Chapter 523 The insurmountable gap!
Manchester United failed to distinguish between Burnley at home, which did not arouse any dissatisfaction among fans. After all, the team did not try their best in the game, and... they should not give their all!
Just four days after the match against Burnley, Manchester United will go to Italy to play the first leg of the Champions League knockout round away with Juventus. If you do your best in the FA Cup game at this time, it will be a foolish expression, and there is no priorities at all.
Although the "old woman" performed averagely in the Champions League this season, she only scored 3 wins, 1 draw and 2 losses in the group stage, and was defeated by La Liga team Valencia in the second place in Group A, but there are Tottenham Hotspur and Sporting Lisbon in Portugal. The overall strength of this group is still very strong. It is already quite difficult for Juventus to get the second in the group to win the right to qualify.
Moreover, even if Juventus sold Cristiano Ronaldo, their overall strength did not decline significantly. The team still has stars such as Dybala, Sandro, Higuain, Douglas Costa, Rugani, Pianic, and Caldala. Especially last summer, Bernardo Silva was introduced from Manchester City. The performance of this Portuguese winger was enough to make up for the gap left by Cristiano Ronaldo and also made the "old woman" younger one step further.
It has to be said that the famous Spanish coach Luis Enrique, who has been in charge of Juventus for more than three years, still has a very excellent coaching level. His planning ability has been fully reflected by buying Bernardo Silva and letting Ronaldo go.
When Ronaldo just left the "old woman", the team was still affected, and the number of goals decreased a lot. Juventus fans were very dissatisfied at that time. However, after the team's tactical adjustment, Higuain and Dybala's goals increased, so the fans did not care about Ronaldo's departure. Instead, they felt that after the team's average age was reduced, their overall activity was also improved.
In addition, Ronaldo's performance at Manchester United is not very good, which makes Juventus fans who were sad about Ronaldo's departure now very grateful!
When Luis Enrique was asked by reporters about this game with Manchester United before the game, the Spanish coach showed unprecedented caution: "We actually know them very well for Manchester United. Everyone knows that they are the best team in Europe and even the world in recent years! Nearly two years ago, we encountered Manchester United in the Champions League final, but the result that time... was not ideal. This time we met Manchester United again, which also gave us the opportunity to feel the gap between ourselves and the top European teams again."
"Yes! I think there is still a gap between us and Manchester United, and there is still a big gap. They are the best and strongest team in Europe. They are the target for all teams to catch up, because if they can't catch up, there is no way to steal the championship trophy from them!"
"We? No, no, the team and I don't have such an idea yet. Even if we are playing at home, as long as we can not lose, I think it will be difficult!"
Facing the reporter's questions, Louis Enrique is really too low-key. As soon as he talks about this game, he will immediately put himself and the team as the weak. Although everyone is actually very clear about this fact, Louis Enrique's performance... isn't it too timid!?
The reporters who interviewed the famous Spanish coach were all dissatisfied. They still wanted to find some news from Luis Enrique. After all, there is really no news in Solskjaer. To be honest, the Norwegian coach is just a word... Our goal is the champion!
Target…Champion!
If other people and head coaches of other teams say this, there is something wrong with it, there is a big problem... Are you floating around!?
But it is natural for Solskjaer to say it. Who has made the "Red Devils" win the Champions League trophy for three consecutive years?
As the defending champion, if you don’t even have such a little confidence, that’s a reason to criticize Manchester United for others!
When Solskjaer brought Manchester United to Turin, the reporters only conducted normal interviews with him and Manchester United. Solskjaer naturally also said something complimenting the "old woman". After all, Serie A was the world's number one league, and Juventus was also outrageously strong at that time. Although it is no longer in its peak period, the respect it deserves still has to be given.
As for what Louis Enrique said...just listen!
Solskjaer is no longer a rookie coach, but he will not be so arrogant just because his opponent says something nice. Luis Enrique's winning streak will make Solskjaer more cautious in treating this game.
