Episode【235】: Guardiola’s Barcelona

Players from both sides were already standing in the stadium, and the Leeds United players couldn't help but take a second look at Tom Herning, the referee of this game. They all want to know, how can their head coach ask everyone to pay attention to the referee and not give this guy any clues?

However, since Zhong Cheng said this, everyone took it seriously and would not give this guy any chance to make trouble.

At this moment, Tom Herning blew the whistle to start the game.

From the beginning of the game, the Barcelona team had a very strong Barcelona style, and at the same time it was also deeply imprinted with Guardiola's imprint.

Yes, Guardiola's team demands possession of the ball to the extreme!

Yes, since Cruyff came to Barcelona, ​​he has brought the gene that emphasizes ball control here. Previous head coaches may not have paid much attention to this, but Barcelona has used this method from the first team to the youth training camp of La Masia. Passing and controlling the ball is particularly important.

However, after Rijkaard came to Barcelona, ​​ball control was raised to a very important position. After Guardiola arrived, he pushed this "ball control theory" to the extreme.

During Rijkaard's time, Barcelona's average ball possession was between 55% and 65%. After Guardiola took over Barcelona, ​​there were many games where Barcelona's ball possession rate reached 70%-80%.

Yes, in La Liga, you often see a situation where Barcelona players hold the ball for a long time and surround their opponents, making it very difficult for the opponent to get the ball.

This is the most obvious change Guardiola made after accepting Barcelona.

Although it is a continuation of Rijkaard's tactical system, or it is a continuation of Cruyff's Barcelona system, he has pushed this to the extreme.

In addition, Guardiola also continued the high-intensity pressing, interspersed running without the ball and emphasis on assists from full-backs during the Rijkaard period.

These three points are also what Guardiola strongly agrees with Rijkaard. Of course, this is also Barcelona's inherent tactical system, but Rijkaard turned it into a complete tactical system with his own brand. Guardiola was the continuation and pushed him to another level.

Of course, after taking over Barcelona, ​​Guardiola also improved and transformed Rijkaard's tactical system or the traditional Barcelona tactical system, deeply imprinting his Guardiola brand.

The most important thing is the use of the "4th position" player.

For Guardiola, the "No. 4" player is very important, that is, the player in the traditional midfielder position. Players in this position must frequently drop back to play as a central defender, allowing Barcelona players to change formations when attacking, into 3-4-3 and other formations. Under such use, it can ensure that Barcelona's two full-backs assist at the same time, resulting in a numerical advantage, and there will be more ball release points and more interspersed running routes in the frontcourt, attracting the attention of the opponent's defense. force……

In fact, Zhong Cheng is also using this. The defensive midfielder often plays behind a central defender.

However, the requirements of these two people are still different!

In Zhong Cheng's tactics, the running ability and sweeping ability of the midfielder position are the most important. Not only can he sometimes delay back to play as a central defender, but more importantly, he must have a super strong midfielder. coverage area, with super prediction and interception capabilities.

The most important thing Guardiola emphasizes here is to supplement the defense line, forming a complete three-center-back system, giving the two full-backs on the wing more opportunities to advance and assist. And in this position, you still need to have some ability to organize offense, and you also need to have good passing ability.

Therefore, although Zhong Cheng and Guardiola both need the midfielder to drag back and become a central defender. However, there are still many differences in the focus of the two coaches' requirements. This is where the tactical philosophies of the two coaches differ.

Obviously, Guardiola's tactics emphasize more on offense, increasing the range of forward assists for the two full-backs, and even floating in the frontcourt for a long time to form a local numerical advantage to intersperse runs and tear apart the opponent's defense. Line of defense.

This is also the reason why Barcelona has the ball for a long time. There are more people in the frontcourt, more options for receiving and releasing the ball, and they have enough tacit understanding. In this case, their ball possession rate is unimaginable. Disaster.

The No. 4 player in Guardiola's tactics is important in offense and counterattack. He can directly dribble the ball forward, he is equivalent to a central defender who directly launches an attack...

Of course, Guardiola still has many profound things to say about Barcelona's transformation, which cannot be explained clearly in just one or two sentences. If you really want to say it, it would be a really long story.

Guardiola's arrangement, movement, interleaving, support, etc. of the frontcourt offensive combination are enough to make several analysis and tutorials on offensive tactics.

One of the most eye-catching features is the frontless formation!

Many times Barcelona's corresponding center Eto'o has to drift to the left or right. He rarely stays upright in the center position. Because he wants to create more interspersed runs, attract the attention of defensive players, etc.

In fact, the most important thing is to leave more space for Leo Messi, the false No. 9 player, and give Messi more space. At the same time, it also gives Leo Messi, Xavi and Iniesta more opportunities to link up...

Therefore, Barcelona's tactics are actually very complicated.

