i want to be king

Chapter 912 Deadly Dead End

The first half ended with Manchester City temporarily leading [-]-[-].

During the intermission, the two teams made improvements and made up for the problems exposed in the first half, but overall, the tactics basically did not change much, and they still adopted the same style of play in the first half.

But what no one expected was that after the start of the second half, Barcelona took the lead in overcoming a wave of high-intensity pressing.

Especially taking advantage of the opportunity of Manchester City's kick-off, they aggressively pressed forward and directly launched a frantic press on Manchester City's midfield.

In a pressing press, Joe Hart was interfered by Messi. When passing the ball to Marcelo, the intensity was too small, and Pedro took the first step to intercept the Hu.

Everyone was shocked. Marcelo returned to the defense immediately and blocked Pedro, but the Barcelona winger still cut to the ribs and sent a kick behind him. Messi stopped the ball before Pepe, dunked Pepe, and then hit with his left foot.

A curved ball directly pierced Manchester City's goal, two to two!
The game went back to a draw once again!

Joe Hart beat the grass hard, extremely chagrined.

He was in a hurry to pass the ball under Messi's pressing step by step just now, but he didn't notice that Pedro was near Marcelo, and it turned out to be like this, watching Pedro assist Messi to score.

This kind of low-level mistake made Joe Hart somewhat embarrassed to see his teammates.

He feels like he's stuck in an endless loop.

The more he tries to perform well, the more likely he will make mistakes, the more mistakes he makes, the greater the pressure on him, and the more he wants to perform well...

He knew that he was facing the biggest dilemma in his career.

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Joe Hart's pass error caused Manchester City to concede the ball for the second time, and it also made Barcelona's second half start very effective. Their morale soared and they continued to press Manchester City fiercely.

For a while, Manchester City was pressed into the half-court.

This kind of situation was hard to see in the first half, but after the start of the second half, Barcelona played very smoothly.

Not long after Messi scored the goal, Barcelona created another chance.

After Iniesta and Messi completed a two-to-one cooperation in the middle, he dribbled the ball to the front of the penalty area and sent a through ball.

Villa slanted into the penalty area, and after receiving the ball on the left side of the penalty spot, he directly kicked the goal.

Under Kompany's interference, Villa's shot was too straight and was directly confiscated by Joe Hart.

Only 4 minutes later, Messi sent a direct pass, which penetrated the two defensive players of Busquets and Pepe and fell to the right side of the penalty area. Pedro quickly inserted and stopped the ball.

This time it was Joe Hart who decisively abandoned the goal and directly hugged Pedro's blocked ball to the ground.

The beautiful attack also won a round of applause for Joe Hart.

Facts have also proved that England's national goal is not without strength, but some of his characteristics really do not match Manchester City, especially his passing and receiving, the success rate is too low.

After defusing Barcelona's two threatening attacks in a row, Manchester City has gradually gained a firm foothold.

The start of the second half was indeed a bit useless, but the draw will continue.

Mourinho took the lead in making substitution adjustments in the No. 60 minute.

With Seydoux Keita replacing Pedro, the team returned to a formation similar to a four-four-two, allowing Messi and Villa to press out.

The purpose of Barcelona's substitution this time is mainly to adjust the team's midfield, which is a bit of stability.

However, after adjusting to four four two, Yaya Toure was more active in the midfield.

Guardiola replaced Di Maria with Hazard 5 minutes later than Mourinho's substitution.

Manchester City continued to adopt a four-three-three play without wavering.

Almost immediately after Guardiola's substitution, Mourinho made a second substitution, Fabregas for Villa.

Many people have misunderstood Fabregas' position.

The Spanish midfielder played as a midfielder at Arsenal, or even delayed, but in fact, when he was in the Barcelona youth team, Fabregas played as a midfielder and forward. He is a standard scoring player.

Fabregas was not very valued by Mourinho at first, but the Barcelona management needed him to return, especially after so many years of hype, he was finally bought back, so Mourinho could only use him.

Arranging Cesc Fabregas to play is also to let him play in the forward position in the middle of the midfield, which is conducive to advancing from the back. Messi's position is more free, and there are almost no restrictions on him, allowing him to play freely.

After the two substitutions, it is not difficult to see that Mourinho's strategy is basically to stabilize his own defense, let a few technical geniuses play on their own, and play as they can score goals.

Guardiola's strategy is to continue to consolidate Manchester City's possession.

Hazard's ball-handling ability is much better than Di Maria's. Let him play, and cooperate with Su Dong and Sanchez, two players with strong ball-handling ability, to further strengthen Manchester City's ball-handling ability in the frontcourt, plus the midfielder.

