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01:02 And yes, let's start with the elephant in the room.
01:05 And of course, I did call them faltering.
01:07 Manchester United, they are much more aligned.
01:09 Everybody's talking about them.
01:11 And for obvious reasons, that game against Newcastle United
01:15 was an eyesore for Old Trafford faithful.
01:17 Although it was at St. James' Park,
01:19 they'll return to Old Trafford this week to take on Chelsea.
01:23 Who, you know, full banter for people who are punters.
01:27 Manchester United and Chelsea are most likely not different teams.
01:30 They share the same characteristics.
01:33 They're inconsistent.
01:34 But what can we expect from this game?
01:36 Manchester United, away at Newcastle, that was a terrible game.
01:40 But for Chelsea, they found a way to win against Brighton at home.
01:44 And when it comes to big games, no doubt,
01:47 Chelsea always perform.
01:49 But this is one that has always evaded them in recent matches.
01:54 Manchester United won the last meeting against both sides.
01:57 4-1 it ended at Old Trafford just before the conclusion of the season.
02:03 That's the 2022-2023 season, the season before this one.
02:07 And now, before that, there were just a couple of draws,
02:11 near-nil draws, 1-1 draws, not much to separate the sides
02:14 when it comes to head-to-heads.
02:15 But again, Manchester United, pretty much inconsistent.
02:19 Who will win this game?
02:20 It's up in the air.
02:21 Anybody can win this one.
02:23 It can sway the side of Chelsea.
02:25 It can sway the side of Manchester United as well.
02:28 It depends on which teams, I mean, which players,
02:31 what motivation, what character these players bring to the fore
02:35 on Wednesday night.
02:36 And for me, I just think that Chelsea have an interest in this one
02:41 more than Manchester United.
02:43 I mean, what's lacking is the fight, the hunger, the passion
02:47 from Manchester United players.
02:49 I mean, you saw the footage of Marcus Rashford strolling around
02:53 Newcastle United's pitch when he could have been tracking back
02:56 Timo Livramento.
02:58 It's that kind of hunger, that kind of passion that wins you games
03:02 when big guns come around or when you travel to face big guns.
03:05 And it's lacking at Man United at this point in time.
03:08 I wouldn't say Man United cannot win, but I'm saying the most likely
03:11 eventuality is that Chelsea pick up all three points.
03:13 They've not done that in quite a while.
03:15 Old Trafford has been a tough ground for them to play on.
03:19 I still wouldn't be surprised if Man United found a way to win this one.
03:22 But they've not won against a big team this season.
03:25 That's no surprise.
03:26 And this is one that, you know, they're facing an opponent
03:29 who are always charged up.
03:31 I mean, let's flash back.
03:33 Chelsea against Tottenham Hotspur.
03:34 Chelsea won that one.
03:35 Chelsea against Manchester City before the November international break.
03:39 And that was perhaps the most sensational game of the season.
03:42 For me, that was the best game of the season.
03:44 They came to the party.
03:45 This one is another blockbuster game, all right?
03:50 It's one to look forward to.
03:51 Look at Chelsea against Brighton.
03:53 They found a way to win.
03:54 You can talk about Rhys James and you could also talk about
03:57 Conor Gallagher, two captains out of the three captains in Chelsea
04:01 conceding red cards that, you know, gave them their marching orders.
04:05 But Chelsea, they just seem to have that fight.
04:09 And that's basic in professional football.
04:11 The fight, the hunger, the passion.
04:12 You can have loads of talent, but if you do not bring the fight,
04:15 the hunger, the passion, the character into big games like this,
04:19 you'll be caught flat-footed.
04:20 And I do think that Manchester United, they might not have this one.
04:25 Even against Galatasaray, you could see the same thing.
04:28 They lacked the fight.
04:29 Although, albeit, Andrew Nanna was at the heart of everything wrong
04:32 for Man Utd in that one.
04:34 Who knows?
04:35 For me, Andrew Nanna, my opinion about Andrew Nanna is
04:38 any time he gets to big games, Nanna, the moment consumes him.
04:43 This is the same Nanna we saw at the UEFA Champions League final
04:47 against Manchester City last season.
04:49 But it just seems when he gets to the big stage,
04:52 he loses concentration and that becomes of his undoing.
04:56 But let's see how this one pans out.
04:58 I do think Chelsea will win this.
05:00 It'll be decided on Wednesday night.
05:02 It's just my opinion anyway.
