The role of a core star is often reflected in the moment when the opportunity arises.

For example, Yang Yang's opening goal, or the free kick maker Kaka of Pirlo's pick up the ball.

But for most of the rest of the time, there's really not much the core stars can do.

Yang Yang hopes that he can be like an NBA star, relying on one person to smash the opponent's goal.

Unfortunately, it was basketball, but now he's playing football, and it's at the highest level.

……

It was clear to both teams that there was no need to adjust the situation in the first half.

Liverpool had the advantage, AC Milan were well guarded, and neither side had the will to make changes easily.

No one knows what the situation will develop after taking the initiative to change.

The scorching heat and different tactical styles forced Liverpool to consume a little more than AC Milan.

It was clear that in the second half, AC Milan began to try to play a counter-attack.

First Kaka formed an offside position, and then Kaka's long run down the middle, which was destroyed by Mascherano's accurate and decisive tackle, the Argentine midfielder has completely conquered everyone at Liverpool in just a few games since March.

Liverpool have never been able to find an effective way to break down the AC Milan goal.

Yang Yang was closely guarded by Odd and Gattuso in the front court, Ancelotti even looked like he did not hesitate to use two players to lock Yang Yang, and in the first half, Kuyt, Pennant, and even Gerrard frequently missed opportunities, which made AC Milan feel that this kind of tactic was very cost-effective.

Liverpool used high pressing tactics and Inzaghi was offside for the third time.

The man described by Alex Ferguson as surviving on the offside line, apart from that fluke luck refraction of the goal, his biggest performance today was a couple of offsides, but Liverpool did a good job of countering offside.

The situation is changing little by little.

The average age of AC Milan's players is older, but Liverpool's tactical style of play is more costly.

This makes it as if the two sides have regained some kind of equilibrium.

And the situation on the pitch has become a bit deadlocked.

Benitez finally made a substitution in the 63rd minute.

…………

…………

In front of the visitors' dugout, Carlo Ancelotti saw Liverpool's first substitution.

No. 15 Crouch replaces No. 16 Pennant.

"He finally couldn't help it." Carlo Ancelotti smiled, immediately walked back, looked at the bench and signaled that Kaladze was ready to play, Jankulovski already had a yellow card, and it was time to replace him.

As Benitez expected, Ancelotti had already prepared a plan to deal with Crouch.

Jankulovski started to get some attacking chances, but what he didn't expect was that Liverpool's advantage in the first half would be so obvious and they scored after the opening kick-off, which was quite bad for AC Milan.

Luckily, Pirlo's free-kick was a bit of luck and the ball bounced off Inzaghi's body.

Now, the two sides are finally back on the same page, and Ancelotti is convinced that if the stalemate continues, the game will only become more and more favorable for AC Milan, because Liverpool's style of play will only become more and more unfavorable in this hot weather.

"Write a note for Kaladze to bring with him, tell Maldini, let Seedorf come back a little, hand it over to Kaka in front, he should pay attention to help protect our left side, and he can't let Liverpool cross again."

In the absence of Crouch, Ancelotti's control of his two centre-backs was confident, but now that Crouch is on board, it is impossible for any team to allow the opponent to cross at will when defending a player who is more than two meters tall.

"Also, tell Maldini to pay more attention to the defense and stabilize the defense as the first priority."

Tasotti nodded, and immediately wrote Ancelotti's words in a simple and clear note and handed it to Kaladze.

It's a way of getting information on the pitch that happens on the pitch and it's a way for the manager to pass on information to the players on the pitch.

The content on many notes is a tacit understanding that has been in daily life, so it can be written very simply and can be understood at a glance.

"Their midfield is so good!" Ancelotti shook his head and sighed.

Xavi Alonso and Mascherano form a back two, which is simply a barrier in front of Liverpool's defence, and with Gerrard, Liverpool's entire midfield can be described as solid, even suppressing AC Milan's midfield tonight.

Kaka and Seedorf have been very unproductive, and Liverpool's midfield quality can be seen.

"The most important thing is that we are restrained by Yang Yang." Tassotti explained.

Ancelotti nodded frequently, and a Yang Yang asked AC Milan to use two players to guard him, and it is strange that the midfield is not at a disadvantage.

Not to mention that Yang Yang scored a goal at the beginning, even if he didn't score, he pinned down two defenders by himself, and Liverpool was enough.

If there is no Yang Yang and Gattuso frees up his hands, Liverpool's midfield advantage will not be so obvious.

But even now, even if the game has been going on for nearly sixty-five minutes, Ancelotti still doesn't dare to relax his vigilance against Yang Yang, because he is too dangerous!

