The Open Thread/Daily Merengue is a place where you can discuss anything and everything related to football. Feel free to discuss the topics presented here, or start your very own discussions! The Open thread will be posted every day by one of the mods you’d totally treat to a cinema night: Valyrian Steel, NeRObutBlanco, Kung_Fu_Zizou (AKA KFZ), Juninho and, of course… yours truly.
Very good, convincing, collective performance!
We criticized, but we can make compliments when deserved too:
First time all season I have watched 11 Real Madrid players on a field and felt like it looked like a collective team.
This is the gala XI. Asencio at CB, Valverde at RB, and Ceballos in midfield. Rodrygo and Jude understanding their roles defensively. Taken 7 months but…
— Matt (@MattW_MM) February 19, 2025
Truly enjoyed that. Thank you Real Madrid. This is type of performance we wanted to see. Kylian Mbappe wow. I have no words. Fede Valverde wow. I don’t want to see anyone else play RB for us for the rest of the season.
— WolfRMFC (@WolfRMFC) February 19, 2025
That was a perfect team performance.
For once, we didn’t sit back and react. We set the tone, we dictated the pace, and we kept throwing punches until they were bled dry. Just ruthless dominance. The best knockout performance of Ancelotti’s second stint, no doubt.I’m still on…
— Jules Winnfield, PhD. (@MLGY23) February 19, 2025
Poll
Was 3-1 vs City the best KO performance of Ancelotti 2nd stint?
Carlo’s comments
Some interesting comments from Carlo. He thinks now that he has found team’s ballance.
The idea to defend on a 4-4-2 is right. The team is comfortable and works well. We have to highlight the work of the of Jude and Rodrygo, who worked a lot defensively. The back line was fine today. I think we have to continue with this line, with this dynamic and with this system.
We are in the fight for the Champions league. As I said, we have a good quality in front. We had difficulties to find a good balance defensively, but it seems we found this balance. So, we have the possibility to compete until the end in this competition.
Interestingly, Carlo virtually recognized that this is his starting XI.
Pep says Madrid has improved
Pep Guardiola: “The best thing about Madrid is their dynamic and their quality. Before they were more of a transitional team and now they are capable of creating plays from the ball. This year I think they have grown. They are more complete.” pic.twitter.com/crcOj0gCZt
— Madrid Universal (@MadridUniversal) February 19, 2025
What do you guys think? We have created plays from the ball in past seasons, but maybe not against City as we did yesterday, especially if we compare it to last season.
Upcoming schedule
- 26 Feb: La Real – CDR SF 1st leg
- 04 or 05 March: Atleti or Levurkusen – UCL R16 1st leg (home)
- 11 or 12 March: Atleti or Levurkesen – UCL R16 2nd leg (away)
