Chapter 965: Adjusting Fighting Techniques
Manchester City players and fans were stunned and furious.
They were thinking about how to equalize the score in the second half, but they didn't expect another one to be stolen by Manchester United at the last minute of the first half.
"Referee! They broke the rules!"
"Referee, this ball cannot be counted!"
"Johnson! Why don't you block that wretched guy!"
"Did the defense fall asleep? Didn't you see Nani running?"
"A bunch of pigs! Don't you care about people?"
…
The Manchester City players went to the referee to complain about their teammates. The Manchester City fans angrily scolded the players, and there was chaos on the court and in the stands.
The players and fans of Manchester United were also in chaos, but they were happy. The players hugged each other wildly, jumping and jumping. Even the mature and steady Scholes also hugged the young people.
Ferguson on the sidelines had been racking his brains to think about how to respond in the second half while Manchester United was passively defending. When he had just thought about it, Manchester United actually scored again.
2:0 and 1:0 are completely different. At 1:0, it is definitely impossible to defend. There are too many variables and you need to continue to make a fuss about the offense. But at 2:0, you can completely reduce the offense to the minimum and pay close attention. Just play defense.
"This kid can always drive opponents crazy." Ferguson looked at the celebrating players in the stadium, couldn't hide the smile on his face, and turned back to the locker room.
In the visiting team's locker room, Mancini got angry.
Forget the first goal, the defense was basically in place. It was difficult for anyone to keep up with Gao Xiaodong's grab. He only conceded one goal. Manchester City still had hope, but the second goal conceded was Too low-level and too deadly.
This is an FA Cup semi-final, where victory or defeat is decided. Being two goals behind at half-time almost lost the chance to advance to the final.
This was the only game in which Manchester City had any hope of winning the championship. They lost hope at halftime, leaving Mancini to explain to the Middle Eastern rich man who had invested hundreds of millions.
"You are seeking death! Do you know who the opponent is? That is Manchester United! It is the cunning Chinese who has the ball. Why did he make such a low-level mistake? No one stopped him from taking a free kick. There is no one to defend Nani who is advancing forward. As a professional player, as long as the whistle does not blow at the end of the game, he must remain highly vigilant and not think about it..."
This time Mancini got angry and no one spoke back. Even the most clumsy Balotelli kept his head down and said nothing. The goal conceded in the end was indeed undeserved. They underestimated Gao Xiaodong's offensive instinct, and his ten seconds of distraction allowed the opponent to Scored the second goal.
Manic took this opportunity to get angry and vented all his dissatisfaction with these big-name players in the past few days. However, now is the most critical moment for the team, and it is useless even if he scolds these players to death. , we had to rely on them to play football in the second half. After getting angry, Mancini encouraged again: "Except for two conceded goals, we played not bad for most of the first half. Details determine With this result, it’s not time to despair yet, there are still 45 minutes left. As long as we can play a high-quality game, we still have a chance to advance to the finals..."
Mancini then pointed out the problems that occurred in the team in the first half and adjusted the style of play in the second half.
Manchester City's second goal conceded in the first half was caused by a low-level mistake. The first goal conceded came from the wing. Manchester United's other threatening attacks also came from the wing. In the second half, Manic prepared to launch a strong attack from the wing. Use offense to suppress Manchester United's offense and strive for early goals.
In order to achieve his own tactical purposes, Mancini also replaced Adam Johnson and replaced him with Wright-Phillips to enhance the flexibility and speed of the wing attack.
During the halftime break, Manchester United did not make substitutions. Ferguson was still satisfied with the first half. Although he was suppressed by Manchester City for a while, the 2:0 score showed that Manchester United still had the ability to counterattack. In the second half, Manchester City's attack will be even more crazy. At this time, Manchester United will only have more opportunities to counterattack.
After the start of the second half, Manchester City quickly launched an attack from the wing, not only the two wide midfielders Silva and Wright.
Felice pressed on both sides of Manchester United's penalty area, and Manchester City's two full-backs Zabaleta and Kolarov also assisted through the half.
