"If you're not sure what to do with the ball,
Just pop it in the net and we'll discuss your options afterwards."
Bill Shankly
Believe it or not, it is Champions League semi-final time! With the four best teams in Europe on show this week in the Spanish capital battling out the first legs for a place in the Lisbon final next month. Yet despite all the razzmatazz one could easily be forgiven for falling asleep over the 180 minutes as Atletico Madrid, Chelsea, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich failed to deliver anything close to the beautiful game. Indeed, most of it was not pretty on the eye, with the four managers – all icons of this footballing generation - all struggling to offer one vital component for football fans. That being goals aplenty.
In fact both matches were very staccato performances riddled with basic errors, tactics that stifled opportunities and belying the true talents of the over fifty players involved over the two matches. Delivering a solitary goal – thanks to goal poaching strengths of Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema. With the second legs now seeing the home teams trying to overturn their feeble away legs. None of which bodes well for any improved spectacle at Stamford Bridge of the Allianz Arena in a week’s time.
Although there is some hope that Atletico’s manager Diego Simeone’s team will arrive in London and play the only way they know how. And that is all out attack.
In the first leg at the Vicente Calderon and under par performance of the normally infallible Diego Costa may yet prove costly to Atletico Madrid, who face the game without their ever industrious captain, Gabi, for that visit to Chelsea. That one shot alone from the Atletico captain nearly enough to settled matters for the home side, as his long distance strike had the Chelsea keeper beaten. But was millimetres the wrong side of the right hand post.
If there was any beauty on the night it was proffered by the home side, who seem to know nothing else but counter attacking for ninety minutes. Not unlike the valiant side Dave O’Leary inherited at Leeds United which saw them reach the semi-final in 2001. For Simeone however it may have been the first time he faced a few parked buses across the Calderon playing surface, as Jose Mourinho resorted to standard operating procedure that over the years have defeated Barcelona and Bayern in recent seasons. First coming to light at the Stadion Gelsenkirchen in 2004 when unfancied Porto defeated football royalty, AS Monaco, managed by Didier Deschamps.
As a contribution to football spectacle - in Bill Shankly parlance – the first semi-final must rank well below the standards at Anfield during his time which saw the club win the equivalent of the Premier League in 1963–64, 1965–66, 1972–73; the FA Cup in 1964–65, 1973–74; the FA Charity Shield in 1964, 1965, 1966, 1974 and a UEFA Cup in 1972–73. Arguably laying the foundations for his successor Bob Paisley to add to by winning 6 League titles, 3 League Cups, 6 FA Charity Shields, 3 Champions Leagues in 1977, 1978 and 1981. As well as a UEFA Cup and UEFA Super Cup.
Alarmingly if one was compelled to watch any of those games again today, it would probably be done by many fans with little hesitation. Although that maybe more nostalgia and rose tinted glass than objectivity. In contrast would struggle to even watch the highlights of the two matches televised this week. Unless they were obliged to under duress. Leading many to agree with the words of Franz Beckenbauer after the Real Madrid v Bayern game at the Bernabeu stadium
"Possession means nothing when the opponent has the chances. We can be happy that Real only scored one goal", Beckenbauer said.
A valid quote even under Der Kaisers time coaching Germany, where the only game that comes to mind in ugliness was the World Cup final at Italia 90, when an over physical Argentina tried to unsuccessfully outmuscle the natural athleticism of a talented German team. Which in the end was settled by Andy Brehme’s penalty in the 85th minute. By which time Argentina had seen two players sent off for dangerous tackles.
The tactics of Jose Mourinho border on the similar as he openly admitted picking a physical side for the encounter with Simeone, who now infamously provoked David Beckhams’ sending at the World Cup of 1998 in France. Albeit his alleged reputation as a hard man has seen him revamp an ailing Atletico Madrid over the past two seasons into a brand that is now in contention for the La Liga title for the first time since 1996. And on the verge of reaching their first Champions League final since 1974 which they lost 3-0 to a rampant Bayern Munich in Brussels. Captained ironically by Franz Beckenbauer.
All on the back of already winning the Copa del Rey last season and a current unbeaten home record that would send any pundit into the national library of Spain to find out when such a feat was close to being repeated.
As if that was not enough, they are also an exciting team to watch as Diego Simeone is not obsessed about possession. Rather attacking with the ball at speed and has as such invented the antithesis of Tiki-Taka…Attacka Attacka!
