On The Premier League
Are City out of the title race now?
No, I don’t think City are out of the title race. They’ve lost four games in a row. Mentally, they are really down. You know, they’re trying everything and nothing works.That's why before they played against Liverpool, I’m sure Guardiola spoke with his players and said many things. The Premier League is about what? It's about intensity.You can have good possession of the ball, but you need to put intensity in your game.And against Liverpool, City didn't show any intensity.City used to keep the ball really well, but they tried to play on the counter attack against Liverpool and it didn’t work. They were dominated.
On the title race
I think there is still a title race despite Liverpool’s lead. Arsenal are still in the race, but they don't have a choice. They are still in the race, even if it's nine points difference. That’s because we know around Christmas and New Year's, clubs can drop some points.
So now the question is if Arsenal can still put pressure on Liverpool. They need to stay behind them and not drop any more points, because they don't have a choice. They have to win every game. They have to repeat the performance they did against West Ham in every single game. Can they do this? Because listen, if Liverpool win the league, everybody will say, Liverpool was too strong. Arne Slot is a big manager. But for me, it will be because Arsenal made mistakes.If Arsenal doesn't win the league this season, that will be their fault.
Mo Salah’s contract. Do Liverpool need to give the Egyptian King what he wants or, given his comments about being more out than in, do you think they’ve missed their chance?
I think Mo Salah has a big offer from Saudi, and the problem is, I don't think Liverpool can give him what he wants. I'm sure the salary that the Saudi’s have offered him is huge money. If Liverpool can’t match the offer or make him an offer that he wants, it looks like at the end of the season, he will go there.He's won everything with Liverpool. You can see with his performances this season that maybe he has got a new target. It looks like he wants to finish as the best scorer in the Premier League, to get the golden boots, and it looks like he wants to win the Premier League or the Champions League again this season.
If you asked me if Salah was more likely to go or more likely to sign a new deal, it looks like he will leave the club.
Ruud van Nistelrooy is back in the dugout with Leicester. He’s used to working with mediocre players at Man United, so he should be alright…How do you think he is going to get on?
The Leicester players will not have the same quality as the Man Utd players, so he has to adapt. That is the thing. He has to adapt to the quality of the players, because the quality is not the same. Sometimes it's very difficult, especially for managers who were top, top players, because he was a top-class striker, and he used to play with a top-class player around him.So maybe, at Leicester, it will be a little bit different. He has to accept the quality of his players, but he has to adapt.
Premier League Report Card
Looking at individuals, who would be your overall star pupil – the Premier League player that have truly shone this season?
For me, it will always be the defenders, because I'm a supporter of defenders; I’m loyal to my fellow defenders.
There are three players that come to mind right now if I had to tell you who I think is the best in the Premier League. I will say Konate, from Liverpool, because he's been a monster from the beginning of the season, and van Dijk, who is playing next to him.
For Arsenal, you’ve got Gabriel. What Gabriel’s doing makes a difference. He scores goals. At the moment, he's always the guy who helps his team to win games on free kicks, corners. He's always around and he’s a big threat from set pieces. He scored again against West Ham.
Saliba, I like him, but at the moment, his performance is not like last season, and Gabriel is performing better than him, whereas last season, Saliba was more consistent than Gabriel. The difference is the goals. I would love Saliba to get more goals – I set him that challenge at the beginning of the season to put himself in the frame as one of the best CBs in the world.
When you score goals as a defender, important goals, the fans will always remember you. That's why me and John Terry, when we were at Chelsea, we were always competing about who is going to score more goals in the season. It was a good challenge, but unfortunately, he always beat me!
On Chelsea
How do you think Chelsea will line up against Spurs?
Chelsea, how they play, they are not scared to attack because most of their players are offensive players. So, it looks like after their result, 3-0 against Aston Villa, I don't think Maresca will change anything. I think he will still play with his three at the back, because he doesn't have a choice. I think he will play with the same system, and with that system, we saw Chelsea can really play good, good football.When we look at the Tottenham side, their best CB Romero is not there, but even after the result against City, we know with Tottenham that anything can happen.
I think Chelsea is going to be different. Chelsea this season can do a lot of damage against the big teams.
This match is a big deal. I think it will be another opportunity for Chelsea to show their rivals that they’re a team making progress this season and I expect them to get a positive result against Tottenham.
What’s the difference this season under Enzo Maresca – what’s he bringing where other managers failed?
Did you see what happened? I couldn't believe it. You watch Chelsea, he changed the system, with Caicedo at right-back, without the ball and three at the back with the ball.
By playing like this, Maresca gave Enzo Fernandez the opportunity to play in the middle without much defensive responsibility. That's why Enzo had a good game. He scored his goal and Chelsea played very well.Maresca, what he has achieved in his first season, it’s just unbelievable. They are third in the table. The players like to play with each other, and he can make changes as well. Sancho played as a left-winger and Jackson was still up front, scoring his goals. Palmer behind. He was free to do what he liked to do on the pitch.
