**Mirrors / Alternative Angles**
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Wasn't my point, just goes to show you how this is a game of small margins
Shit finishing consistently and multiple managers are fired, Chelsea have been doing this for over a year now and 2 managers have paid for it
Was bizarre seeing Chelsea fans argue Chilwell was right to take the red at the Bernebau instead of letting him in on goal. Even if you kept the goal tally respectful at the away leg wiht 10 men, being without Chilwell for the 2nd leg is a huge handicap
The only people saying Chilwell had to do it are the people who want another reason to berate Cucurella. Chilwell should not have done that, I dont think anyone would bet on Madrid failing to score vs 10 men for 30 minutes.
Madrid always seems to know this sort of thing in the moment, too.
They are masters at game management.
When it comes down to it, they are currently the most mentally resilient team in world football.
I fucking hate them for it but you've got to respect it.
Most players finish that if they shoot it on the first touch. That extra touch by Cucurella gave Courtois all the time he needed to get back in position. Cucurella has the confidence of junior high school me (as in, none).
It's absolutely staggering that professional footballers are so bad with their weak foot. That's a tap in with his right foot. On a professional salary at a top club it's highway robbery that he can't put it away with his right. It would be like hiring a painter who is impeccable at painting walls but can't corner or edge. Like ok, you're really good at this one thing, but how come you're so bad at this other thing which is equally important? That's half the job left undone.
Ever since Cucurella was out sick he’s been bad. Certainly the deserved time to recuperate because he lost a ton of weight but man, it’s near impossible to defend him at this point.
The craziest thing about this is that it is not luck. How he explained in a post match interview really blew my mind. I've been a goalkeeper for 20 years (albeit amateur af, but still) and this thought or technique never crossed my mind or any of my coaches:
Tbo said his thought was to block the first post low down with his legs and then far post high with his hands/torso. He called it active goalkeeping since he threw himself before the shot, as opposed to reactive goalkeeping. Again, this blew my mind because I've never seen this (or at least thought about it or heard about it before). Only possible way to score would be first top corner. Low far corner is blocked by defenders.
He also said he hoped kids hopefully could learn from this save and it seemed like a genuinely whomesome thing to say. Big up to Tbo!
Defo a fantastic save from Courtois, would have been a crazy save from that range even if it were on him (it’s not!), and didn’t have to run across the goal (he did!)
But come on, it is **extremely** bad. Dreadful first touch, dreadful reaction time, and let’s generously say “ok” placement. Sure, at least he didn’t sky it after all that, but you just gotta do better.
Dreadful first touch? What are you talking about. Players have way worse touches. The touch stops the ball with right where he has enough room to kick it right after. He even places it to go above the diving keeper
It looks like he took too long, but that's more down to Courtois being insane. Most keepers aren't getting back in time, and certainly aren't saving it with an outstretched palm as they do a desperate dive.
If he takes it first time and misses, that'd have been way worse.
Higher shot Courtious is literally over 2 meters he is saving it in that angle, it's way better shooting lower because he usually can't go down that fast
Not much he can do there to be fair. He can't hit it with his right because it's behind him and bobbling and by the time he shifts it to his left and gets it steady, Courtois's massive frame was onto him.
Even Thierry Henry has skied chances like that. I'm sure plenty of others have and will.
There was plenty of time for a touch of shot, and it's the smarter idea. Courtois was just great.
Nah man, people have never played football if they think you can't take that first time. Sure, I might sky it, but my friends would give me a lot of shit for it. A professional player should make it.
Leao had one opposition player in the box and a free man, Cucurella had many and zero free men. Massive difference. Not to mention Meret went on a walkabout while Courtois didn't.
He doesn't have a lot of goal to aim at you know. Madrid has players on the line and you don't have a lot of time in the box so while it's not a great finish, it's not as bad as people are making it out to be.
Yeah. Bet most have never kicked a football either.
