2025-26 UEFA Champions League - See Mod Note Post 1

Ah it was genuinely one of the posts of the year, 🤣🤣.

It's a fair point, Coaches who do well at smaller clubs may struggle under scrutiny, with bigger budget etc. But it's not necessarily the rule. And there are also examples where such Coaches did really well.

Poch from Southampton to Spurs (when they were expecting Top 4 and CL). Then on to PSG.

Conte went from Siena to Juventus. On to Chelsea, Inter and more.

Tuchel from Mainz to Dortmund, PSG, etc.

Real have made some unusual appointments before, like Arbeloa and Solari. So honestly nothing would surprise me as to who they go for next

Can Poch at Spurs be termed as anything less than a success ? How did they do before and after him ?

Spurs to a champions League final isn't something to be sniffed at

I'm not sure what you mean?

I think Liverpool would be in a very similar situation this year with or without Trent.
Their biggest issue at the moment is the manager and his poor use of the squad. Trent ain't saving that.

For Real the point I'm making is -

Mbappe - great player but needs to be accommodated for

Vini Jnr - great player but needs to be accommodated for

Trent - great player but needs to be accommodated for

Jude - great player but needs to be accommodated for

That's 4 out of your starting 11 that are great players but you need to accommodate for. It's very hard to setup a team to get the best from all 4 while also being defensively solid enough that when you come up against another great team you are able to stay in the game.

If you go back 2 years ago - Jude was at the top of a 4 man midfield. He was protected and also given room to be the main man, to move find space and attack the goal. The frontline also allowed him to get up as they split wider at times.

Vini Jnr was paired up front with Rodrygo who worked his arse off making runs and tracking back. If Vini didn't track there was enough players in the team who would do it, and they could turn the ball over and get it back to the likes of Vini quickly.

If you look at them now Vini Jnr and Mbappe are looking at each other and neither is going to track a player back. So there is no real press from up top.

Then you are into midfield where Jude is deeper in midfield with less protection - he had Guler, Diaz and Valverde in there with him midweek. That's not a midfield. You are asking Jude to do a job he isn't world class at instead of getting him to do the job he is world class at.

Trent is in the team over Carvajal and needs to be accommodated a lot more than Carvajal needed to, Trent isn't going to run the line and keep you compact defensively if you are turned over. If you want to get the best from Trent you need to have cover around him so he can attack, that is his strength. Covering for others is not.

I just don't think they can fit the 4 into the 1 team. The biggest issue is Vini Jnr and Mbappe for me. Very similar to what Mbappe was part of at PSG - big names but no player to do the extra work to support. That has knock-on effects down the team, midfield and defence is under extra pressure as a result.

They could solve it, but they'll need to sell 1 of Mbappe or Vini to do it in my view.

fair enough, I agree with much of the analysis and have said similar about accommodating players in this thread. They need to sell Vinicius but that’s very difficult.

I dont personally believe Liverpool would be 5th or doing things like getting thrashed at city in the cup or unable to score a goal vs PSG over a tie if they still had Trent. I think Bradley and Frimpong are huge downgrades in what they bring.

he got injured in that game, I know it was the 70th minute but plenty of moments in a football game between the 70th and the 90th (or 120th)

well we agree pretty much. The thread we’re on means points have to be framed.

This is Opta, but as a pie-chart. I feel that PSG are being totally under-rated here. This does add up to 100% unlike some of my previous botch jobs!

I know. You're right.

I would have given them a bigger piece of pie, even if only to fit their name in a bit better :)

For me PSG 36, Bayern 24, Arsenal 25 and Atletico 15.

It's based off the fact Arsenal are statistically most likely to make the final. Will look very different when we know the final two. PSG would certainly be favourites.

No free to air for the semi final just feels so wrong.

Beautiful play that lead to that penalty.

Is Harry Kane ok? Gone down like hes been shot twice already this match. Surprised hes able to walk on that ankle.

Lovely equaliser. Lads had no interest passing to Dembele after whatever his effort was moments before