Madrid, Spain, baldbebas training base.
In the tactical meeting room on the second floor, the core coaching team of the first team is watching the video of the two rounds of the Manchester Derby in the knockout round of the Champions League just sent by the scouts.
Everyone has forgotten how many times they have watched these two videos. The only thing they remember is the process of the game. Many of them even remember that the referee would whistle in the first few minutes and draw cards in the first few minutes, including the team's head coach, Jose.
The media and fans outside have a common misconception about the Portuguese head coach. They think he is very rebellious and arrogant, so they give him the nickname of a madman. But in fact, all the people who have worked with him know that he is a very diligent and thoughtful person.
Even, he has a very clear understanding of himself and his opponents.
It's like he knows very well that with Real Madrid's current lineup, it's hard to fight Barcelona and Manchester City. That's pure death. So his strategy when he meets these two teams is to guard against them.
It is also for this purpose that a lot of money was spent on the introduction of Felipe Melo and mutino during the winter break.
Now the real test is here.
Real Madrid broke through the embarrassment of the team who has been troubled for many years, led the team into the final eight of the Champions League, and defeated Donetsk miner from Ukraine in the two rounds of the final eight knockout, making the galaxy warship advance to the semi-final of the Champions League for the first time after many years' absence.
Not only that, in the Spanish King's cup, Jose also led the team to get a breakthrough and reached the final.
In the next half month, Real Madrid will have the king's Cup final against Barcelona and the Champions League semi-final against Manchester City. This is the most important task of Real Madrid and the biggest test of this season.
Because, in the first half of the season, in the group stage of the Champions League and the century Derby, he was humiliated by Manchester City and Barcelona, and suffered an unprecedented humiliating defeat, which even shook the position of the manager.
Although the management has repeatedly reiterated their trust in him, in fact, he has to face a very embarrassing situation, that is, he has to give a decent result after the season.
Especially when it comes to Barcelona and Manchester City again.
Because of this, after learning that Manchester City slaughtered Manchester United 7-0 away at Old Trafford, Real Madrid were shocked, and everyone felt the threat from the cold.
Compared with Manchester City, Barcelona is more confident.
"Whether it's the final of the king's cup or the semi-final of the Champions League, in fact, we don't have a choice at all
After watching the video of the game again, he said with a bitter smile in a helpless tone.
The football field depends on the strength to speak, and Real Madrid's current lineup configuration is not up to the level of competing with Manchester City and Barcelona, not to mention that Manchester City has an invincible cold for many years.
"However, the problems Barcelona have encountered over the years have not been well solved
Jose left his seat, stood up and paced among his colleagues.
"Guardiola in order to ensure the control of the team, as well as the tacit understanding of passing and receiving the ball, so the first priority in the lineup is the Barcelona youth training team. The advantage of doing this is that the players cooperate with tacit understanding, passing and receiving the ball is very skilled, the ball control ability is superior, but the disadvantages are also very obvious."
"That is the lack of assault ability in the middle and front court, in front of the other side's tight defensive formation, they lack effective means to break the game, especially in the two flanks, Pedro and Messi both take the internal cutting line, so they can only rely on Alves on the right
"When defending a team like Barcelona, we often just need to give up controlling the ball, do a good job in defense, keep the three lines compact, focus on the two points of Ibrahimovic and Messi, and watch out for Alves' back attack, which can basically block most of Barcelona's attack."
It's not a secret, it's a general consensus.
Knowing how to defend Barcelona is obviously different from being able to defend Barcelona.
At least, for many teams, to freeze Messi and Ibrahimovic, the two big stars, has been a difficult task.
But Real Madrid has that quality.
Jose is one of the best defensive coaches in Europe. Under his guidance, the defense line of aveloa, Albiol, Bruno Alves and Kolarov has become the most stable defense line in La Liga, especially after the introduction of Felipe Melo and mutino.
Change to play three waist, let Real Madrid in the face of a strong team when the defensive ability has a qualitative improvement.
"But Manchester City is totally different from Barcelona in the cold. The blue moon is more terrible and more difficult "It's very sad," he said.
"Looking at the whole Europe, only Alpine can have such power and prestige, can let the team give him hundreds of millions of Euro transfer budget, to introduce such a group of outstanding stars with complementary characteristics."
Everyone nodded after hearing this, which is also recognized by all.
