Red Rebels

8o 5 minutes

The Camp Nou stadium, which has always been intimidating to its enemies, actually had a moment of betrayal.

In the stoppage time of the first half, when Messi passed Puyol and Piqué outside the penalty area, he knocked down the attacking Valdes in the penalty area, and then pushed the shot into the empty goal. There was sparse applause in the stands of the General Stadium. This was obviously a reward for the outstanding performance of the Red Rebels by a small number of Barcelona fans.

But more Barcelona fans are booing in response, but this time the situation is different from the past. They are not booing the Red Rebels playing away games, but the home team they have always loved, Barcelona.

The stands have been pulled out

Banners like this, the boos just added fuel to the fire, and the Barcelona fans applauded the Red Rebel players for their outstanding performance. This is a great irony for Barcelona, ​​which proves the Barcelona fans' dissatisfaction with the team's incompetence.

At least what they would rather see is a wonderful attack, rather than a shrinking defense, but they were poured into three consecutive goals by their opponents, and Busquets was a player they once thought would be the team's next few goals. The core player of the year, after losing the skill of being the best actor, he immediately became extremely clumsy.

Especially in front of Michael Johnson, who competes in the same field, he is almost useless

Xavi is Barcelona's most stable player in the game, but when his teammates are separated by the Red Rebels players one by one, when Barcelona's tactical territory is divided into small areas that cannot be connected by the Red Rebels , Harvey's role was reduced to the minimum, and his excellent organization and passing abilities were completely disintegrated.

Guardiola is sitting in the home team's coaching bench. He obviously doesn't want people to see his expression at this moment, but everyone can guess that his face must be ugly, very, very ugly.

In this game, he still chose to reuse direct descendants of Barcelona, ​​but the group of players he trusted obviously did not bring him enough returns. At least when facing the Red Rebels, this group of Barcelona players had almost no Can organize an effective defensive system and allow the Red Rebel players to gallop in the hinterland of Barcelona.

After a few minutes of testing after the opening, Ronaldinho scored the first goal for the Red Rebels, breaking the deadlock on the field.

After that, the game completely turned into Messi's performance time. This Argentine superstar, who has shown very good form this season, showed an unparalleled performance in this game, in the first and 47th minutes respectively. , scored twice for the Red Rebels.

Especially for the second goal, he passed three Barcelona players in a row and then pushed the shot into the empty goal.

This goal can be called the most exciting goal in the Champions League this season, which fully reflects Messi's outstanding personal ability.

There are still more than a minute of stoppage time left, but Guardiola has begun to feel that it is too long. The players on the Barcelona stadium even find it difficult to move, as if they are coming from the applause and anger caused by the defection of the fans in the stands. The boos that broke out were like heavy boulders, pressing down on each of them.

Puyol, Piqué, Busquets, Pedro, Bojan...all of them bear the status of direct descendants of Barcelona. Each of them was once proud to come from La Masia, but now, this status has made them It feels extremely heavy.

They once hoped to prove that Barcelona's strength did not just come from their showmanship and acting skills on the court. They also hoped to be able to defeat their opponents openly and using Barcelona's system and tactics. However, in the end, Barcelona failed to win in many consecutive rounds. Even teams like Rubin Kazan couldn't beat them.

It's not just the Barcelona fans who are quitting, but the players themselves feel depressed and find it difficult to accept.

But they don't have the ability to change all this

At least that's the case in this game

"The Red Rebels are indeed too strong," Guardiola had to admit.

Standing next to him is another assistant coach who was recently promoted from the second team. Villanova is currently under a fair play investigation by UEFA. They suspect that Villanova has made mistakes before and during the game. He is suspected of directing players to play games in non-competitive ways. If convicted, he may even be banned for life.

Guardiola's current reputation is also very bad, because he can't prove at all that he, the head coach, would have no knowledge of what Villanova did. The reason why he is fine is because Barcelona cannot afford such a result.

"The psychological quality of the players is too bad. At least when facing the Red Rebels, they all lost the opportunity to win the game early. If they continue to stay on the court, the Red Rebels' goals will only get worse. The more you come, the easier it gets.”

Guardiola took a deep look at his assistant coach. He was also a player directly from Barcelona. After retiring, he began to work as a coach. At this time, the club promoted him to the first team to replace Villanova. The purpose of serving as Guardiola's assistant is to hope that he can take charge of the first team and maintain stability when Guardiola is dismissed.

There is also a deeply hidden purpose, which Guardiola can vaguely guess, and that is surveillance.

At this moment, Barcelona really can't make even the slightest mistake again.

"Then substitute them all," Guardiola said suddenly.

