Chapter 277 Pre-Match Preparations (Eighty-Three/One Hundred and Thirty-Six)

Valencia's first team has only 23 players, which is considered a small number among the first teams of many teams.

Changsheng needs to ensure that every position is competitive, but does not support idlers, so twenty-three people are just the right number.

It's just that he didn't expect that he would encounter a wave of injuries this season.

What caused him to be stretched now.

Before the second round against Milan, he had only 18 people available, which happened to be the number required for the squad. There are even three goalkeepers among the eighteen people. Normally, David Rangel, as the team's third goalkeeper, would not be able to get a chance to enter the squad, but he was also included in the squad for winning this game. Because people are needed to make up the numbers.

But in fact Chang Sheng has no one to replace.

Everyone knows this situation, and it's no wonder they are not optimistic about Valencia's comeback at home.

Perhaps only the Valencia players themselves believed it.

In the past two weeks, Chang Sheng has been instilling in them the belief that "we can reverse", and it has almost become a habit.

Even if they almost couldn't make up the list of eighteen people, they never doubted this.

Because as long as they think of the humiliation they encountered at the San Siro Stadium, they are full of fighting spirit, eager to beat Milan and prove to the world that they are wrong!

※※※

Before the second round of the game, the war of words between the two sides did not stop for a moment.

Berlusconi talked about Changsheng again, and his big mouth will never stop offending people.

"I heard that Valencia are planning a coaching change recently? I think they are right. Now they have entered a bottleneck period in their development. And Chang is not a good solution... We eliminated them in two seasons , It shows that his ability and experience in the Champions League are still lacking. Ancelotti is a good choice. But we will not let Carroll go, he is priceless! Hahaha!"

In the end, he still thought he was humorous and smiled.

He is adding fuel to the fire.

The discussion about whether Chang Sheng should leave has been raging in the past two weeks. At this time, Berlusconi publicly supported Chang Sheng's departure.

It pushed this wave of discussion to the top.

Some reporters even asked Chang Sheng if he would leave Valencia next season.

Chang Sheng spread his hands: "My task is to play the current game well. You should ask the future me about the future. It has nothing to do with the current me."

"What do you think of Berlusconi's words..."

"Berlusconi doesn't talk nonsense once or twice. I'm used to it. Are you still not used to it?"

In the end, Chang Sheng insisted that his team can eliminate Milan: "I heard. You all think that if Valencia wants to eliminate Milan, you can only pray for a miracle. But what I want to say is that miracles are done, not It came out of prayer. Miracles only favor those who will not give up until they die! Not cowards who say 'impossible'!"

"But you have to be sensible. In the case of conceding three goals in the first round...it is really difficult to advance..."

"It's just three balls, not thirty balls, what's impossible?" Chang Sheng snorted. "Can we do it? We'll see!"

※※※

Ancelotti did not express any opinion on Chang Sheng's words, nor did he express any opinion on his boss's provocation. He was silent, low-key, and did not attract any attention at all.

But a small detail still exposed his true inner thoughts.

Generally speaking, the team will set off for the away game one day in advance. It is better to adjust the time difference, eliminate the fatigue of the journey, and then adapt to the venue.

For example, the victorious Valencia went to play Milan away, starting on Monday, and the game was on Wednesday night.

It stands to reason that Milan should also be like this.

But they didn't.

The game is on the night of April 7th. Milan did not arrive in Valencia until the afternoon of April 6th. Then they went straight to the Mestalla Stadium, after an hour of acclimatization time. Returned to the hotel where we stayed.

This is Milan's preparation.

In fact, there is nothing wrong with them staying in Milan. After the 28th round of the league, they have accumulated 69 points, topping the list. Rome, second in the league, has 61 points, and the difference between the two sides is eight points. Rome has been difficult to threaten Milan.

Naturally, they didn't stay to prepare for the weekend's game against Empoli.

It can only seem that they feel that the game against Valencia is not important.

After winning the first round with three goals, can they still lose 0:4 in the away game? It doesn't matter if the opponent scores four goals, we only need to score one goal to eliminate the opponent.

The situation has turned to one side, and Valencia has only one dead end.

So instead of tossing around so early, it is better to train and rest in Milanello.

In front of the media, Ancelotti was still very cautious.

After arriving in Valencia, he participated in the pre-match press conference and said: "Valencia is a strong team, we must take it seriously. Everything is possible on the football field, we cannot be proud and underestimate the enemy."

But that being said, in fact, he couldn't control the mentality of the team at all.

Italian media are very optimistic.

"We led by three goals in the first leg, and now Milan can counterattack Valencia very calmly... I am very confident in Milan's counterattack. To be honest, I don't look down on Valencia, but Football is a very realistic sport, and I can't think of anything else that Valencia could possibly reverse..."

"Gazzetta dello Sport" said so when analyzing the game.

"... Valencia will face the most powerful Milan in the 21st century in Mestalla! This team is making great strides in both the league and the Champions League. Anyone who stops them will be ruthlessly crushed! Whether it's Roma or Juventus, they have already tasted it. Now it's Europe's turn!"

"...I don't think Valencia's strikers are capable of breaking through Milan, the best defense in the world. Maldini, Nesta, Cafu, these experienced and high-level defenders, will seal Valencia's every time. Shooting! Kaka and Shevchenko are like ducks in water in the counterattack. They will pose a great threat to Valencia's goal!"

The entire Italian media looked relaxed.

No one believed that Valencia could complete the reversal at home.

※※※

What did Chang Sheng say at the press conference before the game?

"We can do things you can't even imagine!"

It's just that simple sentence, there is no dry goods at all, how can it be done? Did not say.

