Chapter 132 Decisive Battle at Highbury

After playing Arsenal at home, Ajax ushered in the 23rd round of the Eredivisie at the weekend.

Ajax away to Utrecht.

Utrecht is just south of Amsterdam, very close, but this time many players including Yang Yang and Ibrahimovic who participated in the Champions League in midweek were not included in the squad.

Everyone knows that Ajax is accumulating energy for the Champions League. After all, in the Eredivisie League, Ajax has a seven-point lead and has already seized the opportunity to win the championship. It is fully capable. Make such a two-line layout.

But to everyone's surprise, the originally expected Eindhoven took the opportunity to narrow the points gap between each other and it did not happen. Hiddink's team lost to Roda JC 1-2 at home. In less than 20 minutes, he conceded two goals in a row, and then Hesselink regained face for PSV.

One to two, the home defeat, let Eindhoven's morale plummet.

In another game that was played almost at the same time, Ajax lost 0-1 away to Utrecht. Fermaelen started this game and performed well in the back line, but it still failed to prevent the team from falling. defeat.

However, the problems exposed by Ajax are still on the offensive. Without Ibrahimovic and Van der Vaart, the two tiger generals, and without the gold substitute Yang Yang, Ajax’s offensive weakness is fully exposed.

Although they lost, after this round, Ajax is still seven points ahead of Eindhoven in second place, 14 points ahead of Alkmaar in third place and Feyenoord in fourth place. Firmly grasp the initiative to win the championship.

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A week later, the 24th round of the Eredivisie.

Ajax away to Warwick.

Ronald Koeman continued to play as a substitute, Anastasia once again replaced Ibrahimovic in the starting lineup, forming a trident with Scola and Mitya, but the attacking combination still failed. Break Varvik's goal.

In the end, Ajax relied on the opponent's own goal in the 39th minute to retreat 1-0 away from home.

While the performance in the last round was sluggish, Eindhoven, who was criticized, ushered in a big outbreak this round.

Hiddink's team scored two goals in the last two minutes of the first half by Baumar and Van Bommel, and in the last four minutes of the second half, Park Ji-sung and Kejman scored two goals, and finally beat Utrecht away 4-0.

However, since Ajax also narrowly won this round, the gap between the two teams is still seven points.

On the contrary, Feyenoord, who drew Heerenveen 2-2 at home this round, began to lag behind Alkmaar in third place.

Substitutes and rotations have been arranged for two consecutive rounds of the league. Ronald Koeman's mind and Ajax's goals are already clear.

A three-to-two victory over Arsenal at home can only be regarded as a tragic victory, giving Arsenal two away goals, requiring Ajax to make every effort to keep the level at Highbury Stadium, otherwise it will be difficult to advance smoothly from the away game.

After all, getting two away goals at Highbury is a challenge.

As a result, defense has become the most important thing for Ajax to visit Highbury Stadium.

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In order to better prepare for the second round of the Champions League round of 16 knockout round, Ajax flew directly from Amsterdam to London after training the day before the match, and had dinner after checking into the hotel.

After a night's rest, a simple workout in the hotel gym the next morning.

In the afternoon, head coach Ronald Koeman gathered everyone in the conference room for a pre-match tactical meeting.

Between these two knockout rounds, Arsenal also played two games. One was the twenty-seventh round of the Premier League. Arsenal defeated Charlton 2-1 at Highbury Stadium and scored two consecutive games in the opening four minutes. The ball, scored by Pires and Henry.

Last weekend, Arsenal played against Portsmouth in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup. Henry, Ljungberg and Kolo Toure scored consecutive goals in the first half, and Henry and Ljungberg scored in the second half. Arsenal beat Portsmouth 5-1 away.

"Looking at these two games, I don't need to say more about Arsenal's strong offensive. Everyone knows it, but what I want to remind everyone is to pay attention to the time of scoring."

With a word from Ronald Koeman, Arsenal's two-game goal time was prominently played on the screen behind.

"There are two very obvious characteristics. First, the first 20 minutes are very crucial, especially at Highbury Stadium. Many Premier League teams such as Charlton, Manchester City and Middlesbrough have all fallen in this season. Twenty minutes or less, and after the lead, the most Arsenal can do is slowly take control of the game."

"Second point, Arsenal tend to chase after a goal after scoring a goal, hit Charlton in one go, scored two goals in the second and fourth minutes of the opening, and played Portsmouth, the first goal came in the twentieth Six minutes, but then 44th and 45th minutes, 50th and 57th minutes, Arsenal scored in a row."

