Dortmund (H) - CL QF | Post-Match Thread

[TheThirdDeano]

We’ll be fine lads have some faith!

 

[khoitnm]

On second thought I'd actually prefer us playing an English team in these CL knockout games. At least we played our normal style against Liverpool and Spurs. Dortmund would struggle massively to remain in top 8 in PL and we'd brush them aside in that competition but in CL they somehow look like the equal of us and worst we play tactics and lineups we don't normally play 90%. They are not close to us in quality, far from it. Let's just get through the next match and get a decent result. A decent result will see us through. I'm quitely confident will play much better in SF and Finals if we reach there.

In today game, which tactics and lineups are unusual?

 

[bluetonium]

Take the win but sloppy performance in places and their goal was as obvious coming as a freight train thanks to the gaps and room we gave them in the build up. We won't win it like that. Thankfully Foden found the net when it counted.

Not sure Haaland fits into our team though. He's dangerous, but I don't see him zipping about chasing the ball. Maybe tactical I guess and Pep has done things with players we all thought improbable.

BT sport commentary was again poor, they have such a problem with us that it's genuinely depressing listening to them as a City fan. For the rodri penalty incident they were so insistent that a travesty had occured that they didn't even ask the question of whether the contact was on the knee, which looked the issue to me, and spent the rest of the game hoping Dortmund, and Bellingham in particular, put us to the sword.

 

[NorCalBlue]

I thought Bellingham led with his foot-raised studs up

He certainly did - only an idiot would argue otherwise. It could be argued that he got the ball cleanly, though, so we were lucky the ref considered it dangerous play (and I'd tend to agree with that argument). Some people don't seem to understand that dangerous play doesn't require contact and that refs have a lot of latitude in calling it, whether you agree with it or not. Just another example of where the Laws of the Game need to be a lot more specific in the age of VAR.

 

[Chi-town blues]

wining is hard

 

[eyalluvitt]

Phil,you seen those temporary traffic lights..top end of Piper Street, past McVities, up by the bank on Birdhall lane ,

Yea, nightmare bruv

 

[balotellishaircut]

Tie on a knife edge unfortunately.

Bookies odds to qualify,

City 1/8
Dortmund 9/2

 

[eyalluvitt]

Na na na nananana nananana CITY, na na na nananana nananana CITY

 

[dhruvblue]

Lucky not to concede 2nd unlucky not to score more.

We have set up Ourselves for Pep overthinking and getting knocked out on away goal rules. Having said hope we do neither and we play better and repeat same scoreline like we did vs Real Madrid

 

[come-on-barney]

Haaland is an excellent player, but Pep would not put up with him strolling around the pitch when they did not have the ball. Like Pep said we go out to win the second leg snd think we will.

 

[Paul1970]

A win is a win and we will defo score in Germany . Funny decisions but fuck em as we have been hammered by decisions in Europe but Rodri needs a pep talk as he was fucking shocking .

 

[doobyedoobye]

Such an enormous amount of pressure on the team. Fair play for getting the win. Unfortunately one or two players had off days and that changed the integrity of the team.

 

[Gabriel]

Thought it was as much our physicality in the engine room that saw us over the line last night, with Dortmund looking a little light and a little leggy in the second half. It’ll certainly be as tough over there again, but we’re capable of progressing. Should we progress and face Bayern, however, it’ll be a much sterner test, and they won’t be as light.

 

[Bluekiwi]

The second leg should be the time to give Sergio a start. We need to convert the chances we will create and even though a bit rusty he has the knack of nicking a goal from a half chance. Having said that I don't think he would be on the pitch for the whole game as his work rate is nothing like Jesus'. But we need goals to counter their away goal.

 

[Harvster]

Phil,you seen those temporary traffic lights..top end of Piper Street, past McVities, up by the bank on Birdhall lane ,

Yea, nightmare bruv

I'm getting another goal early doors next week

 

[applecentral]

FFS (not you Mahrez), we won 2-1 against a quality team, probably one of the toughest we will face in the CL, despite not firing on all cylinders and then get to play them away in a ground with no fans......yet.......

....on here's it's like the matchday thread, so much doom and gloom, it's fucking depressing.

We're 2-1 up in the QF of the Champions League, not 4-0 down and next week we'll hopefully reach the Semi's. In Pep we trust.

It’s good to see a sensible post. This is the tough end of the competition now. We have to understand there are fine margins here on in, in every game. Some of you seem to struggle to understand that.

 

[Newman Noggs]

That linesman getting Haaland's autograph was odd. Especially as Woodward was later seen tearing off a rubber mask, laughing hysterically and waving a contract around.

 

[Academica]

Plenty of people saying they have to come out and go at us in the Second Leg don’t seem to understand European two-legged football!

They need ONE GOAL to advance. They could have scored more than a couple tonight!

I think the return fixture will be a tight game. We need to stop them scoring, whilst trying to score ourselves, while their priority for the first half, possible 60 minutes, is DON’T LET CITY SCORE!

We see this all the time against lower clubs in the PL. They come to the Etihad, play 10-1 and don’t even come out of their shell if we score! Why? Because they know it’s only a 1 goal game and they still have to stop us from scoring for an hour BEFORE THEY CAN TRY TO NICK A GOAL!

It’s a similar set-up here. They know the keys to a victory are two simple things:

1) Stop us from scoring, and
2) Score one goal anytime in the game.

They’re simply looking for a 1-0 or better. WE are the ones who will feel like we need a goal, to even out the away goals and THAT WILL FORCE THEM TO COME OUT in an attempt to get at least two.

If we concede in the first half, they can play 4-5-1 to their hearts content, and we saw how difficult they were to break down.

Grabbing the first goal in the first half is required for a much better chance of getting through.

So we need to stop them scouring while trying to score ourselves, and Dortmund need to score while stopping us from scouring . I think with your help I am beginning to understand European second legs.

 

[DMA's]

Thought we played with fear and where sloppy first half, second half was a bit better but the reaction after they scored the goal was fantastic. We suddenly went up a few gears played without fear and at a much better tempo. No doubt the last 4 defeats at this stage have mentally scarred a few , fingers crossed we can put those demons to bed next Wednesday

 

[Stoned Rose]

Dortmund were cautious and played a good game. 2nd half we were very close to getting that crucial 2nd goal. Was a bit nervy and tactical. A typical 1st leg.

We won. Advantage now City because they have to come out and have a go.

The original question was, if we score in Germany, how many will Dortmund need to go through?

I was so glad I asked mate.