I see there's A LOT of criticism of Pep doing the rounds again this morning. Seems thoroughly misplaced to me. Yesterday was simply more of the same from a collection of players who going back a long way now have found it difficult to impose themselves and play when faced with any resistance. Arsenal didn't even need strong resistance, all they had to do was get hold of the ball for a minute after our 1st goal and we collectively disappeared into our shell. It's such a baffling thing to see. Not one player in the 2nd half played like they had any need to go on and win the match. The pedestrian nature of the passing and movement made the game feel like an exhibition game at times. Like I said, baffling.
One thing though which really stood out for me whilst watching Navas flail and Toure lumber though was this. Compare and contrast. Thiago, Vidal, Xavi Alonso, Philip Lahm, Javi Martinez, Renato Sanches, David Alaba, Josh Kimmich. These are all the midfield options Bayern have to wrestle control of a football match. It's safe to say that putting Toure, Fernandinho, KDB, and Silva next to that list more or less tells it's own story. For all the talent of the latter two, they are beginning to show serious signs that they actually aren't good enough to play as number 8's because they simply can't do the work going back towards their own goal and can't impose themselves on games where they're faced with physical midfielders like the ones Arsenal fielded yesterday or Monaco did the other week.
More open heart surgery on this squad this summer. Lets hope that they finally implant a backbone into the squad whilst they're at it.
