UEFA Super Cup Prediction, Leagues Cup Recap, Player Transfers, AC Milan's Shaky Start & More!

Project 90 Soccer: Brother, nice jersey, man.

Marco: That Jersey, bro.

Project 90 Soccer: Nice jersey bro. Do you like what's going on, dude? New York Red Bulls, Red Bull Leipzig. I love Red Bull, you Red Bull?

Marco: I think we're on a it's a readable type of day.

Project 90 Soccer: It's a Red Bull type of day. It's a Red Bull type of day. Welcome everybody. Another episode. This is actually episode number 16. So shout out to everyone who's subscribed thus far. Got like 23 on YouTube. We love every single one of you. Everyone commenting on TikTok, YouTube. Very grateful. We're having a lot of fun doing this. This is the Project 90 podcast, all about the beautiful game, where we just talk about the biggest news, the biggest stories, the biggest games. In the world of soccer, right? The sport that we all love. My name is Antonio.

Marco: Ball.

Project 90 Soccer: Futebol. My name is Antonio. And I'm here with as always the big Baos, Marco Munoz. And Marco, before we get started and I ask you questions, we break down the topics. I gotta ask you something. One question, just a real hard hitting question. And that question is how you doing, bro?

Marco: Molto bene, I'm good. You said boss, you said the boss,

Project 90 Soccer: Molto bene.

Marco: and I and I thought you're gonna be like il capo Marco Antonio.

Project 90 Soccer: Il capo di di tutti i capi. d that was run it back. And I'm here with, as always, ill capo, il maestro de la del centro campo in indoor soccer, Marco Antonio Munoz, which by the way, Marco, big dub this past Thursday. We are in contention.

Marco: Yeah, buddy.

Project 90 Soccer: We're in contention for a playoff spot in indoor, which is crazy to even say. But if we get another dub this week and next week, we're in the playoffs, big dog. But look. Moving on, back to the big hard hitting question. How you doing, bro? How's your life been? Feel like it's been

Marco: Hey, I'm

Project 90 Soccer: forever.

Marco: I'm doing great, bro. And look, we don't have to make it to the playoffs to the championship. I'm gonna just stay with what you told me last Thursday. You're saucy with the touch. That's all I need. That's all I need.

Project 90 Soccer: Hmm. Dude, you are. Man, if you guys could see the and we need to record these games 'cause Marcos sometimes g be pulling out out of his bag of tricks that enter Ronaldinho with them touches, dude. I see you out there. I see you looking at

Marco: Wait,

Project 90 Soccer: the ball coming down. You get the balance out. You missed your Miyagi that shit to the floor like

Marco: Bro, y you remember those R nines, the golden ones and the golden white ones and they have the R nine on the tongue?

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah, I do. Dude, we should find we should get you some of those shoes. I bet you'd unlock a secret superpower. There's one thing. We

Marco: girl. girl some long hair.

Project 90 Soccer: we gotta get you we gotta get you on the scoreboard though, dude. We got two games left. If we get a penalty, bro, you're taking it. I'm the coach, you're taking it.

Marco: Okay, okay. I do need to get a I do need to get get a get get on the score sheet. But you I like to distribute, I like to stay back. I'm

Project 90 Soccer: Yes.

Marco: a behind the scenes type of guy. But you know what? Enough about me. Enough about your bea FC. You're on the score sh you're on the score sheet all the time, making things happen. So without

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Dude. Yeah.

Marco: you, we wouldn't have won the last game. And shout out to my boy Angel, who's who backed four goals in the last game. So

Project 90 Soccer: Center defender turned forward on us, man. He's been lying

Marco: Yeah.

Project 90 Soccer: to us the whole time, but he still insists that he's a center defender. But as the coach and manager of this federation of a soccer team we have in indoor BLD, he is now our starting forward. Anyway,

Marco: Yeah, moving forward.

Project 90 Soccer: anyway, look, moving forward. We got some big topics, right? Today we wanted to cover AC Milan, first and foremost. Let's just talk about it. Zero wins under Amarim so far. That's going to be our first topic. We're going to dive into that because it look the CEA, all these big leagues, they got like two weeks till they kick off, right? So they ain't got much time to figure it out. Leagues Cup. Currently, as we speak, there are games on. We're going to touch on that, see what we've been seeing. Seeing all these teams from Mexico coming up here to the United States playing those games. A lot of transfers going on, some big ones, right? Some very unexpected ones, particularly with Alexis Sanchez coming to Montreal, biggest transfer for them since I'd say Didier Drogba back in like 2015. And yeah, man, there's some other transfers out in Europe, Spain, Barcelona, some things going on, some news with PSG. So we'll touch on all that. But let's just start with the Leagues Cup, since that's kind of going on right now. What have you seen from that? I saw Leon get a win. I know you're high on that. Big, big

Marco: Yeah, buddy, let's go.

Project 90 Soccer: stoke level on that. But what do you think of the Leagues Cup and all these teams having to come here for these games?

Marco: Like like I mentioned in the past, and maybe and I think we talked about this off the pod, this is an MLS type cup. A lot of League I Mekis teams don't find and don't don't see any benefits in in this tournament. Right. A lot of the time they're playing their their their B squad, with the exception, I'm gonna say it, Monterrey, they played their A squad the other night. And

Project 90 Soccer: Mm-hmm.

Marco: their A squad was playing against a let's just say B Squad Miami, right?

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: no no Luis Suarez, obvious he's suspended because of his antics per usual, right?

