My Champions League Thoughts: 2/16/21
1) Ale Moreno will have plenty of clips from both matches for his “Optional Defending of the Week” segment on ESPNFC.
2) What is the point of having fullbacks if they’re constantly out of position when the ball goes out to the wings or simply refuse to track back when the ball turns over?
3) Kaylor Navas’ mistake that almost cost PSG a goal near the end is a sign of the complacency that could still see them crash out after the second leg again.
4) These post-match shows are always full of cringeworthy moments and comments, especially on Fox & CBS. 😂
5) Anyone who thought Messi staying at Barcelona would help them have a great season may have been massively wrong.
6) Anyone who thought Messi is actually happy to be playing at Barcelona may have been massively wrong.
7) I didn’t know tripping over your own two feet warranted a penalty, I learn something new every day.
8) When you let Kaylor Navas (not Ederson) hit a 50 yard ball to a teammate with no one near him, you may as well forfeit the tournament because you’re not going anywhere with that kind of defending.
9) Kylian Mbappé is a god among men. Clubs should’ve capitalized when he wasn’t playing well after the restart like Bayern did last season because they’re not stopping him now.
10) Honestly, PSG should forget Messi. With Neymar out, it gave Mbappé the room to roam and dominate like we know he can. Why bring in another player to suck the oxygen out of his room? If the club directors are smart (operative word being “if”), they’ll pass and give Kylian the keys to the castle.
11) Pochettino now has the better team he was never going to get at Spurs, no excuses for him if he fails to win Ligue 1 or Champions League when given the opportunity.
12) Leipzig may as well have played without center backs the way they were letting players run in behind uncontested. Klostermann, I’m going to simplify your role since Nagelsmann failed to do that today: watch the runner -- not the ball -- and you’ll rarely be caught out of position.
13) Watching Jamie Carragher react as Mane and Salah scored was refreshing; not often we get to see players being fans. 😊
13) If Leipzig had a striker at least as good as Jamie Vardy they’d be top of the league and could’ve won today.
14) I’m 100% certain Peter Schmeichel doesn’t like Kate Abdo. 😂
