Green Field Eunuch

Chapter 528 The Standoff Between Offense and Defense

Bayern Munich had no choice but to call it a day, and Manchester City could finally breathe a sigh of relief. The final stretch of the game was far too dangerous, but thankfully it's now halftime, and they can relax a bit.

The 15-minute halftime break is very important for the players.

This is also very important for the team.

In football matches, the initial 15-minute halftime break is for the players to rest, because after playing 90 minutes of non-stop action, almost no one can keep up. The 15-minute halftime break gives the players a chance to recover their energy. In addition, fans also need time to rest and relax, otherwise it is difficult to maintain their focus while watching the game.

However, with the development of modern football, football tactics have become increasingly important, and the influence of individual player strength has gradually been replaced by the role of tactics.

The 15 minutes at halftime have become a crucial time for tactical adjustments. Coaches can use this time to make appropriate tactical adjustments based on the situation in the first half, which may give them the opportunity to change the course of the game.

Football matches and basketball matches are different.

Basketball games allow for timeouts to adjust tactics and substitutions to change players at any time.

However, football matches are non-stop. Apart from making substitutions and giving specific instructions to players when the ball is dead, there is not much that coaches can do on the field. At least they cannot make complete adjustments to tactics on the spot.

Therefore, these 15 minutes at halftime are especially precious.

Although Bayern Munich were behind, they played well in the final stretch of the first half, and Heynckes felt the team didn't need much adjustment.

Offense seems to be the best option, as it is the best way to defend.

Because in just 15 minutes, he simply couldn't find a way to deal with Shan Yongzhuo.

On the other hand, Manchester City needs some adjustments.

In the remainder of the first half, Manchester City were completely dominated by Bayern Munich, and it seemed only a matter of time before they conceded a goal.

Guardiola was naturally aware of this, and he was somewhat worried about it, especially regarding Robben's right flank, where he was the most active player and caused the most trouble for Manchester City.

Since players cannot intercept or limit the opponent's defense through individual ability, they can only strengthen the defense tactically.

This is in line with the current situation of the competition.

Manchester City currently leads Bayern Munich. In football matches, especially in a Champions League final, a single goal can often determine the outcome. As long as they maintain a solid defense and don't give the opponent any chances, even if Shan Yongzhuo doesn't score again, they can still win based on their current advantage.

Guardiola also emphasized defense, especially for the two central midfielders, Yaya Toure and Javi Garcia. He asked them to stop pushing forward and instead position themselves further back to strengthen their support for the flanks.

Guardiola also emphasized the importance of players dropping back on both flanks, especially Aguero, whose defensive issues were specifically highlighted by Guardiola.

Finally, Dzeko was also taken off by Guardiola and replaced with midfielder Rodwell. He was instructed to take on the task of sweeping and supporting the defense in the central midfield, and to keep a close eye on Schweinsteiger, who was responsible for organizing and orchestrating the attack in the central midfield position, and to constantly press him and put pressure on the opponent.

Manchester City switched to a 4-5-1 formation, and it was a 4-5-1 with the entire formation positioned relatively deep, with Shan Yongzhuo once again becoming the lone striker at the very front.

Fifteen minutes passed quickly.

The second half has begun.

During halftime, various analyses of the match were conducted, with Manchester City generally favored, although Bayern's performance in the final moments of the first half was commendable. Of course, many also hoped Bayern would win.

However, many people were disappointed.

It was clear from the start of the second half that Manchester City had strengthened their defense, with their formation noticeably dropping back. It became very difficult for Bayern to break through Manchester City's defense when launching attacks from the front.

Bayern's form was still quite good; they played a series of well-coordinated passes, and their increased forward passes made them even more threatening. However, once the ball reached the vicinity of the penalty area, it was very easy for them to be intercepted or disrupted without hesitation by Manchester City players. Manchester City even took the opportunity to launch two counter-attacks.

Although the ball ultimately failed to reach Shan Yongzhuo's feet, it still left Bayern in a somewhat awkward situation.

Now, Bayern Munich has calmed down.

Although they were still behind in the score, they knew that they couldn't be impatient at times like this. They had to stay calm in order to find an opportunity to deliver a fatal blow to their opponents. If they let the opponent seize the opportunity and score a goal, then they would be in real trouble.

Because of Bayern's composure, the rhythm of the game changed again for a moment.

The game slowed down, and both teams became very cautious when in possession of the ball. Suddenly, there were more back passes and more back passes from the backfield. The passes were all very ordinary, making the game somewhat dull to watch.

However, those who truly understand football know that the calmer things are in such situations, the more dangerous they are. Both sides are focused on finding a decisive opportunity, and the situation can become tense at any moment. Any carelessness on the field could be fatal, or even directly lead to a change in the score.

In this competitive situation, everyone became very cautious.

Bayern's defensive players are the same.

Boateng stayed close to Shan Yongzhuo, while Martinez remained within ten meters of Shan Yongzhuo, ready to provide defensive support at any time.

Boateng was more serious than Martinez, constantly encouraging himself: "I must defend!"

"Jerome, you're the best, keep it up!"

Boateng's long-term tension has been very helpful in terms of performance; he performed really well and was very focused.

Ten minutes into the second half, Shan Yongzhuo still hadn't found a good opportunity to use his skills. Receiving the ball was difficult enough, let alone scoring a goal.

As Shan Yongzhuo remained inactive for a long time, he naturally received less attention, and the cameras focused less on him.

Simultaneously.

Boateng also gained confidence in his defense. He maintained a calm mindset and worked hard according to the coach's instructions, which really helped his performance.

However, humans are not sophisticated machines.

Shan Yongzhuo can relax and patiently look for opportunities, while Boateng is always on edge, and in such a state of mind, making mistakes is inevitable.

In the 64th minute of the match, Shan Yongzhuo finally found an opportunity to receive the ball and successfully used his skill.

(End of this chapter)