McClaren was now in a difficult position. He could not reduce the pressure on the players and let them relax. He could not continue to stimulate their tense nerves, for fear that one of them would have a weak psychological quality and break the tension to score an own goal, or make a mistake in the return pass. He would be in trouble.
At this time, he could not say to these players that they were "indifferent to the outcome" or "absolutely cannot lose." He could not use the halftime break to inspire the players' fighting spirit. It was indeed a very troublesome thing. In fact, McClaren knew that there was only one way to reduce the psychological burden on the players and free them from this vicious psychological cycle — score a goal for the Forest team.
As long as they scored a goal, there would be no problem. The pressure of having to win, the opponent's ferocious pressing … all disappeared.
This was a difficult problem for McClaren. If scoring goals was so easy, the score in football games would have to be in line with that in basketball.
It did not seem feasible to change the situation on the field through substitutions. What else could he hope for?
A, the performance of the eleven players on the field; B, the opposing manager's foolish move; C, the opposing players' mistakes and gifts; D, a set piece.
To be honest, McClaren did not have much hope for his players' performance on the field. This was a quantity, not a variable. What was a variable? Tony Twain was carried away by the atmosphere of the finals of the competition, misjudged the situation on the field and made inexplicable adjustments. Under Middlesbrough's continuous attacks, the pressure on the opposing players to let go and the psychological pressure increased. They could not bear the burden, made mistakes, and then collapsed.
McClaren's eyes lit up at the thought. Why not? His own players were under a lot of pressure because they could not break through the situation. Why would the opposing players not be under a lot of pressure because they needed to be wary of our attacks at all times and always think about not conceding the goal? Look at how they bent their backs and lowered their heads when they came off the field, panting. Tony Twain's tactics were too demanding on the players. McClaren did not think the Forest team could consistently carry out this set of tactics, be it in terms of physical strength or mental quality.
As long as he had enough patience and continued to use attacks to harass the Forest team's defensive line, he would suddenly launch a fatal blow when their confidence and will began to waver!
The game would be over.
McClaren, who had a clear tactical intention in his mind, was relieved. He knew what to say to these players.
"I say … Are there people who are starting to doubt that we can't win this final? Have your confidence and fighting spirit wavered even earlier than our opponents? "
The dejected players looked up at their manager, the young manager, Steve McClaren, who had also convinced them with his results. Seeing the smile on the boss's face, their confidence was restored.
"No, boss. No one has given up, "said the team captain, their goalkeeper Schwartz, as he stood up.
※ ※ ※
At the start of the second half, Tang En realized that Middlesbrough had stepped up their offense. They seemed to be locked in a stalemate with Nottingham Forest's "wall defense." McClaren did not let his team slow down their tempo and move back and forth. Instead, he increased the tempo of their offense. Quick passes, quick cuts, and quick shots. The direction of the passes changed from horizontal to vertical, and the number of passes forward increased significantly.
This was also a solution, but Tang En was not too worried. The advantage of the wall was not in speed, but in thickness and the stability of the formation. Immovable as a mountain was the best way to describe this kind of letting go tactic. It was to respond to all changes with constancy.
As long as they could defend for the opening ten minutes, the tempo would only slowly fall into his grasp for the rest of the game. The one who had to worry about not being able to score was not him, who sat firmly in the manager's seat, but McClaren's team.
But just ten minutes into the second half of the game, he jumped out of his seat.
After Middlesbrough intercepted the ball, they sent a long pass from their own half of the field, directly looking for the back of the Forest team's defensive line. John Thompson, who had always performed steadily, made a mistake by heading over! The extremely fast Downing moved from behind at the same time as his teammate passed the ball. When Thompson headed over, he just happened to rush through the Forest team's last line of defense!
The Middlesbrough fans in the stands jumped out of their seats and cheered with their arms raised high! This was the perfect opportunity they had been waiting for fifty-five minutes!
Downing had just stopped the ball and was about to take advantage of the situation to break inside. Suddenly, he felt a gust of wind in front of him, and a black shadow flashed past. Then, the ball under his feet disappeared, and he was suddenly knocked out … At that moment, he felt as if he had been hit by a boulder. He rolled on the ground in pain, and the football had long flown out of the end line.
"F * cking foul —!!" All the Middlesbrough fans were shouting.
"F * cking foul —!!" This was the Nottingham Forest fans' rebuttal.
Both managers stood up from their seats almost at the same time, nervously waiting for the referee's decision.
The referee ran forward and pointed to the corner flag. "This is a corner kick! What an incomprehensible decision … Look at the expressions of the Middlesbrough players. Loud boos rang out in the stadium the year before last! "
Because Nottingham Forest's goal was close to Middlesbrough's goal in the second half, it was immediately drowned out by boos. The Middlesbrough players rushed up and surrounded the referee. They could not believe their eyes! How could this ball be a corner kick!? This was clearly a collision! And it was absolutely unreasonable!
McClaren angrily turned around and smashed his fist on the roof of the manager's seat. Like his players, he could not understand the referee's decision. Did that bastard referee not see that Downing even somersaulted twice in the air? He rolled all the way from inside the field to outside the field! How did his eyes grow like that? The angry Middlesbrough manager used two fingers to point at his eyes in protest.
Tang En, on the other hand, let out a long sigh and sat down. Although Wood was young and had not played many official games for the First Team, he was the core of this defensive strategy. His tireless running and rough defense were an important deterrent to the opponent. If he was sent off with a red card, his defensive system would collapse. Without him running and intercepting in a wide area in the middle, this wall was nothing more than a hollow wall that would collapse with one poke.
The referee must have been confused by Wood's speed, or his active performance in the first half had made the referee develop some habitual thinking.
But after this danger had passed, there was an even greater danger waiting for Tang En and his Forest team.
"George Wood made a dangerous defensive move. Fortunately, the referee did not pursue the matter. From the replay, Wood did touch the ball first, but his defensive action was too big and had a strong offensive nature. McClaren had enough reasons to complain — this could have been the turning point of the game, making Forest lose an absolute defensive core and losing the upper hand in terms of the field and numbers. But now his team only got a corner kick, and Downing, who was the most active in the first half so far, is still receiving treatment off the field! Listen to the boos in the Millennium Stadium! " Even though he was wearing soundproof headphones, Andy Gray could barely hear his own voice. He had to raise his volume during his commentary to compete with the crazy Middlesbrough fans.
In fact, McClaren did not have to be so angry. Although he did not reduce the Forest team's players, he had at least used 55 minutes to finally break a crack in this thick and hard wall. Would this be the beginning of the Forest wall's complete collapse?
The two coaches, Steve McClaren and Tony Twain, would probably have to think carefully about it.
(To be continued. If you want to know what happens next, please log on to WWW. CMFU. com. More chapters. Support the author. Support original reading!)
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