But for now, Guardiola's tactical characteristics are very distinct.

Ball control, emphasizing complete control of the football. For Guardiola, controlling football means controlling the source of life and the initiative.

When Barcelona controls the ball, Barcelona's formation changes are very obvious. More often than not, their two full-backs press at the same time, changing the formation to 3-4-3, or even 3-2-5 and so on.

Especially when it becomes 3-2-5, it is very scary. Leeds United's defensive players are under great pressure. There are too many opponents and they are constantly running. This puts a lot of pressure on their defense. Very big.

Leeds United's high-intensity and high-pressure defense is somewhat difficult to withstand!

Fortunately, Leeds United's players are relatively mature, and now they know how to deal with teams like Barcelona that do fine work.

Leeds United players clearly stepped up their pressing and fouling!

Yes, the Leeds United players received Zhong Cheng's request, which was to disrupt and prevent the Barcelona people from passing the football easily. At the same time, it also oppresses and intimidates the Barcelona people and makes them fearful.

From the beginning of the game, it was almost all Barcelona people who were in possession of the ball. The Leeds United players were all committing fouls. The game had only started for five minutes, and the Barcelona players had already been knocked down many times by the Leeds United players.

Especially for Leo Messi's defense, Leeds United is very tight.

Zhong Cheng reminded the Leeds United players that they cannot tolerate Leo Messi. If you want to commit a foul, you must be more thorough and don't be indecisive. This little flea-like character will have no chance if you hesitate for a moment. He slipped away.

Therefore, the Leeds United players played exactly according to Zhong Cheng's arrangements. So during this period, Messi was violated a bit seriously. Basically, he was knocked down as soon as he got the ball, and there were almost no good opportunities to dribble and win the ball.

Leeds United's players also had good ideas when committing fouls, and it was not a big move. Because Leo Messi looked too thin in front of the Leeds United players, the referee Tom Herning was not easy to brag about.

Moreover, the Leeds United players almost didn’t give Leo Messi a chance to get close to the Leeds United penalty area and just knocked him down. Zhong Cheng has said this, don't give the Barcelona people too many free kick opportunities, let alone give Tom Herning a chance to play.

Therefore, during this period of time, the Barcelona people played very awkwardly!

After the Barcelona center back passed the ball, Zhong Cheng asked Diego Milito to harass him in the frontcourt, preventing Leeds United players from pressing forward. Moreover, Leeds United's defense is very intact. Even if the Barcelona people keep running back and forth, to be honest, there are really not many opportunities.

Guardiola frowned, this is a very serious problem!

Again, the time Guardiola took over Barcelona was too short, less than a season. It still has not been able to completely transform Barcelona, ​​and Barcelona has not yet reached the height of the Cosmos team.

There are still some problems, but this requires Guardiola to invest more time and energy.

Guardiola kept raising his eyebrows when he saw this. Zhong Cheng is really very powerful. Although his team looks very dirty and plays a kind of dirty football that focuses on destruction, you have to say that Leeds United is very good at letting go, with very high intensity and hardness, and is oppressive. It's even more suffocating.

Even a team with Barcelona's strong ball control ability feels suffocated. It can only be said that Zhong Cheng has built Leeds United very well.

Guardiola frowned, his Barcelona had encountered a problem, a very serious problem.

The first leg of the match between the two sides ended at a score of 0-0. Guardiola did not have much to do against Leeds United. Now it seems that it is time to return to the first leg of the match. It is difficult for Barcelona to penetrate Leeds United's defense. ah!

Guardiola kept shaking his head. Zhong Cheng is really strong. Is this my mortal enemy of Guardiola?

Guardiola signaled Barcelona's players to increase their running, strengthen their penetration, and tear apart Leeds United's defense.

"Beautiful, Loya's defense is really strong. Even a perverted team like Barcelona doesn't have many chances in front of their defense. Loya is really amazing!" Eddie Gray sincerely admired .

"Hey! Hey! The ball was suddenly intercepted in the frontcourt. It's a pie in the sky and it's going to hit Leeds United!" Mark Lawrenson suddenly exclaimed, his voice very loud.

All the Leeds United fans at the scene lit up with great surprise.

"Beautiful, the ball was intercepted! Diego Milito in the frontcourt intercepted the ball. He intercepted Marquez's pass to Xavi. Cristiano Ronaldo on the wing was moving forward quickly, beautiful. Diagonal ball, chance for Leeds United!" Eddie Gray roared excitedly.

All Barcelona fans gasped and were very nervous.

Barcelona's defensive players were extremely nervous and their hair stood on end because Cristiano Ronaldo on the wing was too fast.

Danger!

Diego Milito pushed the football wide and diagonally, giving Cristiano Ronaldo room to sprint quickly.

Cristiano Ronaldo sprinted quickly, like a sharp dagger piercing the heart of the Barcelona people!