Chapter 662
What is a loyal fan?
Not every fan who buys Manchester United season tickets can be called a loyal fan, and not every fan who sits in the stands at Old Trafford and cheers for Manchester United is a loyal fan.
There are many criteria by which to judge the loyal fans, but one thing is for sure.
Even if the score is behind, even if the scene is passive, even if the team is in adversity, as long as the players on the field work hard and sweat, those who stand in the stands and still wave flags and sing loudly must be loyal fans of Manchester United.
Sun Wu looked up at the opposite Stretford stand. Several shirtless fans were very conspicuous, standing on their seats and waving red flags in their hands.
The most loyal fans are singing loudly, sending them exclusive custom songs when Griezmann shoots, Sun Wu passes, and De Gea makes saves.
The difficulty of the first game in 2014 exceeded the expectations of Pochettino and Sun Wu. Cardiff City's airtight defense and wing raid tactics made Manchester United miserable.
Obviously, Cardiff City has a deep study of Manchester United's midfield, and their tactics are very targeted. The Nigerian striker Odum Wenji, who is fast and dribbling, is staring at Luke Shaw's frequent raids. It is difficult for the double defensive midfielders Motta and Cleverley to provide enough support to the wing.
In just 5 minutes of the opening, Manchester United was hit in the head.
Odum Wenji scored the ball away from Luke Shaw and sent a tricky half-high cross before the defending Thiago Motta. Evans was not tight. His good friend Fraser Campbell A shot from the edge of the penalty area.
After losing the ball, Manchester United counterattacked in an all-round way, but Cardiff City retreated to defend, and even Odum Wenji and Campbell retracted within 40 meters.
Of course, even if Cardiff City defends with all its strength, Sun Wu, who has a "God's perspective", can still find a space, but today the goalkeeper at Old Trafford rejected Sun Wu and Griezmann's two must-haves. With a goal, Cardiff City successfully defended the 1-0 victory in the first half.
The start of the second half was exactly the same as the first half.
In the 49th minute, Cardiff City played a beautiful counterattack. Odum Wenji made a breakthrough along the right flank and passed Luke Shaw and Cleverley in succession. He entered the penalty area and slashed across the middle. Evans, who was entangled with Campbell, made a clearance. Unexpectedly, he missed the kick, the ball bounced off his supporting foot and flew into the near corner...
Sun Wu took a deep breath, this is the last game of the Christmas schedule, he did not expect to encounter a hard bone, and Manchester United's luck is really bad...not just two goalposts.
Carrick was injured again in training, so Motta had to start consecutively. The state of the Italian midfielder was greatly affected by the intensive schedule.
Smalling was suspended for accumulating yellow cards, Ferdinand took a break, and Alderweireld, who was getting better, was a little injured. Pochettino had to let Evans start the game... As a result, this mentally weak Irish defender was simply vulnerable.
"Manchester United are in big trouble. This is the first time they have fallen behind by two goals this season." Zhan Jun shook his head and said, "Although Evans made two mistakes in a row and conceded the goal, Cardiff City's tactics are very targeted. "
"That's true. Odumwinge is in good shape. Luke Shaw can't handle it alone, and Manchester United's defense on the left is already a bit weak." Zhang Lu nodded in agreement: "Campbell is also very good."
"Campbell and Evans are both excellent in Manchester United's youth training, and they are in the same batch. They were loaned to Antwerp, Belgium at the same time, and later they were loaned to Sunderland at the same time. The difference is that Evans stayed at Manchester United, while Campbell didn't stay."
"Manchester United needs to make adjustments..." Zhan Jun paused in the middle of speaking, "Pochettino finally made a substitution... Oh, it's the former Southampton midfielder Schneiderlin who just joined Manchester United. He used to be Pochettino. Tino's old general."
"Wait, Sun Wu ran over..." Zhang Lu looked suspiciously at the close-up of Sun Wu that appeared on the screen.
"Best, go forward." Jesus whispered: "Transfer the ball to Mota, you will enter the penalty area more, and Klose will be replaced later..."
