Chapter 241: Fight against slow

Before welcoming Lazio at home, Valencia gave up the next round of the league, hiding nearly half of the main players, they lost 0-3 away at Barcelona, ​​but they still continued to rank third in the league because of their previous wins. For Valencia, the league is no longer the game they focus on now, and the Champions League is the game they value most.

For Valencia, he has completed the expected task for him. The next task this season is to maintain his qualification for the Champions League next season and get better results in the next Champions League matches!

The quarterfinals are followed by the quarterfinals, and the finals are followed by the finals. For Valencia, there is only one step forward to see if she can walk out of a bright road!

Lazio, this team is a roadblock for Valencia to enter the semifinals, and for Cooper, this is the best target to wash away the shame of losing last season's finals!

Although it was a very surprising thing for others to lead Mallorca to the finals of the Winners Cup last season, Mallorca was completely unknown in the Winners Cup last season, and being able to enter the finals was a surprise enough thing. Moreover, they played well in the finals. Lazio finally decided on the game with almost the inspiration of two stars, Nedved and Vieri.

However, for Cooper himself, he was quite worried about the strength of that final. In his opinion, he completely defeated the opponent's Swedish coach Eriksen in terms of tactical arrangements and confrontations. He lost the game in the end, but he didn't have a top star under his command.

Now, Valencia, he led, is much stronger than Mallorca last season, and Lazio's strength has not increased significantly. They lost Vieri and introduced Peron and Simeone. Although their strength cannot be said to have declined, but the center with a goal that is like picking up grass mustard is unlikely to be considered an increase...

In fact, Cooper was still a little scared of Vieri, the center forward. Last season, Vieri broke through Mallorca's impeccable defensive formation and scored a goal to secure the victory. This is purely a perfect reflection of personal ability. No matter how good the coach and tactical arrangement is, facing such a player, he can only express helplessness.

It is precisely because of this that Cooper is getting happier and happier to have a player like Tiger this season, and he can bring something different in addition to the coach's tactical arrangements. Such a player is a surprise for the coach of the team, but a nightmare for the opponent's coach!

Cooper still remembers his despair when he was scored by Vieri last season, and now, his players can also bring such despair to the opponent's coach...

Damn, it's exciting to think about it!

The previous sacrifice in the league also brought great benefits to Valencia - their main players are now free of injuries and have good physical fitness. After Lazio failed to win the league championship last season, they value the league and the Champions League this season, which also made their main players run away - before this game, Nesta, their core local flag of their defense, announced his withdrawal from the game due to injury - this is of course very good news for Valencia.

After several years of training, Nesta has become the mainstay of Lazio and the Italian national team, but this excellent defender is also a fragile genius who is often injured. This game is not the first game he missed due to injury, nor is it the last game he missed due to injury.

Although Lazio also has top central defenders such as Yugoslav Mikhainovic, Argentine San Sini and Portuguese Couto, Nesta's injury is still an irreparable loss for Lazio.

So when Lazio came to Valencia, they seemed very low-key. Lazio's head coach Eriksson cautiously stated that they could be satisfied if they got a draw away. Of course, it would be even more satisfying to be able to get a draw with a goal. Cooper also seemed very low-key. He modestly said that Lazio is very strong and has many top outstanding players. Being able to reach the quarterfinals is already Valencia's limit. Each game next is just a process for Valencia...

Everyone is laughing at Cooper - you're having a fake game, right...

April 5, Mestalia.

Unlike his humble performance before, both sides sent the strongest lineup at hand without reservation in this game. Valencia's starting lineup was Canisarez, Anguenoma, Caboni, Pellegrino, Jukic, Gerard, Farinos, Kili, Mendeta, Tiger, Lopez, and Lazio sent a four-five-one formation. The goalkeeper was substitute goalkeeper Barotta, and Macegiana could not play due to injury. The four defenders were Negro, Mikhainovic, San Sini and Favalli, three Argentines in the middle of the midfield. Almeda and Simeone partnered with the back midfield, and the front midfielder was Peron - this was almost the main midfielder of the entire Argentina national team - the two wings were Stankovic and Nedved, and the forwards were Simeone Inzag.

Vieri transferred to Inter Milan with the world's first place. Salas has been in a bad state since the beginning of this season and has not scored for a long time. Mancini is old. The Lazio forward combination that was intimidating last season has collapsed, but the midfield is a bit stronger than last season. Peron showed his strength in Lazio this season, which is completely the top attacking midfielder, and Simeone's arrival has also made Lazio's waist extremely hard. Like Valencia, the midfield is also Lazio's strongest link. Eriksson withdrew a forward and added a midfielder, playing the idea of ​​confronting Valencia in the midfield.

