Super Marshal

Madrid, Spain, Valdebebas training base.

In the tactical conference room on the second floor, the core coaching staff of the first team was watching attentively the video of the two rounds of the Manchester derby in the Champions League quarter-finals that the scouting team had just sent over.

Everyone has forgotten that this is the first time they have watched these two videos. The only thing they remember is the process of the game. Many of them may even remember at what minute the referee will blow the whistle and take out the cards. Everyone is familiar with it, including the team's head coach Mourinho.

The outside media and fans generally have misconceptions about the Portuguese head coach, thinking that he is unruly and arrogant, so they gave him the nickname "Madman", but in fact, everyone who has worked with him knows that he is a very A diligent and thoughtful person.

He even has a very clear understanding of himself and his opponents.

It's as if he knows very well that with Real Madrid's current lineup, it's difficult to go head-to-head with Barcelona and Manchester City. That would be purely courting death, so his strategy when encountering these two teams is to defend tightly.

Spending a lot of money to introduce Felipe Melo and Moutinho during the winter break was also for this purpose.

Now comes the real test.

Real Madrid broke the embarrassment of the Champions League that has plagued the team for many years, led the team to the Champions League quarter-finals, and defeated Shakhtar Donetsk from Ukraine in two rounds in the quarter-finals, leaving the Galaxy Battleship after an absence of many years. After that, they advanced to the Champions League semi-finals for the first time.

Not only that, in the Copa del Rey, Mourinho also led the team to a breakthrough and reached the final.

In the next half month, Real Madrid will face off against Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final and a two-leg match against Manchester City in the Champions League semi-finals. This is Real Madrid's most important priority right now, and it is also Mourinho's. Auburn's biggest test of the season.

Because, in the first half of the season, Mourinho was humiliated by Manchester City and Barcelona in the Champions League group stage and the Derby of the Century, and suffered an unprecedented humiliating defeat, which even shook Mourinho's position as coach. .

Although the management later repeatedly reiterated its trust in Mourinho, in fact he still had to face a very embarrassing situation, that is, he had to give decent results after the season.

Especially when encountering Barcelona and Manchester City again.

Because of this, after learning that Manchester City slaughtered Manchester United 7-0 at Old Trafford in an away game, everyone in Real Madrid was shocked, and everyone felt the threat from the high cold.

Compared with Manchester City, facing Barcelona seems more confident.

"Whether it's the Copa del Rey final or the Champions League semi-finals, in fact, we don't have a choice at all."

After watching the game video again, Mourinho said with a helpless tone and a wry smile.

Strength speaks for itself on the football field, and Real Madrid's current lineup is not at the level to compete with Manchester City and Barcelona, ​​not to mention that Manchester City still has Gao Han who has been undefeated for many years.

"However, the problems Barcelona has encountered over the years have not been well resolved."

Mourinho left his seat, stood up, and paced among his colleagues.

"In order to ensure the team's control and the tacit understanding of passing and receiving, Guardiola gave priority to the direct descendants of Barcelona's youth training in the lineup. The advantage of this is that the players cooperate with each other, are very skilled in passing and receiving, and have the ability to control the ball. It’s superior, but its drawbacks are also obvious.”

"That is the lack of assault ability in the midfield and frontcourt. In the face of the opponent's tight defensive formation, they lack effective means of breaking the game, especially on the two wings, Pedro and Messi both cut inside, so more Can rely on Alves on the right."

"When defending a team like Barcelona, ​​we often just need to give up possession, defend well, keep the three lines compact, focus on pinching Ibrahimovic and Messi, and watch out for Alves. If you attack from behind, you can basically block most of Barcelona's attacks."

Mourinho talks a lot, but these are not secrets, but basically a general consensus.

Knowing how to defend Barcelona and being able to defend Barcelona are obviously two different things.

At the very least, for many teams, it is already an impossible task to freeze the two superstars Messi and Ibrahimovic.

But Real Madrid has such strength.

Mourinho is one of the best defensive coaches in Europe. Under his guidance, the defense of Arbeloa, Albiol, Bruno Alves and Kolarov has become the best defense in La Liga. The most solid defensive line, especially after the introduction of Felipe Melo and Moutinho.

The switch to three midfielders has allowed Real Madrid to qualitatively improve its defensive capabilities when facing strong teams.

"But the high-cold Manchester City is completely different from Barcelona. The Blue Moon is more terrifying and more difficult to deal with." Mourinho said worriedly.

"Looking at the whole of Europe, only Gao Han has such power and prestige, allowing the team to give him a transfer budget of hundreds of millions of euros to introduce such a group of outstanding stars with complementary characteristics."

Everyone nodded after hearing this, and this was recognized by everyone.

