The Godfather of Football

October 17, 2001, Stade Gerland, Lyon, France, visiting team locker room.

Santini's Lyon used facts to prove that not all teams are afraid of Ajax's attack. After understanding Ajax's tactics at the Arena Stadium, he returned to France and Santini's ball The team used an unbreakable defense to ensure their start.

Don't you like attacking? I let you attack, let you attack!

In the 35th minute, Govu scored after a counterattack, allowing Ajax to end the first half with a 0:1 deficit.

This is indeed a very bad situation, because this is a goal caused by Lucio's mistake, and Ye Qiu has reminded the Brazilian central defender more than once to be careful with Gowu, but he did not expect that Lyon finally succeeded in sneak attack .

The locker room was quiet, no one spoke, and many people had their heads lowered.

In Ye Qiu's team, unity and discipline are the first commandments. Therefore, at this time, no one dares to add insult to injury, and no one dares to complain to each other, because the consequences of doing so will definitely be a very miserable death. .

When Ye Qiu walked into the locker room, he was obviously angry. He even kicked the door of the locker room open with his foot. This was rare for him, because everyone usually felt that he was not like He is a head coach who likes to lose his temper.

"What I saw was a conceding goal that has been repeated countless times. Can any of you tell me why this happened?" Only Ye Qiu's angry voice floated in the locker room, and everyone else was left alone. Take a breath.

Indeed, Lucio's mistakes have indeed happened many times. They happened last season and this season. This is nothing new. But what Ye Qiu said was obviously not only Lucio's mistakes, but also The team's control of the tempo.

"I have always said that no matter whether it is fast or slow, it cannot be too much. Once we find that the fast break is not effective, we have to slow down the rhythm, but this does not mean that we have to completely let our opponents stretch the rhythm to the maximum. Wait, doesn’t this mean that the initiative we have finally won is directly handed over to our opponents?”

At the beginning of the game, the tempo was picked up very quickly by Ajax's fast break. Lyon was forced to defend, but after being unable to attack for a long time, Ajax slowed down the tempo. Santini immediately seized the opportunity and pulled up the tempo. It was very slow, which caused Ajax to play at an awkward rhythm for the next half hour, unable to get up fast.

But when Lyon found Ajax's loophole and they launched a counterattack, they were very fast.

This kind of trick was originally used by Ajax on others, but now that it was used on him by others, Ye Qiu couldn't help but feel depressed, because these are things that he emphasized a lot and attached great importance to in daily life. .

What Ye Qiu wants is that whether it is fast or slow, the rhythm must be firmly controlled in his own hands.

Ajax has done this very well in the Eredivisie. After all, the strength of the Eredivisie teams cannot be compared with the Champions League teams. But in the Champions League, they still play the Champions League in the same way as Eredivisie teams. Your opponent will suffer a big loss.

"There are two reasons why we conceded a goal in the first half!" Ye Qiu said on his fingers, "First, when we slowed down the pace after the fast break, we were obviously careless and lost control of the rhythm. We didn't Adapted to playing at a slow pace, so Ajax who can’t get up to speed is like a toothless tiger, ready to be slaughtered!”

After listening to Ye Qiu's analysis, the players all lowered their heads, because rhythm control is not a matter of one person, but a problem of the entire team, or most of them. Ye Qiu is also criticizing all of them.

"Second, Lucio, I must say that your performance in the first half today proved that you are an excellent coordinator on Lyon's forward line. You used your clever running positions to help Govou very well. Santini must be very grateful to you for pulling out the gap, because without you, they wouldn't even be able to hit our goal!"

After being criticized by Ye Qiu, Lucio raised his head. The Brazilian central defender with a stern face looked very aggrieved, but he did not dare and could not retort, because it was indeed his mistake that caused the team's defense to appear. question.

"Don't think that Lucio is the only one who made mistakes. There is also you, Douglas, did you play today? I can't see you, where have you been?" Ye Qiu asked Maicon with a crackle.

Between Lucio and Maicon, Ye Qiu would always only let one person go forward, and the other person would be responsible for assisting defense and support, plus Gilberto Silva, who didn't like to go forward, was in the defensive midfielder position. , Ajax's defense is not that weak, but the problem is that when Lucio pushed forward, Maicon did not cover the position.

No one dared to refute or talk back to Ye Qiu's accusation. Firstly, it was because Ye Qiu's prestige was high enough. Even though he was young, every player here was brought to Ajax by him. Having been single-handedly promoted and cultivated, he has enough aura to control this group of people.

Moreover, Ye Qiu was not out of touch. What he said happened in the first half. Who can refute it?

After training the players, Ye Qiu was silent for a while, sighed, and glanced at the players in the locker room, "So, now, you answer me another question, do you still want to win this game? "

After hearing this, the players all raised their heads.

"Think!" Lucio was the first to stand up, with a determined look on his face.

This is the characteristic of the Brazilian central defender, who always maintains a high fighting spirit.

"Of course we still want to win!"

