UEFA Champions League Quarter Final fixtures (9th - 10th, 16th - 17th April 2019)

[Vadim]

Not allowed to drink. This is all me.

Did Pep's City and tactics look like Pep's City and tactics tonight? Hmm?

I don’t disagree with you. You just seemed angered.

Pep tries to be too clever in CL away ties, he’s always done it.

He wants to win it for sure, he just doesn’t want to risk injury or stress to any key players. I personally think he’s obsessed with the idea of winning the fabled quadruple this season which is why he’s being pragmatic.

He’s being clever. He knows it’s a marathon, not a race. Still lots of football to be played between now and end of May.

 

[Dumbstar]

Not sure if I missed an earlier post from you but are you suggesting Pep cares more about the PL than the CL?

I'm in that camp, yes. If Pep wanted this tie over tonight he would have played KdB, B Silva and Sane. A couple of away goals and tie over. But he didn't.

 

[Posh Red]

Be interesting to see if they discuss the Liverpool/Porto handball

Just seen the highlights. Stonewall for me.

 

[Vadim]

I'm in that camp, yes. If Pep wanted this tie over tonight he would have played KdB, B Silva and Sane. A couple of away goals and tie over. But he didn't.

Why do you care so much?

 

[Dumbstar]

I don’t disagree with you. You just seemed angered.

Pep tries to be too clever in CL away ties, he’s always done it.

He wants to win it for sure, he just doesn’t want to risk injury or stress to any key players. I personally think he’s obsessed with the idea of winning the fabled quadruple this season which is why he’s being pragmatic.

He’s being clever. He knows it’s a marathon, not a race. Still lots of football to be played between now and end of May.

Fair enough. Maybe he's found his own Achilles heel (QF of CL) and panicked. But isn't that more reason to throw more resources at the problem, not less? Thinking about 'resting' players at your utmost weakest point (mentioned QF of CL) is not only suicidal but wilful.

 

[Dumbstar]

Why do you care so much?

It's an internet forum and two CL games were played tonight.

 

[Vadim]

It's an internet forum and two CL games were played tonight.

But you’re using CAPITAL LETTERS to get across your point. Because Pep was pragmatic.

It’s a bit...strange.

 

[Indnyc]

True - but when did we last win a CL away QF/SF leg?

vs Schalke in 2011 i believe.. Haven't really made Champions League QF's since then..

 

[tomaldinho1]

I'm in that camp, yes. If Pep wanted this tie over tonight he would have played KdB, B Silva and Sane. A couple of away goals and tie over. But he didn't.

Surely you don't actually believe that?

What's more likely, the coach brought in to win the CL with City just got beaten fair and square OR Guardiola doesn't fancy competing for the biggest prize in European football

 

[Beaucoup]

I'm in that camp, yes. If Pep wanted this tie over tonight he would have played KdB, B Silva and Sane. A couple of away goals and tie over. But he didn't.

I disagree, if anything Pep’s greatest weakness is he try’s to be too clever sometimes, showed it at Bayern and he’s showing it again.

 

[Tommy]

I disagree, if anything Pep’s greatest weakness is he try’s to be too clever sometimes, showed it at Bayern and he’s showing it again.

Agreed. He seems so stubborn at times to make his first XI work, rather than subbing on proven match winners to change the dynamic of the game.

 

[Siorac]

Not allowed to drink. This is all me.

Did Pep's City and tactics look like Pep's City and tactics tonight? Hmm?

Yeah they did. See the stat about his away record in the CL knockout stages.

 

[Dumbstar]

Surely you don't actually believe that?

What's more likely, the coach brought in to win the CL with City just got beaten fair and square OR Guardiola doesn't fancy competing for the biggest prize in European football

I really don't want to sound mean against Spurs. But they are so beatable by top clubs with the injuries they've had. Maybe Pep thought they were too beatable? Maybe leads on to what @Beaucoup said. Hubris.

Strange really as he doesn't make these kind of mistakes often which is why he's always close to 100 points in the league. But when he does it's at the worst possible time (nearly always QF of CL). Which makes it appear like he doesn't care enough.

 

[el3mel]

He just underestimated Spurs and thought he could win while resting players.

 

[adexkola]

Not sure if I missed an earlier post from you but are you suggesting Pep cares more about the PL than the CL?

He’s implied it in multiple interviews.

He omitted Real Madrid from his list of best European clubs over the past few years in favor of Juventus, Barcelona and Bayern, pointing to their domestic dominance. He’s spoken about the impact luck has in the competition. And his team selections have prioritized the league over the CL.

It’s right there.

 

[Bearded One]

Glad Spurs didn't bottle it as they almost always do but I wish Son scored that chance he fired over the bar late on. He was a little lucky for the goal because he was a little offside but any ref could have easily missed that. Well deserved victory for Spurs imo.

 

[SCP]

Really impressive from Spurs. That was a Poch match through and through — tight pressing, careful ball movement, tenacious from start to finish. Sets up a great second leg.

Liverpool definitely lucky with the Salah incident, but this place cracks me up. Liverpool cruised to a 2 nil and literally had an onside goal wrongly ruled out, and they’re somehow made out to be stealing a living. That tie is over, anyways.

Clear offside and a clear red card not given. What matters is the law and not if the tackle was done with intention or not. Other than that it was a deserved victory.

