The home team was the first to concede a goal. Although it was only one goal, the format of the Champions League's home and away knockout round determined that away goals were as precious as gold. It could also cause a fatal blow to the home team.
After conceding the goal, Ajax did not immediately show the momentum and momentum to equalize the score.
In the top confrontation, Qin Xiong noticed the weakness in Ajax's offensive and defensive system that he thought was perfect.
He could not press forward to attack unscrupulously.
To create opportunities in front of Arsenal's defensive line, there was a necessary condition: the full backs to assist!
Only the full backs to assist and form a front and back coordination on the flank could contain the opponent's defensive line and force the opponent to expand their horizontal defensive area. At the same time, they could add a flank connection point, move horizontally, and create a diversion to the east and attack to the west. This kind of offense could play well.
Under the premise that the full backs must have the conditions to assist, there must be at least five players in the backfield defense!
Three defenders and two midfielders formed a double iron triangle system that was interlocked.
The iron triangle system of two defenders and a defensive midfielder was unshakable in European football. Any successful team must at least have a complete iron triangle system.
Ajax's strength was not as good as Arsenal's. It was unrealistic to rely on a complete iron triangle to defend against the opponent's hurricane-like quick attacks!
Therefore, two overlapping iron triangles were needed, three defenders and two defensive midfielders, to at least ensure that the opponent's passing and cutting cooperation in the dangerous areas were blocked.
In order to prevent the rear defensive line from being penetrated again, Qin Xiong took the initiative to take on the defensive task and formed a barrier in front of the two iron triangles with Galasek.
Because of this, Ajax was unable to create a better offensive opportunity in the final period of the first half.
With a 0: 1 deficit, Ajax and Arsenal walked together to the players' tunnel.
The enthusiasm of the home team fans did not diminish. After conceding the goal, there was a brief moment of shock. But soon, these fans tirelessly continued to cheer for the team.
Back in the locker room, Qin Xiong and his teammates were silent. They did not quarrel or get angry with their teammates.
In fact, they worked very hard.
But reality gave them a setback and blow.
Originally, he thought that he would be unstoppable in the Eredivisie. However, he suffered a severe blow in the Champions League.
Arsenal was very strong. Although he was not strong enough to crush Ajax, he was able to greatly limit Ajax's play through his solid defense.
In particular, the opponent's swift counterattack made Ajax's midfield very uncomfortable. Qin Xiong did not dare to rashly change positions with his frontline teammates. Once the ball was lost in the process of changing positions, then the attacking players in the middle and front field would not be able to return in time to interfere with the opponent's fast attack.
With the lack of variation, Ajax's offensive power suddenly decreased.
They could defeat PSV Eindhoven with three kills after creating a new technical and tactical system.
But PSV Eindhoven was not on the same level as Arsenal.
Such a reality would make Ajax's geniuses feel tremendous pressure and frustration.
But everyone did not lose control of their emotions. They thought in silence and calmly prepared for the second half of the game. To some extent, it meant that they were growing up. From a group of children who only knew how to play with the wind, celebrate with joy when they won, and blame each other and shirk responsibility when they encountered a disadvantageous situation, to mature.
Comain did not return to the locker room immediately.
He pondered alone in the corridor.
The problem that Qin Xiong discovered in the first half was actually discovered when he played against PSV Eindhoven.
The reason why he did not change was that change was always a double-edged sword. When he succeeded, he did not ask for change.
But at this time, he had to make a change.
Otherwise, if Ajax continued to play like this, especially when time was running out in the second half, mentality, pressure, score, and various other factors would affect the players' performance. At that time, the team might collapse under Arsenal's steady counterattack.
As for how to change, he already had an idea when he was thinking before. Whether it was right or not, he did not know. This was all the effort he put into this young defense team. If it was not successful, it either meant that the young team's limit was here, or it meant that his personal coaching ability was mediocre.
