1074 Soul Torture From Martino

West of Barcelona, ​​Gamper Sports City Head Coach Conference Room.

Martino is intensively studying the game between Real Madrid and Real Betis with his assistant team.

Martino, who was born as a professional player, played in the Argentine domestic league when he played, but on March 1, 1991, he was loaned to Tenerife in La Liga at the time.

Interestingly speaking, his first game in Tenerife was to go to Camp Nou with the team to challenge Barcelona away.

Martino, who is an attacking midfielder, played all the games in the game, and the only thing left was a yellow card.

In the remaining three months, Martino played 15 games for Tenerife, 13 starts, 2 substitutes, scored 1 goal and received 6 yellow cards.

Such statistics were not enough for him to stay in La Liga, so after the season ended, he returned to Argentina.

After retiring, Martino has coached many teams, but he has never coached in Europe.

Whether it is playing football or coaching, he has a serious lack of experience in the European league, which caused a huge response when Barcelona chose to use him as the head coach. Almost everyone is questioning how such a person is worthy Barcelona?

But the Barcelona management still chose Martino.

In order to make up for Martino's weakness, Barcelona equipped him with a strong coaching staff.

Among them, there are as many as four assistant coaches, including the former assistant coach of Vilanova, Jordi Lula, and the two partners Jorge Baotaso and Adrian Martino have worked with for many years. Corea.

But the most critical one is Joan Francesco Ferrer, nicknamed [Ruby].

The 43-year-old Ruby is already well-known in Spanish football. Although he has been coaching in low-level league teams, he became famous in the professional circle last season.

Because last season, Girona, who was struggling to relegation before taking over, rushed to the fourth place in La Liga in one fell swoop, and passed the first round of the promotion play-offs, and lost to Almeri in the final ya.

Although he failed to break into La Liga in the end, Ruby's coaching ability has been recognized by Spanish football.

In this case, Barcelona kindly invited Ruby to let him serve as Martino's right-hand man.

There are cases like this in Barcelona's past.

For example, when Rijkaard partnered with Ten Carter during the Dream Team 2, the former was inexperienced, and the latter just became famous in the Eredivisie League. The cooperation between the two sides created the dynasty of the Barcelona Dream Team 2.

The Barcelona management headed by Rosell hopes that Martino and Ruby can reproduce the legend of Rijkaard and Ten Carter back then.

In addition to the four assistant coaches, there are other members of the coaching staff at various positions, as well as two game analysts, Alex Garcia and Jordi Melero.

In order to ensure Martino's stability in coaching Barcelona as much as possible, the Barcelona management equipped him with a luxurious coaching staff and took great pains.

...

The Barcelona coaching staff gathered together to watch the match between Real Madrid and Real Betis.

Then, Alex Garcia and Jordi Melero are responsible for analyzing the formation and tactics of Real Madrid's game, and the most important aspects are the two aspects.

One after the other.

Behind is the defense.

In the game against Betis, Gao Shen pushed the two full-backs very forward and actively participated in the front offense, so the three players behind Casemiro, Ramos and Varane were basically defending.

But there are layers here.

Casemiro is responsible for sweeping in front of the defense line to protect the two central defenders, but because the full-backs are positioned very high, once Real Betis hits behind the full-backs, Ramos and Varane will pull out and play a similar role. The role of defender.

At this time, Casemiro will withdraw to the position of central defender.

"To a certain extent, Real Madrid's defense is to switch back and forth between three backs, four backs, and even five backs. It is very flexible and layered."

As for the front, Real Madrid's frontcourt trident in this game is Ronaldo, Dzeko and Isco, but from the perspective of the game process, in fact, the positions of these three players are not fixed, and they are always changing positions and rotations.

For example, Isco often appears on the left rib, even outside the left corner of Barcelona's penalty area.

Ronaldo and Dzeko also frequently adjusted their positions and were not fixed, which made it very difficult for defensive players to defend.

The simplest, defending Isco or Dzeko in the same way as defending Ronaldo is obviously not feasible.

The reverse is also possible.

Through this kind of crossover of players, the players of Real Betis suffered a lot.

"We can fully foresee that at the Bernabeu, Gao Shen will arrange Ronaldo, Benzema and Di Maria as the front trident. Their personal ability and cooperation will be better. At that time, our defense will be A big test."

Martino has been listening silently, and when the analysts have finished speaking, he said: "This is in Argentina, we call this circulation, flow and rotation. In Bielsa's tactical concept, circulation is a very important part."

Since Bielsa's success in Argentina, almost all the new generation of Argentine coaches have been deeply influenced by him, because his football is so crazy.

