⚽UEFA Champions League Discussion Thread -- 2021/22 winner - Real Madrid!

[slaman29]

I also agree that it is not easy for the new Barcelona coach to make improvements to the game in a team as big as Barcelona,
especially Barcelona's appearance in the Champions League in 2019/2020 is arguably quite bad. But if you look at Koeman's
experience, Barcelona should be able to become Europa's best team again. Although it is not enough to just rely on purchasing
top players, because the adaptation of each player is different. Here it takes the role of a coach to implement the right strategy.

They've been horrendous for three or four seasons in a row now in UCL, I mean some great Messi performances as usual but when his team is down he can't always pick them up. I have no choice but to support Koeman now so I hope he gets the same support from the governance as he did with Netherlands... time will tell. He's a man manager too so who knows?

[giammangiato]

Do you really think that Inter can buy Messi? the price is really very high, probably too high for this kind of operation. In my opinion the story is not over yet, there will be more news.
I would very much like to see Messi play in Italy, we hope it can happen.

[tokeweed]

^  Don't underestimate the Chinese billionaires who back Inter.    Milan is where I actually think Messi was going after his contract ends at Barca next year with his dad buying a house there and prolly starting to settle there and all.

If City isn't successful in acquiring Messi in this transfer window, he's prolly going to Inter next summer.  

[kassex]

Financially rich clubs can win the Champions League once with money and that's it. Building a team that can dominate for several years requires not only finances, but also a smart coach and manager.You also need to pay attention to the philosophy of the club and select coaches and players for this philosophy.

Yes, they need several years to build a good team with solid team work. But, see what happen with several clubs in EPL, Serie-A, La Liga most of richest clubs there mostly want to have a a solid team instantly. When the coach fail to bring a trophy, they are sacked. Or, after they are fail to bring another trophy, they are also very easy to get sacked by clubs owner. They must learn to Manchester United in Ferguson era, when he can't bring a trophy, MU still believe in his capability as their coach. When he found a good formula for their team, MU can be a EPL or UEFA Champions winner.

Nowadays, very few clubs can afford to wait several years for success. There will be no such as the great Ferguson. Many coaches themselves do not want to work in one place for a long time. Many have a plan for 3-5 years.

[Daniel91]

I don't know if anyone is aware of that here, but UEFA has just made some very important and no so popular decisions about continuing the competition.
Given that it has already been shown in several cases that some matches in European club competitions had to be postponed and even canceled completely, due to players infected with coronavirus, UEFA has made decisions on how to deal with these situations in the future.
You can see all the new rules here: https://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/mediaservices/mediareleases/news/0260-1043693afa4e-40877a739cf7-1000--uefa-executive-committee-approves-new-principles/
The rules address various possible situations that may occur in the competition and the most controversial rule is the following:
3) if the match cannot be rescheduled, the UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body will take a decision on the matter. The national association that is responsible for the match not taking place or not being played in full will be declared to have forfeited the match by the UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body unless the latter comes to the conclusion that both or none of the teams is/are responsible for the match not taking place or not being played in full, meaning the match cannot be declared as forfeited. If the match cannot be declared as forfeited, the outcome of the match will be decided by drawing of lots (i.e. win 1-0, loss 0-1 or draw 0-0) carried out by the UEFA administration;

So, it is possible that UEFA will use a lottery to decide who won a match, which is a highly controversial decision.
What do you think?

[masulum]

Nowadays, very few clubs can afford to wait several years for success. There will be no such as the great Ferguson. Many coaches themselves do not want to work in one place for a long time. Many have a plan for 3-5 years.

3-5 years is okay, because for the 1 and 2 years will become time to try developing team. Many coach don't want to be a coach for long time because board management intervenes or is too involved in the selection / transfer of players and targets something that makes the coach want to left.

So, it is possible that UEFA will use a lottery to decide who won a match, which is a highly controversial decision.
What do you think?

I think this rules look like what happen in the walk out matches. The team who left the game will be lose.

[Naida_BR]

^  Don't underestimate the Chinese billionaires who back Inter.    Milan is where I actually think Messi was going after his contract ends at Barca next year with his dad buying a house there and prolly starting to settle there and all.

If City isn't successful in acquiring Messi in this transfer window, he's prolly going to Inter next summer.  

If he joins Inter or Serie A in general it would be the most interesting transfer that he can make.
We are going to see Messi and Ronaldo again in the same league competing to each other.

[babo]

If he joins Inter or Serie A in general it would be the most interesting transfer that he can make.
We are going to see Messi and Ronaldo again in the same league competing to each other.

It would really be a dream, it would be very beautiful. Two great champions fighting each other, the show would be something magical!
Let's hope the Chinese billionaires understand the deal. It would be an enrichment for everyone, not just for them.

