2006:
Rijkaard played with 2 thugs in midfield and only 1 light guy.
He dropped too attacking RB Belletti for a CB Oleguer. We weren't prone to counters and we got more strength in the air while defending.
We had 2 players in attack who can score with feet and HEAD: Etoo and Larsson (and Ronaldinho somewhat).
What happened? We WON a CL after we moved away from our basics which are usually not working in a CL.
After your famous "Rijkaard wasn't a Cruyfffsta" bullshit quote, which showed how ignorant you are about that Rijkaard era and the Rijkaard-Cruyff relationship, now you're back with same bullshit but different wording lol. I'm gonna call you on your bullshit again dear BBZ.
Rijkaard's 2 CM's were Xavi and Deco. Xavi got injured during the season and that's when both Van Bommel and Edmilson (+ Motta, a Busquets type DM) got to start more alongside Deco in the midfield trio. But you're such a funny clown BBZ. I already told you many times that Iniesta was already an important player that season.
Round of 16 1st leg: away vs Chelsea:
Valdes
Oleguer
Puyol
Marquez
Van Bronckhorst
Edmilson
Motta
Deco
Messi
Eto'o
Ronaldinho
Team was losing 1-0 then Rijkaard subs Larsson in for Motta and team plays in with 4 forwards and 2 midfielders who are Deco and Edmilson. Barca scores 2 goals and wins 1-2. Iniesta replaces Deco in the last 10 mins.
2nd leg vs Chelsea at home:
Víctor Valdés
Oleguer
Márquez
Puyol
Van Bronckhorst
Motta
Edmílson
Deco
Eto'o
Ronaldinho
Messi
2006 CL QF: away vs Benfica:
Víctor Valdés
Belletti
Oleguer
Motta
Van Bronckhorst
Van Bommel
Deco
Iniesta
Larsson
Eto'o
Ronaldinho
2006 CL QF: home vs Benfica:
Víctor Valdés
Belletti
Puyol
Oleguer
Van Bronckhorst
Van Bommel
Deco
Iniesta
Larsson
Eto'o
Ronaldinho
Barca's 2006 starting 11 in SF vs Milan (home):
Víctor Valdés
Belletti
Márquez
Puyol
Van Bronckhorst
Edmílson
Deco
Iniesta
Giuly
Eto'o
Ronaldinho
2006 Barca vs Milan (away):
Víctor Valdés (GA)
Oleguer
Márquez
Puyol
Van Bronckhorst
Edmílson
Van Bommel
Iniesta
Giuly
Eto'o
Ronaldinho
PS: Deco was suspended that day.
AND THEN the finale vs Arsenal, the obvious best team that season with Barcelona. I remember perfectly this game like it was yesterday, it is unforgettable for any real Barca fan.
Starting 11:
Víctor Valdés
Oleguer
Márquez
Puyol
Van Bronckhorst
Motta
Edmílson
Deco
Eto'o
Ronaldinho
Messi
What do we have ? 7 CL knockouts games. Xavi was injured for all 7 of these games. Edmilson + Van Bommel/Motta started 4 games. In one of these 4 games, Deco was suspended so there was no choice. So it leaves 3 games out of 7 in which Rijkaard decided to start 2 more defensive/physical players (2 games vs Chelsea + final vs Paris where Iniesta played the whole 2nd half and shone). In 2 of these 3 games, Rijkaard saw that it wasn't working and took out one of the 2 'workhorses' and Barca won with so-called 'light' midfield.
So where does your imaginary "Rijkaard played and won the CL with 2 workhorses in midfield" idea come from ? Straight from your ass I guess, like always.
And I still have nothing personal against you BBZ, like always. I just call bullshit when I see it. You don't seem to know jack shit about Rijkaard's era Barcelona. This is already the 3rd time in one month that your full of bullshit messages show it.
The truth is that Rijkaard played with a more defensive minded midfield in away games. So did Guardiola, who used to play Keita and Touré in complicated away games.
And even I, a complete Cruyffista-Pepista, am pushing for Vidal to play in high tough away games in CL.
Imo:
1. we wouldn't have won a CL in 2009 with a good refereeing
(...)
2009, we had like 5 penalties against Chelsea in our favor.
Before spreading bullshit propaganda from Madrid and England, go rewatch both leg of that opposition vs Chelsea in 2009.
Or watch this video.
The refs (of both games) did a lot of mistakes. But they weren't only against Chelsea.
Barca got robbed in these 2 games too. All in all, both teams suffered equally from ref mistakes. Barca a little bit more actually because Abidal received a red for a pure dive from Anelka with 0 contact.
Stop your bullshit BBZ. You're already a big clown here, and it only gets worse every time you let your imagination rewrite history.