I know. No problem with it personally, they got a clean sheet and a win at home because of it - fair play to them. Just wish the idiots who think attractive football is the be all and end all would give them some stick too. The best managers play to win and will adapt their tactics according to the style of players and team they are about to face. No better managers around at the moment than Jose and Carlo and I hope they meet in the final.
Exactly. Would I like to play amazing football and blow all we face away? of course but we need to be realistic. Our biggest strength at the moment is our defence and ability to counter attack. We've seen how much we've struggled against sides that let us have the ball and invite us to break them down. Why would we set up to play in AM's hands? I respect the way say City approach games, but tactical naivety is why we are in the semis and City aren't. Jose is the master at these type of games, hence why he has won the C.L twice with unfancied sides. He's actually struggled more in the competition when in charge of so called favourites. Was surprised at how much Real let Bayern have the ball yesterday but ultimately they had the better chances and won and again showed that Pep can be limited tactically against the best managers who are less rigid.
Exactly. I hate it when people quote the price of a team too! Expensive players aren't always flashy ones. We are a team mid transition and when our attacking players finally click with a striker who can bag us 20+ a season and we get a bit of creativity deeper in midfield we'll be soaring.
What has been quickly forgotten (most football fans seem to have the memory of a gold fish) is that we were playing quite expansive football earlier in the season (save for United away ) but after that horror week where we conceded 7 goals in 2 games Jose realised that we didn't have the fire power to keep playing that way so he reverted to a more solid tactical approach. Jose has played attacking football previously but will set his side up to make the best use of its talents. If you have Ronaldo, Benzema, Alonso and Ozil in your squad like he did at Real, you can play attacking expansive football. With our strikers struggling to score and (Hazard aside) the midfield not contributing as much as in previous seasons, we've had to change our approach. If and when Jose can rely more on the forwards to create and score with more efficiency, I think we'll see a more attacking approach to games. He will always be cautious in the big games though, that's his way.
21% Real had possession. We had 34% in Madrid. Real - weakest team in the competition, but they played to their strength!
I'm sure I read somewhere recently that we have not been beaten by a Spanish side in the Champions League for 16 games (W6,D10 L0). I hope this is not a doom signal!!
Does it make any difference though? We can draw and go out much like in 09. Going to be another nervy C.L night - not sure my heart can take it!!
Deservedly so, Bayern are shoddy at the back. I can only see more goals for Madrid in the second half! Also wtf was Xabi Alonso thinking? He is going to miss a Champions League final through stupidity!!
Me too, Bayern have been well and truly Pep-ified in terms of their style. Nowhere near as effective as they were last season. Hopefully Ramos can equal Alonso's stupidity!
I would have preferred Bayern if we make it. If they can't score against Reals defence then they would have a nightmare against ours.
He always is... We've been the better side but they are always going to be a threat going forward. Fancy us as it stands.
Very clever for Mourinho to not play for an away goal #naive Rodgers won't be so cowardly in the CL next season
