Can Brighton challenge for the Premier League title this season? 👀 | ESPN FC Extra Time

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ESPN FC Extra Time: Can Brighton really push for the top five, and how do PSG and Real Madrid-Barcelona look?

The crew debates how seriously to take Brighton's top-five challenge, with predictions ranging from third to fifth. They also discuss PSG's dominance in the Champions League and Ligue 1, plus Real Madrid's chances against Barcelona. The overall tone is cautious: Brighton still have to prove themselves over a full season, PSG have no real domestic rival at full tilt, and Madrid must first solve the problem of stopping Barca.

Frank Leboeuf, Shaka Hislop and Craig Burley join Dan Thomas on ESPN FC Extra Time to discuss: 0:00 Why have there been so many head butts recently? 3:08 How does Luis Enrique motivate PSG? 5:19 When do we take Brighton’s top 4 challenge seriously? 9:40 Is there a real title race in Ligue 1 this season? 10:30 What was your favorite pair of cleats to wear? 13:48 Can Madrid beat Barcelona next week? ✔️ Subscribe to ESPN Unlimited: https://plus.espn.com/ ESPN

Transcript

into the latest edition of Extra Time. Thank you very much for all your questions. Frank Labou is here. Craig Burley, Shaka Hisop. Why has there been so many headbutts recently in football? Has Craig's birthday celebration been that powerful? >> Craig of course headbutting John McInn his birthday cake that we gave you. >> Has it been that many headbutts? Headbutt the Barca game. Never had a head. >> Headbutt in the Brenford Liverpool game. >> Oh, okay. Uh yeah, couple got the head pulls. Did anyone try and headbutt you, Frank? On the pitch or off it? >> Um I think um uh one of the striker uh um um I think it was Gay uh the the Wimbledon striker who hit me in the face. I tried to save on the line. >> Yeah, Marcus Gay. And I was playing with with with Craig and it was my first game against Wimbledon. I tried to save him on the line, you know, and and I think it was Yeah, it was Marcus Gay and he came he headbutt me so I didn't touch the ball. The ball went in and the goalkeeper say go and I had a bump like that and Vinnie Joel came to me say Frankie welcome to England that was a great one. >> Growing up in Scotland, you must have had it every other day. >> No, you know what they call >> home. What was going to say? >> I get that now. Yeah, at home. Get it every other day at home. >> You know what they call it a malkey? Why is it called a malkey? >> No, they call it in Glasgow they call it a mali. >> Why is it called a mali? >> It's I don't know. It's their terminology. >> Okay. >> The severe mal is a bad one. >> Yeah, the severe mal it's got a bit more force behind it, >> right? >> The mal you're probably just going to get a broken nose, >> right? >> Which is not good. >> No. >> The severe mal could be like blood everywhere. They call it the Glasgow kiss. Yes, >> that's what they call it. It's not a very nice thing. >> It's called a Glasgow kiss. A headbutt is called a Glasgow kiss. It's It's not a very >> It's so romantic in Scotland. >> We have the French kiss. I know that's something different. Yeah, that's true. Yeah, >> we don't really see it in football in in in the terms of we see the odd little lean canisters that we and and thankfully we don't cuz a full force one is is very damaging actually. >> Thank you for that Craig insights. It's damaging. >> But what I'm saying is fortunately we don't see people getting fully headbutted in any sport. We see these little throwaway sort of no b it's not doing anything. And it's just the it's just the it's the motion that's getting you the red card. So we don't see what you something you'll see if you go to Glasgow on a Friday night and come out one of the one of the pubs about 11:30. You you could probably buy a ticket to watch some but not nice. I try to head by you. I have to grab a stick. >> Yes, we have people. >> Well, you could to be fair. You could stand on her. >> Yeah, exactly. I go on her shoulders and then we >> You're going to have to trim yourself down for that show. You're too tall. Okay. Have to stand you in a corner somewhere. >> Frankly, >> might PSG's greatest obstacle in the Champions League be complacency? How does Lewis Enrique consistently motivate such an accomplished side? They came from behind, didn't they, yesterday? Hold on. Where's the greatest obstacle in the Champions League to be? Uh I don't I don't think they will because I think Bruce Enrique knows exactly his players and the players are very very um how do you say focus on what they have to do and what they want to do. I follow the tactic of the uh today on Rhys and Ricky and he explains everything and for the past three years he has he has worked on that and it was crazy to see what he was explaining in the tactic and what they did against Manchester City in the first half. It's exactly what he was explaining. So they exactly know what they have to do and it's why it wasn't a randomly that um Ashrafakimi came and finished like a number nine because that was part of the tactic that was insane. I followed that this afternoon. So I don't think they're going to get they're not going to get into any complency comp because they want to achieve something again. Uh but u um I think he wants to make them enjoy their football and when they play