So we're in the final.
From 5,000 feet above I can say assuredly that Flamengo will have a much more involved attack than Monterrey did. Monterrey had players who could really strike a ball and obviously forced Alisson to make some great saves, but the Brazilian club can get forward MUCH quicker, both down the wings and via combining through the middle. They are just much more dynamic. So our defence including midfielders, is going to have play much more up to its usual standard.
Obviously having Virgil back would help, but it's more than just that. We didn't have Fabinho, Gini or Henderson in midfield and that made us very porous. Flamengo could exploit that even more effectively than Monterrey did.
Likely Fab and Gini are still missing on Saturday. Hendo in midfield would help but the rest of the options are mainly attacking players it seems to me.
I wonder if the best option for Saturday is to just go for it, to show every bit of attacking firepower we have, fullbacks bombing forward, first choice front three interweaving with those two and Keita, not worrying much about conceding because we'll just score another one then. This isn't a sustainable tactic over the season but maybe as a one-off it would be the way to go, given our personnel issues. Would likely be fun to watch, at any rate.
Hopefully those six attacking players and our goalkeeper can have special performances all at once, with our defensive group putting in an industrious shift for us. Let's make it a night/day to remember.
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