When Ronald Koeman said this, everyone present was very clear.

This is an extremely terrifying opponent. Their attack is like a shark smelling blood. Once they catch the loophole, they are likely to pursue and fight until the opponent is crushed and collapsed.

"So, here, I have to tell everyone that the defense in the first 20 minutes is very, very critical. The Gunners are a team that is very good at solving battles in the first 20 minutes. We must be able to defend these two. Ten minutes, and the most important thing is the defense of the two flanks and the front of the box."

Having said that, Luther Carroll cut to the next PPT, which is Arsenal's starting lineup predicted by the coaching staff.

The goalkeeper is Lehmann, the back line is Ashley Cole, Campbell, Kolo Toure and Lauren, and the midfield is Pires, Edu, Vieira and Ljungberg from left to right, while The two forwards are Henry and Bergkamp.

There are two very obvious differences between the second round and the first round. That is, the veteran Bergkamp has returned to the starting lineup. Reyes, who performed poorly in the first round, should be a substitute. After all, Bergkamp is more familiar with it. , also know Ajax better.

Another difference is the return of left-back Ashley Cole from injury. Clichy has performed well during this period, but Ashley Cole is the world's top left-back and his comeback is against Arsenal's left attack. would be a considerable improvement.

Gilberto Silva has also recovered from injury, but on the one hand, Edu has been in very good shape recently, and on the other hand, it is also out of safety considerations. It is unlikely that Wenger will directly start the Brazilian midfielder.

Of course, it is not ruled out that Wenger is in danger.

"The left flank is very terrible, on the one hand we have to have speed players to defend Henry, but at the same time we also need to pay attention to Pires and Ashley Cole, Ljungberg and Bergkan on the right. The cooperation between the generals is also extremely tacit, which is also something we must pay attention to.”

"But the most important thing is the front of our penalty area. The first goal conceded in the first leg was lost in this area. If Edu starts again, Wenger must still want to make a fuss in this area."

Yang Yang sat below and nodded silently when he heard the head coach's analysis.

In the past, Ajax has been practicing the 4231 style of play. This formation played well in the first round, and the double midfielders are also very good at protecting the defense line and the front of the penalty area. If necessary At times, it is even possible to directly return the two wing players.

If there is no accident, Ajax should still use 4231 as the starting formation in the second round.

Different from the first round, the second round started with stability and defense. Yang Yang's defensive ability is relatively average. Although he can run, the head coach will definitely not waste his physical strength and energy on defense.

In Ajax's lineup, there are many players who are good at defending, but there are few attacking players on the right.

There won’t be a big movement in the back line. Trabelsi is still good at defending Henry in the first round. Maxwell will continue to start. A combination with Escud.

The team adopts a double defensive midfielder, which must be Garacek and De Jong. In the frontcourt, Zlatan Ibrahimovic must be the starting center, and he is also the most dangerous threat to Arsenal in the Ajax team. defensive line player.

But the left and right flanks, and the front midfielder behind the center, Yang Yang couldn't guess.

He could only have a hunch that he would come off the bench again.

Sure enough, Ronald Koeman announced the team's starting lineup soon after introducing the team's game strategy and response to emergencies in the game.

Basically the same as what Yang Yang guessed, but on the left, the coaching staff chose Wesley Sonk, and the Belgian striker's speed is quite threatening, especially when counterattacking.

In the position on the right, the coaching staff chose Scola. The only thing that surprised Yang Yang was the attacking midfield position. The coaching staff chose Sneijder.

This also means that the team's captain Van der Vaart will be the same as Yang Yang as a substitute.

After listening to the starting roster announced by the coaching staff, many people turned their heads to look at Van der Vaart, but found that the expression on the latter's face did not show any anger or dissatisfaction. Movic is a little boring, which also makes Yang Yang feel very strange.

Did he already know?

Only this explanation is reasonable, otherwise how could he not be angry?

"Finally, I still want to tell you that no matter what the outcome of this game tomorrow night, I am proud of you, and I always believe that you are a group of outstanding players, each of you All pretty good.”

"Our team's ability to come this far, to be able to appear in London, proves that you are extraordinary, and I also sincerely hope that in this final tonight, everyone here can do their best. Work hard, do your part for yourself and for this team.”

"The outside world is looking down on us now, but I believed from the beginning to the end that we can get out of Highbury."

Ronald Koeman's mobilization and encouragement won a warm applause in the locker room.

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