Alan Shearer Q&A: Examining Champions League finalists, Newcastle's future

Alan Shearer is one of the most esteemed names in the history of English football, and one of its biggest fans.

Before analyzing Saturday's Champions League final for DAZN, the Premier League's all-time leading scorer spoke in-depth with theScore about Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool, the current state of English and European football, Newcastle United's future, and whether he ever considered celebrating with more gusto.

Which of these Champions League finalists would've been the neatest fit for you as a player?

Alan Shearer: Probably Liverpool, just because of the attacking style they play: at every opportunity both full-backs look to get balls into the box and I used to love that.

If you know, as a center-forward, that every opportunity the ball's coming into the box, it makes your job a little bit easier in terms of when to run and the timing of your run. So probably Liverpool.

Do you think both managers would've improved you as a player?

AS: Yeah, without a doubt. One ex-Liverpool manager improved me immensely as a player: Kenny Dalglish, when he was my manager at Blackburn. I learned so much from him over the years.

I'm sure both Pochettino and Klopp would've improved me. The situation that Pochettino has handled at Tottenham - without bringing any new players in, having the stadium delays - and achieving what he has achieved has been incredible.

And just the way Liverpool have played this season - 97 points, lost one game in the Premier League - and the way they fought back against Barcelona in the semifinal ...

There's no doubt that both managers have improved both sets of players.

Do you see anything of your former managers in Klopp or Pochettino?

AS: Terry Venables was similar in terms of a coach and man management; getting the ball forward, how he wanted to play, building up from the back. So yeah, there's a similarity there.

With four English teams reaching the two European finals, is this a really great period for the country's game?

AS: Yeah it is. As a whole package, the Premier League - you have the atmosphere, you have the best managers, some of the best players, the best stadiums and pitches - is the best in the world.

But does the mass exodus of young players - like Jadon Sancho, Stephy Mavididi, Chris Willock, and others - concern you a little bit?

AS: It does in one way, but I admire it in another.

I admire the toughness of the youngsters to be able to think, "OK, I'm not going to be able to play on a regular basis, but I want to and I'm going to go abroad to do that." I think that will only improve them as a player and as a person.

But, on the other hand, it does concern me that these guys have to go abroad to go and play regular football when they have the ability.

Did you ever have an opportunity to move abroad?

AS: I had one or two but it was never serious. I never chased it much. I'm sure if I wanted to I could have, but I was always content to stay in the Premier League.

Harry Kane was compared to you a lot early in his career. Do you think he is like you or do you see other players in his strengths?

AS: You and whoever can decide whether he has similarities to me. He's had one or two injury concerns this season, but he's a fantastic player. He can do most things you want from a forward: if you want him to play as a target man, he can do that; if you want him to run in behind, he can also do that. He's good in the air, he's got a good touch, and he's exceptional at putting the ball in the back of the net. He's an excellent performer and has got many strengths.

Would you drop Lucas Moura for this final?

AS: No I wouldn't, I would play him.

Only Pochettino and Harry know if he is 100 percent fit. Kane has to be honest with his manager, and if he's not fit then he shouldn't play. If he is 100 percent fit and training has gone as planned over the past six or seven days, then I think he'll start.

Can you select a weakness in each team?

AS: I was looking at the stats the other day, and with Tottenham, I think seven of the 17 goals they've conceded have been in the first 15 minutes. That would be a concern for them.

I'm not sure Liverpool have got weaknesses. How can you have a weakness when you've got 97 points and lost one game all season? That tells you there aren't too many in there.

The one weakness that Liverpool could have is that they were in the Champions League final last year and have a manager who's lost his last six finals - that could play on their minds.

Both these teams have a strong focus on their mentality and on-pitch physicality - are they very English in some ways?

AS: I wouldn't say it was an English way. We knew what an English way was when the Premier League first started, but I think the standard and the way football is played now - certainly by the top teams in the Premier League - is not very English-like at all.

When you see the way teams like Manchester City, Liverpool, and Tottenham get the ball from the goalkeepers to the full-backs or defenders and then play their way through - I wouldn't say that was very English.

But Klopp is a big fan of old English grit, and I've heard Pochettino was recently watching tapes of Leeds United in the 1970s. There must be some influences from the English game.

AS: Well, without doubt. Because of the pressing, because of the work ethic, because of how they close everyone down. Look at Liverpool's performance against Barcelona: Barcelona couldn't handle the intensity of what Liverpool did to them in the second half at Anfield. They couldn't understand or believe that Liverpool were non-stop. And when Tottenham did that against Ajax - when they pressed higher, when they went after them, when they closed them down - they couldn't handle it. It was relentless.

Considering how good the Champions League has been this season, do you wish it would be left alone and talk of a European Super League would end?

AS: 100 percent. If there was any evidence needed not to touch it, then the last three months of Champions League football have shown us that.

I think Saturday's match will be a cracker with both sides scoring goals, and I hope that is the case because it would perfectly end an incredible season of football.

My main concern with a European Super League is how it would impact the domestic game. Borussia Dortmund versus Juventus is great as a one-off, but you don't want to see that two or three times every season.

AS: I couldn't agree more with you. If anything, we should look and learn about what's happened over the past three or so months of the Champions League to suggest to leave it alone.

Your celebration during your career was iconic, but did you ever look at Jurgen Klinsmann sliding on his belly or Fabrizio Ravanelli lifting his shirt over his head and think, "I'll give that a go"?

AS: I did it once at Blackburn when I slid on my knees and did a ridiculous celebration. I thought what a bit of a prat I looked, so I never did it anymore. So I just stuck to the old "plain and simple" with the arm in the air. It seemed to work, though.

There have been a lot of rumors that Newcastle United could be subject of a lucrative takeover. Do you want this to happen?

AS: If it's everything that's been described, then absolutely, yeah.

Is that because Mike Ashley would be gone?

AS: Well, it's because that would give Newcastle a chance of improving and finishing higher than they have. They'd not have the worry of relegation, they'd have a chance of silverware.

Would you be concerned a takeover would sacrifice some of Newcastle's identity?

AS: Whose identity? What identity have we got? The identity we have at the minute is that we're a team fighting relegation every year with 52,000 in the stadium. So I wouldn't be worried about losing an identity, no.

Newcastle's a fantastic city. For readers who haven't been lucky enough to visit, how would you describe Newcastle and what makes the club so special?

AS: DAZN viewers (in Canada) will sample that as of next season when they'll be able to see every game in the Premier League. It's the best league in the world and I'm very fortunate that I'm from a part of the world that absolutely loves football.

It's a city that's football and nothing else. You'll see grannies and granddads and kids and mums and dads all wearing black-and-white shirts. Whether Newcastle win or lose is the difference between fans having a good week or a bad week.

This interview has been edited and condensed.