In the series, Beckham is tasked with saving the team from being relegated to the league below. With this in mind, most of the series gravitates around David Beckham, including his triumphs and failures as a footballer. However, he shares his life experiences to inspire the boys to play as a team. He encourages them not to get frustrated, and to instead learn to focus on the game and their own play. Plus Save Our Squad helps them better understand the game, not only from other teammates views but from the coaches as well.  

Recommended viewing option:

We all know the David Beckham story and he definitely inspired the kids by not only developing a relationship with them but by being able to offer them privileges too. For instance, Beckham took the players to see the England squad train at St George’s Park National Football Centre. Plus, the young teens get a tour of Wembley Stadium, where they were surprised to see their own custom jerseys in the dressing room.

Save Our Squad: Disney+’s soccer series

As I watched the Save Our Squad series on Disney+, I found the stories about the children were addicting. To me, I enjoyed watching and learning about the different life stories of all of the teens. I also was swept away by how much Beckham appeared to be very down to earth, and how he talked to the coaches, kids and parents like friends.

Certainly, Beckham made a positive impact on the children’s lives, and they improved a lot as athletes compared to the start of the season.

Overall, there are parts of the series that feel scripted, as well as focusing too much on Beckham. However, I thoroughly enjoyed the series, and I hope they have more seasons in the future.

Save Our Squad is available via Disney+ in the United States.

La Liga Talk recently sat down for an exclusive one-on-one interview with ESPN Deportes soccer analyst (and World Cup star) Mario Kempes to discuss El Clasico as well as his memories of playing in Spain with Valencia.

Here’s the interview:

DH: Who is the better manager? Pep Guardiola or Jose Mourinho?

MK: Mourinho has proven himself in England, Italy and Portugal, but he’s yet to be proven by the Spanish fans. Guardiola has it. He’s demonstrated it in Spain. He is likable in Spain, and it’ll be interesting to see if he goes on to a different team (in the future).

DH: If you could play on any team in the world today, who would it be?

MK: Valencia.

DH: When you watch Real Madrid or Barcelona play, do they remind you of any team or country you used to play for or against?

MK: They remind me of when I used to play with Rosario Central in Argentina. That would be the closest, but it would be different because over there (in Argentina), El Clasico would be every Sunday, pretty much.

DH: What’s your favorite football stadium in Spain, and why?

MK: I played in Valencia, so it would be Mestalla.

DH: Where do you think this Barcelona team ranks among the greatest teams in the history of the beautiful game?

MK: They are the best. And they have been the best for the past four years.

DH: How has La Liga changed since he played in the league?

MK: When I used to play, I had to call my grandparents to tell them I scored a goal. Nowadays with technology, it makes it even better.

DH: What’s your greatest memory of playing against Barcelona?

MK: I remember exactly the first time I played against Barcelona at Camp Nou. In the first 15 minutes, [Barcelona] scored a goal and they were ahead. But after 90 minutes, they [still] won 1-0.

DH: How would you rate the current Argentina squad?

MK: The team has the best players right now. And they have demonstrated that when they play outside Argentina [for their club teams]. But whenever you put them together on the same field for the national team, they don’t fit together.

Editor’s note: Watch Real Madrid v Barcelona is live on ESPN Deportes on Saturday, December 10 at 4PM ET.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0bPoxFEPRU

Camp Nou just before kickoff between Barcelona and Real Madrid

After an exhausting but incredible trip to Barcelona to see the 2011 Spanish Super Cup at Camp Nou, courtesy of ESPN Deportes, I wanted to be sure to share some of the photos from my trip so you can see some of the beautiful sights.

I’ll never forget the hospitality and the passion that the residents of Barcelona showed to their region and to their team. And most of all, I’ll always remember the incredible second leg of the final that was scintillating up until the last minute.

Congratulations to Barcelona, winners of the 2011 Spanish Super Cup. And thanks to ESPN Deportes for their hospitality (of course, you can watch La Liga all season long on ESPN Deportes).

Here are the rest of my photo collection to share with you:

W Hotel, Barcelona

Outside of Camp Nou

Mes Que Un Club

Camp Nou from ground level

ESPN Deportes crew prepare for filming

Pep Guardiola during the Barcelona press conference, accompanied by the press officer

The streets of Barcelona

The sights of Barcelona

Debbie Harris outside the Camp Nou before the Spanish Super Cup

Debbie Harris inside Camp Nou

Barcelona and Real Madrid teams lining up before kick-off

Real Madrid and Barcelona

Photo by Beatriz Beltrame

Day 3: Wednesday, August 17, 2011

8:30 am – Woke up this morning to the same incredible view of the Mediterranean Sea. I don’t think this view can ever get old. Let me just tell you the beds in W Hotel are the most comfortable beds ever. I spent a lot of money on my mattress and these here just wrap you in extreme comfort. Whenever I hit the mattress, I am out and sleeping great in five minutes. Time to get ready for the day in just 20 minutes.

