LISBON – Penggawa Bayern Munich, Alphonso Davies, saat ini sedang merasa bahagia karena berhasil membantu timnya lolos ke final Liga Champions 2019-2020. Kepastian itu didapatkan usai Bayern mampu menghajar Olympique Lyon di semifinal dengan skor 3-0 pada Kamis (20/8/2020) dini hari WIB.
Davies pun menyebut saat ini rekan-rekan setimnya di Bayern sedang merayakan keberhasilan mereka mencapai final Liga Champions 2019-2020 tersebut. Terlebih pertandingan final nanti akan menjadi final ke-11 Bayern di ajang si Kuping Besar tersebut, yang mana menjadikan klub itu berada di urutan kedua dalam tim yang sering tampil di partai puncak Liga Champions.
Akan tetapi, fullback kiri Bayern itu berharap perayaan itu tak berlangsung lama. Sebab Davies sangat ingin timnya fokus jelang menjalani laga pamungkas mereka di Liga Champions musim ini.
Apalagi Davies tahu betul laga final nanti tidaklah mudah, sebab lawan yang akan dihadapi Bayern adalah Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). Ia percaya PSG bakal memberikan perlawanan yang amat sulit dan bakal merepotkan Bayern.
Bahkan Davies memprediksi akan ada banyak gol di laga final Liga Champions 2019-2020 tersebut. Namun, pemain asal Kanada itu memastikan bahwa tim yang mencetak lebih banyak gol adalah Bayern.
Davies juga senang karena lawannya adalah PSG. Sebab sebagai seorang pemain, Davies menyebutkan bahwa sudah menjadi impiannya untuk bisa menghadapi tim terbaik di Eropa saat ini dan PSG jelas adalah salah satunya.
Memphis missed a huge chance early in the first half | Pool/Getty Images
There are, hear me out here, ways to beat Bayern Munich.
No, I don’t mean giving them all food poisoning. No, I don’t mean nicking their boots ahead of kick off. Genuinely, this seemingly impossible task is actually possible.
You’ll need everything to go your way and 10/10 performances across the board, but if Lyon showed us anything on Wednesday night, it’s that Die Roten can be got at.
What we saw in the previous round against Barcelona was a painfully inept game plan from the Spanish side that screamed ‘beat me’. What we saw from Lyon was quite the opposite, as despite the defeat, the French giants etched out the blueprint for how to beat Bayern – and here it is:
Hans-Dieter Flick’s side like to, in no lesser terms, dominate football matches. That doesn’t mean bully the opposition off of the ball. Plain and simply, they want possession. All of it.
So, taking a leaf out of Barça’s book, don’t play a flat four in midfield. You’re stood in no man’s land. It’s pointless. Flood your attack and wide areas with pace. Seems simple, because it is.
When you do come up against the Bavarians, the transitions when you turn the ball over are key. You have actually get it first, of course, but given that they play such an astronomically high line, exploiting those gaps either side of the centre-backs is where you can do the most damage. Effectively, Die Roten want to shrink the pitch into a single half.
Doing that is fine if the players you’re facing can’t finish. Y’know, like Lyon.
That is a dangerous ploy, however.
As we saw in the opening proceedings on Wednesday, Lyon were tearing Bayern to shreds. With fire in their bellies they utilised a medium press that caught their opponents off guard in midfield, with the forward pair anxiously waiting for the turnovers to switch on the afterburners.
Even if it meant Memphis Depay dropping into the central hole to double up on Leon Goretzka and Thiago, they exposed the areas of weakness in Flick’s side and set about exploiting them.
Alphonso Davies, for all his brilliance, practically plays as a left-winger. Bayern have such confidence in their own abilities that this doesn’t trouble them. As it shouldn’t – they boast outstanding ball retention across their starting lineup. But you can’t keep the ball forever. You just can’t. Not in a Champions League final, at least.
In the case of Lyon, Depay stared down on David Alaba in central defence, knowing he drifts far apart from his opposite centre-back. As soon as the initial press is broken, that space is there to be run into. Alaba is no slouch, but Jerome Boateng has lost a few yards of pace. After him Niklas Sule is hardly Speedy Gonzales neither.
They got away with it on this occasion…well, many occasions on Wednesday…but you can only hope for Die Roten that they’ve learnt their lesson after tonight. Kylian Mbappe, human speed jet, won’t take any prisoners. Nor will Neymar, for that matter. He can’t spurn opportunities three games in a row. Surely not.
