🎙️ Futbol Americas (ESPN) •September 8, 2026 •⏱️ 1h 17m

Futbol Americas: Leagues Cup Final + Teenagers Speak Out! + LALIGA Check-In

1. Executive Overview: Core Theses & Key Revelations

The latest edition of ESPN's Futbol Americas broadcast delivered an incisive, multi-layered examination of contemporary North American and European football. Anchored by the analytical duo of Herculez Gomez and Shaka Hislop, the episode moved beyond routine scorelines to dissect the underlying structural, psychological, and tactical forces reshaping the sport. From the synthetic turf of the Leagues Cup Final in Houston to the high-stakes pressure cookers of the Mexican Football Federation, North American youth development pathways, and FC Barcelona's tactical revival in LaLiga, the discussion established several central theses that define the modern game's shifting landscape.

At the heart of the broadcast was Toluca's emphatic triumph in the Leagues Cup Final over Rayados de Monterrey—a result that solidified an extraordinary dynasty in Mexican club football. Under the stewardship of manager Antonio "Turco" Mohamed, appointed in December 2024, Toluca has captured six major trophies within an 18-month span. This remarkable haul represents a profound shift for an organization that had spent fifteen years wandering in competitive obscurity. The panel examined how Toluca's success stems from a masterclass in roster construction, opportunistic recruitment, and Mohamed's unique ability to extract maximum output from both rejuvenated stars and under-the-radar acquisitions.

However, the episode's most contentious dialogue centered on the psychological friction emerging within national team environments. The panel pulled no punches in evaluating comments from teenage sensation Kevin Sullivan regarding his perceived readiness for the United States Men's National Team (USMNT) senior squad following a match against Belgium. Sullivan's self-assured assertion that he could step onto the international stage and make an immediate impact provoked an unsparing critique from Gomez and Hislop. Their commentary illuminated the sharp divide between modern youth self-belief and traditional dressing room hierarchies, framing Sullivan's bravado not as healthy athletic confidence, but as a dangerous mix of ignorance and ego that threatens to derail promising careers before they take flight.

Parallel to the USMNT discussion, the program analyzed the perennial crisis of leadership surrounding the Mexican National Team (El Tri). Gomez voiced a provocative stance, arguing that the Mexican Football Federation made a fundamental miscalculation by appointing Rafa Marquez rather than Antonio Mohamed, whose proven track record of domestic titles and mastery over Mexican player psychology made him the ideal candidate. Hislop countered with a nuanced defense of Marquez, emphasizing that legendary aura and long-term patience are essential to breaking Mexico's self-destructive cycle of managerial turnover.

Finally, the broadcast conducted a tactical check-in on LaLiga, zeroing in on Hansi Flick's transformative tenure at FC Barcelona and the generational rise of Lamine Yamal. Hislop hailed Flick as an absolute godsend who has restored tactical equilibrium to a historically fragile side, while Gomez identified Yamal as the single most talented footballer in the global game, possessing an unmeasurable ceiling. Threaded throughout all these topics was a profound inquiry into how football institutions manage elite talent, handle positional fragility—exemplified by Toluca's controversial two-goalkeeper rotation—and navigate the thin line between ambitious swagger and team cohesion.

Analytical Focus Area Primary Discussion Topic Key Analytical Takeaway
Liga MX & Leagues Cup Toluca's 2-0 Leagues Cup Final victory vs. Monterrey Antonio Mohamed has built a 6-trophy dynasty in 18 months through pragmatic roster building and tactical balance.
Goalkeeping Mechanics Hugo González & García Palomera dual rotation at Toluca Splitting starter duties erodes goalkeeper confidence and creates defensive instability.
USMNT Youth Culture Kevin Sullivan's media statements on senior call-ups Premature bravado in young prodigies runs the risk of dressing room alienating veteran squad members.
El Tri Governance Rafa Marquez vs. Antonio Mohamed managerial debate Tension between Mohamed's empirical winning track record and Marquez's institutional aura and patience.
European Analytics Hansi Flick's tactical structure & Lamine Yamal's development Flick brings essential balance to Barcelona while Yamal establishes himself as the world's premier young talent.

2. Context & Background: The Landscape Leading to This Conversation

To fully grasp the weight of the analysis delivered on Futbol Americas, one must understand the broader competitive and institutional backdrop framing North American and European soccer in 2026. The Leagues Cup, expanded into a month-long, binational spectacle pitting Liga MX against Major League Soccer (MLS), has evolved from a commercial experiment into a fierce barometer of regional dominance. Entering the final in Houston, an all-Liga MX showcase between Toluca and Rayados de Monterrey underscored Liga MX's stubborn refusal to relinquish its technical superiority on neutral North American soil. Yet, within Liga MX itself, the traditional hierarchy has been thoroughly disrupted.

For over a decade and a half, Toluca existed in a state of frustrating stagnation. Despite past historical stature, the club repeatedly fell short in knockout phases under a succession of respected tactical figures including Hernan Cristante, Ignacio Ambriz, Renato Paiva, and Ricardo La Volpe. High-spending giants like Club América, Tigres UANL, and Monterrey dominated headlines and silverware. However, the appointment of Antonio "Turco" Mohamed in December 2024 sparked an unprecedented sporting revolution. Mohamed brought a decorated resume, having previously delivered league championships to Xolos de Tijuana, Monterrey, and Club América. In just 18 months, Toluca captured six trophies, transforming from chronic underachievers into the dominant powerhouse of CONCACAF football.

Concurrently, the international landscape in North America is defined by immense anticipation and anxiety as the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaches. For the USMNT, the integration of new talent into the senior player pool has become a high-stakes endeavor. As academies across Major League Soccer produce highly technical teenagers at an unprecedented rate, the national team program faces a novel psychological challenge: managing hyper-confident prodigies who have grown up in modern development pipelines designed to foster individualism. Kevin Sullivan's public remarks following a senior international fixture highlighted the friction between this new breed of self-assured academy graduates and the established locker room norms enforced by national team veterans.

In Mexico, the national team ecosystem remains embroiled in perpetual structural angst. The departure of prior coaching regimes and the persistent inability of El Tri to establish a coherent tactical identity on the global stage led the Mexican Football Federation to turn to Rafa Marquez, the iconic former national team captain and Barcelona legend. This decision occurred despite the available presence of Mohamed, a proven Liga MX serial winner. The debate over whether Mexico requires a tactical pragmatist who understands the domestic player's psyche or an iconic figurehead capable of inspiring reverence reflects a deep-seated identity crisis within Mexican football governance.

Across the Atlantic, FC Barcelona's navigation of the post-Xavi era under German manager Hansi Flick provided a compelling contrast in institutional rehabilitation. After years of financial volatility and tactical inconsistency, Barcelona sought a steadying hand capable of instilling European-caliber physical intensity and tactical symmetry. Flick's immediate impact, combined with the staggering emergence of 17-year-old winger Lamine Yamal, has redefined Barcelona's trajectory, establishing a blueprint for how elite clubs can balance structural discipline with the uninhibited flair of generational youth talent.

3. Deep-Dive Thematic Breakdown

3.1 Toluca's Silverware Hegemony & The Antonio Mohamed Blueprint

Toluca's 2-0 victory over Rayados de Monterrey in the Leagues Cup Final was not merely another trophy presentation; it was a masterclass in tactical execution and roster optimization. The match highlighted the core tenets of Antonio Mohamed's managerial philosophy: defensive solidity, rapid vertical transitions, and an acute understanding of spatial exploitation during moments of opponent turnover. From the opening kickoff, Toluca asserted control, capitalising on a horrific error by Monterrey's backline in the fourth minute when Alexis Vega dispossessed the goalkeeper to walk the ball into an empty net.

The second goal provided a textbook demonstration of Mohamed's transition mechanics. Franco Romero initiated a staggering 60-yard box-to-box run, drawing four Monterrey defenders toward his central line of engagement before sliding a perfectly weighted pass to Federico Viñas, who dispatched a ruthless finish into the top corner. This sequence encapsulated why Toluca has become virtually unstoppable in high-stakes knockout fixtures. They do not require dominant ball possession to destroy opponents; instead, they operate with lethal efficiency when exploiting half-spaces and transitional moments.

"Toluca really struggled the last 15 years before Mohamed to win anything. Now, six trophies. He was appointed in December of 2024, and Toluca now seems like a proper powerhouse."

