Chapter 135 Unrecognizable Liverpool

As the head coach of Liverpool, the French Houllier can be regarded as ill-fated.

At the turn of the century, he had a small brief moment as manager of Liverpool.

Under his leadership, Liverpool has achieved a five-time crown—of course, this five-time crown is far inferior to Barcelona's six-time crown, because these five crowns are all champions of various cups , There are also tasteless competitions such as the Community Shield Cup and the League Cup.

But in any case, for Liverpool at that time, such a result was indeed considered acceptable.

You must know that in that season, apart from not winning the league championship, Liverpool won all other championships.

League Cup, FA Cup, Community Shield, UEFA Super Cup and UEFA Cup.

That was the best period for Liverpool in the Premier League era - of course, not after Benitez became Liverpool manager.

But now there will be no Benitez era.

So now Houllier has become Liverpool's meritorious coach.

Originally, according to his performance, he could continue to coach in Liverpool, but unfortunately his own health failed and he had a heart attack, so he could only leave Liverpool.

The success of two seasons in Lyon has brought Houllier back to the sights of the Liverpool club.

So after struggling for several seasons but achieving nothing, the Liverpool club invited this "meritorious coach" back again.

In this way, unlike what Chang Sheng remembered, Houllier entered the palace for the second time and became the head coach of Liverpool again.

※ ※ ※

Houllier only became Liverpool manager this season.

Obviously, he is not yet fully familiar with Liverpool.

After several seasons away from Liverpool, he is unfamiliar with this team.

In fact, let alone Houllier, even Chang Sheng is unfamiliar with this Liverpool team.

Because Benitez didn't come. So the strong Spanish characteristics in Liverpool's formation are naturally gone.

Xavi. Alonso did not go to Liverpool, but to Real Madrid. Luis Garcia is also not in Liverpool's squad. What about Torres, Reina, Arbeloa... None of these Spanish players joined Liverpool.

Chang Sheng took over Benitez's gun and likes to buy Spanish players wherever he goes. The current Lazio is jokingly called "Italy's most Spanish team" by the media. You must know that Liverpool used to be "the most Spanish team in England"...

Without so many Spanish players, Liverpool will not play Spanish-style delicate football, but continue their traditional English football.

Gerrard is the core of the team. Irving left Liverpool a long time ago and never came back.

On the forward line is Dirk Dirk, who is not very capable of scoring goals, but very diligent. And he will often retreat to help the team defend, creating the genre of "defensive forward".

Now the main scoring method of this Liverpool team is mainly to rely on Gerrard to plug in from behind. Although there is no Benitez. But Gerrard's offensive talent has still been developed, and his long-range shot from the back has become Liverpool's signature scoring skill.

The scoring method of this Liverpool team is a bit monotonous, so Chang Sheng believes that this team is doomed not to go further in the Champions League.

In the last round of the group match, Liverpool defeated Debrecen at home and are currently ranked first in the group.

But everyone knows. That cannot be counted.

Debrezen is the weakest team in this group and there is nothing to be happy about beating him at home.

In the league, it may be possible to eat a fresh move, but in the Champions League, it is absolutely impossible to do so.

※ ※ ※

Chang Sheng didn't feel apologetic at all when facing Liverpool, which was completely changed because of his arrival.

And he also intends to beat them at home. I really don't talk about affection at all.

In the match against Liverpool, Changsheng did not hold back and sent the strongest lineup at home.

Although the strength of this Liverpool team is like Benister's Liverpool. Their attacking style is monotonous. But Liverpool, as a traditional English team, still has their advantages.

That is super willpower.

Liverpool is a very resilient team.

The spiritual power reflected in the Istanbul night is not instilled in them by Benitez, but they are born with them. This is why Liverpool can become a wealthy family. This is their wealthy gene.

If you underestimate them. will die miserably.

They will never give up until the last moment of the game.

This team probably won't win a championship. But killing a powerful opponent in a game is not a problem at all.

※ ※ ※

Lazio, who played the main force, had a fierce game at home with Liverpool, who also played the same main force.

The Spanish-style delicate ground coordination is matched with the traditional British-style wide open and close long pass.

The conclusion is... Lazio's Spanish-style ground coordination is more dominant.

And on the back line, Jose Passarella and Chiellini's headers from the central defender combination are very good. Liverpool's long pass does not work for them.

Gerrard was also closely marked by Ledesma, which made him uncomfortable.

Gerrard's technique is not very good, as long as enough pressure is put on him, he lacks the ability to get rid of the defense.

In the 38th minute, Gotze broke the deadlock for Lazio.

It was his first Champions League goal of the season.

"Mario Gotze!! A beautiful individual performance! He is flexible among Liverpool's defenders, like a slippery fish, and he can't catch it! In front of Gotze, those tall central defenders of Liverpool seem to be So clumsy! He opened the scoring for Liverpool! Now the score is 1-0! Liverpool lead!"

Amid the cheers of the commentator and the home Lazio fans, Gotze ran with his arms open in celebration of the goal.

At this time, no one even thought of mentioning David Silva.

Even in the TV broadcast, there was no meaningful close-up shot of David Silva.

