Red Rebels

581 Arena of Gods

Manchester is always extremely rainy in early spring. Even the roof of the Red Rebel Stadium can't cover up the drizzle in the sky. Everyone feels as if they have just come out of a drum washing machine, feeling wet and uncomfortable.

Rijkaard lowered his head and sat on the coaching bench, not daring to show his face. Although the stands behind him were the area where Barcelona fans gathered, it was these fans he was most afraid of facing. 』.

In the first round at Camp Nou, Barcelona defeated the Red Rebels tenaciously 1:0. Although this cost Barcelona two powerful players, Puyol and Motta, it gave Barcelona a chance to advance. Favorable advantage, zero seal against the Red Rebels, Barcelona can take over as long as they draw away from home.

But this is a layman's view. In fact, the 1:0 victory resulted in a difficult decision in the second round.

"Barcelona ensured its technical and ball-control advantages during the game, so in the first round, Barcelona led 1:0. So in the second round at the Red Rebel Stadium, what tactics will Barcelona adopt to deal with the Red Rebels? Where is the army?"

This is the question that the outside media asked Rijkaard at the press conference. However, as everyone knows, this is also the most troublesome question for Rijkaard. Attack or defend and counterattack?

Rijkaard used a beautiful ball control tactic to defeat the Red Rebels at home, but he could not guarantee that this tactic would still be effective at the Red Rebel Stadium, or even whether the defensive counterattack could be defended. He could hold on and fight back, but Rijkaard didn't know what to do.

Why?

The Red Rebels are too strong, especially the recent Red Rebels, whose momentum is absolutely shocking!

If we fall behind in the away game, the home team should take the initiative, right?

As soon as Rijkaard thought this way, he hesitated with the coaching staff for several days, and finally chose to attack, use Barcelona's own tactics to attack, and have a vigorous offensive battle with the Red Rebels. In this way, as long as Barcelona can score an away goal As long as Barcelona does not lose more than 1 goal, it will advance.

Although Rijkaard does not have much confidence in defense, when it comes to offense, he feels that he may not lose to the Red Rebels.

The midfield and frontcourt composed of Eto'o, Pedro, Hleb, Iniesta and Xavi are definitely one of the best in Europe in offensive ability, and Rijkaard has no doubt about this.

But he made a miscalculation. If he wanted to attack, would the Red Rebels definitely attack?

Mourinho's home tactics were a big surprise. Strictly speaking, they should be the tactics of the first half. Although the people are still the same, Beckham was replaced by Michael Johnson, Drogba was replaced by Villa, but Xiao Ronaldinho, Messi and Kaka all started, and Essien also came on.

The formation is still the original 4231 formation, but the tactics are not the original tactics.

Mourinho's tactics in the first half focused more on pressing in the midfield, blocking the midfield with Michael Johnson and Essien, completely freezing Barcelona's midfield organization and offense, and suppressing the formation of Xavi and Iniesta. of dual core.

It should be said that Mourinho's tactics are very bold, especially at home. He actually gave up offense and chose defensive counterattack. This really surprised Rijkaard, but facts have proved that Mourinho's strategy is to retreat in order to advance. The tactics are correct.

In addition to several consecutive long-range shooting opportunities after the opening, Barcelona was more in a midfield dilemma with the Red Rebels in the first 10 minutes. However, the midfielder played by Xavi and Iniesta , and how can it withstand the rampage of Michael Johnson and Essien?

Kaka took on the important organizational responsibility when he retreated.

Ronaldinho and Messi are always threats on both wings, and Villa's position is very flexible, roaming near Barcelona's defense.

After 10 minutes of stalemate, the Red Rebels gradually took control of the midfield, intercepting, stealing the ball, and counterattacking. The Red Rebels' tactics were very simple and direct, but also very deadly, especially when they frequently used Barcelona's offensive and defensive transitions. Then, while the opponent's defense line was not stable, the Red Rebels counterattacked very sharply and quickly.

In the 13th minute, after Michael Johnson intercepted Xavi's ball in the midfield, he moved it directly to the right and handed it to Messi. The Argentine teenager quickly rushed along the right and used his skillful personal skills to find an opportunity in front of the baseline. , a diagonal pass to the front of the penalty area.

Kaká, who seemed to have a close connection with Messi, had already quietly "inserted" in the back row. Without anyone marking him, he followed up with a knock from the front. The ball got into the goal before Valdes could react. 1:0!

But no one thought that this was just the beginning.

