Pep plays the long game for sure and that means playing out of favour players when he gets the opportunity. That wins a lot over time.
But I feel he fucks up plenty too as we've seen with defeats to Liverpool, Chelsea and United over the past few years. All games that are bigger than normal ones.
IMO he started with a strange formation and players who should only be coming on as subs if all is well. And he didnt take the bold move to change immediately when he saw it was not right. We all saw that us winning today would only be in spite of our approach. Only he knows if the players couldn't play. But imo he should have risked it. This game was critical.
He's great. And we are lucky to have him. But he frustrates me sometimes.
(On Mendy though- I like him as a player. I think he passes well and isn't a terrible defender at all, he's OK ..however he had no pace today. It was just not the right match for him today. He was doomed before it began. )