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00:00It's been 10 years since Barcelona last lifted the Champions League trophy, but there's a growing sense of belief that this could be the year the Catalans return to the summit of European football.
00:12Well, Inter have had to wait even longer. Jose Mourinho led the Italian side to glory in 2010, and now Inzaghi is hoping that he can match the special one's achievement.
00:22Though lost in the final two years ago, can they land the big prize this time round?
00:27And after PSG gained a first leg advantage against Arsenal last night, this evening the focus is on Catalunya and Barcelona's temporary home at the Olympic Stadium.
00:37Well, both sides remain in a hunt for their domestic league titles, but will either be crowned Kings of Europe in Munich in 31 days' time.
00:47Good evening, everyone. Welcome along. Very excited about this one and also very excited to introduce my two guests tonight.
00:53Great to see you both. Are we feeling good? Are we excited about this one?
00:58How can you not be excited? Semi-finals of the Champions League, Barcelona flying high, beat Real Madrid midweek.
01:07Inter Milan have just faltered the last couple of games, but still high-quality football, isn't it?
01:11I was going to say, it's me that's missed the quarterfinals, not you, not you.
01:15Tell me a little bit about the context of these two teams, because at one point both these teams were on for a treble,
01:20and now obviously it's a little bit different now.
01:22Yeah, but I think obviously for Inter, you know, they still have a brilliant team, experienced manager,
01:27and you know, they're probably the underdog, I'd say, from the four teams in the semi-final.
01:31But Barcelona chasing another treble under the Hannes flick. The guy is just a magician in terms of recreating teams.
01:37Did it with Bayern, he's doing it with this Barcelona. They're the favourites, like PSG were yesterday against Arsenal.
01:42But Inter, with the experience that they have, they could spring a surprise as well.
01:46Maka, if you're Inter, are you going to be looking at this team and thinking in Barcelona,
01:51yeah, they just had a massive win, but could they be tied? Obviously it went to the Copa del Rey, went to extra time.
01:57Is there a little bit of weakness in that, that the players have had such a big experience?
02:01There shouldn't be. They left the field about one o'clock in Seville, Sunday morning, Saturday night, Sunday morning.
02:06So this should be a significant amount of time to recuperate, to be very honest.
02:11They've got a lot of youngsters in the side. I don't think that'll be an issue.
02:13Depending on how long or how much they've celebrated after the game,
02:16but you'd have thought that their eyes were straight on this.
02:19So, I wouldn't think it's a problem.
02:21The only thing for Inter Milan is they have to stop them scoring,
02:24because Barcelona are averaging three a game. That's the thing.
02:27But if anybody can stop any team from scoring, it's Inter Milan.
02:30They can be very pragmatic at times, can't they? And they can shut up shop.
02:33And Barca, with that high line, they give you a chance, don't they?
02:36Absolutely, yeah. You know, with Martinez and Terram.
02:38But, Owen, Inter aren't necessarily in the best or in a form at the moment.
02:43They're not in the best place. Their confidence might be a little bit low as well.
02:45We don't often see them losing back-to-back-to-back games.
02:48And also, not scoring any goals is a bad thing, but conceding the amount of goals that they have.
02:53Yeah, I mean, that's probably an issue, because I think in the group stages they only conceded two.
02:56So, that was probably one of the reasons why they weren't one of the best teams.
02:59But, I think these guys have bad experience in big games.
03:02They got to a final, we saw against City.
03:04This is their season, you know, and they'll be right up for it.
03:06But, obviously, I just think Barcelona, like PSG, they play so aggressive
03:11in the way that they approach a game, especially at home.
03:13So, I think they won't have much of the ball.
03:15But I think with Terram and Martinez, they have two players that will have space.
03:19And if they get chances, they will score.
03:21The thing is, they don't need to score. They just don't need to lose, if that makes sense.
03:24This is one game. They needed to win in the league, because Napoli are chasing them down.
03:28They needed to win in the cup, because, of course, it was up against Milan.
03:31You know, they've lost the last three. They're struggling.
03:33But, actually, tonight, they can go and defend, which they are good at,
03:37and then hopefully get something at the San Siro.
03:39Oh, and we're all Arsenal fans at the moment, aren't we, obviously?
03:42Because it's the last English side that are left in the competition.
03:44So, you know, everyone at home that's English, they must be backing Arsenal.
03:47But last night wasn't the best start, was it, really, for them?
03:51But I think you have to praise PSG.
03:53I just thought they were brilliant on the ball.
03:54They had about 75% possession the first.
03:56And then after, I actually think Arsenal did well to get back into the game
03:59and find a way.
04:00I thought Declan Rice was exceptional.
04:02At 1-0, I think it's still game on.
04:04Obviously, PSG are favourites, and they probably have a stronger squad.
04:08But I think, with PSG not getting a second goal late on,
04:11I do think that there's a chance.
04:14Also, maybe people were quite, they expected a little bit more from Arsenal
04:18because of what they saw against Real Madrid.
04:20Yes.
04:21Whatever you think about the phase that Real Madrid are in at the moment.
04:23Yeah.