"That's right, boss, we want to win!"

The players expressed their opinions one after another, and Maicon also stood up and vowed that he would work harder in the second half.

The recent state of the Brazilian right back is indeed not ideal. Ye Qiu discovered it when he played against Leverkusen. Now when playing against Lyon, his performance is also average, but Ye Qiu will not replace him now.

Sometimes substitutions are not made out of impulse, but rather to consider the players' emotions.

Maicon was not in good condition. If necessary, Ye Qiu would not hesitate to take him down. But if he could change or not change, he would choose to keep Maicon because at least he had to give others some confidence. And dignity, isn't it?

"Very good, at least you still want to win!" Ye Qiu nodded.

Walking to the front of the tactical board, Ye Qiu quickly drew Lyon's tactics and Ajax's corresponding tactics on the tactical board. The formations of the two teams could be described as head-to-head.

"If we want to win this game, every one of us must work hard in the second half to make up for the missed opportunities in the first half, especially in terms of physical fitness. I want you not to be afraid of wasting physical energy from the beginning and start a scramble for me. Attack, I want to control the rhythm from the beginning!”

The players all nodded unanimously after hearing this, which was regarded as agreement.

"Lucio, don't you like to move forward?" Ye Qiu looked at Lucio.

The Brazilian central defender was shocked and shook his head vigorously, "Don't push forward anymore, stop pushing forward, head, I won't even push forward anymore!"

Seeing this brazen and fearless Brazilian admit defeat, a burst of laughter suddenly erupted in the locker room, which greatly diluted the anxiety and impatience caused by falling behind.

Ye Qiu couldn't help but smile, but soon turned serious, "I'm serious to you!"

When he emphasized like this, Lucio immediately knew that he was serious, so he stopped talking and listened carefully.

"Remember Ballack of Leverkusen? That kid just likes to run rampant. I'm thinking, let you do the same. When we successfully gain control of the rhythm and push the defense to the center circle, The distance to the opponent's penalty area is only 50 meters. With your speed and impact, that's enough!"

"Tou, what do you mean...I don't quite understand!" Lucio scratched his head and asked distressedly.

Ye Qiu smiled, "In the second half, we went more wide, tearing apart the opponent's defense from the wings, giving Robben and Van der Meyde more one-on-one opportunities, and then passing the ball down. We have Ibrahimovic. Odd, with Keita, if Lucio rushes into the penalty area from behind at this time..."

Just imagining it, Ye Qiu could imagine that it could definitely be compared to a tank rushing into a busy city!

After watching Ballack, he really reflected on himself and felt that his use of Lucio was still too conservative and not bold enough.

Seeing that Lucio understood a little bit, Ye Qiu said again: "I'm asking you to thrust forward, but I'm not asking you to thrust forward blindly. You have to show me how to look carefully, or just stay behind obediently. Either you have to create a threat for me as soon as you go up. If the ball is in the middle, you have to wait for me with your tail between your legs!"

Lucio nodded after hearing this, "I promise, head!"

Ye Qiu looked at Maicon, "After Lucio goes forward, Douglas, you are responsible for assisting him in defense, do you understand?"

Maicon is not in good condition. Instead of letting him go up too, it is better to stay in the backcourt.

After getting Maicon's agreement, Ye Qiu pushed away the tactical board beside him, "Guys, I want each of you to remember that after the start of the second half, don't think too much, just charge me and press forward. , firmly suppress Lyon, because I want a victory!”

"This game is about whether we can qualify from the group, and it is also about each of us, so there is no room for failure. I want you to work hard for me in the second half. Even if this is the Gerland Stadium, you have to give I kicked Lyon far away and returned to Amsterdam with a victory!”

While speaking, Ye Qiu casually kicked his right foot, and immediately kicked the tactical board that he had pushed aside beside him.

This sudden move, coupled with his words and expressions, immediately made every player in the locker room excited, adrenaline surged out, and each of them seemed to have turned into a barbarian who was not afraid of death and did not know pain. .

…………

…………

Ligue 1 teams quickly became aware of Ajax's changes.

In the first half, Ajax played weakly, a bit like a lion locked in a cage, struggling with no strength, but in the second half, Ajax seemed like a lion desperately searching in the jungle from the beginning. The eyes of a preying lion are filled with a desire that is enough to devour anything.

It is not difficult for Ajax to attack at the beginning. They are already a little familiar with it. In addition, Santini's team obviously tasted the sweetness from the defensive counterattack in the first half. They want to rely on it in the second half. The gourd draws the scoop, and continues to adopt anti-counterattack tactics to see if there is a chance to score again.

What I didn't expect was that Ajax would attack so resolutely.

After the start, Lyon could barely hold on, but as Ajax gradually strengthened its offensive efforts, Lyon's defense began to show flaws.

Lucio seems to be a rough guy, but in fact he also has a delicate side, but his delicate side is not often shown. If Ye Qiu hadn't forced him, it would have been difficult to see this delicate side of him on the court. .

