[football] walk side by side

Manchester United's ability to advance to the Champions League final can be said to be within the expectations of many people.

In the past one or two years, the media fans have also noticed the changes in Manchester United.After breaking away from the initial growth and running-in period, the stabilized Manchester United has regained its position as the king of the Premier League.Cristiano, who made his debut in the Premier League and was ridiculed by countless reporters for his flashy tricks, also ushered in the first explosion of his career after being promoted by Ferguson. In the 2007/2008 Premier League In the league, with a record-breaking 31 goals in a single season, he topped the Premier League scorer list.

Manchester United's momentum is unstoppable, but Chelsea's decline is visible to the naked eye.

Since 2006, Chelsea has gradually started to go downhill, especially after experiencing a coaching change this season, and temporarily replaced an ordinary coach who is not tough enough, unable to control the field, and does not have the backing of glorious honors , was massacred by Manchester United at one time, finally stabilized gradually, and conflicts in the dressing room recurred, which can be described as a bumpy road.

However, it was this way of stumbling all the way that barely advanced to the current Chelsea, but once again stood in front of the Champions League finals.

Who will be the final champion?The Red Devils Manchester United reborn from the ashes, or the stumbled Chelsea?

Even the most loyal fans of both sides cannot say with certainty that their team will be able to win this year's Champions League—although Chelsea has been in a downturn this season, the team's age structure and lineup level are still in the blue. of the peak level.Not to mention Manchester United this season. Just a week ago, they beat Chelsea and won this year's league championship.

"If we can't win this championship, will Grant leave next season?" Powell sat down in the stands and asked his friends in a low voice.

The man who was asked replied without thinking: "Of course, after all, Abu has a lot of money, why can't he invite a famous coach? ... Sigh, although I don't like Grant, I still hope we can win... "

but……

That's Manchester United.

Generally speaking, fans of English teams rarely pay attention to non-home team games, but Manchester United is different.Since the beginning of this season, Manchester United's performance can be called domineering. Although it is not as unreasonable as Chelsea in the 2004/2005 season, it has also shown its dominance as the Premier League overlord.

What about Chelsea?

Thinking of this, Powell felt extremely gloomy for a moment, and could only look at the court helplessly, hoping that the players could bring them a surprise.

Russia, Moscow, Ruzhniki Stadium is brightly lit at night.

The game has not yet started, and the fans in the stands have already taken their positions. The players and coaches of both sides are still in their respective locker rooms, making final tactical decisions. The lawn under the night lights is empty.

Powell clenched his fists and stared absently at the empty stadium.

The Luzhniki Stadium at this moment can't be called quiet, nor can it be called very noisy, but he still feels as if he can hear his own heartbeat clearly, and those dense tensions seem to be something tangible, sticky The muddy crawled up his back, and he reached out to wipe it off, but only felt the sweat on his hands.

Grant's tactics had already been told to his players when they assembled in the afternoon, and he didn't choose to say anything more in the Chelsea dressing room at the moment.

He is a head coach who talks less and does more. At this time, it is difficult to use words to motivate Chelsea players, or to express himself with passionate language.Because, the Israeli head coach simply mentioned the tactical points, then turned around and left the locker room first.

He has nothing more to say.

What else do you want to say?This is the second time that Chelsea players have entered the Champions League final. He no longer needs to use any morale-boosting words to motivate them. As players, they will understand the significance of this game better than anyone else. time, it is better to leave it to themselves.

After Grant left, the Chelsea locker room did not appear to be too noisy. The players were all relaxing in their own ways, either listening to a piece of music, or chatting with teammates who were close to each other.Cyril was half leaning against the wall, staring at the tactical board with tactical points written on it.

Counting, this is the second time he has entered the Champions League final.

The last time he came to the finals, he returned to Porto with the Champions League gold medal and his ecstatic teammates, and turned away amidst the singing of thousands of Porto fans. This time, it will be another What's the ending?

Thinking about it, I thought of Cristiano who was sitting in another locker room at the moment.

This is not the first time Cyril has confronted Cristiano in a match, but it is the most important match between him and Cristiano.

There is no tie, and there is no room for change. After this night, there is only one person who can take away the Big Ear Cup.When one person steps onto the podium with supreme honor, another person must turn away with helplessness and sadness.

When coming out of the player tunnel, players from both sides meet in the tunnel.

Like every reunion on the field in the past, Cyril hugged Cristiano calmly. The difference is that neither of the two sides joked about trying to compete, but said to each other solemnly: "come on."

