazing. Okay when you look at this, I always think of it over the last few years, the question was you were getting so close, could you get over the line? I know you're never going to get carried away, you're still young in your journey. but when you think when I look at you now I think of you sort of those great managers whove won the Premier League titles, does that give you a different level of confidence and belief straight away You're sat up there with some of the real greats who' won Premier League trophies. The truth is a lot of joy and relief, Gary because when you are able to take the club and make the righter steps and take you really close. is great But it is not what we're looking for. And I know that at this club, that's not enough. So to actually do it, if it's amazing, it gives a lot of value to a lot of people that has contributed to achieve that. and personally to be a part of delivering something that means so much after twenty two years is just incredible What I like about it most, Miuel is that maybe seven or eight, nine years ago they said managers don't get time anymore. There's this thing that managers don't get time. But Jurg and Klop had time. while the owners obvious had time at Mager City, you've had time. So the three most successful clubs in the last ten, twelve years have given their managers time. How grateful are you to the owners, to the sort sporting directors for this soc The way in which they believed in the whole thing all the way through I think I think it's necessary, but you have to earn it. I mean when you talk about J'reg and per the earn their time, I want to believe that I earn my time as well because when I came here the first day Unfortunately, it wasn in the Liverpool setup, it was in the Manchester City setup that they had already won a lot. they already won the previous years. It was a completely different animal. And we knew that. and I'm very lucky because we have an ownership that has so much experience in sports and they understw that The picture is ugly at the moment, is a lot that we're going to have to do And everybody is on board with that I'm very grateful for that.'s been What's been the hardest part in all the time you've been there, Miel? It's the hardest part of the rebuild I don't know how that thing is The best party was changing the culture actually start with the fans and everything That's the culture inside the organization. too actually understand what was happening inside the organization, how the people was feeling about working in the organization. And I did a very profound exercise to try to understand that is actually to understand deeply how people feel about working in the organization And I wasn't happppy and I wasn't impressed at all about the way they describe it. So I put my hands on that and I needed a lot of support to change that. But I think that was the foundation that after we used to build that. That's like a lot of extra work what you surely weren't expecting to happen y. I was expecting something, but not as deep as profounded. And then you need time because you This wasn't about changing the identity of a team to play him in a certain way or improve certain tactics. it was much deeper than that But I loved that challenge as well. I mean, it was an incredible opportunity when things are not in the place that this club deserves to help and to get certain direction and put them right is the most fulfilling part. And then and then the reconnection with the fans and even the North F London f of the song and everything that The noise that stop with with our owners and now what about the rec collects with the finds and And that song how it came about. How important was that to you in respect to making sure the fans got back on board of everything? Beacause all the noise stopped. Well the first step was to change the culture inside organization, and we started to make some big steps towards that But then COVID hit for eighteen months. and we could not be close to our supporters. And I knew how important that was because it was a clear disconnection between The club, the team, the identity of the club and what they were thinking that the club or the team should be doing And the moment we to start to be closer to them, that's when the thing started to click. I believe that music is a great way to connect beautiful diversity and different ways of thinking and to create moments. And we use that song as a part to do that. You think with the song, so when they heard the song, when you heard the song the first ty was that? you said that's ites I looked around the world because it couldn't be something that I could bring. It had to be something that everybody felt pd of and contributed to. So that's what we did. It just tested. I present it to the players, I present it to the staff. we brought brought him Louis here to the training again to see how he was feeling, to tell the story about the song and what it means to him And slowly and gradually, but this is the beauty as well the social media that in twenty four hours it was everywhere. Wild, and it was everywhere and he got a great reception. Aazing In your job, I always think the characters of a manager that wins, they're obsessive, which we know you are. They've got something inside them, but they won't stop until they get what they want and they know they have to be harsh at times. And you've had to be harsh at times, haven't you along the way This it h. I mean, to be fair in our job is very difficult. What is