Chapter 709 Dilemma

In this life-and-death battle, Barcelona's game strategy is to attack. Two weeks ago, at the Camp Nou, the team lost 1:3, which not only caused the team to lose the initiative, but also lost the away goal, so Barcelona must score three goals away from home. This is also the reason why Valverde adopted the 3-4-3 tactics, because the team has no way out!

According to the pre-match speculation, Barcelona should launch a fierce attack from the beginning, relying on the outstanding offensive combination in the frontcourt, relying on the genius trident of Coutinho, Suarez and Messi, plus the midfielders Busquets, Vidal and Rakitic's strategizing, swallowing Manchester United in one fell swoop.

Before the game, everyone in the Barcelona team was full of confidence. Everyone felt that their team would successfully take the initiative away from home.

The real trouble lies in how to break through Manchester United's iron wall and how to score.

But at the beginning of the game, everyone in Barcelona realized that something was wrong, because Manchester United did not retreat as they imagined!

………………

Even though they were ahead 3:1, Manchester United's starting tactics were not conservative at home. On the contrary, they looked more radical and attacked aggressively from the beginning.

The front three of Mbappe, Harry Kane and Rashford pressed Barcelona's defense, while midfielders Bruno, Gundogan and Kante pressed Barcelona's midfield.

The back line was still a combination of Luke Shaw, Van Dijk, Maguire and Cancelo.

Manchester United's starting lineup was almost the same as the first round, the only change was that Gundogan replaced Fred.

In addition, they played more aggressively than in the first round, and the entire midfield and defense were pressed further up. The trident led by Harry Kane also penetrated deeper into Barcelona's hinterland.

This was obviously beyond Barcelona's expectations.

The rhythm of the game was wrong from the beginning.

Manchester United's front three had a large range of activities, and Pique had to deal with Harry Kane, but this made it impossible for him to take care of his teammates on both sides.

Barcelona's defense was a bit messy, because they found themselves in a three-on-three situation, and they were a bit at a loss. What's more, there was Bruno who kept advancing.

The Portuguese had a large range of activities, ran very actively, and frequently took diagonal and vertical quick sprints.

Everyone knew that Bruno was only 24 years old, and speed and dribbling were his specialties, but Busquets was already 35 years old and couldn't stop him at all, especially when sprinting quickly.

………………

Pique was a bit confused, because he didn't know what to do!

Logically, when Busquets went forward to follow Bruno, he should have helped Busquets to defend behind him. In this way, as long as Bruno broke through, he could quickly grab the ball, and even if he couldn't steal the ball, he could block Bruno.

But in this way, who would watch Harry Kane?

If he didn't go to fill in for Busquets, Bruno only needed to seize an opportunity, whether it was a diagonal or vertical attack, as long as he got rid of Busquets, it would be an excellent shooting opportunity.

More importantly, the head coach on the sidelines has been slow to give specific adjustment instructions. Even if it is to pull Roberto, who has been dragged behind in the midfield, back to become a four-back defense.

The lack of movement has made Pique a little frustrated. He has a vague feeling that the team's fragile defense line may not be able to hold on.

………………

In the second round of the Champions League quarter-finals, the Millennium Stadium has not been quiet for a second since the referee blew the whistle. More than 70,000 fans shouted and cheered at the top of their lungs to cheer for the team.

Valverde said that playing at home is an advantage, but also a pressure. This statement is correct, but all Manchester United players obviously enjoy playing at home more, because the fans here are the team's best comrades!

Mourinho's game strategy is basically the same as the first round, including how to defend Barcelona's front trident.

In addition, in order to deal with Barcelona's four midfielders, Bruno's position has returned a little.

Among Manchester United's front four attacking groups, Bruno, who plays as a front midfielder, has the highest tactical freedom.

Rashford wants to grab Lenglet, Harry Kane wants to suppress Pique, Mbappe deals with Alba, and Bruno's task is to attack.

Valverde's original idea was very simple, control the ball, control the rhythm, and use the experienced veteran Busquets to limit Bruno, then other things will be much easier.

………………

Although Mourinho's coaching style is characterized by rigorous tactics and emphasis on defense, it does not mean that he is very rigid. In fact, Mourinho is very flexible and changeable in tactics, and can quickly adapt to the requirements of different leagues and teams. This is also the reason why he can succeed in different leagues and teams.