What makes Mohamed's 18-month reign even more remarkable is the strategic efficiency of Toluca's front-office operations. While rivals like Monterrey and Tigres have routinely spent massive sums on international talent, Toluca's recent transfer windows have featured a modest net expenditure of under $5 million. The ownership group and sporting direction identified under-valued assets and tailored their recruitment precisely to Mohamed's system. When star striker Paulinho—a Portuguese international and consecutive top scorer—suffered a severe injury, Toluca did not panic. Instead, they acquired Federico Viñas, a Uruguayan international who had struggled with red cards and form in LaLiga with Real Oviedo. Under Mohamed's guidance, Viñas was immediately revitalized, matching Paulinho's physical impact in the attacking third.

Similarly, the resurrection of Alexis Vega highlights Mohamed's psychological mastery. Playing by his own admission at roughly 60 percent of his peak physical capacity due to lingering knee issues, Vega has been granted positional freedom as Toluca's captain and creative focal point. Mohamed has tailored the squad's defensive coverage to protect Vega, allowing him to conserve energy for decisive attacking actions. Supported by hard-working midfielders like Marcel Ruiz and Poyobri Briceño, Toluca possesses a structural balance that hides individual flaws while elevating collective output. With twelve Liga MX championships now in their trophy cabinet, Toluca stands alongside Club América as a undisputed titan of Mexican football.

3.2 The Goalkeeping Paradox: Structural Flaws in Dual-Starter Rotations

Despite Toluca's overwhelming collective success, the panel engaged in a deep tactical critique of Mohamed's controversial goalkeeping management. Throughout the tournament and domestic campaign, Mohamed has refused to name an absolute starter between veteran Hugo González and García Palomera, opting instead to rotate the two shot-stoppers based on opponent setups and fixture congestion. While Toluca has managed to win despite this arrangement, Shaka Hislop offered a blistering analysis of the psychological detriments inherent in dual-goalkeeper systems.

Drawing from his extensive career as a Premier League and international goalkeeper, Hislop explained that the goalkeeping position is unique in its psychological demands. Unlike outfield players, who thrive on rotational rest and tactical substitution, goalkeepers require absolute clarity regarding their status to execute their duties with conviction. When a manager institutes a dual-starter policy, it instills a pervasive fear of failure. Every minor handling error or misjudged cross is perceived by the player as an immediate catalyst for benching, causing the goalkeeper to play within themselves rather than commanding their penalty area with authority.

Hislop noted that history offers virtually no successful precedents for split goalkeeping arrangements at the highest level of the sport. The sole notable exception was Pep Guardiola's 2014-15 season at FC Barcelona, where Claudio Bravo handled domestic LaLiga fixtures while a young Marc-André ter Stegen took charge of UEFA Champions League matches. However, Hislop emphasized that Guardiola's model succeeded only because the roles were explicitly defined by competition boundaries rather than arbitrary game-to-game rotation. In Toluca's current setup, the constant ambiguity forces both González and Palomera to play under unnatural strain.

The technical ramifications of this insecurity ripple throughout the entire defensive structure. Central defenders rely heavily on vocal cues, timing, and predictable movement from their goalkeeper when defending set pieces and managing high defensive lines. When the starting keeper changes constantly, the backline loses the micro-communications and mutual trust required to maintain compact defensive lines. Hislop warned that while Toluca's potent attack has masked these goalkeeping vulnerabilities during their trophy run, continuing this rotational policy will inevitably lead to a catastrophic error in a decisive match when pressure reaches its apex.

3.3 Teenagers, Self-Perception, and USMNT Locker Room Culture: Deconstructing Kevin Sullivan

The broadcast shifted to a candid discussion regarding the developmental trajectory and media management of elite American youth prospects, focusing specifically on public remarks made by teenage talent Kevin Sullivan. Reflecting on a recent senior USMNT fixture against Belgium, Sullivan expressed his firm belief that he possessed the requisite quality to start on the right wing and alter the match's outcome, adding that while it was not his team yet, he was actively dreaming of constant senior call-ups. This self-assessment sparked a fierce critique from Herculez Gomez and Shaka Hislop regarding the boundary between legitimate athletic confidence and destructive arrogance.

Gomez delivered an unsparing rebuttal of Sullivan's framing, arguing that publicly claiming one could have outperformed teammates who earned their spots on the pitch crosses the line from healthy self-belief into sheer ignorance. In Gomez's view, young players coming through modern academy structures often lack perspective regarding the immense physical, tactical, and emotional sacrifices required to earn senior international caps. By publicly asserting that he belonged on the field ahead of established veterans, Sullivan demonstrated a fundamental disrespect toward the dressing room hierarchy that underpins every successful national team squad.

Hislop expanded on this sentiment from an internal locker room perspective, noting that veteran professionals possess zero tolerance for unearned bravado from teenage prospects. In elite team sports, respect is earned through daily training standards, competitive resilience, and proved performance under pressure—not through post-match interviews or viral highlight clips. Hislop emphasized that as naturally gifted as Sullivan undeniably is, his ultimate ceiling in professional football will not be dictated by his technical ability, but by his capacity to manage his ego and integrate harmoniously into team dynamics.

This discussion exposes a systemic challenge within North American soccer culture. As the United States produces more technically proficient academy talents, media hype and commercial marketing often amplify a young player's profile long before they have proven themselves over sustained senior seasons. When these prodigies enter senior national team camps, the clash between individual branding and collective discipline can create severe friction. The panel concluded that national team staff and player agents must do a far better job of grounding young talents, teaching them that true confidence is demonstrated through humility, hard work, and tactical compliance rather than public declarations of self-importance.

3.4 El Tri at a Strategic Crossroads: Mohamed's Track Record vs. Marquez's Aura

The coaching dynamic surrounding the Mexican National Team served as another major point of contention on the show, pitting empirical domestic success against institutional prestige. Following another cycle of administrative instability, the Mexican Football Federation chose to appoint legendary national team captain Rafa Marquez to a central role within the national team apparatus, aiming to build stability toward the 2026 World Cup. However, Herculez Gomez argued forcefully that the federation missed a golden opportunity by failing to hire Antonio Mohamed when he was available.

Gomez's argument for Mohamed rests on an unquestioned empirical foundation. Mohamed is a proven winner who has mastered the unique tactical, cultural, and psychological demands of Mexican football across four distinct club environments. Whether taking newly promoted Xolos de Tijuana to a league championship and Copa Libertadores semifinals, breaking Monterrey's long title drought, guiding Club América to silverware, or orchestrating Toluca's current six-trophy dynasty, Mohamed possesses an unparalleled ability to connect with Mexican players. Gomez highlighted Mohamed's exceptional verbal communication skills—his verbal—which allows him to motivate high-priced superstars and unheralded domestic squad players alike.

"Antonio Mohamed should have been the move for the Mexican national team, not Rafa Marquez... he is a proven winner who knows how to get the best out of the Mexican player."

Shaka Hislop provided a compelling counter-narrative, defending the strategic logic behind Marquez's appointment. Hislop posited that Marquez commands an intangible, transcendent aura within Mexican football that rival managers, including Mohamed, simply cannot replicate. Having captained El Tri at five consecutive FIFA World Cups and won every major trophy in European club football with FC Barcelona, Marquez is viewed by current Mexican players as an icon of absolute excellence. His presence on the touchline instantly commands respect, eliminating the authority gaps that have plagued previous foreign coaching regimes.

Furthermore, Hislop stressed that Mexico's primary obstacle has never been a lack of tactical theories, but an institutional inability to commit to a long-term vision. He urged the federation to grant Marquez a full four-year cycle of absolute support, pleading with decision-makers not to throw the baby out with the bathwater at the first inevitable stumble on the pitch. The contrast between Gomez's demand for a proven tactical pragmatist and Hislop's advocacy for an iconic figurehead reflects the core strategic dilemma facing Mexican football as it prepares to co-host the World Cup in 2026.

3.5 The Tactical Renaissance at FC Barcelona: Hansi Flick's Mechanics & Lamine Yamal's Ceiling

Transitioning to European football, the panel conducted a comprehensive evaluation of FC Barcelona's resurgence under German manager Hansi Flick, alongside the extraordinary rise of teenage sensation Lamine Yamal. Hislop characterized Flick's tactical overhaul as an absolute godsend for a Barcelona team that had spent recent seasons suffering from tactical naïveté and structural imbalance. Under Flick's guidance, Barcelona has evolved into a disciplined, multi-dimensional machine capable of controlling matches through high-tempo pressing and rapid vertical transitions without compromising their traditional possession principles.

Flick's primary tactical achievement has been the restoration of structural symmetry across the pitch. By raising the defensive line and instilling relentless counter-pressing triggers, Barcelona compresses the playing field, forcing opponents into turnover-prone areas. Offensively, Flick has eliminated the sluggish, U-shaped passing patterns that frequently stalled attacking moves in previous seasons. Instead, Barcelona now attacks with directness, utilizing inverted wingers and overlapping full-backs to create overloads in the final third. This tactical structure has provided a secure platform for Barcelona's creative talents to flourish without exposing the backline to counter-attacks.