8:50 am – I need breakfast before the bus arrives at 9:15. Still hungry from my missed meal the night before. Spanish-style buffet here I come. I ate the same thing as yesterday but tried a yogurt and granola mixture too. Not my favorite – a little to tart for me.

9:15 am – The bus arrived to take about 20 ESPN Deportes employees and guests (like myself) on a quick tour (and shopping tour) on Las Ramblas.

We got to see an arc just like the Arc d’triumph in France. We saw a lot of old and popular buildings too, such as the Ave Maria Church, the Gaudi Church, Muscia Hall, Opera Theater, Picasso Museum, and Chocolate Museum. We didn’t go in any on the tour, but just walked by and looked in. Las Ramblas is known for its shopping so that’s what I set out to do. How can I shop for my children and nieces and nephews in one hour? Everything here was expensive because of the weak value of the dollar. If I bought something for 10 Euros, it is really like spending $15.

After a while all the souvenir shops all seemed the same except some had better variety of T-shirts. In any other city souvenir T-shirts are pretty cheap but not here. Expect to pay about $20 for one! The good news is you can haggle – I found this out after I bought two T-shirts. I told one of the store clerks that I thought his stuff was expensive so I was leaving. Just like that he went from 35 Euros to 25 Euros. If you are a good negotiator you can grab some real bargains. I ran out of time. Seriously who can shop for 6 people in an hour?

The best part about shopping today was not only did we have guides walking us on the streets, but we also had a security team of four watching us at all times so we didn’t have to worry about pickpockets or anything else. If someone came too close to the group, security would talk to them and have them step away from us. We also had a professional photographer taking pictures of us the whole tour.  People must have been wondering who we were with a security team and private photographer. I wouldn’t be surprised if someone took some pictures just in case we ended up being famous.

2:00 pm – We all went to a restaurant called Barcelonetta for lunch. It is a beautiful place right in the middle of a dockyard? The food was wonderful. I had grilled lobster. Of course the lunch started with tomato bread, croquettes and thinly sliced Spanish cured ham. My lunch ended with a coconut ice cream in a mango cream sauce. Exquisite!

8:30 pm – We were supposed to leave for the game but unfortunately a few people were late, so we did not leave until 9:15. As we got closer to the stadium my excitement began to increase. I could see a lot more people in the street and a lot of traffic. We parked the bus and walked two blocks to the stadium. ESPN Deportes wanted to ensure everyone’s safety and had five security guys with us. We were escorted to the stadium and rushed in through the gates and then to the VIP section. There was no time to stop for souvenirs or really even to take pictures.

10:20 pm – I finally arrived in the VIP area. It was different than I expected. It was a large open area for all the VIPs to share. You had your choice of drinks and a small buffet. We had not eaten dinner and I was really looking forward to the buffet but they were only serving three items; yellow rice with some vegetables in it, a mixed salad and cheese raviolis in a cheese sauce. They served them on little plates and they were basically out of food by the time we got there. Everyone seemed disappointed and hungry.

10:50 pm – The game kicked off. Who could have asked for a better game? Goals by Messi and Ronaldo and you got two of the best players in the world strutting their stuff. A fight on the field, some beautiful one-touch soccer and many incredible moves.

1:00 am – Everyone went back to the VIP room to get securely in place. Upon arrival we are greeted with cava drinks (local Catalonian mixture of wine and champagne). We stayed for a few minutes, noticed the food situation wasn’t any better and leave.

1:15 am – Security escorts us back to our bus, not letting us stop to get souvenirs. Safety first. That actually is a good model but now what am I getting for my two year old son as a souvenir? ESPN Deportes staff were smart. They packed water and potato chips for everyone in case anyone would be hungry after the game. It didn’t replace dinner but we knew that by the time we got back to the hotel, nothing would be open.

2:15 am – We arrived back at the hotel. Everyone said their goodbyes and we journalists rush to the Wifi access point to write our stories.

3:25 am – This traveling journalist is done and it is time for bed. I will b leaving the hotel at 7:45am to get to the airport on time.