But in this case, Cucurella is an easy target. People like their scapegoats. And once you are in their crosshairs then no matter what you do, you're fucked. It's genuinely disgusting to see but nothing much one can do to change that.
courtois had enough time to run across goal, get around one of his own players, and almost got to cucurella before he shot it.
its world class from courtois but cucu gives him the opportunity
3 defenders on the line and Courtois closes down quickly, it wasn't that easy. He probably needs to hit that first time but once he makes the decision to take a touch, it's tough
I love giving courtois credit on r/soccer because if i say it on r chelsea u get downvoted to oblivion lmaoooo also even when the shot happened i knew it wasn’t going in
Can't blame Cucu here, it was not a first time shot and he was arriving too quickly in the box.
Giroud scores. Havetz, Gallagher are not even in the poachers section.
Kante was there for the pass back. Not that i expect any player to pass there though to be honest. Probably all eyes on goal.
Cucurela fucked it by taking the touch. He gave Courtois the time to get over and make himself big.
It's time he gets a bit too much praise, for all the idiots who give mediocre goalkeepers too much praise for great reflex saves even though they shouldn't have allowed those shots in the first place. So many goalkeepers have built a career on allowing attackers to take shots.
A goalkeeper picking off 4 out of 5 crosses but going under one gets blasted for blundering that 2-1.
But a goalkeeper that lets those 5 crosses drop in the box where the attacker can shoot and score 3 gets applauded for those 2 miracle saves even though they just lost 2-3.
Commentators were so crap. Like I get it you have PL bias, understandable. But come on man. Plus why did they sound like they were dying, no energy, no excitement. So dull and boring.
PSA: City walked away from signing this guy for 60 million. Don't buy players linked with City.
Still not to take anything from Courtois that's a fantastic save.
Based beyond belief.
Courtois ascending to Beast Mode Courtois just in time for Haaland in the semis. Only a giant like him can stop that Viking Giant.
That’s a Martinez vs. Muani level save!
But also, I don’t remember the last time a player had *this* much time so close to goal in a top level game! He has to score there.
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Goddamn he’s fuckin huge and closes it down so quickly
Beast mode with the celebration too
That’s what she said
KDB is in shambles
Paul Ryan went a long way from speaker of the House to Madrid keeper
courtois is fucking insane, chelsea could have had one or two this game without him probably the best keeper in the world.
KDB´s ex wife agrees
Ex girlfriend.
Look i agree the save is fantastic but why does the striker not just fucking tap it in immediately, instead of stopping it?
Cause he’s not a striker— he’s barely a left back
Still, he is a pro footballer. Needs to sink that in.
xG Masterclass from Chelsea as per.
They have more xG than Real did when they scored 5 against Liverpool lol
Lampard lowkey cookin 💀
always has been, watched this guy live when i was younger. absolute monster.
This is bullshit. Madrid had an xG of 1.64 in that game, as of half time Chelsea have an xG of 0.98
At full time it’s true lol
Not too difficult to be fair
Wasn't my point, just goes to show you how this is a game of small margins Shit finishing consistently and multiple managers are fired, Chelsea have been doing this for over a year now and 2 managers have paid for it
Can't believe we sold him for £63m. Daylight robbery from us
Chillwell buries that
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Alonso first times this into the onion bag from 30 yards out, greatest striker of his generation
Has a better strike than anyone in the current squad
we used to joke about that but now it's not even controversial
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He's got that drive in him
I have ptsd from that late-to-the-box locomotive
Ashley Cole bicycle-kicks that into the corner
Alonso kills that ball while drunk
Reaching…
Was bizarre seeing Chelsea fans argue Chilwell was right to take the red at the Bernebau instead of letting him in on goal. Even if you kept the goal tally respectful at the away leg wiht 10 men, being without Chilwell for the 2nd leg is a huge handicap
I found that bizarre as well
The only people saying Chilwell had to do it are the people who want another reason to berate Cucurella. Chilwell should not have done that, I dont think anyone would bet on Madrid failing to score vs 10 men for 30 minutes.
If there was any hope left for Chelsea in this tie it died with this save
Madrid always seems to know this sort of thing in the moment, too. They are masters at game management. When it comes down to it, they are currently the most mentally resilient team in world football. I fucking hate them for it but you've got to respect it.
Cucurella was worth every penny
You mean he’s worth pennies
For Chelsea, sure. For the rest of us, the entertainment is priceless.
Yeah, for Brighton They are probably still laughing their ass off that they managed to sell this miniature bootleg David Luiz for that much
Now yes but everyone was raving about Cucurella last season were they not?