Maresca understands his players and the quality of his players. He put Enzo Fernandez on the bench when he was playing with four at the back. He knew he could not play with Fernandez next to Caicedo.
By benching Enzo Fernandez, it put pressure on him to find his best level again. It looks like he’s found the formula to get him into the team by changing his system. That system gives Enzo Fernandez space to be a little bit more free.
He also sent a strong message to the other players by benching Enzo. He told his players that any player can be on the bench if they don't perform. Noni Madueke didn't start yesterday, he was on the bench. Chelsea have got so many good players in attack, so every one of them has to perform or they will be on the bench. Every one of them has to give the manager what he wants from them.
Are Chelsea in the title race?
No. Enzo Maresca knows Chelsea are not in the title race. I think the same thing: Chelsea are not ready to compete for the Premier League title this season. I said to you, Chelsea will be ready next season. Next season they will be ready, because right now it looks like they are going to finish around fourth. But next season they will be ready for the race.
That's why teams like Arsenal, if they don't win this season, next season it will be difficult because Chelsea will be there. United will be there. City will be there again.
Next season will be a big season with several teams competing for the title, and I don't think Arsenal will be challenging for the title next year. I think the increased competition will give Arsenal a lot of problems next year.
I know he’s a player that you’ve criticised in the past, but is Marc Cucurella starting to win you around? It looks like he’s beginning to convince the Chelsea fans?
Marc Cucurella was not performing well during the 2022/23 season. At the moment, if you ask me the question, do I think Cucurella is performing very well? I will say to you, yes.
Now he is doing what he did with Spain, for Chelsea. Every game, he’s performing. Sometimes what people don't understand in football, when a player doesn't have a great season, or he didn't perform very well, there will always be judgement. Players will always be scrutinised in the newspapers. One minute you’re good, then you are not good. For example, Kylian Mbappe, at the moment, it's not good. He is not at his best.As a player, we have to accept that criticism. We are lucky because two days later, we can change everything. We can have a good game. When Cucurella arrived, he was not performing well enough for Chelsea. Now, though, his performance level is great.
On Arsenal
After a little blip, are Arsenal back? They look to be back in the groove.
The problem with Arsenal… it's sometimes very difficult to watch Arsenal or Tottenham play because, sometimes they can put in a big performance - look what happened to Tottenham, 0-4 against Manchester City - and then you draw against who?! Against Fulham?!?
Arsenal are playing Manchester United next. That is a different thing because it’s a big game. We know when it's a big game, Arsenal is always ready, but I want to see how they are after Man Utd. I want to see them go to Fulham and win.
I’m not worried about when Arsenal play the big clubs, they just need to stop dropping points to the smaller ones.
Do Arsenal need to go on a hot streak over the Christmas period to keep the pressure on Liverpool – it feels like we need a ten game run and hope that Liverpool drop a few points along the way.
Listen, Liverpool will drop some points eventually. Let's say Liverpool draw twice and Arsenal win twice, a nine-point gap becomes a five-point gap quickly. Everything can change quickly in the Premier League. That's why Arsenal has to stay as close to Liverpool as possible.
Against Man Utd, they don't have a choice. They have to win. They have to win against any club. They have to win against Fulham because Liverpool can drop points, even though they have a big squad.
At the moment almost every club is afraid of Liverpool, but you never know what can happen. Until the end of the season, Arsenal has to do everything right. Don't regret anything.
Unfortunately, they are in the situation they’re in, nine points behind, it's because they didn't play well. They didn't play well and it's very difficult to understand why they didn't play well. Why did they drop some points? Especially after the last season.Maybe that one blip can affect you at the end of the season. We know to win the Premier League, you have to start strong. You can't make any mistakes. Nobody has an answer to why Arsenal were poor earlier in the season.
That is a problem for me, especially after the last two seasons. Mikel Arteta’s players know the Premier League is important. They know they have to start well. If I could see at the beginning of the season that Manchester City were not going to be champions this season, don’t you think the Arsenal players and Arteta and his staff could see it as well?
On Arsenal vs Manchester United
The toughest test of Ruben Amorim’s short start to life in the Premier League. Are you expecting Arsenal to show him exactly how far away they are from competing with the top teams in the Premier League?
I hope so. I hope Arsenal show Manchester United just how far away they are from the top level in the Premier League on Wednesday night.
Former players of Man Utd, I'm sure they will have said that this is the right time, this is an opportunity to go to the Emirates and to show the world we are back.
Arsenal must produce a big performance of their own. No draw, no loss, simple. Win and send a message to Ruben Amorim that Man Utd are still far from what it takes to be on top and send a message to Liverpool that tells them you’re a serious contender.
If you could pinch one Manchester United player and out them in this Arsenal team, who would you choose and why?
I wouldn’t take anybody. Why? No, I wouldn’t take a single Manchester United player and put them in the Arsenal team because, at the moment, the Arsenal players are better than the Manchester United players, so I won’t pick anyone.
