At the beginning of this game, when Rocky appeared at the front of the team wearing the captain's armband and led the team out, everyone still felt a little strange.
Everyone has forgotten that Lazio’s first captain is really not Jose Passarella, but Rocky...
In the Champions League, this is Rocky's first start of the season.
He used to play as a substitute and had more opportunities to play in the league.
As a veteran forward who is almost 32 years old, although he has made great contributions to the team in the past, it is natural for him to take a back seat now.
There are only three starting forward positions. If he doesn't retreat to the second line, how could Gotze, Cavani and others appear?
He became a substitute, which was a good thing for Lazio. Lazio's performance was rising steadily, which was enough for him to be willing to sit on the bench.
But letting him serve as a substitute does not mean that he is useless.
Although he jokingly claimed that this was a retirement contract when he renewed his contract with the club, in fact no one at the club would regard him as really providing for his retirement.
He has not scored many goals this season, but his contribution to the team is not small.
Because his role is not reflected in scoring goals.
The experienced Rocky knows how to play football. During the game, he will use his experience to move and create better scoring opportunities for his teammates.
So although he rarely scores goals and rarely assists directly, his role on the court is still very important.
So far in this game, his performance has been unremarkable and his performance has been average.
Mainly because Manchester United's defense in the penalty area is very strict, leaving little room for him to play.
But now, when the pace of the game is getting faster and faster, and the two sides frequently switch between attack and defense, the experienced Rocky sees his opportunity.
Manchester United are eager to score goals, so they have more and more openings in defense.
This is the soil suitable for Rocky to play...
Rocky had been waiting patiently before, even if there was no chance, he would move according to the tactical requirements. Now he finally got his chance!
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Rocky still remembers having doubts before he renewed his contract with the club.
Because at that time, many of the original main players left Lazio.
The media has been saying all day long that Lazio is going to be finished. Lazio is going to disintegrate, and the head coach of Lazio who is always victorious is going to run away... and many other unfavorable news.
He didn't know if the boss would really run away, but even if the boss didn't run away, his own prospects didn't seem to be very good.
Even main players like Benzema and Khedira have left Lazio. Is it possible for a substitute like himself to stay? Not to mention that he is already thirty years old and has officially entered the twilight of his career...
He feels that even if the boss wants to stay, he will rebuild the team, which will require more young players, let alone have their own positions.
As a result, just when he was considering whether he should take the initiative to propose a transfer, Chang Sheng called him.
On the phone, Chang Sheng clearly told him that in his future plans, he was not that kind of main player, and he might not be able to guarantee even 25 appearances in all competitions each season.
But he also clearly told Rocky that he needed Rocky to stay.
Because Rocky is the oldest player on the team, his experience is what the team needs. Although he cannot be the main force, he can play an important role as a substitute player in the rotation.
He needs Rocky to stay and pass on his experience to young players. He needs his composure to stabilize the minds of young people who are prone to impetuousness.
In other words, Rocky's main role is in the locker room and on the training field.
Although Rocky was a little disappointed that he could not play as the main force in the game, he was also happy that the boss thought of calling him as soon as possible, because this showed that he still had a place in the boss's heart.
In fact, for Rocky, whose career has begun to enter its twilight years, he knows very well what his position should be.
He doesn't expect to be the absolute main force anymore. As long as the head coach still has himself in his heart and needs himself, he will be very satisfied.
Following the boss, he won the league championship and the Champions League championship, and also served as the first captain. He personally won the UEFA Cup championship, and he was already very satisfied.
As long as he is still useful to the team and can help the boss, he will be content.
So, just like that, he renewed his contract with the club, and he even made some salary demands from the United States and Europe.
He also expressed his support for the club.
In return for Rocky, winning often did not deprive him of the captain's armband. Although he rarely started games wearing the captain's armband, he was still the team's first captain. Every new player who scored a goal was
He is responsible for reception, and everyone knows his status in the locker room.
There are no factions or bosses in the Lazio locker room, but Rocchi is the boss and "big brother" in another sense.
As the oldest player on the team, he needs to help the young players adjust their mentality, pass on his experience to these people, and be a "boss" they can rely on.
However, as a forward, he always hopes that he can help the team on the court, instead of being like a mascot with only symbolic meaning.
Now for this game, Chang Sheng found Rocky before the game and told him his request.
"You are experienced, Rocky. I hope you will use your experience and abilities to help me in this game."
Rocky is really not immune to the boss' "help" at all.
