The Godfather of Greenery

Chapter 699

Choosing to leave the city of Milan where he has played for more than ten years, leave Italy where he has lived since he was a child, and go to a strange England full of unknown dangers, Pirlo made a very bold and courageous decision a year ago.

In the past year, countless reporters hoped to dig out from Pirlo's mouth the inside story of his departure from AC Milan, but in the few interviews, Pirlo said that he chose to join Tote The reason for Nam Tottenham is that he is eager to accept a new stimulus and challenge.

The most he explained was to defend himself. He said that he joined Tottenham Hotspur not for money, because the salary he could get in Tottenham Hotspur was comparable to playing for AC Milan and other teams. The salary package given by Juventus is much lower, because he has to accommodate Tottenham Hotspur's overall salary structure.

However, some media revealed that Pirlo did cut his salary by half to join Tottenham Hotspur. The income is not lower than when he was in AC Milan, and even higher, because half a year after joining the team, Tottenham Hotspur helped him sign thirteen sponsorship contracts.

There is no doubt that in less than a year, free transfer, Pirlo, who was considered to be old before the season, conquered the fans of Tottenham Hotspur, and also conquered the entire Premier League, relying on his skills And his introverted and low-key character.

The arrival of Pirlo has given Tottenham a continuation of the overall style of play. His short and long passes are very precise and excellent. He can control the ball, organize and use various methods to change the ball. Team rhythm, he made all Tottenham fans forget Fabregas, David Silva and Yaya Toure.

When almost all the media in the world evaluate the best transfer signings of this season, Pirlo must be ranked first. There is no suspense at all, because a player who joined for free can play such a wonderful world Top level, who could ask for more?
Pirlo's outstanding performance in the Premier League even made AC Milan's Allegri have to admit one thing when he was accused by AC Milan fans, "There is nothing to regret letting Pirlo go, but he He is a very good player!"

Some media even revealed that Galliani is still somewhat dissatisfied with Allegri for Pirlo's departure.

After the results of the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals draw were announced, all reporters and media were excited, because Pirlo returned to the San Siro Stadium, and this battle will attract the attention and attention of the whole world.

Unexpectedly, two days before the game, Tottenham Hotspur decided to arrange for Pirlo to accept an exclusive interview with Gazzetta dello Sport after consulting Pirlo. He mentioned the real reason for leaving AC Milan for the first time, that is, he and AC Milan had basically reached a contract renewal clause, but Allegri's attitude shook the club, and finally made him feel insulted, so he left. Decided to leave the team.

"I believe that all professional players want to be able to play in a team that recognizes our importance. When you realize that your team can no longer give you such importance, you will definitely be disappointed, so I chose I left, but my relationship with AC Milan is still very good. When we broke AC Milan's 58-game unbeaten record, I received congratulatory text messages from almost all Milan teammates."

"Does Berlusconi and Galliani have any?" the reporter asked.

"No!" Pirlo shook his head, "But I respect them very much!"

"Ye Qiu is a great head coach. I have experienced many head coaches in my career, but there is no one like him. He arranges everything very clearly, prepares very well, and even every game Before the game, we will organize us to watch the opponent’s analysis video, which is a very detailed and targeted analysis.”

"The moment we stepped onto the court, we knew everything about our opponents. We had a very professional and huge team behind us, which made us invincible, but more importantly This team has a strong mental strength, everyone is eager to keep working hard, keep improving, beat teammates, beat opponents, this strong belief allows us to play the best level in every game !"

The reporter of Gazzetta dello Sport nodded after listening, "Many Pirlo fans have discovered a very interesting phenomenon. Pirlo has played very amazing statistics in the Premier League this season. Both goals and assists have created new career highs. , but more importantly, you are almost 33 years old, but your average number of passes per game and success rate are amazing, even you have not been troubled and affected by injuries throughout the season, and your average running distance per game has reached ten A kilometer, which is something you've never done before."

After hearing this, Pirlo laughed, "Yes, as I said just now, we have a very large and very professional and advanced team behind us. They tell me every day that if you want to continue to perform well, What should be paid attention to, how should training be arranged, etc., they are the most professional team I have ever seen!"

"You mean Theobald Research Center?" the reporter tried.

Pirlo smiled and said nothing. This is the core secret of Tottenham Hotspur. After a pause, he continued: "I can have such a good performance this season. I think I have to thank my teammates. I have a group of people in the world. The top team-mates, you know, when you're surrounded by such an exceptional group of teammates, it's easy to pass the ball."

"Of course, there is also our head coach, Mr. Ye Qiu. He is a genius, but not just a genius in the field of head coaching. I know that one day he will definitely change the entire football world. I have no doubts about this, and I I am very honored and very proud to be a part of his overall plan, which is an honor for any professional player."

