Great news regarding Fern.
I wish those still bleating about the CL final would do it in a more appropriate thread. Maybe one called ‘I can’t let it go And must call out the most successful manager in Our history as an egotistical fuckwit’.
RE Fern - glad we signed him too.
RE C/L final - Pep is an experimentalist. Often making radical new changes. This is part of what makes him so great.
At the same time - we had a proven, massively effective, best lineup going into the C/L featuring a DM - currently Fernandinho was in favor.
Why did Pep depart from this lineup? Who knows? Should it have worked, he'd be touted as a genius.
For me, I'm disappointed in Pep. Innovation in a league-long campaign - for sure. Do whatever. Maybe it works, maybe not.
But in a one-off game, lose and you're out - go with tried and true - unless there isn't a tried and true. And especially if the one-off game is for the most coveted trophy - at least by our management - and by some City fans. Don't fuck with what is already working!!!
For me, I don't get why Pep tinkered with our lineup in a one-off, trophy winning, massively important game. Just go with what has worked for God's sake, IMO.
OTOH - I'm not Pep. I've not won anything as manager. He'll I've never managed any football side. I've no business questioning Pep based on my credentials.
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Anyhow, I love Pep as our manager - long may he stay. Hopefully he'll take the C/L loss as a lesson - don't fuck with a working formula in a knockout game.