In this game, Solskjaer arranged the strongest lineup of Manchester United, and the attack group was also composed of Yang Xiaozhuang, Martial, Rayford, Ronaldo and Pereira all sat on the bench.
The midfield is also composed of Aliyu, B Fee, and Adam Myers. The fat guy now has basically secured the main midfielder of Manchester United due to his comprehensive skills and outstanding performance. At that time, no one expected that this short and fat Miles child would eventually become the main midfielder of Manchester United.
Manchester United's strongest defensive lineup is also listed on the defense line, with Wan Bissaka and Joe Riley separated from each other, Tuanzebe and Varane in the middle.
The cautious attitude of the "Red Devils" towards this game is not only reflected in the arrangement of troops. When the game was in the first minute of the game, they also snatched the initiative from the first minute of the game and began to siege the "old woman" who was fighting at home. Anyway... Juventus never thought of playing against Manchester United. Even Luis Enrique, the Spanish head coach, chose to play defensive counterattack to deal with Manchester United's crazy attack.
But even so, the "old woman" who played at home only lasted for 15 minutes before being broken by Manchester United...
When Manchester United's offense hit the frontcourt from the right, facing Juventus, in addition to Higuain, a dense defensive formation composed of as many as nine defensive players, Manchester United couldn't easily tear open the opponent's defense line. The defense density was too high.
Therefore, Manchester United chose to keep shifting horizontally!
When the ball reached B Fei's feet, the Portuguese midfielder suddenly sent a diagonal pass, giving the ball to the gap in Juventus's penalty area on the left.
At this time, Juventus arranged as many as four defensive players in the middle to mark Manchester United's "King", so the defense on both sides seemed a little weak. This was also specially arranged by Louis Enrique. Yang Xiaozhuang's ability to get rid of defense is really too strong. Even if three people are to defend, he can't bear it!
In the past ten minutes, Juventus' defense obviously worked. Yang Xiaozhuang did not pose any threat to his opponent, but this time although Yang Xiaozhuang was still under the opponent's tight defense, but... Martial stood up!
Martial, who rushed up from the diagonal line on the left, first stopped the ball with his chest, and then without waiting for the ball to land, he shot with his left foot. The ball was raised to a left-deflecting arc, rubbing against Juventus' left post and then flew to the goal... 0:1!
"GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Martial roared and ran wildly on the court...
"The ball has been scored! The person who scored the goal is Martial! After the French winger has fully grown up, he has become the world's top wing attacker. According to reliable information, French giant Paris Saint-Germain is willing to lead Martial back to France."
In the Juventus Stadium, the 39,000 "old women" fans were confused, and their eyes were confused...
We know that the "Red Devil" is very powerful!
We know that Manchester United is the strongest team in Europe during this period!
But...but...
This is our home court, Juventus Stadium!
We played at home, but we were still playing defensively counterattacking, but we only lasted for 15 minutes in front of Manchester United!?
15 minutes!
The mood of Juventus fans is really too complicated. They were able to compete with Manchester United in the Champions League final two years ago. But to this day, even when they were fighting at home, the "old woman" had only lasted for 15 minutes in front of the "Red Devils"!
Is it because Manchester United has become stronger or Juventus has become weaker?
Or maybe...just because the gap between the Premier League and Serie A has reached this point?
The level of the league will directly affect the performance of their respective teams in the European arena, which is well known to everyone. When the Serie A was the only one that was called the "Little World Cup" twenty or thirty years ago, the Italian team also maintained strong competitiveness against the Champions League and the League Cup for a long time. At that time, AC Milan and Juventus were not wanted to encounter any team in Europe. They were either champions or runner-ups in the Champions League, and the "Seven Serie A Sisters" were also well-known in the European football world.
But now... the Serie A has really fallen!
