The interesting thing is that probably both Mikel and I would like a little bit more control, but it will probably be a madhouse and very, very enjoyable to watch for the outside people or fans. I expect a difficult game of course, but a game that can go anywhere and anything can happen in games like that. Everything also evens out a little bit more because it's so competitive and the atmosphere in the stadium.
Michael Kayode trots over from right-back to the opposite flank to take the throw-in. He dries the ball, measures his run, steps back and then in one languid fluid movement hurls the ball in to the near post. Liverpool clear. Two minutes later, it happens again. This time, Mamardashvili tries to play the ball to Bradley, who miscontrols to concede the throw-in. And this time, Kayode's throw is flicked on by Kristoffer Ajer and volleyed home by Dango Ouattara.
Much has been made of Arsenal being overly reliant on goals from set pieces this season, but Manchester City are even more reliant on Erling Haaland. The Norway international has been in fantastic form this season, scoring 15 goals in his first 12 games in all competitions. In the Premier League, he has 11 in 9 games, and stats show that's 65% of Man City's total goals scored.
We don't celebrate defeat, but the performance was exceptional. We have to celebrate that. I think the way in which the players executed the gameplan, we haven't conceded from open play. The first one [goal] is frustrating because I think it's really preventable from our point of view, but we'll learn from that. It's 2-0, we're still in the tie. There are improvements to be made, but, overall, I'm really proud of the group.
It's probably the tallest guy on the pitch in a physical duel with the shortest guy on the pitch, and he lost it, head coach Pascal Jansen told amNew York after the match. For us, the way we played today and getting a draw, that would be the max for today, I think.
"There were lots of fights to keep possession, and that even made it tough for the referee to notice all the little details. In the end, a set-piece play decided the game. "We practice set-pieces a lot, because of its importance. All in all, it's difficult to play a nice game when the ball is in the air a lot. You have to fight and go for the duels."
Given the Danes are among Europe's most prolific coffee drinkers, chances are nearly every staff member will visit the one breakout area at FC Midtjylland's training complex several times daily. While there, not only will they receive their caffeine hit but also a reminder of the club's most important table, which sits directly above the machine dispensing espresso after espresso. It is not, though, the Superliga standings (which they have topped four times since 2015) but a graph showing Midtjylland's dead ball goal difference.