Maclaren was quite interesting about that though

you can't separate their ability to play from their ability to hunt the ball down. The reason they can do the latter so well is that they onlt ever play short passes (because they're so talented). That means when they lose it, the have players only a few yards from the ball - so they can press so effectively.

So it's not necessarily down to Arsenal's lack of effort - it's that Barcelona have better players (than anyone else).

Posted By: Tricky Hawes, May 29, 11:52:35