On the Champions League final day, AC Milan will be in the hotel.

Head coach Ancelotti woke up early in the morning and walked out of the room and took a walk in the garden outside the hotel.

After retiring, Ancelotti gradually gained weight in middle age. The pressure of coaching made his hair a little gray, and he looked a few years older than his real age.

The one who accompanied him out was assistant coach Mauro Tassoti, who is also a celebrity in AC Milan. He has always been the youth team coach and the first team assistant coach. He is known as Ancelotti's right-hand man and has a very powerful role.

The two slowly walked in the garden, discussing the upcoming finals from time to time.

This is their own unique way to relieve stress.

"I don't understand very much, why did you promote Crouch last night?" Mauro Tasotti asked in confusion.

What he said was that last night, after the team was heated up at the Olympic Stadium, Ancelotti and Benitez attended the pre-match press conference of UEFA. The AC Milan head coach mentioned Liverpool's most threatening player.

He thought it was Crouch.

In this regard, Ancelotti said that Crouch's biggest threat lies not in scoring goals, but in his tactical role.

"I told our players that if we don't want to repeat the failures two years ago, we must focus on Crouch, who is a key link in Liverpool's offense. Aerial ball is his biggest advantage. As long as the ball reaches the penalty area, he can create a threat."

This morning, major media also gave different understandings about Ancelotti's statement.

Some people think that he said this on purpose and wanted to stimulate Liverpool. This is a psychological battle, but some people think that he is really worried about Crouch, because the tactical role of the English tall guys is indeed very strong, especially when he is in the penalty area.

Interestingly, Lippi, who is far away in Italy, also mentioned Crouch.

In an interview with the media, the former Italian national team coach resolutely voted for AC Milan for his support vote for the championship.

He believes that although the final outcome is unpredictable, AC Milan has reached the best physical and psychological level at the best time. Among the two teams, Yang Yang and Kaka are undoubtedly the strongest players in the world. Both of them have a key role in the game and are top-notch stars.

But at the same time, Lippi also mentioned another player from AC Milan, Seedorf. He believes that Ancelotti should activate the Dutch midfielder and he believes that Seedorf can become an indispensable winning factor for the team.

At the same time, Ancelotti was also reminded to pay attention to Crouch.

"Liverpool's defense is excellent, the counterattack is extremely fast, the midfield relies on Gerald's excellent coordination and Alonso's push. In the frontcourt, in addition to the most threatening Yang Yang, Crouch is also an outstanding center."

Ancelotti and Lippi mentioned Crouch at the same time, which undoubtedly made everyone realize that is really so outstanding in the English tall guys?

...

"We really need to be afraid of Crouch's high point, but because of this, I really hope that Benitez can arrange him." Ancelotti said lightly.

"Why?"

"The strongest is often the weakest. Crouch's role on the court is indeed huge, but his height is there and he is really strong in attacking. But if you want to talk about pressing and oppressing, this is not his strength." Ancelotti explained.

Mauro Tasotti suddenly realized.

Liverpool plays AC Milan, competes in technology and pass control, and give the English team a few courages to do this, because they know very well that this is their absolute weakness and they can't play the way to pass the ball.

But Benitez is best at pressing and oppressing.

After several adjustments this season, he won Mohamed Sissoko, who has weak pass ability, so that Mascherano, who has stronger pass ability and certain organizational ability, partnered with Xavi Alonso to form a double midfielder, stabilized Liverpool's midfielder in one fell swoop, and created Europe's leading midfield double midfielder combination.

With these two big midfielders in charge, Gerald can appear in the central and forward position where he is best at, and can safely choose the most appropriate time to intervene in and attack.

Although Liverpool's midfield play style has only been adjusted and formed, and it has not achieved the best effect, it is enough to create a threat, which determines that Benitez must adopt the method of scrambling and siege in this game.

Didn't run away!

In this case, if Crouch was allowed, it would undoubtedly give AC Milan more opportunities and space.

Because no one can ask a high center forward who is more than two meters tall to press and suppress it wildly, this is simply unrealistic.

This is the conclusion Ancelotti has drawn from Liverpool’s two-leg match against Barcelona.

And what he said at the pre-match press conference is half true and half false, and it depends on what others think.

What Lippi said is correct. Yang Yang is something that any team cannot ignore when facing Liverpool.

Another one is Gerald.

...

"If Benitez lets Crouch go, Seidorf must hold it down. We must hold the wing and not let Liverpool cross it."

