“D10s – God – in his temple,†was the headline Marca went with just seven days ago, hailing Lionel Messi’s brilliance and riding on a high after Barcelona put three past Liverpool at the Camp Nou.
But it turns out Anfield is no Barça player’s temple, and a week later, the gloating has turned to a hurried quest to find someone or something to explain the collapse that pathed the Reds’ way to Madrid.
5
Georginio Wijnaldum and Divock Origi both scored twice as Liverpool stunned Barcelona
5
Luis Suarez endured a miserable return to Anfield
We didn’t know it at the time, but the writing was already on the wall when Catalunya Radio analyst Ricard Torquemada noted how at the end of the first half, Arturo Vidal was the Barça player “reading the game bestâ€. “If there’s a battle, he wins it. If not, he commits the foul before it’s too late and helps Barça to reorganiseâ€. Admirable though the Chilean may be in his energetic efforts, if he was the manifestation of the overall away strategy then the Blaugrana were on a hiding to nothing. Attempting to outmuscle Liverpool was a battle they were never going to win.
As one Barcelona journalist noted, and others have throughout the season, Vidal is the symptom of something bigger. Philippe Coutinho, withdrawn in the second half to boos from his old fans that may as well have come from his current supporters, is another. “What a disaster of a game for Coutinho. What an irrelevance. Bought at the price of gold, and today on a huge stage, we’ve practically never seen him,†commentator Bernat Soler scathed.
5
Coutinho cost Barcelona £142million but was non-existent against his former club
Perceived to lack both effort and clarity of mind, the Brazilian has had a rocky relationship with the Barcelona support this year, to the degree that captain Messi felt the need to remonstrate the Camp Nou fans and warn them not to boo last week. Even Messi’s insistence will likely fall on deaf ears after Tuesday night, though in truth, it would be unfair to single out Coutinho alone on an evening of flat performances from almost all of Valverde’s players.
Marca editor Hugo Cerezo dared to go for the most sacred of targets. “From Messi to Valverde, look wherever you want, it’s an historic failureâ€. Though it wasn’t the number 10’s night either, blaming him isn’t a view that will be shared by many. Messi has long been sustaining Barcelona sides with diminishing quality across multiple lines, and crucifying him for a rare instance of not being able to win a match on his own is an extreme even the typically reactionary voices in Spain will largely avoid. Coach Valverde, on the other hand, will be less fortunate.
5
Messi is stunned after Barcelona concede a fourth against Liverpool
“When they come back in a tie like this against you, you don’t have many excuses,†the Barça boss noted with brutal honesty in his post-match comments. Valverde has just wrapped up a second league title in a row, yet for the second year that will be forgotten by many, all because of one match. Because of a second leg match, where half the work appeared to be done. Three nil in Roma, squandering a three goal first leg lead. Four nil in Liverpool, again squandering a three goal first leg lead. Alisson Becker, like a bad luck charm for the Spanish coach, played for the winning team on both occasions.
League title or not, Valverde’s position will now be up for question, so important is the Champions League for Barcelona. The ridiculousness of Liverpool’s fourth will only make matters worse. “Can I explain the fourth goal? No… Maybe there was a… I don’t know. With the fourth goal, honestly, I don’t know,†Barça president Josep Maria Bartomeu admitted in his post-match interview. Not normally a man who is left lost for words, the club’s voting members will look to him to seek out culpibility of some kind in the coming days.
5
A beleaguered Valverde looks on during remarkable Champions League semi-final second leg at Anfield
The immediate reactions were dramatic to say the least (one Catalan journalist claimed it was “the biggest disaster in the history of Barçaâ€, which the generations who lived through decades of Real Madrid dominance may be surprised to learn). The more long-term post-mortem will be of greater significance.
“At least no one will talk about Roma now,†TV3 journalist Alex Castells reflected wryly. “This is worseâ€.