There are some distinct differences between a game in the U.S. and a game abroad that I wanted to share;

1. Ten minutes before the game starts they shut off alcohol consumption and you are not able to buy any more alcohol until the end of the game. That’s the thing that is great about soccer games in the U.S.. You can drink throughout the whole game!
2. I am not sure if the Barca fans weren’t loud or if we were just so high up, but the the noise level was much lower than I expected. In one respect that was awesome but on the other hand being part of a wild crowd adds to the excitement of the game.
3. No tailgate parties. A lot of people walk to the stadium or people who live a little further out of town take buses and the parking garage seemed to be underground. I can’t help it. I love tailgate parties.

Now if I really need to give you any reasons why going to a see Barcelona vs. Real Madrdid is an incredible experience, here are a few if you are on the fence:

1. World class players – Messi, Iniesta, Xavi, Fabregas, Ronaldo, or should I name everyone from both teams?
2. Culture baby. Soccer in Spain is the whole way of life. The citizens grew up with the passion and excitement since birth practically.
3. Stadiums are amazing and the environment of passionate soccer fans filled inside of a stadium is extremely hard to find in the US.

So there you have it. My tour to Barcelona is over and I’m heading back to the United States today. I have 12 hours of travel time ahead of me and another hour of drive-time after I arrive at Miami International Airport, but the whole experience has been worth it. I visited Spain for the first time and attended my first game in person between two La Liga teams. And what two teams they were!

The journey for you isn’t over, though. Keep on coming back to La Liga Talk over the next few days for photographs from my trip as well as audio and interviews with Mario Kempes and others. And don’t forget to visit La Liga Talk throughout the season for coverage of one of the best leagues in the world.

If you missed the earlier parts of my travel diary, read day one and day two here.

Photo by patrik.blohme

Don’t miss Barcelona against Real Madrid in the Span­ish Super Cup, sec­ond leg, live on ESPN Deportes (4pm ET, 17th August).

Day two – Tuesday, August 16, 2011

I woke up this morning tired, but I saw the most amazing view of the Mediterranean Sea. Here in Spain, everything starts later than in the States, so it’s normal to have drinks in the evening and then have dinner around 9 or 10 pm.

9:00am – I had breakfast at Wave at the W Hotel. It’s located on the ground floor of the hotel, overlooking the pool, patio and the beach.  Breakfast is buffet style, but so different from a buffet in the States. You walk up to an assortment of thinly sliced meats, thick slices of fresh cheese and a few varieties of croissants. I am noticing some of the staples found at every meal – a mixture of different types of whole olives, tomato bread and cheese. Along the back wall I thought I’d find eggs and typical morning food, but no there were an assortment of fresh cut fruits, some cereals, granola, nuts and a wide assortment of fresh juices and smoothies.

11:00am – I decided to be adventurous and explore some of Barcelona. I walked all the way to the other side of the beach on the boardwalk in about 45 minutes.

As you walk along the boardwalk you see a ton of restaurants and little ice cream and drink kiosks. It was really interesting to watch the different types of people walking around. Europeans are so different than Americans. Americans are free but are in a sense; prude.  On the beach you would see many different women of all different ages sunbathing topless. They had no problem walking to the water topless or walking back to the hotel.

There were a few funny things I saw such as what looked like two women holding hands walking towards me.  One was topless the other was not. As they got closer, I noticed it was an older couple but they were wearing very similar bathing suits and the man was the one who I thought was topless because he had breasts!

Along the boardwalk there is an area where you can either contact the police, get medical help or just get information. On the outside there were tables of older men playing card games, chess etc.  Right across from the men were the showers – there were quite a few topless women showering but I didn’t notice one man ogling any girl but that could be due to the fact that there was an older couple using the showers too and this time the old man was bottomless. Thank God his big belly covered his unmentionables.

Further up the boardwalk you can actually either walk along the beach or walk upstairs overlooking the beach. The bars/restaurants in this location are very impressive. The entrance is up top but when you enter, it is so small, almost like four old-fashioned telephone booths put together. Upon furthest inspection you will notice stairs that lead down that take you into a much bigger space.  Since I had no Euros with me, I had to find a place that takes credit cards so I could buy some refreshing drinks. I found a Spar, which is similar to a 7-11. I bought some stuff to bring home and water to keep me hydrated in this hot and humid weather.

