Champions League 2024-25

[JamDav1982]

Didn't he say he wants a NT gig? Maybe it is time for a break from club football.

They almost all say they like idea of that when older.

Cant think of any that have left a top job to do it in a while.

 

[malvolio]

He takes over Madrid

 

[Porque]

There is still a second leg to play lads.

That Real Madrid defence is as soft. City will have chances.

The Madrid winner tonight wouldn't happen in a pub game. Comedy of errors. 3 major fuckups in one play to give the apperance of Madrid being better than they were with the win.

 

[fergus90]

Done Rodri's reputation a world of good. All the uproar around the Balon D'or and then he gets an ACL and his team fall to bits whilst he's gone.

 

[JamDav1982]

City want him to stay in their group when he leaves the coaching job and over see it in similar way Klopp is doing but cant see him being able to stick that and not have control on team level.

 

[Windhook]

Didn't he say he wants a NT gig? Maybe it is time for a break from club football.

That would be weird experience for a day-to-day manager to gather people every few months to channel football philosophy. In my country they call national managers "selectionners". You're no longer coaching, you are just scouting & picking the best of the best and utilize them.

 

[serghei]

Anyway this match looked similar to Liverpool - Madrid 2-5. Except Madrid missed more chances and were not nearly as efficient in punishing the opponent's errors.

Let's hope they come in unfocused and tired vs Osasuna in a few days and drop some more points.

 

[fergus90]

One thing I will say, the referee was genuinely good which is a rarity in football these days. Made the right calls, allowed sensible amount of contact between players.

 

[Loki]

City are a mixture of veterans and few youth players, with Haaland and Foden in between.

This squad peaked in 2023, being in build mode since 2016. Now the same core of players from 2016 are washed up. This cycle for Pep is over.

Exactly. No coach can fight the cycles. Pep faces the same problems we faced with ageing Messi, Iniesta, Xavi, Suarez, Busquets. Gundogan, De Bruyne, Rodri, Silva were their motor, their heart. Now they're old and drained, same as our players at some point.
You simply can't replace them, it isn't a question of money. We tried it too with Dembele, Coutinho, Griezmann and failed hard. Pep will fail as well throwing money around for Nico and Khusanov.

 

[MonteCuler]

There is still a second leg to play lads.

That Real Madrid defence is as soft. City will have chances.

The Madrid winner tonight wouldn't happen in a pub game. Comedy of errors. 3 major fuckups in one play to give the apperance of Madrid being better than they were.

Second leg yeah... on Bernabeu. This City team is way too soft to handle the atmosphere, let alone attempt at doing something there. Might aswell get rolled over there tbh. But true that anything is possible, maybe Madrid will be too relaxed.

 

[JamDav1982]

One thing I will say, the referee was genuinely good which is a rarity in football these days. Made the right calls, allowed sensible amount of contact between players.

Yeah referee had a good/calm manner to him and managed the players as well as the decisions.

 

[Barcaman]

City defense is terrible. 200 million spent this winter.

 

[Total-Football]

Real madrid ran 110 km.. lol.. these fools are no match for flick and the SS

 

[Birdy]

Imo:

1. true, divorce is surely a strong reason for his problems

2. but also, he is a man who was hailed as the greatest coach ever, the innovator, the genius.
And suddenly, his football is falling apart, nothing is working, the opponents have figured them out, he is breaking negative records with City and is making some weird panic-buys in January.

Imo, it is a huge mental blow: he was on top for years and now the magic is gone.

Especially when you add to the story:
1. he started at Barca with a GOAT Messi and had a cycle for 4 years

2. then he moved to CL winners Bayern and had a cycle for 3 years

3. now he is already at City for 9 seasons and things are falling apart

But, the problems regarding his future are:
1. he has never stayed in one club for so long to build "a new cycle" or the 2nd generation of players.
He always comes, builds a team, wins and leaves.
He never dealt with rebuilding and having to sell the original players from the 1st cycle, like De Bruyne, Bernardo and similar.

So, there is a question: can he rebuild a team? He has never done it till now.

So, if he stays at City = he is in problems.

2. if he leaves, where will he go?
Barca = been there
Bayern = been there
City = been there

It doesn't make sense to go to any other EPL team.
Seria A teams are not rich, he can't win CLs there, so the only other options are Psg and Real.
Real is not an option due to his Barca's ties.

So, when you sum it all, in terms of domination and CL titles, deep down he knows that he is stuck with City.
Yet his football has bern figured out in EPL and his team is old and needs a fresh blood and rebuilding, which he has never done in his career.

So, in terms of domination and CL trophies, his future seems quite questionable.
And that is surely eating him alive.

He is not used to being mediocre.

This is the end of his 2nd cycle at City.
1st cycle was until 2020, reached its peak in 2018

2nd cycle reached its peaked in 2023, it's now in the decline phase

Will he lead the 3rd cycle? we will see...

from his interviews, journo info, and all, it's certain he won't coach at club level again.
After City, it will be an NT

 

[Windhook]

City defense is terrible. 200 million spent this winter.

Gvardiol is not committed to Man City as Croatia NT, seems to me.