Hansi Flick

We would have gotten at least a draw if we played 11 v 11, most likely a win.

So not too much to complain about, I would just have subbed Martin Early. Maybe it would have avoided the goal, maybe it wouldn't.

But as a coach I think alarm bells should start going off when you see sorloth vs Garcia & martin and you try to make a change
 
We had them in our pocket until that silly red, we would have scored 2-3 goals in the second half.
 
Not to say it's good that we, once again, failed to live up to our ambitions in CL, but I really think with the injuries we have and the schedule in La Liga + CL, there's a chance we would have done an Inter this season and ended up losing all 3 titles due to a mix of exhaustion and burnout.

If we go out in CL and we go back to a 1 game / week basis until the end of the season, we can regroup, get some energy back to win this title. Can't stress how important it is to retain the title.
 
We need to improve some things if we want to make the next step. It seems to me we are hitting the same roadblock for quite some years in very similar ways.

- Tactically, high line should not go as high when the pressing on the player in possession is not done correctly. This is the main condition needed to make it work.

Our version is of the dumb type. We play high line, and often there is low or even non existent pressure on the ball carrier. Playing a good long ball is something even players like Lenglet can pull off without problems. Then Flick moans our pressing sucked and the high line got exposed. Well, why is the high line happening if the pressing is faulty? One triggers the other. One without the other is suicidal.

- Man management also needs improving. Stop burning out the players in easier games in early to mid season. All the minutes add up later and we pay the price when it hurts the most.

- Altering the playing style and adding a much needed dose of pragmatism. Lesser teams can be beat with a more economic approach. Provide the premium version with full-on pressing and work-rate for occasions where this is obligatory. Learn a bit from PSG in this sense.

- Last but not least, transfers. The sooner the better.
 
This second leg vs Atleti will be maybe most important game in his tenure here

We didn't do bad in first leg, just very unlucky. And we have a chance to correct it

Our most likely opponent in semis, Arsenal is in very bad form and we would have a decent shot with league wrapped up and advantage to rest players. In a final, anything could happen

The double is realistic. Only if we come back

But league + supercup is not really a bad season. We could have done more though
 
MonteCuler said:
This second leg vs Atleti will be maybe most important game in his tenure here

We didn't do bad in first leg, just very unlucky. And we have a chance to correct it

Our most likely opponent in semis, Arsenal is in very bad form and we would have a decent shot with league wrapped up and advantage to rest players. In a final, anything could happen

The double is realistic. Only if we come back

But league + supercup is not really a bad season. We could have done more though
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Man, he is not a scorer. He will dribble, take men out, he will pass well, create danger, superiority, all that. But he ain't gonna score 2 goals. He needs a player who can make the difference on the shooting and scoring department. Sorry, but I just don't think Rashford, Torres, and grandpa Lewandowski will do that vs this physical AM side.
 
JamDav1982 said:
Shouldnt have played Pedri and Yamal 90 mins.

Doesnt take that to beat Espanyol.
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I think Flick made it pretty clear that his policy is one game at a time. He just doesn't believe in resting players. Flick played Raphinha vs a 3rd division side in Copa del Rey.
 
serghei said:
I think Flick made it pretty clear that his policy is one game at a time. He just doesn't believe in resting players. Flick played Raphinha vs a 3rd division side in Copa del Rey.
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He rested players today and literally just took Pedri off at HT in midweek.
 
JamDav1982 said:
He rested players today and literally just took Pedri off at HT in midweek.
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And yet he played his best ones. What he does is ask the players how they feel, and knowing players generally want to play all games, the ones that don't say they feel tired or something will play.
 
Pedri has played 45 mins in multiple games recently.

Even then his reasons for it are irrelevant to agreeing with it or not when plays Pedri 90 mins when have games like this.
 
JamDav1982 said:
Pedri has played 45 mins in multiple games recently.

Even then his reasons for it are irrelevant to agreeing with it or not when plays Pedri 90 mins when have games like this.
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Agreed, normally, you simply enforce these decisions. You don't consult players, because managers are supposed to be the ones having long term, strategic and planning abilities, not players.

With the how poor Espanyol were defensively, we would've probably won this game with 7-8 starters being rested.
 
And Lamine won't be getting rested because he is operating at the same pace as Messi was (not talking about production). There is no fear of running him into the ground when the kid is often resting himself inside the match. Probably smart way to deal with it. Lamine sells tickets and most often wins matches for us. Win win for everyone else other than Roony.
 
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