"Hello everyone, this is a match in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League in the 2011-2012 season presented to you by ESPN. AC Milan faces Arsenal at home. Zhan Jun will bring you a live broadcast of this game.
Commentary.”
As commentator Zhan Jun's iconic voice appeared, the fans in front of the screen knew that the game was about to begin.
"Through the broadcast footage, we can see that the San Siro Stadium is already packed, with 80,000 fans waiting for a gluttonous feast on the green field."
"Needless to say the strength of the visiting team Arsenal, the head coach of this team is Professor Arsene Wenger, and there are also world-class players such as Van Persie and Rosicky in the lineup. It is worth noting that Heib, who returned from New York Red Bulls this season,
King Henry also appeared on the bench, and he is likely to be a surprise player in Wenger's hands."
"And the home team AC Milan is not simple. This young team is invincible in Serie A this season. In the past 22 rounds, it has achieved an unbeaten record of 18 draws and 4 draws, ranking first in the standings."
"Allegri's transformation of this Milan team is not unsuccessful. Of course, as Long Guo people, we will pay more attention to Pan Yi in the Milan coaching bench. The strength of this Milan team is obviously related to Pan Yi's hard work.
Inseparable."
"This duel between the giants is the most eye-catching game in the Champions League round of 16 this season, and it has attracted the attention of countless fans. We believe that they will definitely play a wonderful and fierce game, who will win,
You don’t know…”
As the players from the two teams entered the stadium one after another, everyone also saw the starting lineups of the two teams.
The visiting team Arsenal uses the 442 parallel midfield position that the professor often uses this season:
Forwards: Van Persie, Theo Walcott.
Midfielder: Rosicky, Alexander Song, Ramsey, Arteta.
Defenders: Gibbs, Vermaelen, Koscielny, Sagna.
Goalkeeper: Szczesny.
Compared with the starting lineup against Sunderland four days ago, Wenger made two changes.
One is the midfielder, replacing Chamberlain with teenager Ramsey.
The other one was to replace center back Per Mertesacker with fullback Gibbs on the back line, and then moved Vermaelen to the center.
Pan Yi saw this change and nodded secretly.
Two players with better skills were replaced by two players who were more physical. This also illustrates Wenger's idea in this game: to use technical advantages to control the game.
But Pan Yi has obviously already thought of this.
Even Barcelona, the so-called Cosmos team, couldn't fully master their skills in front of Milan. How could they be afraid of Arsenal?
Milan's starting lineup today has also changed:
Forwards: Mane, Aubameyang, Salah.
Midfielder: Kante, Ambrosini, Gattuso.
Defenders: Zambrotta, Thiago Silva, Van Dijk, Abate.
Goalkeeper: Ederson.
When this lineup was placed in front of Wenger, the old professor felt that something was not right.
The four lines are actually a little different from Milan’s usual starting lineup!
In the goalkeeper position, Brazilian goalkeeper Ederson, who had only played in cup matches before, started the game, while veteran Abbiati was placed on the bench.
On the defense line, Gianluca Zambrotta, who has more comprehensive skills and more experience, stood at the left back position, replacing the young player De Sciglio.
In midfield, the physically strong Boateng did not play, replaced by the more comprehensive Ambrosini.
The biggest surprise was in the forward line.
Ibrahimovic, who was in excellent form in Serie A and the Coppa Italia and made many achievements, did not even appear!
Appearing at the center position is Gabonese star Aubameyang.
This made the wily Wenger even more confused as to what Milan was planning.
What do they want to do?
With this doubt in mind, Wenger walked towards the Milan coaching staff and shook hands with them one by one.
After hugging Allegri in greeting, Wenger looked seriously at Pan Yi, who was walking towards him.
As an insider who knows everything about football, Wenger naturally knows Pan Yi's name.
He also knows that many of Milan's tactics this season were designed and implemented by Pan Yi, so Wenger has always wanted to see this young talent in the coaching world.
However, when Wenger saw Pan Yi in person, he couldn't help but let out a secret sigh:
This guy is so young!
You know, Wenger was already considered a representative figure of young coaches at that time. He started his coaching career in his early 30s just after retiring, and became the head coach of Nantes' first team at the age of 35.
And Pan Yi in front of me is only 25 years old!
He is already the assistant coach of AC Milan and plays such a big role in the team.
Although there is still a slight gap between the head coach and the assistant coach, the gap between Nantes and Milan is also huge...
Not to mention the age gap between the two when they first became coaches was a full ten years.
"Hello, Mr. Wenger." Pan Yi shook Wenger's hand and said politely.
Pan Yi naturally respects the professor very much.
From joining Arsenal in 1996 to quitting the team in 2018, he worked with the Gunners for a total of 22 years. He is the longest coach in the Premier League after the legendary Manchester United coach Sir Alex Ferguson.
The battle between him and Ferguson has also been a long-standing attraction in the Premier League.
Although Arsenal is in decline now, Wenger's persistence and dedication really make Pan Yi admire him.
"Haha, hello." Wenger also patted Pan Yi's hand, "You guys didn't go to Ibrahimovic today, is there some trick?"
Pan Yi also laughed and said: "It's okay. He played too many games before and was tired all day long, so we let him take a rest."
At this time Wenger could not help laughing.
I originally wanted to see the young coach of the Dragon Kingdom, so I asked him to have a taste of his mouth, but I didn't expect that he was quite tight-lipped - no, he was quite funny when he spoke.
Will Zlatan Ibrahimovic get tired after playing football?
I believe you! You bad boy is very bad!
And the smile between the two people greatly shortened the distance between them, and the tension in the battle seemed to have dropped a bit.
Allegri, who had already walked back to the home team's bench, also returned curiously:
"What are you talking about? Are you so happy?"
The two said in unison: "Nothing."
Then they looked at each other and laughed again.
"I'm looking forward to the duel with you tonight!" Wenger stretched out his hand again and shook Allegri and Pan Yi again.
Pan Yi also nodded: "I hope it will be a wonderful game!"
Allegri was full of suspicion: "What the hell are these young and old people doing..."