Five minutes later, the Red Rebels made a comeback. At the edge of the penalty area, Kaka made a beautiful through ball. Villa got ahead of Max and hit a banana ball. Valdes was beyond his reach and could only watch helplessly. The Red Rebels won another victory, 2:0!

After scoring two goals in a row, Mourinho was neither arrogant nor impatient. He continued to direct the players on the sidelines to keep the formation compact and continued to strengthen the interception in the midfield. This made Barcelona's counterattack look a bit louder than raindrops. .

In the 26th minute, after a period of counterattack, Barcelona's momentum was a bit weak, but the Red Rebels once again seized this rare opportunity. Villa's long shot from outside the penalty area once again penetrated Balde. The goal guarded by Si, 3:0!

This goal shattered the confidence of the Barcelona players, especially when the whole game was suppressed. They were unable to even start a counterattack. The midfielder could not organize an effective offensive at all. On the other hand, the Red Rebels changed from the past. The characteristics of organizing offenses frequently led to sharp and rapid counterattacks.

Rijkaard wanted to make adjustments, but after being stunned by the Red Rebels at the beginning, it was too late to make adjustments.

In the 38th minute, the Red Rebels scored another victory. Ronaldinho made a sharp breakthrough from the left. Oleg was once again overwhelmed by the Portuguese and could only watch the Portuguese kicking in the penalty area. Low "shoot", another victory for the Red Rebels, 4:0!

In the blink of an eye, in less than half an hour, the Red Rebels completely turned Barcelona's defense upside down, completely defeating the determination of the Barcelona players to counterattack.

The fans of the Red Rebels in the stands were completely crazy. They originally thought they could look forward to a match of comparable strength. Who knew, but what they ushered in was a goal battle, especially when the Red Rebels violently attacked Barcelona. A feast of goals.

Is Barcelona's defense too bad?

Maybe, there are certain factors, but more of it is because the Red Rebels' offensive strength is too strong!

Michael Johnson and Essien focused on interception and pressing. Kaká's retracement took on the team's organizational responsibility. It seemed that the offensive power was declining, but in fact, Barcelona was suppressed in the midfield, and in the frontcourt A simple and effective quick counterattack was launched.

During the halftime break, Rijkaard discovered the team's problems and wanted to make changes. After the start of the second half, he focused on defense, hoping to avoid conceding goals and even have the possibility of reversal.

With a total score of 4:1, as long as Barcelona can score 3 more goals in the second half, they can reverse the Red Rebels and advance.

But just at the beginning of the second half, in the 46th minute, Messi's goal completely shattered Barcelona's good wishes.

After the Argentine teenager cooperated with Maicon on the right, he entered the penalty area, picked the ball over the attacking Valdes, and went directly into the net, expanding the score to 5:0!

By this time, even Rijkaard had completely lost confidence and was in a panic. He even forgot about the substitutions arranged during the halftime break. I'm afraid Black Swan has never encountered such a situation in his career. A miserable failure.

The Barcelona fans in the stands remembered the calls for [Rijkaard to be sacked]. At first, they seemed very sparse, but slowly, the calls became louder and louder, and they were even louder than the Red Rebel fans. The cheers were divided.

Perhaps, there is a group of annoying Red Rebel fans deliberately doing this. They just want to see Barcelona's internal strife, but Rijkaard is helpless, especially when Michael Johnson scored a goal. After a direct free kick, the score expanded to 6:0, and Barcelona collapsed!

No one can come back after losing 6 goals, just like no one has ever been able to defeat the Red Rebels at the Red Rebel Stadium. In this modern stadium, the Red Rebels are gods and omnipotent. god!

Rijkaard was like a quail, hiding on the coaching bench and covering his ears, not daring to hear the shouts of the Barcelona fans in the stands behind him. At this moment, the angry fans They even wanted to take Rijkaard out and tear him into pieces.

I don’t know how many years have passed since Barcelona had suffered such humiliation, but now, they were brutally beaten 6:0 by the Red Rebels in an away game. This is definitely a shameful game that will go down in the history of Barcelona. Rijkaard must be punished for this. Take responsibility.

Sometimes, football fields can be so cruel.

Looking at the Red Rebel players who gradually relaxed their offensive on the field, and looking at the group of Barcelona players who were like walking zombies, Rijkaard felt a little regretful. If he hadn't been confident before the game that his offense was enough to compete with the Red Rebels. If so, maybe he wouldn't have been defeated so completely!

