Football: Starting from the Ronaldinho template

Chapter 200: My Second Champions League Goal! An Unexpected Defeat!

After returning to the locker room.

"Our tactical problems are unsolvable. The transition from the back to the front in midfield is really great, and Paris's split tactics are excellent."

"But this takes a lot of physical exertion. Paris number 14's attacking contribution is decreasing over time. What we need to do is be patient."

Wenger wrote two numbers on the tactics board.

"In the second half, we need to maintain high pressing for 70 minutes, but we should focus on the two flanks and take turns moving forward when attacking to conserve energy."

"The midfield positioning also needs to be changed. A diamond formation will divide the space and increase the pressure on them to play from the back, in case of any mistakes."

Wenger's calm tone soothed the Arsenal players' anxiety.

Two goals behind.

It's really not a big deal.

Finally, Wenger looked at Qin Ming and Sanchez, "When necessary, you can switch positions and create tactical unfamiliarity for the opponent through individual tactical changes, using offensive means to compensate for possible defensive problems."

Qin Ming had just been thinking about the issue of switching roles, but he didn't expect the professor to bring it up directly.

“Hey Hector, you can push forward more. If I'm on the right wing, they'll probably adjust their positioning, and it'll be difficult for me to break through alone.”

Qin Ming wasn't lacking in confidence.

While going it alone may look cool, it also carries a high risk of conceding a goal.

Even players like Pelé and Maradona needed the support and help of their teammates to better utilize their individual abilities.

“Okay, I’m in pretty good shape today, and my stamina should hold up.” Bellerin nodded.

Watching Qin Ming discuss attacking with his teammates, Wenger called Mertesacker aside and instructed him on how to play defensively.

Before the end of halftime.

"Alright, the third round of the Champions League group stage won't determine who advances, so there's no need for everyone to feel so much pressure. Just relax, aim for victory, and play to your normal level."

Wenger minored in psychology.

In a season that often lasts ten months, failure is inevitable.

If players are constantly on edge, feeling that defeat means the end of the world, then that team will definitely not go far.

Therefore, they must have the desire for victory, but also the ability to accept the ordinariness of everything.

The second half of the game begins.

With a two-goal lead, PSG didn't want to fight hard and wanted to conserve their energy for the league, especially since teams like Monaco and Lyon were in great form this season.

But Arsenal certainly cannot agree to that.

Even though this is the group stage, not the knockout stage.

In Group A, where they are located, they are the only strong team; the remaining teams, Malmö and Shakhtar Donetsk, are not very competitive.

If they lose at home to PSG, it will be even harder to win away.

There's a high probability that they'll miss out on first place in the group because of these three points.

Why has Arsenal consistently reached the Round of 16 in recent years? It's because they consistently draw strong teams in the knockout stage draws. Starting from the 2011-12 season, they've drawn AC Milan, Bayern Munich, Bayern Munich, and Monaco.

Wenger naturally wanted to draw a weaker team as the group winner.

"Qin Ming and Sanchez switched positions. Arsenal often makes this kind of adjustment, and as Qin Ming's left foot becomes more and more proficient, he no longer feels unfamiliar with it!"

"Maxwell is good at defending against Sanchez, and he has a hard time dealing with Qin Ming's feints! He cuts to the middle and unleashes a chip shot!"

"What a pity! Just a little bit short, we couldn't keep the shot down!"

Zhan Jun's tone was full of regret.

Qin Ming wasn't too disappointed; instead, he became excited.

Changing perspectives really worked.

Sanchez's continuous attacks in the first half caused Matuidi, Maxwell and others to expend a lot of energy, and he himself did not rely on pure speed to get past opponents.

With a series of feints and deceptive weight distribution, he was incredibly effective on the right flank.

David Luiz's defensive awareness wasn't as good as Thiago Silva's.

"Edison retreats! Retreats!"

Seeing this, Blanco made a decisive move and had Cavani participate in the defense.

With a two-goal lead, he'll definitely prioritize solid defense. Even if it ends 1-2, getting three points is enough.

Cavani didn't complain and obediently ran back.

Now, Qin Ming's pressure increased again, but he still kept running, running alongside Matuidi.

As the most important shield in PSG's midfield, if Matuidi can be contained, their own attack will be much easier.

The 63th minute of the game.

The opportunity finally came.

Matuidi followed Qin Ming in a series of back-and-forth runs, and before he knew it, he had lost his position.

Upon seeing this, Cazorla launched a long diagonal pass.

Bellerin controlled the ball and then accelerated rapidly, cutting inside before Maxwell could intercept, before sending a cross into the far corner of the penalty area.

Sanchez quickly moved in there, and with a powerful tackle, he overpowered Aurier and fired a shot.

Bang! The football hit Thiago Silva and grazed the goal.

"The Brazilian center-back is incredibly experienced. No wonder he was Nesta's former teammate; he learned so much during his time at Milan!"

"He thwarted several of Arsenal's attacks!"

