Champions League Final | Post-Match Thread

[coolcity]

We lost to Chelsea in the semi final with Fernandinho in the midfield. He would of been targeted if he did start.

Exactly, and Rodri started in that match. I've been saying the same all night.

 

[Beanhead]

My problem with tonight was because It was a missed opportunity and probably completely avoidable. I think we will eventually win this cup but I wanted it tonight.. when we are genuinely the best side in Europe. Pep kinda stole that from us, he overthought it.

 

[butlerkb]

Apologies for the essay, needed to occupy myself after the game.

Last nights performance personified the issues that have been creeping in for a season or so. We are a team of gifted players, bur bar KDB most of our major match winners have been replaced by supporting cast. We lack match winners in key positions against top teams, we lack physical speed and mobility in central area's and we have no focal point which, when we don't have the ball for 70 of the 90 minutes, means we do not convert possession to goals at the rate we sometimes need.

Our recruitment has not acknowledged key weaknesses and a focus on technical ability has overbalanced the squad with potentially the best group of water carriers ever ensembled. It's may be an old fashioned concept but speed vital in the game, it is an asset we lack in 9 of 10 positions. Pep's best City team IMO had a fresher KDB, Ferna a few years lighter in the legs, plus Sane and Sterling in form. All mobile and technical. Central forward height is also massively useful to turn possession into chances when facing a team of organised quality defenders. I think the speed which our best players came has caused a massive issue as we try to replace them slower to create a better flow of top players out the door, but its tough to watch as it feel like we are not proactive V's (hopefully) securing years at the top if they can realise we must have better balance.

I mention this because I believe the team performed better this year than they should. Pep made changes to the pace the team moved forward, as well as to the amount of creative freedom. We saw the ball being recycled even more and players berated for poor turnovers or bad decision in the final third. All to limit turnovers and reduce the amount of counters we faced. Dias helped and pulled the defence together and suddenly we believed. Others had issue's and we went on an incredible run that will define this season more than one loss ever could. Pep should be praised for this alteration of style it is unlike him to restrict the players in the last phase of play but this year he altered for the good of City.

Still Pep has made some shocking calls in the past against teams we could of steam rolled, just like our players he seems to have mental block in the latter stages of the Champions League. Last night was different. Last night City came up against their Kryptonite a team we had lost to recently, who felt they had the beating of us. Managed by a top manager, organising them and playing a system that nullifies the false 9. A team wounded from a defeat in a cup Vs a team that has played 5 truly competitive games in weeks and IMO hasn't looked at its best for a couple of months. Most importantly they didn't seem burdened by the need to win the Champions League they wanted it but it didn't own them and our team seem over awed in several games in the Champs league. Dortmund was tougher than it should of been, a 17 year old ran parts of the game. PSG 1st leg 1st half was a nervy affair. This game amplified those nerves a 100 times.

Last night I think Pep knew Chelsea would bypass the CDM with pace and passing as they have against both Rodri and Fernandinho already this year. So he removed them in hope of having one more creative player to overload the back 5. Something we have massively struggled with on several occasions. It didn't work. However putting a CDM in last night would not of seen us give the ball away less freely due to the nerves. It wouldn't of stopped Werner's pace scaring us and allowing him to run Dias 5 yards too deep instead of stepping up at the key moment, and it likely wouldn't of prevented Mount sending in a great ball to a run that should been tracked better.
As for the inclusion of Sterling his pace made sense to allow an out ball compensating for the lack of a central striker. Unfortunately without the ball on a plate in front of goal weekly he has been found wanting as a top, top player. He needs constant management to keep his confidence high and seems to over think almost everything. It's a shame his instincts are as sharp as his brain as I believe he's a very intelligent guy trying to implement the managers plan who just doesn't have the cutting edge needed to carry this team as is needed.

All said, Chelsea beat us because their system works against ours, we may be the better team over a season and the varying levels of opposition, but head to head they have the beating of us right now.

Still despite the negativity a loss breeds, we have had an amazing year. Seen some great football, dominated possession in a way others haven't done in the PL before, and all without a CF. Foden looks like everything we dreamed and he is one of our own, his goal against Dortmund in the 1st leg after a few missed chances gives me all the hope in the world for him, that was a winners reaction.

Next time....it will be ours.

CTID

If that works, why didn’t we bypass kante who was the best player on the pitch

 

[Cityzen_89]

I'm not saying to sack Pep. Just can't get my head round it.

Does anyone else think Klopp would bench Mane or Salah and play someone completely out of form instead? Or if Tuchel had dropped Kante?

Why the fuck does Pep do it?

Pep's approach tonight was "put as many attackers on and put it to bed quick then go defensive". Problem is Chelsea went 5 and the back with 2 holding midfielders. One of which is the best in world football so Tuchel just set them up to play on the counter and ping balls down the wings dragging our centre backs out wide leving massive holes in the box. Just like United do, another team Pep struggles with who we should be better than. He develops a mental block when teams sit back and hit on the counter.