04:24Were there individual performances that you think let Arsenal down a little bit?
04:28No, I agree with Owen.
04:30I think people got carried away about them beating Real Madrid
04:33because Real Madrid are not the force that they were last year.
04:36And because probably people haven't seen them as much,
04:38or seen them as much as I have,
04:40they probably got thought,
04:42we're going to do this, we're going to do that.
04:43PSG are a different team.
04:45And I thought they were excellent.
04:46They were fit.
04:47They got behind the ball when they lost it.
04:49They were very organised.
04:50And they looked more of a squad.
04:51I thought Declan Rice played well,
04:53but up top, where they needed to be a little bit more creative,
04:57they were just shut out by a very good PSG team.
04:59And it's going to be hard to go to Paris and get a result.
05:02Their stadium rocks when you're there.
05:04It's vociferous.
05:06It's atmospheric.
05:07It's loud.
05:08It's noisy.
05:09And I think Arsenal, I mean, I hope they get a result.
05:11I really do.
05:12But I think it's going to be hard for them.
05:13We are going to be there in Paris next week
05:16for that second leg of Arsenal against PSG
05:19in the semi-final of the Champions League.
05:21Meanwhile, in this semi-final that we're talking about,
05:23in this first leg,
05:24let's just give you a little update on the team news so far.
05:26For Barcelona, in a great runner-form
05:28at that massive win in the Copa del Rey against Real Madrid.
05:31Perhaps unsurprisingly, they are unchanged.
05:34Szczesny starts in goal.
05:35There was a little bit of a question whether or not Ter Stegen
05:37would come back in, but he's not going to.
05:39They're sticking with Szczesny.
05:40Lamine Jamal, two assists for him at the weekend.
05:43He's obviously starting.
05:44Jules Conde, he's got matter-of-the-match performance in there.
05:46And the winner in extra time.
05:49So, look, Barcelona just running high at the moment.
05:51Rafinha, we're going to have a chat about him a little bit later.
05:53More to tell you about Inter Milan's team news, though.
05:55For them, five changes.
05:57We mentioned a minute ago, three consecutive losses.
06:00Terrible preparation for this game for Inter Milan.
06:03The bad news for them, Benjamin Pavard picked up an injury,
06:05went off at the weekend.
06:06He misses out today.
06:07He is not back.
06:08Jan Bissek, he comes in.
06:09He's won the five changes.
06:11The good news, Marcus Jaram missed the last three.
06:13He is back in the starting line-up.
06:15He will be alongside Martinez, and he'll be leading the attack.
06:18Let's see if they can score some goals, finally.
06:20OK, so, our great team on the ground in Barcelona
06:24features Rio Ferdinand and also Reshman Choudhury.
06:27So why don't we go and check in with them?
06:28Hi, guys.
06:29Hello, guys.
06:32Welcome back, Laura, and welcome to Monjuic here in Barcelona, Rio.
06:36It's a splendid day out here, isn't it?
06:38And I tell you what, whatever the form of these teams recently,
06:41we cannot wait for this one.
06:43And you've turned into a bit of a fanboy, haven't you?
06:44We're really looking forward to this.
06:45I've been looking forward to getting here.
06:47We've been all over Europe this year.
06:48We've watched some wonderful games, been to some great places.
06:50We've not been here.
06:51So to come here and soak up the atmosphere all day today,
06:53I actually made my way down a 35-minute walk to the club shop,
06:57got my little four-year-old a football kid.
06:59He loves Laminya Mal.
07:00Laminya Mal fever is here.
07:02It ain't going nowhere.
07:03It was really, really nice to go and see and touch and feel
07:06what the atmosphere is going to be like.
07:08Just get a taste of it earlier.
07:09And just on the way here, it's loud.
07:11They're not in yet, but outside, they're here.
07:12They're loud.
07:13It's going to be a great atmosphere.
07:14Yeah, exactly.
07:15Of course, it's not their own ground.
07:17It's their adopted stadium here in Monjuic as well.
07:19And you played at the camp now.
07:21I don't want to remind you, sorry about this,
07:23but you did lose to Barcelona twice in two Champions League finals.
07:26I'm so sorry.
07:27I was told that I had to bring that one up.
07:29But do you know what?
07:30It was against possibly one of the best sides we've ever seen in football.
07:34I mean, one of the most incredible teams that Pep Guardiola managed to put together.
07:38How does this one compare?
07:39Is this side capable of winning the Champions League?
07:42I think it's too early to say, yeah.
07:44They've not dominated Europe yet.
07:46They've not got to them heights.
07:47They've not even got near it.
07:49I think it's the first semi-final in many years now.
07:51So they've got a lot to prove.
07:52They have huge potential.
07:53They're a young team.
07:54They've got so many young players that are coming out of the academy here that you're going,
07:57you know what?
07:58This could be a team that's starting to kind of look like a team that could knit together
08:01and become a really successful period for them.
08:03But they've got to produce that.
08:04I don't want to compare them to the team that I consider the best club team that I've ever seen.
08:09Definitely the best team I've ever played against.
08:11And they had Messi.