Then set foot on the court and walk towards each other.

"Good evening, fans and friends. This is the 2007/2008 UEFA Champions League final. The two sides are Chelsea and Manchester United, who are also from the Premier League. Manchester United performed very well this year. The game is also gradually picking up, the state is bursting, and I look forward to them bringing us a wonderful game."

The referee blew the whistle to start the game.

"From the point of view of the lineup and formation, neither side has changed much. Manchester United is still the 4-4-2 formation that Ferguson used to. Although Chelsea has changed the head coach, the formation is also the 4-3 that has been used in recent years. -3-[-]. From the perspective of strength, Manchester United and Chelsea's lineups are at their respective peak levels, and this Champions League final can be said to be a veritable peak battle."

Just as the commentator was analyzing the two sides of the game, Chelsea and Manchester United had already launched an unhurried trial.

It was Crespo who took the kick-off, Drogba was the first to cross the center line, and Lampard followed closely behind.

Seeing this, Crespo raised his foot and made a long pass from the backcourt, sending the ball to the frontcourt. The ball skipped Carrick's front and landed accurately at Drogba's feet. "Warcraft" rushed to the bottom line with the ball, and when the Manchester United defenders mistakenly thought he was going to shoot, he turned around and passed it straight. Lampard who followed behind immediately kicked the goal.

Chelsea, who took the lead in completing the first shot, failed to pose any threat to Manchester United. The ball obviously deviated from the goal frame and flew out of the bottom line.Van der Sar didn't even make a save.

After 1 minute, Manchester United quickly returned to Chelsea.

Vidic opened the backcourt with a big kick, and the ball went straight to Manchester United's midfield.

Noticing the direction of Vidic's pass, Crespo immediately ran over to fight for the ball, but it was Giggs who competed with him for the ball.Although the age limit made the legendary player of Manchester United not as strong as before, he still firmly took the lead in grabbing the landing point and pushed the ball into the right wing first.

Cristiano was originally running on the right, but at the same moment when Giggs passed the ball, the Manchester United No. [-] suddenly changed to a cross-cutting center. The offensive power of the Red Devils on the right is becoming more and more famous day by day. Now, Cristiano's transfer undoubtedly caught Ivanovic by surprise, and he could only watch helplessly as the opponent disappeared from his front.

At the same time, Cristiano's cross-cut did not leave any gap for Manchester United. At the same moment he changed direction, Carlos Tevez followed up to fill his gap. Cristiano, who had no worries, dribbled the ball To Ashley Cole.

Since the beginning of this season, the Red Devils No. [-]'s unscrupulous charge and powerful tricks on the right side of Manchester United have always been a beautiful landscape.At this moment, facing his old enemy, Cristiano didn't mean to delay. He raised his foot as if about to make a pass. Ashley Cole immediately followed up and intercepted the ball with his upper and lower feet. Leap forward, dodge the tackle, and just miss him.

It was too late to be emotionally affected by the breakthrough. Ashley Cole turned around and chased after getting up. Cristiano, who was not inferior in speed, completely eliminated the chance of catching up with him. He dribbled the ball directly into the penalty area. The pass did not stop the ball, and under the pressure of Terry, he volleyed vigorously!

"C-Ronaldo does not stop the ball and shoots directly! Hey - the shot is wide!"

The commentator expressed regret, and Cristiano also frowned, not very satisfied with the angle of the shot.

Ashley Cole exhaled with a complicated expression.

"Don't take it too seriously," Cyril, who happened to walk past Ashley Cole, stopped when he noticed something was wrong, and comforted his teammates in a low voice: "Occasional mistakes are inevitable."

Ashley Cole nodded silently, but there was an unstoppable wry smile on his face.

At this moment, he looked calm and composed, but in fact, only he knew how restless his heart was at the moment.

I still remember that in the 2006 England-Portugal war, he was able to defend Manchester United's No. [-] from being invisible and without temper. However, two years passed in a hurry. over him.

As one of the current top defenders in the Premier League, Ashley Cole does not mean that he cannot defend C-Ronaldo, but this kind of defense is also very difficult for him, and it is very likely to be like the one just now. Like a breakthrough, the opponent passed by him suddenly.

For a striker, a mistake is nothing. If you can't score this goal, you still have a chance for the next goal, and there will be no particularly big loss.But for a defender, even if you defend most of the game, as long as you miss the most important one, it is also tantamount to dereliction of duty.

Invisibly, Ashley Cole only felt the pressure doubled.