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Champions League Thread


Madmax
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And they have a superior midfield imo. (matic is not eligible, don't forget). also their midfield as a unit has been together for a while, much more balanced than ours and are better at retaining posession when need be. I just can't see how a midfield of lampard, Ramires, Mikel and Luiz can dominate AM's. bypassing the midfield and going route 1 for the most part is our best option imo.

I would totally agree with you but you are missing out Willian, Oscar, and Schurrle. They contribute so much to defense. So practically speaking it is combo of DMs and those three putting the pressure on their midfield. If you watch the PSG game again, specifically the second half and just ignore everything and observe the movements of those three especially Willian. It is massive mate. I don't know if the Atletico midfield played with each other more because I haven't watched them a lot. ( only 6 games), but I am sure they will feel a lot of pressure. Even from the mental aspect. It is going to be a tough one and if things go normally I don't see many goals scored over the two leagues. But you never know what might happen. But know doubt they have a tight midfield.

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Yes very well organized and drilled but not battled tested at this level and the intangibles will have an effect at this stage in the competition with the teams so close. Sorry inexperienced manager, inexperienced squad is without a doubt the more favourable tie to defending champions, manager with 2 wins or 4-time semis, generational talent and a winning experienced manager.

And you're mincing words to great effect here. I never said it would be a walk in the park what I did say, and it holds, is Atletico are the weakest of the four teams left in the competition. Still waiting to hear who you think is weaker... If it is indeed Real Madrid I would argue you are underestimating them.

Hate to tell you, we have a weak, inexperienced team. Hazard, Oscar, Schurrle, Willian, you know, our most important players are inexperienced. Atleti has a great team, Turan, Koke, Costa, Villa, Diego, a solid defense. Don't underestimate them, they're great.

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Hate to tell you, we have a weak, inexperienced team. Hazard, Oscar, Schurrle, Willian, you know, our most important players are inexperienced. Atleti has a great team, Turan, Koke, Costa, Villa, Diego, a solid defense. Don't underestimate them, they're great.

Once again the negative Nancy's here to strut their feathers.

Listen dude no one is underestimating them it's been said 100 times they are in the final four because they are a fantastic team! To me the final four comes down to experience at THIS LEVEL! Chelsea have a manager who's won it twice and been to the semis something like 9 times. Cech has won it and been to the semis tons of times, same for lampard, cole, ivanovic, terry, Eto'o. Luiz, Ramires, Cahill have won it. We have LOADS of experience in this sort of tie, who does atletico have to lean on?

Sure hazard, Oscar, schurrle and Willian are green but they have a team around them that are veteran laden and know how to take pressure off of them. There is no substitute for experience at this level in the competition. Simple. End of story.

I expect most of you Nancy's to be posting 'it was never in doubt' and 'written in the stars' after the tie too...

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Once again the negative Nancy's here to strut their feathers.

Listen dude no one is underestimating them it's been said 100 times they are in the final four because they are a fantastic team! To me the final four comes down to experience at THIS LEVEL! Chelsea have a manager who's won it twice and been to the semis something like 9 times. Cech has won it and been to the semis tons of times, same for lampard, cole, ivanovic, terry, Eto'o. Luiz, Ramires, Cahill have won it. We have LOADS of experience in this sort of tie, who does atletico have to lean on?

Sure hazard, Oscar, schurrle and Willian are green but they have a team around them that are veteran laden and know how to take pressure off of them. There is no substitute for experience at this level in the competition. Simple. End of story.

I expect most of you Nancy's to be posting 'it was never in doubt' and 'written in the stars' after the tie too...

Don't fucking call me a "Nancy", i was the first on here saying we could erase the deficet against PSG, some of you just are discrediting Atelti. Dortmund didn't have experience last year, or a manager who had tons of winning experience. Not saying they'll beat us, I think we can beat them. Experience is important, but not always THE deciding factor. Ultimately it will come down to what team wants it more, who plays harder, and forces the tempo.

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Don't fucking call me a "Nancy", i was the first on here saying we could erase the deficet against PSG, some of you just are discrediting Atelti. Dortmund didn't have experience last year, or a manager who had tons of winning experience. Not saying they'll beat us, I think we can beat them. Experience is important, but not always THE deciding factor. Ultimately it will come down to what team wants it more, who plays harder, and forces the tempo.

Dortmund won the league two years in a row prior to last year, and had a few CL campaigns under their belt. That's experience despite it being of a smaller scale IMO.

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Don't fucking call me a "Nancy", i was the first on here saying we could erase the deficet against PSG, some of you just are discrediting Atelti. Dortmund didn't have experience last year, or a manager who had tons of winning experience. Not saying they'll beat us, I think we can beat them. Experience is important, but not always THE deciding factor. Ultimately it will come down to what team wants it more, who plays harder, and forces the tempo.

Dortmund narrowly beat a broken Real team.