Bayern will be ripped to pieces by Paris Saint-Germain if they persist on playing their defence so far forward. Making a (very) rough estimate, the backline needs to drop back at least five yards. Offering those gaps for two of the best players on the planet to waltz into is footballing suicide. They will concede goals, and plenty of them.
What we can hope for, with a certain degree of confidence, is that Sunday’s showpiece will be BRILLIANT.
Yes, there are no fans and that sucks, but when was the last time a Champions League final got the pulses racing quite like this one? Mbappe, Neymar, Di Maria, Lewandowski, Gnabry, Thiago, Muller.
Vietnam Training Session and Press Conference | Pakawich Damrongkiattisak/Getty Images
Mới đây HLV Park Hang Seo trong một buổi trả lời truyền thông đã thông báo về việc sẽ giảm lương để giảm áp lực lên lên đoàn bóng đá Việt Nam trong lúc dịch bệnh hoành hành
Trong buổi trả lời truyền thông vào sáng nay (18/8),sau khi trả lời những câu hỏi liên quan đến việc vòng loại WC 2022 sẽ bị hoãn và được đặt câu hỏi khác về chủ đề giảm lương giữa mùa COVID-19, HLV Park Hang-seo đã có những chia sẻ rất thẳng thắn.
“Theo anh chị phóng viên thì tôi nên chọn phương án nào là tối ưu nhất? Tất cả những vấn đề đã được quy định rất chi tiết trong hợp đồng giữa tôi và VFF. Tôi nghĩ chuyện điều chỉnh lương là vấn đề mà chúng ta không nên suy nghĩ một cách dễ dàng quá.
Tôi biết tình hình Việt Nam rất khó khăn do ảnh hưởng của dịch COVID-19. Nhưng nếu đặt vấn đề vì như thế mà điều chỉnh lương bổng thì chúng tôi lại phải ngồi lại để tái ký hợp đồng với VFF thôi
Ở thời điểm hiện tại, chúng ta có nhiều cách làm. Với tôi đó là công việc, là sự cống hiến phục vụ cho bóng đá Việt Nam cũng như đóng góp cho bóng đá trẻ.
Nếu như năm nay không chịu ảnh hưởng của dịch COVID-19 thì tôi sẽ đóng góp nhiều hơn đến bóng đá trẻ. Dẫu sao đi nữa, tôi và ê kíp của mình cũng là người nước ngoài. Tôi cũng có lòng tự trọng riêng của tôi. Tôi cũng sẽ trao đổi với người đại diện của tôi để có những thông tin nói chuyện với liên đoàn, nếu có vấn đề đó.”
JURGEN KLOPP mengulangi hasrat untuk meninggalkan Liverpool sebaik kontraknya berakhir dan mungkin bersara daripada bidang pengurusan selepas bercuti selama setahun.
Pengurus berusia 53 tahun itu telah memenangi Liga Perdana Inggeris (EPL), Liga Juara-Juara (UCL), Piala Dunia Kelab dan Piala Super UEFA dalam tempoh lima musim di Anfield manakala kontraknya terikat sehingga 2024.
Saham Klopp melonjak tertinggi selepas mengakhiri penantian selama 30 tahun The Reds untuk meraih kejayaan liga tetapi dia tidak akan memperbaharui perjanjiannya dan mungkin akan meninggalkan sukan ini sepenuhnya.
“Saya akan berehat selama setahun dan bertanya kepada diri sendiri adakah saya akan merindui bola sepak. Sekiranya tidak, maka itu adalah pengakhiran Jurgen Klopp sebagai pengurus.
“Jika suatu hari kelak saya tidak lagi menjadi pengurus, ada satu perkara yang tidak akan saya rindukan: situasi penuh tegang sebelum perlawanan,” katanya kepada Sport Buzzer.
Skuad dari Merseyside itu kembali menjalani latihan pra-musim selepas rehat singkat sejurus musim lalu berakhir apabila mereka akan kembali ke aksi kompetitif, hanya tiga minggu selepas musim ini berakhir.
Begitupun, sungguhpun berdepan rehat yang singkat, Klopp masih yakin pemainnya sudah bersedia untuk mempertahankan gelaran EPL.
“Seluruh kelab ini teruja untuk mengharungi musim baru dan mahu melakukan yang lebih baik lagi.
“Kami ingin menghambat lawan dan bola di seluruh pelusuk padang dan terus menjadi sebuah pasukan yang bukan senang untuk dihadapi.