08:12You need a special player or a special one or two players.
08:15They have that here.
08:16They've got Luminium out there.
08:17The best 17-year-old I think we've ever seen.
08:19But can he go to the heights of the greats that we've seen before him?
08:23That's going to need time to let him kind of grow into what he can be.
08:28But they have the nucleus, I think, the potential to do really good things here.
08:32And I just think this, again, being in the city today and really soaking that up and seeing what they're like,
08:36there's a lot of optimism here.
08:37There's a lot of belief.
08:38And it's justified.
08:39They're winning trophies.
08:40That's a critical thing now.
08:42But they've got to do it year in, year out and dominate.
08:45But with the other guys in Madrid, around the corner, it's not going to be easy.
08:49Yeah.
08:50It never is, is it, with those two teams here in Spain.
08:53But now they're up against an Italian giant in Inter who've been, you know,
08:56in the final in the last few years as well.
08:58What's interesting about them is that you see how teams set up.
09:02So many teams like your old club United have, you know, really struggled with three at the back.
09:07How on earth are they going to play that system?
09:09Pippo Inzaghi has really nailed it, hasn't he?
09:11Yeah.
09:12I mean, he's been here, I think it's almost four years this summer.
09:14So he's had a lot of time to really drill this team.
09:16This is a well-oiled machine, well-drilled.
09:18Their transitions are great.
09:19The way they start from, restarts from the goalkeeper are different to anyone else.
09:23Midfielders dropping into the back lines and getting the ball to really funnel the ball through the lines really well.
09:29But I think one of the most important things with this system, because it is different,
09:32three at the back, it brings many different problems for the opposition, but also can for yourself.
09:37The difference with this team is that, yes, they're well-drewed, but he has the personnel.
09:41They've recruited perfectly to play this way.
09:44They've not recruited for any other thing just to play this formation.
09:47And that's why you see that this team, they do it better than anybody else.
09:50Yeah, they do.
09:51And Barcelona have to get past them here at home.
09:54OK, well, Ali McQuist and Darren Fletcher are also here.
09:57I've got to say, Rio, those two are like the chuckle brothers, aren't they?
09:59They've been having a great time.
10:01You see those two chuckling away, chatting away.
10:03It really is something else.
10:05They've been picking a bit of the atmosphere outside the stadium.
10:08So, Ali, I've been called worse, I must say.
10:13I've got that done as a compliment.
10:15That's one of the nicest things I've ever been called in my life.
10:18To be quite frank with you.
10:19I'm not sure she meant it that way.
10:20No.
10:21However.
10:22So, the stadium behind you, taking you back 1992.
10:25Yes.
10:26Gold medals four.
10:27One for Kristina 100 metres.
10:30And Sally Gunnell in the 400 metre hurdles.
10:34And you did really well earlier when we did the, uh,
10:37the little quiz when you said, quite rightly, Steve Backley got a silver.
10:41Amazing.
10:42Amazing.
10:43But anyway, let's get to tonight.
10:44Yes.
10:45Because I'm so excited tonight to see this, this Barcelona team.
10:47Lamine Jamal, 100th game for the club.
10:49Oh, yeah.
10:50Rafinha, who I think might well just be the front runner for the Ballon d'Or.
10:5330 goals he's got this season, Rafinha.
10:55I've got to say, it's remarkable.
10:56I'm really, really looking forward to the game tonight.
10:58Probably contrasting styles.
11:00I mean, we're both sides fletched.
11:01I mean, it's remarkable.
11:02I'm more looking forward, I can't lie to you, I'm more looking forward to seeing Barcelona
11:06than I'm Inter Milan.
11:07And I don't mean that anti-Inter.
11:09We saw Inter, obviously, when we were in the San Siro for the Arsenal game early on in the tournament.
11:13But I just think this Barcelona side, you know, it's got some gold dust about it.
11:18It's got some magic about it.
11:19Players you mentioned.
11:20And of course, that young man, he's making his 100th appearance for Barcelona tonight.
11:2617, 100 appearances.
11:28It's remarkable.
11:29It's astonishing.
11:30I mean, you could really set this up, couldn't you, by saying this is irresistible force meets
11:34immovable object if Inter Milan are immovable because they haven't been for the last two
11:39or three games.
11:40Absolutely.
11:41That's what I think they are.
11:42But I actually think they're the one side that you don't want to play against.
11:47Because you know how PSG are going to play.
11:49You've got a fair idea how Arsenal are going to play.
11:50Barcelona will play the same way.
11:52Inter Milan can be dogged.
11:53I mean, a great result of us against Bayern Munich.
11:56They've lost their last three and all competitions, which is very, very unlike them.
11:59Napoli, Scott McTominay, a couple of goals at the weekend, put them back top.
12:03So they've got everything to play for.
12:05But I mean, they're just one of these sides you don't want to play against.
12:07Can you believe that he's managed to bring Scott McTominay into a conversation about that?
12:10Barcelona and Inter Milan in the semi-finals of the Champions.
12:15Will you behave?
12:16Well, he scored two, just for the record.
12:18I think he's scored five of the last six goals.
