One of these two have started 98.33% of games for city this season. Both are the only true CDM's on the team. We can't know what would have happened for sure. All I noticed was that they didn't seem to have that same passing rhythm in the midfield, they didn't look like they had control. One of these reasons is likely due to missing one of these two players who have virtually played every game. Imagine week in week out you are used to Rodri/Fernandinho being in a certain position of the pitch, where they are going to run, how they will pass etc and then suddenly the manager decides not to play one of them. This midfield system they used wasn't used all season and yet they were supposed to win a UCL final with it? Just found it a bizarre move from pep.
Pep Guardiola
- Thread starter Barcaman
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One of these two have started 98.33% of games for city this season. Both are the only true CDM's on the team. We can't know what would have happened for sure. All I noticed was that they didn't seem to have that same passing rhythm in the midfield, they didn't look like they had control. One of these reasons is likely due to missing one of these two players who have virtually played every game. Imagine week in week out you are used to Rodri/Fernandinho being in a certain position of the pitch, where they are going to run, how they will pass etc and then suddenly the manager decides not to play one of them. This midfield system they used wasn't used all season and yet they were supposed to win a UCL final with it? Just found it a bizarre move from pep.
Fati_Future_BallonDor
Well-known member
This! City has played so much better when rodri was on the pitch but Pep has done Pep things again. They needed a DM/CDM.
Fati_Future_BallonDor
Well-known member
When city has beaten chelsea in the beginning of the year 3-1 rodri was their best player !
Bobo32
Senior Member
But did they really play as CDM for 98,33% of the games? I don't know but ask again, I thought they played CB some as well.
After having read the article I linked above (which partly argues your point), I am strengthened in my view that what was needed in this game was good creative passing from that position. If anything, that particular decision makes sense to me.
City wasn't able to break through Chelsea, Pep will surely have a lot of thoughts about what he could've done differently. It's impossible to know what his considerations were but it's not clear to me that this decision was a mistake.
serghei
Senior Member
When city has beaten chelsea in the beginning of the year 3-1 rodri was their best player !
Porbably by accident. Man is playing worse than washed-up Busi and he's supposedly in his prime.
According to whoscored they didn't play as a CB for any of those games. Could be inaccurate but I can't remember a game this season where they did. Last season for sure Fernandinho played CB lots.
Respekt_III
Anti-everything
fucking idiot.
FinBarcelonafan
Well-known member
True. Rodri was a bad buy. Nothing special.
Mateka
New member
Fernandinho has had a great season. He is fit. A leader among the players. A great reader of the game, and a good move to offer him a one year contract and not release him.
Rodri a good signing. Played well this season but was overshadowed by Fernandinho as the season went on.
Either should have been on the pitch on Saturday. That’s why they had both played at DM in 59 out of 60.
Rodri a good signing. Played well this season but was overshadowed by Fernandinho as the season went on.
Either should have been on the pitch on Saturday. That’s why they had both played at DM in 59 out of 60.
Fati_Future_BallonDor
Well-known member
Its time to come home Pepsi.
Cule For Life
Member
The problem was he tried dominating and attacking when he shouldn't have to begin with. Pep City have always struggled dominating possession against other top oppositions, every manager and clubs he's struggled against his counter towards them was to play direct. After his poor choices/selection in the CL in 2018 against Pool, Klopp has only beaten Pep 1 in 6 games (7 if you include Community Shield), Pep has won 3, while the 2 draws also saw City miss a PK in both, could've been 5 wins in 6/7 games, why is that? He started playing more direct against them not hogging possession with a highline to get exposed, the same with Ole United he lost 3 times last season cause his highline got exposed which allowed United indidvdual players to do there work this season he was much more pragmatic and direct against them, last season against RM they hovered around 50-52% possession and this season against PSG as well, probably remember what Poch did to him with Son and Moura this time he had an upgraded version with Neymar and Mbappe. This game screamed for similar approach, allow Chelsea to have the ball and try pressing them in the defensive half (exactly what Chelsea was doing to them), while not leaving your backline exposed.
Even if we go back a little the formation/selection didn't make any sense from an attacking oriented view either, his best goal scorer was played furtherest from the opposition goal (Gundo), Foden was played in midfield, even tho Pep has said plenty of time how he wasn't ready to play there as he lacked maturity and patient, yet put him there in a final without an enforcer/DM lol Sterling who's just been poor this season was put out to ruin the flow of the team that got them there, guarantee if he played Sterling VS Dortmund or PSG they'd probably not make it past them. When he bought a DM on Gundo made that amazing run and was ready for a tap in the far post if it wasn't for Azpi clearance. Even then he played a highline without a DM which had the defence all over the place.
I have to give Tuchel and Chelsea credit they were great and agressive with a lot of workrate, while I can't fault City players, but Pep literally gave this game to Chelsea and put his own players in an uncomfortable. This man has a self destruct button somewhere in the bald head of his, he'll start getting results against Chelsea/Tuchel next season when he starts going more direct against them. The answer was always there for him, but what should be his first selection ends up always being last one which ends up working.
Even if we go back a little the formation/selection didn't make any sense from an attacking oriented view either, his best goal scorer was played furtherest from the opposition goal (Gundo), Foden was played in midfield, even tho Pep has said plenty of time how he wasn't ready to play there as he lacked maturity and patient, yet put him there in a final without an enforcer/DM lol Sterling who's just been poor this season was put out to ruin the flow of the team that got them there, guarantee if he played Sterling VS Dortmund or PSG they'd probably not make it past them. When he bought a DM on Gundo made that amazing run and was ready for a tap in the far post if it wasn't for Azpi clearance. Even then he played a highline without a DM which had the defence all over the place.
I have to give Tuchel and Chelsea credit they were great and agressive with a lot of workrate, while I can't fault City players, but Pep literally gave this game to Chelsea and put his own players in an uncomfortable. This man has a self destruct button somewhere in the bald head of his, he'll start getting results against Chelsea/Tuchel next season when he starts going more direct against them. The answer was always there for him, but what should be his first selection ends up always being last one which ends up working.
Mateka
New member
No chance.
TacticsTim
Active member
I've been thinking for a while and can't help wondering if the team would have been even more successful without pep. Instead of kicking yaya and etoo out keeping them as key players while busquets never became a starter. And didn't go all out on tiki taka and played more like that first pep season, more balanced and physical but not as possession dominant. I think that would have been better. And never buying cesc of course
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