fair? fair for you means that fair forarety is not fair. But at least to stick to your principles, I you explain things and you agree as a team that there are certain behaviors that we expect and we want to promote. If somebody doesn't do it, I mean, you cannot continue to be part of that. I think that's clear. Obviously ye, we can put the best beautiful wds here around the walls, but they mean nothing. Yeah. The moment where I thought Arsal would win the league and you never sure was the moment that you went and spent over a hundred million on Dcklam Rice. It just felt to me like in that moment. I know you'll never say it's down to one player but it just felt to me at that point Arsenal going to w a play who looks like someone who's going to get you over the line that get you over the line do you feel that? can you Did you feel that was a moment, a big moment? It was a big moment. And I think we cannd we are constantly sending messages whether we want or not to the people in the organization, to the supporters, to our opponents. And that was a strong message. Yeah. I mean, we are here to go another level And we were another level financially with the ambition of the play that we recruited with the profile of the play that we recruited And I think every big club has to make that kind of a statement. And when you went to the owners that was they were like, is that's what you want B we give it to you No problem Well they were very supportive. I think you have to explain things and the reason we believe that they could elevate it into a different level. when we talk about the amount of money all of a sudden, we've gone to that next level of spending and they would I didn't know it was going cost se I thought it was going to cost less. If you ask David Moyys, he always tell me, can you go him cheaper? cheap in that. I leave the financial bar for the other guys. And they still stop this Yeah, but then if you're going ike sev ended up what hundred five? That's an amazing support you got there Yeah and you need that and And without that, at the end, this belongs to the players and the quality of the players that you need to compete in this league. We all know well. You know, Boss, I tried to ask you a question on Sunday, but obviously there was too much going on, but the coaching staff with your guys and how much how much they've done, you know, obviously Gabby coming in and and Jover and all of the guys. Just give us a little insight into them guys, please, because they've been magnificent They they are my inspiration and at the same time, they are the ones that have my back. So I said a coaching staff has to have always four elements. I think one, you need to be able to leave your skin open for the team The second one, they have to be the speakers of the football club. I mean, we have one idea and they have to promote that idea in every sense I think they have to be firefighters So the less issues they come in my office, the better they come stop They can prevent that That's great. And then they have with the capacity to eliminate and inspire me with ideas, with challenge it, with other opinions That's what we have created. A very diverse coaching staff, very specific in qualities, completely different backgrounds all aligned in one purpose. and I cannot be prouder because they deserve a lot of credit for what we've done Michel, just looking back, when you've been on this journey for five years, you've been questioned all along the way and I've questioned at times on. I'm just trying to think of two big I'm trying to think of questionions. The Rayah Ramsdale moment, yes. That six months was a little bit uncomfortable in press conferences for. I was I mean, I was there, we were part of it and you're thinking, what's Michel doing here? He's got two goalkeepys. How can you have two number ones? How do you reflect upon that? and obviously your goalkeeper is sensational and he's been the best last right Yeah How you you reflect upon that moment But that's a great example of what manager needs. So I was very convinced that we have to make a change, but not because Aaron didn't have the quality, because I believe to go to the next level, we need a different profile of goalkeeper And it was very difficult to explain, very difficult to explain abss externally. But it could maybe not make sense Uh And that's why you need an a sport director. in this case, it waseru to say, Mikel, are you' one hundred percent sure. And I went through him and again again again. But you know we're going have an issue. He said, I know. Mikel, you' can expose yourself. I know. You really want to do this? Yes, please dont. And they' really convinced as well the world because they need to be convinced because I understand. know Michel says this, Okaykay, let's do it. It doesn't work like this And then he has to work And then in Yakekey play, Potar roow because he knew me from Brerenford and many years. And what I was sure is, I don't know if it's going to work or not, but Aid is going to present himself and dedicate to their cause. And he's going to be an incredible ambassador for the club. That was sure And then do the moment is what you make looks once so it looks like it's coming in. How are you? nice to see you, oK. Champ. How are you sirice? He B, Champ are you ye. Iigurered I'd comees s down for a few moments On behalf of our entire club, we have a little presence. What' brilliant? What is it? Am I gonna like this, Josh? I think you'll love it, Gary. It me to open it on