Especially with the possibility of extra time. We fade at the end of 90 minutes so extra time would really push our starting eleven too far.
Pfft- we fade at 60! I mean our midfield really fade out badly- so much so that they just basically let everything through as the game progresses and as a result, our defense drop deep- and that's where the goals against come from. Happened as recently as at Roma away the other night (even worse- by halftime, we were done).
Understandable, seeing as we have prolly the hardest working midfield of the top teams in Europe. They regularly clock up 2/3 kms more per game than their opponent.
Our challenge in rotation really is with our midfield and that's why we- more than most- would need an abundance of squad options there. Where other teams can get away with 6/7 midfielders, we need 9/10.
Anyway- the catch 22 is that we wouldn't know if we're going into extra time or not, so yeah - we have to try and perform in midfield at as high a level for as long as possible.
That's the one big way a final differs from an ordinary cup game or a league game and that has a big impact on game management, selection and just tactics in general.
Them being available though sure is huge.