At the center of Barcelona's explosive attack is 17-year-old Lamine Yamal, whose performance metrics and on-pitch maturity have captivated global football analytics. Herculez Gomez delivered an astonishing assessment of the young winger, stating unequivocally that if he could pick any single player from Barcelona's roster to build a franchise around, it would be Yamal. Gomez declared that Yamal possesses not only generational technical giftedness, but an absolute ceiling to become the single best football player on the planet.

Yamal's statistical profile is staggering for a player of his age. Operating primarily from the right flank, his ability to manipulate defender body orientation through subtle changes of pace and spatial perception is unmatched in elite European football. Unlike many young wingers who rely purely on raw athleticism, Yamal exhibits an extraordinary football IQ, consistently choosing the optimal decision—whether executing an intricate reverse pass, cutting inside to shoot, or holding possession to draw defensive double-teams. The panel emphasized that provided Barcelona carefully manages his physical workload to prevent burnout, Yamal represents the cornerstone of both Barcelona's future and the international sport for the next decade.

4. Speaker Perspectives & Analytical Contrast

The dynamic between Herculez Gomez and Shaka Hislop on Futbol Americas provides one of the most compelling analytical contrasts in modern sports broadcasting. Gomez, drawing from his background as a former USMNT international and Liga MX champion striker, approaches topics with unfiltered candor, pragmatic sharpness, and a deep sensitivity to player accountability. Hislop, bringing the perspective of a veteran Premier League goalkeeper and Trinidadian international hero, offers measured wisdom, structural empathy, and a keen focus on team psychology and institutional longevity.

Topic of Debate Herculez Gomez's Analytical Stance Shaka Hislop's Analytical Stance Core Area of Friction or Consensus
Toluca's Governance & Success Attributes success to front-office financial efficiency, smart recruitment (Viñas/Vega), and Mohamed's pragmatic tactical mastery. Emphasizes historical consistency, squad balance, and the rare achievement of reaching seven finals while losing only once. Consensus: Both agree Toluca is currently the premier club in North American football.
Toluca Goalkeeping Rotation Focuses on the immediate results and how Mohamed's leadership manages to keep both goalkeepers performing adequately. Strongly opposes dual rotation; argues it creates psychological fear, tentative play, and erodes defensive line trust. Friction: Gomez accepts short-term practical outcomes; Hislop identifies fundamental position-specific flaws.
Kevin Sullivan USMNT Comments Condemns remarks as pure "ignorance" and disrespect toward senior squad members who earned their caps. Labels comments as dangerous arrogance; warns that managing ego is Sullivan's greatest professional obstacle. Consensus: Full agreement that youth bravado damages locker room culture and must be reined in.
El Tri Managerial Choice Argues Antonio Mohamed was the superior choice over Rafa Marquez due to his proven Liga MX winning track record. Defends Marquez's appointment; cites his unique aura, player reverence, and the need for four-year institutional patience. Friction: Track record pragmatism (Gomez) versus legendary aura and institutional stability (Hislop).
FC Barcelona & Lamine Yamal Proclaims Yamal has the highest ceiling in world football and would be his #1 pick to build any global team around. Hails Hansi Flick as a tactical "godsend" who restored structural balance and physical intensity to Barcelona. Consensus: Both praise Barcelona's tactical restoration and Yamal's generational trajectory.

This debate structure highlights the dual lenses required to evaluate elite football. Where Gomez demands immediate tactical accountability and empirical proof, Hislop evaluates the systemic environment and psychological foundations required for sustainable success. Their disagreement over the Mexican national team coaching search perfectly illustrates this divergence: Gomez sees a missed opportunity to install a proven tactical technician, while Hislop sees a necessary investment in an iconic leader capable of reshaping a toxic sporting culture.

5. Strategic & Industry Implications

The analytical observations made during this episode of Futbol Americas carry profound strategic implications for sports executives, federation directors, and technical staff across global football. As the economics and tactical sophistication of CONCACAF and European football continue to evolve, the insights shared by Gomez and Hislop illuminate broader macro trends shaping the industry.

In terms of club governance and squad construction, Toluca's transformation under Antonio Mohamed offers a compelling blueprint for medium-tier clubs competing against ultra-wealthy rivals. In an era where clubs frequently attempt to spend their way to success, Toluca demonstrated that operational clarity, targeted recruitment of undervalued talent, and tactical flexibility are far more decisive than massive net spend. By acquiring players like Federico Viñas—who possessed raw physical tools but lacked form—and pairing them with a manager capable of communicating effectively with domestic players, Toluca built a sustainable championship model. Liga MX and MLS front offices must take note: sustainable dominance relies on alignment between recruitment profile and managerial philosophy, not simple payroll inflation.

For national team federations, particularly the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) and the Mexican Football Federation (FMF), the broadcast underscored the vital necessity of managing human capital and team chemistry. As American youth academies produce increasingly sophisticated technical prospects, national team management must develop structured integration protocols that balance athletic self-belief with respect for veteran dressing room norms. Allowing young prospects like Kevin Sullivan to make unvetted public declarations that undermine squad hierarchy risks fracturing team unity ahead of major international tournaments.

Similarly, the FMF's perpetual struggle to establish managerial stability highlights the dangers of short-term governance. The debate between installing a tactical pragmatist like Mohamed versus a cultural icon like Marquez demonstrates that federations cannot succeed without absolute clarity of identity. If the FMF chooses the path of Rafa Marquez, it must back that decision with structural protection, shielding the coaching staff from public panic during initial competitive setbacks. Switching managers at the first sign of turbulence guarantees continued stagnation on the global stage.

Finally, FC Barcelona's tactical revival under Hansi Flick demonstrates the massive return on investment that comes from tactical symmetry and physical conditioning. In modern European football, talent alone is insufficient to compete at the highest level; elite teams require rigorous pressing structures and vertical transition speed. Moreover, Barcelona's handling of Lamine Yamal serves as a case study for global clubs managing generational prodigies. Maximizing such talent requires creating a balanced tactical framework that empowers the individual while distributing defensive responsibilities across the entire collective unit.

6. Looking Ahead: Unresolved Questions & Next Milestones

As the footballing calendar progresses toward major domestic and international milestones, several key questions and metrics raised during the broadcast will determine the trajectory of the teams and individuals discussed:

  • Toluca's Title Defense & Goalkeeping Stability: Will Antonio Mohamed's dual-goalkeeper rotation between Hugo González and García Palomera sustain Toluca through their pursuit of a seventh trophy in 24 months, or will goalkeeping uncertainty cost them in a high-stakes knockout match? Tracking Toluca's save percentages, clean sheets, and defensive error metrics will provide empirical answers.
  • Kevin Sullivan's Developmental Integration: How will Sullivan respond to the public critique of his comments, and how will senior USMNT staff manage his integration into upcoming international windows? Watching his off-the-ball work rate and team interactions during future national team camps will reveal whether he has adapted his approach.
  • Rafa Marquez & El Tri's Performance Benchmarks: Can the Mexican Football Federation maintain patience with Rafa Marquez through difficult friendly fixtures and competitive tests leading into the 2026 World Cup? The key metric will be federation backing during inevitable periods of media criticism.
  • Hansi Flick's European Validation: Can Flick maintain Barcelona's tactical balance and high-pressing intensity across a full grueling domestic and UEFA Champions League campaign without incurring major squad fatigue?
  • Lamine Yamal's Workload Management: How will Barcelona's medical and technical staff manage Yamal's minutes to prevent physical overexertion while maintaining his extraordinary attacking output? Monitoring his sprint volumes and match minute distribution will be essential to tracking his long-term health.

Ultimately, this episode of Futbol Americas served as a definitive masterclass in football analytics. By weaving together tactical breakdown, psychological deconstruction, and institutional critique, the program highlighted that success at the highest level of soccer is never an accident. Whether building a club dynasty in Liga MX, nurturing teenage prodigies in North America, or restoring European royalty in LaLiga, the winning formula requires an unyielding alignment of talent, tactical structure, and emotional intelligence.

💬 Key Quotes & Speaker Breakdown

USMNT squad selection

"Thinking of that Belgium game, I think I can come into that game on the right side and make a difference. Obviously, it's not my team yet. Always dreaming on and hoping for call-ups."

— Kevin Sullivan

Mexico national team manager

"Antonio Mohamed should have been the move for the Mexican national team, not Rafa Marquez. It didn't happen, so you have to move on, but he is a proven winner who knows how to get the best out of the Mexican player."

— Herculez Gomez

Kevin Sullivan comments

"When you say I could have been there and I could have done that, you may be thinking to yourself that you have confidence, but that's not arrogance, that's ignorance. You're not realizing how disrespectful it is to those players who earned their spot."

