Chapter 685 To Chelsea Again
Chapter 685 To Chelsea Again
In the first half of the season, Manchester City played a soul-stirring game at Stamford Bridge, winning a lore at the last moment when one was sent off. That game was also selected as the best in 2011.
The time has entered 2012, and the recent luck of both sides is not good. In the league, Manchester City lost to Swansea, and the top position of the league is in jeopardy.
It was even worse for Chelsea. They changed coaches midway, and the Champions League stopped at the round of 16. The league still hasn't changed much, and they can no longer be seen in the top four.
The new coach is also in jeopardy now, and many media even believe that the Russian oligarchs made a wrong decision, at least Boas has proved himself in Porto, but Di Matteo's previous coaching experience is simply not worth it.
Before taking charge of Chelsea, Di Matteo had only two coaching experiences. The first team he coached was called Milton Keynes, which was a team from League One. The current League One is only the third-tier league.
The second coaching team is today's West Bromwich Albion. Di Matteo joined halfway as a firefighting coach and eventually led West Bromwich Albion to the Premier League.
Becoming the head coach of a wealthy family is almost the middle plot of a novel, but in the football world, it actually happened, but unlike the protagonist of the novel, Di Matteo did not soar into the sky.
If it weren't for the fact that the Russian oligarchs couldn't find someone to replace Di Matteo at this moment, it is estimated that this Chelsea exploit would have been swept away at this moment.
Di Matteo is also very aware of his current situation, so he knows that he still has a chance to prove himself. As long as this season ends and he can keep Chelsea's top four position, then he will be considered a success this season.
At 3 pm on March 21, the Etihad Stadium was already overcrowded. In the square outside the stadium, there were nearly [-] Manchester City fans who did not have tickets for the match.
In the locker room of the home team, the warm-up players had already returned, and Van Basten was also making final arrangements. In fact, the league season is so long, and many tactics have already been known by heart. As for the opponent, they should have known it long ago. After all, everyone is so familiar.
Time passed unknowingly, and the arrival of the staff indicated that the game was about to start. In the player tunnel, the two sides met but did not know each other.
Both sides are very clear about the importance of this game to both sides. Although many people in the lineup of the two teams are familiar with each other, at this moment, they are enemies, and there is nothing good to say about the enemy.
Manchester City lineup: 433
Goalkeeper: Joe Hart
Defenders: Clichy, Lescott, Boateng, Zabaleta
Midfielders: De Jong, Yaya Toure, Li Feng
Forwards: Silva, Dzeko, Aguero
Richards is injured again. The black guy is very strong. Manchester City knows this. There are only a few people who surpass Richards in terms of physical fitness. However, he is the kind of physique that is prone to injuries.
Captain Kompany was also injured with Richards. It has to be said that compared to Richards, Kompany's injury undoubtedly has a greater impact on Manchester City.
The other positions remained unchanged. Dzeko returned to the starting lineup, and Balotelli sat on the bench. On the bench, there are still a few regular players, Savage, Kolo Touré, Kolarov, Minar, Adam Johnson, Pantilimon.
Chelsea lineup:
Goalkeeper: Petr Cech
Defenders: Ashley Cole, Luiz, Cahill, Ivanovic
Midfielders: Mata, Ramirez, Lampard, Mikel, Meireles
Forward: Torres
Terry was injured in the UEFA Champions League and was replaced by Cahill in this game. In the center, Di Matteo directly arranged five players, Mata moved forward, linking the striker and midfielder, Ramirez and Mikel dragged behind to defend Li Feng, Lampard was in the middle to support, and Meireles was in charge of scheduling.
The right to kick-off in this game belongs to Manchester City, which is playing at home, and Manchester City's first wave of offensive came from the right. However, in order to confuse the opponent, Manchester City played almost all activities on the left in the first 2 minutes.
In the 3rd minute, Manchester City made a quick transfer. When Silva broke through and was intercepted by Ivanovic, he immediately passed back to Li Feng in the middle. Li Feng sent his foot to Aguero on the right.
Aguero's inside cut was blocked by Ashley Cole, but Aguero's real murderous intention was not Aguero's. His inside cut was just to attract Ashley Cole's attention and pass the ball with his heel.
Zabaleta, Manchester City's right-back inserted at high speed from the back. Mata's threat to Zabaleta is quite limited. Today's Chelsea, Mata is the initiator of the frontcourt attack. It is not so much about Mata's position, it is better to say that he is just playing the guise of the wing.
This kind of tactic is not uncommon. Werder Bremen used to be like this. When Ozil was still there, Schaff arranged it like this. Even during the Leverkusen period, Heynckes arranged Kroos like this.
In the cross, in the penalty area, Dzeko struggled for the top under the double-team of Louis and Cahill. Although he finally won the ball, it was a pity that he did not have enough strength and angle, and Cech flew out.
The subsequent corner kick Manchester City did not create any good opportunities. Silva found Lescott, who also headed the ball, but this header flew directly out of the baseline.
Three minutes later, Manchester City made a comeback, still on the left, but this time it was really on the left, Silva waded through Ivanovic on the left and moved across the penalty area.
Luiz immediately pulled out the defense, Silva pushed horizontally, and Li Feng was outside the penalty area. However, there were two defenders standing beside Li Feng at the moment, so Li Feng did not shoot.
Passing the ball, Li Feng didn't stop the ball and sent the ball directly to Dzeko's feet in the penalty area. After Silva attracted Luis away, Dzeko undoubtedly faced much less defensive pressure.
Although Cahill is good, Dzeko is not a vegetarian. He leaned towards Cahill, then controlled the ball with his left foot and pulled it back. Dzeko showed what is called a flexible big man.
As soon as he touched and retreated, Cahill immediately realized that he had been tricked by his opponent, but even if he knew it at this time, it was too late, because Dzeko would not give him time to react.
"Side movement~~~Strong shot~~~No~~~Cech, Cech saved Chelsea's goal, Dzeko's performance was very good, he completely deceived Cahill, but Cech told you Dzeko, behind Cahill, stood Peter Cech, the best goalkeeper in the Premier League."
(End of this chapter)