Who do you see doing better in the Club World Cup, Chelsea or Manchester City?
It's a hard one, I think they're both going to qualify, that's for sure. Then we have to see how it goes, step by step. There are some good teams in there and there are also some unexpected teams in terms of style of play, what they do. And there may be a few surprise packages in there as well, so I think they'll both do really well in it.
Which of the new City signings are you most excited about?
I’m most excited by Rayan Cherki. I’ve seen a lot about him since he’ssigned..I've tried to catch up on more of the way he plays, and I just think he's so adaptable to the way City plays in many ways.
He seems like the type of player that will try to change a game on his own and try to grab the game by the scruff of the neck. And you saw his goal the other day when he came on for France, that's the sort of stuff that I'm looking forward to seeing.
I’ve watched Rayan Ait-Nouri loads of times, and I think he’s a fantastic left-back. I think it’s going to be handy that he’s an attacking wing-back. City often press down the left more than down the right in some games. Usually, it’s a central defender who’s in that position, and they often hold up the ball or pass it back. Ait-Nouri won’t do that, he’s more direct. He tries to get to the line, to make things happen, to get the ball in the box.
If it’s Doku or another player with him, it’s going to make life easier for them, because teams won’t be able to double up as much. He can do the running too, and take one player with him.
Who do you think will win the Club World Cup?
I’m going to have to say Manchester City are my favourites, but it’s not clear-cut. I saw Paris Saint-Germain demolish Atletico, and Bayern Munich were up 6-0 at half-time in their first game.
There are obviously some very strong teams out there. As a fan I can be selfish and I like watching football. So from a fan perspective, I think yeah, it's brilliant.
But with a footballer's head on, I think it's too much football. Most of the players haven't had a proper break from football throughout the summer since COVID. It's just pretty much been back-to-back seasons and tournaments, and I'm just wondering where they're now going to fit a well deserved rest.
City were well beaten by Juventus in the Champions League this season, how do you see their CWC game going?
This time around, I think Manchester City’s game with Juventus is going to be completely different. When they got beaten by Juve, City were just pressing the self-destruct button. There were so many individual errors which cost them. It didn’t just cost them that match, it cost them the league.
Too many games they dominated possession, played almost exactly as they wanted, then they’d just make an error in transition or at the back, and it would cost them a goal, maybe the match too. Those things just weren’t happening under Pep before then.
So I think this City wouldn’t be making the same mistakes after they have put last season behind them. Even now, they’re a different beast at the Club World Cup.
What's it like playing these games in the USA, do you think there will be a good atmosphere for the World Cup?
Football in the US is different. Of course, every country will be bringing their own sets of fans with their own traditions, but the American supporters and sport are more based on it being a family event.
There’s still noise and singing, but it’snot quite as ferocious as other countries are used to. I am not too sure what the USA fans have in terms of chants, because when I was there, it was only really the Seattle and Portland crowds who could get close to a European-style atmosphere.
I think the most important thing for next year is that the games all sell out. But looking back, there are definitely times where the games have had a bit of an edge. At New York FC, when it started up, when we came there with New York Red Bulls, you could see the rival fans getting into it. I think what the US game needs is some more rivalries. If they were more frequent, that could help the World Cup atmosphere.
Do you think Manchester City and Chelsea will have their PL campaigns damaged by the summer exertion?
It’s a double-edged sword. The Club World Cup means that Chelsea and Manchester City might not be fresher, exactly, but they’ll be sharper and have more match fitness because they’ll have played competitive football at a higher tempo.
Going into the season, that might have a benefit, but then with a draining, long Premier League season alongside the Champions League and the cup competitions, they could definitely tail off with fatigue. There will be a lot of rest days needed and given to players, I imagine. I hope they can protect players’ health and welfare.
Manchester City
Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders have been brought in to replace Kevin De Bruyne. Cherki has the creativity and Reijnders has the goals. Do you think they are good enough to make up for the loss of De Bruyne?
I don't think you can ever replace Kevin, to be honest. I thought what he brought to the team was just astonishing. And that's not even just on the ball, that was his work rate off the ball as well. He's pressing the defenders. He was a trigger point for a lot of goals City scored, too.
