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Manchester United's Paul Pogba.

This Week: The Real Deal

This Week: The Real Deal

Welcome to This Week from Premier Skills English, a weekly review of football action for learners of English from across the globe. In This Week, Laura, Rich and Jack talk about the latest action from the Premier League and have lots of football English for you to learn. Following the suspension of the Premier League, Rich, Jack and Laura take a look at some light-hearted stories which are making the news this week.

Transcript

If the listening is a bit difficult, try listening and reading at the same time.
Read the transcript and listen at the same time.

Introduction

Laura: Hello my name’s Laura and welcome to our weekly round-up section called ‘This Week’ on Premier Skills English.

Rich: Hi there. I’m Rich. We’ve got lots of interesting words and phrases to help you talk about football in English.

Jack: And I’m Jack and we hope you are all staying well whether you are staying home or still going to work.

Laura: We’ve looked high and low for three news stories that we want to share with you.

Rich: This week, we talk about Alex Ferguson’s favourite players, the latest winner of the Premier League’s e-tournament and Paul Pogba’s favourite meal.

Jack: We have chosen these stories because they are topical and fun and also so we can focus on some interesting bits of vocabulary that we think are useful to learn.

Laura: And we want you to use and practise these words and phrases by interacting with Premier League fans from around the world in our comments section.
 
Rich: If you listen to us on Apple Podcasts, you can leave your comments in the review section. We do read all the reviews and would love to hear from you.

Jack: You can find all our latest content on the Premier Skills English homepage or the Premier Skills-British Council Facebook page. 

Laura: Don’t forget that we also have our weekly Premier Skills English Podcast that is released every Friday. Every week we help you with some different vocabulary or an aspect of grammar.

Rich: Our latest podcast is called Understanding Grammar: Wishes. In the podcast, we look at the language of wishes and have a fun roleplay for you to listen to. It involves two players finding a magic trophy after training - you should have a listen.

Jack: You can find the lesson on the homepage on the Premier Skills English website. 

Laura: You’re now going to hear our three headlines. After each headline, we will have a little discussion and look at some vocabulary. The words and phrases we are looking at this week are: dressing room, the hairdryer treatment, a brace, a consolation goal, well done and rare.

Rich: After the headlines, we’ll have another fitness challenge and a language challenge for you to have a go at.

Headlines

Jack: Giggs reveals Fergie Favourites.

Rich: Wales manager and Manchester United legend, Ryan Giggs has revealed for the first time the players who escaped Alex Ferguson’s famous hairdryer treatment. The players that Gigs says were immune to Fergie’s angry dressing room outbursts were: Eric Cantona, Bryan Robson, Roy Keane and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Laura: I didn’t think any Manchester United player could avoid the hairdryer treatment from Alex Ferguson. Looks like I was wrong!

Jack: I’m not sure how happy he will be that Ryan Giggs has revealed this secret. I’m sure he’ll be in for some Fergie hairdryer treatment the next time they meet.

Rich: I’m sure he’s more chilled out now he’s retired. OK, so that has to be the first phrase we look at this week - the hairdryer treatment. What is it and where does it come from?

Laura: The phrase was first used to specifically describe how Alex Ferguson would shout at his players when they weren’t playing well.

Jack: I suppose the term hairdryer is used because a lot of hot air comes out of a hairdryer. A lot of hot angry air came out of the manager’s mouth.

Rich: It’s used more generally these days to speak about manager’s getting angry with their players in the dressing room.

Laura: The dressing room, that’s the other phrase we want to look at from the headline.

Jack: The dressing room is the place where the players get changed or dressed before and after a match - the dressing room.

Laura: Yes, and players also get the hairdryer treatment in the dressing room.
____

Rich: Maddison wins it for Leicester.

Laura: Leicester City’s James Maddison is the latest winner of the ePremier League invitational. The midfielder beat Sheffield United’s John Egan in the final with braces from Jamie Vardy and Kelechi Ihenacho and one from his own character. Egan got a late consolation from John Fleck. The tournament was streamed around the world on Premierleague.com and social media.

Jack: It’s the only football we can get at the moment; efootball on FIFA. It’s not the same but lots of people are tuning in.

Rich: And we can look at some real football English by looking at what happened in FIFA matches. The first word is brace. We said that Jamie Vardy scored a brace.