12:21So I'm on a Scott McTominay campaign right now.
12:23I've got to say as well, and you can accuse me of bias if you want.
12:26I think it'd be great for football if we get Paris Saint-Germain against Barcelona.
12:31Arsenal fans don't want to hear that.
12:33But when you think about this team in particular are playing fantasy football this season.
12:37Fletcher, I'll tell you right now.
12:39Listen, I hope Arsenal go through.
12:40I hope they can turn it around right.
12:41But see if they don't.
12:42Everybody, everybody wants a PSG-Barcelain final.
12:46That's what we want.
12:47Two of the form sides.
12:48We've been lucky enough.
12:49We've watched PSG at home a couple of good times.
12:51They have been irresistible.
12:53Barcelona are the same.
12:5421 goals and above it is the sixth European Champions League home games.
12:58I think they've won five and drawn one.
13:00They're a real unit.
13:01OK.
13:02So it's going to be fantastic tonight.
13:03You've got Rafinha.
13:04You've got Jamal.
13:05And what about the midfield battle?
13:06What about the four in there?
13:07Challenoglu, Barella, De Jong, Pedri.
13:10I can't wait for it to kick off.
13:13Boys, thank you very much.
13:14They've obviously done their homework.
13:15More from those two and everyone else on the ground over in Barcelona very shortly.
13:18And more from us.
13:19After the break, we're going to be talking about the two managers
13:22and continuing our build-up to Barcelona against Inter.
13:25See you in a moment.
13:35Oh, what a hit!
13:37Oh, it's beautiful!
13:39They've beaten Benfica.
13:414-1 on aggregate.
13:43Lautaro Martinez!
13:45Oh, what a strike!
13:46Inter move into the quarterfinals.
13:494-1 on aggregate.
13:52All three of the front three have gone on the score sheet.
13:57They are going to take some stopping.
14:00Barcelona go through.
14:01It finishes 5-3 on aggregate.
14:05From Taysic to steer Inter back in the lead.
14:08They will be taking a lead back to Milan.
14:10It's another grand old night in the Champions League.
14:14It's finished 4-3 on aggregate.
14:17The semi-final will be Barcelona against Inter Milan.
14:26Well, Barcelona is a city that knows all about building projects taking longer than expected.
14:32With the rebuild of a squad that can claim the Champions League almost into a tenth year.
14:37But the rebuild hasn't just been on the pitch because just two miles down from where tonight's game is taking place is another architectural masterpiece that's slowly taking shape.
14:47New camps renovation is nearly complete.
14:50And let's get a little bit more on that with Reschman.
14:52Laura, thank you very much.
14:57Yeah, I'm pitch side here with Phil Kutrimelidis.
14:59In fact, last time you were on air with us, I described you as a Spanish football expert and Steve McManaman laughed at you.
15:04I don't know how.
15:05But you are going to show us your expertise now because I want to ask you a little bit about the camp now.
15:09I mean, Monjuic is fine.
15:10It's their temporary home.
15:11Yeah.
15:12But Barcelona really need to get back home, don't they?
15:15They do for many reasons.
15:16I mean, as you said, it's nice here.
15:17It's just not the camp now, which is the biggest stadium in Europe.
15:2099,000.
15:21It's an imposing place.
15:23It's an imposing place to broadcast pitch side.
15:25So even just to play there must be extraordinary.
15:28It's important for a number of reasons commercially for Barcelona.
15:30They need to get back there because they need to make more money.
15:33But also it feels like this project, this really exciting, effervescent Barcelona side,
15:38needs to be playing in a stadium like that, which can captivate more people.
15:43So, yeah.
15:44When is the question?
15:45When are they going to be there?
15:46It was supposed to be last November.
15:47Then they're saying end of this season.
15:49Now, maybe August.
15:50We'll see if they're there at the end of the year.
15:52But yeah, you know what it's like when you've got renovations.
15:54It always takes a little bit longer, right?
15:56You always have to bargain for a bit more, don't you?
15:58Speaking of this effervescent Barcelona side and the job that Hansi Flick is doing.
16:03We saw what he did in his first season with Bayern winning the treble.
16:06He's come here to Barcelona, potentially on course for a treble here as well.
16:10But I think what's incredible is how he's managed to galvanize this team,
16:14produce that incredible kind of football and just change the narrative,
16:19not just on the pitch, but off it as well.
16:22Yeah.
16:23And it's basically exactly the same squad that they had last year.
16:25The only player that's come in is Danny Olmo, who's been injured and not really available for about half the game.
16:29So it's basically the same players doing really extraordinary things under Hansi Flick.
16:33What's changed?
16:34Well, Flick has come in.
16:35And listen, Xavi Hernandez, who was the manager last season, a legendary figure at this club,
16:40a little bit emotional, a little bit overwrought, a little bit perhaps too closely tied to this club.
16:45Flick's come in.
16:46He's a lot calmer.
16:47And I think the players notice that calm element from him.
16:50And then the style of football that he's playing, he's getting the best out of these players.
16:54Rafinha, for example, wasn't necessarily suited to the patient positional buildup play under Xavi Hernandez.