[swogerino]

If he joins Inter or Serie A in general it would be the most interesting transfer that he can make.
We are going to see Messi and Ronaldo again in the same league competing to each other.

It would really be a dream, it would be very beautiful. Two great champions fighting each other, the show would be something magical!
Let's hope the Chinese billionaires understand the deal. It would be an enrichment for everyone, not just for them.

A board member Piero Ausilio of Inter said in an official statement that every team in the world would love to welcome Messi however Inter for the moment is not capable of such transfer possibility.So Inter is excluded from Inter.Bigger chances are in Manchester City in the Premier League.

[Darkoth89]

So, it is possible that UEFA will use a lottery to decide who won a match, which is a highly controversial decision.
What do you think?

I am not a fan of that decision with the new rule but I can understand their reasons for it: Every game that has to be postponed throws the schedule for all teams completely off track. The season would have to be extended and extended again. And this way it would be impossible to get back to normality.

But I do not expect that the rule will have to be applied anyway. We already had Covid19 cases in the previous season and (luckily) it was never that bad so a team couldn't attend their match. And for the case that a lottery has to decide which team to win, both teams would've been unable to attend the match. As long as the clubs and players keep following the hygiene regulations, I am quite optimistic.

[TedMosby]

Russia pot 2? Based on what? Their league is not strong enough to get that position.

Well, champions of Russia and Portugal are in 1st pot not without a reason. It's determined by UEFA country coefficients. Russia and Portugal have good ranking and it goes instantly after TOP 5 leagues (EPL, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga and Ligue 1).

-snip-

there's 3 coefficients that is used to determine men's football competitions in UEFA.

• National team coefficient: used to rank national teams.
• Country coefficient: used to rank the collective performance of the clubs of each member association, for assigning the number of places, and at what stage clubs enter the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and the UEFA Europa Conference League
• Club coefficient: used to rank individual clubs, for seeding in the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Europa Conference League

source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_coefficient

[kassex]

Nowadays, very few clubs can afford to wait several years for success. There will be no such as the great Ferguson. Many coaches themselves do not want to work in one place for a long time. Many have a plan for 3-5 years.

3-5 years is okay, because for the 1 and 2 years will become time to try developing team. Many coach don't want to be a coach for long time because board management intervenes or is too involved in the selection / transfer of players and targets something that makes the coach want to left.

The level of intervention in the coach's affairs is determined by the coach himself. If he allows it, then he is hardly a good coach. Strong coaches will never go for this. Show weakness to the coach is contraindicated.

[babo]

A board member Piero Ausilio of Inter said in an official statement that every team in the world would love to welcome Messi however Inter for the moment is not capable of such transfer possibility.So Inter is excluded from Inter.Bigger chances are in Manchester City in the Premier League.

babo heaves a sigh Peccato (in english, damn).
It would have been nice, but I understand that it's not an easy thing to close this deal. It will certainly be as you say, it will go to the Premier league.
I like Messi, let's hope he comes back to show (with socer ball).

[LTU_btc]

So, it is possible that UEFA will use a lottery to decide who won a match, which is a highly controversial decision.
What do you think?

I don't think it would be right decision. There was quite many teams in qualifying rounds which had multiple positive covid-19 tests and were unable to play. But UEFA didn't used lottery to decide winners. For example Slovan and 2 teams from Kosovo were unable to play, so their opponents simply got awarded with 3:0 wins and they were moved to next round. It's harsh, but right decision IMO.

[Juggy777]

A board member Piero Ausilio of Inter said in an official statement that every team in the world would love to welcome Messi however Inter for the moment is not capable of such transfer possibility.So Inter is excluded from Inter.Bigger chances are in Manchester City in the Premier League.

babo heaves a sigh Peccato (in english, damn).
It would have been nice, but I understand that it's not an easy thing to close this deal. It will certainly be as you say, it will go to the Premier league.
I like Messi, let's hope he comes back to show (with socer ball).

@babo Messi is very close to joining Manchester City, and while this deal will prove to be an expensive transfer for them, yet I’m sure that they’ll approve it. Furthermore this deal will also mean that Pep will have to commit for at least two or three years, so you see it’s a win - win situation for Manchester City. Lastly according to rumours Messi is signing a 5 year contract with them i.e. he’ll play 3 years in the premier league, and next 2 year’s he’ll play for City owned Major League Soccer side New York City FC.

Sources:

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/12556672/messi-man-city-contract-barcelona-transfer-dad/

https://www.si.com/soccer/manchestercity/news/pep-guardiola-looking-like-he-has-signed-man-city-contract-extension-unconfirmed-reports

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-8675017/Lionel-Messis-potential-Manchester-City-shatter-financial-commercial-industry.html

[hd49728]

@babo Messi is very close to joining Manchester City, and while this deal will prove to be an expensive transfer for them, yet I’m sure that they’ll approve it. Furthermore this deal will also mean that Pep will have to commit for at least two or three years, so you see it’s a win - win situation for Manchester City. Lastly according to rumours Messi is signing a 5 year contract with them i.e. he’ll play 3 years in the premier league, and next 2 year’s he’ll play for City owned Major League Soccer side New York City FC.