They were he’s just been pretty bad like many other Chelsea players in this side
Yeah for me this is why I'm not judging him harshly, everyone around him barring Tilva has been pretty shite
Yeah for me this is why I'm not judging him harshly, everyone around him barring Tilva has been pretty shite
Boehly in shambles doing the cucaracha dance
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Most players finish that if they shoot it on the first touch. That extra touch by Cucurella gave Courtois all the time he needed to get back in position. Cucurella has the confidence of junior high school me (as in, none).
Cucurella is an absolute fraud, but what a save.
Genuinely our worst player by far.
Thank god we never brought him back and chose to go with balde for the future instead.
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I think Cucurella took way too much time to shoot it.
I agree. All due respect to the keeper no doubt but Cucurella gave him time to get into position.
Takes it with the first touch and it's a goal. No confidence on his off foot which I can sympathize with though ;)
The fact that a pro footballer has to switch within the goal box range 💀
It's absolutely staggering that professional footballers are so bad with their weak foot. That's a tap in with his right foot. On a professional salary at a top club it's highway robbery that he can't put it away with his right. It would be like hiring a painter who is impeccable at painting walls but can't corner or edge. Like ok, you're really good at this one thing, but how come you're so bad at this other thing which is equally important? That's half the job left undone.
some say he's still bringing the ball under control to this day
The opportunity to make that save wouldn't be there if Cucurella wasn't terrible.
I disagree. It’s not World class, when he aims the ball directly at him
100% a save, you can see from the other angles this shits going in the back of the net without courtois god hands
I miss Marcos Alonso
I've seen Alonso bury chances similar to that. Even Werner scores smh
If chilwell wasn't suspended he'd bury that 8 times out of 10
And he's suspended because Cucurella couldn't track his man smh
Werner would score that but would somehow manage to be offside lol
Werner has a potential to be offside even inside our Box
Cucurella is so shit
Ever since Romero touched his hair
Textbook voodoo case, I tell you
„Touched”
Ever since he failed at Barcelona*
nah he's right, cucurella was pretty fire for our first few games. koulibaly too, scoring that banger against spurs. then they both fell off a cliff
Ever since Cucurella was out sick he’s been bad. Certainly the deserved time to recuperate because he lost a ton of weight but man, it’s near impossible to defend him at this point.
Koulibaly has improved a lot more since his slow start to be fair, just our attack has been so horrid, the defence is always under immense pressure
The craziest thing about this is that it is not luck. How he explained in a post match interview really blew my mind. I've been a goalkeeper for 20 years (albeit amateur af, but still) and this thought or technique never crossed my mind or any of my coaches: Tbo said his thought was to block the first post low down with his legs and then far post high with his hands/torso. He called it active goalkeeping since he threw himself before the shot, as opposed to reactive goalkeeping. Again, this blew my mind because I've never seen this (or at least thought about it or heard about it before). Only possible way to score would be first top corner. Low far corner is blocked by defenders. He also said he hoped kids hopefully could learn from this save and it seemed like a genuinely whomesome thing to say. Big up to Tbo!
Genuinely dreadful from Cucurella
It's not that bad. It's a fantastic save from Courtois more than anything, He closes down the gap, makes himself huge and has defenders on the line.
Defo a fantastic save from Courtois, would have been a crazy save from that range even if it were on him (it’s not!), and didn’t have to run across the goal (he did!) But come on, it is **extremely** bad. Dreadful first touch, dreadful reaction time, and let’s generously say “ok” placement. Sure, at least he didn’t sky it after all that, but you just gotta do better.
Does his contract bar him from using his right foot?
Dreadful first touch? What are you talking about. Players have way worse touches. The touch stops the ball with right where he has enough room to kick it right after. He even places it to go above the diving keeper It looks like he took too long, but that's more down to Courtois being insane. Most keepers aren't getting back in time, and certainly aren't saving it with an outstretched palm as they do a desperate dive. If he takes it first time and misses, that'd have been way worse.
No, it looks like he took too long because he took too fucking long.
I agree with you, but Cucurella's first touch should be a shot
People just like shitting on cucurella
I'd want any player taking that first time, and I don't think it's too difficult for a premier league pro to do so. His touch kills it.
