Coaching legend

This game is a life-and-death battle for both teams.

Of course, it is not a life-and-death battle for Manchester United. They have already entered the FA Cup final, the Champions League final, and especially the Champions League final. Once they win the Champions League, Manchester United will have been successful this season.

But Ferguson can't tolerate that damn French guy riding on his head for two consecutive years. Before Wenger took over Arsenal, although there were rebellious princes, Ferguson didn't take them seriously. Because even if those people rebelled for a while, it was just a small spark, and Ferguson could put it out with a flick of his hand.

Until Wenger came to England, this time Ferguson really felt that his dominance in the Premier League was threatened.

So Ferguson had to teach Wenger a lesson before his Arsenal became really strong. But I didn't expect that this year's Arsenal is still strong, and it is the hottest team for the championship so far. Ferguson will never allow Arsenal to win the Premier League championship for two consecutive years.

Therefore, although it was not a life-and-death battle, Ferguson was determined to win this game.

This was even more true for George. The fourth place was insignificant in the eyes of Manchester United and Arsenal. But for Blackburn, which has been hovering in the relegation zone for three consecutive years, a League Cup spot is very important. And George also hopes to use the League Cup spot to attract other players.

Not only that, George also wants to use this spot to tell his players that as long as they are willing, they will definitely achieve good results.

But the life-and-death battle was played flat in the first ten minutes. There were not many threatening shots, and there were not many beautiful scenes.

However, when the game was fifteen minutes in, Manchester United suddenly began to exert its strength. Especially Keane, as Manchester United's only midfielder, frequently rushed forward. And Giggs and Beckham, who had not performed on the wing, suddenly became active.

Giggs used his excellent speed and technology to attack Blackburn's right side. And Beckham increased his running.

The running of Manchester United midfielders, especially the running without the ball, is very distinctive. Their off-ball running can find some blind spots in Blackburn's defense. George frowned. This kind of cooperation between Manchester United's midfield is definitely the result of playing together for a long time.

Blackburn players still remember George's words. As long as Manchester United gets the ball, they will scramble for the ball. But George always feels awkward and a little worried.

This is Manchester United now, the Manchester United that never admits defeat. Ferguson has never been a person who is willing to pretend to be a grandson, and his team also fits his personality. Manchester United is a team that cannot be underestimated. They never admit defeat. Even when facing opponents who are stronger than themselves, they will overwhelm them with a stronger momentum.

This is why Manchester United's strength has slowly declined after Glazer took over. But their performance is still among the European giants. They can maintain the true nature of a strong team by relying on this unyielding momentum.

Soon Blackburn's defense began to have problems. George originally hoped to use his full-court pressing to consume Manchester United's physical strength. But the ball is always faster than people. In front of Manchester United's attack, Blackburn's players became more and more timid.

Only then did the game gradually become interesting.

When the game reached the 31st minute, Manchester United's attack finally had results. Beckham and Neville on the right simply cooperated to create a gap, and Beckham's cross accurately found Scholes who rushed into the penalty area.

"Scholes! At this time, no one was defending Scholes... This header was too easy. Cudicini had no time to defend, and it was the responsibility of Blackburn's midfielder. How could Scholes be let in so easily."

"One to zero, now the initiative of the game has returned to Manchester United."

Scholes is not a player who is good at heading. His greatest power is the powerful long-range shot from the back row. Most of his goals came from powerful shots after a sudden start. But it doesn't mean that Scholes will not head the ball.

George threw the mineral water in his hand to the ground. Now Blackburn has indeed lost the initiative.

Looking at Ferguson next to him at this time, he is really sitting on the fishing platform. Just smiled slightly and clapped his hands.

After that, the pace of the game suddenly began to speed up, and Blackburn was unwilling to lose like this. So the rhythm of the two sides suddenly began to fiercely confront each other.

"George's idea cannot be said to be wrong, but it is obvious that George is still too conservative. In fact, Blackburn now does not need to play this kind of defensive counterattack. It can completely compete with Manchester United's midfield for possession of the ball. Unfortunately, George adopted a strategy of solid defense." Martin Taylor criticized George's tactical arrangement.

"Yes, George thought Manchester United would be eager to attack. So he wanted to play a defensive counterattack, but unfortunately he forgot that momentum is very important in football games. Blackburn took a step back and completely handed the initiative to Manchester United. Manchester United is a mature team."