Laura: A brace is two goals in the same match. It’s the same as a double. Jamie Vardy got a double. Jamie Vardy got a brace. He scored two goals.

Jack: The other word or phrase we want to look at is consolation or consolation goal. We said that John Egan got a late consolation goal.

Rich: A consolation goal is a goal that is scored late in a match for the team that is losing and won’t affect the result of the match.

Jack: The idea of a consolation goal is that it’s supposed to make you feel a bit better but if you score one when you’re already losing five-nil it’s not much of a consolation.

Laura: Yeah, I think they should be called waste of time goals. They’re never much of a consolation.

Laura: Pogba Steak is the real deal.

Jack: Professional chef and chef to Premier League footballers Johnny Marsh has been sharing favourite Premier League recipes. His latest on the BBC is Pogba steak. It appears the Manchester United midfielder likes his steak well done rather than rare with a tangy Argentinian sauce on the side.

Rich: OK, we’re moving away from the football here. This chef, Johnny Marsh, cooks for lots of footballers. We’ve put a link to a video from the BBC on the website. You can learn the steak recipe that he cooks for Paul Pogba.

Laura: You cook steak in a few different ways. If you order steak in a restaurant, the waiter will often ask you how you like it cooked.

Jack: Paul Pogba has his steak well done. This means that it’s not very pink. 

Rich: I like to have my steaks rare. This means that the steak is still dark red and there’s lots of red juice still flowing. It’s not cooked for very long.

Laura: If you want your steak between well done and rare you can ask for it to be medium or you can ask for medium-rare if you want it to be nearer to rare than well done.

Jack: And you can also ask for it blue. This means it’s only been cooked a tiny bit. How do you like your steak cooked Laura?

Laura: Not at all. I’m vegetarian.  

Rich: OK We’ve looked at three stories and six bits of vocabulary in our headlines. The words we’ve looked at are: dressing room, the hairdryer treatment, a brace, a consolation goal, well done and rare.

Jack: Have a listen to the headlines again and see if you understand the vocabulary we’ve looked at. 

TASK - Fitness Challenge

Laura: Each week we’re trying to set you a fitness challenge and this week’s challenge comes from the Premier Skills coaches. It’s the Premier Skills FC International Fitness Challenge.

Rich: This week’s fitness challenge is presented by Premier Skills coaches from India, South Africa, Nigeria, Indonesia, Egypt and the UK. 

Jack: As well as doing the exercises, the different coaches count to ten in different languages so you can learn how to say numbers in Hindi, IsiZulu, Yoruba, Bahasa Indonesia, Mandarin, Arabic and Swahili.

Rich: It’s a really tough challenge this week. 

Laura: Take a look at the website where you’ll find a link to the video and let us know if you do the exercises in the comments section.

Language Challenge

Rich: To finish up the show we’ve got a quick language challenge connected to this week’s vocabulary.

Jack: We spoke about a consolation goal in the headlines and we’re going to give you three more sentences that use goal. Can you complete the sentences?

Laura: And there’s the ___________ goal. It’s 2-2 and it looks like this match is going to extra-time.

Rich: He’s gone round the goalkeeper, he only needs to put it in the  ________ goal and he’s put it over the bar. I can’t believe he’s missed it.

Jack: The ________ goal arrived in the 67th minute when Pogba scored from the spot. Final score 1-0.

Laura: We want you to write the correct answers on the Premier Skills English website where we have some more questions and activities connected to this week’s show for you.

Rich: Or write your answer on Apple Podcasts if that’s where you listen to us. Just write the answers in the review section and say hi.

Jack: Before we finish we just wanted to say that we hope you found this lesson useful and we hope that all of you stay fit and healthy and we’ll all be back watching Premier League football very soon.

Laura: Bye for now and enjoy your football.

Headlines

Giggs reveals Fergie Favourites

Alex Ferguson is the most successful manager in Premier League history.

Wales manager and Manchester United legend, Ryan Giggs, has revealed for the first time the players who escaped Alex Ferguson’s famous hairdryer treatment. The players that Gigs says were immune to Fergie’s angry dressing room outbursts were: Eric Cantona, Bryan Robson, Roy Keane and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Headlines

Maddison wins it for Leicester

James Maddison won the latest e-Premier League tournament.

