On the day of the Champions League final, AC Milan settled in the hotel.

Coach Carlo Ancelotti woke up early in the morning, walked out of his room and walked in the garden outside the hotel.

After retiring from football, Carlo Ancelotti gradually ushered in a middle-aged fortune, and the pressure of coaching made his hair a little gray, and he looked a few years older than his real age.

Accompanying him out is assistant coach Mauro Tasottti, who is also a famous AC Milan legend, who has been serving as a youth team coach and an assistant coach of the first team, and is known as Ancelotti's right-hand man, with a very big role.

The two slowly walked through the garden, discussing the upcoming final from time to time.

It's their own unique way of decompressing.

"I don't quite understand, why did you push Crouch last night?" Mauro Tasotti asked incomprehensibly.

He was referring to Ancelotti and Benitez at UEFA's pre-match press conference last night after the team warmed up at the Stadio Olimpic, and the AC Milan manager mentioned Liverpool's most dangerous player.

He thinks it's Crouch.

In this regard, Ancelotti said that Crouch's biggest threat is not the goal, but his tactical role.

'I told our players that if we don't want to repeat the defeat of two years ago, then we have to keep an eye on Crouch, who is a key part of Liverpool's attack, where the ball is his biggest strength, and when the ball is in the box, he can create a threat.

For Ancelotti's statement, this morning, major media have also given different interpretations.

Some people think that he said this on purpose, wanting to provoke Liverpool, which is psychological warfare, but others think that he is really worried about Crouch, because the tactical role of the English big man is really very big, especially when he is in the penalty area.

Interestingly, Lippi, who was far away in Italy, also mentioned Crouch.

In an interview with the media, the former Italian national team coach resolutely voted for AC Milan to win the championship.

He believes that although the outcome of the final is unpredictable, AC Milan has reached the best level of physical and mental strength at the best time, and in both teams, Yang Yang and Kaka are undoubtedly the best players in the world, both of whom have the ability to play a key role in the game and belong to the super-first-class stars.

But at the same time, Lippi also mentioned another AC Milan player, Seedorf, who believes Carlo Ancelotti should activate the Dutch midfielder, and believes Seedorf can be an essential winning factor for the team.

At the same time, Ancelotti was reminded to watch out for Crouch.

"Liverpool defended very well, counter-attacking very fast, the midfield relied on Gerrard's excellent coordination, Alonso's push, and in the front, in addition to the most threatening Yang Yang, Crouch is also a standout centre-forward."

Ancelotti and Lippi mentioned Crouch at the same time, which undoubtedly made everyone gradually realize, is the England big man really so good?

……

'Crouch's high point is something we really need to be afraid of, but that's exactly why I'm hoping Benitez can start him.' Ancelotti said lightly.

"Why?"

"The strongest is often the weakest, and Crouch's role on the court is really huge, but his height is there, and he is really strong in attacking, but when it comes to pressing and pressing, that's not his strong point." Ancelotti explained.

Mauro Tasotti suddenly realized.

Liverpool played AC Milan, fighting skills and passing, and gave the English team a few dares not dare to do so, because they know very well that this is their absolute weakness, and they can't play the pass-and-possession style of play at all.

But what Benitez does best is pressing.

After several changes this season, he took out Mohamed Sissoko, who has a weaker passing ability, and made Mascherano, who has a stronger passing ability and some playmaking ability, partner Xavi Alonso to form a double midfield, stabilize Liverpool's midfield in one fell swoop, and create Europe's leading midfield duo at the back.

With these two midfielders in charge, Steven Gerrard can play in the central midfield position that he does best, and he can confidently choose the right time to step in and attack.

Although Liverpool's midfield style of play is only honed and far from the best effect, it is enough to create a threat, and this determines that Benitez must still adopt a rushing style of play in this game.

Didn't run!

In this case, if Crouch is allowed to start, it will undoubtedly give AC Milan more opportunities and space.

Because no one can ask a high school striker who is more than two meters tall to press like crazy, this is simply unrealistic.

That's the conclusion Carlo Ancelotti drew from Liverpool's two-legged clash against Barcelona.

And what he said at the pre-match press conference was half-true, true or false, depending on what others think.

Lippi is right, Yang Yang is something that no team can ignore when facing Liverpool.

And then there's Gerald.

……

'If Benitez lets Crouch on, Seedorf has to hold it down, we have to keep it on the wing, we can't let Liverpool cross.

