From the man behind the football king to the football king.

Chapter 356 Knocking on the mountain and shaking the tiger

Manchester United's defense looked good in the first three games, but that was because the opponent's strength was limited, and Manchester United's defense had not experienced the test of a strong team. As for whether they can withstand the attack of Manchester City, the most powerful attack force in the Premier League, it is even more unknown.

Therefore, Bruno believes that the team should attack, replace defense with offense, use their equally sharp offense to suppress Manchester City's offense, and force Manchester City to switch to defense, instead of allowing them to do whatever they want in their own half.

This was jointly studied by Bruno and Mourinho, and was deployed to the team during pre-match training. Everyone knew that they had to attack at the beginning of the game, keep attacking, and attack all the time. Attack, in addition to attack, attack to put pressure on Manchester City.

Manchester City is used to controlling the rhythm of the game, so they are not allowed to find the rhythm of this game.

Control the pace? Bruno is very good at it.

Bruno received the football again in the backcourt. At this time, a minute and a half had passed since the start of the game. The football was always controlled by Manchester United, but they did not launch even a single offensive. The football was mostly wandering in the second half. No intention of going forward.

The closest thing to going forward was when Bruno took two steps forward after passing Iheanacho at the beginning, but under the pressure of Nolito, he immediately passed the football back.

This time, will football just hang around in the background?

………………

Bruno is in the backfield with the football. Although he is in the backfield, it is not safe. Immediately at his side came Nolito.

This is what separates Guardiola's team from most other teams. Even in the opponent's half, Manchester City will actively press, and it is definitely not just one person, but several people. The first person comes up and is responsible for entangling the player with the ball. Then more people come up and surround the opponent in the middle. They use the local numerical advantage to grab the ball and launch a counterattack on the spot. Two or three kicks between the three people. Passing can open up the situation.

Now Bruno is like an oversized magnet, attracting Nolito and Iheanacho.

Nolito was almost close to his body. Just when he thought he could catch the opponent, Bruno suddenly ran forward. Looking at his feet, there was a football somewhere? !

Before running, Bruno used a little attention-grabbing move to knock the football to Gundogan not far away. It happened to be in the blind spot of Nolito's observation, so he didn't see it at all.

He hesitated when he realized the ball was not at Bruno's feet, and then pounced on Gundogan.

How could Gundogan wait until he gets entangled with him? Send the football forward directly and give it to Bruno.

Bruno broke into midfield with the football. David Silva and Fernandinho rushed forward.

Bruno did not turn around and pass the ball back when intercepted by the two midfielders this time. He used the outside of his right foot while running and handed the football to Rashford who was responding on the sideline. Then he continued to move forward. Running forward, he also raised his hand to signal Rashford to pass the football.

Two over one!

………………

Even a fool can see such an obvious idea of ​​cooperation, let alone Fernandinho. The Brazilian midfielder immediately followed Bruno and retreated.

David Silva was also shaken by Bruno's hand and did not defend Rashford immediately.

Rashford saw two fingers sticking out of Bruno's raised hand. He knew that this was a fake one-two. Bruno's obvious move was just to help himself attract the opponent's defensive attention, thus Create opportunities for your own breakthroughs.

So Rashford took the football out and broke through!

When there was no one around him, Rashford rushed forward.

His task is very simple, that is, to push the football forward as far as he can, using such simple and crude breakthroughs to pressure the opponent and force the opponent to return to defense.

If you can't break through, it's very simple. Pass the football. You must not force a breakthrough if you can't break through.

Mourinho repeatedly reminded the players before the game not to act recklessly. Because once they lose possession of the ball, Manchester United's defense will face a very dangerous situation. If Manchester City controls the football at their feet, they can regain the initiative.

This game will actually be very tiring for the Manchester United players led by Bruno. In order to prevent Manchester City from controlling the situation, they must always keep the game in a high-tempo and high-confrontation state, but it is very important to play the game consistently like this. Very tired.

This is why many teams rely on active fighting to suppress those wealthy teams at the beginning of the game, but

The opponent in this game is Guardiola's Manchester City, which will be more physically demanding. So even though he focused on physical fitness, Mourinho, who was standing in front of the coach's bench, was unsure whether he could last the entire game.

………………

Rashford's breakthrough did not continue, and he soon encountered Sagna's interception.