like they played the first half against Manchester City, they want to do that again and it's only the way that they enjoy their football and it's why they untouchable right now. Nobody can cope with them. Well, maybe Barcelona because they're not going to play against them. They're going to play they're going to play their game. So that's going to be very interesting to see on Tuesday how it works. >> Yeah. Yeah. Those two facing off, of course. And uh then it's the classicalico on Sunday. Me and Craig will be there with a lovely time. >> Beautiful. >> That's both. >> Oh yeah. Oh yeah. >> Yeah. >> Mhm. >> So much complaining. >> I haven't complained at all. >> Can't wait. I can't wait. >> Why are we doing it so late? Well, the US is 6 hours behind, Craig. That's why we're doing it now. >> We're doing the show. We're We're doing the FC. I've heard we're doing the FC shows at 1:00 Eastern time going forward in the afternoons just to plate you. Brighton Shaker is the third highest scoring club in the best five leagues in Europe behind Bar and Bayern. When do we start to take their top five challenge seriously? >> Um the the challenge for for Brighton is we just haven't seen them seen them do it over the course of a of a long season. Craig spoke about the show. parallel will always be Leicester, but that's an anomaly. Right now, everybody wants to see Brighton City. Everybody wants to see Brighton go all the way. >> They're playing football the right way. >> And and see, see, there's no right way. >> Okay. Sorry. The most entertaining way, >> right? >> I'm not being facicious. >> No, no, that's fine. >> You said the right way. And then Arsenal fans, who you're not really in the best fight with after your comments last year. >> Yes. >> I I didn't put a tweet out today. I bottled it cuz I thought Arsenal fans would get angry. >> What What kind of tweet? I was going to say we found the perfect resolution for the Manchester City charges. They should be forced to watch Arsenal every week. >> I didn't say that. >> See, there's no point. There's no point. But you thought it. >> There's no point. See, you were you were you were obviously you were you were attention seeking at that point. >> I was about to say that's growth, Dan. And then you go and see it and >> No, but no, it's all right. >> So, don't start thinking about doing that when you're in Spain with me. I don't want to get in trouble. >> I I can't I can't wait. I can't I can't wait for you all to speak together. So, where are Bryant going to finish this season? >> Third. >> Really? >> Yeah. >> Ahead of Chelsea. >> We're going to go through all your It's easier just to pick your top two, Dan. >> No. Well, so obviously I think Manchester City and Arsaw are given. >> Yeah. >> And then we're >> third. >> Third. >> Book it. Dan. >> Okay. Right. >> Craig, what what he's saying is >> don't ask him to think about it any longer. >> What you're saying? I said Chelsea since they started mentioning Chelsea. I don't know if he's going to mention >> 17 other clubs. >> I'm not going to mention 17 other clubs. >> It was cutting you short. Well, >> what? It would be 16. It would be 16 other clubs. Anyway, come on. Get it right. >> Oh boy. Would it? No, it wouldn't. It' be 70 other clubs. >> It would be 16. >> Do your math, Dan. >> I've done my math. >> You watching the bookies, you know. >> Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Brighton. Oh, you mentioned Oh, I thought you meant Chelsea. Okay, never mind. I was including I was including Chelsea in 17. I was including Chelse. >> I said don't don't Right. Don't do that, Dan. >> No. Uh, third. >> Yep. >> Yeah. >> Book it. Dan, >> do you remember when you said Manchester United were going to finish second? >> Yeah. >> But I didn't say book it. That's >> community. The community shield. Community shield, I think. >> But I changed my mind quickly after that. Craig, >> I'd love to think they would they can stay in amongst City and Arsenal, but I don't think they I'm going to say fifth. >> Fifth. Who's who's going to finish ahead of them? >> I think Chelsea and Liverpool. >> Oh, okay. You think >> I Liverpool will find that? You know, I'm not suggesting they'll be great, but I think they'll get enough results. >> That is Champions League football, isn't it these days, though? Fifth, uh, Frank. >> Depends what country you're in. >> Um, we're in England. >> Oh, you are? >> Well, so we're Brighton. Oh, >> Frank, Spain's going to be good. >> Um, I'm with Craig. I think they're going to finish Well, I think they're going to finish fifth because I I don't think they're going to keep on playing the way they play. If they play like that, I think they can they can win the title and and surprise everybody like Leicester. But I think at some point, you know, maybe they don't have too much depth on the on the bench and they they will need some other players. So I think fifth will be uh would be right according to what I what I what they capable of doing and also because I respect too much Chelsea and Liverpool to not think that they not be qualified for the Champ next year. >> I think we need to send somebody to the south coast Brighton to one of our roing >> good nights out in Brighton. >> A good night for you. >> I think we should send two of you. >> It's a great place. Lovely. I think we need to send a roving reporter there