The European Competitions Thread

[Chelsea4 1,521]

Great game from Dortmund,unlucky not to win the game.Tuchel is doing a great job.

[Special Juan 28,141]

Some team Dortmund. Proving work ethic and desire over millions of pounds worth of big games.

[xPetrCechx 13,571]

2 minutes ago, Special Juan said:

Some team Dortmund. Proving work ethic and desire over millions of pounds worth of big games.

like A.Madrid?...

[Special Juan 28,141]

Just now, xPetrCechx said:

like A.Madrid?...

Yeah and Leicester.

[AWorriedChelseaFan 151]

Good to see our old boy scores against Real...hope he does well at Dortmund.

[BlueLyon 9,359]

When you watch this kind of games and see that Varane or Schmeltzer offer more in attack than Willian, Oscar and Matic combined...

[BlueLyon 9,359]

1 hour ago, Special Juan said:

Some team Dortmund. Proving work ethic and desire over millions of pounds worth of big games.

Well to be honest, Atletico and Bvb have put themselves on the map by developing their own players, but in past few years, they spent quite alot themselves. No way they would be still this good without Griezmann or Aubameyang and so on.

They started differently, but today they are same like any other big club. And to remain on top, they have to be.

Leicester will soon follow that road, they signed Slimani and wanted Silva etc...

They no longer buy players for peanuts and develop them in world beaters.

Now obviously they dont splash 80m on individuals, but neither do we for example.

I truly respect them and their runs (bvb in 2013) and Atletico year later, but today they are simply a big clubs with lot of money. 

Same could be said for us these years when we follow ffp like crazy, try to balance the expenditures and revenues from player sales, but majority of fans still consider us as buying club. Meanwhile when bvb signs Auba for 30 or Atletico Griezmann for 30m, they are respected and called club with working ethics and desire etc., grooming their own players etc. After Tibo left, they paid 30m or so for Oblak instead of going after another less known GK and thats a pretty clear example. Atletico spent over 80m on players this summer. 

I know where you are getting, and much like u I respect Bvb and Atletico alot (tbh they are clubs I follow most after Chelsea), but dont get confused by their rise in past few years with "small, cheap" teams and their buy policy today. Today they are in the same boat as any other top team in europe. Pay top price for the players they want. And they pay.

The pshychology is spot on here. No matter what, the first impression is damn important in world football. Atletico and Bvb will be known as small clubs who got big with their own players, we will be always known as big spending club. Even if today roles of the clubs are much more similar than they were in 2003 or 2013, people will still judge us based on those first impressions. 

[Fernando 6,585]

15 hours ago, Special Juan said:

Some team Dortmund. Proving work ethic and desire over millions of pounds worth of big games.

All because of Klopp. He build that blueprint. And now he will do it with Liverpool. 

Conte Juventus ain't like that, but if we are close to them I won't complaint. 

[KevinAshburner 1,270]

 Come On FC Basel you can do it and also Break and Kill All Arsenal FC Players Legs.

 

Fuck You Arsenal FC and everything about you.

 

Man I Fucking hate Arsenal and Fuck Off and Die Arsenal FC.

Death to North London.

[kmk108 1,186]

19 hours ago, BlueLyon said:

Well to be honest, Atletico and Bvb have put themselves on the map by developing their own players, but in past few years, they spent quite alot themselves. No way they would be still this good without Griezmann or Aubameyang and so on.

They started differently, but today they are same like any other big club. And to remain on top, they have to be.

Leicester will soon follow that road, they signed Slimani and wanted Silva etc...

They no longer buy players for peanuts and develop them in world beaters.

Now obviously they dont splash 80m on individuals, but neither do we for example.

I truly respect them and their runs (bvb in 2013) and Atletico year later, but today they are simply a big clubs with lot of money. 

Same could be said for us these years when we follow ffp like crazy, try to balance the expenditures and revenues from player sales, but majority of fans still consider us as buying club. Meanwhile when bvb signs Auba for 30 or Atletico Griezmann for 30m, they are respected and called club with working ethics and desire etc., grooming their own players etc. After Tibo left, they paid 30m or so for Oblak instead of going after another less known GK and thats a pretty clear example. Atletico spent over 80m on players this summer. 

I know where you are getting, and much like u I respect Bvb and Atletico alot (tbh they are clubs I follow most after Chelsea), but dont get confused by their rise in past few years with "small, cheap" teams and their buy policy today. Today they are in the same boat as any other top team in europe. Pay top price for the players they want. And they pay.