But I think they will bring something different to the team. For Tejjani, I think it’ll help to have him alongside Rodri, so there’s some extra stability, but he’ll also go forward and contribute with goals and assists. He’s more of a No. 8.
Cherki can play in the hole, and he can work on the left and the right too, but I think with City next season, there’s going to be a lot of rotation between the positions and with the players, too. There’s an attacking threat through the middle in the side now.
Tino Livramento is City's top target to replace Kyle Walker. However, Newcastle have no intention of selling him. Do you think City should pay over the odds to secure his services? Many do see him as England's future first-choice right back.
Yeah, I think he's a fantastic player, and he’s still so young. He’sdefinitely someone to watch.
I think Ashley Cole was raving about him, speaking about how good he is, how he’s a brilliant one-on-one defender. If anyone can judge a quality full-back, it’s Ash.
He goes forward too, and has such quality about him. City have always had Kyle Walker as an option so if there’s a direct replacement, he’s going to have pace. Tino’s got that, but he’s not just quick, he’s a more rounded player as well.
What do you make of Guardiola wanting a smaller squad?
I understand him. I think he believes in the academy and what they can produce, as we've seen over the years that he's been there. He believes in that talent and he believes that if there are injuries, those players are good enough to step up and do a job for the club. And I don't think there's anything wrong with that.
I think that he doesn’t want to just accumulate players for the sake of it. He doesn’t want good players sitting on the bench or watching from the stands. It’s a waste. So I understand he wants a lean squad that can be helped out by the talent in the academy. I understand what he wants.
Was it a mistake to let Kevin De Bruyne leave? Were you surprised that City didn’t do more to keep hold of him?
You never know, but right now I couldn't say it was a mistake. I'm gutted that he left personally to be honest with you, because I just admired the way he played and his enthusiasm. The things he did on the pitch, there’s nobody out there who could match him.
But football’s funny, it’s not the first time that someone of his calibre left. Yaya Toure left, and City moved on. Sergio Aguero left, and City moved on. It’s something that has happened before at City, and it happens at other clubs too.
Maybe it was time for him to move on, maybe not, but he’s still got that magic.
How do you think KDB will fare at Napoli?
I 100 percent believe he’s going to succeed with Napoli. He will go there wanting to not necessarily prove a point, but he'll go there wanting to show he can still do it at the top level. He said when he left he still felt he had something to offer, and now he can show it in Serie A.
I think Scott McTominay is the perfect partner for him as well. I think if Jude Bellingham had come to City, then Kevin would have been set. He could do less running, Rodri and Bellingham could have worked alongside him, and Kevin would have been free to be dangerous.
But Kevin still does the dirty work when he can. He’s not a luxury player even now. He gets the job done on the pitch.
Where does Jack go from here? Everton?
I just think he needs to just go and enjoy football as his priority, where he does it is less of a problem right now.
Playing at Everton is a completely different experience from playing with clubs like Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool. When you play for those top teams, you’re coming up against a low block every time. There’s less space to manoeuvre in, fewer pockets to operate in. When you’re a winger for City, you have to stay wide because there’s no space to move into, and it’s easier for Jack and others to get the ball out wide.
If you got to Everton - and no disrespect to them - there’ll be more room for him to exploit. Then you might see the Grealish you remember from Aston Villa, which everyone will want to see again. At City, he became a more complete footballer, he had to learn other parts of the game, because he wasn’t the go-to guy every game like he was at Villa.
I don’t even know if he has gotten worse over the last couple of years, or if playing for City against compact defences has just become that much harder. Before, players would double up on me, but now the whole team sits back against clubs like City. I had more room, Jack had almost none to use. The mental demands are so much tougher for him now.
When the transfer window re-opens, is there one player you have in mind that would make it the perfect transfer window for City?
So far, it’s already a perfect transfer window for Manchester City, they’re getting 10 out of 10. They’ve strengthened in key areas.
But it’s worth remembering that they made some astute signings in January. I thought they were quality players, and they’ve been able to steady the ship. They’ve added to that already with another four players on top of what has already arrived. More than that could be overkill.
The job now is to get players on their way out the door, because Pep won’t want a squad that big. If there are outgoings, then I think the one outstanding player they could go for is Tino Livramento. After that, I don’t think they’re going on another shopping spree.
