Chapter 993： Manchester City will win!

On April 15, in the FA Cup semi-final, Manchester City played against Tottenham Hotspur.

Goalkeeper Cudicini, the back line is Hector, Ledley, Gallas and Kyle Walker, the midfield is delayed by Livermore and Parker, the front field is Gareth Bale, Van der Vaart and Alan Lennon, the single forward is Adebayor.

This is the starting lineup for Tottenham Hotspur.

When Manchester City got the starting list before the game, everyone's first reaction was incomprehensible.

It's said outside that Redknapp is going to give up the FA Cup, but it doesn't look like it now.

Could it be said that all the news released before the game were smoke bombs?

A staff member walked into the locker room and handed out black gauze belts to Manchester City's players, asking every player to tie his left arm.

This was requested by the FA, because April 15th happened to be the 23rd anniversary of the Hillsborough tragedy.

The tragedy twenty-three years ago can be said to be a turning point in the rapid decline of English football from the peak of history. It also prevented the English league from catching up with European football for a long time, until Manchester United's triple crown. , The Premier League has gradually caught up with the mainstream.

In recent years, the influx of capital has brought advanced skills and tactics to the Premier League, as well as outstanding players. Only now can the Premier League show such a flourishing scene.

Therefore, the FA will hold an event to commemorate the Hillsborough tragedy every year. On this day, the match will wear a black veil to mourn the victims, but this year happens to be the FA Cup semi-final.

…

Su Dong distributed the black gauze to his teammates, and everyone asked his teammates to help tie them.

It can't be too tight for fear of affecting the game, but it can't be too loose, otherwise it's easy to fall off and get distracted.

Coach Guardiola's pre-match mobilization is more from the game. He believes that Manchester City's strength is above Tottenham Hotspur. As long as the players play steadily, winning the game is no problem.

"We don't need to be disturbed by the outside world, and we don't need to be distracted to guess the opponent's mind. It doesn't make much sense to us, because we only need to kick ourselves well and we will definitely be able to win the opponent."

Guardiola once again emphasized that Manchester City still maintains the [mainly me] game mentality in the game and insists on adopting the pass and control method. No matter what tactics the opponent adopts, Manchester City will not change its tactics.

This requires everyone to be patient.

Before going on the court, Su Dong just asked Pepe to tie himself a black gauze belt. Now he is the captain's armband on one side and a black gauze belt on the other.

Everyone waited silently, and when he was ready, he walked in front of everyone before raising their heads.

"We don’t know what kind of tactics Tottenham Hotspur will adopt, but I agree with what Pep said just now, don’t think about opponents, because no matter what tactics they adopt, we have to defeat them. They can definitely be defeated!"

Su Dong said this proudly and confidently.

"It's April 15th, and there are 34 days before the Champions League final."

Su Dong suddenly said this, causing everyone in the dressing room to suddenly look up. Many people looked at him inexplicably, while some people began to think about the meaning of Su Dong's words.

The Champions League final was held on May 19 at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany.

It is exactly thirty-four days away now.

Su Dong must have counted.

"I know that in the past few months, each of us has worked very hard, no matter whether we played or not, no matter how many games we played, whether it was the main force, the rotation or the substitutes, or even the teenagers of our youth team, everyone was very hard. ."

"We are able to reach this point, and we cannot do without everyone's efforts over the past few months."

In the locker room, the players who entered the big roster heard very emotionally.

Manchester City's bench is very thick, but the problem is that Manchester City's schedule is also very dense.

Four-line combat, almost every week is a two-line combat, sometimes even on the axis, coupled with various factors such as injuries, ups and downs in the state, resulting in every player in Manchester City is burdened with heavy pressure and burden. .

Even the substitutes and young players, in the atmosphere of the team, they are also very cautious, walking on thin ice.

Why?

Because anytime, anywhere, which player is injured or in decline, they must be able to top it at any time.

If it is on top and the performance is not satisfactory, then it is the sinner of the whole team.

Who can enter Manchester City, which one is not the best among professional players? Which one is not responsible? Which one doesn't want to help the team win?

In this atmosphere, each of them, whether it is training or competition, is going all out to do the best.

Even players like Joe Hart, who are sure to leave the team this summer, are desperate in their daily training.

And this kind of atmosphere is also created by the efforts of Su Dong, the coaching staff and the management, because only in this way can the team be twisted into a rope, can form a joint force, can exert the strongest combat effectiveness.

If the rich team really has the so-called background, then this should be part of the rich background, and even the most important part.

"In the next thirty-four days, I hope everyone on the team can give their best."

"Each of us is very tired and difficult, but we have to grit our teeth, overcome all kinds of difficulties, and we must maintain the current momentum of the team. We must defeat all our opponents and enter thirty-four days later. Allianz Arena."