Ajax 2-3 Tottenham: Spurs hero Lucas Moura becomes just 10th player EVER to get perfect 10/10 player rating from L'Equipe The Brazil forward netted a stunning second-half hat-trick to fire Spurs
Lucas Moura becomes just the 10th player EVER to get perfect
Jamie O'Hara suggests Harry Kane WILL start for Tottenham Hotspur after 'leaking' team to face Liverpool in Madrid Spurs are taking part in their first ever Champions League Final at 8pm - a
Jamie O'Hara suggests Harry Kane WILL start for Tottenham
fussboll.com/2019/06/02/jamie-ohara-suggests-harry-kane-will-start-for-tottenham-hotspur-after-leaking-team-to-face-liverpool-in-madrid/
Jamie O'Hara has 'leaked' Tottenham Hotspur's team to face Liverpool in the Champions League Final this evening. Spurs take on the Reds in Madrid at the Wanda Metropolitano - a game you can hear live on talkSPORT from 8pm. Much of the pre-match chatter has been about the fitness of Tottenham's talisman, Harry Kane.
Harry Kane 'Gutted' After Tottenham Hotspur's Champions
Tottenham fans DROOL over Hugo Lloris after penalty save - rivals in SHOCK for key reason TOTTENHAM fans are in awe of Hugo Lloris after he denied Manchester City star Sergio Aguero from the spot. By Harry Howes
Kurt Zouma: Chelsea defender non-committal on future as
Tottenham injury news: Dele Alli could be fit for Huddersfield trip despite suffering suspected broken hand 29 mins ago Clement Lenglet: Barcelona's unsung hero proves himself against Manchester United one year after doing the s
Tottenham - All News Sources - 12 April 2019
atomicsoda.com/tottenham/news/all-sources/12-apr-2019
Dele Alli broke hand in win over Manchester City but Tottenham hope he will be able to keep playing Daily Mail - Thu Apr 11 7:21 PM Harry Kane ruled out until the end of the season but could return for UEFA Nations League
Man City vs Tottenham in pictures: The best photos and
Exactly 12 months separated two huge moments in Moussa Sissoko's career with Tottenham Hotspur.On April 30, 2018, Spurs were batt Moussa Sissoko: How Tottenham star went from club-record flop to Champions League hero - CHOCHILINO
Moussa Sissoko: How Tottenham star went from club-record flop
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has insisted his players can do no more in their bid to end a 29-year wait for another league title after seeing them scrap their way to victory at Newcastle.
Liverpool players can do no more in thrilling title race
Arsenal fans have been left 'heartbroken' at not being able to travel to Baku to watch their team play Chelsea in the Europa League final, according to managing director Vinai Venkatesham. Since the two London clubs qualified, concerns have been raised over the showpiece event being hosted in
Arsenal fans 'heartbroken' by Europa League final problems
Joey Barton: Police prevent Fleetwood Town boss from leaving
James Milner has revealed the reason behind his strange goal celebration after scoring in Liverpool's 2-0 victory over Cardiff . Midfielder Milner converted an 81st minute penalty with an emphatic
mohamed Archives | Latest News, Latest football transfer news
Barcelona 3-0 Manchester United: Philippe Coutinho, Blaugrana worries, and what else we learnt. The Spanish giants might just be 'walking to victory' as Ernesto Valverde has the last laugh over his doubters. barcelona - TalkSport 2:22am PDT - April 17th, 2019
Manchester United vs West Ham player ratings - Google News
Football Beyond Borders: The football charity attracting Premier League stars and inspiring youngsters Friday, 19 April 2019 ( 3 weeks ago ) Raheem Sterling met them after scoring his England hat-trick and Chris Smalling has just become a patron.
Yaya Touré #19 News, Stats, Photos - Côte d'Ivoire - Football
Manchester United's new home kit for the 2017/18 season appears to have been leaked. The leaked design, which will once again be manufactured by Adidas, sees the club adopt a two button round
LFC 2019/20 Home Shirt | The 19/20 LFC Home Kit
AD
store.liverpoolfc.com/home_kit
Report Ad
The 19/20 Home Kit is Available for Pre-Order, Secure Yours & Get a Free £10 LFC Voucher. Show Your Support with the Official 2019/20 Season LFC Home Kit. Delivered on Launch Day!
Manchester City are champions by a point Man United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer rolls back the years to score off the bench in Treble Reunion match his team were 1-0 up against a
No comments:
Post a Comment