"I feel like I'm playing for a team that has a chance to match the Total Michels era, or the Sacchi Milan era, the kind of great team that can make history, and now, I feel like I've never been in my career. So strong today!"

"The truth?" the reporter tried to ask.

"Very sure!" Pirlo nodded seriously.

…………

…………

This remark appeared on the front page of Gazzetta dello Sport the day before the game, before Tottenham Hotspur came to Milan, and immediately aroused huge repercussions throughout Milan and the world. People are sure, but many people doubt it.

The affirmative believes that Pirlo has indeed reached the peak of his career in terms of statistics and performance this season, and more importantly, he has become the main force of this history-making Tottenham Hotspur midfield.

But some people also questioned that this is a psychological tactic of Tottenham Hotspur, the purpose is to split AC Milan before the game, especially when Allegri is not in harmony with many players in the team, such as Nesta.

The current situation of the AC Milan veteran is also the same as that of Pirlo last season. Some media even broke the news that he almost had a big fight with Allegri in the locker room, although Allegri was forced to play in some games. Relying heavily on Nesta, but on the team's renewal issue, Allegri has set obstacles for Nesta.

As a result, before the game, players from both sides lined up to leave the locker room passage. Pirlo was joking with Nesta, the only player in the AC Milan starting lineup who could speak, and asked about him jokingly. Whether he also got a Cartier pen inlaid with the Milan team logo, and whether he is willing to switch to the Premier League like himself last summer.

"Don't worry, Alessandro, I'll help you avenge!" Pirlo said with a smile close to Nesta's ear.

"With me here, don't even think about it!" The former world's chief central defender responded with a provocative smile.

In fact, in the game, Nesta did play a very good peak game. He used his outstanding performance against Tottenham Hotspur to prove one thing. He is indeed 36 years old. But he can continue to persist, because he has never been a central defender who relies on his body for food.

Maldini can play until he is 40, and so can Nesta!
This is not only to help AC Milan defeat their opponents and gain some bargaining chips for their own contract renewal, but also a way for a top superstar to prove his dignity. He wants to tell everyone that although he is old, he is still the best in this world. One of the strongest central defenders in the world.

Therefore, in the game, Nesta not only performed well, but also showed the excellent ability of the defense commander. A midfielder with both offense and defense, he organized tight defenses again and again, defusing waves of Tottenham Hotspur's attacks.

Seeing the passing of time every minute and every second, from the first half to the second half, although Tottenham Hotspur occupied an overwhelming advantage and obtained an amazing ball possession rate, they still failed to effectively break through AC Milan. goal.

Is it really necessary to end this game with a draw?
Pirlo was not reconciled. He had fantasized about the situation when he returned to the San Siro Stadium many times. He was even thinking before the game that he would try to beat AC Milan in the away game anyway. He wanted to use a victory to tell Ahmad Legere, giving up on himself a year ago was the biggest mistake he has made since coaching AC Milan.

But Pirlo will soon be 33 years old. He has passed the age of losing his mind because of anger. He knows very well that anger is his driving force, but he must not let anger control his thoughts, so he is waiting patiently With the opportunity.

Ye Qiu quickly made adjustments, replacing the underperforming left back Marcelo and Raul at the same time.

Although playing Naples before, Raul performed very eye-catching after coming off the bench and became the hero of the team's promotion, but Raul, who started again in this game, performed very sluggishly. , Raul failed to get the space to play similar to the game against Naples.

This time Ye Qiu replaced Raul with Neymar, moved Messi to the center, and Ribery and Neymar formed the two wings.

The former Real Madrid captain also looked lonely when he was off the field. This season, his chances at Tottenham Hotspur have become less and less, and he himself is very aware of his situation. His physical condition has made it difficult to adapt to such intense competition. The Premier League and the Champions League, before Beckham told him to retire in the summer, he also moved the idea of ​​leaving the team.

The sponsors of the team in the Middle East have also moved their minds, hoping to invite Raul to play in the Middle East and offer a high salary. Continue to play football.

After a round of adjustments, Tottenham Hotspur's control over the game situation seemed to be loose, and AC Milan began to have the opportunity to counterattack, and all of this was driven by Pirlo, because Ye Qiu told him to let AC Milan played a proper counterattack, the purpose is to hope that AC Milan can press it out, so that the defense will definitely loosen.

But it is obvious that Allegri is very careful. The counterattack still relies more on the three frontcourt players such as Pato, Cassano and Boateng. He is unwilling to invest more troops in the counterattack. Guarantee your own backcourt defense.

Seeing this situation, Pirlo could only wait for another opportunity.

"It seems that Allegri is really determined that a draw is a victory!" Mauro Tassotti also felt a headache. Once the Italian team is determined to stick to it, it will be very difficult to break through of.

0:0 at home, this score is not necessarily a bad thing for both sides, Tottenham Hotspur has no away goals, although Milan can't win the opponent at home, but the away game has a chance to do everything they can, as long as they get an away goal If you have the ball, you have the advantage.

