Lovebitesandeveryfing
Well-Known Member
The most satisfying aspect of all that, for me, was how very seriously absolutely every player out there took it. Didn't matter to them whether it was Newport or Barcelona. Did everyone see the work they were all getting through, especially in the second half? Sané losing the ball, but then making up for it by busting a gut to get back and harry the player he lost it to. And making him make a mistake so that one of ours got it back again.
Now I loved the Mancini and Pellegrini teams (not to mention the Allison/Mercer one), and we saw some wonderful football from both, but the plain fact is that Guardiola has got internationals and world class players refusing to take any game less than seriously, and I don't in fact remember seeing that before. That is why, yes, I'll dare to say it: the two domestic cups are definitely possible this year — has that ever been done, incidentally? — and the league is on, as long as Liverpool slip up once or twice. As for the CL, well, it's always something of a lottery. Would be nice, though, wouldn't it?
Now I loved the Mancini and Pellegrini teams (not to mention the Allison/Mercer one), and we saw some wonderful football from both, but the plain fact is that Guardiola has got internationals and world class players refusing to take any game less than seriously, and I don't in fact remember seeing that before. That is why, yes, I'll dare to say it: the two domestic cups are definitely possible this year — has that ever been done, incidentally? — and the league is on, as long as Liverpool slip up once or twice. As for the CL, well, it's always something of a lottery. Would be nice, though, wouldn't it?