00:00So Clive Allen, to talk about European football, PSG 2, Arsenal 1 and Arsenal are out of the Champions League. Clive, good to see you. There's Mikel Arteta saying they're the best side in the Champions League this year. They were the best side over two legs, but I disagree. And I'm not just saying that as a Spurs man. I disagree. I thought they were very good, but they weren't better. What do you think?
00:25Well, I think you look at the two semi-finals and you look at the first one Tuesday night, the second leg Inter against Barcelona. That was an absolutely incredible game.
00:37Crazy.
00:38Followed up by a fabulous second game, I have to say, in Paris last night. Arsenal performed well. I think when you analyse it, they had chances. They had good chances. Donnarumma was in good form, but he's the goalkeeper. That's his job.
00:53Yeah, correct.
00:54And I have to say, he was fantastic. And whether that's the difference between the two sides or not, you have to say that Arsenal didn't take their chances. Good performance, obviously a bitterly disappointing result.
01:09Yeah. And let's talk about the games then tonight. So, firstly, well, let's do Manchester United first, shall we? Because we don't want to get too emotional too early.
01:18So, we'll start with Manchester United. Manchester United, Athletic Bilbao. So, over in Bilbao. And I think everybody was surprised. I was surprised. I think you were surprised. I think Bilbao was surprised.
01:31And I think even Manchester United was surprised that they won that game 3-0. Yes, it was one of those games where everything went against Bilbao because that's the hot favourites to go through.
01:40Especially, that's where the final's going to be. But this is now Old Trafford. And I don't know whether I'm the only one, Clive, or whether I'm being crazy, but I don't think this is over yet. What do you think?
01:50I think it is, Paul. I think that just the magnitude of the performance from United, the confidence they will have gained from that. Yes, it was a night where everything went right.
02:03Obviously, you know, contentious sending off, which threw the game massively in United's favour. But they took advantage of that. You have to give them credit for that. They've put themselves in an incredible position.
02:15I would say almost an unassailable lead. I cannot see them, Bilbao.
02:20Man in Madrid, though. That's the thing.
02:21Yeah, but Bilbao could not score for them. Still, no.
02:25I do think that United will see it through. I can't see them getting beat tonight. And that obviously will be enough with a three-goal advantage. So I see Manchester United in the final.
02:38I think you're right. I mean, I do think that they will make it through. But I don't think it's going to be as easy. I don't think it's going to be as easy, especially if Bilbao score early. I mean, obviously, it's all about the first goal, isn't it?
02:50But the other game then, Boro glimped versus Spurs. So here we are. Thursday, quite a few hours before the game. And I've got to tell you, Clive, I'm nervous.
03:02And I don't know whether it's just the enormity of the fact that it could be a European final for Tottenham Hotspur or the fact that it's going to north of the Arctic Circle.
03:13The fact they've got such a good record there. I don't know what it is. So it's up to you to try and put my mind and every Spurs fan's mind.
03:23Just relax. So we can just relax a little bit. What do you think?
03:27Well, you said exactly the word, Paul. Relax. I think you've got to stay calm. I've got legs crossed. I've got fingers crossed.
03:34And I really don't know how this game unfolds tonight because just analysing it from a football point of view, Bodo glimped on their pitch are very good.
03:46You cannot take anything away from them. The results they've achieved over the last few years, especially in European competitions at home, have been sensational.
03:55They beat Jose Mourinho's Roma 6-0. They beat Olympiacos 3-0. They've beaten teams that have gone there.
04:04There's only one team that have gone there and actually won a game on the artificial pitch in a European game.
04:12So they've got a great record. They'll have great confidence. And it is about Spurs being calm, staying calm.
04:19For want of a better description, they need a Frankfurt performance.
04:22They need a performance that they put in in the second leg away in Germany to get through to this semi-final.
04:28They're capable of it. I think, you know, there's all sorts of twists and turns.
04:33They've lost Madison. Is Solanke fit?
04:36So, so many conundrums at the moment going into the game.
