A few reflections on the drive home back to Altrincham. 1. We looked jaded. Understandably so. Even the players who didn't play in the game midweek would have been affected by the travel and I feared on the way to the game that we might not put in the kind of high energy, high commitment performance that we are used to in big games. We had a battle (literally) on Tuesday and their 1st XI put their feet up all week and it showed. 2. Steffen is our Cup goalkeeper just as Claudio and Willy have been in the past and we know that before the season starts. It gives the backup an incentive to train hard and feel part of the team ethos that City have clearly developed under Pep. He had a shocker for the 2nd goal, he obviously isn't as good as Eddy and it will be said that he cost us the game but I have no issues over selection and no beef with Pep for picking him. It's easy to point fingers when things don't go your way. 3. Fern is moving on at the right time. I love the guy, we will definitely miss his experience around the place and he could still do a job for someone in a lesser, slower league but his legs have gone at this level. 4. Jesus, Zinchenko and the other players that are getting hammered on here for not being good enough are good enough...they just aren't in our best XI which we need to play against Liverpool's best XI. They are about as good a backup player as you are likely to get and are key men for us in the run in against teams that aren't Liverpool. 5. We are still a very, very good football team and we are capable of winning every game between now and the end of the season. 6. Ake is looking like £40m well spent.
Really disappointing first half in which we didn't get going at all but stay calm Blues, be dignified in defeat and if you are feeling down just remember that this period of dominance will not last forever and make sure that you enjoy every single minute of it.....even the down moments.
See you all on Wed and in Madrid! CTID