He was expelled from naturalization at the beginning and slipped to Europe to become the king of the

Chapter 277 The ultimate strategy to break the Atletico Madrid bus
Calderon Stadium, press conference hall, visiting team's regular press conference.

Arsenal head coach Wenger and player Sanchez were relatively low-key when interviewed by the media. When asked about their goals for the visit to the Calderon Stadium, they had the same goals.

First of all, I would like to praise Atletico Madrid for its solid defensive system. It is the sharpest defensive team in Europe and even the world. Its counterattack efficiency is among the top five in Europe. Therefore, the goal in the first leg of the Champions League semi-finals is to draw with Atletico Madrid as much as possible like Manchester City's draw with Real Madrid. .

When the local media in Madrid heard Wenger and Sanchez show weakness, their tails were almost raised to the sky.

Head coach Simeone was not fooled. He knew that Wenger's team had performed very well this season, especially the top star Martin, who was in excellent condition. With four rounds of the league left, he could still achieve the miracle that Messi created that year.

Even more cautious because of Wenger's deliberate show of weakness.

At the regular pre-match press conference of the home team, Simeone also made a show of his actions, praising Wenger and Arsenal in various ways.

The two head coaches' weak performance directly caused the fans on both sides of the game to become friendly, and there was no such tense situation at all.

Time flies, and in a blink of an eye, we arrive at the second match day of the Champions League in midweek.

While Bayern's extreme fans were condemned by the world, Atletico Madrid's extreme fans were warned in advance by Atletico Madrid, so Arsenal's preparations were carried out strictly in accordance with the pre-match plans.

Considering the experience in Munich, the club also formulated a plan B, but there was no chance to implement it.

At around six o'clock in the afternoon, the outer square of the Calderon Stadium was already overcrowded, and there were Atletico Madrid fans wearing red and white stripes everywhere.

More than 2000 Arsenal fans traveling with the team and Arsenal fans from all over the world were waiting to enter the venue under the protection of security personnel.

Compared with the friendly situation on social networks, the outside of the stadium on the eve of the war became a large-scale scene of mutual fighting.

Fans from both sides greeted each other, and the Atletico Madrid fans at home had an absolute numerical advantage, so much so that the Arsenal fans were so angry.

When the Arsenal team took the bus to the main road outside the Calderon Stadium, the long-awaited Atletico Madrid fans booed wildly.

Martin is Arsenal's top star and the absolute core of both offense and defense, so he naturally becomes the first target of attack.

The incessant curses continued to flow into the interior of the bus, and you could hear them clearly even if you were listening to music with headphones on.

Although Martin, who has the characteristic [Calm and Calm], keeps his inner calm, he gets irritated when he hears too many barks, so he wants to take action on their owner!

About an hour before the game, UEFA's official website announced the starting list submitted by both sides of the game.

The major media formats put the roster together based on Simeone's usual formations and tactics.

The home team Atletico Madrid’s 442 formation.

Goalkeeper: Oblak
Defenders: Felipe, Savic, Jimenez, Juanfran

Midfielder: Koke, Gabi, Thomas Partey, Saul
Forwards: Griezmann, Torres
……

Arsenal still uses the usual 4231 formation.

Goalkeeper: Petr Cech

Defenders: Monreal, Koscielny, Gabriel, Bellerin
Back midfielder: Coquelin, Martin

Forwards: Sanchez, Ramsey, Walcott

Forward: Giroud

……

"beep~"

Turkish referee Cakir blew his whistle.

"CCTV 5, CCTV 5, the game we are broadcasting for you now is the live broadcast of the first leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-finals between Atletico Madrid and Arsenal in the 2015-2016 season..."

Central 5 commentator He Wei blurted out the standard opening remarks.

"aoaoaoooooo—"

Torres kicked the ball to Griezmann, and the home fans at the Calderon Stadium subconsciously let out a huge roar to cheer for the player who organized the offense.

