Chapter Forty-Eight: Red Flowers, Green Leaves, Green Leaves, Red Flowers! （1）

Barcelona, which appeared at the Camp Nou, is unrecognizable compared to last season, and even the team's tactical formation is different. Grayson looked at his opponent and couldn't help but sigh that the power of time is really unmatched.

Originally, Barcelona played a 4-1-2-3 formation very similar to their traditional four-three-three formation last season, with Messi, Sanchez, Villa, and Bojan to choose from in the forward line, and stars such as Cesc Fabregas, Iniesta, Busquets, and Xavi in the midfield.

But in today's game, Barcelona is already going to start playing 4-1-3-2, the back line is still the back four led by Puyol, and the thirty-year-old Mascherano in the back position still has to take on the task of intercepting the opponent's attack, and the three midfielders In addition to Iniesta and Busquets, who appeared in the lineup last season, there is also one more Diego, and there are only Messi and Sanchez on the forward line.

The reason why Barcelona's lineup will change so much, in fact, Simon? Grayson also knows the reason, with Xavi's aging, Barcelona's midfield control has decreased significantly, there is a saying that "the midfielder wins the world", without the control of the midfield, even a team like Barcelona has to increase the defensive strength in the midfield, in the past, they controlled the ball and waited for the opportunity to find the opponent's defensive flaws to attack.

And on the forward line, Barcelona is also a little stretched, the state of the "little flea" Messi began to decline, and after Neymar's injury, only Sanchez can partner with him, and others such as the aging Villa and the fluctuating Bojan have no way to play with Messi.

Look at your team's lineup, Simon? Grayson was almost snickering, Shaq, Ganso, Rooney, Di Maria, Nani, Flanei, Jose? Angel, Papadopoulos, Subotic, Van der Wiel, De Gea. All of them are stars in their playing years, and the oldest "Little Fat" is only 29 years old, and today's "Red Devils" are really at a time when they should produce results.

Whenever I think about my team's current lineup, Simon? Grayson is quite grateful to the retired "old man" Ferguson and David? Moyes, these two have saved a lot of money for Manchester United, such as Wayne Rooney, Ganso, Nani, Flanei, Subotic, Di Maria and other main players. In addition, there are also strong substitutes such as Smalling, Valencia, Cleverley, Evans, etc.

If it weren't for these people, Simon? Grayson believes that even if he spends a lot of money to replenish the squad this season, Manchester United's combat effectiveness will never improve so quickly, and it is not a star and a half to make a good product with a sum of money in a factory with nothing, and it is not a star and a half to make a product with some good materials in hand.

Of course, the best way to bring Simon? Grayson is confident that Shaq's recent form has almost recovered, a violent striker who scored 15 goals in six games in the group stage. I believe that no one dares to ignore his existence.

And Rooney's form has been quite hot recently, scoring in three consecutive games, plus "Little Fat" also scored 8 goals in the group stage of the Champions League this season and ranked second in the scorer list, which can naturally provide protection for Manchester United's attack.

Coupled with the grievances between Manchester United and Barcelona, Manchester United was defeated by Barcelona 3:1 at Wembley Stadium in the 2010~2011 season to snatch the Champions League trophy, so playing with Barcelona, there is no need for Simon at all? Grayson did the pre-war mobilization, and everyone was in high spirits.

But even Simon? Grayson is confident. He didn't expect Manchester United's away game against Barcelona to play like this......

At 19:45 local time on the evening of February 12, the game began, and Barcelona, who was playing at home, took the lead. The ball was diverted back to their own backline and then hit Messi, who was pulled to the right, and the whole process was done from the ground, fluid and rhythmic.

When Messi cut inside with the ball on the right side, he attracted Manchester United's Di Maria and Jose? As many as three players such as Angel and Flaney paid attention, and the three of them formed a triangle to wrap up. In the face of the once undisputed "number one star in the world", Manchester United's players did not dare to be careless.

Messi still passed the ball under the opponent's three-man package, and he still passed the ball to the dangerous position on the right side of the arc of Manchester United's penalty area, but his pass and Diego who followed in the middle failed to form a tacit understanding. His younger brother La Masia was a little slow to follow up and was caught up by Manchester United's Greek centre-back Papadopoulos to get the ball back to David De Gea.

Although Barcelona's attack failed to achieve results, but at this time, Barcelona at home seems to be very normal, without Xavi in the midfield organization and scheduling, "Little Flea" can no longer brush his own goals as he wants, he has to take on more of the task of providing assistance to the team's attack, if Neymar is on the field, the two of them can share it together, but now...... It can only be done by Messi alone.

