Chapter 577: The Fire That Erupted

What are Barcelona's weaknesses?

In the pre-match tactical meeting, Gao Bo had already clearly laid out two of Barcelona's most obvious weaknesses.

One of course is the physical confrontation!

"The Barcelona midfield mainly relies on the linkage control between the three midfielders of Xavi Iniesta Busquets to create chances up front. Xavi and Iniesta are good at their feet and their ability to get rid of it, but there is one thing that their physical confrontation ability is not top-notch! ”

The day before the game, Atletico Madrid's tactical meeting had already started until more than nine o'clock in the evening.

Tomorrow's game is too important, and neither Gao Bo nor his players dare to be perfunctory.

Gao Bo pointed to the tactical board: "Therefore, what I ask is that from the very beginning of the game, it is necessary to carry out close pressing against Xavi and Iniesta, give them body from the beginning!!" ”

"It doesn't have to be too big, as long as it can be distracting. Be careful, don't get a yellow card easily! ”

Gao Bo emphasized.

It's no secret that Barcelona's weaknesses in physical confrontation are well known to many.

At that time, Inter Milan played a dream game with a muscular three midfielders and eliminated Barcelona.

But apart from that one, while many know that Barcelona are not physically adept, few teams seem to have been able to capitalise on this.

First of all, of course, Xavi and Iniesta are both masters and they know how to play to their strengths, whether it is Xavi or Iniesta, they are both on the run when receiving the ball, and rarely let themselves be entangled by the opponent's defenders.

Gao Bo is not worried about this.

Just because others can't entangle them doesn't mean that Atletico Madrid can't entangle them either.

Atletico Madrid was already very good at pressing in the frontcourt, and now Gao Bo is just letting the players increase the intensity of the confrontation.

"In Barcelona's formation, Busquets dragged behind the three midfielders, Xavi and Iniesta in front of him left and right, forming a three-midfield configuration, once Xavi and Iniesta encountered close pressing, Busquets's role is obvious, he is the strongest physical confrontation ability in Barcelona's three midfielders, and his ability to protect the ball and pass the ball is not weak, therefore, we have to do not only press Xavi and Iniesta, but also cut off Busquets and their connection...... Look at this ball, everybody! ”

In the conference room, a video of the Barcelona game, carefully edited by Lin Sen, is playing.

'It was a goal conceded by Barcelona against Getafe. Andres Iniesta attacked, Xavi was answering and Sergio Busquets was coming up to see them at the back! ”

Gao Bo drew a big circle on the touchscreen screen!

"At this moment, Barcelona's midfield was empty, so, Mascherano came up!"

'This has led to two results, the fact that the emptiness in the midfield has not been alleviated, and at the same time, only Pique is left in the Barcelona back line!

Gao Bo drew two lines.

"So, they couldn't take care of both sides at this moment, and at this time Sanchez broke through and was cut off, and then Getafe played a counter-attack!"

The screen continues to play.

"Therefore, what we have to do in this game is to pull up the intensity of the game so that Barcelona have to play against us physically!"

After Gao Bo finished speaking, he immediately cut to the next edited video.

This video is the video of Barcelona conceding the goal.

'This is the video of Barcelona conceding this season, apart from the goals conceded against us, the other 31 league games plus 12 Champions League games have been conceded here. There were 31 goals conceded! ”

After Gao Bo finished speaking, the screen began to play!

'Thirty-one goals conceded, excluding four penalties, there were twenty-seven goals conceded. Of the 27 goals conceded, thirteen set-pieces were conceded! There were also 10 headers scored from wide crosses, 27 conceded and 23 conceded headers! ”

Gao Bo said.

"This illustrates that the air defense of Barcelona is a very big problem! The central defender Pique has some air defense ability, but he can't rely on him alone! ”

Gao Bo emphasized.

"Therefore, an important offensive tactic for us in this game is to make good use of set-pieces in the front court!"

"The set-piece routines we focused on this week, we must play well in this game!"

"What we have to do in this game is to score more efficiently!!" Meantime... Can't concede a goal!! ”

Gao Bo said it very simply, but in fact, it is so difficult to do.

And the players at Atletico Madrid know that. It may not be difficult to score goals, but the difficult thing is to attack while keeping the opponent from scoring!!

That's a little harder.

Gao Bo spent more than two hours, interspersed with various examples and videos as supplementary explanations, so that the Atletico Madrid players were clear about their responsibilities in the game.

This is the most important step before the game, so that the players fully understand the tactics before they can really execute them on the field!

It's useless to just shout slogans.

The manager's job is much more than just playing chicken, he has to say something and make the players feel like "we can win by doing this".

Gao Bo will also give the players a lot of blood, but after inciting the players, he will also give a specific plan!

After today's tactical meeting, everyone is confident about tomorrow's game.

The players know that it is really possible for them to beat Barcelona and then knock them out!

......

April 25th!

It's race day!

In the morning, stay at the hotel restaurant in Barcelona.

The Barcelona players enjoy their breakfast at a leisurely pace.

Although Pep Guardiola has been emphasizing caution and emphasizing the importance of this game.

The Barcelona players also thought they listened, but after all, their advantage is so big, so although the Barcelona players did not underestimate the enemy, before the game, their mentality was relatively relaxed.

Relaxation is not the same as relaxation.

Guardiola doesn't think he has to make his players have to be extremely nervous.

Too much tension is not a good thing for the game to play – teams that are too nervous tend to go to extremes, either playing extremely well or playing out of style.

And Pep Guardiola thinks he just needs his team to play normally!

Therefore, he tried to make the players relax as much as possible.

After yesterday's intense training session, Pep Guardiola doesn't plan to schedule any training today.

On Atletico Madrid's side, assistant coach Moya was at the door of the restaurant, and every player who came in to dine was given a small note.

Every player gets it and looks down and then looks inside.

This is a different task according to the different positions of each player, as well as the corresponding tactical requirements!

Every player has a different task, even if they are both strikers, Diego Costa and Aguero have different tasks and different tactical requirements.

For the tactical arrangement of each player, Gao Bo and his coaching team are meticulous to each time period of the game, as well as the response to different situations!

A race win. Especially the victory of an impossible game, there must be a lot of unknown sweat and dedication behind it, and it is absolutely impossible for the head coach to let off his mouth fifteen minutes before the start of the game, as in the movie, and then the team will win as if it were chicken blood.

You must know that the preparation for a game starts at the end of the last game.

The players of Atletico Madrid also know the importance of this match.

Every player is involved in the game, including the substitutes for the game – even if it's the substitutes, the coaching staff has it.

Although only three substitutes are likely to play, Gao Bo has selected every player in the squad for a purpose. He wouldn't pick a player to be on the roster in such a game!

Everybody was watching very carefully, even when they were eating.

No one chatted casually, and the atmosphere in the restaurant was a little solemn for a while

In the afternoon, after a nap.

Led by the strength and conditioning coach Savor, the players underwent simple physical strength training in the hotel's gym to keep them in shape.

The players are doing a good job, no one is lazy, and everyone's heart is full of desire for the game!

It's like a fire that burns more and more in their hearts!!

Now they just want to get the game started so that the fire can erupt!