camera. Y right have Absolutely sit across this table with you guys for three years. there's two in that. that's for ride. Thats for me. Thank you for What's this? He's got enough arhenle shirts. He wears one every single week. Oh, look at this I and thanks for the best support, Nico There you go, you see? Arsenal fans, we knew it all along, didn't we ary Gary was here a few weeks ago, and we spent time together, we had a copee and we had a very good full discussion. So I gave him that shirt. I said, When we win it, please, you have to put it on. Did you say you wouldn't put it on or you just he didn't say That was my suggestion. That's enough. Thank you so much. That will get framed It will go in the it will go in my house that Thank you. You deserve it. Josh, I was just talking to me. Thank you so much. We had to Just o We was saying before, As an owner, you're getting put under pressure all the time to make decisions by the media, by the fans. But this has been a six year project. What at the very beginning when you met Michel, was it that you saw that you thought, No, this is right. this is the person that we need to really back and he'll get us back to the very top Yeah, the club was in going through an interesting phase When M well, I guess first of all, I met Miuel when he was a player here. And so I had a sense kind of who the individual was. My father and I knew a lot about the person behind the player. We knew he had very high goals after his playing career was over. and he immediately jumped on that to go to city and join PP's staff. So I knew there was a bit of a football maniac out there somewhere. but in the summer of twenty nineteen when after we went to Baku, Azerbaijan for the Europa League final, that was when it kind of settled in me. and I remember talking to my father saying, you know, we had to probably, I don't want to say it and it would maybe take a step back to eventually go forward U And so when we arrived that December and it's kind of a transition period, we could really see that the club, you know It was in a place where we needed to really reinvent the culture And so when I sat with Miel, you know, he had all of his football tactics. and what I really remember the conversation that I really recall was one about culture And so to see where we are today, I think that it's one to feel this amazing emotions and outpouring of support from all of our fans around the world for winning the trophy. But when I come out here to call me and I see and I feel the people that are here, I think it's a testament to what Miel and his staff have been able to do for the last six years, not only on the pitch, but off the pitch here as well. When Miel comes to you and he says that the cult is not right in the organization, as an owner, you take that person, I would know that say Absolutely. at that point, what were your feelings when he questioned the culture and the fact that it just wasn't right? The feeling wasn't right in the club? Well, I think that if you're going to make sound decisions, you have to take the emotion out of it at times And so for me, I had already kind of come to the own conclusion whether that was one of self reflection or one of the direction we needed to go. was Whether no matter whose fault it is, this is the actual situation. this is the reality of where we are. How are we going to correct it going forward? C we think we're got let the bus go the bus as C to go tra something you see. Yeah all about. Thank you. Thank you. Sorry, J guys No look fine. here' your job to do. Where was you there? Sorry, sorry, you didn't interruptt No I think you just but you're talking about culture and obviously culture. Absolutely. You're someone who's won In most of your organizations, the Rams, avalanche, the Nuggets, the women's Champions League, now the Premier League. But the feeling was here, the suggestion towards your family was as long as us still get Champions League and they're bring the money in, they're okay. What do you say to that? Be that's been leveled at you now for a number of years it's changed right now because you've won. Yeah, there's different phases of our involvement in the club and I would say a lot of the conversation that you're referencing was in It was a prolonged transition phase to one hundred percent ownership of our family And so you know, I'm not going to dwell too much before that, but in twenty eighteen, that was when we really got a chance to get our hands in and start to get to work And that corresponded with a massive amount of transition at the club where you were moving on from an absolute legendary person and manager from ASN moving to a different phase of operation even with a sporting director we were trying to implement the what we refer to as a North American model. Um, well ye And that's be more of a head coach, what we refer to in the United States as a general manager or sporting director. whereas underneath the structure of RSEN, everything kind of funnled up in a different way Yeah. And the business and the club had just gotten so massive over the years that you had to do a little bit of restructuring around those types of roles because the role had gotten to be way too big and other clubs through different transition phases, whether it's a change of manager, ownership or you know, other things, they had kind of adopted different models along the way. And I think underneath our Sen that made a lot of sense, but going forward, we had to really kind of think about the