Starting from playing as a defensive midfielder for Real Madrid - Chapter 388

c381 Li Ang still prefers playing against Barcelona.

Chelsea’s continuous victories in the league have indeed put a lot of pressure on Manchester City.

But even under the disadvantage of a shorter rest time after the Champions League knockout round, Manchester City still followed Chelsea and strongly defeated its opponent West Bromwich Albion in the 33rd round of the Premier League.

With one more round, Manchester City is still tied with Chelsea, but is temporarily ranked second in the Premier League due to the disadvantage of goal difference.

They still have a good chance of winning the league.

In the next round of the Premier League, Manchester City will challenge Chelsea away, which is also the second direct dialogue between Manchester City and Chelsea this season.

If they win, Manchester City can take the initiative to win the championship back into their own hands, and then watch the situation of Chelsea and Arsenal’s make-up game.

But if they fail again, Manchester City’s efforts this season will basically be in vain.

With one more round, they are still three points behind Chelsea, and there will only be the last four rounds of the league.

In this case, even the most optimistic Manchester City fans may not think of how they can overturn Chelsea’s dominance in the Premier League.

So the next round of the league is almost the final battle of the season for Manchester City.

Success or failure depends on this one move. If they beat Chelsea, they will have the last chance of redemption. If they lose the game, they will lose everything!

For Chelsea, their tolerance for winning the championship is much greater than that of Manchester City.

They don’t even have to fight Manchester City to the death in the next round of the league.

They only need to consolidate their defense to get a draw, and then wait for the make-up game to deal with Arsenal, which is easier to deal with, and get all three points.

This seems to be somewhat disrespectful to Arsenal, but the fact is that Chelsea’s winning rate against Arsenal is simply too high.

Even if the make-up game is held at the Emirates Stadium, the entire Chelsea team will not have too much game pressure.

From a mentality perspective, Chelsea’s main players are definitely more relaxed than Manchester City’s main players.

However, no matter what the players of the two teams think and imagine about the next round of the Premier League, their main focus must be put back on the Champions League.

After the 33rd round of the Premier League, the flames of the Champions League quickly reignited.

Chelsea, who had been the first to appear on stage, will play later this time. On the evening of April 13, Manchester City took the lead in the second round of the quarter-finals against Real Madrid.

Juventus and Benfica also had the final match with them.

In the first round of the Champions League quarter-finals, Chelsea defeated Bayern 2-0 away, Barcelona drew 0-0 with Atletico Madrid at home, Real Madrid tied 2-2 with Manchester City at home, and Juventus defeated Benfica 3-0 away.

In general, only Chelsea and Juventus got the first chance to advance in this round of knockouts.

Barcelona’s failure to beat Atletico Madrid at home is already a disadvantage. This season, Atletico Madrid, like Chelsea, has never lost a game at home.

Real Madrid is the same. They failed to beat Manchester City at home and were robbed of two away goals by Manchester City. They are also in a bad situation in the second round.

However, the pre-match public opinion environment was just the media’s reaction. Barcelona and Real Madrid failed to win the first round, but at least they did not lose.

It is hard to say what the final result of the two-round knockout match will be.

Li Ang told his teammates before the game that he was more optimistic about Real Madrid’s promotion tonight.

It’s not because he blindly believes in his old club or doesn’t like Manchester City.

Speaking of the matter, in the Champions League, especially in the quarter-finals, experience is often more important than team strength.

Manchester City is very strong this season, and their transformation is obvious to many fans.

But they have never reached the Champions League semi-finals since their formation, and the Real Madrid they are facing is the Champions League king who has achieved the feat of defending the Champions League in the past few seasons.

Even if Real Madrid has not been able to touch the Champions League championship in recent seasons, their experience in entering the Champions League semi-finals is really rich.

It can be said that the current Real Madrid players have encountered all kinds of situations in the Champions League knockouts.

In comparison, there are still too few players in Manchester City who have experience in this area.

When it comes to the life-and-death battle, let alone other aspects, the mentality of the entire Real Madrid team must be more relaxed.

If the current Manchester City has reached the semi-finals of the Champions League in the first two seasons, then neutral fans will have more confidence in them now.

Unfortunately, they did not do this.

