Champions League Preview - PSG Shock, Chelsea unrest with Sonia Bompastor

Welcome to the first episode of Farah Talks, powered by Pepsi Max. I'm Farah Williams and we're looking ahead to the Women's Champions League, which starts very soon. Delighted to be joined by boardcaster and digital creator, Rihanna, Parara. Hopefully I got that right. You smash the mat! Bare, isn't it? Yes, bare A's and A's and A's and A's and Y's and whatever. Here's a flavour and a little sneak peek into what we're talking about today. What do you make of out what we're seeing? Sorry, out to. All right, she just re-opened in ruins. I'll put it behind me at the weekend. And then the capitals get Sonja Bonpastore out because she's an offensive-minded coach. We don't need that here. That's not mine, Chelsea. What are your thoughts? My thoughts are, who are these fans? Like, are they deluded? Like, I think of a Sam Kerr for me, like, one of the best, if not the best, drivers out there. And she's, what, over a year injured? Yeah. Now, is Sam Kerr ever going to get back to her best? Probably not. Right, so we should probably start by talking about the new format. What do you think of it? Obviously, it's the first season of the league phase. So we're seeing teams play each other once. They're not doing the group stage anymore and it gives. I mean, the competition is more competitive. Yeah, absolutely that. I love it. I love the new format. I think the old format was a good way of starting, I guess. But then I think over time it got really boring. You know, you knew the two strongest team in the group before was always going to qualify. You knew after opening four games, pretty much the league was done. And the top teams could, you know, you know, rest players. This, I think, you know, six games, six competitive games, I actually think it makes it a little bit more difficult for the top teams. Yeah. Why do you think it's more difficult for the top teams? Yeah, just that case of, I think, you know, when you know the teams you're playing against, you get them opening four games, win them, wherever it's 12 points you're through. And then you can rest players. I feel like every game, I think that certainly the early stage is when I think back to like the Chelsea opening game arsenal, you know, trying to rest players was not a thing. It would come a thing we're actually, we need to be competitive. We need three points for me. Chelsea drew away at 20. So a team that you would never expect to take points from. And they did, they took them from Chelsea, which then I think Sonja and team probably thought, you know what, in order for us to finish in the top four, we're going to have to be competitive in every fixture. And they were there thereafter. So, yeah, I just think that, you know, when you speak to players, they realize they've been in a game every time they come up with the pitch. And, you know, I've experienced it first time in terms of being at most of the games this year. And already the players are enjoying it more than they did. And I think that when the players are enjoying it, it certainly makes it a lot more competitive. PSG, early exit, second bottom in the league. I mean, they did have a tough run of fixtures, but what do you think happened there? Yeah, that I can't put my finger on. I think they've got a more than competitive squad. I know we know last year, they also didn't even get into the qualifying round. So, yeah, they've had a disappointing couple of years within the Champions League. But this year, you don't have expected them to go on and certainly get to knock out phase. I think, you know, you can argue they're opening four games with difficult fixtures. Fixtures in the past, they probably took results from, but Walsburg, I think Real Madrid isn't it? - Yeah. - And then Bayern. So therefore, difficult game. But then you've got Lüven and you've got Benfica. So, two winnable games and never home to Lüven. You know, a stadium where, like I was in that, that day where they needed three points, they just weren't good enough. And Lüven, for a team that, you know, probably went there with no hope, you know, come where the point and actually that point then helps them qualify. So, yeah, they just wasn't good enough. I don't know what it was. I think, you know, they certainly didn't transfer their league form into the Champions League, which was disappointing. But they were a big club in a club that, you know, in the knock out phase, you would expect to see in the draw. And if you were, I found it so much more interesting because those last two games actually mean something. - Yeah. - I think that's what's so good about it. I think, you know, I remember looking at the top four, at one point Chelsea were out of it, you know, you're losing and then they're back in it and you look at Lüven and they're out and then they're back in. So, I think the fact that we're still all eyes glued to the TV across all the games, I think that just shows that actually changing a format does keep it competitive and keeps the interest there until the very end. - I think they're going to be really good. Obviously, we've got Arsenal, Lurven, which is, and, well, Manchester United, that's coming to a grid, which are two fixtures we have already seen. But what do you think it does, you know, having to play these extra two games in the competition? - I think the interesting one is the menu knighted, let it go, because I actually did that game away. And I remember going into it and talking about how good you knighted were defensively and could make it really difficult and then they get a send-off really early in the first half. And I was like, oh no. But actually, they were main competitive and got their lead in that game. And this is a real interesting one, with 11 players both on the pitch, because that game actually ended with 10-10. So I'm really interested by that game more than any of the knockout games. And I do think over the two legs, the menu knight will