04:39But I think, and I also go back to my own experience when we qualified for the Champions League.
04:47We had to go to the plastic pitch. Young boys burn in Switzerland.
04:51And we lost the first leg. And all of a sudden, it was a disaster was staring us in the face.
04:58But we did it right in the second leg. We got the job done. We qualified for the Champions League.
05:03And I think that is the approach that Ange and the team have to take.
05:08If they do, Paul, they will get to the final to play Manchester United.
05:12So, I don't know whether it's 3G, 4G, plastic, you know, whatever it is.
05:18But how much of a difference does this make?
05:21How much of a huge advantage is it for the home team?
05:24And should it really be allowed? Do you think? I'm getting these in early.
05:27Should it be allowed at this stage of a major European competition that you can play on a pitch like that?
05:33Well, I think we've got to understand that the climate where Bodegin is north into the Arctic Circle.
05:41Basically, without this surface, they wouldn't be able to play their lead games throughout the season.
05:46Their season has only just commenced.
05:47They've only played four, I think, four or five lead games at the start of their Norwegian season.
05:53And they wouldn't be able to play because of, obviously, the climatic condition.
05:57So, you can understand why they've got that surface.
06:00But I do think it is an unfair advantage.
06:03I experienced that myself at Queen's Park Rangers.
06:05We had an artificial pitch, which at home, we were almost unbeatable on because we trained on it.
06:11It was a different type of game.
06:14The ball rolled different.
06:15You had to pass with great accuracy.
06:17You couldn't pass into space.
06:19You had to be very, very careful in the way you played.
06:22And I saw glimpses of that in the first leg, in the way that Boda played.
06:26They play those short, sharp passes to feet.
06:29They move the ball quickly.
06:31And that's exactly what they'd be attempting to do tonight.
06:33Glimp glimpses is what they were.
06:36Exactly.
06:37So, score, prediction, what do you fancy tonight?
06:40I'm going to go for a draw.
06:42I think it'll be a hard-fought game.
06:44I'm going to go for a two-all draw.
06:47God, dear.
06:48That's going to get...
06:49Relax, relax.
06:50It's not going to go 2-0 to Bodo glimpses to start with, though, is it, Clive?
06:54Because I don't think I'll see the end of the game.
06:57I won't be in tomorrow.
06:58I think there's no doubt that the first goal is going to be absolutely vital in the way that the game swings.
07:04And if Spurs score that first goal, I think they'll be comfortable then.
07:08If Bodo score the first goal, then it's going to be a real battle.
07:12What about United?
07:13Predictor for that as well?
07:15I see United going through, and I think that will be a draw as well.
07:19I think it'll be a one-all draw.
07:20I think they'll do what they need to do, Manchester United.
07:24Obviously, their last quarterfinal against Lyon was just quite incredible.
07:30I can't see as much drama in this game, and I think United will get the job done.
07:35Okay.
07:36So, it could be you, me, and Eamon in Bilbao in a couple of weeks.
07:40We'd better mention...
07:41Fingers crossed.
07:42Yeah, I can imagine.
07:43UEFA Conference League, then Chelsea against Eurgarden from...
07:48Well, not Eurgarden, I mean Eurgarden, from Sweden.
07:51They're 4-1 up.
07:52They're playing at Stamford Bridge.
07:54I mean, it's a given, isn't it?
07:55I mean, if ever there's...
07:56I mean, Chelsea have come into this decent form now in the league,
08:01but 4-1 away, they're not going to have any problems whatsoever, are they?
08:05No, they're actually strolling through the competition, to be honest.
08:08Really?
08:09It's been comfortable.
08:11They've literally played a different team from the team that's playing in the Premier League,
08:15giving a lot of young players great experience,
08:18and I see them going on to win the competition outright.
08:21So, I'm saying Chelsea will win this comfortably 3-0 tonight.
08:25Good stuff.
08:26So, tomorrow tonight, yeah.
08:27Yeah.
08:28So, let's keep our fingers crossed, then, for three English finalists, then.
08:32Thanks, Clive.
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