We’re missing key ball progressers in timber and partey. It’s a new system that involves a different dynamic on the left side. It’s all an adjustment to filling the xhaka void I think. I do feel games are way more calm this season although it’s painstaking and tedious. Last year we looked so vulnerable in transition this year it’s less obvious but still present. My advice is to try and see the more defense oriented system for what it is and hope we only let opponents generate low xg shots.

Also last year before the World Cup we looked incredible. Amazing defense and great offense but think about peaking - maybe this year we are primed to peak during the run in… that’s probably my main copium fix