Football is round.

This sentence is probably mentioned in any football class, and the implication of this sentence is that anything can happen. In the dressing room before the game, Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal also said this.

Louis van Gaal is reminding his players to take a seemingly no-and-go game seriously. In reality, however, he didn't really take Cambridge United seriously.

Because, that's all he said.

No speeches, no tactical set-ups, just one sentence.

It's not that Van Gaal despises Cambridge United, he knows that the young coach of Cambridge United has assisted the Chinese who once made Manchester United fans gnash their teeth, however, this does not change the fact that if Cambridge United is a toddler, then Manchester United are young and strong adults, and this game is to let the two wrestle.

Despise? No, it's just looking down at your opponent, or rather, looking down.

Therefore, Van Gaal does not think that this "adult" needs inspiration or any tactical strategy, because it is unnecessary. In fact, not to mention Van Gaal, even Linsen is actually not optimistic about Tang Hua's team in his heart, which has nothing to do with trust or distrust, but the gap between the two teams has exceeded the scope that can be bridged.

As everyone expected, the game entered the rhythm of Manchester United from the beginning, and in the first half hour, around the Cambridge United penalty area, Manchester United directly staged a half-time offensive and defensive drill, and Manchester United's possession rate was even as high as 80%.

It is worth mentioning that in this game, Van Gaal did not rotate the lineup as expected by the media before the game, only striker Wilson came from the youth team, and the other players on the field were almost all the main players, and Van Gaal's intention to win the game directly was obvious.

Of course, it's not that Van Gaaldo is serious about this competition. It's that he has no choice. Due to the hole dug last season, Manchester United did not have any impact on European competitions this season, but Manchester United still invested heavily in the transfer market this summer, including the introduction of former Manchester City player Di Maria from Real Madrid at the cost of breaking the British transfer record, however, the huge investment, this season has not achieved immediate results, Manchester United without European competitions is currently only fourth in the league, as many as 12 points behind Chelsea, and has almost withdrawn from the title race ahead of schedule. In the Carabao Cup, another domestic cup competition, Manchester United were knocked out in a humiliating manner when they were swept away by League One Milton Dons Dons by four goals in the second round.

So, apart from the league in which the title race is only theoretically possible, it is not an exaggeration to say that the FA Cup has become Manchester United's only chance to save face this season.

On the other hand, Tang Hua's side, although both the strength of the team and his personal fame are below, but in terms of situation alone, he is actually much better than Van Gaal, at least. He wasn't worried that he would be blamed if he lost this game. This mentality was soon reflected in the Cambridge United players on the field.

Cambridge United, who seemed nervous before the game, after the start of the game. The speed of entering the game state is not slow at all, and the 423 formation that Tang Hua posed in this game does not seem to be conservative at all, but in fact, when he arrives on the field, the position is a defensive formation similar to that of 541. And it was with this airtight formation that they withstood Manchester United's opening offensive like a storm.

Then, half an hour after the start of the game. Cambridge United finally had their first shot of the game and George slid wide.

Van Gaal, who was still sitting in the coach's seat, noticed a small detail, when George shot, Tang Hua, who was standing on the sidelines, unconsciously clenched his fists, and then when George missed, Tang Hua covered his eyes.

Despite the disparity, Van Gaal was not arrogant enough to think that United could afford Cambridge United not to even get a shot on goal for the entire game, but Van Gaal frowned.

Sometimes a lot of shots is not a good thing, the so-called lack of points is a situation that many giant teams often encounter, in this case there are not a few giants who lose the game aggrieved, and the shot just now is equivalent to a wake-up call to Van Gaal, because Manchester United besieged the opponent for half an hour, and the threat to the opponent was not even as big as the opponent's shot just now.

Luckily, Cambridge United's shot on goal was their only attempt of the first half, and unfortunately, for the next 10 minutes of the first half, United were still in control, but they still struggled to find a goal. And this situation, even after the half-time adjustment, did not change.

With the 67th minute of the game, Cambridge United's defence was still rock-solid, but Van Gaal could not sit idly by and watch the situation continue, as Herrera and Robin van Persie came on to replace Marouane Fellaini and teenager Wilson.

The signal is clear: step up the offense.

Shortly after Manchester United's substitution, Tang Hua also made his first adjustment, Chadwick replaced Hughes.