structure off the pitch. And so twenty nineteen we had a disappointment in Baku. And that was you know, we had been a couple of years out of the Champions League at that point. And Ridie, you might be able to recall, we were almost kind of straddling a dual strategy where we were bringing in a couple of young players. We hadata brought in Gabby Martinenelli. Bucayo was starting to break through. But we were also trying to straddle bringing some experience at the time to try to make a push for that champions Leaging And after the loss in Baku, that was when I got back home to the United States and I told my dad that we really needed to potentially take a step back to come forward. And so we started to recruit a little younger that summer. I think that was the summer we signed William Saliba, loaned him back to his club in France. We brought in Nicholas Ppee, you know who was I think was around the age of twenty four at the time. And so we started to focus on a little bit of strategy like that But once Mcel got on board and we started to really reinvent the culture, that was when We really got into the youth movement and that side of things. I was going to ask you just quickly because it on the manager because you've got a history of backing young managers and staying with. Where's that come from? Why didd you do that? I' say it's a bad thing, obviously. No, I think you know, in different ways we have different strategies with our different sport organizations. I assume you were talking about Sean McVeigh at the Rams. and that was an easy comparison for us. Sean had been in our group out in LA for a few years and we had seen what he had done culturally to try to try to reinvent that group And so you know, I think that gave us some confidence in that moment to really go after a guy like Mukel. But we also knew that this was going to be a multiye process. And so if you bring somebody in and that's not to say that our goal wasn't to win right away, but You know, winning at the highest level to me is very much a process. and sometimes you have to experience a little bit of failure to get there. And so you know I said it on Sunday, but I'll say it again, I think that the second place finishes and the runner up finishes the last couple of years really shaped and frame this group to achieve something special this year. Josh, the moment where I thought this is serious and I have predicted that Arsenle would win the league in the last few years. it's not come true until this season was when you signed Decklam Rice How does that arrive at your door? So basically I don't know if it's the CEO, whether it's Michkeel, whether it's the sporting director who say we need to invest over one hundred million pounds in a player. And NS' never gone there before to that level That was a gigantic moment for everyone. For sure. I remember when Decklin's name started to come up and I knew of the player, but of probably the values associated with them just from reading in the media. And it's not to say it wasn't part of our plan, but it was probably a little those price tags were a little ahead of where I thought we would be and what we could afford financially. And so from Miel to Adu at the time, Tim Lewis, Rich Garlic When those decisions are that big, you have to all come together And so I think for my my one one you know questions around a player like Deck is, you know, you can see the if you pay attention to sport, you know who Decklin was. but if you're going to pay that kind of price tag, it can't just be for a talent on the pitch. You need to be getting plug and play player and you need to be able to have a leadership ability off it, I think. And I think, you know, the first ten seconds you talk to Declin, I think you get a pretty good sense of who he is on and off the field. It must feel great just, you know, to that much out lay to see a player come in and actually do abbsolutely You know, it must be amazing. Yeah, abbsolutely. Hey. What's up?icardo. Howicardo It must be great, huh? Yeah. Yeah. No. And I think that know, and Decklin was going through at the time, I think he had several offers from really big clubs. But I think one of the things that I remember from that moment was Decklin wanted to go to a place like where we were to have a chance to achieve something that hadn't been done in a while. I think that says a lot about Decklin, the person. Exactly, especially there are a lot of people who wanted him as well. Yeah Other people wanted him and he came to us Yeah Just talk to me about your team. Obviously you you're an owner, but you have a group of people who run the club. Richard's obviously CEO, you' sporting director, you've got a manager. What is your interaction with them like in terms of spine that runs through the club? know it depends on what's happening at the frequency and timing of year. You know Over the years, our structure has evolved from the board on down I'm really proud of the group, especially the group this year because you know our saying at this club is victory through harmony. and you know, for whatever reason we finally have achieved that harmony all across the club. And it's been great because you can see and you can feel it when when you come in the building. There iss a feeling among St Arstle fans. I remember two or three years ago because obviously your family's name was getting dragged into the previous stuff, wasn't it? And that must be really tough. I can't imagine what it would be like But there is a feeling that since