The Red Devils' revival starts with retaining Mourinho

After returning to Manchester from Bournemouth, Dorset, head coach Mourinho did not give the players a holiday as usual, but announced that the Manchester United first team will enter a closed training phase in the next few days; the players did not raise any objections, because they all knew that one of the most important games in a season: the first Manchester derby of this season will start this Saturday.

The atmosphere in Manchester United's Carrington training base was serious and focused. The coaching staff had formulated a detailed training plan early on, aiming to get the players in the best physical and tactical condition.

In the early morning, the sun shone on the green training field, and the players arrived one after another. Captain De Gea had a firm look in his eyes, knowing that he was shouldering the responsibility of leading the team to victory. Head coach Mourinho and two assistant coaches Van Nistelrooy and Scholes stood on the sidelines, watching every move of the players, and loudly guiding and encouraging from time to time.

The training started with physical training, and the high-intensity running and strength training made the players' clothes soaked with sweat. Pogba, the core of the midfield, was panting, but his eyes were full of determination. "This is to prepare for every minute of the game, and there can be no slackness!" He said to himself silently in his heart.

Then came the tactical drill. Mourinho explained the tactical arrangements in the derby in detail on the tactical board, and the players gathered together and listened carefully. "We must maintain a tight formation when defending and not give the opponent any space. When attacking, we must pass quickly and play our speed and cooperation." The head coach Mourinho's voice was firm and powerful.

After the team's tactical drill, the two assistant coaches conducted special training for the team's frontcourt attack line:

First, on the striker line, in the No. 2 training ground, Cavani, Rashford, Gakpo, Mason Greenwood, Erling Haaland, Musiala and other strikers were standing neatly in front of assistant coach Van Nistelrooy.

Van Nistelrooy's sharp eyes swept over every player, his voice was steady and powerful: "Boys, today's training will be a test for you. Only by going all out can you continue to improve."

At the beginning of the training, it was physical and speed training. At Van Nistelrooy's order, the players rushed out like an arrow from a string. Rashford was agile and light-footed, showing his excellent explosive power; Gakpo gritted his teeth and tried to keep up with everyone's rhythm, his eyes full of determination; Haaland's long legs were full of power in every step; Cavani was experienced, but he was not inferior, showing the tenacity of a veteran; Lukaku was running wildly, and his huge body seemed unusually flexible at this time.

After completing a round of sprinting, Coach Van Nistelrooy did not give them too much time to breathe, and then there was a series of obstacle running and change of direction running exercises. "Pay attention to your pace and rhythm, speed is not the only thing, flexibility is equally important!" Van Nistelrooy reminded loudly.

The next step was shooting training. In the shooting training, coach Van Nistelrooy arranged a variety of obstacles and changes for the players to improve their shooting skills and their ability to deal with different situations. In addition, Van Nistelrooy also asked the players to shoot immediately after receiving the ball while running from time to time, which increased the suddenness and uncertainty of the shooting.

Rashford shot a powerful shot, and the football whizzed to the upper corner of the goal. Van Nistelrooy nodded slightly to show his approval. Gakpo adjusted his posture and then shot accurately into the lower right corner of the goal. Haaland showed his great strength. The football was blasted out by him, and the goalkeeper didn't even have time to react. Cavani, with his rich experience, chose a tricky angle, leaving the goalkeeper sighing. Lukaku was not to be outdone, and his powerful shots again and again showed his strength.

"Very good, but not enough!" Van Nistelrooy shouted, "In the game, the opponent will not give you such an easy shooting opportunity."

Van Nistelrooy then set up a moving defender model, requiring the players to avoid the interference of these "defenders" when shooting, simulating the shot after breaking through the opponent's defense in actual combat. Secondly, some elastic obstacles were placed in front of the goal. Players need to control the height and strength of the ball when shooting to prevent the ball from being bounced back by obstacles. Some fake goals were also arranged. At the moment of the player's shooting, Van Nistelrooy would suddenly change the position of the real goal, which requires the player to quickly judge and adjust the direction of the shot at the moment of shooting.

Then there is the passing and cooperation training. The players are divided into groups, passing to each other, looking for the best offensive opportunities. Van Nistelrooy observed carefully from the side and pointed out problems from time to time: "Rashford, your pass should be more decisive! Gakpo, pay attention to the timing of the run! Haaland, echo more with teammates! Cavani, visionOpen up a little more! Lukaku, receive the ball more steadily! ”

Under Van Nistelrooy’s strict requirements, the players’ sweat soaked their clothes, but they did not complain at all, and their eyes were full of concentration and perseverance.

At the same time, at the No. 3 training ground at Carrington Base, Manchester United midfielders Pogba, Matic, Verratti, Chris Smalling, Olmo, Nico Williams, Jude Bellingham and others were led by Scholes to conduct targeted training on the accuracy of passing and ball control.

At the beginning of the training, the first thing was to practice the accuracy of passing. Scholes placed multiple target points in different positions and asked the players to pass the ball to these points accurately within the specified time. Pogba showed his excellent footwork, and every pass was just right; Matic relied on his calm style to steadily send the ball to the designated position; Verratti’s pass was delicate and accurate, which made people shine.

The next step was to control the ball and get rid of the defense. Scholes arranged several defensive players to press the midfielders to test their ability to control the ball under pressure. Olmo flexibly shuttled between The defensive players cleverly protected the ball; Nico Williams quickly got rid of the defense with his speed and explosiveness; Jude Bellingham showed the momentum of a young man and bravely confronted the defensive players.

The vision and overall view of the midfield are equally important. Scholes set up multiple simulated offensive and defensive scenes on the field, requiring the players to make quick judgments and choose the best passing route. Chris Smalling can always make wise decisions with his rich experience; Pogba exerted his creativity and gave some unexpected but effective passing options.

