On the afternoon of March 2, Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.
This focus war, which attracts worldwide attention, is about to begin.
Seventy-eight thousand Real Madrid fans poured into the Bernabeu Stadium, occupying every corner of the stands.
The scene was full of people and the noise was overwhelming.
In the presidential stand, Real Madrid President Florentino, accompanied by senior officials such as Jose Sanchez, Valdano and Butragueno, slowly walked into the field and sat down at the designated position.
Just now, he went to the box of Spanish King Juan Carlos to meet with him in person, and then he was responsible for entertaining Barcelona Vice President Bartomeu who was traveling with the team.
Bartomeu was a bit weird. He declined Florentino's invitation and insisted on sitting in the corner of the stadium with the Barcelona fans who came to the away game. Florentino had no choice but to listen to his opinion.
Therefore, at this moment, Florentino is surrounded by Real Madrid's own people.
There is also former Real Madrid technical director Sacchi.
The Italian legend is now a columnist and famous writer for many well-known European media. He is also a small Internet celebrity with a fan base of seven figures and a very famous name.
Of course, many of Saki's names on the Internet came from high-level traffic.
If nothing else, the interaction between the two from time to time can bring him a lot of fans.
And Sacchi is also very dedicated in executing his character design, which is to be the number one trumpeter in the sky.
As Sacchi often said, "I have been very optimistic about Gao Shen since he debuted, and I am his die-hard fan!"
The implication seems to be saying: You can question my football and my professionalism, but you can never question my boastful senior resume. All the high praise in the world will be put aside for me.
This is the pattern!
…
"I heard that there is a lot of rotation among senior players today?" Sacchi asked Valdano.
Real Madrid's technical director nodded slightly and said, "Nine positions were rotated."
Saki was also a little surprised, this was really quite powerful.
Goalkeeper: Courtois.
Defence: Marcos Alonso, Pepe, Varane and Nacho.
Midfield: Casemiro goes deep, Kaka and Verratti are in the middle.
Forwards: Jese, Morata and Vazquez.
Compared with the game three days ago, except for the central defenders Pepe and Varane who remained unchanged, all the other nine positions were replaced.
This is obviously Gao Shen's preparation for the subsequent battle at Old Trafford.
"Putting up such a lineup is really worrying." Florentino sighed and said.
In two games in a short period of time, nine players have been rotated. Can such a game still be won?
In fact, this is not only the doubt of the chairman of Real Madrid, but also the common doubt of all Real Madrid fans and even fans around the world.
In fact, everyone knew that Gao Shen had to be rotated.
The match between the Bernabeu and Old Trafford was only two days apart. If the players in the team were to play like this continuously, even the Iron Man would not be able to bear it, so Gao Shen chose to make a large rotation.
There is actually no way around this.
In fact, many Real Madrid people may have been mentally prepared to lose.
This is a strategic trade-off.
"Real Madrid's lineup is still a bit weak," Sacchi said.
Valdano nodded, "He is too picky about players. He doesn't want any of them if he doesn't like them."
"It's normal. On this point, his insistence is still right." Sacchi agreed.
Thinking about the beginning of the season, many people thought, why not keep Germany's No. 10, Khedira and Coentrao?
Putting aside their poor performance after changing teams in the new season, let's say they returned to the team with their outstanding performance in the European Cup. How will Gao Shen arrange them?
Let these stars who shined in the European Cup sit on the bench?
Believe it or not, thunder breaks out in the Real Madrid dressing room every minute?
But if they are used as the main force, how will the advanced tactics be used?
Let’s take Germany’s No. 10, who can he replace in the midfield and frontcourt?
Toni Kroos? Modric? Di Maria?
The answer is that he can't replace anyone.
If he stays in Real Madrid, he can only be used as a substitute. Instead of doing this, it is better to take advantage of the high price and sell him directly.
The situation of Khedira and Coentrao is actually similar.
Gao Shen would even rather use Marcos Alonso and Nacho as a guest star than keep Coentrao because he is dissatisfied with the players, especially his off-field life.
It was Gao Shen's persistence that allowed Real Madrid to successfully complete its transformation.
Today's La Liga giants are no longer a team that relies solely on defensive counterattacks to win, they are more comprehensive.
Now Real Madrid can adopt different tactics according to different opponents.
"If I'm not wrong, Gao Shen will be on tight defense tonight." Sacchi guessed.
"Do you still need to guess?" Butragueno asked with a smile.
"At the beginning, you will attack. This is Gao Shen's signature tactic."
Valdano nodded, "We all guessed it."
Real Madrid's technical director and vice-chairman looked at each other, laughed in unison, and then looked at Sacchi jokingly, as if to say: Just fool the fans in newspapers and on the Internet with your usual routine, don't fool us!
"Let's get some good stuff." Valdano used the provocative method.
"Let's bet that Real Madrid will score first." Sacchi was also very cunning.
Valdano, Butragueno and others all laughed.
