19 Mar 2021 21:02:51
If I remember correctly didn't Porto play City in the group stages of the Champions League?
I seem to remember being bored senseless with City just knocking the ball about for both matches with Porto dropping deeper and deeper. City had ridiculous possession stats.
I think over both games they only had a few shots but I think they did score from one of them.
Should be a comfortable win.
19 Mar 2021 23:47:31
Porto got 13 points in the group stages with City getting 16. They drew with City and have just beaten Juve who put out a strong side.
I can't see any justification for thinking it will be a comfortable win based on those results.
They also have a smart manager and a considerable pedigree in the CL and we are far from being the finished article at the moment.
We should win if we play with the intensity we showed against Athletico but I am expecting a tight contest.
{Ed0666's Note - I actually think you’re dark horses to win the competition. You have a tight defense, a rejuvenated Kante who is just a one man midfield and a wealth of options going forward. I’m dreading facing you if we beat Madrid.
20 Mar 2021 06:48:44
Strasbourg, we will see but a bit like when they played City. They will struggle to see much of the ball and they struggled to create chances against an English side.
20 Mar 2021 07:47:24
Strasbourg; I agree with you.
20 Mar 2021 09:31:51
For me almost the best draw we could have hoped for and I can only see us going through to the semifinals.
20 Mar 2021 11:05:25
Real Madrid was the best draw we could have hoped for. Don't like the prospect of facing this hard working Porto side.
20 Mar 2021 11:31:52
The two teams I wanted in the quarterfinals were Porto and Real Madrid. So, happy days for me!
20 Mar 2021 11:32:15
That's a generous comment Ed0666 but for that to become more of a reality we would need Havertz Werner and Pulisic to find top form.
Also we don't know how the players and manager will respond to going behind against a top side.
The dynamics of our game currently are very much to control the game which you can't always expect to do against the best sides.
On the plus side we have found ourselves a top manager who has created a unity of purpose in the entire squad and started to get the performance levels of our most creative players on the ascent.
We are on an interesting journey but it's very early days to be dismissive of Porto or anyone else in the QF.
20 Mar 2021 11:59:54
Not entirely dismissive of Porto Strasbourg. As I said in a much earlier post they do have have a good manager and work hard but for me it would be a big upset if they beat us over two games.
If you look at there best eleven there wouldn’t be many who would get in our squad and for me that says it all.
20 Mar 2021 13:07:16
'Comfortable win' over a credible opponent in the QF of the CL is dismissive in any language.
They were good enough to draw with the best team in Europe (Citeh) and beat Juve and yet you talk about them as if they are West Brom.
Of course on paper we should win but its very far from a gimme and we are a long way from the finished article.
20 Mar 2021 13:39:59
It's certainly a very favourable draw for us, but of course as everyone else have said, every team is very good at this stage.
Porto is missing two first team players in the first leg and one of them is arguably their best forward. So that's also in our favour.
I don't think we are going to underestimate them and I think our approach will be like every other important game.
20 Mar 2021 13:56:45
In the same way (unlike some) I could only see us beating Athletico over two legs. I can only see us beating Porto over two legs and I certainly rated Athletico as a better team than Porto.
They drew with City after getting stuffed 3-1 in the first game and with City going for a stroll.
If you watched Porto play Juve you would see just how bad both sides were.
We have better players and we should win comfortably. Strange things can happen in football, but not in this game! ’.
20 Mar 2021 15:06:55
Famous last words.
20 Mar 2021 16:03:56
Famous yes and if I’m wrong I’m sure my fellow posters won’t hesitate to rightfully, give me pelters.
I can also guarantee. It won’t be the last word.
20 Mar 2021 18:01:24
Wishful thinking.
20 Mar 2021 19:11:53
Chelsea fans don’t do “wishful thinkingâ€, we leave that to the Spuds fans!