“Kami bukan hanya mempertahankan gelaran, kami ingin mendapatkan yang baru – kami baru sahaja mulai menang,” katanya.
Klopp baru-baru ini dinobatkan sebagai Pengurus Terbaik musim ini dan secara meluasnya dianggap sebagai pengurus terbaik di dunia selepas sekali lagi mengharungi musim yang berjaya bersama Liverpool.
Namun, bekas pengurus Mainz dan Borussia Dortmund itu dengan pantas berkongsi pujian tersebut dengan kakitangan belakang tabir selain pendapat situasi itu boleh berubah dengan pantas.
“Tidak lama dahulu Klopp gagal memenangi aksi final, apatah lagi Liga Perdana seumur hidup ini.
“Sekarang semuanya menjadi perhatian dan dirasakan berbeza. Tentu saja, kita lebih suka menjadi popular daripada tidak. Lebih baik langsing daripada gemuk. Dan kemenangan juga lebih bagus daripada kekalahan.
“Kini saya seorang pengurus yang lebih baik berbanding 10 tahun yang lalu — pakej keseluruhan Klopp lebih tekal dan lebih kompleks.
“Dalam tugasan saya di England ini, adalah mustahak untuk menghasilkan yang terbaik dan paling bermotivasi dalam semua bidang serta memenangkannya. Inilah kesenian dan cabaran terbesarnya.
“Pemain, pelatih, pakar terapi, tukang urut, doktor, penganalisis video, penasihat pemakanan, komunikasi — atau sesiapa sahaja. Kami berada di posisi yang sensasi di Liverpool FC.
“Saya 100 peratus mempercayai kakitangan saya. LFC jauh daripada sekadar seorang individu,” katanya.
LISBON – Tiket ke Final Liga Champions 2019-2020 berhasil digenggam Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) usai menaklukkan RB Leipzig dengan skor 3-0. Kini, Les Parisien tinggal menanti siapa pemenang laga antara Olympique Lyon vs Bayern Munich yang digelar Kamis 20 Agustus 2020 dini hari WIB.
Seperti diketahui, PSG berhasil mencatatkan tinta emas dengan lolos ke Final Liga Champions untuk pertama kali sepanjang sejarah berdirinya klub sejak 1970. Keberhasilan itu didapat usai menang telak 3-0 atas RB Leipzig di Stadion Da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal, Rabu (19/8/2020) dini hari WIB.
Skuad racikan Thomas Tuchel tampil dominan sejak peluit dibunyikan wasit Bjorn Kuipers. Alhasil, mereka mampu unggul cepat lewat sundulan Marquinhos di menit 13. Setelah itu, PSG menambah dua gol lagi berkat Angel di Maria (42’) dan Juan Bernat (53’).
Terkait siapa lawan di final, Thomas Tuchel menjagokan Bayern Munich seperti kebanyakan pecinta sepakbola. Walau begitu, ia sadar siapa pun lawan di babak final nantinya akan jadi tantangan terbesar dalam karier kepelatihan. Karena itu, pria asal Jerman tersebut akan menikmati jalannya pertandingan.
“Saya akan menonton dan menyaksikan pertandingan besok bersama para pemain dan staf. Kami tahu Bayern adalah favorit, tetapi ini lah sepakbola. Tentu saja, ini akan menjadi tantangan terbesar untuk karier saya,” papar Thomas Tuchel, sebagaimana dikutip dari Goal, Rabu (19/8/2020).
Laga Final Liga Champions 2019-2020 sendiri akan digelar di Stadion Da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal. PSG vs Bayern Munich akan menjadi final ideal dari tiga tim tersisa. Namun, laga PSG vs Olympique Lyon juga akan tercatat dalam buku sejarah sebagai All French Finale pertama.
PSG advanced to their maiden Champions League final following victory over RB Leipzig | Pool/Getty Images
Paris Saint-Germain advanced into their first Champions League final after easing past an overwhelmed RB Leipzig side in Lisbon on Tuesday night.
Marquinhos opened the scoring for Les Parisiens with a superbly-taken glancing header from a heavenly Angel Di Maria set-piece, before Die Roten Bullen proved the masters of their own downfall as the French champions raced into a 2-0 lead through Di Maria himself.
PSG’s superiority was stark and their comfortable triumph was complete early in the second period through Juan Bernat.
This was a game Thomas Tuchel’s men should’ve won, but perhaps one they would’ve lost in years gone by – see the Manchester United defeat last season.
