Teamwork makes the dream work

Champions League speaking factors: Mbappé’s PSG legacy? How did Madrid flip it round?

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The 2023-24 Champions League semifinals are all wrapped up with loads of drama, an upset and heartbreak. Borussia Dortmund delivered the ultimate blow to beat Paris Saint-Germain on their very own floor in France, leaving Kylian Mbappé with no European trophy as he prepares to make his exit on the finish of the season. Elsewhere, Actual Madrid did what Actual Madrid do and surprised Bayern Munich within the closing levels of the sport to seal their spot within the remaining.

Within the remaining, we’ll see Dortmund tackle Madrid. We requested ESPN writers Gab Marcotti, Alex Kirkland and Julien Laurens to reply a few of our burning questions from this spherical.

Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, extra (U.S.)


1. Who has been your participant of the event?

I will go along with Dortmund striker Niclas Füllkrug, only for what he stands for. It is wild to assume he is 31 and that is his first Champions League. However he scored the aim that beat PSG within the first leg, in addition to the one which leveled the tie in opposition to Atlético Madrid. And he began each sport, bar the opener (which they misplaced.) He is not at all times fairly to observe, however he is sensible, will get essentially the most out of his bodily attributes and is a thorn in defenders’ facet for 90 minutes. He matches completely on this Dortmund squad of misfits and rejects. – GM

After his efficiency over two video games in opposition to Bayern Munich, it is onerous to look past Actual Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior. He scored each of Madrid’s objectives within the semifinal first leg — changing Toni Kroos‘ go, after which a penalty kick — and whereas he did not rating in Wednesday’s return leg, he was simply Madrid’s greatest participant over 90 minutes. Vinicius starred within the quarterfinal in opposition to Manchester Metropolis, with two assists within the 3-3 draw on the Bernabeu, and scored in opposition to Leipzig within the spherical of 16. He retains including to his sport, wanting simply as harmful by the center now as he does on the left. And, 23, he’ll preserve getting higher. – AK

I might give it to Andriy Lunin. Actual Madrid‘s backup goalkeeper stepped as much as substitute the injured Thibaut Courtois and has been quietly wonderful within the knockout levels. He was Madrid’s greatest participant within the last-16 first leg in opposition to Leipzig and within the quarterfinal second leg at Manchester Metropolis, the place he was the penalty shootout hero after having a wonderful sport. He was additionally excellent in Munich within the semifinal first leg and did his job effectively within the second leg too. At 25, he’s having a very good season. Sadly, he may not play within the remaining due to Courtois’ return to full health. – JL

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Mbappe ‘disenchanted’ after PSG’s Champions League exit

Kylian Mbappe shares his ideas after PSG’s defeat to Borussia Dortmund within the Champions League and appears forward to French Cup remaining.

2. Does Mbappé’s failure to ship the Champions League to his hometown membership tarnish his legacy at PSG?

After all successful the Champions League would have been the right send-off earlier than he joins Actual Madrid on a free switch this summer time, though doing so by beating Madrid within the remaining at Wembley would have been a bit awkward. That may’t occur now. The actual concern is not Mbappé’s failure to win the Champions League, however relatively the character of his performances in opposition to Dortmund over two legs within the semifinal. A participant who aspires to “greatest on this planet” standing needs to be decisive in these video games, not nameless. The sensation has at all times been that this Madrid group want an elite ahead like Mbappé to take them to the following stage, however is it the opposite manner round? — AK

Amongst all of the information, objectives and trophies, there’ll at all times be a “however …” in Mbappé’s story with Paris.

Huge gamers ship in huge video games, however …
He ought to have gained us the Champions League, however …

And it is all truthful. Mbappé did not carry the Champions League trophy to Paris and grow to be a membership legend by being the primary to take action. In reality he was truly fairly quiet, as he was in the important thing video games over the previous seven years: the 2020 remaining, the 2021 semifinals, and this Dortmund conflict. – JL

“Tarnish” is a loaded phrase, however I believe there’s undoubtedly a way of unfinished enterprise and the entire premise of him returning to his hometown membership earlier than transferring on. He had seven seasons, each with older superstars like Neymar and Lionel Messi, after which this yr with Luis Enrique’s younger weapons and the best funds in European soccer. So if he leaves (and everyone seems to be taking as a right that he’ll), there will certainly be a way of remorse. Probably organising a return in the future. – GM

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Is Thomas Tuchel guilty for Bayern’s late collapse?