17:01Now with Flick, high pressing, high energy, you're seeing Rafinha being extraordinary.
17:05Pedri's dropped a little bit deeper, playing in a double pivot.
17:07He's one of the best midfielders in the world.
17:09So, yeah, Flick has got a lot out of the same Barcelona squad that Xavi Hernandez had last season.
17:14Yeah, exactly.
17:15You can hear the noise here because the team have just come out.
17:18And I've got to ask you about the victory in the Copa del Rey.
17:21And there was a really nice line, wasn't there, from Lamine Jamal.
17:24We're talking about, you know, we want the party to continue.
17:26Yes.
17:27And that's exactly what they want to do today.
17:28As you say, with the side that they've got and the kind of football they're playing, it's only natural to take that next step.
17:34I don't know how long the party continued on Saturday night.
17:37Maybe a little bit too late because it went to extra time against Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey final.
17:41They won it. They partied, as they should do, rightfully.
17:44But, yeah, Lamine Jamal kind of sort of is everything what this Barcelona team is about, you know.
17:50Youthful exuberance and enjoyment as well.
17:53He's playing with a smile.
17:54He's playing with an unbelievable amount of confidence as well.
17:56And if you saw his press conference yesterday, it was really amazing what he was saying and how he was saying it.
18:03Age 17, I don't know, we keep saying it, he's only 17, but he is only 17.
18:07And he himself said...
18:08He's a baby. He's a pop.
18:09He's literally a child.
18:10He's literally a child.
18:11And he himself said, you know, there haven't been many players age 17 in history who have played as many games for a big club like Barcelona as me.
18:17So he knows what he's doing is special.
18:19And he is a...
18:20He's a moments player.
18:21But those moments, they're becoming really, really quite frequent.
18:24Yeah, and it's a very important cog in this very big Barcelona wheel as well.
18:29Really looking forward to this one, Phil, aren't we?
18:31Against Inter here at Montjuic.
18:33But for now, back to you, Laura.
18:35Phil, Rashmin, thank you very much.
18:37More from that side of things a little bit later on.
18:40But meanwhile, back here in the studio, we're just going to go through a few little things because I think in terms of what Hansi Flick has done and how he's hit the ground running.
18:49We talk about managers who have, like, for example, in the Premier League, managers that have hit the ground running that you don't expect it.
18:56How much do you consider the job that Hansi Flick has done to be a little bit ahead of schedule?
19:01I mean, I think that goes without saying he's been incredible.
19:04It's the start of the season.
19:05I was speaking to him just after they won their first La Liga game away Valencia.
19:09They had three 17-year-olds in the team.
19:11So they were very inexperienced.
19:13He's only just arrived.
19:14And when I was speaking to him, he said that once everybody's fit, we'll be flying.
19:19They've already won the Super Cup.
19:21They've already beat Real Madrid again in the final of the Copa del Rey.
19:24You know, they've already beaten Real Madrid 4-0 in La Liga.
19:26So when they play them next week, Madrid will have to beat them 5-0 to get over them on their head-to-head.
19:32So there's a good chance he'll definitely win the treble in Spain.
19:36And if he does well in this competition, that's the quadruple in his first year.
19:39That's unheard of, isn't it?
19:40What's he doing that so good, do you think, Owen?
19:43First of all, his style is brilliant.
19:45You know, the front three are scoring goals, I think, and the highest-scoring team in Europe.
19:48They play this really high line in terms of this offside trap.
19:51You'll see it tonight.
19:52And it's super aggressive.
19:53At times, you watch and you think, oh, my...
19:55This is going to be a mess.
19:56But it works.
19:57He did it with Bayern and I think they won six trophies.
19:59Everybody loves him.
20:00All the players love him.
20:02He's added a bit of discipline.
20:03I think he's changed a few things.
20:04If you're late, you're out.
20:05You don't play.
20:06Yeah.
20:07Which I think is really great.
20:08So he's added that.
20:09And I just think his man management is as good as anyone's.
20:11I remember speaking to Thiago, who played for Spain, obviously.
20:15And he was at Liverpool at the time.
20:17And he said he's one of the best managers he's ever had.
20:20And he's had everyone.
20:21And that just goes in terms of his man management, he said, is off the charts.
20:25And everybody's having a historic season.
20:27You look at Ferran Torres or Rafinha.
20:28Yeah.
20:29Everyone.
20:30And he's added in these academy boys.
20:32Done a brilliant job of protecting Gavi.
20:34Look, he's had it having the season.
20:37This could be one of Barca's best ever.
20:39I suppose you learn a lot from when you hear players talk about their manager.
20:42Yeah.
20:43But every one of those teams, they look like they have a lot of belief.
20:45And how much the results say it.
20:47But how much of that comes down from the manager?
20:49I think a lot does.
20:50There was a lot of pressure under Xavi, the last manager,
20:54being an ex-Barcelona superstar, et cetera.
20:57And he was from that area.
20:58So we felt the world was always on his shoulders constantly
21:00when they were struggling.
21:01Where Hansi Flick has come in and is nice and relaxed.
