"90+6min: Valencia have missed yet ANOTHER sitter. This must be their fifth of the game! A low ball across goal is begging to be tapped home but Rodrigo terribly puts the ball wide at the back post."
That Wondo goal helps. A couple times he left 4 defenders standing still...but couldn't quite get the shot or pass to work. I really enjoy watching his game. He demands the ball all game. He sits in difficult positions top of the box just between the midfield. He is a brave player on the biggest stage. You literally cannot praise anyone more than that in my opinion.
I've heard a couple of "complaints" (?) that Pulisic is not receiving the kind of service he should be expecting from the runs he is making. If so, would it be based on other players resenting his attitude on the field, inability of other players to see his runs/placement and/or he is not actually positioning himself in dangerous-enough positions to warrant a pass ?
IMO, it's a combination of those 2. I don't think players completely trust him yet. And the chemistry/understanding is not fully developed. Remember, they still have been playing together for only a few months now. There was a play where Kovacic completely ignored a wide open CP on his left while being surrounded by 3/4 defenders. Willian ignored CP at least a few times, where a simple pass to lead CP would him on a direct run at the defense and into the box.
I saw that in the first half but in the second there seemed to be less of it. It was pretty obvious a couple of times with Kovacevic and Willian though and CP seemed to get frustrated. I love how a Lumpy is giving him the whole 90 lately. CP has really learned how to keep the ball better in traffic and tight spaces. He also seems to have mastered the art of getting off the pass at the very last instant before the challenge comes in.
I thought it was initially called offside so it's understandable that most would be wary of a Valencia counterattack in the aftermath.
Yup, and the *entire* team except for Kepa went to celebrate with him once VAR overturned the offside decision.