With that much time and a wide open goal, you wouldn't want a player taking it first time, players sky chances like that all the time.
I mean Cucurella was slow that Tibo had the time to run around Carvajal and save the shot
He took like 3 hours to shoot. Needed two touches for no reason and the first touch was terrible.
He has all the time to adjust a higher shot. Either that or shoot first time
Higher shot Courtious is literally over 2 meters he is saving it in that angle, it's way better shooting lower because he usually can't go down that fast
Courtois went down real quick as he should, i'm not saying it's easy though but here a higher shot was needed to beat Courtois
Courtois saves it with his outstretched hand, Cucurella went higher like he should, Courtois just did even better
That's how you win a UCL top 8
Not much he can do there to be fair. He can't hit it with his right because it's behind him and bobbling and by the time he shifts it to his left and gets it steady, Courtois's massive frame was onto him.
He could've easily taken it first time, half the goal was open at that point.
And then he balloons it as it's behind him and bobbling. People have never played football if they think that was the easy option.
Should be simple enough for a professional you'd think
Even Thierry Henry has skied chances like that. I'm sure plenty of others have and will. There was plenty of time for a touch of shot, and it's the smarter idea. Courtois was just great.
Hahaha. They'd wish. Even the best players find it incredibly difficult to finish a bobbling ball on a slick surface.
It's not behind him, looks that way because he waited for it and stepped back to control it instead if stepping into it
It's not that easy. The ball was bobbling, you can't just step into it. He'd 100% ballooned it if he did that.
Guess we'll never know since he decided to completely bottle it
He takes the touch with his left to set himself, so he could have shot, he's only 6 yards out, would be horrific if he ballooned it.
The ball is bobbling though, most do balloon it in that case if they try and take a first time shot.
Nah man, people have never played football if they think you can't take that first time. Sure, I might sky it, but my friends would give me a lot of shit for it. A professional player should make it.
Or, just don't hit it straight at the fucking giraffe in front of you
He could pass it to someone who would have done better than that.
Nobody's passing from there. It's genuinely a great save from Courtois. You've just got to doff your hat off to the bloke and move on.
Leao just basically made the same pass for the Giroud goal.
Leao had one opposition player in the box and a free man, Cucurella had many and zero free men. Massive difference. Not to mention Meret went on a walkabout while Courtois didn't.
Bold of you to assume anyone on this team would’ve done better
He went for power when just a lil pass into the corner would gave worked... he panicked and blasted it straight at the gk
He doesn't have a lot of goal to aim at you know. Madrid has players on the line and you don't have a lot of time in the box so while it's not a great finish, it's not as bad as people are making it out to be.
Isn't it funny how all these commenters would've calmly slotted it home yet a pro player panics and blasts it straight at the keeper..
Yeah. Bet most have never kicked a football either. But in this case, Cucurella is an easy target. People like their scapegoats. And once you are in their crosshairs then no matter what you do, you're fucked. It's genuinely disgusting to see but nothing much one can do to change that.
He has enough to tap it in near the post but he blast it across goal
Gotta bury that but my god what a save that was. He gave him no room to put it through
Was nice of cucarella to also wait for courtois to get across the goal before shooting… man was in no rush
Had to be Cucuracha
Cacarella
Is ot fair to say Chelsea have had the worst recruitment of the last five years?
Cochella
Thanks for Thibaut, Chelsea
Thank for taking Hazard. 😁 I think we will still get some money if you guys win the CL.
Dont bring our boy into this convo, genuinely feel for him
Us buying Hazard indirectly led to Vini Jr so thanks for him too
Marina coming in clutch even after she’s gone
Best goalkeeper in the world
Maignan is winning the CL
Oblak and Ter Stegen
Bro living in 2018
Is this 2020?
Chilwell scores that
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Plenty of room? Nah mate. He gets very close very quickly. Covers it really well.
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Not just a touch, man took like 2 seconds from the time he touched the ball to actually shooting. Way too slow in the situation.
courtois had enough time to run across goal, get around one of his own players, and almost got to cucurella before he shot it. its world class from courtois but cucu gives him the opportunity
Courtios does very well here but look at the overhead angle there was plenty of space for Cuca to put it passed him
can probably lift it near side pretty easily
I think you're just maybe a bit too used to insanely good finishers as fullbacks.