After a direct attack on the Lyon team's penalty area failed in the second half, Ye Qiu discovered a problem in the opponent's central defender combination. Brazilian central defender Edmilson has good ability to defend high balls and always rushes to the first point, but his defense is soft and lacks one-on-one confrontation ability.

Another central defender Patrick Muller is from Switzerland. He used to be an offensive player in the midfield, but later became a central defender. In the two defensive combinations of Lyon, Patrick Muller is more backward. Santini obviously likes his steady style. He is also the core of Lyon's defense now.

But Patrick Muller and goalkeeper Kupet are only 1.82 meters tall, but Lucio is 1.88 meters tall, 6 centimeters shorter. If the latter quickly rushes into the penalty area from the backcourt and then jumps up, the difference in jumping will be more obvious.

Therefore, Ye Qiu immediately made adjustments, letting Ibrahimovic deal with Edmilson and letting Lucio go in from behind to attack Patrick Muller. The Swede also had to pay attention to pulling Edmilson away and pulling the two central defenders of Lyon away, so that Lucio could deal with Patrick Muller.

Lucio almost immediately understood Ye Qiu's intention. This kid is usually rough, but once he is careful, patient, and has a solid defense, he also observes the situation very well.

When he saw Sneijder protecting the ball while holding Juninho with his body, and when he saw Van der Meyde on the right side pressing forward, he understood that Ajax was going to play on the right this time, so he almost sprinted forward without hesitation.

Rushing forward from the center back, the 50-meter distance is not actually long for Lucio, who has a big and fast pace. When he rushed to the front of the Lyon team's penalty area, Van der Meyde on the right had received Sneijder's pass and made a one-on-one breakthrough on the right.

Lucio was like a heavy tank, full of throttle, rushing into Lyon's penalty area all the way. Facing Patrick Muller who was blocking him, he took advantage of this momentum to jump high and blasted Van der Meyde's cross into Kupet's goal.

At this moment, Ye Qiu remembered a term, high-altitude bomber!

"Oh my god!" At the moment the ball hit the Lyon goal, Ye Qiu shouted loudly, laughed and cheered, celebrating the goal!

If Ballack is regarded as a combination of Vieira and Gavieri, then who should Lucio be with?

Turning his head, Ye Qiu saw Santini walking out of the home team's coaching booth in surprise. He was so proud. Didn't you sit on the Diaoyutai in the first half? Now I'll kick you off the Diaoyutai!

After finally equalizing the score, the Ajax players celebrated wildly on the court. They all looked very excited and their morale was high. Ye Qiu took advantage of the players celebrating on the sidelines and walked over to them, constantly calling on them to stay calm and keep the pressure on Lyon.

"It's this momentum. I want you to keep this momentum, rush up and kill them!" Ye Qiu clenched his fist and gritted his teeth.

The players were all infected by the head coach, and after equalizing the score, they suddenly became full of fighting spirit. On the court, they were like tigers descending from the mountains, unstoppable. Although Lyon wanted to tighten its defense, it couldn't stand Lucio's second tiger into the flock.

Less than 15 minutes after the first goal, Lucio once again ran quickly from the backcourt and rushed into the Lyon team's penalty area in the 67th minute. This time his header was saved by Kupet with one hand, but Van der Meyde followed up with a shot to help Ajax surpass the score.

This goal completely messed up Lyon. They wanted to press out, but Ajax was too powerful and the initiative was firmly controlled by Ye Qiu's team. Even if Santini wanted to press out, he had to weigh the risks.

The hesitant Lyon finally paid a painful price for their mistakes again. Keita's long shot of about 25 meters hit the dead corner of the goal from Kupet's head, rewriting the score to 3:1!

This goal undoubtedly sentenced Lyon to death. If Santini still thought that his team could qualify for the UEFA Cup with this game, then now, they are completely desperate.

Although Santini made a series of substitutions soon in the hope of stopping the team's decline, Ye Qiu's team won the game with the sharp momentum created after the start of the second half.

By the time Santini reacted and wanted to make up for it, the overall situation had been decided and it was too late!

When the referee blew the whistle to end the game, all Ajax players rushed out of the stadium and rushed to the stands of Ajax fans who followed the team to the away game, celebrating the team's victory.

After defeating Lyon, Ajax returned to the top of the group with 3 wins and 9 points, because at the same time, Leverkusen lost 1:2 to Barcelona away, and the German powerhouse also stopped its winning streak. It currently has 9 points with Ajax, but Ajax is temporarily in first place because of the goal difference.

With this victory, Barcelona also caught up to 6 points and temporarily ranked third in the group after Leverkusen and Ajax, while Lyon failed to get any points and ranked last with 0 points. The Ligue 1 team has basically lost its last hope and is destined to be eliminated.

The remaining three teams are Ajax, Leverkusen and Barcelona competing for the right to advance from the group, and the first two teams have the best chance, but Barcelona still has a home game against Ajax, so no one can be careless!