Guardiola's meaning is already very obvious, that is, continue to strive for possession of the ball, suppress Barcelona in possession of the ball, and then create more opportunities.

It can be said that the two substitutions basically reflect the coaching philosophy of the two head coaches.

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Gradually, after consecutive substitutions, as the game progressed, Manchester City's ball possession rate gradually gained an advantage.

Especially after entering the 10th and [-]th minute, the physical fitness of both sides declined. After Hazard came on the field, Manchester City's advantage in passing and controlling the ball in the midfield gradually became obvious, faintly suppressing Barcelona.

After Hazard came off the bench, he was also very active on the left side.

Manchester City's offense also began to tilt towards this side, playing Hazard's threat with the ball.

On the defensive end, Kompany, Pepe and Busquets are firmly locked on Messi and Fabregas.

This style of play allowed Manchester City to barely control the scene, and began to try to break through with the ball at the front of Barcelona's penalty area, trying to create some opportunities and trying to penetrate Barcelona's defense.

But I have to say that Mourinho may not be good at training offense and ball possession, but in terms of defense, he is really very good.

When he really wants to defend, Barcelona's defense really becomes very solid.

The two lines of defense are very layered and the distance is kept tight, making it difficult for Manchester City to penetrate.

However, the price is also more obvious, that is, sacrificing the team's passing and possession.

Su Dong patiently cruised at the front of the restricted area, especially around the top of the arc.

He often ran over to find Hazard and Sanchez, or David Silva who was advancing with the ball, just to try to create some opportunities, or to create some fouls by taking more balls.

Su Dong's free kick skills are extraordinary, as long as it is within range, he is sure.

But Mourinho is clearly aware of this, so Barcelona has very few fouls outside the penalty area tonight, let alone in the middle.

The tactics adopted by Manchester City, especially Hazard, David Silva and Sanchez's frequent dribbling and breakthrough tactics, in Barcelona's view, are somewhat suspected of touching porcelain, just to get a foul.

But even so, Barcelona still does not easily give Manchester City such an opportunity.

Until No. 709 minutes, when Sudong received a cross from Hazard's left cut, he stopped and passed. He wanted to get rid of Yaya Toure and faced the goal directly.

This made Mourinho on the sidelines furious and roaring.

Obviously, under high pressure, Mourinho was quite dissatisfied with the team giving Manchester City a free kick in the frontcourt at such a critical moment, because it was too dangerous.

……

Amidst the uproar in the audience, Barcelona began to set up a human wall.

This time, the entire Barcelona team retreated, and they didn't even keep anyone in the frontcourt. They all retreated into the penalty area.

Five players arranged a human wall and stood in a line to the left of the penalty spot.

There were two other players standing on the right side of the penalty spot, some distance away from the five players.

Manchester City let Marcelo and David Silva stand in the middle of the two rows of Barcelona's walls, and there was a gap in the middle where one person could probably stand.

Su Dong stood at the penalty spot, and through the gap, he could just see the goalkeeper Valdes in front of the goal.

This is the arrangement of Valdes.

If Su Dong walked through the cracks, there would be no chance at all.

Valdez's position is on the right side, so he arranged a five-man wall on the left side of the penalty spot, which can be said to protect all angles, unless Su Dong's free throw can go around the top of the wall and then fall back to the goal range.

With the strength of the Barcelona goalkeeper, even if Su Dong managed to do it, unless he was close to the left post, he would still be able to save. His reaction and movement speed were very fast, and he was also very agile in saving.

"Are you sure you don't need cover?" Tony Cross asked with concern.

Su Dong shook his head, pointed to the right side of the top of the arc, "Stand over, don't hinder my performance."

Tony Cross shook his head with a smile, but walked to the opposite side obediently.

In fact, he could see it. Valdés knew that Su Dong would come to fight, so it didn't make any sense to cover or not.

This is the duel between Su Dong and Valdes!
After the human wall was set up, the referee Keppers withdrew to the outside of the penalty area, and after a final confirmation, he whistled to indicate that free throws were allowed.

Su Dong stared straight ahead at Valdés, and the Barcelona goalkeeper stared Su Dong to death as if facing a formidable enemy.

After taking a deep breath, Su Dong jumped out quickly. After three steps of approach, he quickly kicked a curve ball with his right foot.

The ball climbed up, crossed the high-jumping wall, and fell quickly. After finally drawing a beautiful arc, it could barely rub the left post and got into Barcelona's goal.

"GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!"

"Clean direct free kick!!!"

"A wonderful direct free kick from Su Dong!"

"Fatal corner!!"

"Valdés didn't even have time to react, the ball went in against the post!"

"Three to two! Manchester City surpassed the score again!"

(End of this chapter)