Li Ang walked to the substitutes' bench. The players on the substitutes' bench looked at the manager with expectant eyes.
Li Ang's gaze finally stopped on the veteran, Michael Pihra.
"Michael Pihra! Go and warm up! "
Hearing this, the veteran suddenly stood up. Without saying another word, he put on a yellow singlet and ran to warm up.
Michael Pihra's biggest problem now was the lack of physical reserves. Because he had been exiled by the former manager, Lacidera, he had not been able to participate in the pre-match training. Without systematic training, his physical reserves could not meet the requirements to play a full game.
However, as a veteran favored by Li Ang, the "distinctive" Michael Pihra was of great use as a substitute player.
"Michael Pihra has gone to warm up. Are you going to send him on?" Dagestino noticed the situation on the sidelines.
As a grassroots hero of Sporting Gijón and a veteran player who had been "rejuvenated" by Li Ang, Michael Pihra was now a little famous in the entire Spanish football world.
The Real Zaragoza manager, Victor Fernandez, also noticed that Li Ang had asked Michael Pihra to warm up.
In such a passive situation, Sporting de Gijón still wanted to send a striker?
Fernandez snorted coldly. Courting death!
He was quite unhappy that his team had fallen behind Sporting de Gijón. At this time, Li Ang's action of asking Michael Pihra to warm up made Fernandez even more unhappy.
Was this Chinese man blinded by the temporary victory? He actually wanted to change to a striker? He really did not put my Real Zaragoza in his eyes. We are Real Zaragoza, a team that can go head-to-head with Real Madrid and Barça. What right do you have to be arrogant as a Segunda División team?
Fernandez, who felt offended, was unusually angry. He constantly roared and shouted on the sidelines, demanding the team to continue to strengthen their offense! They had to score, score, equalize the score, and then continue to score. They absolutely could not lose to Sporting de Gijón!
For a moment, Sporting de Gijón's goal seemed to be in even more danger. Villa continuously got a chance to shoot. If not for the fact that the entire Sporting de Gijón team was united, and that Villa's shooting today seemed to be a little off, they would have already conceded a goal.
*****
Assistant Manager Scott watched the scene with trepidation. He came over and asked Li Ang, "Do you want to bring in a defensive midfielder?"
Obviously, Scott Trey didn't think it was a good idea to bring in McGuire. This was the time to strengthen the defense, not the offense. For Sporting de Gijón, who were playing as an away team, it would be a pretty good result if they could hold on to this score.
Li Ang shook his head. "Jesús, we won't be able to hold on!"
Li Ang could clearly see that with Sporting de Gijón's strength and Zaragoza's powerful offensive ability, it would be very difficult to hold on to this score and not concede a goal until the end of the game if they let their opponents bombard them indiscriminately.
Behind Zaragoza's crazy attacks, there would be gaps in their defensive line. At this time, if they could counterattack and score another goal, it would be perfect. Even if Zaragoza scored, it would be acceptable.
After Mata Bilic was brought off, Sporting de Gijón did not have a high vantage point in the front field. At this time, Sporting de Gijón's counterattack relied more on the speed of Mata and Largo. Now, Zaragoza was obviously prepared for this. If they couldn't stop them, they would decisively commit a foul. Under these circumstances, without a high vantage point on the field, Sporting de Gijón could not use the opportunity of a set piece to threaten their opponents.
Sending in McGuire Pihra was a deterrent to Zaragoza. When Mata or Largo broke through again, if the opponent continued to use tactical foul tactics, then the set piece would be an opportunity for Sporting de Gijón. If the opponent was afraid of McGuire's header ability and refrained from shooting, then the speed advantage of Mata or Largo could be released again.
Therefore, Li Ang decided to send in McGuire Pihra. This was a tactical deterrent! It could directly affect the game.
Three minutes later, McGuire Pihra, who had finished his warm-up, returned to Li Ang's side.
"McGuire, use your header to threaten the opponent!"
"Let Mata and Largo be more determined to break through!" Li Ang instructed.
The veteran McGuire nodded to show that he understood. He was clear about his position in the team and his role.
He took a deep breath. The veteran's chest was also filled with pride and expectation. The opponent was a La Liga team, the La Liga team that had eliminated Barcelona, and a strong opponent that had just forced Real Madrid to a draw in an away game in the league! Thinking that he was lucky to play against such an opponent, the former amateur player's fighting spirit was high!
After wasting his life, he had the opportunity to be invincible at the end of his career. This was his fortune!
In the 79th minute of the game, there was a dead ball on the field. Sporting de Gijón requested a substitution.
The team's right midfielder, Samoel, was replaced by the veteran McGuire Pihra.
*****
Víctor Fernández thought that Li Ang would replace one of the strikers with another, which was a basic substitution.
However, when he saw Li Ang replace a midfielder with the veteran McGuire Pihra, his lungs were about to explode. Was the opponent going to play a three-striker formation? So arrogant?!
The commentators, Dagestino and González, were also discussing the substitution.
"Samuels has been replaced by McGuire Pihra. Sporting de Gijón has three attackers on the field. Isn't this a little too arrogant? They are facing Zaragoza. They don't have the capital to be arrogant, "González said.
