UCL speaking factors: Spurs merely terrible as all Prem groups fail to win

We’re halfway via the UEFA Champions League spherical of 16 and, whereas some fixtures are delicately poised, a few of the competitors heavyweights are beginning to make some noise.

Bayern Munich‘s 6-1 shellacking of Atalanta has Vincent Kompany’s nearly actually via to the quarterfinals, whereas Pep Guardiola has already admitted that Manchester Metropolis have “not a lot” hope of overturning Actual Madrid‘s three-goal lead.

After which there’s Tottenham Hotspur. What on Earth are we to make of Igor Tudor and Co.?

Fortunately, ESPN FC writers Mark Ogden, Sam Tighe, Gab Marcotti and Alex Kirkland are right here to interrupt down the motion because it occurred, mirror on the primary legs, and look forward to subsequent week’s return fixtures.

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– Ogden: PSG are Champions League faves, and win vs. Chelsea reveals why
– Olley: Arsenal saved by Havertz in Champions League however should enhance
– Valverde’s hat trick steals the present as Actual Madrid dominate Man Metropolis

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Q1. What’s mistaken with Tottenham? What’s mistaken with Tudor? On a broad scale, the membership is in disaster domestically, with an inexpensive journey to Atlético Madrid within the Champions League … they usually rolled over with a largely first-string XI inside 25 minutes. Was this extra about Atleti being miles higher, or extra about Spurs giving up? Is there any method again for them not simply in Europe, however when it comes to Tudor salvaging the season or his humiliated goalkeeper, Antonín Kinsky, shaking this off?

TIGHE: Not per week goes by with out one thing completely horrific taking place to Tottenham. From humbling defeats to ridiculous slips to viral clips of the gamers ignoring the supervisor — it is simply been a relentless stream of negativity for months. This heavy 5-2 defeat at Atlético Madrid, the place as soon as once more the joke was squarely on Spurs — and Micky van de Ven, and poor Kinsky — is simply the newest in a string of barely conceivable occasions.

It is actually no marvel this group have not received a sport this yr. No marvel both West Ham United have gained 12 factors on them since mid-January and we’re on the level the place yet another defeat may ship Tottenham into the Premier League‘s backside three.

Tudor, in the meantime, has been a real catastrophe. They need to have sacked him after the loss to Crystal Palace, as a result of it was abundantly clear at that time that no matter that is, it is not going to work. However the decision-makers look like dragging their ft on that, simply as they did for months with Thomas Frank…

OGDEN: Spurs are a membership that has made unhealthy choices, each when it comes to recruitment and training hires, for much too lengthy, and it is all coming house to roost now.

I agree with Sam that Tudor has been a catastrophe, however he ought to by no means have been employed within the first place. That call smacked of vanity, complacency and a scarcity of accountability throughout the boardroom.

Who actually thought it was a good suggestion to rent a coach with, at greatest, a journeyman monitor report and no expertise of the Premier League as a participant or coach? The CEO, Vinai Venkatesham, both thought it was an important concept — or he lacked the conviction to inform the homeowners that it wasn’t — however both method, he’s as culpable because the gamers and Tudor for the place Spurs are in.

I truly thought the group responded properly after the horrible begin in Madrid. Perhaps some defiance and self-respect started to creep to the floor, however it’s too late. Spurs are going out, and I additionally suppose they’re going down.

KIRKLAND: I used to be there, and I am unable to keep in mind seeing something like these opening 25 minutes from Spurs, from any group, ever. It felt like a group in the midst of an existential disaster. Atleti took benefit, however they weren’t something particular apart from the odd second of magic, like Antoine Griezmann‘s one-touch flick help for Julián Álvarez. In any other case, they did not have to do something particular. Spurs gave it to them.

Having not been in considered one of his press conferences earlier than, I used to be deeply unimpressed with Tudor’s manner post-match as properly. The substance of his responses, together with him sticking with the absurd, on-its-face suggestion that choosing Kinsky had been the best name, left everybody extra confused.

The one factor you’d say is: given the depths they sunk to in that first half, a 5-2 ultimate scoreline is not anyplace close to as unhealthy because it may have been. Atleti have type for folding away from house this season, and you’ll think about a second-leg situation the place Spurs seize a aim, and even two, and provides themselves a little bit of hope … earlier than it slips away once more.

