To describe the first half in the words of Bein Sports commentator Wenger, it is that both teams chose the best way to win the championship.

But this method may not be what fans want to see most.

Because they found that Ajax, who had overcome all obstacles and reached the Champions League final, was no longer passionate in the finals, no longer played the pleasing offensive football, and replaced it with a more calm and conservative football style, which disappointed many people.

No one will question whether Ajax can play offensive football, because this team used the first twelve official Champions League games this season to prove that it was through offensive football to reach the finals.

But as Mourinho said, "the first twelve games worked, but it is difficult to work in the Champions League final because it is the Champions League final!"

"Any team that has reached the Champions League final is the most successful and stable team in the past season. They will do everything possible to attack the opponent's weaknesses."

"So we can see that tonight's Liverpool is not the Liverpool we hope to see, and Ajax is not the best Ajax, because this is the Champions League final, and no one can take risks in such a final that is determined!"

But both Wenger and Mourinho gave quite high comments on the performance of Yang Yang and Ajax.

"The final data results show that Ajax's possession rate in the first half was as high as 65%, which included the passive result in the previous ten minutes. It can be seen that Yang Yang's team began to dominate the situation on the court after Liverpool's start to attack."

"According to data this season, Liverpool's average ball possession rate is 50% and his pass success rate is 79%. But tonight, when facing Ajax, even if he had an overwhelming advantage in the first ten minutes, Liverpool's ball possession rate is only 35% and his pass success rate is only 61%.

"Other point, in the first twelve Champions League games, Liverpool averaged 504 passes per game, only 60 long passes, accounting for about 12%. However, in the first half, Liverpool's passes were only 152, and the number of long passes was as many as 35, accounting for nearly 23%.

"Maybe many people cannot realize the meaning of this string of numbers. Let me explain here that this means that Liverpool has been closely cut by Ajax in this game. They can hardly pass the ball, and the pass success rate has dropped significantly compared to usual, which has forced Liverpool to rely more on long passes."

"We can also find data. Many of Liverpool's long passes are directly looking for Salah on the right, but Taliafico's mission tonight is more about defense. In addition, Militon's outstanding performance, Salah's success rate for receiving long passes is pitifully low."

"This reflects that in the game, Liverpool only had a single shot at Ajax, which happened in the eighth minute, but that shot failed to create a threat and was easily confiscated by Onana. In the past for nearly 40 minutes, Liverpool failed to shoot Ajax again, and the number of shots was pitifully small."

"It is not difficult to deduce from these data. The scene seems very intense, but in fact, Ajax suppresses Liverpool. At this point, Yang Yang's deployment of troops and on-site command, as well as his example on the court, have played a key role."

"But next, how will Ajax translate that advantage into a goal?"

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The commentators of two world-renowned coaches far away in the UK did not reach Yang Yang's ears, but Yang Yang also obtained the data they received immediately after the first half of the game.

Yang Yang's reaction to this data was positive.

"We did a very good job in the first half!" Yang Yang praised all the players in the locker room with the data.

"We have basically completed the first half task. Although it is regrettable that we failed to score, I believe that at this moment you should all know how cruel the Champions League final is. This is far more intense and pressure than all our past games."

All the players in the locker room agree with it.

Before the game, Yang Yang warned them more than once that the most difficult thing in the Champions League final was not the arrangement of troops, but how to show their true level, because under the dual pressure of the opponent and the game, those with slightly worse psychological quality will become weak.

They were very careful before, but no matter how much they paid attention, they would be more experienced than to experience it personally.

How difficult it is to kick them, they cannot describe it in specific adjectives, but it can be reflected in their bodies.

That is the physical fitness that can usually be played for ninety minutes, but now they have only been playing for forty-five minutes, and they are actually starting to feel tired.

You know, they have prepared for two weeks for this game tonight.

But I'm really tired!

Even, in the eyes of many people, this fifteen-minute intermission was too timely.

"Now, what is facing us is a difficult problem, that is, how to score first?" Yang Yang said to the player.

He was sitting in the seat because he was also quite tired in the first half.

At the age of thirty-two, it is no better than that of the past.

"For us, scoring goals is not difficult. What is really difficult is how to ensure that our goal is not broken by our opponent and get a goal first. This is the most difficult thing."

All Ajax players nodded at the same time, and Liverpool's defense was too solid.

