Valdebebas training base, Madrid, Spain.

In the tactics room on the second floor, the core coaching staff of the first team was watching intently the footage of the two legs of the Manchester derby in the Champions League quarter-finals that the scouting team had just sent.

Everyone has forgotten that this is the first time they have watched these two videos, the only thing they remember is the process of the game, and many of them may even remember the referee blowing the whistle in the first few minutes and pulling out the cards in the first few minutes, including the team's manager Jose Mourinho.

The media and fans outside generally have a misconception about the Portuguese manager, thinking that he is very unruly and arrogant, so they gave him the nickname of a madman, but in fact, everyone who has worked with him knows that he is a very hard-working and very thoughtful person.

Even, he has an extremely clear understanding of himself and his opponents.

It's as if he knows very well that with Real Madrid's current squad, it is difficult to go head-to-head with Barcelona and Manchester City, which is purely looking for death, so his strategy when he encounters these two teams is to defend tightly.

The winter break spent heavily on Felipe Melo and Moutinho for this purpose.

Now the real test has arrived.

Real Madrid broke the embarrassment that had plagued the team for many years and led the team to the quarter-finals of the Champions League, beating Shakhtar Donetsk from Ukraine in two legs in the quarter-finals, allowing the Galacticos to advance to the semi-finals of the Champions League for the first time after many years.

Not only that, in the Spanish Copa del Rey, Mourinho also led the team to a breakthrough and reached the final.

In the next half month, Real Madrid will face off against Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final and the two-legged Champions League semi-final against Manchester City, which is the most important task for Real Madrid at the moment and the biggest test of the season for Mourinho.

Because, in the first half of the season, Mourinho was humiliated by Manchester City and Barcelona in the Champions League group stage and the derby of the century, and suffered an unprecedented humiliating defeat, which even shook Mourinho's position.

Although the management has since reaffirmed their trust in Mourinho, in reality he still has to face a very embarrassing situation, that is, he has to give decent results after the season.

Especially when they meet Barcelona and Manchester City again.

Because of this, Real Madrid was shocked to learn that Manchester City slaughtered Manchester United 7-0 at Old Trafford, and everyone felt the threat from the cold.

Compared to Manchester City, they are more confident against Barcelona.

"Whether it's the Copa del Rey final or the Champions League semi-final, in fact, we don't have a choice. ”

After watching the game video again, Mourinho said with a wry smile in a helpless tone.

On the football field, strength speaks, and Real Madrid's current squad configuration is not at the level of Manchester City and Barcelona, not to mention that Manchester City has a cold that has been unbeaten for many years.

"However, the problems that Barcelona have had over the years have not been well resolved. ”

Mourinho left his seat, stood up and paced among his colleagues.

"In order to ensure the team's control and tacit understanding of passing and receiving, Pep Guardiola gives priority to the Barcelona academy in the lineup, and the advantage of this is that the players cooperate tacitly, pass and receive the ball very skillfully, and have excellent ball control ability, but the disadvantages are also obvious. ”

"That is the lack of attacking ability in the midfield, in the face of the opposition's tight defensive formation, they lack effective means to break the game, especially on the two wings, Pedro and Messi both take the inside route, so they can only rely more on Alves on the right. ”

"When defending a team like Barcelona, we often just need to give up possession, defend well, keep the three lines compact, focus on choking Ibrahimovic and Messi, and beware of Alves's back-insertion attack, which can basically block most of Barcelona's attack. ”

Mourinho talks eloquently, but these are no secrets, but basically a general consensus.

Knowing how to defend against Barcelona and whether or not you can defend against Barcelona are obviously two different things.

At the very least, for many teams, it is already a difficult task to freeze the two superstars, Messi and Ibrahimovic.

But Real Madrid has that quality.

Jose Mourinho is one of the best defensive managers in Europe, with Arbeloa, Albiol, Bruno Alves and Kolarov becoming the most solid defensive line in La Liga under his tutelage, especially with the introduction of Felipe Melo and Moutinho.

Changing to a back three has made Real Madrid's defensive ability in the face of strong teams have been qualitatively improved.

"But the cold Manchester City is completely different from Barcelona, and the blue moon is more terrifying and more difficult. Mourinho said worriedly.

"Looking at the whole of Europe, only Gao Han can have such power and prestige, and can make the team give him a transfer budget of hundreds of millions of euros to bring in such an outstanding and complementary star lineup. ”

Everyone nodded their heads in response, which was also recognized by everyone.

Although Manchester City is rich and rich, it is unimaginable to take out hundreds of millions of euros to recruit at once, and to hand it over to one person, other investors are not fools, how can they be so sloppy?

