Guillem Balagué

The latest Euro Leagues is here!!

We discuss the impressive displays from Federico Valverde, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Michael Olise.

We also get the European view on Igor Tudor’s troubles at Tottenham.

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The latest Euro Leagues is here!!

We discuss Simeone, Italian football and the fallout of Real Madrid - Benfica and more..

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The story of the expanding business portfolio of Cristiano Ronaldo for BBC Sport

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Vinicius: Eight years at Real Madrid, 20 cases of alleged racist abuse - Read my latest piece for BBC Sport

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Players have asked Flick go be more flexible. And the manager responded with more of the same

Interesting times at Barcelona. Something has to give

On top of that you can’t defend properly if your attacking structure isn’t working. And if you miss your chances, you end up gifting the match.

Mental fatigue? A rough spell, the wrong plan? A mixture perhaps. But the problem seems deeper

The midfield balance was key. Fermin and especially Olmo, alongside De Jong, bring creativity, but pressing isn’t their natural strength.

When opponents overload the midfield and you can’t manage those moments, the game runs away from you.

Barça lacked control.

Cubarsí, Flick and Gerard Martín didn’t look for excuses even after a clear refereeing mistake that should have ruled out Girona’s second, the winning goal.

That is because they played badly. Barcelona still struggle to control transitions.

Arbeloa chose a side and never left it. Even when Mourinho “accidentally” celebrated the victory of Benfica against Real Madrid in front of his soldier

Almost as if saying, he was no longer just a player, but almost a member of the inner circle. Mourinho later said he left Madrid with a friend, not just a pupil. Arbeloa has since said defending him “came cheap, I’d do it again.”

When Mourinho’s departure became inevitable in 2013, Arbeloa did not hide his position. There is a telling image from those final days: a photo Mourinho on the bench in Valdebebas, Arbeloa beside him with the coaching staff.

I saw that closely. After Mourinho arrived and framed the media as part of the opposition, Arbeloa changed. The smile remained, but distance was the new rule. The trench mentality stuck and the media were the enemies.

But inside he was one of the manager’s soldiers.

The transformation extended beyond the pitch. Before Mourinho, Arbeloa had an open, easy relationship with the press: he was approachable, conversational, specially during his years in Liverpool, where he matured as a player and person.

If the dressing room turned on Mourinho, Arbeloa stood up for him, or if criticism came from outside, he pushed back. He was not the most powerful voice at the Bernabéu: only a section of the stadium, the one that still longs for Mourinho, fully saw him as such.

Even Cristiano Ronaldo’s relationship with Mourinho deteriorated toward the end.

But Arbeloa never moved.

Madrid were chasing the greatest Barcelona side in history, and Mourinho built trenches. He believed tension created an edge, so lines were drawn. Gradually, divisions surfaced, and Xabi Alonso and Arbeloa aligned closely with the coach; Ramos, Pepe and Casillas on another side of a growing split.

If Mourinho had told him to smash his head against a wall, Arbeloa would have knocked it down. He became one of the manager’s trusted men, a loyal accomplice in what was about to become one of the most intense dressing rooms in modern football.

Mourinho immediately recognised his type. Not the most gifted, not the loudest, but totally reliable. The kind of player who would put the team and the coach above everything. Specially the coach.

He trained hard, defended with discipline, brought order and balance. Teammates liked his good humour, and good energy, but on the pitch he was serious and responsible.

A year later, in 2010, José Mourinho arrived.

He had no superstar aura, no political weight in the dressing room. The former academy product believed in something simple: work will reward me.

While waiting for the flight to Lisbon to get to #BenficaRealMadrid, let me share the story of Mourinho and Arbeloa

Álvaro Arbeloa left Liverpool in the summer of 2009 to return home to Real Madrid. He came back without fanfare.

All the latest stories from Europe is here in the latest Football Daily.

We discuss underdogs Bodo Glimt, Qarabag, Ten Hag's new role and more!

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"Why Alonso's reign is over at Real Madrid" read my latest article for BBC Sport ⤵️

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I am happy to say that the #RiseoftheVillans book signing tour of Birmingham continues.. And this time it’s at The Clubhouse - MFS in Stirchley.

Thursday 18th Dec from 3PM - 5:30PM
📍https://maps.app.goo.gl/vWu34btvej4GWuW69

See you all there!!

GUILLEM BALAGUE CATCH UP | RISE OF THE VILLANS YouTube video by Justin Talks Villa

Catching up with @guillem-balague.bsky.social ahead of another Book event this Friday !

Tickets here, only a few left !!
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Video here
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Listen to the latest Euro Leagues podcast

🔷 Italy's hopes to qualify for the World Cup
🔷 Return of Pogba to football
🔷 Mbappe sues PSG

and more.. ⤵️ BBC Radio 5 live Sport
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“England is the Super League of Europe.” I’ve shared my thoughts on this piece for @BBCSport.

Read here ⤵️
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Listen to the UCL debrief on BBC Radio 5 live Sport

I am joined by Mark Chapman, Ian Denis, Stephen Warnock and Jonathhan Woodgate to discuss all the actions from last night!

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'From black and white football to full colour' - @unaiemery.bsky.social _'s three years at Villa - my piece for BBC Sport ⤵️

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LaLiga innovator out to prove his old club wrong - Read my latest piece for BBC Sport ⤵️

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