OneMoSalah

Haha maybe. I just felt Liverpool would have more intensity and could deal with our energy more than Real would. I suppose those 2 legs though against most teams would be more than enough.

If its true they want to sell him after 2 seasons well that escalated quickly.... 🤣 The grass is never greener, as some might have warned before selling him (I am sure there was a handful who said it that going to Madrid whilst maybe he deserved it, it was dangerous) but even now personally I think this squad has the right characters and players to keep building around with the addition of a CF, a CM and CB instead of making unnecessary buys. Would go and say that he is close to being basically finished by what I have seen in the last 18 months - although writing someone of his talent off is dangerous but still, even at his worst for us that season with Hiddink he was better than what he has been at Madrid. I suppose the sentimental and nostalgic side of it will still attract people to the idea. I mean he’s 30 now. He’s not got that long left at the top level (even time at this rate). It would take a dramatic change in how he looks after himself and his attitude for him to regain the level he had before I think, I mean why do people think he probably had his best 3 seasons here as a player under 3 stricter demanding managers in Jose, Conte and Sarri? I think hes going to have a stinker at the euros as well if I am honest.

Defensively carried? I would have to disagree. I think Jorginho more than held his own out there defensively also tonight. Otherwise the whole team performance wouldnt have been so strong as particularly second half we really kicked it up a notch, you need both CMs to do the dirty stuff. Kante maybe looked like he was getting more in peoples faces but Jorginho was booked on the 14th minute (his only foul all game IIRC) so whilat walking a potential tightrope, to still have made the game high amount of 6 interceptions and 2 tackles which was more than Kante’s 5 inteceptions and 1 tackle, shows he did more than hold his own imo. Yes Kante was excellent tonight no doubt but also this was hugely to the fact he made 3 key passes and carried the ball very well on top of his interceptions and tackle as well as being heavily involved for both goals. I think, much like the Matic-Kante partnership with Conte, this Jorginho and Kante partnership only works so well when both players play well in there. Lets not forget they played a 3 in there tonight Madrid with Casemiro, Kroos and Modric and bar an iffy bit in the first half when he got booked, you couldn’t really say Jorginho put a foot wrong. I get people are always split on him but don’t think theres anyone who could say he was a passenger or carried tonight. Not a chance.

We debating it prior to the game after Fulham regarding would he go with Kai or Werner but he played both from the start and ultimately, if we had put the ball in the net for the second goal or for a potential third goal or maybe even a fourth goal much earlier when we had the chances, people would of been praising the selection. Plus I think the effect Pulisic had from the bench was helped by Madrid being a bit weathered, he was fresh legs, they’d just spent however long chasing Werner running in behind him. So either way if it was Pulisic or Werner coming in I think they’d of both had the same effect personally in the way that they’d have affected the game. Both are different players but both have real pace and either way Ramos, Militao, Nacho wouldn't of wanted to see another fast player coming in regardless of who it was. As you’ve said you want the players to start to make an impact, as well as the players coming from the bench if its required. Thats the sign of a strong squad. Even Azpi at RWB and Christensen on the right of the three with Silva and Ruidger. I mean what did Hazard do? Or Farlan Mendy? Not one selection of the team he made tonight played out badly. People complained v West Ham having Azpi at RWB. And also that we played 3 CBs and Azpi at RWB in the first leg.

Got the booking and maybe first half there were wee moments but thought majority of his game was a top performance. Kante gets a lot of the credit tonight but don’t forget that Jorginho played very well tonight, got a game high 6 interceptions, won 2 tackles, made 1 clearance. Also played 4 long balls whicu all 4 were accurate and 1 through ball which again was accurate through balls on top of his usual assured and good use of possession rarely misplacing passes. Was booked for how ever long also. He showed real discipline and also leadership throughout.

Didnt give Hazard an inch. Near perfect performance.

Proper defender. I think he loves defending more than dancing around with the ball as if he’s a midfielder which so many CBs seem to do now.

Real Madrid was definitely the better team to draw than Liverpool. Wheres @Azul at... hate to say I told you so but I told you so 🤪

Think either way, whatever your opinion was about him starting or him coming off the bench, we still created 6 clear cut chances.

Wonder where Madrid go from here. Obviously they have a chance for La Liga but really Zidane going back hasn’t really propelled them back to what they want to be on the European stage.

Absolutely. Did it in big games in the PL tbf to him but struggled in the European ones for us. But this sort of thing was frustrating here. Was always he didn’t play with a top LB or a top CM or a top CF etc. when he was here. He’s got that in an abundance at Madrid despite their aging players.

Last few games now he's starting to come into a real rich vein of form. Let's hope it continues. Looks simplistic at times but as I said before for me, he's very similar but also a much more technically proficient and intelligent version of Thomas Muller 4/5 years ago. What is it they used to call Muller? Raumdeuter? Interpreter of space? In the final third, Kai just gets into spaces where you maybe don't think there is any. Or he makes almost near CF like runs off the ball despite being more of a attacking midfielder. Just needs to add a ruthless streak to his game.

For sure. But Kante is an absolute monster of a player for us. People always say he lets us down with the ball or that he couldn’t play higher up the pitch under Sarri but even tonight and the previous game, how many recoveries and duals did he make or win over the two legs. Or how many times did his dribbles open up space for us?

I wonder if Franks sitting at home thinking this team is still not ready to be contenders also. Hate to say it but he seriously underestimated how having the right mentality can spur a team on as much as tactics or players. Like I said in the match thread, that performance was only 2/3 goals off one of the best European performances I have seen from us, ever. Not even overstating it. Like if that game finished 3/4/5-0 nobody would have batted an eyelid.

Aye I think it will end up that alway to be honest. Suppose we have to maybe keep an eye out now see how the season unfolds now over these next few weeks prior to the final. They've sealed the league so lets hope they have a drop off.

Not wrong either though regarding his reaction but suppose a lot of footballers are like that now. But aye I am glad that we have beat Real on the way to the final, even more so considering the super league debacle this season and the fact Eden and Tibo went there aa they felt it gave them more a chance for European success. For me, Hazard looks finished... like if he wasn't on huge wages I think Madrid would be desperate to get rid of him in the summer (and before someone says it no we don’t want him back - not in that state) 😂 And well Courtois maybe hes won a few trophies etc but probably no more than what he would of won here had he stayed.

Throw the GK in also made 2/3 very big saves. As GKs are meant to do I suppose but aye from back to front, finishing aside, top performance.

I also sincerely hope that Florentino Perez enjoyed that result as well.

I have a real feeling if we can play like that v City or even like in the previous match in the FA cup, there will only be one name going on the trophy. Has any manager lost 2 CL finals in a row? Surely never. Klopp lost then won it year after. Ferguson won it then lost year after. Surely the footballing gods have got to let him win it after last season... 🤣

Kante and Jorginho absolutely fantastic majority of the game. As were most. If we had scored the other 2 or 3 goals our performance probably deserved, it would of been one of our best performances in Europe from what I can remember I would say. Absolutely battered them just couldn't score.

Dont start doing anything stupid boys. No silly bookings. No rash tackles. See it out

Fucking cmon. Ngolo Kante makes that happen with that interception. Unbelievable.

This could and should potentially have been one of our best ever semi final performances and results over two legs in god knows how long. Like could and should literally have been from anywhere between 4-8 goals 😂

Na. No way. Get the lot of them on shooting and finishing practice the next time trainings on. Fucking hell 🤣

Perhaps. Suppose it’s 6 and 2 3s isnt it, wont matter who we put on, we will get chances and we will miss them 😂