Although Manchester City has a lot of money, it is simply unimaginable to spend hundreds of millions of euros on signings all at once, and to hand it over to one person. Their investors are not fools, how could they be so hasty?

But only Gao Han has such influence and can make investors trust and reassure him so much.

At the very least, his ironclad results over the past decade or so are his most powerful proof.

"Similar to Barcelona, ​​David Silva, Modric and Xabi Alonso, as well as Xavi Martinez in the defense, are all guarantees of Manchester City's control, so their control on the court is The passing ability is very good.”

"But in the frontcourt, Benzema is a very good center with great tactical execution. Cristiano Ronaldo cuts inside to attack on the left, and Sanchez breaks through more on the right, plus a After inserting Kaká, who has superior offensive ability, Manchester City has made up for Barcelona's shortcomings while having Barcelona's advantage."

"When many people talk about Manchester City, they tend to focus on the superstars, but in fact, we forget that Sanchez was brought in with Gao Han's key decision. In the past two years at Manchester City, how many times have When facing the opponent's tight defense, is it the Chilean winger who tears apart the defense from the right and creates a threat?"

"In Manchester City's midfield and frontcourt offensive system, everyone is crucial and indispensable. This is the most perfect and most unsolvable offensive combination in European football in the past two years."

The entire coaching staff was surprised to hear this. They did not expect Mourinho to speak so highly of the cold Manchester City.

You know, he made fun of Gao Han a lot outside.

Perhaps, as many people say, it is just a mask used by madmen in front of the media and fans.

"Look at the two Manchester derbies in the semi-finals. Ferguson is a master tactician and has made sufficient preparations in targeted tactics. However, he still failed to defend the second half in the first round, and even without Evans in the second round Even if they get a red card, it will still be a complete defeat for them.”

When he said this, Mourinho sighed heavily, "Facing Manchester City like this, no one will be able to do anything."

The coaching staff of Real Madrid all looked at each other in shock. They did not expect that Mourinho, who is usually arrogant and always looks like he has a winning chance, would say this now.

Is he planning to give up these two games?

Only assistant coach Faria, who is familiar with and understands Mourinho, knows that giving up has never been an option for Mourinho and never will be.

Sure enough, after Mourinho finished complaining, he turned around, put his hands on the desk, and looked directly at the assistants in front of him with an extremely serious expression.

"Everyone, the next half month will not only be a test for me and everyone, but also a rare experience. Perhaps many people will never have such an experience again in their lifetime."

Mourinho speaks very quickly, but he enunciates every word very clearly.

"We are going to face two of the most unsolvable teams in Europe and even world football. Facing them, we can't even think of any other way to resist except defense."

"I'm not trying to embolden our opponents or destroy our prestige, but I want to tell you a very cruel fact. Facing Barcelona and Manchester City, we can only defend, and it may even be extremely difficult for us to defend, especially Manchester City. Therefore, we Everyone must be fully mentally prepared.”

Everyone is also clearly aware of the difficulty of these three games.

Whether it is Barcelona or Manchester City, their overall strength is higher than that of Real Madrid. Coupled with the bonus of technical tactics and head coach, they have no other choice at all.

Perhaps this is hard to accept, but it is true.

A fact that even an arrogant Mourinho has to accept!

"My request to everyone in the next period of time is very simple. We must gather all resources and energy, devote ourselves to the preparations for these three games, and play each game as a Champions League final. Only in this way can we have a chance of survival."

"At the same time, I also need everyone here, as well as everyone on the team and every player, to fully and unconditionally implement my arrangements and complete the tasks I have assigned."

Everyone present also felt Mourinho's determination.

In fact, so far this season, the Portuguese is already able to compete, but he has obviously placed higher demands on himself because he wants to prove his ability as Europe's top coach.

Therefore, facing Manchester City and Barcelona, ​​facing Gao Han and Guardiola, he is still unwilling to give up, and he is still eager to win every game.

This has nothing to do with the outcome of the game or the honor and disgrace of the championship, it is purely about his dignity as a professional head coach!

Being able to join Mourinho's core coaching staff and serve in Real Madrid's first team, everyone can understand Mourinho's mood and understand his intentions, because they are the same.

They all want to win games to prove they are worthy of the job they have.

What's more, as a professional coach, being able to compete with top coaches like Gao Han and Mourinho, as long as you give your best, even if you really lose to them in the end, it will definitely be a huge benefit. .

Especially the cold weather.

Therefore, Mourinho's call quickly received support and recognition from all colleagues present.

The Portuguese also completely lost their helplessness and became energetic again.

He has made up his mind to fight Gao Han and Guardiola to the death.

Even if you lose, you must let your opponent peel off his skin.

"First fight Barcelona, ​​then Manchester City!" Mourinho roared loudly.