05:03 Let's move on.
05:04 It's Manchester City who have not won in three games.
05:09 Yeah, since the return of the international break.
05:12 Even before that, Chelsea 4-4, Liverpool 1-1.
05:15 And then against Tottenham Hotspur, you'd have expected
05:19 they claimed a victory in that one.
05:21 It ended 3-3.
05:22 Well, you can make a case for City being a very vulnerable team
05:26 any time that Tottenham Hotspur come around a tiered stadium.
05:30 But I still expected that City would have too much for them.
05:34 But you see, something about City this season that I've realised
05:37 is the fact that they lack killer instinct.
05:40 They lack the ability or the players, so to speak, to kill games.
05:45 Understandably so.
05:47 Kevin De Bruyne is out of action until next year.
05:50 They've lost Riyad Mahrez, they've lost Ikai Gondogan.
05:54 These were game changers that I think City are lacking at the moment.
05:57 Do they have those kind of players now?
05:59 Jeremy Doku, fantastic lad, fantastic young star, bright, explosive.
06:05 But he can't do more than he can right now for City.
06:08 The same thing for Jack Grealish.
06:10 Decent player, but maybe not a game changer.
06:13 Phil Foden is that one player that I think can win games for them.
06:18 Let's see what he can do against Aston Villa
06:21 because Aston Villa this season are a different proposition.
06:24 They've been a fantastic team under Unai Emery.
06:26 Olly Watkins is in good form.
06:29 And quite crucial to mention, City will be without Rodri.
06:33 You remember what happened when City were without Rodri?
06:36 The last time out, they couldn't win games.
06:38 This one looks like another that City might draw points,
06:42 maybe not lose because I feel they still have the quality.
06:45 You have Erling Haaland, you have Phil Foden, you have Julian Alvarez.
06:48 These are players that will stake an interest in this game.
06:51 But away from home, without Rodri, it'll be a tough one.
06:55 I'll be surprised if City win this one.
06:57 But maybe it will just be their quality at the end of the day.
07:02 Aston Villa, by the way, they drew away against Bournemouth.
07:07 2-2 it ended.
07:09 But Olly Watkins for me has been fantastic.
07:11 He's been that key player.
07:13 And maybe he can be the difference for Aston Villa.
07:16 I was watching with a friend over the weekend
07:19 and we were comparing Olly Watkins and Gabriel Sousse.
07:22 And I did say Olly Watkins is a better player than Gabriel Sousse.
07:25 In my opinion, a better striker.
07:27 I know this will make the rounds, but this is for me my opinion.
07:33 Olly Watkins checks in 2020 when he started Premier League football.
07:36 He's got 48 goals. Make it 48.
07:39 He got one against Bournemouth yesterday on Sunday.
07:43 And now that makes it 48 goals since 2020.
07:47 You should want to check what the stats are for Gabriel Sousse
07:51 despite playing for Manchester City.
07:53 And Olly Watkins playing for Aston Villa.
07:56 But that is just that about that.
07:58 Let's leave England. Let's go to Italy.
08:00 It is Juventus. Juventus are hosting Scudetto holders.
08:04 I like to call them Fortran Scudetto holders at this point.
08:07 Napoli, just on Sunday, they considered a big defeat at home
08:11 at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium.
08:13 It was 3-0. It ended Inter best team in the country.
08:16 No doubt, no argument.
08:18 I think they absolutely roasted Napoli in the second half.
08:24 And now Napoli are facing Juventus, who have been under the radar.
08:32 Because let's talk about them now.
08:34 They are unbeaten in nine games. Juventus, seven wins and two draws.
08:39 And then Frederico Kiese has been fantastic since he returned from injury.
08:43 He's got four goals against Dusan Vlaovic,
08:45 though he missed a penalty in the game against Monza.
08:48 But he's been a fantastic player as well this season for them.
08:51 Five goals in the league.
08:53 And you look at this fixture as well.
08:57 Napoli seem to dominate this one when it comes to head-to-head standards.
09:03 Napoli have not lost four in their...
09:06 They've not lost in four matches.
09:08 It's three wins and a draw.
09:10 The last time Juve won in this particular fixture, it ended 2-1.
09:14 And that was back in April of 2021.
09:17 But this season is a different context.
09:19 And guess why?
09:20 Napoli were Scudetto...
09:22 They are Scudetto. They won Scudetto last season.
09:25 But this season has been a different pattern.