The “ESPN FC” crew focus on Thomas Tuchel’s choice to take off Harry Kane and Leroy Sane late within the sport vs. Actual Madrid within the Champions League.

3. Did this sport activate Tuchel’s adjustments or Ancelotti’s adjustments?

For me, the sport turned on its head with Manuel Neuer‘s huge errors greater than the teaching from Tuchel and from Ancelotti. There have been 12 minutes between Bayern transferring to a again 5 and Joselu’s first aim. What went by the Germany goalkeeper’s head within the 88th minute? Why did he throw the ball so rapidly ahead as a substitute of kicking it lengthy in the direction of Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and losing extra valuable minutes? That mistake was intercepted within the Bayern half and, 4 passes later, Vinicius had a shot on aim that induced his second. It was a straightforward shot to save lots of for a keeper of the calibre of Neuer, but he fumbled it and let Joselu make it 1-1. Up till that shocker, Neuer had been sensible however his errors price his group the sport greater than any adjustments from both supervisor. – JL

Each. Clearly given he scored each objectives, Joselu was fairly necessary. However that is the form of apparent substitution you make late within the sport once you’re chasing it. The Luka Modric and Eduardo Camavinga ones have been additionally predictable, you knew we might see them sooner or later and I believe it is fascinating that Madrid’s form did not change, however they have been like-for-like. The tactical adjustments for which you’ll give Ancelotti kudos have been the opposite two: Sending on Joselu may need been apparent, however doing so for Fede Valverde (who can run all day and has scored his share of late winners) was not, neither was taking off Rodrygo (if Ancelotti was superstitious, he would have remembered his exploits in opposition to Metropolis) to make manner for Brahim Díaz.

That stated, Tuchel’s choice to take off Jamal Musiala and Harry Kane (not matter how drained they have been) was weird. Sure, there have been solely 5 minutes to go, but when Madrid rating as soon as, you are caught enjoying additional time with out your two largest attacking threats. Why would you presumably try this? (Ultimately, Madrid scored twice, so I assume it did not matter.) – GM

Two substitutes — Alphonso Davies and Joselu — may need scored all three objectives on the Bernabeu, however maybe a very powerful shift within the sport was the best way that Tuchel seemed to carry onto Bayern’s 1-0 lead, withdrawing Leroy Sané, Harry Kane and Jamal Musiala within the final quarter-hour and specifically, changing Sané with defender Kim Min-Jae. That tipped the momentum in Actual Madrid‘s favour, giving them license to go for broke, which they did within the closing levels, summed up by centre-backs Nacho Fernandez and Antonio Rüdiger enjoying the passes for Joselu’s winner. – AK

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Tuchel fumes at late offside name: ‘It is in opposition to each rule’

Thomas Tuchel cannot consider the linesman raised his flag for offside within the dying seconds of Bayern Munich’s defeat to Actual Madrid within the Champions League.

4. Luis Enrique argued that PSG have been the higher facet over the 2 legs however weren’t fortunate and cited xG and hitting woodwork … is he proper?

Three of these cases have been they hit the woodwork got here after they have been 2-0 down on combination and two of these have been long-range strikes, relatively than possibilities that got here from open play and possession, so I am unsure I would say that. Sure, PSG had loads possibilities to win however, because the saying goes, it’s a must to end them and it is not nearly luck, actually not on this case. You anticipate PSG to create extra possibilities anyway, just because they’ve higher gamers (need to play the mixed XI sport?) – GM

We have heard this sort of factor from Luis Enrique earlier than. He stated very comparable issues when his Spain group have been eradicated from the 2022 World Cup by Morocco within the spherical of 16. He is a coach dedicated to prioritizing course of over final result, believing in the event you do issues the suitable manner — his manner — outcomes will comply with. Sure, he is proper, PSG have been higher than Dortmund. And sure, they have been unfortunate. However in addition they weren’t ok when it got here to changing possibilities. Hitting the woodwork six occasions over two legs is not luck, it is a sample. – AK

The very best group would not at all times win in sport, which is the fantastic thing about it. Huge video games are sometimes gained on particulars and the way environment friendly you might be in each containers. So I do not go for the unhealthy luck idea. In case you do not take your possibilities like PSG and reward the opposition a aim (a horrible again go from Marquinhos, poor marking from Lucas Beraldo and Gianluigi Donnarumma was at fault in aim too), you do not should qualify anyway. Paris weren’t at their greatest in both leg; they lack depth, creativity and composure. But, that they had sufficient possibilities to win which can be a supply of remorse for the gamers and followers. – JL