SebastianBlue
President, International Julian Alvarez Fan Club
- Joined
- 25 Jul 2009
- Messages
- 57,736
I think we are going to benefit significantly by having been here before, especially not having won.
As Pep has said, the true measure of a club becoming great is regularly getting to the final, not necessarily winning it every time (because it is a one off match and anything can happen).
That is because the more you play in these conditions, the more comfortable with the occasion and the idiosyncratic elements of it you become. And that in turn increases your odds of winning it each time you get there, even when you aren’t playing your best (see Real Madrid).
It is exactly what happened with us in the early rounds of the CL and with the title chase in the PL.
Once you’ve been there and experienced the pageantry and pressure, it is easier to envision progressing, which makes it easier to achieve. And once you’ve won it, it becomes easier to envision winning it again, even when you go down a goal or two, or go on a bad run of form that allows your rival to go above you.
Experience is discounted far too often in today’s world, but it absolutely should not be in football.
I reckon the Sheikh’s presence will energise the team, not cause anxiety.
