Season 32 Week 20 processing...

Welcome to week 20.

The reset is underway...

Having to avoid the dugout this week due to covid. 

WATFORD

Well after the manager decided to go full Kamikaze mode last week, the manager got the squad together to understand what went wrong in the match. "Your asking us to do to many different things", "Let us play our game", "Trust us". The manager may have tried to think to much about what he wanted the players to do. So this week is giving the players some licence to do what they want. In comes Cancelo at RB, who with his ability on the ball has been given corners duty. Also, Harvey Barnes returns to the lineup at DY in place of Maddison who struggled to get into the game last week and will now have to work his way back into the starting XI should Barnes take his chance. 
This week is Aston Villa who have tried to go there own style this season and play ISF, causing some upsets a long they way. 

GENK 

European final Vs Valencia after knocking our Atletico in a tight affair. Some very experienced players in Koke, Romeu, Tello and Montoya who will be no doubt looking to add Silverware to there season. However, Genk are able to field a fully fit starting eleven, biggest suprise would be that Cabaye keeps his place at AM in for Gravenberch. Nkunku, Mahrez and Hlozek looking to spearhead the attack with Camavinga providing the support from midfield. Kessie will have a pivotal role to play in midfield winning the ball back from the playmakers and disrupting there game. While Mendy, Vertonghen, Koulibaly and Saelemaekers make up the back like in front of Leno. 
League game Vs Lokeren, which is required to gain all 3 points from if to keep the pressure on Anderlecht, but time is fast running out for them to drop any points and with Dennis Praet in fine form the likelihood is diminishing.

LEVERKUSEN

Unfortunate to only draw last weeks game, something the team will learn from to be more clinical in front of goal when dominating. This week they play Dresden. Who unfortunately find themselves relegated so only got pride to play for this week! In the league Maitland-Niles makes his debut at RB, manager putting his versatility to use straight away. Gunnarsson, Alvarez and Nainggolan come in to the league side so to get some minutes in the last few weeks of the season and to allow the managher to rest key players ahead of there European final. 
FC Twente are the opponents in the Final.... This game has played out once already, however no way the manager is going to take things for granted. Otto, Busquets, Mkhitaryan and Milinkovic-Savic come in for the final. With Son injured, but supporting his teammates on from the side. How will the manager contain the evergreen Carlos Tevez 8 goals in last 3 games.... Fingers crossed he cant quite last the 90 minutes. 

BOTAFOGO

Botafogo suffered injuries at such a crucial time of the season which hampered there preprations for the final. However the manager has managed to shuffle his deck and managed to put out a strong league side and Copa Liba team. League Vs Sao Paulo, Couto, Vitao and Moura come into replace the injured players and Arthur Cabral makes his debut up front to allow Hulk a rest in the league this week. Hopefully he will be inspired to deliver on his debut... 
Copa Liba final, the manager... Probably over thought it, but has decided to go PEB vs FAS. Adding a BW to the midfield to stifle the attacks of River Plate... Got to stop the ball getting to Icardi and Simeone... 
Casemiro returns to Anchor the side, with Fernandinho rolling back the years and playing BW. Hulk returns to the Cup side ahead of Galhardo and Matheus Tete retains his LW spot having put in some sublime performances along the way. 

Goodluck to all this week. 

Thanks Phil, always a great read.

Data entry is underway...

Schalke

A big week for the team with a victory in the Rivierderby against Dortmund handing them the bundesliga title, and the Champions League final against a resurgent Real Madrid giving the prize of 'champions of europe'. After wrapping Goretzka in cotton wool last week, he (of course) got injured in the half hour that he played! No other injury worries though. The manager has been studying the Real Mad form over the last few weeks.

For the CL final, the manager has opted for a more conservative version of the FAL formation as he was worried that the speed of the Real Mad wingers (PEB) might overrun his covering anchormen - so has opted for a flat back 4 with Kimmich in front of them. Two DYs running the channels with long balls reaching Havertz servicing Mbappe and Ferran up front. The back 4 all have 9qu and decent LP, to hopefully bypass the formidable Real midfield.= and cause damage up front.

