0:02

The athletic. Hello,

0:11

welcome and thank you for listening

0:13

to this week's Athletic Football Tactics

0:16

Op Cost I'm Only Maxwell joined

0:18

by the anthem by Mark, Gary

0:21

and by Michael Cox Many guys.

0:23

Money. Come on a. Good. Week it's

0:26

been. In. The way for

0:28

Champions League and that's our focus

0:30

today. All for quarterfinals very nicely

0:32

boys after one leg and within

0:34

the games as well. Interesting swings

0:36

of momentum in Arsenal and by

0:38

and both teams had the lead

0:41

and gave it up and drew

0:43

to to in Manchester City against

0:45

Real Madrid. same story. both teams

0:47

had the lead man City had

0:49

it twice and both gave it

0:51

up three all the final score

0:53

on Wednesday night Psg and Barcelona

0:56

both had the lead. And in

0:58

the end, bossert nicht it. From. A

1:00

set play, a three to win in

1:02

Paris and Athletic go against Dortmund. It

1:04

looked like plain sailing for Athletic to

1:07

know up at half time, but Dortmund

1:09

came roaring back and scored. Two.

1:11

One at the wonder metropolitan

1:13

out at Michael. What a

1:16

treat! For. Lovers Of Champions League

1:18

Knockout Football this week has been. It

1:20

was really good. I think the only shame is that. There.

1:23

Are only two times lot so we couldn't

1:25

watch all four games live with was at

1:27

the second round stretched out over for set

1:30

for mid weeks ago. Final step placement for

1:32

a short period of time. so yeah it

1:34

great Loza goes over in all the games

1:37

and yeah just really action packed. Was quite

1:39

fun watching one. well seeing the updates from

1:41

another cause I'm putting I was watching asked

1:43

by announcing the updates from brow. City.

1:46

A lot of the incredible and then when eyes

1:48

he went back and watch the game. I mean

1:51

he had five goes but you only had a

1:53

thing. a combined one point, five extreme or something.

1:55

Just incredible shots again and again. Not a good

1:58

finishing, some good goalkeeping, couple of shots cry. String

2:00

against at would work in particular in

2:02

the of let's go Dortmund game at

2:04

Michael. Over the years we come back

2:06

and forth a bit about the away

2:08

goals rule and it's removal from these

2:11

sorts of ties. I think one of

2:13

the concerns about what would happen after

2:15

it's removal would be a lack of

2:17

ambition from away teams In games like

2:19

this where one of the incentives of

2:21

them attacking and scoring goals had been

2:23

removed at small sample size here, but

2:25

you know clearly attacking. Football.

2:28

Hasn't been blunted. It is that maybe more

2:30

of a reflection on how elite level football

2:32

is being played at the moment. Yeah,

2:35

I mean I. Wasn't disappointed. The

2:37

way go through when because of the attack a

2:39

the incentive to attack kind of thing. I just

2:41

thought it was fun when you add the constantly.

2:44

Ah, Imbalance school on in the second

2:46

leg. yeah I mean it's a funny thing

2:48

I the moment I think couple of of

2:50

was very tough minded very positive I she

2:53

thought looking at these games a few in

2:55

size from much qaeda. Then. I think

2:57

you would usually see them play intimate. Seems

2:59

that there's been a slight shift towards being

3:01

conservative in Europe from and if you watched

3:03

the I buy mean it played to buff

3:05

been applied to a Real Madrid played it

3:07

wouldn't like that with and we're gonna completely

3:09

dominate is came with him without the ball.

3:11

I thought a little bit more cautious, a

3:13

little bit more functional trying to get the

3:15

job done. and I think the scoreline i

3:18

mean thirty three in the city remedy game

3:20

at any of this was really reflects. The.

3:22

Nature The Games I think they are broadly

3:24

open. But. I mean they weren't color

3:27

two or three. oh this kind of it.

3:29

looks like there was absolute chaos and hims

3:31

goes there was, but I saw a few.

3:33

The games works a little bit more. Structured.

3:36

Met with suggest and that's where

3:38

I really enjoy a breaking down.

3:40

In. The knockout level football liam whether

3:42

it's at club level or perhaps

3:44

in major international tournament is that

3:46

we are still conditions to look

3:48

at ways of analyzing the game,

3:50

looking at underlying numbers, and whether

3:52

that's shot related or otherwise have

3:54

thoughts. At this stage

3:57

of the season, a lot of it comes down to

3:59

execution in both. Good as that she

4:01

was and the it's it's often team to

4:03

the the best goalkeeper a high of a

4:05

goalkeeper so good level forwards and that gonna

4:07

make a difference and kind of between by

4:10

fox is each on of reduce the ever

4:12

more than eating also keep is controlled I'm

4:14

so predictable as possible and then make that

4:16

space for your or your much when is

4:18

your stop as to resign. Let's.

4:26

Start at the Emirates Arsenal

4:28

to buy in to. The.

4:30

Guy Soccer putting off ahead and

4:32

then been hitting them through number

4:35

eight and a penalty from Harry

4:37

Kane hot. Lobby. Fly

4:39

from Gabrielle She has his lead to

4:41

trust out for a home and equalizer

4:43

at Michael. Lot of excitement

4:45

around Arsenal the seasons on the domestic front and

4:47

they are one of the favorites to win the

4:49

Champions League as well. What did you make of

4:51

how they handled this tie against by minute. Reading

4:55

the interesting thing was the author

4:57

to him kiwi or left back

4:59

ahead of Zinczenko And it's funny.

5:01

the gaudio Natacha. What?

5:03

Particular got the it was kind of the

5:05

pioneer of eating that fullback com insight into

5:07

midfield that but broadly gone away for it

5:09

from that in the big games and and

5:11

we saw the off the city game for

5:13

center vaccine for centre backs and boat and

5:15

it's our boat. Tried to be quite cautious

5:18

this week I completely understand why would go

5:20

for carry on because obviously where santa you

5:22

think well as go for better defender. I

5:24

think it's pretty clear this ancient with no

5:26

good in one into and you've but I

5:28

think this show that actually kiwi or you're

5:30

not perfect himself in our he was a

5:32

little bit call. On his for the first

5:34

go I think probably more gabrielle rise mix

5:36

up than his era and him for the

5:38

second goal. You know he was unable to

5:40

stop sanitarium instant into the gulf. Hope you

5:43

know If you look is in Chiang Kai

5:45

you're saying well he gives the things that

5:47

position but it can be vulnerable defensively. Time

5:49

the centre back there isn't. A guarantee

5:51

you're going to be toy defensively or a the

5:53

and otherwise you went in. Shanker came on a

5:55

half time. Off. with passing was much

5:57

improved and then check or of a few passes

6:00

can see the possession. But that's the price you pay for

6:02

a little bit of, you know, intended

6:05

penetration of Bayern's lines. So I think that's

6:07

an interesting debate because City did the same

6:09

thing in Madrid.

6:12

Okay, it's different because you've got John Stone stepping

6:14

forward. You've got Akanji

6:16

playing it right back. I

6:18

really like Akanji. The centre back I don't particularly like

6:20

him when he's in one of those wider areas. Yeah,

6:22

I think in terms of Arsenal's press

6:24

as well that it puts a lot of demands

6:26

on the full backs to be good defensively just

6:28

because of how hard the wing is going off

6:30

to the time. I think particularly SAC on the

6:33

right-hand side but Martinelli too where they're making these

6:35

really aggressive sprints out to the opposition full backs.