"McGuire will definitely appear in the center forward position when he comes on. Then, will the positions of Largo and Mata be adjusted?" Dagestino hit the nail on the head. He did not think that Li Ang would be so arrogant to play a three-striker formation against Zaragoza's offense. This was courting death.
Sure enough, after McGuire Pihra came on, he saw the veteran say something to Juan Mata in the front line. Then, Juan Mata retreated to the midfield.
"Juan Mata retreated to the midfield and played as the right midfielder," González said. "However, Sporting de Gijón's substitution is very bold."
It was indeed bold. Mata's main ability was reflected in offense. His defensive ability was not as good as Samuels's. In this case, under the circumstances of being surrounded by opponents, this adjustment could be said to be quite bold.
González thought that Li Ang's adjustment was bold, but Fernandez thought that Li Ang was arrogant!
Even though Mata's position was retreated, Sporting de Gijón was not playing a three-striker. However, in Fernandez's eyes, this was no different from playing a three-striker. Everyone knew that Mata was an attacker.
Therefore, in Fernandez's eyes, the opponent had been provoked by the temporary lead and still wanted to attack. This made him extremely angry and angry!
Especially when he thought of his confidence in the pre-match press conference, Fernandez felt that the opponent was deliberately slapping him in the face.
Bastard!
*****
Mata retreated to the midfield. This little guy who had fought for 80 minutes was now a little tired, but his fighting spirit was high.
That was because McGuire Pihra had conveyed the boss's tactical instructions to him. The boss's orders to Mata were: Have fun!
That's right, have fun!
Although Mata's position was retreated to the midfield, he did not need to take on the defensive role. Li Ang let Mata gallop to his heart's content, dribble the ball to break through when there was an opportunity, and use speed and technique to turn Zaragoza's defensive line upside down!
This order made the little guy happy, and he also felt the boss's trust. He was full of fighting spirit.
Young players' states were unstable and their psychological qualities were not strong enough. These were their shortcomings. But they also had advantages at the same time. They were easy to be motivated, easy to break out of their state, and dared to show themselves. Sometimes, their outstanding individual ability could often change the direction of the game and even determine the final result.
Li Ang was now maximizing the stimulation of Mata, letting him put pressure on Zaragoza in the offensive end. Compared to the substitute Largo, Mata was more comprehensive. Mata's footwork was much better than Largo's. Mata had speed and excellent individual skills, plus a fearless heart. Li Ang believed that this little guy, whom he trusted, would bring surprises.
In fact, it was precisely so. Zaragoza's players did not have it easy when defending. When Zaragoza's players were one-on-one with him, they could not successfully defend against him. Unless you had two or even three people at the same time, it was possible to cut off the ball at his feet. Mata, who appeared in the right midfield position, began to have fun. He constantly dribbled the ball to tear apart Zaragoza's defensive line, and was even able to contain a few opponents, constantly threatening the opponent's rear defensive line.
Of course, Mata was able to have fun so wantonly. This was also inseparable from the efforts of Marcos and Juan Carlos behind him. With these two people, one ran all over the field to snatch and sweep, and the other firmly held the middle. This was the greatest barrier to contain Zaragoza's offensive!
On the other hand, on Zaragoza's side, they also had a good breakthrough player, Kani, on the midfield flank. However, Kani's role could not be fully utilized. This was because Kani was entangled with Carlos! After Savio was injured and left the field, Zaragoza's two wings flew together and became lame. Relying only on Kani's side, it was relatively easier to defend. Carlos was the first line of defense to entangle the opponent, and Marcos was in the middle to support at any time.
As for Zaragoza's midfield, this team did not have "pure" defenders like Carlos and Marcos. Zapatero's ability, which was boasted by the Zaragoza media, was actually very average. Henorello, who came on as a substitute for Savio, also did not have any outstanding performance. Of course, it could also be said that Carlos injured Savio and left the field in the first half of the game. This could be said to be a turning point in this game.
Zaragoza's capital to establish a foothold in La Liga was the two wings, especially Savio, who played a crucial role in this team. When Savio left the field, Zaragoza became lame.
In this regard, Li Ang hit the nail on the head and saw through it thoroughly. On the other hand, Zaragoza were stimulated by the team's victory over Barcelona and forced a draw with Real Madrid. They really thought that their strength was quite strong and did not put Sporting de Gijón in their eyes. Even until now, Zaragoza still could not accept the fact that they were behind Sporting de Gijón at home. They looked down on this opponent!
Li Ang had been pretending to be a pig to eat a tiger since the press conference before the game. At this time, in the final moments of the game, he was going to show his last fangs.
Yes, Sporting de Gijón's overall strength was more than a level lower than Zaragoza's. However, taking advantage of the opponent's underestimation, and at the same time, in a few points, Li Ang was confident that he could compete with Zaragoza!
Point to point, using a point to break the surface!
It was still possible to stab the opponent again!
PS: First update. Added 47 chapters for the League Leader, Fire Demon and Water God.
Thank you for the great reward from Duanren Tianya. So excited.
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