Lyon CL QF Post-Match Thread

[Beanhead]

We play our best when playing a quick tempo, and our front 3 closing down their defenders, like both goals against RM, that front 3 interchanging all the time one minute Jesus in the middle next left wing same with Sterling and Foden. It gives KDB passes as well as Bernie giving the midfield legs. So much energy and pace and movement. Than Pep scraps that and goes for a slow boring setup in the next game, Lyon. i can think of one team that we moan about playing their strongest 14 players for over two season now yet Pep wont play his strongest team 3 games in a row in a 3 match tournament !

It was the most bizarre tactical decision ever. And I do mean ever.

I still can’t work out whether it was pure arrogance in that he wanted to rest some of his attacking players in order to be fresh for Bayern or whether it was an experiment for how he wanted to set up against Bayern.

Regardless of which It is, in putting out a team that looked like he was paying way too much respect to Lyon the truth is he was showing them zero respect.

There is a definite sense of irony in that selection and result.

 

[01cravend]

I'm still fuming... We should not be losing a champions league 1/4 final to Lyon. Juventus had literally just beat them playing a 4-3-3/4-4-2 hybrid.

Bayern play a high-line, wonder if they'll change their entire line-up/way of playing out of fear of Lyon pinging longballs

 

[CC1]

[

I agree with you but please don’t use those last three words.

edited for you.

Some very spoilt fans on here today - understandably- but Pep & the team only last year, won every domestic trophy. The year before that reached 100 points.

they got it wrong yesterday but the level of criticism is uncalled for. Pep must stay & oversee a slight rebuild & we’ll be even stronger next year

 

[momo88]

Devastated. Pep throws a wobbler again with a needlessly crap team selection against a team that finished 7th in France, 7th! 2 holding midfielders and we were still defensively shite again, De Bruyne isolated, Jesus practically feeding off scraps. To be that poor with the squad that we have and knowing how good we can be is sickenening. Still think VAR f##ked us over with the 2nd but to be honest we just weren't good enough anyway.

That result happens at any other top european team and the manager has serious questions to answer. Peps needs to sort this shit out pronto with that performance and an overall disaster of a league campaign. If he doesn't then we'd better get ready for
more results like this.

Right

Shit can happen but not everytime when you are the favorite Liverpool, Spurs and Monaco also. Maybe i will be slated but even the win against Madrid wasn't that convincing even though De Bruyne delivred.

The results and the performance were a fucking disappointment, I know football is a collective game but Djokovic is not going to lose year after year against Top+ 30 or 40 players.

City invested in those players wanted by Guardiola not to lose against a team who now can't even buy a 20m player, losing against Denayer! :)

Since the start you feel it was the same like those other games Monaco etc. Not pace rigid approach can't set up a high tempo against a lesser team, what happened? The opposition get confidence then City "so called" superiority on paper crumble.

City didn't have occasions in the first half

As for Lyon GOALS :

1st Goal : why Kyle Usain Bolt didn't track Cornet ( crap player keep scoring against us)? He talk too much but keep doing the same mistakes.

MD : Gundogan and Rodri - Were slow Lyon kept running and defending in numbers

2nd Goal : I still can't understand why it wasn't a fault for Laporte!

3rd Goal : One of those goals when you know before the kick that a city player will shit himself. Ederson made a mistake against Liverpool 2 years ago.

It was a great opportunity to, at least reach semi final.

One semi final since 2011? You would think it this calibre of players we should have a reached at least 3 semi.

 

[CC1]

They're a good side but nowhere near us in terms of quality. Last night is all on the manager and his decisions.

.....And of course, the performance of some players!!

 

[City_Sean]

We have been beaten by teams who are inferior to us all season long in our usual formation.

Of course we have. But we went into the game with a system that was clearly working with the front three having the legs to actually press.

I still can't fathom how on earth he came to the decision that the XI he chose was right to defend the pace of Lyon.

Its the most bizarre team selection since Pellegrini played Demichelis and Mangala at home to Liverpool in 2015.

 

[eastmanc]

I am worried Pep is killing KDB.

Not joking either.

He expects too much from KDB. He is also nearly 30 years old.

Rodri,and Gundogan swan around midfield doing their "Driving Miss Daisy" cameos,pass,pass,pass,,back pass triangle pass,Never moving more than 6 feet in any direction.

Whilst KDB is running his bollocks off trying to make shit happen.

He is starting to look frustrated if i am being honest.

He needs someone to help with the workload, Rodri, and Gundgan and their pointless going nowhere fast Ball retention are not the answer,He needs a talented younger midfield player to help out, like that Phil fella we regularly have sat on the Bench chomping at the Bit.

I believe KDB always preforms better when Foden, Bernardo, David Silva play. Not Gungodan. As I said a better 6 than an 8.

 

[tolmie's hairdoo]

There has been a consistent theme of the type of goal we have conceded ever since Garcia became a starter.

They have been lost in foot races or Ederson caught in no man's land as a result.

Out backline is painfully high and slow, further exposing the various levels of pace amongst individual defenders.

You have Garcia and Laporte always trying to play offside and Walker hanging back closer to goal (even though it's his raw pace we rely on to get us off the hook)

Last night is the first time I felt the fans and players weren't bought into what Pep was trying to achieve.

It's a worrying period with little turnaround time until the new season and continued fault lines throughout the defensive midfield and entire back line.

 

[give it to gordon]

such an antic climax to the season to finish on a whimper if we had lost going all guns blazing 6-5 at least it was exciting last night was well last night ! Still angry with the team selection how Pep through such a slow, sideway passing, boring midfield would win a CL quarter-final is mind blowing, know the attacking players were on the bench has left me feeling well pissed off. Our strength is scoring goals (102 in the league) we will also let in soft goals so we need to score at least 3 per match !. Yet Pep went with a team not likely to score many and hoped his 5 or 6 defenders would stop them.
Its interesting why Lyon didnt feel they needed change the way they play to accommodate City yet Pep felt he need to change City to accommodate Lyon. Lyon had the confidence to play they normal game City didnt.

 

[MillsyTheMosher]

Morning after the night before... It still hurts.

It's all on Pep. Tactics spectacularly backfired and wrong personnel.

Starting a player that has categorically stated he doesn't want to be here (Garcia) makes a mockery of the badge.

As for playing Gundo and Rodri together again. We all knew that was a disaster. It can't happen again- has to be one or the other.

He also left it far too late before making changes. Gundo/Rodri should have lasted 40 mins at best together and one of them should have been replaced with Bernardo/Foden.

It was a shame not to see Pep take full responsibility. He has let the players down IMO.

I think he will have lost of a lot of weight in that dressing room after last nights debacle.