— Herculez Gomez

"This kind of arrogance and bravado does not go down well within dressing rooms. As talented as Kevin Sullivan is, his biggest obstacle, his biggest hurdle, his biggest challenge will be managing his ego."

— Chaka Hislop

Rafa Marquez tenure

"Rafa Marquez has a similar aura about him like Antonio Mohamed. The Mexican players see him in the same light. I hope they give him the four years and don't throw the baby out with the bathwater at the first pebble in the road."

— Chaka Hislop

Barcelona tactical analysis

"Hansi Flick has been a godsend for this Barcelona team. It's an incredibly balanced team now that can hurt you in a multitude of ways."

— Chaka Hislop

Lamine Yamal potential

"If there was one player in Barcelona's lineup that I could have in my team, it would be Lamine Yamal. I think he's the most talented player, and he has the ceiling to be the world's best player."

— Herculez Gomez

Toluca goalkeeping rotation

"You can't have two number ones. Sooner rather than later, something will give and one will lose their position. It's not in the goalkeeper's best interest to not truly believe that he can go out and play his natural game."

— Chaka Hislop

Rafinha form

"Rafinha is worthy of all the praise we give him. He's fulfilled it with goals, dangerous play, and how he combines. He's contagious with his work rate; it gets everybody going."

— Herculez Gomez
📜 View Full Episode Verbatim Transcript 74,091 characters
Early morning on a Manhattan sidewalk, a shooting caught on surveillance video. It was an assassination style killing, and everybody saw it. A new podcast series from ABC Audio in 2020 goes inside this captivating case. I'm ABC News legal analyst Brian Buckmeyer. Listen to burden of proof Luigi Mangione, wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to the latest edition of Football America. Alongside Pat Gomez, Chaka Hizlop, I am Audis Rupeloza. Happy Labor Day, everybody. We honor Labor Day by working on Labor Day. No. That is how we do things around here. I don't remember the last Labor Day had off. There you go. That's why you're a pro, that's why you are who you are. Right, Chek? Yeah. No one. Coming up next, Audis Rupeloza. There's a name, any names, but sense a clear message to some young star players that want to be a part of the senior US men's national team. Remember to download the Football America's podcast, but we will get things started with final leaks cup. And it's an all-liga MX affair in Houston, Toluca. Facing Rayados de Monterey, it was basically a home game for Rayados de Monterey. That's Chicharito Hernandez. Now an analyst on TV. You gotta say, it's quite good. Chicharito on TV. Fourth minute. And this is Toluca. On the attack from the very first moment, Herk. And taking the lead. Who's the goalkeeper now for Rayados de Monterey again? I'm glad that. But I just let it back. Yeah, yeah. What sort of a limp you're never doing trying to control that ball there? It just gets his pocket picked. Alexi's Vega. I'll take that one zero. It's one zero for Toluca. Alexi's Vega. And then 30th minute chance for Rayados de Monterey, Rika Chavez, the header and the keeper. It's a really good save. It just happened to really cross ball, but good reach. Seventyth minute. Look all the time for Franco Romero. Take a look at that run. Everybody's chasing Franco Romero. Passes the ball to Federico Vignes. Is this one and Rada as well? Chichar, what do you think? I want you to look at this. Look at this view right here. Not this one. This is a great run. Alexi, it's a transition football, like four on four. The strike is sublime, very well put. A lot of pace. Watch this angle right here. You tell me if it's on the goalkeeper. I don't think it is. I think you need to keep that in. Listen, he's not fully extended. If he was, you make the argument that he has to put it back into play. But he's not fully extended. I think he should keep that in. It wasn't enough, Elinio. With a second and Toluca, left in the trophy as Leaks Cup champs. That's the sixth trophy now. In a year and a half for Turcomo Chamez. Toluca really struggled the last 15 years before Mochamez to win anything. Now, six trophies. He was appointed in December of 2024. And Toluca now seems like a proper powerhouse. But now the question is, because you saw her players like Hugo Gonzales, who for many, many people thought, he's probably out of the starting job in Giga Mekis. Has played a crucial role with Toluca. Not always a starter. It's also a reality. Players like Alexis Bega, Living Chivas, players like Poyobri Senio, Elinio, Marcell Riz. Paulinho. Is this now the best club in Liga Mekis the way they handle things Toluca? Liga Mekis is very funny in the way they go through cycles. This is their sixth trophy in 18 months. You've got that many opportunities to win trophies, but they win it all. There are eighteenas consistently pressing the envelope. Consistently paying players well, consistently bringing a new talent, consistently achieving things. But right before Toluca, it was America with a three-peat. That was consistently achieving things. Right before them, or in the midst of them, it was Gruzasul. And then so forth and so forth. Tigres. Radialos has been to a lot of finals. Mexican football is very interesting in that type of way. But you have to give Toluca the credit. You have to give them their flowers. They are now twelve Liga Mekis championships, only behind Gruva America. And in Mexico, we talk about those four grand. There's the same way we talk about the big six in England, or the UK. The same way we talk about the big six in the Premier League. They've got every right to be considered a top-notch club in equipo grande, in terms of trophy hall, in terms of spending, in terms of generational players that have come through that organization, in terms of what they're doing today, which has got to be the most relevant thing. While other teams go through these cycles, where they're constantly, not even relegation battling anymore, because they don't have relegation, but they're in the bottom of the barrel, and then they spend the money, and they come back up. They constantly are where they are, because they do things the right way. So you've got to acknowledge how good they've been. Now, Toluca, if you look at the roster, Shaka, they do have star power. Alexis Vega is a star. He was the best player in Liga Mekis, probably even leading up to the World Cup, even though he had injuries. He dealt with injuries, and that's probably custom. But Elinio has become a true star in Liga Mekis, so Franco, what he was doing with that run, he does that constantly. So is it more the way the roster has been built, or do we have to give all the credit to Antonio Mojamev, the manager, who has won basically everywhere his been in Mexico? No, it's true. Except Puma, which says a lot about him. You have to go hand in hand. You have to have a good squad, a balanced squad, you have to have that star power, but you also have to have leadership on the sidelines, and that's where El Toluca comes in, where he brings his expertise, his experience. You can't have one without the other. You can have individual successes in games, maybe a title or two, but as impressive as six titles in 18 months goes. Equally so, you've lost once. You've lost in a final, as the only silverware available to you that you have not lifted in the last 18 months. I'll find the Cruz Azul. That speaks absolute volumes about Lucas Consistency, and I think that, as much as anything, needs to be applauded. Either you win it, or you get to a final, and getting to a final losing is an audience. It's an oddity for El Toluca, as it seems right now. Listen, time will tell, as they continue to win, where this kind of legacy, where this dynasty lands, and in the greater landscape of Mexican football. But right now, they are head and shoulders above everybody in the continent. So, look at the managers that they've had before Antonio Mujamef. Renato Paiva, Ignacio Ambrís, Hernan Cristante, Chepo de la Torre, second stint after having a first successful first stint. Ricardo Labolpe, same thing. Hernan Cristante, club legend, Cardoso club legend. Nobody even came close to what Antonio Mujamef has been doing now. And when you look at Mujamef's resume, tells you that he knows what he's doing. But the fact that he changed the trajectory of this club. So quick. I mean, I understand what Shaq says. And I agree. Both have to go hand in hand. Players, roster, manager. Mujamef has been special with Toluca. I'll give Mujamef's flowers in a second. But this ownership group has done the right things. Ignacio Ambrís, semi-finalist. Renato Paiva, semi-finalist. And he lose to the eventual winners. They're a team that's spending money on star players, generational type players for League of Mekis. And they're getting there. They just couldn't get it over the hump. They would lead all the way in the regular season. They would show great things throughout the course of just the regular season. Playoff comes. They have a stumble. And then Mujamef comes. And that's where Shaq says. And I agree. It's got to go hand in hand. But in this hand-in-hand, you're bringing an ace up your sleeve. You're bringing one of the winningest coaches in the League of Mekis history. I've played for a club like Sholas de Tijuana. It's not easy to make it to a final with a club like Sholas de Tijuana. He did that. He won a championship. With the team that was newly promoted within two years. He took him to Copa Libertadores, got to a semi-final. He won with Monterey. And Monterey is a long-suffering team for many years. One with them. He goes to teams like, boom, as he gets him to a semi-final. What he's done with America, I lost a final to him against America. You know, he's got a certain aura, or excuse me, about him that just knows how to motivate the player. Get to the player. Bring that extra dimension out of a player. That's already a top player. But I go back to the ownership. Paulinho, who was back-to-back goal scorer and champion. Who was getting called up by the Portuguese national team. Who was in that player pool. He gets injured. What do they do? They go out and get Federico Vignas. Who's a World Cup player with Uruguay. Who was in La Liga, in Ralo Viejo. And had more red cards than goals last season in La Liga. And as you know what, there's something here with this player. We're going to bring him back. We think he'd be good for us. And he's been great. They just knock it out the park when they need to. Diaz Price, the goal scorer, who was in the second division, that nobody gave him a chance. Turco Mojones, see something in him. They bring him in. They give him that confidence. He