At this time, even the assistant coach was a little stunned and looked at Guardiola in disbelief. The latter suddenly stood up as if he had made a huge decision, stared at his new assistant, and spoke word by word. explain.

"Replace all the people who performed poorly and replace them with Abidal, Zygrinski and Keita."

"But they are suffering an internal ban from the club..."

The assistant coach had just finished speaking, but Guardiola suddenly interrupted him, "Internal ban? I just know that our field was completely out of balance in this game, and the young players from the youth training camp simply cannot bear this task. , our left flank was completely sieved by the Red Rebels’ right flank.”

After a pause, Guardiola walked out of the coaching bench and pointed to the court, "If we can't fill these two major holes, we will only lose more goals, and we must make changes."

"Besides..." Guardiola turned around and stared at his assistant with a pair of electric eyes, "They all have convincing strength. If the team is eliminated from the Champions League due to their absence..."

Guardiola didn't say any more, but everyone knew which one was more important between the two.

The assistant coach is not a hesitant person, otherwise, Laporta would not be able to promote him to the first team. He just thought for a moment and immediately nodded in agreement, but said: "Since you have decided, then I I can only support it”

In a simple sentence, he has completely shied away his responsibilities.

This is the administrative style of Barcelona. In this membership-based club with no operating pressure, everyone just holds a mentality of not seeking merit, but seeking no faults. Guardiola was also like this, but Now that he feels that his time in Barcelona is numbered, he lets go.

…………

…………

When Busquets and Piqué heard that they had been substituted, they were both stunned.

"Replace us?" They couldn't believe their ears.

But when they saw the affirmative look in the assistant coach's eyes, they immediately understood that this was an unchangeable fact.

Just because of their tragic performance in the first half, they could take a shower in the locker room during the break, change into drier clothes, survive the second half, and wait for the game to end.

They will become the scapegoat for this game, absolutely, and they will be drowned in the saliva of the fans.

But they didn't have any ability to refute, because their performance in the first half was really poor, especially defensively. Piqué and Busquets almost became Barcelona's worst players in the game. Another player came from youth. The left back was promoted in the training camp, but his performance can only be described as extremely poor.

"He must be crazy," complained Piqua.

The two walked into the player tunnel and opened the door to the locker room. Abidal, Keita and others were now there. Guardiola was obviously thinking about the problem. Everyone looked up at the two of them. Make them feel ashamed.

They are all second-generation Barcelona officials and direct descendants of Barcelona. They always think that they should have some privileges in the team, but they have never been replaced without any injuries or diseases like today.

This made both of them a little annoyed. When Busquets walked into the locker room, he slammed the door to the locker room.

With a clang, everyone in the locker room was startled. Everyone looked up at Busquets, who walked directly to the shower area and didn't care about his actions.

"Stop!" Just as he walked past Guardiola, the Barcelona coach suddenly shouted coldly.

Busquets paused for a moment, but immediately moved on.

"I told you to stop. Are you deaf or didn't you hear me?" Guardiola suddenly went crazy. He rushed forward, grabbed Busquets' back collar, and unexpectedly pulled him away. He fell to the ground.

"Don't you know that it is forbidden to make noise in the locker room, which will affect the rest of the teammates? Do you really think that all the rules I have set before are turned a deaf ear?"

Busquets was stunned for a moment. He was just a little tempered by a second-generation official. He had never thought of infringing on Guardiola's authority. However, he never thought that Guardiola, who usually seemed to have a good personality, would now At this moment, he suddenly surged, as if he was going to attack him.

When Guardiola saw that he had frightened Busquets, he immediately shook off the collar of Busquets' back with all his strength. He felt mixed emotions in his heart. He had saved some self-esteem for his prestige, but also had a crush on Busquets. Ci's character is disappointed.

How can such a player be asked to shoulder the team's burden in key games?

How can a player like this be able to achieve anything if they feel scared when they encounter a fierce opponent; they choose to run away when they encounter difficulties; they start to retreat when they encounter an enemy that is stronger than themselves.

He slowly stood up straight, walked to the front of the locker room, slowly scanned each player, and then asked: "Can any of you tell me how we should play in the second half?"

The players were stunned. It was obvious that they had never experienced anything like this before.

I didn't know it before, but since Guardiola took charge of Barcelona, ​​this shrewd and capable head coach has been resolute and resolute. He has taken care of everything about the team. Even the transfer market, which has always been difficult for head coaches to interfere, he They have all received a lot of power, which has a lot to do with the historical achievements he has made at Barcelona.

But now, he actually asked the players how they want to play in the second half, which is absolutely surprising.