Purely from the point of view of substitutions, this is just a normal counterpoint substitution, what is interesting is Chadwick's identity, the thirty-five-year-old Chadwick's career just began at Manchester United, and he was once a hopeful star expected by Manchester United fans, but the subsequent development was not good, and after changing to many teams, he could only be mixed in League Two.

It's just that the veteran is the veteran, and Chadwick quickly used a vicious tackle after coming on the field, telling everyone that he would not show mercy to his old club.

As the game time passed, Van Gaal on the sidelines finally couldn't sit in the coach's seat anymore, and his face was a little grim when he came to the sidelines.

The score was still 0-0.

A "zero" belonging to Cambridge United is a normal situation, but the "zero" belonging to Manchester United is undoubtedly a surprise to everyone.

The game was already in the 80th minute, and time was running out.

At this time, above the stands, Dave Dougan stood in the stands like a normal fan, and together with all the Cambridge United fans, he held his breath for every attack of Manchester United, breathed a sigh of relief for every successful defense of Cambridge United, and then cheered for a rare attack opportunity that Cambridge United finally obtained.

The chairman, who was only a civilian, couldn't suppress his trembling hands at this time.

Manchester United were a pie in the pie for Cambridge United, but he never expected a situation where Cambridge United would be smashed twice in a row by the pie. And now, this game is gradually approaching this possibility.

This is the FA Cup, unlike the League Cup, where all the games are decided before the semi-finals, and according to the rules of the FA Cup, if the game cannot be decided within 90 minutes before the semi-finals, there will be a replay, but the two sides will exchange home and away games.

Yes. If neither side can score in the last ten minutes, then the next game will be Old Trafford!

This is definitely not something Van Gaal wants to see, although the current Manchester United is only a two-line operation, but Manchester United is not in a good situation in the league at the moment, and playing an extra game against the opponent at this time will undoubtedly have a certain impact on the team's training plan. Only now, he has to seriously consider this possibility.

Toddlers can really make young and strong adults helpless.

Ten minutes later.

The referee blew the whistle. Dave Dougan threw his hands up like a little kid and all the Cambridge United fans in celebrating the birth of a great draw.

It will be a historic draw for Cambridge United, and not just because Cambridge United, who are three levels separated from their opponents, have held a strong Manchester United to a draw. Also because of the practical significance of this draw, a replay at Old Trafford, regardless of the outcome. will bring a "huge sum" of money to the financially strapped Cambridge Union.

This "huge sum" is nothing for Manchester United, but for a League Two team, it is enough to speed up many things, such as repairing the rudimentary Abbe Stadium.

Inside the stadium, the Cambridge United players were celebrating each other, and it wasn't a victory, but for them, it was a victory. On the other hand, the players of Manchester United, after the game, they seemed to not want to stay on the pitch for a moment, and they quickly walked to the players' tunnel, their faces were full of frustration, and I am afraid that they still can't believe that they were forced to draw by a League Two team.

The players could leave without hesitation, and Van Gaal, who was also full of disappointment, walked to the other side of the dugout after the game.

Van Gaal has not played against Linsen, but what kind of coach Linsen is, there are countless game videos and media reports that can make him draw a conclusion, but what Van Gaal didn't expect is that a mere Linsen's assistant can actually embarrass himself so much.

Looking at the young man who was also walking towards him, Van Gaal looked at the other party carefully for the first time, and throughout the game, Van Gaal looked at Tang Hua not many times, only a few times, but every time, he saw the other party standing quietly on the sidelines.

In Van Gaal's view, he divides coaching into three types.

One is the strategizing type, this kind of coach will focus most of his energy on pre-match preparation, and when it comes to the game, they will be calm most of the time, because everything is on track. One is the on-the-spot command type, this kind of coach will generally stand on the sidelines from the beginning of the game, notes, whispers...... It's all their regular movements. And the last one is a mix of the first two.

There is no difference between strong and weak these three coaches, but it depends on the difference in personal coaching style, and Tang Hua is undoubtedly closer to the first one.

Thinking of this, a question suddenly appeared in Van Gaal's heart: Will the person in front of him be the next forest? If not, what kind of coach would have such an assistant?

The two hands shook lightly in the air, and then quickly parted.

Van Gaal did not pretend to be enthusiastic to encourage his opponent, nor did he ignore the other party, he just nodded lightly at Tang Hua, and then turned to leave.

The Premier League and League Two are a long way off, but the next meeting between the two will not be too long, and the next time will be Old Trafford. (To be continued......)

PS: The state is not good, very bad......