When Rheinkel and Jon were sitting in the studio analyzing the situation.
Li Shiguang had just finished exchanging pleasantries with Grant and returned to the Leeds United bench.
I just sat down.
Simone approached with a fawning smile: "Boss, sometimes I really want to crack open your head and see, no, how did you know Grant would most likely use this lineup today?"
"Use your brain, Diego." Li Shiguang poked Simeone's head with his phone. "Chelsea got an away goal in the last game and had the advantage. Based on your previous assessments of Grant, what do you think his mindset will be today?"
Simone was taken aback: "Happy?"
"Go to hell!" Li Shiguang was speechless. "I'm so anxious! So conflicted! Haven't you noticed? Compared to Mourinho, Grant is far less decisive... or rather, stubborn! Mourinho just uses the same old bus-parking strategy everywhere, no matter what others say, even if the boss says his game is ugly, he doesn't care! Winning is all that matters, who cares about looking good or not?"
"But Grant is different. He's a fickle guy... He wants to put on a great performance at Stamford Bridge to please the fans, the media, and the owners, but he also wants to secure that away goal to make it to the Champions League final. Once you figure out what he's thinking, it's not hard to guess his lineup based on Chelsea's injury situation."
"Oh... I see!" Simeone exclaimed in realization. "That's why he fielded five midfielders today, wanting to compete with us in midfield and see if he could score the first goal against us?"
Li Shiguang nodded: "Most likely."
“That doesn’t make sense either…” Simeone looked at the players shaking hands with a puzzled expression. “Boss, if you send Gareth and Frank up there, given their attacking power on the wings, Chelsea’s lineup will probably have to retreat… Wouldn’t that still be parking the bus?”
This was not Li Shiguang's turn to answer the question.
Sitting next to Simeone, Rivaldo tapped the Argentine on the head and said with a disdainful look, "Diego, didn't you notice that when our boss saw Chelsea's lineup in the players' tunnel, he specifically pulled Gareth and Frank aside for a private conversation? If I'm not mistaken, the boss probably told them to play cautiously for at least the first fifteen minutes, to lure Chelsea out first!"
"ah?"
Upon hearing Rivaldo's words, Simone turned to look at Li Shiguang in a daze.
Li Shiguang simply smiled, looking at the completely bewildered Simone, and said nothing more...
····
After the match began.
Just as Li Shiguang had guessed.
After a brief period of probing, and finding that Leeds United's two flanks were not displaying the same aggressive attacking style as before, Chelsea, with home advantage and psychological advantage, began to launch a fierce attack on Leeds United's goal.
Sixth minute.
Chelsea won a corner, and Drogba beat Kompany to the ball, unleashing a powerful header that grazed the near post and went out of play.
Eighth minute.
Lampard intercepted Modric's pass to Bale on the right flank in Leeds United's half and immediately played a through ball to the edge of Leeds United's penalty area.
Drogba once again used his body to forcefully lean against Cannavaro behind him, then passed the ball back to Ballack, who unleashed a powerful shot that once again went over the crossbar of the Leeds United goal and out of play.
One minute later.
Chelsea are back in action.
Joe Cole and Ballack executed a one-two pass on the left wing, getting past Ribery and Lahm who rushed to cover, and broke into the penalty area to create a one-on-one opportunity.
This was Chelsea's best chance since the start of the season.
"Joe Cole—!! Chelsea have a golden opportunity!!" Upon seeing this, Jon almost jumped out of his chair!
Faced with the aggressive Joe Cole, Neuer reacted as soon as he saw him get past Ram, immediately abandoning the door and rushing towards him.
Joe Cole noticed Neuer's choice.
After bringing the ball to the edge of the penalty area, about five meters from the goal, he aimed at the near post of the Leeds United goal and unleashed a powerful shot.
Fortunately, Neuer reacted quickly.
Seeing Joe Cole shoot, he immediately fell to the ground, stretching out his arms and legs to quickly expand his defensive coverage to the limit. His outstretched toes were directly blocking the ball's path.
The ball struck Neuer's foot squarely and bounced out of bounds...
"Beautiful!! Neuer made a world-class save!!" This time, it was Lineker's turn to be excited. "Neuer saved Joe Cole's one-on-one chance, Leeds United have held on!"
Although they didn't allow the opponent to score.
But Chelsea's offensive onslaught at the start of the game still gave a lot of fright to the group of Leeds United substitutes.
Simeone looked at Li Shiguang with lingering fear: "Boss...were we too lenient with the team? In just a few minutes, Chelsea has threatened our goal three times. If Manuel hadn't reacted quickly just now, we probably would have scored. If they get their momentum going...it will be very disadvantageous for us!"
Li Shiguang maintained his calm expression, arms crossed, his face expressionless.
Seeing this, Simone assumed that Li Shiguang hadn't heard him clearly, and quickly called out again, "Boss..."
“Don’t panic… Diego.” Li Shiguang pointed to the center line and said calmly, “You can’t just look at our penalty area, you also have to look at the opponent… Now their three central midfielders are already in a parallel formation, and their three defenders have been lingering near the center line for a long time… You have to trust our players. If they seize just one opportunity, Chelsea will be finished!”
····
Li Shiguang had just finished speaking.
Things changed on the field.
Chelsea took the corner, and Alonso won the first header in the penalty area.
Outside the restricted area.
Joe Cole got the ball first, and the Chelsea midfielder was about to shoot when Modric suddenly appeared from the side, poked the ball away from Joe Cole with his right foot, and then used his strength to get past Joe Cole and catch up with the ball.
After catching up with the ball, Modric did not dribble forward himself.
He glanced at the two side roads out of the corner of his eye.
Two white figures were spotted already moving, charging towards Chelsea's half.
Modric did not hesitate at all.
He swung his left leg and delivered a long pass.
The football, with a slight spin, drew a gentle arc in the air, flying towards Ribery, who was making a high-speed run down the right flank...
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