Midfielder

The Porto team, which used two Portuguese Super League matches to adjust the players' competitive state, has been fully prepared. In the four days before the battle, Mourinho did not increase the training volume for the players, but instead insisted on two hours of ball training every day.

For the current Porto team, they only need to wait calmly for the game to start, and the 90 minutes are the key moment to determine the outcome.

In the next four days, Mourinho is more guessing Ferguson's starting lineup, which is a kind of wisdom struggle between coaches.

Whoever can make the most reasonable lineup arrangement in the game may take the initiative in the game. In front of a team of Manchester United's level, Mourinho does not want to let the cunning old man of Manchester United lead the Porto team by the nose in his home court.

He needs to take the initiative. The Dragon Stadium is the territory of the Porto team. Mourinho does not want the host to happen to the Porto team.

Porto's preparations are tense and orderly, and the relaxed league competition environment gives them too much time and freedom to adjust themselves.

In contrast, Manchester United is not so relaxed. Before they rush to Porto to play in the Champions League knockout match, they still need to fight their competitors in the Premier League until the last minute, especially the opponent in this game is Manchester United's city rival.

Playing a "Manchester Derby" before the big battle is a terrible schedule. The group of mortal enemies in the same city as Manchester United seem to have made up their minds not to let Manchester United have any breathing space, so they decided to fight for 90 minutes without any scruples.

And this group of Manchester City guys did it. Anyway, this kind of city confrontation is like this. No matter how strong or weak, morale must not be lost.

Even if Manchester United is now a few streets ahead of Manchester City in the standings, they will feel a headache whenever they meet these opponents.

Even in the stands of Old Trafford, the fans of the "Red Devils" do not have an advantage. Those diehard fans of Manchester City are probably looking forward to these two games the most this season. They can shout loudly on the sidelines as they please, just to create some trouble for Manchester United.

Ferguson would rather face Arsenal than Manchester City at this time, because those guys are not playing football at all, but more like kicking people.

Manchester City is not afraid of any physical contact, they will even deliberately look for such opportunities for confrontation, "Manchester Derby" is always like this.

There is no gentlemanly demeanor here, only gnashing hatred, you will not get boos from the fans when you knock down your opponent, you will even hear cheers.

The barefoot are not afraid of the shoes, Manchester City, a team that is wandering in the league, will cause trouble to others as long as relegation is not a problem.

Especially when they meet such a rival in the same city, they will fight with the opponent more unscrupulously, but few people will care about the result.

The opponent's crazy attack made Manchester United very difficult to play, although the middle and lower teams like Manchester City could not pose any threat to them.

But facing such a group of lunatics who are determined to fight you, the process of the game will always become very difficult. Even Manchester United can't control the rhythm of the game. This damn game was deadlocked until the 35th minute of the second half when the experienced Giggs broke the deadlock.

Giggs kicked a curved ball from the edge of the penalty area, perfectly bypassing the fingertips of Manchester City goalkeeper David Seaman and scoring. Giggs triggered the cheers of Manchester United fans. At this moment, Old Trafford finally lost the noise of Manchester City fans.

Manchester United finally took the initiative on the field before the end of the game, but the game did not end there. The fierce Manchester City team used the English-style long pass to charge and launched a crazy charge in the last ten minutes. The back line of the "Red Devils" was almost smashed by these lunatics.

If it weren't for Ferguson's roar on the sidelines and Keane's fierce interception in the midfield, it is estimated that Brown and his team's air defense system would have been destroyed by Manchester City long ago.

Even so, Manchester City had a header that hit the crossbar hard, and Howard didn't even make the least save move.

At this time, Brown, who was responsible for the central defense, was completely suppressed by the Frenchman Anelka. This defense almost made Ferguson jump up in anger.

The impact of Fowler and Anelka, who came on as substitutes in the last moments of the game, simply made Manchester United's defenders embarrassed and exhausted.

If it weren't for the fact that there was too little time left in the game, no one dared to predict what the result of the game would be. Manchester City had a total of seven shots in the last moments.

After Manchester United scored, only one attack extended to the opponent's penalty area. The rest of the time, they were just desperately defending the goal.

The tough Roy Keane, at least at the front of the penalty area, used his body as a human shield to block Manchester City's two long-range shots outside the penalty area.

No wonder this guy blushed and yelled at other teammates desperately after blocking the shot, asking everyone to cheer up!

Manchester City's final frenzy ultimately failed to produce a miracle. When Anelka's shot was pressed down by Howard, the game was over.

Although Manchester United defeated their city rival with a score of 1:0, they also encountered the most fierce sniping. Two Manchester City players were sent off with red cards and seven others were given yellow cards. Anyway, Manchester City did not intend to play this as a game at all.