Just as the two of them analyzed, George now regretted it very much.

George forgot the words of the old man Taizu that defense should not be passive defense, but active defense. George adopted a passive defense, waiting for the opponent to lose the ball and then wanted to counterattack. This idea is too passive.

Against Manchester United, we should adopt a more proactive strategy and should not give up the middle.

If the defense is not so passive, we should block in the midfield. Then once we grab the ball, we will start to attack. This is the real defensive counterattack, and it is also suitable for Blackburn's counterattack now.

After all, this Blackburn is not the Burnley of the past. Burnley of the past started with defensive counterattacks. Defensive counterattacks have penetrated into their bones, and playing defensive counterattacks can also work. But now Blackburn is famous for its strong midfield control and offensive capabilities.

Asking them to defend and counterattack is itself a constraint on their hands and feet. Moreover, facing those teams with weak offensive power, although the defense is average, there is no problem. Relying on the breakthrough ability of several people in the frontcourt, the defensive counterattack is effective.

But George forgot that he was facing Manchester United, the undisputed overlord of the Premier League since its establishment. Their offense and defense are both first-class in the Premier League. Cutting off their own advantages, how could they beat Manchester United by shrinking their hands and feet?

Mistakes, mistakes. Just thinking about Manchester United's situation, just thinking about Ferguson's ideas. But they didn't understand their own team, and didn't know how they could beat their opponents.

Fortunately, although Manchester United attacked fiercely in the first half, they did not continue to expand the score advantage.

"First of all, I want to apologize to everyone. It is entirely my responsibility to fall behind in the first half." George's words shocked the players below. Because George is actually no different from what the media describes, a person who is stubborn. So even if he is really wrong, he rarely apologizes.

Therefore, they were surprised to hear George's words. But George ignored them.

"I was wrong. Our team should not play so passively. This is not the style of our team." George admitted his mistake at the beginning. The first half of the game made George realize that his deployment was really wrong.

"Let's adjust in the second half. We will start fighting in the midfield." George drew a circle near the midline. "We won't retreat. When we defend, we will start from this position. Then we will use the pass to move them, and don't let them move us."

"The ball is always faster than people. Use the pass to move them. When attacking, don't worry about anything. Just use our usual style of play."

George thought that it would be better to let the players play freely than to let them shrink back. Use the number advantage of the midfield to beat them back. Of course, such an attack will greatly increase the pressure on the back line. Especially facing Yorke and Cole, the black wind duo, Blackburn's back line must be in high spirits.

"Now there is no worry. We are behind. If we want to control our destiny, we must not lose this game. Therefore, give up all ideas and try to score goals."

Now the pressure is on George, because there is new score news on another field. Leeds United leads Arsenal 1-0 at home, and Blackburn is only one point ahead of Leeds United. In the next game, Leeds United will play West Ham United, while Blackburn will go away to face Arsenal.

It is obvious that Leeds United will have an easier time in the next game. It is no joke to face Arsenal at Highbury. Especially if they lose this game, the points gap between Arsenal and Manchester United will be only one point. At that time, Arsenal will have to fight Blackburn to the death for the championship.

So for the League Cup spot, this game must not be lost.

George replaced Bellamy with Klose and Pires with Romedal at the beginning of the second half. The intention of full attack is very obvious.

Blackburn players all know this, so Blackburn started counterattacking at the beginning of the second half. Blackburn's offense is very different in English football and even in world football. Therefore, once the offense starts, it is completely different from the first half.

Miku and Deco, who felt very awkward in the first half because of the defensive tactics, began to release their strength in the second half. Miku is already 25 years old and is beginning to move towards his peak state. But Deco is still young, and there is a gap in strength compared to Keane and Scholes alone.

But when Miku and Deco join forces, their control in the midfield increases many times.

Even in front of a world-class defensive midfielder like Keane, the two of them can control and pass the ball freely. Although because of the presence of a strong defensive midfielder like Keane, they cannot pass a fatal threatening ball. But in terms of midfield ball control, Blackburn is no less than Manchester United.

Manchester United's style of play is still very direct, without any complicated passes or cooperation. Yorke and Cole control the first point in the penalty area, and Scholes will control the second point. Although simple, it is very threatening.

In comparison, Blackburn's offense is much more complicated and cumbersome.

But whether it is Manchester United's big opening and closing or Blackburn's wonderful cooperation, the second half of the game suddenly became much more interesting.