Project 90 Soccer: Mm.

Marco: Messi was dealing with R.A.P., his pops, dealing

Project 90 Soccer: Yes.

Marco: with some personal stuff. So but yeah, at the end of the day, a lot of the smaller teams like at like Atlante, they're they're all they're obviously gonna fight for each each dub and and try to get each dub as as they're playing. But like a lot of like the medium of the table, the top of the table teams are playing like a lot of the beach squad teams.

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: a lot of the things that the Liga Mekis teams and and the owners don't like is that the amount of travel that they have to do, right? So

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: traveling across over here domestically to the US and then they have a game a couple of days later because Liga Mekis plays Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. So ultimately it's not at their favor, but we still gotta give credit to to the Liga Mekis that did get the dub. Most importantly, my squad Leon that was able to go to Orlando with Greeksmen on the

Project 90 Soccer: Yep. Yep.

Marco: pitch. I was able to fight through that dub and get that dub on the way out and get out of Orlando City and go to Leon. But ultimately bro, this is an MLS type cup, like I said, and I don't really see any Leah Mekis team making it to the final. I don't I don't remember the last time they made it to a final. It's typically just MLS on MLS type teams when they make the final.

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah, winning it. That is I mean, that's a big win for Leon too, considering the way Orlando's kind of come out since Griezman came. They've kind of been a hot team in the MLS. So excuse me. Big win for them. I did want to say though, I you know, I don't want to touch on any one game particularly, but I'd say the goal thus far. The goal thus far, Brian Rodriguez, Club America versus Portland Timbers. He got a free kick in like the six minute. I mean, dude. I was not ready for it. I was not ready to see that perfect free kick, like textbook free kick. If you have not seen it, you should look at it. Nice little dipper curler up top, up and over. I thought it was just literally one of it's as perfect of a free kick as you can get, right? Now, moving on from Leagues Cup, though, this first round, this is the group stage that just started, right? Do you know? And this is like something I don't know. Haven't looked, I'm not really too sure. Are they going down to play some games in Mexico? Or is it literally all all here in the States?

Marco: No. No. It's all gonna be in the States tomorrow for our listeners. We are recording this on a Tuesday. Tomorrow we got some games cooking and some stuff that's gonna get finalized tomorrow on who goes on in in in the next round. So Wednesday, we're gonna get a lot of teams eliminated. A lot of teams are gonna go forward.

Project 90 Soccer: All right, and speaking on Wednesday, another topic I forgot to bring up that we'll bring up at the end here is the WEFA Super Cup final, Aston Villa versus PSG. We'll touch on that at the end of the episode. Just reminded me of that by saying tomorrow, Wednesday. But first, before we get into any of that, Leagues Cup currently going on right now, but in Europe, we're seeing a lot of transfers. But a big one we saw in the MLS this week threw me off. I sent it to you on Instagram. I don't know if you had heard about it or not. I certainly didn't, had no idea. Alexi Sanchez. Coming to Montreal, right? The guy's thirty seven years old, just had a full season at Sevilla, thirty appearances. I believe he had like six goals. So he's obviously slowing down a bit, but he's a quality player. What do you think of that move for Montreal and for MLS overall with all these names coming over recently?

Marco: Look, I like Alexei Sanchez, but it's no doubt that his form has been coming down as of late. But it's a typical MLS type move. They're gonna get a legend from overseas, who is a proven legend overseas, who's gonna come and close out his career here with a team. Montreal, even though it's Canada, it's a small market type team. So not a whole lot of pressure. And if anything, he's coming over here to one, be on vacation, two, be cold, and three, score some goals.

Project 90 Soccer: I agree. And you know, talking about veteran players coming over, they usually have, you know, they usually do well here in the MLS, but they're usually going to teams that are a little bit better than Montreal, right? So for Alexis Sanchez at 37 to come over, I don't think he's gonna make the kind of impact that like a drug bow would, for instance, because drug bow is just a different animal of a forward. But, you know, it's gonna offer obviously a big name for Montreal. I think They need a player like him in the locker room to sort of elevate the entire team because they're one of by f they're one of the worst teams in the MLS thus far. So

Marco: Yes, monsieur.

Project 90 Soccer: seeing him just going over there, especially being Chilean and going to a place,

Marco: What's the contract? What's the contract?

Project 90 Soccer: man, I don't even know. I think it's it's two years. He's a designated player, so it's like an undisclosed number. So it's a lot higher, obviously, than than any some of the other players that were, you know, from here in the United States. So really, I mean, for him it's probably a money play. Obviously, right? He probably got a nice contract. Nobody in Europe was gonna spend a bag on him anymore after what he just had at Sevilla. So I mean

Marco: gonna do what Minnesota did with Hamar Rodriguez. They're gonna bring him. It's it's a

Project 90 Soccer: Use in yeah.

Marco: it's a it's a media transfer. he's they're gonna sell tickets, they're gonna get some season ticket holders, right? There's some Chilenians out there in Canada. They're gonna

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: wanna sit through a full season because he's coming over. a lot of diehard fans that follow him with Udinese, with Manchester United, Chile, Sevilla, right? Arsenal, right? And

Project 90 Soccer: Arsenal, everything, yeah. Barcelona, man, that guy's been all over. Inter Milan too.

Marco: In Carmelan and he's a golden retriever dad. You're a golden retriever dad. I'm a golden retriever dad. We love Alexei Sanchez. So he's gonna

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah. Yeah.

