After the game started, the two teams did not fully commit themselves, but were testing each other.
The pace of the game is not fast.
Everyone is used to this. In an important game like the Champions League final, you can never expect the game to be full of sparks from the beginning. Of course, in most cases, such a final will not last most of the time.
It can be very intense and exciting, which is inevitable in utilitarian football.
Now Inter Milan is in possession of the ball. They are not rushing to move the football into the frontcourt, but from the backcourt to the feet. The purpose is to attract Manchester United players to come up and press and separate the opponent's formation.
However, Manchester United was not fooled. Except for the two strikers Tevez and Rooney who were pressing hard, the other players "performed their duties" and did not blindly press forward. Instead, they stood in position and fought against each other.
The distance between them was maintained very well and did not give Inter Milan any opportunity to take advantage.
"Old fox!" Li Ang smacked his lips on the sidelines.
Manchester United's tactical response also illustrates Ferguson's choice today: to defend and counterattack!
Between offensive tactics and defensive tactics, Ferguson ultimately chose the latter.
Li Ang just frowned slightly, which means that it will not be too easy for Inter Milan to score goals. Inter Milan must remain vigilant, not be anxious, and not give Manchester United a chance to counterattack.
Of course, this situation is also under Li Ang's consideration. He knows Ferguson and Manchester United can play beautifully, but when they need to play conservatively, Ferguson's team doesn't mind playing 'ugly'!
In the Manchester United coaching bench, Ferguson was sitting on the coaching bench, chewing gum in his mouth. The old Scottish man had already expected such a start.
In fact, Ferguson chose a more conservative tactic precisely because he was wary of Li Ang and Inter Milan. He wanted to prevent Li Ang from suddenly attacking. At the same time, no matter what the considerations were, he first adopted a defensive counterattack.
Tactics, this is the safest.
In the Champions League final, it’s right to be conservative!
Of course, Manchester United's conservativeness does not mean that they stay in their own half and wait for Inter Milan to attack.
Once Manchester United believes that Inter Milan's advance has reached their psychological safety line, they will take the initiative to press forward.
This is exactly the tactic that Ferguson formulated for Inter Milan. To a certain extent, it is a defensive counterattack that presses forward and presses forward, which not only protects the goal but does not completely give up the initiative on the battlefield.
In fact, once Inter Milan advanced to near the center circle, Manchester United's pressing was still very fierce. This was purposeful. Ferguson knew that blind defense would not work, and this slightly aggressive pressing was accompanied by offense.
Covertly, it would be better if Inter Milan could intercept the ball in the frontcourt and launch a counterattack directly.
***********
"Little fox!" Ferguson glanced at Inter Milan's coaching bench.
Because he noticed that Inter Milan's tactics after the opening were also based on defending firmly and waiting for opportunities to counterattack!
Obviously, in Ferguson's view, when Li Ang faced the multiple-choice question of offense or defense in the final, he ultimately chose conservative tactics without hesitation, striving to make no mistakes or make fewer mistakes, and strive to win without conceding a goal.
The game is won.
In a sense, Li Ang's choice is correct. In such a final, the two sides are close in strength. The competition between them is not who is more capable of breaking the opponent's goal, but who makes fewer mistakes.
Only when the mistakes are minimal is the battle between offensive ability and offensive efficiency.
"Both sides are more cautious. Whether it is Ferguson or Li Ang, they both require the team to defend well."
"Although we should be mentally prepared for this, this will still disappoint fans who are looking forward to a sparkling matchup!"
The commentators expressed their opinions on the first seven or eight minutes of the game. Obviously, neither side had the intention to press hard. So far in the game, both sides have only one shot in total. This was when Hargreaves brought down Mata. Inter Milan
After getting a free kick opportunity in the frontcourt, Modric drove the football into the penalty area, and Adriano's header missed the goal. But Manchester United had not yet completed a shot.
"Judging from the current situation of both sides, the game has not scored a goal for 120 minutes, so it will not be a surprising result. It seems that we can expect a penalty shootout..." A commentator said
The member complained.
The game continued for another five minutes. When the game time reached 12 minutes, Manchester United finally got their first shot. Their star Cristiano Ronaldo finally couldn't hold it anymore and shot a shot from the outside of the penalty area.
The long-range shot went over the crossbar and did not pose a threat to Inter Milan's goal.
Inter Milan also increased their number of shots from '1' to '2'.
Still an opportunity for a set piece.
Mata got the ball in the frontcourt and was not in a hurry to pass the ball or find cooperation. He swayed left and right with the ball alone. Finally, he was pushed to the ground by Carrick and the referee whistled a free kick.
Modric's free kick flew into the penalty area, and this time it was Adriano's header. Diego Milito's subsequent header missed the right post slightly, shocking the Manchester United fans into a cold sweat.
Ferguson immediately became alert, and he felt that he had captured Li Ang's tactical intention:
Inter Milan plays relatively conservatively and takes not conceding the ball as its first priority. At the same time, on the offensive end, Li Ang requires Inter Milan players to commit fouls as much as possible in the frontcourt. This is because he wants to use set-piece opportunities to create scoring opportunities!
Ferguson glanced at his own half, and Adriano and Diego Milito appeared in his sight. He confirmed his guess. There were two major centers, Adriano and Diego Milito. Li Ang thought
To give full play to the advantage of heading for points, it is understandable that you want to make a fuss about set pieces.
Defend on the counterattack, strive to create set pieces, and use the opportunities from set pieces to score goals!
Is this the tactic you create for Inter Milan?
The old Scottish man glanced at the Inter Milan coaching bench and showed a smile like an old fox.
I've seen through you!
***********
Li Ang looked at his watch on the coach's bench. Fifteen minutes had passed since the game. I believe Ferguson had "see through" his tactics. So: now he can start to implement his real tactics.
So, Li Ang stood up from his seat and walked slowly to the sidelines. He didn't make any gestures, whistle, or call the players' names to attract their attention.
He just walked to the sidelines and then returned to the coaching bench.
He believed that when his players saw him getting up and walking around in such a circle, they should know what to do at this time.
