Champions League Final | Pre-Match Thread

[mccity]

I mean, there's a chance we could completely outplay them and lose, that's happened many times in the past decade. Although I suppose they could outplay us, and we win anyway, which has happened albeit far fewer times. I do believe people should be aware of this.


What I would say, is that if we're playing the percentages game, our best is better than their best. I don't think they're going to play for the counter, they're going to try and outplay us (as they should). It's statistically better for them to have us pinned back than hope our press fails. They will have a plan for how they counter, but if we're at our best we'll be able to keep them from doing much.

 

[uwe rosler 28]

Early goal will be a game changer but failing that getting the press right from the front is key also think a 4-4-2 works better against there suffocating system. Pep knows best tho

 

[p.taker]

We have time to practice pens, this game will be decided from 12 yards.

God I hope not.

 

[pavelsrnicek]

It’s intriguing that our first Champions League Final is against Chelsea. They have been a bit of a mirror to us since our takeover. Both of us have been phenomenally wealthy but we seem to have planned far more strategically, they react quickly.

They were well ahead of us in 2003 as they were qualifying for the Champions League even before Abramovich arrived. Still they had 5 years of big spending and high profile managers while we were still barely afloat.

Since their takeover they’ve won the Champions League, the League 5 times, the Europa League twice, the FA Cup 5 times and League Cup 3 times. In a shorter period we’ve won the League 4 times (hopefully soon to be 5), the FA Cup twice and the League Cup 6 times. Not wildly different records bar European success and a win in Istanbul would balance it further.

What is odd is how often we’re competing elsewhere, they’ve been our nemesis in both the Youth Cup and Women’s Premier League. We’re both fishing for the same high quality players the likes of Chilwell, Werner, Hazard, Jorginho or Havertz could’ve been in sky blue. Equally Abramovich wanted Kun for years, they went for Stones but missed out and of course they had KDB and let him go. We were even competing for the right to say we were first to pull out of the Super League!

The crazy thing with Chelsea is that they’ve been close to the top of world football but have been pretty chaotic in doing so. Under Abramovich they’ve appointed 11 permanent managers. They’ve sold Lukaku, Salah, Sturbridge & KDB for relatively small fees and spent huge sums replacing them.

They only thing they have consistently done better than us is in getting bigger fees for some of their players. Having said that we rarely sell anyone we want to keep (Sané apart), they’ve sold Luiz, Hazard & Robben at their peak for big fees.

When you see how well City are run and you see Chelsea, you wonder how they done so well considering all the chopping and changing of managers and resulting payoffs, their transfer ban and their failure to develop their ground. We’ve put structures in place since Soriano arrived to build for the long term.

So structured planning versus quick fix will meet in the final. I fancy us to win both games against them.

 

[Badensbluemoon]

I would've prefered to play Real Madrid than Chelsea to be honest, they can give us a game

 

[Jeanclaude]

 

[kinkysdribble]

Not easy but if Pep is the greatest couch of all,we will win.... after all, only if we deserve it,we will bring the trophy in Manchester....

Sofa, so good

 

[Didsbury Dave]

Sofa, so good

Typical comment from an armchair supporter.

 

[Millwallawayveteran1988]

I mean, there's a chance we could completely outplay them and lose, that's happened many times in the past decade. Although I suppose they could outplay us, and we win anyway, which has happened albeit far fewer times. I do believe people should be aware of this.


What I would say, is that if we're playing the percentages game, our best is better than their best. I don't think they're going to play for the counter, they're going to try and outplay us (as they should). It's statistically better for them to have us pinned back than hope our press fails. They will have a plan for how they counter, but if we're at our best we'll be able to keep them from doing much.

You are right. Being the best team doesn’t always translate to a win in a one off game.

Anything could happen.

Just glad we are in it and have a good chance.

 

[VOOMER]

Early goal will be a game changer but failing that getting the press right from the front is key also think a 4-4-2 works better against there suffocating system. Pep knows best tho

Suffocating system?

Chavs v Madrid
Mendy
Christensen
Silva
Rudiger
Jorginho
Kante
Azpilliccueta
Chillwell
Mount
Havertz
Werner

Chavs v Us

Kepa
Azpilliccueta
Chillwell
Silva
Rudiger
Jorginho
Kante
James
Ziyech
Werner
Mount

City v Chavs
Steffan
Cancelo
Mendy
La Porte
Dias
Rhodri
Fernandinho
Torres
KDB
Raheem
Jesus

City V PSG
Ederson
Walker
Z
Stones
Dias
Fernandinho
Mahrez
Phil
Gundy
Bernardo
KDB


They started with 8 of the team that played Madrid against us in the semi-final. We played 3 that started against PSG
I'm not saying its a walkover, but lets see how they are after being pressed for 65 minutes.