6:37

That was really clear. In fairness I thought Arsenal's

6:39

press were really quite welcome, the quality of the

6:41

team they're up against, knowing that, you

6:43

know, that scrap between sort of Gabriel and Harry

6:45

Kane is definitely going to come in and you

6:47

can then get those wingers or a midfielders sort

6:49

of running beyond the ball when you've got the

6:51

threat of, you know, NABRI and Sane Musiala

6:53

running beyond you go, this has all got to be

6:55

right or they're going to completely get through us and

6:57

obviously as it was the two moments

6:59

really where things

7:01

sort of fell apart they conceded from and just

7:03

didn't track around this very well and sort of

7:05

turned over the ball. The second goal is what

7:07

the builders of the penalty should say so it's

7:09

a really good sort of flow move but I

7:11

think that's probably Arsenal's biggest weak spot just in

7:14

terms of the personnel of, I think

7:16

Benjamin White's there to be good going forward. He's quite

7:18

good at letting it I think but not quite as

7:20

maybe strong or as dominant or as quick. And the

7:22

same with Kivio on the side, definitely good air really.

7:25

I think anything that was into the book

7:27

four in the air they really ate up and have

7:29

done all season to be honest. We've said that enough

7:31

but when you can get those wingers who are confident

7:33

and good enough to actually take a touch, spin and

7:35

go, that's your way of

7:37

breaking the prayer. Martinelli was

7:40

hooked for the eventual goalscorer Trossard

7:42

as well. That's Arsenal's left side

7:44

perhaps not having been at their

7:46

best. Very clear how much they

7:48

favoured the right side of their

7:50

attack which is nothing new

7:52

but looking at who scored 56% of their

7:54

attacks down

7:56

one side of the pitch mark. That's pretty stark.

8:00

I thought it was interesting that they

8:02

attacked it in that way so specifically. It

8:04

was so high. I think it was one

8:06

of the highest they've had in all competitions

8:08

this season, especially when you think of Alfonso

8:11

Davis being so blisteringly fast against

8:13

Saka, but then of course Saka was such

8:15

a threat himself. You've got the rotations with

8:17

Odegard and Ben White was running really well

8:19

off Saka, who's sometimes rolling inside. And Ben

8:22

White was pinning Gnabry back as well, which I

8:24

thought was really interesting. But I

8:27

think now that Alfonso Davis has got

8:29

a Yanakades out of the second leg, which I think would

8:31

be interesting to see how they sort of approach that. I

8:33

think there were times where they were trying to do the

8:35

overload on the right hand side to try and isolate Martinelli

8:37

on the left hand side, which

8:39

didn't work all that well. But

8:42

yeah, I think overall it was worthwhile

8:45

because the first goal initially came from

8:47

Saka, which was a fantastically taken goal as well.

8:50

Yeah, and that was a pattern they really tried down

8:52

that sort of right hand side. Odegard was really dropping

8:54

out, I think more than I've seen him doing a

8:56

long time that when you think you've got Jorginho and

8:58

you've got Declan Rice in that team, okay, Rice has

9:00

played a bit more as a number eight recently, but

9:02

two players that are typically sort of defeat, they're going

9:04

to link in that first phase so they can

9:06

drop out of the buy

9:08

in sort of 4-4-2 block. And I guess it was just

9:10

trying to find ways to manipulate that. I mean, that's how

9:13

Arsenal defend themselves, so they know the ways to sort of

9:15

try and find the solution. But yeah,

9:17

I do wonder how much of it was

9:19

sort of a deliberate ploy and also maybe being a

9:21

little bit risk averse. They hardly played any sort

9:23

of pass essentially into Haverts. There's nothing really in

9:25

defeat. There was quite a lot in Bayern, which

9:27

obviously is how they encounter press and there's Haverts'

9:29

role there for the goal. And there's another chance

9:32

I think sort of five minutes later that happens

9:34

very similarly. So I'm interested to see what they

9:36

do in the second leg in terms of personnel

9:38

and in terms of how they actually approach playing

9:40

into the nine, whether they do take a few

9:42

more risks, obviously then they're going to open themselves

9:44

up to counter-attacks. Yeah, Odegard and Rice

9:46

were playing essentially as fullbacks at times that

9:48

in possession they were pulling so far outside

9:51

of Bayern's rigid 4-4-2 and

9:53

it was really strong and they couldn't penetrate

9:55

all that much, which was,

9:57

it felt a bit like the Porto game though. The

10:00

ring around the block caught lot of not gonna

10:02

going through the when Jay Jay Z's came on

10:04

I did think he was he was really good

10:06

he's always been really good at that receiving with

10:09

his back to go and to be such tight

10:11

class control and the fact that you can then

10:13

attract players towards him then crates disruption elsewhere in

10:15

the likes of Adcock and can so feet off

10:17

the back of the and that's how the trust

10:20

our goal came about. That Jesus is just it

10:22

is bit chaotic at times. it it a good

10:24

way in possession in that you don't know which

10:26

weighs in ago. maybe two or three plays go

10:28

towards him and then trust. Of he runs

10:31

of the back and finish his first time

10:33

so I don't know whether it bringing Jesus

10:35

in might be sent us while for the

10:37

second leg but then habits is so good

10:39

our possession were spoken before about his all

10:42

round game. If it's not so contributing towards

10:44

gone sites and be tough I wonder yeah

10:46

how they'll go about it since the the

10:48

front my next week. There.

10:53

Was one aspect of Arsenals first call

10:55

the with same time and time again

10:57

and has been highlighted as as one

10:59

of at then moves and that is

11:01

when Ben White place to pass perfectly

11:03

into sack is to cited shooting saw

11:05

if you like said he doesn't even

11:07

have to break stride and I did.

11:09

He doesn't need to take a touch

11:11

notice, get the angle and and get

11:13

the the opportunity to show that was.

11:16

One. Thing that it really took

11:18

my breath away Michael in the

11:20

build up to buy and second

11:22

all the to angle that was

11:25

Manuel Neuer is scoop slicked pass

11:27

over at Arsenal. attacker out to

11:29

the right hand side. now annoyingly.

11:32

It wasn't very accurate and almost went out fly

11:34

for a for throw to are still say it's

11:37

it. I can't work out what I feel is

11:39

one of the the best and cool things about

11:41

the seen. A goal could keep doing a massive

11:43

game or like that was actually maybe a bit

11:45

too risky. Yeah, Weirdly,

11:48

I have thought previously that that

11:50

method of playing the ball can

11:52

be quite useful. In. More narrow

11:54

everything's about passing lanes and trying to block

11:56

off roots and of is quite hard to

11:58

as the it's in assured. Quite hard to

12:00

chip a boy accurately I replied to their face

12:02

if you do if you know she got times

12:05

is chippy up in love that from. You.

12:07

Know fifties enemies overflow. Can

12:10

be quite useful comment on i was show back and

12:12

relax but he couldn't. A beacon of a bus strike

12:14

with the by was that. Shipping.