Atletico Madrid, which has the advantage of being at home, attacked cautiously, but the initial attack still followed the ribs that they were good at in the past to see if they could create absolute scoring opportunities.

The result is obvious. Arsenal pays special attention to the protection of the middle and the two ribs.

Atletico Madrid's tentative attack was soon severely attacked and was forced to implement offensive plan B.

That is... playing two wings!

It's just that Torres, who has passed his thirties, is no longer the peak T9 he was when he played for Liverpool, and his impact has dropped significantly.

Griezmann's heading ability is indeed outstanding, and his judgment of the landing point is also very keen, but his height is a flaw.

Premier League teams are never afraid of crosses.

Considering that Arsenal may have a quick counterattack from defense to attack, Simeone's team does not invest many people in the attack, and the two full-backs have to take turns to participate in the attack.

After multiple passes, the football was given to Juanfran who crossed the right sideline at high speed.

Without waiting for Monreal to defend, he passed directly with his right foot.

Gabriel, who was in front of the small penalty area, jumped high but did not make a clearance, and the football flew over.

"Crowned!"

Griezmann, who was ambushing behind Gabriel, seemed to have expected it and he took off.

At this moment, a golden figure suddenly flashed in front of Griezmann, twisted his waist and swung his abdomen, and pushed the ball out of the baseline.

Griezmann looked at Martin, who pushed the ball out of the baseline and almost rushed into the goal due to inertia, with his mouth half open.

He remembered his observation before scrambling for the landing spot and saw that Martin was still at the top of the penalty area. How could he reach the small penalty area in the blink of an eye?
Damn it, too fast?

Standing in the home team coach's technical area, Simeone felt a little headache. Just now he thought Griezmann had given the team a lightning lead, but he didn't expect Martin to run up to Griezmann like a ghost and complete a very timely clearance.

"This guy is more difficult than imagined."

Not far away, Wenger, who was directing the technical area of ​​the visiting team's coach, let out a long breath and roared loudly at Gabriel. If Martin hadn't been in place to defend, Griezmann's header skills in front of the goal would have probably resulted in a loss. .

If Atletico Madrid scores first, the next game will become particularly difficult.

The reckless Gabriel felt tremendous pressure coming on his face, and his heartbeat accelerated unnaturally.

"Paulista, it's understandable that you were a little nervous at the beginning of the game. Stay highly focused. I believe you can do it." At the critical moment, a big hand was placed on his right shoulder.

He turned around and saw that it was Martin.

"I……"

"If you're a man, don't be coy and defend yourself."

Martin patted his chest again.

"it is good!"

In an instant, Gabriel Paulista felt infinite power surging from his body.

In the next corner kick defense, he defeated Torres with a header to clear the ball.

Felipe, who was ambushing outside the penalty area, had no choice when facing Ramsey who was attacking him. He just came and volleyed the ball without stopping.

In order to prevent the football from hitting the defensive player and switching from offense to defense, the height of the volley is directed above the head.

If you are lucky, you will score the goal, but if you are not lucky, you will not leave Arsenal a chance to counterattack quickly.

This time, we were not very lucky. The kicked football flew directly to the second-floor stands.

Arsenal fans, who were placed in a corner of the stadium, burst into laughter and laughed at Felipe for helping them complete the rescue.

Felipe has rich experience in the game and has seen big winds and waves. How could he be affected by the ridicule of away fans?

He shrugged and ran back to half-court defense.

Cech took a short goal kick from the backcourt. Since Atletico Madrid defended in a low position and no players defended in a high position in the frontcourt, Koscielny, who received the ball, could easily pass the ball forward.

After receiving the football, Martin handed the ball to the right back Bellerin, and then ran towards the right flank of the attack to participate in the offensive organization.

Atletico Madrid's defensive discipline is very strong, the players' positions are kept very close, and the center and ribs are watertight.

Faced with such a defense, Martin has his own solution.

Set pieces and long shots!

But before that, some preparation needs to be done.

