Football Giants

"This is the Glory Stadium in Southampton. Welcome to watch the UEFA Champions League finals that we are broadcasting live for everyone from 2015 to 2016."

"The opponents are the home team from the English Premier League, Saints Southampton, and the visiting team from La Liga, Atletico Madrid. Both teams are the best teams in European football this season."

"Before the game, the organizers held a brief opening ceremony at the Glory Stadium. We can see that the much-anticipated St. Burred Cup has been placed at the exit of the player channel, and the players of both teams are also in the channel. Lined up inside, ready to play at any time."

"There are also celebrities gathered in the stands of the Glory Stadium. FIFA President Infantino, UEFA President Platini, and representatives of the FA, the Premier League and the Spanish Football Association, they all sit in the chair stands. on."

"Also notable are the representatives of the British royal family, Prince William and Princess Kate, British Prime Minister Cameron, Spanish King Felipe, Spanish Prime Minister Rajoy..."

"We can see that the players of the two teams have walked out of the player channel under the leadership of the referee."

"We have got the starting lineup of the two teams."

"Southampton’s starting lineup is goalkeeper Neuer, defense line, David Alaba, Nastasic, Varane and Danilo, and the three midfielders are Di Maria and Tony. Cross and Pogba, the front court trident is Hazard, Suarez and Messi."

"This game of the Saints can be described as a gathering of superstars. All the main players are on the field, and more importantly, Southampton won the Premier League early and won the FA Cup a few days ago. The state is excellent."

"Atletico Madrid's starting lineup for this game is also the main force. The goalkeeper is Courtois. The back lines are Jose Gaja, Jimenez, Otamendi and Montoya. The midfielder is behind. Ilya Ramendi, the first four midfielders are Isco, Krichowiak, Cork and William, and the single forward is Griezman."

"This is also the strongest lineup of Atletico Madrid this season, but Simeone's team has changed a lot this season. Although it looks like a four-to-one lineup from the formation chart, in fact, they will always be based on the situation on the field. , Transforming into four, two, three, or even four, four, two, the style of play is elusive."

"However, judging from the starting lineup of this game, Atletico Madrid should still decide to defend first at the Glory Stadium."

"After all, this is Southampton's home court, and the Saints are the strongest attacking team in Europe. Atletico Madrid is still at a disadvantage. It is a good choice to take a defensive position and try to counterattack."

...

When everyone got the starting lineup of both sides, the first reaction was that Atletico Madrid would defend and counterattack.

As a result, the strength of the Sheets Legion really fell short, and it was definitely looking for death to play against Southampton.

In the second case, Atletico Madrid's defense is quite good. It can even be said that Simeone's team itself is known for its defense. The style of the game in the early two years is relatively rough, playing defensive counterattacks, just to show their strengths.

It is not difficult to see from Simeone who discharged Griezmann's single forward that he is indeed going to play counter-reverse.

But to everyone’s surprise, when the referee blew the whistle for the start of the game, and when the fans uttered deafening cheers and kicked off the prelude to the Champions League final, Atletico Madrid chose to press .

"one two Three……"

"Oh my God, Atletico Madrid adopted a forward pressure tactic from the beginning. A full six players pressed forward to press and press, and they invested a considerable amount of troops. It seems that they are not conservative at all!"

Judging from the game lens, Southampton's ball passed all the way back, but Atletico Madrid was pressing all the way.

When Nastasic got the ball at the front of the penalty area, Griezmann had even reached this area, and Atletico Madrid's entire midfield had followed.

Nastasic had nothing but to pass the ball to goalkeeper Neuer.

After the German goalkeeper got the ball, he took it outside the penalty area and passed it to Varane, who was pulled to the right.

But at this time, Atletico Madrid's oppressive formation has formed, forcing Varane to pass back again.

In this continuous pass from the backcourt, after Atletico Madrid's overall formation was overwhelmed, Southampton had a hard time getting the ball and had to try a diagonal pass to find Hazard on the left side of the front court.

Said to be the frontcourt, but in fact, Hazard has withdrawn to the front of the 30-meter area of ​​his own half.

Montoya seemed to be prepared for a long time, and suddenly grabbed the ball. The header passed to Hazard headed to the right. William withdrew the ball and Atletico Madrid got the ball.

At this time, the game has just started less than a minute!

…………

…………

Seeing that the team successfully snatched the ball from Southampton's feet in less than a minute, Simeone, who was on the sidelines of Zhuo Li, couldn't help showing a slight smile.

He is still very satisfied with the performance of Atletico Madrid players on the pitch.

At least, in terms of tactical execution, the players did quite well and grabbed the ball in one breath.

But this is only the first step in his opening tactics.

Simeone has high hopes for this game. He wants the humiliation of losing to Southampton in the Champions League final two years ago. He wants to lead Atletico Madrid to win the Champions League and set a triple crown.

Therefore, he prepared quite adequately for this battle, even at the beginning of the game, how the team will play and how to deal with Southampton, he has a clear plan.

This group of Atletico Madrid players is certainly not as good as Southampton in terms of personal abilities, but Simeone has absolute confidence in tactical execution.

On the court, the Atletico Madrid players still did not retreat after grabbing the ball. Instead, they continued to press in the Southampton half, and the Saints played in the half, which surprised everyone.

