Thank you to "kylz" for the tip!
-----
Putting aside the management aspect of a team, there were two most important components in the field of actual combat. One was the coaching staff, and the other was the players.
There was a saying that a snake could not function without a head, and soldiers without a master would fall into chaos.
The brilliant achievements of any team were inseparable from the contribution of the manager, even if the manager did not receive as much attention as the star players. In other words, if the manager was dispensable, then why would this professional role exist for so long in the football world?
There must be a reason for its existence.
In a competitive confrontation in a game, there were generally two parts.
In the battle between the managers, most of the players on the field also carried out the manager's tactical arrangements to fulfill the manager's means of achieving the game's goals.
In this Champions League game, Comain's opponent was Ancelotti!
In a sense, the 22 players on the field were chess pieces in the manager's hands.
In the overall situation of the technical and tactical confrontation, the two managers were the ones who gave the orders and decided how to play the game.
Comain's idea for the game was to avoid the sharp edge in the opening stage and let Sikora do his best to harass AC Milan on the right flank to exhaust them!
Strategically, it was to exhaust them. Tactically, it was also a kind of diversion. After Qin Xiong came on, Qin Xiong would direct the attack back to the middle. At that time, there would be no probing and harassment. It would be a decisive battle to the death!
However, Ajax did not realize Comain's strategic idea for the game from the start!
That was because AC Milan made the first move!
It even made Qin Xiong suspect that AC Milan had planted a spy in Ajax's locker room when he witnessed the development of the game!
AC Milan's starting point was Kaladze, who did not play in the previous game!
He happened to be opposite Sikora!
Sikora was the right winger, and Kaladze was the left back.
Without waiting for Sikora to attack Kaladze, Kaladze first shuttled up and down the left flank repeatedly under the support of AC Milan's strong midfield control!
The reason why Comain wanted to make use of Xikora was very simple. In the previous match, Maldini did not contribute much to the offense on the flank. That was because it was very difficult for Maldini to complete the task of shuttling up and down as a full-back. In view of this, Xikora had the task of wearing down the opponent in this match.
However, when Kaladze charged forward as a full-back, Ajax's defensive system was clearly flustered!
A single defensive midfielder might not be able to defend against that handsome Brazilian, Kaka!
Hence, Ajax had to play as both defensive midfielders. Even so, behind Kaka were Pirlo and Siddarth, both of whom could rush to the penalty area at any time.
Derong and Galasek did not dare to rashly go to support the flanks. Otherwise, the middle would be penetrated.
But Grigra had to defend Kaladze by himself. Could he do it?
Perhaps, but it was definitely not a hundred percent success rate!
Sikora had to return to defend!
His initiative was all on returning to defend. How could he wear down AC Milan?
Comain did not expect that AC Milan, who displayed a lukewarm attitude in San Siro, would actually come to the Amsterdam Athletic Stadium. At the start of the match, they immediately turned the tables!
He did not want to admit it, but the reality was so cruel.
Just based on the situation at the start of the match, he, Ronald Comain, had lost to Carlo Ancelotti!
Hence, Ancelotti was the coach of the Champions League champion, and he was actually nothing.
Qin Xiong was also very shocked.
In the previous match, AC Milan's defensive line was very stable. Maldini taught Xikora a lesson and made him do nothing, making him look like a confused and wronged child.
As such, Comain's strategic concept was based on the basis that Maldini would not take on more offensive tasks as a full-back!
However, AC Milan took the initiative to make changes in a position that did not have any problems or hidden dangers!
This might be the wisdom of Ancelotti, who looked like a good person, in using troops.
And with this hand of cards, Ajax's strategic concept for this match could be declared completely collapsed. All of his plans could be thrown into the trash can!
Xikora went to the match with a mission, but he could only passively chase after Kaladze and participate in the defense. This made him fall into a state of confusion from the start of the match. Moreover, he was burning with anxiety!
He could not play his role, so Ajax had to change!
What was rare was that only ten minutes into the match, Comain asked Qin Xiong to warm up!
Qin Xiong did not say anything. He put on the special training shirt for the Champions League match and began to warm up on the sidelines.
On the field, AC Milan's tactic of making use of Kaladze's breakthrough on the left flank was effective, and they were gradually getting better.
