Inside Nottingham Forest's locker room, everyone was talking about George Wood's last-minute goal.
It was not only because it was Wood's goal, but also because of the difficulty and brilliance of scoring the goal. Twenty-eight meters away from the goal, facing the ball that was passed back by his teammates, he did not stop the ball and directly volleyed it. It was not easy to press the ball below the crossbar, let alone shoot a path through the crowd.
Wood did it. Regardless of whether it was a fluke or a reflection of his ability, he did it. The ball went in, helped the team equalize the score, and dealt a blow to Chelsea's arrogance. That was enough. In professional football, such an outcome was more meaningful than the process.
After entering the locker room, Tang En also directly praised Wood's last-minute goal. It was a goal that saved the team's fighting spirit, and the key to ensuring that they had greater confidence and hope to continue challenging Chelsea in the second half.
"Well done, George." Tang En nodded at Wood. "Looks like you're in good form today. Why don't I let everyone pass the ball to you, and you shoot?"
His teammates roared with laughter.
Amidst the laughter, Tang En put on a straight face and began to criticize the performance of the rear defensive line. "Don't let me only see George Wood defending alone. You guys better be more proactive. There are idiotic media outlets that say that Nottingham Forest's defense is George Wood's defense alone. As long as he is not there, there is nothing to worry about for Forest's defense. Are you guys willing to accept such an evaluation? "
The people on the rear defensive line stopped laughing. This statement really hurt their pride.
In fact, Tang En was a little harsh. Since Pepe's injury, Forest's defensive line in the Champions League could be said to be the youngest one. Piqué also had the experience of playing a full Champions League season with Forest, while Kompany had almost none. The center back was the core of the rear defensive line, the key of the key. Forest's two center backs were so young, lacking in experience, ability, and form.
But it was precisely because of this that the concept of the entire team's defense was so important. If they only relied on the rear defensive line to defend, no matter how good the defensive players were, it would not work. George Wood was only a human, not a god. It was hard enough for him to build the defensive line in the midfield alone, and he also had to support the rear defensive line. It was not so tiring for the capable to do more work.
"Our defense has always been a holistic defense, but today, the opponent tore open a big hole with just a few passes! I can't accept this kind of goal concede. If we concede a goal like George's, I have nothing to say and I will comfort you instead. But I'm very angry about this goal concede. "Tang En's expression changed very quickly, and the atmosphere in the locker room suddenly became heavy. "This is the Champions League semi-final. You know what it means to make a mistake in this kind of game. In this kind of competition, whoever made fewer mistakes would win! I don't want to see similar mistakes in the second half. "
After criticizing the rear defensive line, Tang En rested for a while, allowing the atmosphere in the locker room to slowly pick up. It was not as silent as before.
Overall, he was quite satisfied with the first half. Of course, the main reason was because they had equalized the score in the end. If they had not equalized the score, he would have been in a terrible mood.
"Okay, guys, don't look so sad as if we've already lost. We got an away goal and that was important. The last thing Chelsea wanted to see was probably us winning or scoring. I'm happy to do anything that makes the opponent uncomfortable. Continue playing like this in the second half. There's nothing to adjust … "
Indeed, Chelsea and Forest, as old rivals in the same league tournament, were very familiar with each other. This kind of encounter was often not a contest of marvelous tactics, but simply the strength of both sides — the overall strength of the team and the individual ability of the players.
Tricks would not work on either manager.
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In the locker room, Tang En criticized the performance of the team's rear defensive line and said that if he had conceded a goal like George's, he would not blame the rear defense and would only encourage them.
In the home team's locker room, that was exactly what Mourinho did.
The team was a little frustrated and annoyed at the goal concede in the final moments.
Mourinho paced back and forth among the dejected players, looking at this and that, not speaking for a long time.
Everyone could not fathom what the manager was thinking and did not dare to speak, for fear of angering him. After all, they had equalized the score in the final moments of the first half and handed away the advantage they had.
