super storm

Chapter 544 Do I Look Like an Idiot? [Fifth update of vomiting blood, ask for a monthly subscription]

On the day of the Champions League final, AC Milan settled in the hotel.

Coach Ancelotti woke up early in the morning, walked out of the room, and walked in the garden outside the hotel.

After retiring, Ancelotti gradually ushered in the blessing of middle age. The pressure of coaching made his hair a little gray, and he looked a few years older than his real age.

Accompanying him to go out is the assistant coach Mauro Tassotti, who is also a famous AC Milan player. He has been serving as the youth team coach and the assistant coach of the first team. He is known as Ancelotti's right-hand man and plays a very important role.

The two took a slow walk in the garden, occasionally discussing the upcoming final.

This is their own unique way of decompression.

"I don't quite understand why you praised Crouch last night?" Mauro Tassotti asked inexplicably.

What he said was that last night, after the team warmed up at the Olympic Stadium, Ancelotti and Benitez went to UEFA's pre-match press conference. The AC Milan coach mentioned Liverpool's most threatening player.

He thought it was Crouch.

In this regard, Ancelotti said that Crouch's biggest threat is not in scoring goals, but in his tactical role.

"I told our players that if we don't want to repeat the failure of two years ago, then we must keep an eye on Crouch. He is a key part of Liverpool's offense. The aerial ball is his greatest advantage. As long as the ball reaches the penalty area, he can create a threat."

For Ancelotti's statement, this morning, the major media also gave different interpretations.

Some people think that he said this on purpose to stimulate Liverpool, which is a psychological warfare, but some people think that he is really worried about Crouch, because the tactical role of the England high man is indeed very important, especially when he is in the penalty area.

Interestingly, Lippi, who was far away in Italy, also mentioned Crouch.

When the former Italian national team coach was interviewed by the media, he resolutely voted for AC Milan to win the championship.

He believes that although the outcome of the final is unpredictable, AC Milan has reached the best physical and psychological level at the best time. Among the two teams, Yang Yang and Kaka are undoubtedly the strongest players in the world.

But at the same time, Lippi also mentioned Seedorf, another AC Milan player. He believed that Ancelotti should activate the Dutch midfielder. He believed that Seedorf could become an indispensable factor for the team to win.

Also remind Ancelotti to pay attention to Crouch.

"Liverpool's defense is very good, and the counterattack is extremely fast. The midfield relies on Gerrard's excellent coordination and Alonso's promotion. In the frontcourt, apart from the most threatening Yang Yang, Crouch is also an outstanding center forward."

Ancelotti and Lippi mentioned Crouch at the same time, which undoubtedly made everyone gradually realize, is the English high guy really so good?
……

"Crouch's high point is indeed something we need to be afraid of, but it is precisely because of this, so I very much hope that Benitez can arrange him to start." Ancelotti said lightly.

"why?"

"The strongest is often the weakest. Crouch's role on the court is indeed huge, but his height is there, and he is indeed very strong in attack. But when it comes to pressing and oppressing, this is not his strong point." Ancelotti explained.

Suddenly Mauro Tassotti realized.

Liverpool played against AC Milan, fighting for skills and pass control, and the English team would not dare to do so, because they knew very well that this was their absolute weakness, and they simply couldn't play pass and control.

But what Benitez is best at is pressing and pressing.

After several adjustments this season, he took down Mohamed Sissoko, who was weak in passing ability, and made Mascherano, who has a stronger passing ability and has a certain organizational ability, partner with Harvey Alonso to form a double midfielder, stabilizing Liverpool's midfield in one fell swoop, and created Europe's leading midfield double midfielder combination.

With these two defensive midfielders in charge, Gerrard can appear in the central midfielder position he is best at, and can safely choose the most appropriate time to attack.

Although Liverpool's midfield style of play has only just come into shape and is far from the best effect, it is enough to create a threat, and this determines that Benitez must still adopt a siege style of play in this game.

Didn't run away!
In this case, if Crouch is allowed to start, it will undoubtedly give AC Milan more opportunities and space.

Because it is impossible for anyone to ask a high center forward who is more than two meters tall to crazily press and press, this is simply unrealistic.

That's Ancelotti's conclusion from Liverpool's two-legged tie against Barcelona.

And what he said at the pre-match press conference is half-truth, half-truth, true and false, it depends on how others see it.

What Lippi said is correct, Yang Yang is something that any team cannot ignore when facing Liverpool.

Another is Gerald.

……

"If Benitez lets Crouch come on, Seedorf has to hold it down. We have to defend the wing and we can't let Liverpool cross."