12:16

I think tend to both ends when the

12:19

a bit too long hey where's the way

12:21

he played It did kind of makes sense

12:23

especially in the first half were Arsenal were

12:25

chef putting the ball towards Eric die and

12:27

forcing him on to his left foot. News

12:29

is basically having to play channel balls that

12:31

were hopeless. Both awesome. just regaining insists any

12:33

tax really well. The. Idea was

12:35

that they were gonna chef at it again

12:37

and he was asking to be forced into

12:39

planes was are diane than he did the

12:41

the switch. A raven just completely fucked over

12:43

and then the goal came from that which

12:45

is at the outset to the list and

12:47

and played out the line so it was

12:50

you know Osnos strengthen suddenly became every episode

12:52

it works at and then followed that with

12:54

sound. a running. Off the pitch

12:56

in one straight line with before winning

12:58

a bounty scored by Harry Kane at

13:00

As he added that little hop to

13:02

his penalties because riot did not take

13:04

that that he he said afterwards arcane

13:07

they'd done research on what righted for

13:09

the penalties in suit against Porto. And.

13:11

So that he went quietly so he

13:13

said he waited like the guy love

13:15

siamese. feeling like ridiculously early away they

13:18

showed from the reverse angle and he's

13:20

taken about three steps and and kane

13:22

decelerates actually on the run up this

13:24

is a tiny gone up and when

13:26

he's probably about before human taken that

13:28

penultimate step on his on his lesser

13:30

and is looked up and rise already.

13:33

Is completely gone so I guess you know that's

13:35

how are you got to go feed you want

13:37

a trying to across the to say the trip

13:39

at one am a crossing the it's it's makes

13:42

makes some sense but it is a trademark When

13:44

I think that's why they Yana predicts us on

13:46

another it's you from came that he's I and

13:48

I know that goalkeepers know that is my percent

13:51

side sites scientists, presidents and as which makes sense

13:53

yeah I'm it's a great result for for by

13:55

and to. Despite giving up that lead to to

13:57

take up I would suggested a drawback to me.

14:00

What did you make of how they set up

14:02

Michael? What the what it by and do well or

14:04

or perhaps what might be areas they might need

14:06

to look at for the second. Like. Quite.

14:09

Cautious I thought a metaphor for to

14:11

our position kind of. Mid.

14:13

Block wasn't really anything to exciting

14:16

with. Back to basics are other.

14:18

there are a cave reason. Be

14:20

well organized as today. Press really

14:22

high. Even with Kane at the

14:24

top of the fiction in the Bundesliga when

14:26

I've seen in the first time that. I

14:28

know it's not allow, but. Yak.

14:30

I think kind always been reading the good and.

14:33

He's. Is not necessary Companies in sprinting,

14:35

sprinting, sprinting. but either way didn't he

14:38

understands.on work with ya to back them

14:40

up really well. I like the to

14:42

midfielder thing Lyman Gresko. The good around

14:44

is that the physical that mobile about

14:46

good in possession of will grow as

14:49

can made or a good for would

14:51

run for the year. The. First goes

14:53

well to they were right i'm in Missouri

14:55

Bind have been a bit shambolic at times

14:58

in recent months ago as a pretty good

15:00

performance. I never said on on

15:02

site on the athletic in our in our

15:04

briefing after the game that the games are

15:06

broadly seated by and I do agree with

15:08

the in terms of the onus is on

15:10

them to to dominate the to play and

15:12

have love possession which is why that needs

15:14

in a Saudi press hi to they've allowing

15:16

himself more space to exploit with specially might

15:18

areas with the flu shot and and I

15:20

can see come on came on as well

15:22

and I looked into the numbers on this.

15:24

They've only had a lower sheriff possession in

15:26

all competitions. The season once against have gotten

15:28

us thirty eight percent in December and they

15:30

won three now. And in this game

15:32

they with and he had forty one percent

15:35

as well so I was playing to a

15:37

bit more their strength of cancer talking with

15:39

Tyson purpose would change of the in and

15:41

of she did a wide players being able

15:43

to exploit those spaces do Anything I'd say

15:45

is i wonder whether when they play you

15:48

know back at home that the pride of

15:50

the by Munich fans were club at such

15:52

as will expect them to dominate the game

15:54

and have more possession and then the up

15:56

my actually kind of tactic the hamper the

15:58

more. Over. The they played under.football

16:01

but do they may be allowed cells to

16:03

seat possession at home which actually be maybe

16:05

more strength. Is. Fascinating

16:07

how this. Time. We'll look in

16:10

the second leg after in a What You

16:12

Guys Have set simply because. The.

16:15

Wing. Is being high and wide and very

16:18

very pacey and Keynes ability to to drop

16:20

dates and and spindles him behind Michael

16:22

it is just such I'm at an incredible

16:24

threat. The have the and that is

16:26

made easier if you are perhaps dropping little

16:28

bit deeper our possession in order to

16:30

to have more space to play into. But

16:33

Moss Point about. The. Atmosphere:

16:35

The allianz that the Pride if you like

16:37

how how might that second like that? Yeah

16:39

I'm in a i don't you look too

16:41

different to the Saw nothing awesome pen a

16:43

similar way. By may be be a little

16:45

bit more aggressive but yeah oversee the it

16:47

is a tough place to go and it's

16:49

funny. Mention the fans because of the most

16:51

urban fans. A total biscuit and it wasn't

16:53

It's in the second half were things added.

16:55

Snuck up behind when the bomb plays and

16:57

ropes him right in front of where the

16:59

by i'm friends with a big show man

17:01

on. Another planet would have

17:03

happened. So small details and. At

17:13

the same time Real Madrid at Manchester City

17:15

with playing it and incredibly entertaining game. Six

17:17

goals split evenly guys just a out personal

17:19

interest when when there's two games going on

17:22

of the same time a huge you will

17:24

screen is t try and take in both

17:26

at the same time or can you just

17:28

not in a d get the worst of

17:31

both worlds if you try and desire as

17:33

as it you end up. If

17:35

you watch bars you fund don't even see

17:37

half of each one. ram sir are a

17:39

I had you didn't watch either the games

17:41

live. On to say I love watching our

17:43

house watching where someone or twenty one's against

17:46

your passphrase is so lives are so I

17:48

watch them one after another on or a

17:50

watch and that yeah lost out when I

17:52

was or Wednesday night out I was writing

17:54

on the pitch he gets a had to

17:56

get my full attention I found if I

17:58

mean what's two games it. To be

18:00

more are set for fun and like work

18:02

purposes so like have a bit appreciation for

18:05

both. I think if he watched. Two

18:07

games he was zero game winner.

18:10

Of my philosophy if you watch

18:12

the. Central. Defensive

18:14

midfielder if you worthless get to see

18:17

the whole gang. she

18:19

was to visit and then the and then

18:21

the so of cousin of that is if

18:23

if if you follow the referee as a

18:25

yet of the like the yellow is be

18:27

a mess with this with effects are running

18:30

diagonally of us are for was got some

18:32

good maxims at this is a. Fungus

18:35

basically as three goals between the second

18:37

minute will be at the free kick

18:39

itself. The came from it, I

18:42

was given away even earlier than that.

18:44

And the forty minute was when the

18:46

third go went in. the the first

18:48

goal scored by Bernardo from a free

18:50

kids act catching out. The.

18:52

Goalkeeper around Madrid. He says don't

18:54

a pile on anyone here but

18:57

it's very notable given the performances.

18:59

Have Tivo Courtwatch for our trade

19:01

in this area where they have.