be too strong. - Yeah, well, I want to talk about that a little bit. You know, the last game, like you said, you've there, you've seen it. But since that last fixture, you're not going to point to new signings, Hannah Longfist, Leashula and Elevaganheim, all gold threats, really. Obviously, Hannah is actually a full bag. But she's found the back of the net this season. So what do you think that they're going to add to the knight that's going in? - I think, firstly, more bodies of good experience. I think that's something that you know, I like. I think after that, I played a game, actually. They weren't, they went on a bit of a downward kind of spiral in terms of performances and started to leak a lot of gold. So I think they know in terms of their fixtures they're going to have. And if they want to remain competitive, both in the WSL and in the Champions League, they needed more bodies. And I think these three signings actually two of them bring, you know, the bags of experience and certainly Champions League experience in Charlotte. So yeah, I think really good, the fact they're reinforcing in terms of strikers, you know, defensively, you know, with everybody fit, they're very rarely conceived gold. So that's always strong. I think what they lack is that versatility and attack and being able to change, you know, their front line. And I think that's something that you need, you know, in Champions League football. So yeah, really strong for them. They've put their hand in the pocket. It was much needed. So yeah, I think, you know, I guess Mark will be happy the fact they've got a few more bodies in there to compete. And then looking to Arsenal Lurvin, you've really said that you've been impressed by them. They've come, composition to every chance, young squad, no big stars per se. But what is it about them that you've been impressed by so far? What I've liked about them, they are a young team, you're right. I think they've got loads of enthusiasm. But I think they're very well coached. And I think, you know, sometimes you talk about like a lead player and being able to do something of the cast. I think they're very well drilled. And I think for a young team to show that much discipline and trust in a manager to try and execute game plans is really positive for them. So yeah, I think it'll be a good game. I don't think it will be a game that they're going to win. But certainly an enjoyable in terms of tactics of both teams. Arsenal going to that knowing it's a game they can win. But what they can't do is take their eye off the ball. I think, you know, over the years we've known Arsenal in terms of competitions they have been so good. I know they probably don't like that label that come with them, you know, the Cup Club. But they haven't been able to show that consistency. So yeah, I know you're an Arsenal fan and it's not a dig. It's the truth. When you look at the cups that they win, they're very good on the one-off game. What they've lacked in recent years is consistency. That's something they're trying to build towards. But certainly when you come and give them a one-off game, we'll still talk about them. They've been in consistent this year. But actually now in a knockout phase they could probably go on win a Champions League again. And it won't come to anybody's surprise. But yeah, they can't take their eye off this because we know actually after that that there's a possibility I think is somewhere along the line. They then face Chelsea after that isn't it? In the court final. So it's straight after. So yeah, I think they can't be looking at Chelsea. Because I just say this could be a difficult game. But yeah, I do think they're too strong and then obviously it's a Chelsea Arsenal. What do you think of that? I know I'm thinking ahead here, though, but that possibility of. Yeah, I think both teams will be comfortable with that. I think, you know, if you can avoid Barcelona along the way, I think they'll be happy. The fact that they're on this side of the draw and we'll avoid that. But they're still, I think they're facing Leon along the way. Yeah, so I don't know. I think they'll be excited by that fixture. And I think they both know they can beat each other. Well, do you know what that leads us on perfectly? That's right. Our next talking point of Chelsea and their transition phase. Obviously the lead title. Is this your chance to have a big back of me now? I just think Arsenal club club team. I'm asking, I'm asking some questions. I'm going to reduce some tweets. We're going to talk about the lead form. Two no loss to Arsenal. Five one loss to Manchester City. What do you make of out what we see? Sorry. Out. All right, she just reopened in moons. You know what? The Arsenal game. I actually felt tactically Arsenal will not bell. I was there. I felt the slight adjustments that that many slagers made with Beth Mead in terms of overloading that midfield. Chelsea didn't quite get to grips with. I thought they would have solved it a half time. They didn't. They concede against the one of playing. It was Beth Mead that got that. Yeah. And that was the turning point. Chelsea were about to make Sabs then they concede. And it's kind of, yeah, maybe the subs that they made didn't impact the game. But I thought they were worthy winners. Yeah. And we've really spoken a little bit about this. So I try to get your thoughts. Obviously, Sonja Wampasters under quite a lot of fire from fans after the results. We've got some tweets here. Sonja Wampaster is genuinely the worst Chelsea women's coach I've watched. Her player selection rarely fits the demands of the game. Her substitutions are consistently poor. And she seems more focused on favouring certain players than choosing what each match actually requires. A proper deadweight manager. Another says, I can no longer recognise Chelsea women. This woman has destroyed my team. She used what M.A. has built to win titles last season. Come this season. She has shown she's a horrible