What do you think of Pep Ljinders joining (Jurgen Klopp's former AM / 10 years at Liverpool) - is it an admission that Guardiola needs help with his tactics?
I don’t think it’s an admission of weakness or anything. I think it’s not possible to say that Pep Guardiola needs help exactly. I think Pep Lijnders is there because Guardiola is a manager who always wants to bring new ideas in to improve his side.
Guardiola’s supposedly coming off the back of a bad season, but he got to a cup final, finished third, just behind Arsenal. I think City still set the standards that other teams try to match, and they’ve still been showing the world what they’re capable of. They’re in the Champions League next season and they will pick up and go again
I can see why he’s brought him in. If you look at Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, there are times where City could use that ability to hit sides in transition, and be more direct.
I don’t think it’s going to be a complete overhaul or just playing like Klopp did - there’s a reason City play like they do right now. It's more about fresh ideas for everybody, because the Premier League in general has become a harder league. From say 4th to 10th position, those teams were beating everyone above and around them, only Liverpool were regularly dominating. Three or four years ago even, it wasn’t so cut-throat.
Chelsea
Were you surprised that Sancho wasn't signed on a permanent deal by Chelsea? With Tottenham and Aston Villa reportedly interested, which club would be the ideal move for Jadon?
I actually think Jadon Sancho is a really good player. I’m not sure what position he excels in exactly these days. I don't think he's a winger anymore. I think he's better suited to playing inside, like one of the more advanced No. 10s that teams often have two of now.
He’s not the player to dribble past others, but he can create opportunities, and he has talent to make the difference in the final third.
I’m surprised Chelsea didn’t want to take him on, but it’s harder at Stamford Bridge because they just have so many players who can play that role. I suppose you can’t keep taking on players in that position without sending some out of the door, and that’s cost Jadon.
I’m not convinced he’ll suit Thomas Frank at Tottenham. I think he’ll focus on Bryan Mbeumo, he plays the way he wants. I’m not sure Jadon can do that, because Frank wants players to take on a heavy workload, and that might not be ideal.
Aston Villa’s a bit different, though, especially if they don’t take on Marco Asensio. He can work hard and create chances there, but the problem he has is that his reputation is that of a bad egg. I don’t think it’s justified, but there are so many options for clubs these days, he might now be overlooked, and he’ll be seen as a gamble. Jadon might need to go somewhere where he can prove himself all over again like he did in his first spell with Borussia Dortmund. I really hope he does.
With his move to Chelsea and loan to Arsenal being nothing short of a disaster for Raheem Sterling, is it time for him to turn his back on the Premier League and look abroad? Or is he the type of experienced player that the recently promoted Premier League teams should be looking at?
I still think he can play in the Premier League. I just think he needs a run of games. He needs to get that enjoyment back, that enjoyment factor back in playing football.
I think it's been hard for him during the last couple of years because he isn't getting a run of games. His confidence will obviously be crushed. And when you're a winger, repetition is good, like continuously going past people.
He has one game here or there, and when he’llplayhe’ll get 60 minutes before he’s taken off. He’s been a fall guy for whatever reason. On the other hand, I understand managers need players to always be ready, and they can’t carry anyone, but he still needs games to get his momentum back.
I just think he needs to go somewhere where he knows he's going to play like 10 games on the bounce, then it’s all on him to show his qualities.
Leeds could be an option. They’ve just come up but they’re a massive club. Another side would be Fulham, where players are able to get that enjoyment. It’s hard when you fall out of love with the game.
As a winger who signed for Chelsea for a substantial fee, what advice would you give to Jamie Gittens if he does end up moving to Stamford Bridge? Have you seen enough of them to determine whether he could be a success there?
Enjoy it. Embrace the challenge. I think it's a new challenge for him compared to life in Germany with Borussia Dortmund.
It will be a lot of pressure compared to maybe whathe's used to in the Bundesliga, but the main thing is he enjoys it. I think Enzo Maresca is an incredible manager to work with, and if he works hard - as he always seems to - then his talent will shine at Chelsea.
