My opinion for years is:
1. Pep's style is the best style in the world for league championship. There is no pressure and a technical quality is usually a key against weaker league opponents
2. On the other hand, KO matches are way more than technique and often a mix of: technique, bullying and a mental strength.
Pep had around 20-25% away KO wins even at Barca. So, even a GOAT team struggled under pressure in away KO boxing matches.
Over the years, in lots of sports, my opinion is that choir boys can win only when they are way better than opponents or when everything goes in their favor.
Whenever things are not perfect, choir boys don't have an answer and fight in them.
Barca won titles only when we were the best by far.
Have we ever "steal" a CL when we played bad? No = because choir boys don't have guts and a mental strength to steal wins.
Pep's City is FC good guys.
I mean, fkng good guy KDB who never fights. Or femine Sterling. Or Jesus, Bernardo, lol.
Pep always trade aggression and fighters for smart, technical guys.
And on nights like this, it backfires.
3. Further, again playing 460 without central forwards to get more possession.
4. Playing against a pivot to field 6 creative midfielders (Iniestas), lol.
He is trading attackers and defenders for even more technique and possession.
5. For the end, what is Pep's plan B?
His plan was his usual plan A mixed with desperate crosses on midget strikers Aguero, Jesus and Sterling.
The same as when Barca crossed to Messi and Bojan.
All in all, a classical Pep.
Goat of league titles.
Meh in Europe.
He was able to win due to prime Messi and Xaviniesta.
Without them, this is just upgraded Del Bosque's 460 with 6 midfielders, zero leaders, zero fighters and no plan B.
** btw, have people seen faces of Cities players in the last 10 minutes?
They had the same empty stare like Messi, Busi and our guys when we are losing, something like: We are losing, I don't have any faith, I have zero clue or faith how to turn this match around.
