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Chapter 540 Dressing Room

Chapter 540 Dressing Room

Newcastle's dressing room.

Although they were tied by the opponent in the first half, the morale of the Newcastle players was not greatly affected. Both sides had opportunities, and Newcastle had even more opportunities. If it weren't for Ustari's outstanding performance, Newcastle would definitely score more than one goal.

Long Bisheng was drinking from a bottle of water. His performance in the first half was not too eye-catching, but this was not because he was in poor form or White’s defense had troubled him a lot, but because Newcastle’s tactics determined that he would not be the most prominent person in the first half-his task was to involve the opponent’s defense, using his ability to play the ball and his height to create opportunities for his teammates. In this regard, he did quite well. , Messi, Gerrard and others created a lot of opportunities for powerful long-range shots from outside the penalty area. Failure to get an assist is just a bit of bad luck.

"We did have an advantage in the first half, but we can't be complacent about it." Mourinho frowned, and his words immediately attracted everyone's attention: "I have to admit, Arsenal found a good way to deal with us... When we recover the defense, Fabregas, who is retreating, has no one to defend him. With his passing and scheduling in the backcourt, Arsenal's offensive threat will be much greater. Sometimes, we have to risk being counterattacked by them quickly ... the ball we conceded is based on this reason."

Of course, what the head coach observes off the field is more careful than what the players feel on the field. No matter how smart the players are, they will not be able to see everything in time like the head coach. Senna's quick counterattack - such a counterattack opportunity may be fatal once.

"So we have to make some changes in the second half." Mourinho put on a confident smile on his face and said in a powerfully contagious voice: "There is no tactic in the world that cannot be cracked, and Arsenal are not so strong that we cannot resist. In fact, we have the advantage in ability, so Wenger will try to suppress our advantage to achieve an overall balance... Actually, it is very simple to deal with their tactic. It is enough to allocate energy to get rid of this person's defense, and there is no need to make special adjustments in offense, just attack as in the first half, as long as we can seize a few opportunities, we will not worry about not scoring goals."

Hearing this, all the Newcastle players thought that Mourinho would arrange for Gerrard to interfere with Fabregas. Among the several players in the midfield, Essien and Gerrard had the strongest defensive capabilities. When Essien wanted to stay at the front of the penalty area to defend, only Gerrard was the best candidate. His position happened to match Fabregas, and his physical fitness also had an advantage.

"Dragon, in the second half, you retreat a little bit and entangle Fabregas." Mourinho's words surprised everyone: "When we attack, you don't need to control Fabregas, and when Arsenal counterattacks, you don't need to. What you have to do is to interfere with Fabregas from the side when Arsenal forms a positional battle, so that he must use more physical energy to receive the pass smoothly. He is the brain and the core. If he loses contact with others, then he will be useless! I think Physically, you'll have no problem."

Long Bisheng nodded, and replied in a muffled voice, "No problem."

At this time, other people suddenly realized that they only needed to mark Cesc Fabregas when Arsenal formed a positional battle. Long Bisheng could take care of this point. Anyway, when Arsenal attacked, Long Bisheng only cruising around the center circle to respond.

"When defending, continue to defend in the area. Arsenal's attacking ability is not very good. As long as they keep in the penalty area, they will not have too many chances to score. After losing the ball in the frontcourt, they will counterattack on the spot. No matter who it is, as long as he is closest to Cesc Fabregas, defend him closely and interfere with his ball. Without his planning, the accuracy of Arsenal's counterattack will be much reduced. We must be more patient when attacking. Finally, seize the opportunity! We can't waste too many opportunities. ! Concentrate your attention and don't relax at any time! Got it?"

"Understood!" The players replied in unison.

Mourinho nodded, and then pulled Long Bisheng: "Long, in the first half, you were more supportive. In the second half, I need you to shoot as much as possible in addition to playing the ball for your teammates! Ustari showed a good state in the first half, so we need to increase the number of shots to defeat him! Today, Arsenal's two central defenders are paying attention to your actions, but I think they will know after the first half. You are just playing a ball role. The second half surprised them... And, today Ustari has made a lot of attacks, grasp this, understand?"