He’s got ability and pace, and he’s set up to be a success. I think the thing that would establish him ahead of the competition is if he can be consistent. All their wingers have had their moments, but never week in, week out. I think if he shows he can be on it regularly, he’ll be hard to drop.
Is the failure to land Jamie Gittens and Mike Maignan before the CWC poor planning by Chelsea?
I think the difference is that with Manchester City, it feels like that they knew their targets, and they executed. They had their plan in place.
Chelsea don’t appear to have been as sure. They look more like they have a list of players they are working through rather than knowing exactly who to target. They might be looking to sign one player and then move onto the next on the list.
I mean, I hope that Todd Boehly has learned his lesson in the market, because they’ve got almost 50 players in the squad and he has to get to grips with things at some point. They need to get rid of about 16 players, at least, and I find it hard to believe they’ll manage that, whether they want to or not.
I would love for them to get their house in order because for all of those players, I want them playing regularly, wherever it is, and enjoying their football, showcasing their talents. Chelsea might be stuck as they look to ship out players before they can act decisively in the market. They’ve got players on seven-year deals, how are they going to cope with that?
How would you feel if you were Roberto Sanchez with the speculation of a replacement?
The move for Mike Maignan is the one thing with Chelsea that has really confused me.
In my head, it was all set up to bring Kepa back. He’d shown at Bournemouth that he was one of the best in the league, easily in the top five. I assumed he’d go back in the summer and be competition for Robert Sanchez.
Obviouslythat’s not happening, he’s off to Arsenal, but for Sanchez to see them moving for Maignan now, he’ll be gutted. He can’t lose his head, because he has to work on his game now and seize his chance when it comes to him again. Things change fast in football, too. If he has a brilliant Club World Cup, that changes things drastically once again.
I understand why Chelsea are looking for a new keeper now. They want that strong spine that great things need, and since the glory days of Cech, Terry, Lampard, Essien and Drogba, they’ve never quite managed it. They’re still rebuilding that. They don’t just need a keeper, they need a marquee centre-back, someone that the others can learn from.
What would it mean for Chelsea to make history by being the first club to win the Conference League, Champions League, UEFA Cup and CWC?
It would be making history, it would be a massive achievement to be the first club to win all four.
Winning any medal or trophy is hard enough, but to have won everything you’veentered into at one point or another, it’s huge. It just doesn’t get done.
Could Kepa displace David Raya?
They know they do love David Raya down there at Arsenal, don't they? I think Kepa is a wonderful goalkeeper. I'm not sure if his feet are as good as Raya’s though, but I guess we're going to find that out this year. That will probably give Raya the edge right now.
I am intrigued why Kepa wanted to go for Arsenal, because he’s not a guaranteed starter - not by a long shot. Most other places, he starts. He’s got the qualities of a No. 1 goalkeeper,he’s not a back-up.
I'm just intrigued why he actually wanted to go to Arsenal when he could have possibly started somewhere else. Because in most clubs he starts. He's a number one goalkeeper rather than number two.
He might back himself to show what he can do at Arsenal, but he did that at Real Madrid, he did it at Bournemouth. At Bournemouth he worked hard, they don’t have a defence like Arsenal, and he was up to the challenge. I think with Emi Martinez maybe on his way to United, Kepa could have stepped up and been the main keeper at Aston Villa.
Is there a danger that Cole Palmer will be burned out before the season even begins?
I think it’s mad to say that Cole Palmer trailed off last season. I just don’t see it. I think people say it because he wasn’t scoring, but he was still creating the same amount of chances as when he was finding the back of the net himself.
I don’t think he tailed off, I think it’s natural that players’ form will ebb and flow. You have those patches where everything goes in, just like there are spells where nothing will go in.
Don’t forget, he can do all the work just as he always did in terms of assists, but even thenhe’s reliant on his strikers putting the ball in the back of the net. I think he’s still dangerous, because he can damage you in the final third, and in his own third he has that passing range to set up a goal from deep. The way he’s playing, he’s always a threat.
I think Cole Palmer’s reputation is going to blossom again when he’s linking up with Liam Delap. I think Liam’s going to be putting away more chances than Nicolas Jackson.