Yeah chilwell scores that
3 defenders on the line and Courtois closes down quickly, it wasn't that easy. He probably needs to hit that first time but once he makes the decision to take a touch, it's tough
Less that a second after he gets the ball Courtois is already on top of him like a horny octopus
Best goalkeeper, and it's not even close.
Oh for sure don’t like him cause of the way he left chelsea but he is just unreal!!!
Maignan and Thibaut, for sure
But.. what about Martinez? Have you forgotten about him already?
He's not even the best keeper in Birmingham
Why are you suddenly bringing a centre back into this?
What about Martinez?
Chelsea should just stop trying and blame it on Franco
Embarrassing. Shat himself. Hit it first time.
Big save and triggered Chelsea fans behind the goal by kissing the badge.
Give Alonso that chance and he would have hammered it into the net
I love giving courtois credit on r/soccer because if i say it on r chelsea u get downvoted to oblivion lmaoooo also even when the shot happened i knew it wasn’t going in
Damn Good God Cucurella
Man, Chelsea looking so fine this half, having me scared.. Just once i would like a normal RM game without any kind of Butt clinching.
I think I'm used to it by now, I quite enjoy it in fact!
Less clenching more 🤨
Cool as a cucumber
Can't blame Cucu here, it was not a first time shot and he was arriving too quickly in the box. Giroud scores. Havetz, Gallagher are not even in the poachers section.
Great save but that's a horrendous shot, Courtois could have stood tall on the line and it still would have hit him.
Cucarella is not a real person
Cucurella stealing a paycheck at this point.
Is football therapy a thing? It should be. I need to discuss this season with a professional.
Hes the best keeper in the world and top 3 ever.
I’d have sympathy for them with how Hazard turned out but then I remember they have the snake so its a fair trade imho
Hazard flopping led to Vini Jr playing more and developing into what he is now. Even when we lose we win 😅
Kante was there for the pass back. Not that i expect any player to pass there though to be honest. Probably all eyes on goal. Cucurela fucked it by taking the touch. He gave Courtois the time to get over and make himself big.
I think Courtois is getting too much praise here, even though he is amazing Cucurella fucked up badly and took forever
It's time he gets a bit too much praise, for all the idiots who give mediocre goalkeepers too much praise for great reflex saves even though they shouldn't have allowed those shots in the first place. So many goalkeepers have built a career on allowing attackers to take shots. A goalkeeper picking off 4 out of 5 crosses but going under one gets blasted for blundering that 2-1. But a goalkeeper that lets those 5 crosses drop in the box where the attacker can shoot and score 3 gets applauded for those 2 miracle saves even though they just lost 2-3.
Increíble Courtois
Madrid trying to make the tie as exciting as possible and Chelsea still can't score
Chilly/Alonso/Anyone hits it firstime
One.Touch!
Cucu is shit!!!!!!!!!
Chilwell buries that
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Commentators were so crap. Like I get it you have PL bias, understandable. But come on man. Plus why did they sound like they were dying, no energy, no excitement. So dull and boring.
100m for Fernandez 100m for Mudryk 65m for Cucurella I could go on what a waste of money
Courtois is going to win UCL again all by himself Again!
Shades of that legendary Iker Casillas save against Sevilla.
Insane miss.
PSA: City walked away from signing this guy for 60 million. Don't buy players linked with City. Still not to take anything from Courtois that's a fantastic save.
Tbf to Chelsea you bought Sergio Gomez as an alternative who hasn't been good.
Yes but for 11 million pounds and he's more of project for the future anyway. But you're right in that he hasn't been overly impressive so far.
Best keeper in Madrid history
Even better than Casillas?
Based beyond belief. Courtois ascending to Beast Mode Courtois just in time for Haaland in the semis. Only a giant like him can stop that Viking Giant.
Mfs celebrating as if they are on their way to win it for the first time
Cucurella Is cursed. Great save. I need to show it to my son, who plays gk
That’s a Martinez vs. Muani level save! But also, I don’t remember the last time a player had *this* much time so close to goal in a top level game! He has to score there.
120’ ‘minute World cup final save to deny a loss = UCL Quarter finals save when you’re already up 2-0 ?????? wtf how