Hello and welcome to Libero number 50-ish.

The podcast about the least important of the most important things,

as Zora and Mamdani, Ronely attributed to Pope John Paul II a couple of weeks ago.

Just a reminder, as there always is at the start, please don't fast forward it.

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I'm Rory Smith of The Observer and Men in Blazers. And today I'm joined by Miguel Delaney, author of acclaimed book States of Play, which I would like to wholeheartedly endorse as a literary experience, and John Bruin, who I would like to wholeheartedly endorse as a personal experience.

I was going to start off by asking you about the Champions League. The first couple of match nights were recording this Thursday morning,

so we haven't seen Newcastle or Man City play yet.

But mainly, I want to talk about Medell's shirt.

If anyone's watching on YouTube,

Medell is wearing a spectacular retro AC Milan number,

which I've got to admit mid looks very good.

I think it's 88. It's the Mediolanum sponsor. It is a classic. I mean, with retro shirts like, actually, they're obviously back in now. In fact, they probably work to Libero, pardon themselves. I usually use them for playing football or some sort of sportswear or lounging around the house, which I am doing today. Is it one of those, I've got a Napoli shirt made by NRA, the traditional brand that made them all in the 80s, and it's almost like a wool material. No, this is actually a classic. And I think it was like the original. This is like the kind of that nylon that was very popular in the mid-90s. What happens when you sweat in it? it's actually been okay to play football in, to be fair, I have to say. And I've worn it on some muggy nights here in Wonsworth. Muddy nights in Wonswood, the new rainy nights in Stoke. John, how has the Champions League been for you? I was just going to say, I don't collect shirts, but I did have a collection of shorts, and let's not show the viewers.

But I'm wearing...

I've got, I've got some Napoli shorts, actually.

I've got two pairs of Perugia shorts.

Nice.

I've got Andorra National Team away.

I'm actually wearing Macclesfield FC here.

That is a really deep cut to be like, I collect football shorts.

...