Yang Hao drew a big pie in front of Xiao Hill, and "seduced" Xiao Hill repeatedly promised that no matter whether he succeeded in relegation or not, he would do his best to help him stay in office.

Together, the two sketched out a blueprint for Atletico's bright future on the plane.

Soon after, on the same route, on different flights, Valencia also boarded the journey home.

On the plane, the players were resting, and Hector Cooper joined his two assistant coaches, José Maria Bianco and Mario Gomez, to take stock of the game that had just ended and also look forward to the next one.

The opponent is Yang Hao's Atletico Madrid.

If Yang Hao is on the field, he will definitely be close to Bianco, because Cooper's right-hand man will coach Hong Kong South China in 2014.

Strength and conditioning coach Juan Manuel Alfonno is presenting his evaluation.

Valencia's players have gone through two tough games in a row in recent days, and their physical consumption is very high.

Whether it was against Sevilla or Lazio, Cooper gave it his all, because Valencia did not have enough bench depth to rotate, and at most could only make local adjustments.

But their opponents, Atletico Madrid, have a full week of rest.

"We didn't have a choice in this game."

After listening to Alfonno's report, Cooper also had an idea of the team's fitness and set the tone for the upcoming game, that is, Valencia has no way back.

Zaragoza's opponent is Numancia, this team is not under much pressure to relegate at present, and the overall strength is not at the same level as Zaragoza, and it is almost predictable that it will not be difficult for Zaragoza to win this opponent.

If Valencia fails to win at home to Atletico, it will inevitably open up a further gap with Zaragoza.

With 4 rounds left and 7 points behind, this is basically nothing to chase.

If they want to qualify for the Champions League, Valencia will have to win at home to Atletico Madrid.

On the contrary, in Atletico's view, if they want to be relegated, they may not have to win Valencia away, and a draw is acceptable, which creates a situation that is more unfavorable for Valencia.

"Judging from Atletico Madrid's game against Malaga, they played well in the opening game, especially in that wave of high pressing, which is really interesting, I wonder if they will do the same at the Mestalla?" Mario Gomez was a little worried.

In both games, Atletico adopted two different tactical plays.

The young man named Yang Hao is always unexpected, which is really difficult for people to figure out.

"I'm not afraid of them pressing it out!" Cooper said very confidently.

The Argentine is now at the peak of his coaching career, having led Real Mallorca to the Cup Winners' Cup final last season, a miracle that he did not win.

After all, that's Real Mallorca.

This season, he led Valencia to the quarter-finals of the Champions League, especially by beating Lazio, which made him even more famous.

Now Cooper is confident and ambitious.

"When they press out, it's good for us." Bianco agrees with Cooper's claims.

Cooper smiled proudly, "I watched their game against Barcelona, and some things are really targeted, such as the rib attack, which is really difficult for Barcelona with a single midfielder, but we are not Barcelona!" ”

Although Valencia is also a single midfielder, the midfield is a diamond-shaped four midfielders, Mendieta, Keely Gonzalez and Farinos are both offensive and defensive, with very strong tactical execution and a strong sense of defense.

Especially when it comes to defending, it will never be easy for Atletico to attack Valencia's ribs.

After all, the defensive awareness of Valencia's frontcourt players, as well as the team's overall defensive ability, are not comparable to Barcelona.

"Besides, Mendieta is more likely to lean in the middle, and the right side is given to Angeloma to insert the edge, and when it comes to defense, it is completely possible for Mendieta and Farinos to directly return to Gerard to protect the ribs."

After hearing this, everyone nodded their heads.

As for the right side, there is Angeloma, not afraid.

The former French international used to be the main player of the French national team, both offensive and defensive, and the overall strength was extraordinary, but was later robbed of the main position by Thuram, and now at the age of 35, he is still very old and strong.

It's also interesting to say, Carboni on the left side of Valencia is also 35 years old, and they are all veterans.

'The most important thing we need to think about now is how to create a goal as soon as possible in the opening game.

When Cooper said this, he glanced at Alphonno again, "We are not as physical as the opponent, and if we get too entangled with the opponent, it will not be good for us, especially in the second half, so we still have to try to create goals in the first half, the sooner the better." ”

On the one hand, you must win, and on the other hand, your physical strength is relatively disadvantaged, and in this case, you must not be able to play a war of attrition.

As for the lead, after the lead......

Valencia is best at counter-attacking, and from Claudio Ranieri to Cooper, this unique move is in the same vein.

"In this game, I'm going to end the fight in the first half!" Cooper said loudly.

Two weeks ago, also at the Mestalla, he said he was going to finish the first leg, but Valencia stunned Lazio in the opening kick, 5-2 to the world's surprise.