Makes everyone just want to boo him.

Chang Sheng felt that he had said everything he needed to say, and it was useless to waste saliva with the media here. With this time, he might as well analyze Milan's weaknesses for the players in the tactical class.

On the night before the game, the two teams had two very different preparation situations.

In the hotel where Milan stayed, the tactical meeting ended early, and Ancelotti just announced the starting list for tomorrow's game. Then tell me what everyone knows.

He then announced his disbandment.

The huge lead made him feel that there is no need to push his players too tight. Although he said very cautiously, there is no need to be too nervous. These are experienced players. They have rich experience , know how to adjust the state and mentality.

It's better to let them relax, which will help them play tomorrow.

And in the hotel where he stayed in Valencia. The lights in the meeting room remained on.

After the players had dinner at the hotel, they went straight into the meeting room. The lights were on from half past nine to half past eleven, two full hours!

These are the four longest tactical meetings ever held by Valencia players.

In order to be foolproof.

Tomorrow's game is too important, Chang Sheng and the players dare not be perfunctory.

Chang Sheng didn't say anything impassioned that could make the players feel excited.

Now he only talks about tactics and the pros and cons of both sides.

"Milan's defense, like Roma's, has conceded the fewest goals in Serie A this season. Their defense is strong. They are all experienced and at a good level. But that doesn't mean they don't have weaknesses, on the contrary they have weaknesses. Big, deadly. So as long as we play on their weak spots, we have a good chance of coming back at home. Remember. Guys, I said we can come back. I'm not bluffing, I'm sure!"

"Since the Champions League restarted in the Milan Derby that week, Milan has conceded nine goals in the last eight league games. With the gradual tightening of the competition, the solid line of defense at the beginning of the season has now declined a lot. Their biggest problem is age, this defense line is too old, Pancaro is 32 years old, Cafu is 33 years old, Maldini is 35 years old, Costacurta is 38 years old, Nei Sta is 27 years old. Nesta is young, but he is often injured. He only came back from injury in the last round of the league. At the beginning of the season, when these people were in good physical condition, Milan's defense had the advantage of experience and strength. But as the league and the Champions League come to an end, when the number of Bi Laogan gradually increases, the disadvantage of this line of defense becomes apparent. In recent times, Milan has almost double cheeks for a week. The fatigue of Pancaro coming in is no one It is conceivable that starting from the twenty-fourth round against Sampdoria, Pancaro started every game in the league, Champions League and national team, playing nine games a month. On the other side, Cafu is even more He has been the main force from the first half of the league until now, and only when the Italian Cup is in the middle of the week, the Brazilians can get a little respite.Although Maldini got a full week of rest on the national team match day, but For him, who is thirty-five years old, he has been playing as the main force without rotation until now, and his physical fitness has reached a limit. The other center back position is played by Costacurta and Nesta in turn. In the double match last week, there will definitely be problems with his performance, and Nesta's performance in the two games after his return from injury was not very good..."

Chang Sheng began to analyze the problems of Milan's defense line for the players in great detail.

"In addition, Ancelotti's tactics are also problematic. Although the media said that as long as Milan defends and counterattacks in this game, they will definitely advance. But I don't think Ancelotti will choose defensive counterattacks. Because he advocates an oppressive style of play , looking for the best opportunity by turning the frontcourt. However, once the ball is lost and turned to defense, it often gives the opponent a lot of space. I remember that Pan Carlo once revealed Milan's tactics, that is, two full-backs press up and participate Ancelotti's attack is the core of Ancelotti's offense. In the attack, he relies on two central defenders with strong personal abilities, but they often score goals before the opponent. .”

"Ancelotti will definitely do this again, destroying us with offense in the away game. I think that even if Ancelotti wants to play a defensive counterattack, he has to advance by one goal in the game before doing so. This is more secure, after all There are 90 minutes in a game, if you give the initiative to the opponent as soon as you come up, it is not Ancelotti's style."

Don't ask why Chang Sheng is so sure that Ancelotti will choose offense instead of defensive counterattack when he leads by three goals in the first leg, because he just knows.

Having traveled through time, he has a deep memory of many things that happened in the world football in the past. Especially this kind of thing that shocked the entire European football world.

Same season, same quarter-finals, just different opponents. Milan was playing against Deportivo at that time, they played 4-1 in the first leg, Deportivo had an away goal, but it was meaningless, Milan won by three goals.

How similar is it to your current situation?

What is unexpected is that in the second round, Ancelotti did not choose to defend and counterattack, but continued to attack... Everyone knows what happened next. Milan was defeated by Deportivo 4:0, with a total score of 4:5, and they were eliminated!

No one knows why Ancelotti continued to attack instead of choosing a safe defensive counterattack.

Chang Sheng doesn't know either, but he only needs to know that Ancelotti is going to do this, and he doesn't need to know why he is doing it.

"In Carlo Ancelotti's formation, Seedorf is called the left midfielder. In fact, he is a free man. Pancaro has to rely on Pancaro for the entire attack and defense on the left... Everyone watch this ball." TV in the conference room The video of the Milan game carefully edited by Rudy Gonzalez was playing in the machine. "This is the match between Milan and Mona. The goal was that Pancaro didn't come back after attacking. Nesta made it to the left and Simic made it to the center, revealing a vacuum on the right... Look at this game again. ..." Chang Sheng used the remote control to fast forward. "The same is true for the conceded goals against Sampdoria. Liberating Seedorf can indeed revitalize the offense, but it weakens the defense on the left... So Milan's left is their weakness. We will focus on tomorrow's game Take advantage, our offensive center of gravity is their flank!"