Gästeforum » tico in the final - but Balague thinks the latter win

Manchester City missed a golden opportunity to make the Champions League final against the worst Real Madrid side in recent history, according to Guillem Balague. After the first leg at the Etihad ended in a 0-0 draw, Fernandos 20th-minute own goal eliminated the last Premier League side in the competition and sent Real through to a Madrid derby final. Sky Sports Spanish football expert was critical of both sides performance in the semi-final tie - and does not rate Reals chances of beating local rivals Atletico Madrid in the Milan showdown later this month. As Atletico and Real Madrid get set to meet again in the Champions League final, look back at the past meetings between the sides Balague also reflects on Manuel Pellegrinis time as City boss ahead of his summer departure...Man City could have beaten Real Madrid Gareth Bale celebrates Real Madrids winning goal against Manchester City Manchester City lost a golden opportunity to get to the Champions League final. This is the worst Real Madrid side in recent history. Last year, it was a better Real Madrid. They managed to get 22 consecutive victories the year before, and one year before that they won the Champions League. Any Real Madrid team under Jose Mourinho would also have beaten this one. Its a poor Real Madrid.In my eyes, before the game, they were the fourth-worst team in the semi-finals. There were so many problems, so many ways they could be beaten, that it felt like an organised team who could create enough danger - say by a decent Kevin de Bruyne or Sergio Aguero move - could have beaten them.Although not very often, Manchester City have shown this season that their best version can beat almost anybody. But I was wrong - Real Madrid were only the third worst side in these semi-finals. Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane insists Manchester City made it difficult for his side in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final tie How is it possible that there are not better sides?I dont think what happened in this tie was a reflection of the Spanish league versus the English league. I feel Leicester City would have created many more problems for Real Madrid, but it certainly showed us a very poor Manchester City, who hardly had a shot on goal against the eighth-worst defence in La Liga. Work to do for Pep Manchester Citys Champions League exit showed the scale of the task facing Pep Guardiola. Real Madrid, who missed Casemiro especially in the second half, defended far too deep after scoring the goal, partly because they were scared one City goal would have knocked them out and partly because Toni Kroos could not do Casemiros job of being aggressive in pressurising and pushing the team further up. Real gave the ball to City and the result was very disappointing - no penetration, slow movement, no running of the ball, nothing. It is just a bad reflection on the Champions League this season that you get these two poor teams at this stage. How is it possible that theres not better sides? What makes it worse is the contrast between these sides and the other two in the draw. Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid have got a clear idea of what they want to do, based on repetitive training sessions, interventionist coaches and blind faith from the players in their leaders on the bench. Vincent Kompany was taken off after ten minutes with a suspected groin injury Manchester City and Real Madrid base their football on very similar ideas. It is all player-based - they organise themselves with six or seven behind the ball and then when they have possession, its about individual talent and the quality of the players. Theres no organised attack and not enough team effort.Pellegrini hasnt made this side his ownWhat was worrying is that there was not even an organised defence at the end; I couldnt tell you what the style of Manchester City is, based on these two semi-finals. I dont know if they want the ball or not and I dont know how they defend. Im very confused and disappointed because I do think Manuel Pellegrini is a good coach, but it doesnt seem like he has made this side his own - it doesnt look anything like the Malaga side or the Villarreal side that made him famous. Manuel Pellegrini was unhappy with the amount of chances that his team failed to create but felt that they did not deserve to lose at the Bernabeu For me, it is a team without personality, without style and they showed it very clearly in this tie. The ones who were supposed to be the stars of the team were missing - like Aguero, De Bruyne and Yaya Toure - and were miles away from making any impact whatsoever. I disagree with Pellegrini, I dont think they deserved to draw and I think Real Madrid had more chances and created enough to go through, but this Real side are miles away from Atletico Madrid as it stands.Ronaldo is diminishing while Bales star is growingCristiano Ronaldo was obviously not 100 per cent as he admitted himself after the game, and will be better for the final of course, but his impact has been reduced this season. Even