Chapter 203 Changing Coaches Is Like Changing Swords

Hamburg is obviously well prepared. At least their new head coach Slomka has indeed put in the effort to study Dortmund's last two games.

Therefore, facing Dortmund's offensive, Hamburg's defense was very solid and did not leave any chance for Dortmund.

Dortmund's ball possession rate once reached 70%, but the scene was very boring. They did not convert this 70% ball possession rate into even a goal.

Dortmund tried their best, but Hamburg's defense was very well organized and did not leave Dortmund many chances.

Many times, players like Yan Min who are good at breaking through have no room to break through. After getting the ball from the wing, he either directly passes the ball, or passes the ball back to his teammates, and then reverses his foot again to look for opportunities. .

Even if there are some shooting opportunities, it is often difficult to threaten Hamburg's goal. Either the shot is high and missed, or it is hugged by Hamburg goalkeeper Adler.

For example, in the 29th minute, Schmelzer made a pass from the left. When Mark shot from the center, he hit the ball high because of Rajkovic's pressing.

Not long after, when Hamburg stabilized their defense, they gradually began to exert their offensive strength - after all, it was their home court, and of course they couldn't be satisfied with a 0:0 draw if they wanted to avoid relegation.

Iracek threatened again.

He reached the penalty area after receiving a through ball from teammate Arslan, then beautifully dunked past Piszczek and shot.

Fortunately, Weidenfeller reacted in time and held the football in his arms.

"Iracek! This is his second shot in this game, and it is more threatening than the last time! Although Dortmund's previous offensive was stronger, in terms of threat level, Hamburg's two shots are more threatening. …”

Not long after, Hamburg player Badelli shot low with his right foot from 22 meters in the middle, and the ball was picked up by Weidenfeller.

Two minutes later, Dortmund tried to launch a counterattack, but Mark fell to the ground under the attack of Badelli and Rajkovic. The referee did not make any penalty.

Mark lay on the ground for a while before getting up. The Intech Arena in Hamburg rang with boos, mocking Mark for diving.

However, the slow motion shows that Rajkovic did push someone with his hand. The player did not fall hard enough, which does not mean that the opponent did not foul.

Klopp was also dissatisfied with this,

But he just roared twice and then shut up. He didn't want to be sent to the stands again for this...

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Except for Hamburg's counterattack, the entire first half was generally dull. Neither side had particularly good opportunities and failed to produce surprising coordination and shots.

Dortmund, which almost sealed the victory in the first half of the first two rounds of the league, failed to win Hamburg this time.

Zhou Yi, as the core of the team, is also very restricted by Hamburg. No matter where he appears, Hamburg players will appear around him immediately, forcing him to pass the ball and get the ball.

Just like that, the first half was about to end, and the score was still 0:0.

Just when everyone thought the first half would end with this score, things changed suddenly on the court!

In the 42nd minute, Hamburg launched a high-quality attack. Westerman passed the football to the goal on the right. After the football fell to the front point, Lassoga scored under Friedrich and Schmelzer. Received the ball under a double attack, and then made another pass near the baseline.

Iracek, who has been active since the start of the game, jumped high from the back point, overwhelmed Aubameyang who returned to defend in front of the goal, and headed the goal!

Weidenfeller failed to save his team this time...the ball flew into the goal!

"Iracek! He finally scored! He broke the deadlock for Hamburg!"

The Yingtai Arena burst into cheers.

"The Hamburg team's coaching change is like changing a knife! After changing the new coach, the whole team's mental outlook has taken on a completely new look!" Duan Xin also had to praise the Hamburg team's performance. "They limited Dortmund's offense very well in the first half, and they also did a good job in their own offense... Slomka is indeed a capable head coach, especially in terms of relegation..."

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Hamburg's players celebrated the goal with cheers, while Dortmund's players looked a little frustrated.

