Chapter 562: Attack and Defense Transition

"Just six minutes into the second half, Manchester United fell behind again, which is definitely not good news for them."

"It seems that after a halftime break, Manchester United lost the rhythm they had in the second half of the first half. Now their offense cannot pose a threat to Manchester City, and the loopholes in the defense are revealed one by one under Manchester City's attack... "

"Guardiola is worthy of being the best head coach in football at the time, comparable to Mourinho. His adjustments at halftime are very effective. Now let's see how coach Mourinho responds!"

"Bruno's performance was not as dazzling as in the second half of the first half. He was unable to do anything against Manchester City's tight defense. However, there are not many players in the world who can break this kind of defense. Bruno can do it in the game against Manchester City Scoring a goal is already considered outstanding..."

………………

Passing the ball quickly and mobilizing the opponent's defense doesn't work. What else can be done?

Manchester City's players were cheering, while their teammates were annoyed and frustrated. Bruno frowned and thought.

If we can't find a way to break this defense, then today's game will probably be lost.

In the following games, Bruno continued to try various methods to break Manchester City's defense. But the results were minimal. It was difficult for him to break through Manchester City's defense by relying on him alone, or relying on a few attacking players in the frontcourt, because the team lacked some changes that were enough to change the balance.

He has been studied thoroughly by Manchester City. His running positions, his passing habits, and his shooting are all known by Manchester City's defensive players. As soon as he got the ball, Bernardo Silva was right next to him and harassing him.

This Bruno's teammate in the Portuguese national team does not look like an attacking midfielder helping the team to attack the city, but more like an engineer who specializes in dirty work.

If someone else were to be the forward, they might not implement the tactical instructions of the head coach at all. They would think that the head coach must have been caught in the door and let a forward who is responsible for the offense do things that cause damage.

But Bernardo Silva doesn't think so. He just follows what the coach says.

This is what Guardiola values ​​​​most about him. He can resolutely implement his tactics without complaining and will not make any mistakes during the game.

………………

In the next game, Bruno not only has to be careful when the football at his feet is cut off by Bernardo Silva, but he also has to find a route directly to the dangerous area from the complicated situation. At the same time, he has to face the danger at any time. Several other Manchester City defenders stepped up to the plate.

If he does not pass the ball and chooses to lead a breakthrough personally, he will soon face the joint defense of Fernandinho, Mkhitaryan and David Silva.

But Bruno still did it because he hoped to use his breakthrough to attract more Manchester City defensive players and create gaps for his teammates.

"Bruno once again dribbled the ball forward... During this period, his personal dribbling has obviously increased..."

Although his personal defensive ability is not outstanding, Bernardo Silva is relatively good in actively implementing pressure awareness, attacking defense and grasping the timing of pursuit.

Bernardo Silva also firmly remembered what Guardiola said during the halftime break. As long as Bruno got the ball, he would immediately go up and entangle him, delaying Bruno's breakthrough.

But once Bruno breaks through, Bernardo Silva will not follow him. Instead, he will hand Bruno to Fernandinho and the others, and his role is to go forward. Once his teammates intercept the ball, Just go to him directly and let him organize a quick counterattack.

If he follows back to participate in the defense, it will slow down Manchester City's counterattack. If you intercept the ball and look for him again, he is still behind...

For example, this time, Bruno dribbled the ball forward, and Bernardo Silva immediately entangled him, preventing Bruno from breaking through smoothly. But when Bruno really used his personal ability to break through him, Bernardo Silva did not pursue him desperately, but let Bruno go.

………………

Bruno broke through Bernardo Silva's defense and was met by Fernandinho, with Mkhitaryan protecting from the side.

Bruno did not pass the ball. Although he saw Mbappe asking for the ball from the wing, there was Delph not far away from him. Although it seemed that he was not next to Mbappe, as long as he passed the ball , he was determined to rush forward.

Bruno turned towards Mbappe, made a fake move to pass the ball to him, then slammed the football back with his right foot, and at the same time turned around and rushed to the other side.

Fernandinho was fooled by his fake move and did not stop him immediately, but there was Mkhitaryan behind him.

Seeing that Fernandinho lost his position, Mkhitaryan made up for it. If Bruno continued to dribble, there was only one way to end up, and that was to collide with the opponent head-on.

So he didn't intend to continue dribbling the ball and attracted two defensive players from the opponent. That was enough. He took the first kick and poked the football out with the toe of his left foot under a very unfavorable situation.