Sun Wu's eyes flickered, and he asked after Jesus finished speaking: "Griezmann is going to play center forward?"
"Only him, Klose's physical condition is not ideal, Giggs will play."
The referee over there was already blowing his whistle to urge him, and Sun Wu didn't say anything, turned around and ran back to the field.
After the restart, Schneiderlin immediately showed his value. Campbell received a long pass from the backcourt and swayed Valencia away with a clever pull on the left wing.
But just as Campbell started to accelerate, Schneiderlin, who rushed over, destroyed the ball with a ferocious shovel.
"Beautiful tackle!" Mortensen praised: "And it didn't foul, Schneiderlin touched the ball first and then brought Campbell down... Haha, and it was a Manchester United throw-in!"
Schneiderlin's playing had an immediate effect, but this effect was only for defense, but the offense fell into a quagmire.
In the 58th minute, Sun Wu finally found a chance to get the ball in front of the penalty area. As a result, Cardiff City central defender Coker immediately stuck up and used his hands and feet, and another Cardiff City player next to him successfully intercepted the ball.
Sun Wu, who was knocked down by Coker and staggered to the ground, thumped the lawn hard, but he didn't protest the opponent's small action to the referee. This kind of complaint is hard to be effective... You must know that this is the Premier League!
Taking the ball in a dense crowd, and often in the densest center, is not Sun Wu's strong point. Even if his teammates run out of space, it is difficult for Sun Wu to succeed in the defensive players' close-to-mark or even close-to-foul defense. Send the ball out.
In the 61st minute, Pochettino replaced Griezmann with Giggs. The latter went up to play center forward, and Giggs pulled to the left.
After Sun Wu withdrew slightly, he found it useless helplessly. Although Giggs, Luke Shaw and Valencia made frequent passes, it was difficult for Griezmann to grab a spot in the penalty area. Thomas Muller It often moves in the ribs and the other party has a special person staring at him.
And Pochettino's high-position pressing is useless. Once Cardiff City steals the ball, it will send it to the side with a big foot, and let Campbell and Odum Wenji grab it. This is not an offense, but a delay!
Faced with such an iron barrel formation, even Barcelona is not 100% sure that they can pass the ball through the opponent's defense line, because Cardiff City has two goals in their hands and they don't want to attack at all...Of course, Barcelona has a way , they have Messi, but United don't...
Sun Wu turned his head and glanced at Schneiderlin. This guy has a high success rate in the first landing, and his recovery speed is not too slow... In fact, he can play a single midfielder.
Thinking of this, Sun Wu's eyes fell on Mota. In this case, Mota, who has a relatively narrow range of activities, is a bit redundant... The most important thing is that in front of the iron barrel formation in Cardiff City, Mota's speed The weaknesses of slowness and weak mobility are exposed.
Do you want to do it?
Sun Wu bit his lip and looked at the anxious Pochettino on the sidelines.
Sun Wu has partnered with six head coaches in total, and Amin Fei will not be mentioned. Mark Hughes and Magath both ruled the army with an iron fist, but they both gave Sun Wu great tactical freedom. Rangnick even gave Sun Wu Wu's position as an assistant coach allows him to participate in the establishment of the tactical system. Guardiola has many conflicts with Sun Wu in this regard...
And Pochettino is different from the previous five. He does not have the strong desire to control Magath, and his management methods are not as straightforward as Mark Hughes and Magath. The tactical discussion will involve Sun Wu but not Allow him to make radical changes...
In terms of personal relationship, the relationship between Sun Wu and Pochettino is not particularly harmonious. He has a better relationship with Miguel and Mike Phelan. He can always faintly feel Pochettino’s rejection of him deep in his heart... …
So, one thing Sun Woo never did.
In Blackburn, Wolfsburg, Schalke 04, and even Tottenham, Sun Wu once suggested substitutions to the head coach during the game, and it was clear who to replace whom...
But at Manchester United, Sun Wu has not tried it yet, and he also knows that this is the prerogative of the head coach.