They came to Yingtai Arena with strong confidence, hoping to take away three points. Unexpectedly, the first half was very painful, and the game was not at all in their familiar rhythm.

Now it is even more led by Hamburg.

Judging from Hamburg's defensive performance in the first half, Hamburg will definitely be more difficult to beat after taking the lead...

Not long after Iracek scored, the first half of the game ended.

Hamburg entered the locker room with a one-goal lead. This was still a home game, and they would have a greater psychological advantage. Hamburg's performance in the first half was indeed very good. When the whistle sounded, all the fans in the Intech Arena stood up and applauded the team's performance.

Marcel Leif was also full of praise for Hamburg's performance: "After Slomka took office, he did bring a lot of new things to Hamburg, and the team's atmosphere also improved. Hamburg's performance in this game and The first seven consecutive losses were completely different. If we continue with this momentum, Hamburg may really end its seven-game losing streak in this game... And Dortmund is really unlucky to encounter such a Hamburg team at a critical moment... I think Klopp's team's title hopes this season may be ruined in this game. And the impact may not be limited to the league..."

Marcel Leif is not an alarmist, but a conclusion based on analysis.

If Dortmund is unable to win in Hamburg despite all its efforts and all its main players, it will definitely bring a heavy blow to Dortmund and shake their confidence. The impact will not only be limited to this game, but also affect the next game. Champions League matches. By then, Dortmund may be facing a double defeat in the league and Champions League within three days...

Klopp himself knew the seriousness of the situation, so he made a very bold adjustment during the halftime break.

He replaced midfielder Sven Bender with Mkhitaryan.

And Sven Bender is Dortmund's only midfielder in this game - after Yan Min performed well and occupied the main position, Klopp made adjustments to Dortmund's starting lineup, from the original 4231 to Now in 442, Aubameyang and Mark play as forwards together. The four midfielders stand in parallel, the two in the middle, Sven Bender, are responsible for defense, and Zhou Yi is responsible for organizing the offense.

And now he replaced Sven Bender with Mkhitaryan. Mkhitaryan is definitely not a midfielder who is good at defense. He is good at offense.

Could it be that he wanted Zhou Yi to defend?

Of course not.

Klopp put forward crazy offensive requirements for his team, increased the speed, and forced the game into the rhythm that Dortmund is good at.

Only in this way can Hamburg be defeated away from home.

Such an adjustment means that Dortmund will have no so-called midfield defense, and Hamburg's morale is now high and it is easy to penetrate Dortmund's midfield and directly face Dortmund's back line.

This is very, very risky. A little carelessness will make Dortmund lose even more miserably.

In addition to this method, there may be some milder methods. But with Klopp's character, he is more willing to choose this extremely risky plan. Although the risk is high, it is possible to reap greater rewards.

Klopp is a gambler, and gamblers are unreasonable.

In addition to letting Mkhitaryan play instead of Sven Bender, he also wants to encourage Yan Min, Royce and Aubameyang to add more personal breakthroughs, not to be afraid of mistakes, and to take that step.

At the same time, in order to prevent his personal breakthrough from being counterattacked by the opponent after intercepting the ball, he also asked the two full-backs Piszczek and Schmelzer to move forward. On the one hand, they support the team's attack on the wing, and on the other hand It is to rush forward immediately after a teammate loses the ball, delaying time and creating opportunities for the rest of the team to return to defense.

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Just at the beginning of the second half, Dortmund made a substitution. Sven Bender came off and Mkhitaryan came on.

This substitution surprised everyone.

"Oh... Klopp made another amazing substitution. He doesn't want to defend in the midfield at all..." Marcel Leif said helplessly, letting Klopp do this kind of thing. It's really no surprise.

This is not the first time Klopp has done this. Sometimes he can win the bet, and sometimes he cannot win the bet.

But overall, it seems like he wins more often than not?

Marcel Leif thought about it carefully and realized that Klopp's luck is really not that good...

Why did the goddess of luck favor him so much?

...