just has that. The word in Spanish is verbal. The way to communicate with a player to get to him, to reach him. He has that about him. I've seen the signings by Toluca recently. They spent a lot of money on Federico Vignas. But in the last two transfer windows, they spent $5 million on players. It's not a lot of money. I know they already had a proper way. Yeah, they spent a lot more before that. They used to spend a lot more money. Yeah, they were a proper transfer to the team. For example, they were able to reach the final with Alexi's big other captain playing. To his own admission at 60% of his ability. Paulinho, top scorer, also has been injured lately. And still, they are able to commit Marcel Ruiz at some point. He was going to be the starter for the Mexican national team in the World Cup. But there's another decision, Shaq, that I want to touch upon with you. It has to do with the goalkeepers because it's Hugo Gonzalez and Garcia Palomera. And there's no starter for Toluca. As a goalkeeper, when you have a manager that's making this type of decisions, you can go both ways. Why is it going right for Toluca? I don't know. It's a short answer to that, Mal. I have been in that position where you're not quite sure who the number one is or as a manager would put it, we've got two number ones. And I hated that. Yeah. I felt as a goalkeeper, I wanted to play freely, not feeling that every mistake meant I would be dropped. Yeah. What you end up doing is playing within yourself. And then you play with us. And I hated that. The only time I've seen it work effectively and not to this level is Pep Guardiola Barcelona when he had test egg and bravo. Bravo, yeah. And your bravo was playing in the league and La Liga. And my country test egg and who was young goalkeeper at the time was playing Champions League. They won it all. With two goalkeepers alternating as such. Otherwise, I just don't feel, I don't feel it's in the goalkeepers best. The goalkeeper's best interest to not truly believe that he can go out, play his natural game. If he has a bad day, it's not going to cost him his position any longer. You've got a goalkeeping competition, you've got a goalkeeping problem. That's it's that simple. You can't have two number ones. No, no, no. And then sooner rather than later, something will give and one will, you know. Garcia Paloma is now hurt, but they were splitting time basically 50% and 50%. You don't see that. Yeah, you don't. And we don't see it. You don't see it as a successful plan. It's been like that for Turcomojamed. As we said before, Turcomojamed won the title for Cholos, but also made a name for himself at Rayados de Monterey won the title there. Won the title for Club America. And with a very, very contagious relationship with Ricardo Pelais, in the end he won the trophy, he won the league and was fired the day after that. And now he's winning at the Luca. And let's take this conversation here to the Mexican national team. Because Antonio Muhammad has been very open. That he wanted the job at the start of the latest cycle. He made an interview, but they passed on him. And now he said, I don't want it anymore. Is Mexico missing on a good chance to have a better manager with Antonio Muhammad than what they have right now with Rafa Marquez? The move wasn't for Rafa Marquez. Antonio Muhammad should have been for Javier Aguirre. That was the move. It didn't happen. You have to move on. And you've got to respect the Turcomojamed. A lot of that may be posturing as well. He was wanted. He felt he should have gotten it. He's a Argentine-born player, Argentine manager. That was very much so formed in Mexico, especially as a manager. That's where his formation is. So he feels a deep connection to the country. The Mexican player is fickle. The Mexican player is very talented. But there are a few managers that reach the Mexican player. That can really get him to fulfill that potential for whatever reason. Right or wrong. That's a reality with the Mexican football. Here comes a manager that knows how to get to this type of player. That's a player's coach. It would have been great to see him with this group of players, give him a four-year run. Any coach get a four-year run with Mexican Ashtim and see what they could do. A proper project. That's not the way the Mexican Federation works. What you're proposing right now is the way the Mexican Federation works. You have Rafa Marquez in place. And you should stick to that regardless of what happens. Trust the process. And here's a coach who starts winning. Like Jardinette started winning. André Jardinette, America coach. And all of a sudden, his name's in the limelight. And his name is just orbiting the Mexican national team. That's the way Mexican soccer works. Now that the Turcomojamed cannot stop winning, they're saying, hmm, that looks good. I want some of that. That is Mexican football. But correct me from wrong here. Hasn't this kind of always been the Mexican way around the national team? Yes. Yes. Winning a sports and league football. There you go. Is he man? Who are they at the end point at the top? So from that regard, you want to say yes. A mistake was made. There's an opportunity, miss. You don't get managers like Mohammed, who comes in and gets the best sort of individuals in ways that that know other managers do. And somehow makes a team out of that. The other side of that coin is you've got somebody with the pretty griver of a Rafa Marquez. Right. The history in Sydney, in his playing career. And the natural respect that that kind of garners. So whether you're thinking, well, oh, I'm going to assume the thinking is more long-term a Rafa Marquez. That we're going to get this. We're going to get this. We're going to get this, but who's highly respected. We'll be highly respected within the dressing room. He's going to be our man for the foreseeable future. And we kind of build around him for the cycle. Which, again, even I admit, that's kind of not how Mexico has done there, their managerial hares. It first managed in Mexican soccer 23 years ago. That's when he started managing second the big. And he went and moved on to Morelia, Queretaro, never really had success until he became the Raya dos Coach. And two times he was Raya dos Coach. And he had big budget. But he won. Then he went to Cholos. He didn't have a big budget. No. Won also. To Club America. Biggest budget available, maybe, in Mexican soccer. And won after the team hasn't won in 10 years. So he's a proven winner. And he knows Mexican soccer. My only concern is this. I agree that this is the way to go. It was a seamless transition from Javier Aguirre to Rafa Marquez. Rafa Marquez knows this group of players. He was the assistant coach to Javier Aguirre and played in five world cups from Mexico. He was a captain for a long time. He has all the credentials needed to become the Mexican national team manager. But now, he doesn't have the experience as a manager, as a number one, as a head coach, to lead the group of players. Where do we stand with that dilemma? Do we want the guy that has been doing it for 25 plus years? Prove and successful manager. Or are we okay trusting, believing the process and feeling like the way Rafa Marquez has got into that place is what the national team needed at that moment. International football is very different from club football. In the sense that you're not going to develop players. You've got very little time to tactically set your players up and get them to have an ingrained style or way about them. You've got a collection of individuals that you've got to bring together. If we go by the standards in world football, in both hemispheres, you've got a Spanish national team, Luis de la Fuente, U20 coach. You've got an Argentine national team. There's only U20 coach. There was no first team experience there. They weren't the best coaches in the world. What you need to do is galvanize players for a common goal. Rafa Marquez has this similar aura about him, like turcomo jamedas. But it's not verbo, it's not the way he speaks. It's not the way he can get to you. It's who he is and what he commands. Think about it as anything Zidane. Much lower, bar, much different players. But the Mexican players see Rafa Marquez in the same vein. They seem in the same light. He's very respected. I hope they give him the four years. I hope the first rock in the road, pebble in the road, first time he doesn't win. He loses to a Canada, a US, whoever the case may be in Conca Calf. It's not throw the baby out with the bath water. They allow him to adjust. They allow him to learn with this team, and they go forward. But you know Mexican football now. And I know Mexican media. It's part of what I'm talking about. You know Mexican football. I'm not just talking about the federation. I'm talking about Elendorno. I'm talking about everything in that orbit. Here's why I say the media. The media. Those guys out there, right? The media. Not us. Of course. Rafa Marquez was appointed three weeks after the World Cup finished from Mexico, right? And he was already national team manager. He's about to take a flight. And the media runs into Rafa Marquez. Remember this? Yeah. At the Mexico City Airport. And they ask him a couple of questions. And he doesn't answer. Because this is not the platform too. Give an interview, right? He was about to catch a plane. He caught fire. And the way media started saying, oh, no, here we go. This is not the way you start your tenure as a national team manager. You at least got acknowledged the media. So the Mexican media, what Hertz said, hey, first bump in the road, they're going to start putting a lot of pressure. Because they know, it's not only about Rafa Marquez. They know there's someone on deck ready to take the job if Rafa Marquez is not successful. But it's also part of the way the media is going to treat Rafa Marquez. Sadly, it shouldn't be like that. But that's the way Mexican soccer goes. But I mean, I think everybody knows that. And recognizes that about the Mexican media around the national team. And it doesn't matter whether the manager is an inexperienced Rafa Marquez or a highly experienced Turkomahamed. When things start getting a little bit rocky, the media are going to turn against you. But this is where you need to have a strong FA, who stand by their decisions, whatever they may be. Now, again, to your earlier question, Mao, left up to me, I'm picking the guy with the regime, as opposed to the experience. But you go against how you normally do business. How Mexican football has normally done business. You hire Rafa Marquez on the basis of his strength, working with the under 20s, and maybe some of those players will make up the core of this national