Champions League Final | Post-Match Thread

[SilverFox2]

We didn't surrender midfield. We surrendered midfield cover so Chelsea could have a free-run at our back 4 every time our possession broke down.

Good point. However effectively the teamwork that covered for that probability was not there.

 

[SOR_21]

Disappointed by yesterday, I'd say the main problem was the lack of width (City's main strength) in the first half, Sterling and Mahrez were coming so far inside almost like centre midfielders and with De Bruyne dropping deep, at times there was 7 packed together in the middle in the first half in a box, and with Phil and Bernando sitting on the halfway line there was no drive. The few times Sterling and Mahrez did go wide in the first half, Sterling in particular had no joy (personally think Pep put him out as as acid test, to see if he's good enough for City or to be sold this summer - with Phil/Mahrez as first choice wingers and Torres/Jesus/possibly Palmer as backup wingers, looks like he'll be sold to cover the costs of a new striker). On their goal, I have to give credit to Mount it was a quality through ball for the assist (watched it back this morning), think both Rodri and Fern would have struggled to cut out the through ball mid-way going through to Havertz on the turn. For me, Mahrez/Walker should have closed down Mount on the inside right of midfield just ahead of the halfway line. Fern would have obviously done a better job overall in DM for balance and given Gundogan some more licence to bomb on in midfield.
Thought Pep should have used all 5 subs (think the rules were changed this season), Jesus/Aguero at half time for Sterling, Phil on the left might have been one option, was also suprised Torres didn't come on. At least, there was one Phil Maradona moment on 67 mins with the pass out to Mahrez, it was just missing someone to tap it in (if only Aguero was on earlier). A proper striker (hopefully Haaland, even Kane would do) is needed next season as I think teams (especially Chelsea) have worked out this false 9 system (both De Bruyne and Phil struggled as the false 9). Maybe a LB as well, it's up to Cancelo really, can he become a Zambrotta like defender as a right footed LB or does he want to act as a fill-in for Walker on the right. Walker was exceptional yesterday, at his age most players start to lose pace, it looks like Walker has got even faster, amazing!

 

[SidJames]

What Pep did last night is was and will be forever undefendable.
Yet some people still think the emporer is wearing the finest cloths when in the cold light of day he us in fact he is stark bollock naked.

This 100%

No excuses.

You can bet our owners are thinking what many fans were thinking.

They want Europe prestegious Cup on their C/V

That is why they pay Pep millons each season.

I 100% guarntee they would have prefered the Champions League to the Prem Title.

Pep put out a shit show of the highest order on terrestial TV in fromt of a Billion viewers.

We failed to turn up for our own party.

One or two might not give a shit .

Our owners will.

 

[Marvin]

Like to be a fly on the wall with Pep and the owners, end of year review I assume all players and manager go through. Was it a year of a step forward?

It was a miraculous season. We won almost everything without a recognised striker. By rights we should have struggled in what was Aguero's last season.

 

[Mr HJ]

Got over the disappointment a little as the sun shines today but one thing sticks in my mind reading all the critics about the team/selections etc this morning - If Sterling had had a slightly better touch from that Ederson pass and we had taken the lead the game would have been completely different. It's a game of small margins and we will be back to win the damn thing next year.

Have a good rest Pep and then make the right changes and watch us go.

 

[kingswoodblue]

Exactly this. Complete mess of an approach. Sterling wasn’t to blame the system was. I was surprised to see him start, although his starting birth wasn’t the problem, a surprise maybe but the problem was who it shunted from the field. Sterling replaces Mahrez and the extra spot goes to Fern or Rodri and it’s a different game. During the match thread Sterling as usual got a lot of flack but whilst he wasn’t brilliant he was by no means anywhere near the worst. Kevin & Mahrez were particularly bad, Gundog reminiscent of his old self when called up on to fill a void that’s he’s just not comfortable with and Bernie worked hard without displaying any real quality. At least Sterling was in a battle and showed glimpses where he broke the lines for cut backs. Foden was the only attacking player who really showed any substantial quality.

The sad thing about it all was that was the only way we were going to get anything out of that game.. a moment of individual brilliance. Pep totally lost focus on his ideals for this game. Completely and somewhat bizarrely decided to ignore what has worked so very well for him since January. He should be kicking himself this morning. That was all on him.

Spot on - the only choices were Cancelo or Zinchenko at left back , Rodri or Fernandinho as holding mid.

Sterling on current form wasn’t up for consideration and whilst he wasn’t the worst, I always felt that James had his number.

I don’t know why Pep feels the need to overthink, be clever or different - just play our best team and structure.

Talking to Chelsea fans on the walk to the ground they were expecting a comfortable City win - based on our tried and trusted structure, players and form ( when we play our best 11).

Heard somewhere that only once this season we haven’t played Rodri or Fernandinho - Cheltenham

if that’s accuratex why pick our biggest game of the season to try and be clever/different.

 

[brian the blue]

What I can’t understand is this mental block we have facing English teams in this competition.

We really seem to struggle playing inferior teams. Under Pep in the CL we’ve beaten Barca, Real Madrid and PSG where we were the underdogs going in, accepted that we won’t have all the ball and got a great result.

Then for some reason, we come up again the team sat around 4th in our own league, who we’d thrashed with minimal fuss earlier in the season (Liverpool, Spurs and now Chelsea) and lose the plot and can’t seem to string together any meaningful passes, never mind create a decent chance.

Infuriating.

 

[Keeper!]

Just seen Macca at the airport in Porto take his mask off to shout at someone

strikes me as a complete tosser

Strikes you?

He has always been a complete wanker, as a player for us he took the piss, even for his "beloved" Liverpool he took the piss.

As a pundit he takes the piss, he is an oxygen thief.

 

[BeswickBlue9]

Oh thank god. Let’s hope we lose more often so he can “revolutionise football” I’d rather we just won the CL tbh

Very short minded view to be fair. You can’t win every trophy every season. I’d rather we won it as well but he learned from his first season with us then we got 100 points. Followed by a domestic treble. We then had a (slightly) disappointing season last season and then won the league again. Forget about the past, even yesterday. Let’s think about the future. It’s very bright. Try and enjoy your weekend

 

[citymad]

Right fuck it. We are still champs of England for third time in four years and won our 1976 cup four times on the trot so dreamland compared to 80s 90s and 2000s. As a mate of mine just said this (champs league) is the top competition, it is by definition elusive to the nearly everyone and needs everything to come together to win. Next year it is then. Enjoy the summer break everyone.

As long as someone locks Guardiola in the bogs before the game so we can make the necessary changes.