be big and be bold and welcome the competition.

But more importantly, if you're so badass and you have such great aspirations,

then do the things on and off the field to compete and don't let people come into your

backyard all right and tell you what to do and show you what to do and if you can't

stop them from coming in then you better be there with your dukes up ready to fight.

And don't you dare capitulate, because that's not the American soccer way, and I say that is not the American way my friend. Hello Sunshine I'm Alexi Lollis and welcome to the State of the Union Podcast where we look at the beautiful game on and off the field

through the lens of red white and blue color glasses.

This show will be talking UCL drama, Ingla Fuera, MLS weekend review,

MLS soccer schools, rule changes, penalty fights, World Cup grass, and so much more.

First joining me as always, my friend, my colleague, my guiding lights, David Mossier Soccer Sevant and a Fox soccer researcher and writer Extraudinny!

Masia, how you're doing on this Wednesday, April 17th in the year 2024.

Doing well, still buzzing from these Champions League quarterfinals we just witnessed.

Wow, my goodness.

You were torn there for a second

because we obviously had a call time here

and it came right at the middle of what we're going to talk about here,

but you decided to put it on your phone

and make your way into work, right?

I did, yeah, I think it all worked out.

Yeah.

Have you watched anything real quick before we get into this?

A couple of things.

...