Wesley Sneijder, a 2010 Champions League winner, believes UEFA should have intervened during last night’s match between Arsenal and Atletico Madrid, criticising both sides for what he perceived as a lack of attacking intent.
The two teams initially played out a 1-1 draw in Spain, with both goals coming from penalties. That encounter did little to inspire confidence that the return leg would offer a more entertaining spectacle, and expectations remained modest heading into the decisive fixture in London.
A Cagey Contest at the Emirates
At the Emirates Stadium, the pattern of play remained largely unchanged, with both sides struggling to produce expansive, attacking football. The match was ultimately decided by a single moment of quality, as Bukayo Saka scored the only goal of the game.
Arsenal adopted a more conservative approach after the goal, sitting deeper and allowing their opponents more possession. Although effective, the overall spectacle fell short of what many would expect from a Champions League encounter of such significance.
Despite the criticism, Arsenal’s tactical discipline and efficiency have proven successful, placing them in a strong position as they look ahead to the final.
Sneijder Voices Frustration
As reported by The Daily Mail, Sneijder did not hide his dissatisfaction with the match, expressing strong views on the lack of entertainment provided by both teams.
He said, “I said after 35 minutes, UEFA must intervene. They need to call London: both teams off the pitch, and tomorrow the final will be played between Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain. I knew this would happen. Atletico dropped back and gave away possession, and Arsenal had a lot of control over the ball.”
His remarks underline a broader debate about style versus results. While not everyone appreciates Arsenal’s approach, there is no denying its effectiveness. The club now has a genuine opportunity to secure the Champions League title and potentially add the Premier League crown, which would represent a remarkable achievement.
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Winning ugly is a hallmark of champion team, it comprises of sheer resilience and mental toughness.
Once Arsenal fans get their mentality right , such as those traveling fans to Portugal capital a few weeks ago, the players on the pitch will do their part.
Poor clueless fellow he was forced to watch the teams which didn’t play the way he preferred them to. I suspect BM would have preferred to win the 1st leg regardless of entertainment value.
Never heard such a load of garbage. UEFA cannot control a game that’s in process. They can’t stipulate how team’s play. Comment’s like these are disrespectful to both team’s.
He was being sarcastic, and doing it quite well, it would appear.
No – he was being rude and insulting. EUAFAFA must now intervene and put Snidey Snider where he can’t get a sun tan this summer. Inverness would ensure that. PSG were 3 up second half but utterly incapable of defending that lead to make major final – that’s not proper football or proper football team, that’s more like netball. Olise, Diaz and Grandad Kane, best front three on earth? Big bucks in farmers league doth not a resilient team make, Munich and Parisians not properly tested week in and out in their domestic leagues to ever become proper football teams. Simples.
Just bring it on. Who wants some.
@Moon Girl
RealTalk. Especially the “Bring it on. Who wants some”…😁
Snidey, apparently.
I’ve no time for sarcasm about we can defend properly, whilst best farmers leagues have to offer can’t defend for toffee. AM put out Barca, banged in goals against everyone, trilogy fight against us, most laughable penalty ever all they got from three attempts. UEAFA need to find some context to ban Prem Clubs, we making continent football look like playground football.
It was sneering sarcasm, usually referred to as being snarky, something you’re often quite adept at yourself.
NEVER!
EUAFER need to do something about you, top of the list.
You bandy legged pink rabbit eared monstrous apple.
I am NOT “bandy legged” 🤣
You are!
😱
I think UEFA should come out and intervene where his mouth is concerned. As I can see his mouth moving, but he’s talking through another part of his anatomy if you get my drift.
If it offended him that much, then don’t watch it. Plain and simple.
I’m very glad arteta has finally seen the light , zubi has d lion share of our problem. Miles coming in has been a major upgrade, that kid is a proper cm, zubi is a dm who lacks creativity like I’ve noticed since d beginning when I wasn’t happy zubi replaced maestro partey
A big downgrade signing any big serious club should never do.
Up next is to sign a martinelli upgrade, a proper Lwinger like kvara and or doue or prime quaresma, I’ll keep trossard though he’s getting old but he’s more effective than average martinelli
And Sneidjer is kinda a hypocrite coz I don’t see much difference btw arsenal play style and mourihno inter he played for
Your comments concerning the merits of MSL and Zubimendi are utter nonsence.
