Chapter 14: Where's Cruyff!?

In Barcelona's match against Liverpool, Simon? Grayson didn't make much changes to the team's lineup, Shaq, Vasquith, Shaarawy, Ganso, Cesc Fabregas, Sergio Busquets, Ben? Parker, Raphael, Batista, Rivero, plus a German goalkeeper Mark.

Barcelona's lineup is not unexpected, and it can even be said that Barcelona's current lineup and tactics are actually quite well known to other teams, after all, there are only 21 players in Barcelona's first team, and Neymar was Simon because he expressed some dissatisfaction with the media? Grayson was assigned to the youth team, and in addition to the three goalkeepers, Barcelona actually chose 10 players from 18 players and 6 substitutes, so ...... There's really nothing to guess.

But the reason why the team under the rule of "Brutal Simon" is terrifying is because of this, obviously the opponent knows what tactics they want to play, and they can guess the lineup, but it is difficult to beat them, the "Young Guard" is like this, and the "Red Devils" are the same, and now they have been replaced by Barcelona...... Still so.

Losing to an opponent you don't understand, you may not be convinced, and you don't admit defeat, but losing to an opponent that you can even feel very familiar with, and no matter how hard you try, you can't win, at this time it will really make people feel frustrating, and it will take a long time...... And more and more to reflect Simon? Grayson's horror.

Liverpool's Scottish boss Pitt? He became more cautious when Grant led the team to the Camp Nou, and even the tactics he arranged for the team were defensive 4-2-3-1, with South African midfielder Jarry and French midfielder Russ Brown. Diarra is a very defensive midfielder, and these two are 28 years old and 33 years old, and they are very experienced, so it can be said that Liverpool has been fully prepared for this game. Against a team like Barcelona, defending and counter-attacking is the bare minimum tactic.

After the start of the game, Shaq didn't get much of a good opportunity, and he was always followed by Jarry or Russ? One of Diarra's, along with Liverpool's two centre-backs up front, saw Shaq turn and shoot wide after the opening 30 minutes.

Seeing Barcelona playing at home, although they have the advantage on the field. Their traditional possession style of play is vividly played, the suppressed "Reds" can't lift their heads, but there is always a lack of decisive people, the fans at home are really anxious, they are desperate to cheer wildly, even when Shaq gets the ball, the Camp Nou home is completely ignited by madness.

'It's been 30 minutes into the first half and although we had the advantage and the initiative, we still didn't get a goal. It was as if our attack was struggling with Liverpool's defence. Shaq, it's time for the team to step up and score! ”

In those 30 minutes, Barcelona's performance was a bit worrying, and the players felt ...... Very helpless!

Vasquez on the left, Shaarawy on the right, and even Ganso, Fabregas and Busquets in the middle all completed their own shots, and some even got more than one chance to shoot, but they failed to score, and seemed to be familiar with Shaq's goal. It's like everyone else won't score any goals!

But Shaq's chances on goal today were too few, not that Shaq was in bad form today. Is it because in today's game, Simon? Grayson's tactics for the team limited his performance, don't look at Barcelona's formation has not changed, but it is just the appearance, and the internal things are really different from before.

In the past, Barcelona's tactics were tilted in favor of Shaq, and everyone else was creating chances for Shaq. A lot of times Shaq doesn't have to go into the attack at all, just waiting to score in his familiar area, but in today's game, Simon? Grayson, however, consciously limited Shaq's range of movement, and Barcelona did rely on Shaq in front of him like a nail to contain at least three of Liverpool's defenders. It was easy to take the initiative in the game.

Merely...... Vasquith, Shaarawy, Ganso, Fabregas and others are really not powerful!

Simon off the field? Grayson, however, is unhurried to watch the team's performance on the field, he is still very confident in the team's performance, for a team like Barcelona, as long as they take the initiative in the game, the goal is ...... It's not a big deal at all!

But as the game deepened, when the game had been played for forty minutes, seeing that the first half was about to end, but the score was still 0:0, at this time Simon? Grayson frowned, he could accept a late goal, but he couldn't accept his team not winning the first half when they were dominant.

Moment of Truth...... Shaq still stepped forward!

Although Shaq's space was limited in this game, and his role was limited to creating opportunities for his teammates as a tactical centre-forward, the world's recognized third "ball king" was not in vain after all.

On 44 minutes, as the whistle was about to blow at the end of the first half, Barcelona won a free-kick in front of Liverpool on the right side of the box.

Shaq's free kick footwork is now the world's top, and this set-piece is naturally handed over to him to take the penalty, even if there are actually Vasquiz and Ben in the Barcelona team? Parker, Cesc Fabregas and others are all free-kick specialists.

