whatever milan did to the pitch, they certainly didn't do it to make things more complicated for barça. that's just not possible. i could imagine inter doing something like this... i could see moratti allowing something like this, but galliani, allegri and berlusconi would never allow such a behaviour, they're just too proud to even consider the possibility.
the truth is that san siro's pitch situation has gone out of control. it's not really a new problem. the pitch at san siro has always been terrible.... in the early 2000s milan and inter used to returf (change the entire pitch) once a month!!! because after 3 weeks it was just impossible to play football on that pitch.
i remember they even had a commitee of experts analyzing the situation. they said that the reasons for san siro's grass problems were 2:
1- the stadium coverage (that trasparent roof over the stands and the ends) doesn't allow the grass to receive enough sunlight.
2- the chemical properties of the ground beneath the pitch are far from idea for the growth of the grass (apparently the whole san siro block isn't the best place to grow grass on).
also keep in mind that, unlike most stadia in europe, san siro is used every week (2 teams play in there, so there are no "away matches weeks" for the pitch and that means the pitch is much more stressed than any other pitch).
then suddenly a few years ago the situation changed. i don't know what they did (and it was odd because from what those experts said it seemed like the only solution would have been to build a new stadium in a different place), but whatever they did, it solved san siro's problems. for the last few years the pitch has been perfect and milan and inter didn't have to returf it so often as they did in the past. it seemed the problem was solved for good.... but this season the situation got back to what it was years ago.
i don't know what happened to change the situation, but one thing is for sure: it's almost impossible to play 4 consecituve games in a month over that pitch right now.
yesterday they said on tv milan and inter are considering the possibility to convert san siro's pitch into a synthetic turf.
so, long story short, the problems with san siro's pitch are not something related to the game against barça. unfortunately it's something much more serious than a cheesy expedient to make the blaugrana "feel unconfortable".
beachryan said:
Were they really third that year? Apologies - clearly getting old if I'm mixing them up.
yeah that was rijkaard's last season in catalunya and barça were absolutely horrible that season.... even my mighty palermo would have spanked them
however if u're looking through your memories in search of a great red devils defensive display, u shouldn't go too far from that period.
april 2008, roma-man utd (0-2)....one of the greatests defensive displays in the entire 2000s decade
PLF said:
I agree with what Edmundo was saying about it taking great discipline and defensive organization and how they should be praised for that. Also his point about away goal and it being so different from group stages is spot on.
Now I see what Ben is saying about how good defending is done with 6 men and not 8 and that's a very valid point.
BUT, facts and results speak for themselves. Tell me, when was the last time and how OFTEN have Barcelona been held from scoring in the last 3 years? I'm curious. How many matches has Barcelona (The world's greatest team) and their super players who basically look like they're in training and create chances for fun even against elite competition, have been kept at bay and off the score sheet?!
yep, not many teams and keep a clean sheet against barça, i certainly won't argue with that.
and i also won't argue that this was probably the best strategy. infact i absolutely agree with u and edmundo on this one (although the mere thought that a competition might be conceived in a way to incentivate this sort of strategies makes me sick!).
i'm only saying one thing: do not call that "good defending" or "quality defending".... because good defending is a completely different thing, and the fact that milan kept a clean sheet is not necessarily a sign of good defending. infact during the group stage match between milan and bnarçelona (when barça scored twice) the rossoneri defended MUCH better than yesterday.
we often see small epl clubs going up against the top 4 and "parking the bus in front of the goal"..... and sometimes it works... but that doesn't mean this is good defending of course
covering the gaps at midfield with 5-6 men takes some serious skills: good readings, huge focus, good understanding of your teammates movements and tendencies (good sync), great timing, and positional awareness.
if you are asked to do the same job with 3 more men, that changes everything. it ceases to be a matter of positioning, timing and good readings, and it becomes just a matter of "filling up space".
also, good defending and "inside the box defending" are 2 opposites. if you're giving up too much pitch to your opponent and retreating to your box, then "by definition" that is poor defending (stefano infact mentioned this yesterday).
again, i'm not saying milan did bad. it was a great effort and a good result (keeping a clean sheet in the home game is so important in CL). i'm just saying "
let's not get carried away guys and let's not mix quantity with quality..... quality defending is a completely different thing!"
Gerd said:
But you don't need to be afraid my Catalan friend, Barcelona will easily win the second leg...in a way Milan's result wednesday was also a freak result. Milan defended very good but it is rare that this Barcelona team is that "weak"...or maybe this has come to the end of it's cycle and we just don't see it at the moment...but i don't think so.
Barçelona weren't weak Gerd, they just didn't find any openings. and i don't think their cycle is over yet. however i do believe you're seriously underestimating milan (wich is understandable after their last 2 performances against barça and at emirates stadium).
barça is obviously the favourite to win the match, no doubt about it, but when this milan is at full strenght (and when they actually bother playing football), they are very VERY good.
i also believe barça has more chance to win.... not many more chances than milan though. and trust me, it's gonna be everything but easy for the blaugranas to overtop milan next week, as they'll probably be facing a different milan.
speaking about that, what's the situation concerning milan's injuries? is anybody gonna make it in time to play at the nou camp next week? stef, zeem, do u have any news?
Drekkard said:
Well, I'm fed up of certain aspects of it as well, but there's a clash of interests between low-level teams, mid-level teams and top clubs. I don't see the way to serve all purposes right at the same time without affecting the domestic leagues a bit.
How do you see it, Ben? What would you do?
i'd change pretty much everything mate. no premilinary qualifying stages, no 2nd or 3rd or 4th clubs (this used to be the "champions" competition for a reason), no group stages, no away goal rule.
infact it would proably be easier for me to tell u what i would not change in this boring, stupid competition. a ridiculous mix of "league" and "cup", wich manages to take all the worse aspects of both kind of competitions and none of the good ones.
I wished Arsenal held a draw at SanSiro 