But only Gao Han has such an influence that can make investors trust and rest assured of him.

At the very least, in the past ten years, the iron-clad results are the most powerful proof of him.

'It's a lot like Barcelona, David Silva, Luka Modric and Xavi Alonso, and Javi Martinez at the back, all of them are in control of Manchester City, so they are very good at passing on the pitch. ”

"But in the frontcourt, Benzema is a very good, and at the same time very tactical execution of the center, Cristiano Ronaldo cut inside on the left side of the attack, Sanchez on the right side is more of a breakthrough bottom, plus a back insert of the offensive ability of Kaka, so that Manchester City has the advantage of Barcelona, and fill the lack of Barcelona. ”

"When a lot of people talk about Manchester City, they tend to focus on the superstar, but in fact, we forget that Sanchez was introduced by the cold, and in the past two years at Manchester City, how many times have the Chilean winger torn apart the defense from the right side and created a threat?"

"In Manchester City's attacking system in midfield, everyone is vital and indispensable, and this is the most perfect and inexplicable attacking combination in European football in the last two years. ”

The entire coaching staff was surprised to hear this, and they didn't expect Mourinho to give such a high evaluation to the alpine Manchester City.

You know, he didn't laugh at Gao Han outside.

Perhaps, as many people say, it is nothing more than a mask for a madman in front of the media and fans.

"Look at the two Manchester derbies in the semi-finals, Ferguson is a master tactician, and he has done a lot of preparation in terms of targeted tactics, but he still can't hold on to the second half in the first leg, and even if there is no red card from Evans in the second leg, they will still be a complete defeat. ”

Speaking of this, Mourinho sighed heavily, "In the face of such Manchester City, anyone will be helpless. ”

Real Madrid's coaching staff all looked at each other, but they didn't expect that Mourinho, who is usually arrogant and always looks like a winner, would say this now.

Is he going to give up these two games?

Only assistant coach Faria, who is familiar with and understands Mourinho, knows that giving up has never been an option for Mourinho and never will.

Sure enough, after Mourinho finished complaining, he turned around and propped his hands on the table, looking directly at the assistants in front of him, and his expression was extremely serious.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the next half a month, for me and for everyone, is not only a test, but also a rare experience, perhaps many people will never have such an experience and experience in their lifetime. ”

Mourinho spoke quickly, but bit every word particularly clearly.

"We are going to face two of the most inexplicable teams in European and world football at the moment, and against them, we can't even think of any other way to resist than defensively. ”

"I'm not trying to raise the morale of the opponent and destroy our prestige, but to tell you a very cruel truth, against Barcelona and Manchester City, we only have to defend, maybe even defend will be extremely difficult, especially Manchester City, so each of us has to be fully mentally prepared. ”

Everyone is also soberly aware of the difficulty of these three games.

Whether it is Barcelona or Manchester City, the overall strength is above Real Madrid, coupled with the addition of skills and tactics and the head coach, they have no other choice at all.

This may be unacceptable, but it is true.

A fact that even an arrogant man like Mourinho has to accept!

"In the coming period, my request to everyone is very simple, we have to gather all our resources and energy, devote ourselves to the preparation of these three games, and each one must be played as a Champions League final, only then can we have a chance to survive. ”

"At the same time, I also need everyone in the field, and everyone in the team, every player, to carry out my assignment completely and unconditionally, and to complete the tasks I have set. ”

Mourinho's determination was felt by everyone present.

In fact, the Portuguese is ready for the season so far, but he clearly holds himself to the next level as he wants to prove his worth as one of Europe's top managers.

Therefore, facing Manchester City and Barcelona, facing Gao Han and Pep Guardiola, he is still unwilling to give up, he is still eager to win every game.

It's not about the outcome of the game or the championship, it's just his dignity as a professional manager!

Being able to enter Mourinho's core coaching staff and be able to serve in the first team of Real Madrid, everyone can understand Mourinho's mood and can also appreciate his intentions, because they are the same.

They are all eager to prove that they are worthy of the job they have by winning the competition.

What's more, as a professional coach, being able to compete with top coaches like Gao Han and Mourinho, as long as you do your best, even if you really lose to them in the end, it will definitely be a very rewarding thing.

Especially the high cold.

Therefore, Mourinho's appeal was quickly supported and agreed by all the colleagues present.

And the Portuguese also completely faded away from the helplessness just now, and became energetic again.

He has made up his mind to fight Gao Han and Guardiola.

Even if you lose, you must let your opponent peel off your skin.

"Barcelona first, Manchester City second!" Mourinho roared.

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