19:03

Secured. So many Champions League titles that

19:05

typical to are not and go for Real

19:07

Madrid and the sorts of goes being conceded

19:10

that we don't expect it to be can

19:12

see that the been about limp. Yeah

19:14

was quite bizarre. Free kick. I mean

19:16

it it evoked Members funny authors of

19:18

Job Ron at Wembley are full of

19:20

in the in the past final an

19:22

exact saw us again when so of

19:24

Cain speaks about the panties and looking

19:26

at am looking at Ryan's or to

19:29

seen tendencies that exact details that. He

19:31

felt come out even more important in in

19:33

knockout European ties were in. It seems that

19:36

the school first I think they're the. The

19:38

rights of winning when you were fussing and

19:40

hi than that in the league, teams will

19:43

go ahead notice complaining, sit back and trying

19:45

to find that need even more intensely and.

19:47

See it's quite all could go to what you

19:49

get the it's quite get onto an inside the

19:51

some looking at Luton sorts of and numbers he

19:53

is. Had quite a good season in the league

19:55

for all intents and purposes and say it really

19:58

smart from against some we've done a hope. Then

20:00

about been to the family. I.

20:02

Don't know what was more kilometers of that Like the for

20:04

they didn't quite. Get. To it when he

20:06

probably should have saved it. Or. His

20:08

organization of the wall and I saw some

20:10

posts much nicer whichever racing he broke it

20:12

also simply just said. To. On the

20:15

ball I got british and been on a silver run

20:17

the ball to in the wall. And. They

20:19

just hadn't had any any. Any has been

20:21

issues junior are we sure? that's not just

20:23

good kids it right? But

20:26

it really was ushered to win matches. But. We

20:29

we were all the max and zipper a

20:31

said it was tree were witnesses. Junior shifted

20:33

across maybe think he was gonna be taken

20:35

by right footer and he just opened up

20:37

the whole space. and then the goalkeeper is

20:40

strands a little bill basically having to to

20:42

cover the whole goal so should blueness and

20:44

directed his his wall to make sure there's

20:46

enough space so that that would have just

20:48

been. Stopped before can even begin or

20:50

or should he just about with say that

20:52

and I are also said that the soften

20:55

our to ensure met in the build up

20:57

his his classic like defense Matilda playing center

20:59

back and lion's share many playing a sense

21:01

of i have get a kick my eye

21:03

off route and fifty wheat sort of the

21:06

southern United is great yeah injuries of admit

21:08

minutes how much I said a bow. Fight.

21:11

On the bed so one of them

21:13

off as second like a d Yeah

21:15

yeah that's true as I think minute

21:17

houses that comebacks and any be placed

21:19

a humanist in the league of isn't

21:21

fully fit to this or star am

21:23

I not surprised Minutes how's injured My

21:25

main memory of for him in the

21:27

Champions League knockout stage last season was

21:29

being down on the floor incident so

21:31

much stiffness the games the ravages played

21:33

Rao came flying back com of and

21:35

gifts fab letting fly from range of

21:37

big deflection offer Ruben Diaz and then

21:39

we saw a A winger. Hi,

21:41

I'm wide outside to enron

21:44

in behind a high line

21:46

and and scoring that was

21:48

Rodrigo is that. And.

21:50

Maybe little bit similar to to bind to

21:52

fight against Arsenal. is that just the most

21:55

dangerous that round Madrid convey I think's I

21:57

mean it is great memories recent it will

21:59

see where. and the initiative in Rodrigo

22:01

played really similarly against England at Wembley. Obviously,

22:03

I think Guaidó is about saying, if you

22:05

have Carl Walker there, then naturally you've got,

22:07

I think the antidote was sort of the

22:10

word that's used as something that

22:12

can then just match either of them for

22:14

pace and as Michael sort of said with

22:16

Akanji being out there, and it's probably the

22:18

better profile compared to Erico Lewis or someone

22:20

else, but- It's just that the

22:22

better profile to handle- Yes,

22:25

to defensively. I

22:27

think so. And yeah, it's just then the challenge

22:29

that the city have that there, we've spoken a

22:31

lot about their sort of defensive transition issues, and

22:33

I wonder now if they start to

22:35

sort of compound their own problems by having so

22:38

many defeat players in the final third that I

22:40

know it almost sounds silly to have the Guillory

22:42

Dokiloff the right because you then think he's going

22:44

to dribble and you have more turnovers, but I

22:47

think just to turn the game into a few

22:49

more set pieces, to win more fouls, to break

22:52

the game up more, have more speed down that

22:54

side and more directness, whereas a lot of the

22:56

time, and there are a couple occasions where Foden

22:58

gets tackled, Bernardo again is very

23:00

technical, very much a passer, not a dribbler. I do

23:02

wonder if they just end up actually having more turnovers

23:04

there, and then there are a few occasions where the

23:06

counter press wasn't quite on it and it has to

23:08

be, and inside a couple passes, Real Madrid

23:10

have got their runners going and suddenly you go, oh

23:12

my God, City are all over the place here. So

23:15

it was, again, they've got to find more solutions now

23:17

for their defending of counter attacks. Well,

23:19

it was quite uncharacteristic that City were quite

23:21

fluffy in midfield as well. I think Roger

23:24

just played a diagonal that went straight out

23:26

of play, and it was, I think they

23:28

said, in comatose, a collective item, because it

23:30

was just unpressured. He was just being quite

23:32

fluffy on the ball. I don't know why

23:34

that was, but yeah, it's been City's kryptonite

23:36

of sort of conceding the transition in general,

23:38

but again, looked into the numbers and they

23:40

conceded three shots from fast breaks against Madrid.

23:42

And that's more than any other Champions League

23:45

game since 2018-19. And

23:47

that's only from when I have data. So there's probably maybe

23:49

even going further back. So it shows

23:51

how much they do technically like to seek

23:53

out that control. We know that to be

23:55

the case, even in Knockout Football,

23:57

but they just didn't have it for long

23:59

period.. It and he look at things like

24:01

the the match momentum from him accompanied by

24:04

up to normally you'd see the city have

24:06

long periods of domination and they just didn't

24:08

Really, this couldn't quite get a stranglehold on

24:10

the game knowing full well that Rodgers got

24:13

such individuals and to be able to function

24:15

at any moment when I think that fascinates

24:17

me then looking at how wow set up

24:19

smashing pets or city and and why there's

24:21

is having a smart you set a tiny

24:24

Cressman a dominant. my success on Un estimates

24:26

held analysts at her and and what to

24:28

com of anger on the right. Met him

24:30

he play so back in this section our

24:32

seasons and then came inside. but and the

24:35

go to think it's to christ almost reminiscent

24:37

of a winner coming in and so shooting.

24:39

But. These. Don't see many teams

24:41

now. I know that the night and and shot

24:43

is never a d Someone that. Is.

24:46

I think unfairly a cheap price resource tactical

24:48

now so or ways of working and and

24:50

was constructing a team. Played diamond sometimes and

24:53

isn't always put people in the blood levels

24:55

of being an innovator and and whatnot. but

24:57

I'm it. it works really well because the

24:59

simple in a focus was we can push

25:01

have a how the right back up onto

25:04

the last time we can hit switches and.

25:06

They seem to be quite good actually playing long

25:08

but also avoiding arrow to was because cities had

25:10

a much bigger backline. When they could get on

25:12

the wing is a bit like when we sigma

25:14

by and actually away from a fullback or away

25:16

from a defender and get our first touch and

25:18

get five yards and off the dribble they're already

25:20

read dangerous and I'm really really good So I

25:23

mean tree to see how the city kind of

25:25

unless you've to be more intense in the press

25:27

the try and stop so crush or kind of

25:29

the to get him on the bowl as much

25:31

and sitting for most the first half city were

25:33

like. Pushed. Api that not really engaging

25:35

basically aggressive. It wasn't what we'd seen from and

25:37

the buying game last season where sure this would

25:39

be different a home where they can go so

25:41

full court press but as they want suffocating in

25:44

a typical city where it's worth noting as well

25:46

to speaking tactical tweak The spoke about Rodrigo before

25:48

and it was him who started more us the

25:50

the laughing about see I was where the goal

25:53

came from. Venus is gonna drop me a little

25:55

bit but typically has been as we know Venus

25:57

is being that the one the far left side.

