Please win Chelsea, then I can send a request for the title of the backpages tomorrow - "Fail Madrid" 

What happened to the lovely ref kits from last season? Where are the pink socks?

1 minute ago, Wearyourblue said:

I don't think RLC is playing a wing back looks to me we're playing an unbalanced system 4-2-1-2 with RLC as a RM

Agree with that. I think RLC has been pretty good overall but has to be more positive in and around their box. He has quick feet and can dribble. Drive forward, get the defenders to make a decision.

I think rlc is doing ok, he could do more with movement to open them up but I feel like he has specific instructions in this match to keep things simple and ticking

2 minutes ago, coco said:

RLC is strong enough for RWB just not nippy enough, slow to react.

He doesn't stretch the RM defence enough and he doesn't have it in him to try and cross. 

 

5 minutes ago, Kev56 said:

Luv your optimism 

Thank you. 😉 to be fair with Timo it is realism.

modric and kroos are not on it today, actually looking like dinosaurs. wonder if carlo will dare switch them up at HT

Brilliant from Chelsea, super support from the Chelsea choir.

Running and bossing the midfield, just got to concentrate,  no sloppy mistakes, that 2nd goal is coming.

Come on you yellows ( love all yellow away kits )

5 minutes ago, rocker_joker said:

For the second half I would bring Pulisic over RLC

Pulisic would give some pace on the wing but he was mostly ineffective in the first match against Real.

I can’t believe people are saying RLC gamble isn’t working, I thought it was a master stroke by Tuchel. Real can’t play at all, we’ve stifled them big time and RLC played a big part in that with his pressing on the wing.

I’d keep the same team for 2nd half

That was an excellent half from us, the complete opposite from the first leg. They were switched on and that is the biggest difference. Defensive positioning has been spot on, closing down as a team is a lot smarter unlike the naive pressing game at the Bridge that left gaps all over the place. I still think the first leg has given us too much to do, but up until this point, we have played an almost perfect Champions League game away from home.

Real have not got out of third gear yet. We really needed to take advantage of our good play to go in 2 up at the break and level overall. Then could be anyone's game. As it is real can just shut up shop, counter, dive and time waste and the ref will lap it up.

5 minutes ago, sonic90 said:

modric and kroos are not on it today, actually looking like dinosaurs. wonder if carlo will dare switch them up at HT

It's why I was so pissed at the way Tuchel set us up in the 1st leg, and played Jorginho. This midfield of Madrid can be got at if you play direct at them, pressure them and give th no space.

Edited April 12, 20224 yr by dkw

2 minutes ago, dansubrosa said:

I can’t believe people are saying RLC gamble isn’t working, I thought it was a master stroke by Tuchel. Real can’t play at all, we’ve stifled them big time and RLC played a big part in that with his pressing on the wing.

I’d keep the same team for 2nd half

Agreed. I think he could be quicker in attack, but Real Madrid have stuggled with him.

Edited April 12, 20224 yr by Scott Harris

1 minute ago, dansubrosa said:

I can’t believe people are saying RLC gamble isn’t working, I thought it was a master stroke by Tuchel. Real can’t play at all, we’ve stifled them big time and RLC played a big part in that with his pressing on the wing.

I’d keep the same team for 2nd half

Only a master stroke if we go through. As good as we have been this half no one really remembers we were sh*t in Napoli, only that we beat them at the Bridge and went through.

7 minutes ago, Valerie said:

Oh god, how about anyone but those two? Pulisic hasn't been showing much, and I really don't want to receive texts about Ziyech from any Cleaning Solution supporters.

New development: one Cleaning Solution fan is wailing to me about how we are ruining Werner 😛 I thought we were ruining football as a whole?

3 minutes ago, forbzy said:

Pulisic would give some pace on the wing but he was mostly ineffective in the first match against Real.

 

The whole team was mostly ineffective in the first match.  Save for maybe Havertz.  

1 minute ago, dansubrosa said:

I can’t believe people are saying RLC gamble isn’t working, I thought it was a master stroke by Tuchel. Real can’t play at all, we’ve stifled them big time and RLC played a big part in that with his pressing on the wing.

I’d keep the same team for 2nd half

Real can't play because Kroos and Modric doesn't get the ball enough and they're way too defensive. They are not even pressing us

Our team has been playing well for sure

3 minutes ago, sonic90 said:

modric and kroos are not on it today, actually looking like dinosaurs. wonder if carlo will dare switch them up at HT

Well that's the kiss of death, expect a masterful display from Modric and Kroos second half lol

Just now, axman2526 said:

Only a master stroke if we go through. As good as we have been this half no one really remembers we were sh*t in Napoli, only that we beat them at the Bridge and went through.

I remember.

1 minute ago, axman2526 said:

Real have not got out of third gear yet. We really needed to take advantage of our good play to go in 2 up at the break and level overall. Then could be anyone's game. As it is real can just shut up shop, counter, dive and time waste and the ref will lap it up.

Agreed. As long as Real are in a winning position overall they will not panic. If we go 2-0 up they will be forced to change tactics and that might be interesting. Still we have done brilliantly so far to keep the tie close and give ourselves a chance.

1 minute ago, Valerie said:

New development: one Cleaning Solution fan is wailing to me about how we are ruining Werner 😛 I thought we were ruining football as a whole?

Not allowing Benzema to organize their attack is making all the difference now and our press is now controlling the game. Tuchel learned from the last match and adjusted while Carlo is still playing their default.

Though I can't help to feel like the goal came a bit spontaneously so I'm worried that we might not know how to score another one...

Just now, forbzy said:

Agreed. As long as Real are in a winning position overall they will not panic. If we go 2-0 up they will be forced to change tactics and that might be interesting. Still we have done brilliantly so far to keep the tie close and give ourselves a chance.

We also cannot expect such a good second half from us and such a poor second half from them. No way, they are the 13 time winners they are not going to blow the work they did in the first leg. Not with a coach like Carlo.

If this was Liverpool they would be positive in the studio, comments like "they still need one or two more to take this to ET"....