I could just rerun my last post — but hell, he gets paid to say the same thing, so maybe you’ll believe it this time. From today’s Guardian:
Trouble is, while it would be unfair to attack Barcelona – a team so consistently excellent, so adept at making the extraordinary routine, that they hardly warrant writing about until they eventually lose – that’s not the whole story. Because if everyone knew this day would come and some even knew when, the way it came is troubling. Who, what and where is one thing, how and why another. Because last night Barcelona did not just lose; last night Barcelona played badly.
Because Atlético were startlingly comfortable. Because when Barcelona had to react in the second half, they couldn’t – creating just two chances. “We weren’t right with the ball,” Guardiola admitted. “Normally we make a lot of chances; tonight we didn’t.” Because, unusually, Xavi lost possession 15 times. Because seven muscle injuries in nine days is worrying and the threat of more lingers, Iniesta admitting: “I’m not doctor but it can’t be chance.” Because Guardiola’s concern over tiredness was palpable. Because much as Ibrahimovic, in Juanma Lillo’s words, “performs footballing mouth-to-mouth, resuscitating dying moves”, his inclination to hold, wait and turn back nullifies the through ball. Because Barcelona have a small squad and, conceived and constructed upside down, defending from the front and playing from the back, they really miss key players – without Piqué, Abidal and, particularly Alves, they don’t construct or surprise as well. And because, as one journalist, smelling blood, was quick to inform Guardiola, Madrid’s destiny is now in their own hands.
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