21:04Yes, he's changed things around.
21:06He's a little bit more stern.
21:07He's changed the dress codes where they just come in
21:10at any old fancy dress to turn up for the game.
21:12He's changed that.
21:13But I think there's no...
21:15You know, the fact that the greatest managers like Carlo Ancelotti
21:18or Hansi Flick are suddenly doing well
21:20because of their man management styles.
21:22Yes, they know the game, but they know how to control,
21:25how to handle the superstars and how to say,
21:27yes, it's fine to do this, and no, it's not fine to do that.
21:30And they're all responding.
21:31And, you know, the fact that they've got...
21:33It helps when you've got a couple of fantastic 17-year-olds,
21:3618-year-olds in the squad as well, doesn't it?
21:38It does, doesn't it?
21:39Yeah.
21:40I mean, your mouth is off the scale goes.
21:42But Casado, he's got in there.
21:43He's got Gerard Martin.
21:44You know, La Masia, which went quiet for a while,
21:47has started to really crank into action as well now,
21:49and he's got a lot of those to thank.
21:51In the other dugout, let's talk about Inzaghi.
21:53Where do you think he ranks for you among the best players,
21:56sorry, the best managers in the world at the moment?
21:58Well, he's definitely one of the best ex-players as a manager.
22:01He's done an incredible job at this football club.
22:05I think on and off the pitch, he's been brilliant.
22:07He's got a clear identity in how they play.
22:09They've got three at the back,
22:10and they've got the two at the top of the pitch,
22:12and they win games.
22:13They're hard to break down.
22:14They're hard to score against.
22:15And this is a massive game for them.
22:17I think being underdog will actually probably suit them.
22:19You know, I think in the Cup against Milan,
22:20they were probably favourites.
22:21In the league, they were probably favourites.
22:23This probably suits them, and they can cause an upset.
22:26So it's a side of one team with a lot of the ball in Barca.
22:29Inter are going to be brilliant in transitions.
22:31Can't wait not long till kick-off.
22:33Quick one from last night, though.
22:34An early goal from Usman Dembele.
22:36That was enough for PSG to gain a first-leg advantage
22:40against Arsenal at the Emirates in the other semi-finals.
22:43So is it going to be Barcelona or Inter
22:45who gain the upper hand tonight?
22:46We're going to continue our build-up after this very quick break.
22:49See you in a minute, guys.
22:56Well, it's been 15 years since Barcelona and Inter
23:01last met in the Champions League knockout stages.
23:03Inter silenced the favourites,
23:05ruining Pep Guardiola's hopes of back-to-back European crowns
23:09on their way to winning the trophy in Madrid.
23:11Well, Jose Mourinho, he was Jose Mourinho at full-time,
23:15and would soon become even less popular with the Catalans
23:18when the special one made the move from Inter to Real Madrid.
23:22OK, we've spoken a lot about Barcelona and their individual stars.
23:26We haven't spoken much about Rafinha yet.
23:28Perhaps evidence of Hansi Flick's man-management
23:31turning a player like Rafinha into perhaps one of the best
23:34in the world at the moment? What do you think, Owen?
23:36Yeah, you could argue he's probably the best at the moment.
23:39I think his numbers would suggest...
23:41I mean, look at that.
23:43Wow.
23:4450 goals, 44 assists.
23:45But this season, Laura, he's been absolutely off the scale.
23:49And obviously, if you're a flair player,
23:50to play in amongst those guys.
23:52Oh, yeah. Yeah.
23:53But credit to him, you know, after the season that he's had,
23:55to play like he has, be in the Ballon d'Or conversation
23:57is remarkable.
23:59Yeah, remarkable, yeah.
24:00It wasn't necessarily up to his own great standards
24:02at the weekend, but he's earned so much credit with the fans.
24:06They'll let him have perhaps one off-game,
24:08but in a game like tonight, is this set up for him
24:11to be one of their key players and really kick on?
24:13Yes, at home, yes, because this is arguably the best.
24:16The last round when they played Dortmund,
24:18they won comfortably at the stadium.
24:19And they were expected to win.
24:21Today, we know Milan will be harder to break down.
24:25They'll be defensively strong.
24:27They'll try and hit them on the counter-attack.
24:29So the flair players will have to do what the flair players do.
24:31They'll have to score.
24:32They'll have to get assists.
24:34Whether it's him, whether it's Laminya Mal,
24:36or whether it's Ferran Torres, they'll need the goals.
24:39Because when they go to the San Siro, they'll need a lead.
24:41Because we've seen what Inter Milan did against Bayern Munich.
24:43They're a hard team to surpass.
24:45Maka, I think if you look at who's playing, Dumfries and Bisse,
24:48I think they've game-planned for Rafinha.
24:50Yeah.
24:51With having two players against him that are really athletic,
24:53able to close him down as a two.
24:55So I think it could be quite tricky for Rafinha today.
24:57I wonder if he maybe comes inside a little bit more,
24:59because they'll have two bodies against him.
25:01We talk about Laminya Mal, two assists at the weekend
25:04against Real Madrid, 17 years old.
