r18novel Chapter 75 Monaco's Shift from Defense to Offense!
Chapter 75 Monaco's Shift from Defense to Offense!
The Arno River was quite noisy at night.
It gently brushed past the ears of the Fiorentina fans.
Half a second later.
This was followed by shouts from a small section of the away fans' area.
These Monaco nouveau riche have no sense of style whatsoever; their noisy chatter has ruined the atmosphere tonight.
And they call themselves nobles? They're not as elegant as us Italians at all...
After a period of self-deception and inner struggle.
Florence fans finally let out a long sigh.
"well……"
"YEAHHHHH!!!"
In contrast, Monaco fans...
The team was suppressed throughout the game, and they were also suppressed throughout the game.
Finally, after scoring this goal, all his emotions erupted.
"Goal...goal!"
"1-1!! Monaco has equalized!"
"B. Silva receives the ball after beating the offside trap, crosses it into the middle, and Carrillo rushes in at the far post to score!"
"Jiang Ming, the young Chinese player who had been restricted for most of the game, finally had his moment to shine!"
"His one-two with Moutinho broke Florence's stranglehold, and then his through ball tore apart the defense!"
"His tactical coordination and exquisite through balls in midfield even reminded me of several midfield maestros!"
In the CCV5 studio, He Wei was brimming with passion.
……
Sidelines.
Yaldin crossed his arms.
His facial expression held a deeper meaning.
She quietly moved closer to the photographer.
The demeanor of a renowned coach is on full display.
On the other side.
Sosa's expression was complicated.
His mind started racing, analyzing Monaco's adjustments for the second half.
Jardim replaced defensive midfielder Toulalan with the experienced and highly skilled playmaker Moutinho.
After that Chinese lad dropped back, Monaco's midfield formed a triangle with a single defensive midfielder.
Moutinho's playmaking ability makes it more difficult for his players to apply pressure on a single point as they did before.
Fabinho, on the other hand, provides a defensive shield for the two midfield playmakers.
The most crucial one is that young Chinese man.
He effectively drew the opponent's attention to their pressing.
When faced with pressure, use your seasoned ability to clean up the ball to break free.
He can even deliver a crucial through ball with a single touch.
His experience is unbelievable.
Is he really only 18 years old?
Oh shit……
Sousa watched the replay on the stadium's big screen.
Monaco relied solely on their fluid passing and movement in midfield.
They easily disrupted his offensive rotation.
The team's pressing tactics were no longer effective.
Sousa thought to himself, "It's mainly that Chinese guy. If only I had such a versatile player on my team..."
Stopping his thoughts, Sousa pulled himself out of the reverie.
He instructed the players on the field that there was no need to press high up the field anymore.
To avoid exhausting physical strength and causing technical movements to become distorted.
……
On the field.
The celebrations in Monaco have ended.
Both teams returned to the center circle, and the game restarted.
The ball is in possession at the start of the match.
Florence's high pressing gradually contracted into midfield control.
But this does not mean they have given up the attack.
Sousa knew very well that a 1-1 draw at home would not be the result they wanted.
Especially when Monaco scored an away goal.
If the score continues to be this high.
Then all the pressure will come to the next round.
At that time, their away game will be even more difficult.
So Florence slowed down the pace but still maintained their attack.
Using Valero and Ilicic, they constantly orchestrated the midfield, trying to find weaknesses in Monaco's defenses.
"This is the rhythm that Italian teams are familiar with," He Wei said.
"They abandoned their previous tactics of relentlessly pressing and harassing."
"Instead, they keep possession of the ball firmly at their feet."
……
The 78th minute of the match.
The situation on the field finally changed.
Marcos Alonso received the cross.
Start moving forward along the left path.
"Here he comes! Alonso!"
"Although the speed isn't fast, the footwork is decent."
"How do I do it? It's ready to send..."
He Wei had just finished speaking.
Then Alonso stopped.
This startled Raji, who was positioned opposite him.