Messi in very end of his career does not want to gamble with a strange coach whom he has not yet worked with before. So from this point of view, Pep is the best coach for Messi. Pep won't leave Manchester City so Messi will come to join the party with Pep. In the Europe, there are only 2 big and rich clubs that can meet demand of Messi, PSG and Man City. Pep won't move to PSG so Messi has only choice to make.

With all of his love for Barcelona, I don't think he will move to Real Madrid.  

Manchester City is already a strong club and they are lack of X-factor. The factor can be Messi. If the transfer will be made, what to wait for the Champions League new season. The clash between Barcelona and Manchester City, why not? I wait to see the reaction and emotion of Messi if he scores goals in clash with Barcelona. Will tear be dropped like Batistuta did when he scored against the club he loves (Fiorentina)?

[tyz]

Messi in very end of his career does not want to gamble with a strange coach whom he has not yet worked with before. So from this point of view, Pep is the best coach for Messi. Pep won't leave Manchester City so Messi will come to join the party with Pep.

I doubt that Messi can really help Manchester City. He is 33 and English football is different from the one he used to know in Spain. The game system would have to be adapted to him, which means that ManCity would have to change its current system. That would be bad for a well-rehearsed team. Besides, it would take at least a season to make it work. By then Messi will be 34, almost 35, and none of this will work.

[BIT-BENDER]

Messi in very end of his career does not want to gamble with a strange coach whom he has not yet worked with before. So from this point of view, Pep is the best coach for Messi. Pep won't leave Manchester City so Messi will come to join the party with Pep.

I doubt that Messi can really help Manchester City. He is 33 and English football is different from the one he used to know in Spain. The game system would have to be adapted to him, which means that ManCity would have to change its current system. That would be bad for a well-rehearsed team. Besides, it would take at least a season to make it work. By then Messi will be 34, almost 35, and none of this will work.

I don't want Messi leaving Barcelona on a personal note/ground but I don't agree that Messi won't adapt to Manchester city. He had played under pep the in Barcelona and the football is not far off from Manchester city style. Ronaldo went to juventus and still playing good football -not at the peak as RONALDO- age but his game is good. Messi would still play good football even if he is to play on the moon, -he has nothing to prove -

[Trofo]

Messi in very end of his career does not want to gamble with a strange coach whom he has not yet worked with before. So from this point of view, Pep is the best coach for Messi. Pep won't leave Manchester City so Messi will come to join the party with Pep.

I doubt that Messi can really help Manchester City. He is 33 and English football is different from the one he used to know in Spain. The game system would have to be adapted to him, which means that ManCity would have to change its current system. That would be bad for a well-rehearsed team. Besides, it would take at least a season to make it work. By then Messi will be 34, almost 35, and none of this will work.

Pep is always tinkering with his squad and I am sure he already has everything figured out in his head. If Messi goes to City there will be adjustments from both parties but I expect them to click and produce results almost immediately. I am thinking Pep would play Messi as a false 9, while at Barca he destroyed Real in one game with Messi playing just that position. City has world class players on the flanks and this kind of tactics would suit them perfectly. If Aguero isn't fit striker position is a bit weak, Jesus never really shined there so this is another point for false 9 theory.

Only problem is Messi defensive running, he has been outputting seriously low numbers in this category, worse and worse every year. That could possibly prove a problem for City.

[hd49728]

I doubt that Messi can really help Manchester City. He is 33 and English football is different from the one he used to know in Spain. The game system would have to be adapted to him, which means that ManCity would have to change its current system. That would be bad for a well-rehearsed team. Besides, it would take at least a season to make it work. By then Messi will be 34, almost 35, and none of this will work.

There are some successful Spanish or La Liga players in Premier League: David Silva, Kun Aguero, Jesus Navas, Santi Carzola so I think the genius player like Messi can play well in Premier League. You made a point here that Manchester City need Messi for the Champions League, not Premier League and they only need him for their first Champions League trophy. Second or third trophy is a too far scenario to think of.

I don't want Messi leaving Barcelona on a personal note/ground but I don't agree that Messi won't adapt to Manchester city. He had played under pep the in Barcelona and the football is not far off from Manchester city style. Ronaldo went to juventus and still playing good football -not at the peak as RONALDO- age but his game is good. Messi would still play good football even if he is to play on the moon, -he has nothing to prove -

No one want to see the transfer (Messi probably did not want too) but it is life and it will very probably happen. If Messi decides to leave Barcelona, and if the transfer happens eventually I can bet with you the first club in Messi's mind is Manchester City where Pep is currently managing the squad.