Just a few 'freshening up' changes for the league match v Dortmund with Pau Torres, De Ligt and Baumgartner coming into a FAP (v ISF) formation.

Oblak was put through his paces in training, just to sharpen him up really, as his is already skilled up!
The squad also enjoyed a nice getaway to get their heads in gear...

No time for a full preview unfortunately. 

Barca still preparing for next season and bedding down the PEP tactic. 

Nacional are still trailing Danubio by a point heading towards a show down on the last game of the season. Danubio travel to 3rd place Defensor this week in a crunch game with the Nacional fans all watching on as well.

Hannover are fighting to maintain their spot at the top of the second division in Germany. Promotion beckons but there is the small matter of a European final against Palace this week as well. It’d be a low key ‘double’ for sure but for little Hannover and the fans it’d be a huge step forward. Frankfurt 3rd host Wolfsburg 2nd in the biggest League game. Hannover fans have an eye on that as well as their own matches.

Rennes keep doing their thing dragged forward by their star studded forward line. A 100% league season is still on the cards but building for the future key.

Also really excited about the Champions League final. By far the best 2 teams in the game this season and both managed by absolute gents. Good luck to both of you!

And also good luck CL to everyone else in a final! Quite a few with something to play for.

Thanks to Andy and Rob for the words, all very interesting.

Friendly games have kicked off which means the league games should kick off Wednesday morning at 1000 hours...

Thanks Paul!
Excited to see Cup results - not expecting anything from Twente (though who knows), but hoping Independiente can continue their fine form in the Sudamerica - one off games though and anything can happen!

Huge week in the leagues again - just need to keep winning and, in Spain and Argentina, hope that the leaders make a mistake - all I can do!

Confederations Cup Final

Cosmos 2 Mamelodi 0

Champions Cup Final

Real Madrid 2 Schalke 3

European Cup Winners Cup Final

Chelsea 4 Soton 1

European Cup Final

Leverkusen 1 Twente 2

Europa Cup Final

Genk 1 Valencia 0

European Fairs Cup Final

Palace 0 Hannover 1

European Conference Cup Final

Rapid 1 Anderlecht 3

UEFA Intertoto Cup Final

Bohemians 4 West Brom 5

Europa Intercity Cup Final

Leipzig 0 Burnley 2

Paul Hemmings wrote:

European Cup Winners Cup Final

Chelsea 4 Soton 1

 

The pain of last seaon has been avenged.

Copa Libertadores Final

Botafogo 4 River Plate 0

Copa Sudamerica Final

Independente 6 Cruzeiro 2

Congratulations to all the winners.

League games will kickoff at 1000 hours Wednesday morning...

Paul Hemmings wrote:

Champions Cup Final

Real Madrid 2 Schalke 3

Get in! Looks like it went to plan but need to see the report - could quite easily have been super-lucky!

Congrats to all the winners!

Special well-done to 'little' Hannover!

Two out of 3 Finals won! Sublime performance from the team. 

Genk, Two on the bounce now after previous struggles in Europe! And managed to beat SLO! 

Leverkusen look to have run out of steam a little towards the EOS. Hopefully the new additions can make the squad stronger for next season! 

Botafogo seem to have followed the match plan to a T, with a superb display in the final. Second Copa Liba trophy in the cabinet. The fans and coffers will be delighted with the Win! Party in Rio!!

Congrats to the Winners! And commiserations to the Runners up, no easy feat making it to the finals.

gary@chelsea wrote:

Paul Hemmings wrote:

European Cup Winners Cup Final

Chelsea 4 Soton 1

 

The pain of last seaon has been avenged.

Isn't it time for Chelsea to move up...   - Champions League....?

Delighted - my first continental trophies ever I think (Paul will confirm)! Congrats to other winners and commiserations to the runners up!

Think Independiente might have to take on the Libertadores next year it seems...

Roll on 10am!