 

[Tommy_Catons_Perm]

I don't know if it helps people sleep by blaming Sterling but maybe the fact that he didn't pick himself, he didn't change the way we play in the most high pressure games we have played. Nerves were already going to play a huge part and it was decided we would add to that by playing a system with no Ferna who besides being one of best players is also the leader of this team. Pep placed doubt in every players mind by changing things instead of just letting them play in the way they are comfortable. If you need someone to blame Sterling should be way down the list he was one of our better players in the first half.

Sterling was put out to dry.

 

[Jack74]

If only we had Gio , all of best players did fuck all ( been great all season ) fair play to Tuchel

 

[barty66]

The "pep out" brigade. You are a bundle of cunts, go fuck yourselves!

Players were trusted to do a job and because they didn't its ALL peps fault, never the players. AS FUCKING USUAL.

FUCK OFF

Nobody is saying OUT....but an apology for selecting the wrong team might be appropriate Y/N ?

 

[ID70]

Rodri and Fern started the FAC match v Chelsea....

I think you're all daft, there's no knowing what a different lineup would have made. We could have lost by more, then we'd be asking why he didn't try something different

With the formation he picked they looked disjointed from the start, the team he picked had never played before together and in 60 of the 61 games they played this season before the final one or both had started...was it the game to try something new?

 

[Bluekiwi]

Delete the last line, it’s sounds too Scouse.

Won't delete it - try to reword it ......................
"So next year we will have another attempt"
Hang on, that sounds a bit like the raggies
How about "Heads high BLUES, we have lots to be proud of"

 

[CmonCity92]

Apologies for the essay, needed to occupy myself after the game.

Last nights performance personified the issues that have been creeping in for a season or so. We are a team of gifted players, bur bar KDB most of our major match winners have been replaced by supporting cast. We lack match winners in key positions against top teams, we lack physical speed and mobility in central area's and we have no focal point which, when we don't have the ball for 70 of the 90 minutes, means we do not convert possession to goals at the rate we sometimes need.

Our recruitment has not acknowledged key weaknesses and a focus on technical ability has overbalanced the squad with potentially the best group of water carriers ever ensembled. It's may be an old fashioned concept but speed vital in the game, it is an asset we lack in 9 of 10 positions. Pep's best City team IMO had a fresher KDB, Ferna a few years lighter in the legs, plus Sane and Sterling in form. All mobile and technical. Central forward height is also massively useful to turn possession into chances when facing a team of organised quality defenders. I think the speed which our best players came has caused a massive issue as we try to replace them slower to create a better flow of top players out the door, but its tough to watch as it feel like we are not proactive V's (hopefully) securing years at the top if they can realise we must have better balance.

I mention this because I believe the team performed better this year than they should. Pep made changes to the pace the team moved forward, as well as to the amount of creative freedom. We saw the ball being recycled even more and players berated for poor turnovers or bad decision in the final third. All to limit turnovers and reduce the amount of counters we faced. Dias helped and pulled the defence together and suddenly we believed. Others had issue's and we went on an incredible run that will define this season more than one loss ever could. Pep should be praised for this alteration of style it is unlike him to restrict the players in the last phase of play but this year he altered for the good of City.

Still Pep has made some shocking calls in the past against teams we could of steam rolled, just like our players he seems to have mental block in the latter stages of the Champions League. Last night was different. Last night City came up against their Kryptonite a team we had lost to recently, who felt they had the beating of us. Managed by a top manager, organising them and playing a system that nullifies the false 9. A team wounded from a defeat in a cup Vs a team that has played 5 truly competitive games in weeks and IMO hasn't looked at its best for a couple of months. Most importantly they didn't seem burdened by the need to win the Champions League they wanted it but it didn't own them and our team seem over awed in several games in the Champs league. Dortmund was tougher than it should of been, a 17 year old ran parts of the game. PSG 1st leg 1st half was a nervy affair. This game amplified those nerves a 100 times.

Last night I think Pep knew Chelsea would bypass the CDM with pace and passing as they have against both Rodri and Fernandinho already this year. So he removed them in hope of having one more creative player to overload the back 5. Something we have massively struggled with on several occasions. It didn't work. However putting a CDM in last night would not of seen us give the ball away less freely due to the nerves. It wouldn't of stopped Werner's pace scaring us and allowing him to run Dias 5 yards too deep instead of stepping up at the key moment, and it likely wouldn't of prevented Mount sending in a great ball to a run that should been tracked better.
As for the inclusion of Sterling his pace made sense to allow an out ball compensating for the lack of a central striker. Unfortunately without the ball on a plate in front of goal weekly he has been found wanting as a top, top player. He needs constant management to keep his confidence high and seems to over think almost everything. It's a shame his instincts are as sharp as his brain as I believe he's a very intelligent guy trying to implement the managers plan who just doesn't have the cutting edge needed to carry this team as is needed.