U should respect yo age and stop hauling insult to people over comment that ain’t directed to you when you don’t even offer any reason, sensible or not to back yo claim
Zubimendi is not a defensive mid, but. deep-lying playmaker.
Jax, exactly. Just like Mikel was when he played at PSG and us.
Mikel was a cm and he’s football IQ is way better than zubi’s
And you guys should stop speaking grammar when it comes to football, this is real shit ok.
Their are only 3types of midfielders, ( AM, CM and DM) eg. Busquest is a DM that can pass for a cm just like Alex song, xavi is a cm and iniesta is am
so all this deep lying nonsense are all confusing for a true baller and fan like us
You obviously haven’t got a scooby about players positions. When Mikel played for us Song was a box to box player !
Football has changed since those days and the players you mentioned !
“stop speaking grammar”🤣🤣🤣
U judge who a playmaker is by what he does with d ball , I won’t call vitinha a dm , rice is a dm and he’s even more creative and more assured on the ball than zubi.
So tell me how can zubi be a deep lying nonsense u calling him.
That must be a lie or a joke mate
Seems that I’m not the only one here who thinks that you’re full of BS.
That’s because you and together with most fans are just minions, I play and live football, I can tell a dm or cm or am or hybrid if I see one
It’s true the modern game is different and still evolving. In days of yore, ancient times, before 2000, a defensive midfielder was a destroyer of opponents play, possessing zero actual technical ability at all – in fact the role they did on football field was no different than being hard man in Gangster Movies, the two jobs proven to be interchangeable.
Zooby has technical skills like first touch, and moves into more advanced positions to dictate play, rather than just sitting deep, rather than relying on physical aggression, he plays like Xabi Alonso and Sergio Busquets did, who set the tempo in great teams, they used composure and short, incisive passing to break lines and evade pressure.
It’s proper football discussion to completely disagree about players, like whilst analysts and former footballers, current managers, purr about how brilliant Zooby is at being modern day number six or “single pivot” or “false 6” – he is statistically one of the best in his position at aerial duels and interceptions, La Liga (24/25), he was second in the whole league for winning back possession in the middle third – how come so many fans cannot see or appreciate it? I think it’s because we watch the game, not the work of individuals. And in our hearts we hanker after killer long balls.
Here’s what you must do, keep your own tally chart how many times Zoob pops up in every match from nowhere, taking the ball off opponent and giving it to own teammate. That’s when it starts opening the eyes, and leaves you feeling its what good team performance is built on.
Sneijder has already admitted his ‘stop the game’ comment was said in jest but his reported other criticism of White was absurd as he had a good game. Im thinking Arteta has had a bit of a lightbulb moment playing Lewis-Skelly in midfield as he had another good game last night and it’s proving to be his best position and he is a decent shout to replace Ødegaard if he goes. Great result last night and now for the big one………West Ham 😊
does he not remember the Dutch team he played for in the 2010 World Cup and how they tried to beat Spain in the final lol
For DS
I remember that WC for 2 reasons in a generally disappointing WC in S Africa.
1. Lampard’s supposed non-goal against the Germans, the ball at least a foot over the line and not being given as a goal.
2. Pure thuggery in the WC final by the Dutch against the Spanish. Nothing like the total football they used to play many years earlier with Gullit, Van Basten & Rjikaard.
Funny that if “he knew it….” that it would turn out that way, why did he even watch 35 minutes?
He may dislike how we play, complain about the style or lack thereof, but I noticed he tuned in to watch the match, aye?
He sure complains a lot about a team 14 games undefeated in the CL, noticed he did not say anything about that, or the clean sheets and goals allowed.
But then again, he seems to favor 1 way football, all attack and little if any defense. We shall see which wins in the title match. Even if we do prove victorious, I don’t think he will change his mind or compliment how we play football.
I pray we win the final. I’m going to need photos of all these media figures that would be crying about it.
And send Gary Neville the Golden Handbrake.
Sneijder needs someone who reminds him for whom and where he played. For the monotonous Mourinho at Inter and defense minded Italian league!!