Chapter 1080: You can’t catch a wolf without sacrificing a child
"This is Southampton's stadium of glory, welcome to watch us live broadcast the final of the 2015-2016 UEFA Champions League."
"The two teams facing each other are the home team from the Premier League, Southampton, and the away team from La Liga, Atletico Madrid. Both teams are the best performing teams in European football this season."
"Before the game, the organizers held a brief opening ceremony at the Glory Stadium. We can see that the much-anticipated St. Bledsoe Cup has been placed at the exit of the player tunnel. Players from both teams are also lined up in the tunnel, ready to play at any time."
"The stands at the Glory Stadium were also filled with celebrities, including FIFA President Gianni Infantino, UEFA President Michel Platini, as well as representatives from the English Football Association, the Premier League and the Spanish Football Association. They all sat in the President's Stand."
"Also eye-catching are representatives of the British royal family, Prince William and Princess Kate, British Prime Minister Cameron, King Felipe of Spain, and Spanish Prime Minister Rajoy..."
"We can see that the players of both teams have walked out of the player tunnel under the guidance of the referee."
"We have already got the starting lineups for both teams."
"Southampton's starting lineup is goalkeeper Neuer, David Alaba, Nastasic, Varane and Danilo on the back line, Di Maria, Toni Kroos and Pogba in the midfield, and Hazard, Suarez and Messi in the front three."
"The Saints had a superstar-studded game, with all the main players on the field. More importantly, Southampton won the Premier League title early on and the FA Cup a few days ago, so they are in excellent form."
"Atletico Madrid's starting lineup for this game is also full of main players. The goalkeeper is Courtois, the back line is Jose Gaya, Jimenez, Otamendi and Montoya, the back midfielder is Illarramendi, the front four midfielders are Isco, Krychowiak, Koke and Willian, and the lone striker is Griezmann."
"This is also Atletico Madrid's strongest lineup this season, but Simeone's team has a variety of playing styles this season. Although the formation looks like 4-1-4-1, in fact, they will change to 4-2-3-1 or even 4-4-2 at any time according to the situation on the field. Their style of play is very unpredictable."
"However, judging from the starting lineup for this game, Atletico Madrid should still decide to focus on defense at the Glory Stadium."
"After all, this is Southampton's home ground, and the Saints are the most powerful offensive team in Europe. Atletico Madrid is still somewhat at a disadvantage. Taking a defensive stance and then planning a counterattack is also a good choice."
…
When everyone got the starting lineups of both teams, the first reaction was that Atletico Madrid would defend and counterattack.
As a result, the Colchoneros are indeed at a disadvantage in terms of strength, and playing a head-on attack with Southampton would definitely be courting death.
Secondly, Atletico Madrid's defense is quite excellent. It can even be said that Simeone's team is famous for its defense. Their style of play in the past two years was relatively rough, and they played defensive counterattacks, which just brought out their strengths.
It is not difficult to see from Simeone's decision to use Griezmann as the lone striker that he is indeed going to play a counterattack.
But what surprised everyone was that when the referee blew the whistle to start the game and when the fans in the stadium gave a deafening cheer, marking the beginning of the Champions League final, Atletico Madrid actually chose to press forward.
"one two three……"
"My God, Atletico Madrid adopted a forward-pressing tactic from the beginning. Six players pressed forward to press and oppress. They invested a lot of manpower. It doesn't look conservative at all!"
Judging from the game footage, Southampton passed the ball back all the way, but Atletico Madrid pressed forward all the way.
When Nastasic got the ball in front of the penalty area, Griezmann had even pressed into this area, and the entire midfield of Atletico Madrid also followed suit.
Nastasic had no choice but to pass the ball to goalkeeper Neuer.
After the German goalkeeper got the ball, he took it outside the penalty area and passed it to Varane who was on the right side.
But at this time, Atletico Madrid's pressure formation had been formed, forcing Varane to pass back again.
In this kind of backcourt pass, after Atletico Madrid's overall formation pressed forward, Southampton found it difficult to get the ball out and had to try to pass the ball diagonally to Hazard on the left side of the frontcourt.
Although it was said to be the front court, in fact, Hazard had retreated to the front of the 30-meter area in his own half.
Montoya seemed to be prepared. He suddenly rushed forward and headed the ball passed to Hazard to the right. William retreated to receive the ball and Atletico Madrid got the ball.
At this time, the game had just started for less than a minute!
…………
…………
After seeing the team successfully snatch the ball from Southampton in less than a minute, Simeone, who was standing on the sidelines, couldn't help but smile slightly.
He was still very satisfied with the performance of Atletico Madrid players on the field.
At least, in terms of tactical execution, the players did a pretty good job and snatched the ball in one breath.
But this was just the first step in his opening tactics.
Simeone had high hopes for this game. He wanted to avenge the humiliation of losing to Southampton in the Champions League final two years ago. He wanted to lead Atletico Madrid to win the Champions League and achieve the feat of winning the treble.
Therefore, he was well prepared for this battle. He even had a clear plan for how the team should play and deal with Southampton at the beginning of the game.
This group of Atletico Madrid players are definitely not as good as Southampton's in terms of individual ability, but Simeone has absolute confidence in tactical execution.