Leicester City’s James Maddison is the latest winner of the e-Premier League invitational. The midfielder beat Sheffield United’s John Egan in the final with braces from Jamie Vardy and Kelechi Ihenacho and one from his own character. Egan got a late consolation goal from John Fleck. The tournament was streamed around the world on Premierleague.com and social media.

Headlines

Pogba Steak is the real deal

Paul Pogba loves a steak!

Professional chef and chef to Premier League footballers Johnny Marsh has been sharing favourite Premier League recipes. His latest on the BBC is Pogba steak. It appears the Manchester United midfielder likes his steak well done rather than rare with a tangy Argentinian sauce on the side.

Vocabulary Alert

Language in the headlines

Jamie Vardy scored a brace for James Maddison.

We looked at six words and phrases in our headlines that you can learn to improve your English. Take a look at the phrases in bold. Do you understand what they mean?

Cristaino Ronaldo escaped Alex Ferguson’s famous hairdryer treatment.

Eric Cantona, Bryan Robson and Roy Keane were also immune to Fergie’s angry dressing room outbursts.

Jamie Vardy and Kelechi Ihenach both scored braces to win the match for James Maddison. 

John Egan got a late consolation goal from John Fleck.

Paul Pogba likes his steak well done rather than rare.

Fun

The Fitness Challenge

Try the Premier Skills FC International Fitness Challenge!

This week's fitness challenge comes from Premier Skills. The Premier Skills FC International Challenge is presented by coaches from India, South Africa, Indonesia, Nigeria, Egypt and the UK

Can you do the fitness challenge? Let us know in the comments section if you felt energised or exhausted after the session and if you managed to get anyone else to join in with you.

Vocabulary

Language Challenge

Jack, Rich and Laura set you a language challenge. Here are the three sentences they gave you. Can you complete the phrases with goal?

And there’s the ___________ goal. It’s 2-2 and it looks like this match is going to extra-time.

I can’t believe he’s missed it. He’s gone round the goalkeeper, he’s got an ________ goal and he’s put it over the bar.

The ________ goal arrived in the 67th minute when Pogba scored from the spot. Final score 1-0.

Write the correct answer in the comments section at the bottom of the page.

Discuss

Talk about the headlines

Gabriel Jesus jumps for the ball for Manchester City.

Jack, Laura and Rich looked at three stories in the news and some vocabulary that might be new to you. Now it's your turn! Have a look at the questions and write your answers in the comments section below.

  1. Do you know any other managers that are famous for giving out the hairdryer treatment?
  2. Are consolation goals ever any real consolation?
  3. How do you like your steak? Well done, medium or rare?
  4. Can you do our fitness challenge?
  5. Can you do our language challenge?

Write your comments and answers in the section below.

Leave a comment

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Comments

hsn's picture
hsn
07/12/2021
TR
5557
points

Discuss
1. I've heard that an unsuccessful and retired manager as well as giving out "hairdryer treatment" he was also trying to kick the players.Crazy!!!
2. It depends on the approach. In my opinion, after being defeated consolation goal isn't needed.
3. I prefer boiled meat-:)
4. Fitness challenge- I can do all of them except exercises that are made with the ball.
5.Language challenge
And there’s the brace goal. It’s 2-2 and it looks like this match is going to extra-time.
I can’t believe he’s missed it. He’s gone round the goalkeeper, he’s got an missing goal and he’s put it over the bar.
The consolation goal arrived in the 67th minute when Pogba scored from the spot. Final score 1-0.
Phrase
• Anybody who has outburst isn't immune from loss.
Note
• I think "hairdryer treatment" is a metaphorical phrase. Emphasizes human breath.We have a different phrase but similar meaning . Like "to bear someones bad breath"


hsn's picture
hsn
07/12/2021 17:36
Turkey
Tottenham Hotspur
5557

Discuss
1. I've heard that an unsuccessful and retired manager as well as giving out "hairdryer treatment" he was also trying to kick the players.Crazy!!!
2. It depends on the approach. In my opinion, after being defeated consolation goal isn't needed.
3. I prefer boiled meat-:)
4. Fitness challenge- I can do all of them except exercises that are made with the ball.
5.Language challenge
And there’s the brace goal. It’s 2-2 and it looks like this match is going to extra-time.
I can’t believe he’s missed it. He’s gone round the goalkeeper, he’s got an missing goal and he’s put it over the bar.
The consolation goal arrived in the 67th minute when Pogba scored from the spot. Final score 1-0.
Phrase
• Anybody who has outburst isn't immune from loss.
Note
• I think "hairdryer treatment" is a metaphorical phrase. Emphasizes human breath.We have a different phrase but similar meaning . Like "to bear someones bad breath"

Vitor Augusto
18/05/2020
BR
62
points

I think the language challenge is...
And there’s the level goal. It’s 2-2 and it looks like this match is going to extra-time.