"Without the pass, Crouch's high-altitude ball threat will be weakened. At that time, we can only walk on the ground, and we can counterattack. I believe this is not difficult for us."

Ancelotti obviously has his own set of plans on how to limit Crouch, so he is not worried at all.

"And what if Crouch isn't on?" Tassotti asked.

This is indeed a bit unbelievable, because Crouch has always been the main force.

"There is this possibility. The reason why Benitez is good at playing cup games is that he is good at winning by surprise. If he dares to win Crouch in this kind of game, it is definitely a move full of courage, which also proves that he It’s still a matter of stability at the beginning.”

Tassotti frowned, "Two years ago, in Istanbul."

"That's right!" Ancelotti nodded. "Although the situation at the time was complicated and our first goal was a bit lucky, Liverpool did play more risky games at that time. Benitez will definitely learn from experience."

"He will properly delay the game, fight with us in a siege style, and then exert his strength in the second half." Tassotti guessed.

"Exactly." Ancelotti nodded.

The average age of AC Milan is the highest among all the teams in the UEFA Champions League. Many players are over [-] years old. A team of this age, fighting against a team in the prime of life like Liverpool, is looking for death.

"So, we need to establish an advantage in the first half and force Liverpool to play!" Ancelotti's eyes flashed a little sharply, and he had no choice.

The team's lineup is there, what can he do?
"Liberate Seedorf?" Tassotti asked.

Lippi is indeed the world's top tactical master. Although he is not the coach of AC Milan, although he has left the club for many years to coach, he still can see the key core of AC Milan at a glance.

Of course, Lippi knew it, and Benitez must also know it. This is not a secret.

Otherwise, Liverpool's intelligence personnel should be replaced.

Ancelotti has prepared two different plans for the two most likely tactics Liverpool will adopt, but how to arrange and use them in the game needs to be carefully observed in the game.

Sometimes, football games really need a little luck.

Just like in the final in Istanbul two years ago, who would have thought that Maldini scored for AC Milan with a free kick in the opening [-] seconds, and then AC Milan scored two goals in a row?

And who would have thought that after the start of the second half, Liverpool suddenly went crazy and AC Milan conceded three goals in a row?

Therefore, the role of the head coach is also limited, and the key still depends on the players.

"I hope Otto and Gattuso can stop Yang Yang!" Ancelotti said worriedly.

No matter what he said to the outside world, in his heart, the most threatening player for Liverpool is still Yang Yang.

…………

…………

The team stipulates that on the match day, players and their families cannot meet.

On the morning of the competition, Yang Yang saw Su Ye in the gym. Both of them had very good reasons, they both came to exercise.

De Michel clearly knew what was going on in his heart, but he turned a blind eye and pretended not to see it, allowing the two to meet in the gym.

There was no tactical meeting in the morning, which was somewhat surprising.

According to Gerrard, Benitez and the coaching staff are closely studying tonight's starting tactics.

"I heard that the boss was so distressed that he lost a lot of hair." Gerald laughed.

Everyone also smiled for a while.

Benitez doesn't have much hair in the first place, and if he loses it, he will be really bald.

At noon, Yang Yang went swimming again.

In the end, I saw Su Ye again in the swimming pool, and she also brought a newly woven colorful bracelet. After Yang Yang finished swimming, she put it on for him by herself, encouraged him to work hard tonight, and then reluctantly left.

Yang Yang glanced at the light bulb Demichel next to him, curled his lips, "Coincidentally, it just happened to happen."

Demichel suddenly smiled wryly, and asked quietly, "Do you think I'm an idiot?"

"Do you want to hear the truth or lies?" Yang Yang asked with a smile.

De Michel stopped immediately, "Don't, don't, I know what you want to say."

The two left the swimming pool talking and laughing.

The players were relatively relaxed, mainly responsible for regulating their body and mind, but in the meeting room, the coaching staff had a heated discussion, and it could even be said to be arguing, because how to start tonight and what tactics to adopt have so far been unclear. Haven't come up with a set of definite plans yet.

There is no plan, and the coaching staff does not know how to explain the precautions to the players on the field.

Finally, at the last moment before the tactical meeting in the afternoon, Benitez finally overcame all opinions, made a decision and rejected everyone's objections.

After the meeting, everyone went to prepare separately.

Yesterdan immediately came to the player's room and knocked on the door of Crouch's room.

The Liverpool assistant coach talked to Crouch for ten minutes before leaving, and no one knew what they were talking about.

But at this moment, Benitez was giving instructions in Yang Yang's room.

The final is imminent!
(End of this chapter)