Full-level pass, please call me the speaker of the Three Lions

Chapter 221 The front court is picturesque, the back court...

Facing Leicester City's 45-degree cross tactics, Van Gaal was not unprepared.

A wise man never falls in the same place!

After the first round of the contest between the two sides, he and his coaching staff carefully studied how to crack Leicester City's move.

In modern football, whoever wins the midfield wins the world!

After changing from the 4231 formation to the 442 parallel formation, the number of midfielders changed from three to two.

Moreover, the 442 parallel positioning formation has very high requirements for the two central midfielders.

Although Cambiaso has awareness and experience, his physical fitness and confrontation are average.

And "Drinking Brother" Drinkwater has good physical fitness and confrontation, and can go up and down.

But the midfield area he can cover alone is simply not enough to resist Manchester United's attack!

As long as they take advantage of the numerical advantage in the middle to suppress Leicester City's two defensive midfielders, they can directly pose a threat to the two central defenders behind them.

The central defender partnership of Huth and Morgan is more than tough but lacks speed.

Whether it is Falcao, Di Maria, or Mata who just came on, they all have the technical ability to pass and cut in a small space.

Just a one-two is enough to defeat these two central defenders who don't turn quickly!

Of course, when there are a lot of people in the midfield, the wings will naturally be empty!

Especially under the premise that Leicester City mainly attacks from the wing, they will pile up heavy troops in the midfield, which will only give Ling Feng and Mahrez more space on the wing!

However, Van Gaal also responded to this.

Directly let the full-back take the lead and press behind the two wingers.

Especially Ling Feng's side!

Anyway, Luke Xiao can't guard Ling Feng, so he might as well get behind him and foul him as soon as he gets the ball.

In this way, it can interrupt Leicester City's offensive rhythm.

Even if a free kick is given, it is far away from one's own half!

Therefore, Van Gaal took advantage of the dead ball opportunity and called captain Rooney to the sidelines for a face-to-face instruction:

"Wayne, play more pass-and-cut coordination in the middle!"

"Let Angel (Di Maria) make more breakthroughs on Cambiaso!"

"Also, let Luke and Antonio (Valencia) press up."

And this tactical change quickly bore fruit.

Manchester United slowly used the numerical advantage in the midfield to firmly control the ball at their feet.

Within fifteen minutes, Manchester United's ball possession rate reached an astonishing 70%!

And whenever Leicester City wants to play the ball directly from the backcourt, pass it to the two wingers.

The two full-backs Valencia and Luke Shaw who follow them like a shadow will not hesitate to foul!

Kill any possible attack from the start!

As Manchester United repeatedly launched attacks in the middle, Cambiaso's physical fitness declined significantly, becoming a breakthrough for Manchester United's main attack!

In the 78th minute of the game, Manchester United once again played a continuous passing and cutting cooperation in the middle.

Mata and Di Maria played a one-two match, passed Cambiaso, and came to the front of the penalty area.

The former flicked his left foot and sent a very comfortable diagonal pass to the back of the Blue Fox right back Simpson.

The latter was like a sharp knife, going straight into the penalty area, and then sweeping the ball straight towards the goal without stopping!

Rooney, who came in from behind, rushed out from between the two central defenders and scored with a push shot, leading the score at home!

"Wow!"

“Nice coordination!”

"Rooney~~~"

"When the team needed him most, the Red Devils captain stood up!"

Seeing his beloved team equalize the score, Ferguson in the stands, like every other ordinary Manchester United fan, applauded his former disciples with a smile on his face.

Although the performance at the beginning of the season was really disappointing.

However, time has proven that Van Gaal is definitely the most suitable head coach for the current Red Devils!

And with the overtake, the morale of the Manchester United players became even higher.

However, at this time, Van Gaal's tactical decision-making ability as a famous coach is reflected.

I saw him standing on the sidelines, pressing down on Xi Xixia with both hands, signaling to the disciples to hold still and not rush forward to attack.

You know, they are leading now!

With Van Gaal's order, Spanish midfielder Mata became the commander of Manchester United's midfield.

