Chapter 528
Words:1833Update:22/06/30 12:14:13
After Arsenal advanced to the Champions League semi-finals, the top four teams of this season's Champions League were announced one after another.
AC Milan from Italy.
Barcelona and Villarreal from Spain.
And Arsenal from England!
Two days later, after the UEFA Europa League game, the Arsenal players gathered together after training to watch the live broadcast of the draw results.
There was no doubt that AC Milan and Barcelona were strong opponents in the top four. Arsenal might also be considered as a soft persimmon in the eyes of these two powerhouses.
But what excited all the Arsenal fans and players was that Arsenal avoided AC Milan and Barcelona and drew a good draw: Villarreal!
After the draw, The Sun immediately published a high-profile report: The Arsenal's road to France has been paved!
This season's Champions League final would be held in France. After Arsenal drew Villarreal, the outside world basically believed that Arsenal would advance to this season's Champions League final!
In the middle of the week, all their thoughts were on the Champions League. Arsenal's players did not suddenly wake up until the weekend: their opponent in the 33rd round was Manchester United!
They were going to visit Old Trafford.
Arsenal came to Old Trafford exhausted this time. Ferguson was very low-key before the game and generously congratulated Arsenal on advancing to the Champions League semi-finals. He said that the Premier League's representative team in the Champions League this season was eliminated early due to poor form or other reasons. Arsenal could represent England to advance to the Champions League semi-finals and win glory for English football.
However, when Arsenal really came to Old Trafford and started the game against Manchester United, Manchester United's attack was simply crazy!
Under the calm and dignified expression of Ferguson, who was standing on the sidelines to supervise the game, was a strong beating heart roaring!
Manchester United entered a new round of reconstruction after David Beckham's era.
Ferguson took one step at a time and patiently nurtured the new generation of Red Devils, from the lowest point of the Premier League last season to the current season's results. Even if the league title had nothing to do with Manchester United, Manchester United's progress could not be ignored.
Ferguson set his sights on the next season, but it did not mean that he would completely relax after qualifying for the Champions League this season.
The experienced and ruthless Ferguson had a clear understanding of the situation. He knew that although Arsenal seemed to be at their peak, they were actually extremely weak, especially in a situation where they were fighting on two fronts. The thin lineup of Arsenal was already strong on the outside but weak on the inside!
Manchester United withdrew from the European competition in the first half of the season. They were eliminated in the group stage and did not even get the chance to play in the UEFA Europa League after finishing third in the group.
In other words, only the FA Cup would distract them in the second half of the season. The main focus would still be the Premier League.
The Red Devils grew rapidly in a relatively relaxed and less stressful environment, especially at the end of the season. Their team's overall physical condition was very good!
Arsenal might have an individual speed advantage, but in terms of overall physical fitness, it was certainly impossible to say that they had a clear advantage over Manchester United or even the BIG4 Group.
Arsenal had more key games in the second half of the season, so their physical consumption was naturally greater. Who would dare to slack off when playing against opponents like Real Madrid and Juventus?
Who would dare to take it lightly and think that victory was in their hands?
Arsenal had just played against Juventus in the middle of the week. Although Juventus was like a trapped beast dying in a cage by controlling the field, they also paid a huge physical price.
In this game, Manchester United, who was on the rise, played extremely unrestrained. They pulled the pace of the game to the limit almost from the beginning of the game. Arsenal's team was shaken to pieces by Manchester United's frenzied rhythm impact. The defensive end was surrounded by danger. It was difficult for the team to cooperate in the attack, which led to the whole game being passive.
Under the majestic gaze of Ferguson, the Red Devils would completely collapse Arsenal's defensive line with an unstoppable momentum!
In the 61st minute of the second half, after Senderos knocked down van Nistelrooy in the penalty area and was whistled for a penalty kick by the referee, Wenger shook his head slightly on the sidelines. He knew that the game's momentum was gone. Qin Xiong and Henry did not play to their speed advantage today. The more they played against Manchester United, the more Manchester United improved in terms of targeted improvement in defense and partial marking of the Qin Xiong -Henry combination.
With the support of their teammates, Qin Xiong and Henry, who were in good condition and had great physical fitness, might be able to put on a plot of one or two people working together to turn the tide.
But today, Qin Xiong had to take the initiative to participate in the defense to relieve the pressure on the rear defense. How could it be so easy to defend and travel thousands of miles alone?
After van Nistelrooy shot the penalty kick into Arsenal's goal, the score became 2: 0.
On the sidelines, Ferguson finally let out a hearty laugh. This laugh seemed to release all the grievances and resentment that had accumulated over the past three years!
The new generation of Red Devils had officially set sail!
The starting point was to defeat the king of England's two consecutive championships, Arsenal!
When the moment came for the end of the game, Arsenal's players, including Qin Xiong, walked silently to the players' tunnel.
They were not that unwilling. The gap between the BIG4 groups was not obvious. Today was an away game and their physical fitness was not as good as their opponents. Arsenal also had to admit that they had not prepared well for the game against Manchester United in the past week!
They were completely immersed in anticipation and surprise. They were looking forward to a good result in the second leg of the Champions League semi-final against Juventus. They were pleasantly surprised that the team lived up to expectations and created a new history.
Even after the Champions League game, they were more concerned about who their semi-final opponent would be. They were eagerly looking forward to standing on the stage of the Champions League final!
Losing to Manchester United was not an accident, nor was it a clear conscience. But it was not the end of the world.
With five rounds left in the league tournament, Chelsea defeated West Ham United 4: 1 at home in the same round and narrowed the point gap with Arsenal to three points.
The defeat at Old Trafford rang an alarm bell for Arsenal. It was like a bucket of cold water poured over their heads.
The league tournament was not over yet!
The championship was not in their hands yet!
Arsenal, who took the initiative to give up the EFL Cup and the FA Cup this season, only went all out in the Premier League and the Champions League. At this stage, no player or manager would choose to take a step back rationally and take the initiative to abandon one battle line to protect another.
And the Premier League and the Champions League could only be protected in the Premier League, not the Champions League!
There were too many accidental factors in the Champions League and it was too unpredictable.
If they had to give up, they could only give up the Champions League and stake it all on the Premier League title.
Arsenal certainly could not make this choice.
It was not easy to create a new history for the club in the Champions League. At the same time, they had already created a great record in the Champions League. After all, there were only two games left in the final. Giving up the Champions League at this time?
There was only one choice left for them: charge to the end in one go!
Was it a success or a failure?
Charge to the end with all their might!
It did not matter if they succeeded or failed!
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