I said at the time that the chronic play-acting that blights the CL seemed to throw us completely off course. Other than Alli, we don't really have players who 'look' for free kicks at every available opportunity. Coming up against entire teams doing it knocked us for six. I was especially surprised to see Bayer adopt this sub-culture of high drama, as the Bundesliga is doesn't have such a reputation for it.
I personally feel that many teams read from a different script when they're in the CL. Perhaps they know that it's the only way they'll get close to the Spanish and Italians?
We are naturally a very physical side. The relative rough n' tumble of the PL (especially in the 'let it go' era) suits us. European football does not. The closest to us in terms of organisation and intensity are probably Atletico. But they are truly masters of the dark arts, defenders getting away with murder and Griezmann & Torres flopping around like bambi on ice.
There is no chance the likes of Dembele, Wanyama, Dier, Rose, Walker etc. are going to turn into Ashley Young any time soon. So it seems that next season our focus must be how to prevent the endless stream of niggling fouls and free kicks from disrupting our flow and causing us to lose focus.
If we fail to master this level of discipline, I fear that our CL adventure will once again involve a lot of huffing and puffing, only for the 3 pigs to open a side window and stick a middle finger out.