stonecrandall Chapter 577
Chapter 577
Etihad Stadium, ESPN dedicated commentary desk.
Zhan Jun and Wang Tao are debugging the equipment, and there are still more than 20 minutes before the game officially starts.
The two are not in a hurry, and they chat while debugging.
"Taoer, what do you think of today's game?"
"Teacher Zhan Jun, you want to ask me what I think of Manchester City's new head coach?"
"Haha, you kid. The same idea."
Both laughed, and Wang Tao took out a small notebook with some notes he prepared before the game.
"Guardiola was really good when he was a player, judging by the statistics, but I was young. I didn't watch much football when he was at his peak..."
"Haha, you kid, you are mocking my age again, right?"
"No, no, how dare I, Mr. Zhan Jun! But I heard that you also followed La Liga when you were young?"
"Yes, I did. I also watched Barcelona games at that time. Your pre-match preparation is fine. Guardiola was really good when he played for Barcelona. He was a main player and captain! But..."
"You want to say that playing football and being a head coach are two different things?"
"Yes, yes, yes, that's what I mean. So, I don't like today's game very much. I think Manchester City may lose. Although it has no impact on the league, the morale aspect..."
Both of them were silent.
Both of them are Manchester City fans now, and naturally they know how important the next three games are to Manchester City.
But both of them think that the selection of Manchester City's new head coach is a bit too hasty.
If a good player can be a good coach.
Didn't Maradona and Pele become world-class head coaches after retirement?
"It's okay, Mr. Zhan Jun. Don't panic too much. Manchester City players are fine. Su Fei is still here. Su Fei is Manchester City's backup."
Wang Tao comforted Zhan Jun and himself.
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On the other side, in the home team's locker room.
Guardiola is conducting his first pre-match motivational session since he coached Manchester City.
Manchester City players raised their heads.
Looking forward to what the new coach will say.
But Guardiola did not give a long speech or a passionate speech. Instead, he came to the tactical board again.
He began to move the chess pieces representing the players.
He also emphasized the team's main tactical strategy today in a concise manner.
Finally, he mentioned it in passing.
"I don't care about the outcome today, I only care about whether each of you can play your best in the game."
"Remember."
"You are not playing for me, you are playing for yourself."
In the Manchester City locker room, the players bowed their heads and pondered, thinking about what Guardiola said.
Play for yourself?
A familiar and unfamiliar statement... I remember that since last season, Stewart has emphasized that he will fight for the fans and the team.
It has been a long time since anyone told me.
Fight for yourself.
Every head coach has his own style and football philosophy.
Since the first day of the meeting, Guardiola has repeatedly refreshed the players' ideas of the Stewart period.
Su Fei quietly tied his shoelaces in the corner.
He agreed with Guardiola's speech.
He also believed that his firm choice of Guardiola to come to Manchester City was an increasingly correct choice.
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At 3:30 in the afternoon, at the Etihad Stadium, the crowds in the stands surged and the singing continued.
The appearance ceremony is in progress.
"ESPN Sports Satellite TV!"
"ESPN Sports Satellite TV!"
"Welcome to watch the live broadcast of the 38th round of the Premier League in the 2006-07 season, Manchester City and Aston Villa!"
"I am Zhan Jun!"
"Hello, I am Wang Tao!"
"Today's game is full of highlights!"
"Friends who follow Manchester City know that Manchester City has recently changed its head coach."
"36-year-old, from Spain, former Barcelona star, Josep Guardiola has become Manchester City's new head coach."
"Today's game is not only the season finale between Manchester City and Aston Villa!"
"It is also Josep Guardiola's first appearance as a coach in England!"
"The appearance ceremony is about to end!"
"The starting players of both sides have already stood in their respective half!"
"Look at the home team, the Blue Moon Manchester City, what kind of lineup did Guardiola give. ”
“Starting goalkeeper: James!”
“Three defenders: Zambrotta, Dunn, Sun Jihai!”
“Double defensive midfielders: Cannavaro, Martinez!”
“Left and right midfielders: Bale, Modric!”
“Left and right forwards: Cassano, Knight!”
“Central forward: Su Fei!”
“Is this... 3241? No, 3421! Bale and Modric's positions are relatively far back, almost parallel to the double defensive midfielders.”
“Very bold.”
“In the first game, Guardiola did not follow the Manchester City 4231 formation originally developed by Stewart, or Manchester City's traditional 4123.”
“Instead, he directly made a brand new 3421! Only three defenders were arranged, and Cannavaro, who was originally Manchester City's main central defender, was pushed to the defensive midfielder position. ”
“On the other side. ”
“Wearing red and white jerseys, the Lions, Aston Villa!”
“Starting goalkeeper: Thomas Sorensen!”
“Defenders: left back Bouma, Ridgewell and captain Mellberg partner as captain, right back Aaron Hughes!”
“Defensive midfielder: Gareth Barry!”
“Midfielders: Ashley Young, Petrov, Steven Davis!”
“Forwards: Juan Angel, Agbonlahor!”
“Villa is 4-4-2. Compared with the last match against Manchester City, Ashley Young, who scored twice to win the game, has moved from forward to midfield this time.”
“Replacing Ashley Young as forward is Agbonlahor, a youth player who has been gradually reused by Martin O’Neill this season.”
“Beep!”
“With the referee’s whistle, the game officially begins!”
“Aston Villa has the ball! ”
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On the side of the court, Martin O'Neill, a Northern Irishman wearing black glasses, was frowning and thinking hard.
Because Guardiola's 3421 today was completely beyond his expectations.
He didn't expect.
There would be a head coach who dared to put out a three-back starting formation under the rhythm of the Premier League.
There are only two possibilities.
Either this kid is a fool and is blindly doing things, or he is arrogant and doesn't take Villa seriously!
But soon.
As Aston Villa, the visiting team, took the lead in attacking, Martin O'Neill saw the third possibility...
On the court!
Aston Villa midfielder Petrov turned his back and passed the ball to his teammate Gareth Barry in the backcourt.
Gareth Barry made a long diagonal pass, the ball crossed the center line and found Ashley on the left road. ·Young.
Ashley Young galloped.
He scored two goals against Manchester City last time, which made him full of confidence in this game.
But when he approached Manchester City's attacking third zone with the ball.
He found that there were two full-backs in front of him... Yes, Zambrotta was pulling the side, and Bale retreated from the left midfielder to the left back position.
Facing the double pressure of Zambrotta and Bale.
Ashley Young subconsciously observed the middle and wanted to send a cross from the side.
As a result, he found that.
When he was double-teamed on the left side, Manchester City's defense in the middle was even more airtight.
Not only did the two defensive midfielders retreat.
Even Manchester City's striker Knight returned to his own backcourt and moved closer to the middle.
Ashley Young was a little confused.
Why does it feel like Manchester City has more people everywhere than his side?
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