Chapter 365 Li Ang Is a Barrier that only Hinders Strong Teams

"Leon went up with the ball! Fabregas did not stop Li Ang's advancement! Gundogan and Fernandinho double-teamed! Li Ang continued to advance... and shot!!!"

"Oh! This long-range shot was well shot by Li Ang! Bravo also made a good save! Bravo seemed to be very focused at the start of the game today. Li Ang did not succeed in the surprise attack, but Chelsea also won the first corner kick of the opening game. Chance……"

In the studio, Director Zhan Jun and Director Zhang both applauded and felt sorry for Li Ang's surprise long shot.

But Li Ang just smiled and shook his head on the court, and then without making any more regrettable moves, he and his teammates who were competing for the top rushed into Manchester City's penalty area.

The Manchester City fans who had just breathed a sigh of relief now saw that Chelsea was about to take a corner kick, and their relief suddenly rose to their throats again!

Guardiola is relatively calm. In the past two seasons, his team has suffered enough from Chelsea's set pieces.

Therefore, before the start of the new season this year, he and his coaching team also spent a lot of energy and time formulating a training plan for set-piece defense.

The current Manchester City cannot be said to be a top team in set-piece offense and defense, but they will no longer be embarrassed and nervous in the face of Chelsea's high-altitude advantage.

When it comes to defense, as long as you are willing to spend time and effort in training and establishing a systematic tactical structure, the progress that will be reflected on the playing field will definitely be very obvious.

In this corner kick defense against Chelsea, Manchester City did a good job of segmenting and protecting the threatening areas in the penalty area.

Although they do not have as many tall players on the court as Chelsea, their two central defenders occupy favorable defensive positions, and other marking players also double-team Chelsea's "dangerous people".

Manchester City could not solve the threat of Chelsea in the high-altitude battle, so they cleverly placed the main battlefield on the ground.

Chelsea's top players who were double-teamed and marked were unable to fully exert their strength even if they were in position to take off.

Maguire was flanked by Mangala and Gundogan this time!

He finally hit the ball, but he didn't even finish shaking his head, and he didn't have much power to hit it. The ball was finally confiscated by Bravo.

Li Ang, who was serving as a tactical cover in the middle of the penalty area, immediately rushed forward and threw the ball to counterattack after seeing Bravo get the ball.

So on the one hand, he deliberately blocked the direction of Bravo's throw, and on the other hand, he waved to his teammates to quickly return to defense.

Bravo, who saw through Li Ang's intention, reluctantly held the ball and spread his hands. Li Ang's blatant blocking had interfered with his vision and quick throwing of the ball.

Upon seeing this, the referee on duty also blew the whistle to signal Li Ang to quickly exit the Manchester City penalty area.

Li Ang didn't say much. After exiting Manchester City's penalty area, he quickly retreated to defend.

Manchester City's defensive response at the start of the game surprised many neutral fans who had not had time to carefully study their tactical changes this season.

This Manchester City team is indeed very different from the team in their impression that always likes to use offense instead of defense to control the flow of technology!

At this moment Mourinho also walked to the sidelines.

He rubbed his chin, with a thoughtful look in his eyes. He looked at Bravo, the new goalkeeper introduced by Manchester City this season, and then at Gundogan and Fernandinho.

It can only be said that Lao Mu's tactical vision is still as vicious as ever.

When others pay more attention to Sterling, who has outstanding performance on Manchester City's forward line, or Cesc Fabregas, whose personal data has surged in his position this season.

He has already seen two key positions that contributed to the transformation of the current Manchester City team.

Bravo's arrival finally gave Manchester City a "soul" in their backcourt.

With a wider range of activities, more stable holding of the ball, and more outstanding footwork, the Chilean national goalkeeper is already equivalent to the number one player in Manchester City's defense.

Previously, neither Joe Hart, who had better goal-line skills, nor Valdes, whose state had declined significantly compared to before, obviously could not satisfy Guardiola.

In Guardiola's tactical structure, the goalkeeper is very important.

This type of goalkeeper can often further free up the activities of the central defender and even the defensive midfielder in his formation.

With this type of goalkeeper, the central defender and midfielder no longer need to frequently retreat to help other teammates get the ball and get rid of it.

When key players in the midfield and backfield are pressed by their opponents, they only need to pass the ball back with confidence, and then the goalkeeper will respond in time and transfer the ball to the wide players in a timely manner.

For Guardiola's team, this is not a risky move. On the contrary, it can further increase their tolerance for possession of the ball in the backcourt.

Bravo has already shown his excellent passing skills in the few times he actively took the ball and distributed the ball at the beginning of the game.

And he is not only outstanding in footwork, he is also not bad in goal-line skills and save reflexes.