 

[esmufc07]

Glad Spurs didn't bottle it as they almost always do but I wish Son scored that chance he fired over the bar late on. He was a little lucky for the goal because he was a little offside but any ref could have easily missed that. Well deserved victory for Spurs imo.

He was onside.

 

[Bearded One]

He was onside.

I think he was offside. Son's outstreched arm was beyond City's last man.

 

[Anustart89]

I think he was offside. Son's outstreched arm was beyond City's last man.

Can't score with your arm, therefore arm doesn't count. Was onside.

 

[mav_9me]

I think he was offside. Son's outstreched arm was beyond City's last man.

Not sure arm counts.

 

[padr81]

I'm in that camp, yes. If Pep wanted this tie over tonight he would have played KdB, B Silva and Sane. A couple of away goals and tie over. But he didn't.

You think we deliberately played to not win the tie? I think we played the team of players who have played the most and been in the best recent form (except Mahrez for Sane). We were just outplayed by a Spurs side who hounded the life out of us and dominated for 70ish minutes. Honestly think we played the strongest team available. KDB is not yet back to fitness and B.Silva is injured.

 

[padr81]

He just underestimated Spurs and thought he could win while resting players.

Didn't rest anyone really though. Bernardo is injured, KDB is not yet fully fit. Sane and Mahrez was a choice between what is essentially 2 rotation options this season. He played the strongest team he could pick, we were just beaten by the better team on the night.

 

[Valar Morghulis]

I suppose they paid Danny Rose to be a moron too.

I thought he did that for free.

 

[Schneckerl]

He’s implied it in multiple interviews.

He omitted Real Madrid from his list of best European clubs over the past few years in favor of Juventus, Barcelona and Bayern, pointing to their domestic dominance. He’s spoken about the impact luck has in the competition. And his team selections have prioritized the league over the CL.

I'm sure Pep is completely unbiased about Real and there is no way he decided to have those criteria in hindsight to make his teams look better and Madrid worse.

 

[adexkola]

I'm sure Pep is completely unbiased about Real and there is no way he decided to have those criteria in hindsight to make his teams look better and Madrid worse.

whatever you want to believe mate. So regarding St. Fraudiola.

 

[Megadrive Man]

City will still go comfortably through to the semi finals.

It made me laugh to see Spurs fans celebrating, they'll probably lose the second leg by 3 or 4 goals!

 

[Megadrive Man]

Despite results, both Liverpool and Man City have seen a big drop in their level of performance over the last few weeks.

I'm not sure if its pressure or fatigue, but neither team is playing particularly well.

 

[Berbaclass]

I thought he did that for free.

Evidently!

 

[Rob]

I can’t make up my mind whether it would be better for us if Spurs knocked out City or the other way around. If City go out next week, they’ll only have to aim for the league but it might rattle them. On the other hand, if they progress, they’ll have two more very difficult matches vs Juventus which might take all their focus.

 

[Berbaclass]

I can’t make up my mind whether it would be better for us if Spurs knocked out City or the other way around. If City go out next week, they’ll only have to aim for the league but it might rattle them. On the other hand, if they progress, they’ll have two more very difficult matches vs Juventus which might take all their focus.

It will definitely be better for you if they stay in the CL IMO.

 

[Rob]

It will definitely be better for you if they stay in the CL IMO.

Yeah, that’s probably where I’m at as well. Two tough games against Juve with the second one going in to extra time.

 

[Berbaclass]

Yeah, that’s probably where I’m at as well. Two tough games against Juve with the second one going in to extra time.

I'm not even sure Juve will beat Ajax though TBH. They were outstanding against Real and I think they can get past a Juventus team that has not really been playing too well recently.

 

[Rob]

I'm not even sure Juve will beat Ajax though TBH. They were outstanding against Real and I think they can get past a Juventus team that has not really been playing too well recently.

I can’t imagine anything other than a Juventus win, but I quite like this Ajax team so would love it if they somehow managed to replicate what they did against Real.

 

[Peyroteo]

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

Nice to see Casillas' trademark complaining tweets also come out for european games.

 

[Sterling Archer]

Why are people questioning the squad selection? The squad depth of City is ridiculous and every one of those players tonite that aren't 'starters' for City would improve the first team of every squad in the Premier League. Spurs played well and City didn't. That's how I see it, not any sort of gamble backfiring.

 

[Scroto Baggins]

City will still go comfortably through to the semi finals.

It made me laugh to see Spurs fans celebrating, they'll probably lose the second leg by 3 or 4 goals!

Agree, Spurs needed more than a 1 goal cushion going into the away game. Save some refereeing/VR catastrophe awarding Spurs a penalty, which could well happen, I dont see them coming away with anything from the Etihad with anything other than a two or three nil drubbing.

 

[cyberman]

This is CL City, not league City. Spurs are nailed on to score in the return leg.

 

[Billy Blaggs]

Not sure arm counts.

It doesn't.

 

[Sterling Archer]

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

Nice to see Casillas' trademark complaining tweets also come out for european games.

For those that need a translation from Spanish:

I'm 100 percent an optimist. The tackle was a complete accident and only looks bad when you zoom in. Salah is a nice man. And you can't call handball there because both players have their eyes closed. Let's not pick on these little things because it's unfortunate enough to be a man called Alisson. That is my sister's name. The tie is not lost and we have hope going to play the return leg at home at the Dragao where we can make all the Liverpool players my sister.