On the final day of the Champions League, ac Milan settled in the hotel.
Head coach Ancelotti woke up early in the morning, walked out of the room, and took a walk in the garden outside the hotel.
After retiring, Ancelotti gradually ushered in a middle-aged blessing. The pressure of coaching made his hair become pale, and he looked a few years older than his real age.
Accompanying him to go out is assistant coach Mauro Tassotti, which is also the actress of ac Milan. He has been serving as a youth team coach and an assistant coach of the first team. He is known as Ancelotti ’s left arm and right arm. very large.
The two walked slowly in the garden, discussing the upcoming finals from time to time.
This is a unique way of decompression that belongs to them.
"I don't quite understand, why did you squeeze Crouch last night?" Mauro Tassoti asked puzzlingly.
What he said was that last night, after the team finished warming up at the Olympic Stadium, Ancelotti and Benitez went to the UEFA pre-match press conference. The AC Milan coach mentioned Liverpool ’s most threatening player. .
He thought it was Crouch.
In this regard, Ancelotti said that Crouch's biggest threat is not scoring, but his tactical role.
"I tell our players that if we do n’t want to repeat the defeat two years ago, then we must stare at Crouch. He is a key part of Liverpool ’s attack. The air ball is his biggest advantage. As long as the ball reaches the penalty area, he will Can create a threat. "
For this view of Ancelotti, this morning, the major media have also given different understandings.
Some people think that he said it deliberately, wanting to stimulate Liverpool, this is a psychological war, but some people think that he is really worried about Crouch, because the tactical role of the English high guy is really very large, especially in the restricted area. When inside.
Interestingly, Lippi as far away as Italy also mentioned Crouch.
In an interview with the media, the former head coach of the Italian national team resolutely voted support for winning the championship to ac Milan.
He believes that although the outcome of the final is unpredictable, AC Milan has reached the best physical and psychological level at the best time point, and of the two teams, Yang Yang and Kaka are undoubtedly the strongest players in the world. Everyone has a key role in the game and belongs to the superb star.
But at the same time, Lippi also mentioned AC Milan's other player Seedorf, he believes that Ancelotti should activate the Dutch midfielder, he believes Seedorf can become an indispensable winning factor for the team.
It also reminded Ancelotti to pay attention to Crouch.
"Liverpool have a very good defense, a very fast counterattack, the midfielder relies on Gerrard's excellent co-ordination, Alonso's push to run, and in the frontcourt, in addition to the most threatening Yang Yang, Crouch is also an outstanding center . "
Ancelotti and Lippi mentioned Crouch at the same time, which undoubtedly made everyone realize gradually, is the English high guy really so good?
...
"The high point of Crouch is indeed something we need to be afraid of, but it is precisely because of this, so I very much hope Benitez can arrange him." Ancelotti said lightly.
"why?"
"The strongest is often also the weakest. Crouch's role on the court is indeed huge, but his height is there, and the attack is indeed very strong. But to say that robbing and oppression, this is not his strength." An Celotti explained.
Mauro Tassoti realized.
Liverpool played AC Milan, fighting for technology and passing control, and then gave the England team a few guts not to dare to do so, because they know that this is their absolute weakness, they simply can't play to pass the ball and control the game.
But Benitez is best at pressing and oppressing.
After several adjustments this season, he won Mohamed Sissoko, who has a weaker passing ability, to make the passing ability stronger, and has a certain organizational ability, Mascherano and Xavi Alonso partner to form The double midfielder stabilized Liverpool's midfield in one fell swoop and created Europe's premier midfielder double midfielder combination.
With these two big midfielders, Gerrard can appear in the center-forward position where he is best at, and can safely choose the most appropriate time to attack.
Although Liverpool ’s set of midfield play is only a synthetic type, it is far from achieving the best results, but it is enough to create a threat, and this determines that Benitez must still use rushing to fight in this game. law.
Not run!
In this case, if you let Crouch, it will undoubtedly give AC Milan more opportunities and space.
Because no one can ask a high center with a height of more than two meters to madly force and oppress, which is simply not realistic.
This is the conclusion drawn by Ancelotti from Liverpool's two rounds against Barcelona.
And what he said at the pre-match press conference was half-truth, half-truth, true and false, depending on what others thought.
Lippi is right. Yang Yang cannot be ignored by any team when facing Liverpool.
Another one is Gerald.
...
"If Benitez let Crouch get on, Seedorf must hold it down. We have to guard the sidewalk and not let Liverpool cross."
