I'll start by confessing that for bragging rights I wanted to at least get draw against this PSG side, But from the moment I saw the lineup I started to think differently about this game.

For Starter, Flick is a competitive coach and he was never going to set up a losing team, If he put out a team it's because he thought that was the best for the team not just for a single game but for the good of the whole season. My feeling was and still is, Flick wanted to win this game but not the expense of hurting our season for two reason. Rotating as he did last night meant no one can take anything from the game, the mental toll it would have taken on the team if we were a full strength XI and lost 4-2 can not be understated, Could have been for better or for worse and in the Clasico week and with a chance of inflicting a deadly wound on RM hopes of La Liga Title Flick was right to prioritize La Liga over UCL especially Since the game was basically as meaningless as it gets.

My other feeling is Flick understands how good of a tactician Lucho is and he didn't want to show our all his cards this early in the season. Going full strength against Lucho would have given him something to digest and damn it, Lucho is capable of devising a counter plan against us. If anything I feel like we lost a battle to win the war and am glad because we got to experience a full strength PSG and we completed well, an sure in a proper UCL game, Raph, Pedri, Rodri won't be substituted easily or early (though you can say the same to their team too.) As Flick said it, we learn a lot of things.

Some people wanted us to make Europe fear us, but I don't think this is the time, Europe should fear come Feb-May, that's when it really matters. With our young team, I'd rather be an underdog than put pressure on them

Lastly, I think I was impressed but what Xavi did, I don't think may people expected him to stand his own against Kvicha and Doue but he did, He is a smart kid, although people don't appreciate his defensive side of the game but he'd did so well and in a completely different role from what he is used to being asked as a LB. And yes, Pedri had a good game albeit without much assistance from Bernal, makes me miss 2024/25 Casado

Can't wait for knock-out games to start.