26:00

Exactly sure why that was the case when

26:02

that was chosen but it seems to work

26:04

really well over three guy just making those

26:06

ashes of runs his maybe underestimate is a

26:09

how quick he is as well as Venice's

26:11

but they are obviously linking up as as

26:13

lay before and his his what sixteen goals

26:15

and is got eight assists the major decision

26:17

in all competitions which I think he's on

26:20

for his his best season it's hims if

26:22

is go out for and he just thinking

26:24

in terms of. He i feel

26:26

like maybe it's just my the from the

26:28

outside looking in but he's kind of always

26:30

underestimate different talking about Venice's junior talk about

26:33

banning him and drugs coming in the summer

26:35

potentially kill him buffet as well and you

26:37

think he's always just so saying that I'm

26:39

still here, i'm still reading, is still very

26:41

young and he's been a thorn in the

26:43

side of Manchester City in previous years particular

26:45

at the Bernabeu. always good to in two

26:47

minutes as well. so city probably sick of

26:49

history goes much as anyone the game of.

26:51

Athena. Yeah, Yeah. Just.

26:54

The one attempt at goal

26:56

from Holland. He then he

26:58

scored in six of his

27:01

last seventeen appearances for Manchester

27:03

City. thankfully. Signify

27:05

rocket. No one in three forget his

27:07

bar is. Yes, I. A

27:10

victim of his own success, quality

27:12

and but. It is this.

27:15

Is this is this is inching to me land. So

27:17

if you let me finish. This

27:20

is interesting to me because last

27:22

season or we had a few

27:24

discussions about holdings Absurd. Go return

27:26

Seeing incredibly impressive on an individual

27:28

level and but City as an

27:30

attack broadly being the same, didn't

27:32

score more goals as a team

27:34

that their underlying numbers were no

27:36

better as a team. And so

27:38

that's the discussion about. You

27:41

know what's better having one place scoring a

27:43

high proportion of your goals was fighting them

27:45

around city. Haven't had too many issues scoring

27:48

in the stretch that I've I've mentioned were

27:50

whole and himself has I'm it's going to

27:52

much is is that anything deep in that

27:54

Michael has as pet thought to himself I'd

27:57

rather be the team that spreads it around

27:59

a bit. So don't worry Erling, we're not going to

28:01

create as much for you, we're going to try and

28:03

spread it around. This is what I'm getting at, that's

28:05

what I'm trying to work out. Well, it's a good

28:08

question. I mean, he doesn't contribute that much without the

28:10

ball, so he's not contributing to spreading it around a

28:12

bit in terms of assisting or anything. I think that

28:14

is important. And I think it's worth pointing out. I

28:17

don't think, I mean, Guardiola used to

28:19

have Aguero and Gabriel Jesus when they were,

28:21

you know, when Aguero was a really good

28:23

player, Jesus was up and coming very useful.

28:25

And often he didn't use a centre forward in these

28:28

big games. He would often play Jesus out wide, Aguero

28:30

a couple of times, or he'd leave him out. So

28:33

I think he just feels he has to start, Holland. I

28:35

could be wrong, but I don't think there's been a

28:38

single occasion in a big-ish game where he

28:40

hasn't played, Holland. I wonder whether

28:42

it is getting towards that point, because I

28:44

think in certain situations Alvarez could be a better

28:46

option here. I mean, Holland's obviously

28:48

a very physical player and I thought it was

28:51

interesting, you know, Rudiger almost played like a, you

28:53

know, kind of stepped up and said, look, I'm playing a

28:55

long-time tournament, he's not a proper centre back, I'm going to

28:57

play really physically in Holland. I don't

29:00

think Holland, at the moment he

29:02

doesn't have any skill set really to just go and

29:04

play 15 yards deeper, because I think if he does,

29:06

he's not actually contributing that much. So

29:09

I don't know, I wonder whether if Holland had

29:11

less of a kind of status and a reputation,

29:14

whether Guardiola would consider leaving him out.

29:16

I'm playing Alvarez in games like

29:19

this. Also, I thought Rudiger was phenomenal. A

29:22

few instances, particularly from the goal kicks, where

29:24

Holland would be positioned really aggressively in the

29:26

rail half and obviously everyone

29:28

else is pressed out of the pitch, but

29:31

Rudiger is there deep with him and prepared

29:33

to engage physically and really go toe-to-toe. I

29:35

wonder again if there was the downside of

29:37

Rudiger being an excellent back-up, but not quite

29:39

having the sheer kicking distance of Edison, if

29:42

one of his big strengths were really sort of going in

29:44

behind, having, you know, one of

29:46

the probably the best distributors in world

29:48

football there would be really, really useful.

29:51

We've been missing De Bruyne a little bit as well, having a

29:53

right footer, I think, particularly creating from that side, I don't know,

29:55

something Mark's looked at and made a really good point. I

29:57

think it was earlier this season where you're saying that, you know, having Foden

29:59

as a the left footer in really

30:02

good, really technical, and tight areas, a great time. But

30:04

I think he just got his tendency to cross or

30:06

pass, but he isn't quite as quick as De Bruyne,

30:09

which is probably not a part of set, because De

30:11

Bruyne is the best in the world at that. But

30:13

yeah, even the tendency of having a left footer who's

30:15

probably gonna chip crosses more to the back

30:17

post if he's off the right or sort of look for

30:19

combinations down the left, I think is when you get De

30:21

Bruyne off that right hand side to work those crosses in.

30:23

He's phenomenal. It took an hour to

30:25

get that trademark or city number 10 running the

30:28

type of fallback. But

30:30

again, that's probably a team-star thing for what Guaido wanted to gain.

30:33

Well, Foden's finishing has been absolutely

30:35

incredible recently, and perhaps his best

30:37

of the lot here, just an

30:39

incredibly powerful and accurate strike into the

30:41

top corner to equalise for 2-2.

30:44

Gvadi Ohl, something of a surprise goal

30:46

scorer, and particularly the manner in which

30:48

it was scored, a right-footed sort of

30:50

thump from range, found the corner of

30:52

the net, and then Valverde with

30:55

such a sweet connection on a

30:57

volley from a Venisius ball across

30:59

for three-all. That one finally poised.

31:01

Do we expect to see Edison

31:03

back in goal, De

31:05

Bruyne back in the starting 11 for a

31:07

home game where City are and

31:09

have been recently so much more comfortable

31:12

and almost unbeatable at home in the

31:14

Champions League? Yeah, probably.

31:16

I mean, I think Edison is just a better

31:18

goalkeeper. To start with, and De

31:20

Bruyne, I gather, was a bit ill, so that's why he missed

31:22

out. Yeah, I think I'll be able to be back.

31:27

What were the big swings in the game? Big

31:31

swings in Paris, where Barcelona

31:33

won 3-2 against

31:36

Barre-Etendre-Mare. What were the

31:38

initial sort of key tactical aspects of

31:40

this game, Michael? Well, it

31:42

was great, because there was a press conference the day before

31:45

where Lewis and Rique were asked who played

31:48

the more Barcelona DNA football at Barcelona,

31:50

and Lewis and Rique was like, me.

