"After two years of intensive refinement, the entire set of tactics has matured."
While the Big Three of Naples were having a meeting, Inter Milan's coaching staff was also intensively studying how to defeat Naples in the Coppa Italia final.
This is Mancini's last game as coach of Inter Milan, and it is also the most important one.
Serie A has been lost irreparably, and Mancini doesn't want to lose the Italian Cup as well.
Assistant coach Mihajlovic has also decided to officially leave Mancini's team after the end of this season. He hopes to get the opportunity to coach alone, and indeed some teams are interested in him.
After all, he has played football for many years and has a very wide network of contacts in Italy.
Mihajlovic believes that after two seasons of coaching Naples, Gao Shen has created a very mature tactical system for this team, and the players have been well-developed, and their physical fitness is very good.
Various factors came together to form Naples' strong recovery after the winter break.
"It can be said that with his performance this season, Gao Shen has truly become one of the top players in Europe."
Mihajlovic's evaluation was recognized by everyone, and even Mancini couldn't help but nod.
He had to admit that he had indeed underestimated and misjudged Gao Shen before.
Now, Gao Shen is a head coach who can keep pace with him.
But the problem is that he has failed to make a difference in the Champions League for several consecutive seasons, so he has never been able to break through the first line and reach the ranks of Europe's top coaches, which is the level where Ancelotti is.
Gao Shen's situation is much better than him.
Firstly, Gao Shen is very young, only twenty-seven years old; secondly, Gao Shen represents a new, more advanced, and more scientific tactical style and concept; and finally, Gao Shen is very popular now and can take over at any time.
A wealthy club making a breakthrough in the Champions League.
Of course, Gao Shen himself has already won a Champions League and La Liga championship. Although many people are reluctant to admit it, in fact, these two championships make Gao Shen slightly higher than first-line coaches like Mancini.
At the very least, he is an out-and-out Champions League champion coach!
…
So far, Mancini has faced Gao Shen three times.
The first time was a complete victory, and his tactics were his most confident; the second time was at home, and he was full of confidence before the game, but during the game, he found that it was not that simple and almost lost; the third time was
The Battle of St. Paul was a disastrous defeat.
Some people say that from these three games, we can see the progress of Gao Shen and Naples.
Mancini felt even more helpless.
In the first game, Inter Milan had an overwhelming advantage and could be said to have completely crushed Naples.
But in the second game, this strength advantage weakened, and then Mancini tried to make adjustments.
Everyone knows that the midfield is crucial when playing against Naples.
Even if Napoli cannot be suppressed in the midfield, it must not be overwhelmed in the midfield.
It can be said to be a true interpretation of the saying "Whoever wins the midfield wins the world".
But previous attempts have failed, what now?
This is the biggest problem facing Mancini.
…
"I want to play 4-5-1."
As soon as Mancini finished speaking, everyone in the audience showed expressions of disbelief.
Play four-five-one?
Defensive counterattack?
you sure?
Mihajlovic opened his mouth slightly, wanting to say something, but seeing Mancini's look, he couldn't say anything.
No one knows Mancini's situation and state of mind at this moment better than him.
Once upon a time, Mancini was so arrogant and proud, the leader of the new generation in Italy.
At that time, had Naples ever been in his eyes?
Therefore, even when Naples topped the list, Mancini directly ignored Naples when he was giving guidance.
Because he believes that Gao Shen and his team cannot threaten Inter Milan at all.
But at the Sao Paulo Stadium, Mancini's team was completely defeated!
A humiliating defeat!
His situation has changed, and so has his mood.
“We must protect the midfield. Only by guarding the midfield can our defense be stable. Otherwise, our current defense cannot stop the central defender combination of Napoli, Burdisso and Chivu.
"
Mancini also had a look of dejection on his face and seemed a little powerless.
That battle not only destroyed Inter Milan's leading position, but also destroyed Mancini's confidence and backbone.
But looking at it from another perspective, what Mancini said is true.
Materazzi was injured, and Samuel and Cordoba missed the season early. Now there are only three central defenders. Rivas is not very reliable. Chivu and Burdisso are short and face Cavani.
With a high forward like Pellet, this is very problematic.
"How to arrange the midfielder for a defensive counterattack?" Mihajlovic asked helplessly.
"We have Suazo up front. His speed plays a big role in counterattacks." Mancini did not answer directly.
Obviously, Mancini still doesn't want to fall in love with Ibrahimovic.
Cruz has accumulated yellow cards and is suspended. Inter Milan has three centers, Suazo, Balotelli and Crespo.
