Rijkaard's Dream Two started to get into form in the middle of the 200304 season in the El Clásico. In the second half of the season, they suddenly overtook Real Madrid and made the whole world applaud the young manager Rijkaard and Ronaldinho's amazing fighting power. Since the start of the season, Barcelona had been leading the way, especially in the El Clásico where they completely defeated Real Madrid. They defeated their century-old arch-rivals and made the whole of Europe pay attention.
Li Ang personally admired Rijkaard. Just now, the two of them had been relatively polite to each other. The latter was more polite to Li Ang, a China coach who was younger and less experienced than him. He did not show any arrogance.
At this moment, Li Ang was holding Barcelona's starting lineup for the day.
Barcelona's starting lineup (4-3-3): 1 – Valdés; 2 – Belletti, 23 – Oleg, 5 – Puyol, 12 – van Brontenhorst; 4 – Márquez, 6 – Harvey, 20 – Decaux; 7 – Larsson, 9 – Eto 'o, 10 – Ronaldinho.
He looked at the field. The players on the field matched the names on the list one by one. At the same time, his brain was working quickly.
Different from Cruyff's era, Rijkaard's team's tactical foundation was not the central axis of the three midfielders. Instead, it leaned to the left with Ronaldinho as the core. Ronaldinho, who was basically fixed in the left winger position, moved more freely. To a large extent, he even played the role of an attacking midfielder. Eto 'o in the center position and Giuly or Larsson on the right were basically chess pieces to help Ronaldinho disperse the defensive pressure during the attack. Ronaldinho was closer to the penalty area than the traditional Barcelona wingers. His range of activity was also closer to the middle. Rijkaard's use of Ronaldinho influenced the reform of many teams' wingers' tactics.
In fact, Li Ang's use of Mata, Mata's attacking midfielder tactic, was not able to really make this tactic popular and attract the attention of the European football world at this moment because Mata was injured twice. Otherwise, people would have realized that Li Ang's attacking midfielder tactic was more tactically perfect than Rijkaard's use of Ronaldinho. Of course, this would have to wait until Mata recovered from his injury and returned to the team.
In Rijkaard's 4-3-3 tactic, Harvey was was an improvement over Cruyff's Dream Team One. As an all-rounded defensive midfielder who could attack and attack, he was closer to the penalty area than Guardiola had been back then. The other two engineer-type players in the midfield were also good at their own strengths. Deco's ability to plug in was strong, and both Edmilson and Márquez could effectively control the ball. Rijkaard had learned the essence of Cruyff's emphasis on ball control.
Li Ang knew this very well. Therefore, in his tactical containment of Barcelona, he cut off Barcelona's ball control and interfered with their communication with each other. This was the essence of Sporting de Gijón's tactics today.
*****
While Sporting de Gijón's manager, Li Ang, was thinking and figuring out Barcelona's tactics today.
Rijkaard, who sat firmly in Barcelona's technical area, was also studying Sporting de Gijón's starting lineup.
Sporting de Gijón's starting lineup: 1 – Domenech Valencia; 26 – Braniskov Ivanovic, 3 – Pepe, 4 – Fernando Hierro, 15 – Fábio Grosso; 14 – Juan Carlos, 23 – Cordini Marcos, 6 – Demetrio Albertini, 11 – Franck Ribéry; 10 – Antonio Dinatale; 22 – Diego Milito.
Rijkaard was a little surprised when he saw the young man named Cordini Marcos and Carlos in the starting lineup. He did not expect Marcos to be in the starting lineup. However, this also confirmed his previous analysis – Li Ang was indeed wary of Barcelona's offense. It seemed that his previous praises for Barcelona were true and not made up. Otherwise, he would not have let Marcos continue to be in the starting lineup with Carlos on the pitch.
Rijkaard frowned slightly. He did not understand Sporting de Gijón's starting lineup. The three defensive midfielders, Albertini, Carlos, and Marcos, were in the starting lineup. Three defensive midfielders' tactics?!
Then, how was the young Frenchman named Franck Ribéry going to be in the starting lineup today?
Was it a two-striker partnership between Dinatale and Milito on the frontline?
Rijkaard shook his head subconsciously. He did not think that was the case.
The final positioning of the players on the pitch would determine the tactical use of the team. However, so far, Rijkaard was a little confused about Li Ang's starting lineup. He could not figure out what this person's specific tactics were, so he could only wait and see.
However, there was one thing that Rijkaard was certain about the fundamental core of Li Ang's tactics. That was, the opponent was very wary of Barcelona's offense, just like what they said in the pre-match press conference. They would defend with all their might. Marcos and Carlos were in the starting lineup together. Two pure engineers in the midfield. This explained everything.
Rijkaard felt that he had grasped the opponent's tactical purpose. Thinking of this, he quickly calmed down. The opponent was not playing any tricks. Of course, if the opponent's team defended with all their might, Barcelona would have to put in more effort to tear apart the dense defense and score. However, Rijkaard still had confidence in his team's ability to attack.
*****
"What's his expression?" Li Ang asked his assistant, Banderas. He had arranged for Banderas to keep an eye on Rijkaard just now.
"At first, he was frowning. Then he was calmer and even smiled." Although Banderas did not understand Li Ang's arrangement, he still faithfully performed his job. After observing, he replied, "Li, what's the use of doing this?"
"It's useful, it's useful." Li Ang had a smile on his face.
Seeing that Banderas was still puzzled, he explained, "At first, he was frowning, which means that he did not understand our starting lineup. Then he was calmer, and even smiled. It means that he thought that he had seen through our tactical intentions and was relieved."
Banderas listened, but he was a little puzzled and anxious. "He saw through it?"
"He just thought that he saw through it." Li Ang's mouth curved slightly. Three defensive midfielders, two of which were engineer type defensive midfielders. This did seem to be a defensive posture, but did three defensive midfielders necessarily mean that they were in a defensive posture? If Rijkaard really thought that Sporting de Gijón was in a defensive posture with all their might, then the hidden sharpness behind this would definitely surprise him.
Li Ang smiled slightly. He had the anticipation and pleasure of a little conspiracy that was about to succeed. This colleague of his was the hottest manager in European football now and in the next three or four years.
In a battle between masters, every move and every move was very particular. When playing with a famous manager like Rijkaard, to be able to trick his opponent from the beginning and gain a little advantage would make him happy.
For example, it was like the small thrill of a successful adulterous affair with another man.
Author's Note: The first update is definitely a martial arts fan and will be greatly rewarded. Thank you for your support.
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