Across the city Carlo Ancelotti proved unable to escape his Italian DNA and so still wavers little from the counter attack formation he long favours and learnt by wrote as a player in Serie A. But who could argue with a CV that has delivered two Champions Leagues with AC Milan. Perhaps could even have been a third had the bizarre comeback of Liverpool in Istanbul not come to pass and see Gerrard the Reds to take the game to a penalty shoot-out. Which then incredibly saw the majestic Andrea Pirlo and the Footballer of the Year Andry Shevchenko miss penalties in the heat of the Atatürk Olympic Stadium.
Like Mourinho there is a formula that has guaranteed success in two competitions which underlies their philosophy.
But so has Pep Guardiola during his time at Barcelona where a clutter of La Liga titles and other trophies decorate his footballing CV. The problem perhaps for Guardiola is that the tiki-taka carved out from his years of tutelage of the Clockwork Orange of Johan Cruyff and Rinus Michels, has now been mastered by most opponents. In an era where one touch possession and constant possession was mesmerising many teams floundered under the dizzying movement of Xavi, Iniesta, Messi and company. Especially Premier League teams who found constant possession alien to their weekly matches. Consequently Barcelona were untouchable during that period.
But as Roberto Di Matteo discovered during his brief tenure – yet triumphant - at The Bridge, Barca were beatable once they were deprived of time on the ball and not given space to breathe. In 2014 Pep methods have now been analysed, dissected and broken down with increased frequency.
Best exemplified when Holland met Spain in the 2010 World Cup final and the likes of Van Bommel resorted to the physical game. A last ditch effort to break down rather than practice a style that the likes of Van Persie, Wesley Sneijder and others were superior at on their day. Thankfully history validates that occasion with the right victor on the night. But as a game plan the constant passing is now finding itself tired and dated in a new era where passed are played at high speed, with power and swift movement. Offering more penetration into the penalty box rather than all the lateral criss-crossing. Beautifully demonstrated last season by BVB Dortmund, with manager Juergen Klopp giving Mourinho’s Madrid a lesson over the four games in last season's Champions League. Finally ending Jose dream of rewriting the record books winning his a third title leading a team from a third different country.
In the real world there is little to do when Robert Lewandowksi, Marco Reus and Mario Goetze are running at flatfooted defenders at speed with the ball at their feet - dinking intricately weighted passes manoeuvring defenders. Something that Bayern also exemplified to beat Real Madrid two seasons ago in the semi-finals. Albeit by penalties in the end thus ending Mourinho’s tenure at the Casa Blanca. Revenge perhaps for the final at the same Santiago Bernabeu venue where Inter Milan unwound Bayern in the 2010 final with defensive display second to none.
In those times the Mourinho effect still had inertia and his treble winning season in Milan prior to Madrid was testament that his method had merit and yielded results.
Again, some four seasons later those matches have been analysed and now most teams know how to outgun the Special One over two games. At least the more experienced ones. Which is where Simeone perhaps fell short. Still only a Champions League rookie, along with his players, as Atletico have not been at these lofty levels in over four decades. So he can perhaps be forgiven for not foreseeing the full extent of the Mourinho game plan. For the return leg he faces a depleted Chelsea with John Terry out, Eto’o still injured and a host of suspensions to the likes of Frank Lampard that will offer hope to his regular game plan. Particularly as the away goal could prove enough.
Whatever the outcome of the return legs the spirit of the beautiful game will be squeezed by the high stakes which can instil a lack of imagination or invention. A weight that could hinder the managers of Madrid, Chelsea and Bayern. All of whom have pressure to make it to the Lisbon final.
Bayern now facing the result of a game plan that saw them consistently caught by the quick Madrid breakaways. Fortunate perhaps too that Ronaldo left his shooting boots at home. The truer result being a 2, 3 or 4 goal deficit on the night. With Pep unable to revamp the game plan in a place where he has fearlessly torn Madrid apart during many a Clasico.
As things stand Simeone could be on his way to winning his first Champions League title as manager, a distinction that eluded him as a player. Not unlike Jose Mourinho who entered the football hall of fame as manager having a very modest playing career. Something that cannot be said about Ancelotti who won twice with Milan. Or with Guardiola who won it once in 1992 at Wembley with Cruyff’s Barcelona.
Next week three of those managers will dream of the chance to join Bob Paisley, the only current manager to win the Champions League three times. A man who made his life at Liverpool for 38 years rather than travel the road of Europe as do the new managers of now. Not unlike Shankly, or indeed Beckenbauer, Paisley’s vision of the beautiful game was also simple. Yet effective. More of the Simeone kind it has to be said.
"It’s not about the long ball or the short ball, it’s about the right ball."
Bob Paisley
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