We managed to pick up a valuable point from that earlier game,shocking the whole world with a late equaliser.In so many ways that game told us a lot;the kamikaze tactics of Leonardo were a thing of the past,the team were able to maintain shape and form for much of the game despite Barcelona's dominance.The team took giant steps that day,emerging from Catalonia with a hard earned draw,leaving behind a club,a city and the entire world lost for words.
That result though,failed to catapult the team to the results most eople expected.An injury crisis coinciding with poor form saw the side pick up 4 pts from the next 4 games,including losses to title rivals Napoli and Juventus.
There was concern in Milanello then.The expected rise of the phoenix was being stalled,those first amazing steps taken at Camp Nou were being rendered meaningless,the phoenix could be rendered comatose before accomplishing anything significant in this world.
PRINCE,AVAILABLE FOR EUROPEAN GAMES
The new found confidence,verve,and audacity of this side could not be denied,though.The return of star forward Ibrahimovic,coinciding with the red hot form of Cassano led to a run of 5 consecutive Serie A wins.The team did not abandon its identity,did not panic when things went awry.The calm passing game,the diagonal movement of the ball and the players,the rampaging full back runs(Abate),were still maintained and the wins,inevitably,started coming.What that told us was that this new phoenix is not ready to give up,this new phoenix is here for the long haul and minor obstacles are not going to derail its confidence in its ability to soar high one day.
In recent weeks the team has been rewardede for its fortitude.We have been playing some scintillating football,not only dominatn possesion but scoring freely as well.The only blip on this period has been the rate at which the team has been conceding.Last year's famed backline has been breached too many times this term,which is the one area the team requires vast improvements,as well as in the burial of chances.
LIONEL MESSI
What is the signficance of tonight's game?The team is now strongly rooted on its feet.We an an almost entire squad with a few absentees here and there,but so does Barca.This is going to be a game played on an even keel,two of the world's heavyweights coming head to head.This would be the phoenix's final test,the test of all tests to determine how ready it is to face the harsh realities of this world.Barcelona are a ruthless machine,they pass their opponents to death and hit them with an incisive pass from Xavi or Iniesta to meet one of thier numerous stealthy runs;or alternatively they have Messi go through half the pitch then score or set up a teammate.They have a style of play which they stick to,and 9 out of 10 times it works.
Barcelona are going to make it impossible for us to hold on to the ball,they press all over the field when out of possesion with the aim of retrieving it as soon as possible .We would have to be patient and gradually wait them out,hoping we can catch them on out with Pato's pace and Ibra's creativity and power.
As a club,we have gone through every imaginable phase,from highs to lows,just like most clubs.Tonight,we have the chance to make a statement,to announce our intention to launch into another era of dominance,to paint the world Red and Black again.All that matters is how we hang in there with the world's best,how we announce to the world that...
THE PHOENIX IS READY TO FLY AGAIN!!!!!!!!!
moonbyte
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