In a sense, the Manchester derby is a war filled with smoke. This kind of confrontation is absolutely life-and-death.

Although Manchester City lost the game, they also caused a lot of trouble for Manchester United, especially in the 90 minutes, they almost used fierce body collisions to fight with opponents throughout the game. When the game was over, the calves of the two Neville brothers were swollen.

"This was a game full of barbarity, but we finally won. This is the hatred between teams in the same city. Our games with Manchester City are always so fierce, but even if we meet Manchester City again next time, we will still win!"

Ferguson still said these words in a tough attitude when dealing with media interviews after the game, although the expression on his face was absolutely gloomy at the moment. Although Manchester United got the three points they wanted this time, the fierceness of the opponent also caused them a considerable injury crisis.

Although the team doctor said that the leg injuries of the Neville brothers would not affect their appearance in the Champions League, the old Sir Alex Ferguson understood that this was just a very helpless solution. If there were suitable substitutes, he would never want the players to take risks on the field.

What awaits Manchester United in Porto is definitely a tough battle. If these main players in the back line make any mistakes again.

For the current Manchester United team, it may not be as simple as a disaster. If there is no breakthrough in the Champions League, Manchester United may face the embarrassing situation of being empty-handed this season, which is a pressure that even Ferguson cannot bear alone.

Perhaps it is because of Sir Alex Ferguson's concerns that Manchester United did not go to the away game on the first day of the game, but did not stay and adjust too much in Manchester after the derby in the same city. The first time they flew to Porto three days in advance.

This may be the first time that Manchester United has arrived at an away game so early for adaptive training. Ferguson, a cunning old man, is a little worried about the game at the Dragon Stadium, so he would rather be safe than fight an unprepared war.

Even when facing the interview request from the Portuguese media, this stubborn old man also put on his habitual cold face. Whether it was pre-match training or routine interviews, he refused to accept them all, and did not give the Portuguese media any chance to understand the current situation of Manchester United.

"It seems that our opponent has a lot of troubles. In comparison, we seem to be very relaxed." Ferguson's small details in emotional changes have also become something Mourinho is interested in. He knows that the more irritable the opponent's mood is, the more beneficial it is for Porto.

Especially now that Mourinho has a list of injuries about Manchester United, it is basically full of personnel shortages in various positions of Manchester United, and the focus is on the back line. It is estimated that the old Scottish man is now irritated by this matter.

"I may not be able to fully guess how the opponent's offensive line will be arranged now, but I can almost figure out who will play in Manchester United's inherent four-back formation. It seems that frequent injuries are always the best way to destroy the opponent, right, Brito."

The detailed pre-war intelligence has saved Mourinho from having to think hard about the opponent's starting defenders, because Manchester United now has only six defenders who can play in the game, and two of them are slightly injured. Even if Ferguson wants to change his tactics, it is basically impossible.

"The Neville brothers will basically not be absent. Even if they are injured, they will definitely play. The only possible change is that O'Shea will replace one of them and play as the right back, but compared with the former's experience, I don't think Ferguson will take the risk at this time."

As Mourinho said this, he asked Brito to mark the players whose names he read on the blackboard in the office. He now completely regarded himself as the old man of Manchester United, and now he was simulating the list of players who might play for Manchester United.

"Brown, the central defender, has no substitute. He is the only candidate. Even if Ferguson wants to change him, it is impossible. At the left back position, I think Fortune, who has been the main player recently, should start as usual. Tell Alenichev to attack this side with all his might."

"Only by tearing a gap from both sides can our midfield be freer. Compared with Manchester United's midfield, we should deal with their defenders more."

"Their goalkeeper will still be Howard. Although this guy made a big mistake in the Premier League last week, Manchester United has no one who is more suitable for this position than him. However, his ability to receive high balls when attacking is not good. Maybe we can use this."

When Brito arranged all the guys that Mourinho read on the blackboard, the starting defense line that Manchester United might have to arrange was already clear at a glance. This may be the most helpless thing for Ferguson now. He has no tactical secrets for the arrangement of the defense line.

"This is a gift from God to Porto. Now we have to face a Manchester United team with an extremely fragile defense. It depends on whether these sharp knives in our hands can successfully pierce them. I believe that Deco and Lin Yi will definitely find a good way to deal with them."

Mourinho spent such a long time thinking about Manchester United just to find possible loopholes in his opponents. Now the ruthless injuries have put Manchester United's loopholes in front of his eyes. If he can't make good use of them, it would be a waste. For the evil done by those teams in Manchester City.

If he cannot use a crazy offensive group to tear open this kind of defense, then Mourinho himself will feel that he will be sorry for God's arrangement. This is his chance to win, and he will not miss it, no matter what method he uses to defeat that cunning Sir Alex, all Mourinho wants is victory.