Chelsea’s victory in the Champions League last year looked glorious, but they also experienced the pain of losing in the semi-finals in the season before last.

Having reached the semi-finals, having the experience of fighting a life-and-death battle with the top European teams, and having experienced the pain of falling in the final stage, can be regarded as laying a solid foundation for reaching the top of the Champions League.

So it is not that Li Ang underestimates Manchester City, but Manchester City is indeed far behind in this regard.

After the game officially started that night, Manchester City, who played at home, quickly took the initiative in attack and launched a fierce attack on Real Madrid, who was defending first.

From the scene, Manchester City formed a strong suppression on Real Madrid at the beginning of the game, and many fans also expressed their optimism about Manchester City’s promotion online.

But throughout the first half of the game, Real Madrid kept its midfield and backfield defense tight and intact.

Manchester City’s attack was lively, but they never got a good chance to shoot in the Real Madrid penalty area.

So it seems that Manchester City played better and more actively in the first half, but in Li Ang’s opinion, this half-time draw has already revealed Manchester City’s decline.

Real Madrid seems to play passively, but the wretched tactics in the first half show Ancelotti’s wisdom.

When playing away, first test Manchester City’s offensive firepower, and use up more of the physical strength of Manchester City’s offensive players in the first half, and then exert force in the second half to make the final decision!

This style of play has been used many times when Mourinho coached Real Madrid before. Let Ronaldo and Di Maria save their physical strength in the first half to warm up, and then explode in the second half to harvest the game. The effect is simply too good.

Although Real Madrid no longer has Di Maria, the right side has been upgraded to Bale, who specializes in hard battles. The counterattack effect in the second half will only be more prominent.

Li Ang is more optimistic about Real Madrid’s performance in the second half, and the fact is indeed the case.

As soon as the second half of the game started, Real Madrid swept away the “decline” and decisively competed with Manchester City for control of the game in the middle.

The Manchester City midfielders, who played more actively and consumed more energy in the first half, seemed a little overwhelmed at this time.

As the game progressed, Real Madrid’s advantage in the midfield became greater and greater. After having more ball possession, Ronaldo and Bale, who were in the front and counterattacked, naturally had more offensive opportunities.

Manchester City did not choose to shrink the formation appropriately to consolidate the defense first, but chose to continue to play against Real Madrid.

Guardiola’s tactical choice was ultimately loyal to his tactical concept.

But the game situation will not lie, and Guardiola’s choice ultimately made his team pay the price.

In the 73rd minute of the second half of the game, Bale received Benzema’s transfer ball and forced overtaking on the wing, and dribbled past Kolarov, who was not fast in returning to defense.

And this time, Manchester City’s entire defense line was almost lost!

No one could stop the Welsh winger who was running wildly.

Bale calmly killed his way to the end of the wing, and the precise cross he sent later also allowed Ronaldo to successfully deliver a fatal blow at the back of Manchester City’s goal!

Otamendi was stunned when he saw Ronaldo almost “flying” over his head!

Bravo’s insufficient arm span also became his fatal flaw at this moment, and he failed to save the football that Ronaldo headed to the far corner of Manchester City’s goal.

And this goal also plunged Manchester City into a panic abyss!

Guardiola began to deploy troops and replaced offensive players one after another, but facing Real Madrid, which was determined to shrink its formation, the decreasing game time at this moment has become a death warrant for the entire Manchester City team.

Ancelotti used the most practical tactics to curb Manchester City’s throat, and Real Madrid finally won the dawn of victory in the defense of unity!

1-0, a score that is not safe enough no matter how you look at it, but for Real Madrid, a one-goal lead at this moment is completely enough.

Manchester City attacked desperately until the end, but they failed to successfully knock on Real Madrid’s goal until the referee blew the whistle to end the game.

Real Madrid, with more experience, had the last laugh in this life-and-death battle.

Ronaldo also successfully sent Real Madrid into the Champions League semi-finals with his 13th Champions League goal of the season.

Only the Manchester City fans who cried at home were sad.

Before the game, the various British media who kept boasting that Manchester City was about to beat Real Madrid and enter the Champions League semi-finals this season had no time to be sad at this moment.

They decisively placed all the so-called last hopes on Chelsea, the only Premier League seedling.