I can’t believe he’s missed it. He’s gone round the goalkeeper, he’s got an empty goal and he’s put it over the bar.

The winning goal arrived in the 67th minute when Pogba scored from the spot. Final score 1-0.

A famous manager that is famous for giving out the hairdryer treatment is Guardiola - and sometimes he does it at the pitch! No, consolations goals aren't a real consolation, because they are of no use!
Talking about food... I like my steak medium. It cannot be so rare because can bring diseases.


Vitor Augusto
18/05/2020 18:00
Brazil
Manchester United
62

I think the language challenge is...
And there’s the level goal. It’s 2-2 and it looks like this match is going to extra-time.

I can’t believe he’s missed it. He’s gone round the goalkeeper, he’s got an empty goal and he’s put it over the bar.

The winning goal arrived in the 67th minute when Pogba scored from the spot. Final score 1-0.

A famous manager that is famous for giving out the hairdryer treatment is Guardiola - and sometimes he does it at the pitch! No, consolations goals aren't a real consolation, because they are of no use!
Talking about food... I like my steak medium. It cannot be so rare because can bring diseases.

Vic
15/05/2020
MX
817
points

Do you know any other managers that are famous for giving out the hairdryer treatment?

No, but in the 1obs, sometimes, we could find boss that treating hard or rude, like the hairdryer treatment, specially when a mistake is commited.

Are consolation goals ever any real consolation?

I think, is not consolation, is a feeling of frustration.

How do you like your steak? Well done, medium or rare?

I love my steak wel done.


Vic
15/05/2020 23:31
Mexico
Liverpool
817

Do you know any other managers that are famous for giving out the hairdryer treatment?

No, but in the 1obs, sometimes, we could find boss that treating hard or rude, like the hairdryer treatment, specially when a mistake is commited.

Are consolation goals ever any real consolation?

I think, is not consolation, is a feeling of frustration.

How do you like your steak? Well done, medium or rare?

I love my steak wel done.

elghoul's picture
elghoul
14/05/2020
DZ
3988
points

And there’s the ********** goal. It’s 2-2 and it looks like this match is going to extra-time.

Rich: He’s gone round the goalkeeper, he only needs to put it in the  ***** goal and he’s put it over the bar. I can’t believe he’s missed it.

Jack: The ******* goal arrived in the 67th minute when Pogba scored from the spot. Final score 1-0.


elghoul's picture
elghoul
14/05/2020 14:16
Algeria
Manchester City
3988

And there’s the ********** goal. It’s 2-2 and it looks like this match is going to extra-time.

Rich: He’s gone round the goalkeeper, he only needs to put it in the  ***** goal and he’s put it over the bar. I can’t believe he’s missed it.

Jack: The ******* goal arrived in the 67th minute when Pogba scored from the spot. Final score 1-0.

wsanta's picture
wsanta
14/05/2020
AR
5086
points

The meat cook point issue is a controversial topic in my family. I argued with my brother, he like rare and I like medium. I am concerned when meat is undercooked and there are children under the age of 8, from this age, children experience antibodies to the Escherichia coli bacteria. Here, a few years ago there were many deaths of children from eating meat that was not well cooked.
The Pogba's tangy Argentinian sauce must be "chimichurri", it is very easy to prepare.
I suffer from gout and many times I thought about becoming a vegetarian but in a carnivorous society it becomes complicated.


wsanta's picture
wsanta
14/05/2020 04:31
Argentina
Leeds United
5086

The meat cook point issue is a controversial topic in my family. I argued with my brother, he like rare and I like medium. I am concerned when meat is undercooked and there are children under the age of 8, from this age, children experience antibodies to the Escherichia coli bacteria. Here, a few years ago there were many deaths of children from eating meat that was not well cooked.
The Pogba's tangy Argentinian sauce must be "chimichurri", it is very easy to prepare.
I suffer from gout and many times I thought about becoming a vegetarian but in a carnivorous society it becomes complicated.

elghoul's picture
elghoul
13/05/2020
DZ
3988
points

1. 'Papa Louche' was the youngsters manager of our local club. He was famous for his relentless shoutings and hairdryer treatments. I am afraid that was his only real skills on football managing.

