Starting with saving Manchester United

"Mike, don't you notice that the players' energy and spirit are different today?"

As Manchester United players divided up their areas for targeted training on the first team's large training ground, Yang Fan and Mike Phelan stood on the sidelines, marveling at what they were seeing.

"You were right, we're moving from one victory to the next," Mike Phelan laughed.

Yang Fan's words are indeed very insightful!

But the improvement in the confidence and the change in the mental outlook of the Manchester United players are clearly visible.

Every game brings improvement, and every victory makes the team better.

This instilled confidence in everyone!

Playing for a team like this is exhilarating!

Yang Fan chuckled inwardly.

What he saw now was that most of the Manchester United players on the field had bright green hair on their heads, which was quite a sight!

[Status]: Energetic!

[Organization]: Loyalty!

[Confidence]: Firm!

Of course, not everyone is like that.

The only exception is Giggs, the rat dropping.

The old man had two large red lamps on his head, which made him particularly conspicuous.

It's not that I'm targeting you on purpose, it's just that your head isn't green enough!

Yang Fan found a plausible reason for not using Giggs.

"From the current perspective, our team's morale is very good, and we still have a chance in the Camp Nou match."

Seeing Yang Fan deep in thought, Mike Ferran assumed that Yang Fan was worried about something and immediately offered some words of comfort.

"Physical fitness is very important. You must get it in order and not have any problems," Yang Fan instructed.

In his and his coaching staff's plan, they will definitely put the game on the fast track.

Anyone who has played football knows that the pace isn't something you can just adjust at will.

Once you speed up or slow down, it becomes extremely difficult to adjust.

Especially when facing Barcelona.

They like to play at a slow pace, and once they get control of the tempo, Manchester United will be in real trouble.

"I've been looking at Barcelona's recent situation, and they are now facing the problem of their core players getting older, and the problem of getting into the rhythm of the game is becoming more serious, so I want to get off to a good start at Camp Nou."

Mike Phelan looked serious after hearing this.

"The old man thought the same way in the two Champions League finals in 09 and 11, so you can see that we started both finals very aggressively."

In the 2009 final, Manchester United had five shots on goal in the first 10 minutes.

In 11 at Wembley Stadium, Manchester United also created frequent threats at the start of the season.

But they ultimately lost all the matches.

Yang Fan understood Mike Phelan's concerns: "In the two-legged tie, we'll definitely fight hard in the first leg away from home, try to score an away goal, and then slowly wear down Barcelona!"

This is the biggest difference between a two-legged match and a final!

"Before the match, we need to communicate fully with the players, reach a consensus, and plan ahead how to play if we can score a goal but not if we can't."

"Even the initial attack and pressing in the attacking third need to be planned in advance."

Yang Fan nodded repeatedly.

As the saying goes: One minute on the field requires ten years of practice off the field.

To make the best of the opening minutes, Manchester United needs to prepare meticulously for a long time, and there is a lot of work to be done.

"You can arrange the details," Yang Fan instructed.

Mike Phelan had no objections.

"Recently, Barcelona has focused on working on Fabregas. The midfield has been a combination of Busquets dropping deep, Fabregas partnering with Xavi, Iniesta playing on the left wing, and Neymar and Sanchez rotating on the right wing."

"Martino's lineup has been working well together recently, and I guess they'll continue to play like this."

Yang Fan confirmed Mike Phelan's guess.

Martino did this because Fabregas is younger, has more energy, and is stronger in physical confrontations.

But there is another very important point: Fabregas can move forward at any time and play the role of a striker after Messi drops back.

This is something that neither Iniesta nor Xavi possess.

The current Barcelona team, whether it's their lineup or tactics, is basically playing with their cards on the table against all their opponents.

It really gives off a feeling of being undefeated.

Just like this Champions League quarter-final match next Wednesday.

Goalkeeper: Pinto;

Defense: Alba, Pique, Mascherano, and Alves;

Midfield: Busquets drops deep, Fabregas and Xavi are in the center;

Forwards: Iniesta, Messi, and Neymar.

Why Pinto?

Valdes suffered a torn cruciate ligament during the match against Celta Vigo, ending his season prematurely, and he has just undergone surgery.

The only possible change Martino could make is replacing Neymar with Sanchez.

But Sanchez played the full match yesterday evening in Barcelona's 1-0 away victory over Espanyol in the 32nd round of La Liga.

Therefore, it is highly likely to be Neymar.

Although Barcelona created many good chances in this match, their only goal was highly controversial.

First, Neymar handled the ball in the penalty area, which led to Espanyol defender Javi López handling the ball in the penalty area as well.

As a result, the referee awarded Barcelona a penalty.

Messi scores the penalty!

During the first half, Javi López dribbled into the Barcelona penalty area and was tripped by Mascherano, but the referee did not make any penalty.

Based on the post-match video, this should have been a penalty kick.

Throughout the match, Espanyol actually had quite a few opportunities.

Yang Fan didn't think that Barcelona was deliberately holding back their energy.

Firstly, this is a Barcelona derby.

Secondly, the competition for the La Liga title is extremely fierce right now.

After 31 rounds of matches, Atletico Madrid is in first place with 76 points, Barcelona is in second place with 75 points, and Real Madrid is in third place with 73 points.