The away goal mechanism of the Champions League knockout match is indeed a very complicated test for both sides, almost all-round, and it is this away goal mechanism that creates the suspense and appreciation of the Champions League knockout match.

Of course Ye Qiu guessed Allegri's attitude, "Since he intends to do this, let's go one step further!"

After speaking, Ye Qiu walked to the front of the white line of the visiting team's command area, and shouted at the players on the field, changing gestures in his hands, signaling the players to make more fuss on the two sides and continue to strengthen the side attack.

After receiving Ye Qiu's instructions, Tottenham Hotspur began to attack from the wing.

Pirlo kicked a diagonal long pass near the center circle, and it landed precisely on the right. Ribery, who switched to the right, sprinted forward quickly facing the attacking direction. After unloading the ball with his feet, the left Defender Antonini quickly caught up and blocked Ribery's inward cut route, and Nesta was also very smart to block between Ribery and Messi.

One-on-one, Ribery is sure to break through Antonini, but even if it passes, it will be trapped in the opponent's double-team, so Ribery thinks there is no chance, knocks the ball back, Kyle Walker rushes up from behind, catches Arriving at the ball, he wanted to cross, but AC Milan was clearly prepared. Kyle Walker's cross landed very well. Allegri asked the players to be careful before the game.

Van Bommel rushed up quickly, forcing Kyle Walker to have no chance to make a pass. He made an emergency stop and smashed the ball, and knocked the ball back directly to Pirlo, who was lagging behind in the middle.

Passing the middle circle, Pirlo was just outside the 30-meter zone of AC Milan. When he received a return pass from Kyle Walker, he also glanced to the left from the corner of his eye. Nam Tottenham's offense is not uncommon, especially after Pirlo joined this season, almost all of his oblique long passes are diagonal attacks, looking for two sides.

Neymar and Messi are in the penalty area. Because of Tottenham Hotspur's right-sided Ribery and Kyle Walker's offensive, AC Milan's defense tends to be on its left, and there are some gaps on the right. .

After Pirlo stopped the ball and turned to the left, Boateng rushed to Pirlo at the first time, but the latter made a long diagonal pass with a curved ball with his left foot, which landed just in front of AC Milan's baseline.

I saw that the ball crossed a large area of ​​the half court and landed precisely about ten meters away from the bottom line. I don’t know when, the left back Alba who came off the bench quickly passed the defense area of ​​the right back Abate, rushed Before the ball landed, he hooked and unloaded the ball and stopped very well.

Pirlo's long pass has his own characteristics, that is, the person who catches the ball is very comfortable.

Harvey Alonso should be regarded as the player with the longest precise long pass distance in today's football after Beckham gradually withdraws. He can send the ball from his own penalty area to any point in the opponent's penalty area to complete a long pass. Although this kind of ball has a good landing point, it is very difficult to catch the ball, so he has a lot of long passes and a good landing point, but the success rate is not high.

Barcelona's midfielder Xavi is another characteristic. He rarely uses long passes, so he is the player with the fewest long passes among the top midfielders in active service, but the success rate is the highest, reaching 92. .4%, it cannot be said that Harvey's long pass is the strongest, because he is the least adventurous, and he will not launch a long pass without sufficient certainty.

Scholes is another player with excellent long pass ability. His long pass arc is not big, the speed is relatively fast, and the precise distance is not as good as Harvey Alonso, but the accuracy rate is very high, which is mainly reflected in the middle lane. Two wings, or crosses from two wings, can be regarded as players who have a better grasp of the scale between precise distance and accuracy.

Pirlo's passing ability is very good, which is reflected in his long and short passes, but what makes him really outstanding is that he is not just passing the ball, he is using the pass to tell his teammates how to start attack.

It’s as if sometimes he sees a very dense defense zone in front of you, and the defensive player is about to double-team you, so he passes you to the back position, making you stop and turn around, and get rid of the defense the moment you catch the ball , and sometimes he will feel that your position is too far back, so he will pass you in front and let you rush forward, which happens to break through the opponent's defense.

There are really not many players with this kind of passing awareness, and they are rare. Harvey is one of them, and there is Riquelme, and Harvey? Alonso, Scholes and others are more just sorting out and On the ball.

This is why Pirlo was named one of the 20 people who influenced football history.

It's as if he gave Alba a long diagonal pass. After the Spanish left back rushed up, because the ball was passed diagonally from the center to the left, Alba had to stop the ball to his right if he wanted to stop the ball. On the side, that is, close to the middle, and the landing position is very good, behind the Abate defense zone, you can pass the ball as soon as you stop.

In fact, as soon as Alba stopped the ball, before he could react, Abate, who quickly returned to the defense, approached and made a cross directly.

(End of this chapter)