Liam’s going to improve the team overall. He can hold the ball up, he’s like a wall up front, able to bring others into play. Not only does he take chances, but he creates them for himself, and he can do everything Jackson can do, with runs in behind. Cole’s going to love that, he knows that when he sends the ball into the box, Liam will be there.
Is Liam Delap an upgrade on Nicolas Jackson? Do you expect him to lead the line when the new season starts?
I think the Chelsea striker curse is going to get lifted next year with Liam Delap. I don’t think it’ll just be Delap who thrives, either. I think Nicolas Jackson has done really well and he can push on.
I wasn’t sure of his best role under Mauricio Pochettino, he seemed to be across the front line. Under Enzo, he seems more patient in front of goal, he has the time to steady himself. He’s picking better options,he’s improved a lot. Chelsea have got a good strikeforce there now with those two.
Would Christopher Nkunku do well at Arsenal?
I think Christopher Nkunku would be more of the same for Arsenal if they sign him from Chelsea. When he first arrived at Chelsea, I was worried for City, because he would destroy them in Europe, every game.
He played so well, and then he went to Chelsea and things just changed. I’m not sure if it’s the way that Chelsea play that is the problem, or if they’re not using him in the right position. I’m still trying to work out what he needs, and it looks like Chelsea are too. It’s hard to say what would be the right position for him to thrive in the Premier League.
MLS
Are Inter Miami signing too many veteran players and is that a strategy that will pay off?
I know they’ve got a few older players, but I don’t think it’llbe Inter Miami struggling in the heat. They can run,they’re used to it. They’ve been doing it for the past two or three years.
If it is a problem for anyone, it’ll be the players who aren’t used to it, the players in Europe might be the ones to find it harder.
Inter Miami will be fine. When you’ve got players like Lionel Messi in your team, you’ll be OK. He might only be able to turn it on for five minutes here and there, but he can make you suffer in those five minutes.
Of course, I’m not sure they’re really challengers, but I want to find out if that MLS level can come close to teams like PSG and Manchester City. European football is just a different beast, but I want to see how those players deal with it.
USA
Who are you tipping as the favourite to win the World Cup?
It’s a hard one. I'm going to say England because I'm English. I want England to win it. I think we have all the quality players to do it. For whatever reason, we just can't get that little extra step to win it.
I'm hoping next year is the year but when you get the teams like Spain, France, and Germany, they always come through in tournaments. It will be a really hard competition, I think.
England have an advantage now they have Thomas Tuchel. He’s won so many trophies before, so he knows what it takes to succeed. England, like France and Spain, have unbelievable players, but they make it count at the margins.
The final against Italy, you can make all kinds of arguments where we made mistakes, but reallyit’s just down to penalties, players missing who you’d never expect to miss. So, all the qualities to me are there to win it and lift it. It's just whether they all show up at the same time.
Do England fans have unrealistic expectations of winning the World Cup?
I think that's natural for fans, especially given the quality of players that we have in the squad.
I never believe in the saying it's the golden era or the golden generation, because just like we have one, Argentina have one, France have one, Spain have one, you know, I mean, they're all fantastic players in their own right and the competition is very hard. So I never believe in stuff like that. I just know we do have the quality to win it.
QPR
Are you surprised that Marti Cifuentes’ job is under threat at QPR?
It’s a tricky one, isn't it? They didn't do too well last season and now they're in a position where they're going to have to try and keep some of their players.I feel like they also might need to sign a few to freshen it up, change it, but something's got to happen.
I don't understand how there's something called gardening leave. He's either your manager or he's not. I don't know what's going on down there. I think the club's an amazing club. The fans are unbelievably good as well, and it just needs the right people in the right places to bring that club back to where it should be.
It would be nice to have them back up, because it's an old school ground, as well, where everything is on top of you, close to the fans. It’s good to have some football heritage in the Premier League. Getting there isn’t necessarily QPR’s biggest challenge, it would be staying there and establishing themselves. Brighton, Bournemouth, those teams deserve huge credit for finding a way to become mid-table players rather than fighting relegation every year.
Premier League
Is Viktor Gyokeres the right man for Arsenal? Is Benjamin Sesko the better option?
If I was Arsenal, I’d want Julian Alvarez ahead of any other option. Alvarez is unique with his mobility and finishing. He’s got experience, having won everything so much. To have him in your armoury, it would just be exceptional.
