Despite Chiellini's absolutely back-breaking error, an error that basically took us from 100% qualification to significantly less than that, we are still in a great place.
The tactics have dictated themselves for the next match. Dortmund has no choice but to open themselves. We have no choice but to sit back and wait. At the same time they are fighting a tough fight in the league and we are coasting.
The 4-3-1-2 did a good job in the first leg defensively. Offensively it did nothing to help possession but that's ok. There is a reason why this formation looked better against BVB then against fucking Cesena. It's because Dortmund absolutely cannot be allowed to counter. Losing possession in non-dangerous areas to them is actually advantageous. It's like we had more success countering BVB than playing in possession against Cesena, but then again counter attacking has been the most effective way to win matches for quite some time.
This formation invited their fullbacks way up the pitch because that is where we leave space. Sure they try to drop Sahin or Gundogan into their place but those two are possibly the softest and slowest combination of DMs left in the CL.
Of course creating chaos in the centre of the pitch and constantly shielding play to the outside is great for us because when Pogba goes out to the left or Marchisio/Vidal has to go out to the right, they win their battles.
In the second leg I would make a slight adjustment and that is to try and have more distance between our strikers. Both of them would benefit greatly from more isolated actions against BVB defenders. They can beat their men with pace. Sokratis is quick but the rest of the backline is not.
I would really like one forward to stay central and one to shift into that area vacated by the fullback, sort of like how Morata set up Tevez's goal. I think the pairing can shift from side to side depending on where the ball is with each forward taking turns playing central and drifting wide. The more distance you create between the BVB CBs, the worse they will look.
I would also completely scrap any attempt at possession in our defending third. Smashing the ball up the pitch worked great. Even if we don't win the first ball, our midfield absolutely obliterated them to the 2nd ball. We were a bit fortunate today that they could not capitalize on some of our giveaways. A couple cynical fouls helped that but I would really like to avoid those instances.
BVB literally has nothing left to use in attack but their gegenpressing. The only way they can score is by giving our defenders the ball and hoping to force a turnover deep in our half, like Chiellini today.