though he is still scoring in the games, you dont see so much of him. Manchester City lost a golden opportunity to get to the Champions League final. This is the worst Real Madrid side in recent history. Spanish football expert Guillem Balague But the good news is Gareth Bale has risen to the occasion right at the end of the season. Its pleasing to see and I fully agree with him that he better understands his role and what he has to do. He now knows when he has to pass, when he has to dribble, when he has to go one versus one, and so on. And that can only be good for Real Madrid - just at a time the star of Ronaldo is diminishing while Bales star is growing. Gareth Bale disagrees with Manuel Pellegrinis comments that Real Madrid were lucky to progress in the Champions League I think that is why Bale is now considering renewing his contract because he feels that Ronaldo - now his role is reducing - has been forced to let him grow. Either he has been forced or he accepts that now Bale is a star as well. Whatever the reason, it makes Bale more comfortable and having Karim Benzema makes the team more complete, but I feel its still miles away from what Atletico Madrid can offer.It will be Atleticos nightPeople may disagree with me, but I think Bayern Munich were the best of the four teams that were left in the competition. I think they are more complete in the way they defend and attack, but that is why we love football. Atletico Madrid did what they had to do and got through. Now they are, in my eyes, favourites to win it and have lost just once to Real over the last two seasons - winning five and drawing three. Real will now play local rivals Atletico in the final - but Balague thinks the latter win be favourites to lift the trophy I spoke to Koke during the season and I knew that they had in their heads the defeat against Real Madrid for two years so they put a lot of energy in returning to a final to just get rid of that bad dream. I am convinced in Milan, it will be their night. Also See: Own goal ends Citys hopes Kompany limps out of Real clash Work to do for Pep Pellegrini: Real were lucky Trenton Cannon Jersey . The mixed zone is not a place to make friends. Chris Herndon Jets Jersey . Tensions rose in the first period when Penguins defenceman Brooks Orpik hit Bruins forward Loui Eriksson with what appeared to be a clean hit. http://www.jetsrookiestore.com/Jets-Chris-Herndon-Jersey/ . It was the most lopsided loss in Lakers history. Darren Collison had a team-high 24 points while starting at shooting guard for the injured Jamal Crawford. Chris Paul added 13 points and 11 assists for the Clippers, who apparently are trying to make up for decades of humiliation at the hands of the Lakers all in one season; theyve won the last two meetings by a combined 84 points. Sam Darnold Jets Jersey . He just didnt expect them to be this good. Darrun Hilliard scored 19 points to lead No. 6 Villanova to a dominating 77-59 victory over Georgetown on Saturday, preserving the Wildcats hopes of a No. Isaiah Crowell Jersey . Re-signed by the club to a one-year, two-way (NHL/AHL) contract on July 5, Bass appeared in three preseason games with Columbus prior to breaking a bone in his hand on Sept.One of the most sought after hurlers in the MLB off-season might be off the market -for everybody. Several Japanese newspapers reported Thursday that Masahiro Tanaka will stay in his home country. The Rakuten Golden Eagles control the rights to Tanaka until the end of 2015 and will reportedly not allow major league teams to bid for him. Instead, they are willing to make him the highest paid Japanese pitcher in history by offering him up to triple his current annual salary of approximately $4 million. By retaining the 25-year-old, the Eagles lose the chance of obtaining a $200 million compensatory posting fee from whatever team that signed him.dddddddddddd The New York Yankees, Arizona Diamondbacks and Texas Rangers are reportedly interested in Tanaka. The Eagles would still be able to post him after next season before he becomes a free agent in two years. The 62 right-hander finished the regular season with a 24-0 record, posting a 1.27 ERA and 0.94 WHIP. He won his second Eiji Sawamura Award as Japans best pitcher and also took home the Pacific League MVP. In seven seasons with the Eagles, his ERA is 2.30 and his WHIP is 1.108. Cheap Celtics Jerseys Wholesale Nets Jerseys Cheap Knicks Jerseys Cheap Stitched 76ers Jerseys Raptors Jerseys China Cheap Bulls Jerseys Wholesale Cavaliers Jerseys Pistons Jerseys China Pacers Jerseys China Cheap Bucks Jerseys Online Wholesale Hawks Jerseys Cheap Hornets Jerseys Wholesale Heat Jerseys Cheap Magic Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Wizards Jerseys Nuggets Jerseys China Timberwolves Jerseys China Cheap Thunder Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Blazers Jerseys Wholesale Jazz Jerseys Cheap Warriors Jerseys For Sale Cheap Clippers Jerseys Lakers Jerseys China Wholesale Suns Jerseys Cheap Kings Jerseys Authentic Cheap Mavericks Jerseys Rockets Jerseys China Cheap Grizzlies Jerseys Wholesale Pelicans Jerseys Spurs Jerseys China ' ' '