On April 15, in the FA Cup semi-finals, Manchester City faced Tottenham Hotspur.
Goalkeeper Cudicini, the defense is Hector, Ledley, Gallas and Kyle Walker, the midfield is Livermore and Parker, and the frontcourt is Gareth Bale, Van der Vaart and
Aaron Lennon, the lone forward is Adebayor.
This is Tottenham Hotspur's squad.
When Manchester City got this list before the game, everyone's first reaction was that it was confusing.
It is said outside that Redknapp is giving up the FA Cup, but it doesn't look like it now.
Could it be said that the news released before the game were all smoke and mirrors?
A staff member walked into the locker room and handed out black gauze belts to the Manchester City players, requiring every player to tie it on their left arm.
This is required by the Football Association because April 15th happens to be the 23rd anniversary of the Hillsborough tragedy.
The tragedy 23 years ago can be said to be a turning point in English football's rapid decline from its historical peak. It also made the English league unable to catch up with European football for a long time, until Manchester United won the Triple Crown.
, the Premier League has gradually caught up with the mainstream.
In recent years, a massive influx of capital has brought advanced technical and tactical play as well as outstanding stars to the Premier League. Only today's Premier League can show such a prosperous scene.
Therefore, the Football Association holds a commemoration event every year to commemorate the Hillsborough tragedy. On this day, black veils are worn during the game to mourn the victims. However, this year happens to be the FA Cup semi-final.
…
Su Dong distributed the black gauze belts to his teammates, and everyone asked the teammates next to him to help tie them.
It shouldn't be too tight, for fear of affecting the game, but it shouldn't be too loose, otherwise it will fall off easily and get distracted.
Head coach Guardiola's pre-match mobilization is more based on the game. He believes that Manchester City's strength is higher than Tottenham Hotspur. As long as the players play steadily, there will be no problem in winning the game.
"We don't need to be interfered by the outside world, and we don't need to be distracted by guessing the opponent's thoughts. That doesn't mean much to us, because we only need to play well, and we will definitely be able to defeat the opponent."
Guardiola once again emphasized that Manchester City still adopts the "I am the main" game idea in the game and insists on passing and controlling the ball. No matter what tactics the opponent adopts, Manchester City will not change their tactics.
This requires everyone to be patient.
Before going on the field, Su Donggang asked Pepe to tie a black gauze belt for himself. Now he has the captain's armband on one side and a black gauze belt on the other.
Everyone waited silently. When he was ready and walked in front of everyone, they all raised their heads.
"We don't know what kind of tactics Tottenham Hotspur will adopt, but I agree with what Pep just said, don't think about the opponent, because no matter what tactics they adopt, we have to defeat them.
We can definitely defeat them!"
Su Dong said this very boldly and confidently.
"It's April 15th now, thirty-four days before the Champions League final."
Su Dong suddenly said this, causing everyone in the locker room to suddenly raise their heads. Many people looked at him in confusion, and some people began to think about the meaning of Su Dong's words.
The Champions League final will be held on May 19th at the Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany.
It is exactly thirty-four days from now.
Su Dong must have calculated it.
"I know that in the past few months, each of us has been very hard. No matter whether we played or not, no matter how many games we played, whether we were the main players, rotations or substitutes, or even the young players in our youth team, everyone has worked very hard.
."
"We can't get to this point without everyone's efforts in the past few months."
In the locker room, the players who made the roster were all touched by what they heard.
Manchester City's bench is very thick, but the problem is that Manchester City's schedule is also very intensive.
Fighting on four fronts, fighting on two fronts almost every week, and sometimes even spinning, coupled with various factors such as injuries and state fluctuations, causes every player in Manchester City to bear heavy pressure and burden
.
Even the substitutes and young players, in the atmosphere of the team, are always cautious and walking on thin ice.
Why?
Because anytime, anywhere, if a player is injured or his condition declines, they must be able to step up at any time.
If you are promoted and your performance is not ideal, then you are the sinner of the whole team.
Which one of those who can enter Manchester City is not the best among professional players? Which one has no sense of responsibility? Which one does not want to help the team win?
In this atmosphere, each of them, whether training or competing, goes all out and strives to be the best.
Even players like Joe Hart, who will definitely leave the team this summer, are working hard in daily training.
This kind of atmosphere is what Su Dong, the coaching staff and the management have worked hard to create, because only in this way can the team work together as a team, form a synergy, and exert its strongest combat effectiveness.
If a wealthy team really has the so-called heritage, then this should be part of the rich team's heritage, even the most important part.
"In the next thirty-four days, I hope everyone on the team can go all out."
