I see. Athletic, in my opinion, did park the bus in the second leg (they didn't in the first), but they were not in any way inferior to us even in the second leg. It wasn't like Barca were laying siege to their goal (IIRC Messi goal was Barca's first shot on target). My point is that Lucho's Barca is much weaker at attacking parked buses than Pep's barca.
But you don't need to face parked buses if you play faster.
Pep's setup basically begged our opponents: "Please guys, park the Boeing or two of them infront of your box"
Remember how many times during Pep we had a chance to counter, but Xavi or Busi would slow down the game, in order so that we could take our attacking shape, but also, so that our opponents could take their Boeing-shape.
So, on one hand, yes, Pep's team was better at breaking buses because they needed to play against buses for 95% of time (they were partially guilty for that).
On the other hand, Pep's team was extremely one-dimensional, it knew only one way how to break the opponents (with possession, shortpassing game and mostly through the middle).
If it worked, awesome.
But if didn't, Pep didn't have a plan B and he would just repeat the same action over and over like an idiot in hope that he will eventually magically break the bus through the crowded middle from the 1000th attempt.
Also, after 3-4-5 years, virtually any semi-decent team figured out how to park two Boeings around their box and we struggled against anyone.
So, it is questionable whether we have faced tougher opponent's back then, as some said, or our system was way too one dimensional and too easy to neutralize after 2-3 years of success.
On the other hand, Lucho's team (and Rijkaard's Barca did the same) will sometimes "give" you possession so that you will open up (you can't park the Boeing infront of your box if you HAVE the ball).
And then, when we take the ball, without Xavi's/Busi's slowing down like in the past, we now play deadly MSN counterattacks.
So, imo, saying how Pep's team was better in breaking buses is irrelevant.
That is only one aspect of the game.
It is the same as saying that Chelsea scores more goals from corners than Barca.
Who cares? That is only aspect of the game.
Barca has more different weapons today than Chelsea.
And also, Lucho's Barca has more different weapons to break the opponents (not only because of MSN quality, but because of more versatile tactics) than Pep's Barca.
So, breaking the opponent's bus is the same virtue as having more long-ranged goals scored, more goals from corners, more goals after crosses etc.
Irrelevant since it is only one aspect of the game.
And especially since Pep "asked" our opponents to play that way...
