MafeotulBlue
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- 3 Aug 2022
- Messages
- 896
- Team supported
- Manchester City
Tolm,We can flip it both ways. City were six inches away from Bayern reducing the deficit by two goals inside the first half hour.
It was a chasing because our flanks couldn't cope with their runners, hence why Pep says he changed it at the break to ensure Grealish and Bernie played closer to our back line.
Our midfield was wide open because Stones couldn't make up the extra man, having to run back all the time.
It was a chasing in terms of what City are usually exposed to.
Bayern are certainly a top team but I am under no illusions, we were not allowed to play well for long periods and a superior attack such as Real's will only cause us bigger issues if we go again with the same formation.
I am in no way saying we have played the best we could have but we are forgetting a little detail here.
Flip a coin were a penalty that 99/100 times should not be given and a very rare Haaland miss and we're talking a 5-0 against Bayern. BAYERN. Whether we had 85% possession or not the reality of the situation is, in the UCL when you get to these stages you will get ran at, fouled, mauled and hunted. It's the European top 8 and it is for a reason. What I saw last night in Bayern was 5 attackers running fast, but have no clue what to do in the front of goal, much like Tuchel's last months in Chelsea. I was more calm last night than I will be facing Arteta.
Now, this is the first time, ( Season ) were I have seen City actually adapt, give possession away, remain calm, make good decisions in defence, with a keeper that isn't losing his head every half. It shows maturity, lessons learned.
UIpamecano cost them the tie, but our defence killed us in Madrid last year. It's the typical margin in this Competition. We have conceded 5 goals in the last 11 games, and you know full well who we played.
Madrid is very good, but they have a slower build up, a more lacklustre defence than Bayern, a very very good keeper and lethal finishers. IF the Bayern tie was won on defence, which it was, the Madrid one will be won in Midfield as it was last year before we fell asleep. Modric and Kroos are immense, but against midfield transitions in the way we play they suffer massively.