※ ※ ※

After Gotze's goal, Liverpool's offensive became more intense-they were not affected by the conceded goal and seemed very calm.

Perhaps they have seen such scenes a lot.

It's also a time when their spirits come into play.

After conceding the goal, the whole Liverpool team was still full of fighting spirit and vigorously launched a fierce offensive towards Lazio's penalty area.

Driven is still running tirelessly, and Gerrard is also plugged in again and again.

Those Liverpool fans who came with the team also sang the song "You'll Never Walk Alone" in the stands to motivate the team.

Not saying the team is behind at all. If the kick is not good-looking, there will be all kinds of boos.

They will always be with their own team, that is the real "love you even if you win, and love you even if you lose".

But in football matches, it is not only spirit and love that determine the outcome.

When the strengths of the two sides are similar, things on the spiritual level can play an important role.

But if there is a big difference in strength between the two sides, then forget it... Spirit is not omnipotent.

Football is played with the feet, not with the brain.

Liverpool's strength is obviously inferior to Lazio.

They hardly have a player who can surpass Lazio in one position.

Even Gerrard, the biggest star in their team, has no advantage at all in front of Lazio's midfield.

After the two sides changed sides to fight again in the second half, Lazio surrounded Gerrard in the midfield. Forced him to lose the ball, then Lazio launched a counterattack, and Cazorla scored another goal for Lazio.

2:0!

※ ※ ※

Although Liverpool still did not give up. They still continued to attack, but the technical gap between the two sides left them with all their strength, but they couldn't use it.

Until the end of the game, they failed to pull back even a single goal.

The final score was 2:0, and Lazio defeated the former Premier League overlord Liverpool at home.

The red storm that once swept across Europe has now been reduced to this level. It's really embarrassing.

But this is football, professional football.

It is impossible for anyone or any team to dominate for a long time.

Even Lazio themselves don't know when their dynasty will be ruined.

Chang Sheng shook hands with Houllier after the game. Houllier praised Lazio's performance with envy in his words.

In fact, he entered the palace for the second time this time. I also want to promote technical football in Liverpool, but Liverpool has played English football for a long time, and some concepts have been deeply ingrained. It's hard to change all of a sudden. Just take your time.

Of course Chang Sheng could hear the meaning in Houllier's words.

It is an inevitable trend that English football will surrender to mainland football sooner or later. Among the traditional strong teams in England, Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea have all completely turned to the continental football factions, and they emphasize skills at their feet. Cooperate with the ground, and gradually abandon the traditional football style of playing high and high.

In addition to these three teams. There are more Premier League teams trying to integrate into the continental football group.

The evolution trend of football tactics is like this. Which kind of football tactics can help the team win better will be sought after and welcomed, and become a trend.

Any football tactic is created for the pursuit of victory. I have never heard of any football tactic that was created purely for the sake of looking good. Even if there is, such a tactic has no vitality and will be eliminated soon.

How did the prototype of -taka appear? There is a very interesting saying that this kind of ball-passing tactic first appeared in England, and it is different from the current -taka. Not for good looks, but for a very utilitarian idea.

In 1872, the England team went to Patrick to participate in the first international football match in the history of football. The players of the rival Scotland team all played for the Queen's Park Club (Note: the current third-tier Scottish team, not the Queen's Park Rangers of England). Knowing that they were far inferior to England in terms of weight, the Scots realized that they would be at a disadvantage if they played with the long balls that were commonplace at the time, so they decided to use an extreme style of play.

There's no direct evidence to back it up, but according to Richard Bilarti of the Scottish Football Museum, it's likely that was the case when the group of Queens Park players decided they had to surround themselves with Opponents kept passing the ball, keeping the English away from the ball to prevent the big men from scoring.

The strategy worked. England, with a longer tradition and a much wider selection of players, were absolute favourites, but the game ended in a goalless draw. "England," wrote the Glasgow Herald, "have an overall superiority in weight, with an average weight of twelve kilos (a slight exaggeration, of course) over Scotland, and their speed is greater. "

One of the great things about the homegrown Scottish team is their excellent teamwork.

This is the initial prototype of -taka.

Used by the Scots to defend, in order not to lose.

When people find that offensive or defensive tactics can help them win, they will choose this tactic.

Some people say that Barcelona has persisted in the -taka for more than 20 years. Even if there is no championship, they have not given up.

It is indeed not easy, but this does not mean that they are not utilitarian.

First of all, Barcelona is a giant in La Liga, and they have no shortage of champions. Even in those years when there was no Champions League, they could often win the league championship and the King's Cup championship.

These champions can prove that the path they insisted on is correct. Champions League champions need some luck, they just need to wait for their luck.

If Barcelona is a second-tier team in Spain, the purpose of participating in the league every year is to work hard for a European qualification, and there is no championship at all, then can this team last for more than 20 years?

That's hard to say...

ps: It’s really hard work. When I go to the toilet, I hold the tablet and squat in the toilet to type, and I write about a few hundred words.

But it's really hard...

This chapter is delivered!

Take this opportunity to borrow some monthly tickets from everyone!

Help us fly higher!

Like a blue eagle over Europe!