It is my honor that the boss can ask me to help him.
Of course he agreed without any hesitation.
Chang Sheng then told him in detail what he wanted him to do in the game.
To put it bluntly, he uses his experience and skills to find scoring opportunities in Manchester United's penalty area.
Yes, this time he is no longer required to interfere with other teammates' movements, distract the defensive attention, and create opportunities.
Just let him score!
The boss needs his goals!
For a striker, this is a temptation that cannot be refused.
The fire in the old striker's heart was burning brightly on the rainy night at Old Trafford.
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Rocky already had a shot in this game, but his shot did not hit the goal frame and naturally did not threaten Van der Sar. Of course, that was also related to the fact that the opportunity at the time was not particularly good.
But Luo Ji was not worried that if the opportunity really appeared in front of him, he would squander him.
During the warm-up, he focused on ejaculating several times and felt the feel of his feet. He felt... there was no problem in this regard!
When the opportunity comes, he's sure he can seize it!
Just when everyone turned their attention to Cristiano Ronaldo, whose shooting sensation was getting better and better, no one noticed that Rocky no longer needed to use so many shots to find the feeling...
In the 76th minute, Manchester United made a mistake during a quick attack. Mistakes like this often happen. After all, this kind of offensive tactic of fast passing, cutting and running is a copycat of Manchester United, and they are not very skilled in using it. Mistakes are very common.
Chiellini received the ball passed directly from the opponent.
What followed was a quick counterattack from Lazio.
The mad wolf tactics require higher speed than the mad dogs. In this regard, Lazio does much better than Manchester United.
In the fast passing and running, their passing and running are very accurate.
With only three passes, Lazio advanced past the center line.
Faced with such rapid passing and movement, Manchester United had few options and wanted to commit a tactical foul.
But before they pulled down Motta, Motta had accurately delivered the football to Candreva's feet.
So although Motta fell to the ground, the referee made a "favorable to the attacking team, the game continues" gesture!
Tactical fouls are useless!
Manchester United can only desperately recover.
Candreva handed the football to Cazorla, who then passed the ball to Gotze in front.
Gotze tried to turn around, but dribbled horizontally.
At this time, the football has arrived in front of Manchester United's penalty area!
"Lazio advanced into the 30-meter area of Manchester United! They are so fast!"
Amid the shouts of the commentator, Gotze dribbled laterally and now he can shoot.
Manchester United's defenders focused on preventing Gotze's shot.
Defenders kept coming up to press him, but Gotze used his excellent skills to get past them. He was still leading horizontally!
When he was approaching the top of the penalty area, Gotze had successfully attracted all the attention of all Manchester United defenders to him.
Then he swung his foot... and kicked it straight!
Not a shot. But a pass!
But Cavani had just changed positions with him and was behind him, so who was he passing the ball to?
When everyone reacted, they found that Rocky had already opened his arms to celebrate the goal!
What's going on?
"Rocky! Suddenly burst out from the diagonal! He received the through ball given to him by Gotze, and did not continue to dribble the ball or adjust. Instead, he shot directly! Manchester United was completely caught off guard, and not only Manchester United
The defenders and even goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar did not react. Although he made a save, he did not stop the football! Rocky's kick was very sneaky!"
"Similarly. This is Rocchi's first goal in the Champions League this season! This game is simply a big counterattack by the supporting cast! Candreva and Rocchi, two inconspicuous players, have become the main players in this game.
The hero of the game!"
"I dare say that Ferguson must have made very detailed preparations before the game. His team defended all threatening Lazio players, but he did not expect that the winner of this game would be decided by two inconspicuous people.
People! Candreva and Rocky! Role players also have spring!"
"Lazio leads Manchester United 2:0! The suspense of this game is gone! In total, Lazio leads by three goals! And Lazio also had two away goals, which offset Manchester United's hard-earned away goals in the first round.
The ball advantage! With only ten minutes left, Manchester United must score three goals in a row to drag the game into overtime... But this is almost impossible! This is absolutely impossible!"
After Rocky scored, Chang Sheng did not jump up excitedly and hug those around him.
He just gave his thumbs up and raised them high.
With his understanding and trust of Rocky, he was not surprised at all by the goal.
He knows that as the only veteran who was in the team during Lazio's most difficult times, Chang Sheng is convinced that the veteran striker's ability and ability to withstand pressure are not inferior to anyone's.
At the critical moment, this is definitely a person worth risking everything and entrusting hope to! (To be continued...)