In the defensive training session, Scholes personally demonstrated how to make effective interceptions and steals. Matic studied seriously, and his defensive movements became more crisp and neat; Verratti was also constantly adjusting his defensive position and skills.

As the training was coming to an end, Scholes called the players together and concluded: "Everyone worked hard today, but remember, training is just the foundation. Stay calm in the game and show your strength. "

The players nodded one after another, their eyes full of expectations and determination for future games.

During the training break, the players sat together and exchanged ideas with each other. "We must win this game! For the fans and for the honor of Manchester United!" Maguire encouraged his teammates.

Three days before the game, the team held an internal simulation game. The players on both sides went all out, as if this was a real derby battlefield. During the game, there were some coordination errors and defensive loopholes, and head coach Mourinho would stop in time and make targeted adjustments and guidance.

"Everyone should remember that we are a team, and every link cannot go wrong! "There was a hint of urgency in his voice.

After the training, the players did not leave immediately, but stayed on the field for more practice. Goalkeeper De Gea repeatedly practiced the save action, knowing that he had a great responsibility on the goal line.

With two days left before the game, the team's medical team conducted a comprehensive examination and assessment of the players' physical condition. Fortunately, most of the players maintained a good health state, and only a few players had some minor strains, but after treatment and adjustment, it did not affect the game.

On this day, the team also held a tactical analysis meeting. The coaching staff analyzed the opponent Manchester City's recent game performance through video and found out their strengths and weaknesses. "Manchester City's offense is sharp, but their defense is not impeccable. We must seize the opportunity and fight their counterattack. "said assistant coach Van Nistelrooy.

The players took notes seriously, thinking about their tasks and coping strategies in the game.

The day before the game, Manchester United's training intensity was reduced, mainly some easy recovery training and set-piece exercises. After the training, head coach Mourinho made a final mobilization for the players.

"Tomorrow is the moment of the decisive battle, I believe you are ready. On the court, you must believe in yourself, believe in your teammates, and go all out for the glory of Manchester United!"

The players shouted in unison: "Manchester United! Manchester United!" The sound resounded throughout the training base.

As night fell, the players returned home, rested early, and recharged their energy to prepare for the next day's battle.

As the derby approached, the tense atmosphere in the air in Manchester, the football city, became more and more intense; a media war without gunpowder had already begun.

Old Tom, a senior reporter of the Manchester Sports Times, had gray hair but his eyes flashed with an extreme desire for news. He sat in the slightly old office of the editorial department.At the table, he shouted into the phone: "I don't care what method you use, you must dig out the content on the tactical board of Manchester United's closed training before the game, even if it's just a few words!" After hanging up the phone, he quickly typed a column on the keyboard to preview the derby. The article exaggerated Manchester United's glorious history and its determination to win the derby. The words seemed to be a shot of adrenaline for Manchester United fans.

The Blue Moon Pioneer in the same city was not to be outdone. The young and energetic reporter Ellie, with a capable short hair, was rushing through the streets and alleys of the city, trying to get some key information from those who were familiar with Manchester City players. In her report, she emphasized Manchester City's current strong lineup and its recent nearly invincible state, and also accompanied it with a large high-definition photo of Manchester City players sweating on the training ground. The title was even more eye-catching, "Who can compete with the blue moon in the sky?"

In the TV media, the host invited two senior fans and critics of Manchester United and Manchester City to the live broadcast room of the sports channel. David, a Manchester United fan critic, wore a red Manchester United commemorative suit and waved his arms in the program: "Manchester United has a deep foundation and great tradition. It is always the upper hand in the derby. Manchester City is just a new upstart that has risen in recent years with money." Jack, a Manchester City fan critic, immediately hit back: "Times have changed. Look at Manchester City's current lineup and tactical system. We will beat Manchester United in the derby. Their old tactics should have been eliminated long ago." The two of them argued fiercely, making the atmosphere in the entire live broadcast room extremely hot.

The online media was even more noisy. On major football forums, Manchester United fans and Manchester City fans were divided into two camps, posting mockery and attacks on each other. In the Manchester United fan camp, a hot post titled "The Red Storm is about to sweep the Derby" was highly recommended. The post detailed the recent outstanding performances of Manchester United's star players and screenshots of classic moments of victory in past derbies. Manchester City fans immediately organized a counterattack, and a series of posts titled "The Blue Moon Lights up Manchester" continued to emerge, from the team's data analysis to the players' physical condition and other aspects, proving that Manchester City will win the Derby without any suspense.

In the battlefield of public opinion, Manchester United legends have also joined this war without gunpowder.

Manchester United legend Roy Keane, the former iron-blooded captain of the Red Devils, did not lose his fiery temper when he was interviewed by Manchester Sports. "Look at Manchester City now, they think money can buy everything, but at Old Trafford, they will never take away victory easily." Keane's face was grim, and his eyes were burning with persistence for past glory. "Our boys will let them see what the real Red Devils spirit is. Those who walk on the field in blue jerseys don't know what fighting is." On the other side, Manchester United's legendary striker Dwight Yorke also spoke up, "Manchester City has won some championships in recent years, but in important derby games, they lose more than they win, and this time will be no exception. Our forwards will make their back line feel what fear is."

Against the background of this noisy media war, the sky of Manchester seems to be divided into two blocks of red and blue. Everyone is waiting for the moment when the derby game really starts to see whether it is the red Manchester United that continues the legend or the blue Manchester City that writes a new chapter on the field. The media are also rubbing their hands, ready to issue the most shocking reports as soon as possible after the game.