He did not choose to force a breakthrough. Although it was not impossible, it was better to be safe at this time. Someone could make a better choice than him, and that person was Bruno.

Bruno receives a pass from Rashford. He didn't receive it in the middle of the penalty area, where Fernandinho was.

After pretending to have a one-on-one with Rashford and attracting the attention of Fernandinho and David Silva, he suddenly stopped and turned around, withdrew and ran to Rashford. Behind Germany. Rashford found himself unable to break through and passed the football back, where it fell to his feet.

Bruno didn't stop and didn't give any Manchester City players a chance to come forward. He just started and passed the ball diagonally!

The football flew over everyone's heads and landed directly on Manchester City's left and Manchester United's right.

Because Manchester United's previous offensive focus was on their left and Manchester City's right, it was natural that the entire Manchester City team's formation tilted towards this side. Kolarov, the full-back, also withdrew into the penalty area, looking more like a The central defender, rather than the full-back, creates favorable conditions for Valencia to receive the ball unmarked on the wing.

If Bruno stops the football, looks around and hesitates, then even a fool will find the loophole there. Kolarov will immediately rush to fill the position, and Sterling, De Bruyne and others will also Will rush back to defend.

Now, because Bruno passed the ball directly, Manchester City was caught off guard. When Valencia received the ball, there was no Manchester City player around him!

………………

In the process of Bruno passing the football over there, Manchester United quickly completed the change of offensive direction, and the players pressing Manchester City also ran in that direction.

After Valencia got the ball, he took it diagonally inward. Kolarov rushed forward. Instead of dueling with Kolarov, Valencia gave the ball to Rooney in the ribs, and then he cut straight in, and again It’s a two-for-one trend!

But Rooney did not pass directly to Valencia, who was cutting inside, because Manchester City guessed that he would do so. Kolarov immediately retreated and targeted Valencia.

Rooney passed the football to Bruno.

Bruno has always been someone that Fernandinho pays great attention to.

Summarizing previous experience shows that as long as you lose attention to this person within thirty meters in front of your goal for one minute, you are likely to lose the ball. As long as he catches the ball, he can shoot by himself, distribute the ball to the wing, or go straight into the penalty area. There are many options and possibilities. The chance of guarding him will naturally be reduced, so he will not give Bruno I got the chance to play football here.

What he didn't expect was that Bruno had no intention of catching the ball at all. He directly missed the football and ran forward into the penalty area.

The person who caught the football next to him was Kanter who came in from behind!

"N'Golo Kante!"

Fernandinho was stunned by Bruno's feint, and he didn't even react when Bruno slipped in from beside him.

Immediately afterwards he saw Kanter receiving the ball, and before he could understand what was going on, Kanter sent the football out again as soon as he received the ball - a through ball!

………………

Bruno, who inserted into the penalty area, ran diagonally and found a gap. Kanter just passed the football.

Two over one!

Bruno half-turned to catch the ball, and Manchester City center back Otamendi pressed forward like a mad dog.

Bruno didn't give him a chance to post himself. He just received the ball and turned around to shoot. The movements were done in one go and very suddenly.

Bravo saw the football coming towards him, fell to the ground and tried to save it, but still didn't touch the football!

"Bruno shot!!!"

Old Trafford also screamed at the moment Bruno shot. Many people had rushed out of their seats and were ready to celebrate the goal.

Everyone watched the football fly past Bravo's hand and run to the far corner of the goal.

The hearts of the Manchester City fans were lifted up, while the Manchester United fans stood up collectively, ready to cheer for the goal.

Bravo turned to look at the football, his eyes full of despair.

At that moment, his mind recalled the fear of being dominated by Bruno in the Champions League semi-finals a year ago.

But the football did not fly into the goal, but sailed out from the outside of the goal post.

"The ball... the ball didn't go in! What a pity! Oops! Oops -" BBC commentator Gary Lineker sighed loudly.

As the highlight of this round of the Premier League, the BBC naturally sent their ace commentator to explain this game.

Although Lineker is not a Manchester United fan, Manchester United's previous wave of offense cooperated very well. Lineker was also attracted. Naturally, he hopes that this wave of offense can end with a goal.

Also doing the same thing as him were Manchester United fans.

Manchester United's previous attack was very successful. The only regret was that they did not score a goal.

(End of this chapter)