"Even, we have to have the last laugh at the Allianz Arena!"

"For these thirty-four days, we have to fight every day, not only against our opponents, but also against ourselves. We must not only defeat our opponents, but also defeat ourselves. We have to show the whole world, to the fans who have always supported us, to us. For myself, prove our determination and strength!"

"I believe that as long as we do it, from now on, we will be the most competitive top team in European football, and even in the world, and everyone in our team will belong to this team. Part."

Having said that, Su Dong clearly felt that the emotions of the players in the dressing room were mobilized.

He stepped forward, walked into the players, and stretched out his right hand.

The players also rushed closer, reaching out their hands one after another, overlapping with Su Dong's right hand.

"The next thirty-four days will be a hard fight, and tonight is the first fight!"

When he said this, Su Dong gritted his teeth and shouted: "Man City will win!"

"come on, come on, come on!!"

...

...

The focus of the FA Cup semi-final game, especially the strong dialogue between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur, the FA also attaches great importance to it, specially arranged for England's best referee Howard Webb to enforce the law.

At the beginning of the game, Tottenham Hotspur took the initiative to attack, whether it was a tentative or really wanting to grab a wave of starters, they took the initiative to put pressure on Manchester City after the opening, and both wings were also actively inserted.

Less than a minute after the opening, after Lennon got the ball on the right, he passed it to the penalty area and wanted to find Adebayor.

The Togolese center quickly jumped in and competed for the header near the penalty spot.

But Manchester City's goalkeeper Courtois resolutely abandoned the goal to attack, grabbing the ball from the midair before Adebayor.

Courtois is tall, with long arms, and his control of the ball is really excellent.

After taking the ball, Courtois quickly tossed the ball to Marcelo, and Brazil's left back began to instigate Manchester City's attack.

Tottenham’s defense retreated quickly, and the two sides began to entangle near the center line.

Gradually, Redknapp's tactical intentions were revealed.

He neither intends to give up the game, but he did not overemphasize that the formation of troops is quite satisfactory, and two or three positions are rotated. This is also a normal strategy, but the starting players, such as Gareth Bale and Van der Vaart, etc. , Are also basically starting.

The four-two-three-one formation strengthened the protection of the defense line, and at the same time gave Tottenham Hotspur the confidence to press the defense line forward. Obviously, they don't want Manchester City to get too close to their goal, especially Sutton.

Recently several teams have encountered Manchester City, they will adopt this tactic. I don't know if it was affected by the UEFA Champions League match against Real Madrid, because all four goals of Su Dong came from the penalty area.

Later, the media gave him a new nickname: King of the Forbidden Zone.

Of course, this nickname is also unpopular, because Su Dong's current achievements are higher than those of Romario and Van Nistelrooy.

Opponents press forward on the defensive line, and more do not want Manchester City's attackers, especially Su Dong, to get too close to their goal.

Both Arsenal and West Bromwich Albion did this, and Tottenham still do it today.

But this will also bring about another problem, that is, after the defense line is pressed, once it is pulled apart or beaten behind, can the central defender stand alone when facing Su Dong alone?

Just like this time in the fifth minute of the opening, Manchester City quickly returned to their own half after the offensive hit the rocks in the frontcourt, and handed over to the defense to reorganize and sort out.

Tony Kroos retreated to the center circle to cover Busquets, stopped the ball in the unguarded area, turned around, took a look at the situation in front, and immediately sent a long pass over the top, which was accurately sent to the back of the defense line. .

Almost at the moment when the German midfielder launched a long pass, Su Dong quickly moved forward.

Ledley King was tall, but after a series of injuries, he was not fast and was directly thrown off by Su Dong, while Gallas returned to defense for the first time, even running faster than Su Dong.

The reason why Su Dong is slow, UU reading is because he wants to judge where the ball falls, so even though he is overtaken by Gallas, Su Dong is still not in a hurry, using his body on the periphery of the arc top area. Blocked Gallas.

At this time, Su Dong's physical advantage was reflected.

After Gallas was suppressed by Su Dong, Su Dong kept moving backwards, while Su Dong kept backing down according to the ball's landing point. There was no way to suppress Gallas.

Ledley King, who can really compete with Su Dong, just ran in front of Su Dong at this time, before he could rush over.

But the ball has arrived.

Su Dong grabbed the best position, judged where the ball fell, and stopped the ball with his right foot to the right rear of him and Gallas. He also turned around at the same time and went straight into Gallas. The big restricted area on the right.

The whole action was smooth and flowing, and it was done in one go, without giving Gallas and Ledley King any chance to react.

When everyone reacted, Su Dong had already stopped the ball and turned around, speeding up to chase the ball.