The assistant manager, Banderas, might have thought that Li Ang's anger was because of the referee's red card.
However, only Li Ang himself knew the reason for his current mood.
Rather than saying that he was angry at the referee's decision, it was more appropriate to say that he was helpless against fate's hands, and even a little panicked.
It was an indescribable feeling.
At some point, he felt a sense of powerlessness. Could it be that no matter how hard he and the team worked, they could not break through the net of fate?
Although he did not receive any instructions from Li Ang, the assistant manager, Banderas, had already asked the Brazilian goalkeeper, César, to hurry up and warm up. The starting goalkeeper, Toldo, was sent off. No matter who was brought off, a goalkeeper had to be brought on.
When César went to warm up, Banderas walked to Li Ang's side and saw that Li Ang was still in a state of forbearance. He patted him on the shoulder and said, "Don't worry, we're still two goals ahead!"
*****
"What?" Li Ang asked.
"I said that we're still two goals ahead, the situation is not that bad …" Banderas said. He also realized that Li Ang's state was a little off. Was he nervous?
"That's right! You're right! "Li Ang looked at the field and let out a long sigh.
Banderas's words woke him up. Banderas was right. They were still two goals ahead. Even if they were down a player, the situation was not too bad!
Li Ang began to feel ashamed and angry for the trace of panic he had felt just now!
Yes!
They were now two goals ahead!
In the original history, Arsenal had only scored one goal, but now they were two goals ahead!
Moreover, Lehmann was sent off in the first half of the game, while Toldo was sent off at the beginning of the second half!
History had changed a lot. What was he still afraid of?!
He looked at the field and saw Adriano, the Brazilian striker who should have been slowly sinking, but now he had picked himself up and was in an excellent state like never before. There was also Ronaldo. According to the historical inertia, Ronaldo had never returned to Inter Milan and had never participated in the final of the UEFA Champions League!
Now, all of this had changed!
If one were to talk about changes, the changes that he had brought about were much more than the red cards in history.
Since that was the case, what was there to be afraid of?
His rebirth was already a huge BUG in the game!
There was no longer any confusion or hesitation in Li Ang's eyes. There wasn't even any anger. There was only high fighting spirit!
*****
Toldo left the stage in frustration.
Li Ang patted the Italian goalkeeper on the shoulder. "Francesco, you've done well enough."
"But …" Toldo wanted to say that if he was sent off, it would bring a great disadvantage to the team.
"You stopped the ball from being lost! Well done! "Li Ang said firmly.
There was color in Toldo's eyes. The manager's words made him feel much better. This was the final of the UEFA Champions League, the first UEFA Champions League final that Toldo had participated in. In such an important game, he was sent off with a red card. The pressure in Toldo's heart could be imagined.
Banderas came over to escort Toldo to the locker room.
Li Ang looked at the field. Inter Milan needed to make a substitution.
The game went on for 53 minutes. Toldo was sent off with a red card, and Inter Milan was forced to make a substitution. The Brazilian goalkeeper, César, came on as a substitute, and the Spanish youngster, David Silva, was replaced.
Barcelona's free kick.
Ronaldinho's free kick went over the human wall, but it was firmly held by César.
*****
Just a minute later, Li Ang made another substitution.
Ronaldinho was brought off, and Stankovic came on as a substitute.
When Ronaldinho came off the field, there was a burst of applause from the stands of the Stade de France. Not only the Inter Milan fans, but some of the Barcelona fans also applauded the Brazilian superstar who used to play for Barcelona.
Seeing that the offensive threat Ronaldinho was brought off, the Barcelona manager, Rijkaard, was not happy. Instead, he frowned slightly.
It was clear that Li Ang's decisive and continuous adjustments had quickly strengthened Inter Milan's defensive strength in the midfield.
Now, after the adjustments in Inter Milan's midfield, Carlos and Stankovic formed the double defensive midfielders. Modric appeared in the right midfielder position, and Mata's position was more active, providing support for Adriano on the frontline.
*****
The commentator praised the performance of Inter Milan's players. After Toldo was sent off, Inter Milan had one less player to fight. However, the players did not panic. Instead, they were orderly.
"This Inter Milan team is unusually mature. They are not panicking in the face of danger!" CCTV commentator Zhang Lu praised.
In fact, the Inter Milan players were feeling very strange at this time. Before the game, the team's manager, Li Ang, had repeatedly emphasized how the team would play with one less player. The players felt that it was very strange!
However, when Toldo was really sent off, the players were first shocked. Then, they were full of admiration for their manager. They felt that the manager had really taken every conceivable possibility into account and made sufficient preparations!
Immediately after, Li Ang decisively made consecutive substitutions, replacing Ronaldinho with Stankovic to maintain the balance in the midfield. This invisibly boosted the players' confidence.
Although they were now one less player to fight, they were leading by two goals. Moreover, they had already made plans for this, so they did not panic!
Rijkaard also followed up with substitutions. He replaced Edmilson with Iniesta, reducing a defensive midfielder and adding an attacker.
"Barcelona must score as soon as possible. They have one more player now. If they can get a goal back before the game reaches the 70th minute, there is still hope."
As the commentator was saying this, Giuly broke through from the flank and knocked the ball back to the outside of the penalty area.
Barcelona went all out to press!
*****
Iniesta quickly plugged in. He did not directly stop the ball. Instead, he took the opportunity to push the ball, avoiding Stankovic's rush. Then, he wanted to send a low pass. The ball was blocked by someone's outstretched leg and bounced up.
"Carlos! What a beautiful substitution! "
Decaux was already prepared to receive the ball. He could only rush up to snatch the ball. However, Carlos directly blocked him with his body. Then, he could only watch as Carlos passed the ball out!
"Beautiful! Carlos stopped Barcelona's attack! "
After receiving Carlos's pass, Modric made a slight adjustment. Then, he kicked the ball to the front of the field!
It was a diagonal pass!
The ball bypassed more than half of the field and continued to fly in the air.
Then, people saw Mata plugging in at high speed to chase after the ball.
"Counterattack! This is Inter Milan's chance to counterattack! Barcelona is pressing too high! "Italian commentator Ferrari shouted.
"Return to defense!" Barcelona's captain, Puyol, shouted loudly as he pounced on Mata. He had to meet him. Otherwise, Mata would enter the penalty area as long as he received the ball and cut inside!
*****
"Beautiful!" Ferrari shouted, applauding Mata's move.
After Mata caught up with the ball, he controlled the ball for a moment. Then, he made an emergency stop and pulled the ball back to avoid Puyol's rush.
Then, he calmly lobbed the ball into the penalty area!
His entire movement was unusually elegant.
In the penalty area, Marcos, who returned to defense, jumped together with Adriano. Then, Marcos's face quickly changed because he found that he did not jump as high as Adriano. The latter's strong body suppressed him.
"This is — Adriano! A header! "
The Brazilian center forward, who jumped high, threw a very beautiful lion's head at the goal. The ball suddenly changed direction in the air and smashed toward the goal!
Barcelona's goalkeeper, Valdés, flew in the air and tried his best to get the ball!
However, he saw in despair that the ball had already swept over him and flew into the net behind him when his right hand touched it.
From Modric's pass to Mata's pass to Adriano's goal!
Two passes!
Rapid counterattack!
Score!
Inter Milan played the essence of defensive counterattack to the extreme!
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