If it hadn't been for his miscalculation before the game that the Red Rebels would definitely play offensive football at home and strive to overtake the game, maybe he wouldn't have made a careless decision to attack the Red Rebels, and there wouldn't have been such a game. A miserable failure.

6:0...Oh, no, it's 7:0!

When Rijkaard was deeply annoyed, Evra showed his strong offensive desire after cutting in from the left wing and hit the goal from the corner on the left side of the penalty area.

Facing the shot from outside the penalty area, Valdes judged the direction, but his body was unable to react and could only watch the ball enter the net.

7:0, Rijkaard firmly believed that this was the darkest day in the history of Barcelona. Especially when he felt the anger of the fans in the stands, he realized clearly that he could no longer continue to play in the game. He will stay as Barcelona head coach.

For proud teams like Barcelona and Real Madrid, one defeat is enough to overturn all the achievements they have made before.

I believe that after experiencing this defeat, the fans will definitely not remember that Rijkaard helped Barcelona snipe Real Madrid's Galacticos, let alone the beautiful offensive that Rijkaard brought to them. Football, they will always remember that Rijkaard lost a clean game 7:0 in a game that all Barcelona fans were unwilling to lose!

As the same head coach, Rijkaard stayed in the coaching bench and did not dare to show his face, while Mourinho stood on the sidelines, bossing around and being unspeakably arrogant, but so what? As a winner, he has such capital.

Sometimes, Rijkaard was unspeakably envious of Mourinho. The latter was in charge of the Red Rebels. Xiao Yu, known as the most successful football club owner in the world, believed in him deeply and the whole family believed in him. Everything in the club revolves around him, which allows him to get everything he wants.

Of course, the premise is based on reasonable circumstances.

On the other hand, Rijkaard, although he has a lot of power in Barcelona, ​​is actually still suppressed everywhere.

Or it should be said that in Barcelona, ​​Rijkaard is just the head coach who stands up to meet people. Not only him, but also Xiao Yu in his previous life and Rijkaard's successor Guardiola, they are all just representatives. , Barcelona’s real head coach is the system behind them, the rigorous system.

As the head coach of Barcelona, ​​you don’t need to be shrewd and discerning in buying people, nor do you need to have extraordinary courage and magnanimity, nor do you need to have superior tactics. You only need to understand, be familiar with, and master Barcelona’s tactics. system, you can do it with ease.

Just like the Red Rebels have developed to this point, even if Mourinho suddenly leaves the club one day, the Red Rebels don't have to worry about having no successors, because someone will soon follow the trend, provided that he must If you are familiar with this tactical system of the Red Rebels and continue to adhere to the tactical concepts of the Red Rebels, you will achieve success!

Thinking of this, Rijkaard suddenly walked out of the coaching bench and walked towards Mourinho not far away.

Although the game is not over yet, Rijkaard knows very well that he has lost, completely.

"Congratulations, Jose!" Rijkaard had never looked at Mourinho like he did today, with no hostility in his eyes.

"Thank you!" Mourinho was also somewhat polite.

He is not the kind of person who doesn't distinguish between right and wrong. On the contrary, he is very smart and knows how to get along with others, so he also knows that there is obviously a deeper reason why Rijkaard chose to say goodbye at this time.

Barcelona will not allow such a failure. At this time, the board of directors must find a scapegoat. As the team's head coach, Rijkaard is undoubtedly the most suitable.

The Dutchman obviously knew what was about to happen to him, so he came over to say goodbye to Mourinho in advance.

The two stood side by side on the sidelines, looking at the court. The players on both sides were not very invested. One side won a big victory and the other suffered a miserable defeat. There was no reason to invest, and the game seemed very boring.

Of course, from the perspective of the last 10 minutes, it was boring, but from the perspective of the whole game, it was exciting, with brilliant tactics, brilliant offense, and brilliant fighting spirit.

"I can't do anything to you, Jose, you win!" Rijkaard seemed to accept the defeat.

"Perhaps, we should say that we will never see each other again, but I have to remind you, Jose, Barcelona's system is very rigorous, and what is missing is just the last piece of the puzzle. I believe that what happened today at the Red Rebel Stadium will sooner or later be solved by someone. Revengeful!"

After finishing speaking, Rijkaard patted Mourinho on the shoulder and turned back to the visiting team's coaching bench.

Above his head, Barcelona fans were doing everything possible to insult Rijkaard. They all blamed the Dutchman for this tragic defeat. This is also the tragedy of a professional head coach!

But Rijkaard stood upright, without moving, silently bearing all this. At this moment, in the eyes of everyone, he was a black swan, a pure man!