Mourinho's only worry now may be Manchester United's superior frontcourt attacking group. Ruud van Nistelrooy, Saha, Giggs, and Scholes will all be part of Porto's defense. Threat, no matter which one you pick from here, is a natural killer.

Regardless of the fact that the "king of the small penalty area" Ruud van Nistelrooy has not been able to break the goal drought in recent games, once an offensive player of this level finds the feeling of scoring goals, he will be unstoppable. Who knows? Will he go crazy once against Porto?

But what Mourinho is most worried about now is probably the two guys Giggs and Scholes. The Welsh Flying Knife and Ginger Head are in a hot state recently. People like this who are becoming more and more evil are the hidden ones. The most dangerous kind of killer in the dark, you never know when he will take action.

When Ruud van Nistelrooy and Saha frequently attract the attention of Porto defenders in the frontcourt, this kind of terminator from the back row may be a very big trouble, Mourinho reminded Brito , I must let Carvalho and Costa watch more Manchester United game videos recently.

The only thing Mourinho has to be thankful for is that the baby-faced man who created the miraculous reversal of the Champions League in 1999 will no longer appear on the court on behalf of Manchester United. Otherwise, Porto's back line will obviously have a crisis of insufficient manpower. , this is really good news.

If the opponent's offensive knife cannot be completely strangled in the middle of the penalty area, even if Porto can tear apart Manchester United's defense, it will be in vain.

Moreover, Mourinho is also a little unsure whether the old man Ferguson will play 4-3-3 or 4-4-2. After all, the old man has too much experience in such on-the-spot changes. The offensive players are enough for him to make a variety of combinations, no matter which one, he is very sharp.

Mourinho will not forget that there is a young Portuguese genius among the opposing players. Mourinho, who has watched Ronaldo play, can feel the energy contained in this little guy, as long as he is given enough space. , Valente and Ferreira's defense will be severely tested.

In particular, the competitive relationship between Lin Yi and Ronaldo may make this kid a dangerous person who may break out at any time. This may be a key point for Manchester United to adjust the lineup on the field. Mourinho does not want to It was a mistake to stumble on such a young boy.

As for Manchester United's defensive midfielder, he must still be the tough Irishman. Keane's interception ability in the midfield is probably the only barrier to Manchester United's fragile defense. As for who he will match with, it depends Will the old man Ferguson take risks on the road?

"Now it depends on whether Deco and Lin Yi can open a gap in the Irishman. If we can successfully control the midfield, we will win against Manchester United at the Dragon Stadium. Only those who can control the midfield can control the situation."

Although it is still unclear whether Manchester United will have three forwards or two forwards, Mourinho is ready to use all the assets of the Porto team to fight against the opponent. When encountering an opponent of this level, there is no chance at all. If there is any need to hide anything, the only way is to fight to the end.

We are weak in the eyes of others, so fighting head-on is Mourinho's only option, and Porto will definitely come up with the strongest lineup.

But Mourinho was not ready to take risks, so he made a request to everyone before the game, "Any result that does not require us to go to England to win is good, so it is good to win a goal, But a draw between O and O is okay, the only thing I don’t want is to lose.”

Relax and do your best to relax. This is the only thing Mourinho kept telling his players in the last three days.

When the night of February 26 came, Mourinho was no longer prepared to say anything in the locker room before the game. He just stood in front of everyone.

"Just outside this room, there is a group of guys who have created great miracles, but tonight, they will be trampled under our feet!"

"Let the Dragon Stadium be filled with the roar of the Porto people. Even the terrifying Red Devil can't take away victory from our hands!!!"

Mourinho responded to the roars of the dozen guys in the Porto team. Maybe dozens of minutes later, they could get the tens of thousands of people present to make this sound with them, using the voice of a dragon to drive away the "Red Devils" The shadow, this night is destined to belong to the people of Porto!

Baia, Ferreira, Carvalho, Jorge Costa, Valente, Alenichev, Maniche, Costinha, Lin Yi, Deco, McCarthy, when these guys stand in front of the players When they were in the tunnel, they didn't see the England superstars around them, only the lawn.

That is their stage and their battlefield. On this night, Porto will compete with Manchester United for dominance of this stadium! ! !

When Lin Yi saw a fierce man of about the same height as himself walking by, a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.

The uncle said that this was his opponent tonight, a strong and brave Irishman.

The competition between Porto and Manchester United in the midfield may be a war between him and this guy. . .

(Uh... Reversal, when the National Olympic Team won the game, I was a little uncomfortable. What should I do... This is a disease, I need to be treated...)