This doesn't make sense, does it?

You know, with Southampton's offensive ability, as long as one chance is caught, Atletico Madrid will be over.

But in Simeone's view, this is not a problem.

The reason is very simple, as long as the team's frontcourt pressure can work, the player's execution is in place, and the passing and receiving lines of Southampton are cut off, then it will be able to contain the Saints' offensive.

In the entire tactics of Southampton, the role of the two full-backs is very important. By actively pressing on, they help three midfielders to form a five-person pass and control phalanx, thereby creating a superiority on the scene.

However, Atletico Madrid has now invested six players in the frontcourt, forming a partial numerical advantage through a uniform pressing and oppressive formation, and a tacit movement, thereby suppressing Southampton's passing control.

This is why Atletico Madrid was able to **** the ball back from Southampton's feet in less than a minute.

Simone Nijo stood on the sidelines, his eyes slightly squinted, staring at the situation on the court, feeling proud.

Two years, in order to restrain Southampton, he has prepared for two years!

Although the head coach of the Saints has changed from Bielsa to Ancelotti, although in the past two years, the Saints are also improving, improving their tactics, they can never be separated from the original.

Although Ancelotti's team is more balanced, more reasonable, and more controllable, in the final analysis, the things in the bones are inherited from the Bielsa era.

This is not surprising, because in just one year, how could Ancelotti subvert the rigorous tactical system that Bielsa has built in five years?

To grab the ball, first defeat the saint's spirit, this is the first step.

The second step is to cut off the Saints’ transmission and control lines and contain the Saints’ offense through the frontcourt.

The third step is easy.

Because your two full-backs actively participate in the midfield attack, then it is logical that your full-backs will naturally leave a gap after you step in.

As long as you give me a chance, if you can pass the ball after the frontcourt is intercepted, I will hit behind your two full-backs!

But tactics are tactics, they only exist on paper, but it takes time and luck to reflect on the football field.

There is a saying that it is a good idea to ask for wealth and danger, and I am reluctant to let a child not catch a wolf.

Simeone is confident that this set of his own tactics has been repeatedly practiced many times, as long as the opportunity appears, the player will be able to catch it!

In Atlético Madrid's heavy investment, as well as the players' physical effort to run and oppress, Southampton's midfield ball was curbed, and the frontcourt Messi and Hazard also had to actively retreat to the midfield.

But Atletico Madrid has been prepared. As long as Messi and Hazard retreat, the two fullbacks Jose Gaja and Montoya will also follow the pressure and follow these two players every step of the way.

In addition, Atletico Madrid knows very well in their hearts that they can't compete with the Saints because of their real playing skills, so they actively use the aggressive tactics of fouling but unlicensed when defensive, which makes it difficult for the ball under the Saints to run smoothly.

The ball changed hands back and forth between the Saints and Atletico Madrid, and no one was able to create opportunities.

Until the fourth minute, Atletico Madrid seized an opportunity.

After Krichovic steals the ball, it is quickly handed over to Isco.

After Isco dribbled the ball past the defensive player, he made a diagonal pass to the right corner of the penalty area.

Although David Alaba had returned to the defense in time when William received the ball, William crossed to Cork, and Cork shot a very high-quality long shot directly at the front of the penalty area.

Neuer flew to lift the ball out of the crossbar, which was able to secure the goal!

But this shot of Atletico Madrid, this attack, shocked people in a cold sweat.

With the stimulus of this wave of offensive, Simeone and his linen army immediately resembled a shark smelling blood, killed their eyes, and began to counterattack frequently towards Southampton.

The Saints underwent considerable pressure in the backcourt, but they have not been able to find an effective way to transfer the ball to the frontcourt.

It can only be said that Atletico Madrid's starting tactics are too targeted, and the players' execution is too high.

There is a saying that is well said, but a wise man must be misunderstood.

The Saints were restrained by Atletico Madrid and allowed the game to unfold in its own half. Atletico Madrid’s sharp counterattack is always a confession, and problems will arise sooner or later.

And this problem occurred in the eleventh minute.

Southampton wanted to pass the ball to Hazard, who had retraced, but after Montoya succeeded in stealing the ball, he quickly passed the ball to Ilya Ramendi.

As soon as the Spanish defensive midfielder got the ball, he didn't hesitate to make a long pass and passed the ball to the right corner of the flagstick ~www.novelmtl.com~Williams intercepted the ball in Montoya. Choosing to rush forward, as soon as Ilia Ramendi's ball came out, he threw off the defender and went straight behind him.

The distance between the defensive line and the baseline was very short, but Ilya Ramendi's pass came right in front of William, and the Brazilian player stopped the ball directly.

Nastasic returned to the right side of the penalty area in time, while Varane followed Griezmann to the front point in the penalty area.

But as soon as William received the ball, facing Nastasic, he made a simple and practical emergency stop and speeded up. After throwing away Nastasic, he suddenly kicked and passed.

But this pass was not to find Griezman who was in front of the goal, but to the penalty spot.

Immediately afterwards, Isco was seen rushing up from behind, and before the ball landed, he volleyed directly.

Neuer was standing on the right side, facing a powerful shot aimed at the bottom left corner of the goal with this foot, there was nothing he could do.

The ball is in!