Marco: come, sell some tickets, and ultimately he's gonna retire, have some fun, score a few goals while he's at it, and collect the bag and call it a day. And Montreal can at least say that they're able to get a big name under their banner.

Project 90 Soccer: I agree. And speaking of nearing retirement, we just saw also out of France, Monaco, Paul Pogba, French legend, World Cup champion. I mean, one of the one of the greatest midfielders of his generation, had a hell of a run at Juventus, right? Man United. apparently news is he came out, he had a training session, they were in England training and he he apparently pulled his like left hamstring, has a major injury on his left leg. And Monaco and him, they're you know trying to find a settlement whether to pay out the rest of his contract, and they're gonna terminate his contract. And I I bring up retirement because we've sort of only seen Paul Pugba's career go downhill, right? Because he had that band for a couple years, and then Monaco, you know, took the risk, they signed him quality player, but then again, he only made six competitive appearances. He only had like 115 minutes, and now picking up another major injury like this at his age, we're th you know, thirty two, which is young in life, but in soccer terms, you know, it's a bit older. What do you see happening with Paul Pugba?

Marco: I saw what you did there, bro. I saw what you did there. One big name to the other. So

Project 90 Soccer: Mm-hmm.

Marco: shout out to you. Okay, that's the narrator of the Project 90 podcast, Antonio

Project 90 Soccer: dude.

Marco: Donna. Give him a follow on Instagram, follow his socials.

Project 90 Soccer: Hey, yes.

Marco: he's not as active with soccer, football stuff on his socials, but keep keep an eye on him on Project 90. But yeah,

Project 90 Soccer: dude.

Marco: man, Paul Pogba, young, bright career, started off at Manchester United. He wasn't gonna get the playing time he was gonna get, right? So he goes to Juventus, balls his ass off. Met United says, you know what, we want you back. We're gonna pay you Boku bucks to come back. He comes back. There's some discipline issues going on with him and then going on with him and Mourinho, the special one. Which if

Project 90 Soccer: Mm-hmm.

Marco: you haven't already, check out his documentary. It is fucking dope. So

Project 90 Soccer: It is.

Marco: go check out the Mourinho's documentary that just came out. But anyway, he has some disciplinary issues, he has some injuries. He goes to Juventus, he continues to have injuries, and he gets tested for s for some pro for like they all do, they get tested for drugs and he ends

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: up popping. So what that tells Miyanto is he's been dealing with this type of stuff, and this is just what I think. He looked forward towards this testosterone and stuff like that to help him get back on the field because obviously they want to get back and get some playing time under them because what are these guys doing is they're playing for their next contracts at all times.

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: So this just tell that he's been having an ongoing issue and that he just hasn't been able to recover since joining Monaco. I mean it was close to nine hundred days without playing a game. And to just

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: come back and get in the swing of things like he didn't miss it miss any time with a big club. Let's not forget about it. Monaco, although although we talk about PSG a lot and Leon, Monaco's a big team. Monaco's a

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: big club. So we can't forget about that. Expectations are win now at all times. So he just couldn't get it going. And it's sad to see, but Pogba, you need to call it a day, bro. It is what

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: it is. Go do your thing. Ultimately, this is the end of the road.

Project 90 Soccer: Quick little tangent there. Do you th do you do you see him maybe getting back speaking of like Sanchez coming to MLS, do you think Pogba, like when he recovers now from this injury, sort of, you know, gets back to training 'cause I mean he's still still relatively young. Do you see him coming to MLS? Do you see a team taking the risk on him, bringing him near, bringing him here, a big name? Again, selling tickets, selling jerseys. I mean, he's an international superstar, world champion. Do you see that maybe happening with Pogba?

Marco: Honestly, I don't. I kinda seem like Balotelli. Right?

Project 90 Soccer: Mm.

Marco: he's just a strong personality where he's gonna want everything to be perfect. Again, this is just me outside of the lens. Don't crucify don't don't don't crucify me. But

Project 90 Soccer: Right, should she thought. Mm-hmm.

Marco: bro, I think he's gonna end up going to go on a lick leak duh.

Project 90 Soccer: Ooh shit. Damn, really?

Marco: Yeah, 'cause what the way I look at seeing transpiring is look, he's gonna leave Monaco, he's gonna need to find a contract. Where is he gonna get playing time in the second division? Because he's gonna try to play to get back to the first division and ultimately I just don't know, bro. He's too injury ridden. So if he's not if

Project 90 Soccer: Risk. He's risky.

Marco: if he's not a hundred percent, they're probably gonna bench him anywhere he goes. If I'm the MLS, let's say w what what's a small market team? Let's say I'ma just throw out let's just Charlotte, right? Charlotte.

Project 90 Soccer: Charlotte. Say Charlotte or Houston. Yeah.

Marco: Saha is no longer with him, right? I'ma go reach out to Pogma. Hey, do you wanna come over here and play? But let's say he's still not 100%. So now Charlotte is paying him a bag for him to rehab. And then you're waiting for this guy to get better, and then finally he gets better. And what if he gets injured the next couple weeks because he sends

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: him I don't know, bro. I wouldn't pay him any money. I think he needs to call it a day, but ultimately it's gonna be him and his team's decision on what they do next.

Project 90 Soccer: Well, I see the similar sort of scenario. LA Galaxy has Ricky Ricky Pug, which came from Barcelona like at twenty five or twenty you know, in the in literally in his prime. He's been out for like two years. Right? So they spent a bag on him. The guy got injured, but obviously, you know, when he did play, they won the they won the cup, they did well.