31:54

Look at the trophies, look at the stats, look at the

31:56

performances. I thought it was quite

31:58

interesting, because actually they... They played quite a similar

32:00

way, I would say in this game, they played 4-3-3

32:03

with both sides forming a

32:05

front five with the left back pushing

32:07

really high, Nunamendes, PSG, Dziral Cancello

32:10

for Barcelona who... I

32:12

want to love him but I don't love a

32:15

right footed player in that situation where he's being

32:17

the outside left. I know he can use his

32:19

left foot, I know he can use the outside

32:21

of his right foot but I mean

32:23

when you had someone like Baldur there who was more of

32:25

a natural in terms of positioning and stretching the play, I

32:27

think that works a little bit better but

32:30

it was interesting. I think Barcelona you could say they

32:32

kind of had a similar approach to how we spoke

32:34

about a buy and it was 4-4-2 mid block without

32:36

the ball. You don't really expect to

32:39

see that kind of thing from

32:41

Barcelona but I thought certain elements of the

32:43

game they did very well and the thing they

32:45

did best you could argue was very

32:47

much not Barcelona DNA because it was

32:49

the long balls into attack. Yeah, I

32:51

love this. So I've got the numbers

32:54

on this of Marc-André Testegan playing the

32:56

long balls kind of into Lewandowski and

32:58

the likes of Rafini are just feeding

33:00

off Lewandowski. It felt very... the

33:03

year 2000 Sunday league sort of

33:05

vibes and I absolutely loved it.

33:07

So I looked into it, 20 long balls

33:10

were played by Testegan across the whole game.

33:12

That's the highest he has had in La

33:14

Liga and the Champions League this season. As

33:17

a share of his total, 56% of his total passes

33:19

were long balls which is also the highest share as

33:22

well. So very clear tactic. I'd

33:24

be interested to hear what the guys think of that in terms of was it

33:27

intentional to beat PSG's press? They're not

33:29

exactly known for their suffocating high press

33:31

or was it just to play

33:33

direct? There's plenty of space in behind. I

33:35

think a bit of both. Very good

33:38

commentated answer to that. They've tried

33:40

to do that more this season under Luis Enrique and

33:42

obviously having Dembele and Mbappe to lead the press. They

33:44

really dropped a sense here sort of out why I

33:46

left her to press the full back end. We're

33:49

basically engaging man for man leaving a 3v throw in half way. I

33:52

was slightly baffled and they've had injuries

33:54

that sense about the season. They're missing players. Naughty

33:57

Muchele as well who probably would have played off the left. was

34:00

suspended for this game but Luis

34:02

Enrique put Marquinhos, the

34:04

captain, their primary centre back out on the

34:07

right hand side, maybe to defend Raffina, I

34:09

don't know, and left a very young Lucas

34:11

Barraldo in the middle up against Lewandowski and

34:13

it was quite clear inside five minutes the

34:16

pass as Mark speaks about. Lewandowski was really

34:18

smart, he'd stand offside and as to Stegen

34:20

who kicked really far, basically landed

34:22

up to kick it, he'd step into Barraldo

34:25

who was then too far advanced because he

34:27

doesn't want to play Lewandowski on the side

34:29

and yeah Lewandowski would just block him off

34:31

and Raffina could try and sort of run in

34:33

behind. So it did work really really well and

34:35

really I think when you look at the players

34:38

they've got, I thought Kibasi was really good, very

34:40

young centre back off the left, plays a great

34:42

ball into Lewandowski to build up the opening goal

34:44

where again he spins off the defender. It's

34:47

almost like the context of the game of

34:49

saying you've got a few youngsters in

34:51

the team, you're wanting to

34:54

not go behind or not let them get into

34:56

the game early, stopping Mbappe having space

34:58

to sort of play into and making those regains

35:00

close to goal and the same with their defensive approach

35:02

of being quite compact and not engaging too high.

35:05

I thought Shabi, you spoke very clearly about

35:07

that, it's a new bar so we're kind

35:09

of content to do things a little bit

35:11

differently and Lewis and Rieke's way of playing

35:13

didn't really work in the first half and

35:15

they scored twice after making half-time changes. Yeah

35:18

I thought Kunde and Norelho dealt with Mbappe

35:20

really well, we can come on to the

35:22

tactical tweaks at half-time that helped PSG but

35:24

Kubasi was fantastic again on and off the

35:27

ball, I know that Shabi gave him a

35:30

mention after the game of saying how well

35:32

he jumped really high on Pangin Lee and

35:34

Marco Sensio at times just to be really

35:36

aggressive and there were times where he was

35:38

kind of midway into the opposition

35:40

half to really press high and trusting

35:42

himself at such a young age was

35:45

outstanding. He became the youngest defender in

35:47

Champions League history to start a quarter-final

35:49

match for those interested, thank

35:51

you to Opter for that. The final thing

35:54

on Hahn Barse would be that Rafini played

35:56

really well off the left again, I know

35:58

that he did it against Napa. Fellini's done

36:00

a couple of times this season, but

36:02

typically he's more comfortable on the right and we know him from

36:04

the time he's Premier League on the right-hand

36:07

side, but he was really effective on the

36:09

left-hand side getting those flick-ons. And

36:11

he totally had six shots, which was more than anyone else

36:13

on the pitch, and he came off after 76 minutes

36:16

as well. So obviously he got the

36:18

goal as well, but overall performance from

36:20

Rafinha was really strong. PSG's

36:22

approach from the outset was interesting. They played Marco

36:25

Asensio, basically. I don't know what he was really.

36:27

I don't know whether he was a proper number

36:29

nine or a false number nine, which isn't a

36:31

great kind of assessment or positive assessment of

36:33

his performance. We're going to need a new name for

36:35

something here. But what

36:37

was interesting was I thought he defended the left flank

36:39

quite a lot, and that's presumably

36:42

just to allow Mbappe complete freedom

36:44

from defensive responsibility. Mbappe does seem

36:46

to enjoy this luxury, almost

36:48

regardless of what teams he pays for. It was

36:50

a similar situation with France at the World Cup

36:53

just a year ago. So I thought that was an interesting

36:55

quote, but it didn't really work out

36:57

at all. And I thought, to be honest,

36:59

I thought Barcelona were fantastic for the first

37:01

half. I thought PSG got completely outplayed, and

37:03

of course got back into it in the

37:06

second half. Yeah, and that first 10 minutes

37:08

for PSG in the second half was quite

37:10

swashbuckling, and it was intentional because it was

37:13

from that chain from Luis Enrique. So

37:15

they brought Marco Asensio off, put

37:17

Dembele more onto the left-hand side

37:19

to link up more and

37:51

more rotation to test Barcelona's

37:53

defence, which they didn't really do in the first half.