"I say …" Mourinho, who had been pacing back and forth for a long time, finally spoke. He stopped and looked at the players around him. "What are you doing like this? I won't blame you for conceding the goal. In fact, that goal concede was not our fault, but the opponent's luck was too good … Why are you still lowering your heads? "
Mourinho raised his voice slightly, and the players hurriedly looked up at their boss.
"The Chelsea players won't be like this because of a goal concede. Conceding a goal will only make us more motivated! If Chelsea is crushed by this goal, then after another forty-five minutes, you can only be carried off the field. "
Gullit and Vialli brought a technical style of "sexy football" to the once unknown Chelsea team, helping them win the Cup Winners' Cup and the FA Cup. But although that Chelsea team played very well and was very popular, they always lost in the crucial competition for the league title. So much so that at that time, Chelsea was called by the media as "the most outstanding spoiler" and "the one who made the wedding dress for others," but was never a "strong contender for the title." Was the players not good enough, or was the team's overall tactics not good?
It was neither.
It was the lack of spirit.
A tough attitude of never giving up, of daring to say "no" to a strong opponent, of daring to challenge all authority, and of despising everything. To put it bluntly, they lacked a "champion's heart."
The arrival of the UEFA Champions League manager, Mourinho, changed all that. This Chelsea team was deeply imprinted with his personal imprint — tough, tenacious, unyielding, and supercilious.
The Blues finally had a "champion's heart," so they could win the league title for two years in a row and suddenly become an important force that would not be ignored in European football.
Chelsea's "champion's heart" was Mourinho. As long as he was there, this spirit would exist in Chelsea for a day.
"You did very well in the first half. The Forest team did not have many chances, and the chances were only within the normal range. We still had the upper hand on the field. " Mourinho began to praise the team's performance. "Continue to put pressure on them. Don't let them have too much time to think about how to find loopholes in our defensive line. Let them live too comfortably, and in the end, we are the ones who will be uncomfortable. "
"In addition, pay attention to George Wood's performance in the attack. He is very different from the first season. Although that shot was a hundred percent a fluke, his previous series of movements and observations were real. Don't underestimate him. If he wants to come up … Claude. "Mourinho turned to look at Makelele. "You're in charge of containing him."
Makelele was a little hesitant. The task given to him before the game was van der Vaart. "But boss, the Dutch …"
"Let Essien go."
The players were a little confused. In terms of offense, van der Vaart, who was a specialized offensive player, was better than the half-baked George Wood. Why did Makelele, who was the best in the midfield defense, have to leave van der Vaart behind to mark George Wood?
Mourinho saw everyone's doubts, and he had to explain to these people. "Van der Vaart has always been the core of the Forest team's organization. The Forest team's opponents have thoroughly studied his abilities and characteristics. In the game, van der Vaart is bound to face a lot of defensive pressure. This is the general situation. "He raised his index finger." Didn't we do the same in the first half? Van der Vaart was guarded against by Claude and did not do much. George Wood was very active in the offense in the first half. The Forest team will consider passing more of the ball to Wood and let him come … Do you understand what I mean? "
Everyone suddenly understood.
Twain thought that no one was paying attention to Wood, so he let the Forest team shift the focus of the offense to George Wood. He did not expect Mourinho to have Makelele wait here.
Tit for tat.
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Seeing that the halftime interval was about to end, Twain had been thinking about a problem during this time. Van der Vaart was basically frozen by the midfield defense led by Makelele in the first half. The connection between him and the front line was basically cut off. Makelele was a world-class defensive midfielder. Coupled with Essien's assistance, it was unlikely that anyone could easily pass through such an iron gate in the midfield.
The Forest team's offense in the first half had little effect. In the end, it only depended on George Wood's ball to equalize the score. This matter could not be treated as if it had never happened just because we equalized the score. The factors behind it were the most important.
Clearly, Chelsea had made careful defensive arrangements in response to the Forest team's offensive organization, which was why they were so effective in containing the Forest team's offense in the first half.