Marco: I was gonna say he at least played.

Project 90 Soccer: Right. He was a beast. Like he definitely made the team better, right? So now you see them they have Royce, they have all these other guys. and when he comes back now, I think he's supposed to come back in like three months. I'd imagine he's still young enough. They've probably been working with him, you know, they know that he still has a lot to give. so he's gonna make an impact, I think, instantly. He's gonna start and start playing

Marco: Hey,

Project 90 Soccer: again and

Marco: a quick segue. Right now that mentioned Royce,

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: an all timer for Germany, Borussia legend. I was looking at contracts and salaries with Chuki Lo Chuck

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: Los Chucky Lozano coming over. Chuki

Project 90 Soccer: yes.

Marco: Lozano is making 9.3 million. Royce,

Project 90 Soccer: Wow.

Marco: Royce is making 950,000. Imagine.

Project 90 Soccer: Whoa.

Marco: Imagine the caliber of player and the contract. But then again, that's San Diego's contract that they paid. Chuki. So if I'm Chuki, that's not my fault. I'm getting paid all day long. And if

Project 90 Soccer: Right.

Marco: I'm Royce, I'm at the end of it. So I'm taking whatever contract I can get to keep playing at the highest level. But it just

Project 90 Soccer: Mm-hmm.

Marco: bombarded me like wow. The caliber

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: of player for one guy and the trajectory of the type of career that he had, Borussia legend, to a guy that was with Pachuca, that went to Napoli, PSV

Project 90 Soccer: Mm-hmm.

Marco: legend. He scored like eighty one goals in in Europe.

Project 90 Soccer: who's a beast?

Marco: didn't work out in San Diego and now he's with Ellie Galaxy. That's a big bag.

Project 90 Soccer: I think that's a good move for him too, honestly. I think you know, it's one of those things he missed out on the World Cup where arguably if he would have had his mind right, played, got, you know, continued on disciplined in his career, this could have been a massive World Cup for him. You know what I mean? He could have been one of the leaders for Mexico, if not maybe even the captain for Mexico. But it just didn't pan out, you know, and especially, you know, winning the set yeah with Napoli, you thought at that moment it was like okay, they Mexico's really got like a a star player here. And he came to San Diego, didn't work out. There was disciplinary issues, this and whatever it was, just didn't work. And it seemed like for a second there is another one of those guys that was just gonna fall by the wayside. But I I'm I'm happy to see him come back. I think he's a good player, and I'm excited to watch him LA Galaxy. And yeah, I forgot about Chucky Lozano. I'm so glad you brought that up because they're stacked right now, LA Galaxy.

Marco: Yeah, that's fine.

Project 90 Soccer: They're fucking stacked, and you know what? Speaking of Pogba too, you where I would love to see him go? Saint Jose Earthquakes.

Marco: we they don't need

Project 90 Soccer: That'll They don't need him.

Marco: We don't need them.

Project 90 Soccer: I would love to see

Marco: Yeah.

Project 90 Soccer: I I he would sell PayPal Park out. Look what Timo

Marco: I what?

Project 90 Soccer: look what Timo Werner's done. Imagine if Paul Pugma came to the earthquakes.

Marco: Okay, so you bring it to the earthquakes, who are you sitting down? Vieira?

Project 90 Soccer: Bro, yeah. I mean honestly.

Marco: But Vieira is more defensive. You can't sit him down. So where

Project 90 Soccer: That's true.

Marco: do you so where do you put Pogba at? 'Cause he's obviously more offensive.

Project 90 Soccer: Especially now Nico Shakirus is like their attacking midfielder, number ten. He's coming back. Bo LaRue, he's a solid MLS player for the earthquake. Solid kid so far. I don't see Bruce Serena setting him down. And Bruce Serena is the kind of guy, let's be honest here, he's not even gonna waste his fucking time with a guy like Paul Pugba. Not because he's not quality or whatever, just because of his age. And because Bruce Arena, as he said in many conversations, is all about building a project like for the long haul. And Pugba would not be that, right? He'd be like like you said, the ticket seller, the guy that comes in for a year or two and just kinda packs the stadium. But I think Bruce Serena ain't even gonna waste his time. If if anywhere, I'd say like the shirt you're wearing, New York Red Bulls team like that, maybe. I don't know. I see I see him come to MLS.

Marco: Nah. Especially

Project 90 Soccer: I don't know.

Marco: especially with Michael Bradley at the helm. Nah, bro. He's focusing on young talent. You see what you you see what he's doing over there. And

Project 90 Soccer: That's a good point too. Yeah.

Marco: hey, and I'm gonna have to cop that new jersey because that black lightning red jersey is freaking fire.

Project 90 Soccer: It's hot.

Marco: It's it's La Flame. So I'm gonna need to cop that. But hey,

Project 90 Soccer: This flame, dude.

Marco: but yeah, Bradley, he's focusing on the young talent, he's focusing on the academies. So I don't see any veterans going there anytime soon unless it's an MLS. type veteran that's been playing there their whole career, but like overseas, I don't see Bradley doing that.

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah, I feel it. We're gonna have to wait and see, man. I just, you know, it sucks to see Pogba go out the way he has. Had a lot of controversy off the field, which I think ultimately I saw him in an interview with Rio Ferdinand. His peak was at Juventus, hands down. That was his prime. But even he'll admit it, like he he he could have done a lot more in his career. So it's one of those players, you know. He had his moments, but he didn't live up to his full potential, I don't think, which kind of probably eats at him more than anybody, right? But overall, man. legendary career. We'll see what happens with him.