37:56

And defensively they changed as well, didn't they? So Marquinhos

37:58

came more as a centre-piercing. back in Hernandez I

38:00

think came more as a right back. They had

38:02

a left footed right back. Yeah it was all

38:04

a bit confusing but those rotations which were they

38:07

rotated quite a lot in terms of the attack

38:09

in the first half it didn't quite work but

38:11

especially for the first 10 to 15 minutes to that

38:13

second half with the changes but

38:16

yeah they got back into the game and they

38:18

were too one up point 0. I think that

38:20

is the post Mbappe system that we're going to

38:22

see more of possibly specifically for Europe possibly to

38:24

be in Ligon as well but theoretically you can

38:26

shift Barcole to the left when you take out

38:28

Mbappe you leave Dembele in that sort of number

38:30

10 role that Mark was speaking about where and

38:32

it showed really really well they first sort of

38:34

did this away to Real Sociedad in the last

38:36

round up against a really intense press

38:38

so it's a bit different here where it's more into

38:40

mid-block but having Dembele's

38:42

press resistance there is

38:45

really really essential. I mean this was essentially his first start in

38:47

the Champions League which was someone that I don't think has

38:49

been injured all that much this season it's weird to hand

38:51

someone a first start that isn't like a typically

38:53

a key player and they look so much more dynamic

38:56

that the two goals come from as

38:58

much in a very quick succession just because they get

39:00

more runners sort of beyond the ball I think it's

39:02

Mbappe overlapping Dembele in the build up to the first

39:04

has a cut back gets cleared you know it's a

39:06

really powerful finish on the angle and

39:09

then in the second one I think it's Kang in

39:11

Lee who overlaps Barcole and then you

39:13

get that connection playing back round and you get

39:15

Virginia who has been really really good this season

39:17

and they've got a lot of good technical midfielders

39:19

that can play beyond the ball so getting them

39:21

to be able to sort of crash into the

39:23

box and attack that way is really really important.

39:26

As was the case in pretty much all

39:28

of these games some wonderful individual moments as

39:30

well whether it was the youngster Lamal's cross

39:32

with the outside of his boot that led

39:34

to Rafina's goal Dembele with a classic dummy

39:36

shot shift onto his left foot smashing to

39:38

the top corner that the little run from

39:40

Vittina I thought was really nice in the

39:42

build up to his goal and

39:44

Pedri's assist to Rafina. Talk

39:48

about wedger-y that was the right

39:50

completely immaculate and you know what

39:53

sometimes you just want a big old meaty

39:55

centre back header from a set piece as

39:57

well just to finish the meal.

40:00

I'm looking forward to the second leg. Liam, I'll certainly

40:02

have my eyes on this one. Liam,

40:05

for you, what happens back in Barcelona with

40:07

Barca having the one goal lead? Well,

40:10

obviously, they've got a lead to defend in Pearson. You

40:13

need to come out and attack and that's a bigger

40:15

problem for them because they were really good

40:17

when they went to Real Sociedad. But that's their only way

40:19

of winning the Champions League this season. They didn't win at

40:21

all in the group stages. Sure, they were in a hard

40:23

group, but we saw them go to Newcastle

40:26

and try something a little bit different in

40:28

midfield and with more forwards and kind of

40:30

get blown away and they weren't particularly good

40:32

in defending transition either in Milan. So I

40:35

think if they set up how they did in

40:37

the first half, they might have more problems in

40:39

sort of trying to control the game. I think

40:41

Lewis and Maricay, a lot of the seasons wanted

40:43

to try and win in a Barcelona style way

40:45

and the one place he now needs to not

40:47

go and do that is ironically, I think, in

40:49

Barcelona. And in Madrid on Wednesday, Atletico

40:51

take a slender

40:54

lead to Germany, a 2-1

40:57

lead, Michael, and they were tuning up relatively

40:59

early in this game and the

41:02

way that Dortmund's defence were handling themselves

41:04

or not as the case was made

41:07

me feel this could have got away from them

41:09

actually as it was. They came roaring back in

41:11

the second half. But what are the key takeaways

41:13

from the start of this game? Well, the two

41:15

goals were similar and yet also

41:17

completely different. They were similar because it was

41:19

dreadful defending from Dortmund. But the

41:21

first goal they tried to play out and the centre backs were

41:24

nowhere to be seen because one was in

41:26

a right back position and the other

41:28

was in a left back position. They

41:30

lost the ball. Atletico pressed and

41:32

scored. And the second one, the

41:34

defenders were on top of each other.

41:36

There were too many defenders because both

41:38

Schlotterbeck and... It wasn't very Champions League

41:40

quarter finally. No, both Schlotterbeck and Humboldt

41:42

went for the same ball and

41:45

if they had got in behind them, it

41:47

was a pretty poor start from Dortmund, I

41:49

think you have to say. I thought the

41:51

first goal was interesting because I think Simeone

41:53

and De Tleti are always very good at

41:55

knowing when to press. They pressed

41:58

not just when the ball is there to be

42:00

won. which is obvious, but I think when your

42:02

position they've got themselves into a little bit of

42:04

a bad shape. So Dortmund ended up with Mattson,

42:06

who was the left back, in the middle, Emre

42:09

Chan, who was the centre back, alongside

42:11

him almost in defence, and the two centre

42:13

backs completely white, and that's obviously a great

42:15

situation to force a turnover, and I think

42:17

they've done that really well over the years.

42:21

Dortmund, to their credit, came back, and I mean they

42:23

really could have, that they hit the woodwork twice late

42:26

on. So it sets it up for quite an interesting

42:28

game, I mean it was the only one of the

42:30

four games that was a home win, and it's

42:32

a home win by one goal. So even that set

42:34

is set up quite nicely for the return leg, because

42:37

you think the home side in Dortmund probably have a

42:39

bit of an advantage. So yeah, it's very nicely set

42:41

for the second leg. I mean

42:43

yeah, Michael mentions a home win there, looking

42:45

at ATHLETE's record, it's unbelievable in terms of

42:48

knockouts. So I saw this from Opta, they've

42:51

never lost a knockout tight in their own

42:53

stadium in the Champions League under Simioni, and

42:55

this was his 17th game of doing that.

42:57

So it shows just how strong they are

42:59

at home. They are not so

43:01

strong away from home, and Dortmund are particularly strong

43:03

in the Champions League at home as well. So

43:05

something may give their in the

43:07

second leg, but I agree with Michael again in

43:09

terms of their out possession play, and there's a

43:11

really interesting piece from Dermot Corrigan, which is onsite

43:13

now, which says about how typically

43:16

you associate ATHLETE or a D'Agostimioni

43:18

side of being kind of more

43:20

of a deep block defensively, and being really strong out

43:23

of possession, which they are. But they

43:25

were pressing really well as well, and they were pushing really

43:27

high, and being really strong out

43:29

of possession. And they won possession in the

43:31

attacking third eight times in this

43:33

game, which was the fourth most in La Liga

43:36

in the Champions League this season. So they're preying

43:38

upon Dortmund's weaknesses. And

43:41

you mentioned that it wasn't much of a

43:43

Champions League quarterfinal sort of look in terms

43:45

of those actions, but what I would

43:47

say is that the fact that they were punished so much by

43:51

just small mistakes is very kind of Champions League.

43:53

At this level, you can't afford to make even

43:55

one pass that's wrong, and I think that the goalkeeper was, you

43:59

know, he had the main... an error there, you shouldn't have

44:01

played it in the first place, but just within

44:03

seconds it's a goal and then you're one nil

44:05

down and then before you know it you try

44:07

and atone for your errors and then you two

44:09

nil down. So it was just really clinical from

44:11

ATHETICO and they are more high scoring than again

44:13

I think the stereotype of ATHETI would suggest. I

44:15

think they've scored if not the most

44:17

and the joint most maybe with Manchester City in

44:19

the Champions League this season. So they

44:22

are really sort of strong going forward more than

44:24

maybe people give them credit for. The

44:26

funny thing about them is that under Simeone who's

44:28

been there obviously for over a decade now, you

44:31

wouldn't say that they're really easy

44:33

on the aisle, great to watch as a

44:35

team, but actually when you think

44:37

about their matches, their matches always are good to

44:39

watch, you know what I mean, because they're almost

44:41

always up against a side who plays quite

44:44

better football than them and they

44:46

there's always just a really interesting

44:48

stylistic contrast. So it's funny,

44:51

yeah ATHETICO, I mean if it was like a kind

44:53

of season DVD, here's

44:55

the highlights, they wouldn't be on top of

44:57

my list of teams to watch, but sitting down

44:59

to watch a knockout tie in the Champions

45:01

League, I think they always produce great entertainment,

45:03

great drama, usually pretty close games as well.

