Paris Saint-Germain (A) - CL SF | Post-Match Thread

[KS55]

Wednesday April 28 2021.
A red letter day to go alongside Gillingham and Agueroooooo. The day that the whole club came to believe that we were the match of any team in Europe.
Pep believed, picking a proper first team with no tactical nonsense or extra DM. Pep believed, telling the players at half time: "Just relax and play our normal game. Don't rush, press further up."
The players believed and put on the Manchester City show in the second half.
Amazingly, even the media believed (well most of them anyway). Henry Winter dubbed us "The Manchester Musketeers."
And we, the fans, believed but we are dreadfully biassed!
Win, lose or draw, we are now on a new level. We are transformed.
One man persuaded Pep to play our game, by giving him confidence in our ability to withstand whatever the opposition threw at us.
At the final whistle that man stood, mud spattered with a huge grin on his face, proud of a job well done.
Take a bow Ruben Dias.

 

[eversince 76]

Think the balance just always looks better with him and foden on that side

The balance is always better when Zinchenko plays. Pep saw that too. After an hour with the score still 0-1.

 

[Ric]

I think he needs to get a new schtick.

Anyway fucking unbelievable performance last night. This team have got balls of steel and the defenders won't get the credit this deserve. If you look at the teams who have created almost nothing against us this season that's a testament to their work. Especially considering how high the defensive line is with play with.

Dias was my MOTM but I'd be tempted to give it Zin for that 20 minute cameo.

Yeah, Zinchenko didn't put a foot wrong after he came on. Must surely start the second leg now. Tbf, the whole back four were outstanding. Cancelo was the only one who had a bit of an off night.

 

[daztrueblue91]

Our side played more or less to its maximum in the 2nd half but we didn't create many opportunities through open play. It was the same against Spurs in the League Cup FInal. The same against Chelsea in the semi-final. This is a trait of City this season. In previous seasons we scored around 100 league goals a season. We're down significantly on that his season. I'd be happier still if this City win didn't owe a little bit to the footballing Gods.

Jesus Christ lad, you need to chill out a bit.

We’ve just gone to Paris and put in a second half performance that was reminiscent of Pep’s peak Barca side.

They didn’t have a sniff and got so frustrated with our ability to keep the ball they lost their discipline.

You’re right that we are scoring less goals, but to only focus on that outcome when we have pretty much eradicated most of our other problems is nonsense IMO.

We could have crumbled like we did against Liverpool and Spurs when we conceded against Dortmund and PSG, but the lads held firm and carried on playing our normal game.

How many clear cut chances has Mbappe, Neymar and Haaland had over the last 3 CL games? How many clear cut chances did Spurs and Chelsea have in the domestic cup games recently?

We might get spanked by PSG in the return leg, shit happens, but that shouldn’t take away what this side has achieved in the last week.

We now have the luxury of resting key players for the return leg, which should boost our fitness levels.

 

[Father Paul]

Yeh, I have no idea what the rest of your post is as I stopped reading after word 6.

The transformation in the second half while amazing was it must be said accompanied by a certain amount of good fortune with the 2 goals. The debate about a real number 9 will likely intensify in the months ahead and the outcome will probably hinge on whether we win or lose this competition.

 

[Ric]

Best performance you've seen from a Pep side at City?

It's certainly right up there. Phononemial.

I think there have probably been better all-round performances for 90 minutes (e.g. the 2-1 against Liverpool) but given the magnitude of the occasion, last night was right up there.

 

[BedsBlue68]

What a shit post.

Exactly What i was thinking - that "not creating chances" method of playing has got us to a league cup win, Possible champions league final and probably premier league win

Sam as i keep hearing about false nine not working - we it bloody has so far this season!

 

[Nails]

Jesus Christ lad, you need to chill out a bit.

We now have the luxury of resting key players for the return leg, which should boost our fitness levels.

Que!!??

 

[mccity]

Best performance you've seen from a Pep side at City?

It's certainly right up there. Phononemial.

As far as 45 minutes go it's just below our absolute best, such as Arsenal away in 17/18 and last season, Chelsea at home in 18/19, or United in the cup away last season for example. But it was damn good nonetheless.

 

[SWPISHOME]

Fuck me. One of those "logs into Bluemoon - logs out of Bluemoon" moments.

What a weird thread and a weird bunch of posts.

Really really weird posts. I'm still on a high, Sat up until 2am drinking and went into work at 6am not even hungover because I'm buzzing!
Can't get my head around people still moaning and disappointment after watching that masterclass. Maybe football just isn't for them. If you didn't enjoy that performance then now is the time to jack in football.