When it was Manchester United's turn to attack, Manchester United first routed Jose from the left? Angel dribbled forward and then played a long pass to Wayne Rooney in the middle of the pitch.

Although the height of "Little Fat" is not much of an advantage compared to his opponents, his strong body allows him to play a good role as a tactical center, and Shaq will add him to the full value almost every game after reaching 100% intimacy, so Rooney's form this season is also extremely hot.

"Boom!"

Rooney carried Barcelona's Brazilian central defender Henrik back the ball, and Shaq, who ran up, was entangled with Iniesta, and directly used his body to squeeze the "little white" who was at a disadvantage to the side, and then easily controlled the ball, at this time he could choose to pass the ball to Ganso on the left or Nani on the right.

But at this moment......

"Tick-"

The referee's whistle blew, and the referee Cyril from Switzerland actually awarded Barcelona a free kick, just when Shaq felt very innocent, the referee pointed to Rooney in front of him, indicating that there was an elbow movement when the "little fat" battled for the top.

No way!

Rooney's eyes widened at him, and he didn't make any moves at all. The referee ...... Nima is too dark, isn't it?

If it had been changed to before, maybe "Little Fat" would have gone crazy at this time, but now he is wearing the captain's armband, and this temper is suppressed by a sense of responsibility, but the fire in his heart has not dissipated.

After Barcelona took a free-kick at the back, the ball was carried, worn, carried and passed by their players. Advancing all the way to the left of the pitch, the ball was headed over by Papadopoulos when Italian left-back Crisito crossed.

Playing against a team like Barcelona, the more agile Papadopoulos can play a much more role than his partner Subotic, who has blocked two consecutive attacks.

When Manchester United went into attack again, this time it was a charge from the middle, Fleni sent a through kick to Shaq, and Shaq faced Mascherano's defense with a very fast "bull's tail" with his left foot. Straight with the ball from the right rushed over.

When Shaq took the ball to the front to face the Barcelona defenders, Shaq did not entangle with the opponent too much, and made a right-footed pass, and the ball flew directly to the right side of the Barcelona penalty area.

After Rooney got the ball, he faced the defense of Italian defender Crisitto, made a feint with his right foot, and then flashed to the right front very quickly, and flashed a very difficult gap. But the space left by Crisito and goalkeeper Valdés is too small, and the defensive ability of the Italian defenders is really impressive. Even if it's a full-back.

"Bang!"

Rooney still got on his feet, aiming at Barcelona on the left-hand side of the goal, only to have the ball slashed diagonally from the small penalty area, turned farther and farther away from goal, and finally missed the left-hand post.

Rooney, who failed to pose a threat, roared angrily and turned and ran back. Shaq grinned and patted him on the back, "Wayne, what are you anxious about?" The game has just begun, and there is a chance to get revenge! ”

Rooney nodded slightly, then turned around and stopped in front of the Barcelona back line, while Shaq continued to retreat a bit.

"Tom!"

Valdés kicked the slap. drove the ball to the front, and then everyone saw it, "little flea" Messi...... Bullied by Flaney!

"Boom!"

Flanei forced Messi away from the ball and pushed the ball far ahead......

Rooney, who was still retreating with the pressure of the Barcelona back line, reacted immediately, he turned around and ran to the ball landing point, under the effect of Shaq's teammate bonus skills, now his judgment of the air ball landing point is already perverted.

In front of the chasing Barcelona captain Puyol, Rooney "snapped" with his left foot on the side, brought the ball in front of him, and then dribbled the ball twice in a row, and just shook off Puyol and Henrik with his speed, and entered Barcelona's penalty area............

Valdés didn't expect the ball to be kicked out by himself and brought back by Rooney so quickly, abandoning the goal and running into the penalty area.

With the help of Shaq, Rooney's state this season is really very good, not only the role of teammates' bonus skills, but also his own confidence and more grouping, in the face of such a good opportunity, his mood did not fluctuate very calmly, dribbling to the Barcelona penalty area, after seeing the position of Valdés, Rooney suddenly made a sharp stop, and at the same time his right foot rubbed the bottom of the ball......

"Whoosh!"

Ball, all at once, jumped!

But it didn't fly above Valdés' head, it was more than a meter to his right!

Valdés hurriedly made a leap to the left, but his raised right hand couldn't even touch the edge of the ball......

The ball began to descend after entering the six-yard box and eventually flew into the goal from a position more than a foot under the right-hand crossbar! (To be continued......)