I was recently told that the physical trainer at Atletico Madrid is saying the team can last the campaign at their current level.
TWO BECOME ONE?Hello Guillem. In regards to City v Barca, do you think we should start with two strikers (like we did against Bayern at home) or drop a striker and play a five-man midfield with either Silva or Nasri playing in support of the striker (like against Bayern away). Bayern blew us away in midfield at home and they blew us away the first 15 minutes at their own stadium, but as soon as our midfield was able to match them (especially Silva) our attacking still looked good minus the striking partnership we have played in the league this season. Mikle
GUILLEM SAYS: I think we get confused by roles sometimes. Two strikers against Bayern at the Etihad was not a good idea as the two players played like strikers, but Manuel Pellegrini's idea was that one of them came a little bit deeper. I think that if Alvaro Negredo plays he could perhaps play a little bit deeper because Sergio Aguero is more of a number nine than Negredo, even though he is shorter. Negredo can intervene in the build-up and assist, whereas Aguero is more dangerous in the box. I think the match will be equal as Barcelona have their own problems and you could see in the first 20 minutes against Getafe there was no discipline on the pitch. Everybody switched on later when pride was at stake and they hit a Getafe side who decided to play like they were a better team than they were by defending high and they killed them.
SERGIO RAM-OFF??Is it now time for Sergio Ramos to go? I have supported Real Madrid since moving to Spain eight years ago and have defended many of Sergio's 'indiscretions - his reputation does precede him at times. However, it seems that he is now becoming a liability. His latest sending off, against Osasuna, was ridiculous. Maybe the first yellow card was not deserved but a player of his experience should know that once he is shown one card he then has to tread carefully - he didn't at the weekend. Eighteen dismissals in his time at Real Madrid is far too many and I feel that his contract negotiations should be ended and the next transfer window should be used to at least test the market. bigal73
GUILLEM SAYS: European champion, World Cup champion, and you will sell him? I think that would be a rushed decision. He is not on his best form but I think he should be worked on and improved because his possibilities are immense. He is physically and mentally very strong but he is going through a dip.