coach. And then the capitals get Sonja Wampaster out because she's a defensive minded coach. And we don't need that here. That's not my Chelsea. What are you? thoughts. My thoughts are who are these fans? Like are they deluded? Honestly God she's just won the treble last year and then Vince the full season by the way. Yeah and then Vince the full season. Yeah one or three lost to eventual finalists in Barcelona in the Champions League last year so pretty much competed on all five. The son of one passed it out the fact that what even having this conversation after two defeats against you know two teams that are competing that have invested in the summer by the way. Yeah that should be competing you know it should be a freeway or even four way if you include man United and that. It should be a four-way league where there's competition. Chelsea have dominated the league for six years and people start to talk about it's embarrassing that Chelsea you know can win six titles back to back so what does that say for other teams and now other teams invest are you Manchester City strongly investing in the summer don't have Champions League football to worry about and have probably been the best team and and arguably in in recent season as well when the league Manchester City have been really good. Yeah you know you lose bunny shore and all of a sudden the league slips away so arguably Manchester City even when Emma Hazel's there have been pushing Chelsea. Yeah I mean I look at it and I go I do believe that Sonja inherited an Emma Hazel team that that was good but also was coming to the end. Yeah and I can compare it to say an Arnold slot team that won the league after inheriting a very good yoga club team and they went on one leave and then we saw we started to see a few cracks because what happens is that managers want to put their philosophy in their stamp on it and they start to do that and in doing that and bringing your own players in there's that adjustment period and that settling period for players. Liverpool we see when on a really bad one is starting to find a little bit of form now at the Chican we can see with them but to everybody you know slated early on in the season I started to find everyone. Sonja is trying to what I see in a Sonja team she's trying to put her stamp on it and maybe the person they're probably in some tactics don't actually suit what she's doing and I'm like when I think back like to early in the season the man city game I thought they were good and they were high pressing and aggressive and they won that game at Stanford Bridge opening game but I think maybe a couple of games later they go away to Man United and they were poor but really really bad and not because tactically it was wrong because from a view that we have you can see kind of the tactics that are supposed to be implemented but they weren't so who do you put that down to because that time's players need to take responsibility I remember a frontline trying to press midfield not quite known whether I'm going on or a backline drop in and all of a sudden Man United absolutely dominated the gaps and you could see Sonja on the sideline and it's like few men on the sideline trying to get instructions of course and trying to get players to do their role and sometimes you have to make players go through that I remember like when I was playing crap I just couldn't get the to grips with the game managers will keep you on and I'm like just get me off like I'm having to and they want to put you through them it then experiences for you to learn and get better through them and that's what that man United game a little bit felt like but yeah I feel like the whoever this fan is talking about she's a defense-minded coach what would you say about the Barcelona game of George Stanford Bridge because actually thought there was really fun for me like one of the best if not the best drivers out there and she's what over a year injured yeah now is Sam Kerver going to get back to her best probably not that's a sad thing about and we all remember Sam from like say two years ago and those years when she comes to Chelsea and was so dominant then you think you're right and you know she's not really getting in but I also think you know two years ago she's unbelievable last year saw glimpses of how good she can be again another another Emma Hayes player Ramirez out injured so they got no striker there a young Aggie Beaver Jones you know is she quite ready to take on a responsibility of an out and out nine that the demands are that you score goals regularly don't know when this competition comes don't know midfield you know you want to be a high pressing team but actually any plays in that are prepared to high press so there's lots of there's lots of things that need to change for Sonya and I think the fact that we're talking about Sonya out crazy I think for her the pressure will now be qualified for champion league have to but the fact that fans are questioning whether she's good enough or not right means crazy yeah it's crazy and you know there will be people and and and and of course earlier sorry I'm just going back to the middie bright yes she's Chelsea captain and there was a period where you know she wasn't playing too well and then Sonya takes her out of the team and when they take her out the fans were happy that they took her out and then she puts her back in she has a really good game they had a few injuries they put her back instead of really good game and then she stays in so what did the fans think because when she got to doubt there was fans that were like yeah that's a great decision and then there was fans that were saying it's not a great decision it's our captain it's the same with bandite eventually as Liverpool captain you were gonna have to be moved on same with Salah you know at some point you're gonna have to move on same with me by it same with Sam Kerr as a Chelsea family love these players and what they've done for the club but at some point