MARCOTTI: I am unable to actually disagree with a lot of the above. There’s an evident dysfunction and a scarcity of communication right here, and it goes past Tudor. What was the cope with Johnny Heitinga? He will get employed to be Frank’s “first group coach” in January — with out anybody answering the query of whether or not Frank wished him — after which will get sacked simply after Frank will get sacked.

Nevertheless, I do not suppose Tudor’s lack of Premier League expertise is that huge a deal. Arne Slot, Andoni Iraola, Antonio Conte and numerous others have completed properly with zero Premier League expertise. It isn’t prefer it was up to now — everyone follows the Premier League, everyone has data, and it is not as completely different because it was perhaps 10-15 years in the past.

Extra broadly, I feel we have to hammer Tudor extra over the Kinsky factor. He made the mistaken selection in beginning him, doubled down on his justification afterwards (“I wished to take stress off Guglielmo Vicario, it was the best selection on the time.”), made it worse by taking him off (and never realizing {that a} modicum of humanity when he walked previous would have been the best factor to do) and, after all, he is undermined Vicario’s confidence now as properly.

What should he be considering? “I bought dropped for this bundle of nerves?”

Q2. Liverpool turned in one other dismal efficiency at Galatasaray on this competitors, shedding 1-0 in a consequence that should really feel like a win contemplating the hassle (they usually had a aim disallowed, as did the Turkish champions). However Mohamed Salah was invisible, Florian Wirtz did not look convincing in any respect, and once more this group is in search of a pacesetter. Will they flip this round at Anfield, or will Gala overturn their dismal report in England to advance?

OGDEN: All the things factors to Liverpool turning the tie round within the second leg. They’ve their European pedigree, the Anfield issue and Galatasaray’s horrible report in England — which certainly will not be helped by visiting followers being banned for this sport as a consequence of a UEFA sanction. However generally, the apparent factor does not occur and there are causes to consider that Galatasaray would possibly simply pull off the shock of the spherical by profitable this tie.

The Turkish facet boast the aim risk of Victor Osimhen in opposition to the more and more common jitters of Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté, with Gabriel Sara and Noa Lang displaying their capacity to harm Liverpool within the first leg. Galatasaray are additionally streetwise, with stacks of expertise within the squad within the type of Ilkay Gündogan, Leroy Sané, Mauro Icardi and Mario Lemina.

You continue to need to make Liverpool favourites as a result of they’ve house benefit, however there are such a lot of weaknesses Galatasaray can exploit in Slot’s group.

MARCOTTI: Mark is correct. Clearly Liverpool are favorites, however on the identical time, there are large warning indicators Slot cannot ignore.

I’ve talked in regards to the middle backs all season lengthy, and it is merely felony that they did not handle this in January. You are all the time going to be in danger, they usually had been vastly fortunate that the Osimhen aim was disallowed. A 2-0 first leg deficit means a complete completely different ball sport. Nonetheless, there’s an evident fragility on this group and the truth that the ties are coming so shut collectively — with a league sport in opposition to Tottenham in between — have to be a priority for Slot.

Can Konaté get again into the best frame of mind for the return leg? I genuinely do not know. The truth that he has to play these two each single sport and mainly power them to play themselves again into type isn’t a wholesome scenario.

Wirtz is what he’s: nonetheless discovering his ft and, for my part, not an important No. 10 on this arrange proper now. So, you shunt him broad, and also you get the form of efficiency we had in Istanbul. There isn’t any simple repair there. I nonetheless suppose switching to a entrance two would assist (or assist Salah, not less than) however you possibly can’t try this in a single day; it’s a must to work on it in coaching, they usually have a really stretched squad and little or no time.

So, yeah, Liverpool are favorites, however the margin for error could be very skinny.

KIRKLAND: Mark and Gab will watch much more of Liverpool than I do. And I settle for it is a flawed Liverpool group. However nonetheless: that is Liverpool, in Europe, at Anfield. Absolutely they’re going to overturn a one-goal deficit? If Galatasaray went into the second leg with a two- or three-goal benefit, certain, they’d have an opportunity. However I am unable to see how Liverpool do not flip this round. And simply have a look at Galatasaray’s away report within the Champions League this season: they’ve misplaced 4 out of 5 video games, with defeats at Eintracht Frankfurt, AS Monaco, Man Metropolis and Juventus, and only one win, at Ajax Amsterdam again in November. Personally, I am unable to see it.