Marco: Hey, and sh and shout out to Rio, one of my favorite defenders with the Red Devils, the Diablo Rosos. I love that guy, solid ass guy. He was with Leeds,

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: United and hey, his pod, bro, I I I

Project 90 Soccer: I love his podcast.

Marco: dig it because he's legit having conversations. He's not he's not he's not

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah, he sits down with everyone.

Marco: trying to get a hot take. He's he legit having conversations on these guys' careers and and the and he and he talks about it like he's not a pundit.

Project 90 Soccer: No.

Marco: Like he's he's on the other side of of of the the the rectangular field and he's just having connotations and not really pointing out anything crazy. But shout out to him.

Project 90 Soccer: And it's cool. It's cool, yeah, 'cause it's like his ex teammates a lot of them too. It's just like talking with your boy, you know, it's it's different. It's it hits different when you know they were they used to play. Like when they talk about these games or these competitions, it's like they were in it. So it's like

Marco: Yeah.

Project 90 Soccer: hearing them talk about it just hits a little different than like normal fans like we would, you know what I mean? So if you haven't seen that podcast, I I recommend it. Personally, I listen to it. A lot of good interviews there. but yeah, man.

Marco: And that's what we and that's what we do here at the Project 90. We're not selfish. We're gonna put other people on. We we're we're just talking soccer, football, the beautiful

Project 90 Soccer: Nah, dude. Yeah. Yeah.

Marco: game, Il Calcio. We love

Project 90 Soccer: Mm-hmm.

Marco: it. We're putting other people on. Go listen to other platforms,

Project 90 Soccer: Yes.

Marco: broaden your horizons on on the

Project 90 Soccer: Yes.

Marco: so you can get different perspectives. You just don't wanna get the social media per perspective because sometimes that's just pretty biased.

Project 90 Soccer: I agree, man. I agree. Well said. Now moving on here, Marco. It's a big one. CETIA starting in like two weeks on the twenty second of August. not even two weeks, right? AC Milan. New manager, Ruben Amorim. zero wins in three games. They have two draws and a loss to Chelsea. Three zero loss to Chelsea. They tied Celtic two two. They tied into Milan one to one. Pretty decent result, but then they lost three to zero to Chelsea, which I think really kind of shows just the level of difference, right? Like top tier versus sort of mid tier European side. Amram came out and said, like, look, he's gonna be ruthless with his first team selections, right? Don't don't look at these results as like a sort of a a foreshadowing of what's gonna happen this season, but it's kind of hard not to. Right? It's like the season's coming. You got your new players. Gonzalo Ramos played. All these guys are playing. New coach, new tactics. So it's already not looking good. We saw him at Man United as the head coach. Didn't look too good. A C Milan fans are shitting bricks right now. I mean, what do you what what do you think about this for AC Milan?

Marco: Hey, I just took a deuce and it was a fatal brick. Look. From me

Project 90 Soccer: Damn.

Marco: as a man United fan, Ruben Emeran,

Project 90 Soccer: Mm-hmm.

Marco: right, he came in guns blazing, this new young hot coach that was that went to the Liga Portuguesa was a champ. So

Project 90 Soccer: He was he was real quick, real to inter not to interrupt, but he was big with was it with Benfica? Is that where he got his sort of I think it was with Benfica? Was it sporting? Yeah, I think you're

Marco: I think sporty. I think sporting.

Project 90 Soccer: right. Sporting. Anyway, go ahead.

Marco: But yeah, hot shot, young guy, right? Sky's the limit. Well, but ultimately just didn't pan out in in the Premier League. So I honestly don't think it's gonna pan out with the Rotsonetti either. I but the thing that that Ruben Amoren does is he'll go on a slump and and get like a sneaky important wins. He'll

Project 90 Soccer: Mm-hmm.

Marco: he'll win like a like an important cup, right?

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: That that kind of overshadows everything that's going on because he did that with with with Manu. But ultimately, I don't though I don't know if it's gonna work out. It's still early, right? It's preseason. They still don't have all their important players that they want. Rafael Leo played the the most recent game, but he's still looking to get a contract elsewhere, right? Santi Jimenez is was was was a disappointment with the Rotzonetti, right? He's looking to go to Lazio and Porto is what I'm hearing, right? So

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: Modric just came back for from holiday. So they're still trying to get their gears going, but ultimately, In the long long run, it will be able to tell in four or five weeks in the season if it's gonna pan out not. But I'm hoping for the best, but I'm expecting the worst with with

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: with Ruben Euroman. He just one doesn't have the team. Two, the transfers has haven't been have been coming in. Glostelo Ramos is an off the bench type of guy that you're gonna start for 90 minutes,

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: or try to get like at least 70 minutes. But the bench, there's no depth there, right? You you he's gonna come into an organization that wants to win now because not been winning, bro. They've been they've been a disappointment, right? They're trying

Project 90 Soccer: No. Mm-hmm.

Marco: to get all these coaches, big name coaches, to at least qualify for the Champions League and a lady wasn't able to do that. So I don't know, it's gonna be a long season. Europa League, right, Copa Italia, a lot of stuff going on. But ultimately, I just don't think Ruben Amoron is the guy that needs it that's gonna help turn things over with AC Milan.

