The Hard Shoulder The Hard Shoulder

Sport with John Duggan: Champions League continues

Oct 21, 2026 · 8m

Summary

The episode covers the Champions League, highlighting Manchester United's struggles and Arsenal's strong form, alongside Aston Villa's match. It also details the naming of the Ireland rugby squad for upcoming internationals. The main focus is a discussion on snooker player Mark Allen's mental health crisis, praising the empathetic interview by Rachel Casey and debating the public's reaction to athletes' therapy choices.

Topics discussed

Champions League preview: Manchester United vs Como Arsenal vs Bayern Munich and Aston Villa fixtures Aston Villa's performance under Unai Emery Ireland rugby squad named for November internationals Mark Allen's emotional interview and mental health struggles Mark Allen's statement on recovery and therapy Debate on therapy and James McLean's comments Reflections on bravery and respecting personal healing paths Praise for interviewer Rachel Casey's empathy The importance of being human in journalism Personal experience with counseling and grief Closing remarks and sign-off
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