to get the >> Where's he going with this? >> To get the low down on Fablin Fabian Fabin Fabian him as well. >> Who's that? >> Where do you think? >> You just want to get some tips on his hair when you're there. >> I'll go. >> Yeah. >> My first question, but my only question. >> Yeah, ask him that. >> Why? >> Uh, uh, is there a real tighter race in France this year? Uh well Paris Sanjama is coming back. They are first and Parc is second tonight. No I think I'm sorry. Uh I think Leon is their first tonight because they just won just finished the game. Um well no if PSG uh is uh is working at 100% which I think they are going to there is no uh competition whatsoever. It's impossible. there will be no competition with any other club. You know, we you can see what they were capable of doing against City last year against Bayern. So, I don't think there will be um unless they let it go because they want to give they want to get a third Champion League title. >> For the crew, what was your favorite pair of pleats to wear as a young boy growing up or as a professional? >> Puma King. >> Puma Kings. >> Puma King, baby. >> Classic. >> Yep. What was those Adidas ones used to? What are they called? >> World Cup. Copa mandial. >> Is that them? >> Yeah. Copa mial. >> Oh, all done. All done. There was the World Cup or the Copa. The Copa Mial were the studs. >> Studs. And the Was the rubbles. The rubbles. >> The rubbers. >> The World Cup. They were when you had a dry pitch and the the the the rubber studs was was the >> screw. Yeah. Exactly. I like the rubber. Okay. You know, one of the when I was a kid, I remember getting I don't know if they're still doing them now. I had these for some the Cox Bif. Do you remember them? >> I do. Yeah. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> And then when I when I was playing at Cly at Chelsea, I was Reebok. Were you sponsored by Reebok? >> Yes, I take that back. I was sponsored by Reebok at one point. Chelsea 9495 Mizuno. >> Okay. >> Oh yeah. >> And I got a set of golf clubs for playing in the FA Cup final. They were really good for people that were really good and not good for me. Oh. >> Oh my god. Couldn't hit these things. That's what I got. No cash. Majunos. Yeah, Frank, where are your World Cup boots? Um, well, I don't want I don't want to talk about the past because I want to talk about the the present, you know, sketches, but whatever. >> You know what? You know what? You know what? I just asked you where your World Cup boots were and you looked down as if you were wearing them. >> Yes. No, because you know what the the World Cup boots, they are the Chelsea Museum. >> Okay. >> And uh I used them and I changed the studs underneath. They were the soft one and I put the um the the rob the the bigger the the strong one for the rain and I put that for the World Cup final and you can see them at the Chelsea Museum and you still have some grass from the stat France 28 years after. >> Well, that really makes me want to go to the Chelsea Museum. Is there anything for you on the show? The Chelsea Museum. >> Uh, >> you're not allowed to come in >> the the bench you sit on in the FA Cup fin. >> You're wrong. I didn't sit on the bench in the FA Cup fin. >> Oh, no. You weren't even on the bench, were you? >> There's only two people on the bench and a goalie. >> Yes. >> Jean Look Ali was on the bench and Andy Meers were on the bench. So, I wasn't on the bench. I was in the bar dring my sorrows working out if the first punch at Red Hill was going to be a right hook or a left hook >> which came >> which did come close on the bus. >> Okay. >> After the game Paul Parker >> Paul Parker >> Paul Parker was at Chelsea time in a shortterm contract. >> I'm still friendly with him now. So lucky him >> and he managed to talk me off the ledge. >> Wow. >> I was not a happy champion. >> No. Can't imagine what that looks like. Oh, final question. Can this starting 11 beat Barca next week? Real Madrid with a victory of course against >> Sevilla. >> Yeah, it can. It can, but it's got to find a way. This Real Madrid team, what are you laughing at? It's got to find a way to to do what no one else has done this season. It's quite simple. Stop basing. >> If they can't do that, >> Andri has to play. I thought that I thought the end thing was a viable because I was leading into Ady Guler getting shunted around again and that meant Valveri getting shunted around again but a complete ignorant Ramis didn't want to have that conversation. >> Real Madrid won 4-1 and the first thing he wants to talk about is injury. >> The first thing I want to do is look ahead to how's this going to affect Aduler and the team. If you consider he's one of their best players in playmaker, >> which is a conversation for later on. >> I'm not going to have any conversations with you in Spain. I'm going to DO FIVE. Get off. Don't ask any more questions. >> Well, that's it. >> Not been very good. Anyway, >> it's the end of the questions. Uh, that is it. Uh, have a great week everyone. I'm off. Uh, Frank Le, >> I'm not back Tuesday for more. I'm >> talking about you. Which one are me? >> SOMEBODY'S GOT corporate >> corporate Frank in every regard. >> Yes. Contra must be up soon. He's going to see back tomorrow. Spurs are playing, aren't they? Who are Spurs playing? >> Coventry. >> Oh dear. >> Yes. >> Oh dear. >> Oh. Oh. Oh boy.