The Brain of the Team
"Guys, I'm afraid we need to step up our offense in the second half."
No one reacted when Ferguson said this.
Although Manchester United was leading 1:0, the total score of the two rounds was 2:2.
Ajax had two away goals, while Manchester United only had one now.
Therefore, if Manchester United wanted to eliminate Ajax and enter the last 16 of the Europa League, they had to score at least one goal.
It was not surprising that the offense was strengthened in the second half of the game.
What stunned the Manchester United players was Ferguson's next sentence.
"Li, you don't need to be fixed in the defensive position in the second half of the game. You can move according to your thoughts.”
Ferguson's voice fell.
The Manchester United players in the locker room stared with their eyes wide open and their mouths agape. They looked incredulous like statues.
They looked at Ferguson and then at Li Ao.
Alex. Sir Ferguson.
Was he the one who said that?
One had to know.
Ferguson emphasized tactical discipline the most.
Back then, Beckham and the others were served with a hairdryer when they were a little lax.
Li Ao was stunned.
Ferguson stared at him and continued,""I only have one request. On the basis of maintaining your defensive contribution in the first half, I want to see your contribution to the offense!”
Ferguson was betting.
They were betting on the outcome of a Europa League match.
It was just a Europa League match.
He could afford to gamble.
What Ferguson wanted to see.
This was Li Ao's true strength!
As for the method to stimulate Li Ao's strength.
It was to increase his responsibilities on the field!
Just like now.
"You can run and pass the ball according to your intentions on the field.”
Then…
He turned to look at the other players.
"You guys will use him as the core in the second half! When he waved for the ball, he boldly passed it to him!”
Ferguson's words made the players present look at each other.
Core treatment.
He was seventeen years old, and it was his first time in the starting lineup. He was given the core treatment.
Wasn't this a little too exaggerated?
However, Ferguson had always been a man of his word in Manchester United's locker room.
Not to mention this group of Manchester United players who were usually substitutes.
Even for big players like Scholes and Giggs.
He did not dare to question Ferguson's decision.
Since Ferguson wanted them to play like this.
Then they could only play like this.
Even though everyone was muttering in their hearts.
He looked at Li Ao with some doubt.
This kid…
Where exactly did he get the manager's favor?
........
The fifteen minutes of halftime passed quickly.
Li Ao and his teammates returned to the court.
Cruyff Stadium was still bustling with people.
Cheers, boos.
All kinds of voices interweaved together.
Composed into the most impassioned symphony.
Li Ao was excited.
He knew.
Ferguson must have noticed something.
As expected of the top instructor who had nurtured two generations of Red Fiends.
He could see his ease in defense and the potential he had in offense.
To Li Ao.
It was definitely a good opportunity.
He wanted to use his performance in this game to completely conquer Ferguson.
Tell him.
He definitely had the ability to play as the main force in the First Team!!
Defeat Jax.
As the core of the midfield, he led Manchester United into the last 16 of the Europa League.
It was Li Ao's stepping stone!
......
The second half of the match.
Ajax continued to use their full offensive and full defensive football tactics.
They maintained a tight distance between the three lines.
They used the team's pressure to pressure Manchester United's players.
The older this collective oppression got, the more the coaches recognized it, and many teams began to move in this direction.
Manchester United also began to press on more offensively after the start of the second half.
During this process.
Li Ao's role changed.
He kept running in the middle and front field.
Catch the ball.
Pass the ball.
Facing the collective pressure from Jax.
Li Ao was like a cook disentangling a cow, always able to find an empty spot to catch the ball.
Martinyol frowned as he stood on the sidelines.
A few minutes later, he suddenly turned his head and said to his assistant beside him.
"Can you tell?"
"What?"
The assistant frowned slightly.
"Their number 39, the young man called Li Ao, touched the ball a lot in the second half and he almost never missed the ball!”
"What does this mean?"
"This means…This kid was not only good at defense!”
Martinyol frowned.
Manchester United's possession rate in the second half suddenly increased.
And the key to this.
It was that little guy called Li Ao!
.....
Ferguson was very satisfied with Li Ao's performance in the past few minutes.
He could find an opening, receive, and pass the ball.
Although Li Ao's handling was simple and unadorned.
He basically could not dribble the ball himself and would not let the football stop at his feet.
Every time, the ball was quickly passed out.
However…
This kind of quick pass looked simple, but it was actually very easy to make mistakes.
However, Li Ao had not made any mistakes in the second half of the game.
What did this mean?
This showed that he was fully prepared before every run, catch, and pass.
Before he received the ball, he had already thought about how he was going to receive the ball and which direction to pass the ball.
After a few minutes of familiarizing himself with the place.
Li Ao's passes even began to guide his teammates to run.
Sometimes, he would give his teammates some time to run up.
Moreover, he would not stop in place after passing the ball. Instead, he would run to the next gap.
This made it difficult for the Ajax players to defend against him.
Ten minutes into the second half of the game.
After a series of forceful attacks in the front field failed, the team of Jax was defeated.
They might as well retreat.
Set up a defense in their own half.
Didn't you pass the ball steadily?
You pass it on,
It spread to the end of time.
If you don't attack, you will still be eliminated!!
Ferguson stood on the sidelines, his eyes never leaving Li Ao.
He did not give any instructions.
He just wanted to take a look.
Facing the current situation.
Li Ao.
What choice would he make?
"Do you need a replacement?"
McFerran asked.
The team needed to score.
They needed to attack.
Ferguson shook his head and said,""I want to see what the brain on this field can do!!”
The brain of the stadium…
McFerran looked at Li Ao, who was wearing the number 39 jersey.
His expression also became solemn.
It was the last time Ferguson had such patience and attention to a player.
That was seven or eight years ago.
The young man who had been brought to England from Portugal.
Cristiano. Ronaldo.
Ferguson seemed to know what McFerran was thinking.
"This is a test for him. If he can complete this exam perfectly, he will be the next player of Chris 'level.”
Ferguson said.
"He can even be more powerful than Cristiano. Ronaldo was an even more important player.”
"Chris is the team's hard fist. Then Li Ao had the potential to become the brain of a team!”
Fist.
No matter what, it was not as important as the brain.
.............
the second more
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