"Understood." Long Bisheng replied.

In the first half, Mourinho arranged for him, the striker who scored the most goals in the Champions League, to support him. Long Bisheng did not have much resistance. Maybe it was because he was rarely the focus of the team since he was a child. He has always put the overall interests of the team above his personal performance. Of course, when the head coach places heavy responsibilities on his shoulders, he will also bravely take responsibility.

In the first half, he did face a very tight defense. In addition to White, his old rival defending him, Vermaelen often came to defend him. Facing such two high-level central defenders, Long Bisheng also felt that it was difficult. However, after he played for his teammates continuously, Vermaelen was forced by the huge threat posed by Newcastle’s other offensive players.

Good performance brings strong self-confidence, full of self-confidence can make him perform better-this is a virtuous circle, and Long Bisheng is now on an extremely good trajectory. The outstanding performance in the past few seasons has allowed him to get rid of the last shackles psychologically. Just like Long Fei Jiutian, no one can stop him from showing his powerful body in the air.

"There are still 45 minutes left in the game of the whole season. We have to think about our efforts and achievements this season. We are brilliant enough, but not enough! Only the Champions League can wash away the shame of not winning any championship in two seasons. Only the Champions League can make this season unprecedentedly brilliant! Let's work hard, let's beat Arsenal and win the last championship of the season. After winning the championship, the joy is a hundred times stronger!" Mourinho waved his fist and shouted: "Go to the game! Go to enjoy the excitement on the way to win the championship! Go to win!"

Mourinho's hoarse roar completely ignited the passion of the players. He is the soul of this team, and his passion can also infect the emotions of all players. Under his encouragement, all Newcastle players' blood spurted and they couldn't help themselves.

"Football has nothing to do with life and death, football is higher than life and death!"

I don’t know who shouted this Shankly’s famous quote. Although many times, this sentence seems extremely extreme and inappropriate, but during the halftime break of such an important championship final, what can be more deafening and inspiring than this sentence?

"Victory or death."

For the Newcastle players at this time, they are willing to exchange anything for this championship.

This is passion, the unparalleled passion brought by football. If there is no feeling of excitement brought by this passion, it is impossible for football to fascinate and fascinate so many people.

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"We played really well in the first half!"

Contrary to the old look shown before the start of the game, Wenger in the locker room looked energetic and ruddy at this time, as if he was ten years younger: "Although they scored us a goal through a counterattack, we were not affected and successfully suppressed them! Cesc, continue to do this in the second half, sit in the backcourt and constantly pull their defensive formation. Newcastle ran a lot in the first half. I see how much stamina they can have in the second half!"

Seeing Wenger like this, the Arsenal players are also very happy. If Wenger made the Arsenal players feel that the head coach has done a lot for them before the start of the game, and now it is time for them to do something, then Wenger's appearance now means that the Arsenal players have found their backbone again. In his 18 years of coaching career at Arsenal, Wenger has already put his unique brand on the team. Even in difficult times, as long as Wenger is there, the situation will not be too bad!

What's more, the current situation is not bad, but good!After Newcastle took the lead, they were helpless in the face of Arsenal's changed tactics. They could only be led by the nose by Arsenal. In the end, Arsenal successfully used a counterattack to equalize the score.

This goal is more encouraging than the advantage brought by the first half. In this goal, Arsenal saw the hope of defeating Newcastle!

This season, whether in the league or in the Champions League, Newcastle has firmly overtaken Arsenal. After defeating Arsenal head-on in the league to win the league championship, Newcastle's psychological advantage has reached the extreme. Before the Champions League final, there was no worry and panic inside Arsenal, and this goal is the best way to vent this emotion!

"Newcastle will definitely not sit still in the second half." Wenger said confidently: "Their best way is to send someone to stare at Cesc recklessly, even if Cesc is near the center circle. This is also a good opportunity for us. If Essien comes up, they will lack the most important protection point at the front of the penalty area. Of course, I don't think Mourinho will use this tactic. If he does, then we will not be polite."