When Shaq walked to the right, just as the talented Spanish central defender Battista ran past him, Shaq's heart suddenly moved, and he said directly: "Left side...... Goalpost! ”

Kindness!?

Batista's footsteps paused, he was stunned for a moment, and wondered if he had heard it wrong, although Shaq was already the captain of Barcelona, his Spanish level was still quite average, he could only use simple words to communicate with people, and it was mixed with Catalan, more often he communicated with Fabregas in English, and then Fabregas came to communicate with other teammates who did not speak the language.

Batista hesitated in his heart, looked at Shaq who was calmly walking towards the right side of the penalty area, and after a moment's hesitation, he moved his feet and ran towards the left side of the Liverpool team.

Football is a complex and simple language, and Batista now understands what Shaq means. If Shaq did say that to him, it was to pay attention to the area in front of the left-hand post, the ball...... Will be sent there!

In the Liverpool penalty area on the left, Batista kept running, trying again and again to get rid of the Liverpool defenders around him, but his eyes were always on the area in front of the Liverpool left post.

"Bang!"

Shaq's free-kick is out!

"Whoosh!"

The ball spun in the air. After drawing an arc, it suddenly fell down, and it really fell into the small penalty area in front of the left post!

Batista burst out of the crowd, a little faster than everyone else, after all, he already knew where the ball was going to go, and all he had to do was get rid of the defenders.

Shaq kicked the ball into the six-yard box on the left...... Batista! Batista! Header! ”

"Tom!"

Batista jumped sideways in the air, his forehead flicking against the ball......

The ball is in!

Shaq's free-kick was too fast, and Batista just hit it with his forehead, so Liverpool's Brazilian goalkeeper Cassio didn't even make a save, and waved his arm. The goal has been scored!

“GOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

"The ball is in! Batista's header! 1:0！ Towards the end of the first half, we finally got the goal! Batista and Shaq hugged each other, and it seems that although some fans don't like Shaq, he is still very popular in the team! Well, this assist...... It's Shaq's sixth assist of the season! Hey, it seems that Shaq is not a greedy person, this is his 11th game, and having 6 assists is really remarkable! He currently ranks second on the team in assists. Just less than Vasquiz's assist. ”

After the goal, Battista ran straight out of front of Liverpool's goal. rushed all the way to the outside of the big forbidden area on the right side in ecstasy, and hugged Shaq, who was smiling and opening his arms, at once: "Boss, it's so beautiful!" It's so beautiful! ”

Shaq didn't understand what Batista said, but he could guess it, and laughed and patted Batista's freshly shaved and blue bald head: "It's you who are good!" Hahaha! ”

The Barcelona players were happy to get together to celebrate, and the goal really made them feel a lot less pressure. Otherwise, they can't break through the opponent's goal when they have the advantage at Camp Nou, and that's really ...... What a shame!

As the game entered the second half, although Simon? Grayson didn't ask for much at half-time, but the Barcelona players started to create chances for Shaq naturally.

Barcelona's first half was less fancy, but their attacking threat increased exponentially......

at 53 minutes. Vasquith crossed from outside the big penalty area on the left, Shaq stopped the ball with his right foot in the small penalty area in front of the left post, followed by his left leg to complete the volley, and with a "snap", the ball simply grazed the left post of the Liverpool team and flew in...... 2:0！

This goal...... It's the goal that seals the game!

Although Shaq's celebration after the goal still caused some fans to be dissatisfied, the boos were much smaller than before, especially when the whole Barcelona team gathered, Busquets, Rafael, Battista and others also worked hard to run to the left corner flag in front of the front court to celebrate together, and Barcelona fans had less resentment towards Shaq.

Especially when the 73rd minute, the "little pharaoh" Shaarawy passed the ball to the bottom line of the small penalty area on the right side of the right side, Shaq magically stopped the ball with his left foot, and suddenly turned around and kicked the ball towards the goal with his right foot...... 3:0！

After completing this goal, Shaq slowly walked to the right corner flag with his arms held high, one by one Barcelona players, even goalkeeper Mark ran out, when Shaq stood on the side of the corner flag camera lens, once again lifted the front placket to reveal the classic "Cruijff, gotohell", the Barcelona players have stood in a row not far from him, one by one hooked shoulders to look at Shak, as if ...... Paying attention to their king!

In the Camp Nou, only cheers remained, and the boos that used to be used to provoke the "godfather" with "Cruijff, gotohell" in Shaq were finally almost inaudible at this time.

Whether fans admit it or not, the fact is that Shaq has indeed become a guiding light to the team's victory, and his 1 assist and 2 goals in this game speak for themselves, when the team needs him...... He will step up.

And this time...... Where's Cruyff!? (To be continued......)