It's impossible not to admire the change in Barcelona, and give Luis Enrique the credit for the turnaround in their season. On November 3, his side were in fourth place in La Liga and second place in their Champions League group behind Paris St Germain. What followed was a run of 42 matches in which Enrique's side won 38, drew two and lost two. Almost everyone has been flattened by this Barcelona machine. They may have lost in the Allianz Arena, but Bayern were continuously held at arm's length
Having feared for his job six months ago, Enrique is now aiming for the treble in his first season. "Mission accomplished," he told reporters. "Our next objective is to be European champions. This result does not bother me because the Bavarians have a strong team. We're one win away from winning each of the three competitions. That is our mission."
Barca would also become the first club ever to complete the treble of domestic league, domestic cup and European Cup on more than one occasion. Can you create a legacy in just one season?
* It was the overlooked part of Luis Suarez's game at Liverpool. Everyone was so understandably enraptured by the striker's goal record that we forgot to notice how superb he was as a support striker too.
Last season in the Premier League, Suarez had 152 shots, 67 more than any other Liverpool player. His policy became to shoot on sight, and often very successfully. The goals against Norwich City at Anfield will last long in the memory.
However, he also created 87 chances in the league last season, 19 more than any of his teammates and 58 more than Daniel Sturridge. Suarez's tendency to shoot rather than pass at Anfield is actually a complete misnomer.
Being the top scorer and top creator for a team towards the top of the league is an honour reserved only for the very best. Only Eden Hazard and Samir Nasri created more chances in the entire league. Not bad for a striker with ten more goals than anyone else.
It is that element of Suarez's game which has been most impressive at Barcelona. The forward has had to suffer the inevitable loss of personal standing that comes with playing alongside Lionel Messi, but the transition has been close to seamless. Particularly given that the Uruguayan was banned until October.
Despite him being part of an attack that has scored 107 goals in 36 La Liga games, Suarez's shots per game have reduced from 5.5 last season to 2.8 this, a drop of almost 50%. Instead he has turned provider as much as goalscorer - only two players in Spain have more assists (Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, predictably). Suarez is one behind Ronaldo, on 14.
On Tuesday evening, Suarez became the first Barcelona player to assist two goals in the same Champions League match this season, and didn't even attempt a single shot at the Allianz. Gone is the time when that would frustrate him intensely.
Seventeen of Suarez's 20 assists for Barcelona in all competitions have been to Messi (9) and Neymar (8). Those who doubted his ability to quickly assimilate himself into life at the Camp Nou have had their fears firmly allayed.
* It may not have been a good night for German football, but there was one aspect to please the locals. Die Mannschaft can already boast the best goalkeeper in the world, but on Tuesday Manuel Neuer was upstaged by his opposite number. Marc-Andre ter Stegen had one of his best games on the biggest stage of all.
http://kcawwa.org/news/fc-houya2.asp
http://kcawwa.org/news/ctr360.foot007.asp
http://bhspickens.com/top-maillots-francais.asp
http://kcawwa.org/news/chaussuresdefootball8.asp
http://kcawwa.org/news/cramponsmagasin.asp
http://www.vietbalo.vn/sortieschaussures2014.asp
http://johnfishersr.net/news/hypervenomnoir.asp
http://bhspickens.com/news/sortieschaussures2014.asp
http://bhspickens.com/news/sneaker.foot007.asp
http://johnfishersr.net/news/galactik.asp
http://johnfishersr.net/news/hyfoot.asp
http://johnfishersr.net/news/magistafootball.asp
没有评论:
发表评论