when you start to age and we've all been there you know managers will come in we want younger players and at some point your time you know at the club is probably it's probably done and it's hard to accept so I just have to play it and fans and you know some of the things the fans are saying it's crazy yeah I did want to talk to you about that about like utilizing the the entire squad that she has has been a lot of talk with Sonja with fans you know like for example Shukannuskin who I really rate as a footballer and not getting the kind of minutes that she wants there's been a lot of talking to transfer window as well about it but then she's also changed kind of her back client she's dropped to a back three she's put Lucy bronze in a setter back over a right back for Ellie Carpenter down what do you think of the change of formation obviously it is her trying to put her own print on the team and the squad that she's got but do you think she's actually utilizing the entire squad that she has with the formations that she's putting out but also how they're actually playing like every game I actually think the three five two is best suited to them actually think you know you know you know I think that because I think no teams plays with two strikers and I don't think defenders really have to defend now they have wingbacks that actually in terms of their profile in actually more frontfooted wingbacks the fullbacks than they are actually defense minded they don't really like to defend so actually having free behind defensive a little bit of structure with a holding midfield in front actually allows to get the better quality out of your fullbacks with that less responsibility of having to defend the spaces they can kind of be covered by that free you look how strong they were in that formation against Barcelona the best team arguing you're it they were very good so it's not about maybe the formation maybe sometimes is about the tactics within that formation what pertin are really fit to get the aggression out of it yeah that's my next question if you do you think the players that she's lining up obviously like not beyond who's amazing send it back south yeah the Burm and side to go into her own a little bit as well do you think that the right players are in the right places I think that's what I've seen a lot of like a fan saying especially after the city game was like it's one thing as a manager and I think what a lot of the more level-headed fans have been saying is like it's one thing as manager you know you're not going to get it right every single time you are going to have mistakes and think actually do you know what they're playing different than I thought I fielded the wrong team or I've done this wrong but it was the fact that it feels rectified yeah soon enough do you think that there was something in there that we see with Sonja maybe maybe going into that city game Lucy bonds with you to start she gets ill or whatever it is the night before I think it is because actually the team she you got was Lucy bonding so the team she that was originally put out was with Lucy bonds within that now for all of us or whatever Sonja's change and actually she went 4141 sometimes you have to question the players yeah because I would agree yes and I think it would have thrown them the fact that they didn't have Lucy you know big games like that with the mentality that Lucy has even if she's injured or not performing or whatever that mentality rubs off on a teammate so she gets the best out of people around her so she's a big loss going into that game and certainly if they've done a few tactics between the Arsenal and City Game and having come off a two-nord defeat she would have been key in that so but I do think sometimes players have to take responsibility and it wasn't and it didn't look like you know take out tactics take out anything it didn't look like a Chelsea performance in terms of the players for me well the years we've always talked about Chelsea is he's like mentality monsters and they dig deep and they get the wins like but what is that what you think this squad at the moment it's the mentality like you just said like it's like the half-hearted runs and not everyone's really exhorting themselves like 100% throughout the fixture. Yeah it's difficult because you never want to challenge that or you know I mean and they've done it for so many years and I can't you know they've won so much so to then question you know whether they're lacking a little bit of mentality I don't know but I do know that that you know having played of Lucy I know that she will make a huge difference to players mentality around them and I mean she's only been at the club a year and a half so the fact that we're talking of Lucy really shifting that mentality already in a team that a full of winners is crazy that we've been saying that but yeah maybe something has been lost there within Chelsea and obviously that whole transition Emma was there for so long and he'd bring a new manager in trying to you know give new tactics and new ideas and you know and and and and the difficult thing is is that she probably doesn't want to get rid of the core of Chelsea because the core of Chelsea have been so successful but in order to transition and put your stamp on it at some point that needs to happen yeah and I think that's the difficult thing for a manager because players might be starting to think oh she doesn't like me and she doesn't respect me or she doesn't you know see you know how well I've done over the years for Chelsea she probably sees all of that but at the same time that's been and sometimes you have to move on and and as a pledge really difficult I mean it happens you know you play for England for so many years and you're like oh my time's up like this manager don't like me do you not know what I've done for like 19 and they do and they and they respect that and maybe because they respect that they probably don't want to see you in a team