Everyone, including Abidal, looked at each other. Could it be that Guardiola has lost control? Or, is he testing something?

Seeing that none of the players spoke, Guardiola suddenly sneered and shook his head, with an extremely disappointed expression as if his team had suffered an unprecedented defeat.

"At this moment, I suddenly understood why Mourinho, the coach of the Red Rebels with a big mouth, would say that there is a huge difference between today's Barcelona and the Barcelona he knew. I really can’t think of any reason to refute what he said, even though I don’t want to admit it.”

"However, a team that doesn't even have players who can express their own tactical ideas and opinions on the trend of the game, I don't think this is a top giant, and I am very sure that this team will definitely be good. There is a problem, either the player has a problem or the club has a problem."

"I also suddenly thought that maybe when I get rid of this burden, I can change my career. I will think about a question carefully, why, or should I ask, when did it start, and for what reason, did that happen? The Barcelona I knew suddenly turned into a cowardly team that bullies the weak and fears the strong?"

Guardiola was not harsh, nor was his tone angry, just a little cold. But the more he was like this, the more people felt his frustration and the frustration deep in his heart.

When he turned around and saw Abidal by the door, he admired the French full-back very much. He had a very high level, and he would even be a master on the left. However, he touched When Evra came out of the Red Rebels, his position in the French national team was suppressed.

"Eric, didn't you always show off before that when you were in the Red Rebels, you were all proud to express your opinions in the locker room? Didn't you all use quarrels and debates as a means to promote communication and tacit understanding? Why can't you see it now? ? Is it because you have been away from the Red Rebel Army for a long time? "

A trace of embarrassment flashed across Abidal's dark face. He did often show off his time in the Red Rebels to others, but now that he heard Guardiola's doubts, the usually shy Abidal suddenly spoke up.

"No, it's just that I'm worried that saying it will make you a little unhappy."

Guardiola smiled, nodded and said: "Then you say it, and I will listen. I promise that I will never pursue anything for this. No matter what you say, even if you insult me ​​in person, there will be no problem."

After hearing this, Abidal gained a little more confidence and nodded: "I think we seriously lack self-confidence. I don't know how strong the Red Rebels are, but I know very well that we have the best position in the world at every position." The most outstanding group of players, we have a tactical system that has lasted for several years, and we should definitely play our own style."

"But in the competition, we are more playing some small tricks, and even using some non-competitive methods to achieve the purpose of the competition, but that is just a little cleverness. Now that we are being targeted, we have nothing to do."

"When I joined Barcelona, ​​my professional ethics prompted me to give my best game to Barcelona, ​​so I will fight to the last breath for Barcelona's victory, but it does not include playing tricks. I hope to be able to use football to ways to face all opponents and challenge all difficulties, including the Red Rebels."

After Guardiola heard this, he kept nodding, but he was noncommittal and asked everyone, "Is there anyone else who wants to say something?"

This time Villa suddenly stood up and said, "Let me tell you."

Guardiola nodded and Villa continued to speak.

"I think some players in our team have serious xenophobia. This is not the temperament and demeanor that a wealthy team should have. Nowadays, football is more and more about communication and eclecticism. xenophobia will only make us stagnate. .”

"I also think that everyone, including captain Puyol, including Piqué and Busquets, should apologize to players such as Abidal, Keita and Zyglinski for what they did before. This is the only way , it is possible for us to see a united Barcelona."

Villa's words were recognized by several players present, including Abidal and Keita. They are not the kind of little men who hold grudges. They have just been racially discriminated against before. But as long as Piqué, Puyol and others apologize, They can put their past grievances aside for now.

However, many players are currently making transfers. I believe they are unlikely to stay in Barcelona, ​​but at least before the winter break, they will still fight for Barcelona. This is their profession. Morality.

With Abidal and Villa starting, the players in the locker room started to speak one after another, and they talked eloquently, and eventually it even began to evolve into discussions and even debates among themselves.

The full five-minute break passed quickly, but when Guardiola led the Barcelona players out of the locker room door and prepared to participate in the second half of the game, each of them looked like they were still unfinished.

No one knows exactly what they talked about in these five minutes, how much they talked about, and how in-depth they talked, but it is obvious that when they walked out of the locker room, they all had a look of displeasure on their faces. Fighting until the last minute, their determination not to give up, and the relief on their faces as the burden was lifted off their shoulders.

And when Guardiola walked out of the player tunnel and happened to pass by Mourinho, the Spanish coach whose position as Barcelona coach was in jeopardy smiled at Mourinho with a confident and proud face.

"The game has just begun, Jose."