Something had to be changed in the second half. Otherwise, the offense would not be able to open up the situation, and it was only a matter of time before they conceded a goal. Only by making the opponent's rear defensive line feel threatened could there be hope for this game.
So, what should be done?
Twain's gaze had been searching among the players. He did not want to make a substitution at the start of the second half. There was no need to consider the substitutes.
Ribéry? No matter what, he was still an attacker, not an organizer. He might not do better than van der Vaart when it came to passing, organizing, and combing through the midfield. Ashley Young? Not to mention …
Tell Eastwood to retreat?
The Romani was a person who played with his brain. But if he retreated, there would only be van Nistelrooy in the front line, and the pressure on the opponent's rear would be less. Moreover, with fewer receiving points in front of the goal, even if he could pass the ball in the midfield, who should he pass it to? Van Nistelrooy, who was marked to death?
In the end, Twain fixed his gaze on George Wood's poker face.
Although the process of shooting the goal had a large element of luck, George's previous series of performances were definitely not luck. He was keenly aware of the team's situation at the time and made the right judgment to plug in decisively to receive his teammates. Why couldn't he try again?
"George." Twain opened his mouth. "In the second half, if our offense can't open up the situation, you go up and support more."
Wood did not express any doubts. He nodded.
When everyone heard Twain say so, they all turned to look at Wood.
"Shoot or pass, it's up to you. Try to send the ball to a place where the opponent's defense is weak. "Having said that, Twain looked at his watch. The time was just right.
"Very good. You've rested enough. Get ready to play!" Kerslake stood up and clapped as he shouted. The players followed him out of the locker room.
Albertini pulled Wood from behind and accompanied him out. He also seized the time to impart to him his "experience" in controlling the midfield.
"… If the opponent's defensive formation is well organized, don't rush forward. That will only make us lose the ball quickly and give the opponent a chance to fight back directly. "
"Yes."
"The appropriate return pass is not an escape. It's just to lure the opponent out and create a loophole. Horizontal passes and return passes are all means to organize an attack. The ultimate goal is to move forward. If you want to be the team's brain, don't let the opponent's rhythm of the game lead you by the nose. You have to lead them. If there's a chance, find it. If there's no chance, create it. Observe the positions of everyone on the field while waiting to receive the ball and remember them in your mind. The opponent won't give you a chance to stop the ball and look up again. Maybe you often see people do this, but you should never ask that of yourself, understand? What you have to do is better than them. "
"Got it, Demetrio."
"Finally, if they want to intercept the ball at your feet, be tough! If you accidentally lose the ball, snatch it back on the spot. If you can't snatch it, foul! Don't be soft-hearted to the enemy! "
"Okay."
The two men talked as they walked, and they were about to reach the exit. Albertini stopped to look at George Wood and said, "George, I have nothing to say about you in terms of defense. But you still have a long way to go in terms of offense. All I can tell you is some experience. It doesn't mean you have to do it exactly as it is. You're still young and have a lot of games to play. You have to face all kinds of opponents. Find the most suitable path for you in the game and keep going! "
He patted Wood's thick shoulder hard and pushed him out of the tunnel.
Demetrio Albertini's road has come to an end, and you, George Wood's road has just begun …
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After a fifteen-minute break, the Stamford Bridge stadium was noisy again. The players came out one after another, and the empty seats were filled again. The atmosphere of the game hit them in the face.
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the second half of the UEFA Champions League semi-final between Chelsea and Nottingham Forest at home. The two sides tied at 1: 1 in the first half. The process was not exciting, but there was a wonderful goal. George Wood's equalizer for Nottingham Forest can basically be selected as one of the best ten goals in this Champions League. Mourinho must be brooding over this goal concede. Tony Twain is also not a guy who will give up after getting a goal in an away game. We still have a game worth looking forward to in the second half. "
As they walked to their respective technical seats, the two managers met briefly, but they did not say anything. Twain did not take the initiative to find fault with them. The two men walked away as if they did not see each other.
There was no point in spitting at each other at this time. Waiting for the results after forty-five minutes was the way to go.
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