Hey everyone
Before our match @Anfield I thought we would do much worse than we did at the end. Everyone played much better than in the games before and finally our concentration was at 100%. Hummels played his best match for years. MartĂnez was in his world class 2013 form. I hope this will be the same tonight, but first: How will our first 11 look? Last time I was right, let's try again:
--------------------------------------Neuer-----------------------------------------------
----Boateng------------Hummels----------------SĂŒle--------------------Alaba---------
--------------------------------------MartĂnez--------------------------------------------
------------------Thiago----------------------------------James-------------------------
----Gnabry--------------------------------------------------------------Ribéry----------
------------------------------------Lewandowski-----------------------------------------
Maybe I'm wrong about Boateng, but there were rumors on monday and tuesday that Kovac could surprise Klopp and play with Boateng as right back instead of Rafinha. Yes, Rafinha is the Back Up for Kimmich, but he has not Champions League Quality. In big matches he often did some stupid things, just like last year against Real Madrid and as Klopp sure make a weak spot on Rafinha, Kovac could surprise that Boateng plays right back. He did play this position in his early years in the national team and when we speak about national team - you guys heared it: Löw made the decision that MĂŒller, Boateng and Hummels will never ever play again for the national team. In our last game and also the first game after that decision all 3 began against Wolfsburg. Kovac knows now they are f***in motivated to show that they still got it, which is also a reason, that it could be, that Boateng plays right back. In the last months he really played sh*t, but the last games he did well: So yes, he is a Center back and he didn't play for a long time as right back, but Rafinha is not on his level and would get huge problems with Mane. Boateng's Motivation is at 120% and Kovac could surprise Klopp, so let's do it and bring in Boateng.
Midfield is awesome these days. MartĂnez is a beast and wins nearly every tackling, Thiago maybe plays his best season ever for Bayern and James always can be the difference, even though he didn't play well in the first leg.
Attack. Gnabry is our best Player in the Moment. Lewandowski sometimes needs to many chances. Last week we beat Mönchengladbach 5:1 and he scored 2 times, but he had really good chances for 4 or 5 goals. He's a worldclass striker, no doubt, but in Champions League, espacially against you tonight, he won't get that much chances and if he only gets 2, he needs to use this 2 chances for a goal and this could be a Problem. Next weak spot: Ribéry. Yes, after his Substitution he had 3 assists, which btw. was a Bundesliga Record, but Wolfsburg played like Besiktas in 2007 @Anfield. Ribery has to play Alexander-Arnold and damn, on this level he isn't good enough anymore. After all Coman is fit for today. Can't play from the beginning, but for the last 20 Minutes, maybe overtime (but I'm sure, in this match there will be no overtime) he can play.
So, what are my final thoughts for tonight's match? Our biggest Problem is, that we have to score twice, maybe three times, cause we are sure, you will score at least one goal and a 1-1, 2-2, 3-3, however is good for you, but we need to win. That also means we can't play that way we did in the first leg and therefore we get more chances, but on the other side you could get more counter attacks. Difficult tactical decisions for botch, Kovac and Klopp, tonight. I personally think we will beginn like Juventus yesterday. Full power from the beginning, cause we just have to take the lead. Otherwise I think you will win this match.
I'm just excited. After all we have home advantage tonight and we're really strong in the Allianz Arena. Our fans are always crazy in these big Champions League matches. We had 250.000 ticket requests for this match and just for comparison: Last year at this round against Sevilla the cheapest ticket did cost 85 Euro. For tonight? 130 Euro. Prices we usually just have against Real Madrid or Barcelona in the quarter or semi final, but I know in England it's even worse.
So, I hope we see an exciting match and If you win tonight - I wish you all the best for the rest of the season and please don't let Man City become Premier League Champions again. Btw. - Do you guys even know, how many fans you have in Germany? Honestly. You could ask 100 Football fans from Germany which is their favorite team outside the Bundesliga. Maybe 40 would say Real Madrid or Barcelona, but the other 60? Liverpool. And ask for the biggest dream to visit a Stadium? 90% will say Anfield. "One time in my life I wanna hear YNWA". Btw. - the YNWA in the first leg was absolutely incredible. Goose bumps at its best. You guys can be really proud of your Club. It's an honour to play against you in matches like this, that we all love.
Andy