Gao Shen knows Barcelona very well, and his opening attack tactics are often effective.
"To be honest, it's too difficult to advance this season!" Sacchi said seriously.
Valdano and Butragueno both turned their heads and looked at Florentino. This was actually meant for Florentino.
How smart is the Real Madrid president? How could he not know?
"I know, so I won't let him get out of class no matter what."
Sacchi nodded, "He has repaid a lot of debts in the past few seasons. I hope his team can persevere."
If you look purely at the record, Real Madrid's performance this season is really brilliant. Even when the run-in was not in place, Real Madrid played well when they met Manchester City, who successfully defended the Champions League.
Whether it's the score or the scene, it's not ugly at all.
But why did it only finish second in the final group stage?
Because Real Madrid's European performance in the past few seasons was very poor, they were placed in the third tier during the classification and were placed in the super group of death. However, they were able to be in the super group of death and only lost to Manchester City by one point.
Qualifying second in the group is a pretty good result.
After qualifying second in the group, they met Manchester United, who were first in the group, and they happened to meet Barcelona in the league and the Copa del Rey. All the competitions were mixed together, and Real Madrid became what it is now.
"With our current performance in the Champions League, it should be no problem to return to the second tier team next season." Valdano nodded.
The majestic Real Madrid has actually been reduced to a third-tier team. Who dares to believe it?
But if it weren't for Gao Shen, Real Madrid would still be struggling in the Champions League group stage and unable to qualify.
"He has done a good enough job, especially the three kills against Barcelona, which really wiped out Barcelona's prestige." Butragueno felt so comfortable just thinking about it.
Over the years, when has Real Madrid been as happy as it is now?
In one season, he crushed his archrival Barcelona.
Everyone believes that in tonight's game, Real Madrid can still win despite rotating nine players.
Because, standing in front of Real Madrid’s head coach’s bench is Gao Shen!
…
Real Madrid made rotations, and so did Barcelona.
Goalkeeper: Valdes.
Defence: Alba, Pique, Thiago Motta and Alves.
Midfield: Busquets plays deep, and Iniesta and Xavi play in the midfield.
Forwards: Villa, Messi and Pedro.
Barcelona also rotated several players, but the team's basic lineup and tactics remained unchanged.
In fact, Thiago Motta's starting lineup will make Barcelona's defense even better at receiving and delivering the ball.
But the moment he saw Barcelona's starting lineup, Gao Shen felt a trace of regret in his heart.
How good a No. 4 player is Thiago Motta, and how well did he play at Naples under him?
But what about returning to Barcelona?
Not only has he been completely reduced to Busquets' substitute, but he also often plays a guest role as a central defender, resulting in his current performance not being as good as before.
And that Alexander Song on the bench.
Last summer, Barcelona lured him from Arsenal with a high salary and even in a dishonorable way.
Everyone thought that Barcelona had high hopes for him and wanted to reuse him, but what was the result?
Sometimes, Gao Shen feels that Barcelona's transfer is really unprofessional and even nonsense.
But there is no other way, who let me be Barcelona?
Not only is he rich and powerful, he is also powerful.
But it's useless no matter how strong he is. When it comes to the Bernabeu, Gao Shen will still make him lie down.
…
As soon as the game whistle sounded, Real Madrid's midfielders and frontcourts began to press forward collectively, launching a fierce press against Barcelona's defense.
Only 12 seconds into the game, Barcelona had just passed the ball twice in the back line. Pique sent the ball to the left to find Alba. As a result, due to the interference of Vazquez, Alba failed to stop the ball and directly let the ball pass.
The ball went out of bounds.
Real Madrid won the ball.
Nacho quickly stepped forward and threw the ball to Morata, who stopped the ball and passed it to Vazquez.
The Real Madrid winger made a straight pass and passed the ball into the center of the penalty area.
Kaká's late pass was a little slow, and goalkeeper Valdez gave up the goal and got the ball.
The Barcelona goalkeeper motioned for his teammates to press forward.
Real Madrid quickly retreated to defend.
Different from the previous games at Camp Nou, tonight Real Madrid retreated directly into their own half and defended along the center line.
The defensive strategy is basically the same as before.
Everyone can see that Gao Shen's strategy tonight is very clear, which is to defend and counterattack.
After rotating 9 players, it is not surprising that Real Madrid adopts such a tactical play.
Even Barcelona is not very surprised, but is slowly making progress.
When they reached the midline, Barcelona frequently passed forward, but were always forced back by Real Madrid's defense.
Seeing Real Madrid retreating in the face of a formidable enemy, Sacchi and Valdano in the stands couldn't help but feel a little depressed.
They all guessed wrong.
Gao Shen did not rush to attack, but adopted a defensive and counterattack tactic from the beginning.
Even, everyone can feel the profound thoughts.
He is inviting a fight against Barcelona from afar.
Barcelona, this is how I will play tonight.
If you have the ability, come and break my defensive formation!