45:05

So yeah, to be honest I hope they

45:08

go through it semi-final because I think it's

45:10

always good fun. Yeah, no I agree.

45:12

I mean on that note as well they had 34% possession and 38% field

45:14

tilt, but

45:17

for most of the game, especially the first hour,

45:19

they always looked like they were in control as

45:21

well, so it's not like they were playing kind

45:23

of underdog Mino football, but yeah they

45:25

are entertained to watch because they are just, I

45:28

mean Rodrigo De Paul specifically, but

45:30

they're all kind of just pests. You

45:32

know, the only way I can describe them, when they

45:34

are out of possession, they're just very aggressive and Rodrigo

45:36

De Paul is just the shining

45:39

example of that. He's just, he'll

45:41

win fouls, he'll foul the opposition, his goal

45:44

obviously was coming from an aggressive press as

45:46

well, but you know people

45:48

speak about him being Lionel Messi's bodyguard

45:50

for the Argentine national team, he's just

45:52

kind of always there and really annoying

45:54

and he must just be a nightmare

45:56

to play against, but that kind of

45:58

makes it entertaining. Right to

46:00

I said at the start with. You. Know

46:02

there's a lot of traditionally very. Open.

46:06

Expansive for bowling, teams play a lot more

46:08

cautious, a lot more book faith. And.

46:11

They did it okay this way but

46:13

for every conceded Go! And if is

46:16

gonna be a Champions league way it's

46:18

going to be won by team Her

46:20

Really organize, really structured, Happy defending. Deep

46:22

in I may be competitive. You forget

46:24

the sense that. A thrown

46:26

away and unbelievable situation that they had

46:28

to know that. You know based

46:31

on what we're saying, hand that com for

46:33

our possession and to me that leads to

46:35

an idea. the should be a team that

46:37

won say have the leader are gonna be

46:39

incredibly good at seeing it out. I wasn't

46:41

really the case. I mean that they squandered

46:43

more chances. There was a massive say by

46:46

Cobell at that to now I think within

46:48

ten minutes dortmund it pulled one back of

46:50

the finally squeeze the way through the metal.

46:52

Didn't that you that when I think of

46:54

athletic even that classic team from the sort

46:56

of twenty thirty forty and I think of

46:58

how is he never penetrated through. The metal

47:00

you had to rely on like a good

47:03

cross and a header if if if anything

47:05

but don't Did squeezer a couple of passes

47:07

through the middle and and the ball found

47:09

his way to hello who who finished while

47:12

he come off the bench for full Craig's

47:14

and a branch came off the bench for

47:16

new Mcat That that did seem to make

47:18

an impact for Dortmund. I wonder whether in

47:21

the home like we may see bit more

47:23

brands maybe we see a bit more holiday

47:25

that that the notable thing statistically and are

47:27

attacking sense for Dortmund his son show another

47:30

yeah. Me: Between. Them nineteen dribbles

47:32

attempted and ten completed. yeah I'm yeah think

47:34

I was it a good point. It was

47:36

really the only time that dominated really penetrate

47:38

atrophies lines which is the thing that led

47:40

to the goal. But all of those dribbles

47:42

were. yes they were. they were good sense.

47:44

It is on the high but they never

47:46

really lead to anything and Sancho was swapping

47:48

flanks quite a few times without he amy

47:51

to trying to get a bit of joy

47:53

and as I didn't really the to much

47:55

may be the odds corner but it was

47:57

from when they just made that kind of

47:59

reverse past. Now she led to the goal

48:01

and I'm surprised that Brent didn't start to be

48:03

honest am I think either to a real friendly

48:06

came on and for cook has and having a

48:08

really good season allows you know got the goal

48:10

So the got. Rotations in a options

48:12

that but I'm yeah it. It looked like

48:15

they were far more to threat when the

48:17

changes made. On is absolutely love!

48:19

On to on Grass month! And.

48:21

And watching this game. Only.

48:24

Solidified that at What A What a

48:26

Wonderful player. What an intelligent player. His

48:28

understanding of space and when to hold

48:30

onto the ball went to me that

48:32

quickly. You know the way he looks

48:34

after it is also very creative. Pass

48:36

and hours in a i think underlying

48:38

numbers wise across Europe and in La

48:41

Liga you looking at at one of

48:43

the most creative players from a central

48:45

position less of a goal scorer maybe

48:47

then he wants was but still liable

48:49

to to pop up with with big

48:51

and it's just made me reflect. Michael

48:53

on. How he

48:55

carrying Benzema, an Olivier, a

48:57

hero broadly in the same

48:59

age bracket, and French attackers?

49:01

How incredibly they all extended

49:03

their careers even beyond. and

49:05

she ruined creations case even

49:07

beyond goalscoring. I even when

49:09

that sort of. Chains,

49:12

And they had become different players. like speaks

49:14

to I don't know what it speaks to

49:16

be incredible mental strength and adaptability to be

49:18

able to to stay at the very top

49:20

level. He I think you're right to highlight

49:23

the three of them by think particular Grossman

49:25

because you're his, have been substitute, hadn't hadn't

49:27

We've got minute. Benzema. Didn't play

49:29

for the front national team for quite an

49:31

extended period. The Higueras recruiter never misses game.

49:34

I mean for club or country I mean

49:36

he did me from recently for France for

49:38

those oft eighty five games. Wait started in

49:40

rights and he changed his role as well.

49:42

We used to think of me the pasty

49:45

forward may be second striker. he can play

49:47

the number right? Really? Whoa. Now he said

49:49

that. Intelligent. the we have fantastic Woke up

49:51

to the finally got quiet but yeah one

49:53

of the decibels of of this year. it's

49:56

basically impressive performance given his three children all

49:58

had their birthday. on monday All were

50:00

born, and none of them were twins. They're all

50:02

born on the same day in different years.

50:04

Great fun. Can I end

50:06

on a start of Griezmann, that he created six

50:08

chances in this game, which is more than any

50:10

other game this season in La Liga or the

50:13

Champions League. And it's his most ever in a

50:15

Champions League game, and he's played 94 games. So

50:18

it shows just how much of an impact he had this

50:20

week. What a performance from Antoine

50:22

Griezmann, from Mark, from Michael, from

50:25

Liam as well. We're all in

50:28

on the Champions League knockout stages. All

50:30

four of those quarterfinals, beautifully poised.

50:33

So no doubt we will

50:35

be back again talking about them in a

50:37

couple of weeks. I'm trying to give you

50:40

the best insight and coverage of the Champions

50:42

League as it draws to its conclusion. Thank

50:44

you for listening to the Athletic Football Tactics

50:46

podcast. Make sure you sign up to the

50:49

Athletic today at theathletic.com/tactics for a discount

50:51

on an annual subscription. And join us

50:53

again next week.