"Without crossing, Crouch's high-altitude threat will be weakened, and he will only be able to go to the ground, and we can fight back, I believe this is not a difficult task for us."

Ancelotti obviously had his own set of plans for how to limit Crouch, so he was not worried at all.

"What if Crouch didn't come?" Tasotti asked.

This is indeed a bit unbelievable, because Crouch has always been the main force.

"There is such a possibility that Benitez is good at playing cup games because he is good at winning surprises. If he dares to win Crouch in such a game, it will definitely be a bold move, which proves that he is still seeking stability in the beginning."

Tasotti frowned, "Two years ago, Istanbul."

"That's right!" Ancelotti nodded, "Although the situation was complicated at that time and we had some luck in our first goal, Liverpool did play more risky at that time, and Benitez would definitely learn from his lessons."

"He will hold on to the game appropriately, fight with us with the style of scrambling and siege, and then exert force in the second half." Tasotti guessed.

"That's right." Ancelotti nodded.

The average age of AC Milan is the highest among all the Champions League teams. Many players are already over thirty. Teams of this age are fighting for money against Liverpool, which is a strong team like R&F. This is simply seeking death.

"So, we need to establish an advantage in the first half and force Liverpool to play!" A trace of harshness flashed across Ancelotti's eyes. He had no choice.

The team's lineup is there, what can he do?

"Liberate Seedov?" Tasotti asked.

Lippi is indeed the world's top tactical master. Although he is not a coach at AC Milan, and has been coaching for many years since he left the club to coach, he still can see the key core of AC Milan at a glance.

Of course, what Lippi knows, Benitez must know, and this is no secret.

Otherwise, Liverpool's intelligence personnel should have replaced them.

Ancelotti has prepared two different plans, targeting the two most likely tactical styles of play for Liverpool, but he still needs to observe carefully during the game how to arrange and how to use it.

Sometimes, football matches really require a little luck.

Just like in the final in Istanbul two years ago, who would have thought that Maldini scored for AC Milan with a free kick in the first fifty seconds, and then AC Milan scored two goals in a row?

And who would have thought that after the start of the second half, Liverpool suddenly got angry and AC Milan lost three goals in a row?

Therefore, the role of the head coach is limited, and the key is to depend on the players.

"I hope Odo and Gattuso can stop Yang Yang!" Ancelotti said worriedly.

No matter what he said to the outside world, in his heart, Liverpool's most threatening player is Yang Yang.

…………

…………

The team stipulates that players and their families cannot meet on the match day.

On the morning of the competition, Yang Yang saw Su Ye in the gym. Both of them had very good reasons, both of them came to exercise.

De Michelle knew clearly what was going on, but he turned a blind eye, pretended not to see it, and let the two meet in the gym.

There was no tactical meeting in the morning, which was a bit surprising.

According to Gerald, Benitez and the coaching staff are closely studying the tactics tonight.

"I heard that the boss was so upset that his hair fell a lot again." Gerald laughed.

Everyone smiled.

Benitez's hair was not much, and if it fell out, it would be really bald.

At noon, Yang Yang ran to swim again.

As a result, I saw Su Ye again in the swimming pool. She also brought a newly woven colorful bracelet. After Yang Yang finished swimming, she put it on him with her own hands and encouraged him to work hard tonight, and then she left reluctantly.

Yang Yang glanced at the light bulb next to him, and curled his lips, "Come by chance, I just happened to meet."

De Michelle immediately smiled bitterly and asked quietly: "Do you think I'm like an idiot?"

"Do you want to listen to the truth or lies?" Yang Yang asked with a smile.

De Michel immediately shouted, "Don't, don't, I know what you want to say."

The two left the swimming pool with laughter and talking.

The players were relatively relaxed, mainly responsible for regulating their body and mind. However, in the conference room, the coaching staff held a heated discussion, or even a debate, because there has not been a complete set of definite plans tonight and what tactics to be adopted.

There is no plan, and the coaching staff doesn't know how to explain the precautions on the field to the players.

Finally, at the last moment before this tactical meeting in the afternoon, Benitez finally defeated the public and made a decision, and rejected everyone's objection.

After the meeting, everyone also started preparing.

Yesterdam immediately came to the player's room and knocked on the door where Crouch was.

The Liverpool assistant coach talked to Crouch for more than ten minutes before leaving, and no one knew what they were talking about.

At this moment, Benitez was giving advice in Yang Yang's room.
Chapter completed!