All credit to Liverpool, they were fantastic, but how can a team of such great footballers as Barcelona collapse so badly under pressure ?
The answer is Wenger syndrome. You have to cultivate it, buying a group of players who as a unit combine to be soft and lack mental fortitude under pressure - and to make it flourish you must ruthlessly weed out any leaders that you find in the pack.
Wenger developed the ability to cultivate this team ethic over time and by the end of his tenure he was the master - setting new standards.
Not everybody can appreciate the experience of watching their team fold like a cheap suit, and Barcelona may yet decide to try and go down a different path, but they will have to act quickly in that case, because if you entrench the pretty loser mentality successfully into a group as Wenger expertly did, then eradicating “Wenger syndrome" is like trying to get rid of Japanese Knotweed - you have to burn it out...
Barca have ‘Wenger syndrome’
posted on 8/5/19
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 8/5/19
For at least 70 minutes of that game, I actually thought they played well and didn't deserve to be down 1-0 at halftime. Even at the beginning of the second half when they struggled, Suarez was in on goal and Alisson pulled off the crucial save. Then chaos ensued.
Alba had a stinker. As did Rakitic. Coutinho was so bad and utterly useless, I felt sorry for him. Valverde is to blame most though.
posted on 8/5/19
There are a few players who have come with high talent (Coutinho, Dembele and Malcom) who have not hit the oreducted heights under Valverde.
posted on 8/5/19
Alba has been dodgy all his career but Barca are so dominant that he never gets exposed. The way we play we are so wrong for Barca. We will challenge and attack there full backs.
posted on 8/5/19
comment by (kash) I'm the Mané (U1108)
posted 1 minute ago
Alba has been dodgy all his career but Barca are so dominant that he never gets exposed. The way we play we are so wrong for Barca. We will challenge and attack there full backs.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Alba was dominant on his flank in the first half. He was probably Barca's best player in that half despite his error for the first goal. TAA was on the back foot dealing with his marauding runs. He was abysmal though in the 2nd. First Barca player to lose his head and nerve.
posted on 8/5/19
I couldn't believe how unfit they were in comparison. They've strolled the league this season, had a few games off recently and they still couldn't keep up with our players despite playing 3 games in 7 days.
posted on 8/5/19
comment by The Welsh Xavi (U15412)
posted 6 minutes ago
I couldn't believe how unfit they were in comparison. They've strolled the league this season, had a few games off recently and they still couldn't keep up with our players despite playing 3 games in 7 days.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
no team can match us when it comes to going toe to toe, Pep tried last year and changed his whole philosophy and approach just for our games this year as he saw the results.
Spurs tried under Poch a few times too in Klopps first years too, if you try matching us at what we are best at you stand little chance.
Messi warned them after the first leg where he was trying to slow the game down at all costs that they could not match us playing at that pace and that they were knackered after it. They had the weekend off and still looked like they were feeling the effects.
posted on 8/5/19
Yeah Barca were poor but man Liverpool at Anfield are a different class. Arsene Wenger was spot on. 1st game was decided on individual brilliance but the second leg at Anfield would be the crucial test and Barca failed.
A lot of posters have given Pool a lot of grief these few seasons (aye me as well lads ) but you can't deny Pool are a different class this season. Such an awesome display and without Salah and Firmino as well.
posted on 8/5/19
comment by Serial WUManiser™© - #Bercow4PM (U1410)
posted 3 minutes ago
Yeah Barca were poor but man Liverpool at Anfield are a different class. Arsene Wenger was spot on. 1st game was decided on individual brilliance but the second leg at Anfield would be the crucial test and Barca failed.
A lot of posters have given Pool a lot of grief these few seasons (aye me as well lads) but you can't deny Pool are a different class this season. Such an awesome display and without Salah and Firmino as well.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
he did aye
"In Europe they do well. Why? Anfield," the former Arsenal manager told beIN Sport.
"[For a] home game, this is the most heated stadium in Europe in a return game. It is the only place you don't want to go.
"The atmosphere - everything - is special there."
posted on 8/5/19
comment by Inbefore (U20589)
posted 3 hours, 49 minutes ago
comment by Serial WUManiser™© - #Bercow4PM (U1410)
posted 3 minutes ago
Yeah Barca were poor but man Liverpool at Anfield are a different class. Arsene Wenger was spot on. 1st game was decided on individual brilliance but the second leg at Anfield would be the crucial test and Barca failed.
A lot of posters have given Pool a lot of grief these few seasons (aye me as well lads) but you can't deny Pool are a different class this season. Such an awesome display and without Salah and Firmino as well.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
he did aye
"In Europe they do well. Why? Anfield," the former Arsenal manager told beIN Sport.
"[For a] home game, this is the most heated stadium in Europe in a return game. It is the only place you don't want to go.
"The atmosphere - everything - is special there."
----------------------------------------------------------------------
They managed to do exactly the same thing last year against Roma - this is not a one-off for Barcelona. That doesn’t take away anything from Liverpool - without Salah and Firmino they were magnificent and showed the grit and belief combined with ability I am talking about.
As for Wenger, under his ‘leadership’ I can’t keep count of the number of places you “don’t want to go”...