Actually, we've had more than two years of experience playing against each other.
Li Shiguang is very familiar with the Manchester United team under Ferguson.
If Ferguson was still accumulating strength in the previous two years, then this year is the time for this Manchester United team to blossom and bear fruit.
Before the match, Li Shiguang conducted extensive research on Ferguson's tactical approach this season.
Manchester United have been using a 4-4-2 or 4-3-3 formation this season, with Cristiano Ronaldo, who has been developing rapidly, playing the most flexible and crucial role.
If he attacks, he will form a three-striker formation with Rooney and Berbatov, and then drop back to the right midfield position, Manchester United will become a standard 4-4-2.
Manchester United possesses a strong ability to attack vertically with this formation.
Moreover, this season's Red Devils team not only has a strong attack, but also a formidable midfield and defense composed of Evra, Ferdinand, Vidic, Brown, and Carrick. The addition of Schmeichel has injected a powerful fresh blood into this defensive line.
As for the two veterans in front of them, needless to say.
Since the start of this season, Giggs has played both attacking midfielder and winger, along with Scholes. These two are like the two brains of Manchester United, one responsible for overall orchestration, controlling and organizing the game's tempo, and the other responsible for delivering threatening passes and integrating the attacking play in the frontcourt.
In addition to key players and the usual tactics, Ferguson's summer signings have also provided Manchester United with many tactical options.
Nani's arrival gives the aging Giggs a chance to breathe. His presence on the field frees up Ronaldo, allowing Rooney or Berbatov to drop back and do more playmaking, thus enabling Ronaldo's powerful scoring ability to be fully utilized.
Hargreaves and Anderson, on the other hand, gave Ferguson more options in midfield.
If you want to speed things up, bring on Anderson. Let his strong physique and excellent dribbling skills attack the opponent's defense.
If you want to control the ball, then bring on Hargreaves and pair him with Scholes and Carrick to form a midfield with strong ball control.
Under this system, Manchester United went through a brief period of exploration at the beginning of the season before making great strides!
For other teams, Ferguson's strategy is indeed a bit difficult to crack.
The main reason is that it's very difficult to contain Cristiano Ronaldo.
When Manchester United transitioned from attack to defense, Rooney and Berbatov were forced by Ferguson to drop back and participate in the defense, while Ronaldo was usually left up front by Ferguson.
Once the defense wins possession, whoever wins will immediately launch a long-ball counter-attack.
As for Li Shiguang...
This is actually not difficult.
Cristiano Ronaldo is indeed very strong.
However, Leeds United's defense is also comprised of outstanding stars, and most importantly, they are all stars who have grown ahead of their time under the influence of Li Shiguang's [Master Coach] skills!
Whether it's Alves or Kompany, they really don't back down when facing Ronaldo!
As the game progressed...
Ferguson on the sidelines began to notice the problem. Ronaldo's incredibly sharp breakthroughs in the previous few games were starting to be hampered. Alves could almost complete most of the tasks of defending Ronaldo one-on-one. Even if he didn't, after Ronaldo broke through Alves' defense, before he could even get into the penalty area, he would encounter Kompany's iron wall, leaving both the player and the ball behind!
On the other hand, Leeds United's attack was much smoother.
The reason is quite simple.
Kaká's arrival this season has greatly enhanced Leeds United's attacking prowess in the midfield and forward areas.
Carrick suffered a loss against Toure last season.
And this season.
Kaka made him suffer an even bigger loss!
Tenth minute.
Leeds United intercepted the ball in their own half. Under pressure from Alves, Ronaldo had no choice but to pass the ball to Giggs in the middle, but Kompany intercepted it from the middle. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Leeds United launched a quick counter-attack.
Kompany passed the ball to Xabi Alonso.
Alonso dribbled diagonally forward, and just as he reached the center line, he played a through ball to Kaká.
Before the match, Ferguson specifically instructed the midfielders and defenders to keep a close eye on Kaká.
So when Carrick saw Alonso pass the ball over, he immediately followed up, and at the same time, Vidic, who was quickly retreating to defend, also turned and rushed forward, directly blocking Kaká's path.
It must be said that Manchester United's defense was indeed very effective.
When Kaká received the ball, Vidic was indeed already blocking his path.
At this moment, Kaká was positioned on the left flank in front of Manchester United's penalty area. The defense from Vidic and Carrick prevented him from cutting inside and shooting. After looking up slightly, he noticed that Bale on the left was also being entangled by O'Shea.
While I was struggling with this decision.
Alonso's voice came from the right: "Over here, Kaka!"
fine!
Kaka breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that after Alonso passed the ball to him, he didn't linger in midfield but instead made a high-speed run forward to receive the pass.
So he slowed down, stepped on the ball, and pulled back, all in one smooth motion.
After dodging Carrick's onslaught, Kaká swept the ball across the edge of Manchester United's penalty area with his left foot.
This pass was a bit sudden.
This surprised Ferdinand, who was retreating to defend along Kaká's passing route.
But Ferdinand managed to extend his right leg and block the ball rolling toward the center, even as he was about to lose his balance.
Although this didn't completely change the ball's trajectory, it did slow down its rolling speed.
This also caught Alonso off guard, who was already adjusting his pace.
Left with no other choice.
Alonso had to adjust his footwork again.
He caught the ball with his left foot, pulled it to his right front, and then, at the absolute limit, swung his right leg and kicked it hard!
Although unprepared, Alonso's long-range shooting skills are still exceptionally strong, and even under these circumstances, he still managed to unleash a threatening and powerful shot.
Amidst gasps from the spectators behind the goal, the ball hurtled towards the top right corner of the Manchester United goal!
Fortunately, their head coach spent 18 million euros to buy Schmeichel this summer.
It's not that Schmeichel is better than Van der Sar, but that he understands Alonso's shooting habits better than Van der Sar!
Before Alonso could even kick the ball, Schmeichel was already taking small, quick steps to his left.
So when the ball flew to the goal...
Schmeichel's hand appeared at just the right moment, and with a gentle block, he completely stopped the ball, then rolled on the grass.
He pinned the football firmly under his body...
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
