barcelona - ajax would've been the worst possible final.
Alba was worse than I've ever seen him before. That weird choice to cut that back to Messi in the first half... just bizarre. Like last week Klopp couldn't legislate for those amazing goals, today how could Valverde plan for that? I think his tactics were right playing three strikers and saying "I know Liverpool are gonna go at us and probably get one but with the strikers we've got we'll get one and then it will kill them".I think starting Busquets and Rakitic against Liverpool at home was a very poor decision. You could probably get away with one of them alongside Arthur and Vidal, but the two of them together against that kind of press is just asking for trouble.
Like last week Klopp couldn't legislate for those amazing goals, today how could Valverde plan for that? I think his tactics were right playing three strikers and saying "I know Liverpool are gonna go at us and probably get one but with the strikers we've got we'll get one and then it will kill them".
Hard to disagree with hindsight. Watching the highlights Barca did actually have quite a lot of chances - for me though somehow none of them seemed likely to be a goal apart from the Alba one. Liverpool were so much better overall though (and honestly apart from the goals - if one can say that they were better in the first leg too). It's not really about singling out the Barca players cos they were second to the ball all over the pitch - Liverpool's team and system was bettter. Liverpool kept the ball better and passed it better and faster where it could hurt them. And this time they weren't afraid to stick it in the mixer, I think last leg they had the ball on the wings a lot but waited for the perfect pass to be on and ultimately let the chance slide. This time they realised that if they kept putting good crosses in from those positions they would get a goal. Same with the inswinging (rather than outswinging) corners, no need to try anything fancy, when they put the defence under pressure they were only stopped by a good save from Ter Stegen. I've heard a lot about how Piquet has been better than ever this year - maybe so but as an actual defender I've never rated him that highly. Sure if they have the ball the whole time he can help build from the back etc but backs against the wall I'd have Van Djik (and many others) over him every time.I dunno what happened with Alba, it's like something just snapped inside him and he lost all ability and composure.
Valverde got his selection wrong, imo. I think they'd have fared better with Malcolm in place of Coutinho, Arthur in place of Rakitic and Semedo in place of Roberto.
Some bullshit about how the fans are insufferable. I think it's just jealousy really cos they are playing exciting football and doing well with it. Basically what everyone wants for their team. Most fans normally have to settle for at most one of the above. It's just the same as how everyone hated United for years as far as I can tell.I read a bit about football rather than watching it - can people on here explain to me why non-liverpool fans seem to nearenough universally despise liverpool?
Some bullshit about how the fans are insufferable. I think it's just jealousy really cos they are playing exciting football and doing well with it. Basically what everyone wants for their team. Most fans normally have to settle for at most one of the above. It's just the same as how everyone hated United for years as far as I can tell.