Star Card System

In the past, when Carragher was pessimistic about Manchester United, Alan Shearer often refuted him.

But today, he said nothing.

Because he agreed with Carragher's statements in his heart.

Indeed, after Xia Xing left the field, Manchester United's offense was completely useless.

Manchester United with Xia Xing and without Xia Xing are completely two teams.

The scenes are completely different, and the technical and tactical levels are completely different.

In almost all games this season, Xia Xing played the full 90 minutes.

No, it should be said that almost all games after joining Manchester United have played the full 90 minutes.

Only when the team leads by a large score or wins the championship in advance, Xia Xing will take a short break to give young players more opportunities and space.

Xia Xing will definitely not miss such a key game.

But now, he is injured.

Manchester United without Xia Xing is like one less player or even two less players on the field.

Although someone replaced him, it still feels too much worse.

This only shows Xia Xing's advantages in physical fitness and running.

Looking at defense, it is even worse.

Xia Xing's large-scale running and full-coverage defensive style in the backcourt are very rare in international football.

Even the excellent Kante is not as good as Xia Xing.

The running may be similar, but Kante's physical fitness and speed and explosiveness are not as good as Xia Xing.

That's why there is such a saying.

"Whether Kante is the strongest defensive midfielder at the moment depends on where Xia is on the field."

There is nothing wrong with this.

Xia Xing just left the field for ten minutes and the team lost two goals.

This is a clear example of what kind of defensive loss this is.

In terms of offense, Xia Xing's usefulness to Manchester United is even more qualitative.

Even some football experts once asserted: "Manchester United without Xia is just a second-rate team!"

This also makes sense.

Looking at Manchester United's poor offensive quality now, this statement is confirmed.

Now Manchester United's frontcourt does not even have a super attacker who can change the game and decide the victory.

This game showed a decline.

In the last stage of the first half, Manchester United defended and temporarily did not lose the ball.

With a score of 1-2 behind, the two sides entered the second half.

Valverde adjusted quickly. He directly replaced Coutinho, who played mediocrely in the first half, with French fast horse Dembele.

This put Manchester United under greater defensive pressure.

After joining Barcelona, ​​Dembele spent more time lying in bed than on the football field.

But it is undeniable that this guy's talent is absolutely top-notch.

First-class speed, top shooting skills, if he can really fulfill his talent, he is definitely worth more than 100 million.

But unfortunately, he has not been able to reach the good state of Dortmund.

Even so, occasionally coming on as a substitute can still bring a lot of offensive help to the team.

Facing Manchester United at this moment, he launched a fierce attack on the left.

The captain Valencia was under great pressure on the field.

In the first half, he faced Coutinho and never dared to relax his defense, especially paying attention to the opponent's shooting.

And now, facing the faster Dembele, he feels more pressure.

Especially the decline in physical fitness, it is really difficult for him to defend such a fast forward.

In the 55th minute of the game, ten minutes after Dembele came on as a substitute, he created a great opportunity.

He suddenly accelerated with the ball on the left side and directly shook off the defense of midfielder Fred!

In front of the French fast horse, Fred's speed is obviously inferior!

Valencia rushed up, Dembele's speed was already up, he cut inside lightly and accelerated!

Valencia was passed!

Rushed into the penalty area and kicked a low shot!

The ball hit the outside of the goal post and flew out of the sideline!

Only one step away!

Dembele kicked the grass hard and was very upset.

If he scored, he would be a hero!

And Manchester United fans were still in shock.

It was too dangerous.

If we lose the ball again, there will be no hope at all.

Now the fans have no hope for Pogba's leading attack line.

As long as the defense can hold up, we can still enter the semi-finals!

The defense is much more reliable than the front line!

Next, Barcelona's new trident continued to attack, De Gea made high and low blocks, and repeatedly made great saves.

Until the 78th minute of the game.

Manchester United made another substitution adjustment, Martial was replaced by Herrera.

Ashley Young was replaced by Luke Shaw.

These two adjustments were in the midfield and backcourt.

It can be seen that Solskjaer is ready to defend.

After all, they still have a goal difference advantage. As long as they can hold on for the last ten minutes, Manchester United still has a place in the top four of the Champions League.

But just after the substitution adjustment, Barcelona suddenly attacked!

Continuous multi-player passes in the frontcourt, the ball came into the penalty area!

Suarez headed the ball!

De Gea punched the ball out again!

In the midfield, Busquets inserted the ball forward, Pogba retreated to defend, and pulled Busquets down!

The referee blew the whistle!

Pogba fouled!

Barcelona free kick!

Pogba was very upset: "Where did I commit a foul? It was just a normal physical collision!"

But the referee did not want to change the decision and gave Pogba a yellow card.

If Valencia had not stopped Pogba, perhaps Manchester United would have played with one less player.

This position is not far from the goal, but not too close.

About 32 meters.

And the position is very good.

A little to the right of the middle.

Messi stands in front of the ball.

Looking at the direction of the goal, Messi narrowed his eyes.

Now there is not much time left before the end of the game.

This opportunity must be seized!

In the live broadcast room at this moment, Carragher suddenly said: "This scene is a bit familiar."

Alan Shearer immediately understood: "Are you talking about the World Cup game?"

"Yes! We are really the best partners!"

He was talking about the match between Portugal and Spain in the 2018 World Cup.

In that game, Ronaldo performed a hat trick, and he really tied the powerful opponent with his own strength.

And Ronaldo's final key goal in that game was a free kick.

It is very similar to this position and angle.

Now the same scene is placed on the Champions League stage, and De Gea is also in front of the goal.

It's just that the main penalty kicker has become Ronaldo's old opponent.

Messi took a deep breath and watched the Manchester United players line up the wall.

He is not in a hurry.

He stood there, wiped the ball, and kicked the grass.

Waiting for Manchester United's wall to fall into place.

Finally, he waited for the referee's whistle.

When the whistle sounded, Messi slowly retreated.

He did not run for too long, but accelerated quickly and shot!

The ball was shot towards the near corner!

Straight into the upper right corner of the goal!

"The ball went in!"

"3 to 1!"

"Barcelona has expanded its lead!

"And they have scored enough away goals!

"Even if Manchester United scores again later, they will have no advantage!

"Now the situation has completely returned to Barcelona's side!

"Manchester United's Champions League journey this season is about to end!" (End of this chapter)