"Guys, Lazio is going to compete with us in the midfield, so let them see how strong our midfield is! Speed ​​up the running, play fast, and drag them down!" Cooper said only one sentence in the locker room.

Valencia's players nodded one after another. After almost a week of simulated games on the training ground, each Valencia player has almost reached his peak. In more and more times during training, he can play with Tiger's running and replay the pleasing and quick transmission and cooperation attack of the first half of the season!

This state is Cooper’s biggest reliance. He wants Erikson to know what kind of achievements Cooper can lead a team to achieve after having a lineup of similar strength!

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Erikson was still confident when he sat on the visiting team coaching seat.

Serie A is basically on par with La Liga. Although it is no longer the time when Serie A dominant in the small World Cup era, when encountering La Liga teams, the defense of Serie A teams can often play a decisive role. In the past ten years, as long as there is no problem with Serie A team's own defense, it will be difficult for them to be defeated in the European arena. Although he also knows that Valencia's defense is also quite excellent, no matter what, compared with Serie A teams, there is really a little gap between La Liga teams and La Liga teams.

Although Nesta’s inability to play has caused great trouble to Lazio, Lazio’s excellent bench thickness allows them to choose on the defense line with ease. As long as they defend a draw away, Lazio has a great hope after returning to home. You should know that Lazio’s midfield defense is also excellent, and it is quite difficult to suppress Lazio in the midfield.

Valencia's defensive counterattack was excellent, but in this game, Lazio would not foolishly push out and play with Valencia - Eriksen was confident.

The referee blew the whistle at the beginning of the game. Tiger took the ball passed by Lopez and then passed it back, and the game began.

Farinos stopped the ball at his feet in the midfield and looked up to observe. Inzaggi had not yet pounced over, and he still had time. However, after just observing for a moment, he immediately passed the ball horizontally.

Be quick!

Caboni received the ball on the left and began to dribble the ball forward. Although Caboni is not a defender who is good at attack, he still has basic offensive ability. It was not until Nedved rushed towards him that Caboni passed it straight and passed the ball to Kili in front.

Kili ran forward along the rolling ball, then hit Tiger who was running over to meet him. Tiger took the ball and turned around. Simeone and Almeida had already hit him.

Facing the two main players of the Argentine national team, Tiger did not stop the ball, but instead kicked Lopez in front. Lopez did not force a breakthrough, turned around and passed the ball to Mendeta. Mendeta dribbled the ball and took two steps, and then resolutely took a long shot near the corner of the penalty area!

Balotta flew to the side and rushed out, and Favali, who returned to defense, cleared the ball with his big feet.

This offense did not bring much vigilance to Eriksen. It was indeed a very fast attack this time, but Valencia did not have a very fast attack before - especially after this offense, Valencia's players began to quickly return to defense, which made Eriksen make up this judgment.

Lazio's next attack was fiercely blocked by Valencia. There was no striker in the penalty area with enough impact, and Lazio could not easily take a high ball. However, Valencia protected him closely at the front of the penalty area. Lazio passed back and forth for a long time before finding a gap. Stankovic came up and shot with a long shot, but he ended up playing high.

Valencia quickly launched another attack, and passed it to Lazio's penalty area with three passes. After following up, Kili continued to shoot with a long shot after receiving the pass from Tiger, and the ball was slightly off.

Before Barotta had scored the goal, Valencia's players had already rushed back like a tide and continued to defend...

This was the case for the next ten minutes. Valencia played very fast every time he made an attack. Even if he made a pass mistake in the middle, he insisted on playing fast attack. Lazio was always dragged into the quagmire of the position attack, making them extremely angry.

Valencia has an advantage in physical fitness. After all, their main players took turns to play in more than a week before, so they gave up the last round of the Champions League group stage and the previous La Liga game. What about Lazio? They had not ensured that they qualify in the group before the last round, and they were also in the league, but in terms of physical strength, they could not compare with Valencia who was raising their strength.

Eriksen's brows slowly frowned, and he began to think about what Valencia was doing this - was he trying to use physical strength to drag Lazio down? But no matter how tired Lazio's players are, they are far from the limit.

When Peron, who took the ball, faced the Valencia's defensive players who were stacked up in front of him, he couldn't help but frown. His organizational ability is good, but with so many defensive players in front of him, it is really difficult to find a good pass route...