Under the current circumstances, it's impossible for Barcelona to hold back their players.

This made Yang Fan feel that if they went all out against Camp Nou, they might still have a chance!

If they can score just one away goal, the situation will be completely different.

……

On Sunday afternoon, Yang Fan and five first-team players attended the final coaching training session.

It will still take about an hour.

In this way, Yang Fan has completed all the courses of Level 1 coach training.

The exam is scheduled for next Saturday or Sunday.

After passing the exam, the information will be entered into your file on the spot, and you will receive your certificate immediately.

However, Yang Fan didn't have time to think about these things at all.

Monday and Tuesday were both packed with meetings and training sessions.

On Tuesday afternoon, after the players had lunch, they held a tactical meeting and then went home to pack their things.

Yang Fan attended the pre-match press conference for the Champions League quarter-finals at the press conference venue on the first floor of Carrington Stadium.

This is also a mandatory requirement from UEFA!

Yang Fan did not attend the pre-match press conferences for the previous matches against Olympiacos or the three Premier League games.

But this time we must get it.

As usual, Yang Fan first announced the roster that would travel to Barcelona.

There weren't any particularly surprising choices.

After the roster was announced, the Q&A session began.

Unexpectedly, the first question was a show of force to Yang Fan.

The reporter, from Catalonia, Spain, bluntly asked, "Will Manchester United concede seven, eight, or even nine goals to Barcelona tomorrow night at Camp Nou?"

The question caused an uproar in the room.

That's so uncouth!

They meant well by giving the "guest" the right to ask the first question, and you're just being disrespectful?

Everyone present thought that Yang Fan would lose his temper on the spot.

Even the Manchester United press officer sitting to the side looked extremely grim.

To everyone's surprise, Yang Fan not only didn't get angry, but instead chuckled and gestured to stop the Manchester United press officer from getting angry, indicating that he could answer the question.

The press conference hall fell silent, with only Yang Fan's voice remaining.

"I believe that if the referee had made the correct decisions during the game, and if there hadn't been so many dives and penalty decisions, the situation you described wouldn't have happened."

As soon as Yang Fan finished speaking, a faint cheer rang out from the audience.

That was a really powerful counterattack!

Everyone knows that the most dreaded thing about playing against Barcelona is the referee's "mistakes," Barcelona players' dives, and the penalties awarded to Barcelona.

Most importantly, just on Saturday, Barcelona's Nergigante made such a "misjudgment".

Still twice.

What a coincidence, Barcelona is the beneficiary again!

If you always benefit from every misjudgment, then it's hard to explain.

Yang Fan's sharp rebuttal turned the Catalan journalist's face ashen.

He probably didn't expect that this rookie would dare to directly counterattack Barcelona face-to-face.

The next problem is relatively mild.

For example, The Times asked about the pressure of the competition.

"I believe the pressure is on both sides, and we share the same desire to win as Barcelona."

"More importantly, the players and I believe that when we play at our best, we are no less than any team in the world."

"I have great confidence in the Manchester United players, and through training they have shown us that they are willing to give their all for the team in such important matches."

There was also a question from The Guardian, about Yang Fan himself.

"Without a doubt, I am a complete novice, yet I am facing the ultimate test: an extremely powerful opponent."

"My assistants, Manchester United players, and club officials have all given me tremendous support!"

The Sun reporter asked what kind of results Yang Fan and Manchester United hoped to achieve away from home.

"Of course, we must win!"

Yang Fan answered cheerfully.

"It's difficult, but we'll do our best!"

When answering a question from a BBC reporter, Yang Fan also brought up the matter of the referee in the match.

The referee, Felix Brüch, is only 38 years old and comes from Germany.

This referee has officiated for Manchester United four times in his career, during which the Red Devils remained undefeated with two wins and two draws, scoring six goals and conceding only two.

执法过巴萨3场比赛，其中两场正式比赛是1平1负，分别是12月的欧冠半决赛，切尔西1比0主场击败巴萨。

Also, in this season's group stage, AC Milan drew 1-1 with Barcelona at home.

He also officiated a friendly match between Barcelona and Bayern Munich, in which Barcelona lost 0-2 to Bayern away from home.

In other words, of the Barcelona matches he officiated, there was 1 draw and 2 losses; he never won.

Yang Fan brought up this matter not to imply that he would receive special treatment from the referee.

He wanted to wage a psychological war through the media.

"Last Saturday's penalty against Espanyol was later confirmed to be a wrong call. I don't think it's possible for similar wrong calls to occur in two matches within a week, right?"

Yang Fan's words were not just reopening old wounds for Barcelona, ​​but rubbing salt into them.

The media reporters at the scene were delighted.

But when the news reached Barcelona, ​​the Barcelona fans were not happy.

Especially in the evening, when Manchester United arrived in Barcelona by private jet and checked into their pre-booked downtown hotel, a large number of Barcelona fans had already gathered at the hotel entrance.

Both Manchester United and the booked hotel have extensive experience in dealing with the fans in attendance.

As the bus pulled up to the hotel entrance, Yang Fan got off amidst boos and jeers from the Barcelona fans, but he didn't forget to turn back and nod and smile at the Manchester United players.

"Look, our opponents are getting anxious!"