A short goalkeeper like him is very demanding on body reaction and athletic ability. Perhaps as he gets older, his performance will decline rapidly in the next one or two seasons.

But that is also a matter for the coming season. At least for now, he is the best choice for Manchester City's No. 1 position.

And Gundogan, the German international who has already made a name for himself in Dortmund, can be regarded as the type of defensive midfielder that Guardiola likes very much.

Outstanding technique, strong tactical understanding, large running area, and good defensive position selection ability.

Guardiola's team has never needed a tough guy who can only defend.

He has very high requirements for defensive midfielders, even far higher than the definition standards of Mourinho, Ancelotti and Ferguson and other famous coaches for the main defensive midfielder.

When Mourinho does not have a defensive midfielder core available, he can use the black and hard interception machine to his advantage.

Ancelotti and Ferguson are even more top masters who can adapt to different situations.

One of them can put the front midfielder back and play the protective central midfielder style.

The other can maximize the use of a first-class defensive midfielder and use it to play a first-class role!

But for the "picky" Guardiola, he can train a defensive midfielder, but he requires this defensive midfielder to have the top potential in football.

This potential is there or not.

If you force him a first-class or even second-class defensive midfielder, he can actually use it, but at this time he may choose to force the management to resign or even resign more radically.

Because Guardiola never compromises in midfield construction!

People who don't understand him will think that he is paranoid and arrogant and refuses to bow his head.

But people who understand him, such as Mourinho, understand that this is just a manifestation of his persistence in pursuing high-standard tactics.

Gundogan's arrival made up for Fabregas's defensive deficiencies, and he and Fernandinho truly formed the double wall of Manchester City's defense.

Of course, the more important point is that the German international can fully communicate with Guardiola at the tactical level.

His arrival liberated Fabregas' offensive lethality and helped Fernandinho reduce defensive pressure.

The role is actually very similar to the upgraded version of Li Ang after returning to Real Madrid from Milan.

At that time, Li Ang and now Gundogan were not the midfield cores of their teams, but their existence was extremely important.

They can quickly understand the tactical intentions of the head coach and further stimulate the tactical role of the front and back fields. They can attack and defend, and they are also very active in running.

With the goalkeeper and defensive midfielder positions filled, Manchester City's tactical structural defects in the first two seasons have also been filled.

As for Sterling, who performed explosively on the front line?

That is another surprise.

For Guardiola, he can do without the explosive Sterling, but he definitely needs the current Gundogan and Bravo.

Mourinho knows his old friend and his tactical thinking, so after seeing the completion of Manchester City's lineup with his own eyes, he inevitably began to hesitate.

After all, what he dislikes most is this kind of uncertainty.

But after frowning and thinking quickly, Mourinho soon relaxed his brows again...

Two minutes later, Mourinho issued his first tactical instruction in today's game to the Chelsea players on the field!

As soon as Li Ang saw Mourinho's tactical adjustment, he also had a bottom line in his heart.

At this moment, he and Mourinho thought of the same thing again!

"Continue to shrink the defense and consolidate our defense in the middle!"

Li Ang shouted to his teammates, indicating that they should take a more active state on the defensive end to prevent Manchester City's penetration in the middle.

Of course, it doesn't take Mourinho and Li Ang to make such a big move to improve defense.

Chelsea's backhand killer is still the rapid advancement of the two wings when switching from defense to offense!

Such a counterattack arrangement does not seem very reliable.

After all, Manchester City has completely transformed. They have been counterattacked by Chelsea many times before and lost the game. Can't they learn to take precautions?

Mourinho thought so at the first time after seeing Manchester City's great progress.

But he soon thought of Guardiola's unique personality.

It's okay for his old friend to play a counterattack occasionally, just as a change of tactical taste, but Guardiola will never regard the counterattack tactic as a winning trump card.

Guardiola is a genius in offensive tactics, and as long as his opponent dares to give up the initiative in the midfield, he will never miss the opportunity to control the rhythm of the game!

A well-known coach who has achieved great success may occasionally change his tactical style.

But his temper, his unique personality, and his tactical philosophy are very difficult to change!

Mourinho is now using the midfield control to stimulate Guardiola's offensive desire.

This choice is a bit risky, but it is worth it for Mourinho and the entire Chelsea team!

After Li Ang led his teammates to retreat to consolidate the midfield defense, he was also a little nervous waiting for Manchester City's response.

When he saw the entire Manchester City team pressing forward without hesitation under the command of Guardiola, Li Ang showed a down-to-earth smile on his face!

This is the embodiment of Guardiola and the entire Manchester City team's spirit. They are unwilling to accompany Chelsea in a dull defense at home.