you emerged as being sort of what would be the front man, for the project that I think the fans are really on board with you and it's definitely done and about turn. Do I mean, how important was that to you just from a person perspective From a personal perspective, I mean Well, I mean, I was I was torn on the way that we wound up, you know, understanding that we won the league. I was here for the Burnley match, got up at eight AM to fly back to the United States. And so when I landed, I think that Bormnemouth had just scored They went up one noil and I'm trying to get home as fast as I can to watch it on TV And so Aside from being here with the group that you know put their blood and sweat and all their energy behind this There was a little bit of being by myself, with a loved one, with my fiance and understanding that I mean, it was now pouring of emotion. and to know to reference and answer your question. there were moments where You know, it was it was rough and, you know, you're you talk about the cultural change, but, you know, when I'm in the United States and I'm getting on a plane by myself to come halfway around the world and you know everyone's against you Um it's not it's not a great feeling. And and so you really have to know who you can trust in those moments. and u I'm really proud of the entire group. You know, I think I'm proud for a lot of different reasons, but for the people involved and what they've seen, the journey that they've been on has been great. Last question to you' bring Richard in. What did you say to the fans? Well what's your message to fans now, obviously with thatremier Leue trophy sitting on your shoulder? Thank you and you deserve it this fan base has been through ups and downs over the years. The banter years, all those different things. Pably not E everything there we go. always behind y. Yeah Come on.''re put But that That's part of the fun of sport. Absolutely ye. You know. We compete and we want to knock each other's heads in while we're out there, but you know, as life goes on and you understand the person behind the competitor that you're facing ' part of the fun. and that's what makes it really all worthwhile is to have a little fun with each other. Absolutely yeah. Yeah. compometing have fun. You do have a lot of fun. I think to be fair, what I would say is that this is a game changer in terms of how the club gets perived because once you win a title I was just saying to Michkuel before, you you know you're in that sort of group and that family of Sir Alex Ferguson, Pp Guardiola, Jurgen Klots You know Mcel for MKell, it' huge but also for you now as an know ownership and as an executive. you know how big this is. But Richard, I'm going to say this in a nice way You're surrounded by huge eagos. Let's be clear You' got football managers, football players, sporting directors, owners that have demands that because they want success, and you've got to try and knit and glue all that together How difficult or how enjoyable challenging is that It's It's challenging in As you said, there's different everybody's computed slightly differently. Everybody's got a different view on things. but the thing we we've all had the focus on the same thing to keep the eyes on the prize. We've always gone back to what it is that we're here for, what is it we're doing? We might have had some bumps in the road We've got a clear strategy of've wonning to win major trophies, trophies, not just one trophy, major trophies. Yes. To support that, we need to win with our supporters. and I'm sure you know the connection that we've now got with the supporters over the these last few years has been incredible. Some of the we've seen in the last couple of days. But also win financially. we want to make sure that we grow our revenues that we can invest everything back into the team into the training ground, into the facilities, into everything we do around the community as well. And I think you're seeing that you said that winning the title, that's going to unlock a lot of that that supps, the trust that they've put in us and also the journey that they've been on And also, as I say, off the field with everything that we're doing. we're winning off the field. We' winning on the field. Were winning the supporters, winning our community. It's a really good time to be there. it feels like it's just the start as well. But yeah, it's tough keeping And I think I work with such a good group of people as well. We all get on. We all meet regularly, as Josh said And we all want the same thing and we've wanted that for a long time. My last game of the season because Arsenold already won the league. Peter Drery and Alen Smith did the commentary on the game, but I was at Tottenham. and on my way home I get a bike, you know, the taxi bikess on the way home from Tottenham Is you driving through Tottenham? Honestly? Yeah. Is that driving through Tottenham? This is literally about a half mile from Tottenam's ground and this is for about four miles. and I was like to get me out of here. You know but honestly, there was an arsenal found Get me out of here. I mean, that's what you've created on Sunday evening. I've never seen it was unbelievable what you've created. There are Garies just qu That's around the world right You've seen Kenya. man. You've seen these places This is the thing we I was in selfides on Saturday. Yeah. I still shirts every what you doing? This is the thing. This is the reason Ry where you know, people were so against us winning