"I imagine the shooters must be feeling pretty bitter right now, right?"

Arsenal fans are indeed very frustrated, as their Champions League performance has been poor in recent years.

We finally got Qin Ming to join us, and we even achieved a nine-game winning streak in the league, so why is our performance in the Champions League so mediocre?
The voices of PSG fans are getting louder and louder.

They were even relieved that they hadn't spent a high price to sign Qin Ming, but instead bought Di Maria.

"In the 72nd minute of the second half, PSG made the first substitutions: Pastore replaced Cavani, and Lavezzi replaced Verratti."

"Two substitutions were made, Brandt didn't want to go back to defense, nor did he want to go all out on offense, he probably wanted to maintain the current situation."

"."

Five minutes later, Ramsey was substituted by Arteta, in an effort to strengthen the attack and defense on the flanks.

However, before Qin Ming could find an opportunity, Sanchez erupted.

After getting past Lavezzi, he used his strong legs to push off the ground and get rid of Aurier who was trying to tackle him.

"He's going to pass the ball!" David Luiz warned.

Thiago Silva was careful not to give up all his focus.

Unexpectedly, Sanchez swept the ball into the penalty area.

Giroud gritted his teeth, his face flushed red, and stubbornly endured David Luiz's shot.

But the quality was too low, and it was blocked by Trapp's two fists.

The football, under the watchful eyes of everyone, fell towards the edge of the penalty area. Qin Ming shook off the exhausted Matuidi and volleyed the ball into the air!

Maxwell slyly nudged Qin Ming lightly while he was supporting himself on one leg.

This resulted in the ball being hit at the wrong point, causing it to go directly over the crossbar.

"Isn't this a foul?"

Qin Ming also lost his balance and fell. He got up and looked at the referee, hoping to get a free kick.

The referee shook his head; his view was blocked by Motta and Kirkland, and he couldn't see what Maxwell had done at all.

"Damn it!" Qin Ming spat and was warned by the referee.

"He's too young."

Maxwell smiled at Matuidi.

Referees are human too, and they can make mistakes in their calls.

Moreover, their movements are subtle and their timing is good, making it difficult for them to be penalized for a foul.

"Qin, calm down, there's still time."

Arteta put his arm around Qin Ming's shoulder and said in a deep voice.

As the team leader, he had a responsibility to reassure his teammates and keep them calm.

"Phew! I know. I'll move inside towards the middle to create space for Hector. You can also make a through pass if you have the chance."

After taking several deep breaths, Qin Ming glanced at David Louis.

Unlike Thiago Silva, the guy with the afro is more susceptible to feints, so I can try to get the game going against him.

“Okay, I’ll keep an eye on your location,” Arteta nodded.

The match entered its 80th minute.

Matuidi seemed to be running out of steam, but Blanco still didn't substitute him.

Because this would mean Maxwell would have to confront Qin Ming directly.

It wasn't that Blanco looked down on Brazilians, but rather that Qin Ming looked more like a Brazilian player than he did.

Dazzling footwork, coupled with perfect balance.

Maxwell couldn't stop him. Therefore, Matuidi has to hold on. There are less than 15 minutes left in the game, so it shouldn't be too much of a problem.

Besides, even if you can't stop them, you can use a tactical foul.

Accumulated yellow cards are no problem, and red cards are fine too, since the other two opponents in the group are weak anyway.

Blanco was thinking that.

"Receive the ball and push forward!" When Cazorla passed the ball to the left wing, Sanchez received the ball and made a strong run past Aurier, causing the PSG formation to shift laterally.

Qin Ming did not move with them, but instead lay in ambush at a distance.

Unfortunately, Sanchez failed to pass the ball out.

After Thiago Silva cleared the ball with a long kick, Koscielny headed it across to Arteta on the sidelines.

Tazi glanced at Matuidi.

Due to a decline in physical fitness, the French players did not press forward as aggressively as before, but instead positioned themselves on the outside to prevent Bellerin from getting out of position.

There's enough space between Matuidi and Motta to pass the ball!

Ta Zige keenly noticed this and pushed his right instep forward sharply!
Snap! The football rolled along the grass like a sharp blade being drawn from its sheath.

"Qin, someone's behind you!" Giru shouted a warning.

Qin Ming did not respond; he was highly focused and had no time to speak.

As for who's behind him?

Of course he knows.

David Lewis!
David Lewis!
At his peak, he was physically strong and quick to recover, which made up for his lack of solid defense.

But all his strengths were rendered useless during the brief exchanges just outside the penalty area.

Qin Ming turned his body to the left, sending a false signal that he wanted to let the ball pass to the outside.

Louis was easily fooled.

"Watch out for the inside cut!" Thiago Silva, five meters away, was on high alert.

His reminder allowed his national team partner to stop in time.

really!

Qin Ming stopped the ball to the right with his left foot, creating a time difference with him.

Time can buy space!

It was in this brief, negligible time that Qin Ming found space to shoot.

