Every match day, the brightly lit Old Trafford on the banks of the Manchester Canal will become the most shining area in Manchester under the dark night sky.
Groups of fans gathered in the direction of the stadium from every corner of the city.
Vehicles from the Manchester metropolitan area and even from other places came out of the nearby highway intersection and quickly filled the usually empty parking lots around the Old Trafford Stadium.
The Old Trafford Stadium, which can accommodate more than 76,000 people, was quickly filled to the brim with fans.
As more and more fans enter the stadium, it seems to have turned into a pot of boiling water. Each person is like a small drop of water. As soon as he is put in, it immediately reaches the boiling point. Adrenaline surges immediately, and the whole person It was as if it was on fire and was quickly melted away. No matter how gentle a gentleman is on weekdays, he would become fanatical in this atmosphere, as if he was possessed.
This feeling is addictive and fascinating.
…
When the Manchester United players came in to warm up, the stands were already packed with people.
Countless fans were queuing up in each aisle, constantly coming out and filling every corner of the stands.
When the fans of Manchester United saw the players of Manchester United, they were like sticks touching the fire, and it ignited in an instant.
The crazy Manchester United fans were shouting the name of Manchester United and the names of the players to cheer them on.
When the live TV camera pans over, you can see the faces that are turning red with excitement. Everyone is excited and excited for the upcoming game.
This is the third consecutive season that Manchester United has reached the semi-finals of the Champions League. After winning the championship last season, everyone expected Manchester United to reach the final again and become the first team to successfully defend the Champions League since its reform.
Especially after the 1-1 draw with Naples in the first leg away from home, everyone at Manchester United was full of confidence in advancing to the finals, because they have the best superstars in the world, the best head coach, and the best coach. fans.
Every Manchester United fan in the stands seems to be transformed into a force of energy, injected into every Manchester United player in the stadium, making them more motivated and stronger.
…
"Dear viewers, we are now at Manchester United's Old Trafford Stadium."
"Through the live broadcast footage, we can see that although there is still some time before the start of the game, Manchester United fans have already entered the stadium. At this moment, the Manchester United players in the stadium are warming up and familiarizing themselves with the field training."
"Naples players are also entering the stadium one after another, but what awaits them is a flood of boos from the Red Devils fans."
"After being held to a draw by Manchester United at home in the first leg, Napoli's situation has been pushed into a desperate situation, because they must score at least one goal at Old Trafford while remaining undefeated."
"This is an extreme challenge for any team."
"Since the 2000-01 season, Manchester United has participated in a total of 53 official Champions League games at Old Trafford. Tonight is the 54th game. In the past 53 games, Manchester United has played Only lost two games!"
"On October 17, 2001, in the fourth round of the first leg of the Champions League group stage, we lost 3-2 to Yinrueta's Super Deportivo; on February 23, 2005, in the Champions League 16 In the first round of the knockout round, we lost 0-1 at home to AC Milan."
"It can be said that at Old Trafford, Manchester United is almost synonymous with being undefeated."
"The possibility of Naples reversing Manchester United at Old Trafford is extremely slim."
"However, Naples head coach Gao Shen said at the pre-match press conference that no matter how small the hope is, it is hope. He always firmly believes that his team can complete the reversal at Old Trafford."
"Gao Shen also cited a strong proof, which was the 1999-2000 season."
"In the Champions League that season, after two rounds of group matches, Manchester United met Real Madrid in the quarter-finals. In the first leg, the two sides played 0-0 at the Bernabeu Stadium. They shook hands and made a draw, but returned to Old Trafford.
At the stadium, Del Bosque's Real Madrid defeated Manchester United 3-2, successfully advanced to the semi-finals, and finally won the championship."
"It was also after that battle that Del Bosque became the most successful firefighting coach in the history of Real Madrid. It was not until 2006 that Gao Shen came out and once again led Real Madrid in a miraculous mid-game counterattack and won the double crown.
King, replaced Bosque."
"Gao Shen is encouraging himself with the game nine years ago. At that time, Del Bosque's team played a five-back defense and counterattack. I wonder if Gao Shen plans to be like Del Bosque tonight?"
"This game attracted the attention of fans around the world."
"Is it Ferguson's Manchester United that reaches the Champions League final again? Or is Gao Shen, the youngest champion coach in the history of the Champions League, leading his Naples, the youngest semi-final team in the history of the Champions League, to successfully advance to the final?"
…
Manchester United's lineup is somewhat beyond expectations.
Goalkeeper: Edwin van der Sar.
Defense: Evra, Ferdinand, Vidic and O'Shea.
Midfielder: Anderson, Carrick and Fletcher.
Forwards: Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and Park Ji-sung.
Yes, Ferguson's lineup is exactly the same as the first round match.
"Is there any adjustment somewhere?" Carlo said uneasily.
Logically speaking, Ferguson shouldn't do this.
"Is this a psychological tactic?" Zidane was also worried.
After a 1-1 draw in the first leg and an away goal advantage, Ferguson returned to home and deployed the same tactics as in the first leg. This was a bit strange.