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah, between the coach and the players, you know, there's a lot of older veteran player like a mudric who you can use him obviously, but in the long term project of AC Milan, he's obviously not gonna be around much longer. I do see AC Milan picking up and bringing through some of their their younger players, Kamarta, the forward. There's Komoto's a young midfielder. so there's some, you know, there's some future there, but this is not the AC Milan of the past.

Marco: Hey, but but hey, but Ruben Everen doesn't do that.

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: He doesn't focus on the young guys. Because

Project 90 Soccer: No, he just wants a team that'll win right now.

Marco: remember Maino with Man Yu. He wasn't fucking with them.

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: He was leaving them on the bench. And as soon as he left, Maino started getting some playing time. And he was scoring some very important goals for the Red Doubles.

Project 90 Soccer: Great player.

Marco: And look what happened. He got called up to the national team. And he he didn't get a lot of playing time, but he but he went to the World Cup.

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah, he did.

Marco: So that's what I'm saying. Like, Ruben Aber is gonna f focus on his guys, the team that he has. He's gonna pick his names, who he has and who he thinks is gonna be a starting lineup and his backups. He's not gonna focus a lot on the academy, it's on a lot of the young players. So I don't know. There's too many too many cons going and not enough pros.

Project 90 Soccer: I hear ya. And then there's the whole drama with Rafael Leao wanting to leave, not wanting to be there. Now Amrim came in. Maybe there's a little bit of the Portuguese sort of I don't know, camaraderie there. Maybe it'll convince him to stay and sort of change his attitude about it. I don't know. It's it's it's another one of those seasons where it's gonna be you know, I don't think the fans of AC Milan really have high hopes for this season. I think for them to just get a decent finish and maybe qualify for the Champions League. Would probably be like a dub for AC Milan this year. But look, SETIA's got a lot of decent teams this year. None of them are top in terms of Champions League level, Europe, European level, but between Inter Milan, you know, Juventus is kinda not the best either right now. Lazio's looking all right, Roma, Fiorentina, all these teams. So it's gonna be an interesting SETIA season. I do think though that SETIA has fallen off altogether in general. It's not really the greatest league.

Marco: Yeah. To to to what you're saying, right? fighting for the Chapel League's spots. Before, let's say ten years ago, you you would be able to say, All right, Juve, Milan, Inter, guaranteed one through four. Now you can't say that. And then

Project 90 Soccer: No, you really can't. No.

Marco: you're t you're touching on Lazio. Lazio has got Tuso, the biggest disappointment for the Atsuri, right?

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: So that got I don't know where the where that team's headed. So I don't know. a lot of things going on in the Sadie A. It's gonna be very interesting to watch the City A. I'm I'm looking forward

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: to it because it's gonna be like the Premier League. In the Premier League, anybody can lose at all times.

Project 90 Soccer: Yes.

Marco: And now the City A is that. Anybody can win at all times. Keremornesi can come in to the to

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: to play AC Milan, Inter Milan or Jovi, and they can get a dub. I'm just saying.

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah. Yeah. Look, it's gonna be an interesting season as well because I think there's gonna be a major I think there's gonna be a major upset potentially, sort of along the the the lines of like a Leicester City, and I think that's gonna be Como. With Fabragas, I mean, dude, they have a squad, they're putting together a team there and a project that's like unlike it's what every team should technically be doing, right? They're not fucking around in Como. I do believe they qualified for the Champions League. So I mean

Marco: What's what's the over under? What's the over under? I'm putting I'm

Project 90 Soccer: Shit, do yeah.

Marco: I'm putting you on the spot. What's the over under?

Project 90 Soccer: I don't know, dude. I don't know. I think I'll I'll I'll say this. Como is gonna finish top three this season. Top three. And I think in terms of winning probability, mmm. I don't know who the favorite is and said, yeah. I don't think it's Como. Only because of their history, their pat like you can't you can't definitively say that. But I think they're gonna shock. A lot of fucking people this year. S even in the Champions League. I think they're gonna have like a dark horse of a run in the Champions League as well.

Marco: Well it depends what bracket they fall into. But but

Project 90 Soccer: That's true. They might get a group of death and just be absolutely ran through.

Marco: I'm gonna give it to Inter. Inter is gonna go back to back. I'm just saying it. Juve doesn't

Project 90 Soccer: Exactly. They're favorites.

Marco: Juve is gonna is gonna fight to the end, but it's not gonna have enough. Roma, right? They're they're without Mourinho. So they're building something different. Inter Milan is still trying to get the the training wheels off on with with his new trainer. I mean coach and

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: I don't know. Como I'm rooting for you. Make make a push for the for the for the normal spa baby.

Project 90 Soccer: Same, same. That's that's what I'm feeling. And before now we dive into this WEFA Super Cup preview, just wanna touch on two other potential three other potential transfers. Quick touch on it. Big news, Rudery might join Barcelona for Man City, just had back surgery. It's kinda crazy, right? Post World Cup. Obviously good player, getting older. Fifty million is the number being thrown around. Man city, that'd be a steal at this point, I think.

Marco: Don't do it.

Project 90 Soccer: They they they'd be making a bag on a player that that's you know, having back surgery right now. It's kind of fucking crazy. But Ferran Torres openly saying he wants to leave

Marco: Okay.

