"Barcelona controls the absolute initiative on the field. They are oppressing Sporting de Gijón's half of the field, but it is not enough. They have not been able to get any threatening offensive opportunities!" Dagestino said.
"Sporting de Gijón's defense is very flexible. It's obvious that they have been preparing for this game for a long time. Barcelona's smooth and beautiful attack seems to have encountered a wall. No, to be exact, it has encountered several dams. They are constantly intercepting the flood and disintegrating it! This is the lack of threat that we are seeing from Barcelona's attack now! "González said.
If Rijkaard had heard Sporting de Gijón's words, he would have agreed with his analogy. Yes, he felt the same way now. Sporting de Gijón's tight defense throughout the game, under layers of defense, Barcelona's water-like offense seemed to be constantly blocked and diverted by several small dams. The result was that by the time they reached Sporting de Gijón's penalty area or in front of the goal, they had lost their edge and sharpness! There was no threat!
Rijkaard stood up from the technical area and walked to the sidelines. However, he did not shout loudly or use hand signals to command the team to make changes. He felt that it was not the time yet. He just quietly observed the situation on the field. Or to be exact, Rijkaard had not found the fastest way to solve the problem. In that case, it was better not to change.
To cope with changes by sticking to the status quo!
The game had been going on for less than half an hour, but Rijkaard did not seem to be anxious. Despite conceding a goal, he believed that the final victory would belong to his Barcelona.
Why was Rijkaard so confident? Because even though he had not found an effective and quick solution for the time being, Rijkaard had actually seen through Li Ang's tactics. He knew what Sporting de Gijón was doing, and Rijkaard knew what the biggest solution to the opponent's tactics was.
What was it?
It was time!
Rijkaard did not have a quick solution to the problem, but he saw through it all. He saw hope.
*****
Sporting de Gijón pressed the entire field. Running in such a large area was very exhausting work.
It was just like how the Sporting de Gijón players defended Ronaldinho. The visiting team really did not leave him by a single step and followed him like a shadow. It was difficult for Ronaldinho to even turn around, let alone launch an attack comfortably.
Other than Ronaldinho, the other Barcelona players, such as Harvey, Decaux, Larsson, Eto 'o, and the others, also had' bodyguards' to take care of them. All the players from Sporting de Gijón were involved in the defense. The front of the penalty area was simply airtight. It was too difficult for Barcelona to get a threatening offensive opportunity under such circumstances!
However, Rijkaard was not in a hurry at this time!
Because he knew that Sporting de Gijón's team would not be able to last for ninety minutes with their tireless running and defense. In fact, let alone ninety minutes, it would be good if they could last for seventy minutes with such a high-intensity pressing and running defense.
Rijkaard believed that as the game went on, Sporting de Gijón's players' stamina would be exhausted and a physical crisis would come. Sporting de Gijón's seemingly indestructible defensive line would definitely show holes. At that time, it would be the time for Barcelona to use their powerful offensive strength to destroy this opponent.
In Rijkaard's estimation, in the last five minutes of the first half, after forty minutes of fighting, Sporting de Gijón's players would have reached their physical and mental limits at that time, when the first half of the game was about to end. If Barcelona's luck was good, they would be able to seize the opportunity that might appear at that time and give Sporting de Gijón a beautiful blow!
Time was Sporting de Gijón's biggest enemy!
It was precisely because he understood this that Rijkaard was not in a hurry. He knew that for Barcelona, the most important thing now was not to be disrupted by the opponent's pressing and tireless defense. Barcelona still had to stick to their style of football.
If Barcelona was disrupted by Sporting de Gijón's pressing and the midfield fell into complete chaos, then they would be disrupted by Sporting de Gijón's rhythm. Perhaps this was the Chinese's ultimate goal.
*****
Rijkaard would not let Li Ang get what he wanted. He observed from the sidelines. Then he shouted Harvey's name loudly and made a gesture of pressing down with both hands.