25:05Rio was saying earlier on that Laminya Mal fever is really hit.
25:08So from one young man that has the potential to do some damage tonight,
25:13let's pass over to two old boys to talk a little bit about him.
25:16He's so impressive.
25:17Rio Ferdinand and Ali McCoyst, isn't he?
25:23Sorry, I didn't hear the last bit.
25:24He's a bit strong.
25:25I think there's a bit of flack coming out of here.
25:27It's not a surprise.
25:28Laura's back, isn't she?
25:29Yeah, she's back.
25:30Rio's back.
25:31But you know what, I know you were talking about Laminya Mal.
25:36Listen, like I said earlier, we went down,
25:38we had a great walk down to the city centre to go to the club shop,
25:42walking off a bit of the food and beverage from last night, I must add.
25:46But you can tell there's a superstar now in this town.
25:50I think there was a void left when Messi left.
25:52I'm not saying he's a ready-made replacement now on that level,
25:55but this kid is doing stuff at 17 we've never ever seen before.
25:58I've got to say, the one thing, and the boys have been talking about the stats,
26:01obviously, this evening, the one thing...
26:03At the press conference, they tried to throw little curveballs at me,
26:05he just goes, you know what, he bats it straight back.
26:07He seems like a really comfortable kid who's really just enjoying his football
26:11as a young kid.
26:12Absolutely, I mean, the world ahead of him is absolutely remarkable.
26:15But this is a game we're clearly really looking forward to.
26:18I mean, obviously your own Arsenal is a disappointing result last night, Laura,
26:21but I've got to say, from a lot of footballing point of view,
26:24I'd love to see Arsenal get there.
26:26But if they don't, I mean, what a final.
26:28If Barcelona could get there against PSG, what a final that would be.
26:31But we're in for some game tonight.
26:33I agree.
26:34And I think that would be the footballers' kind of final in terms of, like,
26:38two teams that are playing with a lot more freedom than anyone else in football
26:41at the moment, where attacking players are told,
26:43go on, attack your opponents, don't look back, not about recycling,
26:46go on and express yourself, and it would be great to see.
26:48What I love basically about tonight's game as well is the contrast in styles.
26:52Yeah.
26:53A team here, a Barcelona team that scored more goals in the top five leagues
26:56against a side that's conceded a few in the top five leagues.
26:59I mean, they have 24 clean sheets and Somers had 20 of them.
27:02I mean, but they'll be seriously tested tonight.
27:04That's for sure.
27:05Yeah, definitely.
27:06Just going back to what Rio said there as well, he's completely right
27:09about the press conference and what Lamine Yamal was saying
27:12because he was asked a question about how fearful of you are you
27:15of this big situation tonight.
27:17And he was like, look, absolutely no fear, just excitement and just motivation.
27:21And that's pretty amazing for 17 years of age.
27:23Ali McCoy, so I wanted to ask you a little bit going to Inter about
27:26a strike partnership because it's not often that we see that so much
27:29in football these days, not perhaps since your days.
27:32Taran Martinez, Ali, what do you think about that?
27:35How's that going to do tonight?
27:37Laura, I love it.
27:38I absolutely love it.
27:39I mean, normally a lot of the sides, a lot of the top sides.
27:42In fact, most sides now play with three.
27:44Two wide men and one centre forward.
27:45Bantamalan are different.
27:46They go three at the back and heavy in midfield, they go with five.
27:50And the two strikers, Martinez, obviously, he's in fire.
27:5324 goals in Serie A last year, 27 in total.
27:56He is key, but I think he'll be delighted as well.
27:59I know Arnautovic played at the weekend, but Turam,
28:02Marcus Turam was out, I think, for the last three games, Laura,
28:05so I think that is a real, real boost.
28:07And if you're the old-fashioned centre forward, I'm delighted to see a front two.
28:11I think the big important part of Turam, I think, is the pace.
28:15When he gives you that pace up front, especially with that high line
28:17that they're going to play Barcelona, he's definitely going to be a threat in that sense.
28:21But this team, I think their system, I think, is one of the things that is massive for them.
28:25The way that they play is very different to anything we see in Europe.
28:28Three at the back, the ability to play through the line from deep,
28:30and then they've got the last Martin who's very experienced
28:33at bringing other people into the game.
28:35I think it's a really, tactically, it's a really interesting game.
28:38Oh, guys, enjoy it.
28:40Rio and Ali both in commentary tonight with Darren Fletcher.
28:43And it's been quite contrasting fortunes for our two teams,
28:46Barca and Inter, in the last week.
28:48Barca won the Spanish Cup, and while Inter's treble hopes they were ended.
28:52So we're going to hear from both camps next.
29:04For our best version, it's very important in these two matches.
29:08But we know Barca, we know him.
29:10Flick is a great coach, who gave a great organization, a offensive team,
29:16who makes the attack of the ball when they lose it.
29:20They're certainly one of the most organized players in the world.
29:25Inter have a team. There are some players also in age,
29:28or maybe it's the last opportunity to reach the final,
29:31but they will be also ready.
29:33They have also the mentality to win this thing.