09:28 Things have gone in a downward spiral since when Luciallo Spalletti had to leave.
09:34 And then Rudi Garcia came on in.
09:37 In fact, the controversy with Victor Simien also.
09:40 These are things that have not done their season in a world of good.
09:43 And then now there's a new man.
09:45 Not particularly new. Walter Mazzari has been there before.
09:49 Walter Mazzari is the second stint.
09:51 Now he's played three games at Atalanta.
09:53 First game, first win.
09:55 And then two back-to-back losses against Real Madrid.
09:58 And then now against Inter Milan.
10:00 It's going to be tough for even the Napoli players.
10:03 They may be champions, but it's not easy adapting to two different managers in one season.
10:07 And these are managers that, to be frank, to be fair,
10:12 these players are not particularly used to.
10:14 It's not Spalletti from last season.
10:16 Rudi Garcia just came on in, and then he sacked, and then there's Walter Mazzari.
10:19 Mazzari is a known face in Napoli.
10:22 He was there even as far back as when Edithin Cavani was still bowling in Napoli.
10:27 But, you know, it's not easy.
10:29 Even for Victor Simien. I own Victor Simien.
10:32 I do wish him well.
10:33 Played against Inter, but couldn't get on the score sheet.
10:36 Would he get on the score sheet in this one?
10:38 I think he's nearing full fitness now, and we need that.
10:41 That's the most important thing when I discuss Victor Simien.
10:44 For him to be fit for the African Cup of Nations come January 13th.
10:48 That's the most important thing.
10:49 You don't want Victor Simien to be missing that big tournament.
10:52 If he can get a goal under his belt, fine.
10:54 But if he cannot, let him build fitness.
10:56 And let's see what Napoli...
10:58 It's fair to say Napoli will not defend their Scudetto title.
11:01 It's very fair to say that.
11:02 I mean, 11 points off Inter at the top.
11:05 I do not think they will defend the title right there in Italy.
11:10 Well, these are the games we have for you in midweek.
11:13 Fantastic round of games.
11:14 Look forward to my predictions.
11:16 If you want score predictions, it's Manchester United against Chelsea.
11:20 It'll be tough for Chelsea.
11:22 Just reflecting on my analysis, it'll be tough for Chelsea to get results in this one.
11:25 Perhaps I'll go for a draw.
11:27 A score draw, maybe 2-2.
11:29 Man United's score goes, but they are weak in transition.
11:33 They do not know how to defend their lead.
11:36 Maybe Man United will get into the lead.
11:38 And then Chelsea will get a draw.
11:40 Whatever the score line may be.
11:42 Maybe 1-1, maybe 2-2.
11:43 Anyways, the fixture in recent times has been dominated by draws.
11:47 So why should this be different?
11:49 Anyways, City against Villar.
11:51 Another tough game to predict.
11:54 Because for me, any time it's City, I tend to favour City a lot.
11:59 Because they've shown time and again over the years that they have the character,
12:04 the winning spirit, the winning mentality to get something out of games.
12:08 They may not play their best, but they always come to the party.
12:12 And they have a certain girl in Highland who didn't score against Tottenham Hotspur.
12:16 This is perhaps the most difficult game to give predictions to.
12:20 But let's just leave it at that.
12:22 I think it'll be a tough game.
12:24 Lots of goals.
12:25 Aston Villa are doing well themselves.
12:27 But score predictions, leave me out of that.
12:30 For Juventus against Napoli, it's one I could particularly...
12:34 Juventus don't score a lot.
12:35 They don't.
12:36 You can check it.
12:37 They don't score a lot.
12:38 But Napoli are not doing so well themselves.
12:41 Maybe both teams will score, but I expect Juventus to continue their fine form.
12:46 Mind you, if they win that game on Friday night, they can go top of Serie A.
12:53 At least temporarily until when Inter face Udinese a day later.
12:57 And that could be motivation for Juventus because you never know what happens in the game between Inter and Udinese.
13:02 So if there's a chance to go top, albeit temporarily, then Juventus would most definitely want to make use of that opportunity.
13:12 But that is our show.
13:13 Thank you very, very much for watching this episode of The Nutmeg.
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13:27 Again, many, many, many thanks for watching.
13:30 You want to know what our next episode is going to be all about right here on The Nutmeg.
13:34 And I bid you to watch when we go live next time.
13:38 Again, I'll see you in the next episode.
13:41 My name is Amide Shotapoe.
13:42 God bless you.
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