where you are deteriorating a little bit and they want your best years to be remembered I don't know. For Chelsea how important is the Champions League? What you talk about you know the whole Sun you're out kind of look do you think that if for example they do slip out of the top three in league and obviously they have to go on and win the Champions League to qualify I mean these are very drastic dramatic hypotheticals that I really doubt would happen but if that but you do say no to the band I don't know you're talking about I'm new true I'm asking you question. No, do you know what she has to qualify? The thing is she was bought in for her to go on WinniChampage League and I think they fell short last year but I even think even with the squad last year when you know reflection was it good enough probably not to go on and win it and we saw that. I think it was eight two and I wasn't it or eight two. Eight two. Eight two. Over two legs. I mean really so yeah you saw last year there was still a huge gap to close between them a Barcelona. I think they whether they closed it or not in the draw that they had in the group stage have they closed it I don't think we're known to the knockout stages when it actually matters because playing in a group phase where you're pretty much qualified and it's not really that much pressure. Yeah you probably ain't going to know the best of that but yeah if she doesn't qualify of course you know the investment and the fact that Chelsea have won so much over the years. And the goal is that champion's league. That's what they think. Yeah and so she will need to win the Champions League but if she doesn't win the Champions League I think bare minimum is that she qualifies for the Champions League and you know the final of the what is it the subway cut. So there you go. So they're going to finally look at that so a trophy will be key for her but I certainly think qualifications for Champions League isn't wrong. Right and before we go our partners Pepsi Max want you to name your best three players in the competition so far. Yeah I mean I would say it's difficult but I think the more they I mean for Leon ridiculous I've got to witness it first hand in a few games this year live and yeah I mean she's something else. You know we talk about strength and there's a lot of players that have real physicality but the way she uses it to advantage and the skill set that she has and goals that she's already scored in the the verse six games of the group. Yeah phenomenal player if they can keep her in this type of form Leon are one of my favourites to go on a win it and she's key if that is to happen for them so yeah top top player looking forward to see when the knockout pays but I've got a weight around before I do actually feel my players are got a weight around before I do because my second choice is clubable and I think you know it speaks for itself the amount of the system's got and how you know in terms of buying and their transition and you know a speed and quality shares down at left hand side as really drag their team backing to games and you know top of my head the game I can think about so I mean the Arsenal game that they had at home 2 and a half time and the minute they started using her qualities down at left hand side they read you know she alone and obviously buying really did exploit Arsenal so yeah she's been really strong for them. I've just got all flashbacks that Arsenal game. Yeah it's all brilliant yeah the ground was rocking the buying fans are unreal but thanks. I'm my third one you know what it's another buying player so probably I'm going to put a Chelsea playing. I'm so surprised. Hopefully she'll be a Chelsea player in the summer but I doubt yeah I can see her going to the red side but yeah you know what I put this play it's all just down way and you know what seeing her live and I feel like she's a player that's built a reputation as a lioness in terms of what her real attributes are and it's people will say oh you know you're just down it really good at breaking up play and really aggressive and you know likes to get forward but actually an all-round game like watching her live and that buying team and yeah she can control games from midfield with the ball again she's got the ability to break up play without the ball she gets like she gets goals she assists the assists she's an assist to herself so yeah I just think she has real all-round qualities from midfield and hence why it's so I knew if you're watching this and you do cheer then see if you can there sway out to the blue side of London but yeah she's the top line I think yeah she's really key in that buying and buying a lose in a fantastic player coming in the season so there's my top three Pepsi Max right so that's our first pod together I've quite enjoyed the little bit of band I'm trying to get it out of you between the red and blue side of London I quite I haven't quite got it out of you I'm sure we're you know in future weeks when you start to get my a bit of banner but yeah how have you enjoyed it all you can say no yeah I hate the awesome digs but oh yeah she called us the cup club guys oh no I've enjoyed it I've had fun I think come the quarterfinals providing Arsenal you know what I think we should have he's so good we have to ask when Chelsea shirt we have to or you know let's have a we should actually have a bit that not a bit but whoever loses that's the way the opposition shirt in studio so you'd have to come in in a blue shirt hold on what no that's fine because Arsenal are going to win yeah see we're on for that I reckon we do that for the court and that's if we're asked to get there man don't get a black mix or you can this is my one and I don't know that guys should be done for that let's shake on that one right so never loses that's the way the opposition shirt we'll be here after every round of matches in the women's champions big thanks to Viana and to our sponsors Petty Max will see you next week you