"Without passing the ball, Crouch's high-altitude ball threat will be weakened. At that time, he can only walk on the ground, and we can fight back. I believe this is not difficult for us."
Ancelotti obviously has his own set of plans on how to limit Crouch, so he is not worried at all.
"Then if Crouch didn't get there?" Tassoti asked.
This is indeed a bit incredible, because Crouch has always been the main force.
"There is such a possibility. The reason why Benitez is good at playing cup games is that he is good at winning unexpectedly. If he dares to win Crouch in this kind of game, this is definitely a bold move, which proves him Start with stability. "
Tassoti frowned, "Two years ago, Istanbul."
"Yes!" Ancelotti nodded. "Although the situation was complicated at the time, we had some luck with our first goal, but Liverpool did play a more adventurous game at the time, and Benitez will definitely learn from the experience of."
"He will hold down the game properly to fight with us in order to compete with us, and then work hard in the second half." Tassoti speculated.
"That's right." Ancelotti nodded.
The average age of ac Milan is the highest among all Champions League teams. Many players are over thirty. This age team is fighting against Liverpool, which is a young and powerful team. This is just looking for death.
"So, we need to establish an advantage in the first half, forcing Liverpool to come out and fight!" Ancelotti's eyes flashed sharply, and he had no choice.
The team's lineup is there, what can he do?
"Liberation Seedorf?" Tassoti asked.
Lippi is indeed the world's top tactical master. Although he is not an AC Milan coach, although he has left the club to coach for many years, he still can see the key core of AC Milan at a glance.
Of course, Lippi knew, and Benitez must know, this is not a secret.
Otherwise, Liverpool ’s intelligence personnel should be replaced.
Ancelotti prepared two different plans for the two tactics that Liverpool are most likely to use, but how to arrange and use them in the game, he still needs to observe carefully in the game.
Sometimes, football games really need a little luck.
Just like in the final in Istanbul two years ago, who could think that Maldini opened a free kick in the first fifty or more seconds and scored for AC Milan, then AC Milan scored two goals?
And who can think of, after the start of the second half, Liverpool suddenly soared, ac Milan lost three consecutive goals?
Therefore, the role of the head coach is also limited, the key depends on the players.
"I hope Otto and Gattuso can stop Yang Yang!" Ancelotti said worriedly.
No matter what he said to the outside world, in his heart, Liverpool's most threatening player was Yang Yang.
…………
…………
The team rules that players and their families cannot meet on the day of the game.
When Yang Yang saw Su Ye in the gym on the morning of the game, both of them had very good reasons. They both came to exercise.
De Michelle knew exactly what was going on, but he also opened his eyes and closed his eyes, pretending not to see them, and letting the two meet in the gym.
There was no tactical meeting in the morning, which was surprising.
According to Gerrard, Benitez and the coaching staff are closely studying the tactics tonight.
"I heard that the boss was so distressed that he lost a lot of hair." Gerald laughed.
Everyone smiled for a while.
Benitez hadn't had much hair, and if she lost it, she would be really bald.
At noon, Yang Yang ran to swim again.
As a result, I saw Su Ye again in the swimming pool. She also brought a newly woven colorful hand rope. After Yang Yang finished swimming, she put it on herself and encouraged him to cheer well tonight. Leave.
Yang Yang glanced at the light bulb De Michelle next to him and pouted his lips. "Coincidentally, it just happened."
De Michelton smiled bitterly and asked faintly, "Do you think I'm an idiot?"
"Want to listen to the truth or falsehood?" Yang Yang asked with a smile.
De Michelle shouted immediately, "Don't, don't, I know what you want to say."
The two left the swimming pool with a laugh.
The players are more relaxed, mainly responsible for adjusting the body and mind, but in the conference room, the coaching staff has had a heated discussion, and even can be said to be an argument, because what to do tonight, what tactics to take, so far Did not come up with a complete set of plans.
Without a plan, the coaching staff also did not know how to explain the precautions on the court.
Finally, at the last moment before this tactical meeting in the afternoon, Benitez finally stood out from the crowd, made a decision, and rejected all objections.
After the meeting, everyone also started to prepare.
Yesterdam came to the player's room for the first time and knocked on the door where Crouch was.
The Liverpool assistant coach talked with Crouch for ten minutes before leaving, and no one knew what they were talking about.
But at this moment, Benitez was given the opportunity in Yang Yang's room.
The final is about to hit!