Since AC Milan reached the Champions League final this season, Pan Yi has often taken time to study the opponent in the final - Bayern Munich.
To be more precise, it is to study the current coach of Bayern Munich, Joseph Heynckes.
In fact, Heynckes coached Bayern from 1987 to 1991 and led the team to two Bundesliga championships. However, he was dismissed midway through the 1990-91 season due to his loss of control over his players.
But his fate with Bayern did not end there.
In the second half of the 2008-09 season, Heynckes, who was unemployed at home, was appointed to replace Klinsmann, who was dismissed from work, and became Bayern's interim head coach.
He helped the team win the league runner-up, but left after the season.
And now it’s the third time.
Dutch coach Louis van Gaal was fired, and Heynckes stepped in to "put out the fire" again. He led the team to win the "Double Asian Championship" in the German Cup and Bundesliga, and is now preparing to win the Champions League.
In fact, after he officially announced his retirement in 2013, Heynckes came back again in 2017 and once again served as Bayern's firefighting coach until the end of the season.
It can be said that Heynckes definitely loves Bayern.
Of course, what Pan Yi studies more is the tactics used by Heynckes during his time at Bayern.
As the season progresses, Pan Yi participates in more and more high-level competitions, and he is exposed to and learns more and more content in the system.
Therefore, the tactics of Bayern's meritorious coach were also presented to Pan Yi one by one.
"Hai Gonggong" has used his best 4231 formation this season, as well as in the most peak five-time championship season of 2012-2013.
Although there have been some changes in personnel in the two seasons, the framework of the main lineup is similar.
Goalkeeper Neuer, left back Alaba, center backs Badstuber (Dante) and Boateng Jr., right back Lahm, midfielders Toni Kroos (Javi Martinez) and Bastian Schwein
Steiger, offensive midfielder Ribery, Muller, Robben, center Mario Gomez (Mandzukic).
In terms of specific tactics, Pan Yi discovered that Heynckes's style of play is actually very close to the most advanced pressing tactics in 2022, and is even similar to the style of play Pan Yi is currently implementing in Milan. p>
This may be the reason why they were able to defeat all the invincible opponents in Europe in the 2012-2013 season.
Even in Pan Yi's previous life in the 2011-2012 season, Bayern also completely suppressed Chelsea in the Champions League final. It was only because of bad luck and Robben's missed penalty kick that they finally lost in the penalty shootout.
Final.
It must have been difficult for opponents at the time to understand Heynckes' unusual space-moving defense.
If you use Cruyff's words, Heynckes' tactical thinking is: "When your team has the ball, the other players should be as far away from the ball as possible. When the ball is not at your feet, your players should be as far away from the ball as possible."
The closer the ball is, the better.”
Relying on this idea, the wingers under Heynckes played an extremely powerful role-when attacking, they can maximize the use of the length of the court, and when defense is needed, the wingers can participate in the midfield.
When on defense, it can stretch and retract freely like an accordion.
Heynckes proposed this style of play that uses the defensive system as a link, emphasizing each player's defense, using every inch of space on the court to make it difficult for the ball to flow, and using collective blockade to block the opponent's offense.
This results in very few teams being able to break through Heynckes' team's defense. Even if they are lucky enough to break through, they will find Neuer standing behind the defense - the use of this sweeper goalkeeper is also Bayern's tactical use.
A major innovation.
Specific to every position on the team, like Milan, their defense starts from the forward line.
When Bayern loses the ball in the frontcourt and does not receive a quick counterattack, Bayern's usual choice is to put pressure on the nearest offensive player, forcing the ball holder to not release the ball calmly, thus causing mistakes.
At this time, the remaining offensive players - most of the time three - will each mark and press the ball holder's short and medium passing targets, thereby forming protection.
For example, if the opponent's goalkeeper holds the ball and center Gomez attacks it, then the three attacking midfielders will mark the back line separately.
However, only one midfielder cannot mark the two central defenders. The opponent's goalkeeper may pass the ball to a central defender, such as the left central defender.
At this time, Robben, who is closest, will attack and block the passing route to the left back. Then Muller, Ribery, and a pressing midfielder will attack the opponent's right center back, right back, and a defensive midfielder respectively.
The defensive midfielder marked to intercept the pass, while Gomez began to retreat back into position.
Moreover, no matter which midfielder from Hama or Xiaozhu presses forward, there must be another midfielder who is holding back, sitting between the midfielder and the defense.
While the offensive players are attacking, except for the three necessary protectors and interceptors, the other players, especially the defensive players, must return to their positions quickly.
To sum up, one person is pressing, three are protecting, and the remaining six players are returning to defense.
In this way, even if the opponent is preparing for a quick counterattack, our side will have enough manpower to quickly defend.
So you can hardly see Bayern being forced to play less and more when they are quickly counterattacked. That's because:
First, there is always a deep-lying central defender handling the ball behind him (usually Boateng);
Second, Bayern's full-backs are at their peak, and their running speed will not lag too far behind;
Third, when forming a single shot, Neuer will attack according to the situation, and the deep-lying central defender will quickly make up for the goal, reducing the negative impact of the goalkeeper's loss of position.
Therefore, when the opponent counterattacks, they will always face such a scenario: the defender holds the ball, and the opponent's center rushes to grab it. The ball holder wants to play the ball, but the short-pass targets are all marked, or they make certain runs without the ball.
Either wait for teammates to run and receive the ball, or take a big shot without accuracy.
After the teammate catches the ball, he will face a new difficulty - his short pass target is being marked again. Step by step, by the time the football advances to the opponent's half, they are already facing a lineup with all players on alert.
Line of defense...
After gradually digesting Heynckes' tactical system, Pan Yi's mind gradually became clear.
If AC Milan's tactics in previous duels with other opponents were a bit like "dimensionality reduction strikes", then the match between Milan and Bayern was closer to a competition in the same dimension.
Both sides have very similar requirements for frontcourt pressure, use of wingers, or protection of midfielders.
Therefore, if you want to win such a peak battle, you must be more meticulous in the arrangement of specific positions, restraint, as well as on-the-spot command and scheduling.
Also, the team's unity, order and tactical discipline will be the key to determining victory or defeat!