Re: ***The Official Football Manager Thread***
Champions League - First Knockout Round - Schalke vs Milan
Coming into the knockout stages, we were not exactly in the best of shape. Injuries to center back Benedikt Howedes, striker Max Meyer, and midfielder Leon Goretzka left us a little thin. Plus, two of my transfer pickups in the summer were gone. Striker Enes Unal didn't want to play second fiddle to Meyer, so I shipped him off to Valencia. Winger Thalles, who I had high hopes for, never could break into the side after a preseason injury combined with the play of Nicolai Muller and Bruma. He got shipped back to Brazil. To replace these two, I signed Belgian striker Divock Origi from Atletico and picked up a 19-year-old regen striker from Colombia on a free by the name of Danillo Chaparro. Because Origi played in the Champions League for Atletico, he would not be eligible.
Leg one was at San Siro, and right away, I knew we were in for a fight. My patchwork backline struggled with the pace of AC Milan and they broke through...twice in two minutes. Hadn't even made it to the half hour mark and we were already down 0-2. Milan took their foot off the accelerator and we played even with them the rest of the way. In the 86th minute, Muller scored the all-important away goal and the match ended as a 1-2 victory for Milan.
Two weeks later, VELTINS Arena was rocking. I had Meyer and Howedes back for leg two. However, Wolfsburg dealt me a raw deal in league action, breaking the leg of my best player Bruma (29 apps, 13 goals, 7 assists). Milan came out in a very defensive 4-1-4-1 and Nigel de Jong in particular dominated from his DM position, winning 21 of his 23 tackles and generally being a pain in my butt. Our best scoring opportunity in the first half came in the 30th minute when Howedes was able to come free on a corner, but Diego Lopez brilliantly turned it around the bar. At the half, it was all nil.
In the second half, Milan turned the defensive pressure up even higher, and it was becoming apparent that we were going to flame out in the first round again. In the 66th minute, I brought in Chaparro, wanting some fresh legs on the attack.
I shall call him Super Subparro.
In the 71st minute, fullback Frank Langeneke (18 year old regen I inherited) raced down the right side and fired a low cross into the six yard box. Chaparro beat his man to the near post and smashed the ball on the volley. Lopez brilliantly got a hand on it, but the ball rolled along the goal line, and deflected in off the post. 1-0 SCHALKE!!! 2-2 with us winning on away goals!!!!
Milan immediately flipped the switch on, trying desperately to retake the lead. However, we were inclined to play keep away and finished the superb comeback.
And we move on the quarterfinals, where a familiar foe awaits us.
Champions League - First Knockout Round - Schalke vs Milan
Coming into the knockout stages, we were not exactly in the best of shape. Injuries to center back Benedikt Howedes, striker Max Meyer, and midfielder Leon Goretzka left us a little thin. Plus, two of my transfer pickups in the summer were gone. Striker Enes Unal didn't want to play second fiddle to Meyer, so I shipped him off to Valencia. Winger Thalles, who I had high hopes for, never could break into the side after a preseason injury combined with the play of Nicolai Muller and Bruma. He got shipped back to Brazil. To replace these two, I signed Belgian striker Divock Origi from Atletico and picked up a 19-year-old regen striker from Colombia on a free by the name of Danillo Chaparro. Because Origi played in the Champions League for Atletico, he would not be eligible.
Leg one was at San Siro, and right away, I knew we were in for a fight. My patchwork backline struggled with the pace of AC Milan and they broke through...twice in two minutes. Hadn't even made it to the half hour mark and we were already down 0-2. Milan took their foot off the accelerator and we played even with them the rest of the way. In the 86th minute, Muller scored the all-important away goal and the match ended as a 1-2 victory for Milan.
Two weeks later, VELTINS Arena was rocking. I had Meyer and Howedes back for leg two. However, Wolfsburg dealt me a raw deal in league action, breaking the leg of my best player Bruma (29 apps, 13 goals, 7 assists). Milan came out in a very defensive 4-1-4-1 and Nigel de Jong in particular dominated from his DM position, winning 21 of his 23 tackles and generally being a pain in my butt. Our best scoring opportunity in the first half came in the 30th minute when Howedes was able to come free on a corner, but Diego Lopez brilliantly turned it around the bar. At the half, it was all nil.
In the second half, Milan turned the defensive pressure up even higher, and it was becoming apparent that we were going to flame out in the first round again. In the 66th minute, I brought in Chaparro, wanting some fresh legs on the attack.
I shall call him Super Subparro.
In the 71st minute, fullback Frank Langeneke (18 year old regen I inherited) raced down the right side and fired a low cross into the six yard box. Chaparro beat his man to the near post and smashed the ball on the volley. Lopez brilliantly got a hand on it, but the ball rolled along the goal line, and deflected in off the post. 1-0 SCHALKE!!! 2-2 with us winning on away goals!!!!
Milan immediately flipped the switch on, trying desperately to retake the lead. However, we were inclined to play keep away and finished the superb comeback.
And we move on the quarterfinals, where a familiar foe awaits us.
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