because they know what's coming. ourur fan base It's been it's brought to it's been brought together now properly and they're seeing enormity of the club right now in what our fans are doing you know, and how we're responding to this because of what we've been through. And that's what I to say when you came on Balrich, did you realise the enormity of our club really? Obviously I' worked in football before at West Rramajabi for eight years. D different way of winning there in terms of what it meant not winning championships. It was about not losing, about staying the league, They'reving to Premer League and working there for three years. I always knew Aon it was a classy club E all my interactions with them were always great, whether that was as an executive at another football club. I actuallyually I remember Westbrom Beat, Arsenal three two, one of my first games. and we got back to the table and they bought a glass of champagne for everyone. know nice touch like that and you thoughtought really classy club. and everybody that I knew told me what a great club it was going into Speaking to people like Dick Law or Dav Miles or people like that that've been in the club a long time. No know, they just told you everything about the club and it's everything I expected. It's just we've managed to unlock that potential.'ve we've woken the giant. We've hopeed the beast, whatever you want to call it. But you saw that gu. you know in terms of the amount of fans that are now interacting and it's just unbelievable. I was going to ask as well just quickly to go about the stadium and what's going on with the The stayium must the ambition for the sti now because you see how many fans we've got everywhere. Yeah half a mile from Totham, there's still thousands and thousands want to be at our place. Yeah. he is not the right man put every week I'll bring him on the steering g in the steering roal g Abition for the club in the future guys. He's always ambitious about growing the growowing the club in every which way we can facilities, whether it's in the stayer room, training ground, whether it's like. supporters around the world, whatever it is, we've got plans. We've been looking at these for a while now and looking at the options. It's twenty years since we've moved to the Emirates. feeles like a good time to assess what we can do and how we might go about things. You know the reason I ask the state is because I can't li Totham Stan is amazing if And we are We have to have abassate. The state is amazing. Josh that's cost you another billion. Wearly made that in the year, we might be this. You know' such it is and it's a beautiful stadium. We are We have SfI stadium and other facilities in the United States, and so we're going to be working on best practices to try to bring over here and really give the arsenal supporter something special. It's be wonderful Josh, it's never easy. There was a moment where Vinye left and Vin I was seen as being really important Arsenal and maybe he was. and then Edu left. J Just talk to us about that sort of change. Obviously Richards come in you've obviously got a new sporting director, but there have been little along the way. Yeah, there's been and there's lots of people that are part of this victory are't that aren't here. You know, you mentioned Eddu, you mentioned Vinye There's many other people that have been part of this journey. I mean, for me personally, there's one name that I want to mention, and that's Sir Chips Kzick, which was our previous chairman. and he was a mentor of mine. And you know God rest his sooul now, but you know I wish he was here to see this day because during some of those transition phases I mentioned earlier, Chips was a big part of you know my knowledge base and thinking about how to run the club. But there's just so many people to name, but I hope that they know that they're part of this as well. Absolutely. you've got the most incredible week ahead going to the Champions League final in Budapest, and that would be a talk about game changer winning Premier League title for Arsel to win the Champions League on Saturday would be I mean, be breathtaking and beyond, I suppose your wildest dreams, but is this a point now where you get to next Monday? and whatever happens? Heirl He Heirl. Hello. How are you? B'? Hello How are you Charm? I'm very good. happy. S with you? Yeahly. Yeah you can enjoy my shirt. Is this a point now to consolidate and just keep the found? Or is it a point to go again and sort of invest again and just you know, what's your feeling right now? Yeah, I think if you're not constant if you're not evolving, then people are going to catch you much quicker than you think. And there's already teams that are strengthening behind us right now. So we need to be evolving and strengthening as well. if we're going to stay at the top because teams we have a gigantic target on our back now if we didn't already have one. And I think our staff and our players know it for sure. Yeah, we talked about we need not just one trophy but major trophies and trophies one after another This is a great time for us. We've got a great platform to go forward from and we need to make the most of it. And as Josh said, if you don't evolve, you don't keep moving forward, you stand still, then people catch you up. and we'll do that across the club.olutely. I can't thank you enough for both of you coming out today spee was honestly. Re really appreciate it. And all the best on Saturday. Thank you. You did