He was targeting Harry Kane who was right in front.

After passing the ball, he did not stop, but ran forward staggeringly, pulling Mkhitaryan along with him, which could reduce the pressure on his teammates.

Some people pass the ball and stand there, only to watch their teammates get attacked by the opponent and eventually lose the ball.

Bruno is not that stupid. He rushed forward. Although his steps were unstable, he was able to interfere with the opponent's defense.

………………

But Manchester City was not a pushover. Mkhitaryan followed him, and Fernandinho turned around to pounce on Harry Kane.

Bruno's running did not shake Manchester City's defense from the root.

Harry Kane saw Bruno's inside run and passed the ball, but their intention was seen through by Kompany in advance. He was behind Harry Kane and saw Bruno cut inside, so he went around to defend in advance and just intercepted Harry Kane's pass!

"Lost the ball!" exclaimed the commentator Lineker.

Bruno looked back and saw that the ball was snatched by Kompany. He braked urgently and turned to chase.

Kompany strode the ball out, and Gundogan rushed up to block Kompany.

The Manchester City captain passed the ball to David Silva, who quickly passed it to Bernardo Silva.

Gundogan did not stop Kompany's pass, and as he turned around, Bruno had already passed him at high speed.

"Go defend David Silva!" He shouted to his partner as he ran past Gundogan.

Bernardo Silva was dribbling the ball, so he had to defend him; David Silva was the core of Manchester City's attack, so he couldn't be left alone, so the two of them divided the work.

Gundogan changed his running direction after hearing this, and slightly changed direction to pounce on David Silva, while Bruno caught up with Bernardo Silva.

………………

Bruno put one hand on the shoulder of his national teammate, forcing him to slow down. He accelerated while trying to overtake Bernardo Silva and occupy a favorable defensive position.

Bernardo Silva dribbled the ball, and just happened to stop and change direction, shaking off Bruno.

Bruno overtook him but was not completely left behind.

Bernardo Silva dribbled the ball to the middle and tried to dribble horizontally, so Bruno leaned forward.

In the Portuguese national team, they were the closest teammates, but in the club, they were enemies.

Bernardo Silva was thin but not lacking in confrontation ability. His advantage was that he was good at using good body flexibility and balance to complete technical movements. He had a strong ability to control the center of gravity under pressure, and he had a strong ability to accelerate continuously after starting and suddenly change direction and speed during movement.

Bernardo Silva was very familiar with Bruno, and Bruno was also familiar with him. He saw the opportunity and decisively shoveled the ball under Bernardo Silva's feet.

"Beautiful defense!" Lineker praised loudly.

Bruno was lying on the ground and was about to see who caught the ball he had shoveled, when he saw Kante. The Frenchman stretched out his foot to control the ball he had shoveled.

Bernardo Silva got up from the ground and rushed to Kante, intending to take the ball back from Kante, but the French midfielder did not give him such a chance. He just received the ball and passed it again.

This time Kante passed the ball to the wing and handed it to Mbappe.

………………

The two sides started a stranglehold near the midfield, and the ball possession was continuously transferred in the rapid attack and defense, which made the defensive formations of both sides chaotic. At this time, no matter which side controlled the ball, it might cause a huge threat to the opponent's goal.

Luck stood on Manchester United's side again, and they controlled the ball in the chaos.

Mbappe received Kante's pass in a relatively loose situation, and then quickly moved forward along the sideline.

Delph wanted to intercept, but Mbappe passed him directly with an acceleration, as easy as crossing the road in the early morning.

After passing Delph, Mbappe had come to the outside of Manchester City's penalty area. He did not give any Manchester City player the opportunity to come up and force him, and directly kicked the cross!

"Mbappe passed the ball!"

The ball drew a very obvious arc in the air, flew high over the heads of Manchester City defenders, and flew directly to the back.

Neither Kompany nor Otamendi could head the ball because it was too high.

The ball fell directly to the back point, where another Manchester United winger Rashford appeared.

"Rashford is coming!"

Danilo rushed over to stop Rashford from shooting, but Rashford did not intend to shoot. He shook his head on the spot and ferryed the ball to the middle.

"Header ferry! To the middle! Harry Kane!!"

The English center jumped high in the middle, almost unguarded, and headed the ball!

The ball flew into the goal from Ederson's hand!

2:2!