Euro Leagues

John Bennett interviews HJK assistant coach Erkka Lehtola ahead of a fascinating final weekend in the Finnish League.
Lehtola explains their approach for the final weekend, with his HJK and Inter Turku both heading into their final matches on 58 points.
It will be the final weekend before Teemu Pukki retires and he discusses exactly how incredibly popular the former Norwich and Celtic striker is in Finland.
Lehtola played in the Champions League for HJK and discusses playing against Michael Ballack and Ruud van Nistelrooy. He also works as a football commentator and pundit – and discusses how the team may well celebrate in a sauna if they win this weekend.
TIMECODES…
1 min – The excitement ahead of this weekend’s match.
6 mins – Teemu Pukki’s final match – and how popular he is in Finland.
9 mins – How HJK have missed out over the last two years.
11 mins – Champions League prospects and Lehtola’s memories of playing in it.
13 mins – The standard of football in Finland.
15 mins – Lehtola’s work as a commentator.
19 mins – Cristiano Ronaldo’s retirement.
20 mins – Final words of encouragement and possible celebrations.

After over 200 caps, 140 goals, and 23 years, Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his retirement from the Portuguese national team. John Bennett is joined by Spanish football expert Guillem Balague, The Athletic’s James Horncastle, and Portuguese journalist Jose Carlos Freitas to react to the news of Ronaldo’s retirement, the reaction in Portugal, whether it comes as a surprise, and the comparisons with Lionel Messi. Could Jorge Jesus have been sacked following the fallout of Ronaldo being benched in the Nations League? And will there be another Ronaldo trying to break into the international team in years to come?
TIME CODES
00:00 Intro
00:20 James at the Milan derby
03:40 Ronaldo retires from Portugal
08:20 Would he have been in the next squad?
10:00 Reaction in Portugal
18:00 Ronaldo’s international career
21:50 The relationship with Portugal
25:30 Could he be a future manager?
27:30 The future of Portugal

How did Athletic Bilbao's Unai Simon beat David Raya for the Yashin Trophy at the Ballon d'Or? Should the World Cup take priority, or was Raya robbed of the award after a spectacular season at Arsenal? And what has the continent made of Harry Kane's Ballon d'Or win? Are the Spanish annoyed that it didn't go to Lamine Yamal, and how has Bayern Munich reacted? Maz Farookhi, Guillem Balague and Julien Laurens discuss it all alongside German football expert Rafa Honigstein.
Then, the team reflect on Real Madrid's El Clasico victory, James Horncastle joins the pod to look ahead to the Milan Derby, and why has Kylian Mbappe had to apologise to China? Finally, we discuss Dirk Kuyt's Liverpool reunion as new interim head coach of Fenerbahce.
Timecodes:
02:00 Kane's Ballon d'Or win
17:30 Was David Raya robbed?
24:00 El Clasico reflections
30:00 Mbappe's apology to China
37:00 Lazio flying high
40:45 Milan derby preview
47:00 Dirk Kuyt's Liverpool reunion

This week John Bennett is joined by James Horncastle (fresh back from his trip to Como) and Julien Laurens where the focus is all on that remarkable scoreline from Italy after Como beat Manchester United midweek. They show the Italian side some love and hear from Cesc Fabregas. James also sprinkles some Hollywood stardust on to the match after Superman was spotted in the stands – and John and Jules ask that all important question… does James have as much power as Superman?
The guys take look at some of the out of work managers on the continent who could be interested if Michael Carrick leaves Manchester United, and Antonio Conte certainly gets a mention.
Attention then turns to the injury to Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and what impact that will have on PSG’s season. And delve into Serie A and Ligue 1 where it’s tight at the top.
John, Jules and James (the three J’s) then look ahead, not only to El Clasico but also the top of the table clash in Dutch football taking place this weekend where Marcel van Der Kraan joins the pod ahead to PSV Eindhoven v Feyenoord.
Timecodes:
02:00 – Como focus
05:40 - Cesc Fabregas interview.
10:00 – The names across Europe who have been linked to Man United.
17:00 – The injury to PSG’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
25:00 – Serie A focus.
30:00 – The health of Ligue 1
38:00 - Marcel van Der Kraan on PSV v Feyenoord.
42:00 – El Clasico chat.

Mikey Moore is the youngest player to turn out for Spurs in the Premier League, doing so at the age of just 16. He is still only 19 now but after a prior loan at Rangers is now on loan at Bundesliga side Cologne from Spurs after joining them at the back end of the summer transfer window.
In this revealing interview, Moore discusses his new life in Germany - explaining why having two other English lads in Reigan Heskey and Jahmai Simpson-Pusey alongside him has really helped, German lessons, his hopes for the season and the prospect of playing against Harry Kane.
And after the interview Euro Leagues regulars Julien Laurens and Rafa Hongistein join the pod to discuss Moore’s loan move and why young English players like the Bundesliga.
TIMECODES
0 mins - Mikey Moore on his new life in Germany and playing alongside two English players at the club.
2 mins - The challenge of learning German.
4 mins - Sight-seeing in Cologne.
5 mins - Tony Woodcock
6 mins - What Moore is learning and what attracted him to the league.
7 mins - The difference between the Premier League and the Bundesliga.
9 mins - Keeping in touch with Tottenham.
10 mins - The prospect of playing against Harry Kane.
12 mins - Moore’s long-term ambitions in the game.
16 mins – Julien Laurens and Rafa Honigstein join the pod to discuss why the Bundesliga is a good league for young English players - and Moore’s prospects of success this season.