On Tottenham
Is this the type of result that will have Ange Postecoglou pulling his hair out?
Yeah, the Fulham result is the type of game that will have had Ange Postecoglou pulling his hair out. It's hard. You win against City, it’s a good, good performance. You play against Fulham, and you draw.
That means the players didn't put in a big performance. What is the reason? For me, it's very simple. It’s a psychological thing. When you play against Man Utd, you play against Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, you arrive in the dressing room and your concentration is higher than it would be if you play against Fulham, Leicester, Bournemouth, against Nottingham Forest. That is a problem. That's why you need people around you to tell you before the game, guys, be careful. We need to produce the same performance that we did against City. We need to show the same desire.
I remember when I was at Chelsea, Mourinho was like this. He was always on our back. He would size up his players and look at their reactions and body language in the dressing room.
He was worried about players taking opponents lightly, and he reminded us every time we played a smaller club to have the same level of desire and commitment.
Players are always focused for the big games, most of the time the manager doesn't even have to really speak when you’re playing against a big club. They need to speak more when you’re playing against a small club, and sometimes, they need to wake you up.
For me, the Fulham result is a mistake from the players, because Ange would have been telling them to go out there with the same level they showed at the Etihad, and they didn’t do it.
How can you win 0-4 against Manchester City away from home, with a high intensity, and then draw against Fulham? That’s not good enough.
How much of a blow is it for Tottenham to lose Vicario for a few months and will Spurs need to go into the transfer market and sign a replacement for him?
For two months, Tottenham will need the second goalkeeper, Fraser Forster, no? Forster is there because he’s good enough to play. He’s part of the squad and now he has to show his value. I’m sure he will be fine.
The bigger question is about Tottenham’s ambition as a club. What do they want? Do they want to challenge for the Premier League title or are they happy with the top six? If they want to challenge, they need to add more quality to the squad. It’s as simple as that.
If they’re happy to compete for a place in Europe, then maybe they’re happy with the quality of their squad.
I can’t see Tottenham signing a replacement for Vicario in January. It’s up to Forster to demonstrate his value to Ange and Tottenham in Vicario’s absence.
Ange is definitely the great entertainer, but can he be the great entertainer and win trophies with Tottenham? What’s more important, entertaining football or winning football?
As a player, winning things is much more important than playing entertaining football, and I think fans feel the same way. No football fan is going to care if their club wins a Premier League title by playing defensive football becomes, they will be champions.
Okay, Tottenham play entertaining football, but at the end of the season they finish fifth or sixth. Is that OK? The ambition of clubs like Arsenal, City and Liverpool is to try and win things, to lift trophies, this season.
So, for Tottenham, it all depends on what Tottenham want. At the beginning of the season, what was their goal? To finish in the top four, to win a trophy? I don't know which one.
If Tottenham want to go to another level, they need to bring in players who are real warriors, players to help them to win more games so they can make their fans happy at the end of the season.On Tottenham vs Chelsea
Tottenham and Chelsea combined 11
I think Tottenham would have more interest in stealing players from Chelsea than the other way round, because Chelsea have a better squad than Tottenham. They have better players. I don't think Chelsea would take any players from Tottenham or there are any players in the Tottenham starting eleven that would get into the Chelsea team right now.
If I had to make one prediction in this game, it’s that Nicolas Jackson is going to score. He's hot at the moment, he's very hot in front of goal. Now, he only needs one or two chances to score one goal, before it was three or four.Chelsea’s wingers are playing well too, so I think Tottenham is going to be in trouble.
William’s Connections
Will any team ever better your defensive record set while at Chelsea?
We only conceded 15 goals in the 04-05 season. Is anyone going to take that record? Liverpool look like the most obvious candidate for this season, but they’ve conceded eight goals already.
You never know when records are going to be broken. I'm sure a lot of players from Chelsea are afraid and are hoping for Liverpool to concede some stupid goals.That was a magic season, 04-05. It was not only me and John Terry, but Ricardo Carvalho was there, Paulo Ferreira was there as well, so we were very strong. Robert Huth. Oh my God, that guy was so strong.
William, you’re the only player to have played for all three of London’s giants. The London teams have more derbies than any other teams in the Premier League, but what derby is the best in terms of atmosphere / feeling as a player / and which one did you enjoy the most? Arsenal vs Tottenham, Tottenham vs Chelsea, Chelsea vs Arsenal?
If I have to pick the best London derby, then definitely, the game has to be played at Tottenham.
I had some games at Emirates with Arsenal playing against Tottenham, but it was always a crazy atmosphere at White Hart Lane. You have Tottenham, Arsenal, Tottenham, Chelsea, it's crazy. I didn't play at Highbury for Arsenal against Tottenham, I don't know how that would have compared to the Lane. I think my best memory was maybe when I played at the Emirates, but I was wearing the Tottenham shirt, and if you remember, I was the captain of Tottenham that day.
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