If Atletico Madrid's defense adapts to this offensive method, it will seriously affect the subsequent scoring.

Diversification of offensive methods is the key to confusing the opponent's defense.

Use accurate long passes to involve Atletico Madrid's defense back and forth.

Torres and Griezmann had the defensive task of harassing Martin in turns, but to no avail.

After all, both of them are offensive players, and their defense is basically just showmanship.

Martin has extremely strong ball control and dribbling abilities. Even professional defensive players can't steal the ball, let alone offensive players?

Through many consecutive passes, Martin, who reached out for the ball again, faked a fake dunk and passed Griezmann who was trying to grab the ball.

Atletico Madrid captain Gabi has a strong sense of defense and assists Koke on the left to attack with him, as if he is ready to knock you down if you dare to break through.

Martin, who had a wide field of vision, raised the corners of his mouth and flicked the ball to right back Bellerin with the outside instep of his right foot.

As soon as Cork turned around to defend Bellerin on the wing, Bellerin immediately passed the ball back.

At this time, Gabi and Cork were a little far apart. Martin suddenly accelerated and used the passive effect of [Stop Master] to move the ball to the most comfortable position.

Gabby was conscious, but unfortunately his body's reaction speed couldn't keep up with the instructions from his brain.

"Wowowoooooo—"

With the sound of exclamation in the sky above the Calderon Stadium, Martin, who is extremely explosive, dribbled past with the ball in a blink of an eye.

Thomas is responsible for the core defense at the top of the penalty area, and due to his position in the area, he cannot fill the space behind Gabi and Koke immediately.

Left back Felipe also shoulders the important task of defending Martin.

Before the game, Simeone made a key statement not to give Martin a long-range shot opportunity within 30 meters.

Martin caught up with the football in two strides and passed the ball to the attacking right with the outside of his right foot.

"Theo Walcott!"

The on-site director switched the camera, and Walcott, who was running forward against the right sideline, stopped Martin's perfectly placed pass with the instep of Martin in the direction of travel, and then passed the ball roughly according to the landing point of the side cross established before the game. passed.

Unfortunately, his footwork was poor. The football he kicked towards the penalty area did not go around the front point and was pushed out of the penalty area by Savage who jumped high.

Ramsey, who was closer to the landing point, rushed to pass the ball to Martin before Thomas arrived. The latter stopped the ball with the instep of his right foot half a meter in front of him.

Griezmann and Gabi, who belatedly stepped forward to defend, were half a beat too slow. Martin took the lead and passed the ball at a 45° angle to the right rib of the attack.

The football shot up from the ground like a rainbow across the sky, passing over the head of Jimenez in the middle of the penalty area with a strong inward arc, and flew to the left rib of the penalty area.

I saw Sanchez ducking in front of Juanfran and kicking hard with both feet, leaning forward with his upper body, leaning over and diving over the football that fell to the height of an ordinary person's thigh.

Oblak, who quickly moved from the center of the goal to the right, was almost a conditioned reflex. While his body fell to the right, he stretched out his right hand and moved it instinctively with his fingertips, just in time to deflect the football that Sanchez pushed over from its original trajectory. The outside of the left goal post went out of the baseline...

"Oh My God!"

"Didn't get in!!"

Sky TV commentator Andy Gray exclaimed: "Alexis Sanchez's diving dive was saved by the divine help of Jan Oblak! He saved Atletico Madrid!"

"Oblak saved the ball so beautifully!"

Central 5 commentator He Wei shouted: "Without Oblak's wonderful save, Arsenal would have probably scored a valuable away goal in the away game!"

Atletico Madrid coach Simeone was particularly angry. He roared at the defensive players, venting his dissatisfaction and putting pressure on the defensive players on the field to avoid being rash again.

In fact, Jimenez's defensive position selection is good. Forwards such as high center forward Giroud should be guarded by two strong central defenders. There is really nothing that can be done against Martin's well-timed cross.

But as a head coach, you have to do something to keep the players on the field alert.

(End of this chapter)