No matter how "smooth" he becomes in tactical adjustments, Guardiola is still the Guardiola who has a persistent pursuit of tactical concepts!

At this moment, Li Ang sincerely admired Guardiola and the players of the Manchester City team!

However, Manchester City has its own way to prove itself, and Chelsea also has its own way to go!

After letting Manchester City's offensive players cross the center line, Li Ang led his teammates in the midfield and frontcourt to once again engage in a fierce fight with the opponent.

His oppressive defense does not conceal the radicalism at the confrontation level.

Fabregas and Silva showed no sign of weakness and bravely protected the ball, but in terms of physical fitness, these two Manchester City frontcourt cores really could not compete with Li Ang.

So Manchester City's forward pressure gradually turned into a back-and-forth tug-of-war at the front of Chelsea's defensive third zone!

At this moment, Chelsea turned into the "stinky stone" that Manchester City fans hate the most!

The defense is really stinky and hard!

A large number of players are in the middle to prevent Manchester City from organizing the attack comfortably!

When seeing that Hazard and Salah even returned to their own defensive third zone, I don't know how many neutral fans watching this game shook their heads again and again, lamenting that Mourinho wasted the talent.

The on-field confrontation between Chelsea and Manchester City has almost become an offensive and defensive drill of two extreme tactics at this moment.

Obviously, both teams can attack and defend well, and they will not take such an extreme path when playing against other Premier League teams.

But when they meet each other, they always play the game like this!

Whether there is a goal or not is another matter, anyway, the scene is always exciting and beautiful, and the rhythm is intense.

Li Ang took the lead in the destructive defensive tactics, but his mind remained clear all the time, and he did not just focus on breaking Manchester City's offensive rhythm.

The two teams fought hard for nearly 15 minutes. In the 24th minute of the first half, Li Ang seized the opportunity to shovel the ball away from Sterling!

Hazard, who retreated to receive the ball, was about to turn around and accelerate along the sideline after grabbing the second point.

But Gundogan's timely defensive positioning forced Hazard to give up the idea of ​​​​breaking through alone.

At the critical moment, it was Li Ang's shout that made Hazard choose to knock the ball back.

After shoveling the ball, Li Ang climbed up from the grass and had no time to take a breath. He passed Hazard's return pass to Kroos who had already started to advance despite Fabregas's defensive interference!

The German midfielder did not rush to advance after getting the ball. He knew that his speed could not prevail in the competition with Manchester City's defensive players.

So after he calmly received the ball, he even spent a second observing the running positions of his teammates around him and in front of him.

The next moment, he sent a precise and fast long pass directly from the middle of the midfield!

This pass was not passed to Salah on the other side, but to Trippier who cleverly inserted himself into the side after using Hazard to attract the attention of the opponent's defense!

Trippier did not choose to stop Kroos's long pass steadily on the sideline. Instead, he boldly stopped and dribbled the ball directly to the center of Manchester City, and he also cut in!

Kolarov was still waiting to intercept Trippier in the middle of the side, but Trippier's unconventional advancement operation immediately made him dumbfounded!

Trippier rushed in the middle and forced Fernandinho to intercept him. He then stuffed the ball in front of Salah, who started on the left today!

Navas had participated in the attack before, but he had not returned to defense yet. Kompany did not dare to lose the position in the penalty area easily, so Salah could advance to the bottom very calmly at this moment!

He might have some trouble shooting on the left side, but passing the ball was very comfortable!

So when the entire Manchester City defense line had not yet landed in time, Salah decisively sent a big arc pass from the left side to the Manchester City penalty area!

The football quickly passed the front point in the Manchester City penalty area. Bravo yelled and directed Mangala to rush to the back point. He also blocked the near corner on the other side of the goal in the first time!

Li Ang inserted at high speed at this time, but under the confident gaze of Bravo, he decisively passed the football back to the middle of the penalty area in an inverted triangle at the back point of the goal!

The air of the Etihad Stadium seemed to be condensed at this moment!

Kroos, who seemed to be advancing slowly before, but there was no defender around him at this time, met the return pass sent by Li Ang, and still calmly shot a push shot!

The football moved quickly along the grass, and then almost stuck to the goal post of Manchester City's goal and went straight into the net!

Bravo was stunned. He seemed to be unable to believe that Li Ang could choose to magnanimously give up the ball in the face of such a good opportunity!

At this moment, Li Ang was already laughing and hugging Kroos, and calling other teammates to run to the corner flag area of ​​Manchester City's half to celebrate!

The commentator of Sky Sports in England once again sang praises for Li Ang at this moment!

Countless Premier League fans watched Li Ang celebrating with his teammates in the live broadcast and couldn't help but admit it!

This guy is a threshold, and he is also a special one that trips up strong teams!