Xavi Hernández

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BJJ

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We defended really, really well tonight," Real coach Carlo Ancelotti said. "This was about survival. Madrid is a club based on always fighting to stay in situations where there seems to be no way out - but we always find a way."

We on the other hand always find a way to grasp defeat from the haws of victory.
 

Blanco

Active member
Not his fault that his best defender and second best player brainfarted, not his fault that the DM he found in Christensen (who was decisive in changing whole team form) was suspended. He actually got the maximum of the players he has. His only fault was going crazy as usual and not calming the players, he let them down with that red card.
 

jamrock

Senior Member
How can Ruiz - Vitinha - Emery midfield trio make Gundogan - FDJ - Pedri look like second division midfield?

TBF, pedri has no Business starting that game and even though de jong was poor, he was also just coming back from injury.

But still your point is correct.
 

Fati_Future_BallonDor

Well-known member
Not his fault that his best defender and second best player brainfarted, not his fault that the DM he found in Christensen (who was decisive in changing whole team form) was suspended. He actually got the maximum of the players he has. His only fault was going crazy as usual and not calming the players, he let them down with that red card.

subbing off Yamal was a big big mistake, we lost the only guy who would have calmed the situation with his dribbling :/
 

Daisymorr

Active member
The way he imploded on the sideline in this game set off a chain reaction of others doing the same & the team losing its composure on the field.
For context - look at Ancelotti when things go bad (concede a goal or red card), there is a calm and calculated response. This helps him to make the next strategic move in the correct frame of mind & also portray calmness to the players on the pitch. This is what a top class manager is.

Xavi behaves like a teenager at times on the sideline & it influences the behaviour of the players on the pitch.
We might have got beaten anyways the other night but his actions showed that he is not cut out for the big games with the upmost pressure on him.
Loved him as a player but as a coach he has a lot of developing to do.
 

khaled_a_d

Senior Member
How can Ruiz - Vitinha - Emery midfield trio make Gundogan - FDJ - Pedri look like second division midfield?

Few things:

1-Our midfield is awfully structured, they have quality but redundant quantities when you compare them. The parts simply don't fit each other. We are stuck with the Pedri-Grenkie experience. They aren't just that good together.

2- Midfield battle is mainly about closing the gaps and playing in a compact form, rather than playing great midfielders.
City doesn't dominate possession because Rodri is a genius, that having 2 attacking midfielders in front of him make them do better than RM 4 man midfield, it is because every player contribute in making midfield better. Walker and Grealish have equal effect on midfield battle to Rodri and KDB.

3- Pressing game, and counter pressing. Every team needs pressing, and each one needs to identify the weak points that they want the opponent to give the ball, otoh you need to avoid giving the ball to your own weak link.
PSG weak link is Donnarumma, they have successfully avoided giving him the ball yesterday. OTOH every other player can press us.

Barca had 2 weak points in Koundi and Araujo, the later is the weakest point, we gave him the ball too much.
Whenwh pressing, Mbappe pressing Cubarsi, it carries different weight than Lewandowski trying to press their Marquinhos. Cubarsi will get rid of the ball quickly but won't be able to either recieve it again, nor building attack.

And then, back to our midfield, non of them are comfortable in getting the ball with his face to our target and starting something. At most they get the ball and play it back to defense. Kounde being fairly limited in build up also kills our chance in building through side way.
 
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