2. Consolation goals or goals for the honor sake are not changing anything in points accounting but they give personal recomfort.

3. I usually prefer rare steaks.


elghoul's picture
elghoul
13/05/2020 16:33
Algeria
Manchester City
3988

1. 'Papa Louche' was the youngsters manager of our local club. He was famous for his relentless shoutings and hairdryer treatments. I am afraid that was his only real skills on football managing.

2. Consolation goals or goals for the honor sake are not changing anything in points accounting but they give personal recomfort.

3. I usually prefer rare steaks.

Johan®7's picture
Johan®7
11/05/2020
CO
65
points

Hi everyone,
1. I used to think every manager gave their hairdryer treatment in the middle time when the teams go out to dressing room as I was in a football school when I was a teenager and my manager really got angry when my team lost matches, he spoke us loudly and he said swear words. So I imagined every manager at professional teams did it as well and that they needed to be even stronger for all they mean. I don't know any manager that have been famous for it. This is the first time I heard and read this word. Firstly I thought Ferguson's hairdryer treatment was about hair style jeje, then I realized how important is having a native speaker to explain us why and how you use that words to know deeply and understand wholy your dialect, your language.
2. It might be a consolation for the goal scorer not for team nor fans. I think the meaning of consolation is that, having at least one thing, no matter how much it is or how it is. It's better something than anything. But Yes, it's quite a jolly word.
3. I like well done and medium steak.
4. For a reason I don't know I couldn't open the link to see the video. It may was a technical problem...
5. - And there's the ********** goal....
- ... , He's got an empty net goal and he's put it over the bar.
- The ******* goal arrived in the 67th minute when Pogba scored from the spot. Final score 1-0
Please correct me If needed.


Johan®7's picture
Johan®7
11/05/2020 23:57
Colombia
Arsenal
65

Hi everyone,
1. I used to think every manager gave their hairdryer treatment in the middle time when the teams go out to dressing room as I was in a football school when I was a teenager and my manager really got angry when my team lost matches, he spoke us loudly and he said swear words. So I imagined every manager at professional teams did it as well and that they needed to be even stronger for all they mean. I don't know any manager that have been famous for it. This is the first time I heard and read this word. Firstly I thought Ferguson's hairdryer treatment was about hair style jeje, then I realized how important is having a native speaker to explain us why and how you use that words to know deeply and understand wholy your dialect, your language.
2. It might be a consolation for the goal scorer not for team nor fans. I think the meaning of consolation is that, having at least one thing, no matter how much it is or how it is. It's better something than anything. But Yes, it's quite a jolly word.
3. I like well done and medium steak.
4. For a reason I don't know I couldn't open the link to see the video. It may was a technical problem...
5. - And there's the ********** goal....
- ... , He's got an empty net goal and he's put it over the bar.
- The ******* goal arrived in the 67th minute when Pogba scored from the spot. Final score 1-0
Please correct me If needed.

Leaderboard

Top Scorers
RankNameScore
1Alex_from_Ukraine6574
2mobeckham6539
3hsn5557
4wsanta5086
5kwesimanifest4779
6Liubomyr4417
7elghoul3988
8assemjuve3705
9aragorn19863557
10Gergő Nagy3396
Country ranking
RankNameScore
1Colombia74670
2Ukraine33837
3Spain29439
4Serbia27426
5Brazil23439
6Albania20578
7Vietnam20437
8Turkey20098
9Macedonia19074
10Bosnia and Herzegovina16333
Club ranking
RankNameScore
1Manchester United146589
2Liverpool111307
3Chelsea90125
4Arsenal86333
5Manchester City58756
6Tottenham Hotspur19418
7Newcastle United10560
8West Ham United7667
9AFC Bournemouth4915
10Everton4533

Level

3
Average: 3 (1 vote)

Goals

Improve your vocabulary.

Practise your listening skills.

Complete our language and fitness challenges.