I was just thinking that this team is so much more confident than previous iterations. Even last week when the scoreline flattered Madrid they seemed so confident. Now at home, they're flying.We’ll see what happens tonight but this spring’s iteration of City is better than their centurions team IMO. Nobody has laid a glove on them since they got rid of Cancelo and moved Stones into midfield.
Kroos really half-assed his pinch in to cover the defender pressing up on the man with the ball.The space within Madrid's back line there was massive.
It's really a much simpler and more solid system than past iterations, plus a much more physical side. Three athletic defenders and two very physical defensive midfielders to collectively snuff out counterattacks, two inverted wingers who are excellent at retaining the ball and cutting inside to create, a battering ram Viking freak of a striker, and two brilliant veteran attacking midfielders, one of whom is a generational player. None of this constantly tinkering with the formation and the squad or intricate overload plans with Cancelo popping up anywhere. Its keeping it simple and relatively predictable (at least by Pep's standards) and daring anybody to come up with a way to stop it. Nobody has so far.I was just thinking that this team is so much more confident than previous iterations. Even last week when the scoreline flattered Madrid they seemed so confident. Now at home, they're flying.
Yup. Looking pretty safe right now.I was thinking maybe City would regret not scoring a few of those early chances, but...
It’s so much harder to turn the tide away from the Bernabeu.You can't bury Madrid in UCL until the final whistle, but they need something here to change drastically.
And more importantly when your aging squad finally can't compete with a fast, physical, and hyper-technical opponent. 30-yard stinger aside, Kroos (and even Modric) look well off the pace.It’s so much harder to turn the tide away from the Bernabeu.
They looked home and hosed last year tbf.Yup. Looking pretty safe right now.
Ha! And Rudi comes on.I can't get over the fact that Rudiger isn't in the game. I've always thought that Militao was over overrated, but even if you think he's great, he's not nearly as good as Rudi.
Very odd selection especially since he had a great game against Haaland in the first leg.I can't get over the fact that Rudiger isn't in the game. I've always thought that Militao was over overrated, but even if you think he's great, he's not nearly as good as Rudi.
Ancelotti getting ripped on Twitter for this.Is there any reason why Rudiger isn't starting??!?
Pep galaxy brain is contagious!Ancelotti getting ripped on Twitter for this.