Real Madrid (A) - Tue 9th May, 20:00 | Pre-Match Thread

[AliBobbyJ]

We will win tomorrow.
Win against Everton.
Win next Wednesday.
During this time Brighton will beat the arse.
We will win the league against Chelsea.
Rest players for last two games.
Win FA Cup.
Win Champions League.

I'll have what you're having.

 

[Citizen in Pakistan]

Walker has been largely brilliant, but he fell asleep for Lyon's 1st goal and played their forward on. Also, he wasn't exactly faultless in the 3:0 loss in Liverpool.

The more games you play, the likelier it is to make mistakes. Dias wasn't faultless in Madrid last year, he made a mistake in Munich 3 weeks ago, which Sane failed to punish. Both Dias and Stones were average in the CL final, but people tend to blame Pep for it (no DM!). Manu had a terrible game in the Brentford loss..etc. No one is perfect.

In fairness, Laporte has made more mistakes in big CL games than the other defenders. He is likely to be on the bench anyway. Akanji was excellent in Munich and deserves to start. Walker will have the most difficult task tomorrow. Guess Stones will have to help him. Dias will take care of Benzema.

Pep was rightly blamed for CL final loss, it was unnecessary tinkering at such a big stage and played a vital role in the defeat, last year it was down to players who let it slip from their hands but these things happen. This year we've shown how we've matured as a team and hopefully this will be the year when we'll win our first CL

 

[Alexia_Ko]

Manu makes regular mistakes leading to goals and cant win headers , i like him in general but lets not pretend he hasnt a mistake in him

Not on UCL nights

 

[CityBluez]

Walker has been largely brilliant, but he fell asleep for Lyon's 1st goal and played their forward on. Also, he wasn't exactly faultless in the 3:0 loss in Liverpool.

The more games you play, the likelier it is to make mistakes. Dias wasn't faultless in Madrid last year, he made a mistake in Munich 3 weeks ago, which Sane failed to punish. Both Dias and Stones were average in the CL final, but people tend to blame Pep for it (no DM!). Manu had a terrible game in the Brentford loss..etc. No one is perfect.

In fairness, Laporte has made more mistakes in big CL games than the other defenders. He is likely to be on the bench anyway. Akanji was excellent in Munich and deserves to start. Walker will have the most difficult task tomorrow. Guess Stones will have to help him. Dias will take care of Benzema.

Well I agree with most of this but come on!? We were completely toothless against Chelsea with our attack. You can't blame dias and stones for that.

 

[Indaparkside]

Fuck me most be 30 degrees hope it’s a heatwave there:)

 

[ancoats]

It's crazy thinking and saying, but the game tomorrow does not feel that big for me, I don't know why but they don't put the fear of god in me anymore, ok they are a fantastic club and champions league serial winners but Manchester City are a special team,

We must go out with the attitude that we belong here on this level as well and it's our time, you fear us and here our roar and bite, Yes football politics will happen, the match officials will be in their corner, But we are better than that and we can take and win the game from both of them,

I always feel with Uefa if you have something they can use to sell their tv rights to the armchair people then you have a chance of having a fair game by the officials, Manchester City have the biggest name in world football in Haaland, and everybody is talking about Haaland and City, So we now have a player they need to sell their product,

 

[Deleted member 77198]

8 of the 11 pick themselves. The only 3 spots up for contention are RB (Walker or akanji), LB (If Ake is fit then it's no question), and RW (Silva or Mahrez). If Ake isn't fit, is there any chance he could play Walker LB?

It’s a no brainier to play Walker.

With Vin.jr playing for them, Walker is the first name of the team sheet.

 

[alexmcity]

Pep was rightly blamed for CL final

Not sure about that. Both Dinho and Rodri were in bad form back then. Dinho was very poor in the FA Cup semi vs Chelsea. Rodri made big mistakes in the games prior to the final. Given that Gundo can play at DM, which many fans don't seem to realize, Pep went for Gundo at DM.

Our main problem back then was that we hit form long before the CL final and won 21 games in a row between December and March, with Rodri in brilliant form in that period. But Rodri, Cancelo and other players lost form in the final month of the season and were on the bench in Porto.

This season, we have hit form in February/March and hopefully will keep it to the CL final.

 

[Manchester_lalala]

Shut up. Why do people like you always look for the negatives, the things that might go wrong?

Baffles me. One player capable of pocketing Vinicius is Walker.

 

[alexmcity]

Well I agree with most of this but come on!? We were completely toothless against Chelsea with our attack. You can't blame dias and stones for that.

If you rewatch the game, you won't think that Dias and Stones were good in Porto. Walker and Jesus (from the bench) were good. That's it. The other players weren't at their best. Some will say due to Pep's tactics. My theory is that the team peaked weeks before the final. Dinho/Rodri wouldn't have changed much. Let's move on. And let's give the benefit of doubt to Pep and not be quick to criticise him, given our limited knowledge of the game and lack of info.