TIGHE: Certain, Liverpool look unconvincing, however it was lower than a month in the past that Galatasaray took a three-goal result in Turin, took on 10-man Juventus and really almost blew it.

Osimhen finally scored the aim to clinch the combination victory in additional time and he did not even rejoice. Some speculated he was displaying respect to a group that attempted to signal him just lately, however I think he was both embarrassed or outraged at his group’s collective efficiency on the night time.

Put this Gala facet, with only a one-goal lead, in a battle at Anfield when the stakes are via the roof, and I would wager it is them who fold, not Liverpool.

Q3. Madrid lastly turned in a potent, coherent efficiency and confirmed their very best in opposition to Man Metropolis, one thing we have not seen all season and positively not beneath Alvaro Arbeloa. Antonio Rüdiger saved Erling Haaland quiet — once more — whereas Federico Valverde scored some video-game targets. Nico O’Reilly, a rising star in current weeks for Guardiola, was focused ruthlessly again and again. Can Metropolis rally at house, or is that this yet one more match during which the Spanish facet get the higher of Guardiola & Co.?

KIRKLAND: Little question, this was Madrid’s greatest results of the season, by far, and considered one of their greatest performances. They’ve typically come up quick in huge video games: in opposition to Liverpool and Metropolis within the group stage, in opposition to Atleti, and in opposition to Barcelona within the Spanish Supercopa. Not on Wednesday. And their reward is an enormous 3-0 result in take to Manchester subsequent week.

Listening to Guardiola discuss afterwards, although, it was fairly clear he thought the sport was extra evenly matched than the scoreline suggests. Metropolis bought into harmful positions — particularly down the left, up in opposition to Trent Alexander-Arnold, within the first half — and could not produce a ultimate ball. Up the opposite finish, Valverde was ruthless for Madrid. I would not be in any respect stunned if Metropolis took the lead in Manchester, and even went 2-0 up, and pushed Madrid all the way in which. Madrid had been good tonight, however they’re nonetheless weak: they’ve proven it again and again this season.

TIGHE: Pep might imagine it was a comparatively even sport, however outdoors of the primary 10 minutes, I am undecided that is true.

I used to be surprised Madrid seemed so good (they have been ropey all season, seemed horrible in opposition to Benfica and fielded at greatest half their strongest group right here) — however if you have a look at the XI Guardiola selected … properly, maybe he handed Los Blancos the initiative.

I typically consider the “Pep overcomplicates huge video games” narrative to be massively overblown, however I’ve some gripes on this event. First, three wingers? Why? And that does not even embrace former winger Bernardo Silva. Antoine Semenyo struggled as he was pushed into central areas and Savinho was ineffective; Jérémy Doku was the one one who seemed good.

And second: It is easy to overlook, however for Semenyo, Marc Guéhi and even Abdukodir Khusanov, a Champions League knockout sport on the well-known Bernabéu is a large step. Semenyo and Guéhi joined midseason from AFC Bournemouth and Palace, respectively!

It is a huge stage, the lights are very shiny, and Pep did not assist himself — or his gamers — along with his choice.

MARCOTTI: It is an enormous win: Actual Madrid took the pitch with the best spirit, and Arbeloa has purchased himself a while. And, sure, let’s remind ourselves there was no Kylian Mbappé, Éder Militão, Rodrygo, Jude Bellingham and Álvaro Carreras. And, certain, Madrid are within the drivers’ seat for a spot within the quarterfinal at this stage and with Thibaut Courtois between the sticks and all these particular person weapons they might but win it.

However — sure, there’s all the time a however — there are two factors to make. First, this isn’t a blueprint, you are not constructing in direction of something. You will not play many extra groups that play the way in which Metropolis do and there will not be too many extra conditions the place you possibly can play a de facto again 5 and no middle ahead. So it is not a platform, it is a needs-must scenario. Which is ok, discover a technique to win and all that, however the open questions on this group have not gone away.

The opposite is that Man Metropolis had been fairly poor. I feel Guardiola bought a ton of issues mistaken with each his group choice — as Sam factors out above — and the sport plan. Semenyo in that function contributes little, wheeling out Savinho when he is been peripheral all season appeared foolish. And, once more, taking part in with out Rayan Cherki (or Phil Foden) leaves you missing in creativity. As for the defending, properly, Sam makes an attention-grabbing level in regards to the Bernabéu and inexperience and no matter else with this again 4 (aside from Rúben Dias), however, hey, Pep constructed this group. I do not suppose the types of errors we noticed had been all the way down to inexperience, in all probability extra to lack of expertise and unhealthy choices (O’Reilly on Valverde stands out).