So much so that the other Champions League quarter-elimination match that night did not stir up much public opinion in England.

Of course, the huge gap in strength between Juventus and Benfica is indeed difficult to arouse the interest of the media and neutral fans.

After watching the match between Real Madrid and Manchester City, Li Ang only glanced at the post-match news. After seeing Juventus beat Benfica 2-0 in the second leg, he didn’t pay much attention.

Juventus’s clean victory in the two rounds can only be said to be justified. Who let them draw the only big gift package in this year’s Champions League quarterfinals?

So far, two seats in this season’s Champions League semi-finals have been confirmed.

On the evening of April 14, Chelsea, Bayern, Atletico Madrid and Barcelona all appeared on the stage.

Chelsea, sitting at home, sent out the full main starting lineup to be ready.

And Bayern, who is fighting a desperate battle, will also usher in the final game of this round of knockouts at Stamford Bridge.

The tone of the game was actually destined from the beginning. Chelsea, who had a two-goal lead, was not in a hurry to attack.

With the advantage of home court, Chelsea directly took a posture of fighting to the death from the beginning of the game.

Bayern, who had no way out, also had no other choice. They could only put all their last hopes on attacking.

So a brutal and fierce offensive and defensive battle started directly at Stamford Bridge.

Bayern tonight was just like Manchester City last night. They attacked with all their strength from the beginning of the game, leaving no room for conservatism.

But Chelsea did not just defend and take the beating. Their counterattacks were equally sharp, and they kept looking for the perfect opportunity to kill Bayern in defense.

This made Bayern’s attack look more like a double-edged sword.

The tactics Mourinho arranged today were an open conspiracy, which was to bully Bayern into going all the way on the offensive.

The entire Bayern team also knew that Chelsea would counterattack, but could they do anything about it?

There was no way.

The pit of falling behind by two goals at home in the first round was really too big. Bayern had to score at least two goals at Stamford Bridge to advance today.

After completing this prerequisite, they still cannot lose the ball, so that they can get the chance to play overtime with Chelsea.

Under this condition, it would be strange if Bayern’s players were not under little pressure in the game.

And the more anxious Bayern played, the more calm Chelsea’s players on the field would naturally be.

Playing a defensive counterattack tactic is the least stressful thing for Chelsea players now.

In the field they are best at, it can be said that no team in the football world can suppress them now.

Bayern has worked hard enough on the offensive end, but the triple defense line built by Chelsea in the first half strangled all Bayern’s offensive attempts outside the penalty area!

Li Ang was very excited today. His sweeping runs at the expense of physical strength helped Chelsea’s defenders greatly reduce the defensive pressure.

Although this resulted in him having few opportunities to play on the offensive end, the role he played on the defensive end was what Mourinho wanted to see more.

As the score remained at 0-0 at the end of the first half, the hope in the hearts of countless Bayern fans was getting less and less.

After the second half of the game, Chelsea’s tactical play finally changed a little.

Although it was still a defensive counterattack in general, Chelsea paid more attention to the competition for midfield control in the second half.

To put it bluntly, Chelsea wanted to expand the defense line outward and let Bayern put more energy into competing with them for the midfield.

Bayern was naturally unwilling. If Chelsea really pushed the defense line out, wouldn’t their previous offensive efforts be in vain?

One side wanted to push the defense line outward, and the other side wanted to push the offensive line inward. Both sides did not give in. For a while, the confrontation near the midfield was extremely fierce.

But after the 60th minute of the second half, Chelsea adjusted its tactical play again, gave up competing with Bayern for midfield control, and decisively shrank its formation and began to squat.

Bayern’s players on the field had no mind to consider why Chelsea changed its tactics at this time. They were just eager to reoccupy the previously lost front line.

However, after they subconsciously pressed forward and paid more attention to offense, their defensive loopholes in the midfield and backcourt became more and more.

In the 67th minute of the second half, Li Ang assisted Matic in double-teaming Thomas Muller.

Muller had no choice but to protect the ball and pass it horizontally, but Kroos, who made the correct defensive prediction, intercepted the ball before Ribery!

After a little observation, Kroos directly kicked the ball and found Suarez who retreated from the frontcourt to assist in receiving the ball.

Hazard and De Bruyne accelerated forward on both wings tacitly.

