QF 1st Leg Post Match Thread

[sam 1980]

If the rags only lose 1-0 at home they will think (and the media) that they will have a good chance to overturn the loss in the 2nd leg, away, against Barca.
We on the other hand have to overturn a 1-0 loss, at home, against Spurs.
And we know how it will pan out. Typical!

Difference is if Barca score 1 next week united need 2 if spurs score we need 3

 

[EL APACHE TEVEZ]

Barca will be back in the dark ages when Messi goes.

 

[Hoghead]

Difference is if Barca score 1 next week united need 2 if spurs score we need 3

I get that but the narrative and the belief is that the Rags will have a good opportunity to overturn the 1st leg loss, away, at Barca. Yet City at home have a mountain to climb.

 

[aguerooooo]

At 0-0 all would be right with the world and we would not have succumbed to doomgate on here i get and have agreed that mistakes were made both by Delph who never played to the whistle and allowed Son in. but tbf despite that has had reasonably dealt with anything remotely dangerous What was a concern last night was when Eddie went down injured Thank god he seemed okay but thr realization that we could have a young inexperienced kid to rely on with a quad in the offing was troubling to be honest Forgot to mention the other mistake was the midfield selection from the gaffer, which allowed them more clout

 

[HarrytheBlue]

Is it just me, or tonight were Barca in their victory over Manure, a mirror image of us last night ? This is no Barca wonder team. With a bit more belief, we could beat these in a final - next week permitting. Tonight ought to be a massive motivation for us to put Spurs out.

 

[Fordyboy46]

Liverpool will reach the final, City/Liverpool final don't rule it out.

 

[OB1]

Sane plays much higher up the pitch than Mahrez in the attacking sense, who likes to drive inside with the ball and pass into midfield (don't get me started).

However, Sane's game is much more prone to turnover of the ball because he plays high percentage football, which we all love him for but the risk/rewards are greater when it comes to quality teams transitioning against us on the break, those are the margins.

Mahrez also played well against Spurs earlier this season and was trusted to cover his full-back at Anfield.

I am Sane's biggest fan but Christ on a bike, he's a fucker still for not getting back in when countered.

Add to the fact Mahrez delivers a whipped cross from far deeper than Sane generally would, it is easy to see why, with Bernado's industry also missing, Pep decided to start Mahrez.

Incidentally, I am not a fan of Mahrez but did suggest in the pre-match thread that it wouldn't surprise me if he started.

Pep went with players who are best at retaining possession and not without good reason.

 

[Deleted member 77198]

Is it just me, or tonight were Barca in their victory over Manure, a mirror image of us last night ? This is no Barca wonder team. With a bit more belief, we could beat these in a final - next week permitting. Tonight ought to be a massive motivation for us to put Spurs out.

Liverpool will beat Barça in the semis

 

[chaddblue]

Difference is if Barca score 1 next week united need 2 if spurs score we need 3

True... but I know which one I think is more likely

 

[OB1]

There's always more than one factor in a football match and in any complex behaviour but City's strength is our attacking flair. You only draw in your horns when you face a more dangerous opponent or when you have a genuine fear of losing.

No one has yet explained how City were stronger by playing Mahrez, playing a defence minded midfield, whilst leaving Sane and KDB on the bench.

Of course I can not say for certain Guardiola's decision led to the defeat but our form, and results and logical analysis of the strengths of our side suggest he did indeed get it wrong again in Europe.

We also lost at Anfield in the Q/F last season and I recall similar question marks then about our approach. He was also criticised at Bayern, indeed if you remember when he came here, the media said he left Bayern defeated and questioned in Europe. It's not so easy to dismiss this criticism.

Bayern got to the semi-finals every year under Pep and on at least one of those occasions were very unfortunate not to go to the final.

He's explained why he chose the team he did in his press conference.