In order to better prepare for the game against Real Madrid, Valencia specially chartered a plane to fly directly from Valencia to Madrid in the evening before the game, after the team training, and checked into a hotel near the Bernabeu.
The team bus arrived in Madrid one day in advance and was on standby.
This is what it should be, after all, this game is related to the championship this season.
As the league leader, Valencia only has a five-point lead. If they lose at the Bernabeu, this advantage will be shortened to two points. For Valencia, who will continue to fight on two fronts, the situation will be difficult.
It will be more difficult.
After a night's rest in the hotel, Su Dong went to the hotel's gym to perform a complete set of activation training as usual the next morning, accompanied by Nuno Cruz and others. The purpose was to ensure that he
status.
After breakfast, the team had the last preparation meeting before the game.
The meeting location is arranged in the hotel's conference room.
Benitez and Yesterdam focused on introducing some precautions in tonight's game, such as how to play if the team loses the ball first? How to play after conceding two goals or even three goals?
How to kick after taking the lead? If the referee misjudges, how to kick?
All the preparations are very detailed, because as Albelda said, Valencia encountered very obvious bias in enforcement by the referee in the previous four visits to the Bernabeu.
Benitez issued a ban before the game, prohibiting the players from discussing the referee. It was also regarded by the media as a demonstration. The implication was, I won't say anything, I will just watch what you do, and the whole world will see it clearly.
Chu.
Benitez doesn't think he should be happy about Zidane's red card.
"For a team of Real Madrid's level, Zidane's sudden red card is not necessarily a bad thing, because it may add more variables to the game out of thin air, and Real Madrid's superstars are more capable of controlling these.
Variables on the court.”
Benitez first poured a bucket of cold water on all Valencia's optimistic players.
After three days, the players have basically calmed down.
Benitez is right. Just like now, how will Queiroz arrange his troops after Zidane is absent?
Real Madrid has many players on the bench, Solari, Cambiaso, Portillo, these are all very capable substitute players.
Even if you put aside these substitutes, just look at the Real Madrid stars on the court, how will Queiroz arrange their positions?
Ronaldo, Raul, Figo, Beckham, Carlos, Guti...
Which of these Real Madrid stars would shine brightly if given a little sunshine?
In the past, Zidane and Valencia had an expectation in mind, knowing how Real Madrid would play in general, but now that Zidane is absent, although there is one less enemy, it also brings more variables.
Benitez doesn't like variables by nature and even hates risks.
"I'm thinking about it myself. No matter how Real Madrid changes, Zidane's absence will create the fact that there will be a vacancy in Real Madrid's center. Unless Queiroz moves Guti's position forward to replace Zidane's position, but so
First, there will be problems with the position of the double midfielders."
After more than half a season, Queiroz has finally managed to adapt the combination of Beckham and Garguti, ensuring that the team has an advantage in passing and controlling the ball, and the defense is pretty good. Will he break this combination?
If it breaks down, should Cambiasso go up and form a defensive midfielder with Beckham? Or should Pavin go up and push Helguera into the midfield?
Look, the advantage of a strong lineup is fully reflected at this time!
"I guess Queiroz will still take the lead in ensuring the integrity of the double midfielder. Zidane's position can be replaced by Solari, because Argentine players have performed well recently, but this will cause a problem. Real Madrid has no center in the frontcourt.
people."
Ronaldo is at the front, and Raul seems to be more flexible, but in fact he still plays as a forward.
If Zidane is not here, who will connect the two defensive midfielders and the two forwards in the frontcourt?
"You can only go wide!" Benitez judged.
That is to say, playing on the wings of Carlos Gassolari and Salgado Garfigo.
"Our strategy needs to be clearer. If, as I expected, Solari plays on the wing and represents Real Madrid, then we will focus more on interception on the wing, and we can even allow them to cross.
."
When Benitez said this, he drew a cross route from both wings of Real Madrid on the tactical board.
"Ayala and Marchena in the middle must pay attention to controlling the landing point. Ronaldo and Raul's headers are in front of you, so they basically have no advantage. I believe you can do it."
Ayala and Marchena both nodded.
"Especially for you, Marchena, unnecessary actions can be avoided. At the Bernabeu Stadium, every move we make may be magnified and become evidence for our penalty. Do you understand?"
Marchena has never been a stable main player. Pellegrino performed well before, but since Pellegrino fainted, Marchena scored again and performed very actively, so he gradually gained a firm foothold.
But this native Spanish central defender has a problem, that is, he is unstable and makes many small moves.