Mancini's substitution effect is good. Wright's speed and flexibility are stronger than Adam Johnson, and Wright can also cut inside and switch positions with David Silva.
Manchester United right back O'Shea had no problem dealing with Adam Johnson in the first half and his performance was acceptable, but it was very difficult to deal with Wright who started quickly and changed directions quickly.
At the beginning of the second half, Wright Jr. formed a breakthrough from O'Shea.
Yaya Toure passed the ball in the middle. Little Wright received the ball and went down quickly. O'Shea had to follow. Little Wright suddenly stopped. Without waiting for O'Shea to "brake", Little Wright started again, directly shaking O'Shea. A stagger.
Little Wright broke through to the baseline and passed a cross to the penalty area.
This cross is a great threat. None of the other Manchester United players have returned to the penalty area. There are only two center backs in the middle to guard Balotelli.
For example, if a cross from the baseline position reaches the small penalty area, the central defender will not dare to make a clearance. The first choice is to block the ball to prevent the opponent's rushing players from touching the ball. Only when there is no other way will he take the risk to make a clearance.
After being criticized by Mancini at halftime. Balotelli ran very aggressively in the second half. When Little Wright passed the ball, Balotelli made a quick pass in the middle. Vidic and Ferdinand didn't have time to double-team and close the door.
Vidic was in the front, and he didn't dare to let the ball pass. Balotelli was right behind him. Vidic faced the ball that was flying quickly and fell to the ground to make a clearance.
Almost at the same time, Balotelli also made a tackle. Vidic's leg was touched by Balotelli, and his movement to make a clearance went awry. Originally, when Vidic fell to the ground to tackle, his feet were pointed outwards. Swinging, but after Balotelli touched it, the ball almost went to the goal.
Why is Vidic no longer reliable? ! Goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar was shocked. He quickly went to the ground to save, but the ball flew close to the goal post and flew out of the baseline.
Vidic watched the ball go out of the baseline, and his heart dropped to his stomach. With lingering fear, he high-fived Ferdinand who came to comfort him, and quickly called his teammates to come over and defend the corner kick.
The on-site commentator He Hui shouted "very dangerous" several times, and then said: "This foot is really dangerous. Little Wright's breakthrough from the wing is very flexible. O'Shea can't stop him. Ferguson must replace him quickly." .”
He Hui was right, but of course he could see what Ferguson could see. However, Ferguson did not make adjustments immediately. He wanted to see the tactical changes after Manchester City replaced Wright Jr., and also looked at Wright's weaknesses. , and then make targeted adjustments.
This is not because Ferguson is conservative. Now Manchester United is leading by two goals and has the initiative. Ferguson has enough time to observe and think. It doesn't matter even if he loses the ball.
It was too difficult for the 30-year-old O'Shea, who was 1.92 meters tall, to defend the 1.7-meter-old Wright Jr.. Manchester City took a corner kick, the ball was cleared, and the ball was again distributed to Wright's feet.
Wright continued to change directions, making O'Shea dare not follow closely. Wright took the opportunity to quickly cut inside and volleyed hard from the front of the penalty area.
Little Wright's shot lacked power, but was accurate, and the ball hit the upper right corner of the goal.
Van der Sar had a good position and moved in time. He jumped up and grabbed the ball with both hands.
Wright's attack made Ferguson a little bit unable to sit still. He quickly asked Rafael to warm up and prepare to come on to replace O'Shea. At the same time, he asked Valencia to come back to support O'Shea. Don't let O'Shea face Xiao alone. Wright.
Valencia retreated almost too late. Next, Wright passed the ball past O'Shea from the baseline. After breaking into the penalty area, he passed the inverted triangle back to the top of the penalty area. Yaya Toure, who followed up, hit Gao Xiaodong's ball. The ball slipped under the guard, and Barry followed up with a blast. The ball unfortunately hit the crossbar and bounced back, and was headed over the baseline by Vidic.
At this time, Ferguson couldn't stand it anymore. He decisively stopped Rafael's warm-up, asked him to come on and replace O'Shea, and used the more flexible and younger Rafael to defend Wright.