Football King Bale

For the first time, Bell experienced what it was like to have a temperature of minus 20+.

In fact, it wasn't just Bale who had this experience for the first time, but so did most of the people in this Manchester United squad. Although Manchester United has made many expeditions to Eastern Europe and even the former Soviet Union in the past few years, they are basically in the group stage, and Manchester United's schedule is relatively lucky, and they play against Eastern European teams relatively early, in October and November. Although winter has entered Eastern Europe, it is far from the coldest time of the year.

As for the current Manchester United team, the only one who is more adaptable to this severe cold weather is probably the captain Vidic. However, the Serbian did not come with the team due to some minor injuries recently.

But no matter what, as a giant team that competes all year round in Europe, Manchester United is still somewhat prepared for the environment of this game, so all the safeguards are in place. The players are just not used to it because the weather is too cold. .

Manchester United flew to St. Petersburg on Sunday morning and their game is on Wednesday night, with a three-day buffer in between.

It was precisely because of the weather that Manchester United came to Russia early to prepare for the game.

However, in the ice and snow of Russia, it is difficult for Manchester United to prepare normally like they did in the UK. They can only conduct the most basic training every day, mainly to adapt to the extremely low temperature here.

However, even when the game started, it was still difficult for the Manchester United people to really adapt to the temperature here.

Therefore, before the start of the game against Zenit, Manchester United coach Ferguson specifically asked the players to extend the warm-up time in order to achieve full body movement and avoid injuries.

As for the result of this game, Ferguson did not require the team to win. Winning is naturally the best result. A draw is acceptable, and even a small loss in an away game is not a big deal, as long as the team does not suffer a big loss. Despite injuries and a narrow loss, Manchester United had enough strength to reverse the game after returning home in the second leg.

However, in Bell's heart, he only accepted two results: defeating his opponent or drawing with his opponent. Small losses and the like were not considered by him at all.

Bell is still thinking about the Champions League tasks in the system tasks. Although winning the championship is no longer possible, being undefeated is still expected.

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Bell stood in the tunnel, and the starting players from both sides were waiting to play.

Standing next to him is Zenit's captain, Portuguese Bruno Alves.

Zenit's formation today is 4231.

The goalkeeper position is not Malafeev, who performed magically during the group stage, but substitute goalkeeper Zevnov. The four defenders are No. 14 Hubosan, No. 6 Lombart, No. 3 Captain Alves, and No. 2 Anyukov; No. 15 Serokov and No. 27 Denisov partner as a double midfielder; on the forward line, No. 20 France Izulin, No. 18 Chirianov, and No. 99 Kanunikov lined up, and No. 11 Kozakov's single arrow shot forward.

There are few friends among the players of Manchester United and Zenit. In addition, this game is so crucial that there is an atmosphere of tension between the two sides. Everyone chats separately while waiting to enter the stadium and will not talk to each other.

Until several chief referees came out of their lounge, the chief referee shook hands with the two captains, and routinely reminded the two captains to be sportsmanlike during the game. The two captains obviously would not refuse, and both showed their faces. Smiling and patting each other on the shoulders to show friendship.

The referee was very satisfied with the cooperation between the two captains. He nodded and then motioned for the two teams to follow and get ready to play!

………………

Zenit's current head coach Spalletti is an old acquaintance of Manchester United. When he was coaching Serie A giant Roma, he had played against Manchester United many times, but Spalletti was always the loser. In the 2006-2007 season, Manchester United and Roma met in the Champions League quarter-finals. Roma defeated Manchester United 2:1 at home, but in the second round at Old Trafford, Spalletti's team was defeated by the Red Devils 7:1. Humiliation, creating a record score in the knockout stage; in the 2007-2008 season, the two teams met again in the Champions League quarter-finals, and Roma was double beaten by Manchester United at home and away.

Based on Spalletti's understanding of Manchester United, he believed that Manchester United would definitely launch a fierce attack at the beginning of the game. Was he right? Manchester United, led by Bale, launched a fierce offensive into Zenit's hinterland at the beginning of the game.

This was expected by him, so he was more confident in winning this game.

Although Ferguson can accept an away draw or even a small loss by one goal, he knows very well that if he wants to achieve better results without the right time and place, he must catch the opponent off guard at the beginning and take the lead. Only then can Manchester United have more tactical options.

Although it was a home game, Zenit kept their position low and played a 4231 formation to counterattack steadily. After all, facing Manchester United, the world's largest club, and Bale, the No. 1 player in football today, no one dares to underestimate the other.