team over the next cycle. If that's your decision, then you have to stand by that decision and you have to back the money you put in place in Rafa Marquez. And that is where you need to have a strong FA, a coming out in recognizing the decision, backing the decision, and backing your mind, giving in whatever support he needs. Because, as you already pointed out, this media can be relentless. It's just game of thrones. Since the 2022 World Cup to the 2026 World Cup, there were three different Mexican Federation presidents in line, three different ones from... Who was it that gave you? No, the first one that gave the 100 days. John de Luisa. John de Luisa, to Lavamo Rodriguez, to Miguel Arriola, and then you go to the coaches, and then it's Diego Coco gets hired and he's hired for four games, and after that they come in with... Jimi Lozano. Jimi Lozano comes in and they say, hey, we're going to bring in how Yeragiri to kind of keep an eye on you. Don't worry. Don't worry. No pressure. Even how Yeragiri tells Jimi, hey, I'm not here to bother you. And it's up taking his job. And I'd like to say, no, I don't want the job anymore, yeah. It's just Mexican football in the national for you. All right. We'll see what happens with Rafa Marquez about to name his first quad for the FIFA International break. You can catch ESPNFC every single day on the ESPN app. Speaking of national team rosters, Kevin Sullivan scored in a third success of MLS game, and in the process broke a record said by, yes, Freddie Adu. The goal took Sullivan to 11 goal contributions for the year the most ever. By a 16-year-old in Major League Soccer, Eclipse in the Mark said by Adu in 2005. He's also the youngest MLS player with a goal contribution in five straight matches. But he's also making headlines with the things he says. This is Kevin Sullivan on the USM-MNT elimination against Belgium. Thinking of that Belgium game, I think I can come into that game on the right side and make a difference, right? You have to believe in yourself. Obviously, it's not my team yet. Obviously, always dreaming on and hoping for columns. Now, Mauricio Pochettino was interviewed and he didn't mention anybody by name, but you can just make the math. Pochettino said, quote, we need to be careful because when you are young, you need to be confident. You need to have the trust in yourself and believe that you can perform and you can do well. But I think there is a limit. Now, also Poch saying about these young players. If you are young and you start to talk that you can play here, you can play there. I don't believe that these are in a right way to build your career in the best way. All right. It's a lot to unpack here. Let's start with Kevin Sullivan. Was he going too far, hurt, with those comments saying, hey, if I had been there and he even said playing on the right hand side, I could have made a difference. Did he go too far? All right. The two comments aren't mutually exclusive. One was given to the State of Union podcast on Fox and the other was given to the athletics. So they're not the same thing here. And Pochettino never names a single player by name. Kevin Sullivan is a, I think, wonderful 16 year old footballer. 16 years old, a teenager who's having a promising start. Now that he's been given a chance in the Philadelphia Union. Bradley Carnell was there, the coach. He wasn't playing. It was frustrating post-World Cup through the World Cup. Plays now and he's having a good run. He feels good about himself. I said a lot of things when I was 16 that I didn't fully understand. When I thought I was in a good moment, things that I was unaware of. Ignorant too. When I say this in the, with the utmost respect, the most positive way I can to him. When you say I could have been there and I could have done that on the right hand side, you may be thinking to yourself, I have confidence in myself and there are going to be people out there. We want that swagger. We want that confidence. That's not arrogance. No, that's ignorance. Because you're not realizing that the players who are there have earned it there. You're not realizing how disrespectful it is to those players. You're not realizing the work that it takes to actually get there to win a World Cup spot. The blood sweat tears, the sacrifices you have to make. So when you make that comment, there are players in that pool that could take it some type of way. Now fans are going to look at me and say, well, good. Those players didn't do anything in that game. That's not the point here. There are things you do when you're a young player that you should continue to do to earn respect. I said these aren't mutually exclusive, but it doesn't mean that my disciple didn't see this and say to himself, I like that one. That's my feeling. It doesn't mean it's going to cost him a call up, and it doesn't mean it's going to cost him in the eyes of Marisa Pochettino. But we all learn how to be good professionals, and that's part of the process. You will make mistakes along the way. This was probably one of them. I think in the unpacking process of all of this, I think Pochettino deserves a special mention. Sticking to Kevin Sullivan and what he said, Shaka, what do you make of it? I have serious issues with this. I don't know if it's just down to cultural differences between maybe how I was raised in Trans-Biego or how I know the game and how dress rooms to be in European football, but this would not wash at all. This kind of arrogance and bravado does not go down well within dress rooms. And the amazing thing for me is, especially here in the US, you have as noted an example of talented young players who are overhyped at a very young age that do not work out as anybody intended. And Kevin Sullivan just broke his record in front of you do. And then to your point here, well, I get it. Maybe at 16, you made silly statements. I'm sure I did as well. I can also safely say that I do not think I had kind of team around me. I did not have a team around me. That Kevin Sullivan has around him and in managing his image, his publicity, what he says, in managing his ego. Because as talented as he is, his biggest obstacle, his biggest hurdle, his biggest challenge, will be managing his ego. And this just screams that maybe it's lost to me. But how Kevin Sullivan is going to say, it's not my team yet. Am I missing two? Isn't that somehow? You know, I thought about this one too, Shaq. And I want to give the grace that he didn't give the players who were on that field. And part of me saying, is he saying it's not his, as I'm not the leader of this team yet? And that's why I didn't bring that up. But Kevin Sullivan, to Shaq's point, has a team around him and he has a target on his back. People are going to see the hair. They're going to see the shaved eyebrow. They're going to see him in commercials because he's on clothing commercials. They're going to see the sponsorships. They're going to see the $5 million price tag at 14 years of age to go to city. And I said, oh, this kid thinks he's something already. But you've got to prove it. And to his credit, he's been playing extremely well. And there are things in this kid's locker that leaves me very excited for what he could be. It's Shaq's right. And if you think that you've made it because you've already signed with Manchester City, I'll give you a name. Alex Alcala. Was that name ring a bell to you, Shaq? Alex Alcala was a player for the Galaxy 2 in Los Angeles who signed as a teenager with Manchester City. He debuted for the first time first team football with Gretta Rolega and Meckys. He never debuted with Manchester City. Manchester City sees this as an investment. What's $5 million to us to drop in the hat. But if he pans out, we got the next North American star. That could be valuable. And if it doesn't, we lost 5 million. So you've got to be very careful. And I do not want to make this into a segment where it's old men yelling at the sky, yelling at clouds. Because I fear that sometimes that's the generation we're talking. Those are the fans we're talking to. But you've got to earn your way there and do the right things. And once you're there, don't confuse that swagger that many want or feel the game needs. That the provotto that the player should have to arrogance. There is a difference and that line is very fine. And you guys go back to when you were 16 years old because you both represented your countries at the highest level. When you guys were 16, did it cross your mind to say something like, it's not my team yet. It will be. The national theme is not my team yet. That way, right? Because I think I understand why you don't want to go specifically and say, this is what he meant. The problem is when you leave it open to interpretation. And now we can make our very own interpretation. And I am, and I do believe he meant it as if he was saying that is going to be, I'm going to be the leader of that team eventually. And when you're 16, you say a lot of stupid stuff. That happens to everybody. But it's also very important to have the right people around you that call you out when you say something like that. Are you guys in a way concerned that his inner circle is not leading this kid the right way so that even if he meant that in the nicest way possible. But we hear it somehow. Are you guys concerned that his inner circle is not saying the right things to him? Listen, on the one hand, you want to say he's 16 years old. And maybe whatever he says, he doesn't understand the gravity of it in the moment. Maybe he just, for one of a better term, went rogue. Maybe his team is advising him otherwise. But at 16 years old, you just say things as they come to you. You forget what you were told or whatever was said around you. I feel though that even at 16 years old, you have to recognize when you need to put your ego in check. And now, let me put it this way. Well, I could sit here and say Lionel Messi had total control of the Argentina team. But Lionel's colony was just kind of hanging on. And Lionel Messi was pulling all his strings. At no point, maybe I'm wrong on this. But at no point do I remember Lionel Messi coming out and saying, this is my team. And this is Lionel Messi we're talking about. Yeah. And that is the kind of arrogance that, well, okay, maybe to his point, some in the US may applaud that confidence. Again, culturally in the US, sometimes comments like that are applauded. They want to see that kind of confidence. Playing in Europe, that just puts a giant X in your back. Players will be coming for you in ways that you cannot imagine. And these are very good, very talented, and at times very brutal players. There's levels for this game. Yes. Check says something that struck a