In addition to the three tough guys in the midfield, Van Dijk on the back line is also very scary. In addition, goalkeeper Alisson looks unbreakable. In the first half alone, Van Dijk and Alisson destroyed at least four or five threatening offensive opportunities.

"I looked at it and Liverpool is still fighting back with long passes, but the success rate of this offensive style is too low, and Salah can't get the ball at all, so Klopp should have a headache."

"So in the second half, we will give our opponents more space to push them out again, and we will seize the opportunity and fight back."

"When counterattacking, you should pay attention to hitting the two wings more. Van Dijk is the strong point of their defense line. We should bypass this point and mobilize the opponent's defense line more with a diagonal long pass, divert more, and avoid Van Dijk."

Van Dijk is so amazing!

He was like a stabilizing needle, standing in front of Liverpool's goal, and all frontal attacks could not pass his level.

Even Premier League fans joked that this season, they unlocked the high-level skills of [one man is invincible, ten thousand men], and can be said to be the number one hero for Liverpool to enter the Champions League final.

"Luca." Yang Yang looked at Jovic.

The Serbian center originally covered his face with a towel and listened silently to Yang Yang's words. After hearing that he was named, he immediately took off the towel, sat upright, and nodded to Yang Yang.

"You should pay more attention to the second half. We should pay attention to the division of labor. If Van Dijk goes to watch, whoever he goes around the front point, another runs back point, and try to pass the two wings to the back point in a diagonal way, or transfer to the other side."

Yang Yang's simple words are actually very complicated tactical coordination routines. These are all the key practices of Ajax in the past year, especially in the past two weeks, and the players are very familiar with each other.

"We Chinese have an old saying that when the fist is retracted, it will be more powerful, and there is another saying called "playing hard to get."

"Our offense requires space. The greater the space, the more beneficial it is to us. Therefore, continuing to oppress our opponents will not be of any benefit to us. Instead, it will make Liverpool's plan more effective."

"So, we'll get some back in the second half!"

In fact, if Klopp hadn't adjusted in time, Ajax would have created two consecutive threats in the period of ten minutes and would have almost scored.

Unfortunately, Klopp is not a fuel-efficient lamp, and the on-site adjustments are very timely.

And this guy is different from the past, he is more pragmatic now.

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At the beginning of the second half, Ajax took the lead in kicking off.

Everyone was surprised to find that the Eredivisie team had actually changed their playing style.

They are still decisive and play very quickly and sharply, but once they lose the ball, they will not engage in more trouble in the frontcourt and will retreat to their own side to organize defense in the first half.

This is different from the high-pressure and pressure that was pressing step by step in the first half. Liverpool began to get more opportunities to get the ball in the backcourt.

Therefore, the Red Army reduced its long passes and continued to go to the ground to cooperate with the promotion.

But Klopp on the sidelines was not at all easy.

When adjusting in the midfield, he had an idea to increase the success rate of long passes. Now he found that the team's long passes have decreased and the ball possession has increased, but what followed is that there are fewer opportunities to play behind him.

Ajax is fast when he advances and retreats!

Liverpool was also a little uncomfortable with Ajax's change at the beginning, and was always worried if there was any conspiracy?

But slowly, they found that Ajax was really retreating, and he retreated very firmly.

They believed this!

Why did you withdraw?

Inadequate physical fitness? Tactical adjustment? Or something else?

This is not what players should consider, but the responsibility of the head coach on the sidelines.

The player's task is that if the opponent retreats, then we should move forward.

Liverpool still hopes to break through Ajax's left side through the right side led by Salah and Arnold. Even if they can't break through, they can create threats and attract defensive attention.

Just in the 52nd minute, Liverpool adopted this strategy.

Ajax made a defense outside the 30-meter area of ​​his side, and the center of defense tilted to the left to suppress the side of Salah.

Liverpool did not break through the right side and passed back to Henderson. After Liverpool stopped the ball in the midfield, he directly passed with a long diagonal pass, hoping to send it to Mane's feet, allowing Liverpool's left winger to sprint to Ajax's right side.

But at the moment of passing the ball, Ashraf, who was originally behind the defense line, suddenly rushed forward with a quick step, took the lead, and intercepted Henderson's long pass in the middle, and dribbled the ball to instigate the counterattack.
Chapter completed!