Now, Cooper says it again.

But this time the opponent is much weaker than Lazio, and it is also a relegation team in La Liga.

That's not easy to catch?

……

On the evening of April 21, the Mestalla Stadium in Valencia.

In the 34th round of La Liga, Atletico Madrid challenged Valencia away.

When Yang Hao got Valencia's starting lineup list, his first reaction was that Cooper was really stubborn.

The second reaction was that the Argentines had a real iron head.

The third reaction was to suddenly think of Manchester United.

Cooper's stubbornness lies in the fact that he stuck to the 442 formation and made no changes to the starting line-up, continuing the same line-up he had against Lazio, apparently trying to take out Atletico Madrid in one go and take the three points.

And because it is a 442 diamond-shaped midfield position, Albelda's performance is not as good as Gerrard, the latter's nickname is Pep Guardiola, and he is from the Barcelona academy, and he is a proper fourth position.

The first iron is because Barcelona's single back has been taken down by Atletico Madrid, and Cooper doesn't believe in this evil.

Sometimes, the character of the manager can really be reflected in the team, so Valencia's style is very tough and iron-blooded.

The reason why Alex Ferguson's Manchester United comes to mind is because both teams play in a diamond-shaped four-midfield.

Manchester United were dragged by Keane, David Beckham and Ryan Giggs on the flanks and Paul Scholes up front.

Valencia was followed by Gerrard, Mendieta and Kili González on the flanks, and Farinos in front.

In fact, just look at these two midfield configurations to see where Valencia's problems lie.

Manchester United's golden four midfield is regarded as the most classic midfield combination, with defensive and playmaking, breakthrough and wide pushing, precise crosses and wide transfers, as well as passing and attacking from behind.

On the other hand, Valencia, every player has both offense and defense, and is very versatile, but from the perspective of player characteristics, compared with Manchester United's golden four midfielders, it is still much worse.

Can Keely Gonzalez's breakthrough and advance on the left flank be compared to Giggs?

Can Farinos' pass and back cut be compared to Scholes?

Mendieta's characteristics are not at all like Beckham's, and Valencia has no player in the team who has Beckham's ability.

Therefore, Valencia's attack is not brilliant in La Liga.

But Yang Hao still didn't dare to be careless.

……

When the players finished their pre-match warm-up and returned to the away team's dressing room at the Mestalla Stadium, Yang Hao was already waiting here.

The tactics board next to him reads Valencia's starting line-up for this game.

Goalkeepers: Canizares;

Defenders: Carboni, Pellegrino, Djukic and Angeloma;

Midfielders: Gerrard trailed behind, Keely Gonzalez and Mendieta split on the wings, Farinos stepped forward;

Forward: Worm Lopes partners Angullo.

Standard Valencia 442 tactical configuration.

When all the players came back and sat down, Yang Hao patted the tactical board and asked with a smile, "Have you found out?" Cooper and his Valencia are laughing at us. ”

"They don't even want to make the slightest adjustment, because they're determined that tonight, we're here, there's nothing they can do with them."

Yang Hao's eyes fell on the players in the locker room.

In order to better implement the tactics, he made some changes to his starting lineup tonight.

Overall, Atletico still have to adopt defensive counter-attacking tactics.

But Yang Hao dug a big hole for Cooper, and Cooper will definitely step in, the key is to see if Yang Hao and Atletico can bury him and his Valencia.

'As I told you before, in tonight's game, Valencia will definitely press out, they have to do it, they will press it out from the start like they did with Lazio, with the kind of suffocating high pressing that they do best, trying to stun us in one go, just like they beat Lazio.

"But they were wrong because we were good at this style of play and we were prepared for it."

"Trust me, we've been preparing for this for a week."

After the previous two consecutive wins, Yang Hao already has a certain weight in the Atletico dressing room, and the players can still listen to what he says.

Even if it's Beypur who has returned from injury.

This is the Czech midfielder's first appearance under Yang Hao.

Pablo García will be on the bench and ready to go.

"I want to confirm with you again, I don't want a draw in this game, I want to win, but I have to hold on to the opening, that's the key."

"As long as we withstand this wave of Valencia's opening attack and don't mess around, then the next Bat Army is a piece of fat on our chopping board, we can cut it however we want, understand?"

"Understood!" The players responded in unison.

Yang Hao was very satisfied with the player's answer, "I want to tell you that Valencia is not so strong, which you will quickly feel in the game, and at the same time you will believe what I said, tonight's game, the victory will be ours!" ”

"Didn't Valencia just reach the semi-finals of the Champions League?"

"Then we're going to use tonight's game to show the world that we're better than the Champions League semi-finalists!"

"Good!" Once again, the players responded in unison.