Quique Setien

[soul24rage]

Winning this year's half-baked CL competition is our most likely path to a trophy this season. We should see off Napoli at home and then it's only 3 victories needed for the title. Some luck here and Messi magic there and we very well could see ourselves hoisting the trophy at August's end. Not to mention a bunch of psychological blocks are removed due to it being a one legged tournament at a neutral venue with no fans. It won't be the same feeling as winning the CL normally in an ordinary year, but it's still going to count.

+1

 

[Birdy]

Winning this year's half-baked CL competition is our most likely path to a trophy this season. We should see off Napoli at home and then it's only 3 victories needed for the title. Some luck here and Messi magic there and we very well could see ourselves hoisting the trophy at August's end. Not to mention a bunch of psychological blocks are removed due to it being a one legged tournament at a neutral venue with no fans. It won't be the same feeling as winning the CL normally in an ordinary year, but it's still going to count.

With City and Bayern in it, no chance...

Well, even PSG, Atletico, and Atalanta have decent chances to kick us out...

 

[Richard.H]

Winning this year's half-baked CL competition is our most likely path to a trophy this season. We should see off Napoli at home and then it's only 3 victories needed for the title. Some luck here and Messi magic there and we very well could see ourselves hoisting the trophy at August's end. Not to mention a bunch of psychological blocks are removed due to it being a one legged tournament at a neutral venue with no fans. It won't be the same feeling as winning the CL normally in an ordinary year, but it's still going to count.

Very difficult to say how motivated this squad is. If we face MC or Bayern it?s basically a given they?ll win. They are in top form and their counters would be too devastating for the slow barca mid and defense. One legged tie goes both ways. Yes it saves a lot of energy but teams also know to give their all for that one match. No concerns about staying fresh for 2nd leg or a league match

 

[Messigician]

Very difficult to say how motivated this squad is. If we face MC or Bayern it?s basically a given they?ll win. They are in top form and their counters would be too devastating for the slow barca mid and defense. One legged tie goes both ways. Yes it saves a lot of energy but teams also know to give their all for that one match. No concerns about staying fresh for 2nd leg or a league match

City just lost to a shit Chelsea. What you mean top form lmfao

 

[FinBarcelonafan]

I have hard time believing Barca will find the intensity to win the CL. Our team is too old for one legged CL. Most teams will run their legs to win the CL and essentially run us over. Also, Napoli game will be extremely tough. They were not in good form couple months ago but now they are top form and confident.

LaLiga is our best bet, but even then a long shot.

My negative conclusion: We need to have a lot of luck to win anything this season. Good referee decisions our way etc.

 

[serghei]

We'll be blown to pieces in CL, what are you talking about? Maybe if we draw Atalanta or Leipzig we have a chances to reach semis, but even these teams could knock us out.

 

[Tackle]

We'll be blown to pieces in CL, what are you talking about? Maybe if we draw Atalanta or Leipzig we have a chances to reach semis, but even these teams could knock us out.

If this was a normal edition of the competition with home and away legs with fans and other teams at top fitness I would agree, but that is not the case this year. There isn't any 2nd away leg for us to bottle this season and every team is out of rhythm. Anything can happen.

PSG will not have had a competitive match in 5 months. The Bundesliga ends today and Bayern's final match until the CL restarts is a cup final in a week's time. That's a two week longer lay-off than we have. Juventus and Atletico are not particularly strong sides this season. Madrid/City are both probably better sides, but again it's a one off match in weird circumstances and it's not like we're fecking Sunderland here. We still have many great players.

I don't understand how you can write us off with such confidence.

 

[fergus90]

If this was a normal edition of the competition with home and away legs with fans and other teams at top fitness I would agree, but that is not the case this year. There isn't any 2nd away leg for us to bottle this season and every team is out of rhythm. Anything can happen.

PSG will not have had a competitive match in 5 months. The Bundesliga ends today and Bayern's final match until the CL restarts is a cup final in a week's time. That's a two week longer lay-off than we have. Juventus and Atletico are not particularly strong sides this season. Madrid/City are both probably better sides, but again it's a one off match in weird circumstances and it's not like we're fecking Sunderland here. We still have many great players.

I don't understand how you can write us off with such confidence.

I think the point of every team being out of rhythm makes it an even playing field especially at the neutral venues. If it was the normal format I don't even think we'd bottle it, we'd just get steamrolled by a better side in an away game at City,Bayern or PSG.

Purely because we are still playing the same way, with the same players in difficult games now as we have the last 4 years, rely on Messi and that's it, combined with slow and sterile build up play that's easy to nullify. It's no coincidence we lost 3-0 twice and 4-0 twice in the last few years playing away from the Camp Nou.

With the break in schedule in consideration I'd say Barca,Madrid,City and Juve will have the edge because of match practice. The rest are practically playing the CL as their pre-season warm up.

 

[Rory]

It depends if he has the balls to field the right team. Simply put he can't be starting Messi, Suarez and Griezmann together. He can't be starting Rakitic, Busquets and Vidal at the same time. Semedo has to start at RB. But we all know he will most likely field MSG together and it'll be our downfall.

 

[FinBarcelonafan]

Why the coaches never put blame on the veterans? They know they would get fired?

 

[George_Costanza]

If this was a normal edition of the competition with home and away legs with fans and other teams at top fitness I would agree, but that is not the case this year. There isn't any 2nd away leg for us to bottle this season and every team is out of rhythm. Anything can happen.

PSG will not have had a competitive match in 5 months. The Bundesliga ends today and Bayern's final match until the CL restarts is a cup final in a week's time. That's a two week longer lay-off than we have. Juventus and Atletico are not particularly strong sides this season. Madrid/City are both probably better sides, but again it's a one off match in weird circumstances and it's not like we're fecking Sunderland here. We still have many great players.

I don't understand how you can write us off with such confidence.

Mentally, we are probably the weakest side of all the remaining teams. The strength of your mind wins you the Champion league, and we don't have that for many years.

 

[FinBarcelonafan]

Mentally, we are probably the weakest side of all the remaining teams. The strength of your mind wins you the Champion league, and we don't have that for many years.

Actually that's why I am happy we signed Vidal, Frenkie etc. Stronger guys. You are totally right though, we are mentally one of the weakest teams. Neymar was a fighter too.

Now we are the team, which puts their head to bush whenever things get rough. There's no leadership. Madcherano was great leader too. Puyol. Shame Pique doesn't have any leadership in him, even though he is a good player.

 

[raedkuwait]

We need a coach with balls, in fact he dont have to be a coach just a man with fucking balls to bench suarez and some of the amegios.

 

[FinBarcelonafan]

We need a coach with balls, in fact he dont have to be a coach just a man with fucking balls to bench suarez and some of the amegios.

If starting Fati and Puig in a crucial match is not sign of big balls, I am not sure what is?

 

[raedkuwait]

Benching suarez and one more amigos is the sign am looking for, and lets c if he starts puig and fati more