While Li Ang was studying Manchester United, the Manchester United manager, Alex Ferguson, was also studying their opponents in the game.
Manchester United had successfully defended their title in the English Premier League and successfully reached the final of the Champions League. This Manchester United team was also frequently compared to the 1999 treble-winning stadium. The English media also sang praises for Manchester United, believing that the Red Devils led by Ferguson could defeat the Nerazzurri and return to the top of Europe.
In order to cheer the team up, the English media even released a statement that Europe owed England a UEFA European Championship (England was eliminated in the 2008 UEFA European Championship qualifiers and did not make it to the finals of the UEFA European Championship). Therefore, in the Champions League, Manchester United was bound to win.
This statement was really far-fetched. The England team did not make it to the UEFA European Championship because they were not strong enough. When did it become that Europe owed England a UEFA European Championship? However, the English people nowadays liked to hear such statements. They certainly did not think that the England team did not make it to the UEFA European Championship because of a lack of strength. Manchester United and Chelsea both made it to the UEFA Champions League semi-finals. There were two Premier League teams in the semi-finals. Manchester United made it to the Champions League final. This was evidence of the strength of the Premier League and the strength of English football.
The English media deliberately created an optimistic atmosphere that Manchester United was bound to win the title, but Ferguson did not feel that there was anything to be optimistic about in this game. As a manager who had experienced hundreds of battles. He had seen all kinds of opponents, played in countless finals, and won countless championship honors. However, even someone as experienced as Ferguson had to admit that the Inter Milan team he was about to face in the final was an extremely difficult opponent.
Inter Milan had a strong center forward like Adriano and a practical striker like Diego Milito on the front line. The Argentine striker was famous for his big plays. In addition, there were talented strikers like Agüero and Cassano.
In the midfield, Inter Milan was even more powerful. The Croatian star player, Modric, had grown into a top midfield star under Li Ang's guidance. Juan, Mata, and Arshavin were on the two sides respectively, and their attacking power was tyrannical. In addition, Juan Carlos, the defensive midfielder who covered all areas, was a tough barrier that any team that wanted to break through Inter Milan's goal had to face.
In the rear defensive line, the combination of Samuels and Chivu could be said to be well-tested. The left-back, Evra, was also known as the best left-back in the current football world. In the right-back position, there was the experienced veteran, Zanetti, and the powerful Mai Kong.
The Brazilian goalkeeper, César, was also considered to be one of the best goalkeepers in the current football world.
It could be said that this Inter Milan team was extremely powerful, and they had a tacit understanding after three seasons under Li Ang's guidance. This was a very mature team.
In the past, Inter Milan often gave people the feeling that they were soft-footed in big competitions and did not have a strong mentality. However, the current Inter Milan could be said to be the best team in Europe at playing in the finals. This was a team that already had the heart of a champion.
Of course, the one that Ferguson feared the most was the young manager of Inter Milan. He was a cunning little fox.
*****
Ferguson was in a meeting with his coaching staff.
As the game approached, Ferguson found that he could not predict the tactics that Li Ang might adopt.
Previously, when Inter Milan faced Arsenal and Liverpool, it could be said that they had completely used their powerful attacking ability to beat Wenger and Benítez's teams until they could not find their bearings. Arsenal and Liverpool were completely stunned and eventually suffered a crushing defeat.
Judging from the games between Inter Milan, Arsenal, and Liverpool, Li Ang might continue to hold the banner of offense high and give full play to Inter Milan's attacking ability to go head-to-head with Manchester United.
If that was the case, Manchester United needed to be wary of Inter Milan's strong attacks in the opening stages. As long as they did not concede the ball and endured the onslaught, Manchester United was fully capable of going up against Inter Milan. Ferguson still had a certain amount of confidence in his team. The most important thing was to withstand the pressure in the opening stages.
But …
"What if Inter Milan adopts a defensive counterattack strategy in the final?" Assistant Manager Mike Whelan said.
Ferguson frowned. They had to guard against that.
Li Ang's team was known for its gorgeous offense. His "LiveOn" strategy had long been famous and was the focus of the opponent's research. However, there was one point that Ferguson had to pay attention to. Li Ang's team was actually very good at playing defensive counterattack. In fact, when Li Ang started out at Sporting de Gijón, he was known for his defensive counterattack. Real Madrid and Barcelona were tortured to death by Li Ang's defensive counterattack tactics.
In such an important game like the Champions League, what if Li Ang was more conservative and adopted a defensive counterattack strategy?!
In that case, how should Manchester United respond? Should they attack from the start? Or should they focus on defense?
If they focus on defense, then what if Li Ang seized the initiative in the game?!
Ferguson had a headache. Generally speaking, a team had a clear tactical brand and had a pattern to look for. However, Li Ang was a cunning little fox that was impossible to guard against.
"The finals this time will be very difficult. Our opponents are very tenacious and cunning. Li Ang may adopt an offensive posture, or may adopt a conservative playing style. They are very good at these two sets of tactics. Now, what about us? We have two choices. First, we attack from the start of the game and try to score as soon as possible to force them to press out and attack us. That way, we will have more chances. However, we also have to guard against Inter Milan's strong attack from the start of the game. In that case, if we attack from the start of the game, such a game will be very intense and there will be more accidents. We have to guard against one point, which is that when we attack, Inter Milan scores first, and then they wretchedly defend and counterattack us. "
After Ferguson finished speaking, he looked at his assistants who were deep in thought. He stretched out two fingers. "Second, we shrink back from the start of the game and focus on defense to avoid losing the ball first. In this case, if Inter Milan attacks, it's not a big deal. We just have to stabilize our defense and hit their counterattack. Of course, this will also sacrifice our offensive initiative. However, if Inter Milan also focuses on defense, then the game will be very anxious and dull. In that case, the game may be dragged by them to a penalty shootout, and in the end, we can only gamble on our luck."
"Which one do you choose?" Ferguson paused again and asked.
*****
At the same time, in the hotel where Inter Milan was staying, Li Ang was in a meeting with the coaching staff in his room.
"Attack. Give play to our offensive energy. The latter is to focus on defense and hit Manchester United's counterattack." Li Ang raised two fingers and looked around at his assistants. "Which one do you choose?"
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