What people clamouring for a best team yesterday don’t realise is that the fixture list almost mandates you don’t if you want to go into the final at peak fitness & importantly - rhythm. Getting the league won ASAP & then getting a long rest (losing intensity & rhythm) fucked over Bayern before and Pep will have learned.
PSG >> Best team played
Chelsea (4 days later) >> Reserves
Newcastle (6 days later) >> Best (had 10 days rest)
Brighton (4 days later) >> Reserves
Everton (5 days later) >> Best (had 9 days rest)
CL Final (6 days later) >> Best (had 6 days rest)
Given this, the players should be at peak match fitness and the amount of rest between games minimises injury chances. Look at Chelsea yesterday with a Christensen injury after playing v Madrid. The schedule has been gruelling for a long time now given our interest in so many competitions. Pep has defaulted to two teams playing one week at a time since before the quarters, and it is working despite the obvious drop off in quality > see Foden with the record distance run in the last game. That kind of energy and legs is only afforded by not having to play 2 games a week.
Touch wood it pays off in this game. But even if we lose, it's hard to disagree with the rationale when you look at it without the blue tinted glasses of wanting to win every single game. We've had a relatively good record with injuries this year precisely because of Peps constant rotation.
PSG >> Best team played
Chelsea (4 days later) >> Reserves
Newcastle (6 days later) >> Best (had 10 days rest)
Brighton (4 days later) >> Reserves
Everton (5 days later) >> Best (had 9 days rest)
CL Final (6 days later) >> Best (had 6 days rest)
Given this, the players should be at peak match fitness and the amount of rest between games minimises injury chances. Look at Chelsea yesterday with a Christensen injury after playing v Madrid. The schedule has been gruelling for a long time now given our interest in so many competitions. Pep has defaulted to two teams playing one week at a time since before the quarters, and it is working despite the obvious drop off in quality > see Foden with the record distance run in the last game. That kind of energy and legs is only afforded by not having to play 2 games a week.
Touch wood it pays off in this game. But even if we lose, it's hard to disagree with the rationale when you look at it without the blue tinted glasses of wanting to win every single game. We've had a relatively good record with injuries this year precisely because of Peps constant rotation.
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