For example, in this game against Barcelona, ​​everyone concluded that Manchester United would definitely continue to play defensive counterattacks. Even Barcelona's technical director Abidal felt that Manchester United would play defensive counterattacks during psychological warfare.

Why? First, they took a 3:1 lead in the first leg at the Camp Nou; second, defensive counterattacks are Manchester United's forte and Mourinho's magic weapon for winning in football; third, Manchester United's pressing forward is what Barcelona most wants to see, because it means that Manchester United can no longer defend too tightly.

But Mourinho has this kind of courage, which caught everyone in Barcelona off guard, and Valverde was obviously stunned.

Who would have thought that Mourinho had so many tricks to choose from, but he chose the option that was the least likely to be chosen in everyone's mind?

But sometimes things are like this. The less your opponent expects, the safer it is.

Manchester United had a very good start. Starting from the trident, to the three midfielders, and to the four defenders, the team played very comprehensively and suppressed Barcelona across the board.

United had no possession of the ball but controlled the game.

By this time, Bruno knew very well that he didn't need to worry about defense or anything else. There was only one thing he needed to worry about, and that was how to break Barcelona's goal!

………………

Busquets is a very experienced and excellent player. Even though he is thirty-one years old, he is still in pretty good condition.

Among the Cosmos team that once overwhelmed the entire European football world, Busquets is the least famous, but there is no doubt about Busquets' strength.

Barcelona's style of play is to pass and control. Generally, after conceding the ball, they will immediately start a high-position press. The players who lost the ball in the frontcourt will immediately attack. When the opponent gets past this first line of attack, Busques will often face him. Then Busques blocks the position first, and the full-backs help defend. Xavi and Xiaobai block the return line and seize the opportunity to grab the ball. Of course, the wingers will also participate in blocking the line.

Busques did not press wildly or commit brutal fouls. He mainly relied on his excellent defensive anticipation to reduce a lot of pressure and impact on Barcelona's defense.

Compared with traditional defensive midfielders, he does not have extraordinary physical fitness and strong body, and his tracking speed is even worse, but this does not affect his role in defense at all.

In addition, Professor Bu has a very good sense of position and can always maintain good contact with the ball-holding players in the midfield and backcourt to ensure that the team controls the ball in the midfield and backcourt.

Therefore, Bruno changed his strategy. He deliberately moved further left and tried to pull Busquets out.

As long as Busquets leaves his position, Bruno's diagonal and vertical sprints will be a threat.

The thirty-one-year-old veteran, coupled with his physical fitness has always been one of Busquets' shortcomings, and he cannot keep up with Bruno's speed.

But it wouldn't work if Busquets didn't come out, because Bruno started with a long shot from 20 meters away and hit Barcelona's crossbar. This completely ignited the atmosphere of the audience and also shocked Barcelona.

Without the crossbar, Manchester United would have scored in three minutes!

As a result, Busquets had to come out, and in the ninth minute, he received the first yellow card of the game.

………………

Busquets is also very difficult to deal with Bruno.

Valverde didn't make many adjustments. Bruno guessed that the Barcelona coach should have a headache at this time and even regret his starting lineup because he had no way to adjust.

During the counterattack, Bruno's back-up forced him to protect Roberto at the edge of the penalty area.

Rakitic and Vidal are on both sides of the midfield four. They are the key to the team's ball control organization and passing attack, and they cannot move.

Bruno has a feeling that it's not Valverde who is too weak, but Mourinho who is too strong.

More importantly, the team's 3:1 win in the first leg on the road was so crucial that it directly pushed Barcelona into a desperate situation. There was no way out and they could only choose to fight to the death.

Mourinho not only wants his opponents to have nowhere to go, but also personally pushes them off the cliff.

Bruno is the trump card in his hand to intimidate his opponents!

"The Manchester United midfielder successfully intercepted the ball again!"

"Kante made the tackle and handed it to Gundogan..."

"Gündogan dribbled the ball forward, and Manchester United launched a counterattack, passing behind..."

"Bruno..."

…

The entire Millennium Stadium was completely boiling.

In the first fifteen minutes, Bruno was Manchester United's most threatening player in the frontcourt. But this time, he retreated further back, then suddenly turned and started diagonally into Barcelona's penalty area.

Busquets followed him out. He desperately wanted to wrap around Bruno, especially the moment he turned around and started. He even made a pulling movement, but he soon let go. Because he realized that he had just received a yellow card.

It was like a sword of Damocles, always hanging above his head.