Chapter 1015 Nowhere to Start

Manchester United thought that Stoke City would play a defensive counterattack, but they still didn't expect that Stoke City would completely put down their dignity and set up an iron barrel formation, and it was airtight.

In fact, a team like Stoke City has no face in front of Manchester United. It has reached the FA Cup final for the first time in a century, and its desire for the championship is stronger than Manchester United.

However, Pulis also understood that the strength gap between them and Manchester United was too far. It was almost impossible to win. The only hope was to postpone it to a penalty shootout. Therefore, after the semi-finals, he made a plan. determined and practiced for a long time.

Stoke City has relied on defense to avoid relegation in the past few seasons. Now, after more than a month of polishing, the Iron Barrel Formation has been perfected. No matter how much Manchester United bombards them, they just can't break through Stoke City's defense.

Ferguson's face showed a solemn look. After Stoke City entered the final, although he repeatedly emphasized not to underestimate the opponent, he also felt that the FA Cup championship was secure, but now it seems that he wants to take advantage of Stoke City. Being tough isn't that easy.

If Stoke City's goal cannot be broken within 120 minutes, it will have to be a penalty shootout. If it really comes to a penalty shootout, it has nothing to do with strength, it just depends on who has better luck.

Ferguson will never accept a penalty shootout with Stoke City. Manchester United must score as soon as possible. The later the goal is scored, the more confident the opponent will be, and the harder it will be to fight later.

"Shoot a few more shots from a distance"

Ferguson came to the sidelines and shouted to Gao Xiaodong and Scholes.

In fact, even if Ferguson didn't shout, Gao Xiaodong and Scholes had already started taking long-range shots, but without the instructions of the head coach, they couldn't just shoot casually.

Gao Xiaodong's long-range shot is Manchester United's trump card. In many deadlocks this season, Gao Xiaodong's long-range shot opened the situation.

In fact, Scholes also has good long-range shooting ability. When he won the championship in 2008, it was his long-range shot that eliminated Barcelona.

But Scholes is now three years older, his explosive power has declined, he takes fewer long-range shots, and is more about organization and scheduling.

Now that Ferguson gave the order, not only did Gao Xiaodong take a shot when he had the chance, but Scholes also started looking for opportunities to shoot.

Gao Xiaodong's long-range shot is Manchester United's killer move. Of course Stoke City will not fail to guard it. However, Pulis did not mark Gao Xiaodong, but only blocked and harassed Gao Xiaodong when he got the ball.

This kind of defense has little impact on Gao Xiaodong.

The main factor that affected the quality of Gao Xiaodong's shooting was Stoke City's iron barrel formation. There were too many people inside and outside the penalty area, and Stoke City's players were tall. It was difficult for Gao Xiaodong to find space to shoot. After the opening, he took a few long shots. , most of them hit the players and bounced out.

If Gao Xiaodong's shot poses a threat, Stoke City's defensive circle will definitely expand outwards. Gao Xiaodong's several shots hit the players and did not even give Stoke City goalkeeper Sorensen a chance to save. City continued to shrink, opening their minds to allow Manchester United to attack.

Gao Xiaodong and Scholes took turns to shoot a few shots, but found that the effect was not good and the opportunity to attack was wasted. Scholes said to Gao Xiaodong: "Xiaodong's long-range shots are not very effective. Try another way of playing. "

Stoke City was huddled in its own 30-meter area, and no one was pressing. Gao Xiaodong and Scholes could even talk and chat.

Gao Xiaodong nodded and said, "Okay, I'll walk down the wing."

Scholes said: "Okay, try to pass more passes."

In fact, at the beginning of the game, Manchester United passed the ball many times on both wings, but Stoke City's players were tall and the crosses were not effective. Then they should have penetrated and penetrated, but it didn't work, and then they were far away. Shoot, see if it still has no effect, so I have to continue to pass.

After Gao Xiaodong pulled to the wing, Rafael dragged behind to prevent Stoke City from counterattacking, and Gao Xiaodong and Valencia launched the attack from the right.

Valencia is characterized by high speed, but the technique is not delicate enough and lacks the ability to break through in small spaces. Rafael and Valencia have similar characteristics, so facing Stoke City's iron barrel formation, Manchester United's right side The roads do little.

But Gao Xiaodong is different from Rafael. He has skills and body, and has a strong one-on-one breakthrough ability. Gao Xiaodong faces many defensive players in the middle and cannot display his breakthrough ability, but there are few defensive players on the wings. , left back Wilson couldn't deal with Gao Xiaodong, so left midfielder Etherington had to come over to help defend, so Valencia had a chance to pass from the bottom.

Although Valencia's passing ability was average, Stoke City's left wing was penetrated. They made many consecutive passes and also delivered several good shots. However, Stoke City's defensive skills were really good. Very well, almost all of Valencia's crosses were cleared by the defenders. Rooney and Hernandez occasionally got one or two shooting opportunities, but they were not able to pose much of a threat despite the interference of their opponents.

Gao Xiaodong was a little dissatisfied with Valencia's cross, because there was no change at all in this kid's cross, "Valencia, you can't pass a ground ball."

After listening to Gao Xiaodong's call, Valencia passed a ground ball the next time, but the ball was kicked out by the defender before it reached the small penalty area.

Next, Valencia passed a ground ball, but was cleared again.

Gao Xiaodong was speechless about Valencia. This kid was too upright and was not flexible in his behavior and football. He was too lazy to call Valencia anymore and simply made a breakthrough pass to the baseline.

Even though Valencia made the pass easily, it was because Gao Xiaodong was involved and almost attracted a half-man defense. Valencia did not have this ability. Gao Xiaodong needed to break through one man's defense before passing the ball. The effect was Not better than Valencia.

The game lasted for more than 30 minutes. Manchester United's ball possession rate reached almost 80% and the number of shots reached 20. Stoke City did not have a shot, but Manchester United only shot 20 times. Four shots were within the goal frame, and there was no chance of scoring.

Ferguson frowned on the sidelines, not knowing how to break Stoke City's iron barrel formation.

Manchester United have used all their tricks from long shots, set pieces, crosses, and breakthroughs, but they just can't break through Stoke City's gate. It's only ten minutes before the end of the first half. If nothing changes, they want to score in the first half. It's difficult.

Seeing the two central defenders Ferdinand and Vidic doing nothing near the center circle, Ferguson's eyes suddenly lit up and he thought, since Stoke City has even given up attacking, what's the point of keeping two central defenders behind? , just go to the penalty area and use it as a forward.

Most of the reasons why the previous cross was ineffective was because Manchester United lacked high center forwards. Rooney and Hernandez were too short and did not have header ability. If Ferdinand and Vidic reached the penalty area, there might be a chance. Wonderful effect.

Ferguson was more cautious. He first called Vidic over and asked him to push into the penalty area, while leaving Ferdinand behind to guard.