chord, brought back memories. You said that he needs to check the ego. I don't know about your personal experience, but I've been in that position where you're brash. You're overconfident as a young kid because you've got abilities that some kids your age, some peers your age, or maybe grownups your age don't have. You get checked. Now, when somebody checks you, that's the learning moment. It's not, it's what Shaq's talking about. When you meet somebody ruthless with a bigger resume, with a bigger star, you know, don't above their head, that's when you learn. He's got to have the right people around him. Real quick before we move on to the next topic, is he hurting his chances to be actually culvered up to the next roster? I don't think he's here this time. He's 16 years old. And I think while a lot of what we say, a lot of what pochettino may say, whether veiled or not, it's around making sure he doesn't make these same mistakes, or his ego doesn't run away with him anymore, that he is able to keep it in check because for all our branding, we'd love to see young players. We'd love to see talented players come through. And if we see them at a very young age and can appreciate their journey, that's what we want to see. Yeah. And it is all, again, for all our shouting at the closes as heard. It is in the best interest of seeing talented players go far in this game. We'll talk about pochettino in a second. But I assume this is the perfect opportunity for pochettino to kill two birds with one stone. You bring the kid in, see what he's about. And you also let him know what the program's about. He was not the only young player with, let's call it just a hot tank. Also Xavier goes from Crystal Palace. He said, regarding his chances of making the World Cup roster, and let's remember, he didn't. He said, I do think I deserve to be there. I'm going to be honest. Maybe he, speaking of pochettino, didn't think I was ready. It just put a fire on me to make the next World Cup and show why I should be there. So are, are the kids talking too much, Erk? So he does this in the podcast, the late run with Chad Ocho Sinko, Chad Johnson, who's obviously social media star now. He was once a very good football player, great all-around guy, charismatic. And when you're a young kid and you see somebody like that sometimes, the mouth gets a little loose. Maybe you said something. But this is a player who was actually called as part of the preliminary squad. He was actually in or around that orbit. And there are people on this panel who thought, hey, I would take them. I was one of them. I would take them. There are national teams who bring along kids for the ride, for the experience. If you think they're going to be part of your program in the future, I'm old enough to remember the 1994 World Cup shootout. Italy versus Brazil. You look at the Brazilians, barman arm, and there's a gap tooth kid there who is at Ronaldo R9. He didn't feature in that World Cup, but you're doing it for the experience. So I thought he should have been there. But I can say that as an analyst, far removed, not part of the situation. When you say it, it puts yourself in a position when you're questioning now the coach's decision making. And that's not where he wants to be. And everything I know about this kid from his time at Salt Lake to his family background, to the way he was raised. It doesn't really scream, that's part of his character. So I chalked this up to, he said something, got carried away. And now he's got to live with the consequences of maybe the coach, the head coach who didn't take you, who did not take you to the World Cup knows that you think you should have been there and are spouting out the mouth a little. I will say this though, I should have been there. And I deserve to be there are two very different things. To your point, maybe he should have been there as a young player or player for the future. Yeah. You can be there. I should be there. And to quote him in this situation, I deserve to be there are two very very different things. What do you think of what Chetino's words regarding, well, not specifically, these statements, but the way he said it. Perfect. I hold my hand up and I say I've been more critical of Chetino than most. I think what he says here is absolutely right. I don't think any more needed to be said, no any less. I think he got this absolutely right. I agree. I put it out on my social media that I like that he's using the press to send out these messages. And it's not the first time he's done this. He did this back in Spurs with Danny Rose. And Danny Rose says we're signing players that, you know, you need to Google them. He checked them with the press first. And then I'm sure Danny Rose got the message. Same thing with Madueca and Jackson fighting over a penalty kick at Chelsea. Check them with the press. And then I'm sure they got the message. So I do not mind this at all. And he's absolutely right. He comes from a different background. If you were in Argentina and you had little, you had young kids who had never played with the Argentine national team before. And they were spouting off like this. It would not sit well with the players. It would not sit well with the media. And it certainly would not sit well with the head coach. He's trying to help these players be better footballers in the future. Now, let's see what this roster looks like because a lot of these players, regardless of what you think of them, you've got to bring them along, set them straight and then let them out into the world of that. USM is national team pool. I have no doubt that these two guys have the quality to be stars in their own circle. They have the quality, they have the talent. I wonder, and you guys went through that, the moment they are regular part of the USM's national team, not the manager, how the rest of the players are going to, if they do, deal with that. Because sometimes it's not only the manager, it's not your coach, it's not your parents, not your agent. It's the guy sitting next to you in that dressing room that brings you down to earth and lets you know, hey kid, welcome to the national team. Now, we don't say stuff like that. We do things like this. And you probably guys saw that in your own national team. Yeah, I've been in national teams, clubs I've played with. Somebody comes in with a little bit too much confidence, a little bit too arrogant. They'll be checked and checked really quickly. All right, so let's run it back to some more action from US players around the globe. And you're more specifically, Georena scored his first goal for Strasbourg on the 6 to 2 win against Troy Erick. It's a good reception, quick release, it's a great finish with the left foot. It's the touch right here, the quick reception, it sets himself up, left foot, left foot. And then there's a bit of a deflection, gets lucky there, but he will take that. Playing time, playing time, and playing time. That's the secret for Georena. And now Ricardo Pepe, Shaq, he opened the score for PSB in their big wing at Ix, third of the season for El Tren. Always seems to know where the ball is going to arrive Ricardo Pepe. I think this is a player who's just kind of developed over the years, and you've seen him grow. The understanding for the game has gotten better with each season. He's always been a very good finisher and is being dividends. Yeah, that was a great game, by the way. The start for his goal of the season, Herk, for Joe Scali at Blackback. Joe Scali, who many thought was on his way out of Galatbach, nice touch right here, left footed finish. He's a player who was going to be a big transfer of Galatbach, did not happen, but he's been one of the most consistent U.S. men's national players in Europe in the last five years. Good finish here. Starting his seventh season at Galatbach, joined the team back in 2020. Remember to catch the action of football W on Tuesday, starting at 8.30 p.m. Eastern on the ESPN app, also available on Disney+. All right, we move to Lali. Lali highlights Valencia, hosting Barcelona, Rodri, making his first start of the season. Galatbach is also part of the squad. This went fast, Herk, six minute. What about this finish, by the media mind? I mean, use your right foot. No, use the outside of the left foot. What a finish this is. You think you're going to think of the right, fix it the outside of the left. It's too quick of a release, goalkeeper could only see it go by. But it's got pace, he's got movement, the finishing ability here. He's really feeling himself lately. He's got another one. He was in off-site position, so it didn't count. So we go all the way to the 22nd minute, and this is also, I mean, Jemal Ferrimi Lopez calls for the ball for like a minute, finally gets it, puts it in the back of the net, Shaq. It's a really nice strike under some pressure. Just hold this position, hold this position, he knows it's coming under pressure. Clean as you like, bottom corner. Now, take a look at this play. Barça turns it over, and then, Danzuma, inside the box, was this a penalty by Rodri Herk? Rodri definitely has a little shove in the back that affects the player. Does it affect them enough? Rodri gives it up right here, not very characteristic of his style of play, but that little shove right there. Yeah, I'm giving that. I am giving that. And it's a penalty, that's a red card by the way. Second half, 50th minute, Rodri starting to play to Lamin Jemal, has tons of space, and when you give Lamin Jemal space, he runs for Min, and there he is, Rafinha, the number nine, Shaq. Just following the far post, you never knew whether to get tight or not to Lamin Jemal because he can embarrass you if you do. Nice ball in, tapping in Rafinha from Ali Moreno Ridge. 