"I warned you long ago not to make that move!" Thiago Silva roared inwardly.

Arsenal fans at the stadium bent their knees, their arms instinctively raised in the air, their throats still choking back cheers.

They are waiting.

Paris Saint-Germain fans held their breath in tension.

In the shot, Qin Ming spikes the ball to the right, his cleats digging into the turf as he twists his body in an exaggerated pose.

Bang! The dull thud of the ball hitting the ground was like the beating of a drum!
His chip shot, aimed at the left post, curled into a sharp arc.

The angle was tricky and the acceleration was extremely fast. By the time Trapp reacted, the ball had already crossed the goal line.

1-2! ! !

"Wow! That was a beautiful goal! A skillful dribble outside the penalty area, and a precise left-footed chip shot!"

"In the 86th minute of the second half, Arsenal pulled one back!"

"Qin Ming has also scored his second Champions League goal in his professional career!"

Zhan Jun clenched his fist and growled.

Although he is not an Arsenal fan, he is a loyal fan of Qin Ming.

Seeing that PSG was leading by two goals and still had the upper hand, he was getting anxious.

Arsenal finally scored a goal after the goal-line controversy.

"Damn it!!!" Qin Ming couldn't help but swear. After saying that, he looked at Giroud and said, "Olivier, get the ball on the court, there's still time!"

"Alright!" Giroud ignored the bewildered Trapp and snatched the ball from his arms.

"If Santi's shot had gone in."

Kirkland sounded regretful.

"Alright, stop talking nonsense. There are about ten minutes left. Let's see if we can tie it."

Arteta waved his hand to interrupt.

Football is a sport that never stops, just like life. When you look back after experiencing setbacks, all you feel is negative emotions.

Only by looking forward can you go far.

"Brothers, let's give it our all for another ten minutes!" Qin Ming shouted, pumping his fist.

Regardless of whether he wins or loses in the end, he still wants to give it one more shot.

There's no point in discussing whether there are any regrets about the Champions League group stage.

The key point is that the difference between one goal and two goals is three points.

Wenger makes another substitution, Chamberlain replaces Sanchez!

St. Mary's Stadium has always been a breeding ground for unparalleled geniuses!

"Bale soared through the clouds here, and the little tiger once raced like lightning. After them came Chamberlain!"

"Unfortunately, Chamberlain suffered serious groin and knee injuries two years ago, and even after six months of rest, he still hasn't fully recovered. He's been on and off injury ever since!"

"I wonder if his appearance can change Arsenal's current situation?"

Zhan Jun felt deeply sorry for this young talent.

Chamberlain, who excels as an attacking midfielder, performed rather poorly on the left flank.

The immense pressure also caused him to lose his mental balance.

Courtside.

During his nearly two decades managing Arsenal, Wenger saw far too many players like him.

“Winter window,” he murmured silently.

Arsenal's attacking lineup is now fixed, so there's not much point in keeping them here.

He plans to sell several young players who haven't made it onto the team.

ruthless?

“We must improve the depth and intensity of our midfield,” Pat Rice said, echoing Wenger’s thoughts.

Qin Ming's arrival brought many sponsorships, and Arsenal's performance has been steadily improving, but it will take a relatively long time to realize the benefits.

If clubs want to buy a better midfielder in the winter transfer window, relying solely on club profits will definitely not be enough.

We still have to sell people.

With Chamberlain unable to pose a threat on the left flank, PSG can focus their energy on defending the right flank.

The tight defense made it difficult for Qin Ming to find an opportunity.

It wasn't until the fourth official on the sidelines raised his sign that people realized it was injury time.

Four minutes.

"Olivier!" Qin Ming, despite his exhaustion, tackled Matuidi and then kicked the ball towards the far post of the penalty area.

Giroud also headed the ball towards goal ahead of Thiago Silva.

Unfortunately, he couldn't unleash his full power and was easily taken down by Trapp.

The German goalkeeper launched a long ball into the attacking third.

Beep-beep-beep!
The whole game is over.

Arsenal lost 1-2 at home to Paris Saint-Germain, losing their third Champions League group stage match.

The PSG fans in the stadium sang their team song.

Some Arsenal fans left early, while the more than two thousand people in the North Stand, including Bertrand Carlsen and Holden David, continued to wave their flags and occasionally utter a few words of encouragement.

It's just a loss.

They've lost before; looking at decades of football, you can't win all the time.

Besides, the Gunners actually played quite well today.

Despite pressing high up the pitch in the first half, they maintained efficient tactical execution in the second half without much decrease in intensity.

They are quite satisfied.

"It's all that old bastard Platini's fault. Look at the photos my friend took. The ball had completely crossed the line, but the linesman just didn't see it clearly and disallowed a goal for us."

Holden David was furious.

"It's okay, we'll go to Paris next month and beat them at home!"

Bertrand Carlsen has a lot of confidence in this Arsenal team.

(End of this chapter)