………………

Spalletti and his disciples knew something about Manchester United and Bell, so they kept a close eye on Bell and planned to lock him down.

But they soon discovered that Bell and Manchester United are different today.

First of all, it is reflected in their faster speed. Although Manchester United is famous for being fast, they were faster than usual today, much faster than Manchester United in their impression. There are many times when the ball is passed directly without stopping. It is not unusual for such a pass to appear in the game. What is strange is that they do it from the beginning. Regardless of whether there is anyone pressing, they always pass the ball. It was as if he was forced to do this by the head coach during a training match.

Sneijder passed the football to Bell. Denisov was about to press forward and prevent him from turning around. However, Bell directly transferred the football horizontally to the feet of Carrick in the center. Zenit's defensive focus had just adjusted accordingly. When he reached the center, Carrick in the center immediately moved his football foot to the right.

Nani on the right stopped the ball beautifully and without any extra movement, he pushed a through pass with his left foot. Valencia had already covered it from behind. The Ecuadorian full-back who caught up with the ball also did not stop the ball without adjusting, and directly passed the ball!

Direct crosses like this while running at high speed are often much better than adjusted passes. For example, this time, Valencia's cross accurately found Rooney, who was ambushing Manchester United in the penalty area. Rooney Fatty jumped up high and headed the ball towards the goal!

"Rooney——"

Zenit's substitute goalkeeper Zevnov also reacted very quickly. He jumped up hastily, stretched out his hand and lifted the football out with one palm!

"Beautiful offense! Beautiful defense! Rooney and Zevnov teamed up to give us such an outstanding offense and defense!"

Zevnov did not think that this was a very happy defense. He got up from the ground, clapped his hands and shouted at his teammates, "Defense! Keep an eye on their people!"

At this time, Zenit's players had time to think about their own performance in defense. They seemed to have been led by the opponent.

"Don't give them another chance like this! Come back! Defend the corner kick!" Zevnov shouted, directing his teammates to participate in the defense.

………………

Zenit's goal was suddenly crowded with players from both sides, but Bale did not go in, but he did not take a corner kick either. Instead, he stood outside the corner kick area, next to Nani who took the penalty kick.

Generally speaking, Bell is definitely a very important member of Manchester United's corner kick tactics, because his passing ability is very strong, which can give the team some advantages in set-piece attacks.

However, for Zenit, Bell and the Manchester United coaching staff designed some fresh routines, including some set-piece tactics.

He raised his right hand, extended his index and middle fingers, and made a "V" gesture. This is the signal.

Of course the Zenit players also knew that this was a code, but they didn't know what the code meant. But looking at Bell's position, isn't it obvious what it means?

Bell is the core of Manchester United. He neither ambushes in the penalty area nor takes corner kicks. Instead, he stands outside the corner kick. Isn't this just a tactical corner kick? Nani will pass the football to him and he will reorganize the attack, so someone must be sent to defend him!

Denisov ran out of the penalty area and ran towards Bale. But he couldn't get closer, because according to the rules of the football game, when one side takes a corner kick, the other side's most forward defensive player must be 9.15 meters away from the football. Being too close is a foul.

Bale and Nani stand together, which means they are together with football, so Denisov must be 9.15 meters away from him.

………………

Denisov came up, and other Zenit players, except for the central defender, also focused on outside the penalty area.

If it is a tactical corner kick, as long as Nani passes the football to Bell, they can collectively press forward to prevent offside. At that time, the players remaining in front of the goal will be in an offside position and cannot participate in the attack at all. The main threat comes from the rear, outside the penalty area or from the edge of the penalty area.

Alves commanded the defense to cause an offside, "Push it out at the kickoff! Press it out at the kickoff!"

"The game only started for five minutes, and the atmosphere on the field suddenly became heated. Manchester United turned the away game and took the initiative on the field..." the commentator said.

The referee blew the whistle and Nani kicked the football out, but instead of passing it to Bale who was right next to him, he passed it directly to the goal!

Zenit's players were preparing to commit offside, and their bodies shifted forward. Unexpectedly, Nani hit the football directly in front of the goal. No one could react in time. The only ones who really jumped up to defend were Lombart and Alves.

The effectiveness of the defense in such a hasty situation can be imagined. No one grabbed the ball, but Manchester United center back Smalling shook his head and hit the goal!

The football flew straight from the front to the back of the goal. Although Zevnov jumped up hard, he was out of reach and could only watch the football fly to the back end.

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