Copa del rey game: Sevilla - Barcelona
4:35 PM
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A Nap, not a Coma
“There is only an unessential cup to lose in this game, but there are lots of things to gain.”
That was one of the last remarks I made in the game Preview. Basically it’s a Copa del Rey game. A competition that doesn’t weigh a lot neither domestically nor on the continental level for a team that will accept nothing but contributing in the Champions’ league each and every year. That’s why, losing this game is not an issue. We will at least gain more playing time for our squad players who had no chance to play on weekly bases. We will give more game experience for JDS or Thiago. More –needed- confidence for Chegrnskiy. And you can keep pointing out the gains and counting the chicken as long as you like.
But we decided to look for one and only one gain over all the rest, surviving in the CDR (Copa Del Rey). So we started ten key players and a clown.
Here let me start by saying I am not emotional a bet toward this loss. That’s why I came straight to the blog writing this post. Or else I would have ruined some pillows and cut some flowers before starting the typing adventure.
The moment I saw the starting lineup, I had that bad feeling that was mix of hunch and disappointment. The hunch was based on the idea that if things turned ugly, it will damage more than it would if we start some youth. And the disappointment because I wanted to see more creativity in managing this game than rolling your lucky dices. I have no problem in losing a game. And obviously I will not have problems to sleep after being knocked out of the CDR. But I admit being concerned regarding the quality of football I’ve seen. Yes there were some glances of beauty, but the systematic approach was not valid. As I always say, every new game is a new lesson to learn.
Our players were so much in a hurry to move the ball to Sevilla box and score. On a wet field like this, you need more effort to keep possession and command midfield. And you suffer more to keep the balance in moving forward and then smoothly switch to defensive transition when you lose the ball. We started like kamikaze. Running forward as if a train is roaring behind us. We lost possession fast and were not able to catch the pace of Sevilla flanks where our two fullbacks were smoked and outrun.
When they set offense, Sevilla had a supportive forward behind Negredo and two players on the flanks stretching the field wide. When they lost possession they switched to 4-2-3-1. The two holding midfielders (Duscher And Romaric) were covering the midfield trio (Navas, Renato, Adriano). This dynamic trio was applying pressure on Xavi, Iniesta, Busquets, and Messi.
When we set offense, we were full of Anxiety. Messi and Alves failed to link as they used to. Ibra and Henry were lost in the fog. No wonder we were completely containable.
When we lost the ball, We had no customized plan to delay Sevilla offense. Negredo was so good keeping both Puyol and Pique busy in the center, isolating our fullbacks to deal with Navas and Adriano. That’s where a Holding midfielder who acts like a third Center back with Puyol and Pique during offense and transition would have been a bless. We would have covered Both Abidal and Alves this way, and closed any path for Renato. Yaya could have helped here . Even though it effects our playmaking a bit, but it creates more deep-defensive cover. Keita could have been the perfect solution in the midfield as well with either Busquets or Yaya. But we cant complain that we missed them when we play against Sevilla semi squad.
Yet the main Issue was picking this game to play more direct. During the first half I thought for a moment that I was watching a game in the English premier league. We didn’t calm the ball for a moment in the midfield and exchanged short passes to maintain possession and open spaces in the final third to drive our offense through. Long sloppy passes was the slogan.
Between the two halves I wrote the following in the comment session of the game preview:
1) Our players are so in a hurry to score. In this wet pitch the tempo we played can’t help us to control the playmaking. Next half we need to be more patient. Move the ball to the offense third and it’s there we can accelerate things.
2) In defense set up, Sevilla is playing 4-2-3-1.The 3 midfielders are putting pressure on our midfielders with Duscher and Konko (I meant to say Romaric) creating cover. In such situations there is a need that Henry and ibra dance between the defenders and the two holding mids. Messi need to play in space. Alves and Iniesta have to open the flanks with Busquets and Xavi covering and maintaining ball circulation. They play a lone striker when they defend, so the three defenders must be able to cover behind and assist the holding midfielder.
3) Next half it seems Sevilla will use Capel. Probably to put more pressure on Alves to prevent him from going forward. Pedro will be useful in this case.
4) Again, we need to move the ball to the offense third, then accelerate things crossing the ball to henry and Ibra in the box or -most importantly- shooting from outside the box.
We improved a bit regarding the game tempo and passing in the second half. But not enough to meet expectations. Regarding the second point, If you watch the attempt we made minute 59 you will know exactly what I mean, that was the lone demonstration before the games passed its first hour of age. We scored almost the only shooting attempt we made. And Pedro came in too late to sweat.
Till the sixtieth minute Iniesta and Messi were stepping on each other in the center of the field. Instead of helping in stretching the field. And with Henry crossing the ball to Sevilla Center backs from the left, the flanks were not ticking properly. Ibra was trying too much to be efficient. Pinto was the only player who was taking risks and moving forward. And I thought I will not mention him in this review.
Still, I feel if we would have made the changes 20 minutes earlier we could have changed the game. Woulda…coulda…shoulda…It didn’t happen anyway.
This is a game report that is written at the heat of the moment directly after the game ended. I may have some other issues to address after I watch the game again tomorrow. For now I will dive in bed having only the bright sides in my mind. First, the six titles repetition is something we buried today. Yea, that’s good news for me as now we can have our feet on the ground and have realistic approach to the season. And secondly, we can hope that today we exhausted Sevilla more than they did to us, so the following game at the Camp Nou will be more attainable.
And if you found lot of wrong spelling mistakes, it has nothing to do with the defeat, I wasn’t biting my typing fingers all night. Cheer up. Chins up. Now we are all focused on the serious titles, The big fish!
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