In the past, when Carragher was looking down on Manchester United, Alan Shearer often retorted.

But today, he didn't say anything.

Because he agreed with Carragher very much in his heart.

Indeed, after the summer trip to this game, Manchester United's attack was completely wasted.

Manchester United, with and without a summer trip, is completely two teams.

The scene is completely different, and the level of technique and tactics is completely different.

In almost all games this season, Xia Xing has played the full 90 minutes.

No, it should be said that almost all the games since joining Manchester United have played the full 90 minutes.

Only when the team is ahead by a big score, or when the championship is won in advance, Xia Xing will take a little rest to give young players more opportunities and space.

In this kind of key game, Xia Xing will definitely not be absent.

But now, he's gone.

Manchester United without Xia Xing is like one or even two fewer players on the field.

Although someone replaced him, it still felt too bad.

This just shows Xia Xing's physical strength and running advantages.

Looking at the defense, it is much worse.

Xia Xing's large-scale running and full-coverage defensive style at the back are very rare in international football.

Even the very good Kante is not as good as Xia Xing.

The running may be similar, but with physical fitness and explosive speed, Kante is not as good as Xia Xing.

That's why there's that kind of saying.

"Whether Kante is the strongest defensive midfielder at the moment depends on where Xia is on the field."

There's nothing wrong with that.

Xia Xing had just been off the field for ten minutes, and the team had conceded two goals.

What kind of defensive loss this is, you can see it.

In terms of attack, Xia Xing's usefulness is even more qualitative for Manchester United.

Some football experts have even asserted: "Manchester United without xia is just a second-rate team!" ”

There is also truth to that.

Just look at United's poor attacking quality right now, and it confirms that.

Now Manchester United's frontcourt doesn't even have a super attacker who can change the game and decide the victory.

In this game, the decline is fully revealed.

In the final stages of the first half, Manchester United held on and did not concede another goal for the time being.

With a 1-2 deficit, the two sides entered the second half.

Valverde was quick to adjust, replacing Coutinho, who played mediocre in the first half, and replaced France's fast Dembele.

As a result, the pressure on Manchester United's defence is even greater.

After Dembele joined Barcelona, he spent more time in a hospital bed than on the football pitch.

But there's no denying that this guy's talent is absolutely top-notch.

First-class speed, top-notch archery, if you can really cash in on your talent, you are definitely worthy of more than 100 million.

But unfortunately, he has not been able to live up to the good form of Dort's time now.

But even so, the occasional substitute can still bring a lot of offensive help to the team.

At the moment against Manchester United, he launched a fierce attack on the left flank.

Captain Valencia was under a lot of pressure.

In the first half, he faced Coutinho and did not dare to relax his marking, especially the opponent's shots.

And now, against the faster Dembele, he is feeling even more pressure.

Especially the decline in physical fitness, allowing him to defend such a fast striker, it is really more than enough to be able to defend it.

Ten minutes after Dembele came off the bench in the 55th minute, he created a great chance.

Suddenly accelerated with the ball on the left flank, directly throwing off the defense of midfielder Fred!

In front of the French fast horse, Fred has a clear speed disadvantage!

Valencia grabs, Dembele speed has rushed up, his light inward cut, accelerate!

Valencia is gone!

Rush into the box and shoot low!

The ball hit the outside of the post and flew off the touchline!

Just one step away!

Dembele kicked the turf hard, much to his chagrin.

If he scores, he's a hero!

Manchester United fans, on the other hand, are in reluctance.

It's so dangerous.

If you concede another goal, then there is no hope at all.

Now fans have lost hope in Pogba's leading attacking line.

As long as the defence can withstand it, we can still make it to the semi-finals!

The defence is much more reliable than the front!

Next, Barcelona's new trident continued to attack, and De Gea made high and low blocks, repeatedly giving great saves.

Until the 78th minute of the game.

United made another substitution, with Anthony Martial coming off and Ander Herrera coming off the bench.

Ashley Young was replaced by Luke Shaw.

These two adjustments are in the middle and back.

It can be seen that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is ready to defend himself.

After all, they still have a goal difference, as long as they resist the last ten minutes, there is still a place for Manchester United in the Champions League semi-finals.

But just after the substitution adjustment, Barcelona suddenly attacked!

Successive multi-person passes in the front court, and the ball comes to the penalty area!

Suarez heads the goal!

De Gea punches the ball out again!

In the midfield, Busquets stepped forward to receive the ball, Pogba retreated to defend and pulled down Busquets!

The referee's whistle blows!

Pogba foul!

Barcelona free kick!

Pogba was very upset: "Where did I foul? It's obviously a normal body collision! ”

However, the referee did not have any intention of changing the decision and gave Pogba a yellow card.

If it weren't for Valencia stopping Pogba, maybe Manchester United would have had one man less.

This position is not far from the goal, and it is not too close.

32 meters or so.

And the location is nice.

A little to the right in the middle.

Messi stands in front of the ball.

Looking in the direction of the goal, Messi squinted.

It's not much time until the end of the game.

This opportunity must be seized!

In the live broadcast room at this moment, Carragher suddenly said: "This scene is a little familiar." ”

Alan Shearer suddenly realized: "Are you talking about the World Cup game?" ”

"That's right! We're really the best match! ”

He was talking about Portugal's match against Spain in the 2018 World Cup.

In that game, Ronaldo scored a hat trick, and really relied on the strength of one person to draw a strong opponent.

And Ronaldo's final key goal in that game was a free kick.

It's very similar to this location and angle.

Now the same scene is on the Champions League stage, and in front of goal it is David De Gea.

It's just that the penalty player has become Ronaldo's old rival.

Messi took a deep breath and watched the Manchester United players line up the wall.

He's not in a hurry.

Stood still and wiped the ball and kicked the turf.

Waiting for Manchester United's wall to be put in place.

Eventually, he waited for the referee's whistle.

The whistle blew and Messi slowly retreated.

He didn't run for long, he accelerated quickly and shot with his feet!

The ball is shot into the near corner!

Go straight to the top right corner of the goal!

"The ball is in!

"3 to 1!

"Barcelona extended their lead!

"And they've got enough away goals!

"Even if Manchester United score again in a while, they won't have an advantage!

"Now it's back to Barcelona!

"Manchester United's Champions League campaign this season is coming to an end!" (End of chapter)