Everyone in Barcelona looked at Martino, waiting for him to continue talking. Many people took out pens and paper, ready to record at any time.

"I watched the four derbies of the century repeatedly last season, and I found that they all have a common feature, that is, we pushed Real Madrid too hard. In fact, this is not an accidental phenomenon."

Martin Nor paused, and continued: "In the past, almost all the games between Gao Shen and Barcelona were like this. We have the possession of the ball and use the advantage of passing the ball to oppress the opponent."

"We have to admit that pressing the opponent in the half-court looks really exciting, it can stimulate everyone's adrenaline, but it must also be clearly seen that when we face a team like Real Madrid who have a top team like Real Madrid. When we're a fast team, when we're playing half-court, we're going to be very dangerous behind us."

Martino's remarks surprised all Spanish coaches, including Lula and Ruby.

Possession of the ball has always been the lifeline of Barcelona.

"You mean we don't pursue possession?" Lula asked anxiously.

"No no no, you misunderstood, Jordi, we still have to keep the ball, but we should not press the opponent in the half court, or even in the 30 meters area, against a team like Real Madrid, it is very dangerous the behavior of."

"We should withdraw the ball possession area from the outside of the opponent's 30-meter area to near the center line. This has many advantages. For example, when changing from offense to defense, our midfielder can rush to support the defense line faster. For example, our front Offensive players can get more penetration space."

"Of course, more importantly, the exposed space behind us will be smaller, and it will not be so easy for opponents to take advantage of it."

At first glance, it sounds reasonable, but when you think about it carefully, it is very problematic.

"If you retreat to the center line, as you said, there are many benefits, but it will also bring about a problem, that is, our offensive starting point is on the center line, which is farther away from the opponent's goal." Ruby analyzed.

This idea is actually not new. In other words, any head coach with a bit of tactical literacy can think of it. The key is the choice.

Barcelona's best offensive method is passing the ball forward, because Barcelona is a fast player who is good at interspersing in a narrow range. His favorite offensive and defensive method is short passing, through which he "passes" the ball into the opponent's goal.

But once it retreats and is too far away from the goal, it will cause a problem.

Originally, within the 30-meter area, it only took one kick to pass, but now at least two kicks are required.

One more pass, one more risk, and one point slower.

"You are right, Ruby, so we need to try to add more mid-range and long-range passes in the offense and play a faster rhythm." Martino analyzed.

Lula and Ruby looked at each other, and they both showed the look of "it is so".

If the distance is longer, then increase the passing distance.

But the ensuing problem is that players are no longer closely connected with each other, and it is easier to be cut and isolated.

This is not a problem in Argentina or South America, or even in Europe's non-top leagues.

Including in the Portuguese Super League and the Eredivisie, there is really no problem playing like this.

Because the personal ability of the players will be very dominant.

But in La Liga, especially in the Champions League, it is impossible to play like this.

When players are cut and isolated and forced to go it alone to solve problems, the ensuing result is that the team's offense is completely disintegrated.

The defensive intensity of the four major leagues, even La Liga, is beyond the imagination of other leagues, especially the South American League.

"Tata, I have to admit that your idea is reasonable, but Barcelona has Barcelona's tradition and our own insistence. I think you should think about it carefully." Lula said.

He can't tell Martino face to face, you don't understand the defensive strength of La Liga at all, and you don't know the European league at all, right?

If he really wanted to do this, then he, the assistant coach, would have to pack up and go home immediately.

But it's true, isn't it?

Once the distance between Barcelona players is lengthened and the connection is alienated, can Barcelona play football?

Medium and long distance pass?

Once the distance is lengthened, the pass accuracy and catch success rate will inevitably drop. What is the cost, have you thought about it?

"I understand, I understand, Jordi." Martino comforted his assistant with a smile, "but I think you should use more creative thinking to look at the current problems of our team."

"If sticking to Barcelona's tradition and philosophy is useful, then why was it beaten so badly by Real Madrid last season? Why haven't you been able to beat Gao Shen and his team in the past few years?"

Martino's rhetorical question goes straight to the core of the problem, more like a soul torture.

Barcelona invited him to coach. Apart from the reason of Messi, the very important point is that they hope that a head coach who is not directly related to Barcelona can bring more non-Barcelona inertial thinking to the team and inject more vitality.

If Barcelona's tradition and philosophy must be considered in everything, how can we actively seek changes?

Isn't that just continuing to be complacent?

Both Lula and Ruby were speechless.

But they all had a very ominous premonition.

I hope we are overthinking!

The two looked at each other, saw each other's thoughts, and prayed secretly.