29:36So it's important for us to play on the highest level.
29:39Anzi Flick hoping that the real Inter do not turn up tonight.
29:53And for Barcelona, they are unchanged from that game at the weekend.
29:56The win against Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey.
29:58Ferran Torres, he was a constant threat in that game.
30:01He starts tonight alongside Rafinha, who's in the form of his life,
30:05and also Lamin Amal hoping to shine on a huge stage for that young man.
30:10Well, on the other side, Marcus Turam is back in the starting line-up,
30:14reunited with top scorer Letaro Martinez.
30:16Both of those two hoping to do some damage against Barcelona tonight,
30:20and Inter really hoping to regain some form that they have missed
30:23on the back of three consecutive losses.
30:26OK, guys, we haven't spoken much about Pedri.
30:30I wanted to focus on him a little bit at the moment
30:32because there's slightly less noise around him.
30:35Because we're purring about so many other players,
30:38but you still stand out.
30:40Well, you could argue, in a way, he's probably the most important player
30:43because he's the one who actually controls the tempo of the game.
30:45He doesn't get the numbers that the front three get,
30:47but I think you notice a huge difference when he doesn't play.
30:49He didn't start in Dortmund and they really struggled.
30:51He came on and it just completely controlled the game.
30:54So I think he's kind of the score more goals than anyone.
30:57And when they get it right timing-wise,
30:59I actually think that they're the best in this Champions League right now.
31:03When you think of it, Ter Stegen's out, they've had to change the goalie.
31:05Balde's out, they've got Gerard Martin.
31:07Araujo's been out for a while and still not back in the team.
31:10So they've had to do it with about seven or eight different players.
31:13Yeah.
31:14So you can see why at times they're a little bit dysfunctional.
31:17A little bit of news that we've just heard that might change things a bit.
31:20You can see on the screen behind us there, Laminya Mal will be going back down the tunnel.
31:24This happened a few moments ago.
31:26What we're looking at is a potential threat, a potential doubt.
31:31He's gone in early away from the rest of the team.
31:33This is what we hope is not happening.
31:35We're going to keep an eye on that.
31:36You can see there rubbing his thigh.
31:38We hope it's nothing serious.
31:39Of course, when we know, we will let you guys know.
31:41But that is Laminya Mal going down the tunnel, taking his warm-up top off.
31:46And we'll see if we can get you any more news on that.
31:48If that is a doubt and if that is a replacement, that is a massive shame, guys.
31:54It doesn't look good at all, does it?
31:56You know, it's not a kick.
31:57It looks as if it's a muscular problem.
31:59So, if that is, they certainly won't take any chances with them.
32:03Because, of course, the second leg's next week.
32:05They've got Real Madrid in a do-or-die La Liga fixture on the 11th of May.
32:10So, you're not going to take any chances with them.
32:12But it doesn't look good, does it?
32:13No.
32:14We'll keep you updated with that, guys.
32:15A quick break now and then we're going to be continuing our build-up.
32:17Last night, PSG took a step closer to Munich.
32:20And tonight, Barcelona and Inter will look to do the same.
32:23Kick-off is coming up next.
32:29It's another grand old night in the Champions League.
32:43A competition that never fails to deliver.
32:47Oh, can you believe that?
32:50Can you believe that?
32:52Oh, what a goal.
32:54What a strike.
32:55It's superb.
32:56It really is.
32:57Oh, it's beautiful.
32:59There's not many like him around.
33:01Lewandowski!
33:04Here come Barcelona.
33:05And it's another one.
33:08Good job to the end.
33:09And it's smuggled in again.
33:11Martinez.
33:12It's another goal for him.
33:15It's finished now.
33:16Surely that's enough.
33:18They are going to take some stopping in the Champions League this season.
33:27So much history between these two teams.
33:30And Barcelona into Milan with a chance tonight as well to go one step ahead.
33:35Can they get advantage?
33:36And now listen, before we went to the break, we mentioned that Lamine Jamal went running back down the tunnel.
33:41And this is separate to the rest of the team.
33:43We worried if he might have injured himself a little bit in the warm-up.
33:46What we're hearing from UEFA at the moment is there are no changes to either starting line-ups.
33:51As it stands, Lamine Jamal will still be starting.
33:54This is what we saw a moment ago.
33:56So he was talking to one of the coaches and one of the staff.
33:59And obviously just holding his groin a little bit there.
34:01Saying he might have had a bit of a tweak or something like that.
34:03I think he was taking a shot, Darren Fletcher was saying.
34:06And he slipped.
34:07We'll get more from him in just a moment's time.
34:09But guys, no changes UEFA are saying to the starting line-up.
34:12So obviously just a bit of a precaution.
34:14Yeah, and we want to see the best players at this particular stage of the tournament.
34:19And it's great that he is playing because he's been one of the stars of the season.
34:22So let's hope he's alright, stays on and the game takes its natural cause.
34:26I expect Barca to win, but I expect Inter Milan to score a goal at least to make it a bit more interesting.
34:31You can see his blonde hair just at the back there.
34:34We just saw it a second ago.