Star Coach

After two consecutive wins in the Champions League and the league, the precarious Monaco battleship finally stabilized.

Jiangshan became the interim head coach of the season, and the captain's position was temporarily stable. He only made minor adjustments to the team and did not dare to make big moves. There was not even an assistant coach. All of Sacchi's coaching team left, and he asked the assistant coaching team of the youth team to come up to help and make a transition.

Jiangshan wanted to build a new Monaco, and he must achieve results this season. He set his sights on the winter transfer window, preparing to recruit assistant coaches and continue to strengthen the team.

It's a pity that Monaco was eliminated in the French Cup and the French League Cup in advance, otherwise the domestic cup competition would be a good breakthrough. There is no hope in the league, and the Champions League dare not hope for good results. It's difficult.

The first round of the second round of the Champions League group stage will be held on November 27, at home against Valencia. Jiangshan's old acquaintance, after facing Cooper, will face Valencia again. The wheel of fate brings all coincidences together and crushes them.

After Cooper terminated his contract, Valencia invited Benítez, who led Tenerife to La Liga, to coach. Benítez was not optimistic at first, but he unexpectedly overturned Real Madrid, Barcelona and Super Laco in the first season and won the La Liga championship in the 2001-02 season.

After Cooper left Valencia, the team's lineup was still there, with white-headed goalkeeper Cañizares, three old defenders Ayala, Pellegrino and Carboni still strong, "Little Worm" Aimar and Baraja introduced by Atletico Madrid became the team's new midfield core.

After taking office, Benítez made several good deals, buying Carlos Marchena from Benfica to gradually replace Pellegrino; Curro Torres returned on loan and gradually replaced Igloma's position.

Most importantly, Benítez poached the old player Mista from Tenerife, who showed great power in La Liga and can be called a first-class shooter.

Benítez won the league championship last season, conceding only 27 goals, and his defense was very solid. This number of goals conceded is more valuable than the 19 goals conceded by Jiangshan in Hoffenheim.

Compared with defense, Valencia's offensive power is relatively poor. It only scored 51 goals last season, the worst among the top five teams.

This season, Valencia's offensive ability is slightly stronger, but the defense has loosened up. It can't maintain a score of 1:0 in countless games like last season, so they are only ranked second in La Liga so far this season.

Jiangshan knows that the Champions League against Valencia will definitely be two very boring and very ugly games. Benítez is based on defense, and he is also based on defense now. It's a pity that the scene can be good.

Before facing his old club, Jiangshan led the team to the Mainau Stadium to challenge Strasbourg, which ranked 16th, a real relegation team. So far this season, it has only scored 21 goals, and its offensive ability is particularly weak.

Prince Albert was very excited and thought it would be a big win. The French media was also excited about Monaco's resurgence and also cast all their eyes on Monaco. A big win was inevitable.

Monaco is already the only French team in the Champions League and must be praised.

The fact is not so. Jiangshan's team hit everyone's eyes.

The game was so ugly that it was simply unbearable.

Monaco has a strong lineup and could have swept the French League. Most of the time in the game, they huddled in the middle and backcourt, defending and counterattacking. What the hell?

Facing Strasbourg, which is weak in offense, you defend and counterattack? Can you have a lower limit? Neither side scored in the first half. Giuly and Rothen were obviously playing with restraint.

They seemed to be shocked by Ribery's end. Ribery was busy dribbling and collided with the opponent. Not only did he break his skin and bleed, but he also had a slight concussion and stayed in the hospital for a day.

In this game, I couldn't even sit on the bench. Young man, I gave you a chance, but you got injured because you exerted too much force. You can't blame anyone for not seizing the opportunity.

In the first ten minutes of the second half, Monaco was still tepid, enjoying the pleasure brought by defense, taking steals and interceptions as fun, and constantly tossing the rhythm of the game.

In the last half hour, Monaco finally exerted its strength, and the rhythm of the game was several times faster. Nonda received a pass from Giuly and scored a wonderful lob, and then Pussor, who came on as a substitute, also scored a header.

After scoring 2:0, Monaco once again restored its tortoise nature, returned to the half court, slowly waited for the opponent to attack, and then they happily intercepted and defended.

The whole game, cutting off the beginning and the end, only needed 5 minutes for two goals, and even no editing was needed, and it could be directly regarded as a wonderful replay.

The fans wanted to curse, but they couldn't. The team won the game and won 2 goals, which was much better than the beginning of the season.

The players' mental state and cooperation have obviously improved. This is the correct way for Monaco to open up. However, the process of the game was ugly, very ugly.

"Strasbourg is very strong. We have been looking for opportunities. We only got the opportunity with the inspiration of the stars. Otherwise, the result of this game is hard to say." Jiang Shan said shamelessly in the face of the reporter's interview.

"As for the Champions League, we don't have too many ideas. Look at our group. Arsenal, Valencia and Roma are all very strong teams. We don't have any advantages. As of now, Monaco is only 13th in the league."

Jiang Shan shrugged and showed weakness.

After the 16th round of the league, there will be a 4-day break. It is the first game of the second round of the Champions League group stage. Monaco will play against Valencia at home.

The theme is meeting an acquaintance, Jiang Shan's old club.

Benitez doesn't seem to be very friendly to Jiangshan. In the pre-match interview, he expressed his confidence in winning and felt that Jiangshan was lucky.

"We are the La Liga champions. Yes, La Liga is the best league. Our strength is far above Monaco. There is nothing to say about this. Of course, you said that Valencia will win, which is not correct. The ball is round and the outcome is difficult to predict. I can only say that our chance of winning is more than 70%, that's all."

"I feel that Jiangshan is very lucky. He was a scout for Valencia a few years ago, and now he is the head coach of Monaco. I don't know what he did. Maybe, leading a fourth-level team in Germany to the German second division is an amazing achievement."

Benitez smiled, "I also led a team in the Spanish second division to La Liga, so I can't feel that Jiangshan's work is great, I'm sorry."

"I heard that Jiangshan is considered to be a proponent of data analysis, but this is actually not correct. When I was an assistant at Real Madrid, I attached great importance to data analysis. Later, I went to study all over the world and collected a lot of data. In terms of data analysis, I think I have more say and more authority."

Oh! It turned out to be a competition for the title of data analysis master. Jiangshan never thought that this thing was just a tool. What does it matter who comes first and who comes later? Serving the team and winning are the important things.

Obviously, Benítez didn't think so. The praise that should have belonged to him was inexplicably won by Jiangshan. Benítez was ready to teach Jiangshan a lesson on the court.