After I returned back to the hotel fully hydrated, I met up with a fellow journalist and decided to give swimming in the Mediterranean a try. The beach looks so perfect, but when you walk on it, it’s thicker than the sand in Florida or New Jersey, and really sticks to your feet. The water it is a little colder than Florida’s but not too bad. The water supposedly is saltier than the Atlantic Ocean and doesn’t have as many dangerous types of sea life. The sea floor is covered in so many different types of rock that almost every step you take you will most likely step on a rock. To my surprise I didn’t see any seashells.

After swimming and sunbathing for a little we decided to grab some lunch.

We went to one of the many W Hotel restaurants on the beach to grab something light.  We split some croquettes, tomato bread, french fries that were supposed to be spicy and some sardines that were soaked in vinegar. I don’t each much seafood so I let a fellow journalist go to town on the sardines.  I did end up trying a bite but will never eat another sardine again.

5:00pm – A member of the ESPN Deportes team and a few fellow journalists caught a taxi to take us to Camp Nou for the press conference. It was not a bad drive and it was interesting going through the city. Life at the W Hotel and beach is a different experience for the average person living in Spain. The city seemed like any other city in the US. Graffiti, closed stores and a decent amount of people walking around.

Pulling up to the stadium was great. You are surrounded by tons of vendors selling Barca items… and even though the game is tomorrow night, there are lines of people. Even though you can get into the stadium grounds you can’t go inside the building without clearance.  There were tons of people inside the stadium taking pictures and eating at the cafe.

5:45pm – After we were done taking pictures we entered the building from the tunnels underneath the stadium. We walked down and then up to where ESPN Deportes was taping a behind-the-scenes video with Mario Kempes and Andres Agulla.

We quietly took some pictures and then were all kicked out as the security said that Barcelona was ready to begin their practice. We walked to the cafe with Kempes and Agulla. Mario was so gracious signing autographs, letting people take his picture or get pictures with him – never complaining – always smiling and joking. Here outside we each took about 30 minutes to conduct interviews. I had the chance to interview Kempes and Agulla.

9:00pm – Once we were finished, we were able to get our credentials and go to the press conference. Even though this was super exciting and my first international press conference, I didn’t understand a majority of what was said because almost the entire conference was, not surprisingly, in Spanish

12:00am – We caught the taxi back to the hotel.

1:30am – I headed to the gym to work out.

3:00am – Time for this crazy American to go to bed.

I’m really looking forward to watching tonight’s game. Instead of being in the press conference, I’ll be in the crowd with many of the other journalists and ESPN Deportes. Look for me. I’ll be the crazy American with red hair and a crazy hat!

The game tonight kicks off at close to midnight local time. By the time the game ends and after post-match press interviews, it’ll be probably 3am before I get back to the hotel. And then I have to wake up at 7am to catch a flight back to Miami. It’s going to be a long day, but I’ll share my third part of my travel diary as soon as I get an opportunity. If you missed the first installment, read Day One now. And here’s day three.

Barcelona's W Hotel, sailing alongside the Mediterranean Sea

Watch Barcelona vs Real Madrid in the second leg of the Spanish Super Cup live on ESPN Deportes (4pm ET, August 17).

Editor’s note: La Liga Talk is in Spain this week to cover the Spanish Super Cup. We’ll be bringing you some of the sights and sounds from Barcelona including a daily travelogue sharing our experiences as well as some exclusive interviews and maybe a surprise or two along the way. La Liga Talk writer Debbie Harris left from Miami on Sunday and arrived in Barcelona on Monday to join up with ESPN Deportes (who will be broadcasting Wednesday’s game live at 5pm ET for viewers in the United States). Here’s day one of her travel diary, sharing her insight into what it’s like to experience many firsts: Visiting Spain and attending her first professional La Liga game.

Day one: Monday, August 15, 2011

9am: The final descent of my flight from New Jersey to Barcelona approaches the Spanish city. From my plane window, I can see the mountains with a few houses and lots of swimming pools in the area. But as the plane gets closer to the Mediterranean Sea, significantly more houses and buildings are visible but far fewer pools. Looking through the window, I then see the beautiful blue Mediterranean Sea and the mountains in the background.

10:30am: After the plane landed and I got through customs, I walked through Barcelona airport and was impressed by how clean and simple the two-year-old terminal was. It was very open and looked like an atrium with trees and steps and lots of places to lounge outside.

10:45am: I found my driver holding a big “Debbie Harris” sign. I walked up to him and said “Hola”. He replied “Que tal? Hablas Espanol? I responded that I spoke a little Spanish. He then said goodbye to his friend and then told him he had to take the “Gringo” to the hotel. I laughed because hey – I understood that!