'Without a cross, Crouch's threat in the air is weakened and we have to go to the ground and we can counter-attack, so I don't think it's difficult for us.

Carlo Ancelotti apparently has his own plan for how to limit Crouch, so he is not worried at all.

"And what if Crouch doesn't make it?" Tassotti asked.

It's a bit unbelievable because Crouch has always been a workhorse.

"There is this possibility, the reason why Benitez is good at playing cup games is that he is good at winning by surprise, if he dares to win Crouch in this kind of game, it is definitely a bold move, and it proves that he is still looking for stability at the beginning."

Tasotti frowned, "Two years ago, Istanbul. ”

"That's right!" Carlo Ancelotti nodded, "Although it was complicated and we had some luck with our first goal, Liverpool did play more risky at the time and Benitez will definitely learn from it." ”

"He will drag the game appropriately, fight with us with a rushing style of play, and then exert his strength in the second half." Tassotti guessed.

"Absolutely." Ancelotti nodded.

AC Milan has the highest average age of any team in the Champions League, and many players are over 30 years old.

'So, we need to establish an advantage in the first half and force Liverpool to press out!' Ancelotti's eyes flashed with a hint of fierceness, he also had no choice.

The squad is there, what can he do?

"Liberation Seedorf?" Tasotti asked.

Lippi is indeed the world's top tactician, although he is not the coach of AC Milan, although he has been away from the club for many years, he still sees the key core of AC Milan at a glance.

Of course, what Lippi knew, and Benitez certainly knew, was no secret.

Otherwise, Liverpool's intelligence officers should be replaced.

Carlo Ancelotti has prepared two different sets of plans, targeting the two tactical styles that Liverpool is most likely to use, but he still needs to carefully observe how to arrange and use them in the game.

Sometimes, football really requires a bit of luck.

Just like in the final in Istanbul two years ago, who would have thought that Maldini would score for AC Milan with a free kick in the opening 50 seconds, and then AC Milan scored two goals in a row?

And who would have thought that after the start of the second half, Liverpool suddenly went berserk, and AC Milan conceded three goals in a row?

Therefore, the role of the head coach is also limited, and the key is to look at the players.

"I hope Otto and Gattuso can stop Yang Yang!" Ancelotti said worriedly.

No matter what he says to the outside world, in his heart, Liverpool's most threatening player is still Yang Yang.

…………

…………

The team has a policy that players and their families are not allowed to meet on match days.

On the morning of the competition, Yang Yang saw Su Ye in the gym, and both of them had a very good reason, they both came to work out.

DeMichelle knew exactly what was going on, but he also turned a blind eye, pretended not to see it, and let the two meet in the gym.

There was no tactical meeting in the morning, which was somewhat surprising.

According to Steven Gerrard, Benitez and the coaching staff are closely studying tonight's starting tactics.

"I heard that the boss is so distressed that his hair has fallen out a lot." Gerald laughed.

Everyone was also stunned.

Benitez didn't have much hair in the first place, and if he fell out again, he would be really bald.

At noon, Yang Yang went swimming again.

As a result, I saw Su Ye again in the swimming pool, and she also brought a newly woven colored bracelet, and after Yang Yang finished swimming, she put it on for him with her own hands, and encouraged him to cheer hard tonight, and then she reluctantly left.

Yang Yang glanced at the light bulb next to him, DeMichelle, and pouted, "Coincidentally, it just happened to happen." ”

DeMichelle suddenly smiled wryly and asked, "Do you think I'm an idiot?" ”

"Do you want to hear the truth or lie?" Yang Yang asked with a smile.

DeMichelle immediately shouted to stop, "Don't, don't, I know what you're trying to say." ”

The two left the swimming pool with a smile and a smile.

The players were more relaxed, mainly responsible for regulating their bodies and minds, but in the conference room, the coaching staff had a heated discussion, even an argument, because there was no definite plan for how to start tonight and what tactics to adopt.

There was no plan, and the coaching staff didn't know how to explain the precautions on the field to the players.

Finally, in the last minute before the tactical meeting in the afternoon, Benitez finally made a decision against the crowd and rejected everyone's objections.

After the meeting, everyone went to their own places to get ready.

Jesterdam was the first to arrive at the player's room and knocked on the door where Crouch was.

The Liverpool assistant coach spoke to Crouch for about ten minutes before leaving, and no one knew what they were talking about.

At this moment, Benitez was teaching in Yang Yang's room.

The final is imminent!