All said, Chelsea beat us because their system works against ours, we may be the better team over a season and the varying levels of opposition, but head to head they have the beating of us right now.

Still despite the negativity a loss breeds, we have had an amazing year. Seen some great football, dominated possession in a way others haven't done in the PL before, and all without a CF. Foden looks like everything we dreamed and he is one of our own, his goal against Dortmund in the 1st leg after a few missed chances gives me all the hope in the world for him, that was a winners reaction.

Next time....it will be ours.

CTID

Agree with everything you said..

 

[buckshot]

We benched Dinho....why didnt Tuchel bench Kante....both the most important players in their respective teams in their positions ?? Somebody was trying to be too cocky and saying " i am the boss and i know best"...i bet hand on heart 90% of true city fans will say he got it wrong and the same amount would have said that before KO

The killer is that if we were honest with ourselves we knew they weren't going to win when we saw the team. Last year I tried to believe they'd get the job done against Lyon and this was the same. We always say "In Pep we trust" but you can't win the CL without playing to your strengths. I'd rather park the bus than play w/o a holding MF.

 

[Pam]

With the formation he picked they looked disjointed from the start, the team he picked had never played before together and in 60 of the 61 games they played this season before the final one or both had started...was it the game to try something new?

Absolutely not. I can't think of a less appropriate occasion to piss about and experiment. And the whole Sterling thing was a bit baffling as well. The man is bang out of form and has been for ages.

 

[ID70]

Exactly, and Rodri started in that match. I've been saying the same all night.

But they were surrounded by fringe players in the previous league and cup game. This game was about playing your strongest and inform team amd that was not the case

 

[pogrom92]

Our best player was literally taken out of the game by a deliberate, and sneak, attack.
We’ll never know if De Bruyne would have made the difference but he’s done it before against Chelsea.

 

[abu13]

I'm 55 and you get near a man if the rest of the defence is moved apart FFS ....simple basic defending....who do you think he should be marking just out of interest ????????????????

Zinchenko is our left back, Havertz took the ball around Ederson on the right hand side of the box and Zinch was the only one who got anywhere near him. Walker, Stones and Dias were more culpable than Zinchenko

 

[coolcity]

That's what I keep thinking too. Carragher was on CBS and said that Chelsea was probably thrilled when they saw the team sheet.

Sick of reading this crap about Sterling shouldn't have been playing. He's scored 10 goals from 31 Prem starts this season. On that basis Chelsea should have lost because they picked Werner - he's only scored 6 from 35 starts so Tuchel could have dropped Werner for the same reasons based on that theory.

I cannot believe that so many people are so naive that they think all you need to do is pick your current best 11 players and you'll win. I can't believe I'm having to say this, but it doesn't quite work like that.

 

[RayCTID]

Our best player was literally taken out of the game by a deliberate, and sneak, attack.
We’ll never know if De Bruyne would have made the difference but he’s done it before against Chelsea.

He was poor before the injury but yes Kev is a match winner but I don't think he was deliberately taken out of the game

 

[Kaidopep1]

I have rewatched the game and trust me the game was fucking much closer than expected...

Foden‘s big chance, Mahrez possible 1v1 vs Mendy, Sterlings possible chance (if he would simply be better inform...) after Ederson‘s pass and Mahrez last minute Chance to score a dreamgoal...

I swear Chelsea scored the goal, when it felt like a 0-0 Half after both teams were POSSIBLY able to score more than one goal (atleast a goal) City more likely than Chelsea. Their best chance was Werner when he the outside net..

They really scored the goal at the least expectable time after a position fuck up of Zinchenko, Walker and Stones.. Which is ironic as I saw Dias and Zinchenko as our best defender until the goal was scored and Walker in second half, the player that wanted the most imho. Absolutely avoidable ffs....

And in second half they had the best chance with Pulisic 1v1 vs Ederson minute 71.. but Agüero‘s cross/shot which was saved by Mendy if he wouldn‘t done that, Foden had a empty net in-front of him, 89 Minute Chillwell save in the box vs Foden and Mahrez almost dreamgoal in the last minute of Injury time... City could have won the final..

At the first watch I thought Chelsea big time deserved the win, but after the rewatch? It was close as fuck and slightly deserved by Chelsea. I sympathize for Tuchel so I‘m happy that he won after the last year‘s fucking close lose vs Bayern, but Absolutely feel gutted for Pep :(

 

[Tommy_Catons_Perm]

Won't delete it - try to reword it ......................
"So next year we will have another attempt"
Hang on, that sounds a bit like the raggies
How about "Heads high BLUES, we have lots to be proud of"

How about "We did the double again including 3 premier leagues in 4 years."

 

[coolcity]

Our best player was literally taken out of the game by a deliberate, and sneak, attack.
We’ll never know if De Bruyne would have made the difference but he’s done it before against Chelsea.

Agreed, and not losing him and/or their player getting a red for the foul could have made the difference that would have nullified the team selection opinion/theory.