Hans-Dieter Flick

[Porque]

Oh if we beat Madrid in CL it's as elite as it gets. Xavi beat Madrid multiple times, in 3 competitions.

Whose elite in the CL this year that we have to beat to prove we are up there?

Bayern not?

 

[JamDav1982]

Oh if we beat Madrid in CL it's as elite as it gets. Xavi beat Madrid multiple times, in 3 competitions.

You really pointing to beating Real in Cup? When then lost the 2nd leg with worst home defeat in decades?

Xavi lost the last 4 games to Real.. twice in a row at home with one of them that 0-4.

We were told not to expect much better as Real so far ahead and Barca dont have 100s of millions to compete better.

 

[serghei]

Whose elite in the CL this year that we have to beat to prove we are up there?

Plenty of teams will be tough. Arsenal, Madrid, Liverpool, PSG, Inter, Bayern, even Atletico. Either ranks up well above Benfica (still pending) or Napoli, which could be the only teams we have been able to knock out from CL since 2019.

 

[ajnotkeith]

Anyway, if you lot want to gloat about Flick vs Xavi, at least wait until there's something to gloat about. Don't be like Arsenal fans.

In other words, wait for this.

It had a feeling of malaise. We were the best team in the league but it was because we were hyper efficient vs small teams.

Of course, a league title is still huge. It just feels like we are genuinely a force in Europe again and not just Spain.

 

[ajnotkeith]

After every half decent game, this guy mentions Xavi lol

 

[serghei]

It had a feeling of malaise. We were the best team in the league but it was because we were hyper efficient vs small teams.

Of course, a league title is still huge. It just feels like we are genuinely a force in Europe again and not just Spain.

This game vs Benfica gives me more doubt than I had before it. But I hope you're right.

 

[jamrock]

To be fair, I never said that, you can look through my post history about him, I actually said he is a good player being misused.

But I grant you that I didn't predict him becoming this good. I don't think anyone did.

I remember multiple chats and game chats you were always riding him.

And you saying "under the circumstances we brought the wrong player" or something like that.

He was never the wrong player and has been every good to excellent since we signed him.

He didn't go from a 0 to a 10 over night.

PS you don't need to Say Xavi after every good game, you can make the point without saying his name lol.

 

[Porque]

Plenty of teams will be tough. Arsenal, Madrid, Liverpool, PSG, Inter, Bayern, even Atletico. Either ranks up well above Benfica (still pending) or Napoli.

And us to them this season compared to before.

We can only beat who we are up against.

But I think the two Atleti games, 2 Madrid games, Bayern game and 2 Benfica away games with 10 men are enough to say we are competing- without needing to say we need to play any of the other 4 names.

 

[KingLeo10]

I do think we should wait to see how we do vs top teams in the KO phase. We’ve no doubt destroyed big teams this season but I’m one of those who really believes that the KOs in CL/WC/Euros are a different beast. That’s where the legends are made (player or manager)

I’m way more hopeful with Flick than Xavi in this regard.

 

[jamrock]

We showed we can compete against the best in Europe 2 seasons now, after what was awful seasons before then.

We are just failing on the small details like we did again today.

Thankfully it worked out.

 

[JamDav1982]

Raphinha was never going to be a top RW pinned wide. He is not good enough on dribble facing up to defences like that.

Looked like Xavi didnt understand fully the player he bought and Raphinha himself clearly frustrated with him.

 

[serghei]

And us to them this season compared to before.

We can only beat who we are up against.

But I think the two Atleti games, 2 Madrid games, Bayern game and 2 Benfica away games with 10 men are enough to say we are competing- without needing to say we need to play any of the other 4 names.

We will play Inter or Bayern most likely. So we will see how and if we compete. In a big game, not CL groups. That's what you need to do to be a feared team in CL again. Not to tank to the first big opponent you face in CL knockout rounds.

I assume you can agree to that.

 

[JamDav1982]

We showed we can compete against the best in Europe 2 seasons now, after what was awful seasons before then.

We are just failing on the small details like we did again today.

Thankfully it worked out.

Haha no.. in what way did Barca prove that last season?

The best team they beat was a crumbling Napoli then got pumped out by an average PSG.

 

[ajnotkeith]

I do think we should wait to see how we do vs top teams in the KO phase. We’ve no doubt destroyed big teams this season but I’m one of those who really believes that the KOs in CL/WC/Euros are a different beast.

I’m way more hopeful with Flick than Xavi in this regard.

Indeed they are but one of the most important things in this aspect is mentality and belief. We didn't believe we were a top team and we didn't believe in our football.

This is one reason why I think Flick's 'ride or die' mentality when it comes to our high line is important. It shows we have identity and a clear play style which is essential for those high pressure games as it becomes second nature to the players. Something they have practised tons of times and are confident with.

 

[JamDav1982]

We will play Inter or Bayern most likely. So we will see how and if we compete. In a big game, not CL groups. That's what you need to do to be a feared team in CL again. Not to tank to the first big opponent you face in CL knockout rounds.

As opposed to getting knocked out by average teams in Europe.

Barca getting to semis and competing with likes of Bayern can go either way and is first non failure in terms of minimum expectations in years.