Champions League 2017/18

Kevin Pullein (soccer boffins) view on whether Real Madrid are lucky or not

"There is a saying going around that Real Madrid "know how to win". I do not think this is true in the sense that it is meant.
Madrid qualified for the CL final - their third in as many years - by beating Bayern 4-3 on aggregate. In both legs they had less possession, fewer shots and from mostly worse positions. It is hard to imagine what they could have been doing deliberately that enabled them to go through.
"Champions win even when they are not playing well," is a longer version of the same sentiment. A better way of putting it, I believe, would be:teams who win when they are not playing well can become champions.
Those sentences might sound similar but they are not the same. Perhaps that will become clearer if I use yet another phrase: good teams can become champions if the ball rolls their way when it matters:
Madrid are a good team who reached a final on this occasion because they won a tie they did not deserve to win. They did not deserve to beat Munich last season in the quarters either. Such things can happen at sport at any level.
One of my favourite sayings comes from Mourinho." It's really about details- lucky or unlucky in the draw, if the ball that hits the post goes in or out, the player that is suspended and cannot play a crucial game, the timing of injuries whereby a team goes into a game missing two or three player, a refereeing decision that can go for or against you."
"Of course only a very good team can win the CL, but I can find, seven, eight, nine teams who can win."
Mourinho got to the heart of the matter.
A saying I like even more came from Sepp Herberger, a World cup winning manager of West Germany:" The ball is round so it can roll in any direction."

 

Cracks me up when I hear that pish, they're lucky, blah blah blah.

Liverpool have met * all on route, including Man City.

* imbeciles.

We'll see how lucky they are facing Dejan Lovren, James Milner and Giorgio Wijnaldum.

 

Really looking forward to this, as much as I don't really like them either I want to see Liverpool win this. * real and their self entitlement and especially Ronaldo - hope Klopp gubs them.

 

Couldn't bare if they screechy every one is a right laugh * won it

 

Lovely little Line

 

They have one of the most expensive squads in the history of football filled with top class, international stars all with track-records of success, winning trophies & awards and massive performances on the big stage. Madness that anybody even suggested luck in the first place.

 

I couldn't stomach Liverpool winning it..

I think Madrid will surprise 'some' and shut a lot of * up down here anyway and win by a couple..

All the talk is of Salah (who is top class) but Madrid have much much more in the tank to threaten a fairly weak Liverpool defence and keeper when under pressure. That right back Arnold had a nightmare against Roma and can see Ronaldo bullying the life outta him as well as Bale or whoever else switches..

Also the key will be in midfield where it's no contest with the middle 3's. Modrid/Kroos/Casemeiro up against Henderson/Milner/Wijnaldum..

 

Real are favourites for me. Surprised to see folk have came across mentions that Liverpool are the favourite for this. It's Real's to lose.

Personally, I have absolutely no preference and only hope it's a cracker of a game.

 

Honestly mate, I'm not really a fan of both clubs. I've always had a bit of a dislike to Liverpool as well

 

I want salah to score 3, ronaldo to do 1 better and nab 4, the final score to be a 7-7 draw and finish on penalties. I want liverpool to win just because the football they play is always great to watch and real need to share the cup greedy *.

 

Hope the Fascists win it , just to see that * Gerrard have a meltdown in the studio.

 

This really is lose-lose for me.

Naturually, I hate English teams winning anything in Europe, though I've been inclined to give Liverpool a pass because I hate Man Utd so much - where I live is full of United EPL fanboys who run down Celtic and the Scottish game, so I take the view that my enemy's enemy is my friend.

However, Gerrard has complicated things. He is now forever tainted because of his association with the Rangers Franchise 2012, so like Gyp, I want him to be in pain in the studio.

Still hate Madrid though. The thought of Kristina diving her way to another CL, ahead of the GOAT: Messi, makes me feel ill.

 

Going to miss this because of work.

Hope Real win though.

 

You no what... aye. Good point. Mon madrid.

 

Never thought I'd say this but I'm edging towards the English team.

Van Dijk, Robertson, Klopp but also because I don't want Real Madrid to win it again.

But most importantly, I know how much it will wind up Man Utd fans.

 

Had a few scousers call in to add on calls from Ukraine took a while to click on, started educating them on Virgil an KT is better than Robertson even though hes still alrite as hes a tim lol

 

Don't hate them both but got a lot of Liverpool fans in my work and i hate Ronaldo so if they can both lose that'd be ideal but I'd lean towards Liverpool

 

Mon CR7, * Pool, * VVD, * Gerrard, * The Beatles.

Mon Madrid!!!

 

Is Lambert the last Scot to win a CL medal?