CL: Barca - PSG 1-2

[draconifire]

Their fullbacks are key to their success.
They are so immense that the front can overload the midfield, without worrying about making the pitch wide, and win the midfield easily. Our fullbacks weren't up to par against them.

And our wingers didn't offer much in terms of pressing and recovery. Yamal got tired way too early, maybe it was because he had just come back from an injury.
And Rashford needs to up his pressing game.

 

[jamrock]

This loss will affect our confidence if we play them again, which is worrying.

I honestly thought with all the injuries we would win this, and it would help us should we face them again at full strength. My thoughts on a full-strength PSG are clear since last season.

The only hope now is Raphinha not playing; he won't be affected, plus he's always an alpha regardless, not so much with the rest of our team.

That, and maybe Flick running back the tape of when Xavi played them. Some won't want to hear this, but it's the best three halves we've played against them in years, and we had the injuries in those games.

We need to go direct to mitigate the press and get behind the fullbacks once they push up.

 

[Barcaman]

After a good sleep, I think the most shocking part isn't player quality but the lack of physical level of the team. We didn't lack physical level last season vs Bayern or Real etc. We could run for the whole game. Yesterday night we were huffing and puffing after the first thirty minutes and never recovered. Thats the most concerning thing. We couldn't keep up psychically and that's the first step to be world class. Something we must improve quickly or we can't compete vs these top teams. We aren't in good enough shape right now.

Player quality was the secondary issue last night.

That's it. Said yesterday that we couldn't match their intensity.
PSG has deeper bench and more athletic squad overall and some of our players couldn't, or wouldn't, give 100%.
Has to be said PSG can afford to take it easier in their league and go all in for these matches.

Think we tried to adapt in 2nd half and I think Eric or someone hinted at it but they were just overwhelmed by PSG press and couldn't control the possession.

Credit to Lucho though and how his team plays and are prepared after grueling summer. We had entire summer off and look physically weaker than last year.

 

[Barcaman]

Oh, and a one last thing: in a game where pressing decided the game, Barca missed their top 3 pressing beasts: Raphinha, Gavi and Fermin.

 

[Temptation]

Fair enough?

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1973507627482317077

 

[FinBarcelonafan]

Fair enough?

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1973507627482317077

He said this after he won? No balls

 

[FC B]

Fullbacks and stamina. They still pressed in the end of the game, while our players barely stood on their feet last 15-20 minutes. Enrique constructed a machine. We lost in the end because of stamina, we could easily compete in football despite their fullbacks.

Barca's players started to look gassed past the 30th minute and it only went downhill from there.

 

[JamDav1982]

PSG are too good for Barca just to try and play same way as always do.

Surely have to look at change of formation and putting more pressure on the full backs/Vitinha if meet again

Even if it means taking risks and going almost man for man at the back the pressure needs to be on their full backs and CMs.

The likes of Raphinha probably has to man mark Hakimi and make it a 1v1 battle out wide both ways and survival of the fittest.

See who can do same on other side.

Then Balde has to man mark one of the wide players etc

Could switch to lone pivot possibly also and put two midfielers to press theirs higher up park.

Go man for man and dump that fucking offside line where the team look more preoccupied with thinking about trying to play offsides than actually mark players.

Something needs to change as that was woeful.

 

[behindbrowneyes]

PSG were the better team and deserved the win. Still took them OT and could easily also end in a draw. Barça had their chances too but they didn’t result in goals.

Like some already mentioned: their fullbacks are monsters and their whole teams intensity looked to be too much for Barça yesterday.

Not the end of the world to lose against the champion though. Lost last seasons opener against Monaco and did well after that. I'd even say a loss at the right moment to realise for the players that not everything easy and that there is still some work to do.

Both teams missed important players and can't draw conclusions based on that, even more so since a lot can happen until the hot phase usually between March and May .

 

[JamDav1982]

Fair enough?

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1973507627482317077

He is 100% correct.

Too much arrogance and mouthin off from Barca from President down about PSG and left looking daft.

Laporta, Pedri, Lewa, Yamal etc all had far too much to say for themselves and came across as just arrogant.

Same lot who had too much to say around the balondor also.

Can see why Flick isnt liking the attitude as much this season.

 

[Porque]

PSG had Ruiz man marking Pedri last night off the ball.

Next game you got to think about the AMC being on Vitinha. So not Olmo.

 

[JamDav1982]

PSG had Ruiz man marking Pedri last night off the ball.

Next game you got to think about the AMC being on Vitinha. So not Olmo.

They were man marking Pedri and FDJ every time Barca built up the play and tried to force Barca to play out through full backs when could.

They targetted the full backs on ball same way did Araujo last time.

Kounde and Gerard are not good enough on ball to cope with that.

 

[JamDav1982]

The game showed why Lewa is useless in games cant get ball into box.

His hold up play is too often terrible and he can run in behind.

And Barca are paying 150m for it.

It all adds to the pressure PSG can put Barca under when press high up.

 

[Porque]

They were man marking Pedri and FDJ every time Barca built up the play and tried to force Barca to play out through full backs when could.

They targetted the full backs on ball same way did Araujo last time.

Kounde and Gerard are not good enough on ball to cope with that.

Yeah it's also the issue with the double pivot and AMC unless the AMC has the ability of dropping and acting deeper then it is all too vertical.

Alot of things for Flick to think about. If Bernal comes good maybe Pedri at AMC to offer more possessional control and pressing.

Or maybe Fermin when back but I don't think he gives the solutions on the ball.

 

[behindbrowneyes]

Didn’t really understand the decision to take Rashford and Pedri off. Rashford had his issues to get past defenders in tight spaces, yet still looked active and dangerous.

Pedri is Pedri. Can't take him off in a game of this caliber. I know, he played a lot, but need to manage his minutes better to not having to take him off in a game like that.

Biggest issue remains backline. Flick didn’t find his preferred line-up yet, which is okay since players were dealing with injuries. It takes more than four to defend though.