Champions League Final | Post-Match Thread

[kevodevo]

Been very enlightening reading those views but actually pep is best placed to make the decisions / we lost a cup game , we won a season long tournament so frankly pep is brilliant as anyone can lose a cup game as it’s tactics or whatever -
Credit to tucel luck with the ref but red card? Yep ! Pen maybe no
We lost it on s a tactical shortcoming but we will progress and patience i as the virtue - we r city is what we do

 

[madloaf]

I am a bit emotional and going to have a drink. Not saying I will change my mind but I don't want to argue right now.

Fair, and respected. Like I said earlier, I've got my 10 year old in his kit thinking the world ended so I am trying to be pragmatic. I'm drinking too!!

 

[Grealish’s Shinpads]

Gundo didn’t seem 100% today but he can’t have been playing with anything to serious or he would have been subbed.

I did think this game could have been salvaged with a big shake up at half time but we will never know.

Maybe because he was played out of position by Pep...

 

[alexmcity]

No-one is questioning his ability to manage a squad over 38 games. At rotating, keeping everyone motivated, everyone playing the same system and being able to keep going irrespective of injuries and suspensions? He's demonstrably the best. We will win the league yet again next season, I have no doubt.

The issue is the one-off biggest, must win games. The question is, can he do it in the biggest game when it doesn't matter how you win, you just have to win. For 10 years now, he:s failed, even when having one of, if not the best team. And he's done it again tonight.

It's not just tonight is it. So questions do have to be asked

People have already forgotten how difficult this season was for us. No preseason, many injuries, covid, only one fit striker for most of the season, etc. etc We were 12th in November and won the league by 12 pts which was exceptional including those record-breaking 21 wins. Pep has won 14 from 16 finals in his career. So, it's not like he wins one-off games rarely. His record in finals is the best in the world by far.

Think the biggest problem today was that half of our players weren't in top form due to the heroic efforts from December to March. Kevin, Bernardo and Mahrez did very little today, Gundogan wasn't Gundogan from January and February, even Dias wasn't Dias. We were at our best during that record winning run. It's only normal we lost a bit of form. Even against PSG we weren't very convincing. We were a bit lucky in Paris with both goals. Even Pep and the players admitted we weren't good in the first half at the Etihad either. It's not like we were out of this world with Rodri/Ferna. We struggled against PSG with either at DM in the first halfs away and home.

Generally, it was an excellent season. Sign a great striker this summer and win the lot next season. Wish people didn't say stupid things about Pep and the players and give fans of other teams the stick to beat them with and laugh at us. Great season. Let's hope the next is great as well!

 

[nmc]

Give it a day or two and you will be fine.

Absolutely... it’s been a great season... City are a major force in football now.. we won two major trophies and were runners up in the CL this season We need to stay positive and stick together. Yeah Pep got it wrong... but hes still the biggest asset this club has... he’s not beyond criticism but for all the plaudits I wouldn’t want that Sheldon look alike at City.

 

[silvathechihuahua]

Why would you go all out attack against a counter attacking team without a dmf??

 

[SidJames]

Pep didnt have a clue what to do once we went behind

i disagree.

What i think happens is.... he is like if I make changes, i am admitting i made a mistake by changing things. His ego literally gets in the way of a common sense approach .Reason being in his mind he is never wrong.

Is why usually waits so long to make changes.

I am shocked we stated with no Fernandinho.

For the life of me it was almost constructive dismissal it was such an appalling judgement call.

Every blue said the same thing when the team sheet was announced,.....everyone of us

 

[coolcity]

This was our best chance to WIN Champions league, I don’t think we will see better chance, as most of the teams will strengthen. If we had showed up and lost i would not mind

And we won't strengthen? Every year someone says it's our best chance.

 

[Toulousain85]

How many of us would’ve thought we wouldn’t have to mention Lyon again this season then?

The only problem solved from that Lyon match is Dias in CB. Even if we win the league all other weaknesses are still there: Strikers who can't score goals, wingers who can't go pass players, DM who is too static, not to mention no proper LB. I'm grateful we performed to the level we did, all thanks to our beautiful passing games, but ultimately weaknesses are going to get exposed, at the highest level we can't expect to pass opponents to death everytime. In matches against PSG or Dortmund, there were also sustained period where we got exposed and conceded goals logically. Ultimately against chelsea who have much better defenders than PSG or Dortmund, we just couldn't find a way back.
I think, in the cups, Pep's way of fotball is always going to cost more money to win than pragmatic direct teams like Chelsea or Liverpool.

 

[Keeper!]

not time to cry, time to be angry, we were let down tonight, we have witnessed some wonderful moments but tonight they let us down