Experience at this level is huge, don't care what anyone says. The other stuff you are drawing on can only be implemented effectively if you have the experience at this level. Deer's caught in the headlights won't be able to dictate tempo.

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Dortmund won the league two years in a row prior to last year, and had a few CL campaigns under their belt. That's experience despite it being of a smaller scale IMO.

Atletico has won the Copa Del Rey, Europa Leage, and UEFA Super Cup.

Dortmund narrowly beat a broken Real team.

Experience at this level is huge, don't care what anyone says. The other stuff you are drawing on can only be implemented effectively if you have the experience at this level. Deer's caught in the headlights won't be able to dictate tempo.

Last year? Dortmund handled Madrid last year. So the only possible way to win is with experience? Ever hear of a "Cinderella team"?

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I would totally agree with you but you are missing out Willian, Oscar, and Schurrle. They contribute so much to defense. So practically speaking it is combo of DMs and those three putting the pressure on their midfield. If you watch the PSG game again, specifically the second half and just ignore everything and observe the movements of those three especially Willian. It is massive mate. I don't know if the Atletico midfield played with each other more because I haven't watched them a lot. ( only 6 games), but I am sure they will feel a lot of pressure. Even from the mental aspect. It is going to be a tough one and if things go normally I don't see many goals scored over the two leagues. But you never know what might happen. But know doubt they have a tight midfield.

I believe William and Schurrle's job will be tracking the movement of Turan and Villa and providing adequate protection for Azpi and Cole rather than beefing up the midfield. Only time will tell.

To me it may come down to two factors. mistake and stamina: whoever wins that battle will no doubt have the competitive advantage imo. we can leave absolutely no room for error and I do not have confidence in the teams stamina. only William and ramires I have been impressed with in that regard. others naturally tire out towards to last 10 minutes or so.

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Atletico has won the Copa Del Rey, Europa Leage, and UEFA Super Cup.

Last year? Dortmund handled Madrid last year. So the only possible way to win is with experience? Ever hear of a "Cinderella team"?

Yes Dortmund beat a broken Real Madrid narrowly. And no it's not the only possible way but the odds of a win fall in your favour if you have experience. Simple stuff here brother...

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I absolutely agree with iseah10 that the importance of experience is often overstated and exaggerated. To my mind the 3 biggest factors in winning a competition like the champions league, in order of importance are

1) Luck: with injuries and suspension, referring decision going your way and the opponent not converting the chances they create and vice versa.

2)Quality and depth of the team

3) Manager/tactical superiority.

Those 3 factors are far more important than experience imo.

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Yes Dortmund beat a broken Real Madrid narrowly. And no it's not the only possible way but the odds of a win fall in your favour if you have experience. Simple stuff here brother...

Umm...yea sure.

Not necessarily, Barca had more experience than Atletico and they lost. I know is experience is a deciding factor and it's good to have, but teams without experience can excel too. Just don't overrate the "experience" factor.

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I absolutely agree with iseah10 that the importance of experience is often overstated and exaggerated. To my mind the 3 biggest factors in winning a competition like the champions league, in order of importance are

1) Luck: with injuries and suspension, referring decision going your way and the opponent not converting the chances they create and vice versa.

2)Quality and depth of the team

3) Manager/tactical superiority.

Those 3 factors are far more important than experience imo.

Experience, and the mental strength, this is more important than anything. Think of Chelsea, in past 5 years, we have had a very poor team in Premier League, but always doing very very well in Europe. This is because many players have played Champions League semi final, final, so many times, it is just everyday thing now for them. They are not worried. Look at Real Madrid, much better team than Chelsea past 5 years, never getting to the final.

This is why we are beating Napoli and PSG after losing heavily first leg, they do not have experience or confidence enough to finish off Chelsea. Atlético is the same, because 2nd leg is in London, it will be very easy for Chelsea to win, even if the Madrid match is a loss. They are still scared, this is their biggest match in many many years. Last time Chelsea are scared of Champions League match is 2004, when Monaco are defeating Chelsea.

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I absolutely agree with iseah10 that the importance of experience is often overstated and exaggerated. To my mind the 3 biggest factors in winning a competition like the champions league, in order of importance are

1) Luck: with injuries and suspension, referring decision going your way and the opponent not converting the chances they create and vice versa.

2)Quality and depth of the team

3) Manager/tactical superiority.

Those 3 factors are far more important than experience imo.

LOL. Look at PSG, Napoli two years ago. Do not have experience of playing games with high stakes. Came to Chelsea with 3-1 lead and capitulated. Cinderella stories happen ofcourse. Experience is not a certainty but at the top level in last 10 years you see the same clubs coming to the end of Champions League stages - Barca ManU Chelsea to name three

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Don't underestimate Atleti. In 2012 we knocked out Barca because it was our destiny. The football God's shined down on us to repay our club for all the times we were robbed in Europe. I believe in destiny. If we knock them out, I'm almost certain we'll win the final.

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