20 plus gain for penalty without scoring. When we say that, it means he would score, here he does, first of the season. It's a 30 yard combination play. Look where penalty starts with the ball. He's going to get it back, and in nice little finish, he controls it up, finishes it off, and he gets his goal. And it's already four to nothing. Danny Omo is on the field, and Danny Omo does Danny Omo think. So call this Shaq, El Paso 60, for Lamin Jemal's grace. What's that, what's that translate? It's a 60 pass. It's a 60 pass. Danny Omo is such a brilliant footballer. Yes, he is. He's going to watch. And it's a Manita five to nothing. Valencia getting destroyed by Barcelona. Rafinha is the first Barcelona player to scoring five straight La Liga games since Robert Lewandowski did it, six games scoring streak back in August of October. I'm sorry, of 2022, nine goals. Linen Messi did it also in 2021. That's not a bad company, speaking of goalscorders, especially if you are Rafinha. And now is your job to be the goal scorer. He's leading, by the way, the goal scorer is stable with... But so we spoke about Julian Albares and how Barcelona was in need of a number nine to take their game to a different level. Is this even better than having Julian on your squad, having Rafinha in this form? Different players. Different players. And Rafinha is worthy of all the products we give him. Of any proper thing you want to say about a nine that it could potentially do in the first four weeks of the season, Rafinha has fulfilled that. And he's fulfilled it with goals, with dangerous play, fulfilled it with his runs, fulfilled it with how he combines and what's the word I'm looking here for. It's a contagious he is with his work rate. It gets everybody going and when this team presses you, you are done. That said, Julian has a different type of player. And if you have a different type of player like Julian who's a proper nine, who can combine in the way a nine can, maybe you can get more out of Rafinha elsewhere. The test for Rafinha won't be what he does in La Liga, versus Valencia with all due respect, who's closer to a second division team than they are a first division team. They're a shell of themselves and it's a sad thing to see Valencia like that. It's what they can do against the bar, excuse me, the routers of the world, the athletics of the world, and then the Champions League teams of the world in the phases of where it matters. That's where we're going to measure the right way Rafinha. Goal scores today in today's world, don't have to be number nine. But Rafinha is just proving how much of a total footballer he is. He's a very clever footballer and he's a very, very effective footballer. When every time I talk about Rafinha, you have to remind yourself that two years ago, with Boston, we were able to get that Nika Williams signing over the line. He'd probably be out. No, you could make the argument that Rafinha is Boston as most important player. And I'm with her. He's not a natural number nine. He's not a hooded average. But what he continues to show, as he has done consistently for the last two years, is that he is an incredible footballer. So while that may not be his preferred position, while that may not be the positions he takes up naturally, he has this understanding for the game that he just fills those voids. Whatever you ask of him, he will do and do wonderfully well. So they didn't get the hooded average signing. They didn't come as a shock to say to anybody in Madrid. And so no, Boston, they had to adjust. And Rafinha, as maybe you could have predicted, was always going to step up. Was always going to be this good as a number nine. No, but is this actually spraying the wealth somehow? Because it's Rafinha with six. But you have Fermín with four. And you have La Minha Mal with four. And we speak about how Boston's really good making the field wide. And the La Minha Mal effect on the right-hand side. Now the Anthony Gordon effect on the left-hand side. Take a look at this graphic. They are creating their chances most of the time down the middle of the field. Does that say anything to you, Herk? Listen, I said it today in a previous platform that the most important player in Barcelona for me or my favorite player at the moment is Fermín Lopez. Is that platform the popular show? I don't know. I'm going to be in the port. That's right. That's where it was. And it's because of what he can do off the ball. Not just when he has the ball. Listen, he's got attributes of a playmaker. He's got attributes of a nine. He's got the finish ability with both feet of a player you want in or around the box. And he's got that personality, that character of a gavi, that little nastiness to him. He's a complete player as well. And when you have complete players on the field, when you have true footballers, they find each other. So it's no surprise that Fermín Lopez, Rafaña, and La Minha Mal have found each other with Pedro behind him and Rodri. You put good footballers on the field together. They're going to do good things. So the fact that the wealth of footballing knowledge is in the center of the field does not surprise me that that's where the attack starts from. This is Barcelona right now playing total football, something that they haven't played in. I don't know how long. Hansi Flick has been a godsend for this team. Exceptional. It really is crazy that this is Barcelona team, mimics individually different levels, but mimics the pep guardiola and Barcelona teams evolved. Can I ask you a tough question? Sure. You make the big bucks by answering the tough questions. Okay. Who's Barcelona's best player? If there was one player in Barcelona's lineup that I could have in my team, it would be La Minha Mal. I think he's the most talented player, and you see it. But I'll go back to what I said earlier. You could also meet the argument right now. That Rafaña is the most important player. But then you look around, you've got a ball on door when they're in Rodri. You know, sitting at the top of the bottom of your midfield from there back for protecting. I don't think it's by accident. I think it's very much by design. With that graphic, we're so much more of Barcelona's attacking place coming right up the middle. When you have a player like Rodri with that understanding and that positional sense, that opens up those opportunities as opposed to relying on the white men. As we've seen over the last couple of seasons, under Hansi Flake. It's an incredibly balanced team now. That can hurt you in a multitude of ways. And just depending on who the opponent is, that almost dictates who's bar says best player most important player on the day. I ask you because I agree that it seems like Lamin Yamal has the talent not to be only bar says best player, but the world's best player, right? If fit, if in the right mindset, right? He does have the talent to be that player. It's got the ceiling. Exactly. But the fact that now, you bring Rodri to this team and the way he can manage the midfield, not only the midfield attacking, but also defending. We all saw how teams were taking advantage of Barcelona being exposed in the back line. Well, Rodri is especially for that. He learned on the part of the ola how to defend that high. So if I tell you that by the end of the year, Rodri was bar says best player, would you be surprised? No, because you've seen him be the best player in the world. How could you be surprised if he's the best player for a club team like Barcelona, who is among the best in the world? So no, I would not be surprised at all. That said, it's a long way to go to see the Rodri we saw at the World Cup level, the club level. Last year for City, he was often injured. He wasn't the same player. Right after the World Cup, he had a back injury. Let's see what the season has for Rodri. You said it yourself. You're asking a question if you should have been sent off in this game. You get sent off. Maybe this is a different game against a team that has no business being in the same field as you. I also think to that point, a full season, even a full season of Rodri being outstanding, you asked 10 people that question. You may get four or five different answers. Yeah. Absolutely. There's just that much talent. For me, it has been stellar. Yeah. I really have so much talent on the field. Barça will go back to the Valencia area in Spain. They will play away at Levante on Sunday, starting at 10, 15 a.m. Eastern time coverage begins 30 minutes earlier on the ESPN ad. All right. Round another in. Being perfect. For playing away at Real Betis, the header by Veosa, the great save is by Courtois, both parrots scoring for the first time in Spain with Betis, and Betis is shocking the world. The team of Igeniero Manuel Pellegrini, hurt 86 minutes. Take a look at this play. Igeni Jr. with the Trevella for his feet. That's being course of banger. All right. The overhead kick. A look at himself right right here. Oh, what? Wait, what? Oh, no. Oh, no. You know, it's... It's never been able to ref text the finger to the ear. Yeah, it's offside. It's offside. Yeah. Good call? Yeah, it is. The initial play, ST is offside. The second play, he is not offside. It's a beautiful finish. Take nothing away from the big man, but no goal. Not even not impressed. Ninety-third minute, and it's again a Vini. It's been taken down by Natan, the ref says penalty. And a yellow card for the Brazilian defender. No questions here, right? None. That's a penalty. That's a tough challenge. Uh, on the 10, Ninety-third minute, and it's Keelian and Bapé. And he's going to be saved by Bias. Varta gets some time to avoid the second chance by Mbapé. Vias shouts it on his face. Uh-oh. Here we go again. Well... What's sitting in Krocheman? Take a look at Varta's foot. It's not on the ground. So there's no retaking the penalty. Check, right call? It's by the lets of the law. Absolutely. It's your right call. Oh my gosh. What an ending to the game. Real Madrid, the first loss of the season. It is the fifth time that Manuel Peregrini beats his rival. Jose Maurinho. Real Madrid didn't play that poorly. Twenty plus shots, zero goals. Third such La Liga match since the start of the season. Most of any team. Elevated XG 3.16 Keelian and Bapé. Misses the penalty he had converted seven in a row for Real Madrid. Maurinho made some changes. Some of them have a specific impact. Like Carlos Espeito, listen to what Maurinho said after the game regarding substitutions. The game has been made by Madrid. We have seen data, we have seen statistics, we have seen nothing, but we can imagine that we have made a lot of mistakes because many times we didn't make a lot of mistakes. But we created a lot of mistakes. We had 10-15, 18, we didn't throw them in the game. We made 3-4 clear. I also made the same 3-4 impressive parades. I made the changes. I made it to be happy with the team. I made the sense of that card of field, the players who had a yellow card. The last one. The last one because of his career. I made the change for Espeito. I made the change for Espeito. I made the change for Espeito. I made the change for Espeito. I made the change for Espeito. I made the change for Espeito. I made the change for Espeito. I made the change for Espeito. I made the change for Espeito. I made the change for Espeito. I made the change for Espeito. I made the change for Espeito. I made the change for Espeito. I made the change for Espeito. I made the change for Espeito. I made the change for Espeito. I made the change for Espeito. I made the change for Espeito. I made the change for Espeito. I made the change for Espeito. I made the change for Espeito. 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