Within five minutes of Qin Xiong warming up, AC Milan made two threatening shots from Tomasson and Kaka!
They were all created from Kaladze's side.
This forced Ajax to tilt the focus of his defense to the right flank.
Qin Xiong finished warming up and returned to manager Comain's side to listen to Comain's tactical arrangements.
One wrong step led to many wrong steps!
Qin Xiong was originally going to be a surprise attack. Now, Comain had arranged for him to go up and put out the fire!
He had to stabilize Ajax!
Van Der Vaart's enthusiasm for defense was worlds apart from Qin Xiong's. Van Der Vaart was playing as an attacking midfielder. If he could not interfere and block Pirlo or Seedorf's insertion from the back, he would not be able to free up the two defensive midfielders, Galasek and Derong, to assist in the defense of the flanks. This was a chain reaction that was interlinked!
If Sikora could not play his tactical role on the field, then there was no need for him to stay on the field!
As a right winger, his main task was definitely not to fill in the defense.
Qin Xiong's mind worked very quickly. He could instantly understand the intention of Comain's tactical change.
He went up and took over Van Der Vaart's position to strengthen the defense in the middle and free up the two defensive midfielders. At least Derong or Galasek could assist in the defense of the flanks. Then, Van Der Vaart would play as the right winger or the left winger, and Snede would switch over. This way, Ajax could re-stabilize the offensive and defensive system.
Just as Qin Xiong nodded on the sidelines to accept the order, there was a sudden change on the field!
Kaladze once again rushed to the front line, but this time, he did not break through from the bottom, cut inside, or pass from the flanks. Instead, he directly passed the ball back to the reverse triangle position in front of the penalty area.
Seedorf received it there and accurately rolled the ball diagonally to the right half of the field.
Pirlo pressed forward in front of the penalty area. After stopping the ball, he nimbly stuffed his foot straight out!
The football rolled past Galasek, penetrated his defensive zone, and rolled into the penalty area close to Eskuder's side. Andriy Shevchenko cut into the penalty area, did not stop the ball, and directly diagonally to the goal to shoot at the near corner of the goal!
Although Lobonte had done his best to block the near corner of the goal, he was still too slow. The football rolled into the goal against the inside of the goal post!
Comain was stunned!
The diversion tactic that was supposed to be used by Jax was instead used by AC Milan to take the lead and create an effect!
Kaladze's attack at the beginning of the game was just a feint!
The real killer move was still the sudden shift to the other half of the field and the threatening offensive from Pirlo's last pass!
Andriy Shevchenko was valiantly celebrating in the stadium. Ancelotti showed a kind smile, as if he had not been nervous or worried since the first minute he came here.
The Amsterdam Athletic Stadium was dead silent. The Ajax fans were hesitant, helpless, and desperate!
At least Ajax's performance since the beginning of the game did not give the fans any confidence!
The score was behind!
At this time, Comain insisted on substituting. Although Qin Xiong thought that Comain was decisive enough, the timing seemed to be a minute or two off!
In a football game, if a player did not leave the field due to injury, it was almost impossible to be substituted in the first half!
However, Comain asked Qin Xiong to warm up, which meant that he would definitely make a substitution in the first half, which required courage and decisiveness.
Now, the game had only been played for 20 minutes, and he made a substitution. How heavy would the blow to Sikora's confidence be?
Comain could not care so much anymore. If they lost this game, Ajax could almost announce their elimination from the Champions League!
Even if there was still hope, their fate would not be completely in their own hands.
Under the worried gazes of Ajax's people, Qin Xiong stood on the sidelines. Sikora lowered his head. He was thin and weak, and looked a little wronged at this moment.
He might not have done anything wrong, but he was going to be "humiliatingly" substituted in the first 20 minutes of the game!
Qin Xiong could not give him any help. He could only use his arms to give him a strong hug. Then, he ran into the field with a determined look in his eyes.
Perhaps Qin Xiong himself did not realize that the moment he stepped into the field, in the distant east, in the land of China, there were countless Chinese fans cheering for him. They were proud of him, and their blood was boiling for him!
It was a historic moment!
In the history of the Champions League, the first China player to step on this stage!
And his first appearance was against the strongest team of the era!
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
