Champions League 23/24

Who will win CL this season?


  • Total voters
    57

Birdy

Senior Member
He was not :lol:... Game was played pretty much as everybody knew it would be played. Reminded me of the 4-3 for a few years ago, except with a bit less intensity.

Yes, every football fan knew that Ancelotti would play a low block, and hope that Vini will find Rodrygo and tap-in merchant on the break.
Is that a good preparation of such an important game in your opinion?
Where is the tactical nuance adjusted to City's own gameplan?
 

Horatio

You're welcome
Ancelotti is playing to strengths. Real team is too young to dominate and control against city. But have athleticism and speed demons.

Xabi alonso going to change that obviously.
 

serghei

Senior Member
Yes, every football fan knew that Ancelotti would play a low block, and hope that Vini will find Rodrygo and tap-in merchant on the break.
Is that a good preparation of such an important game in your opinion?
Where is the tactical nuance adjusted to City's own gameplan?

Yes it is. Perfectly normal for each team to play to its strenghts. Madrid paid for missing 2-3 very good chances at 2-1 and let City back in the game. Other than Madrid taking their chances better, nothing they could have done much differently. City's 2nd and 3rd goal were both personal executions.
 

Birdy

Senior Member
Ancelotti is playing to strengths. Real team is too young to dominate and control against city. But have athleticism and speed demons.

Xabi alonso going to change that obviously.

I didn't expect them to dominate possession and NOt play on the counter.
There are levels THOUGH on how to do that (Look at how Tuchel hit Arsenal tonight on the break)
Where is the tactical setup for Madrid's pressing for instance? Were there any pressing triggers? NO
Were was any coordination in the pressing or just the closest player was running like headless chicken towards the ball?
Stuff like that
 

Birdy

Senior Member
Ancelotti is better than ZZ.

ZZ in 16/17 had the joint most stacked squad (not just XI) in club football history, along with Barcelona 08/09.

That's true, but the amount of voodoo Ancelotti used for that 2022 CL run was >>>>> voodoo of ZZ in 2018 for instance
2018 Real Madrid was still top3 or so that season, 2022 RM was not even close top5or6
2018 RM voodooed the Bayern games, 2022 RM voodooed all games against PSG Chelsea City Pool, that's 7 games
 

Total-Football

Senior Member
What I realized is that real Madrid is like that manchester united of Ferguson .. all about grit and making games dogfights .. barca for some reason play football like absolute snobs.. we simply lack that aggression that is necessary in champions league. City is a far superior team (more cohesion) but madrid makes it difficult thanks to the aforementioned attitude.
 

serghei

Senior Member
Zidane and Ancelotti are very similar in their profile as managers. But Zidane has to prove it, like Ancelotti did, at more than one stacked team. Ancelotti made Milan one of the top 3 sides of Europe for like 4-5 years. From 2003 until 2007. 2 titles, 3 finals, 4 semis in 5 years.

It's not about voodoo lol. I understand using it as banter, but in any serious talk that shit is juvenile.
 

Birdy

Senior Member
Ancelotti was not always like that. When he was at Milan in the early 00s he had interesting tactical ideas.

Now all has been reduced to low block with no sophistication and quick breaks
 

serghei

Senior Member
Ancelotti is flexible, and pragmatic. Everyone with a brain plays a low block + quick counters tactical approach vs City with the team Madrid has.

Let's hope Xavi doesn't try to be a smart-ass and does the same tonight.
 

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