Seeing that Renos had already rushed towards him, Veron didn't want to hold the ball for too long, and there were many defensive players on both sides and in front of Valencia. To be on the safe side, Veron turned around and passed the ball to Almeda behind him.

Because most of Valencia's defensive players are concentrated in their own half, Almeida has a lot of spare time to observe the situation ahead after getting the ball. Seeing Stankovic running back from the side to ask for the ball, he raised his foot and passed the ball out.

Just the moment Almeida passed the ball, he saw Stankovic's face change not far away. Almeida was stunned, and then felt a gust of wind rushing towards him!

That was Tiger who returned to defense! He instantly ran out of his highest speed, rushed past Almeida, who was caught off guard, and then stretched out his foot to break the ball before Stankovic took the ball!

Midfielder intercepted the ball!

Almeida and Stankovic reacted quickly. After Tiger intercepted the ball, they immediately hit Tiger forward and backward. However, Tiger half-turned his body the moment he stretched out his foot to control the ball. Lopez, who had formed an excellent tacit understanding with him, began to accelerate and sprint towards Lazio's half-court. Tiger turned around and passed the ball over!

The ball flew quickly to Lazio's half, while Lopez, who accelerated from near the center circle, rushed towards Lazio's half!

"So continue running after passing the ball!" After passing the ball, Tiger did not stop like Almeida and Stankovic, but kicked his feet and rushed towards Lazio's half!

At this time, the whole game was paying attention to Lopez who was sprinting rapidly. Almost everyone ignored Tiger who rushed forward. No matter from any angle, it was a fast attack after intercepting the ball. Tiger who gave the last pass was no longer the protagonist. The protagonist only had Lopez who dribbled the ball alone, Mikhainovic who defended him, and Balotta in front of the goal!

Mikhainovic rushed towards Lopez. He was the last defender in front of the defense line and the only Lazio player who could stop Lopez. However, at this moment when he might become a hero, the Yugoslav central defender suddenly slipped under his feet when he was about to approach Lopez and fell to the ground in a very embarrassed manner!

Eriksen stood up in disbelief, and in fact, he gave Lopez a one-on-one sword!

Lopez, who received such a big gift for no reason, was overjoyed. He stretched out his foot and removed the ball, then dribbled the ball into the penalty area. Facing Balotta who did not attack, he seemed to have a headache. He did not choose to continue moving forward to get more space for shooting, nor did he attempt to get rid of Balotta and then shoot in the empty goal. Instead, he directly took a long shot from the penalty area line!

As a substitute goalkeeper, Balotta showed his excellent basic skills. Although Lopez's shot seemed a little hasty, he still played strongly. Balotta made a beautiful side pass and blocked the ball with one hand.

The sighs of Valencia fans sounded in the stands, but then they cheered because a figure wearing a white Valencia home jersey was rushing towards the ball back into the penalty area at high speed!

"That's Tiger! It's really incredible! He just completed a steal and a long pass in the midfield, but he rushed to Lazio's penalty area so quickly! Although his speed was gradually slowing down, there were still no Lazio's players who could defend him!"

Tiger began to feel his speed slowing down. After all, it has been more than 30 meters from midfield to here. However, as the commentator said, there is still no Lazio defender within five meters of his side - this distance is enough for him to complete this attack!

Taking another big step forward, Tiger stretched out his foot to stop the ball, then he hit the ball in the middle, dodged Barotta, who was still lying on the ground, and then easily shot with his right foot!

The ball flew into the goal lightly, one to zero!

After the shot, Tiger jumped up and jumped over Barotta's body. After seeing the ball fly into the goal, Tiger stretched out his index finger with his right hand, and then ran directly under the stands, pointing his finger high towards the sky!

This is his territory! This is within his control! Here, he is the well-deserved number one, no.1!

Cooper waved his fist hard, and tried to be as fast as possible in the offense, slowed down Lazio's offensive rhythm on defense, and tried to quickly form a counterattack after intercepting the ball in the midfield, and hit the disadvantage of the slow speed of Lazio's defense line after losing Nesta. This tactic has had an excellent effect so far!

He turned his head proudly and looked at Erikson, who was sitting in the visiting team's coaching seat, and Cooper raised his hands high. At this moment, he believed extremely that the Swedes in front of him were not his opponent at all! As long as he had a similar lineup, he could beat the Swedes up!

"This goal will definitely not be the first in this game!" Cooper thought viciously in his heart - he is actually a vengeful person!
Chapter completed!