"Five midfielders, I haven't thought about the left yet. Cesar or Solari can be used. Vieira, Stankovic and Zanetti are in the middle, and Balotelli plays on the right."
Figo is old and can no longer be entrusted with important responsibilities.
Balotelli is only seventeen years old, but his performance this season has been very eye-catching, but is he reliable because he is young?
Judging from the formation, Mancini's intention is obvious, which is to protect the defense and focus on counterattack.
Balotelli, Cesar, and Solari's task is to drive the ball from the wing, but this will also face problems.
Neither of Naples' two wings are vegetarian.
Needless to say, Vargas only played for one season, but he was definitely the number one left back in Serie A.
Lichtsteiner also became more valuable in Naples, especially in the second half, after adapting to Serie A and fully integrating into Naples, the right back performed very well both offensively and defensively.
Under such circumstances, can Inter Milan withstand such a wing configuration?
"We have no choice at all, we have no one on the wing!" Mancini felt the eyes of Mihajlovic and others, helpless, and even vented a little angrily.
In fact, everyone knows that Mancini also has his own difficulties.
Many people envy his huge lineup, but they fail to see how many veterans there are in Inter Milan behind the huge lineup? How many players are in their prime?
For example, the center, Ibrahimovic, Cruz, Suazo, Crespo, looks so luxurious.
But what type of players are these?
They are simply unable to provide strong support to the midfielders and backfield players. They can only score goals and cannot even connect in series.
Fortunately, Balotelli came out later.
And what about Naples?
Cavani is a defensive center who can chase back from the opponent's penalty area to his own penalty area and fight his opponents to death.
Some people may ask, why can Cavani still win the Serie A top scorer title?
Because Naples creates many opportunities.
As long as the chances created are enough and good enough, no matter how bad the center is, he can become the top scorer.
And Pellet, his tactical role is so obvious that anyone with a discerning eye can see it.
The question is, who among Inter Milan's centers can play the role of Cavani or Pelle?
Ibrahimovic?
Yes, he can, but this man is not happy!
"Now, Balotelli is almost the only player among all our players who can advance with the ball, isn't he?"
Mancini's rhetorical question left everyone speechless.
is not that right?
Who else but Balotelli?
Figo?
Another way is to push Maicon forward, but the question is, after Maicon goes up, who will be handed over to the right back?
You know, Napoli's left winger has always been tough.
Gervinho last season, Di Maria, Callejon and even Mertens this season, aren't they all ruthless players in this position?
Everyone has to admit that Inter Milan really has no one, and Mancini is really at his wits end.
In fact, since Inter Milan has been playing this season, only people within Inter Milan know that a coaching change has long been inevitable.
Because Mancini has no choice or idea with the current Inter Milan and this lineup.
He didn't even know what the team should do next.
Signings?
Who to bring in?
What kind of fighting style should be adopted?
Are there any ideas that can improve the team's combat effectiveness?
He has none of these.
Inter Milan's personnel dilemma is certainly the responsibility of the management, but is there no problem with Mancini?
Just like Gao Shen, he can equip different types of players in multiple positions, and when encountering different opponents, he can give different responses.
This is the real head coach!
And the most frustrating thing about Mancini is also because of this.
He discovered that he was defeated not only on the court, but also off the court and in every aspect!
Complete defeat!
This was what made him feel most discouraged and depressed.
Therefore, he was beaten to the point where he only wanted to defend and counterattack in the Italian Cup final.
Because he really has no choice.
When a team is in this situation, it should have changed its coach long ago.
In fact, it should have been changed when the score was zero to five, instead of waiting until now, when all the problems and conflicts came to the fore, and the scene was deadlocked, and everyone was helpless, as if it had become a dead end.
In fact, there is no need to play this final at all.
The result is known now!
Unless the sophisticated Naples committed suicide and made a fatal mistake, I really can't think of any reason why Naples would lose this final.
This is also the reason why the outside world is unanimously speaking down on Inter Milan.
In fact, Inter Milan's management does not have much hope for this game. Moratti even said before that he thought it was acceptable for Mancini to use players from the youth team.
In fact, it is telling everyone that Inter Milan has no hope.
The game hasn't even started yet, but Gao Shen has already won!
It was even heard that Inter Milan planned to contact Gao Shen and invite him to take charge of San Siro after the Italian Cup final.
It might be a good thing if the negotiation is really done.
After all, teams like Napoli are not competitive in the Champions League.