OGDEN: This tie remains to be alive as a result of Madrid will journey to the Etihad with maybe all of their injured gamers lacking once more and that makes them weak. Metropolis may simply overturn a 3-0 deficit. It simply takes a powerful begin, an early aim and the inexperience of Actual’s youthful gamers to really feel the warmth, simply as Guehi, Semenyo and Khusanov did within the Bernabéu.

However Actual’s lead provides them an enormous benefit as a result of they are going to have the ability to hit Metropolis on the counter as they are going to inevitably go away gaps on the again. I used to be at Anfield when Liverpool overturned a 3-0 deficit in opposition to a Barcelona facet that was a lot stronger than this Actual group, so I do know something can occur. And of the three English groups trailing by three targets after the first-legs, I price Metropolis as the one considered one of them able to preventing again to win the tie.

It is unlikely, however they will nonetheless do it.

This fall. Chelsea‘s lack of maturity and cohesion confirmed in a chastening 5-2 loss at Paris Saint-Germain, one during which they twice tied the rating earlier than giving up three targets within the ultimate quarter-hour … together with yet one more huge error from a keeper. Are PSG “again” and now ready to win this title? And what can the Blues take away from the defeat, if something?

TIGHE: PSG can beat anybody on the earth after they flip it on in assault. That stream and pleasure has been lacking too typically from their play this season, however on Wednesday we noticed it — and Chelsea ran head-first into it.

What the Blues can take from the competition, although, is that they’re clearly totally able to inflicting PSG problems with their very own. This was a very good back-and-forth for simply over an hour, with Chelsea creating 4 huge possibilities in complete and having fun with a number of spells during which they performed fast, penetrative soccer.

The sport bought away from them ultimately, and the query of maturity — from each the gamers’ perspective and maybe the supervisor’s too — is truthful to lift, however they return to Stamford Bridge figuring out they will trigger their opponents injury. That is sufficient to hold onto for now.

MARCOTTI: PSG by no means went away, to allow them to’t be again. I do not put them among the many favorites to win the Champions League as a result of they downgraded severely at keeper (and with out Donnarumma they would not have received it final yr), too many gamers have been too inconsistent, they’ve a title battle on their fingers domestically and Luis Enrique is on the verge of turning erratic and bizarre once more. However, sure, they will win it, particularly as a result of, of the highest tier favorites, everyone however Bayern appears to have obvious weaknesses.

As for Chelsea, you possibly can name it lack of maturity in case you like, however I do not suppose youth is way of an alibi right here. Wesley Fofana and Enzo Fernández are 25, Trevoh Chalobah, Pedro Neto and Reece James 26, Marc Cucurella 27. They don’t seem to be youngsters. And it does not take expertise or guile to determine that in case you’re a aim down in a two-legged conflict it is best to not concede because the return leg is at your house subsequent week. That simply takes intelligence and management from the bench.

Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior has 101 mitigating elements, however ready till seven minutes from time to make adjustments when bodily you are wanting a bit of spent was bizarre. So too is that this mid-season demotion of Robert Sánchez for Filip Jørgensen. (And, let’s face it Jørgensen’s blunder despatched PSG on their method). Sánchez is not notably particular, however I am not clear on what foundation you’d suppose Jørgensen could be a greater wager.

KIRKLAND: Can PSG win it? Certain. After Bayern, I feel they’re the strongest group on their facet of the draw. They have issues, however they need to nonetheless make the semifinals, and in case you get that far, something’s potential.

As for Chelsea, they competed with PSG for an hour. At that stage, the tie seemed broad open. I feel they’re going to fancy their possibilities of making a sport of it at Stamford Bridge.

OGDEN: Let’s be sincere, this sport turned on a mistake by Chelsea goalkeeper Jørgensen. His group had been in fine condition at 2-2 with simply over quarter-hour to go, however he loses the ball and PSG punish him by scoring to make it 3-2, sparking an unbelievable surge by the house facet that ended with a 5-2 win that, for me, settles the tie.

