"Ah—!! Ah!! Ouch..."
Reinkel opened his mouth, but could only utter a series of meaningless syllables, unable to say anything else.
He was speechless.
Just a minute ago, I was excitedly praising Neuer as Leeds United's angel.
But a minute later.
This angel from Germany turned into a devil, using a super low-level mistake to put Leeds United at a disadvantage in this extremely important match.
Zola and Jon, sitting next to her, did not experience the same strong emotional fluctuations as Reinkel.
Instead, they discussed the goal with great interest, even though it wasn't particularly spectacular!
"I can't believe it! Cristiano missed that golden one-on-one chance, but just a minute later, he headed in another chance that wasn't even that great into Leeds United's goal!" Jon said, somewhat amused and exasperated.
Zola focused his attention on Neuer: "Neuer is a bit overconfident. Although he can't be said to be particularly experienced, he has a whole season of starting experience. As an excellent goalkeeper, to misjudge the landing point of this ball... that is indeed a bit strange."
Jon smiled slightly. As a Premier League commentator, he clearly knew Neuer better than Zola: "Gianfranco, that's one of Neuer's strengths. His defensive range is the largest I've ever seen among goalkeepers. You saw it in those two attacks by Manchester United just now. This strength is also a double-edged sword."
"Then why does Li trust him so much?" Zola was a little puzzled. As a goalkeeper, shouldn't stability be the top priority?
"That's a difficult question for me to answer too," Jon said with a smile and a shake of his head. "Perhaps Lee just likes goalkeepers with Neuer's characteristics... The German is still young, and he has a lot of room for improvement... And the whole of Europe knows that when it comes to training young players, even Wenger is probably not as good as Lee!"
····
When Mikhail's gesture was clearly seen, the Luzhniki Stadium erupted in cheers.
For the first time, cheers drowned out boos as fans in red jerseys jumped and danced in the stands, waving scarves and discarded jerseys in celebration of their team taking the lead.
Cristiano Ronaldo was extremely excited after scoring the goal.
At this point, Cristiano Ronaldo had not yet started using "SU" to celebrate his goals.
The Portuguese man simply spread his arms as if taking off, ran along the sideline to the stands where Manchester United fans were gathered, pointed one finger to the sky, and enjoyed the joy of the fans chanting his name!
The other excited Manchester United players were not far behind.
Scholes, Hargreaves (who provided the assist), Carrick, and even Rooney, who had clashed with Ronaldo just over ten days ago, all rushed over to surround Ronaldo and celebrate this hard-won goal together.
Ferguson, standing on the sidelines, was equally excited.
Sir Alex Ferguson clenched his fist and then turned his gaze to Li Shiguang, who was also standing on the sidelines.
To Ferguson's surprise...
Li Shiguang did not appear angry as one might expect due to the team conceding a goal. Instead, he remained calm and gestured downwards with his hands towards the somewhat dejected Leeds United players on the field.
Ferguson knew what Li Shiguang was doing.
This is, after all, the Champions League final.
Leeds United's players are young, and apart from Kaká, the rest of them are participating in the final of such an important tournament for the first time.
It is foreseeable that these young players are already under a lot of psychological pressure.
Now the team is behind, especially because of this kind of basic mistake.
If the head coach doesn't step up and reassure the team, and they can't equalize the score in a short time, these young players are likely to become increasingly anxious as the game progresses.
On the football field.
The more anxious you are... the more likely you are to lose possession!
But to Ferguson's surprise...
This is also Li Shiguang's first time leading a team in the Champions League final. Is he really not nervous at all?
Although Ferguson had long ago acknowledged that Li Shiguang was also a genius.
But this young man from the East is behaving far too calmly...
He shook his head.
Ferguson snorted and looked at Ronaldo, who was still celebrating his goal, thinking to himself.
Ha, so what if you're extremely calm?
It is a given fact that Leeds United are already behind.
I refuse to believe you won't launch an attack next.
As long as Leeds United dares to attack.
That large space behind the defense was simply the perfect fertile ground for Ronaldo to score!
····
"Boss..."
On the other side, Simone, standing next to Li Shiguang, hesitated to speak.
“Don’t rush, Diego…” Li Shiguang said calmly, “You know Manuel… His playing style is a combination of devil and angel. He’s only twenty-one years old. There’s no need to criticize him for one mistake.”
“Boss, I don’t mean to be harsh on Manuel,” Simone said somewhat sullenly, “but we’re behind now, so you see… should we get the lads to push forward a bit?”
Li Shiguang did not answer Simone immediately.
Instead, he glanced meaningfully at Ferguson, who was already talking to Queiroz with his head down.
"Don't panic... Let's see how the opponent reacts. If we attack too aggressively but don't achieve any results before the end of the first half, I'm afraid the boys' mentality will change for the worse."
Simeone immediately understood Li Shiguang's meaning, nodded, and called Modric and Alonso to the sidelines to begin arranging the subsequent tactics...
····
Manchester United's players finally ended their celebrations and returned to the pitch.
Adriano and Kaká were already standing in the center circle, waiting for the restart.
Just now.
Modric has returned to the field and relayed Li Shiguang's instructions.
In summary, it can be summed up in three words.
Don't rush!
So the game restarted.
The scene that the commentators and fans were hoping for did not occur.
Manchester United retreated more defensively, and their pressing in the midfield and attacking third was not as intense as before they took the lead.
However, Leeds United did not have a large army pressing in.
On the contrary, it was different from before the goal was conceded.
Driven by Modric and Alonso, the pace of the attack couldn't even keep up with the pace before the goal was conceded.
Just when everyone was wondering why Leeds United would suddenly tank,
Near the end of halftime.
It's clear that the players' mentality has stabilized.
Li Shiguang waved his hand.
Leeds United began to press forward in attack.
Despite Manchester United's resolute defense.
However, in the last few minutes of the first half, Modric, who made a late run, and Adriano, who was lurking in the penalty area, each had a good chance. Although they did not turn into goals, they still gave Schmeichel in front of the goal and the Manchester United fans in the stands a scare!
soon.
Four minutes of stoppage time have been added.
With a whistle from Michael.
The first half of the final has ended.
The two teams maintained a 1-0 score as they went into halftime...
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