I agree. Our midfield got pinned down and couldn't sort it out. But... he is also right.
In terms of preparation, regardless of who started the game, they would only be preparing for the Sevilla game once the WBA was done. And then the first session is likely to be a rest / recovery session after the last game. Then the session before Sevilla you want a light session which will mostly be tactical stuff and focus on set pieces etc. So when you factor in travel, they probably had almost no training and prep for the actual game.
And then you have the small matter of accumulated fatigue. This is probably the thing Klopp is trying to reset with the break in Spain - it's not warm weather training, it's just R&R. Here is a good quote on it from a body building article, but the same rules apply to performance in all sports.
So that we have a chance to completely 'deload' will give us the best chance to go full throttle on Saturday, maintain it for as long as possible and not have it negatively impact on other aspects of our game, as we saw towards the end of the Roma games in particular. This two weeks is perfect for us and will be absolutely hell for Madrid.
There is also another process (emotional) that affects all systems (families, communities, relationships) --- its called
isomorphism.
Isomorphism is a type of parallel process, often running unconsciously, where energy is taken by the system and leaks into others. It can be positive energy or neutral or negative. The issue with collective fatigue is how the load is shared and expressed.
The best example I can give describing an isomorphic process is this:
Family example - follow how energy flows here1. Head of family gets warning at work that performance is lagging
2. Head of family comes homes and gets in argument with spouse (1st leak)
3. Spouse admonishes children for bothering parents during a discussion (2nd leak)
4. Children leave the room and find the family dog, admonishing the dog (3rd leak)
5. Dog goes outside and tries to barks at the mailman
The energy can be reversed or neutralized at any level by the Head of Family, Spouse, Children, Pet or Mailman...
The problem of negative energy is that it is contagious, largely unconscious when externalizing on another and a common pathway to express frustration. Also, it must be recognized for what it is --- unresolved emotional residue leaking into a new system.
How this relates to Liverpool football club, Jurgen Klopp and collective group efforts in team sports is much less likely to be a problem.
Jurgen will use humor, crediting, relaxed responses to reactive stimuli and be ready to make sure every level of his team system actively leaks positivity!!!!
But this is an interesting topic --- Accumulated fatigue as it applies to a family/team system. Players are open to one another, and their energies for the team to have success, but how one handles these kinds of systems when fatigue, and mental expenditures go past the red line is so important.
As a former family scientist, this is another reason why I am so grateful to have Kloppo as our gaffer!!!
