re: UEFA CL Qfinals 2nd leg DAY TWO (4/10 Matchday thread) 1:45 CST

Ancellotti really did a great job getting all the new faces on PSG on the same page.

Best CL managerial job so far after Pelegrini. It's a valid point that Malaga didn't really have the toughest draw throughout. However, that Pelegrini had Malaga a missed call from the semis starting 2 players who didn't even usually make the bench for the worst Roma side of this decade makes him a candidate for manager of the year.


PSG were a pretty tough match up for Barcelona, possessing a lot of perfect elements that have proven to be key to breaking them down. More than questions Barca deserves credit for getting past them:

Verratti: high quality deep lying playmaker that can hold the ball when pressed by 2 or 3 players and spray incisive passes out from a deep defensive position. This kid's already backing up the voices who were criticized for saying he was the next elite DLP while still in Serie B.

Lucas and to a lesser degree Lavezzi: pace and ability to get by the first defender on counters

Ibra: he doesn't get a lot of credit on this board but I think he's a once in a generation type talent. That he holds up anything that comes his way and picks out killer passes is perfect against Barca's pressure.

Pastore: more often than not, Barca pressuring him simply meant desperately chasing the open guy he got the ball to.

PSG were capable of playing a full match like AC Milan could only do in brief stretches and with 5 players in the counter that all have the quality Milan probably only had in Montolivo and El Sharawaay.



And, on Barca, Messi may score 20 goals in a half against Deportivo but this match where he didn't score a goal serves as a much better example of simply how good and important he is.

It may not be until he's over 30 that we'll ever see him come in again as a 60th minute sub in a huge match.

It was amazing to see the massive gaps opening in the defense the second he walked on the pitch and that's the difference created subbing him for a player of Fabregas' quality.

Makes me wonder if Barca would be better to still send Messi out to just stand around on one leg no matter how badly he's injured.