Between Sesko and Gyokeres, I’d go for Gyokeres. I think he’s able to bully defences. He works hard,he’s got all the qualities you’d want. He’s got a lot of confidence in front of goal, and I think Arsenal need a bit of that, some swagger and aggression. Someone who can’t be bullied off the ball.
I like Sesko too, he’s a nice player. He reminds me a bit of Dimitar Berbatov, how he looks so relaxed, so technically gifted. I think he’s the one who isn’t suited to Arsenal though, he doesn’t seem suited to a high press that Mikel Arteta likes, whereasGyokeres would give you that.
Are you surprised Arsenal have spent big for another midfielder if they sign Zubimendi?
I think he'sa good player. But when you've got Thomas Partey and Declan Rice there, even if Partey leaves, it’s not clear where Zubimendi fits in the team. With Martin Odegaard and Rice there, you’re going to struggle to find somewhere for him.
I think Arsenal need to be careful with what they prioritise. Everyone talks about them needing a striker, maybe a winger to challenge Gabriel Martinelli harder. I think they need to be going all-out for a striker, but instead they’re pushing for Zubimendi.
Is Ruben Amorim the right man to turn things around at Manchester United?
I’m still undecided on Amorim. I have my doubts. I think most of the managers who survive in the Premier League, they’re the ones who can adapt. And he refused to do that last season, it was his way or the highway. I think in Portugal you can get away with that at the bigger clubs, but in England, every side offers a different challenge.
You can’t keep the same system because it won’t always shut down the opposition. Manchester City and Arsenal, they’re so different. I think it was the same with Ange Postecoglou, and it cost him his job. He had all those injuries, but he wouldn’t change, even if he was getting carved open every week.
To succeed in the Premier League, you’ve got to be able to tweak things and cut your cloth. I think he’skind of the opposite to Pep Guardiola. Football is constantly evolving. Not just every season, but every game. You can go a year or two without changing everything, but then you need to freshen up or you get found out.
Everyone knows what United will do. They don’t keep possession, they hope Bruno Fernandes produces something and then see what happens. But City, Arsenal, they just don’t give the ball up, and they don’t invite pressure and errors like United do, because they give the ball up so often.
Can you believe that Manchester United have fallen down the pecking order since they were your great rivals?
Never in a million years did I expect Man United to be where they are right now. On the pitch, off the pitch, I could not see it coming, just how bad things would get.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m a City fan, so of course I enjoy seeing them beaten on the pitch and struggling, just as they did when City were struggling. But as a football fan, I want a strong United, and I want those City-United derbies to be as big as they were at their peak. I want them back.
I always want those games to mean something. I don’t want red cards, but it’s always better with a few tackles flying about, some aggression. You want to beat your rival as badly as possible, but you want it to be a fight.
The Manchester derby always meant more to me, because winning was so much harder. When I was at Chelsea, we never seemed to have a problem beating Spurs!
Would you give Thomas Partey a contract extension?
I would give Thomas Partey a new contract, becausehe’s the kind of player who you only miss once he’s gone.
He gives Declan Rice so much more freedom to get forward and break through lines, that’s all Partey’s doing. So I would definitely keep him on.
Do you think Mikel Arteta is in danger of losing the fans’ faith?
I think in many ways there will be some fans who are starting to have their doubts. There would have to be. I think if it's a club that's trying to take that next step in terms of winning the Premier League and bringing home trophies all the time, they may have to think about changing their manager.
I think Arteta is a fantastic manager, but I think they spent nearly a billion pounds, if not more. And fans want to see results, don't they? And I should imagine the owners will do too, at some point.
But Arsenal are not really a sacking club. They give their managers time, they don’t act willy-nilly. It’s a process with them, so there may be no rush where Arteta is concerned.
Should Arsenal break the bank for Morgan Rogers?
He’s obviously an unbelievable player, but it’s hard to see where he would fit in at Arsenal just right now. As good as he is, he won’t replace Martin Odegaard, and he won’t step into Bukayo Saka’s position, and I’m not sure how he is on the left.