If it is in other games, there may be no problem, but if the referee wants to be more serious with you, it will be difficult to say.
"The defensive midfielders must closely protect the penalty area and give up the wings to Real Madrid." Benitez looked at the captain and deputy captain.
Alberda and Baraja both nodded.
As soon as the head coach arranges it, they know what they should do.
Benitez did not make any arrangements for the attack, perhaps he felt there was nothing special to explain.
Facing a team like Real Madrid, Valencia's 4-2-3-1 will definitely focus on shrinking defense and playing defensive counterattack.
In this case, it is unrealistic to put too many demands on the offense.
At the end of the meeting, Benitez also raised the issue of refereeing.
This chapter is not over, please click the next page to continue reading! This is a common problem in La Liga. Not only Valencia, but almost all other teams will jump out to blame the referee from time to time. Even Real Madrid and Barcelona often blame the referee.
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Speaking of this, it has something to do with the appointment mechanism of the referee.
In Spain, the power to select referees lies with the Football Association. They will use random drawings to decide who will officiate which game. The referee committee does not participate in this process.
This may seem very open, fair and transparent, but in fact it will cause another problem.
The uncertainty of random drawing can easily lead to the selection of referees being not neutral and objective enough.
Referees are also human beings. Where they were born, the education they received since childhood, family background, which team they like, which team they have had grudges with, and even regional discrimination... there are too many factors.
This will result in the referee being unable to be neutral, objective and impartial when enforcing the law.
What's even more terrible is that the Football Association does not have any punitive measures against the referee's mistakes and misjudgments.
In other words, even if the referee makes a very serious mistake, he will not be held responsible for it.
This brings up another question, who will restrict the referee's law enforcement power?
It can be said that this is an old problem that has affected La Liga for many years and has never been solved.
Including Valencia, what other La Liga teams have criticized most is that the Spanish Super League duo benefit from referee factors.
This has a lot to do with the fact that they have the most stars, the strongest strength, and the most fans.
For example, in the next round, when Valencia faced Barcelona, the referee was from Madrid.
Although Madridistas may not necessarily be Real Madrid fans, this is still a bit worrying, isn't it?
Benitez's meaning is very clear. The factors of the referee are beyond Valencia's control. So try your best to do your own thing, reduce unnecessary fouls and small actions, and avoid giving opportunities to the opponent.
The players also understand this.
…………
…………
When the Valencia team arrived at the Bernabeu, Real Madrid fans were entering the stadium one after another.
Seeing Valencia's bus, Real Madrid fans booed one after another, obviously hating Valencia.
Benitez was the first to get off the bus, and his expression looked very complicated.
As a Madrid native, he has been a Real Madrid fan since he was a child. Even now, he still feels that he is proud to coach Real Madrid in this life. But tonight, he appeared at the Bernabeu as Real Madrid's mortal enemy.
This situation is indeed sad and emotional.
When Valencia players entered the stadium, Real Madrid players also entered the stadium almost at the same time.
Although they are bitter rivals on the court, they still have a good relationship in private.
Whether it's the Spanish national team teammates, Su Dong and Ronaldo, they all seem to be in harmony.
Especially Ronaldo.
"How are you preparing?" Ronaldo came over and asked with a smile.
"I'm fine, and you?"
Ronaldo looked at the stands of the stadium, smiled and said: "This is my territory!"
"Your territory may not necessarily listen to you." Su Dong replied with a smile, "Besides, your Zidane is absent, but my Zidane is back, what do you think?"
Of course, what Su Dong was talking about was Aimar.
Everyone knows that Aimar will win this game.
"I hope you can continue to be tough after the game."
The corners of Su Dong's lips curled up slightly, "After the game, I'll treat you to dinner."
Ronaldo, who had just turned to leave, turned around again and looked deeply at the confident Su Dong, somewhat confused.
Is this guy really that confident?
Or is he deliberately showing off?
…
Of course, Su Dong's confidence was not all fake.
Real Madrid's lineup came out, and Benitez's guess was not wrong at all.
Queiroz did not dare to risk breaking the double defensive midfielder combination and asked Solari to take Zidane's place.
This basically confirms Benitez's pre-match judgment that Real Madrid will play more wide.
What Valencia needs to do is to purposefully guide Real Madrid to attack the wings and completely restrict the center.
In the final analysis, football matches still have to score goals in the middle. Even if they open up all the wings to Real Madrid, as long as they can control the middle, Real Madrid still can't score.
Of course, this requires the cooperation of the whole team and no mistakes can be made.