While other countries are trying to develop their respective leagues, the Italian Football Association has had conflicts with Serie A clubs because of their own interests. While they are still sucking blood from major clubs, the level of the Serie A is also surpassed by the Premier League, Bundesliga and La Liga. Now even the level of the Ligue 1 is not worse than that of Serie A.
After one goal was in hand, Manchester United, who was playing away, deliberately controlled the rhythm of the game and stabilized the game again. Although the "Red Devils" actually have the ability to continue to attack their opponents, what if the "old woman" counterattacked and successfully attacked them when the attack failed?
Now, Juventus is still one goal behind at home in this game, and the one that really has to worry about is them, not Manchester United!
Although Louis Enrique kept sending signals to his team off the court... Stay calm, stabilize!
But the stars like Juventus who play at home are a little unstable. The opponents can slowly drag on the game, but they... really can't do it!
If the team still does not try to attack but continues to passively respond by relying on defensive counterattacks, then the first leg of this game at Juventus Stadium may be lost. When you go to Old Trafford Stadium in the second leg, the vitality of the "old woman" will become even more slim!
Louis Enrique kept signaling the team to play steadily on the sidelines. He also had his own ideas. Judging from Manchester United's attack power, if Juventus did not play defensive counterattack and made intensive defense, their defense would really not be able to withstand the opponent's offense.
But the problem is... the players can't hold on!
Although Juventus players are very active in attacking, their defense is more active after losing the ball, which reassured the Spanish coach who was watching the game off the court and knew that their players have not forgotten their defense... That's all!
However, Louis Enrique still ignored a little... Manchester United's counterattack!
How fast is the counterattack of the Red Devil?
Anyway, in English football, no team dares to give Manchester United a chance to fight back, that's so dangerous!
But Louis Enrique and Juventus still don't know Manchester United. The last time the two teams met almost two years ago, so they felt that if their team was active and fast enough when retreating, there should be no problem.
However... in the 31st minute, Manchester United's counterattack came!
When Juventus launched an attack on the right, Martial, who did not retreat, "stealed" the ball. The ball was kicked at the foot of goalkeeper De Gea, and the Spanish goalkeeper did not hesitate and kicked the ball directly to Rayford's center line on the right.
"Beckham II"'s footwork is really accurate, and his passing awareness is really strong. He just stopped the ball with one kick, then followed it and kicked the ball directly to the front right.
According to Manchester United's tactical arrangement, Rayford was a right-side attacker in this game, and he retreated to the center line of the right-side road, and there were people in front... there were also people!
The fat guy Adam Myers, who was originally in the front position in the middle, rushed up like a small tank. Although he could not get rid of the defense from the opponent from beginning to end, Adam Myers relied on his flexible center of gravity and outstanding strength to protect the ball, and stumbled to the outside of the penalty area on the right of Juventus, and sent a cross to the small penalty area on the left.
Bang!
Yang Xiaozhuang, who was like a ghost, walked around from behind 36-year-old veteran Chiellini, and then stabbed the ball into Juventus' goal with his left toe...0:2!
After leading two goals, Manchester United immediately let go of their hands and feet to attack, and their powerful offensive quickly gained...
In the 34th minute, Rayford took a corner kick from the left. Tuanzebe in the penalty area on the right competed for the top and headed the ball, sending the ball into the small penalty area on the left of Juventus. Varane, who was lying here, jumped out and headed the ball... The ball entered!
0:3!
Juventus, who played at home, was stunned. They never expected that when they encountered the "Red Devils" at home, they would be unable to resist!
The leading Manchester United is obviously good at taking advantage of the victory. At 42 minutes of the game, after Rayford received a pass from Wan Bissaka in the right penalty area, he knocked the ball to Juventus's small penalty area line on the right.
Before the others could react, Yang Xiaozhuang rushed up first, swung his right leg and shot, and threw the ball into the home team's goal again... 0:4!
Juventus' side is dead silent...
Before the first half was over, we were already four goals behind?
Four!
Chapter completed!