He's more of a drifter. You just give him the ball anywhere and he'll make something happen, or he tries to make something happen. I just don't know where they would play him. I don’t think he’s a striker, he’s more of a No. 10 or a No. 8.
I think for Rogers, the best thing for his career is to stay at Villa right now. He’s playing in Europe next season,he’s at the top of his game. He won’t want to go somewhere and sit on the bench. If he moves to Arsenal, he’d need to know he was going to play, and in what position. If Villa were in the bottom half, that decision changes, but right now, they’re challenging for trophies.
He benefits massively from playing with Unai Emery. He’s become a man under him. He’s at a phenomenal level, and he’s playing well consistently. His running power with and without the ball, the passes he picks out, it’s scary. He does everything, he just needs more goals, but he’s already started to add them to his game. He’s coming on and learning so quickly.
Apparently Arsenal are keen on adding Marc Guehi to their backline. He’sa great player no doubt, but would be expensive. Would you bring him in?
Marc Guehi, he's a fantastic defender. I like him. I watch him a lot and I was so happy when he took his opportunity in the England squad in the tournament, and played the way he played for his first ever tournament. He probably would have been my England player of the tournament for me, to be honest.
But I wouldn't tell him to go to Arsenal, because he doesn't want to sit on the bench. He wants to play. And I don't think he's going to play in front of Gabriel or William Saliba. So he would have to take a back seat. And I think the place he's in his career, he wants to go to a team and play and establish himself even more.
Why do so many players struggle at Man Utd?
I look at players like Jadon Sancho, Antony, Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho, and I don’t think they’re bad eggs. I think they’ve been given that label and in football these days, those things stick with you, and it won’t go away until you prove otherwise.
I think Sancho showed at Chelsea he’s a decent guy and I think Rashford did the same at Villa. There has to be something more going at United, because they’re all given the same treatment, and they’re all wingers. There’s a problem somewhere, because when they move away, they’re happy and able to play better, even thrive.
Garnacho has been linked with Chelsea, and I know he plays for United and I’m a City fan, but I enjoy watching him. He’s tenacious, he’s full of desire to be a thorn in an opponent’s side. He never stops running and works hard, so he would definitely be handy at Chelsea. You do wonder where he would play, but they’re open to offers to Noni Madueke apparently.
Do you expect Ebe Eze to get a big move this summer and is there a club you think he would be perfect for?
He's a wonderful player. He almost makes it look like he's playing in second or third gear and he feels that the game is easy for him.
He just seems like he can give you so much more. I wouldn't necessarily say Man United right now is the place for him to go with the ways everything is going on right down there.
I personally thought if Hueng-min Son leaves that he would be a Spurs target, to be honest with you. SoI'm waiting to see what happens there. But I know Bryan Mbeumo is high on the priority list for Spurs, so they might not be looking at Eze.
But for Palace, both Eze and Marc Guehi, if they get into Europe, those players don’t need to leave just yet, they can get plenty from staying for at least another year at Selhurst Park.
How important is it for Palace to get European football?
I think they deserve it. They earned it. You know what I mean? I don't think it is fair to punish them like this.
I understand the ruling, but I don't think it's fair that it's them that must pay. Why can't the other team he owns be the one to lose their place? Do you know what I mean? Why does it have to be Palace?
I thought they earned it, man. They deserve it. I'll be gutted for them if they don't get it.
Do you understand Liverpool fans’ anger that Trent Alexander-Arnold had obviously been learning Spanish for a long while?
I have mixed feelings about how Liverpool fans feel about Trent Alexander-Arnold. I mean, I spent time learning Spanish, but it was just because I wanted to, I wasn’t angling for a move. I think Trent might have been doing that, just for his own sake, not as a cynical thing
Coincidentally, he then signs for Real Madrid, and obviously it doesn’t look great, but nobody knows for sure. I think Liverpool fans should be happy for him. He achieved everything for and with Liverpool. OK, they didn’t get a fee for him, but what did they pay for him? Nothing. What more could he have done for that club?
He could stay there, but there’s nothing new to add, and that’s just life as a football. And in the other direction, if Liverpool decided to freshen up, he’d have been sold without much of a say. It’s only when it’s the other way around that there’s an issue. To me, it shouldn’t taint his legacy at the club.