You know, in the first round, apart from the goal, Manchester United didn't have much advantage.
On the contrary, Rooney was imprisoned by Naples' defense and hardly displayed his usual threat. After Carrick was contained, Manchester United's midfield operation and organization were greatly affected.
In this case, doesn't Ferguson want to make adjustments?
Gao Shen is also a little confused, but the war is about to begin. If he can't guess, he won't guess.
"Perhaps Ferguson felt that he was lucky in the first round and wanted to continue it at home." Gao Shen said with a smile.
"Besides, haven't we changed the same?"
Naples still formed a four-three-three formation.
Goalkeeper: Handanovic.
Defense: Vargas, David Luiz, Bonucci and Lichtsteiner.
Midfield: Thiago Motta deep, Biglia and Rakitic in the centre.
Forwards: Di Maria, Cavani and Sanchez.
The people are still the same people, but Gao Shen has made adjustments.
First of all, Rakitic and Biglia changed positions because Biglia said that the first round match was too forward and he was a little uncomfortable, while Rakitic thought that he could go more forward.
Participate in offensive missions before.
Another one is that Di Maria and Sanchez also exchanged positions.
The Argentine winger said he was confident of beating O'Shea.
In contrast, the left wing where Rooney and Evra are located is more difficult to defend, because it is difficult for Lichtsteiner to press up and give him enough support.
Gao Shen's arrangement actually had another purpose.
That is to make the left side where Vargas, Rakitic and Di Maria are located, a key area for Naples' attack.
He wants to blow up Manchester United's right wing on this side!
…
When Gao Shen got the Manchester United roster, in the home team's locker room, Ferguson also got the visiting team's roster.
He was also surprised, because Naples had not changed either.
"It's normal. This is Naples' regular lineup. The advanced 4, 2, 3 and 1 are mostly used in the league, or during rotations. In key games, he must trust the 4, 3, and 3 more." Mike Phelan guessed.
"But before, when he was in Naples, his four-two-three-one worked very well." Rene Meulensteen frowned.
The interesting thing about the knockout rounds is that both sides are guessing the other's targeted tactics.
But obviously, Ferguson didn't guess right this time either.
"Stop guessing!" Ferguson made a decisive decision.
The two assistants, Mike Phelan and Meulensteen, immediately looked at Ferguson, waiting for his further instructions.
"No matter what, Naples must strive for goals tonight, so I'm sure he will launch an attack at the beginning. This is what they are best at."
Ferland and Meulensteen both nodded in unison, which is understandable.
"So, after the start of the game, we must take full advantage of our home court, seize the opportunity, suppress Naples, and break their goal before they score, severely dampening their energy and fighting spirit."
Manchester United also intends to grab a wave at the beginning. Ferguson has been coaching for so many years, and he doesn't like the initiative of the game to be in the hands of others.
Especially in the final stage of the first round, Napoli's attack was indeed very threatening. That crazy offensive made Ferguson very clear that if Napoli really wanted to attack, he would have no idea.
Manchester United has swept Europa League in recent years, and their confidence lies in the team's iron-clad defense.
But judging from the final stage of the first round, Naples' offensive ability is still very strong.
If Napoli is really allowed to attack, Manchester United's defensive pressure will be very high.
…
When the players returned to the locker room one after another, Gao Shen did not set up the formations for both sides on the tactical board as usual.
He just read the Manchester United lineup and mentioned a few things that needed attention, such as paying attention to the restrictions on Rooney and Carrick, and also paying attention to follow up on Cristiano Ronaldo.
But what Gao Shen plays most is offense and suppression.
Di Maria is responsible for the left wing, suppressing O'Shea on the right side of Manchester United, while Sanchez is on the right wing, suppressing Evra on the left side of Manchester United.
"I believe that as long as we can take advantage of one-on-one on the wing, Manchester United will have to invest more resources in defense, such as Park Ji-sung and Rooney, they will definitely retreat."
On the counterattack end, the first thing Manchester United looked for was not Cristiano Ronaldo, because the Portuguese is not suitable for playing in the middle, especially the forward position. Under tight marking, his ability to stop and get the ball is good.
questionable.
"The focus of our defense should be on the pass to Cristiano Ronaldo, not the players themselves, such as Rooney or Anderson."
In recent years, Manchester United has been using forwards to retreat to get the ball and then organize attacks in the frontcourt. As long as Rooney is killed, Manchester United's tactics will be greatly reduced.
"But after the first round, Ferguson will definitely make adjustments, so we have to adjust our targeted tactics according to changes in our opponents during the game and adapt accordingly."
Finally, Gao Shen looked directly at his players with a very serious expression.
"Guys, I believe you have all seen that everyone outside now feels that we are destined to lose. Some people even gave statistics and believed that our probability of beating Manchester United is less than 4%."
"I don't know how they calculated this data, and I don't know what its use is. I only know that we are only one step away from the Champions League final!"
Gao Shen pointed to the door of the locker room behind him.
"Come out of this door and beat Manchester United and we will make history again!"