Project 90 Soccer: Barça and go to PSG. And I don't know, man. Julian Alvarez, Barcelona's banking on Julian Alvarez leaving Atletico, but Atletico Madrid saying that we're not letting him go. So now my predicament here with all this bringing this up is if Barcelona gets rid of Ferran Torres, who's technically in this day and age for Barcelona, they're real only actual forward. Like all out, just striker, number nine sort of forward, and they don't pick up a Julian Alvarez, they're gonna go this season with without a striker. And looking at what Real Madrid's been doing, right, cross cross Spain over here, dude, I don't I don't know what Barcelona's gonna do to fill that void. I don't think Ferran Torres I'll stand by it, even though he scored the winner. I don't think he's the strongest forward in the world by any means. So I mean, you get rid of a guy like that, who you gonna throw in his place? I have no idea. I've no idea. And the money, you know, that they're they're speaking of. I think him going to PSG, I don't know why he wants to do it. Maybe it's because of the coach. Maybe it's because they just won the Champions League. Maybe because he's riding off this this sort of World Cup victory. He sees it as a high point in his career, obviously. He's feeling himself. He scored the winner. He's probably thinking whatever he says will go. He wants to go there, he's thinking it'll happen. I don't know. I see this as a major loss for Barcelona. I see Real Madrid dominating this year in La Liga unless Atletico has something to say for it, but I don't know, man.

Marco: I I really hope so. I really hope the special one in a second coming with Real Madrid is able to dominate because he wasn't able to dominate with Barcelona and Pe Guardiola at the helm back in the day. But I don't

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: see for I don't Ferrand Torres leaving. If he does, he leaves in the transfer window in January. But to cause to your point they don't have anybody. Unless they feel confident that they have somebody they can replace them and

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: and just be that goal scorer. To your point, they don't have one. So

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: I don't think he's leaving. Luis Enrique and PSG look nice and pretty because they just won back to back champions league. But I

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: don't think he's going over there. If anything, I think Luis Enrique is looking for a a replacement for Gonzalo Ramos. somebody can come off the bench. And Ferrand Torres, although he did that for Spain, I don't think he's the type of player that you want at at at PSG at this point in time, but who knows? Again, I'm not a coach. That's just the way I'm looking at it. But

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: yeah, man, I don't think he's leaving. I don't think Julian Alvarez is leaving or else. I mean, it probably would have already been done. to to to to be complete frank, because a lot of the time these deals are put in place before the World Cup happens. We

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: have some technicalities that, hey, if you ball outs, we have right to refusal for for for different offers coming in. So I don't know. I think I think both of those guys stay and at least for another six months until the January transfer window comes in and then we'll see because at that point in time the teams are gonna know if they're gonna be be making a push for Either final in the Champions League in in La Liga or hey, we're gonna call it a day, we're gonna make our money off of this guy and just focus on making a top four finish.

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah, and the the what you just said they're making our money. I think that kind of might be the the the primary motivating factor for Barcelona wanting to offload him. I think they do have the they've had these financial issues. I think seeing him come off the World Cup, he's at sort of a peak right now. They probably get their most bang for their buck right now. I think they're trying to make some money. But at the same time, I just think Ferron Torres isn't the strongest strongest player that they could have. especially looking at the Fords they've had in the past. But anyway PSG speaking of PSG tomorrow, WEFA Super Cup final, right? Winner of the Europa League goes against the Champions League winners. PSG versus Aston Villa, which we say this all the time on this podcast, on paper, right? On paper, PSG should fucking go home with the trophy, right? They got a squad. No doubt they got a squad. But Aston Villa, I think the players to watch out for, for them in particular, obviously Ollie Watkins, solid player. They have McGinn. The Scottish man, he's always been just consistently solid for Aston Villa, just works his ass off. But they just got on loan from Chelsea, Alejandro Garnacho, right? Which attitude problems, whatever it is, I

Marco: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. I love that guy. I love that guy.

Project 90 Soccer: I think he's a great fucking player. And speaking of Mourinho at Real Madrid, I think Garnacho, looking at the the previous players that sort of thrive under Mourinho, sort of these players with fucking attitudes, I think Garnacho would be perfect under a guy like Mourinho. But that's besides the point, obviously. He can't, it's just not happening right now. You

Marco: I get I I get I get what you're saying. I get what you're saying.

Project 90 Soccer: know, he sees they they seem to have these this this attitude, right? Where it it sort of rourinho respects it, and then because of that, they respect Mourinho, right? It's like Ibrahimovich, it's like when he was at Inter Milan, Matarazzi, Snyder. These guys had these attitudes, these fucking egos, and it just works. I don't know what it is about

Marco: And it's and Real Madrid does this. Remember Adebayorni, he was balling his ass off?

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: Chicharito v scores some very important goals.

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: Who's to say that they don't get Garnacho? Not this year, maybe next year. On on

Project 90 Soccer: If he has a good season, yeah.

Marco: like a on like a prove it deal because the kid can play. The

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah.

Marco: kid can freaking play, but to what Pogba. They have disciplinary issues, and ultimately that's the death of them. So and the and and that's unfortunate. But sorry to cut you off. Who do you got going into this final?

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah, dude, PSG, Aston Villa. I see, you know, Aston Villa as a as a decent team in the Premier League. They're a solid team, a lot of good players. I just think PSG has too much quality, obviously, coming off the Champions League. One of the best midfields in the world, some of the best defenders in the world, some of the best attackers in the world, right? They have the golden Ballendor winner, Usman Dembele, who's probably in the in consideration for it again, whether he'll win it or not, I don't know. I see the final score though. Cut and dry, I see it being like three to one PSG.

Marco: No respect. No respect. No respect.

Project 90 Soccer: What do you see? Damn, dude. Okay. All right. Now hey, shoot your shot. What do you think?

