The verdict has fallen following the 2 Champions League semi finals; it’s Bayern Munich against Inter Milan.
Bayern won logically against Lyon. The truth always tells and Lyon just didn’t have the required level to even think about making it to the final. Their 2 games against Bayern were appaling and I have rarely seen such weakness at this stage of the competition. Bayern on the other hand did their game and with Van Gaal at the helm they stand a real chance to win their 5th Champions League.
Much more interesting was the other semi final between Barça and Inter. Many football specialists know that to beat Barça you need to eliminate the passing game between Xavi and Messi (at least when Iniesta is not there which was the case). The question therefore is why nobody applies this tactic? I think this has to do with getting players to really believe in this and that’s where Mourinho is a master. I think his players have such confidence in his strategic capabilities that they will follow him blindly to the grave! Just look at how Eto’o and Milito defended in tonight’s return game. I have rarely seen a team play defensively with such beauty as Inter did tonight. When Motta was sent off after 30 minutes, 99% of coaches would have played it safe and immediately taken away at least one offensive player. Mourinho didn’t and he was right. By leaving Milito and Eto’o for a big part of the game he introduced doubt in the minds of the blaugrana.
I was very dissapointed by Guardiola’s tactics in tonight’s match. Why didn’t he make Thierry Henry play at least the last 30 minutes? That was when the experience Titi brings could have been useful. Guardiola still has to gain more experience and he was clearly outplayed by Mourinho during the semi finals. It’s a paradox that Mourinho wants to leave the Italian league since his playing style seems so naturally suited for Italian football.
Maracanazos respect great coaches.
I agree Mourinho outsmarted Guardiola. But it would be more fun to see final, it is going to match f tactics, match between coaches. Both teams are physically strong, both have gone through recent bad patch and their current coach has pulled them out. And above all both coach have record to take smaller teams to title (Ajax for Van Gaal and Porto for Mourinho)
So who do you see winning the final?
[...] was Van Gaal’s assistant at Barcelona a few years back. Now both can become the 3rd coach (after Hitzfeld and Happel) to win the Champions League with 2 different [...]
I see Inter winning the final, maybe with penalties…
Because I think that Inter has the better team and will have more opportunities to score
We shall see, very difficiult to forecast a winner in this one ( and most finals … )
Hope it will be an interesting game …
O’Neill
And you were right!!
I am just faszinated what Mouriniho did with Internationale Milan. He made out of a good players a really strong team arrount the axe Lucio, Snyder and Milito. It is just great to see this team play the right way.
Hi Dave,
Spain can also be quite unethical with their “maletas”!