He himself seized this opportunity.
He cut inside to the left side of the penalty area line.
Taking advantage of the moment before Fabinho could immediately step forward to block them.
Take the kick immediately!
The ball had a strong arc.
It headed straight for the far corner of the goal!
"Wow! Great shot!"
Everyone was focused on the football, and then it just grazed the bottom edge of the crossbar.
It bounced right out!
"My God! Just a little bit short! A little bit of bad luck!"
He Wei couldn't help but slam his hand on the table: "That ball was in an absolute dead corner! Subasic didn't even touch it!"
"So close! If it had been just one centimeter lower, it would have been a perfect world-class goal!"
"Alonso has been in absolutely incredible form this season!"
"A solo run down the left flank, followed by a curling shot after cutting inside—that's top-class wing-back level!"
"According to multiple sources, Chelsea has been closely monitoring him and is just waiting to bring Alonso to Stamford Bridge in the summer."
"If he went to Chelsea, he would definitely be a top-tier player for the Blues right away!"
……
The game continues.
Jiang Ming deftly returned the ball to the table.
He took two steps forward.
Now Florence is the more anxious party.
They would never expect to finish with a draw at home.
Therefore, Jiang Ming is waiting for an opportunity.
Wait for the opening created by Florence's eagerness to win.
Snapped.
Snapped.
Snapped.
Monaco's three midfielders were constantly exchanging passes.
In a short time.
The situation on the field turned into a rondo game during training.
……
Studio.
What is Monaco doing? Playing possession football in the center circle?
"Damn it, I can't stand passing my feet around like this anymore."
"Is the 2.5L engine just going to be gone like that? Can Florence find a way to give it a shot?"
"I reckon this match will end like this. A draw would be acceptable, or even a good result, for Monaco."
……
Sidelines.
Yaldin nodded to himself.
The on-field command was excellent.
Even without his personal instructions, the team had already begun to make the right decisions.
Florence, what should you do with all the passing between these three players?
They will continue to be walked until the end of the competition.
Or should we commit more troops to pressing and seizing, and then obediently expose our weaknesses...
……
Time is passing by, second by second.
The Florence players looked up at the big screen.
【84: 54】
There isn’t much time left.
Less than two minutes later, the Florence players finally couldn't hold on any longer.
Iličić was the first to rush forward.
Two other players followed him forward.
They couldn't stand being treated like dogs anymore, and they had to take this opportunity to steal the ball!
With this pressure, the passing gaps in midfield finally became apparent.
However, Moutinho's position did not provide a good passing lane forward.
The only option is to pass the ball sideways to Jiang Ming.
This is exactly the opportunity the Florence players have been waiting for!
Instantly, three Florence players rushed up from the front, left, and right, surrounding Jiang Ming in the middle.
In their view, the only way this young Chinese player could pass the ball was back to the defensive midfielder behind him.
By then, striker Zarate will be able to drop back and intercept the ball!
"Oh no! Moutinho just delivered a dangerous pass!" Xu Yang exclaimed.
"What will Jiang Ming do now that he's surrounded by three people?" He Wei was also sweating bullets.
"He turned around, is he going to pass it back to Fabinho?"
Jiang Ming turned his back to the surrounding defenders and swung his leg, clearly intending to pass the ball back.
Upon seeing this, Sarat immediately started the engine.
The result was exactly the moment Jiang Ming swung his leg to touch the ball.
His feet suddenly stopped.
The heel tapped lightly.
The ball rolled right past Ilicic.
It's like they have eyes in the back of their heads.
He accurately predicted the pressing route of the defender behind him!
Modric's "Clean Ball" Module
In this move, Jiang Ming completely dismantled the three men's encirclement and attack.
He immediately turned around and went around Ilicic from the opposite direction.
Successfully caught the ball!
Frankie Stadium erupted in uproar.
"Jiang Ming turns around!"
"Monaco has switched from defense to offense!"