As long as we beat the mighty Kairat (currently 36th in the table) at home on the last matchday, we are guaranteed to finish either 1st or 2nd in the CL table (and probably first as Bayern would have to catch up a lot on goal difference). Even if we finish 2nd that means we cannot play 1st place Bayern until the final so we would get the second leg at home advantage in all ties.
The Inter match just really doesn’t matter. We should play a side similar to the Pompey one.
Yeah exactly my point, and we’ve got a run of four games after the Kairet game when the first team will be needed so it makes sense to get that rotation in beforehand
We should be full strength every time in the cups now, as there’s less chance to correct a slip-up, whereas the league, your next game week could see rivals slip up.
Ffs when did Trossard and Saliba pick up injuries?
I thought they were just rested the other day.
Sounds like Saliba and Trossard its either mind games or something very minor.
Calafiori and Mosquera still being “a few weeks” away is bad news. We need those two back badly before we injure some other defenders.
The flipside is MLS can feature regularly and hopefully gets back to his last season form. Hopefully.
Gents, I really do see where you’re coming from. But, what I am saying is - can you see Arteta looking at that Inter game especially in the same way you are?
1:45 am midweek kick off again for me, but this time I have a day off on Thursday. Hallelujah!
Last year on the last matchday we were in a less secure position in terms of our seeding yet we went to Girona and started Neto, Kiwior, Sterling, Nwaneri at striker, Jorginho, etc while resting Havertz, Rice, Timber, and Saliba. So I don’t see why he wouldn’t do something similar against Inter, especially with an important league match against United the following weekend.
2 reasons I can think of -
I completely see why people might favour the rotation and rest. I just don’t think it’s the way Arteta primarily looks at games.
What is the marginal advantage? (Genuine question considering what Powderfinger said above)
Basically in the knockout rounds if you’re playing a team that finished below you in the league phase then you get the supposed advantage of the second leg at home. Last season that was luck of the draw after the last 16.
Yeah, but in our position, if we beat Kairat, we can only finish behind Bayern and that requires a huge change in GD. Once knockout stages start, we cannot face them until the final at which point it is neutral ground anyway.
I can only say what I’ve said before. Fair point. I might even rest players if I were the manager against Inter. But I don’t think Arteta looks at these things the same way a fan does and I wouldn’t be surprised to see quite a strong lineup in that match.
The goal swing isn’t that big given they have union SG (conceded as many as Kairat) and PSV who have also shipped 11 in 6 games so far.
If we lose to inter the GD could be eradicated by the end of that week. The fact is it’s only really pride at stake between 1st and 2nd so it doesn’t matter.
Agree Arteta won’t rotate for it as much as we’d like. Hopefully at least a few changes, but I’d be having Norgaard at CB, Merino and Nwaneri in the middle and the backup wingers starting, as a minimum.
Would the semi final also be included in playing home in the second leg or up to as in ending at that point?
Yes. My understanding of the procedure is that the numbers 1 and 2 will always have the second game home up to the semi final. They will only meet each others in the final.
If the number 1 loses to (lets say) the number 7th of the league phase in the QF, the number 7 will take over the advantage of the number 1 and have a home game second in the SF.