Dortmund (H) - CL QF | Post-Match Thread

[buckshot]

Phew. Rode our luck.

Rodri looked knackered at half time (not surprising given his exploits over the break), give that man a well deserved rest gainst Leeds.

Foden has another few levels to go up, scarily.

Time for Raz to play himself back into the side, we miss his pace.

Raz needs to be at his best if City are going to win this, time for him to shine against Leeds.

 

[willipp]

Bellingham interviewed - very impressive young man.

Incredible for a 17 year old that and came across very well. Had more influence on the game than Haaland did that’s for sure.

 

[1978 & still here]

We will beat them over there.

 

[Sir peace frog]

Bellingham is a good kid, good interview and played really well.

As for his goal, it was a foul studs up and followed through, he did get the ball but with studs up against a swinging leg is 100% a foul, imo

 

[bobom]

Not bad. We were pretty wasteful, lucky to have a goal disallowed, but managed to win it. In previous years we could easily have gone into the second leg with a 1:1 or 2:2.
It's a tough competition, and we have the potential to play better. I'm not too disappointed.

 

[wattle]

How old is Bellingham? I don’t think BT have mentioned it?

 

[SidJames]

No way the second leg finishes 0-0.

I agree.

Hence why i still think it was a really good result. Whilst not playing at our best.

More likely it will end 2-3,or 3-3.

 

[Berts Neck]

It is well known the Germans like to attack away from home, but Phil will drop a couple of bombs in Dortmund.

 

[Watters56]

What a terrible interview with Pep from Reshmin Choudray. Just embarrassing

 

[buckshot]

Negatives:
Sloppy in possession on too many occasions
Dias looks to be running on empty
Not clinical enough
Gundogan not great
Conceded

Positives:
Won the game
KDB back to his best
Their right back will need a blood transfusion as he was spinning all night. Phil had him on toast
We looked more threatening with a proper number 9
We will score at least once over there
We didn’t lose

They will fancy their chances at home but so will we going there with a lead. I expect a different set up in the second leg with a number of changes. I will take a 2-1 win again second leg

As long as City score the first 2 I'm fine w/ a 2-1 win.

 

[Brightwell Bros.]

Fucking hell the lino getting an autograph, what a joke.

 

[GoatersLeftShin]

We really do enjoy saving our worse performances for the CL don't we?

I thought the team that Pep picked was probably the right one, although I'd rather have had Cancelo at right back over Walker, with Zinchenko at left back. We always look more balanced with Zinchenko at left back, even though I'm not his biggest fan.

I genuinely don't think they were better than Leicester, Liverpool, United, Chelsea. Yet we put in ANOTHER below average/poor performance in the quarters against a team who aren't. This is a pattern and definitely a problem. I don't understand why we don't play our normal game and press the living shit out of them. We don't need to show teams like that more respect than Chelsea, Leicester, United, Liverpool etc.

You genuinely wouldn't know that we were supposed to have 6 people in that midfield would you? Foden was utter class and full of running. KdB and Gundogan did well but the rest did little. Mahrez had been playing well but saved his usual Mahrez game for tonight.

The biggest problem we've had all week I suspect, is that Pep's been telling them Haaland is 10 foot tall, 20 stone of sheer muscle, faster than Usain Bolt, better at finishing than Pele and creates goals like KdB. Just his presence within 20 yards of our defence seemed to make them nervous - I've not seen any other striker do that to us. He looks good but we absolutely should not be setting up our whole mindset to stop him from playing. The guy is not Maradona reborn.

All through the game, we played sloppy passes to people in danger who weren't expecting the ball. The defence in particular did their best to test each others control under pressure. Ederson did them no favours either and his control when Bellingham closed him down was stupid. Their confidence was shot going onto the pitch.

I do think we will beat them overall, but Pep has to stop respecting teams like the 5th best one in Germany. Honestly, if we're scared shitless of Dortmund we might as well give up now as the next games are against teams who we will have to show some respect to.

I was looking forward to watching Haaland though as I do like to watch great footballers and from the little service he had, I like the look of him. His pass to Reus was superb, yet the chance he should've finished was just like the ones we already miss! :)

The tie is setup nicely. I just hope Pep learns a lesson and goes over there and rips into them.

 

[hertsblue]

Official seen getting Hallands autograph in the tunnel in front of other players, totally unprofessional

 

[Ric]

Embarrassing that, the linesman getting Haaland’s autograph in the tunnel.

 

[WestGorton]

Linesman getting Haalands autograph. Oh dear.

 

[Blu1]

Lines man getting haaland to sign his red & yellow card wtf ? Lol

 

[oldius]

against premiership teams. We were playing that system because we had injuries to our strikers most of the time. I'm just saying a central striker would give their defence something to think about, you need to thread the ball through the eye of needle to score with the no forward system. We have players that can do that but why limit your options by playing without a forward ?.

There is nothing wrong with having it as an option but I think we create just as much without. One focal point is much easier to defend against, in my opinion.

 

[SWPISHOME]

I would play Laporte with Dias next week

He could well play a back three you just don't know with Pep.
I'd be happy for Laporte to start every week he's a fabulous player.

 

[oakiecokie]

Where was he when Gundogan sauntered in to the box to set up the winning goal?

Where was Stones or Ruban when Haaland set up their equaliser ??
WAFSC !!!!

 

[chesterbells]

are you being serious?,if we relaid the pitch after leeds and played on it a month after it would all just rip up,the roots need to knit

I was being serious. I don’t know as much as you about how these pitches are put together, and what % of them is natural grass for example, and what size the sections are that get put in. I wondered, but thanks for clarifying. I’m just frustrated by how poor the surface has become.