Not this PSG side, however. Whether it be their impressive turnaround against Borussia Dortmund in the last 16 or their recent mini-remontada against Atalanta, they’ve proved themselves to be cut from a different cloth compared to their predecessors, and Tuchel has to take plenty of credit.
The German’s approach against Julian Nagelsmann’s enterprising Leipzig was methodical, somewhat pragmatic but mightily effective. Sure, there were examples of neat combination play to bypass their Leipzig’s typically well-orchestrated press, but their gameplan was clear and simple: play direct and expose your opponent’s primary weakness.
And throughout, PSG were able to get at a vulnerable, if not brilliantly coached, Leipzig defence which often surrenders too much space in-behind and has trouble slowing down sides in transition. In Kylian Mbappe and Neymar, Tuchel possessed two superstars capable of killing the East Germans on their own, but the deployment of his two haymakers was smart and efficient.
As Mbappe was typically utilised out on the left, tasked with penetrating in-behind through his overwhelming speed and supreme off-the-ball movement, Neymar found himself in a false nine role which brought about greater structure to PSG’s attacks compared to their collective struggles against Atalanta.
There was greater harmony between Les Parisiens’ front three – with Angel Di Maria’s return proving a huge bonus in all phases – and Neymar once again starred. His movement between the lines created a dilemma for Leipzig’s centre-back pairing and caused Kevin Kampl problems throughout. So often was he able to outfox the Slovenian metronome before embarking on supreme samba silk, with space created by the Brazilian’s unselfish movement smartly exploited by PSG’s wingers.
His mature and glorious display was epitomised by the most subtle but elegant of flicks to assist Di Maria for PSG’s second, as Tuchel’s impressive defensive set-up – combined with the industry and intelligence of PSG’s front six – ensured Leipzig were pretty pitiful building-up possession, with their woes summarised in that sequence.
Again, Tuchel has to be credited for formulating a plan. It was clear Kampl’s body positioning when he received was a trigger to press and PSG were often able to overwhelm Leipzig’s metronome as the Slovenian received possession with his back to goal. The timing of the press meant Kampl wasn’t able to use his supreme press-resistance to wriggle away from his opponents.
An impressive Ander Herrera, meanwhile, was crucial to a superb performance off the ball from the French champions.
Overall, Nagelsmann’s mentor took full advantage of his apprentice’s disappointingly conservative approach in the opening period. The Leipzig string-puller’s commitment to a fluid system depending on the phase of the game remained – a 4-5-1 out of possession, 3-1-5-1 in possession – but there was a certain tepidness to Die Roten Bullen’s play which we hadn’t seen all season. Scared to progress upfield almost, knowing of the threats which awaited them going the other way.
A switch to a 4-2-2-2 along with the introductions of Patrik Schick and Emil Forsberg saw the Germans improve briefly after the restart, but this was PSG’s night and Bernat’s header secured victory before the hour mark.
They were dominant from the outset and controlled proceedings throughout. Presnel Kimpembe and Thiago Silva continued their superb form over the past month as they shutout Yussuf Poulsen with consummate ease, while both displayed a distinct comfort with the ball at their feet.
The often-overlooked Leandro Paredes, meanwhile, churned out possibly his finest showing in a PSG shirt since his arrival from Zenit. The Argentine was typically the man to spot Neymar’s movement behind Leipzig’s midfield line and pick him out with precise line-breaking passes. He was efficient circulating possession and uncharacteristically astute off of it – cutting out passing lanes and tracking runners doggedly. Paredes’ display will certainly give Tuchel a selection headache for the final following Marco Verratti’s return from an ankle injury.
The diminutive Italian just has to start, right?
Nevertheless, it’s a good problem for Tuchel to have as the former Dortmund boss goes about formulating a gameplan to defeat what will likely be Hansi Flick’s relentless Bayern in Sunday’s final.
Die Roten will likely be favourites, but PSG have proved capable of winning in Europe with contrasting ideals on display in Lisbon.
Their late show against Atalanta saw overwhelming individualism come to the fore but the dismantling of Nagelsmann’s Leizpig was made possible through a clear emphasis on the collective. This PSG side have discovered a new-found identity under their superb German boss, with their evolution epitomised by Neymar’s maturity to spearhead Les Parisiens’ rise to their first-ever Champions League final.
Their Brazilian superstar is just 90 minutes away from completing a legacy-defining campaign.