"Add one more, tell Gattuso and Otto to pay attention to cutting off the connection between Crouch and Yang Yang, you must be careful!"

A hint of worry flashed in Ancelotti's eyes, and he was still not at ease with Yang Yang.

If you want to say that the most dangerous player in the Liverpool team, it must be Yang Yang.

It can even be said that the more stalemate the game looks, the more dangerous Yang Yang becomes.

Players like Yang Yang and Kaka don't need to prove anything with goals or assists, and their presence on the pitch is the most threatening thing in itself.

Like Kaka, who has only had one long-range shot in the game so far, he has come from him for almost all of AC Milan's dangerous attacks.

Just give him the ball, just give him a chance and he'll be able to shine.

What about Liverpool?

If Kuyt, Pennant and Gerrard had been a little better at their chances, Liverpool would have led at least 3-0 in the first half, and Yang Yang sent them several clever passes and planned several attacks, but they couldn't score.

"Don't worry, he seems to have a lot of consumption, and he feels a little unbearable." Tasotti looked at Yang Yang on the field and said.

After the second half, although Yang Yang still ran more actively, it seemed that the consumption was not small, and it was not as shining as in the first half.

"After all, he is only twenty years old, and such an important final, with such a lot of pressure and such amazing consumption, it is estimated that he is a little unbearable." Tassotti guessed.

Ancelotti shook his head, "Don't be careless, don't forget, this is his second Champions League final, and last season's finale wave." ”

For Yang Yang, Ancelotti knows better than anyone else.

The more critical the moment, the more he can play a threat, the more terrifying!

And after Ancelotti's reminder, Tasotti suddenly didn't dare to be careless.

…………

…………

AC Milan made their first substitution very quickly.

Less than a minute after Crouch came on the pitch, Carlo Ancelotti replaced Jankulovski with Kaladze.

This made Benitez in front of the home team's dugout, because he knew that this was Ancelotti's plan to defend Crouch.

There is no hope for a wide cross!

……

Yang Yang was on the court, but he admired Benitez's judgment even more.

Because he found that everything really didn't come as a surprise to the manager.

Aside from AC Milan's lucky goal, everything was in Benitez's calculations.

This manager is like a supercomputer!

Especially his cold, mechanical appearance without any expression on weekdays, which really makes people wonder if he is a robot.

……

If Liverpool's right side was very active in the first half, and Pennant created a threat on the right side again and again, then after Kaladze came on, AC Milan completely plugged the hole.

The minutes ticked by.

After one substitution, neither side seemed to have any intention of making another substitution.

The clock quickly ticked into seventy minutes.

After Kaladze came on, Liverpool's wide crosses were limited and it was difficult for the team to play the same kind of attack as in the first half.

However, AC Milan are not in much better place, and they are also struggling to play a dangerous attack.

……

Yang Yang glanced up at the scoreboard, and it had already entered seventy-five minutes.

He could clearly feel that the Liverpool players were starting to show signs of fatigue.

The temperature in Athens is too hot, which is quite unfavorable for this kind of rushing team, and the consumption is very huge.

Once the team can't run and can't establish a lead, the final outcome can be unpredictable and can even be terrible.

After Liverpool's gradual loss of run, AC Milan's counter-attack began to create a threat.

Seedorf finally had his first shot of the game, a volley from near the penalty spot, but it was blocked by Xavi Alonso with his body and could not directly threaten the goal, but it was enough to alert the Liverpool players.

"You can't go on like this!" Yang Yang muttered to himself.

Gotta find a chance!

No chance?

Then forcibly create an opportunity!

Since the beginning of this season, Yang Yang feels that his overall strength is not only improving, but also his confidence is getting stronger and stronger.

At least, on the court, he no longer doubts whether he can do it, but thinks about how to do it.

Even if it is a repeat of Messi's five people, this is the case!

These are clearly two different levels of mentality, and this should be considered his biggest gain and improvement this season.

Therefore, when he saw that AC Milan hit the midfield on a counterattack, and was soon tackled by Liverpool's double midfielders, AC Milan launched a counter-attack, he realized the opportunity and immediately made a gesture towards Crouch.

The two worked together for a season, and Yang Yang's gesture, combined with his eyes, Crouch immediately understood what to do, and nodded silently.

Liverpool's backfield players are really pressed, and playing passing has never been Liverpool's strong point.

AC Milan are obviously a bit anxious this time and want to try to press forward.

Xavi Alonso quickly passed back to the goalkeeper.

Reina stopped the ball outside the box and glanced up ahead.

He saw Crouch!