Looked like it was going to be another one of those nights for 45 mins!
Never a fun place to go when the keeper is “en fuego” and they do the old “1 shot, 1 goal” bullshit!
The goal right before half time was a crucial turn in the game and probably changed the half time team talks for both teams!
Thought it was a great team performance and that both full backs were unlucky not to score, which tells you how much domination we enjoyed!
Great to get 90 mins in Kev’s weary legs and 85 mins of work out of Erling. Lovely build up play by him a few times setting up his teammates. Great to see.
Rodri was, as usual, imperious, and he helped us control the game for long stretches, although they had two spells where they were putting us under pressure at the back.
While Dias is playing a little better than he was, and made one great block, I have to think that Stones must watch him play and wonder why he’s the one sitting on the bench! At times I feel like Dias runs around like a kid with ADHD, then he does something half way decent, whereas Stones makes me feel far more secure, esp when bringing the ball out from the back. Dias seems far more harried and excitable.
Thought Bernie had a very quiet game and possibly one of his worst games for a while. He did alright, but normally he’s helping run the show. Didn’t feel that way tonight. Bit anonymous out on the wing.
All in all, a very good day at the office…eventually! 3-1 flatters them, as that (and more!) could have been the score at HT! But, given we slowed the game down at 3-1 and conserved energy for 20 of the last 30 mins, Pep and the staff must be very happy with that!