Agreed and it's an awful match now, both teams just cheat, dive, etc to try and get an advantage for anything.

I never liked it in the first place but now it's just dreadful, can't think of a worse match up and the fact that people always go on about it drives me nuts. 

 

Hope Juventus can hold out (Can't see Bayern coming back) otherwise I'll be giving the final a miss. 

Edited May 6, 201511 yr by Remodez

Messi showed Neuer who's the boss.

Messi is touched by the hand of God. Those people who say Ronaldo is the superior player, know nothing about true footballing genius because that is what Messi has been tonight. Ronaldo may score a similar number of goals to Messi but that is where any equality of talent and ability begins and ends.

 

Well said! He made the Bayern defence look like punks.

 

The first goal, the way he opened up his body to wrong-foot Neuer was fantastic. Not sure why he was left in so much space but still.

 

That second goal, holy sh*t, I don't think anything needs to be said. I've rarely seen a player left on their arse so comprehensively... and the chip was sublime. Even the crowd who have seen it all before are in total awe.

 

Credit for the third goal as well, the speed with which he he shifts his balance and sorts out his feet to put Neymar through was excellent.

 

A word for Dani Alves as well - I know he's not the most popular player on here (despite his ridiculous eyes), but he was great tonight, it's a shame that such a key part of that historic Barca XI looks like he will be moving on. He has certainly recovered his form this season.

Ronaldo doesn't have that level of touch, balance, reactions, anticipation....................

 

Not to mention intelligence.

fact Enrique has taken barca to final, barring miracle in second leg, put in perspective of what pep did at barca...Enrique was a failed manager elsewhere but like pep, is benefitting from now having best player in the world in his team

Guardiola went at the game, perhaps naively, without his best players and lost to one of the greatest sides of all time, primarily down to the best player of all time.

 

Parking the bus and luck seem to be the best tactics.

 

So basically he was naive. He got his tactics wrong.

 

Setting up 3 at the back against the best 3 attackers in the game right now is not a wise choice by any means. 

Auf Wiedersehen, Pep.

That match was a clear indication that Hazard is no where near Messi or Neymar.

 

We've got a lot of work to do before we can match either Barca or Bayern. 

That match was a clear indication that Hazard is no where near Messi or Neymar.

We've got a lot of work to do before we can match either Barca or Bayern.

Neymar wasn't even that good.

Messi no player will match, that's hardly criminal though given he's arguably the best player to have kicked a ball

Regardless of whether Haz is near the Messi/Ronaldo levels, I wouldn't swap him for either of them. The premier league is a vastly different animal to other leagues in the world, the Christmas period for one is difficult for a lot of players coming to this country.

Sorry Messi is great but greatest of all time, not for me.

Maradona is still ahead of him, Messi has to do it at International stage before he can be considered that

Its interesting Bobby when I think about Maradona and Messi. Maradona was small in height, like Messi, but built like a bull and immensely powerful. He had a tremendous change of pace, as does Messi. Maradona had a low centre of gravity, as does Messi, which enabled both of them to change direction in the twitch of a muscle but Maradona had the power to bulldoze through opponents if he had to. Messi uses more pure dribbling ability IMO. Also Maradona was almost exclusively left footed, Messi is probably the most complete and naturally two-footed player I have ever watched and his second goal tonight illustrated that perfectly.

I wouldn't want to call who was better out of the two of them, though they are both in another universe to Ronaldo. Incidentally, Pele is still my all-time greatest player and I was lucky enough to see him play live twice.

I think Enrique deserves credit. I'm not sure he's really done anything revolutionary tactically speaking, but he's changed enough to keep Barca's approach varied while retaining the core of what they were already good at.

 

On the other hand I think his man/squad management has been good. He's managed to replace the irreplaceable by bringing in Rakitic for Xavi, and he's also brought in ter Stegen/Bravo for Valdes. He's managed to turn around the somewhat flagging form of Messi (not that he was ever bad... just slightly less exceptional) by moving his starting position wider and has also overseen the rejuvenation of Piqué. I guess his next mission will be to replace Alves. Granted he has better players to work with, and has more money to play with, but we have seen from our experience at Chelsea that only a select few can genuinely create something great and cope with the massive expectations of managing a top side.

 

He's managed to turn Barca from a fading force who put in a succession of poor shows in the Champions League (including a total humiliation over two legs against Bayern at the same stage) into the best side in Europe with another vintage front three, and he's done it in the space of about six months. I think they are now strong favourites for the League and the Champions League. Can't fault him to be honest.

If Chelsea gets a proper right wing like Bale, a Pogba and put Fabregas in the number ten, plus a second fit striker to Costa, the club can match Barca.

If Chelsea gets a proper right wing like Bale, a Pogba and put Fabregas in the number ten, plus a second fit striker to Costa, the club can match Barca.

 

Bale proved yesterday he's unable to play at the highest level. He's a kick and rush player. We need technical players that can control the ball in close quarters and deliver when called upon. Someone like Pogba would definitely elevate us though. Hopefully we make good moves this summer and swiftly. 

For me Messi is on a different level... hypothetical of course, but put Messi in the '86 team and like Maradona i'm sure he too would have carried them to the WC...

 

Given the game has moved on considerably since the 80's (in terms of tactics, defending, sports science, etc.) I don't think Maradona would be half the player Messi is in the current era.

Edited May 6, 201511 yr by the special one

This messi kid sounds like the latest flash in a pan, let's see him so it at a cold wet night at stamford bridge

Or a sunny day

Hell even against a team from stamford bridge at the nou camp

;)

sky released some new footage from messi second

Bale proved yesterday he's unable to play at the highest level. He's a kick and rush player. We need technical players that can control the ball in close quarters and deliver when called upon. Someone like Pogba would definitely elevate us though. Hopefully we make good moves this summer and swiftly. 

You've pretty much mentioned the opposite of Pogba there. 

Also talks of Pep leaving Bayern at the end of the season, City might get their man after all. 

You've pretty much mentioned the opposite of Pogba there.

I think pogba has excellent ball control, technique and is one of the best in the world in tight spaces. Not sure which pogba you've been watching?

Messi is probably the most complete and naturally two-footed player I have ever watched

 

 

you havent watched a lot of football then

 

You've pretty much mentioned the opposite of Pogba there.

 

hahahah what?!

Edited May 6, 201511 yr by launcher

I wouldn't call Messi two footed personally. Decent with his right as proved today but he, like the vast majority of footballers, still has a strong preference for his natural foot. I think it's Cazorla of Arsenal who pretty much doesn't care which foot he shoots/passes/controls with because they're almost identical. 

Also talks of Pep leaving Bayern at the end of the season, City might get their man after all. 

 

It's okay, if he doesn't get what he wants at City he will cry and want to go elsewhere again. 

If Chelsea gets a proper right wing like Bale, a Pogba and put Fabregas in the number ten, plus a second fit striker to Costa, the club can match Barca.

 

I don't think we or any other team could ever match the front 3 of Barcelona, it's just too good. Hazard is brilliant and i personally think he is better than Neymar, but no matter who we tried to bring in, they couldn't possibly be as good as Messi and Suarez. Messi and Suarez are 2 of the best footballers on the planet, Diego Costa is great, but he isn't at their level. And if we did sign Bale or Reus we still wouldn't match Barcelona's front 3.

 

But with Mourinho as our manager, we can beat anybody.

I'm not 100% convinced that we'll go for Bale.

 

Does anyone with a better knowledge of La Liga know how Mourinho talked of Bale while he was at Real?  I know he, Bale, is a bit of a Real scapegoat right now, but wanted to know a little history if any exists