Previous to the Jørgensen error, Chelsea seemed like a group that would damage any of the remaining groups within the competitors. They’re unpredictable and inexperienced, however after they carry out, they’re excellent and have some fine quality attacking gamers.

But it surely all simply feels a bit of smooth at Chelsea. There isn’t a killer intuition, no person needs to imagine management on the pitch and Rosenior does not have the presence or authority of a Champions League coach.

PSG have all of these credentials. They’re completely ruthless, the group is stacked with gamers ready to take the initiative and Luis Enrique is second-only to Guardiola as a world-class coach.

Who is aware of if Chelsea will ever progress to be like PSG, however you form of doubt it merely due to the way in which to membership is about up.

Q5. Seller’s selection: What else struck you within the first legs this week?

TIGHE: What occurred to our beloved No. 1s this week? We frequently discuss in regards to the Goalkeepers Union — properly, did all of them have a gathering on Monday and comply with lose their collective minds?

Kinsky’s wretched 17 minutes on the Metropolitano has been properly coated, and Atleti’s Jan Oblak will be grateful for that, as he performed a horrible go out from the again within the buildup to Dominic Solanke‘s late aim.

Then got here Gianluigi Donnarumma, who made two large errors as Man Metropolis had been downed on the Bernabéu. He misplaced his bearings for the primary aim, uncertain if he may deal with the ball or not, then took down Vinícius Júnior for a penalty (which he bought up and saved, to his credit score).

And final however not least, the Parc des Princes. Jørgensen began properly for Chelsea in opposition to PSG, however inexplicably handed possession to PSG and allowed Vitinha to chip him within the second half. He then invoked the wrath of Fernández by doing it once more, then lastly allowed Khvicha Kvaratskhelia‘s last-gasp effort to squirm via him. On the different finish, Matvei Safonov was hardly convincing; he ought to have saved Malo Gusto‘s equalising effort within the first half.

KIRKLAND: Griezmann. There was an opportunity he would not even be at Atleti by now, as he contemplated a transfer to Orlando Metropolis SC earlier than he noticed sense and opted to remain till the top of the season. And right here he was, offering one of many moments of the spherical, along with his mesmerizing, second-half flick help for Alvarez. It is the form of easy, highlight-reel piece of talent we have seen from Griezmann for years. So few gamers have the approach and presence of thoughts to drag one thing like that off. Let’s take a second to take pleasure in it, whereas he is nonetheless right here.

MARCOTTI: Guys, certain, Griezmann and keepers… how about the truth that Bodo/Glimt received extra video games (and factors) on this set of Champions League first-legs than all six Premier League groups put collectively? The Bodo story rumbles on and we’ll doubtless see them within the quarterfinals, however I believed the story right here is how poor — aside from Newcastle United — so lots of the Premier League golf equipment had been.

Ordinarily, you’d blame fatigue at this stage of the marketing campaign. However Arsenal (who drew, however with out Noni Madueke‘s dive to win a penalty would have misplaced), Chelsea and Metropolis opted to play the reserves on the weekend. Tottenham are a pathological case at this level, however, after all, they did not play in any respect within the FA Cup, whereas Liverpool performed on Friday. And it is not as if any of those groups (aside from Liverpool) performed opponents in impolite well being. I do not know if there is a sample right here and I am actually not going to try this silly factor folks love to do and draw broad conclusions in regards to the state of the Premier League. However if you relaxation so many gamers on the weekend, at a minimal it is best to put out a greater displaying than what we noticed.

OGDEN: We have to this stage of the speaking factors with out mentioning Bayern Munich, so I really feel it is my obligation to ship some flowers to Bavaria and discuss up arguably the strongest group within the competitors proper now.

Bayern hammered Atalanta and sealed a 6-1 win in Bergamo with Harry Kane spending all the 90 minutes on the bench alongside the equally unused Lennart Karl.

Atalanta are not any mugs. They fought again from a seemingly hopeless place to eradicate Borussia Dortmund within the play-off spherical, however Bayern simply steamrolled them on their very own turf.

The second leg is a complete formality, so Bayern can sit up for a quarterfinal in opposition to Actual or Metropolis the place Kompany’s facet would be the favourites whoever they arrive up in opposition to. Bayern have a tricky path to the ultimate with Liverpool or PSG more likely to be awaiting within the semis, however no person needs to fulfill Bayern.