JUVENTUS NAVIGATE WEMBLEY WATERS WITH GUILE.
Juventus showed us once again why the Old Lady is still one of the giants of European football. Cometh the hour,
Cometh the men they say, and that was was we witnessed in the last half hour at Wembley yesterday night
Juve were ruthless: scoring two goals in as many minutes, thereafter withdrawing into a shell, surrounded by numerous impenetrable bunkers; putting just so many bodies everywhere in front of Spurs and their goal.
It’s a lesson again for us all in the two legged European knock out nights: anything can happen in football
The game was a stark contrast to what we saw in Turin, with Matuidi and Dybala joining Khedira in the middle to provide rguile, speed, energy and experience to shut out Dembele and Dier.
Kane was well marshalled by Chellini, who despite his age was a colossus at the back, and Khedira and Matuidi gave Dembele no joy on the pitch.
With his tactical substitutions and change of formation, Allegri showed everyone why he is still one of the top managers in the game today.
Tottenham played extremely well, they gave everything, but then, this just reinforces the notion that in Champions league football, you need more than all that, you need the experience of the manager, the knowhow and the guile to navigate those two legged affairs on the Tuesday and Wednesday nights in Europe.
MADRID SHOVE PSG ASIDE WITH RONALDO
Talk of Neymar, Mbappe and Cavani dominated the headlines as the draws for the last 16 of the UCL were released.
Up to the first game in Madrid, the tune never changed and you could be forgiven if you thought Christiano Ronaldo has retired from football, as he got no real mention in the press, at least as much as the front three players of PSG.
As the world media focused on Neymar and co, Christiano Ronaldo stepped up again, delivering painful blows in both legs of this tie, and they were deadly knockout blows.
Real Madrid showed again why they have won the last two champions league titles, back to back. Effective and result driven in the first leg – even though they were on the ropes most of the game – Madrid went for the jugular in the second leg and effectively ended Unai Emery’s hopes of banishing previous years’ demons and Barca’s remarkable comeback at the Parc Des Princes
After comprehensively dispatching PSG in the round of 16, whoever draws Real Madrid in the next round would know that they are up against it, and dare I say, would be tough for any team to dethrone Madrid, especially with their champions league form and their competition record from pat years. As we witnessed in Juventus vs Tottenham, experience wins again and Madrid can’t seem to put any foot wrong in the champions league at the moment.
JOSE’S UNITED CONTINUE TO PLAY JEKYLL AND HYDE .
I saw two different Manchester United teams during one single game on Monday night at Selhurst Park.
At first, a team that lacked confidence, that looked like they never got into 2nd gear, making so many basic mistakes all over the pitch. Then a second team of same players with aggression, passion, will and determination to win, playing with so much belief and attacking flair.
So why did the team wait until they were two goals down before they started showing what they could do?
Why is it that the team plays like one with shackles on their feet when under pressure? Why do they have to be chasing games before they go all out to play attacking football?
Liverpool and City don’t wait, so why do United wait?
I still believe Pogba needs to start playing like an eighty nine million pounds player, and Jose has to settle Sanchez into the team, otherwise question marks would start popping up whenever his name is mentioned.
Overall United have to step up the game and increase the volume if they are to finish this season with any positive points of note. Game against Liverpool today would be a tough one and he who wins that tie can start laying claim to the unofficial title of the best of the rest for this season.
LIVERPOOL HAVE A BIG HURDLE TO CROSS AT OLD TRAFFORD
Can this Liverpool team deliver on big nights in Europe, away to the top teams?
Can the defence be composed enough to keep the opposition attack at bay for ninety minutes?
Is Juergen Klopp’s team truly the real deal? Can Mr Klopp come up with game plans to take out United at Old Trafford today?
We would find out within the next few hours as two of the traditional rams in England go head to head, with just eight games to after the tie.
Kudos to Klopp for building a solid midfield and an attack that is a joy to watch. The defensive problems seem to be creeping away with the arrival of Virgil VanDyke. Or is it not?
Can Liverpool turn it on against a United team that have come back from behind in their last two games to win against tough opponents in different ways
Can’t wait for kick off.
CHELSEA SURRENDER THE TITLE WITHOUT A FIGHT AT THE ETIHAD
It was pedestrian, lack lustre, predictable and embarrassing
To watch the champions of the premier league go down without a fight against Manchester City, left a bitter taste in the mouths of neutral observers and the Chelsea fans.
What was the game plan? Was it worth showing up at all?
If Chelsea shut up shop in that manner, what hopes do the others have? What a way to surrender the title!
Eden Hazard gave an interview after the game and admitted that even if the game was played for three hours, he won’t have any touch of the ball. A damning verdict coming from one of Chelsea’s best and Europe’s top players.
Chelsea are playing catch up with the other teams in the Premier league, regarding the champions league as they remain in 5th position with less than ten games to go to the end of the season
Where would Chelsea end up come
Season’s end?
Without champions league football would they be able to keep Hazard, Willian, Luiz, Pedro and others?
Whatever the case may be, time is ticking in Antonio Conte’s reign at the bridge