On the field, after Atletico Madrid players snatched the ball, they still did not retreat, but continued to press in Southampton's half, pressing the Saints in the half, which surprised everyone.
That doesn't make sense, does it?
You know, with Southampton's offensive ability, Atletico Madrid will be finished if they get one chance.
But in Simeone's view, this is not a problem.
The reason is simple. As long as the team's frontcourt pressure and pressing can be effective, the players' execution is in place, and Southampton's passing routes are cut off, the Saints' offensive can be curbed.
In Southampton's entire tactics, the two full-backs play a very important role. They actively press forward to help the three midfielders, forming a five-man passing and controlling square, thereby creating an advantage on the field.
However, Atletico Madrid now has six players pressing in the frontcourt, and through uniform pressing and oppressive formations, and through tacit running, they have formed a local numerical advantage and thus suppressed Southampton's passing and control.
This is why Atletico Madrid was able to snatch the ball back from Southampton in less than a minute after the start of the game.
Simeone stood on the sidelines, his eyes slightly narrowed, staring at the situation on the field, feeling quite proud.
For two years, he has been preparing for two years to restrain Southampton!
Although the Saints' head coach has changed from Bielsa to Ancelotti, and although the Saints have also been making progress and improving their tactics in the past two years, the essence remains the same.
Although Ancelotti's team is more balanced, more reasonable and more controlled, in the final analysis, the essence of it is still inherited from the Bielsa era.
This is not surprising, because in just one year, how could Ancelotti overturn the rigorous tactical system that Bielsa spent five years to build?
The first step is to grab the ball and dampen the Saints' enthusiasm.
The second step is to cut off the Saints' passing and control lines and curb the Saints' offense through pressing and oppression in the frontcourt.
Then the third step is easy.
Because your two full-backs actively move forward to participate in the midfield attack, it is natural that there will be gaps behind your full-backs when they move forward.
As long as I get the chance, and I can pass the ball after intercepting it in the frontcourt, I will hit you from behind your two full-backs!
But tactics are tactics, they only exist on paper, but to reflect them on the football field, it takes time and a bit of luck.
There is a saying that goes, fortune and honor are achieved through risk, and you can’t catch a wolf without risking your child.
Simeone is confident that his tactics have been practiced repeatedly many times, and the players will be able to seize the opportunity as soon as it arises!
With Atletico Madrid's heavy deployment of troops and the players' relentless running and pressing, Southampton's passing from the midfield and backcourt was curbed, and Messi and Hazard in the frontcourt had to actively retreat to the midfield.
But Atletico Madrid was well prepared. As soon as Messi and Hazard retreated, the two full-backs Jose Gaya and Montoya also pressed forward and followed the two players closely.
In addition, Atletico Madrid knew very well that they could not beat the Saints in terms of technology, so they actively adopted aggressive tactics of fouling but not getting cards when defending, which made it difficult for the ball to move smoothly under the feet of the Saints.
The ball passed back and forth between the Saints and Atletico Madrid, and no one was able to create any chances.
It wasn't until the fourth minute that Atletico Madrid seized an opportunity.
Krychowiak intercepted the ball and quickly passed it to Isco.
After Isco dribbled past the defender, he made a diagonal pass to the right corner of the penalty area.
Although David Alaba had returned to defense in time when William received the ball, William passed the ball to Koke, who directly made a high-quality long shot from the front of the penalty area.
Neuer flew and lifted the ball over the crossbar, thus keeping the goal safe!
But Atletico Madrid's shot and attack made people break out in a cold sweat.
With the stimulation of this wave of attack, Simeone and his team of players suddenly became like sharks that smelled blood. They became blood-thirsty and began to launch frequent counterattacks against Southampton.
The Saints' midfield and backcourt were under considerable pressure, but they were unable to find an effective way to move the ball to the frontcourt.
All I can say is that Atletico Madrid's starting tactics were too targeted and the players' execution was too high.
There is a saying that goes, Even the wisest man can make mistakes.
The Saints were contained by Atletico Madrid and the game was played in their own half. Atletico Madrid's sharp counterattacks were always a major concern and problems would arise sooner or later.
And this problem occurred in the eleventh minute.
Southampton wanted to pass the ball to Hazard who was retreating to receive the ball, but Montoya successfully intercepted the ball and quickly passed it to Illarramendi.
As soon as the Spanish midfielder got the ball, he made a long pass without any hesitation and passed the ball towards the right corner flagpole.
After Montoya intercepted the ball, William chose to rush forward immediately. As soon as Illarramendi passed the ball, he shook off the defender and went straight behind him.
The distance between the back line and the baseline was short, but Illarramendi's pass came just in front of William, and the Brazilian player stopped the ball directly.
Nastasic returned to the right side of the penalty area in time, while in the penalty area, Varane followed Griezmann to the front point.
But as soon as William received the ball, facing Nastasic, he made a simple and practical emergency stop and accelerated, got rid of Nastasic by a body length, and suddenly kicked the ball to the middle.
But this cross was not aimed at Griezmann in front of the goal, but at the penalty spot.
Immediately afterwards, Isco was seen rushing up from behind and volleying the ball without waiting for it to hit the ground.
Neuer was standing on the right side and was completely helpless in the face of this powerful shot aimed at the lower left corner of the goal.
The ball goes in!