Who will be the team to challenge Liverpool for the title next season?
I think it’s between Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal again. Aston Villa might bounce back but they might need to sell players and rebuild, so that’s its own challenge. I feel like Spurs will come back into it, and Manchester United will surely make a better fist of things in terms of aiming for the top five.
I think the way Newcastle finished, they almost snuck into the top five, but they did what the job required. I think they can challenge because that midfield three of Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonli and Joelinton, that’s a midfield that rivals anyone in the league. If they keep those together, and Isak, they’ll be a threat. They defend better than they’re given credit for, and they have wingers who can hurt you. Eddie Howe is doing a wonderful job there.
I don’t think it’s as clear-cut as last year for Liverpool. I hope City can win it, but it’s far from certain.
Who is the PL’s best striker?
Well, it's Mo Salah, isn't it? He's got the golden boots. It's Mo Salah. He’s a wide forward, maybe not a striker, but he’s the top scorer. Erling Haaland and Alexander Isak are very different, even though they play the same position.
Haaland is a goal machine, your goal-getter. Give him the chances and he will work to continuously score you the goals. Isak is more complete, he has all the strings to his bow in terms of a No. 9. He can dribble, take players on, and he has the skills to make you look silly. He works hard, but he gets the goals as well.
Who is the player you played with most like Erling Haaland?
I’ve played with so many top players, but I think the closest player to Erling Haaland, in terms of that desire to have everything perfect, to have everything right, was Didier Drogba.
He was like that too, to a degree. He had a precise method, a certain regime that he stuck to and wouldn’t deviate from.
He was so driven to succeed, trying to be the very best he could be, getting advantages from everywhere he could so that even when he was away from the game, he was getting better.
Who was the best striker you played with?
I played with Didier Drogba, but Hernan Crespo, well, he might not have got a fair crack at Chelsea, but I thought Crespo was ****ing unbelievable.
For someone who wasn’t that quick, it didn’t matter, because his movement was just scary. You give him two yards, that’s more than enough for him.
He didn’t need his laces to shoot either, he didn’t need to rely on power because he could just slot things away with his sidefoot. He was just unbelievable, an incredible player in the flesh.
Who will be top scorer next season?
Mo Salah has been exceptional, but I think next season, Erling Haaland takes back the mantle as top scorer in the Premier League. Manchester City will give him more chances and he’ll put them in the back of the net.
Is next season a harder job for Arne Slot than his first?
I don’t think that it’sdefinitely going to be harder for Arne Slot because now this is his own team, and that he’s not borrowing so much from Jurgen Klopp. I think next season’s going to be tough for another reason.
Next year, everything is just going to be so much harder for Liverpool - but everyone else too. Manchester City are going to be desperate to avoid making the same mistakes they did last season, they will not be complacent.
Arsenal are going to give it that extra push after coming close three seasons in a row, and then you’ve got the other sides who’ll all be stepping it up.
If Mo Salah does what he did last season, then it’ll be almost impossible to stop him and Liverpool, because he was scoring from almost every chance that dropped in front of him. He only needs a glimmer of a chance to change the game, just as he did against Everton. If he’s at his best, then Liverpool are going to be hard to stop.
Is Florian Wirtz good value at more than 100 million euros?
I hope he does well at Liverpool, because I know he’s a fantastic player. So I really hope that Liverpool getgood value from him, because when you pay 100 million euros, people are going to put pressure on and ask questions, even if it’s not up to him.
The limelight is on him now, in a way it isn’t on Rayan Cherki. It’s all on him, because of the price tag, so I hope he’s able to come over and shine. But my question isn’t about the value, or his ability, but where he gets to play. Who’s being dropped to make room for him?
I know Luis Diaz and Darwin Nunez are going to leave, but it’ll be a huge call to change the system to accommodate him, but it could happen.
Further back, Alexis Mac Allister has been unbelievable. When they played their midfield as it was, they were so hard to deal with. Bringing in someone like Wirtz, who is incredible going forward but not so defensive, maybe it upsets the balance. But Wirtz brings something that Liverpool don’t have right now, in that he can play cute little passes that Mac Allister can only do every so often. His mindset is so much more attacking.
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