The 15 minute drive to the hotel was pretty quiet. Along the way, I was so amazed at the countryside. You can see the mountains in the distance with homes on it — very much like you picture Italian seaside villages. Along the road I started noticing what looked like statues and buildings that looked like some kind of park. As I got closer I saw that it was a cemetery filled with trees and religious statues and what looked like buildings, which were actually glass mausoleums. I was also told that Christopher Columbus is buried in that cemetery.

I eventually spoke up and told the driver that I thought his country was beautiful. He responded in perfect English. I told him I was there to see the FC Barcelona versus Real Madrid game. He, of course, said he is a FC Barcelona fan. He told me that futbol is popular but not as much as you would think. He said there are quite a few basketball fans and other sports fans here. He then told me about the whole Cesc Fabregas unveiling at the stadium (I was stuck on an airplane pretty much since the day before at 1:30pm, so I had no idea and was grateful for the information). We pulled into the parking lot of the W Hotel and all I can say is WOW.

11:45am: I went to the ESPN Deportes hospitality suite located on the 22nd floor. I got off the elevator and was enveloped in beauty. I had a panoramic view of the Mediterranean Sea on my left, straight ahead the city and mountains with some body of water and then to my right the beach and Mediterranean Sea again. I made it to room 2214 and was welcomed by ESPN Deportes, as well as executives from Time Warner Cable and reporter Jose Luis Sanchez Pando from The Chicago Tribune. I also met some of the lucky winners who won a trip to see the Spanish Super Cup, courtesy of a cross promotion between ESPN and Time Warner Cable.

7:30pm: After an afternoon of catching up on sleep, checking out the beach and going to the gym, I went to the pool area where we had a formal cocktail hour. I was daring and tried new things. I met so many people, production crews from ESPN, marketing people and their wives and husbands. And of of course some of ESPN Deportes personalities such as Mario Kempes, Fernando Palomo and Jose Ramon Fernandez.

Drinks and hors d’oeuvres were served until 9:30pm. Then we had dinner next door at Bravo. I sat next to the contest winners, Jose Luis Sanchez Pando from The Chicago Tribune and a couple of ESPN Deportes employees. We had a variety of different tapas, which were incredible. This was followed by some more drinks and then a visit to the hotel nightclub which had a spectacular view of Barcelona at night.

After 5 cava’s and one martini this traveling journalist decided it was time to go to bed. After all it was 2am.

Read day two of her travel diary. And here’s day three.

Watch Barcelona vs Real Madrid in the second leg of the Spanish Super Cup live on ESPN Deportes (4pm ET, August 17).

Photo by boldorak2208

Despite the news that La Liga will delay the start of the 2011-12 season due to a strike by the Spanish players’ union, soccer fans can still look forward to the 2011 Supercopa Espana which kicks off Sunday, August 14 between La Liga winner Barcelona and Copa del Rey champion Real Madrid.

The final will be played over two-legs. Live coverage of Sunday’s game at Santiago Bernabeu begins at 4pm ET on ESPN Deportes, ESPN Deportes Radio and ESPN3.com, while the Wednesday August 17 second leg will be broadcast live from Camp Nou at 5pm ET, also on ESPN Deportes, ESPN Deportes Radio and ESPN3.com

In addition to the game coverage, ESPN Deportes has plenty more in store including:

• Fuera de Juego (Sun 8/14 from 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. and 6:00p.m.-7:00 pm ET. Wed. 8/17 from 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. ET) – The network’s international soccer program will offer special live coverage from site with host and soccer expert Fernando Palomo,
• SportsCenter (Sun 8/14 from 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. ET). ESPN Deportes’ flagship sports news and information program will feature extensive coverage with special reports from Rafa Puente, and José Ramón Fernández;
• Los Capitanes (Wed 8/17 from 4:00 p.m.- 5:00 p.m. ET) – The network’s commentary program will feature special live reports from Camp Nou with José Ramón Fernandez

Meanwhile, ESPNDeportes.com will provide in-depth coverage highlighted by extensive online video, real-time Gamecast application featuring live scores and stats as the matches unfold. Additional features include live polls, blogs, photo gallery and video clips highlighting the best plays.

Both the first and second leg will also be shown live on GolTV.

“Barcelona’s philosophy never changes. Speed of thought, and speed of mind, enable the players to take control of any match” is how Nike describes the successful formula that the Blaugrana preaches.

After watching this 90 second video, you get a good glimpse of what separates Barcelona from many of their competitors in Europe as well as how intense their training sessions are.

Enjoy the video.