Although Manchester City is rich and powerful, it is unthinkable that it will take hundreds of millions of euros to attract aid at once, and still give it to one person. Other people's investors are not fools. How can they be so hasty?
But only Alpine has such influence, which can make investors trust him so much.
At least, his achievements in the past ten years are his most powerful proof.
"Similar to Barcelona, David Silva, Modric and Xavi Alonso, as well as Xavi Martinez in the back line, are the guarantee of city's control, so their passing ability on the field is very good."
"But in the front court, Benzema is a very good center with great tactical execution. Cristiano Ronaldo cuts in on the left and Sanchez breaks through the bottom on the right. In addition, a Kaka with excellent offensive ability is inserted in the back, which makes Manchester City fill in Barcelona's shortcomings with Barcelona's advantages."
"When talking about Manchester City, a lot of people tend to focus on the superstar, but in fact, we forget that Sanchez was introduced by the high cold. In the past two years, how many times did the Chilean winger tear up the defense from the right and create a threat when facing the opponent's strict defense?"
"In Manchester City's attacking system, everyone is very important and indispensable. This is the most perfect attacking combination in European football in the past two years."
The whole coaching staff were surprised to hear that, and did not expect that Jose would give Manchester city such a high evaluation.
You know, he's out there taunting Gao Han.
Maybe, as many people say, it's just a mask of madman in front of the media and fans.
"Look at the two Manchester derbies in the semi-final. Ferguson is a master tactician. He has done enough preparation in terms of targeted tactics, but he still fails to hold the second half in the first leg, and even if there is no red card from Evans in the second leg, they will still be a complete defeat."
When he said this, he sighed heavily, "in the face of such a city, anyone will be helpless."
Real Madrid's coaching staff are looking at each other, did not expect, usually arrogant, always a winning look of Jose, now would say so.
Is he going to give up these two games?
Only the assistant coach Faria, who is familiar with and understands Jose, knows that giving up is never the option of Jose and will never be.
Sure enough, after he finished complaining, he turned around and put his hands on the table, looking directly at the assistants in front of him with a very serious look.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the next half month is not only a test for me and you, but also a rare experience. Maybe many people will never have such experience again in their lifetime."
He spoke very fast, but every word was very clear.
"We are going to face two teams that are the most difficult to solve in Europe and even in the world. Facing them, we can't even think of any other way to resist except defense."
"I don't want to grow the ambition of our opponents and destroy our prestige. I want to tell you a very cruel fact. Facing Barcelona and Manchester City, we have to defend, and it may even be extremely difficult to defend, especially Manchester City. Therefore, each of us must be fully prepared."
Everyone is also aware of the difficulty of these three games.
No matter Barcelona or Manchester City, their overall strength is higher than that of Real Madrid. With the addition of skills, tactics and the head coach, they have no other choice at all.
It may be hard to accept, but it's true.
A fact that even if you are proud of yourself like Jose, you have to accept!
"In the next period of time, my requirements for you are very simple. We have to gather all the resources and energy and devote ourselves to the preparation of these three games. Every game should be played in the Champions League final. Only in this way can we have a chance of survival."
"At the same time, I also need every one of you on the field, everyone on the team, every player, to carry out my arrangements completely and unconditionally and complete the tasks I assigned
Everyone present also felt the determination of Jose.
As a matter of fact, the Portuguese has been able to make a difference this season, but he has obviously put forward higher requirements for himself, because he wants to prove his ability as the top coach in Europe.
So, facing Manchester City and Barcelona, facing the cold and Guardiola, he is still reluctant to give up, he is still eager to win every game.
This has nothing to do with the victory or defeat of the competition and the honor or disgrace of the champion, just his dignity as a professional head coach!
To be able to enter the core coaching team of Jose and work in the first team of Real Madrid, everyone can understand his mood and his intention, because they are the same.
They are all eager to prove that they are worthy of the present job by winning the game.
What's more, as a professional coach, if you can compete with the top coaches like Gao Han and Jose, it will definitely benefit a lot even if you lose to them.
Especially the high cold.
Therefore, the appeal of Jose was quickly supported and recognized by all colleagues present.
And Portuguese also completely faded just now helpless, become energetic again.
He has made up his mind to fight against the cold and Guardiola.
Even if you lose, you must make your opponent peel off.
"Barcelona first, then Manchester City!" "It's just that," he roared.