Ernesto Valverde - V1

[MagIX]

I calculated right now, around 29. Might've missed someone. But the main ones, Pique, Busquets, Rakitić, Alba, Messi, Suarez... all of them past 30.

and we are still reliant on these players .....despite we have spent 300Mio.

 

[Joan]

Come on, we showed plenty of energy. It's not an age thing. We tried to lure them and play on the counter. And our forwards were clinical.

Not speaking about tonight in particular.

But it's clear that the age is a limiting factor, especially style-wise.

Was a smart setup, in my opinion. Automatically deprives them of one of their biggest strengths, pace.

Of course, it's not easy to make it through the night like that, but an energetic performance helps.

 

[FC433]

Klopp wanted to play defensive and counter us but Valverde forced him to attack.

 

[El Gato]

This.

People constantly ignore that those players are either old or slow. Usually both. And then they wonder how one of the physically most impressive teams in the world created chances against us? Lol.

Valverde did very good job.

Aye. Some guys who refuse to attribute anything positive towards Valverde are just an odd phenomenon.

The fact that people somehow miss the fact that you've lost one game since November... In the Copa... Without Messi...

How shit and lucky of Valverde. Goddamn.

Yes, you live or die on Messi's presence and his mood to care enough. In any setup. No Messi, no party. On or off the pitch. And you're paying handsomely for the privilege. It will end in 2, 3, 4 maybe 5 years time. So why waste your breath moaning about the predicament? Just enjoy these last few years, because if this stability keeps going with a few additions here and there, Messi will probably retire having brought Barca within 3 Ligas of Madrid total tally.

 

[serghei]

Valverde now has Liverpool where he wants them. We score there and it's good night.

 

[serghei]

Not speaking about tonight in particular.

But it's clear that the age is a limiting factor, especially style-wise.

Was a smart setup, in my opinion. Automatically deprives them of one of their biggest strengths, pace.

Of course, it's not easy to make it through the night like that, but an energetic performance helps.

It was too much on the heavy defending side. Not enough good counters, some moments where we panicked and did many mistakes defensively, despite defending with numbers. It looked too desperate at times. Quite poor game overall from both teams, but you can't just hide away the fact that we, like Madrid, have individuals which can win matches on their own.

Let's make no mistake. We didn't receive at least 2 goals today because Liverpool were crap at taking their chances. They had 3 huge chances, the Mane one, the Milner free shot from 11m, and the incredible miss by Salah.

When you concede 3 huge chances, and give away 2-3 good ones on top of that, anything can happen.

This tie is not over because of this. There is a fine line between controlled defense, and desperation. I really hope we don't go there looking like PSG under Emery on Camp Nou, because you know what that PSG game was for them? Idea of controlled defending turned into chaotic desperation.

 

[Horatio]

Come on guys. 3-0 should give you some confidence. Dont look for reasons why well fail in Anfield. Well score 1 goal and that should be enough.

 

[serghei]

Come on guys. 3-0 should give you some confidence. Dont look for reasons why well fail in Anfield. Well score 1 goal and that should be enough.

Depends on how we play. If we go there to park the bus much like we did today, we could be in trouble if Messi or Suarez doesn't save us. Liverpool are much stronger at home.

 

[Givenchy]

Liverpool will throw everything at us in the first 15min or so, will probably look something like Juve in that comeback vs Atleti. we need to get an early goal and kill this tie asap, Dembele is a must for his pace on the break

 

[Viscanou]

Interesting stats:
Barca conceded only 1 goal in 5 KO matches this season.
We had 4 clean sheets, and conceded 0 goals in 270 minutes against English teams.

Barca's goals ratio in the last 15 years when we reached CL's semis in a current CL's format:
2006: 6:2

2009: 12:5
2010: 13:7
2011: 13:5
2012: 15:6
2015: 13:5
2019: 12:1 currently

Pep never had THIS good defensive record with Barca.
The only manager who came close was Rijkaard in 2006 (I have repeated a few times that we play somewhat similar to that era), but Rijkaard's Barca had only 6:2 goals ratio in 6 matches.

So, basically:
1. EV's Barca is scoring equally as any other Barca from the last 15 years who reached CL's final.
2. and yet, EV's Barca has a way better defense till now. Maybe it is not a coincidence that we lost only 3 league matches under Valverde in over 70 matches.
And we have only 1 CL defeat.
Also, remember those long clean sheet streaks in La Liga from the last season with his 442.

Maybe we are not AS LUCKY as people think?
Ev's team doesn't play THAT beautiful, but these results (except Roma's debacle) can't be a coincidence.

No it really can’t

 

[serghei]

Klopp wanted to play defensive and counter us but Valverde forced him to attack.

Here's the funny thing with football. Even a team full of bums would feel like the army of Hercules if they see you retreat. Not saying Liverpool are bums, but they exposed themselves by being too brave and paid the price. We exposed ourselves by being too negtive, but got away with it.

 

[Havesaks]

But we Are lucky, only because we have messi, lfc should have scored 10 goals bla bla while ev cant stop winning.
This anti-valverde fraction is so tiring to listen to. The guy is about to win a treble and the whining keeps going.
We just won 3-0, be happy!

 

[FC433]

Here's the funny thing with football. Even a team full of bums would feel like the army of Hercules if they see you retreat. Not saying Liverpool are bums, but they exposed themselves by being too brave and paid the price. We exposed ourselves by being too negtive, but got away with it.

Again, we DID NOT get away with it. We won other games exactly the same way four times against Madrid. Last season 3-0 and this season 5-1, 3-0 and 1-0.

 

[FinBarcelonafan]

Valverde shitshow and another win. I'm not sure what to think about this guy anymore. He keeps winning.

 

[BBZ8800]

Again, we DID NOT get away with it. We won other games exactly the same way four times against Madrid. Last season 3-0 and this season 5-1, 3-0 and 1-0.

Since 2011, the only two times (hopefully) when we won a CL (2015 and let's hope 2019), we won when we DIDN'T PLAY Barca's way.
In fact, we gave away possession and we didn't attack like crazy.

In all other seasons, when we played like a classical Barca, we lost to counterattacking teams with less possession (Atletico, Atletico, Juve, Roma and almost Psg).
Also interesting, Pep's teams Bayern and City, who play the closest to Barca, lost every single time, mostly to clubs who played with less possession, less naive too attacking high line and with more deadly counters.

Again, we don't need to play THIS way in La Liga and against minor opponents.
But for Champions league and World cups, this is currently the simplest and the most efficient way how to win titles.

Ironically, you have a higher chance to win if you play more cautious instead of playing in a too attacking (and naive way), leaving tons of space for counters behind your back.
Basically a team which allows:
1. less counters
2. and which makes less mistakes around your own box
= win CLs

Again, ironically, Pep's football and classical Barca's style is inviting both:
1. counters against you when you lose a possession with 10 players around the opponent's box
2. and mistakes around you box with forcing players to always keep a possession and never kick the ball upfield far from your box