UCL Semis

Man City vs Real Madrid
Atletico Madrid vs Bayern Munich

Just curious. You are a fit coach of a team playing in the UCL. You try to give instructions to a pivotal player, but but he repeatedly fails to execute the instructions. Can you make yourself a sub?

That's my reasoning as well. Just not sure.

You cannot just decide to strip into the playing kit and sub the player, unless your role is that of a player who has taken coaching responsibility, like when Giggs was appointed after Moyes' departure. If your role is purely a coach, it is purely a coach.

Yesterday's game was like the final before the final, full of drama, suspense, high octane football - Bayern may feel aggrieved but the best tactics win, not always the best football.

Personally I didn't want to see a Madrid derby final again but it seems likely if Madrid don't make mistakes against City today. Benzema and Casemiro will be a big miss either way.

Pep's decision to stick to his purist philosophy has now come unstuck 3 times against Spanish opposition in semis, I'll be quite happy to see him come to take over a Man City team playing in Europa, in case they slip. For that reason, I don't mind City beating Madrid to make it to the final, so that they're a bit distracted in their last 2 premier league games.