The Arsenal players all laughed. Indeed, in the first half of the game, Essien’s sweep of the front of the penalty area made Arsenal’s offense very difficult.

"According to my estimation, Mourinho is very likely to send Gerrard to defend Cesc. He has rich experience and outstanding ability, but he is a 33-year-old veteran after all. After continuous campaigns, his physical fitness will not be too good. If Gerrard defends you, Cesc, you can entangle him more and use running to make Gerrard consume more physical energy. Defense is always passive, and the victory will still belong to you when Gerrard leaves the front of the penalty area. It will be weakened a lot, Bostock is very good, but he is not a good defensive player, then Nasri and Wilshere will take turns to break through from the middle, one will attract Essien's defense, and the other will be in charge of offense, even if Newcastle's defense is an iron walnut, I have to break it open!" Wenger waved his hand violently.

"What if they press the attack to contain our attack?" Fabregas asked.

"Then the speed of our forwards will become their biggest nightmare." Wenger simply replied, knowing that many of Arsenal's pleasing overall coordination goals are scored in counterattacks. The wonderful instigation of the midfielder to open the gap, the quick breakthrough from the wing and the timely follow-up in the center can often score many goals that are as simple as a live football game.

Arsenal had scored countless quick counter-attack goals of this type in previous games, so Wenger was not at all worried that his team would not score on the counter-attack.

Just as in the first half, Wenger only worried about whether his defense could withstand Newcastle's offense, not the reason why his counterattack could not score.

"In the second half, we have to continue the way we played in the first half. They retreated and we put a lot of pressure on them, forcing them to attack and counterattack them. Of course, we must also pay great attention to the positioning of the ball. When defending, we must pay attention to where the foul is committed. There are three or four players in their team who can score direct free kicks. If they give too many free kicks, they are tantamount to suicide. One aspect is their weakness, and this is something we can take advantage of. In short, in the second half, we have to take advantage of all available opportunities. Newcastle will not be too patient. If we can overtake the score, it will make their mentality completely unbalanced!"

Wenger took a breath, speaking quickly made him a little tired. After taking a breath, Wenger continued: "We can't be too optimistic or pessimistic. Keep a normal mind and keep our normal mind. Think about how we usually play and how we use our offense to tear apart the opponent's defense... Newcastle is not an easy team to deal with. They have much more experience in the Champions League than us, but we can't belittle ourselves. We can't match them in terms of strength, but we have speed and dexterity. , These are our advantages, give full play to our advantages and suppress the opponent's advantages, this is our way to win."

Mourinho will not underestimate Wenger, and Wenger will not underestimate Mourinho either. Although Mourinho can be regarded as his junior, in the world of football coaches, there is no such thing as respecting the old and loving the young. They are all one of the best coaches in the world, and no one will underestimate a coach of the same level as themselves.

Seeing that he had said almost all he needed to say, and the intermission time was almost over, Wenger waved his hand: "Get ready to go out. Before you go out, close your eyes and think about how we got to the final step by step. At Camp Nou, we were almost eliminated by Barcelona, ​​but we overcame it. At our home court, Chelsea once cornered us. We also overcame it. Newcastle will not be stronger than Barcelona and Chelsea. Recall four weeks ago, at St. James' Park, we How did we lose that game...Now we have a chance to make money, a chance to wash away our shame, if we lose this chance...you should think about it."

With their eyes closed, Arsenal's players began to recall every bit of this season.

They came back at Camp Nou, they beat Chelsea at the Emirates, they lost at St James' Park, they lost the league...

The snorts of the Arsenal players began to become heavy and their breaths became short of breath.

In the previous games, the Arsenal players performed very well, especially in the Champions League, but their outstanding performance has not been rewarded. They still haven't even won a championship.

"Let's kill them! This is our last chance for the season!"

Not knowing who took the lead, the Arsenal players opened their eyes and roared.

"Let's go! Lads!" Wenger waved heavily.

(End of this chapter)