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I’ll start this week by reflecting on the game between PSG and Bayern. That’s probably one of the best matches I've witnessed in a long time. No one wanted to defend, it was like a basketball match! You attack; we attack. There was great football from some of the best players in the world right now, and I can't wait for the second leg.
I do think the winners of the competition will be one of those teams, and it’s a shame that it wasn’t the final. Both teams going forward are just so electric. And looking at Arsenal - I know they're good defensively, and Atlético as well, but sometimes you just can't stop teams like that when they have those attacking qualities.
Clinton Morrison: 'John Stones is a Rolls Royce centre-back. Chelsea should sign him'
I would have loved to have been a centre-forward in either of those teams. Harry Kane drops deep and plays brilliant passes, but I wouldn't even try to get involved in all of that. I'd just stay in the box and wait for the crosses to be delivered to me! All that aside, there was so much beauty and quality on show. That's why we love the beautiful game.
Moving on now, and the big breaking news this week concerned John Stones announcing he’s leaving Manchester City. He's won everything there and could still win the Premier League and FA Cup again this season.
Injuries have caught up with him in the last few years, and they’ve now got the likes of Abdukodir Khusanov and Marc Guéhi, so he's not going to be a regular starter. But if he's fit, I think he'll start for England this summer because I hear that Thomas Tuchel loves him.
He's been a great servant to Man City and is a Rolls Royce of a centre-back. I still think he could do a job for a Premier League team. If I were Chelsea I'd go and get John Stones - they need that experience at the back.
Another one of the big talking points this week concerned referees being able to give red cards for players covering their mouths during confrontations at the World Cup. I understand that’s it all come from the Vinícius Júnior incident. But getting a red card for covering your mouth? I think that's a bit over the top. When I was playing, you just spoke freely and there was no need to cover your mouth.
But the fact it comes down to the referee’s discretion makes it’s a recipe for disaster. Because one game someone does it and gets sent off, whereas the next game someone else does the exact same thing and doesn't. You can't have that inconsistency at a World Cup. You send someone off in a huge game and they might not qualify or lose a final due to a decision like that. If you want to experiment with rules, do it beforehand, not at a major tournament.
Looking ahead to what might happen next season now, and there are reports suggesting José Mourinho could return to Real Madrid. They’ve got some top players who want the freedom to play, and you don’t really need to coach them too much. He's won so many trophies, and is respected by so many players. So, if José Mourinho is available, why would you not take him?
He needs to evolve his tactics though — that's the biggest thing. You can say he's outdated, but he's a winner, and at a club like Real Madrid you’re expected to win things. It looks like they're not going to win anything this season, so they need a manager to go in and shake things up. He could be the perfect fit.
It'd be interesting to see how he's received by the players and the fans, but José Mourinho is a top manager.
There’s also plenty of talk about what might happen at Manchester United this summer, and whether Michael Carrick gets the job long term. He’s come in, given the players confidence and played a formation that suits the group. It's not rocket science — he hasn't signed anyone.
Ruben Amorim could have done that, but he was stubborn. He was playing Manuel Ugarte ahead of Kobbie Mainoo, which I think is ludicrous — Mainoo came into that team and he's been outstanding. He was playing Bruno Fernandes as one of two holding midfielders when Bruno is probably one of the best number tens in the Premier League or in Europe. It was all bonkers to me.
But credit to Michael Carrick — it was a hard job. Man United fans didn't think they'd get where they are, and Champions League football is almost secured for them. There was a sticky spell a couple of weeks ago, but he went to Chelsea and beat them 1-0 without any recognised centre-halves apart from young Ayden Heaven, who was outstanding. And they held on the other night against Brentford, so he's getting results.
He should get the job. But I know United will be speaking to other managers in the summer. Personally, if I'd done what Michael Carrick has done, I'd be very disappointed if I didn't get it. I understand people's reservations — like what happened with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer when he was interim, got the job, and it didn't work out. But if you're a young English manager and you don't get the job after performing that well, you think, what's the point? He deserves the opportunity.