"Everyone of us is very tired and it's difficult, but we have to grit our teeth and overcome all kinds of difficulties. We must maintain the current momentum of the team. We have to defeat all opponents and enter the competition thirty-four days later.
Allianz Arena.”
"Even, we will have the last laugh at the Allianz Arena!"
"In these thirty-four days, we have to fight every day, not only with our opponents, but also with ourselves. We not only have to defeat our opponents, but also ourselves. We have to show our support to the world, to the fans who have always supported us, and to us.
To ourselves, prove our determination and strength!"
"I believe that as long as we do it, from now on, we will be the most competitive top team in European football and even world football, and everyone in our team will be a member of this team.
Part of it.”
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! At this point, Su Dong clearly felt that the emotions of the players in the locker room were aroused.
He took a step forward, walked into the players, and stretched out his right hand.
The players also rushed closer, stretching out their hands and interlocking with Su Dong's right hand.
"The next thirty-four days will be a tough battle, and tonight is the first battle!"
When he said this, Su Dong gritted his teeth and shouted loudly: "Manchester City must win!!"
"come on, come on, come on!!!"
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The FA Cup semi-finals are such a focus game, especially the strong dialogue between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur. The FA also attaches great importance to it and specially arranged for the best referee in England, Howard Webb, to officiate.
From the beginning of the game, Tottenham Hotspur took the initiative to attack. Whether it was to test or really want to grab a start, they took the initiative to put pressure on Manchester City after the start, and both wings also actively intervened.
Less than a minute into the game, Lennon got the ball on the right and passed it into the penalty area, trying to find Adebayor.
The Togo center quickly stepped in and competed for a header near the penalty spot.
But Manchester City goalkeeper Courtois decisively abandoned the goal and snatched the ball away from mid-air before Adebayor.
Courtois is tall, has long arms, and has really good control over the lob.
After picking up the ball, Courtois quickly threw the ball to Marcelo, and the Brazilian left back began to instigate Manchester City's attack.
Tottenham Hotspur's defense retreated quickly, and the two sides began to struggle near the midline.
Gradually, Redknapp's tactical intentions were revealed.
He did not intend to give up the game, but he did not overemphasize it. The formation was quite satisfactory and he rotated two or three positions. This was also considered a conventional strategy. However, players such as Gareth Bale and Van der Vaart
They are all basic too.
The 4-2-3 formation strengthened the protection of the defense and also gave Tottenham the confidence to push the defense further forward. Obviously, they did not want Manchester City to get too close to their goal, especially Sudong.
Recently, several teams have adopted this tactic when encountering Manchester City. I don't know if it was affected by the Champions League game against Real Madrid, because all four of Sudong's goals that time came from the penalty area.
Later, the media gave him a new nickname: King of the Zone.
Of course, this nickname is not popular, because Su Dong's current achievements are higher than those of Romario and Ruud van Nistelrooy.
The opponent pushed the defense forward because they did not want Manchester City's attackers, especially Su Dong, to get too close to their own goal.
Arsenal and West Bromwich Albion did this, and Tottenham Hotspur still do it now.
But this will also bring about another problem, that is, once the defense line is pressed, once it is pulled away or beaten behind, can the central defender defend Su Dong alone?
Just like this time in the fifth minute of the opening, after Manchester City's frontcourt attack hit a rock, they quickly passed the ball back to their own half and left it to the defense to reorganize and organize.
Toni Kroos retreated outside the center circle to receive Busquets, stopped the ball in an unguarded area, turned around, took a look at the situation in front, and immediately sent a long overhead pass, which was accurately sent behind the defense.
.
Almost as soon as the German midfielder launched a long pass, Su Dong quickly moved forward.
Ledley King was tall, but after being injured continuously, he was not very fast and was directly thrown away by Su Dong. However, Gallas returned to defense immediately and even ran faster than Su Dong.
The reason Su Dong was slow was because he had to judge where the ball would land, so even though he was passed by Gallas, Su Dong remained calm and used his body to block Gallas outside the top area of the arc.
At this time, Su Dong's physical advantage became apparent.
Gallas, who was behind him, kept retreating after being suppressed by Su Dong. Su Dong, on the other hand, kept retreating based on where the ball landed, leaving Gallas unable to do anything.
Ledley King, who could really compete physically with Su Dong, had just run in front of Su Dong at this time and had not had time to rush over.
But the ball has arrived.
Su Dong grabbed the best position, judged the ball's landing point, took out his right foot and stopped the ball behind himself and Gallas on the right side. At the same time, he turned around and went straight into Gallas.
The large restricted area on the right.
The entire action was done in one go, without giving Gallas and Ledley King any chance to react.
By the time everyone reacted, Su Dong had already stopped the ball, turned around, and accelerated to chase the ball.
