It’s the form of outcome that may of Europe. Beating within the Bernabeu, as a minimum, may supply a sign, semi-final or quarter-final. Although, greater than most, can testify to Actual’s profitable behavior when the stakes are highest.
His response to ’s 2-1 triumph within the Spanish capital was to argue they must play higher within the knockout phases of the competitors. Not less than now, with their supervisor considering they solely require 4 factors to be fast-tracked to the final 16, they need to be spared the play-off spherical that introduced their elimination by Actual final season. But if Guardiola could also be soccer’s most well-known perfectionist, it when he mentioned: “Within the final phases, you must be higher.”
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As a result of a studying of the scoreline and the desk may recommend Metropolis, champions as just lately as 2023, fourth within the standings now, rank among the many favourites. Guardiola felt the sport supplied one other impression. Actual had been superior at 1-0; would Metropolis have come again from 2-0?
A night that grew to become a triumph of a makeshift full-back for Metropolis began off with the tormenting of two. Nico O’Reilly was their first scorer, however solely after being troubled by Rodrygo. Matheus Nunes seemed outclassed by Vinicius Junior. Guardiola gained the by repurposing centre-backs as full-backs, in Nathan Ake and Manuel Akanji, however they introduced a defensive solidity.
But now he has full-backs who lack the identical strengths and a aspect whose resilience varies by the sport. Within the final fortnight alone, Metropolis have given up and . Additionally they withstood Actual’s late onslaught in a fashion which mirrored nicely on them. But when defence can win competitions, Metropolis have conceded 11 objectives of their final six matches.
There’s an entertaining aspect to Guardiola’s new-look aspect however they lack the management of their predecessors. Guardiola has overhauled his midfield however with out bringing in anybody who stored the ball with the pure assurance of Ilkay Gundogan or David Silva. The summer time signings Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders are in their very own personal contest for the ultimate spot within the midfield quintet, however they’re extra dribbler and runner respectively.
Erling Haaland could possibly be essential to Man Metropolis’s success within the latter phases of the Champions League (Reuters)
Guardiola has customary a dynamic midfield, however not essentially the most safe. The steadiness has been tilted as Jeremy Doku has kicked on and staged his private renaissance. There are occasions when Nico Gonzalez can appear overworked on the base of the midfield. It provides to the leisure, however reduces Metropolis’s capacity to take the sting out of a recreation with perpetual possession. The flying full-backs are higher after they fly ahead than after they have to return.
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And but, the counter-argument may go, Metropolis have a backbone comprising Champions League winners: , Foden, Bernardo Silva, Rodri and Ruben Dias collected their medals with Metropolis, whereas Gianluigi Donnarumma’s got here within the Paris Saint-Germain objective. The newer and fewer skilled gamers are usually discovered down the edges of the staff.
A part of Guardiola’s perception that Metropolis can be higher within the spring knockouts could have rested with Rodri. At the same time as his absence stretches on, even because it appears harmful to depend on his health, there’s not less than the chance he can be accessible and in Ballon d’Or-winning type for a few of the matches that matter most. Gonzalez has been one of many season’s plus factors, however he’s not Rodri.
With out Rodri, Pep Guardiola’s aspect have struggled to maintain management by possession (AFP by way of Getty)
Another excuse for optimism lies in Haaland. Solely Kylian Mbappe has extra objectives within the competitors this season. It’s an oversimplification to say that Metropolis beat Actual as a result of Haaland performed and Mbappe didn’t; equally, when the Norwegian was benched, they misplaced to Bayer Leverkusen. Which, whereas it got here with a second-choice aspect, was nonetheless an illustration that Metropolis are a lot nearer to the pack than they had been of their prime.
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That added layer of unpredictability implies that Metropolis’s progress to the quarter-finals could possibly be much less of the formality that it all the time appeared, till final season. The realist in Guardiola was conscious, too, that Actual suffered from accidents on Wednesday. It will, perhaps, be a really totally different staff he would face had been they to reconvene within the remaining.
Excess of Metropolis, Actual are the masters of getting there. Metropolis have usually been described as one of the best staff in Europe in seasons when they didn’t win the Champions League and, in some instances, when Actual did. Now they don’t seem to be one of the best staff in Europe or, in all probability, one of many high few. And but, if they’ll beat Actual within the Bernabeu, it might elevate the potential of what they may do.