He kept running, connecting his teammates with simple short passes, and then continued to control the ball from the outside, mobilizing Leicester City's entire defense and patiently looking for better passing opportunities.

Time passed bit by bit, and the Leicester City players felt a little tired.

The game is coming to an end, and the physical fitness of the frontcourt players cannot support them from pressing high.

Even if Pearson replaced the physically exhausted Cambiaso with the energetic Marty James to strengthen the defense in the midfield;

Mahrez was also replaced, replaced by Albrighton who was more physically fit, and then the two wingers returned to both sides of the midfield to assist in defense.

It also failed to change the situation of Manchester United pressing them in the half!

Leicester City made several sporadic counterattacks, and could only directly pass a long ball from the backcourt to find Ling Feng on the right, and then let him advance forward or pass directly.

After several fouls, Ling Feng's body was covered with grass clippings.

And Luke Shaw finally got a topaz victory card as punishment.

This deadlock was not broken until the 88th minute of the game:

Ling Feng retreated from the right and received a pass from right back Simpson.

This time, Luke Shaw, who had a yellow card on his back, did not dare to foul again.

But Ling Feng didn't show any politeness, he just used up his last strength and started making soup!

Seeing Ling Feng passing by, Luke Xiao could only chase after him desperately.

Seeing Ling Feng continue to drive the ball towards Manchester United's right hinterland, Ulloa, Vardy, and even Albrighton on the left all moved to prepare to receive his pass.

All the way to the right side of the penalty area, Ling Feng glanced at his teammates in the penalty area and made a pass without hesitation!

Bang!

A half-high curve ball flew into Manchester United's penalty area!

"Cross!"

Phil Jones in the penalty area immediately went to grab the forward point.

Based on the experience of losing the ball last time, Phil Jones did not dare to neglect, let alone let the ball pass in front of him.

Ever since, he stretched out his left foot!

However, just when he thought he could stretch his legs to block the ball, the ball suddenly dropped in the air!

what? !

The ball landed two meters in front of him and then bounced off the ground!

Then, with the surprised expression on Phil Jones's face, he rubbed the outside of his thigh, and then a strange change occurred.

The next second, the ball flew straight to the far corner of the goal, passed by De Gea's subconsciously extended right hand, and finally got into the goal behind him!

And De Gea's gesture of reaching out to save was immediately frozen in place.

Witnessing the birth of this own goal, the entire Old Trafford stadium fell into deathly silence.

Countless home team fans held their heads in their hands and watched all this with disbelief.

And the next second, with a "boom", the visiting team fans burst out with amazing energy, cheers and celebrations, instantly occupying the entire stadium!

"Ness!"

"Evened!"

"Ling Feng, well done!"

They never expected that this ball actually caused an own goal.

Happiness comes too suddenly! "Wow!"

"This cross ball actually flew into my own goal."

"It must have been Jones' own goal."

"It's really unexpected. The game doesn't come to the last minute. Everything is possible!"

"Leicester City equalized at Old Trafford in the last minute of regular time!"

Led by the Fox Club, a die-hard Blue Fox fan group, thousands of away team fans sang "The Song of Peak" for the first time at the Dream Theater:

"Ling Feng Ling Feng Ling~~~Feng!"

"He's from Leicester and he's our hero!"

"His passing is mesmerizing."

"Ling Feng Ling Feng Ling~~~Feng!"

"He is from Leicester and we are proud of him!"

The piercing singing echoed in his ears, and De Gea could only fish the ball out of the goal with a helpless expression, and then kicked it into the air.

I had no way to vent my inner anguish, so I could only curse in my heart:

I'm so hot!

In addition to guarding against the opponent's shots, you also have to guard against the "undercover" of your own defense.

This goal cannot be blamed on the goalkeeper.

No matter how strong De Gea is, he cannot predict the ball's irregular changes in direction.

Of course, Phil Jones cannot be blamed for this goal.

It was precisely because he wanted to defend so much that he tried to stretch out his feet to intercept the cross.

If you don't stretch your legs, the ball will be allowed to pass. The last ball lost is a clear example!

If you want to blame, you can only blame their bad luck.

However, although this result was unexpected, Ling Feng did not think it was luck.

