Almost resigned to a defeat but I hope we give a good account of ourselves. Don't mind losing if it's a decent performance and we score and don't get embarrassed.

I'm already worrying about Sanchez against the quick PSG press though. I just hope our defenders are smart enough not to pass the ball back to him, 'cos that could get very messy.

Well, looks like this our Super Cup final.

The UECL winner vs the UCL winner.

Not expecting much, but bring it on!

Best we can hope for is "It's a funny old game"

14 minutes ago, WhiteWall said:

If fit Bob i would probably start Lavia but look to sub in Santos or possibly even Essugo if the destroying is taking its toll on Lavia.

Lavia case is complicated. He is by far our best player at escaping press but I am not big fan of having both Enzo n Lavia vs very strong opp.

If I'm being honest, the only chance here is for us to park the bus and hope for the counter attacks. We can't allow any space behind our backline because this PSG side are going to take us apart. Maresca's style of passing from the back will be near impossible to implement successfully vs them because they're so good at pressing and closing all channels and absolutely ruthless at punishing any mistakes you make around your own box. Just keep it tight and frustrate them for the first 25-30 minutes, settle down and hope to hit them on the counter. Long balls to Delap or Joao Pedro could be the way to go.

It's going to be very tough no matter what. We'll be chasing shadows for most of the game and they'll create chances even if we defend in numbers. It's going to take a monumental effort and the performance of the season from us and an off day from PSG with some serious luck going our way to win this one.

Edited July 10, 20251 yr by abramovich

We have to try go in at half time level that’s key to get anything from this game. If we are losing at half time it’s curtains!!

32 minutes ago, DaRick said:

Well, looks like this our Super Cup final.

The UECL winner vs the UCL winner.

Not expecting much, but bring it on!

PSG beat City in the group stage and knocked out Liverpool, Villa and Arsenal in the play-offs.

They will beat Spurs in the Super Cup next month.

We are bound to be the only English club to have played PSG this year and beat them. It is a Chelsea thing! 😉

I'm preparing myself for an embarrassing defeat, hoping for a pleasant surprise as we've had before (think CL finals). It is Chelsea after all. Has there been any news on Caicedo? We need him. And please no Badiashile.

One way or another, booze is of the essence.

38 minutes ago, Valerie said:

I'm preparing myself for an embarrassing defeat, hoping for a pleasant surprise as we've had before (think CL finals). It is Chelsea after all. Has there been any news on Caicedo? We need him. And please no Badiashile.

One way or another, booze is of the essence.

You never know but before we had better managers and we didn't have Sanchez in goal.

44 minutes ago, abramovich said:

That does look a decent enough line up. Until you look to the bottom and see Sanchez in goal

Both Pedros will be vital here.

17 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Both Pedros will be vital here.

Isn't the plural Pedri 🤔

Wouldn't mind them in our line-up 🙂 Hopefully Joao doesn't have a dip in fitness after his 60 minutes against Flu having not played a while before that...

Someone said if we win this we should get the gold badge and 38 guards of honor throughout the season. 😂

Edited July 10, 20251 yr by Sconnie Blue

The worry for Joao is after a couple of training sessions with Maresca he'll be thinking about what the coach wants him to be doing...

Santos presumably played against PSG last season, so might be worth putting him in, since he'll know their game a bit better.

2 hours ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Both Pedros will be vital here.

United used to say the same about the Djembas.

Vital we have both Caicedo and Lavia playing. Try pressing that pair you Parisien pricks.

3 hours ago, Nibs said:

That does look a decent enough line up. Until you look to the bottom and see Sanchez in goal

You want to play Enzo a guy that can’t track runners in a midfield 3 v Vitinha-Neves-Ruiz? It’s going to be a long evening, & Fabian Ruiz will have a field day. Personally will switch Santos in & bring Enzo in 2 half.

No Sanchez Sunday…

Lavia and Badiashile also out.

7 hours ago, Nibs said:

Almost resigned to a defeat but I hope we give a good account of ourselves. Don't mind losing if it's a decent performance and we score and don't get embarrassed.

I'm already worrying about Sanchez against the quick PSG press though. I just hope our defenders are smart enough not to pass the ball back to him, 'cos that could get very messy.

I totally agree with this @Nibs As long as we show some fight, I’ll take it. Honestly, I just don’t want us to look totally outclassed. Scoring at least one goal would be a win in itself at this point. 😄

Also, I’m lowkey stressing about Sanchez too. The PSG press is lethal, and if our defenders aren’t careful, it could get ugly real quick.🤞

Nervous about this one...............for PSG!!! Get ready for the Chelsea circus!!

In all seriousness, nothing but excited. A great test of where we are at, and a tangible reminder and soon to be memory, to all the players, of what the standard is. We're slowly getting back to where we belong, and this tournament has played a big part in that.

Edited July 10, 20251 yr by PhilH930

Dansubrosa said....Everybody knows that it doesn’t matter how dire the odds are, you never write us off.

Kalas having his first start at cb against a 11 game winning streak Liverpool. Nope.

Barcelona at absolute peak with Messi, against 10 men. Nope.

Bayern Munich to win the trophy at home? Nope.

Man City to win the treble (PL, EFL and CL)? Nope.

.....well said sir👍

Surely he has to instruct Sanchez and the defence to not dick about, 2 early goals v Madrid came from pressure on their defence and keeper, causing errors.

And we're prone to errors, really really prone.

Edited July 10, 20251 yr by dkw

Things are desperate