it yeah Like that season, season what we want, I had the same problem. I missed a lot of the season but I was I was in the dressing room for every single moment all the way up to it and then obviously I came back for the end. but how has it been for you the journey down to the end with all the pressure that' on us and you know, you being such a big part of the team. How has it been for you Well, to be honest, it's been hard I'm very competitive. I always like to be part of the team. I always like to be involved in everything they do. And to be away for four months has been really, really hard. Moments where I know you've probably experienced the same. You don't feel like part of it when you're for a long time out of the squad. But yeah, I've always tried to be involved, being in every meeting, being in every game, you know, giving tips been around them and they have been around me as well. so it's been it's been so they've kept you sorry because it's very easy, obviously you' was playing all a su Yeah but in this situation but they've kept the guys kept you in the circle. Yeah, absolutely. Sometimes it's easy for you to, you know, be only focused on the next game on the next string session and dont forget a little bit about the Injer players. but for us it's so important to, you know keep everyone around the team As an interjure player, sometimes you can feel, you know, apart from the team. and I mean, this club this team is just a family and they helped me a lot during this period. Talk to me about last Tuesdayight You're all together. the goal go obviously the final whistle go was born withth Manester City and it does take the magic moments aren't How special was it all being together in that moment It wasn't real. It was probably the best moment in the decision so far for me. That celebration with all the staff members, with all the players, not even dressed as football players, but you know being it was weird in some aspect because obviously celebrating a title with know wearing your kid and being on the pites is weird. Yeah, that connection the That feeling of relief, you know, of finally getting that trophy getting over the line is just unreal and you know being able to share it with everyone in this club is just great How tough has it been to get over the line and what has been the difference this year that maybe last year just didn't quite happen the year before? You've been so close. Yeah. I mean this club has been so close for so many years and I think the big difference this season is that when tough times came, always during the Premi League season, you can have tough moments and we had a couple decisions. but you could see the team being sticked together and with that enough maturity to know, okay, this is a bad moment. this is bumping in the road, but we're going to get through it together. And it doesn't matter if we play a beautiful football or a bad football, but we have to stick together and you know get those points and those games going. And I think everyone's stuck together Here we have the reward You know, I saw a beautiful picture and someone showing me be of view Coming off to pitchon news with. Miles Mas S skill and Ethan. What wass it like with those guys of that caliber in and around? obviously with your experience It's great to have those young players around you. and it's a very delicate situation when you're young, when you're that talented, when you have that spotlight on you. and everyone wants you to succeed and you know, keep improving and show your best level every single time You have to be very careful with them because the talentge is there It's very delicate and you know, a bad season, a bad moment can turn things around. So yeah, it's great having them. They are very good kids. Everyone in this club is, you know, trying to help them in particular got every single player from the accademy to be in the best atmosphere possible. And yeah, me as a veteran right now, defefinitely bettervean in this team. I'm thirty but in this team, I'm one of the oldest. try to give them all the best advice and To be honest, they are very good listeners and that's the most important thing. What are the dynamics like in that dress room? You said you give advice, but who are the big talkers? Who are the big sort of what would be characters in the dressing room that sort of You know, take the lead I mean, obviously in every squad, we try to give everyone a voice. Eone has the power of speaking their mind and being But yeah, the leadership group, we are cou there's a couple of us that U we try and, you know, push everyone, you know the Decklland obviously Martin, David Ryer, Timba, like All the guys that have been here for a long time that they know what this club means and represents and Everyone has a role, a different one. All of them are very important and you need everyone to you know fulfill their role to get to the premier Lague. In in respect of now, obviously the league How's the how's the focus now for arguably You have to say it's probably the biggest game in Asen's history, especially coming off of winning it. somethingomething that we've never won before what's it like at the moment? Because winning and trying to suppress The joy because you've got such a big game. What's it like at the moment? I'm intrigued I mean, I would say it's exciting. As you said, I think We have to use that joy don't get carried away with the feeling of we've achieve something magical and just you know, be be happy with that. but you