Marco: Like I'm gonna shoot my shot. These guys are tired. They just played a long World Cup. the Bele all these French guys, right? some of the some of the Portugal guys on the squad. But you're forgetting who the coach of Aston Villa is. Unite memory.

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah, yeah. Yeah.

Marco: This guy knows how to win finals. Via Real, Sevilla,

Project 90 Soccer: He does. Sevilla. Yeah.

Marco: and tomorrow, Aston Villa.

Project 90 Soccer: Damn! He said it! Damn, what's your score? Okay, what's your score prediction? This is good. I like this.

Marco: Hey, it's gonna be it's gonna be a close game. I'm gonna just leave it at that. It's gonna be a close game, but ultimately they're gonna get the job done. They're the ones with the most rested legs.

Project 90 Soccer: True.

Marco: And I don't I don't anticipate Garnci playing a big role in this, but Unite Emery, like I said, it he knows how to win games, which quick segue. Why has this guy been compliment contemplated for the Spain job?

Project 90 Soccer: Dude, it's probably because who they have right now just hasn't lost yet at this point.

Marco: Well well before that.

Project 90 Soccer: That's true. Before the Euros, yeah, before they won that. I don't know, dude. Una Emory is one of those guys that every club he goes to, they they end up playing better. Whether they win

Marco: Yeah.

Project 90 Soccer: trophies or titles is, you know, debatable maybe, but the team gets better. That's a that's a coach I'd like to see at like an AC Milan. Unayamory, right? The guy he just he knows how to put his team together based on who he has. Plays them to the strengths. He always creates a team that is very difficult to break down. They're difficult to beat. They're just a difficult fucking team to play against. And like you said, dude, with Sevilla, he's won how many, how many Europa League? He won like twice, I want to say. Then he Peter Reality.

Marco: Yeah, VR real severe, yeah.

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah. So I mean, the guy obviously knows how to go through these tournaments, grind out wins, and leave with a trophy, right? Against PSG, I don't know. It's on paper again, like I say on paper all the time, PSG should win, but hey man, I I don't I don't see your take as being too ridiculous by any means. I can see that happening. I can see them winning upsetting PSG, quite frankly. I mean, I'd be kinda stoked to see that, right? Going into the Premier League now, put them on a high note. I don't know.

Marco: Hey, we we got we gotta get a poll going after this and and and

Project 90 Soccer: I'm gonna throw a poll up.

Marco: and and you're the perfect guy to do it. You're the engineer of of the pod. Who's gonna

Project 90 Soccer: Yes.

Marco: win the who's gonna win the the cup tomorrow?

Project 90 Soccer: That's it. Do you all put a clip up, TikTok it? We're gonna put a poll, leave a comment, fucking vote, okay? Because I'm very curious about what people think about this. I haven't seen too much into it, but I don't think I think a lot of people might agree with you, to be completely honest. Yeah. I don't know.

Marco: Well hopefully everybody from Assam Villa votes on there. But hey, before we close, because

Project 90 Soccer: Yeah. Yes.

Marco: we're getting close to time, I saw something crazy today and I hope it doesn't happen.

Project 90 Soccer: Let's hear it.

Marco: Martinez being considered for the Dutch role, which would be the first non-Dutch coach to take over the Orange Mechanic s national team, bro.

Project 90 Soccer: Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa Martinez?

Marco: Yes.

Project 90 Soccer: Martinez, our favorite like team rune or Martinez, like Portugal, Belgium Martinez. Taking over the Dutch?

Marco: Yes. Yes. Yep. Yep. Yep.

Project 90 Soccer: Do they want to lose?

Marco: Apparently. But

Project 90 Soccer: Dude.

Marco: I saw that and I was like, This is crazy. There he's in strong consideration.

Project 90 Soccer: That's insane. I had no idea. I can't believe anybody would even fucking take even the slightest like consideration of that guy. That's insane to me. I I hope not for the for Netherlands' sake. Fuck that, dude. That'd be crazy. Talk about I think a downgrade in my opinion. Fuck that,

Marco: Yeah.

Project 90 Soccer: dude. I would never hire that guy. We'll see what happens there, dude. I don't know. And we're not gonna touch on this right now, but obviously this this sh this sort of f I don't even know what to call it, dude. Drama going on with FIFA, Infantino, Trump, and fucking Mexico back in Infantino. All of pretty much everybody just denying this, saying, What are you doing? Resign. This is getting completely out of control. Still developing story, obviously. But the problem is this can now affect there's the under twenty Women's World Cup. There's these women's tournaments coming up. All these teams are threatening to not go. So it's it's interesting. We'll see how this plays out. We'll probably

Marco: Drama, drama, drama, drama.

Project 90 Soccer: This drama. We'll bring this up in the these future episodes here as we sort of roll into these tournaments and we roll into the Premier League, the CEA, La Liga. but for now, you know, you'll probably hear us back on this podcast. We're gonna we're gonna come back with the little review recap of this WEFA Super Cup final, touch on some more stories, maybe some more last minute transfers before the season starts. But for now, this has been another amazing, fantastic episode of the Project Ninety podcast. find all of our social stream platforms. Like, subscribe, comment, do your thing. Project 90soccer dot com. Find us on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, we're all over the place. Do your research, Project 90Soccer.com. Marco, any last words before we peace out?

Marco: Turn the notifications on. It'll let you know when the next episode

Project 90 Soccer: Mm-hmm.

Marco: drops.

Project 90 Soccer: That's right. It's all we got today, boys. Peace.