Manchester United is one of the most celebrated sports outfits in the world, but the Old Trafford–based soccer club recently faced a fresh challenge: a match versus a prominent late night talk-show host and 100 children. (As Corden sees it, the 100 kiddos are roughly equivalent to "40 adults.")
James Corden recruited the teammates for his "LLSFC" (Late Late Show Football Club) as he fielded a squad to take on Man U players players Ander Herrera, Juan Mata, and Chris Smalling. Their celebrated manager, José Mourinho, was also present for the showdown.
"José Mourinho calls me up, and he's like, 'A.C. Milan, Real Madrid, Liverpool—none of these teams are going to give me a real test,'" Corden explains in the video. "And I was like, 'I hear you, buddy. Let me see what I can do.'" (On the contrary, Mourinho says he's never heard of Corden before, and they certainly never spoke on the phone.)
In the clip, above, the kids manage the first shot on goal, and their voracious defense (and 10 goalkeepers) prove tough to crack—but Man U manages to get on the board first. It appears the LLSFC has tied it up until 17 players are called offside.
"I'm afraid of hurting the kids, but I'm not afraid to hurt James," Herrera says.
Corden and Mourinho sub in midway through the game. LLSFC ties it up, but Man U pulls out a dramatic 2-1 win on a bicycle kick from Mata.
"This has surely got to be one of the most confusing games in the history of football," the narrator proclaims.
