kazza » Tue May 31, 2022 6:52 am wrote:damjan193 » Mon May 30, 2022 1:45 pm wrote:What needs to be said is that this season we were very poor against the top sides. We didn't get a single win against a top 4 side in the PL, managed to barely beat a mixed Man City team in the FA cup semis and although we did win against Milan and Atletico twice and against Inter once, I don't really think they're on the same level as the rest. We played in 3 finals this season, and although we won 2 of them, we faild to score a single goal in regular time in each of them. So that's zero goals in 3 finals this season!
What I'm trying to say is, something was defenitely not working for us when we played a top side. Although we looked like the better team in most of these encounters, we never managed to beat them. Apart from City, most of these teams knew we were better than them but found ways not to get beat, and Real unfortunately even found a way to win. Most of them went with the low block tactics and then try to get us on the counter. A good amount of the goals we conceded were when our defence was unsettled and out of position, running back towards our goal, while we were always up against a well organized, fully packed defence and we rarely had a chance to go at them on the counter. This happened against Real as well. For the most part we just passed around their formation, trying to find a way through, only to lose the ball and give them a chance for a quick counter attack against a defence that's out of position. This happened against the top sides before we played Real as well, so I feel we should have been ready for this and tweaked a few things. Maybe let the oppo have a bit of the ball for a change, try to get their defence out of position, instead of allowing them to constantly do that against us.
We still played a good season, won two titles, but it really is difficult to accept that we missed out on the two major trophies by the smallest of margins.
Good point, it reminded me of when we played Chelsea (Gerrard slip) where Rodgers was so high on who we were he never was able to change how we played to get a win. As you said, had we parked the bus a little and drew them out then hit them on the counter we could have won that match 3-0. We are a great side that controls the ball but we need to have a tactical plan B against these deep block team and passing them to death is not it because as we have found those teams exploit us and get that one chance that wins the match. Vinicius had one shot on goal and scored from it.
Here's what Ancelotti had to say about us:
"I think it helped that Liverpool were easier to decipher than the others because they have a very clear identity and we could prepare the way that we did.
"We knew what strategy to take, don’t give them space behind the defence to run into.
"Perhaps our football wasn’t extraordinarily beautiful tonight on an aesthetic level, but playing out from the back to incentivise their pressing wasn’t a great idea.
"We had a few more long balls, then when their press in our half of the pitch lessened, we got to control the ball more especially in the second half."
Like we said as well, they obviously knew what to do, and more importantly what not to do againat us. Waited for us to tire and then went for the quick knock out. They knew exactly what they needed to do against us since it was done so many times before the final by other teams.
I hate to compare this side to Rodgers' and even less so to compare Klopp to Rodgers, but you do have a point that there are some similarities especially how both refused to tweak their tactics a little bit in order to suit the game.