But Suarez did not rush to turn around and dribble the ball at this moment. Instead, he waited for a while with his back to protect the ball, and then passed the ball back to Li Ang who was advancing!

Suarez’s passing choice fully demonstrated his super high football IQ at this moment.

And just when a large number of Bayern defensive players were attracted by Suarez’s return pass, Li Ang, who received the ball, sent a long pass without stopping the ball!

The football drew a flat trajectory in the air and landed accurately at the feet of De Bruyne who was advancing.

Hazard also raised his arms and cut into the Bayern penalty area from the wing.

De Bruyne sent a cross almost at the moment when Hazard cut in!

Boateng subconsciously followed Hazard and quickly retreated to the penalty area, but he soon regretted it.

Because the cross sent by De Bruyne was not to Hazard, but was slightly spun along the grass and passed to the top of the Bayern penalty area!

De Bruyne used his pass to deceive all Bayern defenders at the moment.

After Li Ang had tied down Javi Martinez’s defensive attention, he also slowed down his pace to continue to move forward.

Because Suarez, who was faster than him, had already taken the ball and rushed into the Bayern penalty area!

The Uruguayan striker adjusted his pace and was about to shoot, but Alaba bravely stepped up to intercept.

But the next moment, Suarez landed and dribbled the ball, passing Alaba cleanly!

The delicate footwork of the South American striker was fully revealed in him at this moment.

Neuer left the goal and Suarez was not panicked. He had already aimed at the angle and finally chose to push the ball.

The football was close to the grass and passed Neuer’s palm at a very tricky angle, and finally went into the far corner of Bayern’s goal!

Li Ang raised his arms and shouted at this moment!

The whole Stamford Bridge stadium also erupted in deafening cheers at this moment!

This round of knockouts is over!

Bayern will no longer have the slightest chance to become a stumbling block for Chelsea to defend the Champions League title this year!

The exhausted Lahm stood outside his own penalty area and covered his forehead in pain.

Muller stood in the midfield with his hands on his waist, a little dazed, and his partner Thiago’s eyes were still full of anxiety.

The celebration of the entire Chelsea team did not last long, and the game soon resumed, but the anxious Bayern players were getting worse and worse.

The mentality of thousands of Bayern fans at the scene was even more torn.

But Mourinho chose to continue to rub salt into their wounds at this moment.

After a substitution, Mourinho directly replaced Gary Cahill and Van Ginkel, strengthening the defense in the midfield and backcourt.

The departure of Kroos and De Bruyne further demonstrated the defensive determination of the Chelsea coaching staff at this moment.

It was almost impossible for Bayern to chase three goals in the last 20 minutes of the game.

But Bayern’s players on the field had no choice at this moment, and they launched an almost desperate offensive attack.

Suarez and Hazard had already retreated to the midfield, and behind them were five defenders and three defensive midfielders!

Chelsea’s luxury bus reappeared in the arena, and the neutral fans who saw this scene all cast sympathetic eyes on Bayern.

And the game finally ended with Chelsea’s tough defense.

Two wins, two zeros, and a total score of 3-0 in two rounds!

Chelsea broke into the top four of this season’s Champions League with an impeccable and overwhelming victory!

And another focus duel that night also ended at almost the same time.

Atletico Madrid finally defeated Barcelona 2-1 at home and successfully won the last top four spot in this season’s Champions League.

So far, the top four teams of this season’s Champions League have just been announced, and the next round of more brutal battles is waiting for all the top teams that have entered the top four.

After the game officially ended, the entire Chelsea team naturally began to celebrate at home.

However, after Li Ang hugged and celebrated with his teammates, he found assistant coach Holland and asked about the results of Atletico Madrid and Barcelona on the other side.

“Atletico Madrid won? 1-0?”

When he learned that Barcelona lost and was eliminated from the Champions League, Li Ang subconsciously thought that Atletico Madrid had suffocated Barcelona 1-0.

Holland explained to him that Barcelona scored the first goal in this round of the game, and Atletico Madrid scored two goals in the second half to complete the reversal.

Li Ang shook his head after listening.

Barcelona was reversed, which sounds reasonable…

But Li Ang still felt a little regretful.

After all, compared with other teams, Li Ang still prefers to play against Barcelona in the Champions League.