This was to be steady and take the lead. Play how you should play and not be affected by the opponent.
Harvey nodded to show that he understood.
Harvey had the ability to accurately transfer the ball. He had a strong view of the overall situation and was in control of the situation on the field. He was good at long and short passes. His passes were hidden and very penetrating. He had gorgeous footwork and rarely lost the ball when dribbling. It was precisely because of this that he became Guardiola's successor and played a very important role in Rijkaard's tactics.
Later, Harvey passed on Rijkaard's tactical intentions to Decaux as soon as possible.
Decaux was a player that Rijkaard admired very much. The Brazilian Portuguese was the representative of the modern football all-rounded midfield. He could attack when he advanced and defend when he retreated. He met all the requirements set by the manager and had the skills of a Brazilian and the discipline of a European.
Decaux's dribbling skills corresponded to his overall technical characteristics. There was no superfluous dazzling. It was completely based on practicality. His reaction speed was very fast and he could choose the most reasonable way to avoid robbing and get rid of the opponent in the fastest time.
Decaux's speed was more "average" to 90 or even 120 minutes of a game. From the opening whistle to the final whistle of the game, he was always the most diligent player on the field. He could take both offense and defense into account, but his instantaneous explosive power could not be compared to strikers like Ronaldo and Eto 'o.
Decaux was never afraid to compete with opponents who were a head taller than him for the high ball. He did not even suffer the slightest loss. He relied more on his judgment of the path and landing point of the ball in advance. At the same time, he also relied on his tenacious willpower to make up for his disadvantage in height.
Before Decaux came to Barcelona, people remembered him more for his offensive talent. However, after coming to Barcelona, he also began to learn how to "pester" in the midfield. This was just Coach Rijkaard's request for Decaux. Compared to Barcelona's commonly used 4-1-2-3, the midfield was too weak for modern defensive football. Therefore, he asked Decaux to participate more in the defense. In the offense, there was the existence of a "monster" like Ronaldinho and Harvey, who was good at organization, so he was not so important! However, in the Barcelona team, Decaux's hidden role was very important. He was the most simple and practical kind of player! Although he could not give you beauty, he could let people appreciate the charm of football! Rijkaard was the clearest about Decaux's role.
For example, Decaux and Harvey, one in front and one behind, controlled Barcelona's rhythm, and Ronaldinho was the master of playing the piano on this rhythm. The perfect cooperation between them could play Barcelona's beautiful football.
*****
With Rijkaard's tactical instructions, the Barcelona players were not in a hurry. They began to skillfully control the game and look for opportunities little by little.
Rijkaard returned to the technical area from the sidelines and sat down. Although the score was behind, he was now more at ease because the rhythm was back on Barcelona's side. For Barcelona, equalizing the score was not so urgent. The important thing was to have more control of the football at their feet, stabilize the situation, and slowly deal with the opponent. Then, when the opportunity appeared, they would seize it!
In terms of patience, compared to Sporting de Gijón, a newly promoted team, Barcelona had so many star players who were used to big scenes. They were a mature team. As long as they did not mess up, they would be in an invincible position. Rijkaard had this confidence.
"Rijkaard is really a cunning old fox …" Li Ang muttered to himself in the technical area. "The Dutchman still has some skills."
Rijkaard saw his tactical intentions. He also saw Rijkaard's thoughts. This game, such a focal showdown, was not only a competition between the players on the field, but also the best stage for the managers to fight with wits and courage. Rijkaard, as the manager of Barcelona's Dream II, was definitely one of the top three world-class managers in today's football world.
Li Ang felt pressure against such an opponent, but there was also an inexplicable excitement.
There was a lofty feeling of meeting a good talent and meeting a worthy opponent!
PS: First update, and guaranteed minimum 1 update.
Partners, I just checked and found that the guaranteed minimum for number 12 is less. I will make up for it in a day or two.
Sincerely thank everyone for their support.
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.