know, get that momentum, get that energy that that jooy, as you said to, you know, prepare this couple days before the final and then give everything. We know it's going to be a very tough game PSC iss an unbelievable team. but For setting, we know that we are as well. So it's going to be a tough one, a close one and hopefully it's going to be on our side. I get winning goal energy off of you at the moment Be I could feel a story now being's been injured, you just come back at the end there and then bam winning goal. Yeah hopefully heard it here first. Yeah. Pigel, talk to me about set pieces and how much you know you've been criticised for them, you've been praised for them. you've got an incredible record What do you make of them? How much time do you spend on them each week? Because you are sensational from them. I mean, you're such a threat Yeah It's a very important part of the game, not only for us but for every team. You can see big games being decided by that, the momentum of the game changing because of a set piece. And That's something that we do train a lot and we are very happy and very proud of being good at that because that's why you work. Yeah, I don't understand why you can get criticized for being good at something. Exactlyly. Especially peopleeople feel like the delivery is just something that just happens. That's practice. That's practice and repetition and mistake and learning and being humble enough Nico is probably the best coach in setpieces in the world definitely and he's very good at understanding what's going on and you know, adapting to the players. and I mean H work, repetition and ye frustration sometimes when things don't go your way, but yeah, improving every day. What's that cur? Yeah, we' got a meeting right now. N a. especially a big game like that color. Thank. Takeaking eas nice.ake. hold you.ake. Thanks Thank you guys I think I could have played for Hustle Geville. G Neville and Arleshire It smile. Do you know something? That's the best. I wish I could smile when I played football. Do know what I mean? That's the problem.. Are you smiling because of him? I love you.? smiling ' because of him? I know smiling. You're smiling of me It's. What do you mean? sm What do you want him to do? Do you know something, Miles, I have to say, I just said there about the smile. you play with a smile, you play with the freedom And it's completely enutly alien to me. because when I played football, I felt like it was a struggle.. You know, you wouldn't have watched me play it was a long time ago.. A little bit, but do you know something? How do you just keep you know, you're so young You've come in the last few weeks, you've been out of the team. You've in midfield And you're in there doing new things. How would you keep that sort of level of belief, that confidence, that happiness, enjoyment in your sort of personality? No very technical team. Yeah I think it just comes from the preparation, not just in football, but in life as well. I pride myself on enjoying the moments, enjoying adversity, enjoying your childalshood tribulations as much as you know when you face adversity. So for me it's just finding the moments to enjoy because when you can't take moments like going on a pitch for granted Yeah that you know, last too short to I feel just To be soking or just to be disappointed because for me I don't like to see things that negatively, you. I'm a very positive person and I always find a hope, optimism and faith in my situation. It just I gave sight emotional, just listening to just talking so calmly and serenely about how you see life and how you see perspective. but at nineteen it must be so difficult for you though being out of the team because you hadn't done anything wrong. mean you've played brilliantly well since you came in. What else I was going to say M, J just talk us through like the Fulham the Fulham start and how it came about because I said something, but I want you to clear it up so how did that come about the fullham start? what's been happening? Because maybe you ain't been playing football I'm playing. I was originally traineding in midfield for a couple of months around like December toill April. so I think just that period there is just learning my craft, learning that position because you know For me it was natural for me as a young player because that's where I grew up playing midfield, but it was just to kind of refine the smaller details in that position and that team, you know what different players likeack and different when I'm in different areas in the pitch as well. So yeah, that was definitely what was it like? was it confusing because all of a sudden you're playing left back and then obviouslying Cappp' doing well And then you're training in midfield with no expectation because you've never played in the midfield. So So so then all of a sudden you're training in midfield. you think So feel this I felt natural you know felt so natural going back in there, it felt like this this is where I belong kind of thing. So it wasn't like that. What wass goinging on here. kindind of felt, you know Very natural to me. Are you a midfield player now then? He's always beenidfield? I No, do you yourself, mean obviously, you're going to have switched un You're gonna go wherever you're told go I'm sure That's what all players do. But do you now see yourself as the best opportunity to play in this team with the fact that in Caper and Califhioria left left back? Do you see your opportunity in midfield now