This quick passing technique with a half-high ball is to create murderous opportunities in the "don't care" area where the goalkeeper dares not attack and the defender dare not stretch his feet!

Whether a teammate kicks the ball or an opponent kicks the ball, it will pose a threat to the opponent's goal.

And this is the signature skill of the Premier League’s number one midfielder, Mr. Ding – arcing crosses!

Phil Jones' own goal also poured cold water on the high morale of the Manchester United players.

Other teammates also knew about this surprise, and no one could have predicted it.

They didn't complain either.

Some just lowered their heads and sighed, and some looked helpless.

At this time, Rooney, as the captain on the field, showed his responsibility as a team leader!

He raised his arms and clapped to attract the attention of his teammates:

"guys!"

"Keep your head up!"

"This is Old Trafford! It's our home ground!"

"Are you planning to give up so soon?!"

After that, he also ran to Phil Jones, who looked remorseful, and comforted the kid who had made a mistake.

Seeing Rooney boosting morale, Ferguson in the stands also showed a deep sense of relief in his eyes.

The once grumpy little fat guy has now grown into a leader of the Red Devils who stands up at critical moments.

This also made him sigh in his heart:

Time flies so fast

After Rooney launched his morale-boosting captain skills, Manchester United's generals once again ignited some fighting spirit.

In the next five or six minutes plus stoppage time, they once again launched a fierce attack on Leicester City.

Leicester City, on the other hand, retreated to their own half, united and withstood waves of sieges.

Finally, with a long whistle from the referee, the game ended!

With a goal from Ling Feng's two crosses and an own goal, Leicester City managed a difficult draw with Manchester United at Old Trafford and escaped!

. . .

After the game ended, it was already eight o'clock in the evening.

This means that there are only the last thirty-five hours left before the winter transfer window deadline!

There is less than a day and a half left for all clubs to operate!

Half an hour after the game ended, when Leicester City's team bus had just left Old Trafford, Leicester City's director of football received offers from Arsenal and Liverpool.

The target of the offer is none other than their leading striker, Jamie Vardy!

Arsenal offered an offer of 10 million pounds, while Liverpool offered an offer of 12 million pounds.

From the amount of the offer, we can also see how eager the two teams are for Vardy.

Compared with Liverpool, which has four great forwards who are "old, weak, sick and disabled" and are seriously weak in front, Arsenal is definitely not so anxious.

Although forward Welbeck, who was just introduced in the summer window, is not in good condition and cannot score goals.

However, their main forward is Giroud, and Walcott is recovering from injury.

The introduction of Vardy is, on the one hand, to strengthen the striker to cope with the three-line battles in the league, Champions League and FA Cup.

On the other hand, it is also to attack Leicester City, a direct competitor for the fourth place.

On the other hand, Liverpool is even more urgent.

Without him, the four forwards in their team combined would not have scored as many goals as Vardy alone!

If they don't buy a striker who can score goals, they may not even be able to qualify for the European competition this season!

Faced with these two offers, Leicester City football director Rudkin, who had already received instructions from Pearson, rejected the offer without hesitation.

However, just minutes later, both clubs sent new offers.

The two clubs raised their prices without hesitation, one to 1,200 and the other to 1,400.

Rejected again.

Then for the third offer, both companies offered an offer of 15 million pounds!

After renewing his contract in the summer window, Vardy's contract default amount was exactly 15 million pounds!

In other words, both clubs have triggered Vardy's liquidated damages clause and plan to take Vardy away directly!

Until this time, Rudkin knew very well that even if he refused, it would be meaningless.

Once the club triggers the player's release clause, they can skip the club and negotiate directly with the player!

As a result, he immediately notified the team's head coach and the player's agent, telling them about the two clubs' offers for him.

While driving on the Leicester City team bus on the motorway, Pearson received a call from the club's director of football.

"Yeah, I know"

After hanging up the phone, he heard the slightly curious voice of Walsh next to him:

"What's wrong? You don't look good. Did something happen?"

Hearing this, Pearson, who frowned, slowly turned his head and said in a deep voice:

"Both Arsenal and Liverpool triggered Jamie's release clause!"

(End of this chapter)