He walked back to the locker room and first called Pienaar up. The two of them whispered in the corner of the locker room. No one knew what they were talking about. Pienaar looked solemn and finally nodded with difficulty.
Comain let Pienaar return to his original position, then pulled open the tactical board and rearranged Ajax's formation with the number of each Ajax player.
Everyone looked at each other.
Qin Xiong's position had changed.
He was the attacking midfielder, or it could be said that he was the central midfielder.
Behind Qin Xiong, there were two defensive midfielders, De Rong and Galasek.
Now, everyone could imagine what Comain had said to Pienaar.
In the second half, Pienaar would be replaced by De Rong.
Then, Qin Xiong would be pushed to the front field.
The original five-man attacking team would be reduced by one player to a four-man attacking team.
Even though it was only a change from five to four, in terms of movement and coordination, it meant that the team's offensive brilliance would be greatly reduced.
However, at the same time, the improvement was in the defense!
Even though some of the players were puzzled, the manager was strengthening the defense even though they were falling behind. Was this a sign of weakness or a form of surrender?
But no one questioned Comain's decision.
Changes in football tactics were usually not earth-shattering. Like Ajax's change, in the end, it was just a change in the role of one player on the field. The attacking midfielder became the defensive midfielder, and then the central midfielder remained the same. But from the overall understanding of the offensive and defensive system, this change had a huge impact.
Of course, the players liked the offensive system of five attacking midfielders paired with two full backs shuttling back and forth on the flanks. Playing that way, when they worked together, they could score more goals, and there was even a shadow of an all-out attack and all-out defense.
But that kind of idealistic style of football could crush opponents weaker than them, but it might not be effective against opponents stronger than them. Ideals, in the end, had to obey reality.
If it was said that after the double defeat by AC Milan, Comain's transformation of the team was to restore the mature offensive system of last season and carry out an ideal sublimation.
Then, the current change of weakening the offense and strengthening the defense was to perfect and make up for the shortcomings of this ideal offensive system.
Ajax would completely achieve the balance of their abilities.
As for how far they could go, Comain did not know. But no matter where they went, it meant that they had done their best.
Comain did not make any substitutions before the start of the second half.
He cherished every opportunity. If he made a substitution in the midfield, it would give Arsenal a certain amount of time to adjust their thinking.
He needed to make changes after the game had already started and after both players had entered the rhythm of the game. In this way, Arsenal's players might not be able to adapt immediately.
Just five minutes into the second half, Ajax made a substitution.
De Rong up, Pienaar down!
Many fans in the stands could not understand Comain's substitution.
They knew who De Rong was and what kind of style of play he had. It was clear at a glance that such a substitution was to reduce the offensive firepower.
The score was falling behind. How could he make a substitution like that?
Even Wenger frowned and pondered with his arms crossed on the sidelines. He did not quite understand the purpose of Ajax's change.
Losing less as a win?
He would not give up so early.
He had an ominous feeling in his heart.
In fact, Ajax was awe-inspiring in his home country, but Wenger, who was far away in England, really did not have the time to pay attention to Ajax's performance. Just like how Ferguson sometimes even called the names of his Champions League opponents wrong, Arsenal had to topple the Red Devils' hegemony in their home country and face the rise of London's upstart Chelsea. How could he have the interest to pay attention to the outside world?
But from the media reports, he knew that Ajax was closely watched by many of the big clubs as a talented new star.
When the game started again, he focused mainly on Qin Xiong. Compared to the other players, Qin Xiong was more unfamiliar.
In the first half, Qin Xiong's performance was considered average. Several large-scale transfers made people's eyes light up. He had the excellent qualities of an offensive organizer. But Wenger did not think so.
After De Rong came on, Qin Xiong's defensive duties were relieved by at least 70%. He was liberated and could concentrate more on the offense.
And he began to organize the offense and direct Ajax's offensive direction. But after he repeatedly attacked from the left side, Wenger inwardly judged him as childish.
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