Inter Milan's starting goalkeeper was Toldo.
The rear defensive line was lined up with the right back, team captain Javier Zanetti. The center back combination was Samuels and Materazzi. The left back was the Frenchman Evra.
The midfield was Carlos, Mata, Modric, and David Silva.
The forward line was a fixed combination of Ronaldo and Adriano.
What surprised the commentators and the media the most was Li Ang's midfield configuration. The four young players, Mata, Carlos, Modric, and Silva, started together.
"This may be the youngest starting midfield configuration in the history of the UEFA Champions League final, and for a long time to come!" Sky TV's commentator, Ferrari, said with emotion. He was shocked by Li Ang's bold use of players.
*****
After the game started, as usual, both teams did not go all out. Instead, they tested each other.
Although Li Ang was very familiar with Rijkaard and Barcelona, and Rijkaard was also very familiar with Li Ang, this game was the first time Inter Milan and Barcelona had met in a few years. Moreover, this was the stage of the UEFA Champions League final. Neither side dared to be careless.
Especially Rijkaard. In his eyes, Li Ang was synonymous with cunning. Facing Li Ang's team, he had to test them well. Otherwise, who knew what traps Li Ang had in store for him?
"This is the final. This is the real UEFA Champions League final," the commentator said. A real final like this where both sides were more cautious and tested each other again and again was what a real final should be like. Like the big offensive play in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-final between Inter Milan and Arsenal, it was a once-in-a-decade opportunity.
After a few minutes of testing, both sides began to slowly enter the game. They also had a preliminary understanding of each other's tactics and plans.
Li Ang narrowed his eyes on the sidelines. He noticed that Barcelona had adopted a defensive counterattack posture. They were not in a hurry to attack. Instead, they first stabilized their defense, especially in the midfield, where Barcelona stepped up their pressure.
Li Ang was not surprised. He had a deep impression of this final. In the original history, the other side of the final, Arsenal, played more actively. On the contrary, Barcelona appeared to be more conservative. Van Bommel replacing Iniesta in the starting lineup was a signal.
Now, Barcelona's performance made Li Ang more aware: Barcelona played conservatively!
*****
Rijkaard sat in the technical area. For this game, he did not hesitate to choose conservative tactics and strive to not make mistakes or make fewer mistakes. With the premise of not conceding the goal, he fought for the victory of the game.
He did not mind that people would say he was conservative after the game. As long as Barcelona could beat Inter Milan to win the European title, the winner would be king. Whether it was the media or the fans, they would not discuss whether Barcelona's tactics were conservative or not. They would only be surrounded by flowers and applause.
Rijkaard glanced in the direction of Inter Milan's technical area. He noticed that Inter Milan played very cautiously and conservatively since the start of the game!
Carlos rarely pressed on Barcelona's penalty area, and even if Modric pressed on, he would return to defend in time. Mata and David Silva's breakthroughs on the flanks also seemed to be restrained.
Therefore, Rijkaard was sure that Li Ang also adopted a conservative tactic of defensive counterattack.
Rijkaard frowned. This made him a little disappointed and unhappy because it meant that the game would become dull. It would be slightly difficult for Barcelona to score goals. When an Italian powerhouse like Inter Milan was focused on playing defensive counterattack, it would be difficult to score goals to beat them.
However, Rijkaard was prepared for this situation. Now was the time for the game to be patient and have the ability to seize opportunities. He was prepared for this. He believed that his players had the patience and ability to cope with the game.
*****
Li Ang looked at his watch in the technical area. Ten minutes had passed in the game. Both sides were more conservative. It seemed that they were both silent and waiting for the other side to make a mistake.
Li Ang's lips curled into a smile. Then his face returned to normal. He stood up and walked to the sidelines.
The Inter Milan manager did not make any gestures, nor did he call out a player's name. He did not whistle to convey instructions. He just stood up and walked to the sidelines. He glanced at the field, then returned to the technical area and sat down.
This move seemed normal and there was nothing strange about it.
However, when the Inter Milan players on the field saw this scene, their eyes immediately lit up. They received a signal from the manager. They knew what they had to do!
In the tactical analysis meeting before the game, Li Ang clearly told his players his arrangement. After the game started, they should first strive to be cautious and defend well. They had to be careful of Barcelona's unusual attack at the start of the game.
No matter how Barcelona played, Inter Milan held firm in the opening ten minutes, giving the illusion that they were focused on playing defensive counterattack.
Then, the players waited to receive the "signal." Once Li Ang got up from the technical area and walked to the sidelines, this was the signal!
The signal to attack!
"… When I send this signal, it means that our tactical deception has a certain effect! Barcelona already thinks that we will adopt a more conservative tactic to deal with them. In this case, I believe everyone understands what this means. We have to suddenly attack! Take advantage of this to catch them off guard! "Li Ang's confident voice seemed to be right next to their ears!
*****
In Inter Milan's starting midfield today, the young Modric was entrusted with a heavy responsibility!
He was Inter Milan's metronome. He controlled the team's rhythm, when to attack, when to defend, how to attack, how to defend, whether to attack slowly and methodically when to attack or suddenly accelerate from a certain side, all of these were under Modric's control!
It could be said that the young Modric, after two years of tempering, had grown faster and more delightfully than before.
Opposite Modric was Edmílson.
Edmílson took the ball in the backfield. He, van Bommel, and Decaux were constantly passing the ball between the three players. They were not in a hurry to push forward.
Edmílson's position today was the defensive midfielder position. However, the Brazilian star player was the main center back of the Brazilian team in the 2002 World Cup in Korea and Japan. He had excellent skills and delicate footwork. Li Ang's deepest impression of the Barcelona star player was when Edmílson kicked Costa Rica with a golden hook in the World Cup in Korea and Japan. This left a deep impression on him.
Edmílson had dual citizenship of Brazil and Italy. He played in Europe and did not occupy the non-EU quota. In addition, he could play in multiple positions in the backfield. He was a center back and could also play as a defensive midfielder. In Rijkaard's Barcelona, he was an important player in the defensive midfielder position. His comprehensive qualities such as defense, passing, and heading ability made him a living chess piece in the hands of manager Rijkaard.
Why did Li Ang think that Rijkaard's tactics today were quite conservative? Looking at Barcelona's midfield, it was clear. Other than Giuly, who might not have too many defensive tasks, Edmílson and van Bommel were dual defensive midfielders. Decaux's specialty was that he could go up and down and run without caring about his stamina.
Without Iniesta, who could make Barcelona's midfield lively, this Barcelona team lacked a trace of spirituality and had more toughness.
*****
Edmílson received Decaux's pass again. He pulled the ball and turned around, got rid of Silva's interference, and dribbled the ball forward.
Modric came up, but he did not rush too fiercely. He just kept a certain distance and maintained a defensive posture.
Carlos, on the other hand, was eyeing Decaux covetously.
All of this seemed to be no different from the previous ten minutes. Both sides hoarded a lot of players in the midfield, but they were more cautious.
Edmílson looked like he was going to pass the ball to van Bommel, who came over to receive, but he accelerated forward.
Modric came up to intercept.
Edmílson was already prepared for this. He immediately passed the football to Decaux.
Decaux had just taken the ball when he saw Mata quickly press over.
Mata's speed was very fast. Decaux did not dare to be careless. After a feint, he rolled the ball and passed the football to van Bommel. After the latter received the ball, he chose to plug the football forward and played a combination with Decaux.
It was a very normal pass from many people and the ball broke through vertically!
Decaux stretched out his leg and wanted to receive the ball, but a figure flashed past. Someone nimbly poked the football on the rolling route …
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