The pshychology is spot on here. No matter what, the first impression is damn important in world football. Atletico and Bvb will be known as small clubs who got big with their own players, we will be always known as big spending club. Even if today roles of the clubs are much more similar than they were in 2003 or 2013, people will still judge us based on those first impressions. 

Yes and no

i can't say anything about Atletico because I don't really follow them, but the big money players weren't expensive when they were signed. Aubameyang was only €13m. Schürrle's €30m transfer is the record. They do spend money, but it's spread through a few really great prospects instead of one or two big name signings.

[DDA 9,941]

That Dembele kid for Celtic looks a really good player. 😮

[kmk108 1,186]

Thorgan Hazard scores against Barcelona while Eden sits at home on the couch. 

[The Chels 2,502]

I can't help but laugh when people say they wouldn't want Simeone because he's too similar to Mourinho and Conte. The Argentine is so far ahead that his only match is Guardiola.

[Special Juan 28,141]

That Celtic game was fucking brilliant.

What an effort from another so called non star studded side. Work ethic was sublime, but fuck me the crowd was immense.

[Hybrid Angel 2,130]

My opinion about Cholo has changed a lot in the past year. His Atleti team play with grit when defending and class while going forward not to merntion the incredible amount of work that goes into their organized pressing system. They hardly allow a shot on goal.

And I can't be arsed about Filipe Luis anymore, brick wall at the back and excellent going forward. Best LB in the world. 

[BlueLyon 9,359]

City has some fugly kits, and we complain about our third ones every year

[DYC. 7,542]

I just knew Sanchez had the makings of a #9. I remember writing about in a post in this thread a while back. Now he's starting to make the position his own. Always rated him higher playing in the centre than out wide.

And Mustafi is impressing for Arsenal. Oh, how I remember the Mustafi is overrated posts. Chelsea could've had him but were sleeping once again. Probably end up buying some decent Serie A CB like Astori.

[kmk108 1,186]

13 hours ago, BlueLyon said:

City has some fugly kits, and we complain about our third ones every year

We'll have to get used to it. All of the big Nike clubs share the same template for third kits, and most of them aren't much better. PSG seems to get special treatment. I liked the thirds they have, with the iridescent crest

Speaking of PSG, Cavani looks to be doing the job of replacing Ibrahimovic up front. 2 in 2 

[Yeboii 1,844]

1 hour ago, kmk108 said:

We'll have to get used to it. All of the big Nike clubs share the same template for third kits, and most of them aren't much better. PSG seems to get special treatment. I liked the thirds they have, with the iridescent crest

Speaking of PSG, Cavani looks to be doing the job of replacing Ibrahimovic up front. 2 in 2 

That kit is actually really beautiful. Looks like a kit people would wear for fashion and not sport (like some do these days).

[Blue-in-me-Veins 4,067]

WHat a week of Champions League football we just witnessed. Absolutely brilliant matches. 

So many interesting storylines, and results to talk about. 

Anybody watch that Napoli vs Benfica match? I tell you man, Maurizio Sarri is soooo underrated. Argument can be made he's easily one of the top 10 managers in European football. Man coaches some of the best buildup play I've ever seen, and they create serious goal scoring chances for fun. 

Switching to GladBach vs Barcelona, what a gut-wrenching result for Andre Schuberts men. IDK what it is, but Gladbach be performing like World beaters at home. They HAD Barca on the ropes in that first half, it's just that final ball was severely lacking. Dahoud, Christensen, Traore, and Thorgan all put in fabulous performances. A point on Christensen, besides one slip up in the box, he was very very solid throughout, and even though he was isolated against Suarez numerous times he stuck his ground well, never diving into reckless challenges or getting spun around.. Dahoud is the real deal, mans is not staying at Gladbach after next summer, the next Vidal confirmed, me thinks. 

Must be good to be Barcelona, where you can sleep walk for 65mins, then turn up the style, and walk away with 3pts. Still cannot believe they turned that result around tbh. 

And lastly, Diego Simeone doing to Carlo Ancelotti what he always does. Got to give a shoutout to Felipe Luis and Juanfran who absolutely bossed that match on the flanks, Especially Juanfran who had Ribery in his pocket the entire game. Diego Simeone much like @The Chels already mentioned above, has reinvented the art of defending. His UCL Home record is ridiculous. They absolutely bossed that match, and I'm so happy to see Koke back in CM where he belongs. Not a fan of Saul on the RW, especially for his development, because from the matches I've seen him play on RW, he's largely been anonymous. 

Fantastic week of Champions League footy.