14 | Nico Gonzalez - 2025/26

Sorry, that came out wrong. I wasn't trying to imply you were. I meant it wasn't Rodri's fault that Pep decided to pull one of his "overthinking it" errors. One of his few major flaws across his career as the greatest Manager in club football history.
No such thing as Pep overthinking a game. He thinks deeply about every single game that's what makes him the greatest. The thinking means usally it works but nothing is 100%, why has he only overthought when he loses. Plus the Rodri then wasn't the Rodri he became.
 
You mean those games where he played alongside Rodri? yes he was superb.

I also remember the Palace game at home where Stones was tried as a single DM with Rodri out and he was poor and we got beat.
I remember that game 18/19 Towsend Rocket goal. Tbf that was his first game as a DM, he did good as a lone DM against Madrid last season.
 
Well for a start Nico played well..and if you can't see that then it's pointless debating with you.
As I said I'm pretty sure you don't actually know much about football..a little tip to help you..watch the games without commentary and you will be able to make your own opinions then.
I just watched the game again and Nico was actually doing fine, so my comment was too harsh and incorrect. My apology.
 
No such thing as Pep overthinking a game. He thinks deeply about every single game that's what makes him the greatest. The thinking means usally it works but nothing is 100%, why has he only overthought when he loses. Plus the Rodri then wasn't the Rodri he became.
It is overthinking it when you change what you've done all season long for one game. And he has done it many times and still won. Often because he changed course mid game. So its not based on whether he wins or loses. Rayher doing something out of left field.

What makes Pep great is finding a way to attack weaknesses within the overall structure and principles of what he has preached and espoused all summer and season long. And then adjusting whenever and wherever it becomes ineffective.

Overthinking it is when you wholesale change what worked most of the season for 1 game. Not starting a DM to force Sterling onto the starting line up was an 'overthinking it' moment.

He does this in lots of final games. And we almost always play worse when he does. Whether we win or lose.
 
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It is overthinking it when you change what you've done all season long for one game. And he has done it many times and still won. Often because he changed course mid game. So its not based on whether he wins or loses. Rayher doing something out of left field.

What makes Pep great is finding a way to attack weaknesses within the overall structure and principles of what he has preached and espoused all summer and season long. And then adjusting whenever and wherever it becomes ineffective.

Overthinking it is when you wholesale change what worked most of the season for 1 game. Not starting a DM to force Sterling onto the starting line up was an 'overthinking it' moment.

He does this in lots of final games. And we almost always play worse when he does. Whether we win or lose.
He started Gundogan there which wasn’t a one off he done it a few times.
 
He started Gundogan there which wasn’t a one off he done it a few times.
Except Gundo was our top scorer that season playing an advanced midfield role, playing him as the DM with Rodri and Fern both available made no sense, it weakened us both defensively and offensively.
 
Except Gundo was our top scorer that season playing an advanced midfield role, playing him as the DM with Rodri and Fern both available made no sense, it weakened us both defensively and offensively.
So long ago think many are forgetting the context of the players at the time and the results against chelsea at the time, anyway losing interest old history andI’m long over it and doesn’t change the point that Pep ‘overthinks’ every game but it only gets brought up when we lose, without that Pep you don’t get the genius Pep, it isn’t pick and mix.Also nothing to do with Gonzalez.
 
So long ago think many are forgetting the context of the players at the time and the results against chelsea at the time, anyway losing interest old history andI’m long over it and doesn’t change the point that Pep ‘overthinks’ every game but it only gets brought up when we lose, without that Pep you don’t get the genius Pep, it isn’t pick and mix.Also nothing to do with Gonzalez.
The context is that Gundogan didn't play a single game as a DM all season, every single game it was either Rodri or Fern, the first game of the season he decides to play Gundo there was the CL final, it was a mistake from Pep end of story.
 
Pep thought that the way Chelsea were set up we didn't need a defensive midfielder as much and by using Sterling as an extra attacking midfielder we could get round the back of them and cause more problems. He set this up the week of the game and asked his captains about it. They all didn't agree and certainly weren't going to say yes drop our captain for a CL game. Pep being Pep still went ahead with it and if it had worked it would have been another genius moment. Unfortunately it didn't.
100% aware of all that but it was a mistake and most people if not all called it before the game. It wasnt a time for a genius moment, we were playing a very poor chelsea team. We didnt need to over think it, go out play our normal team and normal game and we take the trophy home. I am also aware that the lack of defensive midfielder wasnt the reason we conceded the goal but the uncertainty amongst the players caused most the problems in my opinion. Anyway its gone now, what can we do....
 

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