Chapter 77: Still too young?
Mourinho and Manchester United are all serious about the away game against Swansea, but... they really don't look down on this "swan"!
This team, except for the Ivorian striker Bonnie who was introduced from Manchester City this summer, has no threatening players. Such a team can block the "Red Devils" who just slaughtered the "Gunners" 8-1 at home and are now full of momentum!?
How is that possible!?
Mourinho said bluntly when facing many reporters at the press conference before the game: "Although we are playing away this time, we are far better than Swansea in terms of strength and recent state. They just lost in the first round of the game. Although this time we played at the Liberty Stadium, we still have a huge advantage and we will win the game."
Swansea's coach Carlos Carvarial is also a Portuguese football coach, but his coaching resume is not as brilliant as his predecessor Mourinho. He has coached for many years and has only been in Portugal. After coming to England, he has only coached Xie Wednesday and Swansea.
So in the face of Mourinho's strength, Kavarial directly put himself on the weak side...
"Indeed, our strength is still very different from Manchester United. Even if we are playing at home this time, we are unlikely to be able to stop the attack from the 'Red Devils'. Please rest assured that the players and I will do our best in the game."
Kavarial was very low-key at the press conference, but after returning to the home team's locker room, he asked his Swedish left-back Martinna Orsson: "Orsson, you should be sure to keep that little kid alive?"
The Swedish left-back laughed and couldn't say his confidence: "Boss, I've been in England for fourteen years, I've played in the Premier League for more than ten years. What kind of opponent I've never seen? What kind of winger I've never defended? You can rest assured!"
After hearing this, Kavarial smiled and nodded... He really didn't believe that a seventeen-year-old Chinese boy who came out of nowhere was really amazing. Maybe the potential is indeed very huge, but after all, he is only seventeen years old!
A veteran who has been in the Premier League for more than ten years and is also a speed-type full-back, can a seventeen-year-old kid jump around?
Stop funny!
What's more, through the analysis of the game between Manchester United and Arsenal at home, Kavarial and his assistants also determined that if Seyade had not rushed forward to assist at that time, he would not have given the No. 30 so many opportunities at all.
It’s such a big-fourth happy... It’s great if you can score a goal!
Now, Swansea will definitely not make the same mistake again!
However, Kavarial doesn't believe that Manchester United's offense only relies on their No. 30. Lukaku and Rashford are the real threatening people. Whether they can keep an eye on these two people, or even Pogba who may find opportunities, is the key to whether the "Swan" can successfully withstand the opponent at home.
Next, Kavarial made some requests to the team's defensive players, and once again reminded himself that the four midfielders sent in this game should pay attention to returning to defense. As long as the space for his half-court is compressed, the two Manchester United's fast wingers will not have much room to play.
Kavarial's idea is good, but it is actually correct. This intensive defensive strategy that compresses one's half-court space is the only way to defend in any football game.
But in the game, Kavarial discovered that Manchester United's offense...it doesn't seem to rely entirely on speed to counterattack, or use speed to hit the opponent's defense line.
After joining the "Little Warcraft" Lukaku this season, Manchester United can have a strong fulcrum in the frontcourt. Many times, when he doesn't have a chance, he can create opportunities by relying on his personal ability.
At 1 minute and 30 seconds, Lukaku received a pass from Pogba at the top of the arc. After stopping the ball with his chest, he pushed the ball to his left as soon as the ball fell.
Yang Xiaozhuang on the right had already cut in horizontally. When he saw the ball coming, he kept shooting with his left foot...
Bang!
The ball flew to the upper right corner of Swansea's goal, and finally it was less than 30 centimeters higher and flew out of the bottom line...
The ball didn't go in!
But Swansea's side was scared and sweated, especially Orsson, the man who was marking Yang Xiaozhuang. He was originally confident that he would not allow Manchester United No. 30 to play any room before the game, but it was only during the game that it was almost impossible for him to stop this Chinese boy without the ball.
Yang Xiaozhuang is very fast, and as an offensive side, he has the initiative. Then Orsson will become more difficult when defending him. Just like Yang Xiaozhuang's shot just now, even if Orsson was only half a beat slow, Yang Xiaozhuang finally got the chance to shoot. It's a pity... the ball didn't make it!
Although the ball failed to score, Yang Xiaozhuang suddenly realized some experience in the game: if his side attacked to the end, like Lukaku did just now, suddenly a small acceleration came, that opportunity... maybe it would come!
This is how players' experience in the game is, and they always need to accumulate one game after another. Although Yang Xiaozhuang performed a "big four joy" in the last game, for him personally, the gains are actually... not big!
This time, facing Swansea's intensive defense gave Yang Xiaozhuang the opportunity to use his brain, allowing him to experience more what choices should be made in the face of various situations during the game.
Next, Manchester United always took the initiative in the game, suppressed their opponents, and kept trying to tear open Swansea's defense line, but the effect was... average!
In the 24th minute of the game, central defender Rojo headed the ball in the middle circle and intercepted it. The ball reached Lukaku's feet in front. The Belgian center habitually dribbled the ball to the left, and finally gave the ball to Rashford on the left side of the penalty area.
Rashford is not greedy for merit. Originally, he was a striker with a low goal rate. Although he could play on the field three-way left, center and right, his biggest role was not to score goals, but to support his teammates and create opportunities for his teammates. He played 32 league games last season and scored only 5 goals, but he always firmly controlled the position of the main force, which is enough to show why "pulling the master" has won Mourinho's favor.
Bang!
Rashford made a cross, and knew that Lukaku must have not yet run to the position, so he directly sent the ball to the gap near the corner of the small penalty area on the right...
At this time, Yang Xiaozhuang rushed up like lightning, but his sprinting speed was really too fast, and it was impossible to directly complete the shot.
Yang Xiaozhuang was running, suddenly a light of inspiration flashed through his mind, knowing how to deal with this ball...
Early on, Yang Xiaozhuang jumped up!
The moment the ball fell, Yang Xiaozhuang had already jumped into the air, but he did not head the ball directly. He was not allowed to do this at such a small angle. He might have some hope with his feet. If he uses his head... he would think too much!
Dong!
The moment Yang Xiaozhuang headed the ball, he suddenly shook his head to the back, and the ball was directly sent to the direction of the free throw point behind him.
Then... a red figure appeared!
Herrera!
On the left side of the middle, Lukaku, who had just run into the penalty area, and on the right side of the middle, there were still Manchester United players to circumvent. Herrera followed in time at this time.
Facing the ball, Herrera did not hesitate at all and directly slashed in the air...bang!
The ball flew out, rubbed the right post and flew into Swansea's goal... 0:1, Manchester United took the lead!
Chapter completed!