naz What was up with Saliba? He choked big time, lost his head and didn't seem himself so game. Rice was a bit awkward at times.
Trials of a young squad. If you look at that first goal it's guys of the ages of 23, 24, 25, 26 fucking it up. Even Raya's only 28 and we're his first top tier club.
We're talking about lifetime prodigies who are barely grown men, taking on Bayern for most of these guys is like the equivalent of a PhD thesis defence. These are the biggest matches they've ever played in so a few nerves are hard to avoid.
We derive a lot of benefit from the youth in the squad so we've gotta roll with the downsides and find ways to unblock these "hungry lads" psychologically.
In our squad it's evident the humbler players and those who've experienced failure, had to bootstrap their careers or been in the ranks in more mediocre clubs are more stable in these situations: White, Tomiyasu, Trossard for example.
It's harder on the defensive-minded players because their discipline is more defined by the necessity to avoid the negative than the opportunity to create the positive. Kiwior in the first half wasn't at the required level, and his troubles infected the whole back five plus Rice with anxiety.
Creative or attacking players like Ădegaardâalthough he did well he seemed nervous and was overcooking his body tricks and fakesâdon't get hit with the same criticisms. Havertz cops a bit because he's meant to have end product now, but again he's gonna get off lightly.
